Author: Mirai Shinranui

Rating: PG.

Notes: Well, I missed that "before university starts" deadline. So, instead, I'm releasing this chapter at the beginning of my Easter break. I've been writing this over the last three weeks or so, and I've finally finished editing it today. Okay…so I got sick of editing it and decided to just post it!

Remember, there will be an epilogue, so this is the last chapter but there will technically be one more. I'll have the epilogue up as soon as I write it…

Part Thirteen – When Everything is Right

Rei jammed another shirt into his suitcase, the coat hanger banging against the back of the cupboard. How could this have happened? He raised a shaky hand, pulling another two shirts from the cupboard. He had to get out, he had to leave, and he had to do it now. He had long forgotten the argument with Tyson and Max. Max would look after him once he explained what had happened. Max would understand.

"God, Kai…" Rei gritted his teeth, his eyes burning red with salty tears. If only Kai could understand emotions like Max. Then this would have never happened.

But then, would I care about him as much? Rei shook his head and stood. He gathered his personal items from the room, the lone picture, his hairbrush, clothes he had strewn across the chair in the corner. Everything he dumped into his suitcase and pushed the lid closed. A frown crossed his lips and he pushed at the case harder, but the lid would not snap into place. There was too much in the case. This was ridiculous, it had closed just the other day and he did not even have as much in it now. He was missing some dirty clothes that Kai had sent to be washed, all his bathroom products that were still wet from his shower last night, and Driger... Rei realized that Driger was still in Kai's basement, forgotten on the bottom of the dish. How could he be so forgetful? He would just have to hope that Kai was man enough to return the Blade next time they met.

Rei pushed at the case again, and a growl of frustration forced past his lips. He even tried the old trick of sitting on the case, hoping the extra weight would be enough to push the catches closed. It was useless. The case sat open as though smiling at him. Rei slumped across the top of his case, defeated. He felt exhausted. Everything that had happened had drained him of his energy. Hot tears stung at his cheeks as they slipped from his eyes. He raised his hand to his lips, trying to recall the pleasant tingle of a kiss. He was not certain why he had done it, just that he had kissed Kai, and that it was an experience worth repeating. Not much chance of that happening though, was there.

What did I expect? Kai barely even notices I'm his friend. Some things were just better off left alone. Rei closed his eyes. Would he do it again, if given the same opportunity? Yes, but he tried to shut out that thought before it manifested.

"Why won't you close!" he yelled at the suitcase, taking his frustrations out on the lifeless, leather case, thumping his fist down on its surface.

"…Rei?"

Rei froze, sucking in a harsh breath.

"Can I help?"

His muscles unresponsive, it took Rei a moment to sit up and turn to look at Kai. Did Kai look…meek?

"I brought Driger. You left him downstairs." Kai offered the Blade in an outstretched hand.

It took even longer for Rei to stand, brushing the tears from his face with his sleeve. "Thanks." Was that croaking really his voice?

When Rei took Driger from Kai's hand, their fingers brushed and he felt his nerves tingle. He would have never thought like this before. There was no doubt Kai was attractive, he could appreciate that, but never before had he thought Kai anything more than a friend. It had been so gradual, from light touches to cuddling with him at night. Rei was sure that was what had done it. When he pressed himself to Kai at night, inhaled his scent, and heard the beating of Kai's heart near his own, something struck him. This morning he had just wanted to explore, touch the milky skin before him and run his fingers along the scars Kai bore. What had changed, and did he even care that it had changed? Rei looked up at Kai and met his gaze, but as soon as it came, it was gone. No, he wanted it to change. Rei was sure of that fact.

"Where are you going to go?"

"I'll think of something," Rei snapped back. He could look after himself if the need arose.

"Just stay here. You don't need to go anywhere."

Rei balled his fists at his sides. "Yes I do. Don't you see that? What happened…"

"What happened was a mistake."

Pain shot through him, making Rei dig his nails into his palms. "Mistake? It wasn't a mistake."

"But…you kissed me."

Rei looked up once more, fresh tears stinging the corners of his eyes. "I don't expect you to understand. Just let me get the hell out of here and we can forget this ever happened."

