Chapter 2
!#&()
Rei's POV
Seems like only yesterday was the last time Christmas was here. I hoped to have the gang over this year, but everyone except Mariah had fallen ill. And as expected, she won't let any of them leave until they're better. I don't envy Lee right now; Mariah normal is bad enough, but super-nitpicky-all-on-your-case is overkill. Still, I can't go a year without cooking something, and it will be to the gang's health… and that Mariah will leave them in one piece.
Hm? What's that noise? I come up into an alley where I heard the noise, a slight crushing sound and a faint moan. "Is someone down there?" I call.
"Lets roll! It's him, he's coming!"
I come close to the end and see a group of teenagers, maybe 17 or 18 rushing over the back way. My gaze lowers, catching the sight of a young boy; I wouldn't put him past twelve, lying in a crumpled heap. Now I know why they were in such a rush; but they're gone and I don't feel like outracing them just to kick their asses. The boy's eyes are barely open as I near him but he says nothing. I don't think he sees me as well as I see him. Ack, what am I saying? The boy is just asking for his death out here, he's in bad shape. Damn, now he's fainted again. Well, it would be against my good nature to leave him out here for any longer.
His cold skin makes my fingers tremble, as does his light body. I brush away the snow that stuck to his hair and my fingers take on a blue tinge. A make up stains his face, for which I'm relieved… I thought it was his skin color.
Normal POVRei took the back wall as well, jumping over no handed with ease. Luckily, his apartment wasn't that far away from where he found Kai. He ascended the emergency exit stairs to avoid prying eyes. He had this grudge with a grouchy Mrs. McClain next door, who didn't trust him as far as the length of his hair (ironically, very long). Even on the best of days, Christmas included, he didn't want a run in with her.
He reached his level and walked down to his door. He shifted his load and unlocked the door, and turned around while closing it, his eyes watchful. He placed Kai on the couch, took off his long sleek jacket and draped it over him. Rei's white tomcat, Driger, came up to Kai's head on the arm of the couch. "Watch him, are you?" said Rei, scratching his cat between the ears. His other hand went through his dampened spiky hair. His back ribbon was coming off, he hated when that happened because it took forever to put back on. "Maybe I'll wear it out tonight?" he said as he made his way to the bathroom. He opened the medicine cabinet and took out some rubbing alcohol and some cotton balls.
He went to his room to get his prized long bandages, like the ones he wore from his wrist to elbow. As he rummaged through his drawer hi red headband fell off allowing his bang s to slick down to his chest. He ignored it as he grabbed the bandages and returned to Kai. He withdrew the jacket and unscrewed the rubbing alcohol. Most of the bruises were small but he wrapped a few of the larger ones on his hands. "I just hope I wasn't too late." said Rei. Driger purred loudly.
Kai's POVOw, ow, ow, ow, ow! Now what's happening to me? It stings all over… something touches my face. Warily, my eyes open. A young woman is sitting over me, her hand holding something to my face. A cotton ball is see when she removes it. Something else I notice much clearer, too. I was right, she does have fangs. Not like a vampire might, more like a cat.
"Driger, get off him." I look to my right as a large white cat steps onto my shoulder, but at the words he jumps down. "Sorry about that."
Okay, so I was wrong. The voice is very out of place to be a girls'. I open my eyes a little wider and see how very flat my guardian is. I can see why one would guess he's a girl; his long hair for one, the white tail curls as he sits on his knees next to me.
Normal POVKai stared at Rei whose golden orange eyes radiated a sense of power. Kai knew the look well when businessmen came to the orphanage. Kai would always be in the shadows watching, but never coming near any of them, not even when the sisters asked for him. The look of power in the men scared Kai, and he feared one day, someone like them was going to take him into a living hell. Rei bore the same look, but to Kai it seemed… different. It gave off a sense of power, true, but it was more like an internal strength unlike any Kai had ever seen before.
Somehow, he knew he was safe with this stranger.
"Sit up will you?" said Rei. Kai tried, wincing as bits of pain went through his back. He felt a firm hand and looked up at Rei supporting him. "I'm not going to even ask how you got into such a state. Take your shirt off." Kai did as he was told. "Where does it hurt the most?"
"Around the middle… a little further up…yes, thank you" Kai said. He had turned around and held his arms out as Rei wrapped the bandages where Kai had said. When he was done, Kai lay back down as Rei gathered up the cotton balls. He smiled warmly at Kai.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Hiwatari Kai, sir."
"Please, you're making me feel old. Just call me Rei." Kai nodded.
"Rei," He looked down at Kai. "Do you celebrate Christmas?" Rei nodded.
"It is especially festive when my friend back home come over, however we are out of luck because they are sick." Rei grinned. "And let's just say they have a very strict doctor."
