Chapter Text
“Mmnghkt…” I shifted on my pillow… which felt strangely human. Funny, Kai hates it when I sleep on his chest. Now that I think of it, Kai smells a little different. And his chest feels different.
I’m not sleeping on Kai.
I shot up in bed and looked down at the person. I had been sleeping on. T… Tala…? I blinked a couple times and continued to stare at the sight before me. Kai was snuggled into Tala’s right side and Tala was on his back.
Right… I remember now. The talk last night… Tala…
“Do you always wake up that way, Kitty? Or do you just act that way when people other than your lover are sleeping beside you?” A soft smile played across the older boy’s lips and then two clear blue eyes fluttered open.
“We’re not lovers.” I huffed. Just like him to assume things like that.
“That’s not what the others say. Apparently you two did it like bunnies for an hour a couple days ago.”
“We faked it,” Kai spoke up. Geeze, he’s awake now too. “You two talk too loud.”
Tala began running his fingers through Kai’s hair. A slight pang of jealously ran through me. “I see.” Tala was silent for a moment. “I also heard that Kai laughed.”
“Rei fell off the bed.” A genuine smile tugged that the corners of Kai’s mouth.
-x-
“Why don’t I ride you like a cowboy?” Kai jutted his hips out in a provocative way. He began crawling across the bed until he was practically on top of Rei.
With a slight laugh Rei backed up slowly, looking like a cat ready to pounce on its prey. “How about we play Cat and Mouse?” He wiggled his bum in the air and took a final crawl backwards only to topple off the edge of the bed.
-x-
“Mm, I see.” Tala murmured and pulled Kai closer. Despite the burning jealousy in me, they do look sweet together. “What time is anyway?” Tala murmured.
“7:31 a.m.,” I said as I glanced over at the bedside clock.
“We should train.” Kai’s voice was muffled slightly because of how he was resting against Tala.
I nearly fell off the bed at Kai’s comment.
“I’d agree, but somebody melted my blade.” Tala nudged Kai jokingly.
“Get Kenny to make you a new one.” Was Kai’s icy response.
“Aww, you’re no fun, Kai. Besides, I’m enjoying my bonding time with two of the world’s sexiest bladers.”
“Flattery will get you nowhere.” Kai mumbled.
“Oh, I don’t know…” I laid back down on Tala’s chest then snaked an arm out to wrap around Kai. “I always liked flattery. Makes a guy feel special.”
“Sure you don’t mean girl?” I could hear the smirk in Kai’s voice.
I used the arm that had been holding him with to give Kai a good, hard smack. “My feminine side just happens to be more prominent than yours.”
“Now children, play nice,” Tala chided. “Besides, if you two fight then I’ll get hurt in the crossfire.”
“Didn’t you realise that was my intention all along?”
This time it was Tala’s turn to give Kai a playful smack.
“We should get up and have some breakfast.” Kai wriggled himself out of Tala’s and my hold and sat up. With a sigh I got up as well. Just after I had gotten off the bed Kai caught my chin and pulled me into a lingering kiss. After he pulled away he turned to Tala. “Rei is mine; I’m not interested in you. Get that through your exceptionally thick skull.”
Yet again I am little more than a slab of meat…
-x-
I happily munched on my cereal. It was some outrageously sugary stuff that had zero nutritional content. Not even Tyson would touch the stuff.
“How can you eat that?” Kai wrinkled his nose. I merely shrugged in response.
After several moments of silence and eating Mariah entered the room. I glanced up and took a double take. She was still in her pyjamas and looked slightly dishelved. There was a rosy hue to her cheeks and a slightly inflamed part on her left cheek. It looked kinda like…
“Who hit you?” I asked through a mouthful of cereal.
“… Hilary.”
The others looked up at this. I proceeded to choke on my breakfast. After my coughing subsided I motioned for her to continue.
“Well, you see… when she woke up one of my hands was kind of… gripping one of her breasts. She thought I was trying to feel her up. I mean, she’s cute and all but not really my type. If we happened to make out I wouldn’t really mind.”
