Prologue + Newcomer in town

Disclaimer:

Red West is AKame fanfiction/Contemporary western gay romance, which is set in the real historical background of the Wild West. The two main characters are based on Akanishi Jin and Kamenashi Kazuya (j-pop singers and actors), but they are entirely fictional. RW also includes and uses the names of existing personalities of that time, but any resemblance to real persons, either living or dead, is purely coincidental.

***

"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."

Oscar Wilde

***

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PROLOGUE

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Territory of Montana

August 1871

An unexpected storm was coming.

The sky was covered with dark thick clouds and the strong wind was bending the treetops of those few oaks that have been growing around a neat house. A long thunder was heard in the distance as the dark warning before the upcoming rage of the nature. But it was not the only danger, which was approaching the home of one immigrant family…

A slim boy was standing on the hill above the backyard of the small farm, watching the sky in the west, from where something not as scary for him as for his brothers was approaching. According to his opinion, storms were fascinating. They were always so strong and furious, hitting everything and everyone on the ground with wind, lightning and rain without mercy. He had already seen the first thunderbolt of this one and was waiting impatiently for the next, when a call was heard behind his back.

"Kazuya! Come home!"

The boy, disappointed from the fact that he was exposed so soon, turned away from the black clouds and ran to his mother, who was waiting for him just under the hill.

"I told you not to do that! It´s dangerous!" she scolded him right away.

"Come on, Mum, it´s not!" he shook his head vigorously. "And it´s still far away!"

"I don´t care how far it is, it´s still a storm!"

Mother relentlessly pulled her son into the safety of their house and closed the door.

"Just wait, I´ll tell your father you´ve been naughty again."

"You´re a traitor, Mum," Kazuya pouted.

"Watch your tongue, young man!"

The small boy obeyed this time and wordlessly stared at his mother´s brown apron.

"Mummy!!" a yell was heard from another room. "We´re hungry!"

Kazuya´s mother let go of a deep sigh: "I´ve already told you we must wait with lunch for your father," she said while going in the direction of that unsatisfied screaming.

Young Kazuya just rolled his eyes. His two younger brothers were still so childish. He was already eleven years old and he knew how to behave. Well, most of the time he did. He even overheard his father once, saying that his oldest son behaves maturely for a kid of his age. It was very rare for their father to praise them about anything, so he felt very proud thanks to it, even though his father didn´t say it into his eyes directly.

Kazuya intended to go after his mother, when another strong gust of wind pushed the front door open, revealing the view outside. And that was when he saw them – a group of horse riders on the driveway approaching their front garden.

Surprised Kazuya walked out of the door and stopped at the small veranda. As far as he knew, they were not expecting any guests… Then he noticed that all those strangers had their faces covered by some cloths or scarves and he got scared.

"Dad? Dad!!" he called over loudly, so that his voice reached through the noisy wind to the short man, who was just closing and securing the stable with their two horses.

His father turned his head questioningly and Kazuya immediately pointed at the driveway. When the man realized, what the reason for his son´s concern was, he pulled out the gun from his waistband and started to run half backwards without letting the riders from his sight.

"Kazuya, return inside! Now!" he screamed in a voice which couldn´t have been disobeyed.

The boy stumbled over the threshold and bumped into his mother. She grabbed his shoulders firmly and just one short glance outside was enough for her to squeeze her son so hard that it hurt.

Then the shooting began. The sharp and very loud sounds, which made Kazuya terrified. He saw his father pointing with his gun at the attackers. Another shot.

"No!" it was his mother screaming desperately.

"Run…" Kazuya´s father managed to say hoarsely, before he fell to the ground.

Kazuya spotted the dark red color on Dad´s chest right before Mum released her grip on his shoulders, shut the door with a loud bang and ran to her other two kids. They were already both crying from fear, when she grabbed them into her arms and dragged them to the back door.

"Kazuya!" she screamed urgently and that shook him out of his stiffened state.

