Kyouki watched the sky. The colors of the setting sun cast gave her a brief smile as she was reaching Purgatory. She was upset; she knew it, and it was making her irritable. Ky wasn't the only one who lost someone dear. Snapping at Johnny was not what he or she needed. Gat was sitting in Purgatory recovering from a severe wound, almost losing him and she had to go off on him. "Great way to treat someone." Ky sighed to herself.

In the Mission kitchen, just a doorway into Purgatory, Ky was at the stove fixing something to apologize to Johnny with. Something to make him feel a little better. She had just plated the simple dish when Pierce called when he saw her at the bedroom door.

"Boss, where you been? Your uncle is here." Pierce had announced when he came through the kitchen.

Her brows knitted. "Uncle, here? I'll be down. Give me a minute." Knocking on the door. Johnny took the plate, nodding his thanks.

"I'll be downstairs. I have a guest."

"Alright, I'll be down in a minute."

"Just rest, hmm?" Ky turned, heading down to greet Kazuo, as he may have been waiting a while. "{So sorry, I was a bit busy. How long had you been waiting?}"

"《Not long. How are you my Li'er?》" Uncle Sheng Tai Wong, was the one who was greeting her.

"《Good to see you again.》" Her uncle's translator smiled in greeting.

Kyouki quickly bowed her greetings before giving both men a tight hug. "《Uncle Sheng, Ling Yunche… What brings you here?》"

Sheng told her simply what it was he was there for. "《News travels fast. The festival has been postponed, and we heard about your friend.》"

Kyouki fell silent. He had heard the news and as soon as he was able came to see how his brother's grandchild was holding up. Coming back to reality, Kyouki offered them a seat. Luckily, Purgatory was empty, with just a few people paying them little attention. Pierce introduced as one of hers and when Johnny came to join them, Sheng extended his sympathies once again.

Kyouki was much quieter, her head hanging. She was, in reality, deep in thought with her uncle there. It seemed as if they showed a silver lining.

"《Uncle, I think I want to travel.》" She said, knowing neither Gat nor Pierce knew what she said.

"《I have no problems with you traveling.》" Sheng chuckled.

Ky swallowed. "《I mean, to China with you. As soon as humanly possible. When I finish business here.》" Her eyes glanced at Gat before looking away quickly. Damn, everything. Blood rushed to her face as it warmed with emotion. She thought she had this under control. "《You see… Shogo… he designed to kill us. That is how Aisha died.》" pointing between Gat and then herself.

The only time Ky saw this uncle fly into a rage was when his beloved daughter was in danger. "What!" Sheng shouted in English.

"《Sir, please calm yourself.》" Yunche pleaded.

"《That little shit, he dares! Kazuo still has not taught his son better. Yes, you may leave with me. I will arrange to return soon.》"

Kyouki stood and bowed. Turning went to refill their glasses when another unexpected guest arrived.

"《I will need my passport. If you could wait here or I can meet you…》 {Uncle Kazuo, why are you here?}"

When Kyouki looked at the older man standing on the first landing, she caused the others to look. Johnny was shocked to see him there too. Pierce couldn't follow what was being said as it was, but he knew that was the Oyabun who was standing before them. He inched closer to Gat.

Kyouki nodded, then gestured towards an empty seat, taking a glass down and pouring water for him as well. Sheng and Kazuo exchanged venomous glances.

"{Wong Sheng Tai.}"

"{Akuji Kazuo.}"

Ky placed a glass in front of each man, eyeing each elder, then handing Yunche a glass as well. Kyouki then took a seat across from Yunche and they both sighed. The room was quiet. They could hear both men grunting, their obvious discomfort around each other, the tension you could cut with a knife.

"{You are not taking her away.}"

"{You still have a disrespectful son!}"

They both spoke at the same time. Johnny looked between them and scratched his head. "So, these two know each other?"

Kyouki nodded.

"Mr. Akuji and Shifu Wong have known each other for a long time. They had a falling out many years ago." Yunche said as the two elders glared.

"Oh shit, English now." Pierce said now that he was able to understand one of them.

Kyouki snorted a laugh, covering her mouth quickly. "Sorry, Pierce. Yeah, they haven't been in the same room for a while." Ky sobered.

"Why?" Pierce was curious.

Kyouki pursed her lips. "Shogo…" Even Yunche nodded.

"What he do?"

"See, we were, at one point, one big ol' happy family. Til Uncle Sheng brought his Sadie over. I was like six at the time. Anywho, the sweet girl liked me more, and Shogo got mad when she bit him… He ended up having her beaten to death."

"Un-fuckin-believable. Over a fucking dog!" Johnny could not believe it, He could, because Shogo is an ass. He couldn't believe that was the reason these two old men were still beefing.

"I do not joke about Sadie!" Sheng barked out with his thick accent.

"《Ah, Uncle, calm down. Would you two like some snacks, tea?》" Kyouki jumped up, running to the kitchen. Shortly, she came back with snacks and tea for her elders.

Both men continued to bicker over her welfare.

Calming her uncles down was a task that took a solid hour, with her mediating between both of them. They all stopped talking once again.

"{You may not take her away. I asked the festival to be postponed. Kyo-chan… I know your heart is heavy, the path barred by grief. You leading will right that.}"

Kyouki swallowed hard past the lump in her throat. She shook her head, getting up to leave.

She could hear them arguing behind her. On her way up, Shaundi was on her way down, meeting at the All Saints statue, then gave her a curious look. "Hey."

