Oliver watched as the passengers from the plane walked through the entrance to Denver International Airport. Then he saw Keniuchio. For the most part he looked similar to when Oliver had seen him, in Tokyo, only a couple of months ago. He didn't have the build one typically equates with a Japanese - he was tall with very broad shoulders. Oliver noticed that the difference seemed to be in Keniuchio's body language. Normally, he walked with a swagger and arrogance that was unparalleled. Today, though, that swagger wasn't there. It was replaced with a furrowed brow and worried scowl the likes of which Oliver had never seen on the man's face.

"Hello, Oliver," Keniuchio said as he bowed respectfully. "We need to go somewhere private and talk."

"At first I found Kathryn one of the most annoying people I ever met. She talked too much, refused to eat anything that came from living animals, and her passion for environmental causes bordered on fanaticism. Then, spending time with her, I discovered a different side. Behind her ‘quirks', she was a very passionate young woman, with strong convictions and serious willpower.

"We started dating. ‘Like father like son' I suppose, because, even without commitment, the relationship took a ‘physical turn'.

"Problems arose when Kathryn discovered my father's ‘business', and my own involvement. She didn't like our connections to the Yakuza or father's power as head of the Clan Yashida. I went to visit her one morning, and instead found only a letter. She said she couldn't handle that sort of life, and that she had decided to return to her home in America, and that she was sorry.

"To be honest, immersed in my work, I hadn't even thought about Kathryn for years until several days ago I received a call, originally intended for my father, from Kathryn's father, Hatsu Yakamoto. He informed me that someone had attacked Kathryn, and tried to abduct her son. OUR son."

Oliver could do nothing to hide his shock. He could see that Keniuchio had been equally surprised by such a revelation.

"I was as shocked as you are now, Oliver," continued Keniuchio. "Apparently Kathryn had been pregnant with our child when she had returned to America, and had intended on keeping my son away from the life I lead, so she kept him secret.

"Kathryn's father said that the attackers were Japanese, and that they appeared from nowhere. I used every resource I had, and discovered that someone had been doing a great deal of investigating into my life. So much so in fact, that apparently they discovered more than I even knew, the location of the son I never knew I even had. Now it seems, whomever found the information, has decided to use it against me, and abduct or harm my child."

Oliver was stunned. This was quite an amazing story, even for someone who had lived a life as amazing as Oliver had. He thought, if this wasn't happening, it would have made an excellent thriller novel.

Oliver had to ask, "Do you know who is after Kathryn and the child?"

Keniuchio frowned before he responded. "Actually, I fear, the culprit behind the incident is someone we are both very familiar with, Shinobi Shaw. He has been intensifying his play for head of the Tokyo Hellfire Club and he has more than proven he likes to go through family members to attack his enemies.*"

*(see Agents of SHIELD #6 & 7, where Shaw kidnapped Oliver's ex-wife)

Oliver could understand that, but still was confused about certain things. "So, Kathryn escaped her attackers? Where is she now then?"

Keniuchio responded, "Her father is a more than accomplished master of the martial arts, and she was quite adept herself. When they were attacked they were able to hold off the two assailants long enough for Kathryn and the child to escape in her car. Hatsu sustained serious injuries, and was hospitalized, and it was from his hospital bed that he called.

"He also said he has been unable to contact his daughter, but has a couple of ideas as to where she is hiding. That is where you come in, Oliver. I know little of this country, but I figured with your connections and knowledge you could aid me . . . "

Oliver nodded. "Of course Keniuchio. Let's go find your child . . . "

Keniuchio turned his attention from the beautiful scenery outside his passenger window back to Oliver. Keniuchio had been overjoyed to leave the urban sprawl of Denver for the lush forest, especially as Oliver had been occupied on his cellular telephone headset for nearly an hour.

"I have been feeding the information to Jessica*, who says hello and thank you, by the way. She has been on her computer, hacked into a variety of credit card data bases, looking for any recent charges on Kathryn's cards. She just found Kathryn's Visa was used four hours ago at a motel in Green Valley. Hopefully she is still there, and the attackers don't have the information."

