A/N: You want a pairing? I shall make it. Right here, in this story. See end note for details.

TalaRei

Chapter Four

--

For the whole day, Rei was sat on the edge of his chair, anticipating his lesson at the end of the day. Something about Tala made the Chinese boy want to spend more time with him. Maybe it was those blue eyes that clashed against the red hair. Or the bi-polar like attitude he had. Lee was giving him suspicious looks, and Mao seemed like she knew something no one else did. But he really didn't care.

He was standing outside the school gates that day, his best friend by his side. The two waited, one for his sister and the other for his tutor.

"Are you going on that bike again?" Lee asked.

Rei shrugged. "I don't know, he didn't say. He sent me a text earlier telling me to wait outside the school gates."

"I don't trust him."

"You've said."

"I mean, he seems like he's hiding something."

Rei sighed, smiling anyway. "Maybe you should join us at some point."

Lee's eyes narrowed slightly. "Maybe."

His friend turned to see a redhead walking up the street, his rucksack on one shoulder, a emotionless mask on his face. It sent chills down Rei's spine and he found himself strangely drawn to the look.

"Tala," he greeted softly. "Where are we going today?"

The classic lopsided smile graced the redhead's face. "It's a surprise, but we're not going to the café. Do you mind walking?"

"Not at all," Rei smiled brightly, turning to Lee. "I'll see you at home, okay?"

Lee nodded. "Have fun."

Rei walked beside Tala, away from the school as his roommate watched. Their walk was silent, Tala's emotionless mask solid on his face and Rei too strangely nervous to break it.

"January, February, March, April, May, June, July," Tala started as they were walking. Rei looked at him, listening to the voice. "August, September, October, November, December."

"The months of the year?" Rei guessed. Tala smirked, nodding.

"We're here."

Rei looked forward to see a large wall with graffiti art on it, English words in rows with their Japanese counterpart underneath. The Chinese boy stared in wonder as Tala dropped his bag and walked towards the large wall, running his fingers along it.

"Ichi-gatsu."

Rei caught the expectant look. "January."

"Ni-gatsu ."

"Feb-ru-ar-y."

Tala shook his head. "Feb-uary."

Rei frowned slightly. "Feb-uary?"

"Right. San-gatsu."

"March."

"shi-gatsu."

"Ap-rill."

Tala paused. "Ape-ril."

"Ape-ril."

He moved forward. "go- gatsu"

"May."

"Roku-gatsu"

"Jun-e."

He paused again. "English words have something called a 'magic-e'. They make the word sound different to how it looks. June is one of the words."

"June."

"Shichi-gatsu"

"July."

"Hachi-gatsu"

"Au…gust?"

He nodded. "Ku-gatsu"

"September."

"Ju-gatsu"

"October."

"Ju-ichi- gatsu"

"November."

"Ju-ni-gatsu"

"December," Rei said with a satisfied smile, Tala stopping and giving his student a lopsided smile. He had walked the length of the graffiti while the other stood and read, still in the opening.

Tala felt his fingers linger on the wall. "I got bored yesterday after school, so figured I'd put the wall to use."

"You did this?!"

He smirked. "What happened to your sense of danger?"

Rei flustered slightly. "It's not that, it's just…I'm amazed at how awesome it is. It's really nice."

"You're welcome. I figured maybe you were a visual person," Tala shrugged. "I don't know though, I was just guessing. I know I am."

Rei smiled softly and sat on the damaged grass, flicking a cigarette butt away from him. Bushes closed the area off and there was a path worn through the grass and bushes to get here. It was a nice walk, he had to admit.

"I like to read I guess," Rei joked. Tala smirked and walked to his bag, dragging it so he could sit opposite Rei and crossed his legs before digging around in the bag for a book. Rei did the same, though he simply opened his shoulder bag and pulled the book straight out, being much more organised.

"Here's the days as well," Tala pointed to the page, where there was a neater version of the wall graffiti decorating the pages. "Months and days."

"Monday, Tu-es-day, Wed-nes-day-"

"It's pronounced, Wedn-s-day."

Rei nodded and noted it down.

The two spent a while making notes on pronunciations and the sort as Rei repeated the months and days again and again. Eventually, Tala took the book away and stared at the boy with a small smirk.

"Kin-youbi," he said.

Rei bit his lip in thought. "Friday?"

"Are you doing anything on Friday?" Tala asked smoothly and slowly so that the boy would work it out.

Rei cringed. "Something you doing…something Friday?"

"Work it out, you're intelligent."

He paused, taking in a breath and concentrating. "Uh, you doing something on Friday?"

Tala's smirk widened. "Nope, I'm free. Why?"

Rei frowned before it clicked, his face heating up and unable to stop himself smiling. "Sneaky bastard."

