Title: I'm a father?
Subtitle: Talons and claws
Author: Lady Snowblossom
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: Rei/Bryan, Kai/Tala, Spencer/Ian, Max/Tyson and various other pairings
Note: None this time, I'm gonna be evil and make you read and see. BHAAAAAAAAH!!!! And oh, if you want to read the uncensored version go to Adultfanfiction.net
Disclaimer: Your joking, right?
Grandpa Granger watched the group of boys gathered around the glider. Tala had his head between his knees, while Spencer plied an ice pack to the back of his neck. Kai lay back against the glider, his head resting on the pillow, Lee had slipped behind it. Ian was sitting on the brick rim of the porch, while Bryan leaned against it.
While the boys were tending to the wounded, he had quietly cleaned up the porch and then returned to hear how the news of Rei's pregnancy would be broken to Bryan.
"What set Rei off?" Bryan's quiet question caused everyone to jump and they all looked at each other, Tala raising his head to do so. The lilac haired youth looked around and growled when Ian flushed and refused to meet his eye.
"Ian."
The shorter boy sighed, "Spencer, would you see that I'm buried under the big tree back behind the storage area at the Abbey. And I want you to remember that I love you."
"Stop playing the martyr." Kai growled, as he slowly straightened up, fixing a baleful eye on the nervous youth. "And tell us what you know."
Ian pulled his hat off and began to play with the straps. "Rei threatened to kill me, if I didn't tell him about Bryan and his activities since he left; and especially about last night."
"I suppose you told him." Tala said. He sat up and ran a finger under his nose, it came back clean, so he waved Spencer away and sighed.
"I didn't have a choice. He would either kill me; or the two of you would, either way I was dead. So, I told him."
"And last night was what set Rei off." Tala guessed as he laid his head on Kai's shoulder.
"What about last night?" Lee asked, eyes widening in puzzlement, when the group of Russians either flushed or paled, and refused to meet his eyes. "Kai? Tala?"
Halfway to the hospital, Rei changed his mind, and ordered the driver to take him to Central Park instead, he needed to be someplace where he could center himself before he went back home and strangled Kai and Tala!
He glared out the window of the cab, impatiently drumming his fingers on the seat, ignoring the myriad sights that whizzed, crawled or flashed past.
After what seemed like an eternity, the cab pulled up in front of the park and deposited the young Neko-jin, who immediately began to jog away from the street and deep into the park.
Ten minutes after arriving at Central Park, Rei found a tree that suited his needs; limbs that were heavy with foliage and broad enough to take his weight and be comfortable to sit on. Scrambling up the trunk, he was soon hidden from view.
Quietly, he settled down on the widest branch, leaned back against the trunk, and removing Driger from his pocket used the blade to focus his center. He sorely needed to balance himself before he returned home and strangled Kai and Tala.
Slowly, he allowed the quiet to permeate his being as he began to take deep calming breaths; focusing his will to block out everything but the reason for his flight. His mate had been deliberately injured by someone they both called friend, and that friend's mate. The ghost of the great cat that had begun his lineage had rose up in his soul; roaring its rage.
And it was that part of his heritage he had satisfied with a fast and hard attack: leaving his prey battered and bleeding. For a brief moment, he savored the 'taste' of the victory, then he slowly let it go, and with the release forced the mighty beast to fade; never quite gone, but there to call upon in time of need.
As he sank deeper into the trance, the outside world slowly faded from his consciousness, leaving only his subconscious to stand guard.
"We lied about last night, Lee." Tala sighed, "We didn't want to upset Rei anymore than he already was; so we lied about Bryan's punishment."
"All right, what the hell did you do that you are either ashamed of, or felt wasn't any of my business." Lee asked, he wasn't prepared for the growled answer.
"Kai busted my ass with a hairbrush. Its' nice to know they kept that quiet."
Lee wheeled and stared open mouthed at Bryan, who glared back. The cold Russian shrugged and continued, "Don't worry about it, Lion! I've had worst beatings, at least they put me to bed in a nice warm bed; usually after a beating, we got to sleep on a nice cold concrete floor."
Lee spun back around and glared at the pair on the glider. "You two are damn lucky Rei didn't stick around to give you a lesson in what he can really do, when he's angry. I guess some part of him still remembers that he's breeding."
"What did you say?" Bryan said, not sure he had heard correctly.
"He said, that Rei is pregnant." Spencer said, quietly from where he sat with Ian, whose eyes were bulging in shock.
Sitting on the brick wall, Spencer put an arm around Ian, and listened to the slightly heated four -way conversation between Lee, Bryan, Kai and Tala. The big blonde absently ran a hand up and down Ian's back, as the shorter Russian trembled at the rising voices.
