Author's Note: Yay, another update! I'm really trying to get this story finished. Not because I don't like writing; I really, really do. I just don't want to get distracted and stop writing it, like I do with most of my longer stories. On a brighter note, this story now has more than ten reviews, which is better than most of my other stories. xD And the reviews are all really helpful and encouraging. Thanks a bunch, guys.
Since the tournament is starting in this chapter, more of the characters are going to show up. I had fun writing Lion, Jacky, Sarah and Vanessa... it was a good change of pace from just writing Akira, Aoi and Aoi's family. And yes, Kage-maru will be making his triumphant return. As well as Goh. And Jean! Yes, I do plan on adding him... he looks so cool... :o
But anyway, time to start this chapter.
--
Look Away
An Akira/Aoi fanfiction by Strike To Incinerate.
chapter o8
--
"The anxious through the calming storm you'll sit as you pray for rain
I'll touch it if you ask me to but how is up to you
No I'm not going to let you get up if you struggle willingly
I'll favor all your form to show you how its been done to me."
The Velorium Camper I: Faint of Heart - Coheed and Cambria
--
The next morning, Aoi was the first to awake... but not with the headache she had anticipated. Then again, she really hadn't had that much to drink. Just a few cocktails that Sarah had almost forced down her throat... Sarah really liked her cosmopolitan martinis. She still felt a bit like a hypocrite, considering how harshly she had acted towards Akira's briefly-lived alcoholism.
She shook her head. Never question small favors. She wiggled out of Akira's arms, which in turn, caused his eyes to blink open.
"Sneaking out?" he questioned, as she sat up.
"Sneaking out of my own hotel room?" she chuckled. "Yeah, right."
"What time is it?" he asked her, sitting up as well, running a hand through his hair.
She looked at the digital clock on the night stand. "Seven in the morning..." she told him, wrapping a lock of hair around her finger. She knew her hair was snarled and that she probably looked horrible... she hadn't changed into pajamas, so she was still wearing her clothes from yesterday.
Then again, so was he, and he didn't look so bad.
She smiled to herself.
"What's so funny?" he asked her.
"Nothing..." she said, standing up, and heading for her suitcase.
He didn't believe her. She was obviously thinking about something, but he wasn't going to push. Maybe she was just excited that their first match was going to be today.
"You want the first shower?" he offered.
"Yes, thank you..." she said, picking up a few articles of clothing, along with her shampoo. He was the kind of guy that just used the shampoo the hotel offered, but she clearly didn't like it.
While she took her shower, he rested for a few more minutes.
--
Akira pulled the ends of his starched white headband tight, and double-knotted it. He shook his legs out, and the legs of his pants flapped comfortably. This year, he had chosen a different outfit than his usual karate gi. It was a pair of short hakama, and a sleeveless haori. Despite himself, he was feeling a little excited. Tag teams could mean that it was a whole different ball game. Sure, they still weren't clear on all of the rules, but it was bound to be interesting. According to Aoi and her tournament program, the teams were pretty much what anyone could predict they would be. The most interesting match-ups, in his opinion, were Kage-maru and Jacky, and that the luchadore El Blaze had paired up with someone who was previously unknown in the World Martial Arts Tournament.
Aoi stepped out of the bedroom, dressed to compete as well. Though, her outfit this year was a bit different. It was a loose, bright blue kimono... in lieu of a formal obi sash, it was just a regular sash holding it closed. He knew that she would be able to fight well in it... it was loose enough to allow her to move, and like her usual outfits, it would flow well. But wouldn't it show off her legs... like, a lot?
At least they matched. And they wouldn't be the only ones dressed in traditional Japanese attire. This year marked the triumphant return of the famed sumo wrestler Taka-Arashi. And Kage-maru, with his ninja armor, always looked more ridiculous than anyone else. Well... Wolf's Native American headdress was kind of ridiculous, too.
"You ready to go?" he asked her.
