A/N: wow, way to not update in about half a year. I'm not going to lie, guys, I'm in a really bad mood as of late, and FaS has been suffering becuase of it. This chapter, for as long as the wait was, is shorter than the others. But just as shitty.
Anyway keep in mind that this is anime-verse, not manga-verse. I made sure to do that only 'coz I know that as the manga and FaS progressed, things would conflict, heh. Anyway, I would also like to point out that while you guys praise this piece so much, it's still a piece of fanfiction that will occasionally fall back to its roots and resort to fanfic tactics. (As in, people show up just as they are needed, things happen to work out a certain way, etc)
I guess the point I'm trying to make is.. It's nowhere near perfect. Yeah so um.. You all waited so long (Are any of you still reading?) and will prolly only be dissapointed. Maybe I'm just at a low or something.
It's still unknown if Kitten-chan will be able to make it (we're trying tho, so cross your fingers and hope with me) to Otakon this year but I for sure will be going. Anyone here going to be there? I'll be writing "Crimson Vixen" on my badge if anyone has trouble finding me. As of right now, I'm cosplaying Gokudera from Reborn (and if Kitten goes, she'll be my Yamamoto. We decided to cosplay each other's fav characters for it, lol. We'll yaoi for you! And I may be Zell a little bit on Saturday, with a very large ff8 group.)
We don't usually go into many panels, we just walk around the main floors and spend a decent hunk of our time in the artists ally.
Look for us/me!
Ahh, and, this chapter has been updated for Masi-no-Ichigo because it's her birthday today and I can't think of anything else to do for her. Just wish it wasn't a crappy gift.
There was probably more I had to say but.. Meh.
These might be a little odd and confusing to read cuz some of the reviews for the last chapter are in response to the "im in writers block wah wah" thing I posted. I'll respond anyway.
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But as always, thank you so much!
Dl: Yeah I usually try to just type whatever when block strikes, but even that wasn't working. Just lots of staring at blank pages and losing count of how many times the curser flashes XD I know it was a ways back but I really hope you had a good time at Kumoricon and Akicon!
KidAngel: Oh Darling, I am in miss of you. Just seeing your name makes me want to browse your art again. You are just so sweet to me, and I'm very grateful hun.
rei yamata: Thanks so much for the understanding. Holy CRAP why do I keep forgetting about pins!? I'm such a bad, bad author. Forgive meee...
k1018r: Ah, sorry for the downer there, but thanks so much for the understanding. It's (this chapter) the real deal this time around.
Arrow. Aero. Air: Yeah, blocks seems to come and go when they want and stay as long as they want, huh? Sorry about the long wait. ...The really really long wait.
Puddles-dono: Sometimes a few months between stories happen, huh? It's very depressing sometimes, cuz you tend to fall behind on your own story, but I guess updating really late is better than a forever unfinished story.
TheaBlackthorn: Don't we all hate blocks! DX Thank you for your patience, however.
iKat.13: Oh good lord no, I will never give up on this story. As sloppy and horrid as it is, it's my baby and for some reason, people are following it, aha. I'll be Otakon again this year. You going?
Sagri: LOL you had me all nervous and scared with how you started your review. Ahah, but thank you so so much for your kind words, and your willingness to wait. I agree, writing should be pleasure over chore.
Oceans in Hand: Aww, thank you hun, that's very sweet of you.
NeuroticNut: lol, sorry. Is this one better?
feste3: I still, STILL, can't get over hoe many people read this fic without knowing what AirGear is. That feels so flattering. So have you looked into AirGear yet?
firedraygon: No no, Kazu's life is like a lever stuck on "shit". And Ikki's is on "stubborn". What a lovely combination. Thank you for the review.
FallenAngelKiya: Aww, thanks hun. Ahah, actually I wish they would have finished too, but things just get in the way, you know? You'll prolly hate me more for not letting them finish after this chapter.
ranchan-akari: I guess I can't help being harsh on my writing. What you call a build up I call crap, and what people call cliffhangers I call lame, lol. But your reactions are so deliciously awesome that I can't help but smile a little. I'm so glad you got such joy from it.
Endy-love: I adore how you have all these limits and extra work to do in order to review and yet you STILL take the time to leave me your wonderful, kind words. I really missed you too, dear, and I'm so sorry I tortured you with the shower bit for so long ahah.. Glad you liked the changes. I'm glad you've MSN back, now get on more.
