Yay, my first exam over with! One English paper down … two to go. Damn! Oh well, at least I found time to finish off this chappie for you all.
First of all … OMG! Over 100 reviews! Thank you all so much! Here. *throws out chibi Dranzer plushies* Oh and all such nice reviews too! *big grin*
Second thank you so much AG8 *huggles plushies* I like the Kai one ^_~. And also to Shinwa no Akuma … sugary treats! Yay! And Kai and Rei one's too, even more yummy!
Oh, Shade 25, I love Kai/Wyatt too, but I can't find any either, but I was thinking of writing one if you want to read and I'll even dedicate it for you for giving me the idea to write it.
Can anyone tell I'm in a really good mood? Well, hope you all enjoy the next chapter.
Chapter Nine
Kenny groaned as he woke up, putting a hand to his head and wincing in pain. He felt like his head was splitting open.
"Finally," he heard an annoyed female voice exclaim softly. "I thought you'd sleep forever."
"Dizzy?" Kenny looked up in confusion to see her face hovering inches above his. He yelled and scrambled back, his face red from embarrassment. Dizzy looked at him curiously then shrugged.
"Humans are strange."
"We're strange?" Kenny asked with some amazement. "I'm not the one hanging three inches in front of someone's head just as they wake up from … what did happen anyway?"
"You were knocked out by one of the neko-jin warriors sent to capture us." Kenny and Dizzy looked over to see Kai sitting against the opposite wall, seemingly asleep. Max lay beside him with Tyson on the other side. Kai tilted his head back a bit and looked over at the other two still sleeping. "They've put a shield up, hence the reason why they could manage to get Dizzy unconscious, not to mention me."
Kenny shook his head then regretted the motion. He tried to process everything but couldn't. His head just hurt more. So he decided to cling to the one piece of information that he could process. "Where's Rei?"
Kai bit his lip in an uncharacteristic display of worry, but that was the only action he did to show it. "I don't know."
Kenny nodded and sighed, leaning back against the wall. "You won't mind if I just go to seep again to recover my strength."
"Go ahead, you were pretty depleted after the escape attempt."
Kenny stared at him. "Escape attempt?"
Kai frowned. "They really must have hit you hard if you don't even remember that." Kenny was still confused and Kai sighed. "Our swords were taken. We refused to leave them, hence the reason for the dungeons unconscious state we all woke up to."
"Right." Kenny still had no idea what was going on. "I really should get some real sleep, then maybe once we all wake up we can figure something out."
Kenny thought he heard Kai mutter, "If we all wake up," but he dismissed it. Kai wasn't one for pessimism … well, not in the survival sense, or at least not where anyone could hear him. Kenny started to worry.
Dizzy somehow noticed this and poked him sharply in the shoulder. "Get to sleep, you had a harder time than the rest of them. You need your energy." Kenny tried to protest and she stared at him sternly and he sighed.
"Fine. Wake me when the others do, okay Dizzy?"
"Yes, master," she replied with a roll of her eyes. But Kenny didn't see, already falling asleep where he sat. He really had taken a hard hit in the skirmish with the neko-jins. Add to that his magic taken from him and he was one very drained magician. Dizzy smiled gently at him, forgetting for a moment that there were eyes upon her and brushed his hair back from his face. Suddenly her eyes snapped back to Kai as she heard a noise.
It was hard to tell with him, but he seemed to have the hint of a smile playing about his features. "They say that spirits tend to form a bond with the one that conjured them."
Dizzy sniffed. "Well I'm not a common spirit, I am a part of Aether."
"All the more reason why you should fell so strongly for him. He's powerful for such a young one. Even trapping a spirit of your power by accident is no mean feat." Kai looked a bit troubled, staring at the younger boy. "He needs a guardian if he should join us."
Dizzy hesitated then sighed. "Well I can't really go anywhere now can I?" Kai's 'smile' deepened and she glared at him. "That does not mean that I like any of you any more than I did. You're still a rude person."
