SS – …Two months? …Borderline three maybe? Heheh. Took me long enough, sorry. I had a small break (yea right) from writing my story, and when I came back I was completely lost. Nothing I did seemed to work…so…I deleted it all and rewrote everything :grins: Aren't you all proud of me? Hehe. It worked, somewhat. It's not the best, but it's definitely better than what I had before.

Tym – Er…:worries:

SS – In any case, it's a nice long chapter for everyone. Let's start.

Loving Legends
Chapter 15 – Words Exchanged
Disclaimer: Please see the prologue.
Note: Small flashbacks (indicated by italics) in the beginning are from Rei's argument with Driger from chapter thirteen. The rest are just from earlier parts of the chapter or previous ones.

Kai glanced at Rei from the corner of his eye. He hadn't said much of anything since he began on this awkward speech. 'This is stupid. Do I really stand of chance of getting some answer from him this way?' Since there wasn't any other choice, he just ran a hand through his hair and continued. "Yea, but I think we're really doing…fine all things considered. I mean, I never thought I'd befriend a creature of the Umber Woods, aside from Dranzer. Then again, how many creatures can talk back?" He paused. "We are friends, like you said. But I was wondering…if something felt…different. What do you think…?" He finished ineptly.

Rei blinked. "…Me."

"Yea, you too…"

He turned to him in disbelief. "It's me…"

Kai eyed him peculiarly. "What about you? Have you been listening to me?"

The raven-haired boy stood up abruptly, staring at Kai with frightened eyes. "It's been me this w-whole time…" He stuttered out, unsure whether he should run for the hills or stay and rip the boy's eyes out. Kai had been hunting him this whole time! Either him or Max or Robert!

Kai stood and gripped the boy's shuddering shoulders. "Rei, what's the matter with you? What are you muttering about?" He asked worriedly, which only served to confuse Rei further.

'Why does he care? Why has he been so nice? Was it all to cover up his motive? Was he trying to gain my trust until he could walk me to Tala's net!'

"…Rei? What is it?

"…Kai will never stop his vigilance. Things of value will always catch his eye, and the thought of a bounty behind every item he sees will forever plague his mind."

'I-I can't believe he was right. Driger…you were right…' Allowing a moment of anger grip his senses, he shoved Kai's hands away and drew his fist back. "It was always me!" He yelled before aiming to strike the other's face.

"!" Kai barely caught his fist in time before it made contact. "Rei, what do you think you're doing?" There was still a lot of pressure pushing against him, and he struggled to fight it back.

"Because, hunters aren't born hunters, humans choose to become hunters. And they choose to become hunters because it fits their personality. They want the glory, they hunger for the money, and they desire the power. You can't tell me that your hunter isn't the same. You can't look me straight in the eye and tell me that your hunter never wanted any of that." He challenged in a stormy baritone.

Rei narrowed his gaze, focusing on Kai and how to get to him. "How could you…" His other hand shook slightly as it balled up. "I thought I could trust you! That you were different!" Taking a shaky step forward, he aimed to land a blow on the older boy's side, but it was also caught.

"Rei--"

"I haven't said anything to Robert because you didn't want me to. But Rei, these encounters that you keep having with your hunter, they've got to stop. You're going to get hurt! Why are you going against your life's ideals now!"

'I trusted you…' His ears shot up. "How could you?" His sheer strength was fueled by blind rage and confusion. All logical thinking had been suppressed. It wasn't a good side to him. "How could you do this after all I've done for you!"

Kai bit his lip. "…What did I do?"

His feet dug into the ground as he found enough footing to force Kai backwards. "You lied to me! Y-You tried to trick me!" His head hung low. "Such a foul creature…a hunter's deception. And I actually fell for it…" He admitted with heavy disappointment in himself.

"I can tell from his actions and words! Someone can't be that caring or that fun to be around if they were still living for the money and the power!"

Rei closed his eyes. "…I-I trusted you."

Blinking, Kai's head began to spin. 'He found out! How?' His hands were trembling from staving off the raven-haired boy's punches.

Though he was sure that he was fighting against Kai, Rei felt as though some of his words and feelings were coming back to bite him. "Your fault…" But was it really? "…my fault?" Who allowed him to come so close? Who brought the hunter into their world? Did his presence…influence Rei? He began to break down, unsure where to place the blame, or how to handle it. "…Why did you have to do this!" With a splurge of energy, Rei forced them both back, accidentally sending the two into the lake.

A silent observer was astounded by the sudden action. 'REI!' Driger poked his head out of the bushes. "…Rei…" He murmured.

"Augh." Breaking the surface of the water, Kai shook off the excess and unexpectedly met the half-breed's tired, confused eyes.

There was no answer. There was no one to blame but himself. It was his fault. "…I…"

"But they won't always be the same! People change, Driger! Humans make changes in their lives, personalities, and souls with each new experience they encounter! Think about it, am I the same as I was even a year ago?"

He shook his head briefly. "You're not the same as you were one week ago! Rei, you're being foolish."

The raven-haired boy narrowed his gaze, his eyes beginning to slit, his ears pulling back. "Foolish? Is it foolish to stay narrow-minded and believe in what someone tells you when you were born!"

"No, of course not--"

"Then why are you condoning my friendship with Kai?

He dropped his head. "What did I do…?" He murmured. His energy was dying down; the moment of intensified impulse had dissipated. At this point, Rei wasn't sure if he was angrier with Kai, or with himself. He breathed deeply. 'Was it my fault? Did I bring this upon myself…upon my home?' His fists loosened, though still held in Kai's grasp. 'I brought him here, let him in…is it my fault?'

Kai's grip dissolved. Now he held smooth hands in his own lightly, gently. 'Did he…give up? No, he looks completely confused. …Maybe I am too.'

Kai watched as Rei mentally berated himself and he had to wonder what was going through the half-breed's mind. But that was when he realized that he had the chance to finally end all of this. The other didn't look to be in prime condition to fight back, so if Kai acted fast enough, he could pull Rei close to him and capture him with his spare net. Done. It would be all over. There would be no prospect of a struggle; he was too…lost. Betrayed by the trust he thought that he had in Kai. The whole ordeal could end right there. He could be free from all of this frustration.

'This could work…' All he had to do was get his net – it was folded in a pouch on his belt – and throw it. Freedom was so close…

And yet, he couldn't bring himself to let go of the boy's hand.

