Disclaimer: I don't own Iria (though I wouldn't mind it….) and I'm not making any money off this. (If I was, do you think you'd see this disclaimer?) The only thing I own here is this story, Shiv, and Akira. They're mine, do you hear me? Mine! *laughs nervously* Okay…on with the show…..
Rating: PG-13 - language, violence
Ghosts of the Past
Part 11: Chrysanthemum
Akira gaped in shock at the static covered screen. "Bob…" he managed out finally. "Can you attempt to reconnect the transmission?"
"I can try," Bob answered. After several minutes, Bob's icon scrunched and stretched, as when he was in deep thought or troubled.
"What's going on?" Akira asked.
"Well…" the computer began. "It seems that it's not just a solar flare or bad transmitter…You know how there are political problems on the world where Shiv is?"
"Of course, that's why they hired her in the first place. To take out the dictator."
"It seems that the dictator, in an effort to reestablish his power, has had his military take control of the city. He's instituted martial law, and as one of his provisions, he has destroyed all communications transmitters save the one in his private residence. I can try and hack through, but I took a look and it's some forbidding stuff. I'm not sure I can get in."
Akira frowned. "Can you get into the frequency on Shiv's bracelet? The one she uses with Daine and Ship?"
"Most likely. I'll give it a try." Bob worked hard for some time, they let out a sigh of success. "That should do it. Talk to her, Akira."
"Shiv?" he called hesitantly. "Can you hear me, Shiv?"
"I can hear you fine," came the reply, though gunfire was evident in the background. "I'm not gonna ask how you pulled it off, but can you tell me what the hell's going on out here?"
"It's martial law," Akira sighed. "The dictator's had the military take over the city. He destroyed all comm transmitters except his private one. I know you sighed a contract, babes, but --- "
"Don't worry, kid, I've got it covered. There were clauses for this in the contract. The people I sighed up with aren't fools…or at least they weren't. I don't know what's gonna happen to them now…and anyway, I'm gonna get Ship over here and head for Myce as fast as I can. Time for some radio silence. Love you always, kiddo. See you soon, I promise."
"Bye, Shiv," Akira whispered.
He was standing there, staring at the console, when the door slid open and Kei waltzed in, with a girl Akira had never seen before trailing behind her. "Where have you been?" he demanded, hanging his head.
"Out," Kei responded. She walked up to him, frowned, then waved a hand in front of his face. "S'matter with you? You sick or something?"
Akira shook his head. "No, I'm fine."
"Liar."
"I'm fine, Kei."
"You are not."
"Are too."
"Are not."
"Are too."
"Are not."
"Are too."
"Are not," piped up the new girl.
Akira sighed. "Who are you?"
"Niji," she said smiling.
"Niji, I'm fine."
"Are – "
"Okay, just forget it," Akira interjected. "Just forget it."
Niji shrugged. "Whatever, it's just you look like somebody flushed your goldfish or something. Excuse me for caring."
Akira's eyes narrowed slightly. "Anybody ever tell you you're a pain?"
Niji nodded. "All the time."
The bounty hunter sighed in defeat. Kei continued frowning. "What happened?"
"You really wanna know?"
"Yeah."
"Iria and Fujikuro had a big fight. Iria thinks he's seeing some hooker or something and he left. He's recovering from a hang-over at the Red Dragon bar and we don't know where she is. Meanwhile, the dictator on the world where Shiv is has cut off main communications and instituted martial law. She's trying to get off planet as we speak. Other than that, everything's fine."
Kei's face was frozen in an unreadable expression. "The things that happen when I leave…" she murmured. Sighing, she placed on hand on Akira's shoulder. "Look, Fujikuro's not going anywhere and Shiv can take care of herself. As for the third person, I think I know where Iria may be."
Akira brightened slightly. "You're serious?"
"Of course," Kei beamed. "Now all we need is a ride."
"We can take my ship. It's out front," Akira suggested.
Kei nodded. "Sounds good. I'll give you directions once we get on the road."
"Remind me again how you ended up in the back seat," Akira muttered.
"Because I got in before you put the shield up," Niji chirped.
"Damn, I need to work on my reaction time," Akira growled.
"What was that?" Niji asked.
"Nothing."
"Stop here," ordered Kei from the passenger's seat.
Akira did as he was instructed, set the brake, and the three piled out. Kei swept her gaze across the area.
"What is this place?" Akira wondered, something about the atmosphere causing him to whisper.
"This is where Iria grew up," Kei explained. "If there's any place she'd come, it'd be here. Look around for her."
