The threat from Martha still hung over them like, umm, a really dark rain
cloud. You know, the ones that you just KNOW are going to start letting
loose the rain in like three minutes and always seem to appear when you're
at least four minutes from home. Yup, those kind. The point is that they
were all rather upset over it.
"I can't believe she can't just let us alone," Max sighed as they walked into a small restaurant to eat.
Kenny sighed also. "No matter what, we must make sure that we get her soul out of her dead body! I didn't think I'd have to remind you, but she's one of the walking dead right now! She's the living dead! She isn't supposed to be alive and also she has a crush on Kai!"
"You don't need to remind me," Kai said, glaring.
Rei glared too. Without warning, he suddenly stood up and walked out of the restaurant. Everyone blinked, too stunned to react. However, he returned in less than five minutes, so everyone could be reassured that Martha had not got him or anything. He sat back down, pocketing something without missing a beat.
"Ummm, Rei?" Tyson asked hesitantly.
"Let's order," Rei said, brushing aside the question Tyson silently asked, "I'm starving and I can't blade again till I've had lunch."
Since Tyson couldn't really argue with that, the others nodded and they all ordered their food. Even Kai got something to eat. And they all got big shakes too, because the restaurant was having a 5-for-1 shake deal (how convenient) and Rei offered to drink Kai's if Kai didn't.
But at the minute, they were still busy deciding what KIND of shakes to get.
"Chocolate!" Tyson said.
"Vanilla," Kenny said.
"Strawberry!" Rei said.
"Guacamole!" Max said.
Kai was then supposed to say something, but everyone was looking at Max with the oddest expressions on their faces. "Ummm," Tyson said slowly, "I didn't know there was a such thing as a guacamole shake." Tyson paused. "What is guacamole anyway?"
"Mashed avocado," muttered Rei, "And supposedly guacamole shakes are supposed to be fairly good. You know, in the next big health-craze type shake way good."
"Oh, I get what you mean," Tyson said, "But I've never had guacamole OR avocado before. Does it taste good?"
"Personally," Rei said, "I hate avocado."
"Yeah, I'm going to have to agree with Rei on that. Avocado is not that good," Kenny agreed. "Dizzi doesn't like it either."
"Amen to that," agreed Dizzi.
Max just shook his head, "Guacamole is just a part of life that you have to learn to enjoy, much like you have to learn to tolerate Tyson's big mouth and Kai's 'leave me alone' thing."
Tyson and Kai blinked. And then Tyson said, "Max! That's so mean of you! I can't believe you'd say something like that!" He took a moment to calm down, and then something hit him. "Actually, you know what, I could. I could believe you'd say something like that."
"That's good," Max replied, "Because I did."
Everyone got an anime sweat drop and fell out of their chair, cept for Kai, of course!
~~~
Arriving back at the tournament about an hour later (Yes, Max did have his guacamole shake and he drank it all too), the group looked at the standings to see which team they'd be up against next. It really didn't matter; they were still going to do the same line-up. There were no Martha incidents, although, any time there was a loud noise or something, everyone would whirl around expecting to see her.
Martha herself was actually up in the commentator box, with three guys tied up on the ground besides her (gee, can you guess who?) They weren't just tied up in any rope either . . . it was pink rope.
Scary.
"Now, my dears, are you comfortable? I'll bring you some water shortly, but I have to go hold the next match. I think I'll kill Rei after it and steal Kai all for myself then." She paused and laughed a little - the 'perfect' laugh - and smiled - the 'perfect' smile - before adding, "He's very nice . . . I should know . . . I was in his body . . ." With another 'perfect' laugh, she left the room, leaving the three guys to sigh at the same time.
~~~
"Ok, Max, just get out there and do your best. I'm sure this match will be perfectly easy," Tyson said encouragingly, "Just think about winning, and you'll win!"
"Ya know, Tyson, if you cheer anymore, you'd be a cheerleader," giggled Max, "But thanks! Now I just KNOW I'm gonna win!" He suddenly paused, and groaned, "But wait, what kind of trick dish do you think we'll be battling in? What if it's some horribly 'perfect' thing and . . ." He shuddered.
"The only way you can get over your fears," said Kai in a bored tone of voice, "Is to face them."
