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 be touched. I am not making any money off of this and I write with the sole intent to entertain.

A/N: Grrrr. I had to repost every chapter because this site somehow manaed to swap a couple of them around. Thanks to the reviewer who pointed it out. Also, I have removed the errors in the first few chapters: I am so used to writing in the past tense that I kept switching from past to present, especially in chapters 2 and 3.

Sorry for the delay. I have the last two chapters planned as far as comedy goes but I couldn't find the right mood for this one. It's supposed to be a bit more serious but this is a humor fic so…

"Mh-hm. Looking goooood. Check the pecks! Made in God's own image, yessiree!"

God has a twisted sense of humor.

"Got a game plan?"

The voice, blissfully, draws my attention away from where Tyson is blowing kisses to himself in the full-length mirror, wearing only his briefs, almost blowing a blood vessel in his brain as he tries to flex.

"I don't even got game, much less a plan."

Hiro laughs, folding his jacket and hanging it on the hook in his designated locker. Around us the others are talking and fooling around as we all change out of our clothes and into the complimentary towels. Us being the guys since, to my utter exuberance, this spa only has separate hot springs for men and women and the girls are now on the other side of the building. And, as if I wasn't spoiled rotten enough, Mariah was unable to book that private couple spring because we have to be 18 an older. Something about not wanting to encourage underage sex. They would have had a manslaughter case had Mariah gotten her way. Screw the details. I'm all the way over here, she's all the way over there. That's all that matters.

"Just strike up a conversation. You're one of the few people who can get Kai to actually loosen up a bit. The trick is not to throw the question out into the open too suddenly."

How did I ever manage without my fountain of knowledge and support, a.k.a. Hiro? What a ham. This guy just knows how to keep one's moral up.

Tyson, now buck naked, streaks pass us as Daichi, semi-buck naked, chases him, his underwear lodged rather painfully up his butt. Yes, locker rooms are infamous for wedgies. Note that I am standing with my back to the wall. Tyson, who can't see another guy in briefs without yanking the waistband up into No Man's land, once gave me one of his signature works during the American tournament. I usually wear boxers but on this one occasion I had made the mistake of sporting one of the briefs that Lee's mother made for me. I couldn't sit comfortable for two days; that idiot had almost drawn blood! Ironically, Kai was the one to save Tyson when Max and Kenny were unable to get me off him. Revenge on Tyson and Kai wrapping his arms around my waist to pull me off while we had both been in semi-undressed states; one of the best days in my life.

Well damn! Hiro has a good built. Brooklyn is one lucky son of a gun. If I were in his shoes I would have damned the law and moral code and do my former coach in a shady establishment down town. Wrapped in only a white towel and wearing indoor slippers, Hiro has loosened his hair from its usual ponytail. He truly does make a glorious sight.

But even he ain't got nothing on that piece of heaven over there who is talking on his cell as he unzips his pants. Garland better get out of the way of my viewing pleasure before I throw a shoe at him. Ah, little Mystel has tugged on his captain's arm, making the silver-haired blader step back to glare at him. Leaving me with a perfect view of Kai as he…

…………

"Ray? Wake up! Are you okay?"

The voice sounds foggy and far away. Following it back to consciousness, I blearily stir, feeling awareness return to me.

"Wha?"

Obviously, my vocabulary still has to catch up.

"Dude, are you feeling alright?"

I recognize Tyson's voice but when I open my eyes I find over a dozen faces peering down at me with worried looks. Since they are all different I am assured that I am not seeing doubles, or dozens, or you…get the point. The speaker is kneeling right next to me, still as naked as the day he was born. Who would have ever thought that Tyson shaves down there. Not a sight one wants to see after coming to. Raising myself onto my elbows quickly, I blink, trying to erase that image from my optical nerve.

"What happened?" I mutter, rubbing the back of my head, which feels like someone took a sledge hammer to it and then made me listen to Tyson sing the 'Twelve Days of Christmas' while giving me a lap dance. Over and over and over again. I'm getting a concussion just thinking about it.

"You fainted," Michael informed. "One moment you were standing, the next thing we knew there was a THUMP and Hiro shouted your name."

Now that must have looked very elegant. I'm glad I don't remember any of it. But why on Earth did I faint? Am I coming down with something? Maybe it were those cookies I ate yesterday. Mariah had been loitering around the kitchen helping Mathilda, who is a pretty good baker, make them. Nah, no one else is showing any food poisoning symptoms and I know that my stomach isn't that sensitive; and those Crappy Cups are just a hazard to mankind so they don't count. I am one of the few but proud outsiders who can eat Papa G's chili without chucking down an entire bottle of antacids afterwards. Not even Kai can pull that off.

Kai…?

Naked Kai!

