(A/N: As promised, the second chapter of the two chappie update. Enjoy. ^^)
Dawn of Terror
Chapter 19: Party Time
"Ian dear?"
"Yes, Mother?"
The short boy gritted his teeth, his crimson eyes narrowing with aggravation.
"Who's that standing out there, on the lawn?"
Ian frowned and looked out the window. This had to be about the twentieth time he'd been called to the window in half an hour. His mother was getting old and forgetful, but didn't the blasted woman know anything? She hadn't even recognized his bride-to-be. He glanced down at the shiny car, at the people getting out of it and at the blue-haired boy standing on the lawn, waiting for the rest of the occupants of the car. Ian frowned further. "I don't know, Mother. It must have been someone you invited."
The boy on the lawn turned and Ian saw a flash of crimson- the boy's eyes. He blinked and glanced up at his mother, who was smiling knowingly. "That must be your cousin, dear. My, he's grown a lot since I last saw him-"
Ian blinked and looked back out the window. "Cousin? I didn't even know I had a cousin!"
His mother smiled. "Oh, yes. Your uncle, God bless his soul, had a boy. Kai, I believe and he went to live with his mother's father after the accident. Hiwatari, I think the last name was and- Oh, who's that with him-"
Ian sighed. She was off on one of her spiels now and there was no use trying to walk away while she blabbered on. He leaned against the window sill and stared out at the arriving guests.
~*
The great hall was already bustling with guests, maids and butlers alike. The party-goers were dressed in their best, talking together in small groups and drinking champagne. Laughter was breaking out in various places across the room, giving the room an air as bubbly as the champagne. You couldn't help but feel happy.
Kai, Rei, Mariah, Li, Tala and Tyson were, however, stopped at the door. The doorman was eyeing them up and down. "So, Hiwatari-sama, you made it. But I'm afraid I can't let your friends in. They don't have invitations."
Kai felt a slight exasperation. Why did life have to spite him in all its respects? "Just let me talk to Ian-sama," the bluenette sighed, rolling his eyes.
The butler nodded and turned to go. He didn't have to look far as Ian was standing in the doorway, crimson gaze narrowed. "Cousin Kai, you made it. You have a bad reputation for not attending parties."
Ian smirked. Kai shrugged. "I'm not a very social person, Ian."
Ian frowned and looked at the crowd huddled at the door, clearly uninvited. "And yet, you bring along an entire party of unwanted and uninvited guests."
Kai frowned. "I didn't think you'd mind if I brought along a few choice friends."
Ian snorted. "No. You thought you were good enough to bring along uninvited guests."
Kai gritted his teeth. "I thought no such thing!"
Ian smirked and Kai suddenly knew what everyone else felt when he smirked like that. Hatred and contempt. He supposed the facial expression ran in the family. Ian's eyes belayed amusement. "So, Hiwatari Kai thought he could show up at my party and bring a bunch of hooligans and neko-jins!"
He shouted the last word, glaring specifically at Rei, Mariah and Li. Li gritted his teeth, Mariah frowned and Rei...Rei burst into tears. The raven-haired neko-jin buried his face in his hands, sobbing loudly. Everyone stared at him for a moment. Finally, Kai took him by the wrist, leading him away from the group a bit, glaring back at Ian.
Once they were a good distance away, Kai got down a bit, looking up at Rei. "Rei-chan, shhh. What's wrong? Shh. Please stop crying, Rei-chan."
Rei looked up at him a bit, his mascara running badly. Kai got out a handkerchief and dabbed at Rei's eyes, wiping away the black make-up. "What's wrong, Rei?"
"I-it's just th-that everybody hates us! Why can't they just understand that we feel too?"
He started sobbing again and Kai felt the gentle smile he'd been wearing fall off his face, into oblivion. "Rei-chan-"
"Why can't they see that we hurt too?"
Rei collapsed against him, sobbing pathetically. Kai gathered the neko-jin up in his arms. "Shh, Rei-chan. Shh. They're just too blind to see what their hatred does. They're just too blind."
Rei sniffed loudly. Kai took the raven-haired boy's hand into his own, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "We're all blind," he said softly, sniffing again.
Kai hauled Rei back up to his feet. "Are you okay now?"
