Life Will Be What It Was
By Ryoko Kashino & Kitana blade studios
Hey all! Hehehehe! I pulled an all nighter man and out came this chapter! MUWHWHWHAAAHAHAAHHA! Yeah I get the best stuff when I least expect it to happen! Anyhooo, I hope you guys dig on this new chapter! I loved it! Man I almost cried again while writing! Oh, and I had to put in the witty banter with Jet and Faye since Spike isn't here yet! But he will be soon! I promise! Okay read and be so kind as to review! Thanks to all the readers! I luv joo! LOL! Confucius says: Karma will be good to you if you are first good in return without expectation! Just kidding! But I say that!
Chp 12 Returning the Favor
Two weeks past by slowly and still no word from Faye. Jet was getting worried, but Faye was a big girl, she could handle herself.
"Damn it!" Jet cursed under his breath. He was leaning on the rail above the steering deck of the bebop while, Ed, hung above him flailing her arms about.
"Jet, jet! Damn it! Ha ha!" sang Ed.
Jet looked at the child and shook his head. "Ed, get down I need you to do a search."
"Yay, I get to do a search! For what is it we seek? An evil two faced varmint?"
"Ed just get down here and do a search for Faye and the Redtail!"
"Oh, we're gonna look for Faye-Faye!" the girl sang at the top pf her lungs.
Jet rubbed his temples and glared at the child through narrowed eyes. Ed's bright and happy eyes shrank to normal size as she slapped on her web goggles! Her fingers danced wildly in the air as she began her search. The girl grumbled and squeaked as she got various hits.
"Oooohh, Faye-Faye's been all over the place! Hey she even got a few bounties!! Hey Faye-Faye that isn't fair! Why no share with bebop buddies? You dirty scalawag!!"
Jet raised his brows and nodded to Ed's comments. Why the hell had she not comeback? Yeah, it was quiet on the bebop for that month, but Ed was back and so a bit more noise came back. It wasn't so bad. It almost seemed like Faye and Spike were on the hunt for some a bounty most of the time.
Why the hell hasn't she come home? What the hell did I do? Was my cooking that bad? These thoughts kept clouding Jet's mind. He knew the real answer but he just wanted her back home. She hadn't cried in front of him, but he had heard her at night. The first few nights Spike had been gone he'd walked along the halls of the bebop. His walk always led him past her room. Either direction he took he'd stop and listen to her soft sobs. He would touch the door and whisper softly, "I'm sorry Faye. I'm so sorry." After that he'd walk to Spike's room. He stand looking at it from the door way. A few minutes later he would walk in and study the room. The floor scattered with various magazines, books thrown lazily on the dresser top with drawers half open with clothes hanging out. A sloppy mess of a bed, sheets strewn half off the bed and half on the floor. The heavy scent of cologne and cigarette that mixed and screamed, Spike! God, he missed that smart ass bounty hunter. His comrade was gone. Jet ran his metal hand over bald skull and then scratched at the back of his head. He'd forgotten about the task at hand until Ed squealed and then screamed, "JET PERSON!! I found Faye-Faye!!"
"Where is she?"
"She's on Pluto!"
"What in the....why the hell is she there?"
"Hold on," said Ed as she began to move her fingers like a tweeker, "Ha! She's fallowing a lead from a bounty hunter message board."
"Have your tomato send the info to the bebop, Ed."
"Roger dodger!"
Jet raised his eye brow at the girl and shook his head as he walked over to the ships computer. He read the information then typed in the coordinates for Pluto.
"Looks to me we're gonna help our old friend with this one whether she likes it or not."
"Why?"
"It's called returning the favor, Ed, don't worry you'll understand soon enough."
Jet chuckled to himself as he sat back at the controls.
****
Faye sat a booth with her sight on the bounty. A stout waitress came over and refilled her coffee cup placing in front of Faye a dingy plastic covered menu. Faye thanked her with a nod of the head and then skimmed over the menu. She pursed her lips and then bit her bottom lip. God, damn nothing on this thing seems good enough to eat, she thought as she rolled her eyes at the waitress that leered over her.
"Can I have a few minutes?" Faye chimed coolly.
The waitress tuned on her heel and walked over the next table filling the patrons' empty cups. Faye began to really read the menu as she saw her target move. As he get up out of his booth, Faye reached in to her jacket and released the safety of her gun and she scooted herself out of her booth. She placed her menu down and followed her man.
****
Jet set down the hammerhead two spots from the red tail as he heard Ed buzz him.
"Faye's in a window booth, on the opposite side you parked."
"Ed how the hell did you see her you're on the Bebop?"
"Ha-ha! Oh, I used a traffic surveillance camera, be sides nothing was happening on the street."
"Damn, kiddo, it's good to have you back."
"Ditto, it feels good to be back! Now, go get 'em cowboy!"
"Yeesh!" Jet groaned over the telecom.
Jet pulled on his jacket yanking the hood up to cover his cold bald head. As he entered the coffee shop he turned his head and eyed Faye reading a menu. Instead of heading her way he sat at the counter and ordered a coffee. He switched his view the left and saw the bounty walking towards the restrooms. He grinned to himself and waited to see Faye get up out of her booth and walk by him.
"Hey, sunshine," Jet said with a sweet tone.
