Hello my darlings!! -glomps all- Just wanted to say thank you to those who reviewed!!
Well, without further ado: Chapter Ten!!
Warnings: Just the usual stuff.
Disclaimer: Do. Not. Own.
Enjoy!
Chapter Ten – Unexpected Meeting
On waking up the next morning, Kai had stretched languidly before placing a soft kiss on Tala's forehead, and slid out of the bed to head downstairs and start making breakfast. Upon entering the kitchen however, he had been greeted by Bryan's slumbering body sprawled across the floor with various electronic equipment scattered around him. Taking in everything, Kai had scowled and poked Bryan with his foot and had proceeded to yell at the tired platinum-haired teen for exhausting himself, before making him some hot chocolate and sending him off to bed.
It had now been three weeks since that eventful night upon Tala and Kai's discharge from the hospital, and it had been spent in quiet recuperation for the crimson eyed teen, who had insisted that Hilary move in with them, considering she was always travelling to and from their house everyday. It didn't take much to persuade the girl as she had dragged a bewildered Kiyoko with her and returned mere hours later with her things.
Tala was far along the recovery road and was eager to start training again, under the pretence that "Kai won't find me attractive if I lose my six pack". Kai himself had scoffed and promptly smacked Tala upside the head for even thinking such a thing, much to the amusement of Hilary, Kiyoko, Bryan and Spencer.
Through the hustle and bustle of the household, with the many guests dropping by unexpectedly, Kai had been able to keep a secret. It wasn't something he was proud of, but he knew that if he told anyone, word would spread to the others in the house and he would be smothered by everyone. Not that it didn't have its perks. But Kai was used to being independent, and people surrounding him at all hours of the day asking inappropriate questions was starting to grate on his nerves. Not that he would ever say anything – he knew they were all doing it for his own good.
For the past two weeks, Kai had been suffering from insomnia. This in itself wasn't necessarily a bad thing, as he had suffered from it years before, but thanks to his current condition, he wasn't healing as quickly as he was used to, and he was losing a fair bit of weight. And for someone as petite and lean as him, it was starting to become noticeable, and it wouldn't be much longer before Tala noticed and said something.
Sighing, Kai crossed his arms behind his head and gazed up at the ceiling in contemplation. He had absolutely no idea why he was suffering from it. The last time, he had been able overcome it because Tala was a constant by his side, and that was the same now. So why? Eyebrows drown down into a frown, Kai bit the inside of his cheek.
"I don't understand …"
"Understand what?" Kai jumped slightly, eyes flickering towards the door where Tala was reclining against the doorframe, concern flashing within blue eyes.
"Tala …"
Warm blue eyes flitted over Kai's tense form for a few seconds before roaming up and locking with crimson eyes. "Hey." Pushing off the door frame, Tala strode into the room and hopped up onto the bed, landing beside Kai's still form.
Kai smiled, one hand reaching out to entwine with Tala's larger one. "Hey. "
"You alright?" Kai nodded, pulling the red-head down to rest at his side. The other remained unmoved, sensing that something was off, although he couldn't place his finger on it. "So what don't you understand?"
Kai refrained from rolling his eyes, "Nothing. It's not important, I was just thinking out loud."
Tala eyed Kai suspiciously, but let the matter drop. Kai would tell him when he was ready. "Hmmm."
Shifting to lie on his back, Tala wrapped an arm around Kai's waist and tugged him gently to his side. Complying more than willingly, Kai shuffled over, curling into Tala's body whilst draping an arm over his stomach and resting his cheek on his chest. He almost purred in contentment when Tala's hand rose to caress the silken strands of royal blue hair at the nape of his neck. Instead, he merely snuggled closer, his free hand toying with the ring around his neck subconsciously.
Tala sighed, drawing Kai's attention, who had started to doze off for the first time in ages. Crimson eyes tilted upwards, questioning. Tala merely smiled and ruffled Kai's hair before slowly moving to get up. "Hilary and Kiyoko want to start planning the wedding."
Kai's mouth dropped open into an 'o', and he groaned. "But we agreed to have the wedding in April … and it's only October." Pursing his lips together, his forehead crinkled into an exasperated frown as he did the calculations in his head quickly, "Which still gives us a good six months to plan and get everything sorted."
