Unexpected Love
Chapter 2: Date Preparations
By: Steve Jester

Notes Disclaimers and Bullshit: Ok, I forgot to say this in the beginning, the cannon characters in this fic are 16, having gone through two years of training. Hiead got a lot nastier, Zero's craziness is more under control and Ikhny… well you'll see. (I'm saving that one) I don't own anything, and yea, I went fast. This fic isn't about how they hooked up, it's how their relationship strengthens and loosens over the course of their last year of GOA (and maybe when their on GIS, as all 5 will make it to Goddess rank by the end.) Oh, and I will now let you know that this is the only fic that has Zero and Ikhny falling in love with each other! I did research! In my opinion, now that I look back to the series, there is more evidence pointing to a Zero/Ikhny than to Zero/Kizna. Well, enough of my rambling, let's get going!

Ikhny ran through the halls of GOA, her heart beating fast and her face bright and smiling. She had just confessed her love for the one person she was sure, other than Hiead, that wouldn't return her feeling. Wow, I never knew! He really cares about me! He seems so honest about it. Ikhny checked her watch, Kizna and the girls would be lounging in the dorm right now. Maybe I should go surprise them. And with that she ran to see what her friends were up to.

Zero walked down the halls of GOA towards the training hall. Yamagi and Roose said they were heading to the training hall. Oh I can't wait to tell them! Clay must have convinced everyone to watch us. He probably thought it was "very interesting". Why did I say I'd pick her up at 7? That's an hour after dinner and I won't have time to wash up. Well, I have to talk to the guys at some point, he thought as he entered the training hall. "Hey Clay, watching Yamagi and Roose?"

"Yea they just started," the brainy candidate acknowledged.

Zero shook his head, "I don't know how you made Senior Candidate (AN: I know, in the manga Clay does NOT become a level 2 candidate, let alone a Senior Candidate, just follow along) without extra training. You don't have a fighting bone in your body."

"Yea, well I used to think that you didn't have a mature bone in you body, but today you proved me wrong."

"What?" Zero asked, "That I told Hiead off for abusing his repairer?"

"No Zero, for caring about someone other than yourself."

Zero looked at the bespectacled candidate with annoyance, "Just because I'm clueless at times doesn't mean I'm insensitive."

"I wonder why you and Ikhny hooked up so fast though?" Clay thought aloud.

"I'm not even totally sure," Zero said, "After the Hiead incident I asked her if she'd come to the club tonight and she asked if I was asking her for a date. I said the first thing that came to mind…"

" 'Mmmm… Pizza?' " Clay asked seemingly innocently.

"Clay!!!" Zero said as he attacked his friend.

"I was only kidding!!"

Meanwhile Ikhny entered her dorm to find the rest of the repairers sitting at a small table. The girls turned to face their shy friend, "So how was it?" Saki asked with a small smile.

Ikhny sat on her bed, "It was great!" she exclaimed, "I've never been so happy in my life!"

"Sounds like Ikhny found the missing link in her life," Wrecka said smiling from ear to ear, "And we thought it would never happen."

"Come again?" Ikhny asked.

"Well, at the beginning of last year we started to worry about you," Saki said, "You were too quite and never seemed to be happy."

"Then, all of a sudden at the beginning of this year you had another focus, Zero," Kizna said, "You don't know how many times I've woken up hearing you moan his name in your sleep."

"So it was that obvious?" Ikhny said.

"From what I hear Zero wasn't holding his feelings deep either," Tukasa said.

Ikhny's eyes lighted up, "Hey, I just remembered! Zero asked me to the club tonight!"

"You lucky girl!" Kizna said.

"Ok Girls! Plan time!" Wrecka said quieting everybody down, "Now we need to make sure that Ikhny will knock Zero to the floor when he sees her."

"And no offence Ikhny, but those glasses are the first things to go," Saki said.

"Unlike what you guys are thinking, I've been meaning to change my look for a while," Ikhny said, "But…"

"But not a drastic change right?" Kizna asked and Ikhny nodded, "Don't worry we're just getting you some new clothes and contacts."

"Alright," Saki said, "Here's the plan. Kizna and Wrecka take Ikhny up to the shopping center and go nuts. Be back before dinner. Tukasa and I will cover for you."

"Why come back before dinner?" Ikhny asked, "Zero's not picking me up until 7."

