A/N: Don't hate me please.
Well you can if you want to. I've really let you guys down. Most of you guys are prolly all grown up with children by now Dx
I needed to update mainly because, and don't take offense, all these MarySues? Yeah, they are KILLING me.
But I know you're tired of it but OMG this chapter, for as long as a wait it was, is HORRIBLE. It feels really confusing or something, idk. And pointless. Well not *pointless* lol its actually kind of important for Kazu-developtment, but I just mean I think there are things in there that don't need to be. OH WELL. Eh, you've been warned, in any case. Speaking of...
warnings: Possible typoes (hiss), OOC (mebbe), insecure writer (shoot me), blah blah, they really haven't changed so...
disclaimer: I hope they're not mine, cuz this massive time gap would destroy me.
Thank you:
I'm going to try to keep these short-ish. So don't think I'm trying to rush past them or anything like that.
I appreciate all of you that are still around. Also... sometimes when I go to edit in ffnet's system,
the typing goes haywire and misses like half the keys I punch. So... major typoes
in the review replies are not my fault Dx /defense
Right, here we go!
Sandy11-1990: Yey tension! I can't believe I let FaS get so old. DX
Neurotic Zombies: You'll just have to see if they get out ok, aha. I wonder if praying for updates actually work.
Gotyu: god, I can't believe you're still sticking around. I appreciate your loyalty so much hun. Thank you!
Seiji-kun Chiaki-kun Eiji-kun: lol by now you're prolly all moved and everything. Thank you for the double review. I know! FaS is so old I'm embarassed. I like torturing Kazu cuz I'm horrible Dx Thank you!
Payce99: Thank you! Yeah, only a few more chapters to go but at the rate I'm going, it'll take longer than I hoped.
kairiyumi: don't be sorry, I'M the one who is sorry for taking SO long. Thank you for all the kind words. I worry sometimes tho, that the only reason its rated the "best" is cuz of it's lengh, not so much its quality. That's just lack of confidence cutting in tho. I'm glad you feel Kazu has grown, that's something I wanted to accomplish, so thank you! Thanks also for all the other awesome compliments~
Daisuke Kazamatsuri: Thank you so much, and thank you for reading and taking the time to review.
Slifer: Thank you hun! Yeah Kazu's a bit roughed up but it's not nearly as bad as it looks! Nice to see them together again, yeah?
Dubya See: LOL Ikki and a metal pipe just seem to fit together for some reason. Sorry for the long wait, hunny, so nice to see people sticking around still.
Cagey Lynxx: Caught! Ahh, all in the ways of fanfics, my dear Dx Describing feelings is actually... fun me! Thank you so much!
TheaBlackthorn: lol I love the support and enthusiasm. They're gonna need it.. Thanks!
PheonixShadow: hoo gosh you are too nice! Your devotion is downright flattering. I'm a sap for touch characters being worried about another haha, and I'll be nice... ISH... to Kazu.
TheFireSage: Really? I still can't grasp how people can read about pairings they've never seen haha. It means a lot to me that you still read! Thank you loads!
geebabbie: I only hope that this chapter will meet up to the standards of th last, and of course thank you so much for the review. So happy to hear you enjoy it so much.
Forgetfull: I fail for updating quick the last time and then horribly this time. It's nice to see them together isn't it ? Dx Specially when they're, like together. And hey! No one ever said Ikki was a flawless hero haha.
Sagri: I'm actually REALL glad that you mentioned these things because those very things were running throgh my mind (Ikki finding an empty room and Kazu's condition) but I'd also chalk that up to bad writing on my part. I really wanted Ikki's gut and intuition to properly guide him, and Kazu's just being a whiney bitch XD In any case, Thanks SO much for your time and crit, I've definetly thought about these things and will grow as a writer in the future because of it. Thank you hun!
Nightshade47: I'm a whore for cliffhangers, sorry. UGH happy you liked that part because I really enjoyed writing that bit. Of course I apologize as per usual for the lengthy wait, and thank you for your kinda words.
Calawethrin: Thank you lol! You don't actully shed tears, I hope, do you? Dx You're so very nice hun and I appreciate your review very much! I hope you stick around!
SpitFirre: LOL Don't apologize for late reviews, I deserve them for as late as i update. How many times did you reread? wow, thats flattering ahah, I will never give up on FaS but thank YOU for the same.
ChristopheThe Mercenary: Like, everything? In one go, you read it? Geez, can't believe you felt all of those things. I apologize for the long wait tho, but I hope this chapter is up to par.
beanstalk1019: lol yeah Kazu has yet to grasp this concept to its fullest just yet. I love giving characters dialogue, like love it. lol yeah I admit I made him seem really beat up, but that was my mistake for making him appear worse off than he actually is. I take it as a learning experience. Thanks so much for the review!
Black-Flame-Rose: BUT I AM BEHIND Dx Gag me with a spoon I am VERY behind, and all my readers are GONE, so sad. There is no such thing as being too late, dear! As long as you come around. Thanks so much for the comments and the review, AND THE PATIENCE.
Lokir: lol not naughty things like THAT! Riffle's just a moody twit, really. You have really great guesses hahah, read and find out! Thank you!
dogcollar600: Yeah, poor idiots. I love how you root for the good guys and call the badguys names haha. Thanks!
poison-maestro: holy crap what did you do that for ahaha, I mean wow awesome thank you but you should sleep! I don't mind the 'update' comments just so long as there is something else there, like yours! XD so thank you very much!
Kitten-chan: ILUUUUU
I hope I got everyone. I'm hella tired so if I missed someone or misspelled something
I apologize, and know that I'm thankful for all of you, ever single one! I'm very aware
that it can be difficult to stick to a story for so long so for those of you that are
doing just that, I can't even tell you how much it means to me. Thank youuu!
