Sunday - June 5th
Something was clearly bothering Yusuke this morning.
The usual routine Lynn had during the mornings was tainted ever so slightly with a stiff feeling of guilt. She studied the artist as he rigidly went about his duties behind the counter. Like he usually did. Only, there was something about his movements that betrayed his discomfort. Sojiro had also caught on to the tension hanging in the air.
He lent against the end of the counter and leaned down close to Lynn.
"Is he… ok? You two didn't get into a fight did you?" His voice was low and thankfully drowned out by the droning TV presenter.
It took a moment for the still half asleep Lynn to think everything over. Then it suddenly clicked.
Today was the 5th. The day Madarame's exhibit was meant to close and the day when the old coot would supposedly sick his security force on Yusuke. Of course the young artist was tense. Today could have marked the end of his freedom. Lynn was so caught up with V's issues, she completely forgot about the Phantom Thieves' main goal. Sojiro was still lingering expectantly. The more Lynn kept quiet, the more he was likely to assume.
"Family troubles. No need to worry."
Of course, there was a lot of need to worry. For one, they still hadn't confirmed if the change of heart had even worked. For another, even if it did work, there was no telling what Madarame's lackeys would do to save their own skin.
It was more than just Yusuke's life at stake. Ishida was in the firing line too. As were the countless other victims that suffered under his tyranny.
"Coming up later, we have a special press conference live from Hikarie Hall. Master of Japanese Art Ichiryusai Madarame will be addressing the incident on May 30th - perpetrated by a mysterious group known as the Phantom Thieves - targeting him. The rumours drummed up by this incident have yet to receive a formal response leading many to believe the accusations may hold some truth. Stay tuned."
The news anchor filled in the blanks for Sojiro. He could only wordlessly mouth a resigned "Ah." Followed by a concerned look toward his new employee.
"There isn't a need to tread on eggshells, boss. I am… fine." A lie.
Just then, the old bell above the door gently rang its tune. Normally a welcoming sound. However, on this occasion, the tone sent a jolt up Yusuke's spine. The mug he was cleaning fell to the floor and shattered with an ear splitting crack.
Sojiro - not quite aware just yet - began to speak up. "We're not open just y- oh…"
There, in the doorway, stood the hunched, frail looking form of Ichiryusai Madarame. His eyes were bloodshot. His skin was pale. He looked like he hadn't eaten in days. The modest robes that hung off his body were marred with paint stains. Some fresher than others.
"Y-Yusuke… there is something… I must…" the man struggled to find his voice.
"I see you've taken up the brush. Oil, correct? I imagine you will be using canvas. Or perhaps you're experimenting with wood. No. The lack of primer stains would suggest a traditional surface." No malice or anger or fear was in the simple, matter-of-fact tone. Yusuke swiftly swept up the shattered mug, disposed of it and quickly moved on to begin the process of brewing coffee.
It stunned the old man.
"Yusuke…"
"House blend? I recommend it. Boss is quite the artist in his own right."
"N-no. I couldn't possibly…" Madarame fumbled his words. It was actually painful watching him try to figure out what to do and what to say. "Yusuke, I must speak with you," he glanced toward Lynn and Sojiro with a sorrowful grimace, "alone."
"Whatever you wish to discuss, it can be done in the company of my friend and my current employer."
Another moment of silence. Lynn already knew what was about to come. Yusuke likely also knew, which could have been why he was insistent on Lynn and Sojiro sticking around.
"Very… well." Madarame cleared his throat. "Regarding your mother. I…"
"Raped and murdered her. I'm aware." Such a weighted statement was delivered with such calm, cold conviction. It was scary.
It hit Madarame like a hammer. The old man stumbled back, shocked and confused. "How did you…" he stammered. Eventually, he let out a sigh. Partially of relief and partially of remorse. "You have always been an intelligent boy, of course you'd come to know the truth on your own. I am… truly sorry for everything I have done to you and to your mother. Later today, I will be addressing the public."
"Indeed." A very gentle nod of the head caused a lock of Yusuke's hair to fall over his face. It cast a dark shade over his piercing eyes. "I imagine you will be taken into custody." There was a hesitant pause before a grunt of confirmation. "Please, have a seat, Sensei. Rin, could you prepare some cups?"
"Sure thing."
Without questioning anything, both Lynn and Sojiro silently went about the brewing process. The cafe proprietor had a few mutterings under his breath. Some choice words directed toward the old artist. Yet he wasn't about to try and act on Yusuke's behalf. Even Lynn knew that'd be overstepping.
Completely dumbfounded, Madarame did as told and took one of the furthest stools, closest to the exit. He struggled to find his footing, as if he had finally realised just how old he had gotten.
There was something pitiable about the display.
It didn't feel like some kind of manipulation. The man genuinely seemed to be struggling with his own frailty. Even still, it garnered no visible sympathy from either Sojiro or Yusuke.
Once the coffee was ready and served, Yusuke gently sipped his own cup. "What has your inspiration drawn you to paint?" A simple question, and one that hadn't really taken Lynn by surprise. Madarame struggled with himself, trying to force some kind of answer. A shaky hand brought his cup to his lips and delicately took a sip.
After a moment, it seemed the warmth of the coffee thawed his tongue. "I… tried to create something new. To rediscover the spark I once had so long ago. Something deep inside was telling me to try…" his eyes closed and his shoulders sagged, "I couldn't create a single thing. The spark I once held has gone. Replaced with loathsome vanity. Self-obsession. I genuinely deluded myself into thinking the art I stole was actually my own." The man winced at his own words as if the simple act of saying them aloud was physical torture. "I thought myself entitled to the product of my students' talents. Why should they profit from my expert tutelage? How… deplorable."
