Chapter Two
Rei leaned outside the door taking in deep breath in order to prevent the many of timed tears. He was
emotionally drained. The last month had been hard for the usually clam sensible boy. He had been miserable after what had happened to Kai and spent hours locked away from the world debating his faults. He felt ill with guilt, but also with another feeling. Something he was unable to remember. He got the feeling every time he thought of how Kai had come to help him and Max, and again when Kai had just woken up. The feeling where he wanted to praise Kai, to make him feel appreciated and warm. Of course Rei being the most intellectual knew what the feeling was, but that thought didn't comfort him much.
"Is he awake?" Hilary asked bounding down the hall with presents in hand. A smiling Tyson followed her with his hands in his pockets.
"Sorry Rei as soon as she heard the doctors talking about Kai Hiwatari I couldn't get her to stay still. She said she 'had' to come and see him." Tyson explained in front of him.
"How is he?" Hilary asked her voice full of concern. "What do the doctors think? How are you? Have you eaten recently?" She asked with both cheerfulness and sorrow. Rei smiled at her.
"He's sleeping, the doctors are going to X-ray his lungs later, I'm fine and no." He laughed answering her questions with much less speed than she has asked them.
Nodding she reached into a gift basket and pulled out a box of chocolates then making sure Tyson was occupied by a poster of the human stomach on the wall she handed them to Rei.
"Just don't tell Tyson, he was begging for then earlier." She told him lowering her voice, and sounding serious. Rei agreed and the three walked down the hall to the lobby to talk more.
"Hey! Rei!" Max jumped up and hugged the dark haired boy. "How you doing?"
"I'm fine Max." Rei laughed then sat down and opened the box of chocolates, which Tyson was now eyeing hungrily.
Rei was happy to see that Max had healed fine. Both boys had been in pretty rough shape when the ambulance had at last come to pick up their fallen leader. Max had a black eye, a sprained wrist and several large welts, bruises and cuts all over him. Rei thanked his skills at self-defense, for he had come out of the fight nearly safe. The only troubled injury was the long slash across his face, which he had yet to tell anyone what had actually happened. The cut was rather clean but deep, and was now beginning to scar over. It caused Rei to flinch whenever he caught sight of it, for it made him think of his mistake and how Kai had paid for it.
"Bladebreakers to Rei! Hey Rei!" Rei hadn't realized just how lost in his thoughts he was until he realized both Tyson and Max were standing over him, with eyes for his food. The four of them shared the present initially for Kai, talking about nothing in particular, while waiting for the doctor's word.
Apparently Kai was recovering. He had punctured his right lung, which was now hopefully healing, dislocated his shoulder, broken his arm and damaged his left knee pretty bad. In the end it appeared easier to list the things that had not been damaged opposed to his injuries. Hilary, Tyson and Max left shortly after dinner time, saying that they promised Kenny they would report back to him, for he had been at home for the day.
Hilary left the gift basket with Rei and made him promise to give it to the injured boy.
As much as Rei appreciated his friends, he was pleased to be once again alone to go visit Kai.
Kai was staring out the window when Rei later returned to his room that night. He placed the present from
Hilary on the table next to the hospital bed and followed Kai's gaze out into the cool, early spring, Japanese night. Kai seemed so much at peace, as his features appeared relaxed, an expression Kai hardly showed, however Rei knew better. He knew that Kai was weakened by the last month and had hardly any energy to hold such an expression at all.
"I'm sorry Kai." Rei tried again. Though he knew in his heart that it would be along time before Kai would forgive what had happened. He remained silent, still gazing out the window longingly.
Rei pitied the boy then felt anger when he realized that he should never pity Kai; he hated sympathy. Rei just wished he could hold Kai and tell him everything would be all right. However he wasn't even sure if that was the truth.
The golden-eyed boy sat down in the chair next to the bed watching Kai. He knew very well now of what he felt whenever his gaze encountered the slate haired patient. Seeing Kai like this, peaceful and rested made the feeling stronger.
Kai appeared so vulnerable and fragile, his once toned arms and chest, bare now, lacked their usual strength, however he still tried to wear a fair layer of pride. Which Rei decided he wore well, giving the gray eyed-boy an honorable appearance, that Rei was pleased to see he could maintain. His blue shark fins were absent from his pale, smooth face, instead he wore a determined light that burned within his silver depths, acting to bring confidence just as the markings had.
