A/N: Gomen nasai about the wait. I'm trying to make this a really good story so I'm not rushing on the chapters. And now to address what few reviews I got for this fic, which means all three chapters:
Laughing Hyena: Does it really? I personally watched only half of it before I fell asleep in class and had to use a friend's notes to write an essay on cyberpunk or something or other. Should I take that as a compliment?
Peridot Pooka: I'm pretty sure that the people reading this fic DO have a life that DOESN'T revolve around reading my stuff ya know!! Only YOU seem to do that! I highly doubt someone would commit suicide over waiting for a chapter. You damn bakana onna. ^^ And as to your "educational" purposes....ha! you can wait; that'll show ya!!
Princess of the Darkside: Gomen, it's an 8 megabyte computer, not a six; happy? ^____^
When you are poor enough, everything has some value. ~ Barbara Ann Porte
Chapter Two
From Across the Way
The door burst open with an angry slam, the black coated figure stalking in to the bathroom. "Fucking bullets." her voice was angry and vicious.
Reaching into the medicine cabinet, slender thin fingers pulled out a medical kit, opening it as she took off her jacket. She seated herself on the toilet seat, her jacket coming off in a fluid motion followed by her shirt. A glance into the mirror showed the growing black blue spots from where the bullets hit her, the blood still spreading beneath the taut healed skin.
"Thank you so much Styx." her voice was sarcastic as she dug out the scalpel and sliced open one of the spots; she had this regeneration ability no thanks to those soulless freaks.
She glared at the box until she found the spoon shaped instrument. Twirling it around in her fingers, she positioned it over the opening and dug it in, searching for the bullet. After a few minutes, a wet popping sound was heard and the sharp clink of a bullet fell to the floor. She moved quickly now, getting a firm hold on herself and her instruments, bullets tinkling to the floor and lying there in a faint streaky puddle of blood. She leaned forward heavily once she was done, breathing hard as the open wounds on her upper shoulders, breasts and stomach started to close up slowly. Ten minutes later, she flexed the muscles, feeling them respond back without the slightest twinge of pain; the skin was as smooth as it had always been. Picking up her shirt and jacket, she walked out to her new temporary home. She had to travel far to get Arthur, but it had been easy as hell. Mai had been simple enough when she finally emerged from that impenetrable bunker she had hid out in.
"Two gone; seven to go." she walked up to the wall she had plastered with pictures and bits of information; both of the pictures had a red 'x' across them.
She draped her clothing on the ratty old couch arm, looking at the wall carefully. She picked up her jacket momentarily, digging around as she searched for something in a pocket. Finding it, she took it out and tacked it to the wall before stepping back and contemplating the picture.
"Starwind." she said the name with the slightest bit of contempt; he was no match for her yet she had to admire the fact that he had put up a fight, a much better fight than the others.
She would get Khujesta in good time, but for now, she would be content to let them worry for a bit; this was as much psychological as it was about making them suffers as she did, though it could never compare. She shivered suddenly, her flesh goose bumping rapidly as she brushed away the horrid memories; it was all Styx's fault, all their fault. They had to pay. Suddenly, she grabbed the dagger from her back sheathe and slammed it into the picture. She started at it, watching the blade quiver in the warm air before he stalked away, her entire body tensed in anger; Starwind was as good as dead to her if he proved himself to be more of a nuisance.
Jim sighed as Gene cursed loudly from underneath the car. "Gene, why don't you let me take a look at it?"
"No. It's my car."
"It's the company's car." Jim corrected him. "And you don't seem to know the first thing about what you're doing."
"Oh." Gene slid out from underneath. "And I suppose you do?"
"Yes, so get out of the way." Jim pushed him aside, quickly taking his place. "Someone has to in this place." he muttered.
"What was that?"
"Nothing, nothing." Jim said hastily. "You know, you've been in an awful mood since you got back with Khujesta a few days ago." it had puzzled him; Gene had, uncharacteristically, not ranted about what happened this time around; he'd walked in, clearly in a bad mood, and hadn't talked to anyone in a few days; not even Melfina.
"Well maybe if you saw what I saw, you think twice about things!"
"Sorry." Jim said in an exasperated voice. "Forgive me for being seventeen. Am I still to young to know these kinds of things?" he stared up trying to see properly before he reached up and flicked on the light. "Damn it. Gene, why didn't you just tell me the brake lines have been cut?"
