Rimnerel: Hello once more! Let's see, besides sleepy and I'm okay.
Tyson (slyly grinning): Maybe if you hadn't been up with B.T til about four drooling over pics of me, Tala, and Kai you wouldn't be sleepy.
Tala: What?! She was drooling over pictures of Kai!!
Kai (smirks): Jealous much?
Tala: What the f--
Rimnerel: Hey, hey now. It was an equal opportunity drooling. Okay, now back to what I was suppose to be doing, thanking my reviewers: FREAK014 (there will be other pairings, I'm working on it), B. Tiamat Atardecer (I'll get to work on everything else this afternoon or tonight), Unknown Assassin, Nancys-little-Obsession (did you get the email?), Silverm (^_^ you know that I do everything in the spirit of goodwill), blazing-wolf-08, and anyone else I might have forgotten.
Tyson: Now on with the chapter! And later more drooling with Rimnerel.
Rimnerel and Tala: Shut up Tyson!!
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"I have you on the ropes now! Give up!" Tyson yelled. Kenny looked up to watch the tv screen once more, as Tyson and Ian sat in front of the tv playing some sort of popular video game called King Of Fighters. (A/N: For anyone that doesn't know, KOF is from the same franchise as Samurai Shodown and Fatal Fury. Long live SNK...even though the company went bankrupt.) Tyson was playing some guy with short brown hair that could hurl flames at the ground sending them at his opponents.
"No way! Don't kid yourself Tyson, I let you get those attacks in so I can get down to red," Ian said. The younger was playing with some girl in a very skimpy outfit that could throw fans at her opponents. "Now watch as I waste Kyo!" Kenny watched as Ian taped some buttons and his fighter hurled herself while flames surrounded her at the other fighter, bring the life bar down to just a centimeter of power.
"Hah! And that was suppose to stop my winning streak. You left yourself open," Tyson grinned as his fighter hurled more ground flames at the girl, setting her on fire as she fell backwards screaming. Across the screen came the word winner as Tyson's fighter said something.
"That was so lame!" Johnny said from where he was sitting in a chair that was next to the one Kenny was in. Zeo and Max were around for a while, but the two had to leave to do something or another. Thankfully Mariah, Emily, and Jordan had went shopping when the boys said they were going to stay in the house for a while. That, of course, had been Tyson's idea, surprisingly. Kenny would have suspected that his cousin would follow the pink girl around like some little puppy dog.
Ian turned to Johnny with a short stare. "Like you did any better against Tyson!"
"Hey, at least I got him off the control for a while. Then he came back and started using Kyo and his streak has been constant since," Johnny stated to the younger, as he got up to take the controller from Ian. "Now move."
"Man, both of you are lame! At least when Zeo and Max was here, I got a decent fight," Tyson grinned to the two. He then turned his blue eyes to Kenny who was turning the page of his book. "Hey, Kenny, you want to try once?"
Kenny lifted his eyes from the book with a brow rose. A few loose strands of hair were in his face, being that he had tied his hair back in order for him to read. Reaching up, he tucked the strands back behind his ear. "No, thanks Tyson. I think I'll just continue to read and watch occasionally. I'm not really into video games."
"What are you reading anyway?" Tyson asked as he turned his attention back to the screen, awaiting Johnny to pick his next fighter, some guy that was dressed like a boxer, only without the gloves on his hands.
"A book that Rei let me hold," Kenny remarked as he flipped the page once more to a new chapter in the book. He was almost done with it in fact. "He lent it to me."
"Don't try to explain to Tyson about books. The only books that he knows about are comics," Johnny teased as the match began.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Tyson snapped at his best friend.
"It's just as it sounds. When I met you back in second grade, you were dumber than dirt Tyson. Me and Emily had to tutor you in everything," Johnny said with a grin.
"You've known Tyson that long?" Kenny inquired.
"Yeah, he was a pain in back then. It was on the way home from school one day when he approached me and told me that he wanted us to be friends. He wasn't a shy one, I can tell you that one. I thought he was annoying back then, hell, I still do now. I just sort of got use to him over the course of the years. It was probably about 2 years ago when I finally hooked up with Emily, and it was only because genius here blurted out to her that I had a crush on her for the longest," the red head smirked.
"Hey, if you weren't going to tell her, someone had to," Tyson said as he blocked Johnny's fighter's attack. "I mean, when you were around her, you would blush pink, and had a talent of staring at your feet rather than what you were walking into. Maybe I should have told her sooner, you wouldn't have had so much brain damage now!"
"You know Tyson, you're really one to talk," Ian butted in. "I mean I can sit down and do your homework in ten minutes, when it takes you damn near an hour to finish it."
"No one asked you shortie," Tyson said. "Butt in again and I'll have Kenny lock you in another closet. And just think, Aunt Hikari is next door talking with Mrs. Avalon. About time she comes back you'd been died of fright." Kenny looked up to find a short smile on Tyson's lips as he cut an eye to Ian for a brief moment.
"I'm going to tell!" Ian said.
"Go ahead and tell. She won't always be here to save you," Tyson said. "Go run next door and tell if you want. It's only going to make things worst for you."
The boy looked at Tyson, then back at Kenny who was looking into his book, pretending not to pay the conversation no mind. Just then came a knock on the door. Ian jumped, as Tyson started laughing at the male.
"Go open the door chicken," Tyson said.
"I'm not!" Ian flushed getting up. Walking to the front door, Kenny heard voices before Ian came back with Max and Zeo in tow. "Hey Tyson, Max and Zeo are back."
