A/N: Ok ummmm, I'm aware of how long I took. I'm going to skip right over the excuses, 'coz you probably don't much care for them - and frankly? Neither do I.
If it means anything, the next chapter is 3/4 done.
At first I thought a man wearing a box on his back that contains something akin to spider legs was weird and pushing the limits a little.. But as I mentioned to Kitten, if a boy can create fire with his skates, a man can stop time and a legend like Spitfire can cut hair and still be cool... then a man with spider-legs on his back is TOTALLY normal. So yeah... it's normal. Deal with it XD
Uhmm... I know you're sick of hearing it, but I hate this chapter. No, really.. I REALLY hate it. 'Cept for one scene. The one between Ikki and Kazu - you'll know what I'm talking about when you read it.
I'm very tired. I'm sure I missed a few things in here, but whatever.
Warnings: If you don't know the warnings by heart now, you really haven't been paying attention.
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Lots of reviewwwssss. I love you.
Thank You:
ALt6913: sick Kazu is one of the cutest things I can think of. Toilet-friendly and all that stuff included.
Slifer: I'm going to be honest, come right out and say it. I don't really like Akito/Agito. Ikki and Kazu look so much cuter together in bed, ne?
Marshiemallows: Yus, light chapter. Much needed since a lotta stuffs gonna start going down in FaS.
T.J.: We are all evil fangirls deep down inside. It's okay, darling XD
Misguided Angel of Death: Wow! So many wonderful things you say! Yus the english is much more vulgar but somehow it fits. And I am good at Kazu torture. Not sure if I'm proud.
FallenAngelKiya: lol sorry, I just thought it'd be funny to tease my readers with something like that. Hurhurr...
Ptolemy: I love symbolism (you could prolly figure that out by the prologue.) So you can bet that sooner or later, something will come of that dream.
Endless Eclipse: Endy sweetie it appears I beat you on the update! Me thinks this chapter is too short for how long it took me to get it up... but you've been spoiled enough so...
Blizzaris: Blizzy my dear I love your reviews to death. We all love bonding moments - you'll love the in this chapter.
melchan13: The kiss has to happen eventually! You know that XD
bempi-chan: Thank you darling! You're too kind.
minoki: Yes, here's your update. Sorry it took so long.
HopelesslyxXxLost: lol I just love messing with my readers like that - sorry I had to do that to you, but at least they bonded.
Puddles-dono: The dream was actually really hard for me to put together, so thanks. And yeah.. Kazu seems to get beat up a lot. That's my fault. But you love it.
maruchan: Don't worry, I plan on seeing this fic through to the end. Your idol? Gosh, don't flatter me so much! (thank youuu)
MisakiTsuki: All night? I can't believe you'd devote that much time to it.. Your review was wonderful, thank you, and hurray for another fan!
BlackFlameRose: oh my I'm not sure how I do it, lol, but I somehow manage to understand your reviews! Here's more!
TrickyFox: Thanks, making a story progress is what makes a fic fun and worth while, in my mind.
AnonyMouse: I ALWAYS adore your reviews, so so much. So cute! So glad to see you're so into it. I hate this chapter but maybe you'll find something good in here.
Yukimiya: I know, for being an Ikkazu fic, there isn't a lot of action, and I'm sorry for that. But it should be happening real soon!
Sagri: You and everyone and ME are all looking forward to that kiss, which if things go as I plan, will happen soon enough. I'm going as fast as I can though.
Jess: Thank you so much! A short review is still wonderful when it says something as nice as that.
rei yamata: 5 air gear pics! I'm going to get to see these pictures, right? Pleeeaase? And thank you for the review.
Emi Sue: aw I love you too. I love Mikan, mainly 'coz she's shameless when it comes to teasing Ikki, and she doesn't put up with his shit.
Versus: such a wonderful review. I know what it's like, not seeing action in the first few chapters can make it hard to continue, so for you to have read this far means a lot to me.
iKat.13: don't feel behind, I'M late in updating. I find Akito hard to wright, since I'm not very fond of him, but I love writing the sparks between him and Kazu.
