Adapting Azem lore to align with 7.0+ soon
As Azem, their relationship was a love triangle and unrequited to the end. She left to try to find an answer before Hythlodaeus sacrificed himself. She was unable to deal with the grief when she learned she was too late and gave up. It was not a heroic death, and she failed to keep her promise to save him. Hades saw it as a betrayal that she wasn't strong enough to stay for all of them, and for him.
Hatsu started to recognize some of her memories as Azem after spending time in the recreation of Amaurot with Emet. It was the place she remembered, the place she had been searching for all this time. She struggled with her guilt, her attachments both past and present; but in the end, she chose to fight back for those she could yet save.
During the events of Elpis, Hatsu faces her friends and tearfully apologizes to Hades and Hythlodaeus for selfishly running away. At Ultima Thule, she finally accepts her responsibilities as a Warrior of Light/Azem and chooses to live for a new promise that she made.
Hatsu specialized in restoring antique jewelry and often needed Tataru's knowledge in the lapidary arts, thus becoming business partners and childhood friends. They used to be as close as sisters before Hatsu awoke as a Warrior of Light. Tataru pushed herself to learn spell casting not only to be more useful to the Scions, but it was also an attempt to bridge the gap between the two of them. The distance saddened both of them greatly.
Ever protective of Hatsu and wary of Hancock, Tataru attempted to handle all Scion business between her and the East Aldenard Trading Company but she is shocked to catch glimpses of her friend smile and laugh as she once did.
When the world is once again at peace, Hatsu insists that she be the one to repair Tataru's necklace for returning it to her also symbolizes the bonds they share.
Although Hatsu collaborates with the Scions, she is not particularly close to them and spends as much time away as possible. She knew they could easily be friends, had she allowed herself to be close. She is no champion, not one worthy enough to follow anyway. She feels guilt for putting distance between them. A part of her knew she would betray them in favor of the past she had been seeking. If they knew how she felt, would they still be friends?
Since being exalted as the "Warrior of Light", a title she resented, the pressure drove her to bury herself in order to become the hero that the Scions and the public expected of her.
Hatsu met Hancock during the events of the Bloody Banquet. With eyes obscured and dressed as an Ul'dahn, he had an hedonistic air and sinister presence. One of the Crystal Braves attempted to hide the poison on her but during the struggle, Hancock stepped in and warned him that the plan would fall through if there was evidence she was mishandled. Hatsu looked at him desperately for help and asked him to wait but Hancock gave her a look that was hard to read and left.
Lolorito always had his suspicions of her family's interference in his markets, having revealed themselves during one Little Ladies' Day incident so Hancock was tasked to dig into her past. When they met again, Hatsu recognized him as "the man from Ul'dah". Feeling uneasy, she held herself as she had with anyone else — with an elegant and dignified demeanor, unsmiling, distant, and ready to become the Scion's weapon at a moment's notice. But the real her isn't like that at all, and Hancock saw through the facade immediately as well as the use of an obvious, fake name. He was so boastful in all his knowledge of various markets that Hatsu saw an opportunity to benefit.
Shortly after the Scions moved into the East Aldenard Trading Company as their temporary base, Hatsu began to study maps of housing districts in her spare time. Since the awakening of her Echo and much like her Ascian brethren, she felt compelled to chase a past and a home she only vaguely remembers.
Hancock offered help and at first, she was hesitant to accept suspecting an ulterior motive. He smugly continued anyway and provided information on what sold best, demolition patterns, and market rates. Though when asked why she was interested, Hatsu wouldn't fully tell him, for who would believe her story? "We may be cut from the same cloth," he suggested. "A sense of fulfillment," was her only answer. To that end, she would use Hancock's expertise to her advantage.
It was a mutually beneficial relationship. She would craft him exclusive "WoL designed, handmade products" and he would write the contracts between her and her clients. She couldn't write in Hingan, having grown up in the outskirts of Ul'dah, so she was begrudgingly reliant on him for it. Hancock often accompanied her negotiations and occasionally bailed her out of trouble if a deal went south. Of course, the "business proposal" came with a price. After all exchanging favors or payment was the way of Ul'dah and one they could rely on.
They found camaraderie in each other and were like "partners in crime" or "aibou" if you will. She went overboard; overworking herself, quickly amassing wealth and properties in many locations. They begin to spend more time together in and out of the office.
In his company, because of their similarities that stemmed from their backgrounds, Hatsu was able to be herself again. She's industrious, opportunistic, bratty, and hates to lose. It often sent them on whirlwind business transactions together. Think Red Oni, Blue Oni — with Hatsu appearing sweet but being the wilder one and Hancock looking suspicious but the more logical one. And the more time they spent together, the more she naturally showed a gentle, patient side that can't ignore pleas for help.
