"You're really going to do this…" Tiredly, Ryūko crosses her arms over her chest staring down at the moron filling her in on the hunt for Kiryu and his last-ditch effort to end all this. Too tired to argue, Ryūko simply stares down at the moron who had given her a lift, knowing fully well how stupid his plan was knowing Kiryu will deal with it when it comes to it.
"I have to. I have to stop our brother." Nishiki argues.
"Nishiki…you won't convince him once Kiryu makes a decision he sticks to it," Ryūko reminds him.
"I can try…" Deflated, Nishiki whispers weakly.
"I…be careful the both of you," Ryūko whispers watching him get in the car, glancing at her hopeful almost.
"Are you sure…?" Nikiski questions once more inviting Ryūko only for her to shake her head.
"I can't this is a moment for you both and while I know he won't you still believe. He can and I respect that determination. But I shouldn't interrupt. Besides I have business of my own to do," Dutifully, Ryūko reminds him.
"And that business is…?" Hopeful, Akira pries.
"None of your business." Bluntly, Ryūko refuses, he had been through enough at the bar as it were…
"Honestly don't do anything stupid," Sighing, Akira anxiously begs beseeches Ryūko.
"So don't have fun," Cheekily, Ryūko smirks.
"Don't be you." Exasperated, Akira responds.
"Aww you care!" Chuckling, Ryūko teases as he starts the car.
"Of course I care I…Just…just be careful…please." Pleadingly, Akira begins but soon stops himself sighing sadly, his voice breaking briefly baffling Ryūko but before she could pry further he takes off, going off on his own plan as Ryūko goes to do the same with her own, nicking a bouquet on the way.
"Hope you're not allergic to pollen." Pompously, Ryūko shoves said bouquet to his face.
"You look like shit." Snippily, he glares at said bouquet before him.
"Sorry the answer I was looking for was hi, been a while how are you?" Ryūko huffs tossing the bouquet aside as a nearby man clumsily catches said bouquet befuddled, not quite sure what to do with it.
"How am I?" Lee arches a brow as he sits around the table.
"There you go." Approvingly, Ryūko nods her head.
"You mean how is the bullet hole you gave me?" Lee glares up at her.
"Nice to see you too Lee." Grumpily, Ryūko rolls her eyes exasperated.
"The fuck you want?" Lee snaps slamming his tile down.
"Just want a little chat is all, is that so wrong?" Smirking, Ryūko raises a brow bemused.
"Having a chat with a girl that tried to kill me nothing wrong there." Dryly, Lee huffs.
"Please if I wanted to kill you, you'd think I'd aim for the shoulder and leg?" Ryūko scoffs shaking her head amused at the thought.
"No you wanted to make it real right?" Bitterly, Lee recalls.
"Now you're catching on." Appreciatively, Ryūko places a hand to her hip.
"You really are your father's daughter. Hada was the same always joking as if things were fine." Flippantly, Lee chuckles coyly oblivious to the faint fury flickering in her heated hues from his words.
"How would you know?" Ryūko quirks her head to the side scowling.
"We assassins know each other." Lee looks up at her briefly before returning to his game.
"…That so." Softly, she stares down at the board below.
"Never mentioned you though." Lee throws in.
"I doubt he would. Just as I doubt family relations were the main topic of the assassin world." Ryūko scoffs shaking her head at the thought.
"I owe Hada a debt. Most of the Chinese and Koreans are indebted to him." Honestly, Lee tells her.
"And I'm meant to care?" Curtly, she snaps scowling at his friend's nodding their head.
"You're meant to realize how lucky you are I let you waltz back in here." Lee huffs.
"Cute…" Coyly, she quirks her head to the side, smoothly sitting down.
"I take it Hada sent you." He leans back in his seat.
"…Yeah. Said to help you out, got word of Makoto being in trouble so I thought to scout it out." Smoothly, she lies, a part perplexed that this was even working as she was dealt her tiles.
"…You betrayed her." Lee slams said tile down.
"I betrayed no one. Did you see her harmed?" Ryūko places her tile down.
"You lied to her." Honestly, Lee states slamming his piece down again.
"I never lied. Is scouting out the person I am meat to protect so wrong?" Wryly, Ryūko huffs frowning from a fair few looks from the men around the table.
"She trusted you." Lee reminds her.
"And she still can. Look we both want the same thing here." Tiredly, Ryūko's fingertips find the top of the chair.
"And what's that?" Lee challenges.
"Makoto alive." Annoyed, Ryūko reports.
"…And I can trust you?" Lee raises a brow.
"You don't have to trust me but you can trust my benefactor no?" Ryūko brings up.
"…I just have one thing to ask you." Lee bows his head.
"Hm?" Humming, she raises a brow at him.
"Are you willing to cross the line to save Makoto?" Lee demands from her just as she perks up at the door opening behind her.
"I am willing to cross the line for my investor who wants Makoto alive." Resolved, Ryūko's grip tightens around the chair leaning over as she says said fact firmly to him.
