Devil on the Doorstep
Well, I'm upset. No one reviewed the last chapter. :'(. Am I really that bad? And only six people have read it. More Bryan fluff, because I just love writing him so out of character. And Kai is acting a bit more like his father in this chapter, well, the way I envisage Seth t be when he's not going mental and talking to dead people! Maybe it would be safer to say he's acting like Kasi. And thanks to Winter-Rae for giving me the song!
Devil on the Doorstep; Chapter IV: The Remembrance Ballad
Kai sat down carefully in the seat Ray gave him. Bryan looked so peaceful when he was asleep, yet Kai knew from bitter experience that nightmares could be just around the corridor.
"Why did you let him have your bed?" Ray growled, sitting down next to him. Kai glared silently at the neko-jin.
"He needs sleep." Kai's voice was barely above a whisper. Bryan muttered slightly, his brow creasing in his nightmare.
"He's not human. He doesn't deserve anything!"
"Keep your voice down!" A tear tracked down Bryan's face, as if he could hear Ray.
"For God's sake, Kai!" Ray knocked his chair over. "One minute you're trying to kill him, the next you're his best friend! He'll betray you! In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he's working for Boris right now!" At the mention of Boris, Bryan's eyes opened wide.
"No, Ray. Funny how you only say that about Bryan." Kai drew the older boy into a protective hug, glaring at Ray over Bryan's shoulder. "Get out of my room."
"But-"
"Out." Bryan burrowed his head into Kai's shoulder slightly.
"Thank you." He murmured as Kai rubbed his back.
"For what?"
"Sticking up for me. You didn't have to."
"It's what friends do. Plus, I'm fed up of Ray acting like the alpha cat." Bryan grinned slightly and curled up in the bed again.
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What if I could take back all those misspent days? Every second of anger, I would wash my sins away…
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Bryan woke up, suddenly and sharply. The first thing he saw was Kai's bent over figure and he realised that Kai was asleep. He looked uncomfortable in the hard wooden chair. Bryan looked down at Kai's hand, still firmly clasped in his. He wriggled his hand out and stared at the bandages on the younger boy's hands. Curious, he carefully unwrapped it. Bryan barely blinked at the burns on the hand.
"No one ever tell you curiosity killed the cat?" Kai's warm voice said humorously.
"Good thing I'm not a cat then." Bryan replied. "Those burns need fresh air. Why are you keeping them bandaged?"
"It's what the hospital said." Kai smiled as Bryan raised an eyebrow. "You want something to eat?" Bryan stared at Kai in confusion.
"But…" He shook his head to stop himself saying anything stupid. "I can't." Kai raised an eyebrow cockily and helped Bryan up.
"We'll find you something." Kai smirked. "What the hell are you doing?" Bryan darted forward and undid the other bandage.
"I'll eat if you keep them off. Deal?" Kai nodded and slung an arm around Bryan's shoulders.
"Hey Bryan." Max waved from the table. Bryan nodded back, slightly nonplussed.
"What the… Why are they talking to me?" He asked his mentor in confusion.
"Max doesn't hold a grudge. Keep out of the way of Ray though, because he definitely does." Ray scowled as he heard his name. "Sit." Kai nodded to one of the seats.
"You want some milk?" Max held the bottle out. Bryan looked askance at Kai, who shook his head.
"No, thank you." He whispered.
"Pancakes?" Another shake of the head. "Cocoa?" Kai had a wry smile on his face as he shook his head again. "Porridge?" Yet again, another shake of his head.
"You can eat something!" Tyson yelled, slamming his palms down on the table. Bryan flinched away in fear, his eyes wide.
"Yes, that is true." Kai came up behind Bryan and Bryan wrapped his arms around Kai's legs. "But not any of the stuff you just suggested."
"Why not?" Ray sneered. "Is he fussy?" Kai frowned and opened his mouth, but Bryan beat him to it.
"I'm lactose intolerant. I can't have dairy products. I have a…" Bryan looked at Kai for help.
"A serious carbohydrate malabsorption. Means he can't have any milk, not even soya. And all the food you offered is milk-based. Catch." Kai chucked a couple of pieces of fruit at the Russian, who ducked slightly, but caught them easily enough. Ray raised a hand to push his bangs away and Bryan cowered away.
Kai caught him as he fell backwards in a dead faint.
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It only just recently hit me, that this life is just a state, mortality fading, like the innocence of love, I'm scared to death of what's to become…
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"Good boy." Voltaire looked at his son as Seth fitted in the most hated of his masks; the 'masquerade' mask. It was the only one that covered most of his face and was suitable for how Seth felt: disgusted with himself, ashamed. "I always knew you were a Hiwatari in your heart. The incident with the servant is behind us now."
Seth's eye narrowed as he shaded them in with the kohl pencil. He knew he had barely any power, but he swore, whatever it took, that he was going to survive his work, and come out human.
He was going to have his revenge.
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Will anyone remember my name when time has washed away the dust of our ashes?
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Ooo… not sure if I like this chapter… I've always intended for Bryan to be lactose intolerant! Ooo… I might make him anaemic! Damn it, I forgot about the books! Review!