Note: Hello again! I'm back with a new chapter and we're getting closer to end! This chapter is pretty LONG with LOTS of flashbacks so bear with me here.

Disclaimer: Big Hero 6 and its characters belong to Disney. Any non-canon characters, however, are mine.

Chapter 20

"Don't make a lot of noise. He's sensitive to loud sounds," Tomeo lowered his voice.

He showed Ishioka a small bedroom with a wooden crib and sky-blue wallpaper. Snowflakes as white as cotton fall outside the window. It was almost Christmas. Lying on his back in the crib is a six-month-old baby boy sleeping peacefully. He has a patch of fluffy black hair on his head and his tiny chest rises in rhythm to his breathing.

"This is Hiro," Tomeo said, casting a huge smile down at his youngest son. "He was born last June. Mae named him after my father."

"You must be so proud," Ishioka muttered in amazement. "He's rather small though."

"He was born premature, but he's still healthy."

"Premature, huh? Just like my Yasuo."

"I heard Yasuo had a bad fever a while back. Is he okay?" Tomeo stopped asked with concern.

"He's alright now, the wife is taking care of him," Ishioka answered. He remembered how his little son kept him awake all night, worrying about him.

"I'm so glad," Tomeo sighed, happy to hear it. "I would like to see your son too. Perhaps our boys will become friends when they get older."

Ishioka's face was unreadable. "That would be wonderful."

At that moment, five-year-old Tadashi entered the room. He was wearing a brand-new Christmas sweater knitted by Aunt Cass.

"Dad," he called out in a low voice so not to disturb his baby brother. "Mommy wants you. She dropped something behind the stove."

"I'll be there," Tomeo told him. "Daichi, wait for me and then we'll talk in my study."

As soon as Tomeo left the room, Ishioka moved forward to stare down at Hiro's sleeping form. A sense of anger and resentment came over him. Another child made by Tomeo and the woman who seduced him? The thought made him want to spat in disgust.

Ishioka held out a hand and moved it very close towards Hiro's face. He stopped inches above the baby, wondering if he could suffocate him and get away with it. Hiro, sensing danger, frowned and began to squirm. Ishioka heard low whimpers coming from Hiro and he hoped in silent fury that the baby will not cry.

"Um..."

A tiny voice snapped Ishioka back to reality. Ishioka turned to see Tadashi and realized the young boy must have been watching him the entire time.

"W-what are you doing?" Tadashi asked, his innocent eyes widened.

"Oh, I was gonna touch your brother. Isn't he so cute?" Ishioka replied, feigning a sweet tone. His hand caressed gently over Hiro's head but the baby flinched from his touch.

"Don't do that. You're scaring Hiro," Tadashi demanded, though he believed Dr. Ishioka's lie.

Hiro's lips quivered and his face scrunched, ready to burst into tears. Tadashi hurried over and touched his brother's hand.

"It's alright, Hiro. I'm here," Tadashi cooed as he comforted him. Hiro felt his big brother's familiar touch and he calmed down.

Ishioka couldn't help but give Tadashi a dark smile. "You're a good brother, you know that? You know when your sibling needs you. I wonder... what would happen if you're not around to help him?"

Tadashi was too young to understand what Ishioka meant. But the tone of the man's voice frightened him.

Ishioka felt a rough hand grabbed his shoulder; Tomeo has just returned after helping his wife. Despite his kind, worn face, there was a flash of anger in his eyes.

"Will you come with me, Daichi?" Tomeo asked in a soft but dangerous tone. Ishioka knows he's trying to veil his anger. "Tadashi, stay here with your brother."

Ishioka followed Tomeo out the room. Ishioka spotted Tomeo's wife Mae and her sister Cass. They were fussing over the stove in the kitchen, but he ignored the two women.

"For the sake of our old friendship, I'll overlook what you said to Tadashi," Tomeo spoke up when the two are out of earshot of his wife and sister-in-law. "But I won't have you scaring my sons. I know you're doing this to spite my choice to marry Mae."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Ishioka said, rolling his eyes.

"We have known each other for a long time," Tomeo continued. "I even hid your secret without telling anyone."

Ishioka glared daggers at his friend.

"I'm a changed man, Tomeo," he hissed.

"So act like it... especially if you want to be Hiro's godfather."

"HOW DARE YOU! ISHIOKA, YOU BASTARD!"

Hiro roared at the scientist, who had literally backstabbed Tadashi. All with a callous smirk.

"YOU WERE MY DAD'S FRIEND, I TRUSTED YOU!"

"It's strange how so many people you looked up to turned out to be less than perfect, isn't it?" Dr. Ishioka commented as he stepped over Tadashi's fallen body. "Callaghan, your brother, and now me... The irony is cruel."

Hiro could feel his boiling blood ready to burst from his skin. He had never hated anyone this much before tonight. Callaghan came very close, but now the old robotics professor became a distant memory to him. He wanted to rush over Ishioka and punched his face repeatedly into a pulp, except his legs weigh like a heavy iron.

"My feelings about Tadashi lately are complicated..." Hiro said, his entire body shaking. Tears ran down his cheeks. "But he's still my brother! I'll never forgive you for killing him!"

"Relax, he's alive." Ishioka motioned a hand towards Tadashi. The young man has fainted and was now lying in a pool of his own blood. Upon closer look, he was still breathing but it was rather faint. "I made sure not to hit any organs. There's a reason why I kept him alive a little longer..."

Hiro felt relieved for a moment, Tadashi isn't dead but he could die any moment without any immediate medical help. He could make a quick dive to retrieve his helmet and use the communicator to call Baymax.

All a sudden, a small robot in the form of a black daruma doll rolled right out under Ishioka's legs.

"What in the world..." he was about to finish his question when the darumabot released a huge cloud of black smoke. In his surprise, Ishioka's guard dropped and Tadashi

leaped back onto his feet. Despite the intense bleeding from the huge wound in his abdomen, there was shining ferocity in his eyes.

"Hiro! Get out of here!" Tadashi yelled. "I'll hold him off while I'm still standing!"

"Tadashi, no!" Hiro screamed.

Before Hiro can run to his big brother, four mechanical tentacles with pincer claws snatched him. The pincers took hold of his arm and legs, preventing him from moving. Hiro glanced behind and saw a robotic spider around the size of a teenager stumbling out of the shadows.

"Where did THIS come from?!" he demanded.