Rei watched as Kai raised cautious fingers to his lips, as if remembering the brush of a kiss.

"Look, this doesn't have to go any further. I let myself get carried away. I'll leave, you can go back to your miserable life and everything will be back to normal. I'll even apologize to Tyson."

"I don't want to go back to my miserable life."

Rei let his hands fall flat at his sides. "I saw your expression. Don't lie to me. Just let me leave and nothing will change. We can just pretend this whole week never happened." Rei shook his head and turned back to his suitcase, pressing down the lid. Only when Kai sat next to him, applying his own weight to the top of the case, did it close with a click of hinges. Rei flipped the latches into place and it was final. With Driger in his pocket, he lifted the suitcase and slipped on his shoes, wincing as the sides of his shoe dug into his swollen foot.

"Let me drive you somewhere. To Max's or a hotel..."

"I'm fine, thank you." Rei shoved past Kai, the suitcase hitting him in the knee. There was nothing else to say. If Kai would not take that step forward, then Rei would not bridge the gap again.

---

The walk along the hall and down the steps into the foyer was agonizing, each step flaring pain up his leg to settle in his stomach. He had little idea of where he was going but he pressed on with sheer willpower, forcing open the front door one handed.

He paused at the end of the porch, looking up at the sky. Raindrops splattered across his face. Why did it have to rain now? Rei stepped out into the rain and limped down the driveway and onto the path. Wherever he was going, it would be a long walk. Why had he put his coat in his suitcase? The rain slicked his hands and the handle of his case, and each step he took caused it to slip until his grip slacked and the case fell from his fingertips. Rei cursed under his breath, only glad that the fall had not caused the case to pop open and spill its contents onto the wet ground. His knee hit the ground a little too hard, jarring pain running down through his bones, pulsating and burning. Rei gritted his teeth, leaning against his case, pushing away the nausea that overwhelmed his senses. Perhaps he should have stayed, just for another night, or accepted that lift to a hotel. He was just as stubborn as Kai…

Fingers ghosted across his lips as he smiled. Yeah, they were both stubborn. Things were better off this way, though. He was deluding himself if he honestly thought that he and Kai could… What would they have? A friendship…a relationship? Rei sighed, resting his other knee on the ground. His heavy, wet hair stuck to his face, shoulders, and clothes that were already soaked. He was acting like a moron, sitting here in the rain and dirt, his ankle swollen, and sickness threatening to knock him out, and all he could do was think about Kai.

"You're a real idiot sometimes, Rei." He shook his head and attempted to stand, hefting the case up with him. However, his body had other ideas and dragged him back towards the ground as soon as he put weight on his injured ankle. It was then, quite suddenly, that strong arms wound about his waist and held him aloft, setting him back on steady feet. The arms did not move, however, and warmth pressed against the length of his back. Rei sucked in a quick breath, his heart hammering through his chest from the panic of falling and surprise of being caught.

"Don't go."

Rei closed his eyes, placing his hands over Kai's hands. Was that an order, or was Kai really begging him not to leave? To Rei, it sounded like the latter. Wishful thinking or not, he turned around, looking up at Kai. "Is that what you want?"

"Right now, I don't want you to go. You're injured, it's raining…and…"

Rei narrowed his eyes and pushed Kai away. Worrying for his well-being was not good enough. Rei was not going to come back because of a sprained ankle. If he came back, it would be because Kai had actually admitted how he felt. So far, it did not look like that was going to happen.

"Just come back inside."

"No."

"…no? Rei, you're being stupid. You're hurt and you left half your things—"

"No! God…look at us! Dancing around the subject half the time. Kai, I kissed you."

"Yes, I did notice that."

Rei bit back the resulting urge to smack Kai. "I mean, aren't you going to say anything? Do anything?"

"I asked you to come back, didn't I?"

"That's not enough! Not anymore. It's not enough… I want… I want you to do something, tell me how you really feel. I tried my best, I showed you. The kiss wasn't a mistake." Rei took a step back, feeling the burn of tears at the corners of his eyes.

"Why did you kiss me then?"