/But you never do. Which is why you haven't told Rei you like him/
'Oh, are we back to just liking him again?' Kai thought sarcastically, wondering why in the world he was arguing with himself yet again. 'I must be going crazy,' he reasoned.
/Oh, no, you're not due to go crazy for a bit yet, I'm afraid. But yeah, you just like him today, since you're too pissed about the whole Martha episode. You see what I mean?/
'No, I don't. I refuse to.' Kai folded his arms and glared at nothing in particular. He had a brief wish for a mirror so he could glare at himself. He didn't think it would help very much, but he wasn't in much of a mood to care.
/Anyhow, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to stop giving advice until you start following it yourself!/
'Make me.'
/First you HAVE to stop acting like a two year old./
'I'm not acting like a two year old!'
/You're ARGUING with YOURSELF/
"Ummm, Kai?" Max said, waving a hand in front of Kai's face. "Kai?"
Kai suddenly blinked and looked confused for a moment before glaring at Max. "Yeah?"
"It's time to blade," Max said.
Rei gave Kai a smirk, as if he knew exactly what the blue haired boy was thinking about, but Kai doubted it. He reluctantly let himself be led to the bowl so that the three of them could be announced as the 'Bladebreakers.' Rei and Max smiled and waved to the audience, but Kai did nothing except glare. After Rei gave him a pointed look, however, he stopped glaring and briefly waved to the audience.
Then two boys and two girls came up. Obviously they were the opposing team. But it doesn't matter about them. Because five minutes later, Rei, Max and Kai had emerged with another victory (in the trick dish of the day; a living room arrangement. Martha went on for ten minutes on the balances between pink and red and how they could be totally harmonic when in effect with white, etc, etc, etc.)
"Ok, we're done here, so lets get out of here," Kai said quickly. He had heard the way Martha had said his name. At first it sounded like she spat it out, but now he could tell she was having fun doing that . . . he shuddered, and pulled Rei along by the collar. Rei blinked and shrugged to Max, Tyson and Kenny.
"I guess I'll meet up with you guys back at the hotel? Only don't stay too long because Martha will get you! Just kidding, by the way. Oh, and Max, you did great in your battle today," Rei said, being dragged off behind Kai. He wondered if Kai realized what he was doing, or if it was just a natural protection for team member type thing. He didn't mind either way; it was nice to know Kai cared.
"Ah, there you two are. Trying to run away, are we?" came a voice, and Kai stopped dead in his tracks.
"I thought you were still at the stadium," he growled, "How did you get down so fast?" He glared, and Rei would have too, but Kai was still holding on to him, so he really didn't have a choice in the matter. And the minute Martha appeared, Kai held on to him even tighter, as if afraid that Martha would suddenly pounce on him or something. "And why are you still after us?"
'Dear boy, you know the reasons," Martha said simply, "And watch yourself. Tonight . . . " She proceeded to laugh, and then 'disappear' into the shadows.
"Don't let the tree branch hit you on your way home," Kai growled after her. There was then a =thunk= and an "ow" and Kai couldn't help but to grin happily. He then realized he was still holding on to Rei, so he released his grip. Rei, who had just gotten used to leaning back slightly in Kai's grip, suddenly found Kai not there, and fell (gracefully) on his butt.
"Ow," he muttered, standing up. He glanced at Kai.
"Sorry," Kai muttered, and Rei smiled.
"Don't worry. It's not that bad. But don't you think we should wait for the others to catch up now?" Rei asked, smiling.
Kai shook his head stubbornly. "I don't like them," he muttered, much like a little kid. In truth, he didn't mind Max, Tyson and Kenny that much, but they did get on his nerves quite easily. Kind of like a certain annoying flower lady.
"But you like me?" Rei asked, raising an eyebrow. 'Does that mean Kai likes me too! I feel so happy!' He would have run in circles while shoujo bubbles fell from the sky, but Kai hadn't said 'yes' yet, so he couldn't.
"Yes . . ." muttered Kai. He could feel the voices inside his head cheering. /Yes! Acceptance is the first step! Next comes admittance, and then the sky's the limit! I think you might even start acting like a REAL person and have FEELING!/
'Oh dear god NO!'
