It had been some weeks since Li proclaimed her place as the Saints' leader. Things still needed to be done around their new headquarters, and the finding of what the other crews ran, their businesses, the base of operations and who led them, were on her desk. She had pushed it off to save it for later, and sorted them. It was sparse, but it was something, and all she needed to do was keep the look outs looking and bide time until they were ready to strike.
Ky and about twenty other Saints were in Purgatory cleaning and making it ready for the final reveal. Some fresh tags were drying, and at Li's approval, she shooed them all to keep cleaning.
Kyouki had the music turned up as she cleaned, several songs she used to sing that were once new to her. Kyouki would stop every so often and dance around with the crew while she was cleaning. Time slipped from them in the amusement as others filtered in finding their Leader cleaning, they all pitched in to help. They were having a mini party on their own. Pierce was singing along with the rap parts to songs with Ky. She would sing it all, which was shocking to the crew. Ky knew so many songs. Others bopped along, singing and laughing with good vibes that flowed in the house as they worked.
It wasn't long until Aisha and Gat walked in finding her smiling while it still occupied her with wiping down the bar; stopping to come dance with Carlos, who walked by. With them Ren, the girl who she saved from her abusive stepfather, was tagging along. The duo greeted the girl outside. She needed help. Gat paused, the song she was singing. This song haunts him, the last song he ever heard her sing. He would sit and request it often from the local station. He even went to buy the single when it was available.
Watching her dance around was amusing. She was always the performer. Kyouki never noticed she had one who would watch her every move.
" Sittin' here thinkin bout yesterday, about what we did and how we used to play. Just the thought of you brings a smile upon my face. That's how it makes me feel to see you every day. Oh... Where we go, nobody knows~ And what we do is between me and you..."
Aisha smiled, dancing up to her best friend. Seeing Kyouki in high spirits these days was refreshing. It was like when they were younger, always a smile on her face, just like before.
"Ky, we got a visitor." Aisha announced as she grabbed a broom.
The woman looked up, still dancing, waved. "Hey Xiuying, did I pronounce it right? What are you doing here, not planning on helping, are you?" Turning down the music a bit.
The girl smiled shyly, taking up a bag to hold to dump some garbage in. "I came to ask for some help."
"Of course, what you need?" Ky piled some plastic wrapping and packing peanuts in the bag the girl held for her.
Taking a deep breath blurted what she needed. "A job… with you?"
Aisha looked to the girl, then Kyouki, who stopped mid-motion, both women shaking their heads, then turned as she went back to sweeping. Ky wasn't surprised, but what surprised her was the girl's ability to locate the Hideout despite being told once before. "You're too young to run with a gang."
"But I'm.."
"Too young. I won't feel right."
"Can I just clean, or something, fetching you coffee?"
Ky smiled. Before she could answer, Gat strode up, looking down at Ren as he walked past. "She drinks tea, green with honey, mostly. Coffee makes her too jittery." Ren didn't realize Gat's full height. She felt dwarfed next to him.
Kyouki had to nod. "It's true, I do. Being oddly specific, how do you even know that?" She ducked once more behind the counter, popping up and continued her thoughts. "I was younger than you when I was first asked if I wanted to even run an 'party to benefit the people'. And in the years that followed, they have shot me, shot at me, stabbed, cut; some his fault…" pointing at Johnny. "I lost friends, family… myself. I cannot see myself allowing you in. Come back in five years, then we'll talk."
Kyouki went back to stocking the clean glasses and stopped, thinking if the girl won't listen to reason, she has something that is on hand for not only herself, but for others who need a wake up call. "Ren, go sit there. Look behind the statue." She pointed to the angel statue on the landing.
Kyouki watch her walk to the steps before she turned to Johnny. "G, any chance you get in touch with Freddy?"
Gat nodded, pointing at Ren as he took a seat at the bar. "His nephew said he'll do business with us."
"She wants to run with us." Ky shook her head.
"You going to let her?" Aisha came back.
Kyouki stopped and tossed the rag on the counter, then lifted her shirt, showing her scars. "Yeah, of course… Not! We'll take her out for dinner. It would have been easier if she asked for fifty grand."
Aisha and Gat agreed, Kyouki sighed. "I'll talk her out of it if what she is reading doesn't sway her first, or find something well away from here, kinda did kidnap her from the Ronin." Ky watched her, and shook her head, she went back to cleaning glasses.
Gat looked at his phone, absently answering messages. "Yeah. Oh, I got a call from a few on the inside, said Troy, still asking about the lil boat trip of yours. There were witnesses."
