Thanks to both of you for continuing to read! As a note, my favorite plotline will be starting soon. It's probably my favorite part of the story!
Thanks!
Kajouka
--------------------
Stay With Me...
Flashback
Spike and Vicious, properly bandaged, stood in front of the heavy oaken door of Mao Yenrai's office. Spike passed Vicious a glance. "Here goes, partner. I'll see you in the afterlife." He raised his hand, and knocked on the door ...
A voice resounded from within. "Enter," Yenrai said ominously.
Taking a deep breath, Spike opened the double door and walked in slowly, trying to hide the fact that he was limping. He cleared his throat. "Sir," he began, "the mission -"
Yenrai cut him off in mid-sentence. "-Was a complete failure," he snapped. "You two managed to do absolutely everything wrong that could be done wrong. On your very first mission, no less. I thought I could entrust you with something relatively simple - information gathering, nothing more. You wouldn't have to face a single opponent! But not only to you managed to get yourself spotted - and shot - you've left the entire building on full alert! And you failed to get the information!"
The older man stood up out of his leather swivel chair and placed both hands flat on his desk. "I have never witnessed such a resounding failure in my entire time as a member of Red Dragon clan! I have no idea why I invited you two to join in the first place. You will train and you will study, and maybe if you can improve your dismal skills I might consider sending you out again. Until then ... dismissed!"
Vicious opened his mouth to speak then thought better of it. Yenrai hadn't said anything that wasn't true. He turned to leave, silently, passing a quick glance to Spike - one that said they'd better not make the same mistake twice. They were luckily Yenrai was even giving them a second chance.
Vicious stepped back outside the office, turning around and glancing back at Yenrai one more time, just to make sure there wasn't anything else.
Yenrai treated Vicious to a full-blown glare. Spike looped an arm around his partner's shoulders and dragged him from the office, careful to close the door silently behind him. He sagged. "You know what we need?" he suggested, every inch of his body aching. "We need to get drunk. We need to get badly drunk."
"I could sure use some whiskey, Spike," Vicious replied, pressing the button on the elevator. "Did you see that look? If they could kill, we'd both be dead men." His eyes turned back to the now-closed doors. This was not the way to make an impression in the syndicate.
"Spike," Vicious said slowly, "We need to make sure that doesn't happen again. Besides the fact that our bodies aren't used to the abuse, he didn't look very happy."
"Oh, you noticed?" Spike stepped into the elevator and leaned back against the wall. "I have the feeling we'll be getting used to it." He let himself slide down, taking his weight off his feet, but winced when his bandaged butt hit the floor. Rolling over, he asked, "Any ideas how to get back on his good side?"
Vicious leaned against the wall of the elevator for support. As Spike hit the ground, he couldn't help but laugh. "I'm sorry. I can't believe you got shot in the ass." He sighed. "Maybe when we're healed we should go back and do it right. Of course, if we screw it up twice, we're as good as dead."
"Dead is right," Spike said desolately. He paused to reconsider. "Or at least shot in the ass twice. Ow." With a ding, the elevator came to a stop and the doors smoothly slid aside.
With much effort, Spike got back to his feet. They'd stopped on the floor where their rooms were. "Too tired to go out for drinks, but I've got a bottle in my room," he said. "I'm gonna crash. How bout you?"
"I think a few drinks will put me right to sleep," Vicious said, effectively inviting himself over. "Something to dull the pain of bullet wounds." He stumbled down the hall, and paused at Spike's door, which was nearly across the hall from his.
Spike unlocked the door and stepped inside, painfully and laboriously hobbling over to the small liquor cabinet he'd make shifted in the corner of his room. He opened it up and removed a bottle of whiskey and a pair of shot glasses. Pouring three fingers of whiskey into each, he closed the cabinet and brought a glass over to Vicious, taking the bottle with him as well. "If you're gonna sleep, crash on the couch," he said, gesturing to the indicated piece of furniture. "Bed's mine."
"When I'm going to sleep, I'll hobble my ass across the hall to my own bed," Vicious replied taking the glass. He smirked, "How about a toast. To never messing up that badly again." He raised his shot glass, and winced as his wound protested.
"Definitely." Spike raised his own shot glass, then downed the contents. Unable to stand any longer, he sprawled out on his bed, lying facedown, head propped up on his good arm. Sitting down normally was something he wouldn't be able to do for a while yet.
He refilled his shot glass and critically examined its amber contents. "Hey, Vicious," he asked, "do you think that maybe the chicks will be impressed by battle scars? Because if not, then the only thing we'll get out of this is one hell of a hangover."
"You'll have a hard time picking up chicks with that moppy green hair, Spike," Vicious joked, relaxing in an armchair as he took his shot. He set the glass down and leaned back. "I think in the end, we'll get more out of this than we bargained for."
Spike looked up. "Moppy green hair?!" he retorted. "Maybe you'd better go look in the mirror at the head of silver you've got, granddad. Unless the ladies are attracted to men over the age of sixty, I think that counts as a turn-off."
He started to roll over, then thought better of it. Putting any extra weight on his wound was a very bad idea. "What do you mean, more than we bargained for?"
Vicious smirked, "You'd be surprised how attractive silver is, Spike." He took the bottle of whiskey and refilled his glass. "The syndicate. We're either going to die or move to the top." His eyes focused on Spike. "I for one, would prefer the latter." His eyes focused into the distance. "What did you expect when you walked through that door?"
"To get shredded," Spike admitted. He sipped gingerly from his glass. "You're right, though. We're not gonna be bottom-crawling trainees for long. In a place like this, you get promoted when the guy above you gets himself killed or ceases to be useful. So what're we gonna do - kill 'em or beat 'em?"
