It has been a few days since Li dropped Gat off after his barging in unannounced. She woke in her single room ground-floor apartment, alone, stood in the shower, alone, just standing, hoping the warm waters calm her over thoughtful mind. Letting the beating water rhythmically bead on her hair and skin. Hoping it would at least clear her mind, it didn't at all.
"Where's the car!"
Li rubbed the water over her face. "He said he didn't want the car when I asked. Did he think I sold it? Fuck, I knew how much that car meant to him, but he gave it to me… Was it for safekeeping or… ... a gift?" Li realized she was talking to herself. Began to wash her hair, scrubbed her face and body, more out of frustration, and when she reached her feet had an idea. Once she wrapped her towel around her, she took a seat at her desk, oiled her body, tackled her hair, and dressed. Li then shot a text to Carlos.
Hey, if you aren't busy, I need you to come out with me.
She had waited a few minutes as she put her sneakers on, her phone alerted.
Yeah, XXXX, near the bar, I have a surprise for you when you get here.
Sweet, I'll grab something to eat then be by after.
Just come by, send a text when you are outside.
With a shrug, she grabbed her keys and headed out of the door.
Early in the morning, Carlos sat outside the courthouse. He was here himself not too long ago and now he was here for his family; His elder brother, the one who told him all about Kyouki Li, and when he himself got locked up, the rumor of her "death" was just that, his brother pushed to get out. Carlos asked for a loan and Li didn't question it. He promised to pay Li back.
She claimed, "Just keep doing the amazing work on my cars." And he could do nothing but smile slightly.
His brother taught him all about cars, his brother let him help work on her first racer. And little did Li know, Carlos hand-painted the tiny leaves and blossom petals on her prized Hayate Z70.
"RAMON!" Carlos called when he saw him step from the courthouse doors. Carlos wanted to play it cool, like when Li and Gat came to get him. He ran to his brother and the larger man grabbed the younger into a tight hug.
"I was expecting Ma, but I'm glad it was you coming." His gruff voice welcomed his younger brother when he kissed the top of his head.
"Ma and the others are at home cooking for you." Carlos smiled up at the taller man.
Ramon rubbed his stomach. "Oh the coyotas mama made, tell me she made them."
"She was pulling some out of the oven when I came to get you." Carlos grinned.
"Gracias Dios!" They both laughed as Carlos toted his brother's bag to the car.
As they drove to their Mother's home in the Barrio, Carlos told of how he got to meet Gat and Li at the same time in the same day cause they picked him up, how he got to work on Li's car, and the current car Li was having him spray she brought in a few weeks ago.
"Did you tell her you helped me with her racer?"
Carlos blushed when they pulled up to the house. "No… W- why would I?"
"You should be proud of the work you do. You weren't running with me when I was with the Saints, but Li… She's good people."
Carlos agreed, then his phone dinged, "Oh, speaking of, the Boss needs me."
"Answer her."
Carlos read the message and invited her over. "Bro, she's coming soon. I told her I had a surprise for her."
Ramon nodded "Mama I'm home!" He called from the doorway. They greeted him with screams of happiness from their mother, aunts, uncles, and cousins. More people were pulling up before they got settled in.
Li had tucked her phone in her pocket and wallet, waving off the guards for the day, and hopped into her Hayate heading to the junior Lieutenants' home.
When she came to the address that she was given, seeing many cars parked in the area, she supposed was the right address; A party, from the looks of it. Finding a spot across the street exiting her car, her stomach alerted her she was starving, the street smelled wonderful, the spices and… Was that BBQ she smelled! Li looked up, finding the address that other people were heading into. She sent a quick text letting Carlos know she was outside. Her wait wasn't long before Carlos came out to greet her.
"Hey, Boss! Come in." he had the widest grin on his face that caused Li to smile.
They greeted Li with looks, as always, and smiles as she nodded her greetings to the people she pasted in the narrow corridor of the apartment.
"Carlos, if you are busy, I can come back later. I brought nothing. Is it your birthday?" Carlos looked back, shaking his head.
"No. I'm not busy, and it's not my birthday. This isn't for me, my brother is home!" Li nodded and continued to follow to the living room/kitchen area. There was food on damn near every table; Li's stomach growled again, and no sooner than she reached to rub her empty tummy, they pressed a plate into her hands.
"Boss, this is my Aunt Maria. Tia, Ella mi la jefa."
"No tu novia, es hermosa, hazla tu novia." She patted his shoulder and Li's
Carlos blushed feverously, "¡Tia!" he called to silence the woman, sparing him from further embarrassment.
