Disclaimer: No; I don't own a thing. And the lyric belongs to Evanescence 'Surrender'.
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Summary: In the middle of hate, fights and tears, it's music the object that will calm hearts down, just like it's going to be music the way to show the feelings some didn't wanted to have. Hiead/Ikhny & Zero/Kizna
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Important Note: I'm writing it because this was written for the first time on the present tense, and after a certain review I understood it was time to re-write it.
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Cold Fire, Warm Earth
Chapter 1: Stars & Thoughts
Once again, it had been a tie, and no matter how hard they tried, that was the only result they would get.
"Way to go, Zero!" a pink haired girl, with cat ears, exclaimed, her right fist raised in the air.
Swallowing hard, a brown haired girl closes her brown eyes: she knew what was going to happen, and no matter how she tried to escape, he would always find her:
"Allecto!" an angry voice called-out, and the brunette takes a deep breathe as she heard footsteps approaching. Suddenly, but not unexpectedly, the girl was slammed against a cold wall, and with a wince she opens her eyes to face a silver haired boy, with cold and emotionless red eyes "What the hell happened?"
"H-Hiead..." the brunette trailed off, when the boy continued:
"Why are you so helpless? Why aren't you capable to do a simple thing? You're so weak! I don't even know what I'm doing with you!"
"I-I'm sorry." the girl mumbled, her voice trembling in fear
"That's what you always say," the boy said angrily "but I don't see any improvements. Start working harder, or I don't know what I'll do."
"H-Hai." the girl replied, and with a rude movement the boy took his hands of her arms and walked away, his arms now pressed against his chest.
When she understood she was all alone, the girl looked to her side, with her eyes tearing, and saw the pink haired girl from before punching a brown haired boy, in the arm. Then she sighed, while tears started to stream down her cheeks:
'Why can't we be like them?'
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Everyone was trying to eat, but no one could: the food was everything except eatable and no one dared to prove it.
"...then I hit him with my right, then with my left and..."
"Zero, shut up!" Kinza exclaimed, hitting a brown haired boy on his head
"Ouch! What's your idea?" the young man asked, and Kinza hit him again, an annoyed expression on her face:
"We all know what you did, baka, we were there." she replied matter-of-factly while Zero scratched his head right where the girl had hit him:
"Yeah; so? Can't I say how I felt?" he questioned, and Kizna rolled her eyes before replying with a simple:
"Shut it, Zero."
Besides Kizna, a brunette giggled before looking to her partner that was, as usual, eating alone and in silence. Giving a small sigh, she looked at her trey: Ikhny Allecto and Hiead Gner had been working 'together' for almost three years now, but on contrary of her friends which had close relationships with their partners, she was still trying to discover a way to break all the walls Hiead had around him, and his heart.
So, despite the time that had spent together, he continued to be a mystery to her...a deadly mystery.
True, he did not talk with her, he did not help her, and he never did do a thing for her, on contrary of her friends. The only thing he knew was to scare her, and make her fear him. However, despite the coldness and rudeness that surrounded him, she knew he had a good heart. A heart he had managed to hide, from everyone. And, just like he had managed to stay the same heartless jerk he had been all those years, she had never stopped questioning her feelings for him: silent feelings, without a voice...
"Ikhny!" a voice called-out, and the brunette snapped from her thoughts only to take her eyes of her partner and look to her side to face her best friend: Kinza Towryk. Kinza had a very happy and optimist personality, on contrary of Ikhny, that did not passed of a scared and shy girl:
"Hai? Did you say something?" Ikhny asked with a blink, and Kinza rolled her eyes:
"I asked if you were going to stay here, or come with us?"
"Oh no, I'm going for a walk." the brunette replied
"Are you all right?" Kizna asked, raising her eyebrow "Or Hiead did..."
"No, he didn't do anything, I'm fine." Ikhny interrupted as she stood up "I just need to be alone for a while."
"Ok then." Kizna said also getting up "See ya!"
"Bye!" Ikhny said with a small wave, but when she was about to walk away, the brunette gazed at her partner only to see a pair of rubies looking back at her for a second, before looking away. With a sigh, Ikhny walked out of the refectory, towards her favourite place in G.O.A: the observatory.
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'This is so strange.' Ikhny thought, while gazing at the stars 'We don't have anything in common, yet, I know this is his favourite place.'
As she sighed the brunette sit down on the ground, and leaned her knees against her chest, before wrapping her arms around her legs.
'This is so quiet. That's why I love this; since the Rec. Room has been open, no one comes here. It's like the place is only for me...and him.'
Then Ikhny looked at one star in particular, and a sad sigh left her lips:
'I miss you Mum...Dad... Every night, when I'm almost falling asleep, I think about you. I hope you're ok; I wouldn't bear if I lost you two...I would be so alone...I would be like him...' when the thought popped in her mind, Ikhny shook her head: 'Iie, I will never be like him...such cold heart...no one can be that cold...no one...'
