thirteenth trick

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

[The sight of this spiky haired miscreant may be surprising. He's obviously just as surprised as he stands there, a cup of ramen in one hand, and the other currently with a finger doing the tango in his nose. He stares blankly at the starry expanse, which stares back. It's apparent that he has no shame, as he keeps on picking his nose while taking in his surroundings.]

Hmmm. I'll give her ten seconds to give me a welcome back kiss. After that, it's anyone's call.

Comments

1/?

[contract_star]

[La la la minding his own business oh hey a newcomer.]

2/?

[contract_star]

[...It's Ikki.]

3/?

[contract_star]

[It's Ikki.]

4/?

[contract_star]

[But he was gone. Gone the way Milo is gone, the way Angela is gone. This should be impossible. Never mind that this sort of thing never happens to Hei. He never gets people back once he's lost them.]

...Ikki.

5/5

[contract_star]

[A duplicate. That's what it is. That's what this must be. A lookalike. An Ikki with different memories, a different life, an Ikki never part of the Plane. Right?]

[Right?]

Is it...really...is it you?

[He won't let himself get his hopes up.]

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

[Ikki turns to look at Hei. His eyes widen with recognition, then that infectious grin is back.]

Yo, Hei-san! ... What kinda question is that? I've only been gone a week.

[LOL OR SO HE THINKS]

[contract_star]

[A week.]

[A week.]

[Give him a minute while he tries to get his head around this.]

[A week.]

[But it's the real Ikki. An Ikki who remembers him.]

Ikki, it's been--I haven't--you disappeared. You just disappeared, and I thought...

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

[The grin falters a little.] What? I disappeared? I know I was distracted, but... damn. Something must've...

'm sorry, Hei-san. Didn't mean to put ya through that.

Ever.

[contract_star]

Months. Five...six, maybe.

[He's silent for a loooong time, but slowly a tiny little smile appears on his face.]

But you're back. [The smile broadens.] Welcome back.

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

Shit... shit, man. I had no idea.

[That smile is hope, though. Ikki watches it light up Hei's face like he's never seen before.]

Then... it's good to be back. [He smiles, too.] The bar's still here, right? I'd kill for a soda and a story.

[lamb_of_gold]

[Oh hey sup 12 year old lurker]

[madamemoiselle]

{OH MAN DIVA HAS MISSED HER FAVORITE SHOTA SO MUCH. She pauses, for a moment, not really sure whether to believe it's true or not. Tentatively, she walks forward, which eventually turns into a run, and Diva latches onto Ikki}

Ikki! Ne, Ikki, I thought you were gone! I mean, really gone!

[gerogerodance.livejournal.com]

[GASP, grins! Amane happily hurries over the only bird he's friends with.] Ikki, Ikki, nee nee Ikki! Ikki, guess what happened to me, gero! Guess what, guess what! Oh oh, but nee where were you, gero?! I missed you! You know, you know there are other frogs here too! You know? But nee I really missed you, gero!

[contract_star]

[Hei shakes his head. Never mind that he's going to have to rethink a lot of what he understands about the Plane--that can happen later. For now he's just glad to have his friend back.]

Of course it's still here. Things haven't changed all that much, really.

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's a relief. I'd have to put in a complaint if the bar and kitchen were gone. I mean, seriously.

[Damn right Hei is going to have to rethink things. Ikki is also going to have to rethink his living arrangements. He shuffles toward the bar, expecting his friend to follow.]

Ever met the President of the USA?

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

... That lack of eyebrows looks familiar. ... Yo.

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

[He smirks like a bastard when he notices Diva. Right on time~ He doesn't yet understand the gravity of the situation, but Diva-hugs are just fine by him. He catches her and spins her around, then sets her down-- but makes no move to detach her from his middle.]

Gone? S'only been a week, y'know. A very long week. And I got good news!

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

[Awww, Amane!] Whoa, hey! What's up? What happened? Why the hell is everyone acting like I've been gone for years?

[contract_star]

Everything's still here, with some additions.

[Hei follows, watching Ikki's back.]

The President of the USA? Not...that I remember.

[usagipino]

[She stares at him for awhile and then sticks her own finger up her nose. She is sans bunny suit today, just in overalls.]

[gerogerodance.livejournal.com]

[Grins more, and waves his arms around excited.] There was a few days, when I became thiiiis big, gero! I was huge, Ikki, I really was! I was tall, I could step on others, but I never did, gero! But it wasn't funny at the end at all... And and you know, I met a frog who looks like a human, but he is a frog, I think, and I met a butterfly too! She was so pretty, gero! And she was nice, she was very nice!

Eeeeh? [Blinks.] Because you were away a lot, gero! You disappeared, and never came back, gero.

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

Good, good.

[Ikki's back is the same as usual... though perhaps a bit more proud.]

I did, and he got stuck in Kazu's girlfriend's body for a while. Pretty crazy shit.

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

[Ikki stares back... then his finger moves to the other nostril.]

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

Damn, that's pretty big. I'm glad you made some friends though. Having other frog boys around must be awesome. ... Butterfly chick? She got a name~?

[Ikki stares at that.] Damn... that's weird. Well, I'm back. Sorry to disappoint~

[contract_star]

[Hei can't help smiling, though he keeps expecting to wake up or something.]

In...his girlfriend's body. [He shakes his head.] You have such a strange life.