My brain is still a bit logged so forgive the primitive thoughts. In any case, that's the last thing I remember seeing before taking a one-way trip to La-la land: Kai dropping his underpants. If Tyson ever dares wedgie that masterpiece of a posterior I will strangle him with his own tighty whities. Kai shouldn't even be allowed to sit on it! Now, though, I'd better stop drooling over my favorite Russian's derriere before I land myself in an even more embarrassing predicament before everyone, especially since I am clad in nothing but my boxers, which, by the way, I have taken to permanently wearing ever since that aforementioned wedgie experience.

"He's not talking. Someone call a medic!"

"I'm alright," I manage, now sitting up. "Guess I didn't sleep enough last night."

"Or maybe Hiro was just boring you with all his lectures," Tyson quips, earning himself a sock in the face from his big brother.

"Just make sure you don't doze off in the hot springs too," Lee cautions, helping me to my feet.

Sound advise. If just looking at Kai in the buff made me pass out, what will happen when I'm sitting right next to him? Many things, some of which I will not share with even the likes of you, but I'll just have to keep my eyes elsewhere. The object of my profound affection is standing to my right, having had wrapped a towel around his waist and walked over when I had made myself acquainted with the floor, but he is still on his phone, talking softly every now and then though he gives me a 'Be careful' look before returning to put away his stuff. He had come all the way over here (a grand distance of around 12 feet) just to make sure I was alright. Makes me feel all warm and bubbly inside. Either that or I do have food poisoning. Honestly, who taught that girl to cook? No one, most likely, but I don't think that she's realized that crucial factor. After all, you don't have to know how to cook to be able to cook; as long as you can pin the washing up on someone else afterwards you can call yourself a master chef.

"Everyone ready?" Hiro asks us all as we slowly gather once more, decked in nothing but towels, though Kenny is wearing a bath robe. No need to be shy, Chief. It's not like any of us are going to be checking you out. Ouch, I can be so mean to that poor kid sometimes.

A chorused 'Yeah', or words that basically mean the same thing, sounds. Following the navy-haired guy, since he is the eldest and everyone has basically accepted him thus as our leader, we file out of the locker room and into the heavily scented candle lit hall with a really shiny wooden floor. This place is pretty posh. As Hiro promised, Papa G has gotten us all in for free since he is good friends with the uncle of the co-worker of the ex-wife of the friend of the son of the cleaner of the neighbor of the owner of this place. No joke. Hey, I'm not going to ask. It just worked out fine. Papa G and Bruce are currently getting a mud massage a few rooms down. The less time any of us see Papa G in the buff, the better. Tyson tried to bribe the masseuse into giving Papa G an extra long treatment, coincidentally two hours, which is how long we've reserved the hot spring. We're all holding our breaths and waiting to see if it works.

We do make a rather dashing group, I must say. Admit it, most of the guys here are handsome or cute. Even Crusher, Rick and Kenny (in his wussy bath robe) have some appeal to them. Not that I can find any, but I was honest enough to admit that Tala and Bryan are attractive; the other three are a hell of a lot friendlier so I should at least give them some compliment. Daichi's been said to be cute, but that splotch in the middle of his forehead always makes me imagine a rather large 'L' there instead. My mind does things like that for no good reason. Garland also has that little red dot on his brow (which has always made me wonder on whether or not he is of Hindu background), but I don't go around thinking that it looks like a pimple, but that's just because he's good looking. Shallow, that's me. Mystel is bubbly and good natured; Brooklyn is polite and enamored with nature; Hiro is mature and good tempered; Miguel is thoughtful and considerate; Michael is fun loving and athletic; Lee is old-fashioned and dependable; Max is hyper and loyal; Tyson is friendly and stubborn; I am neutral with some mental inconsistencies; and Kai is a sex god and a gift to mankind. Damn fine group indeed.

Currently walking next to Lee, I sneak a glance over my shoulder to where Kai is bringing up the rear, that cell once again glued to his ear as he talks. Now would be a good time to return to the heartbreaking drama that is 'Russians in Japan'. That sounds sarcastic, but to be honest I am still going through my 'wanna-hug-Tala-and-promise-to-be-his-best-friend' phase. Allow me to bring you up to par:

Bryan has gone missing. And while everyone is secretly more than a bit relieved we are also a bit, well, concerned? Nah. Curios? Neither. Hmm, let's just settle with perplexed. If someone like Kenny or Brooklyn had gone missing we would have gone out searching for them at once; Kenny's punch can't kill a mosquito and Brooklyn is most likely to be too caught up in nature to even notice that he should be home. Bryan, on the other hand, is the last person who's safety we're worry about. It's our concern for the well being of other people that made us notify the police station now that the falcon is roaming about. Anyone tries to mug or pick a fight with him and they'll be opening this years Christmas presents in 2025 after they wake up from their trauma induced coma. So yeah, he didn't return last night. This morning saw the appearance of his two friends. So far Kai has shown no signs of worry. Maybe this is just a habit of Bryan or maybe Kai doesn't like wasting his time worrying about a teen who can cripple an armed serial murderer with a straw.

