A Glance Away
by disilluzional88

PG

Thanks to those who reviewed!

Disclaimer: I do not own Imadoki but that would be wickedly awesome don't ya think?

Chapter 8- "Swords, Strangling, and Scoops"

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"C'mon! Let me see!" Koki pleaded for about the one hundredth. Tanpopo had been in the bathroom for nearly an hour and kept holding him off. Muttering under his breath, he said, "Shiesh. Girls. What's with make up and stuff anyways. Not like they need it or anything." Tsuki was at their apartment helping Tanpopo out. 'Wait.
our apartment...? How did I think of that? Oh well, sounds nice.' He also couldn't wait for the surprise he planned at the dance for Tanpopo.

"KEEP ON WAITING YOU IMPATIENT SENSELESS LITTLE GARDENER BOY!" she yelled at the top of her lungs. True, he was a gardener and dressed like one. He had decided that he was going to be something that could be compared to himself. He knew he wasn't a professional but this way, he could feel like he was. Glancing down at his costume, he wondered if it would be enough to accompany Tanpopo. He was wearing his gardening boots, a pair of jeans, a brown wrinkled jacket, and to go with it, a brown floppy hat. He patted his pocket to make sure that his scoop was there.

"Dude, I think we oughtta get out for a while. You have no idea how much longer they plan on staying in there. See, no wonder I didn't sell as many boxes of cookies as you did. I didn't have the time to 'perfect' my complexion," Aoi said looking into the mirror and adjusting his costume once again. He was dressed as a ninja or samurai or something like that. Koki didn't fail to notice how Aoi simply wanted to show off his sword collection.

"They're wickedly awesome, huh? That's why you can't keep admiring them," he said proudly thinking that Koki was staring at them for that reason.

"No, I think it's absolutely ridiculous how you're bringing four swords to a dance. Knowing you, you might even be tempted to 'have fun' with them over there.

"Awww, c'mon Koki. I can't even use them a little?" He asked with puppy dog eyes. "I promise I won't hurt anyone... much."

"Absolutely not!" Koki knew that once Aoi lost control, he lost his mind. "You might endanger people's lives or something. Do you want that to happen?" he asked seriously.

"I don't see why not. There's a lot of jerks out there like that Ogata guy. But mainly these are for Ryusaki. Maybe I should--"

"I don't think so you WACKO! Even though he is the enemy."

"What did I say about calling me 'wacko'?" Aoi asked putting a hand on his sword. "You don't want me to get rough with you... or do you?"

Koki gulped and waved his hands in front of him. "Nononono... heh... I mean, 'I don't think so you UNBALANCED creep. Heh..."

Flippy smiled in victory. "That's much better." Then without warning, he hugged his buddy really tight grinning like a crazy man, which was exactly what he was if you think about it.. "Haha! You thought I was gonna cut you up into tiny pieces and feed it to Poplar, didn't ya? Oh Koki, you're such a gullible little fellow."

"Uh, Aoi? I appreciate that you're not really going to kill me but dude, I don't swing that way."

"And why not?"

"FLIPPY!!!"

Aoi unattached himself and grinned. "Haha, I'm just kidding ol' buddy ol' pal. Shiesh. What did I tell you. Gullible."

Koki was about to say something but stopped when he heard the bathroom door open behind him. "HALLELUJA! What took you so--" He stopped abruptly when he saw Tanpopo. He drank in her appearance and felt his legs nearly melt beneath him. She was dressed in her costume-- a sleeveless deep green dress that was just below her knee. The flowers were strewn on carefully. They were scattered all over the dress. She wore silver heels that had straps wrapped around the ankles.Her hair was down but had two tiny braids that met in the back of her head. He could even see signs of glitter sprinkled on top. A red rose was placed just above her ear and she was wearing makeup but not a lot. He figured that Tsuki was responsible for that had persuaded her. Light shimmery green eyeshadow was placed on her eyelids and a rosy blush took its spot on her cheeks. Glittery lipgloss accented her lips and Koki wanted to kiss them very badly. 'She's beautiful... no, gorgeous...'