"You didn't ask."
"Funny; did you stop to think if we have money to pay for this?"
"It comes from somewhere. Plus Khujesta's going to pay us."
"Going to." he slid back out, wiping the grease off his hands. "We've only got a small down payment. We get the rest once we see her through this thing."
"And that's what's starting to worry me. What if we don't."
"What are you talking about?"
"When I went out with Khujesta, someone tried to kill her."
"Did you get a good look?"
"No. I was kinda busy trying to live." Gene sighed as he ran a hand through his hair before crossing his arms. "I unloaded an entire clip at her and she still didn't stop."
"Wait a minute. You used every single bullet you had and they hit her? And she still kept coming?" Jim looked slightly sceptical. "What are we dealing with here? A mechanically enhanced human?"
"I don't know Jim. And she won't talk." he motioned with is head towards the seat where Khujesta was fast asleep. "She just decided that throwing up on my shoes would be a better idea."
Jim couldn't help but snicker at the look on Gene's face. "Uh huh. I'm going out for brake cables. Make sure nothing happens while I'm gone."
"What could happen?" Gene asked. "Maybe pigs will fly. Or maybe this will assassin will show back up."
Jim watched as Gene's hand scratched his hip. 'He wants to use his Caster.' Shaking his head, Jim headed for the door. "I'll be back Mel!" he called out loudly; he was pretty sure she was in the back...somewhere.
Hearing her reply back, he grabbed some money from his desk as he walked by and headed out. It was a nice day for a walk. There was a cool breeze, pushing along the few clouds in the sky. Smiling, he walked along, hands in his pockets; it wasn't often that he had a moment's quiet to himself. He made it to the store, looking around before he found what he was looking for. He was coming back out of the store when he paused; someone was watching him. Looking around quickly, he noticed the figure leaning against the wall on the opposite side of the street. All he could see was that long black coat that brushed against ankles, sleeves that hid hands and a long curtain of black hair completed the dark feminine look. He took an involuntary step back as the face looked up suddenly, the brilliant green eyes flickering around until they settled on him. He found himself staring back; why did he feel as if he knew her already? He took a step forward, heading towards her. She took a step back as her face went paler than before, disbelief written all over it. Jim was about to say something when she turned and took off down an alleyway, her coat making a scraping sound as it brushed against the wall. Jim sighed and turned to leave when he caught a glimmer of gold on the ground by the puddle.
"What's this?" he walked over and bent down to pick it up.
The link chain gleamed softly in the palm of his hand, the cool red stone at the end a gentle weight. 'Interesting...' he stared at it a bit longer before he glanced in the alleyway; not a soul was there. Shrugging, he put it in his pocket and started back towards the office. 'Jade.'
The moonlight streamed in as she peered into through the windows. No one could be seen anywhere. She tugged against the end experimentally; it rose up a few inches. Slowly, she eased it up until it was wide enough for her to slip in through. Her entire body was motionless as her eyes adjusted to the dark; a vast room revealed itself, sounds of someone sleeping on the upper level evident from the snores echoing around. Slinking through the shadows, she silently made her way up the stairs.
'That's it? Where's the guy from earlier?' She started to make her way back down. Finding Starwind fast asleep with a blanket that was in danger of exposing other parts of him was not on her wish list. She had just started down the stairs when, hearing a sound from the hallway, she melted back into the shadows, watching from her vantage point.
Bright light flooded the area as the sound of glass clinking was followed by a pouring sound. Leaning out slightly, she watched the dirty blond head go back as they drank down the contents of the glass and dump it in the sink. 'After all this time...' She couldn't stop the faint wistful smile from coming to her face. Once darkness came again, she made her way down the stairs, following after him; there was no way she was letting that jade necklace get away from her so easily, not after how she got it.
