I have the worst type of disease... I'd rather just die quickly instead of prolonging it like this. I hate every minute of everyday.

"Ryk!!" I look up from my phone to see him running over to me.

I take a deep breath in. This parasite follows me around every where. It's annoying.

"What?" I ask. He stops in front of me, beaming. "Guess what?!"

He expects me to guess? Nice try. "What?" He pulls out a sandwich. "I made this for you!"

I stare at the messily made sandwich. It looks like a five year old made it. I sigh. "Am I expected to like it?" His smile falls and he pulls it back. "Um no I just... we finally had all the ingredients for a proper sandwich and I— did you get your new motorcycle fixed up?"

He sits down next to me on the bench. I shrug. "I suppose. It runs but I have yet to fully test it. I'm sure if I fix it enough I could win with it."

He smiles. "I'm sure you will. You always do well!" I grind my teeth. "2nd place isn't 1st place."

He fidgets. "You... you really get competitor in the fights don't you?"

"Of course. Ever since the cryvs ruined earth there isn't much entertainment these days so why wouldn't we start getting competitive with these things?" I look up at the sky.

Cryvs... they were created in hopes to stop the human deaths wars created but they evolved and soon humans found themselves almost extinct. The few who had managed to survive built metal suits of armored robots that only a human can control. These were our hopes of defense.

Unfortunately people in the military were the only ones able to operate them and as I opted out of military service I found a pass time in fighting. It's a form of jousting almost, like they did in the old days however it's with a few modernizations.

It keeps me busy, provides me with purpose in life. It's the only thing I have in this retched no good world and is the only thing keeping me going. Like I said. I have a disease.

"Well... I'll see you at the dugout then huh?" Li stood up. I looked over at him. His body was frail, not much there. How has he survived this long? He's not good for anything and yet upon my unfortunate I saved him from some bullies and he has devoted every waking minute of his life to me. I can't complain too much. "I'm hungry, give me the sandwich." He lights up. "You really want it!?"

I sigh. "I asked for it didn't I?"

He blushed, probably embarrassed about being such an airhead about it. He handed me the sandwich and smiled more. "Sorry if it doesn't taste good."

I bite into the thing. It isn't half bad. I eat it quickly and then pat Li's head. "Thanks. Wait for me here. I don't want you at the fight."

He instantly protests, as I was expecting.

"Why do you have to go?!"

He gets angry. "You should just forfeit and save yourself! Your an idiot who— if you really insist then let me come with you!"

I stop him though. Tired of having to protect him. If he goes he'll find trouble and I don't want to have to protect him. It's not my job... besides. Today... I will loose...

My bike is broken. The wheels are junk. I'm on a shit contraption and my opponent is on something much better, one I've seen him win with multiple times. I don't want Li to see me loose. It's not cool...

"I said it and you will listen. No matter what you wait for me here. Understood?"

He drops his head. "Yes.." I hate when he does that... he always avoids looking at me at times like this. It's be better if I could see his face one last time... even though I hate him and he's annoying he needs to see me for what I am.

I grab his chin, forcing him to look upwards at me. He is crying. I grow angry. "Don't cry you weakling!" He flinched. I sigh. "Go make me another sandwich for when I come back. I'll be hungry again."

I let go of his chin and his head drops. Hopping on my bike I drive away, looking back at him in my mirror to view his pathetic feature.

He's still slumped over and I can see he's still crying. What a weakling. He shouldn't cry over me. Why do people cry over others they barely know? It's ridiculous.

I sigh, stopping the motorcycle.

Cursed— bloody hell!!

I flick the kick stand out with my foot and stomp on over to him.

"Why are you fucking crying??" I asked, pissed. He shouldn't be wasting time over a loser like me.

His hands balled up as they grabbed at his pants.

His shoulders shook but he refused to look at me.

"You're so mean to me!! I hate you for it! Shouting at me! You say it all the time!!! It's never anything nice, you are a bully!!" He sobs.

I frown. I went and done it haven't I? Pushed another away. That's what I wanted the whole time. What's the point? I'm a loser. This is a shit world. He shouldn't be wasting his previous time with me. Yet I've treated him so terribly and now...

I reached out, rubbing his head.

"I told you when we met right? Don't concern yourself with me it'll only end in heart break. That's what I said right?"

He sniffled, not looking up just yet.

"Even though I said that and did all this stuff you don't ever leave me, it gives a piss poor man like myself something to hope for. And I can't have that Li."

He looked up at me, his red bleary eyes wide as they took me in. "M-my name?"

Huh? All that and he's excited to hear me say his— agh fuck it.

"Wait for me right here Li. No matter what. I want you right here."

"W-why?"

"I need to tell you something but only after I win."

He puffed his cheeks. "Fine! I'll wait here."

I smiled, my hand dropping from his head.

I climb back on my bike. I speed off toward the dugout.

People are flooding in. The stakes are high. Our weapons are bigger and badder than in the first rounds. This is the last round of the competition and I will most likely die.

It's best, so I don't have to deal with that ugly disease of mine. I acted all high and mighty earlier but... well how can I put it? That boy doesn't deserve to chase me. I'm low. I hurt his feelings everyday. Yet the moment his eyes lit up as I spoke his name. I knew....

I put my helmet on and grab my gear. I suit up.

Out here it's kill or be killed. So there's no way. If I loose I'd be shamed for life. So I'd rather die then go through that. I can't prove I'm worthy of anyone unless I win.

