"The coldest temperatures of the season are expected in parts of the Northeast through this weekend. Low temperatures will be ten to twenty-five degrees colder than average through the Christmas Weekend for much of Stilwater. High temperatures will be about five to fifteen degrees below average.

This translates to highs in the teens and twenties, with some thirties toward the mid-Atlantic. Low temperatures will range from the single digits below zero to the teens from Steelport and Stilwater northward. Although it will freeze, we expect these temperatures to be record-breaking.

Cold plus windy equals blustery. With only high temperatures only in the lower twenties, Northeasterly wind gusts to forty-five mph, slamming the coast. It's only our second real cold snap of this winter season - Jack Fro…"

Li turned the tv off as she stood in her bedroom in Purgatory. No one needed to tell her it was cold, she could feel it coming.

More than anything, she hated the cold now. She could see herself just hiding away, burrowing in her thick comforters.

Thoughts from when her Obachan told her stories from the days she was little back in Japan, always saying, 'Aomori hodo samui tokoro wanai'

Li smiled in thought. She snorted. "No place is colder than Aomori, my ass Obachan." As she finished braiding her hair in a single loose braid, wrapped it around her neck once, placed her fluffy black earmuffs on and pulled a black fuzzy hat on overtop, normally she could stand the cold, but since the accident, it seemed like she couldn't stay warm now that it got colder out.


Scarf, check, gloves, check, oversized hoodie, winter jacket, double check, two layers of pants; she stepped from her warm room, mind going over her next checklist.

Few important things to do today, one collecting her pending gifts at the mall and a few more things she thought to get. And two, get some extra food, snacks, and drinks for Aisha's house. Gat had been riding her ass about coming to the house because of the storm that was said to be coming. He stooped so low as to drag Aisha in on it, knowing she wouldn't refuse her. Kyouki hadn't forgotten what both Ramon and Laura said about Johnny. It went with what Aisha said.

'Another day.' She told herself. To think about what she was missing, or she was refusing to see. If Gat wasn't talking about it, she needn't think about it.

"Alright, need to…. get… oh shoot!" Looking at the time, she remembered Ren would normally head out around this time to Ish's.

Shooting a text out; to Ren making sure things were settled for her and her mom for the rest of the week, and to have Ren stay home as it was much too cold for her to be out.

Ren responded and sent a picture of her home gaming.

With one done, she shot out a text to Aisha and Johnny. They got the message she will be there later as she had to finish up at Purgatory, making sure the few Saints living there will have everything they need.

As she made the morning round on the main floor, locking the liquor up, making certain there were enough cases of water. Quickly text her crew, the Lieutenants, had Shaundi head to Aisha's, then quadruple telling Carlos and Ramon to stay home with their family.

Finally she texted Brian for him to meet her in Purgatory. She convinced him to come with her, inviting him to spend the holidays at Aisha's too, after already spending Thanksgiving with the Saints crew. Locking her room door as Brian was greeting her.

"Morning Li."

Shocked, with a smile of greeting. "Morning… that was fast." Looking at her phone as she sent the message only two minutes before. Walking to her office, she did the last minute check if there were any messages, or anything that needed her immediate attention, before she left for the weekend.

He chuckled. "I was already on my way here. You got mail at the apartment."

"Oh, okay, thanks." She locked up her office. She leaned over the balcony railing. "Guys, I'm heading out. If you need anything call, don't text. Christmas food in the fridge all the trimmings just needs to warm. Merry HOLIDAYS!"

"Merry Christmas Boss, Thanks!"

Li smiled as she tugged Brian along. The stairs were repaired and the elevator they had plans for and would have to wait for now.

Brian watched Li check the kitchen in the remodeled mission kitchen. She looked through the cabinets and the fridge, checking the heat, making sure everything was in place. She cares about the people she knows.

The wind whipped the door open from her hand. Li squeaked in surprise, grunted in agitation.

"Boss you aight? Boss?"

A muffled. "Yes." answered them. Pulling the guys inside into the much warmer building. Trotting to the garage, she fumbled with her keys, pulling a glove off, braving the cold. She got the door opened, then pressed the starter on her car.

"Welcome Ky - sama."

