Letter To Myself [Finished]

[Issac Verro]

Things in the pub had been different since Issac's sudden departure and return, he wanted the opportunity to speak to Zeshin but had been unable. The youth's lack of availability had been the result of many factors, the rush of customers and military people from the conflict in the region, refugee and soldiers alike flooding the bar in the evening, along with Zeshin disappearing at the crack of dawn, awaking before sunrise to complete his choirs and set the bar before leaving to what Issac could only assume to be training, returning filthy, and clothing singed to help at the bar at night. Issac attempted to talk to Zeshin the night before, but the conversation felt jilted and sharp, Issac getting the feeling that some unspoken hostility lie between himself and his fiery pupil.

It was midday and Issac found himself alone with Maia, the barmaid preparing for the evening's festivities, restocking the liquor shelves and assuring that there were plenty of glass and mugs near the counter. Sitting at the counter, Issac placed a hand on his chin, thinking of what to say to Maia pertaining to her son, the direction of his conversation private, but he did not want to deter her from what she was doing, nor did he want their conversation interrupted.

"I've got to talk to you about something... were alone I take it?" Issac said, lifting his nose in the air, unable to pick up her scent in the direct vicinity. Remembering that Nani was sent off to the market earlier, Issac saw a look from Maia the silently spoke, "go ahead and say your peace." Maia continued cleaning the counter top with a dampened rag.

"Well..." Issac said stammering, gathering his words, "I been trying to talk to Zeshin over the last few days but have been unable to. He leaves too early in the day, and I don't want to follow him and meddle in his business. I don't know what he's doing or where he's going but he's coming back with his clothes wrecked and ruined, and yet his body his unharmed. He wondered about this often when I trained with him but, we've never discussed it. I think, I think I'm going to tell him about his true nature, we can't keep it from him for too long..." Issac forced himself to say, looking down at his own reflection in the pristine counter top as he finished his thoughts waiting for a response from Maia.

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

Maia stopped the movement of her hand with a sudden jerk, the swipe of the wet cloth slicing the air as she looked at Issac in shock of his words. She let go of the cloth and looked at the Inu-jin, trying to decipher his word despite having heard him clear as day, he was known for his cad remarks and humorous nature, but all of their conversations thus far had been ones of a serious nature, especially those pertaining to her son. "What on earth has made you come to the conclusion, you swore to me that you help him to control his power, without revealing his fathers burden Issac, will you go against that vow?" Maia asked, placing her hand on the bar top as she reeled from the words of Issac's revelation.

All Maia could think of was Zeshin's father at the moment, Roj-el had never left her completely, she saw him everyday she looked at her son's face, Zeshin's very presence made it seem as if he never left, but now all she could feel was the distant cold of the unspoken separation of her husband as she cradled Zeshin in her arms 15 years ago. She turned her eyes to Issac as she waited for an answer, eyeing the top of his head, unsure of what he would say next, but preparing herself to hear the very worst.

Across town Nani had finished the shopping earlier than she expected to, having picked up some fresh garlic and extra potatoes for Zeshin outside of the provisions Maia had sent her to retrive. She made her way back to the pub carrying the basket of fresh produce and meat to be used at the pub tonight, having gotten used to carrying the heavier load after making several trips to the market with Zeshin. Nowadays it seemed that he was lost in his training, and Nani having not interacted with him outside of shirt conversations in between him being in and out of the kitchen over the past weeks. Zeshin seemed to have been possessed as of late, his seriousness having increased tremendously, he often times went without saying a joke if he spoke at all, Nani having taken notice it started when Issac and Rajah had disappeared, continuing even after their return. She tried to put such notions to rest as she continued the walk back to the pub, her blond hair wafting in the breeze.

[Issac Verro]

Issac carefully gathered his words, the topic was indeed a sensitive, and despite Issac's desire to gracefully discuss the situation, he was at loss on how to prevent this from being a hurtful conversation. "There are many things that make me want to tell the boy. Tell about how his strength has grown exponentially since I've gotten here, and how he nearly broke my weapon and hand unintentionally with his strength. He's growing more and more powerful everyday, but he doesn't know why, and I do but I cannot tell him. Everyday his strength increases and I unsure on how to train him properly." Issac said baring his thoughts to Maia, lifting his head slowly to meet her eyes with his own.