Gotyu: You know, I don't give you near enough appreciation. You leave all these comments and reviews so loyally, and I just wanted to let you know that I think you're so wonderful for it. Thank you!
xxoxLOVELESSxoxx: Yeah, lol, Ikki can be a jerk sometimes though, can't he.. Thank you for the understanding and hey! Did you ever find your notebook and such? lol Clean your room since the last update? XD
Cataclysmic Disaster: Aw thanks! I don't think you're the only one that feels that way about Ikki's attitude atm. Happy you enjoyed the shower scene as much as I did writing it. I'm glad you're still following the fic.
Masi: lol following the ffnet rules and suggestions, huh? That's always good, specially when you have the writing mojo to do so.. Ahem. Muh! Comments on sentence structure and wordsssss, as you tend to do, aha. You're reviews are so awesomely decently lengthed and full of so many flattering compliments and Masi spasms. Thanks so much for the review hun, and Happy Birthday.
TotallyObsessive: Right, sometimes chapters have to be actionless in order to move things forward. This one has a bit more action tho, so enjoy, hm? Things are not great atm, but they'll get there, thanks.
novembereyes: I love shouting at stories and movies as if characters can hear my wailing XD I enjoy Sano as a pervert but sometimes I feel the need to show he's a human with a brain that focuses on more than just molesting little boys.
Nightshade47: Yay, I'm back AGAIN! Aha, this block is really messing up the FaS flow. Aw a fan! Thank you for reading my stories hun, I appreciate you letting me know, and even the Oofuri ones! Thank you so much darling!
Forgetfull: It's good to know that some people will always come back even after a long gap. I'm not over the block yet but I somehow managed to struggle through this. I'll be going to Otakon again this year, if you'll be there? Glad the last chapter had things you were looking for, and hopefully the future of FaS does too.
Artistic18: I'm so sorry. Try not to think that FaS will die, cuz I have no intention of it. And I'm nice enough to inform people if it will be put away for a while. But nope, we're still rollin'! Glad you stuck around.
Vilde0806: You have no idea how happy *I* am that I'm updating, lol. Thank you.
xYellowCrayon-Chan: I can't believe you're first thought was of me and my fics during presents... Wow, you really look forward to it that much..? That's just so... thank you! I'm never offended when people guess what's going to happen, in fact I really enjoy it! Sometimes if I like it, I do what I can to throw it in. Your review is so littered with nice things, and I thank you for that! I hope you keep reading.
Peachi Bunni: Thats good, making reader all pissed off at Ikki is kinda what I was going for, lol. You seem really attached to the characters, which is very good because that usually makes reading a better experience. Thank you for reading!
bigfatsamantha: Ah, I always love seeing your name in my inbox, you always have such wonderful things to say. tbh I'm impessed myself at how far this fic has come. I've seen so many long fics come to an abrupt end and never to be touched again, and the reader is left to wonder. I'm hoping to never do that with FaS. It's so very sweet to think that readers have grown to like me as a person and not just a writer. Thank you so much! You make me feel like such a good little writer, which is hard to do.
shoxxic: where have you gone, dear? What an oddly timed thing, logging on and seeing an update. I'm so happy you're still around. Not sure if your review cut off or not.
Goggie: Thank you! Kitten's pretty full with doing commisions on her DA. Thank you for the compliments on imagery, its one of my biggest goals. Kitten is a little behind on the fic, but when she does, there is always a chance she may draw something. No promises but, you never know.
Dubya See: You're so very welcome! Yeah, all I really hoped to do was move the story along while still keeping some basic foundation of PLOT in there.
Slifer: Well Otakon didn't work for you last time but how does this time seem for you? You've been such a wonderful review, it would be an absolute pleasure to meet you! I'm happy you enjoyed the shower scene (and Kazu) so much. Don't ever apologize for your reviews, I just love that people take the time to do so.
Seiji-kun Chiaki-kun Eiji-kun: Aw you even read the notes, how sweet. And you say some wonderful things on the story and it makes me feel goooood. I think I've said it before but I'm not a huge fan of Ringo either, but I can't leave her out of the fic sadly. Ahem... in oneshots though I don't have to acknowledge she exists. Yay SanoKazu hugs!!
Ikichi: I always grin a little when I see your penname. So cute. Thank you muchly for the review, I'm glad you liked it!
Blizzaris: Blizzy oh Blizzy, how I do get a thrill recieving anything from you. You're so wonderful for giving compliments and well constructed crit. I never take offence to your crits cuz I know you mean well and in the end it only improves me as a writer. I'm just saying, I always appreciate your honesty. You bring the spotlight to little details that not too many pay mind to, and I love you for that, too. And you go out of your way to explain things. My lame Sano being there when its convenient tactic is so lame and I know it DX Thanks as always for the review hun! It's always good to hear from you.
the twisted queen: I do love cliffhangers.. Yesss, I hope to one day write a little bit outside of the fanfiction world, and your support means a lot to me. lol, I'll be sure to let you know if anything happens.
