Barry Allen:
Hitokiri Battousai

Part 2

Disclaimer: Though its been awhile since I did the first part, I thought it was time to finally add a second part.

Summary: Its been a few years, but Barry's time in Japan is about to catch up with him.

As Barry busied himself in the CCPD Forensics Lab, he failed to realize he wasn't alone and he'd nearly drop what he had in his hands when the other figure spoke. "So this is what one of Japan's greatest Swordsmen does with his time now. Interesting."

"N-Nitobe-Sama!?" Barry asked as he thankfully managed to keep the work in his hands from falling out of them as he took in the dark haired man.

Who merely smiled at him, but a hint of sadness could be seen within that smile and it made Barry curious and apprehensive. "It is I, 'Toromai."

"You've come with bad news, haven't you? I can see the sadness in your smile." Barry asked as he came around from his desk to greet the older man.

Asano Nitobe merely nodded as the two bowed to one another. "It is good your senses have not dulled in this time of Peace, young one. But yes, I have come with unfortunate news, Dr. Tazu died in his sleep several nights ago."

Barry's eyes widened in shocked surprise as he stumbled back at the unexpected news. "He… He what? But last I saw, he was rather spry for a man of his age!"

Nitobe smiled sadly as he nodded in agreement. "Yes, that is true, but after the War and your departure, his Health began to turn against him and nothing could be done to reverse what was happening."

"Kimiyo must be devastated."

"She is… And filled with regrets given how their relationship had been so strained. I've come to ask you to attend his Funeral, 'Toromai. I know you would rather not given your past in Japan and your own strained relationship with Kimiyo, but…"

Barry quickly waved that off. "No, its, its fine. I should be there, its only right. I… Jeez… I should've stayed in contact."

"It is understandable why you did not, young one." Nitobe told him reassuringly.

But the young man in front of him wasn't necessarily all that reassured and the older knew it. "And here I thought you were going to tell me someone was trying to start some serious trouble in Japan. Or that Kimiyo had finally decided to track me down to express her feelings some more."

She hadn't been the biggest fan of his choosing to leave Japan to return to America and that had been one of the reasons they hadn't had contact with one another in years. "Hah! If only we were so lucky on either count!"

"Yeah… Let me go get things with the Captain sorted and then I can get started on packing." Barry told him while thinking he ought to have Joe let his dad know what was going on since that was at least one West who was still willing to talk to him after Iris had learned of his being the Flash and hadn't been very happy about being kept in the dark on the whole thing.

Nitobe nodded in understanding as Barry quickly finished up what he was doing and then went to go and see Singh. I have the feeling young 'Toromai will prefer a war as no doubt young Kimiyo will have some things to say to him by the time her father's funeral has come and gone.

One might need Popcorn for such an event as the Americans would say!

Author's Notes: Asano Nitobe is a DC character and Kimiyo is Kimiyo 'Dr. Light' Hoshi, who, for some reason, was a villain character on the Flash Post-Crisis. Tazu is Raiden Tazu, and Kimiyo's father. 'Toromai is the short hand version of Barry's full first name in Japanese, which is Barutoromai according to Google Translate.