"Zeshin's a good kid, and he doesn't like to create waves, but how long does he have to go on holding back his strength so that he doesn't intentionally hurt someone, how long does he have to hold inside the fact that he can't be injured, and wounds that would kill or cripple he has the power to walk away from..." Issac said to Maia, his small smile he felt ineffective to lighten the serious overtones of their talk. As someone who had been prided to possess power his whole life, only to find that it would not manifest, Issac felt at an extreme loss on how to rear Zeshin correctly, how to indeed direct the progression of his burgeoning power.

Sensing the growing distress, Issac sighed again and continued to look at Maia after opening his eyes, closing them momentarily in frustration. "I don't want to hurt him, which is why I don't think I should be the one to tell him. Maia, he has so many questions, questions I'm not equipped to answer. I am his teacher, but not his parent, you have to talk with him, before the struggle to understand what he is warps who he is, and I would rather walk away and bear that guilt than see it happen. I am a swordsman of a decent caliber, but I am in no way as strong as you or your son. Physical strength is of no use here, and even if I taught Zeshin a thousand ways to guide his blade, I can't rightfully show him one glimpse of what gives him so powerful, only you, the person who has taken care of him for so long can do that." Issac said, finishing his thoughts, and again finding himself staring into his reflection in the pristine counter top.

This conversation made him reflect on a conversation that he should have had with his father so long ago, wanting to live up to his expectation, but lacking the ability to progress to his rightful place as heir, and leader of their village. Issac knew all about the way self doubt could rot away at one's soul, and did not want to see the process repeated in Zeshin.

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

Maia felt a rush of mixed emotions, her face flustered in both embarrassment and anger at Issac's comments. When she felt the urge to retort when it seemed the Inu-jin was going to back out on there arranged agreement, he lauded her with praise, the praise of having instilled such values in a boy who had yet to learn what power lie in his hands, his fortune in his view of the world forged by his mothers steady hand. Maia turned her face away as she felt the hot stream of tears fall down her face, aware of the difficulty in having to raise a child on her lonesome, but she did not regret anything she had done for her child, nor was she ashamed of anything he had done while under her parentage.

"I know Issac, I know, it's just that... It's just that I'm so scarred of what that conversation will bring. Roj-el was everything to me, and when he left, all I had left of him was my Zeshin, who grow to be like his father everyday. I don't want him to leave, but he cannot stay here forever, this I know, it's just he is my life Issac, my first and only child and most cherished thing in the whole world, and I am deathly afraid I will unintentionally cast him away with that truth." Maia said in between sobs, pinching the area in between her eyes as she reached for a clean towel to dry her tears upon.

"When he returns, I shall tell him Issac, I apologize for my fearful actions have mad it difficult for you to do the very task I asked of you. It was not my intention to keep you here as prisoner, and I thank your for allowing me the time I needed to gather the courage to face my son, and the legacy he will inherit. If you leave I will understand and will not try to stop you, your have your own life to lead as does my son. When Zeshin returns... he will be made aware that he is indeed his father's son, a Dragon of humble birth, and noble linage, but I have one last favor to ask of you Issac. If you do leave, please wait until after tomorrow, Zeshin's seventeenth birthday is tomorrow, I want him to be surrounded by everyone on last time, before his life is changed forever..." Maia said, gathering herself as she left the room, leaving Issac alone at the bar, walking off into the back to address her tear soaked face and prepare for the conversation that would change everything.

Unaware to both people inside of the bar, despite the precaution taken to ensure that this conversation was both private and secluded, it was not their fortune, for the third person to be privy to such earth shattering events, a shocked and horrified Nani finds herself on the ground outside the doors, the items she purchased from the market strewn about on the ground as she starred off in disbelief of what she heard. A Dragon, all this time the sweet and headstrong boy who promised to help her and took her in as family was a Dragon, a being capable of amazing and horrific feats with their power. Nani though back to her Grandfather, and the men that entered the shop and changed her life forever, her recurring nightmare manifesting full on in the midday sun. "Those men, they had scales, and teeth of beasts, and the man who killed them..." She began to retch in her mouth, gasping for air,wondering if Zeshin was a Dragon, then what were they if anything. Could they share the same linage, and if so what will happen when Zeshin does indeed find out caused her to tremble on the ground, her hands planted as she starred blankly into the earth, the groceries scattered at her feet.

