The Iron Bird

In the morning, Holly woke at her usual time around dawn. Noticing Genki was nowhere in sight she went to his room knocking on the door. Receiving no answer she opened it raising a brow. Sound asleep sprawled out snoring like he was when he was a kid. Shaking her head she walked over to him.

"Genki, time to get up." He ignored her. Her hand went to his shoulder shaking him to he woke enough to look over at her. "Come on its time to get up." Taking his watch from the table near by he set it down again.

"Are you nuts its only 6 am…" he started drifting off again.

"Genki, come on or I'll drag you out!"

"Your welcome to try…. I work afternoons late into the night…. I don't get up till around 10 am usually…." His voice soft and full of sleep.

"Well, today is not your usual day. Up now!" she tried pulling him out of bed. He gripped the side pulling away.

"Least give me an hour, Holly…."

"No I need you up now."

"Why?"

"To help with breakfast."

"I can't cook….ZZZZZ" taking a pillow she hit him with it. He ignored her. Grabbing his shoulders she tried again to drag him out of bed. In the process, falling down from his weight, having him land on her. he woke looking down at her. "If you wanted me up for this I would have gladly gotten out of bed." She noticed their positioning as he began to get up and blushed profusely.

"Genki! You pervert!"

"Relax, I was joking." He got up pulling her up with easy. Holly grabbed him before he tried to go back to bed.

"If you're not down stairs in 5 minutes I'm not giving you any chance to have a deeper relationship."

"10 minutes…yawn unless you want me falling down the stairs half dressed and half asleep…. I need time to wake up….." he shook his head trying to stay awake.

"Fine" she left "but not any longer then that." She walked out closing the door.

He walked to the water bowl noting he had no water for the basin. Taking off his shirt he searched his pack for another one. Holly came walking in right then blushing seeing his muscular upper body. "Here's some water. Splash your face."

"I will…. why are you blushing?"

"Just never mind…" she handed him the pitcher.

"Like what you see?" he chuckled gently. "A lot of women do. I get noticed alot but I tend to ignore most people. However your an exception." He turned around and walked to the basin. It was then she noticed a large tattoo on his back, an angry wolf howling at the moon. On his chest she noticed as he turned to her, held a phoenix but much smaller then the wolf. His arms had some sort of tribal looking ring tattoo on them.

"Why do you have so many tattoos?"

"I just like them is all. I think you know why I chose the phoenix. The others I just liked. I drew all of them by hand. And had a specialist put them on me."

"You're an artist?"

"Aspiring artist. I rarely get commissioned."

"Commissioned?"

"It means someone asks you to draw for them."

"Oh, well, your obviously very good at it."

"Thank you" he went over to wash his face. She noted he had shoulder length hair. Something she had missed before. She also could see all his muscles as he used them. Her face flushed again. I can't think like this. I'm not perverted…. even if he's a fine hunk of man…. no stop it Holly. He turned to her after drying his face. With a smile he walked over to her. "You know I like attention from you." He slipped his arms around her waist as she blushed; Her hands pushing on his chest.

"Genki, please I know you care for me but I'm not ready for this yet…I've never been with anyone quite like this." Her voice was soft yet firm.

"And there is always a first time for everything. You know I wouldn't push you, Holly." He leaned down kissing her cheek. She noticed he was bout 4 inches taller then her. Something she hadn't paid attention to before. "I'll do anything for you." He whispered softly.

"I know you will but right now I need time…if we do this it'll go slow…"

"Then we'll go at the pace you set." His voice as soft as hers. Her hands felt his pecks a moment. Before she shook her head trying to make herself stop. "Its alright. I don't mind, Holly."

"No, I don't want to…. cause a problem."

"Your not arousing me…. its very soothing and calming actually. I like your touch." Her eyes met his a moment as her face turned red. She pulled back slightly. Feeling his hands on her lower back she blushed further.

"Maybe so but we shouldn't be doing this…we hardly know each other right now…we have both changed." She spoke panicked.

"Holly, neither of us changed that much. You know that. Besides I love you and I'll never hurt you. I don't know why you think we are doing wrong." His words made her blush deeper.

"Genki, your world is different. Courting is a slow process…. here."

"I know about courting in older times. Your world is kinda like my worlds past." He paused "please trust me. I will not push you into things you don't want to do. But having contact with one another isn't prohibited and you know it." Her eyes looked to the floor, she was too proud to admit she was afraid. She felt his hand leave her back and raise her chin. Before she could say anything she felt his lips meet hers softly. His sweet love filling her slowly. She'd never been kissed this way before. Her world shrank to his lips on hers, his hands on her cheek and back, gently and soothingly caressing. Her eyes closed involuntarily as her hands explored his chest.

