-Catgirl-of-Bavaria-: Hello, everyone, and happy Valentines Day, or Single's Awareness Day, depending on how you look at it…-nervous laughter- Either way, I brought some more fluffiness for the occasion(and yes, I do know that I'm about two days late on the Valentine's greeting! Lol) Anyway, I am seriously just having a grand old time writing all this fluff, this chapter I'm playing around with the two of them taking a ride on G'dar, a concept I have always liked, especially his teaching of how to guide the bug. Just a cute idea I had to get out there. I guess it really comes from episode 16, I loved how Aikka saw Jordan and Molly over on their own ledge and gets that (adorable!) little smile on his face before inviting her with him, even if Jordan did come along and mess with their 'date'. Gah, he made me so angry when he shoved Aikka to the ground when Molly was getting carried away by a rock! D Oo I also apologize to any who haven't seen episode 16 and are now utterly confused due to my rambling…
Spellcaster Hikaru: An intriguing question, who would win? I say we do put them in a room and let them duke it out…and stand way the hell back, as there are sure to be lasers and such involved…lol…Right after that, we can go and check on Aikka and Molly's room, see what fluffy goodness is commencing…And I think I know why you like Toros better; it could be that he has the use of both eyes, and is therefore able to do the silly expressions that we pride the Crogs for! OO
Shrouded View: Sweet, I love reading a story that can put you in the story, so I am doubly glad that I am accomplishing that myself! –gives thank you huggles- I wuv Aikka's hair too…-plays with it- o.o And actually, after reading your review initially, I actually went and added another doodle to my Aikka page that has his hair down, so that one's for you, my friend! But, I have created an account on DA, however, I just need to teach my digital camera to obey me(my boyfriend gave it to me recently, so I really don't have a clue as to how to use it yet) and seeing as how I don't have a scanner, it's my only link between my drawings and the interweb. So, after I win some battles with the little device of evil, Aikka will be the first thing in my account!
Sekai Nerah: Goodies, I'm glad I got that out well enough…but like I said to Shrouded View, once I master the use of my camera, the hairstyle will be in Deviant Art for all to see! I think I actually need to re-register for the official forum, cause I have yet to get my confirmation E-mail…This happens to me a lot, I think I'm cursed…It actually took me several tries to successfully switch E-mail addresses on this site, too…
Crazyvegimab: Thank you so much for the compliment, and I read 'Rejection, Rejection, Rejection,' and I liked it a lot! And on my recent venturing on Deviant Art, I saw a bunch of your stuff! I especially liked one which had all those different leaves, with Aikka, Jordan and Molly's faces in the leaves themselves. Really liked that one. If you hear from anyone on there in the future named -KyokoMari-, that would be me!
Isabella of the Night: So glad you love it, and here is the next update!
Frubaforever: Yes, poor Aikka; he is given nightmares for the sake of plot development, lol… here's that update!
Crystal Persian: Anything I can clear up? I'd be glad to! Thank you to you as well, here's a chapter,
Jess Ishtar: Yay, another reviewer! Thank you and hope to hear from you again!
Oh! By the way, I'm so happy to announce that this story has now gotten over 1100 hits!! OMG, happy flails… Sweet, I am loving the response to this story…which is only mine in plot and the OCs that will pop in later! –runs from the swarm of ravenous lawyers-
--
--Chapter 6--
Guiding G'dar
--
The large garage doors to the place were partially opened, signaling to Eva, who knew the 'code' of the doors, that today was a raceless one, one that was left more to maintenance of the racers, or, on this day in particular, her birthday. Though that was what she was thinking, she thought it was too good to be true, as she pulled her rocket seat into the place with her.
Aikka followed her in, and immediately spotted G'dar off on the left wall of the place, thanks to an excited shriek from the creature. Aikka smiled, and headed off to greet his mount, as the large beetle took a few steps to match. The Nourasian was glad and relieved to notice that his bow was where he left it; crooked over his riding seat.