"And you show your emotions too easily."
Dizzy glared at him. "Unlike what you may think, emotions are not a weakness." Kai looked surprised and she smirked. "What? You thought I wouldn't pick up on that? Like I said, I'm Aether, we are the essence of humanity and no matter how much you deny it, you care for them."
"I have to."
"You want to, but you feel that your duty is to keep your distance from them in order to save them. You may in fact be destroying them by doing so."
Kai glared at her. "Don't think you know me."
Dizzy shrugged. "I don't, but I've known other humans like you. They tend to burn out far more easily than other spirits. It's a tragedy, they could have been saved if not for themselves." With that said, she looked away, and laced a caring arm around Kenny's shoulders, drawing the exhausted boy closer to her, as though emphasizing the power of human emotions.
Kai sniffed and stared out of the high barred window to one side of the cell, soon getting lost in his thoughts.
*~*~*
Kai stared out of his thoughts at the soft sound of laboured breathing. He looked across to see Dizzy asleep beside Kenny, the two curled up closely together. He looked down and felt a small flutter of fear in his stomach.
Max was very pale and his face looked pained. He seemed to be struggling to take each new breath. Kai had worried about him after what happened in the skirmish. The blow to his head was very sharp. Getting closer, Kai reached out to touch at the wound and gasped in shock. He pulled his hand back to see blood staining it.
I have to get help for him, he's going to die if this goes unchecked. Before he did anything though, Kai turned Max's head to check out the extent of the wound. He couldn't quite tell, but he thought the young one's skull had been fractured near the back. He was bleeding heavily, even for a head wound. Kai quickly removed his shirt, tearing it into strips and started wiping away at the wound, binding it up as best he could. He cursed the fact that he had none of his powers or any sort of medical equipment. That had all been taken with their swords.
Kai had bound Max's head as best he could and tried his best to make him comfortable. He watched over him worriedly, though calmly. It would do no good from him to panic right now. As he watched, he let part of his mind drift, recalling the reason for the wound.
*~*~*
They were lead through a small village in the forest. Kai hadn't seen any, but he knew from his studies that there were many villages like this one scattered all through the grasslands and forests. Curious faces peered out from various houses and some people gasped and called out jeers seeing Rei. Kai looked over at his companion separated from them and noticed the slight tremor of emotions, but it seemed no one else had. The people were disappointed not to see more of a reaction from the traitor.
There was a large building at the centre of the village that seemed a bit out of place. That is until Kai realised they must be in the heart of the White Tiger clan and, looking over at Rei, he realised this was not going to be a pleasant meeting with the current clan leader.
Kai stood straighter and glanced over at Tyson, who nodded at him without argument. He may have been an irritating insufferable idiot, but at times, Tyson was the best person to have around. The two warriors loosened their muscles slightly, ready for a possible confrontation. But Rei caught their slight movements with his sharps eyes. He glared at Kai and gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head. Kai was surprised, as was Tyson who saw the exchange, but Kai reluctantly nodded. Rei would know how best to deal with his clan.
The interior of the building was cooler and darker than outside. Kai saw Kenny and Dizzy shiver and Max glance around nervously. The place almost tingled with magic. He could feel Dranzer trembling slightly in reaction to it. Neko-jins were by nature very in tune with the magical flows of the world. Magic was inborn into them, though rarely used in the same way as others. This was another puzzling thing about Rei's strange block.
"So, the traitor has come back."
Kai and the others glanced up at the dais upon which three people sat with a fourth seat unoccupied. In the centre chair sat a man perhaps a year older than Kai, his hair raven black like Rei's, though not as long. He was similar in appearance to Rei also, sharing the same golden eyes and similar physiques, tough Rei was a bit leaner. To his right were two chairs, upon one of which sat a very large man with a small tuft of dark hair on his head. He looked asleep, but the way he sat in his seat made Kai think otherwise. The other seat was occupied by a girl with long pink hair and golden eyes. She looked worried about something and her eyes latched onto Rei as soon as she saw him. Kai narrowed his eyes slightly seeing the possessive concerned look in her eyes. He didn't quite understand the emotion he was feeling seeing that gaze set upon Rei.
