Beat had been trying his best to keep up with the studies...in fact they hadn't been going on any tagging trips lately...partly because, in fact, their leader was so busy with studies, partly because YoYo still hadn't recovered and they had promised they'd wait for him, but mostly because they were waiting to do something big.

It wasn't that Beat was...stupid, so to speak, he knew lots about life and street knowledge, it was just that...well, he had stopped hanging around schools in fourth grade, and from the fourth to the twelfth, things kind of take a turn to the harder...he found himself - whenever not planning the big heist - taking notes and looking at them and just trying to understand them. It was like a whole different language for them, and not only the ones who focused on other different languages.

It wasn't as if the Rokkaku Conglomerate had won, or the city council, once or twice Beat could swear he had seen Captain Onishima pass by him as he went on his way to school, his sneer ever so present, his stubble. - did he make his beard every other day only? - And the smell of aftershave. But he couldn't prove it, and he dared not bring up. Anyway he put it he hadn't been tagging.

The day YoYo's sling got removed was the day they were all hanging around the garages blueprints downloaded of this wonderful called the "internet" - they all knew what it was of course, but the school computers had it, and a printer. Which Beat nervously stood in front of while downloading and printing the files, just in case a teacher or someone showed up. - The blueprints showed the dumping grounds of all that old equipment and while Gum had scoffed at the idea of going through garbage. YoYo was excited. This was their first proper heist in years, and the first he was going onto.

It involved a lot of things, vandalism, invasion of propriety, theft, tagging...they had a feeling that Captain Onishima's veins above his eyes would pop out in that cartoony way when he found the place broken into and the 4 tags into the morning. Of course, they'd be wearing gloves, not cut themselves, and be careful with security guards and cameras, so it was like their greeting card couldn't be proof enough.

But as soon as the sling got removed from YoYo's arm he got into a mad scratching frenesim, scratching all around, almost like he had fire ants all over his body, or, at least his arm. Gum let out a soft snicker, but she couldn't blame him, if she couldn't touch a part of her body for 4 months she would have mad itches all over, all the time.

YoYo tested his arm, pushing it up. And pushing it down. He was supposed to have it removed at the hospital, but it had been Gum to remove it, once enough time had passed...in fact his back completely healed, sans a minuscule scar he had in in lower back, where the bullet had hit. Gum couldn't do anything about it. It was where the wound had opened.

"So if we go East and then…" - Beat wasn't stupid...in terms of school, he was a bit on the slow side, but he was a master strategist. With the help of Tab, who moved the little models they had, made of cardboard and rolls, and stuff. It wasn't as if they wanted to get jammed by an electric fence or a bullet like YoYo had been.

Tab pointed out something out, making a motion with his arms, to someone it might look like he was swimming, but, to Beat, who was used to Tab, it was obvious.

"So it has cameras in there….so Not East then...but South also has the gate...with the guards and...the fence covers the whole North so…"

"Ahhh fuuuuuuu" - Itching fit over YoYo joined them. - "Yo, that felt good, but we've looked at it from every angle and unless we go under or over, there's no way…"

"Never say never"

"That's a dumb saying" - Gum joined them. - "What you changed from "Jet Set Radio" again and caught that music?"

"Wha?" - Beat was confused.

"Nevermind…" - Gum was quick to drop the tools she had used to free YoYo of his binding and looked at Beat. - "What if we have a different kind of going away party?"

"Like an actual party? Just the four of us it's pretty lame!"

"Yeah, but remember, be careful to whom you reveal the location of your "Rudie" gang hideout!" - That had been one of the first lessons YoYo had been taught by Beat, and he remembered the rule pretty well. - "Your hideout is your safe place"

Beat smiled… - "See! YoYo knows it!"

Gum thought it over…"I was thinking...since you need to study, not me! - Gum's notes had been straight A's and B's and over 80's and 90's. - "That we keep it in the down low, ya know, play some 'Jet Set Radio' "...high, dance around to the music, sneak in a few of those awful smokes…

Beat smiled…

"Yeah...I guess that'd be pretty nice…"

:

:
:

Surprisingly enough once Beat turned 18 and had finished that one year of intensive education he actually achieved his education. Sure it hadn't been with stellar grades - like Gum had been, but he was actually in a position where he could, not continue to college, Gum was offered the opportunity, he hadn't been offered it. - But have a job.

He was actively searching for a job already, but for now, all that remained was for him to say goodbye to the GG's, forever. It was a sad day for him, it had been him who had started them, and he had had so many good moments. He had grown as a person - as a man there. He had made friends Tab, YoYo, heck even Gum. He had defied the law.

He suppressed a gulp. He guessed everything good must come to an end, he took a large look at "The Garage" the small Gum had followed him there and begged him to be in. He had told her to get lost, only for her to threaten to tell everyone where it was...she had been manipulative, probably wanted to get back at her parents or something...and he had put her through hell...but they had grown to care for one another.

When the newest member joined YoYo, he was more mature, or at least he liked to think he was, he was always there for his needs, even if he.., - and he shivered. - occasionally failed him, as with the bullet situation. Still he passed his knowledge to him, as best as he could, all he had learned as a "Rudie" and as a leader, to the future generations.

