Years later,
5-year-old Saki was sitting on the swings reading his book with a slight content smile on his face. Saki doesn't have many friends; his only friend was Yoshi. It's not that Saki is against having friends, he just does not see the point of them and many kids, for some reason, found him to be strange.
"Hamato Saki!" Someone suddenly called and Saki looked up to see a boy with black hair and white eyes. He wore a white shirt and gray shorts. His name was Hattori Tatsu, born blind but has amazing other senses but many still mock him for it which he takes out on Saki because besides him, Saki was the weirdest kid in the dojo.
"Yes, Hattori?" Saki asked with a bored expression. Tatsu took a minute, listening closely before smiling. "I do not sense your annoying brother anywhere. Did he finally find some other friend and abandoned you?!"
Saki scowled. "Yoshi wouldn't do that to me."
"You sure? Because from what I heard, most can not even believe you two are brothers...makes me wonder if you are adopted." Saki sucked in a sharp breath at that, putting his book to his chest. In the past, he too wondered once or twice if he was adopted but...now everyone was saying it?
Tatsu smirked. "Ah, so you think you are adopted as well? Makes sense. I mean, you are very different from your brother, not just in personality but appearance as well. A friend of mine described you two to me and when I heard what he said, I have to admit I was not that surprised. He said that you have brown hair while Yoshi and your parents have black. He also said that Yoshi has red eyes as well as your mother and your father has brown eyes while you have black."
Saki hugged his book to his chest. It was true. It was all true. He looked nothing like his parents or Yoshi for that matter. He didn't have anything in common with his family either. Saki was not like either of them...
"Hey, Hattori!" An angry voice called, and Saki looked to see his brother angrily running towards them. "What have I told you about messing with my brother!" Yoshi jumped up and tried to kick Tatsu, but he moved out of the way, making Yoshi fall on his face.
"And how many times have I told you, Yoshi-san, I can hear you coming from a mile away. You can not touch me," Yoshi growled and got back up with his fists ready. "We'll see about that!" Yoshi then tried to punch him, but Tatsu blocked it and punched Yoshi in the stomach, making him gag and fall on his knees. Tatsu then took off before he could recover but not before shouting out, "Good luck with your family, Saki-san!"
Yoshi slowly got up and tried to run after him, but Saki grabbed his shoulder. "How many times do I have to tell you, Yoshi. I do not want your help! I had it under control!" Yoshi huffed and pulled away from him. "Well, excuse me for just trying to look out for my little brother. What was that dirty no-eye jerk saying to you?!"
Saki sighed. "Nothing. Let's just go home." He then began to walk away with Yoshi shouting, "Hey! Don't give me that crap! Tell me what he was saying!" He demanded as he ran up to his brother's side. Saki exhaled. "Why can't you just let it go?"
Yoshi glared at him. "Because you looked like you were about to cry!" Saki halted. "What? You think I didn't notice? Come on, Saki, just tell me!" Saki narrowed his eyes. "Why? So, you can fight him? If you have not noticed, Yoshi, you always fail to hit him and all it's going to do is get you in trouble."
Yoshi pouted at that but sighed. "I promise I won't hit him, just tell me!"
Saki knew Yoshi wasn't one to break promises, so he knew he could trust that Yoshi won't try to pick a fight with Tatsu, but could he trust Yoshi to understand? When Saki asked his father if he was adopted, he shouted at Saki, saying how ashamed and disappointed he was of him for even thinking such a thing. His mother comforted him when he went to her crying, telling her what happened and she said that sometimes pain can cause such a reaction, but she did not give him an answer and he knew that she wasn't planning to, so he just gave up.
Yoshi put a hand on Saki's shoulder, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Saki, tell me, trust me." He slightly begged and Saki stared at him for a few moments before sighing. "...He said that we are not brothers. He said that I am adopted."
"WHAT?!" Yoshi yelled furiously but calmed when he saw the frown his brother was giving him. "That's stupid, Saki! You are not-"
"Yes, I am! I know it!" Saki yelled and Yoshi scoffed. "Why? Because Tatsu told you?"
"No, I thought I was adopted before Tatsu told me!" Saki admitted and Yoshi raised a brow. "Why would you think that?" Saki rolled his eyes. "Look at us, Yoshi! I look nothing like you or mother or father! My hair is brown, and my eyes are black! Plus, I am not fun like you or smart like mother or strong like father! I'm just boring! Our parents are not my parents, we are not brothers, we are not blood, we are just-"
Saki got interrupted when Yoshi slapped him. "Ow!"
