There You'll Be
Written by Star

::AN::

A big help to my pal and newly appointed muse, Pixie Wings - for helping me, yet again ^_^ If MSN is good for anything, it's for making it possible for me to chat to this girl. Thanks again Pixie, beware when I pop online!! ::evil chibi laughter::

************
Chapter Four
************

In my dreams I'll always see you soar above the sky
In my heart there'll always be a place for you
For all my life

(Faith Hill)

Noaru grinned as he remembered the astonishment on Rebin's face...the determination and stubborn glint in Aki's eyes.

"Have you lost your mind Aki? We're Space Knights, not thieves!"

Of course, he knew who's will would triumph.

Earlier that day, he and Aki had witnessed the death of a father, weak from starvation too stubborn to let his family suffer the same fate. Ever since then, Aki was determined to humiliate the greedy plantation owner responsible. Noaru motioned to Aki and she followed, cursing as she saw the fields that were plentiful wilt from greed.

"He doesn't mind letting food go to waste, so long as his gut is full. He destroys the small battler's garden ... why Noaru?"

"He's a bastard Aki, people like that are beyond understanding."

"But those children..." Noaru stopped; he knew where this was going. Whirling around to confront Aki, dirty hands cupped Aki's face, tilting it so her tear stained eyes were level with his. Shaking his head slowly, he wiped a tear from her cheek.

*SNAP*

Both held their breath as their eyes frantically searched. The moon was but a sliver, shedding no light to expose them to their enemy yet they were still dangerously close to being discovered.

Aki was the first to relax, Noaru trusted her and exhaled; a bat screeched overhead. Regaining their composure, Noaru pinched Aki's chin with his thumb and index finger.

"Leave the past where it is, it'll do more harm than good." Aki's smile was faint.

"Agreed."

*****

The raid lasted all night, teenagers making the quick death runs to pick up the food where Aki and Noaru dropped it off. Knowing starving families would have full bellies tonight made Aki smile, but realised the greater task at hand.

As Noaru kept watch, Aki slithered into the ammunition barn with skill; the rafters were high but she had perfect balance. Unwillingly, Aki's thoughts fled back to that dark time in her life; her parents recently murdered in front of her, forced to watch as her parents were lowered into the eternal darkness, she found solace in the mountains with her grandfather who taught her all she knew about the martial arts. The execution style murder Aki witnessed earlier tore through the black veil of hopelessness; someone was going to pay.

Swinging to a perfect landing, Aki glared at the rows of guns and ammunition. As a soldier she had perfect aim, but she'd never used a gun to kill; she felt this way now. What caused her to worry, was that she'd never felt this way before; there always had to be a way to solve a problem without violence.

Not now.

Trembling, she made her way to the side door. Knocking softly at the side, Noaru tapped back and Aki opened the door. His eyes went wild at the sight of the firepower, stored to use on innocent men protecting their families, against those in a desperate situation; to instil fear for no reason at all.

"Damn them to hell!" Noaru cursed quietly. Aki nodded quietly and turned away. Noaru put his arm around her and walked them towards the other end of the barn.

"Noaru..."

"Aki, I need you to focus, remember what could happen if we don't..."

"I know, just..."

"What?" Aki looked at her feet as she spoke.

"Promise me you won't do anything rash, that we'll both get out of this? I don't think I could bare to lose you too." Noaru couldn't speak, she sounded so determined and yet so...

"Hey," Clearing his throat, Noaru's eyes softened. "Have I ever let you down?"

*****

"I swear I saw one of them kids!"

"I was sleeping you crazy old bastard!"

"I was right about that blond guy, wasn't I?"

Aki and Noaru froze, hearing the sound of heavy footsteps growing louder.

"Noaru..."

"I know, you done?" Aki connects the last wire and gives the thumbs up. Noaru nods and stares at the door, as if calculating how long they had for their escape. Grabbing a gun for himself and Aki, Noaru strikes a match. Aki runs to Noaru's side and kicks a hay bale to the side.

"Convenient escape hatch, wouldn't you say?"

"Remember the plan Aki, but just in case..." Throwing a gun her way, Aki nods and rolls under. Grinning as the front door unlocks, Noaru watches the think trail of fire snake its way toward its target.

"So long suckers, see you in hell."

*****

Noaru rolled out and looked for Aki.

"C'mon, we don't have much time..." Aki grabbed his hand from the darkness and was off in racing. Noaru hardly had time to breathe as the bullets began to fire.

"Do you think...the kids..." Aki breathed heavily as she tried to get her words out.

"I'm more worried...about...the explosives..."

At that moment, the ear-splitting boom shook the ground beneath them as they dove for cover. Aki watched as flames devoured the ammunition barn. Debris still flying due to the continued explosions, Noaru pulled his comrade closer, desperate to shield her from any debris.