They slipped outside together. They ran like crazy in fight for their lives, even though Kazuya knew that they had no chance. Those men had horses, they didn´t. But he ran because he felt as afraid as never in his life before.

There was another shot, which sounded like a thunder to him. He was surprised, when something made him fall and bury his face into the soil. He didn´t feel it first, but then it came... Some numb pain in his back.

"No! Kazuya! No!"

Mum...

It was weird, he couldn´t speak out aloud.

What is going on? Kazuya was not able to think clearly.

Then he heard the horses trotting, and they were so close…

"Please, don´t! Not my kids!!"

Kazuya heard his brothers, screaming and crying, even louder than the next thunder, which suddenly filled up the air. The storm was already very near. And that numb pain didn´t want to go away.

He turned his head a little and saw the dark hooves through the straws of grass. Though he tried hard to move more, it was impossible.

"Let them go, you bitch!" that voice was strange, and Kazuya didn´t like it.

"No!!"

Other two gunshots froze Kazuya´s heart. Sobbing and crying of two kids was suddenly over. One of them collapsed right in front of his eyes. He could see the strange bloody hole in his brother´s head. It started raining and the small drops created two red trickles on his sibling´s face.

Kazuya couldn´t breathe, he was losing his senses. He felt burning tears in his eyes, as well as something really hot and unknown deep inside of him.

The very last thing he could perceive was an evil laugh, the sound of clothes tearing and desperate crying of his mother. Then the darkness came and absorbed him, so there was nothing but silence.

***

Their house wasn´t one of the biggest in town, it didn´t even belong to those middle-sized. It was one of the smallest buildings, located on the edge of the recently built city. And it was the ugliest one, too. At least, Jin thought so.

He didn´t care about it when he was a small child, but as he grew older, he noticed the disgusted looks of other citizens, which they gave to him, his brother and also their home. They didn´t dare to look that way at their father though and their mother rather remained in the house all the time.

Jin was only thirteen and he was already working for the local blacksmith, who assigned him small tasks, so that he could bring home some reward in the form of food and rarely even money.

He was sitting at the threshold, too tired from his job of that day to do anything else than staring at the sky, which was clearing up slowly after the crazy storm that had just passed across the town. The west was turning into the red color, which could be seen in the narrow lines between the scattering clouds.

"Dad!" an excited yelling tore him off his dark thoughts. "Dad is home!"

It was his younger brother Leo, who had been playing on the wet ground of their front patio with some sticks all that time. Jin looked at the main road to confirm the message of his sibling, who was already running towards the rider. Then he turned a little to the narrow hall.

"Mum? Father is coming!" he announced for his mother to know it was time to prepare the dinner on the table. He always did it like that, so that she had enough time for it. If he wouldn´t have done it and their father wouldn´t have found the meal prepared, there were always troubles...

His father was a tall gloomy man in his forties. He didn´t speak much, but he could lose his temper and get angry very easily, even over some trifle. Everything had to follow his orders and decisions. If not, he focused his frustration on the nearest possible target, which was usually his family.

Once, when Jin was alone with Mum, she told him that Father was not always like that. He changed a lot after an unsuccessful search for gold, on which he had spent all of their money and ended up on broke. Not even moving their home into another town helped much.

Jin learnt to avoid his father if possible and not to attract attention, if he didn´t want to get beaten. He was the target of his bad mood the most often. Also this time, he stood up to clear the way. Before he went inside, he looked once again at his small brother, who was hopping happily around their father´s horse. The old man didn´t snap at him for it. It looked like Father was in a little better mood than usually.

Only a few minutes later, Jin got to know the reason of that fact, when the head of their family sat down to the table in the tiny kitchen and put a few banknotes on it. Mum lost her voice for a moment, just staring at the money, then at her husband.

"What did you get paid for, dear?" she asked quietly.

Jin, standing in the doorway cautiously, was also confused, just Leo was patting at the table excited from the sudden improvement.

"Mr. Karnaka gave me a job," their father responded in a strange voice.

