Hikari, are you doing okay?

Heeyyooo, this is the first chapter of the rewrite that the chapter title isn't precisely a song title, but a play on one- look up the Offspring, it'll make sense.

Amane felt unstoppable riding Star Bright, fearless even, and unbreakable. They pounded past the exit of the park to the trail, in a blur that only the pair could notice, riding at their astounding speed. Amane and Hikari were soon walled in by an ocean of trees and bushes and vines. She took it all in, feeling Hikari's arms tighten around her waist, causing her to spur Star Bright on even faster. Amane would notice an occasional log or a steep dip barring their way, and she pulled just enough on the white stallion's reigns to signal him for a jump, giving out a triumphant "Yah!" as they would go soaring through the air. Amane had never felt more bold. With Hikari snug around her, all she wanted was to impress her spectacularly. They flew straight ahead, feeling airborne for a moment, and Amane welcomed the rush with anticipation. She felt Hikari's arms again, never really having left, and hoped she wasn't scaring her. She dared to look back for a second and was happy- on Hikari's face was a huge gaping smile, her big blue eyes wide in wonder.

Hikari couldn't believe this was real. She would've pinched herself if she wasn't so afraid of falling off. Amane could make it look all so effortless. Her blue short hair wisping around, her tight blue shirt affectionately wrapping themselves to Amane's extremely toned figure... Hikari thought Amane was every bit the stereotypical Prince Charming, every detail the angels had blessed her with made her romantic, and Hikari found herself deep in this new desire. Gone were her inhibitions on romance and attraction, she smiled widely as she saw Amane prepare them for another jump. She held on tight, feeling the flow of the air push past them vigorously. Hikari's smile widened ear to ear, and upon noticing Amane stealing a glance at her, her cheeks grew to a definite pink.
Today, Hikari thought, is beautiful. I could ride with Amane for hours...
But of course, the forces that are could not let Hikari have such a peaceful day uninterrupted. Her phone blared her standard ringtone, but it rang for a while with it's sound lost to the wind. As it grew more persistently annoying, Amane began to slow Star Bright, looking around for the noise. Hikari, dismayed, apologized quickly, and pulled out her phone. She would've cursed if Amane hadn't been there.
On her screen, showing an incoming call, was Jack.

Hikari was apologizing profusely to Amane after the phone call, who just kept reassuring her that everything was fine.
Who's Jack? Amane wondered, and then her heart dropped as it reeled around in her head, Maybe it's her boyfriend.
Amane sighed. From the sound of it, if this was her boyfriend, Amane didn't approve. Even hardly knowing Hikari, she knew she could do better than someone screaming over a phone to her. He sounded far too old and far too aggressive for her anyway.
"I'm so sorry... I have to be home in less than an hour... Amane, I'm so sorry, honest, I wish... I wish I could stay here all day with you but..." Amane noticed the tears in Hikari's eyes, and she brushed one that had spilled onto her cheek. The blonde girl looked up to Amane, and wiped her eyes in embarrassment. This was no boyfriend, Amane realized. This was some creep that had complete control over Hikari's life, and the Rider didn't like one bit of it. This one phone call alone tore all the happiness and excitement out of Hikari, something Amane had begun to think was impossible. She wished it had been. Just who is this guy? And why is Hikari so damn... afraid of him?
"I'll get you home, don't worry about that. Just, promise me something, ok?"
"Hai?"
"Call me if anything happens to you."
Amane could not believe the words passing through her lips.
What the hell can I do? It's not like I can bust some heads and rescue her like a princess from a fairy tale! Amane thought angrily. No matter how much I may want to... what if I'm just overreacting? Am I being too impulsive? Intrusive, maybe?
Hikari nodded, and Amane turned around, facing forward, and sped off again. Amane knew it wouldn't be long until they circled back to the stable. She felt Hikari's arms slide snug around her wait once more, and her shirt took on the few tears still staining the poor girl's face. Disheartened, she spurred her stallion on harder.
Concerned again by Hikari's immense sadness, Amane looked intently at Hikari. She helped her off the horse at the stable, and then walked Star Bright to his stall. This time though, Amane would not refrain from asking what exactly was wrong. She put her strong hand gently down on Hikari's shoulder, and lifted her chin with her finger.
"Hikari... I know it's really not any of my business, but please, tell me what's wrong?"
Hikari looked at her with watery eyes. "My mother's boyfriend wants me home because his... friends... are over" Hikari said the word with uncertainty. "They're really mostly his managers, coworkers. He wants to look like part of a happy normal family that needs a two-part income so they don't fire him," she paused again, seeming to search for her words. "I can't stand any of them, they treat me and my mother like slaves, and she does nothing to stop it. She may not mind..." and then she faltered, unable to speak the rest. Amane almost said something, in fear for the worst, but the younger girl picked up on a different thought.
"I can't stand Jack... he's cruel, vile, sloppy... He's vulgar and repulsive. I don't understand why he's still with us, you'd never think someone could just be so heartless."
After this, the tears pooling in Hikari's eyes had become too heavy for her young baby blue eyes and spilled over. Amane pulled her into a tight hug, unconsciously stroking her hair. "Amane, I'm sorry, I shouldn't trouble you with this. It's not my place, and we've only just met. You must think..."
"Hey, Hikari, it's all good, okay?" Amane looked down and she swore for a faint second that there was a halo hidden above her blonde hair. "I want to help you"