Air Gear
a fiction by Crimson Vixen
Rematch: Bullet vs Jet
Don't be stupid, Ikki's head kept repeating. Those were the words Kazu had harshly whispered to him as a warning when the ropes around them were tugged loose and they were able to stand. Don't be stupid, just walk.
Ikki regretted listening to him, feeling looked down upon by their captors by choosing to cooperate and walk with them. Ikki eyed them as they moved; Weaver, Mantis, Riffle, and some other fourth guy that Ikki hadn't actually caught the name of but was wary of the most.
When Riffle had pleaded his leader to please just let him have one more race, Ikki sought it out as a life saving opportunity. He had piped in that it was a good idea; that they should prove their skill like real men instead of just killing off competition.
But while his confidence in the jet was unsurpassable, Kazu himself seemed hesitant, his whole posture and demeanor a bluff.
And now as they walked into the deeper part of the city, Ikki started to feel that dithering feeling in himself as well, almost as if Kazu was transferring it to him. He didn't know where they were going but Kazu's eyes would occasionally flick and light up in brief familiarity, possibly trying to draw himself a mental map as they traveled before he ducked his gaze back down to the ground as though he were fascinated by the passing gravel, and Ikki found it a little unsettling that the blonde had yet to actually meet his eyes since they'd left the building. He looked spacey and lost in thought, lost in guilt. Like a dead man walking.
It was enough to make Ikki feel slightly uncomfortable.
The Crow had to force himself to follow Kazu's lead no matter how much he disagreed with it. Surely between the two of them Kazu knew best how to handle these guys and the situation presented, but that didn't make it any easier. Ikki clenched his fists, calculating how fast he'd have to move to take all four of them out and escape with Kazu, both of them unharmed. But the odds fizzled away when his thoughts turned realistic.
They walked for what felt like ages, made to feel longer for Ikki because he couldn't capture Kazu's eyes with his own as they followed footfalls of this team that had supposedly wanted him dead, and were responsible for Kazu's condition. He felt like he was locked outside of some twisted circle, because although he was a definite part of this, there was so much he didn't know. So much he didn't understand.
Ikki told himself that when this was all over, he was going to sit Kazu down and they were going to talk. No interruptions, no lies, just throwing all their cards on the table. About everything.
They were best friends; more than that, even. And Ikki wanted to be able to protect the idiot, take him as he was with all of his in-comings and out-goings, his insecurities and strengths, his proud moments and moments like this.
He kept walking, reluctantly, eying every land mark and sign they passed and filing it away in his head under lock and key. Out of the corner of his eyes he could see Kazu's face continuously changing. Tightening. Conflicted. Full of thoughts too complex to be remotely unperturbed. He could tell the boy's legs were hurting from the stiff way he was walking, but Ikki also took into account that he was walking, at least.
And Ikki, lost in thoughts of his own, thought of Riffle. He knew that if the man hadn't suddenly intervened, undoubtedly saving their lives to fulfill a selfish last wish, they would both be dead and abandoned right now, with welts on their skulls and fingers timelessly interlocked (because Ikki could specifically remember their hands touching like that while they were bound back to back) while they lay face down in the dirt.
He shook his head to toss the image away. The look on Kazu's face was anything but reassuring. The way the blonde wouldn't look at him felt like he was wasting what little time they may have had left.
He finally stopped when Mantis stopped first, causing Ikki to crash into him. His arms were quickly snatched, caught in a bruising grip and pulled at, boiling Ikki's blood from beneath his skin because he was still trying not to swing fists, trying to stuff down his desire to shred apart skin and collect teeth for Kazu's sake, because the guy just wasn't fighting back.
He hated it.
"Kazu," Ikki barked loudly as he was jerked to the side, no longer caring if everyone heard. He willed the blonde to at least lift his head, show them that angry bitter face, look at them and sneer, look at him and share some sort of silent understanding, tilt his chin up to the sky and cry. Something.
Just look.
"Kazu!"
This time, Kazu's face twitched in recognition, registering the call when his head finally rose. There was something inside trying to rip its way out of him. A beast tingling at the tips of his fingers and prickling fibers on the surface of his skin. Near ready to snap.
"We'll keep things fair," Riffle's voice chimed in, shattering whatever connection Ikki had a chance of making with the jet. "I'll explain the course to you ahead of time."
Ikki looked to Riffle, then to Kazu, who's face was still dark but listening closely. When he spoke, his voice was hardly recognizable.
"That's fine."
"And," Riffle added at what seemed to be an afterthought but the look in the man's eyes said he'd been contemplating this whole time. "To make it interesting, may I suggest teams?"
Kazu blinked up at him, confused. The most animated reaction he'd had so far.
"I thought it was between you and me."
"Can't say you're in any position to argue."
Kazu opened his mouth but quickly closed it, feeling the heat and weight of Riffle's team members still surrounding them.
"I'm listening."
"Two rounds," Riffle uncurled two bony fingers and hovered them just in front of Kazu's face. "First round will be your boyfriend and Weaver. Then you and me."
As he spoke, the bullet jabbed the blonde's chest with his finger. Ikki saw Kazu tense.
"There's just one problem," Kazu said. "I don't have my AT's with me."
Riffle gave a disgusted look down at Kazu's feet, which were still in regular sneakers, and then back to his face.
"That's not my problem."
"Then how-"
"Borrow your boyfriend's."
"I thought you sa-"
"Tag team," Riffle continued regardless, moving to point as he spoke. "Down that street there, and when you get to the three way intersection go left."
He looped an arm around Kazu and pulled him close, ducking his head down to be eye level so he could aim his finger properly.
"And then?"
"Through the subway again, to the third platform. From there you make your way back around this way."
Ikki watched the gears in Kazu's head turn, saw his lips twist and nibble in thought, irises following the trail and trying to picture the details of the route as he followed the path of Riffle's jagged finger. He could physically see Kazu's confidence in the course deteriorating before his very eyes, looking like the questions were flooding his system the longer he stared. And he kept staring, until Riffle gave a rather merciless nudge with his elbow.
