Outlaw Star does not belong to me, but that should be glaringly obvious. Otherwise the show would still be running and Hot Ice Hilda would be the star of it. Anyway....

**Hello there. This is my first Outlaw Star fic-- I'm more of an original anime type. But, I decided that someone needed to portray Aisha Clan-clan with a brain.... Well, I think she has one. Review and tell me if this is so ridiculously improbable that I need to stop.

A silent voyeur watched impassively from the shadows as a figure packed a load of clothes into a backpack and fastened it up. Twilight Suzuka, known simply as Suzuka to the crew of the Outlaw Star, cleared her throat and stepped into the light. The only person in the world that she allowed to call her 'Suzu' (sometimes) glanced up, not looking at all surprised.

"Hey, Suzu," Aisha said breezily. "What are you doing up?"

"I could ask you the same question," Suzuka replied, looking pointedly at the backpack. "Going somewhere?"

"You could say that," the Ctarl-ctarl answered evasively, moving past the assassin to the kitchen, where a teapot sat warming on the stove. "Ooh, what are you making?"

Suzuka moved smoothly to take the pot off of the eye before it whistled and woke the others up. "Tea. I couldn't sleep."

Aisha's face fell. "Aw, tea? Not coffee, Suzu? Aisha likes coffee."

"Aisha might like coffee," Suzuka gave her a sour look, "but Suzuka likes sleep. Coffee does not do much to help one sleep." She dropped her tea leaves into a cup and poured the boiling water over them.

The Ctarl laughed. "You're so funny, Suzu."

Suzuka's eye twitched, but she said nothing as Aisha opened the refrigerator door and began rooting around. After a few seconds, she emerged with some leftover Ctarl-ctarl stew. "Better take this with me. I might get hungry!"

"Please do," Suzuka said coolly, blowing at her tea to cool it. "We wouldn't want anyone else accidentally eating that poisonous muck."

Aisha stuffed a huge fish into her mouth, chewed twice and swallowed. "You humans have such weak stomachs." She left the room for a moment and came back with her bag and her cape. "Well, wish me luck, Suzu!"

"What are you doing?"

The Ctarl-ctarl looked at her like she was stupid. "I'm leaving."

"In the wee hours of the morning? Without telling anyone?"

"I don't have to tell anyone what I do!" Aisha frowned, a bit of a snarl creeping into her voice. "Not that it's any of your business, but I've been-- I've been called back by the Empire! They need me, so I don't know when or even if I'll be coming back!" Aisha said defiantly.

The assassin rose from her seat, leaving her tea. "What good news," she responded, not believing a word of it. "I think the others would really like to know about it." She moved as if to leave to kitchen.

"Wait!" Aisha jumped in front of her, waving her arms. She grinned sheepishly. "I really don't want to hurt Jimmy's feelings. I figure it's best if I just, you know, sneak off quietly."

Suzuka stopped and regarded Aisha impassively. "That's understandable."

"Yeah, he's a cool little guy," the Ctarl said quietly, and her eyes clouded for a minute. She shook herself out of her thoughts and began to fasten her cape on. "I thought about leaving a note," she said, back to her usual carefree tone. "But since you're here, you can just tell everyone!"

"Tell them what, exactly?"

Aisha threw an arm around the taller woman's shoulders and playfully poked Suzuka's cheek with her index finger. "Tell them Aisha's a very busy girl!"

Grimacing, Suzuka gingerly detached the Ctarl's arm from around her neck. Aisha whirled away and swept up her bag, then headed for the doorway. "It's been fun!" she called out over her shoulder.

The older woman took a few steps after her. "Then why are you leaving? Something tells me you don't really want to."

"What can I do, Suzu?" Aisha shrugged blithely. "The Empire needs me!"

"The Empire needs you like they need a hole in the head," the assassin retorted. Her steaming tea sat unattended on the table, lending the faint scent of mint to the air.

The Ctarl-ctarl froze in her tracks, shoulders hunching defensively. "The Empire needs me," she repeated slowly, with an edge to her voice.

Suzuka watched Aisha's tense back coolly for a minute. "Why don't you tell my why you're really leaving?"

"I've already told you, Suzuka," Aisha growled through clenched teeth. "If you don't mind I'd like to leave now--"

"Before you lose your nerve?"

The Ctarl-ctarl turned around to look at the other woman, a rare serious expression on her cat-like face. She drew herself up to her full height, which still left her a good five inches shorter than the tall assassin. "I am a proud Ctarl-ctarl," Aisha said clearly. "And that's why I'm leaving."

Suzuka narrowed her eyes a bit. "I don't understand."

"Oh, yes you do," said Aisha ominously. "You just haven't realized it yet."

"Explain it to me, then."

Screwing up her face in annoyance, Aisha sighed. "Fine, but will you leave me alone if I do?" Suzuka raised an eyebrow, which the Ctarl knew was probably the only response she would get. Aisha took a deep breath, but spoke softly. "He already ruined my life once. I'm not going to let him do it again."

Suzuka's other eyebrow shot up. If Aisha hadn't felt so serious, she would have rolled with laughter. "You mean--"

"Gene," Aisha interrupted. "Yes, I'm talking about Gene. I love him, Suzu. It really sucks."

The assassin sat down heavily and reached for her tea.

So, there's more if you want it (chapter 2's already written). There are a lot of different ways this story could go: Aisha could actually go back to the Empire, or she could join up with Ron and Harry in desperation, or I could go way out and have Suzuka admit that the person she's loved all along is Aisha. Hell, I could magically transport poor Aisha into Escaflowne and make her sing the theme from "Cats" with Merle . (but that would be ridiculous). Any and all suggestions are welcome.