Rei nodded, then shook his head. Kai blinked, confused. Rei smiled sadly. "I'm fine for the moment, but I'll never be fine."
Kai blinked again, then shook his head. "Rei-chan, you are crazy."
He led Rei back to the small group still huddled by the door.
~*
Tala ignored the neko-jin and Hiwatari. Instead, he focused his attentions on the short, indigo-haired Master standing in the doorframe, watching his cousin and the neko-jin converse. Ian shook his head, smiling lightly. "It's sickening to see that," he muttered.
He glanced up at Tala suddenly, to find the red-headed boy staring back at him. Ian blinked, then said slowly, "Tala-san?"
Tala didn't reply. Ian frowned. "Of course. Come in."
He guestured to the door. Tala slid by him, into the ball room. Ian followed him with his eyes, wondering what the red-head was up to. Finally, he glanced back to the small group huddled at the door. They hadn't noticed Tala, their attetion focused on Kai and his neko-jin. The bluenette was leading the neko-jin back now and Ian sighed. It was time for round two.
He frowned. "I give you points for persistance, Kai, but that won't get you in here."
Kai shrugged. "As I said before, I'm not a very social person and I'll take my leave of your party now, Ian."
He turned to leave, just as Tyson noticed something amiss. "Where'd Tala get to?"
Kai turned back, his eyes, narrowing. "Tala's gone?"
Tyson nodded. Mariah looked about. "He was here a moment ago..."
Kai glared at Ian, who shrugged. Kai gritted his teeth. "Who cares. Let's go."
The party turned to go. "Oh, Kai-chan! Where are you going?"
Ian mentally slapped himself as his mother hung her head out the doorway, waving a lacy kerchief estatically. Kai turned around. "I was...leaving, Auntie. Ian didn't wish to have me here."
The grey-haired woman whirled on her son. "Is this true?"
Ian backed up against the door, grinning guiltly. "Mother, I can explain..."
The older woman leaned in close and hissed, "You will tolerate his presence here, Ian. It's a miracle he showed up here- we'll make party history if he stays and enjoys the party."
Ian swallowed nervously and nodded. "Yes Mother, of course..."
The woman grinned and turned back to Kai. "Kai-chan, don't go! Ian-dear's changed his mind. We'd love for you to stay and enjoy the party!"
Kai blinked. "Uh..."
He looked at his aunt, who was looking at him hopefully. He glanced at Rei, who smiled. "We can stay if you want," he said softly.
Kai looked back at his aunt. "Alright, Auntie. We'll stay."
The old woman clapped her hands. "Oh, good!"
She raced out and grabbed Kai by the wrist, tugging him along behind her, babbling about what a great party this would be. "There'll be dancing, of course there will be many pretty young ladies to dance with, for you of course, Kai and there'll be wine and champagne and a good seven-course meal and there's live music and of course, you'll sit at our table for dinner and there'll be-"
Kai threw a helpless glance back at Rei, Mariah, Li and Tyson. Rei giggled, holding a gloved hand to his lips, then walked forward, following Kai and his eccentric aunt. The rest of the party followed.
Ian frowned as they passed him by. He didn't like this, not one bit. Imagine! Neko-jins at his party! It was ludicrous. Sighing, he slammed the door shut and joined the guests in the ballroom.
~*
The evening seemed to drift by without a care. Champagne and wine were served with dinner and all throughout the party. Kai's aunt kept her word and the entire party sat with Ian and his bride-to-be for dinner. After they'd eaten and the music started up again, the guests started to pile back on the dancefloor.
Kai and comapny remained seated at the table, chattering amongst each other, Kai's aunt joining them, trying to pry information about life from Kai. At one point, Li got up and offered Mariah his hand. "Care to dance, Milady?"
Mariah blushed and giggled, taking Li's hand and the grey-haired neko-jin whisked her out on the dance floor, being mindful of her bound feet.
Rei watched them, smiling lightly. It was nice to see that the older neko-jins had taken rather a liking to each other. He could see it in their eyes and unconciously, he sighed wistfully as he watched them dance. Kai took note of this, still answering his aunt's onslaught of questions. He made a mental memo to get away from his aunt whenever the oppotunity arouse.
