'91 NOV - Kuma

Kuma was heading home to his wife and two month old baby when he noticed Victoria's old truck at the edge of the gravel lot for the first time in months. Which is very strange, considering that he was under the impression that her little posse of hooligans had bought her a one way ticket out of here last spring and she'd had no plans of coming back.

The sunshine yellow truck sat hauntingly in the early winter dark, tucked up against the tree line, like it's hoping no one will notice it.

It could be Heat or Wire - they're rough around the edges, and never quite fit in the the other boys, but for all their faults, they'd never been any less respectful to him than he'd been to them. Kuma didn't expect them to be the kind of boys to vandalize the church - well, yes actually they were the type of boys, along with Victoria, and Kuma has suspicions about whoever tagged the fancy megachurch that got built up on the county edge out west last winter; the one that built a wall around itself and locked up at night. Some pastor called Moria or whatnot. But Kuma did not feel Heat or Wire were the type to vandalize his small little church, one that had always welcomed them in even if they long since stopped accepting the invite. Regardless, Kuma headed over just to check in. He thought he'd seen Heat driving around with a pale blue Nissan, so maybe Wire had inherited the Datsun.

There didn't look to be anyone in it when he approached; possibly they were off causing mayhem together and and met up here? Still, it didn't seem like them unless their plans for the night were going to be more mischievous that they didn't want their parents realizing they were marauding around together?

Kuma nearly turned back from the empty cab, it was unlikely anyone would be around until morning, and as long as hey didn't plan on using his church's lot for long term parking, Kuma didn't mind. However, he wanted to at least make sure it was locked up tight in case of bears, and he initially shook his head when the driver door opened easily.

He was just as guilty of not locking things up behind him, but he ran a church - the main doors should always be open. But his community was far to trusting about leaving both homes and vehicles unlocked, and he -

Oh.

Kuma stood in the open door way, looking down young Kamazo Bujin curled up on the seat bench. Or Killer, as the kids had started calling him over the last year or so. Kuma had mixed feelings on the nickname - feeling it too harsh and cold for the bright young man that would wait for him at the mail boxes that first year of middle school, before Victoria had her license and he was still dependent on the adults of the community to get around. Even know, Kuma was pretty sure he was a little too young to be driving on main roads already, but living on the other side of the valley than the older boys meant he was often left out of their shenanigans. Kuma could see why Victoria would have left him her truck - trapped out there alone with an angry man like Hitokiri Bujin.

That was likely the source of the black eye he was sporting tonight. Kuma sighed, forcing his hand to let go of the truck frame before he damaged it. He look a few calming breaths, before gently placing a hand on the boy's shoulder, giving him a shake to wake up. "Killer?"

The boy slept on; even asleep, he looked exhausted. Children should not look so tired.

He didn't wake at all, even when Kuma ended up picking him up and removing him from the truck. He made sure to grab the keys from where they still hung in the ignition, before locking it up for the night. He carried the Bujin child into the church, getting him settled in on one of the last benches in the nave, tucked in with one of the blankets Ginny had made him that he kept in his office. He placed the truck keys in the boy's hand - he clung to them reflexively.

Kuma returned to his office, leaving the door open. He can see the foyer from his desk, but not into the worship area. He'd be able to see anyone coming in or out, nothing else. He called home, Ginny answering on the second ring.

"I thought you were coming home? What happened? Are you okay"

Kuma smiled into the phone, how he loved this woman. "I'm okay," he assured her quickly. "I'm okay. Something came up though. I'm going to spend the night in my office."

She was quiet for a moment, reading into what he didn't say. "You need me to bring anything over?"

"Not tonight" mostly, Kuma was just going to make sure no one bothered the boy. Maybe make him some toast in the morning from the food pantry downstairs if he stuck around long enough.

Let him know that in the future, the church was always open to him, and that included the rooms below; the little kitchen, the pantry, the showers. That he had some cots in the nursery that the boy was welcome to, and to show him which rooms had locks on them. Kuma only didn't set him up down there tonight because he didn't want the boy to feel trapped, and there was a clear exit from the worship area back to the parking lot with little fuss.

Kuma wanted the young man to know that his church was a sanctuary to anyone in need, even if they were not part of his congregation.