It wasn't long before they spotting a burgundy-cloaked figure in the distance. When Kei raced over and said something to her, Iria shook her head and Kei scowled. "If you won't listen to reason, fine!" Kei shouted, and stomped back to the approaching Akira. "You deal with her," she growled and yanked Niji back towards Akira's ship.
"What? We just got here!" Niji protested, trying to pry Kei's hand from her collar.
"And we're just leaving," Kei said, pulling harder.
Akira walked up to Iria and began chewing on his lower lip, unsure of what to say.
"Why'd you come here?" Iria asked.
"Because…because I wanted to be sure that you were all right," Akira said and chewed his lip some more.
"I'm fine. You can just head on back. I'll come home when I'm ready." Iria stared off into the distance.
"I'm not so sure I agree with you," Akira said. "Listen, I talked to Shiv and she knows the girl that Fujikuro was talking to. She told me it was all right."
"Did she say who she is?" Iria's interest was peaked.
"No…but she's on her way back to Myce. She tell you when she gets here."
"What about her contract?"
"Let's just say things didn't pan out," Akira sighed. "She'll give you the details herself."
"I'm sorry that I blew up at him," Iria whispered. "But I was so afraid that what we had was unstable…that I was ready to believe he'd broken my trust. I miss him. I want him back, Akira."
"You'll get him back," came a voice.
Akira spun around. "Can't be…"
Shiv strolled up with her hands in her pockets and a grin on her face. "It is, kid. Seems Mr. Dictator wasn't as worried about the transit gates as he was the comm links. Once I was back here, it was easy enough to find you." She grinned wider. "I put a tracer on your ship, kiddo. Thought it might come in handy."
Before she could say anything else, Akira had embraced her and was kissing her hard. "God, I missed you," he murmured.
"I missed you, too, Akira," Shiv whispered and placed a kiss on his forehead. "I missed you so much…But before we celebrate, there's something I have to take care of." She looked over at Iria. "Iria, we're gonna go home, and when we get there, I'll explain everything."
Iria nodded slowly. "Okay. I'll meet you guys back at the house."
"Start talking, Shiv." Iria stared at the lady hunter across the couch.
Shiv folded her hands, resting them on her knees. "Remember how I told you that Fujikuro always felt responsible for Jiko's death?" Iria nodded. "Jiko had a little sister. She was only younger than him by a few years, but she didn't have a job. Jiko used to give her part of his fees, so that she could live in her apartment. After Jiko died, Fujikuro took up the responsibility. He helps her make ends meet when her business is slow."
"What exactly…is her business?" Iria asked.
Shiv smiled. "She's an artist. She does portraits and other paintings for people."
Iria looked at the floor, trying to make a pair of pieces fit. "But…I heard her say something about needing a dress…to get more business…"
Shiv nodded patiently. "She picks up clients at various art shows. Kiku says that dressing up makes people look her way and consider her work. I think she just likes new clothes, but I won't argue with her." Shiv sighed. "She is awfully presumptuous, demanding, and more than a little bratty. But she's a good kid, Iria."
Iria raised her eyes. "I want to apologize to him, Shiv."
"Um…I don't think you're gonna have to wait too long." Akira pointed at the screen on the console. "It looks like Sakaba's downstairs."
Shiv hurried over, typed for a moment, then waved at the screen. "Hey-ya, Saka-chan! What are you doing here?"
The blond grinned and flashed the victory sign. "Nice ta see ya, Shiv-chan! I came to drop off your friend. He's almost, kind of, not really sobered up and he demanded to come here. Should I send him up?"
Shiv thought for a moment, then looked back over her shoulder at Iria. When the red-head nodded, the black-hared woman told Sakaba, "Sure, and your fee will be in your account by noon tomorrow. With a little extra."
Sakaba smiled wider. "Ah, Shiv, have I told you how wonderful you are?"
Shiv's lips curled and the ends. "Many, many times, Sakaba. Usually when I give you money."
Sakaba pretended to pout. "I'm hurt, Shiv."
Shiv laughed. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. Just send Fuji up already."
The blond blinked. "What? You mean he's not there?"
Shiv faked one more smile. "Oh, wait…here he is. I'll call ya later, Sakaba."
"Ja ne!" said Sakaba and the screen flicked into static.
"Where is he?" Iria demanded.
"Why do you always have to ask?" Shiv sighed. "The roof, baka, the roof."
********
Yes, everyone's favorite plot device, THE ROOF!!! *LMAO*
BTW, for anyone interested, Sakaba's name literally means "bar." I was really bored and my Japanese dictionary was calling from under my desk. Anyone else think its weird that the dictionary has exactly 666 pages? Maybe it's just me.
