The last chapter sucked so this one is gonna make up for it. Thanks to everybody who reviewed. I can't believe how far I've gotten on this thing. I think that the next chapter will be the last chapter. Maybe I'll do a spinoff series and make several one shots on what happens next. Oh yeah, I almost forgot. If anybody wants to use any of my characters for their stories, go ahead.

Review replies are owed to:

Wreckless Spirit: thanks. I'll try to post up the first chapter sometime next week.

Skarmory: yes, Blue is blind. Wow, you are actually the first person who noticed something unique about their names. I love nighttime almost more than anything in the world. : )

Bladebreakers :thanks. I hope you like the update.

Luckygurl12 : I'm glad you like Blue. She is just so cute. Thanks for reviewing and I hope you like this chapter.

Kyogue: Yeah. I'll try to do a fluff scene. I think I will post it as a separate story because some people may be offended by it.

Atem's Queen of The Nile: I hope you like.

Sorry if I forgot anyone. Okay. I know I'm going to sound stupid to everyone but does anyone now how to change a freaken email address? I don't really like the one I have now and I'm not all that great with computers. Try explaining this to a person who is honestly a little blonde. There is a small fluff scene at the end. No sex though.

Chapter 13: Thinking and Thoughts

Two week later: Kai Hiwatari is still in the burn unit in the hospital. He has a long way to go but is recovering at a rate that has even the doctors stunned. Rei still takes painkillers and he is starting to get tired of the heavy cast on his arm. Starr left the hospital with only minor cuts and scratches. Tala is well...he's busy being himself.

Rei's POV.

Starr sat outside on the wooden railing surrounding the dojo. A storm was approaching in the distance, and ominous clouds loomed in the sky. The scent of rain and damp earth filled my senses and it calmed me. Thunder rumbled low in the sky and lightning flashed in the distance.

I opened the microwave and placed two mugs of water in. Hot tea seemed perfect on a day like this. One minute and thirty seconds later, I dropped the tea bags into the cups, mixed in the sugar, and pushed the door open.

A refreshing wind caressed my face as I walked over to Starr. I placed one mug beside her and sat down on the railing, watching her. She had a faraway look in her eyes, like she was thinking about something that confused her.

"Starr?" I asked and lightly touched her shoulder. I received no response.

"She's only thinking. Its fine." Tala walked over to where I was as the door closed behind him.

"What?" I asked, slightly confused.

He chuckled and his ice blue eyes stared at me. "She gets like this when she's thinking really hard. . Its nothing to worry about. She'll completely zone out sometimes and it can last anywhere from 5 minutes to an entire hour. She just blocks out the whole world and thinks." he explained.

I blinked twice. I had never heard him talk so much. Ever since I found out that Starr and Tala knew each other, the red-headed Russian had become much more open.

He must have seen the expression on my face because he smirked. "I can be quite talkative if I so desire. I can see that this might take a little while for you to adjust to that."

About three minutes later I picked up the insult in his sentence.

"Hey! That wasn't very nice." I told him. His eyes shone with amusement.

"Wow. For a part neko-jin, I'd say your rather slow." he said teasingly.

Before I could retaliate, I found myself rubbing my arm and staring up at a sniggering Tala and one laughing child from the ground below.

"Ha-ha.. The kitty cat fell." chuckled Tala. Skye looked over the railing and copied him. He fell to the floor, giggling and clutching his stomach.

Blue had a startled look on her face. She gripped the railing tightly and inched her way down the wooden steps.

"Rei?" she asked, her voice trembling in fear.

"I'm alright, Blue." I comforted her. She followed my voice and stumbled into my lap. I hugged her with one hand and stood up. I brushed my pants off and guided her up the steps.

"That wasn't nice, Blue. You didn't have to go and push Rei off of the railing. He has a cast on, remember?" Blue shouted angrily.

Skye stared at his sister, head bowed in guilt. He looked meekly at me.

"I'm sorry Rei. For pushing you. I won't do it again."

"Apology accepted." I said.

"Hello, Rei. When did you get here?" Starr asked.

Starr's POV.

I blinked, pulling myself away from my thoughts. Slowly the familiar color and background noise drifted back into my eyes and ears. I saw Rei carefully steering Blue up the stairs. Blue yelled at Skye and he mumbled an apology.

"Hello, Rei. When did you get here?" I asked.

"Actually I've been out here for quite a while. Tala and I were..." I paused, trying to think of a good word.

"Talking." Tala finished. "About what you and I and the kids are going to do now that Boris is gone for good."

Blue and Skye stopped playing as they heard themselves being mentioned. Blue took a huge step towards me and grabbed my pants.

"I wanna stay with Rei. I don't wanna leave. Rei is nice and funny and he is always polite to me. Please, please, please, please let me stay." Blue pleaded. Her eyes darkened to grass green and she clung to my leg tightly.

"Why not? I don't have anywhere else to go. Do you think it would be alright if we lived in Tyson's dojo?" Starr asked. She shivered as a chilly breeze blew by, heavy with the scent of rain. Thunder boomed in the distance and the grass danced as the wind picked up.

I walked over to Starr and sat down. I pulled her into my lap slightly, so her head was resting on my chest. I hugged her tightly and breathed in her scent. She smelled of lilies-of-the-the-valley and lavender.

Starr gave Tala a meaningful look and he heard her unspoken words. He picked up Blue, who jumped slightly at the sudden contact, and went inside. Skye followed immediately and gave Starr a small smile before disappearing after them.

Starr's POV.

"What was that all about?" I heard Rei ask me.

I chose not to answer. Instead I looked up at the night sky, laden heavily with storm clouds. No stars were visible. I sank back into Rei's chest even more and tried to breathe deeply. The nervousness in my stomach slowly subsided and I relaxed in his lap.

The sky darkened as the sun dropped below the trees, casting an eerie orange glow that streaked the clouds. The temperature fell and a light misty rain filled the air. A chilly wind blew by and I shivered involuntarily.

"Cold?" I heard Rei ask. Thunder rumbled in the distance.

"Cold." I replied and turned to face him.

Just then I felt warm, hesitant lips on my own. They pressed softly, carefully, lovingly against my own. I was too shocked to do anything. Almost as soon as it began, the kiss was over. Rei pulled back and looked at me guiltily.

"I'm... I'm sorry, Starr. I don't know what came over..."

I cut him off by reaching down and kissing him. It scared me that I would do something like that but my fear subsided as he began to kiss back. We parted silently and he stared at me. A goofy smile crossed his face and froze there. A red blush tinted his face and I giggled at his expression.

The crickets chirped and night came. All was quiet as I layed there in his lap. He blinked twice and watched the rain fall. Lightning flashed occasionally as the storm passed overhead.

"I guess you aren't cold anymore." he said finally. I just laughed.

Aww! I love the ending of this chapter. I apologize if anyone was offended by the fluffy ending, but I did have a warning at the top. Only one more chapter and that should do it. Then I can get off my fat lazy butt and start working on my other stories seeing as how they have been sooooo neglected. Happy New Year, everyone.