Oh God, did Amane want so desperately to help this little girl. She pulled her even tighter into her embrace.
Hikari squeezed her arms tighter around the older girl, and her hands grabbed softly, loosely, onto Amane's shirt. Her tears started falling onto it again, but Amane did nothing to keep them off, only holding Hikari and stroking her hair to calm her down.
Amane remembered that this Jack wanted her home within the hour, and in whatever authority he had, she didn't want to bring Hikari trouble. And by the sound of the man's harsh temperance, for the small blonde girl it could mean danger. She hated watching this little girl cry...
Was this man and his friends really that bad to be around? She thought of neighbor, and realized that it definitely could be. If this Jack guy had the same temper her neighbor did... This could be bad for Hikari. Amane wondered now where the awful man had gotten himself holed into. It couldn't possibly this coincidental...
"C'mon, I wouldn't want you to be late."
Hikari nodded again, and they walked through the stable, though Amane's hand never left Hikari's shoulder. They walked together in step. She once again helped Hikari onto her motorcycle, and they swiftly left the park. The ride to Hikari's house was silent, but the pull of Hikari's embrace around the tomboy's waist shouted a clear voice to Amane- please let everything be okay.
Before long, they were there, back at the one story, pale yellow home. A car was parked sloppily in the middle of the driveway. Amane again walked Hikari to the porch, and turned to her reiterating, "Give me a call if you need anything, okay?"
Hikari nodded, and gave Amane one last hug. She waved goodbye as Amane drove away, going back to the park to train as best as she could with her mind definitely somewhere else. Something felt awfully wrong here, but she hoped Hikari would be alright. She turned the corner heading straight for the park, thinking of little Hikari the rest of the afternoon.

Hikari flopped onto her bed, finally, at around ten thirty at night. She had called Yaya earlier to briefly describe her day thus far before the 'party', and said she probably wouldn't be able to talk afterwards. And how right she was. Hikari was exhausted from playing waitress with her mother for Jack and his 'friends'. She remembered the greasy guy that almost made her gag with his constant hand motions. He was always reaching to touch her and her mother, especially after the drinks started making their rounds. They hollered loudly throughout the evening, griping about work and 'lousy' women. Hikari had no interest to understand what they meant.

"Som'tim's y' just gotta smack 'em 'n place, y'know? If you need som'thin' done, y' gotta shove 'em in tha 'ight directi'n. Maybe tussle 'em up a bit" One of them said, half plastered before he even arrived at the house. The others around him laughed, and Jack took it upon himself to demonstrate with her mother- while Hikari was still in the room. This one too had come from America, and their grating destruction of her language and lack of respect for anything appalled her. Hikari wondered what could've possibly driven these disgusting people here. Most of their conversations she couldn't comprehend, as it was majorly spoken in a raucous form of English she had no hope to understand. It was when they 'attempted' to speak ion her tongue that she knew it was either meant to be degrading or ask (poorly) for something.

At one point one of the men actually native to Japan spoke up, though not in any kind of defense for their behavior. "Hey, y'heard whose taking an interest in the latest development over in Capitol? They said his some brat on his way through corporate ranks. Some shark's his old man, I guess he's looking for people to take on a private matter. Doesn't hire two men from the same job though."

Jack grinned his awful, shit-eating, I-know-something grin as he spoke, but obviously said nothing. Hikari guessed it was more likely his drinks were hitting him, or whatever he had spiked them with, and had no control over his bodily functions. Soon after the cluster of creeps began to head home, one way or another in their various states of sobriety. The 'slob', as Yaya described him, who talked earlier before Jack had groped her mom, wanted Hikari to fetch him the leftovers from the kitchen while he stood outside and talked to Jack privately before leaving, and gave Hikari that odd, nasty smile upon returning. Seeing him grin like that was more disturbing than it was disgusting, and she knew there was something hidden in it, but she didn't understand what. She remembered getting that same scary look one night from a very drunk Jack. Upon seeing it again, she had promptly hid in her room for the rest of the night.

