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Disclaimer: Not mine.
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Author's Notes: Umm...I think I lost all my readers. I'm beginning to wonder if anyone's even reading this anymore. *cries* I feel so stupid. Please forgive me! I...I didn't deserve to yell at everyone like that. Onegai – forgive me, please!
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Review Responses:
Dishrag1313: Dishrag m'friend. I hope that at least you keep reading – please!!!! *sobs*
Ansem Revived: Ansem, I think I just fell in love with you. Do you have any idea how touched your review made me feel? I almost started crying. And about the complexity of the Galactic Leyline – I have to say, I completely understand. I am also in the 8th grade, and I remember for at least two years all I could think about while watching the show (at first in its original Japanese format) was how difficult it was to truly understand. And then I realized something at the beginning of this school-year – it wasn't complex at all. It was actually quite simple. It didn't need to be explained, because nothing, if you think about it, can be, nor does anything need to be. We need to focus on the simplicity of not just Outlaw Star, but, in my opinion, love, trust, life, death, and everything else that assures us that we are alive. Thank you very much for reading my story – you cannot truly understand how grateful I am. (One last note – I've tried many times to use basic html in my stories so that the italics will appear on the site, but it never works for some reason. Otherwise, I assure you, I would.)
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Anyway, I don't know what to write in these little spaces anymore because I don't have anything to say to anyone. So...enjoy if you're even reading this....*hides in a dark corner and feels sorry for herself* (That's kinda pathetic, huh?) Y'know what!? No more self-pity! Read it if you want, but I will no longer be influenced by the media – erm...reviewers! At least I have two extremely wonderful people reading my fic! *hugs Ansem and Dishrag* I love you both! This chapter contains a few horrible surprises and a huge betrayal!!! ENJOY!!!!!!!!
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(In the last chapter...)
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"Suzuka," he answered, his face once again melting into a bright smile. "What brings you down to this part of town?" he asked, leaning back in his chair.
She sat down silently on the couch beside him and settled the wooden sword beside her.
"I think that you will soon be having visitors."
His eyebrow rose.
"Oh really? Why?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"Are you still dealing in bio-android technology?"
---
"Are you feeling better, Melfina?" Retsuna asked, referring to the pain in her torso and heart.
Mel nodded, and they walked on.
Melfina would never tell her, but as they continued on their way, her chest was hurting more than ever.
(WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT? READ ON TO FIND OUT!)
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Prince Charming: Chapter 11
----------------------
Mihiro's eyes glanced back and forth, making sure no one had heard her.
"Why do you ask, Suzuka?" he answered, lids half-closed, giving her a suspicious look.
Suzuka leaned forward, lowering her voice. "Because if you are, then you might soon have an acquaintance of mine visiting."
Mihiro also leaned forward.
"And is this...acquaintance...a bio-android, Suzuka?"
The assassin laughed and straightened up.
"Yes, Mihiro. She is."
Hearing the word "she", his eyes brightened. "So this is a female acquaintance? May I ask her name?"
Suzuka's eyes clouded over. "Melfina, and she's taken, you lecher. She has a..."
Suzuka searched for the right word.
"...man."
Inside she was cringing. She was making poor Melfina sound like a slut, which she was the very opposite of.
Mihiro seemed to take it that way as well. "Ah," was his response, "I see."
"Well, actually-" she began, but then stopped. Better to keep his attentions averted, she realized, then have him trying to seduce her.
Mihiro shook off his disappointment and said, "And when will this Miss Melfina be arriving?"
Suzuka frowned. "I'm...not really sure."
---
Retsuna kept glancing back at Melfina. Was she really alright? Would it even...matter in a little while?
How could she be doing this? It was so wrong of her...but if she was going to save her husband, then...
---
Gene didn't know what to do.
It'd been five more hours – over nineteen altogether now. Almost a day. Where was Suzuka?
He wondered if he'd be able to wait for her to return with Melfina much longer. It was starting to drive him crazy, much as before.
He glanced up at the clock. Another two hours, he told himself. I'll give her another two hours.
