Chapter 7: First Chorus
The air began to cool some what, the downtown smog replaced with the salty tang of the sea. She barely felt the wind with Thorne's heavy leather jacket wrapped around her. Borrowing herself deeper into it's musty, warm embrace, ducking her chin inside as she pressed up against his bare back. Only the upper portions of her face bore the brunt of the salty air. As Usagi began to see the bay shimmering beside her as they sped across the water. Like black glass stretching on forever, the silver sheen of the cresting waves bathed in the moonlight the most romantic sight she had ever seen.
Speeding across a narrow cement causeway bridge, with barely any guard rails to keep them on the black top. The sea surrounding them was dark and fathomless in the blanket of night. The moon sat bloated and overly large, hanging just above the midnight sea. Thorne had taken her far from Minato, across the water to the district of Chou, then deeper into the warehouses off the docks in Koto. To her it had been a long journey into the unknown, her heart a painful throb in her throat, and a ball of nervous acid roiling in her tummy all the way.
As the open air faded away, to be replaced by the looming walls of cargo container's and old run down buildings. Usagi's heart was beating harder and faster now, this wasn't a nice area at all. The streets were dark and ill kept, large forgotten plastic bags floating around the speeding bike like ghosts. The discarded remains of industrial garbage, lurking just out of sight in the shadows between the old long brick and cement warehouses. Which looked abandoned, with broken, smokey windows, looking foreboding and seedy. The reality of what she had done, settling over her as they weaved into the dark recesses of the dockyard. Realizing that taking off with a Bosozuko was far less romantic then her mind had conjured over an hour ago. Anything could happen to her now, and she was starting to doubt her decision.
Mamoru felt her stiffen behind him, noticed how she darted her head back and forth taking in the beaten up warehouses and massive walls of graffiti riddled concrete and spray painted cargo containers. He wished to comfort her but the great wind from his speed prevented him. She would never hear his words anyway. So he merely took one hand off a handle bar and squeezed one of her wrists that were gripping his bare chest in a death grip.
Then his eyes flew wide, as he felt her respond to his touch by pressing her lips softly against his shoulder blades. As a quiet voice within her mind reassured her. Reminding her that she knew Thorne...he would never hurt her or put her into danger. He truly cared for her...She held him tighter basking in his warmth. His bare skin gave off. Seeking to draw comfort from him, and a sense of security that nothing bad was going to happen to her tonight.
Then he turned the bike into a vast cargo yard, through a broken divide in a high rising chain link fence. Zipping across a black as pitch abandoned parking lot, filled with the stacked monoliths of cargo container's. He weaved his bike through the maze with ease, heading towards a large warehouse. A mammoth two story industrial beast of a building of worn brick and metal sheeting. Whose line of upper square windows were glowing brightly. Coming up to the large worn brick building, circling around to the more lit up dock side. Several cold industrial metal lamp posts stood along the edge of the cement, casting a warm glow across the wide cracked pavement. Usagi glanced over the low rusted out guard rail, finding the water near the dock rippling with an odd orange shine, giving the water a fake dawn glow. As they sped down the side of the building a wide cement stair well rose into view, at the far end. With several massive sealed garage doors, set apart every few feet. The doors were filled with elaborate spray painted tags in Kanji, Manji even some English words. With beautifully colourful abstract images woven in between. As they neared the stairwell, with the metal railing. She noticed the two young men from out front of her high school. Dressed in their white military pants and leather jackets, well muscled torso's no longer wrapped up. Sharing what looked like a home made smoke between them. The short blonde haired man said something quite passionate making the buff haired man with the long pony tail nod in agreement.
Mamoru eased the bike to a stop, cutting off the loud engine. As the roar fell silent, Usagi could hear the steady beating of techno dance music from within the warehouse. Along with shouting and cursing, and the clang of people grappling against metal. A sound she recognized as people fighting near a wall of lockers.
The two men lounging on the stair, looked at her with slack jaws. Casting Mamoru uneasy looks, as he left her stranded on the high back seat, to take a long drag from the blonde man's joint. Needing to ease his nerves which were close to raw from an anxiety of rejection. He was opening himself up to her, showing her his true self. At any point he felt she was going to bolt and never want anything to do with him again. He was literally taking off his mask and revealing to her his true identity.
"Baka...Chiba. Are you insane bringing the little princess down here?" Jed muttered, casting Usagi a warm smile and
nod. Not wanting to lead her on to how nervous she made him. The upper class usually never went slumming with a no good kid from the streets.