"Karnaka?" their mother repeated slowly. "My dear... What did you do for him?"

"It does NOT matter!"

A sudden outburst made Jin twitch a little and his Mum backed off from the table. Leo looked like he could not decide, if he should hide under the table or not.

"It was a job, which I brought money for! Don´t care about that and give me some damn meal! Now!"

It was here again. His father got angry, his face red, hands grasping in fits. Mum immediately obeyed and started to serve him in the record speed, even if there was not much to eat. Yet.

"I´m not so hungry, Mum..." Jin uttered a quiet apology.

She just nodded and made only Leo take a seat. His father didn´t give him even one look, already throwing the potatoes inside his mouth.

Jin gave one last glance to the money, which were still put at the table. He had a strange feeling about them. He didn´t want to touch them at all. It felt like he would have got dirty…

**********

CHAPTER ONE

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October 1881

It was only shortly after sunset and the cool evening breeze blowing from the mountains already invaded the streets of a small town in the south Montana. Bozeman City was not big in comparison with the huge cities full of breathtaking skyscrapers, which were specific for the oncoming century, but it was the second biggest in the territory at that time. The kerosene lanterns hanging above verandas were illuminating the wooden houses faintly, and their slow movements in the wind were creating strange, creepy shadows.

It was a busy time of the day for the staff of a certain saloon, which was located in the only building within ten miles radius with more than two floors. The taproom was almost full, filled with smoke from many cigarettes, with smell of spilled beer and loud voices of more or less drunken men.

Just an hour ago, a group of Blackfeet Tribe Indians left the small square, where they were selling various animal furs. White men usually gave them some alcohol, tobacco, small trinkets and rarely medicaments for them. It was only one-side-advantageous deal, which Indians hadn´t realized fully yet and now those so-called merchants were arguing about who managed to make a better deal with the red nation.

"Hey, boy! Where´s our beer?!"

Kame just glanced in the direction of an unsatisfied yell and nodded his head while filling up the last tankard. Then he carefully placed all six beers on the tray and brought them to the table at the window, skillfully avoiding all other tables and chairs on the way. Even though there was not much space left between all that equipment, it was not a big deal for the rather skinny bartender.

"It was about time..." he received an annoyed grunt instead of simple thanks.

Kame didn´t pay any attention to it and just put all tankards in front of his rude customers, before heading back to the bar counter.

It was not the most pleasant job he could have, on his feet for long hours, dealing with drunkards and their stupid remarks all the time, but considering other possibilities he had in the town, it was the best. He needed a lot of money and Harada´s Saloon was the place where he could get them. He had already dealt with worse jobs to earn enough cash for his mother´s medicaments.

Kame started preparing glasses for another round of beer for which the yelling request would come soon; he was more than sure about that. Despite the almost deafening noise, he didn´t miss the sound of a swing door getting open. It was a typical entrance of each right saloon in the west and specifically this one was not in such a bad shape to creak loudly while moving, but Kame had a sharp hearing. Therefore, he was the first one to notice the person entering the taproom.

The young bartender immediately realized it was not anyone local. He had already known most of the citizens by face, if not by name. At least those who liked drinking, playing cards and women´s company, who were always present in the pub thanks to the deal, which was negotiated between Mister Harada – the saloon´s owner – and the near brothel holder – Madam Sukina.

The new guest was a tall man wearing a dusty hat with wide brim, which was covering his eyes. His shoulders-long black hair was tied in a ponytail, a middle-sized dark coat with a high collar followed him as he moved, the clamped trousers exposing the slim thighs and a half-unbuttoned beige shirt uncovering his tanned skin. Kame also noticed a scarf around the man´s neck, dark red as blood. And inevitably, in these days the most important things were visible along his hips, half-covered by the coat – two revolvers.

A stranger was not what Kame had expected at all. It had been many weeks since any newcomer came to Bozeman City. Before he could think more about this evening surprise, the stranger headed his steps right toward the bar, being followed with quite a few stares already. Any new face always awoke curiosity and mostly worries about who the newcomer might be.

