The phone rang, startling Kyouki from her sleep. "Morning Rich. What's up?"
"Morning, James. Can you come in today? I know you're off schedule. Let's say two hours before your shift? There's something I need to discuss with you."
Groggy, Ky sat up. "Yeah. Sure." The request did not confuse her. It was the tone in which sounded as if she had done something wrong. "I'll be there, bye." Kyouki stretched, then quietly got ready and slipped out before Aisha and Gat were up and about.
~*~
As early as it was, Kyouki jogged over to the club. She would make it in time, and she needed the cardio either way. Her muscles burned as she came into view of the strip club. A few people were in there early too.
"Morning. Can I get a water?" Ky put her head down on the bar.
"Girl, did you run here?" Her co-worker asked, handing over a cool bottle of water.
"Jog walk." She laughed. "Is Rich in?" Breathing through swallows of water.
Her co-worker chuckled, shaking her head. "He's in back. He seemed weird this morning. You in trouble?"
"Don't think so. Thanks." Kyouki answered on her way to the back. She stood in front of the owner's door, her mind going over the night before today. Did she do something wrong? Was something amiss? Knocking, she walked in. "Hey Rich ~ you needed to see me?"
The man looked up, nodding. Gesturing to an empty chair, he cleared his throat. "Yeah, have a seat."
~*Mission Beach, Phillips Building, New Saints Row.*~
Hours later, Kyouki stood in what used to be hers. The worst part of Stilwater, hell, all of Stilwater was bad, but where she stood, that was the Saints' turf and now an open wound; that had a statue of a man who was to have his bodyguards kill her that faithful night those many years ago, erected over the site, in the river, a floating reminder of a murder-suicide - is what she was told.
Six years prior, she was reportedly dead. She knew she died. She felt it on her back; still could feel the heat from the explosion even in the shade as she overlooked this disgusting, "Memorial." she spat.
Right now, Li could consider being free from the Saints, to do anything her heart desired, singing, racing full time, but after her talk with the owner of Technically Legal, it seemed the Saints were calling her back; along with letting Samedi know Li was back, she cursed herself for that.
Her Boss fired her, more or less, for being who she is. "Troy was right. They know me." She whispered in the wind. Not for the reason, he thought. With a soft smirk, a frown replaced her cool attitude. Gat did this - pulling her back, she felt uneasy. She hit her hand on the hard metal railing - instantly regretting that she went to sit down, rubbing her sore hand.
~
It had been hours since she left the club. Running back to the home, she stayed, hopped in her car, and made her way to where she was now. Reliving the time in her life that the world was hers. And the night it ended. Kyouki saw Gat run out of the house after her, and she was ignoring even his calls, for now. Thinking heavy thoughts about what she should, or hinted to do.
~*Some hours prior, Technically Legal: Gentlemans Club, Tidal Spring.*~
"Do you know Li?"
Kyouki's eyes widened slightly. "Yes, what about her?" She questioned back with curiosity as her heart rate sped up slightly.
Rich went over to the safe and Ky got up from the chair slowly, nervous, and suddenly so very aware of the situation. The older man reached in the safe and pulled from it a bag of money. "I never forget a face. I thought you looked familiar." Taking his seat at the desk once again. You saved us before. We could use your help again, support the Saints once more. The lights will be purple from now on."
Kyouki's jaw hit the floor. Rich just sorta fired her after he handed her the bag he just took from the safe. In her hands' profits from the past week.
"Oh yeah, the rumor was that Li was back from the race last night. Welcome back, Boss." nodding for Kyouki to leave.
~*S.R.1*~
"I plan to level your community, salting the earth, so to speak. The Saints Row: Urban Renewal Plan, courtesy of you." The new mayor contemptuously chuckled. His plan to come to fruition.
~*S.R.1*~
Now she sat overlooking the site that she saw was once a in progress, bare bone skeletal of the building that stood now. The Row, Mission Beach, her former home, all clean and covered up; pretty as a picture the monstrous Philips Building. New Saints Row, they called it, sponsored by Ultor corp. They even moved the Church that was once their base. It was directly across from the Hughes Memorial.
