199X

Goro is 14.

He is sitting right beside Theresa; he leans over, and kisses her. She answers the kiss.

"Relax" he says "You're so tense"

"I know, I'm sorry"

Theresa's eyes are clouded with concern.

"I was just thinking...Shun and Saya shouldn't be away from the Temple at times like this. Do you think...war will really break out?"

Of course it will.

After all, men could only solve things through violence. Hell, they didn't even need a reason to use violence: they would often use it just 'cause they felt like it. But Goro wouldn't say that to Theresa.

"Who knows. Anyway, Shun and Saya can take care of themselves"

He kisses her again. Her hand moves up his tight.

"What's this?" she asks "You have something in your pocket"

"Oh, this?"

He pulls a deck of tarot cards out of his pants.

"I used to have a deck like this" he explains "I used these cards all the time, when I was living out in the streets...you know, telling fortune to passers-by. But...I lost it long ago. So, I thought I would buy a new one"

He hasn't actually bought it though: he has stolen it.

Why would I spend money on something I can easily get for free?

He sees guilt in Theresa's eyes.

"Back then" she whispers "If only we had an idea of what you were going through, we would have..."

"No, you wouldn't have"

Theresa furrows her brow. Before she can speak, Goro shakes his head.

"I'm not blaming you, alright? It's just that people don't help each other out like that. How many passers-by could have called the police, seeing a young boy panhandling in the streets? They could have made sure I was looked after. But they didn't: it was none of their business, so they didn't care"

Theresa opens her mouth to reply something, but Goro stops her.

"Enough with the boring stuff. Here, I'll tell you fortune".

He picks a tarot card from the deck.

Hardships ahead, uh?

"So, what does that mean?" she cheerfully asks.

"It means...you'll live a long life. And you'll be rich"

"Sounds good!"

They laugh. Then, Theresa picks up a card too.

"I'll pick one for you. Umh...what's this?"

She shows it to him. Goro's eyes narrow.

Death.

Before he can say anything, Mai bursts into the room. She's usually so composed, but right now she looks tense and agitated.

"Theresa, Goro" she says "Japan has been attacked. Several cities have been flooded with nerve gas. Nuclear warheads may be launched at any moment"

"What about Shun and Saya!?" Theresa's exclaims.

"We don't know. We can only pray they come back to the Temple safe and sound"

Even Goro is shaken by the news.

Still looking at Mai, Theresa reaches out for his hand. Goro holds tight to it.

Three months later.

Theresa is standing at the window, looking into the distance. The world is now a wasteland; black clouds hover above it.

Goro approaches her from behind; he tries to put his arms around her waist.

"Don't" she says.

Goro doesn't even try to hide his disappointment.

"You're still grieving, uh?"

It has been two weeks since the nun that had adopted Theresa and her sisters died, poisoned by radioactive water. Since then, she has grown distant from him.

"It's not just that. It's...I can't shake it off, this feeling of doom. Look out there: Japan is gone. There's no government, no police, no law...people are killing each other for food and water. Will we ever recover from this? Will things ever be the same as before?"

Goro looks into the distance, staring at the barren land with indifference.

"Has anything really changed at all?" he asks.

Theresa quickly turns to look at him.

"What do you mean!?"

"People were already killing each other before the war broke out. They did it for money. They killed, stole, hurt and betrayed: that's what people do. Some people didn't because...well, they were afraid of consequences. But now, there's no police to be afraid of; no army to come to town and bring order. The world has finally revealed its true face: a place where only the strong survive. I see nothing wrong with that"

Theresa is shaken by his words.

"How?" she asks "How can you say things like these?"

Goro eyes grow sadder, as they stare into the distance.

"I don't know" he replies "Sometimes, I feel like I've been living in a wasteland my entire life"

They stand next to each other for a few more seconds; then, he tries to hug her again.

Theresa pushes him away.

A year and a half later

"ATA!"

Goro is pushed back by the strength of the impact; he falls to the floor, letting out a moan of pain.

He looks up at Saya, who's towering over him as she catches her breath.

"Ah, getting beaten up by a girl" Roxanne mocks him, standing a few feet away from them "How pathetic!"

"Roxanne, enough!" Saya scolds her sister "It's only natural that Goro still hasn't catch up with us: we've been training for all of our lives, after all"

Then, she looks at him.

"I think it's enough for today" she says.

"Fuck it! I'm not done yet!" Goro growls as he gets back on his feet.

"If this keeps up, you only end up getting hurt more"

Saya turns her back on him.

"We'll do this again when you're ready, ok? You still need more training"

"The hell I do!"

Goro jumps at her, trying to hit her from behind.

Saya reacts by instinct; her elbow sinks in Goro's mouth, knocking him down.

Goro brings a hand to his lips: they are split. Blood runs through his fingers.

Exactly like that time at the bridge…

Saya is staring at him with bloodshot eyes.

"Why do you act like this?!" she yells at him "You are always so aggressive and resentful! It's like, we aren't even a family to you!"

"A family?"

Goro chuckles.

"Don't make me laugh. If I hadn't saved Theresa's life, you would have left me in that shelter, to starve to death. The buddhist monk that took me in...he was a thief, and a drunkard, but he still was a better person than all of you"

As Saya silently stares at him, too shaken to reply, Goro gets up and walks away.

