[Fanfic] Red West III. - Chapter thirty two
Title: RED WEST III.
Author: Kasumi
Rating: NC-17
Genre: Western, Drama, Romance, Adventure, Historical fiction
Warning: AKame pairing - AU; vulgarisms, violence, explicit content
Beta-reading:
atago4
Summary: A direct sequel of Red West II. - Masterpost
A strange company of three young gunslingers and one Indian is on their way to Montana, while the infamous Black Riders continue their fight against Silver King of Colorado… Will they succeed or fail in the clash with the cruel environment and heartless Governor? Will their friendship, brotherhood and love persevere or be destroyed by greed, bloodshed and vengeance?
Thank you: To Kamenashi Kazuya and Akanishi Jin, because this story wouldn´t have existed without them.
A/N: One of the longest chapters... Cost me quite some effort... Hope you will like the result. ^^´
I´m grateful for any opinion or advice, you help me hone my writing skills with them.
Thank you for taking time to read this story. I´ll be happy if you reward me with a comment for it.
Previously:
Prologue // Chapter one // Chapter two // Chapter three // Chapter four // Chapter five // Chapter six // Chapter seven // Chapter eight // Chapter nine // Chapter ten // Chapter eleven // Chapter twelve // Chapter thirteen // Chapter fourteen // Chapter fifteen // Chapter sixteen // Chapter seventeen // Chapter eighteen // Chapter nineteen // Chapter twenty // Chapter twenty one // Chapter twenty two // Chapter twenty three // Chapter twenty four // Chapter twenty five // Chapter twenty six // Chapter twenty seven // Chapter twenty eight // Chapter twenty nine // Chapter thirty // Chapter thirty one //
Face to face
Jin could see only one positive detail about his current situation - his over talkative fellow prisoner was already gone.
As long as the old drunkard had some alcohol in his veins, he simply did not shut up, so during his accommodation in Billings´ prison, Jin heard out plenty of things he did not ever want to know. Fortunately, to his great relief, Sheriff Brady had released completely sober and unduly apologetic Mister Rogerson the last morning. As a result, the whole building was more or less quiet now, which was fine, but on the other hand, the missing distraction created more space for thinking.
He was sitting on the hard bunk in his cell, leaning over the wall with his eyes closed, brooding.
How in the hell could my simple plan have turned out like this?
After all those lies he spewed left and right just to convince everyone that he deserved a proper noose around his neck, one dressed up woman messed all his efforts up. Jin was not even sure, if he should be upset, amazed or surrendered. After all, what was the probability that John Walker and Augusta Tabor would be staying in this city just when he was about to die? One in a hundred? One in a thousand? Not to mention their incomprehensible willingness to get involved in his already decided destiny. Yet - exactly that happened.
Jin did not understand why they cared so much. Captain Walker knew him a bit at least, but why the Silver Queen herself bothered with him? Was it just a coincidence or maybe... a sign from above? Was some questionable deity telling him that he should not give up on his life yet or was he just making this conclusion up to handle with the sudden change?
A door slammed in another part of the building, breaking the silence. Somewhat vigorous steps and shuffling sounds followed. Jin did not let himself be disturbed, not even when the loud voices sounded from the office and reached the corridor with cells.
“Stop resisting and move it!”
That was definitely Captain Walker and he sounded upset.
“Sweet Jesus… What now, John?”
Sheriff Brady welcomed his arrival not very enthusiastically.
“This dirty, overgrown brat has just tried to rob Mrs. Tabor.”
“Really?” the sheriff wondered, apparently not very surprised. “He´s a cheeky one indeed, then. Shut him away and I´ll write the arrest down in the report… Your name?”
Nothing but silence replied the question.
“Never mind, you´ll have enough time to reconsider,” Brady assumed, rummaging through his cluttered desk for a pencil by the sounds of it.
“The keys?” Walker requested.
“Sure. Here you go.”
“Thanks. Come on... No! This way!”
The steps and shuffling moved from the office and echoed through the cold corridor. Then the keys jingled against the iron bars, which slammed shut soon after.
“Now, this should cool you down,” the captain growled at the new prisoner.
Jin could not care less about whom Walker brought in, unless it was another chatty pain in the ass. He did not open his eyes even though he felt that the captain was looking at him for a while, before he marched away from the cells and back to the sheriff´s office.
“I don´t know about you, but I think it was quite enough of issues for today… Would you like to join me for lunch, Philip?”
“Why not? But only under one condition - you´re going to explain me your involvement with Madame Tabor.”
“That was my intention as well.”
“All right. I´ll tell Hank to watch over meanwhile.”
“Don´t worry, my men remain outside as well.”
“Good. Let´s go then.”
The hard steps of two men crossed the creaky floor and the main door shut behind them, closing the prison in front of the outside world. Blessed silence spread all around Jin again.
What attitude should he take to that new interrogation Justice Conger was planning for him? Should he keep on his pretense? Should he pretend to be crazy or…?
“Hey… Jin.”
A bit hoarse, hushed voice cut off his thoughts. Did Walker arrest someone who knew him? Well, it could be just some nosey parker…
“It´s me…”
Damn… He knew that whispering voice.
“Don´t tell me you went deaf, Bro.”
That addressing made Jin fling his eyes open. Holding breath, he stiffly turned his head to look at the figure standing by the bars in the adjacent cell. The disheveled, slender youngster in ragged, childlike clothes and with face almost black thanks to the layer of ash and mud was staring at him with wide eyes, which were of the same color as his.
No. No way...
Jin felt like someone just punched him right into stomach. Leo simply could not be there.
He had been relieved that Marshals rushed with his transfer and trial so much, because it would leave smaller chance for the gang to catch up and try something foolish to help him. Not to mention that it did not give him any space to reconsider his decision. With Leo around, it was another story… Jin was subconsciously aware that he would not be able to give up on everything so easily, face to face with his younger brother.
“Shit…” the curse slipped from his lips without him even noticing.
Leo gave him a wry grin: “Surprise, Brother.”
Jin was not as surprised as terrified by the sight of his brother behind the bars. Leo let himself be arrested? That was exactly what he was trying to prevent!
He hit his clenched fists over the bunk and leant forward. “Are you fucking crazy?” he hissed hoarsely.
Leo frowned at him: “I want to ask you the same thing.”
“They´ll find out who you actually are!” Jin struggled to keep his voice low. The main office was empty now, but the sheriff´s men were surely not far. “They will hang you!”
His foolish brother scoffed: “Oh, so you can ask for a noose, but I can´t?”
Jin gritted his teeth and stood up swiftly, approaching the metal partition between them. “Damn it, Leo… Why do you think I´m here?”
There was a short pause, before Leo reacted with a grim expression: “Because you´ve lost your mind after what happened in that mine.”
Jin flinched, as if the words hit him. Speechless, he returned his brother´s fiery gaze.
“You´re so selfish, Jin,” Leo accused him bitterly. “I´m your brother. You´re my only real family left. Did you really think I would simply put up with your reckless sacrifice? Did you stop even for a second to consider how I would feel if they hanged you instead of me?”
Feeling strangely cold, Jin stepped back. Unable to bear the accusing eyes of his brother any longer, he sat down on the bunk again and covered his face with one palm.
It was only because Leo was not around that he could afford to put on a brave face and head for the gallows without regrets for leaving this gloomy world. Now, each Leo´s word stabbed his conscience. He knew that his little brother would not forgive him for doing something like this, but hearing it directly was a completely different matter.
“Jin… Listen to me.”
He could not even move how frozen he felt. If his execution worked out, it would definitely stop that inner suffering caused by the loss of his soul mate, and at the same time, he could do at least something good for his brother. That was what he had been thinking when he gave himself up to Marshal Botkin. Nevertheless, thanks to Leo´s pleading voice, this reasoning was somewhat losing its footing.
Would his voluntary death mean betraying his sibling as well? Was there anything else he could do about that awful, never ceasing pain he felt? If he stayed alive, would he be able to bear it?
“She said yes.”
Those emotional words finally made Jin look up. Leo was griping the bars dividing them tightly, his eyes focused only on his older brother.
“Me and Jane, we´re going to get married,” he continued in a voice that was shaking a little. “I intended to tell you after we would arrive to Bozeman, but then everything went to hell with that mine collapse and… We thought that we should not bother you with it until you get better. But now… Now I think that if I told you about it back then, maybe you would have a proper reason to stay with us and not to think up crazy things like this,” his hands suddenly raised in an agitated gesture to emphasize where they were.
Something hard stuffed Jin´s throat. At loss for words, he could just stare at his brother.
“I want you to be my best man, Bro,” Leo stated with a half excited, half anxious smile. “So… How can you even think of letting yourself be killed?”
*
Jin was still looking at him wordlessly, but something was swirling in his dark eyes, something what gave Leo hope that his effort was not in vain.
Is it enough to persuade him? he wondered. What else could he say to make his so badly hurt brother realize that it was worth to keep living?
Jin hunched over, sighed and shook his head.
Startled Leo pressed himself against the bars as if it could let him get closer.
“Jin, I´m so sorry about what happened to Kame, but you´re not alone,” he blurted out the only other argument, which came up to his mind. “Don´t leave me alone either. Tell them the truth. Please.”
There was a short, tense moment of silence, before his brother slowly stood up again, keeping his eyes lowered to the floor. Only now Leo noticed that Jin lost some weight in the past two weeks, the clothes just hanging on his tall figure.
