The air tangled through long ebony locks that slipped from beneath an equally dark hood. Her eyes were dim, faded beneath the bronze skin she wore like a curse at that very moment. Shado’s head didn’t turn to look at the dark clothed man as he came to a stop, footfalls coming to a seemingly solace on the wooden plank. Keiyoshi Chao stayed quiet a moment, as his eyes watched the air ripple through the browning waves. “I have waited for this moment a long time Shado. It’s ironic that it is you, saving my life again.”

Shado didn’t seem to register his voice. But the words did build strength to them. Seven years ago, when she was an assassin, working for the mob, she had been on a hit, it was not an important job. Some guy running drugs in the wrong place. Shado was told to go in and take him out. What Shado didn’t know was that Chao too had been sent in as a bull runner. He was sent in to rough the men up. Shado always came early, always ahead of the clock. That day seven years ago made it all worth while. Chao, found himself looking at seven of his men lying dead, four of the drug pushers saw his bluff and were ready to show their hand. Shado wasted no time in zipping arrows at the would-be attackers. Chao had taken six bullets that day; he would have died easily, if it wasn’t for Shado being early to that hit. Chao owed her a lot. At least Shado thought so. But she misjudged him.

< I would not have gone to this level if you would have worked with us. After Oliver everything changed. You fucking gave everything up for an American billionaire playboy! I’d have given you everything! >

< Not everything. > Shado said simply a touch of frost cracking in her words. Breathe cold; flowing over her chapped lips.

<Yeah, perhaps… perhaps I couldn’t give you a son. > Chao looked away from her; his hand raking over his head. < You are under my hypnotic control, and yet you still have an edge. >

< I will kill him like you said. > Shado reminded Chao.

< Your son? >

< My son Robert, and Green Arrow. >

Chao smiled as he looked at the strikingly beautiful archer perched on the dock. Even after all these years of fighting, Chao still saw the beauty in her. She managed to retain her glow, her radiance… her perfection even if she was no longer the princess to him. She was still, an angel. For the moment- his angel. < Good, so then you know about him, a new Green Arrow? >

< Connor Hawke, Chao. Ollie’s son. >

Chao went silent after that.

	The Emerald Archer... OF BOW AND HORSE, Part 3: "Arrows for Allegory"
Green Arrow #3 - December, Year 1	by Jae Lizhini

Sky Court Hotel
Narita City

Connor Hawke’s body lunged up from deep shock. His heart pounded against chest; skin cool from the sweat the gleamed across his dark body. His lungs moved hard his nose and mouth taking in massive volumes of air as he tried to find himself, tried to clear the dizziness from his head. –The Minister of Defense has been declared dead— the TV announced again, the words finally making it to Connor’s ears. His eyes went wide as he watched the television set. A moment of disbelief showering over him, as the hero known as Green Arrow watched the screen showcasing grizzly images of a burnt up Hotel building. “Two, in 24 hours.” Connor Said seemingly to himself.

“Imagine my surprise.” Robert mentioned as he looked up from the floor of the large hotel room. He wore sweat shorts with no shirt. Robert continued to speak as he did more pushups. “I didn’t think my mother was capable of that… It’s just not like her. Even in the old days. I heard stories. She wasn’t that ruthless. Not like this.”

“So you think she’s being framed? Maybe she’s kidnapped… hidden somewhere?” Connor rationalized his green eyes finding those of his half brother.

“No I don’t see my mother going out so quiet. Plus what we have is someone really good. I mean they are up to my mother’s level definitely. I’m not going to rule anything out just yet. We have nothing to go on.”

“Well there is a connection; we know that someone is hitting government officials. And the guy who was killed by your mother, or someone framing your mother was linked to the Yakuza. They are all also local, to this area so far.” Connor repeated from memory.

“Well maybe there’s more to it. The Government has been after the Yakuza for some time the informant, was to testify for, Keiyoshi Chao, who happens to be the alleged leader of the Yakuza for this region of Japan. He and my mother also have a past.” Robert explained.

“So this Chao guy, he’s possibly looking at some big trouble from the rest of the Yakuza, if he doesn’t do better work at controlling his actions?”

