Disclaimer: I've said it before, it's not mine.

Outside of the Dream
By: Starlight-x
Chapter 5: First Beat

Machika woke with a start. She sat up; the realization that Rain was nowhere to be found hitting her all at once. The beginnings of panic began to eat away at her thoughts. Her attention fell on the man sitting opposite her who watched her with slight interest. "Where's Rain?"

"The man who was with you? He said he was going to a car in the back." The man jerked his thumb, indicating the way.

"Thanks." Machika followed his directions, feeling her heart race with each step she took. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Why would he stick around me? I told him I was going to kill him. It's dumb to think that he would stay. But still…I…

She exited the car and saw him sitting, silhouetted against the sky, his hair blowing in the wind. She paused, the thudding of her heart easing. If he had vanished, I don't know what I would've done. Grandfather…

"What are you doing Rain?" Machika climbed the ladder, peering over the top of the luggage car.

Rain glanced at her and then away, flopping back, his hands behind his head. "Nothing." His answer was short, neutral. "I couldn't sleep next to you."

"Idiot." Machika felt a flash of temper. "You're the one who slept in my bed without permission when we first met."

"Your face is red."

"Shut up."

Rain turned his face away from her. "My dreams are bad when you're next to me."

Machika quietly settled into a comfortable position on top of a flour sack. "Rain, are you mad at me?" Are you going to disappear and leave me all alone too?

"Huh? Why would I be mad? I mean, you only tried to kill me and then flattened my hat by sitting on it while you were sleeping. Of course I'm not mad. Unlike you I'm an understanding type of guy."

Machika felt her cheeks flame with a sudden flash of anger that cooled as quickly as it came. Her gaze dropped to her hands and she watched her fingers twist together and then apart, playing with the fabric of her dress. Of course he would be mad. It was stupid to think he'd be nice again, kind again. But being with him… Being with him feels…

"You don't have to worry." Rain's words cut through her thoughts. "I won't run away, I promise."

Being with him feels like home. Machika looked up, staring at him even though his head was turned away from her. Like home. The thought surprised and disturbed her. But she wasn't given time to concentrate on her newfound feeling The train jerked suddenly as if struck by something. "What was that?" Machika clambered down and onto the back of the passenger car. She turned toward Rain for an answer when the train jerked again.

Rain lost his balance and fell forward, his face buried in her chest. He peered up at her from his new position and gave a nervous laugh. "Sorry about that."

"You think this is funny?" Machika could feel heat flood her face and knew she was blushing a deep crimson. Almost without thinking she raised her hands in interlocked fists and brought them down hard on Rain's head, knocking him to the floor and away from her chest.

The panic-stricken voice of the conductor distracted her from exacting any more retribution against Rain.

"Desert pirates? Is that what he said?" Machika immediately abandoned Rain and headed toward the front of the train. She was half-way through the car when the windows shattered and four figures leaped into the train, eliciting screams from some of the women sitting in the car.

A young man with blonde hair who looked slightly familiar grinned at all the passengers. "Your money, your luggage, and your women now belong to Eury Evans and the Desert Pirates." He gave a large and somewhat leering grin. "Those who disobey will be killed…"

Machika had quite enough of the speech and the attitude of the so-called Desert Pirate. She launched a kick that sent Eury falling backwards. "I disobeyed. Now what?" She asked the slightly stunned Eury who sat up shaking his head and fingering his jaw gingerly.

He stared up at her where she balanced across the aisle. "I know you." The shock in his voice was visible. A slightly shorter blonde brushed past Eury and came to stand by Machika. "You brat, get down from there or else you're going to get killed…"

Machika didn't wait for him to finish his sentence. She planted both feet in his face and pushed, sending him flying backwards. "Anybody else want to try?" She challenged. "I'm already in a bad mood." I want him to touch me, I want to feel safe again like I did with Grandfather, but I can't, not with him. It's not possible…I know it won't happen.

