Ray Hikari turned the corner onto the street where his destination resided. It was lined with nightclubs and bars. On the weekends, the streets would be filled with patrons. Ray made sure he avoided that. The place he was headed to was the bar called "Falling Stars". There was no sign outside that said this. Only a long, banner-like hologram that depicted large gold and white stars falling in the night sky.

Despite its inviting name, this place was a notorious hangout for assassins, bounty hunters, and the targets of the latter. People like Ray. He'd tracked his target back to Earth, and the first place he went was this bar.

He was very familiar with the place. It was a frequent hangout when he settled in the city for a short, but enjoyable amount of time. He had come across it with his once close friends. They wandered into the place completely unaware of its reputation. Within 15 minutes they were all in a brawl. More people died than necessary that night.

It had been some time since he'd been there, but always made it point to visit when he was in town. This time he didn't need to. Making it a point not to stand with his back to the door he looked through the window while he finished his cigarette. It wasn't at all busy, but there were people scattered throughout.

He walked in and crossed the room silently. A dreary old rock song was playing from somewhere. A few heads turned, but no one seemed to recognize him. He spotted his mark sitting by one of the windows with two others. They were all dressed in the same black and gold attire. The two big guys had weapons, axes, by their sides..

There was only one person working at the bar. A good looking blonde woman that looked to be around Ray's age. She looked out of place in the dimly lit bar. Her presence almost brightened it up on its own. After tended to a few other she walked over to Ray; who was at the far end of the U-shaped bar. "Hi. What will you be drinking?" she said to him even though he appeared to be sleep. When he opened his eyes, he was immediately taken in by her icy blue gaze. He sat up. "I'll have whiskey. Straight." She nodded and turned around to make his drink.

She was curvy for her size; Ray liked that. Her bright, gold hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail. He couldn't help but think that she was far too beautiful to be in a place like this. Before he realized it, he was pondering how to get his target outside so he wouldn't have to kill anyone in front of her. She sat his drink down in front of him.

"Anything else?"

"No I'm fine for now."

"Alright well it's just me here for now. So if you need anything else don't hesitate to ask."

He nodded. When she walked away he couldn't help but watch. Ray watched her hair play near her lower back as he downed his drink. "Focus" he thought. He peeked over his shoulder at his target. Bottles and cans covered the table. Any type of move he made would more than likely go unnoticed by them. So first, another drink.

The barkeep made her way back to him within a few moments. She took his glass off the bar and out it with the other dirty ones.

"Shit. I didn't ask if you wanted another one. I'm so sorry. Would you like something else?"

"What's your name?" he asked abruptly.

She stared for a moment; clearly caught off guard. Ray expected her reaction.

"It's Claire. Claire Wilde." she said, now she was starting to get nervous.

He sat up straight and extended his hand.

"I'm Ray Hikari."

They shook hands and Claire looked into his eyes for the first time. Pale gray mixed with her ice blue. She felt her temperature rise.

"So can I get you anything else to drink?" She turned away, starting to blush. She couldn't keep looking into his eyes.

"Yeah just give me another whiskey. A double this time."

As she poured his drink he turned to survey his quarry once more. Claire took him in. He as undoubtedly an attractive man. He was muscled, but lean. About six feet tall by her judgment. His jet black hair was mostly pulled back into a ponytail leaving only bangs hanging on either side of his head. The rest was simple. A black t-shirt (that was quite tight on him) under a pure white trench coat. Black fitted jeans to go with his black boots. And she couldn't help but notice the white cloth from the hilt of his katana poking from under his arm.

"You're not from around here are you Ray?"

"Well, I'm from Earth. If that's what you're asking."

"No I mean…I don't know. You look familiar. I feel like I've seen you somewhere before."

Ray grinned and took down his second drink as easily as the first.

"No. I doubt it. I like to stay out of sight. Makes everything easier." he said with a sly tone as he knocked back his drink.

She parted her lips to speak, but was interrupted almost immediately by bottles crashing all over the floor. The sound cut through the silence like a scalpel to flesh. The target in his cohorts clearly needed more to drink.

"Bar Wench! More drinks!"

Claire moved from behind the bar faster than Ray expected. She stormed over to the broken glass on the floor.

"Who are you calling a "wench" you asshole?! You're cleaning this up! Right now! Pick all of this shit up!"

One of his minions jumped up a second later, clearly in a rage. He grabbed the first weapon he could reach. Claire didn't move an inch. Instead she glared at the drunken ogre towering over her.

"I hope you're going to use that axe to clean this stuff up."

Claire was grinning now. Customers have too much to drink and attack her a few times a week. This was why she was fast. It was necessary. And her temper didn't always help the situation.

"You're a stupid bitch. Remember that while your burn in hell."

"I'll see you there. AFTER YOU CLEAN THIS SHIT UP!!!"

Before he could even get into position to attack her, Ray appeared in front of him; cigarette in his mouth. The whole bar was silent. No one saw Ray stand up; let alone cross the room. Claire stared at the emblem on the back of his coat. It was a stylized five point diamond with 5 in the middle. She knew she'd seen it before.

"You ready to die for her?"

"Wouldn't do this if I was you. That's all I'm gonna say."

He reached for his weapon and Ray reached for his. Within a second his opponents head sprayed across the bar, Ray's black pistol pointed where it once was. The headless body dropped to the floor with a loud thud. Slowly, the patrons of the bar started to get up and leave. Now they recognized him.