“Well I’m no expert, of the Yakuza; I only know what my mother has told me. But the faction that controls Narita City makes up hefty revenue for the entire organization. They are not that heavily backed by the Tokyo members. But if they go down, they could damage the entire organization. This is why the police want them so bad. They are the weakest link in the chain. The problem is that many of the politicians in Japan were laundering money from the Yakuza but last year many were found and were taken out of office. It’s hurt the Yakuza very badly, and this is why Chao has gone under heavy suspicion. This act has to be him. It’s a desperate act to finally take back control. But at the pattern they are going in. I think they might be looking at something big-- Something beyond just taking out the cabinet.”

“I see,” Connor said lying to his half brother, he really hadn’t taken half the information Robert just spilt out to him. Connor only grasped some of the key components of the structure. “So any idea how were going to find these guys? I mean we can guess which cabinet member is next, but there’s too many of them for us both to cover at once.”

“Perhaps we can find the answers we need from unauthorized channels,” Robert mentioned finally standing up from the floor. His heavily cut and chiseled body showing deep cuts of muscles on his blazoned chest.

“What do you mean?” Connor asked his blond brows rising.

“Well,” A voice suddenly called from beyond the door as the front door of the room opened. The large Japanese general walked into the room. His green regulation uniform seemed brighter than it was the night before. His lips shimmered in an ivory glitter. “We have some information that we can’t use, but I think it might help the two of you,” the general announced.

“What is it?” Robert asked his head turning around.

“Well there’s a warehouse on Tseunoka blvd, which is supposed to be a shipping center for the Yakuza. We have yet to prove anything in our surveillance. But perhaps you all might have luck in your investigation by doing some questioning to the workers.” The general grinned.

Connor looked at the general and then to Robert. “Well it’s at least a lead. Better than anything else we have.”

The General nodded to them as he looked back to the doorway. “There is a scheduled shipment tonight, at 9pm.”

Both Robert and Connor turned to look at the clock that was hanging on the left wall. There was a definite glare to their eyes, a moment of self worth. Connor had not been the soul Green Arrow for a long while, and with the amount of things that had escalated in the short months after Ollie’s death there were small needle pricks across the back of his mind. Everyone who had seen the new Green Arrow could tell he wasn’t anything like the previous one. Aside from the usage of a bow, green eyes, and blond hair there was nothing else that would allow one to believe that Connor was in fact the son of Oliver Queen. Perhaps that’s why he was always under so much scrutiny. Everyone knew that the heir to the Queen fortune was Arsenal, and he acted like it. But unlike Connor, Roy had spent most of his childhood following in Ollie’s footsteps. Roy also wasn’t simply an archer, rebel and lady killer. Roy was also a meta-human, and with his unique genetic make up had more of a comfort zone than Connor did. For this new Green Arrow it was not simply, trying to prove himself in the wake of one of the greatest heroes the world ever knew. It was proving himself against a whole roster of heroes, like Black Canary, Arsenal, Shado, Arrowette, and the man who watched him now for leadership, his half brother Robert.

“Well you two have a few hours; this is going to be last shipment before the meeting of cabinet next week. Be there.” The General turned his back to the two archers, his hand lying back on the rim of the door, sliding the wooden door back open.

“We’ll be there.” Robert said his gaze turned to the silent Connor.

“Thank you General.” Connor finally got out.

“I’ll be the one thanking you two after all.” The General called back to them before exiting through the door the paper ruffling as the wooden door slid back shut.

“We should train,” Robert said.

“Yeah, if we truly are looking at finding your mother, we are going to have to be in top form.” Connor agreed

The Ashram
California, USA

There was never, a loss of things to do at the Ashram Monastery. This was equally true as it was still being reverted from the previous health club, Zen World*. Months had passed here, since the newest Green Arrow and Green Lantern had regained the property to its rightful place, in the universe. As afternoon came the sun struck rays across the green grasses that surrounded the dark brown building that sat upon the lush flora that many Southern Californians assume is always further north in the state. The Ashram was not the glory filled place of peace and tranquility it once was however. Even the monks who ran the temple training and teaching youth to be of the Chen-Buddhist mind and body, were still ill at ease, even if their training allowed them to rid such thoughts from the surface of the brain. Those who studied the ancient philosophies could tell, by the way they walked the way they moved, and the lapse of longevity of meditation. No monk felt the burn greater perhaps than Master Jensen, the Chinese Monk who had been born in the Ta’l Monastery near the border of Nepal.

