.

Conquer and Clemency

"Where is he heading?" Monique demanded. Rufus came to a stop and pointed desperately at the Haunted House, chattering in alarm.

"Come on, we're going in!" Kim exclaimed.

"Leave Hirotaka to me! I can reason with him! Master, there is still a chance we can bring him back!" Fukushima vehemently insisted, looking at Sensei.

"Perhaps there is, but will you know when reason will no longer work? Will you recognize when he has stopped listening and there is no more you can do for him?" Sensei solemnly asked.

Fukushima swallowed and looked down. He couldn't answer that... "I will not give up on my friend," he replied.

"Then, laddie, ye'd better hope ye' catch him first," Killigan threatened. The golfer had no intentions of sparing the young ninja's life. None whatsoever. Fukushima frowned but nodded in understanding and ran for the haunted house, Killigan on his heels.

KP

Yori wept as her brother threw her to the ground roughly. Her darkest fear was that her he was beyond the point of no return, and with every move he made, her fear seemed more and more justified. She looked back at him in misery, betrayal shining in her eyes. "How can you do this thing to me?" she questioned him in their native tongue.

He knelt on her back and wrapped his hands around her throat. She gave a strangled cry. "Because I am able," he answered darkly.

"Look into my eyes, brother! Look into my eyes as you kill me, torture me, humiliate and dishonour me! I do not care what you do, just look into my eyes as you do it!" she screamed in a last desperate attempt to reach him. She felt him tense and gasped softly. There was a chance. There was still a chance! "Look into my eyes, damn you!" she cursed. He started. She never cursed, ever, so for him to hear her do so now had jarred him. "Before you, at your mercy, is your little sister. Will you forsake me like this? Can you really bring yourself to destroy all of me?"

His hesitation told her more than words could have ever hoped to. She heard a sputtering sound. The Moodulator was starting to malfunction! She gasped as he suddenly dropped her. Quickly she rolled over onto her back and looked hopfully up at him. "Y-Yori?" he asked with a grimace, a hand at his forehead as he tried to fight whatever was consuming him off. She gaped at him, tears in her eyes, and willed him to win this battle. But in case he could not... Her hand wrapped around her tessan. She would not die quietly or easily.

Her heart sank into the pit of her stomach as she watched his eyes return to an emotionless state. "No," she whispered. "No, please. Please no." He growled lowly but suddenly stood up. She wondered why, at first, but then heard a noise. The others were coming. Hirotaka glared down at her. All at once he kicked her head violently. She cried out in pain striking the ground, and was immediately knocked unconscious, blood pouring from the injury.

"Goodbye, sister," he growled darkly. Immediately he turned to meet the others.

KP

"Wait here," Fukushima said to his companions, gesturing for them to stay put.

"But…" Monique began.

"Wait here," Fukushima repeated in a deadly serious tone. The others exchanged fearful glances, except for Sensei, and obeyed. Silently Fukushima melded into the shadows and slunk away.

"Go after him," Sensei said defeatedly to Killigan.

"Ah planned to," Killigan replied darkly before going after the ninja.

"Oh man, how did our lives get so messed up?" Ron asked, stressed. Kim was silent, expression anxious. She wished she knew...

KP

Fukushima made his way through the large haunted house until finding his way to the balcony. He looked around warily. All at once he heard something drop down behind him and gasped, spinning just in time to block Hirotaka's attack! Fukushima staggered quickly back and against the railing, staring at his friend with eyes filled with hurt. "Where is your sister?" he questioned, almost afraid to hear the answer.

"She is alive and mostly unharmed. That is all you need to know," Hirotaka replied. Fukushima sighed in relief. "You will not be so lucky, brother," Hirotaka added. Fukushima started and gasped. Hirotaka went at him again and he just managed to block the second attack before rolling away from his friend and starting to fight back hard. Hirotaka, though, kept pace.