Tadashi was about to strike Ishioka's face. Yet, the nonchalant scientist dodged it and delivered a kick to his former lieutenant's side, right into his wound and ribs. Tadashi coughed out blood in pain. Before he could retaliate, Ishioka began pummeling his face with one punch after another. Not even stopping to allow Tadashi to catch his breath.

"You... are quite... a rude brat," Ishioka said between in each brutal punches. "I was... in the middle... of a conversation!"

On the last punch, Tadashi landed near a pile of junk only a few feet away from Hiro's helmet and microbots. Tadashi was still conscious but he could hardly move at all. His entire face covered in bruises and blood. He managed to sit up and reclined against a small mound of garbage supporting his back. Unfortunately, he was in no shape to fight again.

Hiro felt so helpless watching his brother beaten up without doing anything to help him. He tried to move his arms but the mechanical tentacles held onto him tighter. He checked the robot spider and realized it was a mini-mecha piloted a single person. Inside the mecha is a familiar short, round man wearing a colorful pinstriped suit.

"Guess who's back in business, kiddies~!" he giggled.

"M... Mr. Sparkles?!" Hiro gasped. "I thought you were dead! Dr. Ishioka blew you up!"

"Silly boy, you ever heard of special effects?" Mr. Sparkles grinned as he piloted the mecha-spider closer to Hiro. "You also forgot that I happen to be a TV actor! I live for perfect acting! But I'll admit, I was surprised that Dr. Ishioka had decided to use a real bomb to make it look convincing... but I didn't suffer any serious wounds, so I was able to get back on my feet in two days!"

"Then..." Hiro tried to find his words. "What were you trying to gain by faking your death?"

"Simple... To find the real traitor of our organization," Mr. Sparkles replied in an ominous tone for dramatic effect. "The one who has been revealing bits of our plan to you and Stanwick for months. And tonight, we finally caught the dirty rat... and he's lying over there."

Hiro stared in shock at Tadashi, whose face is now so swollen he could only look at him with one eye. Hiro could not believe what he heard. The unknown agent working with Stanwick all this time and even hid his true identity from Stanwick and Abigail was Tadashi. When did he even first contacted Fred's dad? And on another important topic, why would he want to betray Shiragiku?

His train of questions got interrupted when Ishioka came right up to Tadashi and pressed his foot onto Tadashi's stab wound. Tadashi grunted, trying not to cry out in agony to give the evil scientist the satisfaction.

"STOP IT!" Hiro cried out in anger. "He's already down!"

"It was easy for Sparkles to disguise himself while pretending to be dead. He kept a close eye on every member of Shiragiku," Ishioka explained. Then he kicked Tadashi's face and Tadashi fell to his side. "And it's a shame for Tadashi... for all his training to become my best assassin, he couldn't even figure out he was being spied on. He was naive and foolish to end... just like your father Tomeo."

"So, you did kill my dad?!" Hiro demanded. "After all those times you worked together on a superhero team?!"

"He had to go... It was regrettable on my decision," Ishioka frowned. "He knew too much and would be a huge pain for my ultimate plans if I let him roam free any longer. I thought it was a fair trade off... A death of a father for another."

Hiro became confused. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It's a lovely tale of family secrets and revenge. But..." Ishioka stepped on Tadashi's chest. "I wasted enough time explaining unnecessary backstories."

Angered seeing his brother hurt again, Hiro screamed, "You dirty scum! I'll kill you!"

"Yell and cry as much as you want. When I'm done with your big brother, you're next."

Ishioka grabbed Tadashi by his hair and forced his face upward so they can look at each other eye to eye.

"Don't die yet, Tadashi," Ishioka spoke in a feigned calm voice. "You are not punished enough. I can live with your poorly-executed betrayal, but I'm still displeased about you burning the blueprints for the Project Izanami... Nearly thirteen years of hard work and resources to get them have gone to waste... You can't imagine how furious I am feeling right now."

Tadashi didn't say anything but spat blood at Ishioka's face and gave him a defiant glare. Hiro saw Ishioka's eyes darken, full with intent to kill in cold blood. He knew he has to save his brother before it's too late.

"He didn't burn them! The blueprints I gave him are fake!" he shouted in desperation.

"H-Hiro... don't do this..." Tadashi begged, his voice now husky. "Stop... talking..."

"What's this, I hear?" Ishioka paused, raising a suspicious eyebrow. He released his grip on Tadashi and approached Hiro closer. "They're fake? And how do I know you aren't lying to save your brother's skin?"

Hiro continued, without waiting to catch his breath. "I know what the real blueprints look like and I remember its calculations, it schematics- everything else in exact details! That's why Stanwick and I were able to make a fake copy that looked almost perfect but with hidden flaws!"

Tadashi, while wincing in pain from his injuries, was crawling toward Hiro's helmet while Ishioka and Mr. Sparkles have their eyes on Hiro.

Ishioka's lips formed into a sinister smile much to Hiro's confusion. "Hiro... you have told me exactly what I've been wanting to hear five minutes ago," he told him. "I don't have further use of the original blueprints anymore."

When Mr. Sparkles' robot released Hiro, Ishioka then grabbed the helpless teenager by the cuff of his suit, lifting him off from his feet.

"Why don't we go someplace cleaner?" he asked in a fake polite tone. "I want to know more about how much you know about the Izanami blueprints."

Hiro realized Ishioka tricked him. He struggled to free himself. "No, you won't take me!" he shouted.

Mr. Sparkles quickly knocked Hiro out with a sleeping gas spewed from one of his robot's tentacles. Hiro's body went limp and Ishioka threw him over his shoulder easily as though he were a ragdoll.

"That'll keep quiet for a few hours," Mr. Sparkles giggled. "Once he wakes up, he'll be in for a surprise when he finds out what he plans for you."

"Leave... my brother... ALONE!"

Ishioka turned around at the moment of that last word. Tadashi had been struggling to pull himself back up to his feet. Using any remaining strength left in his body, he leaped towards Ishioka to tackle him. Unfortunately, Ishioka's solid light power knocked him away and render him unconscious.

"Now, what should we do about this rat, boss?" Mr. Sparkles asked.

"Get rid of him, but don't make it into a huge scene that would attract attention," Ishioka replied. He was already leaving without so much of a second glance to Tadashi. He glanced at Hiro's sleeping face, feeling victorious for the first time in many years. "And when you're done, round up the rest of the officers and continue with the plan.

