Instinctive:
Ties That Bind























By: Erik Amill







	Prologue

We are the last of our kind.

The year is 2027 and the family I knew is gone. I stand in the massive lobby of 
my former home as my wounds glisten under the artificial lighting. My left arm hangs 
limp by my side, my chest hurts with every breath. Blood drips from my fingertips on to 
the white Italian marble floor.
My sister stands across from me, ready to make the final blow and end my life. I 
can see in her eyes that she does not want this. My ears ring from the last hit. I cannot 
hear her words but I can tell by her trembling legs that she wants me to back down as 
much as I do her. Though I cannot hear myself, I speak to her.
"On my honor… on my life, I swore to protect the Boss at all costs. Nariko, I 
cannot let you pass."
She holds her side. She's good but she is still my sister. I am the only one who 
can match her in a fight. She pants hard, tired from the conflict but she pulls herself 
together for one last stand. I know she is ready to strike.
I charge her, the blade of my Katar gleams under the fluorescent lights of the 
office building. This is my last move and she knows it. She launches at me, an aerial 
attack with her Bowie knife. Time seems to stand still as we land our blows. I can feel her 
knife plunging deep into my abdomen.

Father, forgive your children for we know not what we do.





	Act 1: Crossing Paths

My sister and I have been in the service of Boss Chikuma's clan since the age of 5 
when our parents were caught and killed outside Shinjuku. Though I cannot remember 
much from that night, I can remember the soulless eyes of the man who had murdered 
our parents. The piercing glare of a killer, his left hand bleeding from one last slash made 
by my mother, as he pressed the cold steel of his gun into my forehead. He smelled of 
death. He radiated hate. He embodied evil.
Another man ran in, pulling him away before he could end my life. That was the 
last thing I saw before exhaustion took its toll on me. The next thing I remember is Boss 
Chikuma's arm around my sister and myself; all of us riding toward the glass and steel 
office building that would become our new home and our new life in the Yakuza.

Boss Chikuma took us in, two young Ezo Wolf pups, without a single question 
and raised us as his own daughters. He fed us, clothed us, and treated us no differently 
than he would a human child. It is for this that we refer to him as Father. From an early 
age, my sister and I expressed our different natures – My sister was strong, unmatched by 
her human counterparts and her efficiency is legendary. Despite this, she was a gentle 
soul who would rather avoid a conflict than attack. And for this, Father named her Nariko 
– Gentle Child. I was always by Father's side, like a pet on a leash or a second shadow. 
No matter where he went, I was close by. Father gave me a choker that I wore around my 
neck as a symbol of my devotion; and with this, Father named me Eriko – Child with a 
Collar.
Within those walls, my sister and I were no different than the girls who walked by 
with their families outside. It was only until we ventured out of the building that learned 
the truth about ourselves. Wherever we went, people would call us Anthros, shunning us 
and calling us names. When we were ten, Father brought us to a dressmaker. We were to 
get our first formal dresses for a black tie event later that day. The dressmaker refused to 
serve us, calling us "lowly curs" and chasing us outside his store. We ran toward the car 
crying.
Father put his arms on our shoulders. "Nariko, Eriko… don't cry. What happened 
in the shop is something you must get used to."
Nariko spoke through tears. "Th-th-that man… he called us names and he chased 
us out and-and-and… ~sniff~ he's a bad man and I hate him."
I nodded my head in agreement. Father looked at us, his eyes were saddened by 
our response. "My girls… do not hate the dressmaker. He is a simple man. He does not 
see you like I see you. You see… you both are unique. Do you know why?"
Nariko and I shook our heads "no." 
"You are not human," Father said, "and people fear what they do not understand.
"When I found you, it was during a time that people call 'The Great Rising.' 
Creatures of many kinds from all over the world, people not unlike yourselves, came 
forward and made their existence known to mankind. Some sought peace and acceptance, 
though others wanted revenge against what mankind had done to them throughout the 
years. You must understand, there will be those like the people who killed your parents as 
well as those who will accept you for who you are, like me."
Later that night, before the dinner, Father brought us back to the dressmaker's 
shop to pick out our dresses. We did not know what Father did to change the man's mind 
but we could sense within him fear when Father came in the room. This would be a 
familiar feeling to us because, though we were similar in shape and stature to them, we 
were still wolves. Our canine features made us outcasts. Yet, it was that status that made 
us accepted into the Yakuza world – a society of outcasts that ruled them all.

