Kyouki had called her Uncle Kazuo, Bobby, and lieutenants, putting the word out that Aisha had been taken, and with whom. She and Johnny's worries spread when she wasn't in the downtown loft. Johnny headed to the penthouse in Wardill while Kyouki took the opposite hitting places north that the Ronin would frequent.
Kazuo, for his part, called his son to find his location, to no avail. Shogo refused to answer. Ordering Jyunichi to find his disappointing offspring. Jyunichi was on his way down after dropping off the Akuji elder, he reprimanded himself. His notice of Shogo's behavior prior to Jyunichi the boy seemed less angry and listened more. When Shogo was asked to go to the fundraiser, he obediently did as told. Was that his plan to take Kyouki's girlfriend?
If it was the case, Jyunichi had an obligation to rectify his oversight.
It was late, many people were asleep in their beds. The streets are practically empty.
Aisha ended up being taken to the last place she thought to be, her home, where she now sat in the bathroom. The only place she refused to have Shogo have her watched. He had brought her to her home. Why she didn't know something about, at the start of the disrespect Shogo had said. He has taken her phone, no way to contact Ky or Johnny, and had eyes on her when she was in her own home.
She asked if she could change after a bath. Sighting her feet hurt, and a gown was growing uncomfortable.
Shogo allowed it. The least he could do was be civil. Once he had removed Kyouki as his obstacle and brought Johnny to his father, he would succeed.
Aisha went to the bedroom, digging out a pair of jeans and a shirt. Heading into the bathroom, she ran the water. Thought of a movie the three had watched recently, commenting on how anyone kidnapped should remember how to escape.
It dawned on Aisha. Quietly, she locked the bathroom door, stripped, and quickly redressed. She looked at her feet. "Damnit." She whispered. Barefoot, it was. She opened the window, shut the water off, and hummed. Her heart was racing, but she knew someone was outside the door.
"You can do this." She willed herself. The window was barely big enough for her hips to fit through. She almost cried out because of an uncomfortable pinch. Wiggling, she thumped on the side of the house. She froze. The sun was coming up and the small overhang was slick with dew.
She was losing her grip, slipping quickly. "Oh no, shit!" Losing her footing, she fell hard to the ground, just missing the thick glass patio set.
Aisha gasped for air, whimpering with the amount of pain shooting through her body.
Shogo looked at his watch. The woman was taking an awfully long time. He had the guard at the door knock. Hearing the water shut off thought no more about it. He headed down. Heard a bump as he stood at the backyard patio window. Suddenly, a body fell in front of him and a dull thud landed on the wet lawn.
"The hell was… she wouldn't?" Unlocking the door went to see that Aisha did fall from the second-story window. He let her lay there. It looked like it hurt, watched as she tried to pull herself up, giving her a hand to grab her elbow.
"Impressive." His voice came. "Let's not do that again." Shogo smirked. He then politely brought her back into the house.
Around one in the afternoon, after hours of searching, and calling, Kyouki headed to the police station. She never changed from the night before. Her body was screaming to rest, but that was not an option.
Exhausted, she headed to Troy's office. His head was down as he was reading over reports.
"Enter."
Crossing the threshold, Kyouki's heart tightened. "Aisha has been taken... My cousin, he took her."
Troy looked up when he heard the door open. He didn't expect to see a teary-eyed Kyouki in his office.
"She went missing, uh, god…. around ten last night from the fundraiser. I have her phone and Shogo refuses to pick up... I called her house, I have people looking…" Rubbing her forehead, trying to will the headache and tired away.
Troy got up and crossed the room, grabbing Ky by her shoulders.
"I thought the traffic cams would have…." She shook her head. "Nothing. I need to find her."
"Babe…" Troy shrugged, not knowing what to do.
"If you can spare anyone, I would appreciate -" Kyouki's cell rang. "Yeah?"
The sound of wind whipping and horns blared through the speaker of the phone that she could hear.
"Fuck out my way! Head over to the house, I got word there's cars parked there."
Ky looked at Troy and she was already out the door with Troy, getting a few officers to give her an escort.
"If that is where they are, just wait for me."
"If he has Ish, nah, I ain't waiting."
"Please, just listen to me for once!" She screamed into the phone, already in the car pulling off towards the house the three once shared.
"Well, hurry the fuck up then!"
"Bossy ass." Ky stepped on the gas. A cruiser sped ahead of her, lights and sirens flashing, one behind her doing the same. "Thanks, Troy." Ky said as she blew through the traffic lights.
Peering out of the drawn curtains. "Boss, Johnny Gat is out there. What now?"
Shogo went to the window. Indeed, Johnny was standing there glaring at the house. "Nothing, no good unless that cousin of mine is here, too."
The curtain movement did not go unnoticed. Johnny felt something. He knows they're in the house, knows Ish is in the house. Not being able to do anything in this situation, that's the shit that disturbed him.
Just watching and praying, waiting, Aisha was scared. They had found her, and with what Shogo said, she was going to lose both Johnny and Ky. They had her guarded since earlier that morning. Now she sat in her living room watching Shogo go from the window to pacing the floor.
Maybe she can diffuse the situation, she just needed to get her captor to let her go. Ish had to remain calm. With a deep breath, she slowly let out a breath. "Please let me go. I can see if Ky will do what you want."