Zoi shrugged, moving away up the stairs and back into the heavy iron front door, completely uncaring. Mamoru stared oddly at his two friends, who's images were a blur of mixed memories. His rational mind could not figure out the dual images, of his boyhood friends recreated as men. Who also bore a second image of two young men from his youth on the streets of Tokyo. So he promptly forgot the strange occurrence, believing what he saw as truth. And not what his mind wished to show him as conjured lies.
"Look, after today. The Honeymoon's over. Either she likes the real me, or..." Mamoru, brushed a hand along the side of his head. Dragging his long dark hair back in an nervous, uncertain action.
Jed merely grunted, rising from his stair and turning his back on his companion, disappearing into the warehouse as well.
"Thorne...were are we?" Usagi inquired nervously, casting her worried eyes over the looming warehouse. The outdoor lamps attached to the garage doors, casting a cool white light upon the parking pad out front.
"This is my house...so to speak." He chuckled, bounding back down the steps to her side.
"Well I doubt this place is safe for me to walk bare foot around." She smirked at him, raising her arms. Giving him an invite to carry her.
"I got some boots in your size...hell. We got a whole wardrobe in there." Mamoru chuckled, new members were getting initiated tonight so they had stocked up on a few items to give to those who passed the trails and hazing.
"Stay here I'll be right back." Mamoru made an abrupt staying motion with his hands, darting up the stairs and out of sight behind the heavy metal door.
Usagi groaned, and rolled her eyes what had she gotten herself into, hiding inside his coat suddenly very self conscious. She should have just ran in the house and got her shoes. Thorne seemed more then a little nervous now, and quite worried about something. His normally cocky, arrogant self was absent. She had little time to review his odd behaviour, as the metal door at the top of stairs resealed with a soft click. Leaving her all alone in the vacant darkness. The overwhelming silence was eerie, as she could hear the gentle lapping of the waves against the dock behind her. Along with the lonesome calls of barges and boats, droning out in the midnight bay. Feeling cold and forgotten out in the darkness as he was taking, what seemed an extremely long time to return.
Then the silence was broken suddenly by the roar of two vehicles thundering up behind her. Trapped on the back of the bike, she griped the seat in front of her with a white knuckled anxiety. As she leaned forward enough to keep her balance so she could glance over her bulky leather shoulder. Finding a small sporty deep purple mini truck, that had been heavily modified. The front glass in the cab was smoked a dark blue, with multi coloured flashing cone shaped lights on top of the cab. With smaller lights attached along the upper portion of the cabs doors, trailing down around the box. They twinkled like small star's along the shining purple metal. Inside the box was four huge curved speakers pointing outward on each corner. With a bulky built in DJ booth in the middle, and neon paint on the speakers that made them look like four glowing pillars. Flashing lights, were strung from the tops of one set of speakers to the another casting the DJ table in strobing light. Screeching up behind the stage on wheels, was a hot pink beetle, with two massive angel fins attached to the rear engine compartment. Gold feathered accents of glowing tubing ran along the forward trunk, doors and wings. Bright blue under light glowed just beneath the chassis.
As two girls exited the truck, who looked like identical twins. One with long black hair, the other dyed a platinum white. Dressed in matching blue jean dungarees, the black haired girl wearing a white tube top, while the white haired girl as in a black version. Each sporting a pair of black combat boots, and white arm bands on their wrists with manj script scrawled on it. Their cute faces, painted up with thick makeup making them look tough and dangerous. With cherry red lips and smoking dark brown eyes. The driver of the pink Beetle was dressed more womanly, so to speak. With tight black leather pants, with black buckle boots that rode high on her calves. A Black leather halter top, with even more shiny buckles wrapping around her torso and a long white duster coat the hem trailing low near her ankles. Near the buttons of the long coat was adorned with Manji symbols in black. She had a haunting beauty with dark near black eyes, and honey blonde dyed hair that hung long and free near her bum. Wearing just as thick makeup with deep crimson lips, that were full and pouty.
Usagi swallowed these Yanki girls looked mean...Oh..Kami. Were are you Thorne. She pleaded in her mind, trying to remain invisible, by hunching her shoulders and making herself as small as she could on the bike. Hiding like a turtle in his coat. While the twin's skipped over to the first garage door and began hauling on the heavy chain to lift it up.