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

His clothes were burned, his face covered in soot, and his blue hair was tussled about, but Zeshin could not have been happier with in training today. After the last few days, the tensions between he and his instructors had lessened, and the camaraderie between he and Issac began to slowly return, thanks in part to Rajah's intervention. Zeshin's final preparations for his up coming confrontation with Peteo consisted of both strength and speed training, and breath control, harnessing his internal energies to be made use of in small bursts of power when the situation called for it. Shouldering his gleaming, and polished sword, Zeshin made his way back inside of the village, noticing with is keen eyesight someone at the doorsteps of the tavern.

Upon looking closer, he noticed it was Nani, all the groceries and other items spilled from the bag, and Zeshin looked for the clearest path to her, and bolted full speed to reach her. When he got there, his sudden appearance caused her to shriek in surprise. Looking at the strewn about items, Zeshin sheathed his weapon and knelt down to gather the supplies, "Hey, are you okay? Did something happen while I was out?" Zeshin asked, concerned after seeing Nani's face, seeing that something had clearly caught her off guard.

Noticing Zeshin was there now, Nani didn't want Zeshin to probe any deeper and she quickly adjusted herself, taking a deep breath before helping to gather things with Zeshin. "It nothing, a giant spider by the door scarred me, I'm fine now..." Nani said in a reluctant voice, slightly turned away from Zeshin. Standing, she held the bag close to her chest and walked inside the bar, leaving Zeshin slightly confused, but concerned nonetheless, seeing no spiderwebs in the immediate vicinity. Standing to his feet as well, Zeshin walked around to the back, and placed his sword in its usual place, among the pile of wood, walking into the kitchen from the back of the building.

There he found his mother, her eyes less puffy after splashing her face with cold water, but still noticeable to her son who was not used to seeing her cry. Putting on his apron to cover up most of the burn marks to his clothes, Zeshin walked over to his mother, and grabbed a rag from the shelf, placing it in a bucket of clean water next to the sink. "Is everything okay Mom?" Zeshin asked in a casual manner, wondering what was going on today with everyone, his once skinny arms now more defined and in clear view as he picked the large bucket of water as if it was empty.

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

Turning to look at her son, Maia replied to his inquiry, "Nothing son, I'm fine..." in a saddened tone, obviously contrary to her statement. Zeshin did not question her, and proceed to walk out into the front, near the back of the bar, where Issac sat aloof, resting his chin hands on the counter top. Noticing Zeshin had entered the room, Issac lifted his head to nod to his pupil in acknowledgment before he went back to his quiet solace. Zeshin then began to grow frustrated at the gloomy mood of the bar, and wiped down the sections of the bar his mother missed, noticing their lack of gleam in contrast to several other parts.

Some of the water began to evaporate on his hand, as he heated his palms to wipe the area down with clean warm water, his eyes following Nani as she set the groceries still in their bag onto one of the free tables, walking to her room up the stairs near the door. Before Zeshin could reach out and call to her, he felt his mother's soft hand on his shoulder. "Son, we have to talk..." Maia said to Zeshin, a look of sincerity in her eyes more commanding than any other words she could have said at the moment, stopping Zeshin cold in mid wipe. She looked at his steaming hand, and then into the still cold bucket of water and sighed, and Zeshin realized what the conversation would be about, and threw the rag into the bucket, "Okay mom." he uttered, sulking his head in both embarrassment, and anticipation.

The mother and son pair walked outside from the back entrance of the bar, the sun was setting and a golden color saturated everything in sight. Maia walked alongside her son, and the both them decided upon a place to stop, right across from the pile of dried wood where Zeshin kept his sword which was conveniently hidden at the moment. Zeshin wondered what his mother could possibly have to talk about that would bring them outside, what was so important that it couldn’t be discussed while inside the bar. His suspicion were only compounded as Maia’s stoic and teary face was now replaced by on of weariness, a look of sickness in her eyes as she looked as if there was something inside her eating away at her very soul.

“Mom, what is going on? Are you okay, you look sick, like you need to rest or something. If you need me to run the bar tonight I can, you just get some rest, I can…” Zeshin stopped mid sentence, his mother’s hand backed by a warm smile made his cease his speaking, and his mind now lost on what the possible outcome of this conversation may be.

“Sweetheart, I’m fine, and I want to say everything fine, but it’s not, which is why I want to apologize to you Zeshin. I’m so sorry, so sorry I never had the strength or integrity to be completely honest with you…” Maia said as she looked into her son’s eyes, her hands gently running through his hair.