Shogo faced her with scrutiny, stopping his pacing."Believe me, if letting Johnny and Kyouki live were an option."
Her eyes stung hearing him casually speak of killing his own blood. "Let me go… I can convince Johnny and Ky to speak with your father… to… uh, be far away from here. Never see or hear from us ever again. You don't have to kill them."
Shogo thought about what she said. It sounded like a straightforward arrangement. Sadly, he still needed his plan to pull through. "Just do as I say… I give you my word. I'll consider what you said… hmm?"
She sniffed. "There is no reason to do this honestly. I can call Kyouki. I'll call her right now if you let me..."
"She's here with the cops…" Shogo's boy called, drawing his Katana.
"No! Shogo… Please, don't do this! She has no actual interest in being the leader of anything. She will step down, I promise! Please don't hurt them!" Aisha held on to Shogo's arm, pleading with him to forget this and let them go.
Shogo shrugged the woman off, giving his order. "Take her and gag her." He needs his father's approval before he takes the old man's life. Just to show how incompetent he isn't.
The woman next to Aisha struggled to rein Aisha in, twisting the songstress' arm and subduing her. Muffled screams of defiance echoed. Aisha had to calm herself. She glared hotly at each person in the room with her.
Watching Shogo give a nod, the men and women there vanished. Except for the one who stood behind her with the wicked sharp blade digging into the arm of the armchair.
She would have to stop him, somehow, save her lovers from Shogo.
Kyouki had fear settle in the pit of her stomach. Ky had hidden Aisha away with her, Aisha was safer. The night Johnny brought home the Ronin she had run-ins with and killed him, Kyouki had no choice but to suspend Johnny. He was out of control. Overstepping her authority when she said don't kill the man.
They had known where to hide; they knew the house. Calling once more, Shogo finally picked up.
"Shogo…" Ky quickly spoke but shortly cut off.
"Tell the cops to fall back." He watched as she told the police to back off. Ky stood next to Johnny, watching the house as well.
"Don't hurt her." Kyouki gave the only warning he was going to get.
"That depends on you. Do as I say and she can walk out of here without a single hair cut. Come here, you first, then your dog."
Ky looked up at Johnny. The phone slid from her ear. She walked forward, and her heart pounded. "Johnathan, follow behind me, please." Grabbing the front of her dress, her hands trembled as she stepped up the stone path to the front door that opened for her.
It was dark; the curtains were drawn, and her eyes adjusting to the light, she didn't get the chance to adjust fully when suddenly hands were on her arms holding her down pushing her to the floor.
"Get your fucking hands off me!" Johnny shouted the second he walked through the door, swinging at the two men trying to get a hold of him.
Kyouki saw Aisha sitting there struggling to stand. "Ish!" Ky struggled against her captors. "Are you good?" She could see the fear and tears pooling in her eyes as she nodded.
Aisha went to get up from the seat but was pushed back into place. Her arms bound, she squeezed her hands into fists. johnny looked to see her and froze, he was being forced to the ground, Gat refused to kneel. "Let her go, you piece of shit." Johnny growled.
"Shut your dog up, cousin." Shogo sneered at the man.
Ky narrowed her eyes at Shogo, her heart was hammering in her chest. "Johnny, be quiet." Ky looked up at her cousin from the floor. "Why are you doing this? What do you want with Aisha?"
Shogo smiled. "Not her I wanted, and now that I see I can get you two to both do as I say, this puts me in a better mood. Untie her and take Johnny out of here."
The one with the blade went to untie her hands when the sound of scuffling could be heard outside of the door.
"What the fuck is that? See what that is Guy." Shogo ordered.
"Shit, it's Jyunichi!"
Johnny fought against the two holding him down, then the ones holding Ky.
"Get him!" Shogo shouted. "Tell him to stop or she's dead!" Shogo grabbed Aisha, pulling her to her feet with a gun aimed at her head.
"Johnny, stop, Johnny!" Ky reached over to hold Johnny back, her arms wrapping around his waist to pull him off of the man who held her arms.
He drew back a bloody fist, shaking it. "You're next asshole. I said let her go!" Johnny was pushing forwards and Ky desperately stood in front fighting as she pushed against Johnny.
"Johnny, please, stop. Let me handle this!" Her eyes pleading as she looked into Gat's eyes.
Jyunichi came through the door. "Ane-san! Shogo…" He knocked out a few who were about to enter the house. "Your father sent me to collect you."
"To collect me? When I am done here." He passed Aisha off to Guy, who had the blade now to her throat.
Kyouki had her back to Johnny leaning on him, her hands out slowly inching forwards to Aisha. "Shogo, tell him to put the blade down. What do you want? I'll do anything you say, my word, you have my word just… Please!" Seeing a tear trickle from Aisha's eye.
Shogo smiled, and nodded, rubbing his hands together. "This is good, real good. We three, well four, are going to see my father. You will give the lead to me and we all go our separate ways."
Kyouki stood there with her mouth agape. "Ok. Just let Aisha go. I'll go to uncle and it's all yours. Ok?"
Aisha squirmed against Guy, and wiggled the handkerchief from her mouth. "No, it's a lie, a trap. He plans to kill you all-" Aisha's voice faded.
Cool metal slicing into the soft warm flesh caused the room to slow to a crawl. Ky heard what she said, turned to see red pouring from the gash.