Taking a deep breath, Ikhny closed her eyes, and let the lyric of the song her mother used to sing escape her lips, and break the silence of the Observatory.
"Is this real enough for you
You were so confused
Now that you've decided to stay
We'll remain together
You can't abandon me º
You belong to me
Breathe in and take my life in you
No longer myself only you
There's no escaping me, my love
Surrender..."
"Allecto!" a voice called-out
'Shoot.' Ikhny thought, but she did not move 'If he came here to say he wants to train...'
"What?" she asked still looking at the stars, and footsteps were head.
"What the hell are you doing there? You should be studying, you weak!"
Rolling her eyes Ikhny looked to her side to face her partner, and his cold red eyes:
"Hiead, I have been studying a lot, so I decided to have a break."
"To do what? Sing?" without any warning, Hiead grabbed the brunette by her shoulders and slammed her against the wall "If I fail...If I'm not chosen to be a pilot, I'll kill you, you heard me?"
"H-Hai." Ikhny managed to reply, feeling her spectacles falling down her nose
"So, get off the floor and go study! Then, we'll train and see if you make the same stupid mistakes."
"Hai." Ikhny whispered, trembling a bit. Though she could not see him clearly, due to the fact her spectacles had fallen, she could still notice the coldness in his eyes
"Good, now go study!" Hiead replied now forcing her to stand up.
After a small groan in pain Ikhny put her spectacles on their position, and after sharing one last look with Hiead, she walked away. When he's all alone Hiead leaned against the wall, and stared at the stars, his arms now folded against his chest:
'Alone, at last.'
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Ikhny was walking slowly down the hall, lost in her thoughts, that she did not notice the sound of steps:
'Why is he always so cold? Why is he always threatening me and treating me like a slave? What did I do to him? And why does he always treat me like I'm an inferior? Sure I'm weak, but without me he wouldn't be here...without me, he wouldn't get the chance to be a pilot...'
Then a flash of Kizna and Zero together, laughing and talking with each other, flashed in Ikhny's mind, and the girl stopped her tracks, her eyes opened wide.
'Why couldn't I have a partner like Zero? Or even Clay? Why did I have to be with Hiead? Why?'"Excuse me, are you alright?" a voice questioned, and Ikhny looked up only to face a blond haired boy, with blue eyes.
"Y-yes." Ikhny stuttered, shaking her head mentally, and the boy gazed at her for a few seconds:
"I'm sorry to disagreed with you, but you look sad." he commented suddenly, and Ikhny blinked in surprise:
"Hum...no, I'm fine." Ikhny replied, before bowing "I need to go now."
"You're #87 partner, right?" the boy inquired when the brunette was about to walk away, and Ikhny felt her blood freeze:
"Hai."
"You need to understand him." the boy commented, and once again Ikhny blinked, but now in confusion:
"What?" she asked before she could stop herself, and the boy smiled slightly at her:
"You need to understand him, not through his words, but through his actions."
"Who are you?" Ikhny asked, raising an eyebrow
"Oh, sorry, my name is Erts Virny Cocteau."
"What!" Ikhny asked, before clapping a hand over her mouth "I'm sorry..."
The boy smiled, and shook his head:
"That's ok, but I have to go now. Goodbye."
"Goodbye." Ikhny repeated still shocked as the boy turned around, and walked away.
'I just talked with a Pilot! Where's my respect? Oh, he must think I'm an idiot!' with a sigh Ikhny slapped a hand on her forehead:
"I'm so stupid." she murmured as she started walking, Erst's words echoing on her mind
'You need to understand him, not through his words, but through his actions.''Yeah, as if it's that simple.' Ikhny thought sarcastically, shaking her head.
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Everyone was laughing and playing around, trying hard to profit the time they had to rest, when the doors were suddenly opened, and professor Azuma stepped in:
"#85, #86, #87, #88 and #89!" he yelled, and everyone froze before getting up:
"Yes, sir?" Clay asked, while putting his spectacled in their right place
"Training Room, now." Azuma ordered
"But professor, Ikhny and Hiead aren't here." Kizna commented, and the professor stared at her:
"Their problem, now come. You'll battle with the other pilots."
"Hai." everyone said in salute, but when everyone was walking out of the place Kizna grabbed Zero arm, and turned him towards her:
"Ouch!" the boy complained with a wince
"Zero, I'm going to look for Ikhny." Kizna whispered, making sure no one could hear them "And you're going to look for Hiead."
"Why should I?" Zero asked, raising an eyebrow "It would be good to have a fight without Hiead."
"Baka!" Kinza exclaimed, hitting him on the arm "What about Ikhny? You know how Hiead can be if he misses a training."
