Post by Mayhem on Jul 17, 2023 19:06:40 GMT -6
Off-Camera
Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Church Room
Shieldmaidens Clubhouse
New Orleans, Louisiana
10:21 AM CDT
It wasn’t every day that people traveled into the New Orleans Clubhouse the way two would be today, but then the circumstances were anything but normal at the moment. Today, the Sgt-At-Arms of the San Clemente Charter, Chiaki “Chi Chi” Sanada, her Co-Sgt-At-Arms, tag team partner, and girlfriend, Jane “The Hammer” Harper. Also making her way to the clubhouse was Chi Chi’s cousin, Yukiko Kusanagi, a successful professional wrestler in her own right.
The reason for the gathering?
Sitting in the drug treatment facility known as the Cabin was a third cousin to both Chi Cci and Yukiko, Ichika Sanada, a young woman that neither of them was aware was even in the United States, much less in the throes of a debilitating drug habit. Now all three women enter the meeting room known as the Church Room, the long table usually used for Club meetings and club business would be the perfect place to tell everyone of the circumstances of how their cousin had found herself in the Cabin. New Orleans Charter President Alex “Bullet” Carbajal along with Full Patches Jackie “Bandit” Layton and Kimiko “Shadow” Kojima, a woman whose younger sister was currently a prospect in Chi Chi and Jane’s own San Clemente Charter. The six women take their seats around the table, Bullet in her customary seat at the head, nodding to the others.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Welcome to New Orleans.
Chiaki “Chi Chi” Sanada: Konnichiwa, Burreto-sama.
Chi Chi said with a small bow of her head. She hadn’t been her usual chipper, hyperactive self that everyone had come to know and love her as lately. Her eyes flashed across the table. Seated directly across from her was a woman not affiliated with the Shieldmaidens at all but rather one that was directly in league with a group that Chi Chi had been at odds with over the past few months on the professional wrestling side of things - the Queens of Chaos. Along with Jane “Hammer” Harper, GoGo, the twins Halo & Rain and the recent addition of Brittany Williams who was filling GoGo’s spot while Goldie was injured, Chi Chi and them had been in an all out war of blood and ethics with members of the Queens. What made this situation particularly worse on an emotional standpoint was that this Queen of Chaos seated across from Chi Chi was none other than her own cousin, Yukiko Kusanagi. The older of the two women, brought in from out of town, said nothing. Just nodded in thanks to Bullet but the look in her eyes almost demanded she get to the point of why she was brought here. Both Chi Chi and Yukiko were inwardly thinking “this had better not be a goddamn family intervention.”
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: As you may or may not know, Jack started a club here called Bras d’Or. In order to staff it, from time to time, other clubs are scouted for talent. Jack’s sister, Corrie, ws doing this when she went to a club across town, nearly outside of the city proper. She was also there because the place is a hive for drug dealers to be found and she sometimes allows herself to indulge even though she is currently on probation and a positive test would send her to jail for a significant sentence. On this trip, she came across a young woman that danced and was supposedly good at it. Corrie went over to talk to her, got high with her and asked her what she was called. When she was told the woman’s last name was Sanada, Corrie mentioned she knew you, Chi Chi. Then she was told you are her cousin and Corrie tried to ask her how she ended up there but their communication was not very good then because they were intoxicated. Corrie called Jack, Jack talked to Shadow and they went over to see about this. Shadow was able to determine that this was, in fact, Ichika Sanada, that she really did not wish to be there and was being effectively forced drugs to get her to dance. Jack inquired about purchasing her contract and did so allowing us to get Ichika away from that and into the Cabin.
“Ichika Sanada.” Both of the guests to NOLA heard that name and their eyes snapped directly to Bullet. For a moment, they even exchanged looks themselves. Chi Chi put her hands on the table, leaning forward so far she almost came out of her seat.
Chiaki “Chi Chi” Sanada: Nandayo?! Ichi here?! She in trouble?! What is Cabin?! Where?!