From an early age, my sister and I learned to fight. We mastered hand-to-hand 
combat quickly and developed in our own styles – my sister became a marksman with 
small arms while I chose stealthier means of dispatching Father's enemies. My sister and 
I… we trained hard, rising through the ranks to become skilled soldiers. On our twentieth 
birthday, my sister and I sat down with Father and we shared sake, becoming official 
members of the Yakuza. From that moment, we pledged our loyalty to the clan above all 
else. 
Nariko chose to become an enforcer. She walked the streets, carrying out the tasks 
where intimidation was needed and where subtlety was not an option. She kept her claws 
razor sharp and her tail exposed, having taken a liking to the European industrial style of 
clothing. Years of exposure to the Tokyo underground taught her that her canine 
attributes combined with the outlandish and foreign heavy metal style of dress struck fear 
and respect in those that dared to stand against her. 
I chose a different path. I wished to remain close to Father and became his 
bodyguard. I vowed to protect Father to my last breath against all who threaten his life. I 
wore black formal dresses from name brand designers, playing my wolf heritage down as 
much as I could. I grew the fur on my head out to my shoulders in an attempt to look 
more like a human girl, painting my claws and hiding my tail whenever possible. I took 
pride in my ability to fit in with the crowd. It allowed me to remain in the background 
while Father conducted business. 
My position kept me by his side through all of his dealings. I have met with the 
CEOs of some of the most powerful companies in the known world and been witness to 
deals with the most evil of men. At times, upon Father's orders, I have killed those who 
have stepped out of line. My loyalty was to remain with Father no matter who my target 
was.

Father's second in command was a brash young man named Yukio. He was a 
ruthless man from Chiba, a city across the bay from Tokyo. Other syndicates knew him 
as a heartless murderer. It was said he once killed a man and his wife in front of their 
children. He was missing most of the little finger of his left hand. Though it was not 
known what he did, his fellow Yakuza understood why… Yukio severed the first two 
joints of his left little finger in the act of Yubizume – a ritual of atonement dating back to 
the samurai. Some said one mission went wrong, leading to the scar of the back of the 
same hand, though no one knew for sure. He was good at covering his tracks.
Whenever he arrived, the fur on the back of my neck would bristle. There was 
something about him that I could not quite understand; I sensed a familiar danger in him. 
Nariko did as well. She was more vocal than I about this to Father… but Father assured 
us it was nothing.
On one such occasion, Nariko decided to confront Father about Yukio's loyalty in 
his study. Father sat at his desk and I beside him. Yukio had just finished a status report 
on the local gambling houses the clan controlled. Nariko entered the room, having passed 
him on her way in. She looked hard at him as they brushed by each other. As the door 
closed behind him, he turned back and looked at me. Yukio's cold stare and slim smile 
sent a chill down my spine as the door slowly closed behind him.
Nariko approached Father's desk. "Father, there is talk in the streets about 
Yukio."
Father leaned back in his chair. A lesser man would be concerned by the news but 
Father sat un-phased. "Those are just rumors Nariko. Idle talk from common thugs. 
Yukio is a good man."
"Yukio is a cold-blooded killer and you know it. You've heard the stories, you 
know his M.O.!"
Nariko had never raised her voice to Father before and it took us both by surprise. 
Visibly shaken, the room fell silent as Father took a moment to regain his composure. 
"Nariko, you are my daughter and I understand your concerns. Yukio is a good 
man. Sure, he can seem… hasty at times but he is still my second in command. I trust 
him."
"There is something wrong with him. I don't know what but I can feel it. So can 
Eriko. She can sense something evil in him just as much as me. Tell him, Eriko."
Nariko looked down at me like a lost child looking for someone to help her. The 
innocence in her eyes was too much for me to bear. Before I could speak, Father looked 
down at me for my answer. 
"Eriko, is this true?"
I froze. I closed my eyes and put my head down. I could feel Nariko's eyes burn 
as she stared at me, the anger rising at my inaction.
Father sat up in his chair, his arms crossed. "Nariko, I will tell you this once. Let 
it go. Yukio is my second-in-command and my successor."
She growled at the thought. "That man is a beast!"
"Regardless. You will respect him as you do me. Is that understood?"
Nariko was near tears.
"But Father!" she cried.
Father stood up from his chair, slamming his hands hard on the table. The sound 
echoed through the room like a thunderclap.
"Nariko! Is that understood?"
Nariko fell silent. It was only a few seconds but it felt like an eternity. Father 
moved slowly around the table. He shuffled to the door, his movements showing his age. 
As I stood to follow him, Nariko shot me a hard look. Through my inaction, I had 
betrayed her trust.
At the time, neither of us could have known that true betrayal was just around the 
corner.