AdiaAlida: There are a few pretty boys in Air Gear, but Ikki and Kazu are both the prettiest in my mind, so it works since they're so perfect together XD And Yayoi and Onigiri just sits right with me.
Jaribo: ANOTHER new fan? I'm on a roll! I feel bad for Ringo too but... come on, it's Kazu! As for your suggestion, that'll happen soon. I planned on it for a while now.
Peachie Bunni: Well, Ikki didn't like his dream very much either, heh. Things are supposed to be getting pretty busy in FaS from here on out.
Kitchuu: Thank you! Breakdowns are always hard for me to write, but so so fun. It feels good to know people compliment it cuz it can be hard to do it right. So thanks so much.
Destiny Lot: Don't worry, you're not the only one who thought that it was going to happen.
I hope I got everyone. I freakin' love every last one of you.
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Air Gear
a fiction by Crimson Vixen
Shoot For The Moon
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Kazu's fever had vanished after a full day of uninterrupted rest and warm blankets. And after another day or so, he felt the extreme need to move and stretch his legs. And Ikki, wanting to revive a sense of normalcy in his routine and in his life, didn't wait too long to ask Kazu to head out with the gang for a long overdue practice. The blonde was more than willing to do so.
To Ikki, it felt like it had been forever and a day since they'd gathered at the track for any kind of practice, and he didn't want anyone getting soft or rusty on him. Besides, the practice that he had planned was not only a good way to get back into a rhythm, but it was also just the kind of thing Kazu needed.
Once he'd made his phone calls and gathered them at the track, he lined up his team from tallest to shortest and eyed all four of them.
For complaining so much about not practicing enough, none of them looked very enthusiastic to be there.
Which was why Ikki had already decided that instead of intense workouts and running laps, they'd play a game. One of the most childish, enticing games he could think of.
"Tag," Ikki beamed, slightly disappointed when he got very little reaction.
"You're joking, right?" Onigiri deadpanned, shoulders slouching.
"Does it look like I'm joking, fatass?" Ikki barked right back, crossing his arms and stepping in Onigiri's way when the tubby rider tried to leave. "If anything, you jokers should be thanking me for being so light on you, considering it's been a while."
"For how long?" Kazu piped up, seeming to be the only one unwilling to fight their leader's decision. Ikki knowingly slid his eyes to the side to look at him. He'd had a strong feeling that Kazu would be up for it.
"No time limit. Just go until whenever."
"You dragged me all the way out here from some stupid – !?" Agito screeched, stepping out of line and clenching his fists. He bore his well-known fangs and shook with superfluous rage. "How do you expect to be taken seriously when you're playing a fucking child's game?"
"Get the stick out of your ass, short stuff," Ikki murmured, putting a hand on Agito's angry head and ruffling his hair, obviously rather unoffended or just not phased at all. "I'm in charge, so you do what I say."
"Just because you formed this team… And just because it, this, was all your idea," Agito hissed, ripping away from Ikki's touch. "…doesn't mean its a good one."
"Ok," Ikki shrugged, trying not to let the shark ruffle his feathers. "Bad idea or no, you're doing it."
Agito flashed his fangs once more and swatted at Ikki's hand when he tried to bring it close again. Ikki was pretty sure he saw the edge of Agito's lip twitch.
"I don't have to do a fucking thing you say! Its things like this that make it hard for other teams to take people like you seriously! If you're just going to mess around – "
"Whoa… take a chill pill, squirt. You can't just have a little fun for one stinkin' day?"
Agito snarled and took a sharp breath to retort, but Kazu pushed past Buccha and Onigiri and stepped between the crow and the shark. He held out his arms to separate the two of them, hand on each of their chests to keep them apart.
"Knock it off," he stipulated, switching his gaze back and forth between them, trying to determine their expressions. Eventually, he made eye contact with the raging shark. "Agito, at least try it."
"Tch! Predictable," Agito spat, face morphing into pure annoyance towards the blonde. "You of all people would say that. An obedient little dog."
