1 Homecoming

Kenos wakes up in the abandoned home of his clan like any other day. He trains himself, hunts his food for the day, and completes his chore of maintaining the estate. "Finally,'' he says to himself, tossing the broom away, some free time. Kenos walks to his room and begins entertaining himself with his collection of games and books.

(Somewhere nearby)

A masked man approaches the estate making his way through a forest of wisteria flowers. He wore a gray cloak over his dark leather armor which kept his weapons and metal guards hidden. Coming up to the door, the masked man walks into the estate.

"YOO, I'm home", yelled The masked man as he walked through the door.

The adolescent, Kenos, in a moment of confusion, puts down his book and walks out of his room. "Doza!!! surprised to see your back so soon", said Kenos as he walked down the stairs. "I finished this last job early so I decided to come home", replied Doza, taking off his mask, revealing a rugged worn-out face. "That's new, you're usually gone way longer than this", Kenos replied.

"Yeah, well that doesn't matter now,'' Doza responds, throwing a punch, holding back just enough to not injure him. "Did you keep up with your chores this time", asked Doza?

Kenos rubs the area on his head where Doza made contact, "Of course just look around",

Doza walks around the estate going through every room making sure it was spotless. Stopping at his room he turns to Kenos, "you did a good job here."

Feeling accomplished Kenos reaches out as Doza hands him a velvet sack.

"You earned it", Kenos heard as he looked up.

Astonished at what could be inside Kenos walks away, "Thanks Doza."

Doza chuckles, "Be in the dojo in 10 minutes. I gotta make sure you kept up with your training as well."

Kenos hurries to his room, filled with excitement he open's the velvet sack. Doza almost always had a gift for Kenos when he came home along with new clothes and materials to fix the estate up with.

"Some new books ehh, What's this... a new game awesome! I'll see what this is about later", he thought while putting down the disc.

Kenos put on his training attire, a tank top along with some sweats. He was happy Doza was home but couldn't help but think something was up. It had been about 2 months since his birthday passed and Doza went on his last job.

"If I keep worrying about that now I'll definitely lose", sighed Kenos.

"But today is the day I smack Doza across the whole dojo", he said with a wide grin.

(In the training dojo)

The two stare each other down in the ring until Doza yells, "If you followed my instructions while I was gone u should be able to make me break a sweat this time." Kenos laughs, "Ha, watch me I got something for you this time."

"That'll be the day," replied Doza.

Kenos charges at Doza, Careful to avoid the feint kick that he's fallen for so many times. Kenos blocks a right jab and retaliates with a low sweep kick. Doza jumps on his back into a kick up and taunts Kenos, "I see you getting more creative with your combinations."

"I'm just getting started", murmured Kenos as he began throwing an onslaught of punches.

Doza effortlessly dodged each thrust observing Kenos as he attacked. He began to notice the force he projected in each punch and the precision of his technique.

"Hmph, he thought, "it's only been a couple of weeks and he's gotten this much stronger. He must've started taking his training more seriously after the last ass beating I gave him.''

Kenos, now annoyed, creates space between him and Doza. "I'm not done yet" he shouts, starting a new flurry of kicks and punches more aggressive than the last. Pushing him back little by little, Doza gets a serious look on his face.

"He has something planned", thought Kenos as he jumped back.

Before Kenos can even regain his footing, Doza dashes across the dojo and kicks him across the room.

" The flash step technique?" Thought Kenos as he flew across the room. "he's getting serious.'' Doza reappears in front of him attempting to grab his neck.

A sinister smirk grows on Kenoses' face, "Common Doza you're faster than that".

Using his acrobatic ability he grabs Doza's wrist seconds before reaching his neck and flips over his clutches into the air.

Doza was shocked to see how gracefully Kenos was able to dodge his flash step. Although he did use minimal effort, it was a remarkable accomplishment for a 13-year-old.

"Take this",

Doza looked up to the bright sky where he lost Kenos in the sun "Protect the child" he hears from a past voice in his head. Kenos readied his attack.

"Ahh," he screamed rolling forward in the air, positioning himself in a heel kick drop. "Ha, got you,'' said Kenos with the biggest smile on his face.

Doza smirks, "you're still sloppy and those half-ass strategies will get you killed... but you did manage to make it entertaining."

Putting his arm on Kenoses' shoulder they walk away. "Wash up, I'll get dinner started tonight."

