During the holiday rush, in his room under guard, the only son of Kazuo Akuji overlooked the city. He had seen the paper announcing the engagement of Dane Vogel and Kyouki Akuji, also directly named leader of the Saints and Ronin. Besides the insult of his pass over, he saw as well photos snapped of the one person he needed to gain his father's approval. Now he knew Kyouki kept the man close, but there was someone else at his side.
Months later, Shogo had been mulling over everything. He would not act rashly; he knew now he had been going about it all wrong. When Kyouki was talking to his father, he didn't need to keep looking for Johnny. He needed to find that woman. His informant let him know it was Aisha James, the once hip hop singer, a close friend of Kyouki and a girlfriend of Johnny's.
Shogo had informed Guy that he needed Aisha to get Johnny. If he has to be the bad guy, then the bad guy he will be.
Days blended together when one is anxious. It started from the day Dane "bullied" Ky to say she would speak with the board. He now waited. Anxiously. With every phone call, he nearly dropped his cell, looking to see if it was her.
This went on for a week. Why should she give him the immediate response of her presence? Even trained seals have to have months of training. From six in the morning, preparing for her debut meeting with Ultor. Kyouki was hiding in the Downtown loft this time. Two tailors and on-hand stylists worked overtime for one day.
She looked like a spoiled brat with too much time on her hands. Shoe boxes and boxes, outfit racks, fabrics bolts, accessories, make-up sets, and even jewelry boxes came to the spacious loft.
The young woman had a personal assistant on hand that was even hand-picked feeding her information. And with all the fawning in the damn near walk-in closet that was the loft, Kyouki was straight-faced. Not one smile. Business. Aisha and Gat watched it all. Watching her get fitted, she nods and disapproves with a wave of her hand.
Gat was thinking. "I need to know what's in that head of hers. One minute she said she didn't know about the marriage, and before that she did." Arms folded with knitted brows looking on.
"Remember who you are talking about. She needs an Oscar." Aisha said.
Kyouki turned her head slightly. "I like to play the game. Now zip it 'fore I turn them loose on you two." Ky called over her shoulder.
The looks the stylist crew gave Gat and Aisha were frightening. They looked hungry, salivating practically.
"Yeah, they said that they want to style you both. If you two don't behave, you'll be their next targets." Ky finished with a huff. Both her lovers said nothing else, only they looked to find something else to do. They were definitely on punishment.
Kyouki had a PDA in her hand, learning faces, names and any other insignificant details about the members of the Ultor board.
With her newly gained intel, she sent a text to have a morning tour with a luncheon meeting for good measure. Putting her cell down, she sipped her juice box.
[Do what you will with them.] Kyouki ordered.
Manically giggling, the stylists stalked. Screams of sudden surprise filled the loft. Ky smirked, sitting back and sipping her juice box.
The next day at eight in the morning, hours before she could call it a day.
Kyouki pulled into Phillip's building with a four-truck escort. It was like any uber-important foreign dignitary came rolling into town. Huge black shiny SUVs, sporting the dragon and cloud emblem flags, stood out against the white marble and gray sky. Kyouki's guards stepped from their vehicles. They passed orders around in hushed Japanese as Kyouki stepped down to then ascend the steps leading up.
Never had the personnel seen an arrival, such as what they witnessed this morning. Kyouki looked like a doll. A lifesize Barbie, flawless, in Bob Mackie opulence. The thick black fur-trimmed coat she had on looked soft to the touch. They tailored the black pants suit for her. Gold and purple full corset peeked out as the only accent color. Her hair pulled back with curls framing her face in bubble segments ponytail down her back.
Kyouki looked expensive. Her black heels clicking on the marble floors, Dane's heart stopped. The liquid silver earrings sparkled, making her skin and eyes stand out more.
"My Lady." Dane gasped. This woman was his. "I thank you for coming."
The guards stepped closer in front of her to keep Dane from approaching. The look of confusion crossed his face. Kyouki said not a word. Her personal assistant steps forwards.
"Please keep a respectful distance from Ane-san."
"Hiiragi-san, please. He is unaware of our way. Silly Americans hold little respect for those above them." Dane took a step back. Kyouki took two forward. "I am the next head of my family. They assure my safety. Is this a problem?"