Well, this is a fascinating plot twist. I dropped my spoon in my bowl and it made a plunk noise. That was the only sound in the room currently. I always thought Mariah was straight. I mean, she’s been after me for years. I can’t believe she wouldn’t tell me this! Where’s our trust? What about our friendship? Then the little voice in the back of my head spoke up. But you didn’t tell Mariah about YOUR preferences. At that moment I had the undying urge to kick that stupid little voice in the shin. Providing it had a shin…
“Rei…?” Mariah brought me back to the conscious word. “I uh…”
I got up from my chair and went over to Mariah. I did something that no one was expecting, not even me. I hugged her.
“Rei… what are you doing?” Mariah asked and pushed me back slightly.
“You’re a lesbian! I don’t feel so bad about breaking your heart now.” I grinned like a loon. “Wait… if you’re a lesbian… then why did you say you loved me and wanted to marry me?” My smile faltered slightly.
“I do and I did. Rei, like you I’m bi.”
I blinked at her stupidly.
“I like both boys and girls…” She added since she noticed her words weren’t processing in my brain. “…Rei?”
“I think that cereal has rotted his brain.” Kai muttered and went back to his toast.
Bi… as in bisexual… as in liking members of both sexes. I get it now. I never would have guessed. I mean, come on! Mariah was head over heels for me, I figured she was perfectly straight.
We both headed back to the kitchen table and sat down.
“Why didn’t you say anything earlier?” I questioned.
With a slight shrug Mariah grabbed the cereal box by me and poured herself some breakfast. “I was still sorting out my feelings. I wasn’t going to bother you or Lee.”
“But maybe we could have helped. I mean, the two of us have gone through pretty much the same thing.”
She poured milk over the sugary substance and set about to loading her body up with more sugar than is healthy for a person. Kai shivered as he watched us eat our breakfast. Tala merely smirked at Kai’s reaction and gave me a slight wink of approval.
“I didn’t feel the need to bother you two. And I didn’t know about your preferences until the last few days.” She continued eating and everyone fell silent.
After a moment we heard footsteps approaching the kitchen. We all turned to watch Kenny enter the room. Kenny sat down at the table and stifled a yawn. “Morning.” He opened up his laptop and began typing.
“Morning, boys,” Came Dizzi’s voice from the laptop. “I’m guessing you didn’t have an orgy since you three were very quiet last night.
“Dizzi!” Kenny yelped and stared at his computer with horror.
“What? You all saw how Tala looks at Kai. And come on, Rei’s easy so it’s not that unlikely.”
Easy? Was I just called easy by a computer? I think I have been reduced to an easily seduced piece of meat. Kind of sounds like a corpse or something. Oh god, now I’m thinking about necrophilia. This thought process is only leading down bad roads.
“Kai!” Kenny yelped as he dove under the table hugging Dizzi to his chest. “She didn’t mean it, did you, Dizzi? Did you?”
Kai was now standing where Kenny had only been seconds before, dangerous gleam in his eyes.
“I was just joking!” Dizzi was slightly muffled since Kenny was holding her so tightly.
Being in a sulking mood I went to pour myself another bowl of the cereal, but Kai snatched it away from me. I pouted at him. “Give it back, Kai.”
“No, you’ll rot your brain.” He growled.
“Technically, it’ll only rot his teeth. But only if he doesn’t brush properly.” Tala smiled.
That resulted in Kai shooting Tala an icy look.
Maybe I should interject before something dies. “Kai… it’s alright, really. I’ve had worse insults.” I smiled and took him by the arm and led him back to his seat.
Shooting Tala another glare Kai sat back down. After a second he seemed to calm and then directed a question at Kenny. “Could you make a blade quickly for Tala to use to train with?”
Coming out from under the table Kenny took something out of his pocket and then proceeded to straighten his clothing out. “Uhh, I figured you’d ask that so I took the liberty to-”
Tala grabbed the blade from the boy excitedly. “It looks sweet! Very different from any I’ve gotten from Biovolt. I’ll give it a go right away!” He grabbed Kai and me by the arms and tried to drag us out of the room. “Let’s go test out this blade!”
