Six Months
Part 4
No Future
By Nick Maro
The initial shock of falling left Kimber and she grabbed for the rope that was attached to the window washer's carriage. She looked up and saw the rest of Suzaku holding on to the same rope. Her eyes flicked to look at the edge of the building as panic began to build in her stomach.
David, Kyoko and Yukio stood at the edge of the building. Kyoko was starting to climb into the carriage when David stopped her. He pointed at the opposite end she was dangling from. It had been damaged from the explosion.
Eiji had carefully climbed to the top and was helping Ken up when the screeching of metal on metal pierced Kimber's ears. The other end of the carriage was beginning to snap. Ken was now on the edge reaching to grab Hitomi's hand when the support snapped. The sudden jerk caused Hitomi to fall further down the rope closer to Kimber. They exchanged frightened looks.
"Let go of the rope," Eiji yelled from the edge. "The carriage is about to fall and take you with. David is going to attempt something stupid. I mean really stupid!"
They saw Ken smack Eiji upside the head. "Don't tell them that!" He looked down at his sister and Kimber. He gave his best smile. "Now listen to me, let go when I tell you. David, Yukio and Kyoko are going to use the hang gliders to fly down and grab you as you fall. Okay, so it does sound stupid, but it's the only idea we can think of. You're going to be okay." He straightened up and mumbled to himself, "I hope you'll be okay."
Hitomi and Kimber exchanged nervous looks again. "Y'know Kimber, I'm really close to going into a full blown panic attack." Hitomi let out a nervous giggle. "You'd think I'd be used to this kind of thing by now. Defying death, thwarting international conspiracies, wondering why you woke up that morning. Remind me if we survive this to either kiss my rescuer or punch them really, really hard." She nervously giggled again.
Ken looked down at them again. "You guys ready?" Kimber and Hitomi both shook their heads no slowly. Ken smirked. "Tough. They're getting ready to jump as soon as I give the word. Don't worry its okay. You're going to be fine." He looked over his shoulder and gave a slow nod. "David is ready when you are. What I want you to do is both yell now and let go. David, Yukio and Kyoko will jump when you yell." The pair nodded.
Kimber looked up at Hitomi. "I'm ready when you are, Hitomi. Okay, Ken. Now!" Hitomi and Kimber waited a brief second and let go of the rope. They fell together, speeding toward the rushing pavement below.
Hitomi reached out for Kimber's hand. She was mere inches from touching them, when she saw a blur of color streak down towards Kimber. The space where Kimber was falling was now empty. Hitomi closed her eyes as she waited for her imminent death. She jolted them open when she felt herself stop falling downward and was now moving sideways. Kyoko's face smiled at her. "[You're going to be okay,]" she whispered to the young drummer.
Hitomi unsteadily climbed on to Kyoko's back and hugged her around her neck as told. She shut her eyes and opened them again when the sensation of flying had passed. "[thank you, Kyoko,]" she said quietly. Instinctively Hitomi looked up at where they were just dangling. She saw two smoking holes in the north side of the Misfits Music building.
The hang glider with David and Kimber landed a few yards away. Kimber hugged and deeply kissed David. She looked where Hitomi was standing and new tears began to stream down her cheeks. Kimber turned back to look at David. "Well, I think it's safe to say we're back." She lightly giggled and hugged her head into David's chest. The wail of sirens pierced the Christmas morning silence.
After answering what seemed to be endless hours of questions by authorities and insurance investigators, The Misfits and Suzaku met at the Gabor Estate. Pizzazz politely turned Jerrica down an offer for Christmas dinner at the Starlight Mansion. She leaned her left shoulder against the wall and watched everyone talk quietly. Her mind was racing about who would want to blow up her and David's offices.
David sat quietly on the couch. Roxy leaned against him, her back against his upper body. She had her eyes closed while she rested quietly. David looked to be in deep thought. He looked over at Stormer, who was pacing and chewing her thumbnail. She muttered quietly to herself about what happened. She almost tripped over Jetta's feet as she paced.
