Well we finally reached chapter ten! Ten! The round number ya know! Whoa we made this this far, Im excited =w=... Well most of the chapters I write are 6 to 7 pages in word. This one is 11 and something~ It went so long because I had chosen where I would end it, and kept writting until I had reached it... Honestly, I wanted to get over with it. I think it came out pretty boring, I dont know... I hope the next chapters will be better. You know what I want from the ppl who will review? To tell me if you see any difference to my way of writting. I mean bad difference, or any major change to the characters. Maybe it's just me but I was really feeling something was going wrong while I wrote this chapter. Ah, my girlfriend started reading my story and she said it's like a dorama (note: she loves dorama) and Im very happy for this ;w; she's not even into the phantom but she reads it for me. Thank you love~~ One of the reasons im worried of my writting is her XD I dunno how but she could have affected me. Not with the plot, but she kept distracting me! WHATEVER! Oh btw, if you arent into Vocaloids DONT I repeat DONT get into them. They are addicting things...
Review and make me happy PLEASE! I'll update sooner if u encourage me! And thank to everyone who read this story ;w; I place much heart into it and it makes me happy every little review/allert/fave w Thanks~
A/N: English is not my mother language, so be polite with my grammar, dictionary mistakes and lack of variety in words.
Warnings: Drug addiction, use, torture, shounen-ai, yaoi (furute maybe).
Disclamer in the ending
Break My Fall
Chapter ten
Natural Life
Max's POV
After that day things were back to the way they used to be.
Kai still brought and took breakfast with me in the mornings, and when they returned he still would spend time with me. I didn't crawl to his bed anymore of course to curl to his side the nights, I didn't dare to. But I still had taken over his bed, so we pretty much, just traded beds. He never asked me about the incident from a couple of days ago, he didn't even act like he remembered it. He wasn't distancing himself as somebody else would normally do, but maybe that was because he didn't need to. I was distancing myself instead…
I didn't do anything major, I simply tried to not have him help me walk around or make him get too close to me for any reason. In other words, I simply tried to prevent any physical contact with him… He didn't seem to force himself to interact with me, but still I felt like he was.
I don't know how to place it exactly, maybe it wasn't just that. I think I felt like in a way, since he didn't mind to be around me and all he was ignoring my feelings as well. He had somewhat rejected me, yet he didn't act like this. Don't get me wrong, I didn't believe he had any thoughts of me the way I did; I simply couldn't figure what he was thinking at all…
I turned my eyes from the TV to him. He was sitting to the bed with his back against its head reading a thick book with his feet laid front one above the other. He seemed pretty caught up in the book. I watched him for a while thoughtfully with my chin rested on my knees and my arms wrapped around them.
I felt kind of ungrateful, I should be happy we were back to being this way. No, I WAS happy I could still have him around me like this. It was relaxing but I would like to know a little of his thoughts. When he had told me he wasn't mad I knew what he wanted to say, yet was it all just this? I mean, didn't it bother him at all? Sometimes I wish he was as easy to read as the books he brought…
"Yes?" I heard him call softly when he noticed I was looking at him. I smiled lightly and shook my head.
"Nothing" I said. He looked at me for a bit longer to make sure I really didn't need anything and turned back to his book. I examined his expression; he didn't seem bothered at all. I mean, if I knew somebody liked me and found them staring at me, I would feel a bit uncomfortable to say the least.
Well, I suppose every person has their own reactions under any circumstances…
I watched the TV show a little longer without much interest. Earlier that day I had very hard withdrawal symptoms and couldn't deal with them, so Kai let me have one of the pills. It still had effect so I was doing alright with physical pain. I turned to him once again and found him still with the face in his book.
"Is what you're reading so interesting?" I asked merely out of curiosity.
"No" he replied grimacing and looked at me "It's pretty boring actually"
I raised my eyebrow "Then why are you reading it…?"
"I have exams when we return" he replied simply.
I blinked staring at him my eyes widening lightly. He looked back at me curiously and we stayed like this for some seconds, until the information settled in my mind.
"You're a student?" I let out pretty louder than I planned.
