The towering mountain composed of two men let out a growl through gnarled lips, great eyes looking down at Robert Tomanaga. The form of the being who called itself Blood Brother was a repulsive sight to behold. The form was roughly seven feet tall. Dark red and purple lesions trickled over the thick muscled body. The head was fused with two sets of eyes and lips that stretched from fractured cheek bone to fractured cheekbone. The shoulders were large and misshapen and two sets of arms fused on top of one another back to front. The entire body a chimera of two bodies, brothers into one rough and very incomplete whole.

A mammoth arm swung through the unforgiving backdrop of Huang’s Restaurant, the dark browns of the walls and crimson carpeting made the restaurant look almost invisible to the common occupant. Yet the layout was the only thing on Robert’s mind as he leaped backwards from the raging fist. Blood Brother was fast expertly so, quick enough to fool the senses into questioning how such a large being could move at such speeds. Robert had made that mistake once. So had Green Arrow and at this moment, Robert wasn’t sure if it cost him his life.

A few hours ago, Robert and Green Arrow had gotten a lead from a general who had set them up with a place to stay. The General gave them a lead in the form of a warehouse that was getting a delivery… a warehouse that was one of many operated by the Yakuza. It was there that one of the workers leaked out that the next hit was to take place at this very restaurant. A hit being conducted by Robert’s mother… Shado.

Things got a little hazy after that, Huang’s restaurant was the place of the hit, and they had to spring forward in order to save the man’s life. They had to act fast. Bullets started firing from the two men as the remaining members of the Minister of Justice’s security team had moved him behind a table for cover as Robert and Green Arrow had entered the restaurant. The two gunners from that point some how fused themselves together and managed to shatter Connor’s bow and make short work of the Green Arrow.

Now it was Robert’s last stand. If he didn’t manage to take out this creature, and find out where his mother was, well the Minister’s life would be forfeit. He couldn’t let his mother continue to kill. She was out of her mind… if it was in fact his mother at all. At this point Robert was out of ideas.

Robert’s feet clapped onto the table counter of the bar. His legs curving down into a haunch as he withdrew an arrow and notched it into the bow string. Blood Brother lunged forward to the bar table. Robert didn’t aim too fluidly. He just pulled the string and shot. The arrow cut into the chest of Blood Brother, a jet of blood raining over the malformed body. Robert leapt off the table his body twisting in the air as his foot spun about cracking the creature in the jaw. A crack of bone snapped as Blood Brother fell back smashing into some gathered tables.

Knowing he had but moments before the creature righted himself, Robert ran across the floor of the diner to spot where Green Arrow still laid seemingly unconscious… It was best to think positive at this point. Robert slid to a stop as he pushed himself against the far wall. The wall was opposing, where he had just laid Blood Brother down. His eyes from inside this small cut out in the restaurant, were focused on the crumpled form of Green Arrow, who’s costume had been ripped, his skin flushed in a deep purple, even noticeable on Green Arrow’s mocha-colored flesh. Robert let a hand slide over the contours of his brother’s flesh as he sighed. “I hated you… hated Ollie… don’t you be dead.” Robert whispered.

Green Arrow’s eyes lifted up from the downs of unconsciousness, his head lolling about. “You hated me?” Connor asked in a whisper unconsciousness still lingering on in his clouded brain.

“You are an ass.” Robert smiled as he looked towards the lobby where Blood Brother had finally stood up from the broken timber of the tables he’d been slammed into. The barest of scraps of clothing that still clung to Blood Brother’s body seemed to have been ripped apart from the body. The painfully colored skin now fully exposed. Robert watched the creature for a moment before his eyes returned to Green Arrow who was now pulling himself up. “So you hurt?”

“Well nothing I can’t…” Green Arrow’s voice cut as a single arrow shattered a window to the left of where Blood Brother was standing. The arrow swam past the towering beast and managed to strike where the Minister of justice had been hiding. Green Arrow’s lazy skull shot up and his eyes narrowed as the arrow disappeared to where he could see. A sudden yelp echoed through the restaurant... “Forget it… I am fine enough to do what needs to be done.” Green Arrow stated.

