Chapter 5: Chivalry

By: Usako-chan

Disclaimer: Don't own it, so don't sue. XD

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Where was it? She reached further behind her bed in the crack between the bed and the wall. Everything seemed to fall behind there. If she couldn't find something and she had cleaned her room, which was close to never, then it was usually there. Dammit to hell! Where was it? She reached further, her arms stretching, trying to find what she was looking for.

Without warning, her door slammed open. "FAYE-FAYE!!"

Faye jumped up holding her chest. Her heart felt like it was in her throat. "Shit kid! Don't do that to me! You scared me to death!"

Ed just gave her a stupid grin and fell, balancing on her hands, walking around like her arms were her legs. "Okaaaay, Faye-Faye..." She fell back onto her arms and legs, crawling over to Faye, hugging her around her ankles. "Faye-faaaaye..." she said in her sing-song voice giving Faye a puppy dog face.

Faye rolled her eyes. "What do you want?"

"Jet told me to tell Faye-Faye that you should come eat with meeeeeeee. Faye-Faaaaye...." she grabbed Faye's leg and held on tight, "Come, come Faye-Faye...now...Faye-Faaaaye...!"

"I'm coming."

Ed jumped up running out of the room like she was an airplane, her arms outstretched. "Allllllrriiiiiight!"

She walked over and shut the door, then turned back around and sat back on her bed. She really wanted to find it. She thought the last place she had it was on her stand, but then she remembered that it she actually had it last night on her bed, so it must be there or somewhere within the general area of it. Otherwise, it was lost. She got back on her knees, her butt in the air, searching again for it behind her bed.

Shit, this was really important. She'd really be pissed if she had misplaced it.

"My my....what a scene...." Faye jumped up again for the second time in the last 10 minutes.

She turned around and looked up, right into brown mismatched eyes. She hesitated for a second, surprised that he was right there.

"Dammit!! Doesn't anyone know how to knock?"

Spike just ignored her. He started rummaging around in her dresser.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing? This is my room, and it sure as hell doesn't have a damn welcome mat in front of the door saying 'All morons may enter'!"

He grinned at her, totally ignoring her comments and question and asked one of his own, "What are you looking for? Maybe I can help you find it."

"I don't know what you mean," she replied. Her face revealed nothing. "Now stop acting like you have all the right to ask me questions and get the hell out of my room," she said pointing her finger at the door.

When he didn't react to her, she babbled on, "What did you want anyway?" she asked offhandedly, trying to avoid the subject altogether.

He knew that she was hiding something, but decided to just let it drop since she obviously didn't want to tell him. What did he care anyway? And even if he did, he wouldn't admit it anyway.

Faye was starting to get slightly nervous. The proximity of him was just a little too personal. Once again, he seemed to not notice how close he was to her.

"Nothing really, I just wanted to let you know that I am heading out after Toshiba again after we eat Jet's wonderful beef and bell peppers...you know...the kind without the beef." His stomach slightly turned with the thought of having to knock some of that tasteless crap down his throat.

He turned to go, but stopped short of her door turning back around, once again looking at her.

"Oh and Faye?"

She didn't like that glint in his eye or that smirk. It meant he was up to something.

"Do I even want to hear this one, Spike?" she asked wearily.

He grinned, "Nice ass," he wisecracked. "Not that I haven't seen it before, but I just haven't seen it so up close and personal." He winked. He turned back around, put his hands in his pockets, whistling, leaving her alone in her room.

She watched him go. She was fuming. Why that little... Someone seeing her butt in the air wasn't exactly something she put on her top priorities list, much less wanting that someone to be him. Her eyebrow twitched. Come to think of it, she didn't hear him when he came in. Just how long was he looking at her?

She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. That didn't matter. She couldn't think of things like that right now. She had to concentrate on other important matters. This would just have to wait until later. She threaded her fingers through her hair, pushing her hair back out of her eyes.

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"He never shows himself in crowded areas. He's been on the run for close to 5 years now. That's all Ed could find out from the little bit of leads she found, besides the little bit of info she gave you earlier." Jet put the cigarette back in his mouth and drew the smoke into his mouth.

"We don't really need Ed's info anyway."

Faye looked at Spike. What did he mean by that?

"Of course it helps us." she replied.

Faye looked at Spike and then at Jet. They wouldn't meet her eye. Neither one would tell her anything. She hated being in the dark. She was about sick of this bullshit. Just exactly when did they think to finally include her in the crew of the Bebop? Her eyes narrowed.

"Forget it. I'm going. I don't need your so called 'inside information'. I can do just fine with my own leads." With that, she left both men staring at her retreating form.

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Ok. Not that she had any leads, but those jerks didn't have to know that. She just couldn't stand to sit there and be ignored. They gave her so many mixed signals. They would act like they half way cared, like they actually didn't mind that she was still living on the Bebop and then, they would pull something like this. When were they going to accept that this was her home now too? Just what couldn't they tell her? Why couldn't they? And how was she supposed to help if she didn't know?