"Why so surprised? I'm seventeen" he replied raising his eyebrow this time.
"U-Um! Yes I mean, naturally you ARE a student" I covered my face with my palm embarrassed. I mean, it was only natural for him to be a student, it's just that once again I had forgotten to consider Kai as a normal person, a teen no less so he naturally is a student as well… I suppose once again I made obvious how little we know about his life when he isn't with us. Or that he actually does have a life when he isn't with us.
"Sorry…" I mumbled looking down still covering my face.
"Don't worry, nothing to apologize for" he shaped a small smile "I just don't understand why it surprises you so much"
"It's not that it…" I sighed defeated "I don't know…" thinking it over, we (the team) had met a couple of people from Kai's life, and none of them led us think a natural teen's environment. Except of Wyatt, but he too turned to abnormal at the end…
Thinking of Voltaire, he would most likely had Kai homeschooled for the common education, but Kai said he had exams, which led me think he went to an actual school. But you know what; Voltaire had sent him to the Abbey! How could I even think he would have his grandson to a normal school?
"Private school?" I asked. He nodded.
Naturally…
"You must be finishing high-school now?" he nodded again.
"Last grade"
"Will you continue somewhere afterward? Or will you train to get your grandfather's business?" I asked without thinking it, realizing pretty late I was getting into his personal life with my questions, I bit my lip and moved to take it back but he started talking without noticing my panic.
"I'm already training for that. But I have several years until I'll have to run it. My grandfather is having my mother's husband do this for now. So I will most likely continue to a colleague"
I listened to him analyzing word by word his sentence in my head. What caught my attention mostly was the 'my mother's husband' which meant it wasn't his father, but he didn't even called him step-father. The way he called him he took the relationship away from himself...
I though the condition over and realized that Kai had replied very openly to my question (something he wouldn't have done two years ago for sure) which only made me to want to ask more. Maybe I would finally be able to learn more things for him, but then again, in one hand this sounded very personal, I couldn't get into this but on the other hand he said it so lightly which should be giving me the right to ask more things.
I placed my position to his life and his personal life in a scale and figured it wasn't my place, so wanting to continue the conversation but skipping getting too deep into his family business I chose to ask something entirely different.
"So what are you reading?"
"History" he replied raising a bit the book so I could have a look at the cover.
"It's the first textbook I see you read…" I replied, which was true. We were here about two weeks, and he read everything but lessons. Additionally the other day I looked through his bag for my pills, I didn't saw many books. Actually I hardly saw any book, only one notebook and a thin file-case.
"I had forgotten it in the bus, I was reading it the other day" he said.
"If you have exams, aren't you supposed to carry around all the textbooks you'll need?"
"History is my only weakness for some reason… Generally I remember names and dates from books, but the textbook of it is just… So boringly written that I fail to take in any information…" he said with a face that only proved his point.
I chuckled. History wasn't my favorite subject either "And why weren't you studying until now?"
"Because the hotel still had books I hadn't read" he replied like it was the most normal thing in the world.
I stared at him with a face that must have been writing the 'what the fuck' all over.
"So… If it still had books you hadn't read you wouldn't have studied at all, that's what you're saying" I said a bit sarcastically.
"It's not so tragic. Tomorrow we're going home and my exams are the following week, I would still have the weekend to study"
Well he had a point but still… He seemed pretty careless, I wondered if he was even a good student, but he said History was his only weakness, so I suppose he was. I was pretty sure Kai wasn't the kind of person who would pass the classes without doing anything just because his grandfather pays. Kai is the kind of person to work hard to gain anything…
Still… It really is hard to understand how he thinks sometimes…
"Anyways" I said while wrapping my blanket around me. I had once again started shivering, sign that the pill's effect was wearing off "Go back to your studies, don't let me interrupt you" I closed the television so the sound wouldn't distract him and lifted one of the books from the bedside table myself.
The room got filled with silence soon as we both were reading. But a short while later it was broken once again.
"Max…"
I turned to him laying the graphic novel I held in my lap.
"Mhm?" He stared at me thoughtfully and spoke again.
