For Whom The Bell Tolls

Part 1

Knockin' On Heaven's Door

By Nick Maro

The jet bounced several times as its wheels touched down on the tarmac, sending thin trails of smoke into the air. The private jet taxied to an empty terminal and stopped. A black limo waited for the jet's door to open. The sun blazed down on the door as it opened automatically. The five exhausted women slowly climbed out of the aircraft and stretched. The Misfits and Kimber looked around obviously happy to be back in Los Angeles again.

The chauffeur opened the limo door for the women as they grabbed their bags. He opened the trunk and put the baggage in as they handed them to him. Kimber and Stormer got into the limo first. They each looked as if they had only gotten a few hours of sleep. Roxy got in followed by Pizzazz and Jetta. The chauffeur shut the door behind them and the limo pulled out of the private terminal.

Pizzazz looked at Kimber and smirked slightly. "So, what have we learned about drinking too much on a plane?" She laughed loudly when Kimber gave her the middle finger and laid her head on Stormer's shoulder. "You do look a lot better. We're going to drop you and Mary off first so you can call Alan and lay down. I know I can use a nice long, hot bath."

"I've been thinking about what I should do with my aunt and uncle's house." Roxy stretched out on the seat she shared with Jetta. "Sheila was saying I should sell it. I could definitely fix it up some and sell it easily, but I think I'll give it to Johnny and his wife. I mean, I missed their wedding and all. Plus maybe they could fill it with good memories." Roxy sat up a bit and shrugged.

"That's a great idea, Rox. You've got my help." Kimber smiled and opened the small refrigerator in the back of the limo. She grabbed some ice and put it on her forehead. She leaned back and closed her eyes for the rest of the ride to her home. The past few days seemed like a blur. She'd had gone to the comic book convention because it coincided with a few of Suzaku's tour dates in Chicago. She spent most of the weekend with a young man from the Chicago area. She couldn't wait for him to come to Los Angeles.

Stormer gently shook Kimber awake when they arrived at their house. Kimber hid her yawn and hugged the three other women in the limo. She got out and picked up her bags then joined Stormer at their front door. Stormer opened the door and brought her bags to her room while Kimber did the same. She glanced at the answering machine and pressed the play button. She listened to the messages while she unpacked.

"Hey Kim, Jerrica called. She said to call her back as soon as possible."

"Yeah I know, Mary. I'm on the phone with her now." Kimber smirked to herself. "Just another case of uncanny timing, right? So anyway, Alan said he's gonna try to make it out here in the next few weeks. No, we're not dating. Just getting to know each other and so far, I really like him." She rolled her eyes as her sister interrogated her on the phone. "I'm going to take a quick nap and then I'll stop by for dinner. Love ya, too. Bye." Kimber put the phone on its cradle.

"So I guess I'll be calling Phyllis and join them for dinner plans, huh?" Stormer was standing in her bedroom doorway with a small smile. "I already called and I'm going out with David and Kaori. They found a new Japanese place they wanted me to try." She gave a slight shrug.

Kimber set her alarm to wake her in two hours. She slipped under her covers and smiled at her best friend. "I know I told Alan I'd call him as soon as we got back, but I'm exhausted. So if he calls, just tell him I'll call back when I get up. Thanks." Kimber turned off the light on her nightstand and settled back on her pillow. She drifted off to a light sleep within moments.

Parking the car in her usual space, Stormer noticed that Jetta's car was in her space. She then remembered that Roxy's car was still in Philadelphia. She had mentioned that on the flight home from Chicago. Stormer figured that Roxy would drive it back after she deals with her house out there. It really wasn't her concern. She entered the spacious mansion and went up the stairs looking for David and Kaori. She knocked on her half brother's door and opened it a crack. "You guys here?"

David opened the door and hugged the blue haired woman. "Kaori is in the shower real quick. Mom wanted me to bring you down to the office when you got here. She has something to tell us all as a group, something to do with buying something major." He shrugged his shoulders and poked his head in the bathroom. "Mary is here and we're going to talk to Mom, shouldn't be too long." Kaori nodded and David followed Stormer out of his room.