As the door finished rolling up in a rumbling thunder, the twins bounced over to the pink beetle. Diving into the now open trunk taking out several large bags before retreating into the soft glow inside the warehouse. Usagi never noticed the blonde bombshell casting her an odd smile before she to swaggered toward the open garage. "Lets get this party started!" She screamed, raising her arms over her head. Her exclamation returned in a ruckus chorus of voices.
Usagi gave a sigh of relief, as Thorne rushed out of the open garage, a smile of pride gracing his handsome face. With a pair of small brown leather boots with a slight heel gripped tight in his left hand. With an apologetic smile he slipped them tenderly on her dainty bare feet.
"You know I could have really just ran into my own house, to get my own shoes...I feel silly!" Usagi ranted, laughing nervously. Mamoru clasped her hands in his, guiding her off the bike.
"I couldn't let you leave my side, if you went inside your house you might have changed your mind about running away with me." He smirked arrogantly, yet their was a touch of serious worry in his tone. Taking her hand in a comforting grasp, he led her into the bright light of the garage. Usagi cast him an adoring look, the worry was sweet it warmed her heart.
As they past through the wide opening, Usagi turned nervous once more, a ball of ice forming in her gut. Walking closer to him, nearly brushing her shoulder up against his. Needing to feel him against her for courage. This place was so far out of her comfort range she was fighting with herself not to ask him to take her home.
The heavy thumping of Korean rap echoed over the vast garage like a storm. She paid no attention to two young men dressed in white overalls, with the upper portion cast down over their hips. Chest laid bare with white sashes criss crossed over their stomachs. They were leaning casually against a set of dented up lockers along the far wall. One was quite tall with long silver hair, the other with wavy brunette hair who was much more ruggid and wild in appearance. They quickly noticed her, raising their eyebrows approvingly.
"New meat?" Neph replied to Kunsite with satisfaction, his deep voice barely above a whisper.
Kunsite merely nodded, then looked away catching sight of Mamoru's glare of possession. Again Mamoru's mind reeled at the double images, of his Elysian memories merging with his earth past. It was unnerving with the raw surreal nature of it all. So again, his conscious mind, as it had done all day when confronted by these irregularities, merely suppressed them.
As they crossed the empty cement floor of the garage, Usagi turned around at the sound of a saw blade screaming away. Finding another young man with scruffy black hair hunched over a table saw, working on a bat. A sign on the wall above the piece of equipment stated 'wear your goggles'. She took note the man had his goggles on top of his head, in a smart ass manner. Squinting his eyes against the tiny shards of wood splintering towards him.
Shaking her head, at the lack of care and safety these biker's seemed to have for themselves. Usagi focused on Mamoru again, passing him a weak smile as he led her onward up a set of stairs to a wide open metal deck. It had several beat up tables, and a bar set along the far wall. That was just a glorified set of large metal tool chests pushed together and spun backwards. To the numerous drawers faced inward. The back work counter was filled with liquor bottles and beer kegs, she even spotted a Saki bottle or two. All ready there was a bartender on duty, wearing a pair of leather pants, a tight white muscle shirt and a long black leather duster. A very striking young man with long raven black hair tinted a dark blue. Pouring drinks for two more male member's in leather jackets and white military pants and combat boots with arm bands in white displayed on their arms. In the corner was four more members in white overalls, with white arm bands and combat boots. Several shot glasses were placed in the centre of the table full of golden saki. Playing a round of cards, throwing insults at each other as they made bets. The loser of the hand, committed to swiging back a shot of saki. The group were flushed and looked near drunk already. This was the wild side of life she had never been allowed to experience. She was flushed with both adventure and alarm, her whole body was trembling at the pure out of control nature of the bikers. Then the truck's deafening engine surprised her. She shot around as the vehicle blasted into the main garage it's music turning the place into a party instantly, drowning out the music already playing through out the warehouse. As if a battle of wills had broken out between the twins and the nameless owner of the stereo.
Usagi couldn't help but press her palms to her ears, and cringe at the loud dance music, clashing with the hard core rap.
Turning both sets of music into a noxious white noise.
Mamoru chuckled, grasping her shoulder's and leading her up another set of stairs just at the back of the balcony. That led up along the back wall high over the parking garage, to the upper story of the warehouse. As they ascended higher towards another metal door, slipping behind to a long hallway filled with more lighter wooden doors the music finally died away.
"You live here?" Usagi commented, uncertainly. Glancing down the worn hall of yellow lino, with the flickering over head halogen lights. It looked like an industrial office corridor, with plain walls of peeling wallpaper. The doors along the hall
as plain and unassuming the walls. Blending into one another, as faceless and ordinary as any office building. There was nothing homey or welcoming at all to the bland hall.
