(A/N: Eep. Sorry for not updating in like, forever. Work has been killer and school just started...-_-;;;; Also, writer's block decided to pay me a visit...I'm also sorry to say this is the last chapter of this fic. Maybe there'll be a sequel...maybe...

HXH-YGO-OtAkU: ^_^ I'm glad you thought it was good and let's all pity Rei. ) and don't we all hate sad chapters? This one isn't gonna be much happier...Don't kill me! *cowers* I have legitimate excuses!!!! *hides* o.o;;;;

Eresphen's Light: Glad you like and glad I'm being...err...original. ^_^;;;;

Now! On with the fic!)

Return To Summer

Chapter 9: Summer's Closing

The crickets chirped loudly. I'd always loved the sound of them. I never really got to hear them over the rush of the city now. I don't know why, but it made me ...sorrowful. The crickets always signalled the approaching end of summer. Their sound was slow and rhythmic and almost sad.

I sat under the oak tree at the edge of town, listening to them and the wind rustling through the dried wheat. I felt terrible and the sounds of the night made me feel somebody was sympathizing with me. Far away, a lone wolf howled to the stars.

A light mist hung over the land and it wasn't quite as hot as it had been. There was a chill in the air, signalling the changing of seasons. I sighed softly, watching a leaf flutter off the oak, on the wind. It was still green.

I was so...confused right then. I had no idea what to do, where to go, who to turn to. I wanted to say goodbye to Rei, but somehow, I wasn't sure if things had changed between us suddenly. Should I go? Should I stay?

The entire village seemed to be repelling me now. I felt like I was suffocating there. The looks of hatred Mao and Li had given me were not easily forgotten and they'd been replicated and intensified ten-fold by Mari.

I cursed out loud and sat up, hugging my knees to my chest. I was leaving tomorrow, no matter what. There was no question that I had to. I wasn't welcome here anymore. My welcome was worn out.

It wasn't as if I wouldn't have had to gone back anyways. My new school term was starting in less than a week. I had been hoping to leave on better terms and maybe...with some understanding of the dynamics between Rei and myself...

"Aw, who the fuck am I kidding anyways?"

There was nothing between Rei and me, and I knew it...all these cold twisted feelings meant nothing, even if I could unravel them. I was an idiot to believe in -

"I don't know who you're trying to fool, Kai..."

My thoughts abruptly fell off a cliff and I glanced up at Rei, who seemed to be spun out of moonlight at that moment. His hair shone and the tresses hung about his knees. He was looking thoughtfully at the sky. "It's beautiful," he said softly, never taking his eyes away from the sky.

I said nothing, even thought the smart retort was on the tip of my tongue. I glanced away, then back up into his tearful eyes. "I'm...I'm sorry, Kai," he whispered.

Again, I remained silent. I couldn't say anything to him. The grass beside me swished as he sat down beside me. "I-I really am sorry, Kai."

I swallowed my pride. "I....I'm sorry too, Rei."

There. I'd said it. It tasted vile on my tongue - I'd admitted I'd been wrong. I felt Rei nuzzle closer to me. Well, it was worth it, I suppose. I felt better and here was my Rei-chan. I gazed at him, looking into his eyes. "The sky's not the only beautiful thing here," I murmured, then leaned in and kissed him.

~*~*~*~*

I woke up to the vaulting dawn sky over my head. The horizon was turning pink. Groggily, I sat up, shaking my head. "Uhn...what happened?"

I blinked my eyes, then my body responded to cold and I realized where I was, who I was with and...what I had done. I blushed violently, my eyes stealing down to look at Rei, who was curled in the grass, naked.

I shook him into wakefulness. "Rei-chan, wake up..."

Gold eyes opened slowly, Rei whimpering groggily as he sat up. "Kai-kun? What...what happened? Where are we?"

He must have started to remember, because he blushed as he sat up, keeping his eyes cast downwards. "Thank you, Kai," he whispered, then flung himself forward, slinging his arms about my neck.

"Rei..."

He pulled back from the embrace, blushing deeply. "We've got to get dressed," he murmured, quietly, as though he were embarrassed.

I couldn't help but smile.

~*~*~*~*

I hugged him goodbye, in front of everybody. I didn't care, I just didn't. Who were they to dictate my life?

The car drove off, leaving behind it a trail of dust. I looked back at Rei, who was waving, until he disappeared from sight. I sighed and turned around in my seat, facing forward again. I had a long trip ahead of me.

The afternoon began to fade into dusk and the starts began to dot the sky one by one. The sunset was fantastic, framed by the sharp, jagged crowns of the mountains. The orange glow basked on their snowcaps, making them seem warm and inviting.

The sky paled and the clouds turned pink and dusky violet. I made out a couple early constellations in the evening sky. All the while, I thought of nothing but Rei. It's amazing how one person can dominate your thoughts.

The crickets began to chirp again. The air that rushed through the open window of the vehicle was colder than it had been a few days before.

Summer was at it's end. Maybe I'll return to it sometime.

The crickets chirped louder still.

~*OWARII*~

[Taa-daa. R&R and tell me what you think of that. ^^;;;;]