Chapter 13

Ok, so I'm having a conversation with my online gaming buddy from the UK about tea. XD ha! I'm having a conversation with a brit. For some reason that just makes my night perfect cause, the conversation is about the different blends, the difference between tea leaves and tea bags (which we both use teabags) it just makes me laugh—him too. Anyway, ONWARD TO THE BATTLE FIELD!

Yukiko smiled as she wrote in her notebook. She had spent her time writing up the list her beloved Hotstreak had so nicely asked her for previously, and though the thought of warning was ever present in the back of her mind, she ignored it and continued on. She was just about to finish her list when Richie walked up to her after class. Surprised, Yukiko closed her notebook and looked up.

"Hey…Yukiko…" He mumbled. Yukiko frowned and looked back down at her desk.

"I-I'm sorry Richie, but…I'm not supposed to…to talk to you. A-anymore." She said, placing her hands in her lap. Ashamed. Richie stood up straight.

"Wait—you're not seriously going to listen to him are you?" He asked. Yukiko jumped, startled by his sudden outburst. She looked up at him with her shy ice blue eyes and gave a sheepish smile.

"I-I don't want you to get hurt again…" she said, Riche scowled.

"Can't you see he's treating you like dirt? Hotstreak's being a complete asshole! What if he hurts you?" He shouted, Yukiko stared wide eyed at Richie she soon replaced it with another smile.

"Oh…but…F-francis would never do that." She said sweetly. Richie scowled. How could she say that? Why couldn't she see Hotstreak for the lying jerk that he was? Why couldn't she tell that he didn't care? Hotstreak was working with Snow-child, the very bangbaby that was trying to kill her? It didn't make sense.

"H-he doesn't show it in public…." She continued, looking down shyly at her lap. She then looked up and smiled, "B-but…he's really sweet to me."

"Yukiko…you're a smart girl. Hotstreak is a criminal. He's had a juvie record since grade school! The fact that he's dating you means he's up to something!" Richie shouted, "I mean, think, why would a guy like Hotstreak go out with someone like you?"

Yukiko flinched from Richie's words. She felt the sting of tears as they threatened to form in her eyes. She looked down at her lap again, not saying a word. Richie was wrong, Hotstreak wasn't using her for anything. He loved her. Richie didn't know what he was talking about. Hotstreak was nice enough to stay with her, even though she was shy and timid. Even after he found out about her and Snow-child he still stayed with her. Yukiko blinked her tears away and gripped the hem of her skirt tightly.

"F-f-francis s-said he…he loved me!" She said in her usual hushed voice, she looked up at Richie, "A-a-and…and I…I believe him…h-he….he would n-never hurt m-me."

Richie looked down at the small dark haired girl. His heart sank. Yukiko really seemed to love Hotstreak, to the point she couldn't see him for what he was. A cruel, sadistic, bang baby that didn't care about those around him. His made his chest tighten because, no matter what he said, no matter what proof he gave her, she'd take Hotstreak's word over his. Hotsreak was Yukiko's world, and he was treating her like property. There was a long silence between the two of them before Yukiko gathered her things and stood.

"E-excuse me Richie…." She mumbled as she walked past him, "I-I have a-a lot of things to do, b-before the day ends."

Richie turned and opened his mouth to say something before she left, but no words came. Soon Yukiko was gone, and Richie was left to wallow in his heartache.

After school, Yukiko walked home alone, she had a lot on her mind to think about. She was curious as to why Hotstreak had asked for such a strange list, but at the same time decided to not think about it. She also had to think about the upcoming research team Alva and Yama-corp were putting together. She wasn't exactly excited for the last one, however, it would probably help with her plans. She was so lost in thought she hadn't noticed Hotstreak standing by her houses front gate.

"Yukiko." he grumbled, reaching out to grab her arm, when she jumped in surprise. She stared up at him.

"F-francis?" She mumbled her face flushing red as she looked around to make sure no one noticed, "W-what are….what are you doing here?"

"What? Not like I haven't been to your place before." He growled. Yukiko bit her lip, and nodded.