There wasn't anything the four of them could do. It happened so fast. Gat launched himself at Guy, who dropped Aisha. Shogo felt blood splatter on the back of his neck, turning to see the woman falling. Jumping back moved when Gat flew right past him. Shogo ran.
Jyunichi blocked an attacker coming from the second floor after Kyouki.
Gat, blinded by rage, wasn't in the game. Jyunichi was blocking and attacking, shouting at Kyouki in Japanese.
Ky rushed over to Aisha, slipping in the blood that was pooling quickly, applying pressure to her wound, her life pulsing through her fingers with every heartbeat. "Ish, ISH! Oh God… Oh God, no, no… Can you hear me?"
Aisha blinked several times, unbelieving but satisfied she got her message out, tears spilling as she looked at Ky. "I… s-sav… you…" she gasped out with a soft smile. She was gone.
"Don't talk, we will get you to the hospital, yeah?" Kyouki's chest felt hot, her ears thumbed with the sound of her rapid heartbeat. She faintly heard yelling and furniture breaking. There she was, shaking in the warm and cooling pool of blood that coated her white evening gown red as Aisha's heart slowly beat its last beat under her fingertips. "Ish?" Ky called breathing heavily, she no longer felt a pulse. "Ish?"
Shogo was gone. Guy needed to get out. Gat's onslaught was hard and fast. With no other choice, he stabbed Gat in the middle of their fight. Seeing Gat grunt in pain, he knew he was safe. He didn't expect to ever in his life witness what came next.
Hearing Johnny behind her brought her back to the present. She could hear time catching up, her attention to Jyunichi also behind her in the other room.
Johnny was hellbent on ending the guy who hurt Aisha. He grabbed the man's wrist, the sword still in his midsection, and pulled himself the length of the blade. Guy looked at him horrified, and struggled to get away from the large man, but found it futile.
Li snapped, and her kill switch flipped on. One of Shogo's subordinates coming through the door was her target.
She slipped quickly to face the new intruder, kicking him in the chest and out of the front door. There were two more who came behind him with their swords drawn. Li ducked low, kicking them both in their knees with the heel of her shoes, swords clattered near her she grabbed each in hand stabbing the next few coming in.
Jyunichi saved Gat from a secondary attack when Jyunichi threw a man at Guy. Gat pulled the blade out and fell to his knees, gasping as he looked around the room and saw Aisha lying unresponsive. The edges of his vision grew dark. He lay on the floor, holding his side.
Jyunichi raised his sword to save Kyouki. They struck him from behind; he swung his blade, catching who attacked him. He saw two coming from the back entrance.
Li took care of the rouge Ronin at the front door swinging to see Johnny on the floor in a pool of blood, angry honey eyes settled on the two Jyunichi was going to engage, Li threw one sword catching one in the throat pinning him to the wall, she ran through the kitchen as the other took a shot at her. Li slid in Aisha's blood to the other side of the kitchen. Coming behind the shooter, Katana sliced through her back, killing her instantly.
Jyunichi made eye contact with Li as he looked over at Gat. Li kicked the young Ronin's body off the sword as Li threw the sword slicing another intruder slicing off his arm, grabbing the gun she ran out the back door, grazing Guy in the neck as he also took off.
The police, taking out the remaining Ronin that littered the house, were calling for ambulances.
Kyouki came rushing back in to find Johnny slipping in and out of consciousness. She helped Gat to his feet and with the help of Jyunichi. Ignoring the officer's order of waiting, they assisted her when she was out of the house, putting Gat in the passenger side of her car.
"Jun guard the house. No one else goes inside!" Running to the driver's side, screaming at Johnny.
"Yes, Ane-san." Jyunichi fell to his knees.
"Save… Ish…" Johnny kept repeating.
"Johnny?" Kyouki struggled to get her phone, talk to Gat to keep him awake, and see through the tears that blinded her vision. The police once again escorted her as she sped to the hospital. They swerved in and out of traffic, heading to the other side of town. "Johnny, stay with me…" she would reach over to slap him when she didn't get a reaction out of him. She panicked, pushing her car above and past its limit. He was gray, as she was just drifting to the emergency doors of the hospital.
Tripping out of the car, stumbling over that damn dress, she rushed to the passenger door, blood coating his shirt and pants. He was still he was dying. Ky lifted his arm, trying to get him out of the car.
Her ill attempt to lift him. "Johnathan {don't sleep, please don't leave me too}, please, come on goddammit, Oshiri!" She shouted, struggling to lift him from the car.
Jyunichi informed other Saints to follow their leader to the hospital. They rushed back with nurses and helped to get him out, taking the man from her. She was frantic."HURRY THE FUCK UP HE'S DYING!" Li screamed at the top of her lungs after the nurses, and two more nurses rushed out with medkits in hand into the hospital.
Jyunichi wheeled in shortly after she saw Gat go behind the double doors, his condition stable, as she was signing the paperwork. How much more would happen? She finally signed the last of the paperwork that admitted Gat, then set to work on Jyunichi's, quickly signing his, Ky picked up her phone to Troy. "Troy, hey… Ish's been murdered. Can you get her from the house? Quickly, I don't… I have some people guarding the house right now."
"My fucking God… yeah I'm on it… Baby, you alright?" He heard dead air for a few seconds.
