Chapter 2: Forging a Guardian's Soul
Though Shuyin lived on the harbor and Koji lived in one of the high-rise apartments overlooking the bay in the Neon District, their childhoods melded together over the years. They met every day on the pier near Shuyin's houseboat and walked to school. After lessons, they attended blitzball practice until the coaches chased them out of the water. And then, they would walk to Koji's apartment and play games until it was time for Shuyin to head home for dinner.
Their favorite game was a holographic race called "Viper Maze," and when Shuyin came close to beating Koji's high score, the competition became fierce. The boys got so immersed in shouting at each other and jumping on the furniture that they barely noticed when Kaila and her girlfriends came into the living room, bearing unhappy frowns, folded arms, and clenched fists.
"Are you still playing that stupid game? You've played it for the thousandth time already, and we're trying to work on a school project." She flipped one of her long, brown piggy tails over her shoulder.
"Shut up, Kaila. You're ruining my concentration." Koji was frantic to keep up with every corner that his snake turned, catching mice and frogs while avoiding the hawks. He had just caught one of the special blue mice that would transform his snake into a robot, giving it more speed and power, and he was hell-bent on overtaking Shuyin.
Sitting forward on his toes and knees, tongue poised in the corner of his mouth, Shuyin thumbed his controls with equal intensity.
Kaila rolled her eyes, touched the light sensor to brighten the room, and opened the closet where their mother kept the craft materials.
"What are you doing?" Koji shouted, glancing over his shoulder. "Turn the light back off! It's killing the graphics! I can't see what I'm doing!"
"I need to see what I'm looking for," she fussed back at her brother.
"Kaila! Turn it off!" Shuyin joined the argument but continued playing.
"No! And you can't make me." She stuck her tongue out at them.
Before Koji could complain any further, Shuyin's snake crossed the finish line. "Woohoo!" Shuyin jumped up from the floor and danced around his friend. "I beat your high score! I beat your high score!" he sang and laughed.
"Only because my stupid sister turned the light on, and I couldn't see!" Koji threw his game controller at the sofa.
Shuyin wiggled his backside at his friend and continued his sing-song victory dance. "Oh yeah, I did it. I really did it. I really beat ya. I kicked your boo-tay! I'm the best!"
Koji shoved him aside and stood. "Stop bragging about it!"
Shuyin stopped dancing and blinked at his friend. He meant no harm in gloating. He just loved winning. But he had no talent at being gracious about it because he had learned how to act like a winner from his dad.
Marching to the light switch, Koji snapped it off and glared at his sister. Kaila glared right back and him and turned it back on. He snapped it off again. She snapped it on but then covered the switch with her hand. "Let go, or I'm telling mom!" Koji tried to pry his sister's hand away from the wall.
"I need the light to see in the closet! Leave it alone!"
As the argument turned into a shoving match, Shuyin could tell Kaila's girlfriends were debating whether to help her gang up on Koji. Since he was an only child, Shuyin never knew quite what to do when the twins quarreled. But when the other girls made a grab for Koji's arms, he forgot all about his victory and scanned the room for some kind of help to break up the fight. He considered throwing the sofa's pillows at them, but that would probably make Koji and Kaila's mother angry—especially if he accidentally hit the lamp. Then, his eye fell on the small bag on the tea table. A mischievous grin spread across his face because he knew he'd found the perfect solution. "Hey, Kaila, want to see what I bought on the way home from school today? It's really cool!" Snatching the bag from the table, he held it up with a shake.
Kaila stopped tugging at her brother's arm, and Koji pulled free. He was still angry, but then he saw what Shuyin was holding and grinned. "Yeah, go see what Shu's got in the bag," he encouraged.
The girls studied Shuyin and the bag with wary curiosity. "Is it candy?" Kaila asked as he approached.
"Well, I was going to buy some sour balls, but today I wanted these instead." Sticking his hand into the bag, Shuyin scratched around inside of it as if counting out pieces to share. Then, he withdrew his hand with a sudden jerk and a dramatic yell. Several authentic-looking rubber snakes flew into the girls' faces. The trick made the boys suffer several ear-piercing screams, but it proved amazingly effective at clearing the girls away from the light switch. Koji and Shuyin howled with laughter, picked up the rubber snakes, and dangled them in the girls' faces as they chased them around the living room.
