Chapter I

A Legend disappears

They say a saga never ends; it only gets renewed like an ever turning wheel. Much like a train and its tracks on a predetermined destination it eventually meets its end; however that train much traverse that path once again for it is its duty to move passengers for one place to another. What duty has been invested into the Steam family?

Hazuki Residence

Nov 28, 2014 2000 PM

"Why did he leave; and where did he go....?" A young handsome man; favoring that of Japanese origin questioned himself. A silent downpour trickled upon the roof; as he sat in his room reading a letter from his farther. His hair an ebony texture was neatly combed forward; like his farther his cheekbones could be seen clearly through his face. Also, like his farther his eyes were amber in color going nicely with his nose ; which was shaped evenly between. It was apparent that his face was a mixture between a square and sphere. Much like his farther his apparel was plain and was meant to be that way not to draw unnecessary attention. He sported a dark blue windbreaker with a black tee shirt bias to the cover; below he wore blue jeans and plain white socks; since it was Japanese custom not to wear footwear in the house. Once again he recited the letter his father had left behind.

"Kyo, A man is nothing without duty. For in life duty is one of the many virtues a martial artist must follow. I have seen many things; and travel to far lands blinded by a foolish goal. I did not know in my travels that I was becoming a powerful Martial Artist both physically and mentally. But even if you are a man of virtue; you still have convictions. In life or death these convictions will stay with you forever.

"What do you mean father....?" Once again he questioned himself.

Kyo didn't understand; his face showed obvious distress. To have your mentor as well as your guardian depart from you tends to break ones will. Ryo Hazuki was his father and Sensei; their relationship in the dojo was as it should have been; master to pad wan in a JedI speaking sense. Outside of the dojo it was similar in the respect level; though Ryo refused to be called master by his son inside the household. Ryo was much like his father in the sense of discipline and manners. He embedded the four wude of budo into the Hazuki style. They were the four pillars that balance his art; and each of his students had to know the meanings like a second nature.

The young Hazuki practitioner exited his room making a quick right into the kitchen. The light emulated a small table and the chairs around it. A few wooden cabinets aligned the small kitchen; canned household goods were stocked in them. His mother Nozomi sat there weeping having already read the letter that Kyo finishing observing. Nozomi face shared the same distraught expression as her son; she looked up at him.

"Do you understand it Kyo-san?" The wrinkles under her dark brown eyes showed her aging; though one could see where beauty once lied. Her hair still had a dark texture to it; though it favored a salt and pepper shade then anything. She had known Ryo for a very long time before they had been wedded. Nozomi and Ryo were childhood friends; when people made fun of here because she made frequent trips to Canada. He would always defend her; in high school he was one of her closes friends as well. Although; she had girlfriends she associated with; the flower girl fell for Ryo. Even releasing her deepest feelings for him in Sakura park; even though he didn't give a reassuring response she knew he cared then. Ryo's father's murder and his quest to find the mysterious Chinese culprit was all that drove him. So he went off to China; and she went to Canada. Fate would have it that they would meet years later once again in Sakura park; and the rest was history.

"No....." His voice dry with silent grief.

"Ryo....he was always like this; leaving without saying goodbye proper." She closed her eyes and sighed.

Kyo sat down at that table next to his mother; hoping to comfort her by his presence. Nozomi was the caring -nurturing type mother that come to know and love. She diligently did all the household chores and cooked delicious dishes for the family. Her love for flowers were still there as she tended a beautiful garden with an assortment of colors in the bunch. The cherry blossom tree is usually where she spent her time in the evening relaxing with the voice of the wind.

"Mother but why would he leave like this; could it be something this important that he would leave no leads?"

"Your farther was always like this Kyo; he doesn't want us to get involve that is why he did this..." She spoke in a low tone.

"Not get involve? Could it be that serious?" Kyo tone begin to raise.

Nozomi sighed and looked Kyo into the eyes as if she was about to release a secret about his father and sensei that he didn't already know.

"Did your farther ever tell you about his quest, Kyo?"

"Only bits in pieces; and usually had something to do with my training and why I needed to learn something." Kyo answered quickly; not knowing what she was getting at.

