A/N: I'm not giving Ikki and Kazu's vulgarity nearly enough credit. I realized this as I was rewatching my Air Gear DVD's in english.
I'm uploading this chapter on three set reasons. One, I hope to cheer up one of my dearest friends with an update. And two, I just came back from Ohayocon, and was blessed enough to be able to talk with Kazu's voice actor over the phone. Somehow I wanted to update after that. Aaaanndd I just haven't updated in a bit, heh!
Warnings: the usual, grammar stuff. Uhm rushed posting. The anime writes Eastside Gunz while the manga says Eastside Guns. I'm sticking with Guns.
FaS's latest chapter had the most reviews of all the other chapters. (43 as of this moment in time) Its so many that I have to keep the responses as short as I can. I was going to cut them out altogether, but I didn't want to do that to you. We're almost to 200 reviews!!! By the way, thank you all so much leaving such long and wonderful comments. Several people have thanked me and Kitten for converting them to the IkkixKazu pairing and do you have ANY idea how happy that makes me? And I've been seeing more and more ikkazu fics on ffnet.
Help me share the IKKAZU LOVE!
So on that note..! (I'm bunching them together to save space I guess? So messy... Find your name!!)
Emi-Sue: suspense no more! They're back Yukimiya: glad you like! ALt6913: Sano is so fun to write! Slifer: I felt bad for Ringo but Ikkazu is just written in the stars. Peachie Bunni: I wish I could have but it would have been moving too fast. Everyone'll wise up eventually. fox in the rough: I know sometimes I wonder just what Kazu's folks are like 'coz he's always alone :( melchan13: You're right, you should never stop writing! You're amazing! kairiyumi: Thanks for reviewing! I'll keep updating if you keep reading! Zeppelin: hah thanks! You read it all in one sitting? Amazing! bempi-chan: Everyone loves aggressivly suggestive Ikki. It's instict. Tohru Daihikashousha: Sano gives me a chance to be witty and smart and rude at the same time. Massie: lol favorite chapter? thanks so much! Jenova-chan: I told Kitten chan your wonderful words. Me and her are both very appreciative - thanks! rei yamata: Writing Ikki and Ringo's scene was terrifyingly hard, so thank you for your words! a pic? I'm so happy! BlackFlameRose: God I love long reviews. I wish I could return the favor but thank you muchly! You may write a fic? I'll read for sure! darkemyst: wow, thank you for the compliments on my word choice. I'm very picky about it. Puddles-dono: No, Kazu's got it bad right now, and it'll be getting worse soon enough. He's just too easy to mess with. Person Persona: lol dance away, heres another chapter. Kitten: How come your long and lovely reviews always get cut short :( I love you dear - I updated faster than I should have mainly to cheer you up! FallenAngelKiya: Kitten's stuff is amazing, right? I don't write Ikki and Kazu, THEY do, so I dunno when they'll wise up. mystri: never feel too shy to share ideas hun! Thanks for the review! fallenangel: first review ever? omg I'm the first? That feels so amazing darling, thank you from the bottom of my heart. maruchan: the way Ikki shows concern is really cute, isn't it? I think both Ringo and Emiri are gutsy in their own way. Sagri: nonstop, huh? I'm actually glad you mentioned you think the fic is a bit sad, I kinda want it to be on certain levels. AvariceWrath: aha everyone wants them together now, I think I may be torturing you all too much. AnonyMouse: hey dear, how are you doing? Your review was just... so adorable and thank you so much! Ikichi: I hope this chapter is just as addicting for you! Incarn: you love it and you never seen Air Gear? That says a lot right there! Thank you thank you thank you! iKat.13: I had to get Ringo out of the way so things between Ikki and Kazu can progress. I only WISH this was a movie... Katanari: well thanks a bunch! Crystal Serpent: lol sorry about that. But if I don't throw in fanservice, readers will never survive until that moment actually happens. Endless Eclipse: I guess I'm just my own worse critic. in one day, you say! brand new, loyal fan... I love you! Tristripe: Isn't her art just to DIE for? another fan falling in love without knowing the series? That makes me feel amazing. Flarrua: I hate writers block.. I hope by the time this is updated, you'll have your spark back! I'd love to read! Marshiemallows: looks like me and Kitten are doing our job. welcome to the world of ikkazu. its so very very refreshing. Sladinji: I hope the wait wasn't too long for you. Misguided Angel of Death: I just love you for taking the time to review! Hey, I have no qualms about AgitoxKazu, though I'm 'grrr' with AkitoxKazu. that weird? ah well, ikkazu has my heart in his amazing clutches. HopelessleyxXxLost: ANOTHER new person!? episode 17 is amazing and gives people a glimpse of how amazing Kazu actually is. Ptolemy: people are going through such lengths to read this! thank you so much! Jen Sweden: Aw you're so sweet, thanks! T.J.: ...I must thank Kitten a thousand times for giving me readers. Thanks for reviewing - I hope you're giving Kitten love as well! Tinkob: trust me, I scream at them to kiss all the time and I WRITE the dunderheads. thank you
I hope I got everyone, and OK so... that didn't end up being as short as I wanted.. Ah well...