His lips softly broke the kiss, gentle brown eyes gazing lovingly into hers, as hers opened. She was speechless for a few moments. "Please, Holly, let me love you. Keep you safe and give you all your want and need." His voice was barely a whisper as he pulled her close. Her face flushed deeper then before.

"Genki…. I…" she stuttered, "alright…I'll let you but…we have to go slow…I don't want to jump into anything."

"I completely understand, Holly." She felt him hug her tighter as she began to hug back. "I will never let anyone hurt you."

"Thank you Genki…. but please get ready we have to make breakfast."

"Alright." He let go smiling to her as she turned to walk out the door.

Once she was gone he fished out his new wardrobe and got ready, slipping on a necklace before putting his shoes on and heading down stairs. Walking down stairs his feet lead him to the kitchen. He noted Holly was still blushing from her encounter with him upstairs. She looked over at him raising a brow.

"You always dress like that?"

"Like what?"

"In all black…"

"No. I just wanted to today. Why?"

"Never mind." She looked him over noting his black cut off shorts, black shirt with some sort of emblem and a very interesting necklace. "What's on your shirt?"

"Its OOC or Orange County Choppers. They make some the best motorcycle choppers around. I like this designs and fabrication methods." Her hands took hold of his pendant looking it over.

"What type of stone is this?" her gaze of wonder inspecting the glittering blue stone.

"Specular hematite. Some natives believe it to have healing abilities."

"Does it actually have those abilities?"

"I really can't say. I've never worn it when I was hurt." Her hands went to the scar across his eye tracing it before feeling along his jaw, finally ending at his small ponytail.

"Your eye must of hurt a lot after that fight."

"It did."

"Come on then." Leading him over she instructed him every step of the way while he mixed ingredients and helped her with several breakfast items. By the time, they finished the table was set with pancakes, bacon, sausage, grits, hash browns, and condiments such as jelly, butter, and syrup. She was about to call the others in when she felt Genki's arms move around her. About to scold him but heard him whispering,

"Later tonight I want to talk to you alone. We need to get to know each other better and I want to discuss something with you." Looking back at him she nodded. He kissed her check making her flush as he released her.

The monsters came running hearing the breakfast bell, all except golem. Genki ignore the numerous glances he got as he sat down. Holly spoke a blessing before they ate as Genki tried to place where she had learned it and what religion it was from. Internally shrugging it off for food. As he ate he wondered about a few things. Granity broke the silence finally.

"Genki, can you really fix the iron bird in the barn?"

"Yeah, I should be able to. Depends on how bad off it is I suppose. Sometimes cars in my world can't be fixed really, or it wouldn't be worth it in the long run to the owner. We'll see what we got to work with first."

"The previous owner said he used it twice before it stopped working." Suezo commented.

"Really? Did he say anything else about it?" Genki looked to Suezo.

"Only that he burnt himself trying to move it. He touched the side of it as I recall…"

"Yes, I remember him saying that." Holly added confirming Suezo's words.

"Sounds like something is over heating. Lets hope that it didn't cause to much damage in the process."

"Are cars like iron birds chi?"

"Well, in some ways yes but other no. Cars can't fly. Air planes fly but I have only worked on one of those at my uncles. He and I were rebuilding it together. Unfortunately, that never got finished before he passed away. But he taught me all he knew about them."

"I'm sorry to hear that he's gone, Genki. But at least you did learn from him." Her face grew sad.

"Holly, its alright really. It was his time. He even said it himself and he knew he was going to die soon. I told me and my family that." He smiled gently to her hoping she would cheer up.

"Well, Holly, are we taking him out to work on it after breakfast?" Hare spoke trying to change the subject.

"Yeah, that was the plan." She looked to Genki who blinked.

"Its fine with me. I just need to grab my tools. Don't know why I brought them I just did. I only have a few but it'll help I'm sure." He began to finish up Holly hadn't noticed how fast he could eat and still be polite until now.

"Genki, you said you knew about raptors cause they used to be in your world. What do you know about them?" Tiger asked having finished.

"Well, they have excellent vision, can run faster then any human can. Very intelligent, they are excellent at problem solving. Hunt in packs usually, and as I recall they are lead by a female."

"You mentioned using their claw like a switch blade knife what do you mean?"

"I'll show you be right back." He took off up stairs. The others just looked at each other. When he retuned he carried the handle of a knife.

