Prologue

"Nine...ten. Ready or not, here I come," he said as his head lifted from the dining room table. Standing from his chair he quietly crept from the dining room to the connecting hallway. "Son," he called as heard some shuffling at the end of the corridor.

"Find me daddy," a young voice yelled

Hide and seek was little Naoki's favorite game, he and his father would play it all the time and he never got tired of it. The man exited the hallway into the living room, and though it wasn't huge, there were many places for a small body to hide. In the back right corner sat a sofa and love seat with a small coffee table and television, creating the seating area. Next to it on the right wall was the balcony door, still shut and locked. The left wall had a long book case covered with books, small statues, and other trinkets. To his immediate right was a computer table and chair and to his left sat a rocking chair. He smiled as he noticed it moving and heard breathing coming from behind it, "keep talking, take it easy on me," he said making his way to the seating area.

The three year old boy poked his head out from behind the rocking chair and saw his father walking away from where he was hiding.

"Could you be under HERE!", as he lifted the sofa cushion over his head, "No little boy, huh...I know where he is." The man looked over to the corner where the bookcase and wall met, "you won't trick me again...wha!."

"Gottcha," the boy yelled as he grabbed his his father leg.

"You're gettin' to good for me, son"

laughing the boy replied, "I beat you again daddy." They laughed together.

Hanzo...," a woman called, "...can you help me with the groceries?"

"It looks like your mother is home, go say hi," Hanzo said to his son. Naoki ran through the apartment in search of his mom yelling all the way.

Hanzo walked back through the hallway to the dining room and made his way to the kitchen where he met his wife, Miwa. She set down some plastic bags and they embraced then kissed. "How was work honey," he asked.

"Just another day at the office," she replied.

They continued their conversation all the while putting up groceries and a little boy screaming in the background. They were a happy family living a normal life...but like everything, it would not last.

Night had fallen and Hanzo had just put his son to sleep. He walked into the living room and saw the balcony door open and his wife standing outside. As she stared into the night sky, Hanzo slipped up behind her...startling her.

"Ooh!...I didn't hear you come out."

Hanzo just smiled, "you OK?"

"I'm fine," she said in an awkward tone, "just...thinking."

Hanzo could tell something was wrong, but she seemed fine just a short while ago. "What's on you mind. Talk to me."

She turned to face him and they stared into each others eyes, "I'm scared."

Hanzo looked a little surprised then asked, "of what?"

She reached down onto a small table next to one of the picnic chairs they had and picked up a folded piece of paper. Also on the table Hanzo noticed a small arrow about six inches long and his heart dropped. As she unfolded the note, Hanzo recognized the symbol at the top immediately, his body language changed.

"I know what this is," she started, "they're calling you again."

Hanzo stood silent.

"I've stood by you as you've put your life on the line many times, but this time, I have a bad feeling that you wont be coming back."

"Listen...," he said, "...you've said this before and look at me, I'm still here. Nothing will happen, I promise.

"But..."

"You know I requested lower profile jobs a long time ago, I'll be alright."

"I'm scared for you Hanzo...," she said as tears began to form in her eyes. "If you don't come back..."

"Shh...," as he hugged her and pulled her close.

Since Naoki's birth she'd become even more protective of Hanzo and increasingly more against his involvement with the clan. Hanzo felt her pain but really didn't understand it, "...I'll be back in a couple of days. I'm sorry to put you through this."

They embraced for a moment longer before Hanzo returned inside to prepare to leave. Miwa remained on the balcony, watching Hanzo until he turned the corner, she then returned her attention to the night's sky. Tears still welling in her eyes she finally broke down and fell to her knees.

Hanzo knew of the note earlier, he hid it so that Miwa wouldn't find it and do what she was doing now. Bags already packed he just picked it up and returned to the living room. She was still crying and Hanzo couldn't bare to face her. Blowing her a kiss he turned and left the apartment

"Good Bye Hanzo," she said, tears flowing, still looking at the night's sky.