Kyouki knew that voice then turned around, resting her head on the back of the couch waiting, watching as the woman came down who continued to complain about Johnny's rude behavior. "Why couldn't you just tell me who…"
Ky beamed at her best girlfriend. "Cause it's just me."
"Oh, my God!" Aisha's eyes settled on the woman smiling at her, Aisha stopped mid-step, covering her mouth with her hands, held the railing and ran the rest of the way to give the woman a tight hug over the back of the couch. Tears streaming from her eyes. "Baby Girl we thought you were… Oh my God!" She sniffed. "I can't believe it. Look at you. Something is different about you." She said as she pulled away, to come around to embracing her tightly.
"I grew up? Coma does that to a person, from what I hear." Kyouki stated with a grin. "Girl! It's been too long. I missed you, too!"
They chatted excitedly for a few minutes, Johnny sitting watching them catch up as if practically the past five or so years didn't happen.
Ky sighed happily. "Ish… I may need to crash here for a few, until I find a place, is ok?"
"Of course. You never need to ask. Where have you been?" Aisha had already agreed to hold her prisoner.
Johnny interrupted her question before Ky could process what Aisha asked. "Yeah, we got planning to do and first is getting a base of operations."
"Base of…" Aisha turned from Kyouki, still holding her hand tight, after giving her the ok to camp with them. "And where were you planning on doing that?"
Gat looked around the house. Pointing to where he sat.
Aisha's eyes narrowed. "Oh, no." Aisha got up.
"But it's spacious. Temporary, for like a year." Gat urged with a smirk.
"No."
Kyouki grinned slightly. "Why? What are we planning?" Looking between her best friends.
Seeing Johnny with his eyebrows raised in question caused Aisha to roll her eyes. "I said NO !" Aisha headed up to the second floor to get things for the spare bedroom.
Gat looked over at Ky, who still wore a smile. 'Good, Ish diverted her mind from that muthafuka.', "Don't worry, I think I know a place we can go tomorrow morning. Cool?"
"Whatever G." Ky shrugged her response as she sat back down. Feeling a pinch in her back, she sat up straight.
Johnny took a long drink, his eyes resting on Ky again. She was here. Breathing, walking and laughing, that smile of hers. If he was a praying man, he would thank whatever power that was. She was alive. He isn't cause he knew. Johnny turned his head. Gat was till brewing over the fact that she was living with Troy, playing her so well that he was never a cop.
Troy has a blood debt that needs to be paid, but with her alive, killing him will have to wait until he gets his hands on him.
He noticed exactly what she was wearing. He let out a soft whistle. Fitted black jeans looked like if they were any tighter, they could have painted them on. Every curve was on display. She was thick, and a tucked white tee-shirt that clung to her chest emphasized her figure. Gat watched her from behind his shade shielded eyes.
Her chest rose and fell when she breathed, pulling the fabric even tighter. She was pulling the guns she collected from her waist and placed them on the coffee table in front of her. Pulling her phone from her hip pocket, she closed her eyes as she looked over messages. Then she was texting away.
"You have a job, legally?" Gat took a sip of his beer.
Li nodded her agreement. "Yes Sir, can you not stare at me? I'm not a ghost." She turned her head to him, very grateful for the distraction of seeing Aisha again. "Thank you." She would have to go home soon to get some of her things. She just didn't want to see Troy. He was sending messages like crazy. Her phone chimed again. But like ripping off duct tape, she knew the faster, the quicker the pain was over.
Gat reared back a bit. "How the fuck did you manage that?"
Ky having a job legally was far-fetched. Not like it couldn't happen. Would anyone have actually hired her? "Simple, I go by Kia now it's… nothing." She bit her lip, closing her eyes. Her phone was going off every three seconds. Ky sighed, looking over the layout of the house. It has changed since the last time she stepped foot in here. She sighed once more. "Gat, I - I need to go. You know what? Tell Ish I think it'll be better to just crash at a hotel. I don't want to be in the way." She rubbed her face out of frustration, running her fingers through her hair, scratching her scalp. Stuffing her phone in her back pocket. Pulling her hair out of its ponytail. He watched as she unbraided her locks that fell past her waist.
