Chapter Text
The moment Yukari heard the noise, she grabbed the pistol under her desk and went to the door slowly.
She heard the footsteps grow closer, and as soon as they were in range, she opened the door and pointed the gun towards them.
She was met by the terrified face of Chen.
Yukari didn't move, the men taking it as a sign to hurry onto the elevator, Chen still held in front of them. She kept her eyes on them until the doors closed.
Gritting her teeth, she ran down the hall and met Ran limping out of her door.
She was leaning heavily against it, blood seeping through her fingers and eyes glazed with pain.
“Miss… Yakumo…”
“Sit down!” She snapped and hurried to help her back down to the floor. “You'll lose more blood!”
Ran didn't fight, her breathing quick and sharp.
“But… Chen…”
“Tell me what happened.”
“They broke in… and shot me before taking Chen.”
Yukari nodded.
“Breaking and entering, armed assault, and kidnapping.” With that in mind, she quickly dialed a number.
“Yukari? I told you not to call this-”
“Ran's been shot, Chen's kidnapped.”
She heard Kasen sit up.
“What.”
“We need an ambulance. Police can come later.”
“What are you planning, Yukari?” Kasen growled. “You better not-”
“I have someone who will get Chen back. I just need you to hold off long enough for her to do her work.”
“... Fine. But you owe me.”
“I always do.” Yukari smiled warily. “Thank you.”
“... I'm doing this for Ran and Chen, not you.”
“Love you too, bye.” She quickly hung up before the argument started. “Ran, I need your phone.”
“T-table…”
Yukari got up from where she was kneeling and ran over to the table, grabbing the phone.
It was easy to find, and she immediately called.
“... Yo? What's up? I'm kinda in the middle of-”
“Toutetsu.”
Yuuma shifted on the other side.
“Yakumo? Where's-?”
“Shot.”
“What?!”
“I'm with her now, she'll be fine.” Yukari took a breath. “They took Chen.”
There was a crash.
“Who?!”
“Tengu, it looked like. Three of them, might have a driver.”
“I'll fuckin'- Goddamn Tengu!”
“I assume you know where they'll be?”
“Yeah, they probably want revenge for… aw, fuck.”
“Toutetsu?”
“My fuckin’ fault… I fuckin’ slipped-”
“Toutetsu!”
“What?!”
“... Don't do anything you can't be bailed out for. I expect you to go see Ran in the hospital.”
“... Keh.” Yuuma belted out a laugh. “Keh-heh-heh!” After she stopped, Yukari could see her grin. “One for each bruise on Chen.”
“We never had this talk.”
“‘Course not, I'm just the kid's pissed parent!” Yuuma proudly declared. “I'm not letting anyone touch her! Keh-heh-heh-heh-heh!”
Yukari hung up and sighed with her whole body. She made her way back to Ran and began doing as much damage control as she could.
Ran stirred at her touch.
“Chen…?”
“She'll be alright. Yuuma is on her way.”
Ran nodded and sucked in a breath through her teeth.
“... Yukari?”
Yukari paused.
“Yes, dear?”
“She's… probably scared.”
“I'm sure she is. But, Yuuma will save her.”
“She didn't deserve this…”
“No, she didn't. But it'll be okay.”
“I don't…” Ran gulped down air as Yukari gently pulled her closer. “I don't want to lose her.”
“You won't,” the older woman quickly said before pressing a kiss to her head. “I swear it.”
She didn't wait for her men.
Yuuma stormed through the building, her men providing cover fire as she took the Tengu gang by surprise every time with a bat to the head.
She didn't care if they were moving or not. She didn't care what her men did to them.
She cared about one single thing.
The room Chen was in was dark, and the three gang members responsible were there.
“I told you, we should've taken the woman. She would have our answers.” One on Chen's side grumbled.
“And I'm telling you, that was definitely the Nine-Tails! We were lucky to get the drop on her and leave alive!” The other opposite of him snapped, nursing a black eye. “You saw what she did after getting shot!”
“U-uh… um…” Chen's voice, so quiet, barely made a dent in their bickering.
“Quiet! Let the kid speak!” The one nearest to Yuuma barked. The other two stopped, eyes wide. “... Now then-”
CRACK
He collapsed, a pool of blood forming around his head.
The other two, frozen, stared as Yuuma spat on his body.
“Which one of you touched my kid first?”
“Mama!” Chen sniffed.
The two Tengu goons panicked and the first couldn't even draw his gun before Yuuma slammed her fist into his face.
The other successfully managed to shoot, getting Yuuma's shoulder.
She jolted back. However, as soon as she registered Chen's yelp, she grit her teeth and dashed towards him, knocking him to the ground.
With his gun kicked away, she raised her bat and swung.
Again, and again, and again.
Until he stopped moving.
Yuuma growled and touched her wound.
“Shit…”
“Mama!”
Yuuma looked over to see a tearful Chen and smiled.
“So… I'm Mama today?”
Chen blubbered out something before falling to tears.
“Mama!”
Yuuma sighed as she tried to get comfortable in the hospital bed. It was a bit hard to do so with her shot shoulder, but she supposed she should be thankful the bullet went all the way through.
“... Nah, fuck this.” She looked up at the policeman next to her door. “Can I fuckin’ leave now?”
The policeman squinted at her before the door opened.
Yukari stepped inside with a smile.
“I thought I told you to visit Ran?”
“Well, wasn't expectin’ gettin’ shot.” She looked past her and frowned. “Where's Chen?”
“With Ran,” she simply replied before walking up to her bed. “However, I'm here on request.”
