The Kurukawa Legacy

Family

"I'm home." Atreyu said, which was ironic since he's never met his uncle in person before. Technically, it wasn't his home, either, though it was closest to it. At first nobody answered. Atreyu slowly turned the doorknob and it clicked. The door opened with a creak. When it opened, a tall man was standing right at the entrance with a revolver pointing directly at Atreyu's face. Atreyu remained silent and didn't dare to move.

"What's your business here?" the man said grimly.

"H-hi..." Atreyu stuttered.

"What's your business here?" the man repeated, louder this time.

"I..."

"Wait!" a voice shouted. Atreyu could see a child, a little bit younger than himself, standing inside.

"That's Atreyu! From the news!" the boy exclaimed.

"Atrey-who?" the father asked.

"Atrey-u." the child enuciated. "It's on the news as we speak. Father, he's family!"

"Another Kurukawa?" the father raised his eyebrow. "Come in."

Atreyu walked in, thanking the him. First thing inside was a living room, with three couches arranged in a 90-degree angle and a large television in the corner. Beyond that seemed to be a kitchen and a door leading to a bathroom, another door leading somewhere else, and a staircase leading up to a hallway.

"Please, take a seat." the father gestured to the couch. Atreyu sat down and on the television screen displayed a portrait of him, and a news-reporter talking about his disappearance, though no mention of Hermit or Kaitlin.

"So you're an escapee? Nice." the boy said.

"I'm just glad we're not the only Kurukawa members left." the father said. "How'd you know about our being here, Atreyu?" he asked.

"My mother talked about how you were living down the river South-side and off the grid, so I figured they wouldn't catch you if you were living anonymously. I was thinking of coming here first thing when I've escaped." Atreyu explained. "Honestly, I didn't expect they'd go to these lengths just to find me." Atreyu said and pointed to the television, still maundering on about the danger of him.

"Well," the father said, "you did kill an important man." He looked at the caption showing at the bottom of the screen, highlighted, which said: Atreyu Kurukawa, killer of former Deputy Chief Liam Roberts, miraculously escapes Aurington.

How'd they even find out? Atreyu wondered.

"Mind telling us about that?" the father asked.

"Oh, w-well..." Atreyu stuttered, "its kind of a blur, to be honest."

It wasn't. Atreyu remembered the night as clearly as daylight.

"That's fine, no need to bring up wretched memories." the father guaranteed.

"Oh, and I'm Faviar, by the way. Father's name is Rowan." the boy smiled. "Mother and sister are still asleep." he rolled his eyes. "Women, am I right?" he said jokingly.

Atreyu looked out the door. "It's still dark outside, though." Atreyu chuckled.

This feeling... Atreyu can't remember the last time he felt this happy. He's barely been here for five minutes, but he feels like he truly is at home.

"Atreyu," Rowan said, "how'd you get here? What's your story?"

Atreyu looked at Rowan. "I lived alone with my mother. Father was alive, though I never really saw him." Atreyu's expression turned grim. "One day, my mother brought news that my father had been caught and executed, after which she eventually did as well. They deemed me innocent and assigned me to a certain school, stripping me of most rights as well. After a mere month, I grew tired of it." Atreyu continued his story: how he managed to escape with the help of a girl named Kaitlin, and how he met Hermit, his grandfather on the train, and eventually how he followed that map to Rowan's farm. "...the day they deemed me innocent," he continued and clenched his fist, "will be the day that they regret the most." he started smiling, staring at nothing, with a wild look in his eyes. He noticed his clenched fist and maniacal attitude and let out a slight gasp. He didn't realize how vengeful he felt. Is it because he thought about his parents?

Rowan and Favian stared wide-eyed at Atreyu. He looked away, embarrassed.

"You stumbled across your grandfather, Hermit?" Rowan exclaimed.

"Y-yes... I'm sure it was him." Atreyu was glad they weren't shocked about him being a psycho.

"Where'd he go, Atreyu?" Rowan asked.

"He stayed on the train. He told me something about how I can't let the flames of the Kurukawa family be extinguished, and how the remaining Kurukawa-members and I must continue the legacy." He left out the part of his father's dream, figuring that Rowan most likely wouldn't know anything about it.

"Atreyu, that map... mind if I see it?" Rowan asked.

"Not at all." Atreyu pulled the map out of his rucksack and handed it to Rowan.

Rowan's eyes widened. "Perfect..." he muttered. He looked up at Atreyu. "Atreyu, we have a guest room in which you can sleep, you must be tired. Is it alright if I can examine this more thoroughly?"

"Sure. Thank you very much, Rowan."

"Call me uncle." Rowan smiled. "Favian, show Atreyu the way."

"Will do!" he exclaimed excitedly. He and Atreyu walked upstairs and disappeared into the hallway.

Rowan glanced up the stairs and stood up. He walked towards another door and unlocked it with a key he pulled out under one of the pots. Inside revealed a large desk with papers and stationary, an empty mug of coffee, and a large whiteboard attached to the wall. This room was Rowan's study. Favian walked in and they both glanced at each other.

"This map could be vital, Favian." Rowan said, to which Favian nodded in agreement.

"If we can just find the last Kurukawa-holder, we could maybe finish what we've started centuries ago."

"Yes," Rowan agreed, "though don't expect it to be easy. A lot of this is still... mysterious." he looked down at the map. "Our recent attempt has failed, resulting in major losses for the Kurukawa family, having wiped out almost all of us. However, more attempts are coming." He looked back at Favian. "Why don't you go tend the chickens and maybe water the garden if you want, I'll need some time here."

"Sure thing, father." he nodded and walked out, closing the door behind him.

Once again Rowan turned to investigate the map, and softly he whispered to himself:

"The battle might have been lost, but hear me clearly... this war has still a long way to go."