"Well... the matches start in an hour. We don't want to be late," she replied, pulling her hair back into a low ponytail, tying it with a white ribbon.
"Alright, let's go," he said. The spectating arena was actually a part of the hotel, conveniently... maybe that was why such an expensive hotel was chosen.
They left the hotel room, and made their way to the elevators.
"Aoi! Wait up!"
Aoi glanced over her shoulder, to see Sarah rushing towards them, Vanessa walking calmly behind her.
"Hey," she said. "You guys have your match, too?" she asked them.
Akira impatiently jabbed his finger at the call button.
Sarah nodded. "Well, later. Vanessa and I are in the second pool. But my brother is in the first pool, with you guys, so... we decided to catch all of the matches. Not like we had anything else planned, anyway," she explained.
The elevator finally opened up, and Akira eagerly stepped inside, grabbing Aoi's sleeve and dragging her, too.
Vanessa chuckled as she and Sarah followed them.
"Akira... stop it. You're gonna tear it..." she muttered, blushing, as she tugged her sleeve away from his grip. She knew he wasn't all that comfortable around her friends, but he didn't have to embarrass her like that...
"You know who else is in the first pool?" Akira asked Vanessa.
"No... We only knew about you guys and Jacky. Though I think Lion and Brad are in the first pool, too..." she told him.
"What makes you think that?" he asked her.
"Brad tried to invite me to watch their match. I would've punched him in the gut for his density, but... I didn't want to ruin Lion's chances," she laughed.
"Very polite," Akira agreed, smirking. Vanessa Lewis, he could get along with.
"Hopefully, you guys aren't going to face them. I remember last time Brad was in the ring with Aoi..." Vanessa muttered, her fists clenching.
He raised a brow. "Aoi's actually hoping for a rematch against him. Wants to set him straight, she said," he informed her.
"Like she did last time?" Vanessa replied. "I'm just sick of him trying so hard to get laid, while the rest of us are here for a reason."
"I think everyone is sick of Brad Burns. But as long as he's the undefeated European Kick Boxing Champion, no one's going to keep him out of the tournament," Akira said, stepping out of the elevator as it opened on the ground floor.
"Don't I know it..." Vanessa agreed, sighing. "Let's just say that if he makes eyes at me or Sarah again, he won't be seeing for long," she said.
He laughed, but he also knew that she was serious. Vanessa Lewis rivaled any man when it came to brute strength. He'd never had the privilege of fighting her, but at the last tournament, she'd done a number on Lei Fei. And Lei Fei was a Shaolin monk.
"So... if we end up against Jacky, who are you going to cheer for?" Aoi teased Sarah.
"Oooh, tough one. I've known my big brother my whole life, though... so I think I'm gonna have to root for him. Sorry, darling," Sarah apologized.
"Nah, it's okay. Jacky got a great partner... I'm surprised that Hagakure-san teamed up with him. Then again, Jacky's no slouch, either. I hope we're not going up against them. I really want to see how Jacky and Kage-maru will cooperate in the ring. It's going to be... interesting," Aoi replied.
There were signs to direct them to the spectator arena, so they found it without fail. There was a roped off area where only the competitors in the first pool were allowed to be... and since it was getting crowded, they headed in that direction.
"Well... Vanessa and I can't go any further. We're in the second pool. We're going to go get our seats. Good luck!" Sarah said, hugging Aoi quickly.
"Break a leg, champ," Vanessa said, patting Akira's shoulder.
"Uh, yeah, sure," Akira said, heading into the roped-off area, Aoi close behind him.
Jacky was leaning against the wall, his arms folded across his chest. He looked bored, like he'd been there for a while... El Blaze and his partner, a hooded man in long sleeves, were standing off to the side, and Pai and her partner, the young Chinese girl, Eileen, were sitting in chairs. Eileen was chatting animatedly, and Pai looked like she was trying to keep herself awake.
Aoi grabbed his hand and dragged him towards Jacky.
