~*Chinatown. Apartment of Kyouki's Aunt Mimi, Autumn of 98'*~
Johnny was determined to keep them safe. If there were following orders from Hughes, again. "Get out of the city, change your numbers, and go far away."
"What about Ky?" Mimi was referring to her niece's body.
Gat shook his head. He had no other information to give. "I gave you the money. If Troy really is a cop, he is coming for us, and I'm gonna kill him."
"Imma help you!" Bobby hit his fist in his hand. Gat shook his head again.
"No!" came from Ky's aunt in a stern tone, making her son stand down. She looked at Johnny. "I can't just leave, baby." She gestures around the house. Gat pointed to the black bag on the floor. Bobby looked down, opened it. Several stacks of hundreds filled the bag. She covered her mouth, stunned.
"Leave tonight in the bag burner phones for you, too. Where's Tracy?" He asked of the missing James family member.
"She'll be in tonight. How am I going to just leave..." Mimi was holding herself, her mind whirling with what she was processing. Her only niece had gone to meet her parents.
Before he could answer, a truck beeped, backing up to the door and the several people that stood guard came in to await orders.
Followed by a sudden soft spoken voice. "Gat?" came from the doorway as one of Li's crew, was bringing in the woman in question.
"Hey. Ma, what's going on? I was told to come right home..." Looking between Gat, Aisha and everyone else who stood in their living room. Tears and worried expressions, and Kyouki was not in sight. "No…"
Her mother bit her lip and shook her head before she could speak. "Baby…. Kyouki…" she took a ragged breath. "She dead baby last night." New tears trickled out of her eyes.
Tracy looked at her mother. She whipped around and looked at Gat, instantly flying into a rage, "You Bastard! You fucking promised, you fucking liar, bitch, you fucking bitch!" She threw punches, slapping Gat. All he could do was just stand there, taking it all.
"Tracy, no!" her mother screamed. Bobby grabbed his older sister, pulling the flailing woman. Their mother wedged between them as well. Aisha stepped between them all, trying to get Tracy to calm down. A few of the Saints came in to assist.
"Let me go, he fucking promised, you fucking promised, you lied to me!" Tracy crumbled. "You promised to keep her safe!" She was saying over and over, between her sobs, her brother and mother sobbed with her.
Gat stood there, his eyes burning with tears. He promised to keep her family safe. He will take their hate, the hits, to honor Li's wishes.
Gat made a gesture and the Saints who stood helped pack the essentials. Helping Mimi and Tracey to their feet. "Trace…. Y'all have to go, now."
"Where Gat?" Tracy bit out angrily.
"Out of Stilwater, call me when you are safe."
~*S.R.1*~
Kyouki trembled. She turned around, frustrated. This was not what she needed right now. Talking about what happened then doesn't help the frustration she feels. That night, the assassination attempt she was saddled with, what Aisha said. Even Gat's constant protection played over and over in her mind.
She wished they could go back to the days when he wasn't constantly questioning her, and undermining, but she missed something between then and now. That explosion was unforeseen, and neither of them could have done anything about it then, or now.
Shaking her head, she walked around Johnny. Ky felt naked even in her bedclothes, grabbing the shirt he had tossed on the queen sized bed, pulling it over her head, felt Johnny's warmth; her body went ridged when she felt his arms coil around her, his heat blanketing her, his face buried in her hair. She shivered against it.
"No, I should have been there." Johnny kept insisting. He moved her hair from her shoulder, burying his face in the crook of her neck, squeezing her tighter like if he let go she would disappear.
The touch of his skin on hers sent a bolt through her. "No! Let me go, this isn't you!" Kyouki wiggled free, pushing him back, pulling his hands off of her, she stumbled back on the bed, getting her feet tangled in the covers, ungracefully falling onto the floor hitting the chair in the middle of the room and bounced back to her feet after kicking off the cloth trap.
