A/N I really loathe school. They're trying to turn us all into zombies, I swear, with their robot teachers and crazy Hitler coaches...Plus Algebra 2 does NOT make sense, I don't care how much Donald* or Donkey Kong* tell me that it does, 'cause it doesn't!

*These are code names. Ha.


Disclaimer: Cowboy Bebop is too awesome to be owned by me. I have no musical talent whatsoever, so obviously the song Staring at the Sun belongs to The Offspring and not to me. I own nothing...Except for that pen you're trying to steal. *Insert death glare*


~Dove~


Chapter Eight: Falling Dragon


Why did he have to drive so damn fast?

Faye was flying directly above him as he drove the wrong way on the free way. Was he trying to kill himself? She could see a puff of green hair poking out of the pink car, the image making her heart pump faster, and her palms grow sweaty as she gripped the steering wheel.

It is the Lunkhead...

...But what if it isn't? What then, Faye? Are you ready for that let down?

///...Maybe life is like a ride on a freeway

Dodging bullets while you're trying to find your way

Everyone's around, but no one does a damn thing

It brings me down, But I won't let them...///


People drove off the road as he came zooming past, dodging vehicles as their drivers opened windows and cursed at his stupidity. It was just like the Lunkhead to do something like this.

And yet it wasn't.

Who was he now? And where had he been?

No, Faye, she told herself, don't think just be. Be the wind...just be...

Great, the Lunkhead had made her go insane.


*


"What the hell am I doing?" He asked the broken radio, but it didn't answer.

The truth was, he didn't expect it to. But it would be nice, you know, if it would answer. Then he'd have someone, er, something, to talk to before the end.

The end of what?

Shaking his head slightly, he abruptly turned the wheel, spinning the car in a semi-circle, and began heading in the opposite direction.

The right direction.

"Great. Spiffy. Now what?"

But, no. The hellish radio was still silent.

Sighing dramatically, Chaos reached behind him and pulled a handgun out of the pocket of his jacket he'd thrown in the back sit. Keeping one hand on the wheel, he raised the gun above him and shot at the sky.

Grinning evilly as he heard the telltale sound of bullet on metal, he glanced up to see the ugly spacecraft totter to the right, a bullet hole in the side of its hull.

Humming to himself, he glared at the radio again. Chaos even took the time to smash his fist against it a few more times. Still, nothing.


///...If I seem bleak

Well you'd be correct

And if I don't speak

It's cause I can't disconnect

But I won't be burned by the reflection

Of the fire in your eyes

As you're staring at the sun...///


What to do?


You're falling, Dragon. It isn't supposed to be like this. Go home.


"Home?" He hissed, "Where is home? What is home? Why can't I remember a life before this?"

He let go of the wheel, crossing his arms behind his head and leaning back.

"Bang," he whispered and closed his eyes. The word seemed familiar on his lips.


*


When she saw him raise the gun out of the corner of her eye, she hadn't expected him to shot. But then, she hadn't expected him to suddenly turn the vehicle around, or let go of the steering wheel...

His shot had been good, but not good enough to stop her, and she was still following him closely enough to know his hands weren't on the wheel and that his eyes were closed.

"The hell are you doing?!"

This was a little far, even for Spike.


///...When I ran I didn't feel like a runaway...///


A moment of clarity. His eyes opened and looked directly up at her. She didn't know how it was possible, but the connection was real...

...For a moment...

And then his car went over the side of the high way and his miss-matched eyes were gone.


///...When I escaped I didn't feel like I got away...///


*


Chaos. Spike. Lord. Syndicate. Blond. Blood. Vicious. Pink. Crimson. Black. Everything. Life. Death. Soul. Savior. Devil. Angel. Chaos. Chaos. Chaos. Chaos. Chaos.

Eyes, looking into his, wide and fearful. He felt a smirk on his lips and then more flashes in his mind.

Her eyes were causing this.

Blood. Knife. Sword. Dagger. Gun. Rose. Petals. Puddles. Blood. Crimson. Black. Blond.

The eyes had to stop. The flashes had to stop.

A moment of clarity.

He reached forward, grabbed the wheel, and jerked it to the right.

"Spiffy," he mumbled, realizing that the bullet holes were finally getting to him, realizing he was bleeding all over the seat...

Realizing he wasn't going to die, no matter what he tried...


///...There's more to living than only surviving

Maybe I'm not there, but I'm still trying...///


*


Shock, and then she steered the Redtail downward, following his trail down into the ditch. She landed her ship a few feet away, feeling nauseated as she glanced at the dented pink vehicle.

What had made him do that?

As soon as her feet touched the earth she was running, with no care for the weeds that grabbed at her legs. No, she only cared for the wreck before her.

Gasping, she reached it and instantly surveyed the crash with eyes full of despair.

The vehicle was upside down, how he had accomplished that, she wasn't sure.

Mumbling under her breath she fell to her knees and began trying to pull the door open, not knowing what else to do.

///...Though you hear me

I don't think that you relate

My will is something that you can't confiscate...///

"Spike," she mumbled, and then began to chant his name, her voice going steadily loader as she continued to pull at the door.

Growing frustrated she pulled out her gun and hoping the fool wasn't too close to the door, shot the handle. The door was much easier to open after that.

