Published June 12, 2022

Takes place throughout season 3

"Families in All Sizes"

Before they left Buenos Aires, Carmen showed Shadowsan the picture in the locket she had retrieved from the safe deposit box. He confirmed that the man was indeed Dexter Wolf, and the baby was Carmen herself.

"I am glad you have something to remember him by," Shadowsan said. "And some proof of your connection, should you need it."

Carmen thought over the implication of those words. "Do you think if we find my mother, she might not believe I'm her daughter?"

Shadowsan was realistic, and never sugarcoated hard truths. So he answered honestly. "I think … it is difficult to trust people in our line of work, and even more so after losing so much."

"That's fair," Carmen conceded, looking down. "I guess if a random woman showed up and told me she was my mother, I'd also want proof."

Shadowsan thought it might be best for him not to be present when Carmen met her mother. If she knew of him or learned of his involvement with Wolf's death, it could make the unusual introductions even more awkward. She might blame him for being willing to kill her husband, or for not preventing Wolf's death. Besides that, she might be angry that Shadowsan had brought Carmen to a school for thieves, and might envy him for having been able to watch her grow up.

If Shadowsan met Wolf's widow, he hoped it would be after Carmen had been able to explain his connection to their family. But then again, it might be less traumatic for everyone involved if he never met the woman.

So, as they discussed their next steps, Shadowsan volunteered to lead Spinkick and Flytrap on a false trail, while the others followed clues in search of Carmen's mother. The others agreed, and did not ask to hear his reasoning.

Shadowsan's solo journey was relatively uneventful, though it was quite satisfying to watch the overconfident graduates fall for his decoy. It was almost like the satisfaction of teaching, imparting a lesson that put them in their place.

The two parties were able to rendezvous in Venice, the apparent destination of V.I.L.E.'s next caper. They debriefed on their separate adventures before embarking on a tour of the canals.

Though he did not show it, Shadowsan was disturbed to hear that Carmen had again encountered Coach Brunt. Out of all the V.I.L.E. faculty, the American athlete had been the closest to Carmen when she was growing up, and perhaps for that very reason, she now harbored the most anger and hatred for Carmen. Not to mention, she could inflict more brutal physical damage than any of the other staff. It was a marvel that Carmen had escaped the wrestling ring without any injuries.

Shadowsan was also upset to hear that Carmen had been captured and almost taken back to V.I.L.E. He was most disappointed when he heard that the reason for it was her instinct to protect a historical artifact. Taking her altruism to such lengths might someday be her undoing.

On the other hand, it seemed like she made friends wherever she went, who came to her aid when she needed it. So perhaps her good heart was an asset rather than a liability.

"I am sorry that your quest to find your mother has been sidelined by … business as usual," Shadowsan told Carmen as they approached the city by motorboat.

She did not meet his gaze right away. "It was entirely my choice," she stated. "Besides, the more good people I manage to meet in this crazy world, the more I'm reminded that family comes in many forms." She turned to him with a smile as she said this.

"I for one cannot argue with your sentiment," Shadowsan replied, returning her smile with a rare one of his own.

He did not expect to see his own family so soon afterward. Italy was about as far away from Japan as anyone could get. But as soon as he saw the mengu mask on display, he knew intuitively that Hideo must be connected with the exhibit. And sure enough, a moment later he glimpsed Hideo in that very room. Once again, they were looking at him through the glass and mirrors of museum displays. Though it felt cowardly, Shadowsan slipped away before Hideo could catch sight of him directly.

He did not know what Hideo thought of him at this point. It had been just a few months since their brief reunion in Tokyo. Shadowsan had barely had the nerve to look at his brother, and Hideo had not even spoken to him. Perhaps he had softened toward him since then. But any respect or goodwill that Shadowsan had regained by returning the daisho would surely be lost if Hideo caught him stealing something so meaningful to him again.

Despite his reluctance, in the end his loyalty to Carmen and their shared desire to protect cultural treasures won out.