Suddenly he goes from voyeur extraordinaire to a three-year-old with his first blade. Whatever they did to Kai and Tala at the Abbey, it sure messed up their minds.
-x-Kai’s pov-x-
“Kai, are you alright?” Rei waved his hand in front of my face.
“Hn?” I glanced up to look at Rei. “What?”
“Tala’s been trying to ask you something for a minute now and all you’ve done is stare off into the trees.”
“There’s someone watching us.”
Rei shook his head and laughed. “Silly, there are fangirls out there probably.”
Maybe I’m just paranoid, but I swear I know this gaze… it just seems so familiar. “Whatever.” I shook my head to clear it and turned back to Tala and Rei. “So, what did you want, Pervert.”
“I resent you,” Tala muttered. “Sourpuss.”
“Idiot.”
“Prick.”
“Immature.” Rei grumbled and rolled his eyes at us.
“Feminine.” Both Tala and I said in unison. We then laughed as Rei sighed in exasperation.
There was a rustling in the trees behind Rei. I moved forward to grab the fangirl before she mauled anyone, but I came face to face with two very familiar cat-like eyes.
“Kai Kitty!” Rei practically pounced on me and grabbed the cat from my arms. “I thought you were gone! You came back!” He hugged the small cat to his chest and the cat purred happily.
Kai Kitty…? I was paranoid over a stupid cat? I think being in the presence of all these idiots is finally starting to take its toll on me. Next I’ll be eating Max’s cereal and watching idiotic television programs with Tyson.
Tala tapped me on the shoulder. “Kai Kitty?” He raised an eyebrow at me.
“The stupid thing followed me home a while ago. Rei took a liking to it so it was our pet until it was chased off by the Bumpus hounds.”
My former team-mate smiled. “Still got a soft spot for cats, eh?”
“I do not have a soft spot for cats.” I spat and turned away from him.
Rei shoved Kai Kitty in my face. “But how can you not love this face?”
I stumbled back a step in surprise. “I uh…” Rei looked at me expectantly. “Yes, the cat’s cute. Ok? And you’re cute… but those are the only cats I like!”
Rei grinned madly at me. He put Kai Kitty in Tala’s arms then gave me a tight hug and lingering kiss.
Breathless we broke apart and he smiled. “You’re so sweet sometimes, Hiwatari.” He winked.
I could almost feel a blush tugging at my cheeks but I pushed that desire away. “Don’t mention it.”
“So, you have a cat named after you, eh, Sourpuss?”
“Quit it with that, Pervert.” I shot back at Tala.
“Aww, isn’t widdle Kai a widdle snarky?” Tala smiled down at the cat that padded at his shirt collar playfully.
A launcher came in contact with Tala’s head again.
“Ow! Quit doing that!” Tala growled at me.
“Then quit being an idiot.” I smiled at him.
-x-
Everyone was crowded around the kitchen table, elbow to elbow. There was barely any breathing room.
“Do we really need to sit together?” Tyson whined.
Mariah shot Tyson a glare as she passed the salad bowl to Lee. “Yes we do. We haven’t done anything as a group except have supper the other night. And since we can’t eat outside where it’s more spacious we’re eating in here.”
“I don’t really mind sitting so close to Kai’s kitty.” Tala smiled and rubbed up against Rei.
I growled softly. “Touch him again, you perv, and I’ll make sure you lose that arm.”
“Come on, Kai. He likes it.”
Rei shot me a confused glance. “What are you guys talking about?” He glanced between the two of us.
“Nothing, Rei. He’s just being a pervert.” I shot the second comment more at Tala than at anyone else. Why is Tala doing this to me? Is he just trying to piss me off, or does he really want to get in Rei’s pants. Or mine. Or both of our pants?
“You’re being so cruel, Sourpuss. Your words wound me. Maybe Rei will comfort me.”
“Why do I not like the way that he just said my name…?” Rei was becoming concerned now.
