A/N: This chapter introduces the first of the flashbacks we wrote regarding the characters. It's marked with "flashback". Enjoy!

Thanks!
Kajouka


*********************


Rivals Again




Spike -

So the rumors are true, my dearest rival. You are alive and well. Things will be interesting - after all, I think the game is just beginning.

I expect that you have purposefully been avoiding any contact with the syndicate either for fear of your life or fear of your past. However you want to look at it.

I offer you this - your past debts to this syndicate will be erased and they see need no need to have your head for leaving.

Then again, I still hold that personal grudge of mine, and I might not be as forgiving as my syndicate is.

We shall have to see.

Until then, Spike,

Vicious




*********************


Vicious walked along the conference room table, letting a hand run along the wood. His conference room now. Everything here was his. It was a blissful feeling, but nothing could compete with the two feelings he wanted most of all - Julia's love and Spike's defeat. He set a few papers around the table, assignments for those who worked for him. Then he took a seat in the chair at the head of the table. Julia would hopefully be back soon as well.

Alaura approached the door, straightened out her shirt and knocked on the door. Opening it slowly she peeked her head in. "You called me." she said smiling.

Vicious nodded. "Your seat is over there."

She took the seat next to him, and smiled. Crossing her legs she pointed her body towards him and leaned back. "So what's on the agenda for today handsome?"

Jade casually strolled in well examining her nails. She had just gotten them done, and well, she wasn't happy. She was never happy with anyone. "Can't they ever do anything right?" She asked, mostly to herself, as she entered. Taking a seat at the table, she nodded to Vicious. These meetings always bored her.

Vicious raised an eyebrow at Alaura, but said nothing of her calling him handsome. He also watched Jade walk in. "I have some assignments for you." he replied, curtly. This was business for him.

Alaura grinned at his response and nodded as he spoke.

Jade was tempted to roll her eyes, but she didn't. At least that brat Churel wasn't around. She hated the meetings even more so when she was involved. She wanted to hear the new business. "By the way Vicious, I'm almost done reporting what I saw during that bounty.. I'll report it shortly."

Just then Rocko pushed the door open, "Yo boss!" he said as he sauntered into the room. "My, my, what lovely ladies we have today."

Alaura shot Rocko a look that screamed 'Drop Dead'. Loud-mouthed men bothered her to no end.

Vicious watched the scene, but remained expressionless. His emotions were easily cast aside when business was on the line. He turned to Jade. "I'm interested in hearing your report then." He leaned back in his chair a bit, his eyes glancing towards the door for Julia.

Churel softly played the dreary melody she had been playing the past several days as she made her way down the hallway. Noticing Rocko enter the conference room, she wondered what was going on.. Probably one of their usual business meetings. Removing her chin from the violin, she lowered it by her side and entered the conference room. With a little smirk, she sat next to Jade.

"Spike and his fellow members of the Bebop, did not participate in the bounty. All though, members of the ship the SeaDog did. I was able to get their names, Sam and Jin." She paused for a moment. "The bounty was located in the city of Estoria.. It was in one of the poorer areas, which I deeply loathed having to enter. The bounty went by the name of Mr. Gohl Digger and was worth 150,000 woolongs, for mysterious reasons. It was an exceptionally easy bounty for them. The bounty was spotted at a poker table, and when called on his cheat.. Made a lousy attempt to run away. I'll be happy to answer any specific questions.. Oh yes, I forgot.. When following the SeaDog back, I found it next to the Bebop....Also, one of my favorite heels was broken in the pursuit for that silly bounty." She resisted sneering. Jade disliked spying on people, unless it involved an assassination, and he knew it.

"I'll see that you are able to get another pair," Vicious replied, unconcerned with her shoes. "The SeaDog." He was thinking - this group could be useful. "Now, I do not want mention of Spike or the Bebop when Julia returns to the room." He turned to Alaura. "Our main target is the Blue Snake Syndicate. I want them out of Estoria. Their underground arms dealing is putting a damper on our sales. Alaura, you will hunt down the leader of their arms group and kill him. I want it to be known that the Red Dragon Syndicate performed the assassination." Vicious turned to Rocko, "You and Jade will dig into their drug smuggling operations. I am not yet aware of who runs that part of their business. Find out. In the end, it will all come down to killing their leader or forcing him out."

