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: Didn't really expect such a fast update, ne? Now let's see me keep this up until Christmas. As mentioned on my bio-page, Sinners will be updated on Christmas day as well. That storyline is getting more and more complicated so it takes me longer to get a new chapter out. That and the fact that I'm one lazy bugger.
"Wake up! Hey, everybody, get up! WAKE UP!"
Not exactly my idea of starting the day, but I'm up now so I don't really have many options left. Blowing my hair out of my face, I roll over, trying to locate the commotion, my subconscious mind recognizing the voice as Max's. At least, I think it is. Along with Tyson and Daichi he's the most likely to run around the place screaming at the top of his lungs. And since neither Tyson or Daichi are aware that there is such a thing as morning I can safely deduct that it is Max.
Even Lee, a blessed heavy sleeper, jolts awake, pulling his blanket up till his chest as the door to my room slams open. Max's face is flushed red with excitement. He isn't known as the most fashionable, or colour coordinated, teen and right now he doesn't seem all that interested in changing his ways. His clothes look like he threw them on in complete darkness while running around his room in circles after having gone blind. A thick blue sweater under a thick neon green vest, a thick yellow scarf draped over his shoulders and he's holding thick multi-colour gloves in his hands. Thick red pants cover purple snow boots while on his head he's managed to find thick earmuffs of a colour I can not even identify. Blinding colours aside, noticed a pattern in his choice of wardrobe? That's right: thick. Throw in the fact that he is bubbling with excitement and it's winter time it must be…
"Fresh snow!"
"Huh?" Lee blinks, unable to look at him directly. It looks like a factory of marshmallow peeps exploded. Wonder if Max has shown Nag Nag his outfit. She'd have a stroke! What a gift that would be.
"It snowed hard last night and now there's like five meters of snow outside!" Max explains. Hopping over Lee, he jumps onto my bed on his knees and draws back the curtains, letting the bright goodness of sunlight pour in. Max's bright clothes and sunlight should never, ever be present at the same time, as Lee and I have just discovered.
"Max," I groan for the both of us, shooing him away and closing the curtains, throwing the room back into a dim gloom. Ah, bliss. And yes, I have regained my speech. Tala can keep his eyebrows, for now. "Isn't it a bit too early to have a snowball fight?"
"Nah," he grins, plopping him down on my mattress next to my legs. "And I thought you neko-jins always wake up before sunrise."
"Before what?" Lee asks.
Nice one. My thoughts exactly.
"Wake us up in three hours," I mutter and roll onto my stomach, burying my head under my pillow while Lee lays back down and pulls his blankets over his head.
A body suddenly slumps over my entire length and I jump, blushing furiously though Max doesn't notice. He can be so innocent sometimes it makes me feel like a pervert to react the way I sometimes do to his usual physical affections. Tackling, hugging, tickling, piggy-back riding, wrestling: the works. You name it, he's dealt it. To all of us. Yes, all of us. You really should have seen the look on Kai's face the day Max, in a rare moment of extreme-ecstatic mania because the latest Pokemon movie was out, head-butted our captain. We heard him coming from a mile off and weren't surprised when he burst onto the relatively quiet scene where the rest of us had been lounging about the living room. Tyson and I got a bear-hug, Kenny was swung around in circles (which made him sick, if I recall correctly), Daichi got a noogie and Hillary got a kiss on the mouth. The kiss aside, that hadn't been all that new, until he bounced over to Kai, who had been ignoring him the entire time, grabbed our high and mighty leader by his face and smashed their foreheads together. Kai had walked around with a blue spot on his otherwise unblemished brow for a week. Tyson had helpfully commented that it matched the stripes on his cheeks. Tyson had then walked around with a black eye for two weeks. The rest of us had wisely kept our mouths shut on the matter.
Max, now sitting on my thighs, bounces.
"Come on, you two! Don't be such sourpusses!"
Now would be a good time to mention that though I am more than willing to take the role of the submissive partner for Kai, I am a sexually frustrated teenager and Max's actions, as good-naturedly innocent as they may be, are tempting me. I'm exceptionally weak in the early morning, which is why I prefer to sleep in most of the time. I once woke up early to find myself way too close to Lee with an arm around his waist. The only reason I still have a best friend is because Lee can sleep through a raging thunder storm. Oh snap! I haven't told you guys about the story behind my fear for lightning, have I? I'll make a note. Wonder if I still have Kenny's notebook and pencil. Doubt it.
"We're coming," I groan in a strained voice, rolling onto my side, getting Max away from my groin.
Beaming brighter than the sun, and even his clothes, Max hops off. How can anyone be so alive at such an ungodly hour? It's only…8 a.m.! Considering that the most of us had a late night last night you'd think he'd consider that we'd like to sleep in a bit. Like until eleven or so. Okay, so maybe my internal clock needs to be wound up. I'd rather not so I'm going to put that alarm clock back by a few hours, along with the other clocks and watches in the dojo, then I'll move on to the rest of Japan. Then I'm going to make a giant lasso that will snare the sun as it rises above the horizon and trap it there for eternity, casting the world in darkness where Brooklyn rules and I can sleep undisturbed, dreaming about Kai!
...See why I don't like being awoken early?
"Cool! I'm going to get the others!"
And whoosh, he's gone. So quickly, in fact, that I am not sure if he really was here. Maybe it was all just a dream…
A door slams open somewhere down the hall.
"Hey, Kai! Tala! Bryan! Wake up!"
And I think my brain doesn't function properly in the morning. Sure enough, a few seconds later I hear a body hit the floor in the hall, a few Russian snarls and a door slams back shut. Silence, but then Max regains his cheeriness and bounces off, now shouting Emily and Hillary's names as he nears the girls' room.
"Is he ever quiet?" Lee asks, now too awake to go back to sleep.
