Yamanouchi

Master Sensei kept his composure, in situations like this he knew it was best for his students, if he set an example and did not fight back.

"Did you hear me old man, I know you have Stoppable's records, give them to me now or this school will burn", screamed Fukushima his spittle splashing on Sensei's face.

Master Sensei sighed, what Fukushima did not know was that Yamanouchi had been burned before, to protect the same secret he was protecting now. The same group that had seduced Fukushima was the same group that had taken his younger brothers life so many years ago.

Japan: 18 years ago

Master Sensei looked up to the sun, it wouldn't be long before dusk. He found himself traveling down a familiar path in the forest, a path he known since childhood and he welcomed the nostalgia, the smells of the forest carried. Master Sensei pulled some letters from his pocket. He hadn't seen his brother and the Yamanouchi school in two years. For reasons he did not understand the outside world had been calling to him, and it grew into a thirst he could not quench. He decided to see the world before accepting his role as headmaster of the Yamanouchi school. He would have been continuing his journey had he not received urgent letters from his brother.

Dear Jikei (older brother)

I have made an incredible discovery, the other day during our daily training my students and I were shocked to find a woman make her way into the school. I could tell instantly that she was an American. She was a beautiful looking women, but the minute she stepped foot into the school she dropped to the ground. The students suggested we remove her from the school, but I had this feeling that she was an important to person. She was badly injured; as if she had been through a tremendous battle. Her wounds were very severe; a lesser woman would have died. We've been treating her for the past week, but she hasn't awoken as of yet. But here is the problem, while walking past her room one night, I distinctly heard her mention the Lotus Blade. How could this be possible, you must make your way back home, I will try my best to awaken her.

Unfortunately it would be another two weeks, before Master Sensei could retrieve this letter, and when he did two others had followed.

Jikei this discovery is far greater then we can imagine. The woman has awoken, and she is a tenkei (oracle). The second she had awoken she has had already known my name and the name of the others. She's revealed that she had been attacked because of her divine powers. She's made her way here because she knew we could protect her from her pursuers, and for our cooperation she's revealed the next master of our sacred treasure. She has forbidden me to tell you any more in this letter, so you must hurry. I have so much to tell, hurry!

The next letter was much more foreboding.

Jikei this is the final letter I believe will reach you safely. The students have confirmed that strange men have been moving throughout out our perimeter. The enemy seems to be the same ones that injured the tenkei. I have been preparing the students for battle; we must protect the tenkei at all costs. Even if Yamounchi is put in harms way, the future of the world depends on our victory. Hurry Jikei your skills in battle will be of great use to us.

Master Sensei had hurried back to Japan the minute he received the letters. Yamounchi was his home and it would be his honor to protect it in battle. He was an old man but he was still a greater fighter then his younger brother. He only hoped the fight had not begun without him. Suddenly there was a large thumping sound ahead of him in the forest, the sound of a body hitting the ground. Master Sensei moved cautiously towards the sound. Nearing his target he found the body of one of Yamanouchi's students leaning on a tree.

"Jigen san is that you?" He called out as he rushed towards the boy.

Jigen clutched his side blood gushing from his wound, soaking through his Shinobi Shozuku. He leaned against the tree panting from the pain until he noticed Sensei.

"Master Sensei is that you?"

"Yes Jigen san, what's going on why are you injured?"

Tears formed in the boy's eyes he turned them away from Sensei, and rolled them to the ground.

"I'm sorry Master Sensei, I have disgraced the school."

"What, Why?"

"I am a coward Master, the enemy they were so strong so powerful, I... I just did not want to do die master. I Ran." He said as tears streamed down his face.

He clutched his wound again, knowing it was fatal.

"I've abandoned my friends, and now I will die in the eyes of my ancestors as a coward."

Master Sensei grabbed the boy's hands.

"The way I see it young one, it was fate that brought you here to me, so you can inform me on the situation, maybe I can save the others.

The boy's eyes lit up as he felt a large pressure lift off his soul.

"This morning they demanded that we hand them the tenkei, but we refused. In a matter of minutes their first wave had attacked, we managed to defeat them but we suffered many casualties."

The boy took a deep breath as he stared off into the forest, "there was so much blood, and half of the school had been killed."

Master Sensei fell to his knees clutching at the dirt beneath him, "how large was the enemies' forces?"

