Chapter Eleven
After Yuito had headed out, Keiji decided it was the perfect opportunity for a quiet evening. Not that he has had many of those in his life, but he thought it would be nice to just stay home and do nothing for once. He made toast, had the television and a very nice couch.
So he just wound down and watched what appeared to be a compilation of several combat duels from the past years. Probably high ranking matches that is. He felt that if Yuito was about to compete against these people he should probably know about a few there.
Well, he would've, but after he was just five minutes in, he heard a knock on the door.
"I'm not buying anything and I'm not looking to find god," he yelled towards the door before getting up.
"We're not selling anything," he heard a male voice through the door that sounded oddly familiar.
"Gorou?" he said upon opening the door, "why are you here?"
Gorou was a boy that was almost as old as Yuito and Keiji, but definitely more built, as he had worked as a bouncer for several clubs before he became homeless. The two of them had met him a few times over the years they were in the same predicament.
The boy outside of the door seemed just as surprised as Keiji: "Wasn't expecting to find you here. I'm here on a job."
Looking past Gorou, Keiji noticed two more guys with a similar physics: "Look I'm sure you have the wrong door. We don't owe anybody money."
"We're not here for debt and whether we have the right door or not is up to the boss," Gorou pushed inside the room, with the two others following suit. Taking a quick look around, he eventually returned to the door: "Location is safe, Miss. You may enter."
After a few moments, a young woman appeared in the doorway. Blonde hair tied to a ponytail, brown jacket over jeans and a white blouse, pearl necklace, bracelets, overall she looked quite posh.
Yet it took her ten seconds of staring at Keiji to actually do something, which was pulling him into a bone breaking hug: "Oh my god Keenan it's really you."
"Lady, I think you have the wrong guy," Keiji said confused, "so if you wanna keep this up I'll have to start charging you."
She pulled away a little, so Keiji could see her face and that she was in fact crying. The situation was confusing him even more now, as she looked oddly familiar to him.
"You don't recognize me," she stated, "of course, how could you, it's been fifteen years, you were three. Keenan, I'm Jeanie. I'm your sister."
And within a second, all of Keijis confidence faded away.
"Get out," he said under his breath.
"What?" Jeanie said, losing her smile.
"Get out!" Keiji yelled, pushing her back towards the door, "where were you when I needed you? When I ate from dumpsters and slept in the sewers? What were you doing all these years? Did you even think of me?"
"Don't you dare touch, Miss Jeanie," Gorou grabbed Keiji from behind, who was fully prepared to beat him up with how angry he was feeling.
"Don't you dare touch my brother," Jeanie yelled back, "he has every right to be angry at me. You go take a few rides around the block until were finished. But first you get us a bottle of wine from the car, I think we'll need that."
"A bottle? And what are you gonna drink?" Keiji said, earning a laugh from Jeanie.
"Three bottles," she said to her three bodyguards before they left the room.
Calming down a little, Keiji took his seat on the couch: "You carry wine in your car?"
"I'm a really stressed person. And have a driver," she replied, "Can I take it you don't go by the name Keenan anymore?"
"Call me Keiji."
"That's gonna take some adjusting, after hearing your old name on a daily base."
"How did you find me, and why just now?"
"Straight to the big questions. Your friend dueled against Noro and someone told me it was quite watchable, and I eventually saw you on the stands on his 'family and friends' seats," she explained, "you know, father took your picture to a guy who can 'age' it. Means I had a somehow accurate picture of how you'd look now. So, I had some people do some research, got the address of this Yuito guy and was actually gonna ask him about you. Didn't expect you to be here."
"Yuito went out for the evening, he's my roommate."
"Just roommates? Great, one thing less to explain to father."
"Funny."
"Breaking the tension."
"So our dad is still alive? And what about mom?"
"Father is still alive yes. Mother is… well, she's on a cruise. Or at least, that's what father always tells me."
"I could say that I'm sorry but that would be a lie. I stopped thinking about you years ago."
"I can't blame you. It's okay, it's been shortly after… you know. She couldn't take it. Even I barely remember her and I'm four years older than you."
"I take it dad doesn't give a shit about me, seeing he's not with you? Or are you just the vanguard, before the big guns drop in?"
"I didn't tell him," Jeanie said. Seeing that Keiji wanted to say something, she quickly cut him off: "It's not that he doesn't care. It's the total opposite. For the past fifteen years, there's not a day where he hasn't been thinking about you. Father mobilized everything in his power to find you. Went to afternoon talk shows, news programs, did this picture thing, all this kind of stuff. He plastered every room in our place with pictures of you."
"Then why didn't he find me?"
"Looked in the wrong places, I'd assume. Everybody thought you've been taken to another country, or another city, or maybe even the countryside outside of the polices reach. Not that you would be right in front of our nose."
"That sounds like the worst excuse ever."
"Maybe it does, but its the truth."
The pair was interrupted by a knock on the door, which turned out to be Gorou delivering three bottles of red wine and two glasses for Jeanie, after which he promptly made off again.