It can't happen. He won't treat me that way. Why should he? Why do I want him to anyway? Machika tried to immerse herself in the fight, tried to drown out her own thoughts with the senseless brutality of hand to hand combat. But with each blow her frustration only increased.

"Hey brat!"

Machika glanced over to where Eury had his gun pressed firmly against the side of Rain's head. "I wonder just how many bullets an immortal can take point blank to the head and survive?"

"Rain, you idiot." Machika let her fists drop to her sides, her jaw clenched in irritation as she allowed herself to be herded with the other passengers into the last car.

She crouched with the group and watched irritably while Rain was wrapped in chains by Eury while the rest of the group looted the passenger's luggage.

"Hey bro," the tallest member of the Desert Pirates came up to where Eury was finishing securing the last chain around Rain's body. "Are you coming back with us?"

"Nah, I'm doing what's most fun." Eury gave the chains one final tug and then sat back on his heels.

"Bro?" Machika couldn't hide the skepticism in her voice as she looked from one to the other. "Does that mean..?"

"Yep," Eury stood up and threw his arms out with a dramatic flair. "The Desert Pirates are five siblings with different mothers." He paused and bent closer, squinting slightly as he stared at Machika. "Hey, you're a girl." He gripped her chin lightly, tilting her face as he examined her with interest. "You're not really my type, but…"

The next moment he was knocked back as Rain sat up, his head connecting with Eury's chin. "Did I miss anything?"

The innocence in Rain's voice sent Machika into a towering rage. "Miss something? It's your fault I was captured. Idiot."

"Hey, Eury, are you sure this moron's really Methuselah?" The only female pirate asked her brother, jerking her thumb toward Rain.

"She said he's METHUSELAH?"

"Are you kidding? He's the famous bounty?"

"That's what the pirates were after?"

As the comments from the passengers surrounding them became louder Machika noticed that Rain seemed to become quieter and withdrawn. Concerned she leaned forward trying to see his face. "Rain…"

"I think you have the wrong person." Rain gave a nonchalant shrug. "I've never heard such a strange name before."

"Who else is that strong?" Eury pointed dryly to the chains Rain had broken with his movements.

As the rest of the passengers turned to stare en masse at them Rain began to sidle along the wall toward the end of the car, nudging Machika along as he went. When he turned and bolted Machika was right on his heels. Outside of the car Rain stopped and grabbed Machika. "Up," The word was the only explanation he gave as he thrust her toward the top of the car. Machika took the hint and swung herself the rest of the way up. Rain followed her easily. He had just settled on the roof next to her when the door to the passenger car they'd just exited opened and the Desert Pirates swarmed out following their leader into the next car.

"What should we do?" Machika turned to look at Rain, her voice barely above a whisper. "All of the passengers are on the last car, if we disconnect it, then we could get away."

"My luggage." Rain sat up.

"Huh?"

"It's in the other car." Rain began to climb down. "I have to get it."

"Don't be an idiot." Machika grabbed at his sleeve. "Is it that important?"

"It's my lunch, canteen and pillow."

"And your violin, right?" Machika perched on the railing, watching as Rain worked on unfastening the coupling between the two train cars. "That's what you really want to get." She tilted her head, studying him. "It's so old and you can barely play it."

"Yeah, I can't play it as well as her."

"Her?" Startled, Machika couldn't hold back the question.

Rain didn't look up as he answered, focusing on his task. "Someone who died a long time ago."

Machika bit her lower lip, sensing the memories hidden within that short sentence. She ignored Rain when he spoke again, interrupting him with a question of her own. "Was she that important to you?"

He looked at her then, sitting back on his heels, an inquisitive look on his face. "Why this sudden interest in my female relationships?"

Machika felt her face heat up. "Dummy, I'm not…"

"It's the only thing I have left of her." Rain turned back to the train coupling.

Memories bound up in an object. Violin or scythe, it didn't matter. Precious memories. Something to cling to.

Machika listened as Rain told her to take care of the passengers. She took a step back before giving him a push that sent him stumbling to the released car. Startled he regained his balance and turned around to stare at her. "What did you do that for?"

