The Final Redemption [Haruko Lawson]

[Akasha]

The humming of the engine was low and vibrated the brightly colored panel Akasha leaned on. Her ice blue eyes glowed brightly as her eyes scanned the rectangular screen that glowed every few seconds as the tracking device updated the information. She raised her eyebrows and lifted her chin finding the glowing speck on the horizon of brightly painted stars amongst the black canvas, the ship she had been stalking the moment it left the dock on Coruscant. Her pretty little eyes had made love to the sleek and sharp curves of the Japanese ship. It screamed money and it screamed customized. It also screamed for Akashi to take, to conquer, to make love to, to sell. Oh the money she would make once she took it over! Her eyes watered at the very thought. She had almost screamed with joy when her tracker gave her the information of the interior, a nice little gadget she had created back in the good 'ol days of college. Luckily her best friend Kale had the brains and the know-how to make her dream come true.

"Five floors." She said to herself as she grinned, wanting to bite her mouth with excitement. She hadn't been able to capture a ship with such prestige furnishings in a long time. It would be the best one she had ever taken from someone and probably the one that would allow her to retire. She sighed out and looked back down at the screen seeing the readings change with a blink and a soft beep. The coordinants changing as the owner moved his ship barely.

"Just give me a few hours." Akasha said to herself, moving her leg back to find her chair and fall into the soft leather interior. She sighed out and crossed her leg over her left knee, leaned her head back and stared out of the large window. She was trying to remember what she had read on the side of the golden hull. It was in the persons general language and she had touched it lovingly. She appreciated ships, so much that she decided to steal it. She grinned and let out a soft sigh.

"Lawson Rule." Her brain allowed her to remember. She pushed a strand of her hair out of the way, the blue color glowing in the dark light. "I am going to love you." She said happily as she saw the coordinants change yet again. She was closing in on it. Any moment she would get her equipment, gather up the calvary, and head into space to jack the ship right out from under the owner.

"Piece of cake." She said as she grabbed a cigarette from the box. It wasn't her style to have a victory smoke before she jacked the ships, but this was just too good of a find to not.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko was lounged back in the cockpit, his shirt gone, sweat dripping down his chest and face, and bottle of liquor hanging from his fingertips as his arm laid limp over the back of his seat. His head was leaned back on the head rest of the chair, his hair falling to one side as he listened to Mr. Lawson chattering in his ear, telling him about something that he wasn't really understanding, even though his other personality had psent the past three hours trying to explain it to him.

Haruko had lost weight since he had left Coruscant. He no longer had the urge to eat. Nothing tasted good anymore, most things made him sick. If he ate something, Mr. Lawson wouldn't like it and would cause him to throw it back up. He could keep little down unless Mr. Lawson wanted it. And the most that he wanted was liquor, sex, and bread every now and again. Mr. Lawson had been whining about being horny since they had left Coruscant and since there were no women--or men for that matter--present on this ship besides Mr. Lawson and Haruko, he had been settling for bringing himself off when he wanted it.

Haruko was exhausted. His other personality had run him ragged the past week. And now, Haruko wasn't even sure where Mr. Lawson was taking them. He had been keeping the other in check most of this day, and so far he hadn't gotten too angry, but Haruko was just waiting for him to get worked up about something.

Sighing out a heavy breath, Haruko leaned forward and tweaked the ship a couple of times as Mr. Lawson instructed him. He yawned and leaned back in his seat again, taking a long drink of the liquor in his hand and then raising the bottle to his reflection--Mr. Lawson--who grinned back at him.

"Maybe this suicide trip will work, what do you think?" he asked his other personality. Mr. Lawson shrugged, taking a drink of the liquor and laughing.

"That's up to you, Haruko," he answered. Haruko rolled his head back on the head rest, raising the bottle of liquor again.

"Here's to my suicide mission."

[Akasha]

Akasha looked down at her pants, frowning softly and her bottom lip sticking out in a pouting motion as she stuck her melt through her pants loop. She was getting nervous, excited, and anxious about this mission. She was somehow unnerved by the whole easiness of her find. The ship was such a rare find that she was salmost shocked to find it floating in the ether now. She had been following it for almost three days, it taking odd twists and turns. Luckily she knew this part of the galaxy as much as she knew the back of her hand. The ship's tracker didn't show many signs of movement inside of the ship, she wondered if the person inside had died. She cringed at that thought. Dead bodies always left a foul smell inside the ship and it was very hard to get rid of unless one ripped out the walls and interior completely and she wasn't about to do that with this rare beauty.

Still this was a very interesting ordeal that was being laid in front of her. The movement inside was minimal if not non-existent. On the other hand it made her job even easier! Of there were less than three people she could have that baby back at her shop in a day or two, with her seven partners on board things would be very easy and would allow her money credits to go up due to barely any damage for more people always seemed to think destructing things would cause her to leave. Little did they know it made her more inclined to take the ship under her wing.

"Akasha...we are nearing the ship. I give it another thirty minutes before we are on its tail." Her best friend Kale informed her of the situation and she could only smile. She bent over her bed and grabbed her black jacket to pull over her white tank top. Thirty minutes was perfect. She couldn't help but think of how easy this all was. It was eerily so. She grabbed her black leather gloves and pulled them on and grabbed her black mask and turned out of the room.

"We are gonna have fun tonight, boys!" She screamed with happiness after a moment of hearing the hoop and hollar, apparently they were informed of the little activity and movement. But still, deep inside, something just didn't seem right. "Piece of cake!" She yelled as she pulled on her black mask followed by her hood. Secrecy was all part of the game for she never killed a hostage.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko let out a long sigh as Mr. Lawson informed him that they were being followed. Haruko flipped on the screens that gave him a view of the space around him. Sure enough, the heat sensors picked up a ship not thirty minutes off his left side. Haruko took a swig of liquor into his mouth, rinsed it about a moment before spitting it out to the side. He chewed his lip and cocked his head from one side to the other.

"You think they'll kill me?" Haruko asked himself. Mr. Lawson laughed, shaking his head and sighing heavily.

"If you ask them to, I bet they would. Anyone would wanna get rid of you," Mr. Lawson answered. Haruko nodded in agreement before putting the bottle of liquor down and spinning to go down the hall, grabbing his button up jacket as he walked. He pulled it on, leaving the front unbuttoned and checking for the guns in his holsters. He didn't plan on using them, but just in case the followers ran out of ammo dealing with Mr. Lawson, they could use his guns. Haruko smiled a little.

"I hope they get me right in this bionic bitch," he said kocking on the metal skull. Mr. Lawson laughed as they made thier way down the hall towards the back area of the ship. Mr. Lawson ran a hand down his stomach, making a groaning sound.

"Maybe they'll have a pretty little girl. Maybe I can finally get some. You just aren't doing the trick anymore, Haru," he said with another grunt as he tightened his belt around his waist. Haruko sighed.

"Maybe so, Mr. Lawson."

[Akasha]

Akasha shifted slightly as she bent down to tie her boots a little tighter, stuffing the strings inside her shoe and tightening the belt that strapped over the top of her shoe. There had been reorded movement inside, luckily it had bene only one person. She was still unsure of the situation and was trying to talk te fear out of her system before the job was done for fear caused distractions and destractions leaded to death.

"One person." She recapped to herself as she stood up quickly and looked around, the black piece of cloth under her eyes itching her slightly as she began to sweat with adrenaline. "Why would one person be all the way out here." She began to move out of the cockpit and down the hall, grabbing a blaster off the wall hooks to her right, not even giving it a glance already knowing it was there for she had made this walk many times before. She'd walk straight for a minute, take a right, slip under the walkway, down to a small capsule sized ship, she'd direct the eight of them outside to the ship. They'd easily get inside from the bottom and it was smooth sailing after that.

"Going down." She said trying to keep up her energy, her excitement, her happiness of finding this ship. She saw her teammates already inside of the capsule ship, strapped in, cloaked in black clothes, blasters everywhere, ready to go.

"Don't we all look comfy." She said with a smile as she slipped through the railing into the ship. She closed the glass shield and started the ship up, hearing it roar to life. "If the person inside has a tracker, they won't even pick up on this little baby." She knew she said it everytime, but she couldn't help but brag. How she loved her job.

"There are five levels. I was you four on the second level, search for any other people, you and you on the bottom, Kale you take second, I take top and take down the captain. Don't get hurt, don't hurt them, we will be golden." She pushed many buttons and closed off the rest of her ship and equalized the pressure and before she knew it they were out of the ship right under the Lawson Rule.

Akasha smoothly attached the capsule to the underside and opened a small hold in the top of the ship, allowing everyone to slide out and into the bottom level through the crevices where the metal stands came out. She frowned softly as she turned the ship off and made her way out into the bottom half, hearing the loud humming of the engines. She couldn't help but get a chill at the sound, this baby was better than she thought. The power was unbelievable. She looked around and made a few hand gestures to her teammates and quickly began her ascend to the top.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko stopped and pivoted to walk back towards the cockpit. They were in the ship, he could hear them running. He sighed heavily as Mr. Lawson laughed and informed him that he was going to take a nap. Haruko sighed again as Mr. Lawson carefully nestled back and his voice went away. Haruko was immediately hungry and drained of strength. He almost fell as his knees shook a little. He was malnourished and should have been getting food into him right now instead of worrying about people on his ship.

"God..." he said, hearing and picking out seven sets of foot falls. Seven people definately outnumbered one. He made his way back to the cockpit and looked at the diagram of the levels of his ship. Four on the second level, one on the bottom level, one on the second level, and one heading for his level. The top. He ran his tongue over his lips and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. Sliding down into the cockpit seat, he picked up the bottle of liquor, waiting for the hijackers to arrive. The sooner they came with all guns blazing, the better, and the sooner he could just die.

[Akasha]

Akasha leaned against a wall and panted lowly as she had climbed and run quickly just in case this person had detected them. Which it would have surprised her for this ship was decked out with everything imaginable. She looked around and then turned the corner, her stomach flipping when she saw a person sit down and pick something up off the floor. Her heart pounded and she softly walked over to him, blaster in hand, she wanted ot be quiet and wanted to surprise the man in case he had grabbed a blaster from the floor. If that was the case she was ready to blow away.

Akasha had been in worse situations, but it still seemed to easy. Something wasn't right, but she let it slide. This ship was worth all the trouble in the world! Her pockets were needing that lining this baby would cover. To her, finding this ship was like an early Christmas gift and she was more than willing to unwrap it. She charged the blaster, knowing the person would hear it. She pressed it against the persons head, the wild colors slightly taking her off guard, but still she kept her ground.

"Drop what is in your hand." She demanded in a low, determined voice. Luckily she hadn't heard any gunfire from anyone else, so perhaps this man was all that was on the ship. "I said drop it." She said again when the man took a drink without hesitation.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko swallowed the drink and sighed heavily throwing his hand over the side of the chair, the bottle crashing to the floor with a sound that was louder than what that gun would make that was to his head. Slowly he leaned forward, reaching up to keep the blaster to his head, and then he turned carefully.

He face the person behind him, seeing that it was a woman. He cocked his head to one side to observe her a little better. He ran a tongue over his lips and blinked away a drop of sweat that had fallen into his eye. Haruko chewed his lip lightly and then sighed.

"Let me guess..." he said, his voice quiet and disheartened. "You're either here to kill me...or here to take my ship. Or both..." he said with a nod. "Which would be preferable. Considering I never really wanted to die by being thrown out into space," he said, glancing over the woman's shoulder as he saw someone else board the top level, yelling to the woman and telling her there was no one else on the ship. Haruko laughed, running a hand through his hair.

"You could have asked me that...I'm the only one here," he said with a sigh.

[Akasha]

Akasha stared, in disbelief and shock. She had never met a man who had actually been so cooperative. She frowned, but blinked away the shock. She looked at the man's shoulder blindly after hearing the man repeat that the ship was empty.

"Fine. Check out what this ship has." She looked back up at the man and stared at him. "Don't talk unless I tell you to." She held the blaster to his head and pushed his chest roughly and backed him into the control panel and quickly ran her free hand over his shoulders, down his side, his back, his stomach, his legs, anywhere and everywhere. No place being off limits for hiding blasters. She had been surprised by such things before and she wasn't about to take any crevice or hole for granted. She felt herself burn alive as she felt his eyes stare at her as she felt everywhere. She didn't know why it was getting so hot in there, perhaps it was because something seemed off, this man's sudden desire to be shot, kepe the blaster to his head, being careless with everything. Akasha now realized that perhaps the reason she didn't feel right was because this guy wasn't right.

"Tell me where your weapons are. I don't like to be surprised and I don't want things to get messy." She clenched her jaw when she ran her hand up his thigh an moved it inbetween his legs, feeling for any kind of straps underneath his clothes.

[Haruko Lawson]

Mr. Lawson was awake now, but he was keeping back, letting Haruko's eye stay brown. He wouldn't spring forth until all was right for him, but Haruko did feel his laugh creep up in his throat as the woman's hand brush his crotch and his equipment. He licked his lips again and watched her, lounging back on the control panel where he had allowed her to push him.

"I have weapons everywhere," he said. He reached back and pulled the only blaster he had on her person out of his belt and tossed it to the floor at her feet when she stood up. He nodded to the hallway. "I have several, um...cabinets through the hall. And in the engine room, I have a stache. I have a few laying around my room, but they aren't loaded. Mostly stuff I've been screwing with..." he said lazily, as he and Mr. Lawson talked in his head. Haruko reached down bringing her blaster to his head again and stroking the cool metal like a lover.

"It's a little hard for things to get messy when your clothes are still on, my dear," Mr. Lawson said, his voice sounding different from Haruko's. Haruko cleared his throat and smiled a little. "Sorry...I'm a little tired..."

[Akasha]

Akasha stood up and watched the man with slit eyes his laugh giving her a cold chill that didn't give her a sensation it normally would have. She should have felt turned on for she loved deep sensuous laughs, but this just left her disturbed. She glanved down at her blaster and watched his fingers touch the barrel stroking it as if he were making love to it, again she felt awkward, even more so when he made a little comment. She lazily found his face with her eyes somehow finding herself oddly turned on by the sudden actions. This also made her feel more odd than before. She moved the blaster away from his hand and pushed it against his crotch.

"Keep your rocket in your pocket, love." She said moving a bit closer and pressing the barrel against him in a harsh manner that probably hurt him, but she wanted to get that message loud and clear. "And don't worry about my clothes, either." She looked around and nodded. "Where are some chains?" She looked back at him and gave him a little wink.

"Hope you like it rough."

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko sighed pushing his hips forward to knock the blaster off of him, the pressure hurting him, turning Mr. Lawson on, and making his brain hurt annoyingly. He jabbed a thumb to his right at a panel in the wall. He didn't say anything, but figured she would get the idea that that was where he kept his bondage toys.

Slowly he moved around her, his hands up to show her he wasn't trying anything, and flopped back down in his chair. He sat back and waited for her to retreive the chains. He would be locked here, but not for long. When Mr. Lawson decided to come out and get a peice of the action, the chains would be of no use. Nothing would stop him. Especially not if she said something stupid that not only pissed him off but made him hornier than he had been. Haruko's mind was going over every worse case scenerio.

He wished she would just go ahead and shoot him instead of fiddling around with chains. He knew she would be dead if she didn't shoot him now. He glanced over his shoulder at her.

"Why don't you go ahead and use the blaster God gave you?"

[Akasha]

Akasha was shocked that the man was giving her more information than most. Something she wasn't used to dealing with. It made her more uncomfortable than it should have, but she was still a bit happy that things were going so easy for it made things easy and meant that he would get out alive, just the way she liked it.

She frowned feeling a cold chill run down her spine when she opened up the large cabinet seeing quite a collection of things of bondage. This guy sure liked playing rough, so perhaps that little comment was something she could have let slide. She bit her lower lip and grabbed a few chains and walked over to him.

"Get up." She said sternly, walking behind him to a door nearby to the cockpit. She pulled it open where she remembered the closet being on the map. She pushed him into the dark closet and flipped on a light. "Sit." She demanded again, watching him do so with a sigh as if this were some hard task. It made her mad but she kept the anger subdued for she knew she wouldn't get something this easy again.

Akasha put the blaster in the waist band of her pants and bent down and quickly began looping the chain around his ankles, thighs, and waist. She realized she was two inches away from straddling his hips when she pushed his hands behind his back and behind a rail. She looked him in the eyes and got another chill. There was something dark and secretive being hidden and she didn't like it. She had seen these kind of people and she was used to the way they acted and looked. But unfortunately this was the first time she ever saw a man so willing to do everything for her.

She heard the chains clank and clunk and she finally had them tied together and locked by a lock back down at his feet. If he got out of those then he was a magician. She stood up and looked down at him and pointed.

"You don't go anywhere." She said with a laugh. "If you are good boy I might give you a little treat. Like...your life." She flipped the light off and backed out into the hallway.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko grunted heavily as he felt Mr. Lawson make a lunge for dominance. He shook his head and yelled to the woman as she almost disappeared from his sight. He waited until he could see her better. He licked his lips and shook his head.

"Please..." he said, his voice husky. "You don't want to let me live..." he paused, moving slightly, the chains clunking around him. He shook his head. "Please, ma'am. Just...just kill me now. You'll be putting a lot of people out of danger..." he said, his face as sincere as he could make it. He heard Mr. Lawson protest his words, but he squinted one eye to try and resist it. He shook his head again fervantly this time. "I don't want my life. You can take it, do with it whatever you please, just...take it."

He was begging now, desperately wanting this woman to just fire at him and end it all before he killed her, her crew, and hundreds of others that would strike Mr. Lawson the wrong way. He just wanted it all to end here. He looked hard at her, trying to make her see. Although it was unlikely.

"Please."

[Akasha]

Akasha slightly jumped at the sound of his voice. SHe stopped dead in her tracks, no pun intended, and slowly turned to look at the man sitting on the floor tied tightly. The chains moving giving her an eery sensation in her bones. His voice was deep and husky and suddenly she wondered if this man had some serious mental issues.

She watched him beg, shake his head, move around, plead, grovel, give her a look of empathy that would normally make her heart break. But this ship meant more to her at this moment. She frowned and walked inside and squated down in front of his face, feeling his warm breath against her skin even through the thick wool mask. She lifted her hand to her neck and grabbed the mask and pulled it up over her face and folded the neck on her head, the air hitting her face feeling so good. She looked at the man being able to see him through the light in the hall.

"What is wrong with you?" She questioned, frowning harshly. She sighed out and thought for a moment. She knew that people woul tell them anything to get them off their ship and she would disregard it, but for the first time she was actually wanting to believe this man. She knew that if she did she would be soft, she would lose her touch, she would be a sissy. She wasn't ready for any of that. She looked at him sweat and for a moment she contemplated on moving him to another room with air ventilation, but she also knew that would be an empathetic thing to do.

"No." She said sternly, tilting her head slightly to study him. "The only way you are going to lose your life...is over my dead body." She leaned back and stood up and walked to the door. "Sweet dreams, psycho." She slammed the door and locked it tightly. She backed away from the door and jumped when her back met with the other wall. Something wasn't right with that man, his threats, his pleas, it didn't fit. It creeped her out and it made her scared. But she stood her ground, pride getting in the way.

She turned and ran down the hall to her partners.

"I want you to go back to the main ship. Scan this place for bombs. I think this man is on a suicide mission. I have my radio. Contact if you find anything. Don't come back until I say so, you hear? Do it, do it quickly." She turned and disregaurded their objections and went back to the cockpit to turn the ship on the pathway to her shop.

[Haruko Lawson]

"Psycho?"

Mr. Lawson was not a happy camper. He hadn't been laid in weeks, and his hand was getting to be an annoyance. This woman would do nicely if he could just get out of these chains. It wouldn't take him ten minutes, he just needed to wait for the opportune moment. His eye flashed blue as Haruko retreated and Mr. Lawson came to full power. He shifted uncomfortably as his very adept ears listened to her tell her cohorts to check for bombs, then move back to the cockpit just outside his door. He shook his head and raised his voice so she could hear him through the door.

"There aren't any bombs here, what do you think, Haruko is stupid?" he drawled, his voice decidedly different from Haruko's. "If he wanted to kill himself, he would have just shot himself. Which actually you interrupted me. That's what I was about to do when you and your petty theives decided to play," he called, trying to provoke her into the opening the closet so he could get a good shot at getting out of here. He cocked his head a little, leaning it back and closing his eyes.

"Anyway. You gonna sell The Rule to a chop shop? Or the cops? I'm telling you, you'd get a good price from either," he said through a yawn. "Not that a woman would know..." he muttered more to himself as he got comfortable to wait for them to get in a routine so he could break out of there.

[Akasha]

Akasha heard the man but was quick to stifle it by closing the pit door so she could program the ship on the correct pathway. Her dock was a day or so away considering he had been floating freely for quite some time. It would take her a while to get it turned back around, but she had time and patience for this baby. She sighed out and felt the cool air hit her face even better now that she was under a vent. The mask was getting itchy and she was glad to have moved it off of her face. She frowned with displeasure due to the stench. When was the last time that guy took a shower? He looked as if he hadn't done so in years and the place reaked of alcohol.

"What is your name, boy?" She questioned out loud as she began to scan the place trying to find an identification card, but she foud nothing. She sighed out and leaned back into the confort of the chair and waited till she got word from her boys back on her ship. She knew it would take all of five minutes and the second seh thought that she jumped when she heard her friends voice telling her that the place was clean of anything destructive. She grabbed the tiny radio and sighed.

"Who is this ship registered to?" She frowned and lifted her hand off the com button. She head static and then Kale's voice.

"Lawson, Haruko. He is the registered user. Look, Akasha, you shouldn't be alone there. I don't trust him."

"Kale, I'm twenty five years old. I can take care of myself. Besides, that guy doesn't scare me. He can cause a chill, but other than that....he is like a baby. I'm staying here tonight. You all turn the ship around and watch out for officials. I am gonna check this place out, see how he sleeps at night." She smiled and pushed the button one more time. "Talk to you later. Over and out." She heard Kale object but she quickly turned the radio off. If she was going to experience the Lawson Rule, she was going to experience the Lawson Rule! She was going to eat his food, sleep in hs bed, and shower all she wanted. As far as everything went, this ship was officially hers.

[Haruko Lawson]

Mr. Lawson had been sitting in there forever before he finally felt and heard the woman leave. He thought she said something but he didn't know what, and he didn't really care. One more hour he would give her to go to sleep or just get away from him and he would be out.

Slowly, he went ahead and began work on the chains. The laser in his eyes emmitted outwards, hitting the chain at an angle and searing through one part in a few moments. Mr. Lawson was patient when it came to getting free. Because he knew once he was, he could reak as much havoc as was absolutely possible. But once he got out of here, he was going to dump some cold water on himself. It was burning up in this ship and had been ever since Haruko had gotten up and taken a hot shower that morning. Mr. Lawson didn't cope with heat well. Actually, there was very little he coped with well. He hated everything and everyone. And at the moment, his prime target was that woman. Not only would he get immense pleasure from murdering her, he would get several rounds of great torture and sex before he did so.

Mr. Lawson shivered with the joy he was going to have raping her. He moved his head from one side to the other beginning on those chains. He could have just seared the lock, but he thought that he ought to pass an hour and this was as good a way as any.

Slowly, he hummed to himself as he worked, a smile plastered on his face as his mind went over everything he was going to do.

[Akasha]

Akasha moaned as if she had just been pleasured as she flipped her head back hearing drops of water fly everywhere and splash and land wherever they may. Her cropped black hair falling in thick strands around her face as they fell flat. She sighed out after having such a hot shower she was ready to go to sleep and rest her tired aching bones. She had been so tense and stressed about getting this ship that she was loving every ammenities it offered. His shower, so far, being the best. It had great heat, massaging water settings, multiple shower heads, and such a fabulous collection of good body wash. This man had good tastes and she was by far enjoying his misfortunes.

She was beginning to wonder if she should even sell this ship and keep it for herself. She loved it here. It wasn't cold and crowded like her own. She sighed as she watched the mirror unfog quickly and show her hair. She lifted her towl and scrubbed it quickly, pushing a few strands of gold out of her eye. Seeing her mulitcolored hair reminded her of the man in the closet, Haruko Lawson his name was. He was fairly attractive, had sexy style, and slightly turned her on. It wasn't a bad thought to have her way with him, then again it wasn't pleasing either. He had given her quite a fright and she was wondering if perhaps she should just abandon ship and let him die all alone in that tiny closet.

She stopped scrubbing and sighed. She wasn't that kind of person. She might have been wild, blunt, tough, and sarcastic, but she wasn't a killer. Although she gave people some good beatings, she could never kill another person unless she had to. Which killing Haruko wasn't an option for he was tied up in chains. She smiled at the sudden safety she felt. That man had a death wish and it frightened her, but now that she knew he was locked away in the dark all was fine.

She dropped the towel on the floor and walked into the large room where he slept. She smiled as she felt a large baggy shirt nearly fall off her shoulder. She had raided his closet and found something soft and comfortable and she was now ready to lay down and sleep for ages. She turned off all the lights and jumped onto his bed and moaned.

"This is the life, buddy!" She laughed and wallowed around before finding a comfortable position on the bed and closing her eyes, inhaling his great scent. Not only was he attractive, but he smlled fabulous as well.

[Haruko Lawson]

Mr. Lawson had been standing free of the chains for about fifteen minutes when he decided all was well and good for him to come out and get some. The door was easy to open when he nuked the lock with his laser. The cockpit was dark when he emerged, only the console lights blinking a little.

He moved to the console and changed the course of the ship just slightly. If her people weren't really looking close, they wouldn't notice it. Mr. Lawson made his way down the hall to his kitchens. He filled the sink with cold water and splashed himself with it. Then, taking a deep breath, he dunked his head down into it, staying there for a moment before, pulling out and shaking his head a little, his hair falling limply into his face and streams of water running down his body. He stripped off his shirt and splashed his chest with water, making sure he was sufficiently soaked before creeping out and into the lifts, going to the living quarters area.

His eye whirred as he switched it to infrared and scanned the area. No one but him and one sleeping person...in his bedroom. Slinking forward in the shadows of the dark hallway, Mr. Lawson slowly--silently--made his way to his door. He peered at the door as his blue eye glittered with its own light.

"Lawson, Haruko..." he whispered and the door lock turned green. Mr. Lawson pressed the release button and the door slid open. Immediately, Mr. Lawson scanned the room to make sure she had no engaged the security system. She hadn't. "Stupid girl..." he muttered, stepped in and leaning his long body on the door frame, loosening his pants in anticipation of what was to come. He licked his lips and waited. As long as it took, he would wait. If she had good senses, she would wake. But by that time, it would be too late.

[Akasha]

Her eyes fluttered open when she thought she heard something move in the room. She frowned and slowly moved on the bed that was so comfortable that she felt like she weer floating on air. She leaned on her right elbow and looked around and suddenly her heart stopped. There was a blue light shining brightly directly at her and she suddenly realized that this man was not a man, but a certain creation. She rolled onto her back and leaned on her elbows and looked directly in front of her.

"Well I'll be damned." She said in a sigh. She should have known that this man was psycho, as she had called him earlier. "I take it you are a little mad." She sighed out and nodded, knowing he probably saw her better than she saw him. Before he could pounce her, which was expecting she grabbed the lamp on the table to her right and threw it at him with all her might, hearing it hit him with a thud them crash and shatter on the ground. She moved quickly on the bed, but realized he had nice satin sheets, which wasn't good considering he was lunging at her and was probably going to over power her quickly.

[Haruko Lawson]

Mr. Lawson felt a bit of glass stick in his cheek, but he didn't feel it. He roared forward hitting the bed and sliding forward into the woman, grabbing her and hurling her away from him and into the desk next to his bed. He slid on the sheets, losing his balance slightly, but regaining it quickly and jumping to his feet in a stance resembling that of a spider. He cracked his neck and licked his lips.

"Mad?" he purred. "Mad doesn't even cover it, beautiful!" he roared, jumping from the bed and landing over her, stradling her hips with his thighs and pinning her arms above her. He stared down at her, his bionic eye whirring heavily in his head and his eye swilved down her body to process how many layers of clothing she was wearing. He laughed. "This is Haruko's favorite shirt and you're going to come all over it. Pity," he purred, leaning down and licking her temple.

"Are you scared, miss?"

[Akasha]

Akasha wasn't really expecting his expertise in attacking, nor his good aim, and his tackling skills. She wasn't scared, but surprised.

"Scared?" She was panting from shock and slightly annoyed at the fact that she liked how he was talking to her like that. She wasn't one who liked it rough, but it had always appealed to experience it. She just wasn't sure if she was ready to do such a thing with this kind of guy. "I've handled...bigger...and I've been in much more difficult...positions." She clenched her jaw not really enjoying the fact that he was licking her temple, but either way there really wasn't much to enjoy about what was going on. She could be dead in two seconds, but she knew that this guy was wanting to play a while. She wasn't one to bargain or to give in...but she was always willing to play along. If he wasnted helplessness with a bit of fighting she could do it, if he wanted a fight she would by all means fight, if he wanted submissiveness she would sit still. Whatever he wanted she'd do as long as she lived long enough to think of a way out of this situation. The one thing she always liked about herself was her ability to adapt and to problem solve. Unfortunately there wasn't many things around to help her solve and get out of this unflattering predicatment.

"Come on, big boy!" She said a bit angered that she had been stupid enough to allow him to get out. "You want to play hardball? I'm game!"

[Haruko Lawson]

Mr. Lawson laughed heartily, but choked it off when he felt Haruko attack from the inside. He reared back away from her, grabbing his head as for two seconds, his eye flashed brown and he choked.