"Well, welcome back to the party. Since you two left, I've been reigning the controller," Tyson said as he won another game against Johnny. "Okay, so whose next now?"
"Hey, I will if it will stop your reign of terror," Max said as he sat down where Johnny had been.
"Hey, where did you two have to go so quickly anyway?" Ian said. The young boy did not notice the grins on Tyson and Johnny's face, but Kenny did. Both turned their eyes on the green haired male who had a slight tint of pink on his cheeks, noticing the looks that his two friends were giving him. Kenny frowned, wondering what they knew. Max looked over at Tyson who was still staring at Zeo.
"What is wrong with you? Are you going to play or stare at Zeo all day?" Max asked.
"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to make your jealous streak come out, Max," Tyson teased. The blonde's eyes widened as his cheeks streaked with rose.
"What are you guys talking about?" Max stated.
"Ian, leave the room," Johnny said.
"Why? I want to hear too!" Ian whined.
"Go upstairs for a couple of minutes," Tyson ordered.
"Man! I never get to hear the good stuff!" The little boy got up from his seat on the floor and stomped out of the room and up the stairs. When Ian was gone, Johnny plucked a blade of grass from out of Zeo's hair, showing it to Max. The blonde's eyes widened more, then looked away from the Tyson and Johnny.
"What's the grass doing in Zeo's hair Max?" Tyson said.
"I don't know what you're implying," Max said. "Come on and play, the game's about to start." Tyson paused the game and turned his attention back on Max.
"Come on Max, just admit it. I know it, Johnny knows it, Emily and Mariah won't say, but they know it. The only one that probably has no clue other than your parents would be Jordan. And you know how she is about anything. So just admit, there is something going on between you and Zeo."
"There's nothing going on," Zeo protested. "Max had to run an errand for his mom and I was just waiting out by the hill for him to finish doing what his mom asked him to do. That's why there's grass in my hair."
"Is that so? Which hill were you laying on?" Johnny inquired.
"The usual one by Max's house," Zeo said.
"Then why are you and Max blushing?" Tyson inquired.
"We aren't," both boys said concurrently.
"Then what do you call it?" Johnny smirked.
Kenny got up from the couch, placing a bookmarker in his page before closing it. The boys stopped their chatter (or rather interrogation) to see the brunette walking towards the door. "Hey, where you going Kenny?"
"The store," the male said without stopping.
"You want someone to go with you?" Tyson inquired.
"No, I can find my way all right," Kenny said with a smile. If he could get away from his cousin and his cousin's best friend interrogating their other two friends about whether they messing around with each other, then getting a bit lost was well worth it. After all, Kenny was still having a bit of doubts towards his interest in Tala. Since talking with Rei more than three days ago, the young man's mind had went over all the possibilities. And they all pointed back to the fact that he had never been interested in anyone until he met Tala. That had to mean something, right?
Rei could be right on both occasions towards it. Kenny could be starting to like Tala on a deeper level than just as an individual, or Kenny could be subconsciously seeking out someone who had a lot in common with him. Or was it just a faze that was going to pass by soon? Maybe it was all that wrapped into one. He was still a teenager, which implied that his hormones could kick in anytime they wanted and fuck with his head all he wanted before leaving him alone some time down the road.
*Why do my hormones have to kick in now? I was quite happy without these confusing thoughts.* Kenny thought. The young man tried to sink deeper into his thoughts, but he heard the roar of some sort of vehicle right behind him. He thought the person would pass him, but they just stayed behind him, as if follow him. For a minute this went on, until Kenny stopped.
"If you don't want to pass, stop following me you--," Kenny said angrily as he turned to the person behind him. His words fell short when he noticed the young man with dual hair.
"Well, seems someone is cranky today," the male smirked at him.
"Oh...I didn't know it was you Kai," Kenny said.
"Hey, you know my name," Kai grinned. "So, since you know mine, can I have yours?"
"It's Kenny...I thought Tala would have told you," Kenny remarked.
"My cousin tells me only what he wants. The good things he keeps to himself," the male shrugged before producing a half grin. "So, where are you going all alone this afternoon, Kenny?" Kenny felt the male's eyes on him, burning almost. Why was the male staring at him so intently? Was there something on him? Was he just doing that to creep Kenny out?
"Um...I was just walking. Getting away from Tyson for a little bit," Kenny said, rather uncomfortable under Kai's gaze. His auburn eyes flickered over Kenny.
"How do you know Tyson anyway?" Kai asked lazily leaning on the handles of his dirt bike as he put down the kickstand to talk with Kenny.
"He really doesn't tell you much, does he?" Kenny gave the male a short smile.
"I think he told me, but I went to sleep," Kai replied. "Something about you being different than Tyson or something like that. Even when I tend to want to listen to Tala, I space out."
"Well, Tyson and Emily are my cousins. I came down here with my parents for the summer break. I live up in Massasschuetts," Kenny said. Kai nodded, thinking about something briefly before grinning to himself. "What are you grinning about?"
"It's no wonder you got a great ass, you're related to Tyson." The remark itself darted color across Kenny's cheeks, as he stared at the male. "And with that ponytail, you look even more irresistible. I was just telling Tala one day that I would love to get missing with you for a couple of hours. He didn't take that joke too well. I have no idea why not, well he has a dry sense of humor sometimes anyway. Takes so much fun out of life."
"What is it with you and your cousin with people's behinds!" Kenny asked. "Are you gay?"
"Well, actually no, I'm not," Kai said.
"So you like seeing people's responses?" Kenny wondered.