"I've come to the conclusion that we're just plain cursed," Kimber said from the entertainment room where she was watching footage of the explosion. "I mean our first concert in months and the building we're on top of gets attacked. What are the odds?"
Kyoko burst through the back door carrying Yukio's limp body. "David! We were just ambushed by the Crimson Sons. Yukio is hurt." She laid Yukio on the couch after David and Roxy got up." One of the ninjas gave me this." She handed David a folded note. "She was protecting me."
Hitomi rushed to Yukio's side and looked her over. She opened the other's uniform top and felt Yukio's sides and ribs. "Well, the good news is that she'll be okay. No broken bones and it's mostly just bruises or surface damage. But the bad news is that she may have a concussion." Hitomi stood up and leaned back to crack her back. She looked at the faces staring at her. "What? I took a few nursing classes in Japan."
David lightly tapped Yukio's cheeks. "[Wake up, Yukio. Come on, wake up for me.]" Yukio's eyes fluttered open slowly. He rubbed her cheek lightly with his hand smiled. "[There's my fearless warrior. Sit up and tell me what happened.]" He helped her sit up a little.
"Kyoko and I were just checking the grounds when we were attacked out of the darkness." Yukio accepted a glass of water from Stormer. "Somebody strangely familiar attacked me personally." She paused and stared at the floor for a moment. "It's probably nothing, just shock of being attacked like that. I'm fine. Really, I am."
"Come on Yukio, David and I will take you home so you can rest. I think its time we got moving anyway." Stormer helped Yukio up from the couch. "I'm just wondering why I didn't get the sense of danger I usually do. The whole thing with Misfits Music I can explain. I was still on my adrenaline high from playing. But tonight…" Her voice trailed off. "Tonight I'll think about it later."
"Mary, maybe Yukio should stay here if she does have a concussion." Pizzazz smiled warmly. "You're more than welcome to stay as well." Stormer shook her head and Roxy now supported Yukio for her.
Kimber grabbed David's arm as he started to follow Stormer who was saying her farewells. "Um David, I'll give you a ride home. That is, if you want me to. I just want to talk." She flashed a small smile.
Looking over her shoulder Stormer gave a slight nod to David. He turned to Kimber and took her hands in his. "We can talk while I check outside and make sure the attackers are gone." David glanced at Yukio and Kyoko. "Although I think they're gone by now." He kept the letter in his hand and walked to the backyard with Kimber. "Now, what's on your mind?"
"When I kissed you today, it was totally out of shock. I just didn't want you to think there was something else behind it." Kimber slipped her arm around David's waist and hugged it.
"I kinda figured it had to deal with what happened. Don't pay it any mind. You just acted on impulses that you had inside you. It was a heat of the moment thing." Once satisfied that they were alone, David sat on a bench in the yard. He pulled out the note that Kyoko had given him. "I didn't want to read this inside anyway. I didn't want to involve The Misfits with whatever this is about."
David started to read the note with Kimber reading over his shoulder. She gave up when she saw that the note was written in kanji. He swore in Japanese quietly and looked at Kimber. "This is supposedly from the leader of the Crimson Sons. He's demanding that he and I meet tonight in Chinatown. He says that if I don't something tragic will happen to a loved one."
Kimber looked up at David in mild concern. A scream came from the house before she could question the threat. Together the former couple ran toward the mansion at full speed. David opened the door and looked around as Kimber caught up to him quickly, slightly out of breath. He looked over his shoulder at the young woman.
"Kimber! David! Upstairs now!" came Pizzazz's voice.
The pair ran up the stairs two at a time and stopped at the room Hitomi lived in. Everyone was in there as they stared at a far wall. David was let through. He stopped and paused before approaching the piece of cloth attached to the arrow in the wall. "Its part of the shirt Hitomi was wearing tonight," Ken said next to David, his voice was full of panic and worry.
Pulling the cloth off of the arrow, David put it in his pocket. "Don't worry I'm getting her back tonight. Yukio, Kyoko, you're staying here. No back talk." He handed the note to Yukio and looked at the two women. "Don't come after me. That's an order." He held eye contact with them both before turning away. David grabbed his swords that he'd brought from his home earlier in the day. He took off in his car minutes later.