"Sound good, twerp?"
Kazu blinked several times with his vague glimpse of the course before turning to finally face Ikki.
"What do you think?"
Ikki thought it was insane. He thought it was stupid. He had a bad feeling about it. Even if they won, their safety was never guaranteed. Ikki couldn't say he liked the way Riffle was so rough with Kazu in every form of contact he made with him either, or the way Kazu hardly reacted to them. He also wasn't too fond of the way Riffle hardly let him speak or finish a sentence, or how he could claim to want an even, fair race and yet shrug off the fact that if Kazu was going to race it would be in someone else's wheels. Not every pair of AT's were the same; they were practically customized by whoever owned them. Not only that, but dragging other people into their 'rematch'... Well, Ikki didn't see how it was fair at all.
"…Fine with me."
He wasn't the only one having bitter thoughts, however. When Ikki looked off to the side he could see their leader, seeming unimpressed and inpatient.
There was a shove on his shoulder from behind and Ikki almost fell forward from it. Riffle brushed by him smugly and walked over to the others to talk with them, and Kazu was soon at the Crow's side with a much gentler touch. If they were going to run away, now would be the perfect time, but even with that thought nestled into the back of his brain he didn't pull it forward, and he didn't act on it.
"Dark-and-Gloomy over there doesn't seem like he's enjoying himself," Ikki mentioned spitefully, feeling Kazu's hand put pressure on him to guide him into a sitting position. They both lowered to the ground and Kazu started fiddling with Ikki's AT's.
"That's because he isn't. I'm sure he's considering this a huge favor to Riffle," Kazu responded carefully, getting Ikki's left AT loose and pulling it off. "Sorry for this, Ikki."
"Stop apologizing," Ikki said, folding his leg in to pull the other AT off on his own before handing it over to Kazu. He watched the blonde slip his AT's onto his feet and tighten them. "They fit alright?"
Kazu twisted his ankles, and Ikki assumed he was wriggling his toes as well, to test out the mobility. His head tilted slightly to the side.
"They're a tad big, but it doesn't feel like it'll be a problem."
"…How are your legs feeling?"
"Huh?" Kazu's brows lifted, then lowered when it clicked. "Oh… It'll be alright."
Ikki wanted to argue, but resisted. Again he looked off to the other team, where Riffle was having words with Dark-and-Gloomy in what looked like a pretty defensive manner.
"You're doing the first round," Kazu's voice brought Ikki's attention back to him, starting to loosen the AT's to return them to Ikki now that he knew they semi-fit. "I don't know what to tell you. I don't know how we got here."
"Me neither," Ikki admitted, somehow managing a smile.
"Hey, listen. I want you to watch yourself," the blonde warned, unable to forget the way he'd fallen first thing in his first match with the speeding bullet. Who was to say the others weren't the same?
"Don't worry, I got this."
"Ikki…"
"So," the Crow tested nervously. He started to put his AT's back onto his feet. "You've ah… You've race him before."
It was statement rather than a question. After all, a rematch could only occur after one has already taken place.
"Yeah…"
"…What happened?"
Kazu looked down to Ikki's AT's and attempted to tighten them for the Crow. When he was done, he stood, tugging at Ikki's arm to get him to do the same. Riffle and Weaver started to walk towards them and Kazu only had a short moment to whisper his answer.
"I lost."
Ikki stared, unable to think to form words fast enough before Weaver dropped a hand onto his head.
"Let's get this over with," he said, then turned his gaze to Riffle, who was already lost in a glaring match with Kazu. "You better appreciate this, Riff. The Boss ain't too pleased. And you know, if you lose-"
"Yeah, yeah," the bullet waved him off. Their leader clearly didn't understand. "I won't lose."
It was as Ikki was forced to face the other direction to look down the long strip of road that he realized he didn't fully know the course. Yeah he'd heard the rough explanation but he needed to be able to visualize things. See it ahead of time. Where was the subway? How many turns were there past that? How did the subway part of the course even work? His throat went dry and he swallowed as Weaver crouched just next to him, faced forward.
How did anyone here expect him to know where to go?
How was he going to…
"GO!"
Weaver took off from beside him, soaring down the strip at an alarming speed. Ikki's eyes sprang wide; they were already starting!
"Ikki!" Kazu called from behind him. Ikki could already picture the blonde's face, and that was all it took for him to get his legs working. As if his own name was the signal, Ikki took off down after Weaver, determined to catch up, keep up, stay caught up, and find his way back to the starting point in good time.
He spared a glance behind him, saw Mantis, Riffle and their leader, along with Kazu, quickly shrinking into the distance. It was almost ironic to him that in order to see Kazu again he'd have to run away from him as fast as his legs could carry him.
And admittedly, Weaver was fast; he kept a fair distance between them, taking sharp turns so close Ikki swore his shoulders were clipping corners. Somehow to his surprise, pedestrians started to pepper the streets, giving him one more thing to watch out for, which was not making things any easier seeing as Weaver didn't think twice before plowing them over or knocking them to the side as he passed. Ikki, on the other hand, weaved and dodged, ducking right and swerving left to avoid knocking people around and as consequence, started to fall a little ways behind.
He kept up with that method for a short while before he confirmed it just wouldn't do. The very instant he saw an opening he threw himself towards the adjacent building, slamming his wheels to the rigid surface and giving him that extra bit of speed he needed to get by the crowd without any hindrance. He held himself at a horizontal angle for as long as he could manage until he had to turn a corner. And Ikki timed it nervously, with little to no time to run it though his head, and leapt into the air and shouted for people to clear room for a landing. They responded to his order with gasps and shrieks and confused upward stares.
