Cowboy Bebop Fan Fiction ❯ Unveiled Emotions ❯ Remembering ( Chapter 2 )

Rei gazed out the window and sighed. She tried to remember the person closest to her heart. All she could see was a light gray. Light gray hair that was slightly curly. That much she could remember. He was tall and he seemed to be the type that wore expensive clothes. She seemed to remember that she was used to expensive things. It was as if she had been brought up rich.

Two birds stopped to perch on the windowsill and Rei watched them. They were tiny things, small enough to fit in her hand. She glanced up slightly as the door opened and the doctor entered. She acknowledges him then turned back to the window. The birds had flown off and she sighed. Why had they gone? Why had they left her?

"It's familiar, what I hear," she said and the doctor glanced at her.

"What do you hear?" he asked and Rei shook her head.

"Please don't sedate me again, but I hear a voice. I hear words that are not spoken and the voice is familiar. It's as if I've heard it before."

"There's someone here to see you."

"There is? Oh it's another doctor, isn't it? I'm going to get some more tests done, aren't I?"

"No."

"No?"

"No. I have someone here that's been concerned about you ever since you were brought in."

"Really?"

"I have no reason to lie to you, do I?"

"No. This voice…"

"What about it?"

"He has the coldness of ice, the killing bite of a snake and yet he's warm. There's a small bit of compassion hidden deep within his voice. I think I'm the only one that can hear it."

"Would you like to see your visitor now?"

"Does he have a name that starts with a V?"

"Why don't you speak to him yourself? I'll let him in."

The doctor left the room and Vicious raised his eyes as the doctor approached him.

"Be patient with her. Seeing you may be the key to everything falling into place. Her speech will be irregular because she will speak of things as she remembers them," the doctor said as Vicious laid a hand on the doorknob. He opened the door and entered the room. He glanced at Rei as he closed the door behind him.

"You've lost weight," he commented and Rei gazed up at him. He allowed a long silence to follow as Rei looked him over as the vagueness of her memory cleared. She took his hand, slowly at first, then grasped it tightly.

"It was you all along. For the longest time. All I saw was gray and I knew it was very important because it was the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes. I couldn't remember exactly what you looked like but I remembered gray. I knew it was you when I heard your voice," she said.

"When will you be able to leave?" Vicious asked as he placed his arms around her waist.

"I don't know. Soon, I hope. I want to see the outside again."

"What about what's right here?"

"I've been wanting to see you even before I could remember who you were."

"That's right. You have forgotten everything, haven't you?"

"I don't exactly think I forgot because I wouldn't be able to remember, would I?"

"I don't know. The mind is an interesting machine. I wanted so hard to forget my past then you came along and revived it. I don't think we can ever permanently delete something because it's going to always be somewhere in our minds. We have emotions, whether we want to accept it or not and tend to be relentless in holding on to things. Created machines are different. They do what they're told to do. Organic life-forms tend to be a bit more…rebellious."

He gazed down at her and ran a hand through her hair. She leaned closer to him and Vicious' eyes narrowed as the door opened.

"Another ten minutes and you would have had her laid her out on the bed like a piece of meat," Stinger said and Vicious gave him a deadly glare.

"What do you want?" he asked and Stinger leaned against the doorframe.

"You've got a call."

"So?"

"You might be interested in this. It's the Blue Dragon group. They've got a proposition for you."

"I'll take it outside. I have to speak to the doctor anyway. Watch her. That's all," Vicious said nothing and left the room and stinger glanced at Rei.

"Your ears aren't as long as mine. Guess that's 'cause you're a girl."

"What are you talking about?" Rei asked and Stinger grinned.

"You're a Taliban, same as me. Well…except you're a girl," he said. "Do you have to stay in those boring clothes?"

"What's wrong with them?"

"They don't show your figure very well. He likes to see you in things that compliment your body."

"He does?"

"Yes."

"But I don't have anything like that."

"Not here you don't but you do at his place."

"Let's go," Vicious said as he came into the room.

"Can I inquire about the call?" Stinger asked as Vicious took Rei's hand.