Senka Sitara: Thank you! I know it's been a long time and I apologize for the wait hun but here we go, a new chapter. Are you still around, even? It's been TOO long since I updated so...
Kirrashi: tbh I'm not sure where Emiri and Ringo are going. I think I'm giving them a bond of friendship they never had before and the rest is open for readers to believe what they want. Tho it really depends on what people say and how I feel a bit later.
Katt: LOL the shower scene is a bit of a tease, isn't it? Sorry about that, thanks for the compliments, and the review.
dogcollar600: I know, I agree, but as the writer I can't make it that easy. Thank you.
jennykitties: Don't let this thing get in the way of your schooling! Tsk tsk but at the same time, well thank you. I know, Ikki and Kazu oddly just seem RIGHT for each other. Which of Kitten's pictures lead you here, if you remember? I'm curious!
BlackFlameRose: Ah, another one of my spazzy reviewers that I adore. So sorry for the wait, dear, hope this one satisfies. Your comments sometimse make me wanna go "hmm?" and then I go back to my own story and try to find the things you mention. Weird, I know, but it's a good thing. Thank you as per usual.
Blackatt13: Wow. That review? Wow, right back at ya. Saying I make up for the Ikkazu is so nice of you to say! Though nowadays there's a decent amount around ffnet to keep the craving fufilled, and I'm happy to see I'm not the only Ikkazu author around. Thanks for the review hun, sorry you had to wait soooo so long.
slyswn28: Right, there is certainly more to Sano than his sex cravings and pervertedness. He's really hard for me to write though, and so is Ak/gito. I agree about the series. There are a lot of "lol wtf" moments but there is a real story underneath it all and complex relationships that are a real joy to write about. Thanks a bunch for the kind words.
geebabbie: Don't tell me you read it all in one sitting? That'd be so insane.. Thanks for letting me know tho, it's nice to hear.
Udyjay: Thanks so much for trusting me to finish FaS. It's very nice to have support when you're struggling. lol you obsess over us? How oddly endearing. Go to Otakon this year! XD Your reviews always get a giggle out of me somewhere along the way, puts me in a good mood the way you react to things. And also makes me feel that little but better about my writing. Hope you're still around.
PheonixShadow: Thank you. Emotions and feelings (god that sounds grossly corny) are things I really enjoy describing in words. And I'm always fretting over things like OOCness so thank you! I'm glad you stuck this fic out so long, and don't worry, I'm doing what I can for Kazu's confidence. It's a hard thing to build though, I should know XD
SpitFirre: Aww, where on Kitten's DA did you get directed here? You read all of the stories? Wow, gosh, thanks! I hope you're just exaggerating when you say it made you laugh and cry cuz then I'll just feel bad DX
Ryuichiro Sakuraba: Ouuu, a fan-guy huh? I only know a few of those and they're always nice to come across because it gives that slightly different type of look on things. It's so good to hear you enjoy the ineractions and characters and just the story in general and even relate to it. I hope you keep reading hun, it'll be nice to hear your thoughts on future chapters.
kyoko131: hah thank you! I plan on updating til either FaS or I die, so no worries about that one.
Rock Gecko: Bah, it's always a joy to hear another fan has been added to the Ikkazu ship. Thank you for clicking on my story to introduce and cure your yaoi/fandom lust and thank you even more for the review to let me know! I hope you end up sticking around til the end now!
munnins-memory: It's hard to find mulit-chaptered fics for Air Gear (Tho if you're looking for more/another one, have you started to read Masi-no-Ichigo's "Eye of the Storm"? It's another good multi-chapter fic) Hope you enjoy the next chapter!
Sleeping-Willow: Hooked, hm? Ikki and Kazu's relationship is a hard thing to play with at times, glad to hear I'm doing it decently enough. Aww, you want to write? I'm sure you'd do wonderfully if you tried.
Swendaii: Wow, long review. Thank you so much for taking the time to review, even when you say your English is clumsy. I say you spoke/wrote VERY well, even so. And you gave me a wonderful balance of critique and compliments, though I must apologize for the first few chapters where you say its introducing and explaining things about characters and series that readers already know. Though I actually have a decent number of readers who have no seen or heard of airgear before reading FaS, so it was good for them. Thanks so much for reading!
Kitten: Things are going to work out. Hope you catch up soon, and, love you!
Good lord review replies take me such a long time! I hope I didn't forget anyone! Thank you again everyone, for your kind thoughts and words and all of your support. We'll see Folly and Sin through to the very end, no matter what.
