Price of Honor
Chapter 10
Kevin's stomach turned painfully as the words echoed in his weary mind.
The tie breaker match will be between the winners of each faction, the Legacy of Doom's Poltergeist and Executioner versus the Muscle League's Kid Muscle and Kevin Mask…
"No!" Robin's abrupt shout startled the ailing chojin from his thoughts. He turned to see his father vigorously shaking his head. "I'm sorry, son, but I'm forbidding you from fighting in that match!"
Although the old man meant every word he said…looking into the sad azure eyes of his child, he knew that he couldn't hold up to it. Kevin didn't want to fight in that match any more than the elder Mask did. But the lad had given his word to the cause, and honor forbade him from backing down. Robin understood that better than anyone, and for the first time, an almost blasphemous question burned itself into the old man's mind.
Was the price of honor too high?
Fortunately, the tie-breaker match was going to be held in England, roughly one hour from Robin's mansion. It was but a small comfort. At least they wouldn't have to do much additional traveling. As much as Kevin had always enjoyed traveling, the mere act itself seemed to sap his vitality like a leech.
At the moment, the trio stood within the gym that had been assigned to them by Kevin's doctor. There, waiting for their arrival, was a personal trainer specifically assigned by the same physician.
Looking over the relatively small man, Robin was surprised by the unimpressive physique. Truly, the instructor looked more like a doctor himself than anything else.
After a brief but friendly introduction, Dr. Thom (even he referred to himself as a doctor!) started the young chojin off on a stationary bike. However, the minute Kevin started pedaling, the trainer shook his head. "Stop!"
The young man turned to look at his new instructor in the same confusion that showed in the eyes of his two caregivers. "What?"
"I know you used to be a professional wrestler, Sir Mask, and I'll bet that gives you a 'no pain, no gain' mentality. However, with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, you're going to have to start off slowly. Think of it as learning to walk again. First you begin with baby steps, and eventually you will be able to run." the trainer explained. "Now try it again, but this time, slowly."
Kevin started pedaling more slowly, and still the instructor shook his head. The ailing chojin continuously slowed down, until the pedaling was almost at a crawl. At that point the man nodded and made the 'perfect' motion with his hand. "This is pathetic…the machine's barely even registering! I can do better than this…"
"I know you can, Kevin," the trainer said, purposely using his first name this time in an attempt to make a more casual, personal atmosphere. "However, the point of these exercises is to give you more energy. If you work too hard, you will only exhaust yourself and make your illness worse."
Looking at his father out of the corner of his eye, the young man felt quite uncomfortable exercising at such a pitifully slow rate. Faintly he remembered a time and place when even his hardest training was not enough in the old man's eyes. Robin, who was sitting on a chair in deep thought, didn't seem to notice his son's nervous glance.
"I'll train with you," Croe suddenly murmured as he hopped onto a stationary bike next to Kevin's. He then started pedaling at the same speed as his comrade.
The ailing chojin glanced over at his friend with appreciation. It didn't look quite so foolish exercising at such a pitifully slow rate if there were two of them.
"I have a question…" The softness of Robin's barely audible voice brought with it an air of apprehension so thick one could cut it with a knife. "What would happen if he…exercised too hard? Just once, just for a little bit. He'd be a bit tired…but alright, wouldn't he?"
Kevin and Croe immediately knew the old man was referring to the former's upcoming match. The trainer looked at him in silence, as if contemplating an answer.
"Well…what would happen is that his strength would be drastically sapped. Best case scenario is that he would be extremely fatigued and may take days or even weeks to recover, but a full recovery would be possible," the instructor answered.
"And the worst case scenario?" Croe asked.
"…his vitality would be drained so completely that he won't even have enough for his organs. In other words, his heart will stop."
"You're not fighting in that match!" Robin declared as soon as they entered his vast mansion. Croe purposely kept a temporary oath of silence. This was not the time nor place for his interference. A small sigh escaped Kevin's lips, almost inaudible due to the mask that covered his visage. He was growing increasingly weary and needed to lay down.
"Father…you know I have to. I gave them my word…and my word is my honor-"
"Fuck honor!!" The blasphemous words uttered from the old man's mouth stopped everything dead in its tracks. Silence enveloped the room like a fog. Kevin could only stare at his parent in utter astonishment. No one, no one, was as obsessed with honor as Robin Mask. Rarely had anyone ever gone to such great lengths to preserve his nobility, to maintain the reputation he had earned. For him to be so eager to throw it all away…
"Dad…" the ailing chojin whispered. The small voice pulled the legend from his infuriated train of thought.
"Please…" Robin said in a voice barely audible. He approached his son and placed both hands on his shoulders. "…if you must fight…promise me…promise me that you will not overdo it… That… even if it costs you the match…if you feel yourself tiring that you will stop…" There was a long moment of silence. The two Mask generations looking into each other's glowing eyes.
Kevin didn't know what to say. The inflicted young man was obligated to fight that match until the bitter end…if he were to make a promise, he would be compelled to honor it. To do both would be impossible. Yet…looking into the worried eyes of his father, he could not bring himself to say it. For once in his entire life, he truly felt loved by the one person that he needed it from the most… The utter worry in those burning crimson eyes touched the ailing chojin in a place he had long learned to squelch. He, Kevin, the one who cared nothing about what others thought of him, the one who could say anything to anyone without even a hint of anxiety…could not bring himself to utter a simple "no."