"Can I ask you something? You don't need to answer if you don't want to but it's been bothering me since we got here…"
I stared at him for a moment. It wasn't like Kai to be so hesitant… But whatever was that he wanted to ask, he had just answered multiply of my questions so…
"Sure, go ahead…" I replied lowly.
He sat up, letting his feet off the bed and joined his hands in front of him, ankles on his knees; he rested his lips on his hands thoughtfully for a moment, looking down. I could tell he was trying for a way to place his question.
"Look…" he sighed, lowing his hands from his lips, but tighten the grips to each other "It's none of my business I know, but since I got myself into it, I suppose it's pretty natural to wonder…Tsk" he made a face and looked away seeming annoyed with himself, then he looked at me again more determined, making me more curious even if pretty uneasy "I just…" he sighed once more and rested his eyes on mine "have been wondering how someone like you got mixed up with these things…"he paused "Drugs" he filled to be sure he made himself clear. I found myself freeze, completely unprepared.
One more time the room fell dead silent.
I watched him quietly, for some reason my mind had slowed down on its own. I wasn't shocked from the question or anything, I mean it was a normal thing to wonder of but as I moved to give an answer I realized I didn't have it.
I stared at Kai holding my breath as if I expected to find the answer on him, and he watched me patiently waiting. I let my eyes wonder elsewhere as I started scanning my memories for the beginning of this hell. I flinched as a headache started developing and rubbed my forehead searching harder.
Nothing.
My memories were divided in two parts. One part was where I had nothing to do with drugs, and the other I was into them. I could recall I had started with softer things to end up to something as heavy as heroin, but I couldn't remember the first.
"Max…?" I heard Kai's concerned voice as he stood from his bed and stepped closer to me, he kneeled one foot on the bed and sat on it so he could face me "Are you alright…?" I twitched and jumped back a bit as he reached a hand toward me, I sat back watching him and he withdrew his hand quietly "It's alright, you don't need to answer me" he said watching me seriously.
"No…" I murmured, pressing two fingers on my temple frowning as the headache was getting stronger with each of my attempts to remember "It's not that I don't want to tell you…" I whispered.
Kai kept his eyes fixed on me with interest "Then what is it?" he asked since I didn't seem to plan to continue my phase.
I pulled a pained expression from my sore head and looked at him, but I was cut from the door knocking.
I sighed and Kai growled both annoyed from the interruption, he shook his head and stood up to open the door, where stood Chief hugging dizzy to his chest.
"Um, Tyson asked me to tell you it's dinner time" he said looking up at Kai. I could tell he felt tiny in front of him, then he turned to him and smiled lightly "How are you doing, Max?"
I smiled tiredly but honestly "I'm doing well chief, thank you".
He nodded and looked back at Kai.
"I'll come in a minute" he replied. Kenny nodded, turned and walked off fast, calling a 'see you, Max' before he go.
Kai walked to his bed and placed his scarf around his neck like usually, afterward he put on a coat since the weather was still chilly. The snow had almost melted completely outside, but it was cloudy and cold still.
He looked at me "I'll bring you something to eat, I won't take long".
I smiled at him and nodded. He walked to the door and paused to look at me once again before he go; I could tell he hadn't forgotten our talk already.
"We'll talk when you're back" I reassured him.
He gestured with his head and walked out.
I sighed tiredly and placed my fingers through my hair closing my eyes, hoping the pounding of my head would calm.
"It's not that I don't want to tell you…" I mumbled lowly "I don't remember… I don't remember at all…"
I squeezed my eyes closed tighter making another attempt to remember but having no outcome other than a stronger pain through my skull. How come I hadn't realized it until now? There was a gap of one month to say the least in my memories, and they were blurry building before and after the drugs, while in the middle there were nothing. Well, nothing that I could remember.
I lay slowly down so I could rest my head on the pillow, but I couldn't snap out of this. It bothered me way too much, how could somebody forget like this? It wasn't blurry images, it was complete blank, as if it never excised…
I opened my eyes tiredly facing Kai's empty bed.
"How someone like you got mixed up with these things?"
He said. True, how did I?
