Kyouki sat in the loft downtown, in the busiest part of the city. Bustling all around and she sat, quiet like, eating a sandwich. No emotions, no intrusive thoughts, just being. It was early in the morning. Not much movement, save her personal attendants and assistant quietly milling about.
She was, however, contemplating. Now she was free from the looming shackles that were Julius Little. Kyouki needed to clean out the remaining trash that lingered still.
When her phone had charged, two days before, she received a few curious messages. One from Jamie Osprey about Dane and a press conference being held in two days. The second was from Dex, saying he needed to speak with her. And the third from a man named Eric.
What was curious about the last message Eric stated was that Dexter Jackson has been selling toxic waste materials and making millions on the side. He wished to speak to her about his moonlighting.
Ky wiped her mouth, picked her plate up, and went to the sink to clean it off. She then went to dress. Nothing really weighed on her mind. She would speak with each man as she was to be making her way to The Phillip's building. The press conference was a must-attend.
Watching Johnny sleeping alone never would, she thought, to see it. The space next to him made her want to fill the void. She couldn't, not now at least.
His eyes shifted rapidly while he lay. Then a twitch. He was dreaming. When he let out a groan, she placed a hand on his bare chest. "Johnny, Johnny? ~" Ky sat on the edge of the bed nudging Johnny.
"Mm?"
"Oshiri, wake up. I need you to come with me."
"Wha…?"
Kyouki watched him stir. The both of them hadn't had a good night's sleep in a long while. Soon these early mornings to do's will be less frequent, she hoped. "Johnny, you need to be my bodyguard today. Come on, get your big booty up!" She tugged his arm.
Johnny grabbed her hand and snorted as he sat up, rubbing his face. "Yeah, I'm up. I'm… uh…p." He yawned and stretched. Refusing to let go, he brought her fingertips to his lips. "G'mornin."
"Morning. Your suit is here and food in the kitchen. You have an hour."
Gat watched Ky cross the room opening a few of the curtains. She's wearing a dark orchid dress suit fitted that made his body react. If he wasn't at attention already with his morning greeter, thinking to hike that skirt up over that ass of hers would chase the nightmare he had away. He smirked, shaking his thoughts as he tossed the covers, swinging his legs over the side of the bed.
Kyouki placed the garment bag up on the dresser unzipped and she walked back out of the room.
A cold shower would clear his head.
The morning was cloudy, hot, and humid. Kyouki and Johnny rode together, going over what could happen, as they were literally winging it. The Saints were on call already gathering. When they arrived, there was a sizable crowd. News vans from several stations littered any place they could park, cameras flashing as they pulled up. Large speakers carried the voice of Dane Vogel to the people as he stood at the podium.
Having no choice but to wade their way through the crowd, Johnny led Ky through the pool of onlookers.
Paparazzi shouting to get an excellent shot of the Special Projects Leader of Ultor. "Mr. Vogel, Mr. Vogel, look here!"
"This way!" Another called out.
Amidst the callers, Dane smiled as he continued his prepared speech. "As most of you know, the Ultor Board of Directors were assassinated, and we at Ultor would like to take the time to mourn their passing. Sadly, that's a luxury we don't have. The Corporate Office has named me CEO. I want to let you all know personally that not only will the business continue as usual, but we will be taking even greater strides forward... Monica Hughes has graciously green-lit a project that's very dear to us at Ultor… the revitalization of Shivington." The chatter grew restless as there were questions flying from the mouths of the reporters. Dane waved the crowd to settle before he continued. "In the coming days-" He paused, Kyouki was amongst the huddled, sardonic smile on her beautiful face. This was a problem. When did she get here? He notified no one or needed to have her presence today.
"Why don't you continue… Dear Husband?"
"What?"
"Huh? Did she say, husband?"
"Vogel got married?" Murmurs and cameras turned to her. Kyouki nodded, extending a hand, and gesturing for him to continue. He was speechless.
"No? Now that I'm here, you have nothing to say?" She called over the murmuring as the people parted, leading her to the stage. "Good Morning. It seems as if I arrived just in time."
"You said, 'Dear Husband.' What did you mean by that?" Called Jane Valderamma.
"Dane Vogel and I are married, of one mind and heart for the city… Though I am surprised by this sudden approval I had no prior knowledge of. Would my Dear Husband care to explain this oversight?"
Dane swallowed hard, a nervous chuckle with a clearing of his throat. "My Lady, you have been…"
"Busy." She said so the mic would pick it up. While she whispered in his ear that looked like a kiss. "You fucked up." Her lips ever so lightly brushed his cheek.