"How did he get to work for you? He never seemed like the guy who would take orders," Keiji asked, while Jeanie opened the bottle and poured herself a glass of wine.
"You know Gorou?" she asked before continuing, "I figured out a while ago that people like Gorou can be much more loyal and trustworthy than regular bodyguards, for about half the cost, and they're still thankful for the opportunity. If you know how to keep them in line, that is."
"I met him a few times. That's about as close as you can get out there," Keiji replied and took the bottle from his sister. He didn't pour himself a glass however, he just took three big chugs from the bottle instead.
"Now I'm convinced you're my brother," Jeanie said, just slightly in awe, "that's impressive."
"A rare skill to show off with," Keiji replied. "You said you didn't tell dad about me. Why not?"
"Because I'm not sure how he'll take it. It's been fifteen years after all. I'm planning to do it slowly and see how he reacts to it. He's not the youngest anymore and I'm scared for his well-being."
"Bold to assume that I do want to meet him."
"How come?"
"I've been living in the dirt for four years now and no one of you found me. I don't want to meet dad, I didn't want to meet you either."
"So you were stuck with him for eleven years?"
"Probably. It's not like I could read a calender or something. Only learned that after I got out."
"So you're a binge drinker and you're smart? There's definitely talent in our family."
"You're trying to butter me up to tell you more."
"And you have such good people skills," Jeanie replied, slightly sarcastic, "but nonetheless, how did you get out?"
"If you're expecting something you can write a book on, it's not that cinematic. I think the asshole had a heart attack or something, I woke up to prepare breakfast and he was lying dead in his bed. I didn't bother any further, searched the key and got out."
"There goes my movie deal," she said, taking the last sip out of her glass, "mind refilling that?"
"You'd need to open a new bottle," he replied, putting the empty one he had back on the table.
"I had one glass."
"Precisely."
Jeanie eventually complied and opened the second bottle, pouring herself a glass before handing it over to Keiji.
"It was a good idea to fill me up," Keiji said, his speech slowly becoming slurry, "but some of my stories will take much more than what you brought."
"Safe them for another occasion then."
"You think that after this evening you'll want to see me again?" he asked, "after all the efforts I'm taking to seem unlikable."
"Can't choose family can you?"
"You can."
"Quite the buzzkill. Cheers to that," Jeanie replied and clinked her glass against the bottle.
"Cheers," Keiji said, but before drinking, he asked: "How did it happen anyway? I always wondered."
"I see the alcohol is working," Jeanie replied, "It was the 19th of September, mother went to an amusement park with the both of us. You were playing with the water at a fountain and I got her to buy us cotton candy. I wanted pink so badly, the vendor had to set up a whole new bowl. Mom regularly looked back at you but when we were done and she had paid, you were gone."
"You remember that so thoroughly?"
"I don't. I was eight. But I've heard the story a billion times over the years. Besides, my life also changed quite a bit on that day, so I might as well remember it."
"You stayed with mom and dad. Well, only dad after a while, so I doubt you've had lots of trouble."
"It's true. I stayed with my parents, went to a private school, top of my class, plenty of great career options to choose from. And to father all I am is your sister. The sister of his missing favorite son."
"Oh please," Keiji replied, "you're trying to get me to pity you because daddy doesn't pay enough attention to his girl?"
"That would be too much irony," Jeanie replied, "and probably a little tactless."
"Oh, no, I'm sure you cannot get any more tactless."
"You know how to talk to a lady. Should be the alcohol speaking."
"No it's not," Keiji said, emptying the second bottle and cracking open the third, "care for a refill?"
"I'm passing."
"Suit yourself then," Keiji said, "I'm taking this as a belated birthday present."
"Do as you may," Jeanie said, "as per belated birthday presents though."
She got up and opened the door, picking up a package with colorful wrapping and a golden ribbon: "I missed several opportunities for gifts, so I hope this is a start."
Ripping open the pack, it turned out to be a brand new Combat Duel Disk, still in a factory-new packaging: "How the fuck did you pay for this? These cost a fortune."
"I didn't pay for this," Jeanie replied.
"So you stole it? Is this why you're giving it to me?"
"May I finish my sentences? I didn't steal it, I got it from my agency."
"A few days ago I had to explain to Yuitos agency why I bought noodles instead of rice because its a little bit more expensive."
Jeanie just laughed at the remark: "Keiji I think I am at a slightly better position than your friend. If I tell them that I want a Duel Disk that contemplates my new eye shadow, they better get me a Duel Disk that contemplates my new eye shadow or I'll find myself an agency that does."
"That sounds… wow," Keiji said, "How many guys did you have to screw for that?"
"Countless ones and several girls too. But not in the way you think. That's all the perks of being rank two."
"Rank two as in the ranking list? As in, you're the Silver Princess?"
"God, people still use that moniker? I'll have to have a serious talk with my agency."
"What's the matter with it?"
"Talk about constantly reminding me I'm always just second place."
"I cannot accept this Duel Disk," Keiji said, "this is way too expensive."
"Fair enough I'll just leave it here. I'll doubt you'll throw it away."
"If you're trying to buy my favor, I'm gonna tell you..."
