Hey. I have just watched the new version of Ai no Kusabi –Yes I know I'm a little behind- and it was alright. The graphics were pretty cool and you get to see a little more RikiXIason action but Iason's voice in the original was far sexier. But there is one person who I think should get a bigger part and that is Mimea. It was so sad what happened to her so here's a fic depicting her feelings for Riki because I think she really did love him. I found this quote about hope which I stuck to me like glue. I think it sums up Riki to a tee, 'One cannot make a slave of a free person, for a free person is free even in a prison.' Can't remember where I found that quote but it doesn't belong to me. Neither does Ai no Kusabi or the lyrics to 'Fuckin' Perfect.'

Just popped into my head while listening to the song 'Fuckin' Perfect.' This is dedicated to my homegirl, Mimea.

Enjoy.

Fuckin' Perfect

Made a wrong turn once or twice
Dug my way out, blood and fire
Bad decisions, that's alright
Welcome to my silly life.

Mimea sat quietly on the small plush silk covered chaise, legs displayed to the side, observing the comings and goings from her place in the corner of the room, nursing a glass of soda. She disliked alcohol. Pets mingled and gossiped while their masters chattered and drank their expensive champagne. Some Elites were dancing and others were admiring the beautiful A-Class pets on display. She had spotted her master, Raoul Am a little while ago but she lost him in the sea of bodies. She wasn't worried. If he wanted to find her he would have. No one seemed to even acknowledge her lowly presence and that was fine with her. She liked being invisible. Forgotten. It was better this way. Better for her. But there was one person in this uncaring world who she wanted to be acknowledged by. To finely be seen. To be heard. Someone who was just as misunderstood as her. And finely, after may talks with herself, she had found the nerve to talk to him. And she found out, surprisingly, that he was probably the nicest person to talk to. Funny yet awkward. Her heart began to speed up just thinking about it, about him and she swore she was blushing. She touched her barely covered chest just where her heart was.

Riki.

Handsome, wild Riki.

Mistreated, misplaced, misunderstood
Miss 'No way, it's all good'
It didn't slow me down.
Mistaken, always second guessing.
Underestimated, look I'm still around.

He was a man who did not fit into this world of high-class society. No matter where he went, eyes followed him. She had not seen him for a few days, most probably because of the incident involving him giving two A-class pets matching black eyes. His master, Sir Mink had confined him to his apartment. She did not expect to see him tonight but she lifted her head when she heard mummers flowing out from the crowd before the Elites parted like the sea and Riki's dark clad body appeared in all his glory, plainly ignoring the open stares being aimed his way, easily maneuvering through the Elites with animalistic grace. His dark eyes sizing everyone up, daring them to start something and with his black hair he looked even more dangerous. He looked like a wolf walking amongst a herd of sheep. He was wearing a black see through mesh shirt that completely molded to his upper body showing off his defined chest and abdomen. Mimea spied his dusky nipples when he moved into the light. Tight fitting black leather pants, displaying his muscular thighs and black ankle boots topped off his outfit and Mimea, along with almost every other pet, she had no doubt, found the picture very…pleasing. He looked uninterested and bored, almost angry but Mimea knew beneath that hard exterior was someone who was kind, funny and just plain misunderstood.

She knew the feeling.

Pretty, pretty please, don't you ever, ever feel
Like your less then fucking perfect.
Pretty, pretty please, if you ever, ever feel
Like your nothing, you're fucking perfect to me.

His eyes found hers and his lips curled into a smile. It lit up the room and she was suddenly picturing him riding his hover bike, the wind blowing his hair behind him, smiling happily. He looked…free. She smiled back and her eyes widened slightly when he crossed the floor to her and sat down. The mummers rose and sounded like the buzzing of bees. So much for staying invisible, but she didn't mind. If it was worth having Riki as her friend she would endure being the center of attention.

'What's doin', Mimea?' he turned his head to her and a lock of black hair fell over his mischievous dark brown eyes. His voice was deep and all male. She could see why so many tried to hide how appealing they found him. Why Sir Mink kept him close.

