Ch. 7: Power

Genji waved goodnight to Kiyomi, with a mouth full of candy. Even though he wasn't supposed to have candy after 5pm, let alone have it in place of dinner, she had a soft spot for the boys. He opened his bedroom door, only to reveal his older brother sitting on his bed, looking meek. Genji stood there, unable to say much due to the sweets stuffing his mouth,

"Uhlmmmm" A bit of drool dribbled out of his mouth.

"I never understood why you insist on sleeping in a cot on the floor when we probably have the best beds in the nation."

"Itsh behter on your bahck!" Genji's jaw worked overtime attempting to clear his mouth.

Hanzo chuffed, his lips forming a slight smirk.

Genji sat on his cot, knees folded up and held close to his chest with his arms. He gazed up at his brother, "Shhoooo?"

Hanzo's face grew contrite, "I'm sorry about earlier, Genji. I–"

Genji took a big gulp, "It's okay Hanzo. Kiyomi took me to the arcade… and talked to me about some things."

Hanzo raised his eyebrows, surprised that his little brother displayed such forgiveness. He shifted in the bed, "That's good, I'm glad." A minute of silence befell the brothers, "It's hard."

"What is?"

"Being the eldest. I wish there was a book or something."

"Maybe online?"

Hanzo chuckled, "Yeah I'll search, Eldest brother in a crim– prominent family 101."

Genji shared a laugh with him, "Sounds about right."

Hanzo stood up and walked over to Genji, giving a quick scratch to the top of his brother's head, "I'm heading to bed, it's been a long day. You're welcome to join me in the shrine if something possesses you to wake early again."

"Thank you, Hanzo. Goodnight."

When he walked out of Genji's bedroom, a quick movement around the corner down the hall caught his eye. He carefully approached, peeking around the corner,

"AH!" Kiyomi cupped her hand over her mouth.

"Were you listening in on us Kiyomi?"

"I– uhm– no– I, was… uhm" She sheepishly smiled.

Hanzo smiled, "I'm just playing. Thank you for taking Genji out and talking with him. I owe you more than I can imagine."

"Of course Hanzo! You do not owe me a cent, I am here for the Shimada family. She darted her eyes back and forth, "I am here for you and Genji."

"I know. I'm just not sure if I say it enough though, you have been everything to us. I'm afraid we take you for granted." He looked down in shame.

"Quiet boy. My reward has been seeing you and your brother grow into the admirable young men you are today. It's… bittersweet." Kiyomi had tears in her eyes, "I understand it is not easy for you boys, especially you. Hanzo, I know you don't believe it but, you are a phenomenal older brother. If I could give you a 'how to' book I would, but the truth is you are learning to walk a difficult path. With the cards you have been dealt, you are absolutely excelling at it. I would've killed for a brother like you." She gave a smile that made Hanzo feel like a warm cloud picked him up, and cradled him.

"Thank you Kiyomi… I just–" he paused and sighed, "I just feel like I am making mistake after mistake, and the family will suffer because of me. Especially Genji."

Kiyomi's face grew solemn and she firmly placed her hand on his shoulder, "You take that empty rhetoric put into your head and blow it to the wind. You have grown into a fine leader Hanzo, we as humans learn through our mistakes. Don't you dare pay any mind to those who say otherwise. What matters is that you continue to learn and grow. As for Genji, you boys must learn to look out for each other, that includes Genji looking out for you. You need him more than you may realize, just as much as he needs you. In the end, all you will have one day is each other."

Hanzo's eyes were wider than a fish out of sea, this had been the first time Kiyomi spoke to him in such a frank way. She was speaking to him like he was an adult, but not like how the other adult's spoke to him. It felt fair and loving, an honest yet hopeful statement. Hope was a commodity in his mind. Hanzo nodded delicately before throwing himself onto her, hugging her tightly. Kiyomi smiled and wrapped her arms around him, the last time they hugged he was just under her eyes. Now he was a whole head taller.

"Goodnight, Kiyomi." He pulled away and bowed.

"Get some rest Hanzo." She bowed.

The morning's glory blessed the castle once again with its full presence spilling through the windows. Though Genji had yet to see it, Hanzo felt it on his face in the shrine, even though it was a rest day he was strict in his routine. The shrine was a haven that helped the boy calm his mind, that is of course as long as no one entered.

Click click wrrrrrp… The doors opened.

The sound of someone interrupting him.

"I'd say you are even more strict than I with your duty in honoring our ancestors."

I really just want some peace and quiet, "The shrine is a good place to sit and think."

