~*Summer 95'*~
"Just how the hell are we going to get up there?" Dex asked as Johnny and Troy stood at the locked door of the alley.
Li was standing near them and looked around. She saw an open window on the second floor. "Leave it to me. I see an open window."
The three of them followed her gaze. Li pulled a set of claws from her pocket and slipped them on her hands. Gat watched her, "Fuck you think you doing?" Dex looked around for anyone coming up.
Li tightened the wrist straps, taking several steps back. She ran leaping wall to wall up to the window. They heard noises and a few minutes later, the small girl opened the door, letting them in.
The three of them gawked at her. "No shit." They collectively were stunned.
She just shrugged, "Movies, heh, they teach you something." Li hung her head, trying to hide her smile.
"You Bruce Lee cousin or something?" Troy asked as he went in. Li pointed at him, then closed her mouth.
"Anything else you should tell us?" Dex scowled at her on his way in.
The sounds of groaning trailed the path she took, claw marks on their faces. Gat pointed at her. "Stray cat."
~*S.R.1*~
Shots rang out rapidly. They had to duck for cover. The unarmed and armed needed to be dealt with quickly. They made each shot count, Li took out knees, "Don't kill them, we can use them. The hell am I saying? Gat I CAN'T DO THIS AGAIN!" Kyouki ducked for cover.
Groaning, Gat ran over to her and shielded her. "If you want to make it out of here, we are going to have to fight our way out." He harshly said over the sound of screaming and gunfire. Though he did as instructed, incapacitating them, not killing them outright, they lay moaning in pain and no longer shooting at them. "Listen up, if you want your life, get the fuck out of here NOW!" Gat demanded of the squatters, his voice echoing off the walls.
When it was over, Kyouki turned her angry honey eyes to the two standing Samedi members she didn't bother to injure. The young woman and man she left standing looked at her, almost pissing themselves. "And as for you, go to whoever your boss is and tell them not in my city." Remembering the dozens sitting strung out like zombies at the campus.
They both scurried off past her, tripping over their own feet. Li scratched her temple in thought, folding her arms across her chest. "Gat, how many people does it take to send a message?" Her head cocked to the side.
"One." he practically growled it out as his voice dropped an octave. Gat smirked. He fired one shot, the sound of one body hitting the pavement with a thud followed the other squealed as they hurried up the wooden planks.
She felt a tingle running through her when she heard him stopping right at her center. The sound of the gunfire caused her to jump. 'Fuck.'
"Good to have you back, Boss." Gat purred in her ear.
Ky closed her eyes. "Hm." A heavy sigh escaped her lips. She looked around, clearing her throat, hearing the sounds of those moaning in pain. She shook her head, reaching up, tied her hair back up into a sloppy bun.
~
They headed back up to the hotel lobby. Gat kicked a crate on its side, went and grabbed a wide tarp, laid it across the filthy couch. He sat propping his feet up.
"So whatchu think?" His hands resting behind his head.
Ky poked her head around the counter, heading back to where Gat was. "Is aight."
"Just aight, this has potential." Gesturing to the spacious lobby.
Ky nodded, yes it has potential. Looking around, taking mental notes. "Right, it does I give it that… Is this what you want to do?" Thinking once again that she cannot do this again.
Gat held his hand up, pausing her thought. "Yeah. This city needs to be cleansed." Taking another look around thought of sweetening up the deal. "Listen, stripper poles, couple flat screens… Nicer furniture…"
Kyouki laughed, "Aight, you had me at flat screens, that's only cause you know I love my movies."
Gat laughed. "Fuckin' A."
Kyouki just shook her head. She had to admit; it felt like old times. That was weighing on her rational mind. While what she saw going on in Stilwater, yeah, the city's Saints needed to make a grand comeback. "Naze omo yo? Time to clean up." She announced, clapping her hands and walking back to the lower level.
Johnny looked up at her, watching her as she walked away. He was speechless. She was actually going to do it. This, they were going to get the city under control. He got to his feet and hustled behind her. "So, what is it you have planned?"
~*~*~
It took them two hours alone to help the wounded up to the lobby of the derelict hotel, wiping her brow as she stood, stretching her back. "Damn, I don't miss this, that's for sure." Ky complained, rubbing her sore lower back.
Gat dropped the guy he was helping on the hard floor. "This is not what I planned for the rest of my day."
Ky went to flush out the injured soldier's leg. "Shut the hell up. We have to get this place cleaned up."
"Yo, I'm no gotdamned maid." Gat bit back.
Kyouki looked up and pouted at him. "Oh bet you'd look cute in that skirt. You are nothing but a gotdamn Diva." with a roll of her eyes continued what she was doing. Going to the next wounded person.
"Aye, this is for the people who just got Canonized." Johnny pointed to the floor where he just dropped a body.
Kyouki stood, throwing her hands up in mock shock, "Shit, you are so right. Hey, let's ask the crew for some help. Hey, ya'll wanna help?" They met her with moans and groans. "See, we are doing this shit ourselves."