Downing the rest of his glass, he added, "Silver, my ass! Soon as we can go out again, I'll show you the womanizing power of green." He grinned sadly. "Although I think that a bodyful of old bruises will definitely not be attractive."
"I'd love to see that," Vicious said, matching Spike's expression. It was amazing how similar they were - almost too similar. "I think it would be best if we found ourselves moving up and not down." He shot down the whiskey he had just poured.
He set down the glass. "We're partners now, for better or for worse. This is something we need to do together."
Spike looked up from his drink. "What, womanize?"
Vicious laughed, "Well, besides that." After all, he and Spike together would have no problems picking up woman. As much as he teased his green-haired friend, he recognized that Spike had as much sex appeal as he did.
"I was referring to our place in this syndicate. Bottom feeding is not for me. And I know it's not for you either."
"Totally," Spike agreed, setting his glass down on the floor and crossing his arms. He hung off the edge of the bed. "For starters, might mean we get shot at less."
"Definitely high on my priority list," Vicious replied, setting his own glass on the table next to him. "We need to prove ourselves, quick." His mind was already thinking. How would they go about doing that?
"Lesse. Start by beating down sensei-san's ass?" Spike suggested. "I mean, if we can't beat our trainer, we won't get anywhere. It's someplace to start."
Slowly, he hauled himself to his feet and stood. For a moment he swayed, but he regained his balance. With weak, trembling arms he raised his fists in the air. "C'mon, bring it, punk," he said. "Let's spar."
"Oh?" Vicious said, pushing off the arm chair to aid himself as he stood. "Alright." This was utterly stupid. Both of them were hurt, and yet, a man's pride refused to back down. Vicious put his hands up. "Your move."
Spike grinned. No matter what street fighting he'd learned and what little their trainer had taught them of the martial art known as Jeet Kune Do, there was no way he could do this. He started out with a slow, low punch in Vicious' direction - the best he could manage, under the circumstances - but collapsed halfway through the swing.
"You know what?" he said faintly from the floor. "We really, really suck."
Vicious looked down at Spike, half grateful that all he had to do was stand there. "Yeah, Spike, we do." He grinned. No matter what happened, at least they were in this together.
--------------------
Jasi walked through the living room of the ship, dressed in a tank top and boxers. She had just gotten up, and after a few minutes in the bathroom, had already taken to roaming the ship. In her right hand, she carried a teen magazine, which was currently open to an article about how to be a better lover, while her right held a lollypop that she was constantly twirling in her mouth.
After the night full of countless dreams of what was and what could be, Mela woke to the footsteps down the hall. Reluctantly she sat up in the bed and removed the covers. Her feet touched the cold ground and she let out a chilling gasp. "That's one hell of a wake up," She mumbled and made her way to the door. She touched the knob and opened it, not knowing what to expect. As she peeked through the door to see down the hall, she stepped out looking around the corridor. It must've been Jasi this early. James was never one to wake early... with that knowledge she made her way down the hall bravely.
Jasi slowly lowered the magazine. Had she heard something. Instinctively, she moved backward slowly, until she reached the table where her gun was laying. Silently, she slipped a hand around the gun, and slid it off the table.
Her body still wasn't aware of everything. Wearily, Mela trudged along down. "Umm.. Hello? Anyone awake?" Mela whispered in case they were still asleep, "Hello?"
The gun was up in a flash. "Who the hell are you?" Jasi demanded. She was too aware of how easy it was to fool people on a ship to steal their money - she did it all the time.
Mela slammed her arms on the walls around here for something to keep her standing. "I'm James' old friend." Mela took a breath quickly. "Mela, I swear.." Her eyes widened.
Jasi shook the gun. "Get over there," she ordered. James didn't tell her about any old friend. "I'm not falling for that line."
"Don't you dare hold that gun to me; I will go no where." Her glare was set on her. She looked down the hall, where James was. "James!" Mela yelped. "Your roommate's gone nuts!"
"Who the fuck do you think you are!" Jasi cried out. A split second later she fired the gun, although she purposely missed. "I'm not messing around here."
What the fuck, James thought as he was awakened by the sound of a bullet being fired. That was one thing that would always wake him up. Quickly hopping out of bed, he wore only his boxers. Looking around, his eyes still half closed, he grabbed the colt. Not bothering to get anything else, he headed for the living room. Not seeing any signs of danger, he wondered what had just happened. Entering the living room, James blinked. "Jasi.. Mela..." It was too early for him to be explaining the situation. Contemplating just going back to bed, he had a feeling that he'd be the one with a bullet in his ass if he did.
Mela peered at James in Boxers, "James tell her about me! She's going to kill me!" Even though there were worse situations she was in, she was prepared. And this time, out of all the ones before, she was caught with no where to run.
"Uh.. Mela is a friend, she asked to join us, I said yes. Okay," James spoke quickly, mumbling and half pronouncing the words when he spoke. He didn't think Jasi would be happy, but more he wanted to get back to bed.
Jasi's eyes shifted to James. "Friend?" she said softly. She lowered the gun, but kept her hands tensed and ready to move. "James, why didn't tell me?"
With an overdramatic sigh, Mela held her chest as if her heart were going to fly out. "Quite a spunky female you have here, James." Mela raised an eyebrow and stood upright.
He was quickly becoming more alert, but he still would have liked to rest a bit longer. Yawning, James stretched lazily. "Just a friend, Jasi. She asked, and I offered. You weren't around last night, Jasi.. Otherwise I would have. I'm sorry." He wondered the question of Jasi's applied to some other aspect than he was considering, but doubted it. Sighing, he rolled his eyes at Mela. Looking around, James noticed he was only in his boxers. Embarrassed, he shifted uncomfortably. "So, you two can bond well I get dressed," He said, turning to go back to his room.
