Title: Our First Noel
Authoress: Ladya C. Maxine
Rating: T
Summary: see chapter one
Warnings: see chapter one
Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade or any of its characters. Any and all unrecognizable characters belong solely to me and are not to be touched. I am not making any money off of this and I write with the sole intention to entertain.
A/N: I made a little counting error. Chapter one was supposed to be the 12th day; instead I made it out to basically be the 13th day till Christmas. I corrected the amount of days left in all the chapters. It doesn't impact the story but it had made room for one chapter too many.
SMACK
"Gaaaaah!"
"Look out!"
"Tyson, you're supposed to shout a warning before you throw the snowball!" Kenny whines, wiping off the remnants of ice off his glasses.
"I did. It's just that my snowballs are faster than the speed of sound!"
"Right on!" Max laughs, high-fiving Tyson with his mitten-protected hand.
SMACK
SMACK
"Hey!" they both yell, turning to Daichi who is badly pretending to be just as offended.
"Now who threw that?" he demands, looking around for the 'culprit'.
"Get him!"
"Aaaaaagh!"
Running for his short life, Tyson and Max hot on his heels, or as fast as they can go in knee-high snow, Daichi ducks and dodges the handful of snow they toss at him since they aren't taking the time to actually mold decent globes out of them. Meanwhile, Kenny still trying to get all the snow off of him. Why he doesn't just let it melt is his problem; he continues to wipe off the cold stuff, wondering out loud as to why Hillary lead us out here only to ditch us and run off, saying something about getting the 'surprise' she mentioned yesterday.
It is a rather heartwarming scene, friends frolicking about in the snow, residential geek sitting in the snow, residential cheerleader having disappeared up the snowy path of the park. So snowy. So happy and carefree…
Makes me want to puke.
Oh wait.
Been there, done that.
On Kai's boots!
Yes, I'm still brooding over that. Wouldn't you? Go hurl forth all over your idol's shoe wear and see how you feel afterwards. There's space here next to me on the picnic table's bench when you're done; we can form our very own private losers' club. I'm head chairman, though. Together we, and all those who have regurgitated on their crushes can sit and brood together. We'll have weekly crying sessions and I promise extended pigging-out sessions for all members. If one of us can no longer take it, the rest will ease his passing by shooting him once in the head.
Ain't I a spot of sunshine this afternoon?
Unable to hold it in, I sneeze. One of those really big ones where you practically dehydrate yourself with the amount of body fluid you expel. And, given yesterday's incident, I don't have that much left in me to begin with. But I don't want to think about that anymore (that group therapy has gotten me all depressed) so let me occupy myself with wondering how I'm going to wipe the bugger off me. Do I use my gloves? Ew. My scarf? Like Kenny…Hell no. This handkerchief that is being dangled before my face? Maybe…
Welcome back to Earth, Ray Kon.
It is a known fact that handkerchiefs don't just dangle on their own, meaning that someone is offering me this one. Hillary hasn't returned yet and I can still hear Tymachi's various battle cries, mixed with Kenny's girlish screams as they now chase him with snowballs. So, by simple logic of deduction, that leaves…
"Kai?" I ask, one hand still covering my lower face.
"You need it or not?"
Grabbing the white cloth, I quickly wipe my nose and look up. But he isn't there. Is this one of those weird dream-like moments where you think something has happened but it didn't but then you find proof that it had to have happened? No? Am I the only person these things happen to? I suppose I have now reached the stage of wanting Kai so badly that I'm starting to imagine him with me.
"Hillary isn't back yet?"
Whew, I'm not imagining things. Turns out Kai has simply taken a seat next to me on the bench. I now declare this bench off limits to all.
Of course, a very explicit image of my little sick fest yesterday reels before my eyes right now to remind me not to feel happy around Kai. But I haven't seen him since said incident, which hurt me pretty badly. Sure, having someone barf all over your boots, and I do believe they were a very pricey designer pair, wasn't very pleasant, but he could have at least come by to see if I was feeling better. What if I had gotten food poisoning and died during the night? Allow me to stop being all lovey-dovey for a moment and wish that Kai would have then lived the rest of his life in deep regret for not having put down the cleaning brush and look me up.
