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, Bishexy no Miko, Tamahome no Miko, Shattered Stars, and (especially!) my sis Blayse! Thanks you guys! ^-^

Notes; I'm REALLY sorry this is so late. Blame it all on school and Weiss Kreuz! Anyway, please go visit my web page (http://www.angelfire.com/realm/adakie/) for fics, cosplay, winamp skins, wallpapers, and updates about what I've been up to. ^-^

Shameless promo for my new original series - Hebun no Kousen: War of Heavens

Review Responses will return with the next chapter. Thanks to everyone who's been reviewing, you guys are the only reason why I keep writing.

Tarian Ch.8: Past

By; Adakie

Gene paced the small apartment franticly. It had been a day since Jim was taken away and he still had no idea how to get his partner back. He'd called just about everyone he ever knew and no one was willing to help him.

"Just leave it alone. Hah. How can I leave it alone? I can't just forget about him and pretend I never met him. I can't believe they would say that."

He turned and began to pace again but stopped at the door to Jim's room. He felt like crying but, being the proud bounty hunter he was, he'd never allow himself to. Not even for this.

"There's got to be some way to get him back. I just know it. I won't give up. But what can . . . wait, I know! Why hadn't I thought of this sooner?!"

He pulled open the desk drawer and, after much searching, pulled out a small piece of paper. He stuffed it into his pocked, grabbed a jacket, and left to try and find the one person who could possibly help.

~*~*~*~

Jim sat silently beside Ka-san. He was cold and tired and just wanted to be home with Gene. Despite the fact that they never could seem to agree on anything he had to admit that he did miss his partner. The old woman must have seen his distress because she grasped his hand tightly in hers.

"Child, I'm going to explain something to you. Maybe then you'll understand why we're all here in this place. You see, when all of this started, the earliest victims of the Tarian were brought to local hospitals. More and more people became sick, even many of the hospital workers. They never could find a cure. Soon there were more patients than the workers could cope with. Those who hadn't caught it yet began threatening the staff. They said they should just kill all the patients before it spread to the rest of the town. You see, they were scared. No, they were terrified. One day, when a man came to the hospital seeking treatment, an angry mob attacked and eventually killed him. The workers didn't know what to do, so they took all the bodies and buried them just outside the city. Finely, they sent all the sick here and have been doing ever since. They just can't cope."

"How do you know all this?"

"That's an easy question, I've lived through it." She laughed a little, as if it didn't matter at all. "I should have died long ago with the rest of my family. But no, here I am."

A sudden noise from outside drew their attention. Someone was yelling. The door burst open once again and a small, struggling figure was shoved inside. It was a young girl, dressed in jeans and a light gray sweatshirt. She landed on her knees and lifted her head up. Dark brown hair fell into deep green eyes that seemed to blaze. She was angry. No, that was an understatement, this girl was furious.

"How could you! Let me out of here, let me out right now!!"

The guards didn't listen, they just shut the door behind them. Jim could hear the lock click back into place. The newcomer practically threw herself at the door. She pounded at it with a strength no other person there possessed.

"Let me out!! I'm not like them! I'm normal! You've got to believe me!!"

The beast outside started scratching at the door and she backed away in panic. Dieken grabbed her by the shoulders, practically shaking her as he spoke.

"What do you think you're doing? They won't let you out of here, they won't let out any of us, so stop complaining."

She smacked his hands away angrily. "Don't touch me! I'm not like you people. I'm healthy."

"You don't have to say that here."

"It's true!"

He grabbed her hand and rolled up the sleeve of her shirt. The veins stood out as blue streaks against her pale skin. "Oh really?"

She jerked back angrily. "I've always been like this. It's not my fault. I was born this way! But they wouldn't believe me, they said I had the plague. That's why I'm here, because they thought I was like you. But I guess now I will be. I'll catch it in this place and I'll die like the rest of you. I hate you, I hate you all!!"

~Owarii~

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