Kenos laid awake that night relaying what happened earlier in his head.

"I did it", he whispered, It was the first time he landed a definite hit on Doza during one of their sparring matches. "I hope Doza stays a little longer than last time", thought Kenos. "It gets so boring being out here, alone, especially keeping the estate by myself. The only thing I'm allowed to do when Doza's not around is train and hunt around the lake. Other than that I keep entertained with whatever's in the house. Being mindful of the fact that we're hiding out. It sucks but it's not like we choose to live like this, me the last member of the Umbrage family, And Doza, a member of our branching clan. It was way worse 6-7 years ago he reminisced, It was rough I used to whine about food all day and how I was tired of always traveling from place to place. Never a place of our own to call home or at least not for long. I was a real brat", Kenos chuckled as he fell into a dream. "No wonder Doza stashed me in this accursed forest.''

That night Kenos dreamt of traveling with Doza, the two would do odd jobs or collect bounties. They were happy and free to wander the world. Kenos always hated the forest of Wisteria and how stagnate his life felt there. Suddenly Kenos opened his eyes to a dojo with a clan symbol he couldn't make out. Different from that of the Umbrage family. Yet, it still gave Kenos a feeling of familiarity, as if it was a symbol he should know. Kenos was perplexed about where he was but felt no danger surprisingly. A black figure appeared out of thin air staring at Kenos, and a weird siren-like noise rang through his head. Kenos awoke drenched in sweat and shaking uncomfortably. All he could remember were those cold eyes and the presence the entity gave off . "Just what was that all about?"

"Iasunari"(piercing lightning)!!! heard Kenos from afar, shocking him back into reality. "That came from Doza's room",

Kenos rolled off of bed and stretched his body to loosen his muscles. Stomping his left foot on the ground with enough force to shake the floorboards. He suddenly motioned his right leg up readying his stance, Kenos shoots towards the wall kicking it down.

(A little earlier)

"That kid got some nerve pulling that move on me", thought Doza as he cleaned the dishes.

Kenos had managed to mimic his Rakurai kick(falling lightning kick) albeit without utilizing any zen.

That's pretty impressive for his age, Doza pondered walking into his room. "His mentality reminds me of you Kronos".

Doza feels a sense of warmth wash over him finally being able to relax after his trip. "This'll do", he says grabbing a book off the shelf.

Laying back in his chair he thinks to himself, "maybe it's time I explain the details of what happened all those years ago. At least that way he can understand the reality of the situation where in."

Before falling into sleep Doza begins to sense a presence. Too strong and big in numbers to be some animals, Doza quickly springs out of his seat, Gathering his zen so that he could better make out everyone's location.

"Damn,'' said Doza, clenching his teeth.

Channeling his zen to form his Iasunari(piercing lightning),

20 masked men dressed in all black burst into his room surrounding Doza. "Assassins by the looks of it but where are the rest?" Doza murmurs.

Preparing his stance he begins to launch his attack when he hears a familiar battle cry. "HAHHHHH"

*THUD*

[Enters Kenos kicking the wall down]

"DOZAAAA", Kenos cries.

"Jeez brat you tryna kill me", said Doza, face red with anger.

"Who the heck are these guys", complained Kenos.

"Just duck", yelled Doza, pushing Kenoses' head down and pivoting on his head.

Taking out everyone in front of them with an electrically charged kick.

"Look out", yelled Kenos rushing to the straggler holding his blade,

Closing the distance with ease. Kenos began throwing combinations of both punches and kicks. Paying crucial attention to avoid getting cut, Kenos smacks the short dagger out of his opponents hands. Motioning his arms to his head he quickly jerks his body,

"You really fell for it." Laughed Kenos, dragging his knee into his opponents face serves you right.

Doza looks over the pile of bodies "we need to leave NOW", He says with a stern face.

"Nah, what you need to do is stop treating me like some kid and tell me what's up", Kenos retorted.

"We don't have time for this right now", answered Doza focused on the situation. "Go to the stables. "I'll be there in 5 or 10 minutes and If I'm not, go! Your eyes will be your greatest weapon but here they'll only show you lies.''

Kenos stares in confusion, "The heck are you talking about".

"Goo!" shouted Doza.

Kenos grits his teeth, "fine", he mumbles rolling out of the window.