Ch. 2: An Unexpected Guest
The sun, the glorious giant in the sky bestowing its benevolent light, had blessed the planet another day. The light slipped through the leaves and heated the valley, cradling him in warmth as a mother would hold her baby. This was a false sense of safety. He knew he had to leave, he could not stay in one place for too long, it was a miracle he was able to sleep this long undisturbed. Though it did not matter how far he strayed from Hanamura, the Hashimoto assassins knew no distance too far, it was still too risky to lay low in one place so close to home. He stood up, brushing grass off from his clothes and stretching his tired bones.
Tired. 10 years was a long time to wander, a long time to grieve and a long time to be paying the price for his past deeds. As he stretched higher into the sky, the warmth of the sun reached him even more, it welcomed him to another day and soothed where the bitter breeze once clawed at his skin the night before. It was time to visit surrounding towns until his trip back into the city tonight, where he will finish what he came for. He knew exactly what to do, hide his face and lay low until the darkness could shield him once more. There was time to kill and distance to cover. A deep grumble bellowed from his abdomen, it was definitely time to go. He had an empty stomach to answer to. He covered his head with a hood and wrapped his face up to his eyes, it would do the job.
A brisk walk away from the closest market, he was quickly surrounded by shops, noise and busy bodies. It was midday chaos and everyone was on a mission of their own, he slithered his way through the crowd finding himself in front of a particularly alluring restaurant.
"Ah yes, one of the things you can find nowhere outside of home, a good beef stew." he thought while he contentedly stepped in. It was the one pleasure he found in being home: beef stew, made the correct way.
A pleasant voice chimed, "Welcome! Please, have a seat wherever I will be right–"
"No thank you, I will just order and be on my way. One beef stew please." He reached into his bag pulling money out.
"Ah- well we don't have any 'to-go' containers to put the stew in, just eat here don't worry I will bring it out quickly." A small frail man appeared from around the kitchen door, with wrinkles that looked like ripples in a pond across his body.
"Hm.." He looked around, there were a couple families sitting down and no one else. He nodded at the man and made his way to the corner of the restaurant, sliding his weaponry beneath the table.
"I can eat fast enough and be on my way. It should be fine." he thought while getting comfortable. From across the restaurant he could feel the glare from the families upon him, though it wasn't uncommon for a man to be equipped, it wasn't always welcome. Especially around children. He did not bother to return their gaze, he sat quietly looking down. There happened to be a newspaper on the table, reaching for it he noticed it was a week old according to the date printed on it. He carelessly flipped through the pages, until stopping at one that caught his eye,
10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF ASSASSINATION OF SOJIRO SHIMADA: THE FALL OF THE SHIMADA CLAN
He squeezed the newspaper in his hand, reading into the paragraph beneath the headline:
Sunday marks the 10th anniversary of the beginning of the end of one of history's most prominent criminal organizations, the assassination of Sojiro Shimada, the head of the Shimada family. For over 200 years the family reigned terror through the streets of Hanamura and beyond, producing some of the world's deadliest assassins. A week later, Sojiro's youngest son suffered the same fate. Many speculations have been made over the years on where the elde–
"Your beef stew" the same frail man appeared before him and set a heaping bowl of steaming stew onto the table, bowing before him.
He pressed his hands up against each other, bowing his head, "Thank you." Pushing away the newspaper and pulling his face covering down, he wasted no time diving into his long awaited comfort of home. With not 10 minutes passing he had finally eased his stomach and gathered his belongings, leaving the payment on the table. Just as he turned away and put his face covering back on, the same pleasant voice chimed from behind,
"That's an incredible instrument you have on your back. It certainly doesn't look untouched either."
He looked around, noticing the families had left. It was only him and the old man.
"Don't worry, I mean no trouble. I am simply passing through."
"You seem to know enough of the area if the Shimada family peaked your interest."
"Everyone in Japan remembers them, they brought terror and pain to countless."
"Ah yes, they really calmed down after Overwatch came in and dismantled them. Though other's came and filled the void. There's never a lack of evil in the world."
He nodded.
"Though I did always find it strange Overwatch took an interest in them, of all the places and corruption, why the Shimada family? Especially after what happened. They were hurting already. Funny, they turned out to be crooks themselves."
"I don't know."
Though the old man was shriveled and frail, his eyes were sturdy and unwavering, "My oh my please excuse an old man, you look like you are on a mission, hopefully a peaceful one. Whatever brought you here, may it bring you ease. Thank you again for coming in, stranger."
He nodded once more, and left the restaurant. That was enough social interaction for one day, and frankly more attention than he cared to have.
As the hours passed and the sun fell further down the sky he trekked along the outskirts of towns, always staying near the city. There was about an hour left of light, an hour until the world falls under the night's domain and the scum of Hanamura will crawl outside. He found himself at the edge of a pond, it teemed with life. Birds and amphibians sung their songs, if one would shut their eyes they would be lulled to sleep. Crouching before the pond he loomed over the edge taking a look at his reflection. Sometimes, especially if he gazed long enough, it seemed as if someone else was staring back at him. He was never quite sure who or what was, but it was an uncomfortable feeling, so he seldom dwelled on it. He reached his hand flat down, gently touching the water, sending ripples out into the pond. Frogs jumped and fish swam away, his image now distorted.