"Hey there, kiddo," he greeted her.
"Hello!" she chirped. "Where's your partner?" she asked him.
"Who knows?" Jacky laughed. "He should be here soon... he's done this as long as I have... We didn't come in late to the game, like you and Lion," he teased her.
"Hey! Vanessa was later," Aoi retorted.
Akira snorted, masking a chuckle.
"So, what's up? You guys pumped up yet?" he asked her.
"Yes. We're ready. This year, I'm going to win," Aoi said, trying to stay calm, but excitement was still creeping into her voice.
Jacky just laughed at her again. "Yeah, we'll see. It's not gonna be easy. For all you know, you could be facing me and Kage-maru first," he reminded her.
"As if," Aoi glanced around, to find that Pai and Eileen had noticed herself and Akira. Pai was glaring at them; she hadn't forgotten the incident at the bar, but Eileen was smiling and waving. Aoi waved back, half to spite Pai and half to be polite to the oblivious young girl.
"Aw, what's wrong? You scared?" the blond taunted.
"Nah, I just don't want to have to knock out such a good team so early in the game," she responded, grinning.
"Thatta-girl," Jacky said appreciatively. "How 'bout you, big guy? Any nerves?"
"Nah, I'm playing it cool," Akira quipped.
"Like a true pro," Jacky said, nodding.
"Hey... there aren't any special rules for this, are there?" Aoi asked, suddenly nervous.
"Not really. Tags can be initiated any way the team chooses," Jacky answered. "But both members can only be in the ring for thirty seconds. Any longer, and you'll get disqualified. If one of you gets knocked out, you both lose. Other than that, it's anything goes," he said.
"Okay... doesn't sound too odd, right, Akira?" she said to her teammate.
Sounded pretty straight forward to him.
--
The matches were chosen at random... the teams were ushered into a large conference room that led to the arena proper fifteen minutes before the first match would start. In there, there were couches and chairs, and a screen that stretched across the wall was available so that they would have their own sky-box views.
It was on this screen that the teams were randomized. The first teams to fight were Eileen and Pai, and El Blaze and his partner, named Siba.
"Ai ya ya... too easy..." the luchadore said proudly, as the four of them walked out the door and into the arena.
The crowd went wild. They could hear the cheering through the speakers as well as through the walls. It was intense... Aoi didn't remember it being like this before. Maybe they were going commercial with the tournament.
It seemed like a lot of effort was put into showcasing this tournament.
Maybe the prize would be bigger, as well. Maybe if she and Akira won, she could use some of the money to keep the dojo afloat while she went back to college... she could hire a maid to take care of the house and cook dinner for Midoriko and Shiroi, and her father could spend less time in the dojo.
Her hands clenched into fists as she sat on the couch, between Akira and Jacky. She would have to win first.
It seemed like forever before the match started, there was so much advertising. When it finally did... they weren't disappointed.
Pai and Eileen's styles complimented each other. Eileen was tricky, constantly mixing up her opponent, while Pai was straight-forward but elegant.
El Blaze was certainly the flashiest of the four. His Lucha Libre style seemed almost surreal... it almost made Aoi dizzy watching it. He did well, nearly knocking Eileen out of the ring, which would've ended the match... if not for Pai's interference. The movie star came flying in with a kick, knocking him back, while her young partner stepped out to take a few breaths.
El Blaze ended up switching out with Siba, but Pai had gained far too much of a lead. Just when Siba thought he was safe, out of the range of her long-reaching kicks, Eileen came in from behind him, tripping him... and he hit the ground. He tried to roll away... but he hadn't been paying close enough attention to his surroundings. He rolled right out of the ring.
It wasn't like any other option would've fared him much better. He had Pai in front of him, and Eileen behind him. If he moved toward one, they would take over while the other left. He had left himself too open, and his partner had responded fast enough, which resulted in their loss.
Eileen and Pai were high-fiving and hugging, and the crowd was absolutely going nuts that a petite woman and a girl who probably wasn't yet out of high school had beaten a luchadore and a burly Arab.
