Chapter 4, comin' atcha!

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"'Clear our names'?? Senz, where are you getting at?" asked Yoshiro

"We'll be vigilantes!" Senzo announced enthusiastically, "We'll help those in need, good word will spread about us and then authorities will start to question our accusations!"

"Senzo... You're crazy."

"Thank you."

CHAPTER 4: FROM ROGUES TO RESCUERS

Everyone looks at Senzo, whose idea seemed more on the mad side than the heroic.

"You're... not kidding, are you?" asked Haru

"No, I'm not," was Senzo's reply, "We've been on the run for two years and I'm tired of being hunted like an animal!

"Sir!" Senzo called to Ganz, "Please listen to our story. We never killed Namazaka Tori, we weren't even there when he was killed. He was our Sensei, he trained us all- no, he was our father. We had nowhere else to go and he took care of us.

"One day when we came home to find him dead. The villagers saw us standing over his dead body and assumed that we killed him. You see, sir, it was all a misunderstanding.

"What I don't understand is why our bounty is so high when we were only accused of killing just one guy. Anyway, let us help you, Ganz!"

The four think about what Senzo had just said.

"Well," Yoshiro said, suddenly using a more cheerful tone, "I guess I'm in! How can I ever say no to you, Senz? (You'd kick my ass if I did...)"

"Then I'm in, too. We're in this together through the end," Haru said, smiling.

Suzuka sighed, "I'm outvoted again... Let's do it!"

Ganz looked at them.

"Kids... you would do that?"

"Of course!" Senzo replied, smiling proudly.

Lana and Glen then walk up to Ganz.

"Ganz... What're they saying? What's going to happen?" asked Lana.

"Daddy? What are you going to do?" asked, Glen looking up to his father's face.

Lana then looks at the table and sees the Liquor bottle

"You've been drinking again! There's something you're not telling me!" yelled Lana.

"Glen, go back to the bedroom and we'll call you later. This is something only grown-ups should hear," said Ganz to his son.

Glen nods and walks back into the bedroom.

"Lana... the Devil's Claw gang found our house. They offered me "protection" that was worth more than I make in a year. They told me, 'If you don't ensure your safety, then we'll ensure your danger; you, your wife and your kid,' they're threatening to kill us, Lana... We have to pay them by Sunday," Ganz said, wiping his eyes.

"That's why I need you not to be home on Sunday. Take Glen and hide in the Sanctuary. Me and these four kids will stay and fight them."

"Ganz... the Devil's Claw?" asked Lana, now about to cry.

"Yes. Before Sunday, I'll move all of our valuables to the Sanctuary, they'll be safe there. If I don't come for you there by Monday, take Glen and go to Alberta. Here's 4000z for the warp fee," Ganz gives her the money, "If I die, don't tell Glen about what happened until he's older."

"Oh, Ganz!" Lana exclaimed as she embraced her husband, crying on his shoulder.

Yoshiro sees Lana, who was in utter despair of what may happen to her husband. He puts his hand on Lana's shoulder.

"Don't worry, Lana," said Yoshiro, "If the Devil's Claws are going to kill Ganz, they'll have to step over my dead body!"

They comfort Lana and Ganz. Lana calls out Glen and embraces him.

"Oh, Glen... I hope you'll grow up to be brave like these good people," Lana, says to Glen, acknowledging the four, "Now, let's have breakfast!"

Lana served them a hearty breakfast of waffles and orange juice. They eat up and talk to Ganz as if he didn't try to kill them earlier.

Later that day, Yoshiro sees Ganz cutting wood in the forest.

"Hey, Ganz!" Yoshiro called, "Working hard? How can I help?"

"What do you mean, kiddo?" asked Ganz, who was quite surprised.

"We're staying for a week, remember? We're guests, not freeloaders. Suzuka's helping Lana in the kitchen, Senzo's killing rodents, Haru's sweeping the floor, and I'm the only one not helping out so let me help!" Yoshiro said enthusiastically, bouncing on his toes.

"Haha! You're a damn good kid, Yoshiro," Ganz said with a smile, "Just bring these logs to the shed behind the house."

Yoshiro sets off to work, hauling the logs to the shed.

Meanwhile, Senzo and Suzuka had finished their work and are relaxing on the grass in front of the house. Senzo was holding a bottle of water of which he drank half of its contents.

"About this morning...," said Suzuka, "...Why were you lying on the mattress with me?"

"What!" Senzo exclaimed, appalled by what Suzuka said, "Are you accusing me of crawling next to you last night?! Wait, wait, wait! Why were you hugging me?"

"You're saying I made a move on you?!" Suzuka shouted, sitting up, "How can you be sure it was me who hugged you? How can I be sure that you didn't hug me?!"

"Because I felt you last night! " Senzo retorted, sitting up as well, "I just hugged you back!"

Suzuka turned pink, "You... did?"

Senzo didn't answer, he turned pink as well. They just stared at each other for what seemed like ages.

Leave it to Yoshiro to ruin the moment. He was walking towards the house, carrying the logs when he saw Senzo and Suzuka sitting there.

"Oho! What have we here? You two sure do things different! From what I know, second base comes after first base, not the other way around!" Yoshiro said, thinking that Senzo and Suzuka were about to kiss.

Senzo looks at Yoshiro but says nothing, he drinks what's left of his water bottle and empties the excess on the grass. He stands up, still holding the bottle and walks towards Yoshiro.

Yoshiro, seeing that he pissed Senzo off (again), dropped the logs he was carrying and ran for dear life.

Senzo started chasing Yoshiro, hitting him over the head with the water bottle and cursing at him.

"You... (WHACK!) Fucking... (WHACK!)... ASS! (WHACK!)"

Senzo eventually corners Yoshiro and beats him with the bottle. When he was satisfied, Senzo walked away. Yoshiro was badly bruised, but he was still laughing because of how easily Senzo snapped.

They continue their chores and live easy for the rest of the week; but at the same time, they knew what they had to do when the Devil's Claw comes; They have to be ready by then...

-end of chapter

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Lots of Yoshiro bashing soon to come!

Over and out,

amielrox