[Fiction] Family

[Long]

Noriko had told him to meet here at the same little restaurant they had eaten in fifteen years ago. She told him she wanted to catch up on old time and that she had a suprise for her old ex.

I haven't seen or heard from Nori in fifteen years, now why does she want me? What's this suprise she's bringing me?

Long sat in his human form in the booth he'd always sat in. The place changed little, it's ramen was dirt cheap and by far the best he'd eaten in the last six years. It was half past Three by the clock on the wall. Noriko Asano was late. Long ordered up another bowl and ate, his hunger in no way slaked by the first six bowls. Long thought back across the last decade and a half as he ate. He'd changed so much, come so far since the day he'd left with Shen-Kahn. He remembered the training in the mountains, the brutal fighting and all the death he had wrought. There was only the faintest sound as someone approached him.

[Hideki]

Hideki sat and watched the man his mother had told him to come and see. He was just as she'd told him he'd be. His long black braid hung down his back, and a pair of reading glasses were settled on the nose covering two sparkling blue eyes. He watched him eat seven bowls of ramen and then seem to become lost in thought.

It's now or never.

Hideki got up from his seat and walked over to the man's table. He gathered his nerve and introduced himself to the man.

"Mr. Ryu Hideyoshi, it is a great pleasure to meet you. I am Hideki Asano, my mother sends her regards and regrets that she cannot be here for this. She sends a message."

Hideki pulls out a small circular object and sets it on the table and presses the small green button. A holographic image of Noriko Asano appears and begins speaking.

"Ryu, it's good to know you're still around. This is Hideki, our son. If you doubt this ask him for the file he has in his backpack. It contains DNA analysis confirming who his parents are. I'm placing him in your care, because I cannot interrupt my research to guide him through his transition. Please take care of him and see to him Ryu, if for nothing more than the memories of our youth."

The hologram shut off and Hideki looked expectantly at the man his mother had called his Father.

[Long]

Long was pulled from his memories by the young man who walked up to him. He listened intently to his introduction and through the hologram's recording. He eyed the young man carefully the entire time. When the recording finished he read the young man's eyes.

"Let me see the file Hideki."

The young man produced the file and Long read it. He read over each part carefully looking up at Hideki from time to time. He finished and closed the file and rose.

"You truly are my son. I had no idea Noriko was even pregnant when I left. I am sorry that I wasn't around for you when you were a child. Let me make it up to you Hideki. Your mother states that you recently errupted. That seems to be the reason for our meeting now, she wants me to take you so she can conduct some sort of research. If you wish, I will do so. How about it Hideki, do you want to come with me?"

There was an odd catch in his voice, one that he'd never used before. Here was the one thing he'd dreamed of since he married Aki, and when she died, the dream died. Now his first love calls him and tells him they have a son and asks him to take care of him. An ember sparked and the flame began to crackle again. Long offered his hand to Hideki.

"Let me make up for lost time."

[Hideki]

Hideki looks at his father's cerulean blue eyes and takes his hand and shakes it. Ryu leads him out and instructs him to walk beside him. They walk down the sidewalk and seem to be heading to the outskirts of town.

"Father..." the word had a new feeling to it, it was one he'd never addressed someone with... "Where are we going? What do we do now?"

Hideki walks slightly behind to his father's left waiting for his father to answer.

[Long]

Long pauses and turns to Hideki.

"Hideki we are going to the small home I maintain outside the city. We'll stay there for the time being. We cannot stay in the city so do not ask. There are some out there who do not look kindly on my true form."

Long senses Hideki's confusion at the statement.

"I will show my true form once we are out of the city if you like. As to your second question, now I need to make some arrangements for you to accompany me in my travels. You're still a minor and in high school. I will not let you fall behind in your studies. It's sort of a tradition in my family to do extremely well in school."

Long smiles and laughs lightly as he remembers Shen-Kahn's words on this subject almost fifteen years ago. He then continues walking on to his home.

"It's only another kilometer, the walk will do you good Hideki. When we get there I'll cook us up a nice meal and you can tell me all about yourself."

[Hideki]

Hideki walks along behind his father in silence. He ponders the things his father has told him. Father speaks of his true form, what can he mean by it? I guess I'll just see when we get to his home. I can't believe he's going to make me study, still, I thought that all was done when I errupted. Hideki frowns at the thought of maintaining his studies. While he was a good student, that was only so he could participate in his true passion, playing sports. He had been the Captain of his Track team before he errupted. I'll just have to wait and see what he has planned. Perhaps he'll understand. Hideki came to a stop with his father in front of a small home with a small pond and trees all around.

"This is your small home? This place is a palace compared to the house Mother and I live in. You've got so much room out here."

[Long]

Long turns to Hideki and takes on his true form. Long's frame grows to seven feet and and his body hair grows out and changes to the coloration of a Bengal Tiger. The long braid of black hair from his head seems to merge in with the black stripe down his spine. The pupils of his eyes diappear as the turn solid blue and emit a soft glow. His legs change, and his shoes shred under the force of his expanding paws.

"This, Hideki, is my true form. I enjoy nature in it's pure form, but There's the side of me that still enjoys the comforts of a nice home. This will be your new home please go in and make yourself at home. Feel free to wander around the area, but take one of the gps units on the table if you do. Try to make it back by nightfall. I'm going to have your things shipped over here to one of the extra rooms. Welcome to your new home."