'Rei.' His grip tensed slightly. No, Kai couldn't bring himself to do it. Though it was his initial mission, his body wouldn't move, his mind did not allow it. 'But then…what…'

Filling in his curiosity, the image of holding the raven-haired boy close, protectively, whispering apologies and reassurances flashed in his mind briefly, jolting Kai's head up. It was an alarming possibility, but not altogether surprising. Maybe it was because he had subconsciously admitted to having a bit of an infatuation for him already. Maybe it was because it didn't seem like such a bad situation to be in. Or maybe, it was because that was what Kai figured he really wanted in the end of all this, to simply be with Rei.

The sensation tugged the edge of his lips into a small smile. 'Yea…I guess that wouldn't be so bad…' Came the silent confession.

So then…why wasn't he making that scenario come true? Rei was still at arms distance, carrying that dazed, confused look in his amber eyes. Why didn't Kai do something about it?

'…I can't do that to him either.'

It was simply too dangerous. With the contract in effect, it was too risky to get his hopes up and try to create something with Rei…if he really wanted it…

For every possible thought of him and Rei together, there was a counter of a risk to deter each dream. They cancelled each other out. Kai's wish for that kind of future was dimmer than a candle's light in a storm. No…it wouldn't work. Neither decision was possible at this point. So, as always, he'd have to improvise.

"Who said you did anything?" He finally responded quietly. The other hesitantly glanced at him. "I certainly didn't." With a sigh, Kai let the other's hands drop and proceeded to hop out of the water. His garments were thoroughly soaked, clinging rather uncomfortably to his skin. "Man, if I had a nickel for every time you pushed me into something or dragged me somewhere else…" The blue-haired boy tentatively fingered his bangs, frowning as they stubbornly remained matted to his face. He turned and stared at the younger. "Well? Aren't you going to get out of there?"

"…" Rei's eyes flickered from confusion to suspicion and back again. 'Kai?' Sure, he was apprehensive about all of this, but he was also very wet, and he didn't need that right now. The half-breed slowly climbed out of the chest-high lake and faced the hunter with a lost expression. He supposed he could fight this out, if that was what Kai expected…but it wasn't what he wanted.

The hunter picked at his shirt, sighing as it recoiled and stuck to his chest with a smack of moister. "At least it's sunny." He grudgingly rung out the base of his cargos and flicked a good amount of water out of his dripping-wet hair. "All right, you got me."

"…What?" Rei managed in a raspy voice.

"Wasn't this your "revenge" for me tickling you a day or so ago?" The blue-haired boy asked off-handedly. "I figured you had planned out this entire scene just to make me crazy." He rubbed his cheek, catching some watered off paint on his fingers. "Crazy and wet. I suppose I had it coming." His crimson eyes stared into Rei's. "But really…it was a tad dramatic."

Golden orbs were contemplative…yet disbelieving. His brows furrowed. 'He can't be serious. Kai knows that I know…he knows that his cover has been blown. Why is he keeping up this stupid act?'

"I'd do something to get you back for this, but I'm too tired." He glanced up at the sky, holding his hand slightly, as it stung a bit from catching Rei's enraged punch. "We can call it a draw. I really don't want this to drag on."

'…A draw? What's he talking about?'

"What do you say, Rei?"

'…Why are you doing this? Do you honestly expect me to trust you anymore? How can I! And still…you're acting like it's all ok! Like nothing happened…' To his knowledge or not, a tear slid down his cheek. 'Why did you have to do this? Is a bounty all you really want in the end? Do I matter as anything other than a creature to be caught? Kai…I thought…'

He must have been staring off into space. He obviously wasn't paying attention; otherwise Kai's hand to his face wouldn't have made him jump. "What?" He yelped.

"You weren't saying anything." He stopped the tear and wiped it away with his thumb. "Daydreaming again, Rei? Or is this part of the act, as well?"

'I don't understand. Are you trying to make me forget? Do you think this will make everything all right? Why are you doing this to me?' Another tear.

"Well this is a first. I've never seen anyone cry on the spot and still stare off into space." He shrugged it off. "Are you trying to guilt me into something?" He asked dryly, almost teasing. Two more slid down his face. Following the curve of his cheek until they met the blue-haired boy's waiting hand, which rested at the base of his chin.

'Or…are you trying to make this easier for me? I don't want to remember this. I want to believe that Driger is wrong about you.' He closed his eyes. 'Tell me…you're changing. Tell me that I am right. I want to be right about you…'

"Fine, Rei. If this will make you stop acting, then I'll say it." He sighed. "I'm sorry for tickling you, ok?" He acted as though the words had been forcefully dragged out of his mouth, though there was a smirk playing on his lips. "Hey, are you listening?" Kai prodded his shoulder. Rei's eyes opened. "You forgive me, right?" His words asked for forgiveness of his act, his eyes asked for forgiveness of what he was. It was both lighthearted and genuine, and he hoped that the boy saw that.

'…Forgive you? Too bad it isn't that easy. There are so many questions I want to ask you, so many things that I need to hear. But for now…is that really enough? Can I trust you…even if it's only for now? …I-I want to…'

Letting his shoulders fall, Rei nodded his head and fell against him. It seemed almost expected, as Kai didn't stumble or tense. No, he held him gently, with his arms wrapping around the younger one's waist, and it seemed right. Their bodies fit perfectly, one alongside the other, neither uncomfortable (save for the water) nor unwanted. And so it was, one breath with the other, in silence, for uncounted seconds.

'Hm…' Kai held back his shivers as he felt Rei mumble an, "I forgive you." into his wet shirt and kept his smirk. And a little later, even released a brief laugh as the half-breed added a concluding, "…You idiot." against the base of his slightly moist neck.

It seems that a mutual agreement had been made between them, silent, yet acknowledged. Kai had given up on his initial quest, and began thinking of which plan to go with to save Rei from Tala grasp. In turn, Rei had forgiven him…and some foundation of real trust had been laid. He was still apprehensive, but not to the point where he avoided the other. There was no need for that. There would never be a need for that anymore.

It was supposed to be a sweet moment, something to be shared with a smile… 'Rei…' But that wasn't the case. 'Rei, what have you done to us? What have you decided?' Driger's eyes narrowed. 'In the end, you'll choose him? Is that what you want?' He pivoted with a sharp twist of his body and stalked off into the brush. 'This is quite unsettling…' He was sure to have been heard. And he was.

ooo

"You shouldn't wear that shirt anymore."

