Gunshots roared in the night as two guys bolted to their car and made a run for it. Keitaro clutched the wound on his upper shoulder while his friend was at the wheel. Over the past few weeks, these two had adapted quite well to San Andreas, especially Keitaro. He had ditched his glasses for contacts, wore a black leather jacket, jeans, and boots; he even had a tough personality instead of his frightened one.

They sped through town, trying to shake the fools off them. "Kei, you okay?" asked Kentaro.

"Yeah, peachy," he said sarcastically. "Asshole knocked me up. I need a hospital, ASAP!"

"Hang on, buddy."

Kentaro floored it, turning corners and lanes, finally loosing them. He took his friend to a nearby hospital and dropped him off while going inside with him. The doctors treated him for gunshot wounds, saying he was going to be okay. After that, they returned back to their safe haven in San Fierro, deciding to kick back and relax. Keitaro moved slightly as the wound was slightly uncomfortable.

"How you feel?" asked Kentaro.

"Like I had been stung by a million scorpions all at once," he said, looking at the TV.

So they lounged around, watching the tube; then the phone rang. Seeing as Keitaro was in no condition to get it, Kentaro got up. He went to the phone and picked it up. "Hey, who's speaking?"

"..."

"What, but we just got back from doing a job for some random guy, what the hell do you want us for again?"

"..."

"Oh, you just want us to meet someone, well, alright; we'll be there as soon as possible. But I think Kei's going to need some help getting in the car."

He hung up the phone, sighing in frustration. Keitaro looked over and him and turned off the TV. "What the hell's got your knickers in a bunch, man?"

"Ken just called, said he wants us to meet someone who's from somewhere else. I have a bad feeling in my gut about this."

"You always do... you're starting to be like me, how I used to be."

"I know, I know, but still... Ah, fuck it, let's go."

Helping his friend to the car, he put him in the passenger side and then rushed over to the driver side, started the car and drove off, heading to Ken's club. Once there, they parked on the curb, got out and went inside. One of his bouncers asked them what they were doing, and they told them that Ken wanted to see them.

"Follow me," he said, taking them to his office.

Near his office, he opened the door for them and closed it when they were inside. Ken, who was in his chair, spun around to face; a man with spiky brown hair was with him. "Guys, good to see you again," said Ken.

"Yeah, thanks," said Kentaro. "What's this all about?"

"Patience, my friend," Ken said. "I'd like you to meet, Sora... him and I go way back, and also a close friend of mine, who seems to have a bit of problem."

"Yeah, well, so do us... Keitaro's wounds are still in bad shape."

"Don't matter, Kentaro," Ken said, tossing both of them body armor from his stash he used to have. "Take it, it'll help. Anyways, Sora seems to also have a problem... seems that he wants a car stolen and brought to his auto shop."

"Well then why can't he do it himself?" asked Keitaro.

"He would, but the thing is the guy's who he fucked with fucked him back by putting him out of commission for a two years; they even got him traced."

"Makes sense to me, so where's the car at?"

"Last I heard it was heading for the San Fierro Airport."

"Thanks for the help and what would we expect when we get there?"

Sora then spoke for them, "You'd probably expect company, so caps their asses and then take the car to my shop, but be careful... I give less if it's been damaged."

Both guys nodded and left the office. Outside on the street, they got into their car and drove normally to the location of the car. You see, Sora was sort of like an exotic auto collector... he loves flashy sports cars more than anything, and he used to nab them from others, but a cop had but him out of commission and he had to resort to other measures. "You sure about this?" asked Keitaro.

"He's a good guy, so there shouldn't be a problem, I just want the money."

"Same here... hope he can split between us."

"Yeah, I'm tired of working that stone-faced, chain-smoker's tea hut."

"Hey... watch it, man."

"No disrespect, Kei."

They drove to place, spotting the car and some dudes hanging by it, chit-chatting. Kentaro slowly went up and park a few feet away from them, concealing their weapons in their jackets. Both guys got out and went up to the gang. "What you fools want?" asked one of them.

"Easy, friend, easy," said Keitaro. "Hey, where did you guys score a beauty like this?"

"What, this?" asked another, pointing to the car. "We jacked it off some asshole who owned a auto shop somewhere near the burger shot."

"Really... you guys get a look at the guy who used to own that car?"

"Yeah, he was some punk with spiky brown hair and a gold chain with a key 'round his neck, why?"