	Act 2: Succession

Father sent me on the jobs he felt were too difficult for his soldiers to accomplish 
or needed to be handled with the utmost secrecy and discretion. My job that night was to 
kill the president of a large Russian bank. He owed money to the clan and had sent three 
of his own men to kill Father. Nariko sent him back their fingers. I found him in his hotel 
room and I left him speechless.
I returned home to find sirens and emergency vehicles surrounding the main 
entrance to the building. The modern glass structure that was once a triumph to the clan's 
wealth and respect now sat scarred, the façade twisted and shattered by a bomb blast. I 
ran to find Nariko. She sat by the side of the building, away from the lights and the 
commotion. She muttered to herself as I approached, rocking back and forth clutching 
Father's Mateba Autorevolver to her chest. It was then that I knew what had happened.
"He killed him. He killed him. That rat bastard killed him."
I tried to touch her shoulder to snap her out of it but she growled at me.
"You knew. You knew Yukio was evil and you sat there…"
"Nariko… I-"
"Father is dead Eriko! Father is dead and Yukio killed him. I know it…"
Nariko did not look at me so much as she looked through me. Her eyes cut like 
the finest honed blade, like those of a soul who has lost all hope and meaning to their 
existence.

Nariko did not attend the funeral.

Shortly after the ceremony, word was passed that Yukio was to be the successor 
to Father's post and lead our clan. The Elders put much faith in him. I did not. Yukio 
requested that I be his bodyguard and the Elders agreed. Through the sharing of Sake, he 
became my Boss and I was honor bound to protect him regardless of my family ties, as 
dictated by the oldest of Yakuza traditions. Little could I have known that I would soon 
find myself in the service of a man whose cruelty truly knew no bounds.
Upon his ascension to Father's position of shateigashira, Yukio changed the 
targets of the sokaiya – high-class information gatherers and expert extortionists – that 
Father employed. Unlike Father, Yukio relied on mass panic and fear to get his point 
across. He would acquire information on rival Yakuza and order the kidnappings of their 
family members, attacking them where they were the most vulnerable. He would leave 
packages on the doorsteps of their headquarters containing the severed hand or foot of 
their loved ones, continuing in this fashion until the targeted clan gave in to his demands. 
Like his name suggested, Yukio was a man who got what he wanted and he showed no 
mercy.
Yukio saw fit to attach a leash to my choker, treating me like I was nothing more 
than a common street mutt. He would parade me around Tokyo like a show dog or some 
rare oddity. Though Anthros have been known about since The Great Rising fifteen years 
ago, we are still a rare sight by the greater public. Gone were my days of relative 
ambiguity as Yukio had my hair cut short so my canine features shown through. My 
dresses were destroyed – replaced by blood red and black tight fitting outfits, custom 
made to accentuate my muscular body and my tail. I was to carry exposed blades on me 
at all times, a sign to all of my lethality. Yukio used my very existence as a threat to those 
who would dare move against him. It was this fear that Yukio enjoyed, drinking it in like 
a rare spirit. It was an intoxicating elixir to a deeply disturbed man.