"Hey, uh… You have a guest."

Kyouki closed her eyes, rubbing her forehead. "Great. Must be Aunt Mimi."

"Nah. Aunt Mimi it isn't." Shaundi headed down, questioning Pierce and Gat.

With an uninterested shrug, Ky continued up, seeing James standing in the elevator coming out. With Dane right behind him. "Sweet mercy, why are you here?"

"To see you, my lady." Dane smiled.

Kyouki looked at James, and then at Dane again. "He needs to leave." Dane looked at his driver and nodded, sending the man back out to the car.

Gat saw Ky heading back down, practically stomping down the steps. She looked irritated. Then he saw Dane trailing behind her. "The hell is he doing here?" Gat whispered to Ky when she stopped at his approach.

"To see me, so he says."

Pierce walked up to the two heads. "Er'ybody coming today?"

"Shit, I thought for a sec it was Aunt Mimi." Kyouki agreed.

"What are you doing here?" Johnny asked, pushing Kyouki behind him. They had talked about what happened on the yacht when Dane took her with him. What shook her was what Dane had done. Johnny knew he couldn't trust Dane. "We don't have any more Dexs for you to offer a job to."

Dane snorted as he watches the interaction once more with the man Kyouki calls her bodyguard. "My fiancee is here. I have information for her."

Pierce cut in, sounding confused once more. "Who's Dex?"

Ky held up a finger to quiet him. "I'll let you know later."

Dane cocked a smile. "He wanted a fresh start. Running around with a street gang would not sit well on his resume."

Johnny sighed loudly. "Dex was a sellout." he spat back.

"I think it's more like a millionaire." Dane snidely corrected. The blond man was giving displeased looks as Johnny kept a hand on Kyouki's thigh.

Johnny was watching Dane carefully as well. Even the elders who sat glaring daggers at each other turned to glare at the man who was here for their niece.

"What information is it you have for me, Mr. Vogel?" She called from behind Gat.

Dane's eyes narrowed as he watched Ky's hand slip onto Johnny's with the latter taking her hand in his. "Ultor has severed its ties with Shogo specifically. I know where he is hiding."

Johnny felt Kyouki squeeze his hand tight. She stepped from behind the tall man, giving her full attention to Dane. "Are you sure? Do you know if he has someone at his side, a sandy blond-haired man?"

The light in her eyes was lit once more that Dane could see. He continued to speak, clearing his throat. "You wish for my help?"

Gat seethed. "No."

Pierce thinking for the better. "Yes!"

Li continued to watch Dane ignoring the two men at her sides. Dane further invited himself in to take the empty seat on the sofa, greeting both elders whom he then noticed with them. He smirked at Johnny as Kyouki came closer to him. "How about this? I wait here as insurance and if I am wrong, you can shoot me." He opened his arms wide to welcome a shot from the Saint's leader. She gave a half grin. He raked his eyes over her body once more, and his smile deepened.

Gat noticed his leering gaze quickly, pulled out his gun, and aimed it at Mr. Vogel's head. "How about we cut the waiting part out?"

Dane sat up nervously, chuckling. "I think waiting is very necessary."

Li placed a hand on Johnny's arm, and he lowered the gun. She pursed her lips in thought. "Where is he? But so help you if you're wrong." Li was not in the mood for false leads. If Dane does know where Shogo had been hiding, maybe Shogo sought him out for help. The thought then occurred to her, 'What if Shogo sought his help with Aisha?' That alone made Li deeply suspicious of the Ultor prick. "Shaundi, Pierce, can you two watch over them while I am gone? Yunche can translate if they need anything. I'm sorry to trouble you, Brother Yunche." The translator smiled, shaking his head.

"But what about him? I need to shoot someone." Gat exclaimed, aiming at Dane again.

Li was already heading to the lower levels. "Save it. Samson, you have anymore bombs left?"

Dane whipped his head to Ky as she said that. "Who just has bombs laying about?"

Shaundi and Pierce said simultaneously. "The Boss."

And with that, the two of them headed to a spot in Chinatown, Imperial Square, and The Pagoda Hotel's right tower. Samson did have many more of the sticky bombs he and Nick made for the last big demo plan and placed them in four duffle bags. Kyouki took two and Gat took the others. Ky was arguing with Johnny about coming along because she didn't need help. Gat let her know that it didn't matter what she said he was going along anyway, and they needed to talk about what she and her uncles had discussed.

It was something Ky hadn't planned on. She was just going to kill the man who killed Aisha and be on her way. She already had Bobby doing his homework on the businesses that the Saints controlled, and what it was she had going on with the Ultor dipshit.

Ky had been fully cluing Bobby in. She didn't even tell her lieutenants yet. She would when she was almost out of the door. That would be the day of Aisha's funeral. Kyouki absolutely refuses to talk to Johnny about it. He would try to hold her. Ky can't let that happen. They need to be apart. He would understand once she was gone.

They were in the car loading up and on their way when Li turned up the music and sang along as they rode to the Pagoda Hotel. Gat reached over and turned the music down. "What's going on with you?"

Li turned it up and kept singing. Gat punched the radio, and it was off for good. "Nothing. I realized I snapped at you and I came back to apologize."

"You expect me to believe that bullshit?" Gat snorted, watching the road ahead of them.

"Yes. I think you have really loved Aisha all this time. I have no idea why you tried to deny it or have this weird attraction to me."

