Disclaimer: I wish I did, but I don't own Cowboy Bebop. Takes off where Cowboy Bebop: The Movie ends.

Prologue.

"Where is she going?"

The girl was running like an athlete, fast and furious. Her footsteps echoed around them in the dark alley. She kept looking behind her shoulder, yet couldn't seem to see I there. I saw that she was scared. I look behind me to see if we were being followed; and we were. Two burly men were after the girl.

Turning a corner she bumps into someone. No matter how hard she tried, she was unable to escape. Kicking, spitting, screaming, scratching, nothing worked. The third burly man held her tight with ease.

I found himself walking upto the man, and punched him in the face. He let the girl go who ran like the wind. Breathless from constantly running, she hid behind a wet stone wall for just a moment. I easily caught up with her. This girl was only tiny, coming upto my middle.

"Chikarazoe ware... Dake jijo kan chikarazoe ware..." She whimpers.

I was sure she was talking to me, as I am the only person here. Yet she can't seem to see me, which is confusing.

And she was off again. With every three yards she took when moving, I matched that with just two strides. The night was dark and it was cold. It was raining and she kept slipping, but even that didn't stop her. Her small figure was cloaked by lank, soggy clothing; she wore a short green skirt, the multiple layers badly frayed at the hems,a black t-shirt and big chunky boots. Long, stringy hair stuck to her face, thick long lashes framing those huge eyes. She looks so helpless, yet I know there is a fierce strength within her.

How I know, is beyond me.

All of a sudden, she screams. Her scream was pitched so high it should have woken the dead. A gun was fired, but it was not aimed at her. Rather, it was shot to stop her, and it worked. Sobbing, she forces herself to continue, to go on. But where can she go? A minute ago we were in a dark alley. Now we're in an open area, prime targets for those men who are trying to capture her.

I turn to check if we are being followed. Thankfully they've gone. When I check on the girl, so is she. Now outside a dimly lit building, her muffled voice leads me to her. A burly man, a different one to before, is holding her, her short legs kicking helplessly. This time I can't move, I even lose my voice.

He puts her down, only to hit her so hard across the face she falls over. Her cry pains me so much, yet I'm frozen. Another man pulls her up, gripping her thin arms with more force than is nessesary. Grabbing her by the throat, and
lifting her off the ground, he takes her inside.

Finally I can move, and rush in after her. From the open door, I hear women trying to lure men to bed, then charge them money. A brothel. They took a young girl to a brothel. Angry, I run inside but the thick smoke and smell of
incence sting my eyes.

Then when I can open my eyes again, I'm back in my room, aboard the Bebop. The steel grey walls, the same cupboard and bedside table. I always wake up at that point. Every dream I have, that same girl is there. Running, always running, always scared. Somtimes I can rescue her, but I can't seem to save her. Not once. It makes me so mad to be this useless.

And I don't even know her.