"Sure...He sleeps sometimes."
Sharing a good laugh over that, we regretfully get out of bed and begin to dress. No use trying to go back to sleep since Max is determined to gather us into the backyard and declare all-out war. I am not going to play hostage this time, though. Once, Tyson and Max (who else?) thought it would be fun and suckered me into being tied up and left in the woods where Daichi and Hillary were supposed to find me. They did too good a job at hiding me and it had been well past dinner time before I was found. By Kai, no less, who had been away all day and had been thus pretty bemused to find me after hearing my muffled cries for help while passing the woods on his way back. Tyson and Max had to do twenty laps around the dojo for a month after that. Kai's such a sweetheart.
"So what are the plans for today? Other than freezing our bums off in the snow?" Lee yawns, stretching his arms high above his head, working out the kinks.
"Hillary," I say, barely containing a growl there, "said that she's going to give us a layout of the activities she's come up with."
"I hope it includes Christmas shopping. I haven't bought a single present yet."
Oopsie. Neither have I. Great, that means I'm going to have to brave the shops as I battle my way through to the cash register and excuse the people who step on my toe. Shopping is a pretty painful affair. I once saw two women get into a vicious cat fight over the last Betsy Wetsy doll. You know, the ones that piss all over the place when you squeeze their tummies? A third had used the distraction to snatch the doll off the shelf, only to be run over by a fourth's trolley. I didn't stick around to see the outcome. Blood really turns me off.
"So Ray, how's it going?"
I know your mind is a bit slow in the mornings, Lee, but you're three days late with that one. But you're my bud so I'll go along with it this time.
"Pretty good."
Damn good, actually. Kai's talking to me again so now I'm encouraged to make a move on him soon and then we'll hopefully spend the rest our lives making out. Not that I'll tell you since you're a gay-hater who's best friends with a closet gay, who is crushing on a guy, who, though you've come to tolerate, you haven't particularly formed a close bond with. This is the same guy you got complains about from none other than your little sister since he totally dissed her yesterday. So did I, but I can do no wrong in Mariah's eyes so she blames everything on Kai. Isn't that what you really want to talk to me about?
"I need to talk to you about Mariah."
I know this guy so well. I even know that he has special underwear for every day of the week and for special occasions. His mom makes them for him and though he tells her to stop treating him like a child he doesn't leave home without them. I find his birthday collection particularly amusing. If only his opponents knew that he walks around with a knitted birthday cake on his butt once a year...
"What about her?"
"She was pretty upset yesterday."
'I know.'
Smug thought there.
"I didn't notice," I lie, searching my closet for my warmest clothes, standing with one foot on the other since the floor is cold.
"She said that Kai badmouthed her when you were together."
"No, he didn't," I try to sound neutral, pulling on a black pull-over. "Mariah interrupted us while we were talking about something and Kai just doesn't like that."
"Yeah, but he didn't have to be so harsh to her about it. She's just a bit emotional, you know."
Just a bit emotional? Sure, and Bryan is just a bit pitiless. And Tala is just a bit caustic. And I'm just a bit infatuated with Kai, who is just a bit my hero for snubbing Mariah. Someone is downplaying the situation here, but just a bit.
"It's not like I can ask Kai to be nice to her. He's just barely nice to us and we've been a team for three years."
Finding his boots, Lee pulls them on while standing, balancing easily on one leg.
"All I know is that Mariah's my sister and if someone upsets her I am not going to let them get away with it. If someone makes Mariah cry and I will return the favour."
...Sooo, I'm guessing that now would be a bad time to say that I'm planning on breaking her heart for another guy? It's high time I search out Hiro for another talk.
We finish dressing, sharing small talk about other things, mainly what to buy for our friends. Suited for the onslaught of one of Max's organized snowball fights, we head out, leaving the peaceful sanctuary of my room and stepping into the now awake and buzzing world within the dojo. Voices, some eager, others less pleased, come from all sides as people gather together suitable clothing before venturing outside. Though it is time for breakfast I doubt that Max is going to allow anyone to eat until we've roughhoused for at least one hour in the snow.
We find a majority of the group already outside, some still wiping their eyes and yawning. All the girls are present with the exception of Nag Nag, who is probably back in the room applying water-proof make-up. BEGA, though I shouldn't be calling them that since they have distance themselves from the organization, but I will because it's just easier this way, are here too. Crusher is helping his sister roll some snow to make snowman while Garland watches them calmly, glaring up at Mystel every now and then as the Egyptian is climbing in the tree he is standing under, accidentally knocking down snow onto the silver-haired youth. Mystel grins sheepishly with a blush on his tanned skin, apologizing for ever clump of snow. Naturally, Garland could just move, but if he can't think that up by himself then I'm not going to help him. Brooklyn, in his usual white outfit, would be invisible on the snow if it isn't for his bright orange hair. He's looking at a bird sitting on the dojo wall. Terribly exciting, I'm sure. I still think that he and Hiro make a cute couple, though. A snowball just misses Brooklyn but he doesn't blink. Retracing the snowball's projectile, I find Michael and Rick, who have decided not to wait and are already pelting each other with snow. Since Michael's a skilled pitcher the wayward snowball must have been Rick's, though since it landed in Brooklyn's vicinity I'm not sure if it had been accidental or not.
"Morning."
Miguel comes to stand next to me, zipping his jacket shut as he yawns widely and returns Mathilda's wave.
"Why did Max wake you guys up last?" Lee asks, keeping an eye on the Americans, who have moved their battle a bit closer to where we are safely standing on the patio.
"Because it'll take him some time trying to get Tyson up," I answer. "I'm surprised you can even sleep with him snoring. It took me a year to get used to that."
