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: Wow, I got this part out fast huh? Anyway, I wanted to post something on my birthday (it's my way of celebrating, since I don't do any sort of net thing and nobody writes stuff for me or anything like that *oh well (^-^) [-- Aisha smile] *). Well, what it lacks in length it makes up for in action!! ((-^) ( -- Hilda smile) *Warning, this was written while listening to Yu Yu Hakusho music!*

Boutou Hoshi Ch. 5

By: Adakie aka Jim No Miko

Gene gasped for breath in the chilled night air. He'd sprinted for all he was worth, but found no sight of the one he was looking for. Jim, he knew from experience, was very fast. And to make matters worse, he probably had a _big_ time advantage on the outlaw. Still, Gene knew he had to find him. 'Something bad's going to happen, I just know it. I don't know how I know it though. I'd call it woman's intuition, but well, I'm not a woman. Great now I'm rambling. I'd better get moving.' The neighborhood wasn't all that familiar, but then Gene knew where the boy was more than likely headed. He took off down the street again.

~*~

Jim breathed a sigh of relief as the familiar crate came into view. 'I'm back,' he thought, 'I'm back home . . . so why am I scared? That Gene guy was nice, and I trusted him a lot, but . . . it's my responsibly to come back. I have to help.' He clutched the tattered bag tightly. 'I just hope this is enough.' He quietly slipped into the passage through their hidden entrance.

A tall, dark figure was hunched over in the corner. 'Riakie? It's her, it's got to be. But where's Liko?' He stepped forward cautiously. "Riakie?" The figure's head whipped around, revealing a slightly startled and very familiar face.

"Oh Jim! You're back!" She turned back to the corner. "Look Liko, he's home. Jim's here, and everything's gona be okay now." He walked over to where she was, and saw another familiar figure in her arms. 'Liko? He looks so pale. Is he even breathing?' He reached forward with a trembling hand and pressed his fingers against the child's throat. Nothing.

"R-Riakie . . . he's dead."

"W-what?" she asked in a shaky, startled voice, "What do you mean? H-he's not dead. He couldn't be. H-he's just . . . sleeping! Yes, that's it, he's sleeping. C-come on Like, wake up!" she shook him forcefully, tears starting to leak out of her eyes. Jim backed up slowly, then turned and ran out of the basement and back into the cold, unfeeling night.

~*~

His thoughts echoed in his head. 'I can't believe it. How can he be dead? I wasn't fast enough. I didn't get back in time . . . argh! How could I just let this happen!? I should have left the minuet I woke up! Why? Why is all this happening? Why me? Why him? I just don't understand. And Riakie . . . she doesn't believe it does she? Did he really mean that much to her? Or maybe she's just that crazy? Oh I don't understand any of this?!' A quiet rustle of cloth from somewhere nearby caught his attention.

"What? Who's there?"

And then he saw her. It was Riakie, crouched close to the ground a few feet away. She stood slowly, her tangled, black hair falling around her face and shoulders.

"You."

She raised her hand towards him, fist curled around the shimmering metal silver hook.

"Liko is dead because of you. It's all your fault!!"

She rushed forward, slashing her fist towards Jim's neck. He jumped away just in time and Riakie staggered forward, but did not give up. She whirled around, a vicious snarl escaping her throat, but her fist hit open air.

"How could you just leave us like that?!"

She lunged forward like a cat, and this time Jim could not avoid her. She tackled him and pinned him against the ground.

"How could you!?!"

"R-Riakie, I . . . I tried to get back! You have to believe me!!"

Her expression softened slightly and her cracked, dry lips curved into a little smile. She slowly, carefully traced the edge of the hook across his cheek.

"Oh Jim, it's not that I don't trust you. I believe you tried," The sharp point bit into his flesh and he screamed. "It's just that . . ." The mettle dug in further and Jim felt hot blood flood his mouth and poor down his throat. "Trying isn't good enough."

Riakie let go, leaving the hook imbedded in the side of the boys face, and stood. When he tried to get up, she placed a foot against his chest and pushed him back down again. She watched calmly as he started to choke on the blood.

"I want you to know what you did. Did I ever tell you why Liko was so sick? No? He had pneumonia. His lungs filled with fluid, and he choked to death because you didn't make it in time." He whimpered slightly, trying to break her hold on him. "Shut up!" She struck fast as lightning, her bitten, uneven nails scratching his neck. "D*mn you . . . I want you to know what you put him through. I want you to feel it."

Riakie's dirt smeared face softened and she smiled slightly. She grabbed his wrist and held it in a vice like grip. "Don't try and hide the truth Jim, I know what you've been doing." Jim thought frantically 'What does she mean? I don't understand, what could . . . oh no! The gloves!' He had forgotten to take those gloves off back at Gene's apartment, and Riakie had noticed. She pulled the black cloth off and, flinging it to the ground, picked up a sharp stone. She began slowly and deliberately tracing it's edge along his palm, opening thin, dirty cuts.

"You know, I never asked you how you got those scars . . . hum."

'No, no, this can't be happening.' It was so hard to breath, so hard to even think, and the sensation of hot blood pouring into his lungs seemed to consume him. 'I'm gona die.'

~*Owarii - End*~

Ooh, what a cliff hanger! *goes SD chibi and runs away before Bishounen No Miko can catch her*