"Run!" was all Haruko could choke out before Mr. Lawson growled and got control again, stumbling slightly, his eye flashing to blue again, and fixating on the woman who was no longer in his grasp. "Damn it, he comes out at the most inopportune moments..." Mr. Lawson said, cracking his fingers and neck, getting his bearings and standing straight, staring down at the woman.

"So you're game, are you?" he purred. His eyes grazing her long legs that were sprawled out from under the shirt that just covered the region of her that Mr. Lawson was much more interested in exploring. He licked a drop of water off his lip that slid down from hsi forehead. He knocked a little water drenched hair from his face as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "I don't want you to be game, bitch. I want you to be dead!" he screamed, his teeth bearing in an animalistic snarl.

[Akasha]

Akasha's eyes grew larger than normal when she suddenly realized that this was no longer a situation that she could easliy wiggle out of. She screamed a curse and moved off the bed and towards the door, only to feel the man grab her and easily toss her back onto the bed as if she were just a toy. She felt her back stiffen from the pain she felt when her spine came into contact with the headboard. She wasn't one who was acustomed to pain, but she could usually handle it, but unfortunately this hurt far worse than normal. She almost went numb for a moment until she found herself under the mans control again.

"I should have killed you after all, huh?" She fought hard and tried to find herself in a position to leave, but it was to no avail. Oh the dangers of hijacking a ship. "What's wrong? Scared to have a girl enjoy your little perverse fantasies?" She figured she could at least try a little role reversal.

[Haruko Lawson]

Mr. Lawson stuck out his tongue and sang a little tune in Japanese, bobbing his head back and forth over top of her. His blue eye threw her face into shadow and light as he moved his head. Then he stopped and chewed his lip.

"Well, it wouldn't bother me if you were able to handle my perverse fantasies. But by the time you were bleeding profusely, and screaming in pain, I don't think you would like it much anymore, my dear," he said shaking his head and standing up off of the bed, crossing the room to the door and standing in her way in case she decided she wanted to bolt. He stood there in silence for a moment trying to decide what he wanted to do with her. Haruko was pleading for him not to hurt her, but Mr. Lawson was in the mood for blood. He cocked his head.

"Haruko doesn't think I should hurt you. But I would really like to..." he said, as if he were in a reall dilemma. "Which one of us do you trust?"

[Akasha]

Akasha stood on her knees on the bed. She wasn't fond of bleeding to death, but she wasn't wanting to give in just yet by voicing who she trusted, which actually was neither one of them. She sighed and crawled off the bed deciding to keep things going until she found something sharp to jab into him, or something that she could knock him unconscious with. Whatever came first actually. She gave him a grin and she began to unbutton the blouse she had pulled on from the closet.

"Come on..." She said slitting her eyes. "Lets play a little, huh? I know you want to....a little fun now...a little pain later...what do you say?" She bit her lower lip and allowed the shirt to just fall open. She had done this before, no problem, yet with this guy she was having a severe problem with trying to enjoy a little casual sex. Perhaps it was because the man was so unstable. Either way she was trying to think of a way to get out of this mess.

"Just...just a little?" She gave him a sexy grin and lifted an eyebrow. She just wanted an indication that she wasn't going to die just yet.

[Haruko Lawson]

Mr. Lawson's eyes traveled down her form and he felt a smiled tug at his mouth. But his eyes slowly found the mirror over her shoulder and he saw Haruko there, anger on his face. Haruko shook his head.

"No, Mr. Lawson. Leave her be. Isn't your pick with me? Hasn't it always been?" Haruko asked. Mr. Lawson snorted, glanced at the woman then back at Haruko who still looked angry. Mr. Lawson laughed a little.

"Even if it has been, Haru, I'm tired of having you stroke me off. You can't tell me you don't want to play with her...just a little?" Mr. Lawson asked, looking back at the woman a moment, her body enticing him to step a little closer, but the sound of Haruko's voice distracting him.

"If it weren't for me, you never would have gotten any, ever. You know that right?" Haruko said, his voice grating on Mr. Lawson's last nerve. He clenched his jaw and reached out one hand grabbing the woman and pulling her against him. He flipped her, holding his arm around her neck, forcing her to face the mirror and Haruko.

"I'll kill her if you don't shut up, you weak bastard!" Mr. Lawson told his counterpart that stared with worry from the mirror. Haruko shook his head.

"You're protecting your balls with a woman? Nice one, Mr. Lawson," Haruko said, glancing at the woman with a reassuring glance, before looking back at Mr. Lawson with a hardened stare. "Just deal with me later, Mr. Lawson. Let me deal with her, and you can deal with me."

"I swear to God, Haruko..." Mr. Lawson said, holding the woman tighter around her throat. "Leave us be or its over for her."

[Akasha]

Akasha was taken aback when she heard him talking to himself. Suddenly the idea of a good shag was no longer what she wanted. This guy had some serious issues and she was suddenly being caught in the middle. She bit her tongue when he grabbed her and turned her to face herself in the mirror, the man being so tall against her back and in the mirror. His arm was tight around her throat ant she slowly felt the oxygen passage getting smaller.

"I'm getting impatient!" She said trying to speed things up. "Just decide what the hell is going on. I can't stay turned on forever!" She bit her lower lip. He was going to choke her if she didn't shut up. She felt the grip tighten and she coughed slightly. "Damn it." She said to herself. She needed something to hurt him with. Something....anything! She just needed someone to throw her a bone.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko took over the right side of his body, grabbing his own arm and pushing it from around the woman. He pushed her shoulders forward and was suddenly at war with himself. Mr. Lawson on the left side, and he on the right. He grabbed his head, Mr. Lawson roaring, his body being flung from one side of the room to the other as they fought the internal battle. His eye flickered flash, spun, rolled around in the socket.

Mr. Lawson was confused, angry, horny, stupid. Haruko was malnourished, tired, hungry, intelligent. One of them was going to win soon, but Haruko didn't know who had the upper hand anymore. Mr. Lawson flung thier body to the ground and they writhed together, Haruko's body like a contortionist on the floor as he pulled at his hair and screamed, Mr. Lawson doing the same thing, thier struggled intesifying, the girl forgotten for the moment.

"Get out of here! Go to your ship and leave!" Haruko screamed, looking up at her breifly, his eye half brown half blue. "Just leave!"

[Akasha]

Akasha watched in horror. What in God's name was going on? She looked around the room and grabed a vase nearby and walked over to him and slammed it over his head. She heard it shatter and she watched it fall to the floor in amazement. She stood watching him in shock. This whole ordeal was getting worse and she didn't know how long she would be able to stay there without getting hurt or killed. She could call for backup but she knew that Kale would kill him and she wasn't willing to go that route.

She watched the man sway back and forth and ofr a moment she wondered if she should catch him if he fell, but she opted not to.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko had just barely gotten in control when he felt the stinging, numbing pain of the vase over his head. For a moment, they stood there, stunning before finally, slowly falling to the floor. Haruko choked slightly and a drop of blood escaped his lungs as darkness ate away at his vision.

He hoped he would be in control when he awoke. Otherwise, this woman was in for another round of Mr. Lawson. Mr. Lawson was tired, however, tired and needed rest. Haruko figured he might be asleep when he awoke, but he didn't want to risk it. With the last bit of consciousness he had, he turned his head over and looked at the woman.

"Safe...in hall...put me...lock...safer..." but it was all he could get out before his body gave out and collapsed, darkness finally claiming him, and silence falling over him.

[Akasha]

She watched him collapse to the floor and she let out a sigh.

"Great! Just my damn luck." She looked around and saw her shoes nearby. She ran over to them and put her boots on and walked over to the limp body. Of all the people in the galaxy to steal from it had to be a man who had multiple personalities. She grabbed his feet and frowned as she tugged him along the floor out into the hall. Thankfully she worked out and had good strength otherwise she'd be putting herself in a safe room..place...thing...whatever he was talking about. She groaned as she made her way into the hall and to the door she had yet identified. She grabbed the large doorknob and opened it hearing it screach on its hinges and a light flick on. She frowned as she looked around. What was this place? She sighed and grabbed the mans legs and pulled him into the room and finally let him go.

"Jerk." She said giving him a push with her boot. "I stripped for nothing." She shook her head and closed the door and turned the knob. She looked down at herself and quickly buttoned up the shirt and walked back into the bedroom. She needed sleep. Perhaps everything would make sense in the morning.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko awoke with a bad taste in his mouth and Mr. Lawson sleeping peacefully inside his head. He sighed out when he saw that the woman had in fact heeded his orders and put him in his safe. Good, he wouldn't be hurting anymore people. But he was hungry. He wished he had gotten something to eat. Now the Mr. Lawson was tired, Haruko would be able to keep some food down.

Glancing up, Haruko peered at the camera in the corner he had installed for observation in case there were other people on the ship, which in this case there were. He furrowed his brow, wondering if the woman was awake and found the camera feed and com into the room. He leaned back against the wall and sighed out, closing his eyes, his head hurting so badly, his body even more so. He wet his lips and had the urge to take a shower and cleanse himself in every way possible. He felt like ew and he wished he had his pills so he could be safely out of here without hurting anybody.

[Akasha]

Akasha smoked a cigarette for good measure as she sat in his chair watching the monitor after she had figured it out by accidentally pushing a button an hour ago. Since she had done nothing but stare as if he could disappear. She gasped when she she watched him move and get up to stare into the camera. She stood up and walked over to it and put her face very close as if he were two inches in front of her. She sighed out and looked around trying to figure out a way to talk to him, but she saw nothing. She didn't really want to go down there and talk to him.

Akasha went against her unwillingness and walked out into the hall and to the door. She saw a little slat in the door and she pushed it open peeking in to see his knees.

"Hey, I know you are awake." She moved away slightly in case he tried to grab her hair and slam her head into the door. She bit her lower lip and waited for a response.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko's ear perked when he heard the panel slide and the woman's voice break the silence. He sat forward and got on his hands and knees, leaning forward. He peered through the small slat and smiled at her much more warmly than he had thought was possible for that bleak moment.

"I told you so," he said, amusement in his voice. He was glad to be more or less himself again. It felt good to be Haruko again, instead of sort of Haruko and sort of Mr. Lawson. He peered through the slat and then pushed out another panel below it that gave he and she a bigger hole through which to see and talk to each other. He rested his chin in it and looked at her with a smiled.

"You hurt?" he asked, giving her a once over as he sat there. "Didn't do anything too bad to you did he?"

[Akasha]

She frowned and let out a sigh. She hated being wrong, she wasn't good to owning up to it either. She pointed her finger at him and shook it.

"Hey I can shut this." She sighed out wanting to understand. She looked at him and watching him move another piece of the door to open the hole large to allow the conversation to be more personal. She listened to his questioning and she shook her head.

"No he didn't do anything. Matter of fact I was the one who ended up stripping." She sighed and rubbed her forehead and grabbed the box of smokes from her pocket. "Want one?" She offered handing him one along with a lighter.

"Okay, I think you need to tell me what is going on and why you started takling to yourself."

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko thought she was an angel when she held out a pack of cigarettes to him. He gladly accepted and got it lit, drawing in so many toxins and blowing them out, watching as she did the same. She said he needed to confess. He sighed out more smoke.

"Actually, I don't really owe you an explanation considering you hijacked my ship and I tried to warn you. Actually, it's kind of your fault Mr. Lawson came out anyway. You shouldn't have called me psycho," he said, smiling at her playfully. But then he shook his head. "However, I will tell you..." he paused and sat back slightly.

"I have a personality disorder. I have two distinct personalities. This personality is Haruko Lawson, nice to meet you," he said. Then he cleared his throat and deepened his voice to mimick Mr. Lawson's voice. "This personality is Mr. Lawson..." he cleared his throat again and let his voice become normal again. "As Haruko I am relatively normal and harmless. But...Mr. Lawson is a different story. He loves women and drinking and hurting and general mayhem and chaos. If pain is there, chances are Mr. Lawson is too. He gets wild at anything remotely negative, such as being called psycho. And he's horny most of the time. Why he said he was tired of me stroking him off. I doubt you'd be alive right now if I hadn't distracted him. Although it was a good idea to bash me over the head. Cleared my sinuses," he said with a laugh, drawing in a big breath.

"Anyway...that's the long and short of what happened in there."

[Akasha]

Akasha frowned finding that story absolutely outrageous. She had never heard of such a thing in ther world. She wished he would just tell her he was crazy and simplify it all. She sighed out and nodded trying to undetsand the predicament.

"I thought the vase idea was good, too!" She sighed and leaned against the wall to the room. "Great," She groaned. "The best ship I've ever laid my eyes on has one man and two people running it." She shook her head and took a drag from her cigarette and looked at the man.

"Look, in case you have noticed..I'm a pirate. I steal and sell ships. I'm not apologizing for hijacking but I am going to apologize for your newfound home. I am not letting you out, I can't. I am not going to let you starve, okay? I'll take good care of you from out here until we get to my port." She sighed out again and blew out a line of smoke and stood on her knees.

"Haruko is your name, right?" She watched him nod and she looked around. "Want food?"

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko smiled out at her. At least she wasn't totally unpleasant. Sure she had hijacked his ship, but in his opinion she had gotten what she deserved. He put his head in the little hole and looked out and around. Then he leaned back and smiled.

"Yeah, that would be good. I have a food synthesizer in the kitchen if you or your mates get hungry. And um...I've got medication in my room that'll keep me from going postal...I'd prefer that to staying in here and anyway Mr. Lawson changed the...coordinance and you aren't heading for your port anymore..." he said with a smile. Then he shrugged. "But it's okay if you'd rather me stay in here...I'll have to tell you how to override the vocal command he set over the intercom in here," he said jabbing a thumb over his shoulder to the small red button and speaker on the wall.

"The intercom connection is to the right of the big grey button with a Japanese character on it. It's red. Can't miss it..." he said, moving his eyes to look up and down the hallway again. Then he waved his hand. "Don't worry about this place. I built it into this ship for this very reason."

[Akasha]

Akasha slit her eyes listening to his directions and how the little room he was in was built for a specific reason. She was a Queen at technoogy and overriding a voice activated CP wasn't anything hard for her, but still when it came to customizing things she knew people got very touch and complicated their ships to stop this kind of thing from happening. Pirating, that is. She sighed and nodded after sitting in silence for a moment. She wasn't sure if letting him out was a good idea, but she figured it would at least let the poor man get some air. The thought of having him burn alive, starve, and anything else that would make him uncomfortable killed her. She bit her lower lip going against her judgement and stood up and grabbed the large handle and turned and pulled it open, seeing the poor man sitting on the floor looking so thin that she was literally ready to chop off her arm and let him eat it.

"Jesus," She said with a frown, the light finally allowing her to give him a better look. A more physical map of his body, size, height, and weight allowed her to see what she was up against, which at this moment he looked so weak and tired that she figured all it would take would be a gust of wind to make him topple. She bent down and grabbed his hands and pulled him to his feet, the towering man giving her quite a chill.

"When the hell was the last time you ate something, hun? You look like a bag of bones." Akasha had too much empathy for human life and it sometimes became a burden when trying to get a job done, but she couldn't harm people it wasn't her character. "Lets get you some food, I trust you won't harm me?"

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko smiled down at her, looking down at himself. He was thinner than usual, but it was mostly because Mr. Lawson hadn't been letting him hold down any food recently. He shook his head and followed the woman, even though he knew where the kitchen was.

"My alter ego doesn't want anything but liquor," he muttered absentmindedly. "So, anything I've eaten while still under his control hasn't stayed down long..." he paused as they passed his room. Then he stopped and looked back up at the woman. "I'm going to get my pills, and a shirt..." he informed her with a nod, and went into his room.

The place was a wreck from when the woman had hit him with the glass and he and Mr. Lawson had had thier little showdown. Haruko ignored it, and grabbed a red t-shirt from his desk, moving to the bathroom. He dug through his pill cabinet. He had all but forgotten these pills because he figured that if he was alone, he wouldn't need them. But now there were other people there who could be harmed by Mr. Lawson, and he had almost done so. Haruko tipped the bottle up to take count of how many he had. There was about a week's worth in there.

Taking one and swallowing it quickly, he pocketed the bottle and went back to the woman. He pulled the bottled from his pocket and rattled it around a little.

"You got a week before I go off the deep end again," he said cheerfully.

[Akasha]

Akasha fumbled around in the kitchen finding a few noodles that had been packaged in a bright green and pink box with Japanese characters all over it. She had poked a hole in the lid and saw it was just ramen. It wasn't the healthiest meal in the world but it was a good start. she put a pan on the oven and watched it quickly boil. She pulled open the lid and poured the water inside and waited a few moments before it all softened. While it made itself she figured she could try to find something else that would contain some sort of proteine and fat, but all she ended up finding was some stale bread. Whoever this man's alter ego was sure didn't want him to live very long. Or was it Haruko who didn't want to live very long?

She heard movement and she was ready to jump around and fight, but she knew that she was trying to trust the man, as bad as that sounded in her mind. She slowly turned to find him shaking a bottle and informing her of the seven days left before the other man came out to play. She nodded in response and poured the ramen into a bowl and pulled out a few pieces of bread and sat it on the island behind her.

"Here you go." She said with a dissatisfied sigh. "It isn't much, as I am sure you already knew considering this was your ship." She leaned on her elbows and looked at the man taking in his sharp features a little better. If he had a little bit more meat on his bones he could be more attractive than she had already deemed him.

The red shirt fit him a little loosely, his pants were baggy but fit him perfectly. The main observations she was quick to size up weren't objectable and she was pleased with how he dressed, but the little things were always what counted to her. She was already making love to his jaw that looked as if it were cut out of marble, the long thin neck with the ridges and large Adam's apple, his eyes...the large almond shaped eyes that were so dark and doleful, his voice was also another feature she could listen to all day. But the thing that had caught her attention first and something she loved....his hair. The colors, the style, it screamed 'cool' and 'unique' just as the man Himself was.

"I have some disheartening news, well, for me anyway. My crew is no longer behind us. It seems that your little friend did more than throw us off course, he has put us into oblivion at the moment." Akasha had found that out earlier that morning after trying to find her ship, only to find something worse. She knew lanes, ports, and sections of the Universe, but this was in an area she had not been familiar with.

"I need you to tell me how to get back on track so I can get to my port." She clenched her jaw as she watched him walk gracefully like a cat over to the food. It seemed like everything he did was a graceful move and it was quit enjoyable to watch and to judge.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko slid into a chair and gratefully began to eat. The food set in his stomach easily and he smiled at the tase of the noodles. He hadn't had a decent meal in days, and now that he was having one, his appetite was insatiable. He watched the woman as she talked, thinking about each word she said, reading into it as much as he could.

Haruko's nature was to trust people immediately, ask questions later. But he had been betrayed by that nature before, and this woman was a pirate and was planning to sell his ship--the only thing he had left in this universe--to a chop shop. She was going to sell it to people who were going to pull it apart, destroy the interior, murder the controls, sell the engine, the parts to people who would put them in thier own ships. It was something Haruko couldn't bear to think about.

The woman had been kind to make him food, let him out, allow him freedom on the ship, although he could have gotten it himself if he had really set his mind to it. But he didn't know if he wanted to tell her how to get back. He was happy with floating wherever until the end of time. He watched her until she was finished speaking, and he was finished eating. Haruko leaned back in his chair and arched his back, stretching out the food he had just eaten, and yawning wide. He shook his head.

"Not my friend," he corrected coldly. "And he was probably headed back for Coruscant and was just taking a roundabout way. Mr. Lawson has unfinished business back there..." he said, jabbing a thumb over his shoulder to indicate Coruscant. "I can't think of anything else he would want to do." Then he shrugged and stood. "And anyway, oblivion is where I want to be..." he paused and walked towards the door. He paused at the door and looked over his shoulder. "Doesn't sound to me like your crew really cared whether or not you got off the Rule in one peice. If they missed such a change in direction..." he shrugged, then shook his head. "Not for me to say I guess, hm?"

Haruko moved out of the kitchen and down the hall, his boots clunking heavily on the floor. He would go and see where they were just because he didn't feel like being difficult. But if the woman had no idea where they were, Haruko could practically point them anywhere and she wouldn't know until they were right on top of it.

[Akasha]

Akasha frowned at his response and his sharp witty words about her crew. She just looked at the door in a blank stare almost hurt by the words, almost. She leaned up off the counter and walked out the door to see his back as he walked down the hall towards the cockpit his red shirt forming against his back and giving her a nice view. She was tempted to stand there and watch a little while longer, but knew that this man couldn't be trusted.

She slowly walked behind him, her right thumb hanging off of her naked belt loop on her cargo pants. She raised her eyebrow and drew in a deep breath.

"Are you insinuating that my crew, my friends, don't care what happens to me?" She wanted to grin, but for some reason she couldn't. His words rang a little bit of truth considering they had been meaning to oust her and take her credits knowing she got a bigger cut for finding these ships in the first place. But she knew that Kale, her best friend, would never ditch her. Never. Right? She had done so much for him in the past anyhow, such as pay for a surgery that could have damn near killed him had he not accepted her charity.

"And you are right," She said as she made her way to the cockpit and leaned on the door to find him checking out where they were. "You aren't at liberty to judge my friends." she bit her lower lip and pondered on the thought a little longer. Why hadn't they noticed the ship was moving in a different direction? Suddenly the thought of her good friends turning her into the officials...selling Atlantis....selling her ship...taking over the business...claiming her dead...

She shivered and leaned off the doorframe. That shouldn't have bothered her that much afterall she knew her friends better than he did. Perhaps it was some sort of tactic to get her off her guard.

"We need to be put onto the track to my shop. I hope there won't be any objections?" She suddenly felt cross and felt like she was ready to throw him back into that little hole he created for himself. She was getting defensive over his comment and she was almost ready to just tell herself to shut up and get over it, but for some reason she had always wondered if they'd leave her at some point.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko didn't answer, he wasn't listening. He was trying to see where they were at.

Actually, Mr. Lawson had just put them out into dead space not far from civilization. They were however, quite a long ways away from anything either of them would want to get to. Coruscant was about a week away from them, and the other planets they would bypass getting there Haruko wouldn't stop at if he were paid to do so. He ran his finger over a control and pressed it. The screen flickered up over the window so that the woman and he could both see it. He pointed to the small blue dot nearer the bottom left hand corner.

"That's the Rule," he said matter-of-factly. "We're about seven to eight days from Coruscant. Right now that's where we're headed, Mr. Lawson just felt the need to go around about ten planets to get there," he informed her. He swiveled about in his chair and rubbed his head. He had a massive headache now, and his bionic brain and eye were whirring unpleasantly. He paused a moment, then gave her a weary smile. "You are going to sell my ship to a chop shop, ma'am. Of course there are objections," he said, standing up and looking down at her. "And if I wanted to, I could just have Mr. Lawson take care of you..."

Haruko brushed past her to the door, then paused at the door to look over his shoulder at her.

"But I don't want to..." he said and gave her a nod. "I'm going to go do some maintenance on my eye," he said, flicking his forehead. Then he motioned to the computer. "It's set to only accept my voice, or Japanese characters. I'll reset it from my room."

Haruko gave her a curt bow and made his way back down the hall to the lifts.

[Akasha]

Akasha leaned on the door and looked at him as he walked away after giving a curteous bow. She grinned a bit wrly at his back almost appeased that her guess had been correct.

Over three years ago Akasha had been at a crossroads in her life with her best friend Kale. Having been friends for almost half her life the decision to make things a little more serious the two began dating. Although all had been hunkey dorey in the beginning months and into their one year anniversary something began to happen to Kale. It seemed that he was suffering from an unknown disorder that was causing him to spiral out of control. The way he acted, the distance, the coldness, and the violence began to cause severe strife in their relationship, friendship, and even in working together.

When she was on the verge of ending things after an episode of violence and what seemed like a breakthrough with a split personality she learned of a virus that had been going around with older models of bionic brains and eyes. Knowing he had an accident that almost ended his life when he was younger, it was only fitting to suspect that he had a plagued brain. She learned more on the procedure and gathered the credits to fix the problem. He had since been his original self, but she kept the contact of the doctor just in case Kale's brain had another lapse. The side effects had been worth it, a few problems with memory and what not, it always depending on the person, but she wasn't one to trust people when it came with working with technology, afterall they were only human.

Akasha felt a bit of satisfaction, but also fear. She remembered how Kale became violent with her deal, but ultimately he agreed and Akasha kept in touch with the doctor for routine maintenance and in case of emergencies calls. She was wondering if perhaps she could strike up a deal, as much as she hated making bargains and deals, this would be worth it. Akasha heard a few beeps behind her and she turned to see the screen flickering. She frowned and watched it for a moment until it went black for a minute before flashing back to life, in english. She grinned. At least the man had been nothing but honest with her so far.

Akasha sighed out and looked over shoulder. The man said he was going to work on his eye, she would give him an hour before she addressed him on the issue, she just hoped he wouldn't have a problem with a little friendly help.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko leaned in to look at himself in the mirror. His eye whirred unhappily at him. Mr. Lawson had been putting definate strain on the upgrades Haruko had recently gotten. He had been told not to overdo it when using the scanner or the laser, and Mr. Lawson had overused both. Haruko purred his disapproval as he slid the newly made forehead panel out and observed the wires and metal inside.

Haruko remembered when he had first gotten this. He had been young, twelve to be exact, and he had been blind since he could remember. He didn't know if he had been so since birth or if something had happened to him when he had been younger, but he had been blind most of his life.

The Korean mafia had promised him sight. They had promised an upgraded brain, something that could make him quicker, smarter. They had told him they were to install two seperate hemispheres over his brain, replacing his skull. They had only gotten one in. Something about the surgery, something they had to connect, or move, or scramble around had caused sight in Haruko's right eye. He had decided to live only with the left side bionic. Maybe that was what had caused all the problems.

Haruko couldn't remember a time when he hadn't had problems with depression, and anger management. He supposed it ran in his family, for his father had the same anger problem, and Taro had a major anger problem he dealt with every day. Jiro even battled bouts of depression. But after the bionic brain had been installed, Haruko had felt himself separate. Into two seperate beings. Like all his anger, resentment, hatred had pooled on the bionic side of his head and all his normal, caring, kind qualities fled to the normal side of his brain.

Mr. Lawson was born around Haruko's fourteenth birthday. It had been the second time he had killed someone--except this time not forced--and the first time he raped. After that, Mr. Lawson's purpose in life was defined.

Haruko struggled with the alternate personality, losing the struggle more often than not. Mr. Lawson had only gotten worse since his manifestation, and Haruko thought that maybe the bionic brain had something to do with it. But countless physicians only prescribed him multiple antidepressants, meds to subdue the second personality, and referred him to mechanics who could enhance his brain farther.

For thirteen years, Haruko hadn't been able to answer his many questions.

It was frustrating, certainly, and hard to live with. It was the reason he had left his brothers, his friends...Asher. She couldn't care for him every day like she was doing. She wasn't his personal doctor and he understood that. But it had not made it any less painful to leave her.

Haruko leaned back, shutting down his bionic brain, watching as his eye paled, then went white. He snatched his patch from his cabinet and placed it over the eye, closing his lid over it. Haruko knew he had a problem, knew that medicine helped. But he was so absentminded, wishing he could just find a way to make it all stop, that he would forget to take the medication. It was what had caused such horrible things to happen back on Coruscant with his family, his lover.

In ways, Haruko liked the bionic side of his skull. It gave him powers to tap into files, get information when he needed it, and no one would ever know. He had a small scale laser that was handy for working out of hard situations. He had heat sensor, night vision, light, specimen scanner, vital stat scanner, body heat and cool regulation, things no normal person had. But he had to live with Mr. Lawson. Share his brain with the evil. And deal with an acute memory.

It may have been the worse thing about the brain. He could remember things that happened in minute detail. If he recalled something Mr. Lawson did, he would recall it perfectly. Every drop of blood, every scream, every memory exactly how it happened. It was hard to deal with on the rare occasions he remembered what Mr. Lawson did in his spare time.

Haruko shook his head, turning to walk back into his room that was a mess. He would deal with the vase later--he wondered if the woman knew how expensive that had been--but now he wanted to rest his mind and body. He moved to the bed, lying back on it, burying his face into his pillow. He took a deep breath and smelled an unfamiliar scent. He didn't recognize it, and with his bionic brain out of commission he couldn't scan it. But after a moment, he remembered the woman had been sleeping in his bed. He must have been smelling her. Haruko smiled.

She smelled nice.

[Akasha]

Akasha slit her eyes as she sucked the tip of her cigarette, feeling the heat off the bright red cherry and feeling the smoke get into her eyes. She let it out after a moment and watched the smoke billow out into odd shapes and clog her vision for a split second before drifting away. Her right leg had been propped up on the control panel as she made herself comfortable in the Captain's chair, not at all feeling guilty for being the new replacement on this humble abode. Her left hand rested on her left knee and her right was propped up against her temple, the cigarette dangerously close to burning her hair. She let her hand down to bring the cigarette butt to her mouth yet again so she could inhale the toxins.

Akasha was weighing her options, her conscience finally taking a hold of her and the situation becoming unsettling. Her crew was somewhere else, she was on a ship with a man who was twice her size, who had an angry other half, she had no clue where they were in space, food seemed limited in rations, she was running out of smokes, and she was beginning to feel pathetic for the man. She hadn't felt so bad for stealing a mans ship since she first began doing this when she was fresh out of college. It was almost a shock, not to mention a burden, to her now. She blew out another line of smoke as she looked around at the stars that were endless and only continued to speed by them.

