oki...im just letting all u ppl know now that this is the final FINAL chapter! therell be no more after this, whether u like it or not! o.o...anyway, something very drastic kinda happens at the end, so if u don't like surprises, i don't recommend reading anymore. oh, and for all u Spike lovers out there...im sry ^_~. happy reading folks!! (and don't forget to review!)


Chapter 6

It had been four hours since Faye had left the Bebop, and Spike was getting a little anxious. She had gone to find Vicious, he was sure of it. But the purpose was still unclear. It was so amazingly confusing, and Spike hated to be confused. Thoroughly frustrated, he threw down the unread newspaper. This action caused Jet to poke his head around the corner.

"There something troubling you, Spike?"

"Yeah. Faye."

Jet emerged fully from behind the corner and scratched his head thoughtfully. "She always troubles me. Wait, she didn't take any money did she?"

Spike shook his head.

The old man let out a sigh. "Phew. Well that's a relief. But then, why are you so troubled?"

Spike went on to tell Jet everything that had happened, including the note, what had happened at the warehouse, and what Faye had said last night. Spike was relieved that by the end of it, Jet was as confused as he was.

"Hmm, being so emotional doesn't sound like Faye at all. You sure Vicious didn't drug her or something?"

"No, I'm pretty sure that what she was saying was all Faye." Spike sighed, pausing to think. "But what he did to get her talking like that has got me."

"Well, this is just my opinion, but I don't think you should go getting involved with Faye's business. She's already pissed as it is."

"Vicious is my business, Jet. I told Faye the same thing."

"And what did Faye say?"

Spike was silent.

"Yeah, that's what I thought," Jet chuckled.

"Look, I may not know much, but what I do know is that whatever Vicious wants Faye for, it has something to do with me."

Jet again scratched the back of his head, this time placing a hand on his hip. "Whatever. You do what you want, Spike. I'll be here in the meantime."

Spike watched him slip back around the corner to return to whatever he was doing. The bounty hunter sighed and relaxed his back into the couch. Too wrapped in his own thoughts, he didn't notice the continuous rants of little Ed, who sat on the floor excitedly as a message was displayed across her Tomato.

"Ooh la la, a message is there? How fortunate for Edward!" Without taking her eyes of the computer, she reached out an arm and grabbed Ein by the collar and directed the poor dog's face towards the screen. "Looky Ein! A message there is for Edward!" Ein whimpered for the release he knew he wouldn't receive from this crazy child.

"Ed, could ya keep it down? I'm trying to think."

"*Gasp* Heeey....Spike is in the message too!"

Spike refrained from thinking for a moment to listen to the ranting Ed.

"Ooh, and what's this? The message is coming from Vicious? Ooh la la!"

Not needing to hear anymore, Spike jumped up from his position on the couch and leaped down onto the floor where Ed was sitting. His full attention now onto the message in Ed's computer, he clamped down a shaking hand onto her shoulder.

"Where's the message coming from?"

"Oh, does Spike want to see Ed's message too...?"

"Ed! Tell me where it's coming from!" he cried, shaking her desperately.

"Waaah! Ed find out!" Along with a irritating hum, Ed began to type away at the keyboard, her young and brilliant mind working fast to trace the message.

"Aha!" she cried after several seconds. "Ed is a good girl! Ed found the old lot on 2nd street!"

Spike muttered a quick thanks to the small hacker before speeding off, now knowing exactly where to go. But just before going out the door, he paused to grab a loaded handgun. If he was dealing with Vicious, he wanted to make sure he was ready to settle the final score. He then left, leaving Ed and Ein sitting in front of the still blinking computer, which Ed was staring at drowsily.

"Is Ed done now?"

Yawning and stretching, Ed knew it was time for a quick nap. She allowed herself to fall backwards, her head instantly connecting with what would've been the floor if Ein's medium sized body hadn't of been there instead. Ed instantly fell asleep, apparently not noticing the difference between the floor and Ein's soft fur. Ein, on the other hand, squirmed and wiggled under the girl's head-weight. Eventually, Ein gave up the struggle, and allowed Edward to sleep on, soon falling into a peaceful, though uncomfortable sleep himself.

