Summary: Under the shooting stars, Kuroro and Kelvin heat up the desert.

Disclaimer: Don't own any characters except Kelvin Syakhbandani.

Warnings: YAOI, Rated "M" for suggestive themes. Don't read if you are below 15 years old.

NB: Quollo is Kuroro's alias; Gaidan means "outside story".

Kuroro Gaidan: I Feel the Heat

8 Hours Ago

Kuroro

After leaving Hisoka's place, Kuroro returned home. He was assaulted by a hot breeze as soon as he pushed open the door. So much for the cracks he left in the window, there seemed no escape from the suffocating heat.

His cell buzzed. A message from Shal:

Hisoka, your ticket has been updated. The location of ONLY is secret, guests will be picked up from a joint in the Old Town called BAR'E'. Doors are open from 10pm – 10am. The party is under the control of Narenda Syakhbandani, one of the ten Godfathers.

Have fun. :)

PS: Take it Easy, Dancho.

Kuroro's eyes flashed dangerously at the mention of the 10 Godfathers. Curse them, the old bastards were always ruining everything. Today, Spider #4 was killed by Silva Zaoldyeck, but they were behind it. If only a meteor would crash into this corrupted city, wiping it out in a sea of flames.

Heat flushed Kuroro's cheeks, already bruised from his battle with Silva.

Kuroro took a cold shower to distract his mind from his hate-talk. Syakhbandani… Syakhbandani …the Godfather's name kept tugging at the edge of his memories but surely he had never seen it before.

Slipping back into his black leather pants, Kuroro strode over to the kitchen. There was nothing in the fridge but cans of ice coffee and 2 tall Sapporos. He had a masochistic urge: to get drunk and reminisce about #4. So he sat on the couch and pulled up the tab of one beer, which he placed untouched at one end of the coffee table. The other he lifted to his lips.

Cheers…

Damn, we were so ignorant back in the day.

We even played tag in the trash.

And what was that VHS cassette all about? ...A mystery…until we sneaked into a movie theatre and …wow…just…wow…then we rushed out and made a video all about us, the Spiders…

Now, if that's not ignorant, then I don't know what is.

Kuroro's chuckle turned to choke when he heard a sudden tapping against the windowpane. A wind-tossed branch. Then a voice called, "Q! Hey Q-dog! Are you there?"

Q? Who the hell calls me Q?

"Quollo!"

Kuroro looked down. A tanned young man stood beside a quirky BMW X- Country motorcycle. He had shoulder-length wavy hair and fuzz on his upper lip and chin, which gave his youthful features a touch of sleaze. He was dressed in Mafia-chic with a dark suit without tie. Flowery shirt with top 3 buttons undone. Overall, he had an elusive quality that probably attracted many females.

Kuroro pushed up the windowpane and leaned out, "Do I know you?"

"Ciao Bello!" He beamed and in the shadow of the streetlamps Kuroro recognized a younger version. Ah Kelvin, the rich kid who knows what's up. He's changed.

"Ciao. Good to see you."

"Where have you been all year? I came round a few times already and you weren't here. But I had a good feeling that today's the day. Looking for this?" He took out a videotape from his tan jacket and waved it.

Kuroro's eyelids flickered. Was that his Ryuuseigai tape? Kuroro had been searching for it for years, ever since it was stolen after a raid. Does Kelvin have any clue what a dangerous object he was holding?

"I'm been mad busy the past few days. But I came here the first thing I could! You won't believe what happened! A couple of days ago we were looking for some shooting star clips for my lightscreen and my tech guy takes out this antique VHS cassette! We played it and at 1:99 into it, it says RYUUSEIGAI….by QUOLLO. I'm like gimme that! I haven't even watched it! I'm so excited!"

The description matched. "You didn't watch it?" Kuroro wondered if Kelvin still thought he was an art collector of nen objects.

"No, and I don't want to. I know this tape means a lot to you, so if I watch it I want to watch it together with you. But not yet! When I woke up, I heard the weather report, there's a meteor shower happening right now, like REAL SHOOTING STARS in the desert! I was like, this is serendipity man…If Q's at home then we gotta go for sure. So let's go!"