Why was she feeling sorry for him? That was a question she had been constantly running through her head for quite some time. Was it because he looked so deprived? So exhausted? Beaten up by a personality? Malnuroushed? Starved? Disturbed? Akasha had always been a do gooder, as shocking as that seemed. She might've been in a line of work that was against the law and had a bad reputation, but she had always strayed from the mold Pirates were supposed to have. She stole big vast ships for money, stole someone else personal belongings, but she had never harmed anyone in all those years even when she was tempted and almost had to. She was a good person, happy, and was just doing a job. She didn't hurt anyone and it was suddenly becoming a problem now that she had began to stray away from family ships and move onto bigger better things, such as the 'Rule'.

Kale's words, along with her partners, rang in her mind at that exact moment of harsh silence. They had protested saying her sights got harder, but she got softer. Now she was left alone with nothing but her overanalytical mind, a few cigarettes, and a man whom she was unsure about. What was the little man up to? Akasha sighed out and leaned forward, her leg dropping hard to the floor like dead weight. She pushed a few buttons on the control panel and watched a screen slide up and flicker on, scaring her for she wasn't expecting quite a large surprise. She frowned when the screen glowed a blue shade and showed her four boxes, four camera angles about the ship. She grinned when she realized she saw the man in the lower right hand box. She stuck the cigarette in her mouth and looked at the control panel and fooled around until she zoomed in on the last box, having it take up the whole screen, and then pan over to him.

"Well," She said with a grin and a flush of warmth to her cheeks. "Aren't we a sleeping beauty?" The corner of her mouth continued to tug until she finally gave in to a nice smile. She glanced at the joy stick and pushed it forward, watching the screen zoom in onto his face, pausing momentarily to clear that picture. His eyes were closed and he had a soft frown on his face. She wondered what he was dreaming, it plagued her for she suddenly had this attachment to what was going on inside of his brain. He had been nothing but honest and straight with her since their meeting and she liked that. It was a quality she admired in people so it was easy for her to like him instantly. But there was something else that caused her liking to go a little deeper. Was it his looks? His personality? His pathetic stature? The sadness that was easily seen in his eyes? His plagued mind?

Akasha sighed as her brain continuously worked. She looked around and found an ashtray and quickly jabbed the cigarette out. She glanced back at the screen and watched it for what seemed like hours, watching him toss and turn. She frowned when she saw something black on the screen. She moved forward and examined it longingly.

"Is that an eye patch?" She asked herself. She moved from the screen and blindly stared at the ground. Kale's mood swings and second personality was in parallel with Haruko, but it was now just mirroring him perfectly. They both had bionic eyes and that was an even better sign. It just proved her guess correct. It seemed this ship was going to be hers quicker than she thought.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko couldn't sleep, his head was hurting too badly. She flipped and tossed in his bed restlessly before sitting up and sighing out in frustration. He shook his head, rubbing a temple and getting up walking to the computer in his room. He pulled up a map of his ship and scanned it for life force. He saw himself, and the woman and that was it. He shook his head before bringing up a picture of his family.

Haruko's heart ached as the picture materialized on the screen and Haruko looked over it. Taro and Jesimae were on the left side, snuggled close, Taro pressing the peace sign to his face. Asher was pressed in next to Taro, smiling shyly. On her right Jiro and Orange had thier cheeks pressed together, both sticking out thier tongues, Orange giving the rock-on hanf signal, and Jiro giving an enthused peace sign.

Haruko stared at it for as long as he could, his living eye glossing with tears. He pressed his hand down hard on the keyboard and the picture faced. Haruko leaned heavily on the board, shaking his head as tears slid from his living eye.

Things seemed to have gone from bad to worse recently.

[Akasha]

Akasha blew into the steaming mug as she mad her way back to the cockpit. She felt like she had been gone for twenty years, but in reality it had only been ten minutes. She sighed when she sat down, glaring at the screen that had began to hibernate. She held the mug in her left hand and reach over and touched the pad to make it alive again. She looked at her black coffee and blew inside it again and glanced up after a moment, seeing that Haruko had moved. Her heart skipped a beat and she was almost scared to check the sensors on the ship, but she figured she should at least check the room before jumping ahead of herself. She grabbed the slick joystick and moved it to the left, watching the screen pause for a second as it granulated only to focus yet again. She zoomed in when she found him leaning and looking at something. She wondered what it was so she, naturally, panned in.

Her frown and confusion was suddenly softened and her heart almost broke. Damn this man! He was putting her emotions through a loop! Not only was she feeling sorry for finding this ship, now she was watching the poor man cry! She felt her eyes sting with tears as her eyes scanned the screen and found that he was glaring at a picture. Probably his family. Why was this man so willing to die? His crying didn't make it seem like he was too keen on the idea! She put the mug down unhappy and slammed her fist on the control panel.

"Damn it!" She said through tears. Akasha never cried, if she did it was for a very good reason and at this moment she wasn't finding one at all. It was just a man tearing up over a family photo. But Akasha somehow knew that that picture held a deeper meaning than she was able to see and this made her eyes burn worse. What if they had died? What if...what if he had killed them? What if they abandoned him for his split personality? What if they told him to go die? What if that was why he was there floating into abyss?

"Damn!" She said again closing the screen thinking she had enough of being too weak today. She wiped her tears away and quickly gathered her composure, grabbing a cigarette and drinking her coffee. Why the hell did Haruko cause such an unsettling feeling inside of her? Why did she feel so guilty for everything!

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko scrubbed furiously at the tears, finally standing straight and sniffing, walking out of his room to just walk a little. He needed to exercise his legs, get everything working again. He looked at that picture a million times a day. Yet it never made the loss of the people his loved any less painful. They weren't dead, but he felt like they were.

Haruko ran a hand through his hair as he walked, then stuck his hands in his pockets. He didn't know where he was going and he didn't care. He just wanted to walk off everything that had happened, hate everything in silence, and mull over it alone.

[Akasha]

A small beeping went off and her interest was piqued when she opened another screen that she had set to alert her of any movement outside of his room. She saw that he was on the move and this began to make her nervous. She wasn't fearing for her life or anything, but she was just nervous as to whether or not she could look at him again without feeling some sort of remorse for him and the new situation. Akasha turned the screen off and figured she could see if he needed anything. She sighed out letting the room temperature air to hit her mouth that was burning alive from the hot coffee. She sucked on her cigarette and stood up and head down the hall where she knew she would be bumping into him at a little turn. She paced herself slowly and turned seeing him walking with his hands in his pockets, hair in his face, and a large hunched over walk that was almost as pitiful to see than the frail frame that was covered in baggy clothes.

"Need something?" She questioned in a friendly manner and not too snappy as if she made him feel like a prisoner. Akasha was letting this man off so easy and it was driving her crazy! She was being leniant with him and that was choosing favourites and she wasn't one to do that. Akasha was really hating Haruko right now because of how he was making her feel, yet she wasn't ready to throw him into that tiny little metal prison he had created for himself. It was already apparent he was a prisoner of himself.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko glanced up, but walked past her, moving into another hallway. He glanced back at her and sighed.

"This is my ship, ma'am..." he muttered. "I know where everything is at should I need something. And if I need you, I know where you will be..." his words were sharper than he had meant for them to be, but he was sad about his family, angry that someone was going to sell his ship to a chop shop, wishing he could just die now. He continued to move down the passage not stopping. The woman was being kind to him when she didn't have to be, but Haruko didn't need her kindness. She was looking out for herself and no one else. She was waiting to get to a port where she could sell the Rule to someone who was dismantling it. Why did she need to be kind to him?

[Akasha]

Akasha clenched her jaw fearful of what had just happened. She was always on her toes, always on guard, but having him brush her off like that just sent a shiver of fear down her pain. Her back stifened and she turned to watch him turn and look at her. She didn't do a thing to stop him and that made her even more fearful. She now realized, and to her dismay, this man scared her.

Akasha had always been the girl who beat up the boys, the girl boys loved to hang with, the girl that boys never messed with. She had always been one of the guys and it was a lifestyle she was used to, but she did know how to be a woman and seductive. But she was never one to succumb to being the frail young girl who needed a hero in her life. So this new feelings was pissing her off and was causing her more fear than it actually should have for she was beginning to doubt herself.

Akasha walked back to the cockpit. This man was a tough one. She was used to people like him who were tough and bad to the bone, but they were always tied up and didn't have the guts to try anything even if they had the mans and equipment to do it. But Haruko, he was free, didn't have the equipment, or means, but that scared her more than anything. She was suddenly wondering if perhaps she should send him back to the hole, as she suddenly dubbed it.

Akasha figured it would be a way to establish dominance quickly. She stood up and grabbed a blaster and checked the computers to find him walking up and down different corridors nad halls. She walked quickly to where she saw him pacing, his back tense. She charged the blaster and let out a sigh. She pointed it at his back and watched him stand tall and straight. Already she was hating herself.

"Sorry." She said lowly, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment gathering her composure. "I need you go back to your hole." She opened her eyes and looked at his back praying he wouldn't retaliate and kill her. "For my safety."

[Haruko Lawson]

For my safety.

She was only concerned with herself. And Haruko couldn't blame her. He was looking after himself, and she was looking after herself. Haruko turned lazily, looking up at her and blinking a few times. He gave a shrug and began in that direction, not saying anything for a long time. When he arrived at the room he had built for himself, he pulled it open and looked back at her.

"The only thing I need is water every once in awhile to take my pill with, food, and eye maintainence stuff," he said quietly, stepping backwards into the room and pulling the door closed. He slid open the tiny window and gave her a nod. "Feeling safer now?"

[Akasha]

Akasha had dropped the blaster the moment he was directing her to that little room that looked more like a torture chamber than anything. She was kicking herself, mad at herself, mad that Haruko was causing her such unstableness, and she was even sad that she was doing this. She watched him turn and look at her, giving her instructions and then slamming the door shut. She jumped when the window slid open and he spoke to her. She let out a sigh when he gave her a nod. Why was this so heartbreaking? Why the hell did Akasha give a damn so much for?

"With you, Haruko, I never can tell." She tossed the gun on the ground and let out a disgruntled sigh and walked back into the cockpit and quickly turned on the monitors. If her only company was to be locked away in a room she was at least going to get a show out of it.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko leaned back into a corner of his box and curled up, hoping to get a little sleep in here if nothing else at all. It didn't bother him that she had put him in here. It was what it was here for. No other purpose. He would wait out the remainder of the trip here, he guessed, until she decided to do something with his deadweight.

Haruko closed his eye, rubbing at his temple, the pain never going away. If he was in here, he might as well not take his medication. He had built it specifically to keep Mr. Lawson under lock and key and unable to escape. Anyway, the woman wasn't going to come around this way most likely. She was probably going to eat his food, sleep in his bed, use his ship however she wanted until she sold it to be torn apart.

Haruko pulled off his eye patch to touch his bionic eye tenderly. It was aching, and he ought to reboot it and do a diagnostics on it, but he didn't want to start it up and have it hurt more. Afterall, he didn't have any pain medication.

[Akasha]

Akasha sighed pacing back and forth as if she were an impatient man waiting for a baby to be delivered. She had smoked the rest of her cigarettes and had, reluctantly, scavaged out the mans in his room. While she was there she had also scouted out several other things. She had picked up the broke vase and sat the piecesd gingerly on the table she had grabbed it from. She would fix it later for him she made sure. Akasha had also gathered up the items he had mentioned earlier, although she was having no luck finding his medication. She had even grabbed a pillow and blanket for him and it was siting neatly on the captain's chair. Akasha was weighing her options to just get the hell out of there, but something was holding her in place. She didn't want to leave Haruko. As pitiful and foolish as that might have sounded her empathy and sympathy was stretching farther than anything.

She knew why, but she wasn't quite ready to admit it yet. However, she was willing to accept the fact that she liked him, knew he was a good man, and knew that there was a way to fix this problem. She had experienced it with Kale and she had this attachment to Haruko because she saw how it affected Kale and their love life. It had been horrible.

Akasha figured an hour, five minutes, and eighteen seconds had been long enough without human contact with him. He had been sleeping, or at least he looked like it although she wouldn't have bet on it due to the fact there had been nothing soft of comfortable to have him sit on.

She sighed out and walked into the kitchen and found a clean cup and filled it to the rim, almost, with cold water. She walked back steadily to the cockpit and gathered the blanket and pillow under her right arm. She walked out into the hall and over to the room and opened up the door hearing it screech painfully at her as the weight loosened the rust on the door. Haruko slowly moved and Akasha's heart skipped a beat glad to see he was still alive, even though she hadn't thought different.

"Here." She said lowly, hoping he wasn't as cross with her as he had been previously. Then again what did she expect? She was hijacking his ship! She licked her lips and bent her knees and sat the water down on the floor. "I figured you could use these?" She glanced at the mass of comfort under her arms and laid them by his feet. "And these." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a fresh pack of cigarettes and a lighter as well as a bottle of pain killers. She bit her lower lip anxiously and looked up at him. She just wanted him to accept her peace offering. If she got on his good side, perhaps it would be easier to convince him into the little bargain.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko opened his good eye and peered at her as she set down all the things in front of her, like someone offering him something to ease the tensions between them. Haruko sat forward a little, considering the pillow and blanket higher than everything else.

He reached out and took the blanket, wrapping it around himself and over his head--it was freezing in there. Next, he grabbed the pack of cigarettes and lighter--he'd been dying for one. After that the bottle of pain killers, followed shortly by the water. Last of all, he grabbed the pillow and pulled it under the blanket, watching as it disappeared under the comforter. He pulled it under his backside, the hard floor getting to his tailbone. He gathered everything to himself, like an animal might to in its burrow.

He uncapped the pain killers and took three, washing them down with water. Then he pulled out a cigarette and lit it, trying to keep it away from the blanket that was wrapped around everything but just his face. He didn't want it to catch fire. He sucked in a breath and let it out.

"Thanks."

[Akasha]

Akasha bit her lower lip as to not grin. Okay, she wasn't a softie at heart when it came to things, just kittens, but this she had to admit was damn cute. She looked down as to not be caught off guard by her sudden liking towards having his head poking out. She wasn't exactly sure to say, but she knew that sitting there in silence wasn't the best way to go about things. She wasn't feeling confident enough to say anything, not yet at least. She looked at him and stood up slowly and walked out of the room. She turned and grabbed the door and was almost ready to shut it, but just...couldn't. Akasha looked at him and sighed out.

"I just want to make you comfortable." She nodded at him and closed the door and locked it. She felt stupid. If she wanted to make him comfortable she could let him wander about freely, leave him alone, hell put him out of his misery! But she didn't want that. Her inner conflict was annoying her. She leaned off the door and looked at it as if she were looking at her lover with sad eyes.

"I'm sorry." She said lowly. She walked back to the cockpit and watched the monitors. He smoked away looking like an Indian smoking a peace pipe. She continued to smile. She had to do it soon or else she would lose her nerve and never do it.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko was more comfortable now that he had a blanket, pillow, and smokes. He owed her for them. He snuggled down into the comforter--she didn't know that it was his favorite--and smoked his cigarette slowly and savored every moment of it.

He sighed out a breath of smoke and leaned back against the wall. He quickly finished the cigarette and put it out in the corner he had done so in before. He took another drink of the water and then pulled the blanket over his face, covering himself completely from view. He didn't want to see the world, and he didn't want the world to see him. He just wanted to curl up in here, go to sleep, and never wake up.

It would have been best for everyone.

[Akasha]

Akasha hummed to herself as she continued to sit in silence, reading a Japanese magazine she had found in the cockpit. Although she had no clue as to what it said it was offering her asylum from boredom and from continuously checking the monitors only to be saddened by seeing him still in a ball under the comforter out of sight. She smoked a cigarette, as she so perfectly did, and glanced at the pictures and models. How attractive these guys were! She was almost half surprised that she hadn't seen Haruko amongst them. He had the dashing looks to do it. She frowned as she blew out a line of smoke and glanced over at the overflowing ashtray to dash her ashes. She had been smoking like crazy, more than usual, and she knew why. As long as her mind was on something else it kept her conscience from butting in and sympathies getting the best of her.

So far Akasha had thought nothing but normal thoughts. She had a hostage under control, comfortable, silent, and they were on their way towards Coruscant. Once they got a day near it she could easily direct them back to her port and she could ditch him happily. Suddenly that thought slammed into her like a sledgehammer.

"Damn!" She said looking up from the magazine at nothing. Haruko Lawson had seen her face because she hadn't been able to keep her composure and keep that damn mask on her face! "Damn!" She said louder. What was she going to do now? She felt a pang of fear. She had never actually dealt with this kind of situation before for she never ended up getting soft! Akasha sighed out frustrated at herself. Oh well, she would hae to just cross that bridge when she got to it.

She looked at the magazine for a moment then glanced at the clock seeing it had been quite some time since their last chat. He was still balled up. What could she do for him now? She had already given him smokes, pillow, and blanket. Bathroom break? Akasha figured she'd wait for him to say something for she wasn't too enticed by the idea to have to watch him use the loo, which she was going to do whether they both liked it or not. Akasha frowned and bit her lip. Was he hungry? No harm in asking.

She stood up and wandered into the hall. This had been her second trip in four hours, not counting the times she wandered by just to hear him breathing and moaning. She bent down and slid open the window and stared for a moment before closing it and standing up only to open the door. She watched the mass move and she couldn't help but smile at the sight. Again he looked like a playful kitten trapped in a blanket. How she wanted to just go over and....Akasha frowned. He wasn't a damn kitten and she wasn't going to be playing with him anytime soon.

"Hungry?"

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko was roused by the sound of the door opening. He shifted slightly in the nest he had created for himself. He listened for a moment and heard the woman's voice ask him if he were hungry. For a long moment, he concentrated on his stomach, wondering whether or not he was.

For a moment, it didn't answer him. But finally, a growl issued from the pit and he let out a sigh. He searched for the edge of the blanket and popped his head out, his hair a mess over his face. He brushed it away and gave her a nod.

"Yeah, actually."

[Akasha]

She nodded and turned quickly, figuring he'd follow. But she just needed to move out of the room so she could bite back another grin. She walked towards the kitchen and opened a few drawers. She was hungry as well, perhaps there was something that they could share that would be big in proportions?

Akasha looked at the doorway after hearing movement. If he was still in the blanket she wouldn't be able to control herself anymore. She'd have to be human and laugh.

"Ramen?" She suggested, even though that didn't seem like a very appetizing choice at that moment.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko had in fact gotten up and left the blanket wrapped around him. He was freezing to death because his heat regulator wasn't on in his bionic brain so he was taking full advantage of the comforter. He wandered into the kitchen behind her, shuffling under the blanket and hearing her say ramen. He shook his head.

"I've got a food synthesizer. Have whatever you want," he paused and sighed. "I'm gonna get myself curry..." he informed her--as if she cared--and moved to the synthesizer, pressing in the code that would get the food made for him. He waited five minutes before being able to pull it out with a hand that emerged from his blanket. He retreived chop sticks and flopped down in a seat, not wanting to let the blanket go.

[Akasha]

Akasha watched with delight, that cute little face peering out under the massive blanket. How she wanted to just go over to him and give him a big hug-a-bug! He did look comfortable and she remembered fondly at how she used to do the same whenever she was cold. Get the biggest and most comfortable blanket, wrap up tightly, eat food, and just relax. She wondered if he was able to do so?

Akasha watched him begin to eat delicately with his chop sticks. Perfect as usual. She bit her lower lip and typed in a code for some chicken teriyaki. She waited a while before it was done. She pulled out the hot plate and smiled. Perhaps this wouldn't be so bad after all. She walked over and sat down across from Haruko and began to eat with a fork, chopsticks looking like some foreign math problem she'd never get to solve. She ate slowly, at times pretending to be blowing her food just to get a little peek at him. He was attractive when he ate, really attractive. So much in fact the pit of her stomach cramped and she wanted to just go barf what she ate up. She figured now was as good a time than any to start easing her way into the direction of a deal.

"So," She said starting off small. "How long have you had your bionic eye, my friend?" She lowered her head and ate a piece of chicken and glanced up at him as she did so. Akasha wouldn't be surprised if he yelled at her and demanded she never call him friend again. That, above all else, would set the record straight and she'd have to be blunt with the conversation.

[Haruko Lawson]

"Fifteen years," he stated without missing a beat and putting another bite of food in his mouth. He chewed for a moment before swallowing and scooping up another bite, blowing on it slightly. "Got it on Coruscant when I was twelve. Was blind up until then," he explained, giving her more information than she had asked for, but figuring she would have probably had him expound on it anyway.

He continued to eat silently, the eye patch and not having his eye threw off his depth perception. He had been having issues with it since he had shut down his eye. He took another bite of food and chewed it thoughtfully for a moment. Then he looked at her.

"Actually," he said. "You're hijacking my ship, asking me about my eye, and I don't even know your name," he said matter-of-factly.

[Akasha]

Okay! Akasha thought silently to herself. We're making some progress!. He hadn't told her to take a hike yet and so far the conversation was continuing. This might go better than expected! She nodded in silence as he began to speak on his blindness, which made her feel sad, but she was strong enough to dismiss it and continue with feeling nothing. She tried to remember this was a hostage and she was trying to regain her hardness, no matter how hard this was for her. She ate in silence and suddenly he spoke and it scared her, she looked up at him, his eye a bright shade of white. It distracted her for a moment, but she was quick to look into his other eye and think of the question he just asked.

Akasha wanted to tell him, was ready to just spell it out, write it down, and take a picture for him, but she remembered, again, that this was a hostage and he knew her face. What the hell. She thought. She figured that if he already knew her face there wasn't any harm in knowing her name considering she could disappear if she had to later on once they got back to Atlantis.

"Akasha." She said lowly almost shy in letting him know. She glanced down at her food. Well that was interesting. For the first time she was shy to tell someone her name. Something she wasn't really comfortable about, with this man there were too many 'firsts'.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko dipped his head, giving her a small smile.

"Nice to you meet you, Akasha," he said, the name foreign on his tongue. He continued to eat in silence for another few moments before he was full and pulled the bowl and chop sticks away from him.

He couldn't stand it anymore, he had to reboot his eye. Not being able to see out of it was bothering the hell out of him. He pulled the blanket up a little then smiled at Akasha.

"Just a minute," he said cheerfully. He pulled the blanket over his face, so the woman wouldn't have to watch his eye flicker and look genuinely disturbing. He rebooted the brain and it whirred and groaned and hissed unpleasantly for a few moments, before a click and his sight returned. His eye immediately did a diagnostics check and everything came back normal. Then it ran a vital stats scan on Haruko--everything normal. Next a heat and cool regulation--everything not normal. His body was too cold. Immediately the brain went to work on it.

Haruko poked his head back out of the blanket, looking at the woman with two brown eyes again and feeling much more secure about it.

"Sorry," he said. "I couldn't handle it anymore."

[Akasha]

Akasha looked away as he told her to wait a moment. She smiled to herself, unable to help it. He was too kind and for something else to ruin his personality...well...it bothered her for she could just sense that this man couldn't harm anyone, unless properly provoked which was what she was trying to steer away from. She heard a few noised and she realized how long ago it had been since she heard that noise coming from Kale. He had told her it stung when things got a little too hot and when he had to release his pressure plate, but all in all it was worth it. But Akasha had always been weary of human made technologies.

She ate slowly, her grin finally falling. When she detected that he was moving again she looked up at him as she lowered her head to eat another piece of chicken. She almost chocked when he poked out, his hair wild, his face slightly contorted from the work he had just done, and that blanket around him. She let out a tiny laugh, she knew it would have happened sometime. She dropped her fork and let it out a little bit longer than she had intended. She chewed and swallowed and waved a hand in front of her.

"I'm sorry." She said seriously. "Sorry." She smiled and looked away. This guy was taking a hold of her, pretty soon she would be a pile of pud in his hands if she didn't watch it. But she figured there was no harm in at least letting out a damn laugh...right? She looked up at him and smiled. She stood up and leaned over the table and pushed a piece of his hair to the side of his face for if it stuck straight up like an arrow seriousness would be hard to come by.

"It's okay!" She said, her emotions settling down. "I had a friend with a bionic brain and eye a few years ago." She took a drink of water and looked at her plate seeing it was almost empty. "He, uh, had the same problems as you, actually." She sounded casual as if this were nothing new to her. She just wanted him to be lured in, just ask what happened.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko nodded wondering what problems she meant. There was a whole alphabet soup of them. He watched her curiously, maybe she would expound on her own. He didn't know if she meant the whirring, or the depression, or the pain, or the memory acuteness, or the malfunctions, or any of the other range of issues Haruko had with his eye. When she didn't say anything he cocked his head.

"Which ones?" he asked curiously.

[Akasha]

YES! Akasha acted cool about it and slurped the last of her food and pushed the plate aside while wiping her mouth. She let out a burp, not really caring whether or not Haruko would be offended for she usually wasn't polite when it came to table manners.

"Oh, well..." Akasha tried to remember. There had been many problems, but she wasn't sure if Haruko would believe her or even give her the time of day when expressing her thoughts on the other personality. So she went a different route.

"See there was this small glitch. Okay...big glitch. It was dubbed CNC, standing for Cybernetic Neural Contagion. It was a fast growing, man-made, virus that found its host in older bionic brain models." Akasha quickly scavenged her brain to remember everything she had read and learned trying to disperse it to Haruko.

"People who had partial cyborg, or bionic brains, eyes and anything else tapping into the mind became infected causing severe problems. Now, most people had theirs fixed, reversed, or...were killed." She frowned and remembered how hard it was to get Kale to do the surgery for the chance of survival had been bleak at that time. "When people start messing with brain patterns and adding computers....well....it never ends up good." She drew in a deep breath and let it out after a moment. Now was the time. Akasha looked up at him and shrugged.

"There are only two people in the Universe equipped and intelligent enough to take the task of fixing it. One is dead, the other...he is out there." Akasha glanced away and figured she could bring it all home by telling him about Kale's problems. She just prayed he'd be interested enough.

"Kale had been normal. But about a year or so after the implant he began to change. Depression, malfunctions of the brain, he developed another personality. Became violent. Became someone else. I got in touch with the doctor...and we had it fixed. No problem." She smiled and suddenly realized there had been a problem. Although minor, this could be the one thing that drove him away.

"Now of course with every procedure you have a risk. Kale's side effect was memory loss. He has slight memory problems, but it depends on the person." She looked at Haruko for the longest time and grabbed a cigarette from the pack laid out. She put it between her lips and she quickly lit it.

"He was just like you."

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko listened intently. It sounded like a farfetched story, and he was slightly offended when she said that this Kale person was just like him. No one was exactly like anyone else. But he forgot about it for a moment. He nodded as her story came to a close and she smoked. He gave her a smile.

"Well, I am glad he got it cleared up," Haruko said. He snuggled a little farther down into his blanket. "It sounds like he can lead a good life now."

[Akasha]

Akasha felt sour suddenly when her bait was not taken. She wondered what he was thinking. She blew out a line of smoke and let out a sigh.

"It was an interesting thing." She responded. Now what? Akasha didn't want to wait until another moment when that other character came out and almost killed her or Haruko. She didn't want to waste time, suddenly she realized. Who was she doing this for? Was this for the ship? Or for this man? Akasha had just confused herself. The origianl plan had been, of course, give me your ship for the surgery....but now she was just wishing he'd get the surgery, no ship listed.

"Well, come on." She moved off the chair and waved a hand at him. "I'm gonna put you back in there."

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko sighed and moved off. He waved his hand at her and then walked towards the door. He hated this little room, but he wanted to think more about what she had said. About that operation. He hadn't asked her anymore about it because he could get the information he needed once he was alone and could tap into the files of the various regions.

It sounded too good to be true to him. Maybe that was just his pessimistic side coming out. But he did want to go over it a little, maybe the files from the Korean mafia would have something about it.

Haruko made his way back to the room and slid inside, settling down on his pillow again and peering up at the woman.

"Thanks."

[Akasha]

Akasha felt so pitiful for him, but she had no more options. He wasn't taking her bait, he wasn't asking questions, and all she could do now was sit and pout on it for a while. She smiled kindly at him, perhaps more than she wanted showing her true liking for him. She bit her lower lip and stared at him for a moment. She frowned and raised her eyebrows.

"Need any more pillows? Water? Blanket?" He declined and she just nodded and closed the door. She sighed out and walked lazily back to the cockpit. She was ready to have a hissy fit and stomp her feet and pull her hair out. No deals were going down. She didn't want this to happen. If that other character came out she was afraid she'd have to do something she never wanted to do. Kill him.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko went to work immediately after the door was closed and he had mostly privacy. His eye whirred as he accessed universal files on bionics. Eyes, ears, legs, arms, noses, hands, anything with the word bionic or cybernetic attached to it, Haruko scanned.

He found several doctors who performed the installation of bionics for medical reasons--loss of a leg, arm, hand, etc. He also found several who did it for personal enhancement--a more powerful throw, a better punch or kick. Haruko had to search far and wide for anyone dealing with viruses of these.

And then, they were few and far between.

[Akasha]

Akasha yawned as she tossed in the captains chair. She was tired, but she wasn't willing to leave the computer monitors just yet. She had smoked too much and her throat had burned and she was ready to go find something to stop the soreness, but she figured it was due to her odd sleeping position and the cool air blowing on her in the cockpit. She yawned yet again, her eyes watering to where it spilled down her cheek. She wiped it off and glanced at the screen and clicked on a button to stop it from hibernating. She saw them flick on and she saw Haruko sitting up, doing absolutely nothing, just as he had two hours ago when she stuck him back in there. He didn't look like he was a sleep, but he wasn't moving either. Suddenly she wondered if she should worry. What if he was battling that other...personality? She shivered at the thought. She would sleep there tonight where she could a good eye on things. Akasha yawned and moved out of the chair and made her way to Haruko's room where she grabbed a tiny blanket and made her way back into the cockpit. She took a seat and reclined the chair back slightly and covered herself. She leaned her head on her left arm and frowned as she watched the computer screen.

