Chapter 17 – The End

(Almost finished now…that title is a lie, this is the last but one chapter…please r+r!)

The GGs crept forward. Beat. Gum, the faint imprint of our tags still on her back. Tab. Garam, that wary, angry look I'd seen on him in jail. Yo-Yo. Combo, looking dangerous. And that orange-coated guy. Slate.

Where was Piranha? And Mew?

Well, I couldn't afford to worry about that. They reached the middle of the floor, stood in the darkness. I could just make out the dim figures of the cops. Around me, each Love Shocker held a knife and a paint can. The building itself seemed to wait for my cue.

I glanced at Dash, who put her hand on the light switch.

I took a deep breath, and yelled into the silence, "Lights!"

Click. The strip bulbs above us burst into brightness like dirty angels. The GGs glanced up, their faces bathed in white. Skull faces.

"Camera!" I called, and my voice echoed all round the factory, camera, amera, mera, ra…

We were sitting on the railing of the walkway now, ready to jump.

"Come out and show yourself, you bunch of whores!" Gum yelled.

"Gladly!" I called. I nodded to the others. "Action!"

Babs dropped a smoke capsule – pink clouds burst around us – and we leapt.

As I fell, I quickly moved so that when I landed I'd be on my feet. The floor rushed towards me, and as I landed the impact sent shockwaves through my bones.

I turned to face Beat, trying to act like this was no big deal. He was glaring at me. Sweet.

"What do you want, GG?" I asked.

"Give us back our gang member."

"Why should I?"

"Because if you don't…" Beat began shaking his spray can. "You'll be the one derudiefied around here."

"Oh, really." I kept silent, watched him and the others look at me with hate.

"Go on," Beat said. "Where's Cube?"

"Maybe you should ask him that," I said.

That was Babs's cue. She skated over and flicked on the ground floor lights. And the cops were illuminated.

"You sneak!" Gum yelled, eyes wide with fury. "You cow! You traitor! You –"

"What's your problem, GG?" I asked. "Can't handle a little healthy competition?"

"You made a deal with him?" Beat said. "How'd you do it? Bribery?"

"You could say that," I said, and gave Onishima a smile. He didn't return it. "Anyway…any last words, GGs?" Just to stir things up a bit… "I heard Cube's. They weren't exactly eloquent."

That shook them. They paled, especially Slate. Combo dropped his g-blaster.

"No? Oh, well, then." I glanced round the room. The Love Shockers and cops stood waiting, their colours fading in the harsh light.

Here goes.

"Attack!"

And then another voice rang out into the scene.

"Hey, everyone! Listen up!"

Cube.

I looked up, and saw her, her and Piranha, standing on the middle balcony, looking down at the scene.

"You…" I couldn't believe it. "How the hell did you do that?"

"I've got news for you Love Shockers!" Cube's voice was full of power. No fear now. "And the cops as well! Do you know the reason why Kell's got Onishima on her side?"

No, I thought, no, don't you dare…

"She slept with him and then used it to blackmail him so that he'd help her destroy the GGs! Love Shockers, your leader's a cop-lover! And Keisatsu, he was stupid enough to let her in the first place!"

"She's lying!" I yelled at the same time that Onishima did.

"No, she's not!" Beat yelled. "I heard the entire conversation you two had. Cube transmitted it to us!"

How could they…I could feel my strength crumbling.

"Come on, Love Shockers, why are you supporting her? Remember San! Remember how Kell threatened you in the bus terminal? And now she could sell you all out if she wanted, and she will one day! She loves power, you must know that! And she's got it over all of you!"

"And remember Alex?" Piranha shouted. "Ever wondered what happened to your old leader?"

No! I looked up at them. Piranha must have been here all along…she'd found Alex…talked to her…

"Yeah…what did happen to Alex?" Babs said, eyes narrowing now. "Kell, you told us she got caught by the cops…"

"She's in this building!" Piranha shouted. "Kell's got her locked in an old office! Sometimes when she's feeling bored, she'll go mutilate her a bit!"

I felt tears of fury prickle in my eyes as horror filled my gang members' faces.