~*~

Completely exhausted, Faye slumped gratefully onto the park bench, leaning her tired back into its ridges. For the past four hours she had been searching for Vicious. Four goddamn hours and still not a single clue to his whereabouts. Faye was beginning to think that it was way past time to give up and to start heading back to the Bebop. Oh God...the Bebop. As tired as she was, going back there didn't seem too inviting.

Yawning, she stretched and then lazily let her arms fall to her sides. Maybe she shouldn't go back...but then where would she go? She could always try going to Vicious...but then again, just being able to find the man proved to be difficult, never mind living with him. And anyway, even if she did find him, would he accept her? What if he thought of her as a one night stand?

"Ugh! Just stop thinking about him!"

"Stop thinking about who?"

Faye sprung up to greet the cold-hearted eyes she knew so well. "Oh, um...no one really."

Vicious nodded his head in slight understanding, the fading sunlight catching and shimmering on his silver locks, making them shine in a golden tint. Casting her eyes downward, Faye noticed that strapped to his waist was a slim belt, and hanging by the side of his upper thigh lay his katana, gleaming maliciously as if it belonged there. Seeing it like that made her immediately uncomfortable.

"Mind if I take a seat?"

"N-No. Go ahead."

Soundlessly and effortlessly, Vicious took the open seat beside her. She watched him warily, making sure she wouldn't miss any quick he might make towards his katana.

"Um, just wondering. How did you know I was here?"

He paused before responding. "I keep my eyes everywhere. These eyes tell me what they see, and my knowledge becomes profound." He paused again, this time turning his head to look at her. "You've been looking for me for quite awhile, Ms. Valentine. And I think I know why."

Faye sat there staring wide-eyed at him, too stunned to speak, her mouth open in a silent gasp of surprise. Vicious took the hint of her speechlessness and continued, turning away from her.

"You hate him as well, no?"

Faye knew exactly who he was speaking of. She lowered her head and muttered an answer.

"Hmm, that's what I thought." He turned to her again, now rotating his entire body in her direction. "It is this hate that binds two souls together," he whispered, his voice low and sultry. He used a single finger to push away the strand of hair that had made itself content over Faye's eye, and then slipped his hand behind her neck, pulling her closer to him. "It is because of this hate, that I believe there is something you can do for me."

Faye, knowing very well what she was doing, slid closer to him, so close that their lips brushed against one another's. Becoming bolder by the second, her hand wandered down to Vicious' leg, placing it dangerously close to his pleasure point. "And what might this something be?" she whispered back, making her voice low and deep.

Vicious said nothing, and instead used his free hand to grip her around the waist, pulling her even closer. From their suggestive positioning, any innocent onlooker might've expected to get a free show. But giving some pervert that satisfaction was the last thing on Vicious' mind. Well, maybe not the last thing.

Inching closer to her ear, Vicious whispered the two words that made Faye freeze with an icy unsureness. "Kill Spike."

~*~

Spike hadn't been able to stop pacing for the past half an hour. It wasn't like Vicious to keep him waiting; there must be something up. Spike could only wonder what that something was, and felt a sense of dread wash over him as Faye entered his mind.

"Goddamn it, where the fuck is he?" he asked himself aloud, beginning to lose his patience.

"I'm right here, Spike."

Spike froze at the voice behind him. His guard now completely raised, Spike spun around, the handgun he had brought with him at full attention and aimed straight at his rival's head. Their eyes met, Vicious' stone-gray coals locking onto Spike's amber and green diamonds. Neither of them moved, becoming chiseled statues in the moonlight. Looking at them, taking careful notice of their stature and perfect forms, it didn't come as a surprise to know that they were once apart of the same Syndicate.

There were minutes of tense silence before Vicious became the one to back down first, releasing the hilt of his katana. Spike did the same, only he lowered his gun. Being the one that had backed out first made it necessary for Vicious also to be the one to break the silence, which he did without hesitation.