"Quiet!" someone finally shouted above the noise.
All five children froze in place and looked toward the kitchen where the twins' mother stood. "What in the world is going on here?"
"Shuyin threw rubber snakes at us, and Koji won't let me turn on the light!" Kaila pointed to the architects of her misery.
Shuyin's brows drew together beneath his scruffy bangs, and his face pinched in distaste. No wonder Koji hated having a sister.
"You put these right back where they came from, young man," their mother fussed at him. "And don't take them out again, or I will be keeping them on top of the fridge for the rest of your visit. Koji, leave the switch alone, or you'll break it. And turn that game off! You've been on it all day. Burn off some of that energy outside instead."
When his mother finished her scolding and headed back into the kitchen, Koji looked to Shuyin and snickered. Both boys giggled with pride at their mischief as they began picking up the snakes.
"Hey!" Shuyin complained as Kaila heeled the head of his favorite snake on her way back to the closet.
"Hmpf!" Kaila grabbed an armful of colored paper, scissors, tape, and glue before turning up her nose and heading back to her room with her friends.
"Blaaaah ..." Koji wiggled one of the snakes before Shuyin's nose and laughed. After sweeping the longish, brown bangs from his eyes, he held up a hand for a high five.
Shuyin returned the gesture and giggled some more. It didn't matter that they had been called down for the stunt. The girls had been successfully chased away. Life was good.
))((
Placing his foot on the blitzball to position it just right and tugging at the hem of his T-shirt, Shuyin backed along the length of the houseboat deck, then ran forward, intending to kick the ball into an imaginary net. His foot, however, missed the ball completely, and he fell on his back instead. Getting back up, Shuyin stared at the ball, then exhaled with a defeated sigh.
He had just come back from one of his father's games. And while he was always excited to see the Abes play, he had endured having his head scrubbed by his father's teammates and being called Jecht Jr., Sea Squirt, Tidus, Sport, and multiple other names that glossed over the one given to him at birth, only to be reminded upon coming home that watching his dad in action always led to feelings of disappointment in himself. So he didn't notice that Jecht had come home until he looked up and found his father mocking his discouraged expression.
Still half-dressed in his Abes uniform, Jecht was high on his team's hard-earned win. "Well, well. Trying to follow in my footsteps, are you? I usually charge for lessons, you know. That shot is done ... like this!" The blitzball pro kicked and punched the ball against the center mast of the houseboat, volleying it until it was high in the air. Then, he leaped into a spinning flip, slam-kicked the ball back down onto the deck, and landed on his feet again as if the shot had been effortless. "You can't do it, kid. But don't worry, my boy. You're not the only one. No one else can do it. I'm the best!"
Shuyin had turned his back on the man, steaming silently to himself while his father showed off the spectacular trick shot. It wasn't the first time Jecht mocked his son's shortcomings in the sport. Walking away without answering, Shuyin went inside and plopped down on one of the curved sofas in the center of the living room. Then, he pointed the remote control toward the two large, flat screens that hung near the opposite wall.
Jecht chuckled and tossed the ball so that it bonked the back of his son's head. "Is that how you're going to play your own game this weekend? Missing a kick like that? I think you'd better practice some more before you watch any movies."
Annoyed, Shuyin rubbed the back of his head. "Can you come to my game this time?"
"You want me to skip out on the Abes to watch a bunch of Sea Squirts?"
"Sea Stars," Shuyin indignantly corrected. Jecht had been calling them squirts instead of stars ever since the boy was signed onto the league, but his son didn't find the joke very funny.
"I'm bound to a contract, boy. I have to do what the contract says." Jecht sighed, tired, and headed to the kitchen. "Damn contracts," he muttered to himself as he went.
Shuyin knew that probably meant he wasn't coming ... again.
