The buzzing of the wind as they zoomed through the city was soon replaced by the sound of laughing, shouting and stomping boots until the bike finally came to a stop.

"We're here," Baji said, tapping Aiko's hand.

"Great," she mumbled from the space in his back where her head had been pressed for the last twenty minutes.

"Are you going to let go?"

Slowly she loosened her grip and raised her head. Her vision was swimming, as was her stomach, making the sight of what may have been sixty Toman members look more like one hundred and sixty. "Ohhh," she groaned, pressing one hand against her belly and the other over her mouth.

Baji dropped one foot to the ground and quickly pulled his other over before placing his hand over hers. "Don't you dare throw up."

Aiko shook her head. She wasn't one to get sick due to car rides, perhaps it was just the shock of the bike ride, as well as the fact that she had agreed to attend a gang meeting with a gang she didn't know anything about, that had overtaken her for a moment. However, she had yet to feel threatened by Baji or his friends so, as keeping calm was one of her character's key strengths, her stomach and mind were soon to settle.

The cool air brushed against her as he removed his hand and peered down into her eyes similar to how you might look at a sick child before deciding whether they were better or not. "Of course, I meant for your own sake, not just my bike's."

Ripples of light reflected off his golden eyes which were darkened by the shadow of his hair that mopped over his face and once again that fluttering feeling took over her insides, threatening to explode into a thousand giggles. "Could you .. help me down please?" she managed to get out.

Baji took her hand and kept her stable as she lifted her leg over the bike. "Did you enjoy the ride?" he asked when she was firmly on the ground.

"It was terrifying."

A full smile spread over his face as he laughed, once again revealing his cat-like incisors. "We must do it again then."

"Really?" she asked more out of shock than anything else, she thought he had simply taken her due to the coaxing from Emma and Draken.

"If you want to," he replied, his expression straightening. His eyes scrolled slowly over her face before loosening his grip on her hand that he still held and brushing it through his hair. "It's, er, up to you."

Is he blushing, or is my vision still playing tricks on me? she wondered as he looked around awkwardly.

She followed his gaze around the crowd of boys. "So, is this everyone?"

"I doubt it."

"Will you introduce me?"

A small chuckle left him as he looked at her from the corner of his eye. "You want me to introduce you to everyone here?" he asked, tracing a small circle in the air.

"You do know everyone, don't you?"

Baji looked around the group closest to where they stood. "Er, that's Fujii, Matsui and Kondo," he began, pointing to the boys as he spoke. "Kato, Shibata, and ... I don't know any of those guys. He's Kaito, we used to be in the same class. They're, umm, can we just call those guys; guy 1, guy 2, and guy 3." He continued looking around before a large smile overtook him. "Forget all those guys I just mentioned. The only one you need to remember is this one." He dropped his hand as a boy with short blonde hair approached. "This is Chifuyu and he will help you with whatever you need. Right, Chifuyu?"

Chifuyu's eyes flicked from Baji to Aiko and back. "Sure, Baji-san."

"This is my friend, Aiko," Baji said. The word friend being spoken consciously.

A bemused smirk crossed Chifuyu's face as he again glanced from Baji to Aiko. "Right. Er, Mikey told me to let you know as soon as you arrived that they got word back and he wants to talk to you."

"Yes," Baji said, rubbing his fist into his palm and then he set off in a half run half walk, calling behind him as he left. "Take Aiko to wherever Emma is and be sure she gets there, okay?"

Chifuyu's head tilted as he peered at Aiko and gave her a quick up and down. "So, how long have you known Baji-san?"

"We just met."

"You just met, and he let you ride on his bike?"

"It wasn't exactly his idea. He helped me out of some trouble with a boy and then Emma suggested he rode me here."

"Ah," he said, his face softening into a smile. "Yeah, that sounds like Baji-san." He gestured with his head for Aiko to follow him and started walking. "Are you from around here?"

"Not really. I moved here from England about three months ago."

