A. Note! Wow. You guys r reading faster than i can write. The next chapter won't probably be up until the middle of next week some time. cringe don't take my head off if it isn't.
♠
It's been a long year
Since you've been gone
Faye strolled off to the star deck of the Bebop. He breathing, her steps, and the sway in her hips were just as cold as her thoughts. How dare Spike try to be the victim in the situation! He was the one who chose to be forgiving towards Julia for her betrayal. Why bother to be helpless and beg Faye! Spike came to her and dared to say he was contemplating whether or not he was to go with Julia. If it was a matter of him caring about Faye, who was more trusting and willing to be there for him he wouldn't have to consider the possibilities of being with another woman!
I've been alone here
I've grown old
Faye sat there her mind spinning with so many different things. The thing that differentiated this from her previous thoughts about the problem was the fact that she was able to do it without becoming overly emotional. She wasn't considering the possibilities of murder or suicide. Faye breathed in deeply. She picked up the mini vid-phone and dialed a number.
I fall to pieces, I'm falling
Fell to pieces and I'm still falling
"HIYAH FAYE!" Ed's voice came from the other end when her face popped up. "You're early! Have you reached the Saturn space port yet?"
"Uh, no. In fact I haven't even left yet."
"Okey Dokey! Freya's not here right now. Can I take a message?"
"No. I just wanted to let you guys know I hadn't backed down. I'm coming, I just need Ritchie to call for me to run an errand. I may be late. That's all talk to you later Ed."
"And Edward is signing off, PEW!" and the screen went blank.
Every time I'm falling down
All alone I fall to pieces
Faye sat back again, staring up at the passing stars. She swayed slightly for a few minutes until her phone began to ring. Faye knew it was Ritchie since he was the only one with that ringer.
"Hey, my funny valentine! How's it going, doll?"
"I'll ignore the last question. What's up, what do you have for me today?"
"There's a package I need you to pick up on Mars space port. You may have to take out some guys to get it so wear something sexy!" Ritchie bantered. However, Faye wasn't up for it.
"Whatever Ritchie, just give me the coordinates and I'll be there. I'll drop the package off at the usual place. Bye."
"Aw! Your man…your lover got you down? Come over, I have some people here that might cheer you up when you're done."
I keep a journal of memories
I'm feeling lonely,
I can't breathe
"It's ok, thanks. And Ritchie?" she paused, "I never had a lover. I just had a man…Who was about as worthless as being called so." Faye hung up and bit the corner of her lip. She couldn't believe she just said that. Then again…why should she feel remorse!
I fall to pieces, I'm falling
Fell to pieces and I'm still falling
Spike stood at the bottom stairway to the star deck. So Faye was leaving after all…Why shouldn't she? Spike turned away from the bottom of the steps. Why shouldn't she leave…? The words just kept ringing in his head not matter how he tried to block them out. Why should I leave! Spike punched the wall. Yes… why should he leave? Because Julia is waiting, came the finished thought. So? It came again…I love Julia…right? Right? RIGHT! Spike tried to convince himself, right? He loved Julia…that was all that mattered. If that was the very solution to this problem then why did he feel like shit! Why was Faye crying and cutting and being an Ice Empress. WHY was he questioning himself! DAMN! Damn! Damn! Damn! Everything kept rebounding off the seemingly empty cavern of his mind.
Every time I'm falling down
All alone I fall to pieces
Every time I'm falling down
All alone I fall to pieces
Every time I'm falling down
All alone I fall to pieces
This Spike! This same Spike Spiegel Never EVER thought he would be caught in crossfire like this. He vowed years back to be so naïve! What was happening to him now! What was happening to him now? What did he call this? Deep down in his pitted black heart full of tears and regret that a man never shows was telling him the truth. Spike knew he didn't need his heart to tell him Julia was up to something. Then why was he leaving with her. So many questions left unanswered simply because they're trying to be erased. Why doubt when it's better to deny…
All the years I've tried
With more to go
Will the memories die
I'm waiting
"Hello, Julia?"
"Yes, love." The seductive voice ran tingles thru Spike. Somehow Spike felt that it was superficial. Why bother to acknowledge it?
"I will be late. I haven't left yet. I just have to tie p some loose ends." Spike replied.
"Alright, handsome. Don't be too late or I'll be upset." Julia sighed on the other end.
Spike hesitated first, "Love you…"
"I know, don't let me down Spike. Love you too." Julia hung up and so did Spike.
He knew he just finalized the deal. And yet…he still doubted.
Will I find you
Can I find you
We're falling down
I'm falling
Every time I'm falling down
All alone I fall to pieces
Every time I'm falling down
All alone I fall to pieces
Every time I'm falling down
All alone I fall to pieces
Every time I'm falling down
All alone I fall to pieces
♠
Faye stepped out of Freya's zip craft, the Dragon Fang, and Freya came following after. A man came up and took the key from Freya as the two walked into the opera house.
"Mr. Ritchie will be waiting for you in top box number 13, Mademoiselle Freya." He bowed and left to personally take care of her zip craft him self.
The two females passed the door man who bowed low. Freya smiled back when Faye caught her wrist. Freya looked over at Faye baffled. Faye nudged her head to where and what she was talking about. Freya looked over at a small crowd of men and knew it was the syndicate immediately. She could understand why Faye was a bit tense. Leaning against one of the pillars was a man with silver hair, and a large bird on his shoulder.