Jensen had seen many things in his life, and had managed to get through them just fine. No one could say that this man was not strong-willed, determined, and not the finest example of the Buddhist way of life. That is they could not have said that two years ago. Since the change to Zen World, Jensen had lost his footing, and was just now trying to get it back. There is no life without suffering, he constantly reminded himself. Even at this moment he was relaxed under a tree with his back firmly pressed into the oak’s trunk. The December wind cooled the perspiration that dotted his dark skin, his finely shaven scalp wet and glimmering in the strong ultra-violet rays. Jensen had been quite busy today, aside from his four classes nine hours of training and chores, six hours of meditation, the other three hours of his day was spent sowing the fields that lay just two miles south of the temple. Sleep was not something Jensen had been doing much of. The strife of fatigue, along with eating one breakfast every three days was starting to take its toll even on a mind and body as disciplined as Master Jensen’s.

“Master Jensen.” A voice arose suddenly to cause the monk’s head to arch upwards. A small boy of seven years old looked down at the monk holding in his tiny hands a crumbled envelope. “You have a letter.”

“A letter?” Jensen asked his black eye brows rising. “We don’t even have a mailbox.”

“Yes, Master Saang thought it strange too, but considering who it’s from, he said you should read this right away.” The boy yelled out more excited than he should be. The boy was Roman Matthews, a new student since the school was rebuilt. A hyperactive boy who seemed to have no inhibitions, his mother had asked them to take him. Hoping for them teach the boy how to control himself.

Jensen’s hand reached out to grab at the letter, stubby fingers snatching at the letter. The Monk’s brows again arched up as he looked at the name scrawled out on the envelope. “Eddie Flyers”

“You may leave me now.” Jensen told the boy in a chilling manner that was not accustomed to the soft-hearted Chinese man.

“Yes Master Jensen-xin.”

Jensen looked down at the name again. Though, Jensen had only met this Flyers fellow once or twice, the name came with recourse. Eddie Flyers was an ex-expeditor for the CIA, and long time friend of Oliver Queen. After the death of The Green Arrow, Eddie helped Connor as both a friend and a guardian, guiding him to take on the Green Arrow Legacy. In many ways Eddie Flyers was like the North Pole, to his south pole in the life of Connor. Jensen quickly tore open the letter:

 

Jensen shook his head as his face wrinkled with a very large smile. His white teeth glimmered beyond his lips. True Eddie was crass, and this letter was sort of insulting, by the monk was just happy to be included in Connor’s life. Standing up he looked at the sloppy hand writing in his hand before he crushed it in his fist.

8:56pm
Tseunka Blvd
Narita City, Japan

The brightness of the eastern sun does have its off time, despite what anyone says the nights in Japan are equally as dark as they are anywhere in the world. It is still hot, but it’s dark. Dark was good for the two archers who watched a warehouse from the cover of an alley. Green Arrow had his hood drawn up over his stark blond hair. The green and red’s of the costume he wore usually looked boring and drab to those who saw this new Green Arrow in action. Most people thought his costume was brown and green, with the earth tone appeal to his costume of choice. Yet standing out of the rays of even Narita City’s street lights, one definitely could see the benefit of his costume. Unlike heroes like Flash, Superman, and even Arsenal his spandex wasn’t a stark shining beacon people noticed. In this alley way, it covered him nicely, not as nicely as the Shinobi black that his brother was wearing. Green Arrow had to be versatile though, and the colors of choice were not to look good on the front page of the Daily Planet. Instead they were chosen for their blending in properties. Function was not something many heroes though about, save possibly Batman and Steel.

“So any idea what we’re waiting for?” Robert whispered to Green Arrow from behind him. Both heroes had their hands relaxing on bows.

“A truck, when they go to unload it will both have the attention of everyone inside and trucks tend to be loud. We will have a bigger sound margin to work with,” Green Arrow explained.

Connor knew there were just thugs in there, and some of them were probably legit workers who were just at the wrong place at the wrong time. This didn’t make the waiting a burden to him though. His heart beat thudded against his chest as the green eyes stared waiting for a sign.

