Chapter 17: but there's a lot of it about
“Niigaki-san!” The two Chinese girls exclaimed in unison, immediately piling on top of her as gently as one could dog pile someone. As she hugged the two, Risa only had eyes for the stunned Ai, standing in the middle of the room with one hand over her mouth and tears pouring down her cheeks.
Noticing her inattention, the Chinese girls pulled back, watching the veritable sparks fly between their leaders. Risa opened her arms in invitation and Ai wasted no time crawling into them, straddling her lover’s waist and sealing their lips together passionately. The hitter cleared her throat quietly and ushered Lin out.
“Seems like Mama and Papa need some grown up time.” Jun joked, bringing a blush to her smaller counterpart, “Here’s your DS back.”
The hacker took the device warily, eyeing the taller girl, “Thanks.”
“Do you want to go do something?” Jun asked amicably causing Lin to raise an eyebrow.
“Why?” The paused in the hallway to talk.
“Well, I’m bored and kinda hungry, I was probably going to go get something to eat.” The hitter didn’t mention that Aika wouldn’t go with her and she was actually lonely.
“Why me? I thought you hated me?” Lin questioned.
“Oh, right. Well, I don’t like you, but I guess you’re alright.” They had a staring contest for a few moments as Lin tried to read her companion’s mind. Finally, she decided that was probably as close to an apology as she was going to get and nodded.
“Alright. Where do you want to go?”
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Crying loudly in relief, Ai buried her face into Risa’s neck, feeling hands running smoothly down her back. “I’m so glad-!” she choked on her words, but Risa understood anyway.
“While I was asleep, I dreamed, Ai.” Risa whispered into her hair, “I was in a dark, scary place, all alone. There was no one and nothing around me and no matter how far I walked, I couldn’t find anything. Then, I heard something that made me feel better. Your voice, Ai.” She swallowed past the lump in her throat.
“My voice?” Ai asked, recalling all the times that she had talked to the younger woman while she was out.
“Yes. At first, I couldn’t tell what you were saying, so I began to run towards where I thought you were and eventually, your words became more clear and louder. You were telling me about your day and about something amusing Lin Lin or Tanakacchi said. You were crying for me to come back, telling me how much you needed me and loved me. All I wanted to do was come back to you.” Risa had barely finished speaking before Ai had sealed their lips together again.
As they kissed, their tears mingled together on Risa’s cheeks and their hands clutched each other as if they would disappear otherwise. When the need for air finally became a pressing issue, they slowly broke apart. The gunner smiled sincerely at her lover’s trembling lip and they exchanged quiet, but heartfelt declarations of love, before Ai slipped under the covers and curled up next to Risa.
“So, how long was I out and how much did I miss?”
“A little over a month and you’ve certainly missed a lot. You inherited a gang! I’ve done my best to deal with everything, but I just don’t know what I’m doing.” Ai preceded to inform the gunner about taking care of the legal stuff, “I’ve also started dealing with the bribes. I’ve met with eight people in the last couple days and secured all of them in our pocket.”
Risa couldn’t help the proud smile that crossed her features, “It wasn’t my intention to force you to have to take care of this, but I knew you could do it.”
“What was your intention?” the demo expert asked neutrally and the younger felt the hair on the back of her neck raise up.
“Exactly this. Take over the operations, one by one, until we own the city. Then maybe disband, I’ve no use for a gang.” Sensing her lover’s displeasure with this answer, Risa swallowed noisily, “Why?”
“I thought we were supposed to take out the gangs, not help them.” Glaring openly now, Ai ground her teeth together. This was a question that had been bothering her since the attack on the manor.
“When I went to take out the drug brothers, they gave me something interesting to think about.”
Risa straddled her opponent and raised the knife high above her head, eager to thrust it into his throat. “Wait,” Kenjiro croaked out, “We can help you.” Despite herself, Risa hesitated, something she knew to be a bad move.
“I’m listening.” She said, but his eyes focused on the fight behind her, “Jun, stop!” Suddenly, the scuffle paused, “How can you help me?”
“What are you planning to do once you take us out? Your goal is to put a stop to Takashi’s gang, right? It’s impossible to do without killing every rat in the city. You can kill the bosses, you can dam the drug trade, you can even kill a lot of known gang members, but it will never be enough.” Kenjiro spoke quickly.
“You know, I don’t really like being told I can’t do something.” Risa raised the knife again and the man continued with a panicked burst.
“Wait! I’m just saying that someone will always be there to start over! To take over! The only way to stop the gang is to be in control!” Pausing on the downswing, the gunner considered this.
“What are you suggesting I do?” she asked.
