Chapter 08 – People Come, People Go

(You know the drill now. I don't own JSR. I do own all original characters. Pleeeeeease r+r!)

It was – guess what? – a dark and stormy night.

I was lurking in the bus shelter. It was several weeks since I'd joined the Love Shockers, and I reckoned I was gonna get to be in proper pretty soon. Shar and Dash had both been pink-spiked a few days ago, and I knew I was better than them.

But it didn't change the fact that we were, and always would be, second best to those damn GGs.

I didn't like hanging with the Love Shockers. Seeing Shar, and Dash, and Jay, was making me remember Akina, and even after all this time, it still hurt.

Remembering Coin didn't hurt. It just made me angry.

Find out what burns their minds…

Chiyo would have known how to handle that situation. If I ever met up with Triple-C again, I'd show them the meaning of pain.

Lightning flashed, once, and I saw a skated figure under one of the bus shelters.

Trying to put 'The Tale Of The Demon Skater' out of my mind, I crept towards it.

As I got closer, I saw it was a girl. She was soaked, her brown dreadlocked hair like a waterfall, her clothes stuck to her body, her fingers gripping her arms as she shivered. Her eyes were puffy, and her dark lips were trembling.

But she wore skates, and so I had to challenge her.

"What are you doing here, rudie, you're on our turf."

"None of your business." The girl's voice was broken with tears, but there was still fire in it. "And I'm not a rudie, anyway."

"Then why the skates?" I asked.

"Well…"She licked her lips. "I was actually wanting to join up with a gang. You know of any?"

"Do I know of any? I'm in the Love Shockers, of course I know of any. You look pretty broken-hearted, I must say."

"I guess I am." Wrong thing to say. Her mouth crumpled, and tears began filling her eyes.

"Oh, geez, not tears," I said. "I can't handle'em. Well, I'll tell you what. If you can keep up with me, then I'll put your name up for membership. Okay?"

"Sure. Thanks!" She gave me a nervous smile.

"I'm only an associate at the moment – haven't got the hair…But I can nominate you. If you're any good."

Without looking back, I leapt onto the railings near us and began to grind along them. I felt the metal tremble as she leapt on behind me. It was slippery going, but I had good balance.

Where to now? I was making this up as I went along, and it'd better be good. I carried straight on, past the square and up to Center Street. Turned off the main road and down a side street, the rain rushing as I did. She was still following me. Not bad going.

Down into the half pipe. It was lined with dirty water, but I ignored that. I had to act like I knew what I was doing. I wasn't sure I did. I wasn't sure what Jay would say when I brought this drowned rat back to our HQ. But heck, she'd looked so pathetic.

Time to show off a bit. I did a flip up the wall, leapt, trying to make my moves as sharp and neat as possible. Glancing over one shoulder, I saw she was copying me almost exactly. Impressive.

I repeated the moves, then ground up the steps back into the bus terminal. Rain ran down the back of my neck and into my eyes. I was shivering now. I ground up the banisters and down the next lot – and she was still keeping up.

I stopped. If she could stick with me on that she had to be good enough. Surreptitiously trying to catch my breath, I called, "Well done. Let's move it!"

"You – you mean I passed?"

"Duh, of course you did. Let's go." Could she really not know she was that good? She hadn't looked good, but…

I led her out of the bus terminal, and towards our HQ. "What's your name?"

"Piranha."

I'd never seen anyone looking less like a piranha, but I didn't say that. "I'll talk to our leader. Even if she says no, at least you can get dry."

"Thanks," she said, as we walked into the HQ.

"You got a home to go to?"

She shook her head, and the tears welled up again. Leaving her in the main hall, I dashed away to find Jay.

She was curled up in one of the old ground floor offices, reading a large, depressing looking book.

"Jay? Got a new recruit for you. I tested her out in the bus terminal, and she seemed pretty skilled. Fast, anyway."

"This better be good, Kellaani." Jay put down her book.

"Trust me. Her name's Piranha."

We walked back out. Piranha was dripping miserably onto the floor.

"Piranha, huh?" Jay said. "Well, you gotta be broken-hearted to join the Love Shockers."

I could've told her what effect that line would produce. You guessed it – tears.