He took pleasure in the pain and humiliation of others. One such occasion 
occurred a month after Father's death. Word was circulating about a group within the 
clan who had remained loyal to Father and questioned Yukio's "good fortune." A scarred 
man who reeked of cheap Sake and bad cologne reported to Yukio the news as he sat in 
Father's old chair.
"Boss, that mutt Nariko's been talking," said the scarred man. "She claims you 
were the one who set that bomb that killed her old man."
I tensed at the mention of my sister's name. I had not seen her since the night of 
Father's death. Yukio yanked on my leash, nearly pulling me up off the pillow he had set 
at his feet for me to sit on.
"Nariko, eh? You mean the late Boss Chikuma's bitch. She is no threat."
Yukio pulled the leash in closer, forcing my face to his. His eyes were cold and 
his glare fixed on my throat. I turned away. Yukio slowly ran his hand up the back of my 
head, bristling my fur and digging his fingernails into my scalp. I could hear the scarred 
man step back.
"B-but Boss, that mutt isn't human. They say since Boss Chikuma's death that 
she's snapped. You know, gone wild and shit. You sure you don't want me to do 
anything to her?"
"Kill her friends if you want. There is no need to worry about that one. Not as 
long as my little doggie stays by my side. Isn't that right, my good little doggie?"
Yukio released the tension on the leash and pushed me over. I reached for the 
throwing blades I keep on my belt but I stopped. Yukio pulled his chrome plated .357 
Magnum and placed it against my temple. The cold metal made me shiver. Yukio pulled 
the hammer back with a hard click. My ear began to twitch; I knew he could kill me at 
any moment. I may have been faster than him in a fight but not even a wolf can outrun a 
bullet. It felt terrifyingly familiar. For the first time in my adult life, I was scared.
Yukio laughed. "That's right. You can't hurt me. You're nothing but my 
plaything, to come when I call and do as I say. Isn't that right, my little doggie?"
He let the hammer fall back into place, pulling the gun from my head. I wanted to 
kill him but I could not bring myself to do so. Unlike Yukio, I was bound by code. It was 
that code, and only that code, that was holding me back. 
 
I am a bodyguard. I vowed to lay down my life for my Boss. I cannot kill the ones 
I am to protect. That is the code I live by.

The next day, Nariko's supporters were found dead behind a local pachinko parlor 
on the edge of the city. Some were beaten to death while others were shot execution style 
in the street. Nariko's howls echoed through the streets as she mourned their loss.




	Act 3: A Wolf's Resolve

It is late December. A light snowfall blankets the city in a fine white powder 
turned gray by vehicle exhaust and the dirt of the streets. I sit in the backseat of a 
specially built black Mercedes-Benz alongside Yukio and the scarred man. It has been 
nearly eight weeks since Nariko was last seen though her presence has been felt 
throughout the underworld. Reports of a large, dog-like creature seeking information on 
Yukio's past have come in at irregular intervals from as far away as Ichihara and Yukio's 
former hometown of Chiba.
Nariko was searching for something and she was leaving many bodies in her 
wake. The local news has been overwhelmed with reports of mass killings of thugs with 
known ties to Yukio and the various Yakuza clans he has worked for. Men have been 
found with gunshot wounds, claw marks, even bites. Some of the elderly people 
interviewed have begun praising her, claiming that she is a wolf demon who has been 
angered by the injustice of the system. I knew she was merely a daughter out to avenge 
her father. From the recent news reports and underworld sightings, she was making her 
way back home.
From the comfort of the bulletproof Benz, we make our way back to the newly 
remodeled office building of our clan's headquarters. Yukio felt it necessary to "clean up 
the mess" that Father made and move on with business. As we approached the building, 
the driver told us over the in-car speaker system that the entrance was clear of any 
enemies but something told me otherwise.
"You sure we can trust these guys, boss?" said the scarred man as he toyed with 
his 9mm pistol. Yukio had sent away or killed many of the older skilled soldiers, bringing 
in a number of newly inducted street thugs from local bosozuku. They do not know what 
they would be up against. Yukio simply nodded at the scarred man, looking forward out 
the front window with a vacant stare. He knows something is about to happen as well.
I can smell the fear pouring off of the two men as the car slows to a stop in front 
of the building. I am pushed out driver's side rear door first, Yukio steps out behind me. 
The scarred man comes out of the passenger's side rear door, his heartbeat has risen and I 
can see from his reflection in the building's widows that his eyes desperately search the 
darkness for the beast about to strike.
The scarred man saw nothing as the large hunting knife plunged deep into his 
skull from behind. Yukio drew his gun as I reached for my own weapons – two small 
Katars I kept strapped to my thighs whenever I left the building. I also drew my throwing 
blades from my belt, knowing full well that I would need them against my sister. Nariko 
entered the lobby; Father's Mateba in hand and aimed directly at Yukio. 
"Nariko. What a surprise. So you've come to kill me?" said Yukio. His grasp 
tightened on my leash.
"One more word and you'll be dead before you can pull the trigger."
Nariko headed toward me, her gaze fixed on Yukio.
"Eriko, are you alright? What has this cretin done to you?"
I did not speak. I assumed a ready position, not knowing Nariko's state of mind. 
Is she here for Yukio or will she kill me too? I cannot let either happen.
"Step away from him, Eriko. He is a far more evil man than you know. I found 
out the truth. I found out who he really is."
Yukio tightened the leash more, drawing himself closer to me, most likely to use 
me as a shield. He pulled the hammer back and fired, but Nariko had already heard the 
hammer's click. She dove around a pillar, firing a shot that clipped the leash and setting 
me free from Yukio's grasp. Yukio ran toward the elevators at the back of the lobby, his 
dress shoes skidding across the imported Italian marble floor. He fired randomly as 
Nariko charged at him, grazing her left cheek and barely missing me. I dove for cover, 
making a turn around a pillar. I could see Nariko on top of Yukio. His Magnum was 
barely out of reach and Nariko had Father's Mateba pressed firmly to his forehead.
"You little rat bastard. You planted the bomb on Father's car so you could 
become boss. You took away the only family Eriko and I ever had!"
Nariko growled and I could see her fur begin to bristle. She was so furious that 
she did not see Yukio's hand grab the gun.
My knives better be on target.
I throw three blades at them. Two hit Nariko in her back while one catches Yukio 
in his right hand. He drops the gun. Nariko lifts off of Yukio enough for him to worm his 
way out. She looks at me with those same innocent eyes as she did so long ago in 
Father's office.
"Eriko…"
"Nariko, stop this. I cannot let you kill Yukio." I walk out from behind the pillar; 
the artificial lights buzz gives the moment a strange surreal air. I watch as Yukio moves 
again toward the elevators yet he does not leave. I know he is getting a sick pleasure from 
this – the adopted daughters of Boss Chikuma fighting against each other. Nariko pulls 
my knives from her left shoulder and side, tossing them down at my feet. I assume my 
ready position once more as she approaches me.
"Eriko? Look at me. Who are you going to trust?"
"I trust you, but I am bound by honor to protect the Boss."
"That… beast? He killed Father, Eriko."
"That may be, sister. I still cannot let you kill him."
Nariko is within arms length of me. Her eyes begin to tear up. I hold my ground, 
ready to defend if she strikes. Right now, she is my enemy but she is still my sister. There 
is a short moment of silence before Nariko makes a move. She slaps my face hard.
"Wake up Eriko. Forget your code. That man is a killer and he must be stopped."

