Cookies! *huggles Shinwa no Akuma* Thanks! Here is the update in return. I see you're all wondering about Rei's big secret, well you find out in this chapter! Not to mention there are some very special guests in this chapter.
Read on and enjoy.
Chapter Eight
Rei continued running for a while, following the stream a ways.
He stopped when he ran out of breath. He walked to the stream and dipped his hands in the cool water, washing his face off and trying to calm himself a bit.
He knew what Kai had tried to do and he'd lied. He didn't want Kai to get inside his mind. He had put up that block, but it wasn't magic, it was an emotional block. He didn't want anyone to get close to him and hurt him again. He'd been alone for so long he wasn't sure if he knew how to be a part of a group. He didn't want them to betray him and in turn he didn't want to be a traitor. Unlike everyone else in his life, he liked and trusted those four people, even having known them only a short time.
Truthfully, he didn't think he deserved to be a part of the mission. He couldn't be Earth, he was just a worthless thief, lowest of the low. Lee and the others had been right, he wasn't worthy of anything, much less this sort of honour. But he'd thought he could finally be a part of this. He looked right into Kai's eyes and seen his determination to succeed, his passion, and he'd almost been swept away. The memory of the feeling of his hands on his made Rei shiver in delight, then he'd been confronted with the cold hard blade of reality. Touching the cold steel of the Drigger blade, Rei closed himself off again. Kai couldn't be right about that story, he wasn't the master of the Drigger blade, he couldn't be. He was nothing. But he'd hoped … and Kai …
Rei shook himself from his thoughts and stared out at the surrounding area. He should get back soon, he didn't want to worry the others. They had promised to take him back home and maybe he might be able to tag along once they found the real Earth. There was a rustling in nearby bushes and Rei went on alert. He jumped up and took a stance. Suddenly something leapt at him, surprising him and knocking him to the ground.
Rei started laughing suddenly at the tickling feeling of something small and wet prodding at his face. "Cut it out," he cried out with a smile, trying to see what exactly his adversary was.
Rei finally managed to grab something and pulled the mewling white tiger cub from his face. He wiped the remains of the wetness from the tiny pink tongue from his face and studied the creature.
"So you're my fierce assailant." The cub tilted his head to the side, looking absolutely adorable. Rei couldn't help his heart reaching out to the small thing. He pulled it closer to him and cuddled the baby to his chest. The tiger purred contentedly and snuggled up to Rei. He smiled at the sight then groaned as he realised the cub was falling asleep.
"No, you can't go to sleep, you have to go back to your mother." Rei nudged the tiger and the baby growled and swiped a paw at him. Rei placed him on the ground and the cub ran to him as he tried to walk away, attaching himself to Rei's leg.
Rei rolled his eyes and pulled the cub away. "No, go back to your mother." The cub looked at him pitifully and Rei almost relented but held firm. "No, go back." He stared walking away.
The cub followed. Rei sighed and just let him follow. Sensing the change in mood the tiger cub bounded ahead ecstatically then bounded back to him, curling up against Rei's leg adorably.
"You're just too cute for your own good," Rei muttered fondly, reaching over to scratch at the cub's head. He purred again lazily then continued following Rei back upstream. "Your parents had better not come looking for me," Rei told him. "I will be very annoyed if they do."
The cub just trotted happily beside him, stopping to pounce at bugs and birds every so often then racing to catch up to Rei again.
Finally, after the long walk, Rei reached the others again still at the same clearing as before. They seemed to be arguing about something. Actually, Tyson seemed to be despairing about something while Max was yelling loudly at Kenny, who was yelling back. Kai was silent, but there was nothing odd about that.
"Rei!" Tyson yelled out. "Where did you go?"
"Upstream," Rei told him. "What's the argument about this time?"
Tyson groaned. "Oh, be glad you weren't here for this one. Kenny tried something out when he tried to search for you magically and he almost blew himself up. Max got freaked and once he regained consciousness and was deemed okay, he started yelling about how stupid Kenny could be at times. It's been like this for a while."
