A/N: The characters of Kamen Rider Gaim do not belong to me, but to their respective creators. Might deviate from canon as the series progresses. Enjoy~
Chapter One: A to I
Attachment
Hideyasu told everyone and anyone who would listen to him that he didn't care for Hase-chan, and that he was only with the Raid Wild leader because he had what Hideyasu needed in his climb to the top; his own heart, however, was apparently one of those who wouldn't listen, pounding anxiously in his chest as he sat by the hospital bed waiting for Hase-chan to please wake up.
Breath
As Jounouchi leaned into him to wipe away the cream that lingered on the corner of his mouth – 'Mou, Hase-chan, you're such a messy eater.' – all Ryouji could think about was the Invitto leader's breath against his lips, and wonder if Jounouchi would taste like the strawberry parfait he had just eaten.
Carefree
Contrary to popular belief, Jounouchi Hideyasu had indeed formed Team Invitto as a dance team – by the time their reputation had snowballed to what it was, Jounouchi was known more for his control of Inves and his games of manipulation and deceit rather than his dancing – and as Ryouji watched him flow to the rhythm of the music – loose-limbed, graceful and relaxed in the way that he never was in fights – he couldn't help but think that the Invitto leader was absolutely beautiful with that carefree smile on his face.
Damsel
'I can walk, Hase-chan, stop carrying me around; I am not a damsel in distress.'
Equal
When news of their betrayal spread, Ryouji knew that it was only a matter of time before other teams walked out on their alliance with Team Baron because Kaito – as strong and feared as he was – was not Jounouchi; the Invitto leader was ambitious and ruthless, and had no qualms about using people for his goals, but he also understood the need for mutual reliance – using the strength of others to make up for his own weakness, using his strength to compensate for the weakness of others – and the importance of having equal opportunities for all parties involved – an alliance worked best when everyone had something they wanted, and it could only be given to them by the person they allied themselves with; that was why Ryouji knew that as long as they both benefited from the partnership, Jounouchi was the best partner he could have.
Friend
Not many people knew, but Hase was actually a friend of Kouta's – they had attended the same schools, had hung out with each other before the Yggdrasill Corporation had taken over and changed everything, and even after that, still called each other up with the occasional Inves battle challenge – so he was understandably concerned when Jounouchi entered the picture, especially when he spotted Hase sporting something pink – something that looked suspiciously like the Invitto leader's scarf – peeking out just above the edges of his shirt collar; the Hase he knew would've killed himself before he ever wore pink, and Kouta didn't really want to know about what Jounouchi had said – or, even worse, what Jounouchi had done – to convince the Raid Wild leader otherwise.
Gone
Hideyasu had learnt from a very young age that everyone always wanted something from him and when he couldn't give it to them, they left – when he was no longer the cute doll his mother could play dress up with, she decided that travelling was more fun than the mundaneness of raising him and his father was much too busy for a son who had no interest in taking over the family business – so Hideyasu always talked in trade and bargain – a tit for a tat, an exchange of mutual benefits, and that was why he always had a reason – a new piece of information, a new tactic, a new Lock Seed – for Hase-chan whenever it was time for their meeting because if Hideyasu had nothing for him, Hase-chan would be gone; after all, Hase-chan really had no reason to hang out with him.
Heat
Unlike Ryouji who shoveled the his parfait into his mouth, Jounouchi tended to eat more slowly and delicately – though, in Jounouchi's opinion, the way he ate his parfait was normal and it was Ryouji who clearly needed lessons in table manners – and sometimes, it made Ryouji want to snatch away the other leader's ice-cream and devour it himself, especially on the really hot days when Jounouchi had to swirl his tongue around his spoon to catch the rapidly melting ice-cream, which made a different kind of heat pool in Ryouji's gut.
Invincible
Their challenger had been defeated so soundly that even Ryouji was stunned, and as he caught Jounouchi's eye – it was his advice that Ryouji had been following – he could see the other leader's smugness written all over his triumphant smirk – 'I told you we'd make a great team,' Jounouchi mouthed, and for the first time, Ryouji truly believed; Invitto, Jounouchi had once told him, was Italian for 'invincible' – 'Not just becoming stronger,' Jounouchi had said, mesmerizing Ryouji with the hard glitter in his eyes, 'but rising to the very top, becoming the very best, unstoppable, undefeated, invincible.' – and for the first time, Ryouji hungered for it – with Jounouchi, he could not only become stronger, he could become invincible.