"Shut up!" Yoshi yelled, glaring at his brother, completely irritated. "Look, Saki, we might not look alike but that doesn't mean you are adopted! Maybe you look like some old relative of ours or something! We also may be different but that just means you have your own personality, and you aren't boring, you're training to be a ninja and we both love it! We have that in common, don't we?!"
"Yeah, I guess we do," Saki admitted and he looked at Yoshi with a bit of hope. "Do you really think I'm not adopted?" Yoshi then smiled. "Look, even if you were, you will still be my little brother. No matter what! Blood or no blood!"
Saki looked down, seeming to be considering. "You promise?" Yoshi spit in his palm and offered it to Saki. "Promise!" Saki cringed. "Ew! You're gross!"
"Shake it or else we won't be brothers anymore!" Yoshi said teasingly and Saki sighed before spitting in his own palm and shaking Yoshi's hand. "Now we will forever be brothers!"
...
In the dojo,
The two brothers smiled as they walked inside the dojo but frowned when they saw their father standing by the door with his arms crossed and a stern look on his face. "Where have you boys been? You have missed training."
Both boys' mouths fell. "TRAINING WAS TODAY?!"
"Yes, I told Yoshi last night and I told him to tell you, Saki!" Saki glared at his brother. "YOSHI!" Yoshi tensed. "WOops."
"WOops?!"
"I forgot!"
"Yoshi!" Yuuta scolded and Yoshi turned to him. "You are grounded for a week! Also, do 20 flips, now!" Yoshi's jaw dropped. "What?! That's not fair! It was an accident!"
"Accidents can not be afforded, not during battle, not during training, not during anything so that is no excuse," Yuuta said firmly and Yoshi scowled. "Well, why isn't Saki getting punished?!"
"Because of you, he was completely unaware that he had training today, you however, were! Now do as you are told! No more backtalk!" Yoshi grumbled as he went to the other side of the room and began to do 20 flips in the corner.
Suddenly, the doors opened, and Yuuta looked to see his wife come in with her big pregnant belly and his brother Mashimi. "Did you get in trouble again, Yoshi?" Mashimi asked as soon as he noticed Yoshi angrily doing flips, purposely stomping the ground harder as he landed. Yoshi growled at him. "No!"
"Yes," Saki answered, and Yoshi sent him a hateful glare before continuing with his flips. Atsuko looked to Yuuta. "What happened?"
"He missed training today and failed to inform Saki that he too had training," Yuuta explained shortly. Atsuko sighed. "Yuuta, must you always be so strict? It is only one lesson."
"Atsuko, this is about responsibility," Yuuta said, and Atsuko rolled her eyes. "Children aren't responsible, Yuuta. Can't you let this one go? I really would like a nice, relaxing day," She said frowning while rubbing her belly.
"No!" Yuuta gruffed.
"Oh, come on!" Yoshi whined as he came forward, finally finishing with his flips. "It's not even that big of a deal!" Yuuta opened his mouth to scold his son but before he could, his brother grabbed his shoulders. "Yuuta, I know you wish to teach Yoshi the importance of responsibility and prepare him for when he takes over the clan but there is still plenty of time for that. A child is only a child once, my brother. Let him have fun."
Yuuta hummed, considering as he looked at Yoshi from the corner of his eye. Yoshi seemed to notice and began to pout. "Please! I promise, I will do extra training to make up for it!"
"You were going to do that anyway," Yuuta said unimpressed. "Well, I'll double it!" Yoshi offered, in such a cute way that it made Atsuko and Mashimi sneaker. Yuuta considered his son's offer and nodded. "Very well, but I want no whining or complaining about your muscles being sore after your punishment."
Yoshi grinned. "Deal!" He then grabbed Saki's hand, dragging her outside. "Come on, Saki!" Saki whined in protest as the three adults watched them go, Atsuko and Mashimi smiling fondly.
"Those two really are inseparable," Atsuko said, chuckling at her husband and brother-in-law who nodded in agreement. Mashimi smiled at his brother. "They remind me of you and Koji when you were their age."
Yuuta hummed. "Yes...I suppose."
"I have been in this family for 20 years now and hat probably has to be the fourth time I have even heard your late brother's name," Atsuko said, sullenly and Yuuta frowned while Mashimi threw him an apologetic look.