"Point taken, smartass. We can't run a gang if… Oh, I don't know, ya know, DON'T HAVE A FUCKIN' GANG!" Throwing out his hands to the space they stood, his voice reverberating against the walls. Showing they are practically alone, save the bodies that lay in pain at their feet.
Kyouki was busy with the injured, but this man touched a nerve like one had never felt. She stopped once more from what she was in the middle of. Her eyes narrowed as she turned on him. "Five years Gat… five FUCKING YEARS! I told you I HAVE A LIFE, this wasn't going to be it. You dragged me out of bed for this shit, YOU, not ME, you told me most of the crew locked up cause of Troy, and the rest buried six feet… so suddenly I gained magical powers to just instantly produce people for a gang?"
She stood toe to toe with him, furious. Jaw clenched as she stared him in the eyes, glaring up at him, ready to shoot him as angry as she felt. Five years of her life had gone in a literal flash.
Now she was about to do it all over again, because he needs her to help him. "This was not part of my plan." Her vision was distorting. Johnny went to hug her, and she slapped his arm away. Ky went back to helping the injured, angrily wiping away a rogue tear.
Gat put his hands up in defense. He sighed hard, "Aight, we gonna start fresh. We'll have to get the crew out somehow and find new people. My bad." Johnny knew he just wanted to keep his girls safe, Aisha hiding away at home all day, and Kyouki, who seems to actually enjoy her day job. He went back to work without further complaint. Another hour went by and Johnny was done. He kicked a crumpled beer can. "Yeah, that's what we'll do. I ain't moppin' up no blood. Quit bleeding on my floors!" He barked at the wounded Samedi members.
Kyouki turned to them. "Oh you asshats, need to listen well. You'll be Saints now, heal quickly or I'll let Johnny kill you. Johnny, come on, I know this kid. I met him in the infirmary, Mendoza…. Carlos… I'll have to see what his sheet is. We'll have to get more people. You got anyone?"
Johnny thought for a minute, tapping his finger to his lips nodded pulling out his cell, "Yeah, I met some in jail who might do, when I find out where these bitches are we'll meet up with them, but you'll have to impress them."
"Fuck, I look like... Oh right… I was dead for five years." As she made her way back up to when they first arrived. "I need seven showers."
Gat agreed as he followed her up the old hotel staircase. "Nine if two are with me." Ky paused mid-step, lips pursed, Gat brushing past her, grinning as he continued up the old Mission house steps.
"Do not start that shit again. You need to grow the fuck up, I swear."
~*~*~*~
For the next few days that week, Li and Gat got a few things organized. She pulled some of her savings and had her new skeleton crew working on cleaning up while she waited for Gat to look into the Lieutenants on his end. It wasn't long until brothers, sisters and cousins of former members heard word and came back, paying their respect to Li. How they found out? Word of mouth.
~*Union Square, City Hall Courthouse*~
Saturday morning the month of June proved to be the perfect day for picking up an eager young man Li briefly met months ago from while in the clutches of a prison infirmary. Ky casually leaned on her car outside of the courthouse under a shady tree, fanning herself. Her black cherry dotted pencil dress was a gift from Aisha, who was in the back of the car relaxing, glad to get out of the house, and Johnny was standing next to Ky, "Ish had you talked to your sister lately?"
"Yeah, why."
Kyouki looked at her friend. "I might have to move you both."
"Baby Girl no, I like my little house."
Ky smiled, "I know, but… Oh, there he is… Carlos here!" She waved the young man over.
Carlos was in for boosting cars. Li pulled his sheet a few days before, after she used Troy's password to get into the criminal system. She found that to be a delightful coincidence. She needed something as Troy had, what was rightfully hers, locked up tight. "Carlos, hey man, sorry it took so long, you good?"
Carlos was in shock. He got the news of his early release when he stepped from the gate. He looked to see Li with Gat. His mouth dropped open. "No puedo creer esto, I'm gonna be a Saint!"
Kyouki laughed, "Calm down kid, no hablar Español, I'm gonna need you to do something for me first. Get in the back."
Carlos tried not to be so star-struck as he felt like he was in front of celebs. He nodded quickly and hurriedly climbed in the back. He squealed when he saw who he was sitting next to. "Oh my god, you're!"
Aisha nodded and held up a finger to quiet him. Ky chuckled, "Ok, yes, and we don't talk about it alright. She's our well-kept secret." As she closed her door and they pulled off.
Carlos again nodded quickly. Aisha held her hand out for him to shake. "Yes, I'm that Aisha." she smiled. It had been a while since she felt this elated.
Gat snorted. "This kid for real?"
"I am, I wanna be a Saint." He blushed a bit with his head down. He saw that Li and Aisha swatted at Gat.
"I got you, Carlos. Pay no mind to this ass." They pulled off and Li started telling of the plan to get her car back. "Listen up, I have some property locked away and I hear you got locked up for boosting, well… Get my property you... will officially be a Saint."