Faye stopped in her tracks and looked to her side. Jet pulled back the hood and turned his head to see Faye's face turn pink. Her eyes narrowed as she took the seat next to him.
"How the hell did you find me?" Faye said with a bitter tone and fake smile plastered on her face.
"It's easy honey, when you've got all the right equipment." Jet teased.
"Right, look this one is mine, Jet."
"Humph, my safe says at least sixty percent of this bounty is mine."
"Sixty! Are you fragged right now? Tell me 'cause you know I'd believe it!" Faye countered.
"It's sixty forty or each man, er, bounty hunter for themselves."
"And so it is old man." Faye purred.
Jet wanted to laugh but only shook his head and grinned. He got up from his seat when Faye grabbed his arm, "Where the hell are you going?"
"To wash my hands, honestly do you think me a heathen?"
"You don't even want to know what I think, pops!"
Jet shook his head and walked to the end of the counter turning to his right and heading straight to the head. As he entered the bathroom he saw the bounty step out of the stall. Damn the asshole just to a shit and god admit this bathroom smelled like well, shit. Jet pushed the button on the soap dispenser and a small drop came out. Jet pulled on the water and washed his hands looking over to the man standing beside him. The man looked up at their reflection and eyed Jet suspiciously.
"You a queer, quit looking at me." The man said disgustedly.
The comment made Jet want to laugh and punch the guy, he did the latter. As Jet's fist landed on the guy's cheek Jet said, "You couldn't handle a good looking guy like me, besides I know what fucking ugly is my friend, and that is you to a tee."
Jet cuffed the bounty and then dragged him out of the bathroom by the collar of his jacket. As he walked past Faye he winked and said, "Hey sweetheart can you cover my coffee, I left my wallet on the bebop."
Faye threw down four woolongs and stomped out after Jet. She was so pissed! Jet was gonna get it! Jet stopped and opened the cockpit of the hammerhead and called over the local I.S.S.P. Faye stood there arms crossed and pouting.
Jet turned his head and said, "What?"
"He was mine! What the fuck is the deal?"
"What can I say I was just the better cowboy."
"My ass, you know, I'm the better hunter here!" Faye shouted and threw her arms about.
"Watch your step, Faye." Jet arched his eye brow to her antics.
"Or else what, I can't comeback?"
"Maybe, don't tempt the hands of fate." Jet waved his finger at her warningly
"Son of a bitch, Jet, I needed that money!" Faye stomped her feet and spun around the face the street. Her head was hurting and she really didn't want to have this fight in the middle of a parking lot.
"So, did I, I have a home to keep in working order and mouths to feed."
"Mouths? What you'd do pick up some more useless drifters?" Faye looked at Jet with annoyance.
"No, Ed came home," shouted Jet, "Unlike others in this universe she knows when she needs help!"
Two police cruisers crept into the lot and pulled over to the scene. Faye stood three feet from Jet and looked at them. She huffed while she walked over to her ship.
"Faye, she wants to see you." Jet called out.
Faye froze in her steps. Her head tilted up to the sky. She was so pissed, but Ed wanted to see her? Who gave a fuck right? What the hell did those people ever do for her? Nothing. They gave her things to worry about; they hogged the hot water, why would she want to return to that?
Faye turned to see Jet hand over the bounty and get his transfer of funds. She really needed that money. She was hungry and tired. There was a bed and food on the bebop. A small tear of anger and frustration fell form her eye as she saw Jet pocket his bank card. She quickly wiped it away before he could notice. She ran the few steps towards her ship. As she jumped into her cockpit she saw in the corner of her screen a notice blinking; she had a message waiting, she brought it up on her screen:
Faye-Faye,
It's Edward! I came home and you and Spike person weren't here! I want to see you! Please come home! So far we've only found you. Ed misses you! Even Ein wants to see you!!!
Radical Edward
Faye red the note over and over, Jet hasn't told her. How was Ed going to take it? Tears streamed down as a sudden knock came from the side of her ship; she looked over and saw Jet through the glass. She opened her cock pit and jumped out and glared at Jet.
"What's wrong?" he asked innocently.
"What's wrong? What's wrong! How the fuck can you ask me that? You jacked my god damned bounty! And Ed doesn't know! How could you not fucking tell her? Jet she thinks he's still alive! What the hell is wrong with you! He's dead! He didn't escape this time! When she died so did every part of him! God damn you! Give it up! He's never coming back! God, Jet we lost him!"
Jet stood there taking the assault from Faye. Her arms were beating at his chest feeling every wounded cry she felt. Her tear stained face was pink and eyes were red fro crying. The last sentence resounded in his head. We, she used we. So she wasn't a cold unfeeling shrew. He watched her cry into her hands. His heart was breaking as he watched Faye fall apart in front of him. He wanted to hold her but she would just shove him away. He knew her too well. He looked away and said, "Just, come home. Help me tell her, Faye, please? I can't do it alone. She'll hate me for not telling her."
"God, Jet why didn't you tell her right away?"
"I dunno. Part of me still wants to believe he's not gone."
"You're too damn hopeful for a former cop."
"Yeah, I think that's my only flaw."
Jet looked at Faye, her expression was still that of anger and hurt. Faye looked at Jet and said, "Let's go, I'll follow you."