The Unceasing Path
Ch 8 - 江湖情
The Underworld Situation - wherein we see how things have developed over the years and the shape of things to come
Makoto replayed the last scene in her mind. Looking out the bedroom window, the city lights of Tokyo could almost be the lights of Hong Kong. The woman in her arms could almost be the same woman as the one in the story. In an alternate universe, she had no trouble seeing the real Ami as the cagey, storm driven soul that the fictional Ami had become.
"You know..." Makoto said slowly, thinking back on what Ami had said in the last chapter. "For what it's worth. I think it's all incredibly romantic. It takes a special someone to keep going under such that much pressure. You're a good doctor."
"I'm not sure. Some days I think I'm completely insane." Ami's words were directed up at the ceiling. There was an unspoken apology in her expression when she tilted her head back to look Makoto again. "Don't mind me Mako. That just slipped out. It's been a long week."
"Aww, come here." Makoto held her girlfriend a little tighter. "Maybe a little, but you're good at what you do. You know that."
"Thank you. I needed to hear that." Ami shook her head. "Ok. Moving on." She nodded to herself. "Back to the action. We're finally getting on with the plot. Do you mind if we jump forward a few years? It'd skip alot of exposition."
"It's your story love. I'm just along for the ride."
"Alright then. Three years later..."
[Makoto's apartment: 3 years later...]
It was a quiet Tuesday afternoon. Everyone else, all the fine, normal upstanding citizens, seemed to either be at work, or school, or out doing chores to take care of their presumed families...and here she was, lounging about at home on a weekday afternoon.
It didn't sit right, but then again, this was her job. Living the triad lifestyle so to speak.
Over the past years, she had gotten a sense of how the Hung Fa Boys operated. Under the Boss' direction, they had become one of the more powerful triad sets in Hong Kong. They moved up from street level racketeering to more white collar crimes. Blackmail, extortion, even corporate espionage. Secrets were worth vast sums of money and Makoto had never been so well paid in her life. Too bad it was all dirty money.
Theoretically it was all clean and bloodless. No one innocent had secrets worth protecting but Makoto knew better. But there was no such thing as 'clean' in the underground world. Past a certain point, might made right. There was always the unspoken promise of violence in all their affairs. Haruka was responsible for that. For all her rashness and affability, Haruka was a serious woman when it came to business. There was a reason she had risen so high in the traid's hierarchy in the first place.
And then if there was something Haruka couldn't handle... Makoto shuddered. All she had were rumours of a killer-for-hire who worked for the Boss directly.
Everything she knew, she reported everything to Chief Chiba of course, but it wasn't enough. The Boss continued to run the Hung Fa Boys like a ghost. There was little they could build a case on. It made Makoto uncomfortable to keep being involved in this sort of underworld business. Every time she brought it up, Chiba deflected with the same response: "focus on your mission". According to the Chief, Even the intel she was bringing in on how these gangs operated was proving valuable. The forensic accountants were particularly in her debt he said, so focus on your mission.
Makoto tried. Well, she was no closer to her goal than the day she had joined. She still had no idea who the Boss was.
The only people she knew to ever meet with him directly were Haruka and whoever his assassin was. The man left no trace. No evidence. 3 years undercover and Makoto still had no leads.
The Boss was one smart motherfucker and he was as bad as Ami in the paranoia department.
And then Ami... the other surprise in her life.
Since that first night in the hotel, they had met up again and again. At first it was strictly professional, until one day it wasn't.
Her phone rang, interrupting her idle musing. Makoto recognized the number as Haruka's.
Looks like today was a work day after all.
[Meanwhile in a jewellery store in Kowloon...]
"Ladies and Gentlemen! May I have your attention please? Please get down on the floor with your hands above your head. This is a stick up."
10 people turned to stare at the interlopers blankly but no one moved. Minako stepped back with an exasperated 'well, I tried' look. Ami licked her lips.
That was her cue. Time for action.
Ami pulled her twin pistols out of her jacket and raised them high.
