Once, more, thank you to all of my reviewers! On with the story!
Disclaimer: Yeah, I own it all. I'm also a dancing bear. Really, you mean I can't say that? Fine. I am a poor pathetic drunk. I don't own anything neat. Except a bottle of butterscotch schnapps. That's mine, no one can take that from me!
Three young adults gazed in rapt attention at the man standing before them. He was acting out a story that was much loved by the teller. The light gleamed off his bald head as his muscular frame moved animatedly to pantomime his tale. Suddenly he stopped and cocked his head, as if to listen for a forgotten sound.
There were two teenage boys and a girl in the room. Both boys appeared to be about seventeen. The girl appeared younger, about fifteen.
Demekin sat in the corner flipping a long lethal looking knife in his hand. Light glinted off the blade as it rotated in the air. His short spiky black hair and eyes looked like they had been colored with ink. Dressed in leather and studs, he looked pretty tough.
Ryukin occupied the floor in the middle of the room. There was a careless air about him. He had a straight back chair turned around and was sitting on it backwards. He leaned forward in the chair, silver eyes glinting in eagerness.
"Don't stop now Jet! Tell us how you finally caught the Teddy Bomber!" Ryukin looked like an eager puppy dog.
"Yeah, did Spike catch him? Or did you?" The cold voice came from Demekin's corner.
"Don't be retarded. Spike was too busy fighting with Andy to care about the bounty. Remember the first rule of bounty hunting? Stay focused." The tall light skinned beauty was telling off the two young men. Sarassa was the youngest of the group but the most mature. She only got involved in the boy's fights to point out where they were both wrong. Shaking out her medium length auburn hair she sighed. She was a looker and planned to use that to her advantage, just like Faye Valentine. Jet had told lots of stories about her; they were Sarassa's favorites.
"Wow, what crawled up your ass and died?"
"What a psycho bitch."
"Hey you guys, stop your bitching. As I was saying, Andy and Spike met the Teddy Bomber at this fountain. But they were too busy fighting with each other --"
A figure revealed its self from the shadows. Spike stood there, wearing black cargo khakis, black boots and his black tank top. He stood in the Bebop with one hand shoved in his pocket, weight on one leg, and a cigarette held in the other hand.
"Didn't know I was a living legend Jet. Or should I say Professor Black?"
All eyes turned. Demekin dropped the knife he was tossing. It narrowly missed his foot. Ryukin's jaw dropped three inches. Sarassa gasped. Stars filled her eyes. She was looking at one of her hero's.
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The kids were all in the kitchen trying to see who could assemble and disassemble their guns the fastest. So far Sarassa was in the lead, being quicker than the boys are by half.
"Running a school for bounty hunters? How the hell did that one start Jet?" The voice came from the yellow couch, which was occupied by a familiar lanky form.
"Had to pay the bills some how. You were gone, Faye left. It's not lucrative to hunt on my own. So I decided to open a school." It was a half-truth. Jet was getting paid to teach a school for bounty hunters. He didn't say that there was a specific bounty they were after, or who it was.
"How do you get students? Put brochures in high school guidance offices?" Sarcasm laced the words.
"Actually smart-ass, the ISSP sends me kids who are bright, talented and potentially reform-able. The ISSP thinks to use them for the justice system, not against it. They remind me a lot of you Spike." The sound of a beer cracking open preceded Spikes harsh laugh.
"Yeah, reformed. That's me Jet. I'm a tame pussycat now." Cynicism filled the air.
"So you survived. Does Faye know? She was pretty torn up when you didn't return." Jet looked at Spike's living breathing face. He still couldn't believe his old partner was alive. After seeing the mess Spike had caused at the Red Dragon Headquarters, Jet thought for sure he was dead. Or in jail. Or dead in jail.