He wondered if he dared broach the subject of Rei's pregnancy, when Lee took that decision out of his hands, as he angrily told Tala and Kai off and let slip that Rei was breeding.
Bryan's confusion was understandable, so he thought he'd help clarify things for him.
"He said, that Rei is pregnant."
While everyone swiveled to stare at Spencer, Grandpa Granger went to call the hospital.
"Spencer!" Tala cried, "How long have you known?"
The big blonde sighed, "The day we arrived I was walking past the fence when you got to shouting at Kai about Bryan, so I went over and listened in."
Ian turned his head to stare at his boyfriend, "And you didn't tell me!" He demanded. Spencer looked back at him and shook his head, "Little one, if I had told you, it wouldn't have been five minutes before you would have been trying to cause trouble with the information. I may trust you with most things, but I know when to not tell you something."
Ian punched him in the shoulder.
Ignoring them, Bryan snorted in disbelief. "What are you guys trying to pull? Rei is as male as I am, and I can assure you that there is no way in hell, I can get pregnant."
"That's right," Lee agreed, as he perched on the wall, "You CAN'T, but Rei can. Bryan, whatever our differences in the past have been, I'm telling you Rei is pregnant, and the kitten is yours."
"Why should I believe you?" Bryan crossed his arms and glared at Lee. "You said it yourself, we have had differences in the past and . . ."
"Kuznetsov, you are one stubborn ass." Kai began . . .
"Blam!"
Everyone looked up as Tyson's grandfather stalked out of the house, a nervous looking Chief trailing behind him, clutching Dizzi like a shield.
"The way I see it, homies; is you aren't gonna get the soon-to-be papa to believe anything until he hears it from the mama. So, while you were out here arguing, I called the hospital to have Rei come home, but there's a problem."
"What problem?" Lee asked, a faint sense of unease touching him.
"Tyson says, Rei never made it to the hospital." There was an immediate uproar.
"WHAT!?!"
Kai and Tala leapt to their feet, while Lee sprang to they're side: eyes wide and anxious. Bryan paled, and grabbed the wall for support. Spencer and Ian also cried out in surprised horror. . "We need to find him!" Lee cried, "Who knows what can happen!"
"Damn it! I told him to not go anywhere alone!" Kai snarled, "that little fool! When I get my hands on him!"
Grandpa Granger sighed, took a deep breath and shouted, "SHUT UP!" He fixed a stern eye on everyone. "If you 'gentlemen' can keep quiet for a moment. I called the Cab Company and found out that Rei went instead to Central Park. I then contacted Dickenson and had him dispatch a bus. We are going to the park and hunt for the boy."
"No, we won't. I'm going alone." Bryan said, calmly. "Rei is mine and I've had enough of everyone's interference."
"You'll never find him." Lee said, as he moved to confront the pale Russian: who stared impassively at him with arms crossed. "Believe me, if Rei doesn't want to be found, you'll never find him. I, however can find him."
"How?"
Lee smirked and tapped his nose. "If the wind is right, I'll be able to smell him. We, Neko-jin's can see, smell and hear better than you poor humans. So, I'll be able to track him a whole lot easier than any of you can." Lee shrugged, "besides if the trees are close enough together, he made try to use them as a means of escape, and I'm the only one who can chase him through the canopy."
Bryan glared, but then reluctantly nodded, "All right, you can come, but no one else!" He glared around at the others. "I meant it, when I said, I'm tried of everyone's interference." He then faced Lee again. "When you've located Rei for me, I expect you to get lost!"
Lee nodded.
Tala looked at the old man and remarked, "You don't seemed to surprised. Why?"
Grandpa smiled, "Because I knew the moment I saw Rei; he had that certain glow that pregnant women get. I saw it with my wife and I saw it with Tyson's mother. There is no mistaking that shine."
"You never said anything." Kai straightened from the glider and frowned at the man.
The old man shook his head. "You weren't listening, I've been talking. At the diner I was talking and at other times, when you tried to curtail Rei's movements, I talked, and today when you called Lee, I talked." He pointed a long finger at Kai and growled, 'There was a message in everything I told you, but you didn't get it."
He looked at the stubborn cast on Kai's face and sighed. "And you still don't, do you? The message was simple; Let go." He looked around at the faces surrounding him and noted the surprise looks. He refocused his attention on the bluenette. "Kai, you're a smart boy. You wouldn't be where you are, if you weren't, but you could've handled this better."
"And how would you have handled it?" Tala asked, as he tightened his grip on his growling lover.
"Simple, I'd have kicked that one, "he jerked at thumb at Bryan, "in the rear and sent him after Rei." The old man shook his head; "this whole mess could have been avoided with a simple apology."
"You know the whole story, don't you." Kai said suddenly.