Robert’s head flashed out past Connor again eyeing the beast who was now coming towards them. “We should find out if the Minister is dead,” Robert retorted still in deep thought. His mind trying to build a plan detailing what was known.

“No, Robert I’ll protect the life of the Minister, that’s my gig. You deal with your mother.”

“Look Connor, I’ll find my mother, but I don’t need your life on my hands.”

“With life comes sacrifice. With death comes immortality.” Green Arrow recited, as though he was once again at the Ashram reciting proverb for Master Jensen. The Emerald Monk righted himself as he pulled an arrow out of his quiver and slid it between his fingers. “Go now. Your mother is more important than a politician.” Green Arrow could feel two broken ribs sliding across his abdomen pressing against his flesh as he lunged out in the main lobby.

“Garrerrown!” The creature called out as its robust skull turned to the Archer. Green Arrow brought his free hand forward curling his fingers down his forearm raised across his sight.

< I’m sorry, this ends now. > Connor’s eyes in determination. His mind focused on battling the anger that was welling due to the pain he was in, as well as what had happened this far. He focused on form, and on defense. His mind rambling on proverbs of wisdom that he hoped would curb his hate.

Blood Brother simply smiled. The arrow was still in the creature’s chest; it simply must not have noted it being there. Its strange anatomy made most forms of soft Martial Arts almost useless at this moment. Connor did not want to inflict damage to the creature. Aggressive combat was not his way. He was a pacifist after all; he knew he could get it back. He had to, he had no choice. Blood Brother lunged at him.

Green Arrow found it easy to twist his body taking a step to the left, as the creature swung. His small form swiftly turned to the creature’s side. The Monk took not a moment to flip the arrow across his forearm. As Blood Brother followed through his swing Green Arrow brought the arrow shaft hard into the small of the creatures back. Blood Brother stumbled; earth-shaking stomps trying to regain balance.

Flipping a few steps back with the control of his body that most would have trademarked to the Batman, the archer landed, the fused Chimera turning his body around hard his foot falls still stomping at the ground using the same heavy-footed balance in his perpetual motion… due mostly to his tremendous size. Green Arrow flipped forward into what appeared to be nothing more than a cart wheel. His feet came forward both heels impacting the chin of the creature.

Blood Brother, bit his tongue as he fell back losing his balance almost completely. His body hit the wall hard, denting into the plaster, chunks of debris raining down on the crimson-colored carpet. Green Arrow landed on his feet slapping the floor, standing a few movements away from the body that was inside the hollow of the wall. Green eyes watched him, intensely.

The Creature finally shook its head as it moved its body upwards. Tumbles of dry wall and cement dropping from the hole, as he began to move his body from the cave in his body had created. Green Arrow brought his hands back up in a defensive position, the arrow still lining his forearm. As the creature righted itself the monk took a few steps backwards. Cuts and gashes had riddled the creatures face puddles of blood streaming down the robust flesh. “Garrreown!” It called out still trying to say both parts of the heroes name in one word, as though two voices syncing up in a shared mind.

The large fist tore through the air, without warning or hesitation. The monk stepped to follow the momentum the arm with the arrow catching it and letting the momentum of the strike push him, as to go with the force to avoid too much damage. The arrow shattered on impact. Green Arrow’s body flying like a rag doll into the nearest wall. No chance to dodge it, he let his back impact the wall.

He registered the snap as his rigid body slipped down the wall. His body burned with the pain both of his broken ribs and now his heavily bruised back. Loud foot falls thundered near him, as he felt his head wavering on unconsciousness once again. Blood Brother drew back and let his fist launch at the head of the fallen hero. Green Arrow quickly moved his head as the fist impacted the wall. Without much hesitation the archer brought his hands across the large arm and sprung his squatted body across it. His feet arched upwards colliding with the creatures head… Blood Brother jarring back his skull on impact, stumbling back tables screaming apart as he stumbled blindly.

Green Arrow took the opportunity as he held his tongue tightly in his teeth. The boy of 19 could feel the anger in his heart. His actions being readied due to his pain less to do with much else. Flinging himself towards the stumbling juggernaut he pulled two arrows from the quiver on his back. To shafts sliding into the archer’s hands as his knees caught the chest of the meta-human. The force of his knees firmly pressed Blood Brother to the wall. As the Chimera spiraled his hands up to brace himself for impact, the once pacifist brought the arrows upwards the heads of the arrows impaling the gnarled palms of the creature.