Ikki twisted his body in mid air for his landing, waving his arms to signal there was no turning back, and when he hit the pavement with a grunt people finally got the sense to move. They scattered as Ikki weaved, leaning his weight into his turns and spotting Weaver ahead of him, still a distance away but not as much as before. Not fully understand the course which left him at an annoying disadvantage; getting ahead of the guy could leave him lost on the course and only hurt him in the end, whereas if he kept an eye on him and followed, he could tag Kazu and let the blonde take care of the rest.
...But Kazu had looked nervous before the race, blue eyes glazed over and thin fingers plucking at his clothes. Like he wasn't sure. Like they'd already lost.
Feeling a twinge of something that hadn't been there before, Ikki felt a little more determined to keep up, if only so he could kick the negativity out of Kazu's depressive system. Deep down surely that wasn't all Kazu was about. There were plenty of times Ikki could remember, not recently of course but certainly the memories were there, where Kazu was all smiles and nudging elbows, laughter belting out of his windpipe like it was something he couldn't control, until he couldn't breathe anymore. Ikki missed those days. He wanted to get them back. And somehow, maybe, after this race, he felt he could.
Kazu gritted his teeth at the sharp elbow Riffle was drilling into his upper arm, cupping the offended area with his opposite hand and eventually settling on a hot glare in the bullet's general direction. The jerk was acting all buddy-buddy now, like they'd always been friends through rivalry, not knowing that he already had a relationship with someone like that, and certain they were a lot closer than he ever wanted to be with this grease ball.
Riffle was acting much like a little kid. Excited, eager, full of confidence and practically bouncing on the balls of his feet. That severe surety in himself combined with Kazu's own bubbling self doubt wasn't a very comforting combination. It was something rather toxic and sickening, and Kazu moved his hand from his shoulder to his stomach to keep the contents at bay. A part of him wanted him to believe he could do this. He could treat this as any other race with any other rider and victory would be assured. But every time Kazu craned his neck to look over at Riffle and that ridiculous toothy grin, he just couldn't convince himself.
"Guess what the boss told me," his voice cut through Kazu's attempt at ignorance like a piranha's jaws through tenderized meat, which by the way wasn't an analogy he particularly liked at the moment. If Riffle's childish behavior wasn't getting to him before it certainly was now; the guy was acting like a boasting rich piece of shit child who's daddy gave him things to show off about. Against his better judgment, Kazu's will lost and he turned his head. What!
Riffle's grin was, once again, maddening.
"Says if I lose this race I'm as good as dead to him," he said, smile still in place, and Kazu waited for what was bound to be more. After all, something like that shouldn't make a guy smile, no matter how insane they were. "Not that I have anything to worry about. But if I win, I get to deliver the finishing blow."
Kazu refused himself the luxury of swallowing, which very well could have looked more like gulping, because Riffle would be sure to see it, and the blonde was determined not to let him see something like that at a time like this. Finishing blow… Their boss was giving Riffle permission to kill them both when this was all over. Not that this race guaranteed anyone's life – it was only prolonging it, and giving fate time to decide how they would die.
Kazu shook his head. He had to stop thinking like that. Ikki was on the course right now, running as fast as he could without losing his way. He couldn't help wondering what Ikki was thinking right at that moment. If he had any regrets, if he blamed anyone, if he really felt they could win or if it was just the talk of a natural born leader.
He could feel his palms starting to sweat, and he rubbed his fingers together in nervousness. He'd been nervous for races before; it's a pretty natural response to a challenge for him, but nothing like this.
"And to think I could have already been dead by now if you hadn't stepped in and saved my life," was all Kazu could think to conjure up at the moment, thinking off the top of his head but knowing that the simple fact would somehow manage to nuzzle its way under Riffle's skin. And it wasn't like he could come up with anything else to say; not when it was swirling in his mind so deep. Yeah, that's it; remind the guy who wants you dead that he saved your hide at the last second.
Riffle's lips were sealed but Kazu could easily tell his teeth were grinding from behind them, and the way his eyes narrowed was anything but subtle.
"It wont matter in a short while," was the retort, accompanied but an unnecessary but deliberately rough shove from the side, almost knocking Kazu off balance but he caught himself. He tried to keep his reactions at a minimum, not only to irritate his enemy but because he was trying to focus his gaze down the street for Weaver and Ikki, chest fluttering with hope that Ikki would be the one rounding the corner first.
The sound of his wheels echoed loudly against the tunnel's rounded concrete walls, and Ikki still wasn't entirely convinced he know where he was going but he just kept repeating the directions he remembered in his head.
Third platform, third platform, third platform…
He mentally counted down as he passed them, feeling a heavy tension in his entire body as he glided along the tracks. He knew they were treading in dangerous territory, seeing as the tracks were still in use. Every now and again his eyes would flick behind him to make sure he wasn't being trailed by bright lights and speeding metal, before bringing his attention back in front of him, where Weaver was thankfully still in view, but at a considerable distance ahead. If by some chance Ikki was able to get in front and exit the underground rails first, the sudden re-exposure to the streets might confuse him directionally and make him hesitate. And that would only give Weaver an open invitation to fly past him, which was something Ikki, of course, didn't want.
His plan was to stay a safe ways behind until he was in a place he recognized, or at least until he saw which direction Weaver ran once he got back to the sun-dried roads, then overcome his adversary in the last minute and tag Kazu first, giving the blonde that extra few seconds he needed to win.
But then again there was the matter of switching off his AT's.
He didn't like how people were constantly roaming the course during the entire duration of the race. It was putting them in danger, and damaging his chances of reaching the goal first.
His feet landed sharply on the wall and he used his body to gain a little extra speed by pushing it forward, closing the gap between him and Weaver just a little before the third platform caught his eye. To his complete and utter relief, there had been zero trouble with trains coming and going through the tunnels.
