Apologies

Kai entered the Drunken Monkey. Since school had started Evelynn and Oscar had decided it would be best for him to alternate between the two of them during the week, returning to the previous schedule during weekends.

Kai was surprised to see that Oscar was out and about in the bar, normally Kai would have to go wake him up upstairs before training began.

"Kai, you're here!" Oscar smiled seeing Kai. "How was your first day of school?"

"It was ok, got to fight someone" Kai answered, sitting down at one of the tables.

Oscar raised his brows before squinting his eyes, staring at Kai.

"Did you win?"

"Of course!" Kai responded as he excitedly began to explain what had happened at school. From meeting Sam, to Jax hitting Emma before getting beat by Kai.

"That's my boy! Don't tell eve about this though, she might not be happy you got into a fight with your fellow classmate like that!" Oscar laughed. "Did you use my drunken boxing at all?"

"Why would he need to use drunken boxing?" A voice came from the entrance, turning around Kai saw his Master Evelynn entering. Kai looked back to Oscar, unsure of how to respond. Oscar widened his eyes before shaking his head, silently urging Kai not to tell her what had happened.

Eve walked over before sitting down next to Kai. She leaned forward, placing her elbow on the table, and resting her head in her hand Eve looked towards Kai before pouting.

"Can't you tell me Kai? Don't you trust your Master?" her voice seemed to be filled with sadness. Kai, however, was not about to break one of Oscar's cardinal rules.

Oscar called this set of rules 'The Bro Code', something Kai had never heard of before in the Draken Clan. There were only a couple rules, but Oscar told him they were essential to becoming a powerful and well-respected Soul Master. One of the rules in 'The Bro Code' was to never rat on a fellow bro, and there was no way he was going to break that rule so early on in cultivation!

Seeing that Kai was unwilling to speak Eve could only sigh. She leaned back in her chair, covering her eyes with her arm she spoke in an exasperated tone.

"To think I was going to teach you about weapons tomorrow…" She paused for a moment, sneaking a peek at Kai. Seeing his conflicted expression, she smirked slightly before continuing. "But since you don't trust me enough it'll just have to wait."

Kai sat silently, unsure of what to do. He'd been looking forward to getting his first weapon since the beginning of training, and now he'd just been told he was going to have to wait even longer! He looked to Oscar for guidance, but Oscar just sat silently with a solemn expression on his face.

'Is this a test?' Kai thought to himself but looking back to Evelynn he shook his head. 'No, it can't be! Oscar said that only men follow The Bro Code, girls have their own set of rules.'

Evelynn watched on curiously, she was certain the weapons training would of got him. Eve gave a quick glance at Oscar, who gave her a wry smile. 'What in the world has Oscar done for Kai to not tell me what happened?'

Before she could voice her question though, Kai spoke first, explaining what had happened at school that day. He was willing to take whatever punishment there was for breaking the Bro Code, but he just couldn't give up on getting his first weapon.

Hearing this Eve pulled Kai in for a hug.

"Good on you for standing up for your friends" She said before looking towards Oscar. "But I wonder why you didn't want to tell your one and only master?"

Kai hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth, seeing this Oscar shot up from his seat angrily.

"Does the Bro Code mean nothing to you!" He shouted out, pointing his finger angrily at Kai. A moment later though he widened his eyes and covered his mouth with his hands before sitting down meekly.

Kai widened his eyes seeing this, Oscar had just broken the most important rule: never talk about the Bro Code! Kai was just going to make up some excuse! He had already broken one rule, he didn't want to know what the punishment was for breaking two at once!

"The what now?" Evelynn let go of Kai and got up from her seat, glaring at Oscar as she walked over slowly.

"Its just- I uh-" Oscar began waving his hands around, stammering to find an excuse as to what the 'Bro Code' was. However, seeing Evelynn stand right in front of him he simply closed his eyes and accepted his fate.

Instead of the expected pain from Evelynn sending a punch his way, she just said one word before turning around and sitting back down with Kai.

"Disgusting."