Ten minutes past before a large truck pulling a trailer veered on towards, Tseuneka BLVD. Robert eyed the truck coming right towards them. A free hand instinctively went to the hemp sewn quiver that was pressed against his back. Notching an arrow against the bow string Robert raised his bow targeting the truck with uncanny accuracy. Green Arrow’s green gloved hand shot up the palm pressing into the arrow head. “Robert, it’s best if we keep in inside the warehouse, so no one on the streets get hurt.” Robert of course nodded his head.

Green Arrow and Robert waited for the truck to turn down the narrow passage that led towards the back of the warehouse. As the truck disappeared Robert began to run towards the warehouse. Green Arrow’s hand quickly grabbed at an arrow from his quiver before following his brother across the street.

The two brothers came in low pressing back against the two sides of the blue painted doorway. They could hear the voices from within. Connor mentally counted the different voices, for a rough calculation of the amount of bodies. Robert’s eyes slid to look at the masked archer to his right. “I’m going to count to three…” Robert whispered in a hoarse throaty sound.

Connor nodded silently waiting for the three count.

“One… Two…Three!” Both martial artists jetted up from their hunched positions. Robert’s powerful left leg blurred as it smashed into the door. The hammer in the door broke through the drywall in a sudden crack smashing into the far wall. Green Arrow and Robert dodged to the outsides of the door as gun shots streamed through the now opened portal.

Green Arrow leaned in aiming as he let loose an arrow. The arrow found its mark imbedding into a gunner’s shoulder. Quickly sliding free another arrow as he dove inside, Robert came forward letting loose an arrow of his own, and with the accuracy of a master caught the shoulder of another gunner before following Green Arrow’s lead. The room continued to be showered with bullets as Green Arrow found a cover from behind a Bobcat. The lack of seeing Robert worried him, but he continued rising to fire another arrow. The arrow clipped the hand of a gunner, the gun dropping, hard on the floor. Lobbing another arrow with lightning fast accuracy he pulled another arrow from his quiver, notched, and fired the arrow at yet another gunner. As the men began to retaliate Connor went back low. The sudden sounds of three more bodies falling hard on the floor caused Connor to look up to see Robert near the edge of some crates in a running slant pulling arrows in rapid succession.

Connor took Robert’s advice and notched another arrow. Breaking into a mad dash towards the remaining gun men, Connor let another arrow fly. The shaft hit a gun with a thud. His body took not a moment to free another arrow from the quiver and fired at one of the crates hanging in the rafters. Leaping at the wall his feet landed using the tips of his toes for support for bounding again—hand reaching out for the arrow he’d placed. His body slipped against the boxes as he hung there a moment. The two gunners still standing began firing at Green Arrow.

The moment of diversion was easily seen by Robert who came in quickly an open hand connected with the jaw of one gunner, his neck springing of its own violation. The last gunner only had a brief moment of watching before his face was slammed hard by a bow. Connor let go of the arrow—landing on his haunches. Robert had already grabbed one of the fallen gunners by the throat. The impact of a back crashing into a concrete wall got Connor’s attention. Robert growled his eyes staring at gunner. < I’m sure you know why we’re here. >

The gunner’s eyes went wide as he looked into the green eyes of the masked man. He nodded… < But you are too late, to help, now, Son of Shado. >

< Where is my mother! > Robert raised his voice his hand squeezing harder on the gunner’s throat.

< Huang Shizu’s Restaurant. > The gunner managed to get out, before Robert’s hand came forward, the gunner’s skull thudding against the wall.

“I don’t mean to complain, but that seemed too easy,” Green Arrow mentioned, standing erect as he slid a green colored shaft back into quiver.

“Of course, we were meant to come here to get the information,” Robert told him. “Everything up until now has been us following the Yakuza’s crumbs to my mother.”

“You mean Habachi, is working for the Yakuza?” Connor asked looking at the men unconscious on the warehouse floor, many bleeding from the two archers’ wounds. Connor shook his head, looking at the carnage. A moment of reflection, realizing what they had caused, in the midst of all this blood shed and fighting he wondered truly how he could be a pacifist at all.

“You’re naïve, Connor,” Robert said as he looped his bow over his shoulder. “You don’t look at the full picture.”