Weaver pushed himself from the tracks, ending the orange sparks at his heels and executing a graceful landing on the platform, guiding himself towards the stairs without a single look back. Ikki was sure the other rider could feel his presence close behind him, and it was something the crow didn't want to lose, so he too jumped from the tracks to the platform, landing lightly but just as gracefully on the surface. People scrambled out of his way, petrified, making it easier for him become airborne and land his wheels on the railing for a nice grind upwards.
Just as he reached the top he could see Weaver making that first turn into the streets. Biting his lip and willing his calves, Ikki took an even breath and made the same turn, moving fast and leaning his body into the sharp left, so much that he almost felt himself lose his footing and ruin everything.
As soon as it clicked that he recognized the road and where he was, Ikki's speed increased. This was the final lunge for him; he needed to reach that starting point first. But a second look revealed he was too far behind for his liking.
That was when Ikki's adrenaline pumped harder than he could remember, and he focused solely on Weaver's form before bursting forth with as much speed as he could muster, feeling the distance between them shrink. Once he crossed that line he would be able to switch off with Kazu and let the blonde take his turn, so while he may not be able to cross the line before Weaver, he sure as hell could make it close.
It seemed to the crow that he was gaining speed abnormally fast, but he didn't question it. It only made sense after it was too late; he wasn't catching up; Weaver was slowing down, and soon they were in touching distance of each other.
Only Weaver didn't just touch him, he ploughed into him, unrelenting and with the strength of what felt like a wrecking ball. Ikki felt his arms flail in a last second attempt to regain his balance but it was too fast, too sudden, and while Weaver blasted off to reach the finish line, Ikki veered off course and caught his front wheel on something big enough to throw him into the air.
…Cheating! Ikki wanted to shout, or at the very least it was what he was thinking while floating in mid air, eyes never leaving Weaver's shrinking form until his leg hit something hard and a searing pain shot through his entire body before he even hit the ground. He couldn't remember skidding along the pavement but he remembered the hot sensation on his skin afterward, the tears in his clothing and what had to have been Kazu in the far, far distance screaming his name.
"Ikki!" Kazu bellowed from the deepest part of his throat. Then, enraged, turned to face Riffle, giving a thwack to the man's arm with the back of his hand. "God! You guys never play fair, do you! Damn it!"
His right foot lifted, ready to run but Riffle caught hold of the back of the kid's shirt.
"What do you think you're doing!"
Kazu ripped free of the hold viciously, eyes still burning and temper fuming.
"Weaver can tag you whenever the hell he wants, but if you want to win a race against me, fair and square, you won't budge from this spot until I'm back at the starting line," Kazu ordered, practically foaming at the mouth. He wasn't surprised. He wasn't surprised but damn if he wasn't furious.f
He stared down the street at Ikki's prone form, saw him moving but remaining on the ground. His feet padded heavily as he ran to the crow, hating how much slower he was without a pair of AT's. A sudden, strong gust of wind swept past him, ruffling his hair and grabbing his clothes, slowing him down for just a fraction of a second as Weaver flew by him in the opposite direction. He didn't risk looking back to see if Riffle chose to run without him; his eyes were glued to Ikki as he ran, as he sprinted, as he fell to his knees and gripped Ikki's side.
With a small shake, Ikki groaned and rolled to face him. Upon being flipped onto his back side, Ikki's arm flopped onto the ground, and in his hand, his phone slipped free from his fingers and lay open just next to him. A quick glance to the screen showed Kazu that in his short moment of time alone, Ikki had called the police.
It didn't seem like Ikki to want the authorities to play a part in this, but maybe he wasn't thinking straight, or maybe he just honestly thought it was a good option to take. But whether or not it was a smart move, Kazu didn't have it in him to argue or change anything. He sighed in relief when he looked Ikki over; it had looked a lot worse than it was. Ikki had just had the wind knocked right out of him. And while the scratches along his side were nothing to be overly concerned about, the swelling of his leg was.
"Oh shit," Kazu belted suddenly, hands flying to the leg and retreating just as fast, unsure. He looked around breifly to identify what could have hit Ikki's leg so hard, then looked back down where their eyes met. "Are you-"
"I'm fine," Ikki assured, pulling himself into a sitting position all his own. "I just wasn't expecting it."
"Tell me about it," Kazu muttered knowingly, ducking his head to examine his friend's leg. But as soon as he started to look it over, Ikki shook his head and waved it off. They were wasting precious time.
"Forget it, it doesn't hurt that bad. We have to get to the line, and you have to do the final lap."
Kazu glared at Ikki with the remains of rage that was originally for Riffle. Something was twisting inside of him and had been for quite some time. He wasn't empowered but he was vengeful, and that… was what gave Kazu something as close to confidence as he ever felt before.
He rested his hand lightly on Ikki's leg, careful with his placement and meeting the crow's eyes again with his own. They were losing the race, and they both knew it. Licking his lips, Kazu finally spared a glance back towards the line, where to his reprieve and somehow his disgust, Riffle was there, impatiently waiting. The thought of leaving an injured Ikki behind while he finished the lap, with Mantis and Weaver and their leader, wasn't the least bit appealing, and it didn't take the jet long to settle on an idea. He took a breath.
"Don't worry; we'll finish the race. But you're coming with me."
"What? No way. Hell no. This is between you and that guy; dragging me along is stupid, Kazu. It'll just slow you down."
"I'm not leaving you behind with them. Who knows what they'll-"
"I said no."
Kazu made a face. If they have the nerve to knock people over during a race and go back on their word, there was a good chance they would take the opportunity to kick the crow while he was down and Kazu himself wouldn't be there to lift a finger. He wasn't risking that.
"Ikki. I wasn't asking your permission."
There was so much at stake for him, and he tried to convey this to Ikki with his eyes, which he couldn't even tell if they were pleading or angry anymore. The longer they debated, the more time Riffle had to mull over the idea of starting without him, thinking his delay counted as fair play. Their eyes locked for an agonizing moment before Ikki's shoulders slumped. He was certain his extra weight, added onto the fact that Kazu wouldn't even be wearing AT's he was used to, was going to mess them up and slow them down, but the look in Kazu's blue eyes was unyielding.