Yusuke took in a deep breath through gritted teeth. "You are correct. Disgustingly deplorable." A verbal slap to the face. One Madarame took on the chin. "However, despite your wrong doings and hateful acts, you were and will always be my Sensei."
"Yusuke… does that mean you…"
A hand shot up to halt the man from continuing. For the first time since the conversation began, a flash of frigid rage gleamed in Yusuke's eyes. "I will never forgive you. You will live the rest of your life alone and you will die alone. I'm simply stating the truth of our relationship."
"But I am your fa-"
"Yes. You are. Unfortunately. But the circumstances of my birth are irrelevant. I refuse to partake in this twisted cycle of the abused becoming an abuser." Just as quickly as it came, the icy fury faded back to the neutral, unfocused stare. "If you have finished your cup, I would like for you to leave."
The old artist fumbled over himself. "Y-Yusuke… we need to talk abo-"
"You heard the boy." Sojiro finally spoke up. Lynn hadn't taken notice until now, but he was absolutely furious. His usually casual and laid back demeanour had morphed into a full on rage. "Get the fuck out of my cafe, you scumbag. Get out before I coat that hideous robe in something other than paint." The white knuckled fist trembling at his waist said more than the threat itself. And it showed. Madarame practically scurried away with the fear of god in his eyes. The bell screamed in agony as the door was wrenched open and slammed shut.
The old artist had disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Almost immediately Yusuke's legs buckled and he fell back against the shelves behind the bar. A few jars threatened to tumble to the ground. Not that it would have mattered. Yusuke was in full blown panic attack mode.
"Sit, kid. Try to keep your breathing stable. You're safe, he ain't coming back." Sojiro slid a stool under the boy's rapidly failing legs. It allowed him to relax and sit down safely.
"I… have to apologise, Boss. I'll pay for the broken cup and the used coffee beans."
"Don't be an idiot, kid. You did a fine job just then. Right, Rin?"
"One of the best. I'm honestly in awe." It was the truth. Had she been put in the same situation, it was doubtful she would have been able to keep her cool so solidly. It was a testament to just how strong Yusuke was. "Is there anything we could do? Anything at all?"
There were a few more moments of struggled breathing and quiet sobbing before Yusuke replied. A smile crossed his lips. "I… would like to request Hot Pot. With Rice Porridge if possible?"
An odd request. Especially considering the weather. It was way too hot for something like that. But his expression held a deeper meaning to the request. There was something more to it than a simple craving. Lynn returned the smile and let a short giggle escape her lips. "Sure thing, Yusuke. We'll get the whole gang together. Make a day of it."
"Thank you, Rin."
"Vitals have returned to normal. Her breathing's steady going and from the results of the last round of tests, her brain functions are steadily stabilising. If things progress like this, she'll be up and about within the week."
The familiar voice of Tae Takemi filtered through a torpor of lethargy. The English was perfect, barely hindered by the doctor's native accent. Still, the throbbing ache pulsed up and down V's body. The slow process of waking up was like having barbed wire pulled through her body. It made her reluctant to move. As such, she elected to remain motionless, simply listening to the conversation.
Judy could be heard just beside her, a relieved sniffle leaving her lips. V felt the warm squeeze of her hand on hers.
Takemi spoke up once again. This time, a stern twang crossed the tone. "The two of you said something was going to happen yesterday like you knew about it ahead of time. Sure enough, there was a huge spike in activity that almost shut her whole system down for good. The only reason she isn't dead is because I took your warnings at face value and made precautions."
That must have been thanks to the kids' efforts.
It was a blur, but V vaguely recalled a volcano and a dragon. Johnny too.
Wake up Samurai, we've got a fuckin' city to burn.
That was right. The memories cleared. The events of her brief time spent in the Palace played back through her mind.
The kids had done it.
They saved her.
Or rather, they helped her save herself.
"What the hell is going on?" Takemi scowled. "Things like this just don't happen. How could you have known something was going to happen to her and what does Rin have to do with this? If you're getting her involved in something dangerous, I won't hesitate to pull the plug."
"Fuck, doc… no need to get all bent out of shape… ah motherfucker… my body feels like it's full of sand…"
"V!" Not a millisecond went by before she was taken up in a tight, almost suffocating embrace. The trembling was obvious. V barely had the energy to place a hand on Judy's back.
"Jude… can't breathe babe…"
Eventually, Judy let go with reluctance. The coma may have only been for a few days, but it felt like a few years. Her mouth was drier than the Badlands during a drought and her extremities were as heavy as cinder blocks. River was also nearby, looking over V with a keen eye and a relieved half smile. He might have been keeping a certain level of distance, but it was clear he was just as happy to see her as Judy was.
"Welcome back to the land of the living, V. Caught a lot of beauty sleep, eh?" He chuckled.
"Too much. Fuck."
Takemi cleared her throat. Her impatient frown paired with narrowed eyes sent a chill down V's chromed spine. She had almost forgotten how scary the doctor could be. "This just cements my suspicion. Something's going on and I want to know what."
A small weight pressed down against V's legs. It was Morgana, jumping onto the bed. "We… should probably tell her. I think we kind of owe her that much." He furrowed his brow as best as his feline features could allow. "Please leave Rin and the others out of it, though." It couldn't be helped. There was just too much weirdness for someone as intelligent as Takemi to ignore. After a long, silent exchange of words between the three of them, V let out a sigh.