"I know."

"It's ripped, why do you still have it?"

"It's not by choice. I…forgot to throw it away."

"Aren't you cold?"

"Not really. The wind is light, and the sun is out."

"…Guess so."

They were talking, but it seemed…different. It wasn't forced, but modified. Neither new just how to approach the other anymore. The thought of bringing up the situation was frightening. Surely it would ruin what they had mended, and right now, they didn't need that. Kai needed to know that Rei still trusted him, and Rei needed to know that Kai could still be that. It was a rickety friendship now, and both were unsure of whether or not this was actually the best way to have gone about it.

"How long do you plan on staying?" Rei asked.

"…Not much longer. I don't want you to get caught--" The words left his mouth before he comprehended what he had said. He glanced towards the other, yes…he had tensed. "…Caught by Robert. I don't want you to get in trouble." He muttered.

The raven-haired boy didn't know whether to be relieved or not. "Yea…" Biting his lip, Rei groaned. He didn't want to keep avoiding it. "Uh, Kai--"

Said boy stood abruptly. He wasn't ready for this yet. He was still unsure. "Maybe I should go now." He whistled for Dranzer.

Rei quickly picked himself up. "Wait. I think we…"

The blue-haired boy faced him slowly. "…Think we what, Rei?"

"…" He paused. What was he going to say? What did he want from Kai? What could he ask of him aside from what he was doing now? It was killing both of them. This definitely wasn't the best way to go. However, it was far too late. "I think…that you should go." His voice dropped a tone with each word. It wasn't what he wanted; it was what was best.

A hand fell on his shoulder, and Rei didn't hesitate to look up into Kai's understanding mahogany eyes. "I think…we'll talk about this…later."

"How long do you need?" It wasn't about time to think, it was about time to settle some business.

"I'm not sure. It's not like I get tangled up in this kind of situation every week." He paused. "Although, it shouldn't be too long considering I have some experience getting out of these kinds of messes now." He hinted at the trouble he and Rei had gotten into the past few days.

Golden eyes caught on and lit up. For the first time since this whole situation began, Rei smiled. It was pure, true. "Well…all the same, you'd better take your time. I'll see you when I see you."

Kai matched his grin. "Yea, sure."

The raven-haired boy laughed, the familiar sound filled the area again. There was a reaffirming squeeze before the older let go. Something was forming. And while neither really recognized what it was, it was there. Perhaps after the ordeal was settled, it would grow. Until then, it'd have to wait.

"Master Kai."

"Dranzer, hold up!"

Both boys turned, the two feathered creatures were back. Dranzer slowed to a halt, settling lightly on Kai's shoulder with a puff. They then waited for Trygle to come; he was always a bit slower than she was.

"Are we done here?" She asked quietly.

Crimson eyes vaguely shifted. "Yes. It's time to go." He met a golden stare briefly before turning to leave.

Rei nodded, his smile fading with every passing step. He had a lot of think about, things to sort out while Kai attended to his own. 'In the end, everything will be ok.' Placing a pat or two on Trygle's head, the half-breed retired to the confines of the forest. This was going to take a while. 'Everything…will be ok, in the end…'

ooo

"And that's when Unicolyion hugged me and we--"

"Wait a minute, how could Unicolyion "hug" you? Isn't she a…horse?"

"You know what I mean! I hugged her, and she put her head near the side of my face."

"…Anyway…"

"Oh yea! And then Robert and Grypholyion said good bye and…"

Rei continued to nod along. That was what we had been doing since Max started his story. Though he wasn't really listening, the gist was that Robert suspected Max's powers could be growing. And going to see the unicorn was somewhere along the lines of a…check up.

"It was beautiful up there! But…kind of hard to breathe. Still, it was definitely worth the trip."

Another nod. Rei was always happy when Max was around, however, his mind was still swimming. He needed to think. And it was just hard to do that when the blond talked on and on…

"You're making me jealous, Max. I wish I could have gone, too." Draciel interrupted.

"I don't know…it would be hard, even for Grypholyion to get you all the way up there." Max mumbled. He hugged the turtle anyway. "I'm sorry for neglecting you, Draciel. I didn't mean to." If it was possible, the creature smiled. That put Rei in a better mood. Their feelings were so simple, their situation…not even qualifying the word. The half-breed couldn't remember when things were that straight forward for him.

"You two are too sweet." Driger said with a slight sneer. "You're together all the time; you're getting riled up over nothing." Then again, maybe he was envious of their simplicity as well.

The three continued to talk and Rei slowly slid out of the conversation. It was awkward sitting near the tiger. He knew that he heard some rustling earlier when he was with Kai, and there was no doubt that Driger had been there, watching them. Rei didn't know why though. Sure, Driger was never comfortable with Kai's presence, but the question was…why hide? Why hadn't he charged in and separated them? It may have relieved a bit of the pressure during that incident. …But he hadn't.

Golden eyes glanced at the tiger apprehensively. 'What are you thinking, Drig?' He kept his arms crossed. 'I already worry about Kai's intentions…do I have to keep track of you, too?' His ears fell. 'Kai.' It brought him back to the source of his confusion. Yes, he was still mildly confused. Sure, the two had…settled things, and they were on good terms, but there was a nagging doubt in the back of Rei's mind.

Don't trust him. 'He tried to catch me.' Get away. 'He's a hunter.' Run.

'…He tried to make it seem like nothing had happened at all, like I was acting that way as revenge for what happened a few days ago. Why? I know that he's not that dense. So what was he trying to accomplish?' His brows furrowed. 'Was it all to avoid fighting? Maybe he didn't want me to start something.'

Out of the corner of his eye, Driger noticed Rei's contemplative posture and tilted his head. He didn't know what to make of him anymore, not after what he had witnessed back at the falls. Still, the tiger retained a scrap of satisfaction at the sight of the boy's confusion.

'I really wish that Kai had done all of that because he didn't want me to blame myself. To prove that…he didn't want to lose what platonic relationship we had built together.' Rei closed his eyes. 'But it's so hard…to believe…' He rubbed the bridge of his nose. 'My head hurts…' Standing slowly, he muttered an, 'I'll see you guys later' and paced off.

Driger observed this carefully. The boy stumbled once before he was completely out of sight. His mood soured slightly.

"Rei?" Max whispered. His blue eyes dimmed. "He didn't look too well. Wonder if he's ok…" He trailed.

