The chapter's are coming quicker now that I have time off school! I've been looking forward to writing this for a LONG time, and it was the reason I started this story.

I hope all you lovely people will like it too!

I've also got another Rei/Kai fic up, Speechless, which I wrote a while ago and decided to put up. Also a song fic (kinda short, but quality over quantity!).

And after this, would you all like to see more Rei and Kai? Cause I've already got an idea for a new one heehee...

Anyway, on with the chappy!


A Portrait of Two Lovers

Chapter 7: Under the Cherry Blossom

Rei waited expectantly by his bedroom window, gazing and searching for the new holder of his heart, Kai. He had atempted to cover the bruises and scars as much to his ability, took painkillers as he still hurt in areas,had brushed his hair till it shone like raven feathers and wore a black vest with camo jeans over black boots. He wanted too look good for Kai, as beside Kai he thought he would feel insignificant and small, like someobsessed fan trailing a glamourous star. The wait felt like it went on for hours and hours, and Rei became more worried and confused. Would Kai return his passion then leave him waiting for more, or would he just tell him that he doesn't want him? No, Rei knew inside that Kai had given him his trust, had bared a raw wound that was still bleeding to him and Rei had helped to stop the flow even if it was temporary.
As he stared bored and restless, he suddenly saw him and like a new sun he came, his hair blowing wispily about him, free and long. The warmth and light of the day came and Rei leapt with a cry of happiness and galloped down the stairs, and landed gracefully in the hallway like a cat. He saw his mother pass and she laughed light heartedly. Rei was glad to see her so happy, joyous. She just thought that Rei had found a new friend, and Rei wanted it that way. It would be too awkward.
Twisting the bronze door handle he flung it open as Kai came down the pavement to his house, and Rei's heart leapt at the site of him.
He looked so different, relaxed, his darkness tamed. Wearing a plain, loose white t-shirt, baggy blue jeans ripped at the knees and held up by a black belt, with a smile full of laughter and shine that it seemed as if he would explode with giggles of joy any second, casual but still beautiful. The darkness was still there but it was kept at bay by the new light. He looked so kind and welcoming that Rei forgot any shyness and on impulse ran down the pathway and thrown himself upon Kai, practically leaping like a kitten upon a ball of yarn. He feel upon Kai and they crashed in a sprawling heap on the floor, Rei upon Kai.
Rei blushed as he realized what he ahd done and scrambled to sit up. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" he cried, sheking his head and arms frantically in embarassment.
Kai pulled up his head. He looked suprised, then laughed, a sound like a fallen angel singing.
Rei puffed up his face. "What?"
"Just look at the way your sitting on me!" Rei looked down and screeched, leaping to his feet as if something sharp and hot had stabbed him in the rear end. He had been sitting upon Kai's crotch whileKai was lying down and he had been sitting up. Rei could only thank some higher power that he hadn't been seen and that his mom was busy.
"Well, anyway, I thought you were gonna take me somwere?" Rei tried to hide his embarrasment at what he had just done. Kai got to his feet, and brushed himself off.
"Well, we can't until you have all your paints and canvas, can we?" Kai smiled knowingly.
Rei cocked his head to one side in confusion. "Hmm, why would I need that?"
Kai touched Rei's face lgihtly. "You look so cute when you do that."
"Um...I..." Rei turned to see if his mother was there but thank heavens she was still gone.
"Haha. Well, go and get your stuff and you will find out why." Kai smirked secretively.
"I hate suprises." Rei sighed and turned to his house, running through the door when he thought Kai couldn't see him and up the stairs, crashing into his room. Grabbing a black satchel that he normally used, he shoved in a wooden box which he used for his favourite paints and brushes, a medium sized canvas and a sketch pad, some bottles made forcarrying water, some tissues, thenhe done up his bags straps and flung it over his head on his shoulder, galloped down the stairs but stopped himself before Kai could see just how excited he really was. Opening the door calmly, he saw Kai smirklike he was up too something.
And Rei was right. As soon as he had begun to walk down the path to him, Kai waved and burst into a run, jumping over Rei's gate. Rei blinked in disbelief, shouted goodbye to his mother and chased after him.
'Is he insane! What the heck is he up to!' Rei's body was still quite sore and the way he was pushing his body blossomed new sores. But he soon began to get the strange feeling of deja-vu.
'I can remember running down these paths before..'
Kai turned his headas he was running and laughed, carefree. "You need to work out more!" It was like his true spirit had been released from the clawed talons of his past demons.
Rei allowed himself to laugh too. He couldn't believe what had happened lately. He had fallen in love, been rejected, been beaten for it and been bought back into love again. It seemed unbelievable now he thought back on it, and it seemed unbelievable how much of a change Kai had gone through for today, but now it all seemedokay. His life would normally never have been this interesting, and he had matured through these events. And if these thing had never happened he would never have met Kai.
Kai sped up and Rei knew were he was going. He was going to the cherry tree where they had first layed eyes upon one another. But he didn't notice the eyes that followed him and Kai.


