Chapter XIV – My Back hurts…

For the two of them, time was a totally different factor. Their hearts were beating just like any other human's yet, they never seem to age or fall ill, and unlike her, he never needed food water or sleep. It was as if the two of them were complete strangers to the notion of the passing second, minutes hours and so on. Hagi and Saya, by their own nature were unique beings; beings who never had to care about time, as it had no influence upon them. But, in this situation, she was worried it had passed already too much.

"30 minutes…" she whispered softly as she stopped and looked back. Nope, she wasn't there yet. Still, Saya wasn't showing any signs that she might have wanted to go back on her walk besides her chevalier. Hagi, as ever followed her every single move. If she stopped he would have stopped as well. Noticing her worried expression, he tried to suppress the impulse of narrowing his eyes and rubbing his temples. For Saya, this was the first time when Nicole ditched the, but for him this was the second time and he already began to fear what might have happened. His queen turned to face him.

"Hagi, she isn't coming. Do you think that something might have happened to her?"

Well, this was a rather tricky question. Last time something did happened to her, but the circumstances were so much more different. So, instead of answering to her question, he simply tilted his head in the direction the teen was seen to go.

"Do you want me to look for her?"

Saya's eyes blinked as she thought of the possibility. Well, Hagi might have been able to spot her quickly and bring her back as well, but she was unsure if Nicole would be happy with this. Being such a short-tempered person and the fact that she and Hagi weren't exactly best friends made the queen doubt herself. Well, she tried to look at the bright side; Nicole was 16 years old; old enough to be able to take care of herself right? Still, this was a city she didn't know and she already was late more then she said she would be. Sighing Saya rose her head to her companion.

"Well, i-"

Immediately her gaze had been drown towards the spot Hagi's eyes suddenly averted, making her leave her sentence unfinished. In the crown the running figure of Nicole had been spotted. It was obvious that she knew she was late and maybe she tried to make it up for her extra 15 minutes. But it was useless know, all she managed to do was exhaust herself. When the teen approach, Saya noticed that she was panting hard, her hoodie was now hanged around her waist and on her forehead and arms had small beans of sweat were rolling down. She rose an eyebrow at the sight; it wasn't possible that such a simple run to make her sweat that hard. But if wasn't the run, then what was it? When she finally caught her breath, Nicole rose her face and bit her lower dry lip a little, feeling slightly embarrassed.

"Sorry I'm late." She managed to say between pants, but even so her voice was slightly more perkier compared to the bored and grumpy one she had just minutes ago. This was the first sign which actually made Hagi think what happened and changed her mood like that. Still, he choose to remain silent and left Saya do the talking.

"Nicole, where have you been? I was starting to get worried." She told her. The punk simply let out a small chuckle escape her lips and she wiped her forehead clean with the back of her palm.

"Just around the corner. Have you guys found a café? Im really damn thirsty."

With this being said, Nicole passed between Hagi and Saya and went for the shop, picking a random café and walking in its direction. Behind her, Saya and Hagi exchanged suspicious glances; none of them fully understood whatever had happened in the last half of hour. But he had a slight suspicion which he decided to keep for his own.

Inside her room, a thick could of cigarette smoke floated even if the window was wide open. Nicole was walking from one end to the other taking drag after drag from the toxic roll in her right hand, and exhaling the smoke seconds later. A side grin was spread over her features as she tried not to fall over all the junk on her room's floor. After a full day, she still haven't actually put her stuff away ever since it arrived in those packs. Still, she didn't seem to care about that. Excitement was written all over her face and it was obvious she tried to finish up her cig as quickly as possible. Inside her head, she rememorized that day's events over and over again.

'Freestyle' had such a good tune it was impossible not to improvise a little while dancing on it. After all, all dancers learned that they had to remember their moves only when they performed their shows in 'the streets'. But with this specific song things were much more different; no crew was ever able to made a synchronic dance together, only because each member simply felt the need to add or remove a move. Anyway, this was the magic of 'Freestyle', just as its name says. Every move must be free.

Just like her moves.

Nicole felt the rubber carpet under her body make funny noises as she bent down and, after a short jump she shifted her whole body weight on her right shoulder and the back of her neck. Her legs were up in the air and they were meant to keep her balance, while her right palm was touching the carpet, searching for another place to lend the weight of her legs. She remained like this only a fraction of a second, and when the sudden drum was heard, she jumped and her whole body was in mid air for a moment. When she hit the carpet again, Nicole made a roll and got to her feet in no time. As the bells started to clinch, she was already performing electric boogie moves only from her arms, as her legs remained unmoved. She was good at impersonating a hydraulic machine; mostly because it was one of her favorite things to dance. She didn't even had the need for a carpet, because she worked only with her upper body, turning and bending as if she was boneless, but still with the hint that the moves still belonged to a robot.

The bells stopped their clinking and once with them, she dropped her body, crawled into a ball and after a quick double spin on her hooded head, the girl simply lifted her whole body on her arms only. Her legs were averted before her and her whole body had the figure of an upside down 'L'. A sound resembling a whistle was heard and she dropped from her hand, hitting the ground with both her arms and legs at the same time. She remained unmoved in the form of an 'X'. The song just ended. The ones around her began to chatter and cheer for her. Nicole got to her feet in a jump and began panting lightly.