Driger's tail swatted the ground incessantly, bits of guilt and nagging slowly building up within his better conscience. With a grunt of a roar, the tiger picked himself up and waved away the blond's worries. "I'll go check on him."

The words were not clear to Max, but the message was fairly recognizable. He nodded and motioned for Draciel to follow him. They headed for the waterfall as Driger pursued Rei.

ooo

Rei's tail lightly bopped off of his leg with every clumsy step he took. He wasn't sure where he was going, but he surmised that he'd end up where he always did: his tree. Funny how things worked out that way. Upon reaching his universal destination, the half-breed fell to the ground, not bothering to get comfortable. He tapped his forehead, as if attempting to knock the ache out. Shaking his head, Rei finally slumped against the trunk with a withering sigh. "Too much thinking…"

"That would be a first, right?"

There was no need to look up.

"Driger, not now." He really didn't need the tiger at this point, neither his presence nor his admonishing words. However, as disconcerting as he appeared, Driger didn't hesitate as he made his way over to the boy and lay down beside him.

Rei waited, his eyes shut tightly, for those reprimanding words…his hand unconsciously balling up into a fist and releasing. There was a stinging silence, and still, not a word from the tiger. The creature simply lay there, his tail flicking every once and a while.

"…Driger?"

A low grumble came, and he scrunched his nose. That was it.

Rei blinked. Wasn't he going to say something? He thought that the creature would start scolding him for being with Kai back there, at the falls. For not finishing the fight, for not trying harder with his punches, for allowing himself to be hugged and then forgiving him…wasn't he going to say anything?

Silence.

"…I'm glad you did not catch a cold."

The raven-haired boy struggled with that. "…Catch…a cold?"

"After you fell in the water, you never really dried off." He murmured before burying his head deeper into his forelegs. "I'm glad that you are not sick."

Rei swallowed. That was all? He listened intently for more. Perhaps that was just the icebreaker to ease him into the upcoming argument revolving around what else had happened after he had fallen into the lake.

Silence.

Rei leaned his back against the tree's familiar bark as his ears relaxed. It appeared that…that was all he wanted to say. A small smile graced Rei's lips.

"Yea." He replied softly. "I'm glad, too."

For that brief moment, simplicity had returned.

ooo

Kai bit his bottom lip, picked up the pencil tucked behind his ear, and scratched out another page off of his notepad. Dranzer laughed to the best of her abilities and continued preening herself.

"Thanks for your concern, Dranz." He managed before he flipped the page over and started again. His efforts at creating a successful plan were as futile as the day was long. Upon his return from the woods, Kai had realized that, as reasonable as his previous ideas were, they probably wouldn't be able to drive Tala away for good. However, they would annoy him, so he stashed them away for future use.

It seemed like he was really going to have to think of something if he wanted to get Rei and himself out of this mess.

"It's getting late, Master Kai…" Dranzer reminded.

"I know."

"Did you think of anything promising yet?"

"No, but I will before I go to sleep."

"How long will that be?"

"…"

She tried again. "Master Kai?"

"…"

It was no use. It was never any use when he had a stubborn idea in his head. "Good night, Master Kai."

His eyes flicked in her direction briefly. "Good night, Dranzer."

He turned off the main light to give her a comfortable atmosphere and retired to his bedside with the lamp on. He crossed out another idea and slowly grazed over his past concoctions. They all seemed ok, but were actually flawed. The funny part of it was that all of those mistakes…they looked like things Kai would have been able to fix if he really wanted to. Those plans could work if he really sat down and tried.

Kai rubbed his eyes. Maybe he was just imagining things. It was late. After all, if they could work and could get him and Rei out of all this, he…would use them…

"…Wouldn't I?" His gaze drifted around the room, finally settling on the chair near the door. The clothes he had lent Rei that night lay there, washed, but still filled with the boy's intoxicating scent…

Putting his notepad on the nightstand, Kai climbed into bed and turned off the lamp.

oooa few days laterooo

"Are you sure this is the best idea, Master Kai?"

"It's pretty much the only idea that's workable, so yes, it's the best."

"Of course."

The two were heading to the outskirts of town, where Bryan had residence. Because of his current job, Tala stayed there, to be within range. Actually, he had an accommodating house in Amidaru. Kai had the…pleasure of going there once before.

"Do you want me to get involved?" She asked.

"…No. It's probably best if you don't." He rounded the corner and continued down the cobble steps, the clapping sounds of his shoes against the pavement echoing down the open alleyway. "If Bryan's there, however, you'll have to keep him busy. He'll want to intervene if things get messy."

Dranzer stared at him. "Master Kai?"

He paused. "Nothing too messy. I just know that Tala won't take this news lying down." And then continued walking.

"All right. But I don't know if I'll be able to not intervene either."

"The worst is that he'll do some yelling. Tala's never been one to fight with anything other than his words." He rethought that. 'Then again, that was a long time ago…' He kept that to himself.

"…Ok."

The two approached the last house on the block. From the outside, it seemed like an upstanding family lived there, what with the pots of flowers lining the terrace, sturdy maintenance, and unusually subtle beige paint job. If Kai were the passerby, he'd guess it belonged to a family with little kids and a dog or something.

"Closed communication now, Dranzer. No more talking." As she nodded, he rang the doorbell. Once. Twice.

After a few seconds a thumping noise was heard as someone inside walked across the floorboards. Another door opened and closed. Kai stepped back. Clip-clap sounds resounded in the small stairwell as a person came down. It was Tala.

The redhead didn't look too pleased to see him, but let him in all the same. The gate met its metal frame with a crack as it locked itself and the two boys headed up to the main floor of the house. Kai exchanged his shoes for slippers and waited as Tala closed the door. (1) He motioned him to the living room, casually eyeing Dranzer before proceeding.

Nodding, the blue-haired boy lifted her from his shoulder. "Master Kai?" She chirped. He shook his head, holding a finger to his lips. He placed her gently on the coat rack, stroking her downing a few times, and then headed to the living room. 'Don't lose your temper.' She hoped.

The conversation started immediately.

"You know," The redhead started just as Kai took a seat on the opposing chair. "I wasn't sure whether to be relieved or angry when I got your call, Kai."