Kicking himself from the body of the creature Green Arrow landed hard. His green naďve eyes looked up to the creature whose hands were fastened to the wall stapled with two arrows. The blood pooled down the ten fingers of Blood Brother, constant flood of crimson saturating the carpet. Twin tears splashed down the boys cheeks. “Pain is the only suffering we know,” he recited…

	The Emerald Archer... OF BOW AND HORSE, Part 4: "Meaningless Mantras"
Green Arrow #4 - January, Year 2	by Jae Lizhini

Robert’s thoughts were not of his mother as he pushed himself out onto yet another roof along the cityscape of Nagita City. The night air was deep and black, small dim stars dotted the landscape and large clouds of gray looped about the expanse. The tough flat bottomed sandals eased across the shingles of the restaurant as Robert’s eyes looked about the night sky. It appeared to be quiet, almost deafened so. From the edge of a building in the distance he could make out a shape hopping from rooftop to rooftop. Robert pulled his bow to his chest and leaped the gap. Thoughts of Connor evaporated from his mind for the merest of moments.

His body lunged into a sprint as he landed his footfalls darting across the gravel covered roof finding the edge he hopped again. Billows of breath heaving out his lungs as he continued across the rooftops desperately trying to keep up, and find who had framed his mother… it couldn’t be her could it? As he neared the form who to was running gracefully ahead he watched the cloak sway behind the feminine walker. The moments the grace, it was undeniably his mother. ^MOTHER!^ He called out his throat raspy taking in breaths. Robert leaped again.

Shado heard the voice, even in her state she recognized the voice coming from over her shoulder. The assassin brought her hand down plucking an arrow from her quiver. She turned and fired it at the running archer who too had his bow out in the ready.

Robert’s stride came slower as he stepped to the side with stealth precision, narrowly availing the tip of the arrow. ^You do not want to find me this night, Robert.^ Shado called back turning her body she started running across the buildings again.

^The hell I don’t. What’s going on?^ Robert called out desperately, leaping onto the next rooftop.

^If you get in my way, I am to kill you. Please do not make me ask you again.^ Shado turned coming to a stop as she plucked another arrow from her quiver. She drew it back on the string sliding it between two of her fingers. Robert leapt again at the next divide. The arrow shot through the air clipping his hand as he rolled falling onto the roof where his mother stood. Shado brought another arrow to her bow string looking down at her son. Her only son.

Robert looked up at his mother’s perfect face…with silk like hair drawing across her cheek. The slender almond eyes staying steady on his face the arrow trained at him. ^This is not how you wish to die, Robert. You are a failure to me. My own son blindly listening to his heart, instead of his head.^

Robert brought his free hand around as his legs slid hard into a sweep crashing into his mother’s. Shado fell backwards she brought a hand out to spring off of landing a few steps ahead of Robert. The Son of Shado drew himself up plucking an arrow from his quiver. ^I don’t plan on dying. Just to make things right.^ Robert almost pleaded.

^So you’re going to kill me? Do you honestly want me to believe that?^ Shado snapped drawing an arrow of her own.

^I’d not expect you too.^ Robert said to her as he brought his left foot upwards. Shado’s hand with the arrow lashed out batting the foot down and taking a step closer. Shado bought her bow down towards her son. Robert’s own bow came up to block it, his foot sweeping at her legs. Shado’s quick legs stepped around his sweep, her elbow connecting his face.

Robert let out a grunt as blood passed through his lips. His body hunched over as he wiped at the blood. ^What’s all this? You’re holding back. Connor’s ways getting the best of you?^ Shado said to him.

^This is not about CONNOR! Or about Ollie!^ Robert lashed out bringing his bow hard into the air once again. Shado turned bringing her bow up to meet it. The weapons clashed. Shado pushed forwards bringing a knee up to his stomach. Robert fell hard onto the concrete rolling across the roof.

^I will not hesitate to end you.^ Shado spat.