"Why are you listening to them?" I shouted. "Two dumb GGs…they're lying, and even if they weren't, so what? I was trying to help you! I was trying to get them out of the way. And so was he!"

I pointed to Onishima. Glaring at me, he snarled, "Don't bring me into it! All I wanted to do was catch a few rudies, okay?"

"You know, we're gonna have to work on the difference between 'catch a rudie,' and 'fuck a rudie,'" muttered a cop.

"Oh, shut up!" Onishima fired his gun into the air. The shot rang in my ears. "Anyway, what are we waiting for? Nab'em all!"

"Yeah, come on, girls!" I said.

But I knew it was no good.

Dash threw down her knife and paint and said, "Give it a break, Kell. I'm not gonna smush the GGs now. At least they're not cheating."

"Yeah," said Shar. "Sorry, but you are so low."

Babs gave one look at me, then all the Love Shockers threw down their weapons, and walked away.

I stared at them, at the GGs, and the heat of anger boiled up inside me, and I stabbed out at Beat, caught him on the face, and then I ran.

I leapt onto the walkway rail, ground along until I reached the next set of stairs. I had to get out of here. Had to regroup. Had to try again.

I ground up the next banister. Piranha and Cube were up ahead. I wanted to hurt them both so bad, but I didn't have time. I could hear the other GGs coming up after me.

I ground past them –

I felt paint hit my back.

No. Not that.

I jumped off the rail, turned to face the two GGs. Piranha was holding a can of paint. So it was her.

"You'll pay for that," I said. You'll pay for that and everything you've done.

"Oh, I'm so frightened." It was hard to believe Piranha had ever been that little drowned rat in the bus terminal. "Don't bother. I know you, and Cube's right. You are just a warped Kogane kid."

I looked from Piranha to Cube, who wasn't looking half as calm. "What's the matter, GG? Scared?"

"I'm not scared of you," Cube said.

"Well, you should be." I gripped my knife, and noticed she wasn't wearing her skates, but instead just normal shoes. I smirked. "You can't even skate."

Cube watched as I came closer, and I saw fury rise in her eyes…

"Get away from me!"

I felt her fist hit my face, and I fell back, landing a few feet away. Jumping up, I snarled, "Big mistake."

But Cube wasn't taking that any more. "I don't fucking care! I have had it with you! You go around hurting and hitting and scaring people and I am sick of it! Come near me again and I'll break your face!"

Wow. I had got to her at last. Unfortunately she'd picked just the wrong moment to get tough. Or the right moment, from her point of view.

I stared at her, wondering what to do next, but then, before I could think, I heard skates behind me, and more paint soaked through my shirt.

Turning, I saw that dumb kid Yo-Yo waving his paint can in triumph. I sliced across his face with the knife, then ran.

I'd nearly reached the steps. I didn't know where I was going. I had to get out of here. Had to be safe. Had to –

Garam caught me round the waist and I heard the hiss of paint again. I grabbed his wrist, twisted it, kicked him, smirked as his face contorted with pain –

"That's for your sister," I hissed –

– dashed up the steps.

This was the top balcony. I could get out of the main hall, maybe hide in one of the old corridors. But I had to do something quickly. I was starting to get tired.

I ran to the door out of the hallway. My fingers scrabbled on the handle, damp with sweat. They reached me. Someone else tagged me, I turned, it was that boiler-suited hat guy. I stabbed down, hit his shoulder, wrenched at the door – and I was through.

I slammed the bolt across, and hurried down the corridor. It was quieter here. But I couldn't afford to relax. My hands shook. How many tags had I got now? Four. Well, that wasn't too bad. There was still hope.

I heard a crunch from the door, turned to see the bolt come out of the wall. The door flew open. Shit. I hurried down the corridor, my skates cutting through puddles of rain.

There was the fire escape – I could get down that – just past this cupboard –

I turned it, and saw Mew and Gamma in the doorway. Blocking my way.

"You need another scar?" I yelled, stabbing out at Mew's face – she screamed – dodged under my arm – tagged – you bitch! I grabbed her shoulders, slammed her head against the cupboard. Her brown eyes closed, and I threw her onto the floor and ran for the roof, as Gamma bent over her.

