Hey minna!
I know. It's been a while since I've written new Outlaw Star fanfic. Heh, I've been trying to get my juices flowing. I've worked on some new Ranma 1/2 stuff and Sailor Moon fanfics as well. I've finally got the inspiration to write a new Outlaw Star fic! ^^ YAY!!!!
Disclaimer: I don't own Outlaw Star or its characters. I am merely borrowing them…^^ TAKE THAT YOU LAWYERS! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
Rated R for language and violence. ^^
Enjoy!
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Now and Forever, Part Three:
Wishes and Dreams
By Batdz Angel (\0/)
Staring out at the black void known as space, Melfina watched the stars rush past as the Outlaw Star headed for Heifong, where Jim and Aisha lived. She pulled her knees to her chest and listened to the silence.
How loud it seemed.
She preferred noise, she decided as she saw a few planets fly past the window. With noise, you could pretty much forget your problems. Something she needed to do everyday…
How much longer?
That was the question that plagued her thoughts, her dreams. How much longer would she stay living and hunting for peace? How much longer would she keep Gilliam working so that she would not be lonely?
Standing, Melfina went over to the hatch and opened it, saying, "Gilliam?"
"Yes Melfina?"
"Don't let me be disturbed unless it's important."
"Of course."
She entered.
The liquid surrounded her, sliding over her as if silk, the same as it had been when she'd first awakened. She opened her eyes and looked around the red liquid, searching.
Always searching.
Melfina…
The blue figure came closer and she nodded slowly, eyes cool as the girl who had been her all those years ago approached her. The girl tilted her head to the side, eyes sad and asked…
Are you lonely Melfina?
In a sense, she was.
Her former self sighed and said in her haunting voice…
When did you lose your wings Melfina? When did your heart become so cold?
When he left me.
The girl smiled sadly, a ghost of what she had been.
Then join him Melfina. Give your heart wings again.
Join him? How could she join him without dying? She didn't want to have Gene furious with her if she killed herself. How could she face him then?
Don't lose yourself Melfina. Be who you are and you will find happiness…
Happiness. What a strange, mysterious emotion that was to her now…
Was she happy?
She wasn't sure.
Closing her eyes, Melfina concentrated, conjuring up an image of someone she had lost so long ago…
"Melfina."
She opened her eyes and smiled at the figure standing before her, sapphire orbs sparkling. "Gene."
For now, she could pretend.
***
Punch, kick, duck, spin.
Punch, kick, duck, spin.
Spin, kick, punch, punch.
Repeat.
Repeat.
Repeat.
Jim watched from the window of his home as Melfina sparred with the dummy, his blue eyes narrowed in thought. His wife, Aisha Hawking, a Ctarl-Ctarl, whispered in his ear softly, "She's fighting ghosts Jim. How can she ever be happy?" "I don't know," he admitted looking at her with sad eyes. "What can we do Aisha? I can't help her." Aisha sighed eyes sad as she watched the bounty hunter.
"Melfina is the only one who can decide what she wants," a new voice said calmly. "No one else." "Hey Suzuka," Jim greeted the woman who stepped out of the shadows, wearing a kimono and a bokken at her side.
Twilight Suzuka nodded at her two friends and focused her attention at the woman who was busy fighting ghosts. "She has changed," she commented as Aisha and Jim followed her into the kitchen. "Her bitterness has gotten the best of her." "Gene's death killed what was left of her innocence Suzu," Aisha pointed out as she went over to the stove. "I can't imagine what I'd do if Jim died."
"Let's not talk about my death," Jim said firmly then looked up as Melfina entered. "Hey Mel." She nodded in reply and said, "Suzuka. It's been a while." "It has," Suzuka agreed as she stood and placed a hand on the smaller woman's shoulder. "How have you been faring?"
"I'm a bounty hunter," Melfina said flatly. "I fare as I fare. It's not rocket science."
Suzuka raised an eyebrow.
"Well, dinner's ready," Aisha announced breaking the silence that had fallen. "Everybody sit." Her two children zoomed in and sat down as Melfina sat waiting patiently as Aisha set a bowl of steaming soup before her. "This isn't another one of your Ctarl-Ctarl recipes is it?" she asked after a few seconds. Aisha and Jim's girls, Aliana and Jean, giggled at the look on her face.
Aisha had the grace to blush. "No. It's beef stew Mel. The kind you used to make." She shook her head at her girls, who looked curious. It didn't escape Melfina's attention.
She used to make.
She had cooked and cleaned for these three people before her until they'd all separated into their own lives. She had stayed with Gene and married him, learning to be a bounty hunter while Jim went to college and Aisha went to her planet to get a blessing on her marriage to the computer genius. Suzuka had gone back to her work as an assassin.
Time changes you.
Finishing her soup, Melfina stood and said, "I'm going out. I'll be back in the morning." "Where are you going?" Jim asked as he took the dirty dishes to the sink. Melfina shrugged and grabbed her cape off the rack, saying, "I'll go and visit some old friends."
"Old friends…?" Jim grinned suddenly as Melfina went to the door. "Say hi to Fred for me. And Iris."
"Hn."
She went.
***
Walking along the sidewalk, she kept her head down as she moved through the crowds of people. Ignoring the catcalls coming from a group of men gathered at the corner, Melfina crossed the street. She raised an eyebrow, unseen, as a man with dirty blonde hair and a sneer as he said, "Hey baby. Wanna have some fun?"
"You're not my type," Melfina answered shortly as she stepped around him. A strong hand gripped her arm and Melfina reacted, her free hand pulling her castor out of its sling. "Let go," she growled. "Or I'll blow your fucking head off. Got it?"
The man nodded and backed away, hands in front of him. "Sorry! I didn't mean to bug ya lady! I'm sorry…" He ran off and Melfina snorted. "Idiot."
She kept walking.
Walking and not thinking of anything.
Blocking any thoughts out of her mind.
She looked up at the sky and saw a shooting star.
Wishes and dreams didn't come true, she decided as she saw familiar bar ahead. Hers had been taken from her.
And all she had left were the nightmares.
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Comments at Batdzangel@yahoo.com
Ja ne!
Batdz Angel (\0/)