Robert pulled himself up as Shado, who turned to view him. Robert took a step towards her, his open fist launching at his mother. Shado turned easily from the punch, gripping his wrist. Her body pressed up against his as her elbow smashed into his face again. A crack of bone, blood spewed over his face.

Robert closed his eyes a moment clearing his vision as his mother turned, backing away before sending a quick round house to his neck. Robert fell hard on the concrete roof. His last sight was his mother running into the night air, before his eyes closed.

The Ashram
California, USA

The morning’s sun blazed hard over the monastery, bright beams of light dancing brutally across the widows checked over the front side of the building. The casual wind blew swiftly across the deep green grasses tickling the feet of Master Jensen as he walked through the front of the Ashram. Deep songs of Mantras and proverbs rung out in unison from the students as the door swung open. The dark red robes that the monk wore easily cradled across his form as he looked out towards the gate of the main gate to the complex. A simple smile crossed over his lips.

Jensen’s lithe neck turned slightly as he laid a hand on the man who stood just to his left. “It will be fine, Luke. It should only be a moment.” Jensen whispered into the waiting ear of the taller monk.

Luke’s pale face nodded silently to Jensen, orange robes shuffling as he nodded the burlap scratching over his well muscled skin. “Take your time Master, the whole monastery owes Connor much.”

“That we do.” Jensen nodded before making his way out of the door. The old monk bit his cheeks not to smile so broadly as his bare feet padded across the gravel walkway that snaked between the grasses that covered the area surrounding the monastery. His deep set eyes watched the man who was waiting by the gate. The dark trench coat he wore and lazy robust form gave the answer as to who was standing there, just as much as the letter the previous day had given the announcement.

“Mr. Flyers.” Jensen croaked out as he came to a stop at the gate. Great wooden pillars loomed over both sides. The gate too was mostly wood, the simple timber nailed into place. Ropes looping the gate and the pillars together, the workmanship was noticeable. The students and teachers alike had been rebuilding the Ashram since Green Arrow and Green Lantern had given them back their home*.

[*-Seen in Green Lantern 4-6]

“Jensen.” The man said as he turned towards the gate. His dark brunette hair had been combed over to the side, and he wore a large moustache that due to the trimming and style of it had been something of an obsession of his. Under the buttoned trench coat, the collar of a blue polo shirt poked out from the folds of the jacket. Jensen wondered how warm he must be under all that clothing.

“There was an item we needed to discuss Mr. Flyers?” Jensen questioned.

Flyer’s nodded, a strain of his gelled hair fell across his brow. “That we do, it’s a bit urgent, actually.”

“I see.” Jensen said to the ex-CIA Expeditor. His hands rose up and began to untie the knots of the gate to open the door to the outside world. Jensen noted he did like the new gate much more than the previous one. It took work to enter and leave; it was not a push of a latch. Just like in life to begin something or to end it, it was a struggle. It was not as simple as a small decision. Or it should not be. One of the lessons all Monks know, and know it well. “You haven’t seen him in a while have you?”

“No it’s been a while since I’ve laid eyes on the kid. Not since we had to make that emergency landing in Manchuria*.” Flyers admitted. “But it doesn’t mean that I’ll go back on my promise to Ollie.”

[*-as seen in Green Arrow #114 (Final Night tie-in)]

“I didn’t mean it as such,” Jensen stated as he drew the twines free from the gate. “He’s not been the same since he left you know.”

“Yeah, he’s going through a tough spot. Just like we all do. Suppose it’s a bit of a shock really, I mean he has a lot on his plate.” Flyers stepped out the way, as the large wooden gate swung open. The slender monk walked out from behind the gate, his hands sliding to his back as he looked up at the unwashed face of Eddie.

“Yes, and he has a lot more pressure.” The monk agreed.

“Well Ollie always seemed to enjoy all the super hero stuff. It consumed him, seemed to take over his life.”

“Yes Oliver did enjoy being a hero, but Connor isn’t him.” Jensen explained. “You spent a lot of time with him, which should be evident. I trust him to make sound decisions. But Connor must also battle his ways as a Buddhist.”