Kazu swallowed the comeback that was threatening to cut loose when he remembered where he was – in front of friends, in front of Ikki – and why he was there. It took quite a bit of willpower to keep his mouth shut but he managed it, making sure not to forget this for the next time he was alone with the little monster. He looked over to Ikki, offering a small smile to show he was game.
Ikki returned the smile, ruffling his hand in Agito's hair rather aggressively, feeling slightly appeased with the way it messed up his hair and forced another fuck out of his mouth.
"Right, so… Kazu's it," the crow mentioned idly, ignoring the way Kazu held up a finger to say something about it. "Game starts now!"
Buccha and Onigiri bolted in two separate directions just as Ikki took a hold of Agito's jacket and shoved him towards the blonde. If the guy was really going to piss and moan about not playing a game, he could sit it out after he got tagged first.
Agito cursed as he rammed into Kazu, limbs flailing in attempt to break apart from him as the two of them fell.
"I just helped you out man! That's one down, three to go!" Ikki laughed, running off with a salute.
As Kazu and Agito struggled to free themselves off of each other, Agito found it perfectly acceptable to elbow the jet harshly in the stomach. Kazu let out a solitary cough, winded, and stayed back on the ground as Agito got to his own two feet. By now, Ikki was long gone, and so were Buccha and Onigiri.
The shark looked down at the other boy pityingly, extending a hand to help him up.
Kazu knew he should have known better than to reach for it, but he did anyway, and wasn't surprised when Agito pulled it back at the last second, or snarled the way he did between grinning teeth. He could tell Agito was preparing for another one of his critical, impertinent speeches, a lecture intent on putting him down now that there was an opportunity, but Kazu refused to give him the chance. Agito was a good rider, but he that didn't say much for his lous, pissy personality.
"Hey Agito…" Kazu spoke carefully, running his tongue along his lips to wet them. "You're out."
"What the fuck are you – "
But Kazu had already swung his legs around in a sweep, knocking Agito's legs out from under him and sending him crashing to the earth. He allowed himself a small victory laugh at Agito's expense before getting up and giving chase to the other players. He could deal with Agito later, when he was up for it.
Kazu grinned. He used to play this game all the time with Onigiri and Ikki when they were younger, and he'd always own all the other players. No one could outrun him, even without AT, so when they played, the other players would hide instead. He doubted they would be hiding anymore, but he had a good feeling he was going to end up winning either way.
For a second, he considered how foolish Ikki was, making him 'it.' Then, the more he thought about it, the more he came to understand it. So when he spotted Onigiri after a bit of running around, and the pig sped forward to get away, the blonde actually scoffed. The game was pretty much in the fucking bag.
"You're mine!" Kazu frothed under his breath, grinning wildly as he sped up to catch the running Onigiri. He should have guessed Onigiri would be heading for the girls locker room, but he was surprised to see him pass it right up. Still, he rather enjoyed the way people panicked when he gave chase to them, so he let Onigiri have a bit of a head start before he pushed himself forward and next to the stout boy, slapping him on the back of the head as he zipped passed.
"Out!" the blond shouted, laughing as his friend stumbled forward onto the concrete, looking dizzy and spent. He gave a sharp turn and raced in the direction that he thought Buccha had gone.
The large rider was easy to find, since hiding was rather difficult for his large bulk, and Kazu grinned wildly when he spotted the former Yaou leader sucking in his gut and shimmying between two buildings. It made it super easy to tag him on the arm and Kazu cackled playfully as he did so. He had forgotten what a rush he could get when they trained like this. There was the thrill of the chase, the satisfaction of winning every time, along with the comforting understanding that there was little to no chance of losing.
He didn't slow down after hitting Buccha with a tag, because now he had to track down and get Ikki and then it would be all over. Oh how he loved this game!
Ikki was always the most difficult and most fun to get, because he was stubborn and often did whatever he could to extend the chase. He often claimed that opponents won't always play fair and that he was merely preparing them for such circumstances. Whatever the crow's reasoning was, Kazu got a high off of it - loved the thought and feeling of beating Ikki, and Ikki knowing it.