Yuuma raised an eyebrow as Yukari produced a card from her sleeve and handed it to her.
She quickly looked it over, frowning at the presented information.
“Your number?”
“Look closer~”
Yuuma squinted at her first before looking at the card again.
Yukari Yakumo
Attorney at Law
“... What the fuck.” Yuuma's eyes widened. “What the fuck?!”
“As per Ran Yakumo's request, I am to be your defense~”
“You're the fuckin’ lawyer she works for?!” Yuuma blinked before glaring. “You're the one keepin’ her late…”
“Oh hush, I work late too.” Yukari chuckled. “Ran normally calculates your fee, but I suppose it was waived this time.”
“... She's overworked, you fuckin'-”
“Now, now, you shouldn't talk with your lawyer like that~”
Yuuma clicked her tongue and looked away.
“... Think you can even handle this? They're already diggin’ up my history.”
“They won't get far~” Yukari replied. “I've done this many times before.”
Yuuma threw her a look.
“Really?”
“Oh, yes.” She chuckled and gestured to the policeman. “There are many forces in Gensokyo working hard to keep things running. I happen to be one of them. The Tengu can be pesky, so it's good to knock them down a peg~”
“... Damn. Here I thought Ran went clean.”
“Oh she did. Technically. I haven't told her.” Yukari winked and grinned. “She wanted a new life, after all.”
“... You care about her.”
“She's good at being lovable.”
“True,” Yuuma chuckled. “That part of her hasn't changed.”
Yukari nodded before turning to face the policeman.
“My client can leave now, for a time. She'll behave.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
“Mama!”
Yuuma grinned and opened her arms as best she could with the sling. Chen didn't seem too bothered by it and practically tackled her into a hug.
“Hey, kid.” She patted the girl's back before looking up at Ran. “How about you? Need a hug?”
Ran gave her a small smile.
“I'm good.”
“How's the stomach?”
“Patched up.” She paused to yawn. “Gave me some pain killers.”
“Hell yeah,” Yuuma chuckled and let Chen go so they could both go to Ran's side. “Saw you still got it. Guy was nursin' his face still and I took the liberty of openin’ it back up, keh-heh-heh!”
“They're lucky they surprised me.” Ran laughed lightly. “They wouldn't worry about a sore face after that.”
“‘Course not.”
She held out her hand and Yuuma waited, looking at Chen. The girl just tugged at her until she took Ran's hand.
Gently, Ran adjusted their hands until they were intertwining.
“Thank you, Yuuma.” Her voice was warm and soft. “I… can never thank you enough.”
“Ya don't have to.” Yuuma chuckled. “Chen's a good kid. Didn't deserve that.”
“I-I'm okay!” The girl's voice cracked slightly. “It was scary… but you were so cool, Mama!”
“Thanks, kid, but…” Yuuma frowned. “It was my fault the Tengu went after you two…”
Ran was quiet for a moment, keeping her eyes down before she pulled Yuuma's hand up and kissed it.
“No. It was on me too. I just… I was so happy to see you again…”
“You did your best to keep the kid safe. You're a good mom.”
Ran's eyes gleamed in the artificial light.
“You're a good mom too, Yuuma.”
Yuuma's eyes widened.
“... Ran…?”
Ran's smile made her heart pound faster. Chen giggled and took Yuuma's free hand.
“Welcome home, Yuuma.”
“Ow!”
“Quit moving. You'll make the pain worse.”
“Hard not to move your arm…”
Ran sighed as Yuuma continued to grumble, instead choosing to focus more on the medkit in front of her.
Yuuma was hard to ignore though, and even harder to take care of when she refused medicine.
“You're an idiot,” Ran chided her. “You wouldn't be bleeding so much if you'd just let me work.”
“You'll work yourself to death,” Yuuma huffed. “I had to pry you away from the laptop and then you go and try and cook!”
Ran didn't answer, smile widening as she tried not to laugh. It was true, her workaholic tendencies had really shown after she was shot. Her stomach meant that moving was difficult without pain, so Yukari instructed her to work from home. However, she didn't know Yuuma would also insist upon helping her.
Which was frustrating, as Yuuma was also hurt.
“Now, hold still.”
“Yeah, yeah…”
As she went to help, there was something about it that just hit Ran.
Yuuma sat there, patiently and relaxed, and let her change the bloodied bandages. Showing her old scars and body for only Ran to see. As she wiped the wound clean, Yuuma didn’t so much as move.
She just watched Ran with a look in her eyes that had Ran wondering if she was thinking it too.
Their old life together.
Ran and Yuuma were forced to move on. Ran simply couldn’t put Chen in danger, and clearly from this last event, she was right.
But Yuuma saved Chen. The child that had taken Ran from her.
She dropped everything to do it. She went in and got hurt.
Yuuma, who was the greediest bastard Ran ever knew, saved her daughter.
And there they were, patching each other up in the bathroom again. Just like old times.
And just like old times, Ran felt it surging through her.
Yuuma tilted her head.
“Somethin’ the matter-”
Ran moved in closer and Yuuma quickly shut up, eyes widening.
“… I missed this,” Ran finally admitted. She couldn’t keep it down any longer. “I missed you.”
Yuuma blinked, but quickly caught up as Ran hungrily kissed her. Yuuma kissed her back just as soon as they started.
Their new lives had room for this, didn’t it? For such intimacy?
Regardless of whether they did or not, Ran took the plunge and brought a willing Yuuma with her.
Hovering over her old friend, Ran smiled.
“Yuuma...”
She laughed ever so lightly, eyes lidded with unconcealed happiness.
“Ran...”
“I love you.”
“Love you too.”