Round Three (KBTBB FF)

13 - Hong Kong

Despite the absolute chaos that occurred only a few hours ago, I'm feeling energized as I walk back to the penthouse lounge with Baba. We didn't really talk to each other coming back to the hotel, but that's probably because things are a bit awkward right now. I'm still a bit hesitant about developing this crush on Baba, but I think I'll ride it out and see where it takes us. He seems like a free spirit, so it's unlikely we'll be serious. I've had my fair share of lovers and flings in the past few years, so another one won't hurt. At least now it's nice to know that he was flirting and I wasn't just being led on.

"Baba, you're back." Soryu stands to greet him but changes his mind when he sees me. "And so are you."

"Yeah, you two abandoned him there so who else would bring him back?" I retort.

"We have business to discuss." He waves Baba over.

They begin talking about Mei, so I tune them out and scroll through my phone while drinking out of one of the broken bottles that was salvaged. Sure I'd like to contribute, but their objective is to find her and they'll probably team up against me to try and get some crumbs. I'm also lying to their faces and the less I say, the easier it'll be to keep it up.

"Hey, you're apart of this too." Eisuke snaps at me.

"Don't try looking for her before the war is over." I warn him. "She reeks of Ice Dragon so it'll be easy for the Hounds to get her if she's brought back prematurely. And did you even consider she doesn't want to come back? She tied up Baba at gun point, killed a man and beat up Inui with a stab wound and fucked up knee. Fix the problem before you make it worse."

"Mina?" I hear Ota call my name.

I turn around in the bar stool and he's staring at me with his jaw to the floor.

"Is there something wrong with my hair?" I joke, knowing he's staring at my scars and tattoos.

"This..." He steps closer, admiring my exposed skin.

He stands there for a minute, absolutely speechless.

"Blink, dude." I wave my hand in his face.

"This is incredible!" He gasps.

"Oh, really?" I scratch my neck. "I think it's pretty insane."

"How many tattoos do you have?! What about scars? Who did this one of the spiderweb? Wait, what do these flowers mean?!" Ota is overwhelmed.

"Do you want a tour?" I offer. "I don't mind explaining some of them."

"Can I join?" Baba sits next to me.

"Sure. When I first started working, someone poured acid on my arm and it left a nasty scar. I had this spiderweb done over it in Korea four years ago. There are a black widow, a scythe and a black rose hanging upside down by the webs."

"That's a thick scar if I've ever seen one." Ota winces.

"So the one on my right calf is a stray cat that I've been taking care of since I moved here permanently, his name is Tito.
I have these 12 little tangerines scattered across my knees. I had these done at 19.
This onamori  on my left thigh was done here at 20.
On my left sleeve I have the Korean birth flowers of people important to me.
Five years ago in Sydney, I had these skeletal hands inked by an artist who scouted me off the street.
That frog on my leg is from two years ago because why not? I think it's cute." I continue to point out the ink on me.

"It is." Baba smiles.

"Let's see... Oh, these Korean characters across my neck are a proverb that roughly translates to smile and deal with it. This was done at 22, and the flowers outlining the scar on my chest are my birth flowers, the Avens. I get all of my floral and foliage work done in South Korea, so I fly back every couple of months."