Atsuko has asked Yuuta about his dead brother and father numerous times, but he never wishes to talk about them, but she supposes, she understands. It is not like she is any better. She never told him much about her dead parents and siblings. Still, she can not help but feel Yuuta is much worse than her. She has at least shared a few stories, but all she has ever gotten from Yuuta, was his father's and brother's names and how they died. Nothing more. She has no idea what kind of people they even were. Sho, she can guess because Yumi always says that Yuuta is just like him, but she had no idea who Koji was.
Every time his name is brought up, there is sadness in her husband's eyes but strangely, there is also anger. She can not exactly pinpoint where the anger is towards. His brother, the cause of his death or...himself. Maybe all three.
Mashimi looked between the two couple, sensing the tension. Yuuta has still yet to respond to Atsuko, looking down as he traps himself in his mind and Atsuko becomes completely quiet, her mind elsewhere. It was clear, she had much to say but was unsure if it was wise to say it.
He was an idiot for bringing up Koji again, as much as Mashimi would like to talk about him every once and a while, he knows where the conversation always leads. So, Mashimi decided to change the subject completely. He coughed to gain attention. "So, uh, Atsuko, how is your pregnancy?" Atsuko groaned. "Kicking none-stop now."
Mashimi chuckled. "I am glad the heavens blessed you with another child. You have been trying for a long time now since Saki's third birthday, right?"
"Yes. Same thing happened when we were trying to have our first baby. It took a good couple years before we finally had our little Yoshi," Atsuko said, smiling at her husband. Mashimi smiled a bit sadly. "I remember. I am sorry for all the pain you had to go through, but it was all worth it in the end, right?"
Atsuko nodded with a confident smile. "Definitely. I would not trade my Yoshi for anything. And Saki," She added before looking down at her belly. "And you."
"We were thinking about having more children but decided against it," Yuuta blurted. "Why not? I thought you two wanted a big family and you make wonderful parents."
"Thank you but managing two little ones is already difficult and with our duties to the clan and everything, we just can not be at all places at once. So, this little one will be our last," Atsuko said, though there was a hint of disappointment in her tone. Mashimi knows that is not the only reason they decided not to have any more kids but decided to keep it to himself.
"Do you have any idea what the gender is?" He then asked, trying to bring back the excitement. "No but I have a strong sense that we are having another boy," Atsuko said with a smile. "If it is a boy, we are planning on naming him after Atsuko's father, Tetsumi," Yuuta said.
"Not our father?" Mashimi was surprised, knowing how much Yuuta valued their father. He knew before Yoshi was born that Yuuta had wanted to name him after their father but for some reason, changed his mind as soon as his son was born. "No. I have thought about it, but I already named Yoshi when he was born and Atsuko does not have anything to honor her father by, like I do, so it is only fair."
"Yes, and I appreciate it, my love," Atsuko said, giving him a peck on the cheek. Yuuta smiled at her then at his brother. "So, how is mother?"
"Same. She wanted to visit but was busy."
Atsuko smiled. "Well, when you go home. Can you ask her to make her magic tea? I keep feeling nauseous and lightheaded."
"Sure."
...
With the boys,
Yoshi was running in the woods, laughing in pure enjoyment while Saki was having a hard time keeping up. "Yoshi, wait for me!" He whined but Yoshi ignored him. Instead, he looked over his shoulder and taunted, "HaHa! You can't catch me!"
"No fair! You are too fast!" Saki complained as he tried to keep up but was still unable. "Yoshi, slow down or else, I will tell Papa on you!" Yoshi finally stopped at that and sulked, "You're such a baby! Why are you always telling on me?! You big tattle tale! It's not my fault you're slow!"
"It is not my fault either!"
Yoshi rolled his eyes. "Whatever."
"I try, Yoshi!" Saki insisted, frustratedly. He then sniffed, "I really try..." Yoshi cringed, feeling guilty now and he lowered his head in thought. "Maybe...I can help you."
Saki wiped his nose with his sleeve. "Really? You will teach me to beat you in a race?"
"No!" Yoshi sneakered. "I will help you run faster but there is no way you are ever beating me!"
"Hey!"
"Hahah! Come on, let's race to the river!"
"No way! You will just race ahead again!"
Yoshi went behind Saki and hummed, "You run slow because your body is all messed up. Here, you have to bend your torso forward and keep your back straight," Yoshi said while gently grabbing Saki's hips and pulling them a little forward.