The raven-haired man waited for an answer but Rei continued to glare defiantly at him. The man snarled and stood up. "Answer me traitor! Why have you returned to us?"
"I'm under the impression that I've been taken prisoner, shouldn't the question be, why have I been taken in?"
"I would have thought you could not have forgotten the reason for your warrant of arrest." The man's eyes flickered to Rei's side where the sword rested against his side.
Rei noticed the glance and his eyes hardened. "I came to return it."
The man laughed. "And I should believe that?"
"But it's true!" Max called out, trying to go to Rei's aid. The neko-jins assembled there all looked over at them, acknowledging their presence for the first time.
"They were with the traitor I assume Kevin?"
The short violet-eyed leader nodded to his inquiry. "Yes Lee. It seemed prudent to take them in as well."
"Of course." Kai's eyes narrowed further. So this was Lee. He couldn't see why Rei was so intimidated, but then, he had not grown up with the clan leader. "Remove their weapons."
At this Tyson and Kai both growled menacingly and the soldiers took a step back. Even Max managed a fairly intimidating stare for those trying to separate him from Draciel. Lee smirked and gestured to Rei. "Kill him."
"No." Everyone stared at Kai as he said this. His eyes did not leave Rei's startled ones. The man who had been advancing with a knife stopped, looking over at Lee.
Lee continued smirking. "Weak fool." Tyson choked back a gasp at Lee's assumption that Kai was weak. The others in the group looked stunned, not to mention rather nervous. No one called Kai weak, it was like calling ice hot, or water dry, it was impossible.
"If we agree to give up our weapons, do you agree not to harm Rei?"
"What gives you the right to determine what happens to Rei?"
"My right as his leader. It is my duty to look after him no matter what."
"Kai." Kai glanced over to see Rei looking distraught. "Don't do this, this has nothing to do with you, any of you. Leave me and leave this place."
Kai stared at him intently. "You know I can't do that Rei, you're a part of this and a petulant child like him is not going to stand between me and my duty."
Lee growled and everyone in the hall stilled. Rei's eyes opened wide at Kai's insult to Lee. Kai calmly turned to face the raging Lee and he saw the man's pupils had slitted like a lion's. "How dare you," he hissed in a whisper. "I'll have your head for your impudence!"
It was then that all hell broke loose.
Kai vaguely recalled drawing his sword and sending a fireball towards the guards near Rei and screaming for him to get out just before Lee rushed at him. The guards moved in on the rest of the group and Tyson was grinning as he fought, enjoying every second of the battle with the guards. Kenny was having less of a fun time, using his magic to shield himself and Dizzy. He would have shielded Max too, but seeing a man rushing at Tyson's weak side, Max joined the melee.
Kai was completely occupied with Lee. He was a good swordsman, perhaps as good as he and Tyson, but Kai had an advantage with Dranzer and his magic. For now though, he fought with only his sword. Lee was just as surprised at the skill of his opponent and his eyes narrowed as he studied Kai's moves.
There was a very recognisable scream heard and Kai saw Max take a hit to the back of his head with a sword. Tyson ran towards him, not caring about the guards and Kenny did the same, his shield disappearing. Unfortunately, Tyson was intercepted by a guard who managed to get a slash in before Tyson got his sword up. Tyson held his side and did not notice another defender come up behind him and knock him out with his hilt.
Kenny reached Max's side, but Dizzy pushed him away suddenly as a man fell atop them. She was knocked down and Kenny tried his best to defend himself, but he was soon knocked out as well.
Lee did not bother to take advantage of his sudden hesitation, he just smirked at Kai. "Give yourself up."
