Life Will Be What It Was
By Ryoko Kashino & Kitana blade studios
Konbanwa! HAHAHA! I am back!!! I know some of you out there are like shit! End this damn story already!!! Nope, I want to go for a long one this time! Besides I'm working on a new bebop fic too! I know I need a life. Anyhow, I really want to thank Nimuwayy and Moonwhisper. You guys really rule thank you so much for being loyal readers and inspiration! OH yeah thanks to Miru88 too! Really I am so thankful to you guys without you I might've given up a while ago! Yeah! Okay peeps you know the drill read and be so kind as to leave a review. Oh the last part is so sad! I cried while writing it!! Ja!
Chp 7 Time to get that bounty
The small grey shuttle craft was cramped full with people of every size and shape. A redhead stewardess stood there with her carts shoveling out the great delicacies of space travel; tasteless prepackaged food. Spike shook his head as the girl got to him, "Sir what meal would you prefer, chicken or meat loaf?" her thick southern drawl made Spike perk up.
"Well, Eileen," he stretched to read her name tag, "which doesn't look like it came out of a barf bag?"
"Chicken it is," she smiled and placed down the meal, "what would you like to drink?"
"A beer, that'll make anything taste better, it'll dull the senses."
The girl giggled and handed him a beer from the cart behind her. Her eye green eyes made him think of Faye for a moment. She continued to serve his row all the while stealing glances. Spike winked at her. Eileen's cheeks flashed a little pink as she left his sight and moved on to the next row.
Spike took the plastic film off his meal and took a deep whiff; the mashed potatoes and gravy smelled almost homemade; better than he thought. He took a bite and the flavor all but made him choke, even Jet's cooking was better that this slop. He looked around, gulped and then gobbled down the food chasing it with his beer. He panted for air. The other occupants of the aisle looked at him with mouths agape and wide eyes. He smiled sheepishly faced forward drinking slowly the remnants of his beer. This was gonna be a long trip.
****
Faye woke to her new surroundings. The hotel room was plain. A dark green old carpet with ugly matching curtains blocked out most of the morning's sunshine. Thank God for that, she thought. Slowly, Faye pulled down the covers, she stretched as she stood. There was no particular agenda for the day. She glanced at the notice on the back of the door, check out time was noon. Looking at the digital clock on the night stand she had about two hours left so she entered the bathroom turned the knobs on in the shower and let the water revive her senses..
The redtail was the only ship left in the hotel parking lot. Faye blew out a cloud of smoke as she casually walked to her ship. She needed to get some more cash. Faye knew she'd have enough for the rest of the week but the week seemed to be passing faster than she had expected. She still didn't want to go back to the bebop. This was a small vacation for her. Jet would see it as her running from her problems. Jet the ever present daddy; trying to teach a lesson from the shadows. He'd never say 'I told you so', he'd instead treat the bruises then help you stand up. She made a face realizing the sappy comparison. She jumped in her ship and headed for closest race track.
****
Jet wiped away the sweat that was beading up on his forehead. The repair had been more of a challenging than expected. He placed his tools in his tool box and dusted off his cloths. He headed towards the helm of the ship. He took his seat and stared at the control board. The ship passed through the gate and he was left in the orbit of earth. He was hailed and then granted permission to land.
Jet landed the bebop in the Pacific Ocean. As he entered the hanger he looked over at the two empty spots. Spike's swordfish had been returned to Duhan, a week after Jet got it back from the I.S.S.P. He remembered how he couldn't stand seeing it just sit there. Never to be used by anyone again. Jet scratched his bare head then hopped into his hammerhead, his memories had to be set aside for later.
****
Ed sat on the floor with Ein leaning over into her lap. She clapped her hands together and then hugged Ein, "Yes! Jet's here! Jet-Jet!"
The hyper child squeezed Ein so tightly the dog's eyes almost bulged out of his head. Ein whimpered and Ed loosened her vice grip and kissed the flea magnet. Ed patched into Jet's hammerhead systems; she poked around and finally put in her coordinates. The ship had been headed in her direction anyway and Jet really wouldn't notice; E.T.A. was 15 minutes. She couldn't wait to see Jet; she missed him and she longed for her home, or the floor, or whatever crevice she could pack herself away and lazily sleepy the day away till she was needed. The girl quickly packed up her few belongings into a make shift back pack. Eagerly, she waited for Jet's ship to come into her view.
****
Jet came to the borders of an old rundown town. Wood and concrete masses made up the buildings while the wind blew nothing but sand across the horizon. He reached over to grab his gun and check for his hand cuffs. He needed to hide the ship but nothing gave for a good cover. Jet shook his head and grumbled to himself as he exited the cockpit of his ship. A small fry. Fuck it, I need the money to use as a nest egg for my shop, he thought.
