Chapter 65 - Brothers

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<Japan Shizuoka 20:32>

Lena who was taking a quiet shower was lost in her thoughts as she watched the water droplets fall towards the floor as if she was hypnotized.

After leaving the exam she went out with Kyoka, Toru and Momo to celebrate that they had passed the exam with flying colors and now they could all go to the camp together. After that we all went to the karaoke where we made fun of Momo a little bit since the place belonged to her family.

Everything seemed fine... until Kyoka came across Stain's video.

Stain, the Hero Killer. He was a high-ranking villain who had taken the lives of over 40 Heroes in a very short time, he was a danger to society that needed to be quickly stopped. But unfortunately for the Heroes, the killer was intelligent and did not follow patterns when committing murder.

Or so it was believed until yesterday.

Stain's video basically talked about how the Hero Society has become a nest of parasites who claim to be Heroes but in truth only seek fortune and fame, who have no bravery or courage to save people and be true Heroes, blaming the Academies and the HPSC for this. He was saying that only he, could change the Society with his ideology.

It was a scary video to be frank, but it managed to generate doubt.

Heroes... are they really Heroes?

Toru had been trembling thinking that the Hero Killer would come to attack UA. But to everyone's relief the HPSC gave the announcement that Stain had been captured by Endevor a few days ago.

However, an internet forum talked about how the HPSC released the statement as a way to counter the Stain video and calm down both Civilians and Heroes. In addition to prevent a possible crime wave due to possible new villains inspired by Stain's Ideology.

...not long after that same forum was totally blocked...

Overall, the day had been a roller coaster of emotions all around and honestly I was a bit exhausted from everything that was going on, I couldn't wait to sleep soundly. Turning off the shower faucet and drying herself completely, Lena quickly changed into a more comfortable outfit, black shorts and a loose white shirt before heading to bed.

However, before heading to bed she went to the kitchen to grab a bite to eat before bed as waking up on an empty stomach was not a feeling she loved.

In the kitchen she came upon a curious scene. Her Uncle and Father were looking at each other with murderous looks as they both sat on the couch both with drinks in their hands.

"Face it David, it's 100% certain that Germany will win the match against Spain hands down!" Winston exclaimed with an arrogant smile as he adjusted his glasses giving him a sinister look. "Everything has already been calculated, you have no chance of winning!"

David let out a derisive snort as he looked at Winston with a haughty look. "You are very short sighted my good friend, it is obvious that Spain will beat Germany easily, I remind you that we are carrying an undefeated arrecha!"

"Huh..." Lena looked at the scene with a puzzled expression. "Soccer match, maybe?"

They both turned their heads towards Lena before nodding in unison, despite not being related by blood they could easily be siblings by the way they both carry themselves.

"More or less, we are betting on the future match between Germany and Spain, the loser will give a large amount of money to the other along with some favors" Winston explained quickly as he took a sip of his drink.

"The loser will give a large amount of money to the other along with some favors" David completed the explanation as he folded his arms with a thoughtful expression.

"Huh, okey?" Lena simply rolled her eyes as she thought about how simple her father and uncle could be sometimes. "By the way, where's Angela, I haven't seen her all day."

They were both silent for a moment before David spoke in a lower tone.

"She...has a patient to attend to" David grimaced oddly as he set his drink down on the table. "So she'll probably be back in a few days."

Lena raised an eyebrow as she looked at David curiously. "A patient, isn't she supposed to be a scientist not a doctor?"

David averted his gaze as he focused on the wall with a contemplative look.

"Honey...remember that time where I asked for some of your blood?" Winston interrupted before Lena could continue questioning David.

Lena nodded with a raised eyebrow and crossed arms. "Yes, it was before you left for I-Island...why?"

"Well... as you know David, Angela and I have been working on a project called ARCANGEL, this project has the goal of being the new medical revolution in the world".

"Okay...? and what does my blood have to do with a top secret project and Angela now having a patient? The Men in Black aren't coming to erase my memory are they?" asked Lena sarcastically as she put her hands on her hips and gave Winston a smile.

Winston smiled at his daughter's little joke before coughing into his fist and placing a serious expression on his face. "As you know you Quirk is the manipulation of Entropy, it is what allows you to move your personal time backwards and forwards. However, you can also manipulate other people's 'Timings', you could, for example, heal a person's injury if you move a part of their body back far enough to heal the damage. Obviously this just a hypothesis that has not been tested but it is highly likely that it would just depend on the level of control you have over your Quirk."

"We don't quite know what we are working with, Time is a concept known since time immemorial that in execution it is easy to predict its behavior, or at least how it works at a fundamental level. However, in practice Time is strange, not incomprehensible but strange..." Explained David as he made a few gestures with his hands before looking back at Lena with a subdued, analytical expression. "I'm going to be honest here Lena. Your control over your Quirk is pretty basic."

Lena frowned in annoyance as she took a step forward. "What do you mean by 'basic'?"

"What David means" Winston quickly interjected as he gave David an angry glare before the looked back at Lena. "It's that there's still a lot of potential in your Quirk and that you're not taking full advantage of it. And before you say anything, I know it's because of the Slipstream and your Ancient condition..."

