A/N Hello and Happy holidays to you all. Its the last chapter of the year yaaaaaay. Wow we came a long way since i started this story back in March. It was been a bumpy road so far but we're not finish yet. I will be taking a short holiday break and updating again come January. This will also give time to go back and clean up old chapters.
The Futaba arc is winding down. I want to thank you all that have stuck it out with me so far. I always appreciate it.
As always enjoy and feel free to review.
A weary stranger rode into town on his horse, tired from his prior excursion. Walking into the first food establishment he saw the man in question plops onto the bar stool tossing out some money.
"Would this be enough to cover a pick me up drink?" He ask the bartender.
"No, but I can get you a cup of coffee Sir." The young women behind the bar took a freshly clean mug and pour hot liquid in it. Mixing other things in the concoction, she placed the hot drink in front of him.
"Here you are Stranger, one cup of coffee."
Mumbling a thanks he blows on it before taking the first sip. It wasn't bitter or harsh like he normally used to. Hell his own creation left a bad taste in his mouth.
"Well that's some might fine coffee Miss….."
"Wakaba."
"Its nice to meet you Miss Wakaba. I'm Sojiro."
"Just Sojiro?"
"I rather not say my last name Miss."
"I see." She wonder off going back to a book she kept under the bar.
"You know how to read?" Sojiro had asked her.
"Yes. Yourself?"
"More or less," he answered back. Downing the rest of the coffee, he gets up ready to move on. "If I'm in the area next time, think I can try that special coffee again?"
"I'll throw in my special stew if you want."
"I look forward to it. Thank you for your hospitality Miss Wakaba." Sojiro needed to get moving again, not wanting to be in a place longer than an hour. Being a wanted man in a gang keeps you busy.
The jobs they partake in would help those less fortunate. Fighting corruption, keeping their way of life alive. And when he had a moment to himself, he would ride out to that town with the coffee that smelled like home, and the stew that would warmed his hunger. Wakaba and him would talk about anything and everything as he ate. He would tell her of his adventures; though omitted some things. And he would hear of her interest in the human mind. Particularly those that came back from the war. Researching a theory of how intense moments could affect one's mentality base off the senses.
"That's a lot of research for a small town bar maid." He was there late one evening, to anxious to make the trip in the morning.
"It keeps me away from my brother for a few hours, I don't mind. "I plan to present my findings someday."
"I'm sure you will!" Scarfing down the rest of the stew. Sojiro neatly places the empty bowel on the bar.
"Hey….I got a few 'things' coming up and I might be gone for a few months. When things quiet down, I'll be back. I promise."
"Your 'job' I take it?" She questioned the man.
"Yes."
"Be careful out there." Tipping his hat, he leaves in the middle of the night.
Sojiro was always getting worried with the gang each time he came back from his trips. Their leader was becoming more aggressive, ruthless towards the innocent. This wasn't their way.
"We should wait before starting this new job. There's still a lot of heat on the money we took," Sojiro tried to bargain with the leader.
"We got enough men to handle this. We are simply retrieving what should've been ours in the first place." Seeing no budge in the conversation he decided to cool his head. Traveling to that familiar smaller town in the middle of nowhere. It would be a two day trip from his current location with little rest to get there.
The sun was rising behind him when strolling into town. That means he'll have the first fresh pot of her creation.
"Miss Wakaba," he greeted her coming in. No other patrons were in yet.
"I'll be with you in a second." Her back was to him as he took a seat at the bar. "Here you go, the usual." Before Sojiro could take a sip, he was surprised by her new appearance.
Mainly the swollen belly.
" —You're with child?" He curiously asked.
Wakaba rubbed her stomach gently, "Yes."
"Who's the Father?"
"The stew will take another hour, is there anything else you're hungry for?" He notice she completed deflected the question. It definitely couldn't be him as they never spent a night together.
"Was it some vermin? If so I'll hunt him down!" She gently places a hand on his.
"Thank you but there's no need. Would you like to hear the latest on my research?"
".….Sure." Sojiro notice she would always get giddy when talking about the books read or the people she wold interview. Drinking his second cup, he felt a plan form in his head. He would need money. More than he currently carried, and he knew where to find it.
Riding back into the hideout, he notice most of the gang was gone. Taken on that mission he opposed of. A handful always stayed behind protecting their goods, but he only found one.
"Sojiro! You're back. Where'd you been?" They asked.
"Out."
"Did you find any good leads?"
"No, in fact—" the young outlaw pulled out his gun and aimed it at his fellow bandit.
The other man tried to reach for his own only to realize the gun belt was off.
"The money from the last job, where did he put it?"
"I'm not telling you anything fucking traitor! You think you can just leave the gang like this after we done!"
Sojiro had shook his head. He couldn't stay, not with how fast their ideals have change the past few months. They weren't like this, the Leader has change them without caring who lives or dies. Taking risky ventures for what!?
Cocking his gun he aims at the mans head threatening him. "Once again, the money?"