Chi Chi looked at Yukiko again who sat there with a mostly stoic, calm demeanor still but her eyes gave away to the worry and concern she was feeling, hearing that their younger cousin was somehow here in America and in such a predicament. She did a quick recall of time in her head. Ichika was just barely 18. Her birthday had just passed at the tail end of last year.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: The Cabin is an actual cabin not far from here. We use it to help treat drug problems. Ichika is there because she has one thanks to who Jack bought her contract from. When she is clean, she will also be free to do as she pleases. If she wants to dance, she has a job here. If she does not, she will owe us nothing.
Shadow translates for the other two Japanese women. Chi Chi looked across the table at her cousin.
Chiaki “Chi Chi” Sanada: Anata wa nani o shite iru? Kore de dō yatte ochitsuite imasu ka?!
Yukiko’s gaze shifted from Bullet to Chi Chi. Something in her eyes immediately said something to the San Clemente Co-Sgt. At Arms and for the first time since anyone else at that table had known her, they saw a look of cold fear flash across her face and Chi Chi settled back in her chair. She pressed her hands together and placed them against her lips for a moment. She looked to Bullet.
Chiaki “Chi Chi” Sanada: Ichi ok? We see her?
Bullet nods.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: We can take you to see her as soon as we’re done talking. We can even take separate cars if you wish.
Chi Chi nodded her head desperately.
Chiaki “Chi Chi” Sanada: Hai, hai. Onegaishimasu. Ichi…she daughter, Uncle Jubei. He train us.
She motioned from herself over to Yukiko who was sitting back in her chair, still ever so silent. Eerily calm and collected.
Chiaki “Chi Chi” Sanada: Burreto-sama… Arigato. Sankyu for help Ichi. She not owe. But we do. Please..we go now?
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Do you want separate cars or same one?
Chiaki “Chi Chi” Sanada: Ah…one car. Not too many. No scare Ichi. She scared?
Bullet nods.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: She was terrified when Corrie found her. I think she is more terrified now. Mi hermana is her doctor. Gata will not allow anything to happen to her.
Chi Chi closed her eyes, fighting to keep back tears and nodded.
Chiaki “Chi Chi” Sanada: We thank Gata. Please, we go.
Chi Chi immediately stood from her seat, almost pleading in her eyes with Bullet. Across from her, Yukiko smoothly stood from her seat and adjusted her jacket. Waiting.
Bullet stands up and nods to Shadow.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: My camaro is downstairs. Shadow, you come too. This is not a time to have miscommunication.
Shadow nods and Bullet smiles as everyone else stands with them.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Follow me.
She walks out the door to the stairs and then down to the parking lot to a black and gold 2018 Chevy camaro. She unlocks the car and slips into the driver’s seat. Shadow motions at Chi Chi and Yuki to take their places as she waits to see which one they do not take. Respectfully, the cousins both climb into the back, sitting on opposite sides of the seat. Even now, despite the situation at hand, there’s still that sense of tension between them.Shadow steps into the passenger side and closes the door. With that, Bullet fires up the car and drives out of the parking lot. Forty-five minutes later, they pull up to a literal cabin seemingly in the middle of nowhere.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: We are here.
She quickly punches a message into her phone. Within seconds, it pings back at her.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: They are ready for us inside.
Bullet opens the door, steps outside and nods to the others. Chi Chi and Yukiko climb out of the car after Bullet and Shadow. Chi Chi didn’t waste time, beeling towards the front of the cabin as the door opened and a woman both she and Yukiko recognized. Chi Chi stopped in her tracks.
Chiaki “Chi Chi” Sanada: Ah! Morgan-chan?
Morgan Payne: Hey Cheech. You good?
Chi Chi nodded, looking past her at the cabin again. Morgan followed her gaze with her own eyes then looked back to her.
Morgan Payne: She’s in there. Go on.
Without another word, Chi Chi bolted past her and went running inside the cabin as Morgan approached the other three. A nod and a fist bump to Shadow, then a warm smile as she pulled Bullet into a tight hug, slapping her back.
Morgan Payne: Oye. ¿Cómo estás?
Bullet smiles back.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: ¿Quiubo, Parce?
Morgan then looked to Yukiko, her expression softening and going more serious.
Morgan Payne: Hey, Yuki. Been awhile.
Yukiko’s eyes flashed to Morgan, a curt nod, and she silently moved, heading to and into the cabin herself.
Bullet nods to the Cabin.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: This will be hard on them?