The door opened. Julia had changed her outfit for the second time today; she liked to keep Vicious on his toes. She was wearing a black mini-dress, sleeveless with a silver belt and her long black leather coat. She had newly applied red lipstick on and had folded her sunglasses and pushed them into her pocket. Closing the door quietly behind her, as to not interrupt the conversation, she sat in the corner out of the way and smiled a 'Hello' to her lover.

A slight change could be detected in Vicious's face when she entered the room. It was obvious to all who sat there, that he cared about Julia.

Rocko raised an eyebrow. He was unaware that Vicious could have such feelings - at least, after the whole incident with Spike had changed him. "Jade and I will get on that as soon as possible."

Alaura's expression didn't change but loathing ran through her mind. That was the Barbie that controlled Vicious, how dare she, after all she put him through. She wasn't stupid. She knew, everyone did. She had half a notion to move a crossed the room and slit her throat.

Churel pondered at what she would be doing, if anything... When her grandfather and his brothers were still in charge, she was a pampered little child.. Would it stay the same with Vicious-sama?

Alaura was playing with her gun inside her pocket, she had a bullet that was screaming Julia's name, but she wouldn't do it. History repeats itself and when Julia screws up she will be the one in his bed. "Is there a preference as to how we let them know it was our syndicate that does the damage?" she asked diplomatically.

Vicious nodded, "Leave our crest on the dead bodies," he replied. "We will. take out the heads of each of their operations. However, I want everyone alert. The Blue Snake will make an effort to retaliate. We must counter this effort without losing ground." He looked around. "Lin has secured the Casino as a base of operations for us. This knowledge is secret, but remember, it is there as a safe place for you."

"Drug smuggling operations.. Very well, I'm sure Rocko and I won't have any trouble handling that." Jade nodded.. She sorely disliked working with Rocko, but it was better than other members of the syndicate. She wasn't going to complain or give any hints she didn't like the situation though.. Her skills had been getting rusty, so she looked forward to it no matter what..

Rocko flashed her a grin, "I'm sure we'll be fine, babe."

Rolling her eyes, she sent Rocko a glare for the "babe", and then turned her attention elsewhere... anywhere else.

Alaura nodded as he answered her question and then fell silent as the group talked. She was cuter then Julia, she didn't understand, but wouldn't push it. She just listened.

Vicious glanced around the room one more time, "Does anyone have any questions? If not, I expect to be kept up to date."

Alaura rose to her feet and adjusted her gun. "I'll check in." she said as she pushed in her chair.

Churel got up, giggly silently at the situation and the tense waves.. "Vicious-sama, I'll see you later..." With that she left, heading off to find out more random information...

Realizing it was about time for her to make her leave, Jade stood up and headed for that.. "I'll begin working on it as soon as possible." She shot Rocko a quick look before leaving.

Rocko laughed, "Vicious, you have me paired up with quite the looker."

"That wasn't my intent, Rocko. Just do the job." Vicious stood himself. "Julia, why don't you meet me in my office."

Alaura had walked out the door just as Jade did, with no other comments made, and leaned against the wall outside the door. Julia had held the door open for Alaura, and left right behind her. As she passed her Alaura took her arm.

Vicious gave Julia a small look, which indicated she should follow him, as he made his own way towards the door. He stepped into the hallway, casting a small glance at Alaura, before heading for the elevator.

"You should watch out for yourself. A pretty girl like you shouldn't be around this place, you might be in danger." she let go of her arm and turned to walk away, but Julia wouldn't let her.

Julia grabbed Alaura's arm and pulled her back. "Likewise, though if that's a threat, I'd be more afraid if I were you." she responded and let go of her arm. Following Vicious to the elevator, not saying a word.

Vicious stepped into the elevator, unaware of their encounter. As the door closed behind him and Julia, he immediately pulled her into a long kiss.