Kazu let his eyes roam as he ran, teeth gnawing on his bottom lip as he did so, until he spotted a cloud of birds fluttering around above the school roof. Those damn birds were always what gave Ikki away, but Ikki's skill and agility made up for it. He may not be as fast, be he had a lot of tricks up his sleeve.
That's part of what made him so amazing.
The jet plane glided up to the school building, craning his neck back to get a good look at the height. Damn, Ikki made sure to give him a work out, at least. There was no way he could climb that wall – that wasn't his forte. So he bolted into the building and started up the stairs as fast as his wheels would take him, provisionally grinding against the walls in short bursts to avoid the stairs, up and up until he reached the door to the roof. He didn't slow down once, bursting through the door and finding the crow right away.
Ikki let out a short laugh, offered a wink and leaped off the building, and without thinking, Kazu did the same after him. He watched as Ikki closed his eyes and spread his limbs; he looked like he really was flying. When the boy opened his eyes, he did one turn, two turns, three turns in the air and landed gracefully on a fence and grinded. Kazu gritted his teeth, unsure he could do the same, simply skipping the tricks and setting himself up for a landing. It wasn't as graceful, at least it felt that way, and once he started to grind, he started closing the distance between them.
The excitement on his face grew almost manic and he reached out his hand to tag Ikki, almost close enough to feel the flap of his jacket, but Ikki jumped at the last second, landing on a rail and then hopping off that onto the concrete sidewalk, rollerblading backwards with his hands in his pockets. He was laughing, seemingly toying with the other boy.
Kazu hummed under his breath – leave it to Ikki to give him a challenge. Hopping off the fence, he gave chase once more. As he moved, his mind started to tick. At this rate he would never catch Ikki. The crow was just too cunning.
So when Ikki turned the corner into a narrow opening, he made sure not to follow him. Instead he entered the building and ran through it to the other side, leaving papers scattered and people startled by the sudden gust of wind, and when he exited he made a sharp turn to the ally Ikki had taken. He had gotten there just in time; Ikki was fast approaching him but those dark eyes fell onto Kazu's light ones at the last second and he jumped over the blonde - Kazu reached up and over his head to tag him but he was just out of reach - and landing on a window sill and leapt from window to window, to the east. And each window he jumped to was higher up than the previous. He was headed skywards.
Kazu cursed. Damn he was good. His speed was worthless unless he found a better way to use it.
And he was sure that on some level, Ikki was teasing him as far as wall climbing was concerned. Maybe he was even trying to coax him into trying it again. But Kazu didn't want to risk looking like a fool, or hurting himself in front of Ikki, so instead of mimicking his leader, he gave chase from the ground, looking up every now and again to make sure the crow didn't try anything funny.
But that was asking a lot, he knew. He wasn't surprised when Ikki took advantage of an open window and slipped inside. Kazu licked his lips and skidded to a short stop so he could rush inside the building as well. He raced up the stairs – fourth floor, he recalled – and froze in the hallway. He perked his ears to hear for any sound that might give Ikki away. But the crow was being deathly quiet. Right up until…
"Give up?"
Kazu didn't answer. He set his weight the second Ikki's voice reached his ears and he headed in that direction before his eyes could even focus. As soon as he turned the corner at the end of the hall, he was almost shocked when Ikki sped past him, going the opposite direction. It was a risky move, getting so close, since Kazu was able to turn about as fast as he could run. Small spurts of fire winked under the blonde's wheels when he made a U-turn, eyes narrowing in on his target.
"I got you now," he muttered to himself, keeping his breathing even as he ran. He never slowed, never hesitated, even when he wasn't sure where Ikki disappeared to when he once again decided to shoot out the window. Kazu hopped out right after the crow, spotting the patch of birds in the sky right away and heading in that direction.
It wasn't that Ikki was faster than him. It was more like he moved a lot, took a lot of turns and obstacles that made it difficult. And as selfish as it felt, Kazu kind of liked it when it was narrowed down to just the two of them. It was like a secret game just the two of them played, where no one else could interfere.