“Look, guys, if you’re going to have a conversation in gibberish then don’t have it at the dinner table!” Tyson said between bites of food. The sight of his half masticated sandwich was making me nauseous.
“It’s Russian.” I snapped back.
“Or we could always have a lovely threesome!” Tala smiled and winked at Rei.
It was at that exact moment that Wyatt began choking violently on his sandwich. Grateful for the distraction I threw a spoon at Tala’s head. Lee gave Wyatt a couple hard whacks on the back and Wyatt spat his food out in a napkin.
“You ok there, Wyatt?” Max asked and handed Wyatt another napkin to wipe his face with.
“Yah.” Wyatt’s voice was slightly hoarse. “It just went down the wrong way.”
“I’m going to the bathroom.” I pushed my chair away from the table and headed out of the room.
“Kai!” I heard the scraping of another chair on linoleum and Rei appeared by my side seconds later. He took my arm and pulled me along the hallway. “What was Tala talking about back there?”
“He…” I paused as we started up the stairs. “He was just being a pervert.”
We reached the top of the stairs and we paused. Rei cupped my chin in his hand and smiled softly. “You know I’ll never cheat on you. I’m just not that kind of person. Don’t let what Tala says get to you so much. I may not understand Russian, but I do understand flirting. And Tala was sure doing a lot of that.” He kissed me softly.
I should really just listen to Rei… but that doesn’t mean I can’t have vengeance on Tala. I shall make him suffer for all the pain he’s put me through.
When we broke apart Rei wrapped his arms around me loosely and leaned into my chest. “Though I’m sure you still want to take vengeance on him, am I right?”
He knows me far too well… “Do you have any ideas?”
He pulled back and smiled up at me. “I have a dead toad I was saving for Tyson, but I guess I can spare it for Tala.”
I raised an eyebrow. “And where would you keep a dead toad?”
“It’s in a bag for frozen brussel sprouts at the bottom of the deep freeze.”
I laughed slightly. Well, that would explain why Tyson hadn’t come across it yet. The kid had a fear of brussel sprouts. He says they look too much like little green brains.
“Then let’s go retrieve Tala’s present.”
-x- Rei’s pov -x-
Kai had just finished placing the dead toad in one of Tala’s socks when the doorbell chimed. We both froze and looked to the bedroom door. We knew who it had to be… Voltaire had come and nothing was going to go well.
“Kai-” I began but he placed a finger to my lips.
His crimson eyes met mine. There was a look of longing and sadness in them. “Rei, I want you to keep out of this. I don’t want you getting hurt.”
With that he got up and headed out of the room, white scarf billowing behind him. After a moment of stunned silence I sprung to my feet and shot after him.
How can he seem so calm? We all know what’s coming. And I’m going to be damned if I let anyone lay a finger on Kai this time.
Kai was the one to open the door. Everyone else was crowded around the foyer. The first face to be revealed was Voltaire himself. Right behind him was Boris, flanked by Spencer, Bryan following them and Ian and then Mr. Dickinson bringing up the rear. Mr. Dickinson’s face was flushed like he had been yelling, which he probably had considering the circumstances.
With an air of arrogance, Voltaire made his way over to Kai and towered over him.
“Grandfather,” Kai said in greeting.
With that Voltaire took Kai by the collar and pulled him into the living room. Bryan and Tala followed him, probably to guard the doorways. They knew that the rest of us would try to help Kai.
The others entered the foyer and Max closed the front door behind them.
“Voltaire, while I’m here you will not-”
“Save it, Dickinson.” Boris stepped between Mr. Dickinson and the doorway.
“Boris I must strongly pro-”
Mr. Dickinson was cut off again as Boris pushed him to the wall. “This is not your place. Voltaire is Kai’s grandfather, his only family. This matter solely concerns those two.”
I tuned out the rest of what Boris said to Mr. Dickinson. Tyson was now being restrained by Spencer while Max and Lee were having an argument with Ian. I’m not sure where I stand on all of this…
Smack
It felt like the blow to my own body. I knew what Voltaire had done. I knew that he had just struck his own grandson with his cane. I squeezed my eyes closed; hoping that if I prayed enough it would all go away, that I wouldn’t have to worry about any of this. That I’d wake up next to Kai and it’d be the morning before the tournament.