Operation Warlord has already begun."

"Aye aye, Ishioka-I mean, Mukuro!" Mr. Sparkles corrected himself.

Using the robot tentacles, Mr. Sparkles lifted up Tadashi's body and dumped him inside the wooden trunk Tadashi had been sitting on earlier. Then Mr. Sparkles wrapped metal wires around the trunk to keep it shut tight and prevent Tadashi from escaping.

The spider-robot then left the trunk, carried it over to the docks near the junkyard, and dumped it into the bay. Mr. Sparkles waited for the trunk to sink into the dark waters, giggling of the traitor dying either from suffocation or drowning.

Then he pulled out a white chrysanthemum flower from his coat, still fresh, and threw it into the bay as well.

"Ta-ta, Tadashi~!" he said his farewell in a mocking tone.

1976, in a rural town of Japan.

A little boy, around five-years-old, absorbed himself into a book he found while he lay in the living room of his grandfather's home. It was after lunchtime and his grandfather sat on the floor, writing down papers of his research. Ito Ishioka, the grandfather, was babysitting his grandson while his daughter-in-law worked double shift at a hospital.

"Are you sure you want to read that boring thing instead of Green Eggs and Ham?" Ito asked him.

"No, I like this more," Daichi Ishioka replied. He had his eyes glued on the textbook filled with mathematical equations. Despite his young age, there was something mature and intelligent about him. Anyone who interacts with him would see that he can even talk as confident as an older kid.

Several minutes later, Daichi spoke up again. "Grampa, can I have a paper?" he asked.

Without asking questions, Ito gave his grandson a piece of blank paper. He watched with curiosity as Daichi began writing something on it.

Daichi then stood up and handed his grandfather the sheet of paper.

"Daichi..." Ito looked over the paper. "This is an answer to a complex theorem problem not even I could solve it! How long did it take you to figure this out?"

"Five minutes," Daichi shrugged.

"Five minutes?" his grandfather repeated in awe. "You really are a gifted child!"

"Am I smart enough to get into a higher grade yet, Gramps?" Daichi asked. "All the other kids in school are babies and I'm tired doing finger painting."

"But you just started your first kindergarten. Daichi, you're so impatient," Ito chuckled. "Wait in the next couple of years."

Daichi plopped down on the tatami again, pouting. Ito was still staring at his grandson. There is so much untapped potential to explore in Daichi. He feared that the boy would waste this gift if he did not get attend a higher grade level. Perhaps he will have a talk with the boy's mother later. The atmosphere returned to its normal, quiet routine until Daichi broke the silence.

"Grampa," he spoke up. "Tomorrow's my birthday."

Ito cast a brief glance at the calendar. "Oh, that's right!" he said. "What would you like to do tomorrow? We can go to the lake together and your mother can cook your favorites."

"Is dad coming tomorrow...?" Daichi asked in a quiet voice.

Ito paused and his body stiffened.

"Daichi... He hasn't returned in a year," Ito sighed, lips thinned with bitterness. He removed his round spectacles and rubbed his tired eyes. The mere mention of Daichi's missing father-Ito's son- was enough to ruin a peaceful moment for the old man. "He dropped you here two years ago and never returned. You should forget about that lazy bum and think of your own future. You wanted to be an inventor like me, right?"

Daichi only has a few memories of his father. He was curious to know what he's like, but his grandfather refused to indulge information about him no matter how many times he asked.

Daichi had always wondered how his father would react to see how smart he was. He wanted to feel some pride in himself, but all he could feel was frustration at his missing father. As well as loneliness for being different compared to the other children.

"Grampa, is it wrong to be different than everyone...?" Daichi asked. "My teacher says it's unfair that if I keep showing off how smart I was. She said it would make the other kids appear dumb and feel bad about themselves."

Ito sensed his grandson's worries and placed his hands on the boy's shoulder. He looked at him straight in the eye.

"Daichi, there's nothing wrong be smarter than anyone else," he said. "You have an amazing brain, and with the right amount of work, you can help humanity... What you do with it will decide how you want others to treat you."

Daichi listened to his grandfather's words carefully. His tiny eyes then gazed over the papers on Ito's table.

"What is this, grampa?" he inquired.

"It isn't finished yet, but I'm creating a plan for an invention I wanted to make," Ito answered.
"What are you gonna build?" Daichi became excited. He loved learning all kinds of scientific inventions his grandfather had made or will make. His mind will explode if it was a laser weapon.

"It's a machine that could change fate."

"... Fate?" Daichi paused, confused. "That's not science."

"Well, it doesn't sound impressive to you right now," Ito laughed. "But put it this way... Whenever we breathe, blink, or move around, it is automatic and executed without much conscious awareness. Even the stars and galaxies follow their own cosmic laws of cause and effect. All events, even quantum events, have a definite starting and ending point. But there is uncertainty about what happens between them.

"It's impossible to ever know the exact location of a particle and its movement at the same time. But the slightest flexible interference can cause the small particles to behave differently. Meaning: our choices change outcomes.

"Daichi... I want to create a machine to enhance that flexibility to gain more control with our lives," Ito added. "People, even scientists like myself, fear the unknown and desire control over our own fate. Are you getting all this?"

"I think so..." Daichi replied, scrunching his eyebrows together.

"Come sit beside me, boy," Ito said, patting the spot beside him.

Daichi obeyed and sat next to his grandfather, who then stroked his hair.

"Long before you were born," Ito began his story, "I had a different life and a different family. My wife and children were beautiful and happy, but I was always busy with my work so I was never home most of the time. When the war broke out, I fled to America. I had to leave my family behind... The U.S. government promised me safety and security if I worked with them to build machines to help them in the war. I was thrilled to see my works acknowledged as magnificent weapons to be feared. I didn't care how many lives were destroyed...

"Near the end of the war, when my family was wiped out from the bomb that came down on Hiroshima... I realized it was my sins that indirectly caused their deaths, and I blinded by selfishness to appreciate them when were alive. I decided I will use my talents to never build another weapon to hurt someone but to improve people's lives.

"When I returned home, I remarried again and from second life came you... Even though I am happy and peaceful now, there are moments I wish I could go back and see my family again. This machine I'm planning is my biggest dream."

"G-grampa... that's so sad," Daichi whispered.

Ito smiled and hugged his grandson. Daichi then stood up and holds up his fists with determination.