Winston looked at Lena with a hesitant look. "Honey, to be honest with you this is not my area of expertise, but I want what's best for you...that's why I've decided to inform UA about the true nature of your Quirk."

Lena's brain shut down for a moment before she looked at Winston with wide eyes like saucers. "That you what!"

"Listen for a moment" Winston interrupted her as he raised both arms in n attempt to calm her down. "UA has better specialists at bringing out the full potential of your Quirk than me or David, they're not Japan's golden goose for nothing."

"I..." Lena tried to retort something, but she knew the decision had already been made even if it wasn't to her liking. "I don't like this..."

"I know, but I think it's the best thing for you" Winston nodded already having predicted that this was likely to be Lena's reaction.

"Ugh, I can't get mad when you say that..." Lena pouted as she folded her arms and averted her gaze.

She stayed to talk some more with Winston and David before going up to her room and going straight to bed.

'Today all in all has been a crazy day...' Lena thought before closing her eyes falling into a deep sleep...

***

"You didn't tell her about Reaper stealing the Project data" David broke the silence that formed after Lena left the room. "Or about how I have to leave for I-Island for I-Expo, or about how Angela is experimenting with the Project."

"I know... but it's best to leave it at that, I don't want to torment her with so many after she left the hospital David, I feel she deserves a week off" Winston sank onto the couch with his eyes closed looking quite a bit older than he should be.

***

<Japan Kyoto Dark Alley 20:08>

Clank!

The clash between metals echoed throughout the alley like a chaotic but disorderly symphony, the characteristic sound of a dance between swords resounded with glamour and beauty, but with each clash between them left behind a melancholy and sad feeling that pervaded the entire alley.

The cause of this dance was two black figures who were engaged in an intense combat. Both combatants ignored everything around them, only focused on each other.

Clank!

Suddenly the figures causing the beautiful sword dance separated, taking distance from each other.

"We don't have to do this!" Exclaimed one of the figures, he was dressed in black clothes with green details, on his left arm could be seen a large dragon tattoo that covered almost his entire arm leaving only his hand free. Said figure was breathing heavily while taking a defensive posture. "Don't listen to those senile old men brother! They are only playing with you and the entire Clan! They will be the cause of destruction of the Clan!"

"Genji..." Murmured the other figure, he was dressed in gray and blue clothes, just like the other figure he had a dragon tattoo only this time on his right hand. Unlike the first figure, this one was breathing calmly and maintained a neutral posture. "For the sake of the Shimada Clan, today you must die."

"Hanzo! Have you lost your mind?!" shouted the first figure revealed as Genji. This one looked at his brother as if he had lost his mind completely. "Has the power of the throne corrupted you?!"

"No brother" Hanzo spoke calmly as he shook his head before raising his katana above his head and adjusted his body, taking an aggressive stance. "You are a danger to the Clan and a danger to my position, to secure the position and avoid possible betrayal the elders and I have decided that you, Genji Shimada, cannot breathe in the world of the living again."

"You were always stubborn brother... but I didn't think you would be so gullible!" shouted Genji in exasperation as he tightened his grip on the handle of his katana, various thoughts and feelings were going back and forth in Genji's head.

But one remained above all.

Betrayal.

His own blood, his own brother, his only family he still had left alive, was willing to murder him in cold blood for the simple game of some old men.

Genji looked into Hanzo's eyes and saw only resolution, that same resolution that defined Hanzo throughout his life and that always made him step forward to solve any problem.

That same resolution that Genji had always admired in his older brother, was the same one that was about to kill him.

A peculiar memory invaded Genji's head.

"Begin!" His father's voice exclaimed starting the practice duel.

As always, Hanzo made the first move. He quickly approached the young Genji swinging his sword in a vertical slash, Genji quickly deflected the attack to his right avoiding the blow but giving Hanzo the opportunity to continue his assault.

Hanzo kept his balance on his feet as easily as breathing and quickly pivoted and redirected his sword upwards taking Genji unawares. The latter took a step backwards to dodge the blow, but still the wooden sword managed to graze his eye leaving a small mark.

Not caring about the damage Genji went on the attack with a flurry of attacks aimed at Hanzo's limbs.

And though impressed by his brother's ferocity, Hanzo, like a stone did not move an inch as he blocked and deflected Genji's attacks with ease.

Seeing an opening in his ferocious attack, Hanzo didn't hesitate and attacked with all his might managing to land a heavy blow to Genji's chest that sent him straight to the ground and leaving his sword rolling on the ground.

"End of the match! Hanzo wins!"

However, Hanzo paid no attention to his father and just stared at Genji's motionless body on the floor.

Genji for his part tried to breathe but only blood was coming out of his mouth, his lungs had been filled with blood for a while now. Lowering his gaze Genji saw the current state of his body.

His left arm was unusable after a deep cut on his shoulder, the thigh of his right leg had been punctured by the tip of Hanzo's sword, his chest had a large gash running from his stomach to his throat.

"It's over brother."

Hearing Hanzo's voice, Genji looked up to meet his brother's gaze. And to his surprise, that look of resolve, though still present, was beginning to flank.

Through Hanzo's eyes, Genji saw his own state with reluctance.

But even as death called to him and his senses shut down one by one heralding his entrance into the Realm of the Dead.

Genji had only one thought in mind.

'I look pathetic...'

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