"Hiro, you will sit down there and be quiet, or you wont be able to walk right for a week." Ayaka threatened as she paid for the targets and three hundred rounds.
"Alright alright! Jeez." Hiro sat down with a pout and tilted his head down, looking up at her and waiting for whatever she wished to say.
"Today, you two are going to learn how to use a gun without hurting yourselves or others. Remember, do not point a gun at anyone you don't plan to shoot." She gave her brothers the eye and ear protectors she'd rented for them and headed out to the range.
They each put them on then glanced at each other. "We're going to get to shoot things?"
"What?"
"Huh?"
Shinji took off his ear protectors as he walked with Ayaka. "I said we're going to get to shoot stuff?" he asked as Hiro took off his own.
"Oh, yeah! Cool."
"You are going to get to shoot targets. You're learning this for the same reason you go to the dojo every week. To learn to protect yourself."
"But if we don't have any guns, how are we going to use them to protect ourselves?"
"I didn't know you had a gun Ayaka, where'd ya get it?"
"Daddy left it behind." Ayaka loaded the gun with the normal rounds. She only had twenty silver rounds, and those were in her room. She couldn't afford to waist them. Where would she even get more if she needed them? She only had enough for just one bullet short of three clips.
"Cool! I never knew dad liked them."
"Me neither." They both looked at it curiously as they listened and followed her.
"Daddy had it for protection. Guns are not cool, they are a tool and a weapon." She hung the target up and pushed the button so it went three feet downrange. She adjusted her eye and ear protectors, then raised the gun and lined the head up in her sights.
"Then how come they look so cool?"
"And shiny!"
"Don't forget the noises. And the neat patterns you can shoot." They both stopped talking and but the ear protectors back on and watched her anxiously. The bullet flew from the muzzle of the gun with a light recoil and struck in the head zone, in the portion on the left. Not quite in the center, but not too far from it.
Ayaka put the gun down, muzzle pointing down range. Her hands were shaking. "Shinji, your turn."
Shinji stepped up quickly then Hiro made a face and watched as his brother picked up the gun. "Just point and pull this?"
"Aim, point, and squeeze, Shinji."
"What's the difference between pull and squeeze?" he asked with a shrug as he gripped the gun with both hands, aimed, and fired the weapon at the center of the man shaped target.
"Pulling is more violent an action and can break the gun if you do it to hard. Hiro, your turn."
The bullet went through the paper of the target and came just about as close to the center mass as she had gotten on the head. Shinji put the gun down and stepped back excitedly with a small grin. "Beat that Hiro."
"Just watch me. Nyah." he said, making a face at Shinji as he picked up the gun and aimed at the target in the same area Shinji had, and fired. His bullet got closer to the center mark then Ayaka's, or Shinji's bullet, and he put the gun down as Shinji pouted. "Beat you, hehehe."
"We're not here to play games, boys." Ayaka said, picking the gun back up and squeezing off two rounds, taking a little less time to aim and pointing in the general direction of the head.
"We're just having a little fun." They said after she shot, and the two bullets landed in the outer rings on the head. At least she hit it again.
"Nice job Ayaka."
"Yeah, maybe next time I'll shoot at the head thing too."
Ayaka frowned a little, and let her brothers have their turns again. She began planning on coming to the range every afternoon. She really needed to improve. This time, both brothers missed the target, and made pouty faces as the gun needed to be reloaded. They stepped back and looked up at her. They didn't know why their sister had a sudden interest in guns.. They just knew they got to shoot them now. And that was good enough for them.
***
Ayaka smiled at Mrs. Wu as she came into the shop. "How is my favorite customer?"
"Just fine, thank you." she said with a smile, her feet and posture actually looked like walking this time. "How have you been?"
"Well enough, Mrs Wu. What can I do for you today?"
"I thought you might like to talk, and I want to thank you for recommending that doctor for me." Ms Wu was happy as ever, the pain that was in her face most of the time was lessened greatly.
"Have a seat, Mrs. Wu. I'd love to have someone to talk to."
"Of course." She took a seat nearby and put her hands in her lap, letting out a relaxed sigh. "Maybe I'll come by more often then."
"I would welcome it. Can I get you some tea?"
"Please, if it's no trouble." She kept her eyes on her, . "How have things been lately around here?"
"Some people who say they knew my father have been coming around and bothering me." Ayaka said, turning around and going over to the small sink behind the counter, grabbing the tea kettle and filling it.
"Oh? Trying to collect old debts maybe?" She guessed and waited as the tea kettle was filled, then placed on the stove. She thought about it as the bell on the door rang again as her back was turned.
"It could be.... but I don't trust them."