Dannae entered into the living room as Jecht left and was headed for the kitchen as well when she spotted her son sprawled on the sofa. "Don't you have something else to do before you watch something tonight? Homework and piano practice come to mind." She took the remote from him and turned off the screens.
The boy groaned. If his father wasn't telling him to practice blitzball, his mother was telling him to practice piano. With a heavy sigh, Shuyin pushed himself up from the sofa and went to his bedroom. Sitting down at his keyboard, he stared at the keys, but all he could think about was his pathetic attempt at the Jecht-shot and how his father mocked him. With a growl, he hit the keyboard with his fists and then slumped forward, banging his head against the keys as well.
His mother, who had been passing by, paused at the awful noise and looked in the door. "Shu?"
The boy lifted his head and rubbed the bump he'd given himself above one eye. "Will you be coming to my game this weekend?"
"Of course." Dannae chuckled as she moved to his side and parted his sun-streaked bangs to examine his forehead. "Unless you do yourself in here and now for the sake of a few piano lessons."
"Do you think Dad will come? It's not an ordinary game. It's the All-City Mini-League Tournament, and the Sea Stars are in the final round."
"I'm sure he wants to go. I know he would if he could. But … he's under a lot of stress right now from the owner and manager of the team. Your game schedules conflict. But his wins put food on our table, so he has to give them priority."
"What if the Sea Stars don't win?"
"Well, second place is still something to be proud of."
"No, it's not! Second place isn't good enough! What if I mess up again? I just have to learn how to kick a good shot!" He banged the keyboard with his fist.
"Shuyin!" His mother pulled his hand away from the instrument. "This keyboard cost a lot of money. You know better than to lose your temper on it like that."
"He loses his temper all the time!" the boy angrily answered.
"You are not your father," she sharply answered, but then lowered her voice since Jecht was in the next room. "Your father is a passionate man. Sometimes, he expresses his likes and dislikes without thinking of the consequences. And sometimes, yes, he has a short fuse when he's frustrated. But he sticks with difficulties until he conquers them." There was no denying Jecht had spontaneous moments of disorderly conduct—some of which haunted his contracts even now—but Dannae tried to teach her son better ways to channel his emotions and impulses. Only when she was certain that he would not hit the keyboard again, was she willing to release his hand. "You can learn how to do difficult things, too, if you don't give up trying. But you are not your father, Shu," she gently repeated before kissing the top of his head and walking away.
The boy glared at the song sheet facing him and hung his head. "No, I'm not ... am I."
))((
"Congratulations to this year's All-City Blitzball Champions—the Sea Stars!" the announcer declared as the small gathering of parents and friends at the end of the half-filled sphere pool cheered and applauded.
Still in his water-logged, blue uniform with the bright yellow starfish on the chest, Shuyin eagerly scanned the crowd. He had come to the game with Koji's family, as usual, and played without being able to see the spectators. But now that the teams were ready to receive their awards, he was eager to know where his own family was. His dad wasn't here—no surprise—but at least that meant Jecht wouldn't be mocking him from the sidelines for the number of times he missed the ball or fumbled a pass. His mother, however, usually tried to split her time between her husband's and son's games, and this wasn't just any game. His mother should be here; she said she would be here. But Shuyin couldn't find his mother's face in the crowd.
Next to him, Koji waited anxiously for his name to be called. When his moment of recognition arrived, the boy stepped forward, received his miniature trophy cup, bowed, and returned to his place in line. He waved at his sister and parents, and they waved back at him. Then he showed his trophy to Shuyin, grinning with pride their shared achievement.
Shuyin grinned with him but felt compelled to scan the stands one more time. Where was she?
"And last but not least," the announcer spoke to the small gathering, "playing right forward, we shouldn't be surprised to see the son of the Abes most valuable player standing in our winner's circle. Let's all give a big hand to our little king of the tidal waves! He's got Jecht's blood, folks, so I'm sure we'll be seeing lots more of him in the future!"
Somewhat chagrined, Shuyin stepped forward to receive his first-ever championship trophy, answering to the name his dad teased him with since his near-drowning incident when he was three. Not knowing the story behind the name, the crowd cheered. Koji's parents cheered. Even Kaila cheered. All those people were cheering … for him. And as the boy basked in his moment of glory, he realized that however bad his father thought he played, other people seemed to think he played great.