Freya made a move to cut in the other direction with Faye. Upon climbing the stairs her bangles clinked. Faye automatically looked down and realized that Vicious was now looking at them. As Faye liked her lips, Vicious' eyes bore into hers. She knew that he knew she was there with Freya. Something about Vicious' watch made her wonder what really happened.
"He needs to stop looking over here, Freya. He knows I'm with you even if swooping bangs cover half your face. I'm not beat for getting kidnapped again because of you."
"Don't worry. He won't leave his post. We never greet each other in public anyway." Freya said rather coldly, not looking back.
Something about the way she had said those words made Faye stare at her. How was she able to switch emotions so quickly? It was hard to believe two people would put their reputations before their relationship. Little did Faye know that those two's relationship went deeper than just what she was told.
Faye stepped through the red carpeted hallway to the 13th box. Her purple gown dragging around her feet while her slender legs stretched out from the long slit in the front. Frey sashayed her hips thru the blood red curtains, gently pushing the black satin from her gown out of her way. The two females entered the box as the Opera was about to start.
Across from them at the edge of the booth was a tall slender man. From behind the male almost looked female wearing a tuxedo. His long silver hair was up in a ponytail but it still fell to his waist. He turned around with a smile to die for and his brown eyes lit up. He was slightly tanned and well built.
"Freya!" He exclaimed kissing her left cheek then her right but not before placing his hand on the small of her back guiding her to a seat, then Faye. "This must be your friend you've been telling me about.
"Bonjour Ritchie. This is indeed mon amie Faye Valentine. Faye, this is the infamous Ritchie." Freya whispered in a rather sly and seductive voice.
"Pleasure." Faye said eyes twinkling.
"Don't be fooled, he loves you now and the next minute he's with the minister's young wife." Freya bantered.
"Oh Freya! Must you air the Dirty Laundry now? Why don't you let her experience me first?" Ritchie grinned slyly.
"No chance." Faye smiled.
"Down to business, shall we?" said Freya. She was looking down at the crowd of people listening to the opera.
"Yes. I suppose we should." Agreed Ritchie. "Faye… I understand you are under the tutelage of Freya here. I suppose she has taught you well in the few short months she's been with you."
"That she has. Freya's even helped me improve a few tricks of my own." Faye smiled, eyes twinkling.
"Very well." Ritchie said pulling out a metal case and sliding it over to Faye. "I think you'll need this very soon."
Faye opened the case and gasped. It was a brand new M-16 that was in parts. Faye looked up at him and then at Freya.
"What? You didn't think that this was going to just be a meeting of exchanging words." Freya said with sheer puzzlement. Apparently she hadn't known what Ritchie had been planning either. Faye sighed and started to build the gun while Ritchie spoke.
"That opera singer down there is trafficking drugs for the syndicate, The Jade Tigers, every show he and his wife does. The last deal didn't go down well and as you can see with the syndicate guards around their planning on making sure this one does."
"No dirty money Ritchie! I told you that from the very beginning!" Freya whispered frantically. Ritchie held his hand up.
"Not to worry. This isn't about the drugs…This is about the assassination of a traitor. The man in box 2 works for the Red Dragon syndicate and is very wealthy but also incredibly stupid. He's going to switch the cases that will frame the opera singer before the transition is complete. We were given the job of assassination before any transition goes down. The last thing we need is to be linked to… dirty money and drugs." Ritchie finished carefree.
The curtains closed for an intermission when he started again.
"My Valentine, darling. You only have this one chance. When the curtains reopen you have to kill two birds with one stone. Get going!" he said quickly.
Faye dashed out of the box and down the steps. She dashed in and out of the shadows of the pillars of the opera hallway to the other side of the opera house. Faye dashed back up the steps and to the entrance hallway for box number 2.
Faye leaned hard against the wall when she saw the syndicate men standing on the outside entrance to the second box. Faye breathed in deeply and prayed to God that Vicious wasn't going to jump out of no where and chop her ass up. She locked her locked her glock to start shoot when she thought better. Instead, Faye leaned the M- 16 to the wall and walked slowly from behind the wall as if heading toward box 3 within close range she brushed passed one of the men who had a gun with a silencer and slipped it from his waist. Instantly she turned around and shot each one execution style in the head. All of the men were so taken aback that they didn't have time to retaliate.
Faye breathed again and dropped the gun and grabbed her M- 16. Using the light as her guide she traced out two silhouettes in the box. Faye scanned the floor and waited until the claps came for the opening curtain, then started firing shots. She snatched open what was left of the curtain and affirmed the assassination of her first target. She launched into motion to shoot the second but something moved at the corner of her eye. At first she thought it was the curtain but there was no wind.
Faye turned abruptly to come face to face with Vicious' katana. At first Faye's eyes shook at the sight of how close it was but then they narrowed and glared at him. She knew she was taking a risk at challenging him. Vicious pulled down the katana and snapped at her.
"Finish it!"
"What!" she said baffled.
"You won't get a second chance." He turned and walked out. Faye picked the gun back up aimed and fired three rounds at the stage. People panicked at the sight of dead bodies on the stage and Faye quickly made her way out the door before anyone else…She passed Vicious on the way out. His dark eyes just glared at her.
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