"Me and Claude usually share rooms and believe me he can give Tyson a run for his money," Miguel chuckles, trying to untangle a few knots in his blond mane. "Besides, Kenny bought some of those nasal strips for him. We keep the box next to the bed."
"Do they work?"
"If your aim is right," he grins, eyes twinkling mischievously.
"Ray!"
No! Where? Oh, that's right: I'm Ray. Regretfully.
"Isn't this amazing?" Mariah shouts as she ploughs her way through the high snow. "It's just like back home. Let's make snow kittens!"
"I'm not fully awake yet," I say, faking a yawn. Miguel yawns again. Guess yawning really is contagious. If I keep on yawning, will that make him yawn every time too? Now that's what I'd call a fun activity, not making disfigured felines in the snow.
She has landed, er, reached. Wrapping her arms around me with a happy purr, she rests her head on my shoulder and looks over at the girls as if to say; "Look who I've got, you pitiful, boy-friendless people." Girls can be so cruel. Guys don't do things like that to one another. Add another tally mark for the male of the species. This poll, by the way, does not include the demonic duo of Tala and Bryan. Humans can only posses so much malice; those two can orchestrate a coup d'etat in hell and overthrow the devil himself.
"Mystel!" Garland thunders when a huge clump of snow suddenly descends down upon him, forcing him to finally leave his beloved spot.
"What?" Mystel calls back, sitting too far away in the tree to have knocked that snow down. "That branch must have collapsed because of all the snow." He points to where a branch is indeed drooping, along with the rest.
Flora wilting…Guess a certain Russian has left the den.
Sure enough, Bryan's tall form appears like the Grim Reaper who's lost his scythe. Hail fellow hater of mornings! Having recently come from Russia he, and Tala, are the best equipped in the wardrobe department for this type of weather. The fact that he's wearing his fur lined parka open with no scarf could be because he's used to the Russian winters, which are a lot harsher. This picturesque scene probably affects him a lot less than it does the rest of us. As always, he seeks me out first, gives me The Look, but luckily he turns as Tala emerges. 'Luckily' and 'Tala' in the same sentence is most likely illegal, but at least when those two are together they tend to keep their comments (and hands) to themselves.
And now I have to be honest, as much as I hate it, concerning Tala's appearance this morning. He's still a jerk in my mind, but, and I'll wash my mouth with bleach if I ever admit this out loud, he looks…gosh, this is even hard to think…angelic.
What? You're kidding!
I'm not. I wish I were, but I'm not. Like Brooklyn, he's wearing white. Even more than Brooklyn, really. All white, down to his snow boots which have a steel brace over the instep. He's also wearing a white ushanka, the traditional Russian fur headgear. Chief wore one during our first world championship but he didn't carry the look over very well. He looked pretty dorky, now that I think about it. Tala pulls it off much better. It's not only his pure white outfit but also the look on his face. I have seen Tala look bored. I have seen him look aloof. I have seen him look pissed. I have never seen him this…peaceful. He's not glaring or sneering or jeering at anyone. He's not looking at anyone at all, but that's beside the point. I'm thinking it's all this snow. It isn't five meters tall like Max claimed, but there is a lot of the stuff laying about. A lot more than what the redhead's seen so far while here in Japan. He's from Russia, is the master of a snow bit beast and specializes in snowy terrains, not to mention that he's an icy prick himself, He must take to snow like Brooklyn takes to all things flying, crawling and hopping.
There's I've said it, or thought it. Honest Ray can't deny it. If Tala was a reasonable person, who didn't stick his fingers down peoples' throats, I wouldn't have any problem confessing that he is beautiful. Not a word often used to describe guys, especially by other guys, but it is true, much to my solemn acceptance. Physically, he's perfect. His mind's working leaves a lot to be desired, but at first glance he is desirable. He just has this natural elegance in everything he does. I sometimes find myself comparing him to Kai, which is logical since they have shared the same lifestyle growing up. I've even noticed similar traits between the two of them and Bryan. All three have a certain aura around them. Confident, yet rightfully so. I have never seen them hesitate or doubt themselves. If they have something to say, they'll say it and don't give a damn what others think. If they want something, they get it and don't tolerate those who get in the way. Tala and Bryan tend to take it to an extreme level, though I've known Kai to do even worse. Just ask Brooklyn.
If I was asked to describe Bryan as a person, and not my tormentor, and I had to be totally honest, I'd say that he is a powerfully skilful blader, and he seems to have laid off using that special wind technique of his. His attitude seriously needs some therapy but I can't get over how normal he acts when with the other two. ' Normal' in a broad use of the word, mind you. Good looking? Buddha forbid I ever have to say this out loud, but yes, he is. Not Kai's suave sexiness or Tala's delicate sensuality; Bryan's features are strong and masculine and he's what I imagine the quintessential Russian teenager should look like. Elegant in his own rough manner, I can easily picture him in a bar drinking pitchers of beer and vodka with the men and laughing over crude jokes. That is, if he weren't so antisocial and cynical all the time.
Tala isn't effeminate. Not by a long shot. If he can put Bryan in his place with only a look then he must have proven himself capable of backing his glare up in the past. While in bar he'd snap off any hands that try to cup a feel. He is the shortest blader on the team next Ian and most slender as far as muscle mass is concerned, but he's no push over. He can do as much damage with his words than I can probably do with my fists and has proven himself well capable of getting physical. The bright blue eyes, long lashes and angelic face are all very misleading. 'The more beautiful they are, the deadlier they are': truer words have never been spoken. I'll round up my honesty session by saying that of the three I think Tala to be the most dangerous.
But now, getting back to the subject, and the present, he looks so harmonious I can almost hear the angels singing on high.
"Frosty the blow man, really needed some quick dough, so he sold himself to pimping ho who loved to do it in the snow!"
And the angels now weep, consoling one another and running to God for moral support. Tyson's awake and has struck again. Didn't Papa G ever teach him the actual words to these songs?