*********************


Well, life just got a whole lot more complicated. I knew it couldn't last.

I got a letter from Vicious. He's challenging me - I know he is. And I know what he wants from me. I told him to stay away, but I know that's not going to happen. I'll have to confront him ... wherever he is.

Why won't that bastard just DIE? Each time I see him, I think I've taken him down, but he only comes back even stonger than before.

Ironically, I guess he could say the same for me.

That's another thing we had - have - in common. Part of the reason why we made such a good team.

And then there's Julia.

If he's still alive, then he might know where she is. And I'm willing to bet that he's found her, and ...

I'm not going to stop and wonder what she'd do if she saw him again. Julia was mine, mine from the start. But knowing him, he'll try going after her.

I don't want to know what they've done. Could have done.

Anyway ... I hear that Vicious is the head of Red Dragon now. He's probably been planning this for a long time - ever since I left. I can only guess how the vicious bastard did it ... but then, that's where he gets his name from, isn't it?

I'll have to be more careful, now that he's got all of Red Dragon's resources behind him. Especially since he just said that he'll be coming after me.

Maybe I should seek him out. I don't want anyone on the Bebop having to get involved with this. This is my problem. Mine alone. And I'll handle it alone, without any of Jet's comments or Faye's attitude or, God help me, Meifa's ... "feng-shui".

I'll find out where he is. I'll found out what he's been doing with Red Dragon ... and Julia. My old contacts should still be alive, and even if I'm not in the syndicate they'll listen to me for the same reasons as before - firepower.

Vicious has to be dealt with. He's a pest, and he'll be a thorn in my side as long as he's alive.

He will pay.

I ... have some thinking to do.

- Spike




*********************


Jin made his way through the SeaDog, he was still laughing at a joke Rua had made when they walked into the living room.

Cloria had gone back into her room when Kade left earlier. She had finally managed to dry the tears that keep threatening to fall. She couldn't let herself be so overwhelmed, and when she heard Jin's laughter in the living room, she forced herself to head down the hall smiling.

She stepped into the room, and the smile she had fought so hard to put on came tumbling off. Jin was standing there, laughing with another woman. Cloria could feel her heart pounding again. Was that the woman that Jin had told her of? Had he gone out, just after Cloria had told him how she felt, to find her again. Was this some cruel joke he wished to play on her. She couldn't move, or she would have run. Instead, she just stood there silently staring.

"Cloria," Jin called out when he saw her walk in. Immediately he sobered up at the look on her face. He had forgotten completely that she would be here, and that he had hurt her horribly. "This is Rua, I.... well, I kind of ran into her she use to live on the SeaDog and wanted to come see it again."

"Nice to meet you," Rua said smiling as she extended her hand out to Cloria. "Sorry, if I'm a nuisance but this place is filled with so many memories I couldn't help but come here."

The hand was not accepted, more because Cloria could not move than because she felt the needed to be rude. Although Jin had not expressly indicated that this was the girl he previous loved, she knew. Call it a woman's intuition. "How could you..." she whispered softly, pain entering her eyes.

Jin gave a quick glance to Rua, "Hey would you mind making me a drink? You know where the kitchen is."

Rua nodded, noticing the tension in the air she quickly retreated. Jin stepped towards Cloria, his eyes softening. "Listen, I didn't plan on running into her," Jin stated he didn't know why but he had to explain himself. "I just thought you'd be better if I wasn't around today, and I had to get out to think. I was walking around town and somehow I just ended up at this bar we use to live at. She was there, everyone was there, and we started to talk. I don't know why I brought her here, it just happened. Cloria, I didn't mean to hurt you...I just never knew. You can ask Rua, I'm oblivious to these things."

Cloria shook her head, "Don't give me your excuses, Jin. I could have accepted the fact that you didn't love me. I could have accepted that you had someone else in your heart. But for you to go out the very next day and bring her back here? It's like you're rubbing it in my face. You're either very stupid, or you're doing this to me to hurt me." Cloria turned her back to Jin. She couldn't cry again. Not now. She was angry, angrier than she could ever remember.