The eight remaining competitors clapped politely, but Aoi was a bit disappointed. She had been silently rooting for El Blaze, if only because she didn't like Pai.
As the four returned, two triumphant and two defeated, the others held their breath as the roulette wheel spun again.
Aoi's heart jumped when herself and Akira's names appeared on the screen... opposite Jeffry McWild and Wolf Hawkfield.
Akira rolled his shoulders back and stood up. He was actually pleased with that match-up. He and Wolf had a friendly rivalry, and it would be nice to jump-start it again. Jeffry on the other hand... his wild style was certainly unique, and watching his matches was always interesting. Participating in one would only be more-so.
"Ah... good luck to you," Aoi said, standing up and bowing to her opponents. "Please do your best."
They both gave her odd looks. After all, they both weighed in at almost three-hundred pounds each, and she was what? A hundred? If that. They already felt guilty that they were going to hit her, even if it was a tournament. It was what sometimes gave Eileen an advantage; most mature adults, even toughened fighters, didn't want to hit a cute teenage girl.
But this was still a tournament.
"Too bad you went with your heart instead of your head... you could've gotten a better partner," Wolf said, shaking his head.
"I asked her, not the other way around. She's the partner I wanted," Akira retorted. "And last year, she placed higher than you did. Don't insult her because of her size or gender."
Jeffry laughed. "Hah! Make sure you save some of that fire for the ring, bub!" He sauntered off towards the arena.
"I meant no offense," Wolf said quickly.
"Yeah, sure. Watch your mouth," Akira told him, brushing past him, leading Aoi by the hand, into the ring.
"You want to go in first?" she asked him.
"If it's Wolf, I'll go in first. If it's Jeffry, I don't care," Akira replied.
"You can go in first. I don't have a preference at all," she agreed.
As soon as they stepped into the ring, the audience began screaming again, and Aoi stole a glance around. She knew she had to concentrate only on the fight... but there were so many people. Some of them, even holding signs... Some were funny, some were flattering, and some were just stating their favorite fighter. Not surprisingly, most of them were cheering for Akira or Wolf. Akira was a previous winner, after all, and Wolf was a champion wrestler in America and Canada.
She took in a few deep breaths... ignore it. Center. Focus. She had to. She couldn't lose again. She wouldn't.
She wouldn't get close enough to taste a win and be denied any longer. She would grasp victory and savor it... after what she had been through this year, she couldn't lose anything again.
"Be careful," she told him, as she walked towards the edge of the ring.
"Don't worry about me. Just focus, and jump in when I need you," he told her.
Obviously.
Wolf accepted the challenge, and the match began.
It was fun to watch, but she kept herself at a distance. Wolf was heavy, slow... relying on grappling. Akira kept him at a distance, moving just fast enough to keep out of his grasp, but conserving energy, because he knew that Jeffry could jump in at any time, at full power. And Jeffry never worried about conserving energy.
But Wolf finally managed to evade one of Akira's palm thrusts. He wasn't going to keep falling for the same tricks. He was an experienced fighter, and he knew the way Akira fought especially well. He grabbed Akira's arm, and she saw both the grin on his face, and the way Jeffry was anxiously stepping towards the ring.
Aoi made it there first. She was faster than all three of them, and her reflexes were arguably better, too. The only things they really had on her were raw power and experience.
"Not so fast!" Her balled fist found its way into Wolf's gut, and he was more surprised than injured... which left him open to her ankle catching his foot, throwing it off balance. "Gotcha!" As he fell, her foot plowed down into his stomach in a stomp. If it wasn't injured before, it certainly would be now.
Akira, who had been dropped from Wolf's grasp, had rolled back, catching his breath. All of that had taken ten seconds... He had to decide, quickly, if it would be himself or Aoi staying in the ring. "Go. Next time you jump in, I'll take a break," he told her. He wanted to keep fighting Wolf as long as he could.