*****

With the barn still lighting the night sky, Noaru found the path easily.

"I still think we should take another path Noaru..." Noting her slight limp, Noaru offered his assistance. "While I have two legs, I will use them." Grinning as he saw the stubborn pout in her lips, Noaru put Aki down.

"And while I'm a man, I'll rescue a damsel in distress."

"I'm not in distress!" Stumbling over a small branch in her way, Aki yelped in pain. Noaru was fast at her side.

"You were saying?"

"Just help me up, damn you..." Chuckling, Noaru resisted the urge to shout 'I'm right'.

"I'm just a knight in shining armour." Noaru grinned to himself as he helped Aki to her feet and held her around the waist. Aki remained silent, but put her arm around Noaru's wide shoulders to steady herself. Missing his reference to Aki's wounded heart, Noaru continued on, careful of fallen branches.

*****

The night steaming with humidity, their hair full of dirt and caked over their skin, the water hole looked cool and inviting to a silent Aki. Noaru suppressed a chuckle when Aki nodded to his suggestion. The jovial thought quickly dispersed as he caught the sadness on Aki's face. Half an hour ago she was animated with the challenge they'd overcome successfully, why was she so sullen now? Then it hit him.

"Aki, about...what I said earlier, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking..." Aki stood on her own and shook her head. Smiling faintly, the dusty Space Knight sat down carefully.

"You and he aren't really that different, you know?" Noaru kept quiet and waited for Aki to continue. Her eyes sought his out and held them in a vice grip. "Not really that different at all...not where I..." Aki paused and looked away. "Enjoy your swim." Noaru allowed himself to breathe and stared at her legs.

"A swim may help your ankle; I doubt Rebin would've refilled the ice-cubes." Still looking to the darkness, Aki replied.

"Just enjoy yourself."

"It's no fun if I've got the place to myself. Besides, you deserve a bit of fun too." He reminded her. Aki blushed, unfortunately Noaru was quick to notice her mannerisms. "What is it now?" Aki wasn't looking forward to trekking back to the Green Earth in a wet shirt, much less the thought of wet undergarments, but the thought of swimming completely naked with Noaru seemed...

"What are you going to swim in?"

"Well duh, the water...oh...yeah..." Noaru laughed at Aki's composure. "Hey, whose gonna catch us? The moon?" Aki rolled her eyes and stared at the mischievous blue orbs glinting like stars against the night sky.

"Well, how do I know Omega's not a pervert?" Noaru chuckled as he threw his shirt to the side.

"C'mon, I won't look." Aki laughed heartily.

"This coming from the biggest hentai in the world?" Kicking his boots off, Noaru grinned in Aki's direction.

"I promise I won't look." Seeing her resistance crumbling, Noaru took Aki's boots off, careful of her sore ankle. "Your parents used to stick us in the bath together, you ain't got nothing I haven't seen." Aki kicked him with her good foot.

"You said you wouldn't look!" Noaru laughed some more, but calmed himself down. Deadly serious, Noaru sunk to his knees.

"I've never, nor will I ever do anything to hurt you and that includes embarrassing you. I don't believe in doing anything to make a woman feel uncomfortable Aki, especially you." Aki's eyes shone with unshed tears as she cocked her head to the side.

"I know, I just wanted to hear you say it."

*****

Diving into the depths, Noaru's mind raced. Part of him was ready to enjoy the pleasantly cool water, yet another part of him shivered with troubles. As his strained muscles relaxed against the seductive velvet of the water, Noaru swam to the surface, covering his eyes with hands to humour Aki.

"Can I look now, or is the maiden still in danger of my indecent eyes?"

"This maiden is quite safe, you can look now." Noaru startled as Aki splashed water over his head. Diving below to escape the attack, he grinned. "Anyway, how do I know there aren't any eels or..." Aki screamed as something grabbed her leg. "NOARU!" Kicking furiously, Noaru bobbed to the surface laughing and spluttering water.

"Damn I wish I'd seen your face!"

"Bastard!" Aki spat, splashing water in his face again. Noaru retaliated, scooping up water with his larger hands and drowning her from the spray. Aki swam away, but Noaru was never one to give up a fight.

*****

"You sure that's them?"

"Yeah, I found the path a couple of days ago. It's the best trail to use if you want a quick escape, and the only one to lead to the water hole."

"You did good. Let's get 'em."

"Not yet; lets enjoy the wet shirt competition for a bit."

*****

Noaru stroked in the water contentedly as Aki reached for the shirt she placed on a log drifting near the shallow end.

"We should probably head back soon Noaru, what if someone saw us?" Ceasing his strokes, the relaxed blond swam back to the edge.

"You're probably right; throw me my shirt." Aki obliged and looked for her skirt. Her heart stopped as she heard a gun barrel click.

"Hey sweetheart, looking for these?"

«owari»