Tala chuckled, "I know. I said the same thing to the girls, but they were adamant." A tender smile touched his lips as Kai pouted, sitting up in the bed and crossing his arms over his chest, making him look the perfect picture of a child refused candy. "C'mon, it won't be that bad."
Kai sighed in defeat, "I know …"
Leaning forward, he placed a hand under Kai's chin and tilted it upwards before placing a soft, tender kiss on those pouting lips. "Be downstairs in ten, ok?"
Kai nodded dazedly, crimson eyes unfocused as Tala pulled back. The older teen chortled lightly, already on the way out of the room. As soon as he had gone, Kai flopped back down on the bed, a hand running through his hair distractedly, his mind resuming its train of thought before Tala had appeared.
He eyes strayed to the clock absent-mindedly before they focused on the red numbers and he cursed out loud, shooting up and off of the bed as he realised that he only had five more minutes to take a shower, change and attempt to tame his hair. Dashing towards the cupboard, he rummaged through it half-hazardly and grabbed a pair of baggy grey jeans and a simple fitted black tank top, and promptly sprinted towards the bathroom, stripping off his clothes and jumping into the shower.
x.x.x.x.x
"Kai!! Get your gorgeous ass down here right now!"
Having finally managed to get himself ready, Kai poked his head around the peered down from the top of the stairs, a frown touching his forehead and crimson eyes narrowing on the platinum haired teen that had come out with the random outburst. He stifled a small chuckle though, as he spotted his fiancé glaring icily at the back of Bryan's head, his mouth moving silently, obscenities flitting through his head.
"Well there you are my gorgeous fluff ball! Took your sweet time!" Bryan had all but one second to duck as Tala tackled him to the floor, hands wrapped around his throat, ice blue eyes glazed over with pure possessiveness and jealousy.
"No one! I repeat, no one, can call my Kai gorgeous or make any comment about his ass!" Growling, Tala tightened his hold on the struggling teen underneath him who was gazing up at him incredulously, his face turning a faint shade of purple as he tried to pry the fingers around his throat off.
Gasping, Kai sprinted down the stairs quickly, and hauled his irate fiancé off of the choking platinum haired Russian with a strength that belied his slim frame. This was no mean feat, however, as Tala was a lot heavier and taller than him and seemed hell bent of choking to death one of his closest friends for making a harmless comment. Luckily for Bryan, Kai was able to pin Tala's arms behind his back, who had given into snarling and growling like a wolf.
"Tala , baby, calm down! He was only teasing. He didn't mean anything by it," Sighing softly at the lack of reaction, Kai fixed a dark glare on Bryan, who had managed to stand up and was rubbing at his throat, looking extremely sheepish towards the whole situation, brushing off the fact that one of his closest childhood friends had just tried to strangle him.
Kai tightened his grip on Tala's arms, wondering why the hell Bryan had chosen to provoke him. It was no secret that Tala had become extremely paranoid and possessive of Kai, the result of worry, anxiety and fear from over the last few months. Sighing once more, Kai couldn't help the smallest of smiles gracing his lips at that fact. To him, it was comforting to know that Tala cared for him so much, though he had to admit, the red-head was taking it a little too far. He wondered what would happen, exactly, if someone provoked Tala so much that the older teen would finally fall over edge. He shook his head of such thoughts quickly. He had more important things to worry about ... like his red haired fiancé itching to launch himself at the platinum haired Russian who had failed to move an inch.
With Tala struggling viciously in his arms and refusing to listen to a word he said, Kai felt it was time to use a different approach. Quickly and swiftly stepping out from behind the red head, he wrapped his arms around the taller teen's neck and tip toed, placing his lips over the others gently.
The reaction was instantaneous.
Tala immediately stopped snarling, his clench fists loosening and coming up to lock around Kai's petite waist as he proceeded to ravish the younger teen's mouth, claiming what was his and swallowing the small whimpers of pleasure that escaped Kai's throat hungrily.
Bryan sweat dropped and fought the urge to roll his eyes, having not expected such a strange, though highly effective, reaction. He shrugged it off easily, gingerly rubbing at his bruising throat. Ah well. Tala, Kai, Spencer and himself were far from ordinary, so anything strange that happened in this house was a given. Kiyoko and Hilary were slowly being corrupted by their behaviour, so it seems, as only yesterday, Kiyoko had accidentally set fire to a curtain and had watched it avidly burn before Kai came waltzing in casually with a fire extinguisher at hand.