--
--
--
Air Gear
a fiction by Crimson Vixen
No Need For Heroes
--
--
--
He was having a pleasant dream. Of course now that he was awake, he wasn't entirely sure what that dream was; just that it was pleasant, and it had been interrupted by something. Or rather, someone.
Ikki didn't have to guess; he just knew. Even on the edge of the bed and facing the wall with one hand tucked under his pillow, Ikki could feel rustling on the bed, and small, pathetic whimpering from behind him. With a heavy sigh he forced himself to roll over and sure enough, there was Akito, tossing and turning and aggravated on the opposite side.
The bed was only made for one person, Ikki wanted to say. Or… I don't remember saying, you know, hop on in.
He met the smaller boy's eyes questioningly, too tired to really voice his thoughts. At least not until he swallowed to wet his throat. Akito scooted closer and wrapped a small arm around him, attempting to spoon but finding it difficult with Ikki's body curving towards him instead of away, making it hard to spoon or cuddle. It's not that Ikki didn't feel bad for him, and it wasn't like sharing his bed with someone was out of the question or anything. It was just nice to have a little heads up, at the very least.
"Ikkiiiii," Akito whined. "I can't sleep."
"And now, neither can I."
Ikki wasn't sure if Akito knew what sarcasm was, even if Agito seemed to thrive off of it. Whether or not Akito caught it though, didn't matter. He kept smiling sleepily, inching a foot over to rub it against Ikki's leg, and Ikki woke up a little more.
"Why can't you sleep?"
"Too much noise."
"Uhnn?
Ikki paused, freezing what little movement he had been making, putting a hand to Akito's shoulder to signal for him to do the same. When all was still, he strained to hear through the darkness, but heard nothing. He then eyed Akito.
"Huh!" Akito giggled. "I guess it stopped."
"Right…" Ikki mumbled drowsily, rolling back to face the wall and forcing Akito to momentarily pull back. But when Ikki was resettled, the other boy wasted no time closing the space between their bodies and wrapping his arms around the crow's waist.
Ikki wore boxer shorts to bed, and nothing else. He loved the freedom he gave him, and he loved the coolness of sheets and blankets against his bare skin, and not that he hated having another warm body pushed up against him, fully clothed, but Akito shifted and moved a lot in his sleep. Ikki didn't appreciate the rub of fabric very much.
A small intake of breath.
"Hey Ikki?"
The brush of a sleeved arm gliding up his side to get his attention.
"Hmm?"
"That day at the park…"
Something tingled in Ikki's gut and he squeezed his eyes shut a little tighter.
"Go to sleep."
He wondered if that would work, or if Akito – or if anything Agito, should he choose to step in with his two cents – would call him on it, but at least for the moment, Akito was still, and Ikki tried to take advantage of it to try and sleep; hopefully it would claim him quickly and if Akito moved or did anything in the middle of the night, he wouldn't be awake for it. Maybe later when he was up he would regret such a decision but for right now –
"There it is again," Akito piped.
Ikki perked his ears and listened. This time the sound came in just fine, and he sat up on the bed, Akito still sloppily hung around him in attempt to stay close. The crow waited for the sound to return and when it did, he took in a deep breath.
"Fuckin'… What now?"
Not the best reaction, he knew, since the sounds of lurching and painful groaning were all too familiar and he was sure he knew what was going on but he was admittedly grouchy. Still, he lifted himself from the bed, Akito finally falling off of him and sitting on the mattress. Ikki told Akito with his eyes to stay put, and he followed the wretched noises that had driven Akito to his bed again. His steps were slow, unsure, since his mind was only able to focus on one thing.
I don't need a hero. And dammit, I don't need you!
Ikki wasn't going to say that those words didn't strike some sort of chord in him, and he could always chalk it up to words spouted without meaning in the heat of battle, or the lexis of someone under the spell of a fever – did Kazu even remember what he had said? And by the end of the night, they were once again on friendly terms, and frankly, Ikki was having a hard time interpreting everything. Still…
I don't need you!