The black-haired man sat down at one of the barstools and he took off his hat. Very dark eyes focused on Kame, who stopped cleaning the glasses and returned that stare. The stranger was much younger than Kame had expected and he had an unusually good-looking face, even though it was half-covered by dark stubble. Nevertheless, those eyes of his gave the cold and very sharp impression.

Kame approached the new customer hastily, as he felt the strict stare of the saloon´s owner on himself and he realized that he should finally do what he was paid for.

"Good evening, Mister. What would you like?" he asked politely and in a little lower voice than usually, as also the pub turned suspiciously more quiet.

"What have you got?" a question was raised in a deep and hoarse voice, which was revealing the tiredness of its owner.

"Rum, whiskey, beer or water," Kame named the four main beverages he could provide to the saloon´s visitors.

"What about tequila?"

Kame could not help and raised an eyebrow. It looked like his customer had a choosey tongue.

"Well, we have a bottle or two... But it´s the most expensive drink we offer, Mister."

"Doesn´t matter. I can pay for it," the man stated so confidently, that Kame didn´t even think about trying to talk him out of it.

He just nodded and left the bar for a while, as he had to pick the bottle up from small locked cellar, which he could reach only through the kitchen. By time he came back, the conversations and arguments in the taproom almost came back to normal. The citizens lost their interest in the stranger for the moment.

The newcomer took the wide small glass and drank it in one swift gulp.

"One more."

Kame served him right away. Then he left the stranger alone for a while, to collect the empty tankards from the tables.

"Can I get something to eat?" the black-haired gunslinger asked him politely, when he got back.

Kame had to admit that even though this man looked like he was able to bear a lot of alcohol, he had some manners at least.

"Of course. We have some beans and bread left. Is that all right for you?"

"Anything," his customer seemed quite pleased about the fact, he was going to have some food.

"Fine. You can sit there at that table in the corner," Kame directed him to the last empty spot. "I´ll bring it to you right away. Would you like a beer, too?"

The stranger smiled a little and it changed his face completely, making it look even more handsome.

"Yeah, I´ll grab one. Thanks."

Kame nodded again and headed to the kitchen, while wondering from where this strange man might have come from. He wasn´t used to such a nice behavior from his customers.

*

The braised beans were a little cold and the bread stale, but Kame´s newest guest didn´t seem to mind that and the whole serving disappeared in his mouth in no time. When the stranger finished also his beer, he looked much more satisfied.

Kame came to collect his dishes after he got paid by a huge group of cowboys, who were playing cards for the whole evening and they left the saloon still arguing about who cheated whom.

"Anything else?" he asked the black-haired one.

"Yeah, actually... Do you have any free rooms?"

"Yes, we have two or three vacant. However, you must ask the owner - Mr. Harada - directly. I can´t say if you can have one."

The gunslinger looked surprised: "Oh, is that so?"

"Mr. Harada decides whom to accommodate or not himself. He´s sitting right there," Kame pointed at the big table in the back part of the saloon, which was covered with some papers and many cigarette butts. Harada used to sit there almost every evening. "And be polite to him, Mister," he added after a short hesitation and retreated to the bar.

Washing the dishes, Kame wondered why the hell he said that last sentence. He never did it, never gave any advice, even though he knew that landlord Harada was quite moody and able to throw out on the street even the United States President. So why did he warn that gunslinger? He knew him for like twenty minutes and he had no reason to act helpfully toward him.

From behind the bar, Kame watched how the newcomer stood up and approached Mr. Harada, who was a muscular man with very short hair and dangerous appearance. But Kame already knew that it was a cover hiding a really good heart. Harada employed him when he was lost about what to do and considered quite desperate options for how to earn some money.

For next few minutes, Kame was busy with serving the guests, so he could not watch how the conversation went and by the time when he got back to his place with tons of empty bottles and his purse quite full, the deal was already done. Mr. Harada was standing at the bar with the young stranger by his side.