----
Melfina felt horrible. But it was probably because all she could think about was Gene and how guilty she felt.
She knew now, after an extremely long internal debate, that she truly loved Gene. To her surprise, it hadn't come as a huge shock as she'd supposed it would. It came quite easily. She'd simply asked herself whether or not she loved him and her heart had answered without hesitation:
She did.
But now, because of that, she felt as though she was about to die. Her chest felt as though it was folding in on itself and she was struggling to stay standing.
Every once in a while she'd see Retsuna throw a glance at her, and she smiled reassuringly every time.
But her reassurance was empty.
----
Mihiro jumped as a knock sounded from the door. He threw Suzuka a sidelong glance, and nodded knowingly.
"Hello?" he asked, answering the door. "Do I know you?"
A tall, determined-looking woman stepped through the door, practically carrying a young girl along.
Suzuka rushed to help Retsuna support her. The older woman threw her a suspicious look, but Suzuka stared back until she glanced away.
Melfina was having a hard enough time breathing, Suzuka could tell, nonetheless walking. She picked her up off her feet and settled her down on the couch she'd occupied previously.
"What's wrong with the girl?" Mihiro asked, more curious than worried. Suzuka almost sighed. The man hardly ever thought of other people and when he did it was almost always out of scientific wonder. Well, she supposed she had to give him a break – he was a technological genius, after all.
"This is Melfina," Retsuna answered abruptly, crossing her arms and glaring at Mihiro. "Melfina is a bio-android that has been built with a limiter-"
"What do you mean...a limiter?" interrupted Mihiro.
The rest of the story seemed to poor out quickly and without pause.
Suzuka, already knowing the issue, stroked Melfina's hair and gazed down at her worriedly. She had grown to be friends with the girl – she was much like the sister she'd lost long ago when her family was murdered. If anything happened to her, she would be truly upset.
After it was all said and done, Mihiro sat back in his chair and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"I'm...not so sure if I can help her..."
Suzuka's heart fell and Melfina drew her breath in softly, a difficult feat for someone in her condition.
"...but I'll sure as hell try."
The assassin grinned and stood up to hug the man. He blushed. "Thank you so much, Mihiro." Even she was surprised at her sudden show of emotion. Suzuka was usually much the epitome of the calm, reserved woman.
Retsuna was about to open her mouth to speak when suddenly there was a light knock on the door.
Mihiro rushed to get it and swung open the door with a bright smile on his face, blocking whoever the visitor was with his tall frame.
"Hello, may I hel-"
Before he could finish his sentence, however, he stumbled backwards quite a bit. As he turned back around to face Suzuka and Retsuna, they could both see the reason for his unusual faltering greeting.
A knife protruded from his stomach, and crimson was beginning to gather around and seep through his gray shirt.
Suzuka felt momentary sadness and then anger.
A group of men rushed through the door, all holding either knives or guns and giving the three women nasty looks.
Suzuka immediately recognized them.
"Tao pirates," she said, grabbing her sword off the couch, where it had been resting beside Melfina.
One or two of them chuckled and the tallest one, who seemed to be the leader, stepped forward and shoved Retsuna out of the way.
"Good job, lady," he told her and Retsuna looked guiltily down and away.
Melfina's quiet voice penetrated through the noise, despite its softness.
"What do they mean, Retsuna?"
The older woman gave her a culpable look.
"I'm sorry, dear," she answered, looking a little sad. "They had my husband and they said that the only way he would be returned was if I turned you in." Her face, usually so kind, hardened with an emotion undeterminable by both Suzuka and Mel. "I'm sorry, Melfina, but my little girl needs a father."
Melfina's eyes widened as she slowly went into shock.
----
God, Retsuna! I never thought I'd have to make her evil! But I make this story up as I go along, my wonderful friends, so sometimes you gotta do whatcha gotta do.
....
....
But I must say, Retsuna is actually a deceitful bitch, huh?
Sorry, pardon my language. Anyway, review if you wish. The next chapter will be up within one or two weeks. JA NE!
Disclaimer: Not mine.