Which brings us to the second half of our remaining Russians: Tala. He put on a unbreakable mask this morning at the breakfast table but some of the others noticed that he hadn't called anyone anything unflattering in his native tongue during the entire meal. Bruce, who knows better than to pressure the redhead, casually asked if he was feeling ill to which Tala answered his customary 'No' and gave no further explanation for his zestless attitude. I had watched him the entire time as he poked at the food on his plate with his fork, taking a bite only when Kai gave him a stern look for not eating. His tea was left untouched. After breakfast, Mariah glomped me. After that, I was on my way to my room to feed It (formerly known as the bunny; Lee and I spend so much time calling it 'it' that that has become it's temporary name), and gear up since Hillary decided to squeeze in a local figure-skating competition before our spa trip. While walking towards my room I came across a 'Oh-my-god-I-just-wanna-hold-him-close-and-declare-him-mine' sight of Tala standing in Kai's room, the door of which had been left partially open. I watched as he continuously dialed a number on his cell, waited, cursed, turned the phone off, paced a bit and then tried it all over again with unsatisfying results. Seeing as Kai had still been in the kitchen, and I could only conclude that Tala isn't that paranoid and so wasn't calling him, he must have been trying to contact Bryan. Obvious hints were that he had occasionally muttered said teen's name, plus repeat the 'zhopa' word many a times; a word which I have come to associate with the falcon when coming from the wolf. I have to ask Kai what it all means. I'm actually beginning to second-doubt if it was a good idea to leave him back at the dojo alone.

As heartless as this will sound; this comes out perfect. Bryan wasn't even around to ask and Tala had slammed the door in Hillary's face when she had hunted him down to invite him. Seeing as Hiro is the one who came up with the idea Hill had been stead-fast on making sure that everyone came, just to please the eldest Granger brother. Her tactics of ordering everyone to come had worked, up until Tala. She's not a happy camper because of this, which is yet one more of the many reasons why I'm glad that the girls won't be with us in the hot springs. That and that Mariah had gone out this morning and bought over thirty flavored lip glosses. That girl is just over-sexed.

So that's the scoop, which was exactly what I needed to fill the time it has taken us to make it from the locker room to the springs. We're pretty lucky to have gotten in for free. Even more since we didn't have to witness Papa G in Tights again. Robin Hood and his merry men would have surrendered themselves to the sheriff if he had decided to join their group.

"This is it," Hiro announces, a hand on the door. "And remember the rules. We've got the entire springs to ourselves but there will be no running or jumping in. We don't want to risk injuring ourselves or others now, do we?" He's specifically looking at Tyson, who blushes.

"That lady in the other hot spring resort tripped me last time!"

"And you just happened to fall right into her lap while you were both in your birthday suits?"

Being the mature bunch of blokes that we are, we beginning taunting him endlessly as we file into the empty enclosure. Well, empty as in there are no other people. I take time off to look around. This place really is something. I was expecting just a simple pool of hot water but it looks like a jungle in here. The idea is obviously to re-create a natural hot spring indoors. We've got a main steaming pool as well as several smaller ones, some elevated amongst the real-looking rock formations, others bubbling with extra air pressure. After having spent more than a month in the cold the warmth in here is bloody lovely. I'd be happy just to stand here for an hour and soak up the heat.

"Hold it," Hiro's voice orders Mystel, who, eager to dive in, had began to make his way towards the springs. "We have to shower first before getting in." He points to the row of shower heads to our right. "Shower first, leave your towels on the rack and then you can go in."

As everyone bustles about, trying to shower first, I notice that Kai is hanging back, patiently waiting. His cell phone has been placed in a wooden box along with the rest of our collectibles that we didn't want to leave behind in the locker room.

Dare I…? Indeedy do.

"Is he alright?" I ask, walking over and trying woefully to not look anywhere but his face, though it's so easy to just glimpse at the smooth curve of his neck and shoulders…and his chest…and his stomach…and lower…

"Who?"

"Huh? What who? Oh…oh! Um…Tala, I mean." Smooth save. Not suspicious at all.

"I told you, it's none of your concern," he insists, ruby eyes eyeing me indiscernibly. I hope he's checking me out. And that he likes what he sees. It's only fair seeing as I am doing the same and am down right loving it.

"He looked pretty upset yesterday. I was kinda worried…"

"Really now?" his indifferent stare turns amused.

"Yeah, well, he's a cocky asshole most of the time, no offence, but he…Seeing him like that rattled me, I guess."

"He'll pull through," Kai assures, looking back to the showers that are slowly becoming available as the others finish, already heading for the water as naked as the day they were born, though looking a whole lot less pudgy and wrinkly on a whole. If only the fan girls could see us now. But they can't. Ha, take that, bitches! "It has happened before."

Giving that that was said in a far-away, soft sort of voice I have to beat down my doubt and assume that Kai has just spoken his thoughts out loud. My god can do something so…humanly? Maybe I should stop hanging around him so much for his sake; my bad habits are beginning to rub off on him. It would be best to back away for a while…

"It has?"

