Read Ki Genesis :: Chapter 9 part 2

At the bottom of the stairwell, Jin ran into Lilith Eve. She was leaning against the lockers, looking effortlessly cool.

Oh snap, Jin thought, wiping blood from his lip. It's that wicked hot upperclassman. Lilith, right? Play it cool.

"Well, hello again, Jin," Lilith purred.

"How you doin'?" Jin tried to grin, wincing as his split lip stretched.

"Oh my god!" Lilith stepped closer, touching his face. "What happened? You’re bleeding."

"It’s nothing," Jin shrugged. "Just a little—"

"YOU THINK THIS IS OVER!!!!!"

A scream echoed from the stairwell.

Leven launched himself from the stairs in a flying kick.

"Move!" Jin shoved Lilith aside and ducked.

Leven sailed over him, landing in a roll.

"If you want to sneak attack someone," Jin shouted, "maybe next time don’t yell at them!"

Leven roared and attacked again. He hit Jin with a push kick that sent him sliding down the polished hallway floor.

Noah scrambled down the stairs. "Leven! Jin! Knock it off before someone sees you!"

"What the heck is going on?" Lilith asked, watching with amusement.

"I don't know!" Noah yelled. "I just saw Jin choking out Leven, and now this!"

The fight spilled into the main hallway. Students were starting to filter back from lunch.

"Guys, stop!" Noah pleaded. "Everyone is about to start returning to class!"

Too late. A group of sophomores turned the corner.

"FIGHT!!!!" someone screamed. "LEVEN IS FIGHTING!!!"

Chaos erupted. A circle formed instantly, cheering for the brawl.

Leven tackled Jin against a row of lockers. BANG. He tried to lift Jin for a slam, but Jin rained downward elbows onto Leven’s spine.

Jin grabbed the back of Leven’s head, created space, and drove a knee into Leven’s face.

CRUNCH.

Leven stumbled back, blood pouring from his nose. But he didn't stop. He wiped his face and charged.

Jin sidestepped, grabbed Leven’s hair, and used his momentum to drive Leven face-first into the wall.

THUD.

Leven wobbled, dazed but furious. He raised his fists for another round.

"STOP RIGHT THERE! NOT ANOTHER STEP!"

Principal Vance stood at the end of the hall, flanked by two burly security guards.

"Grab them!"

The guards hauled the two battered boys apart. As they were dragged down the hall toward the office, Jin caught a glimpse of Lilith. She was leaning against a locker, a very satisfied smirk on her red lips.

After school, Jin stood across the street, a suspension slip in his pocket.

Luna, Lynn, and Maya ran up to him.

Shove.

Lynn pushed Jin’s chest hard.

"Da heck was that for?" Jin stumbled.

"WTF is wrong with you, Jin?" Lynn yelled. "You can’t just go around attacking people!"

"But I didn’t!" Jin argued. "Leven attacked me!"

"That’s not what we heard," Luna crossed her arms. "Noah said he saw you on the roof choking Leven out."

"Yeah!" Jin exclaimed. "That was after he attacked me! I defended myself! Period!"

"Why would Leven attack you?" Maya asked.

"Because he figured it out," Jin lowered his voice. "He knows I'm a Guardian."

"What?!?" Maya gasped. "But how?"

"By how bad I kicked his butt last time," Jin sighed. "He knew a normal human couldn't do that. He wanted answers."

"So what now?" Luna asked.

"Unfortunately," Jin pulled out the pink slip. "I have been suspended for the rest of the week."

"What about Luna?" Maya asked. "Who protects her?"

"Maya, you will have to guard her inside the school," Jin said. "I’ll figure out a way to watch from outside. Maybe the roof of the adjacent building."

"I’m not a kid, you know," Luna huffed. "I don't need a babysitter every second."

"Yes, you do," Jin said seriously. "So, Maya, you're on point. If anything happens, signal me."

"Got it," Maya nodded.

"Hey!" Luna waved her hands. "Are you guys deliberately ignoring me?"

"Oh, hey Luna," Jin smirked. "When did you get here?"