But the sight that greeted her wasn't exactly welcome.

He had somehow manuvered himself so that he was laying on his back on the ground, staring up at a once leather seat that was dripping blood onto his face.

His black clothes looked oily, and Faye realized, it was because of all the blood seeping through three bullet wounds in his side.

His long arms were crossed behind his head, and she could almost swear he was humming.

Suddenly unsure of herself, and feeling as though she had just walked into his room, not into the wreckage of a once expensive car, which probably wasn't even his...

"Hello?" She muttered hesitantly.

He glanced up at her, "Why 'ello!" He replied nonchalantly. "Aren't you cute? I'd offer you something to drink, but I seem to have run out."

She blinked at him, wondering if he had gone insane, before realizing her mouth was open, and snapped it shut. Wait! Did he just call her cute?

His eyes had closed and his breathing had slowed. Afraid he was about to leave her for good, Faye crawled forward slightly and called out, "Spike!"

He didn't respond for a moment, but then his eyes opened sleepily and he regarded her. "What? You're still here? I told you I didn't have anything to drink."

She shook her head. "No, we have to get you out of here, you're..." She trailed off and waved her hand at his badly wounded body.

"Oh this?" He asked, "This is nothing. Don't worry you're little face over it. I think I'll just go to sleep now. Nothing to worry about."

His nonchalant way of dismissing his wounds left her blinking, again. But she wasn't going to let him get away, oh no, not this time.

"Spike!"

"Spike?"

"Spike!"

He blinked at her and tilted his head to the right slightly, "Are you speaking a different language, 'cause I'm not getting what you're trying to say. No spikes around, just silly old me drifting off, so be quiet now so I can sleep."

What? In. The. Hell?

"Spike. Don't be like this, I-" She was growing angry.

His eyes flashed open again, and this time, it wasn't the insane person she'd been talking to before. No, these eyes belonged to a killer.

"Didn't I tell you to be quiet?" His eyebrow twitched. Suddenly he rolled over and reached upwards, grabbing a jacket from the car that leaned over them.

"Guess I'll find somewhere else to sleep."

And with that he was gone.

She could feel a headache coming on.

"Spike!" She shouted in annoyance and confusion and climbed out of the wreckage, glancing around until she found the blood covered man standing a few feet away from the Redtail, one hand on his hip, the other holding the jacket over his back.

She ran over to him, and stopped, gasping beside him.

"Who are you, anyway?" He asked, suddenly friendly again.

"...Faye..."

He considered her for a moment and then shook his head, "Nope, haven't heard of ya."

He then proceeded to start to walk away. Shouldn't he be limping or something? He was bleeding all over the place for the love of God!

"Wait!" She called out.

He stopped.

She had to force the words out, even though it hurt to do so, "Who are you?"

He smirked, one hand reaching behind him, while he responded with, "Chaos."

She knew what she was seeing, but didn't want to accept it. Didn't want to think he would do this to her.

She stared down the barrel of his gun.

"You're cute and all, but I'm not sure which Syndicate you're working for, and frankly, well, it might just be better to dispose of you."

She reached behind her as she took a few steps back, and grabbed her gun out of her back pocket where she'd shoved it in the not so distant past.

She held it out before her. "This time, Spike, I'm not going to miss."

He raised an eyebrow, still holding out his own gun, "Darling, I don't think you get it. Chaos can never die."

The words struck something in her heart as above them the sun shone like a beacon, making the blood covering Chaos like a shroud, glisten in remorse.


///...So forgive me, but I won't be frustrated

By destruction in your eyes

As you're staring at the sun...///




///...As your staring at the sun...///



A/N ...Where did that come from? I seriously don't know. *Looks around at muses* I blame William the Bloody, he seems to have made Spike take on some of his aspects. That's why Spike might be a little more OOC in this chapter than usual. *nods* So if you have a problem, it's his fault. *Glares at William the Bloody* I'd call him by his other name, but that would just confuse people. *nods again* I think I've gone delusional. *Head falls off from all the nodding and rolls away*


Response Time:


Koyasha1: Well, I guess I was just being silly, so thanks. I feel much better about that chapter now since it seems that people liked it. Thank you so much for your support and I suppose you can stop twiddling your thumbs now. ^_^


Sanima: Wow, you have me on author alert? *Does a little jig* You're really awesome and I'm really glad you like my fic so much, although I would like to add that Spike is mine! All mineeee, my preciousssss...Heh...*Starts walking in circles*


Cowgirl13: Do you take French? I take French. Second year of it in fact, but I have no idea what's going on. O_o


Hecate: And didja notice in that one episode Spike had a nice big fluffy pink jacket? The one episode with the snow and that Gren guy...Can't remember what it was called....


Bec126: Why, thank you! ^ _^


Youkai-Onna: Woah, that has gotta be the longest review I've ever gotten. Seems like you had a lot of trouble on your hands. I hope it was fun though and it's okay that you couldn't think of any music, your life seems hectic as it is. So thank you so much! Oh, and one more thing, you aren't a sucky writer, not at all. I enjoyed your fics very much. ^_^



Happy Late Halloween! (See, doesn't that make you want to review?)