He knew hugging her like that would send a fist to his face. Doing so either way, he needed it. It wasn't enough for him to see her alive. He heard her cry when Ish had called. When she was scrambling out of his reach, even though there wasn't much room to go, but out of the room itself. He kept his eyes fixed on her as she bumbled and stumbled her way to the kitchenette a few feet away.
Watched as she sighed, hands spread on the cool laminate counter, head down her hair, a temporary barrier from his sight. Yeah, he touched a nerve.
He stood there; watching her back, the way her hair fell sliding off her shoulders, a dark curtain. It still felt like a dream. He lived a nightmare unending for four years when he thought she was dead - and just a year ago the rumors started, 'Li was alive.' alive and in a coma. Now for the past month since she came to his rescue, he did nothing but watch her, every move, every gesture, the ones he had before cemented to memory that kept him angry when she 'died' , maybe he was still crushing on her.
Thinking about when she wasn't here, when he couldn't just talk to her about bullshit, now he made up bullshit reasons to call her, just to hear her voice, see him; even if she is right here in front of him. "Kyouki."
Ky was trying to calm her racked nerves, lifted her head slightly at the sound of her name coming out of his mouth. Something about it set her on edge. Turning to face the wall, rubbing her hand over her face, sighed. "If anything, Troy needs to apologize, well past until he is blue in the face. Julius needs to apologize. He was supposed to be there too."
She stood, pulling her long curled hair back out of her face, tying it back up before she continue. "But I never want you to apologize for that. When you got shot, you told me the same thing. What the fuck were you supposed to do? Take the fucking blast for me?" Trying to look him in the eye but failed, his stare was like fire. Never had she felt so self-conscious about anyone, especially Johnny Gat. Averting her eyes, she shakily fixed a pot of water. What she was doing before Gat came in being pushy.
Coming to lean on the corner of the counter, he crossed his arms. "Yes, if it came to that." Gat answered without hesitation. It surprised even him to say it that quick. He was right. Johnny Gat was ready, all the time he would be ready, and always will be ready from now on.
Li scoffed. His matter-of-fact tone always made her want to hate his smugness. "You're a fucking idiot." Placing the metal pot back on the portable burner harder than she should have.
Gat raised an eyebrow. "I would take another shot to the knee."
"God. Don't do that." She warned.
Gat's turn to scoff with a snort. "What, tell you the truth?"
'Yes, the truth. Johnny has always been straight up with you.' She was losing this battle she felt. Johnny never lied to her once. In all the years she's known him, a liar he isn't. "Alright yeah, just don't say that , look…." Battle lost, defeated, she sighed, her shoulders sagged the fight she had drained, and she needed sleep.
Gat came closer, waiting for a reaction. He stood there looking down at the top of her head with his arms crossed over his chest, waiting for her to continue. She didn't move from him or went to look at him. Johnny turned her to face him and held her face in his hands. Ky tried to squirm away, but he held her in place, just looking at her. "Kyouki, I would take another for you."
Ky's ears twitched, blinking rapidly she looked him in the eyes. She reached up, lightly patting his wrist, sighing, slowly removing his hands from her face. A hint of a smile. "Yeah, I know. I can't have that. I should have waited, but I was already running late." ' Tell him!' she felt her heart getting tight. "I should have listened to that little man that lives in my head and waited, and I never killed him."
'Tell him what you told Aisha!' her mind screamed. Kyouki turned her attention to the cabinets, reaching in the cupboard, pulling from it two cups, a canister and pill bottle.
Johnny crossed his arms again, knowing what his next move was. He seriously considered if she didn't move him. "Killed who?" knowing she killed quite a few people, but it seems like this one he needed to hear.
"Hughes."
The look on Johnny's face made it seem like it wasn't news. "No, he was burnt up with you… You know what I mean."
Kyouki understood, nodded. "The papers say it was a murder - suicide. Julius said it was an assassination." The pot whistled, Li poured the hot water into the cups, opening the pill bottle she went to put in two pills for her cup.