But I can't hold a grudge, especially against Kai. So I am very happy that he is here. Too bad I'm still too embarrassed to look him in the eyes. First my puke on his boots, now my snot on his handkerchief, though he did offer it. So far every encounter with Kai has led me to spout body fluids…Okay, that sounded so wrong. Heh-heh, naughty thoughts.
"How did you find us?" I ask, using the snow battle before us as a distraction to delay meeting his eyes.
"Bruce told me you'd be here."
"Oh."
We lapse into silence, watching as Daichi stuffs a fair amount of snow down the back of Tyson's pants while Max pelts poor Kenny, who is turning blue from the cold, with the watermelon sized snowball he'd been working on for the past five minutes. If it weren't for Kenny's tortured shrieks I'd say they were the very image of good-time playfulness.
Alright, my team mates are still alive. Great for them. Back to Kai.
Despite some severe downfalls, I have actually mastered the skill of talking when around Kai. Let's see if I have learned anything valuable.
"Kai?"
"Hn?"
Ah, an I'm-listening-on-my-own-free-will 'hn'. I'm encouraged.
"About…About what happened yesterday…"
"Don't worry about it."
Surprised, I actually turn. He's looking right at me, and seems to have been doing so for some time. Blushing, and thankful that its so cold as I can blame the temperature if he should ask, I smile slightly though am still ashamed.
"Thatwasn't my most elegant moment," I say. "Sorry. If you want I can pay you for the boots."
He raises a brow.
"Do you have seven hundred dollars to spend on rare Russian-made hiking boots?"
Seven hundred…Seven hundred! They're just a pair of shoes, for sod's sakes! Who spends so much money on things you'll use to step in gum and dog poop? Ah, silly me. That never happens to Kai, who, in case you have forgotten, is immortal. I bet his shoes have never seen a trace of filth. Until Retching Ray came along. I tainted a god. Yup, I'm bound to hell. Wait, if the expression is 'hell bound', then can I separate the two words to fit in a sentence?
Ray, shut up and focus.
"Just forget it. I can get new ones."
"I'm still very sorry. I promise to try and warn you next time."
"I'd appreciate it," he replies…and smiles.
Landmark! People, we have a landmark moment here!
It isn't a broad smile. Nor is it an average sized one either. I wouldn't call it a small smile, now that I think of it. But what I do know is that it isn't a smirk, yet the corner of that frustratingly kissable mouth is slightly upturned. Combine that with the fact that, since his head is tilted slightly downwards, he is looking up through those wild bangs, and my stomach is beginning to flutter madly. Please don't tell me that I'm about to throw up!
Luckily, I'm not. Relieved, I return his smile (as I really believe that it is one) and, feeling a bit more at ease, look back to our friends who are trying to make snow angels on the ground. Unfortunately, Max chose a pretty deep section of snow to fall back into and is now partially buried in it while the other are digging him out, laughing and joking. As cute as the scene is, my attention is quickly returned to Kai when he calls my name softly.
"Sorry for not coming by to see if you were feeling better last night."
I can only stare, then I look around, hoping that I have at least one eyewitness who can tell me that Kai Hiwatari has indeed just apologized to me. How often does Kai apologize? To me, never, that's for sure. In fact, there's only one time any of us have ever heard him utter that word and that was when he had been a bit late for a meeting and had told Mr. Dickenson upon arrival that he was sorry for his tardiness. And I write that off as being more formal than actually regretting his actions.
I take back that little comment I mentioned earlier about hoping that Kai would have lived in eternal grief had I died. May no ill ever befall him!
"No big deal," I shrug casually.
What? Do you expect me to tell him that I cried myself to sleep last night? You've been listening to my inner ramblings for five days now and you still don't know me that well, do you?
"Here."
Again, he holds out something that had been sitting next to him on the bench. By the way, I have pocketed his handkerchief. It's not like he'll be wanting it back now that I've smeared snot all in it. I'm going to clean it when we get back. That will give me a good-enough excuse to hunt him down when the time comes to return it. For now, I accept the moderately sized flat box. I wanted to 'accidentally' brush his hand with my fingers, but I can't because the box is too big for our hands to meet. Damn.
"What's this?"
He shrugs, meaning that I'm going to have to find out myself. Carefully removing the plain but shiny wrapping, I turn it over and can't help myself from gasping really loudly.
"Are these…?"