"Ummm, Kai?" Rei asked, "You ok?"
"I'm fine," muttered Kai. "Let's get going to the hotel. I think the others are going out for pizza, so we'll order room service. That alright with you?"
Rei blinked. 'Is he trying to be nice? Wow.' "Sure, that sounds good. I'm sure the others won't mind if they're having pizza." He paused, "But will there be enough room in the room to sit and eat?"
Kai pondered this, and shrugged. "So we'll eat in the dinning room or something. I don't know about you, but after running into that lady twice, I need to calm down."
"Agreed," Rei said, "I can't decide what's worse. Wanting her to hate you or love you."
"They're both impossibly scary, I'll give you that," Kai groaned. They started walking to the hotel, and got there without any further interruptions, and they were both thinking the same things.
Something along the lines of, "Well, he's so cute. And I'm all alone with him and the others are having pizza so they won't be back until forever . . ."
They ended up going to the dinning room and getting a plate of food from the buffet. Sitting down, both Kai and Rei were silent for the longest time.
"Hey Kai?"
"Yeah?"
"Wanna go swimming after this?"
". . . sure."
"Ok."
And so they ate their dinner in silence. But their minds were far from silent. It looked like they would be admitting their feelings for each other soon!
~~~
At the pool Kai and Rei both pulled of the t-shirts they had put on and got right into the water. It was one of the good hotel pools; the type that really is heated and is nice and warm and doesn't say 'no diving' all over the edges.
"Race you, a lap around," Rei suggested, grinned at Kai. Rei was wearing his favorite swim trunks, which were black with a white tiger around the left side.
"Fine, but you'll lose," Kai replied, grinning back.
They both raced around the pool, and ended up tying.
"Well what do you know," Kai mused, "I didn't win."
"No, for once, you didn't!" Rei said, and he tackled Kai, forcing him underwater.
Kai struggled to get back to the surface. "Hey!"
"Hahaha, how the mighty have fallen, Kai!" Rei grinned broadly.
"Oh, is that it?" Kai as Rei tried to push him underwater again. "Not this time," he added, squirming out of Rei's grasp and pushing Rei underwater.
Rei fought underwater for a minute, and finally managed to get back up for a gulp of air, but then he was under again, and so was Kai. The two of them fought underwater, above water, and managed to splash water everywhere, and then some. Finally, both of them were totally spent, so they called a truce, and climbed out of the pool.
Pointing to the hot tub next to the pool, Rei suggested, "Shall we go sit in there for a bit and then get dressed?"
"Yeah, it's starting to get a bit late, but I'm sure the others know we're fine," Kai said, wondering why he agreed so readily. His never ending inner self had the answer; /You just like staring at Rei when he's half naked./
~~~
"Where are Rei and Kai?" Max asked as he, Tyson and Kenny noticed neither Rei nor Kai were in the room.
They all shrugged, and went to sleep.
~~~
Kai and Rei were relaxing in the hot tub, and it was very nice. They did not notice the shadowy figure that was, well, lurking in the shadows. After a moment more of silence, Rei spoke up.
"Well, tomorrow we have one round and then the semi-finals . . .if we win . . ." Rei said, closing his eyes and enjoying the steam from the water.
Kai took a moment to openly stare at Rei before he realized what he was doing and then said, "We will win, it's all a matter of not losing." He smirked at the look Rei got on his face.
"That's the exact same thing," Rei groaned.
"Not losing sounds easier than winning everything, doesn't it?" Kai demanded, and Rei face faulted again.
"I never took you to be such an optimist, Kai, I'll give you that," Rei said, sighing, but it wasn't an aggravated sigh or anything, it was just a sigh of contentment. "I'm surprised, actually. You're always so dark and . . . yeah."
Kai couldn't help but laugh over that. "No, I just don't let my feelings show unless I completely and totally trust the person I'm talking to."
Rei could feel an onslaught of shoujo bubbles appearing; he was feeling all happy and stuff. "You mean you really trust me?" he asked, smiling.
Smiling, Kai nodded, and for a moment it was totally silent.
And then -
"You're the greatest Kai!" Rei grinned, moving forward, and kissing Kai on the cheek. Kai looked shocked at first, and then scared and then surprised and then amused, especially when Rei moved back and said, "Sorry, I was just so happy . . ."
