Disclaimer: I don't own Cyborg Soldier 009. It is owned by Shotaro Ishinomori (or whatever his real name is), TV Tokyo, and some very rich people.
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RISING SUN: Chapter IV
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"007!"
"Oh, come on! Just tell me!"
"I told you, there's nothing to tell!" Françoise, usually very patient, was becoming annoyed with GB's constant inquiries.
"I'm bored!"
"What does that have to do with me?"
"I need some gossip!"
Françoise giggled a little. "You sound like a teenage girl."
"Hey! I do not! I'm a renowned actor and screenwriter."
"But you still sound like a teenage girl."
"I do not."
-You do now.-
GB glared at the baby in the woman's arms. "Who was asking you?"
"I'm home!" a voice announced as the door opened.
"Ah, 006. Welcome back," Françoise greeted. "It's good to see you again."
"But you just saw me yesterday," Chang said, scratching his head.
"But she's different today," GB said slyly, grinning at Françoise.
"Oh?" Chang questioned. "How so?"
"Doesn't she look…happier to you?"
Chang turned from GB to inspect the female cyborg. "Now that you mention, yes. She does seem to have a…livelier aura."
Françoise raised an eyebrow. "Aura?"
Chang shrugged. "You seem happier."
"You want to know why?" GB asked, nudging Chang with his elbow.
"007…" Françoise warned, glaring at the taller cyborg.
"Did I miss something?" the short man asked, looking confused.
"You sure did, buddy," GB continued, ignoring Françoise.
"007…" Françoise growled again.
"What did I miss?"
Despite the deathly glare that Françoise gave him, GB continued, grinning evilly all the while. "Oh, nothing much. Except 003 coming out of 009's bed—"
"DR. GILMORE!"
GB was interrupted as the door burst open, causing the four cyborgs to turn their attention to the entrance. Joe had rushed in with a bag in his hands and calling for the doctor, with Jet following behind him, also with a small bag, and looking ghostly pale.
"What's wrong?" Françoise asked as she noticed the newcomers' worried faces. But she stopped as soon as Albert walked in with a girl in his arms.
"Oye, 004! I can't believe you also went and picked up a girl!" GB teased. "But did you have to knock her out?"
Albert snarled at him, while Joe and Jet just glared at him. "Not now, 007," Jet snapped.
"What? What's the matter? Did something happen?" Dr. Gilmore had rushed out of his study at Joe's shout.
"Please Doctor," Albert begged. "You must help her."
"Who's…" The doctor's eyes widened as he looked at the girl in the cyborg's arms. "Oh my…but what…"
"Not now! She might be hurt!" Albert snapped. Dr. Gilmore looked up at him in shock. "Sorry," the silver-eyed cyborg mumbled.
Dr. Gilmore waved a hand. "Don't worry about it. But come quickly, bring her down to the lab." And so Albert quickly followed the doctor down to the lab.
GB and Chang, who had finally caught a glimpse of the person's face, were still shocked. "But…but…" Chang stuttered.
"How…" GB began, looking very confused. "How did she…?"
Jet shrugged. "Hell should we know?"
"We were on our way home and she was just…there," Joe tried to explain. "And she just…collapsed."
Chang turned to look at the more powerful cyborg seriously. "You don't think…Black Ghost…?"
Joe frowned. "I'm pretty sure I defeated Black Ghost that time…but…" He sighed and shook his head in frustration. "I don't know…"
-I tried to read her thoughts.- Ivan finally spoke up. All the other cyborgs still in the room turned to look at him. –It's her all right, but there's also something else. I can't get a hold of it though, because something it is blocked off.-
"Just when we thought we defeated Black Ghost, they come back AGAIN!" Jet shouted, throwing his bag onto the couch.
"What's that?" GB questioned, looking at the small bag.
"Nothing," Jet answered quickly, blushing slightly.
"Oh?" GB raised a suspicious eyebrow. "And what's that, 009?"
Joe blinked, looked down at his own bag, and blushed. "N-nothing. And now's not the time for that, 007!"
"You guys are no fun," GB complained.
"This is a serious problem," Chang scolded. "And all you can do is tease them?!"
