Chapter 213

I ended up following the group to their ripper, in some upstairs clinic. Sam was put into a chair and instantly filled with drugs which had the man relaxing and falling into a listless sleep.

 

“Thanks again.” Bishop said to me, as we all watched the Ripper go over Sam scanning and looking him over.

 

“It was fun. Don’t get to sneak into a corp office like that very often.” I said simply before looking at the older man. His eyes hidden behind a set of glasses might give him some protection, but I could see the relief in them even so.

 

“Still. It was an emergency job. I tried a few others but everyone told me no. So thanks. We all appreciate it.”

“Eh, it was a job and I said yes.” I offered and grinned as I looked at all the XP alerts. It’s not like I wasn’t double dipping here. I was getting paid twice.

 

“An emergency job… The offer is still on the table. We’d be happy to work with you.”

“I appreciate it, really, but like I said last time I’ve got my own crew.” I shrugged as I pushed off the wall I’d been leaning against. “This was fun, feel free to call me if you need some help but I’m not really a joiner. Later Bishop.”

“Motoko.” He waved goodbye back and I headed out. That was fun, the XP especially so, but I didn’t like the idea of working with Edgerunners.

 

They were all crazy.

 

I jumped onto my Kusanagi and started driving, not sure where to go. I wasn’t sore anymore, after a sneaky Maxdoc on the drive over, but I felt a bit mentally tired.

 

Training all morning followed, by doing some music work, only to get called into a rush job. It’d been a busy day.

 

I headed home.

 

Even if Traffic was rough once again.

Night City traffic never ends.

 

—–

 

“Motoko. Welcome home.” Jun offered from the couch, which I instantly walked over and slumped over it.

 

“Hey Jun.” I yawned and laid down to watch whatever trash Jun was binge watching today.

 

“Long day?”

“Yeah. I fought the entire Dojo today. I asked Sensei for some hard practice, and he basically had me fight everyone.”

“You challenged the Dojo?”

“Hmm?” I asked, opening my eyes, I’d closed them because I was tired.

 

“The Dojo, with Sensei. You challenged the Dojo?”

“I guess? He called it that. I’d just asked if he would find someone to spar with me. I needed a push to go past my limits.”

“How far did you get?”

“How far?”

“Through the challenge?”

“I don’t know?” Was this an actual thing? It sounded like a thing, and I hated things. “I just fought everyone twice.”

“Twice?”

“Well I fought Sensei, and he beat me cause I was tired, but I wasn’t like, tired tired, you know? So I asked for more, and Sensei said the challenge was happening again.”

“Motoko… Challenging the Dojo is how the students at the Dojo determine their place in the hierarchy. You fought Sensei?”

“Yeeeeah?”

Suddenly a big stupid gorilla hand was on the front of my face and Jun was mashing me into the couch. “You’re so unaware! That’s a huge deal.”

“It’s just a Dojo!”

“The Deravaja Dojo is not just a dojo.” Jun countered and then sighed, looking at me with pity in his eyes.

 

Which was unacceptable! Only I got to pity a sibling! Mostly for his shit taste and lack of awareness! How could a guy with so many girls after him, barely notice!

 

“Idiot!” I grumbled fighting off his hand, and then shooting up a kick over my head which he dodged.

 

“Hey no kicking!”

“Then don’t start shit!”

To my surprise Jun stalled out for a second, and despite looking like he was about to start throwing hands, he instead nodded.

“Alright sorry. Shouldn’t have grabbed your face.”

I stared at him, eyes wide, taking in every detail.

 

This was a trick. Jun didn’t have the brain power to stop from being an idiot. What was wrong here.

 

“You look like a startled cat.” He said flatly, and I shot up, sitting up so I could climb up onto the back of the couch and narrow my eyes at him.

“You’re acting weird.”

“I just don’t want to fight. I’m… Proud of you and stuff.”

 

My eyes narrowed even more. Something was sketchy here! This wasn’t like Jun at all. I climbed over the back of the couch and glared at him with just my eyes in case I needed to dash for the exit or something.

 

“What are you freaking out for?” He said grumpily and I just continued to glare at him over the back of the couch.