Li smiled as she nibbled on the food piled on her plate, "Gracias para comida Tia Maria! Pero pienso en Carlos como mi hermano, pero es demasiado lindo, si?"
It froze Carlos to the spot. He blushed furiously at Li calling him cute. What shocked him more she was speaking his native language like she was born doing so!
Li chatted away with his aunt, and his mother came over, greeting herself. The food she was eating was good. Li smiled brightly as she answered questions, not noticing her former mechanic friend as she nibbled and nodded. She caught Carlos's gawking then laughing because she realized Carlos didn't know she spoke Spanish. When Maria saw the Saints Leader didn't have a drink, she quickly went to get her one.
Carlos blinked. "Y-y-you speak Spanish!"
The smile on Li's face made Carlos swallow hard. "No voy a decírselo a todo el mundo, ¡no le digas a yes!" Li winked when she patted his shoulder, "Now you wanted me to meet your brother?" She looked at her plate for the next thing to taste.
"Yeah…" Carlos backed up, nearly tripping over a folding chair.
Li reached out to catch him, but another large pair of hands pushed the young man back to his feet.
"Thanks." Carlos looked up and smiled, his embarrassment heightened further. "Ramon, we were coming to look for you."
Li looked up at hearing the name, "Oh. My. GOD! RAMON! THAT'S... THIS IS THE BROTHER, YOUR BROTHER MY MECHANIC!"
"Surprise!" Carlos and Ramon said in unison.
With the plate in her hand, Li reached up to hug the man who was amongst the friends she thought she lost.
"You needed the money for Lugnut! Why didn't you tell me? I would have gone to break him out." She hugged Ramon again. "It's been too long. ¡Bienvenido a casa!"
"You look good Kyo, we missed you, glad to have you back too." Ramon led her ahead of him outside.
Carlos hit his sibling, "You never said she was bilingual." he whispered even though the music was too loud for Li to hear them.
Ramon barked out laughing, "Oh, she told you she didn't speak it?" Carlos nodded. Ramon laughed harder. "She got me too."
Carlos smiled. Ramon led Li away to the back patio as Maria came to find the two she left vanished somewhere in the house. She looked around in search of the kids.
Li sat eating as Tia Maria brought her a glass of fresh juice. Li was filling Ramon in on the things that happened from the explosion and current events. One such the revival of the Saints, "So you want to be a Saint again?"
Ramon took a drag from his cig. "Yeah, I'm with you."
"Oh, I also made Carlos my lieutenant. You know he is safe with me."
The large man patted his baby brother on the back, Carlos hung his head, smiling. Li looked over but saw the man's chin on his chest. Placing a finger under his chin raised his head, "No. You are a Saint, we hold our heads high."
"That's right, to be a Saint, is like being with family." Ramon patted Carlos harder. "Oh Boss, you know that car you love so much?"
"Whum-abo-wer?" Li said around the delicious taco half shoved in her mouth.
"Carlos helped with the spray." Ramon nodded.
Li's eyebrows rose. She swallowed the food down. "Really, they… Oh. That… I love those petals, you sketch or something?" Li smiled.
A soft smile planted on the boy's face as he nodded. "Yeah. I have a ton of things in books." he thumbed back to the house.
"You not only fix cars, but you have also helped with so much at HQ. Go get a few of your books. I want to see." Li inclined her head to have him go show her more of his work. "You know, I did not know. I love that car. I brought her out today. There's a race later this weekend. I wanted to get her warmed up. OH! That reminds me, I came to get Carlos to come with me to get the Venom, I need it looked at." Picking up an empanada that was filled with chicken, rolling her eyes in delight.
"You still have the Venom, Gat's Venom?"
Nodded as she swallowed. "Yeah, why wouldn't I?" Taking another bite.
"He loves that car more than he loved Aisha."
Li shook her head over the food in her mouth. "Don't say that." Taking a drink from her refilled cup.
"Nah, it's true. We made a bet about who he was going to give that car to, IF, he gave it away." Ramon took a swig from his beer. The face Li made had Ramon chuckling, "Everyone but you saw it. Eat, tell Mama you're full." He nudged his chin toward the incoming sweet tray.
Li looked back, and giggled, "Never! Fooooood… Puedo tener más por favor?" Li put the partly finished plate down and took one of the large cake slices that were filled with lemon. "Sooo, goood." Li gushed, doing a happy dance in her seat.
Ramon shook his head laughing, "Really missed you, Boss."
