She's been in this room for almost an hour.

Haven't that booby guy discovered that I'm missing already

Or maybe he thought I'm just out for some fresh air.

There's no fresh air here.

I'm in a chaotic atmosphere! Who knows what these minions are up to!

Spike!

"I don't like your silence Miss Valentine." She heard the Wayne guy who's actually Stephen Cock muttered smiling more of a teasing grin.

"And I don't like the way you look." It was Vixen, his partner Bloody Mary.

They have introduced themselves earlier to her but even if they didn't they were already obvious.

Cock stood up, he stood up and laughed sardonically. "Jealous BM. That's some kind of a title, eh?"

She watched, half aghast. Faye could perceptibly see the way Bloody Mary looks at Stephen with fondness while the latter seems so insensitive about it.

Can't he see?

He's like that side- thorn haired lunatic…

Where is he?

Would he come?

"Aren't you worried? It's been an hour or so. Anyway, if I'm in his shoes I won't care. Come to think of it, we're doing him a favor. That is eliminating a frenzied brat from his chaotic world. We're actually giving him peace, blue." That spangle of wickedness lights the red-haired lady's eyes.

Faye clenched her fist and said, "Hard luck, that's what you got. If I could have been less slapdash earlier in the comfort room, you won't have that snob face of yours anymore." Glancing mordantly at Bloody Mary's arm, she smiled wickedly. "Does it hurt? If so, put a gallon of alcohol and muriatic acid on it. That would make you feel better – ah... and I'll feel glorious."

"Bitchy." BM mumbled.

Stephen Cock walked out of the room with an enlightened face. "It's time. Your knight smoking cigarette is here azure."

"Spike…" She murmured his name gradually. It was when Stephen glimpsed at her that she detected the mildness in that sturdy being's face when he calls her 'blue'. Loneliness flickers in those eyes beyond the solidity he seems to show as his cover.

"Baby sit Mrs. Spiegel for a while BM. I'll just get my favorite hunter's autograph before I give him my gift… Bullets." He turned away just as Bloody Mary looked at him with that 'Please be back look', which he didn't see.

Faye turned away from the scene but she couldn't help but feel uneasy.

Poor gal…

So stupid…imbecile!

…

Just like –

Me.

…………..

It's cold.

The damn clouds are dense and thick than his hair.

Genteelly, he makes his way through the crowd outside the hotel. He hurries down to get in line with Jet. He told Jet to send his MONO (Machine Operation for Navigation of Outer Space) racer, Swordfish 2. He needs to reach Faye.

He boarded immediately and drifted in full speed, not even certain why he's being absurd all of a sudden. He should stay calm. But he couldn't.

You're always a headache Faye!

When will you ever change?

Brat!

…

Why would I always have to do this for you?

…

Be safe… sea reject.

He sees St. Louise Building. It's an abandoned place.

He spied around before sighting a lean man grinning while looking at him welcomingly.

Cock. The damn rooster!

He went out of his craft and met the latter with coldness and calmly felt his gun.

Spike got a cigarette from his pocket and lit it.

"Hello Mr. Spiegel. Our wives are having a little chat inside. We'll have ours out here. What do you think?" his warm tone was afar from his cold blood thirsty stare.

"Stephen Cock. Has anyone told you, you have a horrible surname?"

"Ha! Ha! Ha! You have some comical sense spike hair. Your darling's doing okay unless if she pisses off BM."

Spike threw away the cigarette subtly. "Your BM's the one in trouble if Faye gets irritated."

Before the stick reached the ground they both made their moves. The sound of the rattling gun bangs beat the silence.

And Spike found his shield behind a broad and bulky wall post. He couldn't see Cock nor could hear him. He's very good at it.

"We're not playing hide and seek are we, Spike?" the mocking laughter seems to be coming from somewhere behind those walls.

"I'm not the one completely in hiding. You are, rooster."

"Try that one again. It's funny. It might be your first and last joke on me." Straight bullets went to his direction.

Errr! This guy's excellent in these things. No wonder he's been running around easy without a scratch from his seekers.

He tried to watch out for the bullets coming out for him. But the things seem like they have some kind of transmitting device that they fly to the perfect direction. If it hadn't been for the unruffled wall, he could be in smithereens. The cock sure knows his cockpit.

It's difficult to perceive his exact location. His senses seem to work vaguely.

Damn! What's wrong with the world? I couldn't hear him. I couldn't see him.

A bullet was trust into his right arm as he tried to move to a more suitable cover.

Like hell! He's hell himself.

………………………...

"So, how long have you been together fire head?"

The scarlet slender figure moved towards her, her face emotionless.

"An interview, eh? Well, darling, we've been together since three years. We worked together for all those times and I've seen his guts and skills…

Your cowboy has no chance of defeating him."

"I don't care." But they both knew that she cared.

"You don't? That's such a talk from someone's who's gonna fall behind Spike's death."

"You don't even know him! By this time, your darling might be talking to Lucifer for pardon. By the way, it was never the two of you but you act like you're his wife. Don't overdose yourself with thinking and trying to have him, Ms. Mary."