"No, that's Tala's kick most times," Kai stated.
"Then what is it? You're not gay, so what?"
"I'm bi," Kai responded.
"You're....bi...." Kenny blinked. Kai nodded yes. "Meaning you like guys and girls?"
"That's about the full of it. I think it was your cousin that first got me liking guys. You have no idea how much I would like to get missing with Ty as well. But he's being a bit stubborn about it, he can keep telling himself that he likes Mariah, but everytime we meet, he knows that he can't resist me. It's just a matter of time." Kenny allowed the older male to slip into his own little fantasy world, he would rather not visualize Kai and his cousin together. There was a limit to what should go in his head.
"Um...okay. You can keep that to yourself now," Kenny said quite disgusted. Kai's eyes flickered back to Kenny with a slow smirk. What was it about these guys that just seemed to get weirder and yet more interesting? "What is it now?"
"Are you jealous? There's no reason to be. I'll love you both the same," Kai teased.
"That's not what I was thinking," Kenny said bluntly. "Tell me, since it seems that you and Tala are so much alike. Is he also bi? Or is it just your influence that rubbed off on him?"
"Why don't you ask him yourself," Kai said with a smile.
"I would if he was here," Kenny stated.
"Actually," a voice spoke up. "I'm not bi. I have no preference whatsoever. It just so happens that things I found sexy have genders." Kenny felt his face heat up as he turned around to stare at the male standing behind him. A curl of his lips told Kenny that he was amused that Kenny would even ask that. "Flirting with my cousin now, are you?"
"Or rather I'm flirting and stalking him," Kai broke out in another one of his killer grins. Tala's eyes lifted from the brunette to his cousin. A dark red brow rose at the remark.
"You're going to scare him off if you keep that up," Tala said.
"He didn't mind too much," Kai smiled. "Well, I have to head back anyway. I just saw him and decided that I would persuade him to join me in the woods for a while. Communicate with nature some." The young man kicked up his kickstand.
"With you, communicating with nature is screwing him in an open field where anyone can come along and spot you. Remember back in 9th grade, your so called crush that you were caught screwing on a class field trip? I thought she was too cute to fuck?" Tala said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"She was, until she showed me that she didn't mind being soiled a little," Kai grinned wickedly. "I mean, she was just a faze after all. All I was thinking about while banging her was Tyson anyway. Her friends could have ignored the noises in the woods, but they had to be nosy, so it wasn't my fault the teacher caught us and had me suspended from school for two weeks."
"Ruining another reputation in the process?" Tala questioned. Kai chuckled as he revved his bike.
"She knew the consequences, wasn't my fault she regretted it later. See ya." Kenny and Tala watched the male on the bike speed off pass them. Once gone, Tala turned his eyes back to Kenny. The younger looked down from the male's stare. The silence was slowly making Kenny nervous. Why wouldn't Tala say something? Anything to break this akward silence between them?
"A-are you going back too?" Kenny finally spoke up, raising his eyes to meet Tala's azure ones.
"Do you want me to head back too?" Tala stated.
"No! I-I...." Kenny didn't know what to say. "I-I was just asking...that's all."
"Actually, I was going to go to the field and smoke. Want to come?" Tala asked.
"The one that I found you in a while ago?" Kenny said. Tala nodded yes. "I guess. I didn't really want to go to the store anyway. I just wanted to get away from Tyson and the others for a little while." Tala said nothing as he began walking. Kenny followed the male silently, not knowing what to talk about. The silence wasn't like before, but it would have been nice to hear the male talk a little more. Maybe tell Kenny a little bit more about himself.
Occasionally, he found Tala's eyes on him, not really an uncomfortable stare, as with Kai. It was sort of relaxing that he would take notice of Kenny while they walked, making Kenny feel that he was actually wanted there and not just following Tala because he had nothing better to do. The subtle silence eased the nervous butterflies within the brunette's stomach. Nothing needed to be said as they walked through the woods, away from the eyes of others on their own little adventure. Maybe Rei was right. Maybe it was because Kenny was slowly becoming attracted to Tala, and because they were alike entities.
"Hey," Tala finally said as they finally reached the field. Standing on the top of the hill looking out over the field.
"Huh?" Kenny turned his head to Tala.
"You got a light?" The older male pulled out a cigarette and placed it in his mouth.
"No, I don't," Kenny said.
"Damn...neither do I. I should have asked Kai before he left." The male took the cigarette out his mouth and placed it back in his pack. "Well, I can have a smoke later. You don't smoke do you?"
"No I don't," Kenny said, taking a seat in the grass, with Tala following his example. "Why do you smoke?"
"Guess because I can," Tala shrugged.
"It can kill you, you know? Has anyone ever told you that?" Kenny asked, knowing he was sounding like some squeaky clean kid who took all the straight paths. He had in fact tried smoking once, but after nearly choking to death on one drawal, he figured it wasn't worth the suffocation to try it again.
"Plenty of people, I just choose not to listen to them. Do you want me to quit?" Tala shifted his eyes to the male.
"I can't make you stop, I'm not going to try. I just was wondering. I mean, you hardly know me and I hardly know you, so why should you listen to a complete stranger who tells you that you should or shouldn't do things," Kenny stated. "I mean, I would just tell them to butt out my business and continue to do what I want."
A smile quirked the corners of Tala's mouth at the male's words. He knew there was a reason he didn't mind the questions from the boy. Were they really so easily compatible as this? "You know Kenny, you're a likeable kid. You say all the right things."
"Is that a compliment?" Kenny smiled.