It did, quite suddenly, as the band changed songs and Kai recognized the tune. He turned to Rei. "Care to dance, Rei-chan? This is my favourite song."
Rei looked at him as though he were crazy, then blushed and looked down. "But Kai, I don't know how to dance."
Kai's aunt took charge then, hauling Rei up on his feet. "Now, dearie, Kai-chan is the finest dancer in the world and he can teach you anything! You go have a dance and enjoy yourselves."
Rei looked at her and she smiled sincerely at him. "Go on."
Rei smiled gratefully and shyly took Kai's hand as the bluenette led him down onto the dancefloor.
~*
Tyson watched the dancing, the floor crowded with whirling couples, spinning by his eyes again and again. Kai and Rei had left some time ago and soon after, Kai's aunt had departed too. He was now sitting alone at the table.
A few more minutes passed and he realized that he wasn't alone as he had thought. He glanced to his left, finding a blond boy sitting there, watching the dancing intently. "It looks fun, doesn't it?" the blond commented, never taking his eyes away from the swirling movement.
Tyson sighed. "Sure does. Wish I had a partner."
"Me too," said the blonde and then, they were silent for a moment or two.
They turned back to each other. The blonde smiled, his blue eyes twinkling with merriment. "I'm Max," he said cheerfully, offering his hand.
Tyson took it and shook it, smiling back. "I'm Tyson."
Max smiled. "Nice to meet you, Tyson. Having fun?"
"Not as much as I'd hoped I'd be having."
Max laughed, a care-free sound and Tyson couldn't help but smile. He liked this boy. There was just something about him that made you have to like him. If you didn't like him, you were...weird or something.
Max turned back to Tyson and smiled. "Ya know, I think this is the beginning of a great friendship."
Tyson smiled back. "Ya know, I think you're right."
~*
The ballroom whizzed by as Kai spun him around again. Rei clung to Kai's hand for dear life, closing his eyes. He felt free, like a bird. The skirt of his dress lifted about his ankles, letting cold air seep up across his warm body. He didn't think he'd ever had this much fun in his life.
Kai stopped spinning him, then dipped him. Rei giggled and he felt a bit silly for doing so. After all, this was Kai and there was nothing really funny (or romantic) about this. Yet there was something about the mood of this, something more intimate that made Rei want to lean in and kiss Kai. Not a brother-kiss, like they'd done before, but a better kiss. A lover's kiss. Rei blushed when he thought that.
Maybe this was just the champagne talking. After all, that could be expected. He'd never had any alcohol before and it was bound to have odd effects even with a low intake of it. Kai pulled him back up and they started at the beginning of the dance cycle again. Kai tucked a loose strand of hair behind Rei's ear, then leaned in and whispered, "Let's get away from here."
Rei nodded and Kai took his hand, leading him off the dance floor, to the more secluded balcony. The music drifted out, onto the sweet night air and Rei sighed, closing his eyes. Had this been a sappy romance novel, this would have been the part where Kai kissed him and proclaimed his ever-lasting love for him.
However, this was not a sappy romance novel. Kai did kiss him, chastely though, but did not proclaim his love for him. That was to be expected- this was Kai after all. They sat down on the bench near the balcony railing. They sat in moon-drenched silence for a long time, just enjoying each other's company. At last, Kai turned to Rei. He pushed all of the loose locks out of Rei's face, then took ahold of his hand. "Rei-chan," he started softly.
A nightengale began to sing, loudly, cutting him off. When the bird finished its song, Kai had completely forgotten what he was going to say. "You're beautiful," he murmured, kissing Rei on the cheek.
Rei blushed. Kai picked up Rei's hand and stood. "What say we go call a driver and go home?"
Rei blushed even an even deeper color, picking up the implying note in Kai's voice. "Alright," he agreed softly.
Kai led him off the balcony and the two wandered off to find a phone.
~*
Tala sat upstairs in the cozy room, staring at the blond man in the seat across from him. Below them, the party roared, music drifting up to their ears. They paid it no heed.
Finally, Tala started. "So..."
The blond shifted. "Tala, I can explain..."
"Where were you, Spencer? You were supposed to be there so we could get out of there with the neko-jins."