"Heh…"
Joe shook his head and sat down on the couch. Then he noticed that Françoise had been quiet the entire time. "Françoise?"
Françoise snapped her head in his direction. "Hm?"
"Are you okay?" he asked in concern.
She frowned as she tucked the baby cyborg into his basket, and then took a seat next to Joe, taking one of his hands in hers. "I…"
"OH!!" Everyone suddenly looked at Chang, who looked at Joe and Françoise with wide eyes. "You guys are…is this what 007 was talking about?"
Jet groaned. "Not you too, 006!"
"Kawaii, ne?" GB grinned.
"Now is not the time," Jet growled.
Françoise blushed a little and Joe just scratched his head. "006…"
"Gomen!" Chang apologized. "But you guys are cute together."
Françoise blushed even more, her head bowed in embarrassment. Joe's face reddened a little and he mumbled again, "006…"
-004's mind is very…confused at the moment.- Everyone looked at the baby.
"Is he okay?" Françoise asked.
-He's just mentally and emotionally tired at the moment.-
"Poor 004…" Joe muttered.
"Ano…" Françoise began, frowning again.
"Nani?" Joe questioned, squeezing her hand lightly.
"Ano…she…" the blonde began, not sure how to continue. She looked at Joe.
His eyes widened in realization, but then turned downcast. "I see…"
"Wait, what?" Jet, who was leaning against the wall, looked at the two in confusion.
"She's…" Françoise began, looking at Jet with a mix of anguish and betrayal.
"WHAT?!" Jet exclaimed. "And you're just leaving 004 and Dr. Gilmore ALONE with her?!"
"Wait, what's going?" Chang questioned from his seat on the bench.
"Why doesn't anyone ever tell ME anything?" GB whined from his seat on the floor.
-That must be what was blocked before.-
"How could I see if you couldn't read it in her mind?" Françoise asked, looking at Ivan in confusion.
-Her memory of it must be blocked.-
"Huh?" GB looked at them in confusion.
"So you mean she doesn't know?" Joe asked, finally looking up.
-No.-
"What ARE you all talking about?" GB asked in irritation.
"You think Black Ghost is planning something?" Jet questioned, more to himself than to Ivan.
"But I'm sure Black Ghost is gone…" Joe trailed off. Françoise gently squeezed his hand between both of hers in assurance.
Chang joined in on the conversation. "It could have been like that time with the 'Greek God' and psychic cyborgs. Old people from the Black Ghost organization."
-Maybe.-
"Will somebody PLEASE tell me what's going on?!" GB shouted.
"Are you really that dense?" Jet snarled.
"I am not!" the other man defended. "You guys are just not telling me anything."
"She's like us, all right?!" Jet shouted. "She's a cyborg now too! Now do you understand?!"
"004…" Françoise's voice cut through the increasing tension. Everyone turned toward the doorway, seeing a shocked Albert standing there.
"004," Joe began, standing up. But Albert just ignored him and walked away toward his room. "004!"
As the cyborg leader prepared to follow the German, Jet stopped him. "No, he needs to be alone right now."
Joe looked at the hallway Albert had disappeared off to. "004…"
Françoise came up beside him and took his hand in hers. "He just needs some time."
-We might still be able to help her. Remember, she doesn't have her memory of her change.-
"But what will happen when it comes back?" Joe asked. "What happens then?"
"We'll worry about that when it happens," Jet answered. "For now, we just need to make sure 004 doesn't do anything stupid."
"Ah," Joe agreed, wrapping his arm around Françoise's waist.
"What now?" Françoise asked the rest of them.
"We should call back the others," Jet decided.
"007 and I will go call them now," Chang offered. He got up, GB following behind him, still sulking.
"I'll take guard duty over the girl," Jet offered, heading down toward the lab, leaving Joe and Françoise alone.
Françoise looked up at Joe with tears in her eyes. "We have to help her."
Joe nodded, wiping her tears away with his thumb. Kissing her lightly on the forehead, he pulled her closer to him in a hug. "Don't worry Françoise, we'll save her. I promise."
~
"The only cure for grief is action." –George Henry Lewes.