"No, just bits and pieces. But, I know enough to know that Rei and Bryan had a fight that sent Rei packing. And that all of you have been working like mad to keep him and Bryan apart."
"Blame it on Hiwatari, since its' his fault." Bryan snarled. "I wanted to bring Rei home, yesterday, but he wouldn't let me."
Kia spun and advanced on the other boy, growling low in his throat. Bryan sneered and crouched, ignoring the pain in his lower regions. "Bring it on, Hiwatari and I'll kick your sorry ass all the way back to the Abbey!"
Tala grabbed Kai, while Lee leapt between the pair and put a hand on both boys chest. "Stop it! This is getting us nowhere!" Both boys bared their teeth at each other, and nodded before giving each other a final glare.
None of the combatants noticed the man hiding in the bushes across the street. The man patted his camera and grinned. "The boss is gonna love these!" And he wiggled out of the bushes and disappeared down an alley.
Bryan paced as he waited for the bus. While he didn't really believe their story about Rei being pregnant, he realized that he didn't really know all that much about Rei's race. So, he would just have to wait and see what Rei said.
The sun was just beginning to set when Lee and Bryan set out to try and track Rei. They walked in silence for awhile, before Bryan said, "Anything?"
"Not yet, the wind isn't right."
They continued moving; each lost in their thoughts.
"Bryan, why didn't you ever come for Rei?"
Bryan laughed bitterly, "Because I didn't deserve him!"
Lee stopped and stared in shock at the Russian, who turned to face him.
"All my miserable life, I've been told that I had to be cold, merciless and that only perfection was acceptable! And I tried to be everything my trainers told me I had to be!" He turned and stared into the gathering darkness. "When Rei came into my life, I hated him! He stood in the way of my trainer's goal and he had to be made an example of! So, when I was told to destroy him, I went to the stadium to do just that!" The Russian paused and took a deep breath.
"I saw the look on Kai's face, when Rei went to meet me, he was proud of him! And that made me want to crush Rei even more, how dare that traitor be proud of one of the people responsible for taking him away from us!"
"From where I was sitting you were doing a pretty good job of tearing Rei to bits." Lee whispered. Bryan snorted.
"Lion, if I had really wanted to kill him. Rei would have been dead, before Driger could have protected him. But, when I looked across the Beystadium at him, I saw a new me, someone who could be happy and free, but Rei was the only path to that life. So, I held back, I made it look good, but I wasn't really trying."
Lee reached out and put a hand on Bryan's shoulder, the Russian ignored the contact. "Tala and I paid for our failures to win with the worst beatings of our lives the night Tala lost to Tyson." Bryan sighed, "You know the weirdest thing happened that night, as I laid on the floor of the cell they threw me in. I could have sworn that Rei came to me, knelt by my side, took me in his arms and told me that in the morning I would be free."
"And he was right, by morning the government had moved in and taken over. Tala and I spent several days in a military hospital, then Mr. Dickenson came and said 'he was now the Demolition Boy's legal guardian.' and we went to live in a house he provided. Kai and Rei arrived later to live with us." He stared at a tree up ahead, was that a flash of white?
"I never told Rei about that part of my vision, only that I knew that in destroying him I would be destroying myself, and I was right. I was never perfect, but I held perfection in my arms every time I took Rei into them, and I threw it all away, when I struck him in a jealous rage over a stupid picture!"
Lee nodded, but before he could speak a familiar scent tickled his nose. Unnoticed by either youth, the wind had changed and was now blowing in their faces. "Bryan, I smell Rei and he's up ahead of us."
Bryan nodded, trying to pierce the almost total darkness. "How far?"
"Not far. Come on." Lee took off at a jog with Bryan right behind.
Rei opened his eyes and grimaced. It had been a long time since he had mediated like that and now his back was killing him! Not to mention his bottom was a little sore as well. He sighed, and began to climb down from the tree.
Halfway down the trunk, he yelped in surprise, when a pair of strong arms wrapped around his waist and pulled. He grunted as his back came in contact with a firm chest.
"If I wasn't so relieved that you're all right, I'd strangle you." A familiar voice growled in his ear. Rei gulped, as Bryan turned him to face him.
Lee smiled, as he heard Rei's cry and knew Bryan had him in hand.
"See you later, Little Brother." he laughed and headed for the bus to wait.
"B-Bryan? How did you find me?" Rei asked, as he stared at his mate.
"A certain lion sniffed you out."
"Lee helped you? Why?"
"Because he loves you and was worried when you didn't arrive at the hospital. You frightened us all, kitten."
"I'm sorry."
"You should be. It isn't right to worry the ones who love you." Bryan said, as he pulled Rei to his chest. He gently twined his fingers in Rei's braid and buried his face in the top of Rei's ebony head.