Kyouki got up from the marble bench. People were out today and leisurely admired the sights, enjoying themselves in the Summer afternoon. Ky wandered to the Church, the former "Home" of the Saints. Honestly looked beautiful, a bit too clean, missing the tags that covered the base of the building. Li snorted as she climbed the stairs and walked inside.
Memories flooded still. She smiled as she saw flashes of her and the others, the laughs, the meetings, and arguments.
"Aye kid, come this way." She could hear Julius say.
She walked to where the pews sat neatly in rows of two along the purple carpeted aisle.
~*September of 94'*~
Dex called out, Julius was busy assigning positions, "Who's got the Rollerz?"
This small Asian woman came in. "I do." She signaled with the raise of her hand.
"Lin?" Gat turned around surprised to see her, then looked at what she had on. "The fuck you wearin' blue for?"
"I asked Lin to hook up with the Rollerz. We don't know much about these fuckas, so I wanted one of us on the inside." Julius nodded in affirmation.
"I didn't think the Rollerz pimped hos..." someone in Li's crew called from behind Lin.
Li and Lin both scowl at the man, then both punched him in the face. "Hi, I'm Li. Apparently your replacement until you are back." Li extended her hand, and Lin took it with a firm shake of her own.
Lin looked at the boys standing around. "Any other comments?"
Gat raised a finger. "Yeah, when you punch, don't throw your shoulder so much..." he threw out a punch that caused Li to snort.
Lin rolled her eyes. "Shut up, Johnny." Leaving just as quickly as she came in.
~*August of 95'*~
Troy leaned up against the desk, taking the cigarette out of his mouth flicking the ashes. "So, how'd that meeting go with Julius?" He smiled, seeing Li come in taking a seat on the opposite side of him on the desk.
Dex sat down sighing, still confused about what he was speaking to Julius about, "He just got back from a sit-down with Orejuela and they came to an... interesting agreement: If we can get back all the drugs the cops seized, the Colombians are willing to work with us exclusively. We'll have a lock on the whole city." He nodded at Li's presents.
"Get the drugs back from the cops? How the fuck are we gonna do that?" Troy was shocked. He looked between Dex and Li, Li shrugged.
Dex stated. "We're taking out the police station."
Li and Troy both gawped. "Are you out of your fuckin' mind? They'd lock the place down before you'd get anywhere."
Dex shook his head. He could still not believe he was trying to figure out this crazy plan. "It's Jules', I mean Julius' plan. He called it. We have to go with it."
"No, we don't." Troy stood up straight and crossed his arms. He had an idea. "If you load a car up with some explosives, you could blow a hole right into the evidence locker and never have to fire a shot."
"That might lower the body count." Li added in as she removed herself from the desk checking her pockets for the blade Johnny had given her, Dex nodded his agreement.
"That's what I'm sayin'." Troy was grabbing Li by the wrist, pulling her along.
Dex followed them both out. "Aight, let's do it."
~*S.R.1*~
Kyouki sat in the vacant pew with her head down in her hands, eyes closed. Many memories flooded in, brow knitted. "Obachan, what should I do?"
Looking around, she saw a spiral staircase. "The church never had a staircase."
Wanting to see the second floor, she climbed, admiring the restoration of the former Saints HQ. Seeing plaques, pictures of the before and after that adorned the walls. Reaching over as she pressed the button, shock as the voice of Julius rang in her ears, echoing the small space.
"Hello and welcome to the Stilwater Memorial Church. My name is Julius Little, and it's no secret I wasted many years of my life being a part of the gang problem here in Stilwater."
Ky's eyebrow raised. This didn't sound like the man who rescued her many years ago. She walked on listening to the telling of how the Saints came to be, as well as the other gangs; the Westside Rollerz, Los Carnales, and Vice Kings, that was in Stilwater, she helped to rid. Once she came too, she heard something that sent her wildly searching her memory for -
"During the reign of the 3rd Street Saints, this building was no stranger to violence and what few pews remained in the condemned church were often stained with blood. But what was the epicenter for violence in Saints Row has since become an icon for rebirth. After Alderman Hughes' assassination…"
'Assassination? The night of the explosion?' Anything that was said after faded mutely, Kyouki couldn't breathe.