“Jin… Please…” he repeated desperately.
“I´m sorry, little brother,” Jin reacted in a hoarse voice.
Leo was not sure what exactly he could mean by that apology, but he was not able to figure it out from his expression. Then, Jin gripped the bars right next to Leo´s hands, suddenly gazing directly into his eyes.
“I´m sorry for putting you through this,” his brother continued heavily. “I just couldn´t think straight. I wanted to… help you and… go after him at the same time. I didn´t want to think of anything else.”
Still anxious, Leo forced himself to remain silent and wait until Jin was done with what he needed to say.
“Thanks for reminding me that there´s still something that… I can… You know…” Jin apparently struggled to find proper words.
“I do know,” Leo assured him. “We are all here for you, Jin. Cullen and Ryo came to Billings with me. Koki and Jane are waiting in Bozeman,” he continued encouragingly. “Everyone is damn worried about you. There´s also Nick and Jack down in Colorado, you´re the only one who can properly ride Kuro and…”
“You don´t have to continue,” Jin interrupted him quietly, shaking his head again. “You´re right. I did some pretty stupid thing this time, right?”
“You did, but it´s not too late to remedy it,” Leo stated convincingly. “When they will interrogate you again, tell them the truth. They´ve got no evidence against you, they must let you go.”
Jin sighed: “Well, I guess I must do my best not to screw up even more…”
If someone asked, Leo would not be able to describe how relieved he felt that Jin did not protest anymore.
“I will keep my fingers crossed for you,” he grinned at him.
Then Jin frowned: “But… What about you? Why did you get involved with Walker?”
He shrugged: “That robbery was a lie, just a justification for Sheriff. I have a deal with the captain, he promised to arrange my release by morning.”
His older brother gaped at him: “Walker cooperates with you?”
“Well, it seems he takes it as repaying a certain debt.”
Hearing that, Jin seemed to realize the main point. “So, it´s true? That you saved him and Augusta Tabor in Wyoming?”
“Yes.”
“Strangest coincidence,” Jin mused.
“That it was… And right now, I´m eternally grateful for it,” Leo replied. “Actually, Walker said that if anyone can persuade you to stop this act and tell the truth, it would be me… I´m really glad he was right.”
Jin hummed something, eyeing him sharply. “You shouldn´t have risked like this for me anyway.”
Leo raised his eyebrows: “While you can? Come on, we´ve been through this already.”
And his older brother finally gave up: “Okay, fair enough.”
“All right, so tomorrow…”
The sound of hard boots in the office interrupted his words. One of their guards probably decided it would be a good idea to check on them.
Jin quickly returned on his bunk pretending not caring for the world around, while Leo practically copied him. After giving them one sharp look, the guard remained sitting in the office, so they could not talk much from then on. Nevertheless, Leo did not mind. Looking at his brother was enough for him to know that things would finally start to get better.
***
The Headquarters Hotel was not exactly the most comfortable choice for accommodation in Billings, since the building also served its purpose as the main train depot. However, it was definitely the least conspicuous place in case one wanted to blend with the crowd.
Each train arrival meant the flood of travelers, either tired immigrant families or sophisticated explorers or locals returning home. The vast space under the roof supported by four huge white pillars used to be crowded for most of the day.
Cameron was sitting in one of many, surprisingly comfortable chairs in the bar corner on the south side of the main hall. He chose this busy place on purpose. After useless waiting on the main square, he needed to occupy his mind to restrain himself from any rash action.
He was carefully watching the afternoon hustle around, sipping on rather cheap whiskey. Its taste was better than he had been expecting and the service was passable, so he did not mind lowering his standard for once.
An unexpected movement alerted him, even though the person behind his back was very quiet in their action. Cameron´s fingers gripped the skinny wrist of a small boy just when his hand stealthily slipped inside the pocket of his warm coat draped over the next chair. He did not even change his position much; he just turned to the side.
The little thief could not be more than nine years old. He was wearing patched up clothes and there were dark circles under his wide eyes. His expression was startled, yet not frightened. Quite probably, it was not the first time someone caught him stealing.
The boy jerked violently in an attempt to escape, but Cameron only strengthened the pressure on his wrist, making him hiss in pain.
That kid reminded him of something. Countless years in the past, in a different city, but a very similar situation reversed his life forever. How much things changed since then, how far he had come…
Cameron reached out with his other hand as well and spread it under the boy´s shaking fist.
“Let it go,” he ordered coldly.
The little thief frowned at him, returning his stare, before he reluctantly obeyed. The golden vest-pocket watch slipped down into Cameron´s palm. Only then, he released the grip on the boy´s wrist.
“Get lost, brat, before I change my mind,” he dismissed him a detached tone.
The boy almost growled at him in response. In an instant, he was gone.
Thoughtfully, Cameron hid the watch back into his pocket. He had not much time to ponder his decision not to alert the security, since finally, the figure he had been expecting appeared in the crowd.
Danny McFly stopped by his table all fired up and with his breath shortened. Apparently, he rushed to get back to him with the news as soon as possible.
“Sir…!”
“Sit down and catch your breath first, Danny,” Cameron pointed at the empty seat and raised his empty glass in the direction of the bar along with two fingers.
His assistant obeyed, took off his winter coat and settled opposite to him.
“I´m sorry it took so long, sir,” Danny blurted out an apology first. “Hardly anyone was willing to talk about it.”
“That´s all right,” Cameron waved his excuse off calmly. After the confrontation with the small thief, he felt strangely disinterested. “So, tell me… What did you find out?”
“They cancelled Akanishi´s execution altogether, sir.”
“I see… For what reason?”
“It seems that certain Augusta Tabor guaranteed for his innocence and persuaded Justice Conger about it.”
Cameron could not help but raise his eyebrows in surprise: “Silver King´s wife spoke up for him?”
“That´s what they say, sir,” Danny nodded. “I´m not sure when, but Akanishi will be interrogated again. Only then they will decide what to do with him.”
That was quite curious indeed. Cameron remained in silence until another round of whiskey appeared on the table.
“Sir?” Danny was looking questioningly at the glass in front of him.
“Yes, that one is for you,” he confirmed slowly, still lost in thoughts.
“Thanks… What shall we do now, sir?” Danny asked tensely.
Cameron paused, eyeing the rushing travelers again. It was almost starting to look like they came all the way here for nothing.
“Not much,” he stated finally. “We shall wait and see…”
***
The Magic City had a lot to do to catch up with Denver in terms of size, but the view from a certain discreet hotel in the western part of Billings was still quite impressive. Dozens of small yellow lights were lightening up the winter evening, some of them flickering in the cold wind and the neat wide streets were busy despite the late hour.
Still looking outside the window thoughtfully, Augusta clipped the expensive earrings back on her earlobes. She usually did not flaunt her wealth like that, but her attire served its purpose well that day.
A pleasantly familiar hand hugged her waist from behind and pressed her close to the strong body. With a sigh, Augusta sank into the warm embrace of her lover.
Despite that they just finished dressing up; she realized that she would have no objections against taking their clothes off again. She chuckled softly, mocking herself in her mind. Who would have thought that she would catch a second sap in her age?
“What do you find so funny?” John´s breath tickled her cheek.
She glanced at his face: “Myself,” she replied with a smile.
“I find that hard to believe…”
“Don´t ponder it much, really,” still in his arms, Augusta turned and placed both hands on his shoulders, getting more serious. “John? Why did you really do it? Why did you help Akanishi? And don´t try to brush me off with that ´right thing´ excuse.”
He stiffened a little and remained silent for a while, his fingers tracking the side of her neck. “I didn't like the idea of owing something to a bunch of criminals…” he stated then finally. “There was a debt I had to pay for what they did in Wyoming.”
“Oh, don’t tell me that you actually getting to like them?”
“Don´t ponder this too much,” he reacted with a mocking smile.
“You´re a man of principle,” she insisted. “It takes a lot to change your mind.”
“That´s exactly why I wanted to sign that debt off,” he replied right away.
Augusta eyed him closely, not saying anything more.
John chuckled a bit bitterly, shaking his head: “Well, I guess I´m in for some tough times, if I need to hide things from you…”
“That you are,” Augusta confirmed with the most beautiful smile playing on her lips.
***
Once again, Kame felt terribly confused when he opened his eyes and he did not like it one bit. He was lying on someone else's bed in a warm room, which he had never seen before.
What was that place and why he felt so tired when he just woke up?
He pushed himself up on his elbows and looked around cautiously.
“Oh, finally!” a child´s voice startled Kame a little, since in the first moment, he did not see the boy sitting in the corner of the room. The last thing he had been expecting was some kid guarding him. It took him a few moments to realize that he knew that boy.
Before Kame could ask him anything, the little guardian jumped up on his feet and ran out of the room.
“Handsome is awake!” he called loudly dashing through the corridor.
Kame sat up slowly, already remembering the boy´s name - it was Juri, Koki´s brother. What was he doing here from all people? His memory was too foggy to figure it out.
“Kame…” the addressing filled with relief made him focus on the door again. It was Jane, who entered the room with genuine joy all over her face. She sat down next to him on the bed and reached out for one of his hands to find his pulse. “How do you feel?”
Kame took his time to answer the question honestly: “Tired, a bit dizzy, but more or less all right. What happened?”
“What is the last thing you remember?” Jane asked back carefully.
He frowned, searching his memory. “Well, we were crossing that bridge near the railroad… And then… I´m not so sure…” he admitted unwillingly.