"Well, first off… we ain't from around here." She began.
[Rin-Tin-Lynn - Have we got everything we need?]
[Ann-Pan - The store ran out of Shiitake mushrooms. Is Enoki ok?]
[Yusuke-Kitagawa - Enoki is acceptable.]
[Ryu-Ryu - can I ask a question? Y hot pot? Isnt it 2 hot for that?]
[Shi-Hee-Ho - That's two questions, Ryuji. Three actually.]
[Shi-Hee-Ho - We probably shouldn't pry. I'm sure Yusuke will explain when he's ready. Anyway, I got the beef. The butcher had to slice it for me. Does Boss have the right kind of pot?]
[Rin-Tin-Lynn - Already checked. We're good on that front. There was a portable stove hidden away in the junk that was up in my attic too.]
The day was shaping up nicely. Despite everyone already having plans, each of the thieves happily agreed to drop them in favour of holding this impromptu dinner party. Within minutes, Lynn had delegated tasks to each of her friends to hunt and gather supplies.
Ann was in charge of the vegetables and ingredients for the broth.
Shiho was procuring the meat and the ingredients for the rice porridge.
Ryuji was on snack, drink and entertainment duty. As well as hot pot, they had planned a movie marathon to go along with it. It may have been a school night, but no one cared. In fact, there was a wordless agreement that everyone would just "forget" to turn up tomorrow. Kawakami would cover for Lynn, no doubt.
Still, Lynn was concerned about one last thing.
The press conference was just a few minutes away. Even with what happened this morning, the young artist all but demanded to watch it. Perhaps he wished for closure, or perhaps catharsis. Either way, Sojiro reluctantly agreed.
Despite having a few customers still to take care of.
As the minutes ticked by, Yusuke grew more and more rigid. It got to the point where he resembled a figurine with minimal articulation. Lynn had to pick up a lot more slack during the lunch time rush. She might have been used to working hard on the weekends, but the cafe was oddly busy today. Busier than it had been in a long time, according to Sojiro. Granted, it was likely due to the growing heat outside.
Finally, the conference began with a table covered in microphones and recording devices. Security personnel stood at the ready just out of view of the camera and within a few seconds, Madarame's frail form shuffled up to the podium.
His sunken features looked worse than they did that morning. It was clear he had been crying his eyes out.
"Hello. I am… Ichiryusai Madarame. You may know me as an artist of great renown." The man shuffled some cards and cleared his throat. "On May 30th, my Exhibit came under fire by an organisation known as the Phantom Thieves. In their campaign, they tossed around several accusations. Fraud. Plagiarism. Abuse." He looked down at his cards with a furrowed brow. Silence hung in the air as the flash of cameras occasionally flecked his features with light. After a full ten seconds of dead air, the old artist crushed the cards in his hand. Much to the confusion of both the security and other officials just behind him. "These accusations are true."
The crowd of reporters gasped in unison. The cameras flared and snapped photos with greater fervour at his words.
Many of the officials - people who had been identified as involved in Madarame's crime ring - had begun to panic. Some were trying to gesture for the broadcast to be immediately cut. Others were desperately trying to usher out the horde of reporters. However, the broadcast refused to end and the officials were quickly overruled by the security staff of Hikarie Hall.
"I have abused my students. Physically, mentally… and in one case… sexually." Another round of gasps. "I stole my students art and passed it off as my own. I beat them, berated them, used them and destroyed them if they tried going against me. Even murder by medical negligence wasn't out of the question. One of my most vulnerable students - a bright woman named Hitomi Kitagawa - died as a result of my willful inaction. Her blazing fire was snuffed out by my selfish, deluded lust for power, money and fame. The Sayuri… my supposed 'magnum opus' was actually the product of Hitomi Kitagawa. A true work of beauty created from love. Pure and simple love for her… our… son. A love that I soiled for profit."
The conference room had fallen silent. By now, the security staff not under Madarame's employ had safely detained those that were. Any attempts at trying to stop Madarame had been locked down.
As if the staff knew this was going to happen.
"I have made a mockery of this country's art world. Twisting it into my personal font of wealth and fame. However… I was not alone in this wretched behaviour. Several critics, collectors, galleries and sponsors both aided me and benefited from my corruption. Together, we have orchestrated an art fraud scheme of unimaginable scale. As part of my confession today, I promise to cooperate in dismantling the web of lies and corruption I was instrumental in building. This couldn't possibly make amends for my actions, but if judgement comes to both me and my conspirators, I welcome it."
With that, the man stepped back from the podium and placed his shaking hands behind his head. As if on cue, two police officers were quick to approach and officially arrest him. The broadcast was left rolling for another few seconds before the rapturous roar of ravenous reporters consumed the room.
Then the broadcast flicked back to the regular news.
The whole thing had taken less than five minutes, yet so much was laid bare. Yusuke, however, remained stoic. The only sign of emotion was the single tear rolling down his gaunt, pale cheek.
"My, what a terrible shame." An old lady sat in one of the cafe's booths turned back to her husband. "To think our granddaughter wanted to study under him." The husband made a grunting sound. His eyes were closed and clearly wasn't listening at all. Still, the reminder Yusuke wasn't alone seemed to have shaken what little emotion there was out of the young artist.
The tear was wiped away and a forced smile returned to his lips. A new customer had just entered and the boy was quick to latch onto a distraction.
