The koi wolf's tired paws carried him over the rugged terrain, each step heavy with the weight of time spent in the search of something that almost felt like a dream. The familiar scent of the bamboo grew stronger, the towering stalks weaving a labyrinthine wall that shielded his home from the outside world. The sight of it brought a mix of relief and anxiety; he had been gone for so long that even the comforting scents of Tojo-Kai no longer clung to his fur.

He paused at the border, where the land transitioned from the wild expanse of Auster into the carefully cultivated chaos of the bamboo maze. The intricate pattern of the towering stalks twisted in ways that only those born within could navigate with any confidence. Keito had once known the paths like the back of his paw, but time had dulled the memory, and he now faced the daunting challenge of returning to it.

Keito took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the scent of his home; he could smell them on the stalks. His search had taken him far and wide, leaving him exhausted in body and spirit. Yet, as the familiar sight of the bamboo maze filled all of his vision, a relief began to wash over him and the flame of his spirit found a way to ignite once again.

Lifting his head to the skies, Keito released a howl - a clear, resonant call that echoed through the bamboo to announce that he was home.. and maybe a little lost. The sound carried his longing, his strength, and his return. Though he no longer bore the scent of the Tojo-Kai, his voice was unmistakable, and would call to those who might still remember him and welcome him back into the fold.

The howl faded, leaving a pregnant silence in its wake. Keito waited, ears pricked, hoping to hear the response that would guide him back in the direction of his home.

"Speech"

CODE BY SIN

In a distant way, Hattori understood why Keito had left. The boy needed closure, something that Kiriko had denied him by leaving without a word, not even a note or second thought for her children. Maybe she had never particularly cared for them, not as a mother should, or else she would have surely shown them more consideration. More care. Even now, Hattori found himself wondering if she had intended it all from the start, seduced him, gotten pregnant on purpose, all means of manipulation. Part of a several tiered plan to get what she wanted, safety, security and a position of power- only to cast it aside when something presumably better came along.

Yes, he was bitter.

Still, Hattori had the mind enough to realise this was none of his children's fault- and they were his. Hattori above all else.

And so he heeded his son's call, leaving his parchments upon the stone table to move to the outer reaches of his domain. It had been some time since he had seen Keito last, how much had he grown? Slowing to a walk, Hattori shouldered through the foliage and finally came to a standstill, the shape of his progeny just ahead.

"Keito." The Kaicho greeted, leaving space for his son to speak his piece.

Jiro is pruning dying plants from the garden when the solitary call rings out. At first, he doesn't move to heed the call. His ears twist, eyes glancing upward for a moment, paws paused as dirt falls from his toes. Familiar... Why was that howl familiar? His brow scrunches, paws continuing to move through the dirt with little help from his feline companion.

It is the shadow of his father that further catches his attention. The Kaicho was moving to answer the call at the border? Not Akito or another who could intercept a loner? But... Jiro racks his brain once more, memories from seasons ago bubbling up until the sound becomes clear. Keito. If Keito had returned, did that mean he had found mother? Or was he bringing bad news? Either way, Jiro knew he must find out.

Abandoning his task, the thickly-built Hattori son stands with a shake of his coat before taking off through the bamboo. Though he's never been one to be known for being fast, his paws do hurry in that moment. Never slowing until the sight of his brother appears standing before their father. A smile breaks out that doesn't quite reach his eyes as he rushes past Hanzo and wraps Keito in a wordless hug. After a few seconds, he steps back, his tail hanging low and wagging gently as he stands between Keito and their father. Head tilted, eyes bright with curiosity.

His heart would pound in his chest as he saw him - the familiar shape of his horned father, a familiar figure emerging from the maze of the bamboo. The sight of the Hattori, as imposing and stoic as ever, sent a wave of emotion crashing over him. It had been so long and the journey had taken its toll on him both physically and emotionally, but seeing his father again filled him with a warmth that aided to push away the weariness.

His father's voice, calm and composed as always, greeted him. Keito swallowed hard, his throat tight with a mixture of relief and nervousness. Would he be mad he had been gone so long? He opened his mouth to speak, but right the words seemed to become trapped in his throat, tangled with the emotions he struggled to contain. Before he could gather his thoughts, he saw movement in the distance - Jiro! His brother! Barreling toward him with a smile that, though strained, was unmistakably genuine and overwhelmed him with his own happiness.

Keito barely had time to brace himself before Jiro wrapped him in a tight hug. The contact was comforting, grounding him in the reality that he was finally home and everything would be okay. Keito leaned into his brother's embrace, allowing himself a moment of vulnerability as he closed his eyes, savoring the warmth of his brother's presence against his own cold body. When Jiro finally stepped back, Keito met his gaze, a small, shy smile tuggling at the corners of his mouth.

"I'm... I'm home," Keito managed to say, his voice soft and slightly shaky. He looked from Jiro to their father, his eyes misting with his emotions as he continued. "I-- I didn't find her... but I needed to come back. I missed you both... so much."

The words hung in the air, heavy with his sorrow and longing that had driven him to leave in the first place. Keito lowered his head slightly, his tail giving a few tentative wags as he waited for their father's response, hoping that despite everything and how long it had been, he would be welcomed back.

"Speech"

CODE BY SIN

Many of his children were considerably more emotional than Hattori himself; it was clear to see the relief on Keito's features, which briefly made Hattori wonder if his search had been a success. Had Kiriko been found? The thought made his mood sour entirely, a proverbial storm cloud settling overhead as his brows furrowed, an intensity he couldn't quite hide. But no matter, it was as he'd presumed- she did not want to be found, she did not want any of them. An insult greater than any Hattori had ever received before, and so unwarranted, too. What could these strangers have that Hattori did not?