"I'm being challenged to a Red Eye run directly under the nose of bounty hunters. You're coming too. I've got to go to the front to sign your release and pay the bill. These…"

He handed her a bottle of pills. She took it from him and looked at the bottle.

"Will relieve shock. Take it when necessary. Make sure she takes it if she needs it."

"Can I put it in her mouth?" Stinger asked.

"Don't push you luck. Let's get going," Vicious said.

*******************************

Rei sat silently beside Vicious listening to his dark thoughts.

"Do I get paid for being you chauffer?" Stinger asked.

"As I've said before, don't push your luck," Vicious said then glanced at Rei. "Is anything wrong?"

"No. I'm just getting used to you again," Rei said and leaned against him. "I must have been really sick to be gone for so long."

"You were. This is the first time I've seen you in six months."

"Hey at least you've kept yourself busy. You've gained a lot of revenue in your gambling operations," Stinger said and Vicious said nothing. He was watching Rei from the corner of his eye. She seemed a bit unstable still, but he was sure that was a result of being removed from society. He felt her hand on his neck and he glanced at her. He smiled slightly; allowing compassion to show on his lips then glanced coldly at Stinger.

"What's that look for?" he asked as Vicious leaned forward in his seat.

"You missed the turn," he hissed and Stinger glanced at him.

"I know."

"Why? Explain. Now."

"Well, it's her first day out of the inst…that place and I thought she'd like to see the city."

"You'd better watch how you say things. I'm not above killing you even if you're still useful to me."

"Boy, that would be kind of stupid, don't you think? To kill the guy driving the car."

Vicious leaned back in his seat, mentally cursing Stinger out. He relaxed slightly as Rei ran her fingers through his hair. He had forgotten that she could hear his thoughts and his silent string of curses had concerned her.

"If you want, I can take you to an out of the way place where you can…you know," Stinger said.

"Have you always been this annoying?" Vicious asked as Stinger turned a corner.

"Hey, I don't know what you're thinking but I know one thing. You've missed your personal gratification even though you won't say it."

"There's an appreciation party for the police chief next week. We're going."

"How'd you get an invitation for her?"

"She's my escort. You will go as my bodyguard. Any more questions?"

"There's more to this than you're willing to tell me, isn't there?"

"Spike may show up."

"Why?"

"Apparently there's a sizable bounty on one of the guests. Spike might try for it."

"So if he does, you think he might try for you as well?"

"He might, but I doubt it. He may try for someone else and I don't think she's regained enough to be able to defend herself."

"You mean…?"

"Yes. Now where the hell are you taking us?"

"Right here. Go ahead and get out. The moons will be rising soon. I'll bring the drinks."

Vicious watched Rei get out of the car, and then opened his door. He stepped out and took off his trench coat. He took out a watch from his suit pocket and glanced at it then at Rei, who stood staring at the sky.

"I'm not dreaming, am I?" she asked as Vicious walked up to her.

"Why do you think you are?" he asked as he placed his hands on her shoulders.

"It's so beautiful. This can't be reality."

"It is."

"It'll be even more beautiful after you have a drink," Stinger said as he walked up to them. "Here. I'd help you drink it but I've already pissed him off enough times today."

"You know I can always send you to some physicians I know that would be more than willing to use you for experimentation," Vicious said and Stinger looked at him.

"Don't even make me bare my claws," Stinger said.

"Is that a threat? You know what I do to people who threaten me."

"Hey, I'm not an idiot. I know where I stand with you."

"And the thin ice you're standing on is going to crack soon."

"Take this blanket and go near the lake. She'll be able to see the moons really well. I'll keep watch."

"Why do you do this? I don't know whether to hate you or not now."

"Go ahead and hate me. It'll make things easier. Go on. I'll keep watch."

After a while, Stinger stood up and stretched, yawning in a cat-like manner. He glanced down a path where Rei and Vicious were making their way up and grinned. Rei looked fatigued and Vicious seemed a bit relaxed but he wasn't sure. It was always difficult to tell with Vicious.

"Take us to my place now," he said and Stinger nodded his head.

