It was time to think about what was needing to be done. According to Gat, that was rebuilding to Saints. To Kyouki was the job she still has working at Technically Legal.
~*~
Last night, the night of Kyouki's unforgettable drinking binge, had her calling her boss, getting the ok to come in when she felt better. Aisha came to check on her and Kyouki groaned in hangover. "Can you make me hangover soup?"
"What in the world is that?" Aisha whispered to Gat, chuckling behind her.
"It's a soup I had given ya'll both that one time after we blew up Kingdom Come Records. You wouldn't remember it, ya'll some lightweights Babe." He kissed Ish on her forehead.
The small woman stood feeling insulted, then went to the kitchen to help make the miracle cure to help with cases such as the young woman lying in the guest room moaning about.
As she stood there, she realized what she was seeing. ' Kyouki domesticated Johnny! ' Aisha laughed to herself as she brought in water for her best friend. Never in a million years would she expect to have ever seen one of the infamous 3rd Street Saints, Johnny Gat, in the kitchen chopping vegetables.
Around an hour later, Johnny came in with a bowl of soup for Kyouki in hand.
~*~
Every day for the past few days, Gat had made her something simple for breakfast. Kyouki, not being a drinker by nature, she took a little longer to shake the booze in her system. Kyouki had a long night at the club and came in late, again, from the night before, but time and street warfare stops for no one.
Gat had put it off because of her break up and job, but now was the time to get hustling. He came busting into her room, loudly at 6:30 am. Kyouki only had a few hours of sleep and she needed to get up for work. Just not with Johnny bellowing like he was.
"Aight Pidge, eat up. We're about to head to this place I found. We're bringing the Saints back."
Ky looked up from her eating, frowning a bit. "You speak French now? Why do we need to do this today? Keep it down please, you are booming in my head." Curious as to the revival of her former crew name.
Her question to Johnny had him questioning if she woke up in one piece. "Why? There's fuckers out here terrorizing the streets. Our streets. They locked our boys up and we can set it right. Take back what's ours!"
"I've got work, I can't." Ky said calmly, she continued sipping the warm soup.
Johnny rubbed his nose. With a nod, he got up, exiting the room, slamming the door behind him. Gat had an inkling. She had a life once she woke up and hid away with Troy. He was eyes to the news, the whole while he was in the pen.
There were new crews littering Stilwater and one such in the very neighborhood they lived.
"Got to get her to see this. Shit's worse than before." Gat muttered as he grabbed his keys before heading out of the door.
Aisha jumped when the door slammed, watched Johnny from the couch as he stomped, grumbling to himself. Sliding off the couch to see Ky in the doorway of the spare room, empty bowl in hand. With an odd look on her face.
Ky sighed with a shake of her head and shrugging. "He wants to bring the Saints back. I think he wants me to lead them. He should be looking for Julius. Why me?"
Aisha understood the look, nodded and took Ky's hand, pulling her to the couch, sat her down turning the tv on. "You are such a workaholic. Once you start, you never stop. Troy never kept you up to date, did he?"
"Please, I don't want to talk about him." Ky interupted.
Ish put her hands up in apologies. "Fine. But there are a lot of things that you should know." The news came on for the afternoon broadcast. "This is why Johnny seems so upset." Aisha said, turning the volume up.
As the news announcers spoke, there were shots of people walking in dazes like zombies, slumped over, or passed out in the streets.
"Drugs?" Ky frowned at the screen. She knew junkies when she saw them.
The cameraperson panned out and around the area showing a wide shot of the school.
"At the University…" Kyouki knew she had gotten rid of the drugs, had them under Saints control.
That was one of the major orders that Julius Little demanded. 'Get Los Carnales out of Stilwater, no matter the cost!'
How could there be a new string of shit like this in the city once again? It hit her for five years, her missing five years.
Watching the screen, it was an old resurfaced clip. Several large red and gold trucks rolling along the streets bashing into other cars. One enormous truck stopped at a hotdog stand swinging at the owner, catching him on his side. Sending him crumpling to the ground.
"What the hell?" Ky's eyes were wide. "When was this?"
Aisha agreed with a hum. "Yeah girl, it's bad. I think it was a few months ago. Guess with Troy more worried about you, he just couldn't get this under control, too. He has been under a ton of pressure. As shocking as it was to find out he was UC. It did not stop him from helping keep me safe when Johnny was locked up."
Kyouki looked at Aisha, then looked back at the screen, sighing. "Troy lied to all of us." Ky saw his picture on the screen.
They were discussing the very man they spoke of. Whether he was good enough to be the Chief of police because he was a former gang member.
That was not what Ky wanted to hear. She got up, going to wash her bowl. "I will not think about it now. I will have to sit on it. It can wait until I get home from work tonight. I have other things to do now."
Ky put the bowl in the dish drain. "I may have found a place. Just waiting for the ok to move in. Don't tell Oshiri he might not let me leave." Ky laughed. "He'll find out I actually like my job. I'll never hear the end of it."
