The Street Urchin: Kouji

            Kouji looked back in time to see Genrou fall back.

            "Genrou!" He shouted, not noticing as the third attacker leapt towards him.  He hit the ground, everything around him fading into darkness.  He wasn't sure how long he had been out, but it hadn't been too long.  He heard someone laughing triumphantly and lifted his head, the realization that it was raining not sinking in immediately as he saw the dark-haired man being held in the air by his throat, the trident in the hands of the third attack.  The man holding him, however, was different.  The three attackers had been concealing in black cloaks, but this man wore a long red robe the brushed the ground covered by what appeared to be another robe that was white with a gold trim.  His hair was nearly black and hung loosely around his shoulders and down to the middle of his back.

            He pushed himself to his feet; not hearing the one-sided conversation the man seemed to be holding with his victim over the thundering rush of blood in his ears.  He held his gun surprisingly steady as he aimed it at the man's side and fired.  The bullet disappeared into his body and he stiffened, blood trickling out of the entrance wound.  He had no way of knowing how badly he had injured him, only that his grip had loosed on the other man's throat enough for him to free himself.

            Kouji dropped to one knee, the gun sliding out of his hand as his arms wrapped around himself.  His head swam for a few moments as he waited for the world to stop spinning, which it did.  He felt a warm hand on his shoulder and looked up into two piercing gold eyes.

            "Thank you."  The man looked down at him a moment more before removing his hand and offering it to Kouji.  "You saved my life."

            Kouji dumbly picked up his gun, partially due to his throbbing headache, but also due to the intent gaze in the gold eyes that were fixed on him.  He took the proffered hand and got to his feet.  After a moment, he finally thought of a coherent sentence. 

            "Da name's Kouji.  You must be da king of Atlantis, huh?"  Who else could he be?

            "I am.  My name is Hikou.  I take it Hakurou sent you?"

            "Yeah."  He lowered his gaze.  "Me an' Genrou, but Genrou…"

            "He fell in the water.  So did my brother."  He pulled his hand back, reminding Kouji that he had still been holding it.  "He'll be fine."  Hikou turned and looked up at the sky as thunder crashed in the distance, a flash of lightening lighting his features enough for Kouji to gape at him a bit more.

            He's fuckin' hot!

            "I need to see Hakurou immediately, Kouji.  Take me to him."

            Tight-ass bastard.  What am I?  A servant?

            "Sure thing, majesty."

            Kouji lead Hikou up to the top floor of Hakurou's house as he had been instructed to and pushed open the door and stopped, his eyes and mouth wide open in shock.  The sky light in the ceiling had been smashed through, letting in the storm that had grown quite fierce in the time it had taken him to lead Hikou there.  Deep cuts in the floor and walls as well as scorch marks told him that there had been a fight there, but he didn't see Hakurou, Genrou, or the blue-haired man anywhere.  Hikou pushed past him, stopping beneath the ruined skylight, and looked up at the sky. 

            "Houjun was here…I can feel it, but…"

            "What in da hell happened here?"

TBC

OK, kinda rushed, but I'm trying to get as much up as I can while I'm still inspired.  I'll probably go back and re-write these later if I get complaints .