"For a few years now." Mamoru responded, opening a plain unassuming door, and entering the only place he called his. Revealing a small room, that might have been an office. Filled with a metal single bed and mattress covered in black sheets and comforter. A simple wooden desk along one wall, with a large bookshelf filled with text books of all things. A single long mirror was set up beside a small yellow stained window. A simple wooden night stand stood by the bed, littered with scraps of paper and pens. The walls were empty, plain white and lonely looking. Usagi stood at the entrance, unsure if she wanted to commit to entering his room. She had given him the wrong impression of her already, as a free love sort of woman on the streets of Minato. But that had been like living a romance novel to her, it was wild and anonymous. Now it looked like Thorne was wanting to turn their casual meetings into a relationship...was uncertain if she ready to take that step with him. This is what her fantasies had been about...but the glamour of living a wild carefree existence with a rebel was slowly being disillusioned with the cold reality of it. He was just a poor, street kid, with no family or prospects for the future. Did she truly want to tie her red thread of fate to him? Where would that lead her?
"Odango?" He was more worried then ever now, as she stood stunned in the doorway of his room. Gawking at the plain, run down looking walls with worry. The strange resemblance his room was to a juvenile detention cell was uncanny.
"Look...I know it isn't much...but I want you to know me a bit better first. Before you make any kind of decision about just abandoning our 'relationship'" He sighed, sitting on the bed looking a bit dejected and lost. She couldn't help but admire his toned body, with his powerful arms and broad shoulder's as he hunched over his knees. His large strong hands clasping together as he fell into deep troubling thoughts. Looking so very much the brooding hero, in her fantasies. He had this dangerous glamour that drew her like a moth to a flame. She suddenly wanted to run her hands over his chest, her body responding to the thought with slow burn in her stomach. But then the hurt she saw in her eyes, was enough to get her to enter the room and close the door.
"I am not a slut...really, so don't be getting any idea's ok?" She stated, tempering her arousal and making a bee line for the black netted desk chair by his desk. Sitting down primely with her legs firmly together, a no nonsense look on her cute heart shaped face.
"I never saw you that way?" He stated, shocked she would think of herself in such a demeaning way.
"Well...we were quite passionate with one another back on the streets, Thorne. I didn't want you to get the wrong impression of me." Usagi shrugged averting her gaze as she blushed, absently fingering the papers on the desk top.
"Odango...you don't know the meaning of passionate yet." Mamoru chuckled, enjoying how innocent she was.
Usagi scowled at him. Just as his door burst open and a laughing boys face burst in. With long shaggy black hair, with bright brown watery eyes and a round face. Wearing a loose pair of white military pants, combat boots and his more full belly wrapped in a black sash. The rest of his heavy frame was bare, making him look like more of a bear then a boy.
"Hey...you com'in down to the party?" He inquired.
"Later..man. " Mamoru sighed, casting Usagi another sorry look. Gathering himself to his feet to grasp his door handle and block the boy's view into his room.
"Look I got a little business in Ginza tonight could use some back up...if you know what I mean." The young man asked under his breath.
"Sure...fine. Send me a text and your location alright. I'll see you later tonight. I could really use a little privacy right now man!" Mamoru groaned, shutting the door rudely in his face then promptly locking it.
The younger man mumbled a Gomen behind the door before his clipped boots faded away.
Mamoru groaned again, chiding himself for being so fucking nervous. He had never felt this intensely over another girl before. He had always been kinda a user, in it for the fun not for love. Falling for this girl who was so out of his league...his sense of self worth was swirling the bowl. He had no idea now, what to say...how to act. He had planed to show her the fun, wild side of being a Bosozuko. In the end, he had only managed to hole her up in his room seeking to cast his heart at her feet. And hope to the Spirits she didn't squash it under her heel.
Wiping his sweating palms down his pants front he fumbled back to his bed and sat down heavily.
"Look, I know. I'm not much right now...but I don't plan on making the gang my life for long. I got plans...big plans for my life. " Mamoru let out a deep breath, giving her a strong confident smile.
"If that mattered at all to me, I wouldn't have jumped on your bike tonight." Usagi grinned, moving to sit beside him on the bed. Her heart going out to him, seeing how much opening up to her had made him so vulnerable. She lightly set a small hand on his back, rubbing comfortingly.