"I don't mind," Kai said firmly, deciding that, if he was going to screw whatever he had told himself, he might as well screw someone else in the deal. He grinned.
~~~
In the shadows, the shadowy figure glared at Rei with a look of intense hatred. She hated him! Yes, it was, of course, Martha Stewart. 'Now how can I get back at them?' she pondered this question for quite awhile before finally coming up with an idea. She, staying in the shadows, crossed over to wear Kai and Rei had put their dry clothes to change into after their swimming.
She pulled out a small THING and put it by Kai's clothes. Smiling to herself, she disappeared fully into the shadows and got a camera ready.
~~~
"You really don't mind?" Rei asked incredulously, "But I thought . . ."
"You know what, Rei?" Kai said in a serious voice, "I think you think too much." He moved forward and kissed Rei.
~~~
Martha waited patiently in her hiding spot, unable to see what Kai and Rei were now doing. (Sucks to be her; they were putting on quite the show). After a few long minutes, she head voices.
"Ok, we should go now. The others might get worried, and we do need sleep," Rei's voice said.
"Yeah," Kai's voice agreed. "We can continue this in your room anyway. Now where are our clothes?"
They walked over to their piles of clothes and began to change while still talking to each other.
"Tomorrow's games are going to be easy, I just can feel it," Rei said, "I'm sure we're going to win every match!"
"I'm glad you're so confident now," Kai said, smiling broadly. "Now, make sure you get Tyson and Max just as confident tomorrow, will you?"
"Why don't you?" Rei suggested innocently, and Kai glared at him.
"In case you haven't noticed, I am SO not an inspirational person," Kai informed him.
Rei winked. "You're an inspiration to me," He said completely innocently, but a grin belied what he was really thinking, and Kai would have said something, only suddenly Kai paused. "Kai?"
"Ummmmmmmmm," Kai said slowly, looking down, "I put on my underwear but I don't think they are mine . . ." Now both Rei and Kai glanced at Kai's legs.
And Rei burst out laughing. "Where in the world did you get those?"
"They're not mine!" Kai said fiercely, "I don't own anything like this!"
"Oh, suuuuuure," Rei grinned.
Kai was wearing a dark blue thong.
"Why would I have a thong?" Kai groaned, "I don't even know anyone who does, except my grandfather, but let's not go there!!!"
"Whoa, calm down," Rei said, "If it counts for anything, I think you look cute in a thong. . . "
"I'll kill you for that," Kai said, "But first I have to find my underwear!"
A quick search ensued, and even though Rei pretended to help Kai look, he was only really checking out Kai in a thong, because Kai hadn't bothered to throw on his pants or anything. It was a most amusing sight.
After a minute of searching, no other underwear was found, but a note was. Having a hunch who it was from, Kai opened it, skimmed it over, and growled, "Martha STOLE my underwear."
Rei's eyes grew wide. "Talk about obsessed . . ."
Kai groaned, and growled, and sighed, and ran out of things to do, and then finally growled again. "I'll kill her!"
"That's the spirit!" Rei said happily, and Kai smiled for a moment.
And then he remembered the thong.
With yet another growl, he pulled it off and pulled on his pants without underwear. Rei grinned and the two of them made their way downstairs to their room, in hopes that no one would notice their lengthy absence.
The others were asleep, but there was a note on the bed. It said. . . ~Rei, I'm going to kill you. Kai is mine. From Martha~
Rei blinked. Kai blinked. They threw the note out the window and crawled into the bed, cuddling up to each other and falling asleep quickly.
However, later that night, Rei woke up and gently separated himself from Kai's arms. He walked up to the dresser, and pulled something out of his pocket. "Ok, Kai, I told you I'd be doing this to you! Actually, no I didn't, but hey, it doesn't really matter! OK!" He uncapped the permanent marker and walked to the bed again, crawling on it.
He gently pulled up Kai's shirt and on the small of his back, wrote in neat print, 'Property Of Rei Kon.' On a whim, he added a smiley face (^_______^) underneath it, and, satisfied with his work, put the pen away and crawled back into bed, before going back to sleep.