With a shaky breath, she sighed. "Yeah, I'm at the hospital with Johnny. He was stabbed. I don't know if he'll make it." Her voice cracked as she sniffed. "I gotta go… I know who did this. I have to go… thank you." She hung up sobbing.
Ky called Bobby and her lieutenants next, having them carry on her orders because she wouldn't be around, and also informed them of what happened with Johnny. Hanging up once more, she collapsed in the chair, holding her head.
A half-hour later, her lieutenants arrived to find her with her head in her hands and totally disheveled, her hair a mess, a blood-soaked gown drawn up in a chair alone.
Shaundi rushed over, dropping to her knees in front of Ky. "You ok Boss…"
Bobby chimed in. "Cuz, how is he? Was it serious?"
Ky looked up from her hands. Her eyes were puffy and bloodshot, her nose was red, and she shrugged, shaking her head no. "Ish, she's…..". Ky couldn't speak, she just drew her knees closer to her chest. "He's in surgery right now. Can you get me a change of clothes? In the trunk." shakily handing her the keys to Shaundi. Ramon and Carlos came in to see Ky with her head down again. Pierce came running in after speaking with Shaundi.
Their Boss refused to say another word. She couldn't without sounding like she would cry. It was bad enough that the day played over again in her mind. She had nothing to say as it was. The others fell into silence and sat quietly as they waited.
When Shaundi came back, she handed Ky the bag, and they all watched Ky go into the bathroom. Her dress was ruined. Blood had absorbed into the fabric they didn't know whose blood was whose.
Flashes of her best friends, her lovers, laying there, Aisha with her hands bound, blood pouring from her neck, Johnny clinging to life. Kyouki screamed. Aisha wasn't supposed to die. She watched her die, felt her die. Ky pounded on the counter, beat on the wall next to her, and kicked the stall door repeatedly. Even the hand dryer wasn't safe from her fury.
Shogo did this. He knew he fucked up, that's why he ran. Whatever his plan was, he hurt the wrong one. Going after Gat, sure, Shogo almost had that fair. After her, fine. But he hurt Aisha and killed her for spilling his plan. To kill both her and Johnny.
Ky, exhausted, sank to the floor, her head in her hands, pulling her hair, pressing the heels of her hands into her eyes and she wiped the tears away. "Why would Shogo kill her? He didn't need her. He ordered her death, didn't he?" Ky looked up at the bright fluorescent lights overhead humming on the ceiling.
Looking at herself in the mirror, she ran the water, getting up. She cleaned herself up. She couldn't help but sob as she watched the blood from her hands go down the drain.
Tears fell silently as she redressed. The gown was a mess. Holding it in her hands gripped it tight, folding it as she shoved it in her duffle bag, and wiped her eyes one last time stepping from the bathroom. Seeing the others sitting in the waiting room, she dropped her bag into an empty chair.
"You good Boss?" Pierce looked over to her worry marred on his face.
Ky nodded. "Heard that, eh?" The group nodded. Kyouki snorted and took an unoccupied seat and waited. Pulling out her phone, she furiously typed messages to find the murderer's location. All five cells rang at the same time.
Troy came with the news that Aisha was at a medical examiner's office, and where that office was. "You gonna be aight?"
"I have no choice. Thank you. I'll call you later."
"Yeah." Troy left shortly after.
It was three hours as they sat and waited for word on Johnny. The sun was casting its evening colors across the sky. Kyouki just got off the phone with Aisha's sister Lisa, saying she will have someone to pick her up.
"I'll see you soon." Just as she shoved her phone into her pocket.
A doctor covered in blood came out of double doors two doors away from where the group was sitting.
Coming up to the man, with the others right behind her, looking expectant. "Ms. James, Doctor Brooks." The older man asked, looking amongst the two women present, extending his hand to Kyouki after wiping them off. "Mr. Gat is out of danger. He lost a lot of blood. If you arrived any later, he wouldn't have made it. I'll be honest, it was touch and go for a while but, Mr. Gat is a fighter." The doctor smiled as he wiped his hands on a sanitation cloth.
Ky's knees buckled slightly, Shaundi and Pierce holding her up. "Is he awake? Can he have visitors?" Fresh tears warm on her face, concern for Gat now that Aisha is gone. She has to be a firmer rock. Quickly wiped her tears. Ky closed her eyes and straightened up, wiping her face with the back of her hand.
"Just a few people for now. He is just waking up in the recovery room. Follow me." Dr. Brooks turned to the double doors once again.
Kyouki turned to the group behind her. "Stay here. I'm gonna see how he is. I'll be back shortly."
The others nodded, breathing sighs of relief.
She followed the Doctor to Johnny's room. He was laying there looking so peaceful. The color came back to his face. His lying prone in a hospital bed was something she never thought she would see him do.
That hospital smell, nothing good ever comes from the smell, well, in Johnny's experience. His lids heavy, the room blurry, and dark, Johnny slowly opened his eyes and saw Kyouki looking at the meds being fed to him on the clipboard, when she noticed him looking at her she gave a small smile as she put the chart in place, going to his side. "Hey you, how you feeling?" she put a hand on his arm, her brow furrowed. He was cold.
His mouth tasted like cotton. Swallowing, he tried to move. "I'm good… doc says… I should be back... to murdering in a... few days." He grinned sleepily.
