There You'll Be
Written by Star
::author's note:: This chapter cuts back and forth - to the past and present. I hope you don't find it too confusing ^_^;
Chapter 5
**
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I'll keep a part of you with me And everywhere I am There you'll be (Faith Hill) |
**
The wind howled like a hungry wolf, ready and waiting to consume her tormented form. She dared not make a sound, petrified to alert the enemy. Even as she glanced down the twenty foot drop, Aki remained silent and pressed herself against the cliff harder. Louder and louder, the mournful wind howled, up from the darkness that would spell her death.
If only D-boy...
Aki hadn't thought about him for days, necessity called for it. Yet as she stood on a tiny ledge twenty feet from the ground, her mind filled with fantasies as D-boy's handsome yet tormented face floated before her.
He'd fly on Pegus and rescue her from limbo, holding her close to chase away her fears. Then he'd set her down, kissing her softly before lunging at the two brutes who dared attack...
She almost cried out his name.
NOARU!
**
"Hey sweetheart, looking for these?"
Hearing Aki gasp, Noaru lunged at her side, ready to protect her whatever the cost. Seeing two rather brutish looking men at the water's edge, Noaru swallowed hard and remembered their vulnerable state.
"You're the bastard who's been stealing our livestock." Sneered the shorter of the two. He was a bulky, balding, unshaven man with a weakness for whiskey. He was to be on duty of the ammunition barn that night, but had given into a card game where whiskey was legal tender. "Been meaning to have words with you, punk."
"Weeell..." Noaru slurred slowly. "We're kinda busy right now. How does Thursday sound?"
"Yeah, I can see that kid." The taller but by no means leaner of the pair smirked as his eyes raked over Aki's slightly revealed form. His hair grew past his shoulders, oily and unkept. His large hands had killed in the past - snapped necks without a hint of guilt. "I'll have words with your little lady there."
"Like hell you will." Noaru growled, his fists clenching instinctively.
**
When she and Noaru were separated, her mind raced in terror. What would the other man do to him? What would this, dead-fish-smelling man do to her? Considering her options, Aki determined escape on speed alone would fail; the pain in her ankle had eased but she still limped. Wearing little else but her wet shirt, Aki had thought of little else but escape. If all else failed, she'd fall back on the 'ye old faithful' knee in the groin maneuver to escape, no matter the pain in her ankle.
Aki felt giddy with nausea as she remembered being thrown against the trunk of the tree, his fowl breath against her neck as his hands slid down her torso. Bile rose from the pit of her gut and dared to force her over the ledge as she remembered that sickening moment he clutched her rear, his large, brutal hands lifting her as though she weighed no more than a feather, forcing her closer to his reeking body.
They both paused as a single shot echoed throughout the forest.
**
The shorter man introduced himself as Gus as he threw Aki's shirt towards her. Instructing them both to get out of the water, Gus grinned as he feigned ignorance of Noaru's clothes. Licking his lips, he looked towards Aki.
"If you don't want your boyfriend to eat lead, you'll go with my friend like a good little girl." Gus purred as he waved the gun in Noaru's face. Placing a trembling hand on Noaru's shoulder, Aki gave him a determined look before doing as she was told.
"Aki!" Noaru cried out as the taller man led her away.
"Don't be stupid boy, and we'll let her live." Chuckled the whiskey loving Gus.
"Harm her in any way, I swear to God I'll..." Noaru spat venomously before Gus rammed his fist into his gut.
"Time and again you've made me look like a fool. No more, ya hear?!" Confident that Noaru wouldn't try to escape, Gus dropped his guard slightly. "So tell me boy, what's she like in the sack?" Gus leered as he licked his lips.
Unable to see his clothes anywhere, Noaru considered his options. Rising to his feet, Noaru squared his shoulders and spat in the shorter man's eyes.
As Gus wiped his eyes, Noaru moved in. Balling his fists, Noaru slammed his left into Gus' gut, then his right into Gus' jaw. Surprised Noaru would attack him, Gus dropped the gun.
**
Suddenly, Aki couldn't remember how she managed to escape man's vice grip. What had all transpired moments ago suddenly felt like it had happened in early childhood. As worried for Noaru as she was, all that mattered now were the sounds of footsteps, heavy footsteps that grew louder with each breath she took.
**
Falling back onto his military training, Noaru crept stealthily through the forest. The night was still, any noise no matter how soft echoed through the trees. As he counted how many shots he had left, Noaru stumbled upon his discarded clothes. Zipping up his pants, Noaru reloaded his gun and took off to find Aki.
**
Aki held her breath as the footsteps stopped. Afraid to look up, she stared across the gorge and into the void of night. It would be hours before dawn, hours before Rebin or Milly plucked up the courage to come and look for them.
"Looks like you've gotten yourself into a fix, little lady."
Aki's nostrils flared stubbornly as she forced herself to look up. Repulsed by the memory of what he almost did to her, Aki felt dizzy and held onto the rocks behind her.
"How 'bout we make a deal, eh? I'll help you up, in exchange for you doing as you're damn well told!"
"Tell you what," Aki began superciliously. "Go have a bath, then we'll barter."
**
Noaru smirked as he heard Aki's retort. Advancing slowly, Noaru took aim.
"Yoo-hoo," Getting Gus' partner's attention, Noaru grinned. "I'll make you famous."
**
Tears of relief soaked her cheeks as another gunshot echoed through gorge. Noaru was safe! She was safe!
"Damn it!" Noaru cursed. Lying flat on the ground he tried to reach Aki's outstretched hand, but she'd fallen well beyond his reach. "I have an idea, but..."
"I was so worried when I heard the shot, I thought...I..." Aki choked out brokenly.
"Don't think about that now. Aki, I need to get the Sol Tekka, it's the only way."
"Hurry back Noaru, but please be careful."
**
It had been a long, exhausting day. Noaru ran on adrenalin, petrified that there were more 'guards' out in the forest. Should they find Aki...
The Green Earth was silent as he approached. No lights, no music - probably for the best. Opening the hangar doors, Noaru leaped in the Sol Tekka and took off.
**
The wind howled again, ferociously. Not much longer, she kept reminding herself, Noaru would be here soon. She almost cried in anticipation of hearing his voice again and suddenly imagined herself safe in his comforting arms. The image was so inviting, so vivid, she slapped her face twice just to make sure she wasn't falling asleep.
Fully alert, Aki burst into tears as the Sol Tekka grabbed her from the ledge and flew her to safety.
OWARI
NEXT CHAPTER:
Following their ordeal, Aki and Noaru start up the Green Earth. Sick of all the secrecy, Rebin threatens to go to Alaska by himself. As the team walks on eggshells, Aki and Noaru find themselves faced with predicament of another kind.
DISCLAIMER
I don't own Teknoman/Tekkaman Blade/Tekkaman Blade II or any of its characters however any original characters appearing within this story do...belong to me.
This story is rated R, if you are unsure whether you believe this story is suitable for you to read or if you feel this story is improperly rated, feel free to contact me at star_aki@hotmail.com. Alternatively, check out the guidelines as set out by fanfiction.net on September 12.