[Fanfic] Red West III. - Chapter eleven
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: After a year... Here you go, I hope you´ll enjoy...
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 //
Creepy Cam
An unexpected view opened on Jin´s left hand, making him halt Kuro on the narrow path. They had to overcome a steep hill to reach the road leading to Kame´s house and this obstacle provided a great outlook over the whole Bozeman beneath it. Once again, he realized how rapidly the city was changing its appearance with new houses and farms built all around the outskirts. Not to mention the Northern Pacific Railway, gradually approaching from the southeast, which was about to bring even bigger progression to the wide valley under the Rocky Mountains.
Catching the sound of hooves and short whinny, Jin turned in the saddle to see the white mare carrying her master up the hill cautiously. Unlike him, Kame took the easier way to go, avoided the steepest ascent and followed some invisible path a few yards lower than he did. Kuro seemed impatient to move again, so Jin slackened the reins and let him go down after them.
Back in the Blackfeet reservation, once all the fuss around ´Okan´ was over, they had a lengthy conversation with the Council of Elders and Chief Ninastoko. They were very surprised that Kame had acquired such a great authorization as an Indian Agent and - naturally - were glad that he was chosen for the job instead of some stranger, who would have known nothing about their circumstances.
On the other hand, Jin was getting a bit worried, though he did not mention it aloud. This new occupation was about to put quite some pressure and many responsibilities on his boyfriend, not to mention the necessity for traveling long distances every time some problem appears. Nevertheless, as far as he noticed, Kame was also satisfied with the current state of things, so he did not quite understand where his frown came from…
“You two don´t seem ready for any race today,” Jin noted once Kuro matched pace with the mare.
Kame´s already kind of gloomy expression darkened even further at his words: “Ukushi has been acting strange recently.”
Jin carefully eyed the slow, patient movements of the mare as well as her proudly raised head and smoothly combed mane: “You think there´s something up with her?”
“I´m not sure… She doesn´t seem to be in any pain. Her eyes are clear and I´ve checked everything I could think of, but still… I guess I should ask for advice in the city.”
“Is there anyone capable of examining her properly?” Jin wondered.
Kame nodded: “Mr. Harada is quite skillful as comes to horses. Then there´s the old blacksmith - a former horse handler, but his services aren´t exactly cheap. I couldn´t pay him off until my first wage comes.”
That was unfortunately right. The last coins of their share from the ´Tabor Money-Box´ was long gone, mostly spent on the house repairs. It had been ages since the last time they could afford to buy anything else than the most necessary stuff. Damn, how he missed the bitter taste of beer…
“I should find some job as well,” he assumed. “I feel weird knowing that only you´ll be protecting us from being completely broke.”
The younger one eyed him warily: “It´s not such a big deal, Jin. You can always hunt, so that we don´t have to buy meat. And we can grow vegetables ourselves, too.”
“Yeah, that´s all true and well… If each of your missions as Indian Agent ends up like this time, I won´t mind even a bit that you´re the one making money for us,” he tried to suppress the satisfied grin spreading his lips, but without much success.
“Well, I can imagine that Sun Dance ceremony was quite the experience for you,” his boyfriend reacted with grace, deliberately ignoring Jin´s expression.
He nodded vigorously: “Absolutely. Don´t you think that it had an amazing effect on my performance?”
“Amazing, huh?” Kame cast a glance at him, with the corner of his lips twitching in a smile. “I guess it can be described like that, too.”
Jin raised his eyebrows: “Any other fitting expressions on your mind?”
“Some…”
“Such as?”
“Wild? Unforgettable?” his boyfriend offered.
He grinned even wider: “I like that, please continue.”
Kame leant from the saddle with a calculative smile: “Unrepeatable,” he stated huskily, before speeding up his mare´s pace.
A little dumbfounded by this answer, it took Jin a while to catch up. By then they already crossed the borders of Kamenashi property.
“In that case, I hope you´ll give me a chance to prove otherwise,” he noted meaningfully.
Jin expected some provocative response on his challenge, but Kame remained suspiciously silent and his expression suddenly turned tense. He slowed Kuro down and followed the direction of the younger´s stare.
“It seems that we have some visitors,” Kame commented quietly.
They could clearly see the house between the trees and its front yard was not abandoned as it was supposed to be. The reins of two strange horses were tied to the veranda´s pillar, with a slim figure in neat clothes looking after the animals.
They exchanged a short look and in unspoken agreement headed forward cautiously, with Jin pushing his coat aside to reveal the so far hidden revolver. A familiar young man turned to face them, as they stopped their horses in front of the house.
“McFly?” Jin gaped at the boy with his hand loosely on the gun.
Danny McFly, in a substantially healthier condition than the last time they saw him, nodded his head: “Good afternoon, guys.”
“Well, hello to you, too,” Kame was equally surprised to see him. “When did you return? We thought you´d be back in Bozeman long before us.”
McFly shifted his feet a little nervously: “Only a few days ago. I couldn´t get back sooner.”
“Did you get lost on the way?” Jin could not help but mock the youngster, seeing his sheepish expression, while Kame slipped down the saddle.
“No. I came back with my boss…”
Even before Danny McFly finished this sentence, both Kame´s and Jin´s eyes were already attracted to the second unexpected visitor, who appeared at the corner of the house, with his face hidden in the shadow of an elegant hat.
“Great,” a little hoarse, deep voice said, as the tall man in perfectly fitted dark grey coat and trousers moved closer. “I´m glad to be spared the trouble of looking for you.”
Kame and Jin froze in unpleasant surprise. Ukushi made two steps backward, snorting anxiously, with Kuro doing the exact opposite, as he moved forward and shook his big head in front of the sinewy man.
The corners of thin lips spread in a smile, which was more like a devilish sneer: “Kamenashi, Akanishi… We haven´t seen each other for quite some time.”
They found themselves face to face with the former Karnaka´s right hand - Cameron.
***
It was challenging - and sometimes quite annoying - to be in charge of people, but most of the time, Cameron enjoyed it. However, managing idiots was the much harder task.
On the way up to the north and then to Bozeman, only Danny was able to follow his orders properly. The rest of those half-wits he took along were only good for keeping wild beasts and red savages in respectful distance. Otherwise, there was only drinking, cards and women in their dumb heads. At least, that was the conclusion he came to after spending so much time in their close company. Already at the borders of Wyoming, he promised himself to hire ´another Grenet´ just for having someone who would deal with that bunch of jerks.
The journey back to Montana was just as rough and tiring as he had expected, but fortunately, they managed to travel quickly and did not encounter with bigger issues than one stray Indian, who had been serving as an entertainment for his thickheaded companions for a short time.