"I got no family...but I refuse to not have a future." He cast her another small smile.
"Oh...I'm sorry." Usagi responded, her heart bleeding for the loneliness she saw in his eyes.
Mamoru waved her sympathy off, "I need yen and lots of it. This way of life pays better then some part time job. When I have enough saved up, I plan on leaving this behind me. Go to University, have a real chance at a good job, a normal life. " He finished, needed her to know he wasn't some brainless thug, merely floating through life with out a plan.
"I really like you Odango. Give us a chance first...O.k." He pleaded, his dark azure eyes penetrating her own. Seeking an answer there to quell his doubting heart.
Usagi leaned in, pressing her lips tenderly against his. Answering his question with her silent gesture of acceptance.
Mamoru returned her sweet kiss, brushing a strong hand up against her cheek and cradling her face. Holding her head steady, as he deepened the kiss. Her lips parted more allowing his tongue entrance to the wet warmth there in, as she thrust her own into his mouth. He unzipped his jacket, brushing it off her shoulders. Usagi allowed the heavy garment to fall from her arms, discarding it to the floor before the bed. Before weaving her hands into his hair. Almost without thought, Mamoru leaned back against the bed taking Usagi down with him. She braced herself against his side, her hands caressing his strong flawless chest moaning in pleasure as he drew his lips against her neck. Nuzzling just under her shroud of golden hair, nipping and suckling. His hands roaming down her sides to lightly massage her bum, drawing another longer deeper moan of delight from her lips. As her hands fluttered up to his shoulders and gripped him there, he could just feel the hard nubs of her nipples against his side and chest through her thin white shirt announcing how aroused he was making her.
Soon he had her shirt pulled off and discarded beside the bed. She had know idea how this had happened, she always lost her control. When they started to make out, her resolve to show him she wasn't weak willed, or easy fading away under his kisses. Ending up going further and faster with him, then any boy before...hell he was her first. Now she was laying beneath him in only her white lace bra. Her hands caressing his powerful biceps, as he straddled her thighs over her jeans. Admiring her flat stomach, by brushing his finger tips in small circles around her navel. Before tracing up to caress her rising and falling breasts. His hands completely covered her pert mounds, thumbs rubbing softly against her stiffening nipples making her cry out in pleasure.
"Thorne..." She hummed, as she felt his fingers dip under the bra cups, following it's shape around her breasts.
"Oh...Odango you are so beautiful...like a work of art." He breathed, reaching behind her and unclasping her bra in seconds.
She yelped in surprise as he chuckled, tossing the lace garment to the floor by her shirt. She instantly sought to cover herself, with an arm, her face and chest blushing a soft rose. Suddenly very uncertain of this, she was in his bed and this could go further then she would have liked.
Thorne chuckled huskily, as she attempt to be demure and shy. He had seen her bare breasts countless times over the last few weeks. She was not going to deny him this time either. He clasped the wrist of her shielding hand, drawing it away over her head, pressing it firmly against the pillow there.
Then her other hand pressed up flat against his chest, holding him back as he sought to lean down and begin to devour her delicious breasts. Suddenly he was pulled back from his lust filled haze, by her bracing arm. His darkened stare, meeting her nervous almost scared look.
"I would never hurt you..." He breathed, feeling her arm relax against his chest, as she took a deep breath. The misty cerulean pools of her eyes, softening towards trust once again.
With a low growl he bent down, taking up a hard nipple into his mouth. As he began to lap and suck upon the small pink nub, her hands wove into his hair. Small delicious sounds escaping her lips, as she felt her arousal quickening.
"Let me love you..." He whispered, as he moved to devour her other breast. Mamoru was lost to her beauty, her soft sweet scent as he began to seduce her. Her willingness to comply, to be dominated by his passions. Urging him on past the point of no return.
Usagi was soon lost to him once more, her body a dancing flame that soon combusted all her good sense. Before she
knew what was truly happening he had divested her of her jeans and underwear leaving her nude under his admiring gaze. There was just something about him that drew her passions beyond anything she had ever experienced before. He dominated her, with his smouldering blue eyes. His confident hands playing with her naked flesh in ways that astounded her senses. As if he knew how she like to be touched, were she needed him to love her to bring her forth towards ecstasy. As if they had danced together like this countless times before...
