III: No Need for Secrets!

I remember the very first time I saw you, Ryoko.

How could I forget?

I was young, innocent, naïve. Stupid. I was a fool, a lamb, a lost little soul who still cried. I was so young that I still squeaked whenever I talked. I was so young that I was not even allowed in the bar, so I lied about my age. I was good at making false IDs, so good that it fooled the bouncer and the bartender. I wanted my very first draft of alcoholic beverage, and I was so determined to get it that I made up a lie. Stupid.

I was so young and innocent and stupid that I couldn't hide the silly grin on my face. I was seventeen years old, and I acted half that age as I walked into the smoky bar. It was very well-lit for a place on the Border, and the people that haunted that place were much friendlier than if they had came from the slums, but not as nice as people from the city. This was, after all, the Border, and it was right here where I was raised.

When I walked into the bar, I sat down near the counter like I owned the place. I was still budding into a woman, so I got a lot of stares and whistles from the men. There weren't very many women in there, and most were so ugly that they barely passed as humans. I couldn't even help smiling when the men whistled at me. I sure did smile a lot when I was young. Stupid.

I got a big mug of frosty beer, the object of my desires, and I took a gentle sip first. I never tried beer up until then, so I didn't know if I'd like it. It was okay, but not worth a second purchase. I finished it off, got hilariously drunk (stupid), and started doing things that would have made even you embarrassed, my "friend". I giggled. I laughed. I danced. I made a complete fool out of myself. What can I say? It was my punishment for underage drinking.

But when I saw you walk in, my "friend", I sobered up faster than a priest. I froze as I saw you for the very first time, and all my innocence and naiveté became chilled inside of me as I stared right into your face. You snorted, standing over me, and crossed your arms in that same old cocky way you always did. I was on my knees because of my previous drunken condition, but now that I saw you, I was on my knees in terror. Pathetic.

I had known about the infamous Space Pirate Ryoko ever since I was about six years old--nearly ten years ago. For ten years, I had heard wild stories about how malicious and maniacal and ruthless you were. You didn't just break the law; you shattered it, and threw it away. You did as you pleased, took what you want, terrorized those that threatened you, and killed anyone who got in your way--including my parents.

You killed my parents, Ryoko, and that was why I was so deathly afraid of you.

As I laid there on my knees, looking about as helpless and pathetic as a baby lamb before slaughter, you snarled and gave me your most vicious grin. To you, I was just another sorry, stupid excuse of an underage drinker, and though I think we were the same age (who knows?), you looked down on me and leered so terribly that I actually soiled myself. Stupid.

"What's this?" you said in a low, dark voice. I quivered, completely paralyzed just by looking at you, and I tried to at least keep my eyes open. To close them and curl up in a little ball would be the ultimate disgrace. You snorted--I had not answered you yet--and glared at me even more.

"You got a name?" you growled. I stammered, my lips quivering in fear as I beheld your terrible presence, and all I could do was moan in horror and cry. I cried, Ryoko! I cried because I was so scared of you! And you, you…

"Na… Na…"

"Yeeeess?"

"Na… Na… Nag-gi…"

"Hmph…" Pathetic. I get sick just thinking about it. I don't know how I could have ever been so weak. You smiled wickedly, and pushed me out of your way. "Listen, kid," you threatened, "I don't wanna see you get in my way ever again, got that?"

"I… I…" All I could do was shake fearfully, and cry, and curl up in a ball and pray for you to leave. My God, was I ever so pathetic? Was I ever so helpless and frightened? I… can't even stand to think about it. It makes me so sick that I want to die.

And that was the first time we ever met, Ryoko.

I was not even a bounty hunter yet, but you… you were already feared, and infamous. Nobody knew who I was. That was such a long time ago! It felt like it was in another life… and that now I'm another person… but I am. I am different, and this is another life… I am now Nagi, the universe's greatest bounty hunter--or I was a week ago. And you are Ryoko, the most infamous space pirate around--at least, I thought so. Now, we're both just wasting our lives away in retirement. There's nothing left for either of us now, except to settle the score one last time.

Maybe then, I'll finally tell you the horrible truth. Ryoko, I pray you will be able to handle what I am about to say to you. ………Then again, maybe not. I had better intoxicate you a little first. I don't think you're quite ready just yet, my… "friend"…

Nagi quietly lifted the beer to her lips, and swallowed an eighth of the glass before placing it back on the counter. She was not the best gambler around, though her career did run on chance from time to time. She was hoping that Ryoko came here, to this bar, where they had first met… and the odds of that happening weren't too great.

For the past seven days, Nagi had been in that bar. She almost never even went home, for concern that Ryoko would show up during her absence. For seven days she had kept a silent, mysterious vigil in that Borderline tavern, and although her patience had not borne fruit yet, she was determined to wait for eternity if necessary. After all, now that Ryoko had reformed herself, and had been pardoned by Princess Ayeka, there really was nothing left for Nagi to do. The thrill of the hunt had been stolen away from her, and now all she could do with her life was waste away, drink, and hope to make amends before it was too late.

Nagi sighed, and finished off her beer in the span of an hour. With the glass now empty, she busied herself drawing wet circles on the bar counter. Her face was drooping down in thoughtful emptiness, and with all threatening features gone, she actually looked quite angelic. Bored to tears, slightly drunk, and reeking of the potpourri of nasty smells in the Border bar, Nagi was literally wasting away, and the fact that it was only noon didn't make things any better.