That was just how Kazu was, Ikki told himself. He was stubborn and determined and had a severe lust to prove himself and he had to do it on his own or it just didn't mean anything. Ikki knew this was how his mind worked.
But Ikki knew different. Accepting help wasn't weak, needing friends was human, and sharing your problems with the people you know, though not entirely considered manly, wasn't something to be ashamed of. Ikki was sure that sometimes Kazu forgot that he was part of a team, and there was more to a team than sharing a uniform.
Shaking his head, he approached the bathroom, which Kazu was undoubtedly occupying. He turned the corner and saw him; blonde head dipped low into the bowl of the toilet, one hand clutching at the seat and the other on the floor to support himself, grasping at a towel.
Ikki shook his head; this kid just couldn't catch a break, could he? The thought was suspiciously humorous, and he accidently chuckled aloud, causing Kazu to noticeably tense when the sound reached his ringing ears. He didn't say anything, didn't turn around, just remained hovering over the toilet seat, waiting.
Ikki stepped into the bathroom, standing to the side to get a glimpse of the scene before him. There was no need to poke fun or ask questions; it was pretty obvious what was going on, and it wasn't surprising after the events of last night. Kazu didn't get sick very often, but when he did, it was quick, and it was rough.
It was then Ikki concluded that Kazu was nothing but trouble.
"Hey," Ikki attempted, crouching down and feeling his knees crack. He rested his hand on the toilet seat next to Kazu's, the side of his hand grazing the blonde's slightly.
"Hey," Kazu managed back, eyes never leaving the water in the bowl. "I'm uh… I'm sick."
Ikki couldn't help but laugh, shaking his head.
"I see that."
"Sorry if I woke ya up. I was trying not to make too much noise."
"Well, I was sleeping just fine," Ikki admitted, seeing the way Kazu's stomach convulsed under his button up nightshirt. He immediately got up and stood behind him. "Akito was actually the one to wake me up."
Kazu seemed like he had something to say but instead lurched forward and emptied the contents of his stomach, taking in wet breaths and coughing when he was done. He wiped his mouth with the waiting towel and remained steady over the toilet, unsure if the feeling in the pit of his stomach meant anything.
Ikki, feeling completely useless, wanted to help somehow, in someway, so when Kazu leaned deeper, dry heaving now it seemed, Ikki brought his hands to Kazu's face and pulled his golden locks back and held them in place. He listened to him gasp, spit, and groan in frustration while he got sick, before he fell back onto his ass on the tile floor.
"I think…" he said slowly, taking a deep breath and finally looking up at Ikki. "I think I'm done."
"Good," Ikki said quickly, offering a hand to help the other up. "'Coz I'm tired."
"Me too," Kazu said once he was on his feet. "Akito woke you up, you said?"
"Heh, yeah. You have no idea what it's like to wake up to someone hanging all over you and trying to grope and kiss and – eugh!!" Ikki melodramatically shuddered.
"You'd be surprised," the blonde muttered, smiling faintly.
"What's that?"
"Nothing," Kazu shook his head, stretching his limbs and then yawning. Being sick was exhausting work. "I'm heading back to bed"
Of course when he said bed his mind jumped to the couch, and he heaved a heavy sigh. He turned to leave but Ikki grasped his shoulder and turned him back around.
"With that?" he questioned, pointing to Kazu's shirt, which was now stained with the junk that missed the toilet.
"Dammit!"
The blonde frowned, tugging out his shirt to get a good look at the mess. He rolled his eyes and started to dab at the stain with the towel until Ikki spoke up.
"Why don't you just sleep without it."
"What, without a shirt?"
"Yeah. Should feel especially good to sleep without it since you're not feeling so hot."
"I think… I rather keep it on, thanks."
Ikki gave a strange look, specifically to the stain on Kazu's shirt. Ikki was too tired to try to argue and took a hold of the blonde's wrist.
"C'mon. You got clean clothes in my room."
He pulled Kazu through the halls and towards his bedroom, stopping only when he turned the corner and bumped into Akito. The small boy looked up at him with big, pleading eyes.
"Ikki, where did you go?"
Akito's eyes traveled down Ikki's arm, which led to Kazu's wrist, which led up Kazu's arm, and eventually his face, which was blinking owlishly. Kazu could have sworn Akito's lips pursed just slightly for a split second. The shark and the jet held each others gazes until Ikki spoke, gaining both of their attention.