Click
I snapped my eyes open and saw Kenny opening his computer and then he began tapping away at the keys furiously. What is he up to? Nervously he glanced up and caught my eye. He motioned for me to join him.
“I need a distraction.” He whispered when I got close enough. “I’m going to phone the authorities, but I don’t want Ian, Spencer or Boris to see.”
I half registered his words. I was still so focused on the harsh voice of Voltaire yelling in the other room.
Smack
I have to get in there, I have to help Kai. I don’t care if I have to maul Bryan and Tala, I’ll do it to get in there. I’m tired of sitting around and letting things happen. Kai Kitty came back after facing the Bumpus hounds, I can stand up to Kai’s insane grandfather. “I’ve got one distraction coming up for you, Kenny. Make sure you’re not caught, ok?”
He nodded at me and smiled weakly “It’ll be ok.”
Nodding I turned to survey the situation. I could see Bryan’s back and Tala was nowhere in sight. He was probably guarding the other entrance to the living room. Boris was occupied with having a shouting match with Mr. Dickinson. Spencer was still trying to restrain Tyson. The remainder of the people were arguing with Ian. Ian was the closest to my desired destination, which was just past Bryan.
Then I saw the moment arise. Bryan left the doorway to move more into the room. Purposefully, I marched towards Bryan. I’m going to punch him in the face as soon as I re-
“Stop Rei!” I heard Boris yell then made a dash for the door.
Ian stepped in my way and opened his mouth to say something but I took it in stride and punched him in the nose. Come on, it was the best target. His nose is bigger than any I’ve seen. And I thought Lee’s was big.
I didn’t even pause to see what kind of damage I had inflicted, I just continued towards my destination. I entered the living room and faltered slightly. Kai was on his hands and knees, blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth. Voltaire stood over him, cane raised. I was about to storm over there when strong arms encircled my body, trapping my arms to my side and stopping my advance.
“Don’t go in there, Kitty.” Bryan breathed in my ear. “If you get involved, you’ll only get hurt.”
Smack
I shivered when I heard Voltaire’s cane connect with Kai’s back again.
“You have brought shame to me. I thought you were going to carry on my life’s work and help satisfy my goals, but I was proven wrong. You are not even worthy of the Hiwatari name. Never before have I been so ashamed of someone” His cold voice accenting the harsh Russian words, giving them an added air of malice.
Smack
The cane came down again. With every blow Kai had not uttered a sound. He just took the blow in stride and remained utterly silent. How… how can he do that? He’s being beaten by his grandfather and he’s doing nothing to fight it.
I struggled fruitlessly against Bryan’s hold. “Kai! Don’t let him do this to you! Don’t-”
Tala placed a hand over my mouth. “I’m very sorry for Rei’s interruptions. Let me remove him from the room.”
“No need, Tala.” Voltaire smiled wickedly. “The boy should stay. I think he needs to see this. Make sure he watches it all.”
Sick bastard. If only I could get free, then I could rip his body to pieces.
Kai…
“You have outlived all usefulness.” Voltaire returned his attention back to Kai and switched to Japanese so that I could better understand him. “Goodbye, grandson.”
I saw him raise the cane one final time then I closed my eyes. I couldn’t do anything. The tears slid down my cheeks softly.
But it never came; there was never the sickening crack of Voltaire’s cane connecting with Kai’s skull. Slowly I let my eyes flutter open to see Tala holding the cane mere centimetres from Kai’s head.
“Tala, what are you doing?” Voltaire snapped and tried to pull his cane back.
The redhead was not letting go though. “I’ve had enough of this. I’m sick of being a punching bag, sick of seeing those that I even give a shit about being beaten like they are worthless.”
“Tala…” Kai’s voice was barely audible.
“You foolish boy, do you forget who made you? Who gave you life? Who will take you in if you leave the Abbey, knowing that you’re a freak of nature? That you were created in a lab?”