-----------------
Author's Notes: Umm...I think I lost all my readers. I'm beginning to wonder if anyone's even reading this anymore. *cries* I feel so stupid. Please forgive me! I...I didn't deserve to yell at everyone like that. Onegai – forgive me, please!
-----------------
Review Responses:
Dishrag1313: Dishrag m'friend. I hope that at least you keep reading – please!!!! *sobs*
Ansem Revived: Ansem, I think I just fell in love with you. Do you have any idea how touched your review made me feel? I almost started crying. And about the complexity of the Galactic Leyline – I have to say, I completely understand. I am also in the 8th grade, and I remember for at least two years all I could think about while watching the show (at first in its original Japanese format) was how difficult it was to truly understand. And then I realized something at the beginning of this school-year – it wasn't complex at all. It was actually quite simple. It didn't need to be explained, because nothing, if you think about it, can be, nor does anything need to be. We need to focus on the simplicity of not just Outlaw Star, but, in my opinion, love, trust, life, death, and everything else that assures us that we are alive. Thank you very much for reading my story – you cannot truly understand how grateful I am. (One last note – I've tried many times to use basic html in my stories so that the italics will appear on the site, but it never works for some reason. Otherwise, I assure you, I would.)
-----------------
Anyway, I don't know what to write in these little spaces anymore because I don't have anything to say to anyone. So...enjoy if you're even reading this....*hides in a dark corner and feels sorry for herself* (That's kinda pathetic, huh?) Y'know what!? No more self-pity! Read it if you want, but I will no longer be influenced by the media – erm...reviewers! At least I have two extremely wonderful people reading my fic! *hugs Ansem and Dishrag* I love you both! This chapter contains a few horrible surprises and a huge betrayal!!! ENJOY!!!!!!!!
-----------------
(In the last chapter...)
-----------------
"Suzuka," he answered, his face once again melting into a bright smile. "What brings you down to this part of town?" he asked, leaning back in his chair.
She sat down silently on the couch beside him and settled the wooden sword beside her.
"I think that you will soon be having visitors."
His eyebrow rose.
"Oh really? Why?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"Are you still dealing in bio-android technology?"
---
"Are you feeling better, Melfina?" Retsuna asked, referring to the pain in her torso and heart.
Mel nodded, and they walked on.
Melfina would never tell her, but as they continued on their way, her chest was hurting more than ever.
(WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT? READ ON TO FIND OUT!)
----------------------
Prince Charming: Chapter 11
----------------------
Mihiro's eyes glanced back and forth, making sure no one had heard her.
"Why do you ask, Suzuka?" he answered, lids half-closed, giving her a suspicious look.
Suzuka leaned forward, lowering her voice. "Because if you are, then you might soon have an acquaintance of mine visiting."
Mihiro also leaned forward.
"And is this...acquaintance...a bio-android, Suzuka?"
The assassin laughed and straightened up.
"Yes, Mihiro. She is."
Hearing the word "she", his eyes brightened. "So this is a female acquaintance? May I ask her name?"
Suzuka's eyes clouded over. "Melfina, and she's taken, you lecher. She has a..."
Suzuka searched for the right word.
"...man."
Inside she was cringing. She was making poor Melfina sound like a slut, which she was the very opposite of.
Mihiro seemed to take it that way as well. "Ah," was his response, "I see."
"Well, actually-" she began, but then stopped. Better to keep his attentions averted, she realized, then have him trying to seduce her.
Mihiro shook off his disappointment and said, "And when will this Miss Melfina be arriving?"
Suzuka frowned. "I'm...not really sure."
---
Retsuna kept glancing back at Melfina. Was she really alright? Would it even...matter in a little while?
How could she be doing this? It was so wrong of her...but if she was going to save her husband, then...
---
Gene didn't know what to do.
It'd been five more hours – over nineteen altogether now. Almost a day. Where was Suzuka?
He wondered if he'd be able to wait for her to return with Melfina much longer. It was starting to drive him crazy, much as before.
He glanced up at the clock. Another two hours, he told himself. I'll give her another two hours.