Watching the car pull up and park, the Crimson Sons scout smiled to himself. He knew that he would be rewarded handsomely for the good news. He waited a few extra minutes and then ran silently across the roof tops to where his leader sat. "[Sire, the gaijin has arrived. He is alone although he is armed.]"
The leader of the Crimson Sons looked up from his prisoner and bait. "[Good work, I knew the gaijin would follow my instructions in fear of harm to our guest. No one touches him as I promised him in the letter. Tell everyone to stay hidden. He'll know they're there, but I don't want them seen. Is all of that understood?]"
"[Yes, Master.]" The scout bowed and ran back to his position overlooking the entrance.
David glanced up when he noticed a blur of movement. He kept walking but checked his swords to see they were free of their scabbards. Walking down the alleyway, he kept alert knowing there were Crimson Sons ninjas all around him. David walked for another three blocks then stopped. He again checked his weapons.
Three figures walked toward him, a large man and two women. David could tell that one of the women was bound and forced to move forward. They stopped twenty feet in front of David with their faces hidden. The man took a few steps forward. He folded his arms across his chest and began laughing. "[So, this is the gaijin who has caused us so much trouble.]"
"[From the way I've seen things you're the one causing all of the trouble. I've done has you asked. I've met you in person alone.]" David held his hand out to the bound woman. "[Now please release Hitomi. I do not wish to fight you for her, but I will.]"
"[Yes. Yes, as you have done so in the past. You defended dear, sweet Hitomi and her idiot brother Kenshiro when you first arrived in Japan. I know very well of how you'll fight for her.]" The leader of the Crimson Sons ripped off his mask. It took a moment for David to recognize the man before him. "[I know because you humiliated me. You said I was without honor. You said I was less than a man. You are not better than me, Gaijin! I control the Crimson Sons. I could have them crush you without as much as a second thought. But I choose to finish what was started fifteen years ago!]"
David stared at the man who was the bully from over fifteen years ago. He wanted to feel rage toward him. He wanted to hate him for kidnapped Hitomi but all he could feel was pity. "[Ryo, that was in the past. We were young. I should've went after you and talked to you. The way I handled it wasn't completely right. Yes, you were attacking Hitomi and Ken, but I should've announced my presence. I should've fought you like a true warrior. For that I apologize.]"
Ryo watched David intently. "[Then I suggest we finish what you started right now. Hand to hand combat with no weapons. This time there will be no sneak attacks by you. None of my ninjas will interfere. Is that agreeable?]"
"[Yes.]" David set his swords down carefully. "[No matter the outcome, no damage will come to my swords. You win you may take Hitomi and me as your prize. If I win, Hitomi goes free and we go our separate ways. I won't notify the authorities for this out of my attacking you blind. But if you attack myself, my family, friends or the Arashikage Clan again, I'll hunt you down till I see the Crimsons Sons are destroyed.]"
"[Nice speech and I agree to your terms.]"
David stepped forward slowly. "[May I speak to Hitomi first? I just want to make sure she's unharmed.]" Ryo nodded and the woman behind Hitomi shoved her forward. David walked quickly to her while ignoring the urge to run to her. He grabbed her and hugged her tightly. He whispered in her ear. "Everything is going to be okay. You'll see."
Hitomi kissed him on the cheek. "I'm not afraid. I know you'll win." The woman started walking towards her. "I love you, David. I never stopped." She felt a tear run down her cheek as she tried to smile. She turned and walked back to where the woman was waiting for her.
Finished with stretching his arms and legs, Ryo looked at David. "[Whenever you're ready, Gaijin.]"
Stormer ran into the living room of the Gabor Mansion slightly out of breath. All eyes were on her. She looked around the room. "Where's Kyoko?" Jetta pointed to the stairs without looking up from her book. Stormer raced up the stairs without saying another word. She opened the door Yukio was in. Kyoko looked up from watching over her friend.
"What's going on, Mary?"
"Do you think Yukio is well enough to fight?"