He'd also show him where to park in the future so no one would see his truck from the main road.

'92 APR - Brichtrede √

"Cops!" someone yelled, and everyone scattered.

Killer grabbed jacket and hauled him to his feet, the two hoofing it toward the highway. It was clear to Killer unfortunately that Kidd's legs were still too short, and his own steps too unsteady, and there was no way they'd both get away. He pushed Kidd out in front of him, "Hide in the underpass, go go!" Kidd faltered for just a second, before Killer shoved at him again, "GO!"

Killer slowed down, veering off to the left; still moving at a good pace for how much the world blurred at the edges, but slower than Kidd - whose shorter height helped him disappear into the tall brush. And then he was being tackled to the ground with an "ougph"

<><><><>

Officer Hina marched him back to the squad car, lined up with a couple of the other stragglers against the elementary school. He didn't see Heat or Wire, nor was Kidd ever marched over either, and he slumped with relief. Sheriff Smoker walked down the line after, divvying them out among his collection of officers. "What the hell, Bujin..." he muttered when he got to Killer, who refused to met his gaze. No doubt him being there clued the sheriff into who else had been there but there was no way in hell Killer was saying anything.

<><><><><>

There was a wait once they got to the Sheriff's Office, Killer towards the end of the line of assembled teenagers getting booked. Finally, one of the officers collected him, sitting him alone in one of the rooms. Sheriff Smoker came in finally, sitting across from him. Neither said a word, before Smoker dragged the corded phone off the side table and set it down in front of him. "Call your old man. Let's get this over with."

Killer just stared at the phone, Smoker watching what little colour he had drain from his face. "Bujin - "

"I .. I don't want to."

Smoker was quiet, "Kid, I can't-"

"I'll stay the night, whatever you want. Just.. please.. don't make me call him."

Smoker rubbed his forehead. "Bujin, its too late for this. I want to go home. I'm sure you want to go home. This is your one and only chance for a phone call."

Killer studied the phone, chewing on his lip, before glancing up at the clock. He looked at the Sheriff one more time, before pulling the phone towards him. He held the handset up, receiver to his ear and looked directly at Sheriff Smoker as he dialed.

The two were quiet for a moment as they waited for someone to answer. Killer sat up, his face loosing his nervous edge when a voice came though. "Mrs. Eustass? It's Killer, I au.. I'm sorry for calling so late..."

He paused, Sheriff Smoker sitting forward suspiciously. "I um.. I.. I.. Something's come up, and I was wondering if you could go down the the elementary school, and lock my truck up? The keys are still in it, and I'm worry someone might steal her..."

He was quiet for a moment, Smoker assumed Brichtrede was asking questions, he'd have to listen to the tapes later.

"No, no. He-Everything's okay. Its.. Its okay. I.. " the boy hunched over, "I'm really sorry, ma'am."

He said it in that soft way of his that Smoker almost misheard it for mom, and the Sheriff knew this night was about to get much longer. Killer might not be calling to ask for a bail out, but Smoker already knew what was going to happen, even if the kid didn't realize what he just set in motion.

"I messed up. I'm sorry."

He hung up then, pushing the phone back to Sheriff Smoker who groaned, pulling the phone back to it's proper place. He studied to boy for a moment, an intoxicated 16 year old sitting across from him, who held his gaze for the first time that night and didn't back down. "Are you sure that's the phone call you want to make?"

"Yes sir."

Sheriff Smoker escorted him back to the holding cell to spend the night, and prepare for the fight with a mama bear with no jurisdiction. The sad reality was Kamazo Bujin was probably going to be safer in the drunk tank with the others than at home tonight anyway.

<><><><>

Killer looked up in surprise when Officer Hina called for him, motioning for him to follow her as they let him out of the holding cell.

He was even more surprises to see Kidd & his mother standing in the lobby talking to Sheriff Smoker. Kidd was doing his best not to look at anyone, and Mrs. Eustass looked so disappointed, Killer tried to turn back around only for Officer Hina to spin him right back 'round and march him forward again.

"Good evening Mrs. Eustass." he mumbled, staring at his feet.

"Kidd, take Killer out to the car."

