Yohji stood at the counter of the saloon, smoking a cigarillo, his third glass of whiskey on the scarred wood in front of him. He was very aware of the looks he was getting, could feel the weight of eyes on his back.
Unfriendly eyes set in rugged sun-weathered faces. Ugly men with ugly souls.
Dark beasts. He knew the feel.
So long as they stayed where they were they were safe. Not that they saw any threat in him. No. To them he was just a soft faced drifter, an easterner come looking for gold. A fool.
He wasn�t an easterner in the sense they meant, and he�d killed more men than all of them put together.
Kai had faced a dilemma after Aya�s little burst of temper. Did he hang about in the hotel restaurant while Crawford communed silently with Schuldig or conducted business, did he go upstairs and brave a pissed off redhead or did he take a third option? Deciding he needed a beer after the events of the morning, he dumped his packages with the hotel desk and headed for the saloon.
As soon as he entered the place all conversation ceased and all eyes turned to stare at him. Trying to appear less intimidated than he actually felt, he made his way across to the bar. Luckily Yohji was there and he took the space next to his and ordered a beer.
The blonde cast a sideward glance at Kai from the corner of his eye. �If Aya sent you here, I don�t want to hear the message right now. If not, that�s fine,� Yohji stated just loud enough for Kai to hear him. He was speaking English, his accent suppressed through careful enunciation of each word. It made him sound far more drunk than he was.
�I came here to avoid Aya,� Kai said in the same language. �He was obviously in a vile mood after you sniped at him so I wasn�t prepared to follow him upstairs to our room. Crawford probably doesn�t want me around right now so I came here.� He shrugged.
�Don�t blame his mood on me. Or rather, don�t blame the fact he�s suffering from guilt over what he knows he�s going to do to me,� Yohji remarked as he picked up his drink and downed the rest.
He motioned to the bartender and the man refilled the glass without a comment.
�Either way, keeping your distance from him is a good idea. He tends to lash out at everyone when he�s in a pissy mood.�
�I don�t remember blaming you,� Kai said mildly. �All I know is that Zeshin was upstairs guarding our stuff and will probably take the brunt of his temper. But then you don�t care about that, do you?�
Yohji�s voice dropped even lower as he replied in Japanese, �Don�t worry about him. The only thing Zeshin is going to take is Abyssinian�s cock up his ass.�
Kai didn�t dignify that with a reply in any language. If what Yohji said was true then he only had himself to blame really what with the way he�d reacted whilst around Aya that morning. It would have been enough to push anyone away.
He took a long swallow of his beer and sighed slightly. They had seemed to be melding into one large team and now this had happened and he wasn�t sure where that would leave any of them.
�Sorry,� Yohji told the teen. �I shouldn�t have said that, true or not.� He stared down at the drink on the bar, �It�s between the two of us, or well... I guess it�s really between Aya and Zeshin now.� He picked up his drink and took a swallow, �It�s my fault. I should never have told him how I felt and none of this would be happening.�
The rest of the whiskey vanished into the blonde�s mouth. �But that�s over now and he can do what he wants, just like I can.�
Kai sighed. �I don�t think it�s a question of want,� he said. �I think it�s a question of need and� perhaps familiarity. I guess until Zeshin and I came along you were all each other had. He must care about you or he wouldn�t have reacted the way he did.� He took another swallow of beer. �Aww hell! Do all assassins become as fucked up as you two have?�
Yohji regarded the boy for a moment before saying, �I see the beer goes straight to your mouth.�
There was no animosity in the tone he used. None.
�We were both fucked up before we became what we are, or were.� Yohji frowned, �And yeah, we thought we were the last and that was a lie. With that as the basis of our relationship, in part, it was doomed from the start.� He smiled, the expression bittersweet, �A fact which I was cognizant of, even if Aya wasn�t.