"Damn Tanpopo! You look uh... hot!" Aoi said with his mouth wide open. Tsuki quickly shut it for him. "Owww!!! You're beautiful too, darling! Please don't hurt me again!" Tsuki was dressed in a witche's costume, but of course, she was supposed to be the 'hottest and beautifullest' one around. She had on a black dress that went down to her knees and black pointy boots that made her two inches taller. Blue eyeshadow was swept across her lids along with some eyeliner, and a hint of crimson lipstick could be seen. Her hair was down, with curly tendrils in front of her face and a pointy hat was placed upon her head. She also had a broom in her hand and contacts replaced her round glasses.

"Oh darling! You really do look beautiful! I can finally see your eyes! You know, yesterday, when we made out and stuff, you're glasses got fogged up so bad. You were so cute and--"

::whack:: Tsuki had grabbed Tanpopo's scoop from her hand and taught Aoi a lesson.

Koki just stood there, still mesmerized with Tanpopo. She blushed but worriedly said, "Uh, Koki, you haven't said anything since I came out. Is there something wrong?"

"Nope, nothing at all. You're absolutely perfect..." He responded as if he were in a trance. "Absolutely perfect..."

Tanpopo blushed again but got her scoop back from Tsuki and quickly whacked Koki.

Aoi laughed. "Haha! You got scoop-whacked too!"

Koki snapped out of his hazy state and yelled, "What was that for?! You can't hit me with a scoop that I gave you!!! "

"Sorry but you wouldn't stop staring and we gotta go," she said with a guilty look. "We still have to convince people to vote for us, remember?"

He took off his hat and ran a hand through his hair. Placing the hat back on, he said, "Alright. Sorry. I was just so distracted with... well let's get going anyhow." He grabbed hold of Tanpopo's hand and led her out of her apartment.

Aoi scrunched up his nose. "Wait up for me you guys!" Running after them, he heard Tsuki's voice from behind.

"And you were going to leave me you selfless jerk!" she spat and walked quickly ahead of him.

He slapped a hand to his forehead and exclaimed, "But, love, I didn't mean to! Honest! I just didn't want to be left behind and you were walking so slowly!" That got him another glare from Tsuki.

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"So, are you ready to hack, Flippy?" Koki asked him. Aoi nodded with a thumbs up. His other arm was around Tsuki's shoulders. They had forgiven each other on the way and even though she didn't like public displays of affection, she gave him a small kiss on the cheek. (You wouldn't think Tsuki would do that, huh?)

Koki turned to Tanpopo and held out a hand. "And are you, the most gorgeous and perfect girl in the world, ready to show 'em what we got?"

Blushing, she took his hand and nodded with a smile. "Yes, I most definitely am ready to be with the most handsome looking gardener in the world."

Inside the gym, Tanpopo took delight in all of the decorations put up. There were orange, black, and gold streamers hanging everywhere. There was even a disco ball placed in the middle of the ceiling. Tables were set up and the food smelled absolutely delicious. What would you expect? It's a rich and important school. There were sodas but she knew people would add all sorts of things to it when the teacher chaperones weren't looking. There was a band playing on a stage that was set up earlier that day.

"Oh Koki... isn't this just wonderful? Everything looks great!" she said excitedly. Koki watched her cheerful expressions and he smiled at how happy she was. He held his arm around her waist and again he smiled when she looked up at him with twinkling eyes. As they made their entrance, he noticed guys stare at Tanpopo, mouths open. He could hear them whispering, can't believing that 'hot chick' was really her. Koki enjoyed the thought of being with the most beautiful girl and having everyone else look at them with envy.

Ogata spotted Tanpopo and quickly made his way towards them. 'Oh no...' Tanpopo thought.

"Hey Tanpopo. You look great tonight!" He said eyeing her up and down. Her date clenched his fist. She looked up at Koki and smiled a reassuring smile. He relaxed a bit.

