Author: Mirai Shinranui, AKA Jasmine Flame.
All flames can be directed to jasmine_flameAThotmail.com
Rating: PG.
Notes: I really have no idea how long this thing is going to be. I really have no idea where I'm going with this…Okay so that's a lie. I know the beginning and the end but have no idea of the stuff in between. I'll just wing it…
I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed me and everyone who read my story and didn't review. You're all special! I won't go into answering reviews though – I hate it when authors do that.
Part 2 – The First Night
Sleep proved to be more elusive than he first thought. He still felt so uncomfortable in the large room; even the bed felt monstrous.
Rei pulled the covers up around his neck. The moment he was alone he'd switched both bedside lamps on, colored light blossoming around the small tables and onto the dark, wooden floor. Heavy curtains covered the balcony doors and for that he was grateful. Outside it was really coming down; the heavy drops of rain echoing around the room.
Rei sat cushioned by the pillows he'd propped against the headboard, the lace edges tickling his arms. He hated the rain and even though he was inside, safe and warm under the blankets, he couldn't help but imagine being outside and soaked to the bone. A shiver ran along the length of his spine, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end.
A moan sounded through the room. Rei gave a small start, looking towards the doors that loomed at the end of the room. He'd realized that the old house just seemed to make noises but every single one startled him. The strong wind and rain outside did nothing but compound the problem.
He'd tried falling asleep many times but found it impossible. Every noise had him on edge, and he couldn't seem to tear his gaze from the shadows that crept in the corners. The idea of closing the curtains around the bed had only passed his mind briefly. He would much prefer to be able to see around him, especially when something attacked him.
He couldn't help but laugh at that completely irrational thought. What exactly did he think was going to attack him; the boogeyman?
Slipping from under the covers he let his feet touch the cool wooden floors. He cast an uneasy glance over his shoulder towards the doors. He'd placed his suitcase near the cupboard, intending to unpack the next day. But at the moment he only wanted one thing; Driger.
The familiar weight of his Blade was a welcome relief, though it did nothing for his ridiculous fears. He wasn't sure exactly what he was thinking to do with his Blade, but it was already making him feel a lot better.
Scampering back to the bed he slipped under the covers, pulling them up around his chin. Rei stared around the room, his gaze continuously lingering on the shadows around the door. He knew no one was going to come through those doors – he and Kai were the only ones in the house – but then again, what did he know?
The wind sighed outside, the balcony doors creaking in reply. Rei watched the light in the room flicker as the outside power lines rocked back and forth.
Rei nibbled at his lower lip. He didn't know what he'd do if the lights went out now. Screaming was a possibility, and so was hiding completely under the blanket. Both sounded so incredibly childish he would've laughed if he wasn't so frightened.
The lights flickered again before pitching the room into complete darkness. Rei gave an alarmed cry and grabbed one of the pillows he'd been resting on. He didn't care if it was stupid to be frightened of a bit of rain and wind, nor did he care that it was a really bad idea to go and wake Kai.
He ran from the room, pillow and Driger in hand, and fled down the hallway. The hall was just as dark as his room had been and it was hard to navigate his way without bumping into the wall. He let his other senses take over; the cool floorboards extended ahead of him with each step he took, and the wallpaper was rough against the hand he trailed along the wall. Some way down the hall the coarse wallpaper gave way to smooth wood. Rei just hoped this was Kai's room.
Pounding on the heavy door he couldn't stop looking down the halls in both directions. Out in the open he felt far more vulnerable than he did when in his bed.
"Please open up, Kai," Rei pleaded. His voice was barely a whisper, not daring to talk too loudly.
Undeniable fear gave way to overwhelming relief when he heard footsteps approaching the door. Rei danced from one foot to the other, wishing Kai would hurry up. Letting out a high pitched whine the door opened and Kai stood in the doorway, his icy gaze sending chills through Rei's body. Perhaps it hadn't been such a good idea to wake Kai.
Rei pulled at the hem of his pajama shirt, not at all willing to meet Kai's gaze. Those eyes were so cold and uncaring. Why did he think Kai would feel any compassion towards him?
"Were you asleep?" Rei asked. His voice sounded so uncertain; did it even belong to him?
Kai glared at Rei, who had taken great interest in the floor and his feet. Why the hell was Rei even here? He looked his teammate up and down; he seemed fine. He really hoped it was something urgent if Rei decided it was important enough to wake him.
Kai couldn't help but think the disturbance was somehow welcomed though. He hadn't been sleeping at all. He hardly ever slept, especially in this house, and when he did his dreams were overrun with images of his Grandfather, Black Dranzer, and the Demolition Boys. He preferred not to sleep.
Kai let out a sigh, folding his arms across his chest, "Why are you here, Rei?"
Rei's head snapped up when he was spoken too, the emotion in his eyes something of urgency. He continued to tug at his shirt, his nervous hands crumpling the satin fabric.
"I…" he stammered, once again diverting his gaze, "Can I sleep in your room? I'll sleep on the floor, it's alright."
With steady eyes Kai watched the Chinese Blader. He really did seem serious. Why on Earth would he want to sleep on the floor? What was wrong with the room he'd been given.