"I'll help you, Grampa!" he shouted in a loud eager voice. "I'll help you build that machine you wanted!"

"Daichi, will you do that for me?" Ito asked, his eyes filled with tears.

"You're the smartest grampa I have!" Daichi replied with such gusto. "I will make your dream come true!"

Ito was quiet and he wiped his eyes. "You are a kind boy... When you become a little older, I want to take you with me to San Fransokyo, the most technological advanced city in America."

"San... Fransokyo?" Daichi repeated the word.

"I will put you in the best schools that will allow your intelligence and talents to grow. It is a perfect opportunity to use your gift to help society. I believe in that city is where your own fate begins."

Current present.

Tadashi immediately woke up when he felt he was being roughly rocked. He winced from the intense pain from his abdomen. He had lost of blood thanks to Ishioka stabbing him.

He found himself trapped inside the cramped trunk and heard water splashing. Tadashi realized to his horror that he was sinking down fast. He braced for impact when the trunk. The trunk didn't completely break but Tadashi could not push the lid open no matter how hard he tried. Every time he exerts pressure, the pain in his wound grew worse.

"Gimme a break," he muttered in an annoyed tone, as though this is a mild inconvenience for him. "I'm going to be in trouble if this thing starts leaking..."

Yet, his concerns of seawater leaking into the trunk are insignificant compared with fear for his little brother. Ishioka definitely took Hiro and is planning to torture information about the Izanami blueprints out from him. Tadashi began to feel sick and regret filled him.

He should have tried leaving the Shiragiku way earlier when he had the chance, or at least grab Hiro and run when the former came to the junkyard. Now that Shiragiku is getting closer to accomplishing their plans, Hiro and his friends are going to die.

"It's my fault," Tadashi spoke in a dead voice. Fresh, hot tears trickled down along his face. "I lied to my brother so I can fool Ishioka, but I couldn't even save him..."

After a couple of minutes of blaming himself in tears, Tadashi stopped when he realized there is one last thing he could do.

"I can't save Hiro... but there's someone else can," he said with renewed determination.

He remembered how he reached for Hiro's helmet earlier and pulled something out from it while Ishioka and Mr. Sparkles weren't watching. Tadashi pulled out the small object from his pocket with difficulty due to the tight, cramped space; it was a small communicator device.

Baymax has been standing outside the mansion, waiting for any calls of backup from Hiro. It has been nearly an hour since Hiro left and the caregiver robot was starting to worry. He even woke up the rest of Big Hero 6 to inform them of Hiro's departure.

"What was that bonehead thinking, running off without us?" Gogo ranted. She and the others are also standing around outside as well.

"Baymax said Tadashi wants to meet him alone," Honey told her. "And that he's taken Yasuo hostage."

"Aw man, we should've never allowed Yasuo to go home alone!" Wasabi cried.

"This is classic villain trick," Fred stated. "The villain takes the hero's loved one as a hostage to get the hero to surrender."

"We have to go out and find Hiro," Gogo announced. She puts on her helmet and started moving. "I can't sit around and wait for any bad news to arrive."

"We can't leave the mansion defenseless!" Fred stopped in front of her. "Maybe that is exactly what Shiragikue is planning. Use Hiro as bait to lure us into a trap before they go after the Izanami blueprints!"

"Fred, what you said makes a lot of sense, and I can't believe I said that... but Hiro is part of this team, and we don't abandon our team members," Gogo said. She turned to the robot. "Baymax, tell us where Hiro went."

"I am receiving an unknown call at the moment," Baymax said. "The reception is hard to understand, but I'll try to fix it in a moment."

"A call? Could it be from Hiro?" Honey asked.

Baymax played the call on loud speaker so everybody could hear it.

"... Anybody there?" a familiar voice cried out. "Baymax? Gogo? Please, answer this!"

"That voice!" Wasabi gasped. "That's Tadashi!"

"Wasabi, is that you?" Tadashi asked. "Thank god, I finally reached someone!"

"We all can hear you, Tadashi," Baymax said.

"Tadashi, you jerk!" Gogo yelled, wasting no time lashing out her anger. "Where's Hiro?! Baymax said you took Yasuo to get Hiro out to meet you!"

"Gogo-" Honey tried to calm her down.

"Stay out of this, Honey! I'm sick of you treating us like dirt, Tadashi! We will never forgive you if you hurt Hiro!"

There was silence on Tadashi's end. Everyone heard him sigh and when he spoke, there was sorrow in his tone.

"You're right... I treated you all like dirt... and I'm sorry," Tadashi apologized.

"Wait, what?" Fred dropped his jaw. "You're apologizing? This must be a weird dream I'm having! ... Except if this were a dream, it would've had include kaiju rampaging the city, and there would be cats wearing rocket boots."

"Listen!" Tadashi snapped. "Dr. Ishioka got Hiro and I don't know where he's taking him. Baymax, if you're listening, use your scanner to find Hiro. You must hurry!"

"Hold on!" Wasabi said, confused. "What's this about Dr. Ishioka taking Hiro? What's going on?"

"He's the leader of Shiragiku and the man who killed my father!" Tadashi replied. "He's the true identity of Mukuro!"

1980, in San Fransokyo.

Ten-year-old Daichi Ishioka was sitting inside an office at a police station. Due to his increased intelligence, he had skipped a lot of grades and will be the youngest to graduate from his high school. Unfortunately, he became a target of bullying, especially from his much older classmates.

One week before his graduation, bullies chased and tormented Daichi. In his panic, Daichi stole a principal's car with the keys still in the ignition. He didn't cause any accidents, but he was still arrested for carjacking.

Daichi was sitting in a chair by himself, while his grandfather was in the next room trying to contact his mother using a police officer's phone. Daichi could everything his grandfather was shouting.

"... What kind of mother are you?" Ito Ishioka angrily yelled into the phone. "Your son is in the police station and you won't come to see him? ... Yes, I know you're assisting in surgery in a few minutes, but your child is damn more important! ... Hey, don't hang up!"

The police officer who contacted Ito gave Daichi a sympathetic smile.

"Between you and me, kiddo, I'm impressed that you even learned how to drive a car," he told him. "You're pretty smart, you know that?"

Daichi didn't reply. He also didn't care if his mother did not bother to come and pick him up. When his high school graduation came, she wasn't there to celebrate with him. It was only him and his grandfather.

