AN: Please review! n_n This story will be longer then it seems, and Kai and Ingrid will not hook up till near the end of the story *cackles* More reviews encourage me to write ^_^; Thanks very much to hiwatari-gurl, MaboroshiTsuki and Paiku for reviewing!
In Places No One Will Find | Chapter 3
To his own shock, an amused smile broke out on Kai's lips as he saw Ingrid's slender frame slide up horizontal in the air and crash on the floor. He could hear her gentle grunting, the sound of ice hitting the walls audible as she swore.
"Easy there, tiger," Kai smirked, and Ingrid brushed her hair out of her face as she propped herself up on her elbows.
"Shut up, and don't call me tiger," she replied, her bottom lip jutting out defiantly. As she moved in attempts to stand up, she groaned and slid back down. "I think I'm dying."
"Congratulations," Kai quipped, and as she shot him a dirty glare from her position on the floor, her eyes flickered orange again.
"You could at least help me," she muttered, and as she rolled on her side in a vain attempt, Kai grabbed the sides of her torso and hauled her over his shoulder.
"Fuck that hurts!" Ingrid yelled as she hit his back reflexively, one of his hands hooked around her calves, the other holding her back gently. As her body thumped against his with every stride he took, he walked to the common room and lay her down the couch.
"I don't think you're in any state to walk up those stairs," Kai said, flopping down on an armchair not too far from the couch, "And there's no way I'm carrying you all the way up that twisting stair case."
"Not strong enough?" Ingrid teased, and Kai nodded, to her surprise.
"Maybe one day in the future," he said shortly, and Ingrid's smile slid off as he flicked through channels, his disposition turning cold again. Positioning some pillows under her head, she hissed between her teeth as she made the mistake of reaching her arm behind her head to adjust a pillow. As Kai threw Ingrid a sideways glance, her eyes concentrated on the large flat screen, his lips curled wryly.
Bright colors flashed across the screen, almost hurting Ingrid's eyes. Shutting them momentarily, she winced, her head pounding. It felt like someone had contracted her head, and turning to face the couch, she put the bottoms of her palms on her temples. She heard the power of the television go out, but didn't bother to turn to see what was going on. Footsteps grew fainter and fainter, then grew again in volume until something cold and slightly wet was pressed against the back of her head.
"I didn't realize you had hit your head," Kai mumbled, sitting on the space Ingrid had provided by squishing herself against the couch.
"I didn't either," she replied, and she allowed him to hold the ice to her head as she shut her eyes. Sleep lagged on her lids, and after about 5 minutes Kai quietly set the pack of ice on the coffee table and got up to leave.
"Thanks Kai," Ingrid murmured, her voice thick with fatigue. Walking up the stairs, Kai made his way to Ray's room. There was a faint squeaking of mattress springs, then a moan, and Kai took a step back in disgust.
"Ray!" Kai bellowed, pounding his fist against the door after retaliating. 'Just leave it,' was faintly heard, and Kai's maroon eyes flickered as he pounded the door harder. A loud cursing on Ray's part was heard as there was some shuffling noises. The door burst open as Ray's hair was dishevelled, his shorts pulled on clumsily as Mariah hid underneath the covers.
"This better be good, Kai," Ray warned, and Kai blinked calmly.
"Your sister might have a concussion."
"Ingrid? What the— Oh god," Ray stuttered, his angry face wiping off, and heading back into the room he grabbed his t-shirt and slipped it over his head.
"She's in the common room," Kai nodded, and Ray raised his hand slightly in an understanding gesture and took the steps down two by two.
"Even as a kid she always did the most retarded things," Ray muttered to himself, "Refusing to walk on the floors and trying to make the jump between the dresser and mom's mannequin. What's it this time? Has she cracked and tried to fly?" Descending the final step, his sarcastic remarks died as Ingrid lay curled up, her eyes wincing slightly as her breathing was gentle and quiet.
"Ingrid," Ray said firmly as his little sister lay asleep on the couch, "Wake up."
"I'm sleeping, Kai," she murmured, and Ray rolled his sister over.
"It's Ray." Instantly her eyes widened, and screaming she sat up and tried to create as much distance between her and him.
"What? Who?" Ray asked in bewilderment, "Quiet down you'll wake the whole house," he added, getting slightly impatient as she kept going 'ew' despite the slight wobbly feeling in her head.
"Scarring, ugh, wrong," Ingrid muttered, covering her eyes.
"You have to stay up for a bit," Ray said, after Ingrid gave no explanation to her freak out, "You could get a concussion."
"I'll be fine with some rest," Ingrid mumbled, vainly trying to go to sleep under her brother's thunderous gaze.