"What is that? A knife handle?" Suezo mocked.

"No, it's a switch blade. When a raptors claw is pulled back its released with a lot of force just like this knife." He hit the button and a blade shot out, starling everyone. "It causes more damage in a very short amount of time."

"Genki they let you have those in your world?"

"Actually, they are illegal…however, I was never one to obey all the rules on anything. Besides people still make and sell them." He put the blade away the way it had been and stuck it in his pocket sitting down again.

"Do you deliberately break laws then?" Holly asked shocked.

"I have not known one person in my world who has not broke a law at least once."

"And you don't get caught."

"Not if you know what you are doing." He noticed Tiger's smirk, " I could commit murder and get away with it. There are so many loop holes in law now people do get away with such things." He shrugged, noting Holly's expression. "But I wouldn't just cause my own conscience wouldn't let me." Granity raised a brow.

"And how do you get away with something like that."

"Simple, if you plan it well. Wear generic clothes and shoes that are not easily identified. Used a gun preferably. Wear gloves. Get the person alone so there are no witnesses. Either bury the body or torch it after the fact. File the inside of the gun out then throw it in a lake. Take the clothes used and burn them. With no evidence link you to the crime even if the body is found there is nothing that they can do."

"And they can't get you if they suspect you of something like that?"

"With no evidence against you they can't do a damn thing. Even if they try you they will probably lose. Innocent until proven guilty. Heck if they try you in court and lose even with evidence. You can confess after the fact and you can't be touched. Double jeopardy law states you can't be tried twice for the same crime."

"Genki, that's horrible…."

"Not really, Holly. Was instated as a protection. Though it does have its detriments. Most laws have a good and a bad side. There are times when innocent people go to jail as well. No system of law is perfect. But they get the right people most of the time." Holly just stared at him.

"Couldn't someone kill someone who got off if they knew he had done it?" Hare asked.

"Then that person would commit murder. No one can take the law into their own hands and get away with it usually." He thought a moment, "only situation I remember is a mother killing someone who killed her daughter. Jury found her emotionally unstable and she got off lightly, but she still had to be in jail for a few years as I recall… not sure it was awhile ago."

"Your world is messed up."

"Yeah, it is. But can't do anything about it. Have to blow up the governments of the world to fix it." He shrugged. By now everyone on had finished, Holly rose collecting plates as Granity helped.

"Genki, go get your stuff while I put these in the kitchen." He nodded walking back up stairs. The others left for their own chores.

Granity waited till they were alone before speaking.

"Your worried about Genki and whether you can trust him because of what he spoke of right?" Holly looked shocked. "I knew by how you were reacting."

"Yes, I am…. he breaks the law…. takes death lightly…and seems to live in a corrupt world…."

"Yes, but some laws are minor. Ask him if his law breaking ever hurt anyone else. Ask him why the death of his uncle didn't bother him. And ask him what his view on his own world is. You may be surprised what you find."

"I will later." Hearing him come down the stairs she walked out to meet him, motioning him to follow.

Leading him out to the barn she walked silently until she opened the door.

"Here it is. Hope you have better luck then we have. I'll call you in for lunch."

"Sounds good to me." He walked over to it setting his bag down he began to look it over.

Holly left to go wash the dishes finding Granity in the kitchen still, having already started washing them.

"So, do you like him?" Holly was taken aback.

"What do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean. Even when you were younger you had a crush on him." Holly blushed

"Granity! That's none of your business…."

"Just trying to help Holly. He's a fine man and knowing Genki since he still has clear eyes, he'll always be good to you."

"You don't know that…he could be just like…."

"No, he's not. Genki has had a crush on you for along time. Even though he was only eleven at the time he loved you."

"How do you know that?"

"He confessed it once without even knowing it" she smirked. "Give him a chance. You'll regret it if you don't." she left leaving Holly to think on this.

Mean while, Genki had pulled out his mini tool kit and had begun taking the iron bird apart. Looking into its engine he find several parts that have been overheated. Taking out his sketchbook he sketches the iron birds lay out and how everything is hooked up as he takes it apart. Knowing he will need this blue print for later. Looking over the iron bird's spirit capsule as Holly called it he smirks.

"It's just a very big fuse…. wow things in the future are not much different." He chuckles. Noting the fuse is broke he continues his search.

The lunch bell tolls and everyone but Genki is present. Holly looks around noting his absence.

"Where's Genki?"

"Oh, he said he had something to snack on in his pack and wanted to continue with his work." Hare stated simply.

"But doesn't he need a break?"