Jasi turned her back and crossed her arms, "I don't think so. I plan on spending the day shopping. Alone." She was furious. Things were FINE with just her and James, and now some other bitch was with them?
Sighing, James walked over to Jasi and turned her around. Jasi should have known by now he was not a happy camper in the morning. Grabbing Jasi by the shoulders, he turned her around. "Now now, stop acting like a little immature child. Mela is a friend of mine and I am entitled to having her here. If you have such a problem with it... you can.. leave!" He snapped off the last bit, annoyed with the situation.
Bond? How was Mela going to bond with Jasi? She wasn't going to straight out say 'Hi I used to be James' old lover and I still have feelings for him like he does me!' She sighed at the thought of the female bonding. Quite frankly the youngin' disturbed her greatly. James was Mela's, right? The nerve... "Well, nice to meet you, girl. But I think I'll be headed back to my room, for now. Have a nice time shopping." Mela waved her fingers and turned around in a huff.
Jasi's eyes watched the other girl leave, then she focused back on James. "I thought we were a team, James."
He sighed, and ruffled Jasi's a hair with his hand a bit. "We are a team, we have always been a team. This will not change it. Instead, it should make us stronger.." James didn't know what to do in this situation. He wanted to please them both, but he just couldn't. At the time when he said Mela could join, he hadn't even considered Jasi...
Jasi pouted, "James, I don't see how this will make us stronger." She sighed softly. "I... nevermind." Maybe the problem was she was jealous.
"Well, at least try to get to know her. She's a nice person, really." When James spoke his tone said it wasn't negotiable. Thinking quickly, he needed time to talk with Mela, but he didn't want Jasi leaving. "Jasi, how about you make some breakfast?" He was careful to leave the word 'us', for fear she might take it the wrong way.
Jasi shrugged, "Later. I'm not hungry. I think I'm going to shower and leave." She looked up at James one more time, before heading out of the room.
Frustrated, James threw his hands up in there air, and walked off. Going to Mela's room, he knocked on the door and waited. "Mela, can we speak?" He asked, waiting.
Mela's eyes darted to the door. Hesitantly, she said, "Oh, yeah. You can come in." It was his ship so why he asked just bewildered her. That girl couldn't though. She had already got on Mela's bad side. But it never was hard to get on Mela's bad side anyway.
Slipping in, James quietly closed the door behind him. Leaning against the wall, he studied Mela carefully. He was still hesitant on what he should say to her, and how to handle the situation appropriately. "Listen Mela, I'm sorry..." He knew Jasi was a kind person underneath the facade, but how could he get that message across to Mela?
"Yeah, well, I'm sorry too." Mela peered above as she sat on the worn bed. She was really sorry, maybe it wasn't such a smart idea to waltz back to James like the yesteryears never happened. They couldn't turn back from this point. The three would have to be a, god forbid, "team" just to live on the ship. "James..", Mela began, "Am I really intruding?"
James immediately shook his head. No, Mela would never be an annoyance to him. Hell, he had been practically begging for the moment where he got to see Mela again. Jasi would just have to learn to accept it. "No, you're not intruding.. I don't know why Jasi was acting so immature and rude, she's not normally like that.." He still had no idea what would cause her to act like that. Mela hadn't done anything.. He realized that they could be an excellent team if the two girls would just get past their differences.. But would they be able to do that? Sighing, he resisted going over to Mela and stroking her hair gently. He missed doing so.
"It's the teenager in her, that boldness of thinking she owns the world..." Mela slinked back and patted the bed for him to sit as well. "When I was her age, everything was mine. Until, I went out into the real world." She hinted to James he was protecting her, even if he already knew. But Jasi was his only company for a while after all. "S'Your ship, just tell her to lighten up with gun slinging." Mela trailed off, "a little energetic with a gun, aren't we... ?"
Blinking, James took a seat beside her. "I suppose so," James said in agreement with Mela on Jasi's 'motive'. Trailing off, he felt extremely awkward sitting right next to her on the bed. Laughing softly, he nodded in agreement to about Jasi being just a little energetic with her gun. "Normally she doesn't go around shooting at people and threatening them, but we've never had a guest, let alone one she was unaware of." Without thinking, he idly played with the ends of Mela's hair, twirling it around a bit as he spoke. Realizing his actions, he quickly removed his hand and apologized. "Sorry, " he mumbled, getting up. It was going to be hard for him not to touch his darling Mela. "I should go get dressed..."
Mela laughed underneath her breath. She completely forgot he was in just his boxers. Her eyes drifted to the floor again. "Alright, go ahead...", James was so adorable to Mela. Watching him get up and realize what he was doing was refreshing. But even though he explained Jasi and her motives, she couldn't help but keep him from Jasi in an emotion way. Jasi would only jeopardize it! Poor James wouldn't know what to do. She turned to James again, and quickly added, "Come back when you are dressed."
Silently nodding, James went back to his room. Changing into a pair of jeans and a skin tight black turtleneck, he threw on his favorite beanie or as he affectionately liked to call it, his "head condom". Not bothering to slip into a pair of shoes, James headed back to Mela's room. Instead of knocking as he had done previously, he just entered. Leaning against the wall once again he smiled, "I'm back."
Absently, Mela looked at the door to see James there, clothed. Quite a disappointment, but it wasn't like she'd never seen him naked. Again, she smiled a bit at him. "James, you never really changed." Mela said, "I wish I knew why we drifted apart... I mean, it feels better here." The furnished room was a plus too, she thought. "Well, anything's better than what I was..."