"Yeah, she looks like she could use some sleep. Looks like you went over her really well," he said and Vicious' gaze darkened.

"Shut up. You're only keeping yourself in danger by your own free will."

"I know. I still see purpose in risking my life for you. You're still profitable to me."

"What's that supposed to mean? You're not selling information, are you?"

"No. Why do you think that?"
"You said profitable. Why is it profitable? I know you're only loyal to yourself so where the hell do I fall into your plans?"

"Even though I boast no loyalties, I'd like to remain on good terms with the future leader of the Red Dragon syndicate. Besides, once you're involved with the syndicate you can't leave. Even independents know that."

"I'm not going to pay you off."

"I'm fully aware of that. But staying here makes a damned impressive work history. Here we are. Besides, what makes you think you're out of danger with her?"

"Maybe I should have let the Black Wolves kill you."

Rei got out of the car and stared at the large Victorian style house. It fit his old-fashioned style, she thought as she glanced at him.

"A car's coming," Stinger commented and Vicious looked at him.

"What kind?" he asked and Stinger shrugged his shoulders.

"I'd say a twenty-thousand woolong job. A sedan. It's too quiet to be a sports car."

"Go on in the house. I'll see what they want."

"What about your security system?"

"It's okay. I just told her how to get in."

"Oh yeah. I forgot about that trait. Bet it makes married life a pain in the ass. I wonder how other males of my species can stand it."

"Go on in. I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Okay."

"Not you. You're staying out here. I was talking to her."

"All right, I'll stay out here. I don't need more trouble with you."

******************

Rei walked down the front hallway, her shoes echoing in the silent air. She switched on the light, illuminating the room she stood in. She gazed at the staircase she stood in front of and blinked her eyes. She listened to Vicious' silent directions to her room then took a step forward. She heard a rustle of feathers and glanced to her side. Vicious' bird sat there, perched on the rail on the opposite side of the stairs, silently watching her. She set a foot on the stairs and watched the bird. The bird did nothing and Rei continued up the stairs. The look in the bird's eyes had unnerved her and she wanted to get away from it as quickly as possible.

She reached the top of the stairs and opened the door nearest the staircase. She walked in and pulled off her shirt. She ran her hands over her bare skin and sighed. She was on the outside again and it felt good. She walked over to the bed and sat down. She closed her eyes and listened to Vicious' thoughts. She heard Stinger's as well but she was ore interested in Vicious' mind.

The car had pulled up, she gathered from Vicious' disjointed thoughts for he was not only thinking about his visitors, but he was also thinking about numerous killing options if the situation turned to the worse. She pulled off her pants as she continued to listen to the conversation below. A threat was being made about Vicious' market expansion and Vicious' anger was growing. He swore silently and Rei realized that he had not changed at all during the time that she had been gone.

She turned her attention to Stinger, who seemed to be trying to reach a mutual agreement for both parties and sighed. She opened her eyes and ran her hands down her bare legs. Why was reaching an agreement so difficult at times? She sensed hostility towards Stinger then Vicious grudgingly relented.

Rei stood up and walked over to the closet and opened it. Inside hung many beautiful and expensive articles of clothing. She felt the fabric, marveling at the different textures.

"They should fit. I didn't take into consideration weight loss when I got them," Vicious said as he stepped into the room.

"What went on down there? I couldn't tell. There were too many minds thinking at the same time," Rei said as she turned around. She then realized her lack of clothing and flushed at Vicious' silent comment.

"It doesn't matter. They will get taken care of in good time. Do I need to vocalize what I'm thinking about now?"

"No. I'm really glad to get out of those clothes. I want to get back to the clothes I'm used to wearing."

"Yes, you need to get back to your original weight though."

Vicious laid his trench coat on the floor and unbuttoned his shirt. Rei watched him for a moment then closed the closet door.

"Did you really miss me?" she asked and Vicious said nothing. She embraced him and Vicious ran a hand down her back.

"I'm glad I'm back here," she continued as Vicious moved his hand down to her rump.

"I'm...glad as well," Vicious said, practically choking on the word "glad".

"Good."