"Fuck off—" Slamming the revolver to his cranium a few times effectively knocked him out. He searched in the main tent or any chest they had laying about. The Leader was very particular when it came to stashing. Waiting till everyone was asleep before dropping the money, he had to keep it close to him. Sojiro checks the tree closes to the first tent he originally checked finding it hollow. Using his arm to feel his way around, he felt the material of a bag and grabbed it. Peaking in he knew it had to be around 5 grand if he remembered correctly. Swiftly leaving as fast as he came, he became a phantom in the night never wondering what was to come.
It felt easier to breath after he left the gang Convincing Wakaba to move as far away from her brother and that bar, even to another State. It was rough at first, but the friendship the two shared on long mornings talking, the late coffee visits. The two found familiarity in one another.
"So how is your research today?" The former outlaw asked one morning. He comes and goes from the isolated ranch home he gave her…and her newborn daughter; Futbaba.
"I haven't had a chance since this little one came." The baby girl cooed back in her Mother's lap.
"Give it some time. I told you, I don't mind taking care of Futaba."
"You're a good man Sojiro, even with all your secrets. But I can handle this."
And handle it she did he remembered. She was a strong caring mother as Futaba grew, even though she got busy at times. He secretly loved when the young girl would shout excitedly as he rode upon the hill.
"Sojiro!"
"Hello Futaba," as he pats her head. It felt so much like a dream, but like all dreams they must come to an end. The three planned to head into the closest town to see the Circus. Futaba was just as excited to get her Mother away from her books for a day.
"I want to see the lions, do you think they will have lions Sojiro?"
The older man chuckled, "I'm sure they will."
"Futaba dear, why don't we pick a seat while Sojiro gets us snacks."
"Okay!" She tightly holds her stuff bear in one hand and her Mothers in the other. The two separated as he went to a nearby stand to buy candies.
Futaba was turning 10 soon and they decided to treat her early as a present. He had been taking odd jobs here and there to pay when the stolen money ran out. Luck had keep him hidden these past 10 years. No doubt his old gang was pissed. He hadn't heard any news about them for awhile and was hoping they died out on their own. But it wasn't time to dwell on that, it was time to enjoy the show.
An hour later the party of three were seen outside the tent ready to hop in their carriage again.
"Did you have fun Futaba?" Sojiro asked the little girl.
"Yes! I really like the ora….ora?"
"Oracle," her Mother corrected.
"Yeah her. She said she could see into the future!"
"I see." The former Thief directed the horses back to the Ranch. No trouble was insight until the halfway mark where bandits had surrounded them.
"Are you Sojiro Sakura?"
"Who wants to know?"
"Our Boss sent us, you may have done well in hiding but that won't help you anymore."
"What's goin on?" The small child tried to peak out.
"Stay down Futaba," her mother hushed at her. Sojiro eyed his chances against five men, he also had two others to worry about. He would have to be careful with his bullets.
"What would your Boss want with a lowly farmer?"
"Enough bullshit!" The main bandit yelled. "You have money you stole from him and he wants it back."
".….I don't have the money." Sojiro could see the man was getting upset and placed one hand on his holster. He moved the horses reins into motion and fired off two shots. The bandits chased after him shooting at the carriage.
"Both of you stay down!" Sojiro told them. Knocking another one of his horse, he only had two left. Their carriage ran over a rock causing Futaba's stuff animal to skid to the edge.
"My bear!" The young girl tried to reach for her toy before it fell all the way out. A bandit raised his gun ready to shoot.
"FUTABA!" Wakaba yelled jumping in front of her daughter. Multiple shots rang out as the final two thieves went down.
Slowing down the wagon, Sojiro let his heart calm down. "Are you two alri—"
"MOMMY! Sojiro she's not getting up!" Wakaba was laying in the back with a gunshot wound, blood on both her and the child. Doctor…..he needed to get a doctor. A female Doctor he help awhile back, she should be close to help.
"Hang in there…..please."
Present Day 1885
The nerve of them to show up at his Saloon after all these years. The older Leader roped in some new faces on his quest.
"There's no need to bother the kid. I'm here." Boss walked out with his rifle and bandito over his shoulder.
"Now if you come over here and die like the dog you are, no one else will get hurt," The man said.
"Your men killed Wakaba, you think I'll believe you?"
The odds were against them as 15 bandits surrounded Morgana, Sojiro and Ren at the Saloon's entrance. The cocking of a shot gun caused the attention behind them as Ren sees Ryuji aiming at the group from the Hotel porch. Ann taking her own position beside him pistol at the ready. Yusuke and Makoto took their own stance covering the side. Makoto hand twitched on her holster waiting for the first move.
Ren picked a bad night to sleep at the bar, reeling in the effect of a night of drinking. He's happy he had the instinct to keep his gun belt buckled on him or else the elder brother's a sitting duck. They all were standing in place eyeing who was doing what. Some of the locals civilians were taking up arms. It was looking more and more like a fair fight.
"I'm disappointed Sojiro. I offer you protection and friendship all those years ago and you betrayed me!" The Leader yelled.
"I thought Medjed ideals were to help those like us. Not murdering and stealing whoever we came across."
"We did what we needed to survive."