"Hirotaka, you have become that which you loathe!" Fukushima said. "My friend, look at yourself. Will there soon be nothing good left of you?" Hirotaka hardly seemed to have heard. Fukushima scowled and dodged a blow, but when Hirotaka's next attack came, Fukushima didn't move fast enough.

The younger ninja screamed in pain as his companion's kunai ripped into his flesh. Hirotaka caught his breath, eyes suddenly filling with fear. Numbly Fukushima looked up at Hirotaka, teeth clenched. Pain, hurt, and fear were written across his face, and Hirotaka felt his heart plummet. Still stunned, he quickly withdrew his daggers. Fukushima crumbled to the ground weakly and coughed in pain, wrapping his arms around his wound. Hirotaka stared numbly. The Moodulator began sparking wildly. "Th-the injury as not as serious as you pretend! I know your tricks, Fukushima! Get up! Get up, traitor, and face me!"

Fukushima shuddered and looked up at him weakly. "Brother, you have bested me," he replied. "Now it is your honor to finish me." He was playing a deadly and dangerous card, he knew that full well, but at this point, if they had any chance of saving Hirotaka, it was all or nothing.

Hirotaka didn't move. Just stared down at him with wide eyes. "You lie," the older ninja said, beginning to pace and fidget. Fukushima said nothing. Just shuddered and closed his eyes tightly. "You lie!" Hirotaka yelled furiously. Fury died, though, when his friend didn't so much as flinch. "Fukushima?" Hirotaka asked, tone for a moment scared. No reply. Hirotaka swallowed and looked at his kunai, then down at the body. Slowly, though, his eyes, eyes that had for a moment become almost normal again, grew emotionless, and the chip stopped sputtering. Harruphing, he spun his kunai around, approached his motionless friend, and prepared to delivered the finishing blow. He knelt next to Fukushima, raising the weapons above his head, and clenched his teeth, preparing to drive them down.

"Hirotaka," a gentle voice suddenly said, stopping him dead in his tracks and causing a shiver to race up his spin. Quickly he looked over. There, standing on the balcony outlined by the moonlight, was Amelia! He stared at her a long moment, blinking and trying to process what he was seeing. "Don't," she breathed, voice breaking ever so slightly. Hirotaka stared blankly at her for a long moment. "Don't," she repeated, moving carefully towards him.

KP

She knew it would happen before it did. One second he was at Fukushima's side, the next he leapt up and crossed the space between them, seizing her roughly and throwing her against the railing with a scowl, bending her backwards over it like he was about to shove her off. Amelia, eyes squeezed tightly shut, coughed and whimpered. One of his arms was pressed tight against her throat, but she stayed calm. Thus far, everyone who had tried to reason with him had approached him in fight or defend mode. She, though, had come to him with nothing. It was just her, and all she wanted was to try. This was something that no one else to this point had attempted to do. Maybe it would be what would break him, if she played her cards right.

She opened her eyes, teeth gently clenched as she held his arm, pushing it away just enough that she could breathe again. "He's going to die," she said. Hirotaka stiffened ever so slightly. "If he were alright, he would be here helping me," she reasoned. Hirotaka's jaw twitched ever so slightly. "This is what you've done. Now wake up. Come out of your trance and save him. Save us." A flicker of unease reflected in his eyes. Signs of normalcy. The Moodulator was beginning to sputter again. "The night you-you saved me from..." She drew a shaking breath. "From him..." she whispered brokenly. Hirotaka flinched hard. "I never that you would be the next one to hurt me," she whispered painfully, despising herself for pulling that card. He looked like he'd been struck. A soft gasp of air escaped his lips, pain and grief suddenly reflecting in his eyes. "Don't hurt me," she begged, voice meek and breaking. "Please don't hurt me. I want to feel safe in your arms, not afraid. Safe like I did that night, baby. Remember that night? When you heard me scream, and you were so afraid he had come back to hurt me again..." He made a sound of pain and flinched, closing his eyes tightly as the chip began to sputter violently.

"No!" he cried sharply.

"You came to check on me. You found me crying. I begged you to stay. I'd dreamt of him. Of what he'd done. It felt like he was there again. I could still feel him..." She cut herself off with a sharp breath.