"Hey was wonderin' when you'd get here!" Ryūko perks up at Lee's voice.
"Hm?" Humming, she turns to a familiar ponytailed male glaring at the two.
"…You two are playing together?" Tense, Majima scowls at the two.
"Oh…took you long enough, mind playing? I hate this game." Ryūko rises up from her seat.
"Only cause you keep losing." Lee smirks at Ryūko.
"Yeah well…it's a shit game." Bluntly, Ryūko deadpans.
"Hate the player not the game!" Lee laughs.
"Urgh…" Ryūko rises from her seat stepping to the side.
"Heheh drop the scowl friend." Lee smirks at Ryūko.
"You…you're telli' me you expected me to find this place?" Majima glares at the two.
"Eh let's say it was a distinct possibility see I ain't yet average acupuncturist god hands remember? Whoa hold up you didn't think I'd let that one slide did ya? I've been waiting for the east tile." Lee smirks setting said tiles down.
"Gah! You're killing me Lee san!" One of his friends cry.
"You just suck buddy not as bad as blondie but…" Lee points to the girl perched upon the windowsill looking out, gun in hand keeping lookout.
"I heard that!" Tense, she glares at the laughing Lee.
"You're in right? Why else would anyone show up at a mah-jong parlour?" Lee smirks at Majima eyeing the weapon.
"You seem fine for somebody with holes in 'im." Majima huffs.
"You fuckin' crazy? Hurts like a bitch can't move my arm either thanks to a certain someone!" Lee eyes the blonde looking out through the thick blinds.
"Let that go!" Ryūko roars at the chuckling giant.
"It ain't exactly you can let go blondie still wish I could trade with you." Lee remarks to Majima.
"You not gonna ask what happened to the girl?" Majima furrows his brow as Lee looks towards Ryūko briefly blue looking into her hues.
"If Makoto was dead you got no reason to come lookin' for me. She's alive right? You've never killed before have ya? I can tell just lookin' at ya, you got the look of somebody struggling' to cross that line. So riddle me this what's a guy who can't kill doin' taking hit jobs?" Lee explains to Majima.
"You don't know shit about me." Majima sneers slamming said tale down.
"Chill out green kid like you can play tough all he wants you ain't scaring anybody. I can tell plenty about you…everything really. That's ron sorry pal." Lee smirks setting his tiles down.
"He plays a mean game don't he?" Ryūko remarks from the windowsill smirking.
"What the hell is this? You shot him why the hell are you playing mah-jong with him?" Mad, Majima demands done.
"Chill pop eye can't two guys play some mah-jong?" Ryūko smirks smugly.
"Not two people who one tried to kill the other!" Majima hisses harshly.
"Makoto ain't hurt is she?" Lee asks Majima.
"Nah the girl's fine. Relax." Majima assures.
"Good heh then what? You have to try yerself a way outta getting' whacked? Now that the killer's screwed the pooch he's tryin' not to be the next name on his boss's list, huh?" Lee asks him.
"Just so we're clear I…I still ain't decided not to kill her." Majima remarks making Ryūko roll her hues.
Lee looks over at Ryūko.
"That so?" Smirking, she shakes her head at Majima.
"I'm not the only guy after her. Take the yakuza who put air holes in that body of yours who you just played mah-jong with right now?" Majima reminds Lee.
"Aw so mean Maji pinning this act on a defenceless young girl." Ryūko tuts tauntingly.
"Defenceless my ass! The hell were you going to tell me you could do that shit?" Scowling, Goro glares at the gun in Ryūko's hand.
"Not my problem you never asked." Aloofly, Ryūko shrugs.
"What do you want with her?" Majima demands from her.
"We all want the same thing." Tiredly, Ryūko repeats.
"And what's that?" Majima challenges.
"Her alive." Resolved, Ryūko reminds both boys faltering from her words.
"Just tell me this is she a target because you two have been sniffin' around about a guy with a bat tattoo?" Majima demands from him.
"…Hard to say." Lee shrugs as just then the door bursts open…
"Lee-san are you alright? I brought help! That man is after you!" A man with a fair few other armed and ready men rush in.
"…Nice plain' with ya slim." Smirking, Lee stands up.
"We ain't done talking here. You still don't know whether I'm on your side or not. You gonna fight me anyway?" Agitated, Majima stands up.
"If I can't tell whose side you're on. It's safer to just kill ya that's how the Chinese in this town do things." Lee smirks as Ryūko slides her hand over her face fatigued, not needing this right now…
"So much for diplomacy then…" Tiredly, Majima sneers glaring at Ryūko.
"If you had just been honest this wouldn't be happening." Haughtily, Ryūko says in a sing song tone tired at the man's denial.
"Don't bother holdin' back guys! Let 'im have it!" Lee hollers as they raise their weapons and next Ryūko knew she watched Majima deal with both Lee and the men themselves as they aly scattered about the floor, weapons discarded thrown to the side, chairs tossed too as she simply stares at the wreck of a game room.