Dane was silent with a shake of his head. The men with her, even with their rigid stance, hawked him and others around. Stunned by the forward manner of Kyouki, she held sway by her mere presence. He heard her speak, caught her gaze, he fell in line. "This way, please." Dane nodded with an uneasy chuckle, led them to tour the various departments. They visited each department as they waited for the board members to arrive. All but the Pyramid they visited, oddly, was not on sight.
Around nine-thirty, they headed to the meeting room. There Ky removes her gloves and coat. With a smile and her assistant by her side bowed.
Dane went to announce his fiancee, but she stepped forward to do it herself.
"Good morning. Allow me to introduce myself. Kyouki Akuji. I believe I was needed because you all have objected to the proposal Mr. Vogel offered?"
Right to the point, Kyouki did not feel like playing anymore. Stunned at first, the woman was a presence. Her aura encapsulated the room. All of her grandiose moments held no tongue of the angriest of the board members.
"Yes, we do not see it fit for Ultor's image to have one such as your... family's earnings." Equally to the point.
Kyouki looked mildly interested and smiled softly. "Such as? Community outreach? Providing for orphans, the elderly? Food banks? Or was it rebuilding destroyed communities?"
Flabbergasted, the group of seven looked at each other. Quality choices most notable organizations do for the government. But the Ronin and Saints are of dubious earnings. Nothing could be as neat as she says. It wasn't so long ago the Saints' destructiveness brought where they stood asunder just to rebuild once to the vision it is now.
"You are also the leader of the Saints. Homegrown terrorists!" He belligerently continued.
Kyouki raised an eyebrow, her core quaking with anger. "Mr. Anton Heyward. Age sixty-five, married, four children. The youngest just went to college this past fall. Failing his economics class. And a mistress you see three times a week you provide for. Oh, my apologies." She covered her mouth. "That was a naughty secret."
"You-" The man turned pink.
"I am the next in line of my family. I know everything, information about each of you. My homework is done. Please, there are worse monsters out in the world and streets, I mean terrorists, as you say."
The immediate objection was her answer, loudly. Kyouki smiled a chuckle, really. She quieted them down with a wave. "I assure you, I am not here for blackmail. I needed to know about you as well as caring to know if we do not welcome my money at Ultor? I bought a shirt, or two, years ago. If that is any consolation."
Dane and the other stood dumbfounded. She has information on each of them. " That was another way she knew I was seeing someone else .' My Dear, we would never dream of you actually considering blackmailing us. Though we will welcome your money. The partnership we have already should attest to the care Ultor has provided. Correct Mr. Heyward? Mr. O'Brien?" Stepping closer to Kyouki, her assistant kept between the two.
Ky went to speak and felt her phone ring. "Mr. Vogel -excuse me. Yes? Sure, you here now? Ok I'll see you in a minute. Sorry. I think we should have brunch today. I skipped brekky." Kyouki offered as she insulted, threatened and ignored what the board had to say.
Dane was flummoxed. He looked at the board when she turned her back on the phone. They glared at him, and all he could do was smile and nod. What she wants, she gets. It matters not how she goes about it. That was who he aimed to keep at his side. Dane agreed that something to eat would be a better ice breaker. "Yes, I could use a bite to eat myself. My treat, everyone, if you please?" Dane held the door for the board as Kyouki exited last she turned to Dane.
"You didn't tell them about the prenup, did you? Or how I have you by the balls?" The side glance she gave him sent a shiver.
"I haven't. I care to give it all to you. Once they ..."
"Do not insult me." Ky headed out with her guards following.
The luncheon went rocky still, but the board was still pressed with refusing a violent gang leader into a permanent home with Ultor.
Dane reiterated she has a hold on the city itself. Once Kyouki was away from earshot. Without the marriage, the properties will cost them much more to buy out.
That, they pondered. Also quipping Kyouki, entertaining two small children who sat with them, thought it was coincidentally staged. With the latter saying, it just happened that way.
Possibly another discussion would swing the board. There will be the succession for Dane's promotion. ' Two months. By then they will have to decide.' Dane thought to himself.