"You've taken good care of my things, G'dar," Aikka thanked the beetle, stroking him on the white outer shell, as G'dar gave something that Eva thought could be a purr, or at least the beetle equivalent. The rumbling sort of cackle gave the girl a smile, as she leaned her rocket seat up against a wall, and gave a once over of the garage; the star racers were still covered for the night, so that signaled to her that Stan, Koji and the mechanics that worked in the place weren't there yet. The place looked deserted, even though she knew her father was just up the side stairs and in his office, and that Koji and Stan were in the adjacent bunk room.
"I guess we're here early," Eva shrugged to the prince, who smiled back as he continued petting G'dar. He suddenly looked toward the beetle, who was still enjoying the accompaniment of his master, and smiled again.
"Molly, since we are early," Eva looked at him questioningly from her station of examining one thruster of the nearest star racer. "Would you like to take a ride on G'dar? I would like to explore the plant life; I'm sure he is hungry. And I am eager to see more of Earth, I hadn't the time yesterday."
Eva's tattooed face immediately lit up, and the thruster before her was forgotten. She'd only been on G'dar on one occasion, but she found it to be very enjoyable, even if Jordan and Aikka were throwing glares at one another all the while behind her.
"You bet! Oh, wait, shirts…I'll be right back, then we can leave!" She exclaimed, before heading over to a storage room, finding a tank top for herself and pulling it on inside the closet, glad to be rid of her bloodied shirt and in something she found more comfortable. Smoothing the article over herself, she noticed a pair of shorts, and smiled all the broader; they looked to be her size! After sifting through some more shirts in the place and some estimating, she chose a shirt that looked to be just right for Aikka; sleeveless and not too snug.
"Here you go, I think it'll fit," the girl said, tossing the shirt at the prince as she came beside him, her former outfit folded in her arm. Aikka looked at the material, and swiftly pulled it on over his head, finding it a bit worn and frayed. "Sorry we don't have anything better, but this is just a hangar…these are just extra clothes for the mechanics to wear if they have all-nighters," Eva explained to him, putting her uniform on her bike.
Her present outfit seemed to be more like her, Aikka thought as he looked at her; it reminded him of how he knew her back on Alwas and Oban. Her tank top, deep blue in color, only reached her waist, and her shorts appeared to be the same color as the overalls she wore back then, and nearly met her knees in length. It fit her much better than did her school uniform.
"So, ready to go?" Eva asked eagerly, setting her hands on her hips and looking at him with a smile. Aikka returned the smile, and wrapped his thick belt around his waist, before attaching his dagger to that. Even with the remaining pieces of its handles, he equipped the medicine bag to him as well. He left his armor with her uniform on the rocket seat, and took to G'dar's side.
"May I offer you assistance, princess?" he asked playfully and with a bow. Eva blushed and strode forward, as Aikka leant slightly down, setting his hands down at the level of a high step.
"You sure you can do it? I mean with your injury…" Eva asked uncertainly, setting a hand on his shoulder for balance, a hand onto G'dar, and her foot into his hands. Aikka nodded certainly.
"I will be alright Molly," he told her smoothly. His blue eyes won the girl over, and she nodded to him. She placed both hands to G'dar's shell, signaling she was ready. G'dar, it seemed, had even lowered himself for their cause. With an announcement from the prince, Eva jumped with her free foot to add to the momentum as Aikka lifted her. With the force, mounting G'dar became that much easier for her, as she scrambled on the beetle's shell as it rounded out on the top beneath her. With a triumphant cry from atop the beetle, Eva looked down to the prince, who smiled up at her enthusiasm. She would fit right in with his people, he was amused to think.
He suddenly crouched low, and sprung deftly into the air, landing without fault before where she stood on the beetle. He gave her a smile as she slightly gaped at him, and passed her to seat himself on the rider's seat, flashing his blue eyes at her staring crimson ones. Grimacing, Eva noticed that pesky blush showing up again on her face. Turning, she took the space on the seat behind him that served as something of a passenger seat. G'dar was already moving below them, wobbling on his six legs towards the opening in the doors. Already his wings were rattling behind them in anticipation. The creature was more than ready to stretch his wings.
"Hold onto me, Molly, take offs can be a bit rough, especially for new passengers," Aikka told the girl behind him. Eva looked down at his side, knowing exactly where his wound was, for having it engraved into her memory, and carefully snaked her arms around his waist, avoiding the injury.