Sheriff Smoker looked like he wanted to say something, but she held a hand up for him to wait until the boys moved out of ear shot.

"Mrs. Eustass - he needs to be released to a parent or legal guardian. He cannot be released into your custody as a minor."

Hina did not appear to agree, remaining between him and the door the boys had left though. Tellingly Smoker allowed it, even if he was still verbally protesting.

"Sheriff, I will sign whatever you need me to, I will pay whatever his bail is, but you know as well as I do that calling his father is the worse possible thing you could do to that boy. Hitokiri will beat him senseless and you know that."

Sheriff Smoker did know that actually, he just couldn't prove that. "Brichtrede, You know that without evidence, I can't-"

"Don't you give me that Sheriff, don't you dare give me that line again!"

"Sheriff Smoker..." Officer Hina called quietly, and she whispered to him. With a sigh, Smoker turned an leave, heading into the back offices without a second glance. Hina placed a few papers in the shredder.

"This is his /one/ warning." she told Brichtrede Eustass. "Make sure he understand that."

The mother nodded, said her thanks, and headed back to her car where the two boys waited in the back seat.

<><>

Killer was already belted in the seat behind her, Kidd buckled in the middle seat next to him, looked at her nervously.  She got in and said nothing for a moment, just taking calming breaths.

"Mrs. Eustass, I'm so sorry," Killer said finally, voice cracking.

She looked at him in the review mirror, shaking her head, so angry she wanted to cry. No. No, she was crying.

The boys both looked upset at that, unsure of what to do, and Killer's face scrunched up as he started to cry too, just repeating, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

"Kamazo Killer Bujin, what in the Blues were you thinking."

"I wasn't, I was stupid,"

"Damn right you were stupid!" He froze at that, and she had to hold her breath for a moment to keep from continuing on a tirade. Kidd looked scared too but Killer looked like he was waiting for her to reach back and hit him.

"You are so inconceivably lucky Sheriff Smoker doesn't believe you were involved in the vandalizing, much less even knew about it. It's already bad enough you were trespassing on a school! A SCHOOL! But then you were drinking?!"

Killer hunched in on himself, and she turned around to look at him directly. "You were drinking. Alcohol. Around MY SON. My 12 year old son."

He looked at her briefly, eyes catching for just a second before looking away. He nodded miserably. Next too him, Kidd looked uncomfortable, knowing that this was bad but not really understanding the scope of it.

"Tell me, Killer, how were you planning on getting my son home tonight? Because if you say driving, I will march you right back inside, so help me god, and you can wait until your father figures out where you are and comes and deals with you himself."

"Mom, no..." Kidd started, but she turned and shot him such a look he immediately shut up. Killer said nothing, just looked at her, heartbroken, hand hovering on his seat-belt release when he could think of no other excuse to give her.

"If you ever even /entertain/ such a thought again young man, I will /never/ let you so much as look at my son, do you understand me?"

"Yes ma'am." he whispered. The heavy ma'am again. Okay, she deserved that she supposed.

She turned forward, turning the car on and gripping the wheel as she tried to calm down.

She looked up at him in the mirror one more time, watched him fail to not start crying, struggling to at least not sob, to keep the tears quiet, turned away so Kidd could not see.

Kidd, who was look at her like she was threatening to take his whole world away. Which she might have well have, to be fair.

"Killer, hon?"

"Yes ma'am?" he choked out.

"Thank you, for not getting my son arrested tonight. And for calling me to tell me where he was, even indirectly, so I could go and pick him up."

Killer nodded, before finding his voice again, "Of course, ma'am."

"Sheriff Smoker said they wont tow your truck tonight. I'll pick you up later today and we can go get once the sun's up." she handed his keys back to him from when she'd gone and picked her son up a few hours earlier, Kidd having doubled back to hide in the cab of the truck for anyone to come back once it had gotten too cold to keep hiding in the ditch under the highway.

Killer took the keys from her, curling around them in shame. She was maybe the only person left on earth that could make him feel ashamed anymore, and it was in spades tonight.

She turned back to the wheel, and put the car in drive, heading to the highway. It was 2 am now - it was going to be nearly 4 by the time they got home. "You got 40 miles to figure out what you're telling your father when we get there, so you better start brainstorming excuses now."

