"Relia?"
"Hm?"
"Have this with you."
"What is this mom?"
"We bought some sweets last night and I thought of sparing some for Kali!" Seeing her mom looks so cheerful upon giving some presents for Irelia's newly contacted friend is making her nervous. She took the container filled with goodies inside that probably looks like mochi-s.
"Ok.. this is unnecessary, Mom.."
"Oh, don't be like that! BB Sis!" They heard a voice from the window above their heads. Zelos is peeking out and grinning at his sister who is preparing for departure.
"Yeah, whatever.." She rolled her eyes from her anticipation of being teased. Shuffling her shoulder bag she snatched the container on top of her things. Supposedly her departure would be typical bland like it used to until such time her family welcomed Akali last night. Everything seems to be..livelier according to her observation. And after that, waving goodbyes, she turned her feet towards the solid pavement that leads her to the institute.
She could spare breathing the nature-filtered air around the neighborhood that calms her senses, she missed her usual morning routines before she focused on improving her dances with her O-ma, but that alone was not the end of it. So far she prioritizes her status as a student, putting aside her dancing skills which are given to her own interests.
Mind is tranquil. Breathing throughout the will. From the bones and soul until..
-TAP-
Something touched her shoulder that breaks her trance. She turns around but no one is at sight. Strange. Maybe it's just the petal or a leaf from those trees that perhaps giving her an attention. Again, she continued, pushing the air throughout her system while walking, fresh air circulates inside her veins that cool off her sprouting temper.
-TAP-
Swiftly, a simple turn like one of those forms she already mastered in her dances, petals flutter that follows her deftly movement. Unbeknownst to her, a flicker just sparks her eyes that an image has formed into a shape of a person. Like a fleeting photo of a lost memory, a strange feeling rose upon her as those red orbs of pride and honor just entered her territory.
She couldn't help but to feel like as if she had eaten a sour lemon that makes a fizz inside her stomach, rushing blood rises on her cheeks.
"Morning." The girl greeted along with the hidden smile behind the green mask that dances along the wind. Eyes went into a curve, forming an arc which counts as delight.
"An early bird." Irelia chuckled. "I thought about it since it feels like it really does as soon I felt something on my shoulder."
"Of course, who do you think I am? I am not just an assassin." Akali made a small detail.
"A nurse and even a cook."
"And I feel that you're not just a dancer."Akali started her reasoning, Irelia stood and intently listens to the ninja.
"Hm? Maybe." Irelia smiled a little. "Give it a guess?"
"Mm. Wait until I got to know more about you, or perhaps your brothers might be a good one." Her claims give a tease on the dancer. A simple thing to know that family might be the one of Irelia's weaknesses.
"Don't you dare!" Irelia screeched, A stifle laughter comes from the ninja's mouth.
"I am just joking." Akali said while her words are mixed with a good teasing. "After all, I could hear them saying that you are a baby."
"Ugh. I am not. And don't mind them. I've grown, learnt with my dances and got involved to my father's dojo." Irelia defended, giving a sort of a reason to remove the 'baby' issue before she falls into a harsh embarrassment.
"Hm? Your family has a dojo? I didn't know." Akali made a thinking gesture. "Might as well take a note of it."
"Well yeah. But moving on.." Irelia quickly make a thought to change the topic. AS possible.
"Hm.. Someone is avoiding." Akali teased again.
"Oh yes I do. Because I detect that I would be teased at again." The dancer disdains.
The ninja laughed. "It's kinda fun if you are being teased at."
"How dare-"
"See" Akali grinned widely behind her mask. Of course, it's unseen.
"Soon, I'll be returning that back to you, Kali."
Like a flashing light, the name echoed throughout Akali's mind. "Ah. I almost forgot.." Something just stirred her stomach that made her queasy, a mixture of delight and embarrassment. Who would have thought that Irelia is calling her nickname of all places? She didn't ask for it too. "I want to know why she calls my nickname. We are not that close, we are just friends. Or.. are we?"
She kept silent for few seconds that only the wailing wind and the dancing leaves are heard. "Hey." Right straight in front of Irelia's gaze, Akali started the confrontation. "Why?"
