Disclaimer: I don't own Cowboy Bebop

Notes: I am extremely sorry for the wait but I have been really busy lately. I will try to update faster than before though, for those who are eager to read this and other stories.

This chapter is mostly about Vicious. Once again, I'm sorry if Spike and Julia seem a little OOC but they act differently around each other than anyone else. Also I salvaged some lines from Episode 25 when Vicious gets caught by the Red Dragons but I did change some stuff in it.

Anyways, enjoy.

CB

Chapter 5: Vicious Symphony

Four heavy guards walked the halls with Vicious carrying up the rear. He had his eyes down to the floor and kept his cold face. No one made any noise as they were too professional to. The four guards stopped at the two large doors. Vicious knew… better than anyone, that they were the doors to the Van.

Vicious could hardly believe that he was finally pulling the coup. He had waited so long and now his plan was in action. Soon, he would call the shots. The first would be to eliminate Spike's friends who would be followed by Spike and then the Red Dragon's enemies. They would all fall at his rule.

Two men kicked the doors opened and opened fire on where the Van was or would be. When the shooting stopped, Vicious walked in and the lights flicked on to show the Van on the stairway with at least 20 guards, all were aimed to kill him. Vicious didn't look surprised. Hell, he half expected the Van to know anyway.

"Vicious…" the middle Van said. "What is this foolish thing you have done?" he asked knowing the answer.

Vicious remained silent. "Did you think you could just get rid of us?" the left Van asked Vicious.

"It is pitiful of you, Vicious. We had hope that you would change," the right Van said.

"You had nothing…" Vicious stated coldly at the Van, knowing that it would get him into further problems.

"Our fortune teller told us that the Cold-Eyed Snake would strike at us. Did you think that we would fall so easily?" the middle Van said.

Vicious was silent, letting a cold gaze of pure hate on the Van for one second before closing it off. "Kill me," he said.

"You will not choose when to die… when your pride is broken we shall take your life," the middle Van said. "Take him to the chamber," he added as the two syndicate members snapped handcuffs on Vicious and escorted him out of the door.

"Remember, the snake's poison spreads slowly after the bite," Vicious threatened the Van before he was taken out of the room.

CB

Spike woke up to find Julia gone but he didn't worry. He could hear eggs scrambling in the other room and figured that she was making breakfast. He took his pair of blue pants off of the floor and put them on, followed by his yellow shirt and tie. He walked into the living room. Julia noticed how sloppily he was dressed and chuckled.

"What are you laughing at?" Spike asked.

"You always wear that dorky tie," Julia said between laughs.

"It is not dorky," Spike in an attempt at being offended but Julia saw through it and laughed more.

Spike dropped the act and started laughing too. They laughed for a good minute before Spike sat down as Julia served up scrambled eggs, sausage, and orange juice.

"Breakfast of champions, I see," Spike said as he shoveled food into his mouth quickly. In a good five minutes Spike had finished off two helpings and was on his third.

"You're a pig, Spike," she said. Spike responded with a grunt and an attempted 'oink'.

Julia's smile turned into a sad smile and Spike knew that she was going to bring up the past again. "Spike…" Julia began. "Let's run away… we can get away… live freely like you told me we could long ago… please, let's just go," she pleaded with him.

Spike stared down at the ground. How could he tell her that he couldn't now after he had promised to so long ago? He didn't want to break his promise but his crew was also important to him.

"I want to… but…" Spike stared, hating the words that came out of his mouth.

"But what?" Julia asked.

"The Van… they have… my crew and they are dead if I'm not there in another 10 hours or so," Spike said in his lowest voice. "I'm sorry," Spike said.

Julia looked at the ground in despair. "Where ever you go, I'll come with you," Julia said.

Spike turned his head up toward her. Her dedication was amazing. He smiled softly at her, which made her feel light-headed. He could make her feel almost anything. "Thank you," he said smiling.

CB

Faye looked up as the jail bars opened and she saw Vicious being escorted in, but to her surprise, it wasn't freely. He was in handcuffs and being forced which made Faye smiled. Never had she had more relief in her life than to see Vicious restrained. Vicious wasn't angry, to her surprise. He was just his cold, calm self.

They un-cuffed one of his hands and then cuffed it to the metal next to Faye. Vicious waited as the doors slammed and closed his eyes. Jet was confused at what was happening. "Hey, Vicious…" Jet called to him.

His eyes opened and he turned to face Jet. "What the hell is going on?" Jet asked.

Vicious closed his eyes again and let out a small "heh" and then he turned away.

"Hey asshole!" Faye interrupted his peaceful thought. "Jet asked you a question," she said to Vicious, not frightened since he was restrained.

"You have a big mouth," Vicious said. As the sentence ended, Faye saw Vicious' smirk which was too similar to Spike's.

"Better than you who never talks at all," Faye said to Vicious. He was really starting to annoy her but, lucky for her, he was tied down.

"Silence is a virtue," Vicious said. "And if you respond, you'll be the first to die when I get out." Vicious was back to his normal self.

"And what makes you think that you will get out?" Jet asked Vicious as he was curious as to how Vicious planned to get out. If it was a good idea, Jet figured he could use it.

"There is only one person who can kill me and I'm the only man that can kill that person," Vicious said in his low, amused voice.

"Who, Who?" Ed chimed.

Vicious smiled. "Spike."

CB

Water/Air: Once again, sorry for the wait and I will try to have the next chapter out sooner. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed this far and to those who haven't please read and review. I'm grateful for any insight. Thanks.