Marianna Lorena - Elmswood Library Tuesday, April 12th
I wrapped my fingers around the silver handle and thrust the door open. I stepped inside and began scanning the room for an Ouran uniform. I spotted the bright yellow dress almost instantly.
"Sanchez-san," I called out. Sanchez-san immediately turned around. I was struck by her severe look which faded away slightly when she saw it was me. I glanced at her wrists which were quite thick for a high school girl and pondered slightly about that.
"You're Lorena-san," she declared quite brusquely in English.
"Yes, I was going to ask you what language you prefer," I smiled making the switch.
"I don't mean to be rude but I can tell you haven't been in Japan for very long based on your accent and some of the errors you make," she remarked bluntly.
I bit back a retort and forced a smile on my face. While I disliked the diss, I had to admire her fire. "¿También hablas español verdad?" (You also speak Spanish right?) I asked to redirect the conversation.
"Yes, but I'd rather not speak that here," she answered indifferently. I raised a brow at that.
"And you're from Los Angeles right?"
"That's right."
"Hmm…," I hummed to myself lost in thought. Considering what was on the file, I supposed the disinterest was part of the Post Traumatic Stress.
"So what exactly is the point of this whole 'mentoring' thing?" she asked putting air quotes to emphasize her dislike.
"Well, when I've done mentoring in the past it really depends on the situation. There is peer mentoring where someone of your age will go with you to do things that may be challenging. Like helping you make appointments or maybe going with you for coffee. There are work mentors who will specifically help you on your career goals. I believe in my case, I would be helping you with any advice on school and also doing some fun activities for yourself. I have usually been the mentee and not the mentor so this will be a learning curve for both of us," I replied sincerely. "I am not a therapist and I am not your teacher in this type of relationship. I can offer you my experience as being a teacher though I obviously am not teaching a subject you need help in as well as my personal experiences. I am a bit closer to you in age so I can probably relate best to you than the other staff about how confusing it is right now to determine what it is you want to do with your life. Which leads me to ask, do you have any plans for college right now?"
"No."
"That's alright," I giggled. "I also had no idea at your age."
"But you're really young yourself so how did you figure it out?
"Well, it happened by chance that my first real job drove me nuts and I tried applying to many different positions until I found one teaching children. I really enjoyed it and decided to go to college to study and that's the path I'm currently on for now."
"I see," she yawned. I sweatdropped at her boredom. It certainly didn't sound like a very exciting journey when I said it so plainly.
"Is there anything you'd like to share with me about yourself or anything you have questions about?" I lamely said to make conversation. This was exactly why I disliked teenagers to elementary schoolers.
"No," she said blandly.
"Okay well how about we meet next week at Doutoru Bakery. One of my students gave me a gift card and it would be a shame not to share it with someone," I told her with an animated smile.
"Sure I guess," she shrugged. I watched her for a couple of seconds as she moved in discomfort. I tried my best to think of the following reply.
"Excellent. Meeting at a library probably isn't the best idea for conversation so if you want we can call it a day for our first meeting."
"Really!?" she asked cheerfully.
"Yeah really," I answered informally with an amused smile. She bounced out of her seat.
"Arigatou Lorena-sensei," she bowed and grabbed her bag eagerly. I had trouble not bursting out loudly with laughter at her eagerness to escape me.
I felt a tug at my jacket as I was about to get up. I jumped in surprise to find out it was Honey. "Lorena-sensei, what are you doing here in the library?"
"I was meeting with a student," I told him. I panicked slightly at how that might sound and added, "Chairman Suoh asked me to mentor a student as a favor."
"Ah, I see," Honey smiled and climbed onto his companion. I looked up and instantly recognized Morinozuka. He gave a grunt which I supposed was an agreement with what Honey asked.
"Excuse Mitsukuni for interrupting," Morinozuka stated.
"Oh no worries at all boys," I smiled. "We were wrapping up either way."
"Sensei," Honey bounced up into my lap. My cheeks flushed in surprise. "Do you want some cake?"
"Uhm," I mumbled out in surprise at the fact he hadn't left my lap. "Could you please not be on my lap?" I asked somewhat brusquely.