Dane was truly at a loss for words. Clearing his throat, he took the mic once again. "As I was saying. The project we had in mind for Shivington was one to better the community, to revamp the grounds for a better, safer complex."
Several clapped, unsure if they could respond to the tension the couple initially displayed.
Kyouki took her phone out, looking up a number. Finding it, she turned her back for a separate conversation. Gesturing for Johnny to take his position.
"Mr. Vogel, you would re-home hundreds of people?"
"Of course Jane. It was a project in the making. Now, with crime having been taken care of, the streets are once again safe." Uncertain, he should mention the Saint's involvement.
Kyouki returned to Dane's side with her arms crossed. "I think that would be hard to do. Considering I own the building. You make these promises as if you once consulted with me. Mayor Hughes may have approved it, but there are certain procedures and protocols needed to even think about breaking ground, yes?"
"Uh, yes. It wasn't a matter that was kept from you…"
"It was. I have not been to one meeting, seen any contract, or money to even think of an agreeable proposal." Kyouki bore into his eyes.
"You, My Dear are a killer." Dane glared back with a sneer of his own.
The crowd murmured again. It was no secret who Kyouki is, even with Dane announcing it to the public. They knew who helped the people, who put the worst of them down.
"Somehow, I knew you would turn on me. At least I do it for the betterment of the people. You… you Dear Husband, do it for self."
"That's right, she does!" Came from the crowd.
A shot rang out, causing the couple to flinch, and the crowd panicked, all running and screaming from the altercation near them. One guard noticed Johnny having gone after him. Grabbing Johnny's rifle triggered as both men tousled for control.
An Ultor security guard tugged at the CEO's elbow. "Mr. Vogel, Mrs. Vogel, come with us."
Dane grabbed Kyouki as she went to head to help Johnny, yanking her with him with his escorted escape.
"Take your hands off me!" she shouted, jerking her arm in vain.
Six guards surrounded them as they ushered them into the building. Another shot sounded as they all crowded into the elevator. Dane held tight to Kyouki as she struggled against him.
"My Dear, that man you had brought with you. I do not appreciate the familiarity he has with you."
"Not your decision who or who I don't know."
"In fact, it is. You are my wife. No man shall be close to you other than me and who I assign. That would be another reason you haven't seen Mr. Jackson as of late."
"What?" Ky looked up at him from her position. "What does Dex have to do with this?"
"Your sordid past. I am willing to make sure you have no dealings with your "friends". You rid yourself of Julius Little, yes? Well, I had a mind to work with him, but he was nowhere to be found." Dane shifted when the elevator dinged, letting them out. "As you were my second choice, the right hand of Julius, you had not been around the dilapidated church. I came across Dexter Jackson. He became invaluable. Then after sometime when I glimpsed you. Confirming with Mr. Jackson, you have been the object of my desire and plan since." Adjusting to grip her face in his hand.
Kyouki stopped struggling. What Dane was saying, he never knew who she was other than the right hand of Julius. Dex coming to work with Ultor was a fluke. If Julius didn't try to kill her, Dane would have tried to convince her to be in the position of his lackey.
Kyouki's eyes narrowed. "See, there is a reason I was Julius' right hand." Kyouki wrenched herself in a way that forced Dane to lose his grip on her. Biting his wrist, she kicked one guard in the back of the knee with her heel.
"Aaaarg! Grab her!" Dane shouted, holding his bloody wrist.
Another guard's knee broke with a sickening crunch. Ky punched one guard in the stomach and another in the face. Reaching for one of their guns, she swung around, not seeing the baton as it hit her from behind. The gun clattered to the floor, and the guard kicked it out of her reach.
Ky felt lifted off the cool floor. Dane had the dazed woman dragged, held by two conscious men as they continued down the hall to his office.
"Jamie, bring the med kit," Dane ordered as the group of four passed.
"Yes, Mr. Vogel." Jamie saw Kyouki being dragged behind into his office.
"Cuff her to the chair." Dane went to his desk. "Hurry up, Jamie," Dane said impatiently as he held out his wrist for his secretary to clean. "Biting the hand that feeds you. Beneath you, my dear."
Kyouki snorted. "Having me cuffed to a chair is too. What more could you want from me, Vogel?"
"Mrs . Vogel, whatever I please. You are legally mine, so with you, I can do whatever." Dane grinned. "Everyone out, now!"