"You wanted them," he answers my wide-eyed stare coolly.
"Yeah…but…"
"After those Christmas cup things I figured you'd appreciate real chocolate. I would have given them sooner, but I wasn't sure if your stomach could handle them yet."
My finger are trembling despite my warm gloves as I lift the top off to reveal a tray of Christmas-shaped Swiss chocolates. 24 pieces of pure cocoa goodness. No, wait…two trays! Make that 48 pieces of bliss. 49 if you include the sweetness of Kai's actions. Yeah, that was lame, but I'm too flattered to care. These look a lot fancier than the ones I showed him yesterday and yet here I'm sitting with four dozen. I'm…I'm too overwhelmed. Closing the box carefully, I hold it back out to Kai.
"I can't accept these…not after what happened yesterday…I ruined your boots and…and these are too expensive and…I really wanted them…but I didn't mean that you had to buy them for me…but…you really didn't have to buy them for me and…and…but it's very nice that your did…and I'm very surprised that you did…but I…I can't take them."
SPLAT
That's the sound of my progress hitting the floor.
"Forget about the boots," Kai insists, getting to his feet and smoothing out his coat. "And the price."
Pulling myself together, I stand as well, clutching the box close to me despite my former hesitation.
"I promise I'll pay you back. My family usually sends money from China so I can buy you something extra for Christmas. If I ask them for a bit more cash I think I'll even be able to pay for new boots, or anything else you may want. How about--"
"Ray."
I snap my mouth shut so quickly my teeth actually click. Ow.
"I don't want you to buy me anything. I bought them for you as a get-well present. Let's leave it at that, okay?"
I nod but am now unable to look away from those deep eyes.
Oh Lord, why do things have to be so complicated? I used to think that being in love with a guy who doesn't even notice me was bad. I was wrong. Being in love with someone who is standing before me, talking to me and buying me gifts, but not feeling the same way as I do, is a lot worse. These chocolates, to him, are just chocolates, given to a team mate who was recently ill. There are no hidden messages or meanings behind his action. But…I can't help wishing that it were so. I can't help hoping to see something, anything resembling fondness in those crimson eyes. All I can see is the same old barrier he built three years ago when he was named our team captain.
"Oh…If you insist," I say. "Thanks all the same."
Will he smile again? Will he say something that I can then foolishly interpret as something else, just for the heck of believing that he does care? If only my family, the same one that sends me money every Christmas, could hear my thoughts. I'll be getting nothing but coal if they ever find out where my preference really lies.
Kai, having had enough of socializing, and our team mates' constant rough housing, strolls off though I'm sure he'll stick around since he, like the rest of us, is somewhat curios as to what this great big secret is. Once I'm sure he's out of hearing range, I sink back down onto the cold bench with a loud sigh, looking dotingly at my box of Swiss chocolates. These will make my Kai-dreaming a lot more…interesting.
Bad thoughts. Bad, bad thoughts. I can practically hear my elders disowning me.
Life is so unfair! Everyone just assumes that me being a guy means that I have to like girls. Sure, it is the natural thing to like the member of the opposite sex. But how many people like unnatural stuff and get away with it? Flying is unnatural, right? If people were meant to fly then we'd have wings and tail feathers. So why aren't the inventors of planes and those who use them called heathens and blasphemous demons? People who have plastic surgery aren't condemned to Hell. They stretch and shrink every part of the body given to them by God in hopes of delaying aging, but you can't go anywhere without seeing a woman with one boob job too many or a guy whose chin looks too prominent to be real. All lies and fakes, and unnatural, and no one gives them a second thought. But let the media find out that I am crushing on my team captain and I'd make headline news that would get more coverage than the O.J. Simpson trial.
And even then, I'm still worse off than others who are like me. I should be proud that when people look at me they naturally assume that I am straight. I mean, that's what every heterosexual guy prefers, right? And yet, there are some that, even though they are also…queer, they manage to pull it off. Example? Oliver. You know, little cute-as-a-button Oliver, from the Majestics? It doesn't take a genius to figure out what's going on there, but that's exactly what 'excuses' him. Still don't understand? Let me be blunt: he just looks gay. The way he acts, the way he dresses, the way he walks, the way he talks; he just exudes 'merriness', so every one knows he's gay. His team mates don't seem to care. They're a pretty bright bunch (probably all home-schooled by some costly professor) so I know that they've figured it out, even if Oliver has never officially stated it, but they don't let it faze them. Well, Johnny is a bit more short-tempered when around Oliver, probably afraid that he's going to start hitting on him, and Enrique is too much of a ladies' man to be of much support, but both they and Robert, who is just too well-bred to make any offending comments, accept Oliver as a team mate and a friend. As for his parents, I'm guessing that when one has such a talented son as Oliver, who can cook, beyblade, paint, model and did the interior decorating for the French president's mansion all by himself, one tends to let the whole gay thing slide.