Li hiccupped, "I think I ate too much… I won't be able to drive…*hic* Sooooo goooood."
Carlos and Ramon laughed as they watched her slouch in the chair with her eyes closed and a pleased grin on her face. They didn't understand. Li had not had a decent home-cooked meal since she left Aisha's and certainly with her Obachan, no longer with her or Aunt. She couldn't pass up tasting everything that floated past her. Being around so many people felt good, and she would not miss out on it.
She was full, really full, happy as she patted her food baby with a satisfied smile. "Carlos, could you put that on the new car I bought in? Oooh, I want purple on the top like this one you have here." She pointed to a picture Carlos had drawn in his book. "You are an artist. I might have to send you to school." Lazily, she pulled out her phone, a few missed messages that could be answered later.
Carlos looked at his boss. Again, she shocked him. "I - What?"
Li rolled her head to Carlos and smiled. "You have talent. That's not suited for…" She gestured between herself and the two men with her. Showing the gang life. Ramon understood, so did Carlos.
Carlos gripped the art books in his hands tighter. Li would be willing to send him to school for something he loves. Now he knew why his brother told him so much about her. She is a good person.
Ramon watched Carlos gain more respect for his boss. "Jefa, when did you want to go look at the Venom?"
Li snorted as she leaned back in the chair. "Way I'm feeling now, the day after I sleep this food off. I cancel my workout for the next two days." They all laughed again. "Baño first, then I will be ready." Getting up, she asked for the bathroom and Ramon led her to it as he headed out of the front door, with Carlos behind him.
They spotted the Hayate across the street. It looked as glossy and new as the day they finished it.
"She takes good care of it, huh?"
"Yeah, she threatened to kill me if I put a scratch on it the day she took it to race."
"Yeah, she's been that way with it. She's almost obsessed like Gat."
Hearing them discuss her and her love of her car. "Rude, I am not!" Li had a bag of food in her hand.
Ramon held his hands up in defense, "Ok, but you really are." Seeing the bag he pointed. "Mama or Tia?"
Li scoffed. "I asked for it, so both?" Grinning with a wiggle of her eyebrows.
Ramon snorted, getting in on the passenger's side. Carlos climbed in the back, then they pulled off to the warehouse where her other car, the Venom was being kept.
The three of them pulled up, and the sun was setting lower in the darkening sky, but there was enough sun when she opened the doors wide. A car shape cloth sat alone. For the past seven or eight years, Li had been too scared to drive it for fear of scratching her.
"Damn, she had been sitting for a while. I'm sorry, My Lady, but look at her." Li smiled as she was pulling the tarp back, with help from Carlos.
This car was beautiful, all customized, every inch down to the last simplistic detail. Her body was sleek, not surprising because if you know Johnny, you know what he likes; The dual breath hood, SuperSport bumper, SuperSport wing spoiler, outer dual mufflers, convertible bar with the hardtop that was bulletproof like the body.
Head supports special covers that need washing, the big rear window tinted near black, also bulletproof. The interior was woodgrain; the seats were customized leather too. Johnny put so much thought into Lady, and yet she was so simply dressed.
Gat had ordered a special painting that covered her in the signature Saints purple. It looked like satin, a long golden dragon on both sides. Classico gold rims that needed a polish, the whole car needed a polish.
And she would a hand wash, just like when Johnny rode her around the car, not Li herself. Li snorted at that thought. Not likely his girl would start.
Li sighed, the keys jingled in her hands, she carefully unlocked the door, she sat and heard the leather seats rumpled under her weight; Reaching under the console, she felt for the leaver, pulling it. The trunk popped open. Listening to Ramon and Carlos chatter away in the fading light, she absently ran her hands over the steering wheel. Li's mind drifted to how she ended up with the car. Knowing it meant a lot to Johnny, he ended up gifting her his car anyway. It was many times Johnny pushed his luck.
~*S.R.1*~
Summer, 97
"Ky, wait up!" Devon, one of her classmates, trotted after her. Li turned around. Hiking her backpack over her shoulder, Johnny and Dex came to pick her up. She grumbled when she saw Johnny's car. She stopped, smiling at the approaching boy, waiting for him to catch up. Johnny laid on the horn, Li turned and gestured for Johnny to knock it off. She saw Dex laugh.
"Hey Von, sup?"
Devon asked her to the movies that weekend. He was smiling back at her, nervously chuckling.
"I would but..." She wanted to tell him about her supposed "boyfriend" but that was still up in the air and her being a Saint, but no one outside needed to know.