I went back to my memories before the drugs, and checked on myself back then. Kai was right; I wasn't the kind of person to turn into drugs. I remembered that clearly now. I wasn't sad, I had no issues, and all of my problems never bothered me enough to give me such a turn…
I narrowed my eyes.
Whatever happened it happened in that gap… What was it…?
I kept forcing myself to remember, but I just couldn't. It was as if whatever excised in this gap had got covered so I wouldn't be able to lay a finger on it. I tried to take my memories after the drugs and follow them the way back like a rope, but once again I fell on dead end, and my mind was getting more and more tired with every push I gave it.
I could remember now that the whole story with the drugs had been going on around six months, I could as well recall some of the different things I had tried before heroin, but the dead end remained, and it was too big to give me any clues for its insides… It was like standing in a port where you knew there was land straight somewhere but you were unable to see it.
What had happened..?
Before I realized it my mind was giving up and I was drifting off to sleep. Soon my thoughts had sat down leaving me to my dreamland.
I slept a good long time to wake up the following noon, when we were to get ready to return home, and my last evening's conversation with Kai had got forgotten…
Kai's POV
When I returned to the room he was asleep.
I didn't have my answer…
"Max" I called him while I was packing my stuff the following morning. He left a little sound and curled more to his self shaking violently.
I looked at him and sighed then I walked to him and placed my hands on his shoulder nudging him softly.
"Max…" I called again and he shifted lightly opening his aqua eyes tiredly. I moved my hands away since the last days he didn't seem too fond of me touching him… You know, honestly I couldn't get used to the idea of being liked by him the way I was, and so I couldn't act like it either. It kept slipping my mind…
He raised his head a bit and looked at me "Morning…" he said harshly and stretched a bit before flinching and curling up once again "What is it…?" he finished sleepily rubbing his eyes.
"It's not exactly morning anymore, but whatever. You need to get up, we're leaving in a couple of hours" I said placing my history book in my bag along with my neatly folded clothes and the rest, I closed it.
He groaned and sat up using the head of the bed to support his spine, but held the blanket around him once he realized it was still cold "What time is it…?"
"It's three" I replied, picking up his bag to tidy his stuff as well. I chose a pair of clothes and left it outside to get him dressed, then I started folding and tidying the rest.
"Three…? Oh…" he moaned rubbing his face with both his palms "I rotted in sleep…"
I rolled my eyes smiling lightly.
"How did the tournament go…?" he asked, pulling the blanket off him in an attempt to get himself to wake up and hanged his feet from the bed.
I glanced at him but didn't bother to ask him if he wanted help, he had rejected the offer the previous days…
"We won naturally… Rookies you see" I replied watching him walk to the bathroom clumsily, using what he could for support. Seriously, I felt like slapping him for not wanting help but then who am I to talk…?
"Good…" he mumbled and closed the door in the bathroom "Are they celebrating it?" he asked behind the closed door.
"Not too much, it wasn't so difficult so they aren't excited" I walked to the door and knocked holding his clothes, after a long pause he opened and took them with a quiet 'thank you' before closing again.
I made my way to his bed and made it waiting for him to get ready, glancing to the door now and then.
He walked out looking pretty worn out, but less than he did most of the time he spent in here. His hair was made pretty well and he had washed his self awake, his clothes were once again back to the usual green and orange that made the whole 'set' look brighter. He held his folded sleep clothes and gave them to me as I reached to place them to his bag.
"Thank you" he said once again as I pulled the rope of the bag for it to close. He sat to his bed and I could see once more how the slightest movement was tiring him.
"You need to eat something" I told him and pointed a lunch box on the bedside table. He looked at it and lifted it to his lap.
"Will you give me a pill?" he asked as he forced himself to eat.
"Half" I told him "It should keep you until we go back, when it start wearing out I'll give you the other half" I lifted the books we had spread around the room and placed them one over the other to bring them back down to the reception's living room.
He paused eating and stayed watching the box "What about tomorrow…?" he asked lowly.
I wasn't the only one stressed for the outcome of returning, even if I had made up my mind…
"I'll tell you how to use them and you will take them to your house"
We would pass the night in Tyson's dojo since until the time we would be back the night would have fallen, and tomorrow morning each of us would return to their houses.
