Chapter 2
A loud cracking sound came from the wall as Kai shoved a disheveled looking Rei up against it. A groan of pain erupted from the dark haired boy as his head made contact with the hard wall. Trying to get a hold of his thoughts Rei mumbled under his breath to Kai, "Did you really have to drag me away from the dojo and then slam me up against a wall?"
"Yes," Kai hissed out between his teeth. "What were you doing there? Were you the one who was following me?"
Cautiously Rei placed his hands on top of Kai's and tried to move the other boy's hands off his throat. "I was the one following you, but I only did it because I was worried about you. For the last few years you have been leaving for months and returning to the mansion for a day and then leaving again."
"It is none of your business what I choose to do with my time," Kai growled and tightened his grip on Rei's throat as he pressed the boy into the wall more.
"Maybe, but I've known you since you were human and it's natural for me to worry." Once again Rei tried to remove Kai's hold on him, but his effort was fruitless. Sighing in defeat Rei removed his hands from Kai's. "Will you please let go of my neck already. I may not need to breath, but it's still uncomfortable being strangled."
A bit reluctant Kai released his hold on Rei and waited for the other vampire to continue explaining himself, but when Rei only brushed imaginary dirty off his cloths and remained silent he made to leave, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"Who are those two kids you were watching?" Rei inquired. "I haven't seen you have any contact with humans, unless you're feeding off them, since you were first turned into a vampire. What is so special about those two children?"
"Hn. I don't need to explain myself to you."
X.X.X.X.X.X.X.
"Little dudes! Come out! You know Max has to go home!" Tyson's grandpa's called through out the dojo with Judy following him. When the two kids woke up that morning and heard that Max's mom, Judy, had come to take the little blonde home the two of them went into hiding. "Little dudes I'm serious. Max has to go home!"
"No he doesn't," the muffled cry came the closet.
A smile spread across Grandpa's face. "I wonder where Tyson and Max are hiding?" he said even though he already knew. "I wanted to give them some cookies but I can't find them. I guess I'll just have eat them myself."
"NO!" The two boy's cried out in horror and burst out of the closet and each grabbed onto one of Grandpa's legs. Choruses of "We're here! We're here!" rang from the boys' lips as they tried to prove to their elder they were right in front of him and could have the cookies.
"Max," silence settled over the room at the sound of Judy's quiet and soothing voice. "Max, it's time to go home."
"I wanna stay with Ty," Max pouted. "Please Mommy, can't I stay with Ty a little longer?"
A sad smile took over Judy's face as she shook her head "no," causing the two children to cling to one another. "I promise you can play with Tyson again sometime soon." But Judy's effort to calm the to boys was in vain since they only seemed to hold onto each other more tightly.
"Can't we take Ty with us? We can adopt him and he can be my brother. Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please?"
Judy tried hard not to laugh at the puppy dog faces Max and Tyson were giving her. Sometimes the two boys were just too cute, but at the same time the faces broke her heart. "I'm sorry Max, but we can't adopt Tyson. He already has a family that loves him very much."
Frowning Max scraped his foot across the floor. It was unfair. All he wanted was to play with Tyson. If the only reason why his mom wouldn't adopt Tyson was because of his family then there was only one thing to do. Facing Grandpa Max made another puppy dog face and in a pitiful voice said. "Please grandpa, can we adopt Tyson."
Grandpa smiled down at Max but shook his head. "Sorry Max, but all of us would be upset if Tyson left, but I'll make you a deal." Seeing Max's blue eyes widen in anticipation Grandpa chuckled to himself. "If your mom doesn't mind I'll let Tyson stay with you next weekend."
Max and Tyson's puppy dog eyes were instantly turned on Judy again. The blonde woman smiled at their hopeful glances and nodded her head in approval. Happy yelps burst from the boys as they hugged each other, and expressed their joy to one another. The two adults waited for them to calm down before pulling them apart.
"Thank you for having Max over," Judy said as she clasped her hand around Max's and moved towards the front door.
"No problem," Grandpa replied as he led the two blondes out of the dojo; Tyson following close behind him. "Max is welcomed here anytime. Goodbye."
"Goodbye."
"Bye Ty!" Max shouted over his shoulder as he walked with his mom to their car.
"Bye bye," Tyson said as he waved goodbye to the blonde. Max hadn't even stepped into the car and already he missed the blonde, but at least he had Kai to play with.
X.X.X.X.X.X.
Paint was splattered all over the place. If Tyson's grandpa hadn't told Tyson to put newspaper on the floor then the wooden floorboards would be all the colors of the rainbow. Of course this went unnoticed by the chibi blunette, who was to enthralled with the picture he had finger painted to notice.