"Congratulations once again to the Zanarkand Sea Stars! This year's All-City champions!" the announcer repeated.
Shuyin bowed, returned to his place in line, and at their coach's cue, all of the Sea Stars bowed again to the officials and their supporters in the stands.
With the closing ceremony done, everyone walked off the awards stage at the end of the pool and headed for their friends and family in the bleachers.
"Great game!" Koji's father congratulated both boys. "Did you have fun out there?"
Shuyin blinked in surprise at the question. He had been trying so hard to keep up with the ball that thoughts about the game being fun never entered his mind.
"I had so much fun! I want to do it again next year!" Koji responded. "Did you see my trophy?"
"Let me see that trophy." Koji's father accepted the offering. "That is a mighty fine trophy. I know just where we'll put it when we get home."
"A fine trophy indeed!" The Sea Stars coach shook hands with Koji's father as he came to speak with them. "Hard-earned! And there's going to be a party at the Waterwall Sports Diner in about thirty minutes for all the team members and their families."
"Alright!" Koji took his trophy back from his dad.
"And you!" The coach playfully bopped Shuyin on the head with his game folder. "Bring Jecht with you if you can. We'd love to have him celebrate with us, even if he couldn't attend the match."
"Think your mom will let you come to the party with us?" Koji asked.
"Mmm ... I don't know." Shuyin scanned the faces of the dispersing crowd once more but still didn't see his mother among them.
"Did Dannae not come this time?" Koji's mother asked, scanning the crowd as well.
Shuyin didn't know how to excuse his mother's absence. "I don't see her."
"That's odd. I know she was planning on coming to this one. Well, never mind. You're both soaking wet and need to get out of those uniforms. Go change, and we'll drop you off at the docks so you can ask to go to the party. If she can't take you, you can tag along with us. Okay?"
"Okay." Shuyin smiled. Feeling a tap on his shoulder, he turned around to face Kaila's outstretched hands with two candy choices. That, too, had become part of their childhood routine after games.
Koji started to reach for the red wrapper, but Kaila closed her fingers over it and offered him the yellow-wrapped candy instead. "Shuyin likes the strawberry ones."
"Well, that's not fair," Koji protested. "So do I. How come he gets to have it?"
"He had more kicks than you this time." Kaila gave Shuyin the strawberry candy.
"Did not."
"Did too," she insisted.
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
Shuyin was content to let them argue as usual while he ate his candy.
"Ask Mama. I counted to see which one of you did better."
"Kaila, that's not very nice," her mother scolded.
"Shuyin had two more kicks than Koji." The girl pressed her brother for his failure.
"Keh! You're just letting him have the strawberry one because you like him." Koji got in his sister's face. "Kaila's crushing on Shuyin!"
Shuyin nearly choked on his candy.
"I am not!" Kaila reached across Shuyin to smack her brother.
"Are too!" Koji giggled. "Kaila and Shuyin sitting in a tree - k-i-s-s-i-n-g -"
"That's enough of that." Their mother pulled the twins apart and gave her son the scolding look this time. "Go put some dry clothes on."
Shuyin, recovering from nearly swallowing his candy, looked at Kaila as if she had some kind of contagious disease. Kaila folded her arms in a huff and turned her back on her brother. Her eyes cut toward Shuyin, but he immediately avoided eye-contact. Turning away, he ran for the locker room to change clothes like their mother said.
))((
"The Snake" was the affectionate name the boys called the transport system that worked on a blend of magic and machina to move people around the city so fast it was almost hard to see except for the flashes of light at intersections. When it stopped at the harbor near Shuyin's home, Koji's family waited at the station, and the boys ran to the docks to ask Dannae about going to the party. "You can take the strawberry one next time, okay?" Shuyin tried to appease his guilt over the candy incident.
"Okay. Did you see Kaila's face?" Koji cracked up again. "She really likes you, or she wouldn't have been that mad about it."