“Well don’t tell me like I don’t know anything,” Flyers responded letting a smile slide across his face. “I know what he’s going through. I mean I ain’t a Buddhist or anything, but I think most of us go through the same thing. I mean the good book says ‘Thou shall not kill’. I know how Connor is, he’s a good kid. He fights how he feels like he should.”

“You didn’t see him when he and his friend came here, Mr. Flyers,” Jensen mentioned as he nodded to the man and began walking from the gate. “He lost his center. It was like all the training was for nothing. It worries me, what must be going through his head right now.”

“Yeah, that is probably tough. And he did get thrown right in. Course he wouldn’t take no. There are a lot of people who need his help. But this… what he’s doing now. Well if he’s in the state you say he’s in, we best not waste too much time.”

“What do you mean?” Jensen questioned.

“He’s in Japan, and according to my sources, he’s in a fight with the Yakuza.”

Roof Tops
Narita City, Japan

Robert Tomanga wasn’t sure how long he was out for. His body ached, deeply bruised and he was cold. His eyes flicked open, blurred at first all he could see was the green mask of the blond man looking over him. “C-Connor?” Robert questioned finally the blurring fading.

Green Arrow looked at him a moment, the dry tears on his face felt weird as he smiled looking down at his brother. “I guess we’re one for one now.”

“So what happened back at the restaurant?” Robert questioned righting his body. Gravel from the rooftop sliding over his clothes.

“Well, Blood Brother is indisposed, and the Minister managed to be injured. He will be taken to an underground medical facility. The Japanese media has been told he is dead. Which will allow the Yakuza to continue to the next target.”

“The assassin is my mother,” Robert said finally.

“Well, then we got our work cut out for us…

“And I need a new bow.” Green Arrow grinned. His arm jetted out to Robert’s hand as he helped his brother out. “And according to what the internal security officer told me, the last two ministers are in Tokyo, and that we should resume our actions there.”

“So they were just happy to give you that information?”

“Well, not happy per say, but I am the Green Arrow.. There’s a bit of legend, between this country and the mantle.”

“Not to mention you saved the Minister’s life.”

“Yeah plus I saved the Minister’s life.” Green Arrow looped an arm around Robert’s shoulder and grunted as the two wounded archers tried to find a sense of balance and release between the two bodies.

“We both got royally fucked up.” Robert grinned as he brought a foot forward with Green Arrow’s.

“Part of the job,” Green Arrow commented, though he still thought of what he did to Blood Brother, he wasn’t sure how he could continue to be both a hero and a Buddhist. When he came on this mission with Robert, he thought it’d help. But at that moment, he was sure he was more lost than ever before.

Hidden Runway
Narita City, Japan

Chao was not used to waiting. Actually he hated it. He had got the news two hours earlier that the Minister of Justice had been killed. This plan of his was working, as he needed it to. Just two left for the plan of reinstalling the Yakuza’s own politicians into place. A simple smile felt warm as he leaned up against the wall of the small hanger

On the other hand he did hear other reports about the latest job Shado had taken. Reports that Green Arrow was on the scene had filed in. The hero supposedly had taken down Blood Brother, and the twins were now in police custody. The other report was hazier. The report of two ninja’s fighting on the rooftops over the city. Ninja’s with bows. That was more of what he worried about. It didn’t take any sort of imagination of indecisive reasoning to realize the truth. The two ninja’s being Shado and her son. Two footfalls clamped from overhead above the mobster, causing his head to tilt up from his position.

Shado sat silently perched atop the wooden rung that ringed around the hanger. The hanger was almost completely wooden constructed, and despite the pens being fitted with communication systems, computers and diagnostic components it still looked like what it had been before, a simple barn. The small building seemed to be crowded with just the one plane inside. But for its purposes it worked fine.

Shado’s weight shifted as she drew her head down rays of light sliding down her almost completely charcoal clothed body. Her hair spilled down over smooth cheeks, hands tightening on the railing as her eyes met those of Chao’s. ^You were sloppy,^ Chao said suddenly looking at the woman who he found undeniably attracted to. His form came erect and rigid as she gave back the same cold expression.

^I did not expect their actions,^ Shado said.

