Chapter 14
"Mommy? Are you ok? You've been sick for the past half hour…" Leon worriedly knocks on the bathroom door.
He hears the toilet flush right before Blaze opens the door.
"Sorry kiddo, this morning sickness seems to be getting worse. I'm fine though" she gives him a reassuring smile. "Are you and Charlie ok?"
"Yeah, I've taken him for his walk and have given him his breakfast already".
"Aw thank you sweetie… hey come downstairs, we have a surprise for you birthday boy! I can't believe you're 10 today! Before you know it, you'll be as tall as me, your voice will start breaking, oh my God you're a decade old!" She smiles whilst taking his hand.
"It's better than the mad doctor downstairs, I swear he's 10 decades gone!" Leon replies.
"Don't let Zan hear you saying that" she laughs.
The two of them make their way down the corridor towards the stairwell.
"So is dad still here?" Leon queries.
"Yeah, he's back. And he's excited to see you".
"Why did he leave then?" Leon frowns.
"Sometimes adults need time out too, he had some stuff to sort out and training. But he's not going anywhere now, ok?"
"Ok," Leon quietly nods.
"Happy birthday!" The team shouts during their breakfast as soon as Leon walks into the room.
"Thanks," he shyly smiles.
"This is from me!" Floyd steps forward, crouching down in front of the boy.
"Woah cool! Did you make this?" Leon excitedly asks, twisting and turning the illuminator drone in his hand.
"Damn right I did kid I made it!" Floyd winks, scuffling his hair.
"And this is from me…" Cherry embarrassingly says, handing over to Leon one of her mixtapes.
"Really? This is my birthday present?" The boy laughs.
"Yes! These are the best tracks you're ever gonna find!" Cherry nods.
"It's bad enough we have to hear her singing between training sessions, now you can hear more of it!" Adam jokes, nudging his daughter.
"Airpods? That's awesome!" Leon smiles, giving Adam a hug. Next he opens his favourite soccer kit from Max, a new Playstation controller from Sammy and then finally, to his disappointment, a colouring book with police and criminals on the front from Estel. The boy tries his best to hide his best to force a smile, knowing this book is probably for 7 year olds.
"Thank you," Leon replies.
"And this is from me. You make sure you use these wisely ok?" Shiva carefully hands over to him a small wrapped set of Sai weapons.
"Yes Sensei, and thank you" he bows, this time more serious than before.
"I'll teach you how to use them when things go back to normal". Shiva smiles.
"Wanna check out your last gift?" Blaze grins.
"Hell yeah!" Leon enthusiastically follows her outside. "Your dad's been working all morning modifying it for you, I think you're gonna love it!"
Outside stands a bmx bike, freshly spray painted in yellow and black around it's frame with modified 20" wheels and Leon's name graffitied across the helmet. His friends would definitely say this upgraded bike is badass.
"Happy birthday kid!" Axel says, removing his spray paint respirator.
"So? Do you like it?" Blaze asks as Leon stands in front of the bike in awe.
"It's dope! Thanks mom!"
"I guess that means he really likes it!" She smiles as he wraps his arms around her.
"Thanks dad," Leon nods.
"What are you suddenly too cool to give me one of those?" Axel laughs, holding out his arms.
"Hey, your dad's been working since 5am on this bike of yours. Go on, give him a hug…" Blaze encourages Leon as he reluctantly puts his arms around him.
"It's alright, you're almost grown up now. Go on, take it for a ride around the block". Axel throws over to the boy his helmet. Leon can't get away fast enough, with full focus on his new bike.
"Hey don't be upset. Give him some time, he was really sad when you were gone…" Blaze sighs, walking over towards Axel where he is sat against the worktop.
"I know I needed space but it was selfish shutting you both out like that."
"You're back with us now, that's the main thing," she smiles down at him, standing in front of him with her arms around his neck and his arms around her waist.
"Hey, did you just feel that?" She asks.
"Feel what?" Axel frowns up at her, confused.
"Listen! Right here…" she brings his head closer to her stomach where he carefully listens for a moment.
"Damn! This girl's gonna have those Judo kicks of yours!" He excitedly grins up at her.
"I know right? She's been kicking every morning for the past 4 days!"
"I can't believe I missed that…" he looks down feeling guilty.
"I have a feeling this time though, things will be the other way round compared to Leon. This ones gonna have your personality and my good looks" Blaze winks.
"You think so?" His face beams up smiling from ear to ear.
"I know so!" She laughs.
"These past couple of weeks have brought back a lot of memories. There's something I wanted to ask you…" Axel replies.
"I think I know what it is."
"You do?" He raises his eyebrows, surprised.
"Yeah! And the answer is yes, I think we should name her Amber, after your mother."
"You really do know me then, better than anyone. Thank you" he answers, still holding her.
"I think she approves…" Blaze giggles, as they feel another kick.
"Simulation time! It's 10am and we require your presence!" Sammy enthusiastically shouts, skateboarding at speed past them.
"I'll be there in a minute…!" Axel shouts back, not wanting to leave.
"We'll see you in a couple of hours, ok?" Blaze smiles.
"Ok." He sighs, kissing her on the lips goodbye as he gets up to leave.
"Level 100 is the new target! Cherry, you need to up your defence whilst the rest of you have to to sharpen your weapons usage!" Floyd takes the lead. Shiva is quick to give him an evil stare back.
"Except for Shiva of course," Floyd remarks.
"Good to have you back then!" Estel smirks as Axel sits in the chair between her and Adam, grabbing onto his headset.
"It's good to be back." Axel answers.
"You sure you're gonna make it to level 100?" She challenges him.
"Of course I am. I got all the motivation I need right here and I'm not giving up." He nods, feeling determined.
"Great to have you back!" Adam grins. "Let's do this!"