Johnny gained the upper hand and punched the guard in the face, cracking his jaw and knocking him out. He caught sight of Ky being taken into the building. Cars belonging to the Saints came with some of Kyouki's Ronin guard, Masako poured from the building. Hail of bullets ripped through the already frantic scene.
Kyouki's men and the Saints fired back, getting people to safety, scrambling now to take the heavily armed military force that is the Ultor guards down.
There was no way into the building, too risky to push through. Men and women covered the streets on both sides. Johnny once more took to the closest building roof. Slinging the rifle off his shoulder, he cocked the chamber and pulled the trigger, hitting one guard in the neck.
A bullet whizzed past his elbow, impaling on the ground. Johnny looked up. A chopper with a gunman aiming right for him.
"The fuck are you planning?" Kyouki asked Dane as he went through his desk drawer.
Dane shook his head. "Tsk, such language that comes from your beautiful mouth." He held a small wooden box.
Kyouki groaned. "Well, what did you expect? I grew up on these streets. What the fuck is that?" Eyeing the syringe that Dane had in his hands.
"Just a little something to help you relax."
"I am relaxed. Don't come near me with that. Dane… st- stop! Ow!"
Moving to stop him was futile. The all too familiar sting of her skin pierced, and the sudden burning intrusion spread at the site. She hissed against the pain as Dane held her head still while injecting the clear liquid. With his guards holding that man back downstairs, he could make his escape with Kyouki.
The foul taste of whatever Dane had plunged into her bloodstream coated her tongue. The sensation is pleasing, weightless, and numb. She frowned. "Damn, Dane, you… shouldn't have … done this…" Ky drawled out. The medicine took immediate effect. In any other situation, she would relish the feeling. Numb to the world, able to just be. After all, she's been through the past month alone.
"No…" she needed to push him back. Kyouki could feel the world slowing down. She could not fight back. A muscle relaxant. She was in trouble. The cuffs released. Her arms felt weak.
Dane took her chin in his hand, tilting her face towards his own. Bending down kissed her. Her lips are soft. He would, could, take her now, now that she is docile, and lifted her from the chair, her legs sturdy enough to walk but still weak enough. to be assisted.
"Dane… No… fuck did you… give me…" she whimpered, a hand up to push him away.
"My Lady, you are mine. Here is not where I want to fuck your brains out. We are leaving far from here."
His cologne was invading her nostrils. He kissed her cheek. Dane laid her down on the sofa, went to his desk, and buzzed for his driver. The tall man soon came in and towards Kyouki. Trying desperately to swat at him, he brushed her hands aside, then casually lifted her.
Muffled gunshots filled the corridor. Dane and James had nowhere to run.
The sound of the office door being kicked down echoed.
Johnny had no other option; it was him or the sniper. One shot blindly, he hit the sniper in the chest, his shoulder punctured by a rogue bullet. Groaning, he took aim and shot the pilot, causing the helicopter to veer into the building he was on. The whirlybird crashed and twisted against the stone as it went crashing to the ground. The smell of gas leaked and Johnny had to move. An explosion that happened right after threw him to the ground just as his feet left the ladder.
Looking up at the blue sky, he exhaled. "Fuck Ultor. Y'all good?" He called others around him. Getting to his feet, he gripped his arm. "Pierce, Ro, come with me. Everyone else gets this shit cleaned up." He headed to the building that Kyouki was in.
"G, you good, you hurt?" Ramon noticed the blood dripping.
"Yeah. Dane got her." He breathed.
"There are more guards coming." Pierce sounded panicked.
"Light 'em up." Johnny grinned, taking aim.
Johnny came through first, with Pierce and Ramon behind him. Another shot rang as Dane's bodyguard took a shot at Pierce. Hitting him in the shoulder, Pierce slumped against the wall, sliding down to the floor. Ramon charged at the guard and wrestled for control of the gun. Kyouki lay on the couch, struggling to make her body move.
Someone would easily crush her with the fighting going on above her under the larger men's weight. Johnny spotted her and went after Vogel. Dane wasn't about to give up his prize.
Both men wrestled, punches thrown, desk items clattered to the floor, and glass shattered.
Dane didn't pull his punches. As he was on the defensive, he felt the hard hits Johnny hammered his way. There was a small opening and Dane took it, punching Johnny in the face, causing his lip to bleed.
It pleasantly impressed Johnny when he stopped to check his mouth.
Dane took that opportunity to make a break but was caught and slammed back against the wall.
"Bitch ass think you were going? Huh?" Johnny held Dane against the wall. "Tell your boy to stop." He growled out.