"The last time I touched this pond, I was a different person.. I was but a boy. I am a man now and a different person. I felt like I had life planned out, I felt complete. Now? I will never be complete." He couldn't help but to feel reminiscent. The greater Hanamura area had changed greatly since his childhood, he thought he had changed too. Now sitting beside the pond, he decided to watch the sunset before heading back into the city.
It was time. Darkness fell upon the land and it was time to fulfill his purpose of being here. Standing up he brushed himself off once again and unveiled his hood and face covering, there was no use for them for what was to come. He took one last look at the serenity of the pond, the tiny ecosystem that flourished within it. Turning his back, he headed towards the streets of Hanamura. Through one town, then the next, up to the city the streets were empty. Stepping out at night meant playing with fate. After slipping through alleys and scaling some walls, carefully evading any eyes peeping in the night, he arrived.
The Shimada Castle.
Once lit up and full of life, it now was dim and poorly kept. So many memories: happiness, patience, anger, love, pain and so much more. All up and down the halls of this once great castle. It was hard to look at, yet he finds himself at its steps every year. He hopped the first wall in front of the castle and kept up against the inner wall making his way towards the courtyard, where he could get easy access to the inside. Once he was in the courtyard, his eyes fell upon the moon once again, even fuller than the night before. The walls of the castle helped dull the noise of the city, and the courtyard was always a little haven of plants and small life. Beautiful blossoms and old sturdy trees that circulated the stifling air from outside the walls.
Once upon a time he was quite fond of this courtyard. The brilliant full moon lit it up in the absence of artificial light that used to be. Though everything was overgrown, it still evoked a feeling in him, a feeling he was not sure he enjoyed.
A light flicked on, followed by the opening of the courtyard door and some voices, he climbed up the wall for a better angle and cover. Two men walked out.
"Yeah, they sent me here a few months back to this ghost town, it's nice but it's boring. Just the old stomping grounds of the Shimada's. You'll be fine here."
"I guess. I was really hoping to be sent out of the city, I wanted a mission. The blade grows rusty without a little seasoning, if ya know what I mean?"
"Of course, I'm sure you will be deployed if needed. In the meantime just sit back and relax, can't believe they had this for over 200 years."
"Ha! Well, it belongs to the Hashimoto clan now, no little snot nosed Shimada boys running around anymore eh?"
"I heard they took care of themselves after we cut the cord on Sojiro, quite the family if ya ask me."
"I always wondered if the rumors we–"
His face contorted, with a swift draw and release of his bow one the men dropped to the ground.
"Shit!" The other man pulled a gun out, sloppily pointing into the night sky.
"Too slow." An arrow cut through the trees piercing the man's hand and pinning him to the support beam behind. The gun skidded away.
The man squirmed, writhing in pain, "AGH, fuck!"
Hopping down he made his way and towards the man, still enveloped by the darkness casted by the trees.
"Who– who the hell are you? Do you know who you're messing with!? This is Hashi–"
"Shut up. Don't let your last words be something so foolish."
The man grunted, trying to keep composure through the pain.
Stepping out from under the tree's shade he finally revealed himself, "You pests of the Hashimoto clan have been occupying stolen estate for far too long. No matter how many I kill you swarm back in like roaches."
"Ha! Then do it already, if you're so used to it!"
"Gladly.." He stepped forward like a wolf approaching an injured doe.
Just as he was an arms length away, the man with blade in hand swung with his free arm. Using his left hand he blocked the man's attempt, grabbing an arrow from his quiver with his right, promptly sliding it through the man's neck.
Silence. The man's body fell limp as the same crimson fluid poured from the arrow's puncture. He quickly retrieved both arrows, wiping them clean on the body. Just like that, he turned towards the doorway and entered the castle. Slipping through the dark halls, he made his way to a set of towering grand metal doors, with a red and a blue dragon curling into each other on it. He reached out and grabbed the handles, letting out a deep sigh he pulled the doors open.
It was dark. Just as it is every year. He flipped the lights on, at the end of the room revealed a warmly lit shrine with two swords on a rack. Upon reaching the end of the room, he sat down and pulled out his bag. In front of him he laid incense out along with the feather of a sparrow. He lit the incense, and closed his eyes. Deep in thought, he mourned a soul the world lost far too soon. The incense smoke swirled into the air and into his nose, how the smell brought back memories. His brother hated the smell of the incense, and frankly hated sitting in place for more than a moment at the shrine. He remembers shooting dagger eyes at him countless times and father rolling his eyes.
His eyes shot open. Something called him back to reality, his eyebrows furrowed, "You are not the first assassin sent to kill me, and you will not be the last."
A figure appeared behind him, jumping down from the wooden beams above.
"You are bold to come to Shimada castle, the den of your enemies."
He carefully reached for his bow, "This was once my home.." He flipped around, "Did your masters not tell you who I was!?" An arrow shot towards the figure.
With an effortless lean the figure dodged his arrow. His eyes now met the unexpected guest. He wasn't quite sure what it was. An Omnic? A man in complete metal gear? His armor was light and dark gray, with bright green circles throughout. He had never seen quite a thing before.
"I know who you are, Hanzo."
He shot another arrow, eyes wide.
"I know you come here on the same day every year, on the same day."
"How?" he thought.
Another arrow, the figure dodged, jumping behind a shoji wall. Arrows flung through missing the figure again.
"You risk so much to honor someone you MURDERED!"