"You can count on me. Don't worry." 

Childhood

Hanzou was born without ever meeting his father. He was raised by his mother- sometimes with his grannies as well, but mostly with his mother. He never thought that he had a dad, so his thoughts and opinions about birth were... questionable. Of course, his mother could never tell him the truth about birth, but she would when he got a bit more older.

Hanzou adored his mother. She was strong, super strong- she could protect herself just fine and he admired that so much- to the point that when he got older, he would be like her- a warrior. However, sometimes she would go a little too far... and Hanzou questioned if he liked that or not. He never thought about it until years later.

Teenhood

When his mother retired from her job, he didn't know what to do. She became... sad and tired when she left her job, for some reason. She would cry sometimes when her son wasn't arounnd, but he could hear her sobs from his room. Without understanding why, he cried too, hiding under his sheets.

A few years later, bearing with his depressed mother- she told him everything. She told him she had a husband, the father of his son. An admirable warrior that protected the city, strong and caring. Unfortunately, he passed away in the battlefield, leaving her 6th month wife alone. Of course she mourned him a lot, but she had to do something about this... and when Hanzou was born, she applied to be a warrior to 'avenge' his husband. That's why sometimes she would leave him with her parents.

Adulthood

Everything made sense then. His life made sense now, he understood. His mom just... couldn't keep fighting. She understood that it wasn't worth it, because- as much as she fought- his husband wouldn't come back. Hanzou comforted her as best as he could... and it was then when he decided to take her place. To continue what she couldn't finish.

But unfortunately... it didn't work out. They accepted him as a warrior of course, but... he couldn't kill anyone. He couldn't punch someone to death, but... what he was good at was protecting his allies. All of them came back from the battle- a few scratches here and there- but they were alive. And it was all thanks to Hanzou.

The captain however, as much as he admired Hanzou's dedication to put his life at the edge of death to protect somebody- being a warrior didn't suit him. He wasn't up for the job. He couldn't kill any enemies... not because he was a coward, but because... if he killed somebody- their family would suffer a loss... just like him. He cared too much. Even about the enemy. That's why the captain helped him get a spot at the bodyguard guild. That suited him better and... honestly, he was happy to be transfered to somewhere else- but afraid that this would make his mother even sadder.

Actually... she was quite proud of him. He broke the cycle- and she knew his husband would be proud of him as well. It was the first time that he cried, that day... but he would never, ever, talk about it.