"Alright…"
I looked at him sadly at how defeated he sounded, while he still watched the bento.
"Come on, don't be like this…"
"I just don't know if I'll be able to cover my mess…"
I felt my stomach twist and looked away.
…
"Here" I said and left the half pill next to his glass of water "Take it after a while that you have eaten, I'm going down to leave the books" he gave me a soft smile and nodded.
I lifted the tower with the books and walked to the hall where I paused and sighed watching the floor thoughtfully.
"Jesus Kai, did you just rob Alexandria's Library or something?"
I raised my eyes to see Ray. He walked toward me and took half of the books smiling at me gently.
"Thanks" I said and he walked with me downstairs.
"How is Max?" I shrugged.
"As well as he can be… I left him eating the bento you made him"
"Good…" he looked at me concerned, but I was just watching my steps "You're stressed aren't you?"
"Kind of…" I confessed.
He sighed frowned "Relax, it'll be alright…"
"I wish it was that simple…" I paused in front of the bookcase with him, and started replacing the books to their places, and Ray did the same.
"What will you do…?" he looked at me sideway.
I didn't reply. I simply looked at him.
He looked at me calmly and then smiled soft encouragingly "The 'T' is there" he said pointing the part of the bookcase. I looked at the book I was holding and nodded placing it in the right session.
"Ah! Kai, Ray" we met Hilary on our way upstairs, she bowed lightly "Are you both ready?" she smiled sweetly.
"Yes, what about you?" Ray replied with his hand on the railing of the stairs.
"All ready" she said cheerfully "Is Kenny and Tyson ready too? We're leaving soon".
I and Ray traded a glance with a hidden smile which she noticed and got a light pink color on her cheeks.
"I'm pretty sure they are" I replied "So is Max"
"That's good, how is he doing? He was sleeping the morning I saw him"
"He woke up, he's better I think"
She sighed relieved "Good…"
Poor Hillary had got the scare of her life when Max had got lost, and while we were away she wasn't taking her eyes from him.
"We'll meet downstairs in half an hour right?" Ray asked.
The girl nodded with a smile.
"I'll make sure Tyson is in time" the neko-jii said with a smirk, I couldn't help but chuckle a bit myself but I covered it looking the other way.
Hiromi blushed again and looked away pulling on her skirt "Yes do so. Or else the irresponsible idiot will forget and we'll end up reaching home tomorrow"
"Irresponsible idiot? What are you saying about me this time?" said Tyson appearing behind her.
Ray and I both struggled to not laugh as she yelped in surprise and almost fell down the stairs.
"Don't sneak up on me you idiot!" She yelled supporting all her weight on the railing.
Tyson blinked smiling innocently "Do you have everything ready, Hilary? I wouldn't like us to end at home tomorrow thanks to you" he mocked her with a smirk.
The girl growled and raised to her feet, she turned and glared at him.
"2000 yen to Hilary, he's hopeless" Ray told me.
"Goes" I replied with a smirk.
In fact Tyson ended up with a punch flying toward him, he left a yelp and caught her hand with both of his midway "Come on Hilary! I was joking! After all a delicate lady shouldn't use violence" he kissed her hand and gave her one of the wide silly grins before running off.
Hilary's face had the same color with her bright pink skirt and she had frozen in her place. Once she managed to snap out of it she clutched her fists and started chasing Tyson, yelling various cusses on him frustrated.
I smirked once more and looked at Ray raising my eyebrow. He growled and looked at me annoyed.
"I don't hold at the moment, I own you…"
I patted his back "Don't worry about it"
We finally walked up the stairs and to our rooms, ignoring Tyson and Hilary who were still running in the corridor, we walked to our rooms. Max looked at me his huge eyeballs surprised.
"What's going on out there?" he asked hugging his sack.
"Nothing unusual" I replied, and we heard a loud thumb. Max's eyes widen more and he stuck them on the door and then turned them to me questioningly.
I sighed "I think I just lost 2000 yen…"
I watched the kid as we made our way downstairs to meet the others. Just a while ago Kenny had informed us they are going down to fix some things for the hotel and we were to meet them and go to the bus. He had taken the pill and seemed alright for now.