"That's good. I need you at one hundred percent." She leaned down, putting her forehead to his, holding his hand. "You're too cold. I'll get some blankets." Looking around the room, she found one. She went to ask a nurse if she could have a third. Anything from seeing Gat laid up like this. How was she going to tell him?
Kyouki returned to his room, laying another blanket over him as well, feeling her emotions raising her chest, felt warm again, eyes stinging with tears. "Get some rest. I'll be back in a few hours. You... uh… you need me to bring anything?" Throat tight as she teared up again, sending fresh tears dripping onto Johnny's forehead. How is she going to tell him? How could she tell him?
Kyouki turned and Johnny grabbed her wrist as tight as he could. "Ky… About Ish… What happened wi-" he couldn't continue. Ky took his hand, holding it tight. He saw her lying there. He growled under his breath, tightening his hand into hers.
Ky's face felt hot. She swallowed hard, her vision blurred seeing Aisha's last smile. Ky closed her eyes but the tears still escaped, "She's alright… always the lady." She covered his hand with hers and felt him relax a bit.
"Don't lie… to me."
Kyouki swallowed hard, biting her lower lip. She has to say something. A soft hum before she could think to speak. Kyouki whispered. "A soul that cannot be saved drifts and disappears. In this instant it vanishes, it shines faintly. Now, it creates a night with a full moon." They both look out of the window to see a clear bright moon watching them. "You rest. I'll be back tonight." She kissed his forehead once more quickly.
When she stepped into the hall, she saw that man who operated and saved Johnny's life. "Dr. Brooks. Can I ask you for a favor?"
Meeting with the others who were waiting for her in the lobby.
"Roll out, I got things to handle. Gat is going to be out of commission for a while…" Stopping Pierce with a jerk, the others stop and with the look she gave them, they awaited her word. Her attention was back to Pierce. "Find Shogo and that bastard who killed Aisha. I don't give a damn how you do it."
They headed out of the hospital parking lot and to the Saints HQ in the Bavogian Plaza.
A citywide APB was out for her cousin, Shogo Akuji.
In a stunning turn of events, they found legendary pop singer Aisha murdered in her quiet suburban home years after being officially declared dead, coming back into the spotlight recently. When asked, Chief Troy Bradshaw declined to answer if he knew that Aisha was still alive. The family requests your thoughts and prayers during their hour of mourning. This is Jane Valderamma - from Channel 6 News.
Kyouki had the press announce the death and murder of Aisha, her face on the television, for the senseless injustice that befell the best of her. Kyouki had gone to the penthouse down by the airport and grabbed the long box her uncle had given her. She removed the black lacquered wooden scabbard. Looking at it in disgust, she dressed as if she were going to attend a funeral. She was, in a way, her mourning started the second Aisha's heart stopped.
The kimono Kyouki had decided was to be her outfit for her ceremony, the ceremony that Aisha was to attend. She threw in a pot of bleach water. Now white and tan fabric adorned the Saint's leader. She stepped from the loft into an awaiting car.
Pulling up to the tower her uncle had been staying, she announced an emergency meeting. Kyouki patiently waited for her uncle and others who had been coming to Stilwater for the upcoming changing of hands. Ky refused to sleep. She refused anything offered by the staff as she sat. The sliding doors opened, allowing the men and women she would be leading. When her uncle walked in, the loud clatter of her katana landed on the table, sliding to a stop before him, startling everyone in the room, and reawakening her tired mind.
"I lost someone irreplaceable to me the night before. Shogo had her and killed her in front of me. Where is he?"
"{Kyouki, what is the meaning? He what?}" Kazuo said, taking the sword up in his hands.
Kyouki looked at him, emotionless. "{He killed Aisha. I… refuse to lead. He wants it. He can have it. Where is he?}" She wanted to kill him, maybe she will get the chance one day, maybe not. But right now everything hurt, her soul hurt. "{He wants to lead, and I am more than willing to let him, providing he leaves me and Johnny alone. He had planned to kill us, me…. I have done nothing but been kind to him… Now he is my enemy.}" Ky shook her head. "{No, not even. I just want nothing to do with this. Jyunichi is in the hospital if you were looking for him. Shogo… again.}"
"{The reason for his tolerable attitude was to bring you down? He had not given up? I will find him and bring him before you.}" Kazuo started.
Kyouki's tears stung her eyes. She laughed as she tried to not let another tear fall. "Forget it, uncle. Just drop it. If you don't, I'll kill myself so all you will have to deal with is Shogo." Kyouki left the elders standing looking at Kazuo for direction."
Kyouki went to the house numb. She saw several people outside mourning, playing her songs, and spilling flowers on the street. They covered the lawn with teddy bears, other assorted stuffed animals, and candles. Kyouki wadded through the crowd to the front door. Some called after her and she ignored them. Going into the house, she locked the door behind her. Blood, puddles of dried blood, glass, broken furniture. The whole first floor was in shambles. Ky's vision blurred. She nodded and took off the once beautiful kimono. Aisha would not want a messy home, so Ky went to get out the cleaning supplies and went to work.
Hours she had spent cleaning up, the carpet was a mess she needed it replaced. Calling Ramon she asked if he knew anyone who could repair walls, just simple patchwork.
"Jefa, have you slept yet?"
"No. I have things to do. If I stop, they won't get done." She said flatly.
"You at the house?"
"Yeah."
"I'll be over to fix it myself."