The person that had walked in was a man, but he was just in casual clothes. A pair of faded jeans, and a plain white t shirt that hung nicely off his shoulders. He was plain enough, with a few dimples, green eyes, and red hair. Not many like him were seen in this part of town, that's for sure.
"May I help you?" Ayaka asked, putting the kettle on the hot plate.
"Eh? Na, not yet, I'm just havin' a look around lass." He had a slight Irish accent. He flashed her a charming smile, then went back to looking through the various herbs and such. Ms Wu glanced at him, then looked back to her.
Ayaka shrugged and sat down, her hand going under the counter to touch the handgun briefly before picking up her conversation with Mrs. Wu in Chinese. Ayaka started to feel.. Something, but it was quickly snuffed out with a shake of the head as the man walked up to the counter. "Ya got anything that's good for stamina?"
Ayaka rattled off the names of several herbs as she pulled out the mah jong set she kept under the counter and set up a game for herself and Mrs. Wu.
He got some the herbs from a nearby shelf and came back towards the counter. "How much'll that be? Not too much I 'ope."
Ayaka pulled the gun closer to her under the counter, just in case. Gaijin didn't come to this part of town without reason, and she had good reason to suspect he was another of the hegeyokai. "How many ounces would you like, sir?"
"Just some.... Um.. Two ounces I guess.. If it works I'll get more, heh." He took some crumpled up money out of a pocket. Ms Wu gave him a glance then made her move in the game she and Ayaka were playing. "Not a bad shop ya have here."
Ayaka measured out the amount and put it into a little brown bag, writing the cost on the top in pencil and sliding it to him. "Thank you, sir."
He paid her then took the bag and his change. "Thank you. By the way..." He looked her over from head to toe, the sniffed for a moment. "Nah, never mind. Have a nice day." He turned and left the store.
"You too, sir." Ayaka said, sitting back down and returning to the game.
"He was a nice enough young man, I wish my son had a smile like that. Then I might get some grand children." Mrs. Wu chuckled as Ayaka made her next move.
"Gaijin like that? More trouble than he's worth, I bet."
"Those people must have really gotten you edgy. I don't think I've seen you like this before."
"Never know when the Tongs or the Yakuza are going to try and move in."
"Mm.. That's true, but I've never seen any gang member with hair like that."
"Maybe I'm just being paranoid."
"Maybe. Then again, paranoid people live longer. It has been a while since we've last played.. Forgive me if I'm a little rusty."
"Ah, but you mastered this game long before I was born."
"Always the flatterer." Mrs. Wu said as she made another move.
"Just stating a fact."
"If you say so. Your quite kind.. The world should have more people like you. Or the neighborhood at least. Things would be much more pleasant."
***
Ayaka looked over the potted herbs displayed in front of Old Mr. Myagi's store. "Is this everything you have?" she asked.
The old man nodded his head as he looked over his plants. "That is all of them, yes. Is there something you are looking for that is not there?"
"Not really. Just wondering." She picked up the small potted mint. "I think this will be all for today, sir."
Myagi nodded his head and thought about it, then gave her a price. "Reasonable, mm? Just let me know if you need anything, I can probably get it."
"I will, sir. Thank you." She handed him a few crumpled bills and took the potted plant, heading towards the shop. She would be glad to get back inside again. The pistol felt so strange, tucked into her jeans behind her jacket.
At least it was something to protect against whatever wanted her though. The streets were pretty normal for this time of day, there were an amount of people on the street, but nothing really bustling. "Hey. How's it going?" She knew that voice, it was the first man. Watson.
"Just fine." she said, polite but cool.
"Cool, cool. Nice plant you have there."
"Mm."
"You know.. Might be too late for you, but what about the kids?"
"Come near my siblings and I'll shoot you."
"You're not listening. I don't mean taking them away. How much do you know about us?"
"Silver hurts and you have a talent for attracting trouble."
"Yeah. Now. What happens if one or more of them turns into one of us?"
"They wont."
"Why not?"
"Because Father said so."
"And you believe your father is infallible."
"I trust what he's said more than I trust you."
"You don't even know me though."
"Nor do I wish to."
"Why not? Can't we all just get along? Get with the furry program?"
"Go away and leave me alone."
"How long do you think you can ignore what you are?"
"I know what I am."
"Then what are you, Ayaka?"
"A human who wants nothing to do with you."
Watson clucked his tongue. "Don't say that. It'll come back to bite you.. Tempting fate and all."
'The only one tempting fate right now is you.' she through, walking just a little faster. The voice went silent and after a while, she glanced behind her and saw he was not there.. Maybe they'd gotten the idea and would leave her alone. She looked around quickly before picking up the pace a bit. Thankfully she got home without further incident, and was alone in the shop.. She got off the uncomfortable gun as she headed upstairs, it was about time for dinner anyways.