'I love you kitten and I'm sorry that I struck you. I'm sorry that I never sent for you or came to bring you home." Bryan whispered, as he breathed in the scent of his tiger: all sandalwood and cinnamon. "Forgive me?"
Rei was silent for so long, that Bryan began to lose hope and his eyes filled with tears, but then slowly a sleek head raised and he meet golden jewels; followed by a hand raising, and a finger began to trace his lips. Tenderly, he kissed the wandering digit and sighed in relief when he felt Rei tremble.
Rei heard the desperate plea underlying his mate's words. And he quietly raised his head to meet shimmering eyes full of unshed tears, slowly he raised a hand and traced Bryan's lips with a finger. He trembled when Bryan kissed the tip of his finger. "I forgive you, but we need to talk."
"Tomorrow, love." Bryan whispered, as he bent his head to claim Rei's lips. "I'll talk to you about anything your heart desires."
Rei sighed and surrendered to his lover for now.
Lee smirked as the pair emerged under a street light hand in hand. He grinned widely, as Bryan's head kept constantly moving as he scanned the area. "Not taking any chances, are you Kuznetsov."
Rei groaned, when he entered the bus to find Lee smirking at him. "Oh, shut up!" He grumbled. : Lee looked at him innocently; "I never said a word."
"No, but you were thinking it."
Bryan snorted, as Lee began laughing. The Russian steered his lover into a seat and once they were seated pulled him into a protective embrace and ignored Lee all the way home.
"They're back!" Ian shouted, as he rushed into the house. Rapidly the house emptied, as everyone raced outside to meet the returnees. Bryan pulled Rei out of the bus and began to march toward the other house.
Kai moved to block him, but a look from Rei stopped him in his tracks. Rei shook his head and mouthed, "its' all right." Kai nodded and stepped aside. Bryan glared, then announced to the air. "Rei and I are taking over the bedroom, so someone needs to make other arrangements." And then ignoring everyone else, he led Rei up the stairs and inside.
Tala laughed, and poked his lover. "I guess that means I'm sleeping over here."
"What's wrong with your couch?" Kai shot back.
"Ohh, just see if you get any tonight."
Everyone laughed, as Kai sputtered.
"Got you that time, Kai!" Lee hooted from the bus doors. "I'll see you all later, I'm for the hotel and bed." He waved, as they called goodnight, and went back into the bus. Seconds later, it pulled away.
"Well, peeps! These old bones need their rest, so I'm for bed as well." Old man Granger said, and he went inside, followed by Kenny.
The four Russians stood outside, then by unspoken consent; they went around the house and looked up at a certain bedroom window. They stood there watching as two forms come together for a brief moment on the shade, then the figures parted and only one was visible. That one stood for a moment more, then it too disappeared and the light went out.
The four watchers stood for a moment, each with an arm around their own partner, then they whispered their good wishes for the reunited, and quietly went to their own beds.
Bryan stood at the foot of the bed: his eager eyes drinking in the sight before him. Rei lay on the white sheets in nothing but his living cloak of hair. As he took in the picture before him, he noticed the slight curve of Rei's normally flat stomach.
Rei crooked a finger at him, beckoning him to bed. Bryan smirked, and flowed to his side of the bed, slipping under the sheet, he turned off the light and turned to his welcoming mate.
Gently, he slid into Rei's arms and captured the eager mouth that opened without urging and dived in. For several minutes the only sounds in the room were ones of love and passion, then Bryan pulled back and panting, he whispered the question he had to have the answer too.
"Are you really going to have a kitten?"
Rei sighed, and sat up. He reached out and took Bryan's unresisting hand and put it firmly on his belly. "We're still a little on the early side of things, but by the time Christmas comes, we'll have a son or daughter to care for. That is if you still want me." He said a little sadly.
Bryan stared at him, and then he slowly bent down and kissed the spot where his hand had been. When he raised his head, Rei saw the devotion in the moonlight depths. "I was right, you are perfect." Bryan breathed.
"No," Rei corrected, as he pulled Bryan's head up to meet his lips. "We are perfect."
Dances around singing, "I am evil! A black magic woman! I'm so evil!
Rei: If you were so evil, why'd you write this chapter?
I had too; it would have slowed the story down to delay any longer.
Rei: Whatever you say, I think you're just a romantic at heart.
Fat lot you know.
Rei: And what's with Mariah?
Err, she's being a pill, but don't worry, she'll get hers, when Lee finds out what she's done.
Mariah: Hey! Don't blame me for something you did!
You're the actors, I'm only the playwright. Wait that didn't come out right!
Mariah: Ha! You just proved my point!