"Sorry sensei," he said in near tears. I shot up out of my seat and sent them both a nervous smile. I bowed without saying a word and hobbled away from the library, tears nearly spilling from my eyes.
Sanchez Suzume - Yakazawa District Tuesday, April 12th
"Hey Scar," Hiro greeted me.
"Wassup," I answered in English. He raised a brow at this and looked at my brown long sleeve shirt.
"Kinda hot for that outfit don't you think little nun," Silver muttered in his slimy voice.
"Shut the fuck up," I grumbled in irritation. "It's better than the uniform I have at school."
"Next thing you know she'll be preaching out on the street," Knuckles laughed.
I pulled out the gun and pointed it at Silver. "So when are you taking this back?"
"I told you to keep it safe, little tramp," Silver growled. I raised a brow and pointed it at the ceiling. I shot one fake bullet into the air and everyone jumped. I was pushed back slightly from the force as well but I held myself firmly.
"Scar!" Big G yelled. I smiled at him and waved. "What the fuck was that?"
"It's just a little experiment," I shrugged. "I made some fake bullets that really pack a punch."
"An experiment my ass, be careful with your gun," he barked back.
"Of course, of course," I hummed with a smile. I turned it to Silver who stiffened slightly. As Big G walked away I made a gesture to Silver. He glared at me and yanked the gun out of my hand.
"I'll be taking this back then," he rumbled.
"Thank you," I smiled sarcastically. He rolled his eyes and walked towards my safe. He opened it much to my surprise and put the gun inside.
"You're taking care of the gun until I say otherwise," Silver declared boldly.
"How in fuck did you know my safe's password?"
"Guess you need to do a better job at hiding it don't you Scar," he smirked. I glared and it was my turn to roll my eyes. I watched as he walked off and started to work on some cars with a heavy sigh. It made me uneasy to have his gun but I didn't feel like snitching to Big G about it. Knuckles walked past my desk and gave me a little wave. I nodded my head numbly and sat down in my chair.
I began to pull out my math homework and started working on it quietly. No one disturbed me because math was an important subject for me to be able to work on my weapons. I wondered briefly what it would be like to go to college. It was such a new thought that I stopped working on the twelfth problem and glanced at the clock distractedly.
It seemed like such a waste of time in comparison to gang work yet there was something pulling me towards it. I pursed my lips and sighed. "Is everything okay Scar?"
I glanced to my right and saw Big G giving me a look. "Everything's fine."
"Good because tonight you're driving," he declared.
"Tonight?" I questioned.
"You're joking right Scar," Hiro interrupted. I shrugged.
"We're raiding the Yama dummy," Knuckles laughed. I blushed at having forgotten.
"Shit I forgot," I mumbled out still bright red. I hurriedly put my homework away and started moving towards the back of the shop to get the truck ready. As I loaded the guns I sighed again, college was out of the question obviously. People like me never go to college much less to a rich private school.
I had to stop thinking of such stupid crap like school.
As the sun was beginning to set I got into the driver's seat and waited for the boys to load themselves into the truck. I felt a slight pit in my stomach which I ignored as just nerves. For some reason, I was beginning to question things and now was not the time for it.
I pulled the car into reverse and exited the auto shop. "Blast the music," I told Silver. He obeyed and I smiled as the rap music blasted through the speakers. I licked my lips and allowed myself to fall into the rhythm of the mission.
As I turned into the town's center I parked the car and numbly reached for my gun. "Raid the houses and kill any members you see on the way," Big G said gruffly.
I ran with Hiro and we opened the first house which was left open. "Go carefully Hiro, it's odd that the house is just open," I told him. Of course he ignored me and went straight for the living room and there was a Yama member waiting. He took a shot at Hiro and I pulled the trigger on him. He collapsed to the floor and I saw Hiro's face of shock relax.
"Thanks Scar."
"I told you to be careful stupid."
"Yeah but there's no way he could have known we were coming," he panted.
"Someone probably leaked information," I raising my gun as I heard footsteps. A woman entered and screamed rushing for the Yama member. I shot a bullet into the wall and she jumped in terror and began crying hysterically. Hiro shot her in the back and she fell onto the floor.
