“Whatever. So who else knows?”
“Your boyfriend. Mai. Mai pretty much told the world from bed. You’d think she was losing her mind the way she screamed on the phone.”
I can imagine. She already feels bad enough about not being able to save my mother. I don’t want to imagine what she’d do if she lost me too. I close my eyes. What now? I didn’t expect that…thing to take Jin and leave me and I’m certain that was from the dragons. So why did they take him when I was right there?
Not that it matters. Now, I have to walk right in their faces if I want Jin back.
Vampire tilts her head. “Oh yeah. And of course Heaven knows. She sent out a memo saying you were in the hospital.”
I blink. “She knows?”
“Duh.” Vampire powers on her Gene Watch. “Info went from PoleControl to the hospital to everyone who’s a relevant contact from your record.”
I lay back down. “Speaking of work…You said they were moving?”
“Yeah, about that…” Vampire rubs the back of her neck. “I don’t know if it affects us or not. But they were moving a whole bunch of stuff. Can you believe there was even a woman hiding down in one lower floors. Nobody even knew—”
I prop myself up on an elbow. “Don’t joke with me, Vampire.”
Vampire puts up both hands. “Don’t look at me like that.”
“Where was she being taken?” I demand. “I need to know.”
“I don’t know. I could try to find out,” Vampire says. “Just give me time bish, sheesh.”
“Sorry. It’s just…really important.” I relax. “And thanks for coming to see me.”
She waves a hand. “No worries. That’s what being friends are for.”
The door opens. A stocky nurse rolls in a clunky-corded telephone on a tray for me. “Ms. Akiyama, there’s a call for you from a Mr. Reginald Beauregard. Do you want to speak to him?"
I nod and pick up the phone. “Hello?”
Right away, I get a frantic, “Babe, what’s going on? Why are you in the hospital?”
“A concussion apparently.”
He gathers a breath. "Do you need to be picked up? I think I can convince Dad to let me come by.”
I glance at Vampire, who’s scrolling through her Gene Watch, then I say, “Yes, there’s somethings I need to do at home.”
“What about Jin?” He presses. “He’s okay too right?”
“Jin is…” The word clogs in my throat. “Gone.”
“Gone? What do you mean?”
“Gone like kidnapped gone,” I say, running my other hand through my hair. “Someone took him. It’s a long story.”
Regi goes quiet for a while. “Oh…gods. Jun if I would’ve known. I never would’ve left.”
“No Regi. If you would’ve been there, you would’ve gotten hurt. There’s nothing anyone could’ve done.”
“But I still feel awful. It was like right after I stepped out for a minute.” He sighs. “I’ll be at the hospital in a little bit. I’m on my way.”
The moment the door opens, Regi lets out a breathy, “Holy shit…”
King’s body reeks like old fish now. His blood puddle stains middle of the living room. The dining room table leans against the wall in splintered ruin, mahogany wood chips mingling with glass from the broken chandelier bulbs and bits of patio door screening. My phone thankfully is untouched on the floor in all the mess.
I put a hand to my nose, walking to my phone. “I know.”
Regi scratches his head. “You want me to bury King? I know you probably don’t wanna touch him…”
“Please.” I stoop to pick up my phone. I have a lot of missed calls. And text messages. From Mai, Genji, Tammy, Tamotsu. And…
Shig?
Where the hell has he been?
“I’m going to call a few people back in my room and tell them I'm okay." I nod toward the patio. "There should be a shovel outside and some gloves.”
“Alright.” He leaves me alone in the living room.
I head towards my room. The stairs are in shambles too. Wall plaster dusts the beige carpeting like a light frost. There are holes and cracks in the wall. On the third floor, the grandfather clock still makes its obnoxious tick. Why couldn’t the demon have destroyed that at least? I don’t need another reminder that I’m pressed for time.
I turn on the light in my room. Sitting down at the desk, I dial Shig’s number.
The phone only rings once.
“Was wondering if you answered phones anymore.” His voice is raspy and hoarse.
“I just got home from the hospital. And you’re one to talk, buddy. People have been looking for you. What the hell happened to you?”
