It had been some weeks since Li proclaimed her place as the Saints' leader. Things still needed to be done around their new headquarters, and the finding of what the other crews ran, their businesses, the base of operations and who led them, was piling on her desk. She had pushed it off to save it for later, and sorted them. It was sparse, but it was something, and all she needed to do was keep the look outs looking and bide time until they were ready to strike.
Ky and about twenty other Saints were in the HQ cleaning and making it ready for the final reveal. Some fresh tags were drying, and at Li's approval, she shooed them all to keep cleaning.
Kyouki had the music turned up as she cleaned, several songs she used to sing that were once new to her.
Kyouki would stop every so often and dance around with the crew while she was cleaning. Time slipped from them in the amusement as others filtered in finding their Leader cleaning, they all pitched in to help. They were having a mini party on their own. Pierce was singing along with the rap parts to songs with Ky. She would sing it all, which was shocking to the crew. Ky knew so many songs. Others bopped along, singing and laughing with good vibes that flowed in the house as they worked.
It wasn't long until Aisha and Gat walked in finding her smiling while it still occupied her with wiping down the bar; stopping to come dance with Carlos, who walked by. With them Ren, the girl who she saved from her abusive Step Father, was tagging along. The duo greeted the girl outside. She needed help. Gat paused, the song she was singing. This song haunts him, the last song he ever heard her sing. He would sit and request it often from the local station. He even went to buy the single when it was available.
Watching her dance around was amusing. She was always the performer. Kyouki never noticed she had one who would watch her every move.
"Sittin here thinkin bout yesterday,
About what we did and how we used to play,
Just the thought of you brings a smile upon my face,
That's how it makes me feel to see you everyday. Oh...
Where we go, nobody knows~
And what we do, is between me and you..."
Aisha smiled, dancing up to her best friend. Seeing Kyouki in high spirits these days was refreshing. It was like when they were younger, always a smile on her face, just like before.
"Ky, we got a visitor." Aisha announced as she grabbed a broom.
The woman looked up, still dancing, waved. "Hey Xiuying, did I pronounce it right? What are you doing here, not planning on helping, are you?" Turning down the music a bit.
The girl smiled shyly, taking up a bag to hold to dump some garbage in. "I came to ask for some help."
"Of course, what you need?" Ky piled some plastic wrapping and packing peanuts in the bag the girl held for her.
Taking a deep breath blurted what she needed. "A job… with you?"
Aisha looked to the girl, then Kyouki, who stopped mid-motion, both women shaking their heads, then turned as she went back to sweeping. Ky wasn't too surprised, but what surprised her was how the girl found the Hideout she already told her once before. "You're too young to run with a gang."
"But I'm.."
"Too young. I won't feel right."
"Can I just clean, or something, fetching you coffee?"
Ky smiled. Before she could answer, Gat strode up, looking down at Ren as he walked past. "She drinks tea, green with honey, mostly. Coffee makes her too jittery." Ren didn't realize Gat's full height. She felt dwarfed next to him.
Kyouki had to nod. "It's true, I do. Being oddly specific, how do you even know that?" She ducked once more behind the counter, popping up and continued her thoughts. "I was younger than you when I was first asked if I wanted to even run a 'party to benefit the people.' And in the years that followed, they have shot me, shot at me, stabbed, cut; some his fault…" Pointing at Johnny, "I lost friends, family… myself. I cannot see myself allowing you in. Come back in five years, then we'll talk."
Kyouki went back to stocking the clean glasses and stopped, thinking if the girl won't listen to reason, she has something that is on hand for not only herself, but for others who need a wake up call. "Ren, go sit there. Look behind the statue." She pointed to the angel statue on the landing.
Kyouki watch her walk to the steps before she turned to Johnny. "G, any chance you get in touch with Freddy?"
Gat nodded, pointing at Ren as he took a seat at the bar. "His nephew said he'll do business with us."
Ky shook her head. "She wants to run with us."
Aisha came back. "You going to let her?"
Kyouki stopped and tossed the rag on the counter, then lifted her shirt, showing her scars. "Yeah, of course…. Not! We'll take her out for dinner. It would have been easier if she asked for fifty grand."
Aisha and Gat agreed, Kyouki sighed, "I'll talk her out of it if what she is reading doesn't sway her first, or find something well away from here, kinda did kidnap her from the Ronin." Ky watched her, and shook her head, she went back to cleaning glasses.
"Yeah. Oh, I got a call from a few on the inside, said Troy, still asking about the lil boat trip of yours. Came to see me in there. I ain't have shit to say to him." Gat looked at his phone, absently answering messages.
"Oh. Maybe one day when I'm not wanting to murder his ass myself, all I know is Hughes planned to kill me that night."
Gat walked behind the bar grabbing a glass and the Scotch. Kyouki popped his hand and pointed to the fridge that had water chilling. Gat threw his hands up and went to take a water bottle out. "Speaking of Ronin before I forget, I know who leads the Ronin." Retaking his seat.