While they had fun together, it wouldn't sway Hancock. Her ventures were foolish and without purpose, he thought. He understood little of how he felt about her and trust doesn't come easily. It was a risk he never needed nor wanted to take. Relationships are not for those who have to worry that even gifts may be bribes. It was simpler to continue currying favors than pursue deeper connections. However, being needed was gratifying and putting the Scions in their debt would most assuredly be beneficial. After all, it was on Lolorito's orders that he assisted them. What better way to keep the Warrior of Light under their control? That was what he told himself anyway, and helping Hatsu in her ventures were just a part of that...right?
But the more time they spent together, the more excuses were needed to justify his actions. When there was no longer any need to keep an eye on the Scions, it was under the guise of using the Warrior of Light's image to enhance the company's reputation. This was a calculated game of push and pull, lest his improprieties be raised to Lolorito's suspicions. And so, they kept their friends-with-benefits relationship a secret for many years but spent so much time together that they were a couple in every way but name.
There was another matter that intrigued Hancock — her use of an alias. Being familiar with Hingan names, it was immediately obvious that Hatsu was a fake name and the hole in their dossier bothered him. How her family escaped Lolorito's grasp during their time in Ul'dah was a mystery to them and he would go through great lengths to delve into pasts unknown even to her.
***
Hatsu put much of her energy into restoring the Doman Enclave. Having never known Doma before the Garlean Occupation, she set out to reclaim the home that should have been hers. It came as a shock to everyone, Hatsu notwithstanding, when a shipment of heavy canvases arrived. It came with a message, "Repair their ships for trade and the awnings of their shops for businesses". What few people knew was who arranged the donation; Hatsu suspected Hancock collaborating with Sunsilk Tapestries, was instrumental in its inception. Hoping for correspondence, Hatsu carefully checked the shipment. Hidden within the cargo was a sizable amount of gil, alongside another message, "For the restoration efforts," all written in Eorzean. Even with no name and no emblem, Hancock had intended his message to reach her.
Once restored, she performed for three days and three nights as part of the celebrations. Although Hancock's donation was anonymous to the Enclave, he surprised her with his attendance and brought with him his findings; the answer to the mystery of her birthname and the link to her remaining family member. Upon the gift of an heirloom, a wrapped tea cake, it would set her towards another mystery. Unbeknownst to them, the drinkable antique was the link to Azem and her birthright. It would put her in a debt that she could never possibly repay.
The celebrations were one of the last that they would see each other for a time and Hancock would continue to make donations on her behalf in her absence.
Once Hatsu returned from the First, they sat in the gardens of the Ijin district and she opened up to him about all that had transpired. The home she had been chasing had been gone for 12,000 years and it wasn't until she saw Amaurot underwater that she understood she had been chasing something long gone.
With this realization, she resolved to spend her resources helping others in need, that they would not face hunger and that they too, would have a home to return to; first Doma and Ala Mhigo, then she would set off for Ishgard. It seemed her ventures would find purpose after all. This resonated with Hancock and even though he wasn't ready to tell her about his past, he had her promise to try not to put herself in harm's way. After all, how could she help anyone if she wasn't here? She began to feel hope there may still be a place for her in this world.
When all was said and done...
The two embarked on a memorable adventure at Mount Rokkon, spanning many weeks, sharing personal stories, and undertaking their research together. Both had missed the time they spent together when they were apart.
When Hancock was frightened and snipped at her, he pushed himself to act braver than he felt, risking harm to keep apace, and all at once Hatsu understood him. She smiled and told him truthfully, she didn't mind if they took their time and though she wished this adventure could go on forever, she had something important to tell him...
Later, the pair found themselves once again sitting in the gardens of the Ijin district. As hesitant as Hancock was to open up, he had to feel sure he had the emotional upper hand, having always known and seen the real her, before he could reveal his own heart. Here he told her about his childhood and how he came to work under his chairman. She listened to his stories about his past, dreams both old and new, all the while finding certainty in the fact that she did wholly accept him and was prepared to do everything she could to support his aspirations for the future.
With his help in preserving cultural treasures for all to see, no longer would she be afraid of pasts forgotten. Instead, histories would be celebrated and remembered for generations to come. She recalled to him his sentiments from years ago — of them being "cut from the same cloth". In both visits to the garden, each person confessed their dream that was compassionate to the other without realizing it. "Wealth without purpose makes poor men of us all," encompassed something they both learned. They have come from different paths and reached the same understanding.
With Hatsu's aptitude in the housing markets, she was later able to acquire land in order to help carry out Hancock's dream of running a museum.
Semi-retired, her amount of involvement in Dawntrail and beyond is To Be Determined.