"Oh. Maybe one day when I'm not wanting to murder his ass myself, all I know is Hughes planned to kill me that night."
Gat walked behind the bar grabbing a glass and the Scotch. Kyouki popped his hand and pointed to the fridge that had water chilling. Gat threw his hands up, forced to take a water bottle out. "Speaking of Ronin, before I forget, I know who leads them bitches." Retaking his seat.
"Didn't I assign them to Pierce? Anyway, who?" She placed another glass down and grabbed a few more to clean.
"Kid from Japan. Shogo Akuji, he…" Johnny turned to Kyouki, when he heard glasses shatter.
Ky froze, ducking quickly to hide her shock as she cleaned up the glass pieces on the floor. "Oh, yeah?" She swallowed hard.
"You aight?" Johnny asked.
"Yeah, yeah." It mortified Kyouki.
Gat turned back around, watching the others.
Aisha came over to with the dustpan and sweep up the broken glass. She knelt down, looking at Ky, whispering harshly. 'You sure?'
Ky nodded and shrugged quickly, shaking her head no all at the same time. Rolling her eyes stood up, she tossed large pieces of glass in the trash bin. "So, uh… Shogo, tell me about him."
Johnny shook his head. "Punk ass kid who rather spends more time on his hair than his people." Johnny took a drink of water. He laughed, "But he is ruthless."
Good thing Gat's back was turned, Kyouki nodded to what Gat said agreeing, that Shogo is a punk, then made faces after he called Shogo 'ruthless'. Kyouki had Aisha holding in the laughter. Tears formed.
Kyouki threw a fit, pushing Aisha to the back rooms. Gat turned, and she stopped midway, hand on her hip acting as if nothing was wrong.
"You know him? Being you Japanese and all."
"Johnathan, not all Asians are related! Remember how everyone thought you and Lin were family?" Kyouki threw the cloth on the counter and snapped her fingers. One of the crew came over as she pointed to the glasses, went to grab more boxes.
"Aight, noted. But do you?" He turned to face Aisha, who was wiping tears from her eyes. Gat jerked his chin at his girl. "You aight?"
Aisha fanned her eyes and coughed, then excused herself as she went to the bathroom. "It's dust honey, so dusty."
"No, can't say that I do." She ducked back behind the bar. Seeing Aisha come out of the bathroom, Ky made wild gestures showing to just shoot her now. Aisha laughed back into the bathroom.
~*~
The reminder made Kyouki aware that she couldn't run forever. Xiuying's entire demeanor changed. She was hopeful, her already slight frame shrunk with the rejection, knowing what she wanted to do, Her needing money to help her mom.
Her mother was looking for a job, but nothing turned up. The money from Ronald's death would run out, eventually.
Doing as told saw a key and small box. With a turn, the lid popped open. Inside, a letter rolled up like an old scroll with a partly rushed flip lighter. Xiuying sat reading the elegantly scrawled words.
~*~
" There are things in this life I cannot get back, a few regrets that follow. As I sit here, pen in hand, I want you to know that I am sorry. You were the first person to teach me how to survive, as the only other woman who could be relied upon. You taught me how to drive, you had faith in me, and I let you down.
My ineptness, naivety, caused your death, as well as mine. I should not have survived. I should be there with you or you should be here in my place.
I killed them for what they did to you. I took them out without an ounce of remorse. I would gladly kill them again if it could bring you back. One day, I will race with you again. Keep my Obachan company for me, and the others who are with you. I miss you, girl, and I will always forever be grateful for the opportunity to have met you and befriend you.
Saints 4 Life."
~*~
Kyouki eventually came to sit next to the girl as she rolled the letter up, placing it back where it rested. "It's difficult sometimes. The pain lessens, sometimes. The thoughts worm their way in always, things you could have done differently. I'm human. I have lost really close people. The Saints are close to my heart. The woman who this statue is modeled after was, oh man, she could put Johnny in his place."
The two of them chuckled. "How'd your mom feel if I had to come tell her you aren't here? She obviously cares about you."
Xiuying looked down. Nodding, Li continued. "While I stand on allowing the help, I appreciate your enthusiasm by wanting to come be with us." Getting up, Li offered her hand, helping the girl up. "Listen, I'm hungry. You look like you want to eat, yes?"
"I could." Ren smiled.
"Noel, Shaundi, come with? The rest of you bums make it pretty. Keep Gat out of trouble." Li waggled a finger when she was heading out.
Gat shouted after her. "I don't need a fuckin babysitter!"
Li spun around leaning over the railing, "Johnathan, you know, like I know, you need to be watched. Be good now... we'll be back later." Turning her attention back to Xiuying. "Come, I'll explain to you why I cannot have you joining any gang. What is your American name?"
