Note: I might be busy with a number of my stories, including this one, but don't worry. I've got all year to work on this beast, so I don't have to update as often as I do. Before we move on, I want to say something to a recent reviewer.
Yamagata: This story is like an American-Japanese martial arts movie set in the Modern Era, albeit based on an unreleased PC game. I hope that you enjoy the story regardless.
Now then, let's move on to chapter four.
Chapter 4: The Evergreen Forest
After a few hours in the air, the Six Heroes found themselves at an airport. Once the plane landed, the door opened, allowing the group to exit and enter the airport. Inside the airport, there was barely anyone in sight. Now that the team was out of the plane, Schaefer called over a bag boy to retrieve the bags on the plane. The worker did so, coming back with the luggage. As they went to retrieve their bags, the group found themselves face-to-face with a female raccoon who had a bent nose.
"Bonjour," the raccoon greeted in a lovely French accent, "my name iz Nicole Tanuki and I would like to welcome you to ze Evergreen Forezt!"
"Hello." Schaefer greeted.
The others bowed.
"Iz zere anything zat you want me to do with you?" Nicole asked.
"Genkidesu, arigatō." Chikaga said.
"You have to excuse him, he gets shy." Ryuta said.
"Chikaga," Bairei looked at the aardvark, "hazukashi garanaide!"
"Gomen'nasai." Chikaga bowed.
Nicole laughed and said "Zere's no need to be zhy! I'm uzed to ztuff like zis! After all, I am a flight attendant!"
"Arigatō, misu." Chikaga smiled.
"Can we go get checked out, Miss Tanuki?" Shizuka asked.
"Oui, why?" Nicole asked.
"We've been sent here to protect the innocent and take down the Serpent Gang!" Bairei said in a heroic manner.
"Oh, I remember Junichi talking about zomething like zat." The taller female stated.
"Junichi? My brother?" Ryuta was surprised.
"Of courze," Nicole said, "he alwayz talkz about you, Ryuta."
"You know our names?" Bairei asked.
"Zhall I let you go, now?" The taller female said, "I'll go call Junichi and tell him zat we have vizitors."
Nicole walked off, allowing the group to go get checked out. After that, they left the airport and began to walk down the street. The street lead into the woods, where a huge sign was near a trail. The sign read "Evergreen Forest: 2 Miles Away".
"Two miles away?!" Bairei complained.
"Don't worry, we'll get there." Ryuta assured his comrade.
"We probably should have called a taxi." Chikaga stated.
"It's too late now, come on!" Mayumi said as she began to walk down the trail. The others followed her, entering the Evergreen Forest.
Meanwhile, at a house, a young boy was typing away at his computer. This boy was a raccoon who was wearing a blue shirt. He was living with his parents and older sister, with only his sister currently with him in the house. The boy was waiting for his father to come home, as he loved hearing tales from his father's youth. He couldn't be blamed, however, as his father was once a warrior. The only part the child didn't like was that he left it all behind.
A knock came on the boy's door.
"Bentley!" A feminine voice called.
Getting up from his bed, the boy opened his door, revealing an older female he knew well: his sister.
"What do you need?" Bentley, the boy, asked.
"Dad's home." The girl answered.
"Stall him, Lisa," Bentley told her, "I want to surprise him."
Lisa exited the room and went downstairs. When she was gone, Bentley put on a black hoodie and took out a broom handle that he often used for softball practice. He then slowly stepped out of his room, beginning to go downstairs.
Junichi Tanuki was in the kitchen of the home that he lived in. He had gotten back from his job, and he was getting ready to make dinner. As he started to get the materials for tonight's meal, the raccoon couldn't help but think of when he was little. When he was younger, he lived in Tokyo and served as a member of the Seven Heroes. Each day was a life-or-death situation, as the team had made countless enemies. However, Junichi managed to get through life.