Stormer walked down the stairs and slid the door to the office open. Pizzazz sat on the leather couch next to Jetta and Roxy. Evelyn sat behind the desk looking over some papers. She looked up and smiled warmly at David and Stormer as they found a place to sit. "I'm glad that you could make it, Mary. I'm going to make this quick because I know you're each eager to get to dinner or whatever you're doing tonight.

"Later this week I'm going to be signing papers that will declare me the owner of Starlight Music." Evelyn raised her voice through the questions. "Jerrica asked me to do this. Starlight Music is on the brink of going under. Their stocks are falling fast because of the revelation of Jerrica being Jem. The record sales are still very good, but it's her stockholders who don't trust the sales. It's seen as temporary. So she asked me to buy the company out from her rather have a hostile take over.

"All that needs to be done is to get Kimber to agree to sell her half of the company. I have a feeling that she won't like that idea." Evelyn slid the legal papers forward for everyone to see. "Just do me a favor and don't mention this to Kimber if you see her. Let her bring it up to you. I'm sure you understand how it would to be in her place." Evelyn stood and stretched then put the papers in her briefcase. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to give Yuji a call." She left the office and shut the door behind her.

Roxy looked at her each of her friends and slapped her thighs breaking the uncomfortable silence. "Well, that sure as hell wasn't the announcement that I was expecting."

Jetta chuckled to herself and looked at her girlfriend. "I don't think any of us were expectin' that one, luv. C'mon, let's go get a bite then see what kinda Hell we can raise." She turned to Pizzazz, Stormer and David. "You're all invited along if you want to come with."

"That's okay, Sheila. David, Kaori and I were going to go out to this new Japanese place he read about." Stormer looked at David and smiled. "Screw it, lets all go. I'll give Chip a call and we all can hang out. I do want to discuss ideas for a new album anyway. So we can get band business out of the way." The other Misfits agreed to go to dinner together. David called the restaurant on his cell phone and made the reservations.

Kevin Ross sat in his office with the lights out except for the one on his desk. He went over the reports of his various businesses. He was currently going over the reports of Kross Medical and Supply when Adrian Lassiter entered the office. He walked at a brisk pace to Ross' desk. He dropped a plain folder above the reports and didn't say a word when Ross looked up at him expectantly. "Well? What is it?"

"Just look for yourself. I brought it up as soon as I got it." Lassiter sat in a chair and waited for Ross to read the message in the folder.

Reading the letter over twice Ross crumbled the paper into a ball and threw it at the floor. His anger grew deep inside as his tired mind thought about the message. In a burst of sudden rage, Ross flipped his desk over. Adrian got out of the way just in time. Ross pointed at his associate. "This company transfer will not happen! I won't allow it! You know what to do and who to call." Ross punched his wall as Adrian Lassiter ran out of his office.

After checking her make up in the vanity mirror, Kimber got out of her car and set her car alarm. She had dressed up for meeting with her sister at an upscale restaurant. Jerrica had wanted to discuss some business matters with her, but wanted to do so at dinner. Kimber didn't care since Jerrica was paying for the dinner.

Kimber opened the door to the restaurant and approached the hostess station. "Hi, I'm here for Jerrica Benton. She should be expecting me." The hostess nodded and waved for Kimber to follow her. She led her to a private table. Kimber thanked her and hugged her sister. "It's great to see you, Jer. You gotta come to one of these conventions they're so much fun." She paused and thought a moment. "Outside of almost being pushed to your death."

"I heard about that from Mary. You're lucky she and that guy were there to help you. I already ordered the drinks for us, I hope you don't mind." Kimber just smiled and shook her head. Jerrica smiled again, but Kimber could tell she was hiding something she was dreading to say. The waiter came along poured each of them a glass of wine. Jerrica sipped her wine and looked over the menu. "So, when do I get to meet your real life superhero? You know he has to meet my standards before anything can happen."