Ja ne.
~Kat~
Rating: PG-13 - language, violence
Ghosts of the Past
Part 11: Chrysanthemum
Akira gaped in shock at the static covered screen. "Bob…" he managed out finally. "Can you attempt to reconnect the transmission?"
"I can try," Bob answered. After several minutes, Bob's icon scrunched and stretched, as when he was in deep thought or troubled.
"What's going on?" Akira asked.
"Well…" the computer began. "It seems that it's not just a solar flare or bad transmitter…You know how there are political problems on the world where Shiv is?"
"Of course, that's why they hired her in the first place. To take out the dictator."
"It seems that the dictator, in an effort to reestablish his power, has had his military take control of the city. He's instituted martial law, and as one of his provisions, he has destroyed all communications transmitters save the one in his private residence. I can try and hack through, but I took a look and it's some forbidding stuff. I'm not sure I can get in."
Akira frowned. "Can you get into the frequency on Shiv's bracelet? The one she uses with Daine and Ship?"
"Most likely. I'll give it a try." Bob worked hard for some time, they let out a sigh of success. "That should do it. Talk to her, Akira."
"Shiv?" he called hesitantly. "Can you hear me, Shiv?"
"I can hear you fine," came the reply, though gunfire was evident in the background. "I'm not gonna ask how you pulled it off, but can you tell me what the hell's going on out here?"
"It's martial law," Akira sighed. "The dictator's had the military take over the city. He destroyed all comm transmitters except his private one. I know you sighed a contract, babes, but --- "
"Don't worry, kid, I've got it covered. There were clauses for this in the contract. The people I sighed up with aren't fools…or at least they weren't. I don't know what's gonna happen to them now…and anyway, I'm gonna get Ship over here and head for Myce as fast as I can. Time for some radio silence. Love you always, kiddo. See you soon, I promise."
"Bye, Shiv," Akira whispered.
He was standing there, staring at the console, when the door slid open and Kei waltzed in, with a girl Akira had never seen before trailing behind her. "Where have you been?" he demanded, hanging his head.
"Out," Kei responded. She walked up to him, frowned, then waved a hand in front of his face. "S'matter with you? You sick or something?"
Akira shook his head. "No, I'm fine."
"Liar."
"I'm fine, Kei."
"You are not."
"Are too."
"Are not."
"Are too."
"Are not."
"Are too."
"Are not," piped up the new girl.
Akira sighed. "Who are you?"
"Niji," she said smiling.
"Niji, I'm fine."
"Are – "
"Okay, just forget it," Akira interjected. "Just forget it."
Niji shrugged. "Whatever, it's just you look like somebody flushed your goldfish or something. Excuse me for caring."
Akira's eyes narrowed slightly. "Anybody ever tell you you're a pain?"
Niji nodded. "All the time."
The bounty hunter sighed in defeat. Kei continued frowning. "What happened?"
"You really wanna know?"
"Yeah."
"Iria and Fujikuro had a big fight. Iria thinks he's seeing some hooker or something and he left. He's recovering from a hang-over at the Red Dragon bar and we don't know where she is. Meanwhile, the dictator on the world where Shiv is has cut off main communications and instituted martial law. She's trying to get off planet as we speak. Other than that, everything's fine."
Kei's face was frozen in an unreadable expression. "The things that happen when I leave…" she murmured. Sighing, she placed on hand on Akira's shoulder. "Look, Fujikuro's not going anywhere and Shiv can take care of herself. As for the third person, I think I know where Iria may be."
Akira brightened slightly. "You're serious?"
"Of course," Kei beamed. "Now all we need is a ride."
"We can take my ship. It's out front," Akira suggested.
Kei nodded. "Sounds good. I'll give you directions once we get on the road."
"Remind me again how you ended up in the back seat," Akira muttered.
"Because I got in before you put the shield up," Niji chirped.
"Damn, I need to work on my reaction time," Akira growled.
"What was that?" Niji asked.
"Nothing."
"Stop here," ordered Kei from the passenger's seat.
Akira did as he was instructed, set the brake, and the three piled out. Kei swept her gaze across the area.
"What is this place?" Akira wondered, something about the atmosphere causing him to whisper.
"This is where Iria grew up," Kei explained. "If there's any place she'd come, it'd be here. Look around for her."
It wasn't long before they spotting a burgundy-cloaked figure in the distance. When Kei raced over and said something to her, Iria shook her head and Kei scowled. "If you won't listen to reason, fine!" Kei shouted, and stomped back to the approaching Akira. "You deal with her," she growled and yanked Niji back towards Akira's ship.
