PoVs/Protagonists/Couples:
Hanzo (character belongs to Blizzard) x Ýri (OC)
Genji (character belongs to Blizzard) x Shizuka (OC)

WARNING:
This story will be a very long one, full of dialogs, drama and violence as well as grammar mistakes because none of the authors is a native English speaker. Some parts are for mature audiences only.

As always a big thanks to our beta-reader Caucasian Commando. :)

Chapter 33: Taking chances (Hanzo x Ýri)

One week later they arrived in Stavanger, Norway, and Ýri became very quiet. Again. Hanzo did not really know what to think of her behavior and these lands. On one hand, he was glad arriving in a country, where they were not running at risk of being observed or getting a passport control in public. According to Ýri, the Norwegians were doing such things rarely, which was a huge advantage.

But now watching her going through the stuff left in her family's destroyed residence nearly broke him as much as it broke her. Still, the fact, that her younger brother's clothes were completely missing, gave them hope and so they headed for the Lofoten Islands to some ancient but abandoned family holdings.

The archipelago was not to his liking at first. But at a second look, it was just perfect. The landscape was stunning and offered many opportunities to hide. It was windy, rainy and a little cold, but the towns and villages were small, remote and with thin populations. Minimum chances for them to get caught by Talon, the Shimada or who knows whom.

The next few days he had to rely on Ýri completely. She led them along shores and bays, through forests and a swamp. An incredibly calmness had taken them in and the air was so clean and fresh unlike anything else he had experienced before. Hanzo shrieked at the sudden appearance of a fully grown moose, an eagle diving into a close-by river and he could barely sleep with the seagulls constant cries. Ýri on the contrary seemed to be able to sleep even better.

»How much longer?«, he asked after another day of walking had passed. He had much endurance. Very much in fact. But obviously not enough for several days of hiking.

»Just over the hills«, she replied not even running out of breath just a little.

Hills? Hills? The hills she is referring to are about 3 000 feet tall! But Hanzo kept his thoughts to himself and accepted his fate.

They spend the night camping on a plateau of rough stones and far too high above sea level for his taste, but when dawn broke, Hanzo could not believe his eyes. The sun was rising into a clear blue sky. Thick clouds of mists left the large pine forest extending from the mountains into the dale. A large waterfall found his way down diving into a sea hundreds of meters below them and forming a river, which was winding like a snake into the narrow fjord. The blue sky was mirroring itself in the water. And down there on a soft green hill laid the village. It was just perfect. Beautiful, peaceful and calm, just like he imagined what a home would be like.

Just the cherry trees are missing …

»So that is where you have been growing up«, he said.

»Yes. My younger brother and I spend most of our time here with our uncle«, she answered. »It was … easier for me to control my spirit in a calm ambience. And if I lost control … I could not harm someone.«

»I understand the reasons, your father wanted you to stay here. But why your little brother as well?«, he wondered.

»Well, father was not that … fond him … with our mother having died while giving birth to him … « She seemed a little bitter at the memories.

»I see.« He took her hand in his. »Let's go home then.«

She smiled and he never saw a happier expression on her before. Her whole face, especially her eyes, seemed to glow in the whole process. Now is the right moment, he thought and carefully caressed her cheek. Now I will just take my chance. He leaned a little closer.

»Ýri!«

»Björn!« She ran up to him and he twirled her around.

I. Hate. This. Guy.

»I knew you would make it! Leif and Ivar will be so relieved to see you … but why did you bring along that fat doofus?« Björn gave him a death glare.

Will you get your filthy paws off her?! Hanzo returned the look with an even deadlier glare.

To his great relief, Ýri pushed Björn off. »Let's just get to the village, before you two start beating each other up.«

It took them another two hours climbing down, but Björn kept some distance at least. When they got closer to the village, Ýri's steps were getting faster. They reached a great building, which reminded Hanzo of a ship wreck turned upside down. The light inside was dim and Hanzo recognized a fireplace and a long table. Then there was a sudden outcry. A blond teenage boy run up to Ýri and flung his arms around her. A huge man with a grey ponytail and an incredible resemblance to Sígurd shouted something in Norwegian and followed.

So that's it. She is with her family again … What now? Will she send me away, now that she does not need me anymore? He tried to push those thoughts aside, but he couldn't help himself. I cannot return to my old assassin's life style. Not after I have seen, what could have been …

The large man looked up and approached him, while the boy kept all of Ýri's attention. He came to a halt and stared down at him with crossed arms and the same piercing emeralds like Ýri's. Hanzo even felt his dragons shrink inside him.

»Leif Ragnarfír«, the Viking introduced himself.