"…How the hell are we going to keep up?"
"It's obvious, isn't it?" Kazu said, and he actually smirked as he started loosening the laces of Ikki's treks. "I'll run. As fast as I fucking can."
He felt sure of these words, pulling both AT's off of Ikki's feet and sliding them onto his own, making sure to tie them as tight as he could. Because now was the time to take the world by storm, because for as much as he'd asked of it, it never made him any promises. So now he was going to take it.
The familiar and comforting feel of Kazu's hands sliding under him to pick him up bridal style happened before Ikki was ready. He still wasn't one hundred percent on this… for as important and close to home this battle was to Kazu, Ikki both adored and hated how willing Kazu was to risk it all, for his pride, his team, his name but mostly for him.
Ikki wrapped his arms around Kazu's neck to both gain and give support. He could hear the low grunt that gurgled in the blonde's throat, a growl made of its own will.
He didn't take off in a full burst of speed when he made his way to the starting line, lost in thought and testing his strength and ability as he carried Ikki towards the line at average pace. He took his time, content in knowing that he and Riffle would start at the same time, irritated that it defeated the purpose of Ikki running at all.
Despite the burden, Kazu didn't seem to show much hindrance, but Ikki was sure he felt it. He also felt a little embarrassed, and a lot like a damsel in distress in Kazu's arms when the Jet took his place next to Riffle, not even bothering to spare the other rider a glimpse and taking a stance.
"I'm ready whenever you are," Kazu said, voice drone, fingers tightening around his load.
"You're running with that kid?"
"I'm ready. When you are."
Ikki didn't miss the affronted, near insane expression that spilled across Riffle's bony face, or the pose he took right after.
"Geez," he mumbled, obviously feeling some of Kazu's irritation in himself as well. "If I knew this was going to happen I would have just let the boss kill that kid and race you one on one. You know, prove my point and then off you myself. And riding with that thing in your arms is just guaranteeing your loss. I thought you wanted a fair race."
Finally, Kazu let his eyes slip to the side.
"You're afraid of losing to someone with a handicap, am I right?"
"You little..!" the veins along Riffles forehead and neck swelled and inflated, face going red like steam was going to shoot out from his ears any second. His whipped his head so fast to the course that Ikki felt his own neck hurt. "Go!"
Ikki felt something stirring in his mouth with something else to say, and even opened his mouth to try, but Kazu and Riffle both took off simultaneously, blowing dust and sparks and flames off behind them, and Ikki tucked his head closer to the blonde's chest to decrease the flow of the wind. Unlike the past, Kazu wasn't slowing his speed for his passenger, instead he was just holding him extra tight as he ran at what felt like full speed. Holding him close. Risking it. But Ikki still feared that even with Kazu's set determination and fast foot work, bearing extra luggage was only going to hurt him in the end.
Even with a well timed start, they were already behind…
The crow squinted heavily against the thunderous wind and wondered if this was how it always felt when the jet plane ran. Raw wind biting at your face, things whirring together to the point where it was hard for him to tell what anything was or which direction he was going and altogether just unable to see and Ikki was almost certain that the only reason Kazu was able to know the way so clearly was because this was the road he was meant for. If he looked down, Ikki could see flames flicking off the heels of Kazu's… of his ATs, and the jet was all the more amazing. Was it really just his skill that made something like that happen, and not just the wheels he owned?
"Kazu!" Ikki shouted over the wind.
"Yeah?"
Ikki lost sight momentarily of the seriousness of the situation and dared to use one hand to cup around his mouth, his other hand clinging white-knuckled to Kazu's collar.
"…This is really fucking awesome!"
Kazu didn't say anything but Ikki saw him sprout a wild grin before continuing his leg's powerful strokes and lunges, gripping Ikki roughly but lovingly when he leaned to turn. Ikki's stomach flipped with the sudden tilt, body tensing when he saw how dangerously close he got to the concrete. He nearly felt that if he hadn't clutched at Kazu tighter, he would have touched the speeding pavement below.
Finally, wind starting to burn his vision too much, he squeezed his lids shut. Felt Kazu's hand slide up until he was cradling the crows neck in the crook of his elbow. He wrapped his arms tighter around the jet's slim neck, feeling the boy's pulse race like that of a humming bird's, breaths heavy but remarkably steady and balanced.
They were still behind and Kazu's face seemed to get grimmer with each passing second. They had to catch up.
He felt Kazu's fingers dig even deeper into him just before taking a quick and unexpected turn and Ikki felt for a minute he was stuck in gravity; it took a moment for it to register that Kazu he leaped over the subway stairs instead of grinding down the supportive rail. They were this far already?
But something felt wrong the second they landed and both boys clutched at each other even harder to prepare for the painful contact that was bound to come. Kazu swore loudly as Ikki's weight caused him to fall forward on the landing and he lost his grip on the crow. Ikki was in the air again before he crashed and went rolling along the ground, disappearing over the ledge.
Landing him right onto the tracks.
By the time he shook his head and shakily propped himself onto his elbows, Ikki not only heard the loud reverberation of a subway train, he felt the ground beneath him rumble and saw the lights flood over his body, and when he whipped his head around to look into the black abyss of the tunnel, he instead saw the blinding lights of the actual train.
It all happened in what could have very well been not more than less than a second; in the mix of his life flashing before his eyes – and amazingly, Ikki swore that more than half of it was Kazu – and the way the blood in his veins froze over, people on the platform screeching and screaming and pointing at him in a panic and Kazu's voice sounding louder than everything else combined, Ikki closed his eyes and held his hands out in front of his face, certain that this was his end.