"Kame, lead our guest to the stalls and then to his room upstairs, here´s the key," Harada ordered him, placing the metal at the counter and returned to his table and cigarettes without even waiting for his reaction.

Kame was already used to it, so he just put the tankards aside, grabbed the key and asked the black-haired one to follow him.

They went out on the saloon´s long veranda with comfortable chairs, and then down three stairs to the side of it, where each customer could leave their horse. Kame waited for the gunslinger to untie his, which was a surprisingly beautiful stallion of black color, with a long mane and tail. He was also carrying the belongings of the stranger, together with some box of unusual shape. If Kame was right, it was hiding a guitar. That fact made this guy even a bigger mystery.

The horse seemed to be as tired as its owner; they really had to travel for long. No wonder, when the railway was still far in the east and it wasn´t supposed to reach Bozeman City earlier than in two years.

The expectant dark glance disrupted Kame´s thoughts. The newcomer was holding his horse for the bridle and waiting patiently for Kame to show him the way. The bartender scolded himself for losing control of his curiosity.

"Follow me," he murmured and led the way around the building to the back yard, where the huge stalls were located.

"Aren´t you too young for this job?" there was a sudden question behind his back.

The stranger´s voice was not so hoarse anymore, but still very deep and quite pleasant. Maybe that was why the question didn´t piss Kame off as usually. He was asked like that too often.

"No, Mister. I´m twenty-one already."

"You look much younger."

"Many people say so..."

Kame was expecting another curious question, but it didn´t come…

*

They reached the stalls in silence. Jin hoped that he did not insult the young bartender, who was unexpectedly nice for such a city, where people were usually suspicious as hell and hostile to any strangers, so he rather did not ask any more questions.

The bartender opened one wind of a big door, which were poorly visible in the light of two lanterns. They were probably worried about a possible fire from the dry hay.

"Just wait a minute," his guide asked him and entered the dark space first. "Mike! Mike, where are you?!"

Jin peeked inside curiously and he saw the bartender going to the back. Then he turned to one stable, opened the low counter, and after that it sounded as if he smacked somebody over the head.

"What are you doing here?!" the young man tried to hush his voice, but Jin caught the words anyway. "How many times did I tell you not to sleep at work?!"

Some unsatisfied and sleepy murmur responded him.

"Get up, now!"

The bartender´s face was showing a slight annoyance, when he literally dragged a disheveled boy by his arm in front of Jin. That kid couldn´t be more than thirteen years old.

"Help our guest to take care for his horse," the bartender hissed at the boy, while Jin was trying to hide his amused smile.

"Ehm, yes... Mister? May I?"

"Of course, but be careful. My Kuro is proud and you must treat him with respect."

The horse neighed quietly as if he wanted to confirm the words.

"Eeeh... Of course, Mister..." the boy swallowed heavily.

Jin released his stuff from the horse´s back and wanted to put it down before undoing the box too, but there was already the bartender at his side, reaching his slim hands out for the two bags.

"I´ll help you," he offered.

It was rare to come across such a helpful person in these days. Slightly surprised Jin just nodded and let the younger one take the bags, while he grabbed his precious box and handed the bridle over to the boy.

"What about the saddle?" he asked a little worried.

"Don´t worry, sir," the small boy smiled so widely, that his teeth shone in the dim light for a second. "We have a shed for them, and that is always locked by Mr. Harada for the night."

"All right, then..."

The boy and his horse disappeared in the stalls and he once again followed the young man´s lead back to the building, but by the back door this time. They avoided the smoky saloon that way, going right upstairs. His room was on the top floor, the third, and also the last one from the stairs.

The bartender put his bags to the floor carefully and unlocked the door. Then he turned back to him and thanks to the fact they were standing right under the light of the lantern now, Jin could see how tired this guy actually looked. It was praiseworthy that this exhaustion didn´t reflect on his behavior.