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Air Gear
a fiction by Crimson Vixen
Taken
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If Kazu was asked to describe what his life felt like, he might say that it was like a dimly lit, possibly dying lantern at the end of a deep, dark mineshaft. Just a flickering weak glow allowing him to see but not far enough to actually see anything but own shadow. No opening and no limitless horizon to reach out to. No endless possibility. Just the dim light fading over time with no chance of growing any brighter.
There was a thought that had been festering for a while though. One that would come up should he be cursed with the free time. A rather hopeful idea of denial that liked to come in uninvited to play with his lack of real stability. Keeping secrets, running a double life and trying to sort out feelings for his same gendered friend... really wore a guy out.
So this thought, though slightly fleeting and a little crazy, was something he could latch onto when the world cracked and threatened to break right under his feet. A thought that maybe after all was said and done, after all the running and hiding and awkward moments he'd endured, he could still beat the odds and win this thing.
Ah, but who was he kidding? That kind of bouyancy was Ikki's thing. Not his.
Because face it, that little bit of hope was shattered the second Sano said those horrible words, and the weight of awareness anchored Kazu's stomach to his feet. This was it; the boiling point of… well, everything. He'd finally fallen so far into the hole he'd been digging, fucked everything up to the point where he couldn't think of a way to unfuck it. Irrefuckable.
Followed was not the word that he wanted or needed to hear at the moment, not when he was standing so stupid and useless in the crow's room, foolishly thinking it would be a safe place to be. His heart trampolined into his windpipe in a near desperate attempt to escape through his mouth – make a run for it, save itself – because hell, the things his innards were trying to do were downright painful to tolerate. Then again, Kazu assumed as he put his hand to his stomach and applied the slightest bit of pressure, it was very possible he just needed to spew. Felt sick enough.
If Sano was right and he was indeed followed, they had to leave the house and they had to leave it now. Not that it would make coming back to it later any safer but Kazu just couldn't see any good in staying put in the place now. And there was always a chance that Ikki could come back any minute. He'd pratically left a trail of bread crumbs to the crow's home.
The older rider's eyes flickered downwards, eying the way Kazu's hand tenderly cupped around his belly as if quietly urging it to settle. The blonde's lips pursed and then parted, possibly intent on saying something semi-lucid but Sano's hands clutched hard – painfully – at his shoulders and his voice was ringing loudly in Kazu's hypersensitive ears. It felt as though the blood pumping through his veins and fueling his pulse was too loud for him to really hear anything else.
Right up until the glass of Ikki's window shattered and shards splayed in every direction, bouncing off his head and sprinkling at his feet. Air rushed around him and things made only mild sense; still Kazu was outright disoriented, blinking too rapidly, mouth too dry, looking around too fast and unable to keep up.
Window. Something or someone had crashed through the window.
He could feel his chest throbbing wildly with what could only be the ruthless rush of adrenaline, felt perspiration pepper the back of his neck and strangled back the intensifying urge to vomit.
Shadows Kazu could recognize even out of the corner of his eye slipped in through the now broken window with too much ease, landing on their feet too gracefully and flawlessly.
And before Kazu was even aware that he was falling – because really, how was he supposed to be able to keep his knees from buckling and his center of gravity from shifting from the sudden shock? – he felt a pair of strong arms loop under his and hoist him back up before he could hit the floor. His mind raced – Ikki's room is a mess; glass everywhere. He needed to find his legs and snap out of it. Break in, this is a break in. In Ikki's room, and he'd lead them there.
Sano's hands were very quickly at his back, giving him a rough shove towards the doorway and voice breaking through all the commotion, telling him to get the hell out. And in his temporary stupor, Kazu's feet worked to do just that. His right foot banged against his left heel and he stumbled oddly, like a fawn trying out her legs for the first time.
But whatever spell the jet had been under was quick to break when he reached the door. His hands shot out to clutch fiercely at the wooden frame, fingers curling and nails stinging from the taut grip he was managing. Any harder and he feared he could splinter the wood. Being good at running didn't mean it was his only option (and definitely not something he wanted other people thinking he resorted to so easily); he'd decided that a long time ago.
His grip tightened in preparation and he took a quick breath – not much time to debate or reconsider. Regret was inevitable now, but dwelling on it wasn't going to change anything; he'd been tricked. Used. Too quick to seek the familiar surroundings of Ikki's home, his room, the smell of his unwashed sheets and the unfaithful promise of refuge. And now he had to face the consequences of what he'd started. Even if his determination sometimes flickered with the annoying grip of hopelessness.