�But you know I wouldn�t trade the few moments I had with him for anything. They are something I�ll always remember, those brief moments of bliss in his arms.�
Kai shook his head. �It�s not the beer,� he said wryly. �I�ve always been like this, speaking before thinking. But what you say makes sense. I think we were all fucked up or fucked over. For me it was join Kritiker or face many years of prison with members of rival clans. I would have survived all of a week if I was lucky! If I was unlucky, well you know what would have happened.�
He drank more beer obviously deep in thought. �You know something,� he said eventually, �I don�t remember actually thinking of the Yakuza as a career option when I was a kid in school. It was just circumstances.�
He shrugged again and shut up, apart from ordering a second beer. He didn�t want to say anything about Yohji�s doomed relationship with Aya. Didn�t want to pry or hurt the blonde assassin�s feelings even further even though he wondered about the bliss. It wasn�t something he�d ever experienced.
�Yeah. I didn�t consider being a paid murderer as a career option. Those just aren�t the type of jobs you�d wake up one morning and say, �Hey, I know, I�ll just join the Yakuza or being an assassin is my ideal job.� Because, really, most people plan to do other things with their lives.�
�Kritiker trapped you too?� Kai asked. His tone was slightly bitter.
�No. Not exactly. I.... lost a piece of myself when Asuka died. I wanted to get even with the people who�d taken her from me. Takatori�s infamous dark beasts, men who exploited and murdered women.� He sighed. �They caught me when I was mentally vulnerable, or just too lost to care about what their offer would mean long term.
�In the long run it wouldn�t have mattered. I don�t like to kill, per se, but I�ve discovered that I�m pretty damned good at it.� He cast a sidelong glance behind them, his gaze going hard. �Unfortunately a couple of complete fools are about to discover that fact to their own sorrow.�
He�d no more than said that when a pair of the men who�d been eyeing him got to their feet and sauntered in their direction.
�If you don�t want to reveal your capabilities, don�t. I can handle these two idiots alone.�
�I�ve no objection to revealing what I�m capable of,� Kai said, �but I�ll only interfere if needed.� He had the intelligence to realise that Yohji needed to vent his frustration on someone and that these two apes would do nicely.
�I think it�s in our best interest not to let on that almost all of us are perfectly capable of making corpses,� the blond replied softly as he turned to face the men, a laconic smile on his lips.
�Gentlemen, do yourselves a favour and forget what you came over here to attempt.�
The man with his gun slung low on his hip smiled icily at Yohji. �Well I don�t think we can do that, considering how much you�re stinking up the place.�
Yohji regarded the man with cool jade eyes, �It�s called soap and water. I�m sure you�ve never heard of those things, but believe me, using them increases your popularity with the ladies.�
Behind him Kai sniggered at the remark but the men ignored him, focusing on the blonde.
�I don�t think you understood me, Chink, your sort ain�t welcome in here.�
Yohji�s smile never wavered, �How many blonde chinks have you seen?� he asked patiently. �I�m not Chinese.� He casually leaned back against the bar. �Why don�t you boys run along and play somewhere else. You�re spoiling my morning.�
�I don�t care if you�re born and bred American, you still ain�t welcome, boy.�
�That�s too bad. I like it here, and the bartender seems to like my money just fine. Seems we�ve got ourselves a dilemma here, boys. One that might be best settled out on the street rather than in here where it will make a mess.
�I�d hate to spill your blood all over the nice clean floor.� Not that the floor was really all that clean, but it wasn�t blood soaked either.
�I think this boy means to take us both on, Joe,� the quiet man of the pair remarked. �Guess he don�t know who we are.�
�You mean who you think you are?� Yohji replied knowing that was likely to piss both men off.
�Okay, that does it,� Joe yelled, �outside, boy, right now.�
His partner just glowered menacingly at Yohji, but the blonde didn�t show any reaction or fear of them which puzzled the quiet man. Not enough for him to think they were in any trouble, but the tall man did seem a bit too calm for someone about to engage in a deadly gunfight against two opponents.
