The sight of a beaten headband on Ero's grave did not escape Shinichi's notice. Quickly, he found a bundle of flowers and carefully set it down next to the grave of the girl he helped murder. Looking around, the man breathed in the scents of so many dead, so many that he could have saved if he had been serious about his role as Shimagakurean, rather than Fire Country outcast. It was a conflict that should have been well solved by now... but it wasn't and ignoring that fact would only cause the troubles to manifest again, just like it did last night. Shinichi knew the only way to seek forgiveness from Yuki was to get his act together and somehow solve all those troubles Shimagakure was experiencing. But before any of that could be done... he had to say good bye.

He had taken Harada's katana with his own blood down from his mantle and walked reverently with it to the cemetary, ignoring the sleepy gazes of those who knew that story. But, after considering his supposed role as Kage, Shinichi had then stopped to explain to the civilians just what he was doing. None seemed too opposed. Now, he stood in the moist graveyard, musty earth smells all abound, a little unsure of what to do next. Would anybody be insulted by what he was about to do? Shinichi walked a little ways off so that he was now standing outside the actual plot, but close enough that someone would recognize the upturned earth as a grave. He carefully set the katana down. He took off his shirt and let it hang loose around his waist. Shinichi dipped his hands into the hard earth, biting back the jolt of ice that shot up his fingers and began to dig. He remembered having to bury so many dead with his bare hands, all the shovels already taken up. It seemed fitting to do it again.

The grave itself didn't need to be that deep so the task took no longer than an hour to create a grave deep enough to reach his knees. Shinichi wiped his hands and stood up, then took a stone, broke it in half with ninjutsu for form, and erected General Harada's grave. He needed this sentimental ritual to start his new life over. His grief over his father's passing had led him to neglect giving the man a proper burial and thus his spirit was still with him, still haunting his dreams and even his waking actions.

"I erect this grave for Harada Yuudai," Shinichi said softly, hands at formally at his side, "General of the all the Fire Country's Imperial Highness Shiyue's armies." He stumbled a bit with the formal title and bit his tongue. No, this was wrong. This was the stupid overly formal stance that masked emotions, rather than letting them go. He had to really show the true him in order for Harada to leave him alone. But... what? Shinichi closed his eyes, recalling the insanity that possessed him when that final fireball struck his father, all the conflicting emotions that had since been locked away. "I... can't..." he whispered, feeling his fist locked tight in a ball and shake. He couldn't possibly let that wild beast loose.

A drop of salty water landed in the grave, then another. Shinichi knelt and bowed, touching his head to the ground. He hadn't felt that strain on his back in forever and it felt truly good to let himself go like this again. There was poison in remaining too composed, too masked. "I'm sorry, father-dono," Shinichi said, each word heavy, "Not just for failing to be the perfect soldier you always wanted, but for failing to become the son I know you secretly wanted me to be. Being loyal and strong... those were only pathways to becoming somebody truly great, right? You gave everything you had for what you believed in. That's what really makes a man." It wasn't something that could be taught or even spoken about. He had to make the mistakes to learn it himself. And now that he saw that light, he had to devote every portion of his being to merging with it. Shinichi lifted himself and then bowed again. "Thank you... dad. You can rest now."

He slowly rose, pushed all the dirt back into the grave, and stuck the katana in the center of the grave. It felt like he'd suddenly been relieved of a great leaden weight. Shinichi took the gravestone in his hands and with a careful stream of fire, carefully inscribed:

To my father: You taught me well.

He returned the stone and with a small smile, went on his way. There was work to be done.

[Exit to Forest of Sorrows]