"SHE SAID FLAT ON THE GROUND AND DON'T MOVE! "
6 shots, 6 security cameras instantly blown into just so much useless bits of glass and circuitry. By the time the dust and screaming had settled, everyone had followed their orders precisely - flat on the ground with hands above their heads. Ami stalked in among the terrified people, her heavy boots resonant the shining hardwood floor.
"They say 'heroes die young.'" She growled, sweeping her guns around the room. "Anyone care test that theory?"
Usagi followed a step behind, keeping an eye on her flank just in case. It was hard not to laugh. Watching Usagi was a bit like watching a kitten. The way she was swinging that knife about "menacingly" Ami herself was the only person in danger of getting cut.
Minako called out brightly.
"Thanks everyone! Now, cell phones out! If you could please take your cell phones out and toss them to the middle of the room we'd really appreciate it. You can pick them up later after the show." Ami watched silently as people scrambled to obey. "Oh! Right! And if someone knows the combination to the safe, we'd appreciate that too!"
There. One of the employees eye's widened noticeably. Ami was on top of her in an instant.
"YOU!" Ami pressed her knee down on the helpless woman's back. The woman's eyes bulged in panic as her breathing got more and more difficult. "Talk" Ami eased off the pressure and flipped the safety of her gun back on. If all went well, she wouldn't have to use her gun again. The metallic click sound spoke louder than any threats she could have made.
The woman heard it loud and clear.
"49524! It's 49524!" She sobbed brokenly. "Please don't hurt me!"
Ami laughed, flush with success as she sprang away from woman and her tears.
"You heard it! 49524! All yours Venus! You wanna make this quick? We're running late."
Minako walked towards the vault smiling her Cheshire smile.
"Please, a lady is never late. 35 seconds on the dot. Moon! Bag what you can! Start with the rings! Merc, you know what to do."
Ami moved into her usual position by the door, covering the crowd while Usagi and Minako took the store for all it was worth.
3...2...1. Minako's watch beeped urgently.
"60! It's go time!"
Minako's voice started a chain reaction.
Michiru pulled the panel van up to the curb right on schedule. Ami flung open the door and tossed a smoke bomb out onto the sidewalk. The usual midday pedestrians scattered away from the sudden danger, clearing a path to the van. Minako and Usagi ran through the protective smokescreen and into the waiting van. Once they were secure, Ami pulled up the rear, pulling the door panel closed behind her. Michiru sped away, leaving the chaos behind for the police to find.
Moments later, they were all sprawled out in the empty back of the cargo van, laughing and gasping as Michiru raced towards the highway with their ill-gotten goods.
"God DAMN!" Ami whistled, taking a look inside the bags. "There really were diamonds in that safe! Naru gave us a hot lead this time. You've come a long way since your cat burglary days eh Minako?"
Minako pulled off her balaclava and shook out her hair. "Couldn't have done it without you. Got plans for your share?
"Yeah. Me, a few fat wads of cash, and the next ferry to Macau. If I'm lucky, a few good hands at the casino and if I'm very lucky, a few more good hands at the hotel after that." Ami gave a lascivious growl. "There's this hostess I met last time. Don't remember her name, but DAMN if she wasn't - "
"Macau again?" Minako interrupted with a frown "You know, I get wanting to cut loose as much as anyone, but aren't you overdoing it a bit?"
"Hey, back off. You my mother now?"
"Ami, come on...you know I don't mean it that way. Just trying to look out for my best mate. I mean, look at that rat trap of an apartment you live in. You ought to start planning ahead! Invest! Put down some roots yeah?"
"Meh. Life's too short to worry Minako. Live while you can. Whatever, now's not the time for this." Ami shrugged and then gave a wild whoop to underscore her point, "Alright! Way to go everyone! We are bloody fantastic!" She high-fived Usagi and held her hand out to Minako as well.
Minako laughed but shook her head 'no'. She never celebrated until the job was done. Ami knew that but had to offer anyways. It was all part of the show.
"Not over til it's over Ami. We still have to get the goods to the docks. Top notch shooting back there by the way."
Ami tapped the bulge in her jacket affectionately. "You hear that babe? Minako says we do good work."