If Mela wanted to talk about what happened well he was gone, then James would certainly be glad to listen. He smiled at Mela, even though he had a suspicion that her current behavior was because of Jasi. He frowned a bit. "I've changed, you've just brought out the old side of me." He knew why they had drifted, he could remember every detail clearly. How could Mela forget? He had tried to forget, but he failed doing so. Moving next to her on the bed he took her hands gently, "What was it like before?" If Mela wanted to talk about what happened well he was gone, then James would certainly be glad to listen. He smiled at Mela, even though he had a suspicion that her current behavior was because of Jasi. He frowned a bit. "I've changed, you've just brought out the old side of me." He knew why they had drifted, he could remember every detail clearly. How could Mela forget? He had tried to forget, but he failed doing so. Moving next to her on the bed he took her hands gently, "What was it like before?"
Mela was startled as she touched his warm hands. Hers were cold. Always. Then, involuntarily, she dove into James' arms. "You were warm, and affectionate... you'd never try and hurt me." Mela reminisced, "But I couldn't say my feelings easily, you knew that. You know it's hard for me to be open with myself." Her heart tried opening and the only thing she could do was hug. Pathetic, Mela thought to herself and with a regretful sigh she stated, "I'm sorry, for all I did back then."
Patting her head, he hugged held her softly. "It's okay, Mela, it's okay," James whispered gently into her ear. When they were together, he had rarely been exposed to this side of her; it was a great surprise for him to see her like so soon. It made his heart weep inside when she was like this. Her past actions didn't matter to him, all that mattered was that she was there now.
--------------------
Kisa glanced around the room one last time, making certain that everything had been prepared perfectly. Kael would be arriving soon and she wanted everything to go just as she had planned. Finally satisfied with everything, Kisa sat down in one of her chairs to await Kael's arrival.
Kael would normally have turned down a dinner invitation, but Kisa was a nice girl and he was tired of his own paltry cooking. Dressed in a silver and black suit, Kael was a dashing figure. He knocked three times on the door, his signature knock of arrival, and waited for Kisa to let him in.
Kisa smiled when she heard Kael's signature knock and almost dashed to the door. However, she quickly held her enthusiasm in control and walked to the door. Once reaching the door Kisa paused a moment to make certain she looked her best, she then opened the door to let Kael in. "I'm glad you could make it Kael-sama, come in and make yourself at home please."
Kael nodded; he entered the room and removed his fur lined over coat placing it on the rack by the door. "I have never been to your home before," he said looking around. "It's "
Kisa smiled and murmured, "I'm glad you think so Kael-sama. I find it so..." She led him into the dining room where she had the promised dinner ready to be eaten. "I do hope you enjoy the meal Kael-sama, I worked hard to make it as tantalizing as I promised."
"Any food you could make must be better than my own," Kael said sitting at the table. "And please, don't call me sama. It makes me feel old and impersonal."
Kisa sat down at the table as well and murmured softly, "I'd be happy to just call you Kael." She smiled at him before adding, "You're a busy worker Kael, you run around and do so much for the syndicate. I'm sure that there are plenty of people that would be happy to cook for you."
"Perhaps but not many that I would be happy to eat with," Kael said giving her one of his dazzling smiles. He picked up the glass of one in front of him and after swirling it and giving it a good sniff he took a sip. "So what is this disturbing news you had for me?"
Kisa flushed slightly when Kael gave her one of his dazzling smiles. When he mentioned her disturbing news however, she paled and fell silent for a few moments. Finally she swallowed and looked up at Kael, her gray-blue eyes sparkling with tears as she whispered, "The truth ... I'm sorry Kael, I don't really have any news at all. It's just that ... It's just that for the longest time I, well I've wanted to get to know you better. The truth is the news was simply an excuse to get you to come." The moment she stopped talking Kisa turned her gaze back to the table, waiting silently, seemingly miserable, to see what Kael would say.
Kael leaned back in his chair swirling his wine in the goblet, as he listened to her ramble. When she finally stopped he took another sip and placed his glass down folding his hands in his lap. "The food would have been enough Kisa," he said softly, more forgiving than he had first intended. "But do not lie to me again. I do not think kindly of liars."
Kisa's lips curled into a secret smile, a smile well covered by the way her hair fell. She looked back up at Kael and murmured, "I won't lie to you again Kael, I promise." She picked up her goblet and took a sip of it before replacing it back on to the table. "Thank you for not being angry..."
"What is for dinner tonight?" Kael asked looking down at his covered plate.
"Its grilled chicken and fettuccini alfredo with a side of salad. Everything other then the chicken was made from scratch so it should be delicious, at least I hope so."
"You didn't raise the chickens?" Kael asked teasingly. "I don't know if I can eat a chicken raised by a stranger."
Kisa laughed lightly and said, "Oh don't worry, the chickens were raised by a man that has always raised perfect chickens. Not only that, but I checked out all his credentials before even thinking about buying his chicken."
"The thorough work of any syndicate member," Kael said laughing. He lifted the lid from his plate taking in the aroma of the food. "It smells and looks delicious. Only one test left."
Ignoring the rules of proper etiquette he grabbed his fork and nice and tasted a bite of the chicken first. "I believe your cooking has passed the test."
Kisa gave him a genuine smile, glad that Kael really did enjoy her cooking. She loved cooking and she had really worked hard on this dinner, a hobby she neither had the time nor the heart for very often. After all, it wasn't any fun cooking when no one was there to enjoy it other then herself. "I'm glad you approve." She tasted a bite of her own piece of chicken before saying, "You'll have to tell me some other things you like to eat Kael ... that way I can cook them for you and save you from your own cooking." She paused hesitantly before adding, "That is if you'd like me to do that of course."
"For now, that would be lovely," Kael was thinking about Cloria, soon she would be back and she could cook for him. He remembered how good of a cook she was. "I appreciate any food as long as it is prepared well."
