Disclaimer: I don't own it

A/N: thanks to my reviewers 'elithil' and 'g' and thanks to my wonderful beta Johi!

"Don't you think we look a bit strange? Maybe we should…"

"No!" Kai interrupted Max flatly.

"Come on, Max," Rei reprimanded, inclining his head towards the blonde boy, who was walking to his right, "You know that Kai would never step back from an unpleasant task he agreed to do."

Unfortunately… Kai thought… Or I wouldn't have ended up captaining the kindergarten-team for an entire season…

Max hadn't gotten the point of what Rei had been saying and continued talking.

"You sure you are okay with carrying everything, Kai?" he asked. "I could…"

Kai already seethed only at the helpful tone in Max' voice and, angrily, he cut Max' speech off.

"No, you couldn't!" he huffed.

Max winced at Kai's tone, while the Russian glared straight at him showing his displeasure.

Rei sighed inwardly, but wasn't surprised. Scenes like this always happened, when Kai's innate, admirable pride clashed with Max' innate, admirable helpfulness

Before an awkward sentiment could arise, he interjected.

"Maxie, why don't you go ahead and tell Tyson of our plan for tonight! It was your idea in the first place and you should have to pleasure to tell him. He should be out of bed by now."

Max was all too happy about the change of subject and grinned, picturing Tyson's reaction to the news. A thought reached his mind and the grin faded from his face. "That's not good," he said, "Remember we said it was going to be a surprise? Telling him would spoil it!"

"Yes," Rei answered, "you are right. But," he paused, "you have to consider Tyson's greed… er… hunger. You know, we have to make sure, that he doesn't stuff himself in the afternoon or he won't be hungry for our cooking."

"As if," Max chuckled, "You really think there is a time of day, where Tyson isn't hungry?"

This elicited a chuckle even out of Kai's throat.

"But yes," Max agreed, "you are right, I'll better tell him. We should really keep him away from any food in the afternoon. Besides, he can hardly overlook us. Or rather the masses of food we bought…"

Doubtfully he looked at Kai, and the backpacks and shopping bags he carried.

Silently he wondered if they hadn't exaggerated with their menu and their shopping a little bit.

He glanced at Kai, who greatly reminded him of a misused pack mule. He knew Kai would kill him for thinking that, but the Russian really looked pitiful. Poor (and he knew he wasn't allowed to think that word in connection with the Russian, but he couldn't help it) Kai carried all of their shopping.

A huge hiking-style backpack that was so filled that it loomed far over the Russian's head was on his back. Another, smaller backpack he carried over his stomach, the other way round. His fists were clenched on the handles of six big and heavy shopping bags, three in each hand.

He really looked like a pack mule.

Especially if Max considered the fact that he himself as well as Rei didn't carry anything really. He himself only had a small bag with a new kind of candy (in a deliciously 'apple'green colour) he just had to try.

Upon looking he noticed that Rei carried a small bag as well. Max smirked as he considered what it would contain. From the shape of the bag he reckoned that it contained a flask of milk. The neko-jin seemed to worship the white liquid virtually. He even had his personal hoard of milk in the fridge of the Dojo, each flask always painstakingly marked with his name. And woe betide anyone who dared to drink a swallow without his permission!

Max was amazed how Kai managed to carry the weight of the two backpacks (which alone must weigh tons) and the six full shopping-bags and still be standing upright and be walking even.

With a silent 'sweatdrop' he reckoned that Kai was a lot stronger than he would ever be. Still…

"You are sure you don't need any help?" he couldn't help asking. At least he managed to suppress the considerate tone in his voice.

"Yes!" Kai huffed at Max. "I. Don't. Need. Help!" he sounded very irritated though his breath was already coming short.

Max winced again and decided that now was exactly the right time to take his leave. He should have known that Kai's huffish pride would prevent him accepting any help, even if declining it was totally idiotic. Well, he didn't have to understand everything, especially not his weird team-mate.

He reached into his bag and took a piece of candy out. He put it into his mouth, savoured the taste for a moment and then, with a quick wave of hand he ran off towards the dojo, "See ya later!"

Rei silently complimented himself for his plan, which was nothing short of perfect. By getting Max to run back to the Dojo he had achieved three advantages at one blow: their food would be safe for the afternoon from Tyson's greedy grip; Max didn't have to suffer under Kai's grumpiness; Kai didn't have to suffer from Max being helpful; and last but not least he finally had some time with Kai alone. Yes, his plan really was to everyone's advantage, and especially to his. Perfect.