Shocked to even hear their former leader's name. "You talked to Julius?" reaching for the pill bottle, he read the label.
"No, it was at the old… remodeled church on the Row." She explained what she heard as she handed Gat a cup of tea. "And Dex went to work for Ultor? But I never killed Hughes. I left my Aunt's cause I had called my Uncle overseas, tried calling Troy to see if he was there, you then called me, Julius wasn't there, I spoke with Hughes, he was going to kill me… bomb, I woke up." She put her cup back down after taking a sip. "Hottoite, now! We are done."
"No."
Ky pouted and stomped. "You act like I can't take care of myself. Leave, so I can sleep drugged in peace!" she whined.
"Like walking on that boat?" Gat snorted, putting his cup down, taking her cup and pouring out the contents. "I'm having people come guard you, too. I'm sleeping here tonight."
"No, the fuck you are not!" Ky gasped, stomped over to the door, wrenching it open. "Get the hell out, I am done talking."
"Listen, I'll sleep on the floor. We are going to talk." He was already texting orders with one hand, walking over, closing the door with the other, and then texting Aisha.
"Nooo, I don't want to talk. Go sleep at the hotel, rooms there. I have no room for your big ass here. I want to be alone!" Kyouki's phone chimed. She walked over to the bed and looked at the screen.
> Let him stay. I have Lisa here. <3 you!
Li raised an eyebrow and looked up at Gat from her phone. "I hate you both right now." tossing her phone over her shoulder on the bed, lips pursed.
"Bullshit. You need medication?" Gat picked up the small bottle on the counter, reading it over, then went and ordered food. "Sleeping pills?"
"Troy said I… None of your business…" Kyouki rolled her eyes as she went to fix a fresh cup of tea.
~*~*~*~
In the morning Kyouki woke up feeling drained. She turned over and was face to face with Johnny. She gasped. He must have ended up next to her in the middle of the night, still dressed and on top of her covers. She noticed she was lying on his arm. ' Really? When did this happen?' She took a minute to look at him, smiled softly when she caught herself, then frowned. "Oshiri?" She whispered.
Ky moved the covers over and covered him up. Slowly and gently, she climbed over him and he exhaled. She went to grab some clothes, then to the small shower to freshen up. Having to dress in there as well. "[ Are you really sleeping? ]" She drawled quietly in Japanese, when she emerged again. "[ Pervert. You are faking , maybe ?]"
Gat smirked. "Is that a morning thing with you?"
"[ What ?]"
"That."
"[ Why do you ask that ?]" She looks shocked.
"Don't look at me like that. I picked up a thing or two. Just about every morning, for the longest, that's why." Johnny stretched out his long body.
"What an odd thing to "pick up". I just know you don't sleep that heavy unless you are piss drunk, and I don't have anyone to converse with from home." Ky sat at her desk, fixing her hair, combing it out, then set to braiding cornrows on the left side of her head.
"I'm not a pervert. I thought you were born here." It was too early for him to think, but she was right. He had woken up when she left the bed.
"No, I grew up here, but home overseas." She combed through her hair, remembering she needed to make a few phone calls soon.
Johnny propped up on his elbow, watching her sit there. "Where you going so early?"
"Workout, breakfast, then meet with your boy, Pierce."
Laying back after popping the other pillow behind his head, he continued to watch her as she sat in front of the mirror. "I'll be here when you get back."
She finished one side quickly, admiring her work in the mirror, then went to braiding three braids identical to the other side. "No, you will go home to Aisha."
Refusing to look anywhere but in her direction, "Remember when you held that party for me?" Gat, admiring what she was doing.
Kyouki put the comb down, making a sound that acknowledged him. "What about it?" More statement than answer as she went to braid another braid.
"Nothing. I think I like it here. You can take the house, and Ish and me can live here. I have Tracy and them's numbers." He rubbed his hand on his chin. He needed to shave.
