Okami: Hero's Shortcomings

Chapter 23: Father and Son

Earth, Nov. 19th 2016 @10:07 AM. Genji grunted and kicked himself back up. Sung-ho immediately went to strike as he stood back up, but his punch missed and instead received one on the cheek.

Genji had put most of his power into it, but he hardly reacted. In fact, his face hardly moved. All that happened was an overbearing sense of futility began to drown Genji's thinking.

Sung-ho shoved the bottom of his hand up Genji's jaw, snapping his neck back and rocking his brain for a bit. While suspended in the air, he grabbed Genji by the shirt and threw him dead center through shelves of products, like a pitcher throwing a fastball.

Genji's collision with the dairy aisle ended his travel, though milk jugs bursted open and leaked.

Although he was simply walking, Genji perceived it as heavy stomps getting louder with each step. Death was approaching.

Genji stood up and ran to the side, trying not to slip over the culmination of milks. He rummaged through the deep freezer for the bagged chicken and pelted him with the bags, taking a step back with every step Sung-ho took forward.

"Quit it, Genji. You're ruining inventory and wasting potential profits. Not to mention the fit damage prevention will have about this."

Bags ruptured and frozen drumsticks flew around when they clashed on his sturdy body, not leaving a mark. He caught an oncoming bag and returned it to his sender. It smacked Genji dead on his forehead.

What's going on...Has he always been this strong? Genji wondered as the image of Sung-ho began to split in his eyes.

"This isn't good, Genji. You're supposed to be much stronger than this. If you can't face me, then what was the point of your training?" He grabbed him by the shirt, lifting him a couple of inches.

"I trained to save Katrina and Zoey! And anyone else that was mixed up in it! If I knew this would happen, I would've thrown in a few more push-ups." He grunted.

"Ah, yes, you only cared about being strong enough to save those girls out there. On the inside, you don't care about being Earth's savior. So maybe there is no reason to fight after all." Sung-ho said, dropping him back to the ground.

"What? Just like that?!"

"Just like that. What good is fighting someone who doesn't pose a threat. After all, we could use you," he said, holding his hand out, "c'mon, son. Someday, you'll take the throne, so might as well get some experience ruling a realm right now. With your powers, nothing could stop us."

Genji stared at his hand, his words digging into his brain in an attempt to rot it.

"Will...Will the girls be safe? You won't hurt them, right?"

"They can join our empire."

He swallowed the lump in his throat and began to raise his hand.

He has a point...I didn't become the Ōkami to protect humanity. All I wanted was to save them from Heaven...and now we have a chance of having even better lives, flashbacks of his childhood cycled through his head, and all the small moments he spent with his dad, but...what will become of humanity, it said realm domination, right? I may not have become the Ōkami for humanity...but things change! Recent memories joined the mix of the past. Imani, Chloe, and Mariana, the moments he spent with them began to wash away Sung-ho's influence. What gave him his final push was the smile of the first person he saved. He remembered the kid's face clearly, heard the sound of her voice, and the joy of his first save returned to give him the strength he needed.

"Come on, Genji. Shake my hand, and together we will rule the realms."

Genji's hand was about to come into contact with his, but at the very last moment he went past and jammed it into his abdomen, powered with an enraged flame.

Though none of his attacks had any effect on him, this newfound strength broke into him, causing him to hack up some saliva.

"No way in hell would I ever agree to something like that!"

His fire grew brighter and larger, sending Sung-ho back into the bread stands.

"You're right, I didn't become the Ōkami for human-sake, but it's different now! There are so many smiles I have to protect, and if I were to give in now, then I wouldn't be able to call myself a hero!"

Sung-ho tossed loaf after loaf to the side, groaning as he stood back up. He gathered his bearings and looked upon the frenzy that surrounded his son. A wild mix of electricity and flames surrounded him. It interfered with the ceiling and freezer lights.

"So no matter who it is, or if I have little chance at winning. I'll fight tooth and nail to make sure no smiles have to fade out!"

Genji pressed down on the floor, cracking it under his shoe. He blasted off from his spot and appeared above Sung-ho.

"You're going down, Sung-ho!"

A small grin appeared on his face. And instead of responding verbally, he held his arms out in a welcoming gesture. It's only a matter of time before the results of the father and son battle will surface for the others to see soon.