"James!"
The blond guard raised his hands, as did Ramon. Both backed up, glaring at each other. James backed to his Boss's desk.
Pierce recovered, hurrying, focusing his attention on Ky, who was still trying to sit up. Ramon also went to check the Boss over, not taking his eyes off the bodyguard.
"I'm fine. Just help me sit up." When she looked, the room was a mess.
Pierce pulled out his gun, taking aim at Dane. "Can I shoot him now? Now seems like a good time."
They trapped Dane Vogel. He has to get out of this situation with his life. Seeing the gun coming closer, he raised his hands. "Alright, let's not be too hasty here… you're all upset…"
"Upset? That's not even close. You good Boss?" Johnny pressed Dane further into the wall.
"Yeah…" Ky was getting to her feet. Arm hooked on to Ramon's.
"And you've got a gun. Which, you know, I'd really like it if you'd put it away." Sweating, looking at the polished finish of Pierce's gun, hearing another click, Johnny had one drawn to his temple.
Pierce walked to the other side of the room, still holding aim. Kyouki, with Ramon's assistants, came placing a hand on Johnny's left shoulder. She felt the wet retracting of her hand and saw the blood on her fingertips. "You should have… thought of that before you sent your men after me before you labeled me. Johnny, go get looked at." Johnny shook his head no.
Ky swung her arm and gestured for Pierce's pistol. Gun in hand, she indicated for Pierce to take Johnny away.
"I'm not leaving you."
"Ro has me. I'll be down in a bit. Go." Watching Johnny disappear with Pierce out of the door, waving the gun, had James next to Dane.
"I tried telling the board that the continued insults against you were a big mistake."
Ky dragged her eyes back to Vogel. "They should have listened to you. But we both know better, yes?"
Dane looked at the gun in her hands. She was unsteady, but with the other man there, he couldn't restrain her again if he wanted. Thinking quickly, he needed her to be on his side once more. "Believe me, right now I'm agreeing with you one hundred percent... but you have to look at the positives. They're dead, and you practically own Ult-"
Kyouki raises her gun before another word could be uttered, two shots whizzing past Dane. One hits the glass, shattering it loudly, causing the air to rush in, whipping a minor storm around the already dismantled room. The other executes Vogel's guard with a bullet to the mouth. The man went sailing back out of the window. Slamming into a protrusion on the Phillips tower before crashing headfirst into the hard cement pavement.
"Jefa?" Ramon unabashedly gasped out. Looking at Dane and where the man he fought once stood.
Never taking her eyes from Dane's. "I missed," Ky said sarcastically. "That was my left hand. Should I switch to my right, I have better aim with my right."
Dane's heart hammered against his ribs. Fear was through the roof, and he gasped, panting. It could have been him, but it wasn't luckily. "No. What do you want? I-I'll do anything you say."
"Leave. Run away and never return." Ky looked him square in the eye.
He got the message. He went to head for the door when Ky stopped him.
"You really are stupid." She nudged Ramon. "You know how the bad guy gets up to leave?"
"Yeah. Like in the movies, right?"
"Yeah. I'm thinking… In every movie they leave but never get caught. You know why?"
"They end up dead?"
"They end up dead. Ha, no… because the person letting them go, me in this case, doesn't have the backup I have."
Dane looked at her, confused. "What do you mean, you are not letting me go?"
Ky shook her head. "You may come in handy, but if you leave right now… You'll end up dead."
Ramon started laughing. "Right, everyone is downstairs!"
"Yup! That includes Johnny. And he doesn't miss. Goodbye Mr. Vogel, this isn't a divorce, just a separation. I'll be watching." Patting Dane's cheek with the gun.
The blond man's knees gave, and he slumped to the floor. Shaken to his core as he watched her leave the office.
Kyouki and Ramon walked past Dane without a second glance, swearing him to keep what she did a secret. Dane may prove useful one day, maybe. But for now, he would think twice before fucking with her again.
Coming to meet the others outside, the swarm that was the news crews still lingered about. Pierce and Shaundi met Ky and Ramon in the foyer.
"Hey, Dane is dead." Ky announced a little stronger as they came rushing in.
"We missed it?" Pierce threw his hands up, defeated.
Shaundi smirked and punched Pierce in the arm, holding her hand out. "Told ya...now pay up."
Ky snickered. "What's going on out there?" Looking out the window. Cops were all over.
Pierce jerked his head. "Cops came arresting Ultor security..."
"What?" Came from both Ramon and Ky.