Kisa wasn't stupid; she knew well enough that Kael was thinking of Cloria again. She silently cursed her former friend for not only leaving, but keeping Kael's heart captive. She ought to be able to make Kael understand she didn't want to come back; most likely Cloria was just putting up this little fuss of hers to play with Kael's feelings. /Dammit Cloria, one of these days I'm going to make you pay for all the things you've done./, she thought bitterly. Not wanting to get Kael suspicious with her silence, Kisa quickly said, "I'd be happy to prepare food for you for as long as you want it Kael."
Kael nodded at her words. "Have you heard the news?" Kael asked testing her reactions. "Apparently the long lost Cloria has now been found."
Once again Kisa silently bristled with the mention of her former best friend, however she kept her true feelings well hidden. "I had heard something about it, everyone is talking about it after all. The twins were the ones to find her weren't they? Its rather amazing actually, to think that she's managed to keep herself hidden all this time and then one day the twins get lucky and find her."
"It was bound to happen," Kael said not quite sure he liked the tone in her voice. "Perhaps it is because she wants to come back into our world."
"Perhaps," she murmured softly before falling silent. Talking to Kael about Cloria was creating a lot of confusing feelings. She could remember all the happy times that she and Cloria had shared, memories that made her happy. However, every single one of her feelings was hazed over by a feeling of betrayal and overwhelming jealousy. Finally Kisa forced a worried frown to her face and murmured sadly, "There are people here that want her dead Kael ... would she be safe enough here? I mean she was my best friend and I wouldn't want anything to happen to her." /Dammit, she's forcing me to lie again ... if Kael finds out he's never going to want to speak to me again./
"Anyone who would want to kill her, is not a true member of this syndicate," Kael said after swallowing a delicious bite of food. "I would keep her safe, you have nothing to worry about."
Kisa forced a relieved smile and said, "I'm not worried, I knew that you could protect her. It's just that word gets around and well as I said a lot of people wouldn't be happy if she were back." /How the hell am I suppose to get his mind off Cloria when all he can think about is bringing her back./ She finished the last of her dinner before saying, "What are you going to do if she doesn't want to come back Kael?"
"She will come back, the syndicate is in her blood, just like it is in all of us," He said putting down his silverware. "The only way to leave a syndicate is through death."
/Then why the hell is she with a bunch of bounty hunters Kael!/ Kisa forced her bitter thoughts away and brightly added, "Well if you need any help bringing her back Kael, just ask..." /Yeah right, I'm not getting within a few feet of Cloria unless it has something to do with making her pay for everything she's done./
"I might just ask you to help me," Kael said smiling at her pleased. "Perhaps she will trust you more than me."
"Perhaps she will, Cloria use to tell me everything back when she was still with us. I do miss her Kael; we use to do almost everything together. It hurt when she left, but I miss her." /Dammit this entire night is not going the way it was suppose to go. Earlier today I never dreamed that I'd be trying to convince Kael that I missed Cloria. /
"So tell me why you wanted me to come," Kael said leaning back in his chair again and crossing his legs. "I'm not a very interesting man."
Kisa stared at Kael in surprise, not expecting to be told that he was an interesting man. Finally she smiled and said, "Kael you surprise me, and I would've thought that you knew how interesting a man you really were. You're an attractive and very powerful man ... in fact if you weren't a taken man I'd definitely be interested in you." Her smile turned slightly saddened as she added, "As it is, I have to be content with being interested in having a friend." /For the moment at least, but the moment I get Cloria out of your mind I want something much better then friendship. /
"Interested?" Kael asked smiling playfully. "You flatter me over much."
"I am not trying to flatter you Kael, only speak the truth." Her smile brightened as she added, "I can't help that my words of truth are flattering you over much."
"I did not come here to hear my praises sang," Kael said becoming irritated. It seemed that people were always sucking up to him, especially when they couldn't manage an audience with Nathair. "Perhaps my coming here was a mistake."
Kisa turned her gaze to the table trying to take control of her thoughts. She was really not doing this well and she couldn't figure out why. Generally she could charm any guy she wanted to, but Kael seemed to be especially difficult. /Perhaps it's because I really do like the guy.../
She finally looked back up at Kael and murmured, "Once again I'm sorry Kael..." She then smiled and asked, "Would you like dessert Kael?"
Kael was indecisive, he really didn't want to be here playing whatever game it seemed Kisa had up her sleeve, but still he was curious. "Dessert would be lovely," he said smoothing his napkin in his lap once again.
Kisa quickly got up and made her way into the kitchen. She walked back to the table carrying a chocolate cake. Setting it down on the table she carefully cut Kael a piece and handed it to him. She then cut herself a small piece and returned to her chair.
Kael ate his cake in silence, using the time to study Kisa... her face, her movements, no detail escaped his notice. "Why are you so nervous, Kisa?" he finally asked putting down his fork.
Kisa was silent for a long moment. She could make up a dozen excuses, but if Kael found out he would be furious. The truth or at least part of the truth was the only thing she could give him. She finally looked up and said, "I'll be honest Kael ... I, well I really like you a lot. I've admired you a long time, for a lot longer then Cloria has been gone. When she was here with you I was jealous, although I never said anything to Cloria. I didn't want to hurt her feelings, after all she was my best friend. I've kept my feelings hidden for a long time, but now with Cloria resurfaced ... I had to do something, at least try to get your attention."
While she spoke, Kael stood and walked over to her side of the table. Reaching for her hand he urged her out of her seat and with one finger gently holding up her head he held her for a soft sensual kiss. When he pulled back he looked into her eyes. "You are not Cloria."
With that he left her, walking straight to the door and out into the dark streets beyond.