Purgatory was chatty today. When their Boss looks like she stepped off some far-off movie runway, there's plenty to talk about.
Pierce circled around Kyouki like a vulture, and so did some of the crew when they saw their leader. "You look amazing. What is that?" He asked, touching the thick soft fur."
"Not sure, but it's warm!" Ky smiled, leading the kids to her office. She had sat down on the couch watching the others come filtering in. It was a tiring day, and she needed to get home later with the kids.
"So what happened?" Aisha asked, holding a giggling little girl playing with a doll.
"I stood there like a Boss. With a Personal Assistant, and several men who would give their lives for me. I never felt more naked than that. Just to get what I need." Kyouki said as she retold Aisha and the immediate crew when she came in later that afternoon. "Sure, as stuffing was funny when we walked in. The entire building and outside when we rolled up was staring. No crud, I would have laughed if I wasn't already pis-ticked at having to be there so flippin early."
Kyouki took a sip of ginger tea as they sat around in her office talking about the morning circus that went down. Ky had picked her younger cousins up by her when Tracey had called. The school was closed for the day.
"He never told them about the contract for my hand, and before you say anything, I won't tell you what it is. It will be a surprise, something huge. And if this knucklehead didn't go there in the first place, Dane wouldn't have sent those Pyramid guys after me. Thanks for that." Ky said, looking at Aisha with a sarcastic grin. Shaundi covered her mouth in shock.
Ky handed a cup of juice to the kids. "I had an official tour. Oh, did you find out anything about Pyramid?" Her attention to Shaundi. Watching the small kids, Ky had to come to Purgatory to relay her information and see if anything was progressing on Pyramid findings.
Aisha threw her hands up in defense. She helped with what she could and could feel a scolding coming on as she lied to her favorite cousin.
The power performance Kyouki had to do ought to have earned her an Academy Award.
Shaundi nodded. "Yeah, we had to ask Ren for help. Did you know she is a wiz at hacking? I mean, she helped with the traffic cams but she's been next level."
Ky raised her eyebrows. "Well, that's more than useful. So what do you have?"
"Right now, nothing. She is finishing up. It was harder for her to get in and had to get help from someone in the UK, but definitely tomorrow."
"Harder to get in? What is she into? Is it dangerous? I mean, like, can they see what she is doing?" Kyouki was ready to call it before Shaundi told her it was a simple in and out but the firewalls were top-notch, and with the help that she was getting from some genius-level kid she was gathering all the information she could.
"I still don't like the sound of it. If she ends up hurt you are... Fired!" Kyouki finished with emphasis.
Shaundi lowered her head and nodded. She knew Ren was not officially part of the crew, but with how she swiftly tapped into the police security mainframe, she thought it would be just as simple. "Ren should be ok right?"
"If there was a problem, she would have said something." Carlos added.
Kyouki sighed. "Alright, I'll leave you to it. I'm beat and I need to get the kids home. Keep me posted. Come on you two, Aunty will take you two home." Grabbing up E.J. and Nimani, Aisha took to helping the little girl her with her little coat, and E.J. in his when Ly went to get Johnny.
Kyouki thought about it more on the way to the office. Ren is digging into things she shouldn't. Though it wasn't the government secrets she was poking into, Ky texted Ren to be careful.
-I have help. I'll be fine. See you tomorrow.
Ky shook her head. "We'll see what you guys dug up then. Later."
"Night." The crew said, watching them leave for the night.
Carlos cleared his throat. "That kid she's been working with is smart. Like, up there smart. I saw one of Ren's vids and this kid finds glitches and uses them."
"Don't glitches break things?" Pierce asked.
Shaundi shook her head. "Not all the time."
"Right, take Zombie Uprising. You can have infinite lives by jumping in fire and pausing the menu."
"Oh, word? Cause I been stuck on level five for a minute." Pierce went to try it out.
The others went to see it too. Game night was on.
When Ky came to get Johnny, he was at the bar. He had had little to say, just a simple nod since the morning, the day before, at all, and especially the rest of the trip home. Not even to Aisha. The man was sour-faced, in thought that it was his time. His time with Kyouki, every day he had to watch her prepare for her meeting, for the pending marriage. Every day, he watched her drift farther away. Hell Christmas. Fucking Christmas. A week he had without her. Even if she is right there in the loft, currently, she is still unavailable.