Tala sniggered. "I know,now: are you free on Friday?"

Rolling his eyes, Rei shrugged. "After school, sure. Why, what did you have in mind?"

"I was wondering if you wanted to go on a date with me," Tala said, holding his hands up. "I completely understand if you're straight-"

"I'm not!" Rei quickly said, flustering as the redhead smirked. "I mean, I don't think I am…anyway, what were you saying?"

"You don't get dates often, do you?"

The blush hardened. "Why do you say that?"

"Cause you're acting like a lip-virgin."

Rei's hand twitched, wanting to touch said lips. "I don't see how that has anything to do with it."

"So you are a lip virgin?"

"I didn't say that!"

Tala barked with laughter and Rei felt his heart swell. He was glad he caused that laugh, even if it was at his own expense.

"Okay, so, Mr. 'I'm-denying-my-lip-virginity', would you very much like to go out on a date with me on Friday?"

"Will we have to speak in English?"

"Not unless you want to."

Rei smiled. "Then yes, I would very much like to go out on a date with you on Friday."

Tala smirked. "I knew I was right to not pin you as straight."

"Do I look that gay?"

"Maybe," blue eyes narrowed in calculating playfulness. "The long hair doesn't help, I have to say."

Rei gave his friend a playful punch. "I take pride in my hair!"

"I guessed."

Clearing his throat, Tala continued. "So, date, shall I pick you up from your house at say, seven?"

"Sounds good."

Tala smiled his lopsided smile and shut his book. "Class closed for today."

Rei sighed and stretched. "Awesome."

"Do you have a way to get home?" Tala asked. "It's kind of far, isn't it?"

The black haired boy froze. He hadn't thought that far.

"Hold on," Tala stood and walked to the bushes, grabbing something that was lodged between the last bush and the wall. He tugged hard and pulled out a forest green bike that looked old and cheep.

Tala cringed at the sight of it. "I've had it a…long time."

Rei frowned. "Don't you worry someone's going to steal it?"

"I have a better one at home. I leave this one here just in case," he shrugged before climbing on, walking forward to stand by Rei. "If you can carry the bags, I'll drive."

Rei giggled, hating the girlish action. "Sure."

The two were on the way to Rei's house in no time, Tala proving to be an excellent bike rider. Rei was say on the seat and the redhead was standing. He could've sworn that Tala rode it everyday rather than the fancy motorbike that he drove them to the café on.

When they got there, Rei gave Tala's bag back to him before waving the boy off, practically skipping to the house. He fell onto the living room couch, his head in his best friend's lap.

"What's up with you?" Lee asked. "English can't be that fun."

"No, I'm just having a good day," he looked at the TV. "What are you watching?"

"My Gym Partner's a Monkey," Lee replied. The two sat and watched for a while before Rei stood and left the room to find his friend Mao.

"Hey Mao!" he sang with a bright smile. "What you up to?"

The girl was in her pink and white room, sat at her desk on her laptop.

She raised a brow. "What are you smoking?"

"Can I not just be happy?" he asked, shutting the door and sitting on her bed. "Jeez, what's with you people?"

"Did you get a date or something?" she asked, truly curious. Her eyes lit up at her friend's blushing face. "Oh, you did?!"

"What makes you think that?" Rei asked.

"Ah, the usual calm, collected Rei. Reduced to a blushing tomato," she smiled and sighed dreamily. "How cute!"

Rei didn't respond.

"So, who is it- don't tell me! Hiromi? Miriam?" a smirk. "Tala?"

"You ask too many questions, Mao."

"Aw! It is, isn't it? Is he your boyfriend- wa, this is too cute!"

"No, he's not! It's just a date!"

Mao huffed, her bubble busted. "What? Why?"

Rei rolled his eyes, leaning back on his hands. "I've known the guy for what? Three or four weeks? And in that time I've seen him, how many times? Five?"

Sighing, the girl pushed her swivel chair to the bed. "I suppose you're right," Mao agreed. "You need to get to know each other better for when you start a relationship."

"If we start a relationship."

She rolled her eyes, waving her hand. "Same difference. All that matters right now is that my baby brother-"

"I'm like, two months older than you."

"-has a gay date!" she squealed, tackling him with a hug. "I'm so proud of you!"

Rei looked down at the pink-fanatic, shaking his head. "You're such a girl."

"Oh, now you're openly gay, we can go guy watching!" she sat up on her hands, looking down at him. "Basketballers!"

"Mao…"

"Don't deny yourself what you want."

He raised a brow, amused. "I suppose one time couldn't hurt."

"Yay!" she hugged him. "I can't wait to tell mum-"

"You can't!"

Suddenly, the hyper activeness depleted. "What? Why?"