Along the way, Cameron collected a few open favors from people who were involved in his sandstone-silver business and thanks to that, upon arrival to Billings, his pockets were just as full as on the day they left Fort Collins. He allowed himself and his company to spend some time in the bustling city to rest, to catch up on the recent news and changes in Montana and of course, to make some preliminary arrangements.
After that, it was a matter of three days to get to Bozeman, with the ordered deliveries of fine wood, supplies and workers for the farm reconstruction following him. Only then, he let himself feel the excitement from the upcoming events, which were about to happen under his lead. He could not wait to finally clash with the two youngsters who had messed with his life so drastically…
*
Danny McFly was aware of how the other men from their traveling company were still looking at him. Most of them knew how Math Grenet used to treat him and they were either sickened or amused by it.
However, he was no one´s mattress or sex toy anymore. To his own surprise, he was proud of the position he had now. Gradually, Mr. Cameron kept assigning him with more difficult and responsible tasks and he started to admire the way in which he could deal with people. Math had always controlled others with threats and empty promises. Cameron Henderson was his total opposite. There was nothing empty in anything that man said or did.
After all those difficult months in Colorado, it was great to be back home. Mr. Cameron promised to take him to Bozeman and he did. By that time, he did not even want to quit as his subordinate anymore. Following Mr. Cameron´s orders was sometimes quite difficult, but interesting and satisfying. Under Math, he had been treated like a rag, in all ways imaginable. He felt nothing like that working for the serious and strict man.
There was only one small detail, which he stubbornly kept ignoring for a long while, until they reached his hometown and it became quite impossible to disregard it any longer - his boss was focused on revenge. After spending so much time at his service, Danny could not turn a blind eye on it forever. He knew very well how it felt to fulfil the vengeful intention and he would not have a problem with his superior´s plans if they were related to some stranger. The problem was in whom Mr. Cameron was after…
Danny did not know how to react on the assigned tasks, which were aimed against Kazuya Kamenashi and Jin Akanishi. He wished no harm on the two of them. After all, they set him free from Grenet´s claws. He owed them, and especially Kamenashi, who stood up for him when Black Riders were about to decide what to do with him. Nevertheless, at the same time, he did not want to give up on his job, on his new position, on money he was getting now and which he could give to his mother once he gathered courage to knock on the door of his home.
As long as he did not have to look them in the eye, it was not difficult to prioritize his well-being. However, it finally reached the point about which he was afraid it would come and he was there when Mr. Cameron stroke them for the first time. Then Danny could not help but feel guilty…
***
“I can´t say that I´m glad to see you again, Cam,” Jin shook the unpleasant surprise off first and found his voice again. Not surprisingly, he didn´t use it for any friendly welcome. Kuro obviously thought the very same as his master. He kept snorting and shaking his big head in disagreement, until Jin dismounted and pulled on his reins, patting him comfortingly, while not letting his eyes off the smirking man.
“What a shame,” Cameron noted with not even a hint of the mentioned in his voice.
“What do you want here?” the cold and suspicious question came from upset Kame.
Their unwanted visitor eyed him with a strange shine in his eyes: “That´s not very polite of you, Kamenashi. I could ask you two the very same thing.”
The younger man´s frown deepened: “What do you mean by that?”
“It means that you´re - quite obviously - residing on my property,” Cameron reacted stiffly.
Kame kept staring at the man, but his face was suddenly turning pale.
“What the hell are you blabbering about?” Jin snapped.
“Danny,” Cameron reached out with his hand to the boy, who was already pulling some papers out from the leather bag attached to the saddle of one of the horses. “Here… You might want to read this,” he challenged Kame and put some file under his nose.
Kame did not move, so Jin grabbed it instead and flipped it open. After a while, his eyes widened: “What the fuck…?”
“Since it seems to be hard for you to understand, I´ll gladly explain,” Cameron gestured toward the house and their nearest surroundings. “After the Kamenashi family disappearance eleven years ago, Mr. Karnaka - may his soul rest in peace - asked for the transfer of property rights for this land.”
Kame´s hands clenched into fists with those words, but his lips remained strictly closed. Jin admired him for holding back like this; he would love to punch that bastard just for those first few words.
“Since nobody else asked for it within the limitation period, he bought it from the city and became the rightful owner,” Cameron continued. “Of this, I believe you were aware, Kamenashi.”
Jin glanced on his boyfriend worried, but even this time Kame didn´t reply.
“And since Mr. Karnaka had no rightful heirs, his estates and possessions were assigned according to his last will. To my great surprise, he bequeathed almost everything to me.”
The former butler seemed to be so pleased with himself that it made Jin sick.
“Everything clear now? No questions?”
Only silence replied to him. Kame seemed frozen on the spot, while Jin was so angry he couldn´t even talk.
“Great,” Cameron turned to the house, eying it again from veranda to roof. “Well, since you spent so much effort here, I assume I can be nice... You´ve got two days to move out. Have a good day. Danny, we´re leaving,” with that Cameron mounted his horse, while the sheepish boy collected the property documentation back from Jin.
“Sorry, guys,” Danny whispered before he turned away.
Within a few moments, the hooves of their horses died away on the road, with both Kame and Jin standing there helplessly. It was just a five-minute-long unwelcomed visit, but it turned their day upside down nevertheless.
Kuro seemed to calm down finally and Jin focused full attention on his boyfriend who stood there silent and motionless.
“Still the same creepy bastard,” he muttered on the address of the former Karnaka´s ass licker.
It didn´t pull any reaction though.
“Kame?” Jin addressed the younger one carefully.
All of the sudden, as if on the spring, Kame moved and kicked the water tank beside veranda. It turned over with a rumble, spilling the remains of still water all around. He kicked it one more time, sending the poor tank across the yard, before he stood still again. Ukushi neighed and started to dance around her master restlessly, while Jin stared at him, taken aback by Kame´s unusually violent behavior.
His boyfriend let go of a deep breath and then turned around to soothe his mare apologetically, with dark and stern expression.
“Kazu…” Jin called him again quietly.
“Let´s take care of them first,” Kame reacted in a forcefully calm manner and gently pulled on Ukushi´s reins to lead her away.
*
Half an hour later, when Kuro and Ukushi were already enjoying the deserved rest in the shed behind the house, their masters settled side by side at the veranda stairs. Jin wondered a bit about what to say and he concluded that his gloomy boyfriend would not appreciate any attempt for false consolation.
“Those papers seemed real,” he noted, breaking the silence first.