Oscar instantly collapsed, falling to the ground. That one word was more painful than any punch he could have ever received. He curled up into a fetal position, whimpering slightly over the fact that Evelynn had insulted him.

"So you're not mad at me?" Kai asked sheepishly.

"No, I am mad" Evelynn said, causing Kai to lower his head. "But I'm mad because you didn't feel comfortable telling me this! I'm your master Kai!"

She ruffled his hair. She picked him up from his seat and plopped him in her lap before continuing.

"A master disciple relationship is more than just teaching and learning, it's like becoming a family!"

Kai nodded, slightly teary eyed.

"I'm sorry master!" Kai spoke, trying his best to stop himself from crying.

"Aw, Kai, why are you crying?" She asked worriedly, turning him around in her lap to face him.

"I just miss my mommy and daddy!" Kai sobbed, tears streaming down his face.

Evelynn immediately pulled him tight for a hug, not letting go until Kai finally calmed down. Kai was strong for someone his age, being forced to leave his home and live in a new city with people he didn't even know. Evelynn was surprised he had lasted this long, if she were in his shoes she might not of even wanted to leave her bed.

Patting his back, Eve sat and just silently comforted him as Kai slowly fell asleep.

…

Kai slowly opened his eyes. Looking around the room he realized it was the same room he had slept in the first night he worked for Oscar. He sat up and looked to the corner where Evelynn was reading a book silently.

"Master?" Kai said groggily, still tired from sleeping.

"How're you feeling?" she asked, putting her book down and looking up.

"I'm fine" Kai gave a wry smile. "What time is it?"

"A little past 5" Evelynn responded.

"What about my training?"

"Oscar closed the bar for the night, so just relax."

Kai nodded slowly.

"I was thinking about what had happened at school" Evelynn spoke warmly. "And I think you should apologize to Jax for going a little too far during your spar."

Kai furrowed his brows.

"Why? Because he's some Clan heir?" Kai said, annoyed that Evelynn would say something like that.

"Yes, and no" Evelynn began to explain. "He's from a big Clan in Heaven Dou, but that's not the reason you should apologize."

"But he hit Emma when she was surrendering!"

"Are you sure it wasn't just a mistake?" Eve refuted. "Not everyone has super hearing like you, and in the heat of a fight its hard to pull a punch that has already been thrown."

Kai sat silently, processing what he had just heard. He didn't want to admit it, but Evelynn was right. It could just have been a mistake.

"But he didn't even apologize after the fight!" Kai didn't want to back down, he thought back to how Jax just stood above Emma silently.

"And how are you any different than him, stopping him from surrendering and beating him?" Evelynn said. "I think the two of you are more alike than you may think!"

"I'm nothing like that guy!" Kai yelled out angrily. Eve just watched calmly; her expression unchanging.

"Let me tell you a little secret about Jax."

Evelynn began to explain, answering any questions Kai had along the way. By the end Kai was looking down, his fists clenched. He had initially been shocked, then angry at what he had learned.

Jax's situation wasn't too different from his own. Jax's clan was known for their Puppet Martial Souls and were masters of the control system. They had produced many well known and powerful spirit masters over the years. Jax was the clan leader's first child, and the clan expected many great things from him, placing him on a pedestal from the moment he was born.

However, during the awakening ceremony he awakened the Blood Puppet. Historically known as a powerful and evil martial spirit that was used by some members of the clan in the past, he was pushed from the spotlight and shunned.

"Of course, this is no excuse" Evelynn finished explaining. "I just hope you'll think about it at least.

"I'll apologize" Kai said resolutely, earning a warm smile from Evelynn.

"Good" Evelynn got up from her seat, making her way to Kai she pulled him up to his feet. "Dinner should be just about ready now!"

"Dinner?"

"I got Oscar to whip something up for us" Eve said, ruffling Kai's hair. "Don't worry, I sent Lance a message telling him you'll be staying with me tonight."

Kai nodded before following her out of the room. They made their way to the house's living room, where Oscar normally ate, but found it severely lacking in food. Instead, they found Oscar lying leisurely watching some television, drinking some wine.