He didn't care at all. All he wanted was to invent cool robots and all kinds of machines that could impress people. Because no kid in his school can relate to him as a genius, Daichi soon developed a haughty, apathetic attitude to those who he sees as mediocre or average.

He missed his old hometown in Japan but a new start living in California excited him. He loved how modern the city looked in the earliest 1980s. He learned his grandfather's plan to build a college in the city that would encourage youths with huge minds to start a career in robotics. He would love to see it completed one day.

Daichi would spend his days taking apart and building toy robots and going through calculations from advanced mathematics in his grandfather's library while the professor is out doing lectures in universities. His hunger for ambition and new knowledge showed no signs of stopping.

One hot day after spending long hours at the library, Daichi entered the iron gates leading up the huge Japanese mansion belonging to his grandfather. He noticed a car parked nearby. He guessed his grandfather is having visitors at the moment.

He removed his shoes and stepped into his home. He searched for his grandfather and heard voices from Ito's office. Before he could knock and announce his presence, his grandfather's pleas behind the sliding screen stopped him.

"Why don't you look at this again?" Ito pleaded. "Maybe I wasn't being clear... I could explain where I wasn't clear-"

"There is no need," a sharp male voice interrupted him. "We heard enough, and we're still not interested."

Daichi slowly slid the door open to peek inside. He saw his grandfather Ito Ishioka; small and thin for his old age, sporting a white well-trimmed beard and mustache. He has liver spots scattered from his left cheek to above his left eye. His dark eyes are full of wisdom and so much sorrow and disappointments. He had been growing bold lately so head covered up the top of his hat with a tweed flat cap.

Daichi saw his grandfather speaking to tall, imposing man in a dark suit and dark sunglasses. He appeared to be an important government official.

"Listen, Professor Ishioka," the official said. "The higher-ups and I are working to bring in several politicians, scientist, and well-known businessmen to create The Giri. Your involvement would benefit not only for the both of us but for the future of San Fransokyo. However... we are not interested creating any machines based on childish nonsense."

"But Project Izanami could help San Fransokyo!" Ito begged. "Just think of the possibilities..."

"Enough."

The official snatched Ito's papers, containing all notes on his precious dream invention. He crumpled into his fist much to Daichi's shock.

"Fantasy inventions are not welcomed to The Giri," he told the professor. "Do you understand?"

The official dropped the papers and smashed it under his feet. Ito could only stand there in silence, his face grim and his heart broken into pieces. Daichi had enough.

"STOP THAT!" Daichi burst into the room without warning.

The official was surprised when a ten-year-old boy shoved him away and grabbed the torn papers from the floor.

"That's my grandfather's work!" Daichi yelled at him, his eyes full of angry tears. "He worked so hard on this for a long time! How I'll never forgive you!"

A hand struck him across the face. The one who slapped him wasn't the government official.

"Daichi!" Ito shouted in a stern tone. "Get up. Do not dishonor me."

The young boy slowly stood up, but he was still trembling. "But grandfather..."

"I did not ask you to stand up for me," Ito scolded him coldly. "You are too young and do understand anything yet. Leave the room."

"B-but your work... Izanami..." Daichi stammered.

"It's not going to happen, it's time to accept reality," Ito sighed. "Go now, Daichi."

Daichi, heart full of frustration and hate, marched out of the room and closed the screen behind him.

"You must forgive the boy," Ito spoke up again behind the screen. "He can have a short temper sometimes."

"I'm not offended," the official huffed. "So, that's the genius grandson you mentioned to us? I might have second thoughts about getting him into our program..."

Daichi didn't bother to stay and listen to the rest of the conversation. He was already out of the front gates of the Ishioka estate without looking back. His hands clenched into fists and swung back and forth as he walked down the busy streets of San Fransokyo.

Dark thoughts clouded his mind, he hated that official for looking down at his grandfather's genius invention. How could he be so narrow-minded to see the potential of Project Izanami?

Daichi cleared his thoughts when he realized he found himself already at the park. Feeling parched from the walking, he located the nearest water fountain. Before he could get to there, a tall kid ran him over with his bike. Daichi tumbled headfirst to the ground, his knee scraped against the pavement.

He didn't cry from the pain, but he was glaring daggers at the older boy. The older boy apologized and tried to help him up but Daichi refused his help. Daichi pulled up his pants and hissed when he saw how bloody his knee looked.

"That wound looks really bad, let's get it cleaned up before it gets infected," the boy said.

"I can take care of myself! Go away!" Daichi snapped, slapping his hand away.

Another boy, around Daichi's age, ran up to them. He has messy black hair and wears thick-framed glasses. There was a friendly look to him.

"Aiji, what happened?" he asked after seeing the blood in Daichi's knee.

"I accidentally hit him with my bike!" Aiji replied. He looked worried now. "Oh no, and I just got it! Now, dad is gonna take it away because I was reckless."
Daichi limped over to a fountain near the playground where children can wash their feet after playing in the sandbox and mud. He washed the blood away from his knee. While he tries to think of a way to cover up the wound, Aiji's little brother came up to him and gave him a bandage.

"Here, this will help," he said.

Daichi, genuinely touched, thanked him. "What's your name?" he inquired. "I'm Daichi Ishioka."

The boy smiled wide, giving off a radiance of optimism and sweet innocence. For the first time so far in his life, Daichi felt a twinge of curiosity and desire to meet another person.

"My name's Tomeo Hamada."

That is how Daichi Ishioka and Tomeo Hamada first met and became friends.

Current present.

Horror and shock fell over the team as they tried to process Tadashi's words.

"Hey... y-you're kidding, right?" Wasabi asked. "There's no way Dr. Ishioka is a villain. I mean, he's the most influential modern scientist..."

"It's Callaghan all over again, I should have seen this coming," Fred groaned.

"What about Yasuo?" Honey asked. "Is he part of Shiargiku?"

"Yasuo... is complicated, but he's a good kid," Tadashi answered sincerely.

Meanwhile, on Tadashi's end, he heard a couple of popping sounds. He felt something wet hitting his legs and he froze in terror. Water had burst through tiny openings of the trunk. The trunk began to fill up with seawater at a rapid pace. Tadashi coughed out any that has splashed into his mouth. He could hear the communicator crackling, ready to die at any moment.

"We're running out of time!" Tadashi yelled. "Ishioka is planning to dispose of Hiro once he gets what he wants! You guys have to save him!"