"No, I'm not letting you get brain damage, not until you've done your will giving everything to me," Ray quipped evilly, and Ingrid chucked a spare throw pillow at his head. As he moved a chair so he was facing her, Ray propped his chin up in his hands.
"Sorry for making you baby sit me," Ingrid mumbled, a blush angling across her cheek bones.
"No problem," Ray reassured, "It's like old times."
"Hey, may I remind you you're only a few minutes older then me," Ingrid pointed out, "And once I had to baby sit you."
"Because you thought it'd be funny to loosen the training wheels of my bike," Ray snorted, and Ingrid smiled sweetly.
"I just believed that my brother was ready to try two wheels."
"Liar," Ray muttered, a twinkle lighting his orange brown eyes. "Hey, remember that tree house we built?" Ray asked suddenly, and Ingrid smiled.
"It was the best," she mused, "It was right near all those cherry blossom trees." Silence followed, and Ingrid felt her eyes droop as Ray nudged her.
"Idiot, stop falling asleep."
"Mmph, shut up," Ingrid mumbled, and taking the half melted ice pack from the coffee table Ray pressed it against Ingrid's neck.
"Keep that there, it will help you stay up," he nodded, and Ingrid held the cold plastic reluctantly. "Remember when I taught you how to skateboard?"
"Oh gods, I wish I could try that again," Ingrid laughed, and Ray smiled.
"You were pretty good for your first time." The first few tries, Ingrid hadn't put enough weight on the board, thus nearly tripping. However, she got the hang of moving, and took no time in hesitating to bring her back foot up. Ray had asked her if she was goofy or regular, referring to the way she stood, and after discovering she was regular, she had asked Ray how he stood. Goofy was his answer, and Ingrid had teased that she was regular unlike him. She was such a mature child.
Several times she had crashed into the hedges, while Ray desperately tried to get her to learn how to direct the board. At the end of the lesson, she could move, turn, and do an ollie, landing it two out of seven times.
"We'll go someday," Ray promised, "Maybe you'll learn how to grind a rail."
There was no reply from his sister, and she nodded softly as her eyes begun to sink from half mast to shut.
"You fall asleep and I'll sit on your face," Ray threatened, and Ingrid jerked up, vivid memories of what her brother had been doing before clouding her memory.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!"
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"Why do they make people stay up for 12 hours if they've hit their head?" Ingrid whined, her eyes refusing to open past half mast.
"So you don't fall asleep and stay like that," Ray mumbled incoherently, his head drooping, then snapping back up. "Why couldn't Kai just stay with you," Ray muttered to himself. This way he could… Continue things with Mariah and also get some sleep. But then again Ray figured Kai wouldn't stick around for this kind of thing.
"I feel so loved," Ingrid grumbled back sarcastically, catching Ray's words.
"Hey, I was kidding," he laughed weakly, "It's what family's for."
"What, kidding?" Ingrid asked, her mind thick and slow at the moment.
"No, caring for each other, stupid," Ray smirked, and Ingrid raised her arm in a half hearted attempt to hit him, when she relented and dropped it back down.
"Is 12 hours over yet?" she grunted, shifting left and right, and after stifling a yawn Ray shook his head.
"Sorry kiddo," he shrugged, "Lucky for me, I can always drag someone else to take my place," he smirked devilishly, and Ingrid scowled as he pat her on the head. "I'm going to find Tyson," he said sheepishly, and holding up his fingers in a peace sign, he bolted up stairs to wake up the happy camper before Ingrid shot him.
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"I don't want to go, can't I have a later shift?" Tyson mumbled as Ray dragged him by his collar down the hallway.
"Hey, at least you didn't have Kai pounding at your door while you… Were with your, uh, fiancée," Ray shot back, and Tyson released himself from Ray's grip, pointing and laughing hysterically.
"Shut up," Ray growled, extremely irritable from lack of sleep. Tempted to kick Tyson down the stairs, Ray turned back to his room as Tyson trudged down the stairs. Depressingly, there was no way Mariah would continue anything.
"I'm so slaughtering you Hiwatari," Ray muttered, opening the door to his room and stepping in quietly, his eyes softening on Mariah's sleeping form.
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"You ever wonder why Mariah wears flip flops," Tyson whispered as she came slinking down the stairs that morning, stretching her hands over her head, rays of the morning streaming through the window. "Because she can't tie her shoelaces, and velcro…. Well that's just WAY too complicated." Ingrid snorted in laughter, and she smiled.
"You're so mean," she chided, and Tyson put his hands up.
"You should see how she treated ME when we first met," he replied, and Ingrid shook her head as her eyes began to fall shut again.
"Wake up, soldier," Tyson blared, "I have no right to hurt you but Ray does!"