"What happened?"
"Kenny accidentally trapped a spirit on the mortal plane," Kai told him, coming over. "He was distracted halfway through when Tyson and Dragoon decided to have another argument." Tyson glared at him and Rei laughed.
"So where is this spirit?"
"Right here," a female voice called out in annoyance. Rei turned around and his eyes widened in shock. The girl was about average height with long pale blond hair. She was tapping her foot against the ground impatiently and she had her arms crossed in irritation. Her silver eyes glittered angrily and Rei took a step back at the severe expression on her face. "You know," she started, "I try to help out every so often, do my good deed and then I get stuck with MORTALITY! Do you have any idea how humiliating this is for someone like me?"
"About as humiliating as standing in front of a group of men completely naked?" Tyson hypothesised with a grin, but the glare she sent his way made him cower back in fear. Kai sighed and removed his cloak and handed it to her.
"It would be less distracting for all of us if you put this on for now." Kai looked over at Rei. "Do you think you have any spare clothes?"
Rei looked surprised. "Why me?"
Kai sighed. "I'm too tall, Tyson's too built around the chest and shoulders and Max and Kenny are too small, still being rather young. You're both her height and as slim as she is. Not to mention you could probably find something slightly feminine or androgynous for her to wear."
Rei glared. "What's that supposed to mean?" he demanded as Tyson burst out laughing.
"Exactly what I said." Kai told him then walked over to Max and Kenny still arguing. Rei glared at him and muttered darkly under his breath, moving over to his pack and looking through it for something 'feminine'.
"So what's your name?" Tyson asked, trying to ease the tense atmosphere somewhat after he'd stopped laughing.
The girl sniffed then answered, "Dizzara, but I'd prefer you call me Dizzy. Only people I respect are allowed to address me by my true name."
Tyson nodded. "Right, so what are you?"
"Tyson!" Rei approached them and glared at him. "Stop being so rude." He handed her some clothes. "Here, this is the best I can do on such short notice."
"Thank you," she said, her expression softening slightly.
Rei smiled at her then frowned as something caught his attention. He turned around with a look of horror on his face as he remembered the cub that followed him back. But it was too late, the little tiger was already in the air ready to pounce on the unsuspecting Dranzer. The indignant squawk that filled the air had everyone turned to the furious phoenix. Rei groaned as he saw how the cub started to chase after her when she took to the air. Kai ran over and grabbed the cub, glaring at it.
"Kai, wait." Seeing Rei, the baby tiger squirmed and reached out to him. Rei took him from Kai and the cub snuggled into him. "I found him in the woods and he followed me."
Kai sighed. "And now a tiger cub. Today can't get any more chaotic. The one possible thing that I can see as advantageous is that our enemies will be as confused as I am and will decide to leave us alone and let us end up destroying ourselves with the mess we've made."
"We can only hope they will continue to stay that confused and ignorant," Tyson grinned. Kai threw his hands up in the air and stalked away.
"A whiny noble brat, an inexperienced magician, a cocky swordsman with a big mouth, a thieving neko-jin with an affinity for dangerous animals, an irritable spirit turned into a girl, a dragon, a phoenix, a tortoise and now a tiger cub. All we're missing is a dancing bear and we could start our own traveling show."
"And what a show that would be," Dizzy commented dryly. Kai glared at her then walked off to cool down.
Rei had to grin at this. Kai was right, they certainly were a strange group now. Looking around though, Rei had to admit that it would be more interesting this way. Much more interesting.
*~*~*
Watching hidden in the thick tree line, a figure grinned, bearing sharp teeth.
"So it is you traitor," the figure whispered softly, a malicious edge to the voice. "I'm sure Lee would be very eager to see you again. Very eager indeed." The figure gestured to another and whispered something to the small group further back from the edge of the forest. The figure then turned back and continued to watch as the group decided to set up camp there and replenish themselves, getting ready for the rest of their journey South.
"We'll meet again traitor. Watch yourself. Dreams can be deadly."