"What are you doing, Haruko?" She questioned at his stillness.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko's eye was flicking over information as it scrolled down. It was information about a doctor that had caught his eye. A one Doctor Illumine. Rosko Illumine. He had installed many bionics, mostly to classier people with a lot of money. But he had also dealt with something that was only listed as Cybernetic maintainence and virus protection. Haruko didn't know what the hell the second was, and couldn't figure out why there needed to be a doctor devoted to the maintainance of bionics. Anyone who had one was informed on how to do it immediately after they receieved it. At least, Haruko was under that impression.

Haruko discared the information he was reading and flicked through the files of the Korean mafia from three years before. They had been dealing in bionics since before God, and if there was anything about this virus business, they would have something on it. He found tid bits here and there, but wasn't stumbling onto anything quite yet. Then again, he didn't exactly know what he was looking for. He just hoped it would kind of jump out at him.

"Hayaku..." he murmured. "Hayaku..."

[Akasha]

Akasha saw his mouth move and suddenly she wondered what was going on inside that room. She frowned and looked over her shoulder. If he was talking to the shady character she was going to have to do it. She was going to have to go against her own wishes and will and end it all. She was going to kill him. Akasha, being the stubborn one she is, didn't want to settle for this just yet. She glanced at the screen and saw he had stopped talking.

"You haven't moved." She said lowly. "So what is going on?" She frowned knowing that the only way she could find out was to ask. "Yeah, that ain't happening." She leaned back figuring that even if Mr. Lawson got out, that room would protect her. She closed her eyes and figured she could get a little shut eye. It wouldn't hurt Haruko if he got some as well.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko was wide awak now. He had been so tired earlier, but now, he was revved to go. He was picking up more information, storing it on his hard drive. He was picking up little tidbits about this virus phenomena and had stumbled upon a publication file that had been released about a year and a half previous by a now deceased doctor on the matter.

It discussed how certain models were more prone to viruses than others. The types of viruses, the cures, the side effects of cures, the symptoms of the viruses, how to shut down an out of control bionic, who to see if you can't shut it down, who to see once it was shut down, what realms had doctors specific to this field, what realms didn't, which planets were more reputable, it was a veritable fountain of information on the subject. Haruko was storing it away as fast as his eye was reading it.

But what he really wanted to hijack, were some patient files. Files on this Kale person. Files that would outline exactly what went down in his operating room. Everything that he could find out, Haruko wanted to know.

[Akasha]

Akasha grunted and she opened her eyes. How long had she been asleep? Had she even been to sleep? She yawned and glanced around allowing her eyes to adjust. She moved her head up and groaned the position it had been in was taking its toll. She sat up, feeling the blanket fall off of her lap and onto the floor. She tried to catch it but was unsuccessful. She rubbed where her neck hurt and reached foward to wake the computer up to see if anything had changed.

Although she was pleased Haruko was in that room, it was making her claustrophobic just watching him sit there in stillness. Was he losing it? Was he going nuts? She glanced over her shoulder and stood up, bending down to pick up the blanket she had used to cover herself. Akasha moved down the hall quietly and went to the steel door and pressed her ear next to it. He had been talking previously, now she was wanting to see what they were saying. Hopefully something good would happen.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko's brain was working overdrive on the information. All his sensors, all his scanners were turned inward, picking up information as he filed through things from all over the universe. He was right now picking through the illegally gotten files of patients from hospitals on Coruscant. He didn't know where this Kale had gotten his operation done, but Coruscant was number one on almost everything, so he figured he'd start there.

"Hayaku..." he murmured. "Mmm...hayaku..." he chewed his lip, his eyes scanning quicker than a normal eye could have. And then his brain whirred and the page stopped, a few words highlighted in his vision. Kale, bionics, and virus. "Aha! Paydirt!" Haruko said a little louder than he meant to. "Let's see...cybernetics...no...bionic viruses, that's what I want...suffered from depression...reportedly wrecked a hotel room because...he had a fight with his girlfriend?" Haruko cocked his head. "Hmm...what else..."

[Akasha]

Akasha yawned as she listened. Suddenly her interest was gained and her ears were perked. She frowned and looked at the door as if it had betrayed or offended her in some way. She could hear Haruko speaking on the otherside and the slur of words made her wonder what in the world he was doing. The thing that caused her the most shock was the fact that there was something strikling familiar about a trashed hotel room after a certain fight. She and Kale had that happen a few times, they'd argue over something little and he'd fly off the handle. He had almost killed her once, but then again it hadn't been him. It had been the other him. What was he doing? Was he reading minds? She frowned and realized who she was dealing with. This man's eye allowed many things, even access and hacking abilities. She grinned. For a bionic surgery his equipment was way ahead of its time. His purchaser must have been very wealthy.

[Haruko Lawson]

"Well, damn it, people...give me a little more than screwed up hotel rooms will you?" Haruko said in agitation as that was all he was picking up out of this police report. He decided to go back to the patient records and search Kale's for anything about the doctor that had attended to him.

For a long moment, he saw nothing. Then finally, a mention here and there of a cybernetic operation, an emergancy removal and replacement, having the engage a virus protection program into the hardware. This piqued Haruko's interest.

"Mm..." he said. "This is it...let's test it out, Akasha...what were you telling me?" he asked the empty air, wanting to know if what she had told him was the truth, or if she had been blowing it out her ear to get on his good side.

[Akasha]

"The truth." She responded. She grabbed the handle and pulled the door open. She grinned crookedly at him and shook her head. "Didn't believe me?" She rubbed her head and bent her knees to have a seat.

"By all means, go ahead and take a peek. I told you the truth, Haruko. I did it because I want..." She stopped. There was no need to tell him she wanted him to be healthy, be better, have a good life no matter how much she actually did. Her inner conflict was strong and she had never put this much thought into leaving a ship behind, but then again she had really never met a Haruko before.

"Check it out. Tell me what you think."

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko jumped almost out of his skin at the sound of her voice, then the sound of the door opening. The files his eye had found dissolved and his eye went back to its normal brown. He sat there stunned for a moment as she sat down and told him to tell her what he thought. He clenched his jaw and swallowed before sighing and leaning back on the wall. He gave a shrug.

"I don't know," he said truthfully. "It sounds like a bunch of bull to me, but I am not an expert." He paused, tapping into the files again, this time, turning his head and projecting a screen of the files onto the wall next to them. He switched the language to Basic instead of Japanese and motioned to it. "But the experts don't seem to have much to say about it. All I gather is that it is more an underground method done by only very good doctors with very good resources. Not even the Korean mafia's files had anything on it, and they have been dealing in bionics since way before either of our times." He paused a moment, flicking through some screens, then shutting the screen off and looking back at her, his eye returning to normal.

"I am not sure what to make of it."

[Akasha]

Akasha smiled not looking at the files particularly, but looking at Haruko. She wanted him to get this surgery, she wanted to help him, and she wanted to just get rid of that guy who not only scared her, but probably scared others as well. She slit her eyes and drew in a deep breath only to let it out in a sigh.

"Kale was the same way. He thought it was a load of crap. But he realized that if he didn't do anything about it he would destroy peoples lives and eventually destroy himself." She shrugged being completely honest with him.

"I know it is hard to believe a girl who hijacks your ship and is planning on selling it. But, I wish you would." Akasha was tired of beating around the bush. She just wanted to make things easy and wanted his brain to be safe.

"Look..." She bit her lower lip and thought for a moment. Did she want to do this? Did she want to give him an ultimatum? Deal? Bargain? Whatever one would want to call it? Yes. She answered herself and looked at him.

"With all sincerity, Haruko, I know we don't know each other, I know you probably hate me, I know you want me off your ship, but I promise you I am serious. I am not lying to you. The guy who does it is very good. Kale has no problems. He helped him, m, and everyone else in his life.

"I am friends with the doctor. I can get you the surgery for free. I promise. I swear on my own life, Haruko, and believe me it may not seem like that much, but it is."

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko watched her as she spoke. It was suddenly like he was in a dream. She was all but begging him to get this surgery--that he knew nothing about, mind you--telling him that she would get it for him for free, that it would help that...Haruko wanted to believe her, he did, but she had hijacked his ship. She was going to sell it, she was taking them to God knows where, and she was trying to get him to have a surgery that not only did he knew nothing about but was recommended by this woman who had hijacked his ship.

Yet, somehow, some way, Haruko didn't understand it, he trusted her. Her words tumbled out unchecked as if she had been trying to say them since the beginning. Haruko didn't say anything for a long time, so it was just her words hanging in between them for severak agonizing moments where Haruko weighed all his options, trying to choose the best one. Finally, he looked away from her, pain panging through his heart.

"Why should I trust you?" he said quietly, not reproachfully or angry, but like a true question. And inquery he desperately wanted a satisfactory answer for so he could trust her.

[Akasha]

Akasha looked at him and just sat in silence. Why should he? That was a good question, so good that not even she herself could answer. She bit her lower lip and looked at the ground for a moment, but even there she found no answer. She looked at him and shrugged her shoulders.

"Because I care about people." She laughed and nodded. "Believe it or not! I've been doing this for years, Haruko, god since I was 18 and I'm now 25! I've never killed anyone. I'm not a bad person, I just have a job with ill repute. I'm not forcing you to trust me, I am just asking."

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko shook his head, looking away from her again. He understood it, he did. He had been an assassin. He had killed people. Countless numbers of them. Mr. Lawson had raped and murdered people, innocent people and guilty people alike. Men, women, anyone who needed killed Haruko would do it. And if Haruko didn't Mr. Lawson had his way with them, and then did it. He understood having a job with ill repute perfectly.

He didn't say anything for a moment, rolling everything around in his head. He supposed if she had wanted to kill him, she could have done it by now. He was a danger to everyone he knew, to himself. But he was afraid. Believe it or not, he was scared to not have Mr. Lawson there. It was something that had been there for thirteen years, something he had learned to live with. Getting rid of him would be like admitting that Haruko had committed all those horrible crimes. Had raped and totured people, when all he had to do was give them a painless death.

It frightened Haruko. It truly did.

[Akasha]

Akasha watched him for what seemed like hours, even though she was almost positive it was a few minutes. The silence was killing her, the suspicion, the anxiousness, everything was taking so long. She watched him and suddenly she had to spit out that last little bit that might cause strife within, if it hadn't already.

"Look, free of charge Haruko. The only problems you may face is a little memory loss! I'm not talking about gaps of time, I'm just saying little things might bug you like...did you brush your teeth, or um....where your keys are. Nothing different than normal people." She was trying her best to plead this case. Akasha suddenly had this dire need to have this happen for him. There was this drive from inside of her that was screaming and pleading, but she was good at hiding it.

"I'm not going to touch it. I'm not going to gut it. I'm not going to do anything. I just.....want it. All I ask, free surgery and a healthy mind and life....the family you lost or left behind....all of that for your ship."

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko's heart panged at her words. How had she known? Then he remembered the surveillance cameras. So she had seen him cry then, over his brothers, his lover. He put two hands on his face as if it would wp away the shame, sadness, anger he felt for everything. Then he looked up at her. He looked into her eyes, searching for one seed of a lie. Searching for something that would let him know she didn't really mean what she said. Searching for anything.

But he found nothing. Just sincerity, just truth, just a need--even for a perfect stranger--to have back the life he had once had. The life he so desperately wanted back. He ran his tongue over his dry lips and shook his head, looking back down. He waited another long moment before hoarsely replying.

"I can't..." he paused. "I c-can't tell you yes or no. This...it isn't just something I can decide, Akasha," he said looking up at her. "I'll think about it...it's all...I can do..."

[Akasha]

Akasha swallowed and then nodded. Suddenly she felt horrible. Why had she done that? Why in God's name had she made a bargain? It was not her style, not her personality. It seemed like she was choosing a ship over being charitable and helping someone. This made her mad. She wanted to kick herself, better yet throw herself out into space. She looked at him and nodded again, tears suddenly stinging her eyes. She needed to be alone so she could go yell at herself, beat herself up. She had just chose a ship, a damned vehicle that got you from point A to point B over a human life!

"Okay." She said lowly. She stood up and walked out of the room. "Okay." She said again closing the door and locking it. She was such a bad person. She knew she was. Akasha was going to have trouble sleeping tonight, hell probably the rest of her life.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko watched her leave, the buried himself back into his blankets to cry. Cry and cry and never stop until he had nothing left in his body. He wanted to lay down and die so he would never have to hurt anyone, or leave anyone, or frighten anyone every again. He wanted to rip out everything it his head and lay down on the floor and bleed to death. There was nothing that was more fitting.

Haruko didn't usually cry. He cried for his family, shed tears for them. But Haruko never cried. Not like this. Not sobbing, gasping for air. He never cried so hard his lungs hurt or his head hurt. Never. Not in years, not since he was a child. But this, everything that had happened, everything he was unsure about, all of the pain, the anger, the hate, the frustration, weighed on him so heavily at that point that he didn't have any other option.

It was his last resort.

[Akasha]

Akasha heard the sudden sounds of Haruko crying and suddenly she had to do it to. She slid down the door and buried her head in her knees and began to cry, not as loud or as hard, but good enough to exhaust her. Akasha realized that perhaps lining her pockets for money wasn't such a liberating and good job as she had thought it once was. How odd it was to meet someone within a day and have their whole life thrown into upheaval, then again he was going through the same thing with her.

She sniffed and leaned her head back. She actually could have cared less, really, about the ship. It could burn in hell for all she cared. She just knew how sad he had looked on several occassions, then how he cried over a picture. Now...he was crying again. This was all because of her. Akasha felt such tremendous guilt and pressure. She was so tempted to just open the door wide, tell him the ship was his, get the surgery and be happy, but she couldn't. She still had pride.

Akasha waited a moment and looked over her shoulder at the door still hearing the sobs from within. How bad she felt. How horrible a person she was. But she had to, that was her job, that was who she was. Perhaps some day down the road things might be different.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko's tears finally ceased an hour after they had begun. He was spent, his chest hurt, his eyes burned, his body ached from being wracked with sobs. He couldn't moved. He could just lay there and stare up at the ceiling of his solitary confinement and think. Consider everything that had happened. Everything that could happen that he didn't know about.

He thought about Taro. He wondered how he and Jesimae were doing. He wondered about Jiro, how he was, and how Orange was. He wondered about Asher, if she was alright, if everything was going well for her. He wondered about his son. He wondered if he was happy. Haruko felt such sadness like he had never felt, and he didn't know how to cure it. It was like Mr. Lawson. It was always there, always whispering, always threatening to bring him down.

Haruko was tempted to let it.

[Akasha]

Akasha had let her emotions mend back to normal after maybe an hour or so. She hadn't been this confused by her own actions in such a long time that she was almost unsure how to handle it, but she lived and learned and she was managing well. She figured she had done a good thing, a civil thing. She was going to be helping a man, that is of course if he wanted to do the surgery, but at the same time she was doing something of bad nature and character.

But Akasha figured it was a bargain that would end up giving him more than it did her. Come to think of it, a ship for a free surgery was kind of empty and uneven. A ship was crap! But Akasha suddenly felt that perhaps a ship was too much to take, but she didn't have any other options really and she was good enough to accept the trade. Hopefully he was too.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko sat up and leaned against the back wall. He didn't know about all of this. Giving this woman his ship for a free surgery. Haruko was sure he could afford the surgery, he could just get the information about the doctor, keep his ship, and get the surgery himself if he wanted to.

He couldn't give her his ship. He couldn't do it. Even for a free surgery, he had no assurance that it was anything but a ploy just to get his ship. He simply couldn't do it. It was hard but, his ship had always been there, for years, it had seen as much as he had, and he couldn't just give it up.

Haruko put his hands on his face and rubbed away the last of his tears. They had no place here. He didn't need to be crying, he was a grown man. He had the funs to do what he wanted. When he next saw the woman, he had a bargain of his own.

[Akasha]

Akasha moved around the cockpit, apparently her plot to take the ship for the surgery wasn't really happening or sitting well with her as it might have been previously. What the hell was happening to her?

"God!" She said louder than she had meant to and kicked the side of the captain's chair, the loud thud echoing down the hall. She hissed when she realized she hadn't been wearing her steel toe boots. She bit her loewr lip and groaned at the pain that shot up her leg. After a moment it seized and she looked over at the monitors watching him squirm slightly. She looked at the clock and let out a sigh. SHe turned and walked down the hall and grabbed the door and opened it, feeling like a giant when he was on the floor in a blanket.

"Loo break?"

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko looked up and nodded, pulling himself from the floor, letting the blanket fall off of him. His heat regulator was working smashingly and he was feeling better, nice and warm, toasty actually. At least his was comfortable.

He moved out of the room and started down the hall, deciding that if he was going to do this, he was going to do it bluntly. For a few moments as they walked, he chose his words carefully. Then he stopped and turned to her.

"Look, Akasha," he said, trying to sound as soft as he could, he wasn't trying to be short or sharp with her. "What you told me, it sounds nice, but it's just...not doable." He paused a moment before continuing. "I'm sure you understand the attachment one gets to one's ship..." he sighed. "I have my own bargain for you. You give me the information I need to track down this doctor and investigate it for myself. I give you whatever you want outside my ship. If it's money you want, I'll pay you for every part on this hunk of metal. If it's a ship you want, I'll buy one for you, a nice one that will fetch a good price at a chop shop. Whatever you want...just, not the Rule."

[Akasha]

Akasha felt her stomach drop and her heart skip. He was addressing her in a way that weas personable, face-to-face, and abrupt and blunt. She liked it. She grinned as he tried to bargain with her. She hated bargains, deals, trade offs, everything she hated, but she had to do this. She nodded at him and leaned on the doorframe, blocking his exit even though it wasn't mean to barracade him in, it was just a simple movement. She crossed her arms and shook her head thinking it all over.

Akasha wanted things to be that easy, but it just wasn't. She sighed and looked up at him suddenly her heart breaking into so many pieces that she was ready to just crumble to the floor and give in, but she, too, had to stand her ground.

"It isn't about money. Nor is it about other ships. It is about this particular one. Pirates don't make money buying ships only to sell them right after. It is about the hunt, the find, the chase, the capture, the money." She frowned and raised her hand to her forehead, tension bringing a new stressful feeling to her mind. How she hated headaches.

"The Rule is coveted. It has a golden hull, it has your personality, it has things that nobody can find without having to planet hop and bargain. Pirates, Haruko, hate bargains. I hate bargains. But I was making an exception.

"Damn it! This just isn't about your damn ship anymore, okay?" She let it out and suddenly felt her headache subside. "It isn't about the Rule. This is about...something else."

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko's brow furrowed, his urge to use the toilet going away for the time being. He watched her talk, and then the last words he considered came from her mouth.

This just isn't about your damn ship anymore, okay? It isn't about the Rule. This is about...something else.

Haruko leaned back slightly, putting his hands in his pockets and giving her the once over. His eye scanned her quickly for any disorders--bipolar? No. Depression? No. Schitzophrenia? Definately not. Haruko checked her vital signs. Heart beat was normal, blood flow was mostly normal--a little extra to the head, but it was just due to a small headache that was going away it appeared--breathing was normal. She wasn't on drugs, under the influence of alcohol, and hadn't taken more than the prescribed amount of painkillers.

So what was wrong with her?

"It isn't?" he asked, unsure of anything now. He crossed his arms over his chest, a perplexed expression on his face. "Well, then, what is this about?"

[Akasha]

Akasha groaned at his response, knowing that the stupid question was going to come up she was going to have to answer it. But then again, she was in control, she didn't have to do a damn thing! But...damn it! Finding this ship had been the worst thing ever. She stomped her foot to let out anger at the situation and anger that she felt against herself.

She had sene how Kale was effected, knew first hand, she had been there to receive the crap end of the stick and she just wanted others to not feel that way. Whoever was in that picture was now bothering her. It was making her conscience take over everything and she was repulsed that she was even a pirate. She bit her lower lip and rubbed her head. This guy must've thought she was crazy! She looked at him and dropped her hand and shook her head, laughing lightly.

"It's stupid. I shouldn't have ever said anything to you about it." She swallowed and wa in dire need of water and a cigarette. Hell she was in need of everything. "Look this procedure is secret because if word spread about bionic problems, people will rebel. I don't know if you've noticed but there are a lot of people who hate robots and those who use certain cybernetic technologies. I can't just give you the information and let you be. I have to be there with you." She paused and leaned off the door finally.

"Besides, even God Himself can't purchase this kind of surgery. People end up taking out loans and paying payements. Kale will be paying his for the next 16 years. I was just wanting to do you a favor. Help you...your family...your girlfriend out."

[Haruko Lawson]

"She's not my girlfriend," Haruko said sharply. He clenched his jaw, still a little annoyed that she had been watching him. Then again he had tried to rip her to shreds.

He sighed, leaning on the wall and running a hand through his hair. This situation was stradily spiraling out of his control. He didn't know which way he wanted to go, and he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. He shook his head, putting a hand on his hip and the other against his mouth as he thought. Then he shook his head.

"Of course there are people who don't like the technology inside my head," Haruko began. "But people have been dealing in cybernetics for years, it's as commonplace as being male or female, I don't understand that aspect of what you just told me," he paused and sighed again. "And loans or no, I could work it out on my own, I just--God!" he put his hands to his face and let out a heavy half growl half sigh. This was like running around in circles, chasing his tail. He held his hand out and turned away, indicating she stay where she was.

"I have to use the toilet, just...hold that thought."

[Akasha]

Akasha nodded and allowed him to pass. She watched him walk down the hall rather swiftly. Either he was really needing to go or he was just needing to get away from her. Akasha leaned her head on the wall and sighed out. This was far more complicated than she was actually planning on it going.

Where she was from people despised robots, technology, anything and everything dealing with cybernetics. Peopel figured that they were taking over their jobs and there would be no more room in the workplace for humans and aliens. Just droids and other thigns that were incapable of human intelligence. She opened her eyes after a long pause and looked around.

The real reason she was suddenly at a crossroads was because of her love for people, life, and plus she just liked Haruko. How odd this all was and how hard everything was becomming.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko shut the door behind him and flopped down on the toilet lid. He put his head in his hands and rested his elbows on his knees. His urge to actually use the bathroom had gone away a long time ago, but right this moment he just needed a moment to run his brain over everything. His bionic brain was whirring unpleasantly at him, protesting the thinking he was doing. Apparently he was doing too much for it's liking.

Haruko leaned back brushing hair from his face and sighing. Why did he have this strange urge to trust this woman? What was there to trust? Nothing. But Haruko did. He had always trusted people more often than he didn't because he just preferred to expect the best from people instead of the worst. But for some reason, he just felt like she wasn't just throwing him a bone so he would trust her, only to pull the rug out from under him later once she had her crew with her again.

Haruko stood, going to the mirror and looking into it. His reflection hadn't changed from the last time he had looked in a mirror, as reflections never changed. The person he had seen in the mirror back on Coruscant was the same person he stared at now, yet something seemed different.

If Haruko wasn't mistaken, he saw a little hope in those brown eyes.

Pulling the bathroom door open and walking down the hall, he resolutely stopped in front of the woman and gave her the once over. Then he crossed his arms and stood straight, watching her for a few long moments. Finally, he sighed out and cleared his throat diplomatically.

"If you're screwing around with me, I promise it's the last thing you'll do," he said, though his slightly teasing tone gave him away. He gave her a nod, then a shrug, throwing up his hands in submission. "Alright, Akasha. Where do I turn this jalope?"

[Akasha]

Akasha looked at him and suddenly she almost crapped her pants. Did he just say something that would forever make her happy? SHe smiled and laughed.

"Now you're talking." She turned and jogged to the cockpit and waited for him. This was going to be the best decision of his life, she knew! This was also going to be the best decision she had ever made as well. Akasha wasn't set on doing it at this exact moment, perhaps she might change her mind later on after everything was said and done, but at the moment she was just wanting to help him and go back to her port. She could do without this ship, she could leave a man alone just once.

"We need to head North." She looked down at the panel and studied to coordinants they were on. It wasn't that far, but she wasn't sure exactly how to direct this ship. It all being so complicated was another good way of allowing herself to come to terms with letting this one go. She glanced over her shoulder watching him lazily stride in, his gorgeousness resonating at that exact moment as his hips swayed from side to side like a model. She smiled and raised her chin slightly.

"Come on, we don't have all day!" Her excitement was probably easily felt and seen, but she didn't care. This find had been stressful on the both of them, she was sure, but it was well worth it. There might be some good in this after all.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko smiled, sliding down into the chair, leaning forward and switching the computers all back to Japanese, his preferred language. He pressed his hand to a panel on the side, waking up the computer that Mr. Lawson had put dormant.

"Hai , Haruko , watashi gaanatanotamenisurukotogadekiru nanika gaaruka?" the computer asked, the male's voice slightly feminine. Haruko grinned as the computer's filed face came onscreen. Haruko didn't know how the face had been programmed in, the computer had just gotten his own personality and the face of a young Japanese man had just manifested. He was good as another crew member and was a smartass too.

"Hai. Kosu no watashitachi wo kita ni ena sai. Akasha-san ha watashitachi wodokokani eru hitsuyou gaatteiru. Watashi ha saru shi fun naku kihon nisorewosubete tenkan shiyouto omotte iruka?" Haruko asked the man, who sighed and nodded.

"Yes, I supposed it is," he said, then gave Akasha the once over. "You're the young lady who was trying to steal me and chop me up into little bits, yes?"

"Watch your mouth," Haruko said, then smiled as the computer turned the ship about. Haruko turned to look at Akasha. "Don't mind him, he's always sour."

[Akasha]

Akasha frowned she had never seen anything like this in all her life. How interesting. She was almost ready to respond, but didn't. She laughed lightly and sat on the arm of the captains chair, slightly invading Haruko's personal space, but she didn't care. She leaned her left arm on the back of the chair and crossed her leg, watching the back of Haruko's head and neck. She was tempted to just touch the pale skin that was slightly wet from sweat. She knew that it would have probably killed her to enjoy doing such a thing, so she refrained from not only getting what she wanted, for she was going to have to get acustomed to doing so since she wasn't getting this ship, and also allow herself to not tick him off and end up dead before he got help.

"That is by far, the coolest damn thing I have ever seen. Again, your ship surprises me." She smiled as she stared at evertyhing as if she had never seen it before, which technically she hadn't since it was all in a different language. It was quite entertaining and fun to watch.

"Don't worry. I've got crew members whose purpose in life is to be sour with me. I've gotten used to it."

[Haruko Lawson]

"And it sounds like I would just love those people," the computer said. Haruko rolled his eyes and looked back and up at Akasha.

"His name's Aiko. Don't ask me where he got it, it doesn't stand for anything," Haruko said, leaning over the controls to tap in a few commands. "He's the internal navigation, maintainence, and repair guy. He runs the ship when I am sleeping, he man's the guns and sheilds. He's practically the crew on this ship. He's harmless, but if you need anything, he'll get it for you," Haruko explained. He leaned back again to look at the man on the screen, who knocked a bit of his hair diplomatically from his face.

"Yes, well, now that he's made me sound like the maid, I am going to run a diagnostics on the ship. Mr. Lawson did a number on me," Aiko said. Haruko waved his hand.

"So how long is it gonna be before we get there?" he asked, looking at Akasha. "Any ideas?"

[Akasha]

Akasha smiled and bounced her leg that hung over her left knee, her eyes glancing at Aiko and then to Haruko, back and forth, back and forth. This was something she hadn't gotten to experience just yet, Haruko in his element just being himself. She wasn't having to watch him in silence through a grainy screen, it was actually fun and entertaining. It was nice to have someoen to talk to again and it was nice to trust him, although she wondered if she was making a mistake in doing so for he wasn't fixed...yet.

"I'd say a day or so. Your ship is fast so I am cutting a day away from the task. The doctor will have no problem getting you in and out. Just promise you won't back out?" She raised her eyebrow and looked at him.

"Matter of fact, I won't let you." She smiled at him and looked away almost shy she had done that although she had before. She stood up and walked over to the seat next to the Captain's. She wasn't the Captain of this ship, although she wasn't going to admit this yet, she was going to just slowly accept it.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko gave her a sidelong glance and then chuckled looking back up as Aiko[/] came up with several screens--the diagnostics on his ship. Haruko scanned them all. Sheilds were good, power was good, defense was good. Engines were good, all the internal parts were good. The only thing that wasn't good was the ship's response time. Haruko wrinkled his nose.

"Can you fix the response, Aiko?" he asked, looking at the man on the screen. [i]Aiki let out a sigh and glanced around as if he were looking at something. Then he nodded.

"I think so. It's just a little tweak Mr. Lawson made when I wasn't looking. It isn't going to slow us down much, maybe by a few hours," he informed Haruko who nodded.

"Good. Get on that, yell at me when you're finished. Oh, and can you get me the new files for download for my bionics?" He asked. Aiko cocked his head and then nodded.

"Coruscant or Naboo? Or somewhere else?" Aiko asked. Haruko shook his head.

"Um, Coruscant files. And...just the maintainence stuff from Naboo. I don't like the Naboo files much. Thanks," Haruko said as the man disappeared from screen to do as he was asked. Haruko leaned back in his seat and looked over at Akasha.

"Now we just sit back and relax."