Her focus is Dane Vogel and nothing else. He needs to spend time with her alone. Aisha placed a hand on his leg. Instinctively, he held it, moving her hand on his swelling arousal. Something about the Boss fitted in that corset. No, it's not the outfit, it's who he can't have. He groaned as Aisha massaged him.
A throaty groan, his eyes lulled closed as they approached the stoplight. He was sensitive to touch, and always has been. Gat loves the feeling of cold steel as much as the feeling of Aisha or Ky. Only the lord knows how much he has been craving Kyouki's skin against his.
He put his blinker on. U-turns to a motel they passed a while ago. Aisha went to protest. Gat rubbed his thumb along her lower lip. He needs Ish more now, much more now that he cannot get his fill of Ky.
Truth be told, he wanted them both. He knows he can't and now that he knows this; he has been angry. At Dane, for being there to schmooze his way in. The only saving grace that blond dipshit has going for him. Kyouki will never sleep with him again. After his seeing someone else, Gat knew Vogel has no chance. Gat's phone rang. Ish saw it was Ky, and he didn't bother to answer.
"Don't you dare." Gat warned. He sped up.
He came to a screeching halt, quickly kissing Ish and going to pay for a room. Tonight, he'll fill his need while enjoying Aisha's cries of passion.
"Shogo, they are staying at a place downtown... uh. Tidal Springs, right near the mall." Guy said he had found out that they no longer were at the Wardill penthouse. An urgent messenger came in. His people told him they saw them heading back, but Johnny left in another direction.
"Keep an eye on them. If Johnny Gat leaves, take his woman. Wait! Take her to the house where Johnny was staying where he killed Sean."
"Yes, Boss." Guy left to do what he was ordered.
Kyouki ended up not taking the kids home. She couldn't get in touch with either Johnny or Aisha. She didn't mind, but she worried. Kyouki needed to remind herself that Johnny can protect Aisha and himself, so she didn't let it get to her too much. But she was worried. Ky instead called Tracey and let her know the kids were fine. She'll take them to school tomorrow and enjoy her night.
Ky had changed out of her outfit to something much more comfortable, having made dinner with the three sat and had a good hot meal. Kyouki asked her young cousin how he liked school and if he was making friends. They watched a movie, Ky went to run them a bath, and had the kids all nice, clean, lotioned up, and tucked in. Still no word from her lovebirds.
Ky caught up on some paperwork, calling to make sure everything was in order with shipments. Going over her schedule, she confirmed there is a festival coming up she needed to attend.
Her phone rang. "Johnny where-"
She heard a soft chuckle over the other end. (Li-er, you must always say hello first. Johnny causing you trouble again?)
(Uncle!) Kyouki was surprised to hear from her uncle. Not having heard her nickname coming from the in-law side of her family in a very long time. The older man just got the chance to call the girl who was his personal savior.
The next day went as normal as expected. There was nothing of note, and nothing that needed tending to. Kyouki did, however, shoot nasty glances at Gat and Ish, who looked sheepish and could not say what happened the night before. "Fine, keep your secrets. I had a good night. I got a call from my uncle!" Ky said as she stretched.
"Kazuo?" Aisha asked, stretching along with Kyouki.
Ky shook her head. "Nope, the one you met before uncle Sheng Tai."
"Oh! The owner of the Jade Pavillion?" Aisha remembered.
"Yeah. He said he was coming in a few months. He finished up everything in Shenzhen and heading here. You know the reason we hadn't been in contact. But yep, I got in touch with him or tried to. He was still busy."
"That's good. Now, how are you related?" Aisha is still confused about how Kyouki was related to the Wong family.
"His brother married my Obachan. That made him my (yéyé) - grandfather."
"But... your Obachan... Is not..." Aisha started.
"I know, see. What happened was, I needed protecting from my uncle's wife, Kazuo, and because of Shogo, uncle, and uncle Sheng weren't speaking to each other, (yéyé) married Obachan to keep me safe. A layer of protection. His family taught me Mandarin and other things. But I'm the only person anyone can put differences aside, just for a bit."