The hunter met his searing gaze momentarily, and then quickly glanced around the room. It was mildly lit, but he could make out most of the details. The floor was hardwood, a rich oak color that happened to match the furniture. It was all wood, except for one worn looking armchair near the corner. He remembered a few boxes at the entrance and noticed the fading smell of paint in the air. The bare windows were open; it wasn't uncomfortable.

"Sounds like Bryan isn't home." He mentioned offhandedly.

Tala's gaze narrowed. "He went out." It wasn't hard to see that Kai had sidestepped his initial statement.

"I wish Tyson went out more…" He grumbled with a wistful undertone.

It was meant to be slightly humorous, aiding to lift the thick tension. "Un." It didn't work. Tala was getting frustrated.

"I wish you'd get out more, Tala. You look like you're going to grow right into the floorboards."

…Really frustrated. He sat up straight and locked onto teasing, mahogany eyes. He figured that the statement was driven by the fact that his current attire was a color akin to that of the wood…but it wasn't the time. "Kai."

"Tala."

"I'm not in the mood," He declared. "There's a reason why you phoned and came over and now I want to know if it's good news, or bad news." The ice had been broken…finally.

"Well, since you brought it up," He began. "It's very good news." That delighted the other. "Tala," Kai smirked. "I'm calling off our deal."

That…did not."

Crystal blue eyes focused, trying to find the ill humor folded into every Hiwatari statement. Fortunately or not, there was none. "Calling it off?" His tone easily reflected what his eyes showed: annoyance and disbelief.

"I've found a better use for my time and energy," The hunter got up and walked closer to the entrance. "And your request isn't part of that. Sorry. I hope this won't ruin your plans, Tala."

The other shot up and stormed towards him. "What do you mean sorry! This wasn't a friendly request, Kai, it was a mission, an assignment, one that you readily agreed to and signed to finished. You can't just quit now."

"Oh, that's right," He held his hand out. "I'm going to need that contract back, too."

Tala crossed his arms, eyeing Kai's waiting hand with a smirk. "You really think I'm that dense? It binds you to our agreement. Going against it now without a legitimate reason can very well terminate your license with Mr. Black."

Kai nodded monotonously. "I know that. Which is why I need you to give it back to me so that I can keep my job." He said with a matter-of-fact tone.

While some lesser hunter got the entire bounty from the client, hunters of Kai's caliber had contracts with Mr. Black. In return for a percentage of the bounty, the proprietor provided the most elite equipment and certain benefits. True, the blue-haired boy hardly used trapping devices, but the perks weren't too bad. Mr. Black had connections throughout the land, well beyond the town's borders. And Kai had access to those benefits as long as he was licensed, housing payments, food, transportation…it was well worth a portion of every bounty.

"Unless you actually have a reason, you're not getting out of anything, Kai." Tala retorted with a grunt. Maybe he was making a game out of this like the used to do. After all, what could possibly persuade Kai to risk his license? Being a bounty hunter was his life, was there really something that could have made him consider giving it all up? Nothing. Certainly nothing. They may not have been close, but Tala assumed to know enough about the other to bet his life on that.

Calculating crimson eyes studied him for a glance, and then broke the contact. "…Well then, I'll just have to give my grounds to Mr. Black and have him cancel our agreement personally." He turned sharply and reached for the doorknob. "I knew coming here would be a waste of time."

Cold blue eyes hardened. What was Kai saying? Oh, he must have been milking this act for all it was worth. "Nothing you say can get you out of this." Came the singsong response. "You'll just hurt your reputation when you go down there and attempt to beg your way out." He ended with a smirk.

Quickly switching from slippers to shoes, Kai merely opened the door, whistling for Dranzer to follow him. Tala huffed and pursued him, closing the door with an annoyed crack. Now this was just getting irritating. Maybe Kai wasn't trying to get something out of this other than permission to leave the deal.

"I'm getting the feeling that you aren't kidding anymore, Kai." His hand reached out to grab the boy's shoulder, only to be on the receiving end of the phoenix's mad squawking. "Hey!" He quickly withdrew. "Kai? Kai!" Said boy stopped, gripping the metal of the gate's handle firmly. Kai waited, allowing Tala to say his peace. "Come on, what's this really about? I've known you for…well, much too long for my liking, and you've never acted like this during an assignment."

Nothing.

"I get the feeling this isn't about money or any of our conditions." He narrowed his gaze. "It's…about the creature, isn't it?"

His hold tightened.

A whisper of curiosity announced itself. "Did you find it? Did something happen after that?" Noticing the lack of reaction, he pressed on. "Kai…what did it do to you?" It wasn't that he was worried if something had changed the boy; he was merely…interested.

"Nothing happened." The statement came out fast and strong, perhaps a little too strong.

"Something did happen. Great. Well if you were foolish enough to fall for any of its tricks, then maybe I should let you try to explain yourself. That'll be a laugh. You'll get your license revoked and I won't have to deal with you anymore." It was his last attempt to shake Kai from his act…granted that it was still going on.

The other's head dropped slightly, as if to apologize, in his own way.

When no response came, the redhead looked away. "You're not listening to me…" He shrugged. "You are really serious about getting out of this then, aren't you?"

The lock unlatched. The blue-haired boy gave the gate a tug, letting it ajar. "…I hope you won't be getting into much trouble because of this." Echoes of shoes against cobblestone filled the entrance, slowly fading into the breeze's howl after a few seconds. The gate swayed freely…Kai was gone.

Running a hand through his hair, Tala stood over the threshold with a confused stare. "Same to you, Kai…"

ooo

Kai trudged back to the center of town. His visit hadn't gone the way he planned at all. And that was more enough to vex him. 'Now what am I going to do?' He truly didn't know that Tala had given the contract to Mr. Black. He figured that the redhead wouldn't let it out of his sight. Apparently, he had had faith that this would be an easy assignment for Kai to complete. 'Hn…that's what I thought, too.' Now he had to reason his way out with Mr. Black, which wouldn't be easy.

He wanted to ask himself when things got so complicated, but there was no point. It was his fault. He had approached Rei in the wrong way from the start, didn't realize what a mess he had gotten himself into until it was too late, and just when he could have ended it all, he went and tried to patch things up with Rei instead. It was one mistake after another, and he wasn't even sure if this attraction…this infatuation was really worth it.

"You really think I'm that dense? It binds you to our agreement. Going against it now without a legitimate reason can very well terminate your license with Mr. Black."

The thought hadn't really occurred to him before. Even though he knew it, Kai never realized what kind of jeopardy he had put his job in by following these feelings that Rei elicited from him.

