Kiyo had been arranging the politices and other herbs when her son’s call rang into the air, his voice bidding her as promptly as possible. She didn’t detect any alarm or immediate urgency, but her lips tilted down in a frown all the same. Hanzo wouldn’t call her if it wasn’t something necessary, so she set aside her work and made her way to his post-haste. She was quick on the scene, slightly out of breath from running. ”Hanzo, what is it?” she asked immediately, silver gaze roaming over his large body to be sure that he was okay.

"Hattori Kiyo"

Lingering outside of the Armada's border, Hattori was unsure of how to approach this matter. Falling in love did not come as naturally to him as some might assume, but falling out of it... It left a sour taste in his mouth, as though in part he wondered if he shouldn't have allowed for it to get this far. Like he ought to have nipped this in the bud long, long ago. Contemplating and allowing regrets to settle beneath his skin would get him nowhere, he knew this, but like many things it was far easier said than done to dig them up and toss it aside. Some might regard him as cruel, or a coward who deserved punishment, but had he not done enough? Had all of his actions and efforts only held value when he was shone in a favourable light?

The pale form of his mother soon arrived on the scene, her usually serene features dashed with concern. He dipped his head in greeting, never forgot his manners towards her.

"I have left Ashen and will be moving to Auster." That was the short of it, but if anyone deserved to know more it was her.  "After I recovered from my sickness I started to feel as though the Empire was holding me back. Forcing me to defer to choices and decisions I do not agree with. Venom deserves more than what I can provide, and so I left." He made a pointed glance at his missing toe. Only really noticeable if you looked at his paw, but sore nonetheless.  He then looked to the Plains beyond, swaying gently in the breeze. "I will not force anyone to join me. The same applies to you, Mother."

Hattori didn’t waste time dropping the bomb on her that made her physically sit down, her brows rising in disbelief. She’d known he’d been affected quite harshly by the events of the past several months and it had killed her that she hadn’t been able to do anything to help despite her best efforts. She wanted to argue against him and tell him that he’d made so many valuable changes in Ashen, that he was heard, but Hattori was stubborn and righteous and he had seemed to already have made his bed.

Her silver gaze followed the wiggle of his foot and she balked, blanching as she saw he was missing a toe. She held herself back from throwing herself forward and fretting, a small noise of displeasure leaving her mouth. He let her know that she wasn’t required to follow him and, for a moment, she was quiet. ”You know that I have only ever wanted your happiness, and if this will help you achieve that I will support you,” she began, ”but we are a family of our word. I promised Sirius that I would help his daughter for the season and I will honor that. I also…need some time to think,”. As much as she hated to show hesitance, it was a lot to take in at that moment.

"Hattori Kiyo"