[Akasha]

Akasha glanced at him ad just stared for what felt like the longest time. He looked happy now, at least happier. Was it because he was out of that room? In control of his ship again? Or happy for other reasons? She wasn't going to ask or press any matters on him. She just stared, wanting to smile at him and tell him how glad she was to have him there and talking to her for it had been lonely as hell for her as much as it had been for him, she was sure. Plus she wanted to express how happy she was for him that he was soon going ot be rid of that other person.

"Sounds like a plan." She sighed out after a long time. She couldn't even look away when she let out a sigh. It was like her brain was incapable of allowing her that simple action. So..she still stared, taking in his face again. He was attractive and that was one of the main forces for driving her to beg him to get the procedure done. She didn't know if that was good or not, but she figured it wasn't hurting anything. After this, she'd never see him again anyhow.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko leaned his head back and watched the stars outside. They seemed to be moving lazily by when really they were rushing. For a long time, Haruko didn't say anything. But he felt Akasha's eyes on him and he got uncomfortable. He looked over at her and cocked his head, giving her a crooked smile.

"What?" he asked. Was there something on his face? He probably looked like God Himself had come down from on high to knock him around a little bit. He knew his hair was a wreck, his face had scratches on it, and he was skinny and pale. He laughed realizing how much there actually was to stare at. Looking at him was probably like watching a hovercar wreck. You couldn't look away from the horror.

"Is something wrong?"

[Akasha]

Akasha as a bit surprised to have been caught, but figured there was no harm in looking. She leaned back and smiled, looking away to continue smiling out the window, tilting her head to the right, recapping everything good she had just witnessed.

"Nothing." She said, licking her lips. "Nothing at all." Oh, if Kale and her crew were there she wouldn't have been able to do half the things she had done with Haruko. FOr the first time she was glad to be alone without them tagging along, yelling at her, telling her she was stupid, making her feel like a bad pirate. She laughed lightly. Hell, she was a bad pirate. She was letting this guy go with his ship.

"Nothing." She said again shaking her head. That was a lie. There was everything to look at, everything good.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko watched her for another moment, his right eyebrow elevated a little. Then he let out a long sigh and stood up from his seat watching as Aiko appeared on a small screen on the console a moment, then disappeared. Haruko smiled a little before looking back over at the woman.

"I'm gonna go take a shower, clean these cuts up, change my clothes, smoke, go take my pill with a shot of alcohol," he informed her. "There's sake and some other alcoholic drinks in my kitchen in the case in the corner. You can help yourself if you're feeling that need as strongly as I am. Aiko will probably keep you company. If he gives you problems just tell me I'll talk to him," Haruko smiled, then waved cordially. "Be back."

He moved out of the cockpit and down towards his room. He went inside, closing the door behind him and then going to the bathroom quickly starting the shower and getting in. He needed this. He needed to relax.

[Akasha]

Akasha nodded. That sounded nice, real nice. Although after she had that thought whether or not it was due to wanting to be clean or if she wanted to see him take a shower. Her face grew red and she shrugged the thought off quickly, leaning back in the chair weighing whether or not she wantned to get some alcohol. It would calm her down, set her at ease, allow her to relax. Then again it would also allow her to continue to lower her inhabitions and she had already done that too much today.

She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, letting out a well deserved sigh. What was to come of them once they got everything fixed? She'd have to pursuade him to take her to Atlantis where she would then just be dropped off and wave goodbye to him. That sounded like a plan, but she was sure after that happened Kale and the rest of her crew would ostracise her and she'd end up leaving her ship. She opened her eyes to look out into the vast abyss.

"Hell."

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko quickly showered, cleaning the cuts on his face, and giving his eye another look over to make sure it was still in working order. Everything looked fine, so he clipped his hair back and went into his bedroom, grabbing a pair of grey exercise pants and a wife beater, pulling them both on, followed by his necklaces and boots.

He moved out of his room and down the hall to the kitchens. He pulled out a glass and got himself some sake, quickly taking his crazy pills before flopping down and lighting up a cigarette, sucking in the toxins, and staring down into the sake. He was in a better mood now that he was no longer in that tiny room, but he was keeping his eyes open, just in case. He knew he still couldn't fully trust the woman and vice versa, but he was willing to for the time being.

[Akasha]

Akasha smelled the scent of a cigarette and she grinned, Haruko was out of the shower and was enjoying a post=shower cigarette. She opened her eyes and moved her head to the left as if she were going ot look over her shoulder and see him walk in, but all she saw was the seat.

It concerned her that she had taken a liking toward Haruko, she knew nothing about him except that he had a dangerous personality that was soon to be fixed. She slowly moved out of the chair and decided to take him up on that offer on getting some alcohol and to grab a cigarette for she didn't want to get bitchy because she was in need of nicotine. She flipped her head for a moment, brushing a piece of hair out of her face, making her way down the hall towards the kitchen.

She turned the cornere and almost jumped when she saw him. She figured he was in his room, but apparently she chose the right door. She smiled at him and slowly crept into the room, not really wanting to disturb him.

"Where is the alchy?" She bit her lower lip waiting for directions, staring at what he was drinking in a tiny square cup. Very odd.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko looked over his shoulder at her, his cigarette dangling from his lips. He pulled it out and blew the smoke away from him. He pointed to the small cooler box in the corner.

"Over there. Code's 2781," he told her. He didn't know why he had felt the urge to put a code on there a few months before. He supposed it was because Asher's little brother had been running around here at one point and Haruko hadn't wanted him getting into the alcohol. Haruko smiled to himself. Bittersweet memories. He shook his head and turned his attention back to Akasha.

"Got something normal in there I am sure," he said, looking around her. "But also have some sake, Osaka wine, and other various Japanese things, if you're feeling adventurous," he said. Then he slid his lighter and pack of cigarettes towards the seat he assumed she would probably sit in. "And smokes, if you want."

[Akasha]

Akasha smiled. That was nice. Something felt a little bit different like a huge dreary subject had been wiped away. She was now glad that he was out and he actually seemed a little bit more relaxed and happy.

"I'm an adventurous girl, I think I'll take some sake." She walked over to the cooler and typed in the code he had told her and she was quick to ponder on the Japanese writing, finally seeing that one actually had 'sake' written on the side. She smiled and took it out and closed the door, grabbing a small cup pouring the liquid inside. She put the top back on and smelled the contents inside before turning to walk over to where she saw he had pushed the cigarettes. She took a seat and let out a sigh putting the cup down and grabbing the pack to pull out a smoke and light it up. She inhaled deeply and let the smoke out in a thin line, glancing up at Haruko and finding herself treading on foreign territory.

"Thanks," She said to him finally for the first time since they met. She bit her lower lip and grabbed the cup and smelled it again, slowly lifting the edge of the cup to her mouth to take a sip. She frowned and coughed almost immediately.

"Oh!" She said letting out a laugh after her coughing subsided. She pushed her hand against her chest and looked up at him with a sourpuss face. "That is strong!" She shook her head and laughed. "Don't warn a girl, Haruko!"

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko took a drink of his own, and lowered it, laughing at her and shrugging at her as he brought the cigarette back to his mouth, pulling in some of the smoke and then sighing it out.

"You're the pirate," he said with a shrug. "I figured you'd be able to handle anything alcohol-wise." He smiled at her and waved a hand at it. "If you don't like it, you can dump it and get something else," he said grinning. "It is a little strong."

Haruko liked the way things were right now. There was so much less tension, he was feeling better about things in general and there didn't feel like there was an ice wall in between them.

[Akasha]

Akasha laughed gently and shook her head, glancing at the liquid that bounced from the movement. She glanced up at him and saw a little grin. This turned her stomach and she looked way feeling her face grow pink whether or not it was from his attractiveness or the alcohol she wasn't really sure.

"Pirates drink rum, not sake. But I must say!" She lifted the cup and smiled. "I might be the first!" She drank it quickly, cringing for a second as the burn caught up to her. She sighed and sat the cup down and laughed. "It's good." She leaned on her elbows and smoked the cigarette and looked up at him and frowned softly, nodding her chin at him.

"You drinking sake?" Akasha was making small talk considering there wasn't else they could do. They had already gotten big secrets out of the way and she figured it was a good time to at least get a little bit of information about him as a person now.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko looked down at the drink in his cup and shook his head, taking another drink before looking back up at the woman and smiling.

"No, this is called Osaka wine," he said. "Another Japanese drink, less harsh than sake, smoother than regular wine, with the slight bitter taste of beer." He laughed. "It's from Coruscant. The Nihongo District. Only place I know of that sells the stuff. It's disgusting actually, don't ask me why I like it," he said with a shrug.

Haruko leaned back in his seat, pulling a foot up into the seat and wrapping his arm around his knee, watching the woman for a moment before drinking down the rest of the liquid and giving his cigarette the rest of his attention.

[Akasha]

Akasha laughed lightly, licking her lips as she stared at the man then the drink. She was beginning to feel self conscious, which was a very odd thing. The whole time she had been looking him up and down all around without any problems and shamelessly too. For a girl who always got looks from guys it was kind of disheartening to not get to catch him once. Sure she had been provoked before when the other man came out, but she wondered if perhaps the man Himself was maybe homosexual. That thought made her sad. Of all the men to find in the worl the one she found hot didn't play her team. She grinned and thought that would be just her luck.

Akasha looked at the sake and got up and poured herself some more before trotting back over to the table to pop a squat.

"I don't mean to be intrusive, more so than I already have been, but out of curiosity tell me about yourself."

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko furrowed his brow.

"Well..." he said, crossing his legs. He thought a moment before shrugging. "Not much to tell. My name's Haruko Lawson--I prefer Haru--and I'm twenty-seven years old..." he paused a moment thinking. "I have two brothers, and a sister-in-law. I have a..." he waved his hand, then laughed, rubbing his head. "Oh, God, a son. I have a ship called The Lawson Rule. My best friend is a mechanic on Coruscant, and I have another personality named Mr. Lawson," Haruko said, outlining the basics without getting too specific. "That's...it really...unless there was something you were fishing for that I didn't mention."

[Akasha]

Akasha nodded in pleasure. Oky, okay, she was getting an idea as to who he was, it was better than what she had guess previously! She smiled and shook her head once he asked her if there had been anything specific.

"No." She said smoking her cigarette and blowing out a line. "Just curious." She smiled and let out a little laugh. "This is by far the most interesting two days of my life, I must tell you." She looked up at him and shrugged.

"I can't apologize for anything, well..one thing! Sorry about the vase! I cleaned up your room, in case you didn't see.' How could this guy not guess that she wasn't going to take this ship? She was now letting him be dominant and in control, he was sitting in the captains chair, she was asking the questions, she was playing second to him. She was still trying to not cop out and let him keep it, but she had been worn down by Mr. Lawson, and her job, especially after this little run in.

"Mind if I call you, Haru?"

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko shook his head, finishing his cigarette and putting it out in an ash tray near to him.

"Nope. Everybody calls me that," Haruko said with a shrug. Suddenly he heard someone clear thier throat. He looked instinctively at the woman, but she didn't appear to have been the one to do it. He turned in his seat to see Aiko on a screen on the wall, and eyebrow elevated impatiently.

"Sorry to interrupt the bonding session, Haruko," he said, sly amusement in his voice. Haruko flipped him the bird before turning back to Akasha and rolling his eyes to indicate how bothered he even got with his computer.

"What do you need, Aiko?" Haruko asked. He heard the computer sigh heavily.

"I've got your files for download. They're going to upgrade your laser, night vision, and scanner programs. Also, the files from Naboo? They are gonna give you a little internal maintainence, take less stress off scrambling your brains about and cleaning that forehead panel," Aiko informed him. Haruko nodded and glanced back over at the computer man.

"You know that I love you, Aiko, and would marry you if you were real, right?" Haruko said, giving him a grin. The computer cleared his throat diplomatically, trying to hide the fact that the ego boosting made him feel better.

"Yes sir, I do know that," he answered. Haruko laughed and nodded.

"Good, leave the files in my room, I'll upgrade later," Haruko said. Aiko nodded and disappeared from the screen. Haruko shook his head at Akasha. "Sorry about him. He pops in so damn randomly it's scary."

[Akasha]

Akasha looked at Haruko, wondering if he had perhaps made the sound then her heart got a quick shock when she realized it was the computer. The face frightened her and then she began to feel amused. She laughed lightly when Haruko flipped the AI off and rolled his eyes at her.

She listened to what the computer had to say and she frowned very interested in what he had to say. So Haruko was getting an upgrade? That was something she hadn't heard before. As well equipped as Kale had been he never had anything like this, never had he gotten an upgrade. Then again he hadn't had the means or urge to get certain things. He just wanted to be normal. Akasha frowned and rearranged herself on the chair and smoked the cigarette down to the butt before putting it out.

"You sure you want this surgery, Haru?"

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko glanced over at her, looking down and watching her crush the cigarette in the ash tray. He shook his head at her.

"No, I'm not," he said truthfully. He shook his head and leaned forward to explain it to her. "I really...don't know that much about it. And to be honest with you, Akasha...it's really scary to think about not having Mr. Lawson around. He's been there, almost everyday for thirteen years, he is something I have learned to deal with, work around, even work with sometimes," he sighed. "And this bionic brain? It's helpful. I can do things, see things, learn things most people can't..." Haruko paused again. "This eye gave me sight in both my eyes, if it has to be taken out in the end..." he looked away form her and leaned back. "I won't be able to see my little brother's face when he finally get's married. I won't be able to see anything anymore. If this is more than just a virus, if it's something that's eaten at the bionics, and it has to be taken out..." Haruko shook his head.

"I'm not sure, Akasha. I think I do...but...you know."

[Akasha]

Akasha leaned in to meet him halfway, making thi conversation a little more personal, even if he hadn't really wanted it to. She furrowed her brow softly to hear him talk, nodding at a few points. Of course it'd be scary. That person had never left them and had always been that itch on your back that one couldn't reach. It was annoying and it was a plague. She could understand his feelings and surprisingly she understood due to Kale's problem, but he had been so pleased when all was over and done with.

She bit her lower lip and watched his eyes move and wander as he spoke. He was very intelligent and very nice and she really liked him. It pained her to have him actually tell her that he was fearing something, she never would have expected that from someone she had taken as a prisoner! It slightly appeased her, made her a bit happy! Like she wasn't half as bad as she figured all along.

But then again she was bad. She toted guns, had an 'every man for himself' attitude. She rarely considered other peoples feelings unless forced, but with Haruko it had just been natural and that scared her. Then she felt guilt. It washed over her like a waterfall and she suddenly felt a tremendous cloud of sadness, partially due to her own pity party and his sudden revelation on how he got his eyesight back and how he won't be able to see his brothers face. That was something she couldn't identify with, but she knew that Kale was like a brother to her and she pictured herself in his situation. Suddenly she felt worse than before.

Being beaten up and picked on for over that period of time it exhausted her and she hadn't even gone through it. SHe felt her eyes sting as she began to think a little bit too deeply on the matter. For godssakes! This man was just a random person with a bad history, where was her balls? Where did her ability to strike fear into people go? Akasha raised her eyebrows and looked at the counter top and blinked a few times, ridding herself of the emotions she was quick to allow to surface. She sniffed and nodded, still not looking up at him.

"Yeah." She responded after a moment. She grabbed her cup and turned to the sink to pour it out. "I do." She looked up at the ceiling and shook her head, knowing she was already regretting this decision. She glanced down at the cup in the empty sink and ran her fingers alongside the edge and tried to gather her composure, which she did very quickly.

"Um, Haru," She slowly turned and tried to smile. "How about this. I will give my friend a call and tell him about your...disadvantages. I'll give you the rundown of what is to happen and the effects you might have. Sound good?" Akasha kicked herself. She stilll wasn't able to own up to her decision to let him be, along with his ship. When was she going to grow a big hairy pair?

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko furrowed his brow. Why was she doing this for him? Really, what was she thinking about, what were her intentions? Haruko wanted to know, but he also knew not to look a gift horse in the mouth. He ran his tongue over his lips and looked down at his hands for a long moment.

"Yeah...okay..." he said slowly. It would be good to know a little about what was to go down. This was all like an overload to Haruko's body and his mind. He looked up at her, his face trusting, hoping to God she wasn't jerking a knot in his chain somewhere along the way. "Yes. I would like that."

[Akasha]

Akasha smiled warmly and nodded leaning off the counter. See, she thought to herself. That isn't so bad!. She looked up at him and walked towards him, passing the table they sat at.

"I'll go do that for you right now. It is a good idea to let him prepare anyhow, you know." She gave him a crooked grin and waved and walked out, wandering down the hall like a lost puppy. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her com and quickly searched the files and found the doctors number she pulled it to her ear and stopped walking and leaned on the wall, her right arm under her left elbow that held the phone to her ear. She bit her lower lip and heard the man pick up.

"Got a new one for you, bud." She smiled hearing the man chat lively and tell her that she was good for his business. "His name is Haruko Lawson. He's had some problems for over thirteen years. Just like Kale, personality, whirring in the eye, routine maintenance. The usual." She frowned softly as the man nodded and was quick to find him in the long list of files he had access to whenever it came to installations, even those that were hidden. This man was that good.

Akasha waited impatiently wanting teh answers to flow quickly, but they were choppy and many breaks. She heard the man sigh after a good period of time and this brought her heart to stop.

"He is about twenty seven, correct?" Akasha made a noise that let him know he was correct and again he sighed. "Well, I can fix everything, no problem but..." Akasha frowned.

"But what?"

"It just is old. I am sure I can figure it out fine! But still." She frowned and stood up from leaning on the wall and waved a hand in front of her face as if she were arguing with the man face to face.

"Something wrong? Look, Doc, this guy means a lot to me okay? Don't dilly dally! I need the facts and I need you to be honest. So, what is the matter?"

"Akasha, he has a foreign pattern in his brain. Now like languages it has its own destinct channels and pathways and wiring. I can fix it, but his side effects are going to be harsh. Real harsh."

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko leaned back in his chair looking up as Aiko popped up on small screen across from him. He gave Haruko a smiled and Haruko smiled back, trying to balance on two legs of the chair. Suddenly, he heard Aikio sigh.

"Look, Haruko, I don't trust the girl...I know I'm just the computer that runs your ship, but...you are my friend, Haruko, and I don't trust her," Aiko blurted, his face showing that he had given this thought. Haruko leaned forward, the chair clunking on the floor as he did so.

"I think she's okay, Aiko, really. I trust her...I do," Haruko said. Aiko nodded.

"You trusted Aiden too. Look where he put you," Aiko with a shake of his head. "I just think you ought to be careful, is all I'm saying, Haruko."

Haruko smiled, getting up and walking around the table sitting in a seat closer to the screen so he could see the computer boy better. Aiko looked up at him. Haruko smiled.

"Don't worry, Aiko, I have it covered."

[Akasha]

Akasha hung up and sighed and rubbed her temple. Well, that wasn't too bad, not as bad as she had figured, but it still wasn't the positive news she had been wanting to hear. She glanced down at the link and saw she had spent about twenty minutes on the phone with the doctor. They were closer than she had thought, but it was still unnerving when she wasn't even sure if he was going to actually go through with it.

She turned and walked back towards the kitchen and heard low talking. She turned the corner and was almost startled to see that Haruko was carrying on a conversation with the computer. She smiled almost excited to see such a sight. It was a new experience and a new technology she had yet to see up close and personal.

"Don't mean to interrupt, boys." She said lowly, almost considering the computer as a third person when in actuality he was. She took a seat across from them and suddenly got a feeling of being the odd woman out for they both glanced at her. She looked at them both and let out a nervous laugh. She sat her com on the counter and looked at Haruko.

"Well, the good news!" She smiled figuring the good news was to be first. "It can be done in less than two hours. He'll take out the virus, survey the damage and decide whether or not to give you new parts or a new set of cybernetics all together."

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko nodded, glancing at Aiko who nodded his own approval. Two hours wasn't bad, virus scan and purge would probably take the bulk of the time. A new set of cybernetics? That might be interesting. But with Haruko's luck something awful would develop with that set too. He glanced at Aiko who flashed a line of Japanese at the bottom of his screen.

Just remember that she wanted to hack me up into little peices, it said. Haruko scowled at him and shook his head looking back over at Akasha, giving her his attention and ignoring the computer.

"Good news is good," Haruko said with a nod. "Now the bad news."

[Akasha]

Akasha nodded and looked at him and at the screen wondering if she should address the two of them. She figured it wouldn't hurt anything. She glanced in between the two as she spoke.

"Usually peopel don't get surgeries on their cybernetics that long after it is installed. The problem with going in there and poking around could be threatening to your health. The bionic brain might have set firmly and tightly in your real brain that separation would be impossible. If the virus has caused severe damage it may be irreversible." She shrugged and leaned on the counter a little closer.

"If the damage isn't bad then we are good to go. The side effects are a bit....harsher. You won't have memory loss, so that is good. However...replacing your brain completely will cause permanent blindness. No cure. However if we can just get a few new parts installed the only problem is routine check-ups every month for the rest of your life and...no color pigmentation. You'd have an ice blue eye for the rest of your life." Akasha bit her lower lip and felt like she had just read a book. She looked at the two sit in silence and she waondered what they were thinking.

"Well? Thoughts? Suggestions?"

[Haruko Lawson]

That was a price. A price Haruko couldn't decide if he was willing to pay. He heard Aiko sigh slightly and then he saw the screen flicker and disappear. The computer was getting ready to take his three dimensional form probably because Aiko felt he had more influence when he was in the room like a third person.

Haruko looked up as Aiko flickered next to him and "sat down" next to him in a chair, leaning over to see his face.

"Blindness, Haruko? After seeing for fifteen years? Haruko what if they have to replace it? What would be the point? If they are going to scramble your brains around and cause you to lose your sight that they can't restore, then you don't need a bionic brain anymore. It's the only reason you have it. Haru?" Aiko said, furrowing his brow, and leaning back, looking up at the woman. Haruko leaned forward, looking at Aiko and giving him a smile.

"It's true. If they have to replace it and I lose my eyesight, then there is no use in replacing it. That will have to be made known to your doctor friend," Haruko said, then nodded. "But...I think this is...something...I want to try."

[Akasha]

Akasha bit her lower lip and was almost blown away when the screen disappeared only to have the man come to life fully in three dimensional form. She leaned off the counter and stared for a moment, in awe of what this ship had to offer. Again this made things harder for her. Where else would she have found such a unique thing? Then agian...how could she take a friend away from another human being?

Akasha moved it out of her head knowing that wasn't topic of discussion. She leaned on the counter again and watched the two converse. She nodded in response. She grabbed the link and dialed the doctor and looked at Haruko as she heard the other line beep.

"Me again." She swallowed and glanced at the "man" and then Haruko. "We won't do it if we have to replace it." She felt her words being cut off and suddenly she felt a headache coming on again. "No. That isn't an option. I'm not plucking his eyes out to reinstall them. You fooling around with nerves in the eyes isn't part of the deal anyhow, Doc." She frowned and nodded and then cut off the connection.

"You're set to go under tomorrow morning, bright and early on the little blue and white planet. We are going to Alderaan. We'll be there in about 14 hours."

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko nodded, deciding that he wanted to sleep before they got there. He stood up, Aiko standing with him and waved a hand at the woman.

"I'm gonna go try and sleep a little. Aiko's gonna be in there with me for awhile, but he'll be back online in a little bit, so if you need anything," Haruko said, motioning to the 'man' beside him. Aiko gave her a short rather cold nod and followed Haruko out the door. The two walked in silence for a moment before Aiko couldn't hold it in anymore.

"Dontdoitharukoimworriedaboutyou!" he blurted out in a single sentance. Haruko paused in his walking slightly to try and figure out what the hell his friend had just said. He looked over at the computer that flickered just a little as he moved.

"What did you just say?" Haruko asked. Aiko sighed, then shook his head.

"I don't want you to do it, Haruko. I don't think it's safe," he said, watching as Haruko turned into his bedroom and he followed. Haruko laughed.

"You're always worried about one thing or another concerning me, Aiko," Haruko said. The 'man' sat down on the floor and rested his chin in his hand as he watched Haruko crawl under his blankets.

"You've taken care of me for ten years, Haruko. I don't particularly want to lose you now," he said. Haruko nodded.

"I know, Aiko. I know."

[Akasha]

Akasha felt that that had been a geat plan, but she wasn't exactly sure where to sleep. Sure there were other sleeping quarters but since recent events she wasn't too keen on invading the ship more than she already had. She sighed and cleaned up the kicthen and headed towards theroom where she had locked Haruko in. She grabbed the pillow and blanket and walked into the cockpit and adjusted herself in the captains chair. Tomorrow, after all was done, she'd tell him that seh wasn't going ot keep his ship.

Akasha would hate herself, she knew, but it was worth it. Haruko didn't need any more stress than he had been through. She could find another ship, perhaps not as luxurious and wonderful, but good enough to allow her to retire! She smiled at that idea. This job was tiring. She wanted to just work on computers the older she got, the thrill haveing lost its luster long ago. Plus, Pirates were getting harsher treatment if captured. Bad reps didn't help anyone, even if they were a great pirate such as herself.

"Tomorrow." She siad lowly. "Tomorrow, you'll be free." She groaned as she felt herself quickly drift into sleep. She just prayed that everything would go well and that Haruko would get an upgrade.

[Haruko Lawson]

-----------
Haruko wasn't aware, but Aiko stayed by him all sleep cycle, watching him sleep and keeping an eye on the woman in the cockpit. Aiko didn't trust Akasha, and no one could blame him. But even more, he didn't think Haruko should get this operation. He feared what it might do to Haruko, what Haru might lose.

When Haruko woke up, however, Aiko was no longer sitting next to him, but had loaded back up onto the computer and was unseen. Haruko sat up in his bed, looking around him as if he were in a foreign place. His stomach tensed unpleasantly and he had the urge to go throw up. After a moment, though, he felt good enough to swing his legs over the bed and sit there, running a hand over his face and sighing out heavily. He hadn't thought about where Akasha had slept. She could have taken one of the other bedrooms--probably Jiro's since it was the most comfortable--but he hadn't pointed it out to her, assuming she would gravitate towards it on her own.

[Akasha]

Akasha twisted and jerked awake in a startle as she realized she was about to fall over the side of the chair to have a not so pleasant landing on the floor. She groaned as she sat upright from her leaning left. Her hands automatically went to her back, aching from the awkward sleeping position. Something she wasn't keen on was her sleeping arrangements, then again she didn't have the sense to get up and search out other rooms. But it was too late now. She sat up hearing her back crack as well as her neck. She drew in a deep breath and held it as she stretched, letting it out harshly once she felt all was pulled back into place. She slumped in the chair and sighed out, yawning aafter a few moments of adjusting her eyes on the bright panel in front of her. What time was it? Had she slept all night? Akasha blinked away the sleep and stood up slowly, grabbing the blanket before it fel to the ground, her knees popping at the movement.

"Ah," She said leaning down to rub them as if she had old bones, but actually enjoying the feeling in her back as she leaned down. Another yawn and she was standing up and looking around to find the time. No luck. She touched a few buttons and watched one screen come to life showing her the time. She raised her eyes in surprise. She had slept over nine hours, that was something she never had done before in all her life. She frowned and took a seat in the warm chair and scooted forward.

"Okay, where are we..." She talked to herself pushing a few buttons her memory serving her well considering all had been switched into the mans language. She watched the main coordianant screens pop up and glowing showing her planets nearby.

"Well, hello." She said with a smile seeing that Alderaan was just an hour away, perhaps less. She wondered if Haru, as he so liked to be called, was awake yet. Akasha didn't feel like spying on him anymore and simply sat back in the chair and waited for her stomach to tell her whether or not she was hungry or if she needed to relieve her bladder. She figured that in an hour or so Haru would be seeing the doctor and preparing to see whether or not his future was as bright and optimistic as Akasha wanted it to be, or if it was all just a hopeless cause.

"Pray for the latter." She exclaimed to herself as she leaned her stiff neck on the chairs comfortable pillow.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko finished getting dressed and dried his hair before putting on a visor and heading out into the hallway. He glanced up and down the hallway, looking for Akasha but unsure of whether she was awake yet or not.

Carefully, he made his way down the hall towards the cockpit where he saw the woman curled in a chair, looking supremely uncomfortable. He furrowed his brow and cocked his head going over to her and leaning down to look at her.

"Did you sleep here all cycle?" he asked, looking her over as if he might see any aches and pains she harbored just by looking at her. He moved around her and shook his head. "Next cycle, take one of the bedrooms, I imagine you'll sleep a little more soundly."

[Akasha]

Akasha raised her eyebrow and looked over her to see Haruko walking around the chair showing his sudden disapproval of where she had slept. She sighed out and shrugged.

"Didn't think I should invade your ship more than I should have." She retorted bluntly, moving slightly in the chair watching him walk and seeing he was wearing a visor. She grinned refraining from mentioning it figuring it was his fashion. She liked it, but it was an easy target for a joke on lighting. Well, perhaps not a funny joke, rather stupid. She grinned to herself and grimmaced slightly when she arched her back in the chair.

"We've got an hour maybe before we are there. How are you feeling this morning about going ahead with the surgery?" She looked over at him and frowned softly concentrating on his face as if she herself couldn't see him due to bright lighting. Her eyes still hadn'y adjusted to the bright panel she had only been away for five minutes anyhow.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko flopped down in another chair, feeling exhausted as if he hadn't just slept for hours. He let out a long sigh, gathering his legs into the chair and resting his head on the back of the chair. He shook his head.

"Still unsure, but if it kills me at least I know I'll have ended my life from the same goddamn thing that practically started my life," he said, giving his temple a tap and closing his eyes. "It'll be nice. Knowing my life was a practical comedy of errors," he said with a wry smile. For a long moment he sat in silence. He supposed it would be an okay way to go. Right in the middle of a life or death surgery. He would only regret not really getting to say goodbye to his brothers or friends. Or make right with all the people he had hurt in the past.