»Hanzo Shimada«, he replied. »So you are her uncle.«

The Viking nodded and then turned towards Björn. »Stop glaring and give the assassin, what we owe him.«

Hanzo stepped back feeling somewhat offended, when he recognized the large money bag. »Keep it. I don't need it«, Hanzo said immediately and shoved Björn away.

»Of course, you do. It is your payment for a job well done«, Leif replied coldly. »We Ragnarfír pay our depths.«

Hanzo growled warningly. »I. Don't. Want. It.«

Björn rolled his eyes and tried to force the money into his hands. »Take it and finally piss off, Shimada!«

»By Odin's beard, stop that!« Leif gestured Björn to step away. »Why don't you want it, Shimada? She is home now and does not need a guard any longer.«

Hanzo could not look into Leif's piercing eyes. Instead he was searching for Ýri, who was still too focused on her younger brother. »I … promised Sígurd to protect her and bring her back home. A promise fulfilled does not require any kind of payment.«

»But if your promise is fulfilled now, you might as well as leave«, said Leif and followed his gaze.

Hanzo didn't take is eyes of her. He was just unable to. »That is all up to her. If she wants me to, I will stay.«

»No objections«, Leif hummed.

»Huh?« Hanzo now looked back at Leif surprised. »Really?«

»It seems that you both got attached to each other after what you have been through together«, the Viking said with a knowing smirk.

Hanzo tried his best, but he was unable to fight the blush appearing on his face and the strange feeling in his chest – as if his heart would have made a large jump.

»I think, you have a fair chance«, said Leif.

»Y-you do?« Hanzo did not want to make his voice sounding that hopeful and he failed … miserably.

»Actually I think so, yes«, the Viking replied and Hanzo could not prevent a foolish smile to appear on his lips.

»I will do my best to keep her safe and happy«, he told Leif.

The Viking nodded. »Just don't mind the people around here. They can be … very distant towards strangers at first.«

»I know«, Hanzo replied with a long look at Björn.

Said Viking answered him with a murderous glare. »You are practically giving him a complimentary ticket to fuck your niece!«

»Excuse me?!« Hanzo yelled back outraged, nevertheless he felt his ears getting red at the mere thought.

»You are a Shimada after all! A damn Yakuza boss, who is used to getting exactly what he wants by all means!«

»You are just jealous, that Ýri rather wants to spend her time with me than with you!«

Their yelling was not something to overhear, not even for Ýri and her little brother. »Goddammit, Björn, what is just wrong with you?!«

»I am just telling your dog, where his place is! But he isn't listening, so can you please make him go back home?!«

»He. Is. At. Home«, Ýri snarled with a dangerous gleam in her eyes and Hanzo couldn't help himself but to feel proud.

»Oh, come on!«, Björn ranted back at her. »Just because you want him between your legs doesn't make him one of us!«

There was a very long silence, in which Hanzo choked on air heavily. Damn that Viking! That wasn't something he wanted to think about now! Better he didn't think about such things at all! But suddenly both his dragons seemed very attentive!

A loud smacking sound followed said silence, when Ýri gave Björn a hard slap in the face before she disappeared down to the fjord. Leif groaned and shook his head, Ivar looked at Hanzo confused, not knowing, what happened and Björn … laughed?!

Hanzo hated him more and more by every passing minute. »Was that really necessary? To embarrass her like that in front of her family and … her friend?«

»You call yourself her friend? You don't know her. You have no right to her.« His smirk grew even wider.

Hanzo just wanted to smash his grinning face so badly. »And you haven't either.«

»She is my girlfriend«, Björn firmly stated. »I have every right.«

Hanzo's hands became fists. He couldn't remember the last person making him furious like that besides Genji. »You broke up a long time ago.«

Björn only shrugged. »That's just what she said.«

»So her word means nothing to you?« A warningly growl escaped his throat and Hanzo had trouble to keep his dragons under control.

Björn seemed confused. »What do you mean?«

»She told you, what she wants, yet you are ignoring it.« Hanzo did not bother to hide his disgust. »Will you do the same too, when she refuses your advances further? Just taking what you desire from your so-called girlfriend? I will not let you get anywhere near her, without her explicit permission.«

»You are just stupid!« Ivar obviously couldn't hold his tongue either and was now ranting at Björn as well. »She will leave again because you are a mean fat dobber!«

»Mind your tongue, boy!« Björn was about to seize Ivar, but Hanzo stepped between them shielding the boy.

»Björn, if we are to rebuild these halls, you should start cleaning up the rooms in the back«, Hanzo suddenly heard Leif's quiet and calm, but yet decisive voice.