"Awake, I see," Miguel says, visibly stunned by Tyson's lyrics.
Tyson saunters over, mighty bright-eyed for someone who has been forced to cut his usual sleeping time in half.
"Yup. Dad's making his famous chocolate chip pancakes with caramel syrup! Gotta work up an appetite."
I beg to differ. The guy once ate an entire five course breakfast, went up to his room to get his lucky cap, then came back downstairs to replenish himself with even more food after that 'long trek'. Besides, Tyson doesn't put much effort into anything other than blading, eating and sleeping. But I think I'll stay well away from this one.
"Hey guys!" he shouts, waving at those in the yard, getting various returned greetings as well a snowball to the chest from Michael. Must be an American thing. He looks like he's going to return the courtesy when he catches sight of the Russians, who are leaning back against the wall. Bryan is talking about something while Tala is still in his bubble of self-content, eyes close as he listens. So, naturally, Tyson just has to intrude and ruin the peace for all of us.
"Good morning!"
This should prove to be entertaining. Tyson is the type of guy who makes friends easily. Before battles, during battles, after battles, on the streets, at events, in the parks; drop him in the middle of a random crowd and watch him turn on the I'm-your-best-pal charm. It worked on the rest of us Bladebreakers, even Kai (to a very limited extent). It worked on the teams we met during the first championship as well as those that followed. His friendliness saved the world from Brooklyn slumming void of shadows. If he wasn't such a lazy ass he'd scale the highest mountain to find the wise man just to befriend him. Friendly, friendly, friendly. Everyone wants to be friend with Tyson. Except Tala and Bryan. Kai used to leave Tyson hanging but eventually he gave in and accepted Tyson as someone more than a pestilence. The way Tala and Bryan treat him you'd think he is the Ebola virus. Tyson, however, doesn't let that stop him. Oh no he won't. He's the ultimate friend finder. He can make a friend out of anyone! Ever since converting Kai he's been pretty confident in his abilities.
I now watch him hone in on the two Russians with wariness. Miguel and Lee are also tense, fearing Tyson's well being but not about willing to spend their Christmas comatose. Mariah is still haughtily hugging me, talking to Nag Nag, who has decided to grace us with her presence. I tune out their giggling as I watch as my team mate reaches the duo. I'm about as eager as Miguel and Lee to intervene should Tyson need a rescue squad, but as a closer friend I am obligated to try to step in if his life is endangered or I'd never hear the end of it: "I risked falling into a frozen lake for Kai and you couldn't even lift a finger to save me from those savages?" Yes, well, Kai didn't go on that lake with the intention of falling in it, now did he? You, on the other hand, have decided to approach two volatile Russians despite their dubious history.
"What's up?" Tyson asks, slapping Tala on his shoulder in friendly greeting.
Miguel makes a funny strangling sound and Lee covers his eyes with his hand. In the yard the rest have picked up on Tyson's escapade and are now as frozen as the icicles hanging from the roof. The silence that follows makes Tala's slowly opening eyes even eerier. I can see Tyson tremble as the eyes slowly come to stop upon him. 'Boy who prods angel shall hurt', as Confucius would have said if he was here to witness this. 'Boy who slaps angel shall hurt badly'.
"Slept well?" Tyson still insists, with less certainty in his voice, to his credit.
Now Bryan has joined in the staring/glaring.
"Too bad. I really liked Tyson," Lee whispers to me, earning a nod from both me and Miguel. Even Mariah and Nag Nag are quiet. Mariah using this as an excuse to hold me even tighter.
Someone steps onto the patio and it turns out to be Garland. Don't know what he's planning on doing. He himself doesn't seem to know, but at least he looks prepared to dive in should fists and organs start to fly. I am so glad I was not raised by some stupid honour code.
"Why is everyone so quiet?" Hillary demands, making her first appearance of the day with Kenny at her side. She picks up the tension and since everyone is staring at the space to her right she figures things out and turns. "...Uh oh."
That's one way of summing up Tyson's predicament. 'Ouch' will cover the consequences quite accurately.
Probably hoping that being a girl will save her from dissection, Hillary takes a deep breath and walks over. Garland follows. Yeah, really brave, pal. Our hero. Let the girl go first as a shield. Honour? Ha! Honour, my little kitty ass.
"Is something wrong?" Hillary asks, stepping up next to Tyson.
Neither Russians bat an eye. This is really bad. This calls for some desperate measures.
"Bruce! Hiro! Papa G! Tyson's going to get slaughtered!" Kenny shouts, running back into the house.
Brilliant. Couldn't have done better myself.
Our fearless genius's voice works as a timer for Tala, who makes a sudden move similar to when he pinned me to the wall yesterday. Is Tyson also going to get the tongue twister? I've always said that I wish he'd be less talkative but I've suffered through one of those and I wouldn't wish it on my greatest enemy. Well, maybe Mariah. Hillary squeaks and hides behind Garland, who actually looks like he's going to try to dislodge the hand now gripping Tyson's shirt but someone beats him to it.
A collective sigh echoes through the yard, which scares of that damn bird for some reason and Brooklyn blinks and looks around, finally realizing that we've just spent many petrifying moments fearing Tyson's life. Hiro is really going to have to work on that. Can you imagine them going at it (once Brooklyn's old enough) and Brooklyn loses all interest to study a stray butterfly in the window? Your lover swooning over a bug instead of your sexual prowess can kill any libido. I should talk to Hiro about this later.
"Kai, good to see you up!" Tyson almost cries, happier than me on my most extreme Kai-obsessing days.
Kai, wearing the jacket he loaned me back on that faithful rainy day, merely shakes his head at the dragon before looking over at Tala, who hasn't looked away from Tyson once. Kai is the mediator between them and the rest of us but I know many of us, me included, believe that Tala is really going to let Tyson have it. Leaning in slightly, he narrows his blue eyes.
