Chapter 5: Get Me Through December
"Aw, so soon?"
The slate-haired boy's ears perked up at the familiar voice. Minus the drunken tone.
McGregor. The boy growled and began to pick up his pace. What the heck is he up to now?
Kai rounded the corner of the sleet-covered street, just in time to see a petite brunette girl attempt to detach herself from the drunken Scot.
"What the…" the girl whimpered and as she tilted her head away, Kai instantly recognized her. Hilary? What is she…? Kai's crimson eyes widened as the flame-haired boy tried to make his move. "Fuck off, McGregor!"
Johnny's attention was instantly diverted towards Kai, his expression dazed…but nonetheless, frightened. But his look of fright quickly turned into an expression of pure agony as Hilary delivered him a swift kick.
Face contorted and red with rage, Johnny cursed aloud, "Ow! Bloody Hell!"
Kai couldn't help but smirk. It sure served him right. But Kai's moment of smugness came to an abrupt end, as Hilary's scream rippled and shattered through the once peaceful night.
Hilary!
Without a moment wasted, Kai bounded past a whimpering Majestic and slid expertly down the slippery hillside. When he reached the frozen riverside, Kai was just in time to the brunette slip through the large crack in the ice and continue to stream down the rapid flowing river.
"Help!" Hilary cried just before her head disappeared under the dark currents.
"Hilary!" Kai dashed to the river's edge, but large chunks of the remaining icy island floated down the dark river. Frantic, Kai's head shot a glance down the waterway at the sound of Hilary's shrill scream. "Hold on!"
Heart beating wildly, Kai ran along the frozen riverbank, silently praying that she'd be all right. To him, each long stride he took to get closer to the drifting girl felt like it took forever. It was like he was stuck in slow motion and the rushing water of the canal was in fast-forward. With every heart-pounding step, he felt like she was getting even farther and farther away.
But…that couldn't be possible…could it? Kai sure hoped not.
Come on, come on! He urged, his gaze darting every which way. There has got to be one damned tree around here.
There.
Not too far ahead, a single tree with snow-coated branches could barely be made out against the dark, starless sky. Perfect.
Shooting another fearful glance at the river, the Russian boy caught sight of the girl draped over a lone, icy rock near the water's edge. She looked frozen and like she was barely hanging on.
"Hang on, Hilary! I'm coming!" he yelled, his voice hoarse from running against the stinging cold wind. "Let it RIP!" Kai launched Dranzer with incredible power at the distant tree. "Let's take down this toothpick! Dranzer!" he summoned the great bird of fire to attack and within a matter of seconds, the tree was sent crashing down into the river. "Yes!" The long wooden trunk had landed beside Hilary's frozen island and Hilary's eyes fluttered open with a start.
Stuffing his gear back into his pockets, Kai made his way nimbly across the fallen tree towards Hilary. "Grab my hand." He told her sternly as he took her clammy hands. The slate-haired boy scooped Hilary up and sprinted back across the log. As soon as he crouched down to check the girl over, the makeshift bridge was hit by a miniature iceberg-torpedo. From the sheer impact, it was instantly reduced into splinters and was quickly washed away.
"K-Kai?" Hilary's strained voice came quietly as she pushed herself up and away from him. "Th-thanks." She mumbled, her face red and stinging. "Well, I b-better be g-getting h-home. I-it's r-really late." She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself. But after taking only a few strenuous steps, she collapsed onto the frozen ground, completely exhausted. Not to mention the fact that she couldn't feel any of her limbs.
"Here." Kai knelt down beside her. "Get on my back and hang on." He ordered sternly.
Okay, who doe she think he is to order me around like that? Hilary thought angrily. "I can walk fine by myself!" she stood up wobily and limped over to the icy stairway that led to the streets, despite the stinging sensation that coursed through her legs with every agonizing step. Cringing slightly, she retorted back to Kai, "See? I can do this on my own." She spoke stubbornly through clenched teeth.
Just as her leg was about to give way again, the lone wolf blader appeared by her side to support her.
"Just shut up, swallow your pride, and get on my back before I change my mind." When the brunette made no move, Kai continued. "Fine. I take it you want you want to stay here and freeze to death with the drunken ass hole?"
With that, Hilary's crimson eyes widened and she looped her arms around his neck with a small whimper.
As Kai hefted Hilary onto his broad back, his head tilted downwards, hiding his ever so victorious smirk from the moonlight.
"So where exactly do you live?" Kai asked the shivering brunette, an unmistakable tone of urgency in his voice. If they didn't get somewhere warm fast, Hilary would get pneumonia or freeze to death. Stifling a shiver by grinding his teeth together, the Russian boy felt the wetness of the girl's garments trickle down his bare neck.
"M-make a right h-here and m-m-my house is the f-first on the l-left." Hilary replied, snuggling closer into Kai's sweatshirt, her teeth chattering non-stop.