He mentally scolded himself for provoking Tala. It hadn't been the first time he had been tackled by the slightly younger teen, but he had tried so hard to make it the last. The first time it had happened, Tala almost charged at him with a frying pan, which had been plucked out of his hands swiftly by a confused Spencer.
Pulled out of his thoughts by a quiet 'thump', he winced slightly when Tala pinned Kai to the closest wall, deciding that it was probably time to take his leave; after all, he didn't need to give Tala another reason to go rabid wolf on him. Besides, it was a private moment, and he felt wrong intruding upon it, though his fingers itched to grab his camera, take a picture and sell it to Hilary. He resisted the urge though - Tala would kill him.
Chuckling to himself, Bryan stalked quietly down the hallway towards the kitchen, forgetting for the moment that others were in the vicinity.
Kai groaned, feeling Tala slip a leg between his, the other's lean body coming into full contact with his own, sending bolts of pleasure shooting down his spine. And with that talented tongue caressing every inch of his mouth passionately, he felt euphoric, all logical thought flying out of his mouth, filled only with Tala and his wicked tongue. His knees buckled, and he would've fallen if it weren't for Tala's possessive grip around his hips. His lungs were on fire, but he pulled Tala closer, wanting more of the man who had captured his heart. He wanted this moment to last forever, but air was already running out and he was feeling more than a little light-headed. Pulling back reluctantly, Kai gasped, desperately trying to get some air back into his lungs.
Tala panted harshly, his forehead resting against the top of Kai's head as he tried to control his breathing. That kiss had literally taken his breath away. He leant back slightly, his eyes flickering over Kai's delicate features. Kai had closed his eyes, dark lashes quivering against high cheek bones that were covered in an endearing flush. Full lips were a cherry red and kiss bruised, slightly open as they parted to take in air. The sight was more than enough for Tala to capture those lips again, swiping at deliciously swollen lips with his tongue. This kiss was slower and more passionate, tender, each teen still breathing deeply. Their tongues battled sensuously, neither giving up in their spar for dominance until Tala reached down and cupped Kai's buttocks, causing the other to gasp and arch against him, moaning deeply in his throat - a moan that Tala was all too happy to swallow.
A sudden shriek filled the air, causing Tala and Kai to leap apart in shock, panting heavily and eyes darting about frantically, trying to pinpoint the source of the noise.
Hilary rushed in through the hallway leading off to the front door, another squeal leaving her lips, a sheepish Kiyoko trailing behind with a serene smile on her face. The brown haired girl immediately latched herself to Kai's side, studying his face intently, a Cheshire grin spreading across her face as she took in his flushed features. She threw a dark look at Tala suddenly, "Why did you stop?!"
Kai, Tala and Kiyoko stared at the girl incredulously, still some-what unused to her straight-to-the-point statements. Kiyoko coughed lightly and looked away, a blush staining her cheeks. Though she would never admit it out loud, she was tempted to take a picture and coo over how cute the couple looked together, but she didn't want to make them feel overly uncomfortable and awkward ... that was Hilary's self-appointed job. Kai blushed darkly, nibbling at his already swollen bottom lip, a sure sign that he was embarrassed. Tala merely scowled and glared at the girl.
"What I do with Kai does not concern you!"
Hilary smirked, hardly put off by Tala's attitude, "It does when you're making out in the middle of the living room and whatever room I happen to walk into."
"Yeah, like our 'locked' bedroom?" Tala countered wryly.
Hilary shrugged, "Well what can I say? You must've loosened the lock when you pinned Kai against it."
Kai flushed an even darker shade of crimson, running a hand over his face in morbid embarrassment.
"You rushed in with a lock-picking kit!!" Tala fumed, ears going red.
Looking scandalised, Hilary pointed a finger at herself. "Me? With a 'lock-picking kit'? I had just taken it off of Bryan!"
Bryan chose that exact moment to walk into the living room, Spencer following and shaking his head. "You stole that off of me!"
"Did not!"
Kai stepped back and away from the argument, feeling his head throb uncomfortably. Kiyoko and Spencer, being the only two with enough sense to not get involved shot him a concerned look before glancing at each other, understanding flitting between them.