"Ha ha. Very funny, jerk."

Across town, the mood at the Soto Martial Arts Academy was funereal.

Leven knelt on the tatami mats of the main dojo, head bowed. His father, Grandmaster Soto, paced back and forth.

"You wanted to see me, Father?" Leven whispered.

"Am I to understand," Mr. Soto said, his voice dangerously calm, "that not only have you been suspended from school, but you dishonored our name by losing a street brawl?"

"Yes, sir. But—"

"SILENCE!!!!"

Mr. Soto stopped pacing. "Don't you dare give me your worthless excuses. I have spent thirty years building this Academy into a global empire. And in one afternoon, my stupid, worthless son tries to destroy it all."

"But Father, you don’t understand! He's not normal!"

SMACK.

Mr. Soto backhanded Leven across the face. Leven hit the floor but scrambled back to his knees immediately.

"I SAID SILENCE, BOY! Not another word! Now, I have to leave for Tokyo on business for a few weeks. By the time I return, I expect you to have defeated this boy publicly and decisively. Restore our honor."

Mr. Soto leaned down, his face inches from Leven’s. "If this has not been done by the time I return... don’t you dare come back here. Do not come home. You will be disowned. DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?!?"

"Yes, sir," Leven whispered, tears of rage stinging his eyes.

"Oh, and before I forget," Mr. Soto straightened his suit. "Until the deed is done, your accounts are frozen. You are cut off."

Mr. Soto turned on his heel and walked out.

Leven stayed kneeling in the empty dojo, trembling with humiliation.

Click.

The lights went out.

"Awww," a sultry voice echoed in the darkness. "Poor, poor Leven. Going to end up out in the cold because he can't beat one little boy."

"Who's that?" Leven stood up, fists clenched. "Show yourself!"

A spotlight clicked on in the corner. Lilith Eve stood there, leaning against a weapon rack.

"You!" Leven gasped. "What are you doing here? How did you get past security?"

"If I were you," Lilith purred, walking toward him, "I would be more worried about how you are going to beat the big, bad Jin."

"What are you talking about, woman?" Leven scoffed. "Did you not see our fight? We were going blow for blow. With a little more training, I will win."

"HA HA HA HA!" Lilith laughed, a chilling sound. "You poor, delusional boy. Do you really think he was going all out?"

"Of course he was!"

"Wow," Lilith stopped in front of him. "You are dumber than I thought. If you think that was a Guardian at full power... you are already dead."

Leven froze. "How did you know he was a Guardian?"

Lilith reached out, tracing a finger down Leven’s bruised cheek. "My poor boy. The things I know would shatter your little world. The truth is, you stand zero chance of beating Jin as you are. One Ki attack, and you would be ash."

"Why are you here?" Leven slapped her hand away. "To gloat?"

"Oh no, no, no," Lilith smiled. "I’ve come to help you."

She walked behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist, whispering in his ear. "Oh, in so many ways. And I promise... you will enjoy all of them."

Leven pulled away. "I don’t know what you are trying to pull, but I’m not falling for it. I want Luna."

"Ah, yes. Luna," Lilith sighed. "But there lies your problem. She is under Jin’s watchful eye."

"No, she is not!" Leven argued. "They are just friends!"

"Ha! Don’t be a fool," Lilith circled him like a shark. "Have you not noticed the way she looks at him? They disappeared together. Returned together. They are inseparable. Face it, baby boy. Not only is he your enemy, he is your rival in love. And he is winning."

"GRRRR!" Leven kicked a training dummy over. "Get the hell out of here!"

"Aww, poor Leven," Lilith cooed. "Haven’t you been listening? I’m here to fix this."

"But how?" Leven asked, desperation creeping into his voice.

Lilith walked back up to him, running her hands up his chest.

"Tell me, Leven," she whispered. "What do you desire? Do you want power?"

"Yes."

"Do you want your father’s respect?"

"Yes."

"Do you want to destroy Jin?"

"Of course."

"Do you want Luna to be yours? And no one else’s?"

"Yes! Yes! I would do anything to have that!"