In return, Kai just grunted and shifted her weight before picking up the pace. He hated to admit it, but it was getting colder and the damned wind was no help at all. It didn't help that Hilary was somehow getting heavier and heavier by the second.
When they had reached Hilary's quaint little house, decorated with tons of twinkling multi-coloured lights, Kai let Hilary down and rung the doorbell. After no hint of acknowledgment from inside the residence, Kai rung again and again, getting more impatient.
"I g-guess they're n-n-not h-home yet." Hilary chattered, huddling against the wall and looking oh so very pathetic, in Kai's opinion. "F-flower p-pot." She pointed a shaky arm towards a large ceramic flowerpot, to the left side of the door.
Kai shot a glance of bewilderment at the snow-covered piece of pottery and back at the brunette.
"D-d-dig in the farthest c-corner."
Dig? She wanted him to scrounge around in the flowers? Shouldn't they be finding a way to get inside? Nevertheless, Kai heaved a sigh of annoyance and shuffled over to the pot reluctantly and began to dig. After burrowing a small ditch in the farthest part of the pot, Kai finally understood Hilary's odd request when he unearthed a small gold key. So they hide their keys in their flowerbeds. Kai snorted. Show's how secure their house is.
After unlocking the door and replacing the gold key in its place of hiding, Kai carried Hilary inside and got to work on preparing some hot chocolate in the kitchen.
"Hey, Kai." Hilary said quietly as she sat down on the couch, next to her rescuer. "You can dry your clothes in the dryer if you want. I can get you some of my dad's stuff if you want."
Kai grunted a reply and took off his sweatshirt, as well as the white muscle shirt underneath.
Oh. My. Lord. Hilary gaped when she saw his well-built, six-pack. Damn, he is fine. She couldn't help but think. Then she shook her head, wondering how that had wandered into her thoughts. Nonetheless, Hilary continued to stare in absolute awe at the captain of the Bladebreakers.
As Kai grabbed his scarf, along with Hilary's wet clothing from the heap on the floor and strode silently towards the laundry room, he felt like he was being watched. Tilting his head backwards, in direction of the living room, he saw the brunette staring at him in a dazed state.
"Hil?"
"Yeah." She answered, still in her little trance.
Kai couldn't help himself and snickered. "Stop ogling and drink your hot chocolate before it gets cold."
That did it. With a surprised "huh?" and a quick shake of her head, Hilary tinged rose and turned away.
Smirking, the still shirtless Kai shook his head and disappeared in the laundry room. When Kai returned with a freshly dried sweatshirt on, he found the girl sitting curled up at one corner of the couch, sipping her mug of steaming cocoa.
She looked up at the slate-haired boy and gave a small smile. "Sit Kai. I know how much you like leaning against doorframes and walls, but the sofa is a lot more comfortable." She patted the seat beside her and Kai found himself accepting her offer and sitting down beside her.
He took his mug of hot chocolate and began to drink. After sitting and sipping their drinks in silence, Hilary finally got the courage to break it. "Kai. Thank you."
"Hm?" Kai answered, taken completely off-guard by the statement.
"You know…" Hilary's cheeks returned to a rosy state. Whether it was from the steam of the drink or something completely different, Kai didn't know. "For saving my life. I mean, you didn't just save my life today. You saved me from the falling rocks on that strange island, in summer, too."
She remembered that? I don't even…Okay, maybe I do remember. But it's not like I think about it everyday…Well, I don't think about it every minute…Kai let out an involuntary growl. Hey…it had been on impulse! He defended himself. She and Kenny were right there, and so were the rocks. If any sensible person had been there, they would have pushed them out of the way too…right? Kai thought hurriedly. Why else would he have saved her? She was his friend after all.
"And when I fell off that cliff…"
After that, Kai's mind had flown elsewhere and had completely tuned out to Hilary's voice.
What the heck is she blabbering on about now? Kai thought, his right eyebrow cocked up at her in slight amusement. It had been a good fifteen minutes—and she was still going! Sure, Kai knew he should have been listening, but he really could not help it. So, to make it look like he was listening intently, every once in a while he would nod casually or put in a muffled grunt. Okay, that's it. He sat up abruptly, but not abruptly enough for the girl to notice.
Silently, he stepped over to the brunette and squatted down in front of her, so that they were face to face. Noses only about an inch or two apart, Kai looked Hilary straight in her ruby eyes and told her in a firm tone: "Shut up."
"Wha-what?" Hilary stammered, quite taken back at the evident rudeness in his voice.
"I said 'shut up'." Kai shrugged nonchalantly as he fixed himself back on the couch, beside the glowering brunette.
Blushing furiously with a complete loss for words, Hilary just stared at the silent boy in disbelief. How dare he be so rude in her house! "Why don't you shut up?!" she cried, almost in tears. "This is my house, so don't you dare tell me to shut up! I was just trying to thank you, and that's what I get in return?! Why, you're just a--" her string of angry words came to an sudden stop when two crimson orbs appeared directly in front of her own.
