"So why Fink?" Gum asked, heartily macking on a piece of her moniker. 'Yappie Feet' pumped on Jet Set Radio's afternoon edition through their respective headsets as they casually glided down Hill Street. Fink had offered an escort and breakfast, and Gum felt like having company.

"From way back in the day. Ah, here's breakfast..." Fink broke away. He increased his speed as much as he could. Downhill, a vender was putting the finishing touches on a snocone. As he reached out to hand it to the customer, Fink blew by, snatching it from his hands, along with a second snocone which was already in the hands of the customer's daughter. The two adjusted their speed till Gum caught up with Fink, then went back to skating at a leisurely pace, crying and cursing howling behind them. "Blue or green?" Fink held the cones out to Gum. The green one had already been partially eaten by the daughter and lacked a spoon.

"Blue," Gum decided firmly.

Fink frowned, "Damn." He handed the blue over. "And blue is my favorite too. Fink tipped the cup back and drank all the excess fluid. He then sucked what was left of the flavoring out of the ice ball, took a bite of the ice, and threw away the rest, incidentally dumping it into a convertible. "Anyway, I got started defacing pictures of peoples faces. You know, I'd give them the goatee, the handlebar mustache, devil horns and tail, a pitchfork, and at the bottom I'd caption it-"

"Fink," Gum nodded, taking another bite of her snocone.

"That's right," Fink pointed to her. "Like old-school Wizard of Id. I was just labeling, but you know how tags catch on. Pretty soon, people started to think it was a handle. I didn't really have one, and it was becoming somewhat well known in my area, so I figured 'hey, what the Hell'." As Gum watched, Fink leapt up on a handrail to do an acid soul grind, then did a 540 flying kite to land on the steel awning of a building. He ground to a stop, then pulled out a can of rust-red paint as he balanced. Gum watched as he defaced the giant poster of Goji Rokokku in the fashion he had described, adding a stick figure cat to the side pawing at it. In terms of style and skill, it was nowhere near Gum's quality, but she had to admit that his tags were endearing.

And he was fast too. With the can and on skates. Mew may have been able to get up there easily enough (for Gum could have, if not less gracefully), she suspected that harder pressed, Fink would test the better skater. Fink hopped down off the awning onto the rail below, then slid off it and turned to hold his arms out to his work in presentation.

"So is there a story behind Gum?" he asked, as they went back to skating. Gum had just finished her last bite of her snocone and tossed the empty cup to the sidewalk. She took her gum off where she stuck it to her helmet for safekeeping and put it back in her mouth and shook her head, but she blushed, obviously embarrassed. "Come on... It's obviously not the obvious. Out with it!" Fink goaded.

Gum rolled her eyes, "When I was trying to quit smoking, I got really addicted to the Nicorette gum stuff." Fink laughed. Gum blushed even more, then tried to regain her composure. "I was far more addicted to it than I ever was to cigarettes. I eventually gave it up, but-"

"The name stuck," Fink nodded.

"Yeah," Gum confirmed. "Even now I have to chew regular gum or else my mouth gets antsy. Oh mother fucker! Hold up a sec," Gum requested. She stopped at a nearby building. A Love Shocker had gone over a GG mark. Gum cursed under her breath as she got out a can of paint and started to go over it with one of her own tags.

"You're really good," Fink noted. "A great artist."

"Thanks," Gum sighed as she finished up. "So were you really a founding Love Shocker?" she turned and asked as she put the can back in her bag.

"Once upon a time," Fink groaned, sounding regretful. "I joined the Noise Tanks because I'd always hung out in their neighborhood and I dug their style."

"So what happened?" Gum asked.

Fink shook his head, "Too criminal for me. Another reason I hooked up with them was that I like tech. It wasn't till after that I found out how they fund themselves, hacking other peoples' bank accounts. I for one like to keep my crime against public and coporate targets. Picking on the little guys on a grand scale seems mean to me. There was also this thing between me and the leader's little sister. The first time I kissed her she jumped my bones. Later, Manual got wind of me and Claudi being an item and... well, he was none too pleased. I had to bow out of the gang and relationship. Afterwards I was pretty heartbroken, so-"

"Along with a couple kindred spirits, decided to form a new gang, and the Love Shockers were born," Gum added it all up.

"Bingo," Fink affirmed.

"I should blame you then," Gum glared at him. "Why'd you have to pick Shibuya-cho to settle down in?"

"Well, Benten was out of the question, and if I had to choose to compete against GG or Poison Jam, the PJs are a lot meaner," Fink shrugged.

"What I want to know is how did a founder get kicked out of the group?" Gum questioned.

"Um, long story," Fink dismissed. "Anyway I haven't been too welcome in Benten or Shibuya since then. Part of why I didn't want to join GG. The Shockers probably still haven't gotten over their beef with me, so I have enough problems with them as it is. Which reminds me, good to hear that Claudi got over me. I thought about Poison Jam, even went to visit them. I am into movies. But the rumors are true, Poison Jam is the gang all muscleheads and bullies graduate to. I was a bit above their intellectual level. Besides, they're all a bunch of gutter brains. The story about them kidnapping a mannequin thinking it was a pretty girl is exaggerated, but not far from the truth."

