Marin: From now on, I will never request a certain amount of reviews before updating. If I do, I'm just having a mood-swing. -nervous laugh-
Varden: Or, she is possessed by evil spirits. Like Midge for example.
Marin: She is evil.. Luckily, Varden and I threw her in a garbage-can and put her on fire. She melted quite fast.
Varden: You could even see the smoke form a skull as it drifted up into the air. -Marin and Varden laughs manically-

Comments: Shounen-ai warning! Don't like? Then don't read!

Disclaimer: Do I really need to write it every chapter?


Rose Garden

Chapter 10


Last chapter...

"Mommy... my head hurt.." he murmured in a childish voice as tears started to form in the corners of his eyes. Then, he slowly turned his head towards me and he

whispers as the tears started to run down his cheeks...

"Taro..."


Kai P.O.V

All of us looked at Max with shocked expressions when he said that name.

'Why did he say Taro?'

Max rested his head on Judy's shoulder again, but he still had his head turned towards me. He suddenly stir and open his eyes slowly. When he saw me, he blinked before he touched his cheek and felt the tears. He brushed them away and looked at his hand.

"Maxie, what did you dream?" Judy asked. Max looked athis mombefore he answered:
"I don't know what it was but... I think I had a flashback from when I was younger.. or something..."
"What happened in the flashback?"
"Umm... there was a boy who was yelling at me and he seemed to be about 5 or 6 years old... He kept on yelling that the two of us had made a promise and that we were best-friends and we would never forget about eachother. When I yelled back at him that I didn't know who he was, he grabbed my shoulders andslammed me repeatedly against a wall. Three grown-ups saw us and one of them stopped the boy from hurting me. Another one checked on me to see if I had any injuries and the third one went over to our house and got you, mom. You rushed over to me and pulled me into your arms in a comforting hug as I cried, because my head was hurting.."

"Hmm.. I remember that."
"You do? What happened after that?"
"If I remember correctly, we took you to a hospital, where you had to stay for about two days while the doctors sew together a wound on the back of your head."
"What about the boy? Who was he?"
"You don't know? You just mentioned his name before you woke up."
"I did?"
"Yes. You said Taro." Max looked at his mom wide-eyed before he looked down and seemed to be thinking.

"Do you remember anything?"
"...No..."

"How about we get some breakfast? We didn't eat anything before we left for the cottage this morning."
"Yeah."

We got up from the ground and walked back to the house. On our way there, I had a strange feeling that we were being watched...

Kai P.O.V (end)

Meanwhile, in a house in the outskirts of the town the Mizuhara's, Kai, Rei and Tyson live in...
"He's remembering..." A dark voice said as the owner of the voice hid in the shadows while looking into a small mirror that had a black crystal frame with a handle made of black crystal and shining silver. Shown on the mirror-surface was a boy.

"Well, this is just great! Why the hell did you let him go away, Tomo? Now our plans have to be put on hold, damn it!" A dark-haired teen-age boy yelled.
"Do not utter a single threatening word towards me again, you mere mortal boy!"
"I have a name you know.." The boy muttered.
"I will not lower myself to mention a person's name. Only my beloveds..."
"Exactly why did I agree to let you stay here at my place, Tomo?"
"You want your beloved, don't you? That was our agreement. That you shall get your beloved and your enemies shall be vanquished in order to let me stay here."

The boy walked over to the big window in the attic they were in. Compared to the rest of the house, that was almost clinically clean, the attic was left a little dusty, since the boy didn't want his family to renovate it. His parents couldn't understand why, but they listened to him and let him have his way.

"It's strange.. You've been in my surroundings for over 14 years now, and yet, he's not mine... Answer this question."
"What question, mortal boy?"
"Why the hell did you let the accident happen? If it wasn't for you, he would still remember me! And call me by my name!"
"You wanted him to forget his close ones, that's why and very well, I shall from now on call you by your name...Taro.."

Later that day... 6 pm. Cottage. (or house. --U whatever you call it..)

Rei P.O.V

"How long are we renting this cottage?" Max asked.
"House." Kai said.
"Okay, house?"

'Why won't they just admit that they like each other?'

"A few days. We'll be home before your graduation, don't worry." Judy answered and smiled.

'It can't be that hard? Although, I like Tyson, but there's no way I'm going to admit that to anyone.'

"Rei?"

'I've liked him a lot for some time now, but he doesn't know that.'

"Rei?"

'Yet...'

"Neko-chan!"

As soon as I heard my nickname, I was brought out of my thoughts. Tyson was looking at me and I blinked.

"What?"
"Why were you staring at me?" Tyson asked with a raised eyebrow.

'Oh crap!'

"I... I was just.. thinking about something! Yeah, that's what I did!"

'Insert nervous laugh here...' --U

"About what?"

'Eeeeeeeeeeehhhh...'

"Anou... this and that.."

'You for example...'