Smiling proudly Tyson turned and faced the darkest corner of his bedroom. Flipping the picture around in his hands so the picture could be seen from the corner he said in a cheerful voice, "What do you think Kai? Isn't my picture prettiful?"
Orbs the color of blood opened and gazed heatedly at the picture before a grunt came from their owner. "It's the best finger painted picture I've seen in centuries," Kai spoke in a monotone voice. It was true. Tyson's finger painted picture was the first he'd seen in centuries.
Tyson's smile grew at the compliment. "Yay! Kai likes my picture! Hey Kai guess what!" Tyson didn't wait for Kai to respond, "This is a picture of you!"
Kai's eyebrow twitched in irritation. That gray, bluish, red blob was supposed to be him? The little brat was so lucky that he was going to let that slide, but if the kid ever made another picture like that and called it him Tyson wouldn't live to see another day.
"I'm going to show Hiro my picture," Tyson suddenly announced and before Kai could do anything he left the room and headed towards his brother's bedroom. What little Tyson failed notice however was that he was covered in dripping wet paint.
As Tyson pushed the sliding door to his brother's room open he was met with an empty room. For a moment Tyson's heart fell, but a second later he was as happy as he could be. He'd wait for Hiro to return and then show his picture to his brother. Nodding in silent agreement to his thoughts he sat down on his brother's bed.
Minutes ticked by, but no Hiro. Tyson was growing restless every second and started to walk around the room and look at his brother's stuff. Any item he found interesting he would pick up and examine more closely.
Footsteps could be heard heading to Hiro's room, and deciding to surprise his brother Tyson hid under the bed. Giggling Tyson waited impatiently for Hiro to walk into the room, but soon regretted ever entering the room.
"What the? Tyson! Tyson you are in so much trouble when I find you!"
Tyson cringed in fear at his older brother's voice. Little tears formed in the corner of Tyson's eyes at the anger in Hiro's tone. What had he done to upset his brother? He just wanted to show the older boy his picture of Kai. Growing more scared by the second Tyson curled into a little ball and whimpered to himself.
"Hiro? What's the matter oh-" Tyson's grandpa looked around Hiro's once clean bedroom. Red and blue handprints decorated the room. They covered the walls, the bed, the desk, and Hiro's textbooks. Only one person would have done this, and that person was Tyson. "Hiro calm down. I'm sure the little dude didn't mean to trash your room."
"He shouldn't have been in here in the first place. Look at this mess! How am I supposed to study now? My books are ruined!" Hiro complained to his grandfather. "This is my room, you don't see me going into his room without permission."
"He's only a little kid, give him a break. I promise to talk to him." Grandpa hoped these words would sooth Hiro, but the teen was still upset. Sighing the old man left the room while shouting over his shoulder, "I'll be back with cleaning supplies and help you clean up this mess."
Hiro was fuming. He knew Tyson was a little kid, but he was a teenager and needed his privacy, and what was he going to do about his textbooks! He was supposed to return his books at the end of the school year, but he couldn't return them in this condition. Now he'd have to spend over a hundred dollars buying new textbooks.
A whimper coming from under his bed caught Hiro's attention. Was Tyson still in his room? Cautiously Hiro walked over to his bed, but paused halfway when he heard another whimper. Frowning he finished making his way to the bed, and kneeled down beside it and lifted up the blankets so he could see what lay under it.
Tyson was in a fetal position with fresh tears brimming in his eyes. Hiro reached his hand under the bed and tried to pull his little brother out, but when his hand was less than an inch away the smaller blunette cried out and scooted away from his touch. Frowning at Tyson's reaction Hiro tried again. "Come out Tyson. I'm not going hurt you," Hiro tried to sooth, but instead of soothing the child it only seemed to scare Tyson more. Hiro's hand was only an inch away from Tyson the child screamed and ran out from underneath the bed and ran out of the room.
Hiro was stunned. Tyson had been terrified of him just then. Running his hand through his hair in frustration he berated himself. I really shouldn't have done that, but I was so annoyed. Now he's scared of me what am I going to do?
A piece of paper caught Hiro's attention, and in his daze he picked up the paper only to feel more guilty. It was one of Tyson's paintings; the boy probably had been planning to show it to him. What am I going to do? Will he ever forgive me?
X.X.X.X.X.X.
Max sat quietly as he watched his parents bicker. He didn't really understand it, but when he got home with his mom his dad hadn't been there. He had asked his mom why his dad wasn't home, but the woman said she didn't know. When his dad finally returned he smiled and greeted Max, but when he saw Judy they started bickering.
