AN: I have fixed it so you don't need a account to review this fic for reader convenience, please enjoy and tell me what you think. Thanks to june2021 for the kind review.
Mia Todoroki sat at the kitchen table enjoying her usual cup of black tea and egg on toast, being an early riser she enjoyed to just relax in her robe and slippers taking in the peace of the dawning day. The kitchen clock read 6:00 am as the sun's rays cast golden curtains in through the sink window, taking another sip of her tea Mia leafed casually through the morning paper. Mostly the usual headlines proclaiming how chaotic the world was once again, drab business reports on the constant rise and fall of the markets with those willing to blame but never to do much other than the latter.
Flopping the newspaper back down on the table Mia wondered why she ever bought it anymore in the first place.
"Force of habit I suppose." She thought quietly, taking another slow sip of her drink.
The tranquillity of her musing was suddenly shaken however as the sound of thunderous pounding was heard from upstairs, Mia grinned as she could read those sounds like a book.
"The Saturday Genma Express is prepping to leave the station." She chuckled warmly under her breath as if right on cue her son came down the stairs and hurried into the kitchen to grab his breakfast.
"Where are you off to in such a hurry Genma?" Mia asked as he quickly wolfed down the toast and egg she had set out for him.
"Can't talk Mom, I'm meeting Kari at her house. We are going ride our bikes to the park today!" The boy said through rapid chewing. "We're going to talk more about our book and I wanna see if she finished the cover yet."
"Just once I would like to see you try to manage this kind of behaviour on a school day." Mia sighed as she took another sip of her tea, only to look up again and find her son was nowhere to be seen and his helmet gone from it's hook by the front door.
Getting up quickly Mia when out onto the front step to see her son getting his bike out of the garage and hopping on.
"You be careful Genma and I want you home by 5, do you understand?" She called after him as he sped off.
"I will Mom, don't worry." The boy called back over his shoulder, the laps in attention to what was in front of him caused him to nearly crash into the postal worker making his daily morning rounds but swerved and missed him in the nick of time.
"Sorry!" Genma called to the flusterd mail carrier as he vanished down the street, his mother sighed shaking her head as she turned and went back into the house.
Trees and homes whizzed by in blurs of green and white as the boy turned right at the end of his street, his long dark hair flying behind him like a banner. With his friend's house only a 10 minute bike ride away and the park another they would have the place to themselves in these early hours. Before Okara was dropped off at home last night she told Genma that she would start on the colouring of their book's cover and should have it done this morning. She asked if they could go to the park early to discuss the story in private as she had thought up some more ideas and made another drawing to show him, just the thought of it made him peddle even faster than before as Okara's house came into view.
It was a two story house with a dark blue roof and a two door garage, Mrs. Ayane's flower beds were already full of the new flowers she had bought this year, splashes of pink, orange, blue and yellow seemed to look all the more intense against the home's brilliant white walls. His smile growing wider as he saw Okara already mounted on her purple bike with the Hello Kitty basket already packed up, faithfully waiting for him as she always did. Her parents soon came out of the house dressed in thier business suits, they worked in the city until late at night so it was not unusual for Kari to go home with Genma as they were friends with his mother and she was more than happy to watch their daughter until their return.
"Good morning Mr. and Mrs. Ayane." The boy smiled politely as Mr. Ayane waved hello to him before getting into to the driver's side door of the family's small emerald green SUV and turned on the ignition, the vehicle rumbling to life as Mrs. Ayane handed Okara some lunch to take with her.
"Good morning to you too dear." Her mother replied kindly after kissing her daughter goodbye for the day. "Now Kari, you have our personal work numbers on your cell right?" She asked her little girl who nodded and held it up high.
"You bet Mommy!" Okara said proudly. "And if there is an emergency to call 911. I remember!"
"You don't have to worry Mrs. Ayane, Kari is safe with me and I won't let anything happen to her!" Genma spoke up putting his fist to his chest.