They skated off into an alley at the end of Hill Street's slope. The alley emptied into a backstreet swallowed by the flux of development. At the end, "Sneakman" on Jet Set Radio thundered from the open shutters of GG garage. As the pair skated in, Beat and Tab jumped from their seats to greet them.

"Gum!" Tab exclaimed.

"We thought you got busted!" Beat hugged her, making her very uncomfortable.

"No, we got away after the broadcast ended," she pulled away as soon as possible. It was all thanks to Fink's help. He's damned crazy." Everyone turned to Fink, who was dusting off a knuckle, trying purposely to look as though he was trying purposely to look humble. Gum looked cross, "Of course he also got me into the whole mess in the first place, painting over my tag."

Fink froze, then did his embarrassed laugh routine, "Aw come on, it was a cry for attention."

"Fink you said?" Tab piped up. He skated over. "I've seen you around Benten-cho, haven't I?"

Fink smiled, "Probably. Props for observation."

Beat raised an eyebrow from behind his sunglasses, "You trying to join GG or somethin?"

"No," Gum began, "he's not inter-"

"Well now that you mention it, the thought had crossed my mind..." Fink spoke over her.

Gum blinked with surprise, "But you said-"

Fink nudged her and had one of his embarrassed laughs, "Well, I'm not crazy about the idea, but it's here or Poison Jam, right?" he whispered to her. Gum thought about Fink's pad and how he said he usually didn't stay there long and was looking for someplace new. She suddenly felt used.

"Well Gum," Tab turned to her, "You've got inducting authority, and you've seen him in action, right? What do you think?"

Gum sighed and shook her head, "Yeah. Sure. No application or interview necessary, his resume qualifies."

"Good stuff," Fink gave a thumbs up. "So where do I crash?" he started to skate around in exploration.

"Our policy is one of no policy. People tend to crash wherever, so any unoccupied spot is cool," Tab informed him. "We do sorta traditionally reserve the rooms with doors for, ahem, private use, so don't fall asleep in one unless you know no one is planning on using it for conjugating and whatnot." The "private rooms" were the garage office, which had blinds put up over the windows with two double beds pushed together to give the room some semblance of a domestic bedroom; and a van with the seats removed and repositioned and a pullout bed that looked as though it never got folded up. "As you can see, we all mark the place up like mad. You should probably add your handle somewhere when you get the chance." Fink nodded as he skated around looking at individual tags. The sound of a toilet flushing and the sink running drew the others attention toward the bathroom door. "That's right, you have to meet our other present member..." Tab mused. Fink wasn't listening. He was staring at a single handle tagged to a wall, his eyes growing wider. "Fink, meet Mew..." Tab motioned to Mew as the bathroom door opened up and she skated out. There was no response, and Gum, Beat, and Tab turned around. Fink was crouched down, hiding behind an easy-chair. Mew gave Tab a funny look, who shrugged, as confused as she was. Mew tried to skate around the chair. As she did, Fink edged around it, staying on the opposite side from her.

"Nova?" Mew called out. Mew tried to walk around the side in the other direction, but Fink continued to orbit the chair, keeping the poor hiding spot between them. Mew furrowed her brow, annoyed. "C. Nova!" She grabbed the chair and pulled it to the side. Fink stood up quickly and turned his back to her, whistling casually. "I know it's you Fink!" Mew crossed her arms. Fink spun around and looked shocked, as though he hadn't noticed she was in the room.

"Oh, hey Mew!" he did his patented embarrassed laugh procedure. "What's up? Long time no see..."

"Don't gimme that bullshit!" Mew spat. "Act your damn age!"

"You two..." Gum pointed back and forth between them, "Know each other?"

Mew turned to her, "From way back in the day," Mew sighed.

"But it was a long time ago," Fink piped hopefully. "All in the past, right?"

Mew rolled her eyes, "I'm not mad at you Fink."

"You're not?" he raised an eyebrow.

Mew laughed and shook her head, "No. You're right, even if you didn't mean it. It was a long time ago. Despite what I could blame you for, it really doesn't matter any more," she smiled at him softly.

Fink seemed in awe, "Wow Mew, that's real big of you."

"Yeah, well..." she submitted. "Why remember the bad? We had our good times too, and they meant a lot to me. Why taint them any more." She reached out her arms to him. Fink came forward and hugged her tightly.

"I shoulda know that if anybody'd be cool with me, it'd be you," he whispered. "I'm sorry kitten. I missed you."

"I'm sorry too," Mew breathed. "I missed you too." She pulled back enough that she could see his face. "Can we still be friends?"

"Sure," he pulled her close to hug her once more before letting go and backing up himself.