"Is this okay?" she asked, indicating her present hold. Aikka nodded with a smile.
"That's perfect, now just hang on," he then gave a motion to G'dar, and the beetle gladly spread his wings, beating them rapidly and creating that familiar hum, and a wind that lifted all three off the ground, as Aikka said, with a bit of a lurch.
As G'dar gained some altitude and steadied in the air, Eva eased her grip on the Nourasian a bit, ready to enjoy the scenery along with the ride. Aikka smiled back at her, and gave a bit of a pull on the handle in front of him, obviously signaling the trained G'dar to fly upward, then nudged to the side, causing the beetle to hum over the glass roof of Don Wei's hangar. Eva spotted their reflection in that glass and laughed as the wind played in her hair. After pointing G'dar for a direction of the green plains that were void of grey buildings, Aikka had a thought, and suddenly turned to her.
"Would you like to learn how to control him?" he laid a hand out, indicating the bug, and Eva looked at him wide eyed.
"You mean it?" she asked him, not bothering to hide her smile. Aikka gave her a smile and a nod, and Eva's smile turned to a grin. "You bet I would!" Aikka laughed, and stood from his seat, keeping a hand on the handle. He stood sideways to the saddle, and offered the girl his other hand. Taking it gladly, Eva stood only enough to transfer herself forward to the main seat, Aikka's usual spot. Aikka placed his foot on the other side of the seat, but didn't sit down. Rather, he leaned over Eva, and guided her hand to the ideal hold on the handle. If it weren't for her gloves, he would be in contact with her true hands.
"To get him to go faster, simply lean into the handle, and if you want to go a certain direction, just lean to the corresponding side," Aikka instructed into her spiked ear, while his hand simultaneously pressed into hers, causing G'dar to indeed hasten his pace over the green pastures. His hands left hers, and she pressed a little harder, gaining her confidence as G'dar sped forward, then curved right and left to her commands. "You are a natural, Molly," Aikka chuckled from behind her as she experimented more with the controls, laughing the whole time. She may not have had the connection with G'dar that Aikka had, but these were the basics of controlling him, and she had mastered them quite beautifully.
Finally, after just playing with the controls, she left it to G'dar, and spread out her arms, feeling and enjoying the breeze that the flight was creating. The sun was fast rising from the east, and from the looks of it, it was around eight o'clock. But she didn't care about the time, she didn't even seem aware of it. All she was aware of was the beauty that the world tended to have when she was up there with G'dar and Aikka. Everything seemed right. She gave an excited shout to the world to exhibit this feeling of belonging, and felt Aikka laugh at her excitement behind her.
"I wish I could do this more often; star racers are awesome, but I don't think anything compares to this," Eva said softly after a little while, closing her eyes to greater appreciate the sensation of flying through the wind. Aikka took to his seat with a smile.
"I thought you would enjoy it," Aikka told her warmly. He then took her outstretched hands with his, and led them back to the handle. "Now, to go down; G'dar needs his first meal,"
With that, his hands pressed into hers gently and at an angle that the beetle understood as instruction to head towards the Earth. Eva smiled at the feeling in the pit of her stomach, that exciting feeling that made her think of going down the first slope of a roller coaster. It remained with her until six legs made contact with the grassy plain of ground. Aikka stood first, as soon as G'dar's wings folded into their place under his sleek cerulean shell. The Nourasian leapt aptly off of the back of the beetle, and then turned, offering his hands in front of him, in aid to Eva, who was just pulling herself off the seat.
She came to the edge of the leveled surface of G'dar's back, and peered down, plotting her plan. G'dar seemed to have tucked his legs underneath him, so that wasn't going to be a problem, and she was beginning to think that the bug did it on purpose. In that moment, she took back each and every bad thing about beetles she'd ever said as a child.
She took a seat on his shell, and pushed forward, sliding down the creature's side with a cry that could have been a mixture of both excitement and slight fear. Her feet hit the land, and hands met hers, holding her from falling forward. Looking up from the ground, which she had been keeping a close eye on, lest it come up to meet her, she found soft blue eyes looking at hers.