But for now I'll keep hounding him. The guy's in a towel and is about to get naked; would you give up that? My thoughts exactly.

Kai gives me The Look. Not Bryan's The Look; The Look that is one of the three Looks of his own that he has taught us to interpret and heed from the very first day. The Raised Brow Look means that whatever you've just said has been acknowledged but he thinks its stupid anyway. The Narrowed Eyes Look, which he has just given me, means that whatever you are doing, stop it. The Glaring Look means that you'd better start running. Tyson learned that one the painful way. I don't want to get that one so I'll stop and store away the little learned information for later.

"Are you two coming in or what?" Max calls from where he's floating about in the water.

"Or are you shy?" Michael asks.

"We promise not to look!" Rick shouts, laughing and high-fiving Michael.

Jeez, they're, what, seventeen? Eighteen? Aren't we a bit beyond nudie jokes? Besides, if they are so confident about themselves then why did they get in so quickly, hmm? You know what they say: the bigger the muscles, the smaller the package.

Behind me a shower head goes on, spraying me a bit and I turn. Kai's towel is on the rack…meaning that Kai's…

Good night.

………

The next time I see Kai naked it'd better be in a bedroom with a bed nearby. A nice soft bed. Tiles don't break your fall well. They just break your bones. As I slowly come around I am relieved to not feel any pain, not even the expected ache at the back of my skull. I am surprised, however, to find myself in the pool. Had I fallen into the pool, hit my head and am now dead? Is my ghost doomed to haunt this hot spring for eternity like that weird ghost girl in Harry Potter; forever moping in the steam as overweight and balding business men sit about talking? Yeah, I read Harry Potter. Got a problem with that? Anyways, someone touches my arm so unless there's another ghost about I must still be alive.

"I still think you should go to a doctor, Ray," Lee says, staring me in the face, checking for any signs of a concussion. "That's the second time you fainted in one day. You're lucky Kai was there or you might have hit the ledge of the showers and then you would have been in serious trouble."

"Kai?" That's all I bothered understanding in all that.

"He caught you before you hit the ledge."

"Is he awake?"

A new face comes into view. Hiro.

"How are you feeling?"

I'm thinking angry thoughts now. My sex god held me while we were both naked and I had been unconscious. I've had two opportunities to finally see him in all his glory and I passed out both times! This is just not normal, I tell you. It's a conspiracy! Damn government is trying to round up us gays and tag us and set us free in the wild! I will not stand for this! I will get them for this!...Hey, I never knew that Hiro had a tattoo on his stomach.

"Are you feeling ill?" he presses.

"Must just be tired," I shake my head, sitting up straighter on the submerged bank me and Lee are sitting on. "I really didn't get a lot of sleep last night."

I had been too psyched at the thought of seeing Kai Uncensored to sleep. When I had finally managed to drift off my dreams took over. I actually woke Lee up with my moaning but fortunately he mistook it for something else. Mainly…

"It," he states.

"What's It?" Hiro asks.

"The…" I look around, making sure that Brooklyn isn't nearby. He's standing over there next to Garland, studying the mural depicting butterflies in the rain forest. This obsession of his with nature just can't be healthy. "The bunny. We call it It."

"Brilliant," Hiro coughs/chuckles. "So what does It have to do with Ray fainting?"

"That thing must have given him nightmares. He kept tossing and turning and this morning he woke me up with his cries. That thing is haunting him. I knew we should have kept it outside."

Hiro looks doubtful at Lee's assessment and turns to me. Making sure to not let Lee see me, I make some very vague hand signals. Nonetheless, Hiro nods, smiling slyly as he caught on to what I am trying to relay: Kai. No further explanation is needed. Lee, missing my rather impressively creative sign language, is still listing the evils that is our one-eyed It living in my closet. Oh, it has two eyes, I assure you. We've just haven't found it yet. Also missing is one of It's legs. Hiro believes to have found an ear, but by the time he found me to report his discovery he had lost sight of it again. But back to Lee, as I was saying.

"I swear, Ray, that things looks at me every time you take it out. It just sits there, not moving. That's not normal. Rabbits are supposed to hop around and stand upright but It doesn't move! Have you seen It move on it's own yet?"

"It did slump to one side when I took it out of its box this morning," I defend It.

"I think that that's because you had put it down on its side and it merely righted itself," Hiro says, scratching beneath his chin though I can see him trying not to smile.

You have no idea of funny this really is for Hiro and myself, especially since Lee is being so serious about it. It wouldn't do if we started laughing out loud when he is honestly disturbed by a pompom, but the more we keep it in the harder it gets. Our faces are beginning to contort as Lee continues.