Li sighed, pointed to the car for Brian to get in, and opened the heavy bay door so she could get out. Quickly getting in the car, she pulled out and Brian hopped out, darting in the garage, pulling the door back down, and came out of the side, making sure it was locked.

"Thanks. Did you lock it?" When he sat back in the passenger's seat.

"Yeah, not that complicated. I see you don't like the cold."

Pulling off, she nodded. The car was just warming up, and she switched on the seat warmers. "Yeah, since my accident I just noticed from before Thanksgiving, I take longer to warm up. Or stay warm."

"Happened with my mom, said she was getting older."

Li snorted, taking off her hat and loosened her scarf. "Truth be told, I'm still thinking I'm eighteen. I just missed a few birthdays. Five years of my life, poof."

"What happen?"

"I 'died' in an explosion five years ago."

Brian looked at her and was shocked. "My condolences."

Li snickered. They chatted about Brian and his life before stopping in Stilwater. As they pulled into the mall's underground parking garage. "Brian, can I ask you what's it like being undercover for so long?"

"Ah, you're always the outsider, or in my case, the Buster." He chuckled. "But we parted ways."

Li listened as she went to her first stop. "So, what made the cop, the ex cop?"

"I let my mark go."

Li paused for all of a millisecond. "Let the mark go, huh?" Troy let her go, but the Saints on a whole were his mark. He accomplished that. He was a friend, also foe.

"It was almost hard to come clean. I fell in love too, so there was that. It was to save her brother's life and his friends. It was a tough call. Tougher when I made the call when we almost lost one. I had to watch one die."

Li's eyebrows rose. She knew how it felt, intimately. "Yeah, I know that song. Sorry to hear that. Your girl is pretty?"

Brian chuckled, head lowered blushing, Li chuckled with him. She thought maybe it was a tough call for Troy, maybe it was hard for him to come clean, maybe, just maybe, she could have taken the time to listen to him. But Troy had time. He had plenty of time to talk to her and let her know what was up with him.

Li continued to pepper him with questions about his days working for the other side of the law. It was then Brian got the feeling she could be looking for something with her questions. As Li just went from store to store getting her parcels.

It didn't fully register just how close his thought was until she asked. "Do you miss her, or think she misses you, even though you lied to her and everyone else?"

The far away look in her eye. Someone she misses or lied to and hurt her? "I do, but me being away keeps her and the others safe. I'm now the Mark." He saw her look at him with those oddly fascinating honey colored hazel eyes that looked like she wanted to ask more questions, but with a smile she nodded.

"Anything you ever need, you call, I got you. Might need to Canonize you."

Look of worry flashed across his face.


The ride to gather groceries was the next on her list. Pulling into King's Super Supermarket finding a spot closer to the doors was lucky, it was still early enough to not be crowded.

Coming to the doors they shushed open, grabbing a cart headed to get drinks, juices, and water for her. Some beers for Gat and Brian, wine for Ish. They picked up several types of meats for dinner for the next two nights.

Last stop was the vegetable section, just a few things for sides. She prepared dinners, lunches and breakfasts mentally, as they turned the corner. Just who she didn't need to see standing there.

Troy was in the fruit and vegetable section, idly looking at heads of lettuce. He saw her Hayat in the parking lot; he pulled in and went to where she would come last. Kyouki's food shopping habit is the same. He waited. Li was frozen.

"What's wrong?" Brian asked, looking between her and the man she was fixated on.

Swinging the cart around her pulse raced, she wanted to shoot him. "I need to get out of here." She started to sweat. Going to an open register she pulled out a couple of hundreds. Handing them to the cashier, she hurried out of the door, with Brian rushing behind her.

"Who was that?"

"My ex."

"Had he hurt you?"

"No, just lied to me. Seeing him makes me want to hurt him." Pressing the key to unlock the car.

As she was quickly putting things in the trunk, Brian went back into the store. Before she could stop him, Troy exited the store. "Ky."

"No, I still want to shoot you." She called out of sight behind the trunk.

"Listen, I just have a couple of questions. Nothing about us."

Li's eyes narrowed. She can allow some civility. Deep breath, she pulled the trunk down. "Aight." Closing the trunk, she stood at her driver's side door.