"Been waiting long?"

A small smirk spread across Spike's face. "Only God knows for how long."

Vicious' eyes narrowed. "God doesn't know anything."

"Then let me tell you what I know," Spike growled, a seriousness overtaking him. "I know that you've been playing dirty with Faye."

"Is that so?"

"Don't play stupid with me Vicious. We both know you have the brains to think up a scheme like this."

"I see." The pale moonlight reflected off a hungry malice in Vicious' eyes, though his face showed absolute calm. "Tell me, Spike. What is this great scheme that I've created that you seem to know so much about?"

Spike greatly unappreciated the fact he was being toyed with. By playing this little game, Spike knew Vicious was stalling. But why? There didn't seem to be any reason to be. Vicious had come alone after all. Or had he...?

"Where is she, Vicious?"

"Don't worry. Ms. Valentine is in good hands."

Now Spike knew for sure something was very out of place. If Vicious had killed Faye, he would've said so straight out. And if he was holding her hostage, he would've used that fact to lure Spike into a trap, much like he had last time. This wasn't like any of Vicious' set ups, and for once Spike found himself at a loss for what to do.

But not for what to say. "I swear if you've done anything to her I'll...."

"You'll what?" Vicious cut in. "Kill me? I think you'll soon find yourself to be dead long before I will."

Spike's hand tightened on the gun as Vicious stepped back, revealing to Spike's horror that Vicious had in fact not come alone.

"F-Faye?"

"Surprise."

A piercing cry leapt from Spike's mouth as hot pain shot through the right side of his chest. The gun fell to the floor, lying useless as Spike fell to his knees beside it. Clutching his chest, Spike felt the warm presence of his own blood seep through his fingers. His vision blurred from the amount of pain he was experiencing, and Spike was now only able to see Faye's shadowy outline as she lowered the gun and stepped towards him.

"Damn. I always knew my shot was off."

Spike blinked several times so as to clear his vision. He watched with disgust as Vicious pulled Faye in close for a heated kiss. So that was how he did it.

"Smart...real smart...." he wheezed, barely able to breathe let alone talk.

Faye pulled away from Vicious to turn to Spike. Her gaze was heavy with contempt as she looked at him.

"If you don't mind, love, I'd like to finish him off myself," she said to Vicious, who was contentedly wrapping his arms around her slim waist. Even though she wasn't speaking to him. her eyes had never left Spike for a second.

"Whatever you wish, Ms. Valentine," Vicious replied before hungrily planting kisses on the base of Faye's neck.

She giggled and shrugged him off, focusing all her attention on the fallen Spike. The blood that was running through his fingers was becoming swifter and more frequent, and Spike knew that even though the wound wasn't that serious, it would become so if the bleeding wasn't stopped.

"Ya know Spike," she told him, sounding quite cheerful while beginning to reload the gun. "I've always wanted to see you on your knees before me. How ironic that it's the last thing you'll ever do."

With the gun successfully loaded, Spike could do nothing but look on as Faye pointed the barrel to the place where it would be practically impossible to miss: his head.

"Well then," she continued, her voice as equally as cheerful as before, "I hope you've had a nice life Spike, because it's about to end."

Spike closed his eyes, waiting for her to do the job. But when nothing came, his eyes burst open in a spark of hope.

"Oh yes, I almost forgot. Julia wanted me to send her love."

Spike's heart wrenched at the thought of the golden-haired beauty, who he would never be able to see again....

"Hmm, too bad you'll never be able to send it back."

These were the last words Spike ever heard, before plunging one final time into eternal blackness.




okay, its DONE!!!! and for good this time!! well, maybe if u Spike lovers don't flame me too bad, ill be nice and write an alternate ending. MAYBE!!!! *pouts* hmm, i dunno. oh well, ill give it some thought, and perhaps ull get lucky. until then, ull just have to be satisfied with this ending, and TOO BAD if ur not because I AM! hmph!
-Meru