"Haven't you noticed that he doesn't eat the carrots? Only the celery? Why is that? Normal rabbits love carrots…"

Is this what we have degenerated to? Sitting in hot springs and discussing It's diet? As amusing as this may be, and trust me it really is, I remind myself that there's something else I ought to be doing. Something I should be discussing that's a heck of a lot more interesting than Lee's Celery Mind Controlling theory…Um…what? Now I really think it's time to get going. Hiro's wiping his eyes, yawning a lot to hide his tears of silent laugher from Lee, so it takes him a while to see that I have resumed my mad, but secret, signaling. Let's see how good I am. I need to get him to distract the others while I search out Kai, who is not to be seen though there are so many hidden alcoves here I'd bet my empty wallet that he's haunting one of them. Good, Hiro has recovered enough and is looking. It takes a lot longer than the first time since I'm trying to signal an entire sentence. By the time I'm done I had accidentally waved to Crusher, who had waved back (such a nice guy), almost slapped Lee upside his head (he didn't notice anything though) and am now down right exhausted. How do the people who use sign language every day keep it up? My arms are killing me!

Hiro winks, still a bit teary eyed, and turns to the others.

"Who wants to hear embarrassing little Tyson stories?" he says loudly, getting everyone's attention.

Talk about sheer genius. Who doesn't want to hear one of those? I want to hear them! Man, do I really have to go? Naturally, since he's only doing this to get me some alone time with Kai.

"What? NO!" Tyson shouts, splashing towards his brother. "No way!"

His pleas are drowned out by everyone else shouting their approval. Trying to cover his brother's mouth, he only succeeds in getting caught by the shoulders as Hiro is taller and faster, and smarter.

"Since it fits the moment, let's start with the time you refused to take a bath and grandpa had to chase you around the block while you were naked."

Big brothers. Bonus or banes; depends on who you ask. Personally, I think he's the best big brother a guy can have. Tyson's muttered curses tells me otherwise, but who wouldn't feel a bit embarrassed to have his childhood antics told to the guys? Especially this bunch who, as I said before, are just too mature for their own good. I think Michael and Rick are trying to see who can produce the most bubbles around them. S-a-d.

They have now gathered around Hiro, making sure not to get too close to one another, though Garland is giving Mystel some pretty stern looks, which the Egyptian pretends to not notice as he settles himself right next to his captain. Hiro, still talking, casually moves along, distancing himself away from me so that no one will see me slip off. Even Lee has dropped the Bunny Earth Invasion theory (Again…what?) and is chuckling as he wades over to be able to hear Hiro over the laughs and teases. Tyson is not going to be a happy blader after this. To think that Hiro's doing this to his own brother for me. Blood may be thicker than water, but do not underestimate the mass that is the repressed lovers. We've probably got an entire underground cell system somewhere in the world. Lee would no doubt have some theory for that as well. If he starts watching me while I eat I'll sick It on him. Or throw it, since It isn't all that peripatetic. Which is actually a good thing; Brooklyn can talk to it all day and it won't wander away like a rude little It. Gods, I love that name.

The coast is clear. An entire group of naked guys to my left, the unexplored regions of the springs to me right. I barely make a ripple as I slowly ease away. Am I good or what? I'm like Tom Cruise in those Mission Impossible movies, but in the buff. Not even he can pull that off. Ouch! Stubbed my toe on the edge of something. Not graceful and certainly not painless. So much for stealth. The rest are so engrossed in Hiro's story telling that they don't notice me flail my arms and stumble into the water. That's some story he must be telling.

Now, having regained my bearings, how does one go about finding a reclusive bluenette in a hot spring? I'm not going to need the coast guard or Navy for assistance, but I don't want to look like I'm trying to find him. That's my objective, but to Kai it's supposed to look like I was just minding my business and happened across him. Why is he sitting apart from the others anyway? Though it was brief, I have seen enough of him to know that he has nothing to be shy of. That guy is gifted in many, many ways and he's got the package to prove it.

I find him a lot easier then expected. Well, it never was a difficult task to begin with, but I've only just rounded an imitation waterfall and I catch sight of his hair just barely peeking out from behind a rock-built wall. Operation Queer can now begin. Pretending to be studying the plant-rich environment, I move in, limping slightly, not bothering to be silent. Sure enough, the hair shifts. I pretend to be surprise.

"Hey, there you are. I thought you'd run out on us."

Don't you just love the crystal clearness of these waters? Though a bit blurry, his body is on display for all. And since I can be such a selfish little kitten I intend to enjoy it all for myself. I'm glad Kai isn't the shy type like Kenny. I'm glad that Kai doesn't share any traits with Kenny. That was the last Kenny-diss, I swear. Kai had been lounging with his head back against the rocks, eyes closed. They are now open, staring up at me through wet bangs. Forgive me, my family, I have failed you. And, quite frankly, I don't give a fig about doing so either. Should have gotten a second child after all, mom. That's what you get for being more concerned about your figure than your family's future generations.

"You're up," Kai comments, referring to the fact that the last time he saw me I had been out like a light. Oh well, I've always been a bit dim.

