Vicissitude Yang Side

by Destine Williams

  I click the next camp. “Now who’s getting snappy?”

  There’s quiet on the other line for a long time, so long that I check my phone to make sure my "fiancé" is still on the line. Time is still running on our call.

  “Have you been looking at cars you want right now?” Regi asks.

  “No, I get to drive Tammy's when she leaves though,” I say. “I might call Megumi’s dad and ask if he can get me a deal on a used one.”

  “Why would you want one of those? You could do better.”

  Another flare ignites. I scoff. “And what’s this better? Tell me, because I’m fucking broke right now.” Checking my mini-map again, I decide to recall in a bush and go back to base.

  Then there’s another pause. Gods, what is Regi doing over? “Does it have to be a car? What’s your license class? Yin? Yang?”

  “AB Yang. I can drive motorcycles, motorized bikes, stuff like that. But I haven’t done that in ages.”

  Regi gives a long yawn. “Well, let me take care of your car situation, then. I know just the thing!” He sounds overly eager. “Are you going to Thanks-A-Latte tomorrow?”

  Take care of this. Take care of that. All of this is starting to make me feel like a pigeon being stuffed into a cage. Regi’s never made a big deal about ‘taking care of me’ before. I click top lane where my lane is pushed against their tower and ping to signal that I’m on my way. “No. I already quit.”

  There’s a long exhale on the other side. In a softer voice he asks, “Then what did you call me for, Jun?”

  “To let you know. Because someone said no secrets between us.”

  “Yes, but that’s something I’d like to talk about before you make the decision. As a team.”

  I loop around the river, trapping the enemy Draco, a heavily armored vagabond. My top lane, Balu, pounces at once, the barbarian hacking away with his axe. I press “Q” to tackle and knock Draco up. Wait for him flash away. Pin him with “W”. Stun with “E”. He’s trapped. Balu dunks him with his axe. First Blood gold for Balu. Assist gold for me.

  “Jun? You still there?”

  I guide Thunder God to the safety of a bush to recall back to base. “Yeah. Sorry.”

  “I want to come see you tomorrow. Is that okay?”

  I open my mouth to mutter a yes, but then I remember Ken. “If you are it's going to have to be in the afternoon, I forgot I gotta meet someone tomorrow evening.”

  “Who?”

  “A friend is doing a tattoo for me.”

  “And how are you getting that? I thought it’s illegal to…” His voice trails off. “Don’t tell me one of your Showguns buddies is doing it.”

  The barbs in his tone cue a wave of tension in my hands. “What’s wrong with that?”

  “Babe, I really feel like you’re missing the point of this quitting thing.”

  My lips pinch together. With clenched teeth, I say, “I did quit. I’ve done all the stuff you told me to do. I want to do something for myself for a change. And how are you gonna tell me I’m missing the point? Didn’t you just suggest that I go back to pay for a new car?”

  “Jun—”

  “I’m getting it, Regi.”

  Another pause. Then a stiff-sounding, “I need to get to bed.”

  “Alright, goodnight.” We hang up. No ‘I love you’ this time. And in the silence, my muscles are tight and hotter than I remember being before I called Regi. My nosy breathing is the only sound in the room. Every breath feels like I’m feeding the tension. Blowing up. Like a puffer fish. Needles drawn.

  The rest of my match is uneventful. Even though my mind is on auto-pilot, the enemy team is too busy throwing their lives away to half-assed turret dives and even more half-assed team fights. As soon as the game clock ticks twenty, the enemy team opts to surrender. When the results screen come up, I double check the ranking to make sure I’m really in Challenger 3 and not the garbage brackets of Bronze 5.

  I log out of Lords of Earth. My issued phone starts ringing. I pick it up, then grimace.

  Meh. The Geisha. I get up and slip into bed, cuddling my pillow while I answer the phone. “What do you want?”

  “I haven’t even said a word and you sound like you’re ready to bite my head off, Hound.”

  “I just got off the phone with my boyfriend.”

  “Oh? And what did he do to get demoted from fiancé to boyfriend?”

  I close my laptop. “I’m sure you didn’t call me to talk about my personal life.”