I felt the heat rise to my cheeks and I tried desperately to fight it back. I almost succeeded, but a slight pink shade could be seen on my cheeks...
He looked at me in confusion and I turned my head away. Suddenly, someone grabs my arm and yanks me up from the sofa I was sitting on
and started to drag me towards the door.

"We're going outside. We'll be back soon." I heard Tyson say. He continued to drag me as we went out from the cottage and headed towards the lake.

He suddenly stops and lets go of my arm. He sat down on the grass and looked up at me.

"Sit."

I do as he says and sat down next to him. We sat there for a long while in silence, before he asked:

"Are you hiding something from me?" I turned to him and exclaimed:
"What? No! I'm not hiding anything!" He looked me in the eyes for a little while before his questioning look turned into a glare.
"You're lying..."
"I'm not!"
"Then tell me."
"Tell you what?"
"What you're thinking. Or don't you trust me? Is that it?"
"What are you talking about? Of course I trust you-!"
"Then tell me!"
"I can't..."
"And why not?"
"I just...can't..."

He growled at my answer and stood up. He started to walk away as he said over his shoulder:

"I'm going back to the cottage."
"Ty, wait!"

I stood up too and watched him walk toward the cottage.

'I might not get this chance ever again...I have to do something.'

Rei P.O.V (end)

Tyson P.O.V

"Ty, wait!"

I ignored him as I continued to walk towards the cottage. 'I can't believe he doesn't trust me! He have always trusted me with things, so why not now?'

Suddenly I feel someone glomping me from behind. Strong arms hugs me around my shoulders and I feel a head resting on my left shoulder right next to my head.

"Rei?"

Rei hugs me even tighter after I said his name. His eyes are closed but I can see that he's on the verge of tears. I'm worried... Suddenly he exclaims:

"Tyson, I love you!"

I was shocked. Rei is in love with me? Well, ever since we met Max, I've seen hints that Rei might like me more than a friend, but I never thought that he loved me... Earlier today, when we were down at the lake, I was sleeping when I was abruptly awoken by a weight landing on me. I jolted awake and my head shot up and I met Rei's lips with mine. We parted and I saw that Rei was lying slightly on top of me. Why was he doing that? Kai seems to know since he was laughing.. Come to think of it, I liked that short kiss... I wish something like that could happen again... Suddenly, my heart skips a beat and I feel heat rise to my face.

'Wait... does this mean...that I love Rei back...? Well, we have gotten closer during these few months... I... I think... I think I actually... love him...'

Tyson P.O.V (end)

Rei P.O.V

'He hates me now, I know it...'

"Rei?" I heard him say but I didn't move... "Rei, look at me." I slowly open my eyes and turned my head at the slightly pleading tone he had in his voice.
He looked into my eyes who were brimmed with tears threatening to fall before he suddenly snuggled my cheek. He then pulled away. Does this mean...?

"Ty?" I ask quietly as the tears slowly ran down my face. He turned around in my arms and brushed away my tears with his hand.
"Don't cry Rei... I... I love you too..."
"You.. you do?"
"Yes..." He blushed.

I got so happy when he told me he loved me, that I hugged him tight around his neck and cried. He hugged me around my waist as he said with an amused voice:

"Didn't I tell you not to cry?"
"Sorry..."

We pulled our heads back to look at each other and he brushed away my tears again. He left his hand on my cheek and I leaned into the touch.
He stroke my cheek with his thumb before he slowly pulled me into our first real kiss... I have dreamed of this moment for a long time now...
After a little while, we separated. We leaned our foreheads together and we stayed like that...

"Aishiteru... Ty..."
"Aishiteru Rei.."

Our lips met again in a passionate kiss...

In the house in the outskirts of the town the Mizuhara's, Kai, Rei and Tyson live in...
"So... The guardians of Wind and Earth have confessed their love to each other... If the same will happen to the guardians of Fire and Water..."
"Our plans will be ruined! You have to do something to stop it from happening Tomo!"
"Be silent, mortal boy! There is no need to worry about it. They will not confess to each other anytime soon."
"But, when are they?"
"Have patience, mortal boy. Your beloved shall be yours before it will happen."
"I told you. I have a name..."
"I do not care. I changed my mind."
"God, you're strange to talk to..." Taro said and walked over to the window again. He leant his head against the cold glass.

'You will be mine Max... You will be mine...'

Cottage/House. 7 pm.
"When do you think Rei and Tyson will be back?" Max asked Kai as he put his toothbrush and his toothpaste in one of the mugs in the small bathroom they shared.
"They should be here soon. Don't worry." Kai said as he unpacked his bag. He put his things in one of the three drawers in the chest of drawers in the room.
"I know.. But still.." Max said as he came out from the bathroom. "They've been out for an hour now.." Suddenly he yawned and rubbed his eyes.

"Tired already?"
"Of course I'm tired. You should be too since we got up at 3 in the morning just to get here early..." Max said and yawned again.
"We're back!" Tyson yelled from downstairs.
"See, I told you they'd be here soon." Kai said and smiled. Max smiled back and grabbed his bag and put it on the bed closest to the window before he sat down behind it. He unpacked it and put his things in one of the other drawers. Rei and Tyson came up the stairs.