I felt Bryan’s hold on me lessen. I almost missed the strong hold. I didn’t feel that I had the strength to stand anymore. Created in a lab…? Did that mean Tala was… was not human?
There was a flash of metal. A gun! Voltaire had pulled a gun! Using Bryan’s weakened hold on me to my advantage I sprung form his hold and took two running steps towards Voltaire before leaping into the air. My leg extended in a powerful flying kick.
Bang
I fell to the ground rather gracelessly. Tala stood in mute horror. He hadn’t even seen the gun coming. Instead of having Tala’s brains decorating the room, a feather pillow had sacrificed itself.
Voltaire was already on the move again. He had abandoned his cane in favour of going for the gun he had just dropped. Just as his fingers brushed against the cool metal of the gun, a pale hand wrapped its fingers around the handle and snatched it away. Kai knelt unstably on the ground and pointed the deadly weapon at his grandfather.
“Don’t move, you bastard.”
The older man froze. “Kai, you wouldn’t-”
“Why don’t you shut up? You know I would. You and the Abbey programmed it into my brain that I should do anything I can to survive. This is natural instinct coming into play. Not to mention you would have fractured my skull just now had Tala not intervened.” A twisted smile came across Kai’s lips.
A hand appeared in front of my face and I looked up to see Bryan looking down at me. “Here.” He was offering his hand to help me up. I took the offered hand and got to my feet.
“What the hell happened?” Ian stumbled into the room. He was holding a cloth to his nose, which was still bleeding. I guess I broke it or something. His fault for getting in my way really.
It was then that the sound of approaching sirens broke the strained silence.
Police… the police were coming.
It’s over. They’ll arrest Voltaire and Boris and then… then it’ll all be ok.
I let the tears fall freely.
-x- Kai’s pov -x-
I stared up at the white ceiling boredly. My stomach gave a churn, but I managed to refrain from vomiting. Why did I always feel worse after I had entered the hospital? Weren’t hospitals supposed to help you recover?
“Fractured arm and three broken ribs, that has got to hurt like a bugger.” I looked up to see Bryan entering the room followed by Tala and Rei.
I shrugged. “I’ve had worse.” And truly, I had sustained worse from my grandfather. He’d just never gone to smash my skull in before.
Rei sat down beside me on the bench and laid his head on my shoulder. “They kept us in questioning for ages. Then these two insisted on coming to talk to you.”
“So it’s true then, old Phoenix has gone and found himself a pet.” Bryan smirked at me. I should go and wipe that smile off his face. Breaking his nose should do that…
Speaking of broken noses. “How’s Ian doing?” I asked.
“I broke his nose…” Rei mumbled into my shirt.
“Oh, and there’s some other interesting news, Phoenix.” Bryan’s twisted smile broadened slightly. Why do I not like this…? I have a premonition coming on.
“Yes?” I waited for him to continue.
“Since Boris and your grandfather have been arrested, we needed somewhere to stay… So, Rei has so graciously offered to let us stay with you and the Bladebreakers.”
“What?!”
“Yes, we’ll be staying with you until the investigation gets underway.” Tala smirked.
Rei and he hugged me reassuringly. “It won’t be that bad. Just think, none of them are like Tyson...”
“Yah, but Tala’s a pervert…”
“Will you quit it with that?” Tala shot back at me. “Sourpuss.”
I can’t believe Rei did that, wouldn’t he think that this would only piss me off more? I sighed in frustration.
“There is one thing that should comfort you though.” I looked up at Bryan. “I’m not after you, Phoenix.” Bryan turned his gaze to Rei. “I’m after your Kitty.”
-x-x-x-
“Kai!” The second I entered the living room I was hugged violently by… Tyson?
“Get off of me, you idiot!” I hissed. In his ‘hug’ he had managed to smack me in the ribs. Yes, those broken ribs.
“Sorry, Kai’ Tyson released me. “But we were all so worried! I tried to come rescue from your grandfather’s evil clutches but that idiot Spencer was holding me back!”