"If I wasn't so tired I," Ingrid paused, her body begging for a pause with it's lack of energy, "Would hurt you."
"Nice facts here," Tyson grinned, and Ingrid chuckled as she rubbed her eyes. "So how'd you hit your head anyways?"
Groaning, Ingrid muttered, "Oh you don't wanna know."
"Now I do," Tyson grinned, and Ingrid covered her forehead as she exhaled.
The gaze on Tyson's face implied that he wouldn't let her get away until she
told.
"I slipped on ice," Ingrid replied, cutting out certain information.
"Could you give me some details?" Tyson pressed, and Ingrid groaned.
"Well… Tyson you tell anyone or make fun of me and I'll shove a shovel down your throat."
"Sounds good," Tyson replied cheerfully, and Ingrid shook her head, smiling.
"Well, I wanted to talk to Ray and I heard him…. You know… With…."
"Mariah? Hey, Ingrid, your brother's bound to do it, it's not that bad," Tyson reasoned, and Ingrid shook her head.
"I know that," Ingrid replied, "But that doesn't mean I want to hear it."
"Point taken," Tyson grinned, and Ingrid exhaled.
"So, being mature I ran downstairs practically screaming. I got a glass of water, and sort of went crazy with the ice dispenser. I turned and saw Kai looking at me oddly, so I kind of took a step back and slipped."
"Beautiful story," Tyson congratulated. Ingrid had her eyes shut and was falling asleep. "Oh Ray," Tyson yelled, Ingrid covering her ears slightly as she buried her face into the side of the couch, "Ingrid's falling asleep." The cat eyed boy descended down the stairs, rubbing his eyes slightly
"So wake her up."
Pointing at Ingrid, Tyson made motions with his hands and arms.
"Nice," Ray smirked, and walking over he opened the back door. "Kai you better move," he warned as the slate haired boy was doing laps. Looking, irritated, Kai finished his lap and hung onto the side of the pool as Ray went back inside. A few muffled shouts of protest, and as Tyson and Ray carried Ingrid to the pool, her eyes widened as she screamed in protest.
"1…" they chorused, swinging her, "2…. 3!" Releasing her she splashed into the pool, and resurfacing, she wiped the hair out of her eyes before splashing them with the chlorinated water.
"Run," Tyson laughed, and pushing Ray back into the house the boys so sensitively left Ingrid in the pool. Suddenly noticing Kai for the first time, she nodded and climbed out of the pool. Her white silk pyjamas now stuck to her body like saran wrap. Ripping his gaze away, Kai climbed out of the pool, staring at the floor. Picking up his rolled up towel, he handed it to Ingrid.
"You might not want to walk in there sopping wet," Kai offered, and Ingrid smiled as she gratefully accepted.
"What about you?" she asked, keeping her gaze on his maroon eyes, however much to her infuriation her peripheral vision kept looking at his body.
"Just get me one in return," Kai stated, his eyes morphing to dead and serious.
"Fair." Flipping her head over, she rubbed her hair vigorously, sliding the light green towel across her arms and leg, and shimmying it up and down her body. Peering at her from his position, now in the pool, Kai found himself staring at something on Ingrid's arm.
"Hey, Ingrid, what happened to your arm?" Kai questioned at the small punctured bit of skin on the creaminess of her forearm.
"Thumb tack," Ingrid laughed after a moment, "And make fun of me and I'll shoot you." Kai nodded wryly, and proceeded to continue doing laps in the pool. Walking back into the house, Ingrid darted up to her room. Scanning her eyes over the contents on her dresser, she plucked up a concealer stick and smudged it over the mark on her forearm. Walking out, she then went to the towel closet, tucked one snowy white terry cloth under her arm and with a light smile went to give it to Kai.
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As his arm swept over his head, Kai tilted his head slightly to the side, took in a breath of air, then turned his head again as his other arms swept over his head, feet kicking in rhythm. When his fingers touched the smooth tile of the pool wall, he hoisted himself out of the water and grabbed the towel Ingrid had given to him. Ruffling it through his hair, he proceeded to dry his body, his maroon eyes frowning. He didn't like Ingrid; she was too… Forged. The first time he had met her, he had thought different. But today; it was like everything was a play. He could see she acted happy; but inside there was something he couldn't identify.
He didn't care to.
All he knew was that he hated people who faked their way through life. Scuffing on his navy blue pool sandals, Kai slung the towel over his shoulder and made his way up the stairs to take a nice long shower.
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Sitting on a bench in the gardens, Ingrid stared at her arm, the point still visible despite the make up covering it. Her face was heated with shame, and rolling down her sleeve she covered her face with her hands. Taking a deep breath, then exhaling sharply she stood up and walked over with a glowing smile to the training area to watch her brother battle.