"I should know better than to worry when Okara has a friend like you. Well I have to run but be careful both of you and have fun." Mrs. Ayane smiled as she hurried over to the passenger door and got in.
Waving goodbye the two children watched as her parents drove off down the street before getting on to their bikes and heading off to the park.
When they reached Shio Nature Park the sounds of song birds started to fill the air, the scent of the morning dew on the grass made everything smell so fresh and new. A slight breeze rustled through the trees making them seem to sparkle like gems in the early light. The jungle gym was surrounded by a vast lawn to the north end and a large sheltered picnic area just south of it. Setting their bikes up in the picnic area Okara quickly unpacked her basket, laying out a small blanket on one of the largest tables.
"Come on Kari, don't keep me in suspense! Where is this new drawing you wanted to show me?" Genma urged as he looked over her shoulder trying to sneak a peek as she finished setting up.
"Okay just give me a minute...TA DA!" Okara spun around to face him holding an 8×10 piece of drawing paper, draw in pencil crayon was Duel Sieger blasting an ominous looking shadow monster with a stream of crimson flame from his mouth. Forbolka also attacking with a golden energy beam from hers.
"WOW!" The boy's eyes went wide with amazement. "That is so cool, the picture is going to look great in our book!"
"I know right, plus I did some research online and found out that Fo-fo's special power is called Stardust Breath! Ooooh that makes her sound even cuter!" Okara squealed with delight.
"Fo-fo?" Genma frowned while scratching the back of his head. "Uh well...let's get started writing it."
"Oh yeah good idea, sometimes I get so caught up in my drawing that I almost forgot." She agreed as they both settled down to start.
Being handed some paper from Okara, Genma settled down beside her to start writing with renewed endeavour. The morning slowly nearing it's end as the sounds of laughter and excited chatter filled the peaceful scene, the two children weaving their tale of the great Lord Sieger with his faithful attendant Forbolka locked in a great struggle against the Shadow Tyrant. An evil, twisted being who took pleasure in breaking the wills of the weak and it was up to Forbloka and her Excellency to rid their homeland of this monster's oppression and cruelty. When noon finally came the lunch box soon found itself opened and all of it's delightful treats shared and enjoyed. Genma indulging in the heavenly cherry cake that Kari had saved from her dessert last night just for him, after their meal Okara began to collect up their story pages and pack them up back into her bike basket.
"That's enough school work for now, wanna go play on the swings with me Gen?" She smiled at him taking his hand.
The second her finger tips touched his Genma felt that familiar warmth again, only this time rushing up into his young face causing his cheeks to flush a little. He only hoped against hope that Kari didn't notice, he would be so embarrassed.
"S...sure." He managed to say, hating the way that came out but it would have to do for now.
"Awwww isn't this adawable, Gennie and Cat Brat are in wuv!" A snide and grating male voice cut the air like a knife, startling the two children and almost making them jump out of their skin.
A tall lanky boy was standing behind them with his hands in the pockets of his baggy torn jeans, he was wear an over sized grey hoodie with a stylized black dragon on it. His blueish black hair was cut short that seemed to only make his beady brown eyes even smaller than they were. Genma growled in recognition as he squeezed his friend's hand and pulled her closer, it was Zuko, a 5th grader from Aibo who was usually in detention most of the time. From what he heard Zuko was expelled from his old school for using his former buddy monster Extreme Sword Dragon to attack other students, not in Buddy Fights but out of a sheer twisted thrill of seeing their terrified faces as a result. His core gadget and deck were taken away and he was banned from the game as a result by the Buddy Card Office, which only seemed to make his behaviour and infamously short temper worse as time when on.
"First of all," Okara said stepping forward to stand up for them both. "those names were lame the first time you said them and they are still lame now which makes you the lamest of all. But what can you expect from someone who failed the 5th grade TWICE!"
"YOU STINKING LITTLE RAT! YOU WON'T THINK SO AFTER I HAVE BEATEN THE LIVING HELL OUT OF YOU!" Zuko snarled, his small face twisting into one of pure malice and rage as his fist came rushing towards her.