Gat cocked his head to the side. He raised the bottle to his lips a fraction of a second slower than Aisha. "Why?" Coming from the landing. Aisha was heading down. "You're leaving already, you just got here, and you won't be in the way. Please stay." Aisha looked worried.
Ky combed her fingers through her hair, gathered it all back up, trying to give her hands something to do. Ky shook her head, twisting her hair back into a bun. "I couldn't impose."
Aisha, who had an arm full of quilts backing into the guest room, "It's not imposing, you are staying. I have your favorite quilt." She hopes to lure the young woman in.
With a nod, a half smile, she agreed. "I'll harass you lovely people for a while just til I find a new place, ok?"
Aisha nodded. "Take all the time you need. See you when you get back. Bring your appetite." Taking the quilt into the guest room, giving it a once over for Kyouki. Ky waved bye to Gat, closing the front door behind her. Aisha sighed. "Johnny, I can't believe it. She is alive. How is that possible? She looks amazing! But she's alive, that explosion. Why would she ask to stay, then say she'll just stay at a hotel?" Ish fired off a few questions along with how Kyouki was alive after all that they learned about her death.
Taking another swig from his warming bottle. "I told her about Troy." He looked at Aisha once she had finished in the guest room, thinking, now, maybe he needs to learn to keep his mouth shut.
His statement shocked Aisha. He was serious. He had always been hard on Troy. Gat just did not like the man, and it was worse that Ky and Troy were a thing. It never crossed Aisha's mind that Kyouki didn't know Troy was a cop. Though in hindsight no one knew he was until the crackdown happen.
As it stood when they were younger, Troy and Li were an item, but she assumed Ky should have known by now that she was awake. "Johnny, why didn't she know?"
Johnny shrugged a shoulder. He had an answer, 'Troy lied.' he won't say it out loud, but if she had been living with him and knowing he just worked at the center, it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out.
Now when he found out she was lying in the same penitentiary as him, some years ago, the rumors had surfaced that she was alive, but no one saw her. Even amongst the other prisoners and Saints that were locked up, whispers circulated that she was alive.
When the Mendoza boy came back from the infirmary, he confirmed she was there and was awake, then wheeled out shortly after he saw and spoke with her.
Before Troy became the New Chief of police, several of the inmates would constantly harass and try to get the jump on Gat. Old grievances were hard. Johnny found himself in solitary one too many times. But after Troy took the mantle, it all stopped.
Johnny was sure Troy would do anything and everything in his power to keep her alive.
"Nah, I thought she needed to know." He shrugged once more, as if it was common knowledge. He didn't want to reveal anymore about his anger about the cop who once posed as a 3rd St. Saint.
Aisha nodded in agreement, sitting on the couch Kyouki occupied, smiling that Kyouki was still with them. "Can I ask you something?" A curious thought crossed her mind that needed to be voiced.
Gat got up from his seat, following Ish to the kitchen. "Yeah, babe." Finishing his beer as he went to grab another cold one.
"When are you going to tell her how you feel about her?" Aisha was pulling pans out, then excused herself to get into the refrigerator.
Johnny choked on his beer. Gasping for air, he gave a long look at the woman who had been his link to the outside world for the past three years while he was locked up. "Ish, I don't have a thing for her."
"You took a bullet for her." Pointing at his knee.
Gat walked out of the kitchen, calling over his shoulder. "I woulda done that for you, too." Johnny felt irritated as he sat down. Johnny popped the cap off the fresh bottle and took another swig. Maybe he had a thing for Li once, but he has Aisha. He would not entertain that thought. It took him literal years to hash out his feelings and just as long to pack that part of him away.
Aisha raised her eyebrow. He was full of shit and she knew it. Aisha doubted if any of them would forget about that horrible night. "You cried when we thought she died. I have never seen you cry," Ish called in quick response from the doorway.
Aisha walked to him and sat on his lap. "Oh, do you remember… It was that one party when we sang for you. And then your birthday. You were in awe when she walked up the aisle. I was too. I almost thought she wouldn't make it, but she apologized." Aisha played with his hair. "I think that last song was for Troy to hear, but I saw the look on your face when you listened to those lyrics. It meant something to you."
~*Late Summer of 96'*~
Her time when she was working at On Track got her noticed, and thought she could work at Glitz when she took on the Vice Kings and Los Carnales. Because of Johnny, she got to meet her idol, Aisha. She proposed they do songs together, and they had.
