Author: Mirai Shinranui

Rating: PG-13.

Notes: There is really no excuse for waiting this long to turn out another chapter. Without going into too much detail, this chapter is so incredibly late because of a double major, depression, and serious writer's block. However, after a long break, here it is. When I forced myself to start writing again, this literally spilled forth in a matter of days. After cutting a lot of crap, I release a reasonable chapter for the consideration of my readers. I'm not really sure what my previous writing style was, but it seems I have lost that completely and come up with something new. For better or worse, it's here to stay, so I hope you all enjoy this chapter! Thanks to everyone who left reviews and especially those who took the time to track me down and email me; you guys are all great!

If you can't remember what has happened in the previous chapters, then please go back and re-read a couple, if only at a glance. If you can remember what has happened, even after all this time, then…I'm really impressed and flattered. If you can't remember but don't want to go back and read anything again, that's okay too, because the story isn't exactly hard to follow. Also, if anyone is wondering when this story is going to finish, let me answer that question now. There will be only one final chapter, and perhaps an epilogue, and then it's complete. I hope to release the final chapter before university starts again in March, so there will be no more delays.

Part Twelve – Tactile Persuasion

Kai furrowed his brows as the sunlight caught his face, dragging him from his sleep against his will. How easy it was to just roll over and resume sleeping. In the moments before he opened his eyes, that thought was the most poignant. He pursed his lips and moved his arm to rest over his eyes, blocking out the cheerful sunlight.

Kai heard the sound of someone pull in a breath and hold it. He kept his eyes closed, parodying sleep, just until his consciousness caught up with him. A familiar smell reached his nose. Rei. It was Rei. He could have opened his eyes, greeted Rei…but instead, he continued the façade. It was only a moment before he heard Rei exhale and felt a slight movement of the bed as its other occupant moved. It was strange not being able to see what Rei was doing. Just how long could he trick his generally observant friend? Kai waited, breathing in and out in steady rhythm, just as he would if he were asleep.

Rei was watching him, and Kai could almost feel those golden eyes trailing over his body, the sensation unbearable. There was a soft, almost tickling sense of something touching his stomach. Was he imagining that? Kai forced back the urge to open his eyes, but his arm did give a slight twitch. The small response made Rei draw in another strangled breath, and the movement on his stomach stopped.

Kai froze. His breath shallow, he almost felt lightheaded. What on earth was Rei doing? Maybe he was dreaming. Why would Rei touch him like that? It was not an effort to wake him, no, Rei seemed determined not to wake him. The touch was still there, though, soft fingers against the bare skin of his waist.

Perhaps he had fooled Rei again, because those fingers trailed higher up his exposed skin, hovering on his chest. Kai felt Rei shift closer still, the weight pressing next to him on the bed. His skin prickled as Rei's fingers ran across his chest, and it took all of his concentration to keep up his act. He wanted to open his eyes and snatch Rei's hand away from him. He wanted to impose one of his trademark glares and ask Rei what the hell he thought he was doing. He wanted to and yet he remained unmoving, and he let those fingers brush against his skin, all without argument.

He suppressed a gasp as Rei's fingers trailed over a long-healed scar across his ribs, but that was it for Kai. There was no way he could keep up this game. He opened his eyes, shifting his arm from over his eyes. In one swift movement, he grabbed Rei's wrist and brought him tumbling down. Rei's eyes went wide, startled, as he fell onto Kai.

"What are you doing?"

Ouch. That was not what he meant to say. He sounded rough, annoyed, his voice husky from sleep. He was not trying to interrogate Rei, but he did want an explanation.

Rei just stared down at him, trying his best to hold himself up with one arm, his other still caught in Kai's grip. His hair tumbled over his shoulders, tousled from sleep, and he had the cutest look of complete surprise and embarrassment across his features. Kai frowned. Cute? Did he think Rei was cute? Well, when he did that, those lips pouting, and his cheeks flared pink, perhaps he did look cute.