"Yeah, thanks for helping me," I cough nervously. Those bare arms had held me against that bare body…I'm no longer liking these crystal clear waters; I have absolutely no cover now, so I'd better stop my mind's wandering. "I don't know what's gotten into me today. Must be some kind of stress."

"Relax," he advises, leaning his own head back and closing his eyes, clearly planning on doing so himself. "The next two days are going to be the worst."

"You don't mind if I join you? It's a bit noisy back there," I tilt my head and right on cue a roar of laugher sweeps through the place, Tyson's loud threats almost inaudible.

He shrugs, the water rippling around the movement his shoulder makes. Keeping as straight a face as possible, I take a seat next to him but keep what I believe to be a reasonable distance between us. One entire foot. Feels like mile. Beggars can't be choosers, though. Having been subjected to Lee's controversial accusations so far, I wasn't able to actually enjoy the springs. Sitting next to Kai, the warm water encompassing my body, I sigh contently. The angels can keep heaven; this is a way better alternative, plus one isn't obliged to think pure thoughts. However, something's not right. My hair. I always loosen it when bathing and right now I know it's only going to tangle in its wrapping if I leave it bound. Not giving it much thought, I reach back and pulling the entire braid out until I find the end, I begin to unwrap it. It's only when I'm half-way done that I notice that those eyes are on me again. Kai, really taking this relaxing thing seriously, hasn't lifted his head and his eyes are half-lidded, more curious as to what I am doing than anything. He doesn't ask anything, though. For some strange reason I feel a bit insecure now and look away as I finish removing the wrap, leaving my hair to fall loose around me.

"You hardly do that."

"What? My hair?" I ask, pretending to be busy finding a place to put the wrappings.

Kai nods, tracing the length down into the water. A floating lock is slowly drifting towards him and I blush even brighter when he calmly takes hold of it, lifting it out of the water and studying it.

"Why do you keep it this long?" he asks, rolling it between his fingers experimentally.

"Tradition," I answer, watching his hand. "All men in my family wear their hair long. They're pretty strict when it comes to tradition and old laws back in my village. They can be a real pain sometimes. I once considered cutting it all off just to disobey my family."

"It suits you better when long," Kai says, lowering his hand back into the water and releasing the tresses he had been holding. "And family's aren't meant to be disobeyed."

"Your grandfather's also such an honor whore?" Not a very nice way of putting it, but Kai has called the man a lot less becoming names. My own description brings a smirk to his lips and he folds his arms.

"Makes sure I'll never forget."

"What did he do?"

He calmly touches his cheeks, which have been washed clean of their usual markings. He says something in Russian.

"One more act of disobedience and you shall have to face the consequences every day," he then says, apparently translating. "His own words. The face paint is just a caution. If ever I dishonor the family name he will have them tattooed on permanently as punishment."

Here he is, telling me, the only other person's he's probably ever told, other than maybe his Russian friends, about a very personal thing in his very personal life and he makes it sound so unimportant. Is this an indication of how much he has opened up to me? Or maybe he just doesn't think much of it anyways. I must say I am surprised to finally know the origins of the paint. Kai always has it on and spends up to thirty minutes applying it every day so precisely; I'd thought that he just liked them. In reality, though, they're just mocking reminders of who is in charge. Every time Kai looks in a mirror, he sees his grandfather's control over him.

"My folks aren't as bad, but sometimes I wish I could just disown myself and leave home for good," I sigh, gathering my wet hair over one shoulder. "It's just never good enough. They spend so much time interfering with my life I can't help wondering what happened to theirs. They won't be satisfied until I am married, raise a family and get a respectable place in the village council. It's just so…"

"Suffocating," Kai fills in.

"Does Voltaire want the same from you?"

"Continuing the family business and producing an heir to continue our bloodline. He doesn't care whether I marry or even am interested in the mother; as long as he can die knowing that the Hiwatari name will live on. That's how things run in our family."

Taking this one step farther. I have always had a million questions I wanted to ask him (including The Question) but this one has always been near the top.

"Did you ever know your parents?"

His eyes open once again, staring at the mossy rocks on the other side.

"Yes."

"Are they alive?"

"Yes."

"But then…why didn't they raise you themselves?"

He stares out over the steaming water, scarlet eyes mirroring the calmness of the surface though my question must have affected him somehow. When he doesn't answer I worry that I have gone too far.

"Sorry. It's none of my business," I apologize.

"My grandfather took me away from them when I was a few weeks old and brought me to the abbey. By the time he brought me back they didn't want me anymore."

No sadness. No anger. No regret. It's as if having been shunned by his parents doesn't bother him at all. He sounds as if he has accepted their decision and moved on. Even my parents, as frustratingly bothersome as they may be, have at least given me a good childhood when they weren't beating me down with expectations. What type of parent could ever not want their own child? Who wouldn't want a kid as perfect as Kai?

"Have you ever contacted them afterwards?"

"I saw my father four months ago in my grandfather's office. He and my mother divorced six years ago. I don't know where she is."

"And…that doesn't bother you?"