Me? Ha!
As I've mentioned before, my background isn't as lenient about the whole thing. My mother's been pairing me up with various girls from the village ever since I hit puberty. My father has demanded at least two grandsons out of me. My aunts have offered me all my cousin's old baby clothes. My uncles have offered to plan my bachelor party, or a neko-jin version of one. And my grandparents, the ones still living, have vowed to give me and my future wife everlasting blessing should I get married before they die. Oh, not that they are pressuring me, they assure. No pressure at all. Puh-lease!
Me coming out of the closet will kinda put a damper on everyone's plans. Call me a bit selfish, but what about whatI want? Is it really that weird that I might want to decide how to live my life? If I marry some girl then my family will be all happy and proud, but they are all a lot older than me and when they die I'll be left with some old hag as my wife, who would have figured me out by then and so, since divorce is something unheard of amongst neko-jin, give me hell till the end of my suffering days.
Now, compare all that to the possible future I may have with Kai. Well, I myself haven't thought of anything except for the amazing sex we'd have together, but I'm sure that the rest would run smoothly as well.
Ah, but now the tricky part. Even if I am to ever gather up the courage to tell my family the truth, what are my chances that Kai would be all honky-dory with it?
Obviously, Kai isn't Oliver. Kai's the epitome of mankind. He's the perfect specimen of a teenaged male. He has the attitude, the built, the mentality. You'd have to be stoned before you can even imagine a single thing about him to be a bit effeminate.
Also not promising is the fact that he has never shown any romantic inclination to anyone, female or male. He's anti-social but, being the epitome of a teenager, the guy must have gone through the whole hormone thing during which he had 'urges'. God knows I went through mine. What am I saying? I'm still stuck in it!
Reason numero three as to why Kai is highly doubtfully gay. The guy was born and raised in an abbey. Boris may be an evil mastermind, but he's also something akin to a monk, which I've always found pretty dubious, but it seems to work in Russia. That old goat must have pounded the bible into Kai's skull from an early age. Though he hasn't shown any extraordinary devotion to his religion, when with us it is noticeable that he is a Christian, whereas the rest of us are more into Buddhist and Shinto ways of life.
And, let's not forget the fact Kai's grandfather, Mr. High-and-Mighty/Wanna-Rule-The-Earth Voltaire Hiwatari. Don't know him personally, but we did see him a fair few times during our first world championship and just looking at the guy tells you that he's got a 2-by-4 stuck up his ass with traditional values written all over it.
So, not only would I have to deal with society and my family, with their backwards way of thinking, but I also have to worry about Kai and his family and morals and the fact that being with Kai would mean that I'd have Voltaire breathing his old bad breath down my neck. Man, and people say that Romeo and Juliet had it bad.
Well, that was some nice inner turmoil-ing. It's good to sink into depression at least once a day; after thinking about that you're day simply cannot get any worse.
"Hey guys! I'm back!"
No, Hillary's timely entrance cue isn't going to make me change my mind.
Running down the path towards us, she veers in my direction since Tymachi are currently trying to topple a horribly disfigured snowman onto Kenny and Kai is just beyond our sight. Reaching me, she stops, panting heavily. She isn't carrying anything and I can't help but wonder where this great surprise is. I've been out here for over an hour and I'd hate if it was all for nothing. Okay, so maybe not nothing; I hold the chocolates closer. I can't do this to Kai so I'll just have to improvise, alright?
"What's up?" I ask her, a bit worried since she looks pretty flushed.
She straightens up, a big smile on her face, looking rather proud of herself.
"Guess what I brought?"
Again, I look her over but she isn't carrying anything and since Hillary has a knack for wearing rather short and tight clothes, even in the dead of winter, she certainly isn't hiding anything beneath her short jacket or in her jeans' pockets.