Jin walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her from behind, trapping her so she couldn't go anywhere. "We're not back together, Cloria," Jin said softly into her ear. "I didn't bring her here to hurt you, she asked to come here. I honestly don't know what's going to happen anymore. We've both lived apart for three years now, we're different people now. Honestly, I don't think I have any feelings for her anymore, Clory."

Cloria tried to push away. "I don't care, Jin." Her voice was strained, as though it took effort to talk. "I can't be here. I can't listen to you laugh with her. I can't stand it. Please, just let me go." She could feel herself breaking, and when he wrapped his arms around her, she wanted nothing more to stay. But it didn't mean anything to him, and she would only continue to hold on to those feelings of which she shouldn't. And she knew it.

Jin just held her tighter the more she struggled. "I'm not going to let you go until I know that you are okay," Jin said. He knew he was hurting her more and the thought was twisting what was left of his heart. "You want to know why I turned you down last night? Its not because I didn't have feelings for you...its because I know I wouldn't be able to be the prince you need. You deserve better than a pig-headed fool like me."

It was the last thing Cloria could take. Tears burst from her eyes again. "You'll never really understand," she said softly. She gave up struggling and leaned back into his chest. "Jin." It was all she could say. Cloria buried her face in her hands and fought to control herself. She hated being this way in front of him. She felt weak and foolish. "I am the only fool here..."

"No, you're not a fool you just fell for my charm," Jin said trying to get her to smile but probably not doing a very good job. He picked her up in his arms and carried her towards her room. "And I probably don't understand, I won't even pretend to. But I don't want you to be unhappy, I miss my princess who always smiled."

Cloria sniffled. "I don't expect she'll be smiling much anymore." It was a short answer, but she wasn't in the mood for his jokes. He used to always make her laugh and smile, and now she felt like she'd never laugh again.

Jin froze, for some reason her words felt like ice on his heart. He nodded slowly and put her back on her feet in front of the door to her room. "I've hurt you Cloria," he started not looking in her eyes. "And there's nothing I can do to fix that it seems. But please, for yourself, and for the other guys on this ship you have to keep smiling."

"Jin?" Rua asked coming around the corner with three shots of whiskey in her hand. She took one look at the girl and one look at Jin and knew what was going on. "Jin, your being stupid again aren't you? Take this."

She shoved a glass of whiskey in his hand and then another into Cloria's. "You can go bugger off," Rua said kicking Jin hard in the stomach. "We're going to have a little girl's talk."

Cloria shook her head. "I'm sorry. I'm tired. I'm not in the mood to talk and I don't think I could drink tonight if I wanted to." She set the shot down on the hallway table. "It was a pleasure to meet you." She gave Jin a cold stare, and then turned and headed for her room. Once there, she closed the door, and burst into tears again. She couldn't handle that woman being here.

Rua watched the girl with wide eyes as she calmly excused herself and slammed the door on Rua. "Well, I can see you're still a bumbling idiot," she said picking up the shot and thrusting it at Jin. "You're going to need that extra one, we're going to have a long chat."

"I was afraid of that," Jin said following after Rua as she led the way out to the deck. She had always been a bit dominating, but more than that she was good at reading other people's feelings. "You aren't surprised."

"I can't say I'm not a little hurt," Rua said looking back at him when they reached the deck. The wind picked up her hair and he could see the glimmer of tears in her eyes. "Some small part of me always thought that you'd come back to me. I guess I'm still in love with you."

"Do you think it would ever work between us again," Jin asked. He was confused; these two women had run him about in circles all day. He took first one shot and then the other, setting both glasses down on the deck.

Rua sat her own glass aside and sautered up to Jin. Rising up onto her toes she pulled his head down into a long languorous kiss. When they finally pulled away again Rua was smiling gently at him.

"No," Rua said simply with a look of sadness in her eyes. "Your eyes don't sparkle the way they use to when you look at me. You've moved on Jin, and you don't even know it."

Jin reached up and wiped away a single tear from Rua's cheek. "All I've managed to do today is hurt people that I care about," Jin said exasperated with himself. "Once upon a time, you were my princess."