Morgan folded her arms across her chest and shook her head a little.
Morgan Payne: I dunno. I mean, she’s a damn kid, goin’ through dis shit. Ahnno if it were me in their shoes and Gabby was tha one in there? I’d be a bag of mixed emotions.
Bullet nods her agreement.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: If it were one of my cousins, I would be the same. Corrie almost shit her pants when she found out the girl was Chi Chi’s cousin. She’s still worried she’s going to be in trouble herself. I cannot imagine how Pequeña thinking.
Morgan sighed, shrugging her shoulders with one hand coming up then slapping back against her arm.
Morgan Payne: Well, ahnno I had t’calm her dahn when I told her they were comin’. Thank fuck for them Japanese lessons I took.
She paused, listening. There was no sound of anything crashing or raised voices inside the cabin. Morgan wasn’t sure if she should be relieved or concerned.
Morgan Payne: Wanna go in an’ check on ‘em? Moe’s in the shower. We ain’t gotta butt into their talk n’at.
Bullet nods and the three go inside. The scene they walked in on was damn near heartbreaking. Ichika Sanada, a poor girl from across the world who caught a bad stroke of luck in coming to the so called “Land of Opportunity”, sat in a chair at the kitchen table. The same table Morgan had once sat at in that position with Linnea Lacroix telling her that things weren’t her fault. Chi Chi sat, kneeling in front of Ichika with her hands over hers in her lap, trying to get her to look at her as she talked softly to her in Japanese. Looming beside Ichika, a step behind was Yukiko, silently listening. Chi Chi put a hand to Ichika’s face. Yukiko placed a gentle hand on the youngest of the three cousin’s shoulders.
Chiaki “Chi Chi” Sanada: Watashitachi wa anata o aishiteimasu, ichi-chan. Dare mo anata o hajite imasen.
Ichika still cannot look anyone in the eye.
Ichika Sanada: Haji ga watashi ni tsukimatoimasu. Watashi wa fumeiyodesu. Watashi wa minasan ni shippai shimashita.
Chiaki “Chi Chi” Sanada: Īe! Anata wa shite imasen! Karera wa anata o riyō shimashita!
Yukiko Kusanagi: Anata ga watashitachi o hajite itara, watashitachi wa koko ni inaideshou. Kiita koto ga arimasu ka, Ichika-chan?
Ichika Sanada: Papa wa nan to iudeshou ka?
Chi Chi and Yukiko fell silent for a moment and exchanged a look. Chi Chi’s expression went somber and she slowly retracted her hands away and sighed. She didn’t know how to answer that, based on her own experiences with her parents. Yukiko stepped around, however, and knelt down next to Chi Chi. She reached out and put her fingers under Ichika’s chin and lifted her head to make her look her in the eye.
Yukiko Kusanagi: Anata no otōsandearu Jubei ojisan wa, kono sekai de dono yō na jaakuna no ka o shitte imasu. Kare ga nani ga okotta no ka o rikai surudarou to kakushin shite imasu. Anata wa kare no musumedesu. Kare wa anata o aishiteimasu. Shikashi, kare wa kore ni tsuite shiru hitsuyō wa arimasen. Mada.
Ichika looks at her two cousins, looking every bit the scared little girl.
Ichika Sanada: Watashi wa totemo kodoku o kanjimashita. Anata o shippai sa setakunakatta nodesu.
Tears stream down her face.
Ichika Sanada: Karera wa watashi ni motto ya tte hoshī to omotte imashita.
Yukiko touched Ichika’s face, making silent “shh” sounds to soothe her. Beside her, Chi Chi’s hands balled into fists and she began to tremble with rage until Yukiko reached over and put a hand over them with a gentle squeeze. Chi Chi sighed, relaxing some as Yukiko cupped Ichika’s face in her hands and smiled warmly.
Yukiko Kusanagi: Anata wa mōhitoride wa arimasen. Anata wa koko ni anata no sewa o suru kazoku ga imasu. Anata ga mō issho ni ita hito o shinpai suru hitsuyō wa arimasen. Yakusoku shimasu.
She wiped Ichika’s tears away with her thumbs.
Yukiko Kusanagi: Watashitachi wa anata o aishitemasu.