"I asked him that he said he's used to working eight to twelve hours on end without eating much." She sighs

"Alright, we'll eat then since he doesn't wish to join us." They had their meal as Genki continued his laboring on the Iron bird. As the sun began to set Holly had dinner ready and went to fetch Genki. The others joined her walking out to the barn casually. When they opened the door they found the iron bird in parts with a very dirty Genki looking over something then writing something down.

"Genki?"

"Hmm?"

"You almost done?"

"Yeah, just give me a few more minutes. Trying to figure something out." Holly and the group walked over being careful not to disturb anything. Holly noticed red marked number letter combinations on each part that lay on the barn floor.

"What are you doing?"

"Oh, I marked each part as I took them out so I can tell which one goes well easier. Also made a rough blue print of how it goes together." He handed her a couple of pieces of paper.

"These are really good" Hare commented studying them.

"Thank you." He sat the part down marking it and placing a white dot on it.

"All the parts with white dots have something wrong with them. Looks like most overheated." Holly looked around noting all 6 parts that were bad. Picking up the fuse she looked it over.

"So the spirit capsule is also gone…"

"Yes."

"…Sad…"

"Why?" he looked at her with a raised brow.

"The spirit is dead within it." He shook his head.

"Holly, I know you guys refer to it as that but there are no spirits in them."

"Then how do they glow?" Suezo attacked him.

"Simple electricity. Tiger's lightning glows. It's a smaller version of lightning harnessed into a machine. The capsule is actually a fuse that regulates how much electricity passes through it. Though this fuse is a bit different then the ones I'm used to its fluid cooled." He took it gently form Holly holding it up into the light. "See the gap between the two prongs? There isn't supposed to be a gap."

"Can you fix these parts?" Hare asked bluntly.

"Possibly…. would be easier just to scavenge new ones off of other iron birds. With out my equipment to fabricate the parts with would be very difficult."

"Useless…."

"Suezo, I was trained in my world. I might be able to jury rig something but I can't guarantee anything at the moment. Besides, I have to figure out exactly what each part is doing before I can make a new one. This thing is built more like a jet then a plane…. it'll take time."

"Well, we'll discuss it over dinner."

"Sounds good." He stood up putting his tools away in the small tool kit he picked up his pack putting it in its proper place then walked out of the barn with Holly and the others. "You got any soap that will get rid of grease?"

"Yeah, I'll get it for you."

"Thanks." He stretched yawning as he walked along side them.

"Tired, kid?"

"Slightly" he cracked his neck making everyone look at him a moment. Holly handed him the soap as he walked to the sink to clean up. Pumping up the water with easy he was soon scrubbed clean. He sat down glad to be in a nice chair. Leaning back in the chair he cracked his back. Every one again looked at him. "What?"

"My you crack a lot Genki…" Granity pointed out.

"Comes with the job. Don't worry about it. Besides part of it is due to an old injury."

"Anyway. Mother you bless us with your food. Help us along this path of life. Mote so I be." Everyone but Genki repeated it. Holly and the others noticed it but also noticed he looked exhausted so ignored him. As they ate Holly felt slightly uncomfortable with Genki not praying with them but thought he was possibly too tired to know what was going on.

"So Genki what do you recommend we do about the iron bird?"

"Hmm?" he looked over at Hare kind of half asleep, "oh, well, from what I found I would suggest trying to find some new parts. Most of those would be very hard to replicate without the technology I have in my world. I might be able to create a fuse but some of the parts I really don't know about." Hare looked like he was thinking as Genki ate.

"I think there's a junk yard near by…. no one goes there though since the raptors rule the area."

"Well if you guys are up for the challenge we could go after some parts."

"Are you mad?" Holly looked at him as if he were just that, "they will kill you."

"Holly, every creature has a weakness besides if raptors are that intelligent its possible we can make a deal with them."

"Like what?"

"Food, you said they pillage and kill eating their victims. Logical solution."

"But they don't speak human or monster?"

"They are dinosaurs they have their own language…however it's not impossible to communicate with them."

"But they tough chi…"

"They are still lizards…"

"Genki, no, its insane to even think about going." He stood looking around the table.

"Are you telling me after all these years you have all turned into cowards?! We faced more danger then them when fighting Moo." Everyone looked down.

"We want to live in peace." Holly spoke softly.

"I'll go alone then." He left the room heading up stairs to his room with his pack. Everyone looked at each other.

"He mad at us chi?"

"No, he's disappointed in us." Granity spoke standing, "he's right we are cowards…I don't blame him." She walked up stairs after him. Tiger rose following her with his brother following him.