Aisha was on the small stage singing when the music cued. It was mellow. Johnny couldn't help grinning as he was being congratulated.
The apex of the song swelled when it died down. From the entrance of the club, phone in one hand, mic in the other, Kyouki sang from the door to the stage. She walked past Johnny. He saw the name on her phone and the speaker was on. Her knuckles are white from the grip she had on it.
He frowned; Troy had stood her up. Again, he switched to grinning harder as he received pats on his back. She turned her back, no one saw but Aisha, she put a hand on her shoulder as Ky sang with emotion, so much so with the height of the song Aisha couldn't keep up with her, she sang to from the heart, to be heard, her voice carried outside, Troy came through the door finally, the look of apologies in his eyes as he hung up the phone lowering it from his ear.
Ky's eyes settled on Troy, then to Johnny, smiling a false smile on her lips that definitely didn't reach her eyes. She realized she had out sang his famous girlfriend when her eyes went wide. Aisha stood there with a wide smile. Li laughed, her apologies hugging Ish.
~*S.R.1*~
Gat slipped his hand around her waist and rubbed her side, letting out a heavy sigh. Ky had been fighting with Troy the day before, him standing her up on a date or something. He remembered. Kyouki wasn't inside at the venue and was busy looking out for Troy; she had been waiting for him. He saw her when she was on the phone with Troy hurrying him to get to the club. Why he remembered that detail had him squeeze Aisha tighter.
Humming softly, she had another thought. "Oh, and don't think I ain't noticed when she put together that forties themed birthday for you too." Aisha laughed. "Of all the songs she picked. That song she had everyone swooning after that, you remember?"
Johnny laughed. Remembering the two of the parties, Kyouki put together distinctly. "Yeah, she's something, but you babe got up there and had a blast with her, too. You did your thing, and besides, I got you. I always will." He ran his fingers along her neck, tickling her, kissing the crook of her neck. Showing he wanted her lips pulled her close for a kiss.
He also remembered Ky always wore headphones when she went out on missions for Julius, humming songs occasionally, slip by singing out loud. He heard her not thinking much of it. It wasn't until the first party that he was stunned by her voice. It was the second party he reevaluated her utter existence in his life.
He also will always remember that birthday party.
~*Oct 97', Glitz.*~
The crew had convinced her to come to the party, and she only agreed to do so if she got to plan it. Li had this crazy idea of being 'true gangsters' if only for a night. She told everyone her idea, to keep it quiet and to just get Gat there dressed up.
It took them months of rehearsal to get Aisha to tone down the hip hop look they knew her for; Kyouki saw a dress that would look wonderful on her. Ky smirked. "That lounge singer, she only went by Songbird?"
When Aisha nodded, of course she heard of Songbird. All of Stilwater had rumors and hearsay about the singer who disappeared a few years ago. Ky nodded as she smiled knowingly. Aisha started wondering if Ky was modeling after the mysterious lounge singer. Ky sang a short song stunning Aisha to silence. "Baby Girl, that was you!?" mouth agape. Aisha couldn't believe it. Aisha met 'her' idol.
"It helps pay the bills." Kyouki laughed. "Between us ok?" Aisha agreed.
Kyouki had been in the crew for a few years already. Johnny Gat's 19th Birthday, the theme 1940s, as most didn't know the tomboy that Julius and Troy brought in, or as Johnny calls her, a stray cat, she was so green Johnny had picked on her relentlessly. He thought Julius was out of his mind for allowing some kid in, but when he saw her fight, his mind changed. Johnny had saved her from being shot countless times, and when she let out a scream that cracked his glasses, then came calling her Pidgeon.
When everyone found out Aisha was planning on being there for a few songs again, everyone clamored to be there. What they didn't expect was the new rising star of the Saints to sing again.
Glitz was the venue for the night.
Everyone dressed up hyped up by it. The energy was positive Kyouki spent the day preening, now was sitting saving her voice, getting her hair and makeup done, Ky looked like she stepped out of the 40s, when Aisha saw her, auburn hair fell in romantic glossy waves over her shoulder and trailing down her back, the dress fit her well, so it looked like she was poured in it.