Everyone coped with trauma differently. Tonight, however, was Yusuke's night. If he wanted to open up, everyone would be here for him. If not, then the snacks and movies would flow until they all passed out.
"Rin, curry order for table three." Sojiro's stern, yet understanding, tone slapped Lynn back to reality.
Until then, it was work time.
"If you told me all this a couple of months ago, I'd have all three of you committed." Sharp, piercing eyes bore into V's soul. Rhythmic tapping of a finger against a shoulder mimicked the heart-rate monitor. Takemi was irritated, confused, concerned and all together way out of her comfort zone.
And it showed.
Not that V could blame her. She was the exact same before this whole crazy situation started. Back when she thought having a dead terrorist in her brain was going to be the weirdest thing to ever happen to her.
And yet, here she was. A multidimensional time traveller.
"What's stoppin' you now?" Judy's eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"Well for one, all three of you have tech grafted to you that's leaps and bounds ahead of anything available today." Her gaze fell on V specifically. "You especially. You'd basically be classed as a weapon of mass destruction if DARPA saw you."
Sheepish, V felt herself blush a little. As if being called a WMD was actually a flattering compliment.
To her, it may as well have been.
A fact that both Judy and River rolled their eyes at. "Chrome-for-brains," sniggered Judy, lightly tapping V's shoulder with a playful flick.
"It's not something to laugh at!" Snapped the doctor. "This is all crazy! On top of that, your cat can talk? All I can hear is meowing."
"Well… I think that's because you need to go into the Metaverse and hear him talk to you." River spoke up. He glanced down to Morgana who returned an affirming nod. "If you want solid proof beyond doubt, we could always take you."
"I… think for my own sanity I'll… just take your word for it." Takemi muttered. V could practically see the steam curling from the doctor's overwhelmed brain. She trailed off and began to mumble questions to herself. "Does that mean all cats can talk? What about dogs? Rats? Monkeys? Well… monkeys can already communicate if taught. Damn… these foreigners have to just be crazy right? Some kind of shared delusion."
"You… know we can understand you… right?" Said V with a slight hesitation.
It shook the doctor free from her train of thought. She scowled. "I… need to process this. You," she poked the air in V's direction, "don't go wandering off on your own. You're not out of the woods yet. You," the poking finger turned to Judy, "keep an eye on her. No alcohol. I'm not having a repeat of last time. You," finally, the finger landed on River, "you… get some sleep. You look like you're using energy drinks as milk for your coffee." She paused just as she began her exit. "And take that damn cat with you! This is supposed to be a clinic!"
The door to the long-term care room slammed shut, leaving the four alone. For a moment, there was only silence. It was unbearable. V shuffled into a more comfortable position before finally breaking the ice.
"Well, I for one could use a fuckin' drink." Her comment earned her a piercing death stare from all three of her companions. "Of water." She added sheepishly. River took the lead and filled a plastic cup from the water fountain in the corner. It was like a rush of energy washed over her whole body as soon as the water passed her lips. It revitalised her as if she was a wilting flower. Already, she could feel the aches and pains dissipate. "Damn, I should drink that shit more often!" She chuckled, not noticing the silence that still lingered between the others. She downed the rest of the drink and let out a satisfied gasp. "What's with the looks? I'm alive. See?" She poked her own cheek in some attempt to bring levity to the room.
It didn't work.
The others continued their silent stare. It was beginning to grate on her nerves. What the hell were they waiting for?
Finally, Judy broke the silence. "You died. You fuckin' flatlined, V. I thought I lost you and it was gonna be my fault." Despite the words, there was little anger in them. Only a muted, overwhelmed relief. "It's been… pretty fuckin' hard watchin' you lay there. Brought up some memories I'd… rather never think about again."
Evelyn Parker. Her last few days were torturous for the woman. Spending most of them completely catatonic.
Although V's circumstances were quite different, she could understand where Judy was coming from. She tried to put on the best smile she could and squeezed the techy's hand. "Thank you, babe. For not giving up. Thank you too, River." The merc wasn't good with the whole sincerity thing. It felt foreign on her lips.
But it was also a pleasant feeling. Showing genuine appreciation filled her chest with a light fluttering.
"Don't ever scare me again…" Judy muttered.
"I promise." Replied V. "At any rate, how are the kids? They've got their own shit to deal with, right?"
"Yeah," said River, "their target gave a full confession live on TV not too long ago. Heard a lot of mutterings on the street about the Phantom Thieves, too. The heat's on thick for the kids right now so I told 'em to lay low for a few days at minimum." His chromed fingers scratched at the patchy stubble prickling his jaw. "I think I saw them planning a Hot Pot party or something. Let's give them some space for now. Yusuke's had it pretty shitty."
"Poor kid."
"Kind'a reminds me of a certain merc I know." Judy grinned in V's direction. "He's gone through a fuck fest of trauma, but he's still kickin' and willin' to fight for his chooms." For once, Judy hadn't opted for poking fun at her partner. Granted, V wasn't going to complain about the affection.
The question remained, however, about the whole other aspect of Madarame's case. River looked to have picked up on V's train of thought and let out a long yawn.
"Thanks for sending that Media on the scent, by the way. She's been a huge help. For a raging alcoholic, she's sharp. Got a good head on her shoulders." He said. Ohya actually followed the lead? It was just like a Media to snap up a potential story the millisecond it presented itself. Like a piranha or a ravenous mutt waiting for its kibble. There were only two exceptions to that stereotype that V could think of. "The case is a done deal. Even got some statements from ex-students who haven't completely stepped off the deep end. It's fucking disgusting how bad that man messed those kids up. I want to personally put one through his fucking skull."