"Well right now I'm heading back to bed. You should probably do the same."
Akito didn't look convinced, hearing the words 'back to bed' and seeing Kazu tailing the crow like a lost child. He crossed his arms and didn't look like he was very willing to step aside. Ikki easily picked up on Akito's thoughts.
"We're just picking something up."
"The bed was so cold-"
"-It'll only take a second…"
"I wasn't sure if you were coming back-"
"Akito, I need to get into the room…"
"We keep getting interrupted… I thought we were gonna-"
"I'm not your boyfriend.
"Why do you give him so much attention?"
"And that means…?" This time it was Kazu who spoke, ending the seemingly endless stream of scattered statements by adding his own question. He wasn't entirely sure why it was those particular words that Akito spoke that caught Kazu's interest, or why he had decided to speak up about it, but now both Akito and Ikki were looking at him, as if just remembering that he was there in the first place.
Before anyone's mouth could open, a door did, and Mikan poked an angry head out. She didn't bother to question or to care about why the three boys were up, or why two of them were latched onto each other by the wrist. Just that they were keeping her from sleeping.
"Normal people like to sleep at this hour!" she bellowed, ducking back into her room and deliberately slamming the door shut to get her point across. Then, muffled from the other side, she added; "Or at least ifyou're going to do anything, be quiet about it!"
Ikki, Kazu and Akito stood in silence for a moment, all staring at the door as if it would open again. Then Ikki shook his head, lightly putting a hand to Akito's head and turning him towards the other end of the hall.
"Akito," he said softly. "Go to bed."
Akito had no qualms showing how disgruntled he was with such an order, so he pouted a little, silently stomped his left foot and stared unblinking into Ikki's captivating irises as if to look for a change of heart, but none came and Akito regrettably turned away and did as he was instructed.
He only turned around one more time to give a longing gaze at the two of them as they disappeared inside Ikki's room.
"That was a lot more difficult than it needed to be," Ikki mumbled as he started shuffling through Kazu's things. Kazu didn't say anything, just sat on Ikki's bed as he waited. He couldn't say he was bothered by what had just transpired, just that he did feel outlandishly relieved once Akito was sent to his own bed.
"Here."
The crow tossed Kazu one of his clean shirts and crawled into his bed and under the sheets as the blonde hastily changed his top.
"Alright man, I'll see you tomorrow," Ikki slurred, throwing the covers over himself. "Shut the door when you leave, alright?"
The boy closed his eyes and waited for sleep to claim him, but found it odd that he didn't hear Kazu leave, or feel the bed shift, or the door shut for that matter. Ikki rolled onto his back and then sat up, finding that Kazu had yet to leave his bed. The blonde sensed he was being watched, but remained put, stomach giving him a feeling uncomfortable enough to make it difficult to leave.
"I'll be out in a minute," he said. "I just feel a little weird."
"You're not gonna hurl, are you?" Ikki asked carefully, cringing a little at the thought of it. "'Cause… if you are…"
"Could be. I think it might be nerves. Or both," The blonde shook his head, then looked to Ikki, smiling a little. "You can go to sleep, you know"
"Actually, I can't," the crow crinkled his nose. He'd already kicked Akito out, and although Kazu wasn't trying to snuggle with him, having someone sit on the edge of the bed made it hard for him to relax. He stared at the other boy for a moment, intent on asking him to leave without actually… asking him to leave, but instead of willing the blonde to read his mind, he took note of just how stark Kazu's skin looked in the dark.
"You know, maybe you should skip school tomorrow."
Baby blue eyes blinked rapidly at the thought, brows arching only slightly before lowering.
"I'm not so sure about that. I don't know how Emiri would take me missing another day of school."
"What?" Ikki tossed his covers off, by now aware that he just wasn't meant to sleep tonight. Besides, for some reason, his interest had been detained. After all, out of all the people in the world, why was it that he was questioning how Emiri would take it? "Who the hell cares what she thinks?"
"I don't," Kazu defended himself. "I just don't know if I can put up with her mothering me the next time she sees me. I mean, the last time she did that…"
The boy stopped himself and looked off to the side and when Ikki realized Kazu intended to let the sentence hang in the air like that, he couldn't help but be curious. His eyes had adjusted to the dark by now, and he could easily see the blush creeping across Kazu's sickly cheeks.
Interesting…
"What?" Ikki nudged him.
"I-it's nothing. She was just… She was babying me and…"
"That's not it. Tell me."
Ikki knew there was something more. Kazu was sick and tired and unable to lie properly, and since having a problem with a pretty girl pampering you wasn't something that Ikki considered to be a bad thing, he had to know what he wasn't hearing.
