The Unceasing Path
Ch 5: 旺角黑夜
One Night in Mong Kok - wherein Makoto reconnects with an old friend on the streets of Mong Kok
The green bandanna tied around Makoto's head flapped up and down, struggling to contain her ponytail, as she strode across her realm. Chopping an onion here, reducing the heat there; Makoto did it all without breaking her stride. She was in the zone.
"Mmm...something smells amazing."
Makoto looked up from her bubbling soup pot the unexpected voice.
"Ami! You're home! I wasn't expecting you until later."
"Yeah, I know. It's a miracle." Ami sounded peevish, but then her lips twitched up into an odd little smile. "You know, it really kind of was. Attending called me in on a cesarean last minute, but what do you know? Right as we start scrubbing in, patient goes into active labour naturally. WOOSH! Baby comes out easy as you like. It was bloody fantastic." Ami started laughing. "Totally messed up the schedule, but it was the best case scenario for the patient and the baby, so I'm glad. Life is funny like that sometimes eh? Today was a good day. How was yours?"
Makoto cringed a bit at Ami's questionable phrasing, but her happiness was contagious. Good news was good news.
"My day was alright. Got a lot of paperwork done. Finally organized all my invoices from last year, so that's a load off. The story you sent me this afternoon was a nice break by the way. I was getting all cross-eyed from staring at numbers all day."
"Oh that. Glad you liked it." Ami blushed. "I finished my rounds a bit early. Attending was in a bad mood today so I hid in the office and pretended to write reports."
Makoto gasped dramatically.
"Slacker! Who are you and what have you done with Ami!?"
"Shush. I had my reasons. It was only a 10 minute gap anyways." Ami planted a light kiss on Makoto's cheek as she drifted into the kitchen. "So, what's for dinner?"
Ami reached for the oven door, clearly intending to peek inside. Makoto batted her away with a ladle.
"No, no no. Go away. No opening the door. The sauce needs to set." Makoto's ladle dipped into the soup pot and held up a sample for Ami. "Here, try this instead. How is it?"
Ami blew on the steaming hot liquid before taking a careful sip.
"It's delicious! What is it?"
"Wintermelon soup." Makoto took a quick slurp as well and smacked her lips critically. "Hmm, I think the kombu needs a bit more time to do it's thing. Dinner probably won't be ready for about another 15 minutes either way."
"That's perfect. Gives me some time to help you clean up for once." Ami rolled up her sleeves and got started on the dishes. "Hm? Are we having egg and rice for dinner?"
"How did you know?"
"Lucky guess." Ami held up an eggshell she'd found in the sink and pointed at the obviously used rice cooker.
Makoto grinned at how easily she was found out.
"Right as usual! It's omurice, but I am trying it baked in with a tomato sauce - kind of like a casserole. I was feeling inspired for some reason. Maybe I was hoping you'd tell me more of that story?"
Makoto let her voice trail off in a whiny half plead.
"Really? You're ridiculous. That's why I love you." Ami giggled and tossed the soapy half-shell into the compost bin. "Alright, where did we leave off? Oh, right. Makoto needs to prove herself to get in with the gang. Let's see how that goes..."
[Outside the Golden Crown Karaoke Bar. 02:30]
The Golden Crown Karaoke bar was an ostentatiously flashy place. Set amid the neon rabbit warren of Mong Kok, it worked extra hard to stand out by plastering it's frontage with flyers and strips of blinking LED lights - just like everyone else. The glare made it hard to see the entrance, but Makoto had found a good vantage point to watch from. She was staked out on a pedestrian bridge overlooking the whole street. From here, she could see the front entrance and the side alley leading to the back parking lot. From here, she had watched a veritable parade of exotic motorcycles filing into the private lot.
Among them was a blue and gold Yamaha GTS1000, licence plate MA 104. Tenoh was in the building.
Even though tonight was technically her "night of destiny", stakeouts were still as boring as ever. The bikes had mostly arrived 2 hours ago, but Makoto had been up here for about 4 hours - Sergeant's orders. So far, nothing had happened. Earlier in the evening, she had tried looking for Ami, hoping to work out some sense of how tonight was going to play out.
So far, nothing on that end either.
Makoto gave up. Things would happen when it happened. She was scanning the street looking at random passerbys - an egg waffle hawker caught her eye for violating bylaw - when everything seemed to happen all at once.
Tenoh came out the front door. 175cm, blonde hair, blue eyes, athletic build. She headed towards the alley with that same cocky swagger that Makoto remembered from back when they were kids.