Kai swallowed his beer down, prepared to back Yohji just in case these two goons didn�t know the meaning of fair play.
Yohji glanced at the bartender, �You might want to send for the local undertaker. He�s about to have work,� then he strolled casually for the swinging doors of the saloon.
Kai followed the two gunmen as they followed Yohji.
In the hotel, Schuldig�s head suddenly came up from the contemplation of his coffee and Crawford, who was still calmly reading his paper.
*I think Yohji�s got a point to prove.*
*Yes, right on time too. Shall we go and play audience? If we hurry we can get there before they exit the saloon,* Crawford replied as he abandoned both paper, coffee and the remains of his breakfast all but running for the door.
Schuldig followed him quickly, careful not to use his enhanced speed. No point in terrorising the other hotel guests. He reached the street just as Yohji exited the saloon followed by two men and Kai playing sheepdog behind them. He smirked. The ex Yakuza was proving to be quite an asset.
As they stepped outside Yohji noticed Crawford and Schuldig standing beside the hotel doors. He gave the man a nod which Brad returned, adding, �I told you to stay out of trouble.�
�This isn�t my idea, boss.�
�It never is,� Brad replied using a passably believable tone of irritation he didn�t really feel. It was all for show. His words, the fight the assassin was about to engage in. It would serve to add to their reputation, one that they needed to establish quickly if they were to survive in this place and time.
He regarded the pair of ragged men following the blonde killer, �I�ll see that you�re decently buried, never fear gentlemen. I always make sure his victims are taken care of.�
The quiet man glanced at his partner, the first touch of worry showing in his watery blue eyes.
Schuldig leaned against the hotel wall, showing all the indications of a man out to watch a master at work. His blue eyes remained watchful however.
Kai stood in front of the saloon doors, effectively preventing any escape for the men in that direction.
Joe marched out to the middle of the street, arrogant in his own belief that he was better than any immigrant scum. The quiet man followed him but more slowly as Crawford�s words sank in. Seemingly the guy Joe had picked on was no amateur.
Yohji took his place in the street, his expression blank, almost bored. His first gunfight, but killing was a game he knew. One these two usually only engaged in when they thought they were sure winners while the blond they faced was used to fighting against bad odds and in adverse conditions.
After facing the horror that Takatori Masafumi had turned himself into, much less Schwarz and the Elders of Esset, everything else had become too commonplace to even ruffle his nerves.
Besides, there�d been a time when he�d held all the records for the High Noon gunslinger game at the arcade he had hung out in as a high school student. How much different could this be?
Joe and his partner faced off against him and it was obvious that the loudmouth was itching for a fight. His finger was twitching near his holster. He gazed at Yohji, looking for some show of fear, even a twitch would do. There was nothing and he finally began to wonder if he�d done the right thing. No going back now. His hand moved to his gun.
Yohji�s lightning reflexes reacted to the barely perceived motion the blonde drawing his gun in a blur of movement that ended in two closely spaced gunshots.
Both men keeled over, blood pumping from their chests. Kai crouched down by their sides, checking that they were dead. Then he looked up to see Schuldig and Crawford grinning. He sighed. Obviously something else that was supposed to happen. He rose to his feet just as a crowd began to gather, drawn by the sound of gunshots.
Yohji casually removed the two spent cartridges from his six-shooter and replaced them with fresh bullets before he stepped back up onto the boardwalk, nodded to Brad, and entered the saloon.
Crawford�s smirk only grew as he said to Schuldig, *He did that after four shots of whiskey. Not bad. Not bad at all.*
Ken exited the hotel just in time to see Yohji vanish into the saloon. Noting the pair of dead men in the street he quickly added things up and realized that his team mate had just gunned down the two men. Knowing Yohji the guys probably more than deserved what they�d gotten. It also didn�t take a rocket scientist to figure out that, the way things were going, they�d have most of the criminals in Sacramento dead or running for their lives by the end of a month.