He hadn't really had the chance to talk to Kai since the Bladebreakers had rejoined for yet another season of blading two weeks ago. Never mind, he hadn't really had any private conversation with Kai at all, who had well kept his distance during all their adventures together.

But now Rei was determined to get the Russian to open up to him. He had always been fascinated by his abrasive team-mate. And actually for no reason he could think of. Maybe because he had never understood the forbidding and solitary boy and mysteries always intrigued the cattish part of him. And Kai's personality was the next enigma he wanted to unravel.

He never had really found a good way to approach his reticent team-mate. He had waited with the patience of the hunter for his chance to approach Kai. (Or so he liked to think. The little voice deep down in his head insisted that his 'patience' had been to cowardice.) Rei had never known what the other boy's problems with trusting and friendship were, himself never having many problems in finding new friends. But after the near-debacle in Russia at the World Championships he thought he might just get a grasp of why Kai behaved the way he did. He hoped that one day Kai would trust him enough to confide in him the secrets of his past. (And this day would hopefully be coming soon).

As Kai's behaviour towards the team was slowly changing, the Russian becoming minimally more amicable, Rei saw his chances to get to talk to him slowly increasing.

Only… even now, when he had the chance to talk, he didn't really know what to say, where to begin. Insecurely, he eyed Kai up. Sweat ran down the pale skin of his friend and Rei was sure the backpack was rubbing awfully on the naked skin of his shoulders and the handles of the heavy bags must be cutting into his palms.

"You're not going to ask me as well if you should help me?" Kai asked somewhat irritated. Though looking forward he had been conscious of Rei's considerate gaze.

Rei, though surprised that the Russian was speaking to him, quickly answered, chuckling. "I wouldn't dream of it!"

"Good."

"You know, there would only be disadvantages for both of us. If I ever dared to make such a proposal as to help you, you'd be totally pissed off with me…"

"Hn."

"And," Rei added in a light tone, smirking lazily, "I would have to carry something."

"Indeed…" Kai's voice took on a sarcastic tone.

The conversation ceased again and Rei cursed himself for not being able to say the right thing.

The load of baggage grew heavier with every step. Sweat continuously ran down Kai's temples and his back as the two boys made their way up the rather steep street. Rei, who walked leisurely beside his laden team-mate, suddenly produced a flask of milk out of his small bag. The plastic crumpled, indicating that the flask had been the only content of it. With a practised twist of his hand he unscrewed it and took a swallow.

"Want some?" He pointed the flask towards Kai.

Kai looked at the offered beverage, sniffed, then turned his head

away and snorted snidely. "Hn."

Rei shrugged and took another sip of the milk. "Well…if you don't like it…"

Rei hadn't expected an answer, but Kai gave one.

"Milk is for babies."

Rei screwed up his face in amazement. "Nonsense! Milk is the best!"

They eyed each other with mutual disbelieve for a moment, then they suddenly broke out in a laugh. Kai's laugh was rather short, but even considering the Russian's short breath it was longer than every other laugh Kai had uttered that Rei remembered. (And the insane laughter when Kai was possessed by the evil Black Dranzer didn't count.)

Rei smiled a little at the notion, careful that Kai wouldn't see it. He took another sip of milk, before he asked another question.

"Kai?"

He got no visible acknowledgement but he knew that Kai was paying attention perfectly well. (At least he hoped so.)

"Hmm… you sure don't want a sip of milk? It tastes very good, you know." Rei cursed inwardly, because through some miraculous twist of cerebral convolution the wrong question had left his mouth.

Kai only gave the milk an extra contemptuous glance, but the amusement that played around the corners of his mouth reassured Rei.

"Hmmm… Why, actually, don't you want to participate in cooking? Have you ever tried?"

Kai didn't react at first, but looked straight ahead, not a muscle in his face moving.

"No. I never tried," Kai said suddenly, "Cooking is girls' stuff. It's very unmanly."

Rei's walking rhythm broke for a second and he almost stumbled over his own feet. He caught his balance and quickly fell back in step beside Kai.

"What!" he chuckled, then broke out in laughter. "You aren't serious, are you?"

Kai's stony gaze said everything. He looked taken aback and his silent scowl demanded an explanation.

"You have strange views…" Rei said, flipping his bandana-bound hair, which had fallen forward when he had bent forward laughing, in a practised movement back over his shoulder.