Haruko snuggled down into his chair and opened his eyes, watching the planet in front of them get closer and closer as they continued on thier course. Aiko had not made an appearance yet, so Haruko figured that he had everything running smoothly and was hibernating. He was sure the smartass computer would come back anytime. Haruko sat forward a little, clasping his hands around his knees. He glanced over at Akasha.

"And it'll be good for you too. Means you'll get my ship anyway," he said with a nod. "Win-win any way it happens."

[Akasha]

Akasha looked at him and gave him a light laugh, it was more of an awkward chuckle. She felt bad enough as it was and having him assume she was to take it made it worse. What if he did croak during surgery? He would die thinking that this horrible woman tried to seduce him, slept in his ship, held him hostage, broke a vase...was taking his ship even post posthumously.

"Yeah." She said lowly glancing away. What would be best? Telling him now? Telling him later? Not telling him at all? Stealing it? She was still unsure. This guy was a good guy who just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time and she just happened to be a jackass who wanted to get rich quick.

"Haru," She frowned already not liking herself, but she couldn't do it any longer otherwise she knew she'd just end up going through it. "I've got something to tell you."

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko gave her a sidelong glance before nodding. What was it now? Something else to tell him. There were secrets around here right and left, not that Haruko could necessarily blame her. He had his own share of secrets, but if it had something to do with the surgery that she was just now telling him, he wouldn't be happy. He looked over at her and nodded.

"Yes," he said, giving and encouraging look. "Tell me."

[Akasha]

Akasha shook her head feeling like the worlds biggest jackass. She leaned her elbows on her knees and combed her fingers through her hair and looked at the ground for a moment as if she were telling a lover she was pregnant. She groaned and looked at him, keeping her fingers deep within her hair to keep it from falling in her face. She saw he was sideways and knew that she couldn't talk to him like that. She sat up and let her hands fall.

"This whole time I've been here has been almost pointless," She looked over at him and grinned. "Almost!" She bit her lower lip and thought for a moment before leaning on the arm of the chair and looking at him thoroughly.

"I came to the conclusion, as much as I love this ship, I'm not going to take it." She frowned and stood up. "Fine! There! I said it! I'm not taking the damn ship."

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko furrowed his brow but couldn't help but smile a little. She acted as if it physically hurt her to say. It probably was, considering Haruko knew what kind of a price this ship would catch at a chop shop, or on the market. He sat up, a swell of greatfullness in him. He gave her a bow.

"Thank you," he said. Then he got serious. "I'll pay you whatever you want. You can't know how much those words mean to me," he said sincerely. He shook his head. "Honestly, just name a price, Akasha."

Haruko meant what he said. As much as he hated to admit, the bounty hunting business was quite profitable, and he had a wad of cash held up in an account on a small planet. He had never had to dip into it due to the several other accounts on other planets. But he would empty them all if that was what she wanted for the surgery and the ship.

[Akasha]

Akasha sighed out and bit her thumb as she looked at his shoes, her left hand on her hip.

"God the ship...worht...ugh!" She sighed out and slapped her hand on her forehead, leaving her head to rest there for a moment or t wo before she shook her head. "No..." She said lowly. She was signing her retirment away she knew, but she had to admit that good deeds were much more rewarding than stealing. God, how she hated being nice!

"No!" She said leaning her head up and putting her hand on her hip to even things out. "No, Haru, don't pay me anything. It is okay." She leaned her head back and stared up at the hoses in the ceiling and the pipes that were there. She was insane, she knew, but that was okay. She'd get more satisfaction for this later, she was sure.

"It's okay, Haru, I want to do this. No money needed. I am really smiling on the inside, I promise." She glanced at him and couldn't help but crack a smile when she saw the relief in his eyes. He was adorable and relief was something that made him even more so.

"Really, all smiles!"

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko furrowed his brow and smiled. He reached over, taking her chin lightly to bring her face to look him in the eyes. He gave her a nod.

"Thank you, Akasha," he said quietly, genuinely. It was as if a huge boulder had been lifted off of Haruko's chest. And he was sure that if Aiko had been listening, he would be glad too. He would see that maybe Haruko hadn't been so wrong to trust the woman. He gave her a smile, and dropped his hand, forgetting that normal people had personal boundaries and he was breaking them.

But as he had looked at her, he had suddenly realized how pretty she was. She had big, round hazel eyes, slightly hardened by years of piracy. She was just tanned from a sun somewhere. Haruko noted smooth, perfect skin, and even toned muscles in her arms. It startled Haruko at first as he had only been looking at her as a brawny she-pirate that had taken over his ship. But he wondered if she knew just how pretty she actually was.

Haruko stepped back, suddenly a little unnerved. He gave her another nod and then sat back down, looking back out the window. Where had those musings come from?

[Akasha]

Akasha felt herself literally melt in this mans hand. She had forgotten that this was nothing but a business transaction, sorta, but she wasn't even aware enough to care. He was just staring at her in a way that was giving her such a crazy feeling that she wondered if she herself should be put into some kind of surgery. Then he was quick to detach himself from the situation she was quickly wanting to become acustomed to. She watched him flop down in his chair and she felt a shudder. Nobody had actually looked at her like that in years and it was almost confusing as to what it all meant. She figured he was just so relieved to have everything working in his favor that he had to contemplate whether or not she had a heart.

She grinned at him and nodded. She looked at the chair she had been sitting in and shrugged, pointing lazily at it.

"Well I can't sit here." She looked over at him and smiled. "Get out of my seat!" She laughed lightly indicating that she wasn't the Captain of the Rule nor would she ever be. It was badluck, at least in her eyes, to have the Captain sit anywhere other than his designated chair.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko laughed, standing and sliding in front of her to flop back down in the captain's chair. He snuggled down into it, feeling finally at home. He glanced back out the window. The planet was looming ever closer, and Haruko's stomach unintentionally flipped in his body.

He tapped the computer screen and watched it wake up from hibernation. He typed in a few codes, sending information to the computer to wake his friend up. After a long moment, Aiko appeared onscreen in front of them, yawning slightly, before looking them both over and smiling.

"Morning tweedle dum and tweedle dee," he said, nodding to Haruko first then Akasha. "What may the Cheshire Cat do for you?"

"Hello, Aiko. Can you tell me how long, as close as you can, till we hit the atmosphere?" he asked. Aiko nodded, sitting still for a moment as he calculated. Then he gave another short nod.

"Around thirty minutes, and forty seconds," he answered. Haruko thanked him and his flickered off screen. Haruko looked over at Akasha.

"About a half hour."

[Akasha]

Akasha smiled suddenly very happy with herself. The turmoil was gone and it was rather nice to feel! She looked at Haruko with almost an admiration, she admired him for a lot of things, not just how he treated his ship with prestine perfection, but also with how he was handling other aspects of his life. She liked him. Liked him a lot. She looked away when the screen popped up to see the familiar face of that uber friendly A.I. He spoke to Haru then to her and she couldn't help but give way a small chuckle. She crossed her leg and smiled as she glanced at the floor hearing the "man" talk to Haruko.

Her brain was going all over the place. She was weighing what she was going to do when she got home to her port, what she was going to tell the guys who had left her, find a better way of life, how she found Haru attractive, how she loved his ship, how she hated herself, how she loved her decision...so many things! She looked up at the window and heard the man speak and she was barely able to hear for her mind was still in la la land. Luckily the screen went black and Haru was there to tell her again.

"About a half hour." Her stomach flipped. If he wasn't nervous, then for the both of them she would easily be. She leaned her head back and let out a sigh, grabbing the seatbelt nearby.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko typed in a few more codes, talking with the computer, setting in the manual controls, as his mind went over everything. After a moment, he sat back and pressed a few buttons in, requesting something. A moment later a small port popped open and Haruko reached down, extending a wire from inside. He glanced at Akasha.

"Pardon my...mind," he said with a smile as he popped open his forehead panel and attached the wire. He wanted to transfer his memories to his ship so that his family had a way to get at them, have a visual memory book. If this all went awry, he could at least leave them more than this hunk of junk.

It only took a few moments to transfer copies of his memories into Aiko and request that the computer store them in his hard drive for Haruko's family only. Then he replaced the forehead panel and brought his eye back online. He shook his head and looked back over at Akasha.

"Last minute will arrangements and the like," he said with a cheery grin, as if the possibility of dying was something he faced every day. "I would have done it last night, out of your presence so you wouldn't have to see it, but I forgot."

[Akasha]

Akasha grinned as she watched him. Strange she knew that Kale had the same panel, but he had always been too private to actually show her anything. She loved it! That was awesome! She coudl see all his wiring, she could point out the patterns in the hard drive, she was ready to just walk over to him and pick at his brain...literally! She smiled and knew that she was overstepping her bounds.

He then spoke about his little last minute preps just in case. She nodded.

"Of course." She said as if this were something she saw everyday. Which he then concluded he would have doine it in the privacy of his own room. "It's okay." She said smiling.

"I am enjoying the view." She bit her lower lip and realized that didn't sound too good. "I mean, I have a degree in technology. It is neat to see the innerworkings of your cybernetic. Interests me." She raised her eyebrows and breathed in. "If you want, I can look away!"

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko glanced around, then shrugged. He got up and went over to her, crouching down next to her. He reached up and popped the panel open again, a hissing sound coming from it.

"Might as well get a close look," he said cheerily, as his left eye went offline and turned white as the panel was removed and the cybernetic brain was out in the open for all to see. He reached up to touch a few wires that went through the material and into his actual brain. "Those connect this to my brain, so that my eye works properly. And so that I can use all the functions of the eye as if it were a natural part of my body, something it would have done automatically. The nerves to power those are, of course, not real," he continued, even though if she had a degree in technology, she probably already knew. But he continued anyway. He pressed his index finger to a small port near his temple. "That is the port that I use to download new software into the brain. Scanner upgrades, laser upgrades, and that sort of thing. The one right next to it is for linking up to other computers. For instance, I could link up to Aiko, or to your ship and communicate with it. It's helpful when you can't diagnose a problem within your ship's inner workings," he explained. Then he laughed.

"Some of the things up there, I have no idea what they're for. Something the doctor's know about, I guess."

[Akasha]

Akasha let out a laugh, probably the loudest laugh since she got on that ship. She was in shock, not even Kale, her ex would let her do that! She felt her body heat rise at the closeness both physically and emotionally considering most people were bashful about it all. She leaned over and laughed again.

"Wicked." She said lowly as he pointed out certain wires, ports, amongst other things that allowed his eye and brain to work together. She was ready to give him a huge kiss for the thrill this was giving her.

"This is awesome. I've only seen these in text books, never up close." She lifted her hand and touched a few wires and bit her lower lip glancing inside. She smiled happily like a child in a candy store.

"These are nerve receptors. Oh man!" She laughed again and leaned over closer, putting her left hand on his cheek to cradle his head and to let her move him if neccessary. "You have DAS. Sweet!" She let the wires go and looked at him.

"Some wires that are connecting to a chip is called DAS. Damage Avoidance System. It lets you feel where you have no face. It allows you to have headaches in that area and allow you to feel if I socked you in the eye." She mimicked hitting him by making a fist and slowly moving it at him. She smiled and let her hand slide off his cheek and to her side.

"Well, I can now say I've seen everything." She laughed and nodded. "Thank you."

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko grinned. He had never seen anyone so excited about his bionic brain and eye. He stood up slightly, then paused. He smiled again, reaching up and pulling the panel down a little more so that he could engage his eye even though the panel was gone.

"You haven't quite seen everything," he said. He leaned down again, bringing his eye online so that she could see the brain actually begin working. With the panel gone, the tiny whirs of the working brain were more audible. Haruko touched an area and another small panel slid off so show the tiny nerve like wires that ran underneath, buzzing with activity as it all kept his eye up and running. He pointed to them. "If one of those goes offline, I can feel it disconnect," he said. "It's like...if you could feel a brain cell dying. Same thing. Except I can get them to come back online, unlike dead brain cells," he laughed. "Don't want to creep you out, but if you want, you can touch them, see how they work."

[Akasha]

Akasha stood up quickly ready to just make love to what he was showing her. She was quick to push herself against him and grab his face yet again, not caring how close she got to him! She bit her lower lip and studied them, fascinated at what she was witnessing. She laughed lightly and lowly spoke to him, knowing there was no need to scream since he was just inches away.

"I could touch a wire and send you into a paralyzing pain!" She laughed evilly and looked back into his brain. "Just kidding." She said a second after. She did, however, touch a few wires that weren't going to hurt him, mainly his metal plate, the chips, the wires that were meant to keep blood flow regulator. It was much like a normal brain, except not.

"To most this my scare or creep them out, as you so say, but baby! This excites me!" She smiled to herself as she stood on her tiptoes and looked around watching electric impulses light up like lightening in a sky. This was by far another reason to like him.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko laughed. He moved his eyes a little to give her a look at the way the wires trembled and buzzed with the electronic impulses sent from his normal brain, to the bionic brain cells, to the cybernetic eye muscles, letting the eye move with the other eye, like a normal eye. He pointed vaguely at an area behind his eye.

"The...functions are in there. I have to activate them with a thought--the electronic impulses. Took me ages to be able to scan and use the laser quickly. Took me about an hour the first few times I did it. It's easy now," he said, switching to scan mode so she could see everything that worked, like a chain reaction to make it all work properly and smoothly. He laughed again. "I have never seen anyone so excited about this. My little brother thinks its creepy, my other little brother laughs at me, and...my ex I don't think appreciates when I do it around her brother," he chuckled.

"You're different."

[Akasha]

Akasha looked away from the bionic brain and stepped down onto her feet, looking at him with a soft glance. She wasn't sure if that was a compliment or an insult or just....something else. She smiled softly and let out a gentle laugh. She stood on the balls of her feet again and watched everything move, light up, whir, zap, click, work! It was fascinating.

"People don't appreciate the human brain...or cybernetics at that. I love it." She watched his eye move and then she watched the wires, tiny metal hinges, holes, rods...everything moving as one to make everything work perfectly. She was in awe and she was absolutely Haruko's number one fan.

"I bet cleaning this is really a bitch." She leaned back finally after she had her fill, although she knew that was impossible but was being polite. "That is so neat. You have no idea how unique it all is. It's all like a fingerprint, you know. Your brain. Even the cybernetic portion. Its all you." She smiled and moved away feeling a bit dizzy from the closeness. She was sure Haruko was ready to get her off of him anyhow.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko stood fully, pressing the panel back into place and blinking his eyes a couple of times to get his bionic eye clicked back into normal movement. He stuck his hands in his pockets and gave a shrug.

"I dunno," he said, then he laughed. "It's just...there. It's always been. I try to remember what it was like before it was in there, but...I get nothing," he said, then he shook his head. "As for your first comment, it is. Takes me a little more than an hour and a half to clean it fully. But it has some internal software now that keeps it fairly spiffy. But I still gotta do swabs in there every once in awhile, especially after Mr. Lawson has a go," he said with a chuckle. Then he nodded. "Guy who put this in wasn't any older than I am now," he said with a laugh. "I wonder sometimes that I lived through it."

[Akasha]

Akasha smiled suddenly a swell of happiness taking over her insides and allowing her to breathe much better like it all had just been a breath of fresh air. She was feeling so much better now that she knew that he was getting his ship, that he knew she wasn't taking it, and that she needed nothing in return. She was just another face in his life and she was fine with that because it was both helping her as it was him. She took a seat in the other chair and looked at the panel. She frowned and glanced at her the watch on her wrist. The planet looked close, closer than normal. She wondered if they were going into the atmopshere in a few minutes for she could see the object floating around from the gravitational pull.

"I think its time." She commented up at him. "I think I am getting just as nervous as you." She said with a smile, glancing away and back to the planet that was such a bright blue that it almost made the entire cockpit glow as well.

[Haruko Lawson]

------------

Haruko stepped off his ship, his stomach flipping in earnest. He was more nervous now than he had been when he had gotten this goddamn thing in. He looked around him, the port was busy with people going about thier normal lives, tending to their ships, venturing out to the cities and settlements.

He heard Aiko power the ship down and he figured Akasha would be along soon to lead the way. He felt his body shiver a little, the climate was a little colder than he had expected it to be, and he even saw his breath a little. He pulled on his long black trench coat and shoved his hands in the pocket, beginning to scan the area for anything that might take his mind off what was coming soon. He turned slightly and spoke to the screen next to the door.

"Aiko, keep an eye on the ship. Make sure all security is on."

[Akasha]

Her heart was pounding and she felt sick, not just for the situation and for seeing all those painful and expensive tools used to cut him open, but also for the man himself. She felt awkward, but then again she knew that in the end all would be well. Hopefully. Her stomach turned again as she walked off the ship to find him standing nearby, a large trenchcoat enveloping him and making him appear darker and scarier than he actually was. In a way it was sexy. She walked over to him and rubbed her arms slightly from the cold and pointed in the direction.

"Lets go." She said in a serious voice. The two walked to a taxi platform and she was quick to hail one down.

--------------

The building was just as she remembered it. Large, dark, dirty, scary, and dismal. She knew why the doctor kept his practice there for it wasn't the most visited place and the doctor would rather have the inside look better than the outside. She felt a pang of fear run its course inside of her as she pulled the door open and walked into the large lobby that was cherry wood walls, black marble floors that were sharp and prestine, and a black desk with a matching counter. She ignored the lady talking away on the phone and walked to the silver doors that led them to the lifts. They parted magically and she stepped inside, hearing and feeling Haruko follow her lead.

She pushed a button and watched the doors close. She drew in a deep breath the silence killing her. They hadn't said much for no questions or things were needing to be said. She felt the lift jerk and stop once they made their way to the floor. The doors opened and she stepped out.

"Right here." She finally said as she pushed open a large white door that led them into a waiting room that was bright and had nothing but windows. She pointed to a leather chair and smiled. "Have a seat. I'll tell them we're here." But before she was able to turn a loud voice rang out.

"Right this way, Akasha." She almost jumped out of her skin. She turned to see a lady holding open the door that literally blended in with the only wall that was solid. She glanced at Haruko and sighed.

"This is it. You ready?"

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko had followed Akasha all the way here, and had had his doubts when he had seen the outside of the building. But the inside looked much more promising. He followed Akasha through the blending door and into a long hallway, offices and rooms leading off periodically. The walls were white, the carpet a clean slate grey. They seemed to walk forever before reaching an office, cleanly decorated by blacks, grey, silvers.

Haruko saw no one inside, but they were directed to go in and he assumed that the doctor they would be dealing with would be in shortly. After they were told to take a seat, they were told the doctor would be right with them. Haruko decided that if he didn't take a seat, his knees would finally give out on him. He slid down into a chair, crossing his legs, his fingers fiddling with his cigarette lighter in his pocket. He wanted a cigarette badly, but knew better than to smoke in a place like this.

Instead he simply fiddled with the lighter and pack in his pocket.

[Akasha]

Akasha stood there with her arms crossed. She had been in this position before and she was almost a bit nervous that she was there again, but she looked over at Haru and knew that this was a good way to be spending her evening anyhow. She smiled and looked away and shook her head.

"I know, don't you want one?" She looked up at him and smiled a bit brighter, more confident.

"Haruko Lawson, correct?" Akasha looked away from Haru to see the Doctor walk in. A tall robust man with a thick beard and wild hair. Outside of this operation she was positive she wouldn't want to deal with him outside of the office. He wore a white lab coat and he was ready to go counting on the gloves he wore. He sat the board he had been reading the name from and simply pointed at the bed that was quick to come up from the floor. It was a metal slab, literally, and another table popped up with sharp utensils.

"Don't worry, these lower in to the floor and into a machine that is much like a dishwasher. Autoclave really. Why don't you lay down, Mr. Lawson, and we can get this over with." He proceeded to walk to the slab but stopped.

"Sorry! I forgot!" He walked back to the door and out, but only for a second. He came back in with the hospital gown that was an open back. "Put this on please. It reduces the risk of anything getting into your system and it also prevents blood from getting onto your clothes." He pointed at Akasha and jabbed his thumb over his shoulder indicating they were to leave for a moment.

"When you are naked and dress, lay on the table. We'll be back in a moment." Akasha looked at Haruko and gave him an assuring smile for the look on his face let her know he was probably having second thoughts.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko's jaw was clenched tightly as the door closed and he began to undress, folding his things neatly and laying them in a chair. He pulled on the hospital gown--he hadn't worn one of these in more than a decade--and pulled himself up onto the cold metal table. He looked around him at it for a moment before eyeing the utensils on the table.

His eye automatically scanned them:

Metal Cutter Blade
Specifically designed to cut through metals of all kinds; in this case the cybernetics of a bionic brain or other body part.

Wire Cutter
A delicate peice of equpiment designed to cut the small wires connecting a real limb to a cybernetic one

Cell Knife
Designed to sever ties between a cybernetic limb and a real limb; different from a wire cutter in that this peice of equipment is used to completely dissociate living cells from other living cells.

Okay, Haruko had enough. Turning his face away, he laid back on the table, closing his eyes and putting his hands on his face, praying harder than he had in his entire life.

[Akasha]

Akasha stood outside pacing back and forth unsure of whether or not they should go through with this. She realized that this was taking alot out of her, almost as if she herself were on the slab waiting to be cut open like a science project. She shuddered. She was even acting as if these two were a couple and that this was a feat for both of them. If he died during this procedure there was nothing she'd be losing....right?

Akasha felt her hands shake and grow freezingly cold. She was sure that if he died she would just die right alongside of him for it was her fault. This whole thing was her idea. She let her hands go when she realized she had been rubbing them raw. The doctor walked beside her and gave her a huge slap on the back telling her all was well and not to worry about her boyfriend. She raised her hand to object but he walked into the door. She closed her mouth and followed seeing his long naked legs and then his thighs and then the gown.

"Any last words?" Akasha snapped her head to the doctor as he grabbed a knife off the table. He saw her concern and he shook his head. "I mean...to your boyfriend? I am going to gas him so he won't feel anything if I poke around his real brain."] Akasha was ready to correct him again, but didn't. She looked at Haruko and sighed. She walked over to him and smiled, grabbing his hand caringly and squeezing it.

"You'll be fine!" She said half-heartedly. "As I always say...piece of cake!" She smiled wider so happy that this was being done. She didn't even know him well, but she knew that this was going to be a good decision on both their parts. Akasha looked at the doctor grab a large lamp and turn it on, followed by turning off the room lights, pinpointing the side of the panel. She bit her loewr lip and squeezed his hand tighter and bent down and gave him a little kiss on the cheek.

"See you in a few." She let him go and walked out. The doctor sighed out and wheeled his chair to the side of Haruko and looked at him.

"Okay, I am going open you up, survey everything, chat with your girlfriend, then we'll work from there." He grabbed a little mask and put it over his nose and turned on the gas. "Count to ten. See you on the other side!"

[Haruko Lawson]

One...two...three...

The gas went up Haruko's air passages, down into his lungs, his bionic brain registering it as a foreign body. Haruko had to shut down the defense system so that his body would not reject the smoke.

Four...five...six...

Haruko took several deep breaths and felt his body ease into relaxation. His eyes were surveying the ceiling above him. His brain was calm as he took another deep breath and let the gas fill his lungs again and was through his body.

Seven...eight...nine...

Haruko's eyelids were getting quite heavy. His bionic brain whirred and began to shut down. He lost the vision in his left eye as he fought to stay awake. His eyelids, however, shut of thier own accord. He furrowed his brow as he felt his whole body beginning to succumb to sleep, that force of nature that could rarely be refused. Haruko's mind began to get hazy. He wasn't awake to finish the sequence.

Ten.

[Akasha]

Akasha paced back and forth, staring at the carpet that had been worn down from others probably doing the same thing. She was smoking, not giving a damn. She couldn't remember being this concerned and nervous for Kale. Perhaps because she loved him and new that all would be well. Haru however, she knew nothing about his medical history, sorta. She also felt entitled to have everything be perfect for all the hell she had put him through. She just wanted to make him believe that not all was lost. Not after seeing him for the first time. Such a frail man with no right or reason to live. But she was wanting to change that.

She puffed away and she realized she had probably smoked all of Haru's cigarettes, but forgot that she had been smoking her own pack. Everythign was going straight to Haruko. She was so concerned, she wanted it to work, she wanted him to not get in such a state that he floats aimlessly in the galaxy. He had every right to be himself and not share it with an evil other half.

Then the door opened and she looked up to see the doctor walk out with a few specks of blood on his prestine white coat. She frowned and pointed almost instantly and she was almost ready to fly off the handle and attack. She felt her need to run into the room, but knew it was off limits. Her need to protect Haruko kicked up and it was freaking her out. She never acted this way with Kale. Ever.

The doctor shook his head and laughed. "It's just from me cutting a piece of tissue away from the wiring. It was just a few little drops." Relief washed over her and she let out a sigh of happiness. He frowned when he realized she was smoking. He shook his head. Akasha looked at it and puffed anyway, it was her right to releive some stress!

"Well? What is the....the.....deal?" She was hyper and acting like a poodle. She needed to breathe! The doctor laughed and shook his head.

"Well, the DEAL is...we can easily replace the parts that are infected. Easily!" Akasha looked at him as if he were speaking in a different language. She smiled and let out a sigh and suddenly she was in the doctors arms hugging him. He laughed and quickly pushed her away. "Simmer down, I have some bad news." Suddenly good feeling, gone.

"What?"

"The area that is infected gives off pigmentation. It has damaged the hard drive and I remember you not agreeing to replacement. So, his eyes, as predicted, will be forever blue. But good news as well. Less maintenance, no whirring or rude sounds. He has got a grand scale upgrade! This boy will be able to do things he never could imagined. Plus, his eyesight will be perfect." The doctor smiled and turned to go inside. The door closed and she happily slumped into a chair.

"Thank you, God!"

[Haruko Lawson]

-----------

Haruko awoke with an acute sense of his entire body. He felt like there were pins and needles poking him everywhere. He was amazingly not nauseous, which he had been after the first round of this. He was tired as all hell, but feeling relatively good. Except that he could see absolutely nothing.

For a long moment, Haruko weighed the options of yelling for God or Akasha, and decided Akasha would make his mood better than God, as it would mean he was still alive. He wet his lips, swallowing past his exceedingly dry throat. He moved a finger. Good, his hands still worked. Then a toe. And his feet were good too. He slowly--with some stiffness--reached up to touch his eyes. His fingers were met with a soft gauzy material. Ah, that would be why he couldn't see anything. At least Haruko hoped that was why. He hoped they weren't trying to trick him into thinking that and he was actually blind again.

Haruko groaned unintentionally as he moved his head and a sharp stab of pain went through his eyeballs. He blew his cheeks out and let out a breath, taking a deep one and then letting it out. He moved his head slightly, wondering if Akasha was even still here. He hoped to God she was. For some reason, she was the only person Haruko wanted to see.

"Mnh..." he groaned. "Akasha?"

[Akasha]

Akasha was leaning oddly in a position that she herself never thought she could get in. She heard a moan, then it became apparent, the boy was awake and calling for her. She had never moved quicker in her entire life. She had been sleeping for the doctor told her it would take about a few hours for the sleep aid to wear off.

They were now in a recovery room with a window, a nice comfortable bed, and a not so comfortable guest chair. Since when did she get the bad sleeping arrangements? Akasha was quick to dismiss every pain in her body when she saw his arm moving over the gauze. She was quick to reach the side of his bed and smile like a fool, if only he could see her he'd probably smack her.

"I'm right here, Haru." She said lowly, calmly, softly. She touched his hand and moved it so she could hold it like a caring family member. She leaned down slightly.

"I have a new deal. You can buy me a pack of smokes." She laughed lightly and squeezed his hand happily. God the swell of happiness she felt at that exact moment was so spur of the moment. She was punch drunk with it also with a huge swell of love for the man who laid on the bed confused.

"In about...mmm..." Akasha looked at her wrist watch. "A few minutes actually, the doc is comin' in here to give you some quick pain meds and take the guaze off." She bit her lower lip as she lifted her free hand and rubbed his head lovingly. If she wasn't careful she would fall for this man.

"The only Mr. Lawson you'll ever know is your Father. You can see." She smiled brightly and she was two seconds from being stupid and bawling for him, but she restrained herself.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko choked out a laugh as he coughed slightly, the few hours of unnaturally induced sleep clogging his lungs slightly. He nodded to her and grinned, even though he couldn't see her.

"Deal," he said, then he waved his hand. "No packs for you, Akasha," he said, holding out his hands, sizing out a foot of air between them. "You're getting a tub of them..." he smiled a little, dropping his hands. His normal bodily functions were coming to again and he felt his bionic eye--God it was still there--begin to come online. Yet there was no whirring, no clacking gears, nothing but smooth electronics doing thier job. He cleared his throat as he heard another set of footsteps enter the room. He assumed it was the doctor.

"Mnh. I'm alive," he announced as if it weren't already obvious to the doctor who had come in and Akasha who was already standing there. He laced his fingers in with hers, feeling her hand with his was so comforting. "Thank God."

[Akasha]

Akasha felt herself tear up, not even Kale was this happy. He had grumbled and complained about pain about wasted time, about...how she was being too clingly. She bit her lower lip that had grown inflamed from the joy she was feeling. Was this normal behavior for a girl who just met a man a few days ago? Hell, a few hours ago he had been a hostage! She didn't care, she was milking the happiness for all it was worht for she wasn't sure if she'd ever feel this good again.

