Well, here we are at the end of another fic... Kai has been un-insaneified, Tala has a job, and all the rest! Thank you to everyone who reviewed, and special thanks to the people who've stuck with this and reviewed all the way through! The replies might be a bit iffy, but I was at a sleepover last night and I didn't get to sleep till three am, then got woken back up at six am by the friends who kept me up all night with their snoring. So much for a peaceful life, huh?
Little-Purple-Phoenix: Yeah, I liked making Tala good with children, seeing as it's not normally something you'd associate with him...
Thin-K: I'm glad you've enjoyed it. It makes me happy when people say things like that because it reassures me that people read my stuff and actually like it...
Kanilla: Head swellery of the most high order! And yeah, me and my friends are like that too...especially at two am while watching the third Harry Potter movie ("That didn't happen in the book!").
Endoh Chiaki: I hurried, and here it is.
kaei kon: I'm not angry, but I will be if I go back in a while and don't find my name in it somewhere... And yeah, I love Kai being all protective of Rei even when he's insane!
Just that good: I really liked writing the bits with Tala and the children in. I don't know why but they made me feel all nice inside...
animeobsession: Yeah, Shakey-boy did invent words, tons of them. I can't remember any off the top of my head, but he did...
KyokiXKurama: Un-insaneified? Yeah. I was going to leave him insane at one point, but then I thoughtthat was maybe a little -too- cruel, even for me...
Reis1gurl: Hum. It wasn't such a bad idea, actually, but I had this chapter written a while back. I just wasn't happy with a few details so I kept changing them until I was happy, that's what I do with most of my fics...
WolfDemonQueen: I know. I like putting in cute bits at the end of fics because it feels like they've deserved it, what with the whole being insane thing and all the other horrible things I do to the characters...
miriam906: Yep, I'm afraid this is the last chapter...but there'll be another one along soon, so don't worry!
SoulSister: I know, I hate Voltaire too. I mean even in the anime he's a bit weird...all those little boys running around getting sweaty...I think him and Boris are in cahoots, to be honest, but then again I'm hideously paranoid...
VGMaster04: Thank you, and here it is.
Ice Spirit: Rock on live8! I'm in virtual Edinburgh as well, and on the live8 list. I hope those politicians get the picture...
ArcticalWolf: You squee too! Me and my friends do that when something is almost painfully cute or mean. Keep on squeeing! It's a fun (albeit rather strange) habit!
PandaPjays: There shall be no bapping...I think Rei did enough of that for both of them! But yeah, Kai's getting out. I couldn't leave him in there, that would've been -too- mean...
Prozacfairy: The endings are almost always happy, and this one is no exception. Cuteness shall ensue! Although…perhaps one of these days I should write about a very UNhappy ending, to break the pattern?
Ellen: I appoint you as official Voltaire-beater. He needs one, what with all those dastardly crimes he commits... God, I sound like a crime video...I suppose that's what I get for watching the pink panther movie at midnight...
MikeyWaysgirl: Aww, Tyson's not that bad! He's just incredibly stupid...and eats too much...but I take your point. He should just have his talking privileges revoked, then he'd be much better!
Echo in the Dark: Nah, he isn't quite out yet, but he will be soon!
skimmie: Here it is!
Celestial-Dragon-Demon: This one's over, but there'll be more! I was quite sad when I got to the end of this, but happy at the same time. It's the longest fic I've written so far, so I'm kinda proud of it...
CreativeChilde: Hee, I'm glad you liked it, and thanks for being so nice about my writing!
studio: No...I just write the stuff and post it...half the time my fingers end up running away with me. And thank you for being so nice about my stuff- it's nice to know people don't think it's absolute tripe!
Mei Kimari: Are yours going funny too? I swear, they just AREN'T reporting updates…I've checked my spam filter and everything off the help thing…I'll just have to go back to checking my review history, like I had to before I had my own email account...
And now 'dun dun dun' the LAST chapter!
"Kai?" Kai looked up at Rei and smiled.
"Dobre den, Rei."
Rei stuck his tongue out and pulled Kai up off his beanbag. "Save the Russian lessons until after we get home." Kai smirked and pulled Rei closer, kissing him softly.
"It's strange to think I'll be going home. I've been here for...well...ages."
"Come on, come on, stop reminiscing and let's get going! Everyone's dying to see you again!"
"But I wanted to go and thank Angelina before I leave..."
"She's not in today, she's on call. Come -on- Kai!" Kai allowed Rei to drag him outside, then paused, looking back inside his old room and smiling before closing the door.
"I hope you don't mind, but I left Lapushka in there. I hope...that the next person in there can get as much comfort out of it as I did."