The blond frowned. "The damn police showed up and took me in to get a fine and confinscated the neko-jins."
He cracked his knuckles. "I woulda liked to show them the old one-two!"
Tala closed his eyes and set down his cup of tea. "Spencer."
The blond hung his head. "I know, I know."
"What are we going to tell Boris?"
"Uhh-"
"Are we going to tell him that you blundered?"
"Y-yes, Tala. B-"
"Silence!"
The red-head's eyes snapped open. "You're going to go back to Russia and tell Boris exactly what happened. He'll see that you're adequately punished."
Spencer nodded. "Y-yes, Tala-sama."
The red-head smirked sadistically. "Good."
~*
At long last, the party wound down. The guests began leaving, filtering out of the great hall and into their cars. Tyson re-joined Mariah and Li, after collecting Max's phone number, of course. He had quite enjoyed the blonde's comapny and wished to talk with him again some time.
Mariah glanced about worriedly, looking at the dying crowd of people. "Have you seen Kai and Rei? I don't see them anywhere."
Li shrugged and Tyson frowned. "No, I haven't seen them, come to think about it."
Mariah frowned, obviously extremely worried. "Oh, where could they have got to?"
Kai's aunt had been standing nearby and now she walked up to them. Seeing Mariah's expression, she asked, "What's wrong, dear?"
"We can't find Kai and Rei."
The old woman laughed lightly and Mariah felt slightly offended. "They went home, dear. Kai called a car down from the estate. He said that the lady wasn't feeling well."
Mariah wrung her hands. "Oh dear, Rei's sick? I'd better get home-"
Li put a hand on her shoulder. "Now, clam down, Mariah. I'm sure Rei's fine."
Mariah bit her lip. "I hope your right."
At that decided second, Tala slithered downstairs, looking decidedly malicious. "Are we leaving?" he asked acidly.
Mariah nodded. "Yes, yes we are."
She turned to Kai's aunt. "Thank you very much, Ma'am."
She curtsied low. The three men bowed to her, chorusing, "We had a wonderful time."
The older woman blushed and as the party walked off, she thought to herself, "I have met some curteousy people in my time, but by far, they are the most polite. Kai has done well with keeping his servants in order."
She glanced about her, wondering if she could somehow learn Kai's technique and make her own servants more civil.
~*
Mariah wrung her hands in worry. The car jolted down the road and they were enarly home. Li frowned at her. "You shouldn't worry so much, Mariah. It's going to make you sick," he chided.
"What if Rei's terribly sick?"
Li shook his head in dismay. "Now, Mariah, it's probably nothing more than a little nausea-"
"What if he's dying?"
Li gave up then, turning back to the window.
~*
Kai stared up at the ceiling, listening to Rei's eratic breathing. He himself was breathing hard too. He was spent and he couldn't even think about moving a single muscle.
"Kai...That was....wow," Rei finished, still panting and if Kai had of had the strength, he would have laughed at Rei's statement.
They lay there for some time, regaining themselves (and their breath), staring at the ceiling, waiting out the effects orgasm had taken on their bodies. At long last, Kai found some strength existed in his limbs and he rolled over onto his side, tucking Rei's now wild hair behind his ears. He smiled fondly down at the pretty neko-jin. "Koneko," he murmured.
Rei snuggled up against him, ready to revel in post-coitum tenderness. Kai wrapped an arm about Rei and listened to his kitten purr. And curled like that, they went to sleep.
They were roused suddenly when the door was flung back and Mariah dashed into the room. "Rei! Oh, Rei are you alright?!"
Rei blinked in sleep-clouded confusion. "Yes, I'm alright-"
Mariah looked worriedly at him, bending over her "patient", studying him intently. "You don't have a fever, do you? Do you feel sick? Tired? Where do you hurt? Are-"
She seemed to noticed Kai for the first time. The bluenette was staring at her, wide-eyed, one arm wrapped possesively about Rei. She got the feeling she'd just intruded on some incredibly intimate moment. She looked at Kai and Rei, taking stock of the situation. Both boys seemed tired, their hair toussled beyond belief, the sheets tangled about them. She glanced at the floor and found all of their clothes scattered across it. She glanced up at them again, then realization hit her. And she screamed.