Gat faced her once again. "I know how I feel, you and Ish…"

Ky feels herself about to snap at him again. "You called her name… during the time I was getting you to the hospital, even as you were being wheeled in, you said, and I quote, 'Save Ish.' Right before they wheeled you into surgery."

"Yeah… What I was talking about was what you said to Wong. You said something and I want to know what."

"Oh, it was something I had said to him a while ago. You also owe me a radio." She grumbled.

Johnny was not buying it. "Whatever. When we get back, I'll ask Rom to do it for you. You know how I feel. You felt it many times. It ain't just about that with us. Ish… yeah.. I'd always want to save her, always. But you… You are trying to leave me too." he wasn't able to finish his thought, they soon arrived at the hotel.

Li wedged herself between the front and back seats, her hip bumping Johnny, who had the urge to feel her up. She pulled a few guns from the seat with some ammo she had when she lifted the backseat up. She couldn't get back out with the arms full of ammunition when she wiggled freely and wound up sitting in Gats' lap. Johnny groaned. She dropped some ammo in her place. Getting out went to the trunk for the explosives then made their way in and throughout the Pagoda tower, placing the small sticky bombs from bottom to top of the structure.

Li felt more like running away than being near him right now. She knew he hated it when she avoided talking with him about her plans. She heard him grumble and when they put up the last sticky bomb in the hotel, he took it out on the rogue Ronin Shogo had noticed the pair.

Several that they came across they did question before Johnny played the executioner. None of them knew where Guy or Shogo were. They hadn't seen them in a few days.

Not satisfied with their findings, Li didn't care about the innocent people left in the tower. They were just helpless casualties that she made sacrifices of. The tower blew up, out, and onto the sister tower and left flames of the structure everywhere.

During the ride back to Purgatory, she received a text.

- Why?

I'm looking for the killer. -

When they get back to the Saints Headquarters, she would have a stern word with Dane. Ky and Johnny made their way back to their not-so-hideout. Johnny stops in the bedroom near the elevator, tugging Kyouki in, slamming, then locking the door shut.

Stumbling to the center nearest the edge of the king-sized bed as Johnny closed the door behind her.

"For someone who is still recovering, you sure are being extra pushy." Ky turned to face him. He looked like how she was hiding her genuine feelings, fed the fuck up. With her head hanging a sigh escaped. "I know what you have been trying to say, alright, I just don't want to hear it. You need to get more rest, so I will make this brief." Ky reached into her pocket and pulled a key ring out, a single key attached to a purple 'S' with a devil with angel wings wrapped around it. She handed it to him. He took it with a look of puzzlement playing on his face. "It's the key to a condo on the Row... you know. I wasn't sure what you had planned to do with the other house, so… I was going to save this till after… shit." Ky sighed. It was a little harder than she thought.

Johnny gripped the key and placed it in his sweatpants pocket. "You're asking me to move in with you again?"

Ky's head shot up. "No... No, I was giving you the place." A slight ghost of a smile hinted on her full lips.

After several moments of quiet that passed between them, Kyouki excused herself by walking to the door. She reached for the knob and Gat put his hand on the door, preventing her from opening it. "No." She swung around to face him. "I need to go."

Johnny seized her by the waist and kissed her passionately, pressing his body against hers, and pinning her back to the door. Both bodies relaxed, the familiar heat enveloping one another, causing a wave of pleasured dizziness to further deepen their kiss. Nipped and gently biting her lips, his tongue slicked along her lower lip before her lips parted.

She moaned instinctively against his mouth. She cannot allow herself such an indulgent taming. Taking his face in her hands as she covered his mouth. Ky broke from his kiss, looking into his eyes, she shook her head, he slowly released her. A hand on his chest, she pushed Johnny back, his lips wanting hers again. He pushed her hand away. She looked him in the eye and placed a gentle hand over his heart.

"Don't go to him… You're. Mine."

Ky covered his mouth. This was not something that needed to be said, and he needed to stop wanting her. "Maybe later. We have things left to close a chapter of." Seeing that he understands her meaning, agreed. Ky nodded, turning she slid out of the door, leaving the man with a raging hard-on.

Going to splash water on his face. It was going to be difficult; he understood. He confirmed his not being alone. Gat decided he will not let Kyouki slip through his fingers, his promise to Aisha.

Shaundi had refilled drinks and asked if Dane wanted a refill too. He politely declined. The mood in the room was deadly as he sat. The older men refused to acknowledge anyone other than each other in their death glare.

Pierce was pacing and pulled his gun from his hip. "It's been too long, maybe I should…"

Ky called down the stairs. "No need to scare our guests, we're back." He put his gun away and Dane went to stand up.

"Well, now that you have concluded your business, I will head back." He walked up to Ky, who look like she had been kissed, and scowled.

Ky snorted. "You won't be going anywhere this second." She grabbed Dane by the jacket, smiling sweetly. When he returned the smile, reaching to caress her cheek, she tossed him against the stairs. Stunning the elders with a quirked smile on their lips, causing Pierce and Shaundi to stand shocked at the suddenness of the attack.

The shock winded the Ultor suit. He gasped for air. Then felt the weight of his attacker on him bearing down. "Shogo wasn't there. Neither was that murderer. You had me alone, separated from Aisha on the yacht. Was that because of Shogo too? Because his aim was to kill me." she growled out.

"N-no... My lady… I h-had no ide..ah." Dane wheezed.

Ky pressed her elbow into his throat. "Then why the help now?"

