Step and Slide

[danicaloy]

Akia wanted to see Amoris smile. The man's smiles made him feel something he had never felt before in his life, not even when he was with Kale.

However, as Amoris turned his head. Akia was ready to cry. He didn't want to have Amoris leave him too, like his parents and Kale had done. His free hand came up and clenched tightly to his chest. Akia could feel his heart was pounding hard against his chest feeling like it would burst any moment. The boy then realized he felt complete, a whole person whenever Amoris was around, and without him, Akia felt lost like a part of him was missing. Without Amoris, Akia knew he would become sick.

Just as Akia began to grip Amoris hand tighter, a voice from an intercom filled their ears.

"Attention ship 4679, you are cleared for landing."

[Amoris]

Amoris nodded to himself in response to the command and flipped the switch to 'manual'. Quickly he adjusted everything just right and began to move their ship into port, ending any further conversation for the moment.

***

The brunette got out of his chair and stretched. "Good to be home," he mumbled as his arms rose above his head. He groaned for a few minutes, loosening up his body before looking down at Akia.

"We're here! Finally! Now, remember, when we get off the ship, stay close. We're going to be looking for a tall man...black hair and gotee...and he'll probably be wearing a bright red robe. Just tell me if you see him and we'll go from there...," he said. He paused to think if there was anything else. He couldn't think of anything at the moment though, so he just shrugged.

The brunette moved to the back room and soon returned with his luggage. He placed it by the door next to Akia's stuff before sliding up the passage. He glanced around, taking a deep breath of Jeskaran air and he felt like he was in heaven. "Great," he murmured to himself in delight before looking back at the silver-haired boy behind him.

"I'm going to go find a trolley to put our stuff on, so we won't have to carry it. I'll be right back." He stepped out the door, only stopping briefly to yell for Akia to not go anywhere until he got back.

[danicaloy]

Akia looked over the horizon of the planet, known as Jeskara. He was in awe at the sight. It wasn't like he had pictured it in his mind; it was even more beautiful than he could have ever imagined.

It was like Akia was drawn to this planet, as he stepped off the ramp ship, his blue eyes absorbing the sights. His arms wrapped around his chest as the boy shivered slightly at the cold wind blowing past him.

The white-haired youth look out over the incoming crowd trying hard to find the man Amoris had mentioned, when suddenly two strong arms came down around his waist, and a husky deep voice brushed his neck.

"Hey what's a beautiful thing like you doing out here all alone."

This made the boy jump at the intrusion, and squirm around trying to free himself the tight grip.

[Amoris]

Amoris grinned happily as he pushed the cart back to the ship. He felt relief at being back on familiar terrain, and he knew that when he got to the school, he would feel even better. He sighed, thinking back to what had first upset him so much.

It wasn't Akia's fault that the brunette felt...Well, something for him. He couldn't place his finger on what it was though. Most of what he felt at that moment was rejection anyways...

He continued pushing the trolley on, feeling a mite less happy then before. He still waved to the people he knew and smiled at all the little things that meant 'Jeskara'. He knew he would have to show them to Akia once they found Master Shibbs.

Speaking of Akia, as the Jshiko got closer to their ship, he felt a sense of urgency appear in him. He kept walking faster and faster until he was running to the ship. When he got there, he frowned deeply at the sight of another male hugging the silver-haired youth he had brought with him. He could tell that the other obviously didn't want to be there.

"What are you doing?" he hissed at the man angrily. He wasn't exactly sure who it was, but he could tell the man was probably from the school...what with the robes and all. It didn't matter to the brunette though as he pulled Akia from the taller man's grasp.

[danicaloy]

Akia continued to struggle away from the man's grasp when he saw Amoris rush toward them. The older man pulled Akia by the arm, directing the youth behind him blocking Akia from his attacker.

The mystery man, who was startled by the intrusion, looked up and down at Amoris with wide eyes. And he couldn't help but smile wide.

"Amoris! You came back finally. We've thought you've gotten lost or something! Master Shibbs couldn't make here in person, so he sent the next best person to escort you home. And who other then you're best friend!" The man exclaimed, wrapping his arms around Amoris in a crushing friendly hug.

As he hugged Amoris, he looked over the brunette's shoulder at the white-haired boy, who was still slightly shaken at the whole encounter, and smiled apologetically, whispering.

"Sorry about earlier. I didn't realize Amoris had brought back a mate. He had never been very popular."

Akia looked confused at the young man, who was hugging Amoris. His stomach had knotted again, and for some reason he wanted to be the one hugging Amoris.

[Amoris]

Amoris wheezed for a bit, struggling against his friend’s chest. “Perin…I can’t breathe! And whatever you’re saying to Akia better not be something bad! I swear, I’ll kill you during the next tournament if it is…,” he said, coughing.