"Aie...ya!" She craned her head back, as another orgasm rocked through her small body. Bracing herself on her elbows, her slender legs spread wide. While Thorne explored her inner core with his fingers, his thumb rubbing against her bundle of nerves. His midnight blue eyes filled with admiration and lust. Then his mouth was upon her, lapping at the folds, thrusting his tongue within her. All the while his thumb made magic upon her small bundle just above her entrance.
"Oh...oh...oh...Please." She panted, pleaded for him, her head exploding with pleasure. Her whole body beginning to tremble. This had gone way to far again...yet she didn't mind. Closing her eyes, her elbows buckling. Her head crashed down into the softness of his pillow as he devoured her with an eagerness. His tongue darting in and out of her in a strong penetrating pace that left her dizzy and moaning plaintively for him to do far more to her.
Vison's began to flash behind her eyes, as she closed them basking in his seductions upon her. She saw herself dressed all in white, with ivory wings spread wide from her back. A silvery full moon shone behind her, grande and all encompassing...
Mamoru closed his eyes as he swallowed her subtle taste, her hips gentle thrusting movements against him becoming the total of his world. Diving his tongue, deeper, faster within her taking her upward towards another more intense climax. Oh...Kami he was in love with her. Every part of him hummed for her in every way. Sliding his hands up her quivering thighs to brush up her flat belly, slowly ascending to cup her firm young breasts. Moments later he pulled away to nip her lightly on her small nub. Causing her to scream out in ecstasy, her back arching forcefully against his hands. As her body was rocked by the powerful, most exquisite climax she had ever experienced. A mind blowing pleasure that he had forced upon her by his sudden attack against her tender flesh.
As she came down from the ecstasy, he pulled up from her. Smiling smugly down at her breathless form, with just hint of her honey glistening on his chin. Her crystal blue eyes fluttered open, still glazed from pleasure. Her slender hands moved to cup his cheeks, drawing him towards her waiting lips for a deep passionate kiss. Mamoru chuckled softly as he drew himself over top of her, the firm erection in his loose white pants pressed intimately against her core. She never moved, never flinched as she felt his hardness against her. This...him...it all felt so right, as if being this close had happened once before? This passion was familiar and comforting.
His lips pressed softly against her's at first, then his hunger for her got the better of him again. His kisses becoming more violent, more possessive. She moaned against him, lightly tasting herself upon his lips. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders as he thrusted against her core seeking relief for himself as well. Nuzzling into her neck, tasting her salty sweat of passion as he began to mouth her.
"Oh...don't stop...please. I need you...I need. Oh..." Her words made no sense, as she verbally urged him on to make love to her. Small hands trailing down boldly along the satin softness of his back, finger's questing for the edge of his pants hanging off his hips.
Mamoru closed his eyes as he drew her earlobe into his mouth, breathing against her causing her body to shiver beneath him.
"I will never stop...loving you." He panted against her collar bone. As a vison of her writhing in pleasure beneath him in a rose garden, began to form in his minds eye. Seeing himself thrusting with reckless abandon within her. Staring down at her with such wonder, such awe. Her gorgeous blue eyes, more clear, more ethereal, shimmering with such a fathomless love. He could nearly see heaven, mirroring back to him within their depths. The purity she possessed, shocking him down to the depths of his soul.
He felt the thunder of release rising within himself, the charges of pleasure rippling through out his body. Suddenly quelled, as screams of terror broke out below them within the garages.
The building shuttered, the floor beneath the bed trembling as more frantic screams echoed out. Then the echoing thunder of boots running down the hall outside jolted them fully from the haze of love making.
Mamoru jumped off of her racing to his window, pulling up the aged glass. As a cloud of smoke billowed into the room. He ducked below the open window, choking on the acidic fumes coming from outside. Usagi was startled at first, when he bolted off of her. Her eyes wide with fear, heart once pounding with rising passion now beating with panic. Scrambling off the bed, she sought to track down her undergarments strewn over the floor amid the burning smoke now clouding up
the room.