Rei reached the awaiting pink branchs of the trees, and they seemed to reach out and greet him, waving a hello in the breeze. Kai was already there, waving lazily.
Rei trusged up the hill and when he got to the top, collapsed onto the petal strewn grass.
"How..can you..run that fast..and not be tired?" Rei panted. His legs felt like they were on fire, his bruisies screaming. Kai laughed and knelt down beside Rei, ruffling his hair.
"Like I told you, you need to work out more. And maybe 'cause of the bag you were carrying, too?" Rei sighed.
"Why did I have to bring this stuff, anyway?" He said, pulling the strap from around his neck and placing it beside him carefully. Kai stretched as he stood up like a long, graceful panther. A thought suddenly came to Rei of how beautiful it would be underneath his clothing, but he quickly shook it off.
"You lost your painting, right?" Kai said. Rei still had one in his bedroom, but he wouldnt say that. He wanted to keep it for himself.
"Ummm...yeah..." 'What was he getting at?'
"Well, I seen it. And yes, it was amazing, but it seemed too dark and brooding, like my past was shinig through. I would like you to paint me as I am now."
Rei should have known. It was so obvious. "But, we will be here for a while, and.." Deep down, Rei really wanted to do it.
"I knew that already. And what?"
"Well...whats the point? I mean, I'll never become somebody great now.. I'll just be a boy with dreams too high." Rei smiled sadly.
"That's exactly the point! Draw this for me, Rei. It will be a symbol of our relationship.And maybe...I will get you noticed."
"Really?" Rei instantly perked up.
"Of course. We are both artists, aren't we? True art can never remain hidden. It will always strive to be free. That is what art does, Rei, it sets you free. It lets you fly, be it in colour or sound, art truly takes us from the mundane everyday world. That is why no artist goes unnoticed."
Rei knew he was completely right.His decision was made.
"Okay, Kai. For just those words, I'll paint the real you."
Kai was leaned against the hard bark of the tree, one leg outstretched, the other drawn up with his right arm leant upon it, the left arm limp at his side. His eyes were shut, and he was in a light sleep, a drifting day dream. This was how Rei was painting him. Sitting with his legs drawn up, the canvas resting on his kneesin a landscape position, his paints by his side with an open water bottle. He could already feel the life in his painting, could already feel its feel its first sighs of breathing, the first gasps of colour. His brush was the hand of God, bringing soul into all, casting the magic of life with each stroke. Should one go wrong, he would be dead, the creation frozen in its birth. But Rei would never let that happen. He poured all of his concentration into the brush, and there he began to be born. Rei was immersed, like he had been dipped into a pool of wealth and when he returned, gasping for breath, it was done. Kai was born upon his canvas.
How long must they have sat there? The day was begining to dim when Rei came out of his colouful dream.
He set down his paint brush with a sigh. "Kai, it's finished. You don't need to sit like that any more."
No reply. His eyes were still shut, and his breathing had become deep. "He's..asleep?"
Looking around to make sure nobody was looking, he crawled up to Kai and knelt in front of him. Kai' silken hair covered his shuttered eyes and Rei lifted it out of the way. He blushed when he saw how lovely Rei looked as he slept. "He's like an angel..." he whispered, and as those words left his mouth, Kai's eyes opened, hazy with sleep. Rei didn't move. Kai's eyes were hazy with sleep, filled with the tears that form in your eyes when you have been woke in you sleep.
"Rei... are you done?" he yawned. "And why are you sitting there?"
Rei swallowed. "Y-yes I wanted to wake you up to tell you..."
Kai smiled in a daze. "Let me see."
Rei twisted around and picked up the canvas. He held it carefully as it was still wet.
"Here you go... hope its okay." Rei handed it shyly.Kai took it cautiously as if handling a child, and watched as emotions of awe and approval flicker in his eyes. Rei felt shy and worried slightly about what he would think of it.
Eventually, Kai looked up, setting Rei's worried mind to rest. "It's perfect." Kai smiled.Rei felt as if he could melt at that smile. "You really did capture the real me. Thank you." Rei sighed in relief. "But.." Rei's heart froze.
"But what?"
"I never thought I was this good looking!" Rei laughed. He thought it was actually something bad.
"But we've got to let it dry. So, what do you say 'bout sitting up here with me 'till it does? The stars will be coming out soon." A dreamy look came to Kai's face.
"Of-of course!" Rei jumped up. "I.. mean yes." He didn't want to sound to eager. Kai chuckle,. and placing his arms round Rei, drew him in closer. Rei felt his body, strong yet soft, against him.
"Let us stay like this..." Kai lifted Rei's face by his chin to him. "Let me kiss you."
Shyly, Rei touched his lips to Kai's, but Kai held his head with one of his hands and turned it into a long kiss. The tree semed to smile down on their love, and shed petals upon them. A scene so beautiful if any artist had seen it they would instantly want to paint it.
But in the calm eye of the storm of their love, they never noticed the two people that had watched them from afar. A male and female, the boy tall with a blaze of long red hair and the girl with a softer flame of orange hair that flowed long around her like a halo. Both were pretty, with the same features and same emerald eyes. You could easily see that they were brothers and sisters.
"Hiraku...is that him? Alive?" she asked again, sadly. The boy shook his head.
"No. No matter how much they look alike, ther could never be another Hiraku. But..."
The boy tightened his fist angrily. "But it was Kai's fault he has gone...and he doesn't even care... he just goes and gets another!"
Tears began to leave a trail down his cheeks. His sister, worried try to put her arms around him to comfort him but he shrugged her off.
"I will never forgive him for this...he's gonna pay."

Yay! I really loved writing that chappy. And does the trouble end for Kai and Rei? Well, not yet thats for sure.

Kai: Oh for f sake, you'll never stop making any trouble for us will you?

Me: Nope. It's fun.

Kai: Sadomasochist.

Me: Rei? You know what to do.

Rei: Yay (kitty jumps on Kai and harrases)

Me: Thats what you get lalala.

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