"What? We just got here!" Niji protested, trying to pry Kei's hand from her collar.
"And we're just leaving," Kei said, pulling harder.
Akira walked up to Iria and began chewing on his lower lip, unsure of what to say.
"Why'd you come here?" Iria asked.
"Because…because I wanted to be sure that you were all right," Akira said and chewed his lip some more.
"I'm fine. You can just head on back. I'll come home when I'm ready." Iria stared off into the distance.
"I'm not so sure I agree with you," Akira said. "Listen, I talked to Shiv and she knows the girl that Fujikuro was talking to. She told me it was all right."
"Did she say who she is?" Iria's interest was peaked.
"No…but she's on her way back to Myce. She tell you when she gets here."
"What about her contract?"
"Let's just say things didn't pan out," Akira sighed. "She'll give you the details herself."
"I'm sorry that I blew up at him," Iria whispered. "But I was so afraid that what we had was unstable…that I was ready to believe he'd broken my trust. I miss him. I want him back, Akira."
"You'll get him back," came a voice.
Akira spun around. "Can't be…"
Shiv strolled up with her hands in her pockets and a grin on her face. "It is, kid. Seems Mr. Dictator wasn't as worried about the transit gates as he was the comm links. Once I was back here, it was easy enough to find you." She grinned wider. "I put a tracer on your ship, kiddo. Thought it might come in handy."
Before she could say anything else, Akira had embraced her and was kissing her hard. "God, I missed you," he murmured.
"I missed you, too, Akira," Shiv whispered and placed a kiss on his forehead. "I missed you so much…But before we celebrate, there's something I have to take care of." She looked over at Iria. "Iria, we're gonna go home, and when we get there, I'll explain everything."
Iria nodded slowly. "Okay. I'll meet you guys back at the house."
"Start talking, Shiv." Iria stared at the lady hunter across the couch.
Shiv folded her hands, resting them on her knees. "Remember how I told you that Fujikuro always felt responsible for Jiko's death?" Iria nodded. "Jiko had a little sister. She was only younger than him by a few years, but she didn't have a job. Jiko used to give her part of his fees, so that she could live in her apartment. After Jiko died, Fujikuro took up the responsibility. He helps her make ends meet when her business is slow."
"What exactly…is her business?" Iria asked.
Shiv smiled. "She's an artist. She does portraits and other paintings for people."
Iria looked at the floor, trying to make a pair of pieces fit. "But…I heard her say something about needing a dress…to get more business…"
Shiv nodded patiently. "She picks up clients at various art shows. Kiku says that dressing up makes people look her way and consider her work. I think she just likes new clothes, but I won't argue with her." Shiv sighed. "She is awfully presumptuous, demanding, and more than a little bratty. But she's a good kid, Iria."
Iria raised her eyes. "I want to apologize to him, Shiv."
"Um…I don't think you're gonna have to wait too long." Akira pointed at the screen on the console. "It looks like Sakaba's downstairs."
Shiv hurried over, typed for a moment, then waved at the screen. "Hey-ya, Saka-chan! What are you doing here?"
The blond grinned and flashed the victory sign. "Nice ta see ya, Shiv-chan! I came to drop off your friend. He's almost, kind of, not really sobered up and he demanded to come here. Should I send him up?"
Shiv thought for a moment, then looked back over her shoulder at Iria. When the red-head nodded, the black-hared woman told Sakaba, "Sure, and your fee will be in your account by noon tomorrow. With a little extra."
Sakaba smiled wider. "Ah, Shiv, have I told you how wonderful you are?"
Shiv's lips curled and the ends. "Many, many times, Sakaba. Usually when I give you money."
Sakaba pretended to pout. "I'm hurt, Shiv."
Shiv laughed. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. Just send Fuji up already."
The blond blinked. "What? You mean he's not there?"
Shiv faked one more smile. "Oh, wait…here he is. I'll call ya later, Sakaba."
"Ja ne!" said Sakaba and the screen flicked into static.
"Where is he?" Iria demanded.
"Why do you always have to ask?" Shiv sighed. "The roof, baka, the roof."
********
Yes, everyone's favorite plot device, THE ROOF!!! *LMAO*
BTW, for anyone interested, Sakaba's name literally means "bar." I was really bored and my Japanese dictionary was calling from under my desk. Anyone else think its weird that the dictionary has exactly 666 pages? Maybe it's just me.
Ja ne.
~Kat~