"Didn't I assign them to Pierce? Anyway, who?" She placed another glass down and grabbed a few more to clean.
"Kid from Japan. Shogo Akuji, he…" Johnny turned to Kyouki, when he heard glasses shatter.
Ky froze, ducking quickly to hide her shock to clean up the dropped glass pieces on the floor. "Oh, yeah?" She swallowed hard.
"You aight?" Johnny asked.
"Yeah, yeah." It mortified Kyouki.
Gat turned back around, watching the others. Aisha came over to with the dustpan and sweep up the broken glass. She knelt down, looking at Ky, whispering harshly, 'You sure?' Ky nodded and shrugged quickly, shaking her head no all at the same time.
Kyouki rolled her eyes standing up, she tossed large pieces of glass in the bin, "So, uh… Shogo, tell me about him."
Johnny shook his head. "Punk ass kid who rather spend more time on his hair than his bike." Johnny took a drink of water. He laughed, "But he is ruthless."
Good thing Gat's back was turned, Kyouki nodded to what Gat said agreeing, that Shogo is a punk, then made faces after he called Shogo 'ruthless'. Kyouki had Aisha holding in the laughter. Tears formed. Kyouki threw a fit, pushing Aisha to the back rooms. Gat turned, and she stopped mid tantrum, hand on her hip acting as if nothing was wrong.
"You know him? Being you Japanese and all."
"Not all Asians are related Johnathan! Remember how errybody thought you and Lin was fam?" Kyouki threw the cloth on the counter and snapped her fingers. One of the crew came over as she pointed to the glasses, went to helping.
"Aight, noted. But do you?" He turned to face Aisha, who was wiping tears from her eyes. Gat nodded to her, "You aight?"
"It's dust honey, so dusty." Aisha fanned her eyes and coughed, then excused herself as she went to the bathroom.
"No, my family wears gold. They were piss yellow." She ducked back behind the bar. Seeing Aisha come out of the bathroom, Ky made wild gestures showing to just shoot her now. Aisha laughed back into the bathroom.
"Go look behind the statue."
Xiuying's entire demeanor changed. She was hopeful, her already slight frame shrunk with the rejection she knew what she wanted, but she needed the money to help her mom. Her mother was looking for a job, but nothing turned up. The money from Ronald's death would run out, eventually.
She did as she was told and saw a small key and, with a turn, the lid popped open. Inside, a letter rolled up like an old scroll with a partly rushed flip lighter. Xiuying pulled it out, reading the elegantly scrawled words,
"There are things in this life I cannot get back, a few regrets that follow. As I sit here pen in hand, I want you to know that I am sorry. You first taught me how to survive, being the only other woman who was counted on. You taught me how to drive, you had faith in me, and I let you down.
My ineptness caused your death, as well as mine. I should not have survived. I should be there with you or you should be here in my place.
I killed them for what they did to you. I took them out without an ounce of remorse. I would gladly kill them again if it could bring you back. One day, I will race with you again. Keep my Obachan company for me, and the others who are with you. I miss you, girl, and I will always forever be grateful for the opportunity to have met you and befriend you.
Saints 4 Life."
Kyouki eventually came to sit next to the girl as she rolled the letter up, placing it back where it was housed.
"It's difficult sometimes. The pain lessens, sometimes. The thoughts worm their way in always, things you could have done differently. I'm human. I have lost really close people. The Saints are close to my heart. The woman who this statue is modeled after was, oh man, she could put Johnny in his place."
The two of them chuckled. "How'd your mom feel if I had to come tell her you aren't here? She obviously cares about you."
Xiuying looked down, nodding, Li continued, "While I stand on allowing the help, I appreciate your enthusiasm by wanting to come be with us."
Getting up, Li offered her hand, helping the girl up. "Listen, I'm hungry. You look like you want to eat, yes?"
"I could." Ren smiled.
"Noel, Shaundi, come with? The rest of you bums make it pretty. Keep Gat out of trouble." Li waggled a finger when she was heading out.
Gat shouted after her, "I don't need a fuckin babysitter!"
Li spun around leaning over the railing, "Johnathan, you know, like I know, you need to be watched. Be good now... we'll be back later." Turning her attention back to Xiuying, "Come, I'll explain to you why I cannot have you joining any gang. What is your American name?"
Gat went behind the bar grabbing the Jack Daniels.
"PUT IT BACK, DRINK WATER! I HAVEN"T EVEN LEFT YET!" Kyouki called from out of eyesight. Johnny ignored her.
~*S.R.*~
August 1993
Kyouki accustomed to hard work, she had her training that from when she was old enough to walk she was learning to do and her academic studies that seemed never-ending, but she had a secret from her tradition-bound world of books and martial arts- singing and dancing. Holidays were coming up, and she wanted to get something extra special for her Obachan, her grandmother, who had been by her side from the time she was a baby.