"Uh, hi Ogata. Where's Arisa and how is she?" Tanpopo hadn't seen Arisa for two weeks now and she felt guilty.

"Well, I wouldn't know. I haven't been there in a while."

"WHAT?! You are responsible for her baby and you don't even check up on her?! You should be ashamed that--" She stopped abruptly when a girl dressed as a belly dancer came up to Ogata and kissed him. Looping her arm around his, she finally glanced at the couple in front of them. She looked at Koki, obviously interested.

"Aren't you gonna introduce me, babe?" She asked tucking a strand of her permed hair behind her ear with her free hand. .

Ogata certainly looked embarrassed. "Uh... this is... er.. Miki. Miki, this is Tanpopo and Koki," he said, immediately noticing Tanpopo glaring at him. "Um.. excuse us." Taking his date's arm, he quickly made his way through the crowd.

"Grrr, I just can't believe HIM! Even after I scoop whacked him, he still chases after different people! Gah, I don't know what to do anymore!" Tanpopo yelled out. Koki took her hand.

"It's okay... don't do anything. They'll work it out. I know they will," he said and he finally received a smile from her. "We'll visit Arisa tomorrow ok?" Nodding, she hugged him and said, "OK. But first thing tomorrow alritey?"

"Anything for you Tanpopo."

"Let's get our groove on!" she exclaimed happily. She took Koki's hand again and led him to the dance floor. "Let's show 'em what we got."

Suddenly, it was like she was a different person again. Her hips swayed in all the right directions to the beat of the music. Koki couldn't believe that this was his loud but modest Tanpopo. 'Damn she knows how to dance,' he thought as he tried to keep up with her rhythm. He noticed that some people had stopped to watch them dance.

"Dude, did you know that the weed can dance like that?"

"She's amazing..."

"I wish I was dancing with her..."

Those were the whispers Tanpopo heard and she smiled knowingly. She knew she had the moves. Back in Hokkaido, she and some of her girl friends had joined together and danced, entertaining their families at parties.

From somewhere in the gym, Ryusaki watched as his Tanpopo enjoyed herself... and as Koki kept up with her. With increasing strength, he punched the wall, leaving a visible crack. 'Dammit! I can't lose to that pathetic guy! How can I make Tanpopo realize that he's not good enough for her and that I'm the only one who could fulfill her desires?'

"What do I do...?" he whispered to himself. He thought for a while and decided that it was time to strut his stuff. He pushed through the groups of people and made an appearance in front of Tanpopo and Koki. Koki stopped immediately when he saw the guy who he seriously wanted to punch. Tanpopo wondered why he had stopped dancing and saw Ryusaki smiling at her. Yup. He was right there before their eyes dressed as a prince.

"I think it'd be best if I have my fair share of my--" he paused for a second. "I mean, Tanpopo. Doncha think?"

Koki seethed. "I don't think so you asshole!" That resulted in surprised gasps from the crowd.

"I don't think you'd want to create a scene right now." He grabbed Tanpopo's hand when he heard the slow song come on. "You might ruin everyone's time."

"Ryusaki! I'm sorry but I don't want to dance with you. I'm here... with Koki!" Tanpopo said with a hint of anger. She didn't know how much longer she could handle this situation.

Koki stepped forward. "Tanpopo is my date. What, no one wanted to come with you? Hah! Pathetic."

Ryusaki's eyes lowered into slits. "I think it'd be best to stop right there."

"Hah! I won't!" Koki said, his voice becoming louder. "Tanpopo already said she didn't want to be with you and yet, you force her to do exactly what you ask. If you think that's love Ryusaki, it isn't. You don't even know what love is. All you know how to do is make threats. You broke Tanpopo's window. Wow, what a great sign of your love for her," he said, sarcasm dripping from his mouth.