“What; he didn’t seem like a bad guy.”

“Everything isn’t so black and white Connor. You’re stuck in two dimensions; you need to get your head out of the sand.”

“I never said everything was black and white. It’s just in my life, there never happens to be many shades of gray.”

“Which is exactly my point. Granted look at your life, you went from living sheltered in a monastery to being a superhero and fighting villains. And you don’t do more than that. Every moment you’re questioning your state of mind, through your religion, or you’re fighting super-villains.”

“What are you saying Robert?”

“Nothing Connor, just forget it. We should get going.”
 

Huang Shizu’s Restaurant
Narita City, Japan

The night life of Narita City gets intense, in many areas of the large city. Night clubs and pubs, along with many restaurants that all cater to the visitors of Japan, as it does boast the largest international airports in all of Japan. International sight seers, mingle with the natives of this country, and the showcase of what Japan has to offer. But that is only along the main roads away from the airport. Further into the city, things tend to settle down some. It is here in the east side of the city where the rich and wealthy come to get away from the tourism, and where they can enjoy great food, and all that money can offer them. Huang Shizu’s restaurant is in this area of the city. Put in place amongst towering office buildings and five star hotels. Tonight Huang Shizu’s restaurant was even more unnaturally quiet.

Upon the request of the Minister of Justice, Komura Masahiko, the restaurant was reserved for him and his guests, along with a heightened security measure. With the two ministers assassinated the Japanese government was putting out all the stops. The assassin in question had worked with the Japanese government when she stepped forward, and resigned her placement with the Yakuza; Shado was a vital part of many government operations. The Military studied her movements, knew her, what she was capable of. This knowledge only encouraged the reclamation that she was indeed a threat. They were on the look out for this assassin. They were told to protect Komura by any means necessary.

Four security guards stood outside the restaurant. Huang Shizu’s restaurant seemed to be a modest design from outside looking in. A triangular shaped structure with beige paint, and basil colored wooden shutters. The roof was designed in a Chinese method, with long bronze colored shingles layered over the slanting top. As night came along the street front location, it all blended in nicely. If you didn’t look close enough you’d miss it completely. The four guards held thick black guns across their shoulders. The uniforms were the strict green color of the military. The four guards watched with vigil eyes expecting the worst.

A single arrow suddenly whisked through the air. The guard heard the high pitched sound only to turn to catch the arrow head sliding through his helmet. The metal head of the arrow slid through the bone in a crunch. The guard dropped to his knees the blood streaming in spider webs down his face. The others did not notice it at first, their guard duty always taking precedence. That was until they saw the fourth limply lying against the wall with an arrow shaft sticking out of his forehead. The three men looked around frantically wondering where the attack had come from. The guards didn’t have much time to think about it though as three arrows were consecutively shot, each one landing in the same mark as the first. From the shadows the Kyudo assassin smiled, watching the three guards sliding down the wall, painting the beige building with smears of red.

Shado was on the rooftop of the Honda Tsu building, which was only a few feet higher than the restaurant. She had a good arc and a good cover. The wind whipped hard over her face as she stood perched on the ledge of the building. The hood she wore was slid over her face shadows masking most of her natural beauty—all save the tip of her chin, and painted red lips that smiled grimly. Tonight she would see her son and the son of the man she loved; she would see the two sons of Oliver Queen. She was unsure how she felt about it. If she worked fast enough perhaps she’d not have to deal with it--At least not yet. The two Yakuza men with her were dressed in black and white tuxedos. The sunglasses they wore seemed to gleam in the pure light. Both men didn’t smile didn’t make a sound they just watched. The two men were the Iekuro twins, next to Shado; they were the next in line as the most lethal illegal fighting force. Shado pulled an arrow from her quiver. This particular arrow had a long rope attached to her belt. The female assassin took only a moment to aim at the restaurant before firing the arrow. The bowstring resonated like an e chord being plucked. Shado waited for the rope to be secured before her body leaped off the edge of the building and disappeared into the deep dark night.

The two brothers looked at one another each one mirroring the others stone expression. <I suppose we have diversionary.>

<Let her handle the main kill.>

<Agreed> the two brothers shook their jackets as they began to walk towards the edge of the roof as well.