Kazu sped, seemingly stuck in a moment. All that mattered was the game, and catching Ikki, and nothing else. When he caught sight of the back of Ikki's jacket, it was all he could think about as he closed the distance between them with incredible speed. It didn't look like Ikki knew he was there yet, and so Kazu threw himself forward, his chest hitting Ikki's back and his arms encircling around the boy's waist as he screamed in victory.
"Out!"
Ikki's eyes widened in surprise as they tumbled forward and rolled along the ground and when they finally stopped, his back was to the ground and Kazu was on top of him. The blonde had one of the biggest smiles Ikki had ever seen.
"Ha, I win," the jet boasted.
"Yeah, you win," Ikki repeated in mid cough, using his forearm to shove the blonde off of him. "Get off."
Kazu rolled off to the side and rested on his back, next to Ikki, and gazed up at the sky. The sun had yet to set but it was well on its way; the sky was starting to darken.
"I guess the others are pretty pissed off right now," Kazu mentioned. "Dragging them for training and then disappearing on them."
"Probably," Ikki agreed calmly. Then after a moment or two of nothing, they both burst out into laughter, heads rolling back and forth and hands clutching at throbbing stomachs. Once they calmed down, Ikki propped himself to all fours, then to his knees. "I'll have to make it up to them."
"Well hey. Let me catch a breather."
"Tch, like you need one."
"Hang back for a bit with me anyway."
Ikki thought about it for a second, then shrugged, collapsing right back where he was before, arms and legs spread out and taking up more space then necessary.
Kazu scanned the sky, admiring the pinks and purples that tinted it near the horizon line. Then his eyes stretched a little further to the side, where a familiar sight waited for him. Metal and crossed and dented just like he remembered.
"The… the fence?" He questioned aloud, getting to his feet and wandering over to the barrier. He brought his sky blue eyes back to Ikki. "You didn't… Did you take me here on purpose?"
Ikki blinked wildly, getting to his feet as well and meeting Kazu at that wretched fence.
"Maybe," he said. Originally, he was going to save it for another time, but thought that since they were so close and it was convenient, there was no harm. And besides… "I kinda wanted to show you something. Mainly because it gets on my nerves."
The jet gulped; he had a feeling where this was going. He watched Ikki lace his fingers through the lattice of wire and look up towards the sky.
"I think I figured it out; why this place bugs you so damn much," Ikki spoke like he had all the answers in the world. He couldn't understand how Kazu always returned to a place that got to him so much, but at least now he knew why. He gave the fence a smack with his palm, almost cringing at the lingering ting that sounded. "It's this stupid thing."
Kazu opened his mouth but then shut it, looking away from Ikki and instead, up at the top of the fence.
"Have you ever seen how high it is?" he mumbled. Ikki let a breath roll into the air and looked to the highest point of the crosswire. "Ya know, from down here, it looks near impossible."
Ikki let his brows lower.
"Looks near impossible. But isn't. It's not so bad," he said. "I'll even show you."
Ikki produced a determined look on his face that caught Kazu off guard. The taller boy took a leap upwards. He stretched out his hands and took a firm hold of the tip of the fence, shifting his weight to throw himself the rest of the way over. With a thud he landed gracefully on the other side, sending the blonde a smirk.
Kazu stubbornly crossed his arms, frowning a little.
"I could have, if I wanted to."
"They why don't you?" Ikki pressed, lacing his fingers through the wire again, trying not to smile when Kazu looked at a loss for words. At least until he was able to gather his wits. He took in a deep breath and dug his hands into his pockets.
"Why do you do that?"
"Why do I do what?"
"That!" Kazu blinked incredulously, putting his hands on his hipsnow, like some pissed of teenage schoolgirl. When Ikki only beamed in response, Kazu let his resentment out of his system in the form of a sigh. His shoulders slumped; sometimes there was just no use fighting the guy. "God, forget it."
The jet waved Ikki away and wandered over to a rather comfortable looking patch of grass next to the fence and settled down there. Ikki sat down next to him, separated only by the crisscross of wire. Even when they were right next to each other, Kazu hated how he still wasn't able to fully reach the crow.
