The Mob Rules

Part 1

The Hand of Friendship

By Nick Maro

:: Writer's Note: [ ] Indicates speaking in Japanese::

Sizing his opponent up, David took a defensive stance. He held his katana in front of him in a position so that he could block just about any attack. His opponent shifted towards him as he shifted to an equal defensive stance. He began countering the swordsman by circling around him. David slowly edged toward his opponent as his blade was tested with tapping by his own. He responded by tapping back twice as hard. The swordsman swung his katana hard at David's sword as he brought it up to block just in time. The two blades clashed together sending sparks into the air both men grunted as the other young man put the pressure on David's defense. He broke the exchange by letting David push his blade down.

The two young men now circled each other again while David smiled at his adversary. It had been a longtime since he was able to duel like this. The swordsman tapped the floor with his blade on the floor sending out musical tones as he did so. He swept his blade up in an arc at David, who easily blocked the attack and sent sparks flying through the air once again. Beginning his own fierce attack David's opponent smiled wide. They exchanged blows for countless minutes with the clang of metal against metal becoming a symphony.

David ducked and rolled away from the oncoming sword of the other man, stood back up and was now inside his opponent's defensive perimeter. He swept the other's leg from under him with his own and watched his opponent fall on his back dazed. He pointed his blade at the other man's chest, right at his heart. "[Do you yield?]" David asked with triumph in his voice.

The young man hesitated a moment before he dropped his sword in defeat. "Hei. [I yield,]" he said accepting David's extended hand. He smiled as he shook David's hand. "[Well fought, Ikari. You've improved since we last met.]"

"Thanks, Shin. Are you sure you didn't let me win?" David switched from speaking in Japanese to English. "Thanks for agreeing to fight with unsharpened blades. Bokkens were too safe and sharpened katanas were too risky."

Shin laughed and put his arm across David's shoulders as they walked out of the basement gym together. "Actually, I'm glad we got a chance to spar again. You'll make a great teacher." He opened the door to the ground floor of the Gabor home. "Let me thank you once again for letting Kyoko and I stay here. She really loves the fact that you consider her family."

"Kyoko is a wonderful woman I just wish I knew her growing up in Japan. It seems almost we were destined to grow up as our fathers did, best of friends to the point of being family." David poured Shin a cup of tea then raised his own. "Cheers, my friend."

Shin lightly tapped David's cup with his own. "Kampai." They both sipped their drinks at the same time and sat down.

"Is this some male bonding or can anyone join?" Kimber asked from the kitchen doorway.

"Come join us, Kimber, we're just talking about nothing and everything." David looked around the kitchen realizing it wasn't very comfortable. "Let's move this to the living room, more room to talk and we can relax." Shin and Kimber quickly agreed. He waited a few second after Shin left the kitchen before giving Kimber a quick kiss. "So how is Jerrica and the rest doing?"

Kimber hugged him tightly and laid her head against his chest and smiled. "They're great. Jerrica loves the flowers Kyoko brought her. It was nice of her to cut some of the flowers she's growing here." She wrapped her arm around David's waist as they walked into the living room.

"Hello, Kyoko," David said to the young Japanese woman cuddled next to Shin. "Have a nice time visiting Jerrica?"

"Yeah, The Holograms are great! I'll admit that I freaked out and had to get all of their autographs." She began to blush slightly. "But I've been thinking that I don't know how much longer I can live here. I'm going to have to return to Japan sooner or later. So what I'm getting at is that I have to resign as the manager of Suzaku. I'm sorry, I thought about this the whole two weeks I was in Japan. I talked it over with Ken, Hitomi and Eiji. They understand and are willing to search for a new manager."

David sat next to her and smiled. "I understand. I can handle both groups for now. By the way congratulations on your engagement again, I always knew you two would make a great couple." He gave her a tight hug before shaking Shin's hand. Shin smirked and pulled David into a brotherly embrace.

Clash turned on the intercom after The Misfits finished their song. "Okay, guys, that's a wrap. Rebirth is officially done being recorded." The four young women inside the studio cheered and hugged one another. "Hey! You're just done recording. Now the real magic starts, I have to make you sound like a good band." She gave her usual sarcastic smile.

"I can't believe we've only been recordin' for a month. Just think, about this time last month, Roxy was strikin' Harriet Horne," Jetta said leading the others out. "oooo, me arms hurt." She shook the feeling back into them while walking.

