When All Was Lost...
Chapter Twelve
12
One by one as members came after them...The Bullets took them down. Akarii took one side...and Crow took the other.
Within moments the games were over and those who were defeated lied dirty on the asphalt with their duel disks smoked and fried.
"Yeah all right!" Itsuki leapt for joy and greeted them both with a loving squeeze.
"Itsuki! You okay!?" Crow asked as he knelt to the boy's leval, checking his body for any injuries.
"Don't worry I'm fine!" he beamed,"I knew you two would rescue me so I wasn't scared at all!"
"Haha well that's good to know!" Crow grinned and ruffled the boy's hair in a playful manner.
Meanwhile Akarii stifled a chuckle.
Itsuki talked big for a young boy...but there was not a doubt in her mind that he was terrified.
She was just glad they were able to get to him in time.
"All right Kiddo, pick the runner you wanna ride back on and let's all get home, yeah? Annie's worried sick about ya!"
"Sounds good to me!" he giggled and took off like a bullet too excited to decide which ride to take, leaving Crow and Akarii alone with their feelings for the moment.
"Man...I'm glad Itsuki's okay." Crow said softly.
"Yeah, me too." she chuckled, "Thank goodness we made it to him in time."
"...I'm glad you're okay too."
She stopped short in breath for a second, startled by this sudden claim.
"...I don't mean to doubt you or anything." he said frantically before she could react," I just mean...Well I worry about ya...all the time."
"I'm a big girl Crow, I can handle myself."
"I don't doubt it Rosie...not for a second."
She blushed and puffed her cheeks in a stubborn pout.
Rosie...
She hadn't really been called that since they were little...
On account that her cheeks were round and got to be as red as her hair whenever she blushed, which he compared to a rose color.
He and and the others continued to use this name for her on occasion...
"I'm always gonna worry about ya." he said softly,"Ever since what happened with Kai...You seem to confuse bravery with recklessness and I just..." he sighed, before suddenly turning to snap on her,"You need to be more careful!" he huffed and she jumped a bit in surprise.
Though... the moment passed quickly and ceased, slowly letting him regain his composure.
"Even so..." he said softly," I'm glad you were here to help today."
"Of course I would Crow...you know that."
This out burst of his was strange and uncommon.
She couldn't quite peg on why..but he had been acting...off...almost like any time she ran off...he felt as though he would never see her again...
He seems scared.
"Yeah...I know." He chuckled and sighed softly holding out his hand to her, "Come on Rosie..." he grinned, "Let's go home."
She didn't dare press into his odd behavior...She figured it better to ask about it at another time...so she simply gave him a smile and a nod, lacing her fingers through his.
XXXXX
"Itsuki! I'm so glad you're okay!" Squealed an excited Annie as she greeted her brother with a hug,"Oh Crow and Akarii, thank you, thank you, thank you!"
"Hey don't mention it." Crow chuckled patting her head,"And you, Itsuki, Don't go getting yourself caught like that again, ya here!?"
"Don't worry I won't!" he giggled,"Besides, even if I do, I know you will come and save me again~!"
"That's not the point you-ahhh forget it,"Crow sighed,"You kids exhaust me..."
"Oh by the way," Chirped Annie,"Kalin came by looking for you two today..." she said,"I told him you guys were out on a date and so he wanted me to tell you to go see him later!"
"A Date!?" The two of them both choked and caught glances of each other, blushing deeply.
"N-Now hold on-That's not-"
"It's hardly a date why on earth would you think-"
Crow spoke and then Akarii, both trying to get out defenses at the same time, giving both children an excuse to laugh at their clumsy conversation.
"You two better go." said Annie,"It seemed really important...come on Itsuki!" she giggled,"Let's go play!"
"Okay!"
They both ran off giggling, leaving the two of them alone to choke on their silence.
"Man...Ain't no rest for the wicked, am I right?" Crow sighed,"Come on Akarii we better get goin' if Kalin's waitin on us..."
XXXXX
"You two are late!" Kalin huffed and sighed,"Hope your date was well worth it!"
"It wasn't a date!" Crow and Akarii snapped, glancing at each other again before averting their gazes.
"Look..." Crow huffed," Itsuki got kidnapped by a rival gang...so we went after'em!"
"Oh my god...are you serious!?" Kalin gasped in a shock of concern, "Is he all right!?"
"Yeah..." Akarii said softly,"I managed to track them and followed them on my runner, Crow came in pursuit."
"He's outside playing with his sister now." said Crow.
"Well...I'm glad to hear it..." said Kalin as he sighed in relief, "Funny...I wanted to see if you guys caught any intel on the remaining duel gangs but it looks like this just made the decision of our next target a whole lot easier."
"Yeah no joke!" snapped Crow,"They went too far with this one! And we know exactly where they're hiding too!"
"Excellent." said Kalin "Let's go round up Jack and Yusei...we strike tonight!"
To Be Continued...