Hey guys :) So chapter 4. Here it is! I'm sorry for being so late on updating this one. I've only had time to write stuff late at night since I've been busy with stuff so it look way too long to get this done

-Welcome home!-

The drive didn't take long. Only ten minutes from Yamamoto's grand mansion to the shaggy apartment complex labeled as hanging dog. Not the most appealing name, Soi Fon thought to herself; especially since its located dead center in a place called the Rukongai. Anything other than a cemetery with the name wandering soul city doesn't exactly sound like a safe place to house a kid. Contrary to its unappealing name however, the complex looked fairly well kept. The buildings were all two stories high, painted a dark green that was just beginning to fade from age. Nearly every parking space was filled with not so new and shiny cars. And none of the grass was dying, so that's a good sign. There were a few kids outside, walking with their brothers and sisters or riding bikes back home.

Omaeda didn't say a word the whole drive there.

He drove to the far back of the complex to the buildings that were hidden behind the others. This parking lot was filled with newer looking cars, all clean and well kept. Most of them were black, which she thought was funny since all gangsters tended to have nice black cars in the movies, and these people were fitting into the stereotype so far. He parked into the furthest space away from all the other cars.

She looked up at him a little confused since there were more openings closer to the walkway.

"So no punks hit my car." He said while turning the ignition off and unlocking the doors.

He looked at her. "You'd be surprised at how many of these idiots can't park for shit. Always hitting my car with their door, or bumping into it when parking."He smiled and patted the steering wheel. "That's why I got this beast actually, so it can take a few bumps and scratches and still come out looking as pretty as a penny, just like me."

Soi Fon looked down embarrassed, remembering what she had said earlier. "I'm sorry for insulting you like that earlier mister Omaeda." She had ten minutes of complete silence to go over what she had done earlier, and came to the conclusion that it was stupid and rude and that he's probably going to tell Yamamoto all about it and kick her out before she even really had a chance to show off. Apologizing was her last hope of saving herself.

He squinted at her. "Mister? That makes me sound like some stranger. Just use Omaeda; it makes it sound like your familiar with me."

She stared at him for a moment and nodded. Opening the door, careful not to bump anything, she jumped down onto the street and slammed it shut. Omaeda was standing in front of the truck waiting for her.

"Don't worry about it. If I got upset over a kid stepping on my crackers what would that say about me? Besides," he patted her shoulder and grinned. "now I know what kind of person you are."

Internally, she was grinning and jumping up and down like the kid she is, completely and utterly relieved that he wasn't furious with her. Externally however, she did her best not to show that joy out of embarrassment, and just gave a light smile.

Trailing behind the large man, Soi Fon followed him towards her new home. Yamamoto didn't tell her anything other than the fact that she was moving closer by. She was hoping that she wouldn't have to share the apartment with anyone she didn't know, it would have been awkward and frankly, she doesn't quite like many people. They tend to be irritating, loud, and immature.

"Says the girl who kicked a grown man in the balls for eating weird." She thought to herself, frowning.

They had reached the pale gray door and Omaeda knocked on it.

"Don't you have keys?" she asked confused.

"No." he grunted, leaving her without explanation. They both stood waiting for whoever was shuffling behind the door to unlock it.

Suddenly it swung open to reveal a drunken Kukaku holding a cup of sake.

"Soi! Welcome to our new home!" she yelled grinning widely.

Immediately Soi Fon groaned. In truth, she should have expected Kukaku to be there. Leaving a kid with complete strangers seemed to be a little strange, thinking back on it.

Kukaku frowned and stepped back. "What? Not happy to see your caretaker? I went out of my way to walk all the way here and throw a welcome party y'know!"

Ignoring her, she turned to look up at Omaeda, who was staring at Kukaku's wooden arm.

"You can leave now. I can deal with this."

Blinking, he turned to look back at her and nodded. "Yeah alright. Goodnight."

Sighing, Soi Fon pushed her way inside past Kukaku into the small apartment.

Looking around she saw that the living room doubled as a dining area and was connected to the kitchen. Against the far side wall of the room was an old looking brown couch. On top if it was a bag of Kukaku's clothes, a large white blanket, and a pillow. In the center of the room was a small square table. One large bottle of sake sat on top of it with a stack of cups. Across from the table was a slim flat screen TV, which stood out compared to the rest of the cheap looking furniture. A short hallway laid between the kitchen and living room, which led to the one bedroom, bathroom, and washer and dryer.

All in all, it was nothing special to Soi Fon. It was a drastic improvement from Kukaku's shack however. It wasn't in the middle of nowhere and that's all that really mattered.

"Like it?" Kukaku asked.

"It's small." She sat down on the soft couch, and sunk into it closing her eyes. Kukaku went to sit next to her. They both sat in a comfortable silence.

"So that was Omaeda?"

Soi Fon opened her eyes slowly and turned her head towards Kukaku.

"Yes."

"He kept staring at my arm."

"He was."

"You're lucky I didn't hit him with it."

Soi Fon quirked her eyebrow. "You mean him."

"No you, 'cause you'd have to clean up the blood." Kukaku grinned at her toothily.

Deciding not to respond, she laid her head back and closed her eyes again. As she was drifting off to sleep, Kukaku spoke again.

"Kaien would be proud of you."

She let the words sink in for a moment. Would he? She hadn't done much. In her mind, this was nothing to be proud over. Yes she was the youngest person to have caught Yamamoto's eyes and impress him, but she hadn't actually done anything yet. And she wouldn't be able do anything for years, until she was 17.

Of course, knowing how Kaien was, he would probably make a big deal of the smallest thing. Thinking about it, that's probably why Kukaku tried to throw a "welcome home" party for her, which really ended up just being another reason for Kukaku to get drunk, but she did appreciate the thought.

It had been hard on them when he died. It's already been two years, but Kukaku still drinks like it just happened yesterday. Even before that she still drank almost every day, because that's just how she was, but now it was nearly twice as much.

She remembers that whenever Kaien came back home to visit, he and Kukaku would stay up all night drinking, playing chess. And they would be so loud, laughing and clanging their cups together. Eventually, she would get up out of bed to yell at them for preventing her from sleeping with all the noise, but somehow they always managed to get her to sit down with them. Then she would stay up all night with them. It played out like that every time he came to visit, up until he went to leave again.

But then he died, and instead of staying up all night to drink and have fun, she would just drink. At one point, Soi Fon had grown tired of her alcoholism and made a show of dumping all of Kukaku's sake out into the grass. When she found out, instead of being absolutely livid like Soi Fon was expecting, she hugged her and cried. Not knowing what to do, she just hugged back. She never cries. Not even when he died. To her, Kukaku was the strong one. Nothing affected her like this. Not even his death. When Kukaku pulled away, her eyes were red and stuffy, and had snot running down her reddened nose. She wiped her face with her shirt and looked back at Soi Fon. All she can remember after that was Kukaku saying, "I'm so sorry kid."

She sighed and rubbed her eyes. It was late and she needed sleep.

"I'm going to bed now."

Kukaku mumbled "Okay." and went to reach for more sake.