Little Angel ch.7

Okay, a bit of an author's note- I've been seeing a lot of commercials and adds about car crashes lately, and it's obviously hurting many more families than I think a lot of people realize. About 1 in every 125 drivers will get into a crash every day. 1 in 500 pedestrians will be hit. Two uncles of mine died in a car crashng their bikes, so even ratios like that...They're still very, very much real.

But, onto lighter subjects, here is the next chapter, and I hope you like it. R&R por favor!

Amane put her vest over Hikari's shoulders as they headed down the stairs of the building. It was still raining, though luckily not as hard. They boarded the bike with their helmets on, and Amane took them slowly out of the complex, and into the main road. After a few minutes on the road, Amane and Hikari heard very faint sirens coming from ahead. They could only be heard on the practically silent street.
On the highway, traffic seemed to have halted for some reason. Amane looked around, trying to see ahead of the cars in front of her, but she could see nothing. Finally the pair heard sirens she had heard were again coming from northbound. Amana slowly crept up until they passed the scene. From behind her she heard Hikari gasp.
A double wide truck lay wedged between a street light and a compact, n had obviously flown into the wrong lane. Amane tried desperately to ignore the purple Honda motorcycle crushed to scrap metal in the middle. The rider... Well, his helmet the only thing fully intact. Parts of him were stuck to either of the other vehicles. Glass shards screamed death as light fragmented from the bent light above. The man in the truck staggered out and fell face first onto the pavement, cops standing at the ready with handcuffs.
Good... I hope you busted your whole fucking face, Amane thought bitterly. What Amane thought to be two women and a young girl lay motionless and very injured in the car. Amane's heart twisted as she saw paramedics try desperately to carefully pick the bodies out of the crunched metal without possibly damaging them further. That girl couldn't be a day older than twelve.
She felt Hikari sob into her back, but it was killing Amane she couldn't comfort her. She could do nothing but drive past, because the flow of the greedy traffic pushed her too. She wanted so badly to help those girls, and a chance to plant her boot in that assholes forehead.
She felt her own tear swell in her eye, but it wasn't just from sadness at the atrocity, it was hot with anger. Amane pushed ahead, determined to get away from the mess. She couldn't take any more of it, so she couldn't dream of understanding how Hikari was taking it, whose sobs grew heavier in the aging night. Amane needed to see her face; she needed to comfort the small fragile girl.
Amane pulled in to the side of a gas station not far up the road. Hikari was still deep in tears, and almost didn't notice their pit stop. She looked at Amane with huge heart broken eyes, like she had personally lost those people.
"Hikari...please...I know that was bad..." Bad? It was horrendous! It was hardly a few feet from us, and we had a clear view! Oh, poor Hikari...oh you poor little girl... "Hikari, come here"
Hikari nodded, obeying the prince's warm command, and threw her arms across Amane, wrapping them more tightly into each other than when she had been riding behind her.
"Amane, that could've been you! It could've been you smashed between those two cars! I...I... Amane!"
She cried louder into Amane, pushing her face into her chest. The rain was not helping the occasion, and Hikari was again cold even with the dark blue vest on. Amane tried to cover as much of the poor sobbing girl as much as possible with her arms in a tight embrace, but she still shook. "Amane-senpai... Promise you'll be safe?"
"Of course, Hikari." The girls stood there for a minute, Hikari sobbing into Amane. The older girl rubbed her back and kissed her forehead. "Hikari, are you gunna be okay for tonight?"
"Hai Amane... I'm so sorry," she whimpered.
Amane quickly said back to her, "No, don't be sorry, okay? I can't imagine how badly that must've torn you. Don't apologize Hikari, you didn't cause it. I'm so grateful you weren't the victim either."
Hikari looked up to Amane with red, teary eyes. Amane knew that Hikari would forever be concerned about Amane riding her motorcycle. She felt terrible that she was scarred like that now, not even recognizing within herself the possibilities of pain she could encounter, with or without Hikari. She kissed Hikari's lips, hoping to instill into her some hope that everything would be fine. Hikari ran her hands deep into Amane's hair, pressing their bodies closer as a result. I'm so sorry Hikari. I promise it won't be me. I won't let it be.