Troy swallowed, pulling a folded piece of paper from his pocket. "There is this company, an LLC based in Japan, Too-iu Casa Soo…. - Sue-kai."

Li rolled her eyes, snatching the paper in his hand. "Toiu Kasa Sukai. And no, I don't know it. Why, you're the cop." Handing the paper back to him. Her lips pursed in agitation.

He cleared his throat. "They were the buyers and sellers for the Rollerz. Thought you mi-"

"Thought what I'd take them out?"

Troy flinched at her accusation. Part of him did, part of him didn't. "Look, Sharpe took Lin and tried with you cause you and her stopped their flow. I was just saying 'cause that's why Lin ain't with us."

Li reeled. "Us? Us. 'Us' are the Saints, 'Us' Was Julius, Dex, Johnny and me. 'Us' walked into a trap, 'Us' knocked unconscious, shoved in a trunk, and shot in the stomach, 'Us' heard Lin take her last breath!" Li inched closer, pointing at herself, Troy backed away slowly.

"Ky, listen…"

"'Us' didn't lie for years on end. You don't get to talk about 'Us' or Lin ever!"

Troy's face twisted. "She was my friend too!"

Li's eyebrows rose. Her anger was getting the better of her. "Friend, when? When you were trying to get in my panties, or when you were too busy being a cop?"


Brian came out, hearing her yelling. With two full bags in his hands, he saw a very sparse crowd looking on. The look on Li's face wasn't just anger, she was about to attack.

"I apologized, I'm sorry, I don't know what else to do… Ky, I…. You're right, I didn't just come for that, sorry, I wanted to say…"

But before he could say anything else, she drew back. Brian reached out to stop her swing. Li blindly jerked from Brian's hand and shifted her weight, kicking him in the stomach, sending him landing hard on the pavement. The bags lost their contents, spilling out.

Cops patrolling the area alerted as Li lunged at Troy, expecting that he grabbed her, turning her back to him. "Baby, don't do this." he harshly whispered, going to push her atop the hood of her car.

"I'm not your baby, get the fuck off me." Li growled back. He didn't release her fast enough, Li slipping out of her winter jacket from his grasp, turning to face him. "I told you not to touch me."

Troy's face fell. He hadn't a clue she would be this angry still. He was fairly certain it had to do with Johnny, feeding her information about what went down. Troy needed to explain. He gripped the jacket in his hands tighter.

The two officers that were patrolling stopped. "Get your hands in the air and get down on the ground!"

Li turned her glare to the hands on her hips. "Pick one, in the air or on the ground. Won't be both."

"Ky, let me." Troy stepped up, handing her back her jacket, "Police Chief Troy Bradshaw, I have this." Flashing his badge as he stepped in front of Li, blocking her from view.

"Sorry, Chief, we didn't recognize you. Are you certain you have this?"

Spewing curses from behind him, "I also don't need your help with your cronies." Kicking Troy in his back sent him stumbling forward.

"Get down on the ground now!" One of the two armed officers shouted.

Troy stood tall, his arms spread. "Stand down, now!" He knew a few of his boys were trigger-happy, but it would do nothing but piss her off further. "I have this situation. Just get in the car and go or you'll be on desk duty!"

Brian made the connection, Troy. This was Troy, the cop that Johnny was close to shooting him for. Brian rushed getting the produce back into the bags and hurriedly strode up to Li. Facing her when he stood between the officers and her. "I brought some vegetables for you.'We should go, I'm the mark on the run.'" He whispered into her ear.

"What… Shit. Yeah." She picked her jacket off the ground and threw it in, went to the back, popping the trunk, with Brain dropping the bags in as the patrol headed off as instructed.

"I'm sorry about that. You didn't need to get this, thanks." She was shaking, she wasn't thinking, she just kept muttering her apologies, her vision getting blurry. Reassuring her he was fine, Li just checked him over. "I wasn't thinking, just acted. I'm sorry."

"Yeah, I get it." Brian nodded, checking her to see if she was good, too. Troy turned his attention back to Li, who was no longer behind him.

"Ky, you… Whose this?" Troy pointed at Brian.

Walking around Troy. "Funny, you sound like Johnny."