"Leave it alone, Ikki," Kazu growled, getting a little annoyed and smacking Ikki's suggestively prodding elbows away. "God, you're so..."
"I think you owe me. Keeping me up and everything…"
Kazu whipped his head over to stare at the crow. He couldn't believe the boy was actually compromising this.
"Uh! Well she…" Kazu uttered softly, unconsciously putting his palm to his cheek. "Kindasortamaybe kissed me."
"AHAH she WHAT?!" Ikki exploded in laughter, jumping when he heard a giant thump on the wall from Mikan in the next room. He managed to hush his laughter and gave a good slap to Kazu's back. The blonde spoke up before Ikki could say anything more.
"Shut up! It wasn't a serious kiss so keep it down, will ya!?" Kazu hissed. "And stop laughing!"
Ikki apologetically waved his hand but never wiped the grin off his face. He squeezed Kazu's shoulder and shimmied closer to him, bringing slyly smirking lips up to his ear.
"So how was it?"
Kazu momentarily flailed, shoving Ikki away and immediately regretting saying anything at all.
"It was nothing! Just a peck on the cheek."
"Oh…" Ikki said a lot more calmly, shoulders sagging.
"Oh..?"
"That's not a real kiss."
Kazu blinked, swinging his legs up onto the bed to cross them and face the crow. Although there was nothing to dispute, Ikki almost sounded like he was challenging him.
"Oh and I supposed you know?"
He could only imagine what kind of experiences Ikki had had. What with all the girls at school fawning over him, Simca swaying her hips and puckering his lips every chance she got, and Akito automatically assuming he had a thing with the guy and smooching him every time he was within distance, Kazu was sure Ikki had familiarity with all kinds of different kisses. So he was stunned, really, when Ikki said what he said next.
"Not really. I haven't had my first kiss yet."
"Come again?"
"Well," Ikki smiled, tilting his head to the side so he could slide his eyes over to the blonde. "At least not a real one."
Kazu allowed some soft, confused sound to tumble past his lips, though it made little to no sense. He watched as Ikki let himself fall back onto the bed, ankles crossed and hands folded neatly over his stomach. The crow gazed up at the ceiling, as if all the answers were right there, and Kazu did what came naturally and allowed himself to fall onto the bed too, legs up near Ikki's head, and his own head near Ikki's legs. He let his arms rest at his sides and joined the other teen in gazing at the ceiling.
"I guess it really depends on what you consider a real kiss to be," Ikki piped up after a moment.
"Ikki…"
"What? We're both men, right? We can talk about this stuff."
"No I mean… I thought you wanted to sleep."
"I do," Ikki said tersely, then continued on regardless. "I mean, a kiss – a real kiss – is something shared between two people. See, ya gotta feel it on both ends or it just ain't legit."
Kazu conjectured quietly if Ikki simply wanted to share this little piece of himself with him. And just how many people had the honor of hearing such things? He knew he was Ikki's best friend, but even so, moments like these felt sacred. So he listened intently.
And if what he was hearing was correct, then every time Ikki'd touched lips with Akito or anyone else was something that Ikki didn't even deem creditable; because it wasn't a mutual feeling shared by both parties. So Ikki had yet to have his first, real kiss. …And for some reason, Kazu found comfort in this.
"A peck on the cheek? That's nothing. On the hand? Pathetic," the boy went on, seeming to get lost in himself and what he was saying. He kept his voice low, so as not to disturb the other residents of the house, and the way he was whispering, Kazu felt like he was being told a secret in confidence. "I'll know what it happens though."
Kazu couldn't help but wonder aloud.
"Yeah? How's that?"
"My feet won't be touching the ground," Ikki said, smile evidence in his voice. "My first kiss will make me feel like I'm flying, so I can't feel the ground beneath my feet."
For someone who acted so tough and for someone who was always so brazen and cool, Ikki sure was a…
"Sap," Kazu huffed. "That's one of the corniest things I've ever heard in my life."
And one of the most amazing.
"Can it."
"I'm just sayin'…"
"What about you?"
"What?" the blonde tensed momentarily before sighing softly. "I don't know. I never gave it much thought. I guess it'll just be a spur of the moment kind of thing. Like I won't see it coming. I'll just be living my life and then, bam!"
Kazu blushed when he realized how animated and passionate he was getting, sounding just as wishy-washy and stupid as he accused Ikki of mere seconds ago. He shook his head and laughed at himself for acting like that, and tucked his hands behind his head.