He couldn't wait to see the look on Kai's face in the morning, and he smirked at the thought of what Martha would do when she found out. Kai was his now. Mwahahahahaha.
"I can't believe she can't just let us alone," Max sighed as they walked into a small restaurant to eat.
Kenny sighed also. "No matter what, we must make sure that we get her soul out of her dead body! I didn't think I'd have to remind you, but she's one of the walking dead right now! She's the living dead! She isn't supposed to be alive and also she has a crush on Kai!"
"You don't need to remind me," Kai said, glaring.
Rei glared too. Without warning, he suddenly stood up and walked out of the restaurant. Everyone blinked, too stunned to react. However, he returned in less than five minutes, so everyone could be reassured that Martha had not got him or anything. He sat back down, pocketing something without missing a beat.
"Ummm, Rei?" Tyson asked hesitantly.
"Let's order," Rei said, brushing aside the question Tyson silently asked, "I'm starving and I can't blade again till I've had lunch."
Since Tyson couldn't really argue with that, the others nodded and they all ordered their food. Even Kai got something to eat. And they all got big shakes too, because the restaurant was having a 5-for-1 shake deal (how convenient) and Rei offered to drink Kai's if Kai didn't.
But at the minute, they were still busy deciding what KIND of shakes to get.
"Chocolate!" Tyson said.
"Vanilla," Kenny said.
"Strawberry!" Rei said.
"Guacamole!" Max said.
Kai was then supposed to say something, but everyone was looking at Max with the oddest expressions on their faces. "Ummm," Tyson said slowly, "I didn't know there was a such thing as a guacamole shake." Tyson paused. "What is guacamole anyway?"
"Mashed avocado," muttered Rei, "And supposedly guacamole shakes are supposed to be fairly good. You know, in the next big health-craze type shake way good."
"Oh, I get what you mean," Tyson said, "But I've never had guacamole OR avocado before. Does it taste good?"
"Personally," Rei said, "I hate avocado."
"Yeah, I'm going to have to agree with Rei on that. Avocado is not that good," Kenny agreed. "Dizzi doesn't like it either."
"Amen to that," agreed Dizzi.
Max just shook his head, "Guacamole is just a part of life that you have to learn to enjoy, much like you have to learn to tolerate Tyson's big mouth and Kai's 'leave me alone' thing."
Tyson and Kai blinked. And then Tyson said, "Max! That's so mean of you! I can't believe you'd say something like that!" He took a moment to calm down, and then something hit him. "Actually, you know what, I could. I could believe you'd say something like that."
"That's good," Max replied, "Because I did."
Everyone got an anime sweat drop and fell out of their chair, cept for Kai, of course!
~~~
Arriving back at the tournament about an hour later (Yes, Max did have his guacamole shake and he drank it all too), the group looked at the standings to see which team they'd be up against next. It really didn't matter; they were still going to do the same line-up. There were no Martha incidents, although, any time there was a loud noise or something, everyone would whirl around expecting to see her.
Martha herself was actually up in the commentator box, with three guys tied up on the ground besides her (gee, can you guess who?) They weren't just tied up in any rope either . . . it was pink rope.
Scary.
"Now, my dears, are you comfortable? I'll bring you some water shortly, but I have to go hold the next match. I think I'll kill Rei after it and steal Kai all for myself then." She paused and laughed a little - the 'perfect' laugh - and smiled - the 'perfect' smile - before adding, "He's very nice . . . I should know . . . I was in his body . . ." With another 'perfect' laugh, she left the room, leaving the three guys to sigh at the same time.
~~~
"Ok, Max, just get out there and do your best. I'm sure this match will be perfectly easy," Tyson said encouragingly, "Just think about winning, and you'll win!"
"Ya know, Tyson, if you cheer anymore, you'd be a cheerleader," giggled Max, "But thanks! Now I just KNOW I'm gonna win!" He suddenly paused, and groaned, "But wait, what kind of trick dish do you think we'll be battling in? What if it's some horribly 'perfect' thing and . . ." He shuddered.
"The only way you can get over your fears," said Kai in a bored tone of voice, "Is to face them."
/But you never do. Which is why you haven't told Rei you like him/
'Oh, are we back to just liking him again?' Kai thought sarcastically, wondering why in the world he was arguing with himself yet again. 'I must be going crazy,' he reasoned.