Gat went behind the bar grabbing the Jack Daniels.
" PUT IT BACK, DRINK WATER ! I HAVEN'T EVEN LEFT YET! " Kyouki shouted from out of eyesight. Johnny ignored her.
~*August of 94'*~
Hard work had become a habit for Kyouki. She had her defencive training from when she was old enough to walk. Constant studying and other academic studies that seemed never-ending, but she had a secret from her tradition-bound world of books and martial arts- singing and dancing. Holidays were coming up, and she wanted to get something extra special for Obachan, her grandmother, who had been by her side from the time she was a baby.
Ky had returned home from her overseas trip, a trip that always welcomes her with a smile and lots of love. Ky had taken a part-time job after school, something that was just for her. She was walking home as it was the last weeks of Stilwater's summer, a muggy, uncomfortable, irritable evening.
The air even felt angry. She was fourteen and even though she shouldn't have been allowed to work; she made sure she kept out of sight, off the main floor and just worked in the back in the stockroom. Kyouki wanted to make her own money, her own way, well away from the family design.
Walking the streets in a pair of oversized jeans and baggy hoodie she made her way home, she lived on the other side of town, Chinatown. Where she was, Saints Row, she knew well enough to protect herself while on these streets that were littered with trouble that spilled over into the lives of everyday people that would drag a normal person under.
Steadily, she trekked up the street just a few blocks from the bus stop, then home. She passed a hustler slinging fake gold watches, shaking her head politely as she continued on. Kyouki had gotten to the corner, then stopped her by a 'pro' who blocked her path.
"Girl, when you gonna stop fuckin' round and start slingin' dat sexy ass of yours?" The woman said rather loudly.
Taking her honey-colored eyes from the battered pavement, she looked to see it was someone she knew, LaShawn. Kyouki used to watch her kids, though stopped after -her jon at the time tried to recruit her.
"You scared me, Ms. LaShawn. I'm just heading home. How's Rashad and Ivory?" The girl smiled up at the older women.
"They good baby, stop by one day and say, hey. Oooh I gotta go, bye baby girl." And she headed to a very expensive-looking car that stopped close to them.
Returning her attention to getting home once more, she heard from across the street a few gang members, Vice Kings, talking about a Westside Rollerz tag on their turf. She watched cautiously as another group, the owners of said tag, walked up on the unknowing gang and began questioning them.
Things soon turned ugly as neither could stand the other and the two groups began to exchange blows. From bad to worse when one brandished his knife, lunged as a third group sped up the street in a brilliant red low-rider, the cartel from Columbia - Los Carnales. Then soon the sidewalk was covered in blood.
Kyouki, along with everyone out who was a bystander, scrambled as soon as the first shot of gunfire sounded. She stopped short in the middle of the street when she nearly hit by the back end of the Carnales car as it was making its getaway. The driver was shot and crashed into a wall of a narrow alley. She stumbled back, hitting the ground dazed by the incident, laying on the pavement near the wrecked car. Shortly she sat up to clear her head and continue to make her way to the next bus stop hopefully, without further issues.
That was until she heard a gunshot echoing loud on her left, the smell of gunpowder filled her nostrils, and then a second gunshot, turning to gauge the distance from the shooter to where she sat, soon her honey eyes widened in horror as she was staring down the barrel of a Vice 9 pistol.
Kyouki closed her eyes tight, knowing this was it. Her uncle and Obachan would never see her again, and heard a third and final shot. The sound of a body hitting the pavement chilled her blood, heart was hammering in her chest.
Then she felt hands on her shoulders. "Kid, you alright?" A dark-skinned man in a black leather jacket helped her up, with a royal purple shirt beneath, black slacks and shoes and a black backwards driver's cap to match. "You ok girl, come on you gotta move." He shouldered her over, away from the carnage. A short time later, the car that almost ran her over blew up. The man checked her and told her she was to be ok and introduced her to the man behind him.
"This is Troy. You can thank him later."
Troy nodded his head in her direction but did not look at her. "Hey." Keeping lookout for any other signs of trouble.
The older man stated that there is a war going on and that the streets are no longer safe, the gangs are at each other's throats.
"Yo Jules, we need to go. Now ain't the time to be recrutin..." Troy demanded, but stopped when he saw the girl. He extended his hand to help her stand.
Julius looked behind him. "In a minute, we need all the help we can get." He turned back to the young girl. "If you want to be part of the solution, then meet at the church on Third Street in two days."
With a wary nod of her head, she agreed.
~*S.R.1*~