The ideas kept coming, so I couldn't stop! Here's the next chapter!

Summary: Just some drabbles about how the characters feel, post-series. Each chapter will be a different POV.

Disclaimer: I don't own the show or its characters. Just this little fic.

~CB~

I stand in the crowd, watching as the dogs race, holding several tickets in my hand, hoping one of them will be a winner. One of my dogs crosses first, winning me at least $500. Normally I'd take it and gamble again…

But slowly my habit was breaking. It wasn't because 'gambling was an unhealthy' addiction. It was because I was sick of looking at the dogs. Every time I looked at even one, I thought of Ein- despite he was a different breed. When I thought of Ein, I thought of Edward and wondered how she was doing, since leaving the Bebop. When I thought of the Bebop… I wanted to cry.

I took my money and left, deciding to find a hotel to sleep in for the night. I left the Bebop the week after we heard about Spike's death. It was all over the news- gunfire heard from the streets, Vicious being found dead, and Spike's body being found on the curb, tossed out by the remaining members of the Red Dragon Syndicate.

I try not to think about it, but it's impossible.

Just as impossible as I thought it would be to warm up to the guy. The moment he and Jet Black locked me in the bathroom on the Bebop, I thought I'd be hating that guy for the rest of my life.

Things changed though. Oh, we still had a rivalry, only it was more like one between a brother and sister. When I learned he was leaving and wouldn't be coming back, I tried to stop him… then he told me about his eyes. He never told me anything about himself… that's what got me worried.

Jet Black acted like he could care less. Maybe he was just used to Spike risking his life… or maybe he was just as scared as I was and didn't want to show it. I couldn't blame him- if I knew a good friend of mine was about to bite the bullet, I'd act like I never cared about him either.

Things got too quiet around the Bebop after that. I kept expecting Spike to walk in, wounded but still alright enough to walk, to make some comment or act like he got back from running an errand. But I knew that would never happen- even if he did come back alive, he wouldn't be the same Spike. His past had a hold on him that would allow him to move on…

He already lost Julia. He killed Vicious. What else was there for him to face?

I'd often look around, expecting Edward to appear out of nowhere, running around or typing away at her computer, saying something funny. The kid was annoying, but she did come in handy when it came to hacking… plus, it was nice having another girl around- even if it was hard to classify her as a girl. Hell, I could hardly classify her as human! Ein acted more like a human that she did!

I keep wondering how they're making it back on Earth.

The Bebop wasn't the same without them. That's when I decided to leave- I had come back because it was the only home I had left… then suddenly it's torn apart. Even with Jet around, I still felt alone… probably because we didn't talk too much after the news hit. We stopped going after bounties too.

I hunted down a couple crooks after I left, hoping to get back into the bounty-business myself and earn some cash- nothing big, just a couple goons who were causing trouble and were easily outwitted by a pretty face. But it wasn't the same without the others. I almost went back to the Bebop after I got the cash…

But I stopped myself. I couldn't go back. Not yet.

It started to rain by the time I found a cheap hotel, getting a room that smelled like piss, but I could care less. Sitting on the bed, I looked out the window, seeing a cat out on the ledge, looking in. It had different colored eyes…

Like Spike.

Tears begin to well up in my eyes, and I cry. Just like I did the day he left and never returned.

When will I stop? I ask myself. When will I move on? He and I never liked each other anyway. Sure, we had each other's backs once in a while, but that was just to get a bounty! I shouldn't miss him… I shouldn't care… so why do I? And when will I stop?

I kept gambling with myself that things would turn out. "I bet that dumbass will come walking in through that door, whistling a tune like nothing happened!" I told myself the morning after we heard the news. Spike had a way of cheating death. I kept up the gamble until I finally decided to fold my cards and quit.

There's no use placing a bet on a dead dog.

Always fold when you're ahead in the game.

~CB~

~Next Chapter~

Edward: It's Edward's turn? Yaaay! Edward and Ein-pup get to do a chapter!

Ein: Woof!

Edward: What's that? Spike-person's gone? …Ah, he'll be back!

Ein: *whimper*

Edward: You'll see!

Ein: Next Chapter: Edward: Being Radical.

Edward: Did Ein just talk?