"Like this?" Saki asked as he tried to follow his brother's instructions. "No! No! You're just bending your back; I said you have to keep it straight! Look, watch me!"
Saki stood straight to watch Yoshi demonstrate the running position. "See? You don't move your back; you move your hips. Now, you try."
Saki tried it again and this time, he got it right. Yoshi smiled. "Good!"
"Now what?"
"Now, hold your arms straight out behind your back." Saki obeyed and looked at Yoshi. "Like this?"
"Yeah. Now..." Dramatic pause. "Sprint!"
Before he knew it, Yoshi bolted, and Saki quickly followed suit. He felt weird running like this, but he also noticed that it did help his speed a bit. He smiled and tried to run faster, laughing when he noticed that he was not too far behind Yoshi.
The two made it to the river, panting and laughing. "I kept up this time!" Saki said happily. He was a little disappointed that he did not beat Yoshi but just being able to keep up with him was good enough.
"I guess I make a pretty good teacher," Yoshi said smugly, and Saki gave him a flat look. "Just because you helped me run faster, it does not mean you are a good teacher."
"Oh yeah? I bet I can help you fight," Yoshi challenged. Saki took offense to that. "What's wrong with how I fight?"
Yoshi gave a cheeky grin. "Oh, nothing but with your skills, you'd be lucky to fight off a rat."
"Hey, I can fight!"
"Prove it."
Saki wasted no time to tackle Yoshi to the ground, the two rolled around on the grass, laughing and growling as one of them tried to pin the other. Suddenly, "Hello boys."
The two brothers paused and looked to see a girl with dark wavy hair, light skin, and yellow eyes. She wore a orange kimono and was holding a basket. Yoshi groaned, "Not her."
"Yes, me!" The girl said loudly, purposely trying to be annoying as the two brothers got off of each other and stood up. "What now, Kitsune?" Saki asked.
The girl, Kitsune, smirked. "I just wanted to see what you boys were up to?"
"We were fighting, obviously," Yoshi snarked. Kitsune gave a mock snort. "What is the point of you two always challenging each other? Saki always loses and Yoyo just shows off."
"I don't lose/I don't show off!" Yoshi and Saki yelled in protest at once, making Kitsune chuckle. "Whatever the two of you say."
Yoshi and Saki continued to glare at Kitsune. Kitsune was a couple years younger than Saki. Kuzunoha had her after Yuuta returned from war. Yoshi and Saki had both been excited to have a new friend to play with at first, but she grew up to be so annoying. She constantly tries to get on their nerves and loves to pull tricks on them. Even though she was much younger than them, she was very intelligent which made them even more annoyed with her, knowing that she can easily outsmart them.
Still, Atsuko insists that they include her and try to be kind to her because she does not have any friends. Kuzunoha forbids her daughter to leave far from her home, wanting to make sure Kitsune was constantly clear in her sight, but no one knew why. Yoshi and Saki do not hate Kitsune, she's fun to hang out with sometimes but sometimes...she can just be too much.
Yoshi sighed heavily, "Do you want to play with us?"
Kitsune hummed and poked at her chin. "Mmm...No! I just came to tell you that my mother started training me with real weapons." She grinned smugly. "Jealous?"
Yoshi scoffed, "No."
"Sure, you are not, Yoyo."
"Yoyo?" Another random voice said before it burst out into laughter. The three looked to see a boy with no hair and blue eyes. He wore a gray kimono. "Who is that?" Kitsune asked and Saki scowled before answering, "Hayashi Toru. A friend of Tatsu's."
Yoshi growled, "Get lost, Toru! These are private lands! You aren't allowed here!" Toru grinned. "Says who?"
"GET LOST!" Yoshi shouted and Toru laughed. "Careful, Yoyo. You wouldn't want to get in trouble with your daddy again, would you?" Yoshi tightened his fist and clenched his jaw. "You are nothing but a disappointment, aren't you? Everyone in your sad clan says that if Hamato Yuuta ever let you lead the clan, that they would all be doomed."
"How would you know? You are not even a part of the clan?" Kitsune asked, frowning. "Because I heard them!"
Kitsune rolled her eyes. "You are so stupid. I almost pity you."
"Pity for what?" Toru asked.
"Oh, you will see. Just keep running your stupid mouth," Kitsune said smiling, in full amusement, waiting for everything to unfold. "Oh, and by the way, I am sure you are a much bigger disappointment in your family than Yoshi is."