"Ky, please?" He was begging. He just wanted to talk to her, but now she wasn't alone.

She got to the driver's side door. "None of your fucking business." Going to get in, she then thought better of it. "Oh, and if you pull this shit again, I'll send Johnny after you to finish what he started." She got in, revving the engine.

Troy watched them speed off. He was hurt and angry. She already had someone new and threatened to send Gat after him. He punched the air in frustration, grunting. "Damnit!" He may as well have shot himself in the foot.


They arrived at the house. Kyouki was still fuming. Truth be told, she seemed calm. Going to the trunk, she elbowed the doorbell. Aisha answered shortly. "Here, let me help." Taking what was in her friend's hands. "What did they run out of bags?" Aisha chuckled when Brian entered after.

Kyouki still said nothing, but her heart hurt, fighting the urge not to cry. She blinked back the tears that were blurring her vision. On her last trip to the car, she carried the bags and went right to the kitchen. Aisha was putting things away and Brian hung his coat up then quietly sat on the sofa watching what was playing on the television.

The water was running, and Kyouki was washing the vegetables for the night's dinner. Aisha said nothing but looked occasionally at the young woman grinding her teeth. Kyouki stopped, shut the water off, tossed what was in her hands in the sink, her head hanging low. Silently crying, she felt arms around her.

"Go relax, I'll handle this." Aisha whispered.

Kyouki nodded, grabbing her jacket to put it in her room. Gat woke from a nap. Hearing the front door tossed a warm pair of sleep pants on, then headed down, seeing Brian sitting on the sofa. "Sup." Brian greeted him in return. They both heard the water running, then shut off.

Then, seeing Kyouki's eyes red, wiping away tears as she excused herself to her room. He looked at Brian, who shook his head and turned back around. Gat went to the kitchen.

"What happen?"

"I'm not sure she just stopped. Started crying, so I told her to rest."

Johnny was already at her door, opening it to see Kyouki curled up facing the wall on the bed. Closing the door behind him, he locked it. Going over to the bed, he sat rubbing her shoulder to get her to open up.

She wasn't budging. She curled tighter and shrugged away.

"Who did it? Brian out there? Cause I will kill him the second I walk out this door."

"Wasn't him." She turns over on her left side. "You would kill for me?"

"All I need is a name."

Ky weighed that. She closed her eyes and felt new tears burning. Shifting to sit up, and looked Johnny in the eye. He wiped her tears with his thumb. "Hm?"

"Johnathan Gat."

"Huh?"

She sniffed. "Get out." Kyouki laid back down on her side, facing away from Gat. He sat looking at her confused. She wanted him dead?

"Baby, what happened?"

Li's jaw tightened. "You happen, you and your… you-ness."

"What do that mean?"

"I'm concluding you don't want me to be happy, ever."

"You need to explain what happened? How are you not happy?"

Kyouki sobbed and sniffed some more. Gat sat waiting, but she was still silent. He needed to know so he could try to help or get Ish to help. "Ky, what's up?"

Kyouki wasn't leader of the Saints right now; she was Kyouki James. She knew she was missing things that happened before shit went down, people in her life from then and now. In her frustration, this gnawing feeling from what they had said that was brought up with her encounter with Troy. Kyouki would send Johnny to finish what he started.

"Why am I not with my family? They should be here. Why am I not with Troy? It's near Christmas and this will be the first year I'm not…. Everything has changed since that day... I'm awake." The feeling of being alone, having to be alone this time of year, it just all boiled down to stress behind the lie she had been telling herself, from before her coma to now.

She sobs again, replaying the fight that shouldn't have been. "Why did you have to kill those people to get to Troy? Why couldn't you just leave it alone when you found out we were together? What is it about Troy that you had to drive that wedge? Now I'm pissed at him for nearly getting shot, and for what? Why can't you just talk to me?" Looking over her shoulder at him. "I can't really blame you for my family, but I can fully blame you one million percent for Troy." Facing him fully, the tears slowing. She's just venting.

Johnny moved off the bed. "What do you mean, nearly shot? I made sure your family was nowhere near Stilwater." He held his hand out for her to take.

Kyouki got up. He scooped her up securely so he could reposition them. "What are you doing? Put me down!"