"Kai! I was… I, ah…" Rei had nothing else to say, but his mouth continued to move as he tried to think of an explanation. What does one say when caught red handed?

"Why were you touching me?" Again, that was not what Kai wanted to say, but his tongue seemed to run away with him. He did want to know. Rei had been touching him, he might even say caressing his skin, all while thinking he was asleep.

Rei clamped his mouth shut and the blush that had originated on his cheeks spread over his whole face and down his neck, disappearing beneath the collar of his nightshirt. So, he had been caught out.

Rei tried to tug away from Kai, pulling his arm, all the while staring in the opposite direction.

Kai sighed and raised his other hand to Rei's face, touching his cheek and turning his head. "What do you want, Rei?"

"I wanted…" Rei trailed off, mumbling the last of his sentence.

Kai shook his head. Did he really expect an explanation from someone so obviously embarrassed? With one tug, Kai brought Rei crashing down against him. Kai looped his arms around Rei's waist, pulling him that bit closer.

"All you need to do is ask," Kai said. Anything, and I will give it.

"It was nothing." Rei tucked his head under Kai's chin, leaning against his chest, his fingers fidgeting across bare skin.

At least that was less disconcerting. Kai tolerated Rei being near him and touching him, maybe he even enjoyed it. Did he enjoy it? He raised his hand to Rei's hair, dragging his fingers through the black strands and easing out knots. It was almost an unconscious action now, his fingers acting without his consent. Rei would smile and lean into his touch so he thought of no reason to stop. Now, looking at it, it seemed weird. They were friends; Kai was still loath to think they were best friends. Was this really the way friends behaved? Sure, he had seen Max lunge at Tyson in a bear hug, but Max was that kind of person. Kai was not. He stilled his hand against Rei's back, stopping his autonomous actions.

"Don't stop."

Pretty, golden eyes stared up at him and Kai found that his hand moved back to Rei's hair as if commanded. He continued to stroke back the long strands of hair around Rei's neck, laying them flat as he loosened the tangles.

Maybe this was what Rei had wanted in the first place? Rei was such a tactile person, he liked to touch and to do rather than just watch. He was the type to put a reassuring hand on a friend's shoulder, or a restraining touch when one was acting out. Maybe that was the explanation. Rei wanted physical contact and Kai, being the only other person around, was the obvious candidate.

Then why had Rei touched him in a way that was almost…intimate?

"The clouds have been moving in all morning. It's going to rain again. Just when I was hoping for more nice weather…"

Kai was startled from his thoughts. "Really?"

"Yes, really. Kai, what's up? You're spacing out."

Kai shook his head. "Nothing."

"Yeah, right. Nothing? It doesn't seem like nothing."

Rei crept up closer, pushing some of his hair behind his ear as he stared down. Kai could feel Rei's warm breath on his lips, stray pieces of hair tickling his cheeks and nose. Kai held his breath, as if forgetting how to breathe altogether. Rei was lying atop him, a perplexed look on his face. What did he want? What business did he have for being so close; so close that Kai could feel every part of his body, every movement he made, the weight of his breaths, and the beat of his heart?

"Kai? Are you alright? You don't look very good, you've gone really pale."

Moments passed and all Kai could do was stare back at Rei, his own heart hammering in his chest. He had lost all sense of control and it was because of Rei. No one else did this to him. He raised his hand to Rei's cheek, pushing back some of the errant hair, slipping it behind Rei's ear. His hand shook as he brought it back down, running the tips of his fingers along the skin of Rei's cheek.

"You can tell me anything," Rei said and leant into Kai's touch, closing his eyes. "I will always be here for you."

The final barrier broke, so profound that Kai could feel something around him shatter. Rei was the only thing left. He could hear Rei's heart rate increase, just like his own, his temperature rise. Rei was there for him, and would always be right here. Kai pulled away his hand as if he had been stung. Did he want another person in his space, another person to be his shield?