"Shit!" the blonde cursed loudly, for a list of reasons he couldn't begin to sort through. He pivoted on one heel, sensing everything all at once and knowing nothing past the overwhelming sense of danger and blame. Several pairs of eyes landed on him sharply, ones Kazu knew and refused to meet. His voice was dry. Didn't sound like his own. "Sano!"
But the keeper of time already had his feet planted firmly on the defensive, quick to fall into a solid stance and facing the intruders. Mantis and Riffle stood back a ways, seemingly blocking the window; Weaver was a few steps forward, body tensed. It didn't take very long for Kazu to notice that black contraption strapped to Weaver's back, showing more of its glory than Kazu had ever really had the privilege to see before. Its spidery limbs were poking out with impressive lengths and writhing in anticipation like each tendril had a bloodthirsty mind of its own. He could only stare in morbid enthrallment, focusing on the pointed tips and briefly wondering just how much it would hurt to fall victim to such a device should it choose to pierce flesh.
He'd never actually seen the thing in action. And as if the human insect was able to read his streaming thoughts, those beady eyes momentarily flicked over Sano's shoulders and right into Kazu's eyes.
And while Kazu took that single second to widen his lown eyes and shrink his pupils in awareness, Sano took the momentary distraction to charge the other rider, but Weaver seemed much more comfortable with prey coming to him, much like the spider he sickeningly represented. Those black tendrils on his back swayed and stretched, and Kazu felt himself moving his left foot forward, not knowing what he was going to do but knowing he had to try and do something, but was distracted by the thump just behind him.
He realized Riffle was no longer guarding the window when he felt a hand snake into his hair, knocking his hat clean off and yanking his head back in one swift motion. The yelp that escaped his throat was instantaneous and involuntary, just as the horrid smell that crept into his nostrils was odious. Kazu bitterly seethed through his teeth, eyes rolling upwards to meet narrow eyes staring straight back at him.
"Boss decided he doesn't want to take any chances," Riffle grinned. Kazu temporarily found it annoying and cynically paradoxical that the Devil didn't want to take chances. "So there's been a slight change in plans."
Kazu hissed, having a strange hunch that there was no actual change – that this was the plan all along and he'd simply been duped from the start and should have acted on those damn nagging gut feelings from the very beginning. Maybe every time they let him go so easily he should have questioned it better. Maybe he shouldn't have been so quick to take the chance to get away.
Maybe he should have done a lot of things differently.
Crap, the blonde mentally bit, hands flying to Riffles in attempt to pry the fingers loose and release the building tension on his scalp. "You said, anngh! You said – "
But Kazu stopped himself. He and Riffle both knew very well what was said, but that didn't do a damn thing about what was happening now.
He growled, not wanting to be the leverage he knew he was currently being pegged. He twisted his body and ignored the strain on his scalp, balled his hand into a fist and drilled it straight into Riffle's stomach in a fraught attempt to free himself, just as he heard Sano command time to stop.
Riffle doubled over and stiffened as per Sano's word, enough for Kazu to squirm away from the statue-like grip and scamper to Sano's side. He pushed his back into the other storm rider's, felt their spines align and their lungs expand against one another's.
The controller of time knew how pointless it would be to argue the young speed rider's decision to stay and fight. Instead he sized up the situation presented; three against two. Not impossible.
Sano pressed his back harder against Kazu's in both preparation and forewarning; just as he allowed the spell of time break, both riders peeled off in different directions; Sano raced towards Weaver while Kazu narrowed in on Riffle and Mantis. He hadn't the slightest clue what he was going to do when he closed in on them, or how – so he sped and circled the room, overturned papers and bed sheets with the gusts he left in his wake, tried to get lost from their sight to surprise them from behind.
The plan seemed like a good one at the time, while he was attempting to execute it, until he went to swing his leg to connect with Riffle's neck – because regardless of how many there were, Kazu allowed his rather strong dislike of the speeding bullet take over. Wanted more than anything to rid himself of that ugly mug before anything else. But Riffle, in just another example of just how much skill and agility he had over the jet, was yet again, faster.
His mind raced with doubt and frustration and most of all incompetence as Riffle's hand shot out – like a damn bullet, of course – and captured a fierce and sudden grip on his throat. Saliva sprayed from Kazu's gaping mouth from the force and already spots were dotting his vision. Still he managed to swing his feet up and heel the other rider square in the face, allowing just enough slack to fall free from the chokehold.
An unexpected pair of arms found their way around Kazu's the very instant he was on his feet, holding him back with surprising strength while Riffle regained his footing and wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. Smears of red painted his skin and the eyes of the speeding bullet filled with fire.