One day, Junichi decided to leave Tokyo and head to Canada. When he got there, he fell in love with a young woman named Nicole. After six months, the two got married and decided to live in the Evergreen Forest. Seeing as he was in need of a job, Junichi wound up getting a job as a chef, specializing in foreign cuisine. As for Nicole, she became a flight attendant. Despite that, the two raccoons were there for each other.
However, Junichi and Nicole weren't the only ones there for each other. A year after they got married, they had a daughter, with a son arriving ten years later. The two lived their parents, never wanting to disappoint them. In fact, the younger child was often attracted to Junichi's stories about his time as a warrior, and the bushido code. As for the older one, she was less-interested in hearing about her father's days as a member of the Seven Heroes, shocked that he had taken lives.
"Dad?" Lisa walked into the room.
Junichi looked at his daughter and smiled.
"Hi Dad." Lisa greeted.
"How's my firstborn doing?" Junichi asked.
"I'm doing fine myself." The young woman said, "As for Bentley, he -"
"Shin'nyū-sha!"
A disguised Bentley ran into the room, wielding his broom handle like a sword. However, Junichi stopped his son in his tracks.
"Now Bentley," the older raccoon looked at his son, "you know that I don't like it when you do that."
"Sorry, father." Bentley bowed.
"It's okay." Junichi said, "In fact, your mother called me and told me something."
"Really?" Bentley asked.
"What is it, dad?" Lisa asked.
"We're getting a visit!" The raccoon smiled at his two children.
"From who?" Lisa asked.
"It's a surprise, so I can't tell you." Junichi stated.
"Will there be enough for everyone?" Bentley asked.
"Of course," he said, "can you two give me a hand?"
"Sure." Bentley said.
"I don't see why we couldn't." Lisa smiled.
The three began to work on dinner, expecting the visitors to show up at any moment. Little did they know, the visitors would be there at the nick of time.
After walking a mile and a half, the Six Heroes decided to take out their weapons, expecting an ambush from a gangster. Upon taking out there weapons, the group opened up a bag that had a pocket knife that was by its lonesome.
"Junichi's knife." Bairei said.
"It's not his anymore." Ryuta stated.
"As soon as we find a new member," Chikaga said, "it will be his or hers."
While looking at the knife, the group was greeted by a gruff voice.
"Excuse me, but you can't have weapons out in public!"
Upon hearing the voice, the team turned their heads and saw a Doberman in a police outfit.
"Good evening, officer." Schaefer greeted.
"Don't worry," Mayumi said, "we have come to protect the innocent."
"Then you must be the Seven Heroes." The Doberman said, "I'm Ernest Perry, one of the Evergreen Forest's most-trusted cops."
"Nice to meet you, Officer Perry." Ryuta bowed.
"I don't suppose that you would want anyone to escort you, do you?" Officer Perry asked.
"Sure," Bairei said, "just take us to the house of Junichi Tanuki."
"Very well then," the cop said, "follow me."
The group followed him down the trail, coming across a house that had a single car parked beside it. Without hesitation, Ryuta went up to the door and knocked on it.
"Is anyone home?" Shizuka asked.
"No doubt." Mayumi said.
"Mr. Tanuki," Officer Perry called, "open up your door! You have visitors, sir!"
The door opened, revealing Junichi. Behind him were Bentley and Lisa, who were in anticipation for the visitors. However, neither one of the groups were expecting the surprise. The Six Heroes, in particular, were quite alarmed by the two children that were by their former teammate.
"Kon'nichiwa." Bentley greeted.
Note: Welp, Bentley and Lisa are in the story now, so that might make you like the story. That's it for chapter four, so I'm going to put the Japanese to English translations here.
Genkidesu, arigatō = We're fine, thank you
Chikaga, hazukashi garanaide! = Chikaga, don't be shy!
Gomen'nasai = Sorry
Arigatō, misu = Thank you, Miss
Shin'nyū-sha! = Intruder!
Kon'nichiwa = Hello
Is it okay if I do this on every chapter? What did you guys think about this chapter? Let me know when you leave a review or give a constructive criticism stating what you like and what you don't like. Until next time guys, peace!