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"Hey, where are you going?" Ray asked as Ingrid was about to reach for the door knob that night.
"Out," Ingrid smiled, and Ray crossed his arms expectantly.
"Where?"
"Downtown, I'm meeting a friend," Ingrid replied, "My cell phone will be on. Gods you sound like dad," she added with a teasing grin.
"Quiet," Ray laughed, uncrossing his arms, "I just don't want to find you drunk and naked in some dumpster."
"Thanks for the care," Ingrid smirked, "Love you," she said out of habit before shutting the door.
"Love you too," Ray said quietly after a moment, "Be safe."
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The faint pulsating of music Ingrid's ears as she stepped out of her car, sliding her keys into the pocket of her tan corduroy miniskirt. Tucking her thumb underneath the strap of her bra and pushing it underneath the thick black strap of her black tank top, embellished with a Harley Davidson logo, she walked along the red carpet, the click of her knee high leather kitten heeled boots muffled by the red material. Stepping past the bouncers, who nodded at her, she took in the blaring music, the sway of bodies, and colourful lights. This was the one place where she'd never be wrong. Be poor; be less. This was her sanctuary.
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As Kai clenched his jaw, two former members of his gang sat, downing booze as they smiled sloppily at him. Music blared in his ears, and he took in the dancing bodies, the floor clean except for some spots covered in gum and liquor, tall chrome columns placed in random spots along the walls. The three were seated, their cold drinks the same temperature as the metal tables, the seats chrome and velvet.
"You want me to be your new… New DRUG lord, because your old one died of an over dose?" Kai repeated coldly, and the boys nodded.
"What can we say? You always were a good leader."
"Get out of my face, you told me you two wanted to train," Kai replied frostily.
"You wouldn't have seen us any other way," the boys shrugged, and Kai's eyes narrowed.
"Get away from me. Now."
"Hey, your loss," the boys muttered, and to Kai's disgust they merely tangled themselves into the people on the dance floor.
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"Did you like the horse?" came a voice in her ear, and Ingrid turned slightly to find those familiar blood shot blue eyes. No. This was supposed to be her sanctuary; nightmares like this were supposed to stay out of those doors. Nothing was supposed to come haunt her; not money, not men, not drug dealers.
"I'm not into that anymore," Ingrid hissed, and the boy smirked.
"You are whether you like it or not," he said, as if breaking the news to her truly hurt him, "You can't escape the beast," he added lowly, using slang terms for heroin for safety purposes. Who knows what undercover cop could be among everyone?
"I come here to get away from everything," Ingrid warned dangerously, "Now get the hell away from me."
"What's with everyone wanting us to get away from them?" the other boy muttered, "Come on we're going to be late meeting Mary."
"God, you have an appointment with weed?" Ingrid snorted flatly, and the boys shook their heads.
"Mary's a real person, we owe her some vials."
"Whatever you crack heads," Ingrid shrugged, and a few moments later she felt a pair of hands rest on her hips. Turning her head to see the face, which would make her decision on whether to step forward, stay there, or turn around, Ingrid nearly choked at the face. Before she could say anything however, he spoke first.
"What were you doing with those guys?" Kai asked as he moved to the beat, Ingrid moving in time with him.
"None of your business," Ingrid replied foolishly as she grudgingly turned around to face Kai. His gaze noticed several guys wishing to steal a dance, and rolling his eyes he dropped his hands from her waist to her hips, clearly showing them that she was taken. His real motive, however, was to get her to spill and he knew he'd need time. His hands moved from her hips to the small of her back, while her hands rested hesitantly on his shoulders.
"They used to be in my gang, it's my business," Kai stated, and Ingrid grit her teeth.
"They were just asking me something, okay?" Ingrid asked, and as someone moved through the crowd she was pressed up against Kai, her leg moving slightly in between his.
"Asking what?" Kai asked, keeping himself patient. He hadn't danced in a while, despite Max and Tyson dragging everyone to clubs. Of course, they're clubs had been a lot more…. Visitor friendly. He had forgotten that dancing was well… Sort of fun.
"Kai," Ingrid started as if she were going to yell at him to leave her the bloody hell alone, when her tensed position dropped. "Can I tell you later?"
"Yeah," Kai nodded as he moved his hands and body away to go sit back at the bar.
"Stay and dance?" she beseeched before she could stop herself, and Kai looked hard into her orange brown eyes.
"Let's head out in half an hour," he replied simply before parting through the crowd, leaving, another guy taking his place immediately. Ingrid dropped her gaze to her new partner's shoulder as she danced to the beat, wondering what information she would divulge to Kai.
AN: Please review *puppy dog eyes* Thanks so much *bows*