Hearing this, Chi Chi looked up quickly and nodded.
Chiaki “Chi Chi” Sanada: Hai! Watashitachi wa anata no koto ga sukidesu!
She raised up onto her knees and threw her arms around Ichika, pulling her into a tight hug. Yukiko ran her hand down the back of Ichika’s hair and placed a soft kiss on her forehead while she was in Chi Chi’s arms. She then stood, turned towards Bullet and Morgan…and her soft, warm expression was washed away by a cold, chilling malice in her eyes. She crossed the cabin until she was standing in front of the NOLA charter President and her former NFW coworker. Her eyes locked right onto Bullet.
Yukiko Kusanagi: Your people. They know who did this. Yes?
Bullet nods.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: They are gathering information on him back at the clubhouse as we speak.
Yukiko looked back over her shoulder where Chi Chi was still hugging and consoling Ichika. She turned back to Bullet and Morgan and lowered her gaze to the floor. Nodded her head. She stepped around the two, pausing when she was shoulder to shoulder with Bullet, facing the door to the cabin.
Yukiko Kusanagi: When you find the man in charge of it all…your people do not harm him. You bring him somewhere quiet. Secluded. Isolated. We are in agreement?
Bullet barely blinks.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: We have such a place.
Yukiko sticks a cigarette in between her lips and lights the end of it, taking a deep drag.
Yukiko Kusanagi: Subarashī.
And the woman walked out of the cabin without another word. As she did, Morgan turned to watch her go, while saying to Bullet.
Morgan Payne: If I don’t ask, yinz don’t gotta tell, yeah?
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Es la verdad.
Morgan turned back to watch Chi Chi and Ichika for a moment then looked to Bullet.
Morgan Payne: Yanno she gon’ be a’ight. I’mma make sure of it. Yinz did it for me. Time for me to pay back. And uhh…hey. ‘Bout what I said to Killer. Look, I mighta stepped outta line. No hard feelings?
Bullet smiles.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Kara is her own woman. Things get heated, especially with her.
Morgan sighed and shook her head.
Morgan Payne: Yeah. Guess we’ll see what comes of it.
Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Church Room
Shieldmaidens Clubhouse
New Orleans, Louisiana
10:21 AM CDT
It wasn’t every day that people traveled into the New Orleans Clubhouse the way two would be today, but then the circumstances were anything but normal at the moment. Today, the Sgt-At-Arms of the San Clemente Charter, Chiaki “Chi Chi” Sanada, her Co-Sgt-At-Arms, tag team partner, and girlfriend, Jane “The Hammer” Harper. Also making her way to the clubhouse was Chi Chi’s cousin, Yukiko Kusanagi, a successful professional wrestler in her own right.
The reason for the gathering?
Sitting in the drug treatment facility known as the Cabin was a third cousin to both Chi Cci and Yukiko, Ichika Sanada, a young woman that neither of them was aware was even in the United States, much less in the throes of a debilitating drug habit. Now all three women enter the meeting room known as the Church Room, the long table usually used for Club meetings and club business would be the perfect place to tell everyone of the circumstances of how their cousin had found herself in the Cabin. New Orleans Charter President Alex “Bullet” Carbajal along with Full Patches Jackie “Bandit” Layton and Kimiko “Shadow” Kojima, a woman whose younger sister was currently a prospect in Chi Chi and Jane’s own San Clemente Charter. The six women take their seats around the table, Bullet in her customary seat at the head, nodding to the others.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Welcome to New Orleans.
Chiaki “Chi Chi” Sanada: Konnichiwa, Burreto-sama.
Chi Chi said with a small bow of her head. She hadn’t been her usual chipper, hyperactive self that everyone had come to know and love her as lately. Her eyes flashed across the table. Seated directly across from her was a woman not affiliated with the Shieldmaidens at all but rather one that was directly in league with a group that Chi Chi had been at odds with over the past few months on the professional wrestling side of things - the Queens of Chaos. Along with Jane “Hammer” Harper, GoGo, the twins Halo & Rain and the recent addition of Brittany Williams who was filling GoGo’s spot while Goldie was injured, Chi Chi and them had been in an all out war of blood and ethics with members of the Queens. What made this situation particularly worse on an emotional standpoint was that this Queen of Chaos seated across from Chi Chi was none other than her own cousin, Yukiko Kusanagi. The older of the two women, brought in from out of town, said nothing. Just nodded in thanks to Bullet but the look in her eyes almost demanded she get to the point of why she was brought here. Both Chi Chi and Yukiko were inwardly thinking “this had better not be a goddamn family intervention.”