That night, in particular, she remembered in grave detail; she was to meet with Troy and Julius to speak with the Alderman before he accepted the Mayoral position. He was threatening to kill her. "I didn't kill him. Troy said he was at the station. I had talked to Johnny to let him know where I was going. Julius never showed, then we heard the beeping… then…" Nothing.
Ky pressed the button again, her hands trembling. She replayed that whole evening in her mind as the recording played once more - falling on deaf ears; she was shaking, furious, her thoughts interrupted. Kyouki felt her phone vibrate once more. Knowing it may be Gat, she looked at the screen, picking it up, but could say nothing around the lump lodged in her throat.
"Kyouki, where are you? Johnny has been calling you. He left out looking for you."
Li ground her teeth, her jaw hurting. Trying to speak but couldn't without emotion erupting.
"Kyouki?"
Taking a deep breath. "He's not with you right now?" Li got over the lump in her throat. Descending the stairs, she quickly headed to her car.
"Yeah, I said he is out looking for you."
"Get dressed. I'll be there in soon."
"Ky…." Aisha started worrying.
"Just do… Please, I need you… To talk to you." She ground out.
"Yeah. See you when you get here."
Ky ended the call. Stuffing the phone back in her hip pocket, she raced down the stairs and out of the door. Bumping into a tall blond in a suit, excusing herself, he watched her as she exited the church. He; The blond in question noticed her for quite some time, chuckling when he saw her hit the railing and regret it. He stood about, waiting for her to leave from the church. He was not disappointed; she was stunning.
"Jones, find out who she is." He ordered his man.
With a nod and following, the woman in question agreed. "Yes, Sir."
~*2401 S. Homan, S. Huntersfield.*~
Pulling up into the driveway, Aisha hurried out of the door. Once in the car, Li said nothing and just pulled off. Her mind was whirling. It was hard to breathe.
Gat was just turning the corner, saw the two women drive past him, screeching the tires a hard u-turn before he caught up with them. Li had nothing to say to him. Her heart was pounding in her chest.
"Ky, it's Johnny. Stop. see what he wants."
Li stepped on the gas, and Johnny was hot behind them. "No."
"What, why?"
Li reached over and opened the glove box, pulling out her pistol.
"Girl, what the hell?!" Aisha panicked.
Li rolled down her driver's side window and grabbed Aisha's hand, slapping it on the steering wheel.
Leaning out, aiming as she was glaring at Gat, she shot out his front tire. He crashed into a mailbox as he skidded to a stop.
Li watched as he got out, seeing he was yelling after her. She saw him reaching for his phone.
"Ky, what the fuck, no, stop the car, if you don't tell me what the fuck is wrong let me out, I have to see if Johnny is ok!" Aisha looked out of the back window checking to see if Johnny was alright.
Li sped up and slung the car around the corner, screeching. "No." Li growled. She had tears in her eyes spilling as she drove.
Aisha hit the door hard. "Tell me what's wrong!" she was rubbing her shoulder. "Kyouki?" Seeing her friend in tears.
"No!" she screamed. Her mind would not stop replaying what was said in the church, what she remembers. She was so fucking angry she couldn't speak. Her phone vibrating in her pocket, stopped.
Ringing next to her, she could see Aisha fishing for her phone about to answer, knowing it was Gat. Ky snatched the petite woman's phone and threw it behind her seat.
"Stop the car, talk to me now!" Aisha's eyes went wide. Kyouki's eyes were wild. She had enough. She was scaring her, and she didn't know what to do. Watching helplessly as Li sped up on the freeway on-ramp, flooring it like she was in a race.
Kyouki was spewing curses in Japanese, hitting the steering wheel, panting and sweating. She gripped the wheel so tight her knuckles lost color. Speeding wove through cars. She was trying to get away from something that only she could see. Screaming at the top of her lungs, she floored it once more; the engine revving as she swerved the car going on two wheels at one point.
Kyouki snapped. She screamed again, pulling over to the side of the freeway's wide rumble lane, slammed on brakes, jerking both women to a sudden stop.
The blaring of other cars' horns echoed in their ears as Aisha unfastened her seatbelt. Seeing Kyouki shaking, panting, and crying uncontrollably, her head on the steering wheel; still, white knuckle gripping the hard leather. She went to touch her, but didn't know if she should. Aisha was helpless.
