Chapter 3

Sorry people! My disk that had all the rest of the story on it had to be formatted, which deleted everything on there! ARGH! But since you waited so patiently, I vow to get all the rest of the story up at once when it's done, again…

Normal POV

"Stop, stop! You're making such a mess!" Droplets of wine speckled over the tile countertop of the island. Kai laughed as Rei took Driger's glass and set it away from all the food before it became drenched. Driger hissed at Rei, but he stopped when Rei emulated him perfectly. "Snap at me all you want, I don't hear a thing." He and Kai had eaten at least three helpings of food and had three glasses of drink, however Kai's was non-alcoholic and Rei's was white wine (A/N: Between you and me, red wine is really nasty, use only for cooking. Red wine also will make your teeth red, or at least pink).

Kai's POV

I can't remember the last time I had such delicious food. Rei can really dish it out. Furthermore I can't remember the last time I said 'Merry Christmas' with a moral emotion. I guess it depends on the people you're used to. Everyone in the orphanage expect me to be grouchy, except for Mother Judy, who wants me to be nice. I want Rei to like me; after all he did kinda save my life. I feel… at ease here at Rei's home. He's laidback, carefree, and his friends mean the world, and I am one of them.

"Your eyes look a little glossy, if that's the right word." I say to him. He doesn't answer. His pupils thin into needle like slits.

"Do you hear that Kai? Someone is coming." he says. He carefully pours another half glass of wine and stands up just as someone knocks on the door. "May I help you?"

"We certainly hope so" Ack! It's Mother Judy!

"Rei!" I whisper urgently. "It's her!" Rei grinned as he walked past me. I don't like that fanged smile; it's way too creepy.

"Then I suggest you make yourself scarce." I can hardly believe my ears.

He's going to protect me. I hope…

Normal POV

Not only was Mother Judy at the door, but Rei's next door neighbor who-holds-a-constant-grudge-against-him-because-he's-a-neko-jin, Mrs. McClain was there as well. Rei's smile simply grew even more. "Good evening, madams." said Rei, bowing (it's traditional for him, whadja expect?). "Merry Christmas." He bit his tongue upon hearing his words slur very slightly.

"It would be if we were not missing a child. I am Mother Judy of the Blue Ridge Orphanage. One of our boys, Kai, has gone missing." Rei motioned for them to come in and sit down. Mrs. McClain kept a beady eye on him, suspicious of his current state; Rei had never allowed anyone to see his hair down before. "We don't think he got far in this weather," continued Mother Judy. "But were making sure. I called up Sarah to ask if she might have seen him."

"Although I had not, I asked her to come over because I thought you might have seen him on your lengthy walks. You of all people should be sure to notice Kai." said Mrs. McClain.

"Perhaps," said Rei. "What does Kai look like?"

"He's soon to be thirteen, has two colored blue hair, a tight black muscle tank top, blue cargo pants and he wears two sets of blue triangles on his cheeks." said Mrs. McClain. Driger leapt up on the top of the couch next to Rei, hissing quietly. Normally Rei would push him onto the floor to make him stop, but he let it slide, busying himself by draining his glass.

"Interesting. Despite what you think I have had no sight of him, but if the descriptions remain true, I'm bound to notice him." Rei said. Mother Judy stood up and Rei opened the door for her.

"Please let us know if you see him." she said.

"Will do madam. Merry Christmas." He leaned out over the threshold to wave good-bye, his hair falling like a curtain. Before he straightened out, a firm hand grabbed a fistful of the glossy raven mass close to his scalp. If looks could kill anyone who crossed his path at that moment would've been dead. No one touched his hair.

"I know you're hiding something." whispered Mrs. McClain venomously. She let go with a painful yank and stood outside the doorstep.

"Being prejudice against a neko-jin will get you nowhere," said Rei calmly, smoothing out his hair. "Lighten up, it's Christmas." She was about to object when he closed the door in her face.

Rei walked back to the kitchen and started putting stuff away. He left out the nearly empty casket of wine plus Kai's fork. Where is Kai, I wonder? He brought out a plate a chilled cheese wonton (A/N: this is a dish from Ten Ren's Tea Time shop and restaurant. It's the wonton fried and shaped into a four-point box flower, and on the inside is warm cream cheese. It is really good and you get about six for 4.95) ad set out a pair of chopsticks for himself and Kai. He thought better than to bring it to Kai, knowing as balanced as he may be, tipsy rules out.

He used the walls to guide him down the hall to his room, his steps calm and quiet. He slowly opened the door to his dark room and looked around, pupil swelling in the light less room. "She is gone Kai." he called softly. As expected the closet door opened and Kai stepped out. He felt his way over to Rei and when he found him, he embraced him.

"Thank you Rei." he said. The y returned to the kitchen, each being guided by the other, Kai, because he couldn't se in the dark and Rei, because he was swaying.

"Thought I'd bring another taste of my homeland." said Rei when Kai looked curiously at the cheese wonton. Rei watched Kai attempt to pick the Chinese treats up with his chopsticks. Kai got even more frustrated when Rei reached in and took a wonton. "It's easy once you get the hang of it." said Rei.

"I'll take your word for that," said Kai, abandoning the chopstick and using his fork. Rei let him have the rest as he finished off the entire bottle of wine. Done at the same time, they smacked their lips. "Those were really good." Rei smiled as he stood up, and almost instantly his eyes closed as he collapsed, falling back. Kai quickly grabbed his shirt and pulled him upright. Rei shook his head groaning.

"Shi-shi, Kai." The young boy smiled, presuming that Rei had said Thank you as he guided him to the living room and let him lie down the love seat (it's a smaller version of the couch, people). He sat on the edge of the love seat, running his fingers through the raven mass. "I understand why you'd want to leave Kai," said Rei. He motioned for Kai to lie down next to him, and he put a protective arm gently on Kai's bandaged side. "But I am not… your legal guardian. If anything were to happen right at this moment, I'd be forced to give you back. That wouldn't be good for me either, I know someone who would just love to accuse me of kidnapping." He held back a yawn

"But nothings going to happen, right?" said Kai. "Rei?" He twisted his head around. The neko-jin was asleep, far beyond being easily woken because of his overindulgence of wine. Kai licked his lips (His lips, not Rei's for all you hentais out there).

"Merry Christmas." Kai whispered, scratching Driger beneath his chin. Driger jumped onto the couch and curled himself in front of Kai, the same fashion Kai was curled in front of Rei.

End of Chapter 3

Thank ya!