"Where are you, Tadashi?" Baymax inquired urgently. "It appears you need urgent rescue."

"Forget about me! Hiro is more important! Just..." Tadashi paused, trying to find his words. "Tell Hiro when you save him... that I've always cherished him."

The Big Hero 6 team heard sounds of water moving and then Tadashi's communicator instantly died.

"Tadashi, no!" Honey screamed, her hands reaching for her mouth.

At that moment, they heard a loud explosion boomed in the distance. Everyone turned to see a trail of dark smoke in the sky and dark figures approaching the estate.

"Shiragiku is here already?" Fred gasped. "I thought they'd be here way later, they're too early!"

"How are we going to save Hiro now with those guys coming here?" Wasabi asked. "I don't think the security defenses is enough to hold them off for long!"

"I'll go save Hiro. And Tadashi too," Baymax said in a determined tone.

"Will you be okay, Baymax?" Gogo asked him.

"I am created to help people," he answered. "It's in my programming."

Baymax ejected his wings and zoomed into the sky like a rocket. From the ground, Yama's group spotted the robot flying away from the estate above their heads.

"Hey, where's the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Reject going?" Yama spoke, puzzled. "He's not staying to fight his buddies?"

"Who cares about him? This would make our battle easier," Fujita smirked.

Gogo and the others stood in front of the lawn, facing the Shiragiku group which consists of Yama, the Fujitas, and the Banzai Brothers.

"Nice duds, Big Hero 6!" Yama boomed in his loud voice. "But I bet they're not strong enough to take down the Mighty Yama!"

Each of the four members of Big Hero 6 thought about the consequences of dying in this fight. Gogo thought of her older sister coming home to just their grandmother... Honey Lemon wondered if her parents will still divorce without her... Wasabi realized his sister Mirin might become a single child in the morning... and Fred knew will never get another chance of finding love...

All these fears and regrets hit the young heroes hard. It was soon changed to courage and hope. The criminals like Shiragiku are not going hurt the people they vowed to protect.

"LET'S GO, TEAM!" Fred yelled. "It's Big Hero Time!"

The four members of Big Hero 6 roared, all pumped up and ready to go out in a blaze of glory. They dashed towards Shiragiku across the lawn. Yama and the others did the same thing too.

Time seemed to slow down and then both parties clashed.

Tadashi raised his mouth closer to the top of the trunk, but water is filling up the trunk faster than he can breathe. The water stung his wounds like cold knives. He failed to inhale one last gulp of air before he was completely submerged.

Now he's trapped, with only a couple of minutes left until he drowns.

He tried hitting the trunk to break it down but it didn't budge.

His vision was going black... It's too late for him now.

Tadashi's last thoughts were how it was ironic that he almost died from a blazing fire to actually dying in the cold water.

At least... when he finally meets his parents again, he can apologize to them for disappointing them...

The trunk began to move upwards as though something has grabbed it. Tadashi rocked back and forth, confused. Then something tore the trunk in half, spilling out the seawater and Tadashi fell on the ground of the harbor.

He was freed and alive.

As Tadashi coughed out the water, he looked up to see a familiar robot in red armor.

"B-Baymax!" his voice came out in a weak gasp. "What are you doing here...? Y-you're supposed to go save Hiro! Why did you save me!"

"You were in trouble, Tadashi. I had to help," Baymax replied. "And even though we are enemies, I cannot allow you to die."

"Baymax, I..."

"I'll take you to the hospital before I go save Hiro."

"No!" Tadashi tried to get up but his vision is blurring. He felt so weak due to losing so much blood. "Please... save my brother, Baymax. That's an order..."

"I cannot leave you here unattended," Baymax said. "You are in desperate need of an emergency."

"Don't worry," a soft voice spoke up behind them. "I'll watch over him."

Both Tadashi and Baymax looked around and saw someone walking out from behind a corner. It was Ishioka's timid son, Yasuo.

"Y-Yasuo? I thought you went home?" Tadashi asked. "How long were you here?"

Yasuo fidgeted. "I... I came back a few minutes ago... just in time to see my dad took Hiro away."

"Ugh!" Tadashi tried to get up, but he collapsed on the ground again due to the unbearable pain. His wound began to bleed again.

"Tadashi, you cannot pursue Ishioka in your current state," Baymax told him.

The wounded Hamada brother knew the robot is right and he must trust Baymax to rescue Hiro instead.

"Yasuo, do you have any idea where your dad might take Hiro?" Tadashi demanded. "Tell us quick!"

"I... I do," Yasuo nodded. "He's going to take him to his lab at Ishioka Industries main building. I heard him talking to that Mr. Sparkles man."

"He's planning to torture information out of Hiro then," Tadashi said. "We have to act now."

"I'll get him to the hospital, B-Baymax," Yasuo told the nursebot. "Go help, Hiro."

Baymax, seeing Tadashi is in good hands, flies off to find his friend. Yasuo went over to Tadashi; he stared in horror at the terrible the wound in his abdomen and the swelling of the bruises on Tadashi's bloodied face. He felt sick looking at them.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled.

"For what?" Tadashi asked, trying to crack a smile to make Yasuo feel better. He felt ready to pass out in a few minutes. "For what your dad did to me? He had a bad aim, I don't think he hit any organs..."

Yasuo helped Tadashi up to his feet and pulled his arm around his shoulder to allow Tadashi to lean against him. Tadashi winced in pain as he clutched his wound.

"I'm in such a bad shape..." he muttered. He and Yasuo slowly made their way out the harbor. "Actually, I should be the one to apologize to you... Yasuo, your dad... He must be stopped."

Yasuo was quiet and Tadashi is unsure what the young boy is thinking. A small part of him hopes Yasuo will not bear any grudge against him or Hiro.

1983, San Fransokyo.

Daichi graduated college at the age of thirteen as the youngest student of the entire school. His teachers loved him while his fellow classmates praise him. He was both a child prodigy and a role model: intelligent, charismatic, and hardworking. He introduced his first invention, a hydro-powered flashlight, in a science fair and won a huge award for it. Many engineering and research programs wanted to have him, but Daichi saw none that looked interesting for him at the moment.

He preferred to spend a couple of years hanging out with his dearest friend Tomeo Hamada.