"And now!! The final battle between a fan favorite and newbie who's hit the ranks lately. Who will win?!" I roll out on my bike to the massive dirt field. I can see my opponent on his bike, blades decorating the bike, waiting to claim my blood.

My ride does not have such things. We will battle on motorcycles until we both loose them, if I am still alive that means hand to hand. I signed up for this fight because of the reward money but also because they are dangerous and you could be killed and what do I have to live for? My family died of disease and now I will die too.

I'm not strong either I suppose.

I rev my engine and the clock counts down. It hits one and we both blast off toward each other. My heart is pounding and I smile. "Good bye Li..." I crash my bike into his totaling both of them. The man curses and the crowd cheers. "Taking out the bikes first huh? Afraid?" He mocked. I unsheathes my sword. "Of course not, but you seem to be afraid now that you don't have your bike."

I knew this guy. I've watched his fights. He never lost his bike. Never had to do hand to hand combat. That's because most people see this as a motor based fight to begin with. No wants to doom themselves to hand to hand so they never took the risk. But I will.

I slam my sword into his and we begin to battle.

"Not too bad. You're smart. But not smart enough!" He hits my side and my sword flys out of my hand as I'm tossed to the ground. I struggle getting back up to my feet. He's stronger than I expected.

He hits me with his fist, I'm knocked down once more. I throw a punch at him, hitting him but not enough to really harm him. The crowd noises fade.

"Finish me." I spit out. The man grinds his teeth and we fight for a long while, back and forth with our blades and kicking each other. We're both on our last leg when he goes in for the final blow. I close my eyes, waiting.

"Stop this!" Ah! No! I open my eyes just in time to see Li swing a sword to stop the metal from piercing me. How did he... "Ryk!" He calls out. I lay on the ground, bleeding and hurting.

Why did he come. "You're a fool Li. You will be killed now too."

He leans over me pulling me up to cradle me in his arms. "No!" Something wet falls on my face and I look up to see him crying. "You idiot I can't let you die. I love you!"

Ah... I lay there for a second, shocked. He loves me? What...

"You're reckless and you say mean things which always gets you into trouble. But I won't let you suffer anymore! You-" he squeezes his eyes shut to try and stop the tears "you idi—" I lean up to kiss him. The crowd swoons.

He's shocked, his body going frozen. Did he not think that by confessing to me at a time like this he wouldn't be getting kissed? What an idiot.

I sit up more now, forcing him back but keeping our kiss connected.

I raise my hand and touch his cheek. I open my eyes and see his blushing face. I pull away and he opened his eyes. "Why did you..."

I scowl at him. "Shut up..."

He blushed more. He must have realized by now, that I too feel the same about him.

"It seems our new hero's lover had come to stop the fight. But will he end it or will they push on?!"

"Ah!" Li looks around, embarrassed and shocked. Did he forget where we were? I laugh and stand up. "Go away." I state. Li stands up to. "But you're injured!" I sigh and turn to him. "What did I say?" He stared at me, angry. "You-!" But I shove him down to the ground and quickly grab my sword as he falls. I dash toward my opponent and pin him to the ground upon his surprise at my reattack.

The crowd goes crazy. "Should I kill you here and now?"

"No!" I look up to the audience a women stands there, worry all over her face. So his lover is standing up for him too? I back off and drop my sword. I walk back over to Li who is angry as all get out.

"You jerk! You really thought you could-" but I grab him and pull him back into my arms for a kiss.

He is stiff for a second before molding into my body with his own and kissing back. I pull back, satisfied.

"You were saying?"

He blushed. "I hate you!"

I smirk. "But just a bit ago you said something real sweet. What was it again?"

He blushed more. "You don't get to hear them again meanie!" I let go of him and walked off. "Fine, see you around then."

"Hey!" He runs after me. We exit the place and as I head for the changing room Li follows after me. "Aren't you going to apologize and thank me for saving your life?!" He shouted. I enter the locker area and start undressing. I pull off my dirty shirt and search my locker for my shower things.

"Hey are you listening to me you big jerk!" I turn around, forcing the very close Li to get nervous and jump back a bit. I smirk at him. "Yes I'm listening, you've had a lot of words to say today hm." I grab him by the waist and pull him close. His face is red. He's embarrassed.

"Thanks for saving me, and I'm sorry for making you worry." I lean in, kissing him once more.

That's right. He's the reason for my disease. Since the day I met him he stuck to me like glue and because I liked him I protected him. I can't express my feelings well and i say mean stuff but he doesn't run away. He comes back.

I'm infected with the disease called love. I swore I wouldn't catch it as I saw how my mother lost herself after losing her loving husband to the Cryvs but love can also make you strong I suppose.

I slip my tongue into his mouth and feel his body quiver from it. He's sensitive and caring and weak but he protects despite knowing he's weak. I wish I had that sense of self.

He reaches out, holding on to me. I smirk. If he's acting this cute I might really want to bully him. "Excuse me, do you two have a minute?"

I pull away from the kiss to look over at a man standing in the doorway of the locker room. He's formal. I regard him warily. "What is this about?" I ask. He walks over to me, handing me papers.

"We could use someone of your fighting skill in the frontlines. What do you say?" Huh? Military stuff eh? I drop the papers and turn back to Li. "Let's go. I want to pick up where we were so rudely interrupted."

"Ah but-!" He doesn't say anything further, embarrassed at being watched.

I smirk.

Like I'd join the military. I finally have my life in order. I won't let it slip through my fingers again!