"No!" he begged suddenly and urgently, cupping her face quickly with a hand that had once held a kunai that he had doubtless dropped.

"I never thanked you for staying. For holding me tight and singing away the nightmares and the fear..." Amelia said. He was breaking free. He was breaking free! "Arigato, my Mantis Warrior. Arigato," she said, reaching up and gently touching his face.

"No!" he shouted, pulling away from her quickly and gasping, holding his head in his hands. "No. No, no, no, no." She saw the chip sputtering violently but didn't rush to pull it off him. "A-Amelia, Fukushima, Yori."

"Come back, Hirotaka. Come back," Amelia begged softly.

"No!" he shouted, suddenly lunging at her.

"Hirotaka!" Yori's voice suddenly screamed.

"Brother!" Fukushima cried out, mustering all the strength he could to reach after his friend in a desperate attempt to stop him.

Amelia held her ground, bracing for impact, and gasped as he reached her. Rather than pain or an attack, though, what she felt was him cupping her face gently and letting out a gasping breath. "Amelia," he whispered. "Amela, I-I am sorry. I am sorry!"

She caught her breath and could have kissed him, tears burning her eyes. Why was she hesitating to, she wondered? Sniffing, she stopped holding back and immediately cupped is face in turn, kissing him adoringly.

"No!" Fukushima suddenly screamed.

"Taka!" Yori shrieked.

All at once a searing pain ripped through the young ninja's body and he cried out in agony, arching back. Amelia screamed, covering her mouth in horror and falling back. "Hirotaka!" she shrieked, reaching towards him in devastation.

KP

Hirotaka gasped, eyes wide in pain and then realization. He looked numbly down at his body as the Moodulator sparked and zapped, then finally short circuited and fizzled, falling off. Amelia followed it with her eyes then looked up at him once more in horror and fear. Behind Hirotaka stood Duff Killigan, eyes cold and dark, a scowl on his lips. "Brother!" Yori shrieked, racing from the shadows. Killigan suddenly yanked something long, metal, and sharp out of Hirotaka's back and kicked him violently ahead. Hirotaka made a pained sound, staggering forward and falling against the railing of the balcony before collapsing weakly against it. With a stunned gasp, the ninja looked numbly down at his wound. Amelia, pale, gazed at him in shock, hardly able to process what was happening. She couldn't even find her voice to scream anymore. He'd been run through. Killigan had run him through!

"No!" Fukushima shouted, getting off the ground through sheer force of will and adrenaline. Killigan was already taking off, not about to stay here and be slaughtered by either Fukushima or Yori. Whatever became of Hirotaka after that wound he'd given the young man? Leave it to fate to decide. Would it murder if the boy died, the golfer asked himself? Yes, it would, but right now Killigan didn't really care. Life for life. If Monkey Fist died, you could bet his murderer would die with him. Killigan would make sure of it.

KP

"Hirotaka!" Fukushima cried out, stumbling towards his friend and collapsing next to him. "Hirtaka," he repeated in a breath, taking his friend's face between his hands. Hirotaka, shuddering, looked up at him in agony, breathing shallow and unsteady.

"F-Fukushima," Hirotaka whispered before coughing, blood spilling from between his lips. Fukushima let his friend go numbly, breathing rapid and fearful.

Amelia gasped and quickly cupped Hirotaka's face. "No," she breathed. "No, don't do this to me. Don't do this to me!" she pled, tears burning her eyes.

"What have I done…?" Hirotaka numbly asked, suddenly more horrified with his actions than with his own dying state.

"Hirotaka!" Yori shrieked, sliding to her brother's side. She, it seemed, had chased Killigan for some distance before returning to check on her wounded sibling.

Hirotaka dazedly looked at her, eyes fearful. "Sister… Sister, oh gods... Gods, what have I done to you?" he numbly asked, reaching up and cupping he neck because-because the bruises on her face... He sobbed and suddenly hugged her tightly. "Yori! Oh gods, Yori! What have I done? What have I done to you? Forgive me, sister, forgive me!"