"Like you're flying, huh?" he burbled delicately, eyes unexpectedly heavy and starting to fall shut. "Wouldn't that be something…"
Ikki smirked and nodded his head approvingly, turning to his side and tucking an arm under his pillow. It didn't take long for him to realize after a few noiseless minutes had passed, yet again, that Kazu wasn't leaving or even attempting to leave.
"Hey, Kazu…"
But he received no response. Ikki lifted his head just enough to peek at Kazu, who had inexplicably fallen under the spell of sleep already. So much had been happening lately, and Ikki didn't have the energy within himself to bother the other boy by kicking him out. And he didn't dare intrude on a possibly fever stimulated slumber. Besides, as long as he was sleeping, he wasn't bothering him.
So Ikki shrugged it away, deciding to deal with whatever in the morning and sleep on everything for another night. He was a bit more drowsy than he had realized anyway, and sleep was just so much more appealing than anything else, so he welcomed the blissful darkness of unconsciousness, the bed feeling a little warmer than before.
--
--
When Ikki opened his eyes, he didn't recognize where he was, or if he was even anywhere at all. There were no real surroundings, save for the pitch black darkness that enveloped where the ground and sky should have been.
There was nothing, no one, at least not that he noticed at first. He could hear noises from behind him and when he turned he could make out the shapes of several figures and ever so slowly, an atmosphere started to mold around them.
Ikki's first instinct was to approach these shapes, which he did so without hesitation, recognizing one of them as Kazu straight away. He was doubled over, on his knees and hugging his stomach while he cursed bitterly. He watched in revolt as they shoved the blonde to the ground, the lot of them kicking him while he was down and never giving the boy a chance to get to his feet to fight back. Ikki stared as Kazu threw his hands over his head to protect his face.
The other figures standing around them started laughing, and Ikki nearly recoiled when he realized they had no features; just horrid, blank faces blanketed in shadow. He watched vacantly as they approached the blonde and kicked and hit and knocked him around without giving him a chance to stand and defend himself. Six against one; Ikki didn't like that at all.
Ikki was able to force himself to act after something red started seeping through Kazu's gritted teeth.
"Hey, if you're looking for a fight, here it is!" Ikki growled loudly, coiling his hand into a fist and swinging it full strength at one of the jokers kicking at the boy. But instead of the satisfying crack of his knuckles against bone, he felt air, and he stumbled forward in his momentum, almost falling over completely.
"Hu-what?" the crow hissed, confused. He took a look at his hands, shocked to find them to be transparent and ghost like.
Did that mean he couldn't…
As if to test, Ikki tried again to push Kazu's offenders aside, watching carefully as his hand clearly fell straight through anything he tried to touch. It didn't seem like they could hear him either.
"Hey! Hey! Sons of a bitches!"
But as expected, they showed no sign of acknowledgement, and Ikki watched on as they continued to pound on the blonde, who was still attempting to find an opening to fight back or stand up. He wasn't wearing AT, but he was wearing his Storm Rider garb, and his trademark hat pulled down to his eyes.
"Dammit!" Ikki spat, leaping in between of the band of delinquents and Kazu, throwing out his arms to serve as a shield, squinting his eyes shut to prepare for the blows he knew he wouldn't feel and as fate would have it, their attacks went straight through him and connected with Kazu's crumpling form. Ikki didn't like feeling helpless or out of control, and he directed his anger to the very person he was trying to defend.
"Fuck, Kazu, get the hell up!" Ikki hissed. "I know you're not a weakling so don't try to play victim on me!" And although it was proved useless before, Ikki reached out to shake Kazu by the shoulders, astonished when he realized he was actually able to grasp them as the solid essence they were. Ikki felt a small shred of hope shine through. "I've seen you fight. You can take them if you just get off your ass!"
Ikki silently regretted all the times he'd poked fun at the blonde for not being able to fight, and for probably playing a part in the blonde's stubbornness when it came to calling for help and his insecurities when it came to breaking the mold and fighting with confidence. The most frustrating part was knowing what the speed demon was capable of doing and watching such aptitude go to waste.
The crow tightened his hold on Kazu's shoulders and Kazu jerked away from Ikki's touch as though it had burned him, violently twisting out of reach and never once meeting his eyes.
"Get the fuck away from me!" he screamed hotly. "I swear to God I'll fucking kill you!"
Ikki stood stunned. It didn't seem like Kazu could hear him, but could still feel him there somehow, and that he only had good intentions. Still, Kazu didn't appear to want to have anything to do with it. With him.