Mamoru quickly pushed the glass back down, sealing the window. Confronting her frightened eyes with a cold stern calm with in his own. He pressed himself against the small bookshelf beside the window, glancing outside to the shadowed docks. Several bikes roared in circles around the open garage door, a few yards down from his window. The remains of his bike was in smouldering ruins before the stairs. He mourned it's lose for a moment with bitterness. Before he caught sight of the banner, held by a rival gang. A large white rectangle attached to a pole, filled with small black kanji with larger red manji symbols. Cracking in the wind, clasped in the leaders hands as he pulled figure eights in front of the doors on his modified cherry red bike. Dressed in a long black duster with the gangs name written in gold lettering, with various manji symbols in white. His matt of black hair a wind blown mess upon his head. His chest was bare, with black leather pants and long leather boots that rose up to his knees. His minions, were all in grey overalls, with black arm bands. A dozen or so other bikers followed behind him on their own cafe style bikes. Keeping Mamoru's own gang from escaping the fires building within the garage. The men on the bikes ran down any member of his gang stupid enough to try and make a break for it in plain sight. Mamoru watched in horror as several member's he had known for years or merely months being repeatedly run over by the bikes till they stopped moving. Then the biker's began to light and throw more flaming bottles into the open garage, whooping and jeering at Mamoru's trapped gang. Jaw clenched in fury, Mamoru turned back to his love.
"I need you to stay here..." He started, moving past her to reach his arm under his bed. Pulling out a set of lead pipes, he knelt before the bed, tucking them into his pants waist band. Finding his jacket on the floor nearby, he through it over his shoulders, zipping it up concealing his weapons. Gathering himself off the floor, he rushed to the door. Hand grasping the knob he cast her cowering form, now dressed only in her undergarments on last lingering look. His eyes filled with concern and worry quickly veiled by a cold calm expression. As she met his steady stare, just finishing pulling up her panties. Her fearful blue eyes seeking answers to what was going on. He merely smiled grimly, casting her support and comfort in his warm eyes then dashed out into the billowing smoke of the hall.
Usagi swallowed her fear, tears flowing down her cheeks as the lingering smoke burned her eyes. Focusing on gathering the rest of her clothes and dressing, swallowing her rising panic.
Nearly bounding down the metal stairwell, Mamoru moved low against the back wall. The smoke wafting up from the garage a grey and deadly cloud hovering over his head. As he neared the lower balcony, he could hear death screams and the feral shouting of combat. The dull beats of blunt weapons echoed through the smoke from outside. Once on the upper deck, he hunched low criss crossing his arms over his torso hands gripping the homemake black duct tape hilts of his lead pipes. They were his home made Kali sticks, his preferred weapons.
Crossing through the murky smog, blinking rapidly to keep his vison clear incase he was attacked. Mamoru made his way along the metal deck, catching sight of silent bodies sprawled under the tables. He never stopped to investigate anymore, taking to the last set of steps down to the cold cement of the garage floor. The modified mini truck was smouldering, filling the garage with dark smoke. He could vaguely see one of the twin's slumped out of the open driver's window, dark hair dragging on the floor, her arms hanging low. The rival gang wasn't entering the garage, merely keeping guard...keeping his gang trapped inside to die. A few of the bolder ones had sought to take on the rival gang, attacking them and their bikes with lead pipes, bats or anything else they could round up as a weapon. Were outside in close quarter combat, cursing and screaming in fury.
Then the soft sound of sniffling drew his attention to the side of the truck. Moving swiftly in a half crouch, he drew in beside the truck. Finding the same heavy built young man with the scruffy black hair and sweet round face.
"Haru?" Mamoru questioned, pressing himself beside the cowering young man who merely nodded, clutching his ears in terror. His brown eyes filled with the knowledge of his coming death.
"This is all my fault...Chiba." He mutttered.
"What did you do..." Mamoru growled, watching out of the garage doors as the rival gang continued to roar in a blocking maneuver. Taking out several more of the young men who were attempting to unseat them with their metal staffs.
"I...sorta. Stole a shipment of Candy off one of their couriers. Sold it for myself..." He whined.
"Haru...you Baka! You stole LSD, from the Spectres!" Mamoru cuffed him upside the head. Catching onto the street slang for the drug. The boy cringed then moaned as the older boy struck him.
"I didn't think they would trace me back here...I killed the courier and stashed and weighted his body in the bay off Osaka." He cried.
"How much did you pull in?" Mamoru sighed, taking the opportunity. In this family of starving thieves, yen meant more
then blood.
"Enough to get me out of the streets for good." Haru commented not falling for his obvious dig as to where the money was.
"Good, then if I can keep you alive you have to share half of it with me." Mamoru narrowed his eyes, glaring dangerously down at the scared young man.
Haru thought it over for a moment, agreeing when another Motlof Cocktail was lobbed into the garage.
The flaming bottle shattered on the other side of the truck, casting crimson tongues along the river's of gasoline flowing from the glass remains.
Haru nodded fiercely, searching Mamoru's face for salvation.