Zeshin continued to look at her, hopelessly lost at her words, she was the most important person in his life, the reservoir from which he took all his moral strength and integrity, and he could not possibly imagine her as anything other than what she was to him, the strongest person he knew. “I don’t understand Ma’, what do you mean. You’d never lie to me…” Zeshin said, trying his hardest to comprehend what exactly his mother meant.

“Soon, what I’m going to tell you will change everything, despite not wanting to tell you, despite that fact that you may not want to believe me, my words to you are true. Remember the night we were robbed, when Issac came to my rescue? The story I told you the morning after was a lie, the men did not run away when Issac drew his blade, they fled long after that.” Maia said, before she was interrupted by Zeshin’s outburst.

“I remember most of that night, almost everything until I got hit… but then, wait your wound… Is this something I did? Mom, listen, I… I can explain, I can do magic, but I swear I didn’t mean to hurt you, I’d never do that, I…!” Zeshin pleaded, his mouth covered by his mother’s soft hand.

“Zeshin, I know what you can do, and purposefully hurt me is not one of them. Zeshin, I am aware of your special ability, but you don’t know the nature of them. Your father Zeshin… your father was not a normal man, he was more than anything I could understand, and you my son, are just like him in every way. Your father, Roj-el was a Dragon Zeshin, a true to life Dragon, and he was immensely powerful, and my son, are a Dragon as well.” Maia said calmly, delivering the earth shattering revelation to her son, who was visually taken aback by this new found discovery.
He looked down at his own hands, trembling, both in slight shock and revulsion, the concept of being a seemingly normal boy with powers already too unbelievable in itself.

He turned his hands over to check for scales, and backed away from his mother slowly, mouthing the words no as she stood up and took large steps toward him to stop his retreat. “Zeshin, listen to me, don’t run from this truth, you have to be strong, stronger than you ever thought possible. If you let this tear at you, it will destroy you Zeshin, it will eat away at everything you think you are!”Maia plead to her son, who trembled at her words, turning to seemingly run away from her. “Zeshin, if you run, it will eat away at you, like it did… like it did your father!” Maia screamed, her son no longer in sight, but her words as loud as could be in his sensitive ears.

Zeshin ran blindly out of town, his heart beating faster and faster with each passing step, his emotions growing more and more unstable each second, he could feel the clothes on his back flame up as his speed turned him into a smoking blur, many of the townspeople unaware of what they just saw, continuing on their daily business of closing their shops and retiring into their respective homes for the evening. The words his mother spoke to him resounded in his ears along with his thundering heartbeat, now within the forest; Zeshin fell to his knees in exhaustion, having cleared nearly an hour’s journey into the deep forest in less than three minutes. Zeshin looked at his hands and saw scales forming underneath his peach colored skin, which began to take on a tougher more leathery texture as he noticed his burning clothing ripping off his growing body. In his confusion, Zeshin let loose a horrific howl, as the tears of his rush of emotion and volatile state boiled in his eye sockets.

Back at the tavern, Maia rushed in the bar to find Issac where she left him, and she rushed to him, in complete dispear. “Issac, I told, I tried to make this as easy as I could but he ran! You have to find him Issac, he ran to fast for me to catch him and if he doesn’t come back, he’ll destroy this entire town!” Maia pleaded with the Inu-jin distraught; she could care less at the sight of her desperation, only concerned with the safe return of her son. Breaking down, she fell to her knees and began to hyperventilate, as Nani listen from the cracked door of her room, lost in her own thoughts until the critical nature of Zeshin’s plight surfaced.

Despite her fears, the nightmares of her past would not stop her from helping Zeshin, when he there to help her without a moment’s hesitation, when she was a complete stranger. As she ran out her room, leaving her stupor behind, she moved to go down the stairs before the howl of a beast from atop the mountain stopped her in her tracks. Nani was fearful of who this may be, knowing it could only be Zeshin but not willing to see him in any way other than the one she was accustomed too, this above anything pushed her to go downstairs. “Issac, please, take me with you… I have to help him in any way I can!” Nani said, her voice quivering with fear but, she refused to accept anything other than yes as a response from the Inu-jin.

[Issac Verro]

The howl of his emotionally tourtured pupil were as clear as day to Issac, who was now facing the descion of possibling putting down Zeshin,a nd bringing along the girl Nani, who was clearly adment on accompaning him. "Do you have any idea how dangerous this..." Issac began until he saw the look in here eyes, a look so much like Zeshin's that implied no force on this earth would change her reslove in thuis matter.