Put my foot in it that time.
Subtitle: Talons and claws
Author: Lady Snowblossom
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: Rei/Bryan, Kai/Tala, Spencer/Ian, Max/Tyson and various other pairings
Note: None this time, I'm gonna be evil and make you read and see. BHAAAAAAAAH!!!! And oh, if you want to read the uncensored version go to Adultfanfiction.net
Disclaimer: Your joking, right?
Grandpa Granger watched the group of boys gathered around the glider. Tala had his head between his knees, while Spencer plied an ice pack to the back of his neck. Kai lay back against the glider, his head resting on the pillow, Lee had slipped behind it. Ian was sitting on the brick rim of the porch, while Bryan leaned against it.
While the boys were tending to the wounded, he had quietly cleaned up the porch and then returned to hear how the news of Rei's pregnancy would be broken to Bryan.
"What set Rei off?" Bryan's quiet question caused everyone to jump and they all looked at each other, Tala raising his head to do so. The lilac haired youth looked around and growled when Ian flushed and refused to meet his eye.
"Ian."
The shorter boy sighed, "Spencer, would you see that I'm buried under the big tree back behind the storage area at the Abbey. And I want you to remember that I love you."
"Stop playing the martyr." Kai growled, as he slowly straightened up, fixing a baleful eye on the nervous youth. "And tell us what you know."
Ian pulled his hat off and began to play with the straps. "Rei threatened to kill me, if I didn't tell him about Bryan and his activities since he left; and especially about last night."
"I suppose you told him." Tala said. He sat up and ran a finger under his nose, it came back clean, so he waved Spencer away and sighed.
"I didn't have a choice. He would either kill me; or the two of you would, either way I was dead. So, I told him."
"And last night was what set Rei off." Tala guessed as he laid his head on Kai's shoulder.
"What about last night?" Lee asked, eyes widening in puzzlement, when the group of Russians either flushed or paled, and refused to meet his eyes. "Kai? Tala?"
Halfway to the hospital, Rei changed his mind, and ordered the driver to take him to Central Park instead, he needed to be someplace where he could center himself before he went back home and strangled Kai and Tala!
He glared out the window of the cab, impatiently drumming his fingers on the seat, ignoring the myriad sights that whizzed, crawled or flashed past.
After what seemed like an eternity, the cab pulled up in front of the park and deposited the young Neko-jin, who immediately began to jog away from the street and deep into the park.
Ten minutes after arriving at Central Park, Rei found a tree that suited his needs; limbs that were heavy with foliage and broad enough to take his weight and be comfortable to sit on. Scrambling up the trunk, he was soon hidden from view.
Quietly, he settled down on the widest branch, leaned back against the trunk, and removing Driger from his pocket used the blade to focus his center. He sorely needed to balance himself before he returned home and strangled Kai and Tala.
Slowly, he allowed the quiet to permeate his being as he began to take deep calming breaths; focusing his will to block out everything but the reason for his flight. His mate had been deliberately injured by someone they both called friend, and that friend's mate. The ghost of the great cat that had begun his lineage had rose up in his soul; roaring its rage.
And it was that part of his heritage he had satisfied with a fast and hard attack: leaving his prey battered and bleeding. For a brief moment, he savored the 'taste' of the victory, then he slowly let it go, and with the release forced the mighty beast to fade; never quite gone, but there to call upon in time of need.
As he sank deeper into the trance, the outside world slowly faded from his consciousness, leaving only his subconscious to stand guard.
"We lied about last night, Lee." Tala sighed, "We didn't want to upset Rei anymore than he already was; so we lied about Bryan's punishment."
"All right, what the hell did you do that you are either ashamed of, or felt wasn't any of my business." Lee asked, he wasn't prepared for the growled answer.
"Kai busted my ass with a hairbrush. Its' nice to know they kept that quiet."
Lee wheeled and stared open mouthed at Bryan, who glared back. The cold Russian shrugged and continued, "Don't worry about it, Lion! I've had worst beatings, at least they put me to bed in a nice warm bed; usually after a beating, we got to sleep on a nice cold concrete floor."
Lee spun back around and glared at the pair on the glider. "You two are damn lucky Rei didn't stick around to give you a lesson in what he can really do, when he's angry. I guess some part of him still remembers that he's breeding."
"What did you say?" Bryan said, not sure he had heard correctly.
"He said, that Rei is pregnant." Spencer said, quietly from where he sat with Ian, whose eyes were bulging in shock.
Sitting on the brick wall, Spencer put an arm around Ian, and listened to the slightly heated four -way conversation between Lee, Bryan, Kai and Tala. The big blonde absently ran a hand up and down Ian's back, as the shorter Russian trembled at the rising voices.