"Yeah, ok. Just knock." Ky hung up. She made a mental note to call furniture people. The glass table Ish had shattered once more. They just replaced that.
Sighing, she did what more she could, packing the cabinets that had canned goods and cleaning the refrigerator and freezer before going to place them outside. Saying to anyone out there, if they want it they can have it, or if they know if anyone can use it, to please take it.
Retreating back in the house, she cleaned up the glass and ordered a new rug and sofa set. Cleaned the walls, and called it a day. A knock on the door. She removed herself from the couch and opened the door. Ramon and Lisa greeted the sullen Kyouki.
Ramon looked down at Kyouki and sighed. He looked around the room and saw the dark holes from the bullets in the wall. He went to work.
Kyouki grabbed Lisa into a tight hug and felt the young woman sobbing. "I'll get him, one way or another, you hear me? Did you call your parents?" Feeling Lisa nod, she offered a cup of warm tea.
At the hospital for several days, two weeks to be exact, Kyouki watched Johnny sleep. Having everything settled about when the funeral and where it should be, down to the color of flowers that would be on the casket. Lisa and her parents agreed to have Aisha cremated. Kyouki liked that idea as she could have a piece of her with her always, her and Johnny.
Kyouki would pay for the services. They didn't blame her at all, even though she blamed herself. Ky talked to Johnny as he slept. Her crying fits were unconsoled, as she had Gat in a medical coma. He is too stubborn and would try to go out on a manhunt. Johnny didn't need to injure himself further. Kyouki will handle it.
Going to Purgatory had gotten some rest. Her dreams refused to let her rest. Giving up entirely, she went to sit in her office. She needed to keep busy. Still brooding about hunting her cousin and that murderer down, she sent her message by being more seen, out in public, at random times when she was personally organizing the going home arrangements.
Things were still not finalized. More needed to be done once Gat was out of the hospital, and they all said their goodbyes. Tracey brought the kids when she had time and Ky went to dinner at her aunt's once in the past few weeks, since Johnny had been out of commission. Ky had him awake a day ago.
Dane had a quiet visit when he saw her standing in the condo elevator. He heard the news, and Kyouki quietly thanked him.
"How are you? I know you are not pleased, but allow me to help, if I may."
"You helped enough by having me on that ship. If you must know, your friend is the one who killed her."
"My friend? I am not sure who you are referring to."
"Shogo." Kyouki bowed her head, leaving the man alone.
Dane extended his hand to help. He had to; he felt. The sad look in Kyouki's eyes, her eyes lost the light they once held.
Pierce came into her office. She was leaning back in the armchair with her hands folded on her stomach, staring off into space.
"Yo Boss, good to see you. You headin' to the hospital today?"
"Eventually." She sighed. "Gat's waking up today." Ky was planning a song for Aisha's funeral, and she stopped, just put the pen down and Pierce found her like that soon after. Taking a deep breath, she realized that the man maybe wanted something. "Why what's up?"
"Nothin', just wondering 'cause I'd roll with you if you want?" He shrugged.
"Alrighty, let's go, you drive." She got up, put her shoes on, and left out of HQ.
Pierce started the truck, and they were soon off. Pierce turned his music down. "Hey uh… boss."
Kyouki was looking out of the window, admiring the scenery. She sighed slightly. "Yeah?"
Pierce cleared his throat. "I was wondering with Gat laid up you might let me handle the Ronin as you planned?"
Kyouki turned her honey eyes to the man driving the car. She nearly forgot that was what she assigned Pierce to. With a shake of her head. "I got it. Gat will be fine if it is more assignments you're worried about- "
"And what if he don't?" Pierce said, cutting her off.
That simple question caused Kyouki to raise a finger to Pierce, balling her hand into a fist, and shaking her head. Now wasn't the time to discuss what can or couldn't be done. "Gat will be fine." Once she realized Pierce got the message, she once again turned her attention back to the window.
The drive to the Memorial hospital was quiet, save for the music being turned back up, and when they got near the New Saints Row District, Ky had Pierce pull over, agreeing they headed to the Supremacy Condos.
She had her eye on the place for a while. It was at the far end of town and she figured Gat might not want to stay where they, the three of them, had been. Hell, she was avoiding the other places, but it would be nice for Johnny to have a place for him while she took care of everything else.
Pierce said he liked the place, Ky suggested he save up cause it cost a lot. They climbed into the SUV and continued on to the hospital. They were looking for a spot when she spotted Troy sitting on the bench outside the hospital, hoping Pierce didn't recognize him. She wondered why he was even there.
"Pierce, go on in. I want to bring Gat a get-well gift." She took her time getting out of the truck. She watched as Pierce headed into the hospital without looking back.
Kyouki strolled over to the dressed-down chief. "Why… What are you doing here?" She wasn't in the mood to deal with Troy and he could see it.
Troy looked up. Her long hair draped over her shoulder in a single braid that was curled at the end, loose hairs pinned back by diamond hair clips. She wore a purple tank top and deep purple nearly black carpi pants with matching black ballet flats. He smiled slightly. "I came here hoping to see you. I need to talk to you."
"You could have called." Ky smirked with her arms folded.
"I could have, but that would have had me still wondering how you are. I can see you are still not getting enough rest."
Ky rolled her eyes with a sigh. "Yeah, I'm not. I have been… busy, we will say."