"I watched helplessly as my grandfather was murdered by demons, I won't let Zeshin be destroyed by his own." Nani said to Issac, who sighed and gently broke away form he grip. Walking to the door, he stopped and lowered his head, hoping to not have to regret his decision. "Grab my sword girl and stay closer to me. I you get too far, I won't be able to protect you from Zeshin's magic." Issac said as he heard he footsteps behind his own and they made their way to where Zeshin was, following the trail of upturned and mildly scorched earth, the burns growing more intense the closer they got to the small mountain. Eventually, Nani could not keep up with Issac's pace, and time was a precious commodity that the Inu-jin could not spare, so he placed Nani on his back and imbued himself with his force magic, dashing to where Zeshin was located.

Stopping as the came closer to Zeshin, Issac placed Nani down, "We're going to have to hoof it from here so I can conserve my magic..." Issac, grabbing her hand as she nodded in agreement, both of the using Issac's senses to navigate through the darkness. He could feel her hand trembling as they grew closer, but not once did he feel her feet stammer, and he knew he could not falter, Zeshin would be saved on this night, completely forgetting about his weapon that dangled at his side. Soon, they located Zeshin, but the heat made Issac pour more of his energy into the shield that surrounded them, and Issac could feel the small drips of blood flowing from his nose. Taking his time now, he knew Zeshin would surmise they were here, and would try his damnedest to reach the boy. "Dammit kid, turn down the heat so we can save you..." Issac said to himself as he could feel something stirring inside of Nani.

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

With blood that boiled as warm as magma, Zeshin tried desperately to control his breathing, an exercise in calming himself he learned from Rajah. The young man, scarred and alone atop the mountain summit clenched his fists, realizing that the area only grew warmer from the output of heat, his stress and rigid posture not aiding him. Relaxing with a deep breath, Zeshin controlled his breathing, making monotone and setting his open hands on his thighs. The world opened up to him, the cool night air on his burning hot skin, his ears detecting all of the sounds around him, the crawling of the ants, the rustle of the leaves, and the heartbeats of people approaching him from the east side of the cliff.

Zeshin was scarred for himself, but more importantly he was terrified of what he would do to someone with his powers accidentally, the images of the scorch on his mothers neck, the man frantically screaming, ablaze as he ran out of the tavern were now present as a mirrors reflection. "Don't come closer... I... I can't stop what's happening." Zeshin yelled, in a voice not like his own, his slowly growing talons tearing his pants, digging into his legs.

"We can't leave you here Zeshin... not like this..." Nani said, as she and Issac crept forward slowly into the heat, the smell of slowly roasting wood and burning grass making Zeshin into a beacon. Despite the strength of Issac's magic, they felt as if they were walking into an oven, the shield protecting from being burnt by the hot only. "Zeshin, listen top me... Issac and I have come to take you home, your mother needs you... We need you... I... I need you Zeshin!" Nani screamed out to him, the effect of her voice striking a cord with Zeshin, piercing his heart and sending a mildly cool sensation through his body. "I need you to stop this Zeshin, Issac can only hold out for so long, he's hurting badly to come closer to save you, and I'm with him."

"Zeshin, this feeling I'm getting from you frightens me, it feels so much like the aura of the man that killed my grandfather, every step towards you makes me relive that moment. And I'm terrified, but I won't leave you, we won't leave you Zeshin, so please calm down... for me Zeshin..." Nani said, trying her est to not let the tears flow, the small amount of moisture in her eyes dried by the heat.

Zeshin could feel their footsteps as they drew closer, entering his sphere of magic, they felt apart of him and he could sense Issac's stress, the barrier he put around both himself and Nani struggling to deal with the heat he was putting out. Folding his legs, Zeshin exhaled and opened his eyes, folding his hands atop each other as he set them into his lap, the blue light that exuded from his eyes pierced the blackness of the night, and the air around him began to cool, the wood and surrounding ground cooling along with it as Zeshin began to absorb the heat back into himself. The light grew dimmer as Nani and Issac got closer, Zeshin looked down as they stood right before him, embarrassed, but relieved they were safe. Nani feeling no discomfort from the air looked at Zeshin, never having seen him so vulnerable, scarred or alone, broke free from Issac and ran to him, reckless and drowning in a sea of emotion she hugged him with no concern for the temperature of his body.