"Not without the part about you having a great ass being added on."
"There it is again. I swear, you and your cousin are just alike, with the exception that you seem to hate Tyson and Kai seems to want to screw him. I don't know who is worst between you two," Kenny voiced.
"Stay around us long enough and you'll know. Just don't complain to me when Kai has gotten into your pants. Not unless you are a bit like Tyson and resist him. Kai could charm the skin off a snake if he wanted to," Tala chuckled.
"I won't let him! No matter how much he tries, I won't be another conquest," Kenny said determinedly. Tala chuckled more as he laid back in the grass, enjoying the sun on his body. "Why are you chuckling? I'm serious!"
"I know you are," Tala murmured. "I believe you. Now come down here."
"What?" Kenny flushed. "Why?"
"The clouds. The sky clears the mind. Come down and watch it for a while," Tala said, his eyes closing halfway. Kenny noticed for the first time since meeting the male, that he had long lashes. The curved slightly, lowering over his azure eyes, as he watched the sky. Kenny for a second studied the features of the other, amazed at how little attention he had paid beforehand. Tala wasn't simply handsome, by all standards, he was gorgeous. Any girl would probably jump at the chance to go out with him. "Hey, come on."
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Okay." With a slightly dark shade of red, Kenny positioned himself to lay beside Tala in the grass. Turning his eyes to the sky, he tried concentrating on the sky, on the clouds, on everything above. And yet, his mind raced, his heart pounded wildly, and he couldn't relax himself. There was electricity between them. So much, he wondered if Tala could feel it also. "Tala..."
"You know, you're too tense," the male beside Kenny said. Propping himself up on his side, he turned to the male on his left hand side. "Relax, I'm not going to bite you."
"I-I know."
"Then relax," Tala murmured as he moved a hand to brush the strands of hair from Kenny's face. "You can't see anything with those strands in your face like that." The male almost ignored the slight sparks that leapt across his fingertips when his fingers brushed slightly against Kenny's face. This male was beautiful, Tala could not deny it. And with him laying there in the grass like that...Tala just wanted to kiss him.
"Tala..." Kenny's breath quickened, he couldn't slow it down no matter how much he tried. Something about the way Tala touched him just sent every nerve blazing even if the contact was brief. Kenny turned his eyes to Tala, meeting the dark azure gaze. Lights and shadows flickering within them. Why? Why was he just so gorgeous? Kenny closed his eyes, relaxing as Tala's hand lightly danced across his features. Tracing light outlines of his nose, eyes, chin, and mouth. Kenny found his mouth part slightly, on its own accord.
"Beautiful," Tala whispered, maybe not enough for Kenny to hear, but loud enough for him to realize what he just said and make him move his hand away. He wanted this male, he knew that, but in a different way than anything he ever knew. Tala found his eyes focusing on the slightly parted lips. Tala leaned down towards that mouth, closing his eyes slightly so he wouldn't miss that mouth. "God, you're so beautiful."
Just as their lips we're going to touch, Tala heard the snap of a twig from the woods behind them. Tala quickly moved away from the male as Kenny sat up quickly, looking back towards the woods. A moment later, Kai appeared coming out of the woods. He was smoking a cigarette, his hands in his pants pockets.
"Fucker, you scared me," Tala growled at his cousin for the unwelcomed reappearance.
"I decided not to got back to the house after all. It's too early in the day. I figured you would be out here. It's your favorite spot for some reason," Kai said. "So, what were you two doing?"
"Sky gazing," Tala muttered, when his cousin flopped down on the other side of Kenny. "It was peaceful before you came."
"What? My cousin doesn't want me to be around? I'm hurt," Kai said, pouting mockingly. "You mean to say that I was interrupting some action between you and Kenny, right?" The remark brought a dark streak right across Kenny's face. In a way, it had been something between them. He could feel Tala as he leaned in to kiss him. His warm breath hitting his face, the slightly musky scent of the older male. All of it intoxicating, making Kenny's head spin, and for that minute, he wanted nothing but to have Tala kiss him.
"Shut your mouth now, or I will shove that cigarette up your ass for you," Tala threatened. "We were just sky gazing." Like hell he was going to tell Kai the truth. Sometimes Kai had this thing about butting in on things better left alone. This was one of those times.
"Okay, no need to get hostile. Since you were doing nothing but sky gazing, you don't mind I join you," Kai said, laying down, and looking up at the sky. Tala said nothing as he turned his eyes to Kenny for a second, then laid down. Hesitantly, Kenny laid back down, trying to find the peace that just surrounded him, but could not. His eyes looked up at the sky, watching the clouds, and yet...
*What just happened?*
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Rimnerel: Oh my god! I can't believe this chapter!
Tala: Damn Kai! Why the hell is he always interrupting everyone's fun!
Tyson: That's the same thing I asked in APFMH!
Kai (smirks): I think my timing is perfect. No need to get things heated so early in the game.
Tala: It's the eleventh chapter for damn sakes! (points angrily at Rim) And you let him get away with it! I seriously hate you sometimes! You do this to piss me off, I know you do!
Rimnerel (O_O): I'm sorry...I seriously didn't know that it was going to happen. It's the caffeine in my system's fault. I should have never taken that alertness aid pill. Man...that was just something. Kai, finish out the ending for me.
Kai: All right. We hope that everyone like this chapter. Who knows what will happen next chapter, which will be out Thursday. If you have any suggestions that you might want to see added in or something like that, feel free to add it in your review. Or just rant along with Tyson and Tala about how wrong I am. Either way, review and we will see you Thursday.