The sky had gotten dark without them knowing it and out here, away from the hustle and bustle and lights of their area, the stars were easy to see. Kazu opened his mouth to say something, then closed it, then opened it again.
"You ever hear that saying, Ikki? 'Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars'?"
There was a pause, a short chuckle, and small sigh before Ikki replied.
"Yeah. I hate it."
Kazu blinked rapidly. Looked over to the crow with questioning eyes. He didn't need to ask for an explanation; Ikki was going to give him one regardless.
"Kazu, I don't want you settling for some lame fucking star. So many other people already have," he mumbled softly, seemingly lost in his own thoughts.
"…Ikki?"
"If you want the damn moon than don't settle for anything less."
Kazu looked over to the other boy, who was already looking right back at him. Their eyes met, trying so hard to convey things that their mouths could not, that their heads could never, that their hearts were unsure of.
"Got it?" the crow said, putting his palm up and against the fence, silently asking for a solemn promise.
Kazu wasn't sure where it had all spouted from, or why Ikki was so random with it - Ikki had moments like these every now and again but it was never something you could see coming - but he didn't want to let the boy down. So he put his hand to the fence as well, opposite Ikki's palm. He felt the mix of cold metal and warm flesh creeping into his own hand and up his arm.
"Got it…"
This was his word. This was his promise not to settle but to shoot for what he wanted.
If only he knew what that was, Kazu was sure he'd be able to keep that promise. His eyes were hesitant to meet with Ikki's – he made sure to keep them pointed to the ground – but his fingers were quick to poke through the fence and lace with Ikki's, the pads of his fingers grazing the crow's knuckles. What threw him off was the way Ikki returned the gesture.
He didn't understand it. Wasn't sure he wanted to. Wasn't sure what it meant to him, to Ikki, if it meant anything at all. He didn't even know what he was going to say when Ikki's name rolled softly off his irresolute tongue.
But he didn't have to; Ikki's phone went off and the crow pulled his hand away to answer it. Kazu kept his hand lingering on the metal fixture, eyes staring at Ikki's shoes and ears perking up to listen to his voice. What just happened…?
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Ikki didn't bother asking questions when he got the call from Buccha and Onigiri. Instead he leaped over the fence and took Kazu by the hand without a second thought, and dragged him back towards the school. Kazu, however, hating to be left in the dark, spoke up.
"What's going on!?" he exclaimed, confused. This being dragged thing… this feeling of not knowing what was going on… was all too sickeningly familiar.
"Someone's been hurt," was the quick reply. Ikki was pacing his breathing, eyes intense and focused and unwilling to spill more words than were necessary. "At the school."
"Right," the blonde nodded, picking up speed and looping his hands underneath Ikki's knees and upper back to carry him – this way was much faster, and Ikki gave no complaints or questions when he was fitted into Kazu's thin arms. The jet was careful not to go so fast as to risk dropping the other boy. The crow kept his eyes forward and narrowed, blinking against the stinging wind as it rushed past him, while Kazu tried to ignore the strong scent Ikki was giving off. A mix of musk and oak – a very natural, very relaxing smell…
Kazu blinked himself back into awareness when he saw the school grounds, and Onigiri, Buccha and some other third person were standing over by the clock tower. He could see Onigiri standing there, arm around that third person to support him. He was wearing a school uniform like the rest of them, and it was only after he'd gotten close enough to set Ikki down that he recognized the boy as Kitsune.
Ikki's feet planted firmly on the ground and he strode over to the others, running a hasty hand through his forest of spikes to compose himself and catch his breath.
Kitsune… Not someone he'd always given particular attention to, but the kid was obviously sore and hurting, his top lip and left cheek slightly swollen. It was obvious he'd been in a scrap, and most probably lost in it. He was never a fighter; just a weak willed follower that did as he was told in fear of being disliked. He was the kind of person Ikki didn't have much respect for, but he was still a human being and a fellow student, so Ikki placed himself under Kitsune's free arm to make it easier for him to stand. It didn't do much, though; the difference between Ikki and Onigiri's height was probably making him even more uncomfortable.