Makoto quickly forgot about zoning bylaws and focused on her mission. She made her way down to street level cautiously. This was it. No turning back now. If she was fast, she could intercept and accidentally bump into Haruka on her way to the parking lot. She slowed her pace when she got into position. Though her heart was pounding fit to burst, she had to be "casually strolling by" when opportunity struck.
Game on.
"HEY! What the fuck? That's my bike! Someone get her!"
Haruka's shout was the signal she was looking for. Makoto reacted. She ran into the alley on the heels of the tall blonde woman she'd spent all month searching for.
Things were moving fast now. A brilliant blue-white xenon light suddenly flooded the dark alley. Makoto froze, a literal deer in the headlights.
She and Haruka stood between Ami and the open road. Makoto had no idea what to do next.
Ami revved the engine.
Oh hell no... surely she was joking about this...
The bike jumped forward and, as Makoto feared, sped right at the gap between her and the alley wall. Makoto did the only thing she could. She reached out and clotheslined Ami off the bike.
Ami went flying backwards. The bike skittered out onto the street.
Shit, shit shit...that was a terrible idea. There was no way that Ami wasn't badly hurt by that take down...oh fuck...she just blew the whole mission right there with her impulsiveness and...FUCK!
How?! Did Ami just...that was unbelievable!
Ami somehow landed with a physics defying rolling back handspring. She was up and was back on her feet in an instant. Before Makoto could say or do or even think anything else, Haruka ran ahead with a mad yell.
The fight was on.
Haruka had a huge advantage in terms of reach, but Ami was able to use that against her. She ducked under Haruka's opening punch, and getting inside her guard, managed to land a pair of short jabs before Haruka pushed her off. Ami stumbled back and Haruka pressed her momentum onward. Makoto flinched at the sound of Haruka's foot snapping full force against Ami's ribs. She bit back a cheer when the Haruka's following uppercut was sloppily, but effectively blocked. Ami went on the offensive again, forcing Haruka back with an elbow strike from her blind side.
The fight went back and forth, brutal and balletic. Ami and Haruka were surprisingly evenly matched. All around her, a crowd had gathered to watch the fight, but Makoto barely noticed them. She stood frozen to the spot, looking for what to do next.
Suddenly, Haruka lost her footing in a pothole. She tumbled into a pile of wicker baskets littering the back alley. Makoto headed towards the fray, thinking to interfere somehow, but Haruka seemed alright. Makoto stopped. Haruka was better than alright. She had gotten her hands on a metal pipe hidden among the trash she landed in.
That unlikely stroke of fortune changed everything.
Haruka came up swinging. Ami jumped back, avoiding the worst of it, but she landed hard against the wall for her effort. Ami was trapped. Makoto held her breath, trying not to scream as Haruka flew at Ami with a wild overhand swing. One hit could end the fight, possibly permanently.
Thank the gods. Ami managed to slip aside at the last possible second. The shock of the missed blow and shattering concrete shrapnel stunned Haruka for one critical moment. Ami headbutted Haruka in the face and kicked her square in the chest for good measure.
Haruka tumbled back at the unexpected counterattack. Off balance, she landed on her butt next to where Makoto was standing.
Then, Makoto witnessed the second unbelievable thing to happen tonight: Ami was laughing. Makoto hadn't realized she was capable of that until now.
She also had a gun drawn and pointing straight at Haruka.
"Hey asshole!" Ami called out with a wild grin. "Michiru sends her regards!"
Three shots rang out. Makoto hit the ground, sheltering Haruka with her body. There were screams as the crowd of bystanders ran from the sound of gunfire. By the time she and Haruka poked their heads up again, Ami was gone.
Haruka took one look and ran out into the chaos on the street.
"Oh SHIT! No! My bike!"
[Backroom, Silver Lotus Restaurant. The following evening...]
It was a loud and raucous affair as Ami recounted her latest exploits.
"...so then I said. 'Michiru sends her regards!' and POP! POP! Two shots - take out both her tires and BAM, put an extra one through her fuel tank for shits and giggles. You should have seen the look on her face. It was hilarious."
Usagi laughter shook the entire table they were seated at. Lukewarm tea splashed around among the plates of stir fried beans, cold chicken and steamed rice.
"You...shot...her...bike! Oh my gods! I love it!"
Minako however, was less than amused. She glared at Ami, more specifically at the bandage wrapped around Ami's wrist.
"How's your hand?"