"Alright then, com'on. " Mamoru growled, moving along the trucks body. Heading back towards the cab, his new shadow so close his breath was puffing uncomfortably against his neck. With a frustrated grunt, Mamoru thrust his arm backwards pushing Haru back a couple inches. Haru took the hint, and faded back from hovering over his shoulders.
As they neared the cab, Mamoru saw a line of young men kneeling on the floor their arms tied behind their backs. They were already unconscious, saliva oozing from their slack lips, their foreheads resting against the cement. The remains of the newest recruits to their gang. They had been in the middle of their hazing ritual when the attack happened. The poor bastards were just lambs to the slaughter.
"Fuck..." He huffed, casting Haru a deadly glare of blame out of the corner on his eye.
Haru stared obliviously past his shoulder to the nearly dead men, waiting for Mamoru to lead him to safety. So wound up in his own issues to live to care about a bunch a kids he didn't know.
With another frustrated growl, he dashed over to the stairs up to the deck and once more back up to the second story.
They were not getting out the normal way. They had to find another less obvious avenue of escape.
Usagi was pacing nervously in small circles, coughing into her elbow fully dressed once more in her jeans and white long sleeve shirt that fell off one shoulder. The insides of the dull brown leather boot's Thorne had given her feeling slick and strange against her bare feet. The heels clicking smartly against the pale yellow lino flooring in his room. She could hear the muffled screams, and bellows from outside. The smoke still penetrating through the cracks in his bedroom door, stinging her eyes and burning her throat.
Her thoughts kept spiralling out of control with worry, her body was tingling with anxious panic. She needed to get out of this room, to flee. Yet Thorne had told her to stay put, if she left she might put herself in more danger she didn't know her way around.
Biting her lower lip, "Thorne...were are you?" She moaned.
"Right here, Odango." Mamoru now stood in the open door. She hadn't noticed it opening to lost in her thoughts. He's sudden voice nearly making her jump right out of her skin, releasing a startled scream. Then with a cry of glee, she rushed into his comforting arms. Hugging him tight for only a moment before he grasped her hands with reassurance. She beamed up at him for only a second before he pulled a bundle of rages from under his arm. thrusting a pair of greying overalls in her face. She grasped them with confusion.
"You are going to need to blend." He motioned her to hurry.
Usagi swallowed slipping out of her boots, then pulling on the overalls over top her other clothes. Zipping up the muted gas scented garment, she suddenly noticed a few splotches of blood around the collar and along the right side. Moaning in fright at the sight she looked back up to Thorne nervously, finding him staring down at her coldly.
"Ignore them, Odango." He commented harshly. He had stripped them off a dead gang member down stairs, unable to see very clearly in the mass of smoke he hadn't seen the blood. He handed her a surgical mask to ease her breathing. It was also a fashion among the females of his gang, helping her to blend in more smoothly. He had plans to fade into the streets, and regroup. After she tied the mask up behind the golden braid and free flowing hair. She slipped her boots back on, just as the floor rocked under a massive explosion. The truck parked down in the garage had finally been consumed by the fire, igniting the lower garage in an inferno. The rest of the warehouse was in a count down now...
Mamoru grabbed her hand, dashing down the hall at a break neck speed. Usagi glanced behind finding the same heavy set boy as before, running behind them. Wearing white military pants, combat boots and a black sash crossed over his
round belly. His face was smudged with soot and sweat, brown eyes glazed with fear.
Usagi kept her peace, as a glowing exit sign over a iron door barrelled into view at the end of the winding hall. Mamoru burst through the door to the cool darkness outside, pulling Usagi out behind him to a rusted out iron landing of a fire escape. The sounds of the combat was more sharp and clear once they were outside. The rough sounds of engines and sharp screams of the dieing echoing with a brutal clarity in the night. They moved swiftly down to the heavy shadows below, on the side of the warehouse. The flimsy iron ladders and landings swaying and clanging as they scrambled downward. Mamoru leaped off the last landing to the cement below, raising his arms up to offer to catch her. Usagi moaned in fright, then leaped into his arms refusing to give into her fear. Trusting that he would always catch her when she fell. His strong arms wrapped around her waist, with a sudden release of breath as her slight weight crashed into his chest. The heavier boy was left to his own devices to jump down, which he did with very little grace. Landing hard on his boots and stumbling forward as he attempted to run ahead. Mamoru pulled Usagi behind him into the long dark unknown of the vast dock yards of Koto, seeking a place to hide out amid the maze of cargo container's set just behind the warehouse.