"You weren't in school today," Ikki said right away. "I'm taking it this was why."
Kitsune lowered his head, face turning a cherry color when he realized Kazu was there too. He hadn't expected him to be… But then again, that guy was usually around Ikki these days; he shouldn't have been so surprised.
"I was followed," he spilled shamelessly. "Jumped."
"By who?" Buccha leaned in closely.
"I… didn't catch his name, sorry. But," Kitsune responded carefully, lifting his head and staring gravely at the jet. "He was asking about you, Kazu-kun."
"Me?" Kazu perked up, pointing a finger to his chin. Kitsune nodded his head slowly; then his face grew a little more serious.
"He said you'd know who they were."
Ikki, Onigiri and Buccha all turned heads to face Kazu. Not accusingly, but just as intimidating. The blonde grew flustered under those gazes, taking a step back.
Onigiri spoke charily; "Do you?"
Kazu's eyes widened a little when he looked back at the tubby rider. There was a time when he and Onigiri were inseparable. He couldn't help feeling offended when the boy was questioning him like this. He didn't know how to defend himself because he wasn't sure what he was defending himself from. Last time he checked, he didn't associate himself with people that would pummel a fellow classmate.
"Kazu," Ikki spoke up when they weren't getting an answer, adjusting himself underneath Kitsune's arm. "Do you know the guy that did this?"
"Wha- I… no!" Kazu's voice spiked defensively. He waved his hands in front of him and shook his head, no, no of course he didn't! "Why would you even think that I – "
He froze.
He said you'd know who they were.
They? He'd know who they were? Kazu knew as a Storm Rider he was bound to have enemies. But at the moment there was only one possible explanation he could think of, and it wasn't one he liked.
"He had a weird thing on his back," Kitsune started explaining to all of them, hoping to refresh Kazu's memory if he gave a description. "I know it sounds weird, but it had these bizarre stems sticking out of it that made him look like… Well, like a spider!"
While Ikki, Onigiri and Buccha gave the boy suspicious looks, Kazu gulped. He'd seen the strange box-like container slung over one of their backs, though he hadn't gotten to see what it was for. Kitsune's enlightenment wasn't very consoling. The boy went on explaining but Kazu had already tuned him out, distracted and lost in his own thoughts.
Riffle and the others had told him that they'd be seeing him again. He'd managed to walk away without telling them where to find him, but he was sure they'd tried to find out, but it never crossed his mind that they would resort to this type of method, though the more he thought about it, the stupider he felt for not seeing it coming. Now looking at Kitsune was like a slap to the face.
Someone else was suffering for something that was his problem.
Kazu looked bitterly off to the side, lower lip jutted out irritably and fists tightly balled. It all couldn't just end at losing one humiliating race, could it? They wanted to see him again, and for what? Kazu pinched his eyes shut briefly; he didn't want to think about it.
"Hey, stop spacing out," Ikki's voice broke through to him effortlessly. Kazu shook his head to clear it and looked back at his friends; Buccha, Onigiri, Kitsune and…
"Ikki."
"I can stand on my own, thanks guys," Kitsune informed, gently pulling free from Onigiri's right arm and Ikki's left. Now standing on his own two feet, he took heavy steps towards Kazu and leaned against him, fell against him – Kazu brought his hands up to grab the boy before he could bring them both crashing to the ground – and he was close enough to whisper words only the blonde could hear.
"…Tonight at midnight. He said you'd… know where," he breathed carefully, lips ghosting over the shell of Kazu's ear and hand coming up to clutch at the jet's shoulder. "Kazu-kun… what's going on?"
Kazu held his breath dangerously, fists balling even tighter like a reflex as he absorbed the information he was fed. And without any words, without even a single glance to anyone – for he knew doing so would only make things more difficult – he passed Kitsune off to Ikki, turned on his heel and walked away.