The punch was stopped short as Genma had a crushing grip their attacker's wrist, leaping behind Zuko he twisted the boy's arm violently behind him. Placing his foot on Zuko's lower back Genma shoved him down while still maintain a tight hold on his wrist, pulling the limb straight up in the air.
"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HER!" Genma growled back, his maroon eyes blazing with an intense flame.
"OW! OW! DAMN IT!, LET GO OF ME YOU LITTLE BASTARD!" Zuko shrieked, his grating voice reaching a fevered pitch as he struggled in vain against the 4th grader's fierce hold.
"Kari get out of here!" Genma told her urgently as sweat was starting to bead on his forehead.
"What about you? I can't just leave-" She started but her friend quickly cut her off.
"Just GO! I'll catch up with you!" He shouted as he was starting to have more and more trouble keeping the struggling and cussing Zuko under control.
Okara obeyed without another word and jumped on her bike near by and swiftly peddled off. With his friend safely away Genma shoved the bully aside who was still swearing up a storm from his now pulled shoulder muscle. Mounting his own bike Genma sped off in the direction he saw her go down, a small jogging trail that lead away from the playground. Speeding up to close the gap between them he rushed down the trail that wove into some trees, looking far ahead he saw Okara waiting for him. So happy as he was to see her that he did not notice the large tree root sticking up in the middle of the trail, the following moments locking Okara in terrified suspense. His front tire hit the root hard causing the bike's front end to leap up, a startled Genma pulling accidentally too hard on one side headed towards a long flight of concrete steps that lead down into a lower area of the park where a grand fountain was. When his front tire hit the first step, the bike twisted and Genma was thrown forward over the handle bars.
His young body tumbled down the stairs with each landing sounding and feeling more agonizing than the before, the last thing the boy remembered was the sickening sensation of a bone breaking as the unrelenting ground rushed up to meet him. Stars flickered before his eyes as the unspeakable pain that now gripped his body caused him to black out.
"GEN!" The young girl screamed in horror as she scrambled off her bike letting tumble onto it's side, running as fast as she could the scene of the accident. Her heart was pounding hard in her chest, her stomach knotted in fear for her friend as she reached the top of the stairs. Looking down Okara drew her hands up to her mouth in shock as tears began to stream down her face, there Genma lay unconscious on his side on the pavement. His arms and legs were badly battered and bruised with an ugly scrape on one of his knees, hurrying down the stairs and jumping over his bike at the bottom she fell to her knees by his side.
"Please don't be dead...please don't be dead..." She whispered trying hard to hold back sobs, her mother always told her if she found someone hurt to not try to move them and to call for help. Okara just had to be sure as her trembling fingers quickly tapped 911 on her little pink cell phone she gently rolled him onto his back and placed her ear on his chest, much to her relief she could still hear his heart beating and he was breathing but very faintly.
"911, what is your emergency?" A strong female voice spoke up after two rings, Okara quickly brought the phone to her ear.
"Please! Please help us! My friend fell down and he is hurt really badly!" The girl cried, feelings of utter panic starting to rattle her young mind.
"Okay just calm down dear and take a deep breath. The ambulance is on it's way, where are you two?" The operator asked
"We're in Shio Nature Park just off a jogging trail, there are big concrete stairs that go down to a huge fountain! My friend fell down them and I'm here with him!" Okara answered her voice starting to crack.
"Okay dear, it's going to be alright. Is your friend breathing?" The operator continued.
"Yes! Yes! I checked and his heart's beating too! Please hurry please!" Okara stammered, taking all of her effort to keep from screaming.
"Okay just stay on the line dear and tell me when the paramedics show up." The operator said calmly trying to sooth the frightened child.
The minutes ticked by but felt like hours as Okara waited until the howl of the sirens were heard through the park, hot red lights flashed over her head as she heard the voices of adults calling out to her.
"WE'RE DOWN HERE, PLEASE HELP US!" Okara screamed as loud as she could over and over again.