"You talk too much, you know that?" And without waiting for another angry reply, Kai found his lips being drawn closer and closer to hers…
*Bong! Bong! Bong!*
Hilary jumped back in surprise when Kai flinched and jerked away. With a quick glance at the antique grandfather clock in the corner of the room, Kai got up to fetch his scarf and boots.
"Look, it's getting late. I've gotta' go." Kai muttered briskly as he tossed on his scarf and disappeared into the front hall.
Had he really been that close to…
"Thanks again, Kai."
Kai's ears perked up and he answered, "Don't mention it." Then he paused and placed his hand on the door. "No really, don't."
Wow, Hilary thought to herself, That was really…a close one…She grimaced. A close…what?
"Oh well, I guess I'd better get to bed before Mom and Dad get home…" she rounded the corner and entered the front hall—and found herself staring up into familiar crimson red eyes. "Uh…hey, Kai. I thought you were…" her voice drifted off after one glance at the boy's grim expression. "Kai? What's the matter? What happened--?"
"Ahem."
Hilary looked behind the tall, well-built Russian to see a police officer standing in the front hallway. "Oh! Er, hello officer. What can I do for you…?"
At the sight of the policeman, Hilary's heart began to race. Was something wrong? She thought, her mind saturated with panic. Had something bad happened? What if someone had been killed? Or maybe there was a shooting back at the party? She gasped. Oh My God! What if Tyson has gotten so drunk that he…? Or maybe that freaky drunk guy that tried to kiss me…? Oh no! Or what if—Gory scenarios of bloodshed and accidents filled her mind. Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God--!
"Miss Hilary Hirata, I presume?" Hilary's thoughts dispersed at the sound of the authorative tone.
Hilary nodded, "Yes." Hilary replied in a slightly doubtful tone. "Do come in, sir. Have a seat. You too, Kai." She ushered her guests into the living room.
"Ahem. I'm very sorry that I have to be the one to inform you of this…matter. But, I guess, someone has to, right?" The officer tugged at the collar of his jacket nervously.
Kai and Hilary shot each other glances, as if silently saying 'Would you please just get on with it?!'.
"Ahem, anyways. I have come to inform you of a terrible event that has occurred, not too long ago. About only a mere hour ago, there was a horrific accident caused by a drunk driver a large hidden patch of ice." The man turned to look Hilary straight in the eyes.
The brunette shivered involuntarily at the unmistakeable tenseness in the atmosphere. Whatever he had to tell her, Hilary was definite that it wasn't good. It's not that she wanted to be right, if anything, she wanted her theory to be proven wrong. She just wanted everything to be all right. And that's why she hated the moment when the officer had finally decided to tell her. It was something that would change her life forever.
"Miss Hirada, your parents were involved in that incident." She heard him say. "And, I'm sorry, but the car crash was fatal. Your parents they…didn't survive."
'Your parents…they didn't survive.' The words hit Hilary hard and felt exactly like a slap across the face. She felt a large lump forming in her throat and tears were beginning to well in her eyes. "P-pardon?" she squeaked out meekly, hoping that maybe she had heard the officer wrong. Please don't say it. Please don't say it!
"Ahem, your parents didn't survive the crash. But don't worry, they didn't feel a thing as they died on impact." The officer hurriedly tried to make the girl feel better about the situation.
'They didn't feel a thing…They died on impact…' anger burned inside Hilary. What the heck was that supposed to mean? Was that supposed to make me feel better? Oh, they died on impact and didn't feel a thing! Well, that was nice to know! She thought sarcastically. They died. My parents were murdered by a stupid drunk driver!
"Ahem, well, I better be going." The policeman stood up and began to walk hurriedly to the door. "Again, my deepest consolations, Miss Hirada." He tipped his hat to her. "Oh! And maybe your boyfriend would like to spend the night with you?" He looked over expectantly at Kai. "Just for, ahem, you know, moral support if anything. Merry Christmas to you both."
With that the officer left the little house with a clatter of the shutting door and left the homestead in an unnerving silence.
Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas?! What the heck is wrong with this guy? Hilary thought bitterly, her vision blurring with hot tears. My parents are dead.
How merry is that?
~*~
Silver Swiftness: Hey guys! Did any of you catch the little hint of the accident I gave in the last chapter? Probably not, but if you remember when Hilary was banging her head into the wall and she thought her heard sirens… ^_~
I'm still in decision stage about whether this is going to turn out as a TyHil or a KaiHil fic…Oh yeah! Where it said something about Kai staying the night at Hilary's house—don't you dare think about those nasty thoughts, okay? o_O Because that's not gonna happen in this fic, dudes! And about Hilary's last name being "Hirada", it's not really her last name…I just made it up.
Just so you know, I don't think I'll be updating my fics very often, as exams are coming up real fast. _ I'll still try to update as soon as I can though.
Thanks for the reviews and don't forget to review this chapter! You know you wanna! ^_~