"You think I can get his Xbox?" Miguel whispers.
"I have first dibs," I reply.
What? It's not like he'll be using it in his coffin.
"Never. Hit. Me. Again."
And then Tyson is released, shoved back into Garland, who steps back at the force, almost falling over Hillary. Again, we all sigh. Miguel's sounds a bit regretful; he really wanted that Xbox. Oh, and he was worried about Tyson too.
"Yo homies, what's this I've tapped about a dude getting pounded?"
Papa G steps out onto the porch, effectively getting everyone's attention. And how we wish that he didn't. I'm not sure what to make of his ensemble of...clothes, but despite my better judgment I will try to describe it. Make you guys suffer along with us. Merry Christmas to you too. I'd say it is a tunic, but that's one short tunic for an old man in such weather. It also has a frilly collar, like the ones I saw in the paintings of Robert's ancestors back in his castle, and puffy sleeves. And he's wearing tight leotards. Make that über tight leotards. Bright yellow, über tight leotards. And they don't leave much to the imagination. S-C-A-R-Y.
"Grandpa!" Tyson hisses, mortified. Poor guy never gets a break with this old goat around.
I'm more interested in the Russians' reactions. Not much surprises them but Papa G is one of a kind. Thank Buddha for that. Kai is use to the slang-slinging old man since he's known him for as long as he's known Tyson, so he merely rolls his eyes and looks away. Bryan looks like he's caught between backing away and shooting this strange creature standing before him. Tala, in a humorous moment of lack of control, looks stunned, disgusted and petrified, gripping Bryan's jacket for support. Can't blame him. Those leotards are too tight and that bathrobe is too short. Papa G may have been fit and buff during his younger years with all that kendo training but time hasn't been easy on him. I used to find it weird that he always wears his training kimono and hakama. Mystery solved. Regretfully.
"I don't want any bones about a bruiser cruising my turf," Papa G says, unashamedly standing with his legs apart. Gaah! There's one thing I wouldn't have regret never seeing. "Y'all gonna bust down and dig the big C-day, ya got me?"
Hillary, who had been standing rather close to door when he stepped out, is now hiding once again behind Garland, covering her eyes and saying a prayer. Garland isn't fairing any better, but again, that honour crap forces him to put on a brave face. Tyson is redder than a tomato. Kai is still indifferent. Tala is still fighting to keep yesterday's dinner down. Bryan looks like he's decided on shooting after all. Miguel has a hand over his brow, looking away as discreetly as possible. Lee is just stupefied. The girls are covering either their eyes or their mouths to prevent themselves from giggling and sounding like they actually like what they see. Mystel slipped off the branch some time ago, landing on Crusher and Monica's almost finished snowman. His eyes, as well as Monica's, are now being covered by Crusher's large hand. Daichi, who had been loading up on snowballs in the corner of the yard, is gagging. Michael and Rick are looking in opposite directions at random objects. Brooklyn is once more absorbed in nature, now studying a lone leaf clinging to a shrub, once again unaware of the horror that is facing us. And Brooklyn's bird, which had been flying by, has just crashed into a wooden support beam. Lucky bastard.
"Is everything alright out here?" Bruce asks but stops when he catches sight of his father's get up. I can only imagine the view from the back, though I really rather not. From his exasperated sigh it's possible to conclude that he's seen this atrocity before. So has Hiro, who has joined us at last, shaking his head.
"Don't you think it's time you bought a new costume for the Christmas festival, grandpa?"
"What's wrong with this?" he sniffs indignantly. "I've jiggled in this dope get-up for the last thirty years!"
'Jiggled' is the right word. Oil of Olay should consider making anti-droopy body lotions.
"Grandpa! Put a coat on or something!" Tyson begs.
"I don't dig your words, little dude. You should be popping with hype that this player is leading the C-day play. You shorties are all coming, right?"
Bruce saves us from answering by taking the older man by the shoulders and dragging him back into the house, talking about indecent exposure and how he shouldn't be scaring the kids when it isn't Halloween. Papa G does not take that very well, but he's gone so we'll just thank Bruce for that later.
"Why me?" Tyson bemoans, sinking to the ground and burying his head in his palms. "Why, why me?"
"Why you? Why us? What have we done to deserve that?" Hillary argues, peeping around Garland to make sure the coast was clear.
"Then make sure you're not around for summer when he puts on his Speedos to go swimming," Hiro warns, smiling at the collection of coughs and gags that one brings on. "I'm surprised to see everyone already up. What's going on?"
"Snow ball fight!" Max bounces onto the patio. "Why is Papa G covered in a big towel back in there?"
"Don't make us recount it," Tyson says, backed up by us nodding vigorously. Even Tala's head tilts in accord as the dragon's words, releasing Bryan and regaining his collected composure.
"Well, is everyone ready for snowball mania?" Max waves the fading shock off. "We can divide into two main teams and--"
"Wait!" Hillary finally leaves the sanctuary of Garland's back and holds up her hand. "Before you do I need everyone to gather."
"We're already here."
"I mean gather around me, Tyson," she sighs and I notice for the first time that she's holding a small bag in her hands.
We shuffle in, the teens out in the snow knocking their feet on the ledge of the patio first, cursing when they stub their toes in the process. Mornings really aren't the most graceful time of the day, or the most cheerful. At least, not if your judging from our friendly resident home wreckers, who do not budge though Kai has taken a step forward on their behalf. Since it is still not enough, Hillary, reluctantly, inches closer to the two Russians. Why she's so intent on including them in something they aren't bubbling to join in is just a Hillary-like thing to do. She has planned this entire thing with the expectation that we'll have a lot of fun, and we'd better have fun or she'll make us. The group shuffles after her, trying to keep as much distance between them and the two now leering Russians. Garland returns, having gone back out for Brooklyn, who had been wandering off after yet another bug. Aren't insects supposed to be like dead during winter? Where does he keep finding them?
