Chapter 23

            It's literally been 3 months sense I've arrived. I was having a feeling that Cray just wanted to use all this little boys for his own bidding. Not like they could do much though. They pretty much sucked in fighting.

            Keensan was doing well though, which worried me. The boy had talent. Copper knew it too. Copper had to report to Cray every now and then. What would happen if Cray found this talent? What would he do with it? It was the same reason why I didn't want my brother to come here. My brother had talent. Oh, did that boy have talent. He was smart too. A child still too.

            "Ryu, stop day dreaming!"

            I snapped back. I turned to look at Copper.

            He rubbed his head and his ears twitched in aggravation. Copper staying in midtransformation a lot lately. Mainly because he was supposed to be teacher Keensan and I to go to. Naturally, Keensan already did. I could too of course, I was just not letting myself get in position right now. It was far to risky. Manly because in my form I had two certain friends of mine that decided they would like to add to their stature.

            "I swear Ryu," he said. "You're the laziest ….Never mind, why do I even bother with you. I'm sending you a release form. We're just going to get someone else from your family."

            "No!" I tensed up. "C'mon, I can do this! C'mon, try me. I was a space outlaw afterall. I just don't like a lot of attention."

            "You get enough of it with the pretty boy face." He rolled his eyes.

            "C'mon, Copper-san, give him a chance," Keensan said. "What to you think Miss Rip would think if you sent him back and they took her brother."

            "Hmm, that is a thought," he replied. "Alright, Ryu, prepare yourself.

            "I am ready."

            I got in a fighting stance. I wasn't gonna show him my full strength of course, but I couldn't afford to get thrown out. I guess I was being too ignorant at times.

            He charged for me. I dodged.

            "Eh?" He stopped as if he was in shock. I bet he was wandering how I could move so fast.

            I was stopped as well. I kept my back towards him. If he came for me again I would know. He did come for again, only faster. Faster than what I've ever seen Copper has been. I still managed to dodge him of course and I grabbed the fist that went past me and flipped him over my shoulder on his back. I knew he was holding back as well. I knew how good Copper was. He could give me a run for my money if he wanted to.

            "What's wrong?" I asked. "You wanted me to fight so I am."

            "So you're fast," he said. "That's good, but can you hit."

            "You want me to hit you?"

            "Yea, hit me."

            "You asked for it."

            In a flash my fist was in his gut. I know that scared the shit out of him. "I can hit," I said. "Now are you satisfied."

            "Umm, Ryu," Keensan said. "I think you knocked him out."

            "Hmm?"  I lifted his face up. "I sure did. I'll go bring him to his quarters." I hoisted him over my shoulder. "Please don't tell anyone about this."

            "Don't worry, I'll get in trouble too."

            I knew where Copper slept. His quarters were not far from mine. I made sure no one would see me as I made it down the hall. I kicked his door open and threw him on his bed. I was not a gentle woman you see.

            I turned to leave until I heard him moan something and I turned around to see if he was awake. "What?"

            He stirred but didn't move. Good, he'd probably kick my arse if he was awake. I went back outside. The sun already set. All the guys were having another party down by the gorge. This was good. This means I could go bath and get the smell of men off of me in the lake without worrying about anyone sneaking up on me. I hadn't had a good bath in so long.

            I made my way to my quarters and got my things that I need to get clean. I was getting really tired of this camp thing. For some reason I found it hard to believe there was a war being fought at all, just something for Cray to find more freaks to do his dirty work.

            What, and I couldn't do it for him? I would much rather him drag me back into it than drag some poor kid who's never seen blood do it. That's why I didn't want my brother here, and that's why I was worried about Keensan.

            I could tell Copper was worried about him too. Those two got along as if they were brothers. After all, Keensan lost his sister, and Copper was always alone. They like having each other's company.

            I finally made it to the lake. It was a small lake, but a lake all the same. The quarter moon shimmered in the water. Good, less light less to see, in case someone did decide to sneak up on me.