"Are you two done now with this little game?" Ryūko sighs shaking her head at the two.
"Game? This ain't a game!" Goro glares at the bored blonde.
"From the way you're acting it is, you're both on the same side here!" Fed up, Ryūko reminds the two.
I never said I-" Irritated, Majima begins but…
"Oh would you quit lying you're not a murderer Maji!" Mad, Ryūko roars at Majima making him falter from her words.
"And what would you know?" Goro glowers at her.
"I know you." Ryūko asserts annoyed.
"…" Silently, Goro glares at Ryūko.
"Just stop the whole dramatic will I won't I thing? It's boring and there's no time for it." Incensed, Ryūko huffs.
"How do you know I won't kill her?" Majima challenges.
"You aren't going to kill her you're a good person Majima." Resolved, Ryūko deadpans.
"…!" Majima flinches from her words.
"Besides… you haven't crossed that line." Ryūko throws in.
"But you have." Majima scowls at her eyeing her gun.
"I've crossed that line for someone who wants Makoto alive." Annoyed, Ryūko tells him.
"And I can trust you?" Majima repeats once more.
"I can trust you why can't you do the same?" Scowling, she demands from him.
"When have you trusted me?" Majima scoffs.
"Why do you think I let you go with Makoto!?" Mystified, Ryūko counters.
"You…let me?" Majima furrows his brow by the memory, their eyes meeting, him running off with her.
"You think I'd just let you walk out of a building after what you saw me do?" Scolding, Ryūko smirks shaking her head at the thought.
"…Tch." Goro glares to the side scowling.
"Well now I guess you're more than just a lousy hitman…" Lee admits.
"I ain't here to mess with your turf I really just want to know why the girl's a target." Tiredly, Majima confesses.
"If you were thinkin' the reason they're after her has anything to do with the guy with the bat tattoo I'm tellin' ya you're wrong." Lee states.
"And how can I be sure of that?" Majima scowls.
"Makoto didn't tell you anything?" Lee raises a brow.
"She said you knew, told me to come ask ya." Majima responds.
"She knows just doesn't like talkin' about it herself." Lee exclaims.
"Meaning what exactly?" Majima pries.
"Her eyes…she's only blind because of the man with the bat tattoo. About two years back Makoto first came to Osaka no people here no place to go…just a 18 year old girl on her own. She got gigs as a live in hostess or whatever else bounced around a lot. Problem is that made her the perfect prey for Sotenbori's less than savoury crowd. An easy mark at that, a guy approached her. Real scum chatted her up log enough to find out she was all alone here then dropped the nice act in a hurry…kept her locked up in a cage so she couldn't get away." Lee begins Makoto's tale to the two.
"What the hell was he after?" Majima demands from him.
"Money. It's always money ain't it? That guy with the bat tattoo sold her off for cash it was Korean mafia that bought her. After that you can imagine the sorta thing she faced everyday morning till night…I won't get specific. But that's why she can't see now. Post traumatic psychogenic blindness was the official diagnosis. And from that gloomy cage they kept her in the last thig she ever saw was the tattoo of a bat on the arm of the scumbag that sold her." Lee sneers scowling.
"Well that story's a real kick in the dick." Majima slides his hands into his pocket.
"It was about six months ago I took Makoto in." Lee sighs softly.
"And you've been searching for this guy with the bat tattoo to get revenge for her?" Majima summarises.
"Makoto says she just wants to stop the same thing from happen' to anybody else. Me though…I want to snap the fucker's neck in half. Peel the goddamn batt right off his arm." Angrily, Lee snarls seethes.
"Lovely…" Dryly, Ryūko remarks.
"But there's yer answer right? The bat's piece'a shit is small time goes around town picking off innocent girls where he finds 'em probably all by himself. Can't imagine a man like that behind what's happenin' to Makoto now. The Yakuza hires street punks to do their dirty work not the other way round." Lee points out as Ryūko's hues narrow pondering if Shimano had hired said group, a group weak enough for Majima to take care off to sweep Makoto right off her feet….
"Then what? You got any other ideas?" Majima asks him.
"Can't say I do that's all I can tell ya." Lee admits.
"The girl she's inside the Haru Building on Shofukucho street in a warehouse a club called Odyssey owns." Majima tells him.
"So what, you're planning to just give her back? The hell are you plannin' to tell yer boss if you don't kill her? You're a dead man besides that just means Makoto's gonna get hunted down by the guy they hire to replace you." Lee points out.
"So what? What do you want me to about it?" Irritated, Majima barks back at him.
"It ain't impossible to get away. There's just one way, you, me and the girl get away clean from the yakuza. I'll warn you now though…it ain't pretty. Keepin' what really matters safe means givin' up something equal in exchange. We'll need to work together all three of us." Lee asserts looking towards Majima and Ryūko.
"You need me?" Majima perks up sparing a glance over at Ryūko.
"We need you to keep acting as the hitman, if an actual hitman comes upon the scene it could cause trouble." Truthfully, Ryūko states.