Dawn of Terror
Chapter 19: Party Time
"Ian dear?"
"Yes, Mother?"
The short boy gritted his teeth, his crimson eyes narrowing with aggravation.
"Who's that standing out there, on the lawn?"
Ian frowned and looked out the window. This had to be about the twentieth time he'd been called to the window in half an hour. His mother was getting old and forgetful, but didn't the blasted woman know anything? She hadn't even recognized his bride-to-be. He glanced down at the shiny car, at the people getting out of it and at the blue-haired boy standing on the lawn, waiting for the rest of the occupants of the car. Ian frowned further. "I don't know, Mother. It must have been someone you invited."
The boy on the lawn turned and Ian saw a flash of crimson- the boy's eyes. He blinked and glanced up at his mother, who was smiling knowingly. "That must be your cousin, dear. My, he's grown a lot since I last saw him-"
Ian blinked and looked back out the window. "Cousin? I didn't even know I had a cousin!"
His mother smiled. "Oh, yes. Your uncle, God bless his soul, had a boy. Kai, I believe and he went to live with his mother's father after the accident. Hiwatari, I think the last name was and- Oh, who's that with him-"
Ian sighed. She was off on one of her spiels now and there was no use trying to walk away while she blabbered on. He leaned against the window sill and stared out at the arriving guests.
~*
The great hall was already bustling with guests, maids and butlers alike. The party-goers were dressed in their best, talking together in small groups and drinking champagne. Laughter was breaking out in various places across the room, giving the room an air as bubbly as the champagne. You couldn't help but feel happy.
Kai, Rei, Mariah, Li, Tala and Tyson were, however, stopped at the door. The doorman was eyeing them up and down. "So, Hiwatari-sama, you made it. But I'm afraid I can't let your friends in. They don't have invitations."
Kai felt a slight exasperation. Why did life have to spite him in all its respects? "Just let me talk to Ian-sama," the bluenette sighed, rolling his eyes.
The butler nodded and turned to go. He didn't have to look far as Ian was standing in the doorway, crimson gaze narrowed. "Cousin Kai, you made it. You have a bad reputation for not attending parties."
Ian smirked. Kai shrugged. "I'm not a very social person, Ian."
Ian frowned and looked at the crowd huddled at the door, clearly uninvited. "And yet, you bring along an entire party of unwanted and uninvited guests."
Kai frowned. "I didn't think you'd mind if I brought along a few choice friends."
Ian snorted. "No. You thought you were good enough to bring along uninvited guests."
Kai gritted his teeth. "I thought no such thing!"
Ian smirked and Kai suddenly knew what everyone else felt when he smirked like that. Hatred and contempt. He supposed the facial expression ran in the family. Ian's eyes belayed amusement. "So, Hiwatari Kai thought he could show up at my party and bring a bunch of hooligans and neko-jins!"
He shouted the last word, glaring specifically at Rei, Mariah and Li. Li gritted his teeth, Mariah frowned and Rei...Rei burst into tears. The raven-haired neko-jin buried his face in his hands, sobbing loudly. Everyone stared at him for a moment. Finally, Kai took him by the wrist, leading him away from the group a bit, glaring back at Ian.
Once they were a good distance away, Kai got down a bit, looking up at Rei. "Rei-chan, shhh. What's wrong? Shh. Please stop crying, Rei-chan."
Rei looked up at him a bit, his mascara running badly. Kai got out a handkerchief and dabbed at Rei's eyes, wiping away the black make-up. "What's wrong, Rei?"
"I-it's just th-that everybody hates us! Why can't they just understand that we feel too?"
He started sobbing again and Kai felt the gentle smile he'd been wearing fall off his face, into oblivion. "Rei-chan-"
"Why can't they see that we hurt too?"
Rei collapsed against him, sobbing pathetically. Kai gathered the neko-jin up in his arms. "Shh, Rei-chan. Shh. They're just too blind to see what their hatred does. They're just too blind."
Rei sniffed loudly. Kai took the raven-haired boy's hand into his own, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "We're all blind," he said softly, sniffing again.
Kai hauled Rei back up to his feet. "Are you okay now?"