"Don't feel bad about him" he hears Roxanne say "Little rascal, attacking you from behind...he got was he deserved"

Goro is swinging at the wooden mannequin with everything he's got. His fists leaves dents in the wood, but his hands are hurt in return.

Damn it all!, he thinks, as he pushes through the pain. This isn't enough! I need more! More power!

"Can I ask you something?"

Goro flinches upon hearing the voice behind him. He turns around to face Shun. Now that he's close to 18, Shun looks like a handsome, athletic man; Goro, instead, still looks like a scrawny boy.

"What's with you and strength?" Shun asks "You are obsessed with it. Not every man is born with the same talent: even if you train for another twenty years, chances are you will always be behind the rest of us. But what's wrong with that? As long as you stay humble and fight with honour, you will always have the dignity of a martial artist"

Goro rolls his eyes.

"Yeah, right. Listen up: I'm not going to stay in this shitty place forever. As soon as I'm ready, I'll take the test, and leave the Temple. Then, I will get whatever I want with my strength. I could care less about honour and dignity. You can't eat those"

Shun crosses his arms.

"You won't be allowed to do that" he says "Using your strength for your own goals is against the Law of our Fist"

Goro grins. It's an evil grin: for the first time, even Shun feels a shiver going up his spine.

"Yeah, right. You're the one to talk about the Laws of our Fist...you murderer"

Shun freezes. His eyes narrow.

"How do you…?"

"Oh, I know all about your little secret. I eavesdropped a conversation between Saya and Theresa. Saya thought she could get intimate with you, now that she's passed the test. But you just couldn't fuck her, could you?"

Shun moves quickly, too quickly for Goro to react. He grabs him by his throat and lifts him from the ground. Goro tries to free himself, to no avail.

"You're talking about things you don't understand" Shun growls.

"What I do understand, is that you broke the Law of the Fist" Goro replies, with an arrogant smile on his face "You killed your first client! A crime punishable by death! And not only you were forgiven...you were even allowed to not sell your body to anyone anymore. Hell, even your girlfriend is about to sell her body, and you don't! Poor Shun, so scarred by his Mistress' test, he can't uphold his sacred duties! But it's ok, because you're "perfect" Shun, loved by all! So go on, beat me up if you want: I'm sure they'll forgive you for that too! Everyone loves you, even though you're just a murderer!"

Shun stares at him, silently. He's still holding Goro by his throat, but he doesn't dare to hit him.

"Mhm, well look at you" Goro comments "Let alone denying it...you don't even regret it"

Shun lets him go; Goro falls to his knees, then slowly gets back up.

"Well, it's not like I judge you for that" he goes on "I would have done the same thing too. I would never allow a disgusting old man to touch me...and neither should you. Someone as powerful as you should be able to choose his own fate"

Shun takes a deep breath, and closes his eyes for a few seconds, in an attempt to calm down.

"You are right about that, Goro. In fact, I'm leaving this Temple"

Goro's eyes widen. He's not expecting something like that, not from Shun.

"What?!"

"There are people, out there, in need of my help. Kenshiro-dono has been traveling the wastelands, eradicating evil from Earth. He has defeated Shin, King of Southern Cross, and the Mistress thinks he will end up facing Ken-oh as well. Kenshiro inspired me to do the same: I can't just sit here, when my strength can be put to good use"

"Uh, typical Shun-like bullshit" Goro snarls " Well, go ahead then. You can go die in some God's forsaken place for all I care. I'm not giving you a goodbye kiss"

Shun sighs, and turns his back on him.

"I'm leaving this place unprotected. Of course, you guys still have the Mistress...but you still need to look after each other. Please, Goro...protect Saya and the others for me. I'm sure they will do the same for you"

He moves a few steps, walking away from him.

"Wait a second" Goro utters.

Shun stops.

"You ask me to protect Saya...shouldn't you be the one to do that?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, she passed the test. And even if the world has ended, clients are still coming to the Temple, offering food in exchange for sex. Are you really okay with her selling off her body? If she were my woman, I would never allow that. If I still..."

If I still were with Theresa, I would protect her, he thinks, as he feels a sting of pain in his heart.

"Now listen up, Shun" he goes on "Do something sensible in your entire, petty life: take Saya with you. Take her away from this shitty place, and never come back"

Shun still has his back to him. Goro sees him clenching his fists, as if facing some inner struggle.

Then, without a single word, Shun walks away.

Goro is at the window.

Shun is in front of the Temple, saying goodbye to everybody. He and Theresa hug; Theresa has never hugged Goro like that.

Then, Shun turns his head to Saya.

"I got something for you" he says.

Then, he hands a blue flower to her.

"A cornflower!" she exclaims "But, where…?"

"The Devil's Twin Peaks" he explains "Flowers are growing back. And if flowers are growing, then crops can grow too. That means, there's still hope for mankind. This flower is a symbol of hope. So, I thought you should have it".

Saya has watery eyes.

"Be safe out there" she whispers "And come back soon"

"I will"

They kiss.

Goro averts his gaze, overcome with envy and frustration. As he stares at Theresa, his nails sink into his palms.