She considered starting to look for a truck in the morning before the race. Amane looked at the motorcycle, concerned as to how Hikari would take to riding it now. Either way, it was their only mode of transportation right now, and Amane didn't think walking back however many miles back to the apartment on a busy street at night with a sixteen year old was by any stretch of the imagination safer. They got back on, both of them a little reluctant. Amane knew that the cyclist probably wasn't to blame, but by far suffered the worst. The older girl kept a sharper focus now, and Hikari's hold around her waist seemed impossibly tighter, but she didn't mind. She knew Hikari needed the security. Amane wanted desperately to make the younger feel safe with her. If only she hadn't seen that... I hope she doesn't get nasty nightmares easily...

It was a twenty minute ride to the track stadium where the dinner was being held inside a special V.I.P suite. Amane walked hand in hand with Hikari through the large building, finding their way through the large hallways. Hikari had given back Amane her vest, saying it wouldn't match her dress. They smiled, Hikari now a little nervous, Amane thinking she looked good in anything. She'd look good in my clothes anytime.
What the? Amane surprised herself- what in the world had crossed her thoughts? She looked at Hikari again, and figured it had something to do with their improved moods. They continued moving to the suite, where Hikari guessed the owner of the stadium stood. Amane confirmed that it was indeed, the one and only Mr. Sansutke. "He's good natured, a very charming kinda guy," Amane began to tell her. "But he can also be-"
"Miss Ootori! I can't believe the rumors were true!"
Amane turned her attention to the northerner. He shared many Japanese and Korean features, but a prominently thick head of salt and pepper hair with a bulk nose suggested his underlying Russian heritage. Amane had heard this from him only in confidence.
"What rumors, Sansutke-kun?" Amane replied. Hikari they ate a variety of seafood, rice, and vegetables, and later bringing out a small French desert that neither of the girls could pronounce. Amane introduced Hikari to some of the friendlier riders that raced in tomorrow's event. They all commented on how lucky Amane was to have found a stable to keep Star Bright in, instead of the mandatory week and a day at the stadium. But most also commented on her luck with Hikari. The woman from that first race Hikari had watched, who turned out to be a Mrs. Yoin Miyo, complimented them on being a cute couple.
"It's good to see young Amane here with someone to finally race for," she winked, causing Amane to look away from growing a bit shy. "I knew would find yourself a pretty little one. Oh come now! Put your arm around her, I see how much you want to!" she laughed as she spoke, although what said she meant. Miyo smiled motherly like at them, proud of them pleasing her. "There. See? That's no so bad; you know you wanted it anyways!" She laughed was surprised at her formality with the man.
"Why, the rumors that you've been truckin' around a little blonde girl with you this week." Hikari winced at the American slang. Truckin'. She'd heard it from Jack when he'd talk about carrying something around his job, or driving a buddy home when he was drunk. It seemed that the only plus to Jack and his surroundings was that he himself was never drunk at work.
"Yes sir, this is Hikari. Hikari, Mr. Sansutke."
"Well, get on in! C'mon, c'mon! It's not like we didn't expect you or anything!" He grinned like a mischievous little child. Hikari knew he meant it by Amane's absence from every other dinner. They bowed to him and entered, and Amane leaned over to whisper, "-very, er, personable." Hikari giggled, and Amane squeezed her hand, the pair smiling at each other.
Amane took them to a fairly empty table, and sat down just as Mr. Sansutke, as he put it leaving Hikari and Amane grinning amusedly, "Commenced the congregation!"

Afterwards, again, and bid them farewell. Amane later explained back at their table that Miyo had been like a reigning champion before she started racing her.
"And boy did she put me in my place," Amane laughed. "Miyo heard about my high school racing and watched my first real one here at the track for the amateur league. Star Bright's big old heart just barely got us a win. Otherwise, I don't I would've left her the impression I did. She came to me after and we talked about the pro league, and I got really excited. The first time we raced against each other I lost, in third place. It threw me off so much that Star Bright and I worked so hard and still couldn't win pro league. Eventually though, after weeks and weeks and, well, a few more weeks-" Amane winked playfully,"- another race came along, and we won first place."
"Was it the Valentine's Day race?" Hikari inquired.
"Yeah, why?"
"Oh! Because, that was the-" Hikari stopped and felt the rushing blood fill her cheeks. Amane leaned in for her to continue. She took in a deep breathe, and hardly whispered, "That saw the first time I saw you race."

