Timeless

In then name of friendship

Cherry POV
Midnight. A full moon lit up the sky. Our course was laid out for me. We would race down the side of a cliff. The fact that my boyfriend was trying to kill me did enter my head. My eyes scanned the trail. I had to win. This was for Kojiro. I had to do this. I owed him that much.
“Are you ready?” Adam purred in my ear. One arm wrapped around my waist. He was so predatory. The difference between him and Joe were striking.
“Of course.” I stated forcing myself to sound both calm and bored, while feeling neither.
 His soft chuckle stirred the hairs on the back of my neck.
“This is the difference between you and him.” He cooed. “You have a chance at living through this. He wouldn’t make it.” Slipping away, Adam positioned himself beside me. He smiled, nodding to Tadashi.
His faithful servant flipped the coin. I lowered myself on the board. My smaller frame would be beneficial for gaining speed. It also would be more dangerous if I got too much air or took the turns to fast. I had to keep my head in the game. This was for Kojiro.
The coins hit the ground. We kicked off. Adam pulled ahead first. I held back until we rounded the first curve. The straight a way was long. Leaning into it, I picked up speed. I heard Adam laugh. He was sure I was going to kill myself. The curve came. Kicking my board up, I rode it around. I heard him swear as I gained more distance.
A tunnel was up ahead. I stayed on the ground taking the straight shot. Adam swung up circling the cylinder trail. He tossed a taunt at me as he hung upside down above me.
“You have no hope in winning, my sweet Cherry, this is my trail.” With a laugh he flashed by me. I had to win. I saw him slip into the next curve. Shoving my fear down, I took the dangerous route. Kicking up, I ollied onto the side of the cliff. One wrong twist of my body and I would be falling down into God knows what. I clung to my precious perch. There was a ramp of sorts in front of me. I leaned down, my wheels speeding toward what could very well be my death.
They hit the edge of the ramp. I flew out into space. Nothing but tree tops, and a death defying drop was below my board. I held on. Adam's face turned up to watch as I soared over him. His hood fell back, awe shone in his deep luscious eyes. I felt the down draft coming.
Sliding my foot back, I leaned into the landing. My wheels hit, immediately they picked up speed as I hung low to the board. I shot around the next two curves. One quick glance behind me and I didn’t see Adam anywhere. I swallowed my fear as I came out of the last curve. There stood Tadashi. He held two flags in his hand. Pink for me, blue for Adam. I leaned in, my gaze focused on that flag.
“It’s not over yet!” I heard a shout from above me. No! I yelled.
My foot hit the ground, kicking me faster. I stood leaning my entire body forward. He flew over me, I slipped under him. My hand snagged the flag. I spun around to watch him land. His mouth hanging open. He stood in front of Tadashi looking thunderous. Tadashi still held his flag. I twisted around, taking in my surroundings. We were on the outskirts of town. I turned to face them.
Tossing the flag back to Tadashi, I looked at Adam. “See you in school, I’m going to check on Joe.” I kicked off, my back straight. A part of me was waiting for him to attack me, it didn’t come. I didn’t relax until I was on Joe's porch ringing the door bell.
He opened the door with a towel wrapped around his waist and nothing else on. I swallowed hard. “Uh, hey Kaoru.” He leaned on the door he was still holding open. “What are you doing here this late?” He asked.
“I wanted to check on you. I just left a race with Adam.” I blinked. “Can I come in?” I asked.
“Oh, um, sure.” He backed away. After closing the door he gestured toward the stairs. “I was just showering, let me get dressed.”
“I’ve seen your room, why are you keeping me out of it now?” I asked. My eyes scanned his rock hard body. I flushed.
“Oh, you’re not alone.” I gasped. He had moved to the steps, leaving the path to the door open. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have just barged in!” I cried.
“No, wait…” He called but I had already dashed back outside. He didn’t have his board handy. I pushed off trying to get as far away as possible. He must have had his girlfriend over, that’s why he was naked. I couldn’t believe it! I just risked my life to spend time with him, and he wasn’t even concerned.
There was the fact he didn’t know about the race. My mind was in turmoil. I didn’t hear the unmistakable sound of a skateboard rushing up behind me, until it was too late. Kojiro, caught my wrist. He spun me around. I gasped. The wind had blown the towel off, he stood there naked.
“Will you stop being a diva for one fucking second!”  He yelled at me.
“Why are you not dressed?” I screamed back.
“Because you took off before I could say anything, you idiot!” He yelled at me. We stood there in the middle of the street panting heavily as we stared at each other. I took my jacket off and held it out to him. The freaking ape folded his arms across his chest.
“I will only take that if it means you are coming back to my place with me.” He arched his eyebrows.
“Fine, whatever, just cover up!” I snarled my face flaming.