"Yeah, you're right." Zero agreed, rubbing his arm
"Ok then, meet you in five." Kizna said before start running, and Zero run a hand through his hair when he was all alone:
"How am I suppose to find that guy?" he asked, and with a sigh he walked away
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'Everyone is so weak I almost get sick. This place is only for the strongest, and despite that there are still weaklings here...weaklings just like Allecto, and stupid like Zero. I can't believe I have a weak as a partner. She's so stupid! Hey, I know...why not change partners? Hum...bad idea, everyone else is worse than her. Or I stay with a weakling or I change her for other weakling. Besides, it's better this way...it feels so good, to threat that weak, and see her pain...She deserves it, more than anyone. She makes mistakes that only stupid and weak people do...She really annoys me.'
"Hey, Hiead!" a voice called-out, but the silver haired boy ignored it, and continued to look to the stars '
'But, it would be good if Allecto changed...She's too weak, and I never thought there would be people like her...always trying to help me. I don't need help, I only need to be a pilot and defeat Zero. Nothing else.'
"Hiead, are you there?" the voice called-out again, and suddenly a hand appeared in front of Hiead's eyes.
"Take that hand away my face, Enna." the silver haired boy growled, and Zero raised an eyebrow:
"Well, I came here to warn you Azuma wants us to battle against the other pilots." Zero continued as if he had not heard the other candidate's words "Now."
"Humph." was the only answer he received as Hiead started making his way towards the door
"That's it? Not even 'thank you'?"
"I didn't ask you anything." Hiead deadpans
"You're welcome." Zero replied before slapping the silver haired boy on the shoulder "Race you to the Training Room." he added in a childish way
"Is that a challenge?" Hiead questioned, looking coldly to the brown haired boy, who nodded in reply:
"You got it." he agreed
"See ya, loser." Hiead replied before start running down the hall.
"Hey!" Zero exclaimed before rushing after the silver haired boy.
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'Where can she be?' Kizna asked to herself as she looked around 'Lets see, I looked for her in our room, in the observatory, in the cafeteria, the library, where can I go? Oh, I know, the computers' room! I bet Hiead made her study, for the exam.'
Still lost in her thoughts Kizna began walking towards her destination. Many were the times when she would ask herself how was possible for Ikhny bear Hiead, and every time she would ask that to Ikhny, she would receive the same answer:
'He's my partner, it's my duty to help him.'
'Well, partner or not, no one has the right to treat other like a dog.' Kizna replied bitterly to herself, her anger rising 'Hiead does not deserve to have Ikhny as a partner, she's completely opposite from him. I mean, now that I think about it, we all have something in common with our partners, except for Ikhny and Hiead...'
When the door in front of her opened Kizna looked inside, and spotted Ikhny with her back to the pink haired girl: she was looking towards a screen, while typing quickly on the keyboard.
"Ikhny?" Kizna called-out, and the brunette jumped in surprise before turning around.
"Kizna, what are you doing here?" Ikhny inquired, and Kizna approached her side:
"Professor Azuma said we have training, now." the newcomer answered, "I came to warn you."
Suddenly Ikhny face turned pale:
"Oh no, what about Hiead?"
"Zero went look for him."
"What if he didn't find him?" Ikhny asked, "I have to go, look for him."
"There's no time." Kizna interrupted, grabbing her friend's wrist "Lets go to the training-room, I bet the boys are already there."
"What about you?" Ikhny asked as they made their way out off the computer's room.
"What about me?" Kizna asked back with an eyebrow raised.
"Does professor Azuma know you're here?"
Kizna shrugged:
"Not really, but I couldn't leave you alone, could I?"
"Gomen ne." Ikhny whispered, looking down, and Kizna shook her head:
"No need to be sorry, but I think we should run if we don't want to heard Azuma."
"Hai." Ikhny agreed, and both friends start running
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"Where in the world were you two!" Azuma yelled, and both Kizna and Ikhny winced at the sound of their professor's voice:
"Sorry professor, but I needed to call Ikhny." Kizna answered, and Azuma stared down at her:
"I told you it didn't matter." he said, before looking at the brunette "And where were you?"
Ikhny winced again at the man's tone of voice:
"Studying, professor." she replied in a small voice
"I bet you were." the professor mumbled before looking at the other teenagers "Ok, the pairs are: #85 and #89 vs #01 and #04."
"Oh man..." Roose moaned while Clay pulled his spectacles to their right place:
"Interesting..." he mumbled while Force and Aracd smiled to each other.
"The rest will fight against each other team. When everyone's from the other team is down, start fighting against each other." Azuma explained, "I don't care who is against who; I just want to see action and improvements."
"Hai!" everyone exclaimed in salute, before walking towards their Pro-Ings.
