Hey everyone! Sorry this chapter took so long. I knew what I wanted to happen, but didn't now how to write it. Does that make sense? Anywho, here's the new chapter! ^^
ONWARD!
~Rekindled~
As I entered Kazu's school grounds, I checked my watch. It was just past one. Which meant that practice had been going on for a couple hours now. I glanced at my surroundings before shaking my head and started heading to the back of the school. Spitfire was no where in sight. I can't really say that it bothered me; it didn't. He had told me he would be here, so he would. It was just a matter of when he would show up and how he would make his entrance. I smirked when I remember the day he promised to be here. Later that day we both ran some errands, nothing big, we were just low on milk. After we had reached the supermarket, Spitfire had started holding my hand. Occasionally, he would lean down and give me a kiss on the cheek. Now I'm not saying we never do stuff like that, it's just this time, he made sure he had at least one hand on me at all times. I didn't understand why until later.
On our way home, Mika stopped us. She looked pretty pissed off. Apparently, she had seen us in the store and followed us. Which is a little creepy, but I guess everyone has their own way of dealing with disappointment. Anyway, when she stopped us, she started yelling at us, well me, but I couldn't really understand what she was saying; she was pretty hysterical. I only caught a few words like "unfair" and "tramp" among other things. So then she tried to attack me. She lunged at me, making a grab for my throat. Spitfire was fast though; he grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her away from me, but she kept trying to get at me. Spitfire, being the gentlemen that he is, wouldn't hit her. So that's when I stepped up and smacked her across the face. She shut up pretty fast; I think she was surprised I actually hit her. I proceeded to give her a lecture about how she wasn't going to get everything she wanted. In simplified form, I basically told her to stop being a stuck-up bitch and deal, Spitfire was mine and I wasn't giving him up. It should be interesting when I see her in class on Monday.
My silent musings were interrupted when a small body collided with mine.
"Sarahnee-chan!"
I looked down and saw that Akito had latched onto me, burying his face in my chest, much to Onigiri and Ikki's chagrin. I laughed and hugged the small boy back. "Hi, Akito-nii." The boy let go and smiled up at me. It was still strange to me, how two completely different personalities could live in one body.
"Sarah! Where have you been!" Ikki whined at me, flailing his arms around like a kid throwing a temper tantrum.
I rolled my eyes. "Believe it or not, I actually have a life. I was busy."
Ikki frowned at me. Buccha stepped forward. "So what brought you here today?"
"Kazu-kun texted me saying you guys would be practicing today." I replied nodding my head in Kazu's direction. Kazu, having heard his name, rolled over to us telling Yayoi and Emily he'd be right back. He gave me a one-armed hug around my shoulders. "I'm glad you came, Sarah-san," he whispered in my ear, "I missed you."
I smiled at him and returned his half hug with a full one. After that, Ikki started practice, everyone pretty much did random things and I'm sure that if Ringo hadn't been there, the boys would not have been productive in any way, shape, or form.
"So when are you going to let us in on your little secret?"
I turned to my side and saw Agito standing next to me. I gave him a small smile. "So you figured it out."
He snorted. "It wasn't that hard, for me anyway. These morons are so fucking stupid, they'd loose their own heads if they weren't attached."
I smiled again. "Yet you stay on the same team as them, though you could have left long ago."
"Che." He turned away from me. After a moment he said, "I can't do that, it would make Akito to sad."
"And that's your only reason, right?" I asked. He averted his eyes, a light blush staining his cheeks. "Admit it, you like them." I prodded, ruffling his hair.
He swatted my hand away. "Fine, damn it! They don't suck ass as much as they used to. Happy?"
I merely smiled and turned my head back to watch the other boys practice. "You never answered my question." I heard Agito ask next to me. "How long do you plan to keep it a secret?"
I glanced at my watch. "I'd say about another hour, tops."
"Hey, Sarah!" I turned to see Ikki beckoning me. "Come race Kazu!"
"Fine. I'll do it because you asked so nicely, Ikki-kun." I called back as I rolled over, giving Agito a quick wave. Ikki pouted at my response, while the other three boys chuckled. Kazu and I took our starting positions while Ikki explained the course.
"Ready…..GO!" Ikki shouted.
Kazu and I took off. We were neck and neck pretty much the whole way. When we reached the finish line, it was declared a tie. I turned to look back the way we came to see trails of fire and scorch marked on the ground. I smiled. "Good job, Kazu-kun. You've really improved." I said, trying to catch my breath.
Kazu returned my smile. "Thanks, Sarah-san."
"That was pretty impressive, Kazu. You've improved a lot since I saw you last."