Once they are both back and everyone is present and accounted for, Hillary smiles brightly.
"Christmas is four days away."
Thanks for the update. Can we go play in the snow now?
"It's time we start getting into the whole Christmas spirit. I have made a little list of activities for us for the next few days." She takes said list out of the bag. It unfurls into a two foot long scroll with itty-bitty writing stretching from one end to the next. There's more words than paper to be seen. I am very afraid. "But before that, I want each of you to take one piece of paper out of this bag. You are not allowed to look at it until everyone has one, okay? I'll pass it around."
She holds the bag out to Kenny, who blushes but sticks his hand in and pulls out a neatly folded scrap of paper. Next come Tyson and Max, who look the most eager to take part in this bizarre experiment. The rest follow accordingly, some trying to take a peek but Hillary has eyes everywhere and snaps at them to behave. It's neat watching big guys like Rick and Crusher actually getting some airtime when they jump back at Hillary's growls. To our surprise, and his, Hiro is offered the bag as well. When she passes me it is almost empty as I dip my hand in, feeling around and extracting my own highly secretive piece. Mariah and Lee take theirs. And then there were three. Kai, more out of necessity than interest, wordlessly picks his lot.
And then there were two.
"It's the Christmas spirit," she smiles at the duo. When neither react her smile fades. Hillary is getting a wee bit frustrated. "If you came all this way to be a pain in the ass then go find a hotel and we'll invite you over for Christmas dinner!"
Make that very frustrated.
Tala, who is just barely taller than her, looks at the bag, then at the paper Kai is holding, then back at the bag. Yes, pal, you have to put your hand in there in order to get one. Paper isn't renown for jumping into your hand. At least, not here in Japan. Russia's always been such an alien country to me. I, and a few others, almost applaud when Tala finally reaches out a hand and dips it in, searches, extracts one and purposefully looks at it even though Hillary is standing right in front of him. She bristles, but remains silent since he is going along, though not with glowing exuberance. It takes her a few more threats before Bryan has the last piece, also reading it and frowning.
"Okay, now open the paper and don't show it to anyone else!"
Having made a new game out of disobeying her, Bryan and Tala exchange theirs. Kai smirks as he reads his. While confused mumbles flit through the group I look at mine, reading the one word. A name, actually: Brooklyn. Is this one of those charade games where we have to pretend to be someone else? I really suck at those. Hope no one makes an idiot out of me.
"What's with the names?" Rick asks, stealing glances at Nag Nag.
Yeah, I laugh at the possibility too. Rick singing with his hair in two buns should prove to be as stomach churning as Papa G in Speedos.
"Secret Santa!" Hillary declares.
The Americans, Max included, groan. The rest of us aren't any the wiser, but if Max groans then it can't be as innocent as it sounds. Hillary gives them a mild glare but goes on to explain.
"I was on the Internet and I found out about it. It's really simple. You've all got the name of another blader. The point is that you now have to buy a special Christmas present for that person! And no one is allowed to know whose name you have. The identity is supposed to remain a secret until Christmas."
Tala and Bryan, ignoring her pointedly displeased glare, swap papers once more. Tala doesn't seem all that affected by the revelation but Bryan is now frowning. I really hope he doesn't have my name.
"And there is a price limit. No one is allowed to spend more than fifty dollars in total on the present. That way it's fair."
"How can you buy anything with only fifty dollars?" Nag Nag complains and Rick's eye twitches. Shopping for Nag Nag means that he's going to have to go into those girly shops with the pink lights and shiny beads. Mariah dragged me into a couple of those in the past. I could feel the cooties eating away at my flesh and eyes.
"We're all going to go to town tomorrow to do the shopping. Of course, you can buy presents for others, but no one is allowed to see the present you're buying as a secret Santa. However, to make sure you keep within the fifty dollar limit, you will go with a shopping buddy. So now I need everyone to pair up and I'll write each pair down. You can pair up with the person whose name you have but you're not allowed to tell!"
Doesn't this girl have a life? I'm not exactly leading a life of drugs, sex and Rock 'n Roll, but who else but Hillary spends her free time looking up these ridiculous games to torture us with? Can't we all just spend the holiday sitting inside with hot cocoa and watching television? Is that too much to ask after three years of intensive training? Around me everyone is already picking a partner and I resign myself to the fact that I'll most likely get stuck with Mariah.
A few minutes later Hillary announces the outcome.
Some pairs go without saying. Tyson and Daichi are both notorious for being lousy shoppers, so they have agreed to do a crappy job of it together. The rest includes: Michael and Rick, Crusher and Monica, Garland and Mystel (who is beside himself though hiding it well), Nag Nag and Kenny (not sure how he managed to get her to be his partner, but he isn't hiding his excitement). Emily and Mathilda have decided to go together, leaving Max and Miguel to pair up but both get along very well. Lee has chosen…Mariah? I didn't even noticed it when she let me go.
"I don't want you to see the presents I'm gonna buy," she tells me when she sees my surprised stare.
Is she my secret Santa? Good grief!
"I made a list weeks ago so I have a lot of things to buy."
Whew. She's just going to buy another mountain of stuff for me, most of which I'll never use. It's an annual tradition between the two of us.
Now there's a cute scene. Brooklyn and Hiro have paired up. This will be a good opportunity for them to spend time together without people getting suspicious. I suppose Hillary's half-baked idea isn't such a downer. I pity the fools who have Tala and Bryan as their secret Santa because those two have joined forces. I'm expecting gifts that are either ticking or wrapped in poison-tipped barbed wire from the duo. Please, please, don't let my name be on either of those two scraps of paper!