Knowing Crawford, that was probably the man�s plan. It wasn�t hard to figure out that the Schwarz leader didn�t care for competition. Any competition that might pose even a minor risk to their safety would be competition that was best eliminated in the most expedient manner possible.
And with Weiss and Schwarz teamed up, you couldn�t get many more ways of ridding the town of dangerous idiots than that.
Farfarello joined Ken at the hotel door. �Kudoh?� he asked.
�Yeah,� Ken replied.
�He�ll need a name now. I�m sure Brad has one in mind.�
�Name?�
�Yes, famous gunfighters always had colourful names, so I understand.�
�Oh.�
*The Shanghai Kid if it bothers you, Farf. He mentioned it earlier.* Schuldig peeled himself off the wall and smirked at Ken and his lover. *What did you discover? I�m sure Brad�s dying to hear it.*
*It doesn�t bother me,* Farfarello replied. *I�m not sure Yohji will like that name. Shanghai is in China after all.
*I discovered that a lot of people are paying for protection from �dangerous elements� in this town. I was followed back to the hotel, but no one approached me. Not this time anyway. I�m sure it�s only a matter of time before they make contact with one of us about joining their organization for our own health.*
*Dumb fucks. If they approach us they must have a death wish like the two heroes in the street did.*
*I think they�d offer us work with their group first, and when we refuse, they�ll try and eliminate us the operative word being �try� of course.*
Schuldig thought about the shielded gunman from the store and frowned slightly. *Most will be like those two, good at bullying but crap against real professionals. That gunman from this morning is their only real professional, I think. What I don�t understand is why he feels the need to shield his mind.*
*Maybe there are others like us that he�s encountered, or maybe it�s a natural barrier, like the one Fujimiya has.*
*Let�s hope it�s a natural barrier. If there are others like us in the opposition�* He smirked suddenly. *Actually it might make life more interesting.*
*Speaking of interesting...* Farfarello slipped his arm around Schuldig, *let�s go play hide the flesh knife. I�m bored.*
Crawford looked at the two cooling bodies in the street with a sense of mild satisfaction. He hadn�t been sure how things would work out with them so far in the past, but it was actually going better than he�d initially anticipated.
And unless he was badly off, the situation between Aya and Yohji would soon resolve itself, to his satisfaction as well.
Kai after glancing across the street and seeing no sign of Aya or Zeshin followed Yohji back into the saloon. He was beginning to like the blonde assassin now he actually had the time to get to know him better.
Yohji was back at his spot in front of the bar as if he�d never left. As Kai returned the bartender was just pouring another drink for the ex-Weiss.
Kai didn�t make the usual fan boy remarks about how great Yohji had been. Instead he simply ordered another beer and let the blonde break the silence if he wished.
�Do you really like that stuff or are you just drinking it to be sociable because I�m drinking?� the blond enquired.
�It�s not the best beer I�ve ever drunk but it�s not the worst either. I enjoy a beer. I don�t think you�re even tasting that whiskey which might not be a bad thing. I doubt it was distilled in pristine conditions at this time.�
�I doubt it was distilled. I think they just poured it through a couple of semi-clean socks and bottled it.� He downed half of the latest shot. �My real father was in the Yakuza,� he revealed softly. �I barely remember him. I grew up with my mom and step-father. He was the only father I really knew.�
�Probably just as well,� Kai said. �Most Yakuza make lousy fathers and even worse husbands. Not that I�m ever likely to be either.�
�Or Yakuza for that matter,� Yohji remarked. �We�re hundreds of miles away from Japan which is still in isolation mode right now. Just as well we aren�t there really, only a couple of us even look full Japanese, and we�d have a hell of a time explaining Schuldig and Brad, much less Aya and I with our hair and eyes.�
�And yet Aya is fully Japanese, isn�t he? But I take your point. I think this place might just work out for us� for a while at least. Aren�t you supposed to hone your power while here? Mine seems to happen whatever I do.� He took another swallow of his beer as he wondered what it was like to have a really strong power like most of the others did.