“And they were,” Kame reacted, leaning his head over the pillar. “It´s the way by which he achieved it that´s dirty, not the documentation itself.”
Jin sighed: “I don´t get it though. How did it come to this point?”
There was a pause, in which Kame frowned darkly, before he started talking: “After my father and my brothers were found dead and I with my mother disappeared, nobody dared to go against Karnaka, when he asked for that property rights transfer. The city re-sold him the lands just a few months later.”
“You told me before that Karnaka wanted your property because of gold, right?” Jin remembered.
“Exactly,” Kame confirmed. “About a mile away, there´s a mine. I´ve heard they sucked it dry within a year and it had been abandoned ever since. Then, years later, after we returned to Bozeman because of my mother´s illness, we didn´t have any means to get this house back, so we just settled in the city. Later, I found out that nobody actually cared for the house anymore, so I made it my hideout for weapons and stuff… It didn´t seem that Karnaka even remembered he owned this place after it lost its value for him.”
“That definitely sounds like him,” Jin murmured in agreement.
“After he…” Kame paused, looking a bit lost in memories. “After the two of us dealt with him, I believed nobody would care anymore. I even asked the City Council before I left for Colorado. I showed them the old property deed and they assured me that I could use it. The new documentation was kept only in Karnaka´s hands and it was believed it burnt down along with the mansion. My family had never given up or sold these lands, so it made sense I would be the rightful owner now. I didn´t think that… Damn, I was careless,” Kame slouched and hid his face behind his palms, sounding defeated.
“It had been almost a year back,” Jin opposed. “Who would think that instead of that evil old geezer, his dog decides to bother us with this?”
Kame turned to face him: “Even Captain Walker warned us about Cameron, remember? We should have considered this possibility as well…”
“All right, but still - it doesn´t make any sense! Why that bastard cares now?”
Kame shook his head: “I don´t know, but I doubt he´s even slightly interested in the house.”
Jin frowned: “So, you think he came for revenge?”
“For what else?”
“Just now, after all this time? What are the odds for him appearing here just two months after we came back?”
Kame´s expression darkened: “Someone might have given us away.”
“Damn, that´s right,” Jin admitted unwillingly. “I guess there´re still people who don´t like us for what we supposedly did.”
Kame just nodded wordlessly.
Already restless, Jin stood up and took a few steps there and back alongside veranda: “Okay… Let´s say Cameron somehow learnt we returned to Montana. So, he dropped everything he had built in Colorado just to move us out from here? Why would he bother so much?”
“He hates us,” Kame reacted quietly. “Just now, he pretended to be above the things which happened in the past, but it was in his eyes. He didn´t forget and didn´t forgive.”
“Then he was damn patient to wait until now to give us Hell,” Jin snorted upset.
Kame crossed his arms as if he felt cold suddenly: “But you agree with me, don´t you,” he noted gloomily.
Still upset, but beaten down by arguments, Jin nodded: “Yeah... I do.”
A short silence fell upon the front yard, with both of them lost in their thoughts. They hoped that some things they did would remain buried in the past. But now, they realized it was stupid to think that they could really avoid all possible consequences. Obviously, Math Grenet was not the only remaining enemy they had…
Then Jin sat next to his boyfriend again.
“So… What will we do?”
Kame sighed: “Getting along with that man is impossible, so we don´t have so many options.”
“Well, we can either surrender or fight back, right?” Jin proposed. “For myself - the first is not an acceptable solution.”
The younger one stared at him, pressing his lips together.
“What? Don´t look at me like that, Kame. I seriously doubt you´re willing to give up on this place so easily."
A short pause followed, in which something warm appeared in Kame´s eyes.
“…correct.”
Jin grinned: “And you´ve got me on your side in this. So?”
“Let´s try talking with him again first,” Kame decided. “Even though Cameron won´t go easy on us, he seems to be mainly a practical man. If there will be some profit in it for him, I believe he will grasp the opportunity. Moreover, there´s still a chance he somehow altered that last will and Karnaka didn´t actually handed down everything to him. We should try to verify it at least.”
“We´ll fight then,” Jin slammed both palms over his knees. “Great. I should check out our war equipment.”
“Jin…” his boyfriend frowned in slight disapproval. “Shooting him is the last resort we might use, all right?”
“Sure,” the older one agreed willingly. “Nevertheless, it won´t hurt to be ready for anything.”
Kame´s tense expression finally loosen up a bit: “With that, I can only agree.”
***
The workers´ skin glistened with sweat in the sultry afternoon, which was definitely about to bring some summer storm later. Fortunately, the unpleasant weather had no effect on the daily progress on the construction and Cameron would be quite surprised if it did - all those men were paid too well to dare making him discontent with their results.
The constant sounds of hoes, saws and hammers were filling him with excited expectation - he was looking forward to see his late master´s mansion in its full glory again.
Cameron drank a few gulps of the cool water with mint leaves and put the mug back on the anxiously clean surface of his fresh new writing desk. Then he returned his attention to the black man standing in front of it, crumpling the dusty hat in his big hands and with a look in his eyes, which reminded Cameron of a hungry stray dog.
“So… You were the one who sent me that telegram, you say.”
“Yes, sir! That me for sure!” Negro nodded vigorously. “Alphonse be my name!”
Hungry dog indeed, Cameron assumed.
“I assure you that your loyalty will be rewarded.”
“Thank you, sir!”
“Would you like to work for me then?”
“That´s what I came here for!”
“Good. Do you know about any more men who would be similarly helpful?” Cameron asked. “Had anyone stayed around here after the farm was abandoned?”
The black man´s head moved again in eager confirmation: “You bet, sir!”
“All right, gather and bring them here tomorrow morning. We´ll discuss your reward then.”
“Sure, sir! You can count on Alphonse!”
Cameron was quite relieved to see Negro´s back; it was annoying to listen to him. Nevertheless, he turned out to be useful, so why not to try him more? Soon, he would be in need of laborers for the neglected fields.
The approaching steps made him raise his head from the bills for the material recently purchased in Bozeman. With the dust rising from under his boots, the rushing youngster stopped abruptly in front of the fabric covering two sides of his temporary ´office´.
“Sir?” the boy´s expression seemed somehow stiff, as he peeped inside the tent hiding Cameron in front of the merciless afternoon sun.
“Yes, Danny?”
“Kamenashi and Akanishi are here, requesting to meet with you,” he announced the unsurprising visit.
Cameron could not help but spread his lips in victorious smile and pushed the accounting book aside: “Great. I was expecting them around this time... Bring them in.”
