1 I
TRINIDAD & TABAGO
UNDERGROUND MM*MA FIGHT CLUB.
The sounds of rough fists hitting flesh never was a good source of white noise. The cheering of the crowd is the only thing that makes it easier for me to even be here.
"INTRODUCING OUR HUMAN COMPETITOR, CHEEEEEEEE HEART!" My eyes open, revealing a world dry and unsaturated with whisps of aura radiating off of every Kimyo within sight. Most of the whisps were similar in intensity, however, one of the two in the arena lacked what most had.
Che Heart, the "human" regular that always guaranteed a good show. Either from the sheer gore or to his impressive skill.
The complimenting thoughts quickly faded to the back of my mind as I watched Che pull off a ridiculous sequence that put his opposing Kimyo-talented-porcupine on his ass.
The crowd went absolutely bonkers, it was definitely a sight to see… Hell, I even feel proud of my older brother for once.
And as if he could hear my thoughts, his head turned towards me, his gaze matching mine as he threw a thumbs up and a goofy smile. Scoffing, I turn away.
With the match over and Che done for the night, I plan to meet him in his changing room, aid his recovery and then get on home. Yukiko, our youngest sibling, is probably worried sick.
As the thought crosses my mind, I abruptly stop in a rather thin hallway on the way to the changing rooms. Pulling out my phone, I'm not surprised to see not a single message from that little girl.
'Awe… Guess she's finally too old to miss me.' Scoffing at the idea mentally, I feel a rather heavy aura begin to weigh on me as I close near my brother's room. 'Wow, he's already here? Guess I took the long way…' Opening the door with two knocks as I push, I was greeted to a bloody sight.
Many puncture holes littered Che's body. His knuckles were completely devoid, curtesy to him holding onto his opponent and taking crazy damage in exchange for a lousy hit.
His eyes reflect off the mirror and we make rather awkward eye contact. Closing the door behind me, I enter the room and sit down on a protrusion out of the brick wall, acting like a makeshift bench.
Through grunted yelps and panting, Che speaks up. "Hey, Mye' I wasn't expecting you to show up." I hum, smirking as I remember his reaction TO seeing me. "Not like you're against it." Che chuckles, "Well yeah, I haven't seen you in what? Ten years? Of course, I'd be surprised." Shaking his head with an exasperated smile, he grabs a nearby towel and wipes down his face. One of his bandages peeled off with the motion.
His wet locs flop about, but they were soon restrained in a small bundle atop his head.
"Yeah, like you said. It's been wayyyy too long since we last hung out. I tried calling you a couple times. Don't think you have my new number." Che shrugged, letting the room get stagnant for a bit.
I shift, lazily leaning back against the wall, my head leaning against it. It's kind of chilly.
"What're you here for? Money? Trouble? Yukiko? Or are you just bored." I let his words sit for a bit as they stirred in my mind for a second longer than I'd have liked.
"Well, regardless of my reasoning, don't act like I only drop by when I need something from you. I've literally never taken anything from you." I deadpan at the man- That was quite the petty grudge he decided to hold on to.
"Aren't you a grown ass man?" I quip, joking around was one of our similar traits. It's why we get along so well.
"Chu~ I just always wanted to say that…" He says rubbing his nose with a single finger, dramatically looking the other way. I sigh, shaking my head as I let my neck go limp. My head fell forward, and I began to break out into lazy laughter, Che following soon behind me.
Moments later, we finally quieted down and Che was already all dressed and ready to leave. "It really is nice to see you again, bro. Glad it aint on nothing inconvenient." He tried to wrap me into a hug but just before his arms landed around me, he completely stopped in place.
I studied his reaction and completely lost it in another fit of laughter as Che almost began to scream. "Man, what! What the hell is this- "Before he could fully get into his tantrum, I recover swiftly and place my hand over his mouth, temporarily deactivating one of my techniques.
The man instantly quiets down under my covered hand and glares at me. Grumbling under his breath.
Tapping him on his shoulder awkwardly, I speak up. "Yeah, it's nice seeing you too. Now can we go? I'd like to get back to the crib before midnight." Che shrugs, "Let's go then." Is all he says.
As we leave the arena and I wait for Che to get his nightly earnings as well as get catcalled, we walk out into the blackened streets of Trinidad & Tobago.
A cool breeze instantly washes over us, causing Che to sigh with contention. "Man, this weather is the best. Gotta love it here." He says, beginning to walk down the pavement, away from me.
"Ah, where are you going?" Taking out some keys from my pocket, a blacked out 21' Lexus sports car beeps in response. Che stars slack jawed at me but eventually just shuts his mouth with a groan.
"Well excuse the hell outta me, big man. I didn't know I was brothers with a young prince." He jabs, chuckling. I shake my head, "Just get in the car."
…
We ride in silence, not a lot was said between us. There was many things I wanted to ask him. I wanted to get up to speed with how his life was going, how Yukiko was growing and fairing in this world without mom and pops.
But there's no time.
How could there ever be enough time to relax with family when there's a war right over the horizon?
