a/n: Okay, seventh chapter up. Not many people are reading this, but I've decided to post it anyways ;).
Tell me if you want any improvements or changed in this story. I love critisism and advice. Although this story is actually already written, I can always change what happens in the future - depending on the opinions of my readers.
Feel free to comment on this chapter. I wasn't too sure about it. I'm a bit nervous about posting it actually, because it's a bit of a sudden change and too fluffy for my particular liking. And please inform me of any spelling errors, I will be glad to fix them up for you guys.
Oh, and one last thing...
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO IS READING THIS STORY. you don't know how much it means to me! This is my first ever fanfic story, so I didn't expect it to be all that impressive. So, yeah, basically, thanks. :)
Chapter 7 – Lost and Found
Everyone sat at the galley eating their protein meals for dinner. They were all in generally gleeful moods and were laughing hysterically about something that probably wasn't even that funny.
It turned out that, while Jayne and Mal were being shot by Patience, Zoe, Inara and Hero, whom they had run into trying to drag Saffron out, went and collected the stolen money and took it back to Serenity. Mal was so pleased despite the bullet wound in his forearm. He not only beat Saffron, but got payed for it, too. And the money they'd made was good, it would last them months. Exactly what they needed. Mal even made an effort not to yell or get upset at Inara all night, seen as he owed her a favour. As for Zoe, she was her usual modest self. She refused any extra payment, due to the fact that Mal had to get shot for their little stunt to work out.
Hero was beginning to be the title "hero" rather than the name – although Jayne insisted in calling him "virgin kid" and River kept quiet around the others, much to Hero's disliking. He enjoyed her company and she was his only real friend on Serenity; everyone else were just his companions or allies. That is, except for Jayne who remained "someone he knew and neglected".
After dinner, a toast dedicated just for him, Norihiro and River went down to River's bedroom (the infirmary was taken by Mal and Simon) and sat there in silence for a while. At last, Norihiro broke the silence, 'This ship is really nice. I always wanted to fly a ship when I was young. Of course, I imagined something a bit fancier than a Firefly, but I wouldn't have been able to afford anything.' He brushed his hand against the walls of the Serenity and gave it a small smile. 'So tell me, River, what is your background? I notice you and your brother don't exactly fit in here and the captain doesn't seem to get along much with the doctor... not that he really gets along with anyone, except maybe Zoe...'
'The captain and my brother are alike in many ways, but they do not believe it,' she said quietly, not really listening. She had her knees drawn up to her chest and wasn't even looking at Norihiro. 'Simon and I are from the central planets and we are fugitives from the Alliance. Mal lets us stay because he feels sorry for us, and he believes that running away is fun, especially when he is taunting the Alliance. It's rather childish actually.'
'Fugitives? I have to admit, I wasn't expecting that,' He gave a weak laugh, 'What did you do? Accidently spit in the general area of a fed?' River looked at him for the first time and giggled.
'A bit more drastic than that; but that is the popular idea,' River replied. She was struggling to remain stable from all the memories she was suppressing, but it seemed that Norihiro's mocking comments were helping her through. She itched a bit closer to him subconsciously and rested her head against his shoulder. As he remained stiff and awkward, River rolled her eyes. He's so like Simon when it comes to girls.
'I know what you're thinking,' River told him simply. Forgetting his self-conscious attitude, he raised an eyebrow.
'Do you, now? That's a clever little trick of yours.' River nestled her head further into his shoulder, slightly leaning on his chest, and smiled. She could feel his heart thumping against his rib cage. Damn, maybe he's more like Mal when it comes to girls...
'You know, my sister's name was River,' Nori stated, trying to start conversation again. River laughed.
'You speak of the past but your mind speaks of the present,' River told him knowingly. He obviously didn't know how to react. 'Men are like teddy bears,' she observed jokingly. 'They are always in desperate needs of hugs. Do you find that?'
'What? That men are like teddy bears or that I always want a hug?'
'Don't worry.' River sighed. 'I know that you want to kiss me,' Nori went positively as hard as stone in his face, 'but last time my brother found me kissing a boy, he went crazy and told mum and dad. Gosh, he's such a boob.' River let her head fall onto his lap gracefully. She looked up at him from her lying position on her back and rolled her eyes.
'Sounds like a real... boob,' said Nori in an unnaturally high voice. River giggled girlishly. She lifted her head and cupped his cheeks in hers. He embraced her and they kissed, like River had been waiting for since she met him. Then Nori pulled away and asked curiously, 'How old are you again?' She grinned widely and pulled him to her again by his shirt. Then she hastily got up and brushed herself down before going to the door. Nori looked hurt.
'Someone is coming,' she whispered before she opened the door and walked down the hall.
The next day the captain confronted Norihiro. 'Hero, I've been, uh, thinkin' with the rest of the crew, and we decided you can stay on my boat for as long as you want,' he informed him. Hero gave him a serious look and seemed to be in thought.
'I thank you for your offer, captain,' he began what Mal knew was to be a refusal. 'But I couldn't. Not only did we originally plan for me to only be here until I recovered, which I have by the way, but this isn't the life for me. All my life I've lived on solid ground and have been happy, I think I would like it to stay that way.'
'Well, in that case, you can choose where to be dropped off.'
'The closest border planet there is. Central planets are too uptight and the like for me.' Mal smirked knowingly and patted him on the back with his good arm.
'You're my type o' bloke, Hero,' he told the younger man with honesty in his eyes. Something not everyone saw very often. 'But it is a pity you're leavin', we all enjoyed your company. I s'pose Jayne even did, in an odd twisted way. River 'specially did, though.' Mal winked. Hero did not bother to blush, and instead walked from the cargo bay into the infirmary where he found Simon and River. River was crying in the corner and Simon was soothing her. Norihiro had an urge to go in there and comfort the poor girl, but knew he shouldn't. He often saw her doing this, occasionally screaming, rocking or clutching her head, too. It struck his curiosity as to why, but he assumed it was something like a disorder or a past traumatisation similar to his. He agreed with himself it was too much to ask.
River seemed to stop in her crying and sit up from the counter in which she lay. Simon was plainly confused. She smiled and waved at Norihiro, who, puzzled like Simon, waved cautiously back. The doctor gave Nori a suspicious glance, but did not question his sister and her friend. 'River?' Simon said nervously. She turned to him. 'Have you taken your medicine?' he asked.
'Yes, of course I have.' She opened the door and locked her arm into Nori's before dragging him away. The only thing he could do was shrug at Simon's glares.
'You're brother cares for you very much,' he observed. River looked at him as if to say "don't go there". He was lead again to her bedroom and they sat down on the bed, River sitting on his lap, exhausted.
'He's so hard to live with,' she grumbled. Letting her head fall down and rest on his shoulder, she glanced at Nori who was noticeably more comfortable than the other day. She gave him a stern gaze. 'Why do you have to leave?' she whispered. River knew the answer perfectly well, she just wanted him to tell her the way he always did when explaining something.
'I want to start a new life. Begin fresh,' he began. 'On solid ground. This just isn't where I belong and I think you know that well.' She sighed.
'Then it's useless trying to persuade you to stay, even though you're my teddy bear?'
'Yeah, River, it is.' He laughed and hugged her. They remained embraced for a while.
Right then, while River sat on Nori's lap hugging him, the door swung open and revealed the mechanic and the doctor talking animatedly.