Dane turned colors and struggled against her. Tapping her elbow, she eased up some. "Because… please, I didn't know what Shogo… you were in a coma, and we couldn't locate Julius Little. Timing… is ev-eryth-ing." He tapped at her elbow as she pressed him further.

"So, your whole reason was not me, but Julius? You went through the Ronin to do it?" Kyouki pieced it, which his secretary told her, to his need to find Julius. And the murder of the Board members. Now she saw she glared down at Dane. "Your false impression of me is misplaced. You thought wrong. The members of the board you killed, they were right. I'll kill you sure as look at you. Do not come back here unless I invite you. Have a good night!" Ky patted his cheek.

Gasping for air. The cheery way she bid him goodnight from the menacing warning chilled Dane. The threat was real. Sitting up looking past her saw Johnny standing there, towering looking down on him.

Johnny came from around the corner, seeing Ky pulling the man to his feet, growled. Dane straightened his tie, cleared his throat, and scurried out.

Dane needed to find Shogo quickly if he could.

So he had been looking for Julius, as well. Li looked curiously at their minor exchange. Wiping her hands off stretched and rolled her head to work the muscles from her neck. Johnny went back to the room he was occupying.

Carlos came in shortly after Vogel left. He saw Kyouki standing off to the side with unfamiliar faces in the large entertainment lounge.

Hearing him come up behind her, she quickly addressed him. "Carlos, hey. I need a favor."

"Sure."

"My, thing.. the front radio. It got damaged. Can fix or I should ask Ramon?" She gestured, trying to remember the car part.

Carlos chuckled. "I'll take a look." Ky handed him the key, and he about-faced back up the stairs.

Ky frowned. She felt empty, angry, and frustrated all in the same setting. Dane has never led her to believe he had interactions with Shogo still. But just him coming to say he knew where Shogo seemed as if this nightmare was in favor of her cousin.

Forgetting she had company, as she was lost in thought. Heading to her office, both elders got up to join her.

"{Kyo-chan, please. Reconsider. If you aim to avenge Asha-chan… I fully support you.}" Kazuo bowed quietly exiting, he still had eyes looking for that son of his.

What the Wong senior said; the choice was all hers from what she wanted to do. After the funeral, she was free to leave with him. Both mentor and assistant left soon after.

"What will I lose this time?"

This was the reason she was wary of leading in the first place. With or without the Saints, she loses people. Important people, family. Why does this happen to her? Anyone and everyone around her. Kyouki screamed.

Pushing things off her desk onto the floor. She threw her desk lamp, chair and pushed her desk over. Grabbing a bat beat on the filling cabinet, hitting the glass windows and doors, when they wouldn't break, purposely reinforced for emergencies.

"Boss, you good?" Pierce asked, startled.

She headed down. "Get out!" She screamed. Breaking the paintings that hung. "Get the fuck up. Get out!" Swinging breaking the flatscreen on the wall.

"Boss!"

"Fuckers, don't listen. I said go!" Swinging at Pierce and Shaundi. "Anyone who in here, kick fucking rocks!" Bellowing echoed throughout the HQ.

"But Boss!"

"I said get out!" Ky hurled the bat at the bar.

The sound was heard down the lower level of old Stilwater. It was frightening. A few brave souls went to the upper floor to check the situation. They quickly ducked back.

Johnny came from the bedroom to see the office toppled. The sound of glass breaking and grunting, yelling. He hurried to the first floor.

Kyouki was destroying everything. Lights hissed, glass shattered, the floor smelled of the once-closed alcohol bottles. Several Saints lined the steps, unsure of what to do.

"Johnny?" Shaundi asked, scared. Gat just watched on. He headed down.

The stereo system whizzed and popped. Tables broken, the gaming consoles broken; it was dim with the lights smashed. And Ky is in the middle of it all. Stopped just as she started.

"Babe?" Johnny tentatively called out.

She huffed. "What?"

Reaching for her shoulder. "You good?"

That one simple phrase held weight. Since they started this run after she woke up. He asks her that.

"No." Ky shook her head. Sniveling, she wiped her eyes. "No." Her voice wavered. It was small.

Johnny pulled her to him and held her. Feeling her body tremble. She held tight, sobbing. Ky couldn't stop. Johnny's grip was firm. He rested his chin on her head, letting tears of his own fall.

This was going to be difficult indeed.

Those who watched on said nothing. Some tears shed quietly with them. The crew understood and began cleaning up.

"Let's go home." Johnny whispered for her to hear. When he heard movement around them.

The Downtown loft. Gat drove to, holding Ky's hand. She had no grip, just limp, numb, tired. Try as she might, reigning in the emotions was a no-go. Every thought that crept in caused her to shed fresh tears.

"I can't even blame you." Kyouki said suddenly.

"What you mean?"

"You aren't responsible for Aisha's… death."

"Shogo is."

"And he is related to me."

"It's not your fault."

"If I wasn't related to him, sure, we can not blame me. But Ish saved us, and paid the price for it, because of me."

They went into their rooms and grabbed some bedclothes. Each took a bathroom to shower. They mimicked each other. They both removed their clothes, worked on the bandages they had, throwing the old away, then stepped into the shower and let the water relax their tense muscles.

Bodies were clean, they turned off the water and stepped from the shower. She wrapped her hair in a towel and dried her body. Taking the med kit, she went to knock on Johnny's door.