Ky had returned home from her overseas trip, a trip that always welcomes her with a smile and lots of love. Ky had taken a minor job after school, something that was just for her. She was walking home as it was the last weeks of Stillwater's summer, a muggy evening. The air even felt angry. She was thirteen and even though she shouldn't have been allowed to work; she made sure she kept out of sight, off the main floor and just worked in the back. Kyouki wanted to make her own money, her own way, well away from the family business.
Walking the streets in a pair of oversized jeans and baggy hoodie she made her way home, she lived on the other side of town, Saints Row, she knew well enough to protect herself while on these streets they were littered with trouble that spilled over into the lives of everyday people that would be easy to drag a normal person under.
Steadily, she trekked up the street just a few blocks from the bus stop, then home. She passed a phony watch salesman, shaking her head politely as she continued on. Kyouki had gotten to the corner, then stopped her by a hooker one who blocked her path.
"Girl, when you gonna stop fuckin' round and start slingin' dat sexy ass of yours?" The woman said rather loudly.
Taking her honey-colored eyes from the battered pavement, she looked to see it was someone she knew, LaShawn. Kyouki used to watch her kids when she was thirteen and stopped after -her jon at the time tried to recruit her.
"You scared me, Ms. LaShawn. I'm just heading home. How's Rashad and Ivory?" The girl smiled up at the older women.
"They good baby, stop by one day and say, hey. Oooh I gotta go, bye baby girl." And she headed to a very expensive-looking car that stopped close to them.
Returning her attention to getting home once more, she heard from across the street a few gang members, Vice Kings, talking about a Westside Rollerz tag on their turf. She watched cautiously as another group, the owners of said tag, walked up on the unknowing gang and began questioning them.
Things soon turned ugly as neither could stand the other and the two groups started to fist fight. From bad to worse when one brandished his knife, lunged as a third group sped up the street in a brilliant red low-rider, the cartel from Columbia - Los Carnales. Then soon the sidewalk was covered in blood.
Kyouki, along with everyone out who was a bystander, scrambled as soon as the first shot of gunfire sounded. She stopped short in the middle of the street when she was almost hit by the back end of the Carnales car as it was making its getaway. The driver was shot and crashed into a wall of a narrow alley. She stumbled back, hitting the ground dazed by the incident, laying on the pavement near the wrecked car. Shortly she sat up to clear her head and continue to make her way to the next bus stop hopefully, without further issues.
That was until she heard a gunshot echoing loud on her left the smell of gunpowder filled her nostrils, and then a second gunshot, turning to gauge the distance from the shooter to where she sat, soon her honey eyes widened in horror as she was staring down the barrel of a Vice 9 pistol.
Kyouki closed her eyes tight, knowing this was it. Her uncle and Obachan would never see her again, and heard a third and final shot. The sound of a body hitting the pavement chilled her blood, heart was hammering in her chest.
Then she felt hands on her shoulders, "Kid, you alright?" A dark-skinned man in a black leather jacket helped her up, with a royal purple shirt beneath, black slacks and shoes and black backwards driver's cap to match.
"You ok girl, come on you gotta move." He shouldered her over, away from the carnage. A short time later, the car that almost ran her over blew up. The man checked her and told her she was to be ok and introduced her to the man behind him.
"This is Troy. You can thank him later."
Troy nodded his head in her direction but not looking at her, "Hey."
The older man stated that there is a war going on and that the streets are no longer safe, the gangs are at each other's throats.
"Yo Jules, we need to go. Now ain't the time to be recrutin'..." Troy demanded, but stopped when he saw the girl. He extended his hand to help her stand.
Julius looked behind him. "In a minute, we need all the help we can get." He turned back to the young girl. "If you want to be part of the solution, then meet at the church on Third Street in two days."
With a wary nod of her chestnut head, she agreed.
~*S.R.1*~
The girls piled in Li's black car and headed to the Rounds Square Shopping Mall. They brought a few things, some for themselves, some for her new lieutenants. Li took out some money from the ATM and handed it to Ren for safekeeping, then officially hungry all stopped at Freckle Bitches for food. Sitting in one booth, Li continued to dissuade Ren from wanting to be in a gang.
"At thirteen, my paternal uncle asked me if I wanted to head the family business, Thir-teen, One… Three. When I came back here, they threw me into a massive turf war that almost killed me walking up the streets." Li's eyes bore into Ren. She wanted the girl to understand just how idiotic Julius was for considering, even though at the same time he saved her life that night. "Dude, you think it would be hella cool, or bangin'… what do kids say now, bangin' or da bomb?"
Shaundi nodded, "Yeah, da bomb." Ren snorted and quickly apologized, covering her mouth. She couldn't help but laugh.
Aisha chuckled, nodding. "I didn't know you were that young. You looked older than when we first met. Hold up, you told me you had training, then why didn't you fight off the guys who were shooting?"