"There were only ten of them in the first wave Master."

"T...Ten, Ten men killed half of the school?"

"Yes master"

"And what of my brother?"

"Before a second wave could attack he took the remaining elite students to catch them off guard, he returned alone badly injured. That's when they attacked again, and I broke free."

"How did you escape from the school?"

"Long ago I discovered a secret path from the school, which leads to a hidden cave, even the masters, did not know about it. It can be found to the east."

He began to cough up blood, his body began to feel so cold, and his time was almost up.

"What will you do now master?"

"I will use your path to make my way to the school, I'll do me best to try to save as many as I can."

Standing up, he looked back at the boy "I should thank you; this wouldn't be possible without your information."

The boy smiled "no, thank you master."

He closed his eyes "From delusion lead me to the truth, From darkness lead to me light, From death lead me to eternal life. After his prayer he took one last breath and then lay still.

Master Sensei said a silent prayer in his head and then ran towards the east.

Once in the cave he found himself at the edge of a pit, where a rotten wooden ladder descended into the depths. His decent was unusually slow for someone of his quickness; he dropped rung by rung into the depths of the pit. The ladder groaned with ever step, and with each groan a new horrific thought entered the master's mind. If only he had not left, he could have been there to protect the students, what made him want to leave anyway. It was unusual for a Master to just get up and leave their schools. And now he was paying for his selfishness. He felt relieved when his feet hit the spongy earth at last.

He pushed himself forward, his eyes adjusting to the darkness he stayed close to the walls as he made his way towards a small light at the end of the tunnel. The light shone from the cracks of the wall that blocked his way. He ran his fingers over the smooth wall; abruptly he heard a loud click as the wall slid open.

Master Sensei stepped out and found himself in the Yamanouchi training hall. The hall was littered with the dead bodies of his students, their blood splattered on the walls, most of their faces twisted in terror. The sight of it all overwhelmed him. Never had he seen such carnage, it was enough to bend his steel will. He had never expected such a terrible spectacle.

Suddenly he heard footsteps outside of hall's door.

"Show yourself villain" a voice cried from behind the door, then the door flung open.

"Master Sensei you've returned" shouted a group of students.

Master Sensei took his eyes off the bodies on the ground, a looked towards the door where more of his students stood. He had no time to think about the dead, now he had to concentrate on the living. He started at them, eight in all, five boys and three girls.

They bowed in front of him "Master we have pushed the enemy back out of the school, we will be engaging again them shortly."

He stared at them, they looked like they had been fighting for much of the day, and he could tell their young bodies would not hold out much longer.

"Engage them again? You all are in no position to fight again."

"But Master Sensei, Master Shoutei has ordered us to attack them again," one girl said.

"But to do that with such enemies will mean certain death" Sensei told them.

"We are ready to give our lives for the school Master."

"What about my brother, will he not fight alongside you, is he using you so he can flee."

"No, he has assured us he would join us in battle soon; but we had to stall the enemy until he arrived" said another one of the students.

"Where is he now?"

"He's at the temple master; he had important business to attend too."

"Alright I will go to him, you all come with me" he told them as he began to walk past.

"We're sorry Master but we must complete our mission."

"No, as your master I order you to come with me."

"We're sorry Master Sensei but Master Shoutei has ordered that our mission to stall the enemy takes precedence over all. We cannot ignore such a mission now."

"Even if it means your death?"

"Yes Master Sensei."

He walked past them knowing that arguing further would be useless.

"You should be proud my students, you are excellent ninja."

"Thank you Master" they said before running towards their fate.

Master Sensei headed in the opposite direction, he tried to recall when the school was ever in so much danger.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx

He pushed though the temple door to find his brother tossing papers into a fire.

"Anki."

"Jikei you have returned, fate smiles upon us," his brother said as they embraced.

"What are you doing, burning these papers?"

"I made the mistake of recording my conversations with the tenkei, now I must destroy them all."

Master Sensei looked around the room and then noticed a women lying on the floor apparently dead.

"Is that her, why would they kill her I thought they wanted her alive?" said Master Sensei

His brother looked at the body, she was not killed by them, "she's ingested hemlock which I have given her."

"But why; so many have died to protect her."

His eyes fell to the floor "I know but the school has fallen anki, the information she has cannot fall into there hands."

"What information?"