----
Melfina felt horrible. But it was probably because all she could think about was Gene and how guilty she felt.
She knew now, after an extremely long internal debate, that she truly loved Gene. To her surprise, it hadn't come as a huge shock as she'd supposed it would. It came quite easily. She'd simply asked herself whether or not she loved him and her heart had answered without hesitation:
She did.
But now, because of that, she felt as though she was about to die. Her chest felt as though it was folding in on itself and she was struggling to stay standing.
Every once in a while she'd see Retsuna throw a glance at her, and she smiled reassuringly every time.
But her reassurance was empty.
----
Mihiro jumped as a knock sounded from the door. He threw Suzuka a sidelong glance, and nodded knowingly.
"Hello?" he asked, answering the door. "Do I know you?"
A tall, determined-looking woman stepped through the door, practically carrying a young girl along.
Suzuka rushed to help Retsuna support her. The older woman threw her a suspicious look, but Suzuka stared back until she glanced away.
Melfina was having a hard enough time breathing, Suzuka could tell, nonetheless walking. She picked her up off her feet and settled her down on the couch she'd occupied previously.
"What's wrong with the girl?" Mihiro asked, more curious than worried. Suzuka almost sighed. The man hardly ever thought of other people and when he did it was almost always out of scientific wonder. Well, she supposed she had to give him a break – he was a technological genius, after all.
"This is Melfina," Retsuna answered abruptly, crossing her arms and glaring at Mihiro. "Melfina is a bio-android that has been built with a limiter-"
"What do you mean...a limiter?" interrupted Mihiro.
The rest of the story seemed to poor out quickly and without pause.
Suzuka, already knowing the issue, stroked Melfina's hair and gazed down at her worriedly. She had grown to be friends with the girl – she was much like the sister she'd lost long ago when her family was murdered. If anything happened to her, she would be truly upset.
After it was all said and done, Mihiro sat back in his chair and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"I'm...not so sure if I can help her..."
Suzuka's heart fell and Melfina drew her breath in softly, a difficult feat for someone in her condition.
"...but I'll sure as hell try."
The assassin grinned and stood up to hug the man. He blushed. "Thank you so much, Mihiro." Even she was surprised at her sudden show of emotion. Suzuka was usually much the epitome of the calm, reserved woman.
Retsuna was about to open her mouth to speak when suddenly there was a light knock on the door.
Mihiro rushed to get it and swung open the door with a bright smile on his face, blocking whoever the visitor was with his tall frame.
"Hello, may I hel-"
Before he could finish his sentence, however, he stumbled backwards quite a bit. As he turned back around to face Suzuka and Retsuna, they could both see the reason for his unusual faltering greeting.
A knife protruded from his stomach, and crimson was beginning to gather around and seep through his gray shirt.
Suzuka felt momentary sadness and then anger.
A group of men rushed through the door, all holding either knives or guns and giving the three women nasty looks.
Suzuka immediately recognized them.
"Tao pirates," she said, grabbing her sword off the couch, where it had been resting beside Melfina.
One or two of them chuckled and the tallest one, who seemed to be the leader, stepped forward and shoved Retsuna out of the way.
"Good job, lady," he told her and Retsuna looked guiltily down and away.
Melfina's quiet voice penetrated through the noise, despite its softness.
"What do they mean, Retsuna?"
The older woman gave her a culpable look.
"I'm sorry, dear," she answered, looking a little sad. "They had my husband and they said that the only way he would be returned was if I turned you in." Her face, usually so kind, hardened with an emotion undeterminable by both Suzuka and Mel. "I'm sorry, Melfina, but my little girl needs a father."
Melfina's eyes widened as she slowly went into shock.
----
God, Retsuna! I never thought I'd have to make her evil! But I make this story up as I go along, my wonderful friends, so sometimes you gotta do whatcha gotta do.
....
....
But I must say, Retsuna is actually a deceitful bitch, huh?
Sorry, pardon my language. Anyway, review if you wish. The next chapter will be up within one or two weeks. JA NE!