The Last Winter

The winter was hard. Father hardly spoke, just kept us moving. I think it was difficult for him, being a single Dad. Plus Yagyu Clan trying to kill us all the time. I know it was exhausting, but he never showed it. Not to me. We were on the road a lot, doing the vengeance, but he always took the time to be a Dad with me. I think he took his frustrations out on the ninja. And there were a lot of them, I mean a lot, so most of the time Dad seemed pretty relaxed.

 

I still don't even know why they wanted us dead, really. I think it was a lot about professional competition maybe. Like, Yagyu got Dad fired, but then that wasn't enough. They knew he was really good at his job. The best. And if they didn't kill him, he'd eventually be better than they were, and they'd lose their company and he'd take over. Or something.

 

I remember that winter, because it was the last. They sent everyone at us, everything they had. But Dad didn't fall. Not until they fell first. All of them.

 

Not until I was safe.

 

I hope I can be as good a father to my son.

 

With fewer ninjas, maybe.