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Confusing? I'm sorry…you guys still don't know who this mysterious girl is. A hint…all you reviewers have the same thoughts, although different from mine. Anyway, like I mentioned in the first chapter, you wouldn't really understand the second major couple unless you've watched all the way to episode 49. Mwahahhah. Now you're getting a taste of suspense and drama (I see that Tora's clawing her way out more frequently now, eh?) And once again, thanks to all the readers, but especially you reviewers. I love you guys/gals so much! *sniff sniff* I'm think I'm going to cry!~
Serene Faerie: Thanks for both of your reviews. I'm glad you think this is funny. I wasn't sure if I could make this story humorous…I'm terrible at humor. And I tried not to embarrass 003 too much, because I like her. Hehe.
Yami Kanis: I'm so glad you like my story! You should write one too. ^.- And I like your quote. Quite fitting for this anime…and many other anime too, but that's not the point.
009is_a_hottie!: Complete agreement to your name now. ^^ Aw…I seriously suggest you go buy it, rent it, or borrow it. I must admit that it's not the best anime around considering it's so old, but it's very different from what we're used to, so I think it's worth it.
GoldAngel2: Yah, I liked the part where they were in bed together too. LOL. And unfortunately, I kind of skipped the episodes where they talked about Albert, so I don't know much about Hilda except that she is his dead lover…or was it wife? And that they escaped from somewhere...and that was how she died? Anywho, thanks for you info on Speed Racer. It'll come in handy. And I'm definitely going to go read your fanfics…and since you suggested the other two, I'll go read theirs too. That is, after I find out more info on the anime itself. Hehe. Thanks! *And I'm looking very forward to your update.
DragonBlond: I love fluff too! And I love Fluffy too! And I love Marshmallow-Mokona too! Hahahah. We're insanely crazy over fluffy! =D
cy-kamen: ^^ I look forward to hearing more story ideas from you. And I can't wait to see your story come out. We definitely need more Cyborg 009 fics.
Queen of Duels: You better crack that writer's block of yours soon! Or I'll do it for you…and it won't be very pleasant. ^.- Ah, so Hilda was his wife. Like I said before, I don't know much about her. I think she was blonde, right? Hm…if she was…then 004 must have something for blondes. If not, then 004 is just plain weird. Right, just ignore my rambling. Oh, and I'm looking forward to your next chapter of Prank Wars as well. Hehe.
John Steppenwolf: I'm glad you find my story funny. That means I'm not as boring as I thought. And that girl's name was Hilda…but I'm not saying that that is also this mysterious girl's name. I'm not saying it isn't either, though. ^^ And I know what girl you're talking about…the one with the kid…but I forgot his mother's name. Oops…haha. Anyways, one of your guesses is correct…and I won't tell you which one either.
Max's Lover: Hope you like this chapter too!
|-Steph-chan-|: Fluff definitely good. And cliffhanger definitely evil. Although I think I just continued that cliffhanger...considering the mystery girl is still, well, a mystery girl. ^^'
nefitia: Aw…I'm glad you love my story! I love it too! I'm actually trying to write less for this, as I'm supposed to be working on my other piece. Unfortunately, I'm just way too caught up in this 009/003 goodness. ^^'
leif: Aw, you're just saying that. This was not that good a humor! Your story is so much better…I wish I could write like that! It would be nice to brighten up 004's life. I mean, he's always so gloomy and distrusting. Honestly…he overdoes it in the later episodes. Tsk tsk tsk. But he gets over it. Hehe. And you think late 20's is old? Jet's not that young either though. Actually, I don't really know. I didn't even know her name was Kathy. Haha. I'm so hopeless. I'll have to go watch that episode again. And once again, one of your guesses is also correct….but I'm not telling which one.
Quallfantilldeath: Thanks for your support! You're too kind! And yes…although it is new, it's definitely growing. I hope you'll add to it too!
meiji: Er…it might be Albert's wife. And she might be alive…and if she is, then she might be a cyborg. ^^'
Orphan: Haha. You and I think alike. I was going to put something like that into the story, where 003 makes fun of them (especially 002). But I couldn't fit it in there. That's okay though, because you wrote it for me…even though it was in a review. No matter! ^^