"Didn't you believe me?" Machika stared at the door into the car, raising her voice so Rain could hear her as they drew further apart. "I told you I'd help you. I'm not as weak as you think." She turned to face him, smiling. "I'll get your violin for you." I'll help you, I'm strong, not weak. I can be useful.

She turned and entered the passenger car.

00000

The railroad tracks stretched out into the distance. The train itself was a speck on the horizon. Rain paused. He could leave now. Simply turn and walk away; disappear. She wouldn't be able to follow him anymore. He could go back to drifting while he waited for the appointed day.

"I'm not weak."

Blue eyes and a smile like sunshine flashed across his memory. A small, strong back, determination. Rain's eyes flew open. There was no longer any question in his mind.

Run.

It defied logic. Why should he chase after this girl who only wanted to kill him? There wasn't any reason he should.

Faster.

But he couldn't stop. She had stirred something within him. No matter what he tried it was too late. Like a flower opening under the warm rays of the sun, Machika had begun to revive his dying soul.

Faster.

He had to catch up to her. He could see the train in the distance. The bridge, there was something wrong with the bridge.

FASTER.

He reached out gripping the end car and dug in his heels, snapping railroad ties as he tried to slow the train down. He pulled back with all his strength, feeling his muscles strain as he fought against the weight and momentum of the train and steam locomotive.

Slowly, the train came to a stop, the locomotive resting precariously on the partly destroyed bridge.

Rain swung himself up on the back of the car, pushing open the door. The Desert Pirates were all in the car, but his gaze locked on Machika and never strayed as he walked towards her.

"Rain?" There was surprise in her voice

He didn't say anything, reaching out and gripping her arm, examining a bleeding cut. She jerked away. "It's only a scratch."

Satisfied she was fine he looked her in eyes. "Why did you do it?"

She looked away; he could see the hint of a flush on her cheeks. "Well, I wanted to help you and it seemed really important to you." She held out the violin. "See, in perfect condition, not a scratch on it." The pride in her voice was unmistakable.

As he stared down at the instrument Rain felt a quick burst of anger. She had risked her life for this, a simple piece of wood? "Forget it." He slapped the violin out of Machika's hands. It fell to the ground with a noisy clatter.

Machika stared up at him, her eyes wide, her hands still outstretched as if she still offered to him the violin. "But, I wanted you to believe me. I can help you, I know I can."

Rain turned away, unable to look into those blue eyes filled with confusion, at those hands stretched out towards him. "I don't need your help, now or ever. There's nothing you can save for me." What could she do against Yuca? The man had already taken everything from him. What was left to save?

The hint of a sound made him turn. Machika stood perfectly still, tears streaming down her cheeks as she cried silently. Rain stared, stricken, seeing in her eyes hurt and ultimate loss. Her hands had dropped to her sides.

The bridge gave a long protesting creak and buckled, collapsing entirely. The locomotive began to fall, dragging the remaining passenger cars after it. Pandemonium broke out as the Desert Pirates scrambled to escape. Rain stayed frozen, ignoring the fact that they were falling, locked in place by Machika's gaze. Her eyes slowly closed, freeing him. The heart he didn't have gave a painful lurch. He had to save her. He grabbed her, pulling her close, feeling her hands clutch at his arms, her face hidden.

As the locomotive crashed into the ground Rain leaped from the back of the last passenger car onto the falling remains of the bridge, running down the debris until there was no more. Freefalling the remaining distance until he landed in the large metal hands of a robot piloted by a small girl with large glasses. Gently Rain laid Machika down, bending over her. Her eyes opened and she looked up at him.

"Are you alright?"

At the sound of his question her eyes filled with tears. One hand raised to cover her face while the other pushed him away. Startled he watched as she leaped to the ground and began to run. His attempt to go after her was thwarted by a robot hand slamming down on his back. Pinned to the ground he could only watch as her steps carried her further and further from him.

Pain. Can a heart that doesn't exist cry?

Don't go; stay. I don't want to be alone… not anymore.

He blinked and she was gone.