The green haired man dropped him to the floor and looked down at him, laughing as he tried to adjust himself. The brunette snorted and pushed himself off the floor with a smile. “Perin…? Is that really you?” he asked as he looked over his best friend with a critical eye. He tapped a finger to his lips in thought before he shook his head. “You look…different. Well, I suppose you would after running off to who-knows-where for a month. Still though…”

He grinned and shrugged before clapping his friend on the back, turning him slightly to view Akia. “Well…Anyways, this here is Akia. Akia, this is Perin.”

“You see…I got lost, as you know I’m so apt to do…” At the other man’s nod, he continued. “I ended up on Earth where I met Akia here. He found me, sitting dejectedly on a road and took me back to his house to care for me and all that. We got to talking and…Well, he has part Jshiko in him, so we came here,” he said happily. “Long story short, of course.”

His friend nodded back as if to say ‘of course’ and soon the two were laughing as two friends were prone to do.

[danicaloy]

Akia couldn't but help but brighten and smile at the sight of Amoris with his best friend, laughing together so cheerfully. He was so happy to see Amoris smiling, and his heartbeat began to quicken. His pale fist clenched tightly to his chest to try and calm the pounding beat. Then stepping next to Amoris as the three walked down the crowded streets, Akia silently listened to the others' conversation.

After a while of talking and laughing and Amoris putting Perin in a headlock, once Perin got free he slipped around and hugged his arm around Akia's shoulders.

"Once again, Akia was it? Sorry for startling you earlier. It's just you looked so adorable standing there! I'm Perin by the way."

Akia turned to look into Perin's eyes, and smiled warmly. This green-haired man was very kind, but there was something familiar about him that made Akia seem uneasy. Akia shook his head.

"No, it's all right. You just surprised me. It's good to finally meet a friend a Amoris'; My name's Akia Matsumi."

Perin just laughed and pulled Akia into a tight hug. "You are just so cute! No wonder Amoris took you for his mate, he always did prefer the small, cute ones!"

Perin leaned his head over Akia's shoulder, and whispered to Amoris still smiling.

"Don't worry buddy, I have no intention of taking Akia from you, I'm happy for you! Besides I already have a mate."

Perin pulled away, when the thought struck him and laughed again.

"Amoris, I know you and I have had a lot in common in the past, but now this. Can you believe we both found our mates on Earth! Perhaps I'll introduce you sometime."

[Amoris]

Amoris was stunned beyond all belief. ‘Mate?!’ his mind screamed at him. He couldn’t breathe for a second and stumbled forward, bumping a few random people along the way. It seemed so illogical, so improbable, so impossible…and yet, so right.

He managed to steady himself before he pitched into a wall and looked over to see Akia and Perin coming towards him with worried looks on their faces. He slid to the ground to wait for them, unconsciously focusing on the smaller male as they made their was over.

Akia…The other boy was so perfect. He was beautiful, kind, caring, sweet, a hard-worker, a wonderful singer, a good listener, an eager learner, a friend…Among many other things, the brunette was sure. The slightly younger youth made Amoris feel so many things that he had never felt before; mostly good, but some bad. Like with Kale…The feeling of rejection had run so deep through him…

He blinked and noticed the two were then upon him. He peered up into their slightly frightened faces. They looked so worried that the Jshiko felt a bit guilty, but he pushed that aside for the moment.

Instead, he focused back onto Akia. Slowly, he reached up a hand to gently touch the silver haired boy's cheek. His thumb caressed the side of Akia's face and smile crept across his face. Perin had been right! He just had to be, for it felt so right...seeing the other boy in such a different way then before, that was.

"Yeah...," he breathed out. Whether it was in answer to Perin's suggestion of meeting his friend's mate, agreeing to what Akia just had to be to him, or to their questioning on his health...he wasn't sure. Perhaps it was a reply to all.

[danicaloy]

Worried that Amoris was acting so strange, Akia knelt down to the other's level. Akia was about to ask if Amoris was all right, but stopped short and stiffened slightly as Amoris' hand touched his skin and soon cupped his cheek.

It felt so warm, Akia couldn't help but lean into it wanting just a little more

However, something else bothered him about what Perin said and he looked at Amoris straight in eyes; blue meeting deep purple, and he whispered, "Amoris what does Perin mean by 'mates'?

Nevertheless, his question was left unanswered as Perin broke in smiling from ear to ear.

"All right come on you two lovebirds let's get on home!"

[Amoris]

Amoris dropped his hand and stood slowly, holding out his hand to also help Akia up. When they all got assembled and had grabbed their baggage trolley again, they began to walk towards the door. Silence descended on them.

After awhile, the brunette glanced at Perin from the corner of his eye and saw that his friend wasn't paying attention. He was glad; it gave him time to at least give Akia an idea of what the green-haired man was talking about...

He looked over at the silver haired youth and leaned over to whisper in his ear as they walked. "Akia...You asked what a mate was?" At the nod he knew would have been coming, he went on. "Well...It's rather hard to explain. It's...Can you first do me a favour?"

Without really waiting for an answer this time, he leaned forward just enough to place a small kiss on Akia's cheek. Quickly he said, "Please think over how you feel about me and then come to me so we can talk."