The boy let out a heavy sigh, "How about –"
Johnny had climbed out of his car. Several girls pointed, giggling as he walked up. He slipped an arm over her shoulders. Li's face soured her jaw, jutting out in irritation. Dex walked up, taking Li's backpack, chuckling on his way back to the car.
"Baby Girl, don't ignore Daddy when he comes to pick you up. You heard me honking at you." Gat leaned over, taking her chin in his hand, and kissed her on the lips.
Devon paled when he looked up at Johnny who towered over the boy, then Johnny flipped his shirt showing his lovely pearl-handled knife and gun he keeps on him at all times, lowering his glasses, "No." Gat said and Devon backed away.
Li froze, her mind went blank, her stomach did flips. Her adrenalin skyrocketed. Gathering herself, Li pinched Gat's hand hard. She left him with a weeklong bruise, turning quickly punched him in the stomach. "God Johnny why, hate you! Oshiri, why can't you mind your damn business?" practically stomping to the car.
"Only time I want to hear God and my name is when you're under me." Rubbing his stomach, Gat pouted. "He's not good enough."
"You are EW... Never happening, Oshiri. Can you let me handle my own shit?"
"Yes, just not with him!" Making it sound more like an obvious fact he needn't answer.
"You have zero room to talk!" Li climbed into the back and slammed the door closed, waved goodbye as Devon looked back.
"AYE, Don't slam her doors… Besides, you love me." when he took his place in the driver's seat.
Li opened the door again and slammed it shut harder. Gat turned around, going to grab for her arm.
Dex was laughing. Even he noticed a change in Johnny's behavior. "He asked you out finally?" Dex inquired, handing the girl a Freckle Bitches bag.
"Yeah, tried to, but Oshiri here scared him off." Stuffing a fry in her mouth.
Gat turned genuinely shocked, looking at Li, then Dex. "Dexter, you knew about this?" Dex shrugged, putting his hands up in defense, refusing to get into it with Gat.
"Grow up, Johnny, don't do that shit again." Li punched Johnny in the ear, slumping back in her seat. Johnny adjusted the rearview mirror and watched her. She was blushing, he saw, as she looked out the window while they drove to the church that was their base.
Autumn, 1997
It had been four days since they lost Lin to the to the Westside Rollerz. Gat took Li out, a favorite spot of hers, the shore. Johnny had taken her out for a spin before, mostly with Dex or Aisha. Today was all about Li. That also meant taking her out in his prized Venom. It was something he had been wanting to do, to thank her, but, after Lin Li being her replacement, he wanted to at least thank her for trying to save Lin's life.
Li had been feeling guilty because of the death of Lin, everybody saw it. He hoped it would cheer her up. It took some time to wrangle her away from Troy. Who was he kidding? The man was never there to start.
"Li?" Johnny asked after clearing his throat.
"Hmm?"
"I got something for you, I… How's the.…. uh… you know." Gesturing to her side.
Li nodded. She was quiet and has been.
"Did you tell your Obachan?"
Li shook her head no. She really wasn't talking now. Lin's death hit them hard, but Johnny knew because she was right there and couldn't save her, Li took this all on herself.
"Kyouki, you want to talk to me about it, I know I'm an O- sheer- y…"
Li turned her head. She didn't want to talk about it. She smirked at his mispronunciation. "It's Oh- shi -ree. Not today Johnny, can you just take me home? I can tag out with Aisha?"
"Nah, Ish is mad at me again. Figure I take you out instead." He leaned back, his hands feeling the cooled sand. He looked over at Li. The way the sunlight hit Li's eyes. Seeing them change colors in the setting sun was like magic. Gat couldn't fight this feeling he had for her.
He reached into his pants pocket. "Here." Handing her the keys, this wasn't the real reason he was giving her his car, it was because he loved this car, and even though he and Aisha were in and out of their relationship. Li he couldn't get his mind off of.
With a shake of her head, she refused. "I can't take it."
"Why the fuck not?"
"I know how much you love your special baby. Thank you though." Li got up to leave, brushing the sand off of her pants.
"Ky, wait seriously… Here." He lunged from his seated position and grabbed Li's wrist, pulling her back to him.
"No. I don't want your damn car!" She jerked her arm. Gat tugged harder and Li landed on top of him across his chest.
Li lay there, face full of sand, Gat shifted to sitting up with her now across his lap. Li pushed herself up on her hands and knees, lunging at Johnny, straddling him as she brushed her face on him, his face, neck, and chest, and back up to his face, ridding herself of the sand.