“What about their weapons?”
“Let them keep that artillery,” he replied at once, waving his hand scornfully.
Danny McFly hesitated: “Are you sure, Mr. Cameron?”
He raised his eyebrows: “You don´t think they´re the type to shoot someone in a bright daylight in front of this many witnesses, do you?”
“…No, sir.”
“Then stop asking useless questions and bring them here.”
*
Cameron studied the faces of young men, who entered the shadow of his tent shortly after that, very carefully. Akanishi, with his hands conveniently hooked over the gun belt, was obviously annoyed and didn´t even try to cover it. Compared to that, Kamenashi´s face was serious and calm. Only his eyes told Cameron that he was not happy to be there at all.
“What a surprise,” he welcomed them both in a perfectly cool tone. “Did you come to report you´ve moved out in person? That was not necessary at all.”
Akanishi remained standing a little behind, keeping his stance firm and on alert, while only Kamenashi approached his table.
“No. We came to bargain with you, Mr. Henderson,” the youngster spoke in cold, detached tone.
Cameron narrowed his eyes.
He never told them his surname directly, so either Akanishi managed to notice it in the property contract he showed them, or they were digging around a bit, to make sure his story fit. That would not be surprising. However, to Cameron’s discomfort, there was too much defiance in the tone that girly brat used. He wanted to see some submission from their side at this point.
Never mind, if they wanted to play like this, he was prepared with a few aces up his sleeve. Originally, he intended to use some of them later, but he reconsidered now. It was better to determine the boundaries of their behavior towards him right away.
“Is that so?” he spoke after a short pause. “For the house?”
“Yes,” Kamenashi confirmed firmly.
“Interesting idea, but I´m afraid you two cannot offer me the sufficient amount,” Cameron reacted gleefully. “There´s no convenient vault around to empty every day.”
Both Kamenashi and Akanishi stiffened, but none of them changed their facial expression. That surprised Cameron a bit, before he realized how they could expect that he knew. Math Grenet was always full of useless yapping and he probably blurted out everything he knew about them while he was holding the two captive. Therefore, they figured he would be aware of their involvement with the Black Riders too.
“We could pay you off in instalments,” Kamenashi replied stiffly, wisely not reacting on his bait.
Cameron looked him in the eye, considering the best approach toward this youngster. Kamenashi was not stupid. He already knew that hot-tempered Akanishi was easier to deal with. Obviously, Kamenashi was aware of that too, which was probably why only he did the talking.
“Well, even with your new occupation as an Indian Agent, Kamenashi, you wouldn´t be able to repay much regularly,” Cameron showed him that he could ask around as well. “That would not be very convenient for me.”
Kamenashi hold onto his composure and thought his next words through, that was clear to Cameron once he spoke again.
“Still, it would be profitable for you to get some income from it, instead of keeping it empty. Since you´re building the whole new mansion here, I seriously doubt you want to live there.”
Cameron smirked a little: “You´re right,” he admitted casually.
“What do you want those lands for then?”
Kamenashi´s look was full of suspicion. That was not good. If they were suspicious, they would be careful. And he needed them to feel the opposite. He had to make them believe that he didn´t care about them.
“For the mine,” he stated calmly.
“That golden vein?” the young man curled his lips in a smirk, which did not fit his face. “As far as I know it was abandoned since there was nothing left anymore.”
“I´d rather make sure about that,” Cameron assumed.
“Then keep the mine and lands around, the hell I care. Would you be willing to sell the house and the adjacent gardens?”
The usage of vulgar word and his tone gave Kamenashi in. It was a very unpleasant topic for him, naturally. His whole family was slaughtered just for a few pieces of shiny stone. He was not as calm as he tried to pretend.
“I´m not willing to sell, Kamenashi, not even in instalments,” he repeated sternly. “But - let´s say that I´d be willing to rent it to you.”
Neither of them liked such an option, he could tell. In that case, he would still own their home, while they would be only visitors. Nevertheless, they had no other option apart from camping in the woods and since they came begging, they wanted the house a lot, at least Kamenashi did for sure.
“You can stay there under the condition of paying me twenty dollars a month and keep it in habitable condition,” he continued.
It was a reasonable price and Cameron would bet that he surprised them with the offer. They probably expected him to ask for an absurdly high amount.
“One-time offer,” Cameron emphasized when both of them remained silent. “Take it or leave.”
Kamenashi raised his eyes from staring on the ground: “Would you be willing to sell it sometime later?”
Look at that boy, he haven´t given up yet, Cameron thought. Well, letting Kamenashi keep some tiny hope could not hurt.
Cameron waved his hand slightly in an indefinite gesture: “Might be.”
“All right,” Kamenashi kept his voice steady, but Cameron caught a glimpse of defeat in his face. “I agree.”
“Kame…” Akanishi was obviously of a different opinion, but shut his mouth once the younger man threw one glance at him.
“Great,” Cameron gave the young man a victorious smile. “I´ll send you the rental contract tomorrow and I´ll be expecting your first payment by the end of this month. Is that acceptable for you, Kamenashi?”
The young man nodded wordlessly.
“Have a nice rest of day then.”
Kamenashi turned on his heel and left his tent without a reply, with Akanishi on his back. Though, of course, the older of the two did not forget to stab Cameron with the hateful look before that.
*
“Nothing is acceptable about that bastard! Who the hell he thinks he is?” Jin fumed quietly as they walked to the gate, under the unpleasant stares of men in sight. “Prying around and trying to control our lives!”
Kame kept silent, frowning in deep discontent, but his rough steps showed he was angry as well.
“He´s like a failed copy of Karnaka!” Jin hissed in disbelief.
“I wouldn´t say failed, unfortunately,” Kame reacted gloomily. “He´s playing with us and he´s doing it damn well.”
“I don´t want to play any games with that creepy butler!”
His partner gave him a serious look: “Neither I, but do we have any other option at the moment? Except leaving the city again?”
Jin snorted: “I know, but that doesn´t mean I hate this any less.”
Kame shook his head, stopped in front of the gate and turned: “That makes two of us.”
Jin followed his gaze and his frown even deepened: “Jesus, this is giving me the creeps,” he murmured, commenting the constant works in the middle of the ranch grounds, exactly on the spot where the white mansion used to stand. The house, which they had burnt down to the ground with the help of their friends - Babb Indians.
“We won´t shake him off our tails easily, Jin,” Kame predicted quietly. “He´s obviously well financially provided, determined and clever. It will be tough to retain our ground against him.”
“Let him bring it on,” Jin reacted determined. “Let´s show him that we won´t give up without a fight.”