"...Ka...ri.." A small voice rasped, as the girl looked down to see Genma slowly open his eyes with a tear slowly trickling down his cheek. "...it...hurts...so..much."
"It's okay Gen, help is coming...just please hang on." She said softly cradling him in her arms.
"I'm...scared, so scared...please don't leave me Kari." Genma's soft maroon eyes welled up with more tears.
"Don't be Gen, please don't be." Okara said softly laying her tear stained cheek on his forehead, sliding her hand down his chest and squeezing his hand. "I won't leave you I promise."
"I found them! They are over here!" A voice called from above the pair as men in black uniforms carrying a stretcher and emergency med cases rushed down the steps towards them.
The young girl was gently pulled away by a female paramedic so her team could get to work on stabilizing her friend and load him onto the stretcher, seeing him with his neck in a brace and right leg bound in a splint she didn't know either to feel relived or more scared. As he was carried up the stairs Okara and her companion slowly walked up behind them with Genma's bike in tow, upon getting to the top the lady paramedic had to leave her but left her in the care of a young police officer named Shido.
"I can't!" The girl protested. "I promised Genma that I wouldn't leave him!"
"I understand how you feel but don't worry, your friend is in the best of care." Officer Shido said, his voice soft and gentle. "More importantly we really need to call your folks and his to let them know what happened. Do you have their phone numbers?"
Okara just nodded as she handed him her cell phone feeling like she was trapped in a raging whirlwind, her emotions spinning about and crashing into each other. Officer Shido knelt down and placed a hand on her shoulder, his heart going out to this poor child and tried to offer what comfort he could.
"I can talk to them if you want me to, by the way what's your name?"
"Okara Ayane, my parents are Haruka and Kenshin and my friend's mom's name is Mia. Her number is on there too." The girl answered softly who by now wanted nothing more than to be by Genma's side, more than anything right now in fact.
The events afterwards seemed to pass like the world was in slow motion, Okara remembered her parents showing up and hugging her a lot, bombarding her with questions about the event, their bikes loaded up into the Ayane's SUV and following Officer Shido's car to the hospital. Upon arrival the family saw Mrs. Todoroki standing in the waiting room talking with the surgeon who informed her that Genma had suffered from a broken shin bone and thanks to his helmet was spared any further serious injury.
"Where is Genma?" Okara asked him, tears starting to form in her eyes again. "I promised I wouldn't leave him."
"Are you Kari?" The surgeon asked as he knelt down to her level as she nodded in response. "He's in the OR right now dear, we're working on making his leg better but before he went in he was saying your name almost constantly. So we'll do our best to make sure you to see each other again as soon as possible okay?" Standing back up the surgeon said goodbye to them all and disappeared back through the ER doors.
Okara sighed and nodded her head, as much as she didn't want to she sat down with her parents and Mrs. Todoroki. Time ticked by far too slowly for the young girl as she was only made more restless by the wait, asking her mother if she could get a drink for one of the vending machines in the lobby. After getting some change she hurried out to one of the machines across from the waiting room, popping her money in she pushed the lowest button for a can of cola. Nothing happened. Confused Okara pushed the button harder this time, still nothing. This was getting annoying, she growled in frustration as she jabbed the button as hard as she could.
"Need some help?" A kind male voice spoke up from behind her.
Turning around Okara looked up to see a young teenage boy smiling down at her, he was wearing a white long sleeve shirt, pale orange shorts and light blue Crocs on his feet. His dark black hair stood up in an almost flame like fashion with dark teal bangs. Reaching into his shorts pocket the boy pulled out some change and put it into the machine.
"Sometimes this thing likes to act up." A soft clang was heard as he reached into the slot at the bottom, pulling out the elusive can of soda and handing to her.
"Thank you so much," Okara said smiling weakly. "you didn't have too."
"Don't worry about it, you just looked like you've had enough of a bad day." The boy's warm golden eyes seemed to twinkle.