"I – I got tricked at school," Piranha said, voice quavering. "They told me this guy liked me and he'd take me to the prom…and it was all a trick, when I came he told me he'd never go with me if they paid him…and I ran home and told my parents I was never going back…and they kicked me out…and I don't know what to do…"

Oh, geez. I actually felt sorry for her.

"I guess you qualify," Jay said. "Do you want to join, then?"

Piranha rubbed her eyes, and nodded, lip trembling.

"Come on. I'll test you out myself, though from what Kellaani says you seem pretty good, and get you some dry clothes."

They walked off practically arm in arm. I stared after them, not sure what to think. For once I was being nice.

But that girl had looked so vulnerable. Saturated and sobbing.

Akina.

Oh Lord.

I clenched my fists and forced down my own tears. The rain slammed against the windows. I murmured Chiyo's words under my breath, and renewed my promise of revenge.

Piranha joined us. And I got to be a real Love Shocker at last. Oh, joy. Oh, rapture.

"Okay, Kellaani," Jay said from above me as I knelt over the bathtub. "Are you ready?"

My hair, soaked, was dragging the rest of my head down, and I could hardly hear her, but I gave a ragged thumbs-up.

"Okay."

Strong fingers grabbed my scalp. I squeezed my eyes shut as cold, syrupy liquid oozed over my hair.

Look your last on your raven locks, Kellaani. You will not see their like again.

I could hear Shar giggling. I wondered if leaping up and slapping her would spoil my rep.

Jay dragged me up by the shoulders and wrapped a towel round my head. "Now we wait ten minutes."

"Do I have to take an oath?"

They surrounded me. Shar. Dash. Jay. Kris. Babs. Piranha wasn't there. Only true Love Shockers could partake in this holy ceremony. Oh, please.

Soon I'd really be part of a team. I swallowed. I wasn't so sure I liked the idea. But it was too late now.

Ten minutes later the towel was pulled off, and Jay got out a pair of scissors.

"Don't tell me," I said. "Now you all go crazy on my hair."

"Nope. Only me."

I heard the sound of hair being snipped, and saw little pink feathers of it fall to the ground. It didn't look like my hair. None of me looked like me any more.

My neck was becoming cooler as more and more hair was cut away. Single strands were speckling my back, itching. Babs and Shar and Dash and Kris were clapping.

"It's done, Kellaani. Want a look?"

"I guess so." I took the mirror they handed me, and my stomach contracted.

I didn't look like me any more. My hair stuck up from my head like a bird's crest. One eye was hidden by that stupid patch. Even as I looked my face curled into the customary Love Shocker Kill-All-Men scowl.

"Cool," I said, trying to sound pleased.

"You like, Kellaani?"

"I'm not Kellaani any more," I said. This scarred, angry, jagged person wasn't me.

"What shall we call you, then?" Jay said.

"Call me…" Not anything from the second half of my name. Those people just ended up hurting. And no way was I choosing Kelly.

"Call me…call me Kell."

I know why only the brave become GGs.

If you're a Noise Tank, a Poison Jammer, a Love Shocker, you get a uniform, right? A style. And something to hide your face with.

You're not you any more. But that can be good. People react to you the way they would A Love Shocker, or A Noise Tank, or whatever. If you play your cards right, you can become nothing more than a gang member.

The GGs don't do that. They dress as themselves. They leave their faces bare. They can be recognised, remembered.

No one recognises you. They look, and they see a Love Shocker, and only a Love Shocker. No one bothers to peer behind the mask.

And that worked to my advantage.

A new recruit. Jay was talking to her while the rest of us lounged in one of the offices. It was sunny, and while the hall was pleasantly cool, everywhere else baked.

"Who is this girl, anyway?" Piranha asked. "Why all the secrecy?" She ran a hand down her newly spiked hair. We were all proper Love Shockers now. Six of us here, plus one outside, all identical except for our skins. Piranha and Jay were black. Kris, Babs, Shar and Dash were white. And I was sort of in between.

"I don't know," Shar said, leaning her head against the wall. "I didn't see her. Jay brought her back and told us to get in here."

"Guys!" Jay yelled from outside. "Come meet our new member."

We trooped out. The girl stood in a sunlight square. Red hair glittered round her face. She stood there, with the same old smirk.

You.