Yukio's laugh echoes from the back of the lobby, reverberating of the stone 
façade to sound larger than life. We turn to see him overjoyed by what was to come.
"Yes Eriko. I am a bad man. I'm a bad man who has done many evil things. 
Nariko speaks the truth. I killed Boss Chikuma. Of course, your sister here wants to kill 
me but you can't let her, can you? You're a good little doggie. You won't bite your 
master."
Nariko growled, making a move toward Yukio. Before she could take a step I 
grab her from behind, wrapping around her and placing the blade of my Katar against her 
throat. She goes for a foot stomp, but I move in time with her. We trade blows, stopping 
just before landing a fatal strike. Nariko lands a right cross to my temple, sending me 
down. This gives her enough time to pull her Bowie knife and gain some distance. I can 
taste blood.
"Eriko," said Nariko, " listen to me. You remember that feeling we got when 
Yukio entered the room? That familiar feeling… I found out what it was."
My ears perk up and I regain my composure.
"Yukio killed our parents, Eriko. Father heard that a man from Chiba had caught a 
family of Anthros. When he arrived, Yukio had already shot our parents. Father's men 
stopped him before he could kill us. Yukio ran like a coward!"
Nariko and I heard the click from Yukio's Magnum and moved. He fired off two 
shots before my knives found their marks. One caught his arm while the other grazed his 
neck.
Nariko charged me, tackling me to the ground and knocking my left Katar off. I 
came back with a quick jab, enough to get her off me. I came at Nariko from below, a leg 
sweep to knock her off balance. She came down on me with a heel smash. A sharp pain 
told me the she separated my left arm. I sliced at her side with my remaining Katar, 
landing a mild wound across her abdomen. I missed her vital organs but this move would 
cost me. Nariko's eyes burned with rage as she leapt at me with her Bowie knife. Blow 
after blow, slash after slash. The fight raged on. From time to time, I could hear Yukio 
shouting and taunting like a spectator at a prizefight. This only made Nariko madder, 
turning her attention away from me.
After what seemed like an eternity, we both fell back to a defense position. My 
ribs felt broken, my breathing labored. I knew I was panting but I could not hear it. 
Nariko had landed a couple of hard blows to my head, making my ears ring. She, too, 
was panting. She held her side, drops of blood pooled on the floor where she stood. Oh 
Father, what have we done?
I could see Nariko's mouth move but I could not tell what she was saying. I 
fought to remain standing. Though I could not hear myself, I spoke to Nariko.
"On my honor… on my life, I swore to protect the Boss at all costs. Nariko, I 
cannot let you pass."
I could tell by Nariko's trembling legs and labored breathing that she did not want 
this yet still she gathered herself up for one last stand. I charge her, the blade of my Katar 
gleams under the fluorescent lights of the office building. This is my last move and she 
knows it. She launches at me, an aerial attack with her Bowie knife. Time seems to stand 
still as we land our blows. I can feel her knife plunging deep into my abdomen.