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: As you may or may not know, Jack started a club here called Bras d’Or. In order to staff it, from time to time, other clubs are scouted for talent. Jack’s sister, Corrie, ws doing this when she went to a club across town, nearly outside of the city proper. She was also there because the place is a hive for drug dealers to be found and she sometimes allows herself to indulge even though she is currently on probation and a positive test would send her to jail for a significant sentence. On this trip, she came across a young woman that danced and was supposedly good at it. Corrie went over to talk to her, got high with her and asked her what she was called. When she was told the woman’s last name was Sanada, Corrie mentioned she knew you, Chi Chi. Then she was told you are her cousin and Corrie tried to ask her how she ended up there but their communication was not very good then because they were intoxicated. Corrie called Jack, Jack talked to Shadow and they went over to see about this. Shadow was able to determine that this was, in fact, Ichika Sanada, that she really did not wish to be there and was being effectively forced drugs to get her to dance. Jack inquired about purchasing her contract and did so allowing us to get Ichika away from that and into the Cabin.
“Ichika Sanada.” Both of the guests to NOLA heard that name and their eyes snapped directly to Bullet. For a moment, they even exchanged looks themselves. Chi Chi put her hands on the table, leaning forward so far she almost came out of her seat.
Chiaki “Chi Chi” Sanada: Nandayo?! Ichi here?! She in trouble?! What is Cabin?! Where?!
Chi Chi looked at Yukiko again who sat there with a mostly stoic, calm demeanor still but her eyes gave away to the worry and concern she was feeling, hearing that their younger cousin was somehow here in America and in such a predicament. She did a quick recall of time in her head. Ichika was just barely 18. Her birthday had just passed at the tail end of last year.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: The Cabin is an actual cabin not far from here. We use it to help treat drug problems. Ichika is there because she has one thanks to who Jack bought her contract from. When she is clean, she will also be free to do as she pleases. If she wants to dance, she has a job here. If she does not, she will owe us nothing.
Shadow translates for the other two Japanese women. Chi Chi looked across the table at her cousin.
Chiaki “Chi Chi” Sanada: Anata wa nani o shite iru? Kore de dō yatte ochitsuite imasu ka?!
Yukiko’s gaze shifted from Bullet to Chi Chi. Something in her eyes immediately said something to the San Clemente Co-Sgt. At Arms and for the first time since anyone else at that table had known her, they saw a look of cold fear flash across her face and Chi Chi settled back in her chair. She pressed her hands together and placed them against her lips for a moment. She looked to Bullet.
Chiaki “Chi Chi” Sanada: Ichi ok? We see her?
Bullet nods.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: We can take you to see her as soon as we’re done talking. We can even take separate cars if you wish.
Chi Chi nodded her head desperately.
Chiaki “Chi Chi” Sanada: Hai, hai. Onegaishimasu. Ichi…she daughter, Uncle Jubei. He train us.
She motioned from herself over to Yukiko who was sitting back in her chair, still ever so silent. Eerily calm and collected.
Chiaki “Chi Chi” Sanada: Burreto-sama… Arigato. Sankyu for help Ichi. She not owe. But we do. Please..we go now?
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Do you want separate cars or same one?
Chiaki “Chi Chi” Sanada: Ah…one car. Not too many. No scare Ichi. She scared?
Bullet nods.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: She was terrified when Corrie found her. I think she is more terrified now. Mi hermana is her doctor. Gata will not allow anything to happen to her.
Chi Chi closed her eyes, fighting to keep back tears and nodded.
Chiaki “Chi Chi” Sanada: We thank Gata. Please, we go.
Chi Chi immediately stood from her seat, almost pleading in her eyes with Bullet. Across from her, Yukiko smoothly stood from her seat and adjusted her jacket. Waiting.