“Then you fainted from exhaustion,” Jane finished for him, in a surprisingly reproachful tone. “You had got a high fever, Kame. Why didn´t you say something? If you were not on Kuro´s back, you would have certainly fallen down to the ground. It might have ended up pretty awfully.”
Now, Kame really felt like an idiot. He had been so focused on their goal, that he kept ignoring his physical state until his body gave out.
He gulped down heavily. “I… I´m sorry. But we were so close…”
“I know. You wanted to get to Billings as quickly as possible. But you must start caring for yourself as well. If not for Liwan and his miraculous herbs…” Jane shook her head, not willing to finish the sentence. “So, we needed to find some safe, warm place for you and Koki suggested to bring you here. It was closer than continue to the city.”
“Then… This is Tanaka family household?”
“That´s right, young man,” another voice joined their conversation.
Kame remembered that small, kind woman well. She made quite an impression on them all back then, when they stopped by on the way back to Bozeman.
“Mrs. Tanaka…” he pulled the blanket off, intending to get up.
“Forget it,” both Jane and the lady of the house pushed Kame back to the pillows.
He eyed both women surprised.
“No need for such politeness,” Mrs. Tanaka emphasized. “We´re not in Washington, Kamenashi.”
“And you need to take care of your leg properly,” Jane added seriously.
Kame nodded slowly. “Thank you so much for your hospitality, Madame,” he spoke gratefully. “I´m sorry for being such a bother to you.”
However, Koki´s mother waved his apologies off sharply. “Do not even mention it. I expected much bigger troubles seeing my idiot of a son coming back home so soon this time. I hope you feel up to some food? You need to get your strength back.”
“I´d love to, thanks.”
“Good, I´ll send Juri here,” Mrs. Tanaka reacted and was on her way back to the kitchen right away.
Kame focused on Jane again: “Where are the others?” he asked anxiously.
“Koki set off to the city to check on the situation,” she informed him and then lowered her voice. “Though Liwan keeps himself off these grounds. The lady of this house does not favor Indians as I understood.”
“Yeah, I remember… Do we know anything already?” he continued asking tensely.
“Well…” Jane hesitated and fell silent.
“Jane. Tell me,” Kame insisted, gripping his hands to fists.
She sighed a little, before speaking again. “Koki´s brothers said that… There was supposed to be an execution in the city yesterday.”
“Supposed to?” he repeated hoarsely.
“It was cancelled or something. They didn´t know anything specific.”
Knowing something like this was almost worse than nothing at all.
“Then we must find out!” he stated decisively.
“Sure we will,” she assured him. “You must rest now. We will wait until Koki returns.”
Kame took a breath: “But…”
“I´m not going to argue about this with you, Kame,” Jane did not give him any space for arguments. “Focus on yourself for now, will you?”
Kame fell silent, lowering his head. Only then he noticed that his fists were shaking. Jane reached out and squeezed them in hers.
“Or at least try to… Okay?”
***
Marshal Botkin had a strong feeling that quite a hellish headache was about to seize his head at any moment. He placed both hands on the scattered pile of papers, in order to prevent himself to do something entirely different with them. For example, he would love to grab the bulky inkwell and throw it on the still chained young man standing in front of his table. One of those papers was an official document from the Supreme Court related to that man and Botkin had a hard time to believe he really received it - it was an acquittal signed by Conger himself.
Jin Akanishi was returning his inquiring gaze unwavering, not a sign of hesitation on his face covered with a dark stubble.
“So…” Botkin drawled. “You´re telling me that you were lying all this time?”
“Yes, sir,” Akanishi confirmed.
“You are not the leader of Black Riders?”
“No.”
“And you have nothing to do with the gang?”
“No.”
Marshal took a deep breath.
This was a fucking mockery to their institution. How could that bastard be so calm? How could he dare? And now he was in this unenviable position. It was Conger´s decision to let Akanishi go, but the Marshals´ office had arrested him, so he was supposed to release him as well. But even if he disagreed, he could do literally nothing about it.
He stared at the official paper again.
“Why?” he hissed then. “Why did you do it?”
“Well… I was quite drunk, you know?” there came quite a sheepish reply.
Botkin glared at that stupid bastard. “As far as I remember, that was only back in Bozeman. Why did you insist on that story of yours even after that?”
“I… was not exactly clear in my head…”
“Apparently!” he snapped, which made his secretary flinch in surprise. Well, he hardly ever let his emotions to be seen like this.
Akanishi fidgeted with his chained hands awkwardly. “Ahem… I apologize, Marshal.”
“You can stick your apologies into your empty head to have at least something in it!” he growled disgusted. “You told the judge the same fairy tale?”
The careless shrug made the chains clink sharply. “More or less…”
For Christ´s sake, was Conger drunk or what? Botkin wondered.
No, more probable was that the judge was still under influence of that cunning woman. Damn it. Better to live in a prairie with bloodthirsty Indians than with a clever wife. Screw it all. He had not been working so hard all his life and got to his position to waste his precious time with idiots.
Botkin signed the fucking incredible papers in one harsh movement.
“Walker,” he addressed the so far very quiet captain standing by the door. “Be so damn kind and take this nitwit to the outskirts of our city at least. I don´t want to see a single hair of him in Billings.”
“Gladly, Marshal,” Captain Walker nodded, already pulling out the key for Akanishi´s chains.
“Perfect. Now, get the fuck out,” Botkin ordered them sharply.
Walker finished the short work with the chains and headed for the door, though Akanishi turned to him for one last time, with a strange smile: “It was nice to meet you, Marshal.”
Botkin snapped: “Out!!”
He waited until the door finally closed behind them. Only then he wheeled out from behind his packed working table.
His secretary cleared his throat cautiously: “Sir, there´re five new reports with…”
“Not now, not tomorrow,” Botkin interrupted him.
“Sir?” the poor man blinked confused.
“I´m taking my leave,” he growled decisively. “Like right now. It has been long due anyway.”
*
That yard sucked as a spying position. Ryo did not have a good view of what was happening in front of the building from there at all. Looking around, he rushed across the street and then crouched behind the water barrel.
The main door of the Marshals´ Office suddenly opened and let two figures out. One of them was Jin and to his enormous relief, his hands were free.
Ryo grinned, his previous nervousness gone in that very moment. It seemed that everything miraculously worked out. Leo was already released as well, based on the fact that Madame Tabor did not press the charges and he was waiting along with Cullen in the hideout near Coulson. Only he was too impatient to stay still and went scouting to the city.
Both men mounted the horses and turned to leave. Captain Walker seemed to keep accompanying Jin a bit further and they were quickly approaching his hiding spot.
Hastily, Ryo went backwards, keeping an eye on them. He just wanted to turn the corner, when he butted into someone else. Startled, he almost jumped out of his skin, just as the other one…
“You?” two loud exclamations echoed all around, before they both hastily moved out of the street, almost tripping over the other´s legs.
Already covered by the crumbling picket fence, Ryo yanked the grinning man by his shoulders, surprised and excited.
“Jesus, Koki…!” he eyed his friend. “Where in the hell did you come from?”
His dear buddy just grinned. “Where are you manners, welcoming me like this?”
“Damn…” Ryo chuckled and let him go. “It´s good to see you on your feet, man.”
“Thanks…” Koki whispered, as the captain with the apparently released prisoner just passed by their hideout.
“You already all right?” Ryo asked then. “Where did you leave Jane? What are you doing here?”
Koki raised his hands: “Too many questions, buddy. Jane came here as well and I came to see if…”
“But why? We agreed that…”
The other Rider clicked his tongue: “Will you let me speak or not?”
“Sorry…”
“Fine. The doc in Bozeman had just released me, when we came across someone on the street. And you can´t guess, who it was…”
*
“Why did you risk that much, Captain?” Jin asked quietly, when they stopped their horses for a while to let a convoy of new settlers to pass the bridge.
John Walker gave him a sideway look. “I´d rather skip any conversation regarding this topic.”
He eyed the uniformed man next him curiously: “Why?”
“Since the more we talk about it, the bigger chance for me to reconsider my decision,” Walker replied sternly.
Jin gulped down and decided it was better to back off and rather spend the rest of their common way in silence.
*
It did not take long before they reached the huge yard behind the apparently abandoned church. In the shadow of the impressive, but crumbling building, two men were waiting, with their guns and horses on hand. They relaxed only once Jin with the captain got close enough for them to be sure that they were alone.
Jin encouraged the obedient army horse to move forward and then jumped down hastily; glad to see his younger brother outside the prison cells and without any layer of dirt on his face.
“Welcome back, Bro,” Leo grinned at him.
Without a word, since something hard stuck his throat, Jin reached out to squeeze his younger brother´s arm.
“It´s good to see you under the open sky,” Leo murmured in a quitter voice, obviously happy as well and repaid his grip.
“Don´t know if I should be pleased or terrified to see you again, idiot,” Cullen growled in his familiar grumpy mood, breaking their moment.
Jin could not help but gave him an amused look. He realized that he was missing the old man´s remarks. Damn… No matter the reasons which pushed him to such desperate measures, it was kind of good to be still alive.
“With this, we are settled.”
All three Riders turned to the captain, who remained sitting in the saddle.
Leo gave him an honest smile: “I agree. I will never forget what you did for us, Captain. Thanks.”
An unusual smirk appeared on Walker´s face. “Good. It might persuade you to resent the bad side of the law for good.”