^They being Green Arrow and your son?^

^They did not get in my way. The lives of the two boys are not forfeit just yet,^ Shado told him.

^That is not how I heard the outcome.^ Chao snapped back at her, his eyes growing large, his lips pressed with anger. ^I heard that you and your son, fought on the rooftops, while Green Arrow took care of the Twins.^

^I did fight my son yes, but it was an after thought of completing my mission,^ Shado said.

^I see, well your mission had been completed. Next time you see them, either of them, they are to be eliminated. I am quite sure they are aware that the remaining two cabinet members are in Tokyo.^

Beyond the gate of the Ashram existed a field. The hills made the walking easy as the two sets of footfalls easily danced over the skirmish of billowing blades of grass. The grass was long and to those watching it looked more like a green river that the round of a hill. The two forms said nothing for sometime, as the monk led the sometimes Private Investigator to the small hill’s descent. It was not until the valley that, the monk finally turned his clean shaven head to the rugged PI. “I assume you have information beyond Connor’s mental problems right now?” Jensen worded, his slender eyes turning on Eddie Flyers.

“Yes, usually I’d assume that Connor can take care of himself. The kid has the balls of a field mouse. Or rather at one point he did,” Flyers mentioned

“Well he is still strong. Connor is just mixed up about the heroing aspect I’m sure. Mostly about how to find himself in his father’s legacy yet also being true to his beliefs.”

“You act as though you know what he’s going through.” Flyers turned to the monk his eyes going wide.

“Well I was never a super hero, Eddie. Spandex just isn’t my style.” Jensen let a smile slide across his face.

“You know that ain’t what I mean. Spill it. This sounds like something I might find mildly entertaining.”

“I was in the military.” Jensen said simply.

“Whoa… whoa… whoa you are ex-military as well? I knew I liked ya Jensen. Even aside from all that mumbo jumbo stuff there was something there, something… I could relate to.”

“Well every citizen of my country has to serve the military at eighteen years of age. And I had to learn how to deal with protecting my land and continue to exist in only protecting, and understand the truth of what that meant.”

“Well so you got combat training. I mean even aside from all that Karate and kung-fu stuff.”

“Yes, it is just part of life. As I’m sure you do know. So I do know what Connor is going through. It is a balance of mind and heart that each Buddhist must find in them. For Connor and me we had it really extend its head to us. But every monk has similar hurdles to cross.” Jensen lowered his head. “No one ever said being a monk or being a super hero is easy. But being both must really be hard.”

“I gotta say that’s the truth. Anyways, so here’s the thing.” Flyers let a hand slide up, fingers sliding across the slim moustache, which had been curling about his lip. “Well I don’t know how much you know about Ollie, but probably not a lot. Well he has another son, I mean other than Connor. He had this boy through Japan’s best bowman, a woman named Shado. Shado was an assassin, but Oliver beat her, mostly cause of Oliver’s charming nature. Man that guy had a thing for the women folk.*”

[[*-The Shado and Green Arrow stuff is in Mike Grell’s wonderful ‘Long Bow Hunters]

“So anyways, Shado began working with the Japanese Government to help them deal with the continued problems with organized crime. With her help over the last few years they had managed to begin to put a strong hold against them.” Eddie turned his head to run a finger over his moustache again. “They key component in this division of the government who had been dealing with the Yakuza was to get them separated from State. Shado was key in getting a lot of this information. Shado also was the one who informed Japanese information about the situation of the various Yakuza factions. This was why the government started targeting the weakest division. The idea was that if the Nagita city division went down others would as well. Of course no one expected what the head of the Nagita City Yakuza would pull next.”

Jensen thought about what the expeditor told him. Yet there was a lot of information. He only nodded, standing there amongst the rolling hills. The morning sky was coming up in a bright pink color, the chill raking over both of the men’s bodies. “What does this have to do with Connor?” Jensen said bluntly.

“Well Shado, for some reason or another has changed sides in this war on the streets of Japan once again,” Flyers stated. “She is once again on the side of the Yakuza. Working with them at the current estimate there are three maybe for cabinet members all killed by this woman. Shado’s son, Robert, has recruited Connor to help him make things right. This woman is impossible to be stopped by anyone but Green Arrow… the original one, Ollie.”