Nothing.

He exhaled, forcing himself to relax, his shoulders dropped as he took in the sight of his wayward son. Home once more.

"Where did you search?" He asked, his native tongue a dark rumble, like the earthquakes offshore of his homeland.

Jiro attempts to remain in a good mood. For the sake of his brother. The tension rolling off of their father is palpable and he understands it. If he were Hattori, he would feel similarly. Jaded. In a sense, Jiro did feel jaded too. Kiriko had been a lackluster mother for as much as he had tried to spend time with her, and now that she'd run off, it was almost as if he questioned why she had even stayed to begin with. Why even have them if she didn't want to mother them? Frustration that he had done so well to hide bubbles up, but is quick to push it back down as Keito confirms that he has found nothing.

Instead, Jiro tries to focus on the good. "We've missed you too!" He says, his voice dampened with the heavy aura of dismay, but still attempting to be light and cheerful. When their father speaks, Jiro's ears turn backward, eyes sliding over to look disappointedly in Hattori's direction. Could he not spare one moment of joy for his son who had returned?

Keito could certainly feel the tension in the air, a weight that seemed to press down on him from all sides as he stood before his father. The warmth he had felt just moments ago was now tainted with the cold edge of disappointment and frustration - emotions that he knew were not directed at him, but at the situation that they had found themselves in. He hoped. Still, it was hard not to feel a pang of hurt inside of him as he sensed the storm brewing in Hattori's demeanor.

When his father finally spoke, the question was direct, cutting through the moment of silence like a katana. Keito hesitated, gathering his thoughts, wanting to give his father the answers he sought, but knowing that the truth would offer little comfort. His search had been exhaustive, but ultimately fruitless.

"I searched everywhere in Auster and Southern Boreas," Keito began, his voice quiet, almost tentative as if he were afraid of disappointing his father further. Did he search too much? Too little? "The forests.. the mountains.. even the coast, but there was no trace of her. It was as if she just... vanished." While on his journey, he often wondered if she was still even alive.

He paused, lowering his gaze to the ground, feeling the weight of his failure more than ever. But.. them.. in a small act of defiance against the despair that threatened to consume him, he lifted his head with pride, meeting his father's intense gaze with an equally intense gaze of his own.

"But, I am back now," he continued, his voice steadying. "And.. I want to help, to be here with you.. if you'll have me." His heart raced with his fear of rejection, but he kept himself composed.

Jiro's words echoed in his ears, a small but vital comfort amidst the heaviness of the moment. Keito glanced at his brother, offering a small, grateful smile, appreciating his attempt to lighten the mood. He could sense Jiro's own struggle to stay positive, and that made Keito even more determined to find his place here once more.

"Speech"

CODE BY SIN

Hattori listened in intent silence, eyes glowing in the shadow of the bamboo. Above all else, Keito was a Hattori, his son. There was no reason to deny him entry, he hadn't done anything wrong- even if Hattori had thought from the very start that his search was fruitless. He turned, flicking his tail to gesture for Keito to follow suit- Jiro could come along too if need be.

"You may prepare your quarters yourself," there was plenty of room for it. Dead end corridors that acted as rooms, private spaces for his clan to call their own. Hattori was unsure if he wished to reclaim his childhood den, he was welcome to do so as it had been left the very same since he'd left it. "Find me tomorrow morning at the dojo for training. Jiro, see to it that your brother has something to eat. He has travelled far. "

Jiro cannot help but roll his eyes as their father turns his back to them. Yeesh, something really up his bum, he thinks to himself as he gives Keito a look before turning to follow suit after the two of them. Staying close to his slightly shorter brother, Jiro leans over to bump his shoulder against Keito's. "We have a real good fisher wolf. Not sure ya remember him, but he makes some good sushi too," Jiro grins, still trying to keep the mood light despite Hattori's gloomy demeanor. "Or we can roast some meat over the fire in the communal area," he offers, his mouth already watery at the prospect at having a tasty snack and catching up with his brother.

Keito felt a subtle sense of relief as his father gestured for him to follow. The fact that Hattori had welcomed him back, even with his usual stoic demeanor, was enough for now. As much as Keito hoped for more warmth, he understood that this was how his father showed care - in actions rather than words.

As they walked, Keito listened intently to his father's instructions, nodding in quiet acknowledgement to the mention of preparing his quarters; it brought a small flicker of nostalgia, he could already picture the familiar space - untouched and waiting for him to return. The idea of reclaiming his childhood den brought a bittersweet comfort.

When Jiro bumped his shoulder, Keito couldn't help but smile, the simple gesture easing the tension that had built up in his shoulders. His brother's attempts to lighten the mood were not lost on him, and he was grateful for it.

"Sushi sounds perfect," Keito replied, his voice soft but more at ease now. "I remember the fisher wolf... I think. It feels like it's been forever since I've had anything like that."

His stomach growled softly at the thought, a reminder of just how long it had been since he'd had a proper meal. The idea of sitting down with his brother, sharing food and conversation like old times, was exactly what he needed to feel grounded again.

"Let's go to the communal area though," Keito suggested, his tone brightening just a bit. "A fire sounds nice, and we can catch up there.. I've missed talking to you, Jiro."

The prospect of food and his brother's company brought a sense of normalcy to the situation, and for the first time in awhile, Keito felt a genuine spark of happiness.

"Speech"

CODE BY SIN