"Hey, how come you didn't take a name?" Tyson asks, looking at Hillary.
"Because I organized this entire thing so I've already giving you all the best present of all!" she answers smugly.
Sure you have. If only I could put her back in the box and return her for a refund…
Or maybe not. Everyone has a partner except me and…
I love you, Hillary!
"So that leaves Ray and Kai," she says, finishing the list. "You're the last two so you're going to have to pair up."
I look over at Kai, hoping he doesn't have any objections. He meets my eyes and nods casually. My entire body trembles with want to dance around the dojo in the snow, singing and laughing and doing summersaults but I miraculously manage to keep myself contained. Still…YES! Oh my god, this will be kinda like a date! My first date with Kai, though he doesn't consider it as such. Kai and me are going to spend the entire day together tomorrow! And best of all, Mariah, Tala and Bryan won't be around to mess it up! Sweeeeeeet! Somehow this entire Secret Santa business has caught on and everyone is excitedly talking.
A hand on my shoulder gets my attention. Hiro is standing behind me, motioning with his head that I should follow him. Using the buzzing distraction, I slip away from Mariah and Lee and follow him into the house.
"I was expecting you to break dance any moment," he grins when we are far enough from the others.
"Like you and Brooklyn aren't happy about the arrangements," I raise a brow.
Should I tell him…? Why not. I need ideas.
"I'm Brooklyn's secret Santa."
"Monica," he says, waving his paper in the air. "Luckily I know from my time spent with Crusher that she loves to collect stuffed animals so it shouldn't be too much of a challenge. Brooklyn, however, has Kenny and doesn't know what to buy--"
"A laptop carrier, pyjamas or a computer cleaning kit. All cost under fifty bucks," I offer. "And if he has enough left over Brooklyn should buy him a bag of liquorice."
"It's within the price range but a bit more challenging, but Brooklyn keeps telling me how much he would like a pet…"
"Does it matter what kind?"
"As long as it's an animal he'll be glad. And I won't tell him that you're his secret Santa. He likes the whole idea of not knowing who's going to buy him something."
"Hiro! Can you give me a hand here?" Bruce calls from upstairs, sounding a bit strained.
"What's wrong?" Hiro shouts back, sharing a confused look with me.
"Dad doesn't want to take off the costume and I need back-up!"
"This will be interesting," Hiro chuckles. "I don't know why dad doesn't just burn that suit. It fits grandpa terribly."
"Stop before you bring back the images," I beg, covering my ears. "I'll be haunted by that for many nights."
"I've gone through this with him for 24 years and I came out alright."
"Yeah, but look what it's done to Tyson."
"True."
A loud crash is followed by an attack cry that could only have come from Papa G.
"Hiro!"
"Coming!"
Hiro jogs up the stairs, soon joining his father in his plight for fashion decency. Between the two of them they should be able to wrestle Papa G out of that atrocity and I'm going to make sure they burn it. Along with Woody. Stupid tree.
My stomach is growling a bit so I think I'm going to go to the kitchen and grab something to eat that will keep me until Max allows us all to have breakfast. I haven't even thrown a single snow ball so far and I can hear the growing chaos of snowball battle in session, but I can't pelt people with balls of ice on an empty stomach. Stepping into the kitchen, I hear voices coming down the hall I have just vacated. I wouldn't normally care since there's always someone somewhere as of late, but what I now hear is the familiarly unintelligible language that is Russian. And there are only three people in this place who can speak it. And just by the tone of one of the speakers something isn't all dandy. Sneaking back to the doorway, I peep with one eye around the corner and am surprised at what I see. Not dandy is putting it mildly.
Tala is vivid. His voice isn't loud enough to alert the two separate parties (the teens outside and the adults upstairs) but in the empty hall it carries very well and he is not happy about something. He's striding ahead of Bryan and Kai but the former grabs him by the shoulder and forcibly yanks him around to face them, equally pissed and cursing. I can only assume cursing. It doesn't sound like he's asking him about the weather, in any case. The way Tala is reacting should prove me correct. It is pandemonium down there. Tala and Bryan are shouting at each other. Several times the redhead turns to leave but Bryan won't let him, roughly pulling him back every time as his temper rises. Kai stands watching, not intervening even though his two friends look like they may come to blow at any moment, which happens to be now. Bryan, pushed over the ledge by something Tala says, sneers and deals the redhead a blow across the face with such force that I am afraid that Tala's pretty head will go air born. Instead, he reels back, slumping against the wall and cursing louder than ever. Kai steps in, shoving Bryan away from his captain but it's already been done. Tala is glowering at Bryan, a hand over his bruised cheek.
"Fuck you, Kuznetsov," he growls in English, spits Bryan in the face and spins on his heel.
I flatten myself against the wall and I can feel the chill seep through from the other side as Tala passed my hiding place. Bryan curses in several languages, which is amazing since he doesn't even talk that much, and I hear him stalk by as well though he makes a sharp right turn down the hall towards the front door whereas Tala has disappeared in the direction of the bedrooms.
My earlier glee gone, I timidly step out into the hall, fearing that either or both might return and then I'd be in it big time. But no stomping feet are to be heard and I look back to the patio door. Kai is still there, rubbing his brow with an angry look. I want to sneak away before he sees me but he picks up on my presence without even looking up.
"Ray," he acknowledges, lowering his hand. His crimson eyes are dim, which is not a sight I am used to and do not like at all. "How much have you heard?"
"A lot, but I have absolutely no idea what you guys were saying," I answer, walking over and stopping some feet away. "Is everything alright?"
I mean, sure your two best friends are caught up in a blazing dispute and one of them has just driven his fist into the other's jaw and now both are even more pissed off than usual and seem to be ignoring your attempt to bring peace, but it's not the end of the world, right? Ditsy, Ray. Very ditsy.
