Okay, I did try to put some Kai torture in this chapter, but I've decided to spread it through this chapter and the next one, else this chapter would be way too long. Thank your very kindly for all the reviews, and for the chibi Kai and Rei toothbrush and toothpaste Shinwa no Akuma. You're probably right about the candies. I hope you all enjoy this latest chapter.
Chapter Ten
Tyson looked up as he heard the door to the cell being opened. He stood up and went on guard in front of Max, Kenny, who had woken up, did the same for Dizzy, who looked strangely pleased by that action. Four guards and a white robed figure walked in. Tyson studied the cowled frame cautiously. He, or she, seemed unarmed and was approaching him with hands outstretched.
"Who are you?" Tyson demanded, stepping forward and not letting anyone any closer to Max.
"A healer." It was a woman hidden under the hood. "Your leader Kai has negotiated with Lee and you are to be moved."
Tyson's eyes narrowed further. "How can we trust that?"
One of the guards stepped forward, the one who had taken them prisoner in the forest. "He had invoked Kiethru. You need not fear us." Tyson looked stunned and stepped aside. Kenny watched him cautiously and did the same when Tyson nodded his head. The healer moved straight to Max, gesturing for one of the guards to move forward with her healing supplies.
"He is badly wounded, he may not make it."
"Let me help," Kenny said quietly moving to her side. "I know a little of healing."
She looked at him and nodded. "Your magic should have been returned to you by now." Kenny frowned and stared at his hand. A small ball of light suddenly appeared and he grinned.
"Thank you."
"Your thanks go to your leader. If you would, please aid me by helping remove this dressing and stemming the flow of blood." Kenny nodded and they got to work.
Tyson paced, watching them nervously.
"We have orders to take you to your lodgings," one of the guards said.
"Well your orders can wait until I know Max will be okay."
They nodded, they were warned that this might happen and even without his sword and the invocation of Kiethru, the Dragon Swordsman's temper was not to be taken lightly.
It was a long time before both Kenny and the healer sat back and let out breaths of relief. Tyson rushed over to them. "Is he going to be all right?" he demanded.
"Calm down Tyson," Kenny said. "He'll be fine, he's sleeping normally and his wound is almost completely healed. BY morning he will be up and about as usual with maybe a tiny headache."
Tyson grinned and laughed weakly. He did not realise how scared he was that Max might not make it through all this. Seeing the look of relief on Kenny's face, he realised that he had the same fears. "You did well Kenny. And you, thank you." He looked over at the healer. "What is your name?"
The woman removed her hood and smiled at him. Tyson frowned, recognising her. "My name is Mariah."
"I saw you before," Tyson said. "You were with that guy, the leader. Lee was it?"
"I am his sister."
Tyson nodded. "Well thank you for your help."
"Were it not for your leader, I doubt I would have been here. You are very fortunate to have one such as him."
"Kai?" Tyson smirked. "Well, I guess he does care more about us than he says." He shook his head. "I can't believe he invoked Kiethru. So few people uphold the old ways, not to mention I'm surprised that he would put his life in our hands like that. In my hands."
"Well, he's always told us that our mission is important and based on trust," Kenny said. "I think he's showing us that he trusts us, that he needs to, in order to succeed. Even you Tyson."
"Yeah." Tyson looked a bit distant and he looked over at the soldiers. "So I assume then that you're taking us out of here?"
"Yes. I am Kevin, this is Gary. We are Lee's chief commanders of his warriors." He gestured for the other two guards to pick up Max and place him on a stretcher. "You will be taken to lodgings close to your leader and ... the traitor." Tyson's eyes narrowed at the reference to Rei but said nothing, he just let the guards lead them out of the cell and to their home for the duration of their stay here.
*~*~*
Kai was starting to drift off to sleep just as he heard the door to Rei's chambers open. It had been decided that Tyson and Max would stay together (as if anyone could drag Tyson away from the injured boy) while Kenny and Dizzy would stay in separate rooms in a small house with them near the judgment hall. This left Kai without anywhere to go, so Rei offered to let him stay in his old home with him. It wasn't as though they hadn't stayed in the same bed before, so it shouldn't have been very awkward.
Of course if that was the case, Rei wouldn't be insisting that Kai stay in the bed while he stayed on the floor. With the preposterous suggestion, Kai merely raised a disbelieving eyebrow and calmly informed Rei that they would both be sharing the bed unless there was a very good explanation for why they shouldn't. As Rei was blushing and stuttering too much to answer Kai informed him that the matter was settled and they would both be staying in the bedroom. He was good with decision making like that.