He wondered if he dared broach the subject of Rei's pregnancy, when Lee took that decision out of his hands, as he angrily told Tala and Kai off and let slip that Rei was breeding.
Bryan's confusion was understandable, so he thought he'd help clarify things for him.
"He said, that Rei is pregnant."
While everyone swiveled to stare at Spencer, Grandpa Granger went to call the hospital.
"Spencer!" Tala cried, "How long have you known?"
The big blonde sighed, "The day we arrived I was walking past the fence when you got to shouting at Kai about Bryan, so I went over and listened in."
Ian turned his head to stare at his boyfriend, "And you didn't tell me!" He demanded. Spencer looked back at him and shook his head, "Little one, if I had told you, it wouldn't have been five minutes before you would have been trying to cause trouble with the information. I may trust you with most things, but I know when to not tell you something."
Ian punched him in the shoulder.
Ignoring them, Bryan snorted in disbelief. "What are you guys trying to pull? Rei is as male as I am, and I can assure you that there is no way in hell, I can get pregnant."
"That's right," Lee agreed, as he perched on the wall, "You CAN'T, but Rei can. Bryan, whatever our differences in the past have been, I'm telling you Rei is pregnant, and the kitten is yours."
"Why should I believe you?" Bryan crossed his arms and glared at Lee. "You said it yourself, we have had differences in the past and . . ."
"Kuznetsov, you are one stubborn ass." Kai began . . .
"Blam!"
Everyone looked up as Tyson's grandfather stalked out of the house, a nervous looking Chief trailing behind him, clutching Dizzi like a shield.
"The way I see it, homies; is you aren't gonna get the soon-to-be papa to believe anything until he hears it from the mama. So, while you were out here arguing, I called the hospital to have Rei come home, but there's a problem."
"What problem?" Lee asked, a faint sense of unease touching him.
"Tyson says, Rei never made it to the hospital." There was an immediate uproar.
"WHAT!?!"
Kai and Tala leapt to their feet, while Lee sprang to they're side: eyes wide and anxious. Bryan paled, and grabbed the wall for support. Spencer and Ian also cried out in surprised horror. . "We need to find him!" Lee cried, "Who knows what can happen!"
"Damn it! I told him to not go anywhere alone!" Kai snarled, "that little fool! When I get my hands on him!"
Grandpa Granger sighed, took a deep breath and shouted, "SHUT UP!" He fixed a stern eye on everyone. "If you 'gentlemen' can keep quiet for a moment. I called the Cab Company and found out that Rei went instead to Central Park. I then contacted Dickenson and had him dispatch a bus. We are going to the park and hunt for the boy."
"No, we won't. I'm going alone." Bryan said, calmly. "Rei is mine and I've had enough of everyone's interference."
"You'll never find him." Lee said, as he moved to confront the pale Russian: who stared impassively at him with arms crossed. "Believe me, if Rei doesn't want to be found, you'll never find him. I, however can find him."
"How?"
Lee smirked and tapped his nose. "If the wind is right, I'll be able to smell him. We, Neko-jin's can see, smell and hear better than you poor humans. So, I'll be able to track him a whole lot easier than any of you can." Lee shrugged, "besides if the trees are close enough together, he made try to use them as a means of escape, and I'm the only one who can chase him through the canopy."
Bryan glared, but then reluctantly nodded, "All right, you can come, but no one else!" He glared around at the others. "I meant it, when I said, I'm tried of everyone's interference." He then faced Lee again. "When you've located Rei for me, I expect you to get lost!"
Lee nodded.
Tala looked at the old man and remarked, "You don't seemed to surprised. Why?"
Grandpa smiled, "Because I knew the moment I saw Rei; he had that certain glow that pregnant women get. I saw it with my wife and I saw it with Tyson's mother. There is no mistaking that shine."
"You never said anything." Kai straightened from the glider and frowned at the man.
The old man shook his head. "You weren't listening, I've been talking. At the diner I was talking and at other times, when you tried to curtail Rei's movements, I talked, and today when you called Lee, I talked." He pointed a long finger at Kai and growled, 'There was a message in everything I told you, but you didn't get it."
He looked at the stubborn cast on Kai's face and sighed. "And you still don't, do you? The message was simple; Let go." He looked around at the faces surrounding him and noted the surprise looks. He refocused his attention on the bluenette. "Kai, you're a smart boy. You wouldn't be where you are, if you weren't, but you could've handled this better."
"And how would you have handled it?" Tala asked, as he tightened his grip on his growling lover.
"Simple, I'd have kicked that one, "he jerked at thumb at Bryan, "in the rear and sent him after Rei." The old man shook his head; "this whole mess could have been avoided with a simple apology."
"You know the whole story, don't you." Kai said suddenly.