"W-w-well, y-yes that's true…b-but not during the day." She mumbled, Hotstreak scowled as Yukiko then smiled sweetly, "I-it just surprised me is all. Hee."

"Yeah well…Hey you got that list for me?" he grumbled. Yukiko nodded.

"Oh, ah yes r-right here…" She said, as she dug through her bag. After a moment she began to search a bit more frantically. "O-oh no…."

"What?" Hotstreak asked as Yukiko started dumping things out of her bag, papers flew everywhere along with pencils and note books, and a rather expensive looking high tech calculator. Yukiko looked up at her flame headed boyfriend, she looked like she was about to cry.

"I-I must have left it at the school…" She said as she frantically began picking up the contents of her bag. Hotstreak crossed his arms. "O-oh dear, this is not good. I-I had important notes in that note book, I-I need that note book."

"So let's go get it." He grumbled. Yukiko paused and looked up at him.

"What? B-but the school is closed." She explained. Hotstreak cocked an eyebrow.

"Your point? C'mon." He growled, grabbing Yukiko by the wrist and dragging her off back towards the school. The school was pretty abandoned, save for a few students who were playing basketball at the school's outdoor basketball court. Yukiko looked up at Hotstreak as he went to melt the lock. Yukiko stopped him. "What?"

"I-I just thought…..m-melting the lock in unnecessary." She mumbled, Hotstreak scowled, "I-I mean…uhm…"

Without speaking Yukiko lifted her hand, there was a bit of wind that blew around them as Yukiko used her ice powers to create small ice key, "Th-this m-might prove effective…a-and not get us caught."

"Oh, that works." Hotstreak grumbled, as Yukiko smiled and used the small makeshift key to the school's lock. Once inside Hotstreak followed Yukiko as she searched for the last place she left her missing notebook.

"I-I think I left it on my desk in the chemistry lab." She mumbled, opening the door to the science lab, Hotstreak Followed. "U-uhm…F-francis…m-may I ask, wh-what do you want that list for? Do…do you have some sort of plan?"

"Yeah, so what if I do?" Hotstreak growled, Yukiko moved to the other side of the room to search for her notebook. She bit her lip and looked over to him.

"I-I'm just curious." She mumbled, "Y-you asked for something very specific. Th-these chemicals…th-they can be extremely dangerous, e-especially with your pyrokinetic abilities."

"I got an idea that's all." Hotstreak said, Yukiko gave a concerned look, which then turned to joy when she found her notebook.

"I found it." She said with a smile. Hotstreak grinned.

"Great, now lets get the hell outta here and do something fun." He growled. Yukiko nodded, then paused.

"Actually, Hotstreak…I-I was wondering…"

"What?"

Yukiko hesitated for a long time, she blushed a slight shade of pink as she hid behind her face behind her notebook. Hotstreak scowled in confusion, it really irritated him when she'd go all shy on him like that. It felt like she was mocking him. It was annoying.

"W-w-well….I-I was wondering—s-since we're…a couple—I thought…I thought…" She mumbled, her voice getting lower and her face getting redder. Hotstreak narrowed his eyes.

"Out with it already!" He shouted, Yukiko let out a fearful squeak.

"I thought maybe we could do n-normal couple things!" She blurted, shrinking back shyly as she continued to hide her face behind her notebook. Hotstreak stared.

"The…hell?" he mumbled, he hadn't expected that. Yukiko peeked her ice blue eyes over her notebook.

"I-I mean…we…we are a couple, we've done…uhm…" She blushed again, "I was hoping…maybe we…could do normal..couple things?"

"Like what?" Hotstreak asked, he was about to be made a fool of by the small ice girl.

"W-well…l-like uhm…h-hang out together." She mumbled. Hotstreak made a face.

"WE already do that, remember, we took out that factory." He grumbled. Yukiko removed the book from in front of her face and shook her head.

"N-no, n-not like that. Th-that's Snow-child. I-I mean, l-like normal people." She mumbled.

