Thanks for your reviews: if I forgot someone, I am sooooo sorry!! I have a lot on my mind and I'm really busy lately, so sorry!!!

TNTiggeris: Really, I always thought it was warm down there.

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Obscurus Imber: yup, poor Ray. Tala will be there…later.

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Forfirith: The dark angel: how sweet

The beauty of friendship

Kai lead me down the brightly lit hallways, through a couple rooms and out into the gardens.

The garden was huge. A large gray fountain about 12 feet high sat squarely in the middle of the misty grass. Exotic blue, yellow and orange flowers were found on the trees, bushes and sprouting from the rich topsoil.

I continued to follow Kai to a shady area with a sofa-like bench suspended by thick medal rods that easily rocked back and forth under a great oak.

"Take a seat." Kai instructed standing beside the cushioned swinging bench.

I sat down slowly and looked around, "It's beautiful here."

Kai sat close beside me, "That's why I brought you here."

I blushed slightly, "I guess we're supposed to get to know each other a little more huh?"

"Let's start with you." Kai turned to face me, "Have you ever been out of China?"

"Yes." I answered, "I've been to Japan, the warmer parts of Russia, Switzerland and France. What about you?"

"I've lived in Moscow all my life. I wasn't allowed to go anywhere else. After the old bag of bones died, we came to China."

"Bag of bones?" I questioned, the name chilling me slightly.

"My grandfather." Kai answered bluntly.

"Oh." I wanted to get of the topic quickly, "Do you have any siblings?"

"None, it's better that way. Kids are cute and all, but I've never been a big fan. Lee's you're only brother right?"

"Yes, sometimes he could be a real pain though."

"How so?" Kai asked.

"He pokes his nose where it doesn't belong." I puffed out my cheeks, thinking about how hard he tried to get out why I was jumpy around Kai.

"Cute." Kai chuckled lightly.

"What?" Was calling me cute…again?

"You're cute when you get mad." Kai smirked at my loss for words.

I calmed down and thought of something to say, "You sure aren't afraid to speak your mind are you?"

"What's there to be afraid of?" Kai innocently asked.

"Well there's me for one." I replied, "You don't want to see my bad side."

"You, having a bad side? I find that hard to believe." Kai smirked, "Well other than that time you stepped on my foot."

"You deserved it. You were so rude!" I snapped angrily, although Kai was just playing with me.

"And what did I say that was so rude?" Kai raised and eyebrow.

"You have a weak memory. If you can't remember I won't tell you."

"Don't be stubborn Ray."

"I'm not stubborn!" I pouted.

Kai placed his palms on my shoulder and gently pushed me back in place.

"Getting back on topic." Kai started like nothing had happened, "What are your hobbies?"

I was still fuming and refused to answer. Kai sighed and rubbed his temples.

"Fine, I'll start. I like to sketch, sculpt and read."

That perked my interest and I forgot about my little quarrel with Kai, "Will you show me some of you work?"

The corner of Kai's lips twitched to form a half smile, "Only if you promise to let me draw you after."

I hesitated, if Kai made me do anything odd, I'd murder him on the spot, "Fine. But anything funny and I'm gone."

Kai threw up his hands in defense, laughing he said, "My, my Ray. You don't trust me one bit do you."

"Not if my life depended on it." I growled.

"Really then? I'll just have to change your mind on that now won't I?"

"So you're going to put me in a life threatening situation?" I hissed.

Kai's eye's sparkled with humor, "You'll just have to wait and see."

"Just show me your work." I ordered, getting up suddenly.

Kai chuckled and took the lead, "Just to let you know some of my work is kept in my room."

I stopped short and frowned, "I don't trust you. You're not going to pounce on me are you?"

"Don't worry. If I have the urge to 'pounce' on you, I'll let you know before hand."

I sighed and followed the content Kai back into the palace.

Back through wide hallways and up numerous winding staircases we went, with each step I felt more comfortable around Kai. But did his room have to be so far away?

We finally reached his room door. I watched as Kai pulled out a small brass key and injected it into the key hole, with one swift move the door swung open.

Kai's room was amazing. A large four poster bed with navy sheets and cream pillows sat snugly against one of the walls and a polished dark wood desk occupied the opposite wall. Pens, pencils, carving tools, paint brushes and paints were neatly placed in black medal organizers, along with sheets of textured paper scattered across.

I walked up to the desk and picked up one of the unfinished sketches. It was of a baby phoenix with a small flame sprouting from it's pointed beak.