"Yah, but once upon a time doesn't count for much now," Rua said managing a smile. "I'm going to stay here tonight Jin," Rua said cheerfully, all hint of tears removed from her face. "Tomorrow, I'm going to have that girl's talk whether she wants to talk to me or not."

"Thank you, Rua."




*********************


FLASHBACK

Vicious ran down the alleyway. Spike was right behind him. The pair had been involved in busting up a drug smuggling scheme of a rival syndicate, something they did best, and as usual, the plot ended in a shootout. Vicious smirked to himself as they turned the corner and rounded into another backstreet. It was typical with him and Spike.

He watched his best friend in front of him, and felt a small rush of feeling. They were the best team - two beasts that lived for the blood of others. Two identical beasts who could do each other no harm.

Gunfire could be heard behind them and Vicious turned around quickly to fire his guns behind him as they ran. "Spike, how does it look ahead?"

Spike ducked as a line of semiautomatic gunfire holed the brick wall above him, then stood and fired off two well-aimed shots. His attempt was rewarding with a gratifying cry of pain coming from an upper-story window of the building across the street.

"Their cover's down," Spike replied quickly, focusing on the street ahead of him. No matter what happened, he knew that he could trust Vicious to guard his back. "There's three more guys I can see waiting for us on the street - two north and one south. You take north, I'll take south and cover. From there we should be able to get to the next alleyway."

Provided, of course, that the alleyway was empty ... something didn't seem right. "Vicious, that's only four of them," Spike said with a frown. "A minute ago there were five. Did you see where the last guy went?"

Vicious was quickly recounting Spike's numbers, trying to get a fix on the last guy. It was unusual for them to lose track, and as his eyes scanned the scene behind them, something caught his eye. In a lightening move, he raised his gun in the air and shot two shots at the rooftop above them. A second later a body fell from the sky landing in front of him. "There's only four now," Vicious replied, motioning for the street. "Meet you there." He gave Spike one last look before dashing towards the north side of the street. He trusted Spike's word that he would be there to cover. It had always been that way.

Spike darted out into the street, rolling across the pavement as the inevitable shots of the sentry flew past him. He'd been counting his own shots and if he was right, the Jericho only had one bullet left before he had to reload. On one knee and halfway to his feet, Spike paused. He had to make this last one count.

A loud bang and an instant's recoil later, Spike's quarry dropped. Quickly, he discarded the empty magazine and reloaded his gun with a full one. Sixteen 9mm bullets.

Looking up, Spike spotted a man on the far rooftop with a rifle in his hands, taking aim on the still-occupied Vicious. No one messed with his partner. The target was over a hundred feet away and the sun was shining in his eyes, but Spike fired off a shot anyway. The man with the rifle went down - whether he was hit or simply scrambling for cover, he couldn't tell.

The sound of far-off footsteps alerted Spike to the oncoming reinforcements. Gesturing broadly with his gun to the next alleyway, he shouted, "Vicious! Let's get out of here!"

Vicious crossed the north side of the street as Spike came out on the South side. His aim was true, and he easily knocked down one of the two men Spike had spotted on that side. He rolled to his side as he saw Spike take aim above his head - presumably at a target that was aiming for himself. Vicious could read Spike's moments that well, another reason why they worked so well together.

Spike voice rang out as he called out to Vicious. Vicious quickly got back to his feet and followed behind Spike, reloading his own gun as they ran. "Spike, this way," Vicious said, motioning to yet another alley. If he remembered right, their car was parked just on the other side. With his driving skills and Spike's shooting, they could easily make a getaway.

The damage they had already inflicted on their rivals would not be forgotten easily. They had accomplished much in their raid, but Vicious knew the syndicate expected that of them. They were considered to be full of potential, possible leaders.

Without sparing a second glance, Spike followed after Vicious. It was amazing how much they thought alike, he noted. Once they reached the car, they could hightail it out of there and leave the swathe of carnage behind them. Except -

A rapid pattern of footsteps on asphalt heralded the arrival of the rival syndicate's reinforcements. Spike spun around, leaving Vicious to guard his back, and fired off three shots that neatly downed the first three men to round the corner. The third shot hadn't been fatal, so he used a fourth to dispatch the unfortunate man. Keeping his focus locked on the mouth of the alleyway, he called, "Are there more ahead of us?"