"You don't suppose he thinks any less of me, do you?" Kitsune asked, eying the three that remained, then at Kazu's retreating back, blushing ferociously. "Maybe I shouldn't have…"
Ikki stared off after the blonde as well as he shrank into the distance. He repositioned himself under Kitsune's arm and nodded at Buccha's new suggestion of taking him somewhere to get looked at. All the while his heart was telling him to follow the blonde, 'cause damn that boy was running off a lot lately and one of these days the crow intended to keep him from doing so. But for some reason his legs refused to move, much like that stupid dream, mind telling him that Kazu obviously had something he wanted to do by himself.
"Buccha, think you can follow him?"
Buccha nodded his head and was set to take off when Kitsune stopped him.
"No wait! You can't!" he bowed his head. "Please… Please don't ask me to explain but you just can't!"
When Ikki looked back at Kitsune, he noted the way the boy was shuddering. Something felt terribly, terribly wrong. The crow tried to stifle his feelings of regret and worry and led Kitsune off the school grounds, Buccha and Onigiri tailing right behind them. Because the guy was so roughed up and so shaken, Ikki resisted the urge to upset him more by sending the former Yaou leader after the blonde. Ikki hoped it was just a matter Kazu of not being able to see an old friend in such a state.
Kitsune allowed himself to be carried along, legs wobbly but moving, throat dry and tasteless. The lump in his throat was that of regret, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't seem to swallow it down completely.
--
--
"Sure was a stubborn little shit," Weaver cracked his fingers, one by one, as if his hands were now tainted by what he had done. "What a waste of day."
"Oh please," Riffle cut in loudly. "So a middle school runt was too much for you to handle?"
Weaver pinned the younger man with calculating eyes, willing him to pick his battles more wisely and to stop being so rash about everything. There were times where he could only shake his head and wonder if Riffle's speed was the only reason the Devil saw worth keeping him for. Things like that were called dumb luck. Weaver kicked back in his seat and looked elsewhere, voice never changing.
"I suppose your method would have been acceptable," he said as a matter of factly. "I tried to reason with the boy at first, but eventually had to resort to tactics of your level. Strike first, ask questions later, am I right?"
"And it worked, didn't it," Riffle said as more of a statement than anything, smiling widely, a sense of conceit clear in his posture. As if a child were saying ha! I told you so.
"Chill out, Rife. You give me too little credit."
"Yeah? Why d'you say that?"
"We don't have to do anything," the swaggering reply came smoothly. "The kid will come to us."
"Oh?" Mantis cocked a brow. "Do tell. And I assume the boss knows about this?"
"Of course," Weaver waved the comment off irritatingly before explaining. "When he wasn't giving me what I wanted to hear, I roughed him up a little bit. As it turns out, the guy knows the kid, and he's gonna deliver the message for us. If he doesn't, I told him I'd be seeing him again."
Riffle only sank lower in his seat and spat off to the side, tapping an anxious foot on the floor. So they'd be seeing that kid again…
He'd never been the patient type. No, he'd always wanted instant satisfaction and the thrill of living in the moment and acting on a single instant and thinking about it afterwards, and he never let his grudges settle easy.
Their boss had specifically said how when he saw the speed rider again, he wanted him to be alive. Riffle was sure he could find some way to bend those rules, if even just a little bit. The little blonde that had raced him was nowhere near his good side, far from it, and it felt like the only way to fix the problem was to get rid of it altogether.
Even if the message was delivered, there was no guarantee that the kid – Kazu, he was pretty sure the name was, if he remembered it correctly – would come to them. But even if he didn't, surely their boss would find another way. He gripped at his sleeves with aggravated fists.
"He fucking better," he grumbled, not sure exactly who or what he was referring to, just that he was pissed about something either way.
"Try to control that temper of yours, will you?"
Riffle glared angrily at Weaver, who was tinkering with the box that normally sat on his slumped back. The skeletal, metallic tendrils that extended out from it were irritatingly creepy, more so now since those stupid spider-like legs were getting more attention than him while he was speaking. The aggravated bullet inwardly huffed.
Control his temper… Riffle didn't know how well that would go over if he saw that kid again. Up until now, his status of being such a fast runner was unmatched. He didn't like the threat of being outrun by another speed rider; a stupid kid, no less. Riffle ground his teeth and sank even further in his seat.
"No promises."