Me: Okay, this is chapter two! The final chapter! Thanks Elemental Gypsy for reviewing!

Kai: So it did turn out to be two chapters...

Me: You doubted me?

Kai: Yes.

Me:...

Disclaimer: I no own.

Rei: Please Read an review.


Claude sighed as he practically collapsed on the park bench. Even he had limits for the amount of heat he could take… He glanced at his skin. From his run, he was covered in sweat. Even though he had been running in the sun for what now seemed like hours, he was neither red nor tan.

"You do this sort of thing much?"

"You… mean… running?" Claude panted, accepting the water bottle that Rei offered him. "Thank you."

"Yeah, running," Rei said.

"Sometimes," Claude said, leaning forward so that his knees were on his elbows. "What are you doing here?"

"Kai and I needed some time away from Tyson, Max, and Kenny," Rei said.

"You and Kai, huh? Are you two an item?" he asked. Jealousy bubbled in his chest as he thought of Rei and Kai being together…Sure they would make a good couple but-

"Hah!" Rei snorted. "No, he's like my brother… If you can even call him that." Claude looked at him curiously, wanting to ask but not wanting to pry.

"He's so antisocial," Rei said, seeing Claude's look. "I don't know what he wants all the time but I've got a better idea then most… and I couldn't see myself with him."

"Why not?" Claude asked curiously since the subject was now open for discussion.

"We're…too similar," Rei frowned.

"Really?" Claude asked, glancing at the phoenix blader who looked like he was sleeping under the shade of the tree. "Is he sleeping?" Rei glanced over to where Claude saw Kai.

"No. He's not relaxed enough to be sleeping," Rei said. "Just resting."

"You know each other well," Claude noted, the jealousy coming back.

"Well the way he sees it, it's either me or Tyson and Max," Rei smirked.

"No Kenny?"

"Kenny won't stop stuttering in his presence," Rei rolled his eyes. "He can't sit in the same room without freaking out."

"I don't see what's to fear about Kai," Claude said.

"Kai's really misunderstood," Rei said. "It's not that there's something to fear but…"

"He just holds himself in that esteem?" Claude suggested. "That he is to be feared?"

"Yeah…its like 'get closer at your own risk,'" Rei chuckled, sitting on the bench next to Claude. Claude noticed with butterflies in his stomach that Rei was closer then a person would usually sit next to someone- even a friend.

"So are you going to the BBA meeting tonight?" Claude asked, breaking the brief silence that had overcome them.

"Yeah," Rei sighed. "Those things are such bores…" He stretched and put his arm around Claude's shoulders.

"You let him put his arm over your shoulders-"

"He won't take no for an answer!"

'Is it that I really don't want him to put his arm over my shoulders… or that I don't try to stop him because I want this?' Claude thought silently to himself. He didn't notice Rei's fixed gaze on him. He turned his attention to Rei when he ever so slightly felt fingers guiding his face to him.

He tried to open his mouth to speak but nothing would come out. Rei's lips neared his, pausing just cemtimeters away from his own. He could feel Rei's hot breath on his lips. He licked his lips nervously and then he felt Rei's lips on his. Rei waited patiently for several seconds before moving his lips against Claude's. Claude hesitantly kissed back, his hand pressing against Rei's chest as Rei used his hands to draw him onto his lap.

Claude felt like he was in heaven- Rei's lips felt so good against his! He wanted to keep the feeling forever but they parted for oxygen and the oxygen brought Claude down to earth.

"I…I have to go!" Claude said. Rei was so surprised that, combined with Claude's natural speed, he missed gaining a hold on Claude.

"Did- did I do something wrong?" Rei shouted after Claude.

"No! You… you were great," Claude said. "I just… I need to think!" Rei stopped chasing after Claude as the eagle blader ran out of sight. He groaned and slid to the ground.

"Didn't go so well?"

"Well I could have told you that, Kai," Rei spat.

"Okay, okay, no need to throw a hissy fit," Kai said.

"Sorry," Rei said.

"He'll come around, Rei," Kai said. "You'll see." Rei nodded, accepting Kai's hand up.


"Claude? Is everything alright?" Matilda asked as he slammed the door behind him. "You're drenched in sweat…"

"I- I just-"

"Claude, calm down," Matilda said, grabbing the male's arms. "Go take a shower and cool down then we can talk, okay?"

"O-okay," Claude panted. He did as Matilda suggested, opting for the cold shower.

"So, what happened?" Matilda asked.

"Rei kissed me," Claude sighed.

"He did?" Matilda said. "And? How was it?"

"It was great…" Claude said truthfully. "Really, really great…"

"So then why are you so out of breath?" Matilda asked.

"I ran…"

"Ran…?"

"From Rei,"

"What? Why?"

"I freaked…"

"Oh, Claude…" Matilda sighed. "Did you at least tell him that you like it?"

"I said he was great…"

"Well, that's a start," Matilda said. "So are you two dating now?"