"You idiot!" I screamed. "She was a civilian." We paused as we heard more gunshots. A bullet entered through the window.
"Hide!" Hiro shouted. I wasted no time in rushing up the steps of the house. The sound of the gunshots made my adrenaline rush. Yama expected us to come and this was no longer a simple raid.
Hiro was right behind me. I pulled out a small grenade and looked at him. I saw the woman's purse on her nightstand and pulled it open grabbing all the money I could. The drugs were hidden away in what was probably the boy's room. I glanced everywhere and I ducked as a gunshot exploded through that room.
They had snipers watching us. "We gotta get back to the truck," I told Hiro.
"It's only a short distance, I'm going to the next few houses."
"Careful then, I'm going to pick everyone up," I remarked hastily. We both rushed down the stairs and ran through the street avoiding occasional gunshots. When I made it to the truck I hastily threw the drugs in the backseat. I drove down the street and saw Knuckles in a fistfight with about three other Yama members. I got out of the truck and shot at the members. I hit one before they started to run away. I whistled at Knuckles and he got into the truck.
"Scar, they knew we were coming," he panted, his voice cracking slightly.
"I know, I noticed that there are other Kalyuga members here today, how many teams did Big G send for?" I asked.
"None that I know of, I don't know why so many of us are congregated here against the Yama," he replied hurriedly.
"This is all rather strange then," I hummed calmly. I had the car on and started to drive down the street. I saw Silver next down a small alleyway. I drove down and ran over some Yama members along the way. They shot at the truck and I ducked my head down, still driving. Knuckles started shooting as well.
Silver hopped in the back yelling, "Let's get the fuck out of here bitch!"
I backed out of the alleyway rapidly spinning the wheel once we were out. "Where's Big G and Hiro?"
"Hiro went after some more houses," I commented brusquely. "I don't know about Big G."
"Hell if I know either," Silver grumbled.
"Over there, both of them are hiding behind those cars," Knuckles called out. I made my way over and they hopped in the back as well. I sped off immediately. Hiro was cheering and the rest of the gang chimed in when Hiro demonstrated his haul of drugs.
"Let's celebrate!" Hiro demanded childishly.
"It's a Tuesday," Silver huffed.
"Daisy's is open," he smiled.
"Not Daisy's," I complained. This made Silver and Knuckles suddenly agree with Hiro's plan to celebrate.
Big G waved us off and said, "I see no harm in it."
"Aww come on ," I wailed in disappointment.
"Take us Scar," Silver taunted. I quieted myself and flipped Silver off. He laughed and I rolled my eyes. Daisy's was a strip club for men much to my disgust. It was under Kalyuga's ownership via Snake.
Once I pulled into the parking lot the boys eagerly got out and I lingered outside in the cold air. I sighed and dragged myself through the doors. Inside was loud music and strippers doing routines on the poles.
I sat down at a table alone and a waiter came. "Can I get you something ma'am?"
"Beer please," I told him passively.
He nodded and followed up with, "Would you like anything to eat?"
"Burger and fries please." He wrote it down and left me to sit on my own. The plastic of the red seat was my only comfort in watching the female strippers continue to dance. I drummed my fingers on the table. Hiro was the loudest of course hollering every time he could touch a stripper's boobs or ass.
Out of the blue I saw the same girl that was looking for Hiro awhile back. She angrily grabbed him by his hair and he loudly protested. "Amanda what the fuck!" he shouted.
"You fucking piece of shit," she growled. "At home my ass. You're cheating on me with a bunch of skank ass bitches."
I watched as the fight between them continued. My food arrived and I was entertained. Hiro always was a player so it was refreshing to see him get chewed out. He got her a drink and they sat at the bar. I saw him hugging her and she seemed to grow complacent. I got up and approached them. Amanda gave me a glare which I ignored.
"Hiro, do you mind driving the guys back? I gotta get home."
"Scar are you fucking kidding me?" Hiro grumbled.
"Nope," I giggled. "Have fun." I threw him the truck keys and walked out of the strip club. I could hear Amanda asking him who I was and why I had left him the keys if it wasn't his idea to come.