  “No, but now you’ve piqued my interest, Hound.”

  “It was just an argument over money,” I say, hoping that vague answer won’t draw any probing questions. The last thing I want is to give the Geisha the satisfaction of knowing that his job offer caused all of this. “But then he started accusing me of snapping at him for no reason.”

  “Well, considering that you snapped at me before I said anything—”

  “That’s because I was irritated before I picked up the phone, Geisha.”

  “Exactly, meaning you have a poor handle on your feelings, Hound,” he says in a matter-of-fact tone. “But I suppose in your defense, did he even ask what was wrong?”

  “Not in a nice way. But he was too busy criticizing my ideas to be of any help.”

  “What a terrible fiancé you have. I would put my girlfriend’s emotional well-being first.”

  I roll my eyes. “There are girls that like you?”

  “Yes, there are. Because unlike certain snappy Hounds, Geishas are well-versed in the art of pleasing others and not being a grouch.”

  I try to think of a comeback to that, but I can’t. I’m too tired and his words are true. Geishas are given gene injections that help them detect others moods and body cues, as well as socialize better than the average person. “Go away. No one asked you to help me feel like shit.”

  “Aww, poor Hound,” He coos. “Regardless, I have a request for you.”

  “A request? Not a life-threatening demand this time?”

  “Were you hoping it to be a life-threatening demand?” He chuckles. “I think I could arrange it if you really—”

  “No thanks. What do you want me to do?”

  “I need you to come to the Gene Splicing Lab tomorrow morning.”

  “At PoleControl?”

  “Yes. Is there another Gene Splicing Lab I should know about?”

  “No. That just surprised me. Do you want me there at a certain time or what? Keep in mind I don’t have a car.”

  “You could always ride on the train with me. The Rabbit Line stops close to Pole Control.”

  “I don’t really want to buy—”

  “I’ll pay for it, Hound. You don’t have to worry about money with me.”

  “If you say so.” I finger the edge of my pillow. “I’m gonna need to get some sleep.”

  “Very well. Good night, Hound.”

  I hang up and check the time. 11:39. Usually about now, Megumi would be getting up from the computer, but now only her empty chair faces her open laptop.

  I hope you’re okay. There’s gotta be something else I can do. If she’s not in the PoleControl system, and the police didn’t find anything at TRI, what else could there be? Why would Megumi suddenly go off the radar?

  My muscles already feel heavy and uncooperative, wanting rest and funny cat videos instead. I pull out the puzzle box from the corner of my desk, running my fingers over the tiny pilgrim at the shrine steps. I tip him forward, making him bow.

  Click! The shrine pops from the base.

  First half of the puzzle solved. I pick up the small shrine. Now what the hell was this sequence? Third-fifth? Fifth-third? I poke at the log-like katsuogi laid on top of the shrine roof, but neither move. Hmm, I’m pretty sure those are supposed to move. Maybe there was something else I’m supposed to do before? I set it down on the desk. I pull the covers over me.

  Strips of streetlamp light filters through the blinds. Drowsiness weighs my eyelids down.

  Then
the image of a snake’s head appears in the light of the blinds.

  My eyes snap all the way open. What the—? I sit up. The snake from the shrine is all I could think. It couldn’t have followed me here, could it?

  But as I peer through the window, I see nothing but Tammy getting out of her car. And she certainly isn’t a snake.

  You’re hallucinating. Get it together. Sighing, I reach for the blinds, twist the thin side rod until the light chokes out.

  Window rain-patter and the scent of coffee gets me out of bed the next day at 6:20. I rush to get dressed and head downstairs to find Tammy at the kitchen table with the newspaper in hand. Jin spoons cereal into his mouth while texting on his phone.

  As soon as I make it to the kitchen doorway before Tammy lowers her newspaper. “Not so fast there, kitty-cat. What’s this about you quitting Thanks-A-Latte?”

  My innards tighten. I was really hoping that I’d get to bring up the Thanks-A-Latte thing on my own. Because whenever Tammy gets to bring something up, it usually comes along with either her snarkiness or a lot of questions. Or both. “I was going to talk to you about that.”

  Tammy adjusts her glasses. “When? After I leave?”