"Why are you here?" Kai's rasp voice startled Rei from his daydream.
"Um," Rei pondered the truth, then sighed in defeat. "I figured someone had to keep an eye on you. Didn't want you to get yourself into trouble." Rei didn't quite lie, but he didn't tell Kai the whole truth.
"You don't have to keep an eye on me," Kai stated coldly raising his eye contact away from Rei's. "You can leave anytime."
Rei's amber gaze was startled, as he felt the hurtful repercussions of Kai's frame of mind. He felt slightly rejected, which made him regret his feelings towards the slated hair boy, whom he had come to see in a different perspective.
"I know I was just-"
"What? Trying to help? Well I don't need it. Just leave me alone!" Kai retaliated without mercy.
"If that's how you feel Kai," Rei stood up; hurt dancing in his rich golden eyes which fell to the floor. Reaching for the door handle he allowed his fingertips to brush it before giving Kai a last glance, hoping maybe he would change his mind.
Kai had returned to staring out the window, so the obsidian haired boy just sighed and let himself out.
Kai was left in his silent solitude to resent his words. Why had he told Rei to leave? He questioned himself, feeling alone in his private dark room. Because he couldn't show emotion? That was Kai's problem he couldn't show others he was weak, especially not Rei. He didn't want Rei to think lesser of him, and therefore, must stay strong.
His cold shadowy eyes surveyed the scenario. He brought his right arm to his bare chest to study the intravenous network. His gaze followed many cords and tubes until they rested on an electronical box that was keeping track of his medical condition. The life support, the key to which he knew decided wither or not he lived or died, to what he must rely on in order to maintain life. Shaking his head he rested his left hand on the place where Rei had been resting. It was still warm. Kai's throat tightened when he realized just how helpless he had become. Alone and helpless…
Outside Rei took one last look up at Kai's window then headed in the direction of the Kinomiya dojo, feeling unwanted. Overhead a cold wind blew, indicating that rain would fall presently.
"It's time for you check-up Mr. Hiwatari," a kind, gentle voice sang to him. "To make sure all is well."
Kai at first ignored Rose, his patient, warm hearted nurse, as he watched an unstable silhouette disembark towards the outside world, away from the sterile hospital lifestyle, and soulless jerks like Kai. At least that's what he felt he was. However with every graceful step of the charcoal haired boy, he carried with him Kai's heart, for he longed to leave what he was condemned to and go home with Rei.
"Kai? Did you hear me?" The nurse asked placing down a tray of food and removing the previous uneaten meal with a scowl. She then took out an instrument used for checking his blood pressure and worked her way around the bed to Kai's monitor.
"You must eat son," she explained with a furrowed brow filled with concern as she read the results of Kai's condition. "Or else you levels with continue to drop," She reprimanded the emotionless boy.
"Has he been by often?" Kai asked referring to Rei.
"Who?" The nurse asked absently. "The lad with raven hair?"
Kai nodded in response his gaze still fixed beyond the window.
"Everyday. He has hardly left you side, since you arrived in attentive care from New York. In fact this is the first night I've seen him leave." Rose paused. "Is something the matter?" She asked watching Kai carefully.
His gaze dropped to his hands, which were clenched by her words.
How was it that the last time he could recall, he was strong and stable, forced to be willing and prepared to take on anything? Now… he was weak, shaken and powerless to his unconfident thoughts. He flexed his right arm gingerly, trying not to flinch from pain. There was muscle, but it was downgraded, wasted from a month without use. He shut his eyes holding back an involuntarily wave of emotion, as the nurse gave him a shot after checking his heart rate. Things were looked bleak. He couldn't do anything for himself. He was useless, and it hurt, to know the only one that cared about him had just been rejected. It hurt... that emptiness of lost strength and the feeling of being incapable.
Why had he done it in the first place? He asked himself for what seemed to be the millionth time. Why hadn't he left the room that night, leaving in search of Rei?
He glanced out the window again, as if the answer was there for him to see. But it wasn't. The answer lived just outside Kai's helpless reach.
He could hardly remembered what happened that night almost a month ago. All he remembered was pain.
"Send him away from now on." This was his burden and he would overcome it all on his own. He didn't need Rei loosing sleep over his problems.
"Send who away dear?" Nor did he want Rei to see him like this anymore, so vulnerable and far to open for Kai's liking.
"The boy with black hair." Kai paused making sure that this was really what he wanted. "Tell him to stop coming by." It wasn't.