The damn door wouldn't open – I rattled the handle – calm down – but I couldn't – the terror was rising –

Combo reached me first. Tagged me again. My top was becoming soaked, and I could feel little rivulets of paint running down my back.

"Too scared to punch a lady?" I said.

"You ain't no lady." One huge hand held the door shut.

Ever since I'd met him he'd been in my way –

I stabbed him in the stomach, then wrenched the knife out. Blood started to run down his shirt.

The other GGs circled me. I felt my throat tighten with fear.

"You can't just box me in," I said. "It has to be a chase."

"You didn't play fair," Slate said, voice taut with rage. "Why should we?"

He tagged me. How many now? I couldn't get scared. I couldn't.

Combo dropped to his knees, and the door fell open. I seized my chance, and ran through it.

The roof was a flat concrete square. I stood, the air pushing me, and watched as Gum, Beat, and Cube dashed out after me. We stood watching each other. Faces, full of fury.

"Come on, GGs," I called. "I already put seven of you out of action. I can deal with you three."

"Like hell you can!" shouted Gum.

"You can't tag me." I said it calmly, and saw her wince inside. "You shouldn't be wearing those skates. You're an ex-rudie. How pitiful is that?"

She threw herself at me, grabbed my shirt. The paint already on there was smeared over my back, damp and sticky.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't break your face," Gum snarled.

"Don't bother," I said. "You're not a rudie. Even if you tagged me twenty times it wouldn't make any difference."

Gum's mouth dropped open as she realised that. "You sneaky little –"

"Temper, temper." I spoke sweetly, and saw her really lose it.

"Fuck you!"

And she punched me.

I rolled back a few steps, then regained my balance, trying to ignore the pain, and stabbed out at Gum. Gum half-blocked it with her paint can, but part of it slit her arm. I hoped it was fatal.

"Come on," I said. "You scared?"

"Of a Love Shocker? In your dreams! You see this can? I'm gonna break your skull with it!"

"I'm so scared." I stood still, watched her. "Whatever you do to me you still won't be a rudie."

"I don't care. I don't have to be a rudie to kill you."

"No more skating." Step back, Kell. I stopped a few inches from the edge of the roof. "No more tagging. No more Jet Set Radio."

"I can do all that stuff now," she said, but there was uncertainty there.

"Yeah, because you're screwing the leader. We all know you're not a rudie really."

"At least I didn't screw Onishima! No rudie does that!"

"It worked, didn't it? The trouble with you GGs is you're weak."

"Yeah, right."

"You are! Everyone knows it. And you're the weakest of all. Strutting around in a mini skirt thinking you're as good as the guys. Oh, please."

Strike.

Gum charged towards me like an angry bull.

All I had to do was sidestep.

And over the edge she went.

"No!" Beat ran towards me.

I felt yet more paint hit my back as he passed me, leapt onto the fire escape, ground down it, called, "One for me and one for her…"

And now there was one GG left.

"Well, looks like it's just you and me," I said, walking towards Cube. "And I do believe you've got the last chance left to tag me."

Our eyes met. I could feel my hands shaking.

"Just so you realise what's at stake, if you fail I'll kill you."

I should have done earlier. Pay you back for all you did to me.

"Then I will go back down and find your friends. I will kill them too."

That's my wish. That's my right.

"The GGs will be kaput, and it'll be all your fault."

She didn't answer. Her earlier fury was gone. All that was left was fear.

I skated closer, closer, encircling her, seeing her tremble, and then – then I touched her back, and –

She turned, tried to tag me, but it just spattered my arm. "Have to do better than that!" I called.

I stabbed again, she grabbed my wrist, I struggled, we were close again but this time there was nothing but rage, she bent my fingers back – she had the knife.

I stumbled back as she let go of me. She'd left marks on my wrist.

She began to walk towards me, holding the knife like it was a friend.

"You wouldn't," I said.

Would you?

"And you can't."

Can you?

"I'm too fast for you."