'Nothing much. You?' She said hesitantly. Mimea cursed her nervousness. She had no reason to be. They were just two pets talking.

'SSDD.'

'SSDD?'

'Same shit, different day.'

'Oh. I didn't think you would be attending tonight.'

Riki sighed and touch the strand of hair over his eyes. 'Iason, the fucker finely let me out after I decked those two asshat A-class robots. Some people are alive because it's illegal to kill them. 'Behave yourself tonight otherwise this will be the last time I let you out.'' Riki said deeply, impersonating Sir Mink's deep tone. 'As if I was a fucking dog. Pardon my language.'

She wanted to laugh at his impersonation but instead coughed in her hand. Riki noticed and said in his almost perfect Sir Mink tone. 'Oh and one more thing I am so perfect that I don't need to pull out the stick I have shoved up my ass.'

Mimea lost it and burst out laughing. 'Please stop, Riki. People are looking this way. You could get into trouble'

Riki smiled and waved her concern away. 'Fuck em'. No one would come over here anyway. Not if they want to get bitten by a filthy, savage slum mongrel.'

Mimea stopped laughing and looked down at her hands. She suddenly felt a bit cold and resisted the urge to pull her legs up and wrap her arms around them. 'I don't think of you like that.'

You're so mean (so mean) when you talk (when you talk)
About yourself. You were wrong
Change the voices (change the voices) in your head (in your head)
Make then like you instead.

'Huh. You're one strange chick. Braver then I give you credit for. Although you were the first person to approach me with the intent of just wanting to say hello instead of wanting a fist in the face. Ok, that didn't come out right, I mean…'

'It's alright Riki I get it.' She paused and twisted her hands in the material of her silk dress. 'The truth is I've wanted to talk to you for a long time. You seem interesting.'

'Interesting? That's something I haven't heard before. Many would say I'm wild and untreatable and should be put to sleep.'

'And funny.' Mimea perked up. 'Every time I think about that joke you told me, it always makes me laugh.' She smiled. 'Please tell me it again.'

'Ok. Two fleas are coming out of a bar when one says to the other 'Do we take a dog or do we walk home?'

She laughed and leaned in closer to him. She was having such a great time. 'Please tell me another.'

Riki scratched his nose. 'Alright. How about this one. Two blondes were trapped inside a dark cave. 'I can't see anything,' said one. 'Have you got a match?' The second blonde struck the match against the cave wall but nothing happened. 'That's odd,' she said. 'This match worked okay this morning.'' Riki laughed. 'No this one's even better. After examining a male patient, a doctor took the man's wife aside. 'I must be honest with you,' said the doctor in an ominous tone, 'I don't like the look of your husband.' 'Me neither,' said the wife. 'But he brings home a good wage and he's great with the kids.''

She laughed harder and the sound was making people curiously look over. She held her hand to her mouth to stifle the giggles. She had never laughed this hard before. Didn't think it was possible. Riki was such a contradiction of what people made him out to be. Mimea heard his low laughter and she sat back suddenly feeling relaxed.

'How long have you been Raoul's pet?' Riki asked.

'Only a few months. I was one of the newer breed of pets, my primary function is to please my partners during pairing sessions.'

'Like a sex doll?'

Mimea lowered her eyes to her hands. She suddenly felt ashamed. She somehow did not want Riki to think of her like that. 'Yes. Something like that.'

He remained silent for a moment and Mimea was afraid he would leave but he surprised her when he just shrugged. 'I guess I shouldn't pass judgment. It's not like you chose this life.'

'You didn't choose to be a pet?'

Riki suddenly looked angry. 'Of course not. I was a free man once. This is what I get for fucking around with a Blondie.'

'I'm sorry.' Mimea said quietly and looked out at the sea of dancing bodies on the dance floor. It did look like fun. She didn't know how to dance, as it was not her primary function but it was nice to dream.

'Do you want to dance?'

So complicated
Look how we all make it
Filled with so much hatred
Such a tired game
It's enough, I've done all I can think of
Chased down all my demons
Let's see you do that same.

'Huh.' She jerked her head up, wondering if she heard correctly.