�Yeah, so am I as far as I know.� He shrugged, �And that�s the plan according to Crawford, not that anyone�s talked to me about this training stuff we�re supposed to be doing.� He finished his latest refill and waved the bartender off when the man would have refilled it again. �Let�s get out of here and find something else to do. There must be something besides drinking, gambling and killing people to amuse us here somewhere.�
Kai blinked but finished his beer, more than willing to go with Yohji. He wondered what the blonde would consider amusing but was happy enough to find out.
It wasn�t long before Kai had his answer. They were outside a two story establishment that was called The Kitten House. Yohji stared at the sign, shook his head, and entered.
Kai followed him in but tugged at his sleeve to attract his attention. �Um, Yohji, I�ve never actually been with a woman,� he said in quiet Japanese.
�Consider it as hands on training,� Yohji told him as he paused in the lobby looking for the madam or whomever was in charge of the place.
There were a few girls lounging in chairs, most of them in frilly undergarments and too much makeup. A close look showed that they weren�t girls but mature women. They gave the blonde knowing smiles, their gazes going to his younger companion.
Kai wasn�t sure that he wanted hands on training especially with women who looked old enough to be his grandmother! �Actually, I think I might go back to the hotel,� he said.
Yohji�s hand closed on the boy�s shoulder, �I don�t think so, Kai. Now come on. I�m sure they have younger girls here somewhere. Besides, as you said, you don�t have a clue what to do, and I�m sure these ladies would be more than willing to show you how it all works.�
�But I don�t want a woman!� Kai was beginning to get desperate. How was he supposed to tell Yohji that he didn�t actually like women in that way?
Yohji smiled at the women in the lobby and then leaned down to come face to face with the shorter boy. He spoke Japanese as he asked, �So you�d rather be with another man? Is that it?�
Kai flushed beet red and nodded slowly. There went his friendship with Yohji no doubt. �It�s all I�m used to,� he said, �and these women� they do nothing for me.�
�I think Kritiker knew about Aya all along and did their best to keep him under wraps by teaming him with other gay men, or ones they thought would cross the line to get him in their beds, like me.�
�Then they probably knew about me,� Kai said. �Anyway, I�ll get out of your way. I�ll see you back at the hotel sometime I guess.�
�That�s most likely true. But also keep in mind we were all listed as completely expendable by the Takatori. Chances are we were all marked for disposal via Singapura.�
�Who would also have been expendable. I could kiss Crawford for helping to get us out of there.�
�He�d probably like it if you did.� The blonde commented dryly.
Kai shook his head. �I don�t think it�s me he wants. I�m just around to make sure he sleeps well.�
A large woman in a corset and petticoat with a robe thrown over the top approached them. �Do you see anything you like gentlemen?�
Kai�s eyes widened in horror and he gazed desperately at Yohji in hopes that the blonde might rescue him from this legion of old hags.
Yohji shook his head, �Not this time ladies. The boy here isn�t ready and since I promised my boss to keep an eye on him, I can�t stay. Maybe next time,� he said with a wink as he ushered Kai toward the door.
Once back on the street Kai heaved a huge sigh of relief and thanked Yohji.
�You could have stayed though,� he said, �I didn�t want to spoil your fun.�
The older man shrugged, �I was mostly going in there for a bit of recon work. I wanted to try and find out more about this gang we�re going up against. Whores talk freely with their customers and they love to gossip.� He ruffled Kai�s hair. �I can go later. Probably tonight. I don�t think I want to stay in the same room with Aya. I... don�t trust myself not to do something I�ll regret.�
He looked left and right down the boardwalk watching the passers by. There were very few women in evidence anywhere, a fact which he�d already noticed and for the first time he found himself wishing he�d paid more attention to American history rather than cinema.