They couldn't help but start laughing. Their noses touched, lips ever so slightly brushed against each other. Li backed up quickly, apologizing. Gat grabbed the back of her head before she moved too far away. Looking into those honey hazel eyes, he knew it was coming. He made so many passes at her, he first kissed her years ago, as a joke. Gat thought it was all a joke. But just kidded himself. Her eyes darted looking at him through his shades. He used his free hand and removed his glasses.
Li was stuck. The grip he had on her was strong. She felt strange, warm, the way he looked at her. His light brown eyes, she's only seen him without the shades once, watched with silence as he was now looking at her lips.
Her mind shouted to fight him Li could only focus on his face and everything was moving slowly, the water was loud in her ears, the seagulls cawing scratching the back of her mind, she couldn't look away from Gat. 'We can't kiss,' she told herself, she had to stop it, "Uh, Johnny?"
His name was on her lips. He wanted those lips. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't jealous of Troy.
The sound of Johnny's name coming from her, her slight accent when she says it, calling him by the nickname she dubbed him with, arouses him. Gat leaned in, pulling her closer, just once more. He just needed one more kiss and he will never kiss her again. Coolly, pressing his lips to hers, moaned softly. Her lips were just as he imagined, better than any thought he had.
Li gasped, trying to back up, her lips parted and Gat slid his tongue along her lower lip, her heart was racing, and she felt hot, her hands tingling, she pulled back pushing him away, "I'm with Troy." she said breathlessly.
She went to move, but Gat pulled her to sit between his legs. He laced his fingers with hers, pressing the keys into her hand. "He isn't here, and he hasn't been." Her so-called boyfriend, who was never around granted he was Julius' Lieutenant but he was never around for Li when it really counted. He promised him if he hurt her, his ass was grass.
Li looked away, out to the water. He was right. She hates when he is. The sunlight that remained cast dark colors, of orange, reds, pinks, the colors you see in pictures. It looked different now, dancing on the sloshing waves. She felt his arm go across her chest, hugging her slightly, warming her physically.
Pushing his arm away, got to her feet again, brushing the sand off and helping Johnny up.
"Aisha is my best friend and your girlfriend. I can't… Cannot do that to them." Turning, she tossed the keys over her shoulder back to Johnny.
When Johnny dropped Li off at home, Li took a napkin and jotted down the address to the warehouse where she keeps her Hayate. "If anything happens to Lady, you can take it out of my hide. Or you want her back, let me know. I'll insure the car in the morning. Thanks… I'll take good care of her til then. Night."
Getting out, she headed to the door. Normally she looks back, not tonight, tonight she won't give him the satisfaction.
Johnny had lied to himself. Once would never be enough. His cell rang. "Ish, be right there."
~*S.R.1*~
"Damn you Oshiri." She whispered, licking her lips. Locking the door, she stood next to her mechanics. "Verdict?"
"Cleaning." They both announced.
Li nodded. "Alright then, let's get this chic back to the garage."
The others agreed she made calls. She took a key from her keyring, "Here, this is the garage key. It's all yours." Pointing to the brothers. "Carlos has his." She mouthed as she was listening to the driver to tell them where they were. Soon they would tow the Venom back to the garage and start work on making her run.
Mid-week, Purgatory was close to being finished and now was as good a time as any for Li to focus on the issues that were sitting on her desk.
It was two days after picking up Ramon. They came in with their tools and other components needed for fixing and detailing cars. They immediately went to work. Carlos and Ramon were busy. Several Saints also helped them. They shipped parts in for her racer and the Venom. The detailing Carlos did on the once Ronin Wakazashi was Godlike. Li had paperwork sitting for that young man in her desk drawer.
Ren, as she liked to be called, was doing fine keeping Aisha company and just got off the phone with Aisha, both women decided Ren was going to go back to school, but she was going to be tutored with Aisha and then sent to school the coming new semester.
Gat was still on the list of Li's nerves from his bender. Aisha talked to him, and Li just couldn't deal with it then. "I don't sleep with him." Li pointed out, Aisha laughed, agreeing to keep him home for a bit. He kept his distance and Li did not mind one bit. She would have to talk to him soon. For now, his face irritated her.
Matters at hand were one look, and she knew which to tackle first Stilwater's drug problem. The Sons of Samedi are pushers, they have cornered the drug market and getting the info from Shaundi was easy. She had dealings with them, like sleeping with one lieutenant by the name of Veteran Child.
Li understood why she was hesitant to take them on, Ex's, but Shaundi didn't have that option.