Vicious was about to tell Spike No, when another group of men rounded the corner, "Unfortunately, yes," Vicious replied, firing off a few shots from his reloaded gun. The men dove to the side to avoid the fire as the one in front went down. Vicious took a few steps back. He could feel Spike behind him, in a familiar and conforting position. After firing another shot, he glanced over his shoulder, a soft smirk on his face. No one could take them down.

Spike glanced back and met Vicious' eyes with an exhilarated and ruthless smile. For a brief instant, they were more than just a team. They were a single cohesive unit that was invincible. As long as they were together, they could not possibly fall.

Attention snapped back to the fight, Spike planted two bullets in the next man to round the corner - the first in his stomach, and the second in his forehead. The man collapsed, but was soon followed by three more with automatics.

"Vicious, DOWN!" Spike shouted as he dropped to the ground. Bullets sprayed over his head as he fired at their new assailants. A line of fire traced over his scalp to mark where a bullet had grazed his head, and then the last man was down - with, apparently, no more coming. "All clear on your end? Let's get to the car!"

Vicious dove almost before he heard Spike's voice. It was if though Spike's thoughts had reached Vicious's mind long before his words did. Upon hitting the floor, he fired his last shots into the goons who thought they'd take advantage of their buddies gunfire, only to find themselves dead on the floor.

"That's the last of them," Vicious said, grabbing Spike and pulling him up. They rushed to the car, Vicious taking the driver's seat while Spike situated himself in the passenger. Vicious gunned the engined and peeled out, just as another group of goons turned the corner. Vicious pulled the hand brake, forcing the car into a 180. "We might as well kill them all," he laughed, heading straight for the men at top speed..

The ones he didn't run over, Spike would kill in a heartbeat. Vicious popped on the radio, as he accelerated the car, grinning as a song about lost love came on the radio.

Spike leaned out the window, pausing a moment to aim carefully before putting a single bullet through the forehead of the oncoming car's driver. That said and done, he dropped back into the car and braced himself for the impact. He had no doubt in his mind that with Vicious at the wheel, the remaining goons in the driverless car would be totaled while the two partners cruised to safety.

Vicious swerved his own car at the last second, hitting the front of the oncoming car with the back of his. Using the momentum of the swing, he forced the other car into the wall of the alley, before speeding off. Turning around, he shot one bullet into the gas tank, and laughed as the entire car exploded. "I think we've done enough damage for today, and I could sure use a drink."

Spike grinned. "I like the way you think, partner," he said, not even sparing a single glance back at the fireball they left in their wake. He settled comfortably into the seat of the car and tucked away his Jericho. "It's been a good day."




*********************


Kade wiped his hands as he finished cleaning up the living room of the SeaDog. Although he normally cared little for impressing people, he didn't want Mei to think he and his friends were total pigs. He had already set a few sheets in the bedroom he anticipated she would use. Now all he had to do was wait. He only hoped that Jin would be ok with another shipmate.

Jin walked into the room and gave a curious look to Kade. "What did you do wrong?" Jin asked instantly suspicious.

Kade grinned, "I didn't do anything wrong, Jin. I just have company coming... company that might need a place to stay."

"Ah," Jin said with complete understanding. "So are you trying to butter me up or impress them?"

Between the address and actually asking someone about the ship, Mei looked up at the Sea Dog with uncertainty. This was it?

"Maybe a little of both," Kade replied.

With a resigned sigh, she used the ramp to board the ship and pulled open the door that led into the actual vessel. "Uh... Hello?" Mei called.

Kade flashed Jin another smile, "Looks like it's too late to object."

Jin had heard the voice at the door, but more distinctly he saw the glint in Kade's eyes. "Its a girl!" Jin said accusingly. "Why must life on this blasted rust bucket be so complicated!?!"