"Ah-ha, that's what I can hear. Your Japanese is very good though."

"Well, I lived here until I was seven, so it's kind of my first language."

"I see." His voice was as thoughtful as his expression as if he had been challenged with a mystery that only he could solve. Baji never paid any attention to girls and had never let one ride on the back of his bike. In fact, he barely talked to them and when he did it was never in such an intimate way as Chifuyu had just witnessed.

Two gang members, absorbed in the scuffle they were participating in, jumped out in front of them just as Chifuyu's arm shot out in front of Aiko as a protection.

"Oi," he shouted, pushing the closest boy away with his foot. "Knock Baji-san's friend over and you'll be in trouble."

Both boys apologised quickly, bowing their heads toward Aiko and then ran off in another direction.

"So, is this what you guys do here?" Aiko asked, taking the interruption as a chance to shift the questioning away from her.

"Pretty much. Unless Mikey-kun wants to announce something, which I think he may tonight."

"What kind of announcement?"

"I'll have to leave that to Mikey-kun."

Chifuyu stopped and looked around the gathering, his teal-coloured eyes dancing as he took in the gang's activities. "She's normally around here somewhere," he said, narrowing his eyes on a group sitting at the end of the pathway. He tipped his head in their direction and continued.

A loud shout echoed through Aiko's chest as they passed a small group of boys who broke into a scuffle, some laughing and some shouting. Aiko reached forward and grabbed the cuff of Chifuyu's sleeve. Their twisted scowls were more like the faces she would have expected to find on gang members' faces. If she had met this group first rather than the group Baji and the others, she would have rather gone home with Junichiro than approached them for help.

Chifuyu slowed his pace to walk at Aiko's side. "You don't need to be scared. Nobody here will trouble you."

Aiko nodded. "Thanks. I'm not scared though. I'm just not used to this kind of gathering."

"Will you come again?"

"I doubt it. My father's probably going to ground me when I get home."

Chifuyu's smile dropped. "That would be a shame. I thought there might be something between you and Baji-san."

A flush of heat ran through her cheeks as she remembered his golden-brown eyes peering into hers. "I mean, he is very cute, but we barely know each other. Why would you think that?"

"Oh, just ..."

"Aiko, you made it," Emma called, waving over from the bonnet of a car where she sat with three Toman members.

"Well, I might see you later," Chifuyu said before nodding a small greeting to Emma and then turning to walk away.

Emma beckoned over excitedly for Aiko to join her and the two talked easily that, by the time Mikey had completed his announcement about an upcoming fight with another gang, they had become as though they were old friends.

Emma spoke first about Mikey, who she clearly had a lot of love and admiration for and then the topic moved on to Draken, who she also held a high love and regard for, only of a different type to what she felt for Mikey.

"So, are you Draken's girlfriend?" Aiko asked.

"It's complicated. Right now all he's interested in is Mikey and this gang."

"Oh. That must be tough when your brother is your competition."

"Not like that," she squealed, poking Aiko in the side. "I'm so sure he likes me too. He just doesn't know how to admit it. But I'll get him to, don't you worry about that."

"Well, I hope so. It's a shame I'll probably never hear about it."

Emma's daydreamy smile dropped into a small pout. "Why not?"

"Well, I doubt I'll get to meet up with you guys again. I'm going to be in a lot of trouble."

"No. That can't happen. What about Baji?"

"What about Baji?" Aiko asked.

"Well, you and him."

"There is no me and him, he just punched some guy who was troubling me and then you got him to bring me here."

Aiko began talking about herself, which Emma welcomed with interest and more questions only becoming more and more frustrated as the opportunities for them to meet again, much less Baji, were shut down one by one.

"This won't do," Emma said at the end of the discussion. "I'm going to give you my phone number, and any chance you get you must call me. As for Baji, we'll start by getting him to ride you home and work on things from there." At that Emma jumped from the car bonnet and grabbed Aiko's hand.

Aiko raised her hands in front of her and shook her head. "We can't ask him to take me home."