Rei nodded, then shook his head. Kai blinked, confused. Rei smiled sadly. "I'm fine for the moment, but I'll never be fine."
Kai blinked again, then shook his head. "Rei-chan, you are crazy."
He led Rei back to the small group still huddled by the door.
~*
Tala ignored the neko-jin and Hiwatari. Instead, he focused his attentions on the short, indigo-haired Master standing in the doorframe, watching his cousin and the neko-jin converse. Ian shook his head, smiling lightly. "It's sickening to see that," he muttered.
He glanced up at Tala suddenly, to find the red-headed boy staring back at him. Ian blinked, then said slowly, "Tala-san?"
Tala didn't reply. Ian frowned. "Of course. Come in."
He guestured to the door. Tala slid by him, into the ball room. Ian followed him with his eyes, wondering what the red-head was up to. Finally, he glanced back to the small group huddled at the door. They hadn't noticed Tala, their attetion focused on Kai and his neko-jin. The bluenette was leading the neko-jin back now and Ian sighed. It was time for round two.
He frowned. "I give you points for persistance, Kai, but that won't get you in here."
Kai shrugged. "As I said before, I'm not a very social person and I'll take my leave of your party now, Ian."
He turned to leave, just as Tyson noticed something amiss. "Where'd Tala get to?"
Kai turned back, his eyes, narrowing. "Tala's gone?"
Tyson nodded. Mariah looked about. "He was here a moment ago..."
Kai glared at Ian, who shrugged. Kai gritted his teeth. "Who cares. Let's go."
The party turned to go. "Oh, Kai-chan! Where are you going?"
Ian mentally slapped himself as his mother hung her head out the doorway, waving a lacy kerchief estatically. Kai turned around. "I was...leaving, Auntie. Ian didn't wish to have me here."
The grey-haired woman whirled on her son. "Is this true?"
Ian backed up against the door, grinning guiltly. "Mother, I can explain..."
The older woman leaned in close and hissed, "You will tolerate his presence here, Ian. It's a miracle he showed up here- we'll make party history if he stays and enjoys the party."
Ian swallowed nervously and nodded. "Yes Mother, of course..."
The woman grinned and turned back to Kai. "Kai-chan, don't go! Ian-dear's changed his mind. We'd love for you to stay and enjoy the party!"
Kai blinked. "Uh..."
He looked at his aunt, who was looking at him hopefully. He glanced at Rei, who smiled. "We can stay if you want," he said softly.
Kai looked back at his aunt. "Alright, Auntie. We'll stay."
The old woman clapped her hands. "Oh, good!"
She raced out and grabbed Kai by the wrist, tugging him along behind her, babbling about what a great party this would be. "There'll be dancing, of course there will be many pretty young ladies to dance with, for you of course, Kai and there'll be wine and champagne and a good seven-course meal and there's live music and of course, you'll sit at our table for dinner and there'll be-"
Kai threw a helpless glance back at Rei, Mariah, Li and Tyson. Rei giggled, holding a gloved hand to his lips, then walked forward, following Kai and his eccentric aunt. The rest of the party followed.
Ian frowned as they passed him by. He didn't like this, not one bit. Imagine! Neko-jins at his party! It was ludicrous. Sighing, he slammed the door shut and joined the guests in the ballroom.
~*
The evening seemed to drift by without a care. Champagne and wine were served with dinner and all throughout the party. Kai's aunt kept her word and the entire party sat with Ian and his bride-to-be for dinner. After they'd eaten and the music started up again, the guests started to pile back on the dancefloor.
Kai and comapny remained seated at the table, chattering amongst each other, Kai's aunt joining them, trying to pry information about life from Kai. At one point, Li got up and offered Mariah his hand. "Care to dance, Milady?"
Mariah blushed and giggled, taking Li's hand and the grey-haired neko-jin whisked her out on the dance floor, being mindful of her bound feet.
Rei watched them, smiling lightly. It was nice to see that the older neko-jins had taken rather a liking to each other. He could see it in their eyes and unconciously, he sighed wistfully as he watched them dance. Kai took note of this, still answering his aunt's onslaught of questions. He made a mental memo to get away from his aunt whenever the oppotunity arouse.