She had just danced again, and she was happy. Just like she once was when she danced with the SMC.

Giggling lightly to all the cheer she received, Nicole shifted her body weight from a leg to another and she unzipped her hoodie, hanging it to her waist. Her hair was a mess and she felt the cold sweat as it rolled down her back and forehead, yet this did not stopped her from a loud and victorious 'Whooo!' In the next second a laughing and clapping Charlie found his way around her, grabbed the girl by her neck and began to rub her already messy hair. She grabbed his arm and began to laugh as well.

"Girl, that was bloody awesome!" the emo told her once he let go. "I've never seen anything that quick in my whole life! You had done at least six styled in only…" he turned to check his watch. "..in like what? Five minutes?" he asked not believing his own eyes. Nicole simply shrugged as she started to gain a bit of her breath.

"That was actually my specialization." She stated as she placed her hands on her hips. "I can do faster though. But I kinda lost my touch lately." Charlie's mouth dropped.

"You can do it even faster!"

"Pretty much, yeah." The guy covered his hanging mouth as he chuckled astonished to himself. His head was shaking as if he was saying 'no way! No way!'

"how come you got kicked out? What you just did was so damn…fast! Girl, you really need to continue this." His hand reached out and touched her shoulder. Nicole couldn't help but smile slightly at all the compliments she was receiving. Somehow she felt slightly embarrassed, mostly because back home everything she received from Ankh was just a 'Well done'.

"How about you come around again?" Her eyes widened and she immediately brought them to eye his own. Her hands dropped on her sides, before rising her felt one and covering her mouth.

"You are fucking me around, aren't you!" she told him as she playfully punched the guy in his shoulder. He smiled and shook his head.

"Not one bit; feel free to come whenever you want. We are here everyday until 9 pm. All you need to do is ask people for me."

Nicole still couldn't believe it, and he wasn't surprised about this reaction. So, to make her relax a bit, he wrapped a hand around her and rubbed her a bit.

"Hey, come on, snap out of it!" he said in a 'wake-up-call' tone. As a response she began to laugh.

"Man, this is sick; I don't know if I can-"

"Girl, come on; don't make me feel bad now. From now on think of yourself as part of my family."

'Family' became a term she almost forgot in one week ever since she moved in Gray's house. Yet, now she felt revived and ready o go on for it with Charlie and his pals, maybe even join their crew! Nicole simply laughed out the smoke in her lungs at the mere thought. Then again, why was she smoking? Well, maybe because it felt almost too good to be true, and a strong cig always made her snap back to reality.

But this was indeed her reality!

The teen jumped in mid air twice before throwing the smoked out cig outside the window and running her now free hands through her hair. Just then, it stabbed her, right through her lower back. A sharp pain, as if a dagger had been inflicted in her body. Nicole stopped out of her little manifestation and rubbed the painful area a bit. Well, it had been a while since she danced, not to mention use such complex moves as she did today. Maybe her body didn't grew used with this sudden outburst. Well, who cared? After all, she was back on track, meaning she was to dance again! So the smile did not disappeared from her lips…even if it hurt her like a bitch.

Her ears picked a few knocks on her door and her eyes suddenly in it's direction. "shit!" she hissed as she realized that her room was still filled with the thick smoke. Nicole tried, but it was useless to wave a piece of cloth around the room and hope that it would make the smoke go out faster. So she grunted and made it to the door tripping over another item while doing so.

"stupid bed…" she mused as she leaned onto the door. "Who's there?" she asked as normally as she was able to ask.

"Hagi. Please open the door, Nicole."

The teen froze in her place. It was…WHO?

At first she didn't knew how to react; frustrated, nervous, angry or just ..normal? which pretty much meant all of the above combined? Nicole pondered a second her options, before gulping loudly and taking a deep breath. Maybe he was there to announce her about dinner or something, because it was a pretty late hour already. So, with a little 'creaking' noise, she opened the door wide enough to only peak her head out and stare at the man before her. Even if she never truly saw any hint emotions of his features ever since she arrived there, this time he made her feel as if there was a hole in her stomach. In fewer words, she thought he might have been pissed. And she miserably failed to hide her frustration and anticipation.

"Er..'sup?"

"We need to talk." Her eyes grew wide. "May I come in?"

"…eh?"

"It is best if we discuss in private."

She hated when he had a point. It was obvious that he wanted to interrogate her upon her being late that day. Well, for Nicole it was also obvious that he pretty much lost the trust he had in her. Still, she immediately obeyed and got out of his way, allowing him into her quarters. And entered he did.