"Two seconds!" Kuroro ducked back indoors and looked for a clean shirt but all he had was already in the laundry basket. He threw his hands in the air and just decided to rush downstairs in his long black "civilian" jacket over bare chest. At least it had these brown leather straps crossed over the front so he figured he wasn't completely indecent…

Ignoring Kelvin's odd look, Kuroro grabbed the tape from his hands. The black plastic case was scratched at the corners, a faded sticker on the tab inscribed with childishly neat handwriting: THE METEOR CITY BY QUOLLO. He used Gyo and felt his own aura staring back at him, a hot, enthusiastic child's aura. Then his nose picked out a foul wind…the stench of blood. Somewhere, this tape has been fought over, stained by blood. The same awful liquid that gushed onto his arms as #4 crossed over.

"What's wrong – isn't this the right one?"

"Yes. It's the original." Too precious to be lost again…I must destroy it. May its ashes scatter towards Ryuuseigai.

Kuroro tucked the cassette inside his jacket. "What are you waiting for? Let's go." He spoke tersely, tension building inside. Not because of shooting stars. He had seen enough to last nine lifetimes.

"Um…you wanna go like that?" Kelvin sneaked a look at Kuroro's outfit.

"I don't have anything to wear. Seriously." Just. Go.

"Um…sure?"

"Please, shut the fuck up." He finally snapped, pushing Kelvin towards his bike and climbed on after him. One arm already covered his face, the other flung across the driver's chest.

The bike sped off. Kuroro saw the sky open up and shadowy clouds sweep past. Just in time for his tears to tumble away onto the tarmac.

Kuroro remembered:

Summer in Ryuuseigai had a lot more asteroid action.

...

He remembered:

They took turns bragging into the camera.

...

He remembered:

"…Paku, say something!"

Paku turned around shyly, she was only 15. "Is it my turn?"

She climbed on the rubble, struck a cool, assertive pose and pointed the business end of her finger at the lens, like a pistol. "Bang Bang!"

She blew away the smoke with a curl of her lip. "Pffffffft…."

"I've got a silver bullet saved for you, Kuroro. With your name on it."

"Wooooo-Yeeeeaaaaaaahhhhhh!" Guys and gals cat-called.

"Aim properly Paku…hit me straight in the heart."

"Wahahahahaaaaa!!"

A guy obnoxiously barged in front of the camera. "Honey Bunny!" He embraced Paku around the waist. "Forget Kuroro, you can shoot me tonight!"

"Fuck you, #4!" Everyone laughed as Paku grew red.

The camera jogged wildly as Kuroro cracked up uncontrollably.

...

The wind made Kuroro feel free again. He suddenly realized that he had been clinging to the driver, face pressed onto his back. He quickly let go. Kelvin slowed down and pulled over. Without a word, he passed a helmet over his shoulder. Kuroro guessed it was a little awkward.

9 minutes later they passed the city limits and were surrounded by the flat desert landscape. Out here, the wind was still maddening hot. Groups of nature lovers gathered here and there, so the pair got off-road and headed for one of the limestone cliffs about 10 minutes away. And behind the cliffs….Kuroro's could almost make out the smoldering trash-scape of his hometown.

For the highway also led to Ryuuseigai, only 5 hours away.

Shooting stars blazing vertically downwards, like a rain of flares. They parked beneath a cliff.

Kelvin went hyper, as if this was his first time seeing them. "These stars are beyond beautiful – they're scary! Like missiles attacking the earth! Like an evil omen of war, hellfire and wrath of God! Oh yeah, I can just see the crowd go wild when I drop this tonight…woot!"

Kuroro found a large rock and sat down, legs wide apart.

"Hey Q, do you think there'll be a war?"

Kuroro pulled out the videotape and stared at it.

"Yes."

"I've always looked up to you, Q. You're like someone who knows the way. Do you think there will be a way out for us?"

"Depends…what else do the stars say?"

"Life is short, make love, not war!" He laughed.