Aoi nodded, and left the ring. In the middle of a fight, thirty seconds was more than enough to save your partner.
Akira stood up, and in a surprise move, actually rushed in on Wolf... baiting an attempt at a grapple. He ducked it, and threw his shoulder at Wolf... followed by his palm, then his knee, and then, his foot.
The battle was now in their favor. Akira let a smile slip.
"I'm coming in!" Jeffry roared, not giving Wolf a choice. He charged in, forcing Wolf to exit. No time to think of a clever attack plan... and he needed to breathe.
"Very well. Come on!" Akira taunted.
Conserving energy was no longer an option. If Jeffry was going to go all out, he would have to as well, just to keep up. But Jeffry was harder to predict, harder to trap... his punches kept Akira on the defense, until finally... he managed to land a hit. And another. And a double-fisted blow to Akira's shoulder.
Aoi came to his aid again. Jeffry's one flaw was the he was too focused on the opponent at hand... almost forgetting that this was a team tournament. Aoi was able to ambush him from behind, kicking the back of his knee and forcing him down... then grabbing his arms and pulling them back, leaving him entirely prone long enough for Akira to recover and punch him.
"It's my turn now," Aoi reminded him.
Akira nodded and left the ring, panting. Twice, she'd saved his ass... he definitely needed a break. Jeffry would be wearing down anyway.
Aoi was much cleverer in the ring than he was. She handled Jeffry's constant offensive barrages with relative ease... she simply waited for that one little gap, the split second when she could hear him breathing in before he threw his fist... and grabbed it. It was impressive, watching someone as small as she was hurl someone two or three times her size over her shoulder and punch him in the ribs.
But Akira had been right about the kimono. Definitely too loose. With every high kick, he got a glimpse of what she was wearing underneath it. He smirked. He'd have to tell her to slap some bloomers on after the match was won.
Jeffry kept charging in, time after time, and soon, Akira could tell that Aoi was beginning to toy with him. Rather than just going for the grapple, she would mix it up... sink below his fists, come up with an uppercut, or just swing her leg around in a sweep kick.
But it was during one of those mix-ups where Aoi had lost herself in her fun, and timed it incorrectly. She was caught by one of Jeffry's knees, and Akira could see her eyes wide in shock.
Come, react... don't just sit there... Akira thought. But she took another hit. She was strong, a worthy competitor... but Jeffry was just so much bigger than her. If she took too many hits, she'd drop like a fly. She wasn't made of stone, and unfortunately, Jeffry's fists were.
Akira made it back into the ring, just as Wolf began to jump in on the other side... no time to be smart. Soon, he was going to have two of them on his back.
He pushed Aoi out of the way, taking one of Jeffry's punches to the chest. Aoi pushed herself up as Wolf grabbed Akira from behind. All four of them were in the ring, and this couldn't last long...
She'd have to end it now, before they lost their lead, and ultimately, the match.
She forced herself up, and as Jeffry smirked, thinking they'd lost, cocking his fist back again, she kicked him... right in the back. It forced him to stumble forward.
Still locked in Wolf's grab, Akira picked his legs up, and then, shot them forward into Jeffry's chest.
The wind was knocked out of the Aboriginal man. Just one more...
Jeffry stumbled back, towards Aoi again. Wolf was going to maul Akira, but it wouldn't matter, because if his partner lost, he lost. Aoi raised her leg again... and nailed Jeffry on the back of the head.
Jeffry's eyes rolled back, and he fell forward, landed with a thump that was audible even over the boisterous crowd.
The bell tolled and the match was finished, decided by knock out.
Akira laid on the mat, and standing above him, Wolf was shaking his head, walking away.
Aoi rushed over to her partner, unable to contain her smile, and helped him up.
He held his side... that last one hurt like hell. Each breath stung, but he was grinning, too.
At the edge of the ring, Wolf turned back around to face them. "Miss Umenokouji," he said.
