"I wish you hadn't looked at that, Akane." Soun said sadly, pulling himself off the ground.
Akane just gasped at seeing him get back up. Soun winced at seeing her suddenly afraid. "I'm not going to hurt you, Akane. I'm your father, and I love you. It's just... Genma and I hoped that you kids would never have to deal with our... past."
"What, was he a hired killer too?" Akane shot back, burying her fear beneath more familiar anger.
Soun shot her a harsh look. "Be quite and listen." He commanded simply. A flash of power followed the command, and Akane suddenly found herself unable to talk. "There is much more to this than you think."
Soun placed the Table back onto the ground and knelt down at it. "Yes, I was Emma-o. It was, for a long time, the only life I knew. This may be hard for you to believe, but I came from a Yakuza family. As the fourth son, my father sent me away to learn some skill to make me useful to him without making me a threat to my other brothers. He sent me to Happosai, to learn to fight. There I met Genma, who came from a family of thieves, but his bulky build made them think him unsuited for that task. You know of our years spent with the Master. During that time, we each developed our own styles. Genma and his Senken, which made him a more proficient thief than any of his family, and I created Judgement and Damnation. And would take jobs for my Father, to eliminate his enemies. Thanks to me, he nearly controlled all of the Yakuza in Japan at one point.
"Then we got rid of the Master, Genma and I. And then we met Kimiko and Nodoka. I was smitten at first sight. We courted for a time, and then I asked her to marry me. My father disapproved of the match, of course. To my shame, he would have been out with those fanatics following that fool, if he were still alive. And your mother had some Korean ancestry several generations back."
Soun shrugged. "I married her anyway. I even took her name, instead of her taking mine. My father raised the roof. He even tried to have her killed, but should have known better than to try and assassin that could fool me. Then she became pregnant with Kasumi, and I realized that I never wanted to get her, or any of our children involved with the underworld.
Soun looked away from Akane. "I knew neither my father nor my brothers would just accept my 'retirement.' So I did the only thing I could. I set them all up. There were no survivors. That was the last time I ever truly used Judgement and Damnation. I settled down with Kimiko, and haven't killed a man since. I thought life was perfect... and then your mother fell to an enemy I couldn't fight or kill, cancer."
Akane found her voice again. "Father..."
"I guess I just couldn't believe she was dead. For a time, I did anything I could to keep my mind off of Kimiko's death. I threw myself into whatever I did. Training you was a godsend. It could keep me occupied for several hours. But then..."
"Then?" Akane wasn't sure where this was going.
Soun sighed again. "Then I realized that I had begun to teach you Judgement and Damnation. It was only the basic forms... but I couldn't believe it. I had started teaching my youngest daughter a powerful style designed to kill. That was when I stopped training you... or doing much of anything. I guess it just... broke me."
Akane stepped back. "I... I have to think about this..." she said, then left.
Soun stood up, and walked out onto the porch, gazing at the koi pond.
"Family troubles, sensei?" A soft voice seemed to come from nowhere.
"Please come out. You know I prefer to see you."
"If it is any help, Sensei," A black-clad figure said as he appeared next to Soun, "I do not think she will hate you. Give her some time, and she will come to terms with it."
Soun just watched the koi pond. "I hope so, Daremo-san."
Daremo just stood, waiting.
"What brings you back? I taught you all that I am willing to. That has not changed. You don't need more power, at any rate."
Daremo shook his head. "Nor would I ask for it. My master has not forgotten you, or the help you have given his family in the past. I came bearing a warning for you."
Soun raised an eyebrow. "Warning?"
Daremo nodded. "Yes. You are, of course, aware of what the Kuno boy had started."
Soun nodded.
"It has gotten worse. He has attracted the attention of other organizations of... similar intentions. He has become their figurehead, so to speak, though the truth seems to be that he is simply being manipulated by whoever holds his ear at the time. Nonetheless, his manipulators seek to placate him when they can."
"And what does this have to do with me?"
"The boy has been informed of your daughter's Korean ancestry, and the Saotome boy's curse. The last word I had indicated that he was ranting about 'foul trickery trying to pollute noble blood.' I fear that he may try to act against your family. If it comes to pass, you - or perhaps, Emma-o - need to be prepared to defend them."
Soun nodded. "And what is your master's opinion of the boy?"
Daremo snorted. "He and I share our opinion of him. He is a madman, and if he isn't stopped, he will rip this country apart. I would kill him myself, but if he were to simply disappear, fools and fanatics would still flock to his banner for decades to come. No, he must be drawn out into an open confrontation, and then defeated utterly, if his movement is to be stopped. The wheels are already in motion towards that end, but Tatewaki or some of his allies may move against you before he can be drawn out." He paused for a moment. "I must return to my master. Please sensei, take care of yourself."
Soun nodded, as Daremo faded away again. Leaving the Tendo father alone with his thoughts. It looked like things were getting complicated, again...
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(Posted Thu, 19 Dec 2002 23:33)
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