He was glad that the GG's were continuing, and that YoYo was taking the helm...because the three original members were quitting. YoYo had recently painted his hair green. "New beginnings" - he had told. And though he looked ridiculous at first, it did fit the punk look.

Beat still wore his classic headphones...but he now listened to other radio stations besides professor K, he conformed, he changed...he had to get on with the groove...high school diploma in hand. He guessed he had to do it.

When he entered, the music was already on, he dropped his shoes - for he didn't skate anymore, or if he did it wasn't as often, at a corner. - and that didn't make his feet B.O any worse, and he entered the room. He saw everyone there, Gum, dancing around, YoYo, munching on some discount, almost out of date food they had gotten cheap, Tab and a huge bl…

...Wait hold on wha? Beat let out a startled scream and the man turned towards him, the radio was playing automatic tunes and he recognized them as when "Dj Professor K" put the radio on auto pilot, but who was the man? What was he doing there? Why was an adult...a full grown adult…

Well besides him - But beat didn't think of himself as an adult. - Doing in the Garage?

The man laughed, and spoke, and that voice...that twang, it could only be one person...but how could it be? How could he know. "Professor K"? Attending his party?

"Hey there Beat!" - He picked a chip, examined it in his hand and then put it back down on the table, next to the speakers. - "Ah yeah! I love this one! C'mon, boy! Don't look so gloom, I know you listen to my stuff, sing it with me!"

It still felt surreal to be with the man whom he had heard for so many years, in the same room, listening to the songs he broadcasted. But Beat didn't want to be rude, so he did what he could "You better watch that, coming at you!" - he said, though the professor's voice made it sound like at "atcha", and the song made it sound exactly like that.

When the song ended and it went on a brief break between songs, the professor spoke again.

"You've been brushing those teeth? I hear that's important!" - Beat shrugged as Professor K, in his black skin, and even darker dreadlocks gestured wildly into the garage. - "Nice place, but it isn't why I'm here!"

So now they came to the part where they figured out why he was here...it was something he wanted to figure out, of course, why was "DJ, Professor K" there, it spiked his curiosity.

"You aren't the first "Rudie" to quit...once you turn 18, well, it gets tough!" - The professor smiled and his teeth were pearly white. Beat's heartbreaker smile was also white, and YoYo's slasher smile equally so, but still, those pearly whites! He guessed that when the "Professor" told the boys and girls to brush those teeth, he wasn't kidding. The "Professor" came in closer to the boy who stood there speechless, a smile on his face, the whites on his teeth, almost blinding him.

"So that's why I wanted to…" - His offer of whatever the heck kind of stuff was interrupted by Tab. Tab had always been very quiet, indeed, but he wasn't being very quiet at that moment, yes, he had danced a bit, but now he stood against the table, and had pressed against it. The table, much like anything else in the garage, was a tad wobbly, so he had pressed it down.

The chips had gone everywhere, the crackers too, but that wasn't what worried Beat, what worried Beat was if Tab was alright, what had he been thinking? He knew that table was not too balanced, especially in the slight incline of the floor…

Tab lifted his head, his woolen cap slightly askew, looking ahead at Beat and at professor K. He still wore the clothes that he wore normally, that blue onesie, except he wasn't wearing the skates he wore normally. His eyes were glossy, his vision turvy

Beat was within him in a moment, and Gum was not far between, YoYo wasn't too far behind, he might not be the leader of them for long, but he was learning.

"C'mon Tab ….ta…" - Beat realised how stupid of an idea that was to ask, Tab didn't talk normally, much less now. - Nod or don't, how do you feel?"

Tab moved his head from side to side, and then pulled it down and started coughing up and retching bile. Beat had smelled that smell enough times in his father's breath and in the streets of Tokyo-to to know what it was.

"He reeks of alcohol!"

Gum lifted herself, unsure of herself. - "Can't be! I didn't bring any alcoholic drinks , who brought the alcohol?"

Professor K approached the three, and Tab,

"Ah, I'm sorry boys and girls, I had brought some party favors to celebrate the occasion! I guess Tab found 'em"

Gum didn't know who to stare in indignation at…"Professor K" who thought it to be a good idea to give alcohol to underage people, or Tab, who had raided them...but she didn't like them. She just stood and huffed.

"He'll have one hell of a hangover in the morning" - YoYo said. Eyeing what he figured to be the bottles. But Gum was already picking them up and stashing them away so none of them touched them and ended up like Tab.

YoYo figured out it was for the better anyway. He was supposed to be the new leader anyway.

"Alright so...Tab is out, so me, and you, Beat, let's put him in the middle of the room and open the window...I know it's freakin cold, yo, but…" - He tried to justify himself to Beat. Beat nodded, lately he had been giving him small situations to lead, not that they did much, not going in tagging trips and such. - "Gum open the window, I'll try to push Tab!"

"Professor K" stood aside, though, judging by him being the only "real adult", he could be...probably capable of carrying Tab on his own. Still he wanted to see how the situation progressed.

