Disclaimer; I don't own Outlaw Star or any of the characters or any of the other elements of the series. There, that pretty much covers it. However, I do own the characters and situations presented in Boutou Hoshi. If you want to use them, please e-mail me and I'll probably let you do it. Please don't sue me! I've only got some old drawing books and empty pocky boxes anyway so you wouldn't get much. Okay, I'm done.
Dedication; This story is dedicated to the people who've stuck by me for the past three months, especially Jade S., Anime Angel, heehee, barbo-chan, and Trunks. Also, this is dedicated to my friends Legacy Lost, Bishonen no Miko, Tamahome no Miko, Shattered Stars, and (especially!) my sis Blayse! Thanks you guys! ^-^
Notes; Okay, here's part 2! Thanks very much for all your wonderful reviews! ^-^ Anyway, I thought I should explain something first: THIS WON'T MAKE ANY SENSE IF YOU HAVEN'T READ BOUTOU HOSHI! This takes place only about three months after that one with means it's two years before the beginning of the series. Right, anyway, I'm always ready for new reviews and suggestions, so please review! ^-^
Tarian
By; Adakie
Gene Starwind was getting worried.
The people from Coriga had seemed fairly nice at first. They were a bit edgy towards newcomers, but that was all. Now, however, they were becoming obsessive. Crusaders went around trying to find all the plague victims, rallying in large groups and locking away any they found. He could only imagine what happened to the victims after that but one thing was certain; they were never seen again.
Rumors had been spreading that they were put in big jail cells filled with the dead and dying. Men and women, young and old, everyone effected was taken in. Gene was seriously thinking about leaving before anything more serious happened.
He walked along the street slowly. Jim had been so insistent that he'd finally gone out looking for work. He knew very well that all the jobs were gone, but Jim wouldn't believe it.
"There has to be something," he'd say, "just go look!"
And so Gene went, walking from office to office with no luck. He looked at his watch.
"It's getting kinda late. I guess I'd better get back or Jim'll really be worried."
It was an odd thing for Gene to have someone that would worry about him. He'd been on his own for so long that he'd really forgotten what it felt like to have that. It was part of the reason he had put up with Jim as much as he did. With the addition of his new partner came something very alien to Gene; order and discipline. He was no longer able to sleep till noon, drink beer for dinner, or slack off for weeks at a time until the need for food drove him to find work. 'For a kid,' Gene had observed many times, 'he's just too mature.'
However, he had found something more in the boy. Jim had brought him companionship, help with jobs, and something else that was totally unexplainable. Gene felt something for him that he'd never had with anyone else. He'd found a friend, and a brother. He turned and headed for home.
~*~
Gene slid the key card through and pushed the handle down, pushing the door so it swung open. He strode in, kicking the door back with his foot until it clicked shut, and unfastened his cape. Throwing the yellow fabric and shoulder guards onto the couch, he looked around for his partner.
"Hey Jim, I'm home!"
A soft voice answered him, muffled through a closed door. "Hi Aniki."
Gene couldn't help himself, he smiled. The title had become a sort of nickname for the older boy. "What's for dinner?"
"First thing's first Aniki, did you find a job?"
"Well you see . . ."
"Gene!"
"Hey I tried okay! Anyway, what are we having?"
"I don't know, whatever's in the fridge."
He sighed and trudged towards the kitchen. Rooting through the meager contents of the refrigerator he finely decided on a leftover half of a sandwich. Grabbing a beer, he headed back to the main room of their apartment. Jim was still in his room, hidden by the closed door and probably working away on the small lap top he'd found for him. The kid was amazing with technology, something Gene had quickly discovered by the way he'd fixed up the outdated technology. 'Well,' he thought, 'I might as well be nice.'
"Hey Jim, you want something to eat?"
"What? Uh, no thanks. I'm not hungry."
"Well, if you're sure. Hey, there's a movie coming on TV, Mission Impossible Six I think. You wanna watch?"
"Um, n-no thanks."
The soft, stuttering tone of the boy's voice drew Gene's attention. "You okay?"
"Ya . . . ya, I just . . don't feel good that's all. I think I've got a cold."
"If you're sure," Gene said between bites. He plastered a cocky, lopsided grin on his face. "Just don't catch the plague on me kid, or I'll have to lock you up."
He didn't get the chance to laugh at his joke because at that moment the door clicked open. Jim stood there, face flushed slightly and hair damp with sweat. One gloved hand was fidgeting with his sleeve. He looked up with a nervous glance, eyes bright as if he had been crying.
"A-Aniki . . . please . . don't turn me in."
Gene froze. The sandwich dropped from his hands, forgotten. He simply stared at the boy before him, or rather at his wrist. With the sleeve pushed up slightly he could see the strong blue pattern just beneath the flesh.
"Oh my G*d . . ."
~Owarii~
Well, another part done. ^-^V Now I'm gonna go on vacation for the weekend, so I'll be back to check reviews and e-mail and such later. I'll try and get the next part out soon _IF_ you guys review and say you want it. Okay, well, I hope you liked it and please be a responsible reader and review! Ja ne! ^-^
