Chapter Text
Prologue
How long has it been since he kidnapped him? Forced him into this life, and took him away from the life he had, all because he didn’t want to submit to help him cover up his dirty secrets, his crimes, the murder of their adoptive father, his ambitions at the cost of the people that helped thus far.
Yoichi was equally stubborn as his twin, he didn’t give in, he didn’t let them have the satisfaction of seeing him suffer. It was then on that day while Zen was visited when he was still starving, still stubborn, still rejecting the gift his brother offered so that he wouldn’t be the useless boy he always saw in him.
‘Foolishness.’
After everything he put him through, he would still reject him, even in death he would still never accept his gift that’s been used to hurt and kill people instead of helping them. Even if he did, they were just pawns to him, insects beneath his heel.
But that was never true, he was a freshly graduated lawyer, a person who upholds justice like a hero through the Law. Sure, he has a lot to work with considering his muscle structure but he helped people at the end of the day.
Until enough was enough, Zen-no, All For One forced one of his many Meta-Abilities onto him despite knowing the potential side effects of a Force transfer under these conditions. A stockpiling ability that builds up over time, the more the user builds it up through training and hard work.
From there he was to numb, numb to him force feeding his food everyday and night, numb to the fact his spirit was downed, broken, he failed to make his brother listen to him, to make him understand that this was wrong. Not only did he fail, but AFO still kept going despite his brother’s constant stubbornness.
Maybe this was it…
He failed as a husband, a brother, and lawyer…
He couldn’t even stand up to him…
Yoichi waited for the sweet release of death, yet somehow, he still had some small remaining embers of his will to live. Still lingering in his body, it was even hard to open his eyes in this damp room. He wanted his suffering to end, that his friends would go on without him, his wife would find happiness for herself, for his child to live a normal life.
The only thing he regrets is that he couldn’t say goodbye to his friends or live long enough to see peace in this chaotic world…
KREEE!!!
His eyes barely opened, light came through, the sounds of dark heavy vault doorway creaked opened. For the next few moments, he shielded his eyes from the light and would’ve assumed it was either a guard or his brother again, just to show off how right he was. But this would be important to him as the light revealed someone he would never expect.
A blonde woman, who looks to be American or European based on her blue eyes, a beauty mole under her right eye, in her 40s-50s. What was odd is that she wore a Dark green bandana, a white jumpsuit with straps, but what stands out is that she held an M231 FPW with a Beta C-Mag 100-drum Magazine on one hand, a combat Knife on the other.
Her head titled forward to look down at where he was currently, on the ground with eyes wide in surprise. He can tell, the gun and knife, she’s practically here to kill him, he doesn’t know but asks anyway.
“Are you here to kill me?” Yoichi asked, fully knowing the answer.
The woman kept staring at him, not in pity as her face was mostly unreadable, but he could sense… grief… sadness… and some emotions he couldn’t read. The woman holstered her knife and Firearm near her left shoulder and back waist respectively, then kneeled down to somewhat meet his eye level to pull out photos.
“Do you miss Chikere, do you miss your family?” She asked in perfect Japanese and showed photos of his wife, him and some of her and himself together as the first pic was under the Kyoto Torii Gates.
He grabbed the photos from her hand, and starred. How long has it been since he’s seen her face? How long has it been since he was inside this prison? How long has it been since…since…
“How did you get this?” He asked, the woman shook her head.
“You didn't answer me, so let me make myself clear. Do. You. Miss. Your. Family?” The soldier asked once more, but there's a bit of threat with that tone of hers.
Yoichi felt a small shiver up his spine for a moment, then looked at the photos in his hand, did he miss her? What kind of question is that?
“Yes, yes, I do miss them very much…” He said somberly, the Lawyer knows he failed her, failed his brother, and didn't get an opportunity to get his peace.
“Ms. Kobayashi sent me to find you.” The woman then got up from and offered her gloved hand to him, Yoichi hesitated, he looked to her hand, and then towards him. This person is dangerous, but she has photos of his beloved.
CLASP!
Without hesitation, he took her hand as the next step in his future.