"I don't know, Mattie!" Claude groaned. "I ran from him- after he kissed me! He must think I'm an idiot. He's not going to want to be with me…"

"If he doesn't want to date you then he's an idiot," Matilda said. "He caught you off guard. He should have expected something like this to happen."

"Something like what?" Miguel asked, closing the door behind him.

"Rei kissed Claude," Matilda said.

"Claude should have expected Rei to kiss him?" Miguel asked. "Am I missing the right tense or something?"

"Rei should have expected Claude to run away because he cut him off guard," Matilda explained.

"You ran?" Miguel asked. "I thought you liked him?"

"I do!" Claude groaned. "But I didn't know what to do- I mean, he kissed me out of the blue! I didn't know what I was supposed to do! I don't know what I'm going to do!"

"I'll tell you what you're going to do," Miguel said after a moment's pause. "You're going to go to that BBA meeting with us and talk to him."


Rei sighed moodily and crossed his legs. He then uncrossed them and sighed again.

"Hey!" he said when Kai hit him with a newspaper.

"Hay is for horses," Kai said. "Relax, Rei. He'll be here." Rei groaned.

"But what if he's not?" Rei asked. Kai's eye twitched.

"Go talk to someone else," Kai said. "I've been dealing with you all day acting like this. Snap out of it and go converse with one of the other teams to take your mind off Claude. That's an order, Kon."

"And he whips out the last name," Rei muttered. "Fine, fine, I'm going." He lifted himself off the chair and went to go talk to the White Tigers. Kai smirked and shook his head, opening the paper.

"Hey,"

"Hey is for horses, Ivanov," Kai said, turning the paper.

"Back to the last name, are we?" Tala asked, pulling up Rei's now unoccupied chair and sitting in it. "What'd they do?"

"Rei kissed Claude… and then Claude ran,"

"Sounds about right," Tala shrugged. "So now he's all moody and depressed?"

"Sounds about right," Kai said.

"Well worry about that no more," Tala said. "Speak of the devil and the devil shall appear…"

"Tala…"

"Hmm?"

"Isn't the correct term, 'fear no more'?" Kai asked.

"Shut up…"

"Go on," Matilda encouraged.

"I can't…" Claude shook his head.

"Yes you-"

"Bladers, if you could please take your seats now," Mr. Dickenson said. Rei and Claude groaned silently in their heads. Claude sat down next to Matilda, on the end. Rei was at the end of the other row in front of him.

"We are here about…" Claude wasn't paying attention to Mr. Dickenson. He was focused more on Rei. The neko-jin had his arms and legs crossed. Claude sighed. The neko-jin looked perfectly fine… His attention was caught by Rei getting up and going to the door. Rei paused and cocked his head toward the door, looking straight and Claude.

"I'll be right back," Claude whispered to Matilda and Miguel and he quickly got up and followed Rei out.

Rei was straightening himself out from getting a drink of water. He looked at Claude when the door was shut all the way.

"You ran…why?"

"I didn't know what to do…" Claude said quietly.

"Did you like it?" Rei asked. Claude felt the blush return to his cheeks and looked down but he managed to nod. He heard Rei's footsteps as they got closer. Rei titled his chin up and met Claude's lips hesitantly, giving him ample time to pull away.

The moment Rei's lips touched Claude's, the kiss became more passionate and heated. Claude automatically wound his arms around Rei's neck and Rei pulled him closer. Claude pulled away, blushing.

"We- we can't. Not here…" he said.

"Yes we can," Rei said.

"You might be able to but I can't," Claude said, about to pull away but Rei kept a firm grasp on his waist.

"I'm not letting you get away from me again, Claude," Rei said. He gripped Claude's wrist tightly and pulled him into a supply closet.

"A supply closet?" Claude asked. "You pulled me into a supply closet just to make out?"

"I've been thinking of that kiss all day," Rei said. "I don't mean to give you ultimatums but either kiss me here or I swear, I'll-" Claude cut him off, pressing his lips to Rei's instantly. He pulled away from a stunned Rei.

"Uh…"

"Just shut up and kiss me," Claude said. Rei gave him a predatory smile.

"Gladly," Rei said, capturing Claude's lips again.

End Flashback


"Claude?" Rei asked, waving the ice cream in front of Claude's face. "You in there?"

"Yeah, sorry," Claude said, giving Rei a small smile as he took the smoothie. "What kind? I thought you were getting ice cream?"

"Strawberry Banana," Rei smiled. "And don't you like smoothies better anyways?" Claude smiled appreciatively and leaned closer to Rei to kiss him, moving his lips passionately against the neko-jin's just as eager ones.

"What was that for?" Rei asked.

"Just remembering things…" Claude smiled, looking at Rei's golden eyes.

'Like the sun,' he thought to himself as Rei engaged him in another kiss.


Me: So what do you guys think?

Rei: I like it! Please review!