When Riffle moved to close in on the blonde, Kazu lifted his feet again, this time as a defensive instinct. He shot his legs out in hopes of connecting somewhere that would buy him more time to think, but Riffle's reflexes were reasonably swift, and caught both ankles in either hand. From there Kazu writhed, feeling much like a worm on a hook, twisting left, jerking right, bucking upwards. There was no way he was going to let it end so fast.
"Don't wear yourself out," Riffle chuckled, overly amused. Body straining, Kazu allowed himself to fall limp in their hold to catch his breath. The short sign of surrender worked to his advantage as he felt their grips lighten just a fraction. It was enough, Kazu decided – it had to be – and he wrenched his arms and legs in all at once, hissing against the nails that raked across his skin when his arms pulled free.
He hit the floor hard and felt dizzy straight after. There was a shudder that started from the base of his spine and ended somehwere in his skull. Oddly, it's now of all times that Ikki refused to leave Kazu's mind. He was like a constant nagging thing that wouldn't leave him be, even in the most inappropriate of times. Addicting as nicotine, dangerous and clinging as cancer. Clouding his mind like a thick fog. Like Ikki himself had a terrifying grip around his heart and was blessed with the ability to squeeze it enough to cause tension in his chest. Yet allowing just enough room for it to beat to live. That kind of control was grating and somehow comforting, but that tight sensation was making a scene right now, rattling his nerves and making the concept of concentration a thing of the past. Leave it to Ikki to deter his focus at a time when it was needed most.
His gut twisted. Ikki didn't want anything to do with him at the moment. The very concept threatened to devour his very being from the inside.
Kazu bit his lower lip with too much force as he rolled away and jumped to his feet. The room was in constant motion and he'd lost sight of where everyone was. So he couldn't fully grasp what was happening when someone from some direction pummeled him harder into the ground than before because he'd been too dumb and too distracted to react fast enough, and soon he was eating carpet. His mind was racing and the room had grown suspiciously quiet, so he rolled onto his back to look up at his attacker, only to be slapped with surprise.
...Iron?
Kazu was just about ready to ask Sano what the hell he was thinking when the light glistened against the small metal dart now protruding from the side of the time keeper's neck.
Kazu wasn't stupid; Sano had just taken a shot aimed for him.
Things stilled. There was no more attacking, no more fighting. Kazu was slow to rise to his feet this time, never taking his eyes off of Sano. The older rider showed no signs of discomfort in his face but was already starting to sway where he stood. He eyed Mantis, arm held out and shielding the blonde in a protective manor Kazu wasn't totally comfortable with.
The air felt heavy. Kazu was sure he would be crushed under it any second.
"Well isn't this a charming sacrifice," Mantis mused, expertly twirling a second dart between his fingers. He eyed the punctured rider, then Kazu, and openly burned with something much like triumph.
Kazu wasn't giving Mantis much mind anymore though; he was too busy watching Sano quickly lose his composure. The other rider adjusted his glasses and took a step forward, only to stiffen and arch. His legs started to wobble, and something like Kazu's small hope of winning diminished. Iron's body was slowing at an alarming rate, which didn't sit well with Kazu at all because it was almost like he'd lost his god-like grip on time.
"Our own special recipe of muscle relaxant," Weaver kindly offered from the other side of the room, never taking his gaze off of Sano, finding too much pleasure in watching Kazu's last line of defense falter and eventually drop to his knees. "A little more useful than the average relaxant. It should last quite a while longer. More potent as well. Right now, you can hardly speak, can you?"
The tendrils on the contraption on his back started to retract and fold into themselves, like there was no more need to fight because they'd already won.
"Don't fight it," Mantis suggested when Sano's palms hit the ground to hold himself up. His face was twisted in determination but Kazu knew it was already over. The blonde tried to think; three against two, now turned into three against one. He couldn't leave the other rider and the odds were very much against him. Weaver formed his hand into a two fingered point, much like a gun, and aimed it at Kazu. Right between the eyes.
"Get him out of here. I'm going to have a little talk with this one before he takes his nap."
Kazu felt himself being pulled back and in reaction he jerked his elbow back, digging in good at Riffle's ribs. The guy was obviously very sensative there, seeing as it always gave him enough slack to get away. Using his speed as a weapon he dashed to the other side of the room, only becoming visible to the naked eye when he reappeared behind Mantis, fingers curled into a fist and arm craned back to strike. He wasn't going down without a fight. Maybe he could take care of all three of them and save the Iron Clock.
And maybe Ikki would dance in through the window on a white horse and claim he was sorry and Kazu was forgiven and all was good in the world.
Just as he swung, something parried his arm the instant before he made contact.
Riffle, Kazu's mind spat bitterly. Before he even made eye contact with his rival his knuckles were white and ready to crush bone.