"Element of surprise!" Wrecka said, "Zero will be more surprised to see you dressed well after dinner than during."

"And if were going to get her contacts we've got to go!" Kizna said getting up.

"Right! C'mon Ikhny!" Wrecka said also getting up.

Ikhny smiled as she got up, "I'm going to like this."

Meanwhile Zero and the other remaining members of late eighty series were hanging around the training hall, watching the other candidates as they trained. "Candidate 91!" Zero shouted to the training floor, "You've got to attack more aggressively!"

"You're really liking this Senior Candidate bit aren't you?" Yamagi said.

"Yea, but there's something I like better.

"And that would be…" Clay said begging for Zero to elaborate.

"Two things, night clubs and Ikhny."

"Oh yea, Zero and his girlfriend…"

"Shut it Yamagi!" Zero said threatening to punch the purple haired wise guy.

"Hey Zero," Roose said, "Are the girls going to the club tonight?"

"Ugh… Roose you should know that!" Yamagi said, "You hang yourself around Wrecka enough!"

"I meant is Ikhny going to be there?" Roose said defensively.

"Yea," Zero said, "I'm picking her up at 7."

Clay looked at his watch, "And with that gentlemen, and I use that term loosely, I'm hungry and it's lunch time."

Meanwhile, Kizna and Wrecka stood outside a changing room at one of the clothing stores. They were waiting for Ikhny to come out wearing the third outfit that they were trying sky blue, skin tight shorts and a florescent pink, sleeveless, mid-cut top. "Come on Ikhny!" Wrecka said impatiently.

"Yea, the optometrist said they'd be ready at 1!" Kizna said.

"I'm coming!" Ikhny said as she opened the door.

Kizna looked at her friend in astonishment, "I knew that that top would be perfect!"

Wrecka's smile extended from ear to ear, "Yes, and the pants I picked out are great as well!"

"Do I look ok?" Ikhny asked looking herself over in the mirror.

"Girl, Zero's going to flip!" Wrecka said.

"Trust me, if Zero isn't drooling when he sees you, there's more wrong with him than I thought," Kizna said.

"Well, let me change so we can buy it," Ikhny said heading back into the changing room, "By the way, what time is it?"

Kizna checked her watch, "Noon."

After a few minutes Ikhny walked out of the changing room, clothes in hand, "Mind if we grab a quick bite?"

"Sure!" chorused the other two repairers grabbing their shopping and following Ikhny to the food court.

The girls set down their shopping and bought their food. Sitting down again they began eating. "You know," Ikhny started to say, "How can I know if he's truthful?"

"Hmm…" Kizna said.

"How do I know if he truly loves me?"

Kizna and Wrecka both face-faulted, "How can you say that?!" Wrecka said.

"Everything seemed kinda rushed…" Ikhny said.

"That doesn't mean he doesn't love you!" Kizna said, "It's just like him to go off with out planning! Don't worry about it unless it gets uncomfortable."

"Trust me girl, he loves you," Wrecka said, "Clay told us he moans your name in his sleep!"

Ikhny blushed, "Well, that settles it doesn't it?" she giggled.

"Yea, now the question is how do you truly feel?" Kizna said.

"Kizna…" Ikhny said with a touch of anger.

"Just playing!" Kizna said and all three laughed.

Meanwhile, Zero and the other pilot candidates were joined by Saki and Tukasa at lunch in the main mess hall. "Hey, where's Ikhny and the others?" Zero asked.

Saki smiled, "Getting ready for tonight, she has a big surprise planed."

"Well, that settles dope boy's question!" Yamagi said receiving a slap in the back of the head from Tukasa.

"He was asking us if Ikhny really loved him before you came in," Clay explained.

Saki almost smacked her partner but instead smacked Zero, "Now I know why Kizna calls you a baka!" she said, "You don't want to know how many times Kizna and I have waken up to the tune of 'Zero' coming from Ikhny!"

Zero blanked his face, "I figured it out when you said there was a surprise for tonight."

"Hey, don't worry," Saki said, "if she gets done even half of what she's planning, you'll flip!"

And at that exact moment in time, two people, Ikhny Allecto and Zero Enna, Ikhny eating lunch at a food court and Zero in the mess hall, thought I can't wait until tonight.

AN: AH! It's done Chapter 2! Please review! Chapter 3 will be up soon! I hope!