A/n: Thanks to those of you who reviewed last chapter! I really appreciate it and I hope this doesn't let you down. This was originally going to be a one-shot fic, but your reviews motivated me to write. Love ya guys!

***

"Do you actually expect me to believe this load of bullshit? Either you give me my money, or I'm gonna kick some ass!" I narrowed my eyes threateningly at the owner of the bar I work at, who seemed to be rather nervous.

"Please, Miss Valentine, if you would just give me a few more days—"

"Fuck no!" I yelled louder, clenching my fists in anger and trying to resist the urge to yank the chair out from under his fat ass and smash his lying face in with it. "You've used that same excuse with me three times, I'm not letting it go by again! You owe me exactly 13 million woolongs! Fork over the money, or pay the fucking consequences!" The owner, whose name is Terrance, took out a check book with a shaky hand and managed to write a check for me.

"Wow, thanks!" I said cheerfully, patting him on the head and turning to leave. "It's been so much fun working with such a disgusting male chauvinist! Have a nice day!" Stepping out of the cold office and into the freezing cold rain was like getting an adrenaline shot. Of course, the conversation with my boss contributed to the feelings, but I couldn't help feeling giddy and free for the first time in six years.

The debt was almost paid off. Going after bounties, working shifts at the bar, and using the Bebop's method of starving myself helped the debt reduce, but I think it was knowing that I was on my own that really made me commit to getting it paid off. Not that I completely changed myself these past two years. On the contrary, really. I drink, smoke, and gamble more than before, but lately my luck has just been rolling in.

Maybe it's karma, but I don't really know whether that exists. All I know is that my life is getting better. Ever since that lunkhead left...

I stopped walking, blinking a few times and trying to realize where I had been heading. Megami City was once a respected urban area in Mars, but years of neglect have transformed it into a crime-ridden city, overpopulated and growing more so each day. Home sweet home, eh? The only problem I have with it is that there's nowhere to leave my zipcraft, so I'm forced to walk about three miles every day after flying to work. Not anymore though. That job and this city are just parts of my past now.

I recognized the old flower stand by one of the many brothels, and headed in the right direction from there. The streets were packed with traffic and as I walked by, more than a few horns honked rudely. It took all my energy to swallow the indecency and keep walking without flipping the assholes off, but when a few blocks from the Redbird, I realized that the injured pride was far easier to deal with than a gunshot wound or a gangbang.

"Hello, beautiful!" I said to the Redbird, running the last few feet to her and climbing inside gratefully. Throughout this second life of mine, only one thing hasn't abandoned me at one time or another, this zipcraft. It might seems a little pathetic to you, but at least I'm not completely alone. As we shot into the clouded over sky, I surveyed the wall of buildings surrounding everything in the city and blocking out the light for most of the day. I smiled, finally able to leave this Hell hole behind.

For the next few hours, I kept that smile, going through the gate and paying the fee, weaving in and out of the other ships in hyperspace, and miserably passing fast food places and liquor stores. In fact, that smile didn't escape me until I finally let myself get a pack of cigarettes, walking into the store and finding myself in the middle of a cash register holdup.

The masked robber turned away from the checkout girl, who had a terrified expression on her face. "Get against the wall!" He barked. He pointed the gun at me to emphasize his request, but I could see his hands shaking nervously. His tough guy facade was only that, a front to trick his victims into believing he was more dangerous than he was.

"Why don't you put down your gun there, baby?" I said smoothly, making eye contact with him for a moment before he hurriedly glanced back at the girl behind the counter. In the split second we locked eyes, I saw a look of recognition pass over her golden irises. I chose to ignore questioning it then and instead gave her a reassuring look before giving the robber my full attention. It was obviously a solo job, so I had no one else to worry about. "It's okay, I've been there before. I know how it feels to be on the wrong side of the law." While I calmly talked to him, my hand made its way under my jacket and to my gun. After about a minute of stalling him, I pulled out my gun so swiftly that he dropped his in surprise.

"Wha—what!?" He yelled.

"Slide the gun over with your foot, okay?" I said, still calm as I held my gun. He did so, and I picked the gun up, keeping the weapons trained on him as I walked toward him. I searched him quickly, stealing his pack of cigarettes and then instructing the girl to call the police.

"I already did," she replied, and the man was cuffed, I turned to give her a closer look. She was tall and thin with wild red hair and those weird gold eyes...

"Oh my god! Ed?"

***

Three hours later, Ed and I were sitting in a bar talking, amazed that we had met up by chance after three years without a single conversation. She had changed so much. Instead of the lanky teenager she had been before, she was now a 'filled out' young woman wearing jeans and a 20th Century rock band t-shirt. She still had the same crazy smile and wild personality, thankfully, minus the third person speaking. She was so different, but at the same time just like herself.

"So Faye, what've you been up to?"

"A lot of bartending."

"The debt collectors still after you?"

I jumped off the barstool excitedly. "Ed, I forgot to pay my last bill! Come on, let's do it together!" I practically ripped her computer out of the bag she carried, and in a few short moments, the cause of worry for the past six years vanished. "Hell yeah!" I yelled, chugging my drink and asking Ed what she'd been doing for the past three years.

"Guess."

"What?"

"Bounty hunting!" My jaw dropped and I turned to stare at the teenager.

"Alone?"

"Yeah! Check out the gun," she said proudly, pulling out a strangely familiar-looking weapon.

"Jericho?" She nodded solemnly, and I sighed deeply. Spike's gun. I faced her and smiled, pushing aside the grief and feeling happy that she was the one that used it. "Wait, why didn't you just pull that on the guy at the store?"

"The dumbasses who own the place won't let me bring it," she said exasperatedly. "But yeah, I'm still with Jet. We've been hanging around this city for the past few months so I could get a 'steady job,' but we're gonna try Jupiter for a year or so."

"Jet's here?"

"Yeah! He told me about how you went after spike, Faye." Ed's voice acquired a compassionate tone I hadn't heard from her before. "Listen, just because you only found the gun didn't mean that you failed. What happens, happens." I stared at Ed, amazed by the insight she was sharing.

"When did you get so smart, Ed?" I asked stupidly, shaking my head. She laughed and pulled me off the stool. "Where're we going?"

"The Bebop!" She laughed, throwing a thousand Woolong note on the counter and running outside. I shook my head and reluctantly followed her, more than a little nervous about going back to the home I ran away from three years ago.

***

A/N: So tell me what you think! I'm liking the way this is going.... kinda. So, yeah. It was written completely in class, so it might have an inconsistent mood/feeling. Sorry. Any feedback is good, constructive criticism too. Thanks!

Qui ^_^