"Here is your key, Mister. The bar is opened since eight o´clock in the morning; you can have a breakfast there if you like. The water pump is down next to the door by which we went inside. In case you need anything, Mr. Harada is almost always downstairs, or myself."

"Thank you," Jin accepted the key from the skinny fingers. "Is there a barber in the city?"

"Yes. It´s quite nearby, I can show you tomorrow if you like."

"That would be great, thanks," he nodded gratefully.

"You´re welcome, Mister," the young man stepped out of his way. "Good night."

The bartender headed back through the narrow hall. Jin watched him until he reached the stairs and disappeared from his sight. Then he took his bags and locked himself in the small but neat room.

***

Kame walked through the door as quietly as he was able to, avoiding the boards in the floor, which he knew were creaking and headed to the living room, which was still warmed up by the dying fire in the fireplace. There was a blonde girl in the armchair with a thick book in her lap, sleeping. He shook his head incredulously and touched her shoulder gently.

"Lena. Lena, wake up!"

The girl opened her eyes, confused.

"I told you to go home after dinner," Kame whispered reproachfully.

Lena yawned widely and stretched her arms. Kame caught the book before it could have fallen down to the floor and made some noise.

"I didn´t want to leave your mother alone," the girl stated, smiling a little.

"She´d have been fine," Kame insisted. "Your mother is the worried one now."

"All right, all right, I´m going..." Lena got up onto her feet. "I bet she´s not asleep anyway..."

Kame narrowed his eyebrows: "I´ll take care of her. Go already, or your mother will chew my head off."

"Oh, she won´t," the blonde one laughed with the hand across her mouth. "She likes you too much for that."

"Just go," Kame pushed the girl toward the door. "Should I walk you home?"

Lena rolled her eyes: "It´s just across the street! I´ll be fine. Good night, Kame."

"Night," he repaid the girl´s waving and finally closed the door behind her.

Then Kame looked in the direction of the bedroom. He could see the light leaking through the narrow space under the door. He walked to it and hesitated for a while, before knocking quietly.

"Kazuya..." a weak voice greeted him the second he peeked inside. "Welcome home..."

His mother was sitting in the middle of cushions and blankets, leaning on the headboard with her glasses on. She was knitting something, which didn´t have any proper shape yet.

Kame uttered a tired sigh: "Why don´t you sleep, Mother?"

"I was waiting for you, honey," the grey-haired woman replied with a happy smile.

He sat at the edge of her bed and took her cold hand into his: "I told you not to. It´s late, you should rest."

His mother´s smile faded away a little: "I ´m doing nothing but resting for the whole day," she complained. "I can wait for you, at least."

Kame could not be angry with her, even though he would really want to.

"Fine, then. But now I´m at home, so you can sleep."

"And I will," she nodded slowly and squeezed his palms. "When I know you´re safe here now."

Kame stiffened for a second, but shook the painful memories off fast. He took the knitting away and put it on the nightstand carefully.

"Do you need anything?"

"No, my dear. Just put the light off, please."

"Of course. Good night, Mum," Kame kissed her on the forehead lovingly.

"Good night," his mother responded in a quiet voice.

She was obviously very tired, and it made Kame angry at himself, even though he could not do anything about it. With a heavy heart, he doused both kerosene lamps and the room fell into darkness.

***

Jin was standing at the open door, which led to the narrow balcony at the second floor corridor, with the cigarette between his lips. He was watching Bozeman City falling silent and dark.

He was somewhere out there. The man he was looking for. The one, who caused him a lot of pain and suffering and about whom he could not ever forget, even though he had never met him…

Jin was sure he would find him and carry out his revenge. Nevertheless, he had to be careful. Many questions always give a rise to suspicion and he didn´t need any attention at all. Moreover, he had to think carefully about his own answers. Already Mister Harada questioned him a lot and he had to be ready for more questions coming.

But it did not matter, nothing of it.

I will do it… I will keep that promise, Jin thought looking at the stars above the silent city, and remembering his best friend´s dead body. I will accomplish what I promised to you no matter what.