"I can't wait to hear how the album sounds. This could be our best stuff yet." Stormer followed Jetta smiling with pride.

Roxy threw her arm around Stormer's shoulder. "Have I told you how brilliant you are today?" She kissed Stormer on the cheek and grinned. "Thanks again for letting Jetta and I know about that house for sale. We spoke to the agent last night and we're signing the papers tomorrow."

"Oh great, I guess that means I have to play forklift again!" Pizzazz said as she came out of the room last. "But for now let's call it a day. We can start editing and mixing tomorrow. Everyone is now invited back to the Gabor Estate for a celebration. Congratulations, Misfits. We did it. I hope you're as proud as I am." She smiled warmly at all of The Misfits and Clash. "Why are still standing around? There's a party waiting at my house." She clapped her hands making The Misfits scatter down the studio hall.

Roxy and Jetta raced each other to Roxy's car. Stormer walked at her usual even pace while Clash caught up to Pizzazz. "Here you go." She handed Pizzazz a case with an unmarked CD. "It's a very raw recording of the album. We can give it a listen tonight. I mean, what's a party without music?" She slapped Pizzazz lightly on the back. "I'm off to pick up Techie. See ya at your place." Clash ran past Roxy and Jetta yelling, "Outta the way slow pokes."

Pizzazz walked next to Stormer and held up the CD Clash had just given her. "Clash gave this to me. It's the raw and unedited album. She wants me to play it tonight at the party but I think you deserve first crack at hearing it. After all you wrote most of the songs."

"I-I don't know what to say, Pizzazz. You've always listened to the original cut of the album before anyone else." Stormer stopped walking and hugged her half sister. "Let me guess, you're trying to make up for all the times you were a bitch to me." She broke into a smile and laughed softly.

Beginning to laugh herself Pizzazz led Stormer to her car. "Listen, Mary, growing up together I always wasn't the most loving of a friend but you were always like a sister to me. You listened to me when I had a problem and you held me when I needed it." She looked at the roof of Stormer's car for a moment. "Shit, I'm really bad at saying stuff like this, what I'm getting at is this, I'm sorry for all the years of mistreatment. Anyway, if you ever want to talk I'm here for you. There I said it now I have to go shower, I feel all sticky from being sweet."

She was about to climb into her car when Stormer stopped her. "Hey, forget about the past of hurting others. I've forgiven you years ago for everything. At least now we each have a new shoulder to cry on." She held the CD up. "We'll listen to this together since we both worked hard writing the songs." Pizzazz agreed. "Okay, follow me back to my place. We can listen to it there on the new sound system I bought."

Clash parked in the usual spot she did when she visited Techrat at the Rat's Lair. She used the passcode that he had given her months ago to enter, the door opened and she entered the narrow passage way. "Hey Techie, you here? Great news, babe, Misfits are done recording and now it's our turn." She entered his workstation and leaned against the wall with her shoulder. "But tonight we're gonna celebrate."

"Okay, Clash, let me get my stuff together. I'm working on a new gizmo for their first concert." He began to gather up his tools and small soldering irons when Clash grabbed him by the shirt. "Clash, what are you doing?!"

"You have the night off. No working on gizmos, gadgets and whatnots. You're going to party. If you don't know how to party, I'll teach you. And if you even so much look like you're thinking about a gizmo, I'll throw you into the pool. If you choose to waive these rights, I'll you hand over to the not so tender mercies of Jetta and Roxy. Do you understand your party rights?" Clash was leading him out the door to her car when an old machine in the corner caught her eye. "Hey Techie, is this that the time machine The Misfits told me about?"

Techrat walked over to the machine with a slight smile on his face while she followed close behind. "Yes but I lied to Eric Raymond. It wasn't a time machine. It merely broadcasted a hypnotic suggestion to the subject. I had it suggest to Jem and The Holograms that they were being sent back in time. Of course that didn't really happen. The people that got sent forward in time were just a mass hallucination." He could tell that Clash was very impressed. "I admit it was fun making Eric think he was sent back to prehistoric time. The gasses back then would've really killed him and The Misfits thought the device was destroyed when it actually shorted out."

He got into the car after Clash opened the door for him. She got in and started up the engine. "Ever think of patenting your ideas?"