His aimless walk came to a halt as the feared question finally entered his mind. 'Is it really worth it?'

Sure, he and Rei had finally settled their problems, and yes, he liked Rei's company (more than he'd ever admit to), but where was it all going, if anywhere? What if it wasn't going to go anywhere at all?

'Maybe…it isn't worth it.'

He swallowed hard.

A hand fell on his shoulder, and Rei didn't hesitate to look up into Kai's understanding mahogany eyes. "I think…we'll talk about this…later."

"How long do you need?"

"I'm not sure. I've never done this before."

…Rei smiled. It was pure, true. "Take your time, then. I'll see you when I see you."

Kai matched his grin. "Soon, it'll be soon."

The raven-haired boy laughed. "All right."

Kai didn't know. Strangely enough, the notion of having to choose between his job and his desires (small desires, it wasn't a favorite word, or one used often in his vocabulary) never crossed his mind. But then, maybe that was because nothing had ever made him feel like this before…

"Master Kai?"

His brows furrowed at the conclusion. Patting Dranzer's talons, Kai continued on his way, though at a much slower pace than before.

ooo

It had only been a few days – was it two or three? – since Kai had left. Rei wasn't worried…not too much. He was a bit preoccupied with Driger's peculiar behavior to fully concentrate on Kai.

'He should be with Robert and Grypholyion now. That will give me at least an hour to talk to Wolborg about all of this.' His wandering steps eventually led him to the lake by the summit, the ice wolf's territory. It was late in the day, so he figured that his friend would be coming back from the cliffs soon. Whenever he could, Wolborg would visit Falborg for a little while – they were war buddies – and they would make small talk last for as long as they could before it disintegrated to immaterial verbal sparring (which wasn't such a bad thing either).

Upon reaching his destination, he saw that the site was at ease, completely undisturbed by anything other than the wind. Rei was right; Wolborg was nowhere to be found. Breathing in the scent of the lake and its neighboring waterfall, he fell to the ground and made himself comfortable. He'd be back soon. Unable to resist the temptation, he let his body relax and lean back into the warm earth, with his arms behind his head. These past few days, though uneventful, were acid to his mind. It was a stressful time.

'Kai…' The darkening skies reminded him of the boy's hair. He closed his eyes. 'I want to believe him. I know he's good…' His ears flicked. 'I know he is. I just wished he would…' The raven-haired boy's eyes opened slowly, drinking in the color before him with a desperate yearning. 'Why did he have to try and catch me in the first place? No…' Again, the dark confines surrounded his vision. 'Why did he have to trick me like that…'

A low rumble suddenly reached Rei's ears. They perked up. "Mm?" It was faint, but he heard it fairly well. The boy sat up, trying to determine where it came from. "There?" He whispered to himself. It was coming from his left. There were two distinct rumbles, vibrations of voices. Rei slowly got to his feet and padded over to the site. At the sound's crescendo, he was able to make out who was there. "What?" He had to make sure, because at the moment, it didn't seem plausible.

Getting on his hands and knees, the half-breed peered through the tall reeds with curiosity. He was right it was Wolborg and Driger. 'Driger? I-I thought that he was at Robert's cave. What's he doing here…freely talking with Wolborg no less?' He sat back on his legs, intent on doing a bit of good-natured eavesdropping.

"Has he been talking to you lately?" That was Wolborg; he was sitting up, conversing actively.

"Not a lot, but yes, every once and a while when we're away from everyone else. That's the only time he feels comfortable around me now." Driger's voice dropped a bit at the end.

"I'm not surprised, after all, you did give him a good yelling a while back."

The tiger zeroed his gaze on him. "How did you know about that? Did Rei--"

"Of course he did. It took a bit of coaxing, but in the end, he gave me the argument in bullet points." He answered in a teasing, matter-of-fact tone.

"I should have known." He slumped down to the ground. "All right, then you pretty much know the situation. What now?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, what should I do? I don't like Rei's behavior around--"

"Around you, or Kai?"

Driger snorted. "Around me! Don't drag the hunter into this. He's the cause of all this trouble."

"Is he really?"

"Of course. If it weren't for him, Rei wouldn't be so lost and confused." Driger stated. The remark caused Rei to furrowed his brows, causing his head to tilt lower. "He does nothing but play with the boy's emotions and trust. That hunter is using him for all he's worth." He growled, verbal venom dripping from his tone. "It's inconceivable that Rei hasn't caught on yet." The half-breed's ears considerably fell. He knew that Driger didn't like Kai, but these thoughts…Driger wasn't holding back on his criticism.

"I would think you'd hold Rei in a higher regard. He's much more observant than you give him credit for." Wolborg defended. "Maybe that's all from your point of view, which may not be a very credible one since you despise hunters so." He paused. "If Kai was so dangerous, I'm sure Rei would have figured it out by now."

"Would he really? I'm starting to think that Rei knows and is hiding it. He probably likes the risks--"

"Even if Rei trusts Kai, he's still a hunter, Rei wouldn't let his presence threaten our home. He's much too responsible to let that happen."

"You say that now, but how can you ignore all of the stunts he's pulled lately? Like when…"

The argument continued, but Rei slowly backed out of it, sliding away quietly. Doubt filled the caverns of his mind; his very person was being questioned. 'A-Am I really all that you say I am, Wolborg?' His eyes took on a dull amber appearance. 'You think of me too highly. Driger's right, I did take a lot of risks with Kai. And I guess deep down, on some level, I always knew that Kai would do something like this.' Letting the blue-haired boy into their home, training him, making deals, going to his house…the memories resurfaced in his mind, bringing a bitter taste with them. 'How could I not know?' He shook his head. 'It's impossible, I must have known.'

Rei knew himself better than that. He wasn't that dense. But then…he must have…

'…Did I push all of my instincts aside to have a little fun, a little adventure? Could I have silenced my subconscious and fooled myself into believing that Kai wasn't like every other hunter?' Heat rose to the boy's cheeks. 'Maybe…maybe I was so sick of being confined behind that mountain, having to sneak out and have mediocre adventures, only able to appease a fraction of Max's desire for a taste of the outside world, that I willingly let Kai come so far in return for some real freedom, a little dangerous fun.'