The black pencil dress with a train to the floor shoulder and sleeveless halter styled. Golden buttons trailed up her taught tight cinched stomach, her Saints purple, a dark deep purple, long gloves, smoky eye stressed her alluring honey hazel eyes, and nude gloss on her full, pouty lips completed her look.
"Baby girl, lookit you, can you breathe?" Aisha cooed. She was in a beautiful white that trained to the floor, fitted, backless, reminiscent of a dress Hazel Scott once wore. Kyouki wanted to match, but that dress caught the young woman's eye that suited Aisha better.
With a scrunch of her nose, she posed. "Yes, the corsets are habit forming, Aisha. You look amazing too. Think your boyfriend will notice?"
Aisha laughed. "He won't notice. I did my set. You're up next. Get it, girl."
"Am I allowed to play the part?" Ky turned her head, and the silhouette she cast made Aisha's mouth fall open.
Shaking off her shock, she grinned harder. "Just tonight. I think he likes you more than me."
Ky covered her mouth. She needed to be serious. "Stop, you know I am digging Troy." She was, she had no interest in her girl's man.
"Break a leg, Baby Girl." Aisha gave her a wink and went to take her place amongst the audience next to Gat.
Li nodded a deep breath, like she did a few years ago when she did this as her hobby. The Songbird sauntered off to the stage, the music cued, as the curtain remained down. She could hear the Saints chattering away, a fight possibly going on and then the whistles started as they were getting restless.
The announcer came over the mike, "Introducing Stilwater's own Lil Darling, Songbird."
She started as the curtain rose and the room fell dead silent. She breathed life into the mic, "You had plenty money 1922… You let other women make a fool of you… why don't you do right… like some other men do.."
Her presence instantly aroused the room, everyone in the room felt it. Her voice was like silken honey to the ear. Troy sat next to Dex, who sat in between Troy and Johnny. The trio sat gawping. There was no hiding the surprise she gave them. Aisha settled next to Gat, looking every inch the Gun Moll.
All eyes followed her around the stage. She wore a small hidden mic as she worked the stage and the short walk that was set up.
"Why don't you do right…." She flirted with all she made eye contact with, coming down into the audience.
First stopping at Troy, she pinched his cheek, running a finger along his jaw, lifting his chin. Then to Dex. Sliding her hands across his shoulders with a pout, she removed his hat, shoving it gently in his face.
"Get out of here, get me some money too…" She pushed one guy back into his seat as he placed his hand over his heart when she came near.
Kyouki gently ran a finger over Aisha's shoulder, leaning in her ear. "Now if you'd prepared 20 years ago… You wouldn't be wandering around from door to door…" tracing a gloved finger along the woman's neck, lightly flicking her long earring as she sauntered to come before her target.
When she reached Johnny, she slid onto his lap and stroked his jaw, when she stood, pulling him by his tie, her lips achingly close, her breath fanning his face, filling his nostrils with the smell of peaches and lilacs, she even smelled purple.
Flicked her eyes to meet his, holding his gaze, "Why don't you do right…. Like some other men... Do." She released his tie, and he slowly sank back into his seat.
Gat held his breath and didn't realize he was holding. "Whoa." He felt something sharp pierce in his chest.
Kyouki slowly made her way back to the stage, still holding the note. The room went wild. She smirked. "Happy Birthday, G." she crooned as the next song played. Aisha closed his mouth for him and winked at the young woman on the stage.
She looked at Troy, who looked gut punched. "Never know how much I love you, never know how much I care." She had everyone swooning.
Gat couldn't take his eyes off of her now, running by his side he never gave her much of a thought, he heard about her wanting to be like Aisha, and her working at On Track was true, he recalled he and some of the crew went out for drinks; the men leaving the club they passed, making lewd comments about the hot server who waited on them. Another night they infiltrated Glitz, another group of men sang her praises, the announcement that the 'Songbird' just left the stage. He just missed her.
But she was here for him, singing to him on his birthday. Kyouki was Songbird. The stray cat that was brought into the Saints was the most breathtaking creature he had ever seen.
Now in dress she was gorgeous, out of dress she was cute, definitely cute without a doubt, but she always keeps her hair pulled up in a ponytail, braids or bun. From that day on, she alone burned The Songbird into his subconscious.
~*S.R.1*~