Bullet stands up and nods to Shadow.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: My camaro is downstairs. Shadow, you come too. This is not a time to have miscommunication.
Shadow nods and Bullet smiles as everyone else stands with them.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Follow me.
She walks out the door to the stairs and then down to the parking lot to a black and gold 2018 Chevy camaro. She unlocks the car and slips into the driver’s seat. Shadow motions at Chi Chi and Yuki to take their places as she waits to see which one they do not take. Respectfully, the cousins both climb into the back, sitting on opposite sides of the seat. Even now, despite the situation at hand, there’s still that sense of tension between them.Shadow steps into the passenger side and closes the door. With that, Bullet fires up the car and drives out of the parking lot. Forty-five minutes later, they pull up to a literal cabin seemingly in the middle of nowhere.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: We are here.
She quickly punches a message into her phone. Within seconds, it pings back at her.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: They are ready for us inside.
Bullet opens the door, steps outside and nods to the others. Chi Chi and Yukiko climb out of the car after Bullet and Shadow. Chi Chi didn’t waste time, beeling towards the front of the cabin as the door opened and a woman both she and Yukiko recognized. Chi Chi stopped in her tracks.
Chiaki “Chi Chi” Sanada: Ah! Morgan-chan?
Morgan Payne: Hey Cheech. You good?
Chi Chi nodded, looking past her at the cabin again. Morgan followed her gaze with her own eyes then looked back to her.
Morgan Payne: She’s in there. Go on.
Without another word, Chi Chi bolted past her and went running inside the cabin as Morgan approached the other three. A nod and a fist bump to Shadow, then a warm smile as she pulled Bullet into a tight hug, slapping her back.
Morgan Payne: Oye. ¿Cómo estás?
Bullet smiles back.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: ¿Quiubo, Parce?
Morgan then looked to Yukiko, her expression softening and going more serious.
Morgan Payne: Hey, Yuki. Been awhile.
Yukiko’s eyes flashed to Morgan, a curt nod, and she silently moved, heading to and into the cabin herself.
Bullet nods to the Cabin.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: This will be hard on them?
Morgan folded her arms across her chest and shook her head a little.
Morgan Payne: I dunno. I mean, she’s a damn kid, goin’ through dis shit. Ahnno if it were me in their shoes and Gabby was tha one in there? I’d be a bag of mixed emotions.
Bullet nods her agreement.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: If it were one of my cousins, I would be the same. Corrie almost shit her pants when she found out the girl was Chi Chi’s cousin. She’s still worried she’s going to be in trouble herself. I cannot imagine how Pequeña thinking.
Morgan sighed, shrugging her shoulders with one hand coming up then slapping back against her arm.
Morgan Payne: Well, ahnno I had t’calm her dahn when I told her they were comin’. Thank fuck for them Japanese lessons I took.
She paused, listening. There was no sound of anything crashing or raised voices inside the cabin. Morgan wasn’t sure if she should be relieved or concerned.
Morgan Payne: Wanna go in an’ check on ‘em? Moe’s in the shower. We ain’t gotta butt into their talk n’at.
Bullet nods and the three go inside. The scene they walked in on was damn near heartbreaking. Ichika Sanada, a poor girl from across the world who caught a bad stroke of luck in coming to the so called “Land of Opportunity”, sat in a chair at the kitchen table. The same table Morgan had once sat at in that position with Linnea Lacroix telling her that things weren’t her fault. Chi Chi sat, kneeling in front of Ichika with her hands over hers in her lap, trying to get her to look at her as she talked softly to her in Japanese. Looming beside Ichika, a step behind was Yukiko, silently listening. Chi Chi put a hand to Ichika’s face. Yukiko placed a gentle hand on the youngest of the three cousin’s shoulders.
Chiaki “Chi Chi” Sanada: Watashitachi wa anata o aishiteimasu, ichi-chan. Dare mo anata o hajite imasen.
Ichika still cannot look anyone in the eye.
Ichika Sanada: Haji ga watashi ni tsukimatoimasu. Watashi wa fumeiyodesu. Watashi wa minasan ni shippai shimashita.
Chiaki “Chi Chi” Sanada: Īe! Anata wa shite imasen! Karera wa anata o riyō shimashita!