"I thought you said you were going to make something?" Eve said, annoyed.

Not looking away from the TV Oscar answered.

"I said I would get us some food; never said I would make it."

"Then where is it?" Evelynn asked, crossing her arms.

"I was-" He glanced up for a moment. Seeing the annoyed look on Evelynn's face he quickly got up from his seat. "I was just about to go get it!"

Evelynn rolled her eyes as Oscar quickly left the room. Eve made her way to the couch, sitting down she picked up the controller and turned the TV off. She then motioned for Kai to sit down next to her.

As he sat down Evelynn stretched her hand out, suddenly a box appeared. It seemed to be a board game, taking a closer look at its name he realized he had never heard of it before.

"'Sorry!'?"

"Ever played it before?" Eve asked with a smile. Kai shook his head, prompting her to being explaining the rules.

After a few minutes they set the game up and began playing.

The first round went terribly for Kai, he finally understood the reason for the game's name. He couldn't even remember how many times he had almost reached the end only for Evelynn to send one of his pieces back, forcing him to start over. It seemed like Kai had terrible luck.

Shortly after the first game had ended Oscar returned with some food, takeout from a nearby restaurant. Smelling the food Kai couldn't help but drool, his stomach rumbling.

"You guys had all this fun without me?" Oscar asked seeing the game on the table, his expression somewhat pained.

"You wouldn't have missed out if you had just made food earlier like I asked!" Evelynn reprimanded.

"Master, can't we play another one?" Kai asked expectantly, wanting revenge from the first game.

Evelynn looked at her disciple for a moment and shook her head in defeat.

"Fine but eat first!"

…

After they had finished eating the trio sat around the table, ready to play the game.

"Oscar, what color do you want?" Kai asked excitedly.

"Blue" Oscar answered after thinking for a moment.

Kai handed the blue pieces over when Evelynn suddenly asked a question.

"Kai, why do you refer to Oscar as Oscar and me just as Master?"

"Because Master is my Master, and Oscar is just Oscar" Kai didn't hesitate at all when he answered. Evelynn simply rubbed her temple, she sometimes forgot that Kai was just 6 years old.

"What do you mean 'Just Oscar'?" Oscar yelled out, offended. "Am I not master enough for you?!"

"How about this" Oscar continued, placing his pieces at the start position. "If I win, you'll have to call me master as well!"

Kai looked to his master for help, unsure of what to do. But instead of her calm expression, her eyes seemed to be burning with passion.

"Count me in!" She said fervently. "If I win, I want you to call me by my name!"

Kai nodded slowly, taken aback by what was happening. Kai expected Oscar to act like this, but he had never seen Evelynn so excited before. He could only prepare for what would be the most intense and competitive match of 'Sorry!' in his life.

About an hour or so later, Kai and Oscar lay on the ground defeated. This game hadn't gone any better than the first. Kai had hoped that with Oscar he'd at least have a chance of winning, but it seems like that was impossible. In fact, Oscar and kai began to work together at one point. Trying their best to sabotage and prevent Evelynn from winning, but it was all for naught.

Evelynn stood up from the table, arms spread wide as she basked in the glory of her victory. She looked down at the two defeated and broken souls on the ground ready to gloat, but realized that Kai had fallen asleep.

Shaking her head, she reached down and picked him up before making her way to the bedroom. She put him down, tucking him in. She then took out some pajamas from her spriti guidance before changing. Just as she was about go to bed Oscar appeared in the doorway in his underwear.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"About to go to bed" Oscar raised his eyebrows, unsure of what Eve was getting at.

"Sleep on the couch" Eve said, crossing her arms.

"You come into my house! Eat my food! And now you take my bed?" Oscar said grandly, waving his arms around.

"Fine" Eve grumbled, not willing to argue. She the placed a pillow in the center of the bed. "But if you cross this barrier, I'll burn your bar down with you in it."

Oscar just smiled widely before jumping under the covers next to the already sleeping Kai. Evelynn just rolled her eyes and turned the lights off before getting in on the other side, quickly falling asleep.