"I give up," I answer, wondering if she's been out in the cold for too long.
"Tyson, Max, Daichi, Kenny, Kai! Get over here!"
"Aw, but Hill--" Tyson starts to protest.
"NOW!" she roars, eyes starting to glow.
I'm really glad she doesn't beyblade; if she can get her eyes to glow like that when not caught in the heat of the battle can you imagine what she'd be like if let lose with a beyblade? Well, she did try to launch one once back on the bus we were taking with the other teams during the whole BEGA ordeal. Now I'm not so sure which one is scarier; Hillary going all demon-like or Hillary with a beyblade. Girls just confuse me so.
Hillary scares the others, in any case, and they run over, covered in snow and a bit damp. Tyson, Max and Daichi remain standing while poor Kenny, totally exhausted from being chased around the place, plops down on the bench. Kai, however, does not appear. Maybe he's farther away than I thought.
Kai bought me chocolates!
Sorry, I still had a bit of scatter-brained hyper-activeness in me. Back to what Hillary's saying.
"Now, I know you've all been dying to find out what my surprise is."
We give each other blank stares. I think the others actually forgot why we are even out here to begin with.
"I decided that it would be super nice if we invited a few of our friends to stay here with us for Christmas."
"Uh, we've already done that, Hill," Max points out, gesturing to our little group.
"Yes, but Christmas is the time to be merry and you know what they say: the more, the merrier. So, I went through Kenny's files--"
"So you did take my laptop last week!"
"--and found a few phone numbers and addresses and…"
She waits, milking the anticipation, if ever there was any. Tyson's picking his nose and Max is trying to scrape the snow off him to form a snow ball while Daichi does the same with the snow at his feet. As for me? Oh, I'm drifting off, imagining me enjoying these chocolates as I eat them off of Kai's naked body. Don't you agree that that's a much better way to spend the time than to listen to Hillary's ramblings?
"I've invited some of the other teams to come stay with us!" she finally comes clean, very proudly too.
For the first time in her life, Hillary now has the complete attention of, not one, but five guys.
"You what?" Tyson asks, cleaning his ears with a finger.
Grinning madly, she turns to a bunch of trees and whistles. We all watch, stunned speechless, as bodies (living ones, mind you) begin to emerge from around the trunks. One particular, unmistakable figure breaks away from the nearing crowd and barrels towards us like Thomas the Tank Engine on Formula 1 racing fuel. Though we only see a streaking blur of pink the voice is one I have known for way too many years.
"Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayy!"
Terrified, I hold up my only defense, the box of Swiss chocolates, out before me in hopes of breaking the impact. To my great relief, Mariah actually stops, skidding to a halt and kicking some muddy snow onto my shoes. Nice.
"Oh, Ray! You shouldn't!" she gasps, eyes beginning to water as she clasps her hands together.
I did? I mean, I didn't? I mean…what on earth is she talking about? And why is she here?
"Hillary said that it was a surprise, but you must have known deep in your heart that I was coming so you bought me chocolates! That's so sweet!"
My precious treats, the ones given to me by the love of my life, are snatched from my hands by what can best be described as the bane of my life. Huh? Wait. She's got my chocolates!
"Uh…Mariah…" I start, stepping forward, about ready to wrestle them from her.
"Oh, don't worry, Ray. Chocolates are nice, but you're the only thing I really want. Come here you!"
Passing my chocolates over to Lee, who has reached, she launches herself at me as I try to reach them. My vision goes fully pink as her arms begin to squeeze the living daylights out of me.
"I've missed you soooo much, Ray," she sighs, burying her face in my chest.
"Aaaaaaaaaw," sighs a chorus of female voices, along with a few gagging sounds from the guys.
Still staring longingly at the box that Lee is holding, I decide that getting Mariah off me is my first priority. As much as I hate it, I have to put on good ol' Nice Guy Ray's mask and pretend that everything is perfect now that my 'girlfriend' is here. Oh, did I forget to tell you? Not only does everyone assume that I'm straight, they also believe that Mariah and I are an item. I swear! You share one twinkly-glittery moment with an old friend during the Asian tournament and your branded for life. Hey, didn't Kai and Tyson share a twinkly-glittery moment during the last world championships…? I'm gonna start keeping an eye on them.