"I'm not," Jeanie interrupted him, "this is a gift. I get these for free. I have three, to contemplate the heels I wear to a duel."
"So what am I gonna do with this?"
"Duel? Summon huge solid vision monsters and kick ass? I'm not saying go get a contract but if you wish sure. I could give you the contact address of my agency, but that wouldn't be a good idea because they're damn sure gonna market you as my brother and then dad would know you're alive."
"How do I kick ass with solid vision? It's limited to be non-lethal."
"Note to self, don't use figurative speech with a drunk Keiji," Jeanie replied, "before you drink yourself into a blackout, the Duel Disk has an app named 'EmergenSister'. Yes, I thought of that myself. I had someone program that for me, it activates GPS tracking and speed dials my number. If you're ever in trouble just give me a call, I have some huge boys waiting to beat up people who bother my little brother."
"That's a fucking stupid pun."
"Change the name for all I care, I just want you to remember it's there."
"I can assure you that I will remember this, yet never use it," Keiji said while getting up, "after all I'm not drunk. Now if you'll excuse me I'll need to use the bathroom."
Nearly knocking over the table, Keiji stumbled to the bathroom door, after which Jeanie only heard him vomiting in the toilet.
"Then I went to check on him and then you came home," Jeanie finished her explanation to Yuito. The two decided to share the leftover wine that Keiji didn't finish before throwing up. Halfway through her story he got out of the bathroom and just crashed in bed, but they doubted he knew what was going on.
"Seems I'm not the only one with a strange evening," he replied, with Jeanie just sighing in response.
"I know hearing these things about Keiji must be hard for you. If you have any questions, I'm happy to answer them."
"He told me about it, actually."
If this caught Jeanie off-guard she at least didn't show it: "Really? He refused to tell me anything in detail."
"He's known you for half an hour. And much of that detail you better not want."
"Based on what he said, you've got him much more drunk than I got him tonight?"
"Not me, unfortunately. You see," Yuito started, "I landed on the streets when my dad died. The first months were a rough time but I somehow made it through. I had a hideout in the severs, back then they didn't patrol those yet. While I was on my way looking for food I eventually encountered Keiji at a pizza hub, where he was trying to fish an uneaten slice of pizza out of the trash. When I offered to help him, he stumbled backward, threw up on the streets and then fainted. Think he broke some of his teeth when he hit the curbstone."
"Ouch," Jeanie replied, "and what did you do?"
"I didn't know what to do. Never had someone lose consciousness in front of me, so I took him back to my place and got him some food as well."
"Most people would have left him lying there."
"In hindsight, I should've done that, but I was young and naive," Yuito continued, "but anyway, he eventually woke up and told me everything; That a guy had kept him locked up in his apartment and basically had him be his slave. You know, cook, do the laundry, clean the place, all this stuff. He also told me that he had to lick clean the guy's shoes occasionally, what actually grossed me out."
"That sounds horrible," she said, "did he also tell you if the guy… well..."
She didn't speak it out, but Yuito knew what she was getting at: "Yes, rather often. But I'd rather not detail that one."
"I didn't want you to. Did he tell you what he did in-between escape and meeting you?"
"Perhaps drinking a lot," Yuito answered, "he had no idea, outside of the fact that some old man took him in and got him booze."
"Sounds nice."
"Don't know what favors he expected in return."
"Sounds not so nice anymore."
"But yeah," Yuito finished, "I took care of him afterward and tried to get him off the alcohol, but that only worked out partially as you can see."
"Note to self, don't bring booze to Keiji," she said and smiled, "so what about you? The next upcoming star of the Combat Dueling Scene?"
"Is there really this kind of talk about me?"
"Bloggers are going wild about you after your duel with Noro. Been calling you the next Eivin, but don't get too high on that. Not saying there's not a chance, but they find a new Eivin every other month."
"Wait, a new who?" Somewhere in the back of Yuitos' head the name Eiwin rang a bell.
"Our number one duelist. Someone who came from nowhere, where nobody expected him to do as good as he did."
"They're comparing me to the best duelist in the entire city?"
"As I said, don't get too high on that. Unless you beat Ever White on Saturday, then you that might be a thing."
"People already know about the Ever White duel? I should follow the blogging thing a little more."
"Yeah, that's quite the good indicator. Newspapers and magazines only publish polished articles the day after, but there are tons of bloggers that just speak out their opinion and I think that's a better view for the emotions of the general public."
"So you're actually the second best duelist of the city?"
"Not for long. Next Saturday the Royal Stadium will be mine. Eivin has been getting into my range and we'll be holding a title match. If I win, you can call me the best duelist in the city."
"If you win."
"Oh I will," Jeanie replied, "We've been preparing for this duel for over a year now, analyzing his deck and every combo he can make, and we developed counter strategies."
Yuito was about to say something, but he was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"This must be my ride," Jeanie said, "it was nice to meet you. Maybe we'll see each other more often now."
"I can only second that. But I think the latter is up to Keiji."
"Indeed it is," Jeanie replied as she got up, "Take care of him, will you? Bye Bye."