Aoi looked over at him. "Yes?"
"I was wrong to have underestimated you... It was I who should've been more careful in choosing my partner," he apologized to her. "I won't make either of those mistakes next time."
"Don't worry about it," she said to him. "I know that you won't question Akira's taste again."
"Hey, Wolf..." Akira said. "It was good to fight you again. Next year, it might be one on one," he said hopefully.
Wolf nodded. "Yes... I'd hate to fight the pair of you again," he said, chuckling and shaking his head. "There is always next time."
"Come on... let's go back and rest, while we watch the last match," she said, taking his hand again. The crowd cheered even louder, if that was possible.
As they re-entered the conference room, Jacky, Kage-maru, Brad, and Lion were already standing up, ready to go. After all, they were the only ones left.
"Aoi, baby! Congrats! Maybe we could celebrate our victories together, after Lion and I trash these chumps?" Brad said, winking at her.
"Thanks, but no thanks," Aoi told him.
"But you still owe me that date," he reminded her.
Akira glanced over at him. "She's spoken for. If you don't leave her alone, I'll give you a reason to, since apparently, the word no isn't reason enough."
Brad raised his fists. "You want to fight for her? I've got more than enough fight to take on those chumps and you. Anytime... anytime," he said.
Kage-maru stepped between them before Akira could rush Brad down and beat the snot out of him. "Brad, Miss Umenokouji is not a prize to be won. Your disrespect for women as competitors is frustrating to everyone, not just the women," he told him.
"Yeah, whatever... I respect 'em. I just don't respect their taste in men," he said, still cocky.
Aoi went to sit on the couch, unable to take anymore of it.
"I still be here, baby, when you change your mind... and I know you will..." Brad called to her, as he headed out towards the ring.
Aoi shuddered, and shook her head. "If I ever 'change my mind' about that... someone please, kill me first," she muttered.
The match was about as eventful as it could be... as much as Aoi adored Lion, and she did, considering he was the person she knew best in the tournament (besides Akira, of course), she was rooting for Jacky and Kage-maru to win.
It was actually pretty even. Despite all of his boasting and showmanship, Brad Burns was immensely skilled... on par with Jacky, even. Kage-maru barely had to step in, until Brad switched with Lion. Jacky and Kage-maru, given the differences in their fighting style and personalities, worked together surprisingly well... much better than Lion and Brad did. Lion at least took the tournament seriously; to Brad, it was just a game. One that he was good at, but he didn't care if he won or lost. Lion did care about winning.
Which is why the outcome came as such a surprise to her... and the other competitors watching.
The teams were evenly matched... tied, even. The audience wouldn't notice it, but the other fighters did. Lion suddenly... stopped paying attention to Kage-maru. It wasn't hard to see that his eyes weren't on his opponent. He left himself wide open to an attack, and Kage-maru made the most of his opportunity.
Lion was easily knocked out, and Brad was left cursing and kicking the ground, his swearing faintly audible through the television screen.
Nearly everyone was looking at each other, asking, "What the hell happened to Lion?"
It wasn't like Lion to freeze up. He was used to this. Jacky had just been kidding when he teased Aoi about herself and Lion being new to this; Lion had first entered in the second World Tournament.
When Jacky and Kage-maru returned, they were just as confused as everyone else.
"I've never seen him like that..." Kage-maru mumbled. "It wasn't like he was scared... almost, anxious. Happy, but not quite... he didn't even see me coming at him. He was lost, somewhere else. I don't know what happened in there."
Brad flipped over a chair, cursing, "Stupid fucking kid..." and walked out.
"I have to talk to him," Aoi said. "Could I? Where is he? I think something might be wrong..." she said earnestly.
Jacky shook his head. "They're taking him to the infirmary they have set up. I don't think they'll let you see him until he wakes up, kiddo," he told her.
"Oh..." she looked down. "What should we do, then?"