The young leader of Black Riders even widened his smile. “It might.”
“Anyway, if not, don´t count on my help next time.”
“Don´t worry, we won´t,” Cullen grumbled.
Captain Walker reached for the reins of the horse, on which Jin arrived. Realizing the man was about to leave, Jin approached closer, before Walker could make both animals to move again.
“Thank you, Captain,” he spoke seriously. “Really. Thanks to you, I´m still here.”
He reached out his hand up to the man above him. After a short moment, John Walker leant down to accept it.
“Well, no matter how foolish this all was, Akanishi, I still think it would be a shame, if you were hanged for nothing,” he stated calmly.
Jin nodded gratefully and stepped back: “Send my regards to Madame Tabor as well, please.”
Only in that moment, the captain´s expression finally softened somehow. “I will.”
And with that, the man rode off. Jin kept looking after him thoughtfully, while Cullen dusted the invisible dirt off his hat and approached his young leader.
“So? Satisfied?” he muttered inquiringly. “Can we go now?”
Leo turned to him: “Well, we must wait for Ryo…”
“Don ´t worry, he´s rushing here from the other side,” Cullen pointed out. “And he´s not alone.”
*
After the merry welcome and some explanation, the five Riders were getting ready to leave in the direction of Tanaka´s farm. Yet, one important matter remained unsolved…
“Well, this sounds quite incredible,” Leo murmured, careful about keeping his voice quiet.
“Right?” Ryo joined him, apparently still excited about the news. “I even tend to start believing in God.”
“I would not lie about something like this,” Koki pointed out meaningfully.
“I know and I believe you,” Leo assured him. “Anyway, let´s go…”
“But, Chief…” Koki stopped him by grabbing his elbow. “Shouldn´t we tell Jin?”
“No,” Leo glanced at his brother´s back, as he prepared his horse for their shared ride. “I saw him in that prison, guys. He would not believe us. He must see him with his own eyes…”
***
As could be expected from the chilly temperatures and cloudy sky, the small group of Riders barely passed the outside border of Billings, when it started to snow. The thousands of thick snowflakes were falling down one after another, soon about to create a blanket, which would put the pale ground to sleep.
When they managed to reach the lands, which already belonged to Koki´s family, not only the landscape, but also their horses and the men themselves were covered by the white layer. It seemed that the winter finally came to take over Montana.
Silent Jin, seated behind his brother the whole way, gasped in surprise, when they got close enough to the long fence, which marked the space for horses.
“No way… That´s Kuro! Why didn´t you tell me you took him with you?” he turned to Koki riding behind them.
The former miner just shrugged. “That beast simply insisted on going with us.”
“That sounds like him,” Jin admitted, his gloomy expression brightening up a little. “Let me get down, Leo.”
His younger brother stopped the horse to let him slip down. Then he watched Jin as he quickly headed to the fence.
“Leo…?” Ryo spoke up quietly.
His leader seemed too thoughtful to hear him for a while, and then he just gestured for them to continue to the ranch itself without any other word.
*
With his boots creating the shallow tracks in the snow, Jin approached the wooden fence, behind which the noble black stallion was stomping around impatiently, huge clouds of condensed breath all around him. After quite a long time, Jin felt something similar to joy, seeing his dear horse there so unexpectedly.
“Hey…” he reached his open palm over the fence. “I´m happy to see you, buddy.”
Kuro, covered in snow just as him, looked in his direction and neighed. It almost sounded outraged.
Jin sighed. “I know… And I´m sorry.”
Only then, Kuro approached close enough for his master to reach him and stroke his long neck.
“I´m so sorry…” Jin repeated whispering, attaching his forehead to the stallion, closing his eyes to keep the treacherous tears behind his eyelids. “So damn sorry…”
And Kuro stood still, providing his master the best support he could, just by being there for him.
*
Hearing so many familiar voices, Kame just could not stay idle in that comfortable bed any longer.
Straining his whole body, he pushed himself up and then stood on his trembling feet. Fortunately, he had already persuaded Jane to help him dress up a few hours ago, so he just grabbed the crutch Liwan had made for him and ignoring the stabbing pain in his right leg, he limped out of the room and then into the corridor.
It seemed that everyone gathered in the spacious kitchen of the ranch. As he moved, Kame could hear more and more voices from there.
“It´s really kind of you to let us stay for a while, Mrs. Tanaka.”
“Well… If I had any idea that it would end up with the whole Black Riders´ gang in my house…”
“Mom!”
“…I´d have prepared more food.”
The relieved laughter resonated in the room.
With his throat tightened, Kame finally reached the kitchen and leant over the doorframe.
“Kame-chan!” Koki was the first to spot him. “You´re already up on your feet!” the Rider, hugging his mother around shoulders, literally beamed.
All eyes focused on him in that moment.
“Apparently,” Jane commented in a much less cheerful way. “Even though he knows he should not be.”
“Kame…” Leo turned away from their generous hostess, walked over to him and squeezed his shoulder. “Let me tell you that you´re incredible.”
“Damn right,” Ryo, sitting on a chair at the table, chimed in.
“Language, please,” Mrs. Tanaka complained, making the Rider bow his head apologetically, while her son Juri just grinned from behind his mother´s skirt.
“Yeah, I must say as well - a good trick with that mine,” the oldest man in the room, standing by the window, hummed.
“Cullen!” Jane turned to him upset. “Can't you tame yourself for once?”
The old Rider shrugged: “I don´t see a reason, why I should.”
Kame did not care about any of their remarks though. He was glad to see his friends, but the only face he was searching for was not among them. All the Riders seemed quite cheerful, so… the worst could not happen. But he had to be sure; he had to ask, even if he was afraid to.
“Where´s Jin?” he finally raised that question tensely.
Jane smiled: “Outside, with Kuro,” she informed him.
Outside… So, Jin was out there? That almost sounded too good to be true.
“But, Kame-chan…” Koki spoke suddenly. “We… we didn´t tell him about you yet.”
He looked at him confused: “Why?”
The grip on his shoulder tightened. “I thought that it would be better if he sees you,” Leo reacted slowly. “He was in a bad place, Kame. We almost lost him.”
He returned Jin´s brother serious gaze for a while, before he wordlessly turned to leave.
“Kame, you shouldn’t walk…” Jane took a breath for objections.
“Let him go, my dear,” Leo shook his head. “We should leave the two of them some space.”
*
The dim sun was setting behind the northern hills, peeking on the peaceful ranch through the widening rift in the thick clouds. The playfully dancing snowflakes looked like fireflies in that golden light, illuminating the surrounding lands and fields, resting under the pure white cover.
It was freezing, but Jin did not mind. He clung to Kuro, still feeling guilty for leaving his faithful animal friend behind, just as his brother and the rest of Riders. He had been only thinking of himself and of his pain. It was just as Leo had said - he was damn selfish.
Suddenly, Kuro snorted softly, as he used to do when someone approached too close inconspicuously. Jin straightened his head up and only then he could hear the slow steps of someone behind him.
Well, he had remained outside for quite long. Someone probably came out to check on him, to make sure he was not about to do something even more insane than he had already done. Jin slowly caressed Kuro again, to assure him he was fine with it.
“Jin…”
The sound of that emotionally cracked voice stabbed his heart. It did not belong to Leo, or to any other Rider. Jin stiffened, suddenly feeling like a lifeless rock, unable to breathe or move.
More of that slow, heavy shifting of feet in the fresh snow followed and then the hoarse voice spoke again, more urgently now.
“Jin.”
Damn it… So, he did lose his mind in the end. He was actually hearing Kazuya now, but it was surely only a hallucination of his overloaded brain. And if he turned around, there would be no one at all...
Kuro snorted again and pushed him with his big head. Still shaken up, Jin took a step backwards.
He could literally feel it now - someone was standing right behind him for real. And that presence was so pleasantly familiar…
A chill ran down Jin´s spine and a single tear copied the outline of his cold cheek.
“Am I really going crazy now?” he whispered the question, which was not aimed at anyone, yet he received a reply.
“No.”
Still bound by fear that he was just imagining things, Jin turned his head. And there he was, standing within reach of hand. He was looking at him with shiny eyes, the corners of his lips slightly curved in pain, as he was leaning heavily on some crutch. He was unnaturally pale and his facial features wrinkled more than he remembered, but it was his Kazuya.
Jin struggled to remember how to breathe. Was this real or was it a dream?
Kazuya´s expression melted into a soft, shaky smile. He made one more strenuous step forward, reached out his hand and placed it on Jin´s chest.
“I´m real,” he spoke in a shivering voice.
Jin stared at that beloved face in silent shock and with incredulous joy. Hesitantly, he made his hand move as well and let his fingers touch the warm skin of his lover, about whom he believed he lost him forever. Yet, Kazuya in front of him was definitely alive.
A short, creaky laugh escaped his throat, accompanied by more tears uncontrollably falling down from his eyes.
“Kazu…” Jin could not recognize own voice. “You… How…”
Kame covered Jin´s hand with his. “Hi…” he breathed out shakily.
Hell, who cared if this was a dream?
The wooden crutch landed softly in the snow, as Jin eagerly pulled his lover into his arms and squeezed him tight, hiding his face on the slender shoulder. On the verge of self-control, he managed to hold the heavy sobs inside his chest, but he could do it only until his embrace was returned with the same desperation.
“It´s okay,” Kazuya whispered in his ear. “I´m here, my love…”
After those words, Jin could do nothing but sob like a little child.