Minako rolled her eyes. "You're a nut. Stop fondling your piece and do something useful. Climb up front next to Michiru and watch the road will ya?" Ami saluted and got a playful slap on the ass in exchange as she scrambled over to the car seat. Minako then turned her attention to the other occupant of the cargo hold. Usagi was shaking like a leaf on the van's floor. "You ok there Usagi? You did well for your first time out."
Usagi's answer came out in a rush of words. "Ohmygods. Is it always that crazy?"
Ami roared with laughter as she settled into the front. "Crazy? That was the smoothest grab we've had all year! In and out. You want crazy, shoulda been there a few weeks ago. Michiru, tell her about the Jockey Club! Security guard was so scared he pissed on the cash."
"That was unpleasant." Michiru wrinkled her nose. "Money laundering is not meant to be that literal."
"Hah! Tell me about it. The one time the cops brought a K-9 unit too! I had to hightail it through a fish market to lose them. Almost died slipping on the tiles and I think a fishmonger threw half a grass carp at me. To be fair, I deserved it after I knocked over his basket of clams but, damn! Dude needs to chill. Those fish are tasty! Now that was a crazy job. And then there was the Ferrari incident. Or holy shit, that time we - "
"Ami, hush. You're not helping." Minako wrapped an arm around the still shaking Usagi "You didn't have to come with us you know. Saori could have come with us instead."
"No, I wanted to." Usagi set her mouth into a brave but wavering smile "It doesn't seem fair that you guys are always taking the risks and I'm just back at the restaurant hanging out."
"Nonsense. You're part of the family. I owe your mother that much. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for her. None of us would be. Besides, we all love you. Even that dipshit up front."
Ami turned towards the passengers in the back seat, Usagi looked like she was about to cry.
"Awww. I'm sorry Princess. Didn't mean to mess with ya. What I was getting at was that if you're not comfortable, you should hang back. Don't feel like you have to prove yourself or nothing. I just want you to be safe."
That was true enough. Ami had been utterly against bringing Usagi in the first place but Usagi begged for the chance to come along. For better or worse, no one could resist Usagi for long. Even Minako, who had said 'no' at first, eventually gave in...and now this was the end result. Ami reached back to pat Usagi comfortingly, but Usagi flinched away.
"Cheer up!" Ami turned back to face the road so that no one could see her expression. "We need you keeping up the restaurant front. It's more than a cover I think. Without you, none of us have a place to come home to."
That was more true than Ami would have liked, and more truth than she wanted to reveal, but the whispered "thank you" Usagi gave her made it all worth while.
A rare shouted curse from Michiru interrupted the moment.
"Ami, quick. Rearview mirror. do you see what I see?"
"Son of a bitch!" Ami shot a quick look in the rearview mirror to see a motorcycle closing in fast. "It's Tenoh!" She poked her head out the window to check the van's blindspot. Sure enough, there was a second motorcycle riding to their right. Of course, there was no such thing as a clean getaway. The helmeted figure on the second bike waved for them to pull over, then drew a gun and fired a single shot. Ami's heart jumped more at the sight of the brown ponytail than the warning shot that flew overhead. She ducked back into the van in a hurry.
"SHIT! One more bike closing in the left lane. They're armed. This is an ambush."
"Goddammit!" Minako shoved Usagi down to the floor of the van as she herself crawled up towards the front. "How did they know? Michiru, can you lose them?"
"I can sure as hell try. Everyone, hold onto something. Things are about to get interesting."
A.N.
You all know what's next: Haruka vs Michiru: THE CAR CHASE SCENE!
We can't have a car chase scene without Haruka now...and we can't have a Haruka scene without Michiru can we?
Also, confession: I wanted to publish this chapter a bit earlier, but got entirely side tracked trying to look up the English name of a fish I grew up eating in HK (aka the fish that Ami seems to have gotten smacked in the head with in that alluded to robbery at the Jockey Club)
To me, there are few things as quintessentially Cantonese as a steamed fish with soy sauce and hot ginger/scallion oil.
Yeaaaaaaaaaaah.
Cheers,
- Drift.
Up Next
Ch 9 - 車手: Hands on the Wheel - wherein some people take action and others are just along for the ride