His suppressed a moan in his throat. He wasn't far enough away to be out of earshot. It wasn't safe for them to know. 'Yes, now I understand. That's what happened.' His hands balled up into fists on the ground, collecting dirt and pieces of stone between his fingers. 'I was tired of being…confined. I hated the fact that life was so…safe.' Two crystalline tears dropped against his hands. 'I wanted to get out. I wanted some fun.' He forced his eyes shut. 'And Kai gave me that. It may have seemed like he was using me, but truthfully, it was no more than I was using him.'

Waiting for the next set of tears to fall, Rei then opened his eyes, the golden color returning slightly. He wasn't really happy, but he wasn't confused anymore. He understood. Upon trembling legs, the raven-haired boy stood. Brushing the earth from his hands, he turned around and started walking back. 'Things weren't as simple as I thought, but at least now, I can see the picture. I understand the entire thing…' He stopped to clear the signs of anxiety from his face.

"But now that I know…" He looked up, his gaze resting on the sky above him. It wasn't hard for him to imagine Kai's face, to feel those piercing, demanding crimson eyes on him. "Now what do I do?" He shifted and glanced at the lake's edge. His calm reflection stared back at him, ripples blowing across his face as the wind picked up.

'…How much did I really gain just now? I don't blame Kai anymore. I can't. I'm just as responsible for all of this as he is. I'm the one who let things come this far.' A leaf completely obscured his watery mirror as it landed on the lake's surface. As it slowly drifted away, so did Rei's frustration. It wasn't doing him any good to harbor it. It only confused him further.

'I…I need to talk to Kai. He kind of told me he was sorry…'

"Fine, Rei. If this will make you stop acting, then I'll say it." He sighed. "I'm sorry for tickling you, ok?" He acted as though the words had been forcefully dragged out of his mouth, though there was a smirk playing on his lips. "Hey, are you listening?" Kai prodded his shoulder. Rei's eyes opened. "You forgive me, right?" His words asked for forgiveness of his act, his eyes asked for forgiveness of what he was. It was both lighthearted and genuine, and he hoped that the boy saw that.

"Well, he made an effort. And that's a lot coming from him." He whispered in a warm tone. Another gale swept the water. "I…think I need to tell him. It may not be much to him, but it's definitely something to me." A small smile crossed his lips, and that was the last thing he saw in the lake before he sprinted off, heading towards the mountain that separated the two similar areas.

ooo

Tala walked around the living room (he did not admit to pacing) as he ran a hand through his hair for the fourth time that minute. It was all he had been doing since Kai left, well, he had changed and then he proceeded to wearing a hole into the floorboards.

'Kai wouldn't really…no, of course he would. When he sets his stubborn mind on something, he'll go through with his stubborn idea until it's been accomplished.' He paused for a moment and scratched the back of his neck. 'I know he's got a good reason. Even if he didn't say anything, I could see it in his eyes. He was determined.'

Finally falling into the couch with a loud groan, Tala closed his eyes and let his arm fall over his face. "Damn it!" This wasn't going to be good. His boss would not allow this to happen, not when he was so close to finishing what his mentor had started.

RING RING

He lifted his arm and glanced at the phone to his left. "Huh?"

RING RIN-

"Hello?"

"Tala, I haven't heard from you in a while."

"S-Sir!" He bolted up out of reflex. "I'm sorry sir, but this mission is taking a lot longer than I had antici--"

"I don't want to hear your excuses." An eerie silence ensued. "You know how important getting this specimen is, don't you?"

"Yes sir."

"And you know that if I don't get what I want, I'll just have to use my best associates in place of them, right?"

Tala swallowed hard. "Yes sir."

"Well, I'm glad that we understand each other. I expect to hear from you before the day's end. Either you have the creature, or I have you. Am I clear?" His voice was so casual that it speared Tala with a new level of fear.

"Yes, I understand completely, sir."

"Good." The line went dead right there, but the redhead couldn't bring himself to put the receiver down just yet. His eyes were contemplative, slowly coming to terms with what his superior was saying. If the creature wasn't delivered…well, he'd never have to worry about Kai again.

His eyes found the clock it was nearly five. The sun was slowly beginning its descent. Tala squeezed his eyes shut. He couldn't believe how far he had let this all get. And now… 'I have until the day's end…or else…' His grip tightened immensely. 'It's either me…or Hiwatari.' His knuckles turned white.

"And it sure as hell isn't going to be me!" He slammed the phone down onto its charger, certainly cracking or breaking some part of it upon its violent impact. The boy collapsed on the couch once again. He really didn't need this now. Really…

It took a minute or so before his breathing calmed itself. Still, he took deep breaths through his nose and out his mouth. His mind cleared as his ice blue orbs opened. 'Kai…I don't know how I know, but you must have something important to do with that half-breed I asked for. That's the only reason why you'd abandon me like this.'

He gradually picked himself up and walked towards the front door. 'I could see the emotion in your eyes, and that's already something considering that you'd never be so careless about it.' He tugged his jacket off of the rack and switched to his boots. Soon, he was click-clacking down the stairs to the gate. 'I'm sorry, but I'm not going to let myself or Bryan be subjected to that man's twisted plans.' He locked the gate behind him and quickly headed for Mr. Black's office, hoping to stop Kai before the contract was cancelled. 'You had plenty of time to get yourself out of this Kai, now I'm going to get myself out. Even if that means destroying whatever you're trying to accomplish.'

ooo

Rei stumbled out of the Umber Woods, catching himself before setting foot beyond the barrier. He had to be careful. The sun was beginning to set, but it wasn't too dark, and people could still be walking around. 'Thank goodness Kai lives in the upper part of town.' The raven-haired boy glanced to his right. He had taken a different route, so he was farther from Kai's house than usual. Still, he was lucky; no one seemed to be around at the moment. With a quick observation to his surroundings, Rei grinned to himself and continued on his way. He didn't go into town just yet, he played it safe and stayed inside the woods just enough to give him cover.

'I hope Kai's home, otherwise I would have come all this way for nothing.' The half-breed continued on his way, a little distracted, though not enough to collide into the evident trees. 'After I tell him we're both to blame…will he drop that act he put up before? He knew that I knew he was after me, but hid it all…for my benefit? When I tell him it's all right, really all right, will things get back to normal then? I don't like the way things are now.'

"How long do you plan on staying?" Rei asked.

"…Not much longer. I don't want you to get caught--" The words left his mouth before he comprehended what he had said. He glanced towards the other, yes…he had tensed. "…Caught by Robert. I don't want you to get in trouble." He muttered.