            I set my clean things near the edge in a close reach in case I needed to make a quick break for them. There I undressed and sank myself into the chilly water. I didn't care if it was cold. I was going to get clean. That enough made the water feel good. I leaned against a rock and sighed. I could almost have taken a nap. Almost…

            I don't know how long I was out but I was out.

            "So that's where you are."

            I jumped up and then automatically sank back into the water.

            "You didn't think you were getting away after you knocked me out did you," Copper said. "I want a rematch!"

            "Eh? Right now?"

            "Of course right now!" he called. "I don't want to fight after my bath."

            "How about tomorrow then, being that I already too mine?"

            "Uh?" He looked down and gave an aggravated sigh. "Oh, alright. It is late and the men are all sleeping. Usually the time I get myself away for some quiet time."

            He began to strip his clothes.

            "What are you doing?"

            "What's it look like?" he questioned. "Taking a bath."

            I turned my face away and started to blush. What in the world was I supposed to do now? I kept the water to my collar bones and even kept my arms over my chest. Thank Yaweh that Copper was strait.

            "So, what's being a space out law like?"

            "Umm, well, it's never boring and well..ummm," I stuttered. "You're always fighting with guns and killing for some bounty now and then to make a living."

            "You have a ship?"

            "Oh, oh yes, I have a ship," I replied. "Umm, I call it Dark Horse. Yes, that's its name."

            "What kind of ship is it?"

            I got stumped. I really didn't know anything about ship.

            "You're not a space outlaw are you?"

            "Eh?"

            Suddenly he was hovering over me with his hands against the rock. His eyes were burning with anger. "I don't know who the hell you are, but there's no such person as a Ryu Raptor on the outlaw list. I have the entire list of outlaws that are of Everstin blood. And, I know for a fact that Rip Raptor has no relatives by your alias." He narrowed his eyes. "Just who are who?"

            "Listen, buddy," I said. "You have no idea what you're talking about or who you're dealing with so back up right now before I kick you in the nads."

            "Which is more than what I can say for you."

            I gritted my teeth. "Just what are you implying?"

            "You know exactly what I'm talking about." He got inches from my face. "You honestly think that a canine can't smell a female away while going through a heat like you are?"

            A heat?

            "That's two infractions I can turn you in for," he said. "Do you know what the penalty is for doing what you've done?  It's death, big guy. Do you understand, death. You have any last words?"

            "I was well aware of that!" I yelled in his face. "And I am ready to except it if I have to! Just please, Copper." Tear started to swell in my eyes. "Don't let them take my baby brother."

            "Eh?" He back away with a shocked look on his face.

            I reached up and took the contacts from my eyes. Then, I looked back up at him.

            "Rip?"

            "I really wanted to tell you," I said. "But can you blame me for not? I mean after all, you just did threaten to kill me."

            "I—I….If I knew it was you…"

            I looked down. "I didn't want them to take Streaks, Copper," I said. "I didn't want them to turn him into a monster like they did me. Because, I knew that's what they were going to do. Could you blame me for it."

            He looked to aside. He was shamed of himself I could tell by the look in his golden eyes. "No, I don't blame you. If I was in your shoes, I would've done the same thing. At least now I know why you didn't come visit me before I left. You were busy leaving yourself." He looked back at me. "Those old habits came in handy didn't they?" He smirked.

            "Uh?"

            "When you were twelve," he pointed out, poking my where my collar bone met in my chest. "You did pretty good, but with knockers like that I bet you had some help."

            My face became flushed. "What are you doing looking at them anyway?"

            He put his hands behind his head. "Well, it's not like you dress modestly, Rip," he replied. "It's almost as if you're begging for people to look."

            "But they don't have to."

            Copper lifted an eye brow at me. "So what are you going to do now? How are you going to convince me to keep your secret?"

            "Eh?" I backed up against the rock. "You mean, you're not?"

            "I dunno," he replied. "I could get promoted majorly if I did."

            "If you even try I'll be sure to haunt you the rest of your life, Copper Ookami," I growled. "I'm not in the mood to play with you right now."

            Copper rubbed his chin and his ears flattened. "Well, what are you going to do."