"Yes you did!! You ran into my room when I was in the shower! Dug through my stuff! And took it! You even left a note saying it was a case of life or death … which we all know means Kai and Tala are getting physical somewhere ."
Hilary grinned and shrugged, "Hey, it was either the 'lock-picking kit' or the bazooka."
Tala's eyes bulged out of his head as he turned on Bryan. "You have a bazooka in your room?"
"That's not all he has in there!" Hilary chirped happily, glad the heat had been taken from her.
Kai groaned almost inaudibly, the raised voices adding to the flaring pain in his head. Rubbing at his temples slightly, he moved away from the arguing trio. Kiyoko nodded towards Spencer who turned on the spot and followed the petite Russian teen down the hallway towards the kitchen. Casting a furtive glance towards Tala, Bryan and Hilary, she was somewhat annoyed that they hadn't noticed Kai and Spencer's departure from the room. Shaking her head and sighing, she quickly set off after the two retreating figures, worry gnawing away at her.
Upon entering the kitchen, she frowned, watching as Spencer tried to coax a shaky Kai into a chair and offering him a glass of water. Striding forward, she placed a cool hand on Kai's forehead. "Kai …"
Kai looked up at her, a small smile of reassurance dancing on his lips. "I'm fine, 'Yoko … just a headache." He tore his gaze away from her when Spencer placed a glass of water in front of him. Nodding gratefully to the concerned blond, Kai picked it up, his hand shaking before placing it to his lips and draining the glass in one go. "Thanks, Spenc."
Spencer swallowed and then nodded, eyes trained on Kai's form anxiously. "No problem."
Worrying fretfully at her bottom lip, Kiyoko let her hand fall to Kai's shoulder, capturing the younger boy's attention. "You don't look too well … maybe you should go back to bed. We can do the whole wedding thing some other time when you're feeling better."
Kai shook his head, "No … I can't do that. I can't let you girls down."
"Kai, you're not well," Kiyoko said, stressing her last word, exasperation clear on her face.
"She's right, Kai. You really don't look too good … have you lost weight?" Spencer intoned, head cocked to the side in question.
Fear flaring up within him, Kai stood automatically, wanting to get away from the questions, from the concern. His sudden movement surprised Kiyoko, who gasped, stumbling back as Kai pushed past her unsteadily, a hand flying to his head. "Kai!"
Kai's next few steps faltered and he swayed slightly, prompting Spencer to rush forward, heart pounding wildly in fear. Free arm reaching out to the wall, Kai's legs collapsed beneath him and he crumpled brokenly to the ground, barely a gasp escaping him as he fell. Spencer managed to leap forward at the last second and cushion Kai's head with his hands before it hit the hard tiled floor. "KAI!"
Kiyoko shrieked, scrambling towards the two fallen teens and flipping Kai on to his back gently, hand flying up to his neck to locate a pulse. Upon finding a strong steady pulse, Kiyoko released a breath she wasn't even aware she had been holding, her heart beating sporadically in her chest. The commotion sent Tala, Bryan and Hilary hurtling through the kitchen door, their eyes frantically searching for Kai.
As soon as Tala's worried gaze landed on his petite lover, he dove forward and gathered the teen into his arms, cradling him close to his chest, searching eyes flickering over his face. "Kai! What happened to him?" His eyes immediately met Kiyoko's who sat shivering on the floor, arms abandoned by her sides uselessly.
"I … I don't know. He said he had a headache … and then when he stood up … he just, he just collapsed." Kiyoko said, stuttering, evidently trying to get her head around the situation.
"What does that mean? What caused it?"
Kiyoko shook her head. "I don't know … I-"
The nurse was interrupted as Kai groaned, crimson eyes fluttering open slowly. He raised a hand to his head, his eyesight blurry and wavering in front of him. It took him a few seconds to realise that he was in Tala's arms, who was kneeling on the kitchen floor, Bryan, Spencer, Kiyoko and Hilary peering at him apprehensively close by. "What happened?" He groaned again, his head pounding relentlessly, pain spiking through his skull.
"Kai! Kai, baby, what's wrong? Kai?!" Tala asked frantically,
"My head … it hurts …" Kai managed to gasp out, both of his hands clutching at his hair tightly, trying to relieve the pain there.