"Alright alright! Jeez." Hiro sat down with a pout and tilted his head down, looking up at her and waiting for whatever she wished to say.
"Today, you two are going to learn how to use a gun without hurting yourselves or others. Remember, do not point a gun at anyone you don't plan to shoot." She gave her brothers the eye and ear protectors she'd rented for them and headed out to the range.
They each put them on then glanced at each other. "We're going to get to shoot things?"
"What?"
"Huh?"
Shinji took off his ear protectors as he walked with Ayaka. "I said we're going to get to shoot stuff?" he asked as Hiro took off his own.
"Oh, yeah! Cool."
"You are going to get to shoot targets. You're learning this for the same reason you go to the dojo every week. To learn to protect yourself."
"But if we don't have any guns, how are we going to use them to protect ourselves?"
"I didn't know you had a gun Ayaka, where'd ya get it?"
"Daddy left it behind." Ayaka loaded the gun with the normal rounds. She only had twenty silver rounds, and those were in her room. She couldn't afford to waist them. Where would she even get more if she needed them? She only had enough for just one bullet short of three clips.
"Cool! I never knew dad liked them."
"Me neither." They both looked at it curiously as they listened and followed her.
"Daddy had it for protection. Guns are not cool, they are a tool and a weapon." She hung the target up and pushed the button so it went three feet downrange. She adjusted her eye and ear protectors, then raised the gun and lined the head up in her sights.
"Then how come they look so cool?"
"And shiny!"
"Don't forget the noises. And the neat patterns you can shoot." They both stopped talking and but the ear protectors back on and watched her anxiously. The bullet flew from the muzzle of the gun with a light recoil and struck in the head zone, in the portion on the left. Not quite in the center, but not too far from it.
Ayaka put the gun down, muzzle pointing down range. Her hands were shaking. "Shinji, your turn."
Shinji stepped up quickly then Hiro made a face and watched as his brother picked up the gun. "Just point and pull this?"
"Aim, point, and squeeze, Shinji."
"What's the difference between pull and squeeze?" he asked with a shrug as he gripped the gun with both hands, aimed, and fired the weapon at the center of the man shaped target.
"Pulling is more violent an action and can break the gun if you do it to hard. Hiro, your turn."
The bullet went through the paper of the target and came just about as close to the center mass as she had gotten on the head. Shinji put the gun down and stepped back excitedly with a small grin. "Beat that Hiro."
"Just watch me. Nyah." he said, making a face at Shinji as he picked up the gun and aimed at the target in the same area Shinji had, and fired. His bullet got closer to the center mark then Ayaka's, or Shinji's bullet, and he put the gun down as Shinji pouted. "Beat you, hehehe."
"We're not here to play games, boys." Ayaka said, picking the gun back up and squeezing off two rounds, taking a little less time to aim and pointing in the general direction of the head.
"We're just having a little fun." They said after she shot, and the two bullets landed in the outer rings on the head. At least she hit it again.
"Nice job Ayaka."
"Yeah, maybe next time I'll shoot at the head thing too."
Ayaka frowned a little, and let her brothers have their turns again. She began planning on coming to the range every afternoon. She really needed to improve. This time, both brothers missed the target, and made pouty faces as the gun needed to be reloaded. They stepped back and looked up at her. They didn't know why their sister had a sudden interest in guns.. They just knew they got to shoot them now. And that was good enough for them.
***
Ayaka smiled at Mrs. Wu as she came into the shop. "How is my favorite customer?"
"Just fine, thank you." she said with a smile, her feet and posture actually looked like walking this time. "How have you been?"
"Well enough, Mrs Wu. What can I do for you today?"
"I thought you might like to talk, and I want to thank you for recommending that doctor for me." Ms Wu was happy as ever, the pain that was in her face most of the time was lessened greatly.
"Have a seat, Mrs. Wu. I'd love to have someone to talk to."
"Of course." She took a seat nearby and put her hands in her lap, letting out a relaxed sigh. "Maybe I'll come by more often then."
"I would welcome it. Can I get you some tea?"
"Please, if it's no trouble." She kept her eyes on her, . "How have things been lately around here?"
"Some people who say they knew my father have been coming around and bothering me." Ayaka said, turning around and going over to the small sink behind the counter, grabbing the tea kettle and filling it.
"Oh? Trying to collect old debts maybe?" She guessed and waited as the tea kettle was filled, then placed on the stove. She thought about it as the bell on the door rang again as her back was turned.
"It could be.... but I don't trust them."
The person that had walked in was a man, but he was just in casual clothes. A pair of faded jeans, and a plain white t shirt that hung nicely off his shoulders. He was plain enough, with a few dimples, green eyes, and red hair. Not many like him were seen in this part of town, that's for sure.