“Take over Takashi’s gang, become it’s head. You’ve done a good job of stirring things up, but it’s not too late to fix things. Kill Takashi and his lieutenants and the rest of the members will have to put you in charge. And if you let us live, we can help you with money. The factories are the main source of income and we have dozens more.” Seeing that she was truly listening, Kenjiro grinned in relief.
“Alright, I agree to your terms.”
“That’s why?” Ai asked contemplatively. “Are you really planning on disbanding afterwards? You know they’ll just reform under a different leader.”
“Well, I guess we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.” Risa grinned lightly, using her favored expression. “Anyway, I have to pee and I could probably use a shower, so I’m going to need to get up now.” The demo expert slid out of the bed and the gunner followed, muscles aching from disuse.
Ai grabbed her arms as she stood and Risa stumbled against her, legs not wanting to support her weight. The two struggled towards the bathroom, the gunner leaning heavily on her lover, feeling like a newborn calf taking her first steps, “I didn’t anticipate this.” Ai murmured.
“Me neither.” Risa grunted, sweat beginning to form on her brow as they finally made it to where she could lean up against the sink. They exchanged uncomfortable looks, “Go away.” The gunner commanded, but Ai shook her head.
“You need my help.” she said, making sure the younger was propped against the counter securely, Ai tugged on her sweat pants, “Besides, it’s nothing I haven’t seen before.”
“Look, just because we’ve had sex, doesn’t mean I’m comfortable with you being in here while I pee.” Risa said, but cooperated anyway. She was soon seated and another uncomfortable silence descended, “I’m pretty sure I don’t need your help with this part.” The gunner said dryly and Ai left the room with a blush.
After she was done and struggled to her feet, pulling her pants up while she did, Risa hopped up onto the counter and washed her hands slowly, looking at herself in the mirror. Her cheeks and eyes were sunken in from being fed through an IV for a month, her hair was flat and lifeless and she was sure her breath wasn’t that great, if the film on her teeth was any indication. “Yuck,” she murmured, “I’m grossing myself out.” She absently rubbed her arm where she had ripped out the needle before she had spoken up earlier. “First thing’s first.” The gunner grabbed an unopened toothbrush packet and ripped into it.
On the other side of the door, Ai stood, back against the wall, listening to the water running. She had an appointment in about an hour with another greedy judge and then her day was filled with bribing people. It had gotten easier after the first time, but Ai still felt butterflies every time she thought about what she had to do. Deciding to distract herself, the demo expert knocked on the bathroom door twice, then opened it to peek inside.
She laughed on finding her lover furiously brushing her teeth, “Don’t press down so hard or you’ll make your gums bleed.” she entered the room and closed the door behind her. “Do you want to take a bath with me?”
“Yeah, why don’t you go start the water.” Risa suggested after she’d spit out her toothpaste. Ai headed for a sliding frosted glass door that stood in the back of the room.
The toilet area itself was quite average sized, but the bathing space behind it was massive, most of the room being taken up with what must have been a ten person Jacuzzi type tub. She’d been surprised the first time she’d seen it, but quickly gotten used to it. The shower area was simple, low stools stacked in the corner and the shower head attached to the wall low to the ground. There was a place to put your toiletries and a bar to hang your towel and not much else. It was apparent that the focus of the room was the tub.
“Woah!” Ai spun around at hearing the exclamation, “This place is nice.” Risa said admiringly as she took in the sight. The demo expert turned back to the tub and set the water at a comfortable temperature. “I’m going to take a quick shower first, then I’ll get in the tub.” the gunner said and Ai heard her shuffling around behind her.
When she turned back around, the gunner had stripped down and was sitting where she had crawled to the corner, gathering up some bottles. Ai felt a jolt run through her, but shook her head against it. Now was not the time for naughty thoughts, Risa was too weak to try anything now. Shedding her own clothes and placing them in a neat pile next to the gunner’s, the older woman helped her lover be seated before sliding up behind her. “I’ll wash your back for you.” she offered.
At the first touch of the soapy washcloth, Risa purred, shivering in pleasure. Ai couldn’t help the blush that rose across her face at her lover’s moans when she began to gently rub the cloth in circles. Taking in a shaky breath, Ai finished her task and dropped the cloth into her lover’s lap.
“Where are you going?” Risa asked huskily as the demo expert hopped into the tub.
“I’m just going to relax for a while.” Ai stuttered out, closing her eyes and leaning her head back against the side of the tub. The bath wasn’t yet filled up to her liking, so she left the water running for now, listening to the faint sounds of Risa continuing with her routine. Before she’d realized it, she’d dozed off.