"Oh yeah, look at those oh so high standards. You're the one engaged to Rio The Plant Punter Pacheco." Kimber grinned when she heard Jerrica snort out a laugh. "I talked to Alan on the ride here. He said he's making plans for two weeks from now to come out. He just needs to let everything with his stores settle down from after the convention. I can work on the new album with Mary in the meantime." She went back to skimming the menu for something filling yet cheap.

The waiter returned a few minutes later, Kimber and Jerrica ordered and thanked him. Jerrica smoothed out the sides of her hair and Kimber knew that was a sign she was nervous about asking something. She smirked and stopped her sister's fidgeting. Jerrica let out a sigh and smiled softly. She spoke in a gentle tone. "Kim, Starlight Music is in serious trouble of going out of business. The stockholders are pulling out and selling their stocks. I already agreed to do something without talking to you about it." She took her younger sister's hand and gave a light squeeze. "I'm selling my half of the company—"

Kimber stood up suddenly, interrupting Jerrica. "You're doing what?! Daddy gave us Starlight Music in his will. It's a part of our memory of him! And you're selling it?!"

"I have no other option. Now if you'll sit down and listen I'll finish." Jerrica watched Kimber sit down while still fuming in her seat over the news. "I'm selling my half to Evelyn Gabor. She agreed to buy it from me since it would be better than a hostile take over. Could you imagine if someone like Kevin Ross bought controlling shares of the company? Evelyn told me nothing will change except who the owner was." Jerrica smiled softly when Kimber eventually nodded. "Now I also told her that I would talk to you about selling your half."

"Fuck you! No!"

"Kimber Elaine Benton! Now you listen to me!" Jerrica stood up and leaned across the table and glared at her sister. "I knew you'd react like this, so I made sure we were in public when we discussed this. You have no idea how hard this is for me to do. Starlight Music was the greatest gift our father or anyone could have given me, now I have to sell my half so it survives. The very survival of Father's memory is at stake. Do you understand that?"

Leaning forward Kimber glared back at her older sister. "All that I know is that you're asking me to rip out my heart and sell it to make a quick buck. Fuck you. I'm not a whore like you. I'm keeping my half of the company and there's not a goddamn thing you can do." Kimber turned to leave and Jerrica grabbed her arm. She spun around and punched her older sister in the face, sending Jerrica flying backwards. "Don't you fucking dare touch me! You're not my sister. Not the sister I grew up with."

Jerrica stood up with fury burned in her eyes. She had enough of her sister's tantrums. She stopped Kimber from walking away by grabbing her upper arm and turned her around. Jerrica, for the first time in her life, punched Kimber in the jaw as hard as she could. "Now how do you like being punched? I've had it with your stubborn behavior."

Kimber responded with a growl and elbowed to Jerrica's stomach causing her sister to let go of her arm. She then swept her leg behind her sister's legs, tripping her. "Do not talk to me ever again. You're dead to me." She walked out of the restaurant with tears streaming down her face. She tried to hide her embarrassment by running through the doors and out to her car.

A waiter helped Jerrica to her feet. "Do you wish for me to call the police?"

"No," Jerrica said sniffing back her own tears. "She didn't mean it. I could tell." Jerrica was now mostly speaking to herself. She paid for the dinner and wine then left. She yelled at herself in the car that she could've handled the situation better.

Leaning her head on the bedroom door frame, Stormer let out a long sigh. She then yelled at the door again. "Kim! Let me in dammit! I just want to be there for you like you have been for me." Stormer waited a few minutes then leaned with her back against the frame work. She looked at David who was standing with Kaori and shrugged. "She's not coming out for nothin'. All I know is that she's being stubborn about this and I'm worried."

Stormer had called David after Kimber had come home in tears. She ran past Stormer, ignoring her questions of what was wrong and went straight into her room, slamming the door shut. David and Kaori had just arrived and shared a concerned look about their friend.

Knocking lightly on the door, David spoke in a soft tone. "Hey Kim, its David. You don't have to open the door or anything, just let us know what's going on. We're just concerned is all. Mary called me and I came right over like I always said I would. You're my best friend and I love you." He turned and looked at Kaori and Stormer. "We always so said no matter what we'd talk to each other when we were having troubles." He heard something shatter in her room.