"Wow, this really is a surprise!" Max exclaims.
"It sure is," I wheeze, finally prying Mariah off me, without the aid of a crowbar though I'd better start carrying one around now that she's here. Guess I'm going to have to start locking my doors at night too. If it weren't for the fact that I've known her for so long I'd have reported her to the police as a rabid stalker years ago.
Of course, she wraps an arm around my waist and gets all snuggly with my side and since I can't get rid of her in a way that won't arouse suspicion I have to give in and pretend that I actually like it. You'd be surprised at how good an actor I am. The Oscars? Please, I could haul in one every year if I was in show business. Squishing the urge to cringe when she starts to rub my stomach, I look over our now bigger group, recognizing all the smiling faces.
Needless to say, Mariah's here (I hate Hillary right about now), along with Lee, which is cool since he's my best friend and all. Michael, Emily and Rick are standing with Max, exchanging greetings. Miguel and Mathilda are talking with Tyson and Daichi. A tanned skin teen with long grey hair, Garland, stands nearby. With him are all of his team mates; Brooklyn (who is off to the side a bit looking at some bug on a branch), Ming Ming (who is preening her hair), Mystel (who is following the bird that has just swooped down and eaten Brooklyn's bug; ha ha) and Crusher (who isn't doing much of anything), as well as a girl who I do not know though I'm guessing that she's Monica, Crusher's little sister, since she's sticking close to him though she's listening to Hillary who has taken it upon her to introduce the shy girl to everyone else.
All in all, this is one big group. It takes everyone about 15 minutes to get through all the greetings and introductions. I merely nod and offer a hand-shakes. My main objective is trying to get to my chocolates! They're right there…so close but so far…
"This is going to be the best Christmas ever!" Hillary sums up, getting a unanimous accord from everyone.
"But where are you guys going to stay?" Tyson asks, scratching his head.
"Oh, me and your grandfather have worked it all out," Hillary beams.
"Huh? He knew about this?"
"Well, I couldn't invite everyone to stay at your place without his permission now, could I? He went with Bruce and Hiro to buy extra sleeping bags," she explains, placing her hands on her hips. "We did a few calculations and it turns out that there's room for everyone! Hiro has agreed to sleep in your dad's room. We, the girls, " she pointed to herself, Mariah, Emily, Mathilda, Ming Ming and Monica, "will be staying in the guest room. Tyson, Kenny and Miguel will sleep in Tyson's room. Lee and Ray will sleep in Ray's room. Max, Michael and Rick will get Max's room. And Garland, Brooklyn, Mystel and Crusher will be staying in Hiro's room because it's the biggest. Duh!"
All she gets for her mathematics are a lot of blank stares.
"Oh, when we get to the dojo I'll explain it again."
"What about Kai?"
That is a logical question, seeing as he's also staying at the dojo and she didn't mention him in that jumbled division, but everyone turns to me all the same as if I had broken down into tears or something because my captain had not been included. Crap! I've just realized that I now have 13 (unlucky number) more people to hide my affections from. This is going to get tough.
"Kai has his room," Hillary reminds me, not getting my drift.
"But how come he gets to keep his own room to himself?" Tyson whines, quickly amending himself at the few insulted looks that comment earned, "Not that I hate sharing my room with you guys, but it's just a bit unfair."
"Tyson," Hillary deadpans, "do you honestly think that Kai will want to share a room with anyone here?"
"…Good point."
Tyson is appeased, but I can't help feeling a bit suspicious. Hillary emphasized the 'here' part. She's got more up those tight sleeves of hers…
"Speaking of the bundle of joy, where is Kai?" Rick asks, looking around. "Didn't even know he was going to be here."
I growl, not liking the attitude the American is showing towards my absent crush. Mariah, who I've been ignoring for some time as she rubs my back, misinterprets my snarl.
"If you want I can give you an even better 'massage' once we're alone," she purrs, winking suggestively.
What is she talking ab-…Eeeeeeeeeeeeeew! Get it off me! GET. IT. OFF!
"Save it for some random bush, you two!" Michael groans, making the others laugh.