- To be continued -
Author: Kasumi
Rating: NC-17
Genre: Western, Drama, Romance, Adventure, Historical fiction
Warning: AKame pairing - AU; vulgarisms, violence, explicit content
Beta-reading:
atago4
Summary: A direct sequel of Red West II. - Masterpost
A strange company of three young gunslingers and one Indian is on their way to Montana, while the infamous Black Riders continue their fight against Silver King of Colorado… Will they succeed or fail in the clash with the cruel environment and heartless Governor? Will their friendship, brotherhood and love persevere or be destroyed by greed, bloodshed and vengeance?
Thank you: To Kamenashi Kazuya and Akanishi Jin, because this story wouldn´t have existed without them.
A/N: One of the longest chapters... Cost me quite some effort... Hope you will like the result. ^^´
I´m grateful for any opinion or advice, you help me hone my writing skills with them.
Thank you for taking time to read this story. I´ll be happy if you reward me with a comment for it.
Previously:
Prologue // Chapter one // Chapter two // Chapter three // Chapter four // Chapter five // Chapter six // Chapter seven // Chapter eight // Chapter nine // Chapter ten // Chapter eleven // Chapter twelve // Chapter thirteen // Chapter fourteen // Chapter fifteen // Chapter sixteen // Chapter seventeen // Chapter eighteen // Chapter nineteen // Chapter twenty // Chapter twenty one // Chapter twenty two // Chapter twenty three // Chapter twenty four // Chapter twenty five // Chapter twenty six // Chapter twenty seven // Chapter twenty eight // Chapter twenty nine // Chapter thirty // Chapter thirty one //
Face to face
Jin could see only one positive detail about his current situation - his over talkative fellow prisoner was already gone.
As long as the old drunkard had some alcohol in his veins, he simply did not shut up, so during his accommodation in Billings´ prison, Jin heard out plenty of things he did not ever want to know. Fortunately, to his great relief, Sheriff Brady had released completely sober and unduly apologetic Mister Rogerson the last morning. As a result, the whole building was more or less quiet now, which was fine, but on the other hand, the missing distraction created more space for thinking.
He was sitting on the hard bunk in his cell, leaning over the wall with his eyes closed, brooding.
How in the hell could my simple plan have turned out like this?
After all those lies he spewed left and right just to convince everyone that he deserved a proper noose around his neck, one dressed up woman messed all his efforts up. Jin was not even sure, if he should be upset, amazed or surrendered. After all, what was the probability that John Walker and Augusta Tabor would be staying in this city just when he was about to die? One in a hundred? One in a thousand? Not to mention their incomprehensible willingness to get involved in his already decided destiny. Yet - exactly that happened.
Jin did not understand why they cared so much. Captain Walker knew him a bit at least, but why the Silver Queen herself bothered with him? Was it just a coincidence or maybe... a sign from above? Was some questionable deity telling him that he should not give up on his life yet or was he just making this conclusion up to handle with the sudden change?
A door slammed in another part of the building, breaking the silence. Somewhat vigorous steps and shuffling sounds followed. Jin did not let himself be disturbed, not even when the loud voices sounded from the office and reached the corridor with cells.
“Stop resisting and move it!”
That was definitely Captain Walker and he sounded upset.
“Sweet Jesus… What now, John?”
Sheriff Brady welcomed his arrival not very enthusiastically.
“This dirty, overgrown brat has just tried to rob Mrs. Tabor.”
“Really?” the sheriff wondered, apparently not very surprised. “He´s a cheeky one indeed, then. Shut him away and I´ll write the arrest down in the report… Your name?”
Nothing but silence replied the question.
“Never mind, you´ll have enough time to reconsider,” Brady assumed, rummaging through his cluttered desk for a pencil by the sounds of it.
“The keys?” Walker requested.
“Sure. Here you go.”
“Thanks. Come on... No! This way!”
The steps and shuffling moved from the office and echoed through the cold corridor. Then the keys jingled against the iron bars, which slammed shut soon after.
“Now, this should cool you down,” the captain growled at the new prisoner.
Jin could not care less about whom Walker brought in, unless it was another chatty pain in the ass. He did not open his eyes even though he felt that the captain was looking at him for a while, before he marched away from the cells and back to the sheriff´s office.
“I don´t know about you, but I think it was quite enough of issues for today… Would you like to join me for lunch, Philip?”
“Why not? But only under one condition - you´re going to explain me your involvement with Madame Tabor.”
“That was my intention as well.”
“All right. I´ll tell Hank to watch over meanwhile.”
“Don´t worry, my men remain outside as well.”
“Good. Let´s go then.”
The hard steps of two men crossed the creaky floor and the main door shut behind them, closing the prison in front of the outside world. Blessed silence spread all around Jin again.
What attitude should he take to that new interrogation Justice Conger was planning for him? Should he keep on his pretense? Should he pretend to be crazy or…?
“Hey… Jin.”
A bit hoarse, hushed voice cut off his thoughts. Did Walker arrest someone who knew him? Well, it could be just some nosey parker…
“It´s me…”
Damn… He knew that whispering voice.
“Don´t tell me you went deaf, Bro.”
That addressing made Jin fling his eyes open. Holding breath, he stiffly turned his head to look at the figure standing by the bars in the adjacent cell. The disheveled, slender youngster in ragged, childlike clothes and with face almost black thanks to the layer of ash and mud was staring at him with wide eyes, which were of the same color as his.
No. No way...
Jin felt like someone just punched him right into stomach. Leo simply could not be there.
He had been relieved that Marshals rushed with his transfer and trial so much, because it would leave smaller chance for the gang to catch up and try something foolish to help him. Not to mention that it did not give him any space to reconsider his decision. With Leo around, it was another story… Jin was subconsciously aware that he would not be able to give up on everything so easily, face to face with his younger brother.
“Shit…” the curse slipped from his lips without him even noticing.
Leo gave him a wry grin: “Surprise, Brother.”
Jin was not as surprised as terrified by the sight of his brother behind the bars. Leo let himself be arrested? That was exactly what he was trying to prevent!
He hit his clenched fists over the bunk and leant forward. “Are you fucking crazy?” he hissed hoarsely.
Leo frowned at him: “I want to ask you the same thing.”
“They´ll find out who you actually are!” Jin struggled to keep his voice low. The main office was empty now, but the sheriff´s men were surely not far. “They will hang you!”
His foolish brother scoffed: “Oh, so you can ask for a noose, but I can´t?”
Jin gritted his teeth and stood up swiftly, approaching the metal partition between them. “Damn it, Leo… Why do you think I´m here?”
There was a short pause, before Leo reacted with a grim expression: “Because you´ve lost your mind after what happened in that mine.”
Jin flinched, as if the words hit him. Speechless, he returned his brother´s fiery gaze.
“You´re so selfish, Jin,” Leo accused him bitterly. “I´m your brother. You´re my only real family left. Did you really think I would simply put up with your reckless sacrifice? Did you stop even for a second to consider how I would feel if they hanged you instead of me?”
Feeling strangely cold, Jin stepped back. Unable to bear the accusing eyes of his brother any longer, he sat down on the bunk again and covered his face with one palm.
It was only because Leo was not around that he could afford to put on a brave face and head for the gallows without regrets for leaving this gloomy world. Now, each Leo´s word stabbed his conscience. He knew that his little brother would not forgive him for doing something like this, but hearing it directly was a completely different matter.
“Jin… Listen to me.”
He could not even move how frozen he felt. If his execution worked out, it would definitely stop that inner suffering caused by the loss of his soul mate, and at the same time, he could do at least something good for his brother. That was what he had been thinking when he gave himself up to Marshal Botkin. Nevertheless, thanks to Leo´s pleading voice, this reasoning was somewhat losing its footing.
Would his voluntary death mean betraying his sibling as well? Was there anything else he could do about that awful, never ceasing pain he felt? If he stayed alive, would he be able to bear it?
“She said yes.”
Those emotional words finally made Jin look up. Leo was griping the bars dividing them tightly, his eyes focused only on his older brother.
“Me and Jane, we´re going to get married,” he continued in a voice that was shaking a little. “I intended to tell you after we would arrive to Bozeman, but then everything went to hell with that mine collapse and… We thought that we should not bother you with it until you get better. But now… Now I think that if I told you about it back then, maybe you would have a proper reason to stay with us and not to think up crazy things like this,” his hands suddenly raised in an agitated gesture to emphasize where they were.
Something hard stuffed Jin´s throat. At loss for words, he could just stare at his brother.
“I want you to be my best man, Bro,” Leo stated with a half excited, half anxious smile. “So… How can you even think of letting yourself be killed?”
*
Jin was still looking at him wordlessly, but something was swirling in his dark eyes, something what gave Leo hope that his effort was not in vain.
Is it enough to persuade him? he wondered. What else could he say to make his so badly hurt brother realize that it was worth to keep living?
Jin hunched over, sighed and shook his head.
Startled Leo pressed himself against the bars as if it could let him get closer.
“Jin, I´m so sorry about what happened to Kame, but you´re not alone,” he blurted out the only other argument, which came up to his mind. “Don´t leave me alone either. Tell them the truth. Please.”
There was a short, tense moment of silence, before his brother slowly stood up again, keeping his eyes lowered to the floor. Only now Leo noticed that Jin lost some weight in the past two weeks, the clothes just hanging on his tall figure.
“Jin… Please…” he repeated desperately.