Daichi and Tomeo were thick as thieves and the two were rarely apart from one another. The two young boys were both smart, though Daichi was far more than Tomeo, and they see each other as equals. They both share the same interests in music and they loved discussing sci-fi movies with one another into the late evening.

Daichi got to meet Tomeo's family when he was invited to dinner by Tomeo. Tomeo's parents moved to San Fransokyo after they got married and are running a small noodle restaurant, and they lived in a small flat above the restaurant. Tomeo's father, Hirofumi Hamada, seemed rather strict and has traditional views on family and career, but he treated Daichi kindly. Tomeo's mother is a quiet housewife who sometimes helps with the restaurant. Tomeo has only one sibling, his brother Aiji who is only older by five years.

"How old are you, Daichi, and what school did you go to?" Mr. Hamada asked him across the table. Daichi and the Hamada family are sitting around an old table in a tiny room. The walls needed a fresh paint and a tiny window is open to let the cool evening wind blow in.

"I'm thirteen, and I've graduated college two months ago," Daichi answered as politely as he can.

"Wow, you're so young and smart!" Mrs. Hamada exclaimed. "You must be studying to become a doctor!"

"No, I wanted to become an inventor like my grandfather," Daichi replied.

"An inventor of what?" Mr. Hamada questioned. "That doesn't sound impressive. Daichi here says he wants to become a medical doctor..."

Daichi blushed with pride but he didn't say anything since his mouth is full of rice.

"... And Aiji will be finishing his last year of high school. I hope when he graduates, he'll help me running the restaurant."

Aiji coughed a bit under his breath but Daichi could plainly see the older boy didn't seem interested in his father's words.

As soon both Daichi and Tomeo finished with their dinner, they got up together.

"I'll be going out with Daichi, dad," Tomeo told him. "We're going to the movies."

"On a school night?" Mr. Hamada said, raising an eyebrow.

"We won't stay out very late and I'm going to study later... If that's okay with you."

"I want to go to the movies too! I haven't been to one in a year!" Aiji whined.

"Finish your food, Aiji," Mr. Hamada snapped. "You're not going to the movies until you finish with your school."

"How come Tomeo gets to go?" Aiji complained. "He hasn't graduated from high school either!"

"Yes, but he's the top of his class and he's diligent with his studies. If you had been smarter and didn't repeat a year, I would allow you to go."

Aiji became angry. "That's not fair! Not anyone can be smart!"

Mrs. Hamada, embarrassed by the shouting match between her son and her husband, quietly led Tomeo and Daichi out the room.

"Do not worry, things will be well between them," she told them. "My husband really does care for the well-being of his children."

When Tomeo kissed his mother good-bye, Daichi couldn't help feeling a bit annoyed at the sentiment as well a bit nervous of the troubled looks Mrs. Hamada is giving him.

"Why does she keep staring at me like that?" Daichi asked Tomeo about it as soon they left.

Tomeo appeared reluctant to tell him. "Er... Mom told me about it before dinner. Ever since she was a child, she has a strange way of seeing things that other people don't," he explained. "It makes her superstitious."

"What is it about my face that she saw?"

"Oh, it's not your face she was staring at," Tomeo said, shaking his head. "She was staring at your hands. She said they were red like blood... She believes you might be cursed or something bad will happen."

Daichi laughed. "You're right, she is being superstitious!"

Hours later, Daichi and Tomeo are hanging out in the former's bedroom. They had returned to the Daichi's home after the movies. The two boys are discussing the movie they have watched as they lie around on the tatami. Tomeo's schoolwork papers spread around so Daichi can help tutor his friend. On the walls are posters of their favorite bands Queen, AC/DC and Guns N' Roses.

"Return of the Jedi is the best movie of the year," Tomeo babbled. "That scene where Darth Vader redeems himself to save his son... I shed manly tears."

"The movie's really good, but it could have been better without the Ewoks," Daichi shrugged. He was grinning as well. "I still think Empire Strikes Back is far superior."

Daichi then changed the topic.

"Your father has pretty high standards, doesn't he?" Daichi muttered to Tomeo. "When it comes to being good in school."

"Well, he stopped going to school when he was a teenager," Tomeo replied. "He only wants us to do our best and not become like him."

"He seemed proud that you're studying to become a doctor."

Tomeo was silent, wearing an expression of disappointment.

"What's wrong?" Daichi asked, putting down a paper.

Tomeo sighed and rubbed his arm. "He's been asking me if I should also help him out in his restaurant after I graduate high school. He says he can't afford to send me to college..."

"Wait, what? That's not fair!" Daichi shouted so loud which made Tomeo jump. "You're gonna waste away your brains to work in a crappy noodle restaurant?"

"Come on, Daichi. I'm upset too, but my family comes first," Tomeo said. "I'm sorry, but what I plan to do after I finished school isn't none of your business..."

They heard a loud crash downstairs. The two boys rushed to the kitchen and found Professor Ito Ishioka, unconscious, sprawled across the floor. Broken pieces of a glass cup and a straw scattered all over a pool of water. The refrigerator door was open.

"Grampa!" Daichi screamed in horror as he rushed over to him. "Grampa, wake up! He's not breathing!"

"Move aside!" Tomeo yelled. He immediately checked for any breathing. "This is bad... Daichi, call 911!"

Daichi ran out of the room to get to the phone. He recalled Tomeo telling him how Mrs. Hamada saw his hands red and bloody... Was it because she somehow senses something terrible will happen to his grandfather?

Better yet, was fate telling him that his grandfather will die tonight?

Meanwhile, Tomeo tried performed a CPR several times, but he couldn't even get the old man to cough. Tomeo noticed Ito's face turning bluer and he realized by the time the paramedics arrived it would be too late save him. He remembered a certain emergency procedure he read in a medical textbook. He felt nervous attempting it, but he must do what he can to save Daichi's grandfather.

Tomeo pulled out a small leather bag full of a few medical tools-a gift from his mother for this thirteen birthday-and took out a small knife. He doesn't bother sterilizing his knife; infection is the least of his worries at this point. He managed to find the indentation between Ito's Adam apple and the Cricoid cartilage.

Daichi returned to the kitchen. "What are you...?"

"Hand me that straw lying there, Daichi," Tomeo said in a calm voice. "Let's hope this works..."

Tomeo carefully made an incision about one-half inch deep and inserted his finger inside the slit to open it. Daichi watched his friend inserted the straw into the incision. Tomeo breathes into the straw with two quick breaths.