But his heart leapt into his throat and lodged itself there when his body was jerked around roughly. It was strange; Ikki was sure that getting pummeled by a train would be a lot more excruciating, quick and, well, death-filled, but the wind was nipping at his face again, hair flapping violently and stomach aching where it was jostling against Kazu's bony shoulder, causing him to realize that the boy was actually… quick enough to jump in front of that underground deathtrap, throw him over his shoulder and bolt before they were both flattened. …Just how fast did someone have to move to do that?
When he opened his eyes, he was face to face with the speeding subway train, eyes wide and fingers now clutching fiercely at Kazu's clothes as the blonde raced to outrun the metallic beast.
"Faster!" Ikki shouted worriedly, unsure if Kazu could even hear him over the rush of the wind and the roar of the engine. But as if it was all he needed, Kazu started going faster by a tremendous amount, putting distance between them and the train and at the same time, sliding Ikki around and off his shoulder, into his arms to hold him as he did before.
"You can relax, you know!" Kazu hollered, voice filled with something new and trustworthy. "In this case I'm pretty sure a jet plane is faster!"
Ikki opened his mouth, didn't say anything, and broke into a wide smile, encircling his arms around Kazu's neck again, but his grip was nervous when Kazu gave him an odd look.
"It's going to be another rough landing!"
Not wanting to try to defeat the wind with shouting, Ikki just nodded and braced himself. The train was still a ways behind them but the jump was going to be a difficult one; there were going to be people crowding the platform and they were moving quickly, so Kazu had to time it just right, and only had one chance to do it. And as Ikki's tongue struggled to declare when to jump, Ikki himself struggled just as hard to bite it, because he trusted Kazu's judgment better than his own on the matter. Ikki knew Kazu's speed better than anyone, but only Kazu knew how to use it. Still, his fingers twitched, clenched and unclenched as he waited for that leap of faith.
He had only a fraction of a second to prepare for it; he heard the hitch in Kazu's breath just before he lunged for the far wall to grind for a second before bouncing off of that and onto the platform. Ikki was pretty sure they did a full flip in the air – a trick to get the weight of two over the gap or an involuntary maneuver due to circumstance, he didn't know – but it was all too fast for him to be certain.
Just as the boy predicted, the landing was rocky, and for the second time, Kazu's grip faltered and dropped the crow to the floor.
As Ikki was dumped and rolled into a forest of legs, his mind went on alert. Kazu's performance was suffering – something was wrong. Ikki felt like an idiot; the blonde was definitely still in pain from earlier and straining himself with this race was the worst thing he could think of. The crow's rolling came to a stop; he heard the people around him murmuring and asking if he was ok – where did these two boys come from and were they nuts to pull such a stupid stunt! – but they didn't understand, and Ikki searched the crowd for Kazu. He shouted his name just before he saw him across the way, slowly getting to his feet, using strangers around him to pull himself up and support his weight. He saw Kazu's blue eyes blink and search for him, and when their eyes met, he scrambled over to the crow, ignoring the protests and concern from the bystanders around him.
Ikki shook his head, no, no this was a huge waste of time. With every word Kazu mouthed – or probably spoke, but Ikki couldn't hear it over all the buzz the rest of the crowd was making – and with every aching step he took, precious seconds where being shaved off of the race, and Riffle was taking the lead. When Kazu reached him, they grabbed at each other and Ikki pulled Kazu close so he could be heard over the rest of the world. He made it as quick and to the point as he could.
"I'm holding you back!"
The blonde made a face. The roles felt reversed; wasn't it supposed to be him that was holding Ikki back? There were countless things he could say here, but Kazu also seemed to grasp that time was a factor, that a foe that was already practically equal to him in speed was a fair distance ahead, because he looped his hands under him again, picked him up and pushed his way through the swarm of the crowd.
"Shut up," he said darkly, before exploding in a burst of speed that left Ikki breathless and clawing for Kazu's clothes yet again for security. The very moment his heart started thudding again, and when it hit him that they were alive and Kazu had absolutely no intention of leaving this race unfinished – win or lose – or without him, Ikki nuzzled his face into Kazu's evenly heaving chest and laughed. His laughter rose and heightened the deeper he buried himself in that shirt, and he expected the look Kazu was giving him was probably one of concern.
"I'm sorry!" he shouted. "It's just that, this is too cool!"
"Yeah, you kinda mentioned that already!"
"Right, well, let me rephrase that, You are too cool!"
And when Kazu actually blushed and nervously writhed his fingers, Ikki laughed even harder and longer, readjusting his hands and turning his head to get an idea of what they were doing and where they were going. At that very moment, it didn't even matter that they were behind. They were moving too fast and too perilously and too amazing for him to care that their very lives could be at stake at the end. Ikki's thoughts revived themselves; the ones that told him they could very well just turn and run to safety right now, screw the race, instead of crossing the finish line and facing the opposing team – if they were even worth of being called one – but Ikki had the feeling that although Kazu would never give up on running, perhaps he was through running away.
He gave Kazu's neck a gentle, reassuring squeeze.
It didn't matter if they won. Ikki had never seen anyone more determined, as stubborn and as astonishing as Kazu was at that very moment.
And now he understood why Kazu never wanted to move whenever he held him, or why he loved being held so much in the first place. It was in the comfort of the blonde's arms, that Ikki felt like they were able to take on the world. Nothing could touch him and it provided him with a warmth that nothing else in the world had ever been able to offer him before. That feeling alone was almost beyond words.
The crow gasped a little when Kazu's hold loosened for a moment to wobble to the right before catching himself. He glanced apprehensively up at the blonde; Surely Kazu's legs were on fire, as well as his arms, from carrying his sorry ass, and he was about to speak up about it but instead, looked at their progress.
There in the distance he could make out a small but slowly increasing spec. It didn't blur as much as the rest of the world did and in a flash Ikki knew it was Riffle – they were catching up!
