Author note: Well, this is my first little story. I may or may not make it longer than this, but I haven't decided on it yet. So yeah, here we go. Evan Cullina is an original character. I may or may not manipulate some of the canon of the Air Gear universe for purposes of the story. All is explained in the story.

Disclaimer: I neither own nor created Air Gear and any related original content

American Gear

Chapter One: Kogarasumaru

Evan Cullina skid to a stop on his air treks, right outside of the hide out for Team Kogarasumaru. At least, that's where it was according to the people he had to… coerce into telling him. He lit up a cigarette and waited. "Damn Japanese crap…" he said as he exhaled and pushed his long bangs out of his eyes, settling the long, dirty brown duster he wore, unclasping the collar and buttons. He preferred to wear his coat open anyways.

According to his 'informants,' Kogarasumaru would be there shortly after sunset, and sure enough, they came right as he tossed the butt of his finished cigarette to the ground. His legs relaxed and he felt his senses extend. Martial arts can teach a person a lot.

With a shove of his leg he was off, sliding to a stop in Itsuki Minami's path. With a slight bit of effort, Itsuki managed a three sixty jump over Evan. "Watch where you're riding," Itsuki yelled as the other members came to a stop, surrounding Evan. "This is our turf, what're you doing here?"

"Parts war, rank F, dash. I challenge you, Itsuki Minami."

Itsuki smirked. "What's on the line," he asked.

"My treks against a spot on Kogarasumaru," Evan replied.

Itsuki looked down to the treks on Evan's feet, not recognizing them against any treks that he had seen before. "What kind of treks are those," Itsuki asked, "I've never seen any treks like them before."

Kazu whipped out his phone and snapped a picture of them. "They're a foreign model. An American company called Skatze makes them. According to his card, he's never ridden before."

"It's a new card… the old one malfunctioned," Evan said. "Do you accept my challenge, or does the great Itsuki Minami back down from a foreigner's challenge?"

"It's on alright," Itsuki said. "Three laps around the border of Eastside JHS."

In seconds the two storm riders were at their mark, ready for their race. It was Onigiri who gave the signal, "GO!"

With that, Itsuki and Evan shot off on the first lap, Itsuki grinding the fence and Evan skating on the concrete next to him, the tails of his long coat flailing out behind him. At the first turn in the fence, Evan pulled a one eighty jump into a reverse porn star grind, catching Itsuki's eyes with his and smirked. "Can the future Keeper of Sky Road beat me?" he asked.

"Just wait and we'll find out," Itsuki replied.

As the two riders sped through the dash battle, Kazu looked up Evan's statistics on the net using a new function on the storm rider site. "This isn't good," Kazu said.

"What's not good?" Onigiri asked as Evan and Itsuki raced passed them.

"He's… A rank," Kazu replied.

"We could have used him in our little battle with Behemoth," Kazu said. "He's from America and he's undefeated in all the battles he's fought in, but never went to a team. According to the site, this is the first battle he's had in Japan."

"Without Agito, we need him," Buccha said, looking over Kazu's shoulder.

"I hear that you lost your top ranked rider in a battle against Behemoth," Evan said as he made a turn in the fence with a three sixty to a reverse porn star.

"What's it matter to you?" Itsuki said as he three sixtied to a standard grind.

"You need another rider, or you won't be able to handle anyone above an E rank," Evan said.

"Here, look at this footage from one of his D rank battles in America," Kazu said. Buccha and Onigiri hovered behind Kazu to watch it. Their mouths dropped as they watched him battle in the cube.

"And I thought that Agito was scary," Onigiri said as Itsuki and Evan sped past them again.

"Yeah, well I got no problem keeping up with you!" Itsuki cried as he leapt over Evan in a three sixty bi-axel jump.

Evan smirked and leapt after him in a seven twenty barrel roll, grabbing the rail with his hands and launching himself to a porn star grind. "Shit!" Kazu exclaimed as he brought Evan's stats back up. "His top speed beats mine!"

Evan sped past Itsuki in a blur and skid to a stop in front of Kazu, Onigiri and Buccha. Itsuki came to a stop, panting, seconds behind him. "I believe I now hold a spot on Kogarasumaru," Evan said.

Itsuki smirked and held out his hand, "You got it, A rank," Itsuki said. Evan took Itsuki's hand in a firm handshake.

"You knew he was A rank," the three other members of Kogarasumaru exclaimed.

"Ofcourse I knew," Itsuki said as he rubbed his index finger beneath his nose, "I'm the captain of Kogarasumaru, I know the rank of every storm rider that challenges us."

Three Months Earlier

"Agito," Itsuki yelled as the falling debris from the battle against Behemoth fell around them, "let's get out of here."

"Right," Agito said as he began to move, but didn't get far. A large chunk of the ceiling collapsed on top of him, smashing his body to a pulp.

"Agito," Itsuki cried, "fuck." He growled in anger, but didn't have much time. As the blood from Agito's smashed body began to slide out from beneath the pile of debris, Itsuki launched himself out through the new hole in the ceiling and took off.

"Itsuki," Kazu yelled, "Where's Agito?"

"He didn't make it," Itsuki yelled back. Team Kogarasumaru was making all haste in getting back to their hide out in Eastside JHS.

"What do you mean he didn't make it," Kazu yelled.

"I mean he didn't make it, ok," Itsuki yelled. "I don't want to talk about it just now, wait until we get to the hide out."

An hour long silent ride found the team in their hide out within Eastside JHS, all of them silent, the reality of Agito's death settling amongst them like a dark storm cloud. "How did it happen?" Kazu asked Itsuki.

"The ceiling caved in on him," Itsuki said, staring at the ground.

"And what happened to his regalia?" Kazu asked.

Itsuki tossed the fang regalia to the floor. "There it is," he said.

"Well what are we gonna do with it?" Onigiri asked.

"Nothing. None of us are good enough to handle it, and it was Agito who should be wearing it," Itsuki said. "So for now we don't do anything with it."