That day Ringo didn't pay too much attention on classes. She stared blankly at the board, where the teacher was writing.
'There has to be someone that Ikki could get for his team…..Well after this morning…..most of them will be afraid to join.'
She remembered the incident with almost-killing-half-of-the-guys-in-school. She sighed. When the bell was heard she stood up, still pondering on the problem. And as usual it solved itself in a flash. A bunch of something silvery-white in a school uniform hit her in the corridor.
-Ow…..
Ringo looked at the girl opposite of her, lying on the floor.
-Rain-chan?
The girl looked up with her cold green eyes. They sparkled with happiness.
-Ringo-chan! Didn't see you! I'm late for my training session again, I'm sorry!
-Rain-chan, are you free today after your session?
Rain nodded.
-Well, I thought….
-Hurry please Ringo-chan!
-Would you like to come and watch the match with us? The one between-
-Agito and Kintetsu Bulls? Sure, Ill see you there. Bye!
She said in a hurry standing up and extending a hand to Ringo. As soon as the other girl was up, Rain ran off again, this time moving her hair aside, so she could see where she was going. Ringo smiled.
'Perfect!'
Happiness filled her. Rain was perfect for the job. She was good at AT's, trying out skating right now, a fellow Queen in Ikki's team was perfect. She grinned happily at some passing students making them stare in confusion. Then she skipped down the hall to tell Ikki about the fight Ume found.
-later-
The match was starting and Rain was nowhere to be seen. Ringo sighed and acted as if she everything was normal. She wasn't sure how Ikki would react about the girl in his team….
-Ringo-chan!
She turned around. Rain was pushing trough the crowd, trying to get to Ringo. The taller girl smiled.
-Finally! I was worried that you wouldn't show up!
Rain smiled back. She looked around the astonished crowd of boys.
-Hi.
She said, blushing a dark red. Rain was a shy girl. At least with boys. Ringo knew that. She also knew that Rain felt uncomfortable around Ikki. He used to bully her because of her habits. She believed in a lot of supernatural and ghost's stories and was afraid of fire. Ikki used to push her buttons all the time. But, he soon got bored, after all she would stick it out and then cry later. Never told Ringo any of it, because she didn't want anyone to get punished.
-Rain-chan, these are Ikki, Kazu, Onigiri, Emily and Yayoi. Guys this is Rain. She is the one I told you about Ikki.
Rain looked at Ringo with confusion.
-You told him about me? Why?
-Well, I knew that you don't have a team…..and Ikki needs new members for his…….so I thought……
Ikki and Rain looked at each other for a moment. Then the girl's childish-looking eyes got somewhat serious.
-It depends on their skill. You know that Ringo. And also I would have to spend some time with them before joining.
Ringo nodded. Ikki grinned at both girls.
-So, temporary welcome to the team?
Rain smiled back.
-Sure, but we'll talk later….the match is starting.
And they all went to sit and watch.
Kazu glanced at the small girl beside him a few times. She had long silvery-white hair and messily cut bans that fell in her eyes and green eyes, currently watching the battle. She wasn't one of the prettiest girls in the world, but she wasn't ugly either. What surprised him were her clothes. An oversized T-shirt, hiding whatever she had under.
-Oh, sorry if my clothes aren't the best, I just finished my skating session, and since other girls threw me out, I couldn't change.
Great, she had noticed him examining her. He nodded dully. She turned to the match again, listening intently to Ringo's words.
'Well, she seams nice.'
Then he noticed. With her hair up, she didn't even look like the Rain he knew. This girl, wearing AT's, sitting right beside him was the quiet girl who never broke a rule in school. She was one of 'the normal girls' as Kazu called them. He smiled.
'It will be nice if she would join.'
One of the rare girls who could hold a friendly conversation with every boy, not making it awkward, but still blushing. Then it happened. His attention was torn from the girl by a voice full of venom.
-This pro candidate and his friends are actually idiots? The upstarts, who want to shine, listen carefully!
Agito's words had most effect on Ringo, who looked at him in shock, realizing who he was.
-That….no…..but!
'It can't be! Bloody road! Fang king?'
-OCCHAN!!!
Ikki yelled getting up from his spot.