Kai bared his teeth. "Never." He was completely outnumbered, but that didn't matter. He readied himself for a magic attack when suddenly he fell to his knees, clutching painfully at his head. He dropped his sword and tried to get back up, only to be forced back down again by an invisible pressure.
"How the mighty fall." Kai looked up as he heard the smug lilting voice. The girl was smiling down at him with a glint in her eyes. Kai could hear her mocking laughter as he slowly lost consciousness.
*~*~*
Kai sighed again, looking down at Max again. He'd woken up soon after that here in the cell. He'd looked over them for injuries, but Max's head had just been crusted with dried blood, he'd thought nothing of it, believing him to have gotten lucky with the sword. He knew he was wrong now.
He'd gone over to Tyson first and saw the shallow gash in his side, nothing serious. He'd then discovered that his magic was not working. He had some limited ability to heal minor wounds, learning this in a training camp for soldiers in his clan, but when he'd tried it on Tyson nothing would work. He tried every trick he knew, but he could do nothing. The thought had him shaking. He scrambled back to where he'd woken up and leaned against the wall, hoping for someone else to wake up soon.
Now he was praying that Max would at least open his eyes, if only briefly, he had to stay awake with an injury like this, or he'd die for sure. He stared down at the young face before him and wondered how everything had suddenly gotten out of his control.
"I'm not good enough for this," he whispered brokenly, blinking back sudden tears. "I'm no leader."
"Don't say that." Kai's head whipped up at the sound of Tyson's voice. The soldier winced as he sat up, but the sympathetic expression on his face did not fade. "You're more than a good leader."
Kai turned his head away, angry at himself for allowing his weakness to be seen by anyone, much less Tyson. Tyson glared at him then snorted, shaking his head. Kai was Kai, there was nothing he could do to change it. He'd just hoped that the silent boy was finally opening up to them. "So what's made the great Hiwatari doubt himself?"
Kai looked down at Max and Tyson's breath caught in his throat seeing the bloody makeshift bandages Kai had wrapped around his head. "It's bad," Kai whispered coldly.
Tyson was about to snap at him for the tone he used when he saw the quick flash of pain in Kai's eyes. He was very worried about Max. "How bad?" Tyson managed to ask after a few tries.
"He's dying Tyson."
Tyson didn't remember moving, but all of a sudden Kai was holding him back from touching Max. Tyson glared at him and Kai returned the look with an icy force that made Tyson shiver. "You can't move him at all, if you do you could make things worse." Tyson looked past him, feeling tears springing to his eyes and surprisingly Kai's look softened.
"Can't you do anything?" Tyson pleaded.
Kai shook his head. "My magic's bound somehow. You know I would if I could." Tyson nodded and sunk back, still staring at Max's still form. Kai watched him for a long time before saying, "Watch over him."
Tyson looked up as Kai stood and moved over to the barred door. He banged on it insistently and finally a guard on the other side opened the eye slot and glared at him. "What?"
"I seek an audience with Lee."
The guard laughed. "Interesting jest, but I do not think Lee has time for dirt like you."
Kai glared back at him. "One of my men is dying, I wish to intercede for his life."
The guard thought this over. But he turned away as there was a sound coming from outside the cells. There was a briefly whispered conversation between two guards and Kai waited patiently for them to finish.
"There is a summons for you to the hall."
"Just me."
"Yeah."
Kai nodded. "I'll come." He waited for the guard to unlock the door. He looked over at Tyson. "Make sure you look after him." Tyson nodded and he left with his escort of two guards.
Kai walked into the hall with his head high, an arrogant stance, but one that exuded power. He would not be intimidated by anyone, least of all someone like Lee.
The raven-haired man was sitting on the gilded chair that was the seat of his station. All four chairs were occupied this time. The girl was sitting to his left and slightly behind and two men to the side. The last chair was occupied by the short forest-haired man that had brought them in. Kai stood before them gazing at them coolly. Lee seemed amused by something, but Kai saw it as an act and inwardly smirked. They feared him.