Kai panicked.

"We should get up. It's late. Stop being so lazy." He sat up, dislodging Rei, trying to slip away from him.

"Kai? What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm going to have a shower." He stalked away into the bathroom and ended the discussion with the slamming of the door.

---

Kai slammed his palms against the cool tiles of the shower recess. Dammit. His breath escaped him and he slumped against the wall, leaning over, the water dragging his hair down across his face and into his eyes. Kai tried to lose himself in the noise of flowing water, in the feeling of the steady thunder on his shoulders, but nothing worked. The cascading water felt like fingers caressing him, the hair tickling his face felt like it belonged to another. His body ached as he fell back against the wall, slipping down to sit on the tiled floor, the water surrounding him.

Kai laughed, leaning his head back against the wall. Rei did this to him. He knew that. The fingers that ran along his skin had made him shiver, the closeness made him warm, and the kiss had made him want something more. He sloshed the water from side to side, watching the patterns it made. What did he want? Kai always knew what he wanted and now he felt so lost. Rei had been right there, their bodies flush, faces only inches apart, and Kai had lay there, utterly lost. He did not want that. He made that clear to himself. He did not.

Lying to myself, aren't I? Kai banged his head back against the wall, light erupting across his vision.

He was confused. Was he lying? How could he know? He was just getting used to the idea that Rei could be friends with him. No, that he could be friends with Rei, not the other way around. He wanted to be Rei's friend. He wanted to be there for Rei when he wanted to talk, to hold him when he was upset. He wanted to do everything with him, and experience life with him.

Kai cracked his head against the wall once again, as if the pain would make everything clear. It just hurt. He scrambled to his feet, sliding on the wet tiles, a touch dizzy. What did he expect when he had just tried to give himself a concussion?

Stupid. That's what it was. Kai smirked and reached for the soap. It was stupid. Rei was…Rei. A friend, an enemy, or anything else, he was still just Rei. At least to Kai he was. Throughout it all, he had always seen Rei in the same light.

Except for last night.

The soap slipped from his hands, bouncing across the floor. Until last night, he had thought of Rei as he always had, or maybe it had been when Rei had arrived here. When had he started to think of Rei differently? He had never had such strange thoughts until last night, though. Had he? Had he always watched Rei so close? Had he always studied the slight expressions on Rei's face, the way he walked, the way he talked? Had those lips always entranced him when Rei smiled?

He pushed those thoughts from his mind, chasing after the soap. He wanted to enjoy Rei as a friend, as a best friend. He would take whatever came with those things. Kai washed his body, racing through the rest of his shower. Once he washed and rinsed his hair, he got out and reached for one of the towels on the rack. There was a gentle thump on the door and there was no real question as to who it was on the other side.

"Kai…what's wrong? I know you're finished, so you can hear me now."

"I'll be out in a minute." Kai wiped down the mirror before tying the towel around his waist. Despite his answer, he took his time brushing his hair and drying his body. His instinct was to reach for the blue paint on the side of the counter, but his hand wavered. Reflected in the mirror was his image, cheeks bare. He raised his hand to the skin of his face, mimicking the way Rei had touched him the night before. Shocked, he caught himself smiling. Smiling…at a memory. He had so many bad memories and just one good memory had forced the rest into retreat. Kai knocked the pot of paint and the small brush away and left the bathroom.

Rei was sitting at the door, resting his head on his folded arms.

"Rei…?" Kai felt his heart jump into his throat when he saw Rei's puffy, red eyes. He reached down and hauled Rei to his feet.

"Kai! What?"

"You were crying."

"So? You don't need to call attention to it. Jerk…"

Kai caught Rei's chin before he could turn away. "Why were you crying?"

"I wasn't. God, Kai, just leave it alone!"

"If I remember correctly, you were the one waiting out here for me."