“I´m sorry, little brother,” Jin reacted in a hoarse voice.
Leo was not sure what exactly he could mean by that apology, but he was not able to figure it out from his expression. Then, Jin gripped the bars right next to Leo´s hands, suddenly gazing directly into his eyes.
“I´m sorry for putting you through this,” his brother continued heavily. “I just couldn´t think straight. I wanted to… help you and… go after him at the same time. I didn´t want to think of anything else.”
Still anxious, Leo forced himself to remain silent and wait until Jin was done with what he needed to say.
“Thanks for reminding me that there´s still something that… I can… You know…” Jin apparently struggled to find proper words.
“I do know,” Leo assured him. “We are all here for you, Jin. Cullen and Ryo came to Billings with me. Koki and Jane are waiting in Bozeman,” he continued encouragingly. “Everyone is damn worried about you. There´s also Nick and Jack down in Colorado, you´re the only one who can properly ride Kuro and…”
“You don´t have to continue,” Jin interrupted him quietly, shaking his head again. “You´re right. I did some pretty stupid thing this time, right?”
“You did, but it´s not too late to remedy it,” Leo stated convincingly. “When they will interrogate you again, tell them the truth. They´ve got no evidence against you, they must let you go.”
Jin sighed: “Well, I guess I must do my best not to screw up even more…”
If someone asked, Leo would not be able to describe how relieved he felt that Jin did not protest anymore.
“I will keep my fingers crossed for you,” he grinned at him.
Then Jin frowned: “But… What about you? Why did you get involved with Walker?”
He shrugged: “That robbery was a lie, just a justification for Sheriff. I have a deal with the captain, he promised to arrange my release by morning.”
His older brother gaped at him: “Walker cooperates with you?”
“Well, it seems he takes it as repaying a certain debt.”
Hearing that, Jin seemed to realize the main point. “So, it´s true? That you saved him and Augusta Tabor in Wyoming?”
“Yes.”
“Strangest coincidence,” Jin mused.
“That it was… And right now, I´m eternally grateful for it,” Leo replied. “Actually, Walker said that if anyone can persuade you to stop this act and tell the truth, it would be me… I´m really glad he was right.”
Jin hummed something, eyeing him sharply. “You shouldn´t have risked like this for me anyway.”
Leo raised his eyebrows: “While you can? Come on, we´ve been through this already.”
And his older brother finally gave up: “Okay, fair enough.”
“All right, so tomorrow…”
The sound of hard boots in the office interrupted his words. One of their guards probably decided it would be a good idea to check on them.
Jin quickly returned on his bunk pretending not caring for the world around, while Leo practically copied him. After giving them one sharp look, the guard remained sitting in the office, so they could not talk much from then on. Nevertheless, Leo did not mind. Looking at his brother was enough for him to know that things would finally start to get better.
***
The Headquarters Hotel was not exactly the most comfortable choice for accommodation in Billings, since the building also served its purpose as the main train depot. However, it was definitely the least conspicuous place in case one wanted to blend with the crowd.
Each train arrival meant the flood of travelers, either tired immigrant families or sophisticated explorers or locals returning home. The vast space under the roof supported by four huge white pillars used to be crowded for most of the day.
Cameron was sitting in one of many, surprisingly comfortable chairs in the bar corner on the south side of the main hall. He chose this busy place on purpose. After useless waiting on the main square, he needed to occupy his mind to restrain himself from any rash action.
He was carefully watching the afternoon hustle around, sipping on rather cheap whiskey. Its taste was better than he had been expecting and the service was passable, so he did not mind lowering his standard for once.
An unexpected movement alerted him, even though the person behind his back was very quiet in their action. Cameron´s fingers gripped the skinny wrist of a small boy just when his hand stealthily slipped inside the pocket of his warm coat draped over the next chair. He did not even change his position much; he just turned to the side.
The little thief could not be more than nine years old. He was wearing patched up clothes and there were dark circles under his wide eyes. His expression was startled, yet not frightened. Quite probably, it was not the first time someone caught him stealing.
The boy jerked violently in an attempt to escape, but Cameron only strengthened the pressure on his wrist, making him hiss in pain.
That kid reminded him of something. Countless years in the past, in a different city, but a very similar situation reversed his life forever. How much things changed since then, how far he had come…
Cameron reached out with his other hand as well and spread it under the boy´s shaking fist.
“Let it go,” he ordered coldly.
The little thief frowned at him, returning his stare, before he reluctantly obeyed. The golden vest-pocket watch slipped down into Cameron´s palm. Only then, he released the grip on the boy´s wrist.
“Get lost, brat, before I change my mind,” he dismissed him a detached tone.
The boy almost growled at him in response. In an instant, he was gone.
Thoughtfully, Cameron hid the watch back into his pocket. He had not much time to ponder his decision not to alert the security, since finally, the figure he had been expecting appeared in the crowd.
Danny McFly stopped by his table all fired up and with his breath shortened. Apparently, he rushed to get back to him with the news as soon as possible.
“Sir…!”
“Sit down and catch your breath first, Danny,” Cameron pointed at the empty seat and raised his empty glass in the direction of the bar along with two fingers.
His assistant obeyed, took off his winter coat and settled opposite to him.
“I´m sorry it took so long, sir,” Danny blurted out an apology first. “Hardly anyone was willing to talk about it.”
“That´s all right,” Cameron waved his excuse off calmly. After the confrontation with the small thief, he felt strangely disinterested. “So, tell me… What did you find out?”
“They cancelled Akanishi´s execution altogether, sir.”
“I see… For what reason?”
“It seems that certain Augusta Tabor guaranteed for his innocence and persuaded Justice Conger about it.”
Cameron could not help but raise his eyebrows in surprise: “Silver King´s wife spoke up for him?”
“That´s what they say, sir,” Danny nodded. “I´m not sure when, but Akanishi will be interrogated again. Only then they will decide what to do with him.”
That was quite curious indeed. Cameron remained in silence until another round of whiskey appeared on the table.
“Sir?” Danny was looking questioningly at the glass in front of him.
“Yes, that one is for you,” he confirmed slowly, still lost in thoughts.
“Thanks… What shall we do now, sir?” Danny asked tensely.
Cameron paused, eyeing the rushing travelers again. It was almost starting to look like they came all the way here for nothing.
“Not much,” he stated finally. “We shall wait and see…”
***
The Magic City had a lot to do to catch up with Denver in terms of size, but the view from a certain discreet hotel in the western part of Billings was still quite impressive. Dozens of small yellow lights were lightening up the winter evening, some of them flickering in the cold wind and the neat wide streets were busy despite the late hour.
Still looking outside the window thoughtfully, Augusta clipped the expensive earrings back on her earlobes. She usually did not flaunt her wealth like that, but her attire served its purpose well that day.
A pleasantly familiar hand hugged her waist from behind and pressed her close to the strong body. With a sigh, Augusta sank into the warm embrace of her lover.
Despite that they just finished dressing up; she realized that she would have no objections against taking their clothes off again. She chuckled softly, mocking herself in her mind. Who would have thought that she would catch a second sap in her age?
“What do you find so funny?” John´s breath tickled her cheek.
She glanced at his face: “Myself,” she replied with a smile.
“I find that hard to believe…”
“Don´t ponder it much, really,” still in his arms, Augusta turned and placed both hands on his shoulders, getting more serious. “John? Why did you really do it? Why did you help Akanishi? And don´t try to brush me off with that ´right thing´ excuse.”
He stiffened a little and remained silent for a while, his fingers tracking the side of her neck. “I didn't like the idea of owing something to a bunch of criminals…” he stated then finally. “There was a debt I had to pay for what they did in Wyoming.”
“Oh, don’t tell me that you actually getting to like them?”
“Don´t ponder this too much,” he reacted with a mocking smile.
“You´re a man of principle,” she insisted. “It takes a lot to change your mind.”
“That´s exactly why I wanted to sign that debt off,” he replied right away.
Augusta eyed him closely, not saying anything more.
John chuckled a bit bitterly, shaking his head: “Well, I guess I´m in for some tough times, if I need to hide things from you…”
“That you are,” Augusta confirmed with the most beautiful smile playing on her lips.
***
Once again, Kame felt terribly confused when he opened his eyes and he did not like it one bit. He was lying on someone else's bed in a warm room, which he had never seen before.
What was that place and why he felt so tired when he just woke up?
He pushed himself up on his elbows and looked around cautiously.
“Oh, finally!” a child´s voice startled Kame a little, since in the first moment, he did not see the boy sitting in the corner of the room. The last thing he had been expecting was some kid guarding him. It took him a few moments to realize that he knew that boy.
Before Kame could ask him anything, the little guardian jumped up on his feet and ran out of the room.
“Handsome is awake!” he called loudly dashing through the corridor.
Kame sat up slowly, already remembering the boy´s name - it was Juri, Koki´s brother. What was he doing here from all people? His memory was too foggy to figure it out.
“Kame…” the addressing filled with relief made him focus on the door again. It was Jane, who entered the room with genuine joy all over her face. She sat down next to him on the bed and reached out for one of his hands to find his pulse. “How do you feel?”
Kame took his time to answer the question honestly: “Tired, a bit dizzy, but more or less all right. What happened?”
“What is the last thing you remember?” Jane asked back carefully.
He frowned, searching his memory. “Well, we were crossing that bridge near the railroad… And then… I´m not so sure…” he admitted unwillingly.