Kelvin didn't see Kuroro's startled look. He rambled excitedly, eyes glued to the sky. "They're not one whole rock…they're many pebbles each with its own tail. Some fly faster, some fly slower…oh-oh-oh- …they fizzled out…"

"Oh my god! THERE'S A BIG ONE HEADED STRAIGHT FOR YORK SHIN!!"

A blue-green meteor glowing white-hot in the middle shot towards the city, exploding into orange flames at unpredictable intervals. A series of booming sounds shook the air.

"What if it hits our city? And wipes out… everything!"

"And if it did? What would you do?" Kuroro smiled with a sinister edge.

"What would I do?" Kelvin raised both eyebrows ironically. "Volunteer for the fire brigade, of course. Although the tsunami would probably do the trick."

"Actually," he mused, "I'm more concerned about the flames of our own making. Street wars. Oil wars. Power struggles…all the HATE! It never ends!" He put his hands on his hips and stared at the sky. "At least our side has better music. The BEST music. Makes up for everything."

"Our side?" Kuroro's ears perked up.

He avoided the question, said slyly, "Which side are you playing for, Quollo? I hope you don't play for the other side. You'll hurt my feelings."

Kuroro looked amused. "Unlike you, I am not a player."

"Asexual, huh? Impossible! All artists are perverts."

"None of the above is correct."

Kelvin started pacing around, pointed a finger at Kuroro. "ONE of them is correct. You're a perv! I know all about your sick obsession with nen. You're driven by a serpent. Ambition. Pride. Mastery. All that dark stuff."

"Like Father, like Son."

"Don't overdo it, Q. And fuck me if I follow in my old man's footsteps."

"Me, I'm not very motivated." Kelvin explained, "But I know what's real. Things you can touch. I provide parties, music, girls, guys…why? Because I want my guests to fulfill their teenaged dreams, the ones they've stored away for years…And guess what? It doesn't take a lot. For instance – you and me now, just watching a meteor storm together…is that enough for me? Yes."

"Maybe enough for now...but soon, you'll want…more. Am I correct?"

"Well…ya got me there." He laughed. He admired Kuroro's calm face, as translucent as the moon, asked softly, "Is that wrong?"

"No."

"No…? So do I have hope?"

"You can hope."

Kuroro smirked, feeling down his jacket and pants. Kelvin stared.

"No, you perv. I'm looking for a lighter. Do you have one?"

"I do…why?" He watched as Kuroro unbuckled the leather straps, licked his lips, then passed it over. "What's wrong? Why so serious?"

"A friend of mine died today."

Kuroro found a spot close to the limestone wall. With his left hand, he gripped the jacket flap and the videotape. With the other, he flicked the Zippo at the opposite corner of the tape. Almost immediately, a gust of desert wind fizzled out the light.

"Are you crazy?! Why?"

"Because the tape contains our past."

Kuroro's expression was so severe that Kelvin just nodded and drew closer to help shield the wind. He looked a little sad as he cupped his hands over the lighter. The damned plastic melted with agonizing slowness.

"Here, let me." He gripped both Kuroro's jacket lapels to free his hands. As Kuroro lit the fire, he sensed a pleasurable tingling over his exposed skin. Kelvin's eyelashes lowered, hiding his thoughts. His lips parted…

The poisonous smoke released from the plastic sent them coughing.

Kelvin broke away and walked over to his bike, taking off his jacket and stuffing his flowery shirt down the fuel tank. He passed it, dripping with rich black unleaded, over to Kuroro. The shirt was designer silk, expensive. But Kelvin only shrugged.

Kuroro nodded.

Kneeling on the ground, he bundled up the cassette and flicked the Zippo. With a roar, flames spurted sky-high. The organic substance shrank, melted and bubbled. Intense energy scalded Kuroro's face as he stared into the crackling heart and saw his nen disintegrate. Too fast, it was over.

Kuroro got up, he felt free.

The faint glow of starlight cast his lone shadow in the sand. Another shadow walked over and overlapped his. An arm draped protectively over his shoulder.

"The past is gone…wanna try something new?"

"Which is…?" Rose stained Kuroro's cheeks and he folded his arms. People were always falling in love with him, expecting him to fall back in love with them. I can't do that. I'm the Dancho. I must be fair to all, no favorites.