V winced. The situation dredged up particularly harrowing memories. Vulnerable kids being preyed upon by a seemingly benevolent father figure, only to be used and treated like cattle. "It wasn't the right call the last time, River. Ain't the right one this time." She muttered. He let a long exhale out through flared nostrils.
"I know. Fuck." His shoulders sagged and his brow furrowed. "Same shit, different world."
"Go to the movie attic, River, get some damn shut eye. Doc was right, you look like shit." And that was coming from the woman who had spent the last few days on the brink of death. Still, the message got across and the ex-cop finally relented. With a huff, he left, taking Morgana with him.
Much to the cat's displeasure.
"Unhand me, Ward! I will not be treated like an animal!"
"I think you're better suited elsewhere. Maybe in the company of a certain traumatised artist and his friends."
A huge belch resonated through the attic.
Patting his belly, a satisfied Ryuji gave a sigh of relief. Although it was short lived. A furious punch to the shoulder from Ann sent him into a sobbing mess.
Then another thunderous belch shocked everyone else into stunned silence.
Lynn's grin grew with pride at her accomplishment. It wasn't one of her best, but it would certainly rival Ryuji's best efforts. The blonde boy burst out laughing, quickly followed by the rest of the teenagers. Even Yusuke let out a quiet chuckle. The Hot Pot was delicious. A delicate flavour with a soothing undertone of earthy aromas. It was surprising just how well it went down given the late Spring heat.
To top it off, the rice porridge was particularly good. A perfect pair for the main dish.
Even Sojiro gave his compliments to the chef. Which, given the man's standards, was some of the highest praise out there.
Even if said chef was mainly Lynn taking directions from Yusuke and following a basic recipe she found online. At any rate, the meal was a huge success. Sprawled out across the old booth bench, Shiho was half asleep already. A hand gently rested on her stomach and a happy smile gracing her lips.
"Thanks for the food!" Ryuji bellowed, waking the girl up properly.
"Too loud, Ryuji…" Shiho moaned. Although a second later, she voiced her agreement. "Food tastes so much better when you're with friends. I always thought that was just a bunch of nonsense, but it actually does!"
Ryuji flashed a smirk. Time to retaliate. "Now who's the one being loud?"
"Eh, I like being loud once in a while. Someone has to keep up with your crap."
Lynn had noticed it before, but it was moments like this that really highlighted just how easy Shiho was around Ryuji. She wasn't afraid to speak up around him, nor was she afraid to give him sass. The dynamic wasn't lost on Ann either. She and Lynn shared a knowing look. It was heartwarming to witness.
"Thank you, everyone. That was… precisely what I needed." Yusuke's voice took everyone by surprise. He hadn't said much since they began eating. Only acknowledging grunts and nods. However, with each bite, his fond smile grew bigger and warmer.
Like the ice encapsulating his heart had slowly begun to thaw.
Ann gave him a gentle pat on the head. For a split second, he recoiled from her touch. A flash of terror sprang across his eyes, only to be quickly replaced by recognition, and then genuine happiness. The boy melted into the show of affection like putty in Ann's hand. "Any time, Yusuke! We're just glad we could help somehow. Today must have been… awful." She said, nodding with understanding.
"I don't have many memories of my mother. However, I do remember the taste of her cooking. Hot Pot was the dish I remember enjoying the most as a child." So that was the reason for his request. "You replicated the flavour expertly, Rin. I think you. I was actually a little dubious when you offered to cook. When Boss mentioned-"
"That was one time! Once!" Lynn huffed.
"You ruined his favourite pot."
"And he's never going to let me live it down…"
The exchange raised a few eyebrows. Curious, prying eyebrows. "What did she do?" asked Ryuji, the beginnings of a mischievous grin twitching at the corner of his mouth.
Yusuke was about to answer before Lynn butted in with a red face. "So anyway! How about those movies, huh! Ahahaha…" the blond boy wasn't satisfied in the least. His grin soured. Yet, thankfully, he dropped it. A wave of relief crashed against Lynn and it must have shown. The other two girls giggled amongst themselves. The bullet had been dodged, but it was going to come back, no doubt. Next time, the group may not be so merciful.
Still, the night moved on and Ryuji began to set up the DVD player on the TV that Ann had brought with her. Apparently it was just sitting in her kitchenette gathering dust. She rarely cooked for herself, oftentimes relying on meals prepared for her by her family's dietitian. Despite that, it was leaps and bounds better than the battered, old, barely functioning CRT Lynn managed to scrounge up from the second hand store. Once Ryuji was done and the slapdash set up was somewhat functioning, he laid out a bunch of plastic cases. Movies. Martial Arts movies specifically.
It was surprising just how old some of them actually were.
"I don't know why, but I didn't paint you as a martial arts guy." Ann hummed and prodded a few of the cases, reading each title with little to no interest. "My guess would have been shonen junk."
"You kiddin'? The stuff these guys can do is off the charts! Bruce Lee is my damn hero! Enter the Dragon is a must watch tonight."
"... Yeah… no. Don't you have anything else?" Ann frowned, lending an eye toward Yusuke. Oddly, the artist had taken a slight interest in one particular case. The cover was of a man in a formidable pose surrounded by war imagery.
Thin fingers delicately picked it up. "IP MAN? I must confess… the movement of a martial artist is a thing of beauty. A lot of art stems from the body and its fluidity. Watching and studying masters of their craft would definitely be worth the experience." Yusuke's lips curled into another smile as he examined the cover. Ryuji beamed with a sense of anticipation.