Once again, she noticed how close they were to one another; she'd practically fallen into his arms. Aikka seemed to notice as well, for he looked away as his cheeks darkened, deciding to busy himself with monitoring G'dar's choice in diet, occasionally checking with Eva for names of the shrubberies that lay around. He decided to keep G'dar mainly to the grass below them, finding that it was common enough to have also been on Alwas, Oban and Nourasia, and agreeable enough to the bug to not give Aikka an upset beetle to deal with later on.
Eva, while the prince was keeping his attention on what his mount was eating, took to looking around at the countryside, and found the grey blocks that signified the city to be fairly well off from where they were.
"We really flew that far?" she asked herself in amazement, sitting on a nearby rock. She gave a smile as she set her chin in her hand. She suddenly wished that there were ruins nearby to explore. Aikka took his eyes off of the happily grazing beetle in favor of looking at Eva, finding her looking nostalgic, and at the same time beautifully illuminated by the Earthen sun. Giving a pat to his mount, he went to join her on the stone.
She seemed far off to him as he sat next to her, but he guessed the daydream was about good things, seeing the slight smile on her lips. He found her gaze to be overlooking the green hills between them and the distant city they'd just come from. Recalling that he'd said something about taking in more of the Earth's features, Aikka turned his attention from the girl next to him to the landscape before them.
"Earth is certainly different than Nourasia," Aikka said after a while of observing the land, finding it rather featureless, aside from the grey blocks of cities. "I believe we have wide spaces like this on our planet, though it has been some time since I visited them."
"Really? What's it like where you live?" Eva asked him curiously, eager to know more of his planet. Aikka had a smile, glad to be sharing.
"I live in Daalan, the royal city and center of Nourasia. There, the city forms with the land, parts of it are carved into the mountains, even the palace is partially inside a mountain. And there are forests everywhere, and to the west of the city, there's a whole maze of canyons that my people use as racing grounds. G'dar and I learned to race there."
"It sounds great," Eva said, being taken by the mere image it gave her in her mind. "I'd love to see it sometime," Aikka nodded, leaning back on his palms, as if basking in the morning sun.
"And I would love to show it to you," Aikka told her. "Perhaps I could even challenge you to a race there," he suggested with a laugh. He remembered their race on Alwas, how enjoyable it had been, until Jordan had shot at him. He and Molly worked together in that setting rather well, when nothing was standing between them.
Eva looked at him, finding a far off look in his eyes, signaling he was probably reminiscing about racing. She too had her fond memories of racing, such as their first race together, even if it had been ruined by her team mates. Aikka looked at her after his reverie, and found her looking at him with a smile which he immediately matched. Eva looked away, suddenly finding her gloved hands very interesting, for whatever reason. Aikka's smile shifted a little bit, finding the remnants of her fight still on her face.
"Molly, I thought you said those marks would disappear by today," Aikka said gently, touching her cheek with his fingers at the sight of the scratches that were indeed still faintly visible. Eva looked up at the touch, and her hand went to feel her own face, finding the certain areas to still be a bit sensitive to the material of her gloves.
"Yeah, well, they're really no big deal, I only said that so you'd quit worrying about me when it was you who was injured by a Crog." She said defiantly, crossing her arms and legs. Aikka looked at her for a second, and then laughed a bit.
"I imagine you are probably right," he told her, blue eyes meeting crimson. "Though you cannot blame me for caring, can you?"
At that, Eva was speechless. Her tightly folded arms loosened a bit, and her cheeks were stained pink. Aikka looked at her reaction and smiled, taking to his feet. He brushed his already dirty pants off, and held out a hand to the girl.
"Come, we should get back; we don't want to be late for your birthday," Eva smiled up at him, suddenly remembering what the day actually meant to her.
Taking his hand, she was led gently back to the grazing G'dar, who turned and gave a greeting cry at the sight of them. Wordless glances were traded between the creature and Aikka, and G'dar immediately knew it was time to go; and so he lowered himself to better aid the Nourasian and the human girl up. Though Eva was still a bit apprehensive about Aikka's injury being disturbed while he gave her a boost, they repeated the ritual. Aikka let her take the controls, and guided her hands through the take off signals. After successfully teaching her to get G'dar into the air, he took a hold of her waist and let her do the rest.