  “No. I just wanted to be sure about my new job first,” I say, opening the cabinet for my daily tea.

  She raises an eyebrow. “You quit before you were sure about this new job?”

  “No, no, it’s not like that. The job is guaranteed, but they gave me time to think it over with family.”

  “Uh-huh.” From Tammy’s tone it’s hard to tell if it’s a good uh-huh or a bad uh-huh. “What’s this job?”

  “I’m working in a lab.” Seeing Tammy’s face screw-up in confusion. “They’re testing virtual reality technology.”

  “TRI?”

  I blink. “You’ve heard of it?”

  “Yes, it was in the paper the other day,” Tammy says. “How’d you land that?”

  “I have friend who works there and she thought I’d be a good fit,” I say.

  At this Jin looks up, then he briefly ducks his head down and types quicker on his phone.

  Tammy nods slowly. “Just make sure that this position is permanent. Beta testing doesn’t stay in the beta stage forever.”

  “I will. Don’t worry.” I grab the mango green tea box, only to find it empty. Dammit. Guess I’ll have to buy more. “I’m surprised you’re not mad at me.”

  “Mad at you?”

  “For quitting.”

  Tammy gives a wry smile. “Oh come now. I figured you wouldn’t want to stay at Thanks-A-Latte forever. I’m more relieved that people are willing to hire Pua Moana these days. Most recruiters in other companies still don’t even consider it.”

  I close the cabinet. I’ll just get something to drink at the train station.

  “If you’re going out today, don’t forget to take an umbrella outside if you’re going out,” Tammy says. “It’s supposed to be raining all day today.”

  Perfect cuddle weather and I’m wasting it with the Geisha. But after yesterday’s phone conversation, I don’t really feel like spending it with Regi either. At least I have Ken and the progress on my tattoo to look forward to.

  In the corner of my eye, I catch Jin looking at me again, but when I turn around he looks down at his phone quickly. What? I open my mouth to call him, then I remind myself that I have a train to catch and head back upstairs to get my umbrella and my jacket.

  Halfway up the stairs, I pause. Come to think of it, I never asked Jin how he got into my safe box in the first place, did I? I mean sure he could’ve random guessed it, but my safe box combination isn’t anything predictable. There’s no way he could know that code on his own unless he was part of Showguns, and that’s even less believable than Jin getting my code. But still, I know for a fact that I didn’t leave my safe box unlocked.

  I’ll have to ask him when Tammy isn’t around.

  I yank my cream jacket out of the closet and make a start for my keys when my issued phone starts ringing. I pick it up and answer. “Hello?”

  “Yo, Jun.” It’s Shig.

  “Hey, I’m about to walk out the door,” I say. “What’s up? Did Mai finally give you the approval?”

  “Yeah, Tamotsu is going to get back to me when I get back to work. I found something else funny in the Geisha’s records though.”

  “Really?” A smile sprawls across my lips. “Do tell.”

  “This might sound kind of random, but didn’t you used to live in District 3?”

  My eyebrows scrunch. “District 3?”

  “Sorry. Taitai Prefecture,” Shig says.

  Taitai is a name I haven’t heard in years. Last time I was there, my mother was still alive. “Yeah, a long time too. What about it?”

  “Residence 323.F?”

  “What street is that? I don’t know all the codes.”

  “Cha Avenue.”

  My mouth falls open. “That’s my street!”

  “I figured. I just got a pic of the house and it looked like your old one, but I wanted to be one hundred percent sure. But when I went further back on the Geisha’s records, that came up a lot. It came up recently too.”

  “But I don’t know what he would want at my old house. Does anyone even live there now?”

  “Nope. It’s been vacant since the year you left.”

  “Then what’s he there for?”

  “Don’t know, but he’s been consistent about going there at about two in the afternoon, if that means anything to you.”

  “Two?” I run a hand through my hair. “Uhh, gods…I think mail gets delivered through the mail chute at about 1:30.”

  “Mail?” Shig echoes. “Huh…Why have mail go to an abandoned building? Couldn’t he just get it at home?”

  “Unless he doesn’t want anyone to know he’s getting it,” I say.