“Poor, baby.” Ai jerked when hot breath brushed across her ear from behind her, “You must have been so tired.” She wasn’t sure how, but Risa had managed to maneuver herself behind the demo expert so that now, Ai was sitting in her lap. She felt arms wrap tightly around her middle, fingertips tracing circles on her highly sensitive stomach.
“I’ve just been a little stressed lately.” Ai mumbled and wet lips rained kissed down on her neck and shoulders. A shiver ran through her body and the older woman couldn’t stop the moan that sounded from her throat.
“You have great vocal chords, Ai.” Risa commented lightly, “I bet you could have been a successful singer.” A throaty chuckle made Ai’s inside feel funny, “I wonder what kind of song you’ll sing for me this time?”
“No, wait.” The demo expert said breathlessly as a hand began to slide down her tummy, “Risa, please, stop.” She was ignored and fingers playfully swirled in the thin stripe of fuzz she kept. Finally, Ai could move her body and she grabbed the wrist attached to the exploring hand, “Don’t, not yet.”
“Why not? You want this as much as I do.” Risa whispered lustily in her ear and the older woman almost gave in.
“I do want you, but I want to wait for you to get better. You’re definitely not a hundred percent, you can’t even walk without help, let alone do something that exerts this much energy. I don’t want you to pass out on me or start bleeding from the ears again.” Reluctantly, the gunner sighed, pulling her hand back and instead wrapping it around her lover’s middle.
“You’re right, I guess.” she mumbled in displeasure, snuggling against Ai’s warm back. They fell into an awkward silence.
“You’re not mad are you?” The demo expert whimpered and was hugged tighter.
“Of course not. If I was really mad, I could just take what I want.” Risa mumbled contemplatively, “Maybe you’d like that, though.” she teased, nipping at the nearest ear she could reach.
Smacking the gunner’s arm, Ai disrupted the water that lapped gently at her breasts and splashed them both. “You’re sick.” She declared to the younger’s giggling. “Wait, what time is it?!”
“I already spoke to Cap’n while you were sleeping, she’ll postpone your meetings for today, so don’t worry about that. Just stay and relax with me.” Risa soothed, licking the shell of Ai’s ear.
“Well, okay.” Leaning back comfortably against her lover, Ai placed her hands on her arms, lightly tracing her tattoo. “How do you know Saki-chan?”
“Well, I lived here for a while. Cap’n’s unofficially in charge of the manor. Even the other lieutenants respected that. She’s a good girl and not too much younger than me, so.” Shrugging as if the rest was obvious, Risa went on, “I’m glad that she’s been helping you out.”
They fell into a comfortable silence for a while, happy to be together again. Finally, after the water began to grow cold, Ai leaned forward to pull the plug. They sat, waiting for the water to drain before getting out, “I’ll call the doctor after we get dressed, we’ll see if he can’t do anything to help you.”
The gunner made a face, “Meh, I hate doctors. Pompous bastards think they know everything when they’re wrong half the time anyway.” Risa snorted when her lover laughed at her, “Make fun of me all you want, but I’ve had bad experiences with doctors.”
“I’m not making fun of you, I just think it’s cute. A lot of people are afraid to go to the doctor’s.” Ai nuzzled the pouting woman’s cheek gently, her words eliciting a frown.
“I’m not afraid! I just don’t trust them. They only want your money, so they’ll do or say anything to get you to come back. Just like a mechanic, except for people.”
Laughing again at her statement, Ai stood, the water almost gone from the tub. “You know, I’ve never thought about it like that, but a doctor is kind of like a human mechanic.”
As the older woman wrapped herself up in a big, fluffy towel and reached for a second one, Risa rolled her eyes, “That’s all you managed to get out of my rant? ‘Human mechanic’?” The towel was maneuvered around her body tightly and then the demo expert lifted her with one swift move, “Uwaa~! Ai!” she called out in surprised.
“What? It’s easier this way. Man, you’ve lost a lot of weight.” Ai carried the blushing bean over to the big bed and set her down gently on the side, legs hanging over to brush against the floor.
“Well, I’m sure I’ll put the pounds back on soon enough.” Risa murmured, watching her lover flitter about the room, gathering up clothes for both of them. She watched with particular interest when Ai dropped her towel, standing naked for a moment as she hung it up neatly, to get dressed. “You know, if you really want me to not jump your bones, your not doing a very convincing job.”
“What do you mean?” The demo expert asked innocently and Risa couldn’t help but grin affectionately at her.
“Nevermind.” The older woman headed over and began to help the gunner dress, “You know, this is going to get real old, real fast.” Risa said as she struggled to lift her body up. When they finished, Risa flopped backwards, sweaty and panting. “I think I need another shower and not in a good way.”