Aren't I?

Behind me there was nothing but a drop.

I remembered stabbing Shiro.

"You won't do it," I said, trying not to notice the fury in her eyes. "You're weak…"

Aren't you?

" – you can't –"

Can you?

"I'm not weak," Cube said. "And I can."

I stopped walking.

She reached me.

And I crumpled up all my fury, shot it down my arm, and put it into the hardest blow I'd ever given someone in my life.

As Cube reeled, I pushed her backwards, tried to grab the knife, she shoved me off, I scratched out, we rolled, over and over, nothing but a confusion of skin and concrete and hair and pain…

And then suddenly Cube was lying underneath me, head hanging over the edge of the roof. I looked down at my hand, and saw I'd got the knife back.

Sweet.

I looked down at her, and spoke nothing but the truth.

"I am sick of you."

I shoved her head back. Her throat shone white in the small-hour darkness. I stabbed down – she threw up an arm – too late I saw she was clutching a paint can in it – and cold liquid covered my skin for the tenth time.

No.

"You bitch," I hissed, and stabbed again.

She blocked the blade with her arm, I felt the knife scree down the bone…lots of blood now…she pushed me…I punched her…my damp fingers slipped off the knife. And it fell.

"Hope it didn't hit anyone," Cube said through a mouthful of red.

I stared down at her, my hands shook, and launched themselves at her throat – and I gripped it as hard as I could – her eyes bulged – not so pretty now – this was working – her hands struggled for air – a desperate cough choked out of her mouth –

Someone grabbed my shoulders. I turned. Gum. Damn, she'd survived – I punched her, she dropped – Beat ran towards me, grabbed my wrists –

It was Beat, right?

Someone shouted, "Too fast for you, was she?"

What did that mean? What was going on? Someone was holding onto me, I couldn't get out –

"Get off me!" I screamed. "Get off me now!"

Was it Omega, holding on while the Noise Tanks and Sable Blades battled in Benten Square? No – no –

"I knew you'd never beat us!" someone shouted.

The GGs, their voices cackling in my ears. No – that didn't seem right either…

"Just another Love Shocker, that's all you are!"

Hands cutting into my wrists. Combo, dragging me away from Coin in Grind City? No…Oh, god, what was going on?

A bitch!"

Not Alex…

"A slut!"

Not Chiyo…

"A dumb kid!"

Not Giga…

"Shut up! Please – please – I didn't – you did it – leave me alone – Please let go of me! Please!" The words tumbled from my lips like marbles. Who was it? I didn't know…faces stared at me in the darkness. Coming to get me…San…Data…Jin…Kris…

And I was free again. I stepped back, trying to see.

"I'm sorry…" I whispered.

Shiro. No.

His hands on me, touching, taking me away from myself…I tried to pull him off, but he was like a leech, sticking to me, staining me dark and horrible…

"I'm sorry…I didn't mean to…it wasn't my fault…"

Who was I talking to? I didn't know. Just if I said it enough, maybe they'd leave me alone…

"Whose was it, then?"

I knew that voice, but I couldn't see the face…it rang with accusation and hate.

"They started it! It hurt…it always hurts…"

I didn't want to be me any more, I wanted to start again, be clean, remove all the dirt and the voices and the loathing…

"You're damn right it always hurts. You know what you did to me. I hate you. I hate you. I wish you were dead."

But that was what I wanted to say…to Shiro…to everyone…

"You hate me?" I called. Please listen. Please. "That's what I wanted to say! But they wouldn't listen – I yelled at them – they wouldn't –"

"Me too."

No compromise.

"Power. That's all you want. Don't worry about who you hurt. What you do."

No, I just want to be safe…

"I didn't mean it – I don't – I don't understand – Please don't hurt me –" Whoever you are, god, please, help me, someone…get me out of this life…

"I want to scratch your eyes out."

I saw her come towards me, hand raised.

No! Get away from me!

I ran.

Only a few steps.

For suddenly – suddenly I was falling, falling down, down, down, as the darkness rose over my head and drowned me.

(Don't go anywhere! Like I said, one more chapter!)