"Brother the one, who shall wield the Lotus Blade, will use it to become a savior of mankind."

"What are you saying?"

"The tenkei; she foretold that the master who will receive the Lotus Blade is one who is blessed by the heavens, he's too come to train at this very school and use the blade to deliver the world from darkness. But there are those who seek to taint his heart, they wanted her because she knows who he is, she knows the chosen's name."

Master Sensei was shocked too the core by this revelation, he stood in front of his brother speechless.

"Who is it?"

"He's an American a boy named Ro--."

There came a large explosion that rocked the school.

Shoutei turned away frantically grabbing the rest of the papers and a glass chest containing The Lotus Blade.

"Brother how did you get into the school?"

"There was a secret passageway in the training hall that leads to the outside"

"Good" he said pulling at Master Sensei's arm we must hurry there.

"It's good to see you again brother" said Shoutei.

Master Sensei said nothing as ran alongside his brother his mind clouded with the information he had just received.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

They reached the training hall in a matter of minutes; Master Sensei showed his brother the entrance to the cave.

"We'll talk after we've escaped" he told Shoutei.

"I'm sorry Jikei, I cannot go with you this time."

Master Sensei looked at his brother as if he was insane "and why not?"

"I promised the students that I would join them not only in battle but also in death, as they have done, I will also fight to my last breath."

Master Sensei backed away from the cave entrance "then I will join you."

"No brother you must not, rebuild the school for the chosen, you are the only one worthy to train him to use the blade"

"But--"

"There must be a Yamanouchi for the chosen to train at. Beside the enemy has already seen me, so they will hunt me down anyway, but they don't know about you."

"Yes but--"

I know the school will flourish once again under your watch, My time with Yamanouchi is over but yours will be the greatest."

Master Sensei wiped the tears from his eyes.

"It's a shame to have a younger... brother, show much more wisdom than the older one."

"Well the younger one had an excellent teacher." He handed the glass chest and papers to Master Sensei.

"Teach him well anki, farewell."

Master Sensei hands explored the sides of the entrance and with a soft click the walls closed in front of him, just as the doors behind his brother burst open. Master Sensei watched through the cracks as a group of men clambered through the door.

Remembering his travels in the British isles the man seemed to dress like those the people there had called druids. They wore brown hooded robes to cover their bodies and face. The initial group moved to the sides as a large man arrived from behind them. He appeared to be the same age as Master Sensei but was in better shape. He had the darkest eyes the Sensei had ever seen, and they showed nothing but contempt. His beard was as white as snow and the same could be said for his hair and eyebrows.

He looked around the hall "I must give credit to this school you've lasted longer than most, from sun up to sun down actually, and you've managed to kill twenty of my men. Rather impressive indeed."

He stared at Shoutei with his cold dark eyes; but you are the last one, "surrender, hand me the oracle, and you may live."

"I'm sorry but I choose death" Shoutei pulled a small flower out from his pocket and popped it into his mouth.

"And don't expect to get any information from me, this plant insures that in a few minutes, I will leave this world, taking my knowledge with me."

The man frowned "if that is the case I will make sure your departure is painful."

Before Shoutei could react, the man stood next to him.

"Impressive speed for an old man eh"

He sent his elbow into the Shoutei's face, sending him crashing into the blood soaked walls.

It took all of his will to keep Sensei from leaping from his hiding place. His breath quickened as the man walked towards his brother.

"Like you, I've trained my whole life in the combative arts, but I trained for a higher purpose."

Master Shoutei stood up, blood flowing from his nostrils and lips, he threw a punch at the old man who caught his hand. With monstrous strength he pulled Shoutei's shoulder from its socket.

He screamed out in horror as his brother watched, his will softening with each scream.

"This higher purpose, the will of Azariel, and my own will has helped me to push past what humans can imagine."

He picked Shoutei off the ground and pinned him to the wall, crushing his ribs.

The old man brought his face close to Master Shoutei's "what do you think you've done today? You've just wasted dozens of lives. Mankind's time on this earth will end soon, and the world will be reborn, do you believe you've delayed this?"

Master Sensei was just about to jump through the wall. When his eyes came in contact with his brother's through the cracks in the wall, without saying a word his brother's eyes told Sensei what he had already known. He said a silent prayer backed away from the wall and solemnly headed to the ladder.