And since the first moment I saw you with Star Bright that I knew someone had captured my heart. I could die I'm so happy to be so close to you Amane, especially in just this short time. I'm so ecstatic to have met you. You've turned on the sunlight for my days, and even my nights haven't been lonely from dreaming of you. Do you know how amazing you are?
"It was one of the proudest moments of my life. I'm so happy to know you were there to see it," Amane said, smiling radiantly. She laced Hikari's with her own. "You know, I think I've only won because of you. I don't think if you were there I could've done it"

I didn't even know you then, but something in me felt different before that race. Someone was expecting me to win. And to finally know that feeling was right, that feeling was You, nothing could make me happier. Hikari, do you know how amazing you are?
***
People were filing out to leave about a quarter to nine. One of the sponsors, Chikaru, hung around with Amane and Hikari for most of the later part of the dinner. Amane and the black haired girl told story after story about odd outcomes and events at races- most in particular, the man that ran streaking across the track right as the race finished asking Miyo to marry him.
"The look on her face was priceless!" Amane laughed. "Oh gosh, how I wish I got a picture of it."
"Remember the pile of ants he kneeled into?" Chikaru said, giggling so hard Hikari could just understand her. The blonde was laughing just as hard as the older girls though. "Oh, he was screaming bloody murder until the police washed them off."
"Poor guy though, he must've been high or something to even think about doing such a crazy thing."
"Didn't the police report come back that he was?"
"Yep. Sure was."
All of the girls spun around at the sudden appearance of Miyo's voice. They looked nervous, but Miyo had a small smile creeping into the corner of her lips. Her silvering hair, with long streaks of a faded brown, sat firm in a classic horse-rider's bun. Her tall stature would've been more intimidating if she had crossed her arms, but she instead joined the younger girls at their table. "I went to see him after the race. I brought my husband, Rashu, with me. Poor man thought I brought him to beat the daylights out of him, despite the iron bars." She closed her eyes and laughed a little. "But the boy was definitely on something. Lsd, they found out. He was so young; I don't understand why he'd chew up his brain... Anyhow, he must be getting out soon." Amane looked to the older woman, and was about to say something. "Oh, don't you start now Amane, you know better than to question the one who teaches," she chided, smiling coolly as Amane stopped her words dead. "He's obviously not allowed back into the track stadium. Doubt he'd try though." Amane grinned, following Chikaru and Hikari. Hikari looked to Amane, seeing the respect for Miyo swell in her eyes. She knew what Miyo meant to her from how she talked about her earlier. The blonde girl noticed how Amane didn't mention either of her parents, but had a picture of her father in her room. Miyo must fill that maternal space in Amane. She wants to be like her, wants to be at least as good as if not better, but she still wants to look up to her. I see how you're looking at her Prince; you really have found a mother in her...
The door to the suite opened, and Miyo turned around to see whom Hikari guessed to be Rashu. The older woman got up slowly and walked into his arms. They embraced softly, and gave a quick peck on the lips. Miyo seemed gentle with Rashu, even as most of her stern and authoritative demeanor slowly dissipated as the night grew. Rashu introduced himself to the girls, giving a friendly nod to Amane. They seemed comfortable around each other, being very to each other.
"So, Amane-kun, are you ready for tomorrow?"
"Hai, it'll be good to be racing against Miyo again. I've missed your confidence," Amane joked. The two of them gave a small laugh.
"Hmm, and we shall see who wins young Amane. Hehe, what's the score again?"
Amane blushed, "Er...three to two"
"Haha, if you find a genie, you might tie me tomorrow" laughed Miyo.
Amane smirked and looked to Hikari with care. "I found someone better." She put an arm around Hikari, who in return stared back into the big brown pools. She felt lighter than air with all the butterflies in her stomach. Chikaru giggled, and Rashu rolled his eyes.
"Oh come now, we were the same way in our younger age," Miyo chided him. "Hehe, well it's gettin late youngin's, you all need to rest."
The agreed to depart, all of them walking out together. At the parking lot, they split up to their separate vehicles, a small competitive nod upon Amane and Miyo's separation. As Hikari buckled on her helmet, she asked Amane, "It seemed like you never lost Amane. I have to say, I'm thoroughly surprised."
Amane gently touched Hikari's cheek and smiled. "Hikari, I can promise you, I'm not perfect. I'm no where even close. Star Bright and I are pretty good, but even I know that Miyo and Ace are untouchable. It really will be a miracle if we win... But, I guess I have one with me honestly..." Hikari blushed from Amane words. "Really Hikari, you're a happy, sweet, bubbly girl that can retain more than nail polish and designers in that brain of yours."
They smiled at each other, and Hikari reached out her own hand to caress Amane's face. She wasn't afraid of pushing into something, she was sure she knew how Amane felt about her.
"Hikari"
"Amane"
They had said each other names in unison. Stuttering to let the other go first, they paused, and at the same time again said,

"Do you know how amazing you are?"