- 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: After a year... Here you go, I hope you´ll enjoy...
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 //
Creepy Cam
An unexpected view opened on Jin´s left hand, making him halt Kuro on the narrow path. They had to overcome a steep hill to reach the road leading to Kame´s house and this obstacle provided a great outlook over the whole Bozeman beneath it. Once again, he realized how rapidly the city was changing its appearance with new houses and farms built all around the outskirts. Not to mention the Northern Pacific Railway, gradually approaching from the southeast, which was about to bring even bigger progression to the wide valley under the Rocky Mountains.
Catching the sound of hooves and short whinny, Jin turned in the saddle to see the white mare carrying her master up the hill cautiously. Unlike him, Kame took the easier way to go, avoided the steepest ascent and followed some invisible path a few yards lower than he did. Kuro seemed impatient to move again, so Jin slackened the reins and let him go down after them.
Back in the Blackfeet reservation, once all the fuss around ´Okan´ was over, they had a lengthy conversation with the Council of Elders and Chief Ninastoko. They were very surprised that Kame had acquired such a great authorization as an Indian Agent and - naturally - were glad that he was chosen for the job instead of some stranger, who would have known nothing about their circumstances.
On the other hand, Jin was getting a bit worried, though he did not mention it aloud. This new occupation was about to put quite some pressure and many responsibilities on his boyfriend, not to mention the necessity for traveling long distances every time some problem appears. Nevertheless, as far as he noticed, Kame was also satisfied with the current state of things, so he did not quite understand where his frown came from…
“You two don´t seem ready for any race today,” Jin noted once Kuro matched pace with the mare.
Kame´s already kind of gloomy expression darkened even further at his words: “Ukushi has been acting strange recently.”
Jin carefully eyed the slow, patient movements of the mare as well as her proudly raised head and smoothly combed mane: “You think there´s something up with her?”
“I´m not sure… She doesn´t seem to be in any pain. Her eyes are clear and I´ve checked everything I could think of, but still… I guess I should ask for advice in the city.”
“Is there anyone capable of examining her properly?” Jin wondered.
Kame nodded: “Mr. Harada is quite skillful as comes to horses. Then there´s the old blacksmith - a former horse handler, but his services aren´t exactly cheap. I couldn´t pay him off until my first wage comes.”
That was unfortunately right. The last coins of their share from the ´Tabor Money-Box´ was long gone, mostly spent on the house repairs. It had been ages since the last time they could afford to buy anything else than the most necessary stuff. Damn, how he missed the bitter taste of beer…
“I should find some job as well,” he assumed. “I feel weird knowing that only you´ll be protecting us from being completely broke.”
The younger one eyed him warily: “It´s not such a big deal, Jin. You can always hunt, so that we don´t have to buy meat. And we can grow vegetables ourselves, too.”
“Yeah, that´s all true and well… If each of your missions as Indian Agent ends up like this time, I won´t mind even a bit that you´re the one making money for us,” he tried to suppress the satisfied grin spreading his lips, but without much success.
“Well, I can imagine that Sun Dance ceremony was quite the experience for you,” his boyfriend reacted with grace, deliberately ignoring Jin´s expression.
He nodded vigorously: “Absolutely. Don´t you think that it had an amazing effect on my performance?”
“Amazing, huh?” Kame cast a glance at him, with the corner of his lips twitching in a smile. “I guess it can be described like that, too.”
Jin raised his eyebrows: “Any other fitting expressions on your mind?”
“Some…”
“Such as?”
“Wild? Unforgettable?” his boyfriend offered.
He grinned even wider: “I like that, please continue.”
Kame leant from the saddle with a calculative smile: “Unrepeatable,” he stated huskily, before speeding up his mare´s pace.
A little dumbfounded by this answer, it took Jin a while to catch up. By then they already crossed the borders of Kamenashi property.
“In that case, I hope you´ll give me a chance to prove otherwise,” he noted meaningfully.
Jin expected some provocative response on his challenge, but Kame remained suspiciously silent and his expression suddenly turned tense. He slowed Kuro down and followed the direction of the younger´s stare.
“It seems that we have some visitors,” Kame commented quietly.
They could clearly see the house between the trees and its front yard was not abandoned as it was supposed to be. The reins of two strange horses were tied to the veranda´s pillar, with a slim figure in neat clothes looking after the animals.
They exchanged a short look and in unspoken agreement headed forward cautiously, with Jin pushing his coat aside to reveal the so far hidden revolver. A familiar young man turned to face them, as they stopped their horses in front of the house.
“McFly?” Jin gaped at the boy with his hand loosely on the gun.
Danny McFly, in a substantially healthier condition than the last time they saw him, nodded his head: “Good afternoon, guys.”
“Well, hello to you, too,” Kame was equally surprised to see him. “When did you return? We thought you´d be back in Bozeman long before us.”
McFly shifted his feet a little nervously: “Only a few days ago. I couldn´t get back sooner.”
“Did you get lost on the way?” Jin could not help but mock the youngster, seeing his sheepish expression, while Kame slipped down the saddle.
“No. I came back with my boss…”
Even before Danny McFly finished this sentence, both Kame´s and Jin´s eyes were already attracted to the second unexpected visitor, who appeared at the corner of the house, with his face hidden in the shadow of an elegant hat.
“Great,” a little hoarse, deep voice said, as the tall man in perfectly fitted dark grey coat and trousers moved closer. “I´m glad to be spared the trouble of looking for you.”
Kame and Jin froze in unpleasant surprise. Ukushi made two steps backward, snorting anxiously, with Kuro doing the exact opposite, as he moved forward and shook his big head in front of the sinewy man.
The corners of thin lips spread in a smile, which was more like a devilish sneer: “Kamenashi, Akanishi… We haven´t seen each other for quite some time.”
They found themselves face to face with the former Karnaka´s right hand - Cameron.
***
It was challenging - and sometimes quite annoying - to be in charge of people, but most of the time, Cameron enjoyed it. However, managing idiots was the much harder task.
On the way up to the north and then to Bozeman, only Danny was able to follow his orders properly. The rest of those half-wits he took along were only good for keeping wild beasts and red savages in respectful distance. Otherwise, there was only drinking, cards and women in their dumb heads. At least, that was the conclusion he came to after spending so much time in their close company. Already at the borders of Wyoming, he promised himself to hire ´another Grenet´ just for having someone who would deal with that bunch of jerks.
The journey back to Montana was just as rough and tiring as he had expected, but fortunately, they managed to travel quickly and did not encounter with bigger issues than one stray Indian, who had been serving as an entertainment for his thickheaded companions for a short time.