Jet put on his old issued I.S.S.P. sunglasses for their heat sensitive viewing. He walked slow and cautiously to each building. Gaining nothing in his view he took off the glasses and shook them. As he placed them back on his head he got a glimpse of a body moving. It was in the last building on his side of the main drag. Quickly, Jet ran over to the building, placing his back to the outer wall he glanced both ways before hoofing it for the door. The damn door was boarded up all except for a hole big enough for a child to get threw.
"Fuck," he cursed under his breath. He took one more look at the building. Jet was about to kick down the door when he saw the heat source walkout of the west end of the building. Jet smiled to himself as he ripped off the glasses. He ran to the end of the building. He peeking his head around but saw nothing. What the hell? He knew he just saw the fucker leave, right?
Jet looked in every direction and saw no one. His gaze then fell upon foot prints in the sand that led to an old type saloon bar across the way. He grinned slyly and treaded across the street. Jet waited by the door till he heard a shuffling noise from inside the building. On three, one, two three, Jet counted off in his head. With his gun drawn Jet busted through the doors.
Two yellow orbs stared at the end of the barrel then to the gun wielding man. Squeals of joy filled the air. Jet's breath caught in his throat. Ed was at the end of his gun. Before he could pull back his arm, Ed crawled up his arm like it was a jungle gym and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Ed." Was the only syllable that escaped Jet's lips.
"Edward is so happy! Jet-jet found her!!!! Yeah!!! Jet-person found Edward!!!"
Ed's grip was powerful. Her voice filled Jet's head, she loosened her arms as she looked at Jet's face; shock was still on it, "What's the matter is Jet not happy he found Ed?"
"No, I am, but where's your father?" Jet asked.
"I…I lost him."
"But, Ed, didn't he come looking for you?"
Ed looked away for a second then reached into her pocket and handed Jet the note her father left. Seconds later Jet crumpled the note and let it fall to the floor. Ed stood there looking down to the ground, drawing a semi circle in the dirt on the wood canvas below her feet.
"Ed, how could he do that to you?"
Ed shrugged her shoulders and looked at Jet with the innocence of an unwanted child. She bowed her head again and said, "Maybe, Ed was bad for falling asleep, but I tried to find him. Ed just had no luck on her side; even Ein helped. No success."
Ed's voice had quivered while she spoke the last part of her sentence. Her head was still parallel to the floor, but Jet saw s few small dots on the floor. Ed began to cry tears for the man who claimed to be her biological father. Jet closed his eyes and envisioned ripping the guy's head off. Jet looked to see Ed using her small brown waif arm to wipe away her falling tears. She sniffled and at that moment Jet fell down to his knees being only a head shorter than the girl before him, Jet reached out and brought Ed into his arms. He held her there for at least ten minutes. Jet hadn't realized it but he was crying while he held her there in his arms. Suddenly, Ed hugged Jet back and said, "Don't cry Jet-Jet, Ed will never leave home again."
Jet released a false chuckle and stood up. He ruffled her hair and let her jump unto his shoulders. A small bark came from the side of Jet's foot.
"Ein, so boy, you took good care of Ed, right?"
Ein replied with a light bark causing Jet to laugh. He bent down and picked up the little fury mongrel.
"Let's go home." Jet said softly.
"YEEHAH!!! Ed's going home!" boomed the small child.
"Wait a minute where the hell is my bounty?"
"Uhhh…, Ed has to tell Jet something."
"What is it Edward?" Jet's happy tone went flat and annoyed. Jet put down Ein. He crossed his arms and glared at the tiny red head.
"Uhh, Ed made up the bounty." Ed jumped to the floor and prepared herself to get yelled at.
"Oh, for Christ's sake Edward!" Jet burst out. His hands went up in the air while he threw his head back.
"Ed wasn't sure you'd come for Ed!" shouted the small girl.
"Why?" Jet whined.
"Cause, you always go after Faye-Faye and get mad with her. Ed figured you'd be same way! Ed doesn't like when Jet person is mad at Ed, like now!"
Jet rubbed his temple and then placed his hands on Ed's shoulders. He looked at her eyes trying to make her understand. He sighed and watched the girl stare at him blankly.
"Ed, understand me, no matter what you do, I will always come for you. I'll never let you down. I promise."
"Oh, okay!!! Yeah Jet-Jet won't get mad! Won't get mad!!!" She sang as she twirled around him.
Jet shook his head and followed the sing song happy child and their dog back to the hammerhead.
Okay, I know I made Jet a little OOC, but there has to be one thing that'll break everyone. So I figured it would be Ed's sadness. After all, didn't he save her little chess partner in Bohemian Rhapsody? Yeah, okay so the guy ended up passing away after the match, but hey Jet still went to bat to keep Ed happy! Besides Jet reminds me a lot of my own dad and if ever I was sad my dad sure hated to see me upset and still does to this day! Okay, that's right I'm a daddy's little princess! Oh extra thanks to Moonwhisper you rule chica! Thanks for the help with the editing. It really helped. I bow in thanks. Yatta! Alrighty, I'm gone! See ya for the next chapter in "Life will be what it was."