Volume 2. Chapter 1. The Beginning

With the birth of his son, Manhiro rethought the activities of the clan, he was no longer going to do anything illegal, his main task was a safe and happy family life. This news did not cause any negative emotions among the clan members, on the contrary, many were happy about this change, especially Han and San, they were happy for their head and his beautiful wife. Khan swore by his life that, no matter what, he would protect Canoe, teach him everything he could, and serve him faithfully. San also vowed his life to serve Canoe and help in the future in the role of his uncle. Although Manhiro persuaded Khan to take a vacation and try to arrange his own life, and only later help the Tsushima family, Khan refused, saying that he could no longer imagine his life any other way, San gladly agreed to this offer. It turned out that San had a lover who gave birth to his daughter at the same time as Yui.

"Why didn't you tell us about this before?" Manhiro was surprised. 

- I'm sorry, Chief, I didn't want to bother you for nothing. San replied with a bow.

"What a fool! Manhiro said in his native way as he lightly slapped San on the back. – We are one family, so such an event would not bother me in any way, but on the contrary, it would cheer me up. I'm really happy for you, San!

Khan, as well as Manhiro, was surprised by San's revelation, but decided not to comment in any way, but simply congratulated him on joining the family. After talking among themselves, the old friends once again congratulated San on the birth of their daughter, who was named Marie, and also advised not to delay the wedding and immediately make preparations. San listened to the advice and a month later he married his beloved Amy, who, as it turned out, was an old acquaintance of Yui. The ceremony was as lavish as that of Yui and Manhiro, there were many guests, various and very useful gifts, among which stood out a joint gift from Khan and the Tsushima family – a luxurious house, not far from the house of Manhiro and Yui. After the Scarlet Sakura clan officially ceased to belong to a criminal gang, it was turned into an organization providing private security, and the savings accumulated earlier were decided to invest in the business, distributing the roles in approximately the same way as before. The Scarlet Sakura company, headed by Manhiro Tsushima, was replaced by Khan Chusi and San Shui, ordinary soldiers did most of the work, and continued to serve the Tsushima family, for which they began to receive a very good salary, but sometimes they still had to get into difficult and dangerous cases, because their authority at the time it spread all over the country. Many clans followed the example of the "Scarlet Sakura" and stopped criminal activities, engaging in business, trade between countries and other legitimate matters. Unfortunately, the Samurai clan did not do this, they only changed their name to Shirashi and went into the shadows. Manhiro decided not to betray this importance, but to do more important work, to be a wonderful father and husband.

Until the age of three, little Canoe was a very moody child, with brown eyes always shining with curiosity. Yui doted on her son and spent all her free time with him. Manhiro watched them and rejoiced. San's family often came to visit so that Mari and Canoe could easily become friends, which is exactly what happened. Manhiro, San, and Han often discussed the future of the company, while Amy and Yui imagined the future of their children as newlyweds. As San and Mahiro used to say, "Oh, these women." 

- But it's really a good idea. Khan was saying thoughtfully.

- Just don't connect to them! San and Manhiro answered him in unison.

After such dialogues, they laughed together, and then went to the billiard room, which Manhiro decided to build next to the house. 

On Canoe's sixth birthday, Manhiro gave him a katana, and Canoe began to look at it with curiosity and great interest, but due to his son's age, Manhiro decided to hang it on the wall in his office. "Maybe Canoe will decide to learn how to use it one day..." he said to himself, Khan supported this idea and said that when Canoe grows up, he will definitely teach him how to handle a katana. Yui bought her son a lot of textbooks and various useful encyclopedias so that in the future he would become an intelligent and erudite person. "I want Canoe to study hard, just like me," Yui said, looking tenderly at Manhiro, to which her husband agreed, "But then Canoe will also be trained in all martial arts, and Han will also do his physical training," he added, to which Yui agreed. Amy and San gave Canoe a lot of different toys and all kinds of things, and Mari gave Canoe a bracelet woven with her own hands and a kiss on the cheek with the words - "When we grow up, I will become your wife!", Canoe waved away these words, answering her – "You are like my sister, I cannot marry you". Marie would start pouting after that and stare menacingly at the Canoe. Mari and Canoe became best friends since childhood, and Hirata Shirou joined them in kindergarten, after which they began to be called the indivisible trinity. 

And so the time went by, the children played, had fun, were friends, and also grew up together. Hirata is a red–haired, brown-eyed and very kind boy. He, like Marie, became a frequent and welcome guest at the Tsushima family home. Manhiro and Yui were very happy that their son was growing up strong, smart, healthy, and most importantly, happy. Yui studied with him, Han taught him martial arts, katana skills and physical training, and Manhiro taught his son how to run a business, manage personnel and prepare him for the role of a leader. All the fighters who worked for Manhiro called Canoe "Young Mr. Canoe," while they decided to address Manhiro simply as "Mr. Manhiro." This was due to how much the Tsushima family did for them. 

It's been so quiet and peaceful for 9 years. Canoe grew up, his hair became even darker, he was taller than mom and almost caught up with dad. Marie's hair became lighter, as a child it was a little darker, her eyes became more expressive, but just as dark brown, she took after her mother, so she was chin-high in a canoe. Hirata was a little taller than Mari, but he was up to his nose for a Canoe. In elementary school, all three were in the same class, but towards the end of middle school, Mari got into the second parallel, while Canoe and Hirata remained in the first. 

Six months before Canoe's sixteenth birthday, Yui Tsushima contracted cancer. Before she died, she asked her son to devote all his attention to his studies so that he could become a very intelligent and educated person. Canoe obeyed his mom, and Manhiro and Han respected Yui's request, so they also started helping him with his studies. A month later, Yui Tsushima died. Canoe couldn't come to his senses for a long time, the same pain was felt by Manhiro, Han, Amy and San. The loss of a loved one always causes great suffering. Mari and Hirata strongly supported Canoe, while Han, Amy, and San supported Manhiro. Thanks to the help of friends, the father and son were able to calm down a little, pull themselves together and start moving on a little. Around the same time, the Shirashi clan returned from the shadows, which could not but cause alarm, which Manhiro suppressed by telling his subordinates, "We are no longer connected with them or any other criminal gangs. Now we're helping people, not seizing power." With that, they decided not to pay any more attention to the Shirashi clan. 

On his sixteenth birthday, Canoe asked his father for a bike as a gift, to which his father agreed, because by that time Canoe was able to successfully pass the exam and get permission to drive a motorcycle. Han and San presented the Canoe with equipment, textbooks, and money. Hirata and Mari decorated the festive table, presented Canoe with perfumes and several video games, and Amy baked a cake and presented Canoe with a black shirt, trousers, shoes, a red tie and a jacket with the words: "Your mother, when you were little, was sure that this outfit would suit you." "Thank you, Aunt Amy," Canoe replied with a smile before changing his clothes.

So the Canoe turned sixteen years old.