Along the way, Cameron collected a few open favors from people who were involved in his sandstone-silver business and thanks to that, upon arrival to Billings, his pockets were just as full as on the day they left Fort Collins. He allowed himself and his company to spend some time in the bustling city to rest, to catch up on the recent news and changes in Montana and of course, to make some preliminary arrangements.
After that, it was a matter of three days to get to Bozeman, with the ordered deliveries of fine wood, supplies and workers for the farm reconstruction following him. Only then, he let himself feel the excitement from the upcoming events, which were about to happen under his lead. He could not wait to finally clash with the two youngsters who had messed with his life so drastically…
*
Danny McFly was aware of how the other men from their traveling company were still looking at him. Most of them knew how Math Grenet used to treat him and they were either sickened or amused by it.
However, he was no one´s mattress or sex toy anymore. To his own surprise, he was proud of the position he had now. Gradually, Mr. Cameron kept assigning him with more difficult and responsible tasks and he started to admire the way in which he could deal with people. Math had always controlled others with threats and empty promises. Cameron Henderson was his total opposite. There was nothing empty in anything that man said or did.
After all those difficult months in Colorado, it was great to be back home. Mr. Cameron promised to take him to Bozeman and he did. By that time, he did not even want to quit as his subordinate anymore. Following Mr. Cameron´s orders was sometimes quite difficult, but interesting and satisfying. Under Math, he had been treated like a rag, in all ways imaginable. He felt nothing like that working for the serious and strict man.
There was only one small detail, which he stubbornly kept ignoring for a long while, until they reached his hometown and it became quite impossible to disregard it any longer - his boss was focused on revenge. After spending so much time at his service, Danny could not turn a blind eye on it forever. He knew very well how it felt to fulfil the vengeful intention and he would not have a problem with his superior´s plans if they were related to some stranger. The problem was in whom Mr. Cameron was after…
Danny did not know how to react on the assigned tasks, which were aimed against Kazuya Kamenashi and Jin Akanishi. He wished no harm on the two of them. After all, they set him free from Grenet´s claws. He owed them, and especially Kamenashi, who stood up for him when Black Riders were about to decide what to do with him. Nevertheless, at the same time, he did not want to give up on his job, on his new position, on money he was getting now and which he could give to his mother once he gathered courage to knock on the door of his home.
As long as he did not have to look them in the eye, it was not difficult to prioritize his well-being. However, it finally reached the point about which he was afraid it would come and he was there when Mr. Cameron stroke them for the first time. Then Danny could not help but feel guilty…
***
“I can´t say that I´m glad to see you again, Cam,” Jin shook the unpleasant surprise off first and found his voice again. Not surprisingly, he didn´t use it for any friendly welcome. Kuro obviously thought the very same as his master. He kept snorting and shaking his big head in disagreement, until Jin dismounted and pulled on his reins, patting him comfortingly, while not letting his eyes off the smirking man.
“What a shame,” Cameron noted with not even a hint of the mentioned in his voice.
“What do you want here?” the cold and suspicious question came from upset Kame.
Their unwanted visitor eyed him with a strange shine in his eyes: “That´s not very polite of you, Kamenashi. I could ask you two the very same thing.”
The younger man´s frown deepened: “What do you mean by that?”
“It means that you´re - quite obviously - residing on my property,” Cameron reacted stiffly.
Kame kept staring at the man, but his face was suddenly turning pale.
“What the hell are you blabbering about?” Jin snapped.
“Danny,” Cameron reached out with his hand to the boy, who was already pulling some papers out from the leather bag attached to the saddle of one of the horses. “Here… You might want to read this,” he challenged Kame and put some file under his nose.
Kame did not move, so Jin grabbed it instead and flipped it open. After a while, his eyes widened: “What the fuck…?”
“Since it seems to be hard for you to understand, I´ll gladly explain,” Cameron gestured toward the house and their nearest surroundings. “After the Kamenashi family disappearance eleven years ago, Mr. Karnaka - may his soul rest in peace - asked for the transfer of property rights for this land.”
Kame´s hands clenched into fists with those words, but his lips remained strictly closed. Jin admired him for holding back like this; he would love to punch that bastard just for those first few words.
“Since nobody else asked for it within the limitation period, he bought it from the city and became the rightful owner,” Cameron continued. “Of this, I believe you were aware, Kamenashi.”
Jin glanced on his boyfriend worried, but even this time Kame didn´t reply.
“And since Mr. Karnaka had no rightful heirs, his estates and possessions were assigned according to his last will. To my great surprise, he bequeathed almost everything to me.”
The former butler seemed to be so pleased with himself that it made Jin sick.
“Everything clear now? No questions?”
Only silence replied to him. Kame seemed frozen on the spot, while Jin was so angry he couldn´t even talk.
“Great,” Cameron turned to the house, eying it again from veranda to roof. “Well, since you spent so much effort here, I assume I can be nice... You´ve got two days to move out. Have a good day. Danny, we´re leaving,” with that Cameron mounted his horse, while the sheepish boy collected the property documentation back from Jin.
“Sorry, guys,” Danny whispered before he turned away.
Within a few moments, the hooves of their horses died away on the road, with both Kame and Jin standing there helplessly. It was just a five-minute-long unwelcomed visit, but it turned their day upside down nevertheless.
Kuro seemed to calm down finally and Jin focused full attention on his boyfriend who stood there silent and motionless.
“Still the same creepy bastard,” he muttered on the address of the former Karnaka´s ass licker.
It didn´t pull any reaction though.
“Kame?” Jin addressed the younger one carefully.
All of the sudden, as if on the spring, Kame moved and kicked the water tank beside veranda. It turned over with a rumble, spilling the remains of still water all around. He kicked it one more time, sending the poor tank across the yard, before he stood still again. Ukushi neighed and started to dance around her master restlessly, while Jin stared at him, taken aback by Kame´s unusually violent behavior.
His boyfriend let go of a deep breath and then turned around to soothe his mare apologetically, with dark and stern expression.
“Kazu…” Jin called him again quietly.
“Let´s take care of them first,” Kame reacted in a forcefully calm manner and gently pulled on Ukushi´s reins to lead her away.
*
Half an hour later, when Kuro and Ukushi were already enjoying the deserved rest in the shed behind the house, their masters settled side by side at the veranda stairs. Jin wondered a bit about what to say and he concluded that his gloomy boyfriend would not appreciate any attempt for false consolation.
“Those papers seemed real,” he noted, breaking the silence first.