"Was she now?" Then why did she turn from me last night? "She was the first to know. Do you talk to her anymore?" Spike stretched his arms over his head, hearing the yellow vinyl creak under him. Faye. He remembered that night they had gotten drunk and both fallen off the couch. Stop thinking of her! She rejected you. Get over it.
"You talked to her and she didn't shoot you? Damn Spike, you're better than I thought. No, I haven't talked to her since the night she left. Was shortly after you did." Jet returned to cooking. For once, he was making something other than bell peppers with out the beef. He was making bell peppers with shitake mushrooms. Spike made a mental note to leave before dinner. Busying himself with the wok, Jet waited for him to speak again.
"I'm back in the dragons, Jet. I'm the new leader. I need a favor from you." The words were small explosions in the air. Jet stilled at the stove. Did I just hear him right? He now leads the group that caused him so much pain and misery in the past? The very group ISSP wants in the worst way right now? Wait...he wants a favor from me? Things were gonna get interesting...
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Snip...snip...snick
"What the hell did Jet ever see in these things anyway? It's a freaking tree. He cut the branches. Big deal." The area around Faye was littered with tiny bonsai branches. She was feeling antsy. Jet had always claimed that hacking his trees relaxed him. It did the opposite for Faye. She was testier than when she had started.
Her tiny apartment was her prison. She was too weak to do much. She was lucky she had managed to feed herself today, even if it was only potato chips. There was nothing good on TV. She couldn't even go to work due to her injury. Damn him. Just waltzing in like he did. Disrupting her quiet life. Being alive.
"Oh my god, he's really alive." The whisper died out at the end. Faye crumpled to a sobbing heap on the floor. She was oblivious to the pain in her knees or that it had been a while since she had last vacuumed.
"Thank you god. Thank you. He's alive. He didn't die..." Incoherent phrases flowed as fast as the tears down her face. Her body rocked back and forth with emotion. This was not the sound of a soul being broken. This was the sound of a soul being reborn.
The sun set, casting a red glow over the weeping form on the floor.
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"So this is where she lives. Not the greatest, but not the worst either, Faye." Looking up at the tall apartment building Jet tried to figure out which window was hers. With a sigh he entered the building. Noticing the 'out of order' sign on the elevator, he prayed she was on the first three floors. Spike-o, you are so going to owe me for this. Faye hadn't even said good bye to him. Stepping to the first step, he prepared to see the woman he hadn't seen in two years. She was going to kill someone when she found out why he was really there.
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Knocking on the door broke Faye from her trance. Still sniffling she rose to her feet, just now noticing the stiffness in her knees and that her shoulder had bled through the bandages again. I must look a sight, tearstained, bloody and stiff.
"I'm c-coming. Hang on." hobbling to the door, Faye grabbed her gun from the kitchen drawer. She cocked it and opened the door a crack. A gasp broke from her lips. The Glock slipped from her grasp.
On the other side of the door stood Jet Black. He took in the woman before him. She was a mess, not to mention bleeding. Jet couldn't remember the last time he had seen Faye with mussed hair. Maybe Spike's fears aren't unfounded. Maybe she really does need someone to take care of her right now.
Not wanting to reveal any of these thoughts he raised his head and met her eyes. With a sheepish grin he spoke.
"Hey Faye, how ya doin'"
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Well, there it is. The next chapter. So do you guys all like the idea of Jet teaching a bounty hunter school? I kind of picture it like a School for the Gifted like on X-men, I've read a lot of fanfic, and am trying to be as original as possible. Hope it's working.
Oh yeah. There is something in common with the names of the students. Ryukin, Sarassa, and Demekin are belong to the same category. If anyone can guess, I'll give them a cyber cookie! Or maybe a part in the next chapter...We'll see what brainstorms the writing gods bestow upon me!
Ps. I had to add the black tank top again, so many people seemed to enjoy that one! ^.*
Birdychick: I have every intention of updating that story, but am in a slight writers block situation. Till it abides, I'll update this one. I think that's a great idea to add Andy. Thank you.