Rysaki didn't take this well. Enraged, he pulled out a gun and pointed it directly at Koki with Tanpopo struggling under his grasp. People started to panic. Most of them were already running towards the exit. "I don't think you understand Koki. I need Tanpopo. She's the only one who will fulfill my needs. I need her and she needs me."

She glared up at him. "I don't need you. I need Koki!"

"You're just confused my lovely Tanpopo. This guy right here is just filling your mind with all these thoughts that doesn't mean anything. No one could care about you as much as I do."

Unexpectedly, all the lights went out. Ryusaki didn't like how this was headed. "What the hell is going on?!" he yelled to no one in particular.

Suddenly, a spotlight shined toward a corner of the gym. There stood Aoi with a smile and pleased look on his face. Half his face was covered with his costume but you could still tell that he was pleased. "You never learn, do you Ryusaki." He started walking towards him with two blades in his hands. "No guns. Just knives. I assume that you do have that so-called collection of yours."

"I don't have time for your games, Kyogoku. This doesn't involve you." Ryusaki sneered.

"Of course it involves me! It's my playtime!!!" he whined. "But no, really, they're my friends and if you hurt them--"

Ryusaki laughed. "And just what are you planning to do?"

Crossing the two swords in front of him he asked, "Isn't it obvious?"

The enemy's jaw dropped. "You can't be serious." People had come back inside, curious about the fight and who was going to win.

Aoi licked along the edge of a sword. "You must not know me well."

Koki shifted his eyes back and forth between the two. Sighing, he took out his scoop and declared, "If this is how it's gotta be, I guess I have no choice but to take you down."

Tanpopo struggled out of his grasp and took out her own scoop. With a determined look on her face, she declared, "Me too!"

Ryusaki started backing up.

"Hiyaaa!" Tsuki jumped onto his back, her arms almost strangling him. Tanpopo and Koki looked at her with surprise.

"Hey! Get... off!" He struggled to get her arms off his neck. But Tsuki wouldn't let go.

"If I didn't think you were poisonous and a hazard to my health, I'd bite you right about now!" she said baring her teeth.

"Crazy b!tch!"

Aoi cheered her on! "WhoO! Go babe!"

Both Ryusaki and Tsuki stopped to glare at him. Aoi raised up an eyebrow and asked, "What?"

His girlfriend sighed. Ryusaki caught her off guard and flung her away from him. At this point, Aoi became boiling mad along with Tanpopo and Koki.

"You can't do that to my darling Tsuki!"

Tanpopo's eyes turned into daggers. "How dare you toss my friend like that!!!" She clenched her scoop tightly.

"Yeah you're askin' for it jackass!" Koki said inflamed.

"Well, what are you gonna do about it?" Ryusaki said tilting his head a little. "What if I used this to end your precious friend's life?" He once again took out the gun and pointed it at the girl who was slowly getting up with hatred burning in her eyes.

Aoi, Tanpopo, and Koki gasped in shock. Tanpopo stuttered, "B-but you can't d-do that Ryusaki!!!"

He looked at her and said, "But I have to do this, honey." Tanpopo gave him a look of disgust. "I'm doing this all for our future."

Looking him evenly in the eyes, she replied, "We-have-no-future."

He gripped the gun tighter. "Tanpopo, sweetie, think about what you're saying." He pressed the gun against Tsuki's head. "Think about your friends."

"Don't agree to anything Tanpopo! Do you hear me?!" Tsuki yelled.

'What should I do...?' Tanpopo wondered, afraid that he might actually pull the trigger if she didn't do as he asked. 'Someone please tell me what I should do!' she pleaded to no one in particular.

At that moment, it seemed as if her prayers were answered as she saw who had come behind Ryusaki without him knowing.

"Drop the gun," the person demanded.

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A/N: i'm done with this chapter!! yay!! next one might be the last. maybe. well please review! you guys probably got tired of waiting huh? well thanx for all the support!i really appreciate it. REVIEWS PLEASE!!! hehe... spoiled i say!!! spoiled for reviews!!