“And they were,” Kame reacted, leaning his head over the pillar. “It´s the way by which he achieved it that´s dirty, not the documentation itself.”
Jin sighed: “I don´t get it though. How did it come to this point?”
There was a pause, in which Kame frowned darkly, before he started talking: “After my father and my brothers were found dead and I with my mother disappeared, nobody dared to go against Karnaka, when he asked for that property rights transfer. The city re-sold him the lands just a few months later.”
“You told me before that Karnaka wanted your property because of gold, right?” Jin remembered.
“Exactly,” Kame confirmed. “About a mile away, there´s a mine. I´ve heard they sucked it dry within a year and it had been abandoned ever since. Then, years later, after we returned to Bozeman because of my mother´s illness, we didn´t have any means to get this house back, so we just settled in the city. Later, I found out that nobody actually cared for the house anymore, so I made it my hideout for weapons and stuff… It didn´t seem that Karnaka even remembered he owned this place after it lost its value for him.”
“That definitely sounds like him,” Jin murmured in agreement.
“After he…” Kame paused, looking a bit lost in memories. “After the two of us dealt with him, I believed nobody would care anymore. I even asked the City Council before I left for Colorado. I showed them the old property deed and they assured me that I could use it. The new documentation was kept only in Karnaka´s hands and it was believed it burnt down along with the mansion. My family had never given up or sold these lands, so it made sense I would be the rightful owner now. I didn´t think that… Damn, I was careless,” Kame slouched and hid his face behind his palms, sounding defeated.
“It had been almost a year back,” Jin opposed. “Who would think that instead of that evil old geezer, his dog decides to bother us with this?”
Kame turned to face him: “Even Captain Walker warned us about Cameron, remember? We should have considered this possibility as well…”
“All right, but still - it doesn´t make any sense! Why that bastard cares now?”
Kame shook his head: “I don´t know, but I doubt he´s even slightly interested in the house.”
Jin frowned: “So, you think he came for revenge?”
“For what else?”
“Just now, after all this time? What are the odds for him appearing here just two months after we came back?”
Kame´s expression darkened: “Someone might have given us away.”
“Damn, that´s right,” Jin admitted unwillingly. “I guess there´re still people who don´t like us for what we supposedly did.”
Kame just nodded wordlessly.
Already restless, Jin stood up and took a few steps there and back alongside veranda: “Okay… Let´s say Cameron somehow learnt we returned to Montana. So, he dropped everything he had built in Colorado just to move us out from here? Why would he bother so much?”
“He hates us,” Kame reacted quietly. “Just now, he pretended to be above the things which happened in the past, but it was in his eyes. He didn´t forget and didn´t forgive.”
“Then he was damn patient to wait until now to give us Hell,” Jin snorted upset.
Kame crossed his arms as if he felt cold suddenly: “But you agree with me, don´t you,” he noted gloomily.
Still upset, but beaten down by arguments, Jin nodded: “Yeah... I do.”
A short silence fell upon the front yard, with both of them lost in their thoughts. They hoped that some things they did would remain buried in the past. But now, they realized it was stupid to think that they could really avoid all possible consequences. Obviously, Math Grenet was not the only remaining enemy they had…
Then Jin sat next to his boyfriend again.
“So… What will we do?”
Kame sighed: “Getting along with that man is impossible, so we don´t have so many options.”
“Well, we can either surrender or fight back, right?” Jin proposed. “For myself - the first is not an acceptable solution.”
The younger one stared at him, pressing his lips together.
“What? Don´t look at me like that, Kame. I seriously doubt you´re willing to give up on this place so easily."
A short pause followed, in which something warm appeared in Kame´s eyes.
“…correct.”
Jin grinned: “And you´ve got me on your side in this. So?”
“Let´s try talking with him again first,” Kame decided. “Even though Cameron won´t go easy on us, he seems to be mainly a practical man. If there will be some profit in it for him, I believe he will grasp the opportunity. Moreover, there´s still a chance he somehow altered that last will and Karnaka didn´t actually handed down everything to him. We should try to verify it at least.”
“We´ll fight then,” Jin slammed both palms over his knees. “Great. I should check out our war equipment.”
“Jin…” his boyfriend frowned in slight disapproval. “Shooting him is the last resort we might use, all right?”
“Sure,” the older one agreed willingly. “Nevertheless, it won´t hurt to be ready for anything.”
Kame´s tense expression finally loosen up a bit: “With that, I can only agree.”
***
The workers´ skin glistened with sweat in the sultry afternoon, which was definitely about to bring some summer storm later. Fortunately, the unpleasant weather had no effect on the daily progress on the construction and Cameron would be quite surprised if it did - all those men were paid too well to dare making him discontent with their results.
The constant sounds of hoes, saws and hammers were filling him with excited expectation - he was looking forward to see his late master´s mansion in its full glory again.
Cameron drank a few gulps of the cool water with mint leaves and put the mug back on the anxiously clean surface of his fresh new writing desk. Then he returned his attention to the black man standing in front of it, crumpling the dusty hat in his big hands and with a look in his eyes, which reminded Cameron of a hungry stray dog.
“So… You were the one who sent me that telegram, you say.”
“Yes, sir! That me for sure!” Negro nodded vigorously. “Alphonse be my name!”
Hungry dog indeed, Cameron assumed.
“I assure you that your loyalty will be rewarded.”
“Thank you, sir!”
“Would you like to work for me then?”
“That´s what I came here for!”
“Good. Do you know about any more men who would be similarly helpful?” Cameron asked. “Had anyone stayed around here after the farm was abandoned?”
The black man´s head moved again in eager confirmation: “You bet, sir!”
“All right, gather and bring them here tomorrow morning. We´ll discuss your reward then.”
“Sure, sir! You can count on Alphonse!”
Cameron was quite relieved to see Negro´s back; it was annoying to listen to him. Nevertheless, he turned out to be useful, so why not to try him more? Soon, he would be in need of laborers for the neglected fields.
The approaching steps made him raise his head from the bills for the material recently purchased in Bozeman. With the dust rising from under his boots, the rushing youngster stopped abruptly in front of the fabric covering two sides of his temporary ´office´.
“Sir?” the boy´s expression seemed somehow stiff, as he peeped inside the tent hiding Cameron in front of the merciless afternoon sun.
“Yes, Danny?”
“Kamenashi and Akanishi are here, requesting to meet with you,” he announced the unsurprising visit.
Cameron could not help but spread his lips in victorious smile and pushed the accounting book aside: “Great. I was expecting them around this time... Bring them in.”
“What about their weapons?”