Shaundi nodded. "He's not joking. They have blocked the roads off."
"Is Gat out there? How is he doing?"
Shaundi pointed to one of the many ambulances out there where Johnny was being looked at. "Oh, he's fine. He's still out there. Told him I'd bring you to him, now."
Ky smirked. "Figures." she asks for a phone and Pierce hands her his. She calls Johnny. Watching him from the window.
Johnny's phone rang and vibrated in his pocket. Seeing it was Pierce picked up, annoyed, as he was shaking the medic off so he could talk. "What is it?"
Ky snickered. "It's done. Time to pull outta here."
Gat looked over at the building. "You sure? GET THE FUCK OFF OF ME, DON'T YOU SEE ME TALKIN!"
Ky could see him pushing the staff back. "I'm sure… Coming out now."
Johnny nodded. With a smirk. "I see you, God, you're gorgeous. Now, bring your ass to get looked at."
Ky sighed. "Yeah, yeah." She hung up but started dialing just before they walked out the glass doors.
Pierce went to take his phone back and saw she was dialing again. "Who you callin' now?"
Ky nodded. "Our ride."
Minutes passed and the sound of a large chopper hovered overhead. Johnny was making sure Ky was alright, and the press kept trying to get statements. The wind whipped around and the large helicopter landed, parting the people below.
"Less go."
Ky, Johnny, Pierce, Shaundi, and Ramon hopped into the copter. Ky waved at Troy, who gestured back as they took off to the skies.
"Welcome aboard… Air Tobias."
"Thanks for picking us up." Ky greeted the redhead.
"So what we do now?" Pierce asked of either Johnny or Ky.
Johnny linked his fingers with Kyouki's. Giving his hand a squeeze, she looked out of the window over the city. "This is our city...we do whatever the fuck we wanna do…" She turned, smiling at her crew. It was going to be one helluva story she would have to repeat to Carlos and Ren when they touched down. Ky laughed and the crew with her laughed too.
All of it, all of everything she had been through, was for this day. Looking out the window once again, the sun cast its rays down, illuminating Stilwater in a new light.
"I did it Ish. I cleaned the city." Ky let it slip out, wiping a stray tear with a pleasant smile on her face as she thought about her deceased girlfriend.
Johnny placed an arm around Ky's shoulders, giving her a kiss on her temple. "Yeah. I know she's proud."
Ky nodded. "Let's go home. To Purgatory Tobias!"
"Aight, Boss!" Tobias drawled out as they headed to the Saint's headquarters.
Later that same evening, after a short celebration in Purgatory, Gat, and Ky had called it a night. Finally settled down at the loft. Ky kicked everyone out, and it was just the two of them.
"Bobby got a little too cozy. He said we can't come back for a week." Ky pouted as she got comfortable on the couch next to Johnny.
"You let him get away with it." Gat rebutted.
Kyouki snickered, then sobered. "I talked to Jyunichi, and he is giving me a week, too. I have to go to the funeral."
Johnny nodded, wrapping his arm around Ky and pulling her closer to him. They watched the tv a talk show was on and Ky turned up the volume, recognizing a familiar face.
A blonde woman and her guest sat opposite each other. The host leaned in to question the woman across from her.
"So how does the incident at the Phillips Building affect your recently announced Shivington renovation?"
"It doesn't… if I learned one thing from my husband: we can't let terror grip our lives. These 3rd Street Saints want to cause chaos, and the moment we alter the way we live our lives because of fear, we're empowering the Saints even more."
"So we can expect some great things to come from Monica Hughes?"
"Trust me, Anna, like my husband, I only think big."
"Boy, news travels fast." Ky took her phone and started texting. When she put her phone down, an immediate response came. Satisfied, Ky changed the channel.
"...making this Aisha's 8th posthumous record to go triple platinum. In other news... Dane Vogel, newly appointed Ultor Chairman and number 3 on our list of the Sexiest Corporate Power Players was shot and defenestrated today..."
Johnny rolled his eyes, and they both groaned. He took the remote, changing the channel. Ky stopped him from changing when the news was on.
Troy was on the screen around the covered-up corpse. "As of this time, we have yet to apprehend the assassins responsible for Dane Vogel's death, but rest assured, we will find them..."
"Done watching?" Johnny immediately changed the channel before she could object.
They show a short memorial for the fallen board members and Dane on the screen. With a subtle, tasteless announcement.
"Ultor: A brighter future, and a better life."
Kyouki's phone rang after she turned on a movie. "Hello? Speaking."