"Will you mind if I don't partake in your celebration?"
"Yes. Even if you do not wish to say 'Merry Christmas,' I will make you eat something. Nobody can turn down a good home-cooked meal that I whip up." Kai opened to his mouth to object. "I could have let you died, and your in my house, so you must please me by eating."
"When you put it that way…" said Kai, smiling. Rei went to put the stuff away, so Kai followed Driger to the kitchen and sat by him at the island. "I'm not celebrating it… maybe I am…" muttered Kai to himself. He turned to the purring cat. "Merry Christmas." he said to him, testing how well he could say it. Driger meowed back as if to say, "That was good. Merry Christmas." Kai smiled.
"What do you say Kai?" asked Rei, entering the kitchen. "Black or white?"
"Ummm…" Kai noticed Rei holding the black tuft that spontaneously stuck out. "Black." Rei pulled off the white ribbon, the long raven mass spilling out. "Wow…why is it so long?" asked Kai, reaching out to touch it.
"I'm not sure. I guess its influence from my hometown." Rei said, holding out a bit to Kai. He watched the bluenette wrap the lock between his fingers, its smoothness never allowing it to curl. When it slid out of Kai's and Rei withdrew, walking to and fro to make a feast for two.
"When you came and saved me from, ya know, outside, I thought I was imagining your fangs. But they're real." Kai had no intention of telling Rei he accidentally say him as a girl. "Your not part vampire, are you?" Rei laughed.
"Not at all Kai. I'm more of what you call a humanoid cat, or a neko-jin. It's more common, somewhat, where I come from. My eyes are sharper, my ears are keener, and I'm faster and more agile then normal." said Rei. "And don't worry Kai. Everybody at distance glance sees me as a girl. The best part is fooling everyone." Rei smiled as Kai blushed.
"Yeah…" he said giving a nervous laugh. "So, a neko-jin? That's awesome. Can someone become a neko-jin?" he asked.
"Hm… ya know, maybe they can. I'm no expert but I'd think one would have to visit a specialized acupuncturist." Rei placed another dish in the oven and flipped the door up with his foot. "Why would you want to change?" he asked.
Revenge. thought Kai. "I want to be solely independent, and if no one could recognize me, I'd be free from everyone."
"What of your parents?"
"They're… six feet under." Rei gasped. "I ran away from the orphanage that my grandfather left me at. But they're after me, they won't let anyone leave without being adopted."
"I'm sorry to hear that Kai." Kai looked up at him and saw him rubbing the corner of his eye. "Unfortunately, my parents passed away when I was young too. You are lucky that you had someone to take care for you," said Rei. "Whether or not they really appreciated you." he added, seeing the doubt in Kai's eyes. Both were silent for a while, one busying himself with Driger, the other with the dinner.
"How did you survive?"
"Somehow."
"Where did you live?"
"China."
"Were you a master thief?" Kai asked eagerly. Rei whipped around to face him, his pupil a thin slit as his eyes pierced through Kai's enthusiastic bubble. He quivered as his gaze lowered from Rei's inhuman glare.
"Between you and me," said Rei. "I wasn't." Kai looked back up at him questionably. "Of course, no one around here knows half as much about me as you do, Kai. So keep it on the low." The neko-jin smiled at Kai. He returned it with his own.
"I'm going to become independent and free, and become an outlaw if I have to." said Kai. Rei refrained from making a noise. "It'll be easy enough, right?"
"Not for you. You ask too many questions." He turned off the cooking timer and opened the stove. "Not to shabby if I do say so myself." Kai grinned. Rei brought out a steaming dish of marshmallow yams, macaroni lasagna (A/N: you must insist to have this at Christmas, it is the best), some teriyaki kabobs with lamb and green peppers, just for a little hometown flavor, and lastly a BBQ rotisserie chicken.
"Am I drooling?" asked Kai to Driger. "I think I'm drooling." Rei added a basket of fried noodles ("It's tradition, instead of biscuits." said Rei.), two plates with cutlery and three wine glasses. "Three?" Kai voiced.
"One for Driger. He's a spoiled tiger, so he always get a glass." Rei set down two bottles, a white wine slightly overpowering the second bottle. "Before we begin Kai, say just a few things you are appreciative of."
"Ummm…Okay. I am thankful for Christmas Eve, the night I came to despise more than other, because if I didn't, I wouldn't have run away and met Rei and Driger." Kai looked up somewhat apologetically at a grinning Rei.
"Interesting. I am grateful this Christmas for my friends back home, Driger, and my new friend Kai." Rei said. "Let's eat!"
"Merry Christmas Rei."
"Thought you didn't like Christmas." Kai shrugged.
"First time for everything."
"You too Kai, Merry Christmas."
End of chapter one
R&R! Thank ya!