My vision goes black. The ringing in my ears dies down as I hear Yukio 
approach. The smell of blood is strong; Nariko's heartbeat feels weak. Through all of 
this, Nariko continues to fight. I hear Father's gun fall to the ground underneath us. She 
must have tried to draw it to kill Yukio. His footsteps stop. Nothing. He stands there for a 
moment, most likely drinking the situation in, before he speaks.
"Die."
The sound of his Magnum is deafening. Nariko's body jolts violently before her 
heart beats for the last time. I can feel Yukio aim his gun at my head, its cold steel barrel 
pressed against the base of my skull. The hammer is pulled back then a click.

Click, click, click.

He is out of ammo.
My sight is blurry, but I can see the damage done to Nariko. The large hole left in 
her back by the sheer power of the .357 was almost comical. I push the remains of my 
sister off while Yukio fumbles to load his revolver. My blades hit right where I wanted 
after all. I raise Father's gun and fire, the recoil throws me off balance and I stumble 
toward the door. The last things I see are the Elders' elite troops flood the building and 
darkness.

Father… forgive your daughters.




	Epilogue

I buried my sister today. The ceremony was small… only a few members from 
local clans and myself were in attendance. She was placed beside Father.

The Elders have called me in for an audience with them. I know what will come 
next.
I enter into a large candle-lit room furnished in the traditional Shoin style. The 
floor was lined with woven mats; shoji screens, fusuma and tatami depicting classic 
scenes of serene forests and gentle landscapes line the walls. Three old men sat on satin 
pillows behind a small traditional table. They are dressed in period clothing, like the 
samurai of ancient time. The man in the middle spoke.
"Eriko the Wolf, adopted daughter of Chikuma Ichiro, you understand why we 
called you here today."
I still feel weak from the injuries, so I nod in agreement.
"Following Chikuma's death, Nariko came to us with suspicions about Yukio's 
involvement. With our blessings, Nariko was allowed safe passage through Japan's 
underworld to gather information for us.
"As you know, Yukio's actions against Nariko's teammates made her feral. We 
assigned men to watch her movements and knew of the attack that night. We deeply 
regret your loss."
His voice held no emotion. The man to his left spoke next. "In light of the current 
situation, we must choose a successor. Not since the Widow Fumiko took control of the 
Yamaguchi-gumi in 1981 has a women held power in a Yakuza clan. Do you accept the 
honor of Boss?"
Though it hurt to speak, I found my words… 
"No."
An uneasy silence passed between the Elders and myself. They turned to each 
other and nodded, a wordless conversation that could very well end with my death right 
here. I have made my choice.
The man on the far right spoke. "Eriko the Wolf, adopted daughter of Chikuma 
Ichiro. We accept your answer. You are no longer bound to this clan. Since you are the 
only family of Chikuma's left alive, you may remain here as long as you wish. If you 
choose to leave, we will allow you safe passage."
With that, I turned toward the door. Pain racks my body with every step yet I am 
relieved. As I limp out of the room, I hear the shifting of plate armor as one of the Elders 
stands. I stop walking.
"Eriko. We have one last item to attend to."
I turn my head, glancing back to see the man in the center standing. Though he 
looks as ancient as the armor he wears, there is a familiar gleam in his eye. Much like the 
one Father had.
"During her travels, Nariko came across more Ezo wolves like yourself. They are 
young, having been abandoned in Chiba. Our men have relocated them to Tokyo and, as 
per Nariko's wishes, they are to be put under your care."

I turn and leave the room. It seems, even in death, Nariko's gentle soul shows 
through. Never again will I allow my duty to others come before my devotion to my 
family. I will miss you, my sister.

We were the last of our kind. Now, our line lives on.





The End.