She checked her phone for anything from Amane or Yaya, but nothing came up. She was too tired to text Yaya, who would surely drive her crazy with her murder plots for Jack. She knew her friend meant only for her well being, but Jack wasn't worth getting arrested over, plus, her mother did love him. How, Hikari did not know. If THAT was love, I want no part of it, she reminded herself.
This had strangely turned her thoughts back to Amane. Hikari looked over at her clock- it read 10:32. Amane had answered her phone pretty late last night... Hikari gnawed again at her lip, once more caught with indecision. What would she talk to her about anyway? Would she rant to her about the horrors from that evening? No, that was something she only dared spoke to Yaya about, and she was too tired to hear Yaya flip out and demand that Hikari allow her to come and steal her away from there. She decided it would be too risky to be caught on the phone twice in a row this late, so she sent her a message, simply saying :Hi Amane
She got a reply almost instantly: Hey, is everything okay?
Hikari remembered Amane asking to call if something went wrong. Hoping to reassure her, she sent back: Yeah, just another dinner party was all. Some man gave this weird speech about women, and gave me this weird smile before leaving.
Do you know who? Amane replied just as quickly.
It was just someone Jack works with. He's been around before, he came from America with Jack. Hikari shuddered, again remembering the creepy, nasty looking man.
Hikari waited but a minute before Amane asked: Will you come to the park tomorrow? It seems like a long walk, so I can pick you up. If you'd like, of course, don't feel obligated if you've got plans.
Hikari could've laughed at the sick humor of it. What would be worth missing out on spending yet another day with Amane? :Yes, I'd love too!

Was this another date? Or was Hikari reading too much into it?
What time should I come and get you?
She thought about it momentarily, trying to consider Amane's training schedule: How's eight thirty?

Hikari's mother and Jack would be either at work or still sleeping by then.
Works for me :)
Hikari squealed into her pillow. She thought that it was so adorable that Amane would send her a smiley face. The Prince, the unstoppable, collected and cool Ootori Amane, using emojis. It was as cute as it was unbelievable.
Cute... did I really? Amane-sempai...
She remembered then, too, that on the news earlier they mentioned there would be a dinner for the racers tomorrow night, the ones who would be racing the day after at the city track. It was partly a charity thing, but the newscasters joked that it was for the jockeys to size up the competition. She mentioned the evening to Amane, asking if she would like Hikari to leave early so she could go home and get ready.
It seemed like Amane had a different idea: Actually, I hadn't been thinking of going...but if you wanna come with me, I'd go.
Hikari could have died from her heart going into such a craze! Now that was definitely a date! She felt like dancing and singing and laughing and crying blissful tears of joy! A night out at dinner with The Prince Amane Ootori? Her summer was getting more and more rapidly unreal.
Oh god, she thought, is it possible that I died sometime tonight, and I am floating in heaven?

It was likely Hikari would be free to do whatever for the entire night. She wanted to bounce to the heavens to thank the angels.
I would absolutely love to go Amane! :D she sent, adding as an after thought: Sorry, I'm just super excited now. It sounds like it'll be fun
Hikari imagined hearing Amane's warm laugh as she replied: Haha, it should be. I've never actually been to one. I'm glad to be taking a friend with me, it'll be less intimidating. Maybe they won't eat me alive if I'm responsible for getting you home.
It's so adorable the way she jokes around, Hikari thought; calm down, you sound like one of those obsessive fan girls. I'm sure we can get out alive. You're the amazing Amane, aren't you?