"There is nothing to forgive!" Yori insisted, breaking down. "There is nothing to forgive!" she repeated. But there was so much to forgive. His attempted murder of Monkey Fist, his attacks upon her, the attempted… she wouldn't think on that… There was so much to forgive, but she forgave him all of it! She forgave him without question. "Oh godse, do not leave us. Brother, do not leave us!" she begged.

He shook his head and began to choke on blood, but he tried to keep from spewing it up. "Hirotaka, you cannot die… I will not let you!" Fukushima swore, tears spilling from his eyes. Yori was sobbing and holding her brother's left hand tightly to her heart.

Amelia gently stroked Hirotaka's hair and face. The dying ninja reached up with his right hand, stopping her own on his cheek and holding it there. Its coolness was soothing. She sobbed and nodded, leaving her palm in that position. "You can't leave me," she softly whispered to him, tracing his lips and making him shiver. She laughed miserably as unexpectedly he pressed a kiss to the finger that was exploring the shape of his mouth. "You can't leave me," she repeated.

"I am tired…" he weakly whispered.

"Do not tire!" Fukushima begged, clasping his friend's hand firmly and reassuringly.

"Will Monkey Fist live?" Hirotaka asked.

Yori sobbed, shaking her head. "I do not know," she barely whispered, and a sense of dread washed through her at the t he thought that he might not… She willed her body to stop shivering as Fukushima released Hirotaka's hand and began looking for a way to save him.

"Then do not weep for me. If the Monkey King dies, my death was rightly deserved and his will be avenged," Hirotaka stated.

"Will you leave your sisters alone without their protector?" Yori questioned softly.

"Sister, you never needed a protector," Hirotaka said softly, smiling at Yori.

"Do not leave us alone," Yori begged.

"You are not alone," Hirotaka replied. Pain stabbed Yori's heart and she closed her eyes tightly, teeth clenched. Perhaps not, but that would not matter. If he were to die, there would be an emptiness deep in her heart that would never be filled.

Hirotaka began to close his eyes. "Do not close your eyes!" Fukushima ordered desperately, voice breaking.

"Hiro! Hirotaka!" Amelia screamed as she felt him going limp. No, no, this wasn't happening! It couldn't! Oh gods, please, don't let him die. If Monkey Fist lived, then Hirotaka had to live. There would be no life debt to pay if Monkey Fist survived! But what if… what if the nobleman was already dead? Was that why Fukushima couldn't seem to save Hirotaka? Yori gazed miserably in the direction Monkey Master was, and Amelia knew she feared the same thing, but Yori was begging with her whole heart that the nobleman survive. Amelia suddenly sobbed and bent, taking Hirotaka's lips firmly and possessively in hers once more. She felt him catch his breath. She'd shocked some form of life back into him. She pulled away sniffing. "You belong to me," she firmly said, stroking his cheeks with her thumbs.

"Defender, I have never wanted anything more," he answered. "But I cannot win this."

"No…" Fukushima whispered, shaking his head. There had to be something he could do. Anything! His friend could not die. Not like this...

Meanwhile

Killigan returned to his fellow villains forcing back feelings of guilt. The sneak attack had been incredibly unfair, after all, and to strike him then right in the middle of kissing a lassie? That was cold even by his low standards. But the young man had had it coming. Hadn't he? Killigan returned to where Monkey Fist was lying, pale and still. He knelt solemnly next to his friend again. Drakken and Amy, both looking terrified, were doing everything they could to save him.

"Will he make it?" Duff asked defeatedly.

"We-we tried," Drakken replied, voice breaking. Maim let out an anguished cry, burying her face in her hands and breaking down. Senior pulled her close, holding her tight and gazing painfully at the still body of the young Lord.

"Tried? Does tha' mean…?" Killigan began.

"We don't know," Drakken anxiously answered. "We've done everything we can think of, he just… Nrrgh, the defiant pest refuses to wake up!"