Jensen bowed his head. “So Connor and his brother are single handedly trying to stop Shado and the rest of the Yakuza?”

“There is more to it than that,” Flyers stated. “It’s not just the Yakuza against the government. And it’s not just Robert and Connor trying to stop Shado… it’s by far worse.” The PI’s head hung down. “If Robert and Connor don’t stop the Yakuza from killing the cabinet members then the Yakuza will be once again the controlling factor in the politics of Japan. And you as well as I know what that will lead to.”

Jensen’s face went slack. “Civil War.”

Sky Court Hotel
Narita City

Making it back to the hotel was the last thing on the mind of Green Arrow and his brother, Robert as they slid open the paper window covered door. The door slammed hard into the railing as Robert leaned against the wood paneled wall helping to pull Green Arrow into the room. Both boys felt the heat of pain throbbing against their warm bodies.

“That was a great job you pulled back there.” A voice spoke to them from across the room. General Habachi’s voice boomed over the room almost echoing into the ears of both the boys.

Robert’s head came up first as his hand let go of the spandex covered Green Arrow. Robert didn’t go for his bow, he didn’t even know if he had it. “Yes well it could have gone worse.”

“No it couldn’t have.” The General informed them. “The Minister of Justice is dead. You failed.”

“Isn’t that what you wanted?” Robert criticized looking at him, his eyes wide and full of anger.

“You are a bit more intelligent than I gave you credit for,” Habachi said his body rising from the floor, his feet bare. “But you both know to much. I suppose it’s fitting in a way.” Habachi let a smile slide over his lips as his hand darted down reaching for the handle of his gun that laid to his hip.

Robert’s reaction was faster though as his free hand slipped forward a shuriken funneling from the sleeve of his komo. The metal disc slipped between spreading fingers. And in the time it took Habachi’s fingers to graze the handle, the shuriken slipped through the air, and implanted itself into the shoulder of the general.

Habachi let out a yelp as his body pressed hard against the wall. A deep red sphere slowly growing over his military issued dress shirt. “You are a disgrace to Japan.” Robert spat as he walked towards the general, his sandals clogging across the floor. With a grunt Green Arrow’s hand darted to the shoulder of Robert’s. Finger’s curled about the biceps-

“Robert don’t, he’s not going anywhere. There’s been enough blood shed this day.”

“That’s true.” A voice called out from the doorway that was still open. Three men dressed in blue and red jackets walked into the room. The one who spoke, had very fluid English. Green Arrow couldn’t detect much of an accent at all, except the tinge of British variance. The police officer’s face was deeply tanned, a moustache slid across his face.

“We were given direct orders to find the two of you,” the officer continued.

Robert’s gaze turned at once to the police officers, a grimace of anger growing deeper across his deeply colored skin. He would attack them if he had to. But he held back. Robert’s green eyes found his brother’s the eyes under the cloth bandana, the eyes of Connor Hawke. “We can’t be held responsible for what has happened,” Robert said. “We are the only hope of having this crisis averted.”

“Which is exactly why we are to escort you to the Department of Defense, Tomanga-san. The government recognizes your heroic efforts, and after today. Your country needs your skills… and your brother’s.”

“This is starting to sound like a record in loop,” Green Arrow mentioned biting back the pain. “We are injured anyways. What can we possibly do at this point?” The Emerald monk let himself show an almost pessimistic approach.

“No Green Arrow, Habachi had been in the sights of the government for many weeks. My mother told me about that, plus they don’t look like much.” Robert grinned… “We can take ‘em even when we are coughing blood.”

“We will take General Habachi into custody. The Helicopter waiting for you has first aid supplies. When we reach Tokyo, the secretary will see to it that you get the best care before tomorrow night.”

“What is tomorrow night?” Green Arrow asked.

“The End Game,” the police officer told him.

Next Issue: Of Bow and Horse meets its conclusion, as Green Arrow and Robert rush off to Tokyo to try to prevent the death of the remaining two Cabinet members from death. And we learn exactly what Chao did to Shado, as well as the future of Robert and Connor’s family relationship. Be here for, “End Game”

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