"Of course it's a girl," Kade replied, as he headed for the entrance. "Feel free to come down," he called out as he reached the stairs.

Mei heard the voices and silently moved onward, resisting the urge to pull out one of her concealed weapons. No need to make them wary... But the somewhat familiar voice invited her in and she strode into the common area, pausing at the top of the stairs and looking down at Kade and Jin silently.

"Hey Mei!" Kade replied. "Please, come in. We don't bite. At least, not outside of the bedroom," Kade playfully poked Jin in the ribs, although in the back of his mind, he remembered that they still needed to talk.

"This place is becoming a circus!" Jin complained half-heartedly as he swiped at Kade's poking hand. He hadn't slept at all the night before. All the events of the day kept playing over and over in his mind.

Mei moved down the stairs, watching Jin and Kade. Circus would probably be a fitting description. What the Hell had she gotten herself into?

Kade smiled, as Mei got closer, "I'm glad you made it. We could really use a ship mechanic." He glanced at Jin, hoping the comment would show him that Mei would be more than helpful.

Sam entered the room minus his trousers while calling out "Jin! I think the washing machine is broken!"

"Dammit!" Jin cursed dropping his head into his hands. "Just show me the dancing bears! We can put a trapeze in the engine room, stuff a bunch of clowns in the zips, and we can start charging admission!"

"Jin... I thought I told you to stop taking all those headache pills... now you're seeing things..." Sam said admonishingly while shaking his head. He took a seat on a table.

Mei looked at Sam, unfazed by the lack of clothing. "When you get up in the morning, do you often forget your pants?" she asked with bland curiosity. At the realization that the thought might not keep her profile, uh, low... Mei flashed a grin. "I can take a look at the washer for you, if you'd like."

"Alright if she's a mechanic she can fix the washer," Jin said giving in. "Maybe she can counteract Sam's destructive nature."

Kade gave Jin another I-told-you-so look. "I can show you where it is later. The first thing you do here shouldn't be fixing something."

"Alright! But tell that damndable machine that if he doesn't stop stealing my clothes and continues to not pull his weight on this ship I will throw him out myself!" Sam said while shaking his fist angrily

Mei kept the grin plastered on her face though she was unable to force out a laugh. Shit. Were they all this crazy? Her dark gaze fell to Kade. "So where should I put my stuff?"

"I set up a room for you," Kade said, rolling his eyes at Sam. He led her down the hall, and showed her the room next to his. "I hope this one is alright."

"So Ms. what is your name?" Sam asked from his seat on the table. "Hopefully you have one because Ms. is rather formal."

Mei turned to see Sam following. "Mei Makani," she said simply, tucking her hair back behind her ear before offering a smile and a hand in greeting. //Just play nice.// she thought to herself. It was becoming a mantra!

Sam's left eye twitched a little "Mei, you don't have to play nice, we're pretty honest on this ship," he said casually.

Kade opened the door to the room that Mei would use, "It's not as nice as the one I have, which you may ... stop in anytime, but I think it will do."

Mei was rather flabbergasted at Sam's comment and only barely managed to bite back her original comment--which was cut off by Kade's not-so-subtle invitation anyway. "Oh anything will do, really," she assured Kade and gave a wink.

"Kade!" Jin called out from the living room. He needed to have a talk...a big long talk.

Kade sighed, "I'll be right back. You two just sit tight." Kade didn't think that was the best idea, but he wandered back into the living room anyway.

"Kade, please keep your hanky-panky away from Cloria for the time being," Jin stated when he saw his friend enter the room. "I'm sure she realizes you're a womanizer, but up till now you've kept it off the ship. So just watch what you're doing okay?"

"Jin, what the hell are you talking about? I'm not the one who's actions Cloria is watching," Kade replied.

"Yah, I learned that a little too late," Jin said angrily. "But I don't think bringing another woman on to this ship is going to help matters."

"No your friend doesn't have to leave...just be delicate about it," Jin said he stopped dead in his complaint when what Kade said finally triggered in his mind. "Shit! I wouldn't have left if I'd known that."