Toru snorted and taunted Yoshi, "Aw, you need a girl to defend you? How pathetic."
"Shut up," Yoshi demanded between his teeth. "Yoshi, let's just go," Saki said while grabbing his brother's arm. "You can't do anything for yourself, can you? You are just a pathetic whiny little baby! No wonder your father hates you!"
Suddenly, Yoshi's veins felt like they were on fire, his heart was beating fast, and he started to see red. "I said...SHUT UP!" Yoshi shouted before he jumped on Toru, punching him, again and again.
"Yoshi, stop!" Saki called and tried to pull Yoshi off of Toru, but Yoshi pushed him away and continued to punch him as he begged him to stop. Kitsune's amusement quickly died, and her eyes widened as Toru began to beg, "Pl-Please! I'm sorry! Stop it!" He cried as blood poured from his nose and right when he saw the blood, that's when Yoshi finally snapped out of it. He looked confused at first but when he looked at Toru, horror crossed his face.
Toru's face was already forming bruises and dark blood was pouring from his nose, meaning Yoshi had broken it.
"Mama!" Toru cried as he covered his nose and Yoshi slowly got off of him. "I'm going to go get Papa!" Saki said before running back to the dojo. Yoshi trampled as reality of what he did sank in, and he looked at his blood covered hands.
"Yoshi?" Kitsune called, a bit of nervousness in her tone but Yoshi didn't look at her, he just continued to shake before he started screaming, fear and anger taking control. He was scared about what he had done and angry that he couldn't control himself.
Kitsune stared at Yoshi, unsure of what to do. She has seen him lose his temper before, numerous times but not quite like this. This was too far. Even though a part of her felt like Toru totally deserved it.
"Hamato Yoshi, what have you done?!" Yuuta's voice suddenly yelled, and Yoshi looked at him, still shaking like a leaf. The anger and disappointment on Yuuta's face was as clear as day which only made Yoshi angrier.
Kuzunoha then came and went over to the injured boy as Atsuko went to stand by Yuuta's side, looking at her son worriedly. "Yoshi, calm down." Angry tears started to pour from Yoshi's eyes. "I-It-wasn't my fault!! It was him!! He started it!! I didn't-"
"It is your fault! You are the one who attacked him!" Yuuta shouted harshly, making Yoshi flinch before he started screaming in rage again. "Yuuta, yelling at him isn't going to help!" Atsuko scolded.
Kitsune continued to stare, so did Saki. Everyone's eyes seemed to be on Yoshi, except for Kuzunoha whose focus was on the badly injured crying boy. It made him madder, making feel like he was surrounded and Kitsune knew, so she grabbed Saki's hand and dragged him over to her mother. "What are you doing?" Saki hissed.
"Help me, help my mother!" Kitsune ordered and she glanced over at Yoshi one more time, praying that he calms down soon. Atsuko looked to her son, recognizing the fire and pain within Yoshi's eyes all too well.
"Hamato Yoshi, stop this at once! Control yourself!" Yuuta demanded as Yoshi continued to scream and throw anything he could find on the ground. Yuuta began to step forward, ready to reprimand his son but Atsuko quickly stretched her arm towards him, stopping him. "Atsuko?"
Atsuko said nothing and slowly went to Yoshi. Yoshi's anger turned into slight fear, as angry tears continued to pour and as his mother continued to step forward, Yoshi stepped back. Atsuko stopped briefly then slowly, lowered herself in a sitting position.
Yoshi glared, his body trembling and his bloody fists balled up. Atsuko looked at him sternly. "Yoshi, look at me." Yoshi flinched at her sternness but did not make eye contact. He was too ashamed, too angry.
"Hamato Yoshi, look at me," She commanded again, much more sternly. Slowly, Yoshi obeyed the command, his eyes no longer glaring as he looked at his mother with a lot of guilt and shame.
"That's right, look at no one but me," Atsuko said, and Yoshi tried his hardest to keep his eyes locked with her's, even though he badly wished to look away. "Take a deep breath, slow and steady," Atsuko ordered, and Yoshi took two shaky breaths.
Atsuko continued to look at him sternly as Yoshi tried to calm himself down. "Do you know what you have done?" Yoshi blinked, making a quick glance over to the boy he injured and nodded.
"I can not hear you," Atsuko said, and Yoshi winced at the slight sharpness. "I-I'm sorry."
