Author's note: First of all, let me assure everyone that the Star Wars and Princess Bride references are purely for tribute. Star Wars is my favorite movie and the Princess Bride was my favorite chick-flick, so please forgive me if something from either film inspires me. Besides, Squaresoft rips them off more than I do! Biggs, Wedge, Nida (Needa in Star Wars), the lightsaber, and let's not forget Necron's speech in Final Fantasy 9! Oh, by the way, if anybody's having trouble reading new chapters, just click the "Reload" button to cheat. It works for me. Anyway…

VI: No Need for Reconciliation!

The second time Ryoko and I met was considerably different than the first. It was about two months after my first big job, the very same one where I had my first brush with love… and where I lost much of my innocence. I emerged from that mission a changed woman, one who was stronger, and tougher, and more merciless than her previous incarnation. I was no longer a sniveling little girl; I was Nagi the Ruthless, Nagi the Fearless, Nagi the Fanatical, and I swore on my life that I would kill my enemy.

Fittingly enough, I saw Ryoko in the very same place where I met her first. She came in, stinking of alcohol, and was too confused and drunk to notice me. But I saw her, and though for a moment I feared her, all the terror I had previously felt soon left me, and in its place came the anger, and the rage, and the hatred that had defined me for so long. Here she was, the woman who had murdered my parents, and I was not about to let her go so easily.

I immediately bolted out of my seat, dashed over to the tipsy woman, and slammed my fist against her face so hard that my knuckles bled. She fell down to the floor hard, causing dust to scatter in an explosive cloud. I snarled as she laid there, breathing hard and slow, and I prayed that the single blow had killed her. Deep down inside, I hope it didn't. That would have been too easy.

Groaning, Ryoko slowly got to her feet, the red bruise on her face shining out like a beacon to the rest of the drinkers. By now, I had drawn the attention of everyone in the bar, and they stared in awful silence as I glared hotly at my most hated enemy.

"What was that for?!" growled Ryoko viciously. I returned her fierce tone easily.

"Do you remember who I am, Ryoko?" She did not. "My name is Nagi, Ryoko. Learn it well, for it is the name of your executioner!" Several doubtful people scoffed and even snickered as they heard my claim, but I paid them no attention. My scorn was aimed at another.

"Nagi?? Weren't you that little girl I saw in here a month or two ago?"

"No, she is dead," I snarled. "I killed her. I am all that's left of her, and now, my hated enemy, I shall kill you!" One person let out a laugh at my preposterous words, but that laugh was instantly silenced as I gave Ryoko a sudden fierce kick in the guts, followed by another hard punch to the head. She fell backwards to the floor, and my sword was out and aimed straight at her throat the very second she hit the ground.

Silence.

The entire room was aghast with shock. It had only taken me a few seconds to disable and defeat my prey--it was so fast that some people couldn't even follow it. One moment, Ryoko was standing up and I was exaggerating my own skills, the next…… well, they could see what happened.

"Let that be a lesson to everyone else," I said, keeping my eyes on my hated foe. "To those that doubt the power of the great bounty hunter Nagi, I give to you this victory over Ryoko. May her blood quench your thirsty curiosity." I snarled with glee at my hated enemy, and would have driven my blade right through her neck if I hadn't been distracted by a few of the Galaxy Police barging through the door. The good news was that they were not after me; the bad news was that they wanted a piece of my prey, and she was mine to kill, and in the few seconds it took for my attention to be diverted, Ryoko kicked at me and scrambled away to safety.

We have been mortal enemies ever since.

And now… now I am expected to believe that she, Ryoko, my most hated enemy, and one of the universe's most terrifying criminals, was my sister. Unfortunately, I also had unshakable proof that this claim was true, and as much as I didn't want to admit it, Ryoko and I were related by blood. The thought sickened me--at first. Now, though, I've had time to think things over. I've been thinking a lot, ever since the day I learned of our true connection, and though at first I was horrified, I soon began to realize that…… despite our enmity, maybe it wouldn't be so bad to have a sister in my life.

Ha… I must be getting soft… But it's true, it's true… I never knew any family, and up until a few years ago, I never knew where I came from or who had given birth to me. I don't even know if my original parents were really ever killed. And now this shows up……… Ha… a real, real family… A sister, and a mother, and a father…

I don't want it to become public knowledge, but it's what I've always wanted.

Ryoko…… believe it or not, but… I'm ready to start all over again, and if you're willing to put the past behind us and start this road anew, then…… well, I'll be glad to go along for the ride. I mean, after all, you are my sister.