*~*~*
Rei could see Kai was angry. So could the others, but they gave it no thought. Kai was always upset about something. Now it seemed to be because of the fact they were camping before dark had even settled in. It wasn't even twilight, nor even dusk yet. Rei knew that Kai thought they were wasting time, but why should they travel longer in the day? There were only a few hours left and they'd found a good camping spot.
Of course he didn't dare suggest these thoughts to Kai. He was much smarter than that.
Instead he chatted with the others, mostly Tyson. It was strange, but he found himself enjoying the company of the swordsman. They all seemed to. Tyson had a way of drawing people to him and making them feel at ease. Rei didn't quite know what it was, perhaps the easy attitude or the friendliness he showed everyone. The nicknames maybe? Well perhaps for the other two, but Rei was still getting used to his. Cat-boy? It was neko-jin, he wasn't a young male feline, he like all others of his kind, had feline attributes, like the senses and grace of cats and the slightly pointed ears and sharpened teeth, but that didn't mean he should be mocked for it.
But then Tyson didn't mean to insult him. Rei understood that, which was the only reason he hadn't said something to Tyson. He'd get used to Tyson's ways eventually. Maybe he'd even get used to his appetite. Or maybe not. Looking over he saw that Kenny and Max were just as astonished at Tyson's aptitude for shoveling food into his mouth at a high speed as he was. Rei couldn't help smiling though. He wouldn't trade these four for the world, they were all special to him in their own way, quirks and all. Kenny was a bit of a know-it-all at times, but he was great to be around when you needed help with something. Not to mention he was able to quiet Tyson when he was in a mood. Max was sweet, but sometimes the juvenility got a bit much for Rei, and Tyson didn't help much with that, neither did Kenny, though he tried as hard as he could to calm the two of them down.
Rei smiled, thinking over this. Even without the blurted admission he could tell that Tyson liked the boy. The blushes Max sent the dragon's way were enough to confirm that he was sharing the same sort of feelings for Tyson. They seemed to just fit together.
A movement out of the corner of his eyes had Rei turning around to look at the makeshift tent he and Tyson had erected earlier. What he saw made his jaw drop in surprise. Dizzy was walking towards them dressed in one of his more formal outfits. He hated to admit it, but it did suit her, clinging to her body and it's curves. It was rather feminine. A sudden thought popped into his head. Did that outfit cling to me that way too? He blushed suddenly thinking about that. Did that make him look like a girl too?
"Well, you look rather nice in that," Tyson commented as Dizzy approached them, one hand fiddling with her hair. He grinned and she glared at him. Tyson looked surprised. "What? I was only paying you a compliment."
"Don't," she warned him before she walked over to Kai and handed him his cloak back with a smile of gratitude. Kai barely acknowledged her. She glared at him and returned huffily to the fire where the rest of the group sat. They were all staring at her and she continued to glare. "What?"
"Nothing," Max said innocently, looking away.
Kenny blushed and started stammering. "W-well ... I ... uh ..."
Tyson glared right back and didn't answer her.
Rei looked at her, then around at the others, with a worried expression. "I don't look like a girl do I?"
There was complete silence around the fire and Rei knew that Kai was also looking at him in shock with this statement. Tyson broke the silence with a laugh, causing Max and Kenny to crack up as well. Dizzy studied him carefully, actually considering his question seriously while Rei could still feel Kai's stare fixed on him.
Rei pouted and glared. "Forget it," he muttered.
"No, you don't particularly look like a female," Dizzy finally told him. "Though you do appear to be a very handsome young man, almost beautiful. Some might say pretty."
"Pretty?" Rei looked aghast and Tyson and the other two started laughing again. Rei whirled around in surprise hearing a muffled snicker behind him. Kai was sitting nearby looking too innocent, the hint of a smile playing about his features. "All right, I'm going to sleep now," Rei announced getting up. "The moment Kai cracks a smile, I know I should get far away."
"Mr. Grumpy smiled?" Tyson asked with wide eyes, shocked out of his laughter.