“Let them keep that artillery,” he replied at once, waving his hand scornfully.
Danny McFly hesitated: “Are you sure, Mr. Cameron?”
He raised his eyebrows: “You don´t think they´re the type to shoot someone in a bright daylight in front of this many witnesses, do you?”
“…No, sir.”
“Then stop asking useless questions and bring them here.”
*
Cameron studied the faces of young men, who entered the shadow of his tent shortly after that, very carefully. Akanishi, with his hands conveniently hooked over the gun belt, was obviously annoyed and didn´t even try to cover it. Compared to that, Kamenashi´s face was serious and calm. Only his eyes told Cameron that he was not happy to be there at all.
“What a surprise,” he welcomed them both in a perfectly cool tone. “Did you come to report you´ve moved out in person? That was not necessary at all.”
Akanishi remained standing a little behind, keeping his stance firm and on alert, while only Kamenashi approached his table.
“No. We came to bargain with you, Mr. Henderson,” the youngster spoke in cold, detached tone.
Cameron narrowed his eyes.
He never told them his surname directly, so either Akanishi managed to notice it in the property contract he showed them, or they were digging around a bit, to make sure his story fit. That would not be surprising. However, to Cameron’s discomfort, there was too much defiance in the tone that girly brat used. He wanted to see some submission from their side at this point.
Never mind, if they wanted to play like this, he was prepared with a few aces up his sleeve. Originally, he intended to use some of them later, but he reconsidered now. It was better to determine the boundaries of their behavior towards him right away.
“Is that so?” he spoke after a short pause. “For the house?”
“Yes,” Kamenashi confirmed firmly.
“Interesting idea, but I´m afraid you two cannot offer me the sufficient amount,” Cameron reacted gleefully. “There´s no convenient vault around to empty every day.”
Both Kamenashi and Akanishi stiffened, but none of them changed their facial expression. That surprised Cameron a bit, before he realized how they could expect that he knew. Math Grenet was always full of useless yapping and he probably blurted out everything he knew about them while he was holding the two captive. Therefore, they figured he would be aware of their involvement with the Black Riders too.
“We could pay you off in instalments,” Kamenashi replied stiffly, wisely not reacting on his bait.
Cameron looked him in the eye, considering the best approach toward this youngster. Kamenashi was not stupid. He already knew that hot-tempered Akanishi was easier to deal with. Obviously, Kamenashi was aware of that too, which was probably why only he did the talking.
“Well, even with your new occupation as an Indian Agent, Kamenashi, you wouldn´t be able to repay much regularly,” Cameron showed him that he could ask around as well. “That would not be very convenient for me.”
Kamenashi hold onto his composure and thought his next words through, that was clear to Cameron once he spoke again.
“Still, it would be profitable for you to get some income from it, instead of keeping it empty. Since you´re building the whole new mansion here, I seriously doubt you want to live there.”
Cameron smirked a little: “You´re right,” he admitted casually.
“What do you want those lands for then?”
Kamenashi´s look was full of suspicion. That was not good. If they were suspicious, they would be careful. And he needed them to feel the opposite. He had to make them believe that he didn´t care about them.
“For the mine,” he stated calmly.
“That golden vein?” the young man curled his lips in a smirk, which did not fit his face. “As far as I know it was abandoned since there was nothing left anymore.”
“I´d rather make sure about that,” Cameron assumed.
“Then keep the mine and lands around, the hell I care. Would you be willing to sell the house and the adjacent gardens?”
The usage of vulgar word and his tone gave Kamenashi in. It was a very unpleasant topic for him, naturally. His whole family was slaughtered just for a few pieces of shiny stone. He was not as calm as he tried to pretend.
“I´m not willing to sell, Kamenashi, not even in instalments,” he repeated sternly. “But - let´s say that I´d be willing to rent it to you.”
Neither of them liked such an option, he could tell. In that case, he would still own their home, while they would be only visitors. Nevertheless, they had no other option apart from camping in the woods and since they came begging, they wanted the house a lot, at least Kamenashi did for sure.
“You can stay there under the condition of paying me twenty dollars a month and keep it in habitable condition,” he continued.
It was a reasonable price and Cameron would bet that he surprised them with the offer. They probably expected him to ask for an absurdly high amount.
“One-time offer,” Cameron emphasized when both of them remained silent. “Take it or leave.”
Kamenashi raised his eyes from staring on the ground: “Would you be willing to sell it sometime later?”
Look at that boy, he haven´t given up yet, Cameron thought. Well, letting Kamenashi keep some tiny hope could not hurt.
Cameron waved his hand slightly in an indefinite gesture: “Might be.”
“All right,” Kamenashi kept his voice steady, but Cameron caught a glimpse of defeat in his face. “I agree.”
“Kame…” Akanishi was obviously of a different opinion, but shut his mouth once the younger man threw one glance at him.
“Great,” Cameron gave the young man a victorious smile. “I´ll send you the rental contract tomorrow and I´ll be expecting your first payment by the end of this month. Is that acceptable for you, Kamenashi?”
The young man nodded wordlessly.
“Have a nice rest of day then.”
Kamenashi turned on his heel and left his tent without a reply, with Akanishi on his back. Though, of course, the older of the two did not forget to stab Cameron with the hateful look before that.
*
“Nothing is acceptable about that bastard! Who the hell he thinks he is?” Jin fumed quietly as they walked to the gate, under the unpleasant stares of men in sight. “Prying around and trying to control our lives!”
Kame kept silent, frowning in deep discontent, but his rough steps showed he was angry as well.
“He´s like a failed copy of Karnaka!” Jin hissed in disbelief.
“I wouldn´t say failed, unfortunately,” Kame reacted gloomily. “He´s playing with us and he´s doing it damn well.”
“I don´t want to play any games with that creepy butler!”
His partner gave him a serious look: “Neither I, but do we have any other option at the moment? Except leaving the city again?”
Jin snorted: “I know, but that doesn´t mean I hate this any less.”
Kame shook his head, stopped in front of the gate and turned: “That makes two of us.”
Jin followed his gaze and his frown even deepened: “Jesus, this is giving me the creeps,” he murmured, commenting the constant works in the middle of the ranch grounds, exactly on the spot where the white mansion used to stand. The house, which they had burnt down to the ground with the help of their friends - Babb Indians.
“We won´t shake him off our tails easily, Jin,” Kame predicted quietly. “He´s obviously well financially provided, determined and clever. It will be tough to retain our ground against him.”
“Let him bring it on,” Jin reacted determined. “Let´s show him that we won´t give up without a fight.”
- To be continued -