He stood on the bed, then sat and leaned against the wall, placing her down in his lap. She tried to move away, but he held her by her waist.

"Let me go."

"No. You can hate me for sending them away if it will make you feel better." He moved her long braid out of the way to put his head on her shoulder.

She deflated a bit. "I don't hate you, I try."

Gat tickled her. She tensed, wiggling on him as he stopped, putting his head back on her shoulder, breathing in her scent.

"Thank you for looking out for them. But I really just need to know why you hate me and Troy together. I was happy." Placing her cheek on his head.

'Of all the damn times.' Johnny's body was reacting to her, he was relishing in it. Being this close, for once when he has tried to avoid her, even in the past, tried to tell himself that he is not attracted to her, tried to screw Aisha more but, the second a thought ran through he wanted her more, now more than before.

"I should have done this years ago."

"What?"

It was becoming painful. He isn't just worried and worrying for her. After the shit that went down, it was a part of him that went into a coma, too. He isn't over her. "I don't hate you and Troy together. I hate the thought of anyone and you together."

"Huh?"

Li felt him rubbing her hip. Slowly he rubbed up under the hoodie, finding a second layer, pulling it up as well. He felt the scars as he kneaded her flesh. His eyes closed, biting his lip.

Li felt like she was in a filling tank. Anxiously waiting for the feeling to stop or consume her.

Her hand held tight to his wrist, then his bicep. "Johnny stop."
She felt like she was going under. He rubbed along her ribcage, thumbing just under the fabric of her bra. She felt weightless.

He wrapped his right hand around her braid at the base of her scalp and gently pulled her head back, kissing along the underside of her jaw. Her hand went to his neck, gasping soft moans escaped her lips.

"No." Was but a whisper. Her eyelids felt heavy, catching herself. "Johnny no. Sekkusu nashi." She pauseded him for a moment.

Feathered kisses along her jaw. "Why don't you let me?" Turning her head nose to nose with him meeting her eyes, those oddly alluring honey hazel eyes. His gaze, along with baritone gravel, sent a warm tingle where she didn't need it.

He hovered near her lips, held her in place so if she suddenly jerked away, she would hurt herself. And she knew it.

Swallowing hard, breathing even harder. "Wareware wa honrai aru beki sugata ni kuraberu to, youyaku hanbun dake mezameta joutai ni suginai." Feeling her pulse hammering. "You love the woman in the kitchen, and she loves you, too."

Holding her head still looking her in the eye, a shaky breath that fanned over his face, he rubbed up her side, sliding her off of his lap to lay her on the bed and on top of her. "The second I decided what I wanted to do, I did it." Pressing his hardened member into her thigh.

"She's also… Wakatta ka?" Her eyebrows drew closer together.

Smirking. "Yes."

Grunting, he gave in. Getting up, he adjusted himself. There was no use in hiding his arousal. He stood there, with his back to her, smiling to himself, still catching the scent of the woman behind him, warming him. Still, the feeling of her soft skin on his lips, the amount of respect and restraint for her makes him think he can get a pass into heaven.

Kyouki laid there, catching her breath. He understood her. 'When did that happen?' The feeling of his hands and lips on her were still warm, then the sudden invasive chill that took over her body.

The thought of him… no them, the thought of them going further than what just happened was a one-way ticket to hell. She needed to be alone. It had been a long while since she was touched like that, and she almost fell.

Turning her head went to say something then snapped her mouth shut. His dragon tattoo scrawled along his shoulders, sent that image of what he did with Aisha in her bed at Purgatory. A sudden tingle rippled, squeezing her eyes tight. Yeah, she was going to hell tonight. "You just going to stand there?"

Watching him stretch his back muscles, "You want me to finish what we started?"

"N-no!"

"Gimme your hoodie." Gat snorted.

Gripping the fabric of the oversized hoodie, "No, it won't fit you."

"Who you think you got it from?" A grunt from her. The weight hit the back of his head as he felt it. Gat chuckled, putting it on. He shrugged it to adjust. "I'll give it back in a few." Running his fingers through his hair, he left, heading back upstairs.


Kyouki needed to get out of there, stat. Grabbing her coat, heading to the kitchen. "Ish?"