Li nodded, "My God, if it wasn't for my training that was instilled in me, I wouldn't have made it that far. It's… I'm not allowed to start a fight just because I know how. Staring down the barrel of a gun is jarring." Li turned back to Ren. "I didn't kill anybody until I was… uh… shit… like fifteen. Me kid killing grown men and women who were trying to kill me, but I had help... My boys. Dex, I need to call him. Hell, even Troy's lyin ass… and Gat, you need a Gat!" Li stated firmly.
They all agreed, then Li started laughing, "Ish, speaking of have I ever told you how I put Johnny on his ass?"
"No shit, you put Johnny Gat on his ass?" Shaundi coughed. "I have to hear this one."
Li held her hands up. "Word, it happened after I took up Julius's offer, more to thank them cause you don't have your life saved every day. Anyway." The other agreed and sat listening to Li tell her tale of meeting, as Gat says, 'Canonizing.'
~*S.R.1*~
Li walked over to the church to properly thank the men that saved her the other night. She walked up to some rally of the two men who saved her with a sea of other purple clad companions.
Standing and listening for a while to Julius Little, the obvious leader and the crowd, cheered when a man eyed her then called up to Julius.
"Yo, who the fuck is this?" the two-toned haired man pointed at her as she was making her way to the front of the crowd. Gat noticed her and rolled his eyes. Troy noticed her with a smile. He wanted to see her again, then it dawned on him. Julius aimed to keep her in the Saints.
Her hair was braided in a single braid, she was wearing a cream and blue oversized sweatshirt and a pair of baggy jeans. But what struck him, her eyes, almond-shaped like a cat's, lined with long, thick black lashes, hazel, almost the color of honey, and more stunning against her cinnamon skin.
Li looked over at the man who called her out. She looked him up and down. He wore rectangular shades, wore a white wife beater and a purple over shirt, black jeans, with a gold chain and watch to complete his look.
His hair caught her attention instantly–the tips of his hair were frosted white and the rest a jet black, then his face, handsome sharp features, still boyish and strong jaw small cleft in his chin, but he kept his eyes hidden by the rectangular shades he wore.
Li caught herself as she felt her cheeks fever, her mouth twisted while assessing the man that slightly insulted her. Shaking her thoughts from how cute he is to..., "Oshiri." she glared at him in irritation.
"Fuck you, just say to me?"
Julius raised his hands to quiet the both of them down. "She is someone Troy, and I saved last night. Figured she would roll with us." The Leader stated.
Troy whipped around. She looked too young, but because this was Julius's show, he knew well enough to keep his mouth shut.
The 'skunk' looked between the man and herself. "You know as well as any, those who roll wit us need to get canonized." He punched his fist into his hand with a pleased grin on his face.
Li soon found herself surrounded by the men and women that were just a few moments ago listening to their leader. Looking around, Li groaned, 'Shit, Li, what did you get yourself into?'
Li's eyes darted about, then she closed them, prepared for the onslaught. A series of kicks and punches flew at her from various directions, and she shields her face with her arms crouched low, protecting her face. Taking hits, she hurt from the sixteen people out there, most hits came from the insulter himself.
Julius called it quits when she received a blow to the back, "Alright, alright, that's enough." Li slowly opened her eyes, her face felt hot, she pulled a small mirror from her pocket.
"Not my face… shit." She murmured slowly, poking at the tender spot.
Troy helped her to her feet. "Sorry, everyone has to go through it." Looking at her cheek, it was red and swelling. "I think we have some ice inside."
The insulter leaned in close to her ear, "Blood in, blood out. That," He pointed to her face, "Was from me."
Li balled her fist dropped to the ground, sweeping her leg out. Catching him off guard, taking his feet from under him, she placed a foot on his chest. He was forced to look up at her. Gat growled, hitting her leg. Li politely moved her foot and squatted next to his head. "Oshiri-san, that was from me." She said in her natural accent with false enthusiasm.
He watched as the girl walked away with Julius and Troy, wondering where a little girl learned how to fight like that. Several of the members stood laughing at the fact that Gat got owned by the newcomer.
"Fuck ya'll, I'll get you back for that. Just wait." He hollered after them. She promptly gave him the finger as her response.
~*S.R.1*~
They all hollered. Shaundi was holding her sides. "Li took Gat down some pegs."
"But he hits so hard!" Li wiped some tears from her eyes. She was laughing too hard. "I shit you not. He never let me live that down. Every chance he took, he was picking with me."
"I remember once, when he said Julius let this 'Stray Cat.' in. But look at you two now, old married couple. I, for one, am glad Julius recruited you. I wouldn't have met you and we wouldn't be friends." Aisha smiled brightly at her joke.
~*S.R.1*~
Ever since that day goaded her about everything; her driving, her shooting, he went as far as tripping her in the middle of a gunfight with some bangers from the Vice Kings just to see how she'd handled it.
A few months in, Li got a handle of how things operated within the Saints. Her advancement was on the rise, quickly. Johnny's goading was fuel for her - if he can piss her off enough to hit him, he picked at her about that, or she pushed Gat's buttons to make him draw his gun on her.
Over the next couple of years, people started pointing out how often they were together. Li didn't notice it. Johnny claimed it was cause Julius had them running around.