"Ehhhh...It's fine. Little Doc here's got me all patched up. Right?" Ami reached out and pulled the gang's medic into a friendly headlock. "Come 'ere you. See! I'm good. Hotaru here ain't the top of her year at med school for nothing."
Everyone laughed as the diminutive medical student struggled to free herself. Hotaru blushed at the praise and then squealed as Ami ruffled her hair before letting her go.
Once again, Minako ignored the antics of her soldiers.
"You idiot! We're trying to lay low here and you go gun happy in the middle of the entertainment district. Have you seen the papers today? 'Triad violence erupts again'. Come on! We can't make any money if the police are sniffing around. Hell, just last month, they confiscated a drug shipment out from under us because my best look-out man was in fucking jail again! We don't have the firepower to go up against them head to head right now, especially if you get yourself arrested or killed! No more stunts like that without my say so! Got it?"
"Lighten up! It's all good. It was just Tenoh I was fucking with. She's fair game. Even her boys know that she deserves some shit after what she did to Michiru. Besides, after that humiliation, everyone will think twice before fucking with the Yuet To Tong. Win-win."
Michiru interjected. Her silvery voice was always the voice of reason.
"Thank you Ami. As much as I appreciate your sense of humor, and believe me, I do, it was probably unnecessary to antagonize the Hung Fa Boys like that. Please refrain from such actions in the future."
Minako slammed her fist onto the table and pointed her chopsticks straight at Ami.
"In other words, you dick around like that again, I'm going to have your fucking head! Got it?"
The playful mood in the room chilled to a tense silence. Ami figured she had pushed her luck far enough.
All in all, this was going better than she'd expected.
"Yah, I got it. Sorry. No more dicking around."
Minako wrapped an arm around Ami and clapped her on the back.
"Fantastic! I'm glad you're ok. I need you sharp for a job next week. Naru got us a good lead on a jewelry shipment that is just ripe for the taking. Armoured trucks this time. You in?"
"Of course! Hell and back for my sisters. Especially if the money's good."
Minako burst out laughing "I knew I could count on you! Come on, eat! We'll talk business again after dinner." she reached across the table and picked out a piece of chicken for Ami's bowl."For the record, the bike thing was freaking hilarious. Just don't do it again. We need you to be smarter than that ok? You know the old saying. Life's short, and love's a battle!"
[Outside the Gold Crown Karaoke Bar. The previous evening...]
"Oh SHIT! No! My bike!"
Haruka knelt next to her beloved bike. Short two tires and leaking gasoline, her dream machine was now just a hunk of scrap metal.
"Arugh! That fucking psychopath! I'll kill her!" She kicked at the bike in frustration, getting even more frustrated when all she succeeded in doing was getting gasoline on her shoes.
"Hey! You ok? Get it together!"
Haruka whipped around. It'd been a while since any had the balls to speak like that to her. Didn't they know who they were talking to?
She looked up at the random stranger from the alleyway. Something about her brown hair and overall build seemed awfully familiar...really tall...green eyes...where did she know this person from?
"Holy shit! Kino! Is that you?" Surprise knocked Haruka out of her rage. She clapped her old friend the back. "How are ya? It's been forever!"
"Goddamn! Haruka! I can't believe it's you!"
The sound of sirens sounded off in the distance. The police must be finally responding to the mass panic. She and Makoto turned to each other with a wide grin. Together, they yelled out the one phrase that had sparked their friendship as kids.
"Police! Run!"
Haruka took off, knowing that Makoto was right behind her. Just like old times.
"Try and keep up Kino!"
"Got your back Tenoh! Do you know where you're going?"
Haruka skidded around a corner.
"The basketball court where we met those prep school girls that one time! You know the one with the track?"
"How could I forget?" Makoto answered as she jumped over a crate. "The red haired one pinched my ass so hard that I thought she was trying to break off a piece to take home."
"Hah! I don't remember you complaining back then! Split up! I'll race you there!"
Haruka took a hard left and left Makoto in the dust. The thrill of a race much to improve her mood.
It was more just the thrill of competition. While she did love proving her superiority, running was more than that. It was freedom. It was the joy of flight. Though Hong Kong was a city of tight spaces and obstacles, Haruka ran like the wind. She vaulted over a barricade and landed perfectly between two benches. The finish line was near. Nothing was going to break her stride. Not now, not ever.
She was in such a good mood that seeing Makoto already waiting at the basketball court didn't throw her off.
Haruka raised her arm in greeting.
"Hey! Kino! How'd you beat me here?
"You took the long way around. I took a shortcut. Just because I've been away doesn't mean I've forgotten where I came from. The side street behind SiuMaoMao's Toys cuts straight through to here."