Once she blurted out the words, a gun was pointing to her head. She's near to freeing her wrists from the tight metal.

"You've got the nerve to meddle with things that doesn't concern you. Just to tell you frankly I think you're gunbeat in love with Spiegel. Too bad." Bloody Mary looked at her despicably.

Faye almost jerked the unyielding metal if it hadn't been for those statements.

That's not true…or is it?

"Don't put me in your heels, Erythrocyte?"

BM fixed the bullet's target in place. "Presently as I thought, you would decline on your own heart's offer. That's what you're supposed to do. Otherwise you'll be like me. Stephen loss his wife and her family made it look like he did it. They murdered her because she would be the next leader and since she's a girl, that'll be passed to him. Her family cares nothing for her. And he just cared so much because he loved her. And Spike might know how he feels then. Because they're the same. They're both living in the past and seeing us as comrades. Nothing more. Nothing less."

"Dummy! You're not that strong after all." But within Faye feels the gradual stabbing and the inert waves of whispering realizations. They're the same.

"Now, that you know about it… I don't think Stephen would care if I kill you."

Faye knew she have to break free from this torture. She felt so numb to move. Her hands jerked away from the rigid metal but it seems like she lost all of her energy even to escape death.

In slow motion, she could see the trigger getting closer to being pulled and that means finally releasing the bullet which would end all this. BM's smiling sadly.

It's not supposed to be this way.

Faye summoned all her sanity and yanked the gun before the trigger could be pulled completely. Instantly, she applied pressure to BM's injured arm. The woman cried in pain.

Frantically, Faye released her but took the gun away. Now, the position shifted in reverse.

"They're not the same. Spike may seem insensitive at times but he's actually sensible. I can't really justify that but I just know. And sometimes feeling is better than thinking."

She grabbed Mary by the arm and gave her a hit her at the nape, hitting her at that spot.

"I know how distressing you are about your situation but mark my word I will never be like you. I won't account for something which could never be mine."

Before her vision dims completely she managed to call the name of the person where her life revolved for how many years… faintly she cried, "Stephen…"

Faye looked away as she saw the depressing look on her face.

Even if you believe they're just the same, things would turn out diversely for me.

…

Because I have the nerve… the nerve to do whatever I feel would be good for me!

……………………………...

The bullets flew continuously. There's no failure in being sent in the right direction – his direction to be exact.

What the hell!

Where is he?

It wasn't long before Spike saw the clues on where Cock could come from. He just won't come from behind. He's not the type to.

He went out and dashed full speed to another post.

He noticed the bullets coming from one direction. He looked at his right and overlooking his situation, tried to concentrate on the possibilities of Cock's action.

…………………...

What do you think you're doing Mr. Spiegel?

Cock, upon seeing Spike turned aback, thought of it as an obvious suicide. He was facing his bullets now and is not running or hiding behind the walls anymore.

He wants to face the scythe… then he'll have it!

Cock unnoticeably moved through the reverted lights of the afternoon and the uneasy darkness inside the building, to the far east where Spike stood. He went for the last shot he'll give his favorite bounty hunter but he the moment his bullet launched, the guy faced him sided diagonally just to avoid the hit. His right arm got shot again.

With the blood draping over his sleeves, Spike's gun was pointed at him. Spike pulled the trigger just as he pulled his.

It might seem like they shot each other at the same time but he knew the truth. He saw what happened.

Spike took the force to his left as he lurched sideways for a fall.

He didn't fall to the ground, because he had to smile. "I always dream of meeting you. Tell BM, I cared. Take care of Blue."

And Stephen felt his upper chest.

Alas! I met you Spike. I met my end.

I'm going to see Stephanie.

How I missed her!

Take care Vixen – my Bloody Mary.

……………………………

Through the clamor of the gunbeats, Faye knew it has started. She couldn't run fast enough to help Spike. She saw him collapse and Stephen Cock kneel on the ground before completely kissing it.

It's been two or three seconds since she came to the scene but she couldn't move.

He needs me.

Spike…

But this will be the last.

In her mind the words rattles her within, '. Because they're the same. They're both living in the past and seeing us as comrades. Nothing more. Nothing less.'

She ran to him and touched his face. He's still alive, as she believed so even before she draw near him. He's just unconscious.

Faye held his hand for a moment and stood up abruptly, running towards the Swordfish 2.

I wish there could be more.

But it's just so fast. It's not easy for him.

Now I know… Like Bloody Mary, I am in love with a man and the uncertainty for a happy ending is 99.9 out of 100.

I could make use of that 1 but… unlike her, I decide that I'll conquer my life… not anybody else… not even that guy… Spike Spiegel.

"Hey! What happened?" Jet's voice and face were both of worry and relief. How's that possible? Faye's mind was preoccupied to think of the answer.

"He's injured but still breathing."

"I'll be there pronto! Faye?"

"I'm ok now. Hurry up Walther p99!"

She tried to sound abrupt but through the exterior lining of her personality she just doesn't have so much life in her. Spike's doing ok but why am I feeling abysmal?

I'm ok…

I'm gonna be ok…

………………………………………………………………………………….

Watch out for the next chapter!

-Pretty lil minnh