"So killing innocent woman and children after the men was 'surviving'. I left for a reason!"
Ren only knew a glimpse of Boss's life before he met him. So this was his old gang, the one's who murdered Futaba's mother.
"Do you know how long it took me to rebuild, all the men I lost!"
"Not my problem," Boss said. The shadows of the past will continue to haunt him until he puts a stop to them. With that said, all help broke loose on the street.
Gunshots open fire every which way in the impending chaos. Ren and Morgaana duck back inside the Saloon, shooting from the window. Ryuji pulls Ann down behind a wagon for cover. Yusuke running on instinct dives back to the Hotel and aims back. Makoto dangerously shoots in the open streets. She downs one Medjed member before wounding another. The wounded men gathers himself as Makoto was trying to reload.
"Get Down!" Ren yells jumping through the broken window. He tackles the frozen young women to the ground taking a bullet to the shoulder in her place. The older sibling shoots towards the enemy from the ground, nailing a bullet in an eye.
Sojiro aims his weapon at their Leader and shoots, missing the man by a hair as they duck around the building. Boss gives chase making sure he doesn't enter the Saloon.
Dr. Takemi on the second floor doesn't dare go near the window after hearing gunshots, locking her and Futaba in a room. He own pistol aimed at the door. Morgana on the first floor was providing cover as best he could. He needed to move his cover before the wall was just a twig. Switching to his side arm, he runs out of the Saloon drawing fire as he slides to where his brother and Makoto lay in their own small cover.
"Are you okay!?" Morgana asked his brother.
"I'm fine, get to the Hotel and cover Yusuke!"
"Makoto….stay focus you got this." Nodding her head, she reloads and goes back out, aiming at the bandit pinning the blondes down. The bullet strikes the man legs allowing Ryuji to fire a shotgun blast to the chest.
Ren commanded both of his revolvers, shooting down the streets in a sprint as his bleeding shoulder screamed in pain. A handful of Medjed members got past Ryuji and Ann trying to go up the Hotel.
The first was met with a throwing knife to the throat, falling back into the window. The second never saw the bullet to his head as Mona took the doorway. The third surprise the younger brother grabbing him from behind attempting to choke him. A gunshot rang out as the man's grip loosen and groan to the floor, Ann's gun smoking from the shot.
"Good shooting Lady Ann!"
The numbers were dwindling between the Phantom Thieves and Medjed. Some of the locals were able to kill two themselves before being wounded. With a half a dozen left, the odds were swinging back in their favor.
Ren shot another Medjed bandit down who was attempting to hide behind a carriage. He felt something wet hit his back as he turns around to see a different bandit headless. Makoto wasn't far away, breathing heavily when she took the shot. She digs into her reserve ammunition, learning from her prior mistake of staying hidden when reloading. But she was becoming a scary shot.
"Thanks..." Ren said.
The remaining four tried to run away from the mess but not before Ann took her lasso and pin one of the stragglers. Hog-tied their hands and feet like Ren explained, they'll have one survivor. The three others successfully fled, but not without Morgana giving a few shot attempts. Blood flowed freely in the street as they took an assessment of the damages.
"Where's Boss," Ren questioned.
"He was chasing after that guy last I saw." Morgana had last seen the older man heading out back before things got heated.
"I'll look for him. The rest of of you pack everything into the carriages. These bandits will be back and they'll bring more. We can no longer stay here.
"Ren you've been shot, you're not at full strength. I'm coming with you." Makoto wasn't going to take no for an answer. She rips the bottom part of her shirt and wraps it around his shoulder as best she could.
"That should hold for now." Truth be told, the elder brother appreciated the gesture, he was feeling a little lightheaded from blood loss.
"Alright. Mona, guide the others to the backup location. And blindfold our intruder, he's coming with."
"On it."
Whistling on his injured arm, Arsene comes bursting through the stables doors. Makoto takes a few tries for her own horse, Anat.
"Let's go." Bustling as fast as they can, Ren hoped Futaba won't have another tragedy on their hands.
A/N Part 1 of the Futaba Finale is done. I do apologize this wasn't release on time aka usually the weekend. It has been a rough week with the lost of a family member and other priorities. I can't wait for next year and the new chapters. I still got some surprises in store.
The outline for Haru arc is fairly done, I also have some side arcs I plan on throwing in. This to date has probably been the longest fanfic I've written and stayed on top of because its been so fun to write this crazy scenario.
Some minor things mentioned in the chapter, yes Sojiro is referring to civil war cause well is the western but I've specifically on purpose not mention anything US related, keeping it vague.
Also the Medjed leader is just called Leader because he was never given a name in the game and they were all Anon. I tried to use western names or japanese name and I wasn't feeling it, so I purposely did not name him.
PTSD is a very real thing you may not know who has it, someone on the outside may look fine but something might trigger the flashback. ie fireworks to gunshots. Futaba is going through that right now. I'm not a medical expert but I've known some of the happiest people have some of the darkiest memories.
Didn't mean to end on a downer there. Anyhow, I hope you all have a SPECTACULAR New Year and I will see you next decade. XD