 

“Who are you and what have you done with Jun?” I demanded and Jun just stared at me for a moment before his face shifted into a glare. Then he threw a pillow at me.

 

I of course dodged it! I’m too fast!

 

“Stop being a moron!”

“You can’t trick me! Jun doesn’t have the brain power to stop himself!”

“I’ll show you brain power!” He roared and jumped over the back of the couch. I of course laughed in delight as he tried to grab me, as I bounced around and soon pillows were fired from both of us as we attempted to get the other.

 

Jun was puffing and he finally had his arm wrapped around me holding me up sideways. “Finally… Caught you!”

“I’m just tired and decided I was done playing.” I informed him instead. “You’re missing your show.”

“What? Aw fuck! I wanted to see this episode Motoko!”

“Don’t blame me. Just re-watch it.”

“It’s not a recording! This is a new release!”

“Ugh. Then just find a copy of it.”

“I wanted to watch it now!” Jun yelled and then slumped and dropped me on the couch and grumbled a bit as he headed for the kitchen…

Ugh fine. I guess it was my fault.

“Alright, fine. I’ll go get you a recording of it. Just chill.” I stood up and headed out. Stupid Jun. This was totally his fault, and not mine at all.

 

—–

 

“Satisfied?” I asked as I yawned and really wanted to go get my eight hours.

“Very. Thanks Motoko.. Even if it was your fault I missed the show.” Jun added because he was a butt.

 

I just ignored him and rolled over on the couch.

“Going to sleep now!”

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And then did just that. Closed my eyes and set myself for eight hours.

 

I blinked awake, and noticed the sunlight coming in through the curtains. I had a blanket over me. Jun must have wrapped me up.

 

I stretched and yawned, feeling so much better.

 

Sensei would expect me over again…

Well fuck that for now. I didn’t feel like fighting the entire dojo especially since Jun had hinted there was more than just letting me get some training in.

 

Seriously, why does everyone have to make things more complicated than they needed to be! I just wanted to sword fight people without it being like… A thing.

 

I looked around and noticed Jun’s boots were at the door so he was still home.

 

Yeah breakfast sounded good.

 

I quickly got dressed and headed out, jogging a bit to find a ramen stand and getting enough for two before heading home.

 

Things felt normal in Night City today. No unusual amounts of random shots echoing off the buildings, and people were moving around and acting normally. So no gang war, or random issue popping up.

 

I carried my bowls of Ramen home and up to the apartment.

 

“Jun! Breakfast!” I called out as I dug in, and soon enough Jun blinking sleepily stepped out of his room, hair completely sticking up on one side making me snicker, but chose not to tease him as he flopped down and started eating.

 

It was a quiet breakfast for a while until Jun opened his mouth. “Motoko, you shouldn’t eat so much Ramen, it’s not good for you.”

I felt my jaw drop as I stared at the audacity of this bitch!

 

“Coming from your burrito filled ass I don’t want to hear that!”

 

“Do as I say, not as I do. Ah, I’ve achieved wisdom.” He said sagely, and considering how much I was tempted to dump the rest of my ramen on his head. I think his ‘sage wisdom’ was a bit more lacking than he expected.

 

But I wanted to eat my food so I just ignored him and finished slurping up my noodles. Hmm… I should get some more songs ready. I’ve been playing with a few different tunes, but most of them are half finished.

 

I tossed my trash, and grabbed my guitar and prepped my music box.

“Going to work on a new song?” Jun asked, with a smile and I scoffed, before nodding.

“Yeah. I was… Well I was invited to lunch with all the dojo guys after I fought all of them, and it made me… Well listen to this.”

I didn’t have everything finished, but I started the music box for some of the backing track, and pulled up the guitar.

 

“All my friends are Heathens, take it slow.”

 

I started singing, and gently tapping the chords. The snare and drums kicked in, but still lightly, as I got into the groove. I didn’t have the drum track finished, but, if I did this, and this I could keep playing and just loop some of it…

 

“But after all I’ve said, please don’t forget.”

 

I hit the drop and stopped.