He left just as the man smashed his fist into his brother's throat, crushing his windpipe. The brother landed on the ground gasping for air, his lungs filling with blood. A few minutes later the brother stopped moving his body motionless on the ground.

"Master Olivetti" cried one of his men, "the oracle is dead, and we've found her body at the temple."

"Did you search her body?" He asked

"Yes Sir all we've found is this piece of paper with the initials R.S and V. C written on them.

"Is that all?"

"Yes Sir, what do we do now we've searched the area and have found nothing."

"Do not worry, I believe Azariel will lead us in the right direction, he will bring us what we seek," Olivetti said as he walked away from Shoutei's body

"Now let us leave this foul country."

"Shall we take the oracle's body with us Master?", the man asked as he followed closely behind Olivetti.

'No, in fact have the men burn this school to the ground."

"Yes sir."

Half an hour later when the last of them had gone Master Sensei moved from the shadows of the forest and stood in front of the flames that began to devour the school he had loved so much. Smoke rose high into the night sky, as he watched the flames dance mocking and taunting him for his weakness. He began to subconsciously weep, a cascade of memories flooded his mind all at once. He pushed the thoughts from his mind for now, he had to rebuild the school and create a new set of memories.

Yamanouchi Present day:

It had been awhile since those thoughts had visited Master Sensei, much had happened over the years. He had rebuilt the school as he had vowed, and he had made many wonderful memories with his new students. Three years ago the chosen had finally come to the school, and fate would one day make him return to receive the sword for good. But that day had come quicker than the Sensei had planed.

"So what will it be Sensei will you tell me what you know" said Fukushima dangling a sword in front of Sensei's eyes.

"Or will this get messy?"

"What is death but a passage to life"

"Wrong answer old one."

Fukushima swung the sword with all of his strength towards Master Sensei's neck.

"Wait, stop!" yelled out one of the students.

Fukushima stopped the sword as it approached Sensei's neck then he smiled. He headed towards the student who called out.

Grabbing the student by the collar he began to scream "what do you know?"

"Do you promise not to kill the master" the boy asked.

"Yes you have my word," said Fukushima.

"When he was here Stoppable san said he was from Middleton, Colorado in the United States.

Yori watched the scene from behind the wall, the same place Master Sensei had watched his brother battle years before. She had been told to come here by Master Sensei with a set of instructions for the Ron. She knew she should have left long ago but she was very concerned about the welfare of her classmates.

The boy who was still in Fukushima's grasp, turned to his master "I'm sorry Sensei, but I couldn't watch you die."

"Don't apologize, you talked because you're weak just like your master."

He pinned the boy to the ground "Now Sensei what will you do in turn for your pupil."

Master Sensei said nothing as Fukushima applied pressure to the boy's chest.

"What's the matter Sensei do you sense the power I have accumulated in such a short time, does it frighten you so, that you won't even help out your students."

Master Sensei again said nothing.

"Does the fact that you've been surpassed by a former student embarrass you so?"

"You are not the former student who will surpass, I believe you have already met that student" said Master Sensei coolly.

In a fit of rage, Fukushima sent the sword crashing down near the boy's face, causing the boy to faint. He rushed towards Sensei and kicked him in the face for the second time.

"That student as of right now is dead, he no longer matters now, theses men will see to it that he's dead."

"I must hurry to Ron kun" thought Yori "take care everyone" she said quietly as she ran towards the ladder.

"This isn't about him, this is about you and me. If you are so sure about my weakness, than prove it, prove that I'm weak."

Master Sensei again said nothing prompting Fukushima to hit him again. This caused the student's to scream out in anger.

"Fight me!" Screamed Fukushima at the top of his lungs.

One of the hooded men approached Fukushima.

"The girl is on the move" the man said.

"Excellent, don't follow her we'll just lose men for no reason, but tell the higher ups what we know" said Fukushima.

"Are you sure we shouldn't follow her?" the man inquired.

"No, she knows the woods around here more than any other, it would be tactical disadvantage. Anyway I want her to find Stoppable, if he manages to leave the U.S alive, it's given he'll come here. Then I'll have my revenge."

"Why would he come back here?" asked the man puzzled "anyone could tell this is trap."

"Because he'll come back to rescue this old fool and the rest" Fukushima said as he laughed "he has too, he's the chosen one."

Kim and Monique sat in the cafe, Ron was late and Monique's new boyfriend was in the bathroom.