“Then you fainted from exhaustion,” Jane finished for him, in a surprisingly reproachful tone. “You had got a high fever, Kame. Why didn´t you say something? If you were not on Kuro´s back, you would have certainly fallen down to the ground. It might have ended up pretty awfully.”
Now, Kame really felt like an idiot. He had been so focused on their goal, that he kept ignoring his physical state until his body gave out.
He gulped down heavily. “I… I´m sorry. But we were so close…”
“I know. You wanted to get to Billings as quickly as possible. But you must start caring for yourself as well. If not for Liwan and his miraculous herbs…” Jane shook her head, not willing to finish the sentence. “So, we needed to find some safe, warm place for you and Koki suggested to bring you here. It was closer than continue to the city.”
“Then… This is Tanaka family household?”
“That´s right, young man,” another voice joined their conversation.
Kame remembered that small, kind woman well. She made quite an impression on them all back then, when they stopped by on the way back to Bozeman.
“Mrs. Tanaka…” he pulled the blanket off, intending to get up.
“Forget it,” both Jane and the lady of the house pushed Kame back to the pillows.
He eyed both women surprised.
“No need for such politeness,” Mrs. Tanaka emphasized. “We´re not in Washington, Kamenashi.”
“And you need to take care of your leg properly,” Jane added seriously.
Kame nodded slowly. “Thank you so much for your hospitality, Madame,” he spoke gratefully. “I´m sorry for being such a bother to you.”
However, Koki´s mother waved his apologies off sharply. “Do not even mention it. I expected much bigger troubles seeing my idiot of a son coming back home so soon this time. I hope you feel up to some food? You need to get your strength back.”
“I´d love to, thanks.”
“Good, I´ll send Juri here,” Mrs. Tanaka reacted and was on her way back to the kitchen right away.
Kame focused on Jane again: “Where are the others?” he asked anxiously.
“Koki set off to the city to check on the situation,” she informed him and then lowered her voice. “Though Liwan keeps himself off these grounds. The lady of this house does not favor Indians as I understood.”
“Yeah, I remember… Do we know anything already?” he continued asking tensely.
“Well…” Jane hesitated and fell silent.
“Jane. Tell me,” Kame insisted, gripping his hands to fists.
She sighed a little, before speaking again. “Koki´s brothers said that… There was supposed to be an execution in the city yesterday.”
“Supposed to?” he repeated hoarsely.
“It was cancelled or something. They didn´t know anything specific.”
Knowing something like this was almost worse than nothing at all.
“Then we must find out!” he stated decisively.
“Sure we will,” she assured him. “You must rest now. We will wait until Koki returns.”
Kame took a breath: “But…”
“I´m not going to argue about this with you, Kame,” Jane did not give him any space for arguments. “Focus on yourself for now, will you?”
Kame fell silent, lowering his head. Only then he noticed that his fists were shaking. Jane reached out and squeezed them in hers.
“Or at least try to… Okay?”
***
Marshal Botkin had a strong feeling that quite a hellish headache was about to seize his head at any moment. He placed both hands on the scattered pile of papers, in order to prevent himself to do something entirely different with them. For example, he would love to grab the bulky inkwell and throw it on the still chained young man standing in front of his table. One of those papers was an official document from the Supreme Court related to that man and Botkin had a hard time to believe he really received it - it was an acquittal signed by Conger himself.
Jin Akanishi was returning his inquiring gaze unwavering, not a sign of hesitation on his face covered with a dark stubble.
“So…” Botkin drawled. “You´re telling me that you were lying all this time?”
“Yes, sir,” Akanishi confirmed.
“You are not the leader of Black Riders?”
“No.”
“And you have nothing to do with the gang?”
“No.”
Marshal took a deep breath.
This was a fucking mockery to their institution. How could that bastard be so calm? How could he dare? And now he was in this unenviable position. It was Conger´s decision to let Akanishi go, but the Marshals´ office had arrested him, so he was supposed to release him as well. But even if he disagreed, he could do literally nothing about it.
He stared at the official paper again.
“Why?” he hissed then. “Why did you do it?”
“Well… I was quite drunk, you know?” there came quite a sheepish reply.
Botkin glared at that stupid bastard. “As far as I remember, that was only back in Bozeman. Why did you insist on that story of yours even after that?”
“I… was not exactly clear in my head…”
“Apparently!” he snapped, which made his secretary flinch in surprise. Well, he hardly ever let his emotions to be seen like this.
Akanishi fidgeted with his chained hands awkwardly. “Ahem… I apologize, Marshal.”
“You can stick your apologies into your empty head to have at least something in it!” he growled disgusted. “You told the judge the same fairy tale?”
The careless shrug made the chains clink sharply. “More or less…”
For Christ´s sake, was Conger drunk or what? Botkin wondered.
No, more probable was that the judge was still under influence of that cunning woman. Damn it. Better to live in a prairie with bloodthirsty Indians than with a clever wife. Screw it all. He had not been working so hard all his life and got to his position to waste his precious time with idiots.
Botkin signed the fucking incredible papers in one harsh movement.
“Walker,” he addressed the so far very quiet captain standing by the door. “Be so damn kind and take this nitwit to the outskirts of our city at least. I don´t want to see a single hair of him in Billings.”
“Gladly, Marshal,” Captain Walker nodded, already pulling out the key for Akanishi´s chains.
“Perfect. Now, get the fuck out,” Botkin ordered them sharply.
Walker finished the short work with the chains and headed for the door, though Akanishi turned to him for one last time, with a strange smile: “It was nice to meet you, Marshal.”
Botkin snapped: “Out!!”
He waited until the door finally closed behind them. Only then he wheeled out from behind his packed working table.
His secretary cleared his throat cautiously: “Sir, there´re five new reports with…”
“Not now, not tomorrow,” Botkin interrupted him.
“Sir?” the poor man blinked confused.
“I´m taking my leave,” he growled decisively. “Like right now. It has been long due anyway.”
*
That yard sucked as a spying position. Ryo did not have a good view of what was happening in front of the building from there at all. Looking around, he rushed across the street and then crouched behind the water barrel.
The main door of the Marshals´ Office suddenly opened and let two figures out. One of them was Jin and to his enormous relief, his hands were free.
Ryo grinned, his previous nervousness gone in that very moment. It seemed that everything miraculously worked out. Leo was already released as well, based on the fact that Madame Tabor did not press the charges and he was waiting along with Cullen in the hideout near Coulson. Only he was too impatient to stay still and went scouting to the city.
Both men mounted the horses and turned to leave. Captain Walker seemed to keep accompanying Jin a bit further and they were quickly approaching his hiding spot.
Hastily, Ryo went backwards, keeping an eye on them. He just wanted to turn the corner, when he butted into someone else. Startled, he almost jumped out of his skin, just as the other one…
“You?” two loud exclamations echoed all around, before they both hastily moved out of the street, almost tripping over the other´s legs.
Already covered by the crumbling picket fence, Ryo yanked the grinning man by his shoulders, surprised and excited.
“Jesus, Koki…!” he eyed his friend. “Where in the hell did you come from?”
His dear buddy just grinned. “Where are you manners, welcoming me like this?”
“Damn…” Ryo chuckled and let him go. “It´s good to see you on your feet, man.”
“Thanks…” Koki whispered, as the captain with the apparently released prisoner just passed by their hideout.
“You already all right?” Ryo asked then. “Where did you leave Jane? What are you doing here?”
Koki raised his hands: “Too many questions, buddy. Jane came here as well and I came to see if…”
“But why? We agreed that…”
The other Rider clicked his tongue: “Will you let me speak or not?”
“Sorry…”
“Fine. The doc in Bozeman had just released me, when we came across someone on the street. And you can´t guess, who it was…”
*
“Why did you risk that much, Captain?” Jin asked quietly, when they stopped their horses for a while to let a convoy of new settlers to pass the bridge.
John Walker gave him a sideway look. “I´d rather skip any conversation regarding this topic.”
He eyed the uniformed man next him curiously: “Why?”
“Since the more we talk about it, the bigger chance for me to reconsider my decision,” Walker replied sternly.
Jin gulped down and decided it was better to back off and rather spend the rest of their common way in silence.
*
It did not take long before they reached the huge yard behind the apparently abandoned church. In the shadow of the impressive, but crumbling building, two men were waiting, with their guns and horses on hand. They relaxed only once Jin with the captain got close enough for them to be sure that they were alone.
Jin encouraged the obedient army horse to move forward and then jumped down hastily; glad to see his younger brother outside the prison cells and without any layer of dirt on his face.
“Welcome back, Bro,” Leo grinned at him.
Without a word, since something hard stuck his throat, Jin reached out to squeeze his younger brother´s arm.
“It´s good to see you under the open sky,” Leo murmured in a quitter voice, obviously happy as well and repaid his grip.
“Don´t know if I should be pleased or terrified to see you again, idiot,” Cullen growled in his familiar grumpy mood, breaking their moment.
Jin could not help but gave him an amused look. He realized that he was missing the old man´s remarks. Damn… No matter the reasons which pushed him to such desperate measures, it was kind of good to be still alive.
“With this, we are settled.”
All three Riders turned to the captain, who remained sitting in the saddle.
Leo gave him an honest smile: “I agree. I will never forget what you did for us, Captain. Thanks.”
An unusual smirk appeared on Walker´s face. “Good. It might persuade you to resent the bad side of the law for good.”
The young leader of Black Riders even widened his smile. “It might.”