He was in mid-turn, foot in rotation against the carpet. He had just enough time to see a slab of metal being swung right towards him, and not enough time to react. Blinding white stars exploded across his vision and a searing pain split straight across his temple. Soon after, his knees cracked and erupted in a stinging sensation when he crumpled to the ground, instinctively pressing a palm firmly to his skull as if applying pressure would stop it from pulsating. His head pounded so harshly it felt as if his eyes would be forced out of their sockets and the slightest noise would force his head to explode.
His attempt at words was nothing more than gurgles and groans, tongue unable to function and brains feeling scrambled. His ears were buzzing like hornets, white dots still popping in and out of his vision where and when they pleased.
When he pulled his hand away from his head and looked at it, blood was dribbling on and around his fingers all the way to his wrist. Distracted by the red smothering his hand he didn't realize it was starting to leak down his forehead until it seeped into his eye and made his head want to split, his stomach want to lurch. The world was tilting and whirring but even though he could hardly gather his wits, he was still able to spot Riffle. He would always be able to spot the bastard.
"I can't believe that didn't put you out," Riffle's grin – both cocky and irritated – was just as grating as ever. The hunk of metal that had so aggressively kissed his temple was still tightly gripped in the bullet's hands, poised like a baseball bat and ready for another swing.
What was happening to Sano? What was going to happen to them now? And Ikki… What about Ikki?
Riffle brought his weapon of choice down hard and Kazu felt hot agony blossom around his skull and neck instantly. There were splotches of red behind his eyelids before all sound vanished and everything turned to black.
Ikki...
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Idiot. Mikura Kazuma is a fucking idiot.
Ikki was grinding his teeth, gait still strong with irritation and anger – though whether he was actually angry with Kazu or himself, he didn't know. He did know that Kazu's timing was despicable and that there was still a light throbbing in his pants that would have to die away on its own. He knew that Kazu was tactless enough to choose to spill his guts at a time that didn't suit him at all, telling him things he'd been wanting to know all this time but wasn't quite ready to hear.
He'd even told the guy he wasn't in the mood to hear it. Yet Kazu just kept going on and on and stirring things inside the crow that completely conflicted with his lust and hormones and...
..Of course, there was that nagging, ever-present feeling that maybe, just maybe, he was at fault here. A slim chance he was the one to blame. And while in his defense his boyish needs were begging to be fulfilled and something so vital was too difficult for him to ignore… Kazu had. And he had done so because what he had to say was important.
The stuff Ikki had been losing sleep over.
It was right there, being desperately poured into his ear straight from Kazu's frantic mouth after all this time but it just wasn't fair! Because how the hell was he supposed to focus on those words when he was so turned on and Kazu was just so wet and vulnerable, slippery under his fingers and so very, very tauntingly resistant? The idiot just didn't get how much Ikki needed the comfort of contact, the understanding of silence, the pressure and warmth of a body reacting to his touch…
Well then… Where did that leave Kazu? What part of any of that fair to Kazu?
"Anghh!" Ikki grumbled loudly and suddenly, stopping in his tracks to slam his hand to his crinkled brow. Breaking into the bathroom when he was so obviously in need of time alone and probably sorting through his thoughts, coming onto him and ignoring the desperate confessions he'd been waiting on for what seemed like ages, storming off in a huff when his affections weren't being reciprocated, and still Kazu had tried to chase him down and get him to listen.
And here he'd told the other boy he didn't even want to see him.
Suddenly but really not so surprisingly, there was no more room for denial to even breathe. While the thought was a pain to settle on, it came fairly quick; the real idiot here was him. And no... no, he can't say that it was something he was used to.
Ikki swarmed his tongue around and played with the bad taste in his mouth, trying to work an apology towards his lips to have it ready when he returned home. Spew it out the second he saw the blonde again before pride and other things got the better of him and stopped him. That was of course, assuming Kazu would even give him the time of day.
He hadn't realized just how far he'd traveled until he actually turned around to retrace his steps. Near by stood a play area, occupied by only two people conversing by the swings. It captured his attention in spite of it seeming like a boring and self-deemed unimportant site, because he recognized the unmistakable pigtails of Ringo and the feminine track running curves of Emiri. Something in his throat was catching and he forced himself to look away. Whatever tension that had built up between him and Ringo was something he couldn't actually define. And while he and Emiri had no baggage or awkward feelings between them, the girl's mouth had become more like a weapon in the past few days, and Ikki was still suffering the blunt slap of her voice telling him that he was most certainly the target of his best friend's affections and he, in turn, so obviously loved him back.