However, in the heat, these restrictions didn't seem very binding.

Kelvin grasped Kuroro's hips and kissed his cheek. "If you're not afraid of the unknown, then you should do it with me at least once."

"Its you, its you I want tonight", Kelvin was singing.

How could Kuroro have known E.S.P. could be so hot.

"The heat is on, I want your love tonight."

The falling stars began to frighten Kuroro. He lowered his eyes and backed up against the cliff until he could go no further. Closing his eyes, he felt hot kisses slide down his bare neck and shoulders. His jacket slipped off and Kelvin caressed his arms, barely touching it.

A warm presence invaded his mouth and Kuroro licked it hesitatingly. His pants grew hot and tight. And in a moment he felt his buttons being undone. No! His hands tried to brush them away but got caught in his partner's palms.

"What is it you want, Q…?" His last word was blown away by the wind. "I can take you there…"

"Ryuuseigai." Kuroro barely heard his own words.

"How fitting. Ryuuseigai will be my end …" the somber way Kelvin said it snapped Kuroro awake.

"You know the place?"

"Been there a couple of times with my dad." Shit. The only rich people who went there were Mafia. Kelvin immediately picked up Kuroro's tense body language.

The clues painted a picture they didn't like, they should have known...

"Quollo, I knew it when I saw your body." Kelvin was almost in tears. "But we're bigger than all that. Let me take you to a better place. That's my wish."

Better place? York Shin being swallowed by a tsunami of fire, skyscrapers ripped off the surface of the earth like a peeling sticker….Kuroro was standing in a sea of red. Even Kelvin's hair flowed like lava through his fingers. A feeling kept building up, deep down inside, it escaped out his throat, and Kelvin was back up, thighs between his, kisses deeper. Kuroro grabbed his neck, his pulse throbbing as fast as his. They couldn't breathe.

Kelvin let him go, searched for something. A flash of lightning in the darkness, and the outline of a square packet appeared between his lips in a feline way.

"Shall we…?"

Oh Shit.

Kuroro squirmed. He turned his back but Kelvin was on him, embracing him tightly from behind. They slowly fell to their knees Kelvin still on top of him, the weight making him sink back onto his ankles and press the side of his face into his forearm. Kelvin's fingers interlocked across the other one. Kuroro's body trembled uncontrollably.

Kelvin backed off, started laughing almost innocently. His fingers teased, beckoning Kuroro to cross the line.

"Vieni", he cooed gently, as if beckoning to a reluctant kitten hiding behind a trashcan, "Vieni con me?"

Kuroro's heartbeat calmed a little, he tried to think, but for the first time in his life, his mind was a smoldering trash-scape, his soul on a journey to the unknown. Overhead, he saw a white bird spread its wings, bigger than the stars.

"Forgive me...my enemy," he gasped, arching up.

"Quollo?" Kelvin wasn't sure what he heard, nuzzled his neck and bit it. "Did you say…Fuck me…to eternity?"

Kuroro simply nodded and took what life had to offer.

His big eyes widened, his fingers clutched, all dignity lost to the night wind. "Nnnghh… nnghh…!"

9 minutes of fading light, and a new flock of stars blazed across the sky like furious birds. Neither of the pair noticed how it was mirrored on their sweat-slick forms…

"Quollo?"

The unusual sounds made Kelvin want to hear more.

"Can you feel it?" he asked.

"…"

"Feel it getting stronger...?"

"…"

"Just a little longer…?"

"I feel it…" Kuroro pushed. "I feel the Heat."

XXX

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XXX

A/N: "Hot…or Not??"

AHAHAHAHA...

Thanxxx: Orange-Maple for convincing me of the idea…this fic wouldn't exist w/o you!!

Inspired by Awesome Authoresses:

BigSEED "Changes", hinatachan the itaxnaru "I Feel your Pain" and straycat "Shattering Surfaces"!!

My mind has been "broken in" by y'all.

Credits: The suggestive lyrics & title come from classic house song "It's You" by E.S.P.

PLEASE REVIEW ...for this one!