Kazu staggered to his feet, face looking angry and determined as he wiped the blood from his lips. He stood tall and proud with his hands balled, looking like a true Storm Rider and former member of the Eastside Guns.
The next few fists thrown the blonde's way, Kazu managed to swiftly dodge. Even without his AT's he was still flexible and quick in both movement and reaction time. Ikki could only play the audience as he watched Kazu maneuver around all the hits intended for him, finally using his speed to avoid them and he started to push back.
Kazu managed to capture one of their flying fists in his hand, and used it to yank his attacker forward, close enough to bring his knee up to his chin. There was a gratifying crunch and blood went streaming out of the brute's nose.
Ikki silently cheered in his mind, wanting to burst in and join in the fight, but his feet were glued to the ground, knees unable to bend and legs unable to move at all. He yelled for Kazu to look out behind him, and even though he knew Kazu couldn't hear him, the blonde whirled around anyway like he already knew, swinging a fist in the air as he did so and landing a good backfist to another gang member's jaw.
Yet even those who were struck and bleeding were getting back to their feet and closing in on him, and with the numbers being so unreasonable, it was only a matter of time before one of them got a good strike to Kazu's head, sending him to the side where another thug was waiting to push him back. They began to audaciously batter him around, once again giving the boy no opening to retaliate.
Ikki bit his tongue. He knew the blonde was capable winning, but he'd told him time and time again that if he ever needed help in a fight, to call for him. Then Ikki blinked, suddenly reminded of a time when he told Kazu this, and what the jet had said in response.
'Would you?'
And Ikki squirmed a little before rolling up his sleeves. Of course not. And it made sense that Kazu wouldn't either.
Kazu raked his fingers across his arms in frustration and stood back on his feet, staring deeply into the faceless brutes as they approached him. Ikki recognized his stance as a fighting one, and was anxious and proud all at once. Kazu was going to fight, and he wasn't going back down.
Yet even though this should have comforted him, even though he knew he was meant to stand on the sidelines and not interfere with a fight that was not his own, Ikki hurled himself at the blonde and wrapped his arms around him to protect him. Even pinning Kazu's arms to his sides with the embrace, Kazu didn't seem to be aware that he was being held onto, only staring dangerously ahead at his opponents.
Regardless of his protective hold, one of the thugs gave a hefty kick that traveled straight through his body and connected with Kazu's stomach, sending him what seemed to be in slow motion, out of his arms and soaring backwards, landing harshly on the ground in a heavy heap. Ikki was instantly at his side, pulling Kazu up into a sitting position by his shirt.
"Ikki," he gasped, blood spilling out of his mouth as he spoke, finally, finally aware that Ikki was there. He was speaking to him, looking at him. "I guess I'll never be like you. But… did you see me back there?"
Ikki's mouth worked fiercely, trying to form some type of sound, unsure if Kazu would even hear him if he spoke. Kazu coughed wetly and then forced a smile with teeth stained pink.
"I was kicking ass for a while."
Ikki swallowed the lump in his throat, abruptly feeling the menacing presence of the guys that caused all of this standing just behind him. Without having the time to turn around and face them, one of them took a fistful of his jacket and hauled him to his feet, forcing him to drop Kazu's body to lay uncomfortably on the ground. Ikki chanced a look down on him, eyes shut peacefully and lips upturned in the smallest of smiles.
The crow wasn't sure if Kazu was gone or just out cold, so he just kept staring at his chest to pick up on any movement. He wasn't staring very long before he heard the recognizable click of a gun, knowing full well that it was being wielded by the very same ruffian that was grasping at his jacket.
Ikki didn't even know where the gun was pointed, Kazu or himself, but he just kept staring at the other boy and wondered if it was his fault, if he'd let the boy down somehow. Maybe if he hadn't interfered…
Those were his last thoughts when the gun fired.
--
--
"Fuck!" Ikki screeched as his eyes flung open and he tried to sit upright. He didn't get very far, however, since his forehead hit something hard and he fell back onto his pillow. With a tender hand, he cradled his now aching skull.
...It had all felt so damn real.
"Ow…"
Ikki's eyes snapped wide at the sound of another voice, finding that Kazu's face was hovering just over his, one eye pinched shut and a spot on his temple turning pink where they'd bonked heads.
"You're alright!?" Ikki blurted, still coping that this was the real world and not whatever nightmare he was just a part of. He couldn't forget it either; he could recall every single detail and could only wonder why? Why such a dream? Why Kazu?
Kazu gave him a confused look, nodding his head slowly as though unsure himself.