"Hmm?" Slicing the meat Ky left out to fix.

"Can you handle dinner, cause Johnny just tried something with me and I need to go."

"Tried something?"

Ky nodded. "He was… hands, lips…. W-when did he start to understand me?" Li pouted. Aisha will set him right and hand him his ass.

"That's it? What, understanding you?"

"Eh? Japanese… Fuck you mean 'That's it?'" Kyouki took Aisha by her shoulders. "What do you mean? You two are and have always been together."

Aisha smirked. "Because he lives here with me? You now just noticed he answers you?"

"Because you two were fucking in my room!" She dropped her hands. "Eh, Aisha Nihongo wa wakarimasu ka?"

Aisha tilted her head, nodded, going back to slicing. "Y-ye-No?" She shrugged. "And granted. I got dinner. Brian's room is set up. You can relax." Waving her hand, shooing Kyouki away towards the front room. "Where are you going?"

Kyouki was confused, very confused. "To see Troy. Thanks." She heard Gat coming back down, suddenly turned to head out of the back door.

Aisha's eyebrows rose into her hairline practically. "Really?"

Ky was gone.


Gat came to her room dressed with the hoodie in his hand. "Here…" Seeing her was not there, he checked the other spare room, saw Brian still watching TV, heard her car start and saw the headlights flash from the driveway. "Where she going?" Standing in the kitchen doorway.

"Nacho." She was slicing thin strips of chicken still.

"Ish, where?"

"I'm not telling cause you'll do nothing but follow her, irritating her some more. When are you going to talk to her?"

"Ish, I have been!"

Aisha shook her head, waving the knife. "Don't Ish me, cause I know, and I love her too. I will tell her everything and how you feel." Lightly pointing the knife at his chest, Johnny groaned, Aisha snorted. "Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy when you vent, but no. Tell her or I will. Now get Brian a drink."

The doorbell rang.


Kyouki sat for a half hour just outside of the house she once shared with Troy. The lights were on at the house, in that whole time she went to get out of the car twice. She had every right to go in there and punch him in the face, cuss him out and punch him in the face again.
Her hands went to her face, and she smelled Gat. "Damnit. Damn him. Damn you, Oshiri." Kyouki sat with her head in her hands. She could just try to talk to Troy, try, and try not to punch him in the face.

She was seeing why Johnny was always threatening him. He had a face that was just right for punching. Ky just couldn't see it. She was content with Troy, even though he was never completely around. Ky smiled in thought. She caught Johnny threatening Troy and stepped in to defend her man.
Kyouki looked at the house again. The thought of him was bringing up a mix of emotions. She shouldn't be here. She went to start the car and sighed, sitting back with her head on the headrest rolled to the side. "Why me?"

~*S.R.1*~

~*Midsummer 1997*~

A few days after, Troy had seen her with a whole new wardrobe when he saw Kyouki leaving with Johnny. Troy found her in Dex's office going over some plans for the next point of attack with Dex, hovering over her shoulder, disagreeing with shakes of his head.

"You can try to go from here, or if there's a window coming from behind, don't pull a Johnny."

"You know my flight leaves tonight."

"Yeah. I also know that you'll have this shit still on your mind. How long you staying for?"

"Maybe a week or two. Don't worry, my cousin will keep you company." Seeing Dex smile at the mention of her cousin, she then went back to plotting against the Rollerz.

"Ky?" The both of them looked up.

"Yeah, oh hey Troy?" She asked with a raised eyebrow when she looked up.

Troy licked his lips as he eyed the girl. "Can I talk to you a sec?"

"Yeah, sure, gimme a few." She waved the papers in her hands and saw him step out of the doorway.

"Aight, I'll be out front." He called behind him.

Gat heard him when he walked up, watched for a second, then ran back to his office. When Troy walked past, Gat was on alert. 'Fuck this dude up too.' Johnny pretended to look busy.

Shortly Li came up the hall from where Dex office was, he could hear her heels clicking on the stone floor, she stopped in front of his office talking with one soldier, the guy she was speaking with nodded to what she asked, she felt someone watching her back; she saw Johnny waved with a smile continuing to her previous destination. The soldier who she was just speaking with hadn't budged. He was ogling as she walked away; burning a hole through her jeans.
Hell, Johnny couldn't help but stare. She had on a pair of tight black low rider skinny jeans that hugged her ass like a second skin and a purple camisole top with thin straps that slid off her cinnamon shoulders.