Not that he was in too much place to deny that anymore, even if he wanted to fool anybody. But it was just the fact that she'd mentioned it in the first place; he didn't need anyone in his face about it right now. After all, girls had this way about being all high and mighty when they know you know they were right.
Besides all of that, the two seemed to be fairly deep into whatever they were discussing. Ringo was nodding here and there and Emiri's hands were motioning along with whatever she was saying. He was about to continue his trek home but Ringo's eyes blinked several times and then flickered over to him. Nothing too alarming; Ringo always had a strange radar planted in her system somewhere that told her whenever Ikki was near.
Emiri, obviously following the other girl's gaze, turned and spotted Ikki as well, face blank and staring before breaking into a gentle smile and offering a weak, only slightly meaningful wave.
Damn, Ikki thought as he raised an arm to wave back. He couldn't just keep walking now; they'd definitely take it up with him later.
He made his way towards the swing set, plopping himself down on the free swing and faking a yawn. Maybe if he acted like he was tired they wouldn't make much of a fuss when he opted to make a quick getaway.
Being ever curious and not really one to care about the privacy and sanctity of other people's conversations, Ikki kicked off the conversation himself.
"So what were you ladies talkin' about?"
"I don't think that's your place," Emiri piped up all too quickly. Ikki wasn't so sure he liked the person she had become, though at the same time it was an oddly appealing trait. He wasn't sure he wanted to know in the end anyway, not with the way Ringo's cheeks were turning red.
"Right, well, whatever," Ikki grumbled back, shoving his pinky finger into his ear to clear it out and show is indifference. That indifference, however, jumped into the arms of uneasiness when he felt Ringo's eyes on him. And it wasn't something awkward like a longing stare like he was used to. This was much more knowing and accusing.
"I know that face," she said with way too much ease. "What have you done this time?"
Ikki froze. So condescending.
"Nothing! What makes you think I did anything?"
Ringo smiled fondly, tips of her shoes poking at the dirt and forming semi-circles among the grains.
"Your shoulders tense and your walk is different. And you make it seem like you're paying attention when really," she continued, giving Ikki a light kick in the shin to make him look at her again, since his eyes had strayed off to the side somewhere, towards the distance. Towards his house. "You're not."
Honestly, he knew the girl was good at picking up on his vibes but surely he couldn't be so outright transparent. But she was staring at him, and Emiri joined her with a fold of her arms. It was like they were suddenly partners in crime or something. What the hell?
With a slight upturn of his lip that looked much more like a grimace, Ikki jittered his eyes back and forth between the two of them, feeling trapped. Girls. What a joke.
"I don't need this," Ikki blurted, taking it as his cue to leave. He had somewhere to be, and this was merely wasting his time. Stiffly he stood.
"Ikki."
Hating everything, hating himself, hating this morning and everything it meant for the rest of the day and maybe even longer, Ikki turned. But his dark eyes flicked upwards without any real reason, like they were tugged by some force he would never be able to understand, landing at the top of the swing set and settling at the acute angle of the poles, where a spider web glimmered in the light. His mouth hung ever so slightly open as he stared, brows sinking together and chest creating a strange thump from the inside.
He was startled when his phone rang from his back pocket. He didn't know why he felt so nervous, but it took him several tries to get a decent grasp of his phone before pulling it out. His chest tightened; what if it was Kazu?
One glance at the tiny screen disproved his guess; it was Onigiri. Ringo and Emiri were both standing now, looking as though they were considering trailing after the crow once he decided to move, so Ikki took the distraction and pressed the device to his ear.
"Yo."
"Shit, you answered."
"Whats going on?" Ikki shoved a hand in his pocket, feigning apathy and boredom and turning his back to the girls. He didn't like their eyes on him like that, burning holes straight through him and trying to figure him out.
"Buccha, Yayoi and myself were thinking of seeing a movie. We're at your place right now, but Ikki… Is everything cool? It looks..."
"It looks...?"
"I don't know how else to word it, so... It looks like someone's been inside."
His spine went stiff as a board, sweat seasoning the back of his neck. He looked with wide eyes to the side and then to the ground.
"What?"
"Well the front door was open a little and it looks like your windows been smashed to pieces."
Something in the crow was falling with incredible speed. He was home close to an hour ago and everything was fine. And Kazu was…
Phone pressed against his ear, gaze drawn back to the flawless web at the top of the swings, which was now holding a small insect hostage, Ikki didn't speak.
Ringo, Emiri and Onigiri's voices tried to reach him at the same time, too clueless and unimportant to understand the intensity of the gravity that was weighing Ikki too heavily to the ground.
"Ikki..."
"Ikki?"
"Ikki."
Kazu.