Towels wrapped around his waist, she could see the red scar new to his torso. She sighed. This was commonplace years ago for them. Patchwork. But Ky surprised him with her delicate touch, sitting him down as she looked at the entry and exit points.

"Nice stitch. Still hurts?" Not like Johnny would say. Ky swore he felt no pain.

Opening the box, she took the pain ointment and applied it to the large patch bandage. One in front, one in back, then she covered it. With a quiet good night, Kyouki got up to head to her room.

Gat wasn't going to let her be alone. Grabbing her wrist, he tugged her back on the bed. With a flump, she sat.

"I don't know what happened. I got angry." She said. Her face scrunched up. The feeling, lost. Kyouki had been holding it in, stuffing everything that upset her down, packed away in the back of her mind. She wiped a stray tear, taking a deep breath.

"I know." Johnny couldn't say much. It wasn't like him. Everything he felt came out of Kyouki's mouth. There was equal understanding, equal grief, and equal emptiness.

Johnny stood and helped Ky to her feet. "Bed." He ordered, reaching for the covers turned them down.

Ky went to object but did as asked, crawling into the bed had the covers drawn up to her chin. Johnny got in on the other side and got comfortable. Pulling Ky into his arms. "Get some sleep. We have to get through tomorrow." Johnny heard Ky exhale a shaky breath.

Early Friday morning, still wrapped in Johnny's arms. It wasn't bright. From the curtains, the sky reflected how she felt, dark as if a storm was rolling in. Slipping out of bed, she went to the kitchen. Turning on the radio, she heard the weather announcement. It was a storm heading in from the west sea.

Breakfast wasn't going to fix itself, Kyouki was on autopilot as she scrambled eggs and fried bacon, slicing fruit, then she slipped and cut her finger. With a deep breath, she bandaged the cut and then plated food for her and Johnny.

With their appetites suppressed, showers, dressing, then they would be off. They needed to be there by eleven thirty and it would take them all a few minutes to get there from the Condos that were once where the 3rd Street Saint called home. It was going to be a long day and she could feel it.

The turnout, however, was more than that. Dressed in white, mourners gathered. With Ren and Shaundi, they hooked speakers up for the service that poured out into the streets.

When Gat and Ky arrived, the massive crowd parted. The service was supposed to be small. Close friends and Aisha's immediate family were present.

"Guess they love her too." Gat grinned.

Ky smiled with a shake of her head. "When I feel things should be quiet, you go big."

"You know me. Ain't nothing small about me." Johnny smiled. Kyouki smiled with a laugh.

At the church they sat, the family, recalling all of her accomplishments and her life. There were laughs. Ky held Johnny's hand the whole time. She could feel him in a death grip, or she was. They were both a collected mess.

His jaw was tight. He sat stoically still. Ky had to keep her cool, icy demeanor. There were tears, as with most services, even with the service going beautifully. With a deep ragged breath, she mentally prepared. On the program, the music of choice was sung by Songbird, one of Ish's favorites. I Sing Because I'm Happy.

Kyouki looked at the coffin, placing her hand on it and the music was low enough for everyone to hear, and Ky began.

"~… Why should I feel discouraged…

Why should the shadows come…

Why should my heart feel lonely…

And long for heaven and home

… When Jesus is my portion…~"

A video screen played above the altar. It was when Aisha and Ky both were singing the very song Ky is singing alone now. Johnny put his head in his hands and cried, it was the first song they sang together, but it was no longer a duet, Ky had her back turned, they didn't know she was singing, until her voice broke, Kyouki poured every ounce of love and heart into the start of the song.

Ky stopped, they could hear her sniffle. "This is my best friend. Who is here with us, watching over us, every one of us. Just as she always did." as she was watching other videos play on the monitor.

Shaundi placed a hand on Johnny's shoulder, rubbing, hoping to help ease his pain. Troy bravely patted his left shoulder. Kyouki turned around her hands, never leaving the coffin. She had tears pooling in her eyes.

"I went through countless times what I would say, do. And I got nothing. The only woman who shares my last name, not related, was my sister, and I'm an only child." They all wept and chuckled.

There were no words. Ky's head went down, covering her mouth.

"Take your time. It'll be alright." Some called, knowing how much it hurts to speak.

"My best friend who I will never get to hug, laugh with, drink horrible coffee with, sing with, physically. But I know she's here." Ky took a deep breath and chuckled. "Ya know, we talked about this before. The hardest part was being there, having her in my arms... She didn't regret saving my life." Her nails dug into her palms. Going to take a step, her legs felt rooted. She stumbled. Troy and Johnny went to catch her, but Ky held up her hand. She walked to the front of the coffin.
"Noel is being spoiled by the woman who, despite the language barrier, always treated Ish as family." Looking down at Aisha, she looked like she was asleep. "Not funny, Noel, making me sing at your funeral. You look so beautiful, Noel… sleep well." She placed a kiss on Aisha's forehead. "I called her Noel when she needed a new persona. Noel isn't a name, see. We had changed her entire image. Her code name, Noel, stood for No Other Elegant Lady." Ky chuckled. "There will never be anyone like her. For that, I'm grateful. Because of the time, I did have with Ish, is irreplaceable. And the reason why I sing. Thank you for everything. I got you. Like you had me. I'll see you when I get there." Kyouki went back to her seat.

Johnny remembered that morbid promise, and how Aisha did the same when they thought Ky had died, in an empty casket. It was real this time, and he was angry. He walked up grabbed Kyouki and held her tight. Ky patted his back knowingly.