It wont matter what story he comes up with, she knows. Hitokiri Bujin was going to be apoplectic. She's half a mind to just take Killer home with them tonight if the house is dark when they drive past. No sense risking waking the man up if there's no reason.

The house lights are on though, as she rounds the corner. The man's up and about. Brichtrede risks a glance back in the mirror, both boys have fallen asleep against each other - no. No, Killer has fallen asleep. Kidd is looked back at her, clinging Killer to him, looking distraught as they approached the small home of his best friend.

She drives right on past, without giving the Bujin home a second glance. Kidd sags in relief, but his hold does not loosen.

<><><>

John meets her in the garage when she pulls in, standing in the doorway with a cup of coffee in hand. It looks like he's been awake since she left to get the boys. "Alright, inside sweetie," she tells Kidd as she gets out to give her husband the cliff notes of the night.

Adrenalin can only to so much to sober one up, and Killer is still very much drunk, despite the turn the night went. He's passed out still, and doesn't wake when John opens up the back door. Kidd unclips his belt, and John hefts the scrawny 16 year old up like he weighs little more than a feed bag, and there's a good chance he probably doesn't. Kidd gets out, only looking a little more awake, sort of stumbling over his own feet.

"Go wash up and get in your jammies." Brichtrede tells him, ruffling his hair as he slips in the house. John carries Killer in after him, "What's the game plan?" he asks.

"He can borrow some sleep pants from Kidd, we'll set him up on the couch and let him sleep it off."

"He smells like he's been drinking...." John winces as he sees her expression. "Blues..."

She nods, ushering them in the house, dragging her fingers down her face in exhaustion. The car was not the place to have had yelled at him, but that talk needed to happen. They'd talk more once he was sober and rested, but she needed to make sure he really understood her on this.

Kidd was leaving the bathroom when John carried Killer into the living room, "Kidd, can you grab an pair of sleep pants for Killer to borrow?"

He nodded, disappearing upstairs his own room to change, coming down later with the largest pair he had. They'd still be short on Killer, but he was skinny enough the waist would fit at least. As it was, he was drowsily coming around as John pulled his boots off.

Killer's eyes were still red and puffy, a combination of drink and crying, and he didn't really seem to be putting together where he was. But Kidd was there, taking charge and dragging the older boy into the bathroom to get him washed up and changed.

John took Killer's boots and jacket to hang by the door, kissing Brichtrede on his way by. "I'm gonna head to work here in a bit, unless you need me to stay?"

She shook her head no, and then moved to the kitchen for a moment as the boys got ready for bed, seeing her husband off while she waited.

Kidd had attempted to fold Killer's cloths up and was holding them awkwardly in the hall, and she motioned for him to go ahead an throw them in the washing machine, before pulling a spare pillow and some blankets down from the linen closet. She'd get a load going once she got the boys settled, call the schools and let them know neither would be coming in today, and would attempt a nap herself.

She got Killer set up on the couch, along with a refill of his glass of water - he drank the first one she handed him dry almost immediately - and the now empty trash bin from the bathroom. "If you have to puke, just do it in here- don't try to find the bathroom in the dark."

He laid down, out almost immediately, and she walked Kidd up to his room to tuck him in. Her son climbed into bed without a fuss, but pulled away when she tried to kiss him good night. "Baby, what is it?" There was so much that happened tonight - where to guess what he'd fixated on.

"You were gonna leave Killer there..."

She was quiet. She wouldn't of... but she's certainly threatened too, hadn't she?

"We drove all the way out there to get him, but then you were gonna leave.." Kidd accused, upset and tears starting to form, "You showed up and then was gonna make him go back in by himself and leave him. You said... You said he couldn't see me anymore!"

She sat on the bed next to him, he scooched to let her, biting his lip as he cried openly into her side. She didn't say anything, just rubbed his back.

"I did." she admitted finally. "I did because I was so scared..."

"Scared of what?"

"Baby, baby, drinking like he did tonight is dangerous... and for him to think he could drive afterward....  he could have killed both of you."

Kidd looked at her in horror, "He wouldn't - Killer's real careful when he drives me around.... promise! He makes me wear the seat belt and he drives like.. half the speed limit! And he almost never drives us on the paved roads! He wont even let me sit the the back with Heat and Wire!"