Yukio sat up, still groggy from sleeping. "A warrior is always ready to fight. Do not argue with me, Kyoko. I can see it in your eyes. Now what's the trouble, Mary?"
Picking himself up from the ground David got to his feet. He rotated his right shoulder twice and looked at Ryo. "[I wasn't expecting that. Very good, Ryo, now try again to impress me.]" David stood in his defensive ready stance and waited for Ryo to come at him. When he did, David grabbed Ryo's arm, tossing him into a set of garbage cans and the wall. A voice from a window yelled for the cats to shut up.
Ryo stood up and glared at David. He charged his hated foe and rammed his shoulder into David's stomach, knocking the wind out of his lungs. Ryo punched David's kidneys from behind causing him to scream in pain. "[You think I'm doing this to impress you, Gaijin? Huh? You joke and laugh while I take this serious? This how you've always acted, Gaijin. You'll never be a true son of Nippon. I hate you, Gaijin. And I'll destroy everything that you love and hold dear, starting first with dear sweet Hitomi.]" He gave a single nod to the woman in the shadows.
A flash of metal flickered from the woman's side. David watched helplessly as she brought the blade to Hitomi's throat and held it there. Hitomi tried to give David a brave smile as frightened tears fell from her cheeks. David struggled to get free from the bigger man. He managed to get both arms free. He clapped both hands on Ryo's ears causing him to howl in pain. Ryo let go of David's waist to cover his ears, David began to run to Hitomi's aid.
"[Don't even think about it, Gaijin. One jerk from my arm and your precious Hitomi is dead. Her blood will be on your hands,]" the woman spoke softly. David stayed in his place and thought quickly about to do.
A streak of metal struck the back of the woman's hand causing her to drop her knife and let Hitomi go free. David ran to Hitomi and hugged her, then grabbed her hand. He looked around, Ryo was still on the ground in pain, the woman was holding her hand and on the roof were two white robed figures. He smiled to himself despite the fact he told them both to stay away.
Both figures gracefully jumped to the ground. The shorter one pulled down her hood and face mask. Yukio smiled despite the pain she still was in. "[Sorry we're late. Traffic was a bitch.]"
The woman laughed from the shadows as Ryo stumbled toward her. "[So, even you talk like the gaijin too. I expected much more from you, dear sister.]" The woman walked into the light showing off the scars and burns on the left side of her once beautiful face. "[What's the matter, dear sister? Don't you recognize me? I'll give you a hint. Last time you saw me, the Matsuura Clan was being slaughtered like cattle by the Arashikage Clan. We were standing side by side fighting them off and you left me! You abandoned me!]"
Yukio took several steps backwards in shock. "[That's not true. The roof was on fire and you were buried under flaming debris. I couldn't get you out. Reika told me there's was no saving you. I ran after she was killed defending me.]" She looked up into the other woman's eyes. Tears ran down her cheeks. "[Mayumi. May, I thought you were dead. The smell of your flesh burning still haunts my dreams. You're my sister. You're my flesh and blood.]"
"[Don't you ever call me that again! You abandoned me to die. I renounce you as my sister and declare you as my mortal enemy. Just as my beloved Ryo will make the gaijin's life Hell, I'll make yours a living Hell as well.]" Mayumi put her arm around Ryo's shoulders. She opened her mouth to say more, when the wail of sirens was heard. She whispered in Ryo's ear. "[Come, my love. Let's get out of here.]" Ryo nodded and gave a signal for the Crimson Sons to make their retreat. They silently and quickly escaped into the night.
"David, I can explain."
Putting his hand on her shoulder, David quieted his friend. "There's no need to explain for her, but you can explain your timely arrival on the way home."
The four friends ran through the back alleys back to where the two cars that were waiting. David looked at the two women and Kyoko smirked. "Mary drove us." David just nodded his understanding as he carried Hitomi in his arms while Yukio carried his swords for him.
