From his vantage point across the street, Lito Kamata looked up at the familiar warehouse. As he balanced his weight over the cane, Lito moved his free hand over the few bandages still affixed to his stomach. He took a deep breath. Then, after looking both ways, he walked across the street toward the warehouse's side entrance door.
Lito looked down at the pavement adjacent to the door. A shadow of the blood pool, his blood pool, still remained, though it was only barely visible now. Shielding his eyes from the sun, Lito gazed up toward the top floor, at the window - now repaired - that he'd smashed not that long ago. As he did, he noticed the metal bread box, the housing of a surveillance camera, looking down at him. A red light beneath the camera's lens flickered, informing Lito that the device was powered on. Lito looked at the door handle, also repaired, and leaned his cane up against it, before sitting down against the wall next to the door's hinges.
"I won't be as generous next time, you know."
Lito nearly sprained his neck as he whipped his head around to face the source of the female voice. A very pretty long-haired girl wearing jeans and a yellowish blouse was sitting next to him, reclining back against the wall with her legs up and crossed at the ankles, mimicking his pose. Her eyes were cold and serious.
"I understand." Lito pointed up. "I came here because I want you to tell him something…" He paused to take a breath. Then he put his hand over his stomach and winced. "Sometimes it hurts when I talk. But the doctors say I'll be fine in a few months."
Ryoko nodded. "You have a message for Taro?"
Lito frowned. "No! Of course not!" He lifted his arm and pointed up to the clouds. "I have a message... for Him." He shook his finger at the sky. "The Big Man!"
Lito didn't notice the tiny smile on Ryoko's lips.
"Tell Him I'm done with it," he said. "All of it. I'm never touching that stuff again. I'm going straight. And this time I mean it. Tell Him that."
Ryoko nodded twice.
Lito looked back toward the street, his eyes drawn to a bus that passed in front of him. "Thanks," he said. But when he turned back to the girl, she was no longer there. So he looked up into the camera instead. "Thanks," he said again with a nod.
Using the cane to steady himself, Lito got back onto his feet. He brushed off his pants, then turned and walked back in the direction he came.
Author's Notes: So I was watching one of those movies where they wrap up a loose end after the credits are done rolling and I realized I still had a loose end out there in this story. For those who wondered what happened to Lito, now you know! I hope nobody minds the addition. - TZM