-Stinking punk! You've gone way too far! That's way over the 100km laughter limit!
-Get down from there now! Your papa and mama are crying!
Kazu and Onigiri joined in the yelling contest. (AN: I'm still trying to figure out how they got below Agito……)
-I feel….. my bones are shaking…
-Huh?
-Like its going to explode, heart is beating rapidly, nearly about to jump out! Just a little mistake will loose a life, it makes my hares stick up from the anxiety!
'The line between life and death! That is the enjoyment I like, being on the verge of life and death!'
-That's my fang road!
But that is about all Ringo heard. In a nervous little moment she realized that she couldn't see Ikki anywhere. The next thing that got to her were yells of Ikki's name. She glanced up, seeing him standing behind Agito. TOTALLY NACKED!!!!!
-Is this guy a flasher?
-Ikki's AT killer tecknique! Knee jerk surprise scare!
He yelled and pushed Agito a bit, enough for a 'sit on the edge'. She noticed Kazu and Onigiri flinching painfully.
'They must understand his pain.'
She sighed loudly. But the bad part was when Gonzou fell off.
-Occhan!!!!
Thinking fast, Ringo caught him on a jacket, along with Emily's and Yayoi's help.
-Ringo! Track team!
-Phew…I just saw Ikki suddenly taking his clothes off and I thought he was going to again…need to go for the big O.
-Hang in there…..Are you still alive?
Ringo turned around, looking for Rain, but she was nowhere to be seen. She then continued helping Gonzou with his wounds. Police came and everything became a mess.
-The game is over! You are all under arrest!
-Agito! So everything was your doing? You're the one who sold us to the cops?
Looks like the Bull leader was better.
-You traitor! Traitor to all storm riders!
'That must've hurt.'
But the blue-haired boy made no sign of hurt or anger. He just stood there looking at the ground with sadness. Then the explosions started and Ringo lost track of everything. Every action. Until the boys pulled her up, alongside the others who weren't wearing AT's and the chase started.
It turned out that Kaito and his 'friends' were quick on their hidden AT's. Soon they were catching up……….but a killer aura was catching up too.
-I won't allow you to interfere! That crow is my…..prey!!!!!
-What?
-You fucking stinking punk!!!
-Fu….You said it….according to you guys……I'm like those bastards, only an eyesore piece of trash scum!!!! ILL PLAY WITH YOU BABY FACE!!!!
Then Agito came from nowhere hitting Ikki across the face.
'Ikki!'
Ringo had to do something. She felt it with all of her being. She glared at Agito realizing her Queen aura leak out. As the Fang King lost his focus on Ikki, the other boy bit him across the face……..carrying him along. Then on top of that, he started mumbling something over Agitos head.
-…..Ringo!
-Ah….Ahem! Allow me to translate! So you're only a small role character! That is what he just said! Saying all those stuff about comrades, emblems….only those who have locked themselves in a tower, like a frog on a bottom of a well………Would trifle over such trivial things!
-Ouoh!
A big jump was coming and Ringo saw a figure catching up from behind. Just before they flew off the edge, a silver haired girl took Ringo's hand, holding it tightly.
-Im sorry Im late!
Rain said apologetically, just before they flew off the edge. She was yelling happily making Ringo smile in the process, without even noticing it herself. Then when Agito kissed Ikki, everyone was about to puke, when they went straight down, Buccha breaking their fall. After a while, Ringo managed to calm Rain, who was laughing hysterically, the thing she did every time she was afraid of something. Ringo sighed as the girl beside her, right now scarlet-faced, kept apologizing for her behavior.
-If you understand, its like something takes over you making you do something you don't want to do……I'm so soooooorrrrrrrrrrry, Ringo-chan!
-Mou, Rain-chan! It's ok already!
Finally Rain calmed down from her shock and grinned at Ringo.
-Well, now that your back, what will you do?
-About what?
-The team?
-Oh, well, they will know if I will join or not after I watch their first battle.
Ringo nodded.
-Well, cya at school!
Said Rain waving to everybody and leaving.
-Bye!
-Cya!
Ringo was quiet most of the way home.
'Even Rain may say no to my request.'
She sighed loudly.