Ray holstered his gun and turned his attention to his target; Bruno Marko. Bruno is the richest man in the galaxy. He started off small time selling drugs. Within five years he had a stranglehold on every black market dealing, on every planet and it's moons. Now nothing moves without him knowing about it.

Naturally, because of his line of work Ray crossed paths with him more than once. They weren't exactly friends, but nothing made them enemies either. Although once upon a time they got into a fight after Bruno made a sideways comment about Ray's girlfriend at the time. Ray always felt an ominous yet, familiar presence when they met. It made him naturally wary of him.

He took a long drag of his cigarette and started over towards Bruno's table. Claire watched closely. Bruno hadn't moved much. And no one could tell his expression because out the black sunglasses he was wearing. Bruno was the flashy type. He often wore a lot of jewelry and always sunglasses. The kind that cost millions. A grin swept across his face when Ray sat down across from him and lit his own cigarette. He turned to his other bodyguard.

"Instead of ending up like your friend, start cleaning up this mess."

The minion looked at Bruno and he nodded and immediately began to clean. There was a moment of silence between them before either man said anything. Bruno's long, dreadlocked hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and Ray wondered if the gold highlights at the tips were there when he saw him last. His dark, brown skin always reminded him of...

"You sure know how to sober a guy up quickly Ray Hikari."

"Yeah well, try not to be so rude to the pretty bartenders. Your guy there was clearly disrespecting that pretty lady.. Now one of them is painted on the walls. To that end, why I've come to see you. I'm calling in a favor."

"You killed one of my guys for that?" he said in a sarcastic tone.

"I warned him. And even though you somehow missed me on the way in, by then you had to have recognized me. You could have called him off; saved his life. Instead you watched. Perhaps, you thought he would kill me?"

Bruno chuckled.

"I didn't miss anything. I saw you walk in. And I knew you saw me too. What I didn't know is that you were here looking for me. If that was the case you should have just pulled up a chair."

"Then you'll answer my question quickly then. Where's Julius?"

"Julius? What makes you think I know where he is? I don't meddle in assassin affairs."

"I know you two do business in some capacity. And you got really hard to find after his little stunt."

"Honestly Ray, I don't know where Julius is. I still do dealings with him, of course I do. But I get my Angels to do most of my business now. I hardly see anyone I do conduct business with anymore. Aside from phone calls. Besides from what I've heard, no one has really seen him in person since the "break-up.""

Ray scoffed.

"Is that what they're calling it?"

"For the most part."

"And what are they saying who's fault it is?

"Depends on who you're talking to. I've heard a lot of things."

"And what do you believe?"

"The most popular belief is that you, Ray Hikari, are dead. That's what I believed."

Ray put his cigarette out. He was silent for a moment. Taking in the information. Bruno was a better source of information than he thought. He should have come back to Earth sooner.

Ray stared off into space. The cleaning was almost done. Claire was still standing her ground watching them closely with her arms crossed. She likely heard they're entire conversation.

"What about the others?"

"I know Gabriel stays primarily on Neptune. Finding him is an entirely different story. The only concrete information I can give you is that I know Jayzmyne arrived on Mars a few days ago."

"And you know this because?"

"I ran into her at the Port. She was arriving as I was departing. We chatted for a moment. Cute girl. I'm pretty sure she lives on Mars somewhere."

"And Sloane?"

Both of their expressions hardened.

"In the wind."

Ray stared at him for a moment. He didn't know why, but he knew Bruno was lying.

"Claire, is the bar to your liking?"

"I can live with it."

"Bruno, leave. And take the trash with you."

Bruno chuckled and finished his drink that was on the table. He started walking to the door and his cohort followed carrying the headless corpse. Before exiting he door he turned around and said,

"You know if anyone ask.."

"Tell them. Even if they know what's coming, they won't be able to stop me."

After Bruno and his companion disposed of the body they wandered the city looking for another place to drink. They didn't talk, just smoked cigarettes. As they approached a promising watering hole, Bruno's PPC rang. (Personal Palm Computer) He flipped it open and grinned when he saw the face looking back him.

Pale, but healthy skin. Bright, piercing, lightning-yellow eyes. Short and curly jet black hair. This was Sloane Solera.

"Sloane! It's so funny that this is happening right now. Guess who I just saw?"

"I don't know. Something that better be worth you asking me that."

"Ray Hikari just kicked me out of Falling Stars. And killed one of my men."

"I'm on my way. Track him. Make sure he doesn't leave the city."

"And how do you expect me to stop him?"

"I don't care how just do it. I'm coming from Venus. And I need another Capsule."

"It will be ready for you when you get here."

When the door closed Claire let out a huge sigh as Ray stood up and walked past her to the bar. He lit another cigarette and took a long drag. Claire's legs had started to hurt from standing in the same spot for so long. The situation had made her more tense than she realized. She needed a drink.

"How about a shot on the house?"

"I won't say no to that."

She poured them both double shots of whiskey. After throwing them back she poured another round without a word. They clinked glasses and took those down. After a brief moment a silence and Claire lighting her own cigarette, Ray stood up. Claire felt her heart jump.

"Are you leaving?"

"Yeah."

"It's late. Do you have to go far to get to your place?"

"I don't have a place. Not here anyway. I'll probably just...find a hotel to stay at for the night. I don't know."

"Well...since you helped me out, I have an extra room at my condo. I could put you up for the night."

"I wouldn't want to impose."

"No not at all. Besides I could use the company. I never have anyone over. And you kicked everyone out. We're closed."

She smiled. A grin crept across his face. His cigarette almost fell out of his mouth.