"Why not? How else will you get home?"

"I don't know, but he seemed annoyed about having to bring me here. I don't want him to get angry or anything."

"Are you joking?" Emma asked with a playful smile. "Firstly, Baji is a kitty cat. Secondly, if he didn't want to bring you he wouldn't have even waited around after I suggested it. Plus he put his vice-captain in charge of escorting you to me. I've known Baji for a long time and I know the look he has when he's not interested, that look was nowhere to be seen tonight."

Aiko allowed Emma to lead her back up the pathway to where Baji, Chifuyu and a few other boys stood.

"Hey, Baji," Emma started, fluttering her eyelids before she spoke. "Aiko needs to get home, so I was wondering if you could give her a ride."

Baji immediately brushed off her effort at charming him and grunted a low response. "Emma, we're about to go and do something."

"But how will she get home?" Emma continued.

"I don't know. Ask Mikey."

"I'm riding with Mikey."

"So ask Draken," Baji said, giving a complete refusal of her suggestion.

Aiko groaned internally at the dismissive way Baji refused Emma's request.

"Baji," Emma huffed, which satisfied Baji who stuck his tongue out at her and climbed onto his bike.

"Baji!" Emma shouted.

Aiko squeezed Emma's hand to distract her from whatever retaliation she planned, and then pulled her hand loose. "I don't need a lift, Emma. I'll be fine getting a bus," she said, hoping to mask the disappointment she felt. She hadn't come out that night looking to be paired with anyone and if it wasn't for Emma's romantic notions she would never have had any in mind for her and Baji. Besides, she wasn't much of a romantic and felt more understanding of the fact that Baji seemed to hate having things forced on him as much as she did to feel offended by it. At least that's the reasoning she comforted herself with.

"No, no. I'm sorry Baji is so uncooperative. I'll get someone else to ride you home," and she turned to run to where Mikey and Draken were descending from.

Aiko looked down at the number Emma had given her, folded it, placed it into her pocket and turned to walk back down the path that she was sure led to the main road.

She hadn't come out trying to be a burden to anyone either. It was simply an escape from her boring routine that, if her father continued to have his way, which he probably would, would be her routine for the next however many years.

Bike after bike rode past her as the Toman members made their way out until one slowed beside her. She kept her eyes forward, not wanting to look up in case she was confronted with one of the scarier-looking members. She was sure she didn't need to feel scared of them, not with the 'Friend of Baji' title anyway, apparently, but she didn't have experience in how to turn down a gang member's unwanted attention. Why didn't I just wait for that ride, Emma had offered? she scolded herself.

"You know, it's quite a walk to the nearest bus stop," a familiar voice said over the growl of his cycle. "And that all depends on what bus you're planning to catch." Baji's bike lunged forward a little before stopping in front of Aiko. "Do you want that ride?"

Chifuyu tipped his head in acknowledgement as he pulled up behind Baji, with the two other boys stopping a little further behind. They were both laughing about something Aiko couldn't make out, but the looks were similar to what they had when Baji turned down the lift not too long ago.

"I'm fine. You can go and do whatever it is you were going to do," she said, not intending her tone to come out as bitter as they had.

A deep frown etched its way across Baji's brow. "Just get on the bike, will you?"

Aiko's eyes narrowed as she stared at Baji. What was with his sudden mood change? A moment ago he didn't even want to take her and now he was commanding her to get onto his bike. She crossed her arms stubbornly over her chest. "I said I'm fine. I can make my own way home."

Baji let out a big puff of air. "You know, I usually just hit people when they get on my nerves."

Aiko's eyes widened slightly as she contemplated whether that was meant as a threat or a mere statement.

"Obviously, I'm not going to hit you," he confirmed. "But would you please get on the bike?"

Aiko exhaled in relief a moment before being over swept with embarrassment. She didn't have any reason to be upset with him after all, she was probably the nuisance in this whole situation.