  “Could be worth a look then, if you don’t mind a walk down memory lane. Might be the dirt you’re looking for.”

  “Alright. I’ll keep that in mind. But now I need to get on the train. I’m coming up to PoleControl.”

  “Aww really. I’ve got a doctor’s appointment today. Too bad I won’t be at work. But I’m not gonna hold you. Ciao.”

  “Later.”

  I hang up and hurry out at 6:45. Rain plops onto my furred hood and drives into my face. I shield myself with my umbrella and start my walk to the train station. It’s amazing how much overnight rain can change a city. Puddles soak the asphalt, overcast skies brooding over homes and swaying trees, the few cars that are on the road this early push slowly through the rain, and pedestrians, faces buried deep in their jacket hoods, become as foreign-looking as aliens.

  I find the Geisha standing under the awning of the station, shaking out his umbrella with a frown.

  “Enjoying the rain, Geisha?” I tease.

  He wraps the velcro strap around his umbrella. Then he reaches for the door and holds it open for me. “As much as I love the doom and gloom of rainy weather, I’m not fond of being outside when it rains.”

  I head in. We get our tickets, then go to a small cafe. I order a green tea latte and ham and cheese croissant while the Geisha orders a caramel frappucino and a turkey bacon sandwich. And from the walk to the lines all the way until we board the train, the Geisha is quieter than usual. And he’s not reading either. “No Schopenhauer today?” I ask.

  The Geisha nibbles at his sandwich as he sits down across from me. “I forgot to bring a book from home. I was in a bit of a hurry.” His tone is close-ended and doesn’t invite further conversation on the subject.

  Put-off a little by this unGeisha-like behavior, I sip my warm latte quietly and look out the window.

  Then he suddenly asks, “How is Jin?”

  “Jin?”

  He finishes his sandwich and starts folds the wrapping paper in a way that reminds me of Megumi. “Yes. Isn’t he going to cram school? Or did Tammy not enroll him yet?”

  “Who told you that?”

  “Ta
mmy, of course.”

  “He hasn’t been accepted yet as far as I know. I don’t know where he’s going though.”

  The Geisha’s folding slows down. “Tammy didn’t say at all?”

  “No, but there’s only like three in Aokai. It’s gotta be one of those three.”

  “I see. He was stressing about getting in.”

  Stressing? “He wants to get in to cram school?”

  The Geisha shrugs, creasing his makeshift origami project further. “Well, he wants to go to Tokaido University like your friend, so I’d imagine that he’d want a competitive advantage.”

  “Huh.” I bring my latte cup to my lips. “That’s news to me.”

  He raises an eyebrow. “You don’t pay attention to what’s going on in your own family?”

  “Pay attention?” I huff. “I listen to what people tell me—”

  “As a Hound should—”

  “And if they choose not to tell me something, I don’t pry unless I really need to know.”

  “Mmhmm.” The Geisha finishes his last few folds and sets a finished s-shaped dragon on the table. It would look more cool if it didn’t have chibi coffee cups smiling all over the body.

  “Not bad. Is this a sign that you’re incredibly bored?”

  The Geisha chuckles. “You can see I don’t cope well without books.”

  I click my tongue at him. “Shame.” Then I strip the paper from my croissant and pass it to him. “Here.”

  He cocks his head. “You want me to fold your paper?”

  “Yes. Surprise me, Geisha.”

  The corner of his lips quirk up into a smile. “Very well. Don’t look then.”

  The remainder of the train ride consists of me constantly asking if I can look yet, and the Geisha gently tutting back at me. Until finally, we reach our stop in Yamamura.

  I get up. “Good gods, Geisha. What the hell are you folding that’s taking so damn long?”

  He gets up with me. “For your information, I finished a minute ago, Hound.”

  “Then why didn’t you say something?”

  “Dramatic buildup.” He hands me his finished project: an origami bird opening its wings.

  I squint at it. “Is that supposed to be a crane?”

  “A phoenix.” The Geisha picks up his dragon. “It’s a Yin and Yang thing. Usually they say the tiger is the enemy of the dragon and they put it on the Yang symbol, but I like the phoenix better.”