"Daaaaamn, she got a phat ass." The Saint runner said when a fellow Saint came up, watching her leave biting his fist mock crying, not noticing Johnny shooting him rocks from his chair. "I'd let her shoot me to get wit her."

Johnny cleared his throat, and the boys scurried. One dropped off papers for Gat and the other to his assigned task. Johnny hurried after catching up. He watched as she left the church. He stood in the shadows of the archway, remaining unseen as he ducked behind a tree, listening closely to what the two of them were saying.

Stopping briefly to send another patrol out, she spotted Troy leaning against the wall near the street. "Sup, Troy, you needed me?" Li said as she came down the stairs towards Troy.

"Yeah, I uhh... I wanted to know if you wanted to go get something to eat or hit up a movie." He was looking at the ground with his arms folded, kicking a rock near his foot.

Li looked around, then back to Troy. "You are asking me out?" She spotted Gat's shirt when the wind blew.

Johnny laughed. It was funny she could kick his ass seven ways from Sunday, and what surprised him the most was her answer.

"Yeah, what time?"

Troy looked up, grinning. "How about now, I'm jonesn for a Freckle Bitches Fun Bag." He rubbed his stomach.

Li laughed. She didn't think Troy meant it or even honestly noticed her. "You know that shit will kill you one of these days. Do you even eat at home? I'm not dressed, let me go…"

Troy stopped her mid-sentence. "Nah, you look good the way you are." He said as he slipped a hand on the lower part of her back, leading her away. Troy could no longer resist, he had fallen hard for her.

"Thanks." she whispered, tucking loose strands of her hair behind her ear. The two of them hopped into his car and drove off.

Johnny had the same thoughts the other day, not that he was the type to make the first move. It's the girls who do, and now he was even more confused. Why in the hell he's feeling Li when he got Aisha? When she wasn't mad at him about something.

~*S.R.1*~

Kyouki got out. The cold hit her face, but she needed to see something. Knocking on the door, she waited. Troy answered. She looked past him in the home, seeing evidence boxes on the floor. Looking at him, he stepped back to allow her in.

She took two steps in. Li stopped, turning to Troy, studying his face. Her hand went up and Troy flinched. Ky shook her head. She couldn't touch him and he knew it. Ky turned to leave, Troy pulled her into a hug. Standing there, she felt this rush of emotion she couldn't explain.

Li shook him off and left. Getting to the car, she pulled off. She couldn't do it, she couldn't bring herself to face Troy. He didn't deserve to see her twice on the same day. He didn't deserve her conflicted thoughts because she was thinking of better times, of blowing up at him. But he lied, and that alone she, after thinking about what Brian had said about it being a "hard call", didn't deserve her guilt for walking out on him, and almost giving in to Johnny.

~*S.R.1*~

Gat cornered Troy in his office, Johnny couldn't shake Li from his mind and the time he spent with Aisha was comforting, but he kept seeing Li's face when he looked into his on again off again girlfriend. Li was spending less time around Gat and confided in Aisha. Since she started to see Troy, Johnny forced himself to focus on Aisha. Now he wanted to skin Troy after Lin's death.

"Troy, the hell up wit you and Li. You couldn't be there after Lin?"

"Why?"

"Cause I'm askin that's why, you fuckin?"

"What concern is it of yours? You got Aisha."

Gat stared at Troy, his fist balled ready to punch him in his smug face, if looks could kill, Troy would be dead with his glare, still very unsure what it is about Kyouki that makes him need to protect her, make her his, it was aggravating him.

"I already told you don't do shit to hurt her, or I'll fuck your ass up." Johnny shouldered past Troy, opening the door to Kyouki, staring up at him, a raised tapered eyebrow and a hand on her hip.

"Oshiri really, you know damn good and well I can look out for myself. If not, you want to take it outside so I can remind you?" She glared at Johnny. She could see his light eyes through his glasses from the sunlight the broken windows gave. He closed his eyes and walked away without another word.