< Stop here > Robert Tomanga’s voice suddenly called out from the back seat of the cab. Green Arrow sat on the leather seats unmoving as his eyes gradually turned to the springing motion of his brother. Robert’s elbows dug into his knees as he brought his head towards the front of the cab. His face was almost covered in black silk, only his eyes seemed to break the shadows.

The Cab driver’s head craned towards the young men with the strange dress as the car pulled to the side of the curb. < I thought you two were going to a Return of the King showing. This is the east district. > The Cab Driver mentioned, still unsure what to make of his two customers. It was evident he didn’t keep up with American culture, like much of the younger generation.

< Look, does it really matter where we are going? > Connor asked as he pushed open the door to the cab stepping out onto the tar black street.

< Guess not, but… > The Cab driver turned to face the opposing side of the street, where Huang Shitzo’s restaurant was marked with four thick smears of blood, and lifeless bodies scattered across the walk. “Nani ka! Sumimasen!” Even before Robert got both feet out of the car, the cab driver pushed the boy out hard, his body falling face first into the concrete. The Taxi Cab took off with screaming wheels.

“Mother must already be here.” Robert said to Green Arrow, as he picked himself off the ground. The waxy perspiration caused a wave of heat to glint over the Kyudo archer’s neck. Hands swiftly brushed rock from silk as his face turned from Connor’s and towards the building where the four lifeless security guards sat limply with arrows wedged in their foreheads.

“What makes you say that?” Green Arrow asked an inkling of sarcasm scraping over his voice. Robert gave him a look of pure ice, as he turned his back towards the quiet street and began to pull his bow free from his shoulder. Green Arrow’s eyes narrowed through the slits of the slender green bandana that was tied across his eyes. Robert marched coolly across the street. The anger of what Connor had said had possibly gotten too much to bear. Connor watched him walking silent like a wraith.

Connor had actually been surprised at how well Robert had been taking his mother’s fall from grace. If it had been him he’d not have been quite as easy to kid. Connor always found it hard to hide his emotions. Even as a training Monk, suppressing how he felt was by far the hardest for him to do. The mantra “Life is Suffering” was one he understood much better with his lessons. Being Green Arrow made him open to a lot more emotions. Compassion for his fellow man—something he’d forgotten had been regained the moment he emerged from the Ashram with Ollie, and Eddie.

Robert came to a stop at the door leading towards the restaurant. As he heard a gun shot within the restaurant. The sound caused Robert’s heart to jump in his chest. Robert’s mind instantly went to his mother. It was not an answer based on any denotes of real fact. On the contrary one would more assume that the gun shot was one made by his mother… or her friends. Robert brought a foot down on one of the limp guard’s cold blood splattered in a pool as the body fell forward, with the sound of a shattering nose and popping joints.

Green Arrow wanted to react. Wanted to move wanted to do something, to prevent his brother… or the closest thing to a sibling he had, not to open the door. But he heard the words of wisdom in his ears. Master Jensen simply stated as his conscious “let him… let him know.” Green Arrow nodded and began to run forward. To support him, yet Connor was convinced that Shado would be the death of Robert. He could understand Robert’s position though. If only in the realization of his own failures with his mother, a mother that was in the selective grasp of Milo Armitage.

Robert’s hand slid over the knob of the door. The cold brace handle facing on the right side of the door. Robert could smell the perfume of his perspiration and sweat against the mask he wore that caught like a diamond across his mouth and nose. With more strength than he knew he had he pushed the door open again and dodged to the side as two hand guns pumped bullets through the doorway. Connor who had been running across the street had to duck to the side himself. Slipping his mahogany bow from his shoulder he lunged downwards ducking his head as his shoulders hit the dirt in a roll.

Robert could see the bullets streaming across the street front. He could sense the anger behind them. He couldn’t waste time worrying about Connor. Not this time… this time he was going to find his mother… Connor could worry about himself. The archer dressed in a traditional ninja fashion leaped up on to the wall rebounding off of it, in quick steps. His body came forward as his hand hooked around the window sill. His fingers caught the window as he pulled himself up to the tall window. It was as he hesitated on his climbing that a bullet shattered the window.