"What can we do?" Akira said. "We'll just wait a few hours, and then go check on him," he said. Everyone nodded. It was just too unsettling, seeing a seasoned fighter tense up like that. Everyone had always suspected that something was odd with the tournament, especially this time around... and this didn't help.
--
Aoi walked slowly down the hallway, towards the vending machines. The suite, as nice as it was, was devoid of snacks, and she and Akira were hungry.
"Miss Umenokouji!"
She stopped, and turned around, to see Kage-maru walking towards her.
"You can call me Aoi," she told him. "Almost everyone else does."
"Very well, then," he agreed.
"Are you going to the vending machine?" she asked him, raising a brow. "Or did you want to talk to me?"
He nodded. "I did, actually... I'm glad that I finally caught you," he said. "How is Akira?" he asked.
"You can see for yourself. He's fine, now. Not drinking or anything. I think he's moving past his father's death..." she replied.
"I truly am sorry that I... dumped him on you like that," Kage-maru apologized. "But I didn't have many options... I wouldn't have done it if I thought I could devote the time and attention it would take to help him."
"And you thought that I just had enough free time on my hands?" she responded. He balked, and she shook her head. "It's fine... it worked itself out..."
"Oh, yes. I heard about you and Akira," he replied.
"Oh, really?" she said. "What did you hear?" She wouldn't have pegged Kage-maru for a gossiper. Then again, gossip was a great way to gather information, and he was a ninja...
"Jacky told me about the bet he lost... that you and Akira were, ah, romantically involved..." Kage-maru said.
"Lion and I lied to Jacky. Akira and I aren't romantically involved," Aoi told him plainly. "Jacky was just too trusting to think it through. He assumed that I wouldn't lie about it. That was his fault. I'm surprised that so many people are buying into the gossip."
"Well... it did come from the horse's mouth..." Kage-maru replied.
"I guess. It's just kind of... juvenile," Aoi said.
Her sudden silence intrigued him. Why did it feel like she wanted to keep talking about it? "So... you and Akira haven't done anything?" he asked her.
He expected her to tell him that it was none of his business, but she didn't. "We've kissed. Among other things... but we're not involved," she said.
There it was. "Would you like to be involved with Akira?" he asked her.
She sighed. "I don't know... we've known each other forever..."
"But?" It was hanging in the air, he had to ask. Normally, he didn't meddle in the affairs of others, but Aoi and Akira would never have started speaking again if not for him. He felt responsible, in a way. The least he could do was give her someone to talk to.
"But I'm not sure if I love him, or if there's just leftover feelings from when I idolized him as a kid... or if it's just sexual tension," she explained. It felt good to finally have someone to talk to. It was just creepy talking to her teenaged sister about it. She didn't want to think about Midoriko having experience in those kinds of matters.
"I doubt there's any leftover feelings. You've seen him at his worst. That would kill any idolatry," Kage-maru told her.
"Yeah... I guess so..." she said.
"Would you like me to help you figure out if it's just sexual tension?" Kage-maru offered her.
"Yes," she answered, unprepared for what happened next.
Kage-maru lifted her chin up, and kissed her.
--
Aoi was gone for two minutes before he noticed that her wallet was still sitting on the coffee table. "Oh, shit..." he said. She wouldn't be able to pick up anything from the vending machine without money. Akira grabbed the wallet and the card key, and left the hotel suite.
Half-way to the vending machine, his heart stopped, as well as his feet.
He wanted to believe that it was a mirage, a hallucination...
that Aoi wasn't kissing that damned ninja.
It was just... wrong. He and Aoi had absolutely nothing, when it came down to it, but it still felt like he was losing something as he stood there, watching.
He was jealous. He was angry. He was disappointed... he couldn't look away.
It was so different from the first kiss he had shared with Aoi. It was gentle, tender... innocent. It wasn't a beast ravaging her mouth. It was... the way she deserved to be kissed.
"Fuck... fuck me..." He wanted to punch a wall, anything to relieve the ache in his chest. It felt like a punch harder than he'd ever recieved, but there would be no bruises, no visible scars.