/Oh, no, you're not due to go crazy for a bit yet, I'm afraid. But yeah, you just like him today, since you're too pissed about the whole Martha episode. You see what I mean?/
'No, I don't. I refuse to.' Kai folded his arms and glared at nothing in particular. He had a brief wish for a mirror so he could glare at himself. He didn't think it would help very much, but he wasn't in much of a mood to care.
/Anyhow, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to stop giving advice until you start following it yourself!/
'Make me.'
/First you HAVE to stop acting like a two year old./
'I'm not acting like a two year old!'
/You're ARGUING with YOURSELF/
"Ummm, Kai?" Max said, waving a hand in front of Kai's face. "Kai?"
Kai suddenly blinked and looked confused for a moment before glaring at Max. "Yeah?"
"It's time to blade," Max said.
Rei gave Kai a smirk, as if he knew exactly what the blue haired boy was thinking about, but Kai doubted it. He reluctantly let himself be led to the bowl so that the three of them could be announced as the 'Bladebreakers.' Rei and Max smiled and waved to the audience, but Kai did nothing except glare. After Rei gave him a pointed look, however, he stopped glaring and briefly waved to the audience.
Then two boys and two girls came up. Obviously they were the opposing team. But it doesn't matter about them. Because five minutes later, Rei, Max and Kai had emerged with another victory (in the trick dish of the day; a living room arrangement. Martha went on for ten minutes on the balances between pink and red and how they could be totally harmonic when in effect with white, etc, etc, etc.)
"Ok, we're done here, so lets get out of here," Kai said quickly. He had heard the way Martha had said his name. At first it sounded like she spat it out, but now he could tell she was having fun doing that . . . he shuddered, and pulled Rei along by the collar. Rei blinked and shrugged to Max, Tyson and Kenny.
"I guess I'll meet up with you guys back at the hotel? Only don't stay too long because Martha will get you! Just kidding, by the way. Oh, and Max, you did great in your battle today," Rei said, being dragged off behind Kai. He wondered if Kai realized what he was doing, or if it was just a natural protection for team member type thing. He didn't mind either way; it was nice to know Kai cared.
"Ah, there you two are. Trying to run away, are we?" came a voice, and Kai stopped dead in his tracks.
"I thought you were still at the stadium," he growled, "How did you get down so fast?" He glared, and Rei would have too, but Kai was still holding on to him, so he really didn't have a choice in the matter. And the minute Martha appeared, Kai held on to him even tighter, as if afraid that Martha would suddenly pounce on him or something. "And why are you still after us?"
'Dear boy, you know the reasons," Martha said simply, "And watch yourself. Tonight . . . " She proceeded to laugh, and then 'disappear' into the shadows.
"Don't let the tree branch hit you on your way home," Kai growled after her. There was then a =thunk= and an "ow" and Kai couldn't help but to grin happily. He then realized he was still holding on to Rei, so he released his grip. Rei, who had just gotten used to leaning back slightly in Kai's grip, suddenly found Kai not there, and fell (gracefully) on his butt.
"Ow," he muttered, standing up. He glanced at Kai.
"Sorry," Kai muttered, and Rei smiled.
"Don't worry. It's not that bad. But don't you think we should wait for the others to catch up now?" Rei asked, smiling.
Kai shook his head stubbornly. "I don't like them," he muttered, much like a little kid. In truth, he didn't mind Max, Tyson and Kenny that much, but they did get on his nerves quite easily. Kind of like a certain annoying flower lady.
"But you like me?" Rei asked, raising an eyebrow. 'Does that mean Kai likes me too! I feel so happy!' He would have run in circles while shoujo bubbles fell from the sky, but Kai hadn't said 'yes' yet, so he couldn't.
"Yes . . ." muttered Kai. He could feel the voices inside his head cheering. /Yes! Acceptance is the first step! Next comes admittance, and then the sky's the limit! I think you might even start acting like a REAL person and have FEELING!/
'Oh dear god NO!'
"Ummm, Kai?" Rei asked, "You ok?"
"I'm fine," muttered Kai. "Let's get going to the hotel. I think the others are going out for pizza, so we'll order room service. That alright with you?"