It did, quite suddenly, as the band changed songs and Kai recognized the tune. He turned to Rei. "Care to dance, Rei-chan? This is my favourite song."
Rei looked at him as though he were crazy, then blushed and looked down. "But Kai, I don't know how to dance."
Kai's aunt took charge then, hauling Rei up on his feet. "Now, dearie, Kai-chan is the finest dancer in the world and he can teach you anything! You go have a dance and enjoy yourselves."
Rei looked at her and she smiled sincerely at him. "Go on."
Rei smiled gratefully and shyly took Kai's hand as the bluenette led him down onto the dancefloor.
~*
Tyson watched the dancing, the floor crowded with whirling couples, spinning by his eyes again and again. Kai and Rei had left some time ago and soon after, Kai's aunt had departed too. He was now sitting alone at the table.
A few more minutes passed and he realized that he wasn't alone as he had thought. He glanced to his left, finding a blond boy sitting there, watching the dancing intently. "It looks fun, doesn't it?" the blond commented, never taking his eyes away from the swirling movement.
Tyson sighed. "Sure does. Wish I had a partner."
"Me too," said the blonde and then, they were silent for a moment or two.
They turned back to each other. The blonde smiled, his blue eyes twinkling with merriment. "I'm Max," he said cheerfully, offering his hand.
Tyson took it and shook it, smiling back. "I'm Tyson."
Max smiled. "Nice to meet you, Tyson. Having fun?"
"Not as much as I'd hoped I'd be having."
Max laughed, a care-free sound and Tyson couldn't help but smile. He liked this boy. There was just something about him that made you have to like him. If you didn't like him, you were...weird or something.
Max turned back to Tyson and smiled. "Ya know, I think this is the beginning of a great friendship."
Tyson smiled back. "Ya know, I think you're right."
~*
The ballroom whizzed by as Kai spun him around again. Rei clung to Kai's hand for dear life, closing his eyes. He felt free, like a bird. The skirt of his dress lifted about his ankles, letting cold air seep up across his warm body. He didn't think he'd ever had this much fun in his life.
Kai stopped spinning him, then dipped him. Rei giggled and he felt a bit silly for doing so. After all, this was Kai and there was nothing really funny (or romantic) about this. Yet there was something about the mood of this, something more intimate that made Rei want to lean in and kiss Kai. Not a brother-kiss, like they'd done before, but a better kiss. A lover's kiss. Rei blushed when he thought that.
Maybe this was just the champagne talking. After all, that could be expected. He'd never had any alcohol before and it was bound to have odd effects even with a low intake of it. Kai pulled him back up and they started at the beginning of the dance cycle again. Kai tucked a loose strand of hair behind Rei's ear, then leaned in and whispered, "Let's get away from here."
Rei nodded and Kai took his hand, leading him off the dance floor, to the more secluded balcony. The music drifted out, onto the sweet night air and Rei sighed, closing his eyes. Had this been a sappy romance novel, this would have been the part where Kai kissed him and proclaimed his ever-lasting love for him.
However, this was not a sappy romance novel. Kai did kiss him, chastely though, but did not proclaim his love for him. That was to be expected- this was Kai after all. They sat down on the bench near the balcony railing. They sat in moon-drenched silence for a long time, just enjoying each other's company. At last, Kai turned to Rei. He pushed all of the loose locks out of Rei's face, then took ahold of his hand. "Rei-chan," he started softly.
A nightengale began to sing, loudly, cutting him off. When the bird finished its song, Kai had completely forgotten what he was going to say. "You're beautiful," he murmured, kissing Rei on the cheek.
Rei blushed. Kai picked up Rei's hand and stood. "What say we go call a driver and go home?"
Rei blushed even an even deeper color, picking up the implying note in Kai's voice. "Alright," he agreed softly.
Kai led him off the balcony and the two wandered off to find a phone.
~*
Tala sat upstairs in the cozy room, staring at the blond man in the seat across from him. Below them, the party roared, music drifting up to their ears. They paid it no heed.
Finally, Tala started. "So..."
The blond shifted. "Tala, I can explain..."
"Where were you, Spencer? You were supposed to be there so we could get out of there with the neko-jins."