With that, he ran off towards the door. He was doing, so because of his nervousness, but he tried to downplay it by yelling, "First one to the exit wins!"

His heart was beating rapidly beyond all belief and he knew his cheeks were pink. He added on another little burst of speed, flying towards the door...jealousy and fear coating his insides at the thought that the answer to his 'favour' would be that Akia was too in love with Kale to ever consider him. He sighed and continued to run.

((-My eyes are purple, not brown! ^_^ Silly...-))

[danicaloy]

Akia's mind and body frozen the moment Amoris' lips touched his cheek. His heart began to race. It was so strange he had never felt like this before, not even when Kale had kissed him. What was it that Amoris had that drew Akia to him so much that he would forget about Kale.

Akia watched as Amoris ran ahead, though he did not follow. Akia was still too stunned by the kiss and the thought that Amoris might actually reciprocate his feelings. The boy didn't even register the yell Perin was making.

"Yea Right you cheater! There's no way you going to win this race again!"

When they were finally out of sight, Akia's mind finally brought him back with a new realization, he did love Amoris. He couldn't explain it but he just did, and if he ever saw Kale again Akia would tell him the truth. He started down the path Amoris and Perin took hoping to catch up to them soon.

Just at that moment, a certain red head turned a nearby corner looking around as if searching for someone.

((Do you mind if you would speak for Kale? Please!))((And I fixed my goof earlier thanks for that, sorry)))

[Amoris]

A redheaded young man turned the corner, feeling a bit anxious for his mate to show. He had run ahead to get his best friend, leaving the youth waiting in the pod that they would take home. He got tired of sitting though, so had left after telling the driver to tell his mate that he had gone inside.

He was starting to wonder why though as he saw all the people passing around him. They were just all so weird and...Actually, they reminded him of his ex-boyfriend from before he had discovered the man whom he would spend the rest of his life with. He wasn't sure why his mate was different, but he was.

While still pondering over his mate, the young man ran into someone. Quickly he scrambled away from whoever it was, an apology on his lips. The words inside him died though as soon as he saw who it was.

"You! Akia!" he gasped loudly, stunned as he pointed a shaking finger at the silver-haired youth in front of him. Of all the places...Why in the world was his ex-boyfriend here?! He narrowed his eyes, trying to figure out what was going on.

((S'kay...And yeah, I got it. ^_^))

[danicaloy]

Akia turned at the sound of his name, the voice so familiar. His blue eyes locked the man standing before him, and he was stunned into shock. Kale was here, all the time!

Briefly forgeting all else that he was thinking, Akia threw his arms around Kale's neck as tears formed in his eyes. "Kale, I'm missed you so much!

~~

Meanwhile outside by the pod, Perin stood with Amoris as they loaded the bags inside. Perin couldn't but wonder where his mate was at, and he shouted out in aloud voice.

"Kale, baby!! Where did you go?!"

[Amoris]

Kale shoved the smaller boy off him, frustration and anger colouring his eyes. "Why are you here?!" he asked harshly. A small sigh escaped him as he saw the silver haired young man flinch. He hadn't meant to be mean, but...

He heard a voice calling in the distance and his stormy expression immediately lightened. His mate, Perin, had come back! Now they could go back home, and leave Akia and all the troubles he brought with him there at the port. He didn't want to deal with it.

He turned and said, "Whatever," over his shoulder as he walked away. He didn't want his mate getting worried after all, and he could already feel the anxiousness seeping into his bones. Whether this was the older man's concern for him or if he was just excited to show him his best friend...Some guy named Amoris, he thought.

~~

Amoris was getting a bit upset. Akia hadn't shown up at the front doors yet, and it was making him nervous. That and...Had Perin just called out for a 'Kale'?

...Nah, They couldn't possibly be the same. That was just too much of a coincidence.It would also mean that he was...best friends with the mate of his sorta enemy for the heart of Akia and...Stuff. It was all very confusing. Besides, it made no sense for him to be worrying about something that wasn't about to happen...

[danicaloy]

Kale had pushed him away! Akia fell to his knees. He was unable to believe that Kale would act so cold to him. He thought Kale loved him; that's what he used to say. Now he felt like his heart was shattered and he had no strength at all left to stand and chase after Kale. Akia did the only thing he could think of. Tears flooded from the cerulean blue oceans of his eyes, as he knelt on the ground where the red head had pushed him.

~~

Perin soon caught sight of blood red hair that was his mate's, and embraced him in a crushing hug.

"Oh, Kale I missed you so much don't ever leave me again!"

He leaned forward to give Kale a passion filled kiss, then pulled away slightly but with Kale still in his arms.

"Kale, this is my very best friend Amoris Chilton."

Perin then smiled, 'I hope Amoris likes my mate, I know I do; I love Kale.' The green-haired man turned his head from side to side making sure they were ready but noticed someone was missing.

"Okay now, all we have to do is find that Akia cutie, and then we can go!"