Years Ahead

Prologue

It's late at night and gloved hands are working quickly, turquoise eyes watching them work masterfully. He loves to see how those hands move, how they weave, how they work…how smooth they seem in contrast to the skin hidden beneath the gloves... "Shouldn't you be home? It's past curfew, isn't it?" asks the owner of the hands, not taking his eyes off his work.

"…So? I wanna see you work." The blonde replies, wishing he could see the brown eyes hidden behind the goggles of the other's. "Stupid, huh?"

"You took the words right outta my mouth, Koji." The other scoffs.

"What is this, Zaka?" Koji asks, staring at the giant metal ring that his friend is working on. "Some kinda teleporter or something?"

"Close…it's a time machine."

"A what! You mean a time machine for real?"

"Duh. I don't joke about these things, Koji." Zaka replies. "Hand me the three quarters wrench, would you? If you're going to be here, you might as well make yourself useful."

"Oh…okay…" Koji digs through the toolbox, looking for the wrench. "What time can it take you to?"

"None right now. I'm not finished with it."

"But…when you're finished, what time can it take you to? The future? Or the past?" Koji asks, handing his friend the wrench.

"…Either, I guess, but I'd rather stay here."

"Really? You don't actually wanna go anywhere?"

"Nah, I'm not sure of my past, but it's probably painful…as for my future, I'd like it to be a surprise." Zaka says, tightening a screw.

"…I know my past, and if Dad has his way, I know my future as well." Koji sighs, sitting on the ground next to the crouching Zaka. "It's sad being the son of a successful company president…your life is decided for you ahead of time."

"Yeah, it must be sad being filthy rich and not having to actually work a day in your life cause your dad and brother are doing all the work anyways."

"Don't mock me, I have a hard life!"

"Yup, it can't be harder than the life of a boy who lost both his parents and his memory when he was little, was beaten by the people he went to stay with, and had to live on his own since he nine…"

"Ooh, sorry…I didn't mean to…sorry, Zaka."

"Apology accepted…why are you so close to me, Koji?" Zaka says, noticing the body pressed against his.

"It's cold!"

"Then why didn't you steal one of your dad's coats?"

"I didn't wanna miss seeing you work! Plus, it would make it harder to get out without Dad or Mom noticing."

"……How long have you been sneaking in here?"

"Huh? Oh…for a couple years, actually. You're so good with your hands, Zaka." Koji grins. A slight red tinge appears on Zaka's face; did he actually say…? No, he couldn't have meant that. Zaka is glad that he's turned away from Koji, or the blonde would see the blush on his face. "Zaka?"

"…Sheesh…what time is it?" Zaka yawns.

"Huh? Two…forty-five, I think." Koji replies. "Are you tired, Zaka?"

"Naw, I'm chipper as Ryuichi Sakuma-san…" Zaka says, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"C'mon, Zaka, I may not be the brightest kid on the planet, but I'm not that dumb." Koji says blandly. "Zaka? Hey, Zaka-" Koji cuts off as Zaka falls backwards, pinning him underneath the black-haired mechanic. "Zaka…" He pulls off the goggles to find Zaka's eyes peacefully closed in sleep. "Heh…" He lays back, turns Zaka over, and cuddles up to the mechanic, smiling. "…Good night, Aizawa-kun."

Later……

Gears wind, motors hum, and bulbs light up, as a lever slides down on its own. Fans whir, and buttons beep, as lasers turn towards the center of a large metal ring, shooting a bright light at each other. Moments later, the night sky is filled with light, and all turns white.

At the Seguchi house, a certain blonde boy wakes from his slumber, and glances out the window. All is white, and the light then thins to a bright becon, like a laser pointing into the heavens. His dark blue eyes widen considerably as the light fades, and disappears. "…What the hell was that?"

A/N: This is the PROLOGUE, and yes, I will bring everyone's favorite characters in next chapter. I like the idea of time travel, and having someone in here who can make it happen is just that much more fun. This is not an alternate universe, people, it's the future thing that I made up. And although you might see future versions of certain characters, I promise you this much. You most likely won't see the future versions of these characters: Eiri, Sakano, Suguru, Hiro, Ayaka, K, ASK (you won't see ANY of them…)