shifting tides

Life had changed irrevocably for Raijin. He had a heaping pile of puppies and a partner to care for and every day brought a new adventure. Honestly, he’d never felt so content in his life, so absolutely happy and a part of him felt guilty…guilty that his brother would never be able to experience the same. The deceased Genji had two kids that would never truly know him, and he would never know them in turn. Raijin had no doubt his sibling would have made an amazing father, he’d seen him with the pups of Iga in their youth, as if it was something he was guaranteed in the future. But it had not been guaranteed, to neither of their knowledge, and now the spotted man was left behind, trying every day to be half the man and father his twin would have been.

He’d been working on the hut, as usual, and was near the outskirts, working to cut down more bamboo to patch a hole in the roof they’d discovered during the last rainfall when his cousin came. His low rumble of a voice uttered his name and the man turned, offering his Kaicho a grin and a bow of his head despite the seriousness on his face. Raijin had grown up with the leader and knew when he was being really serious, and though he was serious now it didn’t seem to be anything horrible or urgent. ”Hanzo, to what do I owe this pleasure?” he asked.

Speech