"May I help you?" Ayaka asked, putting the kettle on the hot plate.
"Eh? Na, not yet, I'm just havin' a look around lass." He had a slight Irish accent. He flashed her a charming smile, then went back to looking through the various herbs and such. Ms Wu glanced at him, then looked back to her.
Ayaka shrugged and sat down, her hand going under the counter to touch the handgun briefly before picking up her conversation with Mrs. Wu in Chinese. Ayaka started to feel.. Something, but it was quickly snuffed out with a shake of the head as the man walked up to the counter. "Ya got anything that's good for stamina?"
Ayaka rattled off the names of several herbs as she pulled out the mah jong set she kept under the counter and set up a game for herself and Mrs. Wu.
He got some the herbs from a nearby shelf and came back towards the counter. "How much'll that be? Not too much I 'ope."
Ayaka pulled the gun closer to her under the counter, just in case. Gaijin didn't come to this part of town without reason, and she had good reason to suspect he was another of the hegeyokai. "How many ounces would you like, sir?"
"Just some.... Um.. Two ounces I guess.. If it works I'll get more, heh." He took some crumpled up money out of a pocket. Ms Wu gave him a glance then made her move in the game she and Ayaka were playing. "Not a bad shop ya have here."
Ayaka measured out the amount and put it into a little brown bag, writing the cost on the top in pencil and sliding it to him. "Thank you, sir."
He paid her then took the bag and his change. "Thank you. By the way..." He looked her over from head to toe, the sniffed for a moment. "Nah, never mind. Have a nice day." He turned and left the store.
"You too, sir." Ayaka said, sitting back down and returning to the game.
"He was a nice enough young man, I wish my son had a smile like that. Then I might get some grand children." Mrs. Wu chuckled as Ayaka made her next move.
"Gaijin like that? More trouble than he's worth, I bet."
"Those people must have really gotten you edgy. I don't think I've seen you like this before."
"Never know when the Tongs or the Yakuza are going to try and move in."
"Mm.. That's true, but I've never seen any gang member with hair like that."
"Maybe I'm just being paranoid."
"Maybe. Then again, paranoid people live longer. It has been a while since we've last played.. Forgive me if I'm a little rusty."
"Ah, but you mastered this game long before I was born."
"Always the flatterer." Mrs. Wu said as she made another move.
"Just stating a fact."
"If you say so. Your quite kind.. The world should have more people like you. Or the neighborhood at least. Things would be much more pleasant."
***
Ayaka looked over the potted herbs displayed in front of Old Mr. Myagi's store. "Is this everything you have?" she asked.
The old man nodded his head as he looked over his plants. "That is all of them, yes. Is there something you are looking for that is not there?"
"Not really. Just wondering." She picked up the small potted mint. "I think this will be all for today, sir."
Myagi nodded his head and thought about it, then gave her a price. "Reasonable, mm? Just let me know if you need anything, I can probably get it."
"I will, sir. Thank you." She handed him a few crumpled bills and took the potted plant, heading towards the shop. She would be glad to get back inside again. The pistol felt so strange, tucked into her jeans behind her jacket.
At least it was something to protect against whatever wanted her though. The streets were pretty normal for this time of day, there were an amount of people on the street, but nothing really bustling. "Hey. How's it going?" She knew that voice, it was the first man. Watson.
"Just fine." she said, polite but cool.
"Cool, cool. Nice plant you have there."
"Mm."
"You know.. Might be too late for you, but what about the kids?"
"Come near my siblings and I'll shoot you."
"You're not listening. I don't mean taking them away. How much do you know about us?"
"Silver hurts and you have a talent for attracting trouble."
"Yeah. Now. What happens if one or more of them turns into one of us?"
"They wont."
"Why not?"
"Because Father said so."
"And you believe your father is infallible."
"I trust what he's said more than I trust you."
"You don't even know me though."
"Nor do I wish to."
"Why not? Can't we all just get along? Get with the furry program?"
"Go away and leave me alone."
"How long do you think you can ignore what you are?"
"I know what I am."
"Then what are you, Ayaka?"
"A human who wants nothing to do with you."
Watson clucked his tongue. "Don't say that. It'll come back to bite you.. Tempting fate and all."
'The only one tempting fate right now is you.' she through, walking just a little faster. The voice went silent and after a while, she glanced behind her and saw he was not there.. Maybe they'd gotten the idea and would leave her alone. She looked around quickly before picking up the pace a bit. Thankfully she got home without further incident, and was alone in the shop.. She got off the uncomfortable gun as she headed upstairs, it was about time for dinner anyways.