She'll Bring Honor To Us All (BWWM) ✓

Chapter 27: Reunions

Rein's POV
My hands gripped the side of my Black case tighter as I made my way out through Kyoto's transit and into warmth of the sun.

Everything felt so different from the city life I had grown accustomed to, yet as the sound of the light chatter from the cab drivers, and the authentic attire the older women wore came into view, a large wave of nostalgia came over me. With the nostalgia, came the memories of the conversation I had had to McGary and Aaron before I left...

"Why are you heading back?" Aaron asked. He had looked completely taken back by now.

And I didn't blame him.

The state my body was in when I flew into the states... This reaction was the most understandable. Worry was completely etched into his face.

"I cannot allow my father to be left unprotected. If Genji is in the states, this means that most of the Black Lotus isn't back home. They are likely working overseas on different jobs. If Shan Yu knows the location of my father, he will not hesitate to kill him. And along with not particularly wanting my father to die, the death of the head of the Black Lotus would inflict more problems upon us than you could imagine." I explained.

Both McGary and Aaron's faces were stoic with thought. They knew that this was a decision I had to make... but my acceptance back into the Black Lotus family after I had left, was not guaranteed. If there was a time to visit my father though, it would have been now... when most of the Black Lotus members were not home. My survival rate was much higher.

"You're coming back... right?" McGary asked, as we both sat in the government vehicle outside the base. Aaron had organized for me to fly in with one of their private planes in attempt to protect the fact that I had entered Japan from the Black Lotus for as long as we could.

"I cannot promise that." I spoke quietly.

It was true though... I couldn't.

A small part of me was ready. It was tired of the constant paranoia. Tired of running. Tired of fighting so hard to erase my past.

As I glanced at McGary, I wasn't sure what to say. I didn't imagine it would hurt this much to say goodbye.

But it did.
It hurt immensely.

"I'm heading home partially due to you." I added finally. His eyes grew wide at that.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"You made me realize a lot about my life. Since I entered witness protection, The flashbacks to my childhood have been littered with pain and grief. It was as if I had completely suppressed the good memories. I hadn't remembered the last time I thought of my mother, until I spoke with you." I replied honestly. His eyes were now watching me intensely. I unhooked my seatbelt and unlocked the door, before finally pulling myself out. McGary was at my side moments later before we faced each other once more.

"Can I hug you?" He asked hesitantly. Instead of replying, I set the back case down beside me and hesitantly pulled him into my arms. I was still very rigid, but for once, I let a few guards down. "Try not to get yourself killed." He whispered against the side of my head.

"You as well." I whispered back. Before I could let myself get too wrapped up into it, I pulled away. I noticed Aaron was now standing at the entrance to the building.

I gave McGary one more nod, before picking up my case and walking towards Aaron. I glanced back once when I made it to the entrance, and McGary offered me a small smile from the spot he was in before by the car. I gave him one back, before disappearing behind the tinted glass doors of the building.

I slid my case into the passenger seat of the rental car Aaron had set me up with, before throwing the gear into drive, and pulling out of transit station of Kyoto.

The drive to my father's estate was a long one. It was in a very secluded remote area that my father's father had first built many years ago. My family had always valued their privacy, and because of what we did, privacy was something we would kill for.

As I approached the familiar outdoor gates, I was immediately met by the barrel of a gun pointed directly at me. I rolled down my window and raised my hands. "State your purpose." The man in uniform barked in Japanese to me. His eyes furrowed slightly as he continued to stare at me. At any moment now, he would recognize me. I didn't give him the chance to.

"I'm here to see my father." I replied. At those words, his eyes grew wide.

"Oh my god." He spoke now in English.

"Hello, Naoko." I smiled slightly. It had been some time since I had last seen him. He had enlisted into the army shortly before I left, but it looked as if his required time was served. He was now much larger than he was when he had first started working for my father. He had also aged considerably.

"Your father will be delighted to know you have returned." Naoko replied. It was now my turn to be surprised.

"He will?" I asked hesitantly.

I wasn't sure how my father would have felt about my return. I half expected him to execute me on the spot for my betrayal.

Naoko lowered the barrel of his gun. "I'll open up the gate for you. Pull your vehicle around to the front of the state and I'll take you to him."

I did what he told me as the large iron gates were propelled open. Once they were, the view of the estate was exposed. The large temple stood at the front of the property, surrounded by trees and authentic Japanese gardens. The place looked less lively than I originally remembered.

Naoko led me through the front entrance, and I made a mental note to count every guard that was currently on the premises. I was at an alarmingly low number. "Wait here while I request a meeting with your father. I must see if he is well enough." My eyes grew large at that.

Well enough?

Before I could ask, Naoko had disappeared into a tunnel of passageways.

It was only moments later, when another guard approached me. "Your father has honored and accepted your request. Follow me, please." This man requested. I hadn't recognized him, but he must have been new to believe I didn't know where my father's own chambers were within a home I grew up in. "Naoko has asked me to warn you though, your father's health is... critical."

"Critical?" I asked almost instantly, but he did not reply. Instead, he slowed down then stopped outside of the door to my father's room. He motioned for me to enter.

I gently slid it open and lowered my head as I entered the incredibly poorly lit room. It smelt musky and old inside. I made sure to keep my head low, but I could hear a medical machine beeping, accompanying the sound of a oxygen stabilizer. I reached a respectable distance between me and what looked to be a frail man hooked up to numerous machines.

There was a few strained coughs, before I heard a faint yet familiar voice speak out to me. The same voice I had heard that day back at the government building when our servers were first hacked.

"Hello, Renge." The man greeted, as he cleared his throat again. My eyes slowly trailed up to see a man I barely recognized.

"Hello, father." I replied.

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