"I'm sorry." Kyouki finally said. She repeated over and over, tears steadily falling, gripping her shirt, hugging herself, Aisha touched her shoulder and Kyouki jumped, bolted out of the car, cars slowed down spectating as the young woman screamed at the top of her lungs, roaring, kicking the railing til she fell to her knees.
Aisha got out of the car after she got her phone, waving for the cars to just keep going. Calling Johnny, who heard everything that was going on before Aisha could even say hello; He hung up.
Gat changed the tire to the car, then headed to the house. His thoughts now on his best friend. What caused her to snap? He will question it later. Aisha saw her best friend on her knees sobbing. She ran over to her and threw her arms around her as best she could, just hold her trying to calm her down.
~
Ten minutes of a solid cry on the side of the highway, Aisha helped Kyouki back to the car and into the passenger's seat. At least she finally stopped shaking and adjusted in her seat.
Aisha is still feeling shaken. She teared up herself as she tried to comfort Kyouki. Whatever it was, it was important. "Can you tell me what the hell that was all about?" Sitting back, looking over the girl.
Kyouki looked like she was a kid all over again. She sank into her seat, then rubbing wet trails from her eyes, she sighed hard. "I'm sorry, I... got fired." It wasn't all she had to say. It was hurting her head to think about. "I had gone to the site. And I just…" With a shrug head hung once again, and could feel the tears warming her eyes.
"You got fired? Site? Any reason you went to this site ?" Aisha prodded gently.
Ky sucked on her bottom lip and nodded, tears pooling once more, distorting her vision. "It was the memorial site… for that fat rat bastard Hughes." she sniffed. Aisha rubbed her back as Ky cried all over again. She put her head on her knees, taking a ragged breath. Kyouki sighed again, collecting her emotions for a moment. "I don't think I can do this, not again."
"What exactly?" Aisha dabbed tears from her own eyes.
"Run the Saints."
Aisha continued to rub Li's back and then stopped. She sat back, sighing to herself. "I see. You don't want to or you don't think you can?" Holding on to Kyouki's hand, giving it a firm squeeze.
"Both." Ky said.
With a compassionate smile. Aisha snorted softly. "That's a lie, the not being able to part. You know you don't have to."
"How long have we known each other?" Ky wiped her eyes again.
Aisha laughed. "Long enough. What was shooting at Johnny going to prove?"
"He is an ass and deserved it, but I don't want to hear him and his henning me."
"Henning?" Aisha laughed again. "You are the only one he remotely cares for. He stops to cook for, or truly listen to."
Kyouki snorted again. "He has you."
"He really cares for you, like… loves you. I mean, we all do, but he like likes you." Aisha looked for Kyouki's response to what she said.
"What?" Ky turned her red eyes and splotchy face to her best friend, confused.
Aisha rubbed her ear and thought of a way that would make sense. "He took a bullet for you." Ky shrugged, Aisha shook her head. "Ok. He took a bullet meant for you. Yes, he would have taken one for me, but that night…. He cried."
"Gat has the emotional range of a time bomb. He doesn't cry. I think he had his tear removed." Ky put her head back down.
Aisha nodded and pursed her lips. "That may be so. But we thought you had died. He cried. Uh… This may be a bad time but, Troy wants to talk to you."
"Definitely not."
"He… Ok, He fucked up big time, he admitted it. But, hear me out… he had kept me and you safe."
Kyouki frowned. "Can you please not aid that jackass? I'll kill him myself."
"Fine. So you got fired, why or how?" Aisha forced to change the subject.
"Rich, my former boss, is supporting the Saints. Again don't know if I can do it. I lost my nanny, my mother's family is gone, and I have no one to talk to. I'm scared to do this again."
"You have me, Johnny. Nanny, your Obachan?" Aisha looked at her, concern and worry all over her face.
"No… I had an actual nanny, as the people stateside say, and there's more. Let me drive. I'm alright now."
They switched places. Li started the car, pulling off as Aisha sat staring at Kyouki. This was someone who looked really new to her now. Aisha smiled, confirmed and reaffirmed she would be and always will be there for Kyouki Irissa James.