She shook her head, "Alcohol does funny things to your head, Kidd. I can't.. I can't say I'm happy he's started drinking, no, I'm pretty mad about that. But he's not my son. I can't tell him to stop. But you are, and Kidd, baby... you don't ever get in the car with someone whose been drinking, you promise me that. Right now. You never, EVER let someone drive you around if they've been drinking." She was so intense right then Kidd could do little more than agree to this.

She tucked him in then, sighing heavily. "I know Killer's your best friend. I know you're his best friend. I wouldn't normally ever dream of splitting the two of you up. but Kidd, this is important. And I need Killer to understand that, because I don't think he does yet. Okay?"

"I guess...." He didn't think to tell her that Killer would stop, if she did ask him to. That Killer always did what she asked of him, even if Kidd told him to ignore her.

She kissed his forehead and he let her this time. "Just get some sleep baby."

<><><>

She was only able to get a couple hours of sleep in before her own day needed to begin, and once dressed, she peeked in on her son to see how he was fairing only to see an empty bed.

Downstairs, Killer was wedged into the back of the couch, Kidd tucked in front of him, only fighting gravity's pull by Killer's hold on him. Or maybe it was the other way around, seeing how tight Kidd had wrapped himself around Killer during the late morning hours, pinning him back to the cushions. She pulled the blankets up around them from where they'd started to fall on the floor.

The water glass was empty again, and Brichtrede could smell from here that Killer had indeed puked in the trash bin at some point, taking it with her as she passed by to toss it outside to deal with later. John had prepped the coffee pot for her before he left, and she turned it on as she moved the clothes from the washer to the dryer so Killer would have something to wear once they did finally wake up.

Then she sat at he table, deep in thought, contemplating the night and what needed to be discussed before she drove the oldest of her two boys to get his truck. She might not be his mother, but she was hoping that his love for her son would have him listen to her seriously on this.

'98 Jun - Side A: Kidd makes him walk him to the door.

It was after midnight, and it didn't matter how quiet they tried to be, they'd barely got the front door open when the main lights came on, Kidd's mother standing there gawking at the two of them in her nightgown.

Killer slouched in on himself, not sure if he should be hiding behind Kidd or standing between him and his own mother. "Oh, my boys.." she whispered, deciding for them, closing the distance to pull them both into a hug, "What happened? Are you okay? Whats going on?"

"We're okay now mom," Kidd whispered to her, and god does Killer hope he was right. She pulled back, her hand over Killer's shoulder never moving as she wiped at the blood smeared under Kidd's nose. "Okay. okay," she said, studying her son for a moment longer. "Go wash your face up, lets see what we can do."

Killer didn't want Kidd to leave him right now, head still spinning from the night's events, and he's ready to grab Kidd and bolt for his truck again. Kidd's mom seemed to understand it on some level, because she turned to Killer fully now, making soft noises to him, "Oh baby, Sweetheart. Let's get you cleaned up."

She guided him to her little kitchen table, Kidd disappearing into the bathroom. Killer heard the sink run - the ancient pipes whining in the walls. Kidd's mom sat him at the table's end, and pulled the other chair up close so she could sit too, and her hands were on his face again.

It hurts, but her face is so kind, so different than the look his father gave him only moments ago. She studied his face, and Killer couldn't hold her gaze any longer, looking down ashamed. She took it in stride, hands sliding though his hair to feel at the back of his head. He flinched, and she whispered an apology, before sitting back, one hand on his shoulder, the other gently nudging his chin up until he can't help put look at her. "Killer, baby, I need you do something for me, okay?"

"Yes ma'am" he whispered.

She smiled at that, she always did, but it seemed sadder than usual tonight. "I need to make sure you don't have a concussion, okay. You've got a pretty bad goose-egg and I need to know if you need a doctor."

"I'm okay." he tried to reassure her.

"Look up at the light, please?"

Killer looked up at the kitchen light. It's bright and it hurts. "Look at me?"

That's harder, but Killer does as she asked of him. He heard Kidd turn the water off behind him. His mom studied him, eyes boring into his. When its too much and he started to squirm in place, she instructs him to look at the light again. "And back to me, one more time."