»But yesterday you told me, we don't have the resources to do so!«, Björn protested.

»I changed my mind«, Leif firmly stated. »Now go.«

»He is really annoying«, Hanzo said while watching a miffed Björn turning to the hall.

»He descends from a respected family nevertheless. Still, you are right in a way. He is a child in a man's body, but my niece needs a man.«

Hanzo felt his cheeks burning now and just hummed in agreement, before he realized Ivar watching him curiously. »What is it, boy?«

»So you are … ?«

»I am Hanzo Shimada«, he replied hesitatingly, not sure how the child would react.

»I know Ýri was with a Shimada, but … «, Ivar paused. »I imagined you more … scary?«, he ended after a moment.

»I am very scary, if I want to be«, Hanzo growled.

»Not impressed«, the boy said calmly and Hanzo asked himself, what he might have done wrong. »But I read, that all the Shimada are assassins! It is one of the largest Yakuza empires in Japan and they own a lot of brothels and are dealing with drugs and weapons and-«

»Ivar!« Leif shouted in a warning tone.

Hanzo only shrugged. »Well, he is right?«

»And I read that the Shimada feed their children poison!«

»Ivar!« Leif shouted again.

»It is the truth … «, Hanzo answered after a long while of hesitation. This kid was just weird …

»But why are they doing that?« Ivar continued asking.

»To build up immunity of course … «

Now it was Leif seizing the boy by his scruff. »What did you not understand, huh?!«

»Hey! I need to get to know my sister's boyfriend before I can allow him to go on dates with her!«

»B-boyfriend?! D-dates?!« Hanzo stared back at the boy bewildered. I do not even know, how a date works!

»Sure«, Ivar replied as if it was the most logical thing in the world. »But I am not convinced of your honorable intensions yet!«

The boy's glare made him just as uneasy as his sister's or uncle's. »M-my intensions? I assure you, they are as honorable as it can get!« Could he blush even harder as he already was?

Leif just rolled his eyes at that. »Beware us of that little know-it-all … «

»But we have to make sure, he is worthy of her!« Ivar struggled, when his uncle dragged him away.

Hanzo watched after them in his confusion for a while, before he turned his back at them, still headshaking. What a strange family …

Lucky for him, his dragons' instincts led him to where he wanted to be. He found Ýri down at the water near a cabin, which seemed like an abandoned workshop. But obviously someone left the tools behind, because she was working on a boat and trying to get rid of her frustration using a wood planer.

»What is that place?«, he dared to ask.

»The workshop belongs the Lindholms. Our families used to be friends though they haven't been here for years now.« She neither stopped nor did she look up to him.

»I see«, Hanzo paused. »Are you alright?«, he asked after a moment.

»Why wouldn't I be?« There was no hint of emotion in her voice.

»I don't know.« Hanzo grew more and more uncomfortable. »Maybe because you came home and first thing you do is violating that poor boat?«

»Just getting the planks in shape«, she said.

»With so much force? Is that really necessary?«, he asked. Or is she really that angry because of what that big idiot said?

»Did you just come down here to annoy me?«, she replied.

»N-no?« Now it felt more like she was angry with him. But why?

»Whatever. Then just stop tailing after me. It is getting on my nerves.«

Hanzo suddenly flinched at her icy tone towards him. »So you think me checking on your well-being is annoying? Good to know.«

»First of all, it is no longer needed. I am not your ward nor your student any longer.«

That hit him much deeper than it should have. Like an icy bucket got emptied over his head and a rhino hitting his stomach. Like his heart was torn from him and scattered to pieces. He never felt so terrible before. Except, when he thought he had killed his brother. Nevertheless he managed to stand straight.

»So you don't want me here after all. And here I thought we had become friends … «

»You are free to go wherever you want and to do whatever you please. I am home. No duty and no promises bounds you to me or my family any longer.« Her words cut deeper than any weapon could have.

»I-I know … That's why I wanted to ask, if I could stay here with you, but … I guess you have given me your answer already … « His voice sounded weak and trembling, while his dragons curled up tightly somewhere deep inside of him, terribly hurt.

She did not answer, neither did she turn around or put her tool away. She just continued violating that boat without even looking at him. Hanzo wanted to scream. He wanted her to look at him! To say or to do something! Anything! But she did not … And now? What now?

»Where are you going now? What do you plan on doing?«, she suddenly asked.

»I don't know, but I will get by somehow. Stay safe, Ýri.« He turned his back on her and felt like tearing up any moment. She doesn't need to see this. I don't want her to take me in, because she pities me …

A loud dull noise came from her tool, when it hit the ground followed by an even louder curse, which made him turn around again.