"Why?" Irelia returned the question.
"About.. calling me." Akali somewhat is uncomfortable, yet she forces herself to be serious about this.
Her mind clicked something in which it gives Irelia a quick idea on what Akali wants to say. She could use this issue to reflect it back on the ninja. After all..
"Does it bother you?" She asked.
"No. Well.. It's just.. Only few of the Kinkou call me that. No one but them. Hey.." Akali just felt a certain motion of dragging, she is being lead by the dancer towards a nearby bench on the neighborhood.
"It's time for me to reflect the matter. You are the one who EVEN complain that your name is not 'Hey', but right now you are calling me that." Irelia fixes her skirt and sits on the oak bench that smells like a dry moisten wood.
"Well." It's Akali's turn to be speechless about this. She sits beside the dancer a little inch away from her. "It's just.." It is weird to see Akali being bashful out of the sudden.
Irelia sighed deeply. "Ok. How about this.." Irelia positions herself and faced the ninja. "Call my name."
"Your name.."
"Well. Literally." The dancer made a nervous chuckle. "Honestly, you haven't spoken my name yet.." It is the truth after all, and she is right. "From the beginning, that time you smashed my face with the ball in class, got threatened by those scalpels, and..THAT. Well l-let's skip that. Until such time my paths were crossing as the same way as you do, I could say this is a coincidence but it ridiculously absurd to think about it."
"Heh. I thought that you're following me. But yeah, it's impossible." Though Akali has something in her mind. "Perhaps.. fate? No way. I am not going to conclude that yet."
"So.. what now?"
Akali is being hesitant, was it ok for her to call Irelia's name here? It's her first time saying it, though supposedly she could've called her name from that day. Really.. she is the absurd one here.
"Ok.." Akali faced the dancer, staring at the bluish eyes that is almost like the colors of the sea. "Relia."
A spark hits Irelia upon hearing her nickname. What's this? Revenge? Just reflecting things because she calls Akali's nickname. Though, it really feels rewarding, somewhere she has yet to seek.
And so, a smile entered her lips that is genuine on the ninja's eyes. "Really."
"Was that ok?" Akali thought.
"You really have the attitude, you know that?" Irelia said in a manner of softness. Akali is just there staring at her like she have done something.
"What?" Akali asks for details.
Irelia stretched her arms wide above her head. Ah, refreshing. Bones and muscles just flexed a little that made her feel better. "Well.." A smile that blends perfectly entered the scene. Red pupils of the ninja imprint the image that she couldn't leave out any trace besides of admiring that smile that is SO genuine. "Only my family calls me that."
Wait.
WAIT..
Akali felt a rush on her cheeks , good thing she wears her iconic green mask to hide whatsoever on her face. "So.. am I?"
"Wait. Am I the the first one to call you that?" Akali requested a question. Her body could lose its focus right now.
"Looks Like it." Irelia answered straightforwardly. "People call me by my family name. Plus, our classmates call me in absurd nicknames too, adding up my big brother.
"Classmates." Akali's mood went down a little bit. "Are you referring them?"
"Them? You mean those rambunctious guys who are just the same as you? Well I also met other two in the hallway yesterday.."
"I am not like them. Not anymore." Akali seethed, clenching her fists on the fabric of her skirt. The dancer notices this, giving Akali an apology. "It's ok."
"I will be waiting for you to tell me more about it." Respecting the ninja's wishes, Irelia washed off some of Akali's concerns. Though, it is gives her more curiosity in each thought.
Despite of the change of mood, the ambiance is somewhat awkward. She couldn't help to think that maybe Irelia is just interested to know more about her in spite she is a lady of secrets who hides beyond the depths of the shadows.
To break the silence, Akali speaks first. "Relia." Her voice is weak and in whisper. Following her mind is in turmoil of losing its focus because of it.
"I can't hear you." Irelia said, almost breaking a smile that changes the mood.
"Relia." Akali breathed in and called her name, as if she is being lectured to voice out a name. How embarrassing!
"Better." Irelia grinned, followed by the hair flowed with the wind around them.