�Let�s just do a bit of walking and see what�s around. There have to be other saloons and stores somewhere. This is a pretty good sized town. It might be a good idea for us to try and locate a house that Brad can buy, him being the boss and all, he can�t stay in a hotel forever.�
Kai agreed eagerly, glad that Yohji had taken his flight from such a lack of temptation so well. He was more concerned about Yohji�s remarks about Aya. If the blonde couldn�t share the room with them, had to buy a whore every night for somewhere to sleep�
�You seemed so happy in Japan,� he ventured. �What went wrong?�
�Two dominant people in one bed don�t work,� Yohji replied. �I thought I could handle it, but he wants things I can�t give him.� He frowned, �He wants to be able to hurt his lovers, and I�m just not into that.�
Encouraged by Yohji actually answering his question Kai ventured another. �So you�ve just walked away from him?� Or was it the other way round? For himself, he found Aya either terrifying or distant in turn. He couldn�t imagine wanting to sleep with the man despite his beauty.
�For all intents and purposes, yeah, I�ve walked away. I�m sure we�ll have another discussion about it, but yeah, I know when to give up.� There was undisguised pain in the blonde�s voice as he spoke. �I should have known better, but I�ve always been a fool when I�m in love with someone. It comes with the territory.�
He started walking, �But no more. I�m done with being in love and having a lover. I�ll pay for a bit of fun, but that�s it. I�m through getting my heart shattered.� He pulled a cigarillo out of his pocket and studied it before lighting it with a match and taking a few deep puffs. �Don�t fall in love, Kai. It�s not worth the pain.�
Kai snorted in mirthless irony. Who exactly was he supposed to fall in love with anyway? Crawford didn�t really want him, Schuldig and Farfarello were already a couple as were Ken and Nagi. That left Aya, Zeshin and Yohji. Aya seemed to have claimed Zen and Yohji was decidedly anti-relationships and therefore dangerous to get too dependent on.
�I�m not likely to,� he said. Even though you�re gorgeous.
�You�ll forget and let it happen some day. We all do. Stupid as it is. Even Aya, the ice bitch fell in love, not that it matters. Hell, maybe he only thought he was in love because, like you said, we were the last ones until we found out about all the lies.�
Yohji paused at a street corner to glance down the board walks in both directions. �We aren�t alone now, so he doesn�t feel the same about me. I was just an anchor. I�d say that was all he was for me, but it would be a lie. I�ve been in love with him almost from the first time I saw him. Stupid Kudoh Yohji, always letting a pretty face sway his emotions, but no more. No more.�
He gave a sharp, mirthless bark of laughter, �Too bad I didn�t meet you before I told him how I felt. It might have saved me the embarrassment of watching him turn away from me as if I don�t exist.�
Kai thought it had more to do with Yohji�s inability to share his lover, to let Aya use Zeshin for his baser desires. But then he was beginning to realise that Yohji was a romantic at heart and considered that relationships should be monogamous.
�I don�t think you were stupid,� he said quietly. �Aya is very beautiful and he must have felt something for you. He doesn�t seem the type to sleep with just anyone.�
�He is beautiful. So beautiful that when I look at him it breaks my heart to know we aren�t compatible. That�s another reason I don�t want to go back to the hotel. I know what he�s doing, and with whom, and if I go back I�ll do something really moronic that will only make things worse between us than they are. He needs and wants Zeshin, and I�m too fucking jealous of what they share. It�s something I can�t be part of and I resent that fact. I didn�t think I would, but I do.�
He took another puff from the smoke in his hand, �Shit, he probably does love me, in his own way. But sex between us... well it�s good but it�s not totally satisfying for him, or me.� He gestured both directions, �Which way should we take?�
Kai glanced up and down the street then pointed left. �That way looks a little more affluent,� he said.
