Vicious stared at her unconscious figure and drew his sword. He pressed the tip of the blade into her neck and gazed down upon her nude body. She lay silently on the bed in amongst the light blue sheets. He drew back and watched a drop of blood run down her neck.
He silently sheathed his sword and walked out of the room. He had blown the perfect chance to kill her. He sat in his chair and stared out the window. Could it be that he had…feelings for her? He shook his head at the thought and lit a cigarette. He had temporarily grown soft, that's all.
"What happened?" Rei asked and Vicious looked at her.
"Nothing," he replied.
"You cut me, didn't you?"
"Not intentionally."
"Why?"
Vicious sighed as he put out his cigarette. He reached for her hand. Her eyes pulsated in pain and he turned away from her.
"I was going to kill you."
"What?"
"Don't worry. I can't. I've killed many and yet I can't take your life. It's ironic."
She fell to the floor in shock. He stared at her for a moment then turned away from her. She wiped her eyes and gazed at the hand in front of her. She gazed up at Vicious and his gaze darkened.
"Are you going to take it or do like the feeling of metal against flesh?" he asked.
"I guess I should thank you. You've given me so much," Rei said as she stood up.
"Get dressed. We still need to pick up your shipment."
"I'm going."
Vicious took a step backward as Rei kissed him. His eyes grew wide at her actions as she pulled way from him. He watched her walk into the other room and sighed. She had definitely fallen for him but was the feeling mutual? There had to be a reason why he couldn't kill her.
"I'm ready," Rei said as she walked back into the room.
"Good. Come on, I still need to get that shipment for you."
***
"There's another shipment of Red Eye being delivered," Spike commented.
"How much is the target worth?" Fay asked and Spike looked at her.
"We're after the receiver, not the deliverer. This is Mike Carrol. He's involved with the syndicate. As soon as the deliverer makes contact, we make our move."
"So you're counting me in this one?"
"It'll be easier if we split up. We can cover more ground. You take the area by the pier. Jett and I will take the remaining parts of the city."
"Right. I'll see you boys later."
***
Rei walked out of her ship carrying a suitcase. She looked at the directions that Vicious had given her and headed off towards the pier. She hoped that everything would go smoothly. She didn't want to disappoint Vicious, not after he had given her so much. A bullet hit her shoulder and she dropped the suitcase in shock. She cried in pain and Fay, who had just stepped into the area, ran up to her.
"Are you all right?" she asked as Rei cried in pain.
"It hurts," she replied as Fay helped her up.
"What happened?"
"I don't know. I was just walking and somebody shot at me."
"Cowards. Come on, I know someone that can fix you up."
"I need to take care of something," Rei said and winced as she picked up the suitcase.
"Whatever it is can wait," Fay said and Rei shook her head.
"No. I can't disappoint him. He's done so much for me."
"Him?"
"Vicious."
"Vicious?"
"Do you know him?"
"Not personally."
"He's really nice."
"We can't be talking about the same person. Where are you going?"
"I'm supposed to deliver this to a warehouse."
"What is it?"
"I don't know. Vicious just told me to deliver it."
"Damn. I really screwed this up. The man you were supposed to deliver is gone. You've failed as well. Maybe we can work something out. You're coming with me."
"I really should tell Vicious what happened."
"He'll find out soon enough. Now come along. If I don't come back with something, they'll never let me hear the end of it."
***
"You're saying that she's the delivery man?" Spike asked as Jett removed the bullet from Rei's arm.
"Why don't you open the suitcase and see for yourself?" Fay asked.
"What do you think I'm doing? Hey, you're right."
"We can take that stuff to the police," Jett said as he wrapped Rei's arm.
"What about her?" Fay asked.
"We could turn her in as well."
"Please. I was only doing this to repay his kindness," Rei said.
"Whose kindness?" Spike asked.
"Vicious."
"Vicious? Was he tall with gray hair?"
"Yes. He's really nice."
"Vicious is not nice."
"You're scaring her," Fay said.
"You don't know him like I do," Spike said and Rei stood up.
"I don't know what happened between the two of you and I don't care. I had no place to live and I was scrounging through the trash looking for food. He gave me a place to sleep and new clothes. I was only trying to return the favor," she said and Spike glared at her.
"Listen to me. Get away from him while you can. Vicious is nothing but trouble."
"I'm sorry but I can't believe that. Now please, will you let me go?"
"You don't want to go back to him. He'll kill you."
"No he won't. He can't kill me. He said so himself."
"Maybe he's changed," Fay said and Spike glared at her.
"He's never going to change. He's always going to be the same damned bastard," Spike replied.
"What are we going to do with her?" Jett asked.
"It's obvious what she wants," Fay said.
"I can't hand her back to Vicious. Not after what he's done to me," Spike said.
"I had nothing to do with your relationship with him," Rei snapped. "Now let me go. At least I had a direction with him. If you push me off onto the police, I'll be back on the streets again. I don't want that. I don't want to spend every day wondering if I'm going to see the end of the week. He may not have given me a lot but it's enough. Can't you understand?"
"You haven't seen how much he's taken away. He may give to you now but he'll turn on you. I know."
"Then at least give me the option to find that out for myself."
"Spike, it's not your place to tell her what she should do," Jett said and Spike glared at her.
"Stupid bitch. You really want to go back don't you?" he demanded.
"I have not reason to hate him," Rei replied.
"Fine. Go back to him. Just be on your guard. I know what I'm talking about."
"Thank you so much. I wish I could repay you."
"Just go."