"Do you think saying sorry is good enough?" Atsuko asked, her voice firm and Yoshi was about to shake his head but quickly thought better of it. "N-N-No. I-I-I did-didn't mean to! It was an a-a-accident! I swear! I-I didn't mean it! I'm sorry, mama! I'm sorry!"
Atsuko quickly wrapped her arms around Yoshi, making him gasp and his body tense. "Remember this, Yoshi. Remember this the next time you want to hurt someone," She said softly in his ear. "That guilt. That pain. Remember all of it and make sure you never make a mistake like this again."
Though her words sounded harsh, Atsuko said them gently as she rubbed soothing circles on Yoshi's back. She understands her son's pain all too well. This was not the first incident Yoshi has had but it was for sure the worse. He has never caused someone to bleed before and never has his temper gotten so bad that he could not snap himself out of it right away before someone got seriously hurt. It was getting worse, as he grows, and Atsuko knew she needed to do something before her son ends up doing something he will deeply regret...just like her.
Yoshi's lip trembled and he leaned his head on her shoulder, finally accepting the embrace. "I-I don't know what happened! I-I didn't mean it!" He continued to sob, and Atsuko sighed, "I know you didn't. It is ok, Yoyo. It is ok."
Everyone watched the scene in silence, all were amazed that Atsuko was able to calm Yoshi down. Yuuta frowned and went over to his son. Yoshi lifted his eyes to look at him and he could tell just by the look on his father's face that he was in serious trouble.
...
Later,
"We are very sorry, Mrs. Hayashi," Yuuta said to the woman who was hugging her still crying son. Mrs Hayashi glared at him. "You should be! That child of yours is a menace! I don't want him anywhere near any of my children again, do you understand?!"
Atsuko growled and opened her mouth to say something, but Yuuta stopped her. "We understand, Mrs. Hayashi." Once they left, Yuuta took a heavy sigh. "This can not go on. I do not know what to do about him, Atsuko."
Atsuko frowned. "He's still a child, Yuuta, he will learn how to control himself. Have faith in him." Yuuta shook his head. "That boy does not need faith. He needs discipline and a strict talking to from his father."
"No, Yuuta! You will only make it worse!"
"Atsuko, he needs to understand that he can just-!"
"I was going to say that I will be the one to talk to him," Atsuko cut off, firmly.
"Atsuko-" Yuuta started but Atsuko cut him off again. "I understand what Yoshi is going through. I might be able to get through to him more than you can." Yuuta stared at her for a moment before sighing. "Fine."
Atsuko smiled before going to Yoshi's room, to see him sulking on his bed. Atsuko sat next to him, and Yoshi lifted his eyes to look at her. "You are better than this, Yoshi," Atsuko started. "I understand why you got angry but that is no reason to hurt others."
Yoshi sniffed, "I try, mama! I really try but no matter what I do, I can't control it!" Atsuko grabbed her son's shoulders and looked at him firmly. "Yes, you can. If I could then I know that you can too."
"Wh-What do you mean?" Yoshi asked and Atsuko sighed, "My mother always told me that I have a fiery temper, I would lash out constantly but when my village was destroyed and I became a part of the Hamato Clan, my temper grew dangerous. I didn't just lash out anymore. I would hurt anyone who would upset me, I even once broke your father's arm when he would not leave me alone."
"Really?" Yoshi said shocked and Atsuko nodded then continued the story, "One night, I realized what I was becoming. I ran into the woods and sat by the river. I noticed a stone in the river. I stared at that stone, watching how the water would wash over it and that's when I realized it. If I wanted to make sure no one harms the people, I care about again and not hurt anyone anymore then I needed to become that stone. So, I began to say a chant that helped control my temper. It took a few good years until I could control my temper fully but when I finally did, I didn't need the chant anymore."
Atsuko then looked at her son seriously. "Yoshi, that boy may have said hurtful things, but it was you who turned his words into weapons. If you want to control your temper, then you need to remind yourself to let the words wash over you. Your temper is a power that can be used for good, if you learn to control it but if you don't it could become dangerous."
"But how?" Atsuko then smiled. "I'm going to teach you the chant. Every time you feel like you are about to lose control, just say this, like a river, over stone."
"Like a river, over stone?" Yoshi echoed and Atsuko nodded. "You are the stone. You are stronger than any words. Remember that." Yoshi nodded. "Like a river over stone, like a river over stone," He kept repeating under his breath, making sure to memorize the words and Atsuko smiled at him the whole time.