Me? I'm almost in tears. I just want my expensive Swiss chocolates shaped liked little reindeers and mistletoes! Maybe if I suddenly pretend to have a seizure everyone will panic and then, during the ensuing chaos, I can grab my chocolates and find Kai and we can both catch a plane and head to Mexico where we'll spend the rest of our lives on a beach. Kai would look good in a thong.
Why do I think of things like that in dire times like these?
Mariah has stepped away from me. Oh happy day! As long as she's content to hand out samples of the chocolate to everyone I'll have some time to breathe and think. There are a lot of us so she'll take some time handing out those chocolates.
……
WHAT!
"Wow, these look really fancy!" Mathilda gushes, choosing a chocolate and popping it into her mouth as she hands one to Miguel.
"Ray bought them just for me! They must have cost a fortune, but Ray's always been so generous to me."
Bu…But…Nooooooooooo!
"Mariah--" I step forward, again, before she cuts me off. Why don't I ever get any farther than one step?
"Don't worry, Ray. There's enough for everyone. Here," she takes one out, a mistletoe-shaped one, and holds it above her head. "but you have to kiss me if you want it!"
The girls giggle and Tyson elbows me in the ribs.
"Someone's going to get some this Christmas."
More giggles, plus the guys are now laughing. Honestly, is it that funny?
"Some surprise."
All laugher comes to an abrupt halt as we all turn to the owner of that sexy voice.
Kai, like an old fashion western hero, is standing on a small hill before us, outlined by the setting sun, his scarp blowing so heroically behind him as he prepared to swoop down and carry me off in his arms, bridal-style. Well, I might be romanticizing it a bit, but he does look good.
"Merry Christmas to you too," Lee says, still eating my chocolate.
Now, did Hillary really think this through? This is, or was, supposed to be a cozy get-together amongst us Bladebreakers. The reason Kai agreed to it is because, though he'd never admit it, he's used to us and doesn't mind being with us (for a certain amount of time). It is very fortunate that he has buried the hatchet with everyone here present: Lee no longer hates him for stealing all those bit beast back in Russia, Michael and his team have also let go of the past, the Barthez Battalion never had much dealing with him, and Brooklyn is no longer the active Lord of Darkness. So instead of hating everyone, Kai will just ignore them. But, since they will be staying with us, that means that Kai will be ignoring us too.
"Hi, Kai!"
Oh yeah, plus Emily hasn't gotten over the entire finding-Kai-a-very-interesting-specimen, which is her excuse for scoping him out since she's in love with him. If she and Kai ever get together I swear I'll overdose on Crappy Cups.
"Everyone is almost here!" Hillary announces as Kai walks over.
Almost? What, did she invite Boris too? Wouldn't put it past her.
I come to the horrible realization that Mariah is still dealing out the chocolates that Kai bought for me. In case you are wondering as to how I've managed to get my mind off of Kai's approaching figure to realize that, it's because Mariah, being the generous and evil person that she is, has just offered Kai some of the chocolate that he bought for me. I used to think that me having such a rough time is because the gods were punishing me for being 'unnatural'. You know, I've had my doubts about Mystel too. He's always so happy when he's around Garland… But is he being punished? Oh no. He's over there happily sucking the filling out of my Swiss chocolate! Come on! At least let a meteorite fall on him or something. Stop singling me out!
"Kai, Ray gave them to me. Wasn't that nice? Try them, they're really good!"
Kai, having never had any particular tolerance for Mariah and all her pinkness, looks her in the eyes before lowering his to the now almost empty upper tray of chocolates. He stares at them for a while…and fixes a glare on me so suddenly I almost stumble back.
"Kai, uh…" I mumble, too soft for the others to hear.
"Try one! Ray picked them especially for me so they must be excellent!" Mariah insisted, almost shoving the entire thing in his face.
"No thank you," he finally says in a cold tone of voice, which is directed more towards me than Mariah, yet she's the one who decides to get all offended.
"You don't have to be so grumpy, Kai. It's Christmas, in case you haven't noticed."
"Mariah…"
"Oh come on you guys!" Hillary cuts me off, draping an arm over both Mariah and Kai's shoulders. "There's no need to fight. We're all here to have fun!"
"Speak for yourself," Kai says, now totally ignoring me and turning to Hillary. His voice isn't as icy anymore; no matter what Hillary does Kai always speaks to her in a calm but distant tone of voice. The rest of us Bladebreakers believe that, in a strange way, Kai actually tolerates Hillary the best. After me, that is. Though I don't think that I'm very high on his 'Friends' list right about now.