"I told you I was going to pick up Max," the man said calmly, but it was clear he was upset. "You said you were busy and couldn't do it."
"I pulled some strings and I was able to do it. I thought you would be happy that you wouldn't have to pick him up," Judy replied just as calm, but bitterness filled her voice.
Max watched the conversation with interest. They were talking about him, and they both seemed upset about something. Maybe he had done something wrong and they were mad at him. Bowing his head in shame Max ran up the stairs to his room, and locked his bedroom door.
Grabbing all of his favorite plushies he hugged them close to him, and prayed his parents would forgive him for whatever it was he had done. Tears poured down his cheeks and he hugged his plushies closer to him. Don't let Mommy and Daddy be mad at me! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!
Rubbing his tears away he looked up from his plushies and gasped in shock. His bedroom window was open and a tall boy with long black hair and golden eyes were staring down at him with what looked like pity, but Max was too young to understand that. "W-who are you?" Max stuttered out.
The boy smiled, revealing a sharp fang. "Rei, and you must be Max."
X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.
Kai could only watch as Tyson raced back into his bedroom and threw himself onto his bed and cried. The little boy looked so terrified and helpless. Kai had never seen the boy like this before and it amazed him. Tyson always seemed to radiate with happiness, but at that moment he looked so broken.
"Kai," Tyson's weak voice cried out to the vampire. "Kai. I wanna a hug."
Seconds ticked by, but Kai didn't move. He knew Tyson wanted him to comfort him but it had been centuries since he'd done such a thing. It might only make things worse, but in the end he complied to the little boy's wishes and scooped the blunette into his arms where he held the boy. Slowly Tyson's tears receded and he just laid quietly in Kai's arms.
"Kai?"
"Hn?"
The little boy giggled at the vampire's response. Snuggling deeper into Kai's arms Tyson smiled to himself. "Thank you. I love you. You're my bestest friend."
"Hn." Tyson may say that now, but Kai knew that eventually the blunette's feelings would change and he would grow to hate him.
"Hey Kai, can I ask you a question?" The vampire nodded, and he felt Tyson squirm in his arms to get a better look at him. "Can you paint the thingies that are on your face onto mine?"
Kai smirked, "I could paint them on your face, but that doesn't mean I will."
Tyson pouted and yanked on Kai's shirt to show his displeasure. "Kai! Please! I really really really really really really really really really want them. Please?"
Kai was about to answer but he stopped and gazed hard at Tyson's door. The chibi bluenette looked at the door too, but couldn't see what caught Kai's attention. When Kai let go of him and went back into the shadows Tyson frowned. The dual haired vampire always did that and it was very upsetting to him.
"Tyson," Hiro's quiet voice asked through the door. "Tyson can I please come in?"
Forgetting everything that happened before Tyson smiled and excitedly opened his door and hugged his brother's leg while crying out in joy, "Hiro!"
Hiro looked at Tyson curiously but shrugged off the sudden mood change in his brother's attitude and smiled. "Hey Tyson, I just finished cleaning my room and I was going to go get some ice cream. Do you want to get some with me?"
"Yes!" Tyson answered instantly and clung to his brother's leg more tightly. "I want ice cream! Ice cream please!"
Detaching Tyson from his leg, Hiro took hold of Tyson's hand and led the little boy out of the room. "Alright let's get some ice cream."
X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.
"How'd you know my name?" Max asked Rei. The older boy looked friendly, but his parents always did tell him he shouldn't trust strangers, or was it talk to strangers? Either way, Max didn't know what to make of Rei.
"I overheard you and your friend Tyson talking," Rei said and watched the blonde closely. Max didn't look scared, but the boy did look uncomfortable, which was understandable considering it wasn't everyday someone you don't know is sitting on your windowsill.
"How do you know Tyson?"
"I was following my friend who is a friend of Tyson's."
Max accepted Rei's answer and smiled at the older boy. "If your friends with a friend of Tyson's then your not a stranger so I can talk to you right?"
Rei nodded his head. "Yes, you can talk to me but-" Rei was cut off at the sound of the blonde's door opening.
"Max I heard voices who are you talking to?" Judy peered into the room and frowned at something.
"Mommy! I was only talking to my friend Rei! He's sitting in the window Mommy!" Max answered excitedly.
"Max," Judy said cautiously not knowing how to break the news to Max. "There's no one here. You're the only one here."
Confused Max looked back at the window to see it open, but there was no trace of Rei.
X.X.X.X.X.X.
Hey does anyone know the first name of Max's dad?