The music cued as Aisha's coffin was closed. All the air left Kyouki, Johnny, and Lieutenants'. One last stop. The pallbearers stood; Johnny, Troy, Ramon, Pierce, and Carlos. Ky held onto Aisha's mother and sister as they walked behind, with Aisha's father, her relatives that could be there, and Ren, who still could not believe this could happen.

The crowd outside parted. Music played as they watched the coffin loaded into the pearl-white hearse, followed by a procession of black and purple cars from the crew who were attending.

They all made it there safe to Mourning Wood Cemetery, and all seemed eerily quiet, with no interruption during the trip to the church and none at the plot where Aisha was to be laid to rest. Her body is to be sent elsewhere for cremation. Kyouki had a feeling. She told Johnny beforehand about the body swap, though the sense that Aisha was still there was very real.

Ky was Gat's left hand, Shaundi on his right, and Carlos, Ren, Pierce, and Ramon sandwiched them all in between. It started raining the second they stepped foot onto the hallowed grounds.

Their last goodbye, standing quietly side by side. Kyouki was the wall of strength that as the leader of the Saints could muster. Now she and Gat accept Aisha not being there from now on, neither like it, but this is their reality.

They watched her die, unlike Ky, who hasn't forgiven herself for not being fast enough to have saved her. Their friends watched on. Gat and Ky both look lost in thought. As the Reverend says his last prayer, they grip their hands a little tighter.

"Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord, and may perpetual light shine on her. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace."

They placed her favorite flowers, roses, onto her resting place. Weeping heard from family, her mother, and something else. Ky gave Johnny's hand a firmer squeeze before excusing herself, slipping through the surrounding crowd, and tapping her crew to move Aisha's family away to the loft downtown.

She could hear motorcycles in the distance, over the thunder the sea had brought along with the rain as it rhythmically beat on the wooden casket. Ky closed her eyes, sighing to herself, and tugged her fedora a little further over her eyes.

Gat stood staring at the casket, letting the rain calm him, not looking up to acknowledge the disruption.

The bikes rolled over graves that scared several people who were saying hello to their departed loved ones. With Aisha's family gone, Ky stood once more with Johnny. The bikes stopped in front of Aisha's plot with the leader speaking.

"I have you now. I couldn't catch you at the hospital, but now. Now I will collect my dues."

Gat never turned his eyes from the ground; he spoke loud enough to be heard. "Leave little boy."

Shogo was heated. "Look at me when I'm talking to you! Kyouki, make your dog listen!"

Gat raised his voice just a little. "Fuck off Akuji. I'm not killing anyone at Aisha's burial. Tonight, tomorrow, you name the time and day. I would gladly fuck you up, but not now."

Shogo sneered at Johnny. "How noble, however, the nobility is sorely overrated." Shogo drew his gun, cocking it, aiming at Johnny. Shogo was ready to fight, with or without Johnny Gat's permission.

Kyouki felt a sting the way Gat said Akuji. She gracefully stepped in front of the gun aimed at Johnny. She raised her head, her eyes lit with anger. "You have done more than enough damage. You need to leave right now."

"You don't get to tell me what to do! You are insignificant…"

"Spell that." Ky patronized Shogo.

He roared, opening fire on his cousin, forcing her to take cover behind a tall tombstone. Barrages of bullets chipped through the stone tombstones, and people ran away from the hail of bullets.

Johnny drew a pistol, shielding Ky while firing at the rogue Ronin with Shogo. When the Saints fought back, Ky ran to get some people who were hit by stray bullets out of the way. Taking cover behind a large tree, she fired back, killing a few of her cousin's people. That murderer was not with him.

The firefight lasted until Shogo couldn't handle the pressure any longer when he ran out of bullets, he ran towards the office and pavilion. Gat noticed him running after he took out three Ronin from behind one of the mausoleums.

"He's trying to escape!" Gat shouted over the dwindling bullets and thunder.

Ky swiveled to mark Shogo's direction. She was not dressed for a chase, black high heels wet and sinking into the mud as puddles formed at her feet. A knee-length black pencil skirt, and a tailored black dress blazer to match.

Kyouki seemed to have lost her hat when she ducked for cover during the shootout. Her hair was wet, sticking to her face, brushing her hair out of her eyes and mouth, unbuttoning her jacket, stripped out of it, tossing it on a headstone, apologizing as she did so. The heels had to go; the chase was on. Ky took off like a shot, hiking her skirt up. Pure adrenalin was coursing through her veins as she chased after Shogo.

She came to the pavilion, and no one was inside that she could see. The door locked when she tugged the handle. Ky heard engines coming at her. She turned to see Shogo and four others on cycles speeding past her, knocking her down in the process.

"Shit!" Ky landed hard on the stone pavement when she ducked out of the way. She cursed some more, holding her side. Getting to her feet, she ran for a crewman's car.

Shots loudly rang out as Kyouki watched Shogo clothesline off the bike and crash to the ground. Ramon stood there with Ren and Carlos. Ky got out of the car and hurried over to investigate.

"I was teaching them how to hit moving targets. He's all yours. See you at the house." He and the young couple left.

Rage was in her eyes as she looked down at her cousin. Ky grabbed him up by his collar, to drag him back to the cemetery to the awaiting Johnny Gat.

For good measure, Ky punched Shogo in the face. "I had to bury my best friend, you lil fucker, you wouldn't know what that feels like, you lil stupid…" She punched him a few more times when he tried to get away from her.