Tyson (slyly grinning): Maybe if you hadn't been up with B.T til about four drooling over pics of me, Tala, and Kai you wouldn't be sleepy.
Tala: What?! She was drooling over pictures of Kai!!
Kai (smirks): Jealous much?
Tala: What the f--
Rimnerel: Hey, hey now. It was an equal opportunity drooling. Okay, now back to what I was suppose to be doing, thanking my reviewers: FREAK014 (there will be other pairings, I'm working on it), B. Tiamat Atardecer (I'll get to work on everything else this afternoon or tonight), Unknown Assassin, Nancys-little-Obsession (did you get the email?), Silverm (^_^ you know that I do everything in the spirit of goodwill), blazing-wolf-08, and anyone else I might have forgotten.
Tyson: Now on with the chapter! And later more drooling with Rimnerel.
Rimnerel and Tala: Shut up Tyson!!
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"I have you on the ropes now! Give up!" Tyson yelled. Kenny looked up to watch the tv screen once more, as Tyson and Ian sat in front of the tv playing some sort of popular video game called King Of Fighters. (A/N: For anyone that doesn't know, KOF is from the same franchise as Samurai Shodown and Fatal Fury. Long live SNK...even though the company went bankrupt.) Tyson was playing some guy with short brown hair that could hurl flames at the ground sending them at his opponents.
"No way! Don't kid yourself Tyson, I let you get those attacks in so I can get down to red," Ian said. The younger was playing with some girl in a very skimpy outfit that could throw fans at her opponents. "Now watch as I waste Kyo!" Kenny watched as Ian taped some buttons and his fighter hurled herself while flames surrounded her at the other fighter, bring the life bar down to just a centimeter of power.
"Hah! And that was suppose to stop my winning streak. You left yourself open," Tyson grinned as his fighter hurled more ground flames at the girl, setting her on fire as she fell backwards screaming. Across the screen came the word winner as Tyson's fighter said something.
"That was so lame!" Johnny said from where he was sitting in a chair that was next to the one Kenny was in. Zeo and Max were around for a while, but the two had to leave to do something or another. Thankfully Mariah, Emily, and Jordan had went shopping when the boys said they were going to stay in the house for a while. That, of course, had been Tyson's idea, surprisingly. Kenny would have suspected that his cousin would follow the pink girl around like some little puppy dog.
Ian turned to Johnny with a short stare. "Like you did any better against Tyson!"
"Hey, at least I got him off the control for a while. Then he came back and started using Kyo and his streak has been constant since," Johnny stated to the younger, as he got up to take the controller from Ian. "Now move."
"Man, both of you are lame! At least when Zeo and Max was here, I got a decent fight," Tyson grinned to the two. He then turned his blue eyes to Kenny who was turning the page of his book. "Hey, Kenny, you want to try once?"
Kenny lifted his eyes from the book with a brow rose. A few loose strands of hair were in his face, being that he had tied his hair back in order for him to read. Reaching up, he tucked the strands back behind his ear. "No, thanks Tyson. I think I'll just continue to read and watch occasionally. I'm not really into video games."
"What are you reading anyway?" Tyson asked as he turned his attention back to the screen, awaiting Johnny to pick his next fighter, some guy that was dressed like a boxer, only without the gloves on his hands.
"A book that Rei let me hold," Kenny remarked as he flipped the page once more to a new chapter in the book. He was almost done with it in fact. "He lent it to me."
"Don't try to explain to Tyson about books. The only books that he knows about are comics," Johnny teased as the match began.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Tyson snapped at his best friend.
"It's just as it sounds. When I met you back in second grade, you were dumber than dirt Tyson. Me and Emily had to tutor you in everything," Johnny said with a grin.
"You've known Tyson that long?" Kenny inquired.
"Yeah, he was a pain in back then. It was on the way home from school one day when he approached me and told me that he wanted us to be friends. He wasn't a shy one, I can tell you that one. I thought he was annoying back then, hell, I still do now. I just sort of got use to him over the course of the years. It was probably about 2 years ago when I finally hooked up with Emily, and it was only because genius here blurted out to her that I had a crush on her for the longest," the red head smirked.
"Hey, if you weren't going to tell her, someone had to," Tyson said as he blocked Johnny's fighter's attack. "I mean, when you were around her, you would blush pink, and had a talent of staring at your feet rather than what you were walking into. Maybe I should have told her sooner, you wouldn't have had so much brain damage now!"
"You know Tyson, you're really one to talk," Ian butted in. "I mean I can sit down and do your homework in ten minutes, when it takes you damn near an hour to finish it."
"No one asked you shortie," Tyson said. "Butt in again and I'll have Kenny lock you in another closet. And just think, Aunt Hikari is next door talking with Mrs. Avalon. About time she comes back you'd been died of fright." Kenny looked up to find a short smile on Tyson's lips as he cut an eye to Ian for a brief moment.
"I'm going to tell!" Ian said.
"Go ahead and tell. She won't always be here to save you," Tyson said. "Go run next door and tell if you want. It's only going to make things worst for you."
The boy looked at Tyson, then back at Kenny who was looking into his book, pretending not to pay the conversation no mind. Just then came a knock on the door. Ian jumped, as Tyson started laughing at the male.
"Go open the door chicken," Tyson said.
"I'm not!" Ian flushed getting up. Walking to the front door, Kenny heard voices before Ian came back with Max and Zeo in tow. "Hey Tyson, Max and Zeo are back."