Ky stopped what she was doing, the desk chair squeaking as she was turning to face Gat. "What did you say?" Her stare accusing, furrowed brows as if she heard wrong.
Johnny took his phone out from his pocket, scrolled through the numbers, turned the phone handing it to her.
Ky's hand reached for the phone, but there they were, her two cousins and aunt. Her hands trembled. "Johnny, when?" breathless she felt a wave of emotion wash over her. Looking from the cell in her hands to her Bestfriend who handed her the phone, she gripped the phone a little tighter.
He put his feet on the floor, resting his elbows on his knees. When Kyouki shot his tire out, he heard what she said. When he confirmed she was still alive while locked up, he made a call to them. Gat nodded and pointed to the phone, put his shoes on, walking out of the door to give her some privacy.
~*Centennial Beach Apartments. 98'*~
They drove Aisha and Gat to the shore. It was a lot quieter than earlier that day. This was their last stop. Aisha felt a burning in her chest. This was the woman who raised Li, who has been the girl's constant worry. Li made sure her Obachan lived comfortably well away from the Row.
Gat limped in minor pain. He needed to get this done, needed to see this through. With a duffle bag in hand, Aisha by his side and some of the crew behind him, he can then let Li rest easy.
Knocking on the door of the seaside hotel room, he quickly removed his glasses, tucking them into his pocket. The lock sounded, and he swallowed the lump in his throat.
An aged white-haired woman with the sweetest round face looked out and smiled.
"Aah, Johnny-chan, Asha-chan, come in, where is Kyo-chan? Is she not with you?" Looking out of the door, but saw a few men dressed in purple. She hustled the pair in, ushering them to a seat. Gat did his best to smile, but looking at the older woman, his eyes closed, he dropped the bag, fell to his knees at her feet.
"Please, please forgive me!" He shouted face down on the floor. He was a coward at this moment, and he did not care who saw. The man let this woman down. He sobbed as he knelt. He could no longer hold it in. From the night before to meeting with her aunt and cousins, everything that was pent up was on display at that moment. He lost himself.
Shocked and startled, she tried to help Johnny up. She waved over to Aisha. "What is this? Asha-chan help me." She cooed softly in her native tongue as she was pulling on Johnny's arm. Li taught Aisha a few keywords to listen for when her Obachan was speaking to her.
Aisha gritted her teeth, her nostrils flared as she tried to keep it together for Li, taking a hold of Grandma Fuyumi's hands gently pulling her to sit with her. Aisha blinked back tears that refused to stay. She averted her eyes and she could feel herself crumbling.
"Aunt Fu… what I'm about to say will be hard." her voice breaking with every word she spoke.
Confusion on the older woman's face as she looked at Johnny still on the floor kneeling his forehead on the floor, "What is going on, one of Kyo-chan's tricks?" Her thick accent was growing heavy with worry.
Aisha shook her head no, tears clinging to her eyelashes as she bit her lip. Ragged breath, she forced the news of what happened last night. "No, no trick… There was an accident last night." Aisha's chin hit her chest. Tears dripped over and over onto her lap, as if it were raining inside. Looking up, she saw the look of horror on the face of Li's grandmother.
"Is she alright, how bad was it?" A tilt of the older woman's head broke the rest of Aisha's resolve.
Aisha sobbed. "I'm so sorry." Her hands covered her face.
When the pair said nothing more, Fuyumi nodded her head, tears trickling from her eyes. "I see. I need to make a call, sumimasen." She got up hurriedly, wiping her hands worriedly on her apron repeatedly, her slippered feet shushing along the carpet.
Aisha composed herself somewhat, going over to Johnny, helping him up from the floor. The two heard her on the phone speaking quietly in Japanese, then the headset on the cradle, followed by her hitting the floor.
~*S.R.1*~
Kyouki called the last number. Her heart raced, then stopped as tears flowed when she heard the woman on the other end.
"Gat, everything ok?"
With a sob, Kyouki sniffled. "It's not Gat, Hey cousin…" her voice croaked.