He briefly considered trying to reach out to Hideo, to talk to him or send a message, either warning him about V.I.L.E.'s plans or explaining his and Carmen's actions. But he did not want Hideo to get caught up in any of V.I.L.E. or A.C.M.E.'s work. It was safer for Hideo if neither organization knew of his familial connection. So Shadowsan did nothing and said nothing.

Hideo, however, was expecting them. And when he caught them in the act, Shadowsan knew he could hide no longer. He took his own mask off and let his brother see his face, though he kept his eyes downcast.

Carmen diplomatically tried to mediate and vouch for him, but Hideo remembered her, too, as a thief. And it did not help that one of the V.I.L.E. operatives involved in this caper was Mime Bomb, who no one took seriously because he acted so comical. Shadowsan had spent so long in this world that he had rather forgotten how unbelievable it would seem to an outsider.

But proof arrived in the form of Neal the Eel, and seeing him attack Shadowsan with his new electrical weapons may have alarmed Hideo enough to make him understand the urgency and authenticity of their mission. Thankfully, Carmen made a skillful counterattack—she had had the idea earlier to use olive oil, turning Neal's own slippery gimmick against him—and together she and Shadowsan were able to subdue Neal and catch the mask he had almost taken.

"Stealing cannot be the only way to protect the masks," Hideo insisted as he handled the artifact.

"It is the only way we know," Shadowsan said simply.

Instead of arguing, threatening, or demanding to know more, Hideo held the mask out to them with a look of resignation. "What can I do to help?"

Shadowsan could hardly remember the last time he had heard his brother say those words. He had been so loath to accept help as a teenager that Hideo had eventually stopped offering it.

The three of them worked quickly to pack the masks in a safe container. Then, much to Shadowsan and Carmen's surprise, Hideo ended up helping them further by attacking the A.C.M.E. agent who nearly caught them. It was a strange moment, and later it made Shadowsan wonder what it might have been like if Hideo, too, had become a thief. Shadowsan was only sorry that Hideo had to dirty his hands with a crime like attacking law enforcement.

"I feel like they are my responsibility," Hideo said as he watched them lower the masks outside the museum.

"It is best if you are not seen by the authorities," Shadowsan said, respectfully but firmly.

Hideo did not argue, and returned to his hotel room, trusting them to see to the masks' return. But he did come back to see them off. Shadowsan reassured him that the masks had been turned over to the authorities.

"So you are working with the police?" Hideo said, confused but trying to understand.

"It is … complicated," Shadowsan answered truthfully.

Hideo glanced away, but he did not ask for further explanation. When he looked back at his brother, he said, "You are performing a samurai's work in ninja's clothing."

Shadowsan was taken aback. Hideo, of all people, thought him a samurai? It was perhaps the highest and most unexpected praise he could have received.

Hideo's next words were more in line with his expectations, painful though they were to hear. "Then I cannot welcome you back home." Shadowsan inclined his head in acknowledgement, but Hideo went on, "Not while you still have important work ahead of you." He looked beyond Shadowsan and nodded at Carmen, who was flanked by Zack and Ivy in their rented motorboat.

Shadowsan understood. The Argentinian and two Americans could never be mistaken for his own children, but right now he was the closest thing they had to a teacher or a parental figure. His mission was about more than undoing evil deeds; it was about accompanying these young people on their journey.

Shadowsan smiled and agreed, "My place is with her for now."

Then Hideo did something he had never done before: he bowed respectfully to his younger brother. With a full heart, Shadowsan bowed back.

Carmen stepped onto the mainland long enough to also say goodbye to Hideo. Shadowsan had the odd realization that he had lived with each of them for almost the same amount of time in his life. It was hard to say which of them knew him better.

"Thank you for helping us, and for trusting us," Carmen said.

Hideo nodded, and cast one last glance at Shadowsan. "You must be a good leader to have my brother's loyalty. Please keep watch over him."

"I will," Carmen assured him. She and Shadowsan exchanged knowing smiles. "We always look out for each other." It was true: they had each saved each other multiple times by that point.

Now, as he parted ways with Hideo once again—the first time they did so on good terms—Shadowsan harbored some hope that they would see each other again, and that he would be welcomed if they did.