"Oh! That's one of Donnie Yen's biggest roles. He's not the most popular or well known, but damn can that man lay down a beatin'"
Ann's frown softened. With a sigh of defeat, she relented. After all, tonight was Yusuke's to do as he wished. For Lynn, she wasn't all that bothered. She didn't particularly dislike martial arts movies. It was just a case of other action genres catching her interest more. Western schlock. The dumb, "turn your brain off" action was more Lynn's jam.
For the next few hours, movies rolled and snacks flowed.
If Lynn were to be honest, the more of Ryuji's movies they watched, the more she was getting into them. Even Ann - the Rom-Com Fanatic - was laughing and cheering at the punch ups, beat downs and slap arounds. The occasional glance over at Yusuke blessed Lynn with the sight of an excited kid, wide eyed and mouth open. It wasn't long before his sketchbook was filled with images of fighting figures. The artist worked fast. Blindingly so. Merely seconds passed and a new sketch had appeared.
It was like the morning never happened. Which was precisely how it should be.
After so long living in terror under a tyrannical abuser, Yusuke was finally free to experience his own childhood. A few years late, but it didn't matter. They were here now and it felt right.
Idly, Lynn scratched behind Morgana's ear with a look of pure content. The cat had curled up in her lap and had been asleep since the start of the last movie. Adorable as it was, Morgana probably wouldn't have liked being called such. Lynn knew exactly how that felt. Still, as the night led on, she basked in the atmosphere of laughing friends, idle chatter and the over-the-top martial arts fights.
At one point, Ryuji all but demanded Yusuke spar with him. Feeling the fire and energy from his favourite movie, the athlete couldn't help himself.
Sadly, all he got in response was an agitated - yet affectionate - slap to the back of the head from Ann and a mocking quip from Shiho. All the while, Yusuke was completely oblivious to the shenanigans. The boy was already refining certain sketches. Studying poses. Laying out compositions. His drive to create hadn't been tarnished in the slightest. At least that was what it seemed like.
Below the surface, however, only Yusuke could know what he was truly thinking. And that was fine. When he wanted to open up, he would.
The fun lasted well into the early hours of the following morning. After several movies, several joyful exchanges and plenty of snacks, the attic finally fell into a silence. Broken only by the loud snoring of a certain delinquent boy. The two boys had made their beds on two spare futons sprawled across the floor. Lynn offered to share her bed with either Ann or Shiho, yet only Shiho took up the offer.
Ann laid claim to the old bench, making it more comfortable with cushions and a blanket brought from her apartment.
Meanwhile, even if the bed wasn't double sized, it was still large enough to comfortably accommodate Lynn and Shiho.
Shiho hadn't managed to fall asleep just yet, right along with Lynn. The two faced each other and it was clear something was on the ex-athlete's mind. She wanted to speak up, but was stopped each time by a sudden snort and groan of Ryuji's carefree sleep.
"Want to go downstairs? I'll make us some coffee." Lynn's soft voice caused Shiho to jolt. Though she relaxed a moment later. She nodded with a smile and quietly, the two made for the cafe.
The steady tone of the heart-rate monitor was somehow calming. It was a constant, ambivalent reminder that V was still here. Still alive.
Takemi said she could turn it off, but she had refused. Perhaps it was some deep kind of anxiety, but the thought of the machine going silent filled V with dread. The early hours of the morning had set in and the merc still had yet to fall asleep. Unlike her partner who was passed out, hunched over the bed, pinning V's right arm in place.
Beep. Beep.
The monitor continued its tone, passing the seconds into minutes and minutes into hours.
After a few more passing moments, V lifted her untrapped hand and placed it as gently as she could on the shock of dyed hair. The feel of grease and rough knots suggested Judy hadn't showered since the start of the coma. A similar state to her own hair, it seemed. Not even a Joy Toy's wash? Wet wipes and a mirror?
V giggled to herself.
The first thing she would do when she was discharged would be to head straight to the bath house for a long, drawn out dip.
"What's so funny, huh?" Judy's half asleep voice sent a spike of elation through V's body. It also sent a mild wave of guilt and embarrassment across her face.
"Didn't mean to wake you, babe."
The techy sat up and finally freed V's arm. The RealSkinn was covered in the woman's drool and a smudge of lipstick clearly marked where Judy had fallen asleep. Amusingly, Judy didn't seem to care in the least. Her half-lidded eyes tried focusing on V, only for the woman's head to droop. Seeing Judy like this was a rare treat. When she woke up, it was almost always instant. Within seconds she'd be up and already headed to the shower. Much like V herself.
For the longest time, stopping for a moment felt like wasted time. She always had to be moving. Always had to be doing something. Having Johnny constantly nagging her didn't help, either. Now, however, for the first time in the last year and a half, V could simply enjoy the moment.
"Mmn," Judy yawned, "fuck, my neck… could you work those chrome fingers?" She shifted her posture and leant her back against the bedside. Without even thinking, V was already pressing her fingers against the tattooed skin of Judy's slender neck. Feeling out the knots in the muscles, she went to work relieving the tension. Each movement elicited a sweet moan. "How, you feelin', Valorie?"
For a second, V's motions froze. Hearing her real name always managed to shock her.
She began to move again, turning her attention to each side of the upper spine. "Honestly, feels like a headache I've had for years has finally left me the fuck alone. I feel like… me again. Whatever that means now."
"Think you're out of the woods?"