He noticed my stare and smiled kindly for me to not worry and show me he was alright. I relaxed a bit…
The others turned to us the moment we stepped in the living room. I figured most of them didn't have a good look of Max since we got here. I glanced at him once more trying to figure if he looked better or worst from the moment we came here. But since I was seeing him every day, I couldn't make much of a different.
"Hey buddy…" Tyson said softly at him. The blond kept his sweet smile and greeted everyone. He seemed pretty relaxed, but I knew he was stressed about our return, but he should be happy to be around his friends altogether once more.
"What happened to your head, Tyson?"
"Ahaha…" Tyson sweat-dropped and Hilary smirked victoriously.
I stepped aside to give them some space to see each other for a while, they all seemed pretty glad to have him around as well, I heard Hilary ask him how is he feeling, and another two worried questions, but the kid simply kept the smile and honestly replied he felt alright.
Ray looked at me and gave me a soft grin. We both lifted the bags (ours, Kenny's and Max's. Tyson carried his and Hillary's) and carried them to the bus; the others followed slowly, all staying close to Max chit-chatting. I hoped they wouldn't tire him, but he seemed happy and it was enough reassurance for me. I hadn't seen him like this in a while.
One by one they started getting on the bus. Max stayed in the door watching me and Ray tidying the stuff. Once we were done and I noticed he hadn't gone up, I walked to him.
"All ok? You need something?" I asked quietly.
He nodded with a smile "No, I just want to tell something to Ray"
I glanced at Ray who was saying his goodbyes with the hotel's staff and then back at Max.
"Alright" I said and walked inside the bus just when Ray followed. Max cached his shirt to stop him and get his attention.
"Mhm?" Ray stepped back down and looked at him "What is it, Max?" he asked gently.
Max joined his own hand behind his back looking down frowning "I wanted to apologize for the way I talked to you the other day" he murmured.
Ray chuckled and smiled having his fangs showing "It's alright. I want to apologize too, I was a bit too harsh on you" he furrowed his eyebrows still smiling.
"I think you might were right… I'm sorry" Max apologized once more turning his eyes to the older male, with his head still bowed.
"I think you were partly right too" the neko-jii noted with a pretty embarrassed smile and gained one bright grin from the blond.
"Then we're even" said the kid and they both laughed lightly. Ray reached and ruffled Max's hair which didn't gain any negative reaction from the younger.
Seems like he has problem only with me…
"Come on guys!" called Tyson who was sitting behind the driver, having kept the seat open for Max.
I snapped out of my thoughts too, and made my way too my own seat at the back, taking my usual cross-armed pose I watched the scenery out of the window. The other two walked inside right after Tyson called and got their seats.
I wasn't sure how good idea was to have Max sit with Tyson, at first the second was like usual energetic around his friend, but as the trip went on and Max seemed to get tired; the other let him rest and didn't bother him. He simply started chatting with Kenny who was sitting behind him, quietly enough to let the kid sleep.
Hillary sat with Ray and they started talking about the Chinese culture.
Generally the return trip seemed to me a lot calmer than the one that brought us there. It was difficult to believe that only two weeks had gone by, so many things happened…
I raised my gaze and looked to where the kid was sitting. I couldn't see his face from where I was sitting, but he seemed to be calm and peaceful. I sat back to my seat and leaned my head on the glass facing the softly white colored scenery from the thin line of snow that still excised. I closed my eyes and allowed myself to calm.
Today is going to be a long day…
The sky was dark by the time the bus stopped; the lamps on the road were lighted on and there was more snow here than where we used to be, but I guessed it would melt soon too.
My teammates started standing up and walked to get their stuff.
I stood and followed to get my own bag, but when I was close to the exit I felt a tug on my shirt. I had started getting unused to that, but it still didn't surprise me, I looked at Max who was the last one in the bus along with me.
He frowned and drew back his hand. I figured he did it out of habit anymore without thinking it, he looked down but I stayed in my place.
"Tell me" I said.
"The other half" me murmured shivering. I nodded.
"Right" I said and brought the other half of the pill I had been keeping in my pocket "You have water?"