Nagi had returned to the Border Bar after Ryoko escaped her ship. The former bounty hunter had spent only a short amount of time in thought after the uncomfortable scenario, and decided that it would be better to journey back to the place where she and Ryoko first met. Although the ex-pirate had left Nagi in a sudden horror (understandably), Nagi had faith that her one-time enemy would soon eventually cool off, seek the truth, and come back to the place where they had met so many times before. After all, Ryoko would never be able to rest until the whole matter had been settled.

Nagi had not been waiting long--about six hours or so. She was an incredibly patient woman, and could wait out her… sister (it still felt weird to think of Ryoko as family, but Nagi was slowly getting used to it) for as long as it took. One day, one week, one month, one year… however long it took for Ryoko to return to her, Nagi would wait. Besides, with her prey now retired and cleared of all crimes, Nagi really had nothing else left to do in life, except maybe settle down and raise a family.

A family… Nagi's insides melted involuntarily as she had thoughts of mothering children, and marrying, and going through life in love and not in pursuit. She had only really loved one man in her entire life, but unless she was mistaken, this one man had probably already forgotten about her. And even so, could she really go back to him? She had changed dramatically in the years since she parted ways with him, and though he might remember her, the man she had loved once would probably not recognize the woman she had turned into.

Still…

Nagi's thoughts faded away as the door to the Border bar opened. The welcoming bell rang, and a few eyes turned to see who it was. Some people gasped in horror, others stiffened, and still others rubbed their eyes and checked the efficiency of their glasses in disbelief. But there was no denying it: this was Ryoko, and to Nagi's slight surprise, she had came back. The ex-hunter almost smiled as her former enemy silently slithered inside, and without saying a word, Ryoko joined Nagi at her table.

No turning back now, thought both women. They each took in a breath…

"I've been waiting for you, Ryoko," said Nagi blankly. A pause.

"I know… sister." A smirk. Nagi sipped at her coffee.

"So, you've accepted the truth, eh…?" Another pause. Ryoko invisibly nodded her head, and both women kept their eyes pinned to the table beneath them. There was still a noticeable amount of discord and mistrust between them, and even if they had had all the time in the world to think over things, it would still not dismiss the fact that they had once been mortal enemies.

"…Yeah," came Ryoko's flat voice. Nagi took in another deep breath, and at the same time, both pairs of eyes raised up to look into the other's. Nagi and Ryoko had never really gazed into each other's eyes before, at least without hate or malice, and the feeling was rather different and new, to say the least.

Nagi cursed.

"…I had a whole speech planned out," she admitted, keeping her gaze straight. "I was going to say so much, and I was going to express so many things, but when it comes down to it, Ryoko, I have no idea where to start."

"Loser," muttered Ryoko. Nagi snickered.

"A sign of sisterly love?"

"Shove it up your anus." Nagi's snicker turned into laughter.

"You are a strange one, Ryoko," chuckled the former huntress. Ryoko sighed, put her elbow on the table and her head upon her hand, and looked at her… sister… with tired golden eyes.

"I had a speech planned out too," she admitted. "I was gonna cuss and scream and yell, but then I got too tired, n' so I just forgot about the whole thing. I'm improvising now." Nagi nodded her head and smiled faintly, and the two women continued to trade glances in the silence of the nearly-empty bar. A few minutes drawled on by without much of anything being conveyed between them. The dam had to burst sometime; it was almost a law. Somewhere, sometime, one of the two women had to break. It was only a matter of who, and when, and how.

Nagi finally bared her soul two minutes later.

"Ryoko… I know that in the past, we haven't had a good relationship. We… were enemies, the worst kind, and I can't think of a time when I didn't want to see you killed."

"Because you thought I killed your parents."

"Right," nodded Nagi. "And I guess I should apologize for accusing you of such a thing, but that's all in the past now. Anyway, my point is, you've retired from your life of piracy, and that princess friend of yours has pardoned you of your crimes, and so now I don't have any reason to chase after you in a blind fury. I… I guess I'm just living in the past, and old habits die hard."

"So what're you saying?" A pause. It was indeed true that Nagi had been living in days long gone by, and she needed to finally move on with her life, but her old ways were tough to kill. It took a lot of humility and courage to say what she said next.

