Born Into Kombat

Chapter Three "Meeting"

(Authors note: by the way, excuse any writing mistakes and the small chapters. I'm writing these from my iPhone like a lazy basterd.)

"Yellow?" Keanu answered his phone. Only after two days of trying to reach him. The basterd never answers his god damn phone. I swear, I'm going to get him one of those watch things that buzzes when you get a text or call. Hopefully you can amp the setting so it shocks him. Then he won't ignore me.

"How long have you been in contact with Johnny?"

"Johnny? Who said I was in contact with Johnny? Who is Johnny anyway?" He asked. I heard grunting and loud smacks in the background. He was training someone. Keanu still worked as a trainer for Mortal Kombat fighters. He agreed to never tell me anything. Unless it's really funny. Like this one time a girl tried to pick up an axe that was half her size. She hoisted it above her head and the weight made her fall backwards. It was great.

"I will come to whatever god forsaken realm you are in and beat the living shit out of you." I threatened.

"Alright, damn. I thought you were scary when you're pregnant." Then I heard his whisper, "Dodged a bullet there."

"Keanu!"

"Ok!" He yelled back. "He came to me a few years ago, asking if I would help with...something."

"What is it?"

"Maybe I should come over. This isn't really something you explain over the phone."

"Fine." I sighed.

"I'll bring Kenshi. And...Johnny should be there too."

"Keanu, no. I don't want him in my house."

"Then come to my training center in earthrealm. It's not too far from you."

Well...at least if we're there I can kick his ass and not have to worry about my furniture.

"Okay, fine, send me the address again."

-------------------------------------------------------

It was like pulling chickens teeth to get Liu to agree to the meeting. The only way I was 'allowed to go' as he liked to put it (he thinks he can stop me) was if he went too. And if he went too I had to ask Mila to babysit for me. That wasn't hard, she loved Sira more than anything. She brought her daughter, seven year old Lillian, who would play with Sira until they both crashed. Then Mila and Kent would kill each other in Halo until they crashed. I would come home to four sleeping people. It's gonna be great.

Liu complained the entire time we drove to Keanu's training center. It wasn't that far, maybe an hours drive, but Liu made it feel like several days.

"I don't see why we're even giving Johnny the time of day. He deserted you and missed Kent's entire childhood. He doesn't deserve to know Sira and he sure as hell doesn't deserve your help."

"Ok, for the last time, General Kill-Joy, I'm not helping him and I'm not even going to talk to him. If anything, I will punch him in the face and leave. I'm just going to hear what Keanu has to say. Plus, I miss Kenshi; he's been too busy to come over lately."

"So I'm driving two hours round trip so you can punch Johnny in the face?"

I nodded, "Pretty much, yes."

"This is why I love you."

I laughed and reached across the console to hold his hand. I remember hating Liu with every fiber of my being. I remember countless times I wanted to kill him. Before Kent was born, and even sometimes afterwards, he still had that thing about him. That defensive mechanism that made him a raging dick. There had to be some Come to Jesus fights about it. Some were even physical. But he eventually understood he can't do that anymore. I couldn't imagine having a child with him. He would tell the kid he was a failure every day. The kid would grow up depressed and suicidal if that was the kind of father he had. I was so scared he would be an awful father. The closer to the end of the pregnancy we got, the more and more I thought of running away or adoption.

I nearly broke down in grateful sobs when I saw him hold Kent for the first time. He looked at Kent with loving eyes, tearing up just a little bit, and whispering, "I will always protect you. You're perfect."

Liu is such a good dad. He knows when to be loving and sensitive, but he also knows when to crack down and say when enough is enough. I don't know either of these things. I'm pretty much a sarcastic asshole that cracks jokes until it's time to be serious. Then I'll hug you and tell you puns until you smile. Kent is pretty well rounded. Well, he's no more fucked up than any other kid. He knows we both love him.

When Liu pulled up outside of the training center, a crappy old gym in the middle of bum-fuck nowhere, he glared at the building for a good long while. Two other cars say out front, the front door was illuminated from people waiting inside.

He looked at me. "Are you sure you want to do this? We can turn around now."

"I didn't even get to punch Johnny yet, so no."

He snorted and got out of the car. I followed him to the gym, holding his hand. I didn't realize I was gripping him for support until he squeezed my hand and whispered 'it's okay'. For years I had been hoping Johnny would come back. Countless nights I waited for him to show up, write me a letter, tell Keanu to tell me hello - something. Even when I was in labor with Kent, I imagined Johnny would be bursting through the hospital doors and I would hear him yell, "I'm the god father, I have to be there!" But it was all stupid fantasies of a little girl. I missed him with every inch of my breaking heart. I missed him every day until slowly...I began forgetting him. I forgot to think of him little by little until eventually I just forgot him altogether. Yes, I missed him, but he didn't take up my every waking thought.

Now he was my every thought once more. But it was more along the lines of 'how do I get away with murdering someone with a meat grinder?' You know, the important things.

Liu opened the door and we were met with the scene of three men and two women sitting at a table in the middle of the training floor. Keanu sat with folded arms, smiling to himself and shaking his head. He knew how stupid Johnny was for trying this.

Johnny, however, saw no flaws in his plan and sat holding...Sonya's hand? What the fuck?

Next to Sonya was Chutar Trigo. She nonchalantly looked to Liu and I and waved.

Kenshi began laughing hysterically when we walked through. He was excited for the show. His black sunglasses hid his milky blind eyes. He may be blind, but that son of a bitch sees everything.

"This is gonna be great," Kenshi announced.

Johnny stood from the table, releasing Sonya's hand, and began walking to me with outstretched arms. "Zak, you wouldn't believe how happy I am you're here."

I walked towards him too, letting go of Liu. Without a word I pulled my fist back and punched Johnny's stupid fucking face with all of the strength I had. I knocked him backwards. In fact, it knocked him stone cold out.

Kenshi was now roaring with laughter and reached out his hand to Keanu, "Alright, pay up!"

"Fuck me," Keanu sighed, handing Kenshi a wad of cash.

"Now we can leave," I whipped around and began walking out immediately.

"Oh no you don't, you bitch," a girls voice I didn't recognized yelled.

"Cassie, no, you don't understand this," Sonya sighed.

I turned around just in time to see the face of my attacker. A tan, round face. Bright green eyes. Long, wavy blonde hair. Painted pink nails on her fist. And then she knocked me out, too.