Rei blinked. 'Is he trying to be nice? Wow.' "Sure, that sounds good. I'm sure the others won't mind if they're having pizza." He paused, "But will there be enough room in the room to sit and eat?"
Kai pondered this, and shrugged. "So we'll eat in the dinning room or something. I don't know about you, but after running into that lady twice, I need to calm down."
"Agreed," Rei said, "I can't decide what's worse. Wanting her to hate you or love you."
"They're both impossibly scary, I'll give you that," Kai groaned. They started walking to the hotel, and got there without any further interruptions, and they were both thinking the same things.
Something along the lines of, "Well, he's so cute. And I'm all alone with him and the others are having pizza so they won't be back until forever . . ."
They ended up going to the dinning room and getting a plate of food from the buffet. Sitting down, both Kai and Rei were silent for the longest time.
"Hey Kai?"
"Yeah?"
"Wanna go swimming after this?"
". . . sure."
"Ok."
And so they ate their dinner in silence. But their minds were far from silent. It looked like they would be admitting their feelings for each other soon!
~~~
At the pool Kai and Rei both pulled of the t-shirts they had put on and got right into the water. It was one of the good hotel pools; the type that really is heated and is nice and warm and doesn't say 'no diving' all over the edges.
"Race you, a lap around," Rei suggested, grinned at Kai. Rei was wearing his favorite swim trunks, which were black with a white tiger around the left side.
"Fine, but you'll lose," Kai replied, grinning back.
They both raced around the pool, and ended up tying.
"Well what do you know," Kai mused, "I didn't win."
"No, for once, you didn't!" Rei said, and he tackled Kai, forcing him underwater.
Kai struggled to get back to the surface. "Hey!"
"Hahaha, how the mighty have fallen, Kai!" Rei grinned broadly.
"Oh, is that it?" Kai as Rei tried to push him underwater again. "Not this time," he added, squirming out of Rei's grasp and pushing Rei underwater.
Rei fought underwater for a minute, and finally managed to get back up for a gulp of air, but then he was under again, and so was Kai. The two of them fought underwater, above water, and managed to splash water everywhere, and then some. Finally, both of them were totally spent, so they called a truce, and climbed out of the pool.
Pointing to the hot tub next to the pool, Rei suggested, "Shall we go sit in there for a bit and then get dressed?"
"Yeah, it's starting to get a bit late, but I'm sure the others know we're fine," Kai said, wondering why he agreed so readily. His never ending inner self had the answer; /You just like staring at Rei when he's half naked./
~~~
"Where are Rei and Kai?" Max asked as he, Tyson and Kenny noticed neither Rei nor Kai were in the room.
They all shrugged, and went to sleep.
~~~
Kai and Rei were relaxing in the hot tub, and it was very nice. They did not notice the shadowy figure that was, well, lurking in the shadows. After a moment more of silence, Rei spoke up.
"Well, tomorrow we have one round and then the semi-finals . . .if we win . . ." Rei said, closing his eyes and enjoying the steam from the water.
Kai took a moment to openly stare at Rei before he realized what he was doing and then said, "We will win, it's all a matter of not losing." He smirked at the look Rei got on his face.
"That's the exact same thing," Rei groaned.
"Not losing sounds easier than winning everything, doesn't it?" Kai demanded, and Rei face faulted again.
"I never took you to be such an optimist, Kai, I'll give you that," Rei said, sighing, but it wasn't an aggravated sigh or anything, it was just a sigh of contentment. "I'm surprised, actually. You're always so dark and . . . yeah."
Kai couldn't help but laugh over that. "No, I just don't let my feelings show unless I completely and totally trust the person I'm talking to."
Rei could feel an onslaught of shoujo bubbles appearing; he was feeling all happy and stuff. "You mean you really trust me?" he asked, smiling.
Smiling, Kai nodded, and for a moment it was totally silent.
And then -
"You're the greatest Kai!" Rei grinned, moving forward, and kissing Kai on the cheek. Kai looked shocked at first, and then scared and then surprised and then amused, especially when Rei moved back and said, "Sorry, I was just so happy . . ."