Aisha laughed along with her. "I don't really want you to leave. Tempted to hold you here myself, but I understand. I honestly do." Aisha had a sad smile on her face.
As great as it was to be hanging with Aisha and Gat again. Ky couldn't help but think of considering what Johnny said. The Saints, yeah, she loved helping the city, sure. The Saints were what the city needed. But her life now isn't the Saints.
Gat can be all the mad he wanted. She will decide what will be best, and now that is it would be best to leave on her own. If Troy was any sort of Saint, undercover or no, he will figure out how to clean Stilwater without her help. And so will Johnny.
Kyouki really needed to be alone for a while. The issue with Troy still stung. The further away, the better. "I will have to see if I can transfer job locations. There is one near my new place. A bit more of a walk if I chose, but I can drive when it gets cold. I need to get ready." Kyouki looked at her watch. She hurried, zipping to her room then to shower.
Ky had finished, then rushed to her room to tackle her hair. She emerged five minutes later, twisting her hair into a bun.
Johnny came in shortly after, handing her a bowl. "Drink this before you go out." Gat said. He looked down at her.
She took the bowl from his hands. "Miso? Arigato Gat" She slurped the soup as she walked to the door. "I'll be back later. I have Sunday and Monday off. We can talk about your plan, then. I'll think it over in the meantime." She nodded and muttered her thank-yous between sips before walking out of the door to the car.
Gat followed her out. "I'll hold you to it."
Kyouki stopped, eyebrows raised. "I'm good for my word, you know that. Bbl!" Ky starting the ignition she was pulling out of the driveway, tooting the horn, waving as she drove off.
"Did she just say bbl?" Gat scratched his head, going back inside.
~*~*~*~
Sunday came, and Li was grateful for it. The night before was hectic as hell again, and she still had a handle on the throbbing headache that had formed until Gat banged on her door once again. "Up, shit to do, people to kill."
Kyouki was just laying in bed. Enjoying the quiet until then. "Yo! No. I need sleep. And I already told you I would think about it. I haven't had time to think. What's with the people to kill? Who says that?" Ky reached for her phone, 8:45 am. She pulled the covers over her head and threw a silent fit into her pillow at the 'disturbance' til she heard the bellow from outside her door.
"Less go!" Gat raised his voice again.
" Watashi o kite imasu, Oshiri! " She bellowed back.
Standing at her door, he called once more. " Il-eona animyeon naega jigjeob os-eul ibhyeojulge. " Chuckling when he heard her gasp in horror.
" You better not! " Kyouki hurried to get dressed, but her head hurt.
"You don't understand how the hell you know what I said? You have til nine."
Ky whined when she came out of the room. "I don't have to understand it. I know you! Can you at least drive? I still don't feel well." She shuffled past, pouting on her way to the bathroom.
Aisha chuckled. "What did you both say? No, what did she say to you?"
"Something, something Ass." He nodded as he sat looking at his watch. Aisha laughed louder, taking a sip of coffee. "What? She's called me ass a lot. I should know what Oshiri means."
Ky rolled her eyes at Gat for making her get up when she needed sleep. He saw her and smirked. Ky reached out for Aisha's mug and took a swallow of the semi-sweet coffee, shaking her head. "Ugh, nope, how do you drink that stuff?"
"How can you not? See you two when you get home." Aisha waved from her spot on the couch.
"We go out when we get back." Kyouki got out fast before Johnny pushed her out of the door. "Stop, I don't feel well, you bully!"
"Shut up, get in the car!"
Aisha burst out laughing, coffee all over her glass table. She laughed louder, then got up to clean the mess she made.
~*Bavogian Plaza, Abandoned Mission House, Red Light District*~
The drive was long, and morning traffic was light. The neighborhood was perfect for hiding in plain sight. "Wow. It really has been a long time since I had been here. This was walled off." Kyouki was looking around, pointing out that there were some street names that had been changed. "When did they start renaming streets?"
Johnny looked out of the window when they pulled to a four-way stop. "Hm, not sure. I hadn't noticed musta been when I was in the pen."
Pulling up, the area was really in a prime location. A nightclub named Koi was behind them, the hotel that Kyouki knew she had been, but could not remember the name.
Litter was all over the streets, broken bottles, and glass from the various doors and windows, trash just everywhere.
It looked much worse than when she used to stomp these grounds. The pimps walked around, keeping eyes on their hoes; they seemed to no longer wait until the sun fell. Kyouki remembered she had cleaned these streets, had the girls safe, regular checkups, and confidence. Working under her orders. Of course, with the permission of Julius Little.
Wondering what happened to a few who she called friend. 'No. I will not go there.' Derailing her own thoughts of the past. She has a new life now. And she is content with what she has.
The missionary house, long since abandoned, shattered lights. It may have once been a nice, quiet refuge. Not anymore. A few stragglers dotted the exterior, homeless and junkies, lay about inside.
She could see the place was tagged over and over, old, with fresh spray bleeding into each other. Kyouki covered her nose from the smell.