But when they said Gat was always stopping guys from talking to her or taking her attention by having things for her to do, Li then noticed.
When Aisha watched them together, even she tried to draw it to their attention, "You two know you just answered me at the same time?"
"No, we didn't."
"You just did it again." Aisha tilted her head. How could they not notice?
Gat and Li raised the same eyebrow. They looked at each other, shrugged and went about their business. Aisha gave up. They were inseparable.
~*S.R.1*~
"Oh, no.. You.. Don't go there. That's not even remotely funny or cute, you are not cute! Ya'll been together too long for me to come between you." Li stuck her tongue out, laughed making them all burst out in another fit of laughter, "I blame him for several crazy shit happenings I tried to talk him out of and I don't think that's entirely true, I worked at Glitz. Is it still around, or did they move? The owner was Reno?"
Shaundi nodded and raised a finger as her mouth was full of food. "Pussies now."
"Serious?" Li shocked. "Glitz was a much better name."
Aisha added after taking a drink, "You know, like I know, things changed after you… You know. Reno didn't have his famous Songbird, so he changed the name, building still standing, dropping the theme just by keeping the nightclub under a new name."
Li nodded. She couldn't argue. Lots had changed. She remembers the buildings just being built. Now they stood upright. Her old stomping grounds were gone.
"FYI, I can say, even though I have been out of commission, you and Gat. You two are the soul reason I am cleaning up these streets, and when the hell am I going to be an aunt?"
Aisha teared a bit with Li's admission, then pursed her lips, swerved her neck, "No." turning her back to Li.
Li gasped. "Why, ya'll would make some pretty babies. Gimmie one baby, I don't care what it is, just one, please!" Li was pulling on Aisha's arm. Shaundi and Ren laughed as Aisha steadily shook her head no.
"Not unless you wipe out everything wrong in Stilwater, or you give me a niece or nephew first!"
Li pursed her lips and rolled her eyes. "Be easier to ask for a million. Think you'll get Johnny to settle down?" she propped her chin on her hand, snorting. She's never thought much about having children. Troy doused that after she found out he had been lying to her for years. She'd rather spoil them.
Aisha thought about it. She and Johnny never talked about children, let alone marriage. Johnny's lifestyle has always differed from hers, and they are together, yes but, Aisha knows how much Li means to him. "Maybe one day, if not, you can have a dog as your niece or nephew." She leaned in, bumping Li's shoulder.
Li sucked her teeth, "Tsk, man I wanna real one, not a pet." Li looked at Ren. Her eyebrows rose and a wicked grin spread across the Saints leader's face. Ren wasn't sure if she did something wrong, but the looks Li gave her made her think otherwise.
"Can I be your aunt?"
Shaundi burst out laughing. "That's not how that works."
"Yeahuh, it does, all the time where I come from." Looking back to Ren, "So can I?" she bit her bottom lip.
"Sure, I guess, but…. Can I…"
Li groaned, "No!" she whined out.
Ren laughed, and the others joined in. Li shook her head. "Alright, how's this? You keep Aisha company when Gat and I are busy, which will be all the time." Her phone rang, her smile faded slightly. "I have something to do. You can come with me, then I'll drop you off to talk to your mom, yeah?"
Ren nodded. "Where are we going?"
"Visiting my Obachan." Li smiled at cleaning up the booth.
"We have to stop and bring flowers." Aisha added, getting up cause she was finished. Li nodded, picking up her tray.
Ren sat as the outsider, looking to absorb it all. The history of Aisha and Li, with Johnny, was an unbroken bond. It was amazing.
Li made it seem bad to be in a gang, but what she was looking at was a set of friends who have been together for the longest time. Ren wanted that, too. "Your Obachan where does she live?"
Li smiled softly, "Mourning Wood."
Gat sneezed, then took another sip of his drink. "Pierce, you have anything on what Li asked?"
Pierce walked by carrying a box. "Yeah, my boy got something, and then we can discuss it tomorrow. I have a plan."
"Aight, Carlos, what about you?"
"Yeah, nothing I can do. They locked Maero up."
"Shitting me, hold off on telling Li how long he is in for?"
Carlos shrugged. "Dunno, the second I know you know." Carlos trotted off when someone needed his help.
Gat nodded. His phone rang, looking at the screen. Went to visit Aunt Fu. See you later 3
Texting Aisha back, he then went to text several people. He had the task of gathering supplies. They were going to need guns, well… He was going to need guns and a shit ton of ammo. It did not focus his mind on what it should be. He took another long drink, poured himself another glass, feeling the burn slide down his throat, and left the HQ. His girls will be occupied for a while and he decided to hit the town.
Heading home, speeding through the streets, he pulled into the driveway. They were still out; he pulled out a black shirt and slacks, tossing a set of silver rings and necklace on the bed, and took out a pair of silver frame clear lens glasses.
He hopped in the shower, his mind occupied. His dreams as of late have been waking him up in the middle of the night, Kyouki.