Rei growled and turned away, calling for the tiger cub dozing with the other animals to come to him. The tiny creature yawned and padded over to him, snuggling into Rei when he pulled him up to his chest. As he started to walk away though, he felt a hand on his arm halting him. He looked over his shoulder to see Dizzy staring at him quizzically.
"Did I say something to offend?"
Rei frowned and shook his head. "I'm just tired."
Dizzy nodded and smiled. "Sleep well kitten." She patted the head of the tiger cub, but Rei felt chills going down his spine at the phrase all the same. He watched Dizzy turn away and walk to the fire. To Rei, her hair seemed to shimmer bright pink for just a moment in the light then turned back to the pale gold it always was.
"Kitten," he whispered in a choked voice, turning away. A teardrop fell onto the cub's fur and he looked up quizzically to see the young man in pain. The cub reached up and batted at the end of Rei's long fringe, hanging down on his chest. Rei looked at the cub and smiled. "Sorry, just thinking when someone last called me kitten. Let's go to sleep." Rei continued to walk over to where they had set up their bedrolls, not realising his pain had been witnessed by a pair of scarlet eyes.
*~*~*
Kai opened his eyes with a start and sat up.
Something was terribly wrong.
He looked over at the others to see them all asleep still, Tyson snoring, Max shifting over almost unconsciously to him, seeking the warmth of the other body close to his, Kenny was thrashing about, then just as suddenly completely still. Rei was frowning and muttering something in his sleep. Kai noticed the tiger cub curled up close to him.
"Dranzer," he whispered. The phoenix stirred slightly and peeked open an eye. "Go inside." This had the bird immediately awake and glaring at him. "Something's wrong," Kai insisted. "I want you safe. You know you're vulnerable out here." Dranzer glared, but Kai unsheathed his sword and she bowed her head in agreement, disappearing in a flash of red light. Now to get the others moving.
Kai nudged Rei and the neko-jin awoke immediately, peering up at him curiously. "Trouble," was all Kai had to whisper and Rei nodded, already searching for his clothes and the rest of his belongings. Kai moved over and repeated the process with Kenny and Max, the two of them doing as Rei did. Tyson was harder to wake.
"Let me try," Rei had moved behind him. "Go gather your stuff, Max is taking care of Tyson's belongings while Kenny's helping Dizzy." Kai nodded and moved away. Rei sighed and looked at Tyson, frowning in concentration. "Tyson," he said softly, shaking the sleeping swordsman. Tyson groaned and rolled over. Rei sighed. "Tyson," he shook him more insistently, causing the boy to open an eye. "There's trouble, get up." Tyson mumbled something and closed his eyes again. Rei stared at him. This is supposed to be the greatest swordsman in the lands? Suddenly he noticed the small blue creature near Tyson's head. "Dragoon." He gently stroked the dragon, waking him. "We have to leave, wake Tyson." Dragoon looked at him sceptically but moved over to Tyson. Rei winced as Dragoon clamped his jaws on Tyson's ear, causing the boy to wake and curse.
"Dragoon," Tyson yelled, glaring at him. "What was that for?"
"To get you up," Rei told him. "There's trouble, we have to leave." Tyson looked around to see everyone else ready, his pack being held by Max. He nodded and got up, dressing himself properly.
"Get Dragoon back in his blade as well," Kai ordered, looking around, alert for anything. "He's vulnerable right now to an attack, not strong enough to withstand much."
Tyson nodded and once he was ready unsheathed his sword. Dragoon looked at him pleadingly and Tyson shrugged. "It won't be for long, just until we're out of danger." Dragoon nodded and disappeared with a blue flash. Tyson sheathed his sword and nodded.
Kai gestured with his head and they all followed him, creeping cautiously along the bank of the stream. Rei took up the rear, glancing around nervously at every sound he heard. Finally he managed to get his nerves under control and took a deep breath, calming himself. He stood straighter and glanced around carefully, taking note of everything as he moved swiftly behind the others. His ears picked up the sounds of pursuit and he made sure he was ready for anything.