I started to tremble. Not with fear. With rage.

I could see her again – in the chemistry classroom – making Akina cry – drowning her – rainy skies – cold dead face – choking – you bitch – I hate you – I hate you

I let my face grow calm.

Jay turned to face me. Shar and Dash were greeting Alex like they were long-lost relatives.

"Kell," she hissed. "Look, do you have a problem with this? Alex is my best friend and I really want her in. She's been having a lot of problems with her home life."

"I don't mind," I said. "Really. But don't tell her it's me, okay? I don't want any bad feeling. If we just get to know each other all over again, I'm sure we'll be fine."

Yeah, right. I was going to have my revenge.

"All right," Jay said. She walked back to Alex, hugged her. I watched them, trying to force down an evil smirk. If I was to pull this off, I had to be – yetch – nice. I couldn't let her see it was me.

Until the time was right.

"Girls, this is Alex. Alex, this is Shar and Dash – you know them, of course – Kris, Babs, Piranha, and Kell."

Jay's voice didn't falter. I tried to smile like I meant it. "Hi."

"What's made you come here?" Kris asked.

Alex shrugged. She was thinner, and she looked more grown-up. "My family aren't doing what they should, and I'm sick of it. And some dumb guy spiked my drink and tried to make a move on me, and now everyone at school thinks I'm a slut. I felt I needed a change of scene."

I bit down on my tongue. It would be best if I said as little as possible. Assuming Jay and the others would stick with me on this, I didn't want to know too much and give myself away.

"What about San?" Shar asked.

"She's still at home. It's not too great for her, but I don't want her running away, she's too young."

"I'm sure she won't." Jay hugged Alex again. "Anyway, come on, let's go test you out. Kris?"

Kris nodded, and the three girls walked out of the building.

"Listen," I said to Babs, Piranha, Shar and Dash. "Don't tell Alex who I was, or that I used to be called Kellaani. It's better if she never knows."

"She'd freak," Dash said.

"Exactly. So keep your mouths shut."

"Why will she freak?" Piranha asked.

"Kell and Alex were at school together," Shar said. "And they hated each other's guts."

I tried to look miserable. "I just want to forget all that now. I just want to move on."

"Of course," Piranha said. "I think that's awful good of you. I'd not be so friendly."

"What's the point of keeping those silly school rivalries going?" I said brightly.

Behind my eyes there was a rainy day and struggling by the river.

That night, we were sitting in the main hall eating Chinese takeaway. Everyone had been briefed on what not to call me and what not to tell Alex, and I was feeling pretty relaxed.

"So," Alex said through a mouthful, "Why's everyone else here? What happened to you guys?"

As Shar begun spilling her sorry tale of woe, I quickly reviewed mine. There wasn't much that could give me away…was there?

"Kell?" Alex asked. "What happened to you?"

"Oh…I lived in Grind City for a time, and I went with this guy…and then he dumped me and went back to his old girlfriend." Whom I will personally kill slowly if we ever meet again.

"I'm sorry," Alex said. "So you came to Tokyo-to?"

"Yeah." Wow, the first time she'd said sorry to me and meant it.

We relapsed into silence again. I was surprised at how easy this was. Surely she'd recognise me? But if she had, she sure wasn't giving anything away.

Well, I'd just wait. I had a plan forming.

Two days later our last new member turned up.

Another dark night. It was getting rainier and rainier round here. We were eating our nightly takeaway.

There was a bang on the door.

I swallowed, sweet and sour chicken suddenly dry in my mouth.

"Who could that be?" asked Alex. "What time is it?"

"Ten-thirty," Shar said.

Alex swallowed. "I'll go see. I'm sure it's no one scary, though, right?"

She put down her chopsticks and got up.

Don't let it be an axe murderer, I thought. That would be too easy.

Alex stopped halfway to the door. "Guys? No moral support?"

"We'll just sit here and watch," Dash said. "If it's Freddie Krueger, it'll give us time to run."

Alex sneered at her, walked over, and opened the door, blocking the visitor from view. We saw her tense.

She said, "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I can't stand it any more." The other voice was as familiar as it was controlled.

San.

Quite a school reunion, I thought, but didn't say.

"San. Go home." Alex's voice was taut with fury.