He always hears that song that she sang, they are together in his dream. Walking side by side, she runs ahead of him, stops. She's looking over her shoulder, smiling at him. "I'll see you later." Then, in a flash, she's gone.
There is another that plagues him, worse than the other that leaves him waking, numb, shaking in a cold sweat.
They are outside with a large pool. It's sunny out. Li is wearing a hoodie, but she looks older, like now, just the hoodie; she's standing in a pool up to her knees.
Aisha is there, with her, wearing what she did when she worked for Ben King, just a white shirt and black thong panties.
Inviting him to come play with them, then grows warm, he sees Troy come up walking past him.
Aisha walks to him, Troy leads Li away. Gat feels uneasy, he's getting angry, Aisha puts her hand on his cheek, he looks down at her, he smiles, but he tries to keep an eye on Li.
Seeing Troy lean in kissing Li, Gat is ready to deck him, seeing his hands move up, pulling the oversized hoodie up around Li's hips. The edges of his vision are frayed with blacks and reds. Aisha moves so she can pull Gat down. She kisses him and while they are engaged; he hears a scream. Tearing from Aisha's kiss, he sees Li is nowhere to be found.
Troy runs to him apologizing, but Gat doesn't hear him shoving the man out of the way. Troy screams "Help me find Li!".
In Gat's frantic searching, his chest burns, his voice is echoing the and outside colors shift to white. Aisha and Troy are side by side now, looking down at the pool. Gat's gaze follows theirs. Li is at his feet, face down and bleeding. The whole pool becomes red and everything outside fades to red.
He is trembling, his hands shaking, as he reaches for her, wet, bleeding, he kneels down in the bloody water turning her over, her eyes are closed, she looks like she's sleeping. He shakes her. "Wake up!"
Johnny always wakes with a start, heart pounding and he can't breathe, his whole body is numb. Aisha is there next to him. She had stopped waking up to check on him. She stopped long ago.
Gat leans over, when his body is in his control, kissing Aisha on her temple, "I'm going out." Aisha hums her response. Gat drives to Purgatory, and parks, nodding to the Night Owl Saints on shift, he walks to the house on the corner, the sound of clicking guns aimed in his direction, he waves them off thumbing for them to head back to HQ. He leans against the door leading to the single occupied room of Kyouki Li. He knows she is sleeping, he leans on the wall, with the heaviest of sighs closes his eyes.
Gat dressed, left his hair down, shot a text to Aisha.
Heading out won't be home.
Ok, everything alright? 3
Yeah, just need some air.
Dream again? 3
Luv you Ish.
See you tomorrow, g'night. 3
Johnny arrived at Koi, he parked the car outside of Purgatory and walked over. He nodded to the Bouncer and he let him in. The music was bumping, and Gat needed a drink, taking his place in the two story nightclub, the VIP section, Gat was a normal fixture in the night scenes, before and after his lockup, "What can I get you Sir?" the waitress asked over the music smiling seductively.
"Bottle of Jack, make that 2 and Vodka."
Without truly acknowledging the woman, he leaned back, scanning the crowd. It was still early, but he needed to drink. He hadn't been sleeping well. Those dreams, even though he knows Li is here, he can't seem to escape his mind of her suddenly being gone, not again. When the waitress came back, he eyed her. She was trying too hard. He watched as she set the bottles and his glass down, then he waved her off.
It's always the same. He poured himself a glass of vodka, then he waved the waitress over, "Lemon lime soda, bring a dozen." He waved her off again. From across the room, two females were dancing with each other, touching one another seductively as they waved at him. He snorted and roamed over the crowd again. The young server came back once again. He pointed to the glass. "Pour. That's your job for the night."
"But Sir I have other."
"Fuck you say?" Turning his head to glare at her.
"Yes, Sir." She did as told. For hours she had to pour. When her boss came to see where she had slipped off too, he noticed Gat and waved his hellos.
Now, after his twentieth drink, Gat finally started feeling it. His head hurt, and one woman looked really familiar.
Gat took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. He got up from his seat and headed to the dance floor. What he saw he didn't like. Li was there, and she was dancing with some guy. 'No, that's not right.' his mind was playing tricks on him. Gat went back to his seat, fumbling he handed the waitress a wad of cash, he took the unfinished bottle of Jack with him to the bathroom.
"Fuck!" He said. His mind wouldn't shut up. He was over Li. He had to be. His mind wouldn't shut her out. Taking a swing from the bottle as he took a piss, he dropped the bottle, missing the sink, and washed his hands. He sighed, adjusting himself. He left the club.
"You need me to call a cab for you, G?" The Bouncer asked.
"Nah." Gat walked on. He had a destination. It was just up the street.
He stalked up the street. She was close. He knew she would be there. Just like the nights before when he would come grace her door, he waved the boys off. He pounded on her door. "OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR NOW!"
Nine hours prior, the girls had driven to the Mourning Wood Cemetery; the sun was setting; it was quiet, few people visiting their loved ones who were no longer on earth, Li was no exception.