"Let me go, Kyouki… I didn't kill her, that wasn't me!" Shogo whined as Li swung him to the ground to hoist him back to his feet.

"Why didn't you just leave us alone? Why couldn't you stop being a little shit and do as you're told!" Ky elbowed him in the chest, or whatever body part she could. "My best friend is gone. And as far as I'm concerned, whatever happens to you today, I won't save your ass."

Kyouki shifted her weight to swing Shogo around into Johnny's waiting fist. Ky stood off to the side. She found her hat. Going to collect it along with her jacket, she didn't want to deal with listening to Shogo's beating.

"Get up." Gat didn't raise his voice when he ordered Shogo, who landed on the ground after one hit.

Shogo gritted his teeth. He stood and then tried to kick Gat, but Gat caught his leg, bringing his elbow down hard, breaking it at the knee. Shogo shrilled as he writhed on the ground in tears, holding his leg. Johnny reached down, grabbing onto his shoulders head-butted Shogo on the bridge of his nose, breaking that as well before letting him roll on the ground some more.

"Get up." Gat repeated in calm. Ky thought he was finished. Hearing his timber sent a tickle in her stomach. She needed this to be over with.

Shogo struggled to his feet, but he obeyed and tried to punch Johnny and not seem like a punk, but it too was unsuccessful. Gat let the punch land, and it just made the large man even more furious.

Gat punched Shogo in the face, causing his body to pivot, and Gat was far from finished. Johnny grabbed him and kneed him in the stomach, knocking all the air out of him. The boy fell against a thick stone tombstone.

"St..op… pl…"

"Get up." Gat repeated once more. This time Shogo did not listen. He leaned, clutching the cool stone to soothe his stinging face.

"Plea…se st..op." He pleaded as he held onto the tombstone for dear life.

"Not so fun when you're fighting someone who isn't tied to a chair, is it?" Gat growled, leaning in close, and grabbing Shogo by his hair.

"I didn't… I wouldn't kill her! It was Guy!" He cried.

"You ordered it." Gat said before punching him so hard the boy's head broke through the solid stone.

Shogo's head throbbed. He weakly shifted as he could barely lift his head up from the ground. "N-no… no ow… I'm so…r…ry."

"Well, that brings her back, doesn't it?" Gat sneered as he hoisted Shogo by his collar and started dragging him towards the open plot that was Aisha's empty stand-in. "You couldn't even let her have a burial, you fuckin' piece of shit." Johnny snatched open the coffin lid so that the dummy body resting inside tumbled onto the wet muddy ground. Shogo's eyes widened, knowing his fate.

Kyouki had turned her back on them looking to see anything but Shogo's beating, she knew this day was coming but it would have been honorable to fight in a less public setting, and there was nothing she, or anyone else, could have done about it.

She could hear the cries and pleas of the man-child behind her.

"No… plea…se no, Kyo-san, plea…se." He begged, as Gat roughly threw him inside the coffin. "Have him… have him kill me… but not like this! No!" Shogo cried from inside the coffin as Gat slammed the lid closed.

Ky always makes plans. She had Aisha cremated because she didn't want anyone messing with the body after her burial. She didn't expect Shogo to show up. It was no time to think about the whys and hows Shogo managed to be at the cemetery. His threats and existence have come to an end.

Kyouki turned to grab the shovel that lay on the ground. Johnny watched her, the muffled sounds coming from inside the casket, and saw as she nodded. Gat kicked the lever, lowering the coffin with a heavy thud, both ignoring Shogo's muffled screams and pounding, Johnny starting the Texan burial.

Looking around, Kyouki started walking away. Gat impaled the ground bitterly atop the plot, stalking over to her. "Fuck you going?" Johnny roughly grabbed her arm, jerking her to face him, squeezing hard.

Ky looked into Johnny's eyes and winced, snatching her arm from him in vain. "My cousin, he didn't order her death."

"You don't believe that shit, do you?"

"I don't know." She shrugged.

Gat let go of her arm. He heard what she said, his face unreadable as well as Ky's. Turning stormed back over to the coffin, shoveling the plot full again.

Kyouki headed to the mausoleum they passed on the way in earlier. Johnny looked up and watched her walk in.

'Wong' it read on the carved marble structure. She put down her shoes and walked in. Ky placed a hand on the smooth stone lid. She slid to the floor and rested her head on the cool surface.

"Obachan, I miss you and I'm so tired. I know you have seen all the idiot things that have gone on these past months. I sang for you, Lin and Aisha. Especially Ish… take care of her up there, please." Ky sniffed when she brushed a tear away with her fingertips.

Her breathing was a little ragged, rubbing her sore arm. "I'm sure you remember them, the friends I brought with me to visit you for dinners?" she chuckled slightly in thought of how well they got along with her grandmother. "I know you saw who took my... I lost my best friend… I had allowed something awful today too… he tried to kill us, he said he didn't order her death, but… I don't know…" Ky grew quiet in thought, drawing her knees to her chest and resting her forehead trying to hold back the tears.

Sighing, she grew frustrated all over again. "{I think that we should have never bothered to speak with Uncle. I know nothing can be done now. It's in the past. All I can think of is what if, all the damn what ifs.}" Rubbing her forehead, the aggravating intrusive thoughts, they won't leave her with peace today.