Yukiko Kusanagi: Anata ga watashitachi o hajite itara, watashitachi wa koko ni inaideshou. Kiita koto ga arimasu ka, Ichika-chan?
Ichika Sanada: Papa wa nan to iudeshou ka?
Chi Chi and Yukiko fell silent for a moment and exchanged a look. Chi Chi’s expression went somber and she slowly retracted her hands away and sighed. She didn’t know how to answer that, based on her own experiences with her parents. Yukiko stepped around, however, and knelt down next to Chi Chi. She reached out and put her fingers under Ichika’s chin and lifted her head to make her look her in the eye.
Yukiko Kusanagi: Anata no otōsandearu Jubei ojisan wa, kono sekai de dono yō na jaakuna no ka o shitte imasu. Kare ga nani ga okotta no ka o rikai surudarou to kakushin shite imasu. Anata wa kare no musumedesu. Kare wa anata o aishiteimasu. Shikashi, kare wa kore ni tsuite shiru hitsuyō wa arimasen. Mada.
Ichika looks at her two cousins, looking every bit the scared little girl.
Ichika Sanada: Watashi wa totemo kodoku o kanjimashita. Anata o shippai sa setakunakatta nodesu.
Tears stream down her face.
Ichika Sanada: Karera wa watashi ni motto ya tte hoshī to omotte imashita.
Yukiko touched Ichika’s face, making silent “shh” sounds to soothe her. Beside her, Chi Chi’s hands balled into fists and she began to tremble with rage until Yukiko reached over and put a hand over them with a gentle squeeze. Chi Chi sighed, relaxing some as Yukiko cupped Ichika’s face in her hands and smiled warmly.
Yukiko Kusanagi: Anata wa mōhitoride wa arimasen. Anata wa koko ni anata no sewa o suru kazoku ga imasu. Anata ga mō issho ni ita hito o shinpai suru hitsuyō wa arimasen. Yakusoku shimasu.
She wiped Ichika’s tears away with her thumbs.
Yukiko Kusanagi: Watashitachi wa anata o aishitemasu.
Hearing this, Chi Chi looked up quickly and nodded.
Chiaki “Chi Chi” Sanada: Hai! Watashitachi wa anata no koto ga sukidesu!
She raised up onto her knees and threw her arms around Ichika, pulling her into a tight hug. Yukiko ran her hand down the back of Ichika’s hair and placed a soft kiss on her forehead while she was in Chi Chi’s arms. She then stood, turned towards Bullet and Morgan…and her soft, warm expression was washed away by a cold, chilling malice in her eyes. She crossed the cabin until she was standing in front of the NOLA charter President and her former NFW coworker. Her eyes locked right onto Bullet.
Yukiko Kusanagi: Your people. They know who did this. Yes?
Bullet nods.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: They are gathering information on him back at the clubhouse as we speak.
Yukiko looked back over her shoulder where Chi Chi was still hugging and consoling Ichika. She turned back to Bullet and Morgan and lowered her gaze to the floor. Nodded her head. She stepped around the two, pausing when she was shoulder to shoulder with Bullet, facing the door to the cabin.
Yukiko Kusanagi: When you find the man in charge of it all…your people do not harm him. You bring him somewhere quiet. Secluded. Isolated. We are in agreement?
Bullet barely blinks.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: We have such a place.
Yukiko sticks a cigarette in between her lips and lights the end of it, taking a deep drag.
Yukiko Kusanagi: Subarashī.
And the woman walked out of the cabin without another word. As she did, Morgan turned to watch her go, while saying to Bullet.
Morgan Payne: If I don’t ask, yinz don’t gotta tell, yeah?
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Es la verdad.
Morgan turned back to watch Chi Chi and Ichika for a moment then looked to Bullet.
Morgan Payne: Yanno she gon’ be a’ight. I’mma make sure of it. Yinz did it for me. Time for me to pay back. And uhh…hey. ‘Bout what I said to Killer. Look, I mighta stepped outta line. No hard feelings?
Bullet smiles.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Kara is her own woman. Things get heated, especially with her.
Morgan sighed and shook her head.
Morgan Payne: Yeah. Guess we’ll see what comes of it.