Anything that is except for the tiger cub mewling softly, giving him away. His eyes widened and he paused momentarily, but that was enough. Someone caught him from behind in a tight hold. Rei tried to escape, but not only was this person strong, they were large and apparently a very experienced fighter. Rei didn't give up though. He bit down and clawed at his assailant, but for some reason this had no effect on him. The cub too scratched and hissed at him to no avail. The man picked up the cub by the scruff of his neck, while he held onto Rei with the other.
"Quiet," the other hissed. Rei stopped struggling as soon as he felt the sharp dagger at his side. "Come with me." Rei nodded, but the man did not release him, in fact he held on tighter, lifting Rei up. Now Rei was rather light and wiry, but even so, this amount of strength was amazing. "We have orders to take you in if we see you traitor." Rei's eyes widened and he gasped, starting to struggle again. The man didn't move an inch, still striding along to wherever he needed to go. "But first we need your friends."
"Don't you lay a finger on any of them," Rei growled.
"Not if they be good."
Rei could hear the sounds of his friends ahead and the other suddenly went on alert, stepping more silently. He put Rei down and Rei moved away, but a sharp blow to the head sent him reeling. He was amazed he was still conscious after that. He could hear tiny growls as the man tied up the cub. Rei saw him being put in a small sack and he tried to protest, only to be hit again. Then he felt the man bind him and tie something over his mouth before he was set on his feet again and moved forward. Rei did as the man wanted, mostly because he was too stunned to do otherwise and didn't want another blow.
Soon he was close enough to hear Kai and Tyson arguing.
"We have to search for him," Tyson was hissing.
"We can't afford to yet, not until we know what we're facing," Kai told him coldly. "We aren't even out of danger yet."
"That's certainly true." Rei's assailant stepped forward brining Rei with him, the dagger now at his throat. He looked up at Kai, shame in his eyes. Kai's face was cold and his sword was already drawn.
"Let him go," Kai demanded coldly, "you cannot hope to face me and live."
"You cannot hope to escape so many of us." Kai and the others whirled around as more men, armed and at the ready, materialised from the forest around them. A smaller man stepped forward and smirked, seeing Kai's anxious look and the hopeless looks on the others' faces. Tyson glared and slumped his shoulders. "Even you would not escape unscathed, and Rei?" The man looked over and Rei's eyes widened in sudden shock and fear. "I'd make sure Rei wouldn't survive at all."
Kai made a move towards the smaller man, but Tyson quickly grabbed his arm and help him back, despite the dark glare Kai sent his way. The man grinned at this but ignored them and moved towards Rei. Rei moved back fearfully, shaking his head, his eyes filling with sudden tears.
"You're not glad to see me?" The man put on a mocking expression of hurt. "What a shame, and here I'd hoped we could all get along again. Guess that was never meant to be traitor." He spat the last word and punched Rei hard in the stomach. Kai and the others started forward again, but this time they were stopped by the other soldiers and their swords.
Rei fell to the ground, gasping for breath through the thick cloth, spots appearing before his eyes. He looked up to see the man standing before him with a disgusted look on his face.
"You filthy unworthy bastard, how dare you ever show your face anywhere near our lands?" The man aimed a kick at Rei's ribs and Rei cried out in pain. "You should have stayed in the north. You'll wish you had once we're done with you. Lee especially." Even panting and gasping on the ground, barely conscious, Rei still managed a shiver of fear. The man laughed at his reaction and gestured for him to be picked up. "But then, I'll be glad for the entertainment your suffering will bring." He gestured. "Take him away. We travel back to the home lands."
The soldiers all nodded and formed a ring around Kai and the others. It was not optional for them to come with them. They were prisoners. Dragged by them, Rei hung his head. Perhaps going home wasn't the best idea.
AN: Oh, interesting developments. I wonder who the men are? I'll bet you can already guess. Hope you enjoyed that chapter.
Until next time,
Laters.