“Got mixed some weird freaks.” His voice gets considerably quiet. “I don’t want to talk about them.”
“What did you want then?”
“Wanted to ask a favor. It’s kind of important, and I don’t know who else I can trust to do it,” Shig says.
“And this favor would be…?”
“I need you to take care of a guy.”
I pause in my room doorway, making sure that Regi isn't anywhere close. Then I slip into my room and close the door behind me. “Care like kill him?”
“Yep. Are you up to it? I know it’s short notice and all, but it’s really important. And no one else I know wants to do it.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” I say. “Give me the information. Do you have a specific date in mind?”
“Can you get out of work tomorrow?”
“Shig…”
“Please?”
My gaze strays to the slices of coral light bleeding in through the window. “Alright. Just…give me more time next time around.”
"Don't worry. I probably won't be asking anything like this again."
Stifling a sigh, I rub my brow. “Well, let me get some rest. I feel like I need to lay down. A lot happened while you were MIA.”
"Well I want to hear all about it tomorrow," Shig says. “I’ll drive you.”
“See you tomorrow, then.”
I hang up and pack my laptop before going back down the stairs to find Regi closing the patio blinds with a sulky look on his face. “Are you alright?”
“That’s the question I should be asking you.” He shakes his head. “I just feel so awful, Jun. I was here. I just drove away and all this happens.”
I ease down on the couch. “It’s just as much my fault. I should’ve brought him with me last night. But there’s no point now. It already happened.”
“Yeah…” He glances at the huge stain of dog blood. “I’ll see if I can get this up.”
I frown. “We have stuff, but… I don’t know if it can get dry blood.”
Regi snaps his fingers. “Do you have a steel brush?”
“Yeah. Why?”
Regi sits on the couch. “My dad taught me a trick. All you need is a steel brush, some dishwashing detergent dish, and a white cloth.”
I walk into the kitchen and peek under the sink. There’s a steel brush in the back under the piping next to a pack of sponges. I grab the dishwashing detergent and hand it back to Regi.
We both work quietly. I scrape up the surface deposit with the steel brush while he mixes the detergent with cold water. It’s nice. Actually working together after so much turbulence these past few weeks. Ironic too, that we settle back into peace when the worst has happened.
I do notice that both of his hands are naked. And so are mine. The air seems to thicken almost into something solid. My chests gets heavy with the urge to say something, but it seems like there’s so much to say. Where do we even begin? I inhale the same way I did before talking to the Shogun. "Regi, I can't do it."
His green eyes meet mine. “Can't what, Jun?"
"Get married."
A tense quiet passes through the room.
I tense, waiting for the explosion. Waiting for the yelling. The hurt feelings. The anger. The sadness. But Regi hasn't moved, so long that I ask, �
��Are you mad?”
Regi shakes his head. “I…I always had the feeling that you weren’t as enthusiastic about it as me.”
Uncomfortable heat bears down on my face. I avert my gaze, unable to look at him. “I haven’t been completely honest either.”
“Honest about what?”
“Everything that’s been happening to me.” I swallow back the thick hesitance and I tell him everything. From Genji’s first blackmail to the men that killed my mother and their return. Well, almost everything. I leave the supernatural bits out. That secret, I feel, isn’t mine to tell.
And Genji of course.
Regi’s face goes from wide-eyed to full-on gape-mouthed horror. And by the end of it, he looks suspiciously like The Scream Of Nature. “Jun! Why didn’t you tell me all that was happening? I would’ve tried to help.”
“You never wanted to be bothered with anything Showguns-related. I always thought you wouldn’t want me if you knew, but…” My grip on the steel brush goes lax. I purse my lips briefly. “I feel like I made it happen anyway.”
Regi’s hand clamps into a fist. Then relaxes. “I never meant to make you feel like you couldn’t tell me anything.”
“I’ve been thinking that maybe I’m just not mature enough yet for getting married. Or maybe it’s just not meant for me. Do you…” I hesitantly meet his gaze. “Hate me?”