“Anyway, if not, don´t count on my help next time.”
“Don´t worry, we won´t,” Cullen grumbled.
Captain Walker reached for the reins of the horse, on which Jin arrived. Realizing the man was about to leave, Jin approached closer, before Walker could make both animals to move again.
“Thank you, Captain,” he spoke seriously. “Really. Thanks to you, I´m still here.”
He reached out his hand up to the man above him. After a short moment, John Walker leant down to accept it.
“Well, no matter how foolish this all was, Akanishi, I still think it would be a shame, if you were hanged for nothing,” he stated calmly.
Jin nodded gratefully and stepped back: “Send my regards to Madame Tabor as well, please.”
Only in that moment, the captain´s expression finally softened somehow. “I will.”
And with that, the man rode off. Jin kept looking after him thoughtfully, while Cullen dusted the invisible dirt off his hat and approached his young leader.
“So? Satisfied?” he muttered inquiringly. “Can we go now?”
Leo turned to him: “Well, we must wait for Ryo…”
“Don ´t worry, he´s rushing here from the other side,” Cullen pointed out. “And he´s not alone.”
*
After the merry welcome and some explanation, the five Riders were getting ready to leave in the direction of Tanaka´s farm. Yet, one important matter remained unsolved…
“Well, this sounds quite incredible,” Leo murmured, careful about keeping his voice quiet.
“Right?” Ryo joined him, apparently still excited about the news. “I even tend to start believing in God.”
“I would not lie about something like this,” Koki pointed out meaningfully.
“I know and I believe you,” Leo assured him. “Anyway, let´s go…”
“But, Chief…” Koki stopped him by grabbing his elbow. “Shouldn´t we tell Jin?”
“No,” Leo glanced at his brother´s back, as he prepared his horse for their shared ride. “I saw him in that prison, guys. He would not believe us. He must see him with his own eyes…”
***
As could be expected from the chilly temperatures and cloudy sky, the small group of Riders barely passed the outside border of Billings, when it started to snow. The thousands of thick snowflakes were falling down one after another, soon about to create a blanket, which would put the pale ground to sleep.
When they managed to reach the lands, which already belonged to Koki´s family, not only the landscape, but also their horses and the men themselves were covered by the white layer. It seemed that the winter finally came to take over Montana.
Silent Jin, seated behind his brother the whole way, gasped in surprise, when they got close enough to the long fence, which marked the space for horses.
“No way… That´s Kuro! Why didn´t you tell me you took him with you?” he turned to Koki riding behind them.
The former miner just shrugged. “That beast simply insisted on going with us.”
“That sounds like him,” Jin admitted, his gloomy expression brightening up a little. “Let me get down, Leo.”
His younger brother stopped the horse to let him slip down. Then he watched Jin as he quickly headed to the fence.
“Leo…?” Ryo spoke up quietly.
His leader seemed too thoughtful to hear him for a while, and then he just gestured for them to continue to the ranch itself without any other word.
*
With his boots creating the shallow tracks in the snow, Jin approached the wooden fence, behind which the noble black stallion was stomping around impatiently, huge clouds of condensed breath all around him. After quite a long time, Jin felt something similar to joy, seeing his dear horse there so unexpectedly.
“Hey…” he reached his open palm over the fence. “I´m happy to see you, buddy.”
Kuro, covered in snow just as him, looked in his direction and neighed. It almost sounded outraged.
Jin sighed. “I know… And I´m sorry.”
Only then, Kuro approached close enough for his master to reach him and stroke his long neck.
“I´m so sorry…” Jin repeated whispering, attaching his forehead to the stallion, closing his eyes to keep the treacherous tears behind his eyelids. “So damn sorry…”
And Kuro stood still, providing his master the best support he could, just by being there for him.
*
Hearing so many familiar voices, Kame just could not stay idle in that comfortable bed any longer.
Straining his whole body, he pushed himself up and then stood on his trembling feet. Fortunately, he had already persuaded Jane to help him dress up a few hours ago, so he just grabbed the crutch Liwan had made for him and ignoring the stabbing pain in his right leg, he limped out of the room and then into the corridor.
It seemed that everyone gathered in the spacious kitchen of the ranch. As he moved, Kame could hear more and more voices from there.
“It´s really kind of you to let us stay for a while, Mrs. Tanaka.”
“Well… If I had any idea that it would end up with the whole Black Riders´ gang in my house…”
“Mom!”
“…I´d have prepared more food.”
The relieved laughter resonated in the room.
With his throat tightened, Kame finally reached the kitchen and leant over the doorframe.
“Kame-chan!” Koki was the first to spot him. “You´re already up on your feet!” the Rider, hugging his mother around shoulders, literally beamed.
All eyes focused on him in that moment.
“Apparently,” Jane commented in a much less cheerful way. “Even though he knows he should not be.”
“Kame…” Leo turned away from their generous hostess, walked over to him and squeezed his shoulder. “Let me tell you that you´re incredible.”
“Damn right,” Ryo, sitting on a chair at the table, chimed in.
“Language, please,” Mrs. Tanaka complained, making the Rider bow his head apologetically, while her son Juri just grinned from behind his mother´s skirt.
“Yeah, I must say as well - a good trick with that mine,” the oldest man in the room, standing by the window, hummed.
“Cullen!” Jane turned to him upset. “Can't you tame yourself for once?”
The old Rider shrugged: “I don´t see a reason, why I should.”
Kame did not care about any of their remarks though. He was glad to see his friends, but the only face he was searching for was not among them. All the Riders seemed quite cheerful, so… the worst could not happen. But he had to be sure; he had to ask, even if he was afraid to.
“Where´s Jin?” he finally raised that question tensely.
Jane smiled: “Outside, with Kuro,” she informed him.
Outside… So, Jin was out there? That almost sounded too good to be true.
“But, Kame-chan…” Koki spoke suddenly. “We… we didn´t tell him about you yet.”
He looked at him confused: “Why?”
The grip on his shoulder tightened. “I thought that it would be better if he sees you,” Leo reacted slowly. “He was in a bad place, Kame. We almost lost him.”
He returned Jin´s brother serious gaze for a while, before he wordlessly turned to leave.
“Kame, you shouldn’t walk…” Jane took a breath for objections.
“Let him go, my dear,” Leo shook his head. “We should leave the two of them some space.”
*
The dim sun was setting behind the northern hills, peeking on the peaceful ranch through the widening rift in the thick clouds. The playfully dancing snowflakes looked like fireflies in that golden light, illuminating the surrounding lands and fields, resting under the pure white cover.
It was freezing, but Jin did not mind. He clung to Kuro, still feeling guilty for leaving his faithful animal friend behind, just as his brother and the rest of Riders. He had been only thinking of himself and of his pain. It was just as Leo had said - he was damn selfish.
Suddenly, Kuro snorted softly, as he used to do when someone approached too close inconspicuously. Jin straightened his head up and only then he could hear the slow steps of someone behind him.
Well, he had remained outside for quite long. Someone probably came out to check on him, to make sure he was not about to do something even more insane than he had already done. Jin slowly caressed Kuro again, to assure him he was fine with it.
“Jin…”
The sound of that emotionally cracked voice stabbed his heart. It did not belong to Leo, or to any other Rider. Jin stiffened, suddenly feeling like a lifeless rock, unable to breathe or move.
More of that slow, heavy shifting of feet in the fresh snow followed and then the hoarse voice spoke again, more urgently now.
“Jin.”
Damn it… So, he did lose his mind in the end. He was actually hearing Kazuya now, but it was surely only a hallucination of his overloaded brain. And if he turned around, there would be no one at all...
Kuro snorted again and pushed him with his big head. Still shaken up, Jin took a step backwards.
He could literally feel it now - someone was standing right behind him for real. And that presence was so pleasantly familiar…
A chill ran down Jin´s spine and a single tear copied the outline of his cold cheek.
“Am I really going crazy now?” he whispered the question, which was not aimed at anyone, yet he received a reply.
“No.”
Still bound by fear that he was just imagining things, Jin turned his head. And there he was, standing within reach of hand. He was looking at him with shiny eyes, the corners of his lips slightly curved in pain, as he was leaning heavily on some crutch. He was unnaturally pale and his facial features wrinkled more than he remembered, but it was his Kazuya.
Jin struggled to remember how to breathe. Was this real or was it a dream?
Kazuya´s expression melted into a soft, shaky smile. He made one more strenuous step forward, reached out his hand and placed it on Jin´s chest.
“I´m real,” he spoke in a shivering voice.
Jin stared at that beloved face in silent shock and with incredulous joy. Hesitantly, he made his hand move as well and let his fingers touch the warm skin of his lover, about whom he believed he lost him forever. Yet, Kazuya in front of him was definitely alive.
A short, creaky laugh escaped his throat, accompanied by more tears uncontrollably falling down from his eyes.
“Kazu…” Jin could not recognize own voice. “You… How…”
Kame covered Jin´s hand with his. “Hi…” he breathed out shakily.
Hell, who cared if this was a dream?
The wooden crutch landed softly in the snow, as Jin eagerly pulled his lover into his arms and squeezed him tight, hiding his face on the slender shoulder. On the verge of self-control, he managed to hold the heavy sobs inside his chest, but he could do it only until his embrace was returned with the same desperation.
“It´s okay,” Kazuya whispered in his ear. “I´m here, my love…”
After those words, Jin could do nothing but sob like a little child.
- To be continued -