"Well, welcome back to the party. Since you two left, I've been reigning the controller," Tyson said as he won another game against Johnny. "Okay, so whose next now?"
"Hey, I will if it will stop your reign of terror," Max said as he sat down where Johnny had been.
"Hey, where did you two have to go so quickly anyway?" Ian said. The young boy did not notice the grins on Tyson and Johnny's face, but Kenny did. Both turned their eyes on the green haired male who had a slight tint of pink on his cheeks, noticing the looks that his two friends were giving him. Kenny frowned, wondering what they knew. Max looked over at Tyson who was still staring at Zeo.
"What is wrong with you? Are you going to play or stare at Zeo all day?" Max asked.
"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to make your jealous streak come out, Max," Tyson teased. The blonde's eyes widened as his cheeks streaked with rose.
"What are you guys talking about?" Max stated.
"Ian, leave the room," Johnny said.
"Why? I want to hear too!" Ian whined.
"Go upstairs for a couple of minutes," Tyson ordered.
"Man! I never get to hear the good stuff!" The little boy got up from his seat on the floor and stomped out of the room and up the stairs. When Ian was gone, Johnny plucked a blade of grass from out of Zeo's hair, showing it to Max. The blonde's eyes widened more, then looked away from the Tyson and Johnny.
"What's the grass doing in Zeo's hair Max?" Tyson said.
"I don't know what you're implying," Max said. "Come on and play, the game's about to start." Tyson paused the game and turned his attention back on Max.
"Come on Max, just admit it. I know it, Johnny knows it, Emily and Mariah won't say, but they know it. The only one that probably has no clue other than your parents would be Jordan. And you know how she is about anything. So just admit, there is something going on between you and Zeo."
"There's nothing going on," Zeo protested. "Max had to run an errand for his mom and I was just waiting out by the hill for him to finish doing what his mom asked him to do. That's why there's grass in my hair."
"Is that so? Which hill were you laying on?" Johnny inquired.
"The usual one by Max's house," Zeo said.
"Then why are you and Max blushing?" Tyson inquired.
"We aren't," both boys said concurrently.
"Then what do you call it?" Johnny smirked.
Kenny got up from the couch, placing a bookmarker in his page before closing it. The boys stopped their chatter (or rather interrogation) to see the brunette walking towards the door. "Hey, where you going Kenny?"
"The store," the male said without stopping.
"You want someone to go with you?" Tyson inquired.
"No, I can find my way all right," Kenny said with a smile. If he could get away from his cousin and his cousin's best friend interrogating their other two friends about whether they messing around with each other, then getting a bit lost was well worth it. After all, Kenny was still having a bit of doubts towards his interest in Tala. Since talking with Rei more than three days ago, the young man's mind had went over all the possibilities. And they all pointed back to the fact that he had never been interested in anyone until he met Tala. That had to mean something, right?
Rei could be right on both occasions towards it. Kenny could be starting to like Tala on a deeper level than just as an individual, or Kenny could be subconsciously seeking out someone who had a lot in common with him. Or was it just a faze that was going to pass by soon? Maybe it was all that wrapped into one. He was still a teenager, which implied that his hormones could kick in anytime they wanted and fuck with his head all he wanted before leaving him alone some time down the road.
*Why do my hormones have to kick in now? I was quite happy without these confusing thoughts.* Kenny thought. The young man tried to sink deeper into his thoughts, but he heard the roar of some sort of vehicle right behind him. He thought the person would pass him, but they just stayed behind him, as if follow him. For a minute this went on, until Kenny stopped.
"If you don't want to pass, stop following me you--," Kenny said angrily as he turned to the person behind him. His words fell short when he noticed the young man with dual hair.
"Well, seems someone is cranky today," the male smirked at him.
"Oh...I didn't know it was you Kai," Kenny said.
"Hey, you know my name," Kai grinned. "So, since you know mine, can I have yours?"
"It's Kenny...I thought Tala would have told you," Kenny remarked.
"My cousin tells me only what he wants. The good things he keeps to himself," the male shrugged before producing a half grin. "So, where are you going all alone this afternoon, Kenny?" Kenny felt the male's eyes on him, burning almost. Why was the male staring at him so intently? Was there something on him? Was he just doing that to creep Kenny out?
"Um...I was just walking. Getting away from Tyson for a little bit," Kenny said, rather uncomfortable under Kai's gaze. His auburn eyes flickered over Kenny.
"How do you know Tyson anyway?" Kai asked lazily leaning on the handles of his dirt bike as he put down the kickstand to talk with Kenny.
"He really doesn't tell you much, does he?" Kenny gave the male a short smile.
"I think he told me, but I went to sleep," Kai replied. "Something about you being different than Tyson or something like that. Even when I tend to want to listen to Tala, I space out."
"Well, Tyson and Emily are my cousins. I came down here with my parents for the summer break. I live up in Massasschuetts," Kenny said. Kai nodded, thinking about something briefly before grinning to himself. "What are you grinning about?"
"It's no wonder you got a great ass, you're related to Tyson." The remark itself darted color across Kenny's cheeks, as he stared at the male. "And with that ponytail, you look even more irresistible. I was just telling Tala one day that I would love to get missing with you for a couple of hours. He didn't take that joke too well. I have no idea why not, well he has a dry sense of humor sometimes anyway. Takes so much fun out of life."
"What is it with you and your cousin with people's behinds!" Kenny asked. "Are you gay?"
"Well, actually no, I'm not," Kai said.
"So you like seeing people's responses?" Kenny wondered.
"No, that's Tala's kick most times," Kai stated.