Kisa responded to the kiss, slightly shocked that Kael was kissing her. However, when he drew back and said that she wasn't Cloria before walking out Kisa just stood there dumbfounded. She stared at the door in shock, not really knowing what to think at first. After a moment she narrowed her eyes angrily and hissed softly, "You will be mine Kael and Cloria will pay for this, I'll make certain of it."
--------------------
Rua awoke blinking her eyes, all she could see around her was white. Until she turned too see that she was actually in a room. The movement caused the bullet wound in her side to scream at her in pain. She reached down to find that it was tightly bandaged. "Where am I?" she asked confused by the strangeness of the situation. "What happened?"
Rocko walked down the hallway slowly. Vicious had told the guards to keep the woman alive, for what reason he did not know. So the one that had been left during the attack was treated and left in a room down the hall from where Faye had been only a few days ago. "We lose one and get another," he said to himself as he approached the room. He could hear the girl inside, talking to herself and he paused to listen before entering.
He closed the door behind him, although he knew the girl was in no state to be up and walking anyway. "You're at the headquarters of the Red Dragons, and you were shot and left here," Rocko replied, answering each of her questions.
Rua stared blankly at the man who had walked into the room. "What?" she said her mind seemed fuzzy and she knew somewhere beyond all that haze were the answers she needed. She had followed someone, and then there was shooting, and she was saying goodbye to Jin. "Why am I here?"
Rocko pulled a chair up to the bed. "You came here on your own. You're still here, because you were shot." She seemed confused, and Rocko wasn't sure how much of her confusion he was planning on clearing up - or even how much he could. Vicious had awakened, but only once, and only Julia had spoken to him. Rocko did not know what the man wanted done with his prisoners.
"Then your the one that bandaged me up?" she asked poking tentatively at the bandage. "Then who shot me?"
Rocko shook his head. "I didn't bandage you. You were taken care of by our clinic doctors. And I have no idea who shot you. I was preoccupied elsewhere."
"What are you going to do with me then?" she asked. Rua tried to sit up, but the effort t made her gasp out in a sudden burst of pain. Resting back down on the bed she lay as still as possible breathing heavily.
"I wouldn't move yet if I were you," Rocko replied. "You haven't even begun to heal." He looked down at her, his expression blank. "And what will we do with you? I have no idea. I don't even know your name."
"Rua," she said. It probably wasn't wise to be telling things to a syndicate, but she couldn't think of an alternative at the moment. "And who are you?"
"Rocko," came the reply. "Rua, you'll stay here until Vicious decides what to do with you. Until then, I suggest you worry about healing."
"Vicious?" Rua asked consciousness coming back bit by bit to her. "What the hell kind of names are Vicious and Rocko?"
"This is a syndicate Miss Rua," Rocko replied. "They are the names we have." He gave her a quick look, indicating that he wasn't all too pleased with her comment.
"Sorry," Rua said looking him over. "This is my first time dealing with a syndicate."
"Get used to it," Rocko replied. "I have a feeling the last option will be letting you just walk away." He stood. "Did you have anything else you wanted to ask?"
"If I'm not allowed to leave?" she asked confused by his logic. "Then why did you let me live?"
He shrugged, "Vicious may very well have a use for you. Do not think we will just ignore the fact that your friends attacked our building."
"Why did they attack anyway," Rua asked staring at the patterns on the ceiling.
Rocko smirked, "I imagine it had to do with our last prisoner, a one Faye Valentine."
"Never met her," Rua said thinking back to the day. She had seen Cloria entering the building suspiciously and had followed her in. She didn't know what had inspired her to do so, but apparently it wasn't a wise decision.
"Then why were you here?" Rocko asked, curious. "If you weren't part of that group?"
"I saw a bunch of girls sneaking into the building and I thought it was kinda weird," Rua said. She didn't think it would be a good idea to claim any affiliation to Cloria or Jin at the moment. "I was told once that my curiosity was going to be the death of me, I guess they weren't that far off."
Rocko raised an eyebrow. "I suppose I can believe that seeing girls sneak into a building would be construed as weird. Why did you follow? Beyond just blind curiosity."
"Boredom," Rua said. This man wasn't going to let her just slide by on half-assed answers. "Of course I didn't think I'd find myself in the middle of a gun fight. What were those girls doing anyway?"
"I told you," Rocko replied, "Rescuing their friend. Of course, it's hard to rescue someone who wasn't here."
"A bit of a fool's errand then," Rua said thinking back to the confusion of that day. "You take any other hostages, or am I special?"
"You're just special. And you were the only one of the group still here in the end. I suppose since no one knew you, you were just left here to die." Rocko said, not quite sure if he really believed she didn't know the others.
"This just goes to show I need to make more friends," Rua said ruefully. /Or just better ones.../
Rocko smirked, "Friends are overrated." He looked down at her. "But then, the syndicate has provided all the 'friends' I've ever needed."
"Is that the line you use to recruit more gun slinging saps?" Rua asked. She was letting her mouth get away with her, but she couldn't help it. She was lost in a white room, with a hole in her side, and this guy was all she had to push back the dark memories from her mind. "Join us we'll give you all you need from life; guns and friends."
"It's typically the message Rua." Rocko replied, "Although many a time the syndicate simply chooses who they want as members - often, you aren't left with much of a choice."
"Are you trying to tell me that I have no choice?" Rua asked. She wanted to go back to Valhalla, see the band, and....and there was something else. Something that she knew she needed but the harder she tried to understand this emptiness the more elusive it became.
"If that's what Vicious wants, then you'll have no choice. If he wants you dead, then you'll have no choice." Rocko seemed amused by Rua's question. "That's what happens when you're a prisoner. If I were you, I'd think the former would be a more appealing option."