V shrugged. "I'll have Vik run the sweep on my soft and circs. If there's still shit going wrong, he'll know."
Another moan fell from Judy's lips as V pushed down on a particularly tense muscle. She could feel the knot undo itself under her touch. V was good with her fingers even though they weren't organic. Years of experience had developed a dexterity quite unlike anything a regular citizen could hope to achieve. Not only did it help V do her job, but Judy also benefitted heavily from it. And the techy wasn't afraid to take full advantage.
"What next?" Judy asked.
A simple question, but it ground V's brain to a halt. The massage stopped and she could feel Judy's shoulders twitch in curiosity.
"I have no fucking idea, babe…" V huffed. For the past year and a half, she had set her mind on one thing; survival. She would live even if it killed her. Now that goal had been reached, what else was there? She had become a living legend in the Afterlife. Clients would pay out the ass just to have a chance at V taking the gig. After all was said and done, every childhood pipedream she had was now her reality. Even the ones she had long since abandoned. Now that the ever present threat of flatlining was gone, it left V a little aimless.
Then a small movement under her fingers reminded her of something. A conversation with River just before her coma.
The fantasy of making a future with Judy.
Getting married. Having Kids. Owning a house on a lake.
Now, it seemed like those thoughts weren't just fantasy anymore.
Her fingers pressed down on the muscle once again. Each movement dredged up more vocal sighs of relief. "Whatever comes next, we're doing it together. First, we probably got a wedding to plan."
"Oh shit! I'm a total Gonk. I gotta get a ring or somethin' for you."
"Jude… I don't need a ring to know you love me."
The techy's shoulders relaxed at the heartfelt statement. V couldn't see her face from this angle, but it was obvious she was smiling like a little kid. "True."
She hadn't given up on the idea. It was in her tone. Judy was cooking up something and for a moment, V wanted to press her for confirmation. Surprises were something V couldn't afford to let slide. However, this was Judy. For Judy, she'd make an exception.
Eventually, Judy stretched and turned back toward her partner. She let free a satisfied sigh and felt the nape of her neck. "Damn, those fingers are magic…" she spoke in a half asleep daze.
A grin crawled across V's jaw. "Wanna put 'em to work elsewhere?"
Judy's eyes opened and focused on V. She was considering it and that made V's heart skip a beat. Though any hope of fun was quickly taken away as Judy shook her head. The beeping of the machine had taken her attention and the reminder of their situation had made sure Judy's more sensible side took over. "When you're free and clear, Mi Calabacita. Besides, pretty sure the Doc would skin us alive if she caught us."
V's eyes rolled at the pet name. She may outwardly protest its usage, but she'd be lying if she said it didn't make her feel happy to hear.
"Either that or ask to join. That woman scares me."
For a long few minutes, the soothing sound of brewing coffee filled the empty cafe.
Decaf, the kind that didn't need all the pomp and circumstance. Sojiro didn't stock it himself, this was from Lynn's own stash. It was perfect for the nights where she just couldn't keep her eyes closed.
The old clock ticked over to four in the morning. The sun was going to start rising within the next hour. A part of the girl was getting a little anxious at the thought of skipping school. However, all of the thieves were in the same mind set. Even Sojiro had silently given his consent. After Yusuke's confrontation with Madarame, Leblanc's proprietor seemed somewhat more caring and understanding.
Both toward the young artist and Lynn.
Did he suspect something? Perhaps. He was certainly smart enough to piece things together on his own.
"So, a penny for your thoughts?" Lynn said quietly.
Shiho was nervously fidgeting with the handle of her coffee cup. She had been for the past five minutes. She sighed and finally lifted her gaze up toward Lynn. The large pools of brown that met Lynn seemed to be filled with thoughts. Struggling to find their way into a vocal format. "I've been thinking a lot about our time in V's Palace…"
Lynn didn't particularly like the implications behind the tone, but it was clear Shiho wanted to talk through whatever was on her mind. "Oh yeah?" Trying not to let her hesitation show, Lynn gestured for her friend to continue.
"When we raided that gang base… I…" she paused. Her fingers clutched the cup and her expression tightened. "I… liked it."
That was unexpected. It took a moment for Lynn to fully digest what the girl was saying. "Liked… it?" For the past two days, Lynn was under the impression her actions in the Palace had scared Shiho stiff. But now, here she was, admitting that wasn't the case at all. Lynn didn't know whether to be relieved, concerned or both.
The girl nodded. "It felt good… no. Wrong word." Her gaze fell back to the coffee mug. "Cathartic. Yeah, it felt cathartic to just… throw myself into the fight. It's scary. I don't want to be a violent person, but something about fighting through that base felt… right."
The delicate matter was a little out of Lynn's wheelhouse.
She knew that encouraging it would only lead to bigger problems down the line. Anger and bloodlust only spelled doom. Yet, at the same time, it would be hypocritical to deny that Lynn didn't feel the same way. "Do you want to stop? Being a Thief, I mean." Finally, Lynn asked. The girl's lips stiffened. A finger ran across the ceramic cup as she mulled the question over.
"No. I don't think that's the right call." She was speaking almost in a whisper. "I want to use this power to help people. At least… that's what I try to tell myself."
"But you're actually just lashing out. Using the change of heart as an excuse."
"Yeah…"
So Shiho really did feel the same way as Lynn.
However, any train of thought the two had was suddenly derailed as the old TV hanging on the wall sprang to life. A music video on some random channel.