He doesn't answer at once.

"…A bit, but I don't give it much thought. I have more important things to deal with."

We fall silent for a while until he looks down for some reason. Looking down as well, I see that my traitorous hair has managed to free itself from where it had been swept over my shoulder and a long lock is trying to curl itself around his thigh. I'm actually envying my own hair right now. However, since my gaze is now down there I give myself the pleasure of giving him another look over. I'm positive now; there's no one else for me. After having had such a heart-to-heart, this sounds very shallow, but I'm ready for a mouth-to-mouth. Oh right, I still have to ask Kai The Question. No one has come looking for us yet; just how many embarrassing stories does Hiro have to tell? Tyson, what an interesting childhood you must have had.

"Kai?"

"Hn?"

"About what I wanted to tell you yesterday before Mariah dive-bombed me…"

He sits up for a moment, stretching his back. Watching the slender but well defined muscles flex derails my thought for a moment. Can't I just have one little touch? It's not that weird for two (seemingly) straight guys to touch each other right? You always see those jocks on television slapping each other on the ass in the locker rooms. Problem is that if my hand was to make contact with Kai's derriere I would not be able to let go. Focus, Ray. Remember, clear water and Kai is right next to me, having settled back after his generous display of sensuality. I just love it how he's so oblivious to his own studliness.

"And?" he asks when I don't continue.

"Uh…Oh. About that…What I wanted to tell you was…or rather ask you is…" Gosh, this is a lot harder than I expected. How does one incorporate such a question into every day conversation? Ramble. "A few of the guys were teasing me about Mariah and talking about whether or not they would want a girlfriend and, for some totally bizarre, unrelated reason I wondered if you've ever been with someone."

My hair, the reincarnation of Medusa's mane, is slowly drifting north wards, drawn to Kai's body and I quickly snatch it back, also removing the strands on his thigh without actually touching his skin.

"What's it to you?"

Oh, I don't know. Maybe because if you say that you've had a girlfriend in the past you'll ruin my very reason for living and sentence me to a life of depressing solitude. But I'm really just curios. Time to switch gears. Since he won't answer easily, I have to take matters into my own hands and start dropping hints.

"Come on, Kai. You're good-looking," you stud muffin, "and you have the most fan girls. Haven't you ever met someone who meant a bit more?"

He scoffs. Not good.

"I am not interested in having a relationship with anyone."

You don't mean that…do you?

"Maybe not now; we're all still a bit too young for anything serious. But in the future…?"

"I told you. My grandfather will chose a wealthy girl to give me an heir. I'm only doing so for the family name. Other than that I am not interested in marrying some woman."

"…What about a guy?"

Hiro will give me a good pinch for that one. So much for subtleness.

"…A guy?" Kai repeats, staring at me with The Raised Brow Look.

"You never know," I say, trying to sound casual though am a bit put off by that specific Look.

The brow lowers and Kai stares at me for a moment, then shakes his head bemusedly and sighs, resting his head back.

"Maybe."

Now he's just humoring me. All these years…nothing but unrequited love from the start. There goes my Christmas wish. I'll just have to settle with Mariah's 14 presents.

A sudden yell of horror shatters the silence and we both jump to our feet, the water just barely covering us from the waist down. I'm a slow healer and I curse out loud when my foot rebels against the unexpected movement. The pain's so bad I lose my balance and land on my knees on the warm water, making a scene as I go down. These hot springs are supposed to be good for you but I'm going to be limping myself out of here, you just watch.

"You okay?" Kai asks, his voice just barely audible above the panicking chaos that is going on back in the main pool.

"Damn foot," I grumble, now nursing two sore knees as well. "If we were in America I'd sue this place. What's going on?"

"Don't know," he answers. "Someone just called for a retreat back to the locker rooms though."

Climbing to my feet, I sway for a moment and grab the nearest thing for support. Said thing turns out to be Kai's shoulder. Our wet sides touch and I blush, pulling away but my foot is still being damn uncooperative. A hand grabs my shoulder, pulling me back to lean against him for stability.

"Don't put pressure on your foot; it'll only make it worse," he warns. "There's a medic you can go to."

I'm not listening, Kai. I'm trying to not rub up against you and purr in your ears. He's naked and holding me against him. His skin feels so soft and smooth against mine. His body is just like how I imagined it to feel, only a million times better. And his mouth…His lips…I'm too weak…I can't…take…it…Can't…resist…

"Kai?" I pant.

"What?"

"Forgive me."

I give in to carnal hormones and grabbing a handful of wet hair, I pull his head down and practically engulf his lips, pulling our bodies close until we have full frontal contact. My other arm snakes around his waist and seeing as I am not thinking straight anymore I cup a feel, making him jump, our groins rubbing. What am I doing? I've got to stop now before he…he…kisses me back…? Those lips are moving against mine with a lot of skills for someone who has never been with another, but I am not complaining. He tugs at my loose hair and I groan, squeezing his butt cheek in my hand when his tongue parts my lips. His free hand also slips around my waist, tracing my spine down till I feel a finger tease the sensitive skin. I buck, now purring like an engine. I no longer care what I'm doing as my hand dares to trace itself back over his hip and down to between his legs. Michael…Rick; eat your hearts out.