"For your own sake, I better win." Hiead hissed, and Ikhny froze for a few seconds before swallowing:
"Hai." she replied with a small nod "Good luck."
"I don't need luck." Hiead replied
In minutes, everyone is already fighting, while all repairs tried their best to show they deserved to be chosen. (A/N: Hum...would you mind if I pass the fight part? Hope not)
"Hiead, behind you!" Ikhny exclaimed at the same time she heard Clay's scream, and Saki Mimori sighed sadly while shaking her head:
"He'll never learn."
Ikhny looked at her before sending her friend a smile:
"Allecto!" Hiead yelled
"Hai?" the brunette asked, staring at the screen
"Where the hell is Zero?"
"Hum..." typing quickly on the keyboard Ikhny tried to find Zero, but it seemed like he had disappeared "I can't find him..." she commented, and suddenly her panel started going crazy 'What the hell?'
"Hum...professor, something's wrong with #87's panel." Carres Gouthena commented, and the professor gave her a funny look:
"What?" he asked, and the repaired waved a hand towards Ikhny, that was looking shocked to her painel "#87, what are you doing?" Azuma asked, and Ikhny snapped from her trance.
'You can do it.' the brunette thought to herself 'You can do it.'
Ignoring completely her professor Ikhny started typing on the keyboard again, a determined expression on her face:
"Allecto!" Hiead yelled in anger and annoyance.
"On your left!" the brunette exclaimed on the same second, and without wasting any time Hiead turned around to see Zero running towards him:
"Hiead!" the brown haired boy yelled, a victorious smile on his face.
"Baka, what are you doing?" Kizna asked when she saw Zero's attempt to hit Hiead with his foot "Use your weapons!"
"Hai!" Zero exclaimed a bit too-enthusiastically
"Baka." Hiead whispered before raising his weapons
"Stop!" Azuma yelled suddenly "Don't you two dare to move!"
Rolling his eyes Hiead lowered his weapons, at the same time Zero started to groan:
"Why do we always stop, on the best part? Why?" he whined
"Zero, shut up!" Kizna exclaimed
"You can go now." Azuma continued as he looked from Kizna and Zero to Hiead to Ikhny.
Taking a deep breath Ikhny sit on her chair, and took a deep breath: what had happened? Her computer had simply gone crazy.
"#87?" a voice called-out, and Ikhny looked up only to face Carres "You really should fix your computer; if you don't find the damage, your partner can die."
"Hai." Ikhny replied with a nod "Thank you."
"But you did a good job." Carres continued, "Not many would do what you did, though you seemed paralysed for a second." slowly she rest a hand over Ikhny's shoulder "Never froze in any situation, and don't forget you have a life in your hands even when it's just a training."
Ikhny looked down at her knees, before looking up, and nod again:
"Arigatou."
Carres smiled:
"You're welcome. See you, around." with that she walked away
"Daijobou?" a voice asked, and Ikhny turn to her side only to see all her friends:
"Yes, I'm fine." she replied before noticing Wrecka face "What's the matter?"
"Hum...Hiead is coming towards you." the blue haired girl replied in a low voice, and Ikhny gulped.
Oh stop it; you know how he always reacts. a voice inside the brunette's mind said suddenly You should be used to it.
"Allecto, come." Hiead's voice ordered, and after sharing one last look with her friends, Ikhny stood up, and followed her partner with her head down.
"What do you think he'll do?" Tsukasa asked when they were alone, and Kizna narrowed her eyes:
"I don't care, but if he lays a finger on her, I don't know what I can do."
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"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Hiead asked while slamming Ikhny against the wall "I could have lost!"
"I'm...I'm sorry..." the brunette stuttered, closing her eyes when she felt Hiead's grip getting stronger "The computer...it stopped working for a few seconds..."
"So what? It's your job to tell me where my enemies are! I swear, if I'm not chosen to be a pilot, I'll kill you!"
Suddenly Ikhny looked up at him, with wide eyes and tears threatening to fall, and Hiead froze: the look of her eyes: afraid, sad, hurt...lost. He knew that look...he knew it to well, to keep looking at it. He knew it too well to stop himself from asking why on earth was he feeling sorry for the girl in front of him, and why was he feeling guilty.
"I'm...sorry..." the girl whispered in her usual scary voice
"Humph, you weak." Hiead said, releasing her "For your sake, I hope you stop being a failure, and start working or..." without finishing his sentence, Hiead turned around, and started walking away with his hands on his pockets
"I'm sorry..." Ikhny whispered, with tears streaming down her pale cheeks "I'm so sorry..."
To Be Continued…
A/N: Ok, my first chapter is up, and I hope it's not that bad. I don't know when I'll be able to post the next one mostly because of school, and because of the tests that I have during this and next week. However, review and tell me what you think. I appreciate it.