"I don't mind," Kai said firmly, deciding that, if he was going to screw whatever he had told himself, he might as well screw someone else in the deal. He grinned.
~~~
In the shadows, the shadowy figure glared at Rei with a look of intense hatred. She hated him! Yes, it was, of course, Martha Stewart. 'Now how can I get back at them?' she pondered this question for quite awhile before finally coming up with an idea. She, staying in the shadows, crossed over to wear Kai and Rei had put their dry clothes to change into after their swimming.
She pulled out a small THING and put it by Kai's clothes. Smiling to herself, she disappeared fully into the shadows and got a camera ready.
~~~
"You really don't mind?" Rei asked incredulously, "But I thought . . ."
"You know what, Rei?" Kai said in a serious voice, "I think you think too much." He moved forward and kissed Rei.
~~~
Martha waited patiently in her hiding spot, unable to see what Kai and Rei were now doing. (Sucks to be her; they were putting on quite the show). After a few long minutes, she head voices.
"Ok, we should go now. The others might get worried, and we do need sleep," Rei's voice said.
"Yeah," Kai's voice agreed. "We can continue this in your room anyway. Now where are our clothes?"
They walked over to their piles of clothes and began to change while still talking to each other.
"Tomorrow's games are going to be easy, I just can feel it," Rei said, "I'm sure we're going to win every match!"
"I'm glad you're so confident now," Kai said, smiling broadly. "Now, make sure you get Tyson and Max just as confident tomorrow, will you?"
"Why don't you?" Rei suggested innocently, and Kai glared at him.
"In case you haven't noticed, I am SO not an inspirational person," Kai informed him.
Rei winked. "You're an inspiration to me," He said completely innocently, but a grin belied what he was really thinking, and Kai would have said something, only suddenly Kai paused. "Kai?"
"Ummmmmmmmm," Kai said slowly, looking down, "I put on my underwear but I don't think they are mine . . ." Now both Rei and Kai glanced at Kai's legs.
And Rei burst out laughing. "Where in the world did you get those?"
"They're not mine!" Kai said fiercely, "I don't own anything like this!"
"Oh, suuuuuure," Rei grinned.
Kai was wearing a dark blue thong.
"Why would I have a thong?" Kai groaned, "I don't even know anyone who does, except my grandfather, but let's not go there!!!"
"Whoa, calm down," Rei said, "If it counts for anything, I think you look cute in a thong. . . "
"I'll kill you for that," Kai said, "But first I have to find my underwear!"
A quick search ensued, and even though Rei pretended to help Kai look, he was only really checking out Kai in a thong, because Kai hadn't bothered to throw on his pants or anything. It was a most amusing sight.
After a minute of searching, no other underwear was found, but a note was. Having a hunch who it was from, Kai opened it, skimmed it over, and growled, "Martha STOLE my underwear."
Rei's eyes grew wide. "Talk about obsessed . . ."
Kai groaned, and growled, and sighed, and ran out of things to do, and then finally growled again. "I'll kill her!"
"That's the spirit!" Rei said happily, and Kai smiled for a moment.
And then he remembered the thong.
With yet another growl, he pulled it off and pulled on his pants without underwear. Rei grinned and the two of them made their way downstairs to their room, in hopes that no one would notice their lengthy absence.
The others were asleep, but there was a note on the bed. It said. . . ~Rei, I'm going to kill you. Kai is mine. From Martha~
Rei blinked. Kai blinked. They threw the note out the window and crawled into the bed, cuddling up to each other and falling asleep quickly.
However, later that night, Rei woke up and gently separated himself from Kai's arms. He walked up to the dresser, and pulled something out of his pocket. "Ok, Kai, I told you I'd be doing this to you! Actually, no I didn't, but hey, it doesn't really matter! OK!" He uncapped the permanent marker and walked to the bed again, crawling on it.
He gently pulled up Kai's shirt and on the small of his back, wrote in neat print, 'Property Of Rei Kon.' On a whim, he added a smiley face (^_______^) underneath it, and, satisfied with his work, put the pen away and crawled back into bed, before going back to sleep.
He couldn't wait to see the look on Kai's face in the morning, and he smirked at the thought of what Martha would do when she found out. Kai was his now. Mwahahahahaha.