Right now though, it was getting late and Rei still wasn't sleeping, being too nervous. Kai told him earlier that if he tried to stay up all night worrying and didn't come to bed, he would have to face severe consequences in the morning. Rei replied with a smirking comment about Kai being so worried about all of them, to which Kai sniffed and informed him that he would be in the room if needed. He didn't take well to insinuations that he actually cared.
Now he was regretting that action as his curiosity at the sudden silence from the other room with the opened door ate at him. Kai sat up and tried to listen, but the only reason he seemed not to hear anything was because there was nothing being said. At least until ...
"Well are you just going to stand there or let me in?" It was a girl, sounding very irritable. Kai heard the door open further and the sound of footsteps before the door closed again.
"What are you doing here Mariah?" Rei demanded coolly.
"I wanted to see you again Rei, alone." She sounded almost regretful. "I couldn't say anything with Lee there, but I missed you."
"Of course." Kai frowned, wondering at the hostility in his voice.
"Rei would you stop pacing and sit down and talk civilly with me, or has being away so long affected your sense of courtesy as well as your attitude." There was a pause and Mariah sighed. "You've changed so much Rei."
"And you haven't changed at all."
"You'd be surprised. But some things haven't changed."
"Mariah don't." Rei's voice was soft and pained. "I can't, I won't become involved again. I'm no longer a part of this clan anymore."
"You aren't the one to say that!"
"And you think I'll let Lee decide my fate?"
"Well you certainly made a huge blunder if that's what you were trying to avoid. With your actions you basically handed yourself to Lee for judgment. Did you really think you'd be able to escape anything by taking Drigger?"
"You don't understand about that!"
"What don't I understand?"
There was a pause before Rei told her quietly, "You'll find out tomorrow along with everyone else."
"That's all you have to say to me after five years?" She sounded close to tears. "How can you have done something like that to me? I was—"
"Whatever you thought you were, you were obviously mistaken in my attentions. Now if you don't mind Mariah. I need some sleep." There was a long silence before Kai heard furious footsteps and the door slam. He lay back down and waited. Sure enough he saw the door open and Rei enter silently.
"You know," he said, startling Rei, "I never got that explanation."
"Could you just leave it Kai, just for now?" Rei moved over his shoulders drawn up, looking very vulnerable. Kai nodded and moved over so Rei could lay down with him.
"Do you mind if I ask who she was?"
Rei tensed then sighed. "Mariah, Lee's sister and old friend and very possibly she was to be my betrothed."
Kai nodded, taking all of this in with surprising calmness. He ignored the sinking feeling in his stomach and concentrated on Rei, who was obviously still in pain from the meeting. "What is the possible punishment for what you did?"
Rei hesitated then shook his head. "I don't know, no one's done something this serious before. People have been exiled and executed for less." Kai paled, hearing this, though neither could see it. Rei started to shake a bit. "Kai, I don't know how to deal with this, it's too much. I thought I would be fine, what's so hard about facing up to people you grew up with? But being back here ..." he trailed off.
Kai hesitated only a brief moment before moving over and placing an arm around Rei. Rei froze at the unusual touch then smiled and leaned into the embrace. They didn't say another word to each other after that.
*~*~*
Rei woke up as soon as he felt the warmth surrounding him through the night leave him. He cracked open on eye and watched as Kai pulled on a shirt and vest, buckling his belt on, Dranzer still attached to it. He glanced over to see Rei awake.
"I am returning the swords to the others and seeing how Max is doing."
Rei nodded. He looked up at Kai and his words froze in his mouth. He had been about to thank Kai for what he did, but the look in the other's eyes warned him not to say a word. He nodded and looked away again. "I probably won't see you again before my trial," he said instead.
"I know. Are we permitted to view it?"
Rei shrugged. "You can ask Lee if you want. Tell Max, if he's awake, that I send my best wishes for recovery."
Kai nodded, looking down at Rei. The boy looked so lost and scared. He doubted that he'd had to face anything like this before. Kai was about to lean down and embrace him, but stopped himself, wondering at the source behind his sudden emotions. He turned away and walked out of the room without saying another word, leaving Rei behind wondering what was going through Kai's mind.
Kai continued to berate himself for a fool while wondering why he suddenly felt so strangely about Rei all the way to the house occupied by the rest of his companions.
Dizzy opened he door when he knocked and managed a small smile for him. "We were wondering when you'd show up." Kenny suddenly appeared at her side and smiled at him.
"Hey Kai. Thanks for getting us all out of the dungeons."