"Mariah tells me an interesting tale, outlander," Lee began, standing up. "A fire mage, a very powerful one, from the northern tribal lands traveling with a young spirit mage, a northern clan swordsman, a young noble lad, with Water abilities as well as our irritating traitor over here."
Kai hid his surprise well. He had not known Rei was with them in the hall. He glanced at him once then looked back. "You forgot Dizzy, and the cub."
Lee looked confused. "Cub?"
"A tiger cub," the short man, Kevin, interceded. "We let it go before we arrived at the village." Lee nodded.
"I see. Well, it seemed that your strange group has drawn some attention in certain quarters. I myself would like to know what a Hiwatari is doing with a Kinomiya as well as the missing young son of the Mizuhara. The spirit mage I believe traveled with the young one."
"He did," Kai said calmly. "Actually, I would wish—"
Lee cut him off with a glare. "Do not think to make concessions of me. I have been lenient enough on your band out of curiosity. Were this only a few years ago you would have all been dead by now."
"And one of us lies dying as we speak." Kai glared back and the force of his gaze stunned them all into silence. Rei was staring strickenly from the side where he was guarded by two men. Who was hurt so bad that Kai was so frantic? "Max is in a bad shape, all I ask is that someone treat his wounds."
Lee shrugged. "That is not my concern."
"You cannot just let him die ... do you realise the consequences of not doing anything at all? We meant you no ill will, you took us prisoner when we came seeking a peaceful audience. Upon that you would have separated us from our arms, that action in itself was completely pointless as I notice that you cannot even touch the weapons."
That was true. Lying where each of the group had fallen were their swords. Lee had tried to move the swords himself when it came clear that none of the guards could, but even he could not come near the swords. He felt ill just reaching out a hand to them. Lee frowned at Kai and looked over at Mariah. She stood up and came beside him.
"Lee," she whispered. "There is something beyond our comprehension going on here. I can feel the design of Fate shifting."
"What should I do?"
"If naught else you know you cannot let an innocent child die. He did not even land a blow before he tried to save his comrade." Mariah let her gaze wander over to Kai. "He is important in some way, I don't know how, but you cannot refuse him."
Lee snarled quietly but nodded. Mariah smiled gratefully at him then left. "I would wish an explanation for what has been going on and I will send a healer to the dungeons."
It was only as Kai let out a sigh of relief that Rei realised just how worried he was about Max.
"Thank you." Kai looked hesitant for a moment. "You are not willing to let us go are you."
Lee frowned but shook his head. "There are laws of the clan I cannot break."
"I see. You uphold all the ancient pacts?"
"We do."
To everyone's shock, Kai knelt down before Lee and bowed his head. "Then I would like to invoke Kiethru."
Rei took a deep breath and everyone looked stunned at this. Kiethru was an ancient pact that was a safeguard when among enemies. It was rarely used for so few clans still upheld the traditional ways of honour. In essence, the invoker, in this case Kai, would place his life in the hands of the clan leader, Lee, on the grounds that his warriors would not be harmed in any way. This ensured that they were treated as guests and were even allowed to go armed among their enemies. The reason why the pact failed so many times was because the warriors had very little regard for their captain if he invoked the rite. The pact was void if they drew on the clan hosting them and harmed anyone in any way. Kai was staking his life that Tyson, Max, Kenny and Dizzy could live and stay among the White Tiger clan without drawing weapons at all. If not, Kai would be executed.
Lee finally found his voice again. "You have much faith in your traveling companions. I trust it is not misplaced."
"It is not." Kai looked determined. "My life is in your hands."
"No, your life is in the hands of your companions." He gestured to the two men to his right. "Gary, Kevin, go to the cells and escort them to the guest quarters." The two bowed and left the hall. Lee studied Kai who was still kneeling before him. "Rei is not a part of your pact. His crimes are clan matters. Had you killed anyone before you would not have been able to invoke Kiethru."
