Born Into Kombat

Chapter Two "What Do I Do"

It's times like this I really wish there was some kind of teleportation thing. I want to slap Keanu and get some god damn answers from him. How long has he been in contact with Johnny? Why hasn't he told me Johnny is alive and well? And why isn't he answering his phone?!

Murder is definitely happening if I don't start getting some answers.

The back door opened, causing me to turn and see Kent. He raised an eyebrow at me. "Are you okay, Mom? You've been kind of...weird lately."

Weird? I guess so. I've been avoiding Kent since yesterday. Not cause I don't like my kid, god he's like my best friend. That kid knows me better than anyone. No, it's because I don't want anything about Mortal Kombat slipping out. I'd hate to shatter his view of his boring parents. He thinks I kick box. Like, girly kick box. Like all those soccer moms that get their thirty minute workout in before picking up the kids from school.

Liu still trains, too. He trains with me a lot, helping me keep in shape and also stay fairly relevant in fighting. We want to be ready in case anything were to happen. We know you can't just disappear from the fighting world. Especially when you're name was as big as ours were. I was a queen for fucks sake. Liu can make a dragon out of fire. These things aren't forgotten. "Oh, what ever happened to the two biggest fighters from Edenia?" No. They know where you are. Or, at least, vaguely. So, we have to be able to protect our kids. Plus I like the idea that I could kick an intruders ass if he tried to steal our tv or something.

I set my coffee down and smiled at Kent. "Sorry, sweetie, I've just had a lot on my mind."

"Like what?" He asked, sitting at the patio table across from me.

Jesus, he looked and acted exactly like Liu. The way his wavy brown hair rested across his forehead. The way his deep brown eyes twinkled; always looking like he was up to something. He usually was always up to something. As a toddler he was a pain in the ass to keep up with. Always getting into stuff. Somehow he had managed to find a full bag of sugar, dump it on the floor, and proceeded to lick it off the floor until I walked in to check on him. Then he ran from room to room, pulling off his clothes, yelling "I DIDN'T DO IT!"

Yeah. He was fun.

"Well, for starters, what do you want for your sixteenth birthday?"

"A car," he smirked.

"Yeah, your dad would absolutely love that. Where would you even go?" I sipped my coffee and chuckled to myself as he grew offended.

"To my friends' houses."

"You have friends?"

"Alright, you know what, Mom-"

"I'm kidding! Just kidding." I buried my face into my coffee again. "Kind of."

"I'm going back inside."

As Kent opened the door, Liu was stepping outside. He must have been muttering something about my sarcasm because Liu said, "She's your mother, so she's automatically correct. Haven't I taught you anything?"

He laughed and shut the door behind Kent. Liu sat at the table next to me and kissed my cheek. "How are you feeling? You've been MIA."

I sighed. I've been avoiding Liu too, because I know exactly what he would say about me fighting again. Not that I'm planning on it. Am I? I don't even know anymore. He's going to find out anyway.

"Johnny Cage visited me yesterday."

His reaction was immediate. He sat back and folded his arms, frowning at me warily. Nothing good came from a visit from a fighter. History has shown. Well, except visits from Kenshi or Keanu. They don't even breathe a word about Mortal Kombat in our home. They know how we feel about it.

"What did he want?" Liu asked coldly.

"He said he needs me for...something. I didn't ask and he didn't offer any information. I left before he could even tell me what it is."

"Good," he stood up and took my cup of coffee. "Cream and sugar again?" He didn't mention Johnny again for the rest of the day.