DISCLAIMER: All characters that actually exist in the Indiana Jones series belong to Lucas and Spielberg.

Chapter 4: Yoshida Hisoka

Bedford, USA, 1929

Indy swilled the brandy before he swallowed it. 'I suppose it was kinda stupid of me not to think of it before.'

Across from him, Marcus raised his eyebrows. 'I wouldn't say that. It seems like the kind of thing you'd only think of if you actually became immortal.'

'What, that you'd have to watch everyone grow old and die around you while you stayed young?' Indy shook his head. 'No, I don't think so. And…' His brow furrowed.

'What's really bothering you?' Marcus asked.

Indy took a sip. 'What if I'm next?'

'Next to be immortalised?' Marcus asked. 'Don't jump to conclusions, Indy.'

'I'm not,' Indy said. 'Immortals don't like telling mortals about themselves. But that was one of the first things Nick told me when we met. He actually said "I'm immortal". And these guys…every time someone becomes immortal. Why would a mortal man be allowed to see this stuff unless…' He trailed off.

Marcus tried to reassure him. 'You can't just assume that's the reason.'

'Can't I?' Indy demanded, hand tightening around the glass. 'You do remember that my father's been looking for the Holy Grail since long before I was born. And that's the sure fire way to become immortal.'

'But you told me yourself,' Marcus said. 'The Dalens took possession of half of the required tablet. Henry won't find the Grail without Andor's help. Neither will anyone else.'

Indy scowled at his drink. 'I can still think of ways for people to get to it.'

They were both silent for a long moment.

'Have you moved onto the next one?' Marcus apparently went for a topic change.

'Yes, I have.' Indy chuckled to himself. 'First guy that watched the corruption happen alongside his wife and kid. Didn't run off all half-cocked.'

'Oh, really?' Marcus asked, interested. 'What's his name?'

'Hisoka.'

Akita, Japan, 1375

Yoshida Hisoka left the bodies of men he would once have called his comrades behind him. Cradled on his arm, curled up in a blanket and held to his chest, was Hisoka's young son and only child, Yuichi. The three year old boy was fast asleep.

Hisoka cut through the city until he came to a building. He opened the doors and marched inside. Without any hesitation, Hisoka climbed up the stairs, walked down the hallway and entered a bedchamber.

The bed curtains were pushed aside and a woman of small stature looked out. 'Hisoka? Is Yuichi…?' She spoke in their native Japanese tongue.

Hisoka answered in kind as he laid the toddler on the bed with his wife. 'He's fine, Chiasa. 'Scared and a little bruised but no worse for wear. No permanent damage. Nothing that wouldn't come from his own wilful fun.'

Chiasa hugged her son. 'You swear to the Sennin?'

'The Sennin and the Gods if so you please, my darling.' Hisoka turned away and started pulling off his armour. 'The boy is tough, just like his old chichi.'

Chiasa cleared her throat pointedly. Hisoka looked at her, pouting. She nodded down to her bandaged torso and ribs.

'Very well.' Hisoka huffed. 'Most of it comes from his haha.' He walked over to her and sat down. He reached up and turned her loose hair behind her ear. 'You know, Chiasa, most wives let their husbands believe in their assumed superiority.'

'That may be true, my Samurai.' Chiasa reached up and curled her fingers around her husband's. 'But you like to know your limits. You like to remember that you are, after all, only human. You are fallible. You do not want to be like that dog of a Shogun and all around him.'

Hisoka bowed his head. 'And because of the woman I love and thus married, I never shall.'

Bedford, USA, 1929

Indy opened his eyes and lifted his hand to his head. 'Lucky bastard.'

Tokyo, Japan, 1929

Yoshida Hisoka:

Born in the Muromachi Period. Hisoka was a highly skilled Samurai who was dishonoured when he struck down the men of Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and stole many items of food, clothing and finery. It is reported that these items were taken apart by his wife, Lady Yoshida Chiasa, and used to feed and clothe the destitute who wandered the streets.

Yoshida Hisoka refused to disembowel himself in order to regain his honour. Towards this end, he became known to official records as "the Dishonoured Samurai".

Indiana Jones leaned back and stretched. His back cracked and he relaxed. Dishonoured, his foot. Money and resources were taken from Japan's populace so the Shogun could pamper themselves. That was how the destitute became as such. Whoops, they happened to need to go through the town where Hisoka lived.

The same way that – whoops – the Crusaders had to go through the town where Sigurd lived, a century beforehand.

On the contrary to what they thought, Indy knew that the reason Hisoka didn't disembowel himself was because he didn't believe he'd been dishonoured. The Samurai had existed to defend the Emperor. There was no longer an Emperor in total power. Indy knew most of the Samurai had transferred that loyalty over to the Shogunate. But not him.

Hisoka transferred the loyalty to the people.

Indy looked down again. He was surprised to see another familiar name right underneath Hisoka's.

Yoshida Yuichi:

The son and only child of the Dishonoured Samurai. Possibly due to his parentage, Yuichi was a recluse. He trained in the arts of the Samurai but was never officially integrated into the order. Yuichi travelled across the sea to various lands, bringing back a wealth of knowledge and skills.

There was another Yoshida Yuichi, possibly a descendant, who was integrated into the Samurai Order by Emperor Ninkō, whose life Yuichi saved where the actual Samurai failed.

'They wouldn't have been happy about that,' Indy mused. He doubted it was a different Yoshida Yuichi that saved Emperor Ninkō. Now that he thought about it, that was the Emperor that begun the deterioration of the shogunate.

Pankot Palace, India, 1836

Yuichi ran out of the Palace, his pouch kept close. He could hear the gunshots behind him. He ignored them as he ran, reaching into his pouch. He produced a smooth stone, marked with representation of the three levels of the universe. Yuichi threw it back and it sailed through the air, vanishing into the jungle.

Yuichi kept running. The speed in which he crossed the jungle was inhuman, at the very least. He dug into the pouch again and pulled out another of the stones. He flung that off in a random direction as well.

Yuichi kept running until he came to a rock formation. He stumbled to a stop and looked down. Below him was a village. No crops growing and very few animals. Even from where he was Yuichi could see that every living thing down there was undernourished. He pulled a third stone from his pouch.

'You were used for evil before.' He seemed to be speaking to it. 'Now it's time you did something good. Fulfil your original purpose and breathe life into these people.'

The stone glowed brightly. Plants seemed to flourish out of the ground in the village and Yuichi saw water fill up their well.

The natives turned to him and raised their hands, crying out thanks. Yuichi smiled and walked down. The elder came forward, pressing his hands together and greeting and thanks. Yuichi tucked the stone back into his pouch and returned the gesture.

'We thank you.' The elder spoke in Tamil. 'You come and give life to our village.'

Yuichi smiled and pulled the rock out again, holding it out. He also spoke in Tamil. 'This is a gift from Shiva. We ask that you accept it and flourish.'

The elder took the stone reverently. 'We prayed to Shiva for help. We accept graciously.'

Yuichi nodded. That was three of them spread out. The five stones could never be assembled again. He would take the two he had home with him. Speaking of which, Yuichi smiled at the elder. 'My duty performed, it's time I went home.'

The elder nodded and bowed. 'May your journey be smooth.' He went over to his people. Yuichi turned and walked out of the village.

Lima, Peru, 1930

Indy didn't even open his eyes. 'Haw. He's got two of the Sankara Stones.'