"I want to join the Love Shockers. You know Gary dropped me."

"That was ages ago."

"I'm still broken-hearted, and I want to join."

"I'm not the leader," Alex growled. "Jay?"

Jay got to her feet and walked towards the door. "San, you're not even a rudie."

"I am. I've been practising."

"It's not all fun and games," Jay said. "It's serious. And we could get arrested – or even killed – any day."

Her words echoed in the huge hall, small and pathetic, as all our voices sounded in this place.

"I don't care." San's voice shook. "I have to get out of there."

"Well, you can sleep here for tonight, I suppose," Jay said. "But tomorrow you'll have to go home."

San shrugged. "Whatever."

I stared down at my food. San had an annoying smartness, and she might recognise me. From under lowered eyelids I glanced at her. She looked older, like her sister did, but more so. Not so childish any more. She and Alex may have been in the same class, but San had always been the little one.

Her red-blonde hair was lank, and her eyes hard.

I couldn't handle all the memories flooding back into my head. I swallowed another mouthful of food, trying not to think.

Jay and Alex sat down again. There was never enough light in this place. It was deepening our eye sockets, hollowing our cheekbones. We looked dead.

The next day San, Jay and I were out tagging. Neither of us really wanted San along, but somewhere along the way she'd acquired a 'you-won't-say-no-to-me' quality, and we'd ended up letting her come. We weren't even sure whether she'd leave or not.

Kogane-cho. We didn't want another run-in with the GGs. I was trying not to act like I cared. I was also trying to avoid my house. My mum was still living there as far as I knew. If she recognised me…that would hurt too much.

Onishima's voice rasped over 'Sweet Soul Brother.' "This is Onishima requesting aerial cover!"

"Oh, rats," Jay said. She'd just begun spraying an X-tra large tag. "Great timing."

"Send in the choppers!" Onishima continued. "And when you find those kids, don't waste any time – just nab 'em!"

"Kell, you and San should get back. She's not good enough to outrun them."

We heard the sound of rotor blades cutting through the air.

"I can handle it," San snapped.

"Just go!" Jay turned away and carried on painting her tag.

"Jay? Move it!" I clicked my fingers in front of her face.

"No. All my life I've been pushed around. I'm not taking it any more. I'm staying."

The helicopter shadow passed over us. I grabbed San and started dragging her along the road, calling back, "Jay, come on!"

We dodged into a doorway, and watched as Jay carried on tagging, dwarfed by the huge machine hovering behind her.

"Jay!" I yelled. "Just move it!"

She flicked back her hair and carried on.

They shot the missile.

I won't make you sick. I'll describe Jay's tag. I'll describe how the central part cracks as the wall's blown away. I'll describe how the rest of it is licked by the explosion and turns charred and scraped. I'll describe how one paint can rolls away from the fire. I won't describe what's left after the smoke clears.

San was bug-eyed.

"She told you it wasn't fun and games," I said.

Somehow we got back to the HQ. There we told the others what happened. Most of them cried. Kris and Alex did, for sure.

I didn't. I went up to one of the empty offices, and wondered why I didn't feel anything.

When I came back down, Alex and Babs were arguing.

"Jay said if anything happened, I was leader," Alex snarled.

"Well, why should you be?" Babs's mouth was twisted. "You've only just come. I've been here for ages. I should be leader. Or Kris should."

"I don't want to be," Kris said. "And Jay did always say Alex would take over."

Babs folded her arms and scowled. "If you don't let me be leader, I'm leaving."

"Fine. The door is that way." Alex had lost her tears now. She was just angry.

Babs's mouth fell open, then she turned on her heel and walked towards the door.

"I'm not finished, Al," she said. "I'm gonna get you for this."

She slammed the door, and Alex was leader.

Well, that would just make my little plan all the sweeter. The greater the fall, and all that.

You probably think I'm heartless, not caring more. I didn't exactly not care, though. It was weird – it was horrible – seeing someone get wiped out so quickly. Neither Akina nor Shiro had disappeared in a blink.

But maybe I am heartless. I don't know what I am now. I'm not Kellaani, that's for sure. I've been swept up and dumped down in this new place with a new persona, a new disguise. Maybe I lost a few things back then. Maybe.

(R+r, please, please…J )