"I hadn't had the chance to say when you came by the precinct, all dolled up, I hadn't been able to attend the fundraiser. It brought back memories of when I thought you had died. When you said Aisha had been murdered, it hit hard. Not the point I was trying to make. But the thing is… I had something I wanted to give to you. For a long while now, I didn't and never knew how to give it to you. I still have it." Troy reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring box. Kyouki watched him closely as he handed it to her. "I knew you would likely kill me after you found out about me, and I was doing my best to keep my job and be Troy of the Saints at the same time. It was a hard call. This was the peace offering that still stands."
Ky looked at the box, then back at the police chief. Reluctantly, she took it from him.
"This was supposed to be the anniversary gift of the day me and Julius saved you. Funny, Aisha had picked it out." He laughed nervously, taking her hand and squeezing it slightly. "I am sorry. I know you two were close. That night, on the yacht, I had asked Jules if he could talk to you and Gat on dropping your flag. No clue he didn't intend to talk to you how he did. I dunno. Just felt like it was gonna happen all over again. I'll continue to look out for you… and the crew. I know you can hold your own, but… look, just call me if you need me. Glad I worried about you this time, we all gonna miss her." He kissed her cheek, released her hand, then headed to his car.
Ky's face twisted in anger. Did she just hear Troy right? "Troy!" Troy opened the driver's side door. Kyouki approached him, squeezing the small box in her hand. He could see her knuckles went white. "Did you say Julius was supposed to talk to me?"
"Yeah, I talked to him before I left to come meet up with you. Remember when he got locked up?"
"Yeah…"
"I talked to him after I called Gat… Yeah, I was still after Julius for about two years, I was hot on his trail, he was hiding and that's when Johnny caught me and got arrested for coming after me."
"Johnny came after you cause of me?"
"Yup, you. He has wanted to be with you, but I got to you first." Troy smirked.
Ky frowned. She rubbed her head. Looking at the box in her hand gave it another squeeze. "Troy, the funeral. Can you make it?"
"When is it?"
"When Johnny is out of here with the ok."
"You think Gat will want me there?"
"She was your friend, too. Regardless, I'll have Gat not kill you on sight."
"Alight. Oh, I have something at the office for you. Come by when you can." Troy nodded.
Kyouki nodded in return with a tight smile. Turning towards the hospital looking at the box she gripped in her hand, she brushed her bang out of her eye, she needed to find Julius when this was all over, and she wondered if she should bring it up to Gat. "No, he doesn't need this too." She whispered to herself. Little did she know she was being watched. When she stepped through the front doors, the entire building was soon surrounded by rogue Ronin.
Ky walked the halls in troubled thought. What else could come from left field? She'll have to ask Pierce to look into Julius. Right now, she needed to check on Johnn. When she reached Gat's room, he could clearly see she was distressed.
"What's wrong?" He asked, dressed in comfortable clothes and sitting up.
"Nothing, I'm fine." She put her best smile on, thou it didn't reach her eyes. "How you feeling?"
Johnny narrowed his eyes at her. "Better, Pierce said you would be in soon. He just left out."
"Oh." She went and took a seat near his bed.
He pointed at the ring box in her hands. "That for me?"
Ky looked up at him and snorted slightly. "No, it came from Troy."
Anger bubbled in his chest. "I thought you wasn't seeing him anymore." Johnny slid off the bed, his midsection still a little tender, stood in front of Kyouki.
Ky looked up at the tall man, not liking the fact that he was accusing her of something she definitely was not doing. She stood, pushing him back gently. Her forehead reached his nose, and she tilted her head up to look at him in the eyes.
"I'm not. I had to… I called him the day Aisha was murdered, told him to get her from the house… Before anyone, I was ready for anyone to find out." Kyouki paused and looked at the floor. She didn't mean it to sound as harsh. It still felt unreal, like a nightmare unending. Ky calmed herself before continuing. "He stopped by today to give me this. I invited him to her funeral..." she held up the box. "And told me to call him if I needed anything. He said he had been holding on to this since the day I had died, said Ish helped pick it out." She was barely audible.
Johnny nodded as he took the box from her, placing it in his pocket, holding her hand, and squeezing it. Ky froze for a moment, going to pull her hand away, but he held on tight. He raised her hand, caressing her knuckles as he examined them. He saw minor cuts and scars from all the various guns she wielded and saw a newer cut on her right hand on the thin skin between her thumb and first finger, that was still healing.
"What have you been up to?" he raised her hands to his lips, and just as he was about to kiss those deadly hands, the lights went out.
Pierce came running into the room frantically. "Yo Ronin is everywhere. We gotta jet outta here now!" Pierce headed from the room once more.
"You couldn't bring me a gift, instead you bring people trying to kill us?" He grinned and groaned as he was pushed back onto the bed.
Ky ran to the door, the emergency lights kicked in as she looked to the left, then to the right, and saw four Ronin coming up the dimly lit hall. "Shit, he must've been waiting for this. We need to get you out of here." She said as she bolted from the door.
Johnny raised an eyebrow. "Shogo?" He called after her. He hurried to the door, peering out to see she had taken out two people with their swords. She was very graceful despite the situation. It was like watching living art. He was awestruck. She snatched the swords off the bodies. Saints came in a shot them to end their lives.