“You mean that Spencer that is standing behind Rei?” Hilary asked and smirked at Tyson’s stupidity.
Tyson looked over to see that in fact Spencer was standing there with a slight smile on his face. Honestly, how dumb is Tyson really? And I certainly don’t like how he greeted me. I think I’ll make him do extra training tomorrow when the painkillers have worn off. I’m still feeling a bit loopy from those…
“What are they doing here?” Mariah asked and glared at the Demolition Boys. I’d say she still has gripes with Bryan.
“They’re going to be staying with us indefinitely.” Rei smiled at Mariah.
Oh, that was a smart one, Rei. I groaned and wanted to smack my head. Mariah looked about ready to explode.
“WHAT? You’re letting him stay in the same house as you?” She gestured madly at Bryan. “He tried to kill you! Twice! And me! He’s a psychotic, sadistic, jerk! You can’t possibly think that it was a good idea for them to stay!”
Finally, somebody who shares my views, albeit for different reasons…
“But Mariah,” Rei tried frantically to reason with her. “They don’t have anywhere else to go! They don’t know anyone outside of the abbey besides us. And I forgive Bryan!”
“He’s going to kill you though, Rei!” Mariah shrieked back and flailed her arms.
Rei groaned at the overreaction of Mariah. I gently placed a hand on his shoulder for reassurance.
“I’ve agreed to it” I wanted to kick myself after the words had come out of my mouth. Smooth Kai, smooth but not slick. Now it sounds like I actually want them to stay.
“See, I told you he had a heart.” Tala said from behind me.
Mariah just stared at me with a mixture of amazement and horror. Nice hole there, Kai. Just keep digging. Maybe you’ll reach the middle of the Atlantic soon.
“I still don’t like it.” Mariah grumbled and crossed her arms over her chest.
Great, now I have to deal with a pissed of Mariah. I think I’m going to need more of those pain killers… or alcohol.
-x- regular pov -x-
The raven-haired teen sighed heavily as he sat down heavily on the couch. “That was an insane week.”
His companion gave a slight grunt in recognition and sat down beside him.
Rei laid down with his head in Kai’s lap. “But we survived, and everybody but the Demolition Boys are gone.
“Hn.”
“And they’re a lot quieter than Mariah and Wyatt. And Mariah’s gone, so we don’t have to listen to her complain about Bryan staying.”
“Hn.”
“Can you do anything but grunt and say ‘hn’?”
The older boy smiled softly. “Hn.”
“You’re so aggravating.” Rei batted at Kai’s knee lazily.
“Hn.” Kai said again.
“Ok, this means war!” Rei sat up and began relentlessly beating Kai with a throw pillow.
For his own protection Kai grabbed another pillow and tried to block the onslaught of attacks that Rei was giving him.
“What are you, school girls?”
Both boys stopped and turned to see Bryan standing in the doorway, Tala trying to peer over his shoulder.
“I don’t see why you guys can’t find somewhere else to stay.” Kai spat and pulled Rei closer to himself.
Pushing past Bryan Tala moved into the room and sat on the armrest of the couch beside Kai. “Come on, you know you love having us here.”
Moving further away from the redhead Kai responded, “You’re delusional.”
“You keep saying that, but I’m not sure if you’re right.” He leaned in closer to Kai.
That’s when Rei noticed that Bryan was sitting on the couch beside him and was leaning in closer.
“Bryan… personal space?”
Ignoring the raven-haired boy he leaned in closer. “You like it, Kitty…”
Flash
Click
Everyone looked up to see Tyson with a digital camera. “BLACKMAIL!” And with that Tyson sprinted from the room.
The four boys glanced amongst each other confused for a moment. Then a look of knowing overcame the four.
Rei smiled then, knowing that it’d all work out. From that first day under the tree until now all the hardships could be ignored because it had worked out for the better. Sure Tala and Bryan could be galling, but they’d really gotten Kai to open up, which in the end made things a little more enjoyable in the Madhouse (as it had come to be called).
“Rei, you coming?” Rei looked up into Kai’s crimson eyes and smiled.
“Always.”