"Never crossed my mind, by the way, any idea for our studio name?"

Clash pulled out onto the main road and headed to the Gabor Estate. "No, nothing yet, but I'm open to suggestions. Vivian says that she isn't that much of a hurry. She's been pretty busy lately, but the good news is she agreed to shoot the Misfits new video. I'm saving it as my announcement for tonight."

"Now, Eric. How many times do I have to remind you? I want my money!"

Eric Raymond's head snapped back from the impact of the punch. Spitting out blood he looked up at the man in the sunglasses. "Leo," he began before getting punched again. "I'm sorry, Mr. Scarletti, I'm working on getting the money I just need more time. Kevin Ross is watching every move I make and I can't embezzle the money from him. But-but I have an idea."

The man known as Mr. Scarletti sat forward in the chair as he looked deep into Eric's eyes. "Tony, Sal, let him go." Tony dropped Eric to the ground as Sal wiped the blood off his hand. Mr. Scarletti watched Eric sit up. "I'm being nice here, Raymond. I'm giving you the time you're requesting. How long do you require?"

"Thank you, Mr. Scarletti, I need a month and I can pay you back." Eric took the towel that Sal handed him. "Thank you." He wiped the blood from his mouth and chin.

Mr. Scarletti sat back in the chair while he thought for a few minutes. "Three weeks." Eric began to protest but closed his mouth. "Three weeks! Be happy I don't make it one week. I don't care how you get me my money just get it to me in three weeks. Next time there won't be any negotiation. Only thing you'll feel is a gun at the back of your head." Mr. Scarletti rose and walked to the door while Sal and Tony followed him. "We'll show ourselves out."

Eric swallowed hard after he heard the door click shut. He had to figure out what to do and figure it out fast. He opened a bottle of scotch and took a long drink from the bottle. First he intended to get very drunk.

Stormer stepped out the backdoor into the backyard of the Gabor Manor. The celebration was still going for The Misfits finishing their new album. She sat in one of the patio chairs and rested her head on the table in front of her. "Partied out?" came a nearby voice. She looked up and found Evelyn Gabor sitting on the other side of the table.

"Oh, hi Eve didn't know you were out here." Stormer rubbed her eyes. They ached from being awake so long. "I just needed some quiet and fresh air. Everyone went down to the gym to watch David and Shin spar. I'm not really in the mood to watch them." Evelyn handed Stormer a cup. She looked at the cup then at Evelyn confused. "What's this for?" Evelyn poured her a small amount of sake' then poured herself a cup.

"I want you to know that I hold no ill will towards you because of the fact that you're the love child Harvey had with your mother. I like you Mary. You're a very intelligent and creative young woman and a good friend of Phyllis. Now I propose a toast to us becoming friends." She held her cup up Stormer brought hers up as well. They brought their cups together and said cheers at the same time.

After sipping the drink Stormer put her cup down. "Thank you." It was all she could say. She drank the rest of the sake' that was in the cup. After a moment of silence she looked at the older woman. "I don't even like sake' that much." She laughed a little then stood. "I think it's time someone new challenged Jetta to a drinking contest." She walked to the door and opened it and before going in she turned to Evelyn. "Thanks again." She waved and went inside the house.

Evelyn smiled to herself as she picked up the cups and bottle of sake'. She went inside and put them in the kitchen and headed upstairs to bed.

Eric anxiously paced in his office. The three weeks were almost up and he still didn't have the money. He started to call Riot then hung up the phone. No, he wasn't going to get The Stingers involved. Perhaps he could talk Kevin into giving him a pay advance. He jumped when a knock came from his office door. Eric quickly sat behind his desk and tried in vain to look composed. "Enter."

A beautiful German blonde entered the room. "Eric, Riot wants to know when The Stingers will put out their next album. It's just been ages since we have." She sat on the edge of his desk and gave him a seductive look.

"You can start anytime you're ready, Minx. Right now I have more important matters to attend to." He started working on a bogus report in hopes that she'd leave him to think.

She moved to Eric's lap, lifted his head and looked in his eyes. She could tell he was scared out of his mind about something. Minx frowned a little and changed her tone to one of compassion. "Eric, what's wrong? You're trembling."

Eric put his pen down then helped Minx off his lap. "I wish I could tell you or the other Stingers, Minx. But I'm in deep trouble and I'm planning on going on a short vacation soon. I think it would be wise if you suggested to Riot that you go on a vacation as well."