Rei made nor reply, only took hold of Kai's hand, pulling him towards the door. As they stepped outside, it started to rain. Kai smiled softly and let a few drops gather on the back of his free hand before wiping them away on his shirt. "You know, I'm glad it's raining. I don't think I could have faced the sun after so long of not seeing it. Rain isn't as nice...but it's easier on the eyes..."
Rei shook his head, giggling with the euphoria of finally having Kai outside of the hospital, and dragged him towards the waiting taxi. "Rei...Rei, just calm down. It's not that big of a deal..."
"Yes it is!" Rei protested, snuggling up to Kai and hugging him tightly, almost possessively. "Yes it is because…because I say so!"
Kai laid an arm around Rei's shoulders, sighing. "Rei...thank you. For everything you've done for me. I love you."
"Ya tebya lyublyu, Kai." Kai looked down at Rei, quizzical, and Rei winked. "I made Tala teach me how to say it properly."
He nuzzled his face into Kai's chest, purring softly. "I'm so happy, Kai..." He looked up, reaching up a hand to cup Kai's cheek. "I'm so glad I have you back..." He leaned forwards, kissing Kai tenderly. Kai moaned and deepened the kiss, before pulling away to nibble at Rei's lower lip. The taxi slowed suddenly and Rei jumped, excited again. "Kai, we're here!" He chivvied Kai out, pushing him towards the front door of the house. As they went inside, Rei hushed Kai, putting a finger to his lips and sneaking towards the kitchen, pulling Kai with him, opening the door in one swift movement and walking inside.
The Bladebreakers and the Demolition Boys were sitting around the kitchen, at the table and leaning against worktops, all chattering happily, but as Kai and Rei came in they fell silent. Kai saw the deception immediately. "You didn't tell them I was coming, did you?" Rei shook his head. "You little minx..." Everyone else stood stupefied for a second, then Tala seemed to snap out of if and laughed.
"Kai!" The redhead hurried over and threw his arms around his friend, laughing with joy. "We missed you..." Spurred on by Tala's actions, the rest of the group ran to join in the hug as well. After a few minutes, they all calmed down enough to let Kai breathe, ushering him to sit down at the kitchen table, plying him with drinks and food. He politely declined Tyson's offer of cookies, with a small smile.
Sitting there, a cup of coffee in one hand, and Rei holding his other, he was happier than he'd ever been before. They all liked him. They all wanted him to be better, not worse. But then, he knew that already; after several long and arduous sessions with Angelina he'd managed to get rid of his irrational fears, and finally accept that the past was gone, and there was nothing more to be said about it.
"Kai..." Tala said tentatively, after a while.
"Mm?"
"I...well, I don't know if you know, but I'm working part-time at an orphanage now...and I was wondering...well, there's this one kid...and he's been through sort of the same kind of things as you. I was wondering...could you give me a hand? You don't have to see him if you don't want to, but..." He smiled apologetically. "Sorry to ask you about something like this just after you've gotten out..."
"When's the best time for me to see him?"
Kai walked into the orphanage behind Tala, glad that it was Tala and not him that received the crowd of chattering children crowding him. The ever-cheerful redhead waded through them, giving hugs and greetings as he went. It made Kai smile, seeing that Tala could cheer them up like that. "Come on, come on, go back to playing, Uncle Tala's got work to do!" He said brightly. The children obeyed, but only after he promised he'd play games with them later.
Kai allowed himself to be led up the stairs, to a small room at the end of the corridor. It was bright and clean, with pale blue walls and a fluffy carpet. There was nothing in it, apart from what seemed to be a little heap of clothes in one corner. Tala sighed. "Is it okay if I leave you alone with him?" Kai nodded, and Tala left. As he did, the bundle of clothes moved, turning into a little boy, about eight or nine years old, with messy blonde hair and a fearsome glare. Kai merely sat down a couple of metres away and looked at the wall.
Out of the corner of his eyes, he watched the child move closer, closer still, then turned as the small boy jabbed him in the arm. He whimpered and shrank away. "Don't hurt me..." The child looked puzzled. "Please don't do bad things to me..." Even more puzzled. Kai crawled backwards slightly, pretending to shake. "I'm scared..."
"...S-so am I..." The boy whispered, voice cracked and husky. "Who're you?"
"K-Kai...who're you?"
"V-Vladimir...w-why are you scared?"
Kai's eyes darted left and right before he replied. "My Grandfather...he...he hurt me...and I'm scared in case he comes back..." Vladimir blinked.
"Y-your grandfather?"
Kai nodded. "And they're angry with me because I...I hurt someone but they were trying to cuddle me and I didn't like it!" He looked concerned. "Why are you scared?"
