fourteenth trick

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

[Ikki appears on the Plane without grand ceremony, without a straw stuck up his nose or any of the eccentricity and charm that accompanies his usual manner. His white shirt has smears of brown blood on it, probably from the bloody Rumble Regalia he's been clutching to himself for an hour.

He stands there motionless for a moment, then with something like a choked squeak, simply sinks where he is. Feet out, Regalia sitting in front of him, head bowed in memory to one of the first to draw out his potential.]

... damn it...

Comments

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

[Are you sure you want to be hit with the full force of Ikki's puppy eyes, Diva? He makes a pathetic little noise and shakes his head.]

[madamemoiselle]

{Aw, that's just pathetic. So she just hugs Ikki instead.}

Ne, what's upset you this badly?

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

[Hugs are great. It takes him a second to hug back, but then he clings like no tomorrow.]

Diva-san... someone else died for me.

[madamemoiselle]

{She pauses for a moment before she starts to smooth his hair}

Oh, Ikki...I'm so sorry.

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

[That feels nice. He sniffles quietly into her shoulder.]

He just... keeps killing anyone in his way... people who don't deserve it...

[madamemoiselle]

Who does, Ikki?

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

Sora-san. Rika-nee's old boyfriend, and... the one who taught me how to throw the air.

[madamemoiselle]

{She hugs him a little tighter}

I'm sorry, Ikki. Ne, I'm not really sure about everything in your world, but I'm sorry that something so sad happened to you, I guess it is. Is there anything I can do to help?

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

[He shifts his hold on her.]

Can you just... stay here a little longer? Please?

[madamemoiselle]

I'll stay as long as you want, Ikki.

{Strokes his hair soothingly, then warmly}

I'm here for Ikki, after all.

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

[His fingers tighten in the fabric of her dress.]

... thank you.

[Silence, and... a sob.]

[madamemoiselle]

{8(!! She frowns a bit more, but she just holds him there quietly, letting him cry}

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

[Ikki's tears are hot and short-lived, like a summer rainshower. Eventually the sobs grow fewer and farther between.]

Diva-san... c-can you promise me something?

[madamemoiselle]

Of course, Ikki. What is it?

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

If you see any Storm Riders sneaking around, tell me. I don't want Sora-san to go after you, too.

[madamemoiselle]

I promise, Ikki. But even if he did, he'd be in for a surprise, wouldn't he?

{Cheerfully} I may look like just a cute girl, but I can certainly protect myself.

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

I know, Diva-san. You're really strong. The strongest girl I know.

But... Sora-san isn't like me. He's... he's a Gravity Child, and I'm not completely sure of what he's capable of.

He could really hurt you.

[madamemoiselle]

Then I'll be careful more than anything.

{She kisses his forehead lightly}

Tell me more about this Sora, though.

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

[He blushes a little at that and pulls back just enough to search her eyes. His are big and brown and slightly red from crying.]

... Like what?

[madamemoiselle]

Well...Like who is he, and why would he want to hurt me? Things like that.

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

Sora-san... or rather, his brother, is the leader of Genesis. Genesis is a team made up of a bunch of Kings and Gravity Children, as well as a bunch of smaller teams. It's really big, and once, I was offered allies from it... but not everyone agrees with Sora-san's intentions, and that's why he's started picking off his own allies.

... He'd want to hurt you because you've helped me.

[madamemoiselle]

Well, that's not a very good reason at all.

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

I know it isn't.

[madamemoiselle]

{Diva starts stroking his hair idly again}

But I'll be fine. You don't need to worry about me, Ikki.

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

[His bottom lip quivers. Just a little.]

Diva-san... I promise I won't let anything happen to you.