"Hate to break it to ya ice-girl, but we aint normal." Hotstreak said, rather bluntly. Yukiko looked down at her feet.

"G-granted that's true." She mumbled, "B-but, I want…to do normal things. L-like….hold hands…m-maybe?"

Hotstreak scowled. Was she being serious? The look on her face told him she was. He turned around and started walking. Yukiko jumped in surprise and followed him out the door into the hallway.

"I-I mean…w-we don't have to! I just…thought it would…b-be nice to…" She mumbled, stumbling as she tried to keep up with him. Hotstreak turned suddenly, making Yukiko skid to a halt and nearly fall over. He scowled down at her.

"You've gotta be kidding." He growled. Yukiko looked up at him in confusion, "You're not kidding are you?"

"N-no. W-why would I be joking? I-I like spending time with you." She mumbled, then smiled sweetly, "A-and I-I really do want to just hold your hand."

"I don't do that mushy stuff." He said then turned, Yukiko's shoulders slumped and she sighed.

"I suppose….that makes sense." She mumbled, as she opened her notebook to the page she had been writing on to make the chemical list for Hotstreak. She looked it over and shook her head, "Unfortunately my list for you isn't finished."

"So? How long will it take you to get it done?" he growled. Yukiko swallowed hard and shut her notebook.

"Another day or two?" She mumbled, lying. She decided to stall, the whole request just seemed so, suspicious. She didn't want anyone to get hurt—ironic since she wanted to destroy the whole Yamamoto industry—and she certainly didn't want Static and Gear to arrest him. "it shouldn't take too long, I just want to make sure I've made a correct list."

It surprised her how easily the lie flowed out of her without stuttering. Of course she assumed that it was easy due to a certain 'other girl' in her mind. Snow-child was better at lying that Yukiko was, lucky for both personalities, Hotstreak had yet to pick up on either of their patterns. He simply scowled—like he always did—and nodded.

"Kay. Well, so what's the plan for tonight? Or did you even come up with one yet?" He asked. Yukiko nodded as the two began walking again.

"A-actually yes," She said, "The Yamamoto corporation is expecting a shipment to be delivered tonight. There will be a lot of delicate equipment coming in. It'd be a real shame if anything happened to it."

At that last sentence Yukiko's soft spoken voice began deeper and sultry. She looked at Hotstreak out of the corner of her eyes, which were narrowed as she gave him a sly smirk. All indicating that Yukiko was no longer in control and that Snow-child was now running things. Hotstreak side stepped a bit away from her.

"So, why don't we go ahead and head for the docks," she asked, "This is gonna be so much fun."

~0~

Static and Gear were on patrol of Dakota. They were on the lookout for Snow-child, the snowy bangbaby that was terrorizing the city and trying to sabotage their friend Yukiko Yamamoto's family company. She had managed to escape every chance they encountered her, all while leaving a path of destruction in her wake. Their last encounter she and Hotstreak had taken out a factory, she had buried Gear under a ton of snow, this allowed her to escape after setting fire to the building.

"So, you did the exact opposite of what I told ya didn't you?" Static asked, gliding on his metal disk while Gear flew next to him.

"I'd meant to apologize, it just didn't end up that way." He explained, "Now I don't think she'll be talking to me for a while."

"I told you." Static said, "But I wouldn't worry too much about it. Yukiko doesn't look like the type to hold a grudge. For long anyway."

"Gee, thanks." Gear grumbled, suddenly Gears backpack went off, "Woaw! Backpack's picking up bangbaby activity at the docks."

"Think it's Snow-child?" Static asked, Gear scowled.

"Dunno, but you can bet if it is, she's not getting away this time." He hissed, then the two sped off towards the distress.

Meanwhile at the docks, Snow-child and Hotstreak had hijacked a large cargo ship with all kinds of scientific equipment. Snow-child was standing on the deck overlooking the many crates while Hotstreak was holding the ship's crew at flame point. He grinned.

"Alright, anybody moves and they're charcoal! Wanna test me? I dare ya!" He growled, his body lighting up with fire. Snow-child laughed victoriously as she began listing off the many things that were in the crates.