"Stop it. I don't want to see you like that." Akali has this voice inside her head, denying the way she could tell Irelia is blooming behind the pink blossoms. "Ugh. Can't help it."
"You know.. (I will let you call my name.) I made up my mind. (Only for you. Not them. Oh well..) Akali started, though a series of thoughts are battling inside her mind for just the name calling. "I'll start calling your name, then.."
Akali is fidgeting.. Like what? Irelia can't help but to find her hilarious. A smile just made its presence and continued its duration, plastered on the dancer's lips.
"Then you call mine.." The ninja instantly averted her gaze. "Oh geez.."
"Of course!" Irelia stood and stretched, feeling good on what blessing just happened in between her and Akali. "That is good to hear, I thought you'll be calling me as nothing again."
"Why would I? It's a good thing to know that I am not going to drag you without a name attached." Akali snickered.
"Hmph. Expect a sudden change of attitude whenever I talk with Kali. Noted." Irelia nodded. Somewhat giving the ninja a tease for revenge."
"Oh, look who's talking." The ninja brushes off a smug back once again. "Someone is being soft recently but it turns out to be daring behind your back.."
"Yeah whatev-" Irelia froze, what made her like that?
Akali asks her what is wrong, well yeah sudden change is, though this time, it's Irelia who is making this more crucial.
"Kali."
"What?"
"You know what has changed? Know what dares the most?"
"You."
"Stupid! NO!"
"I am just pulling your strings."
"The TIME!" Irelia made an expression. Akali finds it funny. "We are LATE!"
"You're kidding.."
"Let's go! I'll be leading 1st place if you are slow enough to catch me!" Irelia summoned her blades and went top of it, surging her power, making the blades zoom ahead.
As for Akali, she is left behind. "You've got to be kidding me." Shaking in disbelief that magic is indeed potent. However..
Irelia just came back and offers her a hand, which a surprised Akali stumbled on her gaze. "Well, you need a ride."
"I wish. Good thing you came back."
Irelia grinned with a warm expression for the ninja. "My blades are at your service! I am your Private Aviator! Where do you wish to go?" Irelia playfully stirred some humor for the tension of being late to be removed.
Akali smiled warmly behind the mask, this will be the right time to tag along with the humor. Maybe.. "Anywhere, as long you are the one who is leading the way for me."
Just now, Irelia felt warm behind that sentence, in fact, those words were meaningful and never heard of it but a first one. Was she.. blushing? NO!
"What?" Akali said, but behind the mask is a teasing smirk that of course, it is unseen.
"M-My compass is missing! And the nearest 'Anywhere' is a building that is called.. The Institute of War! Sorry for your inconvenience!" Irelia just stuttered, but the blush is attached.
"Well, what a useless Private Aviator you are then." Akali snickers before she burst on laughing.
"Oh just SHUT UP AND STAND BEHIND ME ALREADY!" Irelia screamed, completely embarrassed on how Akali shuts her down with just a tease. Akali wiped her tears and followed Irelia, standing on the edge of the shiny blades that glares her eyes from the reflection. Though Irelia is flustered, the two balanced on the blades as Irelia controls it.
Although with the tough work on maneuvering the blades, Akali made an accident by using Irelia's waist as for holding, and things go.. well—
"H-HERE!" Irelia drags Akali's arm and places it on her shoulders.
"Mayday? Mayday?" Akali laughed in tears.
"UGH. I HATE YOU, DAMN IT!"
And so both of them traversed different roads and scenery that break the seeping tension from Akali's accident. Still.. Nothing will manipulate the time as they were not free on having a record of being late in class.
NOTE:
AH! I am back! Yet still making myself to fit some schedules because of school works! ;-;
ANYWAY!
Looks like there are some developments on their relationship now!~ UwU
Aviator Irelia is the best! DEFINITELY NOT A LEGIT BLADE PILOT here! XD Somewhat, I am preserving Akali's smug attitude which is kind of hard because of her sprouting "OTHER" personalities.THOUGH, I feel like this story might be short or.. I will see if I can make it longer.
UGH! NOW I must formulate the other stories as well! Wish me luck! And I hope I do have more time to write! Else, my other 2 stories might be left behind! THANK YOU! UwU