He nodded and moved tiredly to get the bottle from aside. I gave him the pill and rested my elbow on the seat's back watching him as he swallowed it.
"Can you walk until it works?"
"I'll manage" he said and dragged himself to the corner of the seat.
"You want help?"
He shook his head and stood up unsteadily.
"You could use some time to let it work" I complained sighing.
"The others are waiting outside" he murmured and tripped only to end up supported where he least wanted. On me.
I caught him without any sort of surprised. It was only expected for him to fall. Before I give him the time to protest and all I sat him back to his seat. The moment he sat, he pressed his back to the seat enough to make me believe if he did it any harder he would sink in it and curled his knees up looking away pouting like a kid that was getting scolded.
Ray walked back in and looked at us "All ok?" he asked concerned.
"Yes, we'll come in a moment. Max is feeling a bit weak. Go ahead, we'll catch up in a moment" I told him, sitting sideway at the seat opposite Max's.
Ray nodded and walked back outside.
I turned to Max who was still curled up. He didn't act like this back at the hotel, I suppose he got embarrassed because he fell on me, but it's not like it was the first time…
"Well, since we need to wait for a while, I'll tell you how to use the pills" I said which caught his attention. Soon he had uncurled and shifted closer so I could show him the bottle with the pills and explain him the dosages. By the time I was done, the pill he had taken seemed to have been taking effect.
I gave him the bottle, he thanked me with a smile and we both walked out, finding that the others were still there. Kenny was hidden behind Hillary shaking, crouched down, the said girl had her arms crossed annoyed and the remained two boys were having a snowball war.
"Ah, Max, feeling be- AH! RAY!" yelled Tyson shaking some snow out of his hair and ear, result of a snowball he received when he turned to greet Max.
Ray chuckled "You shouldn't get distracted in a war. If this was a bomb you would be dead!"
I heard a soft laughter to my side and turned to see my blond teammate having his hand in front of his mouth trying to hold in the laughter, which soon came out louder.
I calmed… So did the rest of the team. They all watched him with a soft smile.
"Yes, Tyson, I'm feeling better, thank you" he replied to his friend's interrupted question once his laughter was slowing down.
Then it was Tyson's laughter's turn to be heard "Great, let's go home"
Everyone agreed and we started our short walk toward the dojo.
We soon were standing out of the dojo's gate. We walked through the garden and stopped out of the door.
"Maybe you would want to duck" said Tyson glancing back at us. I didn't need to since I had stayed at the back knowing what was going to happen when the door opened. The rest traded some glances and made a couple of steps back.
The boy sighed and rolled the door to the side open.
"WHOA!" yelled Tyson's grandfather and came flying front, swinging a wooden sword toward his grandson, which he only dodged, and the old man ended up with the face in the snow. He stood up quickly laughing with his hand behind his head "I guess you saw this coming!"
Everyone replied "Yes" with one voice.
Ryuu sighed "Next time I'll attack from the back"
"A real man never attacks from the back, grandpa" smirked Tyson, which gained a satisfied grin from the older man.
"Rightly spoken, T-Bone" he said and looked at the rest of us "Welcome back hommies" he said and jumped back inside to welcome us properly. He watched us with a smile as each of us made his way inside; afterward he closed the door, keeping the chilly weather outside. There were blankets waiting for us. Max sat on his own, setting his bag next to it and Tyson along with Kenny claimed the ones beside him, while Ray dragged his own so would sleep horizontally over the head of the other three, leaving me the last one next to Kenny. There was one more divided from the rest for Hilary, since she was the only girl. Until they were to sleep, one of the boys had her sitting to his own blanket.
I watched them sitting to a side of the room with my arms and legs crossed. This image seemed correct, more like what it used to be. All together sitting, chatting and having fun. This was how it was supposed to be. I rested my eyes on Max who was currently teasing Kenny with Tyson. I closed my eyes and leaned my head front listening to them laughing…
If only it could remain so…
"Had a difficult time back there, Kai-man?"