'Do you want to dance? I can plainly see you want to.'

'I...I don't know how.' She stammered.

Riki grinned and took her hand. 'Neither do I but I've watch enough of these peacocks strut around to pick up the basics. Come on. You'll never know if you can do it unless you try.'

She didn't protest –much- when he pulled her up and lead her over to the dance floor. So nervous she was that she didn't even notice the other dancers had stopped dancing to stare at them with wide eyes. Her legs felt like jelly and her stomach fluttered as if butterflies were trapped inside. She had to take a deep breath to calm herself. Riki turned her so she was facing him and he took her hand and placed it on his shoulder then took her other hand and placed it in his. His grip was sure, steady as if he had done this for years and not to mention warm. He then placed his other hand at the curve of her hip and pulled her a little closer. She resisted the urge to squeak but instead she looked up. Riki was a few inches taller so he had to look down at her. He winked and squeezed her hip in reassurance.

'Don't worry; just follow my lead, kay. Just let the rhythm flow through your body. Remember, I'm just a boy asking a pretty girl to dance with him.'

Pretty, pretty please, don't you ever, ever feel.
Like you're less than fucking perfect
Pretty, pretty please, if you ever, ever feel
Like your nothing, you're fucking perfect to me

'Pretty. He called me pretty.'

Riki began to move and she moved with him. Slowly at first. Rocking side to side in time with the music. Riki was allowing her to find her rhythm. She didn't want to mess this up. Mimea glanced down at her feet and watched them move before moving to her hand on his strong shoulder, moving up some more to glance into Riki's eyes. He was smiling, an encouraging smile that caused her heart to soar. He was telling her without words how well she was doing. That she was doing it. She was dancing. Mimea grew more confident. Her steps keeping in time with Riki's. Boldly, she moved her body a few inches closer until she could feel her partner's body heat. He noticed and began moving a little faster. Moving to an invisible beat. She kept up easily, as if she had been doing this all her life.

'See, you're a natural.' Riki said as he twirled her around with ease and brought them back together.

She laughed with happiness. 'It is you who is the natural. Not I. But I have never had this much fun. Thank you.'

'You're welcome.' He twirled her around again.

The whole world's scared, so I swallow the fear
The only thing I should be drinking is an ice cold beer
So cool in lying and we try, try, try but we try to hard
And it's a waste of my time.
Done looking for the critics, cause they're everywhere
They don't like my jeans, they don't get my hair.
Exchange ourselves and we do it all the time.
Why do we do that, why do we do that (why do I do that)?

'You feelin' a little daring.'

She thought for a moment before nodding. 'Let's do it.' If this was her first and last dance. She was going to go all the way.

(Yeah! Oh!)
I'm pretty, pretty, pretty

Riki began to move a little faster and before she knew it they were twirling and dancing around the room. He put an arm around her waist and lifted her up, spinning her around before she landed on her toes and Riki lifted her again. She had never felt so…free. The world around them falling away until it was just the two of them. No pets, no masters. Just a boy and a girl, having a good time. She was not that naive to know this would have to eventually end but for now, in this moment, Riki was hers.

Pretty, pretty please, don't you ever, ever feel
Like you're less than fucking perfect
Pretty, pretty please, if you ever, ever feel
Like you're nothing, you're fucking perfect to me
You're perfect, you're perfect)
Pretty, pretty please, if you ever, ever feel
Like your nothing…

They came to a stop and Mimea slowly lowered her arms, Riki doing the same and they stepped back. Reality came rushing back to Mimea and she remembered they were in a room full of pets and Elites. She should be embarrassed, ashamed but she wasn't. Riki had awoken something inside her and she felt she could never repay him. She stepped forward on tippy toes and kissed Riki on his smooth cheek.

'Thank you, Riki. Thank you so much.'

Riki blinked than smiled. And it was beautiful.

You're fucking perfect to me.

The end.

Well how was that? I absolutely love that song. That and Pink's 'Try.' Could listen to them all day. The jokes I heard from other people and I could always remember laughing. Anyway hope you like and remember to review.