"Oh shit. You have been gone long! That shop turned into a Watson's years ago! Havn't thought about that place in ages. I miss it. The owner was a real gem. Damn. Forgot that street was still there." Haruka slapped her forehead "I guess I was just in the mood for a good run after that bullshit."
"Yeah, what was that about? I just heard someone yelling about their bike getting stolen. Next thing I know you're there and some dipshit is trying to run me over. Who'd you piss off this time?"
"Someone needs to put that motherfucking psychopath in the ground." Haruka bristled at the reminder of her trashed motorcycle, and worse, her humiliation at the hands of the enemy. "It's a long story. Let's just say that she's one of my ex's friends." Makoto looked like she was going to ask more questions so Haruka changed the topic. "Good fight though! I see you still bust heads the way you used to. Looks like some things never change. What happened to you anyways? Last I heard, you got sent to juvie for some reason or other. You never came back."
"Yeah. That's more or less what happened. Shit... that was like 10 years ago! Time flies. I've been alright I guess? Been in and out of jail a few more times since. Worked dead end jobs in between. Nothing worth talking about." The chain link fence surrounding the basketball court clanged as Makoto leaned heavily against it."Can't seem to catch a break."
Haruka whistled through her teeth. "Damn, that's hard."
"Ah, enough about me and my depressing life." Makoto said quickly. "How about you? You look like you're doing alright for yourself judging by that fancy-ass bike of yours – well, ex-bike." She blinked hard like something had just occurred to her. "Oh my gods! I can't believe someone shot it up! That's so crazy! How are you so calm about this? What if that nut comes back after you?"
Haruka shrugged coolly. "That's normal in my line of work. The bike was stolen anyways. I'll be fine. My ex isn't the only one with friends you know."
"Wait… you mean?" A look of admiration spread across her younger friend's face. "You made it? Like we used to talk about as kids?"
Haruka nodded proudly. "I made it." An idea came to her. She couldn't leave her old friend out in the cold like this. "Yo, you got your phone? Take down my number. Give me a call tomorrow. I got to talk to my boss, but if you're interested, maybe I can hook you up with something. Sound good?"
Makoto jumped and shook Haruka's hand.
"Yes! Absolutely! I'm up for anything. Just say the word."
Haruka cringed a bit at how hard Makoto was squeezing her hand, but laughed anyways. Helping Makoto felt good, and having her old friend back was well worth the crushed hand she was experiencing at the moment.
[Wedding Hall. 3 years later...]
The white wedding hall had an ominous feel to it despite the beautiful decor. Makoto pushed open the doors alongside her-
"Wait! 3 years later?" Makoto waved her hands frantically. "The wedding hall? What? You're jumping ahead!"
"Well, yes..." Ami seemed taken aback by the interruption "Now that we've established all our characters, I figured we could just cut to the chase. You already know how this story already anyways."
Makoto protested as she rummaged about the drawer for oven mitts.
"But I want to hear what happens next! What's up with Haruka and Michiru? Did they break up in your story? Where's Rei? And aren't we supposed to fall in love? I want to hear about that!"
"Wait, so you're really interested?"
"Of course! Why else have I been bugging you for more this whole time?"
"Oh." Ami's mouth dropped open into a surprised little circle. "I didn't know. I thought you were just humouring me by listening to my stupid ideas. "
"Aww Ami, you're not stupid, and if you blush any harder, the tomato sauce will be jealous. Incidentally, dinner's ready." Makoto opened the oven and pulled out the casserole dish. As expected, the tomato sauce had set in a deep almost mahogany coloured crust around the egg – perfectly toasted without being burnt. "Damn, aren't you beautiful tonight..." She cooed at the rice before turning back to Ami. "No pressure or anything, but this is a pretty good story. I'm kind of hooked. You should keep going."
Ami washed her hands and pulled some plates from the cupboard.
"Thank you Mako. I'm enjoying this. More than I thought I would. It's been nice to think about something so silly." She paused. "Forks or chopsticks?"
"Forks." Makoto decided as she carried the food to the table. "So lets take long way around over dinner. What happens after I join the gang?"
A.N.
I can't tell anymore. Is this a fic an excuse for me to write more Mako/Ami domestic fluff? Or is this an excuse to write a Mafia AU with a Hong Kong twist? Gangster Ami is so much fun to play with.
Cheers, and thanks for reading.
-Drift.
Up Next:
Ch 6: 古惑仔 - Young and Dangerous - wherein Triad life is what it is.