Aisha nodded. It was good to hear her open up more. Kyouki is one of a kind. The music started and Ky helped the smaller woman up on her feet. Cardio today, Ky never misses a workout session. "Are they going to meet up, your uncles?"
"I don't know, possibly, the Asian-American Cultural Festival is the end of March. That's when I am announced as heir, and both uncles will be there."
"Girl, I'm glad I don't have to juggle shit like that no more. And you got that marriage." Aisha looked to see Ky staring at her.
"Why you gotta bring old shit up?" Ky kicked at Aisha, who hopped out of the way, giggling. "I can say, pending marriage now... The board hasn't given their approval. Thank god."
Gat walked in a grabbed Kyouki around the waist, picking her up. "So we fuckin again or what?"
"Johnny, no! No! Put me down!" Ky wiggle but he was tickling her, causing her to laugh out loud.
Man, Aisha missed the silly side of Ky and Johnny. She couldn't help but laugh at the pair.
That night Kyouki went and picked up Ren from her house. She also asked her mother if it was possible for her to become her personal accountant. Ky knew she would be too busy to do it all herself, and there are some things that the Ronin didn't need to know. With a shocked agreement, Ky and Ren were off to the loft, where the others were sure to be waiting.
Everyone, save Shaundi, was at the spacious loft. The food ordered for the night was there before the info hound.
Pierce looked at his watch as he ate. "She's late." He says, talking around his food.
"Ew. Chew first. What are you in a hurry for, anyway? We can't just have a nice dinner?" Ky asked, peeking at her watch.
"I promised my Grandma I would take her to bingo. I don't want to be late." He ate some more and went for seconds. Ky shrugged in agreement.
A knock on the door alerted the room. Johnny went to answer it, and Shaundi slipped in. She was out of breath.
"Sorry, I was doing shots at the bar with the guy who showed me something really fuckin important."
"Shots? Come on man, damn, can you stop fuckin with mufakas for information?" Pierce was cranky today.
The others cleared the table and Ren laid out everything from pictures to files that she had collected. "Is this the pyramid?" Johnny said.
Shaundi nodded when she sat with a plate in her hand. "Yeah, Ultor's built a huge R&D facility underneath Mount Claflin. That's what I went to go see. It's right here." She pointed to a spot just off where it was inconspicuous.
Johnny shook his head. "Let me guess, they aren't developin' a better breadbox..." Looking over the pictures. That was definitely a research lab, the lab coats and plans designs. The one gun they had was already in its second phase of development, according to the photos.
Shaundi shrugged. "Honestly, they probably are... they're just, ya know, developing guns and body armor, too."
Kyouki snorted. "Well, he is the Head of Special Projects. I think this counts as special. This is past military grade. You think he is selling to the government?"
"Not from what me and Miller saw." Ren chimed in.
"Miller?"
"Little kid from the UK I game with. He helped me get in, well, he taught me how." She nodded.
Kyouki's mouth hung open like a broken barn door. "Little kid? How old is little?"
Ren thought about it for a sec. "Like, nine or ten."
"WHAT!" Came from all the adults.
"Imma get locked up." Kyouki said. "Don't get no one else to help you out, you hear me? We, as a collective, will get into deep shit. I want to meet him."
"But he does it for fun."
"Babe, you didn't tell me that." Carlos said just as shocked.
"No, I did, I told you he is a games, we all played together."
" (No por nada), I didn't know he was like still in grade school."
Pierce waved them off. He was more concerned about why they openly fired at the bar. "Why's Ultor gunnin' for you?"
"It was something troy said to me a long while ago. People know what I look like." That was the best way she could explain what had happened that night. "But yeah, you don't do that shit no more, and I will go there this weekend. I plan to put that shit to a halt."
Gat looked offended. "What, we don't get to blow up shit in public?"
"We? When did you start speaking French?" Ky asked Johnny in a deadpan tone.
The crew laughed. With Gat shaking his head, he couldn't help but chuckle too. The rest of the night was planning for the weekend to come.