"Hey," said the tender, giving her arm a poke, "don't you have a home to go to, Nagi?" She remained silent for an incredibly long time before responding.

"No. I have no home." The significance of her answer was lost on the tender, and he shrugged and continued to polish his mug. One more hour passed, but Nagi still stayed in that same position. Though she could never boast of liking Ryoko that much, Nagi's patience was surprising. She wanted Ryoko to come to her, and had poured so much mystery and confusion into her speech (the last time she saw her enemy) that the ever-curious pirate had to investigate.

Nagi was just lucky that Ryoko was not one to brush aside something so mysterious.

Yet another hour passed, which meant that it was now 2:00 in the afternoon. Nagi took a deep sigh, and even began to wish that Ryoko was there already--purely for the fact that she wanted to get this over and done with. Nagi had something very important and very personal to tell her "former" enemy--something so important and personal that even she herself feared it. It was going to be a tough time getting her thoughts across, and since the only way that Ryoko would accept things would be for her to be very close to Nagi, the former bounty hunter had a good reason to be anxious.

But the alcohol helped.

And, just like that, the door to the Border Bar opened, and like an event from the past replaying over again, Ryoko stepped into the bar. Nagi turned around, thankfully not on her knees, and the faintest of smiles came to her mouth as she saw the object of her hatred and fear standing but a few meters away. It was almost like looking into the past--here they were, the same bar with the same two women, and there were even a few of the same people around. Nothing, and everything, had changed.

"I was wondering when you'd come," said Nagi. She had planned this conversation with her enemy ever since she first arrived a week ago; she had anticipated every reaction, and every word, and even every facial expression. Nagi wouldn't be caught off guard; she had been waiting far too long to be surprised.

Ryoko only expressed silence as she walked forward. This was but one of many scenarios that Nagi had considered in the past week. She had even considered being embraced by the pirate, no matter how unlikely it seemed. Nagi had not gotten as far as she did on luck alone; she anticipated the impossible, and oftentimes, her preparations paid off well. With a silent hand, Nagi motioned for Ryoko to join her, and even offered to pay for a drink.

"Well, I'm here," said Ryoko suddenly. "What do you want?"

"I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about," said Nagi coolly. Ryoko snorted.

"You really are insane, you know?" she said blankly. "You buzz something crazy in my ear, then leave without telling me what the heck you're talking about. And then you tell me that I'll know where to look for you! Do you have any idea how crazy and stupid all that sounds?" Nagi smiled, though deep down inside she really was happy a little, and shrugged a little.

"It was all just a clever foil to get you over here," she said. Ryoko snorted again, and crossed her arms. No matter how much she had matured, and no matter how much they had seemed to get along in the past, she still detested the bounty hunter with a fiery passion.

"So I'm here!" stated the pirate. "Now whaddya want?" Nagi smiled again, and bade Ryoko to intake the sake presented to her. The one-time space pirate hummed softly as she saw the small cup, and took a cautious sip of it.

Gotcha!

Nagi grinned inwardly as her arch-nemesis took the bait. Now, all she had to do was wait for the potent liquor to take effect. She had planned to intoxicate Ryoko, of course, and this bar was only the perfect place to do so. The ex-pirate would never be able to handle what Nagi was about to tell her, and since the information was crucially important, the ex-hunter had to devise some way to soften the blow. Getting Ryoko drunk seemed like the best path to take.

Only a few minutes, and a few drinks, passed before things started to take effect. Nagi's efforts in fact paid off a little too well--Ryoko was not only very drunk, but she was also becoming a little too sociable for her own good. She giggled and squirmed like a child, and babbled about things that no interpreter could figure out. She had placed her arm across Nagi's shoulders like the two had known each other for years, and rubbed her nose against the irritated ex-hunter's cheek.

"G'hey," murmured the drunk pirate, "how's about you'n me go out'n have uh good time on thuh town…?"

"No thanks," grunted Nagi, trying to keep both civility and sanity in check. With Ryoko this was normally never very easy, but Nagi detested the ex-pirate, and to have so much unwanted attention poured out on her was making her quite angry. Nagi clenched her teeth in a rage more than once, but through some miracle kept her tongue and temper.

"Ryoko," she said through a growl, "there's something that I need to tell you… Something you won't like."

"D'guh?" burped the pirate. "Like what? Whaaaaat, what izzit, whaddya want?" Ryoko grinned and hugged Nagi's neck like a little kid, and the hunter had to take a big breath before she could speak. Even in her soberest, Ryoko could be a gigantic pain in the rear, and the way she acted now was exaggerating things. Nagi hoped that if she ever had kids, God forbid, they wouldn't act like that.

Slowly, she took a deep breath and prepared to bare her soul. Her mouth opened…

"…Ryoko… I'm…" And then, suddenly, the space pirate fell to the floor in an unconscious heap. Nagi froze, her mouth still open slightly, and she stared at the knocked-out woman in extreme disbelief. She groaned out in misery, tried to calm the throbbing veins in her forehead, and grudgingly bent down to pick Ryoko up. A dazed look was on the pirate's face, and Nagi cursed out loud as she realized that her enemy was out like a light.

Next chapter: Nagi takes Ryoko to her ship so she can recover the hung-over woman, but will she ever reveal what's on her mind? Will Ryoko be able to handle it with sobriety, or will Nagi have to get her drunk again? And for the love of all things sacred, what IS her secret?! Next chapter, "No Need for Thinking!" It's unquestionably philosophical!