Needless to say, they were soon speeding back towards the city as fast as she could get the beetle to go.
--
Don Wei paced around the floor of the hangar in the meantime after having woken from the couch in his office to the humming sound of G'dar's wings. At least, that's what he guessed it was. When he had emerged from his office to investigate, there had been a passing shadow from above, though he hadn't been able to catch its source, and the enormous bug that Eva had brought in was absent. For a moment he wondered if the creature had wondered out on its own, in which case he wouldn't have wanted to be responsible to the disappearance of the Prince's beetle…then again, how hard would it have been to spot a giant blue beetle?
Still he had a thought; he was sure that Eva had been for a night flight with the prince and that thing once, though that time was on Oban, and Jordan was escorting her. Who was to say she wouldn't take a ride on it again? Of course, the Prince's wound, from what the nurses had told him, was a serious one; he was lucky to be alive. Would he have even been able to leave the hospital, let alone take his daughter for a ride?
Through whatever hopes he had that the prince and his daughter were where he had left them, a call he'd put through to the infirmary contradicted; both Eva and the prince had left earlier that morning, the prince with nearly a clean bill of health, due to an amazing recovery.
So, apparently, the two of them had come back to the hangar, only to have left on G'dar again. But where had they gone? Flying around on a giant beetle, in a world where beetles of that sort were usually no bigger than coins, could prove dangerous, even attract attention from the wrong crowds.
And more importantly, why hadn't she at least told him her plans? It was her birthday, after all, she was expected, and all he really wanted to do was to be the father to her and be there for her, something he'd never done, something he should have done.
"Sir?" Koji's voice sounded above from the door to the bunkers, and the oriental mechanic came to lean on the railing, and was soon followed by Stan, who appeared to be sleepwalking, straight towards the coffee maker in the break room. "Is everything ok?"
Before Don had a chance to dump his problems on Koji, a quickly increasing hum overtook the hangar, and both mechanic and manager looked up through the glass parts of the ceiling, seeing the return of G'dar. If Don didn't know any better, he could have sworn that he heard the laugh of his daughter riding with it.
The beetle set down in front of the hangar, rattled his wings a couple of times, and strode causally into the hangar, returning to his previous place next to the wall. On top of his shell, there were indeed, two passengers.
"Eva, there you are," Don said, venturing as close to G'dar as he dared. Aikka, meanwhile, caught sight of the manager, and hopped down off G'dar, and turned immediately to help Eva with her landing, which she was getting much better at. The girl slid nimbly down G'dar's side, taking Aikka's hands for assistance only for a second.
"Dad! You're up," Eva observed, dusting off her shorts while Aikka stood off to the side, letting Eva take care of her father.
"Yes, I have been up for a while, wondering where you have been! Where on Earth did you go on that thing?" Don demanded, setting a hand on her shoulder, and motioning to G'dar with the other.
"His name is G'dar, I told you, and Aikka and I took him so he could get something to eat!" Eva told her father angrily; it was just like him, she thought, to get hostile about it.
"And why didn't you tell me where you were going, or that you were going at all? What if something happened to you?" Don continued, unfortunately not sounding very caring about it. Before Eva could say anything about it, though, she found a hand on her free shoulder, and looked to find Aikka beside her.
"My apologies, sir, I asked her to accompany me," the prince said, sinking into a deep bow. "We should have alerted you to our plans." The prince brought himself back up to find Don's expression still a sort of glower. With a sigh, though, he released his daughter's shoulder, and came back to a smile.
"Well, either way, you're here, and it's your birthday." He had the kind sort of aura to his voice again, which brought a smile back to Eva's face. He held out his arms to the girl, who blinked back at him. "This should have been done years ago, but…Eva, happy birthday." He told her honestly and with a deep smile on his middle-aged face. Aikka couldn't help but smile as well, when Eva practically tackled her father in a hug.