Li watched his back as he walked up the hall. She went to follow him, confused why their talk was still with him all up in Troy's face, then was distracted as Troy walked up to her and planted a kiss on her forehead. "Let's go, I'm hungry."

"Stupid, you're always hungry. How about I cook for you?" She smiled as they turned to go outside.

Johnny popped back from around the corner with a piece of paper in hand. "Oh, you cooking, I want some too." He never took his eyes off Troy.

Ky sighed. "Fine… go get Noel. I have to hit the store anyway, then we'll go to Obachan's and we'll have dinner with her."

~*S.R.1*~

Li opened the door and was greeted by and house full, Pierce, Shaundi, Carlos, and Ramon, a car pulling up behind her.

"Li!" It was Ren, coming with a backpack and travel case.

"Hey, ya'll… What are you all doing here?"

Aisha took Ren's bag and hustled them in, shutting out the cold. "I called them. There's more than enough room. I figure why not." Smiling at her best friend.

Li looked around and snorted. Seeing Gat standing at the top of the stairs avoiding making eye contact, she sniffed. "Oh, dinner must be done. Let's eat!"

As she headed to her room to discard her jacket, then wash her hands, clicking on the light, she ran the water and didn't notice Gat pushing the door closed, locking it.

Looking up in the mirror, she nearly screamed from being startled. Gat covered her mouth, shushing her, when she turned around, holding her hand over her heart.

"Where did you go?" Picking her up and placing her on the counter.

Kyouki was about to protest as Gat was pushing to stand between her legs, invading her personal space. "Sorry, why is that a concern of yours?"

Johnny leaned in closer, looking her over as she backed up. "I just wanted to say I had them all come so this wouldn't happen."

"What wouldn't happen?"

Gat took her face in his hands, licking her.


They heard screaming coming from the bathroom. They heard the door hitting the wall as it was flung open. The sound of cackling from a man running for his life. Johnny ran out of the bathroom and through the house. Everyone turned to the sound as Gat was ducking behind the couch.

"Anata wa kuso ttare shinu tsumoridesu!" Li came after him and it wasn't hard to spot him. She was red faced and looked as if she was seriously going to kill him. "Koko ni ki nasai, anata wa shi o nozonde imasu.

Oshiri- san ~"

It all sounded innocent to those around, but Gat was going to die before the sun came up. Gat was laughing hard. He came from behind the couch. "I'm sorry, you can't kill me, you love me!"

That made Li swell up more. "Oh, no, Oshiri- san, you will die tonight. Noel, I sure hope you have a nice black dress." Li climbed over the couch and came inches to Gat before Ramon caught her.

"Run Gat run!" As he tickled Li.

"Ramon, you traitor! How dare you! Carlos, Ren help!" Li screamed between laughing.

Shaundi jumped on Ramon's back. It was a wasted effort as the large man continued to tickle the wiggling Li in his hands, flicking Shaundi off like she was a bug. Everyone else laughed and tried to save Li, Aisha and Brian grabbed Li's hands when she turned on her stomach to crawl away, only to be dragged back, Carlos and Ren tried to tag team Gat who was dipping and dodging laughing as he ran and slid through the kitchen.

Pierce was recording for prosperity, cause who would ever believe Li could be taken down with tickles.
Li was in tears as she swatted at Ramon. The sound of shattered glass paused everyone looking in the sound's direction.

Li was out of breath and trying to catch her breath. "Oooooooh." She giggled from her position on the floor. That prompted others to follow.

Gat looked guilty and stood in one spot, Carlos and Ren stood with their mouths open. "They did it!" "Gat did it!" The three pointed at each other.

Aisha stood with her hands on her hips. "I don't care which of you did it. Clean it up!" She went to grab the broom and vacuum. "Hurry up or you three don't eat!"

Li sat up, helped up by Ramon, who went to wash his hands. She smiled to herself as she sat on the couch. She sighed, licking her lips, listening to Aisha still fussing at the three who broke the vase. Johnny did it again. He gave her a family; she knew he did it. She looked over her shoulder and Gat was grinning, then stuck his tongue out at her, raising his eyebrows in knowing, before Aisha swatted his arm.


Dusk of the third day, seventy two hours remain until Christmas.