Rei leaned outside the door taking in deep breath in order to prevent the many of timed tears. He was
emotionally drained. The last month had been hard for the usually clam sensible boy. He had been miserable after what had happened to Kai and spent hours locked away from the world debating his faults. He felt ill with guilt, but also with another feeling. Something he was unable to remember. He got the feeling every time he thought of how Kai had come to help him and Max, and again when Kai had just woken up. The feeling where he wanted to praise Kai, to make him feel appreciated and warm. Of course Rei being the most intellectual knew what the feeling was, but that thought didn't comfort him much.
"Is he awake?" Hilary asked bounding down the hall with presents in hand. A smiling Tyson followed her with his hands in his pockets.
"Sorry Rei as soon as she heard the doctors talking about Kai Hiwatari I couldn't get her to stay still. She said she 'had' to come and see him." Tyson explained in front of him.
"How is he?" Hilary asked her voice full of concern. "What do the doctors think? How are you? Have you eaten recently?" She asked with both cheerfulness and sorrow. Rei smiled at her.
"He's sleeping, the doctors are going to X-ray his lungs later, I'm fine and no." He laughed answering her questions with much less speed than she has asked them.
Nodding she reached into a gift basket and pulled out a box of chocolates then making sure Tyson was occupied by a poster of the human stomach on the wall she handed them to Rei.
"Just don't tell Tyson, he was begging for then earlier." She told him lowering her voice, and sounding serious. Rei agreed and the three walked down the hall to the lobby to talk more.
"Hey! Rei!" Max jumped up and hugged the dark haired boy. "How you doing?"
"I'm fine Max." Rei laughed then sat down and opened the box of chocolates, which Tyson was now eyeing hungrily.
Rei was happy to see that Max had healed fine. Both boys had been in pretty rough shape when the ambulance had at last come to pick up their fallen leader. Max had a black eye, a sprained wrist and several large welts, bruises and cuts all over him. Rei thanked his skills at self-defense, for he had come out of the fight nearly safe. The only troubled injury was the long slash across his face, which he had yet to tell anyone what had actually happened. The cut was rather clean but deep, and was now beginning to scar over. It caused Rei to flinch whenever he caught sight of it, for it made him think of his mistake and how Kai had paid for it.
"Bladebreakers to Rei! Hey Rei!" Rei hadn't realized just how lost in his thoughts he was until he realized both Tyson and Max were standing over him, with eyes for his food. The four of them shared the present initially for Kai, talking about nothing in particular, while waiting for the doctor's word.
Apparently Kai was recovering. He had punctured his right lung, which was now hopefully healing, dislocated his shoulder, broken his arm and damaged his left knee pretty bad. In the end it appeared easier to list the things that had not been damaged opposed to his injuries. Hilary, Tyson and Max left shortly after dinner time, saying that they promised Kenny they would report back to him, for he had been at home for the day.
Hilary left the gift basket with Rei and made him promise to give it to the injured boy.
As much as Rei appreciated his friends, he was pleased to be once again alone to go visit Kai.
Kai was staring out the window when Rei later returned to his room that night. He placed the present from
Hilary on the table next to the hospital bed and followed Kai's gaze out into the cool, early spring, Japanese night. Kai seemed so much at peace, as his features appeared relaxed, an expression Kai hardly showed, however Rei knew better. He knew that Kai was weakened by the last month and had hardly any energy to hold such an expression at all.
"I'm sorry Kai." Rei tried again. Though he knew in his heart that it would be along time before Kai would forgive what had happened. He remained silent, still gazing out the window longingly.
Rei pitied the boy then felt anger when he realized that he should never pity Kai; he hated sympathy. Rei just wished he could hold Kai and tell him everything would be all right. However he wasn't even sure if that was the truth.
The golden-eyed boy sat down in the chair next to the bed watching Kai. He knew very well now of what he felt whenever his gaze encountered the slate haired patient. Seeing Kai like this, peaceful and rested made the feeling stronger.
Kai appeared so vulnerable and fragile, his once toned arms and chest, bare now, lacked their usual strength, however he still tried to wear a fair layer of pride. Which Rei decided he wore well, giving the gray eyed-boy an honorable appearance, that Rei was pleased to see he could maintain. His blue shark fins were absent from his pale, smooth face, instead he wore a determined light that burned within his silver depths, acting to bring confidence just as the markings had.
"Why are you here?" Kai's rasp voice startled Rei from his daydream.
