Disclaimer: As usual.
A/N: I don't remember what the Bladebreaker's team name was in the original; therefore, I just referred to them as that.
Howling to the Moon.
Part Eleven: Moon Behind the Clouds.
It was like fate. The fabric stringing two destinies together being woven by the same hand, at the exact same time. Four people encountered each other, in the most unfortunate way. For one, it was shock, which quickly turned to fear, and for the other, it was shock which quickly remained shock as he stared dully into lilac coloured eyes, mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.
"You!"
A surprised exclamation was uttered as fingers began shooting up, pointing at the two people in question.
From far left, four figures came jogging up, neither one noticing the other's presence until they almost collided.
"Bladebreakers!"
"Neoborg!"
For a long moment, none of the six people there uttered a word, or were unable too, given the shocking turn of events. Until one of them decided that he had had enough
"What the hell was the meaning of tackling me into the pond, moron!"
Rei just sat there dumbfounded for a second, trying to get his bearings straight and grasp the fact that he had just tackled Boris Kuznetsov of the Neoborg off a pier and onto the cold, frozen lake. Damn, it was so cold. Before he could retort to the Russian's gruff question, he subconsciously shot to his feet and attempted to rub the numbness out of his backside.
"I … uh … well," he stuttered out. Why did he tackle the teen out onto the ice? Oh yeah, he though that he was about to jump in the lake, … yeah, the 'frozen' lake, Rei, you moron …As if all of a sudden realizing that he had made a complete ass of himself in front of his (rival?) Rei felt a sudden blood-rush to his cheeks and forced himself to look away.
"Well? Spit it out, man, we haven't got all day."
"Err … " What was he going to do? What was he going to say?
"He thought you were about to commit suicide by jumping in the lake."
Okay, scratch that. Max already spilled the beans.
"Commit suicide? In this lake?" Boris seemed torn whether to bite Rei's head off, or laugh off his own, "And how would I manage that? Sprain my ankle so badly by landing on my feet that I die of pain? Or maybe take a nose dive, though, I suspect that you were having suspicious fantasies about Ivan if you thought that one up," he could barely keep the laughter out of his voice, ignoring the heated glare Ivan was throwing him.
Rei felt an unconscious twitch in his eye at the though of Boris, the Boris, laughing at him. It seemed so wrong, so logically challenging and so … unnatural. That alone was enough to put a damper on his already crappy day. Damn Russia.
"What the matter, kitty-boy, cat got you tongue? Or should it be 'got someone else tongue that unable you to retort with a witty comment'? Or have your feline genes devolved so much that you've lost the capability to speak?"
Rei had to bite down on his tongue to keep from shouting profanities at the teen. For starters, it went against all his beliefs and principles. Besides, the ignorant Russian before him wasn't even worth wasting his breath on.
"So tell me, Rei, are the rumours that you have a thing for me really true? I mean, I ignored them in the beginning, but it's getting harder and harder to push aside. What with you throwing yourself all over me the way you did. You must have kind of erotic fantasy about-oof!"
Words abruptly halted. Gasps emitted from the on looking crowd. Shocked eyes looking up at him from their position on the cold surface of the lake. Sure, his knuckles stung a bit, but at least he didn't say anything he'd regret later on.
- - - - -
The silence was consuming. The atmosphere was so tense that you could slice though it with a butter knife. Two pairs of eyes neither breaking the gaze they had been locked in for what seemed like hours, but in truth wasn't even close. They both knew for a fact that Kai doesn't take more than fifteen minutes of shower time. Thus, but the silence coming from the bathroom, the only noise was that of the excess water being swallowed up by the drain, it meant that Kai was finished with his bath, and indirectly brought Takao closer and closer to his own demise.
The red-haired teen before him stayed completely still, his bloodshot eyes never betraying whatever emotion he might be feeling at the moment.
Takao swallowed the lump in his throat. His wasn't nearly as good as the other boy in disguising his feeling, and his eyes, at that moment, clearly shone of anxiety, fear and most of all, sympathy. Yuriy couldn't help the slight narrowing of his eyebrows when he saw it. In all his life, there was only one thing that he truly hated with a passion, other than Balkov, and that was people pitying him for whatever reason.
That was one of the reason's he felt a close connection to Kai and even Boris, it was because neither one had any reason, or ever felt the need to pity him. They never turned their eyes to him, looking at him like he was some sort of frail thing that would break at any given moment. They never tried to smother or coddle him without his consent (not that Boris ever coddled. He'd have to strike that though out of his mind) but it came down to the same thing. Boris and Kai really understood what it was like to like in the Abbey, therefore they had no need to convince him. Even Sergei and Ivan didn't know what it was truly like.
Out of all the hundreds of boys that dwelled there, Yuriy, Kai and Boris were the ones that stood out the most. There was something about their attitude, their demeanour that set them on a different level than the others.
"Yuriy?"
Kai's voice quickly pulled him out of his deep thoughts, and he found that Takao hadn't moved from the spot. Sweat was beginning to drip down the side of his face, and Yuriy thought that had the situation not been so serious, he would have laughed at the look on the teens face.
He couldn't blame the boy for the pitying gaze, after all, he, like the others, didn't understand. This time, it was Yuriy's turn to give him a short, but meaningful look of pity, before turning his back to the nervous Takao.
"Fine," he answered hoarsely at Kai's inquiry.
Takao seemed a bit shocked by the redhead's actions, but soon, he took it as a cue for him to run for it. Making a mental note to thank the Russian captain later, Takao made his way as quickly and as quietly as he could towards the door. He had time to shoot one last grateful look at the redhead's back before sliding the door close and making a beeline for the exit doors.
It was not half a second after the click of the door handle when Kai waltzed out, his slate coloured hair wet, droplets of water dripping onto his bare shoulders. When it was not gelled up to it's usual style, the tip of his hair was long enough to hang down and brush against his shoulders. The only piece of clothing he had to cover his modesty was the white, hotel towel tied around his waist.
For a moment, Yuriy couldn't help himself but stare. It had been a while since he had seen Kai, much less him looking like something straight out of an underwear ad … a very sexy something at that.
Kai seemed to be oblivious to the curious eyes scanning over his tones body, or that's what he made it seem like. In truth, he could feel Yuriy's eyes on his body; the heat of his gaze could burn a hole on Kai's bare back. He could barely hold back the grin on his face, and made a mental note to walk naked around Yuriy more often. He knew that everyone would think that he had gone mad, but he couldn't help him. It came as a surprise to even himself, actually, that day when he had come face to face with Yuriy again after all those years, to realize that he had fallen for the fiery redhead.
End Part Eleven.
Okay … updated this before As the Fire Burns because … well, because the fire of my muse isn't burning bright for that story, unfortunately. I'll update it soon, promise.