"I don't understand. What kind of trouble? Is your life in danger? What is it, Eric?" She put both of her hands on his shoulders and stood behind him while she rubbed his shoulders. "Maybe Riot can help. Whatever it is he'll try to help you."

Opening a drawer Eric pulled out handful of cash out of an unmarked box. "Take this. Split it up with the others and just leave for a few weeks. Work on some new songs if you want. Just leave the area for awhile." He stood to look out of his window at the skyline. "I'll be in touch." He watched Minx's reflection in the window. She began moving towards him then slowly walked to the office door. Once she was gone he sat back at his desk. The money he had given her was only a minor fraction of what he owed. He knew she would listen and The Stingers would be out of danger.

A thought flashed through Eric's mind of what he could do. He knew of a place where he could be safe.

Pizzazz put the heavy box down and leaned on it exhausted. "Moving truck is almost empty. By the way Roxy how much crap do you own? I need to sit." She sat while leaning her back against the box.

"Oh come on, it's not that bad." Roxy handed Pizzazz a glass of iced tea. "It's mostly just stuff I've picked up on our travels. What can I say but I'm a packrat. I can't bring myself to throw stuff out. Glad this place has an attic. I sure can use it."

Jetta started walking to the door. "The truck's not gonna unload itself, luvs. I'm going to move some of the boxes to the cargo door. Come out when you're ready and I'll hand them to you." The other two women nodded and she left for the truck.

Roxy sat next to Pizzazz on the box in silence for a few moments before hugging Pizzazz, startling her and causing her spill a little of the iced tea. "I live in a house! Finally!" She giggled happily and looked at her friend. "Oh sorry, I'm just so damn happy." She listened to Stormer and Clash trying to assemble her bed in the bedroom. "Hey! Where's that no good brother of yours? I helped him move. He should be here helping me move!"

"He said he was meeting Shin's cousin today who is opening a new martial arts academy soon. So he's helping him set up there." She sipped her iced tea. "He'll be by later for the house warming party. Besides, he helped you moved into the apartment. So why are you bitchin'?" She finished her drink and set the glass down on a nearby box. "Let's go help Jetta before she starts throwing a fit." Roxy snorted a laugh and followed her.

Throwing the ratchet down in frustration, Stormer looked up from the bed frame she was helping assemble. "This is so damn annoying, Clash. Why am I putting it together? I have no mechanical skills like this."

Clash picked up the ratchet and knelt next to her friend. "That's why I'm trying to teach you how to do this. You need to learn the skills first." She looked at the progress Stormer had made on the frame. It was almost fully assembled. "We're just about done here. Let's go help the others before they start complaining that we didn't help with the heavy shit."

"We should finish this first." Stormer took the ratchet from Clash and started working again. "So our album comes out next Tuesday." She tried changing the subject. She was distracting herself from how aggravating putting a bed frame together was. "When did you finish the mixing?" She checked the support beam to see if it was stable enough.

"I finished it Monday morning and it sounds great!" She twirled her finger in a clock-wise fashion. "Tighten is clock-wise. The direction slips sometimes on that ratchet. But the album is going to be a hit. I can feel it." Stormer handed Clash the ratchet and she noticed the bed frame was finished. "Alright, you did it."

Stormer smiled proudly to herself. "Yeah, it was a pain in the ass, but I did it. Thanks but speaking of pains in the ass, let's go help the other three." Clash helped her to her feet. They walked into the living room where Roxy and Pizzazz were putting their boxes down. "Hey Roxy, I just put your bed frame together." Her voice was full of pride.

David set the small box down on the dining room table and smiled at the people standing around it. "Guess what's in the box." Everyone shrugged in confusion. He opened the box and pulled out a crystal CD case. He held it so the front of the case could be read by everyone. It had a picture of the group on it that read Misfits – Rebirth. "These are advanced first pressings. I have one for each of you and for a few friends. After dropping Shin off at home I stopped by the office. I figured this would make up for not helping." He handed a copy of the album to his friends.

The Misfits looked at each other with smiles slowly crossing their lips. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's put it on!" Pizzazz began looking for where the stereo system was set up.