*(Jessica Drew, a member of Birds of Prey Investigations)

"Please inform Ms. Drew that if her information saves Kathryn and her child, then her next trip to Tokyo will include a week at the penthouse in the Tokyo Hilton."

Oliver smiled. "She said it is a deal. Now get ready, because we should be in Green Valley in around fifteen minutes . . . "

Keniuchio had his door opened before the Pathfinder came to a complete stop, had his sword pulled from it's sheath, and was knocking upon the front door. This was the Keniuchio that Oliver knew, brash and prone to action before thought. Oliver hadn't even pulled himself from the Pathfinder when Keniuchio had used his mutant ability to charge his sword with energy, and melt away the doorknob and lock as though they were warm butter.

Oliver leapt out quickly and charged ahead to join Keniuchio at the motel room's entrance. Inside they saw Kathryn Yakamoto, standing in front of the room's bed. Oliver could see that under normal conditions, she was a very beautiful woman. Now she looked very ragged and tired. She had her sword drawn and was prepared to battle. Oliver noticed behind her, upon the bed, lay a baby car seat, with a gurgling, giggling child inside.

"Keniuchio?" said Kathryn, stunned. Both men could see the woman was purely exhausted, probably not sleeping for days to protect her child.

Keniuchio moved forward, pushing Kathryn's blade to the side, and embracing her tightly. Oliver noticed the woman pull him close, and saw the tears flow from her eyes. This was a strange scene for Oliver. He had known Keniuchio since he was a child. He had always been the strong and emotionless type. Now, for the first time in this life, Oliver saw Keniuchio as something else. Something much more . . . human. Love does crazy things to a man. Oliver suddenly found himself wishing he had spent a couple more days with Heather.*

*(see the first two issues for details)

The reunion was short-lived however, as Oliver noticed a car screeching to a halt outside. As Oliver turned, he saw a black sedan pull up, stop, and from it came two passengers. Oliver recognized both from his days at SHIELD, going over the files of international assassins and terrorists. The female was a ruthless Japanese assassin known as Sai, known for her utter lack of compassion and sadistic behavior. Her companion, a former Unlimited Class Wrestler named Badd Axe, famed for his bulging muscles, tatoo-covered arms, and nasty disposition.

"Well," yelled Badd Axe, as he pulled his huge axe from inside the car, "looks like this job is gonna have some fun to it after all. Kill some jerks, get the baby, makes some money . . . now that is a good day."

"Idiot," hissed Sai, as she leapt from the car into a defensive position. "Don't you recognize them? This one is Oliver Queen, and the one inside is the Silver Samurai. You can't kill either of them without the boss's permission."

"Damn," shouted Badd Axe, as he stepped forward. "Guess I'll just have to cut me off an arm or a leg or somethin'."

Oliver noticed the lummox Badd Axe making his way towards him, while Sai seemed concentrated on making her way towards the door and into the people waiting inside. As he saw Keniuchio come to the door, sword in hand, ready to defend Kathryn and the child, Oliver leaped upon Kathryn's car, and prepared to defend himself. He wished he had been smart enough to grab one of his pistols from the Pathfinder, but there was no time for that now. Oliver jumped back as Badd Axe, swung his blade, and buried it deep into the car's top, crunching metal and shattering the glass of the surrounding windows. Oliver took the opportunity to place a kick to the jaw of Badd Axe, but was displeased to see the blow have little affect. He turned his attention briefly to Keniuchio and Sai, who were now exchanging blows, both with their weapons and their own bodies. Oliver knew Keniuchio was more than capable of holding his own.