"I draw first and then I carve it out of a block of wood." Kai explained.

A thought stuck me, "Kai, are all the carvings of phoenixes done by you?"

Kai nodded and shuffled through one of his drawers, "Here's an unfinished one."

I took the plaque I was handed, "Another phoenix. I don't mean to be rude but, why do you draw phoenixes?"

"The Phoenix represents high virtue, grace, power, prosperity, strength, peace, purity and life." Kai started, "That's what I like to think best resembles me. I guess that why all my work is of phoenixes."

"I wasn't expecting such a-" I was cut short by Kai.

"Such a mature answer?"

I reached out to Kai and lightly squeezed his shoulder, "Kai, that's not what I meant. Most people say they don't know why they do what they do. But you gave me an answer that actually satisfied me."

"Still…"

Kai looked so upset I was breaking inside, "Kai, I…"

Suddenly Kai broke out in short bursts of laughter, "You are, so gullible!"

I silently fumed and then let out my rage, "Well sorry for showing some concern!"

"Sit down, I have to show you something." Kai ushered me to his bed and sat me down.

"What is it?" I asked.

Kai quirked an eyebrow slightly, "I'd think you'd be jumping right of the bed. Aren't you afraid that I'd chain you down?"

I puffed out my cheeks, "Very funny Kai."

Kai chuckled and sat beside me, "What animal do you prefer?"

"White tigers." I answered, wondering when he was going to show me this thing.

"Thought as much." Kai looked in my direction and smirked, "You look like a kitten."

I blushed slightly, "And how do I look like a kitten?"

Kai brushed his hand behind my ear, "You have the pointy ears of a cat." Moving down my neck he grabbed onto my hair wrap, "The tail of cat." Dropping his hand to the bed he continued, "And you have such grace."

Now I was blushing like mad, being with Kai defiantly had its perks. A good boost of self confidence is just what the doctor prescribed.

"Here." Kai handed me a rough sketch on manila paper, "It's of a tiger, thought you'd like it."

On the rough paper was a beautiful tiger cub lying on the grass with it's head resting on it's soft paws.

"It's amazing Kai." I praised, closely inspecting the great detail on the cub's soft coat.

"Keep it." Kai simply said getting back up again.

I smiled in return, "Thank you."

"Let's go back to the garden." Kai ordered in a light tone.

"What for?" I asked scratching my head.

"Don't tell me you've forgotten our little deal kitten." Kai teased.

I shifted my weight to my left side, "What deal?"

I watched as Kai moved around the room and picked up a 6B pencil, an ink pen and a thick sketch book. He walked up to me and steered me towards the door.

"Now let's pick a perfect spot to draw you, out you go."

I grumbled but complied, I was in a way, pleased that Kai wanted to draw me. And for some strange reason, I found myself searching for reasons to be around him. It was like an obsession to chocolate. I was attracted to the bittersweet candy that was Kai.

"Sit here."

Kai's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked around my surroundings and noticed I was lead to a remote area of the garden. All around me was nothing but grass. I sat as Kai had said and Kai sat in front of me, cross legged, sketch book open, ready to draw.

"Choose a position." Kai thought about it and then changed his mind, "Actually, keep your legs together and hands somewhat behind your back- like a mermaid."

I giggled at that, just thinking that Kai knows so much about mermaids made me laugh.

"Right then." Kai started to draw, ignoring my little outburst.

After what seemed like mere minutes actually turned out to be 45 minutes and Kai was done. Shifting to sit beside me Kai showed me his work.

"Oh Kai, it's so precise." I cooed, "You really are amazing."

Kai turned his deep gaze towards me and I found myself melting in the warm fire burning deep within his eyes.

"You know." Kai's husky voice sounded, "You still haven't told me your hobbies."

My mind was screaming, 'my hobby is you!' but I chose a more realistic approach to that question, "Well, I like to do pottery, paint and read."

"You know, you'll have to show me your work some day." Kai smirked, eyes half lidded.

"So I'm going to see you after this?" I questioned, the voice of hope leaking in my tone.

"Definitely, you're not going to escape from me that easy." Kai chuckled softly, as if it was only meant for me to hear.

I smiled and he helped me of the ground. We walked back to the palace in a silence so comfortable, in which words were not needed.

NOTE: Well, their bonds definitely have deepened, into a kind of friendship thing. And…I guess next chapter you'll find out more, naturally. I have really nothing to say so, be a dear and review?