Zeshin was afraid to move, but didn't not want to injure Nani, and as she clasped her hands around him, he was surprised to see that she was indeed safe, he could feel her tears on the back of his neck as she rubbed his back. "You're so warm..." was all she said as Zeshin looked at Issac, who wiped a small streak of blood from his nose, trying his best to hid the coy smile Zeshin had known him for. Forcing a small smile, Zeshin hugged her back firmly, lowering his head to rest atop her shoulders, exhausted from the output of magic.

"Thank you..." was all Zeshin could say as the three remained as they were for several moments before turning back to the village, away from the small smoldering clearing.

[Issac Verro]

A great sense of relief washed over Issac as the smile on his face grew wider, moving his hand away from his sword, no violence on his part would be extended toward Zeshin. He allowed he and Nani their time before the night air grew colder by the moment, finally walking over to them and extending his hand. "Come on you too, Maia probably worried sick by now, we should really get back." Issac hand now resting on Zeshin's shoulder. "And one more thing... I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when you needed me kid, you won't have to do this anymore, because like Nani said, we're hear for you." Issac said, his voice staggering, this tone not familiar to him, but his words were since and heartfelt none the less.

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

Sometime had passed after Issac and Nani left to fetch Zeshin, with Maia sitting inside of the empty bar, her nerves wrecked as she sat at the table in shambles, wondering as to the fate of her son and that of his companions. Her mind raced through the possible scenarios, her son becoming a monster, the possible death of his friends while she sat in fear. The morbid nature of the situation clouding her thoughts, making the sight of a silver lining in the dark overcast of the nature of her sons birth all but nonexistent. She'd lost the love of her life and now possibly her son in things she could not understand. Her fingers scratched against the wooden table in anxiousness as the silence screamed at her, nearly jumping out of seat at the sound of the footsteps at the entrance to the bar.

Upon opening the door, she saw the three of them return, her son holding an exhausted and asleep Nani, and Issac at his rear, Zeshin clothes burned to cinders with only a bit of his trousers left to cover his dignity. She could feel the tears begin to swell up and nearly broke down until she heard, "Mom... I'm fine, so don't worry about me, okay?" uttered by her son Zeshin, who turned to Issac and handed the tall Inu-Jin the small Nani. "Take her to her room for me Issac..." Zeshin said as he went to hug his mother, who never squeezed him tighter in all his life. Issac obliged his pupils request and left the mother and son to discuss the nights events.

Zeshin talked to his mother at times, and Maia spoke to her son. He told his mother about how long he had been hiding his powers, and she confessed her suspicions. She told her son the story of his father, from before he was born, all the way up until his sudden departure, as he revealed to her his crystal clear memory of that moment, and how it effected the very nature of their relationship. She remembered him crying for nearly a weak straight after his father's departure. He explained remembering a part of him leaving, remembering his mothers face, waiting for a man to return day after day, only to give up and tend to his infant facsimile.


"It was horrible seeing you that way mom, and not being able to help. When I was old enough to do so, I made sure I would always be their to help you, never leaving for too long, no matter how bad I wanted too. And then I saw that I began to develop powers, and despite being near you, I felt ashamed that I could never tell you... because if I did... if I did, I would only make you remember Dad, and I didn't want you worry about me leaving you too..." Zeshin said,looking into his mother's eyes, and seeing her smile for the first time made him feel that much better after confessing so many truths that night.

"Son, I've never worried about you leaving. Eventually you would want to go see the world and I would have no right to stop you outside of a selfish need to keep you close, my only concern, my only nagging complaint and worry would be you becoming a monster. Your father never left willing, he became what he feared the most, and he left never to return to us. I don't want to lose you the way I lost him Zeshin." Maia confessed, reaching her hand out to touch Zeshin's.

The sun began to rise in the back of the bar's windows, and the pair realized that dawn was approach, but Zeshin was not in the least be tired. Standing to his feet Zeshin realized what day it was, and looked at his mother lovingly. "This may sound kinda umm... convenient looking at our conversation. But I have to go Mom, but I will be back I promise." Zeshin said, his usual smile outlining his mouth. Tired, but understanding her message had gotten through to her son, and the nightmare of witholding secrets was over, Maia nodded, and Zeshin set forth to go outside, retriving his sword from in front of the door.

Maia the stood and, and called out to her son, "Just because your leaving doesn't mean you can go whee you please looking like that. Zeshin go and put on some clothes this second." Maia said in a half comical, half serious tone, as Zeshin turned back to face her, the sun shinning brightly on his face.

"I'm a Dragon Mom, but I'm not crazy...

[Leads right into Rising Son]