Everyone in the courtyard froze. I saw Kazu's eyes go wide as he looked up at the school's roof. Aside from myself and Agito, everyone's face held disbelief.
Because it was Spitfire who stood on the roof.
He skated down the side of the school on ATs he had made from some parts he and I gathered up. He was late, but he had a bag over shoulder, so I'm guessing it held the reason for his tardiness. He landed and rolled over to us, his usual smile on his face. "Looks like I made a good choice when I picked the next Flame King."
Kazu gapped at him. "But you…you're…dead…"
Spitfire rubbed the back of his head. "About that…"
"Where have you been? Are saying you've been alive this whole time? Why didn't you tell anyone?" Kazu yelled.
Spitfire just smiled sadly as Kazu caught his breath. I sighed. "Kazu-kun." He turned to me. "Spitfire couldn't tell you. He's been in a coma for the past year."
Kazu and the others stared at me. "How do you know?" Ikki asked, in one of his rare, serious moods.
"She's the one who saved my life." Spitfire said matter-of-factly.
Kazu's eyes widened. "So…that scar on your arm…"
I nodded. "I got it when I pulled Spitfire out of the flames." Taking a deep breath, I summarized the events of that night on the tower. When I finished, everyone still was still in shock, but they looked like they were starting to understand. "Why didn't you tell us?" Kazu asked after he had finished absorbing all of the information I had given him.
I swallowed, the memories and feelings of uncertainty rushing back at me. "I wasn't…I wasn't sure if…" I bit my lip and clenched my fists; I couldn't finish. I felt tears well up in my eyes as I remembered all of my fears and struggled to push them back. I fell a warm hand rest on my shoulder and looked up. Spitfire smiled at me, his crimson eyes reassuring me.
"She wasn't sure I'd wake up." Spitfire finished for me. "I was in pretty bad shape; according to the doctors I almost died seven times between all my surgeries." He laughed as if he found the thought funny. I frowned at him and he stopped. He merely ruffled my hair, reminding me that he was only kidding. I pouted.
Our silent communication didn't go unnoticed as Emily asked, "So are you guys, like, together?"
Spitfire and I looked at each other for a minute, then he smiled. He wrapped and arm around me and pulled me to his chest, catching me by surprise. "Well," he said, his eyes playful, "let's just say that, if I was Flame King, Sarah would be Flame Queen." I felt heat rush to my cheeks. Great. I was blushing. In front of a bunch of middle schoolers. Someone kill me.
Emily squealed. "That's so cute!"
She was like a younger Yoko….scary.
Yayoi just sighed and shook her head and Ringo tried to calm Emily down as she went off on a tangent about being Kazu's Queen. The boys weren't much better, but at least they didn't squeal. Agito was the only one who didn't show much surprise, but hey, that wasn't really a surprise; it's scary what that kid knows.
"Anyways," Spitfire said, catching everyone's attention, "On to more pressing matters." He let me go and walked over to Kazu, holding out the bag he had been carrying. "I believe these are yours."
Kazu took the bag, looking a little confused. He looked to me for a hint, but I just shook my head and shrugged. Hey, I may live with the guy, but that doesn't mean I know everything he does. Kazu opened the bag and his jaw dropped.
"No way." He looked up at Spitfire. "How did you…?"
Spitfire smiled. "Let's just say, I had a little…talk with Aeon."
Everyone looked totally confused until Kazu removed the bag's contents. The Flame Regalia. Everyone stared in shock, I could see Kazu's eyes shining.
Of course, Ikki had to ruin the moment.
"Hell ya! With three Kings, Kogarasumaru will be unbeatable! And I will rule you all! Mwhahahahaha!" He yelled.
"Dumbass." I heard Agito mutter, before he started to kick the crap out of Ikki. "Shut the fuck up, you fucking pansy!"
Spitfire chuckled. "I see some things never change." He turned back to Kazu, who stared up at him in wonder. I could see his eyes watering, he was holding back tears. I knew how he felt. Spitfire smiled at him and gave him a slight bow, placing a hand on his chest. "I here by relinquish my title as Flame King to Kazuma Mikura of Kogarasumaru." Spitfire looked up at Kazu. "Long may you reign."
~0*0~
After that, Ikki practically dragged us back to Ringo's house (to which he and Agito had moved back into by the way) for a celebration. Amazingly enough, he managed to hold a pretty decent party. He somehow managed to call up every team he had met. I had never seen so many Storm Riders in one place; there were even other Kings, and I swear I saw members of Sleeping Forest. The party lasted late into the night and early were all pretty much wiped at the end.
It was one of the most memorable days of my life.
So there you have it! Chapter eight! Tell me what you think!