"Kai…" I moan as the kisses intensify. "I…I…I love you…"

That will haunt me for the rest of my life. The hand and mouth pull away, red eyes, as deliriously ravaging as I had dreamt, staring at me from a suddenly neutral face. He sighs, looking away and removing my hand from between his legs. What's happened? Had I hurt him? Lord knows I've only had Mariah as a 'teacher' in the hands-on pleasuring method. I can do better, honestly.

"I don't, Ray."

The world seems to close in on me as I stare numbly into his eyes. He…He didn't mean that…

"I can't give you what you want," he says, releasing me and stepping back. "If it's just the sex then fine, but I told you; I'm not interested in starting a relationship."

Stupid. I feel like such an idiot. A naïve, hopeless dreamer. I'm no more than another fan girl now, in his eyes. I'm no longer a friend. He now knows who I am and how I view him; it isn't any comfort that he hasn't rejected me just because I'm a guy. He's just not interested. I've never had my heart broken; I always used to roll my eyes when listening to Mariah's girlfriends tell us about their bad experiences with lovers, how they felt like their hearts had been torn in two. It sounded impossible. I know now that it isn't. Mine is tearing. It hurts so badly that my chests tightens as if trying to embrace and comfort it. I never thought I'd experience this…Somewhere in my naïve little mind, I had always assured myself that we would be together. Kai always liked me. He talked with me, even when I used to only garble some answers and walk into lampposts when with him. We have shared rooms, sometimes even beds and he never minded. And these last few days we've gotten so much closer to the point where he talked to me about his family. All of this had given me so much hope…

"That's cool," I choke out, pretending to be taking it in stride. "I…I respect your honesty."

I know he can see that I am screaming on the inside. He doesn't offer any word of comfort though.

"Ray! Kai!"

As the rest of the world catches up with us our friends' horrified screams flow over us once more. Someone is loudly splashing towards us, calling our names loudly but I can't summon the urge to feel concerned. The water sloshes as Miguel rounds the boulder and finds us. His hair is plastered to his face as he sees us, his eyes wide and fearfully looking about as he waves us over.

"Where have you been! Didn't you hear Max's warnings! We've got a code red! Papa G is coming and he isn't even wearing a towel! We've got to get out of here!"

I'm still favoring one leg and Kai reaches for my arm to guide me to solid ground but I pull back. I can't even stand his touch anymore…

"I'm staying. Alone," I say purposefully, taking a seat right on the very spot.

"You're what?" Miguel gapes. "But…But…It's Papa G!"

"I don't care…" My voice lowers so that only Kai can hear me. "…There are worse things in life."

Kai stares at me. Got that, love? Is that clear enough for you, or will you mistake that for something else too? He doesn't. Looking away for a moment, he then nods to Miguel and follows the blond who is still hesitant to leave me behind and defenseless. I watch as the two of them disappear around the corner. Kai doesn't look back once. It's over. Resting my brow in my palm, I stare blankly at my reflection that ripples as the first tears land in it. I hear the last of the guys scramble out of the place and all is silent for now until the dreaded nude senior shows up. Silent, except for the light swishing of water as something moves towards me. Once again, my name is called though in a soft voice.

"Ray?"

Hiro wades towards me, his long hair hanging wetly down his back. Someone steps out from behind him. Brooklyn. The teal blue eyes look down at me in understanding, much like Hiro's.

"He said no?" the prodigy blader asks tenderly.

I nod, swallowing the painful lump in my throat though it kept coming back.

"I'm such a loser…"

Brooklyn lowers himself next to me and takes my hand in his, squeezing it gently. Something about this guy always manages to calm the rest of us no matter how rowdy or riled up we are. His whole aura is just so peaceful and welcoming. I feel bad for all the times I've mocked his strange habits behind his back when to be honest he has never directed a single hint of malice towards me. I really hope he likes It. It's the very least I can do for him now.

"Give him time. He might still come around," he says, resting his head against mine.

"I don't think so," I gasp, finally feeling the sobs bubbling up. "I really don't think so, Brooklyn."

We don't say anything else. Brooklyn lets me cry on his shoulder while Hiro stands over us like a watchful guardian. Even when we hear Papa G make his grand entrance in the otherwise abandoned room we don't move. This is not how I had imagined things to have gone. Not at all.

One day until Christmas…but I no longer care for it. For me, Christmas is ruined.

Tbc…

A/N: Yeah, Christmas is long past, but it's still sad.

Next chapter: Christmas Eve brings even less cheer: the Return of the Mariah. And we return to the Russian Drama. Will Bryan return? And, most importantly, how will things change between Ray and Kai now?

Read & Review, please.