Now drugs have always been a major factor of who controls things in this city, first, it was Los Carnales, who were backed by the Colombian drug cartel that sat in Stilwater for over three decades, that was until Li was asked to escort them out. Escorting them out was more like executing them one by one, and pitting the Carnales against the Colombians.
~*S.R.1*~
Spring, 95
Li came back to the church on Mission Beach. Julius had been looking for her. No one could contact her, and Julius was ready to strangle her for taking off without a word.
"Fuck you been girl? Had people looking for your ass!"
Li shrugged apologetically. "I guess you didn't hear. Hector died and the Colombians are to blame." she took a seat on the desk Julius uses.
Troy looked at her. "What do you mean, the Colombians?"
Gat raised an eyebrow. "You're shitting me."
Dex waited to hear more, he was a little skeptical. "You mean to tell us, You took out Hector Lopez?"
Li nodded, kicking her feet and brushing her pants smooth, "Well... Hector had a thing for young girls."
The looks on their faces said it all. Li doubled over laughing hard with tears in her eyes. "Ew, no, I didn't sleep with him, but he came into Glitz often, and well, I was in the area one night and took him and his goons out."
"You, you killed Hector Lopez?" Johnny and Dex crossed their arms. They couldn't believe it either.
With a firm nod, Li looked at Julius and bowed her head. "You, Mr. Little, are welcome, but I don't think I can take Angelo out alone. The stunt I pulled may make him edgy now." She looked at Dex and he nodded his assistance.
Julius nodded, "You are one Crazy sonofabitch."
Li smiled, "Skilled. I'm going home. I have school." Troy offered to take her home. He had something he had to do.
~*S.R.1*~
This new crew, the Sons of Samedi, as Shaundi stated, "They're not just gang bangers, these guys are outta their damn mind. For God's sake, they're named after the vodoun, lord of the dead."
"Baron Samedi, Lord of the Dead. Voodoo… Shaundi, you really believe that?" Who was she to talk? Her Obachan was as superstitious as they came.
"Listen, I may be baked out of my mind most times, but there are some things I won't even fuck with. Shit, their product is called Loa Dust after the Haitian Voodoo spirits, Loa."
Li looked at her and tilted her head. "But you smoked it, didn't you?"
"Yeah, I know not to fuck with things."
Li snorted.
Shaundi nodded. "So, how do we tackle this?"
That's what Li was doing now, trying to figure out how to tackle the SOS, and as if her mind projected in walking Pierce. Li's phone chimed at the same time. She pointed to a seat as Pierce took it and waited.
Sorry to have disappeared for the past few weeks.
Surprised she had thought little of Brian's vanishing act, but welcomed the late heads up.
It's cool. I don't worry too much about the drifters. You heading back?
Yeah, in a few days
Alright, I'll let you use my apt when you're here.. we'll talk when you get back.
Pierce noticed Li had finished. "Yeah gotta minute?"
"Sure."
"I have a plan for making money. We steal it from the Ronin."
Li looked interested in what he had to say and nodded he was no Dexter, but she will give Pierce the benefit of the doubt. Pulling out a map of Stilwater, he colored the areas yellow that was Ronin territory. And they had a lot of ground covered.
"Now, they are running this shit here and here. They have been slowly taking over, but not pushers."
"I know." Li muttered.
Pierce looked confused. "What?"
"What?" Li shrugged. She waved for him to continue.
"Their biggest operation is here at the marina, the casino."
Li paused him with a finger on the back of his hand. She smiled softly and sighed. "How's this? We can strategize when they do make a move. For now, I need help with these guys." Handing him the file, she just went over.
"Cool, I'll go talk with Shaundi. I'll get back to you soon." He got up and left the office.
Li sighed, closing her eyes as she smoothed her eyebrows down. When she opened her eyes, she was looking at the map, right in the area of Aisha's house…
"Fuck!" Li shouted in aggravation and frustration. She covered her eyes and sighed heavily. A knock on the door alerted Li, looking between her fingers at the approaching irritant she didn't want to see.
"What do you want, Oshiri?"
"Came to apologise, hadn't heard from you since..."
Waving a dismissive hand, "No need, as long as you aren't showing up at my door like a stray." She felt hot, angry hot, just Gat being there, and she wanted to punch him.
"Damn, it's like that?" He figured if he stayed home and worked from there, she'd be back to her 'Kyouki' self. Gat may have done it this time. He remembered nothing other than he woke up with his arms around her, and the feeling of something between them happened.