I mentally sighed and looked at the older man sideway. One thing that has been always bothering me with him was that he knew way too much, and talked way too little. I turned to him but he wasn't looking at me. He had rested his hands on the end of his kendo sword standing straight, watching the happy company.
"Hn…" I turned to them as well.
He smiled glancing at me and turned his eyes back to them "I thought so…"
The door opened and walked in a light bluenette, holding a tray with puffing cups, he smiled.
"Hey guys, who wants hot Chocó?" he asked, and Tyson yelped noticing him.
"Hiro!" he exclaimed "What are you doing here? When did you come?"
The older boy laughed as he set the tray in the middle of the circle they had made and took a seat on his own next to Ray.
"Yesterday, I hoped to give you a nice surprise once you're back" he smiled at his younger brother and ruffled his hair. Tyson was obviously excited, and the older sibling became the center of the attention telling stuff about his travels and everything.
Ray looked at me "Kai, don't you want to sit with us?" he asked.
I just stared at him blankly.
"Ehehe… Ok, I just asked" he turned front again with an awkward smile.
"Not much have changed here, huh?" said Hiro raising an eyebrow toward me.
There was no reply though; everyone preferred to get a sip from their cups, turning their attention everywhere else possible. Ryuu chuckled and gained a slight glare from me, while the younger Granger looked at the rest curiously.
"How is Tatsuya-san doing?" Max asked to get the conversation running again, with the cup in front of his lips.
"My dad? He's fine" this way they started talking again and it went like this until late. Slowly they started getting to their sleeping bags. Hiro left the room or else Tyson wouldn't have got to his own bag to sleep. Ryuu as well had followed his older grandson, which left the room with only me out of the 'bed'. But in fact the only people in the room sleeping were Hilary and Max…
My eyes traveled to them one after the other. Tyson had a serious look, with his eyes stuck on his blond friend, who was curled next to him and fast asleep. Ray's amber eyes were wide open as well, and they were watching me. Kenny was laid with his back facing Max's and Dizzy set to his side like always, he had pulled the blanket in a way that only his hair bangs appeared, as well as his eyes which were hidden under them, but I knew he too was awake.
The lights in the room were out. But that was no problem; my eyes had long adjusted, and in addition the snow outside reflected enough light from the streetlights to not leave the room completely dark.
I sighed and stood up. Three pairs of eyes followed my movement.
"Sleep" I ordered quietly.
They all took their eyes off me. I knew it. I knew as well what their new view was.
I turned and took a view of the kid's little frame on my own. He was soundly asleep.
I hope you're having sweet dreams…
I rolled the door to the side without a sound and stepped outside; closing it without taking any last glance at the people inside.
I heard a soft chuckle to my side and turned to find Ryuu sitting cross-legged on the wooden balcony with his kendo sword in his lap, watching the sky smiling. I looked the other way and he chuckled gently again.
"I'm pretty sure he won't hold it against you…" he whispered.
See what I mean when I say he knows way too much?
I shook my head and stepped to the garden.
"Good luck" he called, and damn I knew he was smiling. I stopped in place and met Hiro's gaze watching me from the house's window with his arms crossed, and a blank stare on his face. After a while he turned and left from view. I sighed silently leaving a puff in the cold air.
Without another word I crossed the garden and walked through the gate to the silent street.
To be continued~
Kai: *emocorners*
Max: *pats his back* ^^; come come...
Tyson: *laughs* get a hold of yourself for the readers buddy
Kai: screw you all.
Hiro: why is my appearance so sort and I feel I was thrown in without a certain reason..
Ray: she just threw you in without a certain reason thats why you feel so.
Hilary: *coughs* Well, ignore those things. And please review.
Ryuu: Hommies! Review I say Review!
Dizzy: I am mute in all the chapters...
Kenny: Please review... *bows deeply*
Note: 2000 yen is around 16 euro I think.
Also Thanks to: Nicole13-1991, SongOfTheShadows, Inyoface (I adore this girl), Dark Bia, Aly-K-H , Raine1712 (MY GIRL!), animewolfgurl for reviewing to my last chapter. And all the others who read my story! Thank you so much! I'm so grateful!
Beyblade (c) Takao Aoki
Natural life (c) Breaking Benjamin