"Promise me…" Robin suddenly pulled his son into an embrace, hoping that his only flesh and blood won't allow himself to be ripped from his weakening mortal coil. "…Kevin…"
"… …yeah, Dad…I promise…" was the whispered reply.
"Thank the queen!" The old man tightened his hold, almost crushing him in his grasp.
Kevin could only stare at the photos aligning against the wall in numbed silence. In two days, one oath will be broken.
"You don't plan on keeping that promise, do you, Kevin?"
Sitting on the edge of his bed, staring blankly at the photos on his dresser, Kevin did not respond. It wasn't that he did not hear, or was trying to ignore, Croe's question. He just couldn't reply. How could he, when he himself didn't know the answer?
The ailing chojin could feel the bed dip slightly as his companion sat behind him. Still he did not react, even when the older man's hand rest on his shoulder.
"…I will not pressure you. Do what you feel is best. Just ask yourself one question. Is the price of honor worth your life? Your father doesn't seem to think so."
With that said, Croe released his hold and retreated from the room.
Laying on his back in his bed, with one forearm resting underneath his head, Kevin stared at the dark ceiling. Twenty four hours… one day exactly from this very moment…
…until his match.
"Kevin?" the young chojin turned his head to see Croe opening the door. "Are you having trouble falling asleep, comrade?"
Wanting to preserve and gain as much strength as absolutely possible, Kevin had decided to turn in early. However, intending to fall asleep and actually doing it are two completely different things. Although he felt very tired (he always felt so very tired, it seemed…), he could not will himself to sleep.
"A little…" the ailing chojin answered honestly.
Croe walked in and sat down on the edge of the bed. "How do you feel?"
"Fine," was the response.
The coach shook his head. "I mean…about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome…about your match tomorrow…about everything."
There was a small pause. Kevin looked up at the ceiling. "…to be honest, Croe, I'm scared. Never has my body betrayed me like this…I had always been able to rely on myself, I never needed anyone. My matches were always dangerous…but because of the brutality of my enemy…not because of my own output…"
His eyes remained on the ceiling, unable to meet the gaze of his friend. Suddenly, he felt the bed covers shift slightly and glanced over to see Croe laying down next to him.
"Don't worry, my friend," he finally stated. "Between you and young Kinnikuman, I know you will succeed. How about this, just tag Kid Muscle in whenever you're feeling tired. You can take that time to recover your strength, and Kid can tag you back whenever you're ready. That'll give him periods to rest as well."
Kevin nodded, although his voice held no confidence. "Yeah…that might work…Thank you, Croe…I'm sorry to have dragged you into this…"
"You did not drag me, I came willingly. Be it to the heavens or the pits of hell, I will be where you need me," his heartfelt reply was odd, but immensely touching. With a weakening smile, the young chojin rested his hand ontop of his companion's. Croe responded by closing his fingers over Kevin's hand. Afterwards, the youngest heir of the Mask heritage's eyes drifted shut as he slowly succumbed to sleep.
After watching his young protégé's slumber for a short while, Croe too closed his eyes.
In the middle of the night, Robin sat in the kitchen fixing himself a glass of milk. He could not sleep, as the thoughts of his son in that match with his condition worried him to insomnia.
At least, hopefully, the stress has not kept Kevin awake. He mused. He needs the rest more than anyone else.
With that in mind, the legend walked up the stairs to his son's bedroom to make sure he had fallen asleep alright. Pushing the door open quietly, the old man nearly had a stroke at the sight.
Kevin. Croe. In bed. Together!!
BY THE QUEEN!!
Robin quickly clamped his hands over his mouth to stifle the sounds. Not that it would have done much good anyway, as his mask was still on. Somehow, it worked and he managed not to utter a single peep.
Immediately he receded away and pressed his back against the wall.
He had promised Kevin that he would be there for him…no matter what he did or what lifestyle he chose… His oath continuously repeated itself in his mind like a broken record. For so many years he had looked for his son. Finally they had reconciled their differences…and were even growing close again…
Robin shook his head. He made a promise…and he was going to honor it. At least…Croe was certainly a nice, honorable man, albeit quiet. The coach was the epitome of reliability, and his loyalty was unquestionable. If this was the lifestyle Kevin was compelled to follow…and the person he chose to be with, then Robin was going to welcome him into the family with open arms.
That is…after the match is over.
The match is set to begin.
Everything is in place.
The fighters are ready.
It's good to go.
Just one thing that cannot be set right.
One thought that lingers in a ravaged mind.
One broken promise that tightens a weakened heart.
A question that cannot be answered.
What is the price of honor?
Author's Notes: Good, I managed to finish this chapter on time. Unfortunately, the next one will not likely be posted until around the end of Christmas Break for various reasons. I wanted to get this one up before tomorrow if it was humanly possible…which is why I'm sitting here at 4:30 AM…I need to get some sleep. T_T I'm not sure if the lack of action in this chapter makes it boring. The point of it is simply to show the conflict. Obviously, Kevin is compelled by honor to fight to the best of his abilities. But if he overdoes it, the results could spell disaster. If Kid Muscle is able to carry the match on his own, then there won't be anything to worry about. However, if Executioner and Poltergeist are too powerful for them to handle…at what lengths will Kevin be willing to go to achieve victory and preserve his honor? Merry Christmas to you all and thank you for taking the time to read my story. Hopefully this chapter does not disappoint.