“Pink suits you, four eyes.” He purred taking the jacket to wrap around his waist.
“You're washing that.” I demanded as we both started pushing off back to his place.
“Yeah, yeah. Why were you racing Adam?” He asked.
“Oh, uh, for fun.” I muttered turning away.
“Not buying it, what were the stakes?” He demanded. I blinked.
“Um?” I hesitated. His eyes roamed over me.
“How did you fall learning your new trick, with only bruising your neck.” He growled. When I looked his eyes were on my bare arms. I frowned. I forgot I was wearing short sleeves.
“Leave it, it’s nothing!” I snarled at him. We reached his place. He led the way inside. I watched as he tossed my jacket in to clean.
“I was only naked because I was home alone. I was cleaning then went to shower.” He informed me. He eyed me. “Come on, your staying the night.” He headed up the stairs after locking the front door. I peered out. To my surprise I didn’t see Adam or Tadashi. Maybe he was still pissed, I wasn’t sure. I went to Kojiro's room. The blow-up bed was still on the floor. Kojiro had pants on.
“Are you going to stop lying to me, or what?” He demanded. I sat on the edge of the bed.
“I’m fine, Joseph, just let it go!” I hissed at him. He glared at me from across the room.
“What does he like to choke you when he fucks you?” he growled at me. I turned away. Maybe it would be better if he thought that.
“Have you ever tried it?” I yelled. Please believe me. I begged silently. He snarled, tossing me a tee shirt.
“What ever, your into.” He stomped out giving me the room to change in. I sighed. How stupid did he have to be to believe that? I asked myself. I felt like crying. He didn’t care that I was “into that".
“You can come in.” I said once I had dressed in the over large tee. It hung down to my knees. Kojiro came back in. He leaned against the dresser.
“How is your mother?” I asked.
“Doing better. I was able to go see her today. She looks so fragile.” He turned to peer out the window. “Why is someone standing across the street staring at my house?” He asked. I moved to look out. Tadashi stood there. When he saw the curtain move, he got on his board and skated away. I was sure he would only go around the block.
“Oh, that was Tadashi, Adam's friend.” I said.
“Keeping tabs on his master princess?” He flopped down on the mattress. “How much longer will you be allowed to do this?” He asked.
“What do you mean?” I stalled wrapping myself up in the blanket. The pillow still smelled like him I buried my face in it.
“Be allowed to be my friend?” his muffled voice came from the floor. “He has already taken our study dates, our skate times, even has interfered with our Thursdays…” He sounded so angry. I clutched at the pounding in my chest. Forcing myself to breathe around it.
“He won’t.” I gasped. “I made sure of that.” I forced out.
“That’s why you raced him tonight, to keep our standing dinner dates?” I didn’t know what to say, so I stayed quiet. He sighed loudly.  “You're going to tear yourself up like this Kaoru, I won’t just stand by and watch him destroy you.”
“It’s not like that. Just leave it alone, Kojiro.” I said yet again. He rolled away from me. I stared at his broad back in the darkness.
“We have school tomorrow, get some sleep.” He ordered me. Silently, I cried myself to sleep that night.
I awoke to a pillow dropping on my face. “Come on Pinky, how the hell did you sleep through the alarm!” A very wet gorilla yelled at me.
“Did you shower, again?” I asked.
“Get up. I’ll go make breakfast.” He barked at me.  “You can shower.” He added walking out the door. I went into his bathroom. As I got the water set, I looked at his supplies. He had Cherry blossom shampoo and conditioner. His body wash was clean scent. I sniffed it all. They reminded me of him. Quickly I washed up. I loved the scent in my hair. As I was drying off, I recalled I didn’t have any clothes here.
Stepping into his room, I saw my clothes from the day before folded up on the bed, they were still warm from the dryer. How early had he gotten up? I dressed then headed downstairs. Kojiro was humming as he worked. I leaned against the door frame watching him. A smile played at his lips as he cooked. He moved like a dancer around the kitchen. Taking out a spice, shaking it over the pan. Then going to the refrigerator to pluck something out. He added it to what he was cooking. It was like he moved to his own conductor.
When he saw me, he pointed to a cup on the counter. “Your tea is ready. Go sit, I am almost done.” I picked up the white mug with the cherry blossoms painted on the side. Taking it I went to sit down.
“Thank you for washing my clothes.” I said. He shrugged as he put our plates down.
“Pretty sure Adam would kill you if you showed up in my clothes.” We ate in silence. He lent me a notebook so we didn’t have to get my bag from my house. We made it to school just like any other day. Adam waited on the steps. His smile filling his face.
“Ah, my Cherry blossom.” He called, pulling me into his arms with a gentle kiss.
“Hey, Killer.” Joe greeted him. Adam laughed as we all walked in together.