"This coming from the hitman herself." Majima huffs earning an exasperated eyeroll from Ryūko.
"We're gonna need you to decide whether you're in or out before I tell you the plan." Lee states the fact firmly.
"Tik tok Maji boy." Maji perks up at the taunting tone of Ryūko raising her gun to the glaring Goro.
"…Tch…I'm dead if I don't do somthin'." Goro growls.
"Answer the question." Ryūko fires, a bullet barely brushing against his foot making him reel back glaring at the girl, a part of her tempted to see him dance.
"You in or out?" Lee snaps interrupting the two.
"Fine. I'll do it." Majima gives in.
"There we go now was that so hard?" Ryūko removes herself from the windowsill.
"All right you get back to Makoto, take her with you, look after her for today yeah?" Lee gestures to Ryūko.
"She knows where it is." Goro glares at Ryūko rolling her hues.
"Either way, I got somethin' I need to get done in a hurry now." Lee responds.
"Just what are you plannin' to do?" Majima questions.
"I'll tell you once I got it worked out till then it stays secret. How do I get in touch with you once I'm ready?" Lee asks him.
"Cabaret Grand I'm there from evening on. I run the place." Majima reveals.
"You serious? You're the guy in charge of the Grand?" Lee does a doubletake.
"Didn't she tell you?" Majima looks over at Ryūko.
"May shock you Maji but not everything revolves around you." Ryūko remarks.
"Next time you're thirsty drink're on me." Majima tells him.
"Heh all right then I'll get in touch tonight what's your name?" Lee questions Majima answering with…
"Goro Majima."
"And don't ever come back Yakuza scum!
"Yuya still causing chaos I see!" Smirking, Ryūko raises a brow by the groaning grunts beneath her feet in front of Stardust.
"Ryūko san! W-What are you doing here?" Yuya gasps at the sight of the blonde.
"I was in the area thought I pop on by." Ryūko shrugs.
"It's good that you're here we have a problem." Panicked, Yuya rushes over to her.
"Problem?" Perplexed, she quirks her head to the side.
"Rina's being way too innocent again!" Anxiously, Yuya admits.
"Rina?" Ryūko perks up at the name.
"Indeed she's supposedly met her soulmate and hopes to meet him in Sotenbori." Smoothly, the voice calls out as a man in white exits out of the club.
"Kazuki…" Ryūko smirks at him.
"You grace us with your presence Ryūko san." Kazuki bows to her as does Yuya clumsily but the sentiment is still there.
"As composed as ever I see still what should I expect from the number one host…" Happily, Ryūko remarks.
"I take you've heard from our situation." Kazuki sighs softly.
"I have let me go talk to her…" Ryūko insists.
"Thank you Ryūko san…" Kazuki bows his head grateful.
"Rina are you sure about this?" Warily, Ryūko questions her cleaning a glass as she looks down at her drink, playing with the curve of the glass.
"Yeah we've been talking for a while now and he just seems so dreamy…isn't it romantic?" Dreamily, she smiles.
"I don't know what's more romantic the fact you met in the public toilet or the graffiti," Dryly, Ryūko remarks.
"I know right, he may seem to be a perv but I can change him." Determined, she declares as Ryūko frowns at the overused lines leading to more trouble than rewards.
"If you think so...just be careful, you got your Taser?" Ryūko questions.
"I have everything Ryuko!" Whining, she huffs.
"Hey is it so wrong to worry about one of my girls?" Cheekily, Ryūko smirk. She's a good informant after all.
"No…" Childishly, she whines.
"Good be careful out there," Ryūko advises her watching her put some flower on her chest like a pin or broach.
"I will…" She promises me as Ryūko watches her leave, heading into the taxi.
"She's still going out there!?" Yuya worries rushing over to Ryūko's side.
"Seems so…" Gently, Ryūko shrugs.
"She's going to get hurt." Yuya argues anxiously.
"She's going to be fine have faith." Firmly, Ryūko reassures him.
"But the yakuza are all over there!" Tense, Yuya disputes.
"If Ryūko san says she's fine then she's fine." Formally, Kazuki walks over to the bar counter.
"Kazuki…" Yuya turns to him borw furrowed.
"Ryūko wouldn't put one of her own in that sort of danger." Dutifully, Kazuki reminds Yuya.
"Thank you Kazuki now I take those morons outside are gone now." Ryūko assumes.
"Yes we made sure they wouldn't deter customers." Calmly, Kazuki promises.
"Good…" Ryūko nods her head approvingly, good to see some of her lessons had rubbed off on them.
"…I'm sorry Ryūko leaving you to handle Rina like that." Yuya bows his head, Kazuki joining.
"It's fine look your concern for her is appreciative but she's a big girl she can handle herself." Honestly, Ryūko tells the two.
"Hmmm I guess…" Yuya considers.
"I wonder is the biker gang instincts kicking in from old?" Teasingly, Kazuki ponders playfully.
"Very funny." Yuya pouts.