"Super computers, hydro electric generators, there are people who'd pay top dollar to get their hands on this type of equipment for the sake of helping people." She said rather fangirlishly, then sneered, "And Yamacorp is using them to create toxins, and chemicals to pollute the human body."

"So what now?" Hotstreak shouted to her from the control room. Snow-child looked back over her shoulder at him and scowled.

"We steal the cargo, and sink the ship." She hissed, then grinned evilly, "No witnesses."

Hotstreak grinned back, now he was speaking his language. The ship's crew looked at him with fear as Hotstreak raised his hands in the air, forming a ball of fire between them.

"Later losers!" He shouted with a large grin plastered on his face, he was about to roast the crew alive when his hands were put out with and extinguishing agent."Hey! What's the deal?!"

"Sorry Hotstreak, but the party's over!" Gear shouted, then threw a set of exploding disks at him. The exploded upon impact, enveloping Hotstreak in smoke and distracting him long enough for Gear to take him out with a fireproof net.

"What's the goddamn hold up!?" Snow-child shouted, looking over the rail and seeing the two heroes, "Oh. Well are you two just a bunch of party crashers! Back for more?"

With that Snow-child leapt off the railing and into the air, aiming for Static. She grinned as she pulled her fist back, and ice formed in the air replicating into a large hand. It nailed him, sending him off of his metal disk, and into Gear. This knocking him away from Hotstreak, Snow-child landed on her feet between the two. She smirk triumphantly and then turned to Hotstreak.

"Baby, you make for one lousy henchman." She said flirtatiously. Hotstreak glared.

"Shut up!" he growled, as Snow-child froze the net around him. Hotstreak then broke free from the frozen trap and his body lit up in anger, "I'm gonna fry these freaks alive!"

"Fine fine, you take the little technoloser," Snow-child said, jumping into the air and using her ice manipulation to create an ice bridge to hold her up, "I'll take sparky."

"Hey, I wanted Static!" Hotstreak shouted.

"Deal with it!" Snow-child shouted back then took off for the heroes as they stood up and readied themselves for attacks. Snow-child grinned as she formed an ice-katana and swung at his head. Static ducked, but just barely dodged the snow woman's strike as it took off a few bits of his hair.

"Talk about a close shave." Static said, then pulled his fist back and punched Snow-child in the stomach. She let out a pained 'ouf' and flew backwards, static was soon upon her. She glared, quickly conjuring up a ice shield and blocked Statics attack by throwing him over the railing of the ship and towards the water. Static let out a yell as he braced himself to short circuit upon hitting the water. However, he landed on something solid. He opened his eyes and saw that he was lying on ice.

"Oh no, you're not allowed to short out just yet!" Snow-child shouted jumping over the rig and landing with her knees hitting Static's chest and knocking him to the ground. She gave a crazed grin as she pulled her fist back and punched him in the face, "You're gonna pay for interfering with my plans!"

"So here's what I'm gonna do, I'm gonna hold you while I slowly melt the ice until finally you short out!" She shouted punched Static again and slammed his head onto the ice, she then held it there. Static struggled to get the crazy snow girl off of him. Failing, he let out a surge of electricity. Snow-child let out a yelp of pain as electricity surged through her body, it sent her flying back, off the patch of ice and into the water. The combination of water and electricity making the sparks much more powerful and what was originally a small zap turned into an electrocution. Snow-child screamed in immense pain, until finally the sparks stopped and she was left floating in the water. Static stared in surprise, he hadn't intended any of that.

Meanwhile atop the ship, Gear and Hotstreak had stopped their fighting when they heard the loud snap of electricity combined with Snow-child shrieks. Hotstreak went wide eyed and ran towards the ship's edge, where he saw Snow-child floating in the water unconscious. Cursing he jumped off and dove into the water, grabbing Snow-child and bringing her to shore. Static and Gear went to chase after then when Hotstreak blasted them with a burst of fire. Creating enough smoke for them to get away.

"They got away again?" Gear asked.