Gasping, Kiyoko surged forwards and gently pried Kai's hands away from his head. "Kai … open your eyes." With great difficulty, Kai managed to pry his eyes open that he had squeezed shut in pain. Crimson eyes were hazy and slightly glazed over. "Now tell me … what's happened? Has anything happened to you lately?"
Swallowing thickly through the pain coursing through his head, Kai nodded, knowing now was the time to come clean. "… Insomnia …"
"Insomnia?" Tala muttered worriedly, remembering the last time Kai had told him he was suffering from the sleeping disorder. "How long?"
Clenching pain-filled eyes shut, Kai murmured quietly. "Two weeks …"
Kiyoko shot Tala a worried look, "It shouldn't be affecting him this badly …" Eyes fixed once more on Kai's face, she released his hands gently, "Ok, Kai. I'm gonna call Doctor Carlisle. I need to tell him about this and get you some medication …" Without waiting for a response, she stood up and beckoned Bryan forward, who had gone deathly pale at the sight of Kai writing in pain. "Bryan, I need you to go to the hospital and retrieve the medication. It should be ready by the time you get there."
Bryan nodded stiffly, dragging his eyes away from Kai's prone body and running out of the kitchen. Kiyoko turned to Hilary, who had a hand to her mouth, eyes wide in fear. "Hil, I need you to calm down, ok?" Kiyoko's voice shook even as she said this, her worry and fear getting the best of her, "I need you to go and get groceries, ok."
Hilary shook her head in protest, but Kiyoko shot her a warning look, "Please, Hil. It's to help calm you down." Unable to argue further, Hilary finally turned tail and fled the kitchen.
A large hand landed on her shoulder and she gazed up into piercing green eyes. "You need to calm down as well. Go and call the doctor and I'll stay to look after Kai and Tala."
Kiyoko sighed gratefully, casting one last worried look towards Kai and Tala before heading off to find the phone.
Fretfully, Tala brushed the back off his hand over Kai's face, wanting nothing more than to take the pain away. "Baby, why didn't you tell us?"
Kai smiled weakly, reaching up to grasp a hold of Tala's hand. "Didn't want you … to worry …"
"Kai …" The hand holding his suddenly let go, as Kai's body began to shiver violently, crimson eyes wide as a pained gasp left the younger teen's throat. "KAI!" Desperately, Tala clung to Kai's lithe frame, tears trailing down his cheeks as an anguished scream ripped its way out of Kai's lips. "KAI! KAI!"
Spencer felt his pupils dilate as he took in the scene in front of him and for the first time, he couldn't react. It was only when Tala started yelling Kai's name hysterically did he regain control of his body, "KIYOKO! KIYOKO HELP!"
Wide, pained crimson eyes shifted to Tala's face frantically, before sliding shut, "Tala …"
"KAI!"
x.x.x.x.x
Blinking lethargically, Kai opened his eyes fully, crimson eyes narrowing in the darkness that swirled around him, surrounding his frail form and obscured everything from sight. It was endless and suffocating, and only he, seemed to be floating in its expanse. A shiver ran through his body as he lifted his hand up to his face - he was glowing with a dim fiery light.. "What's going on?"
Immediately, his voice shot back at him from all angles of this vast darkness, pounding into him with such intensity that he cried out, trying to block his ears as pain washed through him. It finally faded after a
few minutes and Kai shuddered, for in its place was a cold blistering wind that wrapped around his slim frame, freezing his skin and almost freezing the blood that coursed through his veins. A whimper escaped his throat as fear started burrowing its way into his heart and mind.
"What's happening?" he whispered this, not wanting a repeat of what had happened the last time.
His body trembled, the cold seeping out of him slowly, unexplainably, and he hugged his arms to his chest, gazing around his desolate surroundings in hopes of seeing something. When something cold touched his shoulder, he whipped around in that direction, eyes wide with a wild fear, but what he saw made his mouth drop open in shock, his eyes barely registering a sight he had know he would never see again in his life.
"Rei?"
The image of Rei nodded, figure illuminated in a slightly surreal light that pulsed golden. Silky raven hair was left unbound and floated gently behind him, piercing amber eyes alert and staring at Kai intently. "Hello my friend."