"No what's funny is you trying to hit on Ryūko san." Smiling, Kazuki corrects as Ryūko chuckles at the memory it was when Stardust was first being made, Ryūko having bought it for a way to gather intel for Kazama as she was helping clean up things, Kazuki helping her as well until the biker gang had bursted in.
"Please don't remind me." Miserably, Yuya groans head in hands at the murky memory of his younger self attempting to flirt with the blonde bartender before being beaten black and blue.
"Oh come on it's funny." Ryūko argues.
"Still for Ryūko san to see me in such a light and still take me under her wing I'll forever be in her debt…" Determined, Yuya vows viciously from the memory of it all, on his ass alone in the world with no place to go, without any clue what he wanted to do until she came back into his life saying she liked his moxie and so his life as a host and bouncer began…
"And I'll forever be grateful for you and Kazuki's aid. Now if you'll excuse me I'm expecting someone." Ryūko sets her glass down.
"Of course come this way…" Smoothly, Kazuki bows his head as Ryūko follows him towards the V.I.P section to conduct said business…
"Lee thank you for waiting…" Politely, Ryūko warmly welcomes the man sat slumped sipping his drink.
"You made me come a long way…" Lee huffs raising his glass to her.
"I know I thought it best we discuss this outside Sotenbori." Ryūko reasons eyeing the hosts below going about their day.
"Smart move. Interesting place you got…" Lee compliments her.
"Thanks, Kazuki and Yuya worked hard on it." Ryūko looks over at the number one host talking to some of his girls while Yuya tends to those outside.
"So you own it? At age 20…that's impressive." Lee admires the place, impressed.
"Well when I want something I go for it you know?" Ryūko smirks smugly at Lee.
"I take you have what I want." Lee assumes as Ryūko takes out a file from her peacoat.
"Here." Ryūko tosses the file down on the table below.
"This is the double." Lee's eyes widen when seeing said photos.
"The best one I could find." Ryūko smirks smugly at her intel network.
"Who is she?" Scowling, Lee pries.
"She's a serial marriage fraudster." Ryūko answers.
"This chick?" Confused, Lee eyes the girl.
"Oh it only gets better the guys who fall for her got a bad habit of dying suspiciously." Ryūko adds.
"So she drains 'em dry then serves 'em with a lot worse than divorce papers." Lee summarises.
"Bingo was his namo but even this bitch's got some redeeming features, look familiar to you." Ryūko points to one of the photos.
"Now that you mention it…" Lee trails off.
"Same age too and build…" Ryūko confirms.
"You've done your research." Lee smirks slightly.
"I never do things half assed Lee." Ryūko recites pride laced in her tone.
"Clearly. Since we're talking about faces though…" Lee takes out a magazine an old one as Ryūko feels her blood turn ice cold.
"…Are you trying to be funny?" Ryūko's hues darken as Lee swore he felt a shudder crawl down his spine, she was his kid alright…
"Just trying to pin where I saw that face from." Lee smirks pointing to the woman on the front cover smiling in a garden of some sort.
"Yeah well you found it." Ryūko snatches said magazine.
"So that's you." Lee assumes.
"It's my mother." Ryūko corrects coldly.
"Oh she's quite the beauty." Lee praises.
"Yes…she was." Ryūko whispers weakly, staring sombrely down at the beaming blonde on the magazine.
"Oh…sorry." Sadly, Lee bows his head.
"Oh no continue let's see what other things you want to dredge from my past…" Ryūko sneers scowling poison dripping down her tense tired tone as she slams said magazine back down on the table below.
"Hada never mentioned…" Lee begins but…
"I doubt he mentioned anything…guess that's what made him a good assassin." Aloofly, Ryūko sneers swiftly shutting him down.
"He is, he's the best of the best for a reason. I just…I just want to know if you're on our side." Sighing, Lee exclaims.
"I found your double why wouldn't I be?" Ryūko scowls.
"Guess I'm being paranoid." Lee sighs softly.
"You really are." Ryūko asserts.
"You think he'll do it?" Lee asks Ryūko.
"Course not." Ryūko scoffs.
"So what then?" Tense, Lee demands from her.
"Just leave it to me." Ryūko reassures Lee.
"Namie…" Lee begins brow furrowed.
"Namie-san phone call." Yuya enters the clubroom peering into the room.
"Right…I expect you to take this to Majima and her. I'll catch up with you guys later…"" Ryūko rises up from her seat.
"So how's the search for Kiryu going?" Curious, Ryūko asks as she stroll through Sotenbori, Nishiki by her side, on another Akira shopping spree…
"Fortunately not good." Nishiki sighs.
"How are you holding up Nishi?" Ryūko questions him concerned.
"I'm doing what I can, what about you?" Nishiki questions her.
"Keeping busy." Casually, she takes out a cigarette.
"I heard, what's this about you taking down some cult?" Curious, he questions as Ryūko groans, about to take out her lighter for my cigarette only for Nishiki to offer her his lighter.