Oliver turned his attention back to Badd Axe, as the brute pulled his blade from the car and prepared for another swing. This time the blade missed Oliver again, and smashed into the side of the already damaged car, caving in the door, as Oliver leaped he felt the shower of glass explode behind him, and felt the sting as several shards pierced his neck. He couldn't think about that now, as he jumped at Badd Axe, dodging a blow from one of his huge fists, as he let go of his imbedded weapon. Oliver made his own offensive flurry of moves. First he kicked in massive opponent in the back of his left leg, which caved out his knee, and quickly brought the large man down. Next, he went for his eyes, blinding the man, then quickly, as he trashed about, brought a hard elbow down the man's skull. As the large man's head fell towards he pavement, stunned, Oliver brought a hard boot down, knocking the man unconscious.

Oliver turned his attention towards Keniuchio and his opponent. Oliver watched in horror as Sai pulled a throwing blade from her costume and hurled it towards Kathryn. She was able to deflect the blade from its fatal trajectory towards her heart, but the blade instead buried itself deep in her shoulder. This attack seemed to enrage Keniuchio, and he fought with a passion Oliver had never seen in him before. Oliver ran towards Kathryn, and her child inside, as he saw The Silver Samurai bring his blade down on Sai. She parried the blow with her blades, then was horrified as Keniuchio used his mutant ability to pump energy through his special blade, melting her Sai's away. She fell to the ground as Keniuchio placed his blade at her throat, preparing for the kill.

Oliver watched waiting for Keniuchio's reaction.

"There is no honor," said Keniuchio, as he held the blade to her throat, "in killing an unarmed opponent. Even one as evil and pathetic as you. Go back to Shaw, and tell him he has failed against us once again. Oh, and also tell him, that the next time I see him, he will die."

Oliver turned his attentions back to Keniuchio, Kathryn, and the child. Oliver found them sitting in the motel room. Kathryn was holding the child, and Keniuchio was standing before her, with a very lost and dumbfounded.

"What are we going to down now?" asked Kathryn, obviously at a lost herself over the events of the past few days.

"You will come home to Japan with me . . . "

"What?!" said Kathryn, angered. "It is because of your life in Japan in this happened in the first place. My son was almost killed because of the grudges someone held against you because of your lifestyle. Nothing has changed. I left for a reason, and those reasons still exist . . . "

"Well, you can't stay here anymore either," replied Keniuchio, frustrated. "Shaw knows of your life, and it will only be a matter of time before he decided it is time to attack you again . . . "

Oliver thought for a minute. "I guess this is where I come in . . . "

"These are your new passports, identities, credit cards, and some starting cash," said Oliver, smiling, "There are only two other people who know about this, other than us, and I can guarantee that they would never let this information fall into Shaw or anybody else's hands. You will be safe with you new identities and your homes in New Zealand. I hear it is beautiful this time of year."

"I am in your debt, Oliver," said Keniuchio, "Now, if you could give us a moment . . . "

Oliver smile and walked away to look at a magazine stand nearby.

"You are not coming with us, are you?" asked Kathryn. Even after the years that had passed, Keniuchio could see that the love they had felt for each other still burned inside of both of them. He wanted to join her, to run away, and leave his life behind.

"No," said Keniuchio, frowning, "There are . . . things . . . in Tokyo that must be taken care of. My father. Shaw. Debts to be settled. I swear to you though, when everything is done. I will come to you. I want to be . . . a good father . . . to my son. I want to be a good man for you."

Keniuchio and Kathryn embraced, and he kissed the child upon the forehead, and then they were on the plane and gone.

Oliver put his hand upon Keniuchio's shoulder. "You should have gone. Take it from a man who let his wife and his little girl's childhood slip away while he was off chasing goons across the globe and wearing green tights."

"I couldn't," said Keniuchio. "I do have to go home. Shinobi Shaw has gone too far. If he is left unchecked, he may overtake the Yakuza and the Hellfire Club, and I cannot allow that. For the honor of my family and the future of my son.

"But I thank you Oliver Queen, and I am truly in your debt . . . "

Oliver laughed. "I think we owe each other enough to not worry about it.. Besides, I did this one . . . for a friend."

"Indeed," replied Keniuchio Harada, and Oliver could almost swear he saw the rigid young man crack a smile. Almost.