"Well, at least we know she's awake and can hear us." Stormer brought Kaori and David a cup of tea. "Let's give her time to herself for now."

"May I try something?" Kaori asked setting her tea down. "If she won't let us in to see her, we'll have to find way in she didn't think about." Stormer and David both gave her a confused look. "Just trust me. I used to do this with my brothers and sisters who wouldn't let me in to talk."

David gave Kaori an even more confused look. "What are you talking about? You're an only child."

Kaori stood and thought for a moment then looked up with a puzzled look on her face. "So that's why they always acted like they didn't know who I was and called the police on me." She then broke into a big grin and let out a single laugh. "Relax. I'm kidding around. I did do this with my best friend and her sisters while growing up." Kaori pecked David on the cheek and went outside.

"She's a strange woman sometimes," Stormer said with a smirk.

David chuckled. "I said the same thing shortly after meeting her."

Kaori walked around the house until she found the windows to Kimber's room. She peeked inside each one and found a window that was open and didn't have anything in front of it. She saw Kimber lying on her back on her bed looking at the ceiling. Kaori slowly opened the window and was thankful that it slid open without making a sound. Kaori looked at Kimber again. She didn't move. Kaori thought she might be asleep.

She pulled herself up and slid through the window quietly. She straightened up and sat on the edge of Kimber's bed, waking the young redhead up. She smiled when Kimber let out a small yelp of surprise. "Now let's talk, Kimber." Kaori gave her a warm smile.

"Remind me to lock the windows from now on." Kimber brought her legs up to her chest and hugged them. She hid her red, puffy eyes by resting them on her knees. "Let me guess, Mary or David sent you to talk to me since I wouldn't talk to either of them."

"You'd guess wrong. I'm here because I care." Kaori's smile widened when Kimber looked at her. "I do. You're my friend. I don't think about the past you and David had together. I like talking with you." She reached over and wiped a few tears from Kimber's face. "It upsets me to see you upset. Isn't that what you'd call friendship?"

"I guess so." Kimber rubbed her wet cheeks dry with the back of her hand. "I have to say I always saw you as the enemy because of your relationship with David. I was jealous he found someone new. I felt like I wasn't loved by him." She let out a humorless chuckle. "I'm actually happy he's with you though. You two are almost perfect together. I'm not jealous anymore. I know I can find that for myself. So I do want to try and start to become your friend." Kimber leaned over into Kaori's arms and hugged her new friend tight. She then told her about what had happened while Kaori listened.

After an hour of talking, Kaori and Kimber came out of her room to the smell of freshly baked brownies. Stormer smiled at David and laughed. "Told you the brownies would bring them out, always does with Kimber." She then winked at the two women.

The sharp pain along her side brought Kyoko awake. Instinctively she felt her sides and midsection. Her ribs were bandaged tight. Her left arm was in a sling and her wrist was also bandaged up. She looked around the small room and realized she was back at the Arashikage Clan home. Sunlight shined through the windows. On the table next to her was a glass of water that she drank down immediately.

As she sat up causing immense pain shot through her body. Kyoko painfully swung her legs over the side of the bed and she carefully stood on her shaky legs. She found a fresh set of clothing for her lying on a chair next to the bed. She changed at her own pace then left the room. She found herself quickly regaining her strength and balance as she walked. She ached virtually everywhere and found bruises, small cuts and scratches along her right arm.

Kyoko made her way to a washroom. After relieving herself, she washed her hands and looked in the mirror. Once again she found small cuts and bruises on her face. Her right eye was black and still partially puffy. She left the washroom and began her search for the Arashikage Clan Master. She had important information about the Crimson Sons for him.

She rested in the courtyard and then spotted Takashi, one of the martial arts masters. She walked up to him as fast as she could in her condition. "[Takashi, I must speak with Uncle. I have very important information for him about the Crimson Sons.]"

"[Uncle is in his room resting. He has not been feeling well lately and is getting much needed rest.]" Takashi looked Kyoko over and frowned. "[You should be in bed also. You were found not too far just outside the north wall of the stronghold. Do you remember what had happened?]"

