Bittersweet Enemies
Chapter 2
Before I even had chance to get a good look at the guy, Jin had taken me by the wrist and forcefully pulled me in the opposite direction. I could tell by the frantic look in his eye that he wanted more than anything to be anywhere but here and now. It didn't help that he didn't know where he was going. But I did. It took some strength to compel him to a stop, but eventually I flipped the roles and managed -After we had gone far enough to not be in enemy sights- to duck into an open Apartment door. Actually, it wasn't just luck that the door happened to be unlocked and accessible that certain time and place, the place was a quick, emergency get-away set up by a couple of guys in my gang. It was certainly kept on the down-low and it certainly came in handy for those 'every-once-in-a-while' situations. The door slammed shut behind us and we panted to catch our breathes in the darkness of the small, empty room. After a moment, I felt around the paint-chipped wall until I found a tiny switch and illuminated the room in a cheap, dim, yellow light. Jin was staring at me.
"What?" I feigned innocence, "Don't you keep cool hideouts like this in Japan?" I laughed. Jin didn't know whether to laugh, question, or just keep quiet and be thankful. He did the latter. I walked over to the room's only furniture, a beat up, cigarette singed, military green love seat and plopped myself down. I crossed my legs and leaned forward as Jin came to crouch before me.
"Who were those guys, Master Jin?" I grinned, "You a rich-boy or something? Granddaddy looking for ya?"
Jin only looked away, frustrated.
"Yeah. I thought as much. I knew you were some kinda Momma's boy-"
"My Mother's Dead."
"... Huh?"
"She died and I was sent to my Grandfather three years ago. My Mother and I lived in a secluded cabin in a forest of Hokkaido, just the two of us, up in the mountains. Then she was killed. She told me before she died to go to my grandfather in Honshu. I did. And now I'm here, with you." He looked up at me with such pure, innocent eyes, I almost fell from the little couch. I had no idea what to say...so I said something stupid.
"Uh... yeah?"
I could have punched myself in the face, but Jin only laughed.
"What about you?" He asked sincerely, smiling, "How did you come to be with me?"
I leaned back and looked up at the cottage-cheese like ceiling.
"I dunno my parents, or if I have a family or nothin', but I grew up in Dojo a few miles from here. I guess my mom musta dropped me at his doorstep or something before she took off. Master Baek Do San raised me. He's the coolest guy anyone'll ever meet, even if he is an ass sometimes...especially when he tells me to clean stuff when I'm already doing something for him." I smiled and Jin chuckled. I looked back to Jin and continued, "Master told me he needed a new screwdriver but I bought cigarettes first and didn't have enough money left for the screwdriver. I went to bum some cash off my friend at the club. That's when I saw you bein' hassled by that bouncer, that's when I took you out into the alley, that's how I ended up here with you."
Jin stood with a grin and sat beside me. We stared into each others' eyes for a few moments before I rested my head on his shoulder and sighed. I didn't say anything, just sighed. He rested his head on mine and closed his eyes. I felt his hand rest heavily on my thigh and I covered it with my own.
"Ya wanna do something sinful that will condemn both our souls to Hell?"
"Sure."
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