"Ah, yes. A place to clear the mind from the chaos of our lives. I believe the shrine is quieter than any other room because spirits are teaching us that there is not much in this life important enough to worry about. So they silence our minds and help us regain composure." Sojiro sat beside his son.

"Hm."

"I used to be like you. Religious in my attendance here. Who would have thought running this clan would take so much time!" Sojiro smiled at Hanzo, "Perhaps I need to relearn this lesson though."

"Perhaps."

A minute of silence passed by between father and son, "Hanzo. How about we step outside? As much as I would love to clear my mind beside you, I did seek you out for a purpose, one that I wouldn't want to pester the spirits with." Sojiro stood up, brushing his pants off, "Come, son."

Of course, Father only speaks with me when it is duty related.

Hanzo nodded and followed Sojiro outside. It was a particularly cold morning with the wind nipping at his nose. They walked side by side to the courtyard, sitting on a stone garden bench. It was chilling to the touch, he could feel it stinging through his pants the moment his bottom touched the bench. He sat on the edge, as far away as possible from Sojiro. If he could physically extend the bench about half a mile he most certainly would. In fact, if he never had to hear another word from his parents, he would be more than content.

Sojiro sighed, "I know what you must be thinking, son. That all we talk is business."

No shit.

"I assure you, I will begin attempting to make time for us, as a family."

I couldn't think of anything worse.

"I was speaking with your mother, to which she very much agrees, that we do not spend nearly enough quality time together. We were thinking… dinner?"

Hanzo turned and questioningly looked at his father, "What?"

Sojiro cleared his throat, "You know, family dinner. We thought we would attempt it once a month. I don't see why we couldn't."

Are we getting a reality show made about us? Let the world see that we are just like everyone else? 'Sitting with the Shimadas'.

"Uhm, I suppose."

"Yes. After all, Genji is still at a very influential age, he needs to see what a family should be like… and you as well, don't get me wrong."

Hanzo rolled his eyes to the side, of course because I am just here to fulfill my duty. I don't have human needs.

Sojiro cleared his throat again, "Great. We let Kiyomi know and are having her prepare everything for next Saturday evening. So make sure to let your brother know."

Hanzo gave a grunt of acknowledgement, nodding his head.

"Anyway, on to a more important matter." Sojiro tapped his long wrinkled fingers on his legs in order, making a sort of wave, "You are 16, Hanzo."

He looked at his father, the sun behind him, making it difficult to maintain eye contact. His father looked like he was almost wearing the sun itself as a crown.

"You are almost a man now. Hard to believe it happened so fast." Sojiro had a flash of sorrow in his eyes, "It is time your years of training are put to use."

Hanzo darted his head down and gripped the corner of the bench.

"You are going to be given missions, I am far past my years of being on the ground. We need a Shimada back in the direct loop. We need to remain strong, the Hashimoto clan are becoming more prevalent. They are growing bolder by the day, as you remember the kidnapping of your brother was… a sign of what is to come in the near future."

Hanzo kept his head down, anxiously gripping the stone. He could feel his heart.

Sojiro reached his arm out, placing it on Hanzo's shoulder. It did not feel the same as Kiyomi's hand though, it was cold and made him feel like he was falling, "Hanzo. From what I have seen and what Asa has told me, there is not a doubt you will be excellent. You have turned into the leader this family needs. A true young master, you have surpassed all expectations."

Why didn't his compliments feel like Kiyomi's? They feel like a void slowly pulling at me.

Sojiro squeezed his shoulder before letting go and rolling up his right arm's sleeve, "Look. I know you have seen it, son."

Hanzo begrudgingly turned his head, just enough to see what his father beckoned him to look at.

"This is what sets us apart from any other clan, person or machine."

He turned his head a bit more, looking at his father's finger pointing at a dragon tattoo wrapping around his right arm. It was old and washed out.

Doesn't every clan adorn tattoo's?

"This is not just an old tattoo. What you are looking at is raw power."

Hanzo blankly stared.

"The Shimadas have been able to rule for centuries because we were given a unique power, a secret within our family." Sojiro stood up from the bench, facing away from Hanzo and unsheathed his sword. He took stance then taking a deep breath in, heclosed his eyes, "LET THE DRAGON CONSUME!"

Hanzo, like a startled animal, jumped off the bench with his arms shielding his face. A sound roared in his ears to what he could only relate to an archaic freight train he heard in a video once. A brilliant, electric blue dragon as tall as a building was birthed from his own father's sword. It spiraled, coiling through the air before focusing into a statue and turned it into dust.

He stood there, unable to process what he just witnessed. Mouth open and eyes wide, he gazed up between the pile of dust and his father.

Sojiro turned around, sheathing his sword, "And that my son, that is the power of the Shimadas."