"Ok, but isn't it like… Didn't we do that already, the whole church thing? I mean, this is do-able, bit small. Shit, was that a rat, fucker big as a cat!" Ky grabbed a hold of Gats' shirt.
Johnny snorted, trying to keep from laughing. She jumped so hard, clinging to him. "This way, this isn't it. There was this big ass quake that rocked this part of the city? They ain't bother fixing it, or dig it up. Some-fucking-how the damn place is still intact. A shit ton of fucking space. They just kept building over the top of it. What we want is below." Gat said as he led her through to the back that was once been a kitchen. Down several flights of stairs, he kicked open the door leading into a musty hallway.
To her right was a set of large damaged doors that was once been an elevator. The shaft had debris spilled from what was on the upper floors. She could see the intact structure was sound by the way it's held up all these years. Johnny led them further down the hall to the grand staircase of what was once a hotel.
"Whoa. This was that hotel," was all Ky could say as she looked around. It was in terrible shape, but it could be much worse.
Partly crumbled statue of a toga wearing angel, that must have been a sight in its day. 'The space was enormous, and it would be the perfect place for…. No, I can't do this again.' Li shook her head. These thoughts needed to leave. Running with the Saints put her out of commission. She wasn't doing that again. She lost too much already. "G? I don't think I can. I mean, you know I always have your back about shit. But this? I don't think…"
Gat stopped and turned to look at Kyouki. As her eyes were scanning the dark area. He knew what she was talking about. "Just come on. I got you." He turned.
When she got him out, he knew he was risking bringing the Saints back. He was thinking of the city. The city they held down and cleaned those years ago. Losing friends was commonplace. Kyouki lost friends and family. They lost her and it all fell apart.
~*April 2004*~
It was five months after Troy had her back on her feet. Kyouki was at her best and had been hounding Troy to make calls for her. He gave up no information and didn't even have cable for her to watch the news. He didn't want her searching alone. There was no telling what enemies that could still lay in wait. So said Troy.
"Baby, I need to get in touch with my Obachan." Kyouki called from the bathroom.
Troy froze. "Uh, yeah, she had been worried about you, but uh…" Troy hung his head, closing his eyes.
"But what?" Kyouki leaned on the door frame, finished up the braid she was working on.
Troy walked over and gave her a gentle kiss. "She's over near Mourning Wood now."
Ky smiled, kissing him again. "Can we go next day off?"
Troy nodded, "Yeah Baby Girl, yeah next day off." he really needed to tell her.
~*~
Kyouki lost her Obachan. Knowing that it was the life that happened out of respect. Caused the older woman to worry so when she didn't come home, her whole family. Ky just wanted quiet now. Her life was fine now. He knew he shouldn't push this. He just wanted to keep the city clean once more.
"Yeah, we need to 'move' the current tenants. They all over this place. Look like Samedi can smell the drugs on them." Gat said. The smell was strong, they rubbed their noses. "Lessgo work to do. Here." He tossed her one gun she collected days ago.
Li pretended to cry. "Let's get this oooverrrr with." whining as she was following Gat to the lower part of the felled city. The Old part of Stilwater she heard about it but never had she thought the stories were true. "Holy.. Shit… It does exist!" She was impressed with the large section of the city was intact as they headed further down, whoever these Samedi were they made sure they could come and go, building rickety cobbled together staircases leading to, what once was, the main streets.
"Fucking cobblestones! Gat, ooh. Like in the old movies!" She eyed the whole of this part of Stilwater.
As Kyouki looked around, Gat was looking for members of the Samedi. Ky would pat him to show him a wrecked storefront that was decades old, or the fountain that had long since dried up. There were many barrels of fire and strung lights that illuminated the felled city. It was eerie, but a fucking marvel to see.
Making their rounds, a member of the gang they came to clear out had seen them approach. Not sure what the pair was doing down here, that wasn't one of their own, walked up and signaled two others to move in on them. His echo bounced around them.
"Fuck you doing here!" as he and the two with him ran, trying to flank Gat and Ky.
Gat punched the attacker on his left. "You need to fucking leave our turf now." Drawing his gun.
"This is Samedi territory. Step off. Call for backup!" He ordered the few other members that were littered underground in Knight Plaza.
"Fuck outta here." Gat shot one of the Samedi in the chest, who was mingling among the junkies.
Li's auto response kicked in. She darted past Gat, kicking the next person's gun out of their hand, grabbing the poor kid she sent him into the makeshift house of the many homeless that lived here. "Sorry." She shouted as she ran to a Samedi member trying to sneak up on Gat, tossing him into the fountain centerpiece.
"You just tossing people now?"
"Shyeah, I've been working out!" Ky grinned, quickly ducking someone swinging a crowbar behind her, catching the Samedi footman in the armpit with her heel. She regained her footing and punched the gang member in his chest.
Gat loved watching her fight. Laying them out one by one. It felt like nothing changed, but Gat was wrong. He could feel that the surrounding air changed. She was just doing this because she won't see him hurt. Kyouki runs on autopilot. Like when she came barreling into the courtroom.