Thanks to everyone who read this story and gave reviews. I truly appreciate it.
I'm sorry it took so long to update but I've been super busy preparing for an anime convention.
I plan to make a new Burst Angel story soon and update my other current one. But it'll more then likely be sometime next week or the following week. Please forgive these delays.
Disclaimer: Don't own this show or any of its characters.
Please enjoy the final chapter.
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Wants and needs. Two different things that are almost one in the same. They both have qualities that people of all sorts desire.
Wants. Everyone has something they desire more then anything. Even if it's the simplest thing like a piece of candy or another blanket to keep the cold out.
Needs: Humans require few things to maintain life. It is wants that block this fact. Yet we all need certain things. Like that piece of candy? It's simple to a child that wants a treat for no reason whatsoever. However if it's the only scrap of food you've had in a week then it becomes necessary to live. And that extra blanket that keeps the cold air out? Another simplicity to someone who already has two other comforters keeping the warmth in. But to a living creature that has nothing to keep them warm, no clothes, no blankets, nothing? It's a need to protect them from catching their death. Then it's no longer simple.
But for this young girl's complicated mind it was still a mystery whether it was her own selfish wants or a possible need that she had, to have her savor stay by her side. To keep that sacred bond they shared alive or to let them part their own ways. True her mind said she wanted the gunfighter to stay. To be with her and love her as she had done the previous night. Only her almost broken heart said she needed the other girl in order to still exist. The choice didn't matter at this point. The option had been decided as she stayed in slumber when dawn broke.
As she slept soundly, knowing someone cared for her as no other creature had since her early childhood.
That creature, the beautiful saint made her decision for her.
She made the choice as the saloon girl's own selfish want. She left without waking her. Without saying goodbye. Now the younger girl was left alone. Her selfish want to be loved as the only thing to keep her company.
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"Shot. No make it two….Hey you even listening?" The impatient elderly man waved his hand in Meg's unmoved face.
"Right." She simply turned and grabbed the cheapest whiskey. A serious flashback to the many times she had done the same thing day after day. None of them being quite as bad as this day.
She poured the shots, watching the man consume them and then leaving the change on the counter. Normally she would have thought of this to be a piggish and almost nauseating thing. Being rude, no thank you, and not tipping for a girl that really needs the money. She may have even gave him a glare if she was her normal self.
Why? Why can't I just feel? I feel nothing now. My hands are still numb, my feet and knees are weak. I cried my life out…That should have cured me.
The girl couldn't cry anymore. She had strained her pretty eyes that morning when realizing her companion would not return. When she awoke to merely holding her pillow instead of a loving arm, to the sound of silence, to the essence of normality, to the badly played out thing she called a life. No longer would there be excitement or care. Not even the feeling of thrilling danger she felt so strongly towards when that woman was around. That would be something she'd miss forever.
It was understandable why she couldn't be her usual self but now even her personality had taken a turn. She wasn't sure if it was good or bad. But then again nothing mattered to her. All her life people had hurt her, why should this put her down? Maybe because she wanted to fall in love or maybe because she needed love.
She wiped the counter slowly, smearing away the many fingerprints and glass rim marks. She looked at her reflection as she always did, only to see if she was still living, sure enough the picture of herself remained. However she looked more through it then into it. Even as the familiar reflection of an arrogant man joined her own she still looked as though neither of them were there.
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The sand shifted beneath her boots. It made her uneasy since the events of yesterday. The sand trap that bitch led her right into. She fell into it. Simple as that.
The paranoia subsided as she thought of this. That was one of her better qualities. She thought with her mind and it made everything clear…well almost everything. It made things rational at least. Things within reach not within view of the imagination. Unlike a certain girl she knew.
I guess it isn't fair to judge her like that. Maybe.
Her red eyes shifted around, nothing but sand and desert. Though she wasn't looking at the scenery. Her mind was off elsewhere thinking if it was a fair trade to judge the saloon girl like that when she, herself had been almost cruel to her.
The real question was if she was judging herself fairly. She left a girl at the end of her rope and maybe that was wrong in someone's eyes. But to her it was a simple way of life. She had always fought a battle like that so why didn't it work the same way in this case? In combat she fought monsters, criminals, even self-created beings. With this she fought fear and pain for someone else. Meg was obviously terrified to do anything even if it meant happiness as an outcome. She simply gave her an encouraging push. She "helped" her feel something she always wanted to feel. Now why was it so wrong that she left after doing a good deed? She did her part to help it was fair, right?
A battle. Tougher then any I've faced. Still Lava's was more thrilling. The attacks, her strength, her movements and her power. Meg's battle was harder somehow. Why? And why did that bitch make the fight more enjoyable?
"Why did I save her?" Jo stopped in her tracks. She couldn't believe what she was saying or even why she cared to think about something in the past. Near past but still the past.