"So you're joining up with us?" Mew asked. Fink nodded. Mew smiled again, "Then I guess we'll be seeing a lot of each other again." They both smiled and nodded, and there was a long silence as the two former lovers stared into one another's eyes for the first time in a long while.

"Uh..." Tab tried to break the awkwardness of standing around, uninvolved. The moment passed. "So I thought it'd be cool to show Fink around the area."

"I'll pass," Mew waved her hand. She turned to Fink, "Some other time."

"I'm kinda sore, I think I'll rest up to go out later," Gum rubbed her spine.

"Aw, come one," Fink did a quick combo of play-punches to her shoulder, "Don't be a lightweight."

Despite any goading, Gum would give no answer save no, so the girls waved goodbye as the guys skated off. Mew skated over to the kitchenette to fix herself a drink.

"Why did you keep calling him Nova?" Gum asked, gliding over. She remembered that one of the Noise Tanks had used the name as well.

Mew swallowed hard and made the whiskey face, "A nickname. Or more of a reputation, really. He doesn't really like it, at least not as much as Fink, at any rate. So many people call him by it though that it's sort of a second handle. He's even used it in his tags at times, especially when he was Love Shocker." Mew fixed herself another drink. Gum was surprised. The stuff in the fridge was usually reserved for special occasions and emergencies, and even then it wasn't like her to drink in either. Upbeat, lively, and energetic, it was unusual to see Mew somber.

"Are you ok Mew?" Gum felt concerned.

"Yeah..." Mew muttered. "...No..." she changed her mind. "...Maybe...I don't know..." Mew slouched, leaning on the counter. "I mean, it's good to see him, but it also hurts... a lot." Mew turned to face Gum, tears were building up in her eyes. "Gum... What's Fink doing here? I mean I know he's joining up, but how did he... why's he..." Mew paused, brooding. "He came here with you, didn't he?" Gum nodded in confirmation. "I was afraid of that," Mew whimpered. "Gum..." she put her hands on Gum's shoulders. "Please be careful with this guy, ok?"

Gum shook her head vigorously, "Oh no, it's nothing like that!"

Mew laughed, "Yeah right. I'll bet you've already slept with him, haven't you?"

"Mew!" Gum gasped. "You know I'd never-"

"No, no," Mew shook her head. "I know you wouldn't have sex with him. I mean you actually slept together, you know, shared the same bed. Go to sleep back to back and wake up in each other's arms."

"That was a totally random occurrence derived from necessity," Gum denied. "And he said he was sorry, and-"

"And that he hoped it wouldn't disrupt your possible friendship," Mew finished. "I'm sure he did. And I'll bet he offered to buy you some great Ramen tonight to make up for it."

"Well, he did offer..." Gum muttered.

The place is in East Benten, then he'll take you to Circle Street to show you how you can get on the top of the sky-bridge while you eat and gaze at the stars. Just watch Gum, he will. I know it," Mew predicted.

"I won't be 'tricked' into liking some guy," Gum got annoyed and defensive. "Especially not Fink. I guess he has his own quirky charm, but he's totally weird."

Mew threw her arms up, exasperated, "Fine. Never mind. I don't know why I bothered trying. She tried to talk me out of it, and I tried to stop the other two after me, and there was no stopping it. He eventually wears everybody down."

Gum patted Mew's back, "Mew... What happened between you two?"

Mew buried her face in her hands, "It was long before I joined GG. Fink taught me how to skate, he got me into all this." Gum felt somewhat amazed. She supposed that that answered the question of who was the better skater. "Gum..." Mew looked up, "You're the strongest woman I know." Gum was shocked. She had always respected Mew for being like her in strength, kindred spirits. She had had no idea that her friend looked up to her. "But I don't know if even you are strong enough for this. Gum... I... I don't even know that it ought to be stopped. Fink was the best thing that ever happened to me, but he was also the worst. I don't know that I'd want to give up the time I spent with him, but I don't know that I'd want it in the first place. He's not a jerk or anything. He's a really sensitive guy, thoughtful, caring, he'll treat you like a queen. Being loved by him is like nothing else in the world. But he's a total player. Well, he's a pseudo-player, or something. He'll fall for someone else and leave you. It happens every time. Like I said, I was warned, and I kept tabs on him after he broke up with me and watched him do it to two other girls. Chances are good that he's leaving someone to be with you."

"Why is he a 'pseudo-player?" Gum asked.

"I say pseudo because I think the nut actually does believe he's your one true love and shit when your relationship is in that stage," Mew explained. "He'll think he loves you, and it's great, it is! But he'll leave! I don't know if you should avoid it or embrace it. I just want you to know Gum. I want you to realize what's happening and walk into this eyes wide open, and decide your own path," Mew heaved.

Gum straightened up, "I can take care of myself. I won't let any man mess me up ever again. I guarantee you Mew, I give you my solemn vow," Gum promised, determined. "I will never go out with, and NEVER love Fink.