Disclaimer: I don't own Outlaw Star, though I wish on every star in the
galaxy I did, so please don't sue me 'kay?

Note: Welcome to part 2! I don't expect this part to be very long, not that
the first part was in any way long in the first place, but hey. ((-^)
Anyhow, much thanks to everyone who reviewed, it's b/c of them that I'm
continuing this now.

Review Question Answers; Jade S. - Thanks for you're enthusiastic review,
it's the reason this got done as quickly as it did. barbo-chan - same
comment as Jade S., also; hum, Jim-torture ehh, *eg* I can do that.
Kimbra - you'll find out in this chapter. Eternal Moonbeam - hey, what do
you mean he's yours, I'm Jim No Miko after all. britie - well, it was a bit
too short (sorry), but it was only part 1. Megan - Q.1) You'll find out in
this ch., Q.2) you'll find out in this ch. Q.3) you'll find out in this ch.
*heehee* Okay, now that that's done, on with part 2!! *trumpets*

Boutou Hoshi* Part 2
By: Adakie aka Jim No Miko


Gene set off down the street and soon he could see the boy in the
light of a near by street lamp. He started to replay the information in his
head. 'Let's see . . . it was a . . oh ya! It was a nine year old kid,
James something . . . Li . . La . . Liaren, ya that's it! And his dad was
some big shot at . . . at . . . oh I can't remember. It was some big place,
had a lot to do with the new grappler ship design I think. Ya, that sounds
right. There was . . an explosion? No, it was a fire! That's right, some
arson job at there house, both of the parent's died but the kid got away.
And then there's that neighbor who said she saw everything, and that the kid
had tried to pull his parents out. Now what did she say . . . oh ya, that
he had grabbed their arms, but pulled back, and that he'd probably gotten
burnt on his hands because of it. And that was the last time anyone saw
him. This has to be the same kid, it just has to be! Okay,' he thought,
'now what?'

He followed the kid down the different roads and alleys, careful to
stay far enough away to avoid being caught but close enough not to lose his
quarry. Finally, the kid stopped near a large crate, looked around carefully,
and slipped behind it. Gene peered around the crate cautiously and found
himself staring into a large room.

The room seemed to be a basement and had definitely seen better days.
It was very dark, and obviously very dirty. There was a black haired girl
sitting on an old, worn out mattress. A very small boy with dark red hair
and a pail, chalky complexion was cradled in her arms. She was rocking back
and forth, but he didn't seem to notice. In truth, he barely seemed alive at
all. The boy Gene had been fallowing came to stand in front of them, head
bent low and long bangs shading his eyes.

"Well," the girl snapped harshly, "did you get it?" The boy was silent for
a long moment before answering.

" . . . no."

The girl erupted.

"What do you mean no!? I told you to . . ." The boy had obviously tuned her
out. He slowly walked over to a pile of old rags that Gene assumed was his
bed. To his surprise, the kid dropped to his knees, then fell face forward
onto the pile, fast asleep. Eventually, the girl relaxed that he was no
longer listening and stopped her tirade.

"Humph, ungrateful b*st*rd."

Gene knelt in shock for a moment, then stood in thought. 'I'd better
make sure this is the guy I'm looking for before I go doing anything.
Besides, I don't think I want to deal with that little b*tch in there at all.
He set off down the street, careful to map the alley in his mind befour he
left. He walked for a long time, going over the different options in his
head and comming up with nothing. 'What can I do to be sure?' A slight
movement in the shadows caught his attention. It was a small child with
short, light colored hair, much like the three he'd been watching just a
while ago.

"Hey there, who are you?" 'This kid looks like he's been here for a while,
maybe he'll be able to tell me something.'

"M-my name's Shalie."

'Oops, make that he.' "Hi Shalie. I'm Gene. Listen, can I ask you
something?"

"W-well, I g-guess."

Gene smiled at her and she blushed softly. "Great. Listen, I'm
looking for a guy. I think his name's James, but I'm not sure. Have you
heard of someone like that Shalie?"

"Well, I d-don't think so. The only p-person I know with a n-name like that
is Jim."

"Jim, huh? Do you know where could I find him?"

Shalie blushed again, she was obviously quite taken with him.
"W-well," she said, "I think he's still staying with Riakie and Liko."

'Those must be the two I saw in that cellar.'

"I don't know why though, R-Riakie's not very n-nice."

"Oh?" 'That's an understatement.'

"Y-ya, I saw him with her once, a-and she was really mean."

"Do you know where I could find them?"

"Oh sure, t-there in that big place a f-few blocks away."

'Hum, so I was right.' Gene smiled again. "Thank you very much Shalie."
'Ah what the h*ll, I'll be nice.' He bend down and kissed her lightly on
the cheek. The girl bent her head slightly and blushed a deep crimson.

"Y-your welcome," she said softly, then skittered away giggling. 'Well, at
least now I know I was right. This has got to be the same guy, everything
adds up . . . and this helps me how?' Gene started walking again. 'Okay, I
can't do anything with those two kids there, so I'll have to wait until he's
alone. But then what? What am I going to do? Should I just grab the kid
and turn him in? Those big shots have obviously put some other guys on the
job, so if I leave him here I might as well just turn him over to those thugs.
But what else can I really do?'

Gene looked around. The sun was just starting to rise and he'd
somehow made his way back to the large crate beside the basement. He heard
voices coming from inside. 'Oh, what the h*ll,' he thought, and peered
inside.

"Please Riakie, can't I just sleep in a little?"

"Maybe you don't really understand," she said coldly. Her hand shot out and
connected with the boys cheek in a vicious slap. "The only reason you're
here," another slap, "is because," slap, "I felt sorry for you." slap. She
curled her hand into a fist. "So you," hit, "had better," hit, "be," hit,
"good!" Her fist stopped in mid air. The kid was shuddering on the ground,
his face in his hands and a small puddle of blood and tears on the floor
beneath him.

Her face took on a softer look. She wrapped her arms around his
shoulders and gently rested her cheek against the top of his head. "Oh Jim,"
she said softly, "Why do you do these things? Why do you make me hurt you?
I don't want to do this to you," the grip tightened suddenly and her voice
rose again. "Why do you make me do these things?"

"I . . . I'm sorry."

Riakie backed away then, cool and calm as if nothing had happened.

"Well, you'd better get going, the sun's going to be up soon."

Jim, who seemed to have pulled himself together, nodded and stood.
Gene realized that he was probably on his way out and hid on the other side
of the crate. The boys weary form eventually appeared. He had put on an
old, worn out jacket and an equally shabby bag was slung over his shoulder.
He walked out a few steps, then stopped.

" . . . b*tch."

Gene smiled a little and came out of his hiding spot. "Watch your
language kid."

"What the . . . it's you."

~*Owarii - End*~

Notes; Did I spell owarii right? I can never remember. Hum, this is longer
than I thought it would be. Okay anyway, please review. ((-^)