Li gotten up from her desk, reaching down to grab the papers she needed, "Yeah, cause your sorrys are, the constant need to flirt with me, the need to cockblock guys from talking to me, from kissing me, and you just being you in the middle of the night at my door! Why? What in fucks sake has you…. I don't even fucking know what the fuck to call it. But cut the shit Johnathan!" Li was heated. As she stormed past him, the room felt hot. She needed to get away from him before she did something she'd regret. Thinking back to how he was always in her ear, his lips, his body. Godsdamnit, she missed Troy. Then she was ready to skin him alive. Both of them can jump in an active volcano.
Johnny stood there looking at the spot Li once stood, never as she snapped on him. Not like that. Something must have happened. After closing his eyes, he tried to remember what had happened. He needed a drink. He couldn't think. What did she mean by kissing her and him being him? Did they kiss? Maybe in one of the pleasant dreams he has. But he can't have her mad at him. "Kyouki!" He followed her out of Purgatory.
Li was outside, coming to the garage walking through the bay doors. "Carlos, here." She reached and saw his hands dirty, shook her head and placed them in a clean spot on an uncluttered portion of a table in the garage.
He looked to Ramon, and called after her, "Everything ok Boss?" Li nodded quickly. Gat was coming up after asking if anyone saw where she went.
Walking back through the open bay doors she needed to get home, she could feel Johnny close by, and sure enough one foot out of the open garage door she heard her name, "Go home Johnny." Li warned.
"No, not until you tell me what I did." He caught up to her and grabbed her arm.
Li looked at his hand reaching with her other went to pinch his hand. Gat grabbed her wrist. "If you don't take your hands off of me, you will regret it." She glared at him.
"What the fuck happened?" The worried look on his face, the same pleading look the night he got shot for her.
Carlos tapped Ramon, and they both looked on. Ramon dropped the tool in his hand and inched closer in case he had to break it up. Gat was stronger than Li. Li looked like she didn't want to be bothered.
"You should know, let. Me. go." She did not want to be touched, and Gat held on.
"No, tell me!" Gat was confused, and now worried, because he needs to know if something really happened between them.
"I don't have to tell you shit! You been doing the same shit for years, and now you don't know what you did. No, what you do!" She wrenched away, but Gat had a grip on her.
It was hard for Li to breathe. She had felt her chest burn; she wrenched away again. He still wasn't letting her go.
"What did I do? Just tell me what the fuck happened!"
His worried face infuriated her. Li snarled and dropped on the ground bringing her leg up caught Johnny in his stomach flipping him over onto his back with her on top of him, she quickly rolled out of the way.
"Aye Jefa you ok?" Ramon called out. Carlos was really confused. Ramon waved him back.
"Yes!" Li answered. Seeing Gat getting up, he was on his feet and coming to her.
"Mom and Dad are fighting?" Someone said within Carlos' earshot. Ramon shot a nasty glance that set them quiet.
"¿Qué pasa, necesitas mi ayuda?" Ramon asked.
Li shot back, as Gat approached her, "No, sólo necesito darle una lección a esta perra."
Gat stopped a second, and looked at her, "When do you speak Spanish?"
Li rolled her eyes. "Gat-eun sigan-e naneun hangug-eoleul baewossda?"
Gat paused. "You understood me?" The realization that he majorly fucked up struck him.
"Every fucking time." Li saw he was stunned. Li pulled out her phone and stormed past him again as she dialed Aisha. "Ish, I'm gonna kill him. I cannot deal with his ass right now!"
"Fuck, is that supposed to mean Ky, huh? When the fuck did you speak Korean and Spanish?"
Aisha heard on the other end. "We'll be right there. We are on our way." Aisha hung up, she was stuck in traffic and she couldn't move if she wanted to, her and Ren were close.
Spun back around furiously. She really wanted to hit him. "It means anything and everything you have ever said. I heard and understood, and you knew I spoke Spanish. Oh, and don't know me well enough. Now go home!"
Gat paled, he thought back. He remembered he said some things, knowing she would never understand. "You lied to me!"
Li shook her head. "No, not telling you is not a lie. It was a need to know. You ain't need to know!" Screaming back at him.
"I think I had every right to know, as well as…" He stopped himself.
"Who? Troy? Dex or Julius? Who Johnathan, just who needed to know about me? I decide what you need to know, well guess what buddy you know now!"
"What else Li? Wait, Li isn't your real name, is it?"
"God, you are so gotdamn irritating!" She screamed again. "GO HOME!"
