Yiku: Yo! Here's the second chapter to my Cowboy Bebop tale.

Disclaimers: I'm not famous, Japanese or rich. Therefore, I don't own anything. Except Akiko. That character is mine. Onward!

Chapter Two!

Akiko woke up later that evening. Her head hurt as she opened her eyes and looked around. She noticed she was in a space ship. She blinked, and heard, "Ah, you're awake".

She looked up, and saw the bounty hunter from earlier looming over her. She then noticed the bowl in his hand. She struggled to sit up, and took the bowl. She took the chopsticks and began eating.

He sat down on a chair across the room, and looked at her. He asked suddenly, "Why'd you take my radio?"

Akiko hadn't been expecting this question, and looked up at him, with a confused look on her face. "I'm sorry?"

"Earlier today, you had the perfect opportunity to snatch my wallet. Instead, you took the radio. Why?"

Akiko blinked and remembered. "I saw the radio, so I figured you were a bounty hunter. I figured, why take money, when I can take something more valuable, like a tool for relaying information?"

Spike smiled. This girl could think. She was strong in the body and the mind. "That's smart thinking", he commented. "How did you come up with that?"

Akiko shrugged. "I guess it's just a talent", she answered.

"How'd you learn to fight?"

"When you live on the streets, you have to learn to defend yourself somehow."

"I see", Spike said.

There was a period of silence. Then, "When are you going to take me to the police?" Akiko asked.

"Do you want to go there?"

"It'd be better than here", she remarked.

"It's not good to hide from things, kid. You should know that."

Akiko glanced at him, then down at the floor. "I'm not running from anything. I've never run from anything in my life."

Spike sighed. "Why is it that all kids say that?"

"I say it because it's true. Ask anyone on Venus. I've never backed down from anyone", Akiko boasted.

"Then why are you still here?" Spike asked suddenly.

There was another long silence. Akiko took a look around the place. Her eyes rested on some artillery. She smirked. "And what are you running from?"

Spike looked at the artillery as well. "I took care of what I had to. I just haven't gotten around to putting all that stuff away yet", he replied casually.

"Hmm", Akiko grumbled. She looked at him. "Tell me, what's your name?"

Spike looked back at her. "It's Spike. Spike Spiegel."

Akiko's eyes widened slightly. She looked up at him. "Spike Spiegel?" she repeated.

Spike nodded slowly. "Is there something wrong with that?" he asked.

Akiko blinked at him. When he saw that she wasn't saying anything, Spike got up and started walking out of the room, saying, "Your room is just down the hall. After you're done-"

"Julia", Akiko said simply.

Spike stopped dead in his tracks and turned around to look at her. "What about Julia?" he asked.

"I knew it. The name is familiar to you. Sit down, I have to tell you something."

Spike sat down on his chair, now interested. Akiko sighed and began.

"First of all, you remember those nights you spent with her right?"

Spike nodded.

"Well, turns out that one time, when you left, Julia found out that she was pregnant."

Spike gasped silently, and looked over at Akiko. His eyes bulged out as he asked, "Y-you, are m-my."

Akiko nodded, looking at the floor.

Spike went white. He really hadn't been expecting this. He took a moment to study her features.

Her hair was short and blonde, her eyes a chocolate brown. Her skin was a dark tan color. She was short, but had long, thin legs. Spike also noticed that she had that sad look in her eyes. It reminded him of Julia. But, the most unmistakable thing about her was that she shared her mother's beauty.

Akiko glanced up at Spike. "Julia thought that it was best to keep my existence secret. I suppose that she didn't want another clue for the syndicate to where she was. Shortly after I was born, she put me up for adoption. Again, for my safety. A family picked me up one day, and we traveled to Venus. Ironically enough, they were in some trouble with the Red Dragon syndicate as well.

"When I was, I think, six years old, the house I was living in was vandalized, and my foster family dead. There was nowhere else for me to turn, so I took to the streets, and have lived there ever since."

When she finished her story, Akiko sat upright, and looked at Spike. "And, that's it", she said simply.

They sat in another period of silence, when Ed jumped up from behind Akiko, and shouted, "Wow! What a sad story!"

Akiko fell over as Spike jumped in surprise. Akiko regained her composure and glared at Ed. "How long were you there?! How much did you hear?!"

Ed just laughed evilly and sat back down in front of her computer. Spike chuckled lightly, and said, "Well, I guess you have to meet everyone else, so allow me to fetch them. Hey, Jet! Faye! Get in here!"

Akiko blinked as a man came through one door, and a woman through another. They looked at Akiko, surprised to see her awake. They were even more surprised to see her still there. "Akiko, this is my uhh.friend Jet, and this is Faye, a woman who stays with us" Spike introduced.

Akiko nodded to them and they nodded back. There was a small silence, and Jet pulled Spike to the side, saying, "We need to talk, now."

The two men stood apart in the corridor, and Jet said, "You of all people should know we can't get personal with this one."

Spike sighed. "Yeah, I know", he said, lighting up a cigarette.

"Then start acting like you know!"

"Hm? What are you talking about?" Spike questioned.

"Don't think I'm stupid, Spike! Faye and I heard the whole damn thing!"

Spike stared at him, coldly. "You were listening in on it?"

Jet groaned. "That's not the point! What the point is, is that she has a bounty on her head, and it's our job as bounty hunters to take her in and collect our money!"

Jet spat to the side as he continued. "Besides, you were the one who said that bounty hunting has no real justice. It's just the money that matters."

Spike took a drag of his cigarette, and walked back into the back of the ship toward the docking bay. Jet looked at him, confused, then demanded, "Hey! Where are you going?!"

"I'll be back later. If Akiko wants to leave, let her", Spike said, not turning around.

Jet ran after him. "I can't believe how stupid you're being Spike! Letting family get in the way of money!"

Spike placed one foot on the ladder, sighed then turned around to face Jet. "Jet, ten minutes ago, I found out I've had a daughter for thirteen years. It also turns out that said daughter is the bounty we're after. Weren't you the one who said, all those years ago, that a human life isn't worth 8 thousand woolongs?! For once, I agree with you on something, and then you disagree with me again! Now it's about time that you practice what you preach, and let me do what I need to do!"

And with that, Spike hopped into the Swordfish II, and took off somewhere into space.

Jet groaned and rubbed his face. "It's not like we need something else to bug us."

~End~

Well, please review! I know the idea's a bit cliched, but come on work with me people!

A super big thank you to Hikari88, the only one who reviewed! If I ever see you in real life, Hikari, I'd give you a lollie! So here's an imaginary one! ^^

See ya!

[Yiku]