Mother did not understand Izo's reasoning, but Father did. Still, neither of them were able to explain to Mother why exactly he was choosing to go with Ice Master. He was strong, in the demon way. Clever enough to deduce an opponent's weakness, while at the same time honorable enough to be merciful. The way a true demon warrior would be.
Another reason Izo had to go with him, which he did not share with anyone, was he wanted to know his parents' history with Ice Master and his former friend, Wind Master. It was often alluded to, but rarely discussed in the household. He figured he could get Ice Master to tell him sooner rather than later.
He left with Ice Master the day after he and Father fought. He packed a rucksack, making sure he included a photograph of his family members. And his favorite sweatshirt included.
After a stoic goodbye to his family and staff, especially Mother, he followed after Ice Master at fast, but steady run in silence. They ran for what felt like hours, with the plan to meet up with the newest master and his apprentice.
When night fell, Izo felt exhausted, but he still helped set up their tent. He made himself eat, even though he was too exhausted to want to. He went to bed as soon as he was able, feeling slightly unsure if he could manage a whole other day of this fast pace.
Ice Master woke him at first light, making him jump awake. Without another word, he got himself up and helped to clean up the tent. He watched Ice Master carefully, trying gauge the best time to ask what he wanted to ask.
Once everything was ready and packed, the time arrived. Ice Master told him to pick up his bag and to go.
"No," Izo refused, standing next to his bag.
"Worn down already," Ice Master asked shortly. "If you can't keep up after one day-"
"It's not that," Izo responded, even though the back of his quads did feel tight. "I want to know something first." He spoke clearly and confidently, with a hint of demanding. He figured that would shake Ice Master up.
"What is it then?" Ice Master asked, crossing his arms over his chest. He was outright annoyed. "Missing your mommy already?"
"No, but I want to know what happened with her and my father, and your former friend and ally, Jin," Izo demanded. Ice Master's eyes went wide at that response. "Once I know, or don't know, then I'll decide which direction I run."
Ice Master looked frigid at Izo's boldness. "Ask your parents what happened next time you see them," he seethed out.
Izo did not move, standing stock still. "The only times they talked about it was skirting conversations."
"Pick up your bag," Ice Master barked. "We've got miles to cover today to meet up with Master Haru and Apprentice Airi."
"Yes, master," Izo said, but in a tone that said he had yet to given up on seeking the answer.
It took three days of running before Izo could any response out of Ice Master. It also took the use of being unwilling to engage in conversation with Ice Master to weaken his resolve.
They had set up a fire and were eating dinner when Ice Master finally cracked. "Why do you want to know about your parents and Jin so much?"
Izo looked up at him and took a bite of food. He delayed swallowing. Then said, "just because."
"You're not as smart as you think," Ice Master told him. "If you're going to make it as a shinobu, you need to cut that attitude." Izo masked his reaction by wearing a blank face. "Fine," Ice Master said, setting down his plate next to him on the ground.
"First, you should know I bare no ill will towards your mother. Back then, she was a young, naive human. Strong, too. Jin met her at the Dark Tournament we competed in."
Izo kept his face neutral, but felt a quelling in his stomach. Mother had said that the training for the Dark Tournament was when she developed feelings for Father and when she first kissed him and later on when he first kissed her...
"When Jin found out your mother was the other wind mage at the tournament, he saw her and fell in love with her."
Izo gasped slightly, unable to control the reaction. But that was when Mother and Father got together, so why would she spurn someone who was in love with her...?
"Jin pursued her, but..." Ice Master took a deep breath, brow puzzled with how word what he wanted to say. "But your father wanted her, so he intervened between them. Twice. The first time, your father threatened Jin. The second time, he threatened to harm your mother if he did not leave her alone."
Izo made an effort to stay neutral in face, despite his shock at the bluntness at which the explanation was delivered. "Why didn't Jin tell Mother he was in love with her...?"
Ice Master shook his head, looking frustrated. "He did eventually, but a little too late. He wanted to sleep with her first, but even after that, he did not have the courage to say it- I'm sorry, I shouldn't have included that."