Kidd was at his side then, but stayed quiet; he's got a bloodied towel tucked under his stub and was carrying out the family's first aid kit. His mom took it from him and opened it on the table. Killer slumped down once he'd been released, rapidly loosing the strength to remain upright. Kidd sat in the last chair across from his mom, towel held against his nose where it was still slightly bleeding.

She can't help but notice how thin Killer seems when sitting next to her son, both boys barefoot and in nothing but their underwear. There are few reasons for them to come to her like this, but she's not doing to make them explain it tonight. She can make her own educated guesses.

The bruising is bad, but once she's washed the blood from Killer's face, she can start to relax. His lip is split, and he's going to have a terrible black eye for a while. But the worse of the blood is from the blow to his forehead, and it's nothing so terrible it can't be covered with a bandage for the night.

She wrapped him up in her own bathrobe then; she wanted to hug him tight and tell him everything will be okay now, but he's always seemed panicky when she's hugged him in the past, so the best she can do for now his wrap him up and keep him warm. He sat quietly as she looked over her son's nose. "Can you breathe okay?"

"Yeah, I mean, it hurts, but breathing's not a problem."

"Do you think we need to get it checked out tonight?"

Kidd shook his head, the night clearing catching up with him as well, "No mom... just.. tired. Wanna go to bed."

She patted his cheek, looked between them both, "Either of you dizzy? Light headed."

Both indicated no, so she agreed to let it go for the night.

"Okay, let's get you boys to bed. Killer, sweetie, you want me to make the couch up for you? Or I can get an air mattress if you wanna sleep in Kidd's room with him but it's gonna take a while to fill up"

"No - it's okay, I should go home-" Killer started, moving to shrug off the bathrobe.

"Killer and me'll share my bed," Kidd cut them both off, there was a cold tenseness to his voice she'd never heard from him. Like he was testing her. And expecting her to fail.

Killer looked terrified. He's as white as death, eyes wide as he clutched his arms across his chest, wilting in the chair before her.

She'd never seen him scared. Never like this. She knew he and his father butted heads - Killer being in and out of his own home stretching back for over half a decade now. The county's worse kept secret. They all knew that Hitokiri Bujin regularly kicked his son out, the boy skulking around the back roads in that truck of his until he was eventually allowed to come back home.

She'd of been delusional to think they got on well behind closed doors. But he'd always had a brave front around her. Always looked ready to take whatever the world threw at him and keep going. He'd never let his fear show.

She'd never known him to be afraid of her.

She pulled the robe back up over Killer's shoulders. "You boys let me know if you need anything else"

Kidd left them, assumingly to turn down the bed and hide anything he didn't want Killer to make fun of him for, like some of his models, she guessed.

Killer still looked worried, "You know, you really saved us back after the accident," she told him quietly, taking his hands in hers and holding them loosely in their laps.

'"No ma'am, I just..."

"All those bills that never got delivered - I was so busy worrying about Kidd, and I didn't even notice for months. I was terrified they where going to turn the power off, that we'd run out of propane..." She ran her thumb across his knuckle. His hands were battered, but not from trying to hit back. Purely defensive. "Imagine my surprise when I checked - and everything was paid in full. And I certainly couldn't afford it at the time, but there they all were... paid.."

Kidd stepped in, hovering in the archway to the hall at he bottom of the stairwell. He has a strange little look on his face, but remained quiet. It's so unlike him, she thinks.

"All ready?" she asks him, Killer looking up confused for a moment, before Kidd answers back, "Yeah."

She stand up, pulling Killer to his feet, before guiding him to her son, "You boys get some rest, okay?"

"Yea mom" "Yes ma'am"

She smiled, "I love you boys."

"Good night mom!" Kidd called, embarrassed, followed by Killer's quiet, "Goodnight."

Once the bedroom door closed, she retrieved one of the rifles from the den, and settled in to watch the driveway.

She didn't know what state Killer's dad was in when they left, but if he dared step foot on her property tonight to try anything, Mr. Bujin was in for a bi~g surprise.

She'd already lost two of the loves of her live. She'd already had to suffer burying two husbands. She certainly wasn't about to sit back and let anyone hurt her boys now.