»Are you alright?«

She held her bleeding hand and he could see the tears in her eyes. »Nothing. I am fine. It is not deep.«

Without thinking further he stepped towards her and took her injured hand. »Let me take care of it … «

»I am perfectly able take care of it on my own! I don't need you!«, she yelled at him.

He dropped her hand as if it had burned him. »My apologies, Ms Ragnarfír … You are right. You don't need me anymore and I know better than to stay somewhere I am not wanted.«

»I want you here.« Her voice was just a silent whisper. »But only if it is what you want for yourself as well and not because of some job or duty or twisted kind of honor or redemption or a promise you made to a dead man or because I am the only one who cares for you! Just stay, if it is what you truly want yourself!«

He looked at her disbelieving. He would never understand a woman's complicated way of thinking. »This promise was fulfilled the moment we arrived here and yet I wanted to stay, because I care about you, you stupid little fool!«

»By Odin's beard, how shall I know that?!«

»What is that supposed to mean?!«

»How should I have known, that you care about me and that I am not just your investment fund?!«

»I did show- Wait?! My … investment fund?! So I am just like any other Shimada to you?! Now I really do not know, why I considered staying with you in the first place … «

»You won't turn your back on me just like that! It may have escaped your notice, but I kissed you! And you did nothing in return! So what am I supposed to think according to you?!«

And here he thought it just an accident … »It just went too fast! You did not even give me a chance to make up my mind!«

»Too fast?! You had every chance! Despite, what is there to make up your mind about?! Either you feel something or you don't!«

»I … do … « He managed to press out and that were the hardest words he had ever said in his life. He never felt that vulnerable before. »I … just did not know, what to do … I still don't … Something like this had never happened to me … «

Not to mention that he had never kissed or laid with a woman, but she obviously expected him to have experience on that matter, what did not make it easier for him …

But before his thoughts could trouble him further, she leaned forward to him. He felt her nose gently brushing along his, while her warm and soft lips met his own. Hanzo closed his eyes and pulled her closer on instinct. It was so good to feel her body against his own. He had never tasted something sweeter, never did he feel happier and it almost broke his heart again, when she ended the kiss.

»I am sorry, Hanzo«, she whispered, her forehead still resting against his. »I did not mean to hurt you.«

»I-it's f-fine … «, he stammered, while trying to ignore the dragons flying overjoyed circles in his chest.

»It is just … when you did not react at all, I thought … that you are only staying, because you don't want to be alone again, even if it means to endure someone like me.«

He chuckled weakly and carefully stroked over her cheek with his thumb. »After all the people I met, you are the only one, who isn't annoying me. Driving me up the wall in regular intervals, yes, but I care about you and I enjoy being with you«, he managed to say in a hoarse voice.

A shy smile appeared on her face. »You are much more than just a Shimada assassin.«

»Then … what do you see?«, he asked silently, afraid of breaking this pure moment of closeness.

»You are a little dumb and pigheaded sometimes and shoot up like a rocket, when you are angry ... but you are also brave and kind ... loyal and caring ... «

Hanzo stared at her in shock, but there was no lie in her emerald eyes. Just something deep and soft …

»Besides, you are also my best friend and most trusted advisor. Of course, I don't want you gone.«

»Then I won't. Not as long as you want me by your side«, he replied unable to take his eyes of her.

»Even if this place will bore hell out of you?«, she asked.

He gathered all his courage and gave her a careful kiss on her forehead. »Peace and quiet amidst people, who see more than just a weapon in me, is more than I could have ever hoped for.«

»Hey! Are you done? Lunch is ready!«

»I don't think it will be too quiet with that brat of a little brother«, he chuckled when seeing Ivar running towards them.

»I am afraid, you are right.« Her smile was enlightening the sky for him. »Welcome home, Hanzo.«

»Well, better the Shimada than Björn«, Ivar firmly stated.

Hanzo raised an eyebrow. »Of course, I am better than him.«

»And you better don't prove me wrong in that«, the smart-alecky boy replied. »My sister needs someone caring and attentive, because she is hardly asking for help. She needs someone who knows her and what she has been through!«

»Okay, now this is enough, you insufferable brat!« Ýri detached herself from Hanzo and pushed her brother back towards the hall.

Hanzo watched after them for a while. I know, what you mean, boy, and I will try to become the man, she deserves with all my might. He smiled. I am finally home now. He watched the blue sky mirroring itself in the clear water of the fjord and the small village on the hill. Yes. That's it. Maybe we can even plant some cherry trees …

Slowly, he followed them.

[Next chapter on 15th December.]