"Well Kim what do you think about Mark."

"Monique he's a total fox," she answered.

"I know that's and he's not just eye candy either; we spent the whole day in the park talking about life. His words were like poetry Kim; we've been going out for only a few months now and I think he might be the one."

"THE one, Monique are you sure?"

"Yes Kim he's perfect, except for one thing"

"What is it, bad breath?"

"No it's no big really, but he has a fourteen month old daughter," Monique said sheepishly.

"Whoa, Monique that is the definition of big."

"Yeah, I was shocked at first. But she's cute you know. I'm sure we'll work things out, love conquers all they say. You've proved that anyway."

"It's a great feeling isn't, I'm so happy for you Monique".

"Well enough about me" said Monique "how are you dealing with your sitch?"

"And my sitch would be?" Said Kim as she took a sip of her water and looked away.

"Let me rephrase the question, how are you dealing with half of the girl's on campus throwing themselves at your fiancée ever since, we've come back from summer break."

"Really, I haven't noticed that" Kim said obviously lying.

" Kim, Ray Charles could have noticed the way those girls are snapping at Ron."

"Fine, yes I have noticed but, I don't really let it bother him. I don't think Ron has even noticed the attention he is getting" she said.

"You're right he does have a history of missing things like this" Monique said sighing "I guess his ignorance is your bliss."

"I already went through the jealously thing Monique, it doesn't look good on me. Besides our wedding is only three months away."

Ron suddenly darted into the cafe "hey girls the Ron man is here," he moved to the table kissed Kim and sat down next to her.

"So what's going on ladies?"

"You know Ron there's something different about you, it's like you have kind of glow around you."

"Ron looked at her surprised "that's weird Mo because Felix was just say--" he stopped talking as Mark returned from the bathroom.

"Mark this is Ron, Ron Mark," Monique said introducing her boyfriend.

Mark reminded Ron a little of Josh Mankey, but he was much taller and had brown hair and had on some snazzy looking glasses.

"So this is Mark huh; I've heard so much about you, a lot more than I wanted to know, but that's all right."

Mark laughed "same here, didn't I see you on the news the other day."

"Yeah I was, did they show me saving that little girl from the mutant ants" asked Ron.

"Actually, they showed a continuous loop of you jumping out of a burning building with you pants around your ankles."

Ron sat back in his seat disappointed "are they still showing that, it's been two months"

"Well you now what they say Ron there's no such thing as bad publicity" said Kim trying to cheer him up.

A few minutes later

"Hey KP how does it feel to be engaged to stud like me," said Ron as he was stuffing his face with food.

"Oh boy" whispered Monique to Kim "he knows."

"Luckily for you Kim" he continued "You've got the keys to my heart, but you better treat me right or some lucky lady may snatch me away" he said leaning back on his chair.

"Well it didn't take long for this to go to your head" she told him.

"Now Kim, I don't want you treating me like some kind of trophy husband, this has to be an equal marriage."

"Sure honey you know you're more than just a pretty face to me, too bad that's your best asset" she told him teasingly.

"Ouch Kim that was a low blow" Ron said smiling.

"Well Ron, since you haven't let the extra attention go to your head, I guess I should give you this" Monique pulled out a letter from her purse.

"It's a letter from my friend Chris on the debate team."

"My My, the ladies just can't get enough of the Ron man," then he stopped before opening the envelope completely.

"Monique" he said in a low voice "you do mean Christina from the debate team right?"

Monique just smiled at him.

"Don't play me Mo."

"Come on just open the letter" said Kim.

"You're a little too excited about this Kim" Ron said suspiciously, but then he gave in and opened the envelope.

He pulled out an index card and began to read, "Oh this is pretty steamy, and there's a picture too, lets take a look."

Ron looked at the picture for a second then quickly shoved it back into the envelope, "alright that's enough off that, why don't we order some more food."

"Hold on Ron" said Kim as she grabbed the envelope from Ron.

"Oh my" she exclaimed as she stares at the picture, then she handed it to Monique and Mark.

"Is that whipped cream?" Asked Mark in disbelief.

"I hope so" Ron said looking paler than usual.

"Is that a ribbon tied to his--".

"It sure is Kim" exclaimed Monique, the whole table burst out laughing.

"Alright that's enough of that, put the pic away and let us never speak of this again" Ron told them.

