There You'll Be
Written by Star

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Chapter Three
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Will you show me how it feels
To feel the sky within my reach?
And I always will remember all the strength you gave to me
Your love made me make it through
Oh, I owe so much to you
You were right there for me

(Faith Hill)

/I don't need your help Aki, leave me alone/

The scene haunted Aki's nightmares repeatedly, but never once haunted her waking dreams. Now as she and Noaru ran for their lives, Aki could feel herself crumble emotionally at D-boy's last spoken words. She thought she knew him better than anyone else and even though Noaru told her he was too stubborn to admit the truth, Aki could see that Miyuki's pain was killing the D-boy she knew.

"Aki!" Stumbling to get up, Noaru grabbed her arm and pulled her up as he looked back frantically. His feet were hurting like hell, but he'd be damned if he got Aki shot because he was a stubborn ass.

*****

Darkness enveloped the two huddled Space Knights like a thick blanked of death. Aki didn't know where she was, didn't know anything except that uncanny quirk of knowing when Noaru was about to do something stupid.

"Don't even think..." She whispered until she heard the muffled sounds of curses and footsteps. Noaru's grip was slackening, but Aki was determined to stop him from being an idiot.

*****

Feeling Aki's grip tighten, Noaru looked down in surprise. He was shielding Aki bodily, so any bullets would have to go through him to get to her. How did she know what he was about to do? If she did, why didn't she understand it was up to him to fix this mess? Ok, even if it was a bullet to the head...

"Screw it, we'll find 'em in the morning."

Aki bit on her bottom lip to stop herself from laughing in contempt.

*****

"We were right in front of them, so why..." Noaru chuckled and rolled over on his back.

"Well, you kinda fell over a log and I remembered where I was. Those guys obviously don't take much notice of their surroundings, otherwise they would've known where we would've hid."

"And that would be?"

"You'll see in the morning."

"We're not staying here 'till morning Noaru!"

"Ok, ok, just watch your head." Aki grimaced as Noaru notably limped.

"You just couldn't help yourself, could you?"

"Not now Aki, please, I feel bad enough I almost got you killed." Silence fell as the two made their way back to the Green Earth.

*****

The moon was full and high in the sky, providing the two weary Space Knights with ample light. Noaru pointed out a water hole he found on one of his nightly escapades but Aki shook her head and pulled him back. Both were plastered with mud and the smell drove her mad, but Aki was stubborn - hot shower.

"We're almost there Aki, but I..."

"I know, you don't need to say it."

"Never needed to with you."

"Shut up, the lights are on; what are they doing up?"

"Probably an argument turned pillow fight." Noaru quipped.

"But what if..." Aki froze. What if they'd heard something about D-boy? What if they'd found D-boy?

*****

"Noaru! This has to stop! Aki, I thought you knew better!" Milly's mouth dropped as she took in the sight of a red faced Rebin screaming at mud balls that resembled Aki and Noaru. With hands on hips, Rebin continued his assault. "I mean, I know Noaru can't help himself but Aki..." Noaru waved his dirty hand in front of Rebin.

"Can it. We need a shower, or are you blind?"

"Serves you right! If it were up to me I'd have you sleep like that!"

"But then you'd have to wash the sheets." Noaru quipped as he led Aki away.

*****

Needless to say, one bathroom in the Green Earth caused its fair share of problems first thing in the morning. The second bathroom had become a permanent laundry, and since Rebin was the one who decided that, Noaru was the first to remind him why he had to wait so long in the morning.

Where bathroom rights were usually taken selfishly, Noaru shoved Aki in first.

"It's my fault, so I'll wait."

"Will you stop going on like that?"

"After you smell better, now get in."

Rolling her eyes as the door closed, Aki turned to the mirror and smiled crookedly. Who was this mud ball? As if seeing herself doing something sinful, Aki stopped smiling and turned away, peeling her clothes off angrily.

The water was scoldingly hot but she didn't quite care. As the water ran through her hair, Aki calmed the furore in her thoughts. No D-boy, no running, no struggle; all that remained was the sound of the water splashing against her skin.

*****

Noaru lay in bed scolding himself. He had to be more careful next time!

"There isn't going to be a next time," He whispered to the empty room.

"You're damn right." Noaru jumped up, hitting his head on the top bunk. "Rebin took my bed, he said he refused to sleep in the same room as a stubborn blond with a death wish." Noaru grinned and lay back down.

"So why didn't you kick his ass off and tell him to get in his own bed?" Aki almost grinned as she sat by Noaru's feet.

"Milly snores, not only that, she talks in her sleep." Aki turned her attention to the top bunk. "Since when do you sleep on the bottom bunk? You used to throw a tantrum if I took the top bunk." Noaru smiled nostalgically and sighed.

"I guess there's no point wanting something if no one else wants it. You always wanted the top bunk; I wanted it because you wanted it." Aki shook her head softly.

"Child." Noaru's eyes fixed on Aki's defeated form, it saddened him to see his high spirited friend so low. Snaking his arms around Aki protectively, he rested his head on her shoulder.

"It seems so long ago, doesn't it? You know out there tonight, I could've sworn we were sixteen and we were back at the academy."

"You taking the wrong turn and me falling down right behind you." Noaru chuckled.

"We were a good team, still make a good one. So don't give up yet partner, I still need a good navigator."

"I wish we were sixteen again, we would've have to deal with..."

"You were still dealing with your parents' death, if I recall. Sixteen wasn't so great an age."

"Yeah, some of us don't get past sixteen." The room was still as silence fell, until finally Noaru found his voice.

"Miyuki chose her path, she chose to be free. She knew what it meant to live, and she chose freedom. I wouldn't want to live as a slave, and neither did she. Neither do any of us, that's why we fight on." Noaru said calmly, wiping Aki's tears away. Aki wanted to respond, but wasn't sure what words to use, so she leaned back against him and allowed the tears to run their course.