[centre][color=#1dac57]☳[/color][color=#1da956]☵[/color][color=#1da555]☵[/color][color=#1ea253]☵[/color][color=#1e9e52]☵[/color][color=#1e9b51]☵[/color][color=#1e9750]☵[/color][color=#1f944e]☵[/color][color=#1f904d]☵[/color][color=#1f8d4c]☵[/color][color=#1f8a4b]☵[/color][color=#208649]☵[/color][color=#208348]☵[/color][color=#207f47]☵[/color][color=#207c46]☵[/color][color=#217844]☵[/color][color=#217543]☵[/color][color=#217142]☵[/color][color=#216e41]☵[/color][color=#226a3f]☵[/color][color=#22673e]☵[/color][color=#22643d]☵[/color][color=#22603c]☵[/color][color=#235d3a]☵[/color][color=#235939]☵[/color][color=#235638]☵[/color][color=#235237]☵[/color][color=#244f35]☵[/color][color=#244b34]☵[/color][color=#244833]☳[/color][h1][color=#1dac57]Ｈ[/color][color=#1f934e]ａ[/color][color=#217a45]ｎ[/color][color=#22613c]ｚ[/color][color=#244833]ｏ[/color]
[color=#1dac57]島[/color][color=#1f8b4b]田[/color][color=#22693f]半[/color][color=#244833]蔵[/color][/h1]
[color=#1dac57]☴[/color][color=#1da956]☵[/color][color=#1da555]☵[/color][color=#1ea253]☵[/color][color=#1e9e52]☵[/color][color=#1e9b51]☵[/color][color=#1e9750]☵[/color][color=#1f944e]☵[/color][color=#1f904d]☵[/color][color=#1f8d4c]☵[/color][color=#1f8a4b]☵[/color][color=#208649]☵[/color][color=#208348]☵[/color][color=#207f47]☵[/color][color=#207c46]☵[/color][color=#217844]☵[/color][color=#217543]☵[/color][color=#217142]☵[/color][color=#216e41]☵[/color][color=#226a3f]☵[/color][color=#22673e]☵[/color][color=#22643d]☵[/color][color=#22603c]☵[/color][color=#235d3a]☵[/color][color=#235939]☵[/color][color=#235638]☵[/color][color=#235237]☵[/color][color=#244f35]☵[/color][color=#244b34]☵[/color][color=#244833]☴[/color]
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[right][sub][color=1dac57][i]Location: Shimada Castle[/i][/color][/sub]
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The halls of the ancient stronghold were quiet, as always, but the winter chill that had permeated the corridors and rooms for months now seemed to be lifting. Slowly, the Spring was creeping into the castle and the house's first son could no be gladder. Shimada Hanzo, heir of Japan's foremost criminal empire, detested the cold and found the winter months the most trying of the year. The frost made footing difficult when fighting outside, the cold air messed with his bow string and generally interrupted his favourite activities.

The slight smile that played across his stern lips, however, had little to do with the approaching Spring. He had heard from a contact at the airport that the Shimada family's private jet was being prepped for takeoff and word on the tarmac was that it would be flying to America within a few hours. As no one in Hanamura was stupid enough to attempt to steal a plane from the Shimadas, Hanzo could only conclude that he was to be dispatched to the States in order to visit his wayward younger brother, Genji. And if anything would make him smile, it was the prospect of seeing his younger sibling again.

Of course, the prospect of talking to his father would wipe it right off again. He stood now in front of the doors to the main hall of the castle, where all official or ceremonial business was conducted. Never mind that it had two large doors that were almost always kept open no matter the season and that it was cold on the best of days. With a sigh, Hanzo slid open the door in front of him and walked towards the solitary figure sitting in the centre of the room, below the Sword Banner. The old man didn't look up from his writing until Hanzo had settled in front of him on the floor.

[abbr=Is it not so that the betterment of the Shimada clan must come before all other concerns?]「島田家の繁栄が最優先事項ではないのか？」[/abbr] he said, setting aside his brush.

Were he less experienced in his father's roundabout manner and riddling way of expression, Hanzo would have frowned. As it was, he knew that the other man wanted something from him and planned to make it seem like Hanzo had no choice but to give it to him. He answered impassively. [abbr=It is so.][color=277a48]「そうであろう。」[/color][/abbr]

[abbr=Even when it goes against the bounds of honour, other loyalties or the law?]「武士道や名誉、他の忠誠心や法律に逆らってもか？」[/abbr]

[abbr=Of course. You know I have broken all of these bonds in service of the clan.][color=277a48]「無論。拙者は我が一族のために全てを投げ捨てたことは父上も存じ上げてるはず。」[/color][/abbr] This seemed safe to admit, as Genichi knew it full well.

[abbr=I am glad we are in agreement. Your assignment is to travel to America and bring home your wayward brother. If he refuses...]「よろしい、了解を心得てうれしい限りじゃ。お前に託す任務はアメリカに行き、お前のわがままな弟を連れて帰ること。もし断られたら・・・」[/abbr] he seemed to pause, almost relishing the words... [abbr=Then you are to do what is best for the Shimada house.]「島田家を尊重すること。」[/abbr]

And there it was. Hanzo knew that time and the loss of his wife had made the patriarch of the clan harder than he had been in years gone past but to imply this, he must be further than any had predicted. And his satisfaction in giving the command was not only unseemly, it suggested he had been anticipating this for some time and had thought it all out. He must know how much this order would cost the clan, the world and most importantly, Hanzo himself.

[abbr=And... if my sword arm should fail me?][color=277a48]「そして・・・拙者の腕が誤れば？」[/color][/abbr]

[abbr=Then you should consider yourself to have failed the clan in its time of greatest need. There is no mission so important as this, my son. This is our future, our legacy, our legend. Succeed in this and we shall prosper. Fail, and centuries of tradition will fall. I count upon you.]「ならばお前は大切な時期に我が一族を為損ったことになる。我が息子よ、これ以上重要な任務はない。これは我が家の未来、我が家の伝来、そして我が家の伝説である。成功すれば我らは繁栄する。失敗すれば我が家に何千年も続いた伝統は崩れ落ちるだろう。任せたぞ。」[/abbr] As if to indicate he was to have the final word, Genichi picked up his brush once more and continued as if her were alone and without a care in the world.

As Hanzo stood, he realised that his father was exactly as carefree as he appeared. After all, he had made his decision and relayed the command. All of those cares, those responsibilities and questions were now passed on to the man to carry out the mission. And he could feel them, pressing down on his shoulders and chest like heavy weights.