"Hey I was a saviour to many." Boastfully, Ryūko leans down, lighting her cigarette on the bare flame of Nishiki's lighter.
"I'm sure you were heh…" Snickering, Nishiki shakes his head oblivious to the eyes on them.
"Isn't that Namie san? Huh, I wonder who she is with. They seem awfully close…" Mana points out.
"They do." Bitterly, Majima shoves his hands in his pockets.
"Majima?" Mana questions perplexed by his frown and annoyed demeanour; did she do something wrong?
"I'm going to get a drink want one?" Curtly, Majima turns away storming off surprising her.
"Um I'd like gra-"
"Mana?" Curious, Ryūko perks up at the familiar hostess sat down turning to her surprised.
"You know her?" Nishiki asks as they approach the lone girl.
"A hostess I help with at the cabaret. Hey Mana!" Smiling, Ryūko calls out to her.
"Namie san I didn't think you would notice. Sorry I'm interrupting your date." Timidly, Mana greets her.
"Date…?" Ryūko frowns as Akira glares to the side.
Yeah you too seem awfully close," Mana points out smiling.
"Oh he's my brother," Smiling, Ryūko answers as Akira clicks his tongue tense.
"Not by blood." Bluntly, Akira interrupts.
"Your brother? Surprised, Mana raises a brow.
"Not by blood." Brow furrowed, Akira repeats once more making Ryūko frown from the sheer severity of his tired tone.
"Yeah. Huh I should tell Majima san that urgh…?" Struggling, Mana mutters to herself.
"Hey are you okay?" Concerned, Ryūko notes her hunched over form.
"I…I'm getting those chest pains again," Shakily, she describes.
"Chest pains? Indigestion maybe?" Ryūko offers but…
"Mana…when you're with Majima do you feel a tight pain in your chest?" Softly, Akira asks her.
"Yes…" Timorously, Mana lowers her head in shame.
"Do you struggle to breathe? Stutter when talking," Akira asks further flabbergasting Ryūko.
"Yes! Yes!" Urgently, she nods relieved.
"Mana you're in love." Akira answers.
"I…I am?" Blinking, Mana whispers in both shock and awe.
She is!?" Astonished, Ryūko gawks.
"What should I do?" Perplexed, she questions distress in her tone.
"What you think is best. I say confess get it over with…" Mana asks but…
"Mana!" Majima calls out.
"Ah we should go." Akira places his hand on Ryūko's arm.
"Yeah see you Mana." Ryūko nods her head at Mana before the two leave.
"Geez who knew there could be people so thick-headed out there huh
"Yeah who knew…so are you really not going to ask me about Kiryu?" Akira asks as he stops in his tracks.
"Hm?" Humming, she turns to him.
"What…what I did." Distraught, Akira bows his head.
"Akira…" Ryūko's hues softly soften at the boy before her.
"I…I couldn't even pull the trigger I'm pathetic…" Pained, he bows his head.
"…You're not pathetic!" Ryūko rushes over to him.
"How can you say that? You should've seen me I was just crying like some brat…" Ashamed, Akira bows his head.
"Quite easily. You're kind Akira, Kiryu is someone you've known for years the same with me your hesitation is perfectly natural compared to some rando you don't know." Ryūko holds his cheek, his hues widening when feeling her hand softly raise his head.
"I just didn't want him to suffer." Softly, he whimpers.
"I know you meant well Kiryu knows that too…" Tentatively, she draws patterns into the side of his face as he leans into her touch.
"Namie san was here earlier." Joyfully, Mana smiles sitting next to Majima after his return and after having him deal with the people harassing her after Namie's departure.
"Yeah?" Intrigued, Majima perks up at her words.
"Yeah she was here with her brother," Mana informs him.
Don't look like siblings to me.
Bitterly, he frowns almost reasoning to himself then to her as Majima turns away, not seeing the tortured expression of Mana.
"She helped me realize my feelings huh? Mana's eyes narrow when noting Majima after watching the fleeting figures of the beaten up men, to see his watchful narrowed glare towards the two giggling pair, a man and Namie sauntering through the streets of Sotenbori smiling in a world of their own oblivious of the glaring eye watching them go off…
"Can…can I ask you something?" Akira asks Ryūko as he looks through some hangers of clothes.
"Sure…what is it?" Ryūko sits slumped in one of the seats staring at the back of Akira as he tosses fabric after fabric of clothes in the basket.
"Reina asked me something the other day…what I thought of dating in friendship groups." Akira reveals perking Ryūko's intrigue.
"She did?" Ryūko smiles, a part of her happy to see Reina finally make a move, someone had to eventually and Akira clearly wasn't helping in that regard.
"Y-Yeah so…what do…I mean what do you think of it?" Anxiously, Akira asks her.
"It's a risky gamble to take you risk loosening a great relationship. But it could lead to something amazing…I guess it depends on how mature the two are emotionally mature like if it didn't work out they would make sure it didn't ruin their friendship you know?" Ryūko explains.
"So…would you do it?" Akira asks as she frowns.