"…Ryoko… my sister… I want us to bury the hatchet, and to start all over again…" Nagi's maroon eyes were now soft, and tender, and even a little warm, and her face was trying to dig up something that resembled kindness, and charity, and innocence. Nagi's hammered voice was no longer so rough and bitter; she spoke softly, and gently, while still keeping a little huskiness for flavor. She was very near to the point of smiling, and Ryoko was never more surprised in her life.

"…You what?"

"…I want us to become the family that we never had a chance of knowing," said Nagi, her voice and her face becoming softer by the minute. Her nervous hand slowly reached for Ryoko's, and though the ex-pirate jumped instinctively, she had grown up to the point where she could handle such an action with surprising maturity. A sigh was released from two women who didn't even realize they were holding their breath, and the tension in the bar lessened.

"…Nagi…"

"I did some research in my spare time," continued the ruby-eyed woman. She lifted her hand off of Ryoko's, and dug into a folder to reveal several sheets of computer-printed paper. On them were statistics taken from a DNA sample of Nagi's hair: connections to any relatives, to be exact. There were four close matches, the parents and the children. Some time ago, Nagi had paid a covert visit to the Masaki house, and asked Washu to print out as much information as she could about the huntress' parents. Nagi never told Washu the reason for her search, but the petite scientist put her questions aside and did as she was asked.

This very same search was the one that led Nagi to discover her true origins, as well as her true connection with Ryoko, startling as it had been. Nagi became horrified at first, but slowly calmed down to the point where she was willing to share the truth with her one-time enemy. It was a terrible decision to make, especially since Ryoko was still a criminal when the search first took place. But Nagi was willing to take the emotional pain, and perhaps deep down inside, she really did want to make peace with Ryoko, and to have a real family, and to live the rest of her life in peace.

"Take a look at this," said Nagi, showing Ryoko the files Washu gave her on her parents. The ex-pirate leafed through them all until she came to two photographs, one of a man and the other of a woman, and her eyes widened a fraction as she looked at them.

"Our parents," explained Nagi, tapping the paper with her finger. "Armand and Anya Stohk, from the planet Tg of the Minida system, somewhere in the Pleiades galaxy."

"I see…" muttered Ryoko, whose entire body was catatonic with wonder. So… these two people were my parents…… Huh… this woman looks a little like I do, and I guess Nagi takes after her--I mean, our father… Ryoko took in a deep breath, and smiled gently as she looked at the people who introduced her into life for the very first time.

"And here's something else I found," said Nagi, showing Ryoko another sheet of paper. "It says here that we're not just sisters, we're twins."

"Twins?" parroted Ryoko, her voice oozing over with disbelief. Her face was now twisted in utter and complete--…no, wait, she's right! hissed the ex-pirate mentally. By God, she's right! I never noticed it before, but Nagi and I look a lot alike!

"You're kidding," muttered Ryoko, though she believed her sister. Nagi smiled, suddenly undid her hairbow, and styled her hair in spikes until it was shaped in the same fashion as Ryoko. If there had been any trace of doubt in the former pirate at all, it quickly left her as she stared in shock at her sister. Nagi was almost a mirror image!

"I don't believe it!" whispered the former pirate, her mouth hanging open. Nagi smiled, and tied her hair back to the way it was.

"Believe it… sis," she smiled. "We're twins, all right. Nagi and Ryoko Stohk, twin daughters of Armand and Anya Stohk. Oh, uh… just so you know, 'Nagi' isn't my real name."

"It's not?" muttered Ryoko, her voice once again dripping with doubt. "Nagi" smiled and shook her head no.

"No. It's Nanette. My adopted father named me Nanette, and his last name was Gizra, so I just took the first two letters of my name and came up with Nagi." Now, both girls were smiling faintly, and Ryoko's golden eyes shimmered slightly as her sister revealed a well-kept secret.

"Nanette…? It's pretty…"

"Thanks, Ryoko."

"Oh, uh, that's not my real name either," chuckled the ex-pirate. Nagi nearly laughed herself.

"Are you serious? You're not just pulling my leg?"

"No, I'm not. Remember me telling you that I was raised in a church?"

"Yeah."

"Well, the priests there named me Fatima Christina Marcella: after the Fatima, the Christchild, and St. Marcella, which was also the name of the church. So I guess I'm Fatima Christina Marcella Ryoko Stohk." The girls smiled at each other again, and Nagi even let out a small grin.

"It's a beautiful name… But where in the worlds did you come up with Ryoko?"

"I didn't," shrugged "Ryoko" casually. "To make a long story short, I was kicked out of the church and found myself being trained under a woman who was the real space pirate Ryoko, sort of."