He paused for five seconds, then gave one breath every five seconds.

Soon, Ito's chest is rising.

"He's... he's breathing again, that's good," Tomeo said. He was shaking all over but he could finally catch his breath.

"Tomeo, thank you," Daichi smiled. He was so glad to see his grandfather saved. "That was amazing."

"I was only lucky," Tomeo muttered. He looked down at his bloodied fingers. "That was my first try, and I would have botched it..."

"You still kept a cool head, though," Daichi told him. Then the two boys heard the ambulance sirens outside.

Daichi finished, "You're gonna be a good doctor, one day."

Tomeo could only smile at him.

After Ito Ishioka discharged from the hospital, the old professor thanked Tomeo for saving his life and was impressed to learn how he performed his first tracheotomy without messing it up.

After that incident, Daichi and Tomeo became closer than ever. Daichi now believed it was fate that brought Tomeo to his life so he could save his grandfather.

On another night when Tomeo came over to study again, the sliding door to Daichi's room opened and two people entered inside. One of them is Daichi's grandfather and the other is a tall man wearing aviator sunglasses and neat mustache under his nose.

"Daichi, I'm glad you're home!" Ito exclaimed. "This man here is Stanwick Lebur. He's the friend I told you about him yesterday, and he wants to speak to you. Stanwick, this is my grandson and this his friend Tomeo-the one who saved my life."

Daichi looked the Stanwick and examined him. Even though Stanwick appears polite and friendly, Daichi secretly decided that he didn't like him.

"Are you trying to get me to apply for a career at some engineering company, Mr. Lebur?" Daichi asked.

"No, nothing like that. Also, call me Stanwick Lee- it's more hip."

Daichi also decided that this man is too odd for him to like. "... Mr. Lee, what bring you here?"

"I've been wanting to talk to you for a while now, Daichi. Same for you, Tomeo Hamada," Stanwick commented. "I'm here on the behalf of The Giri."

"The Giri? What's that?" Tomeo asked.

Stanwick answered, "It's a group of important people who had their eyes on your friend Daichi because they believe he has the potential."

"Potential? For what?" Daichi demanded.

"That's what I'm here to discuss... The Ronin Rangers Initiative."

Current present.

A black fancy car drove up to a tall building which happens to be the main location of Ishioka Industries. High on the top floors is a huge laboratory where only Dr. Ishioka and special visitors have access to. The whole building is empty and it would be another few hours until the early employees arrive.

The car stopped and Dr. Ishioka stepped out of the car. Mr. Sparkles was in the driver's seat.

"You want me to come up with you?" he asked.

"Stay somewhere close to the lab," Ishioka ordered. "Big Hero 6 might send someone to rescue Hiro and I'll need you to keep them busy."

"You got it, boss~!"

Ishioka pulled Hiro's unconscious body out from the backseat carried him over his shoulder. While Mr. Sparkles goes to park the care, Ishioka headed to a secret elevator located at the back of the building. A security guard spot Dr. Ishioka, in his Mukuro attire and carrying a young boy, enter. Rather than calling the police, he allowed his boss to enter the facility. The security guard was also a member of Shiragiku.

As he stepped into the elevator, Ishioka could feel Hiro stirring a little. He was ready to knock Hiro out again but the boy didn't awaken yet. Ishioka smiled to himself when the elevator reached the top floor.

He hurried down a wide hallway which leads to a room guarded by steel door locked by an electronic device. He used a special keycard to open the steel doors.
Ishioka stepped into his huge laboratory, which is not as cluttered compared to his other one back in the basement of his home. But this place has enough security measures to prevent anyone coming in to rescue Hiro.

After removing the padded armor pieces of Hiro's suit by force, Ishioka carried Hiro to a leather chair and strapped him in place. Hiro's eyes fluttered open and realized he's no longer at the junkyard.

"You-!" he yelled. He tried to attack the scientist but the straps held him down tight. "Ishioka, where am I?!"

"I have given you a free pass to this my most private lab above one of the many locations of Ishioka Industries," Ishioka replied with a smug smile. "You should enjoy this, Hiro. Few people your age are rarely allowed up here."

"Enjoy this? You stabbed my brother!" the teen genius screamed. "And you tricked me all along!"

"I also wouldn't waste your energy yelling, Hiro," Ishioka added. "You don't seem to understand the dire situation you're in."

Hiro glanced around the room, terrified at how threatening and unknown the technology appeared. He even noticed the chair he's strapped to is inside a metal chamber with a strange headset device hanging above him. Sinister red light shines inside the chamber and Hiro could feel his heart pounding in fear.

"What are you planning to do with me?" Hiro demanded, trying to keep his voice as calm as he can. He checked his hands and saw he was still wearing his electromagnetic gloves. Ishioka hasn't removed them.

"You ever heard of a brain scan, Hiro?" Ishioka asked him. While he was talking, he began to activate the machine and switched on his computer. "This machine is what's left of the Izanami Project twelve years ago I had to force to abandon years ago. The headset will scan your mind, and then copy any knowledge it learned in the last twenty-four hours onto my computer. The process is quite painful and could potentially melt your brains..."

Ishioka grinned wider when he saw Hiro's face turned pale.

"I was going to join my officers to attack Stanwick Lee's home to retrieve the real blueprints... but you have made my job easier, Hiro," he told him. "I always knew you'd be useful to me."

"Why do you want to kill me so bad?" Hiro demanded. He was hoping he could stall Ishioka long enough until his teammates come to his rescue. "I'm more useful to you alive than dead."

"Because you are Tomeo's son," Ishioka replied, indifferent. "You are the child of the cruel man who broke my heart."

Hiro paused, trying to process what the scientist had said. "... What?"

The machines began whirring awake but nothing has activated yet. Ishioka removed his dark gloves and long coat to get himself comfortable.

"Before you die, I suppose I will allow you one story about what exactly happened twenty-eight years ago... when Ronin Rangers thought they stopped Mukuro for good," he commented.

"That was still you back then, right?" Hiro questioned. "You were always Mukuro... from the beginning. You fooled your own teammates."

Ishioka rolled his eyes. "The Mukuro back then was ruthless and feared... except, he wasn't me."

At first shocked, it took Hiro a while to regain his thoughts. "What are you talking about?" he asked.

"The original Mukuro has been dead for a long time. Your father killed him."

Don't forget to leave some feedback.