She stopped in front of a mausoleum 'Wong' carved in the smoothed stone across the small structure. Li walked in, taking her shoes off. The others followed. Aisha and Li placed flowers in the room's corner, and Li placed a flower on the raised sarcophagus.
"Watashi wa koko ni Obachan desu, and I brought guests." Li introduced Shaundi and Ren, they stood about with Li telling stories from how she was woken up by the departed senior.
Few tears Li placed her forehead on the cool stone, giving a kiss and saying she needed to go but she would return soon. "Sleep well Obachan."
Aisha rubbed her back, Shaundi and Ren went ahead, already near the car. "When are you going to tell Johnny?"
"Tell him what?" Li fixed her shoe.
"About Shogo."
Li sighed. "Never if I can help it."
"Kyouki Irrisa!"
"Ew. Ok… Alright. In my own way, I'll tell him."
"Are you scared to tell him?"
"No, I'm not scared of him. I just don't know his reaction. I guess I'm no better than Troy."
"I didn't say, are you scared of him and no, you are, you're not a cop." Aisha smirked, nudging Li as they walked to the car arm in arm.
"But still…" Li sighed again.
"But what?"
"I was hoping it wasn't Shogo." Aisha nodded when they reached the car. "I'll tell him honest." Li got in and they were off once more.
When they finished at Ren's, it was around 10pm. They made a deal with Ren's mother that she will be a companion, with compensation. Li printed up two contracts, one for her, and one for Ren.
"I may have something for you as well. I'll call you in a few days." Li and the others left to drop Shaundi off at her place.
As they drove around for a bit, they went and picked up something from a bakery they found that was still in business.
Aisha's phone chimed. She received a text from Gat; she sighed and put her phone back in her pocket.
"You good?" Li asked as they got up to leave.
Aisha sighed. "Yeah, it was just Johnny."
Li nodded. "He alright?"
"Yes, and no." Ish shrugged.
"He has said nothing to me." Kyouki said.
Aisha rolled her head to look at Ky. "He won't. You know how he is."
Li nodded again. "You right. Want anything before I drop you off?"
"No, I'm too tired to even walk. We had a nice day. It really has been too long." Aisha smiled as she looked out of the window.
"Yeah, we should make it a habit. Before shit gets crazy." Li smiled. It felt good to hang out.
Aisha agreed it was simpler for them to all live together, bringing it up once more. Aisha felt it would also be safer for her as well. But she understood what Li needed. "Girl, thanks, I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"Night Noel, you sleep well. I'll text you when I get home."
"Alright, night!" Waved and closed the door.
Li pulled off after Aisha was in the house and flicked the light off and on. Their code that she was locked up, and the house was safe, and the house was empty. Li yawned as she drove home.
She stopped by Purgatory to see how it was coming along. She found the empty bottle and several Saints sleeping. The fell part of the city was going to be turned into something to allow the crew to stay.
"For another day, wonder where Johnny is?" Li mused. She spotted his car and looked around, heading for it. It was empty. She looked around again.
"Ay, you guys see Gat?"
"Nah, Boss, we just got here." One of the late night crew answered.
"Oh. Night boys."
"Night Boss."
Li hopped into her car and drove the short way home. She yawned again when she parked and got out. Two guards from her 'Night Owls.' were on post. "You guys eat, warm?"
"Boss, we good."
"Alright, if you need to go to the bathroom or a drink while I'm still up… Nevermind, I'll be right back." Li went in and fixed them a cool drink, and a sandwich, she packed them a small snack as well. Placing them in a bag, she opened the door and handed them their midnight snack.
"Thanks Boss."
"No problem, night."
"Night."
A loud pounding on her door announced itself as she slowly woke from the fine line of sleep and awake. "Huh?" She turned over and slipped back off to sleep.
"OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR NOW!" Muffled outside of her door.
Li pulled her phone out, 2:30am, "Ugh, bright." She squinted at the intruding light. Reached for a tonto from under her pillow and threw the covers off when the pounding sounded again, the small blade gripped in her hand. She raised her arm, opening the door with her left.
Johnny fell in her doorway, the street lights showing a large black figure. He rolled over, and she sat on his chest, blade to his throat. In her groggy state, she didn't recognize the intruder til he called her.
"Kyouki!" He groaned with her added weight on his chest.
"Johnny, what the fuck?!"
Li got off of him and stepped out into the night air, looking around. No one was out, save for the usual night crawlers.
She turned and helped Johnny to sit up and then helped him to stand. "What are you doing here?"
"Where's my car!" He fell into her, they both fell to the floor.
"Hey, huh?"
"The car I gave you! Where is it?!" Gat grabbed her shoulders.
Li paused. "Come on." He wasn't making sense. She got him up from the floors and sat him on her bed, then ran to lock up. She turned on the desk lamp and the under light counter. Its dim glow helped her to see the man better.
"Johnny, it's the middle of the night. Shouldn't you be home?"