They crowded around them. Others went to get Shaundi and Pierce. When they had come outside to catch their Bosses screaming at each other, Aisha finally pulls up with Ren, with Li and Gat still going at it.
"I don't have to tell you anything. I didn't ask for this, I was happy, but then you go telling me how horrible Troy is. Why couldn't you just leave it alone?"
Aisha put her hands on Li's shoulders and tried to back her up to push her to the apartment. "No, this it's my fault for coming to save your ass!"
"You don't mean that, Kyouki." Aisha was worried, and if it wasn't squashed now, when would it be?
Gat hated hearing Tory's name, he hated Troy so much that if he didn't want to remain on Li's bad side, or end up back in jail, he had to bite this bullet, "Because… Thank you and Fuck Him!"
"Real mature dipshit, I should have let you fry!" Li patted Aisha's hand, she looked at her friend, apologetically, she then looking at Ren she rolled her eyes to Gat, staring at him, tilted her face higher in defiance, "Ni zhidao ni qian laoban de weizhi ma Xiuying?"
Gat ground his teeth. How much more did he not know, and she was looking at him challenging him, Aisha was pleading with her eyes to just let Li vent. That would not be good enough, not for Johnny Gat. He needed answers.
Ren looked at her and answered politely, "Yes, he is..."
Li raised a finger, stopping the girl. "Huídá wǒ zěnme wèn."
Ren nodded. "Shi baoqian dongbei talou."
Li continued to speak to the girl while she glared at Gat. Least she found out where the Ronin leader was living.
Gat and everyone around them didn't know what to say. Aisha was stunned as well. Li swallowed thickly. This wasn't how this should have gone. She needed not to be angry, mad at herself for getting that angry, allowing Gat to get under her skin turning, she left them all, watching her back as she headed home. They all looked to Gat, it mortified him, all these years, just who was Kyouki Li, their Boss, the Leader of The Saints?
Ramon watched Li walking away as he approached Gat, "You good?"
Johnny's fist balled as he ran after Li, everyone was screaming for him to stop. He reached Li; she heard screaming and turned around seeing Gat charging after her, she stood her ground. When he was close she took a deep breath, grabbing him by his wrist stepping out of the way she reached and pushed the center of his wide back sending him stumbling into the wall.
Li backed up, and the others parted, this was happening, right now.
Aisha was pulling Li back. "Ish, I suggest you move. Protect Ren." Gat came charging again. Li took off running, clearing people out of her way, leapfrogging over others.
She shifted her weight, countering Gat, swinging him into the open garage. "Shit!" people were scrambling out of the way.
"JEFA NOT THE CARS!" Ramon shouted. Gat landed on the hood of her Hayate.
"YOU FUCKER!" Li screamed, charging after him, grabbing him by his shirt collar, pulling him down with her and she tossed him back out onto the pavement. She ran back out, raising her heel she aimed to bring it down on his head.
Dazed for a second, he rolled out of the way and grabbed her ankle, thinking he would bring her to the hard ground, she landed in a split and swept her free leg around kicking Johnny near his head when she twisted to her stomach. He grunted, kicking him with her heel he let her go when she caught him in the cheek.
Getting to her feet she panted. Johnny checked his jaw, opening his mouth, tasted blood and spit it out. Li waited for him to get up, with tears in her eyes. She was angry, and she meant only some of what she said to him, he came after her again, Li kicked out quickly, and several pointed out her stance, looked like something out of a fighting game, she was coming towards him with a flurry of kicks backing him up. Gat couldn't get close, and he was furious. Li raised her hands above her head and exhaled, switching styles once more to back him up and away from her.
The Saints cheered and oh'ed and pointed, the Lieutenants they were confused, and no one dared to try to intervene, Aisha was holding onto Ren, Aisha knew and she couldn't do anything, she's not a fighter, Gat and Li were airing out their differences, so to speak.
Gat once more charged her, Li blocked his fist, and he was hurting her forearms. She blocked her head, and he was backing her up. Johnny reared back and Li had him.
Grabbing his forearms, she twisted his arm, turning her back to him, gracefully flipping him once more onto his back, she put her fist to his throat. "Stay down, joesonghabnida." Her voice wavered, she was dripping sweat, her eyes wet, tears dripping onto his face. Li quickly backed away, walked her way through everyone, heading to her small apartment.
Sitting up panting, none of them could see Gat burning a hole in the back of Kyouki's head. Aisha went to him and placed her small hands on his shoulder. "Johnny?" he jerked away, ignoring her as he pushed past everyone. He needed to think.