It felt like everything. It felt like every punch, every broken bone, every bruise he'd ever recieved, all at once.
He didn't ever think he could feel that way, so completely helpless and broken... even worse than the last time his father's eyes closed.
He turned and walked back towards the room.
If only he had stayed another second, he would have seen Aoi push the ninja away, and take a step back.
--
"What was that about?!" she demanded. She felt slightly violated... when she had asked for his advice, she hadn't asked to be kissed. He hadn't been forceful or anything...
but he wasn't Akira.
Very seriously, he asked her, "Would you sleep with me?"
"No, Akira would--"
"There's your answer," he said simply, smiling at her.
It took her a moment to figure it out. Of course, it made perfect sense. If it was just sexual tension, stemmed from a single kiss, then why wouldn't she feel it for Kage-maru, too? Kage-maru, by most people's standards, was more handsome, certainly more polite... he was even dark and mysterious. If it were just sexual tension, why would her first protest be her fidelty to Akira?
It was not just sexual tension.
"Aoi, don't discredit your feelings for Akira because you've loved him in other ways," Kage-maru told her. "Love grows, love changes... there's no reason why your feelings wouldn't be true. It's clear to me that they are. I've never been so soundly refused," he laughed.
She nodded. "Thank you, Kage-maru..." she glanced to the vending machines. "I guess I should grab some food and get back..." And then, she realized that she had forgotten her wallet. "Or not," she chuckled. "I guess I'll just go back. I'll see you later, Kage-maru," she said to the ninja.
"Glad I could be of service to you, Aoi," he said, watching her walk away. There was a new bounce in her step, he noticed.
She really was in love.
--
Akira heard the door shut, as soft as it was, and his fists clenched against the couch cushions as he stared at the television, purposefully not looking at her.
She walked towards the couch, and he stole a glance. She was smiling, her eyes were bright, her cheeks were flushed... she looked happy. Carefree. Radiant.
She would.
He tried to hate her for looking that way, but he couldn't.
He's so much better. They're all much better.
If he were Aoi, he would probably love Kage-maru, as well.
Is that what she had wanted all this time? All the things he had seen in her eyes... the deepest parts of him that she had touched... was that all a lie? Had she just been waiting for something better to come along?
They had never even been friends, had they?
"Akira," she spoke his name, and it was sweet. It was sweet and it stung.
He looked at her, forced the tremors in his throat to still so he could speak calmly, solidly. "Yeah?" he asked.
"I..." her voice was hesitant.
Go on, tell me. It's alright, I know that you don't want me. Don't try and force to love the thought of me.
She didn't finish her thought, she sat next to him on the couch, uncomfortably close, the blush on her cheeks deepening.
He could feel her breathing.
She was going to kiss him.
He didn't stop her. Had she done this to Kage-maru? Looked so irresistibly innocent that he couldn't stop her from kissing him?
Her lips were pushing, pleading, against his, but he was still. Accepting, but not reciprocating.
She stopped, and looked at him with worried eyes. "What's wrong?"
Everything.
"Nothing," he said. Because it was nothing. They had nothing, his feelings were nothing. Nothing pushed her into his arms, nothing made him look down and she that she was still smiling, still blushing, still waiting to kiss him. Nothing made him kiss her.
--
"Apart from the wandering pack
In this brief flight of time
We reach for the ones, whoever dare."
Amaranth - Nightwish
--
Author's Note: Omigod, it's six-thirty in the morning, and I have to stop this chapter here. Sorry guys. OMIGOD SO MANY PLOT POINTS. Such a long chapter... YES, ANGST. NO, THIS FIC IS NOT ESCAPING IT. I can finally see some character development in this chapter.
I almost split this chapter up into two parts, but that's cheating. :x
I'm so proud of this chapter... I'm going to pat myself on the back and go to sleep. And write moar when I wake up. Don't forget to review, guys.