"My Mama...she tried to...to kill me...and I...I'm scared..." Kai felt himself crying inside as he considered the best way to handle the situation.
"Is she still around? Is she near here?" He looked around fearfully. "Will she hurt me?" The child laid a comforting hand on his arm.
"She's in heaven."
"S-so she can't hurt us?" The child blinked, and opened his mouth, then closed it again.
"N...no..." He said eventually. Kai came closer, sitting with his legs crossed.
"Are you still scared?"
"No..." Kai smiled.
"Well if you're not scared, I'm not scared! Have you met Tala?"
"...He doesn't like me. I bit him..." Kai thought fast, and then smiled.
"I've been nastier to him, and he still likes me. Shall we go and see what everyone else is playing?" Vladimir nodded, and Kai gathered him up into his arms, carrying him downstairs. He deposited Vladimir among the other children, close to Tala, who quickly befriended him. Kai left, musing on everything that had happened. It was easier to repair the damage for children, but if you left them and left them it would always end up worse. It was better to solve the problems quickly than to let them mature...
His fingers fiddled with the mobile in his pocket. With Voltaire in prison for life, they'd handed over all the Hiwatari wealth to him... Surely he could live without a few of Voltaire's millions? There would still be plenty left, even after that... Decisively, he called his bank.
"Good afternoon this is Anna speaking, how may I help you?"
"This is Kai Hiwatari. I want you to send me an email detailing the names and bank accounts of any and all of the children's charities you can think of."
"...Certainly, sir, do you want it sent to your home email address?"
"Yes. Can you give me the contact details of the heads of all the organisations as well, please?"
"Right away, sir!"
Kai rang off, smiling.
"Kai?"
"Mm?" Kai looked up from his computer to find Rei standing beside him, looking worried.
"Kai, you've been on there for hours..."
"I know, but it's important. I'm transferring money."
"To who? From where?"
"To the..." He glanced at the screen. "Forty-seven children's charities the bank told me about. I'm on the last one now."
"You're giving them money?"
"Mm-hm. I'm sure half a million pounds wouldn't go amiss with any of them. I don't have people skills like Tala, but I'm going to help. You see, when I was talking to that child today, I realised that if you don't want a problem to become worse, then you have to solve it when it first happens. Children are amazing at recovering from things, but if you leave their problems to mature with them into adulthood, they just get worse, and harder and harder to solve.
"I'm almost glad that you and Tyson provoked me when you did, because it would have been even worse if it had happened later, I might never have recovered. Actually, I was looking into becoming the patron of one of these charities, or even starting my own...what do you think?"
Rei smiled and nodded. "I think you're better with people than you think, Kai, but...yes. I think it's a wonderful idea." He leaned in closer, whispering in Kai's ear. "Come and find me when you're done, I've got a present for you..." With a parting brush of his hand over Kai's crotch, he left the study. They were staying in Kai's new house- he'd sold the mansion. After all, it was really too big for just two people.
He finished his typing quickly, saved all the open documents, and sat back, sighing. After a minute or so of massaging his aching wrists and rubbing his overworked eyes, he stood up, walking into the bathroom to relieve himself. He flushed the toilet, washed his hands, and turned, to find Rei standing there with a mysterious smirk on his face. "Are you done working?" Kai nodded. "Good, I can give you your present, then..."
He started to unbutton Kai's shirt, but Kai grabbed his hands. "Rei, Tyson and Max are staying over...we can't...not now!"
"They're watching a movie downstairs, and they're eating so much popcorn and cheese they'll be too high to hear themselves talking, never mind what we're doing up here..." Kai looked doubtful, but Rei just smirked again. "Kai, I don't care if they do hear us. Kitty's in heat, and Kitty wants you to make love to him -right now-..."
Kai smiled for the first time. "Where's my present, then?" Rei smirked in a very uncharacteristic way and finished unbuttoning Kai's shirt.
"You've never been with a neko-jin in heat, have you?"
"No…" Kai said, almost doubtfully.
"Your present just got better then. Now come on." Kai let Rei drag him into their bedroom, smiling. He would have to be insane to pass up that opportunity...
Fin
Well, what do you guys think? I made Rei into a little bit of a pervert, and once again shamelessly abused his cat side as a plot point, but that's just fun to do... Kai's like scrooge...he started off being mean to Tyson and now he's helping all the little children. Bless him!
Next fic up will probably be one about Kai cheating on Rei… It was on my bio as in progress, but I got into a plothole and couldn't get myself out so I abandoned it, then decided I shouldn't be so lazy… Now (hopefully) it's plothole free, but it isn't all that long. Three or four chapters max, but hey.
Anyway, R&R please!