"God…" Ikki groaned.
He reached up and tightly gripped Kazu's hair on the left side, tugging it slightly to make sure the boy was something tangible. Kazu winced a little, and Ikki released him with a hefty sigh.
"What about you? It looked like you were having one messed up dream, so I thought I would…"
"Yeah, I…" the crow started, before his curiosity got the better of him. "What's with your eye?"
"You kicked me!" Kazu stated curtly, brows lowering for a moment. Ikki muttered an apology and then threw an arm over his eyes. He could feel the sweat on his brow and took a deep, shaky breath.
A dream starring Kazu but why? Ikki shrugged it off as it being the result of Kazu being the last person he saw and the last voice he heard before losing himself in sleep. A sleep that came easy because he knew he could trust the blonde not to try anything funny.
Ikki gulped, still trying to reclaim himself. He heavily rolled his head over to the side and glanced at the clock, which sent his eyes wide open.
"We're late!" he yelped, scrambling out of bed and dragging the sheets with him, which in turn dragged Kazu off the bed and onto the floor. The boy groaned miserably. Ikki froze momentarily, remembering the events of last night; how Kazu wasn't at the top of his game.
Heh, oops.
"How late are we?"
Ikki looked at the clock again, shoulders slumping when he realized there was no point in even showing up late.
"Too late." Ikki mumbled, scratching at the back of his head, then held up a finger to signal he'd return.
He trotted down the stairs, looking left and right to see any signs of life in the house but everyone was gone. Even the pervert was out, it seemed. He made his way to the bathroom and shut the door behind him. For a while he stared at his reflection, at his eyes as if he were trying to convince himself of something. When he realized it would get him nowhere, he ran the water and gathered some in his hands to splash it over his face. Patting his face dry with a towel, he poked around the rest of the house, finding it to be void of any one else, including the kitchen, save for a piece of paper sitting neatly atop the surface of the counter. Ikki's eyes fell upon his name; it was for him.
He leaned his weight onto the table and read the note.
I was going to wake you up for school but you and your friend just looked oh-so-comfy sharing that bed together that I decided to leave you two alone. I'm starting to lose track of all your boyfriends.
For allowing you to skip school, you'll be doing the dishes tonight.
–Mikan
"That bitch," Ikki griped, crinkling up the piece of paper with one hand.
--
--
"What? Yeah… he used to be part of a gang called the Eastside Guns before he and his friends took up AT. A real shame though, seeing as the Guns were a pretty cool lot," Kitsune nodded quickly. "I don't see much of him or the guys anymore, 'cept for at school."
"I see," Weaver crossed his arms. "And… this team. Know anything about it? What its call, for instance?"
"I already told you," Kitsune shook his head, grabbing his bike and setting it upright. He wasn't entirely sure he felt comfortable telling any of this information to a stranger, let alone someone as creepy as this guy. And to make things even more suspicious, he was asking about a boy he still had a small crush on. A simple crush mind you; nothing he expected to grow, but there all the same. "I don't see them much outside of school. And if you want to know this stuff, why don't you just ask them yourself?"
Weaver uncrossed his arms and idly started picking at one of his dirty nails.
"Where do you suppose I could find these boys?"
"Beats me," Kitsune said tersely, hopping on his bike and setting it in motion the moment he hit the seat. He waved a hand in the air as he rode off. "I really have to go, sorry!"
Kitsune shivered a little when he sped away, refusing to look back and not being able to shake the horrible feeling he had in his gut. People don't just go around asking questions like that unless they were looking for trouble, and Kitsune himself would admit that he could be a coward at times, so leaving while he could was probably the best idea. Before he said too much.
The whole thing just smelled fishy to him.
For a second, the boy looked behind him while he rode, feeling like there may have been someone there, but chalked it up to being paranoid.
--
--
A/N: I hate leaving footnotes at the end of chapters - I always feel like I'm taking something away from the story. I dunno, but I somehow felt the need to share this.
First of all, lol, you prolly thought Ikki was going to kiss Kazu to show him what a real kiss was, didn't you?
Eheh anyway, Ikki's dream isn't just a bit of fanservice and Kazu-torture (we'll be getting to that a little later, ya know?), and it wasn't me just trying to fill in the empty spaces between major plot key points. No, I'm a huge believer of dreams being a sign or symbol of something bigger.
Dreaming about being attacked is a warning to use extreme caution for the next few weeks or so. Of course, seeing other people being attacked is a sign that theres a part of your life that is out of balance. Poor Ikki...