Rei had never seen Kai look like his, with his gaze downcast, his hands shaking. He almost looked scared. This was different to physical fear; this was emotional fear. Rei almost laughed; Kai, scared of his feelings? Rei sighed, unclenching his fists. "You should know. It's kinda obvious. I like you. I like you as a friend, as my best friend and…now I think I like you more. I wanted to see what it was like."

"…and?"

"And what?"

Kai looked up through the wisps of hair clinging to his face. "What was it like?"

"Wonderful…" Rei breathed out. There was no need to think long on that answer.

"Then why did you leave!"

Blood rushed to Rei's head, the sound of water all around him. "What…?"

"Why did you run away if you liked it?"

"Because you didn't!"

Kai snorted in laughter, raising his hand to cover his eyes. "And what gave you that idea?"

"Well…you didn't say anything…"

"Yeah, no kidding."

"So…you did like it? Why didn't you just say? Why don't you say so now?"

"Because I don't know! Alright? Is that what you want from me? I'm confused…alright?"

Rei's heart flipped in his chest, or at least that's what it felt like, as his chest constricted and swelled all at once. Kai was confused…more so, he admitted that he was confused. That in itself was a big step.

"What did you expect," Kai continued, "You kissed me, out of nowhere. It was a shock."

"And now?"

"And now I'm confused. Can't we just leave it alone?"

"Oh come on! You just said that you liked the kiss, you asked me to come back, and now you want to drop the subject?" Rei put his hands on his hips.

"I didn't say that exactly…"

"Kai!"

Kai folded his arms. "What do you want from us? That's what you want right? Well we can't."

"And why not? Who ever said we couldn't? We could…do that! The others wouldn't care."

Kai had to laugh.

"I want you to give me one good reason why not." Rei was adamant.

"I can think of a hundred. It's ridiculous."

"That's not a reason."

"Rei…we can't. Even if we want to."

"So you want to?"

"I never said that! It's just…" Kai sighed. "It's just that this isn't the right time."

Rei frowned. Kai was so predictable. The moment he opened up, in the next he would close down again. It was not good enough this time. There was a glimmer of hope and Rei was not about to let that slip through his fingertips.

Rei pursed his lips, glaring at Kai. This time, he would get his way. "Kai, listen… No time is the right time. There is no right time. If you're waiting for that precious moment when everything is right, you're not going to find it. You have to take what you want, grab it, and not let go. That's how this works."

Rei stepped forward, coming face to face with Kai and he did not step back this time. Whether he moved first or Kai did, he was not sure, but he found himself pressed against another rain soaked body, heated lips held against his own. Kai's hand caught in his hair and he parted his lips. That was when Rei realized that kissing with your mouth open was a hundred times better. It was wet, breathless, and a little strange, but wonderful all at once, and it sent excited tingles down his spine. Kai ran his fingers along Rei's face, wiping away the rain and wet tendrils of hair, breaking from the kiss and pressing their foreheads together.

Kai was smiling. A genuine, happy smile. So, Kai was happy, Rei deducted. He smiled back.

"So, what now?" Kai asked, resting his hands on Rei's shoulders. "Does this mean you lo—?"

Rei put his finger over Kai's lips to stop what he was saying. Love was a heavy word, and one he was not ready for, at least, not just yet. "Think of this like an experiment. I don't know yet, and we don't have to know. But it will be fun finding out."

Kai nodded. "Maybe we should go inside though. I don't want to be looking after you for the next week because you caught a cold." Kai turned and knelt down so his back was facing Rei. "Climb aboard."

"Kai, no! When are you going to believe me when I say I'm too heavy?"

"Well someone needs to carry your case as well, so this is the only way."

Rei sighed but did as Kai had told him, letting Kai carry him as if he was a five year old on daddy's back. He felt stupid, but it was nice that Kai treated him like something precious. He put his arms around Kai's neck and rested his head, closing his eyes. He might feel silly, sick from pain, cold, but he felt happy.

"Comfortable?" Kai picked up Rei's case from the ground and pushed himself to walk forward.

"Yeah…but you can't carry me the whole way! It's too far!"

"Rei, you didn't get very far. It's only two doors away. I think I can manage."

"…shut up…"