She laughed a bit louder when he told her about a tub of cigarrettes, hell with that many she and Haru would take cigarette baths and smoke them together, happily, basking in their success. Well, his success. Again she smiled and felt a tear drop down her cheek. Thank god he had gauzed covering his eyes.

She felt her heart skip when she heard him groan that he was alive. Even more so when his long slender fingers lace inbetween her own. She looked down at it and was almost ready to need a doctor service her heart as well. She allowed this moment to go on for as long as it could, which sadly, was but a second.

"You are a new man, Haruko! New hardware, new everything! Buddy, men would kill to have the service you just had! Nothing will make a sound, you won't have to clean it as often, nor see maintenance, the only thing you'll be seeing, friend, is a gorgeous girl and a brigher horizon.

"However, your eye is permantley damage. Not that this is bad, mind you, it just means your eyes is going to be blue for the rest of your happy, stress free, days. Good enough, right?"

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko grinned. He could handle a blue eye. It would take some explaining to his family, but he knew that in time they could learn to deal with it. And anyway, if it really bothered people, he could buy a contact for it. He shook his head, turning it towards the sound of the doctor's voice.

"Yeah," he agreed. He reached up and touched the gauze again, so wanting to be able to see again that it was actually causing him internal pain. He licked his lips blinking as much as he could underneath the gauze. He dropped his hand again, waiting for the doctor to relieve him of it. He moved his head slightly. "Um...is there a mirror about?" he asked. "I mean...if you don't mind. I'd like to see the new look, with the blue and all," he said with a smile.

[Akasha]

Akasha smiled and looked at the Doctor. He sighed out and nodded.

"Sure. Akasha can help you get those off. Ain't brain surgery or anything." The man laughed loudly at his own joke. As corny as it was, Akasha had to laugh. She grabbed the scissors he handed her, their shape quite odd. They were bent and flat on the bottom as not to poke or prode anyone. She slipped her han away from Haruko's and put them into the scissors and took a seat right behind of him as he sat up. She bit her lower lip and put the bottom head under the gauze and snipped away the first layer of tape that held it together.

Akasha looked to the side of the table and put them down and began to unravel it from the back. She then felt Haruko do the same and together their hands were hitting each other and suddenly she found herself laughing and having a race as to who could unravel their piece quicker. Sadly, Akasha got the shortest piece and Haru was just two layers away from a new future.

She stood up and put her hands on her hips and looked at him, waiting in anticipation just as much as he was. The doctor came in and handed her the mirror which she held up happily in front of his face so he could see.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko's eyes were closed when the gauze came off, and he felt his stomach thrill when it finally did. He chewed his bottom lip as he sat there, his brow furrowed. He was afraid to open his eyes, afraid something went wrong, and he would be blind again. Afraid of anything and everything, every worse case scenerio going through his brain at once.

Slowly, as if his life depended on it, he eased his eyelids up, ignoring the slight pain in his lef eye. But as he opened them, he saw the light of the room, a little blurry at first, but slowly coming into focus. And then there was a chair, and a desk, a man in a white lab coat, a woman standing next to him holding something in her hands. A mirror Haruko decided as his eyes finally came open all the way and he blinked a few times to clear his vision.

And there he was. Looking a little worse for wear, but there. His face, his nose, his mouth, his hair, his lip ring, eyebrow ring, nose ring, his eyes...his eyes. He leaned in closer to the mirror. His left eye was icy blue. He reminded himself breifly of Mr. Lawson, until he suddenlt realized that he was thinking clearly, thinking like himself. Himself. Haruko Lawson. Alone. He was him again, and never would he have to share his brain with anyone else. Haruko Lawson was alive again.

"Oh my God..." he whispered, unable to believe it. "God..."

[Akasha]

Akasha watched him with all the fear inside of her. She was afraid something went wrong, like his eyelids were forever infused shut! He'd never be able to see. Or he'd open his eyes nad he'd see only to have it malfunction and cause him blindness, but she knew those were just fears. She smiled in axiousness she was wanting to pry his eyes open for herself, but knew that would be just rude! Plus the light would kill him, she was sure.

"A little shower and some hair gel and a well deserved cigarette and you will be a new man, babe!" She laughed so happy that everything was working properly.

"So! What do you think?" She wanted to just jump up and down with excitement for him and even for herself. Thank God she didn't do something that would scar him more than anything.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko shook his head unable to believe he could still see, that he was off his medication and that he heard no whispering, no laughing, nothing. Nothing but his own thoughts, his own feelings. He sighed out smiling wider than he had in a long, long time.

"It's...amazing..." he said. This would change his life forever. Never would he look at anything the same way he did before this surgery. Nothing would ever be the same again. And staring at himself, at that blue eye, that was okay with Haruko, somehow. Haruko leaned back on the heal of one hand shaking his head and furrowing his brow. He cringed a little.

"Oh...is there any way I can shoot up on pain meds?"

[Akasha]

Akasha bit her lower lip and looked over at the doctor who nodded and walked out in response. She smiled down at him and looked around finding the chair she had been sitting on she grabbed the arm of the chair and pulled it over to the bed and took a seat, crossing her leg and leaning on the arm. She brushed a piece of her hair away from her eye and brought her attention back to Haruko and his gazing.

"Do you feel different? Do you like it? I mean...is everything okay?" She was terrified that this was all going to go awry at any moment, she needed feedback to make sure that it would be okay that he wasn't going to kill her for this.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko engaged his scanner--a little painfully--scanning Akasha. Then he went to his files, accessing as many as he could from where they were at. All was working well so far. He switched to every mode he knew, and it was only accompanied a little pain in his head, like an annoying head ache you got when you laughed too hard. He heard no whirring, no clicking, nothing but smoothness. Silent gears doing thier jobs pristinely.

Haruko dropped the mirror and smiled at Akasha. He hopped off the table, grabbing his black pants and pulling them on, snapping all the buttons closed. He reached back, untying the hospital gown and pulling it off, stretching upwards, running his fingers over his neck, ignoring all the tattoos on him that he had grown accustomed to. He grabbed his shirt instead and pulled it on, pulling his hair out from the collar, then flopping back down on the table, taking a few deep breaths.

"That gas made me short of breath," he observed to himself, taking one last deep breath. He looked at Akasha, realizing he hadn't answered her question. "No, everything's working like a dream. No noise nothing. And I can see," he said with a smile. "Even a little clearer than before. Like it's repaired my vision."

[Akasha]

Akasha stared at him dress and suddenly she felt her face grow a bright red. She looked away almost shy herself that she was staring at him. She bit her lower lip when she heard him speak and she decided to look at him, shocked to see that he had tattoos everywhere, this man was just a human canvas. She grinned slightly when he turned to smile as well telling her how he could see clearer than before.

"Great!" She said standing up and hearing the doctor come in with a bottle of painkillers.

"Here you go. You have about 100 tablets. Take them every three hours, don't take them on an empty stomach. Soarness will dissipate within a week. Sunlight might hurt for a while, but it will pass." he looked up at Haruko and at Akasha and smiled.

"Mr. Lawson, today is the beginning of your new life. Akasha, could you follow me?" Akasha smiled at Haruko and nodded, telling him to hang on a moment. She followed the doctor and he closed the door and leaned his hand on the wall and looked at her, shaking his head.

"You said for free, didn't you?" Akasha sighed and leaned against the wall and crossed her arms, looking around as if Haruko would hear. She closed some space and looked up at him.

"I know. Look, I already told you that after I find the ship I have been hunting..."

"That phantom ship that doesn't exist? Look you still owe me for Kale, Akasha. This is double. Find the ship or else I am taking your shop." Akasha sighed and nodded and watched him look at her with seriousness. Okay, so she had lied to Haruko, but it got him a new life. She figured it was worth it. She turned and walked back into the room with a large smile.

"Ready to go, Haru?"

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko nodded, wondering breifly what the man had been talking to her about but deciding to ignore it. He slid on his sunglasses, just in case, and he and Akasha left the building. It looked so awful from the outside, Haruko couldn't believe he had just been in there and begun something that would change his life forever.

He pulled out a small pad and tapped in a code, looking down as Aiko popped up on the screen an expectant look on his face.

"Well, well, if it isn't Haruko. And you're feeling...?" the "man" prompted. Haruko nodded with a smile.

"Tired but alright. Could you do something for me?" Haruko asked. His friend nodded. He sighed. "Could you please track down the cooridinance of Akasha's ship and find out where it's at. And track down my account on Naboo, get into it, withdraw two million from there," he asked. Aiko cocked an eyebrow.

"That might deplete your Naboo account," he said. Haruko shook his head.

"I still have the Coruscant account, along with eight others, I think I am good to go," Haruko said. "Can you do that for me?"

"Sure enough. Hurry back," the computer said, then disappeared from the screen. Haruko tucked the pad away and looked at Akasha.

"Aiko's gonna track down your mates, and I'm gonna give you money," he informed her. "It'll cover what you would have gotten off my ship. Two million here from my Naboo account, two million when we get closer to Coruscant and my Coruscant account, okay?"

[Akasha]

Akasha looked at the pad and smiled, that was a very smart tool to have on hand and it was just as adorable as the man holding it. She watched the A.I on the screen and then she looked up in front of her, the weather being particulalrly nice on that day. She heard the man speak, but she honestly was paying no mind. How the hell was she going to pay the doctor for this procedure. It cost so much that not even her magnificant shop would cover it. Which is why hardly anyone had those surgeries done anymore, which is why she was so happy to find the Rule. She heard a little noise and watched Haruko in her peripheral vision stick the little pad into his coat and then look at her.

Akasha felt a little bit warm from knowing he was loking at her, but not in a way that would honestly give her a heart attack. Fortunately, his words did. She frowned and looked up at him, seeing her reflection in his sunglasses.

"What?" She heard him just fine, she knew, but still it was worth saying that. She stopped walking and grabbed his arm, shaking her head adamantly. "No!" She said sternly and forcefully as well.

"I don't need your money. Its okay, everything is fine. I don't need your ship, okay? I can find another! That is what I do!" She laughed lightly. How she wanted to take it, rub herself on it, bathe in it, for she knew it would have all gone straight to the doctor.

"Thank you, but...I can't accept it. I won't accept it."

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko shook his head.

"No, that is the point. Four million will be enough to cover that surgery, I am sure, I don't want you to have to find another ship. If you need more than that, I can give you more," Haruko said, his sincerity as ture as he could make it. He really wanted to do this for Akasha, for what she had done, wanted to show her his gratitude. He smiled. "And in addition, you can have the address of my ship yard, call me anytime, you can use the Rule as often as your heart wishes," Haruko said. He felt like he couldn't give her enough. He sighed.

"Look, please take it, Akasha. I can't take no for an answer," he said, smiling at her.

[Akasha]

Akasha laughed lightly feeling so guilty all of a sudden. It was something she would do, visit a ship and talk about it all day long, but she couldn't. After this she was sure she'd find her boys and close down Atlantis. Her pride was too big to take the money, even though she gravely needed it. She looked up at him and saw him smile. If she had a dollar for everytime her heart flipped when she saw that, the surgery would be paid off and she'd be living it up.

"I...thank you, Haru. Really. But it was free! Consider it my gitft to you for being such...a jerk." She smiled at him and tried to keep herself from caving in and taking it. "Friends do things for friends."

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko shook his head and looked back ahead of him.

"Alright, then, I was hoping to not have to give it by force," he said with a smile. "I'll just have Aiko track your ship down and wire to you. You'll get it one way or the other, beleive me, Akasha, I'm very hard to say no to," he said with a joking smile. He would give it to her, he wanted to very badly. He just didn't feel right about it, somehow. If she absolutely refused the money, then he could give her something, something she wanted or needed. He looked back ahead of them as he pressed his hands into his pockets and they continued on, Haruko not really looking around at thier surroundings. His mind was on other things, mostly the woman next to him.

Why had she done this for him? Why him? She was a pirate, she stole things for money, yet for some reason she was giving him a life that he didn't know he could have. It was...odd. Yet, Haruko was so grateful to her, she would never know. He wanted to somehow show his gratitude, and since he only knew that she wanted--or needed--money, it was the only thing he could think of to give to her for all of this. He looked back over at her.

"Yes, friends do things for friends..." he said thoughtfully. "But...you hardly know me."

[Akasha]

Akasha sighed out and nodded in response to what he said. Sure she didn't know him, but she knew him enough to count him as one, especially after this she better be considered one! She gave him a sideways glance and she grinned.

"I won't use it. It'll sit there and wither away." She sighed out seeing her breath condense. The conditions here were much like Naboo, yet a little cooler for her liking. It was a nice planet, but far away from many things, far away from her home especially. She pushed her hands into her pockets and drew in a deep breath, feeling the cool air sting the indise of her throat.

"I might not know you well enough, true, but I think everyone deserves a fighting chance to be slightly happy. You especially." She looked up at him with slit eyes, the sun giving her a hard time. "I met you at a very inopportune time, in your life, mine as well if I can share that with you." She looked away and shrugged a shoulder.

"You were at deaths door, at least it seemed that way. You showed me that you were having a problem, I had a free way to fix it, I like helping others, as contradictory that sounds to my line of work." She chuckled. She was trying to tell him why she did it, but she really wasn't sure. Akasha was blown away by what she had seen when they first met, how frail he was, how easy it seemed for him to die without care, but she could also see that he didn't want that. Not really.

Akasha didn't like suffering and she didn't like slow suicide, it was just a way to be charitable and to be a good person. But still this wasn't giving her a real reason as to why. Akasha looked up at him and smiled, well okay there was one little reason that was foolish, but motivated her more than anything. He was absolutely adorable.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko looked down at his feet, his world thrown into shades of brown as he looked at it through the sunglasses. The sun was hurting his eyes even though he was wearing them, and he didn't dare take them off.

Akasha was right. Haruko had been at death's door so to speak. But not because of an illness, or an injury inflicted. It was because he was ready to kill himself, let go of everything that had tormented him, all the things that had hurt him, that had hurt others. He had been ready to let himself starve to death or shoot himself, whichever had come first. Akasha didn't know that the day she came was the day he had decided on the actually do it. She had, quite literally, saved his life, in more than just that way. She wouldn't ever know how much she meant to him for that, because Haruko had known that he really hadn't wanted to die. But at the time it seemed like the only way out.

Akasha had given him something more than just a surgery to get rid of a virus. She had given him the ability to live normally, see his family, be with the people he loved. She had given him a future to see a nephew or neice--should Taro and Jesimae see fit to give him one--and to watch his son grow up. She'd given him the ability to watch Jiro grow up to twenty-five, or thirty, older even, to see his baby brother have his own life. She given him the means to have a life of his own. To do the things he had always wanted to do but never the mental stability to do it.

She didn't know that, but she had. And Haruko could never thank her enough. He smiled.

"I don't know you well, but...you are my friend, Akasha," he said, looking over at her. "And I thank you for what you have given to me."

[Akasha]

Akasha felt her stomach sink and heart skip at the same time. She laughed lightly and nodded.

"It's nice to know I have a friend, Haru." She was going to throw a pity party for herself she could feel it, but it was the truth. "After all Pirates aren't usually the most popular bunch!" She laughed again and sighed.

"I hope you get everythign straightened out. I hope you can see everything, see your family again." She looked up at him and laughed. "Your eye turned ice blue when Mr. Lawson came out yeah?" She slapped her forehead and stopped, her heart almost stopping. "Haru! If you go home...they aren't gonna...think...you are....that...other one, right?"

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko paused in his steps and grinned. Wow, she was right. He hadn't thought about it. He shook his head beginning to walk again, his mind already beginning to think of solutions.

"You're right," he said. "They will think I'm Mr. Lawson," he said, then he laughed out loud, thinking of thier reaction when he showed up on thier doorstep with one blue eye. They would probably think he was going to murder them. "God, they'll probably pull out the tranquilizers and crazy pills," he said, glancing over at Akasha, reminded of the incident that had cause him to leave. He shook his head. "If they call in the cavalry, they'll have Asher, Jiro, Jin, and Jesimae and Taro there before I wake up, just in case I decide to go psychotic on them..." he laughed, it was a funny picture when said it that way, but it wasn't far from the truth at all. He shook his head.

"That'll have to be a bridge I cross when I come to it."

[Akasha]

Akasha laughed lightly at the situation, how hard it was going to be that first time when they see him, those names all sounding so unfamiliar to her. She smiled and looked up at him.

"Sounds like you have a big family." She looked away and kept smiling thinking about how they all looked in her mind and how nice they probably all were. "they are just wanting to take care of you, Haru." She bit her lower lip in qondering if she could ask a personal question. Akasha wasn't really good at keeping up conversations, but with Haru it was easy and she liked it.

"So, how long had you been on that ship when I found you?"

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko smiled a little thinking about it. He shook his head, tucking some hair behind his ear and letting out a sigh.

"Little more than a month," he said, squinting one eye, then nodding. "Yeah, about a month and a half," he said, shaking his head again. "Left after a particularly nast bout with Mr. Lawson...my um, ex, she...felt like she was becoming my doctor instead of my lover and um, my family couldn't take of me either. I didn't want to push myself of them," he expounded, not sure how much detail she wanted. He nodded forward towards the general direction of where his ship was. "Packed my stuff, put it on the Rule and took off for wherever." He smiled and looked over at her.

"That was where you came in."

[Akasha]

Akasha took it all in and put it together, wondering who was who in that picture she had seen him looking at. Either way they were the best looking group of people she had ever seen. She smiled when he mentioned her and she glanced up at him.

"I have the grace of popping into peoples lives at the most inopportune moments." She sighed and rolled her eyes. "I guess I like others misfortunes." She joked. What was the become of her now? She was in debt, had an offer on the table but was not taking it, didn't know where her crew was, and she was almost certain she was going to sell her shop.

"That is a pretty long time to be floating around." She nodded. She wasn't going to urge the matter as if perhaps it was Mr. Lawson's fault, but she was pointing the finger at him in the back of her mind. She was just glad now that he wouldn't have to worry about it ever again. People would now be able to be around him without ever having to worry, as well as himself. That girlfriend of his wasn't very good if she ditched him for a problem. Suddenly she got a sting of bitter hatred towards her. She took it with a grain of salt and looked up at him.

"Well, if it means anything to you, I am glad I ran into you."

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko smiled nodding his agreement as the approached the ship yard. As they got closer, Haruko saw that Aiko had extended his three dimensional platform on the outside of the ship and was mock leaning against it to ward off anyone who might think that it wasn't being looked after. Haruko smiled at him as they approached. Aiko leaned up off the ship and faced him when they came in next to the ship.

"Well, I'll be damned," he said, a smile on his face as he reached up as if to touch the bionic eye. But his finger just passed through Haruko. Aiko shook his head, then looked at Akasha. "I owe you an apology for not trusting you. You've brought my friend something he couldn't have gotten otherwise," the three dimensional computer man bowed to her. "You have access to my ship and files anytime you would like it."

Haruko smiled, looking over at Akasha and winking. He moved past the computer who bowed again and disappeared. Haruko opened the hatch, waving for Akasha to get in. When she had he pressed the seal button and the hatch closed and sealed. He looked back at Akasha.

"Can you give me the coordinance of where your ship was the very last time you checked on it being behind us?" he said. "From there Aiko can track it down and we can take you back to it."

[Akasha]

Akasha looked up at Haru with a grin. She suddenly felt like she were some superhero that had saved the world. She appreciated it, but it made her feel a bit...off. She had never heard this much praise and happiness over something she decided to do in a long time. Especially after her bad break up with her ex boyfriend, who hadn't even taken the time of day to thank her. Not even after all this time. She laughed lightly and nodded in response, unable to speak how happy she was to have made everyone else happy.

The two stepped inside of the ship and she heard the door slam shut and she was almost a bit paranoid to go back. What if they had forgotten about her? What if they were glad she was gone? Either way she wasn't going to be happy with the decision to part Haruko Lawson and her new friend Aiko.

"Sure." She said lowly the dread becoming more apparent. What was she going to do now? What if they tried to harm Haruko after being gone for so long? What if they tried to hurt her for leaving? Thee options were looking bad, but she knew she had to go back and settle things.

"I can tell you, those guys aren't going to be very happy with me." She said truthfully as she headed towards the cockpit. "They didn't like me very much to begin with, now they are probably going to toss me into space!" She looked over at Haruko and smiled, laughing it off as if this were some joke, but inside she wouldn't be surprised if they ended up doing that.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko nonchalantly waved his hand as he moved to the cockpit and sat down in the captain's chair and began to power up his ship again.

"Then I'll be there to catch you when you fall from the stars," he said. "The one they should be out for is me not you. Don't worry about them, I have pretty good persuasive skills if it just happens to get out of your hands," Haruko said. He was telling the truth too. After all of this, there was no reason those pirates should lynch one of thier own because of what she did.

Haruko felt the ship vibrate and power up, the locks on the bottom releasing as Aiko and Haruko brought it up to begin off again. It felt like Haruko had just gotten off this ship, but it had been nearly seven hours since they had gone to the doctor, six of them for him spent under sleeping gas. Haruko nodded to the co-captain's seat.

"Have a seat," he said with a smile. "You can punch to coordinates in there."

[Akasha]

Akasha felt her face burn from that little comment. It was like a cheesy pick up line that one could not only help but laugh at and enjoy. She knew he meant it and it made her laugh and feel a huge swell of joy inside of her. She looked over at him as she took a sit and smiled, shaking her head. She just couldn't believe that she had a crush on this man. She listened to him plead his case as to how pusuasive he was. He had said nobody could refuse him, she was having a hard time doing so, hopefully her crew would be as willing to give in as she was.

Akasha leaned forward and typed slowly, not too keen on the idea of going back to be overthrown by her own group of men. She was sure they'd take her back in his eyes, but then they wouldn't be so kind. It was almost like a rule. If a Pirate abandoned their tasks, then the crew had the right to abandon their Captain. Coup. Happened all the time. She just wasn't so sure if she was actually willing to do so knowing she could avoid death and destruction and the hands of her ex boyfriend and fellow mates.

"There you go." She said leaning back in her chair and letting out a sigh of defeat. "I don't want you bringing up money in front of them, Haru." She said glancing over at him. "They'll use it for their own guilty pleasure." She frowned and let out a chuckle. "God, I am not sounding very Pirate-esque. Normally I would steal it and use it for my own benefit...but I just can't do it with your money."

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko smiled as Aiko took control of the ship, working with the coordinates she gave him. He looked over at Akasha and studied her for a moment before shaking his head.

"No, don't worry. I used to work with pirates. No honor among thieves," he said with a shrug. He leaned he head back on his seat, giving her a sidelong look. "If you can give me a personal account number, I will wire it to you specifically from my Coruscant and Naboo accounts. I have the first two million here actually, Aiko wired it for me. It's all yours when you want to withdraw it," he informed her. He wasn't going to let her squirrel out of getting it. Then he sighed.

"Speaking of which," he said. "I never apologized for what Mr. Lawson--what I did to you when you first came onto the ship. I hope I didn't damage you too badly."

[Akasha]

Akasha shook her head and waved a hand regaurding his question on Mr. Lawson. She laughed lightly after her brain began to think about it.

"Please! I was the one who was coming onto you! I did, after all, unbutton my top..well.....your top!" She raised and eyebrow. How that sounded nice! It had been quite some time since she had been remotely intimate with someone, almost three years! She felt like a prude anymore and she was tired of having to rely on old memories to get her by! She looked away as her mind fluttered with perverse thoughts. She was happy to find the money situation again otherwise it'd be hard to look at Haru with a straight face.

"I already told you..." She sang to him with a grin. "I'm not taking your money!" She looked over at him and smiled. "No! Never! Ever..never. Forget it!" She smiled and pointed at him.

"I'll only take that much money in cigarettes...you promised you know!" She laughed at him and let out a sigh. "Speaking of which, I could use a few right now! How about you?"

[Haruko Lawson]

"God help me, yes," he said, his craving coming back full force when she mentioned it. He pulled himself from his chair and walked to the door, jabbing a thumb down the hall.

"I got a bunch in my room. I'll be back with the goods," he said with a smile and strode down the hall towards his room, letting out a long sigh. He went to the lifts getting in and going to the living quarters. He quickly went to his room and went to his dressed, opening the top drawer and diving down into the tub of cigarettes he had bought before he left Coruscant. He grabbed two packs, opening one and pulling one out, unable to wait. He lit it and sucked down a few breaths before heading back up.

He made his way back to the cockpit and Akasha. He tossed the other pack in her lap as well as the lighter and sat back down, breathing in the toxins happily.

"I needed this..." he sighed out.

[Akasha]

Akasha laughed gently. She sat there looking around as they made their way out into the galaxy again, hearing his footsteps fade into nothing as he went to go get some cigarettes. How lovely these few days had been, even though they had been a little awkward and rough, it was really a cool thing for her to have experienced. Much more exciting than anything else she had experienced.

She jumped when a pack fell into her lap, followed by a lighter. She glanced at Haru to see he was already puffing away. She smiled and opend the top and grabbed the filtered end and stuck it in her mouth and lit it up, inhalng deeply and holding it for a moment.

"Ah!" She said in a long sigh as the smoke billowed out of her mouth. She looked at Haruko and smiled, happier than she had ever been for no apparent reason, as if she had no care in the world. Then again she was just generally happy for Haru and how wonderful his life was going ot be after all of this.

"Me too, buddy." She said her eyes finding his face and his lips, then the piercings...then...anything else her eyes felt like staring at trying to get that last little mental photograph before leaving him for good. She'd love to visit the port where the Rule was stationed, but she knew that it probably wasn't going to happen considering she had a lot of debt to make up for.

"Thanks." She said for the cigarette...actually for much more than the cigarette. Not only had her life been altered by this little event, she'd take peoples feelings into consideration more, she might find a new line of work, and she was definitely going to remember him and smile even if the events had been a little...different. It was all a good memory to her and she was more than happy to have shared it with him. She also just wanted to thank him for being a friend that she really needed.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko glanced at the map and purred a little leaning forward to make sure he had read it right. He tapped the screen, a little red dot blinking far away from thier blue dot.

"See that?" he asked, glancing over at Akasha. "That's your gem. Your ships in orbit around Coruscant. Actually, just kind of sitting there more than in orbit. It'll be about a week and a day before we get to Coruscant," he informed her with a short nod. He jabbed a thumbe over his shoulder. "There is a room next to mine--it's my brother's--that you can use for your sleep cycles this week. Sorry it's gonna take so long," Haruko said apologetically. "Aiko will be there to help you in your room if you need it. His call number is fifty-two. Just type in in below the screen in your room and he will be there to help you, and you can ask me too, if you want," he smiled.

"You've got free reign on this ship, feel free to do as you please."

[Akasha]

Akasha looked over at him and leaned forward, looking at what he was pointing out. Hers had been a little bit different, so it was neat to see what else he offered on this glorious floating palace that she so longed to take! Still. She looked over at him, her eyes focusing on his mouth as he spoke. How she just wanted to....god! Hormones ran wild! She focused on his face in general so when he looked at her she wouldn't be drooling. She grinned at that useless thought and then he glanced at her and she grinned even bigger.

"Fifty-two." She repeated giving a slight nod. "Gotchya." She said bringing the cigarette up to her mouth and inhaling. God how she loved those things! She blew out a line and leaned back slightly.

"No problem." She responded. "A week and a day isn't that bad, besides I should be apologizing to you anyhow I am, after all, the uninvited guest." She smiled at him and wondered what she was going to wear for the next week. She didn't know if she could handle being in filthy clothes and underwear, but she'd manage. She'd worn worse!

"Thanks a lot, Haru. I won't forget you for this." She said standing up, stretching as best as she could, holding the cigarette in between her lips and she made a slight groan as she lifted her left hand high above her head and grabbed her elbow with the other, arching her back for all it was worth, feeling and hearing it pop. She groaned and let her hands fall after a moment.

"Mind showing me the room? I think I need a shower. Been a while and I am kinda rank!" She laughed lightly as she glanced at her clothes, her only change of clothes as well. "Don't think you want another person on your ship smelling up the entire place!"

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko laughed out loud, standing up and nodding. He began out the door, beckoning for her to follow. He put his hands in his pockets as he walked.

"Um, they are guy's clothes, but my brother has a bunch of clothes in that room you are welcome to. Most of them are jeans and t-shirts. If they don't fit you can use mine," he said, looking at her over his shoulder. "Jiro doesn't have awful tastes in clothes, I promise, that's my job." He smiled, punching the button for the lifts. He got in, waiting for Akasha before the doors slid shut and too them to the living quarters.

He lead Akasha down past his room and to the one Jiro used. He pressed in the code and the door slid open. Jiro hadn't taken down his things that he had pinned up on the metal walls, nor had he cleaned off his desk. In fact, it looked as if he had just left the room. Haruko waved a hand about.

"Ignore the lovely items my brother so wonderfully deposited here. Just move something if it bothers you," Haruko said with a smile.

[Akasha]

Akasha smiled disagreeing with his sense of style for she was very fond of it! She loved it actually, if it was safe enough to use that kind of term at this stage in their friendship! She bit her lower lip as she kept her mind on the task of finding clothes and a shower, not his butt that was just beckoning her to stare. She looked at his back instead, still sexy, and not too perverted.

The door opened and she was stuck by an unfamiliar scent, it was very nice, but overwhelming as well. She glanced at Haru as he commmented on the items thrown astray in the room. She smiled happy to be able to sleep somewhere other than in that damn chair. She walked in and looked around.

"That's okay. I won't touch anything, promise!" She said looking at him. "I may steal for a living, but I don't think clothes or pictures go up my alley!" She smiled as she pushed a piece of her hair out of her eyes. "Thanks a million." She said to him as she let out a sigh, her eyes stilll taking in the messy sight. She smiled when she saw pictures of people tossed around, as well as clothes. Something she always loved, when nice places looked a bit messy, a place that looked lived in. It made her feel homey and safe.