Resting her hand on the doorknob, she twisted it open before she slid in searching for the little disc. She froze for a minute as she saw him fast asleep in the bed; even now he still had the same innocent look about him when he slept. She brushed the sentiments aside; she was here for one thing only. She searched his entire room quickly enough, irrational anger mounting as she found it to be nowhere. 'What if he...' She glanced back at the bed. 'Does he?' She walked over, pulling back the blanket just enough to reveal his hands, the chain of her necklace intertwined in his fingers. 'Same as always...' With a gentle touch, she disentangled the chain from his fingers before she slipped it back onto her neck. Pausing by the bedside, she gazed down at his face before she crouched down, studying it more carefully. It has hanged drastically from when she last saw him; she almost didn't recognize him, but when she did it was much like a slap to the face.
"But are you still the same?" she murmured softly as she brushed his bangs back from his face and leaving her hand to rest on his cheek.
Her heart constricted tightly as a soft sleepy smile came to his face, such a childlike, innocent smile. She felt like a criminal, the life she was living in the shadows. But it was the life that she had, the best she could make from the situation she found herself in at such a young age. She drew back reluctantly, walking to the door and not looking back.
"What's this?" her eyes were drawn to the strip of light that beamed out from beneath a closed door.
Walking up to it, she opened it a crack; there sat Khujesta, studying something in front of her. Her eyes narrowed as she weighed the urge to kill her now as opposed to killing her later. A smirk came to her face as something else occurred to her. Bending down, she put it in place and soon enough she was sliding out of the window, heading for the rat hole she was staying in temporarily. It would have been nice to see Khujesta's face later on when she discovered her little gift.
A loud scream woke Gene up from a sound sleep. It was actually what made him fall out of bed, gun drawn and ready as he looked around with clearing vision.
"Damn it." he groaned as he ran down the stairs, tumbling over the couch as he headed for Khujesta's room. "What is it?"
He looked down as Khujesta pointed to the floor with a trembling finger to the object at her feet. "This is it? This is what you're so worked up about?" he bent down and picked it up. "This silly little....thing?"
"Si-Silly little thing?" Khujesta managed to choke out. "Don't you get it? She was here last night. I'm not safe here anymore. I have to leave..."
"Gene, what's this fuss about?" Jim asked opening the door as he rubbed his eyes. "Who screamed?"
"Who else?" he replied with a roll of his eyes as he spied Melfina come out from her bedroom. "Over this."
"Hey, cool. A miniature lyre." he plucked it from Gene's hands. "Where did you get it from?"
"It was sitting right here in front of Khujesta's door." Gene clicked the safety on his gun with a frown before he faced Khujesta. "Look, I'd appreciate it if you didn't scream like that so early in the morning."
"I you knew what that....thing meant, you'd be like me at the moment!" Khujesta started to chew on her fingernail anxiously. "Where to go, whereto go. Far away of course but how far is far and what's safe enough....where to...."
Gene watched as Khujesta closed the door to her room slowly, before he looked at Jim. "For once, I'm starting to wish you talked me out of this one."
"Huh?" Jim looked up from study the little ornament. "Hey, you said it yourself, we need the money."
Cocking his head slightly, Gene looked at Jim as he turned the lyre over in his hands. He seemed oddly happy for some reason today. "Did you sleep well Jim?"
"Very well actually. Why do you ask?"
"No reason." Gene frowned as he walked off to the kitchen; what happened to the somewhat cranky morning Jim?
"What's wrong Gene?" Melfina asked as she came into the kitchen.
"Does Jim seem unusually happy to you?" he asked, staring out the window in thought.
"He woke up happy for once Gene." Melfina said, making a cup of tea. "Leave him be. If I remember, you don't always wake up with a smile on your face."
Gene gave a small snort as he crossed his arms. "Still odd if you ask me."
"Pessimist." Melfina said in a teasing tone as she walked by him and made her way to the couch.
Shaking his head, Gene gazed out the window, mind thinking. What could be so terrifying about that little lyre? It was only an instrument and nothing more. He turned his head to see Jim come shuffling out, playing with the toy in his hands. Gene frowned as he watched Jim seat himself down beside Melfina, the smile still on his face. His eyes flickered to the lyre, studying it more carefully. The tiny strings were strung out taut, the bar across them connecting the opposite curling poles. A large orb covered its lower half, gleaming with a dark reddish brown in the sunlight. 'What was it about that damn thing?' He looked up to see Jim looking back, a huge smile now on his face. He gave a brief smile before he stalked back up to his bed. Falling back with a loud sigh, he stared up at the ceiling. 'Look on the bright side Gene; you now owe Fred less.'