Renga

Race to the future

Langa POV

I know what happiness is.  My happiness is...

Reki turned toward me, the setting sun casting a warm glow all around him.  What I feel with reki, it can't be described as anything other than happiness. 

Reki smiled a lopsided grin that made me giddy, "you ready?"

I stare at the expanse of world below from the top of the racing hill, and my heart raced, "For infinity" I replied, nodding. 

Reki smiled genuinely, "okay! Go!" And he took off down the hill on his board.  I followed suit quickly after. 

The wind whipped at my face, blowing my hair in every direction.  I would have to start tying it up, it was becoming hard to see.  Flying down the course with reki felt like a thousand bright smiles and an infinite source of adventure.  As we skated the course, we stayed near one another, not because either one of us was really trying to win, but because we just wanted to appreciate and enjoy the sport and the fun of it.

Well... I wanted to appreciate and enjoy reki.  His presence was all I really wanted. 

I realized I'd become too distracted watching reki when my board hit a rock and I was thrown from the board to the ground below.  I tumbled a couple of times before skidding to a halt.  My arms and legs were scraped up but otherwise I felt okay.  My head hurt just a bit. 

"Langa! What happened?" Reki exclaimed, running back towards me, board in hand.

"Just hit a rock," I waved him away, "I'm fine, really!" 

Reki crossed his arms, looking stupidly cute, "you're bleeding," he scowled, managing to look even more adorable.

I looked at the scrapes on my arms and legs, they didn't seem bad at all, "these are nothing, you know we've had way worse, let's just go."

"No, langa," reki stepped closer, reaching up and pressing his fingertips to my hairline just above my temple.  As he brought his fingers away they were stained red.

"Oh," I stared at him in confusion for a moment and then continued on, "well you can patch me up when we get home okay?"  I gave him my best innocent pleading look and he caved almost immediately. 

"Okay but if you feel bad, get off the board and we can walk."

I wasn't about to admit that I already felt nauseas so I just nodded and got back on my board, following reki the rest of the way down the hill.

Reki POV

When we finally made it to the end of the course, langas forehead was smeared with blood and streaks had dried where the blood had been dripping down his face, but there didn't seem to be any fresh blood still flowing, so that was a good sign at least.  He looked like he might be sick though...

"Oh no—" langa lunged from his bored, kneeling over in the grass near the road and threw up.  He held his hands to his head and shut his eyes, breathing steadily.

I moved behind him and rubbed his back, unsure of what to do in this situation.  His shirt was slightly damp from sweat and his hair kept falling forward no matter what he did to try to keep it out of the way. 

I spotted one of my younger sisters hair ties on my wrist.  I usually keep one around in case they need it.  But now I had an idea, so I reached down, pulling langas hair back from his face while he heaved and spit, "oh langa," I wrapped his hair up into a small ponytail and trailed my hands from his hair to his shoulders.  I squeezed them gently, "you okay to stand now?"