"Gimme a break." Shuyin rolled his eyes. "After all the things we've done to her? There's no way!"
"Girls are weird, Shu." Koji stopped to rest a hand on his best friend's shoulder while doling out expert advice. "Trust me. If you pick on them, they just keep coming back for more." He shook his head at the astonishing truth.
"Well ... what should I do about it?"
"If you want her to go away, you're going to have to ignore her."
Shuyin nodded with determination. "Ignore her."
"Right! If you want her to hate you, ignore her. Oh, and you might have to play a few bad games, too, so she's not impressed."
Shuyin's jaw dropped, aghast. "I can't try to play badly. I like winning."
Koji sighed as if his friend were a hopeless case. "Then get used to lots of girls liking you."
Shuyin made a face and gave the situation some thought. "Think Kaila will still bring me candy if I ignore her?"
"Probably not."
"Hmm ..." More girls and less candy. Shuyin wasn't sure this winning stuff was worth it. "I still want to win, but maybe I can bring my own candy after games. I just have to put it somewhere other than my pocket to keep it from getting wet."
"Ask your mom to hold it for you." He looked down at their trophies and grinned again. "Let's go show her what she missed!"
Shuyin looked down at his own trophy and nodded with a grin. Catching Koji's enthusiasm, he ran the rest of the distance down the pier to the houseboat. "Wait 'til my dad sees this! He'll really want to come to my games when he sees that we won!" At the front door, he grabbed the handle and pushed the door open wide, letting Koji into the living room behind him.
The boys arrived just in time to witness Jecht striking his wife with a back-handed slap, knocking her to the floor. Jecht reeked of alcohol again, and Dannae had been crying. Holding a hand to her stinging cheek, she looked apologetically to her wide-eyed son and his friend. Shuyin and Koji stood mute for a long moment, neither knowing what to say or do about what they had witnessed.
"What are you looking at? You got something to say to me, boy?" Jecht bellowed to his son.
Shuyin ran to his bedroom.
Scared of what might happen next, Koji ran with him.
Shuyin slammed his door shut and pitched the championship cup across the room, hitting the opposite wall. He threw it so hard that it left a large dent in the plaster before it landed softly on the bed. Then, he dragged Koji underneath the bed with him, where he always hid when Jecht was angry … especially if he'd been drinking. It was safe there. Shuyin's heart raced as he clenched his fists and teeth. No words could express his anger, hurt, frustration, and embarrassment—only a throaty growl escaped him.
"Maybe we should go to my house instead," Koji whispered.
Shuyin shook his head. "No. I need to be here. He only hurts her when he thinks I'm not looking. This is why she couldn't come. I shouldn't have gone, but … I thought he had his own game." Tears began to sting his eyes, and he shook his head again at his father's unforgivable actions. "I hate him so much. I hate him!"
The boys both heard Jecht's voice rise in volume as he yelled at his wife in the living room, but they couldn't make out what he was saying. Something was thrown and smashed. Then, the front door to the boathouse slammed, and everything became silent.
Shuyin sniffled and looked to Koji. "Quick! Before he comes back!" He crawled from under the bed and pulled Koji out behind him. "Don't tell anyone what you saw, please! Don't tell anyone!" Shuyin opened his bedroom door and looked down the hall toward to see if it was safe. The living room was clear, so his mother must have gone down to the lower-level bedroom. Gesturing for his friend to follow, Shuyin led Koji to the front door, where he repeated the same paranoid behavior to see if the coast was clear outside. "Please, don't tell anyone," he repeated in a tearful whisper. "Nobody knows he gets like this. Nobody would believe us, so, just don't say anything, okay?"
"What about the party?"
"I need to stay with my mom. If he comes back, I might need to get help for her."
Koji was troubled about leaving Shuyin behind in a dangerous situation. "I'll ... see you tomorrow at school, then?"
"Mh. Go!" Shuyin pushed his friend out onto the deck, shut the front door, and ran back to his room. Slamming his own door in anger once again, he climbed onto his bed and curled into his pillows. Cradling his trophy in his hands, he tried not to cry, but the tears rebelled against his attempt to control them.