"I know." Kai looked a bit annoyed that Rei was exempt from his actions but kept his face calm. "May I be able to intercede on his behalf in any way?"
Rei was amazed that Kai would do this for him. He looked at the slate-haired man, worn, dirtied, bloodied and half-naked, yet there was an air about him that demanded respect and admiration. Rei felt a strange fluttering in his chest as he looked at Kai and he looked away shamefully. I don't deserve to have someone like Kai even talk to me, much less try and help me. Why is he doing this?
Kai caught Rei's gaze and saw as he looked away. It pained him to see the boy so torn up. He was confused by this. Why does it hurt to see him like this? I know I need him, he's Earth, but when I look at him, it feels like there's so much more. I have to do this for him. He needs me and I need him. Kai turned his attention back to Lee who was still contemplating.
He finally shook his head in annoyance. "That day has been too strange by far already. For tonight I will hold Rei to your pact, but on the morrow I will have you all gathered to explain everything. And Rei will have his trial." At the last Rei paled slightly but Kai nodded his head.
"Thank you." He got up and looked over at Rei, who was being let go. He smiled at Kai who managed an amused smirk back. "Would you like to help carry the swords?"
Rei shrugged. "Sure." He looked over at Lee. "Is my residence still ..."
Lee nodded. "Stay there if you wish. The others of your party are being transported nearby."
Kai turned back. "Oh, a word of warning, I would not suggest you remove Tyson from Max's side right now. I doubt he would have much care for my life if he felt that Max was in danger."
Lee frowned. "They are bonded? So young?"
Rei snorted. "They are too stubbourn and set in the customs of their own people to even admit their feelings, but then all northerners are strange. Perhaps here, among those who accept such things they may do so. But outside ..." Rei shrugged.
Lee nodded then suddenly realised how familiarly he was treating the traitor. He glared sharply at the two. "I will see all of you, save perhaps the young one, promptly on the morrow." He strode out of the hall with Gary and Kevin following close behind and the guards quickly dispersing themselves. Mariah was the last to leave. She cast one last long look at Rei then turned and walked away.
Kai studied the relieved boy beside him. "You have much to tell me."
Rei nodded and looked up at Kai. "Why did you do this for me?"
Kai turned away to pick up his sword, smiling slightly as he felt Dranzer's power surround him. "The block is gone," he announced, ignoring Rei's question for now. "Lee is an honourable man, as you know, however much you may dislike him."
"I don't dislike him," Rei protested, picking up Kenny's blade and Max's. "And he is honourable, there is just too much between us. We were once the best of friends but now ..." Rei watched Kai pick up Tyson's blade and frowned. "You didn't answer my question. Why are you doing all of this for me? You don't have to interfere."
Kai turned and glared at him. "Don't question my actions Rei. I need you however much you deny it. You are Earth and you are a central part to my mission and I will let nothing stand in the way of me fulfilling my duty."
Rei's heart sank slightly hearing this. Kai saw the dejected expression and wondered about it. He never even considered that this rough dismissal of his own actions might have been the cause of Rei's sadness. He had only been trying to find a way to justify his own emotions concerning the boy without actually acknowledging them.
"Perhaps you should lead the way," Kai suggested, breaking the tense silence. "I've not been here before.'
Rei smiled softly at him, for now putting aside his strange thoughts. "Of course. I think I can manage to remember the way back to my own house." He frowned. "At least I hope I do." Kai tried to see if he was joking, but could not tell. It seemed they were in for an interesting time among the White Tiger clan.
AN: Ah, poor Maxie, why do I torture him so? I'll make it up to him in the next chapter. Well I hope you all enjoyed that chapter … next one has a bit more humour in it … trust me, you'll love what I'm talking about. If you've read my other fics you would feel sorry for Kai right now. But that's all of a hint I'm going to give you.
Until next time,
Laters.