Rei felt himself blush for the umpteenth time that day. "I'm not ready to come out yet."

"Why?"

He sighed, pushing Mao off him and sitting up, next to her on the bed. "I just…I don't know. I never considered things like this until Tala asked me, and I figured, I like him, he's a good friend, and it'd be nice to figure it out when I get the chance."

"So you don't know if you're gay or not?"

"Never thought about it."

"What about now you have thought about it? What do you think?"

He rolled his eyes. "I don't know, that's why I agreed to the date. I think so, but I want to make sure."

"So after the date can we tell mum? She's dying to know."

"You've talked to her about my sexuality?"

"It came up."

He sighed. "We'll see."

There was a pause where the two looked at the white glow from Mao's laptop. The room was very childish and feminine, especially for Mao. Rei had always thought the girl to be more into teenage girl stuff, but her room said other wise with it's spotty pink beanbag, white and pink chair and fluffy pink rug. Not to mention the shelves of teddy bears.

"I'm amazed you've never thought of it before," Mao admitted. "I always used to think about that kind of stuff until I was sure I was straight."

"I never had a reason to," Rei said, shrugging. "I was more into friendships as a child and more into school as a young teen. I never considered dating."

"Has no one ever asked you out?" Mao asked, surprised. "Don't take this the wrong way, but you're really hot and kind."

Rei laughed. "Thanks. Yeah, people have a few times, but I always told them I wasn't ready."

"Wow," she said. "Workaholic."

"So, no telling mum or dad?"

Mao smiled, crossing her fingers behind her back and grinning. "Promise."

--

Hiromi clutched her silver flip phone tightly, her eyes wide. "What?!" she exclaimed. "He's gay?"

On the other end of the phone, Mao lay on her back on her bed, giggling with her own pink phone against her ear. "Muchly gay. Don't tell anyone though, he 'doesn't know yet'. I know he is though."

Humming, the brunet relaxed against her boyfriend who was stroking her hair. "He always seemed gay, I have to say."

"I know right?" Mao squealed. "Oh, this is so romantic and cute! Two teenage boys on a quest for sexuality and love!"

"And you have like, front row seats," Hiromi sighed. "I'm jealous."

Max chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm going to get a drink, seeing as I'm clearly not meant to hear this conversation."

Hiromi nodded and lay on the sofa.

"Was that Max?" Mao asked. "Did he hear us?"

"He doesn't know who, but he heard what I said. Don't worry, I trust him."

Mao nodded. "So, I was thinking, we should like…follow them or something," she smirked. "See how their first date goes."

"And by the sounds of it, Rei's first kiss!"

"Cute!" Mao sighed happily. "My little brother's growing up!"

Hiromi laughed, lifting up her feet as Max came back into the room, letting him sit down before putting her feet on his lap. "How adorable. I have to meet this Tala guy though. I want to make sure he's good enough for our Rei."

Max raised a brow. Hiromi slapped a hand to her mouth.

"Rei's gay?"

"I'll totally introduce you to him when I can," Mao said, oblivious to what had happened on the other end. "He's lovely."

"I bet," Hiromi said, not taking her eyes off her boyfriend's blue ones. "Hey, I have to go. I'll talk to you later, k?"

"K, say hi to Max for me!"

"Sure, later!"

"Bye!"

Hiromi shut the phone and put it on the floor, sitting up and looking at Max seriously. "Okay, now you have to understand, we don't know if he's gay-"

"I'm not going to tell anyone," Max said, laughing. "I wouldn't do that to him. I overheard by accident, but he's still my friend and it's still his secret."

Hiromi smiled and kissed the blonde's nose. "You're so awesome."

He grinned. "I know. You too."

--

Kivea: I smell TROUBLE. Do YOU?

-I just gave it away, didn't I?-

Okaaai, so like…iono. I like this chapter so much. I GOT A FOUR IN SPANISH :3 -wus predicted a two, maximum grade is a 7-

Anyway, I'm not going to give this story so much attention as I have been, because I have three other stories that I haven't updated in like, uh, FOREVER, so yeah.

Today is a good day.

Best wishes to you all!

Pairings

…are vote-able. I'm good with absolutely anything. No pairing is solid atm except TalaRei, and the MaxHiromi thing was just because I thought it was cute. If you think Max should go with someone else, or Hiromi should go with someone else, just tell me and I'll click my magic fingers and make it so!

If no one asks for Mystel or Zeo to be with anyone, however, I think they look quite cute together 3

Ja ne ~

Kivea

PREVIEW

"I'm asking you to do this one thing for me, please!"

"Tala, I'm not going to tell Rei for you! Do it yourself!"

"Come on Kai!"

"Look, I'll go and say you couldn't be there, but I'm not making excuses for you."