"If I use anything I'll return it where I found it." She continued as she looked over at him. "I will bid you goodbye, for the moment! My time for a shower is needed!"

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko waved and went back out of the room, shutting the door behind him and beginning back down the hall. A moment later Aiko fell in step with him, looking up at him.

"You think she's cute" Aiko said bluntly. Haruko furrowed his brow and looked over at his friend, blinking a few minutes. He leaned forward as if he hadn't properly.

"Do what?" he asked. Aiko lifted and eyebrow. Haruko sighed. "No, Aiko, your coding in the wrong messege, dude." Haruko shifted in his step uncomfortably. Why did his damn computer always come in at the weirdest times to say the weirdest things? Aiko shruggged.

"Alright. Look, I came down here to tell you that her ship has moved off course slightly. It may take us a tad more than a week to get there. More like nine days, instead of eight. I don't know what they are doing, unless they are repositioning to land on Coruscant," Aiko said with a shrug. Haruko nodded.

"Okay, I'll let her know. Thanks."

[Akasha]

"Thank god for hot water." Akasha said to herself as she srubbed her head furociously, wanting to get all the nastiness out for she flet like it had been ages since it was cleaned. Her mind was now having a spell of peace. No guilt, not worries, nothing, just...Haruko. She frowned and shifted slightly under the pouring water. Now that was an odd thing to suddenly think. Her entire time in the shower had been consisting of what to wash, where to wash, how to wash...now her sights shifted slightly onto other things.

"God." She said as she stuck her sudsy head under the water to feel the shampoo rinse down her face and off her head. She opened her mouth as she looked down, eyes closed. The guy was as sweet as a kitten and cute as one, too. Her first impressions of him had been rude and now that she at least got to see the brighter side of him she figured it was safe to judge him as a good guy, after all he was the one complaining of not being able to see his little brother grow up, as well as....

"Damn." Akasha spit out water that made its way into her mouth. She had forgotten the guy had a son. Was it with his ex? How old was he? So many questions and so much time to actually get to know the guy. She could do nothing but smile. She moved her head away and turned her back to the faucet to pull her hair behind her head. She wiped her eyes and opened them. She figured now was a good time to think of all those burning questions she could ask.

After a moment she turned and let the water come to a halt and ended up dripping lively from the spout. She sighed and turned and jerked the curtain open to find a sweet little face staring at her, leg crossed, a little grin on his face as if he had just gotten the best show in his life.

"Shi--" She grabbed the towel that she had hung on the rod and quickly pressed it against her naked and wet body. She wasn't shy, lord if anything she was far from it, but it was quite a shock to see a...man...if she could call him that, sitting on the toilet seat without at least making his prescense known.

"Jesus Christ! Enjoying yourself there, pal?" She sighed out trying to gather up her heart that was flown across the bright bathroom. "If you wanted a show all you had to do was ask!"

[Aiko]

Aiko bounced slightly on the toilet seat as he tilted his head and smiled at her. Then he shrugged and stood, stretching.

Aiko was a computer program. An artificial intelligence system used to navigate, keep up, guard this ship and it's passengers. He had been made by some of the most brilliant minds of this time, and he was much more like a human than a computer. He could manage higher thought, he could feel and produce humor, anger, sadness, worry. He could move about in a three dimensional form, his body totally formed. The only human quality he lacked was touch. He could no sooner touch a real thing than he could be detached from the ship. He was connected to the ship and could never leave it. Not that it was a bad thing. But he did wish he had the gift of feeling.

"I thought that since I am no more real than an imaginary friend, I ought to have the same privileges," he said with a shrug. He shook his head and frowned. "Don't worry, I am not able to feel aroused by what I have seen, Akasha. It isn't hardwired into me. Well, it is, but I haven't the...hardware to produce such an effect. You're safe," he said coyly, stepping back from the tub slightly.

"I am sure Haruko will make your stay here...pleasant, among other things."

[Akasha]

Akasha sighed out finally gaining her breath back, her heart, and anything else that this thing had made go awry within her. She put a hand to her head and regained normal thoughts and looked at him, shaking her head at him.

"Well," She said cocking an eyebrow meaning his comment of not feeling aroused. It wasn't the thing a girl really wanted to hear from any form of man, especially attractive ones...human or not! She figured if he wasn't capable there was no true need to hide anything. She dropped the towel and propped a leg up on the tub and bent down and began to wipe herself dry.

"Well, if he sneaks up on me in the shower like you apparently enjoy doing, then I am not complaining, yet." She glanced up at him and grinned, teasing him with joy. She didn't know this computer well, be she liked him. He was just not the normal run of the mill kinda AI which was always plus for her.

"So...if you were equipped would I have...um...you know?" Akasha smiled at him. It was just a little question! It wasn't everyday a girl got to be spied on by a computer generated male!

[Aiko]

Aiko put a hand on his chin, stepping back again to survey her. He looked her up and down, her naked body very toned and beautiful. He twisted his mouth slightly for a moment before shrugging.

"Sure, I supposed," he said. He nodded. "But I'm afriad I really don't know. Haruko has tried to explain the feeling to me, but I simply don't grasp it. Someone felt the need to leave that feeling out of my software," he said with a shrug. He smiled. "But as I scan you, I gather that any normal male between the ages of eighteen and thirty-nine would find you quite a thing to look at. Thirty-nine and up think you're too young, seventeen and down aren't looking at your age group," Aiko informed her. He looked at his hands and sighed.

"Haruko's right smack in the middle of your age group."

[Akasha]

Akasha sighed and stood up at his response. At least it was better than nothing! She bit her lower lip and wiped down the rest of her body, hearing the AI talk. If she didn't know any better she would have sworn he was real and standing right there for she could literally feel his presence. She couldn't help but laugh as he began to explain the details of who was looking at her and who wasn't, this was by far the most interesting thing she had ever heard a computer say to her before. She looked up at him and laughed continuously. She stepped out of the tub and wrapped the towel around her and almost slipped on the floor at the mention of Haruko being right at that age.

"Excuse me?" She said pushing back a bundled strand of wet hair. She raised her eyebrows and walked over to the mirror, moving slightly as she walked by him, as if she were going to walk into him. She looked over and smiled. "You could pass of as a human easily. Cool." She looked at the steamy mirror and was quick to wipe her hand over it.

"He might be in that grouping," She stated as her reflection became apparent. "but believe me I am the last thing he is finding attractive."

[Aiko]

Aiko lifted an eyebrow, turning around to watch her for a long moment. He sighed reaching out to pass his hand through her face to get her attention. When she looked at him, he gave her a coy smile.

"You know that I have been with Haruko for ten years, right?" he asked. But he didn't wait for answer. "Haruko is extremely good at hiding what he feels about another person, as innocent as he seems, he is terrified of letting his feelings known. His ownly flaw in my opinion," Aiko paused a moment, then sighed again. "And Akasha? He is a twenty-seven year old human male. And you're a..." he paused to scan her quickly. "A twenty-five year old human female. The human sex drive is stronger than any other species. Now, not only does he fall into your age group, his past patterns tell me he is at least looking at you. Whether or not he would make that move is yet a mystery. But he has looked at you, Akasha," Aiko informed her nonchalantly, moving through her to walk to the door.

"Trust the Aiko system, my love. I am proud to say that I haven't been wrong yet."

[Akasha]

Akasha almost jumped out of her skin when she saw something pass through her face. She snapped her head over to Aiko to find him smiling.

"God, you sure know how to scare the hell out of someone, don't you?" She raised her eyebrow and turned to face him, crossing her arms and o keep her towel in place. She leaned her left hip on the sink and tilted her head slightly to look at him as he spoke. His words pulled on little invisible strings attached to her heart, stomach, and anything else that could move within her body to cause harm and disomfort. Then the little punk walked through her and she looked at her body nad turned to see his backside, which was just as flattering as the front.

She smiled and shook her head.

"Get out of here you little pervert." She said with a smile so much wanting to kick him right in the rear. Well that little visit raised her spirits far more than it should have and it also raised some severe flags in her mind as well as questions. So....the little computer was giving away secrets. Perhaps he could tell her a little bit more if the man himself was inapt to do it for himself.

She looked back at her reflection to see bright red. Her face could have glowed in the dark! She sighed and smacked herself in the forehead. She sighed out and laghed lightly and looked around for a brush, to find one in a drawer with wild red hair. She frowned and figured that Haru's brother either dyed it or had a girlfriend. She used it anyway and contorted her face with thought.

So the man had been looking, at least she knew now that flirting was an option!

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko was sitting on the table in the kitchen, considering his cigarette lighter which was out of juice. That didn't bod well, because and unlit cigarette was hanging from his lips and he wanted to smoke it. Very badly. He sighed, he didn't keep any other lighting instrument on him. Hopping off the table, he tossed the lighter in the trash and went to the stove. It was his last resort. He turned on the high heat of the high tech stove, leaning his hip on the counter, waiting for it to turn red to tell him it was hot enough.

After a long moment it turned red. Leaning down, trying to keep his face from being burnt, he pressed the end of the cigarette to the hot stove and lit it that way, puffing in a breath and leaning back, turning the stove off and smiling. He went back to sit on the table. He didn't know why he was sitting here. He felt alone suddenly, like he was on the ship alone, so he guessed he was waiting for Akasha to show back up, or Aiko. Haruko laid back on the table, hanging his head over the side of the table to look at the door upside down, his hair hanging straight down from his head as he managed to smoke this way.

Haruko was a master at entertaining himself when he was alone.

[Akasha]

Akasha frowned as she tried to keep the black pants on her body, but was finding it hard even though she had tied them as tight as possible around the waist. She figured the boy was about her height and weight, just a little bit bigger around the hips. She shook her head and looked up feeling her wet hair cascade around her face. She pushed it back and wiped a drop of water off of her naked arm from the matching black tank top that fit snugly, just the way she liked it. She figured this was the girlfriends! She turned to the kitchen when she smelled cigarette smoke, a heavenly smell to her anymore. She turned the corner and stopped.

"Hanging around?" She said bending over to stare at Haru from the position of being upside down. She leaned up with a laugh and walked over to him and took a seat right next to his head, grabbing the pack of cigarette and grabbing one and putting it in her mouth, leaning down and holding his face gently, pushing her cigarette against his own as if their two cancer sticks were going at it.

She puffed away and leaned back from him, the heat being too intense for her own good considerings she already felt like she were on fire from the shower, and Aiko's words, and seeing his face, and touching him...and everything really!

"I see you have unusual means of entertainment, Haru." She spoke as she pulled the cigarette out of her mouth.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko laughed as he sat up, spinning around to drape his legs over the edge of the table and smoke quietly next to her. He shrugged.

"After a while you learn what's entertaining to do by yourself," he said with another shrug. He glanced over at her and smiled. "I see you found..." he paused, observing the pants. "Jiro's exercise pants and Orange's top," he paused. "Although I thought they took those with them. Either way...they fit okay?" he asked, breathing in another puff of smoked and sighing it out lovingly, as if he hadn't had a cigarette in ages.

"If you need something that fits better, I'm a little smaller than Jiro, maybe something of mine would fit better," he said with a shrug. "Offer's open if you need it."

[Akasha]

Akasha stood up as she placed the cigarette in between her lips and grabbed the pants by the waist and pulled, this being a bad idea for they almost fell off. She laughed and looked up at him and nodded.

"Pants that fit would be nice!" She pulled them up higher than they were meant to go and pulled the cigarette out and smiled. "Pretty please!" She said with a smile and batting her eyelashes dramatically, laughing once she finally stopped. "The top is fine, just...these pants buddy! They are yelling at me to either drop them or get a belt!" She jerked her head a bit to freehandedly push hair out of her eyes. She blinked and felt a long bang catch in her eyelashes. She lifted eye and brushed it away.

"Don't mind do you?"

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko laughed hopping off the table and beckoning for her to follow him. He walked down the hall getting on the lifts to go back to his room. He waited for Akasha on the lifts and when she was on, he pressed in the code. The lift jerked slightly and took them up.

Haruko got off, waiting for Akasha to follow. When she did he walked down the hall to his room, opening the door and wandering in. He moved to a dresser in the corner built into the wall. He dashed his ashes in an ash try on the dresser--he had been in desperate need to do so. He leaned down and opened a drawer, peering in and beginning to dig around with the hand that didn't hold the cigarette. He didn't want to burn anything. For a long moment he searched through the lumps of clothing before finding a small pair of grey exercise pants that were ridiculously comfortable but that didn't fit him. He stood straight and turned, holding them out to her.

"Here you are. They are too small for me, so I think they will fit you just fine."

[Akasha]

Akasha looked around as if she had never been here before but she was all too familiar with the room considering past events. She saw the pants and took them with a smile.

"Ah, thank you very much kind sir." She said wanting to just drop her drawers at this exact instant and put them on, but figured that would be a bit too much. She still had to chuckle. She sighed out and shook her head and looked up at him.

"You know what your little Aiko did to me?" SHe said with a cocked eyebrow and amusement in her eyes and voice. "He peeped on me while showering!" She laughed and rolled her eyes. "I swear he scared the beejesus out of me!" Too bad it wasn't you........

"Did you teach him how to be a good spy?" She said teasingly with a wink as she walked towards the exit of the room so she could go put them on.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko let out a sigh, muttering a few things to himself as he followed her out. He shook his head.

"Sorry about him, he sometimes gets carried away with newcomers on the ship. Now that he's deemed you a nonthreat, he'll probably harrass the hell out of you," Haruko said with a shrug. "I think he gets tired of seeing my ugly mug, so a new person is something new to look at." Haruko paused then waved his hand. "Don't worry, he can't really...violate you I don't guess. And he can't touch you, so no physical violation anyway," Haruko said, suddenly thinking how bad it would be to be raped by a computer. He shook his head.

"If he bothers you, the code to shut him off in your room is eight, two, nine, seven, four."

[Akasha]

Akasha laughed and looked over her shoulder at him and gave him a seductive look.

"Ooh," She said with a playful grin. "I like being harassed!" She laughed and looked ahead, hearing him speak in that low vocie of his that made her heart and isnides rumble and give her an exhilirated feeling within.

"Meh, nothing wrong with a little harmless peeking...don't you think?" She looked at him and realized she herself was becoming a bit carried away, but she was loving it! "And he got my attention while I was drying off by putting his hand through my head. Turned me on if I do say so myself!" She smiled and looked at the floor as she walked, glancing over at Haru. Damn it! Hormones in check! Hormones in check! She was flying off the handle, she was losing it! God..but she was happy to blame it on Aiko and Haru for both being so damn provocative and so damn adorable!

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko laughed out loud.

"Yeah, that sounds like my Aiko," he said shaking his head. He sighed out and grinned. "Watch out. He's got this thing he does. If he doesn't think you're listening he can give you a shock with his hands, don't ask me how," Haruko said, glancing over at the woman, his eyes suddenlt registering how sexy she looked in the tight top and loose pants. "Now that's something to turn you on, a shock to your body."

[Akasha]

Akasha stopped to let out a laugh. God, that was something she had never heard before! Haru actually giving her more feedback to be more perverted than she was being already.

"Even better, shocks to the body, not a bad thing to experience. Must try that sometime." She picked up the pace to start walking right beside him, her naked arm touching his as she walked. As she had expected she did like that shock she got through her body. Touching him for one thing was something she was going to have to not like because...it was dangerous to her health and hazardous to Haru's body....oh if he only knew what she was thinking right now h'ed throw her off the ship and head the other way. Damn Aiko for filling her head with hopeless dreams.

She sighed out and looked over at him. If only her dreams came true she would happily reinact them for Haruko.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko smiled, his body shivering a little as he felt thier arms brush together when she walked next to him. He puffed out his cheeks in a sigh. He was getting carried away on a boat that he didn't really want to be on, and was getting the urge to flirt with her, touch her arm again, accidentally.

He shook his head. When they got to her ship, they wouldn't see each other again. He needed to cool out or else he would say or do something he would regret.

"Beleive me," he said, throwing her a coy smile. "Shocks to the body aren't bad at all."

[Akasha]

Akasha laughed again and looked up at him.

"Know a little about shocking, Haru?" She said bumping into him playfully, borders down, nothing out of bounds to her anymore. If they had one good fling this week she would die happpy, but then again she was never very good a loving and leaving people, which was why her last relationship went down hill fast for Kale was that kind of person. If she got into a relationship, sexual or not, she meant it for life, not for a week.

"Perhaps I should find out then, hmm?"

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko laughed, shaking his head.

"Not that many have wandered into that territory, it's a little bit of a frightening thing," Haruko said. As he brought the cigarette to his lips, he accidentally missed, knocking it against his bottom lip. The small stub of a cigarette knocked from his grasp and between his boots. "Damn it," he said, making a move to pick it up.

[Akasha]

Akasha laughed and watched the cigarette move to his lips, those lips she really wanted to kiss, really wanted to feel. She had never kissed anyone with a lip ring before and it would be quite nice to find out what it would feel like.

"Oops." She said in response to him dropping it. She bent down and grabbed it, placing herself literally at his feet. She moved up and suddenly...she was jerked to a halt.

"Ouch! Hell!" She dropped the butt and her hand went right to his crotch then to her ear when she realized that she had just inappropriately touched his privates. "Sorry!" She said in a bit of pain, her earring always getting hooked on things. She turned slightly, seeing that she her face was just two centimeted from a nice...zipper. She bit her lower lip and dropped the pants, feeling her own beginning to slide down. She felt Haru move and suddenly she moved too. She muttered more curses, mixed with a bit of laughter.

Her right hand went to her ear and again she touched it. She was quick to apologize. If this was shock...then she was very wrong about how much she wanted to experience it! She felt her pants sliding past her thong, the thin strap exposed for she felt air hit her side. Her left hand went to grab the pants, while the other fiddled with the earring.

She couldn't hold both so she figured a butt wasn't going to be seen if they just didn't move...but...they were and frantically so.

"Sorry!!" She exclaimed again as their movement was swaying them back and forth. But to make things worse, much, much worse, her pants were falling and she was too preoccupied with her earring to notice.

[Aiko]

Aiko appeared a little down the hall from where the commotion was. And he was immediately interested. He hurried over, stopped before laughing a little.

"Well, well, now, what do we have here!" he exclaimed in amusement. He moved over crouching and sticking his head in between Haruko's legs putting his face right in Akasha's. He was grinning and he couldn't help it, it was funny. "Nice way to make yourself know, Miss Akasha." He stood straight. "Sorry, gents, I'd help except I can't touch anything," he said as he watched Haruko try to get the earring undone, his face redder than Aiko had ever seen it.

"You two really are tweedle dum and tweedle dee."

[Akasha]

Akasha jerked and was immediately in pain when she saw his face. If she could she would definitely sock him one for that little move. She grunted and tried to move it and finally, as her pants fell to her knees, the earring came off and fell to the floor, blood trickling down her neck.

"Damn!" She looked up at Haru and felt like crawling in a hole and dying. "Sorry!" She said with such sincerity that she was wanting to cry for the embarassment she felt. She realized...

"HELL!" She said jerking the pants up quicker than before. She sunk down once they were at her waist and put her head in her hands. She was burning alive! She didn't know whether to laugh or to cry.

[Aiko]

Aiko couldn't help but laugh as she watched the woman slide to the floor and Haruko squeeze up against the wall as if she were the plague. He was waving his hand in front of her face, telling her it was okay, asking her if she was.

"God you two are delicious," Aiko said. "First rate. I'll have to come see more of your shows. You will be putting more one yes?"

[Akasha]

Akasha looked over at the guy. As horrified as she was she couldn't do anything else but laugh, her hair astray, flying everywhere, sticking to her sweaty face, moving from her pants. She started to chuckle then she started to laugh, bending forward to lean on the ground.

"God! Aiko!" She lenaed up and breathed in deep and looking at Haruko and smiled seeing the most horrified look on his face that a man could have ever given.

"Sorry, Haru! Really! I didn't mean to..." She raised her eyebrows as she gestured radically with her hands. "Not that I wouldn't ever...I mean...I just...not now..I.....GOD! Aiko!" She looked over at him trying to stop the horror she was putting herself through. If Haru ever looked at her again after this she'd thank the heavens above.

[Aiko]

Aiko was doubled over with laughter, he couldn't help it. The woman was gesturing wildly, Haruko looked as if he had seen a ghost, Akasha's thong had been right out there for Aiko and Haruko to see, her earring had gotten caught in Haruko's crotch. Aiko couldn't think of a funnier situation.

"Eloquent, Akasha, really, keep speaking! Maybe if you go a little faster and make a little less sense, we'll all get it eventually!" he laughed. Haruko hadn't had something like this happen to him in ages. Not something this embarrassing, not since he had been a teenager. Aiko was enjoying every minute of. He waved his hand. "I think that you have just highlight a memory for me Akasha! I'll always remember you because your earring got stuck in Haruko's crotch!"

Haruko kept throwing him awful looks, but even he was smiling a little, the whole episode just a comedy of errors.

[Akasha]

Akasha looked at him and then at the pants. She picked them up and tossed them at him as if this was going to teach him a lesson, but it just went right through him, as she knew it would have.

"You....god! Shut up!" She looked at Haruko and sighed out so horrified, yet so amused! Of course flirting with a man she was so hot for would end up flirting back and then having something like this occur would ruin all chances of anything happening! Like that was even possible in the first place!

"Its your fault anyhow! Speaking of ages and...crap!" She looked at Haru again and tried to make sense. "I am sorry! I didn't mean to touch you like that, really! Not that I wouldn't...shi...god! I mean..ugh!" She stood up and let out a sigh, air finally hitting her as she pushed her hair back, her pants falling yet again. She dropped her hands from her hair and grabbed the pants, she'd now rather be blind with hair in her eyes then give them both another show.

"It was an accident, I'm sure you know. Aiko isn't helping me either! I just...." She sighed out and rubbed her forehead with one hand. "God...that was a shock, Haru, you delivered."

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko was mortified. Not really that she had grabbed him, that was purely an accident, it was just the proximity of her face to that certain area of his body had given him quite a...shock. He slowly leaned off the wall and threw a dirty look at Aiko.

"Eight-two-nine-seven-four!" he barked. Aiko stuck his tongue out and disappeared. Haruko sighed, letting out a nervous laugh. He looked at her with worry on his face. "Look don't worry about it, it's no big deal...are you okay? I saw blood there, did I rip your earring out?"

[Akasha]

Akasha looked at Aiko the moment those numbers were thrown out as well as a glance that would have stopped her dead in her tracks. She looked back at him and felt her heart pound so fast that she was barely able to stand straight. Then there was pain.

"Oh!" She reached up to her ear and felt pain. She sighed and looked at her hand and saw blood, if this hadn't gone from bad to worse. She looked at Haru and laughed nervously.

"Its okay, just a minor flesh wound." She said looking at her hand and rubbing her bloody fingers together, lifting it to her mouth and licking it off like she were some freak, but she couldn't deny that it was better than wiping it on the brothers pants or girlfriends shirt, plus she liked the taste of blood.

"Sorry!" She said hoping this didn't scare him even more. "I happen to like the metallic taste and I don't think blood on their clothes would be very kind." She looked down at the earring and grabbed it, her pants riding low again. She cursed and pulled them up and looked at Haru.

"I guess you've now seen everything, huh?"

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko shook his head, laughing a little before standing up off the wall and waving for her to go back towards his room.

"Look, um, go back there and change into the smaller pants real quick, then yell at me and I'll show you where the medicine and bandages are," he said. Then he laughed. "And don't worry about those pants, Jiro probably hasn't even thought of them in months," he said reassuringly. He motioned for her to go on down to his room to change. It was obvious to him that she couldn't hold the extra pants, keep her ear from bleeding, and hold up the falling down pants all at the same time. He waved her away and watched as he made her way back down to his room, disappearing inside.

Haruko glanced down, seeing the earring on the floor. He reached down and picked it up. It was a delicate little peice of jewelry, a small tear drop diamond. Haruko's zipper had bent the metal peice that went into the ear. He shook his head, pocketing it, he would fix it and give it back to her later. He glanced up, waiting for her to finish so he could get her bloody ear taken care of.

[Akasha]

Akasha pulled the pants off quickly and kicked them away since they had already caused her enough trouble this evening! She felt her ear start to sting when she bent down and pulled on the tight pants that had a nice flare to them at the bottom. They hugged her nicely at the waist, butt, and thigh, and flared perfectly at the knee down. Needless to say she liked them and even liked the way they looked on her. She sighed out and bent down and picked up the ones she had kicked away as if they were infested with the plague. She folded them and sat them on Haru's bed and shook her head, putting her hands over her face with embarassment.

She sighed out and looked up at the ceiling when they fell to her side, she let out a moan that relieved the tight stomach she had. She bit her lower lip and looked over at the door and yelled for Haru to come on it, even though it wouldn't have been anything he hadn't already seen! Again her face grew red and hot. She saw the door open and her heart literally jumped at the sight of him.

"I don't think my ear is too bad, just a tear in the hole."

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko heard her yell and he came in, sliding the door open and walking in. He heard her say that it wasn't too bad, just a tear. He shrugged a little and beckoned to her.

"Still, it's bleeding a lot. Come here, we'll get it fixed up," Haruko said, flipping on the light in his bathroom. He stacked up the bottle of his eye wash on top of a small metal box and then he crouched down, reaching in the get his disinfecting pads. He pulled one out then grabbed a clean cloth from his drawer. He wet it down with warm water and turned back to Akasha, holding it out to her. "Here, press that on there while I open this," he said smiling. He turned back to the medicated pad and slid it out of it's protective cover. He shook his head.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I really didn't mean to rip your ear off."

[Akasha]

"Well, I didn't mean to attack your crotch!" She laughed and suddenly had the thought of 'Not that I wouldn't do it!'. She smiled and sighed out shaking her head at her luck. She grabbed the cloth and held it to her ear, the heat immediately causing it to sting. She bit her lower lip and looked at him rummage through things until he located whatever it was he was searching for and rip it open.

She stood there looking at him in the bathroom light, of course feeling embarassed but still being able to have her hormones in a frenzy to how close everything had just been to being deemed inappropriate.

"Thanks." She said with a lighthearted laugh. "That was funny though, right? If not to us then to Aiko." She looked away and shook her head. God! That little computer was causing some trouble for her all of a sudden. She was going ot have to watch what she said around him for she wouldn't be surprised if he went and told Haru.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko laughed, turning back around. He nodded.

"Yeah, Aiko certainly does get his kicks in strange ways. Here..." he said. He reached up, placing his hand over hers to draw the cloth away from the seeping wound. It was small and would heal quickly. He put one hand on her face to steady her, then he gently pressed the medicated pad to her ear, smoothing it down. "There you go..." he said absentmindedly as he finished and leaned away from her. He smiled at her, tossing the garbage and taking the cloth from her, running water over it and laying it in the sink. "You'll be good as gold in a couple days." Then he laughed.

"It was funny, even though it was the first time that has ever happened to me."

[Akasha]

Akasha's face was burning from where his hand touched giving her a shiver of delight and fear at the same time. She smiled at him once he told her she was good to go. She nodded and laughed.

"Well, I happen to be put in that situation almost every other week!" She smiled and reached up to touch her ear, but realized she couldn't do that since it was always a nervous habit of hers. She sighed and waved a hand at him. "Well I guess you'll never forget me after this week now will you?"

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko laughed, nodding and shaking his head. Haruko didn't think he had needed her to get her earring caught in his crotch for him not to forget her. She wouldn't ever know--because he would never tell--but she had left an impact on him that wouldn't easily be forgotten. Not only had she showed him a kindness no one else ever would have, she had given him something no one ever could have.

To Haruko's dismay, he was oddly attracted to her. Not only because of all these reasons but because she was, in fact beautiful, even though the pirate look didn't allow for that. She was smart, definately had her wit about her, she was outgoing, she could take care of herself, she was a pirate without being...a pirate.

Haruko would never be able to explain it, but he wouldn't ever have to, because he wouldn't ever tell her. After this week, they would walk out of each other's lives for good, and that would be that.

"I certainly won't," he said with another laugh. "You've made more happen in a few days than has happened in more than a year!"

[Akasha]

Akasha laughed and rolled her eyes. "Just go ahead and say it!" She said looking at him with a cocked eyebrow. "You are making me feel good but don't forget I invaded your ship, personal space, and even enjoyed doing it all!" She turned the lights off of the bathroom, ready to turn, but the blue eye frightened her. She remembered how she had seen it the night she tied him up in chains...it gave her a chill. She stepped back and shook her head. She turned and conducted her own experiment and grabbed the door handle and closed it, seeing that the room was literally lit up with a piercing blue.

"Oh that is just...wicked!" She said with a smile. She flipped the lights back on and opened the door. "I know I won't forget that! I think I'll be reminded of it everytime I close me eyes, not saying that is a bad idea or anything." She laughed lightly and walked out into the bedroom where she had in fact met the other half.

"Oh you know you want to get rid of me." She stated with a light laugh as she walked around, viewing things in his room better than before considering she was being attacked. It was very manly and very unique. She liked it. Like Haru's style.

[Haruko Lawson]

Haruko laughed at her amusement at his eye. He didn't know why it glowed like that. It wasn't something he did intentionally. It just automatically came on when a light went out. Like a light sensetive nightlight. It just came on when it was dark.

Haruko followed her into his room and watched her look around at his things, almost in fascination. He smiled at her, leaning on the doorframe. He nodded to the dresser she was standing at.

"In there's a picture of my brothers and my um...son, if you want," he offered, giving her something to look at.