"There's go' t' be some Mystical Monkey Deity who cares far him. He's only the most devoted servant they've ever had! Tha' counts far somethin', right?" Killigan asked, fidgeting uncomfortably.

"What did you do to Hirotaka?" Amy asked softly.

Killigan winced then sighed, hanging his head. "The laddie's go' about as much of a chance at survival as Monkey Boy does," he confessed.

"Good," Drakken darkly said, eyes fixed on his dying friend.

"Hey Dr. D. You thought about maybe, oh I don't know, asking the Japanese god that's decided you're his buddy to help you out?" Shego said.

"Shego, who exactly do you think I've been muttering to?" Drakken replied.

Shego started and blinked at her boss. He'd been calling on divine intervention? Ooh wow. This really wasn't good. She looked uncertainly down at Monkey Fist once more. What happened if they didn't answer...? Suddenly she noticed an aura of red slowly starting to appear and started. "Uh, guys? He's um, glowing?"

The others quickly looked at the Monkey Lord and gasped. Sure enough, a red glow was surrounding the man. Slowly it began to lift him into the air.

"Monty..." Maim breathed, reaching towards him.

Senior held her back. "Senora, wait. Something is happening," he said.

Monkey Fist's eyes suddenly shot open as he gasped and let out a monkey shriek of pain. The glow burned quickly, and in front of the shocked eyes of his allies, the gaping wounds began closing up! Monkey Fist looked sharply down at the wounds then up from them once more only to meet the eyes of his stunned companions.

"What's happening?!" Drakken demanded.

"His Mystical Monkey Powers! They're healing him!" Amy exclaimed.

"What? But according to the scrolls they can do no such thing unless the gods themselves allow it!" Drakken protested.

"Then there es some deity lookin' favorably upon the laddie…" Killigan said, eyes wide in shock. He turned to Drakken. "Or on ye, Drew." Drakken started and turned to Killigan in surprise before looking back up at Monkey Fist.

Just then Monkey Fist was dropped from the air and landed in a crouching, gasping for breath. He looked sharply up at his allies, eyes blazing. "Where are the Yamanouchi brats?" he growled lowly and dangerously.

KP

Back in the Haunted House, the rest of Team Possible had arrived on scene and were observing what was happening from afar, each one of them in tears. Including Sensei, who slowly approached his students. "He-he was breaking free," Fukushima weakly said to the old man as Sensei came up alongside them.

"I believe you," Sensei softly reassured, placing a hand comfortingly on Fukushima's shoulder.

"I-I should have been more ready. I should have been faster or-or better or..." Fukushima began. He was cut off by a sob.

"You did all you could, Fukushima," Sensei said.

"And it wasn't enough to save him," Fukushima said, shaking his head in denial. He had failed his friend where Hirotaka had never failed him, and that hurt more than anything.

"He is not gone!" Yori exclaimed desperately, some irrational part of her clinging to a baseless hope that if she kept denying her brother was near death, he would recover.

All at once they heard footsteps behind them and gasped, looking back. The villains had arrived! "No, you aren't going near him!" Kim angrily shouted, quickly blocking their access to Hirotaka.

"You… you murdered him," Ron said, staring at Killigan in disbelief.

"He's not dead yet, Stoppable," Monkey Fist said, stepping forth from the crowd, and arm wrapped around his still-sore stomach. They all gasped, falling back in shock. Monkey Fist shoved right passed them, visibly annoyed.

"Monkey Fist…" Yori breathed, hardly daring to believe her eyes. He was alive. How?

"This isn't fair! Monkey Man lived, so why won't Hirotaka recover?!" Monique demanded.

"Who says he won't?" Monkey Fist replied. Without any qualms he walked up to Hirotaka and looked down on him. "Tell me, Yori, how far did he get with you?" Monkey Fist asked. Yori knew exactly what he meant.

"He did nothing to me," she answered, frowning firmly. "He played his mind games, but he would never have done more than that."