Kai scowled even more, which looked not as imposing as usual, for he was bent under the huge backpack and the dozens of bags. He surely didn't like his views being criticised, especially if he didn't understand why Rei was laughing.

Rei shook his head in an amused manner, explaining. "Do you want to say I'm a, he he, a baby for loving milk… and a woman for liking cooking?"

Despite Rei's light tone, Kai was shocked by the implication of his words that he had not taken into account before speaking. Suddenly he felt shamed for talking without thinking and thereby having insulted Rei. It took him only a small part of a second to conclude that he better stopped talking at all, since he only managed to utter insults. And he really didn't want to insult his, yes, his friend.

Rei noticed Kai's inner draw-back in the suddenly tense line of his mouth and the slight shifting of his shoulder away from him. Even if, or rather, because Kai didn't betray his feelings with word or gaze. Quietly, he walked beside Kai. He rebuked himself for being so stupid to screw up his first chance at talking to Kai, which had gone pretty well so far. He sighed. Talking to Kai was like playing Mikado, one wrong skewer and everything's lost.

Kai, who kept walking straight ahead, noticed Rei's sudden absentmindedness and wondered if maybe he was the reason for it. He grunted, what immediately shook Rei out of his thoughts.

"I don't have any problems with being called a baby and a woman…" Rei started, but his only reaction was a momentary frown that vanished within the second.

"I really do like milk…" he grinned and shrugged, "must be the cat genes in me…"

"Hn." Kai's only comment was. That surely was a good explanation.

And an amusing one too. He allowed the hope that maybe Rei didn't take his comment from before too badly.

"Really," Rei continued, "it would be sad, if only women were allowed to cook. Did you know that most of the chefs of haute-cuisine are men? But a bigger part of female than male population can cook, because of the housewives and such."

"Hn." Kai's increasing reassurance and amusement was definitely audible in his 'hn-ing'.

Rei gratefully sensed Kai's dissipating tension and they walked on in a remarkably unawkward silence.

When they reached the top of the steep street, they passed two elderly ladies, accompanied by three rackety children of about six years. The ladies cast them strange looks, but the children were openly gawping with curious innocence.

Rei looked back over his shoulder for a moment when they had gone by. Thoughtfully he said, talking to Kai, or if the Russian didn't feel addressed, talking to himself.

"Maybe it does look strange indeed that you are carrying all of the sacks and backpacks and I," he had the decorum to look at least rudimentary contrite, "carry only this." He lifted the milk pack up to eye level.

Kai squinted at him. "Do you think so?"

"Dunno. Maybe. I just somehow realised…"

Kai's lips stretched into a thin, but definite smile. "It indeed looks strange. You look very lazy, whereas I look very strong."

Rei thought over it a moment, then nodded. "Yeah maybe…it might look strange… and maybe, just maybe I'm lazy…" He grinned impishly. "But you agreed to do the shopping and I accompanied you only to make sure you bought the right stuff…"

"Just don't remind me that I'm doing something for Tyson…" Kai groaned.

They already neared the Dojo, not only indicated by the road sign, but the gleeful shouting that carried clearly far out onto the street. They looked at each other. Max had just told Tyson what they would do. Rei looked relieved that Tyson's response had come as enthusiastic as expected, but Kai didn't look all too happy.

"Rei…" The almost timid, small tone of Kai's voice took Rei completely by surprise. They stopped a small way before the entrance of the dojo.

"Yes?"

Kai cleared his throat. "Er… Can you… maybe… divert Tyson? I…" he looked away with a rather stony expression, trying not to look to help-seekingly. "I … just can't bear to be seen like this… by him…" He indicated his food-laden self. "Tyson would be insufferable."

Kai squinted at Rei to watch his reaction.

It took Rei's self-control not to laugh out loudly at the extent of Kai's pride. But, truthfully, he felt honoured to be the receptor of such a request. Surely it was a sign that Kai trusted him more than any of the others.

"No problem," he said, "Just wait for a minute, then the path should be clear."

A/N: this is again a reviewed version of this chapter... it was quite a hard to write.
So... what do you think about this chappie? The whole story? Do you think the persons are in character? I think I wrote Rei a little differently than maybe others would write him, especially in his relationship to Kai. (it's not gonna be romantic; friendship can be complicated enough.). I find that Rei is the stronger one of the two (emotionally) and Kai rather the insecure type, hiding it behind his 'hn's. As well I try to make Rei a little cat-ish like, in his personality.

"Milk is best!"

Faya