"Then what is it? You're not gay, so what?"
"I'm bi," Kai responded.
"You're....bi...." Kenny blinked. Kai nodded yes. "Meaning you like guys and girls?"
"That's about the full of it. I think it was your cousin that first got me liking guys. You have no idea how much I would like to get missing with Ty as well. But he's being a bit stubborn about it, he can keep telling himself that he likes Mariah, but everytime we meet, he knows that he can't resist me. It's just a matter of time." Kenny allowed the older male to slip into his own little fantasy world, he would rather not visualize Kai and his cousin together. There was a limit to what should go in his head.
"Um...okay. You can keep that to yourself now," Kenny said quite disgusted. Kai's eyes flickered back to Kenny with a slow smirk. What was it about these guys that just seemed to get weirder and yet more interesting? "What is it now?"
"Are you jealous? There's no reason to be. I'll love you both the same," Kai teased.
"That's not what I was thinking," Kenny said bluntly. "Tell me, since it seems that you and Tala are so much alike. Is he also bi? Or is it just your influence that rubbed off on him?"
"Why don't you ask him yourself," Kai said with a smile.
"I would if he was here," Kenny stated.
"Actually," a voice spoke up. "I'm not bi. I have no preference whatsoever. It just so happens that things I found sexy have genders." Kenny felt his face heat up as he turned around to stare at the male standing behind him. A curl of his lips told Kenny that he was amused that Kenny would even ask that. "Flirting with my cousin now, are you?"
"Or rather I'm flirting and stalking him," Kai broke out in another one of his killer grins. Tala's eyes lifted from the brunette to his cousin. A dark red brow rose at the remark.
"You're going to scare him off if you keep that up," Tala said.
"He didn't mind too much," Kai smiled. "Well, I have to head back anyway. I just saw him and decided that I would persuade him to join me in the woods for a while. Communicate with nature some." The young man kicked up his kickstand.
"With you, communicating with nature is screwing him in an open field where anyone can come along and spot you. Remember back in 9th grade, your so called crush that you were caught screwing on a class field trip? I thought she was too cute to fuck?" Tala said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"She was, until she showed me that she didn't mind being soiled a little," Kai grinned wickedly. "I mean, she was just a faze after all. All I was thinking about while banging her was Tyson anyway. Her friends could have ignored the noises in the woods, but they had to be nosy, so it wasn't my fault the teacher caught us and had me suspended from school for two weeks."
"Ruining another reputation in the process?" Tala questioned. Kai chuckled as he revved his bike.
"She knew the consequences, wasn't my fault she regretted it later. See ya." Kenny and Tala watched the male on the bike speed off pass them. Once gone, Tala turned his eyes back to Kenny. The younger looked down from the male's stare. The silence was slowly making Kenny nervous. Why wouldn't Tala say something? Anything to break this akward silence between them?
"A-are you going back too?" Kenny finally spoke up, raising his eyes to meet Tala's azure ones.
"Do you want me to head back too?" Tala stated.
"No! I-I...." Kenny didn't know what to say. "I-I was just asking...that's all."
"Actually, I was going to go to the field and smoke. Want to come?" Tala asked.
"The one that I found you in a while ago?" Kenny said. Tala nodded yes. "I guess. I didn't really want to go to the store anyway. I just wanted to get away from Tyson and the others for a little while." Tala said nothing as he began walking. Kenny followed the male silently, not knowing what to talk about. The silence wasn't like before, but it would have been nice to hear the male talk a little more. Maybe tell Kenny a little bit more about himself.
Occasionally, he found Tala's eyes on him, not really an uncomfortable stare, as with Kai. It was sort of relaxing that he would take notice of Kenny while they walked, making Kenny feel that he was actually wanted there and not just following Tala because he had nothing better to do. The subtle silence eased the nervous butterflies within the brunette's stomach. Nothing needed to be said as they walked through the woods, away from the eyes of others on their own little adventure. Maybe Rei was right. Maybe it was because Kenny was slowly becoming attracted to Tala, and because they were alike entities.
"Hey," Tala finally said as they finally reached the field. Standing on the top of the hill looking out over the field.
"Huh?" Kenny turned his head to Tala.
"You got a light?" The older male pulled out a cigarette and placed it in his mouth.
"No, I don't," Kenny said.
"Damn...neither do I. I should have asked Kai before he left." The male took the cigarette out his mouth and placed it back in his pack. "Well, I can have a smoke later. You don't smoke do you?"
"No I don't," Kenny said, taking a seat in the grass, with Tala following his example. "Why do you smoke?"
"Guess because I can," Tala shrugged.
"It can kill you, you know? Has anyone ever told you that?" Kenny asked, knowing he was sounding like some squeaky clean kid who took all the straight paths. He had in fact tried smoking once, but after nearly choking to death on one drawal, he figured it wasn't worth the suffocation to try it again.
"Plenty of people, I just choose not to listen to them. Do you want me to quit?" Tala shifted his eyes to the male.
"I can't make you stop, I'm not going to try. I just was wondering. I mean, you hardly know me and I hardly know you, so why should you listen to a complete stranger who tells you that you should or shouldn't do things," Kenny stated. "I mean, I would just tell them to butt out my business and continue to do what I want."
A smile quirked the corners of Tala's mouth at the male's words. He knew there was a reason he didn't mind the questions from the boy. Were they really so easily compatible as this? "You know Kenny, you're a likeable kid. You say all the right things."
"Is that a compliment?" Kenny smiled.
"Not without the part about you having a great ass being added on."
