***********Plans within Plans

I found Ryoko drifting in space unconscious and half dead. I quickly had Ken Oki transport her and Ryo Oki aboard. What I couldn't understand was why didn't her wounds heal…I had always figured she had some kind of healing ability. I managed to stop the bleeding and lucky for her I knew a thing or two about first aid…finally when she regained consciousness, she was so weak.

"Nagi, please just let me die. There is nothing else left for me now."

"First Ryoko, you promised me a fight and I intend to collect. Second, since when are you a quitter? Now you need to save your strength, so rest."

Later Ryoko told me why she was unable to heal herself; she said because the wound was caused by Jurai power it was fatal. She also told me that because she was finally able to heal it meant that Kagato must have been destroyed.

I continued to take care of her; it was a month before she could finally walk. When she was able to walk her desire to die was stronger that ever.

"Nagi, I am ready to battle."

"Slow down, tough girl, you can barely walk…and I sure as hell don't need any unfair advantages."

Finally, she acquiesced, seeing I was right after she nearly fell on her face and I had to help her up.

"Damn it, Nagi I can walk on my own."

All I could do was laugh. "Oh, How the mighty have fallen."

She walked away and stared out at the stars. Ryoko continued to keep to herself…it was weeks before she finally opened up to me and even then she didn't say much. I couldn't understand what happened to the space pirate I chased all over the galaxy. Ryoko ceased to be the vibrant, loud, and tough women she had the reputation of being; this Ryoko was a shell of her former self. I doubted the injury and near death experience had much to do with her state of mind, I figured her man must have chosen the princess over her or something.

Sitting down at a table Ryoko asked, "Nagi, whats for dinner and please tell me its not the gruel you have been feeding me these past few months. You know if you expect to fight me at my top form, I need to eat well enough to get my strength back."

I was surprised at her change in mood, afraid to upset the new change; I didn't want to ask why-

"Geez, if I knew that saving you would require listening to that mouth of yours I might have had second thoughts." Said Nagi.

"Seriously, Nagi why did you bother saving me there isn't a bounty on my head anymore?"

With a smile creeping up on Nagi's face she turned away from Ryoko and said, " I couldn't let anyone else get credit for destroying you, could I."

Nagi returned to the table brought some delicious smelling food to the table with her.

"So Nagi, PRIDE made you save me?"

"Ryoko, SHUT UP, and eat."

"Nagi, I have a favor to ask of you."

"You are hardly in a position to ask favors of me."

Looking Nagi straight in the eyes she says, "Its not a big deal really, I just need you to help with my death."

Noodles and soup broth fly out of Nagi's mouth as she asks, " Whaaaaat? I might be willing to kill you in battle. But I am not going to help you kill yourself."

"Calm down, Nagi it's not what you think. I just want to get on with my life without my past creeping into the present. Anyways, I know you have no intention of killing me in a battle."

"Just how did you come to that conclusion?"

"Simple really, your beloved cabbit would refuse to obey you, see you would cause my cabbit to go into a great depression, and that would make your precious Ken Oki upset…you know as well as I do that trying to get a depressed cabbit to obey, makes banging your head on a wall sound like fun. Besides you need me."

"Are you insane, me need you…"

"Yes, you need me to help you learn to have fun."

"Ryoko are you sure you didn't also receive a blow to that thick head of yours? What makes you think I need to have fun Ryoko?"

"I saw your face when you won that swimsuit contest…you smiled. In fact I have never seen you so full of life."

"Just because I smiled doesn't mean anything. I am perfectly happy and fulfilled by me career as a bounty hunter, I don't have time for fun."

"Nagi, the fact that you have no time for fun, only proves to me you need it."

"Ryoko what makes you the authority on fun?"

"Being a space pirate gives me the authority, I lived life moment to moment, no responsibilities and I don't regret on minute of it. Can you honestly tell me you lived your life without regrets?"

What could I have said to that question- I did have one regret…I gave up on love. There was no way in hell I would have told her that. I continued to eat my noodles and I told her we would be stopping at the next space outpost for supplies

******

Yes, they are OOC…

C/C please write to:

tiger_orchid@hotmail.com

And write fan fiction in subject line or I might not read it.

Keep in mind his is my first fanfic