            "I can't believe you, Jesus, I just assume turn myself in." I started to trudge away. His hand slammed against the rock and his arm blocked me.

            "I was only playing, Rip," he said. "I wasn't serious. Why do you have to always take things so seriously?"

            "Just think if I didn't?" I said. "I mean here you are just inches away from me and both of us are naked."

            "And you think that hasn't crossed my mind yet?" he asked.

            I turned and looked away from him. "You can't tell anyone Copper. I could care less what would happen to me. I just don't want my brother to get caught up in this. He's so young. I don't care what happens to me. No one does."

            "I care what happens to you," he said. "And you know that. So, don't give me that crap, Rip." I looked up at him. I hadn't really realized just how much taller than me he actually was.

            "Copper, what am I supposed to do, even after this is over?" I questioned. "The world has no place for me other than to be used to kill. I can't make myself fit it. Normality doesn't come so easy to me."

            "And do you think it comes easy to me?" he questioned. "Or to Zane, or Sabra, or Rat Trap, or Silvy? You're not the only one who feels like that Rip. Why else did I come into this war too? I couldn't spend my lonesome self in that cabin forever. Sure you stayed for how long 4 months? After that it got so boring."

            "So, you would've stayed if I was still living with you."

            "I most likely would have."

            "Do you love me that much Copper?"

            "Eh?" I knew he wasn't sure how to answer that. I knew for a long time that he was in love with me. I knew the feeling was mutual as well. I was just to vain to ever admit it to him. Or, I was just too scared. Like that time I almost gave myself to him and that horrible vision I had. I was too scared of it to happen again.

            Yet here I was with him. Our naked bodies only inches from each other. He looked so irresistible. Of  course but that I was in heat that I would be thinking of him in that way. I wander how hard it was for him to be a male and like this close to me. I couldn't help but respect that fact he was respecting me and not just lurching out for me in his pure male lust. I felt like a failure though at that moment. I had let myself slipped. I was only thankful it was Copper and not someone else who found me.

            "Copper?"

            "Yea."

            I leaned forward against his chest. "Hold me."

            I felt his body be overcome with surprise, but his arms did take me into his embrace. I loved the way I felt against him. If only I could to submit myself to something so simply like this completely.

            "I do love you, Rip," he said. "I always did, and you know that."

            "Yes, I knew," I said. "But I chose to let myself ignore it. I chose to ignore your feelings as I did my own. I did not have the right to do that to you."

            "It's not your fault," he said. "You were forced into so many things you didn't want to do. You forced to become something that you didn't want to become. I understand what you're doing for you brother. I truly do, but after this, you have to try and live a normal life, Rip. You need to settle down. I understand that you can't do it on your own, but I can help you. That's what I'm here for."

            I clutched onto him tighter. What was wrong with me? Why was I feeling so weakened? I was so broken, but why? In the back of my head I knew that I had to get out and get dressed as fast as I could. The risking of someone finding us was very high. I didn't pay attention to that little thought though. My emotions blocked everything that had sense from me.

            I needed to do something to lighten this mood though. I was going to get so depressed it might as well killed me if I didn't do something. My hands traced up to the top of his head and the I ducked him under. I laughed.

            Little to my expectations his hands were still on my waste and took me down with him. I heard his muffle laugh in the water. I glared down at his face. I didn't like it when someone got the upper hand. Obviously, he though my glare was funny too, because he continued to smile.

            I felt his finger tips on my cheek. Copper…?

            I knew what was on his mind and I let him. It's been a long time sense I shared a kiss with Copper Ookami. A feeling overwhelmed me though. A feeling I could not surpass within. A haunch and day ja view. More would come this night than a simple kiss. My heart and sorceress intuition knew it.

            We submerged from water and I laid myself against his chest. Our bodies touching one another. I was so close to him. I needed to be close to him. I never knew how much I earned for it until right now.

            "Copper."

            "Yea?"

            "I accept you."

            "What?"

            "I accept you, and I do so now."

            "Rip…"

            "Help me," I said. "Help fill up this sadness and darkness. Help fill up this hole. I need you to do that for me please. I beg of you."

            "How could I say no?"