"What's the matter you should be flattered Ron," Kim told him, barely keeping in her laughter.

"You're right KP I should be happy someone is willing to show me something R rated".

She stopped laughing and stared at him in mock shock "is that a shot?"

"Maybe."

"You guys are too much" said Mark still laughing.

They finished their meal an hour later, which was then followed up by an additional twenty minutes of high school memories, tales of Kim and Ron's best adventures and joking around. As Mark leaves for the bathroom again Ron follows him in.

"So" said Ron using the urinal beside him "what school are you going to Mark."

"Oh I just started my third year at Upperton U" he replied.

"Wow Upperton, that's a nice school."

After a few seconds of silence then the conversation continues.

"Monique is a nice girl isn't she"

"Yeah she is, I really like her" Mark responded.

"I think she really digs you too, she seems really happy. Yeah, Monique and I have been friends for a long time. I like seeing her happy and I hope she stays happy."

Mark stays silent for a minute then he smiles "I get it, protecting your friend. Well you've got nothing to worry about, I really like Mo"

"That's great" said Ron "Then his face turns deadly serious "if you hurt her I'll make you sorry."

Mark took a step back, shocked by Ron's sudden change.

Then a large smile came to Ron's face "don't worry man, I'm just playing you"

Mark started laughing too "man you had me going there."

"You should have seen the look on your face" said Ron as he washed his hands at the sink.

Both couples walked out of the cafe holding each other's hands. It had been a wonderful afternoon so far and they wanted to enjoy it the best they could.

"Well what do you think about them Ron" Kim asked as she laid her head on his shoulder.

"Mark's a cool guy, I think those two will be okay" he answered.

"Kim do you notice anything different about me?"

"What why?" she asked

"I don't know I feel different, like I've changed somehow."

"Well" said Kim, she looked him up and down "you've got a little bit more muscular" she told him.

"Oh you've noticed."

"Noticed and liked" she said "But I don't want you trying to change yourself, I love you just the way you are."

"Oh I know that KP, I just still can't believe it".

They walked along silently, Ron wanted to tell her about the dreams he'd been having lately but decided not too. He didn't want to destroy the moment, He squeezed her hand lightly and smiled when she squeezed back.

"Life is good" he thought as rain clouds darkened the sky overhead.

Victor heard a slight rapping on his door, it was one of the few times he had allowed himself to sleep and he was already being disturbed.

"Come in" he said while continuing to lie on his bed.

A man wearing the typical robe of the organization came in through the door already bowing.

"Master our Japanese sect has confirmed the location of the other chosen."

"Excellent" said Malak "where is he?"

"We've confirmed he is Ronald Stoppable of Middleton Colorado, will you be traveling there sir?"

"No there is no need for me to do this personally, have someone else handle it".

"Yes Sir" said the subordinate as he made his way to the door.

"Hold on" Malak called after him "tell them not to take him lightly, he's been blessed, he's no ordinary man".

"I will remember Sir" he said then walked out

Victor closed his eyes again, letting the sleep take him.

No, Please stop, No, leave me alone. Victor help me help me please , a girl's voice screamed in the darkness.

Victor awoke abruptly in pool of sweat, he reached to the drawer next to his bed, and pulled out a small bottle filled with pills. He shoved a handful into his mouth and swallowed them whole without the use of water. His eyes were bloodshot, his skin became pale as if he had just stared into the face of his worst nightmare. It had been so long since he had those dreams, why did they come back now he thought. Turning his body to the side he found an old photo album lying next to him.

"Was I reading this"? He asked himself, "when did I bring this out?"

He reached for the album but it fell to the ground and opening up to a random page. Unknowingly he found himself staring at the page from his bed, it contained one only picture, the picture of a red haired girl around the age of thirteen. She was smiling, a smile that had haunted his dreams for years.

"Katherine" he said without realizing it.

He extended himself over so he could close the album when a small droplet of liquid fell onto the page. He looked up to see if his ceiling was leaking. He found nothing, then instinctively touched his cheek and felt the trail of moisture. He picked up the album and found that the picture was pockmarked with the residue of dried teardrops.

Angrily Malak hurled the album towards the only mirror in the room shattering it. He turned to a picture of his mentor/father Olivetti.

"Father why did you leave me, I'm not strong enough yet. I'm not strong enough" he cried on his knees.