"I'd like to think of myself more as a house guest than a prisoner," Rua said giving him a quirky smile. "Although this room could use a little color, maybe some curtains, and some windows to go with the curtains..."
"I'm not one for interior design," Rocko said, "But I'll have them send you down a catalog." He glanced around the room. Faye had also been allowed a computer. "And a computer." He would make sure it had a block on it though - so that she couldn't reach outside of the syndicate.
"I'll settle for some paint and a few brushes," she said looking at the very blank walls. "I always wanted to be an artist, although I'll have to be able to sit up first, I don't suppose the walls will be coming to me."
"It'll be a few days before you'll be able to move around much," Rocko replied. "But then we'll send you some paint brushed." He smiled, "For a syndicate, we're fairly 'nice' to our female house guests."
"Then what are my rations?" Rua asked as she heard more than felt her belly groan in hunger. "Crust and bread and water or caviar?"
"You'll be fed, Miss Rua, whatever the kitchen is making for the day." He sat back down in the chair. "So I'm curious, why should we keep you alive? If you had to convince me, what would you say." Rocko leaned back a bit. He had to admit, the girl was interesting.
"Stop calling me Miss Rua, it makes me feel like be lectured by the school principal," Rua said. She had been a troublemaker as kid, somehow that hadn't changed much. "First of all you can't kill a girl with wit and a good sense of humor and secondly I shouldn't be convincing you. You already said that my fate lay in the hands of some other guy with an even funkier name then your own."
"True," Rocko replied. "In the end, all decisions will go through Vicious. But I could kill you here and now, and he would never even know we had you."
"Ah," Rua was being daring with all that she said, but despite his words she didn't feel any danger from him. "But you see, that is what the first reason was for."
Rocko pulled a gun from his jacket, "Would this be more effective?"
"Put that thing away," Rua said chidingly. "You could put someone's eye out swinging it around like that. Not to mention give someone a very bad impression."
"There is no one here but you. Does it give you a bad impression?" Rocko asked, feeling like their words were becoming a game - an interesting one at that.
"Quite possibly," Rua said picking and choosing her words carefully now. "I've never been a fan of fire arms. There usually not very friendly."
"You'll get used to them in time. You won't walk two steps here without seeing one." Rocko put the gun back into his pocket.
"Another good reason why I don't belong here," Rua said doing her best to block out the pain as she felt herself beginning to give into the darkness again. "I'm a lover not a fighter Rocky."
"I'd prefer you didn't call me that," Rocko replied, "Or I might have to tack the Miss back onto your name." He looked at her for a moment, before replying, "There's a fighter in you. You just have to find it."
"What's wrong with Rocky?" Rua asked smiling. She had apparently hit a bit of a soft spot. "Why must I learn to be a fighter? You can't have that great a need as to resort to recruiting little ole' me."
Rocko stood and shrugged, "Suit yourself, Miss Rua." He headed for the door, irritated with her new nickname for him, "Vicious would probably enjoy torturing you to death anyway."
"The white walls are torture enough," Rua said sinking further into her pillow. She'd angered him, and now she was probably going to die for it. Just because she'd let her mouth run off as usual. "So that's it? You walk off and I'm left to starve in this white hole in the ground? At least until this Vicious guy comes anyway."
"That's it. You're just left to starve in this white whole. You made it pretty clear you'd rather die than work anyway. Starving is a good way to go." Rocko replied.
"Good?" Rua asked. With the force of her anger she had jolted her side and was dealt a new round of pain. Squeezing her eyes shut tight against it, she gasped her words out as best she could through gritted teeth. "I'd rather be eaten by ravenous wolves!"
"I'm sure that could be arranged," Rocko smirked, his eyes meeting hers. "Might provide some entertainment as well."
"At least I have something other than white walls to look forward to," Rua said. She could feel the tears coming to her eyes, but she refused to cry in front of this bastard.
Rocko opened the door of the room. "If I were you, I'd figure out an alternate solution. Because, personally, it sounds like a painful way to go."
"You mean become a gun toting psycho?" Rua asked turning her face away from him so that she could only see the very white ceiling. "You're going to have to drug me up pretty good for that to happen."
"That can be arranged as well. Goodnight Rua," Rocko said stepping into the hallway.
"Good?" Rua mumbled to herself. Hot tears were flowing silently down her face. She wanted desperately for the shadowy figure in her mind to come and rescue her. It was his shadowy image that she dreamed of when she finally succumbed to sleep with a sweetly sad smile on her face.
--------------------
Spike looked up when Julia entered the room. His narrow, bandaged frame was hunched over the table as it sat in a chair, but the important part was that he was sitting upright, unassisted, at all. He smiled - a strained, reserved smile, but a happy one nonetheless. "You look great," he told her.
"And you're finally starting to look human," she said taking in his bandaged form. She was wearing a blue sundress that accented her eyes. She felt slightly foolish wearing such a frilly thing, but ever since Spike had begun to live with her she couldn't just wear jeans and a t-shirt when she stayed in. "It won't be long now and you'll be able to go back to life as usual."
Spike started to reply, then hesitated, looking down at the table. Finally, he brought his eyes up to meet hers – those beautiful, stunning blue eyes. "I don't want to go back," he admitted. "I want to be with you. We can still do it, Julia. We can still leave this place, just the two of us. We can be happy together."
This was the conversation Julia had been dreading. She couldn't leave. If she did, Vicious would never understand. He would hunt her down and he would find Spike. The cycle of violence and pain would only start over again until they finally managed to kill each other. Besides, she had promised Faye she would do this, but that didn't make talking to Spike any easier. "Why do we have to leave Spike?" Julia asked sitting down at a chair opposite him. "I...I'm comfortable here."
"Be serious," he said, reaching forward to clasp her hand in his. "You know we can't stay here. Whoever takes over the Syndicate will come after us. If we leave now, there won't be any trouble."