"[It's vague. I know I cut the bridges support ropes and fell into the chasm. I counted to five like Techrat had told me and pulled the cord. The compact glider pack he designed had worked. The wings came out and I drifted on the wind as far I could.]" Kyoko sat down and thought for a moment. "[That's when I hit the tree line. I think. All I know is that I crashed close to the stronghold. I don't remember much after that.]"

"[You were found in the forest by a young apprentice scout. He said you were leaning against a tree talking to yourself in an effort to stay awake. You saw his tattoo, smiled and collapsed right there.]" Takashi put a hand on Kyoko's shoulder grinned wide. "[You showed the will and determination of the Arashikage Clan. Come, I'll take you to Uncle. He has been waiting for you to waken so you can report.]"

Kyoko slowly stood and refused to show any pain or weakness as she followed the older man. He led her to a modest building where the Arashikage Clan master and mentor lived. Once there she told him the information she had learned about the Crimson Sons.

The two men stopped in front of the door and checked the address on the wall to the one on the piece of paper. The taller one turned to his shorter companion. He spoke in a deep German voice. "[You sure this is the place?]" The second man just nodded and the first knocked on the door. A young red head opened the door and looked the two men up and down. They both were wearing what looked to be red pajamas. Their faces were covered in red hoods. "[Excuse me, are you Stevie Blackwell?]"

"[Yes, I am. What can I do for you?]" Stevie looked confused at the two men.

"[Well for starters,]" the shorter man said slowly as he brought a water pistol from behind his back. He pointed the barrel at her face. "[You can die.]" A highly pressurized stream of what looked to be water sprayed out and hit Stevie in the face. She began screaming as her face began to melt off in chunks from the acid. The shorter man shot Stevie in the center of her chest to make sure she was dead. He then quickly sprayed a signature next to her body.

The first man took the glass water pistol he had just used and threw it into her apartment. The pistol shattered and splashed acid everywhere. The two men casually slipped back into the shadows.

Knocking on the office door, Kimber peeked in and smiled sadly at her older sister. Jerrica set her pen down and looked sternly at her younger sister as she approached the desk. Kimber looked out of Jerrica's office window at Misfit's Music. She saw Kaori give her thumbs up in encouragement and couldn't help but smile to herself. Kimber then turned back to her sister. "I'm sorry I acted like an idiot."

Jerrica just took her sister in her arms and hugged her tight. She started crying heavily on Kimber's shoulder. "It's okay, Kimmy, I could've handled this whole thing differently also. This is one of the hardest things I've ever done. It really is something I don't want to do, but we have to for the future of Starlight Music and for the Starlight Foundation. Besides, we both know it's in good hands with Evelyn, right?"

"Yeah, I talked it over with her last night. She told me everything would be just fine." Kimber hugged her sister tighter. She turned her head to look out the window again. Kaori and Stormer had closed the blinds to David's office. Jerrica suggested that they go get something to eat since she owed Kimber dinner.

Sitting in the living room, David, Kaori and The Misfits sat waiting for Evelyn to arrive. She had asked them to meet her for a surprise. It had seemed that surprises were becoming Evelyn's calling lately. While waiting, Pizzazz and Stormer tossed around new album ideas. Roxy and Jetta gave their own input while watching TV. David sat on the loveseat with Kaori. She was resting with her head in his lap and her legs draped over the arm of the chair, where he was reading the Art of War again.

Evelyn walked into the entrance to the living room and took a quick survey of the room. It was almost perfect, just how she'd want him to get his first impression of her family. She waved a middle aged Japanese man to stand next to her. She smiled at him as he looked the six friends and family over. He gave her a wide smile.

"So nice to see everyone is just so relaxed before a big event like acquiring Starlight Music." Evelyn chuckled softly as everyone looked at her in mild shock. "Sorry. I couldn't resist but to startle you guys." She smiled wide and put her arm around the shoulders of the middle aged man. "Everyone, I'd like you to finally meet Yuji Yamada."

TO BE CONTINUED IN "I DON'T LIKE MONDAYS"

PART 2 OF FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS