happy_tennis

Fic: Livewires

Sun, 04 Feb 2007 16:39:48 GMT

Title: Livewires
Characters: Tezuka/Echizen, Oishi/Kikumaru, Atobe/Jirou, Oshitari/Gakuto
Rating: PG
Chapters: 03/??
Word Count: 3913
Summary: Ryoma is the best mecha pilot of his age. His synch rates are phenomenal. So why is he getting placed on a team with people so far below him? And worse than that, he has not even been made leader.
Author’s Notes: Sorry for the long(ish) delay. I’ve been rather busy! The first half of the chapter pretty much focuses on Seigaku and the second half focuses on some Hyotei characters.
Previous: Prologue | Manual | Cinderella

Chapter Three: Spandex

Ryoma had accepted he was part of a team. It was hard not to when everyone around him were slowly growing used to each others weird habits. For example, now when Kaidoh and Momoshiro started fighting, no one batted an eyelid. Similarly, no one took offence when Ryoma was sarcastic (no matter how much he wanted them to) or when Fuji said something so clearly out of order that it left most people speechless.

“Echizen,” Tezuka beckoned. Ryoma sighed, picking up the manual and dragging himself to Tezuka’s office. Although he had been taken off cleaning duty, he still had to attend the daily study sessions in Tezuka’s office.

“The chapter on dual-mecha,” Tezuka instructed. Ryoma opened his mouth to protest, after all, he would never pilot a dual-control Livewire. Tezuka silenced him with a look.

Tezuka was good at those ‘looks’. There were looks that communicated displeasure, warnings, longing (Tezuka had regarded Kikumaru’s strawberry pocky that way for twenty minutes, before Ryoma had stolen it and left them on the Captain’s desk) and sometimes happiness. Mostly though, Tezuka was a blank page with the occasionally raised eyebrow.

“Echizen. The chapter,” Tezuka prompted. Ryoma realised he’d been staring and turned to the book. He began to read.

*

Karupin did not like the lower decks. The cargo bays were only dully lit, as most humans didn’t venture down there. They were also the holding bays for the Livewires.

Karupin wasn’t stupid. He could smell the metallic death that the robots were built for. His ears pressed back against his skull as he crept forward to investigate.

One was white and red with S-3 in large black letters on its breast. It was humanoid, strong looking in a way that made it seem more intimidating than reassuring. Its eyes were screens, but they were made from one way glass. Karupin didn’t like the creature one bit. He couldn’t tell where it was looking and that made him nervous.

You should always be able to see an enemy's eyes.

There was the sound of clanking metal and Karupin fluffed up in fright, glancing around him warily. Before him, S-3 loomed, dangerous and imposing.

This isn’t what humans were made for.

*

“We’re going to have a trial run starting up the Livewires and reserve units. We’re only a few days away from Seishun and we may be needed directly upon entering the atmosphere. I suggest you use this opportunity to set everything you’ve learnt into your memory,” Tezuka instructed. The pilots around him all looked enthusiastic about finally getting into the cockpit. Even Echizen, who shut the heavy manual he’d been dutifully staring at for the last twenty minutes with a small smile.

“Get changed into your uniforms and meet in the cargo hold!” Tezuka commanded. The pilots saluted and wandered away to get changed.

Lets see how the synch rates compare…

*

Ryoma did not know where to look. He felt he might as well be naked, never mind everyone else. Momoshiro was surreptitiously checking out everyone and Kikumaru was bouncing around in a way that was not modest. That was enough to make Ryoma hunch over a little and hope no one would suggest… comparing anything…

“Are we all assembled? Good,” Tezuka’s voice rang out across the deck. Ryoma looked up and them immediately looked away. The material clung like a second skin, defining all of Tezuka’s chest, arm and stomach muscles as he walked.

And there must be socks down there… right?

“The order is as follows,” Tezuka said, his boots clunking on the metal floor as he moved. Ryoma decided that it was probably the best place to look. They were made out of white leather, like everyone else’s, and they were done up with plastic straps. Rather like the rollerblades my dad got me… Images of a rollerblading Tezuka invaded his mind and at least drew his attention from how… revealing… the uniform was.

“R-2 Kawamura… R-1 Momoshiro… D-2 Kaidoh-Inui… D-1 Oishi-Kikumaru… S-3 Echizen… S-2 Fuji,” Tezuka ordered. Ryoma saluted when his name was called and made his way towards S-3. The Livewire glowered down at him, it’s unseeing eyes seeming scarily sentient.

Ryoma climbed up the ladder on the side. It would be removed automatically when he started up the mainframe. The door to the cockpit slid open and the pneumatic sigh that followed assured Ryoma the doors were working properly and wouldn’t leave him stuck inside. I’m never doing that again… I can’t believe Atobe managed to scramble the door lock…

The seats were made of cheap woven polyester fabric, but were well cushioned. Ryoma settled himself in it before laying his legs in the designated foot holds and his arms along the arm rest. He laid his head back directly against the upholstery.

“Standby off. Initiate mainframe-pilot synchronisation procedure,” Ryoma said in a clear voice. The reassuring whirr of a thousand processors working and twelve screens turning on met that command.

Metal cuffs sprang into place around his arms, legs and neck. They were all too tight. Ryoma squirmed a little, the rings of metal pulling too hard against his windpipe. He understood the purpose of this procedure, the mainframe had to identify pulse, blood pressure, weight and various other things in order to synch. Even so, it didn’t have to be so forceful about it.

“What is your age?” The mainframe asked. Ryoma frowned. The computer wasn’t supposed to ask questions. Even the finest military AI shouldn’t have the sentience to speak without being spoken to.

“I am sixteen,” Ryoma said, slightly unsure. The processors whirred for a moment.

“Should have picked someone younger…” The computer said and it even sounded remorseful. Ryoma felt the bindings let go and the welcome screen appeared, projected as a holographic before him. Neuro-sensors dropped from the ceiling and Ryoma attached one to each of his temples.

“This is just a practise run so leave me in control,” Ryoma snapped, unnerved slightly. Maybe the Livewire’s AU was more advanced than he’d thought? Although there had been nothing in the manual to suggest anything about personality or sentience in the machines.

Ryoma could see D-1 and S-1 already walking around. For a brief moment the two locked into brief combat, just a simple punch and dodge combination that was fairly standard in basic training. They broke apart, no damage to either Livewire.

Ryoma placed his hands on the controls in front of him. He concentrated on how it felt to walk, the muscles contracting and the leg straightening. The feel of the ground beneath his feet and the swinging motion of the leg.

The Livewire lurched left though, tumbling to the floor in a crash that shook the ship to it’s very foundations.

“Echizen!” A video link was established to his left. Both Oishi and Tezuka had tried to transmit over the same frequency. Ryoma chose to accept Tezuka’s over Oishi’s, prepared for the scolding he was no doubt going to receive.

“Are you alright?” Tezuka asked. Ryoma blinked and nodded.

“We’re going to use the D-units to pull you up. If you feel unstable at any point, contact D1 and they’ll steady you,” Tezuka said. Ryoma nodded. He’d expected being yelled at for doing something so stupid.

I can’t believe I did something so stupid. Walking is something anyone who gets in one of these things can do, without any prior training. I should be able to do this!

Ryoma scowled as he was raised back upright. Tezuka’s face appeared once more.

“Are you having trouble walking?” Tezuka asked. His face held no mockery but Ryoma’s pride was hurt enough that he didn’t care.

“I’m fine, Captain,” Ryoma said. Tezuka looked at him for a long moment.

“If you aren’t synching with the Livewire well then-”

“I said I’m fine, Captain,” Ryoma said again, putting emphasis on the words. Tezuka just disappeared from the vid-screen with a nod and left Ryoma to force the Livewire into synchronization.

I’ve never had a problem before so why now?

“Display synchronisation rates,” Ryoma ordered. In front of him hovered a bar. It filled up slowly, like a test tube full of liquid.

“76% synchronisation,” The computer said. Ryoma frowned. That was pretty high. He shouldn’t be having any trouble moving at all. Why is this stupid robot refusing to operate then?

“79% synchronisation,” The computer said. Ryoma frowned. The synch rate was rising? Was that even possible? He watched as slowly the bar filled.

“93%? What the hell?” Ryoma tried to walk again. The foot rose and fell perfectly. Ryoma walked forward and he tilted his head. He was having no trouble now. He glanced to his left and right, noting that everyone had given him plenty of room.

Probably worried I’ll fall on them…

Ryoma concentrated on the fighting kata he’d learned. A simple one first. Punch, turn, punch, block, kick, punch.

“Look at Ochibi go!”

Ryoma blinked down at his vid-screen where Kikumaru was grinning madly. He’d blocked up the other channels but Momoshiro and Fuji were both also trying to get in touch. Ryoma considered it for a moment, then he gently pressed the red button next to the vid-screen. The screen turned off.

Right. Now let’s get warmed up…

*

Tezuka was secretly a little bit proud. The team had managed to pull together quite well. Even Ryoma, who’d initially had problems, had managed to pull off some quite complicated moves in the end. Overall, it had been a productive afternoon and, although Tezuka wasn’t quite humming to himself aloud, he was doing so quite merrily in his head.

“Such a cute little thing, eh?”

Tezuka’s eyebrow twitched. He turned around and saw no one. It was a very Fuji-like thing to say though. Even so, Tezuka had seen Fuji head off in the direction of the showers less than five minutes ago, there was no way that Fuji could have passed him in the corridor and gotten ahead of him in that time.

“Who’s there?” Tezuka asked. He was more than a little pissed off. He’d run scans on the entire ship earlier that morning. The thermal scanner had identified the ship’s standard crew, such as the pilot and engineering staff, the Livewire pilots and Echizen’s cat. Nothing else had, however, been registered.

Am I going insane?

Tezuka reached down to his side. He was once more dressed in his normal clothes, the clothes of a Captain of his rank. The whole uniform was light blue with black sleeves and a black collar. He preferred to wear it around the ship to remind the others that he was still the officer in charge. Even if the rest of the crew slouched around in their jeans and t-shirts, Tezuka would never allow himself that privilege.

The best thing about being constantly in military uniform however, was that it easily hid his gun holster, where his hand was currently resting.

“Mrow!”

Karupin dashed around the corner, startling Tezuka almost into drawing his weapon. The cat was wet through, its usually large fluffy form strangely thin and bedraggled looking. Following behind him was Echizen, wearing a sweater with the sleeves rolled up and a pair of jeans with holes in. Karupin stopped before Tezuka, as though unsure whether he was friend or foe.

“After you,” Tezuka sidestepped and let Karupin dash passed him.

“Captain!” Echizen said, outraged. Tezuka just folded his arms.

“I’d catch him before he puts wet footprints all over the floors and creates a health hazard,” Tezuka said. Ryoma cursed and ran off after Karupin while Tezuka allowed his lips to twitch upwards into a smile.

Yes, I think today I’m in a good mood.

He did perform another quick scan of the ship, but again he detected no life form that was unregistered on the ship’s personnel list (apart from Karupin) and decided that he should probably go and see the medics as soon as he got to Seishun.

*

Fuji found it entertaining to watch Ryoma running around after Karupin, who was mostly dry now and had fluffed out a little more. He watched for a little while as Karupin dived underneath a table and Ryoma had to get onto his knees and attempt to grab Karupin.

Although the view is nice, I assume that he actually needs some help around about now…

“Ah, Tezuka,” Fuji stood up. He didn’t really understand the unspoken rule that seemed to make everyone else refer to Tezuka as ‘captain’. After all, Tezuka was human too. Or at least he had the semblance of something human. He might be a very intelligent robot…

“Ryoma is having trouble,” Fuji gestured over his shoulder.

“I’m fine Fuji! I’ve almost got him. Ow! Shit! He bit me!” There was the sound then of Ryoma banging his head on the table as he tried to rise and then a loud sigh.

“I think Karupin is a little too intelligent for our young prodigy here,” Fuji commented. Tezuka’s eyebrow was raised, his arms folded.

“Your point, Fuji?” He pressed. Fuji turned to Ryoma, who was rubbing his head and glaring under the table.

“Your arms are longer?” Fuji replied. Tezuka just looked at him for a long time but Fuji had served with Tezuka before and knew what that look meant. That was the look that said ‘I know what you’re trying to do’ but it was always followed by Tezuka giving in and just getting on with it.

Sure enough, Tezuka was on his knees and reaching under the table. Moments later Karupin was purring, damp and content, on Tezuka’s lap, spreading beige fur all over the man’s black dress pants.

“See, longer arms,” Fuji commented before walking away. He loved the completely lost expression on Ryoma’s face and the stoic way that Tezuka cuddled Karupin. It made him feel like his work for the day was done.

*

Atobe stroked the hair out of Jirou’s eyes, looking at the man for a brief moment before slipping out of bed. There was silence in the rooms, apart from the songbird in an iron cage in the corner. It sang out its song quietly, as though conscious that there was someone sleeping in the room.

Like a mere bird would stop Jirou sleeping anyway.

“Emperor Atobe!”

Atobe glanced around for clothes, but found that they were all scattered rather further away than he’d like. Well, there was nothing like meeting impending doom with no clothes on.

“Emperor At-” The female servant who had been scurrying into his rooms stopped and blushed. She bowed as low as she could without bending in half.

“Emperor Atobe, sir, there is word that Lord Akutagawa, Jirou Akutagawa’s father, is dead. There are rumours sir, that his body was found with a rebel woman and-” Atobe crossed the room in three easy strides and slapped the girl across the face.

How dare a mere servant insinuate that the Akutagawas are involved in anything like the rebellion! Especially when Lord Akutagawa’s eldest son is in my bed!

“My father is dead?”

Atobe turned to see Jirou was sitting up drowsily. He stretched and turned his eyes to Atobe, seeking assurance. The servant girl however, whimpered and took a few steps back.

“The estimated time of death was three am yesterday morning,” She said quietly. Jirou’s head bowed.

“How?” He asked. The servant girl tried to make herself look smaller.

“It looked to be ritual suicide but the Imperial Police Force has yet to rule out murder,” The girl replied. Jirou curled up and Atobe immediately went back to the bed, pulling back the sheets and climbing back in. He hesitantly put an arm over Jirou’s shoulder.

“Is there anything else to report?” Atobe asked. The girl shook her head.

“No sir,” She replied and turned to leave. Atobe rubbed his hand awkwardly up and down Jirou’s back. The last time he’d had to comfort someone else over the death of a family member had been almost six years ago. He could still hear the screams of sheer anguish ringing in his ears. But Jirou wept quietly in contrast, the occasional quiet gasp and then he was done, his head held high.

“If you’ll excuse me, Keigo,” Jirou said then slipped from bed. Atobe watched him go, saw the tears drying on Jirou’s cheeks and the look of determination in his eyes. There was a rustle of fabric from beyond the bedchamber that Atobe assumed was Jirou dressing and then the sound of footsteps leaving the room.

*

Oshitari Yuushi was not a stupid man by any means. When he saw Jirou leaving, tear-tracks on his cheeks he knew that it wasn’t because of any fight with Atobe or from something trivial. He had yet to have Akutagawa’s death confirmed to him officially, but he had been fairly certain that the man would be dead before the year was out anyway. It didn’t take much to put the two together.

“Lord Akutagawa,” Oshitari called. Akutagawa paused and turned. Then he shook his head and continued walking.

Oshitari understood. Akutagawa was a fairly private person, if only because he spent much of his time sleeping. Compared to other aristocrats close to the Emperor, Oshitari knew relatively little about him. However, he was loyal and that was the main trait that was required when working as he did.

“Yuushi!”

Oshitari turned to see Gakuto stood, arms crossed and tapping his foot. He briefly wondered what he had done to deserve such a scowl but then glanced at his watch and realised precisely what he’d done.

“I worked through lunch,” Oshitari explained. Gakuto seemed to be waiting for the apology that wouldn’t come. Gakuto would never understand what his work entailed, but that was fine. They could work around that, given plenty of time and, perhaps, Gakuto being disowned by his aristocratic father.

Both of them were bastard sons, one acknowledged as an heir, one not. Gakuto had the privilege of being recognised as the first son of the Earl of Mukahi, from where they took their family name. Oshitari had been vastly ignored by his own father, and had not sought out reconciliation even when his rank rose to a position where he was of a higher social standing than his parents of variety of half-brothers. There was common ground between Gakuto and Oshitari, but there was also a gulf so large that Oshitari didn’t know if he could cross it.

All because I have secrets that not even Gakuto can know…

“Did you hear about Akutagawa’s father?” Gakuto asked, looking a little less angry. Oshitari shook his head.

“He died. Sliced his stomach open. He was found with a rebel girl,” Gakuto said, his eyes hinting at something that Oshitari didn’t feel comfortable to pursue.

“I’m sure that the late Lord Akutagawa had his reasons. Perhaps the rebels murdered him and sacrificed one of their own to cast suspicion on Akutagawa where there was none before? Or someone who has a personal agenda against the current Lord Akutagawa? Be careful of spreading rumours, Gakuto. You may be playing into the rebels hands,” Oshitari warned. Gakuto looked thoughtful for a moment then.

“Are you free now?” Gakuto asked. Oshitari thought over his own timetable of activities. He had about an hour that he should have taken for lunch…

“Good, then you’re coming with me,” Gakuto demanded, pulling on Oshitari’s arm. There was a long moment when the General didn’t know whether to fight against the pull or just let Gakuto take him to the nearest quiet place and promptly get lost in being someone’s lover, rather than a military strategist.

“General Oshitari!”

The choice was taken from him by Sanada, who was running through the halls looking rather grave. The two Generals saluted each other and Sanada gave Gakuto a small, almost mocking, bow.

“There’s an attack on the Eastern border and the mecha pilots aren’t prepared. The battle commander over there won’t fire the phaser cannons unless the rules are kept to, however,” Sanada said quickly. Oshitari sighed. Whoever had thought up that there should be a law about gaining permission from two generals to use phaser cannons should have been shot. Quite possibly with a phaser cannon.

“I’ll be over there immediately,” Oshitari replied. Gakuto made a small huffing noise but Oshitari didn’t apologise. This was his job, after all.

“I won’t forget tomorrow,” He said, before turning to speed-walk down the corridor after Sanada.

No… I won’t always have so many things on my mind that I can’t make time for you…

*

Ryoma watched the news wide eyed. The others were silent as well. The Empire had issued permission to use phaser cannons…

The images on the screen were terrible. Where there had once been a space fleet of the Western Frontier, there was now merely melted pieces of metal. Bodies drifted passed the camera shot, their flesh either melted or blackened.

“I can see why the Rebellion hates us,” Kawamura said quietly. Ryoma nodded, eyes transfixed as another piece of screwed up metal drifted passed the screen.

“The Empire is responsible for a lot of death, but also for a lot of prosperity. I guess we should be both thankful and afraid,” Fuji commented, before turning the channel over onto some insanely happy game show. The contrast was so shockingly surreal that Ryoma found he had to leave the room.

“How many people died?” He heard Tezuka ask, but he was already in his room.

I shouldn’t care. I shouldn’t be bothered by the deaths of those that seek to invade the Empire. I should believe in Atobe, he’s never failed me before. We aren’t the bad guys. Besides, I’ve killed people, haven’t I? I may not have wiped out a whole fleet but I’ve killed terrorists and rebels and foreigners…

“There were civilian ships in amongst the fleet!” He heard Momoshiro shriek even from in his own room. Ryoma curled into a ball. He had to believe this was right otherwise how could he get into a Livewire in a few days time and shoot down the terrorists that he was going to have to kill?

I don’t want to be a bad guy… I just want to do my best and the tasks I’m given… I trust Atobe, I trust Tezuka… They wouldn’t be fighting these battles if they weren’t right.

*

The Livewires in the basement stood silent and still, their screens blank. The red light of the emergency exit light was the only one that lit up the area, bathing them in light the colour of blood.

Beside S-3, a phaser gun charged. Beside S-1, there was a shield that would disintegrate anything it touched. The R-units had phaser cannons that could easily destroy a small moon if they were turned onto full power.

And they stood there, quietly, waiting to be used.

Sun, 04 Feb 2007 00:51:17 GMT

Wow. I never noticed the elitism in the Tezuka/Ryoma ship before.... But there is... wow... I better be careful...

I suddenly feel very small and like maybe I should have stuck to fanfiction.net.

Sat, 03 Feb 2007 23:39:00 GMT

To those who are waiting for the next chapter of Livewires. Due to getting sidetracked with work and my kid's cold, I haven't even attempted to write anything for it. I've tried to keep abreast of recent posts to the comms I watch (OMG TEZUKA PICTURE *_*) but even then I was too busy to comment.

Tonight, my first free night, I ended up talking to nekokatechan about Tezuka/Ryoma sci-fi and, primarily, me trying to talk her out of being a teacher... We then ended up discussing how TezuRyo was actually more of a romantic pairing than many of the ones that are written about. There are so many fluffy moments that aren't fluffy if you don't know the characters. That gave me the idea to write another fic, but in the end I didn't, despite being urged to. (There aren't any details in my profile for a reason folks, can you imagine how quickly I'd lose my job if someone from the school found this?)

So, I fail at writing and updating regularly, but I did scribble down some notes while I was writing that can be a chapter preview as it were...

Ryoma did not know where to look. He felt he might as well be naked, nevermind everyone else. Momoshiro was surreptitiously checking out everyone and Kikumaru was bouncing around in a way that was not modest. That was enough for Ryoma to hunch over a little and hope no one would suggest comparing... anything...

"Are we assembled? Good," Tezuka's voice rang out. Ryoma looked up then immediately looked away. The material clung like a second skin, defining all of Tezuka's chest, arm and stomach muscles as he walked.

And there must be socks down there...right?

Those that read the extract are in for a WTF moment I suppose. But any young boy unsure of his sexuality is about to be presented with the realities pretty soon when everyone around him is dressed that way. I shall say no more, only that the fic will, most likely, take a much darker turn around chapter 5... And Atobe-lovers may not like where the fic goes... (He's not a bad guy because there are no bad guys really... Just different points of view...)

Oh the joy...

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 21:22:25 GMT

There are reasons why my mother was so adamant about me not marrying or taking up the teaching profession. I understand her concerns now. Just when I finish marking student essays on hyperinflation in Germany during the 1920s, I have to gather up my errant kid (who is apparently allergic to water at the moment) and then convince my husband that, yes, it is his turn to do the washing up and bedtime story.

I swear I'm going to just curl up one day with my teddy (it's rather sad that I still keep hold of that thing...) and refuse to get out of bed, no matter how much my darling little boy jumps up and down on my stomach.

But, tomorrow it's going to be teaching Yr 10 first lesson. They'll sit there and stare at me, completely and utterly stupified. They'll barely register a word I say. If I'm lucky, they may make notes. It'll probably be easier to hand out a worksheet instead. They'll stick gum under the table, throw paper aeroplanes at each other and deface the textbooks. (There probably isn't a single picture of Hitler in a school textbook without a huge cock drawn from his forehead.)

And then I'll have Yr 7 form time. Oh joyous day.

Don't get me wrong, I love my job, but I'd love it more if it was more like the government campaigns on the television. In the last three weeks, I've been asked hundreds of questions, not one of them about history. "Miss, do you think Graham's got a big nose?" "So we're meant to be doing what?" "Is it true that Hitler was a bum boy?"

I just.... I don't think I have words. The last question, quite frankly, made me crack up and laugh. I just pointed out that, despite historians attempts to make virtually every Nazi gay, that Hitler did have a wife, a mistress and children. While documents may have been destroyed, there isn't really much evidence to suggest that the man was a raving homo.

Bring me the day when children actually enjoy learning. Or maybe some valium. Which ever works, I guess.

Sun, 28 Jan 2007 00:40:06 GMT

I've just seen bookshop's Big Bang proposal. Now I wish I'd started Livewires later so I could have used the idea for it. >< Damnit. I need an idea now, just in case that goes ahead...

I've realised that Livewires is going to be headed into NGE territory. I've got to be careful. I'm trying to keep the focus away from a certain aspect of the Livewires, but I now know what the end scene will be, and... it's focus is all over the place but mainly on a scene that happens in chapter 5 and a certain characters POV. However, I have managed to get together who are my rebels, why Atobe and Ryoma know each other, various bits and pieces and Ryoma's backstory.

All in all, I am happy. Now to clear out my room ready for my new TV!

Fic: Livewires

Sat, 27 Jan 2007 18:13:02 GMT

Title: Livewires
Characters: Tezuka/Echizen, Oishi/Kikumaru, Atobe/Jirou
Rating: PG
Chapters: 02/??
Word Count: 2866
Summary: Ryoma is the best mecha pilot of his age. His synch rates are phenomenal. So why is he getting placed on a team with people so far below him? And worse than that, he has not even been made leader.
Author’s Notes: Longer than the other chapters. A teeny bit of Ryoma backstory in this, but not much. Also the first hints of something sinister aboard the ship ^^
Previous: Prologue | Manual

Chapter Two: Cinderella

“It’ll be your responsibility then, for letting it onboard,” Tezuka said. Kaidoh saluted and left, closing the door behind him.

It had been a long day. The cat, who was named Karupin even if no one knew who had originally thought up the name, had managed to wiggle into every space imaginable. Including Tezuka’s pillow at one point.

It had been the last straw when Echizen had snapped at finding the cat nesting in his underwear. A military ship did not need a cat, nor did Tezuka find mascots particularly useful on a mission such as the one they were on.

It would be better for the crew if they got rid of the thing as soon as possible, before emotional attachments ran too deep. Perhaps they could set it free on the next planet when they stopped to refuel?

For now though, ‘Karupin’ was at Kaidoh’s mercy. Tezuka hoped that giving the man something to look after might pry him away from the hologram room. After all, he’d been hogging it so much that others hadn’t been able to use it. Kikumaru had been positively terrified when all he got in response to nagging Kaidoh to get out was a low menacing hiss.

“Sir?”

Tezuka glanced up. It was Kikumaru. The man looked nervous for a moment, chewing on his bottom lip, but then he grinned.

“The manual mentions some Livewires have dual controls. I was wondering…” Kikumaru trailed off.

I should have known that the ‘Golden Pair’ wouldn’t rest until they knew they were piloting mecha together.

“You and Oishi were chosen for your abilities as dual-mecha pilots. You are one of the pairs that I will set up on D-1,” Tezuka explained. He got out his notebook at that moment, the one that contained the current line-up of pilots for their journey through the atmosphere of Seishun. He needed to mark down that D-1 was now ultimately set as Oishi and Kikumaru.

D-2: Inui Sadaharu-Kaidoh Kaoru
D-1: Oishi Syuichirou-Kikumaru Eiji
S-3: Echizen Ryoma
S-2: Fuji Syusuke
S-1: Tezuka Kunimitsu
R-2: Momoshiro Takeshi
R-3: Kawamura Takashi

The D-Units were fairly easy to fill, as there were only limited people to exchange into them. Neither himself or Echizen had any experience in dual-units, and even then, some such as Momoshiro had reports written up at how abysmally everything had turned out. Besides, the Golden Pair was best off together when they were both uninjured.

Other than that, Tezuka wanted to test out the Inui-Kaidoh pair to see if the two could work together. Alternatively, Tezuka would consider replacing Fuji with Momoshiro in S-2 and placing both Fuji and Kawamura in D-2. Everything depended on the synch rates anyway.

The R-units were reserve units, not as advanced as the S- or D-Units. They would be used as heavy hitters or to cover a retreat if necessary. They would only ever leave the loading bays if things went drastically wrong in battle.

“Can I see the line up, sir?” Kikumaru asked. Tezuka hadn’t realised that he’d been staring at the line-up and frowned. He didn’t want it to create disruption or tension between members of the team when the they found out where they were stationed. After all, most of the members of the team were a tad… competitive, his mind supplied.

“I think it’s best not,” Tezuka replied. The red head looked thoughtful for a moment, then he grinned brightly and waltzed away.

*

Ryoma was sat in his room. He’d had enough already. He felt bullied and isolated. His chores kept him occupied most of the morning and evening, leaving only a few hours in the afternoon to spend time by himself, only that time was spent in Tezuka’s office. Studying.

And now I’m only placed in S-3 on the list. I can’t believe he showed Kikumaru the list. Does Captain Tezuka really hate me that much?

“Echizen?”

Ryoma ignored Tezuka’s calls. He was tired, god dammit. It had been two weeks since departure from Hyotei and his head hurt from having to read that stupid manual. His pride was smarting more than a little too.

“Echizen?”

Ryoma curled into a ball on his bed, covering his ears so at least he could truthfully say that he hadn’t heard after the captain called him the second time.

Not today, Captain. Just one day off. Please.

*

Karupin detected the warm sleeping figure on the bed and jumped up. He curled against the warm column that was Ryoma’s stomach and purred contentedly, head butting it and rubbing himself against it. He left cream hairs spread across Ryoma’s black t-shirt, but to Karupin, it was just marking out one that he loved. He didn’t understand why Ryoma would shout at him and remove his clothes, shaking them to rid them all of his hair.

Besides, Ryoma smelled nice.

Getting on this ship had been the best move Karupin had ever made. After all, anything was better than being the last of his kind back at Hyotei.

*

Tezuka opened the door to Ryoma’s room. He was tired of the boy’s bad attitude and complete disregard for authority. If Echizen wanted to sulk, fine, but he would not do it during military time. He was not going to shirk his duty.

It was then that Tezuka actually saw Ryoma.

Curled up asleep, the boy looked almost innocent. Ryoma’s arm was slung around the cat, Karupin, and his body had curled up reflexively around the creature, almost like he was protecting it.

The sound of purring and soft snores filled the room.

I guess I really can’t wake him up… Was he really this tired?

Tezuka leaned forward. There were large bags under Ryoma’s eyes. The boy’s hands too, on closer inspection, were dry and red from having so many cleaning products against them.

Maybe I went a little overboard this time… He needs to learn, but he won’t do that if he resents everyone.

Tezuka retreated back into the communal lounge. He glanced around. There were sweet wrappers and bits of rubbish all over the place. Empty coffee mugs, plates, cake crumbs, a packet of crisps had split onto the floor.

This is what happens when nine men get together and someone else does the cleaning. No one bothers to look after anything themselves. Actually, this is rather disgusting… They wouldn’t act like this in front of their mothers…

“Everyone. Gather,” Tezuka commanded. Putting their things down the pilots made a half circle around Tezuka.

*

Ryoma woke up slowly. He felt warm and content. Rather like when he’d woken up at home from a nap after playing astronauts with his father when he’d been younger. Or when he’d eaten so much of his mother’s cooking he’d fallen asleep while watching TV.

“Mrow?”

Ryoma glanced down. It was the cat. No one seemed to realise that it had been Ryoma who had named it Karupin. Now, Karupin had a collar on which the katakana had been scribbled messily in permanent marker.

“Do you know what time it is?” Ryoma asked, tickling behind the cat’s ears. Karupin just purred in response, his head pressing up against Ryoma’s fingers.

Ryoma turned to the clock. He stared at it blankly for a moment.

17:37...

17:37!? The Captain is going to kill me. Kawamura will need a clean kitchen to cook in and I hadn’t even washed up the breakfast dishes before I went to sleep, never mind the lunch ones. Oh fuck, fuck, fuck.

Ryoma shot out of bed, not even pausing to straighten out his hair. He walked straight through the lounge to the kitchen, where everyone else appeared to be gathered, and had already pulled on his apron before he realised something was wrong.

“Good morning, sleeping beauty!” Kikumaru chirped. Ryoma stared. Kikumaru had an apron on, for a start, and he had the scent of bleach around him. Ryoma recognised it as the one used to sanitize the bathrooms.

“Am I still asleep?” Ryoma asked. Fuji laughed softly from where he was washing up. He blew a handful of foam at Kawamura, who batted it away and flicked some water from the sink at Fuji in retaliation.

“Out of the waaaaaay!” Ryoma sidestepped quickly as Kaidoh and Momoshiro carried in a heavy bag of trash and threw it down the garbage chute.

“You were working yourself way too hard, Echizen,” Oishi, who Ryoma hadn’t noticed before but had been getting laundry from the drier, looked concerned. Ryoma couldn’t even comprehend what was going on.

Did they do this so Tezuka wouldn’t notice I hadn’t done my chores? Because the game’s up anyway as I didn’t turn up for my study session.

“There’s enough work here for three people in a whole afternoon. How did you manage it everyday?” Kawamura asked. Ryoma was pretty much speechless by that point, so he said nothing in response.

“I gotta admit. I thought you were a pompous, arrogant prick-” Momoshiro began.

“Momo!” Oishi scolded. Momoshiro just grinned easily.

“But you’re alright. You were doing this all by yourself and more besides, yet you didn’t complain once. I guess I’m glad I’m on a team with someone like you,” Momoshiro admitted, holding out his hand to shake. That just made Ryoma even more uncomfortable so he folded his arms defensively and looked away. Momoshiro withdrew his hand, inspecting it for dirt.

I hope he doesn’t develop a crush on me. That’s the last thing I need.

“You’ve embarrassed him now!” Kawamura threw a tea towel at Momo. It hit him in the face and even Ryoma couldn’t help but chuckle a little at the surprised look on the other man’s face.

“If you’re wondering, Inui is cleaning all the specialist equipment. That’s why he’s not here, helping out,” Kaidoh said. Ryoma blinked.

“So the whole crew is helping out?” Ryoma asked. The others nodded, smiling brightly (except for Kaidoh, who always looked like he’d eaten something bad, for some reason).

“I…”

“It’s alright, Echizen.”

Thank you.

*

Tezuka could smell Kawamura’s cooking from where he was knelt, scrubbing the inside of a toilet. His stomach growled hungrily but he ignored it. He just needed to mop the floor and he’d be done.

“It is unbecoming of a captain to lower himself that way.”

Tezuka looked up and around. There was no one there but that didn’t fill him with ease. The voice hadn’t been his own thoughts, it didn’t even sound like the voice that his conscious thoughts usually spoke in.

“Who’s there?” He called. He received no response.

Am I that tired?

Tezuka stood up, rising out the brush he’d been using in the toilet bowl and flushing. He then began the process of mopping the floor, slowly and carefully so he didn’t miss a spot.

“Are you truly that selfless?”

Tezuka paused. He wasn’t hearing things, was he? Had he left his communicator on? Glancing at his watch he couldn’t see anyone’s face on it. Not the communicator then…

A prank?

But there was no one else within the bathroom and the door was shut…

“Show yourself.”

The door opened. Tezuka’s hands automatically went towards his hip but, of course, he didn’t have his holster on.

“Tezuka. Dinner is ready.”

Inui. Tezuka sighed. The voice he’d heard hadn’t been Inui’s.

“Thank you,” Tezuka said. Inui bowed and turned to leave. Tezuka finished mopping and then walked through the empty corridors back to the communal living area, feeling stupid for looking over his shoulder to see if he was being followed.

“Nikujaga. I haven’t had it in ages,” Tezuka said, sitting to the dining table. Echizen had been drinking something that looked like carbonated sugar with food colouring, but upon seeing Tezuka he’d promptly sprayed it through his nose.

“Echizen!” Momoshiro had been sat opposite and leaned back to escape the spray.

How… elegant…

“I’m… sorry,” Ryoma said in between coughs with a clogged voice. His eyes were watering.

“Just be glad I haven’t served your food up yet,” Kawamura said, but his eyes were smiling. He quickly wiped down the table then set a plate in front of Ryoma.

“It was the pink pinny that did it,” Ryoma mumbled. Tezuka refused to blush. The pink piny had been the only one left for him to use.

“I think it looks good. All we need is a nice black dress and some petticoats-” Fuji said good-naturedly.

“Would you like to take on Echizen’s old chores?” Tezuka asked, just as good-naturedly with just a hint of sarcasm. He leaned back so Kawamura could set a plate of food in front of him and picked up his chopsticks.

“No, thank you, Captain. Well, not unless you have a handy French maid outfit lying around. I’m told I look quite good in lace,” Fuji winked. Tezuka knew he should say something but he knew that no matter what he said, this was how Fuji was. No punishment would ever be enough to change that.

“Indeed,” Was all he could say in response. Fuji laughed and turned to talk to Kikumaru, who was easily distracted from his meal.

“And then the cash machine barrier came down and he lost his ramen and his money for the journey home!” Momoshiro laughed. Oishi was smiling at the story, a clump of rice half way to his mouth. Obviously it had been funny if heard from the beginning.

It was then that Tezuka noticed Ryoma standing up and walking into the kitchen. No one else really paid him much heed. Tezuka rose. Fuji glanced at him as he slid away but didn’t comment. Tezuka walked to the threshold of the kitchen and leaned against the doorframe, folding his arms.

In one corner of the kitchen was Inui’s disassembled chemistry lab. Tezuka had ordered him to remove it so they could eat in a designated area, rather than spreading crumbs everywhere.

Ryoma was kneeling on the floor, a can of tuna in his hand, spooning it onto a dish. Around his legs, Karupin circled, his purrs were so loud he was almost screaming ‘I LOVE YOU!’.

“Echizen. You’re meant to worry about yourself first. The cat will be fed by Kaidoh,” Tezuka said softly. Ryoma still startled, turning and tripping over Karupin who yowled. Ryoma caught himself on the counter top and Karupin retreated a few feet, ears pressed flat against his skull.

“Don’t sneak up on me!” Ryoma squeaked. Then, with slightly shifty eyes added. “Sir.”

“Sorry, but we were told by the orphanage that nikujaga was your favourite food… I thought you might be in there, savouring it?” Tezuka questioned. Ryoma’s eyes went dark for a moment, and Tezuka wondered what he’d said wrong.

“It was my favourite food but… Karupin needs feeding too, sir. He gets fed every day at five thirty. I’ve been doing it because Kaidoh forgets,” Ryoma explained. Tezuka tilted his head to the side a little, leaning it against the doorframe.

Ryoma was strange. He didn’t like to delegate responsibility to others, rather he’d take them upon himself. He was far from lazy, even if his attitude said that he would be. His words were arrogant and sarcastic but there was a good person underneath.

“I see. Would you care to join us now though? Karupin looks very well fed. In fact, I’d say that he has doubled in weight since coming aboard,” Tezuka said, squinting at the cat through his glasses. Ryoma glanced over.

“That’s because everyone keeps feeding him treats, sir,” Ryoma explained.

This is the most civil conversation we’ve ever had.

“And here I was thinking that he’d been catching rats,” Tezuka said with a smile. Ryoma actually laughed then, looking over at Karupin. It wasn’t a breathy laugh or a roaring one. Just a light chuckle that showed that Ryoma was amused. It suited him, Tezuka realised.

“Oi, Ochibi! Stop flirting with the Captain and sit down, nya!”

Tezuka blinked. Ryoma was frowning though and he pushed passed Tezuka to get out of the room. Ryoma said something scalding and probably cruel to Kikumaru, but the insult seemed to just bounce off the other man. Tezuka just stared at Karupin, who was wolfing down the tuna chunks.

Flirting? No I… Or was I flirting? That could be classed as fraternisation. I could be dismissed from the military for that… Did Echizen think I was flirting?

“Mrow?” Karupin twined around his legs and Tezuka bent down to pick the cat up, cuddling him for a moment.

No, we weren’t flirting. We were just talking and Ryoma happened to laugh. That was all.

It was not flirting.

Fic: Livewires

Tue, 23 Jan 2007 19:05:29 GMT

Title: Livewires
Characters: Tezuka/Echizen, Oishi/Kikumaru, Atobe/Jirou
Rating: PG
Chapters: 01/??
Word Count: 2125
Summary: Ryoma is the best mecha pilot of his age. His synch rates are phenomenal. So why is he getting placed on a team with people so far below him? And worse than that, he has not even been made leader.
Author’s Notes: Thanks for so many responses! I’m going to continue to update as soon as possible!
Previous: Prologue

Chapter One: Manual

Ryoma sat in the communal lounge glaring into space. He’d been bundled into the ship, along with his ‘team’ to be transported half way across the galaxy to Seishun. He only had his bedroom to himself in the whole ship, he didn’t even have a private bathroom, having to share it with Momoshiro in the room next to his.

Thus in order to watch TV, use a computer or even access the ship’s hologram network for a quick computer game, he had to socialize.

Why are they all morons? Ryoma had attempted to ignore the antics of those around him but it was difficult. He was certain that a group of odder people had never been constructed by the military before. And there are some psychos in the military.

Two men were sat in the corner of the room, one reading the instruction manual aloud to the other. The other was slouching but listening attentively, rather like a cat would when he wants something. The read, the man with the weird haircut, had introduced himself as Oishi Syuichiou. Ryoma had just smirked and made fun of his name. Honestly, if I had a name that sounded so much like ‘delicious’ I’d have changed it by now.

The one he was reading to was Kikumaru Eiji (“Just Eiji is fine, Ochibi-chan!”). Ryoma had vaguely remembered hearing that name before and resisted a groan when he realised Kikumaru was actually from an Idol band called “ViRu”. How in god’s name Kikumaru had managed to get into the space programme, Ryoma could only wonder. He was a red-haired menace, bouncing all over the ship like Tigger on crack. Only Oishi seemed to be able to fully capture his attention.

Also sitting down, not reading the manual, but sorting through a box of photographs, was Fuji Syusuke. The man was rather weird, Ryoma thought privately. After all, Fuji always wore a gentle smile that never reached his eyes while he watched. He didn’t watch anything in particular though.

He watches everything.

Fuji had already made everyone uncomfortable at least once. Kikumaru and Oishi hadn’t been able to look at each other for a whole day when Fuji randomly remarked that they were very touchy feely together. Kaidoh had become self conscious about his personal hygiene when Fuji had mentioned that he never changed his bandanna. Even Momoshiro, who was as tough as an old boot (Or dense, Ryoma thought), had become more conscious of tying his shoelaces after Fuji commented that they were always dragging behind him like snakes. The general consensus was that Fuji was just a little odd, but that he couldn’t help it.

“Oi! Kawamura! Catch!”

Momoshiro. Brilliant. Ryoma ducked the American football that flew passed his head straight into Kawamura’s waiting hands.

“Ah, Echizen. Sorry. Sorry,” Momoshiro pressed his palms together like a western prayer, before catching Kawamura’s return throw. Ryoma had already figured these two out. Momoshiro was loud and dense. He figured if he hit things hard enough, it was bound to work. Kawamura was kind and shy, preferring to cook other people’s meals rather than join in with the many ‘heated debates’ that broke out quite often.

Glancing to the other side of the room, Ryoma noticed Kaidoh. Kaidoh was a fitness freak. He was currently using the hologram room to play the tennis simulator, meaning that Ryoma was left staring at the glass room and wishing he was able to play. Or knew Kaidoh well enough to get him out of there. He’s sort of shy, but he’s easily riled. He and Momoshiro are going to give us all a headache. Well, unless they both agree to a suicide pact. I can see that somehow.

Then there was Inui, who seemed to be the only true scientist on the ship. He had his lab kit set up on the dining table and refused to move it for meal times. They ended up eating off their laps, with Oishi fussing about making a mess and Momoshiro spreading crumbs out to the four corners of the room.

Finally there was Captain Tezuka- stubborn, cold, irritating bastard. He and Ryoma didn’t see… eye to eye. On the first day, Tezuka had ordered Ryoma to start reading the manual, obviously sensing that the boy wouldn’t pick it up otherwise. Ryoma had refused. He knew how to pilot mecha, he didn’t need a manual the weight of a small child to tell him.

Thus he was now on housework duty. He did all the dishes -stupid design team not thinking to put in dishwashers- washed the clothes, vacuumed up everyone else’s mess. He even had to change the bed clothes.

“Echizen,” Tezuka called from his room. As leader, Tezuka was given an office adjoined to his room. Ryoma had been forced to spend two hours a day reading aloud the manual to Tezuka, then answering questions on it.

He treats me like a school kid. It didn’t occur to Ryoma that, were it not for the Conscription Act, he would still have been in compulsory high school anyway.

*

Tezuka watched Ryoma slouch in gracelessly. The boy knew how to sulk. He’d done it for a week now, without letting up once.

I haven’t even heard him laugh yet.

“Chapter Seven if you will,” Tezuka instructed. Ryoma opened the thick manual on his lap and began to read. It was rather therapeutic to listen to someone reading aloud without having to pay attention to the words, Tezuka found, rather like having someone serenade you, but without the embarrassment of someone who couldn’t sing breaking into melody.

Or perhaps I just like it because when he doesn’t think I’m looking, he uses his fingers to follow the words across the page. It’s rather… charming…

“In event of an emergency power down…” Ryoma began, his brow furrowed in concentration. Tezuka turned to his work. He didn’t need to listen, he already knew the manual backwards. Besides, he had so much paperwork.

Now I know what Yamato thought it a blessing that he wasn’t required to serve beyond his conscription. Tezuka thought. There’s so much administration work.

“It’s not very technical here, Captain,” Ryoma suddenly broke off reading from the book.

“Where?” Tezuka asked, taking the manual from Ryoma’s lap. The boy walked around the desk and leaned over Tezuka’s shoulder, pointing at the sentence he was talking about.

“’When in doubt, hit the big red button’,” Tezuka read aloud. He’s right. It sounds like a moron wrote this.

“I’m sure it will become clearer when we reach Seishun and get inside a Livewire cockpit,” Tezuka assured him. Ryoma pulled a face.

“I don’t particularly want to be hurtling towards Seishun not knowing emergency procedures,” The boy protested. Tezuka wanted to remind him that, if it hadn’t been for Tezuka’s insistence, then Ryoma wouldn’t have read the manual at all.

“While this ship is in transit, it’s too dangerous to activate the Livewires to get into them. Perhaps once we get to Seishun you can try one out on the training facilities. Until then, you’ll have to put up with the theory,” Tezuka handed the manual back. Ryoma stared at it for a moment.

“But it’s like learning the theory of… Oh I don’t know… Tennis, or volleyball. You learn all the rules, but after that you have to play and practise and get better. You can’t learn how to return a ball from a book, you can’t learn how to pilot a Livewire either,” Ryoma said. Tezuka sympathised a little, but he wasn’t about to let Echizen off the hook. Ryoma had been disrespectful towards his command. It stood to reason that the boy should be punished.

“You can’t play tennis without knowing the rules,” Tezuka said diplomatically. “You won’t pilot a Livewire until you know the manual.”

He listened to Ryoma’s grumbling but decided to deafen himself to the profanities, instead he looked at the various legal documents he had to sign as a member of the newest Livewire team.

*

Atobe stared at the carefully arranged 3D interpretation of the solar system. He could pinpoint his very location if he so wished, but instead he cast his gaze further a field. Seishun was a fringe planet. It’s population was wary out outsiders. It had a large amount of terrorists on it.

It was a hotspot for trouble and Atobe knew he needed to wipe it out. In the mean time, it got a hell of a lot of highly influential people either out of the way or off his back, so he could concentrate on further expansion into other galaxies.

“Keigo…”

That was Jirou, muttering sleepily from where he was sprawled on a divan. As the Emperor’s consort, Akutagawa Jirou could have had anything he wanted. He had chosen to while away his hours sleeping, and occasionally pestering for sex.

They were well matched, Atobe thought. After all, Jirou was asleep most of the time and didn’t try to hog all of his Emperor’s time, and Atobe always had a warm bed, because there was someone sleeping in it twenty-three hours a day.

“Is it time to eat? Or perhaps we could go down to the baths together? Mm… It’s nice and warm at the baths,” Jirou said sleepily. Atobe smiled a little and put aside his political mindset and moved swiftly into the mind of a lover.

“You want to stay warm, ahn?” He asked. Jirou nodded, snuggling into the silk cushions of the divan. Atobe clapped his hands and servants rushed forward immediately.

“I want a buffet served in the bath house and I want to bath house cleared. Myself and Lord Akutagawa will be bathing there shortly,” He announced. The servants scurried away and Jirou smiled at him.

“Thank you, Keigo,” Jirou said as he yawned, his nose twitching.

*

Ryoma stared at his manual in absolute horror. Tezuka was going to kill him.

Worse than kill me. He’ll probably castrate me. I mean, what could possibly have done this to the user manual?

There were large rips down the pages, which had only been made of thin paper anyway. In fact, it looked like claw marks, and Ryoma could see slight indentations that could have been teeth.

Rats? Oh god, there aren’t rats on board space craft. Maybe naval fleets but… Oh this is ridiculous!

“’Fess up. Which one of you did it?” Ryoma marched out of his room, holding up his manual, crumpled and tattered as it was. No one said anything. Tezuka’s eyebrow twitched.

“No, seriously. Which one of you did it? I’m not being reduced to a servant for you guys because one person decided to… to shred my book!” Ryoma noted a piece of paper slowly descending to the ground.

“Echizen. Destroying your own manual to get out of punishment-” Tezuka began. Ryoma clenched his fists and turned to Tezuka, his eyes alight.

“You think I did this? Newsflash, Captain, but I did everything you asked me to as punishment for you actions. I did not protest, or try to wiggle out of it. I did it. Yes, I sulked. I’m good at sulking. I did not however, do this. So you can take your high and mighty moral high ground and shove it up your-”

“Mrow?”

Ryoma turned quickly. A kitten was running out of his room, chasing a piece of scrunched up paper across the floor. It caught up to it, snagged it with it’s front paws and then set about trying to “kill” it by biting it and raking it’s back legs against it.

“A cat?” Ryoma’s brain was working at a hundred miles an hour.

“It would explain the damage,” Oishi said. Ryoma turned to Tezuka, but he saw the man’s jaw was clenched.

“It does not excuse Echizen’s insubordination. You’re on bathroom cleaning duty also, until further notice. You will have to borrow my manual to continue your study sessions,” Tezuka said curtly. Ryoma wanted to shout at the captain, but he bit on his tongue to prevent himself getting heaped with more punishment.

If it weren’t for the Conscription Act, I wouldn’t have to be with this bastard anyway.

“Yes, sir,” Ryoma forced out instead. In his head though, he could call Tezuka whatever he wanted to.

Fic: Livewires

Mon, 22 Jan 2007 23:46:11 GMT

Title: Livewires
Characters: Tezuka/Echizen, hints of others
Rating: PG
Chapters: 00/??
Word Count: 921
Summary: Ryoma is the best mecha pilot of his age. His synch rates are phenomenal. So why is he getting placed on a team with people so far below him? And worse than that, he has not even been made leader.
Author’s Notes: My first fanfic so I’m a bit nervous. Prologue (hence the shortness) of a multi-parter. Sorry for the cross posting.

Prologue

Yum. Spandex. That was pretty much all Ryoma could think as he was handed his new uniform. It was fairly simple in design. Mostly white and blue, with a stripe of red around the collar and down the arms. Even so, it looked absolutely skin tight.

There’s going to be no pretending how big it is, Ryoma thought, snickering a little. He walked into the changing room, expecting General Oshitari to be there, but no one else. He was more than a little perplexed that there were others in the room.

Firstly, Ryoma noticed they all were carrying the same uniforms he was. It made Ryoma’s mind spin until he thought of an excuse that would soothe his ego. These must be his ground crew. That was it. They were just there to make sure that he was going to be safe.

“Ah, Echizen. As usual you’re obnoxiously late.”

Now that was someone Ryoma didn’t want to see. He turned and saw Emperor Atobe Keigo leaning against the wall, dressed in the soft lilac and white that he wore as a member of office.

“I was just trying to puzzle out how I was meant to get this thing on,” Ryoma held out the uniform. Atobe took it with a finger and thumb pinched at each shoulder, holding it out as though it were on fire.

“I must admit, the designs are rather distasteful. But the material was necessary. Also, the colours were decided by the flag colours of the base you’re going to be using,” Atobe handed the “garment” back to Ryoma and walked to the front of the changing room. It was rather like a sports changing room, with an electronic strategy board at the one end, lockers at the other. In the middle were the benches, with pegs for things to be hung up.

“At the moment we’re having to use facilities in the interior rim,” Oshitari began. “But your mission lies on the outer rim. You’ll be vacating Hyotei in twelve hours to move to your permanent station at Seishun.”

Ryoma yawned as he sat down. One of the other men had moved up the bench to let him sit down. He had a weird hair cut with two bangs hanging down in front of his eyes. Ryoma decided that, if anyone was going to look pretty bad in spandex, it would be that guy.

“Seishun is currently a problem zone for the Empire. There are cases of terrorist organisations, such as Yamabuki, beginning to target outer rim planets to make them bases for their own organisations. Not just that, but the Western Frontier have been attempting to use Seishun’s inability to defend itself and to stop ships from sneaking by to get inside the Empire,” Oshitari explained. Behind him on the board a planet appeared. It looked very green and blue, like pictures that Ryoma had seen of the original colony, Earth.

“So we’re protecting the planet and creating a strong defence in a place that was once the weak link in the system?” One of the men asked. He had glasses perched on his nose, his hair a little in his eyes.

“In essence, yes, that is your role. But it won’t be simple. I’d expect breaches about once a fortnight at least,” Oshitari warned. Atobe was lounging against the wall arrogantly. Ryoma snorted in disgust.

“You took me off the front lines for this?” Ryoma asked. Atobe’s jaw clenched.

“We need you here, Echizen. The universe doesn’t just go in one direction. We need some strength defending our rear,” Atobe snapped. Ryoma smirked.

“Surely you have plenty of experience defending your rear, Emperor?” He asked. Atobe’s eyebrow twitched and a few people in the room looked a little fearful.

“You’ll be pleased to know, Echizen, that you’ll have people defending yours for you. You’re part of a team now, which means you’ll need to learn how to work with the men around you. Tezuka, you can explain the more necessary details to Echizen. Good luck with your future missions,” Atobe and Oshitari then swept from the room. Ryoma frowned, wondering who this Tezuka was and what Atobe had meant by ‘team’.

“Ahem,” The man in glasses stood up, folding his arms immediately. He was dressed in clothes that marked him as a military general, although certainly not one that Ryoma was familiar with. Perhaps one newly promoted?

“I’m happy to inform you that you have been selected to pilot the new, state-of-the-art Livewires,” Tezuka began. “You’ll all be assigned your own individual units in time. You’ll have about two months to read the instruction manuals while we travel. Upon reaching out destination, the local enforcement agency will fill us in on the details. Does anyone have any questions?”

Ryoma’s head was spinning. These other people had been chosen? Ryoma had never seen them before in his life! Why had they been chosen? He was better than they were damnit it. And Tezuka. Was he in charge? This wasn’t right. Ryoma was just better than all of them.

Then a manual a foot thick was dumped into his lap.

“Welcome to Livewire, Seishun Division.”

...

Mon, 22 Jan 2007 14:09:52 GMT

I may write my first fanfiction. I've been reading lots of Pillar Pair stuff this weekend... Who knows? It'll probably totally suck anyway so...