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; Guess what, I'm still alive!! ^-^ Amazing huh? I've been extremely busy with everything but finely got home long enough to write some. And guess what I found: 48 reviews! For 4 chapters! I'd been getting an average of 11 reviews per chapter before my big slump, but now the wonderful results during my long absence has done the unthinkable: CHIBIKO WOKE UP! Yes, it's finely happened, and we've been able to team up with the other muses (they've taken an interest in this story) and write not only this ch. but also some other parts of the story which will be posted in later parts. Isn't that great? Anyway, please read and review. Thanks you guys, you're the best! ^_^
Tarian
By; Adakie
Gene walked slowly down the dimly light streets, a somber expression on his face and an almost weary dragging in his steps. It had been four days since he'd found out about Jim and the physical and emotional strain of dealing with everything was really starting to get to him. His partner's physical state had been worse than expected and he had to practically force the boy to eat.
Normally Gene only went out to the bar two or three times a week, but with everything that was going on he found himself at those round, wooden tables more and more often. He didn't let Jim come with him anymore. In all reality he didn't even let the younger boy out of the apartment. The now prominent blue streaks on his arms were too obvious and Gene was afraid that someone would see him and . . . he never let his train of thought go beyond that.
However, his trips to the bar hadn't been completely relaxation. He'd started asking people about the Tarian victims, trying to find out what happened to them after they were taken. This night he'd finely gotten some results.
~*~*~*~
Gene had been looking at the man at the bar for a long time now. His dark hair and short cut beard made him seem surly and wild and the uneven slump of the shoulders and reddened eyes made it clear that he was more than a little drunk. Gene had been talking to people from the bar about the Tarian for the past few days with out any luck but decided to try it once more. He sat down beside the man, his beer still in his hand.
"Hey."
The man turned towards him, a bleary expression plastered to his face. "Hum? Oh, right, hi."
"So, who are you?"
"Me? Liake. Neo Liake. I'm uh . . a guard. Down at Rieshal."
Gene's eyes light up. Rieshal was an old prison on the other side of town, the very place the rumors he'd been hearing had talked about. 'I think I've just found my lead.' "Oh really? What do you guard?"
"Not much really. We ha-haven't had many pris'ners lately. Although . . ."
'Bingo.'
"Although, there are those people."
"People?"
"Ya," he said, his voice slurring a little more, "those people with the plague. A bunch of th-them are bein' held there. Good thing is we don' have to watch them much."
"Really?" Gene was painfully aware of the almost sarcastic tone to his voice but the man didn't seem to notice at all.
"Ya, ye see there's a good lock on the door and even if they did get out, well th'n the Shouke'd get'em."
Gene wracked his brain to try and think of what a Shouke was but couldn't. It was probably some obscure alien thing. 'Whatever it is, I don't think I'd want to see one in a dark alley.' The man continued.
"I think we sh'd just kill 'em all now. The're the reason this place's gettin t' be such h*ll. Good r'dens I say."
~*~*~*~
It had taken all his strength and will to keep him from attacking the man right then and there. However, he'd been able to keep his composure long enough to get out onto the street where he promptly took his anger out on a nearby trash can. Since then he'd been walking home, not really anxious to get where he was going.
Jim, he thought, didn't seem to understand what he was doing. The boy didn't seem to realize what having this virus really meant. Gene was worried sick that someone would find out and come to take him away. The thought was on his mind twenty-four seven and the only thing that seemed to take the edge off the gnawing fear was alcohol. So that's what he resorted to.
As he came up to the apartment he saw something that shocked and truly scared him. The door was standing wide open and, leaning against the door frame, he saw a familiar, small figure.
"What were you doing?! I told you to stay inside, someone could have seen you! Honestly, what were you thinking?!"
He rushed up and practically shoved Jim inside, quickly shutting the door.
"What's it to you, you're always out drinking anyway." Jim's voice was soft and strained and had been so for the past few days. His breathing was getting slowly worse and that fact above all others chilled Gene to the bone.
"I want you to be safe, okay!"
"Ya, sure, whatever."
Gene felt his anger flare again but shoved it down quickly. "I'm telling you the truth!!"
"No!" Jim said, his voice ringing louder with his own anger. "You're keeping me caged up in this place like an animal."
"Jim just stop it okay!" He was yelling now, his temper flaring with long pent up frustration.
"No I won't! It's my life so why can't I decide what to do with it?"
"Oh so now you're saying you'd rather be captured? You'd rather die? Just stop it Jim I'm tired and I don't want to have to deal with this now."
"Well maybe if you weren't drunk three fourths of the day you'd -"
A deafening sound ripped through the small apartment. Gene stood in shock. He hadn't even realized what he'd been doing until it was too late and now there was nothing he could do. He'd slapped Jim. The impact had been so hard that the skin had broken and small trails of blood were dripping onto the wooden floor. The red print of his hand was painfully visible and practically covered the entire left side of the boy's face. Gene had still had his shield gloves on. Wide, startled blue eyes stared at him.
"I . . . Jim, I didn't think . . . I mean, I just . . . I-I'm sorry."
His stammering apology got no answer. The blond simply turned and, stumbling slightly, walked into his room and shut the door.
~*~*~*~
The bar was quiet that evening, the normal crowd having long since vacated to their houses. At one of the few occupied tables, two shadowy figures whispered in the dim light.
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"So it's a child then. I hate this."
"I know but it has to be done. You don't want this thing to spread do you?"
"I . . ."
"Listen, I've got kids of my own, kids I don't want to die. I'll do whatever I have to do to keep them safe weather you agree or not."
"Y-you're right. I know it can't be helped, but I still don't like it."
"Okay, now that that's settled, we can get down to work. There are some others we have to pickup on the way, a couple from down by Nikoga Park."
"All right. We'll go tonight."
~Owarii~
Well, it was fairly short but not that bad. This was a hard chapter to write but I'm not quite sure why. In fact I added in the slap scene as a kind of after thought. It's going to play a big part in the story later though. So what does everyone think? Please be a responsible reader and review!!! ^-^