"Um," Rei pondered the truth, then sighed in defeat. "I figured someone had to keep an eye on you. Didn't want you to get yourself into trouble." Rei didn't quite lie, but he didn't tell Kai the whole truth.
"You don't have to keep an eye on me," Kai stated coldly raising his eye contact away from Rei's. "You can leave anytime."
Rei's amber gaze was startled, as he felt the hurtful repercussions of Kai's frame of mind. He felt slightly rejected, which made him regret his feelings towards the slated hair boy, whom he had come to see in a different perspective.
"I know I was just-"
"What? Trying to help? Well I don't need it. Just leave me alone!" Kai retaliated without mercy.
"If that's how you feel Kai," Rei stood up; hurt dancing in his rich golden eyes which fell to the floor. Reaching for the door handle he allowed his fingertips to brush it before giving Kai a last glance, hoping maybe he would change his mind.
Kai had returned to staring out the window, so the obsidian haired boy just sighed and let himself out.
Kai was left in his silent solitude to resent his words. Why had he told Rei to leave? He questioned himself, feeling alone in his private dark room. Because he couldn't show emotion? That was Kai's problem he couldn't show others he was weak, especially not Rei. He didn't want Rei to think lesser of him, and therefore, must stay strong.
His cold shadowy eyes surveyed the scenario. He brought his right arm to his bare chest to study the intravenous network. His gaze followed many cords and tubes until they rested on an electronical box that was keeping track of his medical condition. The life support, the key to which he knew decided wither or not he lived or died, to what he must rely on in order to maintain life. Shaking his head he rested his left hand on the place where Rei had been resting. It was still warm. Kai's throat tightened when he realized just how helpless he had become. Alone and helpless…
Outside Rei took one last look up at Kai's window then headed in the direction of the Kinomiya dojo, feeling unwanted. Overhead a cold wind blew, indicating that rain would fall presently.
"It's time for you check-up Mr. Hiwatari," a kind, gentle voice sang to him. "To make sure all is well."
Kai at first ignored Rose, his patient, warm hearted nurse, as he watched an unstable silhouette disembark towards the outside world, away from the sterile hospital lifestyle, and soulless jerks like Kai. At least that's what he felt he was. However with every graceful step of the charcoal haired boy, he carried with him Kai's heart, for he longed to leave what he was condemned to and go home with Rei.
"Kai? Did you hear me?" The nurse asked placing down a tray of food and removing the previous uneaten meal with a scowl. She then took out an instrument used for checking his blood pressure and worked her way around the bed to Kai's monitor.
"You must eat son," she explained with a furrowed brow filled with concern as she read the results of Kai's condition. "Or else you levels with continue to drop," She reprimanded the emotionless boy.
"Has he been by often?" Kai asked referring to Rei.
"Who?" The nurse asked absently. "The lad with raven hair?"
Kai nodded in response his gaze still fixed beyond the window.
"Everyday. He has hardly left you side, since you arrived in attentive care from New York. In fact this is the first night I've seen him leave." Rose paused. "Is something the matter?" She asked watching Kai carefully.
His gaze dropped to his hands, which were clenched by her words.
How was it that the last time he could recall, he was strong and stable, forced to be willing and prepared to take on anything? Now… he was weak, shaken and powerless to his unconfident thoughts. He flexed his right arm gingerly, trying not to flinch from pain. There was muscle, but it was downgraded, wasted from a month without use. He shut his eyes holding back an involuntarily wave of emotion, as the nurse gave him a shot after checking his heart rate. Things were looked bleak. He couldn't do anything for himself. He was useless, and it hurt, to know the only one that cared about him had just been rejected. It hurt... that emptiness of lost strength and the feeling of being incapable.
Why had he done it in the first place? He asked himself for what seemed to be the millionth time. Why hadn't he left the room that night, leaving in search of Rei?
He glanced out the window again, as if the answer was there for him to see. But it wasn't. The answer lived just outside Kai's helpless reach.
He could hardly remembered what happened that night almost a month ago. All he remembered was pain.
"Send him away from now on." This was his burden and he would overcome it all on his own. He didn't need Rei loosing sleep over his problems.
"Send who away dear?" Nor did he want Rei to see him like this anymore, so vulnerable and far to open for Kai's liking.
"The boy with black hair." Kai paused making sure that this was really what he wanted. "Tell him to stop coming by." It wasn't.