Frowning, his heart swelling, Kai reached out, wanting to believe, to prove that this apparition was real ... that Rei was real. A shudder ran through his body as his hand passed straight through the deceased teen. He pulled back his hand sharply, alarmed. A soft, melancholy smile flitted across the Chinese teen's lips as he shook his head. "No Kai. I'm dead ... and there's nothing that can bring me back ..."
The words startled Kai as sudden realisation dawned on him. "Am I ..."
"Dead?" Rei shook his head slowly, his eyes never leaving Kai's face. "No ... you're not Kai. You're still alive ... but right now, you're here."
"Here?"
"Here ... in this dimension, where nothing but darkness exists ..."
"But why? Why are you here?" everything was becoming extremely hard to comprehend, more so than when he had first opened his eyes to this ... place. He couldn't even remember how he had gotten here ...
Rei shrugged, "I don't know ... I don't even know where I was before you came ..."
"Rei!" Kai's voice held a touch of hysteria as Rei's image dimmed slightly, slowly disappearing from sight, blending into the deep blackness of the consuming darkness.
Rei look startled, glancing down at his hands in mild surprise, before turning his gaze back towards Kai. "I guess it's time for me to go ..."
"Go where? Rei what's going on?" Kai wanted to reach forward and grab a hold of Rei. He didn't want to be left alone. Not here. But he knew it would be futile; he had already tried once. Instead he clenched his hands by his side. "Rei? Please ... what's going on?"
Rei shook his head, confusion flitting across his tan features, "I don't know ... I don't ... has something happened?" Rei's voice was becoming quieter, just as his image was becoming fainter, nothing but a mere shimmer of white and gold in a sea of black darkness. "... you're disappearing too, Kai ..."
Kai looked down at his hands to see that he too, was fading away. Panic gripped at his chest. "Where ..."
A soft bitter smile touched Rei's lips. "Back to Tala I suppose ..."
Hot tears stung Kai's eyes, "Rei ..."
"I love you, Kai ..." with that final whispered farewell, the last of Rei faded into nothing, his soft voice echoing slighting in the darkness that was still engulfing Kai's fading form.
"Rei ..."
x.x.x.x.x
Tala ran a hand over his face and sighed, the other gently running through silken strands of silver and royal blue tenderly. His face was pinched with worry as he shifted about on the bed, worried blue eyes never once leaving Kai's face.
Kai had fallen unconscious in his arms, shivering violently with tears trailing down his cheeks, skin flushed and almost unbearably hot. Kiyoko, startled, had dropped the phone and come running, stricken, with the order that Kai be moved to his bed. Unable to hold the shuddering teen without crying, Spencer had taken Kai out of Tala's arms and ran up to the bedroom, Tala following closely behind while Kiyoko ran to get a bucket and a cloth.
As soon as Spencer had placed the teen down on the bed, Kai had screamed and turned deathly pale, body wracked with shivers, his skin frozen to the touch. Tala had become hysterical at that point, fearing the worst as Kai cried out unconsciously, only to still afterwards. By the time Kiyoko had arrived, colour had seeped back into Kai's skin as his breathing had returned to normal, his chest rising and falling rhythmically.
Tala took a shuddering breath and shook his head, banishing the thoughts from his mind. Those few agonising minutes had been yet another reminder of how close he had been to losing Kai over the last few months, and it hurt. He was afraid that the next time ... he shook his head again, violently, and peered down at Kai's face, a solemn smile barely lifting the sides of his lips.
"What am I gonna do with you, eh?" he leant down and kissed Kai's brow tenderly, brushing his bangs away from his forehead.
Kai mumbled in his sleep, eyebrows knitting down into a frown. "Rei ..."
Tala pulled back, confused. "Kai? Baby wake up ..." He shook Kai gently, confusion and worry tugging at his heart. "Baby ..."
Eyelids fluttered slightly, before opening and revealing clouded crimson eyes. "Rei?"
Tala shook his head, a frown marring his features, and took Kai's hand in his own, rubbing his thumb over the back soothingly, "No, baby. It's me ... Tala."
Clouded eyes cleared suddenly and Kai gasped, his chest heaving. "Tala!" With a choked sob, Kai sat up and looped his arms around the red-head's neck tightly. "I saw Rei ... I saw him ..."
Haha! I love messing with them!! -grins evilly- And things can only get worse from here on in. xD -ducks a flying spork- Gah!
Review?