"His quest was a quest of vengeance; for a man that murdered his father." She paused and looked away.

"My grandfather was murdered....." Kyo said shocked; for Ryo had never told the story behind Iwao's death.

"Yes; right before your father eyes." A familiar voice spoke from the entrance of the kitchen.

"Master Fukahara-san...?" Kyo responded immediately recognizing the voice.

Master Fuk-san dark hair was combed backwards held in place by some chemical gel; he didn't look much like the inexperienced young Fuk-san. Instead his dark brown eyes were tainted with an unwavering seriousness. He took off his dark leather jacket revealing; a normal but toned build; under he wore a red long sleeve shirt that had some silly animation hinting a hidden geek personality within him. The dark jeans he had on went with the leather jacket he hung on the adjacent coat rack.

"Master Iwao was killed by a powerful Martial Artist; he went by an alias Lan Di."

He nodded to Nozomi as a greeting as he said this.

"Master Fukahara-san did Ryo speak to you before he left did he leave any clues?" Kyo interrogated his elder.

"He told me not to follow him Kyo; that is all." Master Fukahara-san look was sincere as was his tone.

Kyo looked at Nozomi; an unwavering determination begin to burn in his eyes.

"I will find him...." Kyo voice boomed with confidence.

Nozomi was shocked by the sudden response.

"I will not allow you too!" She immediately responded; her tone rising with each word.

"Mother, but I must; father may be in a dangerous way; why else would he leave without telling where he was going" Kyo countered

Nozomi shook her head disagreeing.

"Even if that is so; I will not allow my only child....." She stopped overwhelmed by her feelings; she draped her face in her hands and begin to weep.

"Mother...." Kyo begin to go on; but then he stopped.

Kyo got up from his seat and begin to leave the kitchen; he looked to Master Fuk-san before he left.

"Master what is your advice?"

"Follow your mother instructions" He began silently. "Perhaps her opinion will change."

Kyo nodded and headed back to his room.

"But even if you are a man of virtue; you still have convictions...." Kyo recited his father's words once more as he laid down on his bed.

Hazuki Residence

Dec 1, 2014 0830AM

Kyo began his daily routine of personal hygiene before departing to school; his father location; the only thought burning in his mind as he crossed out of the Hazuki residence front yard.

Yamanose

Dec 1, 2014 0845AM

The sky was fair; clouds sparsely fabricating the sky; traversing from east to west. Blocking the sun's radiant shin whenever possible; oblivious to the extent of its action. Not like man; or any life form for that matter. Yamanose had went over a enormous technological upgrade; the streetlights ran parallel along the high wooden post. Minature satellites were posted on the post; to support a variety of communication aspects such as phone; internet etc. The hardball road has blackout lights which off a lithium battery; that are built into the pavement; in case of a power failure. The buildings were pretty much the same; made out of wood or brick. Lining the street. The Hazuki residence was probably the only home that still had the traditional Japanese home feel.

Kyo walked pass the shrine which was also unscathed by the ever growing technology.

"I'm going to be late if I don't hurry" Kyo said to himself.

Suka High

Dec 1, 2014 0901AM

Kyo walked in the classroom just as the bell ranged; everyone was already seated in looking at the odd one out who had just entered the classroom. The instructor Mr. Kazama; a man who looked to be in his mid forties; looked him up and down disrespectfully; his dark eyes beaming through the his glasses as if he glared hard enough, a projectile would shoot his student dead.

"Late again I see Mr. Hazuki..." He said mockingly.

"I..." Kyo didn't even bother to ponder an excuse.

"See that it doesn't become a habit..." he continued dryly.

Kyo started towards his seat; ignoring giggles and annoying stares that surveyed his body as he made his way across the room. He finally sat down in his assigned seat near the window; where he could wander in his thoughts from time to time; when Mr. Kazama would babble about some mindless equation pertaining to a chemistry formula that mattered little in life; or at least that is what Kyo thought. The classroom had a traditional feel; except all the desk had laptops with the current lesson plan; something about a sodium hydroxide mixture. Kyo didn't pay any attention to his laptop that much to care exactly what it meant. He begin to drift off and think about things that mattered; like his father's whereabouts.

