Born Into Kombat

Chapter Five "Remembering"

Hanzo. Memories lurking deep in my mind remember Hanzo. They remember when he first came to Edenia, how he made me so frustrated. I had to clean his messes - being his servant - and deal with his dumb flirting. They remembered slowly letting my guard down and allowing myself to like him. I even began to fall in love with him. He wanted me to go back to Outworld with him, fight for Shao Kahn, train with him. I wanted to, I would be lying if I said I didn't. But then something happened. He changed. His anger he tried to keep inside was exposed and I saw him for the monster he was. He saw me as a threat. And so he sent a team of men to kill me.

Years later I became that threat he thought I was and when we came face to face again I knew I would kill him. Even when I was strung up on that wooden stage he was supposed to slaughter me on, I beat him. I beat him, burned him, cut him, and stabbed him. He still wasn't dead.

I knew he would come after me. Johnny was right. Even if I somehow told the world I wasn't a Kombat fighter, and that I didn't care about the realms, he would come after me just for revenge.

He would kill my family before he killed me. I knew it.

I stood frozen at the door of the gym. Johnny's words rang in my head. Everyone fell silent, including Liu. He watched me, fear in his eyes. He knew what I would do. He knew what would happen if I didn't. He knew...

"Zak, if you don't want to fight, we understand. I just want you to know...that's why I haven't been around. That's why I never came back. I knew you were done with this stuff and so I tried to leave you alone. I didn't want to drag you back into this mess for a third time." Johnny hung his head in shame. "All I'm asking for is forgiveness. I want to be back in your life more than anything. I miss you. And I want to be there for your kids. And I want you to know Cassie."

Cassie lifted a brow, as if to say she didn't want to know me.

Kenshi laughed, "Little girl, that woman would have been your best friend if you knew her. You guys are disturbingly alike."

I shook my head. I didn't need to know that. I didn't want to know any of this. Johnny coming back into my life sounded amazing - I wanted him back in my life - but I also sounded scary. Every time he comes back...I'm fucked. Everything is shot to hell. I come face to face with death. Now I have children to think about. It's not just me anymore. I wish he had stayed gone. But...then I wouldn't be aware of Hanzo and his plans. Well, maybe they're not plans yet - there's no reward posters with my face on them - but he will come after us. I know it.

"Maybe...maybe I could train Kent." Johnny shrugged.

Before he even got the words out of his mouth there was an uproar from Keanu, Kenshi, and even Sonya.

"That boy does not need to be dragged into this, Johnny," Sonya hissed.

"You're kidding, right?" Keanu asked.

"Wow," Kenshi shook his head, "You're even dumber than I always thought you were, you dumb fuck."

Liu and I were the only ones silent. Johnny watched us. Eventually everyone quieted down. I was the first to speak. I had a feeling Liu would literally spit flames if he opened his mouth.

"Kent will never fight for Mortal Kombat. I will watch you die before I let that happen."

"Burn," Kenshi whispered.

"Don't ever suggest anything like that again," I warned. "Keanu. You know where I live. Tomorrow you and Kenshi need to come over. I need to talk to Kent and it would be easier if you both were there."

They both nodded but Liu did not. "Talk to Kent? About what?"

"If I'm going to disappear for months at a time I want him to know why. Sira is too young to realize it but if I don't tell Kent it will hurt him."

"You're not... What? You're not going to fight!" Liu shouted.

I pulled his arm and walked us out of the gym. Once the door closed behind us I turned back to him. "Do you remember Hanzo? Do you remember how...evil he is?"

"That has nothing to do with you!" He snapped.

"Yes it does, Liu! He's tried to kill me several times and every time I've gotten away from him. You weren't there, but the last time I saw him he was going to slaughter me on stage and I burned him to a crisp. He won't just let me live; he will come after us."

Liu ran a hand through his hair. "That doesn't matter. That doesn't matter! Let Johnny and the others handle this."

"Then Hanzo will come after us while the others try to fight off the others! I want to know what we're up against. I want to know who else is fighting with Hanzo."

Liu watched me for a good long while. The street light shining down the road wasn't bright enough to light everything around us, but it was bright enough to see his outline. I could see the silver line of his lips. The line of his jaw. Liu was very handsome. The lines on his face formed a story of their own; laughing at the kids' birthdays, frowning at my latest painting hobby, scared to death when Kent fell down the stairs - the face of a father and a husband. I wrapped my arms around him. He smelled good. Unlike me. I forgot to wear my new shirt; this one was the one Sira spit up on. Fantastic.

"You smell like Sira's spit rags." Liu said.

"Shut up, douche bag." I sighed into his shirt. After a moment I looked up into his face. "I just want to be ready. I want to defend my family."

He tucked a finger under my chin and tilted my head back a bit more. "You're not fighting Hanzo. But we can at least hear them out and see what's going on."