"Yeah, but they can't have gotten far. Snow-child took one heck of a shock." Static said, "She's out cold. No pun intended."

Meanwhile, in Dakota's sewers, Hotstreak carried the unconscious Snow-child over his shoulder. Grumbling curses about having to save her sorry self, while he ventured towards their hide away. Once close enough he used his pyrokinesis to pop open the manhole cover and climbed out. Unfortunately, Hotstreak's directions were mixed up, and instead of the abandoned building—where they used to meet—he found himself behind Yukiko's house. He cursed, it was too late to turn back now, so instead he crept into the back yard, and into Yukiko's room through her window.

"Stupid snow-girl, shoulda left you there." He grumbled, laying the ice queen on the rather posh looking bed she had. He let out a growl of frustration. He should have left here there, let her get caught. After all it wasn't like he liked her or anything. She was just some egghead girl. With a split personality, and a grudge against her family—for unknown reason—so why hadn't he left her? after a while of waiting, Snow-child came to. She let out a gasp and sat up. She then held her head and groaned.

"Oh…m-my head hurts…" She mumbled, only her voice came out soft and timid. Instead of Snow-child, Yukiko had woken up instead. Hotstreak scowled as she turned her attention to him, "F-francis? What…what happened?"

"You don't remember?" He asked, Yukiko shook her head.

"I remember leaving the school with you, but that's all." She said in her soft tone.

"I thought you and snow-girl knew what went on." He grumbled. Yukiko shook her head again and swung her legs over the side of her bed.

"N-no, granted sometimes we're aware of what goes on. There are moments we keep things closed off to each personality." she explained, then blushed, "F-for instance…S-snow-child's not aware of…all the times….we…"

"I get it." Hotstreak growled, "Static zapped the hell outta ya. If it weren't for me you'd be in juvie right about now."

Yukiko went wide eyed and tensed. She then smiled sweetly, "Th-thank you. I suppose I owe you. Heh."

Hotstreak rolled his eyes and then plopped down next to her, leaning on the bed's headboard, "Ya wanna make it up to me, hurry up and finish that list."

"Ok." She responded. Hotstreak cocked an eyebrow.

"What no, 'what are you planning' BS?" He asked, Yukiko shook her head as she scooted a bit closer to him.

"No. I trust you, F-francis." She said sweetly, she then gave her a soft smile. It made his face turn a slight shade of red. No one had ever trusted him before. It made his chest tighten. He grunted, and wrapped his arm around Yukiko's shoulders, forcing her to lean on him. It was Yukiko's turn to blush.

"B-by the way, i-it's Snow-child." She mumbled.

"What?"

"M-my name…it's Snow-child. N-not snow-girl." She explained. Hotstreak scowled.

"Yeah, bout that, the hell kinda name is that anyway?" He asked, Yukiko looked up at him and sat up.

"M-my name translates in english, to Snow-child." She elaborated, "Combined with my abilities, I thought it was clever…"

"Too damn long, it's no wonder no one can remember it." Hotstreak said, then smirked as a thought came to his mind, "You need something short and sweet, rolls off easy. Ice."

"Ice?"

"Cause you make ice." He explained. Yukiko let out a small giggle.

"I like Snow-child though, but…I'll give it some thought." She said sweetly, then—taking advantage of the oddly tender moment—snuggled closer to Hotstreak, and eventually fell asleep in his arms.

, I wanted to make a sweet tender moment with Yukiko and Hotstreak so bad! But I think I messed it up, because I wanted to sneak in that comment on Yukiko's Snow-child name. I'm so sick of typing out snow-child everytime she's mentioned, and originally Yukiko's name was going to be Icea (ice-shuh) and her nick name was going to be Ice. Course then again Yukiko also didn't have a second personality. however, I eventually decided, no, calling her Icea was being lazy and uncreative, so Yukiko Yamamoto came to be. But now I'm getting lazy again, and I wanted to go back to calling her second personality Ice. It's still up in the air, so meh. See ya in the next chapter! REVIEW…please?