"There it is again. I swear, you and your cousin are just alike, with the exception that you seem to hate Tyson and Kai seems to want to screw him. I don't know who is worst between you two," Kenny voiced.
"Stay around us long enough and you'll know. Just don't complain to me when Kai has gotten into your pants. Not unless you are a bit like Tyson and resist him. Kai could charm the skin off a snake if he wanted to," Tala chuckled.
"I won't let him! No matter how much he tries, I won't be another conquest," Kenny said determinedly. Tala chuckled more as he laid back in the grass, enjoying the sun on his body. "Why are you chuckling? I'm serious!"
"I know you are," Tala murmured. "I believe you. Now come down here."
"What?" Kenny flushed. "Why?"
"The clouds. The sky clears the mind. Come down and watch it for a while," Tala said, his eyes closing halfway. Kenny noticed for the first time since meeting the male, that he had long lashes. The curved slightly, lowering over his azure eyes, as he watched the sky. Kenny for a second studied the features of the other, amazed at how little attention he had paid beforehand. Tala wasn't simply handsome, by all standards, he was gorgeous. Any girl would probably jump at the chance to go out with him. "Hey, come on."
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Okay." With a slightly dark shade of red, Kenny positioned himself to lay beside Tala in the grass. Turning his eyes to the sky, he tried concentrating on the sky, on the clouds, on everything above. And yet, his mind raced, his heart pounded wildly, and he couldn't relax himself. There was electricity between them. So much, he wondered if Tala could feel it also. "Tala..."
"You know, you're too tense," the male beside Kenny said. Propping himself up on his side, he turned to the male on his left hand side. "Relax, I'm not going to bite you."
"I-I know."
"Then relax," Tala murmured as he moved a hand to brush the strands of hair from Kenny's face. "You can't see anything with those strands in your face like that." The male almost ignored the slight sparks that leapt across his fingertips when his fingers brushed slightly against Kenny's face. This male was beautiful, Tala could not deny it. And with him laying there in the grass like that...Tala just wanted to kiss him.
"Tala..." Kenny's breath quickened, he couldn't slow it down no matter how much he tried. Something about the way Tala touched him just sent every nerve blazing even if the contact was brief. Kenny turned his eyes to Tala, meeting the dark azure gaze. Lights and shadows flickering within them. Why? Why was he just so gorgeous? Kenny closed his eyes, relaxing as Tala's hand lightly danced across his features. Tracing light outlines of his nose, eyes, chin, and mouth. Kenny found his mouth part slightly, on its own accord.
"Beautiful," Tala whispered, maybe not enough for Kenny to hear, but loud enough for him to realize what he just said and make him move his hand away. He wanted this male, he knew that, but in a different way than anything he ever knew. Tala found his eyes focusing on the slightly parted lips. Tala leaned down towards that mouth, closing his eyes slightly so he wouldn't miss that mouth. "God, you're so beautiful."
Just as their lips we're going to touch, Tala heard the snap of a twig from the woods behind them. Tala quickly moved away from the male as Kenny sat up quickly, looking back towards the woods. A moment later, Kai appeared coming out of the woods. He was smoking a cigarette, his hands in his pants pockets.
"Fucker, you scared me," Tala growled at his cousin for the unwelcomed reappearance.
"I decided not to got back to the house after all. It's too early in the day. I figured you would be out here. It's your favorite spot for some reason," Kai said. "So, what were you two doing?"
"Sky gazing," Tala muttered, when his cousin flopped down on the other side of Kenny. "It was peaceful before you came."
"What? My cousin doesn't want me to be around? I'm hurt," Kai said, pouting mockingly. "You mean to say that I was interrupting some action between you and Kenny, right?" The remark brought a dark streak right across Kenny's face. In a way, it had been something between them. He could feel Tala as he leaned in to kiss him. His warm breath hitting his face, the slightly musky scent of the older male. All of it intoxicating, making Kenny's head spin, and for that minute, he wanted nothing but to have Tala kiss him.
"Shut your mouth now, or I will shove that cigarette up your ass for you," Tala threatened. "We were just sky gazing." Like hell he was going to tell Kai the truth. Sometimes Kai had this thing about butting in on things better left alone. This was one of those times.
"Okay, no need to get hostile. Since you were doing nothing but sky gazing, you don't mind I join you," Kai said, laying down, and looking up at the sky. Tala said nothing as he turned his eyes to Kenny for a second, then laid down. Hesitantly, Kenny laid back down, trying to find the peace that just surrounded him, but could not. His eyes looked up at the sky, watching the clouds, and yet...
*What just happened?*
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Rimnerel: Oh my god! I can't believe this chapter!
Tala: Damn Kai! Why the hell is he always interrupting everyone's fun!
Tyson: That's the same thing I asked in APFMH!
Kai (smirks): I think my timing is perfect. No need to get things heated so early in the game.
Tala: It's the eleventh chapter for damn sakes! (points angrily at Rim) And you let him get away with it! I seriously hate you sometimes! You do this to piss me off, I know you do!
Rimnerel (O_O): I'm sorry...I seriously didn't know that it was going to happen. It's the caffeine in my system's fault. I should have never taken that alertness aid pill. Man...that was just something. Kai, finish out the ending for me.
Kai: All right. We hope that everyone like this chapter. Who knows what will happen next chapter, which will be out Thursday. If you have any suggestions that you might want to see added in or something like that, feel free to add it in your review. Or just rant along with Tyson and Tala about how wrong I am. Either way, review and we will see you Thursday.