His intense brown eyes seemed to bore into hers. "I asked you once before to leave with me, and you wouldn't. But he's dead now. There's nothing to keep you here."
Spike couldn't have been more wrong about her situation. Yet again she felt guilt fill her to the very core of her being. "What about the friends on your ship?" she asked grasping for anything she could use as an excuse. "They did so much to help you. Would you just leave them?"
For a moment, it looked as though Spike was about to agree. But then, he shook his head, and squeezed her hand even more tightly. "I could, if it was to be with you," he said, almost sadly. "You're everything to me. You know that."
He smiled ruefully. "I'd even ask you to come with me, but I don't think you'd like life on the Bebop. We can be a bit … crude. You deserve better than that." He loved her so much it almost hurt, and he couldn't stand the thought of letting her go again. And a part of him was confused – didn't she want to be with him? Or would this just be another rerun of three years ago, with her leaving him standing, waiting, in the rain?
"But wouldn't you miss it?" Julia asked. She had picked up on his hesitation and she wasn't going to relent. She squeezed his hand with her own. She knew that if he went back to the Bebop she wouldn't be able to see him very often. It would make her job easier, but it would make her heart ache for him as well. "It sounds like those people mean a lot to you."
Moving very slowly, but still as fast as he was able, Spike leaned across the table and kissed her. Gently, he murmured, "You mean more."
Julia leaned in for the kiss. She would never get enough of him, even if they spent the rest of their lives together. She broke the kiss looking out at the window as he spoke. "I mean that you can not just abandon everything," she said. "You owe them Spike."
Why did she have to bring up the undeniable points he'd hoped to ignore? "Yeah," he said sadly, looking down. "I guess you're right. So … this is it, then. I'll go back, and you'll stay here, and I'll lose you again." For once, the remorse in his voice was clear.
He sounded so hurt that Julia could almost feel her heart shattering for him. She left her seat and knelt next to him, wrapping her arms around his back and pressing her head to his chest. "I'm not going anywhere Spike," she said, holding onto him as if he'd disappear. "I'll always be here for you. And it will be a long time until you're ready to leave. Let's not talk about these things."
But someday I will leave, Spike wanted to say. Instead, he held her close, running his fingers through her silky, golden hair. He could have pretended it was like old times. Like that time three years ago when she'd saved his life and he'd realized he loved her. And once again, he would heal under her care … but this time with the knowledge that when he did have to leave, he would leave alone.
A single tear threatened to well in his eye – not the fake eye, but the real one, the eye that could still cry. With iron will he suppressed it. He hadn't cried since he was seven years old, and he wasn't going to change that now.
"I'm sorry," he said finally, "but I had to be certain. At least this time … when we part, it won't be a surprise. I'll have a chance to say goodbye."
"Spike please don't say that!" Julia said hiding her face against his chest so he couldn't see how hurt she felt at his words. She hadn't wanted this conversation to come up so soon, she thought she'd had at least another week to be happy with him before this came up. "If I could go, I would. But I need time. Vicious' death is still fresh in my mind, I have to come to terms with it, and with you, and with all these new emotions. Please just give me time."
"Of course," Spike told her hastily, instantly regretting that he'd said anything on the topic at all. "Anything you want." He too still dwelt on Vicious' death, although probably in an extremely different light, and he'd forgotten that Julia was not quite as … stoic as he was. For three years he'd had only memories to remember her by, not even a photograph, and now he held her in his arms. It still seemed almost too good to be true.
The dull, insistent throbbing from the deep gash across his chest magnified to a burning pain as Julia put pressure on it, and he'd never forget who put it there – his former best friend, and current dead enemy. A quiet, quick intake of breath was the only indication he'd allow to show, however. He needed the hug more than he needed physical comfort. They both did.
"He stole you away from me," Spike whispered, gently stroking her hair. "But this time, he's dead. Nothing can stand in my way." He kissed the top of her head. "You're here with me now. That's all I can ask for."
Julia lifted her head to kiss him on the lips. She could feel a sense of immense relief take over her. For now disaster had been averted. When she pulled back to look at him he seemed paler and more drained than when she had first walked into the room. "You should lay down again Spike," Julia said standing up. "You don't want to over tax yourself."
Spike started to protest, rising to his feet to demonstrate that no, he was fine. Instead, he nearly collapsed, hanging on to the back of his chair to stay upright. "You're right," he admitted ruefully. Planting one final kiss on the back of her hand, he took a few slow, unsteady steps to the bed. Once there, he practically folded. He was exhausted - he'd definitely overdone it.
So, Vicious was dead, and he didn't know if he'd have Julia. Maybe he'd stay with her. Maybe he'd go back to the Bebop and resume life as a bounty hunter. Either way ... both options, following this long, slow period of recovery, just seemed so ... anticlimactic. Vicious was dead. So now what did he do with his life?
Spike looked up at Julia with a smile. "I'm glad," he said peacefully. "Glad for everything."
Julia had followed Spike to the bed, ready to help assist him if he needed it. On a whim she sat on the edge of the bed to take off her high heels. Once the shoes were gone she crawled under the covers beside him resting her head on his shoulder she draped one arm gently across his chest. "Do you mind?" Julia asked closing her eyes. She was tired as well, and perhaps a nap would revive her. Not waiting for his answer she began to hum softly.
"Of course not," Spike replied softly. He carefully shifted so that she wouldn't be putting any weight on his wounds, then encircled his good arm around her shoulders. Just the smell of her, so close to him, brought back countless memories of old times. Combined with the soothing melody of her humming, he was in heaven. Since he definitely wasn't yet up to certain other activities, just holding her would have to be enough.
And it was.