"Thanks, daddy," Eva said, smiling into her father's chest.
Behind them, Koji watched with a smile, and Stan came up from behind him, two cups of coffee in hand, and put an arm around Koji, who took one of the cups.
"And you said he was heartless," Stan murmured to Koji, who in turn whipped towards Stan so fast it upset his glasses.
"Me! You were the one who always said it!" Stan busied himself with a long sip of coffee to avoid the subject, and Koji looked away from his companion with a bit of a pout.
"Don't worry, Koj, I'm sure he forgives ya," Stan told Koji playfully, patting the smaller mechanic on the back hard enough to jolt the coffee in his cup. "Happy birthday, kid!" he went over to give Eva his congratulations, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and holding his cup of coffee up as if in a toast. Eva laughed at the gesture, and Aikka smiled on it. The girl suddenly noticed Aikka standing behind them, a bit out of the loop.
"Hey, dad, you think Aikka could come with us? I mean, if we're still on for the whole party at the house, I mean," Eva asked her dad as Stan released her to stand by Koji once more. Don gave a look to his daughter, then to the Nourasian in question, who stood off to the side, still looking a bit confused.
"Well, if you want him to come, I suppose, yes. It is your birthday, after all," Don nodded with a smile. Eva lit up and then turned fast to Aikka.
"What do you say, Aikka, you want to come?" Aikka looked at her, finding her crimson eyes gleaming with hope. He immediately smiled.
"It'd be an honor to come with you, Moll—Eva," Aikka corrected himself in the presence of her father.
"You're gonna go looking like that?" A deep voice said from behind the prince. Looking behind him, Aikka found the man he only vaguely remembered as being the first Earth pilot eyeing him up and down…at least as much as he could tell, what with the glasses that seemed to be a permanent fixture on his face. "Glad to see you're looking better, Prince, but I can't say the same for your outfit,"
Aikka looked down at his outfit, being reminded of its condition. He looked back up at Rick, a bit embarrassed.
"Yes, I apologize," Aikka said sheepishly, before Rick started to laugh.
"Don't worry about it, I'll help you fix this little problem," Rick told the prince certainly. Eva looked between the prince and Rick, finding a puzzled look to match her own confusion on Aikka's face. Blue eyes glanced at her for a second before Rick spoke again.
"Hey Don, you take those three, I'll take the Prince and get him something to wear," he said, slinging a muscular arm around the Nourasian, who was now making sense of it all. Don Wei nodded with a smile.
"Pick out something nice for the boy, Rick," Don suggested with a little grin on his face before turning towards his office again.
"I beg your pardon?" Aikka said, a bit panicked that he was relying on the human for buying things for him.
"Don't worry about it, your highness. It'll be my treat. Just think of it as a present for Eva." Rick told the flustered prince. Aikka took in his words, and looked at Eva, finding her still a little taken back at her father's assistant kidnapping the prince. He figured that a giving a present was part of the Earth custom of birthdays. "Meet ya there, Don! See ya later, Little Mouse," he gave a two fingered salute to the birthday girl, who stared after the former pilot and the prince.
Aikka looked back at her at the last moment, and gave her a little smile, along with a wave, which she returned. She was still a little surprised, but she found herself thinking eagerly about the prospect of seeing Aikka in a set of Earthen clothes. It certainly gave her something more to look forward to. She turned to the voices of Koji and Stan, who were beckoning her off to help them check up on the star racers before they headed to the Wei house. With that chore completed and her bidding farewell to G'dar, they would soon be on their way.
-Catgirl-of-Bavaria-: To the mall! Lol…The prospect of Aikka in human clothes is just too great an opportunity to pass up…Not to mention, I just hate leaving him trapped in his old ragged pjs and a mechanic's shirt, he's a prince, for Buddha's sake!…There'll probably be a picture of his new outfits in the works in the land of my sketchbooks, so, again, when my camera and I are on terms, it'll probably be up when it exists. And I don't know where the little Stan-Koji exchange came from, but I love it! X3
See you guys next update, where Aikka's new outfit will be revealed, and a certain president will be alerted as to the possibly impending Crog attack…We'll see how it goes…