Blaze watches the group from a distance, feeling a sense of guilt and sadness to be disjointed from the rest of the team so she decides to go back outside to find Leon.
"Not bad! You're improving" She says to him as he practises another bmx rock walk.
"I'll get there…" Leon shrugs.
"Can we talk for a minute?" Blaze asks.
"Sure!" Leon halts the bike next to her with his feet on the ground.
"What you saw last night, I don't want you to worry or feel alarmed…your dad loves you very much and he'd do anything for us, remember that. He's just going through a hard time right now…."
"But he could have killed you!" Leon frowns.
"Listen to me. I trust him with my life and so should you! Me, and your little sister right here are ok. You don't need to worry Leon…. Promise me you'll let this go…?" she stares into his eyes.
"Ok…" he sighs.
"Thank you!" She scuffles his blond hair. "Now you can show more of your new moves on that bike of yours!"
"Alright! Check this out!" Leon proudly grins.
Two Decades Earlier, Hong Kong, China
"Mr Visser, it's a pleasure to meet you again". Mr Shirataka who is the Chairman of the Underground Fighting Organisation greets Steffan in his sharp grey suit.
"So have you taken the time to consider my offer then Mr Shirataka?" The muscular man in his 40s folds his arms.
"I'm sorry Steffan, but we do not accept Mixed Martial Artists."
"If you want him to stick to Muay Thai, he can do it. If you want Ninjutsu, the boy is trained and has the ability. Turning this offer down will be the biggest mistake you ever make, I guarantee".
The Chairman takes a deep breath then pours the two of them a drink.
"Are you sure this American can handle our fighting pits in Bangkok?"
"He's lived through warzones far worse than any fighting pit. I'm sure he can handle it".
"Ok, but I'm taking a chance - 50%" Shirataka bargains.
"30% of all profits then that drops to 10% after his first 10 fights. I guarantee you will be making millions of dollars either way."
"I'm curious though Mr Visser as to why you have so much faith in this fighter of yours?"
"You'll understand when you witness it yourself!" He salutes his glass.
It only takes two fights for the Chairman to warm up to the idea of this American foreigner causing havoc amongst the rest of the fighters.
"I told you he wouldn't disappoint, and he's not afraid of fighting to the death" Steffan smirks by the side of the ring after Axel just knocked out and killed a former reigning champion.
"Only 22 years old and he's just fought with and killed someone double his age with more experience. I'm impressed," the Chairman nods.
"Hey Hawk! There's someone I want you to meet after you're cleaned up!" Steffan orders his fighter covered in blood and sweat as he is escorted away from the ring.
Half an hour later and the two of them casually enter Shirataka's after party at his mansion.
"Don't you have a suit?" Steffan distastefully glares at Axel who is wearing jeans, sneakers and a grey hooded sweater with his light hair freshly shaved down to a 1.
"Does it matter when we've been making them 600K a night?" Axel shrugs.
"I guess not", Steffan laughs whilst the two of them walk side by side into the lavish venue.
"Mr Stone, it's nice to finally meet you. May I congratulate you on your victory earlier" the Chairman enthusiastically walks forward, shaking Axel's hand.
"Whilst me and your manager here discuss business, why don't you go and enjoy the party…" he insists before Steffan cuts in.
"No! My fighter is under strict orders tonight. No drugs, no chicks and no drink. He has another major fight tomorrow…"
"Of course" Shirataka agrees, forcing a smile before shooing away two young ladies in bikinis holding trays of cocktail glasses.
Another colleague with an earpiece of his steps forward, whispering in the Chairman's ear.
"Would you excuse me, gentlemen?" The host requests.
"So why are we here anyway then?" Axel quietly asks.
"That man over there is the Chairman of the fighting committee. What he doesn't yet know is that in a matter of days, I'll take his place" Steffan explains.
"And how are you gonna do that?" Axel laughs in disbelief.
"How do you think?" He raises his glass.
The two of them calmly watch from a distance as Shirataka, a former world champion goes into a cardiac arrest after being poisoned.
"Let me tell you something, all of those fighters and businessmen you see, they're weak. And do you know what makes them weak?"
"Money? Thirst for power?" Axel shrugs.
"No. Each and every one of them has a family. A mother, a father, a brother, a sister, a wife, children…if I wanted, I could get to each one of them anytime I choose to".
"But they're families aren't involved…."
"The minute you put someone else's survival above your own is the minute you become weak and lose your kill. Don't ever fall into that trap!" Steffan orders.
"You tellin' me a guy in his mid forties like yourself has never had a main lady or kids?"
"I had a son, a long time ago. But his mother made sure I had nothing to do with the child… falling for her was the worst mistake I ever made".
"I'm sorry man. So where are they now?"
"They're dead and gone" Steffan heavily exhales with hate in his eyes. Within a split second, his demeanour changes into the acting concerned bystander as Shirataka's dead body is carried past them on a stretcher. The Chairman's wife and two children hysterically run after the stretcher, screaming and crying behind it.
Axel abruptly wakes up from his sleep in a sweat, gasping for air after dreaming of the past. The screams of those kids still echo in his ears to this day.
"Bad dream again?" Blaze asks, resting her head on her palm by his side.
"It must be all those simulation sessions we're doing. They're messin' with my sleep" he gives her a reassuring smile back.
"That is one thing I'm glad I ain't doing!"
"What you doing awake then? You're usually snoring or talking in your sleep by this hour" Axel laughs.
"I do not store!" Blaze frowns, hitting him with the pillow. "Truth is, I need to use the bathroom… again!… And every muscle I have in my body is feeling sore" she sulks, reluctantly throwing open the covers. "I'll be back in a minute," she leans forward to kiss him.
Axel takes a deep breath, glancing down at his open palms, remembering how fucked up his past once use to be.