Kai doesn't even answer me, staring clueless, a word I have never used to describe him, and one that I hope to never use again, at where his ex-team mates had been but a minute ago, frustrated that he does not know how to solve this.
"Maybe they're just suffering from some left over jet lag," I say, trying to help out with my helpful self. "Or maybe they're just uneasy about being around so many people in one place. Hey, remember the time Tyson ate some old cheesecake and he got really crabby afterwards? The food here is a lot different from what they're used to back in Russia. Or maybe it can be--"
"Ray."
"Yes?"
"Shut up."
Now I'm hurt. Kai has ignored me before. He has avoided me before. He has been angry at me before. But he has never, in the three long years we've known each other, told me to shut up. I almost grip my chest, the pain is that bad. For Pete's sake (whoever that is), make up your mind, Kai! Either I annoy you or I don't, but don't snap at me for trying to help and make me feel like that unidentified thing Gary once scraped off the bottom of his shoe after walking through the mountains. The more time I spend around the guy the more I begin to doubt whether or not I am sane to have fallen so deeply in love with him. Not that it will ever drive me away, but it would be nice to have a stable relationship where I don't have to get a second opinion before approaching him with my ideas.
"…I'm sorry, Ray."
That's better. Great, now I feel like a jerk for whining.
"Yeah, well I should learn to keep my nose out of other people's business. Curiosity kills the cat, ne?" I offer him a grin and even dare to put my hand on his shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze. Damn, his shoulders are so strong! Must be the pull ups and beyblading; he pulls the ripcord with a lot more force than the most of us. "I'm sure whatever it is you guys will work it out. You've been together for so long; you must have had fights in the past."
"A lot," he concedes, straightening his posture. "What time tomorrow?"
End of that topic. Nobody can close a conversation like my sweetheart.
"Say around 10?" I suggest. Still a bit early for me, but the earlier I'm up the more time I can spend with him.
"I'll meet you at the front."
He starts to turn but he can't because I am still holding on to his shoulder. I blush and pull my hand away, stuffing it into my pockets. Our friendship is still a bit wobbly, but if I want to get anything more out of this guy I'm going to have to start dropping hints about wanting a more personal relationship. I could just go ahead and shove my tongue down his throat, but a little voice in my head, which I usually pay no heed to, with dire outcomes, tells me that that may be taking it too far too soon. Hugging him worked yesterday but I don't have a valid excuse to repeat that. Basically, bodily contact has to be put off for now. Meaning I have to stick with words. Luckily I am such a gifted speaker. Laugh along with me on that one. Still, might as well give it a shot and if I screw up I'll go seek out Bryan and have him vent the rest of his ire on me.
"Kai, thanks for being okay with being my shopping buddy."
He raises a brow. I almost faint. How can one little twitch of a facial muscle change him from sex immortal to all-powerful, supreme-being of erotica?
"What's the big deal?" he asks, suddenly searching his own pockets for some reason.
"I just…never mind. I'm just really glad that we are. I like being with you."
Now, that last piece was one step too far. Thinking and speaking your thoughts should never be mixed, but I have never learned the fine art of keeping my mouth shut when I have to. I do have to begin moving in if I want to have a shot by Christmas Eve, but things like this have to be eased into a conversation, not whacked dead centre in a sentence. Do I leave it as it is and pray that Kai doesn't see through the words too quickly, or do I try to correct myself and risk making it even worse?
He has found what he's looking for, his cell phone, but pauses in answering, scarlet eyes on me. What's he thinking? Why wasn't I born a mind reader? What can neko-jins do other than slit our pupils and sleep twenty hours at one go? Nothing. What a crummy hand Fate has dealt me. No wonder I always lose at strip poker!…You did not just hear that. That was just a dreeeaaamm.
Kai shrugs off my little slip, or so I think.
"I like being around you too."
Wait for it…
He finally answers the phone, which has been blinking for the past minute. Speaking in Russian, he keeps it short and closes the phone soon after.
Just a bit longer…
"Later," he says and heads off towards his bedroom. It must have been Tala on the phone.
Hold it in…
I wait until I hear him open and close his bedroom door behind him, finding one thing to be grateful about for being a neko-jin: good hearing. Once certain that he isn't coming back, I look around.
No one. Perfect...
"THANK YOU!" I shout to the heavens, falling to my knees and holding up my hands.
I can almost feel the tears of joy. Almost, though. I can take it like a guy. A guy who has just been told by his heart's desire that said heart's desire likes him. Fine, so he said that he likes being around me, but screw that, you've just misinterpreted his words! Kai said he liked me. Enough that he likes being around me. That's what he meant! He didn't ask me if I have been sniffing something, or if I am feeling alright. He didn't step away with a wary look or tell me to stop talking trash. He told me he liked me too!
I am really looking forward to tomorrow. If I do things right I may get more out of him. One last chance, Kon. Find the tiger within you. Remember your mantra…What was my mantra? For some reason I have the theme from Rocky in my head. Oh well. My mantra probably sucked monkey gonads. Speaking of which, I think I hear the return of Papa G and he sounds rather triumphant. So he has somehow managed to get away from both Bruce and Hiro. Mistake not the wit of an old kendo master. I think I'll go back outside and warn the others. We teens can only take so much per day. I've seen enough to last me a life time.
"So, cool cat! Watcha think of this new look?"
I think I'll start running right about now and drag as many innocent bladers with me as I head towards the hills.
As Hillary said, there are only 4 days left and as long as I can avoid Papa G they should be the four most interesting days in my life.
Tbc…
Next time: Christmas shopping with the boys! Will Tala and Bryan be talking to one another? What will Ray get Brooklyn?
Read & Review, please.