"No, just bits and pieces. But, I know enough to know that Rei and Bryan had a fight that sent Rei packing. And that all of you have been working like mad to keep him and Bryan apart."
"Blame it on Hiwatari, since its' his fault." Bryan snarled. "I wanted to bring Rei home, yesterday, but he wouldn't let me."
Kia spun and advanced on the other boy, growling low in his throat. Bryan sneered and crouched, ignoring the pain in his lower regions. "Bring it on, Hiwatari and I'll kick your sorry ass all the way back to the Abbey!"
Tala grabbed Kai, while Lee leapt between the pair and put a hand on both boys chest. "Stop it! This is getting us nowhere!" Both boys bared their teeth at each other, and nodded before giving each other a final glare.
None of the combatants noticed the man hiding in the bushes across the street. The man patted his camera and grinned. "The boss is gonna love these!" And he wiggled out of the bushes and disappeared down an alley.
Bryan paced as he waited for the bus. While he didn't really believe their story about Rei being pregnant, he realized that he didn't really know all that much about Rei's race. So, he would just have to wait and see what Rei said.
The sun was just beginning to set when Lee and Bryan set out to try and track Rei. They walked in silence for awhile, before Bryan said, "Anything?"
"Not yet, the wind isn't right."
They continued moving; each lost in their thoughts.
"Bryan, why didn't you ever come for Rei?"
Bryan laughed bitterly, "Because I didn't deserve him!"
Lee stopped and stared in shock at the Russian, who turned to face him.
"All my miserable life, I've been told that I had to be cold, merciless and that only perfection was acceptable! And I tried to be everything my trainers told me I had to be!" He turned and stared into the gathering darkness. "When Rei came into my life, I hated him! He stood in the way of my trainer's goal and he had to be made an example of! So, when I was told to destroy him, I went to the stadium to do just that!" The Russian paused and took a deep breath.
"I saw the look on Kai's face, when Rei went to meet me, he was proud of him! And that made me want to crush Rei even more, how dare that traitor be proud of one of the people responsible for taking him away from us!"
"From where I was sitting you were doing a pretty good job of tearing Rei to bits." Lee whispered. Bryan snorted.
"Lion, if I had really wanted to kill him. Rei would have been dead, before Driger could have protected him. But, when I looked across the Beystadium at him, I saw a new me, someone who could be happy and free, but Rei was the only path to that life. So, I held back, I made it look good, but I wasn't really trying."
Lee reached out and put a hand on Bryan's shoulder, the Russian ignored the contact. "Tala and I paid for our failures to win with the worst beatings of our lives the night Tala lost to Tyson." Bryan sighed, "You know the weirdest thing happened that night, as I laid on the floor of the cell they threw me in. I could have sworn that Rei came to me, knelt by my side, took me in his arms and told me that in the morning I would be free."
"And he was right, by morning the government had moved in and taken over. Tala and I spent several days in a military hospital, then Mr. Dickenson came and said 'he was now the Demolition Boy's legal guardian.' and we went to live in a house he provided. Kai and Rei arrived later to live with us." He stared at a tree up ahead, was that a flash of white?
"I never told Rei about that part of my vision, only that I knew that in destroying him I would be destroying myself, and I was right. I was never perfect, but I held perfection in my arms every time I took Rei into them, and I threw it all away, when I struck him in a jealous rage over a stupid picture!"
Lee nodded, but before he could speak a familiar scent tickled his nose. Unnoticed by either youth, the wind had changed and was now blowing in their faces. "Bryan, I smell Rei and he's up ahead of us."
Bryan nodded, trying to pierce the almost total darkness. "How far?"
"Not far. Come on." Lee took off at a jog with Bryan right behind.
Rei opened his eyes and grimaced. It had been a long time since he had mediated like that and now his back was killing him! Not to mention his bottom was a little sore as well. He sighed, and began to climb down from the tree.
Halfway down the trunk, he yelped in surprise, when a pair of strong arms wrapped around his waist and pulled. He grunted as his back came in contact with a firm chest.
"If I wasn't so relieved that you're all right, I'd strangle you." A familiar voice growled in his ear. Rei gulped, as Bryan turned him to face him.
Lee smiled, as he heard Rei's cry and knew Bryan had him in hand.
"See you later, Little Brother." he laughed and headed for the bus to wait.
"B-Bryan? How did you find me?" Rei asked, as he stared at his mate.
"A certain lion sniffed you out."
"Lee helped you? Why?"
"Because he loves you and was worried when you didn't arrive at the hospital. You frightened us all, kitten."
"I'm sorry."
"You should be. It isn't right to worry the ones who love you." Bryan said, as he pulled Rei to his chest. He gently twined his fingers in Rei's braid and buried his face in the top of Rei's ebony head.