The blond frowned. "The damn police showed up and took me in to get a fine and confinscated the neko-jins."
He cracked his knuckles. "I woulda liked to show them the old one-two!"
Tala closed his eyes and set down his cup of tea. "Spencer."
The blond hung his head. "I know, I know."
"What are we going to tell Boris?"
"Uhh-"
"Are we going to tell him that you blundered?"
"Y-yes, Tala. B-"
"Silence!"
The red-head's eyes snapped open. "You're going to go back to Russia and tell Boris exactly what happened. He'll see that you're adequately punished."
Spencer nodded. "Y-yes, Tala-sama."
The red-head smirked sadistically. "Good."
~*
At long last, the party wound down. The guests began leaving, filtering out of the great hall and into their cars. Tyson re-joined Mariah and Li, after collecting Max's phone number, of course. He had quite enjoyed the blonde's comapny and wished to talk with him again some time.
Mariah glanced about worriedly, looking at the dying crowd of people. "Have you seen Kai and Rei? I don't see them anywhere."
Li shrugged and Tyson frowned. "No, I haven't seen them, come to think about it."
Mariah frowned, obviously extremely worried. "Oh, where could they have got to?"
Kai's aunt had been standing nearby and now she walked up to them. Seeing Mariah's expression, she asked, "What's wrong, dear?"
"We can't find Kai and Rei."
The old woman laughed lightly and Mariah felt slightly offended. "They went home, dear. Kai called a car down from the estate. He said that the lady wasn't feeling well."
Mariah wrung her hands. "Oh dear, Rei's sick? I'd better get home-"
Li put a hand on her shoulder. "Now, clam down, Mariah. I'm sure Rei's fine."
Mariah bit her lip. "I hope your right."
At that decided second, Tala slithered downstairs, looking decidedly malicious. "Are we leaving?" he asked acidly.
Mariah nodded. "Yes, yes we are."
She turned to Kai's aunt. "Thank you very much, Ma'am."
She curtsied low. The three men bowed to her, chorusing, "We had a wonderful time."
The older woman blushed and as the party walked off, she thought to herself, "I have met some curteousy people in my time, but by far, they are the most polite. Kai has done well with keeping his servants in order."
She glanced about her, wondering if she could somehow learn Kai's technique and make her own servants more civil.
~*
Mariah wrung her hands in worry. The car jolted down the road and they were enarly home. Li frowned at her. "You shouldn't worry so much, Mariah. It's going to make you sick," he chided.
"What if Rei's terribly sick?"
Li shook his head in dismay. "Now, Mariah, it's probably nothing more than a little nausea-"
"What if he's dying?"
Li gave up then, turning back to the window.
~*
Kai stared up at the ceiling, listening to Rei's eratic breathing. He himself was breathing hard too. He was spent and he couldn't even think about moving a single muscle.
"Kai...That was....wow," Rei finished, still panting and if Kai had of had the strength, he would have laughed at Rei's statement.
They lay there for some time, regaining themselves (and their breath), staring at the ceiling, waiting out the effects orgasm had taken on their bodies. At long last, Kai found some strength existed in his limbs and he rolled over onto his side, tucking Rei's now wild hair behind his ears. He smiled fondly down at the pretty neko-jin. "Koneko," he murmured.
Rei snuggled up against him, ready to revel in post-coitum tenderness. Kai wrapped an arm about Rei and listened to his kitten purr. And curled like that, they went to sleep.
They were roused suddenly when the door was flung back and Mariah dashed into the room. "Rei! Oh, Rei are you alright?!"
Rei blinked in sleep-clouded confusion. "Yes, I'm alright-"
Mariah looked worriedly at him, bending over her "patient", studying him intently. "You don't have a fever, do you? Do you feel sick? Tired? Where do you hurt? Are-"
She seemed to noticed Kai for the first time. The bluenette was staring at her, wide-eyed, one arm wrapped possesively about Rei. She got the feeling she'd just intruded on some incredibly intimate moment. She looked at Kai and Rei, taking stock of the situation. Both boys seemed tired, their hair toussled beyond belief, the sheets tangled about them. She glanced at the floor and found all of their clothes scattered across it. She glanced up at them again, then realization hit her. And she screamed.