"No point in us rotting away down there. Here." He handed Kenny one of the swords he'd grabbed on his way out. It was the Aether blade. "By the conditions of the truce, we're able to go armed."
Kenny nodded and sheathed his sword. He looked up, about to say more but Kai pushed past him to the room where Tyson and Max were placed
He stood in the doorway for a while, watching the tired dragon as he gently stroked the younger boy's face. Tyson was completely worn, but he was determined not to leave Max alone for a moment, keeping a close guard on him, making sure he recovered. Kai stepped closer, drawing Tyson's attention to him. He looked up and moved his hand away from Max getting up to stand before Kai.
Kai decided not to comment on the obviously painful subject of Tyson's love for the boy and instead held out the Dragoon blade. "By the agreement, you're able to keep this."
Tyson nodded and stared at his blade for a long moment before moving over to where his sheath lay on the floor and put the blade inside it. "I still can't believe you did that."
"It was the only way I could get us out of there and get Max the help he needed."
"You would place your life in my hands." Tyson stared at him intently.
Kai nodded. "I would. You seem to forget that I would do anything to succeed in the quest placed before me. If that means trusting you with my life, then so be it."
"You're not afraid that I will screw up, or even do something intentionally and get you killed?"
"Anyone could screw up, but as for the second, I know you are too honourable for that. You still honour the old ways as I do, I cannot believe that you would forsake them for such a selfish and petty endeavour."
Tyson nodded and moved back to where he was sitting before. "Thank you for your trust. It is not misplaced."
"I know," Kai whispered. He took one last look at Max before turning to leave. He was in good hands with Tyson. "Rei sends his best wishes for Max, as do I."
Tyson turned to stare at him in surprise, but Kai had already left the room. He smiled slightly and shook his head. There was no way he would ever be able to figure that guy out. He looked back down at the pasty face of his beloved before him and winced. Max still hadn't woken up, though he did look healthier and the wound was completely healed. Tyson worried all the same.
"Max," he breathed quietly, taking up one of the pale hands to hold in his own. He looked pained and close to tears. "Why did you involve yourself like that? You were almost killed. Powers, you tried to help me. I couldn't forgive myself if you'd been killed. Even now, like this, it's hard not to feel guilty about you." He lifted a hand to stroke Max's cheek again. "You can't die Max."
Tyson looked startled as he felt Max's hand move slightly in his. He saw his eyes move and slowly open. Then he smiled.
"I'm not dead, Tyson," Max told him in a whisper.
"Max!" Tyson grinned and flung his arms around the boy, knowing he was close to tears but not caring.
Kenny and Dizzy came running at the sound of Tyson's yell, but decided to let the two have their privacy for a while, shutting the door instead of going into the room.
"Tyson," Max whispered, after a while, "Could you get off for a moment, I can't breathe."
Tyson sat back up and blushed, a sheepish smile on his face. "Sorry."
Max smiled back at him. "It's okay. You were really worried about me."
"Of course."
Max blushed. "I didn't know you cared so much."
Tyson hesitated then smiled warmly at him. "Of course I care, I care more about you than you think."
Max's breath caught. "How much more?" he asked in a hopeful whisper, staring at Tyson.
Tyson leaned down, his heart pounding slightly. Max continued to look at him in supplication. "Much more," he breathed just before his lips brushed over Max's in a light and wonderful kiss.
Max could hardly believe this was happening. He had admired everything about Tyson for so long, even before they met he'd longed to meet the Dragon Swordsman. After that, knowing more about the man behind the legend, his feelings for Tyson had grown stronger until he could no longer deny that it was beyond friendship and admiration what he felt. He'd fallen in love with the cheerful midnight-haired dragon. And now, he felt his heart could burst at any moment with all the feelings that were coursing through him from that one single brief touch of lips.
Pulling back, Tyson stared at the handsome young man beneath him and knew that his heart had been captured completely by those innocent blue eyes. His attraction to the young one was unmistakable, but he didn't really want to press on anything, even as he grew to know Max more. But seeing him lying there looking so frail and desperate for something to help him, he knew he had to show him how much he cared, how much he loved him.
They stared at each other for long moments before Max smiled gently and reached up a hand to caress Tyson's cheek. He lifted himself up slightly to return the kiss, though this time it was longer and more than just a brief whispering touch.
*~*~*
Kai was wandering through the village, not really taking note of anything. The people glanced at him then seemed to accept him or ignore him. It appeared that whatever happened in Lee's hall soon became common knowledge among the rest of the neko-jin clan.
He didn't know what he was doing there, he just didn't feel like doing anything much until Rei's trial in the afternoon. He'd gone back to Rei's rooms briefly and had seen a note left by Rei.