Regi looks at me as if I’ve grown a second head. “If I hated you for that, then you’re perfectly justified for taking off the ring.” He laces his hands together. His lips quiver a little, but he makes a thin line out of them, pressing them firm. “I won’t lie. It’s hurts a little. A lot. Mom, Dad, everybody, and I had their hearts set on this. But it’s not fair to push all the stuff we want on you like that.” His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows too and sniffs. He manages a strained smile. “If it’s any help, I think it’s pretty mature that you told me. Most people wouldn’t.”
I smile too.
He opens his arms. “Here.”
I embrace him, finally feeling all the tension in me leave. “I hope you find someone who makes you happy.”
“Mmhmm…” Regi pulls back. His expression becomes a little more pinched. “I hope I find someone as quick as you did.”
My mouth falls open.
“So…” He thumps my shoulder hard. “When were you going to tell me about him? Miss Suddenly Honest?”
The sharpness of the question takes me aback. “How do you even know about that?”
“The people at the hospital were all whispering about some handsome guy giving up so much money to get you out. Some of the nurses acted like they didn’t believe me when I said I was your boyfriend. And I can put two and two together.” Regi says with a huff. He squints at me. “Is he really that handsome? Was he good in bed?”
“W-why do you want to know that?”
He shrugs. “Well, we’re pretty much not together at this point, are we?" He folds his arms. "Besides, I want to know if I have to step up my game for my next girlfriend.”
5-9 'Ah'
I catch myself walking to Jin’s room the next morning and remember that there’s no Jin to walk to anymore. With pursed lips, I walk down the stairs, bracing myself for King to jump at me, but as I round the corner there’s only King’s empty dog dish and the faint outline where his blood pool had been.
Emptiness fissures through my chest. It’s still a wake-up slap that they aren’t there. I never really thought of them as something that could ever be missing from home—but then again, weeks ago I didn’t think that Megumi would be either. Or that Mai would get paralyzed. Or that Regi and I would ever break up. It’s surprising that Tammy’s house is still standing.
I knock on what’s left of the dining room table before passing into the kitchen.
Let’s not tempt fate, shall we?
Regi is in the kitchen, leaning against the counter with a bowl of mostly-eaten cereal in hand. He swallows his mouthful. “Morning.”
“Morning.” I open the cabinets for my mango green tea. “Are you staying?”
Regi shakes his head. “Can’t. Dad says I have to be at the studio today.” He turns to the sink and pours out the excess milk, before eating the last of it. “What about you? What are you going to do now?”
“My boss already knows I’m not coming in today,” I say. “I promised I’d help Shig out. But I might go and visit Mai. I heard that she’s awake.”
“Well, stay safe then. You’re the last one in the house.”
“I’ll try.” But these days anything could happen.
Regi heads into the living room. Minutes later, the door chuffs behind him.
I microwave hot water in my mug and watch Regi get into the car. An icy tinkling drips down my nape as Regi’s words sink in. I’m the last person here now, but what about when Tammy gets back? Getting my ass yelled at aside, is Tammy even safe? Would the dragons stop terrorizing everyone, even if they have me? But then again, if it was money they needed…
I shake my head and steep the tea bag. Listen to yourself. Everything I do now is because of them. I'm reminded too much of that night in the Honne, where that dragon woman controlled my body. I shudder. In a way, they still are controlling me, making me react, making me afraid.
I down my tea quickly, grab Cloud's gift jerky from earlier and stuff it into a bag to nibble on along with the regalia. I drive my Panda down to Mai's place.
Tamotsu answers the door with his arms folded and a glare that’s up to Mai-quality. “Why the hell didn’t you call after you got out of the hospital?”
“Sorry. I visited home and everything was a mess.” I slip past him. “How’s Mai?”
He pushes the button to close the door manually. “Go see for yourself.” His expression softens into a grin. “Mere mortals are allowed to go in now.”
About fucking time. I lay my regalia bag down, and text Shig briefly to remind him to come to Mai’s house before I sprint up the stairs.
“And what can I expect duty-wise?” Tiff’s voice drifts into my ears.