Rei paused, searching for the snappy retort that never came. Kai just smiled.

"You looked upset. Was it something I did?" Rei fingered the hem of his nightshirt and looked past Kai to avoid his gaze.

Kai let his hand fall away from Rei's face. He felt guilty; he now knew why Rei had been crying.

"You didn't do anything," Kai said. He pulled away, putting distance between them.

"Then why did you run off like that? You really freaked out. I know you don't like to be touched but it was just some fun."

Kai stared at his open dresser. Just some fun? He could still recall Rei's warm fingers tracing a line up his chest and across his stomach. Is that what Rei meant?

"I mean…" Rei stammered. "I just thought it was nice to be close to someone. I know you don't like it. Don't worry it won't happen again. I understand now."

Kai rifled through his clothing, the silence heavy. He hated this sort of silence, the type where someone had to say something even if he intended to leave. He was not going to be the one to break it.

"…so! I was working on Driger this morning before you woke up. Maybe we could try it out. Have a bit of a practice session?"

That's it, Rei. You always have to fill the silence. Kai sighed. "Sure. Go get dressed and we can have breakfast first."

It was permission to leave, and Rei took it. Kai heard the click of the door as he left. He stared at the door for some time, a pressure rising in him that tried to escape his throat. He forced it back, along with the uncomfortable quaking of his shoulders.

---

Kai had met Rei in battle before. He recalled every detail of Rei's body; the way he stood, the way his muscles contracted, the expressions on his face were all very distinct. This was just practice, yet Rei was no different.

When he had first met Rei, he had thought him cocky, stupid to be so self-assured. He had even wanted to wipe that smirk off his face and trounce him as he did everyone else. Kai had never realized that doing that would be so hard.

"Come on, Kai! It'll be fun. Just a nice, friendly match, right?" Rei smirked from across the dish; that same smarmy grin that screamed authority.

Yet, Kai saw what was underneath. Rei was still upset. There was no twinkle in Rei's eyes, his hands fidgeted at his sides, and he moved his weight from one foot to the other. Kai narrowed his eyes. Why had he not noticed these things before now? It all seemed so obvious; each emotion Rei portrayed had a conflicting emotion underneath.

Kai held his blade up, aiming towards the dish. His heart was not in this, his attention on Rei and not the match.

Rei launched, refusing to wait. Driger bounced off the rim, swaying, and then steadied out and flew across the dish. Kai knew that was a sloppy launch, and Rei was not usually so careless. He let Dranzer go but kept his vision trained on Rei. He had no interest in this game.

Frustration. That was what Kai could see painted all over Rei. The subtle twitch of his fingers, the white color of his knuckles as he clenched his fists, everything gave him away. Kai was barely even aware of what Dranzer was doing in the dish; he was so fixated on Rei's movements. Every swish of his hair and movement of his hands, Kai followed with intense scrutiny. Perhaps that was why he knew what move Rei would make before he made it.

Rei was persistent, but he decided the result of the match long before it was finished. His anger won over and that was the end.

The sound of metal grinding against metal filled the room as Driger made that last effort to attack. If only Rei's attention was greater, his head cool, then perhaps he could have won. He was a strong opponent in body and mind, but without the attention and dedication, he may as well be an amateur. Driger lashed out, miscalculated, and all Kai could see was Rei in the direct path of danger. Rei would never make such a stupid, novice mistake under normal circumstances.

Kai felt time itself slow around him, his heart pounding in his chest, but the sound of Rei's cry drowned out the steady beat. Dranzer moved at Kai's will, and he too was moving. The attack struck Dranzer, but as Kai rushed to Rei's side, the shattering of his Blade was at the back of his mind.

"Rei! Are you alright?"

Rei looked up from the bottom of the low steps. His cheeks tinged pink, hands wrapped around his ankle; he looked anywhere but at Kai. "I fell…"

Kai held out his hand and Rei grasped it, but when he tried to pull himself up, he cried out in pain and slumped back to the ground. "I think I must have sprained it," he said, biting back the pain.

