Liang looks up to Hanzo, his face instantly turning red. I look over to Hanzo with conflicting emotions. That almost happened and I don't know how I feel anymore. Hanzo apologizes before running out of the room. I don't blame him, I would of too. As I watch Liang sit back down, I think of what we used to be. Is he suddenly trying to pick up where we left off?

I still can't believe that Hanzo ran all the way to me to check on me. Then Liang more or less scared him off. I feel awful making him worry, then again I didn't expect him to run all the way to me. "You know they don't end up as happy brothers..." Liang says breaking the silence and my train of thought. I look up to him giving him a confused look. "I mean, if history repeats itself, I don't think your little Shimada's will stay 'besties.'"

"Why the sudden change of mood."

"Why did your student abandon both his and your brother. He obviously enjoys your company more. Even when I asked them to leave us, he gave a consenting look over to you. On top of all that I feel like there's something you're not telling me."

I hate that Liang changed the subject, but he is right, which makes me feel worse. If something does happen between the two, it'll be my fault. "You're right, as always."

"Then elaborate, Kai, tell me why I see pain in Hanzo's future."

And there it is, what I was almost waiting for. Liang has always been able to tell what a humans future is, he's predicted the outcome of some human events just by glancing over some humans. I refuse to make eye contact with him, "You see pain because of his clan. His father, along with the clan elders, has asked Hanzo to 'fix his wayward brother'-"

"He was told to kill him. Though Genji, was it, isn't dead."

"Correct, because Hanzo didn't want anything bad to happen. Hanzo hated what his clan asked him to do-"

"He'll end up doing something about it. He's a good kid and I can tell he doesn't want to upset his clan-"

"I'll make sure he doesn't-"

"Doesn't kill him? Kai, history repeats itself no matter what. Both of us know this-"

"I don't care!" I yell, Liang is suppressed by my outburst. "I won't idely sit by as my student throws his life away! I refuse to let him make the same mistakes that I did." Liang moves over to me, quickly wrapping me in a hug.

"I know you won't," he says quietly, "You were never the one to accept fate as it is. You should know that not all my predictions are true. But maybe he's feeling pain b-because of you..." My eyes widen at that last part. Liang stops hugging me though keeps his hands around my waist. "I don't want you to get hurt because some human doesn't agree with you. If he is to kill his brother, it'll be his own choice. And it will be something that even you can't stop." He moves a hand to my face and wipes some tears away. I hate how right he can be. But am I really hurting Hanzo like that?

I lean forward, onto Liang, closing my eyes as I do so. I reach out, trying to sense where Hanzo is. Liangs purple aura appears in front of me. I sense Genji and Kazu's auras further away, they're with one of the monks. Hanzo is not with them. I try to find my students warm blue aura, though find it difficult to see him. How? He couldn't of just left, well he could have but why would he? I keep searching for it.

I feel a presence behind me but can't figure out who it is. I open my eyes and turn to see that Hanzo is kneeling behind me. I turn my attention away from Liang, I almost feel the pouting face that he's making. His blue aura isn't warm as it normally is. It's harsh, unwelcoming. I reach out and put a hand on his shoulder. We make eye contact before he looks away.

"Did you mean it, master?" He asks quietly. "Will you really do what you can to save me from myself...?"

"Of course Hanzo," I quietly reply, smiling slightly. "I don't want to see you suffer." The entire mood of the room changes. It feels almost lighter now, which is a good thing. "So," I say, "you heard everything, right?"

"Just about... I'm sorry for eavesdropping but I was worried..."

"It's fine, Hanzo." He nods.

"You know," Liang starts, "I'm still amazed on how soft you've become, Kai, but that also means that you've finally grown up." That means a lot coming from him. I turn back to the table, Liang still sits across from me. Hanzo joins us, sitting to the left of me.

Kazu and Genji show up after a while. Kazu says that they had a good time. I mention something about leaving, Genji says that they're ready when we are. I look over to Liang and see that he's sad. I tell him that we'll be able to meet up more often. He seems to get happier when I say that.

We get back to Shimada castle late. We took our time getting home and ended up going out to eat. The guards say that the boy's parents have been worried. When we walk into the main area, we see the boy's parents waiting for us. Their father had been pacing while their mother pours some tea. Their mother explains that she was worried until she was told that Kazu and I took the boys out. She said that when their father learned that we took the boys out it made him increasingly worried. Their father grabs both Kazu and I's arm before pulling us away from the others. Their mother tells the boys to leave us, she escorts them out.

Kazu glances over to me while I keep my eyes trained on their father. "What were you two thinking?!" He yells through gritted teeth. I haven't seen him this angry in a while.

"We though that we would treat the boys to a well deserved vacation." I say calmly.

"They have responsibilities here, responsibilities that they could not perform since they have been gone all day!"

"How unfortunate."

He lets go of Kazu's arm, "You have no idea how much money was lost because my eldest, your student, was not here." His grip on my arm tightens and I can almost feel Kazu's worry.

"Well that isn't my problem, now is it."

"You've gotten on my last nerve Ichiro. I will not have my son skipping-"

"'Skipping what he's meant to do,'" I say in a mocking tone, "because 'he has to learn what must be done in order to take over as head of the Shimada clan', blah blah blah. I've heard it a million times before-"

He slaps me across my face. I stumble back, though his grip on my arm keeps me in place. I know that Kazu's starting to panic. "I will not tolerate such behavior from you any longer." I raise my free hand to my face. I feel blood and am surprised by how much force he put into that slap. I straighten my stance, making eye contact with him once again.

"So, what will you do, Sojiro Jitsumo Shimada." My eyes narrow a little. I can see Kazu panicking out the corner of my eye.

"I want you to leave. I never want you to see my son ever again." He pushes me back, this time letting go of me so that I almost fall to the ground. I finally wipe the blood from my face. Kazu quickly goes to me, telling me that I should leave.

"You're taking his side," I quietly hiss to Kazu. He gives me a look. "Fine." I say before making my way to the exit. Kazu turns to the boy's father, frantically apologizing to him.

Meanwhile I'm left to walk home by myself.