As Hagi stepped inside her room, he took notice of that happened around. First of all, it was messy beyond human limits. As his eyes averted on the floor, he could have swore he saw items of lingerie thrown around the place, along with magazines, other clothes, markers, papers, pillows and many other things which he decided not to take notice of. The second thing he noticed was the smell; it was a very closed and thick smell around her room, despite the window being widely open. Hagi narrowed his eyes as he picked up one specific smell. He went towards the small desk in her room, the one right under the window and saw an improvised ashtray, full of smoked out cigs. He couldn't help but throw an accusing look towards the female in the room.

"You have been smoking." He stated somehow irritated. Nicole only shrugged and digged her hands in her pockets.

"Those are from a few days ago, when I had the fight with Kai." She mumbled as she avoided his gaze. "I only took one drag now…"

"…"

Really...was that the best excuse she was able to come up with? Did she took it as if she stole cookies or something? Hagi's expression never changed as he took a step towards her.

"That is not a reason." He stated as calm as possible.. Nicole rolled her eyes.

"I know the idea, ok? Chill, I don't smoke everyday! Cut out the crap and say what the heck you want!" she replied sharp as she leaned her body forward and shot him a deep glare.

By this time, he started to understand her a little; now she was starting to become defensive behind a shield of… offensiveness? It was rather weird, but this was her method. The man decided to quit the subject about smoking and went right to the subject. Taking another few steps towards her small, yet narrowed and tense figure, he stopped about two or three feet away. No need to attack her personal space as well.

"Nicole, why had you been late today?" he asked monotone, with no hint of emotion whatsoever. Nicole simply grunted and rolled her eyes, averting them afterwards in some other direction.

"Does it matter? I came back and I am in one piece." She mused rather sarcastic referring to the fact that no one punched her, unlike her first escapade.

"It does matter."

Nicole's eyes turned towards him with a hint of a glare in her gaze. Of course, he continued;

"You have full trust in me that I shall not uncover your secret. In exchange I only want to know the truth about where and what you had been doing while you were away."

Say WHAT?

"I honestly think it is a fair for both of us. Not to mention, it is also safer."

Again; say WHAT?

"So I will ask you again, why had you been late today?"

Nicole's mouth dropped open, her eyes widened and she felt a vein popping in her temple. Ok, this was NOT happening. He had not just said what she thought she heard! This was incredible….

The teen had now a baby-sitter.

That if she wanted to go on with her out-goings and stuff and him to shut up about them. GOD! This was so unfair! What in the world would he have to gain about all of this now? Well, it earned her nothing more but another big, fat HEADACHE. The girl was sure as hell she wasn't going to shut up and comply with this.

"Like HELL I would!" she shouted in his face as she closed the space between them by a foot or so. "Listen you deep-shit; I don't know what sect you are part of, but this is my life and I don't give a fuck about what you think about me! You have no right to interrogate me about MY business, GOT IT!"

With each word, she got closer and closer, to the point that even in her rage she was able to feel the warmth of Hagi's breath against her nose and cheeks. No wonder she felt something tickling her. But by the time she realized it, she already withdraw her face and frowned deeply before him, hands crossed at her chest and everything. Seeing that she wasn't going to get a reply too soon, she said the first thing which came in her mind, as a conclusion.

"You wanna know where the heck I go huh? Well, come stalk me cause I aint telling you a shit!"

…and she gave Hagi the finger.

…and there was silence.

And silence.

And some more silence.

Until her closed her fist and withdraw 'the finger' with a small 'hm!" waiting his reply. Which, surprisingly came a lot faster then she imagined it would.

"Very well then."

…and there was silence.

"WHAT?"

"It is agreed then; I shall come with you from now on."

Wait a minute, that was NOT what she meant.

Nicole couldn't suppress a huge grunt and annoyance, along with a nervous ran of her fingers through her brown hair while taking a few steps around the room.

"You will NOT!" she barked at him. "God, what is it so hard to understand?"

"You are hard to understand."

How subtle he was…A true gentleman. Well, the teen gave up already; a long sigh and yet another ran of her fingers through her hair.

"Get out of my room." Nicole almost breathed out as she closed her eyes. There was no use to even think that she and Hagi would ever have a normal talk, not in moments such as these. They were too different to even understand what one meant when she or he spoke with the other. But at least he understood that she gave up and with a small almost unnoticeable sigh ,e closed his eyes and well and tilted his head forward. Well, there was one thing they agreed upon;

"I see, sorry for my disturbance."

And then he passed her and left.

Nicole grabbed a pillow and screamed into it. Still, the muffled sound was enough to make a few birds fly away from a branch near her window. She collapsed into her bed, with her face still hidden in the fluffy item, but then a small moan was heard. A hand rose and rubbed the painful area.

"Oh…my back…"

TO BE CONTINUED…

A/N:Finally, some alone time between Hagi and Nicole! Confusing? Eh, not really, this chappie is pretty obvious :3 Nicole got accepted ina a brand new crew even if it isnt really official, and Hagi will be stalking her. :P Eh, well not really, he wont but he wants to know her safe. I think the best way to describe the feeling might be that after the nasty wound she got he thinks that she cant take care of herself and stuff. I know i would think the same if i was him o.o Anyway, please tell me if he is ooc or anything, ok?

Anyway, next chapter will contain some more music :3 r&r please!