“It’s mostly just paperwork and approvals.” Mai’s voice is a croaky-whisper. “Boring I know.”
I poke my head into the room, rapping softly on the jamb.
Mai is propped up by a lot of pillows in Genji’s bed. Her face is pale and her hair looks like it’s been in a whirlwind. Tiff, in a foldable chair at Mai’s bedside, gives a small wave. “Welcome back. How are you feeling?”
“Thankfully, nothing hurts as much as it should. Akuma genes are doing their work,” I say.
Tiff nods toward Mai, “As are hers.”
“Speaking of you,” Mai rasps. “Can you please explain to me why the hell I got a call about you being in the hospital?”
“Well…” I prop myself against the white walls. “The house was attacked while I was out. You-Know-Who made off with Jin and they slaughtered King.”
Mai’s face contorts into a snarl. But she can only clench the sheets and scowl at the ceiling. “Oh that’s nice. That’s real fucking nice. If I could move—”
Tiff’s gaze darkens. “With all due respect, Ms. Fujiwara, you shouldn’t be straining—”
“RESPECT? WHAT THE HELL DOES RESPECT MATTER NOW?”
Tiff and I cringe at the volume of her voice.
Footsteps thud up the stairs. “What’s Mai yelling about now?” Tamotsu calls.
“Don’t mind me,” Mai mutters. “Just stuck in this damn bed while my friends and family get hunted down.”
Tamotsu stands beside me. “Mai, I know you’re upset, but this isn’t helping.”
Mai glowers at the ceiling and doesn’t offer any response.
Tiff stands up. “Maybe I should—”
“No Mimi.” Tamotsu jerks his head toward the hallway. “Let these two have some time alone.”
I do a double-take at him. Leave me alone with Mai after she just screamed her head off? Don’t get me wrong, I love Mai to bits, but I’d rather be sent back to the hospital than be
stuck with angry Mai.
Tamotsu fixes me with a stern look that says, Your turn to be the peacemaker. My shift is over.
Tiff’s eyebrows pull together as if reluctant to leave, but she obeys quietly. But not before mouthing good luck. Tamotsu nudges me in and seals the room shut.
I’m going to need more than luck. I take Tiff’s spot on the chair and bring my knees together, unsure of what to say. So I just say. “I’m still here.”
Mai turns her head towards me. “At least, I’ve done one thing right.” She closes her eyes. “Can’t believe I didn’t even get to see the guy. If we just got there a few—”
“He wasn’t there, Mai.”
“What?”
“It was a trap. Whoever you got that info from…” I reach for her hand. “They staged that meeting to get us to come.”
Mai’s stares at me. She snatches her hand away from mine. “Figures.”
“Mai, please give up this revenge thing. It’s not worth it.”
She doesn’t say anything. She hasn’t even noticed that I’ve been calling her by name.
I hold in my sigh. You’re supposed to be the mentor and I’m supposed to be the student. Not the other way around. Gods, was this what it was like teaching me? I hope not. I look away to the windows, the dressers, Genji’s books. What the hell would it take for this woman to get it through her head that she’ll just get killed if she keeps doing this? “Mom is at peace now. What would she say if she saw you still trying to murder these guys?”
Mai’s lips peel back at the statement until I can see her fangs. “She wouldn’t have gave a damn if it meant keeping you safe.”
“And I am safe.”
“Tch.”
I grit my own fangs. “Mai, all my Mom ever wanted from you was to make sure that I was okay. Why is it so hard for you to be happy with that? You’re hurting yourself. I hate watching that.”
Mai’s lip corners quiver. Then her mouth presses into a pale slash. Her nostrils flare. She sniffs and averts her gaze. In a quiet voice, she says, “She was my best friend, you know. Just like you and Megumi. If I hadn’t been so stupi—” Her voice cracks. “She’d be here with us, Jun. She’d be able to see you graduate middle school and high school and hear you laugh and see you cry and—Your mom can’t be there for you because of me. Because I’m a failure.”
Vicissitude Yang Side Page 51