Why couldn't they just appreciate her? That's all she wanted.

She narrowed her eyes. Or maybe they just didn't want her in the way. Well, she could deal with that if they could deal with what she'd do.

Faye fired up her Redtail and left the Bebop. She'd find Toshiba by herself, without their help. She smiled. They wouldn't know what hit them.

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"Maybe you should follow her. You know how careless she can be when she gets this way."

Spike took a drag from his cigarette and blew the smoke out. "Yeah, but you also know what happens every time she gets mad. She always pulls this. She'll be back when she cools off or runs out of money, whichever comes first." He leaned back, his right arm strewn across the back of the coach, his head lying on the back of it.

Jet rubbed the top of his head and sighed. His coldness almost surprised Jet. Almost.

"It's different now Spike. You know that. That's the way she was before you left and almost got yourself killed the last time. During the year you were gone, she changed into a different woman." He sighed. "Hell, maybe she's always been a different woman and you just have never realized it."

As expected, Spike didn't reply, so Jet continued, "Faye isn't the woman she used to be. It's about time you saw that, if you don't already see it. Something's got to give between you two. Maybe it's time to stop the elementary school flirting you two have together." He looked over at Spike to see if he was listening.

His eyes were closed, but Jet knew that he was listening. "I don't even want to get into this business between you two. I've said my piece, so that's all I'll do. The rest is up to you." Having said that, he got up, making his way to the kitchen, leaving Spike to his thoughts, hoping they would carry some weight with him.

Spike listened to Jet leave. He opened his eyes.

He heard everything he said, and it did make him think. That was the problem. He couldn't start worrying about things and people he had no right to worry about.

He sat up, leaning his upper arms on his knees. That just didn't make any sense. So why did he desperately want to go and make sure she was going to be fine?

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She took another sip of her Sex on the Beach. She had searched for about 2 hours and finally given up. She needed a break anyway. Drinking helped her calm her nerves and made her feel mellowed out.

She uncrossed her right leg and crossed the other one, trying to be somewhat comfortable.

That man was still staring at her. She tried to keep her cool. She just couldn't stand it when men were so pitifully obvious and then oblivious at the same time.

Didn't he get the damn point that she wasn't interested in what he had? He kept trying to catch her eye, but she tried to ignore him, hoping he'd get the hint.

Unfortunately, he didn't get it, because he made his way from his seat and sat in the unoccupied seat right next to her left.

Her grip on her drink tightened. This was just great; exactly what she needed right now, another ill-mannered male. She could feel her temper rising.

"Hey baby, can I buy you a drink?"

She didn't even look at him. "I already have one."

"Hey, relax, chick. It's cool." Faye's eyebrow twitched. Chick?! "If I can't buy you a drink, can I ask you something instead?"

This was getting asinine. She just didn't know how much more she could take. She might as well let him ask her what he wanted to. She sorely needed to throw a few punches anyway.

This should be classic. "Sure, why not?"

The poor man grinned thinking he was getting somewhere with her, completely unaware of what she was thinking of doing to him if he asked her the wrong thing.

"Do you have a phone number?" She nearly laughed in his face. Was that all?

"Yeah I do."

"Well how's about it babe? Can I have it or what?"

When she didn't reply right away, the guy got antsy. "Hey babe, come on!" He made the mistake of trying to wrap his arm around her waste. He then tried to fondle her breasts.

That's it.

She elbowed him in the face and shoved him back making him fall out of his seat. For a second, he just lay there, staring up at her. He couldn't believe that she had the nerve to do that.

"No one touches me unless I say it's ok." She yelled at him, before spitting at him.

He held his nose where Faye had elbowed him. It started to bleed. He jumped off the ground. "Bitch!"

He lunged for her, thinking he was going to slap her. Faye raised her arm up, thinking to defend herself with it. Before she could block his blow, an arm blocked it for her. Surprised, she looked to her right. Holy shit! It was Toshiba! Faye's eyes widened. Of all the people, it had to be him. The man looked surprised that someone had stepped in and interfered with him. He quickly recovered and tried to punch him.

Toshiba dodged the blow and swept his legs out from under him, knocking him to the ground once more.

"It's rude to hit a lady. Didn't your mother teach you better?" Toshiba grinned.

Before the man could get back up, a gun was pointed right in his face.

"Don't move if you know what's good for you." Faye stated calmly.

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Ok...let me know what you guys think!! I love reviews, like I love Cowboy Bebop...that means, that I love them VERY MUCH! ^_~

By the way, has anyone ever seen the Ameriquest commercials?? Anyone notice that the guy who does Spike's voice in English, does the commercial!? When I saw it, I freaked out! I completely love his voice....it's DREAMY.... lol ¬_¬ Yeah...anyway, I just thought I'd ask. Let me know in the review if anyone else has noticed this.

Until next time...Much love....

Usako-chan