"The what?!" Nagi suddenly tensed, and nearly bolted out of her chair in a surprise rage. Her hand would have been holding her sword if she had bothered to take it with her. Ryoko calmed her sister down, and explained (as best and briefly as she could) about how the original space pirate Ryoko had passed her torch onto her best and brightest pupil, who in turn kept the legacy of Ryoko until another fine upstart came along. Ryoko then explained that she was the fourth woman to be called that, and to Nagi's surprise, the one that resembled the original Ryoko the least.

"I don't believe it," muttered the huntress. "I just don't believe it…… Of course, it's all very possible. Ha! That suddenly explains why I was so afraid of Ryoko at such a young age! If we were twins, you'd have been about seven or eight by the time I learned of Ryoko, so I must've been hearing about one of the older ones. Well, that makes sense!!" Nagi smiled and even chuckled a little as she muttered to herself; Ryoko, or Fatima, smiled along with her sister.

"…So, does this mean that bygones are now bygones?" she asked. Nagi snorted, but still kept her smile.

"Yeah…… I was a fool to hate you for so long, even after you reformed your ways. And to think that all this time, my rage was really aimed at another woman! It really wasn't you I hated at all!" The former huntress slapped the table happily, and stood up out of her seat. Ryoko, somewhat less zealous, had to be coaxed out before she joined her sister.

"I just don't believe it!" exclaimed Nagi, her voice losing its hard edge minute by minute. By this time, she sounded like a squealing, giddy little schoolgirl, and though it was strange to hear this tough-as-nails warrior act so bubbly, it was a welcome sight, and Ryoko was lapping it all up.

"This is incredible!" squealed the former huntress again. "Ryoko! …Oh, wow! I… Ach! It's too much to take in! Hahahahahahaha!!!" Nagi broke out in a wonderfully carefree laughter, and even Ryoko had to grin as the former bounty hunter whittled off years and years of loneliness and pain and hate and vengeance, leaving only the true, naked soul in its place. Ryoko had to admit that Nagi's true self, her real self, was a very beautiful and happy thing.

Still caught up in an uncontrollable laughter, Nagi suddenly rushed forth and did the one thing that caught even her off guard. She quickly wrapped her arms around Ryoko, and gave the other woman a powerful hug. Both ladies instantly tensed as their bodies touched, and an old enmity rose up one final time to groan at them. But slowly, maroon eyes found golden eyes, and the girls realized what they were doing, and smiled at each other.

Slowly, carefully, as if they still did not trust each other, Ryoko and Nagi embraced right there in the middle of the bar. At first the hug was cold and careful, but an ancient bond that traced back to their very births was awakened, and gradually, the girls released their hate and malice towards each other, and hugged warmly. Ryoko let out a soft sigh of contentment as she held her sister, and Nagi moaned just slightly.

The feeling was somewhat unexplainable. It felt good to be holding each other--no, not good, though it was a positive feeling. Somehow, it felt… not good, but… right… It felt right to be embracing, as if that was the way things should have been all along, and up until now, they had never had the chance. But now the long-list sisters were together, and they were slowly discovering the truth, and they were leaving behind their past and their pride for something better, something right, something real.

Noticing the stares they were getting from the limited patrons, Ryoko and Nagi let out a weak chuckle before explaining things.

"It's okay, we're sisters," said Ryoko, and after the initial shock wore off (few people realized that the infamous space pirate Ryoko had a family, much less a sister), the people turned around to attend to their business. When Ryoko looked back, into her sister's face, the only thing she saw was something warm, and kind, and noble, and very, very familiar. She saw her twin, the girl she had been separated from for so long, the sister she never knew she had, and the woman she was starting to love.

"…Hey… Ryoko… Thanks… for calling me sis…" smiled Nagi.

"No problem, Nagi," winked the ex-pirate. Nagi countered with her own wry wink.

"Just call me Nanette, Fatima."

"Blech, I like Ryoko better," gagged the pirate, sticking her tongue out for good measure. Nagi--Nanette--laughed out loud, and gave her long-lost sister another hug. She had to admit, things were going to get a lot more interesting from then on out.

Next chapter: All right!!! The two sisters have finally come to terms and seem to be getting along surprisingly well! That's a relief! Here's to hoping that they spend some time together, catching up on all the things they've missed! But how will the others take this startling news? Or do they even know? It's fun for all ages, next chapter: "No Need for Sisters!" It's unquestionably sweet!