• "B-but..," I stammered. "They-they should be dead. Right?"
    "Right," Hiro responded, looking out the window into the swirling mist. "No one could have survived that explosion. They're long gone..."
    "But?..." I trailed off, knowing there was most definately more.
    "But... There's new ones... I didn't want to tell you... They're carrying on the legacy. They're still out for all of us. Mom and Dad will be the easy targets. I don't know if we can get there in time to save them..."
    "Hold up a second! You KNEW they were still out there?! Those crazies who tried to kill us the last time!? They're still out there, mom and dad are in intensive care - I might add due to these same group of insano assinators - and we're here training to fight?!"
    "When you say it like that it sounds really bad...."
    "GAH! We have to save them!"
    "We... can't..."
    I was dumbfounded. Our parents were Hiro's role models in every way shape and form. How could he abandon them now? They were in a hell of a lot of trouble right now, and Hiro was just gonna.... stand here?!
    "Wha...?! Why not!?" I snapped. "I'm not going to come close to losing them again! You... YOU CAN"T DO THIS HIRO!" Tears were beginning to stream down my eyes.
    "Shh...." He came to hug me. I shot every curse word I knew at him through my mind.
    "I"M GOING TO SAVE THEM!" I screamed. I turned to go, but stopped dead in my tracks. Blood was pounding in my veins. A memory flashed in my mind. It was some 4 years ago. I was half asleep. The sky was ashen, and there was smoke rising above me. The smell of smoke was in my nostrils. Fire was all around me. It was our old house. They had bombed us. We were escaping.
    "Is she awake, son?" My father was saying.
    "Naw. She's out cold," Hiro said, hoisting me up into his arms. Even at ten, he was quite strong.
    "Good. I don't want her to hear this..."
    "I understand.... They're still out there, even though it was indeed a suicide bombing," Hiro said grimly.
    "I see your powers have nearly fully evolved. You will grow to be strong, my son."
    "Yes, father."
    "Watch out for her, understand. Don't let anything happen to her. She is your life now, and you will protect her, no matter the cost."
    "Yes, Father."
    "They will return for your mother and I one day. We will surrender ourselves, saying you two were killed. We will pretend to be severly injured. You will NOT try and save us. I have a feeling Rei will be very opposed to it, but you MUST restrain her, understand?"
    "Yes, Father."
    "Train. Both of you. Keep her safe. Keep yourself safe."
    "Yes, Father."
    "I believe now this is where we part ways. I don't know whether we will see each other again. Goodbye, my son."
    "Father," tears were welling in Hiro's eyes. He was trying to be brave, but was failing.
    "It's okay, Son. I have faith in you. I know the man you are," said my father, pulling myself and Hiro into a great hug. He and my mother kissed us farewell...
    I was pulled back out of my memory. There was something wet on my face. It had been a while since I last cried.
    "So you remember?" Hiro said, kissing me on the top of my head, and hugging me tightly.
    "Yeah... We can't save them, can we?"
    "I don't believe so. They would disprove..."
    "I'll kill them... I'LL KILL THEM ALL DAMN IT!"
    "That's a real dangerous thing to say, Rei-rei..."
    "I don't give a damn. I'm an avenger now. Join me if you wish."
    "To hell I will. You heard what Dad said. I can't let you die,too"
    I wiped the tears away. "Then let's get the hell outta here, before they realize we're still alive..."