Crawling up next to her, Ai wiped her forehead gently, “I’ll call the doctor now.” She reached for her cell phone.
Laughing lightly, but choking a little on the lump that was suddenly in her throat, the gunner joked, “You know, this isn’t what I had in mind when I pictured you and me sweaty on the bed.” Her lover just stroked her hair in response.
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“You did not!” Jun exclaimed in surprise Chinese, laughing disbelievingly at Lin’s words.
“I did so! He was locked in that cell for two weeks before anyone realized it was him. I’m surprised he could eat with his tongue tied down like that. What’s more is they never realized it was me.” After her long winded story, Lin took a drink from her cold tea. An amicable silence descended between the two.
“I wouldn’t have thought you would be one to get physical.” Jun finally commented with a shake of her head.
“I’m not, usually, and I’m certainly not as good as you, but I’m no slouch either.” With a grin, the hacker pushed up her sleeve to show off her girl muscles. Her arm trembled with the force used to tense. Laughing lightly, the older girl reached up to squeeze Lin’s arm, immediately causing her to whimper exaggeratedly, “Ow.”
“You baby.” Jun said lightly.
“You brute.” Lin shot back teasingly. They laughed for a moment before settling back into silence. The park was quite peaceful and nearly empty of people, so after their meal, the two had decided to take a walk and enjoy the clear, still warm winter air. The hacker sighed as her silence turned contemplative, “You’re just like how I imagined, just like how Xiang described you.” she said in Chinese.
At the mention of her brother, Jun tensed, “I don’t want to talk about this.” she said defensively in the same language.
“I know, but I have to make you understand why what happened, happened. I never intended to make a friend, but I ordered a custom program from him and he showed up on my doorstep to deliver it personally. He said it needed instructions to use and since I was only a train ride away, he decided to teach me himself. He was surprised I was a girl, so he offered to mentor me.” Looking down at the ground, Lin wrung her hands together, feeling the older girl’s glare on her.
“We became fast friends and he tutored me every weekend, always bringing stories of what you and he did together. I’m an orphan and an only child, so I was a little jealous by how close you guys were, but he told me he’d be my family and so would you, once we met. I wanted to meet you guys in your hometown more than anything.”
“He used to talk about me?” Jun asked quietly and the hacker nodded swiftly.
“All the time. In fact, he talked about you so much, that I sometimes forgot that we’d never seen each other before!” Lin exclaimed, trying to gauge the older girl’s reaction, but unable to see her eyes through the bangs that now covered her face. “I found out later that coming to see me was expensive and that you guys were struggling to get by. I just wanted for you to be able to live comfortably, without any worries, so I hacked into a bank and started to transfer funds into different bank accounts all over the world. From there, the money would slowly consolidate into one account and it would happen so gradually that no one was supposed to find out.”
“A few dollars here, a few dollars there, it wouldn’t really hurt anyone. I didn’t take into mind what would happen if they did find out. The computer I used was a gift from Xiang and when the IP address was traced back, his name set off red flags. He just happened to be visiting me when they came for him. I guess they decided that he was too dangerous to live, so they… They…Opened fire when he came out of the house. I couldn’t do anything, but run.” Tears beginning to stream down her face, Lin gripped Jun’s shoulder tightly, “I couldn’t do anything! I couldn’t do anything!”
“It was your fault after all. You got greedy and sloppy and my brother paid the price!” Standing swiftly, the hitter, also with tears running from her eyes, grabbed the younger girl by the throat and hauled her to her feet, “If he had never met you, he would still be alive!”
Air being quickly cut off, Lin gasped, her hands instinctively coming up to grip Jun’s wrist, “He was my family.” she choked out lowly, “You are my family.” Her declaration made the hitter loosen her grip in surprise, “I just wanted you to have any easier life!” Lin sucked in a breath greedily, “I wanted to meet you! The sister of my brother, my family! I just wanted a family!” Her tears rolled down her cheeks and over Jun’s hand.
Feeling her heart wrench at the defeated look in the younger girl’s eyes, the hitter slowly began to tighten her grip again. This time, instead of fighting her, Lin merely relaxed, holding their teary gazes together as her hands fell to her sides. “He talked about you, too.” Jun confessed quietly and the hacker’s orbs widened, “He said he couldn’t wait for us to meet, I knew that he only wanted for his two little sisters to get along, but when I saw you at his funeral, I knew you were crying guilty tears, not mourning tears. I hated you for so long, without ever getting to know you.”
Jun used the grip on Lin’s throat to pull her forward, into an embrace, feeling her arms immediately wind around her tightly. She could only hold the younger girl as they both cried.