"No reason," said Kentaro. Both groups were soon chatting till it got to the point where guys were asking questions, making the thugs nervous. Then, they bolted, but both knocked them down with a shot to the back of the leg then let them have it; Keitaro pocketed his weapon. "Seems like an awful lot for a car."

"Yeah, except this own is a precious thing to Sora; seems like they fucked up the bumper pretty bad during a long time ago."

"We'll head to the pay 'n' spray; it shouldn't take them too long to fix it."

Taking the car, they went to the repair shop and they fixed up the car for a minimal fee, but they got the job done; then they sent to it Sora's auto shop, where they saw him waiting inside. "Guys, glad you found it. And not a scratch on her."

"Yeah, well, we had to have her get a fix, but other than that, everything was good."

"I see, well, here's the pay," he said, handing them a small manila envelope. Kentaro took it and opened it, pulling out the money. "Good... thanks, Sora."

He nodded to them as they got in their car and drove off, going back to their home in the San Fierro district. Inside, Keitaro asked him. "Hey, man, what you think's going on back at Hinata Sou?"

"Don't worry about that shit. Look, you left to start a new life, you should be happy you left after all that horseshit they put you through. Don't tell me you're starting to get homesick, Keitaro."

"Well, a little... I'm just worried. What if the girls come back and try to drag me back home?"

"Phbbt! They wouldn't be able to last five minutes out there in order to find you! That samurai-wannabe thinks she can handle those gangs out there?! Don't make me laugh! That freak wouldn't be able to withstand a shot from a SMG!"

"True, she wouldn't. Neither would Naru, or Su for that matter; Kitsune better watch it, too, with her seducing tricks."

"I know... now c'mon, let's go get some beers."

"Right behind you."

The two then left and were out on the town, going to the nearest bar to celebrate their move to America. Life had gotten good for them, and they would hope it would continue on like this and they also hoped that those girls didn't come to San Andreas to try to force Keitaro back "home". That's not what he wanted... he had a good life where he was at, and didn't want it taken away from him—ever.

'I wonder how Tsuruko's doing with the girls?' he thought.

Back at Hinata Sou, Tsuruko had put the girls all to bed, while she just stayed up... thinking about how Keitaro was doing. She had gotten letters from him saying that he was having a good time... getting involved with some criminals, doing jobs for them in exchange for pay, but that was about it. "I hate to say this... but I feel like giving up the sword in exchange for going to America, but how can I get there?"

For whatever reason she had, it hit her when the phone rang, but with the girls sleeping like rocks because of Tsuruko's hard duties, it was quiet for them. Tsuruko went to the phone and answered it. "Tsuruko speaking," she said.

"Hello, it's me Keitaro."

"Oh, Keitaro, it's good to hear from you again. I read your letters about San Andreas."

"I know it's a bad thing for me to get involved it first of all."

"But as long as you get paid for it. Say, I know this may sound silly, but would it be okay if I came to San Andreas with you?"

"Why? I mean, what's wrong with living in Japan?"

"Well, I just want something different without wielding a sword around. After my husband broke up with me, I've felt like I can't handle my sword anymore, and I want a new change of pace for me."

"Really, wow. Well, I'm sorry to say we won't be in San Andreas for much longer."

"What, you mean you're coming back home?"

"No. One of our guys said that there would be even more work for us in a city called Liberty City. So we'll be leaving sometime this week."

"I see. Well, I'll have to see who can take charge of Hinata Sou while I'm gone. I'm sure Haruka would like to, but I know she has her teashop to run, so I'll just put an ad in the paper for one... one the girls would appreciate."

Keitaro laughed. "I understand, well, I'll call you sometime tomorrow."

"Bye, Keitaro."

"Bye, Tsuruko."

Both parties then hung up while Tsuruko made tracks to her room to head for bed. Surely, leaving Japan and to America would be ideal for her; settling into a new life, new food, new people, but on the other hand, Motoko would surely want to know why, expecting a detailed explanation but Tsuruko was much older than her. "What can she possibly do," she said to herself, lying down on her futon.

Black Waltz: Another chapter done, and don't bite my head off because it took so long because I'm not in the mood. Anyway, I've been playing GTA IV for sometime, so you can guess what kind of Liberty City the guys and Tsuruko are heading to.

See you later!

Peace.