The wind stirred outside, sending a groan through the house. The floorboards squeaked, the noise echoing in the large hall. Through the open door the lights flickered on before falling dormant once more, the temporarily light nothing but a memory.
Kai couldn't help but notice Rei shake, a chill running up his body. Kai knew it wasn't from the cold. What could Rei possibly be frightened of? He'd never thought that Rei would be scared of something; scared enough to risk waking him in the middle of the night.
Tightening his grip on his arm, Kai waited for a moment. Rei didn't say anything else, his gaze trained on his bare feet. Kai sighed; what did Rei expect him to do? If Rei was scared of something he wasn't going to be able to help him. But if Rei just wanted to sleep on the floor – as if that would somehow miraculously settle his fear – then what was the problem? He didn't know if he was willing to let Rei sleep on the hard floor, with nothing but a pillow; it wouldn't be very comfortable and he wasn't about to start fetching blankets for his teammate.
With a very deliberate sigh he stepped away from the door, indicating that Rei should come in. Kai couldn't help the smirk on his face as Rei hurried into the room, his pillow gripped tight against his chest. Before Rei could deliberate on a spot on the ground Kai placed both hands on Rei's shoulders and guided him towards the bed. Kai sat him down rather forcefully before returning to his own side of the bed.
"Kai?" Rei questioned, still hugging his pillow tight.
"Go to sleep," Kai responded, the usual cool air of indifference surrounding him as he slipped beneath the blankets.
Rei's brows knotted together. He had not been expecting this at all. Was it possible that Kai actually cared about him to some degree? It was more likely that Kai didn't know what else to do with him. He wasn't sure whether he felt bad for having woken Kai like this and he got no real clues as to how Kai took the intrusion; he was as cool as he always was.
Rei released his pillow from the death-like grip he'd held it in. First he put Driger on the nightstand, and then he placed the pillow behind him, in line with Kai's, and lay down, bringing the blankets up around him. If Kai was fine with this then he was certainly going to attempt to get some sleep. Rei knew that anyone else would've been killed for laying this close.
He rolled onto his side, making sure the blankets didn't bunch around him. The last thing he wanted to do was annoy Kai further. Kai lay on his back, staring at the ceiling, his face completely emotionless. Rei couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking about. He had to be thinking about something. Kai would never share things like that with them though and asking would get him absolutely nowhere.
Rei brought his legs up, curling into a ball. His eyes still open he stared at Kai's shoulder, which happened to be right in his line of sight. Despite it being awfully dark in Kai's room he felt none of his previous fear. The rain still fell outside, and the wind still roared around the house, but Rei's mind was clear of the images he'd conjured before. There was something about having another person around that made him feel calm, even if the person happened to be a humorless creature of ice.
"You should go to sleep," Kai said though his eyes never left the ceiling.
Rei's breath hitched in the back of his throat and his eyes clamped shut in response to Kai's words. It wasn't that Kai scared him – Kai had never frightened him – but rather he felt like he was annoying him by just being here. Kai was annoyed at something most of the time and Rei hated it when that something was him.
"Kai?"
This time Kai looked over. Rei was looking at him with only one open eye. He looked small and fragile curled into a ball like that, his ebony hair falling around his face and trailing beneath the blankets. His exact features were hard to make out in the darkness but there was no mistaking the bright amber eye that looked at him in question.
"About the argument…" Rei began. His other eye opened with slow exaggeration, leaving the two glowing orbs to stare at his Captain.
Kai made no attempt to answer. The argument had been stupid. It just went to show how completely out of hand things could get. He still believed the entire thing was Tyson's fault. Whoever thought the World Champion would be such a brat?
"Thanks for standing up for me," Rei continued. A gentle smile played across his face as he stared at Kai.
"Hn. I didn't," Kai said and let his gaze return to the ceiling, "Tyson was wrong."
"But still…thanks," Rei said. He left it at that, rolling to face the other way.
Kai glanced over and frowned. He'd only argued with Tyson because he was wrong about everything. Kai didn't favor anyone, least not Rei. If anything he worked Rei harder than the others because he knew he could take it. He wasn't about to let Tyson berate Rei for something that wasn't even true. It just so happened that they'd ended up on opposite sides like this. Kenny was right though; they needed to cool down.
Kai put his hands behind his head, still closely monitoring Rei's movements. He noted that Rei's long hair was out, held back only by a red ribbon that matched his red, satin pajamas. He smirked; he'd always figured Rei would wear pajamas.
He shifted, rolling onto his side so he faced away from Rei. Try as he might he could never seem to treat Rei as he treated the others. Max was easy to berate, being as hyperactive as he was. Kai wondered exactly what he was eating and how much sugar it contained. Tyson…Tyson was even easier to shun. Tyson was possibly the most annoying person he'd ever met. Kenny he could do without as well. That little know‑it‑all needed to be yelled at far more often. Then there was Rei…
Rei was different. No matter how Kai treated him he always seemed to return for further punishment. That kind smile was always plastered across his face, and his words were always caring. Kai didn't know why Rei kept trying, because it was obvious what he was attempting to do. Others had tried it before; it was the let's‑get‑to‑know‑Kai game where there were never any winners. Kai had a feeling Rei knew this as well but he never seemed to give up. Perhaps that's why Rei annoyed him most of all.