Robert brought his left leg outwards his body plastering against the wall as the shards of glass barely missed his body. That was save for one piece that cut his cheek. A slender smear of blood ran down his face. Robert growled feeling the burning feeling embossed on his face. He plunged through the now broken window, bringing an arrow free from his quiver.

Connor‘s motions took a different approach to entrance. The dual dance of the bullets slowed to just one. A single constant arc of a semi automatic weapon—a blitz of two seemingly bisecting angles was hard to get a cross hair on, but one weapon was indeed more realistic. His will was stronger when people were in danger. His own risk taking was much more erratic when he knew that if he didn’t act someone else would. Connor bit back a smile as he realized that Robert must have been spotted. Leaping off the hood of a parked car, The Green Arrow’s body twisted narrowly missing the constant pumping of bullets, the arrow was notched in his fingers already all he had to do was aim and…

Let go.

A green arrow soared into the restaurant. Robert let his own arrow go. For a brief moment of time everything else seemed to stop for all four combatants. Time slowed down as an ebony arrow crossed the path of an emerald one. Two arrows with unique targets.

The arrows hit their marks. There was not much either of the Iekuro twins could do about it they could not dodge the slender objects. A green arrow slid into the arm of one brother, a crimson mist flicking to the floor as the gunman weaned. The Ebony arrow took a more lethal approach as its arrow head dug deep into the elbow joint of the opposing brother. The two men let out yelps as they took a step back.

Green Arrow had just entered the restaurant. His eyes watched as the forms of the Iekuro twins turned to one another. He didn’t make a move. Nor did Robert (who actually stayed on his haunches), as the twins both brought up arms now covered in blood. The brothers simply smiled as they brought up their palms, and forced them against the other.

Goose pricks rose on Connor’s mocha colored neck as he watched an impossible event take place. The twin’s blood began to flow more violently down their arms. Red streams of vitae pouring along textured limbs. The skin began to peel back all feeding into the connection the two brothers had made. Connor felt sick as he watched the skin being torn from bodies exposing muscles...organs. As the bones began to rattle from the twin’s once dual forms… Connor realized what was happening.

Of course now it was too late.

The final process of the fusion vibrated amongst the twins as the connection between them had now all but consumed them in a twisted vision of horror. < This is the power of the twins of the Kien > the beast said as it turned its head towards Green Arrow. Its face looked more like a rough rectangle with for pairs of eyes dotting along the cheeks. Two noses lined the center, but only one mouth, yet as it talked it did manage to gather all the teeth. < We are the Blood Brother… and you two should have left well enough alone. >

The large fist came arched at Connor. The tone of the skin was closer to purple, which Connor didn’t really think about as he leaped to avoid the eight fingered fist. His body went down low as he dodged to the side. < You should know enough about family to realize that is impossible. > Connor mentioned as he rose back up.

Blood Brother’s body wrenched as his torso waved in a sick sliding of ribs. The fist arched back around towards the Green Arrow. He quickly brought up his bow using speed and balance to try to knock away the deadly fist.

Connor miscalculated the beast’s skill. The bow snapped on impact, as Green Arrow’s body was pushed away brutally. Connor could do little to control his fall as his back snapped through a table. He felt the pain send heat through his body, even before he hit the ground… followed by the pieces of his bow.

Robert finally got up from his haunches, the creature turning around in the same rolling sick crunches of too many bones grating against each other. The look of the beast was something of unconcern, as Blood Brother launched at Robert. The Beast was unnaturally fast for something of its size and make-shift appearance.

Robert gulped as he managed to leap over the large hands. Landing to the creature’s left the son of Shado plucked an arrow from his quiver and notched it quickly. The creature turned around as Robert let the arrow fly from the bow string.

The arrow took to the air but not for very long as the creature’s unnatural speed let a hand shoot up catching the arrow between his eight fingers. The arrow snapped in a satisfying crunch.

< This does not look good. > Robert said for no one’s ears but his own.
 

NEXT ISSUE: Green Arrow and Robert go in the defensive against, the Blood brother and Shado. Eddie Flyers and Master Jensen makes an appearance. And the battle moves locations as the life of the last two cabinet members hang in the balance. Be here for the fourth part of ‘Of Bow and Horse’

Story © 2004 Jae Lizhini and may not be reproduced without permission.