"Pity. I was hoping for a reason to avoid this bother," Monkey Fist said, kneeling next to Hirotaka. "Nothing will happen to you, ninja. Not yet," he murmured to the young man's body. He called out his powers and placed his hand over the wound suddenly. The others gasped, watching in awe and shock as it began to heal.

"I can heal people?" Ron demanded.

With an exasperated sigh, Monkey Fist replied, "Only if there is some deity who smiles favorably on your target and permits it. This particular aspect of Mystical Monkey Powers works only with the blessing of a deity."

"I did not ask for pity from the gods," Hirotaka suddenly growled.

The others all turned quickly to him. "Hirotaka!" Yori screamed, falling onto her brother and hugging him tightly. Amelia gasped and fell upon him as well, clinging to him tightly. In less than a moment the young man was swarmed by the others as well. The villains stayed back. Monkey Fist was quick to extract himself from the pileup of heroes and retreat to his villainous companions looking appalled. Then he noticed Yori slip away from the heroes as well and turn her eyes on him. Eyes filled with gratitude. He blinked blankly then looked down with a scoff, turning and leaving with his own team.

KP

Monkey Fist took up the rear as he and the rest of Evil Incorporated made their way through the abandoned fairground. Suddenly there was a hand gently placed on his shoulder. He gasped and spun, ready to fight, but whoever was behind him easily deflected the blow he delivered. He stiffened when the scent of Lotus blossoms washed over him. "Yori! What on earth do you want?" Monkey Fist demanded.

"To express the depths of my gratitude to you. I wish to know why you spared my brother as well," she replied. She was quite pretty in the silver moonlight he thought, before immediately kicking himself for it.

"I spared your brother because his skill impressed me. By some miracle he managed to best and almost kill me," Monkey Fist replied.

"He will not be the one to kill you," Yori said quietly, looking down.

"I'm quite aware. No one will," Monkey Fist replied with a cold grin before turning and starting to walk away.

"I will," she answered.

He stopped dead in his tracks, eyes widening. After a moment he turned. "What?" he icily asked.

She looked up at him forlornly. "No other among mortals will kill you. Only me. It is my destiny..."

Monkey Fist's lips slowly parted. He wasn't sure how to react to that. Finally he closed his mouth. After a moment more he replied, "When the time comes, I will not be an easy target."

"I do not want this destiny. Now more than ever I hope that I fail," she answered. Bowing to him, she turned and quickly left. Monkey Fist stared after her in shock and disbelief.

"Monkey Fist!" Shego sharply called. Monkey Fist winced and hurried to catch up to the others...

KP

Monkey Fist wasn't entirely sure why Sensei had bothered to find him. He was perched in a tree branch at the time, waiting for things to get organized down below with the others so they could leave this blasted place. He didn't really want to question Sensei's motives at the moment either. The old man wasn't his concern or his problem. At least not as long as he refrained from attacking the peacekeeping master. "I assume you've come to find me for good reason?" Monkey Fist remarked.

"Must there always be reason?" Sensei asked.

"Yes," Monkey Fist curtly answered.

"For what reason did Drakken and Killigan come after you to free you from the path of the Yono?" Sensei asked.

"Boredom," Monkey Fist flatly replied. "Boredom and favours."

"Do you truly believe that to be the reason, young man?" Sensei asked. Monkey Fist grimaced. Well, it certainly wasn't a good enough reason for them to go through what they had, but still.

"I have no words to exchange with you, Sensei," Monkey Fist sneered.

"Tell me. Did you ever wonder what it would be like to train under Sensei?" Sensei wondered.

"It would have been an experience I'm sure, but not in particular," Monkey Fist replied.

"Do you have questions you would please to ask one now?" Sensei asked.

Monkey Fist stiffened. Oh he had questions all right. Whether Sensei could answer them or not, or whether he would bother to, was another matter entirely. "No," he answered.