Izo knew his eyes were wide and his mouth was parted. It felt like his heart was pounding in his ears all while feeling like it jumped into his throat. "Why didn't Jin tell her?" he choked out, thinking how odd it would be if Mother had been mated to this Jin instead of Father, which would have made him part wind demon instead of part ice/fire/wind/who knew what else.
Ice Master fidgeted, "he did. At the first Demon King Tournament. But he was angry with her, so he did so while yelling at her, which he thinks is why she went to your father instead of him."
Izo did recall Mother telling him Father claimed her at that tournament after she asked him. "Why did she chose Father...?" he thought out loud.
Ice Master shook his head. "I don't know," he said in a soft voice. "I personally don't think she made the right choice, based on how crushed Jin was when he found out. Besides, rumor has it, your father didn't love her right away until you and your sister were born."
Izo felt himself feel like he was collapsing inward in this revelation.
Ice Master seemed to pick up on how Izo was feeling, and told him, "look, I'm sorry to be the one to tell you, but you wanted to know and asked. Don't sweat it. Clearly the years have changed the two of them. Your father was willing to throw a fight to stop her from harm."
Izo grew quiet after that, and stayed quiet until it was time to sleep. The next morning, he was still taciturn with Ice Master, unsure if he wanted to be with him anymore. Wanted to train with him anymore. Yet he did not wish to go back home after the revelation he had. His parents' whole relationship was based on betrayal mainly on Father's part.
His mind thought unbidden about what Ice Master told him. About the father he could have had had his real father not been so cruel.
Running got harder and harder each day after that. His legs and arms ached, feeling tenser each time he thought about... it. He still did his best, even as Ice Master shouted for him to keep up.
One night in his sleep, Father came into his sleeping mind. 'Still alive?' he asked in a jovial voice. 'Your mother misses you, you know.' Izo just stared at him across the void space between them in his mind. 'What's wrong?' he asked, frowning.
Izo felt the temptation to just wake himself without a word. He could not make himself do it though. 'I know,' was all he choked out.
'Know what?' Father asked, stepping closer towards him in the void space between them.
Izo tensed up, stepping back out of the desire for Father not to come any closer. Father stopped. 'I know what you did to the wind master,' he admitted.
Father clicked his teeth, irked, but trying to keep himself in check at this response. 'That was not Touya's place to share that information,' Father stated.
'Why?' Izo asked. 'Why did you do it?'
Father kept his face neutral. 'I desired your mother,' he explained. 'I know she would have been happier with him,' his tone was somber and sober.
Izo shook his head, staring across at someone he emulated as a hero, but now it turned out he was a villain in his own right. It was hard to comprehend, hard to think about. The father he had loved was no better than the rouge bandit he had been back when he was a child and teen himself.
'What do you want me to say?' Father said, shortness was in his voice, even though he tried to keep it at bay. 'You ask your mother, know that she says she made a choice, and she chose me.' Father's voice grew softer. 'She shouldn't have and yet she did. I seduced her away from him. I let her fall in love with me, even though that wasn't my plan. It took time, but I eventually also fell in love with her, and yet I don't want to regret the decisions and the path that got me there.' Father was breathing quicker, looking down at what would be the ground in this void space. 'I can't imagine life without her. Nor the three of you.'
Izo shook his head. Hearing what Father had to say did not negate what Ice Master said, but rounded out the explanation. 'I'd like to wake up now,' he said.
'Okay,' Father said, tone sketched with defeat. 'We'll speak again next week. Your mother wants me to try to bring her along into your mind with me next time.' Father stood up straighter. 'Keep training. Focus on that. Not the past that you had no part of.'
With that, Izo jumped awake shock. He rolled over, looking at Ice Master, who was deep asleep. Izo sat up,running his fingers through his long, tangled blue hair. He looked back down at Ice Master. While his revelation of what his father did years ago shook him to the core, he had made a commitment to the shinobu order. The same order as that wind mage Father stole Mother away from. He made a commitment, even though it now felt tainted, and he was going to carry it through; hell or high water.