Chapter 1
Kenshi awoke in a sudden calm rush, the clock near his head reading 4:55 as it did every morning when his body would lift to immediately turn off the ear-crushing device before it actually rang at 5. His ears couldn't bear to take the volume in, since all of his senses were extremely sensitive, though his paranoia is what kept him activating it daily.
The swordsman rose with an exaggerated yawn and slight rub at his eyes while heading towards the bathroom to take care of his morning hygienic routine. His routine including staring into his pristine, twice daily- washed mirror for at the least 5 minutes before actually starting his day. Admiring every angle at which his body flexed and where his jaw chiselled and hips that jutted out and his probably much too curved waist. In doing this, a lot of people who didn't know of him would assume that he was a delusional narcissist. Those around him however, understood the suffering of his past blindness and just how much he had missed, even his own aging had been unbeknownst to him.
After he had finished making sure none of his hair was starting to gray and shaving his lower face of every trace of hair, he jumped into the shower. It's outside walls being mostly glass, Kenshi doodled onto the fog trapped onto them, making swords crossing onto eachother, his lazy movements making the doodle seem more provocative than intended to the outside eye. The soap lathered onto his body and hair, smelling much like the earth after a rainstorm that Kenshi's nostrils couldn't help but to flare pleasantly. He relaxed under the spray of hot water, enjoying the feeling of it tingling at his skin and the way the soap fell off his hair and body, leaving him cleansed.
He then turned the spray off and took his towel to dry off. He placed it around his hips and turned to the fogged mirror, wiped it clean with his hand and through the leftover droplets made finger guns at himself, winking. Chuckling quietly, he grabbed his tooth brush and mouthwash and made sure his teeth were sparkling.
The swordsman found himself in front of his closet shortly after, going through every single item of clothing to make sure his outfit for the day matched. He ended up grabbing a black tshirt with the words "Special Forces" etching across the back and the Army logo on the left side of the chest. A pair of dark blue skinny jeans came next, ones that accentuated every muscle contained in them, and a black belt looped around them with the initials SF on it in sliver steel. After, a pair of black socks and black combat boots that went a little ways past the ankles, pointed black studs decorating them along the lace.
Standing in front of his full length mirror he ran his fingers through his raven hair, watching as it slightly spiked, naturally. He then grabbed his holster, gun, and wallet from within his nighstand, and grabbed his fully charged phone from on top, placing the items in the correct places.
Finally, he strode out of his room, he resisted to urge to snatch Sento from it's display in the corner, feeling imense power just by crossing it's path.
Past his door he descended down the stairs, his house having two stories. He could smell the strong aroma of coffee and hear the whispering voices of a boy and girl, the latter giggling every so often. Once on the ground level he tiptoed over to the kitchen and found his cup of black coffee already made on the counter in his favorite peach colored yeti tumbler. He snatched it up and drank gratefully from it, 'Jacqui..' Kenshi thought as his tongue sent the delicious, sweet flavor of honey through to his mind. Even though it was just a bit, he could taste it in every sip, making him rethink his daily decision of taking it completely black.
Smiling softly he stepped outside the kitchen to gaze softly at the two figures lounging on the dark sofa, one lying upon the other's shoulder while they spoke quietly, privately. The former lifting their head to turn and touch lips to the other, while strong hands came to caress the sides of their face, deepening the display of affection.
"How cute!" Kenshi exclaimed loudly, teasingly while the teenagers scrambled to get away from each other's bodies, both of their faces growing a shade more pink. "Mr. Takahashi I'm so-" "Now Jacqui," The swordsman started, "no need for my favorite guest to get embarrassed over a harmless nothing. I meant it when I said make yourself at home." He finished with a wide grin and a charming wink. Jacqui lowered her head in a slight bow and giggled knowingly.
"How do you like the coffee, Dad?" The still bashful one came up with a fast diversion, cheeks still rosey. Kenshi took another swig and spoke, "It's actually better than usual, thank you Takeda, but an even bigger thanks to Jacqui, I needed a new twist." Jacqui looked over to Takeda and stuck her tongue out, wearing a haughty grin, while he gave out a hearty laugh.
"Takeda and I were going to go workout while you were at work, I just came to pick him up, I'll have him back before midnight-", Jacqui rambled off before Kenshi cut her off with a smile and a wink, "no need, take as long as you need. Play it safe kids."
"Oh, thanks-"
"Welp, we should be on our way then, bye dad!" Takeda shouted on his way out the door, dragging his girlfriend by the hand, slamming the door.
Kenshi looked away from the door chuckling slightly at his awkward son's antics. Grabbing his keys from the hook by the door he walked out of his house and locked the door behind him. He walked to his cherry red cadillac convertible and hopped in, putting on his silver mirror shades he stored in his console and started the engine, enjoying the sound and feel of it's pur. As it roared to life so did it's radio, Akon's voice "convict" sounding on sensitive ears.
As he drove to work he thought of a few nights ago, spent staring at a text that should have been left ignored. It was unusual to say the least, he hadn't reached out since Takeda had started living with him, not even to see how he was doing. Instead he would go visit him away from the house somewhere or call. When exactly a man like that had gotten a phone, better yet, had even learned how to use one was beyond him. But it was even stranger, when Kenshi had opened that single message and all it had read was "hey".
When the swordsman arrived to the site, of which he worked, he dug out his phone from his pocket and opened it to the single message from "Hanzo". He stared down at it solemnly, scrolling down.
2316
H: hey
K: ..hey
H: Is something the matter?
K: Just the 18 months worth of silent treatment. I really feel amazing. Wbu? Hru doing?
H: If you want to fight, find someone else
K: Typical of you to say, always playing victim
H: This was a mistake.
K: What?
0030
K: I'm sorry okay, I just don't understand..
0213
K: ..please answer Hanzo
Kenshi's eyes burned up, tears threatening to spill over onto his face. He suddenly lifted his face up and wiped his eyes of any wetness and smiled. He would spend his day focusing on work and thinking of someone else, Hanzo be damned.
The once blind man opened up his contacts and scrolled down to a familiar name, sending a text.
Sub-Zero
0645
K: Does 8 sound good?
Kenshi's phone buzzed almost immediately.
S: Anything, for you ;*
Kenshi's face lit up, instantly abandoning all thoughts of the previous assassin clan leader for instead, thoughts of a new one.
A/N: It's a little short, no? -tkaf