"I'm sorry. I just don't want to be a bother. I didn't ask Emma to ask you that."

"I know," he said, looking down at his handlebars in feint interest. "And I wasn't trying to be rude to you, I just like annoying Emma."

Aiko suppressed a small giggle. She didn't have her own siblings, but she had spent time with cousins and seen how, despite sometimes being the best of friends, or just completely indifferent to each other, the best of their times were when they were annoying each other. Emma did mention she'd known him for a long time, maybe their relationship was similar to that.

Aiko stepped closer, placing her hand on the seat in preparation to mount it. "I live in Aoyamadori, is that okay?"

Baji shrugged his shoulders appearing indifferent to wherever he had to take her and leaned forward slightly in a gesture for her to mount the bike. She did, and as before wrapped her arms tightly around him causing Baji to let out a small chuckle.

The bike rolled smoothly through town. Unlike the first ride which was fast and erratic, this time it felt more as though he was simply enjoying the ride. Aiko turned her head to rest her cheek on his back and watch the city as it passed by. The usual sounds of the streets were dimmed by the low buzz of the wind, the growl of the engine and the soft purr of what she soon realised was Baji humming a tune. Just as he promised her on their earlier ride, which was much less fun, she felt at complete peace, if there wasn't a possibility of falling off she could have closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

But the unfamiliar roads and avenues soon became familiar and after calling a few instructions to him, the time came when she patted Baji's abdomen to alert him to stop.

"Is this your road?" he asked, taking in the layout of the street and buildings.

"No. It's down that turning and then the second right. But you should leave me here. There's no danger of me walking the rest of the way."

"Yeah, probably," he agreed, recognising the fact that it looked like a lot less crime happened in that area.

Aiko climbed down off the seat, holding both Baji and the bike for support, keeping her grip on his jacket for a moment longer to ensure she was steady on the ground. "Thanks for the ride," she eventually said.

Baji nodded and reached into his pocket to pull out a coin and held it out towards her. "I forgot to give this back to you."

She'd almost forgotten and on remembering, suddenly felt the hunger return too. "You keep it, please."

"Sure," he said and put it into his shirt's chest pocket before running his fingers through his hair to fix it behind his ear. "We'll wait around a bit. Call if you need anything."

Aiko let out a soft sigh as Baji watched her, waiting for her to leave. His face was relaxed with a small content smile on his lips. This is probably the best night I've had in the last four years, she thought, thinking back to the time before her mother had died. It's not fair that it's over already. And then, almost subconsciously, she tiptoed up to Baji and placed a light kiss on his cheek.

Baji didn't move for a moment, his eyes widening as he watched her steady herself back down. "What was that for?" he finally asked.

"I don't know," she admitted honestly. "It's just, I probably won't see you again, so ... I don't know," she said again, giggling nervously. "Bye, Chifuyu," she said, offering a wave to both him and the two boys who sat laughing between themselves, and with that, she turned to walk away.

Unsure why he suddenly felt so interested in seeing her again, Baji glanced around hoping to find some excuse to prolong her leaving. He caught Chifuyu's eyes as he watched, looking both humoured and concerned. Chifuyu raised his eyebrows in question to Baji before calling Aiko's name. "What school do you go to?" he asked.

"Central Shinjuku High. Why?"

"Nothing much, we've just been discussing a new route for when we go riding, that's all."

"Oh," she muttered as Chifuyu looked back to Baji for confirmation. Hoping she had made the correct assumption about Chifuyu's statement, she added, "Erm, my driver collects me straight from school, but on Wednesdays, I walk to the library to study for two hours."

Baji exhaled his relief and nodded a thank you to Chifuyu. "Okay, so I guess we might see you again after all."

Aiko nodded and turned quickly before the small smile that was growing became a full gleam, which it did, and she kept it as she almost skipped her last steps to the corner that would turn onto her last walk of freedom. She knew she was later than she should have been, and her dad would no doubt punish her, but right at that moment, it all felt worth it.