'I love you kitten and I'm sorry that I struck you. I'm sorry that I never sent for you or came to bring you home." Bryan whispered, as he breathed in the scent of his tiger: all sandalwood and cinnamon. "Forgive me?"
Rei was silent for so long, that Bryan began to lose hope and his eyes filled with tears, but then slowly a sleek head raised and he meet golden jewels; followed by a hand raising, and a finger began to trace his lips. Tenderly, he kissed the wandering digit and sighed in relief when he felt Rei tremble.
Rei heard the desperate plea underlying his mate's words. And he quietly raised his head to meet shimmering eyes full of unshed tears, slowly he raised a hand and traced Bryan's lips with a finger. He trembled when Bryan kissed the tip of his finger. "I forgive you, but we need to talk."
"Tomorrow, love." Bryan whispered, as he bent his head to claim Rei's lips. "I'll talk to you about anything your heart desires."
Rei sighed and surrendered to his lover for now.
Lee smirked as the pair emerged under a street light hand in hand. He grinned widely, as Bryan's head kept constantly moving as he scanned the area. "Not taking any chances, are you Kuznetsov."
Rei groaned, when he entered the bus to find Lee smirking at him. "Oh, shut up!" He grumbled. : Lee looked at him innocently; "I never said a word."
"No, but you were thinking it."
Bryan snorted, as Lee began laughing. The Russian steered his lover into a seat and once they were seated pulled him into a protective embrace and ignored Lee all the way home.
"They're back!" Ian shouted, as he rushed into the house. Rapidly the house emptied, as everyone raced outside to meet the returnees. Bryan pulled Rei out of the bus and began to march toward the other house.
Kai moved to block him, but a look from Rei stopped him in his tracks. Rei shook his head and mouthed, "its' all right." Kai nodded and stepped aside. Bryan glared, then announced to the air. "Rei and I are taking over the bedroom, so someone needs to make other arrangements." And then ignoring everyone else, he led Rei up the stairs and inside.
Tala laughed, and poked his lover. "I guess that means I'm sleeping over here."
"What's wrong with your couch?" Kai shot back.
"Ohh, just see if you get any tonight."
Everyone laughed, as Kai sputtered.
"Got you that time, Kai!" Lee hooted from the bus doors. "I'll see you all later, I'm for the hotel and bed." He waved, as they called goodnight, and went back into the bus. Seconds later, it pulled away.
"Well, peeps! These old bones need their rest, so I'm for bed as well." Old man Granger said, and he went inside, followed by Kenny.
The four Russians stood outside, then by unspoken consent; they went around the house and looked up at a certain bedroom window. They stood there watching as two forms come together for a brief moment on the shade, then the figures parted and only one was visible. That one stood for a moment more, then it too disappeared and the light went out.
The four watchers stood for a moment, each with an arm around their own partner, then they whispered their good wishes for the reunited, and quietly went to their own beds.
Bryan stood at the foot of the bed: his eager eyes drinking in the sight before him. Rei lay on the white sheets in nothing but his living cloak of hair. As he took in the picture before him, he noticed the slight curve of Rei's normally flat stomach.
Rei crooked a finger at him, beckoning him to bed. Bryan smirked, and flowed to his side of the bed, slipping under the sheet, he turned off the light and turned to his welcoming mate.
Gently, he slid into Rei's arms and captured the eager mouth that opened without urging and dived in. For several minutes the only sounds in the room were ones of love and passion, then Bryan pulled back and panting, he whispered the question he had to have the answer too.
"Are you really going to have a kitten?"
Rei sighed, and sat up. He reached out and took Bryan's unresisting hand and put it firmly on his belly. "We're still a little on the early side of things, but by the time Christmas comes, we'll have a son or daughter to care for. That is if you still want me." He said a little sadly.
Bryan stared at him, and then he slowly bent down and kissed the spot where his hand had been. When he raised his head, Rei saw the devotion in the moonlight depths. "I was right, you are perfect." Bryan breathed.
"No," Rei corrected, as he pulled Bryan's head up to meet his lips. "We are perfect."
Dances around singing, "I am evil! A black magic woman! I'm so evil!
Rei: If you were so evil, why'd you write this chapter?
I had too; it would have slowed the story down to delay any longer.
Rei: Whatever you say, I think you're just a romantic at heart.
Fat lot you know.
Rei: And what's with Mariah?
Err, she's being a pill, but don't worry, she'll get hers, when Lee finds out what she's done.
Mariah: Hey! Don't blame me for something you did!
You're the actors, I'm only the playwright. Wait that didn't come out right!
Mariah: Ha! You just proved my point!
Put my foot in it that time.