Kai,
I'm with Lee right now. Before the public trial it's common that the perpetrator of a crime meets with the leader privately, in case the situation can be resolved easily. I fear this may not be the same with my situation, but I'm going to try in any case. You were invited to join us before the trial when you could and if you wished. You do not have to come, it isn't necessary, just politeness. I do not feel that even you can persuade Lee from the proper judgment.
Tell the others I'm sorry, but I doubt I'll be able to travel any more with you. But then, I always thought that anyway. I still don't believe that I can be the one you're searching for, so perhaps things are better like this.
Maybe after all of this we'll meet again.
Rei.
Kai had crumpled the note up and thrown it against the wall in frustration. Rei almost seemed to take it as a given that he would be executed and his tone clearly indicated that he would rather Kai not be there beforehand to interfere with anything.
"Does he actually want to die?" Kai muttered to himself as he walked. The neko-jin was just to stubbourn at times. Like now. Kai shook his head. "I want to help, but how?"
He looked up, feeling something change in the air around him. He looked around carefully and noticed something odd just in front of him. It was the cub that Rei had picked up in the forest. He was sitting just before Kai his white and black striped tail swishing back and forth lazily, his head tilted slightly to the side, as if contemplating Kai.
Kai frowned and bent down to pick up the tiny creature. "How did you manage to find your way in here?" he murmured softly. "Hmm? Well perhaps you want to see Rei, yes?" The cub purred softly and nuzzled against Kai's hand. Kai couldn't help the faint smile on his face then he sighed. "But then Rei won't be able to stay with you for long."
"Mrow?" Kai stared at the cub. He could have sworn that it understood what he was talking about. Kai looked around, knowing me must look rather silly, talking to a tiger cub like this, but who else could he talk to about his worries? He had to keep up an appearance of confidence around his other comrades and he couldn't talk to Rei.
The tiger cub was the only other option.
"Guess you'll miss him as much as I will." Kai started walking again, talking quietly to the cub. "But then, I'm still furious that he won't even try and defend himself properly. He knows there's a way out of this, but I don't think he believes it."
"Mrrm." Kai looked down at the sub sadly, though curiously.
"Why do I get the feeling you know exactly what I'm talking about?"
Kai blinked. Did the cub just smirk at him? The golden eyes flashed a bright green and Kai almost dropped him in surprise. There's no way ... he couldn't be ...
"Drigger?"
The cub leapt out of his hands and raced down the street. Kai stood there for a second then started running after him. Shaking his head in shock.
It couldn't be, but it is. Drigger. But I don't understand how. I know Rei hadn't called him out. Or had he? The blade didn't glow, but then Rei's power has always seemed so strange to me, hidden. Perhaps the calling was hidden from my eyes as well. Kai looked around and saw a flash of white going down a street to his left. He turned and apologised to the people he almost knocked over and chased after Drigger.
He was stopped suddenly by a small crowd of people. He spotted Drigger somewhere to his right, sitting watching him, almost amused. Kai tried to go to him but was stopped by the crowd.
"You're one of the outlanders, aren't you?"
"Yeah, I've got somewhere to be," Kai said rudely, but he was once again stopped. He glared irritably then halted, noticing something about the crowd. They were all female. His eyes widened slightly as he also noticed the looks on their faces. He gulped then glared, seeing Drigger stick out his tiny pink tongue and dash quickly away.
Oh I am so going to kill that little annoyance!
One of the women bit down on her lip and moved closer to him, smiling shyly. "My name's Isena. Perhaps you would like me to show you around the town?"
Another woman stared at her disgustedly and shoved her away. "I'm Jayna," she introduced with a saucy smile. Kai took a step back, or would have if there weren't more women surrounding him. This wasn't good. He looked around nervously, but he couldn't seem to find a way out of the thick crowd. They all called out their names, asked for his and offered various activities until they finally got too much for him to handle with grace.
"Okay, I'm leaving now," he said, blushing slightly at the last suggestion from one of the women. He quickly pushed his way out, making a way through the crowd for himself, much to their dismay. He took a deep breath and looked around as he got away from them. A few still grabbed at him, but Kai pulled himself away with a glare. They were still rather insistent though ad Kai found himself being pulled back into the centre of the crowd.
"You look like you could use some help."
Kai looked to the side warily. A man was standing nearby watching him with amusement in his golden eyes. He looked behind him to see some of the women still looking at him and moving to get closer to him. More had grabbed hold of him and there appeared to be more approaching.
"Maybe," he answered coldly. He pulled his arm away from one woman only to have another trail her fingers up his side. Kai squirmed slightly.