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“Well.” the doctor said as Risa sat upon the side of the bed, “You appear to be in great shape.” He had just finished examining her, leaving the woman feeling more than a little vulnerable, as her lover watched on from the side, “It’s normal that you will have trouble with your muscles, but the thing that surprises me the most is that you seem to be thinking and speaking clearly. She hasn’t been stammering at all or unable to put sentences together?” He turned his attention to Ai, who shook her head in the negative. “That’s pretty rare, usually, patients have a little difficulty with that and mixing words up and such. As it is, I’ll just prescribe a couple weeks of physical therapy, I’ll send over the therapist tomorrow with a wheelchair for you, so that it’s easier to get around.”
“A couple weeks? Wait, what do you mean, wheelchair?” Risa asked, drawing a raised eyebrow from the doctor.
“Wheelchair? You know, chair with wheels and all that. Usually used by people who have trouble walking.” The gunner rolled her eyes.
“You’re sarcasm is not appreciated, do you mean I have to use the wheelchair?” The doctor nodded, giving her a ‘duh’ look. “Alright fine, but is there anyway we can speed up the therapy? I got things to do.”
“The therapy is entirely up to you. If you’re doing well, you might be able to finish early, if you don’t take to it well, then it could be longer.” He shrugged nonchalantly and scribbled something down in a folder he held.
“Well, thanks then. Just send me the bill later.” The doctor gave her a strange look, “What?”
“Dear, girl, I’m not on an official clock, there will be no ‘bill.’ I’m under your direct employment.” He raised his eyebrows suggestively and Risa blinked at him.
“Eh? You mean you work for me?” The gunner glanced unsurely at Ai, who just shrugged.
“Well, I guess you could say that my private practice was funded by Takashi and all of his, now your, associates are my patients.” The doctor said this carefully, but Risa was still a little confused as to what he was implying.
“Are we your only patients?” The gunner asked to a negative response, “Are you the only doctor in your practice?”
“No, there are at least one of every kind of doctor in the city ‘associated’ with my practice.” He watched Risa nod slowly, finally seeming to understand. Finally, the doctor said his goodbyes and left.
“So we have doctors in our pockets as well?” The gunner confirmed with her lover, “I what wonder what exactly that means?”
“He probably means that we can hide information on injured members easier and also get treatment for them underneath the law’s eye.” Ai guessed, coming over to sit beside Risa and stroke her hair.
Relaxing under the touch, the younger girl sighed, “I guess that would be useful.” She practically began to purr, slumping against Ai’s side. Gradually, her breathing slowed and the demo expert realized she was asleep.
“Hmm, you’ve had a long day.” she said in an affectionate tone, maneuvering the younger woman into bed and crawling in beside her to curl around her protectively. She almost wanted to sleep as well, but she feared that if she didn’t keep watch over her lover, the younger girl would somehow fall back into her coma, so Ai stayed vigilant, staring at Risa’s face and studying her for any changes.
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“BE QUIET!!” Tanaka Reiki boomed out loudly, immediately stilling the disturbed chatter in his meeting room. He’d just brought back news of his meeting with his only daughter and all of his lieutenants were rippling with barely concealed excited energy.
“Father,” spoke Tanaka Akio, the eldest son and his right hand man, “We must act now, before they gather to strike at us. Allow me to lead the charge.”
“I think a physical strike isn’t a good way to start.” Yajima Erino countered swiftly, “I know Reina and Aika are a part of that group. Allow me to speak with them first and weaken their will.”
“I will take no part in your planning.” Reiki said firmly, “I’m giving you free reign to make your own plans, just remember that your actions have consequences. Also remember that one of those girls is your sister.” This last was directed to six of his eight lieutenants. “Dismissed, get out of my sight.” The room quickly cleared and the big man put his hand to his forehead.
A throat clearing got his attention and Reiki looked up to meet the eyes of his youngest child, the seventeen year old Fujita. “Father, do we really have to fight Reina-nee-san?” Reiki felt his heart ache a little bit at the forlorn tone, he knew that out of all of his children, Reina and Fujita were the closest to each other.
“It is inevitable, my son, it has been building for years.” Reiki also knew, that had it not been for the corrupting influence of his brothers, little Fuji would have turned to the same life as his beloved big sister.
“Then, I will do what has to be done, Father, you can count on me.” Fujita said with a slight tremble in his voice.
Smiling sadly, the head of the clan patted the boy on the head with his massive paw, a gestured saved for his two youngest, “I know I can count on you to do what you think is right, you take after your sister, after all.”
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Took me forever to write out, but here it is!
Topic: Black and Blue (Ch 34 6/4 The End!) (Read 177087 times)