"Go! Go!" Ikki yelped, grinning, getting excited and squirming, because he knew that after the subway it was nothing but a straight shot and Kazu could do that, because that spec was growing and turning into the clear shape of the person they were trying to pass, but he ceased his cheering when Kazu's breath was getting noticeably ragged.
"Ikki..!" he breathed, exasperated. "I can't! My legs!"
Ikki could practically feel Kazu's legs quake through his own body before the jet stopped running altogether and fell heavily to his knees, skidding and tearing holes where the fabric rubbed concrete. Riffle's ugly spec disappeared from sight.
"I'm sorry," he offered horribly. "They're just… they're throbbing."
"We're so close! This isn't like you!" Ikki exclaimed, hands flying to Kazu's pant leg, rolling it up and touching the blonde's calve, doing his best to offer a massage. On contact, he was alarmed to find how stiff and taut they were, the muscles and tendons under the skin hardly moved when Ikki rubbed at it. "Come on, you're always pushing yourself past your limits. What's one more time?"
"Ikki!"
Ikki's brows furrowed – after all the practices and battles they've experienced, he'd never heard the boy so out of breath; he was wheezing, hand clutching at his shirt and childishly tugging at it as if it would help him breathe. Ikki knew it was selfish of him to want Kazu to force himself to see this thing through to the end like he knew the blonde wanted to, that making him push himself on legs that already no longer wanted to carry both of their weight was a bad idea, but at the same time, knew all too well, knew Kazu all too well…
If Kazu didn't at least cross the finish line, he would never forgive himself.
"Get up," the crow growled, suddenly very cautious. This all felt threateningly familiar. The last time he tried to push Kazu into fighting, however unreal it was, ended in the boy's demise. But this wasn't a dream. "Do this."
Kazu glanced up at his boyfriend, frown starting to mar his features in a way Ikki didn't like. His dark eyes held Kazu's light blue orbs, hand never pulling away from Kazu's pulsing leg, thin and toned, actually emitting an entire aura of heat from accomplishing possibly more than what they were made for.
"I'm not you."
Grinding his teeth, Ikki growled.
"But Kazu," he said, closing the space that separated them and suckling shortly but ardently on Kazu's lips. He was smiling when he detached himself. "Don't you know? Running was something I could never beat you at."
And to seal that fact between them, Ikki kissed him again, full and hard on the lips in a way that sent Kazu back a bit before whimpering into the crow's mouth and dissolving into it. Ikki had to pry himself away before he took up any more time. It was his turn to make a small sound as Kazu hoisted him up into his arms for the umpteenth time, took a few steady breathes and knelt on one knee, Ikki still cradled against him.
The leader of Kogarasumaru blinked. So this was what it was like…
"Crouching start…" Ikki mumbled to himself, mechanically latching to Kazu's shoulders when he put the pieces together. Then he spoke in a whisper so soft, he wasn't even sure himself if he had made any sound at all; "…go."
Kazu's take off was so fast, Ikki almost fell out of his hold and got left behind – he was close to believing his stomach was left on the ground behind them. The resistance against the wind was strong, too strong, that Ikki could hardly lift and move his arms to wrap them tighter around Kazu's neck. His eyes were closed but still water gathered at the corners; there was no way he was going to be able to open them in this speed, and it was obvious they were going faster than before, and with a new vigor that came from who knew where. He pushed himself into Kazu's chest and focusing on the way the blonde's arms coiled around his body, carrying him like he was nothing even when his body was undoubtedly screaming.
As much as he wanted to see where they were, Ikki knew. Only someone born to run this road would be able to see straight.
The speeding jet plane may have said something but Ikki didn't catch it over the whirling hurricane engulfing his ears but he was sure it was something about their progress. There was a heat licking at his skin, coming from behind them – Ikki didn't have to think about it; it was the flames emanating off the back of Kazu's feet, spiraling into the air and leaving a visible trail of fire behind them, leaving people dazed and confused as they passed by too quick for the naked eye.
Ikki held his breath, unknowing exactly as to why.
No one could outrun Kazu. Not Stealth, the speeding jet plane of BabyFace's Kogarasumaru. Not even some lame ass speeding bullet.
His thoughts ended sharply. Their speed shifted greatly and suddenly, and for yet another time, Ikki felt himself go flying – he didn't know if Kazu tripped or fell or jumped or what – but this time when he fell, Kazu held on so tightly that they fell together, rolled along the asphalt together, and stopped when they hit the side of a building, together.
When Ikki found his wits and opened his eyes, he was laying on top of Kazu, who had his eyes pinched shut, head rolled back and mouth desperately gasping and wheezing for air, chest rising and falling with frightening speed. The crow couldn't say he was surprised; Kazu had a small build; he wasn't made to run that fast with all that extra weight. Ikki propped himself up on his hands to allow the blonde easier breathing and tried to coax him into relaxing by putting a loving hand to his cheek.
He didn't ask any questions; for certain Kazu didn't have it in him to answer them the moment. So as he caressed Kazu's cheek and brushed his blonde locks out of his face, Ikki twisted his neck to look at the finish line, which was quite a distance away – how far did they crash land? – to where the Devil was waiting with his hands behind his back and an irritated bend to his posture. Then he took a moment to calculate which side of the finish line they actually were. He kept staring, for what seemed like ten or fifteen seconds, before a gust of wind swept by and a dark blur of colors crossed the finish line and stopped only a few steps away from the Devil. Riffle put his hands to his knees and tried to recollect himself.
Feh, that's nothing, was all Ikki could think. Next time, Riffle should try carrying two times his weight and then see how fast he could go. There was no doubt in Ikki's mind that the other rider didn't have it in him to pull off such a task, at least not all the way to the end.
The Devil and his advocate conversed, and Ikki couldn't hear them, being so far away. He turned back to Kazu, who was still panting for air but his eyes were open now, silently asking Ikki that frightening question he did and didn't want to know at once.
And Ikki grinned and nodded his head.
"You won, dude."