A/N: Hey everyone. This is my first fanfic, so please take it easy on me. I added some new characters, but you'll be seeing some familiar characters in here too. So, without further adieu, lets get this thing going! Enjoy!

Prologue.

Darkness.

In the darkness, he heard footsteps, many, low footsteps moving towards him. At first they sounded far off, but they kept getting closer and closer. He could hear the voices of unknown figures around him, and suddenly felt himself being lifted up onto a stretcher and carried off to somewhere.

_____________________________________________________________________

Chapter 1: The way it was, and the way it is now.

5 years later.

Opening theme: Cowboy Bebop's "Memory"

Faye sat on a barstool, waiting for her drink. Memories from the past flooded her head. She had left the bebop 6 months after Spike had died. She couldn't stand it anymore. He was the only thing that had kept her going, and now he was dead. "Cant believe I lasted this long," she whispered to herself as the bartender set her drink in front of her. "Here's your scotch miss."

Faye sighed, knocking back the scotch. He had left her, just like that, and was gone forever. She cried and cried, but the tears would never bring him back.

Why did he have to go and get himself killed? Why? It was because of Julia. She knew Spike loved her. "But does that mean he didn't love me," Faye asked herself, staring into the empty glass.

Faye ordered another round, seeing the images of Spike play through her head. She hated him for going off and getting himself killed, he could've just stayed with her, and they could've left, never to return. But instead, he left to confront Vicious, and was killed by him.

As she went through her thoughts, she hadn't seen a hooded figure enter the bar. He sat down a few seats away from her. "What'll it be there lad," the bartender asked the mysterious hooded figure. He didn't even look up at the bartender. "Whiskey, and fill the glass half full." The bartender nodded and went to get his drink.

Faye sighed, setting down her glass. She still hadn't spotted the man, who was now throwing her a glance. She sighed, getting up, paying for her drink, and started to walk towards the door.

Behind her, a group of men who had been watching her for quite some time got up and started to follow as she walked out the door and into the street.

The mysterious man watched Faye leave, followed by the group of ruffians behind her. He took his drink, knocking it all back, laying money on the counter, getting up and walking out the door into the street after them.

~*~*~

Faye walked down the street, aware of the men following her. Without warning, she shot off into an ally way. The men bounded after her, running into the ally way to find Faye waiting for them, a grin on her face.

"Well hello there," the man, obviously the speaker of the group, said gruffly, letting out a chuckle. Faye just stood there, unmoving, watching them, the grin still there. The man smiled at her, showing a mouth full of misplaced teeth. "The boys and I were wondering if you'd like to come back and have a little drink with us."

Faye, keeping her grin, shook her head. "No thanks, I'm not into gutter trash, so why don't you go back and look for some skank on the street corner, I'm sure you'd be much happier with that decision."

The man's smile widened. "Well you see miss, we don't want just any skank, we want you, so if you'd be so kind as to come with us, we'll be happy to let you live, and we'll even pay you."

Faye smiled and spat on the ground. "Like I said before, I'm not into gutter trash, so fuck off you stupid bastard."

The man laughed, shaking his head. "You could've done this the easy way you know, but now I'm going to have to bruise that pretty face of yours." The other men chuckled. Faye sat, unmoving, daring him to come closer.

The man started towards her, smiling insidiously at her. He came before her, standing two feet taller than her. "Last chance darlin', either come with us, or I'm going to have to give you a beating." Faye just smirked at him. "Give it your best shot, dickhead." "Your choice," the man said, throwing his fist at her.

Faye dodged the attack, turning and throwing her foot right into his stomach. The man stumbled backwards, a look of pain on his face. "You.little bitch!" the man said breathlessly. Faye just smiled. "Now I'm going to make you regret you ever met me." She smiled, twirling and throwing her foot into his face.

The man fell backwards into a pile of trash, stumbling back up. "That's it bitch, now I'm pissed, get her boys!" With that, the other men moved in, blocking off Faye's only way of escape.

Immediately, the men attacked, Faye dodging punches left and right, slamming her elbow into the stomach of one man, throwing her leg out and nailing another in the ribs, dodging another's punch and slamming her fist into his stomach. As she fought, one of the men came up from behind and grabbed her, pinning her arms behind her back.

The boss came up, slamming his fist into her stomach. Faye coughed as blood erupted from her mouth, and was smacked across the face, causing her to cough up more blood. "Well, looks like its time to come with us then you little bitch." The boss said, a winning smirk on his face.

~*~*~

The figure came upon the ally, looking to see Faye getting the hell beat out of her. The figure stepped into the ally. He walked towards Faye, who's face was now covered in blood. The figure had seen enough. "You must think your tough because you can beat up women huh?" The boss turned around to see the stranger. "Who the hell are you?" The boss asked, spitting on the ground.

The figure moved closer. "Just a guy who hates to see ugly ass bastards such as yourself beating up beautiful women such as that." The boss smirked. "Well then maybe we should beat the shit outta you instead then dumbshit?" The man shrugged. "You can try, but Id be lying if I said you could hit me."

The boss growled, stepping forward, his anger giving way to a toothy smile. "So you think you're a tough guy huh?" The figure stopped in front of him. Faye lay unconscious on the ground near him. He looked down at her, then back up at the boss. "No, can't say I think that, I just know I can kick your ass."

The boss was really pissed now. "Alright you little son of a bitch, time to say goodnight!" The boss pulled out a knife and swiped at the man, who just dodged, grabbing the boss's arm, twisting hard and slamming his hand into the wrist, breaking it. The boss howled in pain as he fell backwards.

The other men began pulling out guns, ready to shoot him between the eyes, but from his trench coat came the sound of metal sliding across metal as a sword was drawn. It gleamed in the street light, reflecting on his face. The other men aimed their guns, but the man was already growing tired of this game.

Gunshots sounded in the alleyway as the mob fired in the mans direction, emptying their clips. They lowered their weapons to see the man standing in the same position he had been in last.

"Guess you guys need to practice your aim," the man said, lifting up his sword. The others were shocked, but quickly tried to reload their weapons. The hooded man stepped into position and charging into the crowd, his sword dancing in the light of the streetlamp.

~*~*~

Shhhhiink

The sword slid back into its sheath, and the fight was finished. The other men lay dead on the ground, blood flowing like a river down the ally and out into the street.

The hooded man walked over to Faye's unconscious body, kneeling down to pick her up. As he picked her up, he couldn't help but look at her. She was a beautiful woman (even if she was covered in blood). He sighed, lifting her up and walking out of the alley into the street.

Faye's eyes opened, looking up at the face of the man who she assumed was going to rape her. She couldn't make out his facial features, blood having gotten into her eyes, making it hard for her to see.

Before Faye passed out again, she couldn't help but think, "So this is where it all ends, this is where I'm going to die." With that last thought, she fell into darkness.

To Be Continued.

A/N: So how was that? Who is this unknown stranger? Is he friend or foe? We'll, R&R, and I'll post sometime tonight or later this week, so till then, seeya.