She knew her instincts had spoken to her mentally. They told her to save that girl for whatever reason they had. She obeyed them as always and rescued the redhead. If she hadn't saved her would the fight still have gone on? Would she have lived or even felt enjoyment from it all?
Something about that girl…It made everything change. Is that fair?
She smirked and turned around on her path. She began walking slowly, quickly began pacing, then finally broke into an all out run.
"Is this right?"
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"Ahh!" She fell to the ground on her hands and knees. The bright red mark burning her angelic face.
"You little wench. Bitch." The man rubbed his stinging hand.
She tried to get back on her feet but was shaking to hard. It wasn't from the slap she had received but why she had gotten it. Her temper and anger that she held back all these years finally came out. Once that man…the same man that struck fear into her the first day she met Jo. That man she ran behind the woman gunfighter for protection from. He had done the deed. He tried to make a more forceful move on the girl. He had literally grabbed her and pulled her over the bar counter, forcing his mouth to hers. She of course snapped from her state of numbness and pulled away from him. He merely laughed as she grabbed the whiskey bottle from the elderly man's previous double shot and smacked him across the face with it.
It had knocked at least two teeth out and now a large portion of his face was dark purple. For this he returned it with a slap. This wasn't the end of her punishment…no.
He grabbed her arm and yanked her to her feet. The other people watched nonchalantly as if she deserved all this. This led her back to an unanswered question. If they knew what she'd been through, would they even care? They sure as hell didn't give a damn now, why would her past make any difference to a bunch of low life scum anyway?
"You won't dare try that again." He backhanded her. She fell against the counter, her anger level lowered as fear took place. No matter how hard she wanted to be strong and just feel anger it always led to weak knees.
"You know…," he turned her to face him, "I never did get to have my night with you."
A little bit of blood leaked from his mouth as he spoke. It made her smile on the inside, knowing she caused a drunk pig pain. Still her fear of him made the thrill fade quickly.
"T-take y-your hands….off of me." She shook.
He smirked, "That's enough of your mouth, wench. I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget."
He grabbed her arm and violently threw her against a bar table. She fell on it, hurting her back. She let out a cry but no one cared. This wasn't so uncommon when a drunk and a girl got into a tussle. Problem was he wasn't drunk yet and she just had a sassy mouth. It was sick entertainment for them.
He grabbed her throat tightly, it didn't gag her but made her cooperate. He held her down on the table and began feelings her up with his free hand. Her eyes became almost lifeless as she yelled for her own defense against him.
"Stop! Please stop!" Her voice echoed.
He laughed. Even a few viewers chuckled in the background. Not surprisingly a few coworkers laughed it up with him.
Her eyes faded…
'Bang!'
A single shot fired from the front double doors, it spilt the drunks brown cowboy hat in two.
He looked up, terror smeared on his face. The rest of the usual drinkers followed his motions.
Standing in the doorway was a young…woman? She had short silver hair, part of it covering one of her red eyes. A sly smirk upon her face.
"I believe the lady isn't interested." Her voice was that of an angel from Hell.
The stupid fool tightened his grip on Meg's fragile throat, she gasped. This of course didn't escape Jo's sensitive ears or eyes. She had no time for games…especially from a weakling like this.
She quickly aimed her weapon and fired one last shot. It hit the man directly in the chest, through the heart. His life ended at that moment….not like he had much to live for anyway.
The saloon was quiet, many jaws dropped at this sight, no one dared to move and catch the fighter's eyes. She only made her way to the now freed Meg. The clacking of her heels were the only sound.
It was only followed by coughing from the redhead. She covered her mouth and held her stomach, she got off the table as well.
"Are you hurt?" Jo asked in monotone.
She ceased her coughing and looked up at her, "N-no. Not really. I'll be fine."
"Good." She smiled.
Meg couldn't help but wonder why the girl came back. Just for kicks? To make Meg feel worse by leaving again? To play hero?
"Jo? Why…"
She simply took off her coat and draped it over Meg's shoulders.
"Lets go." She began walking back outside.
The younger girl was stunned and confused. Still she followed her older company out the doors.
The sunlight was bright today. It made this picture almost perfect except the strange confusion Meg had.
"Jo…Why did you come back? I thought you left for good."
She turned and looked back. Her red eyes were gleaming and a smile placed on her face. She was heavenly stunning. To the younger girl anyway.
"I-I don't really know."
She looked down at the ground and laughed.
"But you know I always follow my head and it told me to come get you. So here I am."
Meg smiled and walked closer to her, "Sounds more like your heart told you."
"No I'm pretty sure it was…"
She stopped as Meg wrapped her arm around her own.
"I'll stay by your side for as long as you like." She snuggled against her.
The angel smiled as they began walking.
"Jo?"
"Hmm?"
"I forgot my clothes in my room."
"That's okay. We can get you new clothes."
"Really? No ones ever got me anything new before."
"This will be your first…I was thinking you could wear yellow chaps…"
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Sounds like Jo followed her dream.
Hope you enjoyed this. Please review!