"Uh Pizzazz, I haven't assembled it yet. Give me a few minutes, okay?" Clash started assembling Jetta's stereo system right away. "Jetta, I'm just hooking it up for the CD player. I'll get the rest done later. Now, hand me an album." She took the CD Pizzazz handed her and put it in the disc tray and pressed play.

Nearly an hour later the album ended and David looked at everyone in the room. "Well, that sure as hell sounded better than the unmixed version. You guys did it. I knew you could."

Pizzazz stared at her brother with tears starting to form in the corners of her eyes. "David, I know I speak on behalf of all of The Misfits when I say that none of this would be happening without you. If you didn't open our eyes to that we didn't need to try to destroy everything, this album wouldn't be possible." She hugged her brother gently. "Thank you."

Each of The Misfits took turns thanking and hugging David. Roxy went last and she turned to the rest of her friends. "Uh, I'm really bad at this shit one on one, much less in front of people. So if you don't mind I'd like to thank him privately." Roxy bumped David's hand and led him to her new bedroom. David walked in first and she turned back to her friends. "Don't worry, I'm not gonna molest him." She began to close the door and paused as she peeked through the crack. "Not unless he wants me too." She winked and closed the door.

Roxy leaned against the closed door and smiled. "I was only joking with them. God, it seems all I've been doing lately is thanking you for something." She looked at David who was leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets. Her eyes flicked to the bed frame and mattresses. "Help me put the mattresses on, okay?" He nodded and grabbed one end of the boxspring. "It seems you've really helped all of us gain direction in our lives and music. I've killed a lot of my inner demons with your help. You're the positive influence that The Misfits needed." She walked around the bed and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Thank you." She hugged him gently.

"You're welcome." He kissed the top of her head and hugged her tighter.

They broke the embrace and sat on the edge of the bed. Roxy felt the bed start to give way under the sudden weight. But before she could warn David, the bed frame let out a loud groan. The bolts that held the right side of the bed frame came loose and buckled under their weight. David and Roxy looked at each other a moment and started laughing. "Stormer! Come fix my bed!" Roxy fell back laughing harder. Stormer opened the door and found the two friends laughing on the broken bed. The rest of The Misfits peeked in and started chuckling themselves.

The house warming party ended around one in the morning. David and Pizzazz arrived home at the Gabor Estate after leaving together. Pizzazz went straight to bed while David stayed up and talked with Shin. "Your cousin Tommy is an amazing martial artist. I've never seen most of those techniques." David took a bite out of the pizza Suzaku had ordered earlier. "I've never seen that tattoo on your arm before either. You'd think I'd notice a tattoo on someone's right forearm."

Shin laughed briefly. "The tattoo is a mark of our ninja clan. When I was under the employ of Hiroki Bayushi I was dishonored from my clan. His death restored my honor. I can practice the Arashikage ninja style again." He rolled up his sleeve to show him the tattoo when David held up his hand. "What is it?"

David shushed him with a finger to his lips. "Outside by the front gate, do you hear it?" Shin concentrated then nodded. "You prepared at all?" Shin showed him a couple shurikens he kept in a special belt pouch. David went to a hidden wall section and grabbed a wakizashi he kept in there. He handed Shin a bow and quiver of arrows. "No killing. Just wound whoever it is." Shin nodded as they slipped out the backdoor and merged with the shadows of the night.

Shin notched an arrow upon passing the house. He saw David get ready on the other side. He signaled to him that he was going on top of the garage for better view. David signaled back that he was heading toward the gate and for Shin to cover him. After getting the reply, David climbed up to the wall near the gate and gatehouse. He leapt to the top of the wall hidden by the top of the building. Shin signaled that he didn't see anything while David cautiously looked on the furthest side of the gatehouse. It was clear as he slipped down. Pulling the wakizashi free of his scabbard David crept to the front of the gatehouse finding a nervous man standing there.

Sneaking up behind the man, David put the bunt edge of his sword's blade to the man's throat. "Who are you? And why are you sneaking around my home?" David growled quietly into the man's ear.

"david," the man gasped softly, "it's me, eric raymond. I need your help." David let him go but didn't sheath his sword. "David, please, I'm desperate. I need your help and protection."

David looked Eric with a blank expression as he thought about it carefully. "Alright, but only until you explain why you're in trouble."

TO BE CONTINUED IN "RETURN TO JAPAN"

PART 2 OF THE MOB RULES