"I will answer you as best I am able," Sensei said, bowing. Monkey Fist scowled. He hated the wise man who was practically reading his thoughts. Though to be fair, he wouldn't be in this Yono predicament now if he'd listed to any of the other wise men he'd met along his travels. They'd been right, every last one of them. He looked loathingly at the brand on his hand. It glowed faintly. Monkey Fist grimaced and sighed in frustration, looking down.

KP

"I will begin for you, if you will not start," Sensei said, watching the English lord closely and reading his thoughts and fears. "You wonder which god looked down upon Hirotaka favorably. You do not think it particularly important, just idle curiosity. I tell you now, it is very, very important."

Monkey Fist quickly looked at the old man. That didn't sound good. "All right, I'll bite," he finally said. "What do you mean?"

"To explain it, I will first give you some understanding as to why the saw fit to intervene at all. The gods speak to Hirotaka," Sensei said softly.

Monkey Fist started, eyes widening. "What?" he asked, unsure he'd just heard that right.

"The gods whisper to him," Sensei repeated.

"But-but how, I… Whispered to by the gods?" Monkey Fist repeated. "My, my, the young man is luckier and more powerful than I thought. Not even Stoppable or I have that honor."

"And it is an honor. Among the greatest of them all. But it does not necessarily mean power, as you fear," Sensei reassured. "I too have heard them whisper." Monkey Fist's lips slowly parted. Sensei smirked a bit. "Do you have a guess as to which deity favors him above all the rest?" the old man asked.

"I hardly care," Monkey Fist replied, trying to ignore the man now. He wasn't sure he wanted to know anyway.

"Sarutahiko Okami," Sensei declared. Monkey Fist froze and sharply turned to the old man again.

"I beg your pardon? The monkey-like god of the crossroads between heaven and earth? The patron of martial arts?" the noble asked in disbelief.

"The very one. And the reason he favours Hirotaka is in part because of you," Sensei said.

"Me? How? Why?" Monkey Fist demanded.

"In time, young man. You must be patient," Sensei replied. "Soon it will be clear."

"Make soon now," Monkey Fist growled.

Sensei sighed deeply and looked towards the others, who were now searching for them to leave. "It was Sarutahiko who impregnated Hirotaka and Yori's mother with Hana," Sensei suddenly said.

"What?" Monkey Fist breathed, paling and sitting up straighter.

"The god of the crossroads is Hana's father, and it was to Hirotaka that he bound the fate of his daughter," Sensei said. "When you spilled Hirotaka's blood out upon his alter, Sarutahiko could sense whose it was. In that moment his child's fate had almost been sealed, and that terrified him. Right then he determined to protect the young man at all costs, and through him Hana, the Yono's counterpart. Your counterpart."

Monkey Fist tensed up and looked coldly at the old man. "I am not the Yono," he said.

"You became a part of the Yono the moment you chose to follow his path," Sensei replied.

"A part, but not the whole," Monkey Fist said.

Sensei smiled but elaborated no further. "When Drakken and Killigan came for you and freed you from your stone prison, they did so without awakening your destiny. It is still a part of you though. When you were freed by your companions, the Yono was restored to form again. But he wants release once more. He will have it. You cannot escape your curse and your vow."

"I've managed to so far!" Monkey Fist insisted, leaping down from the branch and confronting Sensei, fury and murder in his eyes.

"I see the glow in your eyes. The fire. Not mortal fire. His fire. You are a part of the Yono, but that part has not yet been activated within you. Yono the Destroyer will find you, and he will awaken it once more," Sensei calmly said. "I wonder… why do you shirk away from such power?"

"Because there are too many risks, too many costs! Do you know what it was like to be in that-that statue form? Can you even begin to imagine?" Monkey Fist demanded. "It was a living death, Sensei, a living death! And I can't go through it again. I can't."

"Then enjoy what time you have left, young man, for unless the gods themselves release you from your vow, you are doomed," Sensei darkly proclaimed. With that the old man walked away and Monkey Fist watched after him, visibly unsettled. Oh gods… He didn't want this fate. He closed his eyes tightly, swallowing and willing away a foreign burning in his eyes. He desperately did not want this fate...

END