"Hey guys. What have you been doing while we were out?" Rei asked.
"Just unpacking." Max said as he put his bag back on the floor. He walked over to the bed and sat down as he said:

"I've been thinking about the sleeping-arrangements. What should we do?"
"I'm quite sure none of us wants to sleep on the floor, right?" Rei said. Everyone nodded.
"How about I share with Rei and Kai share with you Max? Since you don't seem to have any problem with Kai being close to you." Max blushed at that before he said:
"Umm... sure."

Later... 9 pm.
"I'm going to bed before I fall asleep down here.." Max said and yawned as he stood up from the livingroom couch where he had been sitting with the others.
"Sure sweetie. Oyasumi." Judy said.
"Oyasumi." Max said before he went upstairs. Judy looked at the other three on the couch and noticed that they had fallen asleep. She shook them awake.
"Wake up sleepy-heads. Go and sleep upstairs instead. Max has already gone up." Sleepily, they got off the couch and walked upstairs.

Max P.O.V

I just got out from the bathroom after I had brushed my teeth, when Kai, Rei and Tyson came up the stairs. I giggled when I noticed how sleepy they looked.

"What?" Tyson said.
"Nothing. You just look so funny when you look sleepy, that's all." I said and smiled.

I walked over to the chest of drawers a pulled out my pj's. I walked into the bathroom and closed the door. I took of my clothes and folded out my pj's that I had packed, only to reveal...

Max P.O.V (end)

Kai P.O.V

"Yarn it!" I heard Max yell from the bathroom. 'Isn't "Yarn it" Petal's word?'
"What?" I asked.
"I didn't pack my pj's..."
"What did you pack then?"

Max opened the door slowly and walked out.

"A nightshirt my mom gave me for christmas..." He said and blushed.

The nightshirt he wore was short-sleeved and it was blue and had a big white star on the front. The nightshirt went down to his mid-thigh.
He kept on pulling it down to try and cover his legs more, so I said:

"I've seen you in less clothing than that Max, so don't worry about the nightshirt being too short."

They looked at me wide-eyed before Rei and Tyson started laughing, although not too loud, and Max turned his head away blushing. I suddenly realised why..

"Wait. That came out wrong, didn't it?" I said and while I blushed too and scratched my head. They all nodded at me, Rei and Tyson still laughing.

"Anyway, I'm sure our parents are tired from driving here, so let's go to bed so we won't disturb them." Rei said. We all agreed and got to bed.

'I really wonder how Rei can sleep while Tyson snores... It's freakin' impossible!'

"Kai? Are you awake?"

I heard Max say in a quiet voice. I turned my head before I answered:

"Yeah..."
"Did I wake you up?"
"No. Tyson did."
"Oh...well...same here..."

Suddenly, Tyson's snoring stopped. I propped myself up on my elbows to look what had made him stop and Max sat up to look too.
In his sleep, while lying on his stomach, Rei had slung his arm over Tyson's chest and had put his hand over Tyson's mouth.

"Shut it..." I heard Rei mumble into his pillow.
"Sorry..." Tyson mumbled from underneath Rei's hand.

I fell back onto the bed, trying to control myself from laughing out loud. Max covered his mouth to stop himself from giggling.
Soon, the need of laughing, although in Max's case, giggling, ceased and Max lay down on the bed beside me again. I was about to fall asleep when Max said:

"Kai?"
"Hmm..."
"Oyasumi.."
"Oyasumi Max.."

After a while, I still couldn't sleep... 'Tyson stopped snoring a long time ago, so what can it be that is keeping me awake?'

I turned over so Iwas lyingon my side, and when I opened my eyes to see if Max was asleep or still awake, I couldn't believe my eyes...

Lying on the bed infront of me, was the most beautiful person I have ever seen...

Pale blonde hair, pulled back into a messy pony-tail in the neck, while thin bangs framed a beautiful face...

Closed eyes with eyelids lined with thick dark lashes...

Rosey-pink lips, slightly parted...

'He's beautiful... Hey, wait! He's a guy! How can I think that he's beautiful? I'm a guy too for crying out loud! Although...'

I reached my hand over and brushed some strands of hair away from Max's eyes.

'Maybe... Maybe I'm...falling in love...with him?... I've never felt this feeling before... so I'm not sure... But it must be..'

I rested my hand on his cheek as I stroke it with my thumb..

'Max... I think I'm falling in love with you...'

I was about to take my hand away from his cheek, when he suddenly grabbed my arm and hugged to his chest... A small smile spread on his face...

'Will you hate me if I told you?...'


To Be Continued...

Marin: I hope I made my deadline? Man, this chapter became long! Anyway, ReixTy-fluff! n.n Yay! Although that last part was a little sad...
Varden: You forgot the Karaoke part.
Marin: I'll put that in the next chapter, okay?