The raven-haired boy didn't know whether to be relieved or not. "Yea…" Biting his lip, Rei groaned. He didn't want to keep avoiding it. "Uh, Kai--"

Said boy stood abruptly. He wasn't ready for this yet. He was still unsure. "Maybe I should go now."

Rei shook his head. 'I hate it. It's like we were modifying our speech. I rather we fight than keep that up.' He stopped, pausing to catch his breath and to check how far he had come. No, not yet…almost.

'Hopefully, we can act normal around each other again.' He looked away. 'I…hate talking to Kai like that.' For some reason, he rested. He leaned against one of the trees along the barrier of the forest. "…What will happen after that?" Came the murmur. He sighed, and as his head tilted forward, locks of his unbound hair fell across the side of his face, veiling his vision. The boy just realized how often he had left it down lately, it'd been a while since it was fully bound in its wrapping. 'Wonder when I stopped…'

"Why? It'll just get in the way if I leave it out." He pushed all of it behind him; however, a few stubborn strands fell over his shoulder. "What good is it if I leave it unbound anyway?"

Kai shrugged. "Well, you went through all the trouble of taking care of it, why not show it off?" He held a few of the silky tresses in his hand, letting them slowly fall across his fingers. "Besides, you look…cute." He finished with a light smile, a very light smile.

His cheeks colored at the memory. That was an awkward day. Still, he felt warmer from the reminisce.

SHEE SHEE

Rei whirled around, his eyes darting back and forth. It sounded like someone was there, watching him. After all, the wind didn't cause bushes to move like that. He walked back the direction he came, keeping his senses alert. 'Someone's here…'

SHEE SHEE

Rei's ears twitched as he shifted his gaze again. The creature was circling him, or at least, that's how it sounded. Golden eyes narrowed. Something was out of place. … And that's when he saw it. A figure was poorly hiding behind a tree no more than a few yards away. Rei could see the coat pressed against the tree trunk, waiting for his guard to drop. Old instincts came back from the days when he used to take out traps and hunters for fun, he smirked.

SHEE

Rei didn't bother to pay attention to those sounds now. They were meant to distract and fool him, but that wouldn't be the case now. He drew out his claws, crouching lower so as not to be seen. This was going to be quick and easy. Only a little more…a few feet…

"Foolish hunter!" Rei lunged for the figure, his sharp nails tearing ten holes through the left sleeve and back of the coat. The only problem was, there was no one in it. Rei blinked, and help it up. It was still warm, and it carried a familiar scent. "…It's almost like--"

SHEE SHEE SHEE

He caught on a little too late. "Oh no!" Before he had time to turn around, someone grabbed the sleeves of the garment, tied Rei into the jacket and held him close, too close to be able to strike. "HEY! Let go of me you--" A moist cloth covered his nose and mouth, pressing strongly against him no matter which way he turned his head. Soon, the smell locked in the fabrics of the cloth began clouding his mind. His vision became blurry and his head felt uncomfortably heavy. "You…uh…" Golden orbs closed, and the boy's head fell to the side as his body went limp. He would have collapsed, if it weren't for the figure holding him up.

The cloth remained for another few seconds, ensuring that the half-breed was knocked out from its intoxicating fumes. "That should be enough for you." It was then tucked away in the person's pocket and Rei was carefully lifted into his arms. With the jacket around him like that, it looked like he was sleeping and being kept warm by it. Since his tail wasn't showing, and raven hair hid his ears, everything appeared normal.

The figure stepped out of the woods and quickly glanced around. No one was around. "Good, no interference." Before he began walking home, he took one last look in the direction that Rei was originally heading in. The person's eyes softened slightly as he lowered his gaze to the unconscious creature. "I'm sorry," His eyes hardened again with a shake of his head. He started back, keeping a firm grasp on the half-breed. The mission was finally over.

(1) It's a familiar house rule. For their own reasons, some families prefer for guests and occupants to wear slippers in the house, either to keep the floor cleaner, or to prevent dust and dirt from tracking in. Tala does this for a reason. If you catch on to the house description, it'll make sense. …But it's not too important. Don't strain and try to figure me out.

SS –I was unsure of my speed here; I pray that it didn't read rushed. :taps temple: My head has been subjected to the utmost pain and ridicule lately…no thanks to those accursed SAT exams. A pox on those exams! :cough: But really, I apologize. This chapter (especially the beginning) was being horribly fickle. Nothing seemed to fit the way I wanted. Still, the turn out wasn't…completely ghastly… :runs to box of Fig Newtons:

Tym – Er…if and when I pry her away from those, I'll be sure to tell her to finish this. She has been a good girl somewhat. She has written out the ending. Now she just needs to fill in the middle. She wrote up four little idea paragraphs…but you know how she tends to…stretch…things. Enough said.

A big THANK YOU to everyone who reviewed :hug: Sometimes I can't believe that people still read this even after she updates about two months later…

Devlinn Reiko-sama, ChibiNekoSakura, Galy, saFire flamE, Omili, MadMaddie, Da-ku Hisaki, Angel Spirit, Tsunami-girl, Cloudy, Kitty, Okami-Jin Puppy of Ice andFire, Porticulis, Jade Cyclone, aishiteru ayu, Akari Angel, Endoh Chiaki, Ilex-Aquifolium, Shadow Tigress aka Kit, and ChaosMaiden!

No replies this time. Sorry if you were expecting something answered, but she's just…really stressed out. Oh my goodness, speaking of reviews…we went over 200? :may a mountain of cookies be at your doorstep…right now: All of you readers are kind to take the time to read, and I quote, "This compilation of loosely strung ideas and thoughts." end quote. You're all very much appreciated. I'll see you next chapter (there shall be a surprise!)! Ashes!

Random things SSG realized in the course of writing this erratic chapter:
1. Sometimes, in order to finish a beginning, it's best to start at the end.
2. I noticed that in some other stories, after two people have just settled/mended things between them and everything looks like it'll be all right, they go and start doubting themselves and each other or they suddenly separate. I used to think this was very irritating, until I realized that I had done it as well.

ooo Oh yea, and about that plot bunny...I'm currently writing down bits and pieces and saving them on my computer. I plan on making it my next project (after LL), if it works out all right after I finish most of it. It's second to this, so it shouldn't interefere with my already...unique updating schedule. If anything, I'll put down my thoughts at my bio. Bye!