Ky ran back to Johnny. "Here, take these and get on the gurney." Ky handed Gat two guns she snatched from the dead Ronin, tossing the swords into the room. They slid across the polished floor. Ky raised the guardrails on the gurney and pushed Johnny out into the hall. She reached for her phone as she rolled up the hall to the elevator, heading down.
"Pierce, where the hell you go?" she screamed into the phone.
Johnny couldn't hear him on the other end. She turned the speaker on to steer the gurney.
"Roof, they have the place surrounded. Don't go downstairs."
Gat chuckled to himself. "This isn't what I was going to do a minute ago."
Johnny watched as she stuck her tongue out at him, causing him to chuckle, then groan from the pain in his side. He noticed a movement of yellow and black behind her. He saw a few more Ronin coming from the stairwell. "DUCK!"
Kyouki did as she was told. He let off several rounds behind her. She had little traction in the shoes she had on and slipped several times as she pushed him up the corridor. "Lay back!" She drifted around the corner, grazed by a bullet in the back of her leg. "Shit…" She grits her teeth, lurching forward, pushing past the pain to get them to safety.
"You Good!" Johnny saw her twist in pain once they made it into the elevator.
"I'm fine." She gritted her teeth. She snatched a gun from Johnny and fired a single shot ripping the sheet he was sitting on, and handing the gun back to him, she tore a piece of the fabric and wrapped it around her leg. "It's just a flesh wound."
The doors leading to the roof from the elevator opened and Pierce was sitting in the emergency helicopter, waiting for the two of them to board. Once Kyouki secured Johnny in place, she hopped in and they took off to the HQ.
"Pierce, you're a genius." Ky patted him on the back.
"I was trying to tell your asses from the door."
Kyouki rolled her eyes, clicking her tongue, popping him upside his head. "I take it back."
Gat winced in pain. Ky went over to him to check on him. "Fuck, I forgot to grab some pain meds." She hit the door to the helicopter. Pierce hit her in the back with a black bag. She went to yell at him as she snatched the bag from him.
Kyouki opened it up and low and behold, a bag full of meds. "Pierce, I take it back again. You're a genius." She patted the top of his head.
"Yeah, yeah, you're welcome. ETA on HQ is ten minutes." He announced, swatting at her hand.
Li grabbed one bottle, reading the directions. She handed a tablet to Gat.
"What, no chaser?" he smiled and winced again. He laid down, resting while they flew to HQ.
Kyouki took a seat next to Pierce and watched the city fly by. It worked. She knew she was being watched and followed, but nothing came of it. Only when she and Gat were together did Shogo try to attack. Yeah, she needed to end this soon. She wouldn't be able to live like this, they wouldn't, and her world would fall completely apart if anything happened to Johnny.
When they arrived at Purgatory, Johnny was asleep. Ky looked at Pierce, then they wheeled him into HQ. Once he was situated, they grabbed a few other Saints and got him tucked into bed.
Ky went into the bathroom and stared in the mirror. She looked tired. The business with Shogo Akuji had drained her. Aisha was dead because of him, and Jyunichi and Gat were injured as well in all of it. Because he wants to lead. He would kill her for it. That was what Aisha said.
Ky wanted his head on a spit, but she knew Gat would have wanted it more. With a shake of her head, she could just say fuck it and leave, go some place quiet, Gat can kill Shogo, Ky felt various emotions; all the times she claimed she would kill Shogo for this or that it now came down to it. How does one kill a member of their family? It wasn't Shogo directly who took Aisha's life, but it may as well have been him. That guy who did it was the one she really wanted, and he vanished. Did Shogo pull one of her numbers and have the man hiding somewhere?
After a quick freshen-up and addressing her wound, she stepped out of the bathroom to find Gat sitting up and awake. Gat looked over his shoulder at the bathroom door.
"I thought you were asleep."
"Nah. Just rested."
Ky could feel Johnny shift next to her. Johnny wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to him. She closed her eyes, turning her head to the hot tub across the room. Her face was growing warm, her eyes wet.
Johnny murmured into her hair. "Thank you, but I don't want Troy..."
Ky clenched her hands tightly. She gently pulled herself away from his embrace. "You can't do that. He was her friend too, and he did us a favor by escorting her from prying eyes. He kept her safe, while you were locked up and I laid out, she fucking saved us and he will be there. If you need anything, let the others know I'm not dealing with your shit right now." She didn't look back, slamming the door behind her. Ky stood in the hall, covering her mouth with her hand, and holding herself. Trying to push away the tears, she closed her eyes, evening her breathing. Shaundi walked by as she exited the room.
"Boss, you ok?" Shaundi placed her hand on her leader's arm.
Ky let out a harsh breath, nodding. "Keep an eye on Gat. I need to get out of here. I'll be back in a few hours. If he causes any problems, tranquilize him." Pointing to the door next to her.
"Okay, Boss." Shaundi nodded, watching as Ky left in the elevator.
Dane had a location, which was the last location that he knew Shogo would have been hiding. When he finished with work, he made his way over to Club Koy.
The club was its usual lively self music just flowing through everyone, except one woman, who sat in the VIP section of the hip nightclub. Kyouki didn't stay long. She popped in and left shortly after, taking a much-needed drive. She needed to clear her head, needed to think, What would have been a celebratory time was anything but. Driving, she shouldn't have snapped at Johnny as she did. He needed her. Sucking her teeth, she made her way back to Purgatory.