"Carry on my wayward sooooon~"
"Holy shit!" Lynn almost jumped out of her skin at the abrupt sound of music. She clambered for the remote and quickly turned it off. Like a deer caught in headlights, she froze stiff, listening for any movement upstairs. "What… the… hell…" she slowly breathed out the tension. There was no movement, thankfully.
Then the radio that Sojiro swore hadn't worked in years began to play another song.
"Holdin' out for a hero to the end of the niiiiight!"
"Gah!" Shiho pounced on the device. Though it stopped and went silent before she could even hit the power switch.
Lynn's heart was beating a mile a minute. Sojiro didn't say anything about haunted appliances. Her eyes locked with Shiho's. They were both terrified.
From the stairwell, Ryuji's annoyed voice called down, breaking the tension. "The hell's goin' on down there? You two havin' a party without us?" It snapped the two girls out of their frozen state and both frantically tried to straighten themselves up. Just as Ann, Ryuji, Yusuke and Morgana groggily stepped into the cafe. "What gives, Rin? Why the music?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Ryuji." Lynn was immediately in denial. A little too immediate.
"Yep. No music here! Ahaha… ha…" Shiho was quick on the uptake.
"You two are so weird…" Ann muttered. She rubbed away the sleep in her eye and took a seat at the counter. "Coffee! I demand my bean juice…" The change in mood was instant. The fear of the past few seconds had vanished as if they never happened. The question of what the hell happened still remained, but for now, both Lynn and Shiho decided to take the first song's advice.
Carry on. Wayward son or not.
"Bean juice!" Ann groaned.
"Coming right up, your highness!" Replied Lynn.
Monday - June 6th
By the time everyone was awake, it was well into the afternoon.
The remnants of the night before still sprawled across the attic as if a whirlwind had struck. Not that Lynn particularly cared. The clean up could wait. At least for a few hours.
Occasional conversation drifted up from the cafe below. Customers came and went like any usual day. Ever since Yusuke had started working, the customer base had slowly begun to increase. Much to Sojiro's confusion. However, it was amusing to see it was largely young women that formed the bulk of the increase. No doubt a rumour about a handsome young man with a smile befitting an ethereal god had spread among the local college girls.
Though the illusion of his beauty would soon wear off once they realised just how oblivious and blunt the boy was.
However, as a result, the group of teens had to at least try to keep quiet. Explaining why Sojiro had a bunch of class skipping teens in his attic would likely be a huge pain. So, the gang decided to get dressed into casual clothes and head out into Yongen-Jaya via Leblanc's back door.
Lynn grinned as she read the most recent message on her phone. A particularly annoyed response from a certain teacher.
[Kawakami - I have no idea what you and Takamaki are thinking but I cleared your absence with the Principal. You owe me, Amamiya.] At least the teacher had gone back to her usual snarky self. Seeing her look so terrified and helpless left a lasting impression. That said, there was just too much going on to lend her much thought. Just what had the teacher gotten herself into?
A question for later.
Now, the group had arrived at their destination. Tae Takemi's clinic. Having a laid back doctor almost right on her doorstep had its perks.
However, as soon as the group entered, the atmosphere suddenly dropped. Tae was staring daggers at them. Lynn specifically. There was suspicion in her eyes. Accompanied by no small amount of irritation. At what, Lynn had no clue. She hadn't done anything particularly suspicious recently. Unless this had something to do with V's immaculate recovery.
Nonetheless, she grunted and jerked her head toward the door leading to V's room.
"Two at a time. No crowding. The rest of you can wait here. Also, that cat needs to learn its damn lesson!"
Lynn felt Morgana's paws grip her shoulder. The claws reflexively dug into the skin and with a wince from the girl, Mona quickly shuffled back into the bag slung over her shoulder, hiding from the scrutiny of the doctor. "Just go, sorry!" He whispered in a hushed tone. Notably, Takemi took interest in the display. She hummed to herself and scribbled something on her clipboard. The cat knew something, and that something clearly involved Takemi.
Still, Lynn shrugged. She called on Ann to accompany her. Being the only two bilingual humans on the team, it only made sense. Having everyone else would just be more hassle than it was worth to translate everything.
"River mentioned she woke up yesterday, so she's probably still recovering," said Lynn. She pushed open the door and was immediately met with the sight of two women in the middle of kissing passionately. Holding each other in a loving embrace. The spectacle completely jammed both Lynn and Ann's brain. It was definitely not what either of them expected, nor wanted, to see.
"Oh. Hey kid." V broke from her partner and gave a wry grin. She was certainly recovering. In her own way.
The only saving grace of the situation was that the two women were still fully clothed. A mercy - likely for both parties.
"Told you we should'a waited, but you just had to sing, didn't you…" Judy grumbled. A light dusting of a blush glowed at her cheeks. It just made the merc start laughing. A genuine, heartfelt laugh filled with affection. The mention of singing brought up a question or two, but that really wasn't important right now. "Anyway, as you can see, Mi Calabacita is alive, well and full of energy."
Ann gave a short, frustrated sigh. "I am so glad Ryuji's in the waiting room." Muttering to herself, the girl took a seat in the corner.
Not a moment later, each of their phones beeped with alarming urgency.
V was the first to look. The colour that had only just returned to her skin had drained completely once more. "Oh… fuck on a truck…"
[Ward - Situation at Ishida's. Looks like a break-in, but it's obvious it's a scare tactic.]
[Yusuke-Kitagawa - What is the meaning of this!?]
[Ward - My guess is misguided retribution. Some goons of the dickbag out to quash any loose ends.]
[Vee - We're on our way.]