"God no." Ryūko scoffs shaking her head at the thought, she didn't even have someone she saw as more.
"O-Oh…." Akira bows his head.
"But that doesn't mean you can't do it if you feel different especially to a certain mama!" Mischievously, Ryūko winks while draping her arm over Akira's shoulder.
"H-Huh?" Alarmed, Akira furrows his brow by her words.
"We should get something for you to give Reina," Ryūko leans over looking at the clothes on offer.
"Oi! I don't need anything I got my style!" Panicked, he hisses.
"Sure you do. Besides can't a sister look out for her brother?" Teasingly, Ryūko smile shooting some smoke out from her lips.
"Older brother," Grumpily, he corrects.
"By a month or so…" Ryūko teasingly taps her forefinger against his nose, using the tips of her toes to reach, making him snicker as he places a gentle peck to her temple, making her groan at the dumbass.
"Still older." Nishiki smirks smugly at the pouting Ryūko until taking note of a familiar blonde.
"Ryuji out stealing pants again I see," Smirking, Ryūko returns to the streets of Sotenbori seeing said blonde on the prowl.
"Wait stealing what?" Astonished, Akira gawks gapes at the tall, towering blonde boy before him.
"Shouldn't you be in school? Not hassling people." Ryūko reminds him hand on hip.
"I'm avenging my fallen comrades from bullies." Proudly, he reasons.
"Ryuji dear that's an honourable idea but so are your studies consider them at least also don't be too reckless," Carefully, Ryūko warns him, not wishing to waste my time beating a child.
"You're not going to stop me." Resolute, he tells her earning a wry chortle.
"You do you Ryuji…" Ryūko ruffles his hair making him whine while she dismisses him continuing on her way.
"What just happened?" Akira asks however as he does so…
"Sunao ni I LOVE YOU! Todokeyou Kitto YOU LOVE ME! Tsutawaru sa! Kimi ni niau no kutsu wo sagasou!"
Curious, the two turn to the voice, Ryūko's hues widening to find the source of said voice being…
…Majima.
Of course.
"Why can't I find you doing anything normal?! Hahahaha!" Laughing, Ryūko holds her stomach snickering, giggling, laughing unable to hold it in the burst. Majima continues signing, noting his brown eyes on her as she couldn't help but continue cackling as the others turn to watch him letting the statue flee, feeling tears flowing down her cheeks oblivious to the agitated Akira by her side…
"So you're going to meet your dad…" Calmly, Ryūko exclaims after having Yuki call me over at the cabaret club, noting her fidgeting state confusing her.
"Yeah I can't wait, it's my dad you know I haven't seen him in forever what about you Namie do you like your dad?" Curious, Yuki asks Ryūko.
"Don't know him." Bored, she shrugs.
"Oh I'm sorry!" Apologetically, Yuki squirms.
"Huh don't be, still though shouldn't you tell Majima?" Ryūko furrows her brow not bothered, why bother over a stranger, but still why tell her?
"He's been so busy lately I don't want to disturb him." Shyly, Yuki confesses.
"Oh Yuki you could never disturb him." Ryūko waves off her worry.
"You think so?" Hopeful, she asks.
"I know so." Ryūko reassures her.
"Well considering you are Majima's right hand woman I can trust you." Excitedly, she smiles.
"Still though you sure you want me to meet him?" Wary, Ryūko questions.
"Yeah, he really wants to meet you and Majima but since the boss has been busy I thought…" Dejected, Yuki begins.
"I'd be glad too…" Ryūko assures her placing her hand on hers as they sit in the booth.
So here I am, me and my big mouth. Tiredly, Ryūko sighs as she enters the café, approaching the table spotting Yuki, who waves her over. Ryūko raises a brow at the familiar spying dumbass, making her hue twitch tiredly at the morons.
"Sorry for being late." Regretfully, she smiles.
"Ah you must be the famous Namie I've heard so much about," Warmly, Yuki's dad greets Ryūko.
"Only good things I hope." Ryūko teases as she sits down across from him by Yuki's side.
"Only good. She won't stop talking about you, wow when she mentioned you being a blonde, I thought she meant dyed but yours looks so natural," Amazed, he compliments.
"Oh it is." Kindly, Ryūko smiles correcting him as she tousles her hair slightly.
"My goodness it's beautiful!" He gushes making Ryūko smile tightly.
"Thank you, Nervily, Ryūko smiles.
"Yuki wouldn't stop talking about how she admires you," Yuki's dad gushes.
"Oh really?" Curious, Ryūko raises a brow.
"Yes, she won't stop, she goes on about your confidence to talk to anyone despite how scary they seem to how tough and badass you are," Animatedly he tells Ryūko.
"Well I can't deny that…" Smugly, she smiles leaning back.
"Dad!" Ruby red, Yuki whines making Ryūko chuckle.
"DAD!?"
"Were you honestly going to stay there the whole time?" Curious, Ryūko turns her head eyebrow raised mockingly at the two newly revealed buffoons.
