A younger, cockier Genji scoffed, "You wouldn't hurt me," and turned his back on him, as though he thought he was better than Hanzo. As though every warning the elders had ever whispered in Hanzo's ears was true and Genji believed him to be a weak, spineless fool.

As he watched the fight play out, the slow reenactment of his greatest failure, Hanzo remembered how the sound of his heartbeat had harmonized with his worst insecurities, how rage had tunneled his vision. In the brief moment before his blade had pierced his brother's flesh, Hanzo had felt only hate.

The cherished memories of their boyhood, of their beloved parents, had long turned to ash.

With the slowness of a dream and the clarity of a nightmare, Hanzo watched as the monster he'd become clipped the Sparrow's wings for good.

A shadow watched the scene play out with him. It seemed to be waiting for something. Perhaps it expected him to cry out, to rush forward and try to stop what had already happened.

As blue flames flared, racing up the columns and consuming the high ceiling in an endless blaze, as metal met flesh and the air filled with screams and the roar of dragons, time suddenly stopped.

The shadow turned to Hanzo. "Why did you not save him?"

It was a simple question. And yet… because it was so simple it was difficult to explain.

Genji had died by his hand and been born anew. Though he'd suffered more than he'd deserved, he'd found purpose and peace. For all that he'd lost, he'd gained a mentor, friends, a family of his own choosing.

What right did Hanzo have to take that away from him?

"He did not need saving."

The shadow nodded. "I see." Indistinct features sharpened into a solid form. A conical hat sewn from straw and the ancient robes of a wanderer. "Do you still wish to die by my hand, brother?"

Hanzo jumped back to get some distance between, reaching behind him as he did, but his quiver and arrows were missing. "You are not Genji," he snarled. "Who are you?"

"I am," the stranger replied, sounding amused. "And I am not." He cocked his head, a gesture that greatly unnerved Hanzo with its familiarity. "My dragon and I are one. Is that not what he told you?"

Hanzo straightened. "What is it that you want from me?"

"What I have always wanted." The stranger approached Hanzo without a trace of apprehension. "You have walked with me. Seen the world as I have. Now, it is time for you to know peace." He held out a calloused and tan hand for Hanzo to take. "Come home with me."

Hanzo regarded the stranger's outstretched hand warily. He couldn't deny that there was something about this man that his soul recognized, and it'd been some time since he'd known peace…

His gaze drifted to the face of his younger self, contorted with fear and agony as his eyes bore witness to the destruction his fury had wrought, the unforgivable sin he'd committed.

If he took this stranger's hand, could he, too, know peace?

Anija!

Slowly, Hanzo shook his head. "Forgive me, but I cannot."

Anija, wa-

The stranger let his hand fall. "I understand," he said resignedly, though the look in his vivid green eyes was proud. "Long have I waited to speak with you again, brother. I can wait a little longer, yet."

As the stranger's form began to fade, a sudden pain lanced Hanzo's chest. Fire bloomed in his lungs, stealing his breath. He gripped the stranger by the arms with claws and –

– the pressure immediately lessened.

Hanzo woke to find Genji supporting his back, system whirring with stress. There was a dent in Hanzo's chest plate.

Genji's too-tight grip slackened. "Anija," he said, static in his voice. "You stopped breathing."

Oh. Was that all? "Genji," Hanzo mumbled, drowsy and unfocused; potentially concussed. "I am glad you are alive."

Genji twisted him around so they were face-to-face. "You're glad that I'm alive? Hanzo, for a minute, you weren't…" The harsh noise of feedback worsened. After carefully setting Hanzo down, he jumped to his feet. "I should find Dr. Ziegler. She will want to check on you."

As Genji moved to leave, Hanzo latched onto his wrist. "Stay." Genji hesitated, visor lights fluctuating. It was fascinating how attuned his armor was to his mind. "I will be fine, Genji."

"Only until Dr. Ziegler arrives," Genji conceded.

Hanzo nodded as he lay back on the ground. After a brief struggle, he gave into the irresistible urge to close his eyes, confident that he'd open them once again.

It was not his time to rest, after all.

A/N: A huge thank you to those who followed, favorited, and left reviews over the years. This series couldn't have gotten this far without your support. I still can't believe some of you read this series more than once. It's truly incredible XD

This chapter was always intended to be the culmination of Hanzo's arc. He recognizes the value of Genji's journey and thus chooses not to change the past because he respects Genji's growth and doesn't want to take that away from him for the sake of easing his own pain.

For now, I will be marking this series complete. Though there are still five stories left, most of them are sequels and I want to dedicate the proper time and effort to them when I'm able to.

Thank you again, readers, for your support! It's been a blast!