"I am home." He laid back on the bed.
"No, you aren't." Li got her phone and text Aisha.
Found Gat here with me, any idea why?"
It took a few minutes for her phone to ring in response, but she in the time it took for her phone to alert her, slipped Gat's shoes off and had him stretch out against the wall of her bed, and covered him up.
He has nightmares
But he is piss drunk.
He is trying to drown out his thoughts.
He's a fucking idiot.
Aisha didn't sleep, and she was worried. She did laugh at Li's response. She sighed as she continued to text.
Yeah, but I told you before he loves you. I guess I didn't tell you what happened.
Yeah, you said he loves me, but what does that have to do with this big ass man in my bed smelling like he bathed in alcohol?
The real reason Gat got locked up, he was going after Troy.
Li looked at her phone. She turned the desk lamp off.
But they charged him with killing over 300 people.
Yeah, all of that to get to Troy because of you. That's that aftermath I was telling you about. Your 'death' caused him to hunt Troy like a dog and is still wanting to kill him now.
Li looked back at Johnny. She reached over and removed his glasses. Placing them on her nightstand, then popped him on the forehead. He didn't budge.
No, he had no reason to murder those people because of me. There has to be an actual reason.
Aisha sighed. She knew Li wouldn't believe her.
I knew you was going to say that. He has nightmares about your death.
But I'm alive. Even in the text, she was annoyed that her supposed death was still brought up.
We know he feels guilty about not being there with you.
We had that discussion already. I told him don't apologize. Knows it is still a topic she should ask how people felt about it. But she really felt raw. Especially after her and Troy's breakup. She wasn't in any mood for anyone's sympathy.
Aisha laid down and pulled the covers up. Li is still being stubborn. Those two really are inseparable.
Baby girl, go to bed. I'm dozing over here.
I'll bring him home in the morning, night luv
Li went and turned off a counter light. It was too bright for her. Gat tossed and turned, "Kyouki, wak…." Li stopped and watched him. "KYOUKI!" He sat upright with his hands gripping air. Li went to him and laid her hand on his shoulder.
"I'm here, Johnny." Shaking his arm.
Gat turned his head to her and frowned, "Don't… leave… me."
Li opened her mouth to say something, but the look on his face. "I'm right here." She took his hand, he felt cold, Li changed positions and put Johnny's arm around her and his head on her chest. He sighed deeply and wrapped his other arm around her.
Listening to her steady heartbeat, he woke a few hours later. His mouth was dry, and he was in bed? With who?
"You talk in your sleep." A familiar voice sounded.
His eyes went wide. 'Shit! Oh shit…"'
"The Venom is where my car was. You want it back?" He felt her rub his back. "Get some more sleep, or go to the bathroom to use and wash your face, then come back to bed. We have serious shit to discuss in the morning when I take you home."
Gat looked up to a pair of honey-colored eyes, messy bun, and the look of absolute irritation. He closed his eyes and went to the small bathroom. He ran water over his face and neck. When did he get here, and why was she in her bedclothes with him in the bed, did something happen between them? He looked at himself in the mirror. Shaking his head, he stepped out and greeted with a sandwich and a bottle of water. Li shoved it into his hands and went to sit on the bed. He didn't know what happened, but something definitely ticked Li off.
Li swallowed thickly. She remembered the car in question, a gift, but it must have been more than that. When she heard the water running, she got up and fixed him a sandwich. Johnny has a pickled liver, she was certain. He can drink and still stand, fully functional drunk. And Li hated it, him coming by; she warned him before, but him coming by drunk like a fish, unacceptable.
She watched him eat. '300 people?' she will ask that one on the way back to Aisha's. "You wanted to know where the Venom was?"
"Ky, I really don't remember." Gat groaned out.
Li closed her eyes and sighed. She flipped the covers off and stood next to him as he ate more of the sandwich. "You come by here in the middle of the night, pounding on my door, blathering about a car. But you don't remember?"
Gat ate quietly. She wasn't yelling, so that was a good thing. Li placed a hand on his arm. "Johnathan Gat, do you want the Venom back?"
He shook his head. Li nodded, and she walked around him, going to the cabinet, pulling from it an aspirin bottle. Opening it, she poured two tablets out and closed the lid before placing it back in the cabinet.
She held her hand out, and Gat looked at her small hands. Taking the pills, he opened the bottle, then taking the headache medicine.
"Thank you." he mumbled when he finished the water bottle.
Li took his hand and led him to bed. She pointed to his spot by the wall, covered him up. Gat looked up at her. "I know. I need to be watched."
Li laughed as she crawled back into bed. "Don't make this a habit." She opened her arms, and he laid his head on her stomach. He wrapped his arms around her, feeling her rub his hair. "I have never seen you like this, and I know why, when you are ready to tell me, tell me."
He knew he was in trouble. Gat balled his hands into a fist, then relaxed again when Li ran her nails along his back. She dozed off, the rhythmic sound of her nails on the fabric, and Gat followed.