"Same time, Kyo?" A feminine voice whispered to him as begin to gaze out the window.

Kyo sighed as soon as he heard the voice.

"Sakura..." he said in a impatient tone

She smiled and her eyes sparkled as they possessed an amber shade. Her vibrant dark hair streaked down to her shoulders; her face had a natural beauty for she did not wear makeup or any kind beauty cosmetics. She wore the school uniform; navy blue ribbon tied to a sky blue jacket and white undershirt. The mini skirt was the same color as the jacket; and went well above her knees.

"Are you afraid you'd lose?" She teased.

He shrugged his shoulders indicating he didn't care either way. Kyo really wasn't in the mood; he didn't dislike Sakura. For she was actually one of his most trusted friends. But the disappearance of his father was his main concern.

"Something bite you last night Kyo?" She went on.

Kyo looked at her clearing his mind of all troubling thoughts as he did so.

"Same time....."

Suka High, Rooftop

Dec 1, 2014 1201PM

Kyo leaned against fence aligning the rooftop that was about twenty five meters wide. The sun had found its way to the highest point in the sky; beaming down with the full extent of its power. He glimpsed over to the only entry or exit to the roof; Sakura came walking through.

"Seems like I'm late" She said smiling; dropping her bag against the wall.

"It seems so..." Kyo looked down at the ground as he said this in a constant tone.

Sakura knew there was something invalid about the way Kyo was behaving. He was usually full of spirit and willing to compete. But now he seem distraught as if something had struck him; a significant of importance. She would find out.

"A martial artist does not let their heart weigh more than its weight." She started in a serious tone.

He smirked in looked intently at Sakura; he liked when she became preachy like a sensei would. Many times she did not know the meaning to her random quotes; so Kyo would play along and ask the meaning.

"And what does this mean oh honorable master?" Kyo played along.

"A martial artist must have supreme balance; and he can't maintain this balance if his heart is heavy. Even a feather more of weight could upset this balance." She went on; her hair swayed in the wind as she passed on her advice.

"I understand." Kyo agreed with what she was saying.

"So, what is the problem?" She interrogated once again.

Kyo would be blunt and get right to the point.

"My father, he has departed and has no real trace of his whereabouts...."

An alarmed look enveloped Sakura face; she knew Master Hazuki from the many tournaments she had seen him win throughout Japan. He had made his dojo famous; exhibiting the Hazuki style prowess throughout the Okinawa area. However, he was very strict about teaching the art to anyone. Having only a dozen students under his discipline; he was intent on keeping the style a blood art. Much like how the Samurai were with the sword discipline they taught; it didn't get out beyond trusted friends.

"Master Hazuki-san? Why would he just leave?" She seem very upset over the fact.

"He didn't just leave; it was more like he had a mission. A sense of duty; but for what I don't know..." Kyo answered before going on again.

"That's why I must find him...."

"A mission; sounds...Omoshiroi (Interesting)"

"Yeah sure does sound Omoshiroi. But my mother is forbidding me to pursue" Kyo yawned exhausted.

"When has that stopped you before?" She smirked as she spoke these words.

"Never." Kyo answered truthfully.

Kyo begin to take off his windbreaker revealing his arms; which were toned with developed muscles.

"So you've been working out have you? Strength for speed eh?" She teased as she raised her hands right below her chin; and slightly bent her knees; with her right leg forward.

"I've been going to the gym. The only thing that matters in fighting is power..." Kyo said in a cocky voice.

"My, I can't believe that's coming from someone I've bested before. Power is nothing without speed and skill. You've been training and don't realize that; you're still a beginning Kyo." She said; her voice exhilarated with the thought of the fight.

"You're right and you're wrong." Kyo shook his head.

"Oh?" She gestured quizzically.

"I admit that I'm a beginner; but you don't understand power do you? Power is a combination of Strength, speed, and skill. I'll show you what I mean."

Kyo got into the basic Hazuki stance; bending his knees and raising his hands slightly above his mid section.

"Koy (come)" Motioned his hand toward Sakura