"What are you doing here?!" Annoyed, Majima storms up to Ryūko.
"Yuki invited me." Simply, she shrugs.
"Invited you but not me?" Insulted, Majima exclaims.
"You were busy also I'm the favourite." Arrogantly, Ryūko teases.
"You are not!" Majima denies making Ryūko giggle at his childish nature.
"Aww is Maji jealous? Teasingly, Ryūko leans in.
"Shut up!" He barks as she snickers.
"So Majima don't you think it's time to spill the beans?" Teasingly, Ryūko questions bopping his nose with her forefinger, making him release a small noise of annoyance making her giggle.
"Well…" Defeated, Majima slumps as he fills them in on his crazy idea of Yuki's dad being her boyfriend and him using her for her money.
"Hahaha! Me a con man, trying to dupe Yuki! Wahahah! That's a classic!" Loudly, her dad cackles.
"I don't find this amusing at all." Yuki pouts.
"They meant well Yuki there hearts were in the right place, but still. God if there's anything that always brings a smile to my lips it's your imagination, Majima," Giggling, Ryūko gives Goro that.
"Y-Yeah thank you Namie," Youda thanks her.
"Although they could have tried better hiding place," Slyly, Ryūko remarks, earning the narrowed glare of Majima only making her snicker.
"So um…you're really Yuki-chan's dad are you?" Majima asks.
"Yes, yes. Guilty as charged. Seems Yuki-chan continues to be quite the handful. She hasn't changed a bit," Yuki's dad sighs shaking his head.
"No, no she isn't if anything it's the men for jumping logic like that." Ryūko defends Yuki.
"Oi!" Infuriated, Majima scowls at Ryūko.
"Am I wrong though?" Smugly, Ryūko challenges, his brown meeting her bemused blue.
"Well…Alright, then what's up with the money? Why're you forking cash over to yer dad?" Swiftly, Majima ties to change topic making Ryūko roll her hues.
"You saw that too? My dad loaned me money so I could move to Osaka and I'm paying him back a little every month that's all! Namie helps me with the funding! Knowing how much I should pay for rent for money that I should leave for me to spend, she's been helping me for a while now…" Yuki explains.
"Guilty as charged." Mockingly, Ryūko raises her hands in surrender.
"And you never told me?" Disapprovingly, Majima scowls at Ryūko.
"You never asked besides you may look after the girls but so do I." Ryūko reminds him.
"Th-then that talk about your dad findin' another lady?" He questions as Yuki's father then explains the passing of Yuki's mother and having found an autumn romance, going well into even considering marriage, fair play for him, being a single dad can be rough from what she heard.
"So that's the whole story, eh? You bein' Yuki's dad was the furthest thing from my mind…" Tired, Majima confesses.
"We're terribly sorry for leaping to conclusions. We even went so far as to condemn you as a swindler," Youda confesses bowing.
"No, no, it's fine. Its rather reassuring to know you care so much about Yuki that you're watching over her. To be honest I had my doubts about Yuki becoming a hostess but after knowing of Namie being there to protect her and help her through it. She helped bring my daughter out of her timid, awkward, introverted ways. That's the daughter I know and love, I didn't know who'd she survive as a hostess but knowing people like Namie were there to help open her up reassured me greatly…so you're Majima-san. I'm glad to finally got to meet you too. Yuki goes on and on about you too. I was hoping I could meet you in person too just as I had hoped with Namie." Soothing, Yuki's dad explains.
"Dad!" Embarrassed, Yuki whines.
"Oops sorry. You know what Yuki calls you and Namie?" Yuki's dad smiles at Ryūko.
"What's that?" Intrigued, Ryūko asks.
"The mum and dad of the cabaret," Yuki's dad answers making her hues dilate.
"What!? Please as if I'd marry her!" Horrified, Majima spits out.
"As if I could spend the rest of my life with this pirate!" Ryūko rebuke both of them glaring icily at one another.
"All joking aside. Majima san, Namie san, Youda san I hope I can count on you to keep watching over my daughter," Yuki's dad confesses.
"Yeah of course, we gotta groom Yuki-chan into the best hostess she can be!" Majima promises.
"Do we have to use word groom?" Disturbed, Ryūko questions disgusted by the word.
"Absolutely! I'll do my best to make Yuki-chan the top hostess in Sotenbori and all Japan, right Majima san? Namie San?" Youda smiles.
"Yeah! We'll make it happen Youda-chan!" Majima agrees.
"Why am I getting the feeling I only got more work to handle now?" Groaning, Ryūko cradles her head, hanging it in defeat.
"How very heartening!" He praises.
"Huh!? Hold your horses! I wanted to get an office job eventually!" Feebly, Yuki intervenes.
"Yeah!"
"Guys hello I'm still here…" Saddened, Ryūko puts her hand on Yuki's making her turn to her.
"Whisky?" Ryūko offers as Yuki bows her head nodding in defeat. Ryūko takes out her flask, passing her the drink as she gulps it down, simply watching the dumbasses celebrate…