If it hadn�t been satisfying for Yohji why had he talked about bliss? It was probably best to drop the subject unless the blonde wanted to talk about it. �I can�t honestly see Crawford wanting to purchase or rent anything but the best.�
�Me either. He�s such an arrogant bastard he won�t accept second best, although, with this other gang in town, he might have to settle for that at least for the time being.�
Kai chuckled softly. �We might well end up with Everette and cronies as neighbours. Now that could come as quite a shock to the pricks.�
�Wouldn�t that be a lot of fun,� Yohji said. �Speaking of fun, I think we�re being followed.�
Kai nodded. �About a hundred yards back, two of them. I caught a glimpse of them as we turned the corner.�
�I think they were involved in beating up that Chinese guy at the laundry. Am I right?�
�Only caught a quick glimpse of them but I think so. I really don�t like six or seven to one odds against innocent, unarmed people so they stuck in my mind.�
�Mine, yours and no doubt Ken�s. Probably Farfarello�s too. I get the impression he doesn�t like cowards and that pretty much sums up what I�ve seen of Everette�s gang so far. A bunch of cowards that like sure odds rather than a fair fight.�
�Except that guy in the store this morning. He�s different. More like us. Dangerous even.� He shook his head trying to get rid of the image of the gunslinger. �So what do we do about ugly and hideous back there?�
�Ignore them for the time being. If they�re following us they aren�t bothering any innocent citizens. Besides, it�s too soon for us to get into more trouble. We run the risk of gaining their outright animosity too soon otherwise, and I don�t think Crawford is ready for us to go head to head with Everette�s men.�
Yohji paused to relight his cigarillo which had gone out while they talked. It wasn�t until he glanced up at the shop they�d stopped in front of that he realized it was a land agent. �Well now there�s a coincidence. Think we should stop and talk to Mr. Smith here? Maybe he knows of some houses or land for sale that Crawford might be interested in taking a look at.�
Kai grinned. �What an excellent idea, Kudoh-san!� Then he laughed out loud. �Who�d have thought this tin pot excuse for a town would have such a place?�
�I think it�s a given in a tin pot gold town,� Yohji remarked as he pushed the door open and went inside.
A bespectacled man in a neat business suit glanced up at their entry and frowned slightly. �Good day, gentlemen. What can I do for you?�
�Our employer sent us regarding any available houses in the neighbourhood,� the blonde replied as he exhaled a thin cloud of smoke. �Mr. Crawford has particular tastes, he�s from back East.�
Yohji smiled, trying to appear as friendly as he could because he knew how these people regarded foreign born people and he couldn�t completely hide his accent the way Aya could.
�Ah yes, I believe Mr Porter mentioned him to me this morning,� the man said, face clearing. �From what I infer Mr Crawford would be looking for a large property with every modern convenience. I think we can offer him the choice of two such properties. I have the details here somewhere. Ah yes, here they are.� He handed over two pieces of foolscap paper with lists of rooms, square footage and prospects. �I think he�ll find these accurate.�
Kai took the papers and pocketed them, thanking the man in English.
Yohji turned an instant before the door opened and a pair of men came in. One was the cool-eyed and mind protected gunslinger, the other was a smaller, more fragile looking fellow with washed out red-gold hair and the bluest eyes Yohji had ever seen.
�Hello Smith, we�ve come about that parcel of land Mr. Everette was interested in,� the dark haired gunslinger commented, eyeing Yohji in a way that told the blonde killer that the man knew about the gunfight in the street.
For the first time Yohji actually wished one of the members of Schwarz were standing at his back because something about the pair was raising the hair at the nape of his neck the way the Esset killers used to do when he faced off against them.
�Yes, yes, I have all the details here and the contract for Mr Everette�s signature.�
Kai eyed both men warily and immediately shielded his thoughts as best he could. �We should be getting back to Mr Crawford,� he said, all but pushing Yohji out of the door.
Once on the street he whispered, �the little guy is a talent. Telepath I think.�
�Crawford will want to know. I think they were trying to read us, and if they couldn�t, then they�re going to be even more interested in us. And not in a good way either. Come on let�s hurry,� Yohji said as he started down the street at a faster pace than they�d used prior to their arrival at the land office.