Kai swept Rei up into his arms, holding him close. "Put your arms around my neck." He would take no protests. "You should have been more careful…"

Kai looked into those golden eyes and saw the regret. Rei knew he had made a mistake…so he forgave him.

"You scared me." That was the last Kai said as he carried Rei upstairs and into the bathroom, setting him down so he could sit on the lowered toilet seat.

"I broke Dranzer," Rei said.

"You almost broke your leg. Sit still." Kai rolled up the cloth of Rei's pant leg, sliding off the shoe and sock. Rei winced but otherwise remained silent. "You got upset. You let emotions run you and you got yourself hurt."

"How did you know what I was going to do?"

Kai snatched his hands from Rei's leg and turned to the bathroom cabinet. Rei was waiting for an answer but he let the question hang, emerging with a rolled bandage.

"Well?"

"I didn't." Kai answered, and started to wind the bandage around the damaged ankle. He worked in silence from then on, even though Rei knew he was avoiding the question.

Rei tried to stay silent, to watch and not speak, but it was obvious he could not contain his questions. "Kai… About this morning?"

"Would you just forget it?"

"No. I upset you. I've done it again now, haven't I?"

"Of course not."

"Then look at me!"

Kai looked up, his expression unreadable.

"What have I done?"

A heavy sigh left Kai's chest and he shook his head. "It's nothing. I've just been thinking."

"Then talk to me. Share your thoughts with me. That's what we're supposed to do!"

"No!" Kai felt his shoulders give an involuntary shake.

"Kai…" Rei reached forward, putting his hands on Kai's cheeks, running his thumbs over the surface of his skin. "What's wrong?"

Kai closed his eyes and jerked away from the touch. He tied a neat bow at the end of the bandage and pulled down Rei's pant leg. "I don't understand what I'm thinking. I don't think I want to understand everything all of the time, so we don't need to discuss it."

"What do you mean?"

"…why do you care?"

Rei appeared affronted, leaning back away from Kai, his brows knitting together in a line. "Because I'm you're friend!"

"No. I mean, why do you care about me? Why do you want to be my friend? Why do you like me?"

Rei's expression softened and Kai could tell he was thinking.

"Kai…despite what anyone else thinks, even what you think, you're a kind person. You are smart, quick, and strong. But most of all, you're caring. I love that side of you."

Love. Kai had never heard that word directed toward him.

"I want you to be more caring. I…want you to care for me, too."

Kai rose to his feet, pacing a few steps before he stopped and leant against the towel rail for support. He did care about Rei; he just was confused as to how much he cared. He needed to know the truth behind everything, because friendly affection just did not answer his questions anymore. Maybe an interrogation was called for in this situation. "Why are you always touching me? Why were you touching me when you thought I was asleep? Why did you cover yourself the other night when I walked in? …and why did you kiss me?"

Dead silence.

Kai swallowed what seemed like his heart as it tried to escape the confines of his chest. This answer mattered to him, because then he could understand and stop dwelling on such ridiculous notions.

Rei slipped from the toilet seat to stand and Kai made an immediate reach for him in assistance. Rei moved to close the space between them, and when Kai flinched away, he followed. The gap between them disappeared and their lips met.

Time slowed and stilled, along with Kai's heart. He stared at Rei, watching those delicate eyes close, and those cheeks flush pink as they kissed. Kai pressed his fingers tighter against Rei's shoulders. It was strange to share something so intimate, but perhaps not so shocking.

Rei pulled away and all Kai could do was stare. His fingers rose to his lips, aware of how hot they felt, but he said nothing. He knew Rei was waiting and he watched Rei's expression change, yet he had no words. Rei pivoted on his heels, ignoring the searing pain Kai was sure he must have felt, and fled.

"…Rei, wait!"

Too late.