"Um, actually that's the other thing I had to tell you about," Jin said but before he could finish he saw Rua walk into the room. "Kade this is my other problem, Rua... and this is the thorn in my side."

Kade's eyes widened. "You're yelling at me about Mei and YOU'VE brought a girl on the ship?"

"I didn't bring her here," Jin replied defensively. "She followed me!"

"Hah!" Rua called out crossing the room to smack Jin in the back of the head. "That girl of yours, she's a little feisty, and I don't think she likes eggs."

Kade frowned. He didn't like the looks of this at all. "Look, this is a conversation we need to have elsewhere Jin." Like over a glass of whiskey because I will need it.

"Hell, no," she said appalled at the thought. "But she can be mean when she's angry, she might just put up a good fight for you."

Kade shook his head. He turned and glanced down the hall, "You two still alive down there?"

Mei listened to what was going on, a frown knitting her brow. She glanced at Sam and smirked. "So where do you fit into the love triangle?"

"My advice is to avoid this ships love affairs, it only seems to end in half drunk bottle's of wine. With one person doing the drinking." Sam continued, trying to keep his voice down.

"Sam!" Jin called out. "Leave the poor girl alone. You'll scare her off and then Kade will cry."

Kade sighed. This was a mess. Everyone on this ship was going to hell in a hand basket. "Maybe we all need some whiskey...."

"I second that!" Jin said for once happy with something Kade said. "Let's get smashed!"

"How about we don't get smashed and do things we regret?" Sam asked hopefully. Sometimes it fell to him to be the sane one on the ship, that was always a bad sign.

Kade glanced at Jin, "Sometimes I think you've lost your mind, and Sam has gained one." Although I could really use a drink, he thought.

"If regretful things are done, couldn't they be forgotten in a drunken stupor?" Mei asked thoughtfully.

Kade flashed her a smile, "I could think of a few things I wouldn't want to forget." Amazing how fast he could switch from protective friend to dashing devonair.

"Oh? And what might those be?" Mei asked innocently.

"Those mostly consist of things that Mei will spend most of her life trying to forget...." Sam commented flatly.

Jin couldn't help it, he was laughing uncontrollably. For once it wasn't Jin getting slaughtered in Sam's jokes.

Kade blushed, "Like you'd know," he muttered under his breath. Maybe bring Mei here was a bad idea.

"I'd hope he wouldn't know... I was under the assumption that you were into women, Kade," she said, surprised, fighting back her laughter.

"Oh! She can stay!" Jin called out between racking fits of laughter. "You just earned your place with that comment!"

"I do know, I remember a certain New Years incident where you mistook me for a blonde you saw earlier. I showered for hours after that..." Sam said darkly.

Kade was dumb struck. Usually he was the suave one, making the cracks at everyone else's expense. He just shook his head. Anything else he said would only make it worse.

"I have never seen you so red before," Jin said slapping Kade on the back playfully. "Everything if right with the world again!"

"Everything is not right, Jin," Kade reminded him softly. He wouldn't bring it up again, but with Rua standing there, he wanted to make his position known.

"He's right you dolt," Rua said kicking Jin in the ass hard enough to topple him to the floor. "You still have a lot of messes to clean up!"

"Yah," Jin said sobering up as he stood up again rubbing his buttocks. "But she won't even look at me right now."

"Who's fault is that," Kade muttered. He turned to Mei, "Sorry about this mess..."

"His, utterly and completely," Rua said without mercy. "Ooh, new people. I'm Rua."

Sam saw Rua; he saw her eyes and looked into them. "I sense great evil," he muttered to himself.

"Hi, Rua," Mei said, nodding. "I'm Mei Makani." At the Evil comment, she looked at Sam, startled and then raised a brow. "Were you dropped on your head as a child?"

"Obviously your parents didn't do it enough to you. Your still here." Sam retorted.

"Sucks, huh," came the response just as easily.

"Whoa," Kade said, waving his hands. "Alright, alright. We have to live together people..." Oh what did he care, "So just shut the fuck up."

"The SeaDog is definitely a livelier place these days," Rua said laughing.