The constant pounding on the front door brought David awake. He moaned and held his head while looking around his room. His whole body was in pain. David noticed he fell asleep in his clothing. Kyoko was asleep next to him in her nightgown sound asleep. "At least one of us got to change," he mumbled to himself. The banging on the door didn't stop. "All right! All right! Can't a man wake up before answering the door?"
David rubbed the sleep from his eyes and yawned. He opened the door in mid-yawn. Pizzazz stood before him looking her usual impatient self. "About damn time you answered the door. I need to talk to you." She stopped and looked her twin up and down. "What the hell happened to you?"
"Kyoko and Suzaku decided that they should celebrate their return as a band. Hitomi dragged me along for saving her the other night. So, what's up?" David started boiling some water.
"There's something I've wanted to talk to you about. It's about Eric Raymond," Pizzazz said sitting at the kitchen counter.
Eric was grabbed by a furious David Gabor as soon as he opened the door to his condo. David slammed the manager of The Stingers against the wall and leaned in close. "Please tell me I didn't misjudge you. Tell me you're not the slimy, little piece of rat shit that my sister warned me about. Tell me you're not embezzling money from Misfits Music again."
Staring at David with eyes wide in disbelief, Eric gasped out his words. "What are you talking about—" He was slammed against the wall again. "I didn't embezzle any money. You have my word on this." Eric stared long into David's eyes. David let go of his shirt and dropped him to the floor. "David, I'm not stealing any money from you."
David paced the hallway trying to calm down and stroked his chin in thought. "I'm sorry for acting like that. It's the Gabor anger. Phyllis came over this morning with some embezzlement investigation report by your cousin Joseph. He discovered that The Stingers were spending more than usual and told her. She watched your spending for the next two weeks and then there was that fight you in her office. That's when she asked him to start the investigation. She got the results in today and it said that you'd taken close to a hundred thousand dollars extra." David stopped pacing and looked up at the man.
Eric sighed and sat on the couch. "That money was used for studio improvements and new recording equipment. I didn't think I'd need to get approval. Can't Dance Studios was falling apart. It's like it hadn't been updated since the eighties. So you'll tell Pizzazz, right?"
"No, you'll have to tell her. I'm sure she'll understand. I'm staying out of Misfits Music business from now on. My destiny lays elsewhere and it's not with Misfits Music. I learned this while I was in Japan."
"Well, wherever it is you wind up, I know you'll be comfortable. I could tell from watching you manage The Misfits that you weren't cut out for the role." Eric held out a mug filled with tea for him. "I know you don't drink coffee. I'm not saying you didn't do any good. You did a lot of good. I never would have thought that The Misfits would have turned out the way they have: Respectable. This is all your doing, but when it comes to managing and booking an event you don't have the business know how. You're a good man David Gabor, but a lousy manager."
David laughed under his breath. "Thanks, Eric. Phyllis is in charge of The Misfits now. She watched our father and has his business savvy, but she'll still consult with me on major matters. So when you tell her about the improvements, you take her to the studio and show her what's been done. I trust you, Eric. Just don't make me doubt you." David shook the older man's hand and smiled.
"Goddammit Sheila, can't you put that book down and listen to me for one minute? This is the third time I've asked you to do the dishes and you just ignored me by reading your book." Roxy grabbed the book from her best friend's hands.
Jetta looked up at Roxy with her heavily bagged eyes. "I'll get to it after I've finished me chapter," she said calmly.
Roxy closed the book and looked at it. "No. You'll do it now. You've been acting like a stranger since you've began reading these alternate energy channeling books. What's gotten into you?" Jetta rolled her eyes and walked to her room shutting the door behind her. Roxy stood at the door and spoke to it. "Talk to me, Sheila. I want you to tell me what's wrong." She twisted the knob, it was unlocked. "I love you. Gods help me, I do." She shouldered the door open.
Jetta wasn't anywhere to be seen. Roxy checked the windows. They were all locked and she wasn't in any of the closets. In one corner of the room, Roxy smelled what could only be described as oxidized air. She turned around in the empty room and did the one thing she never did.
Roxy panicked.
TO BE CONTINUED IN "ASTRAL FORCES"
PART 1 OF MYSTIC RHYTHMS