Carlos's eyes went wide as saucers. He lit up like a star. "Anything you got it, just tell me where and when."
They had pulled up to the docks a half hour later, at rows of lockers, each one exactly like the next. Ten rows of twenty large storage lockers lined a section of the warehouse waterfront. Li reached back, handing Carlos a set of tools along with the locker number. "You come back here tonight, bring me what's mine, and for all that is holy, don't fuck my baby up."
Li looked at him in the rearview mirror, "Before I forget, drive it to the garage behind club Koi, you know where?" Carlos nodded, "Alright, here is a phone, our numbers are in it, text when you are done."
He took the items, sliding the phone in his pocket. "You got it. Tonight." Carlos looked back again as they pulled off to get the boy settled.
~*Technically Legal, Tidal Spring.*~
In the middle of the following week, Kyouki received a text from Johnny when she was cleaning up the bar for the night.
> Head to the burbs, who I have in mind is at XXXX in Quinbecca. Her name is Shaundi'
She placed her phone back in her pocket, hustling around getting the spot clean so she can leave early; she took fewer hours getting clear from her boss. Kyouki also had them contact the other club to see if she could transfer, but with her friends at this club, she decided when the time came to just commute for their sake.
~*Quinbecca & New Hennequet.*~
Later that evening, the sun was setting for its long night over Stilwater. Deep purples and blues coated the starlit sky. She pulled up to the address, seeing a few people standing about the first house on her left, playing a game.
She slowed up to pull over. Getting out, she walked up cautiously across the street. "Hey, I'm looking for Shaundi? Gat sent me."
"I'm Shaundi." A petite young woman stepped forward, her bangs were blond and her hair in dreads of brown tied back. "No.. shit." The girl grinned. "You're like a legend."
Kyouki shook her head, smiling, "Don't do that. I'm not really. Get in. I need to grab something to eat."
Shaundi headed over to the passenger side, saying her goodbyes to the people who were still in the middle of their game. They talked about how she became cool with Johnny. "I needed protection, and like everyone knows Gat, so me and him worked it out. I can make Pruno that won't kill anyone." Shaundi stated proudly.
Li raised her eyebrows, intrigued, as they pulled up to a Company of Gyros. "Pruno, alright." She pulled her cell out, dialing Gat putting him on speaker.
" Sup? "
"Hey G… What's Pruno?"
She could hear him laughing on the other end. "You must be with Shaundi. Hey kid, it's Prison Wine."
"Tsk, you didn't have to laugh at me, stupid face." she sucked her teeth looking at the phone in her hand in annoyance.
Shaundi contained her chuckles. "Hey Gat."
Ky was next up to order her food. "Ya'll want anything over there? I shouldn't get you anything." She said to the man on the other end.
"Get anything you know what we eat." Johnny answered back.
Kyouki placed a few more orders. Looking at Shaundi, she inclined her head to the menu board.
"Just a number one, large."
"Alright, I'll see you all shortly." Hanging up on Gat. Then turned her attention to the girl next to her. "We can talk about plans when we get there."
~*2401 S. Homan, S. Huntersfield.*~
Pulling up to Aisha's Shaundi, Carlos was in tow, standing waiting with bags of food. When the door opened, Johnny greeted them, leading them in.
"NOEL, I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND I BROUGHT COMPANY!" Ky smiled while shouting through the house, heading to the dining room table and placing the bags of food down. Jumping when Aisha appeared behind her. "Heey. Shaundi, I'll kill you myself if you leak this out. This is Ish, Shaundi, Ish, Ish, Shaundi." Ky rushed out, getting the "look" from Aisha.
Aisha gave Kyouki and Gat a long, hard look. "I know I said no . Hi Shaundi, hey Carlos, but this will not be the clubhouse. Kyouki Irissa ." Aisha whispered harshly, putting emphasis on not to use her home.
Kyouki pouted and snuggled up to Aisha, putting her head on her shoulder. "Please, just for a bit. I promise it won't be all the time, just for dinners?"
Aisha sighed, then smiled. "Alright, just dinners."
Ky gushed and hugged the smaller woman tighter. "Ok, so Shaundi said on the way here there's a street race on Saturday." Kyouki looked at the others at the table.
Gat smiled. "Time to make that money!" He rubbed his hands together.
"Ish, you are coming with I hope you have an outfit." Kyouki bit into her gyro.
Shaundi grabbed a few fries. "Yeah, it's like every other weekend, and before the race, there's like a car show off. It always gets busted up shortly after, though."
~
Some hours passed, it was getting late. Kyouki gathered up the others, and she headed to taking them home. Aisha pulled Ky aside, giving her a long hug. "Thank you. I see what you are doing."
Ky smiled. "I know you don't want this to be the clubhouse, and it won't. Most of the time, I will keep it to dinners. I'll be back later. Get some sleep."
Aisha wished Carlos and Shaundi a goodnight and locked the door behind them.