Spying something behind all our backs, Hillary grins.
"I think I'll speak for the both of us when I say that you'll appreciate my plan too, because the final two guests have arrived. Hey, guys!" she yells, waving at whatever it is she has spotted.
Everyone turns. Tearing my pitiful eyes off of Kai long enough, though I have to strain my neck to see pass Rick's massive bulk (Steroids, anyone?), I…I can't express what I am feeling as I recognize the two teens walking towards us. I'm serious here. If a giant space ship doesn't appear any second now and blast Mystel with its laser beam I am going to get really pissed of. Do you hear me, gods? I'm on to you! Don't think I haven't noticed! I swear, if I die right now I'm going to come up there and make your lives a living Hell!
"Tala! Bryan!" Tyson shouts happily. He's always making friends with people, remember? Whether they want to or not. "No way! What are you doing here?"
"Hn," Bryan replies, carelessly dropping his duffel bag onto the park bench while Tala deposits his in a less damageable way. Nodding his head towards his shorter companion as well as team captain, he says, "Blame him."
Tala snorts, those creepy ice-blue eyes of his having no effect on his team mate though they chill me to the bone.
Yeah, so the Demolition Boys, or Blitzkrieg Boys, or Neoborgs (I can never keep track of their team's name) proved themselves to be on our side when they battled against Boris and his new team BEGA. And in the end everyone basically became friends with everyone so there was no real negative vibes and whatnot between teams. But damn this team has always given me the heebie-jeebies! Tala is just too extreme, Bryan…you know our past, Spencer is just this looming tower of muscles and Ian is just weird. And even though half the team is not currently present, these two are the worst. Major heebie-jeebies!
Note to self: Never use Kenny-slang again.
Not greeting anyone in particular, unless you count his half-interested 'hello' to the group as a greeting, Tala passes most until he spots Kai, who seems to have forgotten that I am still trying to explain as to why his thoughtful gift is being mauled by half the contestants of the last world championship. Both make eye-contact and Tala walks up to him and says something in Russian. And I obviously don't know Russian so your guess is as good as mine as to what he said but to our great astonishment, Kai actually…chuckles?
Fine, it's more like a snort/snicker, but it's a sign of being amused. How can Kai, who had just grilled me with an all-time-high glare, suddenly make a 180 and be amused? With Tala, no less! Sure, they grew up together. Yeah, they were on the same team. So what? It took me three years of intensive auto-therapy to get Kai to smile with me and all Tala has to do is say a few choice words in their native tongue and he gets Kai to chuckle? I don't care how close they are, Tala is just creepy! I've heard the fan girls go on and on about his eyes but their just so…bright…yet light at the same time. It's like looking into a frozen pond. No, it's like looking into the eyes of a rabid wolf that got trapped in a frozen pond. Can you imagine anything scarier than that?
Everyone seems to have gotten over their shock and have returned to talking and making plans for the upcoming days. Mariah is currently offering my chocolates to Tala and Bryan but both turn the offer down (Tala merely shakes his head while Bryan sneers). Tala and Kai seem to be talking about something, again in that damn Russian. I'm torn between trying to get whatever remains of my chocolate from Mariah, eavesdropping (though ultimately futile) on their conversation and noticing that someone is looking at me.
And it is not Kai.
Instead I am being scrutinized by the steel-grey eyes of one Bryan Kuznetsov. And I do not like the gleam in them. I shouldn't worry though; it's not like he's still mad at me for beating him that one time during the world championship or anything, right? Noticing that I've noticed him noticing me, Bryan smiles a really sinister smile and the bushes next to him wilt.
……
On second thought, aim that burning meteorite at me.
7 days till Christmas.
I'll be grateful if I make it through the weekends.
Tbc…
Chapter one took place on a Monday, in case you were wondering. Making this chapter, number 5, Friday.
Note, I will be writing Tala as he is in the series. Meaning that he wouldn't be the far nicer Ata as in the Untold Truths-universe. Though right now, Bryan is Ray's main concern.
Uh-oh. Many, many bladers, one dojo, Mariah giving out Ray's chocolates and Bryan's being very scary. What will the next day bring?
Read & Review, please.