Gum opened the window, which was too small for a human to fall, as it was slanted, and then she helped push Tab, they actually rolled him. Not that he was heavy, but they didn't have the force or strength of Tab.

"Idiot!" - Gum scoffed. She liked to defy authority. Some of its rules, but drinking, or barging in and almost getting in an alcoholic coma, was not one of the rules she was willing to break. - "Freak! Like we don't care about him!" - Her rational mask was breaking off and small tears were coming out to her face. She sobbed, as Tab finally came to the middle of the room.

"Hey!" - He hoarsely said. Everyone stared in shock as he spoke...nobody was used to him speaking and he had, truly taken a tumble. - "My head's killing me...what happened?"

Gum's bitter tears turned into tears of laughter, bitter laughter, she couldn't help but laugh.

"You...you prat! You thought it was a good idea to get drunk! Like you are a freaking boozo! Isn't that just the the…" - Gum had no words...she was too choked up, she was so full of emotions that she felt like just kicking him and… - "You're the worse!"

"Hey…" - Beat put a hand to her shoulder, and she stood there, her mouth hanging open, her frame shaking, unsure of what more to say. Tab looked confused, at the emotional outburst that had just happened in front of his eyes, which was probably not helped by the drinks. He put a hand to her leg, the only place he could reach while lying down, his nose scrunched at the bile.

"Remember the.." - Pause, a pause that lasted nearly 2 minutes as if Tab's minded was trying to work throughout all the fogginess, and where "Professor K" just stood, one of the party liquors he had in his jacket and so that hadn't been taken, being drunk. - "the...heist for the smokes?" - Gum blushed, that had been the first, Beat had putten her through absolute hell.

"I remember that! It was the first time I reported about the GG's, and their new member, it was what put you on the map!"

Beat shared a smile with "Professor K", it felt good to be noticed by someone who was heard by all the "Rudies", it also had put them on the maps.

Tab was not done however…

"So emotional...I love that in you...you shouldn't hide it with rationality…" - He took a deep breath as he burped, which, to be honest kind of ruined a moment a bit. - "It was the moment I realised I was falling for you...and it wasn't because I saw your panties...I should have spoken against Beat...sorry"

Tab had never spoken so many words in one go, Gum didn't know what to say, Beat was left open mouthed and YoYo was just left with the same words being mouthed over and over "Dude!"

But Tab had spoken too much, and he had drunk too much and he turned sideways to wretch at the ground, and everything, bile, food, crackers, came out.

Gum was the first to the scene, with the mop, she gave it to Beat. "Clean that up, I'll….get it away from it."

"You really developed this book smart, rational persona because I told you to be rational?"

Gum sighed…

"Tab is in a waddle of his own vomit, I don't think now's the time…"

Beat looked at his friend, it was like him to help but at the same time…

"I'm leaving right now...when will we ever…"

Gum sighed again, she didn't want to do things this way, maybe someday, later, talking over a cup of coffee? But now, this was a mess…

"Partly"

"Well I'm sorry…"

Tab groaned as the smell reached his nostrils again and Gum handed the mop to Beat.

"Really not the time...we'll keep in contact…"

He finished the cleaning.

:

"Professor K" smiled at Beat as he approached the professor…

"Sorry about that...it was a mess, but it did bring up some stuff...Hey there's one thing I always wanted to ask, how come you always know what's going on?"

"Now now" - The professor showed his pearly whites, shaking a finger - "Where's the fun in knowing…"

"Really? Not going to say?"

"They scramble my pirate radio...I scramble their radio waves...as I said, good to keep their dirt"

Beat smiled, that was gold…

"Did you need anything 'Professor'"

"Oh, I was just going to offer you a job, there's this old record shop...nobody buys records anymore...it's mostly for hipsters and "rudies" who own boom boxes like you, but...ya know, it's all digital now, do you want the job? Help a fellow "Rudie" out?

Beat whistled...no way he was going to refuse a job!

"Of course! I don't care if the pay is awful! It's a job! It was a promise...a promise for a better future!""

"Professor K" smiled.

"I always liked you, the GG's. you kid's had drive. It'll be interesting to see what the next gen brings to the table.

Beat smiled, though it was a sad smile, he'd miss this all, the tagging, the defying authority, everything it brought…

"At least it's YoYo...let's see how it goes...I taught him some tricks, but we'll see"

Professor K brought him to the window, the view, as usual was shit, and half the lights were broken, in fact the tags here hadn't even been bothered to be cleaned. - "Ya know...you left your mark, that's what matters. You'll always be remembered, the original GG's, the end of an era…"

"Want to do the honors?"

"What, really, you want me to broadcast my last goodbyes?"

"Sure, why not?"

"The van is on the street, we'll do it tomorrow, not much of a party right now, thanks to your friend's...hum confession, but, you can do it when I treat your job papers."

Beat glanced around...in fact the party had stopped, Tab was in the floor, Gum was staring at the wall, all pink, and bothered, and he knew she must be fighting her feelings. YoYo was just laughing. At least someone was having a good time.

"Thanks "Professor...You're really cool"

"I know"