The man smirked and moved over to the group of women. "You had all best move along now ladies, I do believe master Kai has something very important to attend to." As if this wasn't enough, the man hooked his arm around Kai's.
Kai stared up at the man and hung his head, muttering, "Why me?" As soon as he found that blasted cat he was going to throttle it. But he did suppose the actions of the man had a very big effect on the crowd of women following him. They looked disappointed and walked off, some staring back over their shoulders sadly at him.
"You know," Kai said, trying to disentangle himself from the man's vice-like grip, "I think I'll be fine on my own now."
The man raised a white eyebrow. "Really?"
Kai nodded. "Yeah, I'd say so."
"I disagree. I think you still need a bit of help with something. Shall we take a walk?" As if Kai had a choice. Despite how strong he was, Kai couldn't budge from this man's grip, and strangely, he found he didn't want to. It was as though there was a strange magic about him.
Kai gave up struggling and let the man drag him along. As they walked, Kai studied the man beside him. He looked young, and he had a mischievous look about him. His hair was black and short, but at the front he had two thick long locks of white that hung below his chin, making him look slightly more mature. He had the golden eyes that were typical of neko-jin, but they had a hint of green in them as well.
"You're almost as curious as a cat Kai, something you want to ask me?"
Kai shook his head at the question. "No."
"You're a terrible liar as well," the man chuckled.
Kai looked at him again and blushed slightly as he saw those eyes fixed on him. What is going on with me? Who is this guy and why do I feel so strange around him?
The man smirked, as though knowing what was going through Kai's mind. He stopped suddenly and let Kai go, turning to face him. "You're the only one who can help him, you know."
"Rei?"
The man nodded. "For some reason you're the only one who seems to get though to him. I'm not sure if he can hear me, so I more often than not he doesn't listen to my advice. Of all the people in his life, you seem to affect him the most, and you're just going to stand by and watch him be convicted of a crime that, truthfully, isn't a crime when committed by him."
Kai's eyes widened. "What do you know about him?"
"More than you, more than anyone. You come in a close second though. You know much about him but cannot yet understand it all."
"I will do everything in my power to help him, I need him."
"Why do you need him?"
Kai hesitated. "He is Earth, I need him to complete my quest." The man shook his head. This wasn't good enough for him. Kai looked away. "I can't just leave a comrade in a situation where he could be killed." The man shrugged, but evidently, this still wasn't good enough. "I don't know what else."
"If you cannot accept what you know already, then you will fail in your quest, for how can you succeed with something like that if you are afraid to admit the truth about your feelings to yourself?"
Kai's breath caught and he shook his head. "No."
"Then you shall doom us all."
"It can't be true, I don't …" He was still too afraid to even say it aloud. He could not even admit the possibility in his mind.
"Without Earth your fate will be worse than ours, surpassing death. The Phoenix will not rise again without him." Kai was still shaking his head, trying to deny everything.
"I can't, I don't know how. He cannot get too close, I don't want anyone else dying that is close to me. We may all die, I cannot afford to be distracted."
"And yet you let Water and Air continue with their bond. Surely they know this risk also. Why are you so afraid of accepting him into your heart?"
Kai stared up at the man again, his ruby eyes narrowed suspiciously. How did this man know so much of what was going on inside his own heart? Things even he barely realised? "Who are you?"
The man smiled at him. "A friend. One who cares about Rei. There's only one way you can get him out of this, but you have to be willing to do everything in your power to save him."
Kai nodded. "I still need time with everything and I'm not saying I believe you, but I swear that I will do everything I can to save him."
"Good. Perhaps you do not understand now, but you shall." The man moved closer and Kai's eyes widened as he pressed his lips to his. Kai's eyes closed as he was suddenly swept away by something that left him breathless. He opened his eyes, taking a very deep breath to steady himself, and stared curiously at the man before him as he pulled away. "A kiss to seal the deal," he whispered quietly, looking amused.
Kai's eyes widened as he came to a sudden realisation. "Drigger?" he asked disbelievingly. He reached out to the spirit, but he was suddenly not there. Kai whirled around trying to find him, but the tiger spirit was nowhere to be found.
Kai reached up a tentative hand to touch his lips, looking stunned then he suddenly looked around to see where he was. He quickly ran towards the main street and to the hall he spotted just ahead of him. He had to get to Rei and do something.
AN: Eh, I know not much Kai torture, but I wanted the scenes with Tyson and Max. Weren't they adorable? And Drigger … I have big plans for that mischievous little guy.
Well, hope you all enjoyed.
Laters.