A chill took hold. With a grunt, she had gotten up. Putting her fingers to her lips, she blew a kiss to the woman in the thick granite sarcophagus. The young woman went to the archway and saw that her shoes were missing from where she had last left them. Poking her head out, she saw Johnny standing there holding them, brushing the dirt off.

"Johnny, you should have gone to..." She was surprised to see him still there. Ky reached for his arm when he knelt down, grabbed her ankle, giving it a firm squeeze, and brushed the debris off her stockings before slipping her shoes on her feet.

"I heard what you said. I hope I didn't hurt you. We can talk after we get to the loft. I need to grab a few things… I think I will take some time off." He looked up at her, saw her agreement, and nodded too.

They left with his hand placed on the lower part of her back. Others had long since left, and Li looked at her watch. Shogo had died. They headed to their limo, then to where the others had gathered.

"You good?" Gat asked as they parked on the parking deck.

Ky said nothing. She exhaled, nodding. There was no more being good. It was a long, emotionally exhausting month. Ky went to pull the door handle and Johnny stopped her.

"Don't just not say anything."

"I'm fine." She smiled, patting his hand.

Johnny didn't believe that. "Ky, I'll be gone a week."

"It might do you good."

"You not even going to ask where?"

"Why should I?" Ky stepped from the car. Johnny got out and locked the doors.

"This isn't you."

Ky snorted. "And you know me?"

"Yeah."

"Doubtful." Johnny and Ky headed up to her floor of the downtown loft. "I never had reason to talk about my family before, that you or anyone else would have never seen. I had hoped to not have Shogo still be here in Stilwater. He had never listened to me."

"Pidgeon, listen… It explains a lot of things about you never bothered to tell us."

"Me missing months at a clip?"

"That." Johnny looked down at her.

"I wasn't exactly gunning for running with a gang. This wasn't in my plans." She half smiled. "I love this city. I died for this city. How many close people have we lost? Lin, my Obachan, Aisha… many others. For them, I will… I strive for more, to be better. All I have done, and I couldn't hold on to those who mean the world to me." Ky clenched her teeth, fighting the tears.

Gat stopped the elevator, turned to Kyouki, lifted her chin, and looked her dead in the eye. "You are holding this against me?"

"What makes you say that?"

"Answer me." He grabbed her chin roughly when she tried to move away.

Ky took his wrist and moved his hand. "Laying blame on you is laying blame on myself."

He hit the start button, and the doors opened to their floor. "It's my fault. I'll own this one."

"If the roles have been reversed, would you blame me?" The elevator signaled their floor. Music was filtering down the hall to her door. Ky was glad there was lively music playing. "So, where are you heading?"

"Dunno. Just need to think."

"Yeah." Ky reached into her pocket, pulling out her charge card. "Treat yourself to something nice."

Johnny chuckled. "Thanks, I just might."

"Ayeeee, where you two been!"

That night after all had left her place, seeing everyone one off and finally able to absorb all that happened. Ky just stood in her loft, alone. "Oooh boy, this will take some getting used to." She thought aloud looking around. Johnny snuck away before all others had left, and with no one to keep her company, she had another difficult call to make.

"{Uncle Kazuo, good evening.}"

"{Good Evening Kyo-chan. Is there anything you need, my girl?}"

"{No, nothing I need. Just need to inform you that. How to say this… Well, Shogo... He attacked me again, and I… I allowed him to. Shogo is dead. I…}"

"{I know.}"

"{I'm sorry I… What?}"

"{I sent him to you.}"

Two days before the funeral, Shogo went to visit his father, who was at the hospital visiting with Jyunichi. Waiting for the older man to come down, he lingered in the shadows, eagerly waiting.

His wait wasn't long, as his father emerged shortly after his own arrival. "{Father.}" Shogo bowed to the elder. Then saw he was surrounded.

Kazuo stopped, holding his hand up to not have his guard's attack. "{You, I have no words for you. Our Kyouki has given up her seat and all I'm left with is you.}" The disappointment in his voice resonated even within his guardsmen.

"{Is that so bad?}" Shogo looked at the men. He was no match if he acted now.

"{It's worse than you could ever imagine. You have snuffed the life of a budding flower. I cannot forgive you.}"

"{Father… I… didn't kill her, it was Guy. I didn't, wouldn't. She was my hostage, I wouldn't kill my bargaining chip.}" The young man pleaded with his father.

"{Leave me in peace Shogo.}" Kazuo headed to the awaiting car.

Shogo reached for his father and felt a blade at his throat. Standing down, he clenched his fists at his sides. "{I'll make you proud Father, I'll finish what I started, I'll bring Gat, I'll show you how much better I am than Kyouki. I can get her to do anything I say now.}"

"{I had no idea how far my shame could extend. Do you hear yourself?}"

"{Don't worry Father, I'll fix this.}"

Kazuo scoffed. "{No you won't Shogo, you'll continue to disappoint me, or end up dead.}"

"{Father, I will. Allow me this, I will prove I can lead the family.}"

Kazuo let out an exasperated sigh. "{He will be at Mourning Wood Cemetery in two days. Bring him to me or never show yourself to me again.}" With that, Shogo bowed, as the elder smirked, knowing his son's fate.

"{He never should have attacked you or stolen your dearest friend. He may learn his lesson in the next life.}"

"{I will thank you on Aisha's behalf.}"

Kazuo dismissed her gratitude for a simple request. "{In a few days, can you allow me to escort you to the festival?}"

Kyouki agreed. Hanging up, she cleaned a little, then went to bed for the night.