Well, if they call me amazing, wait until they meet you.
Hikari lit up inside like she had swallowed the sun. Was Amane really asking her to dinner, saying to Hikari that she felt happy in her company AND complimenting her? Hikari didn't know what to do with herself! How was any of this real? She barley contained her happiness- her sheer joy that Amane was in her life, someone who she could now call a friend, someone who, Hikari hoped she was right about, and honestly cared about her. She jumped off her bed, wildly awake now, spinning with her pillow in her embrace, jumping and giggling as quiet as humanly possible, ecstatic at Amane's adorable nature. Hikari had finally found someone to bring her the happiness and comfort she so longingly ached for. She sent back to Amane, a small flush across her face now: I understand, honest :) Amane-sempai, it's so nice of you to take me, I really appreciate it.
The two of them went on messaging each other, taking about whatever had come to mind from there- Star Bright, Hikari's singing, Amane's tournaments, what schools they'd gone too. Amane had graduated a year before last summer. She told Hikari about the fan girl chaos that had caused her to move, and they were actually laughing about how ridiculous it seemed now. Then Amane had started talking about the apartment, and her infamous upstairs neighbor. Hikari the told her about Jack, who had lived in an apartment near Kawasaki for a while before finally moving in with her and her mother. After thinking of the impossibilities (but really, how many nasty, alcoholic Americans could there be in Japan?), they agreed that it was definitely strange, and it was best to let it be and not to jinx anything. Hikari imagined what Amane's apartment looked like, trying to grasp the fact that her Prince didn't live in a grandiose mansion. She chided herself for being so silly, allowing her image of the tomboy rider as a prince to envelop her actual lifestyle.
Hikari giggled, getting underneath her sheets, as she felt herself getting suddenly very tired. She caught herself wishing that Amane was there next to her, and wasn't sure how she felt about her fluttering heart's betrayal of her resolution to stay away from romance.

Was that in fact what was happening with them now? Was this truly something Hikari felt could be considered attraction? She knew that each passing day her crush, if that's what it was, on Amane would just grow stronger and stronger, and it irritated her profusely that she hadn't had the sense to be more honest with herself. Yes, she definitely knew she was attracted to Amane- her personality was warm and inviting. Her confidence made Hikari feel comfortable to be around, whereas Yaya's had always made her a bit timid. It was odd to think of Yaya and Amane side by side, and Hikari changed her thoughts back to Amane. There was definitely a physical attraction to her as well- how could Hikari deny that Amane had the most beautiful brown eyes she'd ever seen? They were deep and alluring, piercing even when she was focused. And those muscles of hers, they made her look so unbearably handsome! Hikari was shocked at how honest she was being to herself, and knew it probably wasn't appropriate for her to think of her sempai that way. She couldn't help it though. Once the thoughts started rolling in, they wouldn't stop. She had to ask herself, was it because of her fame and mystery that Hikari was so attracted to, or was it genuinely now because of the person she discovered Amane was?

It was now close to midnight, Hikari felt like she was about to pass out, her excitement and pondering had worn her out again. She apologized to Amane, who replied quickly: Hey, it's no problem kiddo, I'll see you tomorrow, right? :)

Hikari smiled, gushing about Amane's texting habits, but her eyes were dropping again, themselves exceptionally tired from the day's embarrassing tears. She found the phone charger by her bed, and plugged it into her phone.

Of course! I can't wait. She smiled softly as it sent.

Neither can I. Sleep tight Hikari.

Soon after, she spent her night blissfully dreaming of riding behind Amane on Star Bright through a meadow, stopping to kiss in the sunset.

Amane put her phone onto the charger beside her lamp stand by the couch, cursing it's bad battery as it was almost dead, and turned it off. She was excited for her day with Hikari tomorrow, and a bit anxious for their dinner... date?... that evening. She was a bit worried however to learn the younger girl was still in school; how couldn't she tell? But, in all honesty, it didn't really matter to Amane. Who would care to notice anyway? Besides, Hikari just illuminated the world around the her, so who wouldn't want her around?. She remembered Hikari had told her she was in her school's choir, and imagined of what to hear her singing would be like.
I'll bet she's got the voice of an angel, the blue haired girl thought, watching the two birds flying back into their tree. Amane went into her bedroom, thinking of how Hikari had held onto her when they were riding together, how it made the thrill of riding with Star Bright just that much more intoxicating. She also remembered the sadness in Hikari's brilliant blue eyes before she left...
And she remembered how she wanted to hold Hikari and comfort her. For someone she had hardly known for two days, Amane found herself feeling eager to protect the smaller girl, and make her feel cared for.
She hadn't felt this way before.
"Huh," she wondered out loud. "Maybe I'm just strange."
She turned off her bedroom light, and huddled into her blanket. That night, Amane had dreamt of standing in the Stables with Hikari, holding her hand while they leaned against the stable wall. Moonlight flooded in from the makeshift window atop the building where the walls were cut to meet, escaping the thunderous rain that was pouring from outside. The shine caressed Hikari's hair and face, a glow behind her shimmered into small white feathered wings. Amane, although asleep, felt something stir in her something she hadn't before recognized. Instinctively, she moved to do something she hadn't done before. Compelled by the tugs and pulls deep in her heart, Amane had leaned in to kiss the little angel.