Chapter 7: Endless Fire

When he said he'd call, I didn't realize he only meant once. While I had been frantically trying to get a hold on what was happening and making up my assignments and extra credit and all that good stuff, four days passed by quickly but I had heard nothing from Kai after that first phone call. Had I known that that would be my only one, I would have made it more...something.

Sigh.

Why does my life always seem so complicated?

The worst part was, I was too exhausted to even be angry. Which I wanted to be, I had told myself so…earlier…when I was…less drained…

"Yo!" Tyson flops down on the desk in front of me, close to where I have been resting my head for the past 20 minutes of ruminating and pitying myself. I sit up straight and look at him, bored.

"What is it now?" I ask, not hiding my annoyance. He kicks his feet out in a happy manner and looks around the room. Why is he always so energetic? It makes my eyes burn. Wait, maybe that's the lack of sleep.

"Is that any way to greet your best bud?" He snorts, then spots something of interest across the room and jumps back off the desk to walk over. "You have a lot of books in here..." he muses.

"Well it IS a library," I comment back. I watch him pick up one of Kai's bookends, causing the books it had been holding back to tilt into a pile that cascades over on to the floor. He frantically tries to catch them before they fall but just manages to drop the bookend as well.

"Awe man..." He bends over to pick them up and I turn back to the computer, the screen still blank from my not-even-started essay. It was the last one on my to-do list for the day and I was even less excited to start it as I had been with the first four.

"So to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit? I'm sure it wasn't just to wreck Kai's office." It may have been the library and fully accessible to anyone who wanted to use it but it was still Kai's office to me. He spent most of his time locked away in here and I was starting to realize why, having done pretty much the same since he had been gone. It was kind of...peaceful. Since neither Tyson nor Max ever showed much interest in books and it was inconveniently at the end of the hallway, the chances of them wandering in was slim to none. For the past two days I hadn't even bothered to close the door, just in case I needed an ear out for any disasters that might take place. Although after witnessing it first hand, I wondered if Kai would appreciate me allowing Tyson that possibility of entry, let alone the freedom to touch his things. It was a little late to consider that now however.

"Nothing special. Just haven't seen you in awhile." He finishes with the books, having replaced them in a messy stack on the shelf with the bookend set gingerly down on top as if it were a house of cards and it would hold them in place that way. Which was just ironic since that was its actual purpose, even if not in the same manner. He turns back to me. "Max and I are going to check out this tournament promotional thingy at the mall today and I wanted to know if maybe you wanted to come."

"I have a lot of work to do..." I reply absently, taking on a vacant stare as the blankness of the page seems to meld into even more nothing than it already was. I wasn't particularly listening to what he was saying to even know what I was saying no to but I knew it was what needed to be said.

"It's only a few hours! Breaks are good for you, ya know!"

I let my head sink back to the desk again defeated.

"I really can't. Maybe next time."

Hands clamp down on my shoulders and squeeze and a shiver jolts through my body before they are removed again. The feeling of uneasiness that follows makes me sit up again and watch him as he bounces his way back towards the door.

"Well if you wanna join later, just come find us. Don't work too hard!" And he's gone. What the hell was that? Tyson's usual playfulness never effected me like that before. Was it just because I was over tired? That had to be it... Or maybe it was my lack of human contact all day. I suddenly had a huge desire to be hugged that I couldn't quite explain. And since when was he even speaking to me again? He had been avoiding me for almost the entire week. Or maybe it just seemed that way since I had been so busy. Or he had been so busy. Or both of us had.

Maybe a break wouldn't be too bad after all.

I hear the excited chatter as Tyson reunites with Max and they happily make their way outside for their adventure. When I hear the door close and the silence settles in again I resolve that a break would probably be rather nice. So I close the empty document and make my way to the kitchen, preparing a small snack and then settling into Kai's chair to watch some TV, which if you asked me now, I couldn't even tell you whether I turned on. I didn't anticipate my tiredness taking over, Kai's chair being like a warm cloud still lingering with his comforting scent, and causing me to fall into a deep, undisturbed sleep. The end of the world wasn't waking me up.

When I do wake up my cozy, curled up position seems a bit cozier than I remembered curling up in. I start to shift but realize that I can't because I am trapped by a pair of strong arms that are wrapped around me. It's then that my other senses kick in and I take in the slow breathing and relaxed body pressed closely to my back. I pause, wondering if Tyson had somehow managed to fall asleep near me again and rolled over into a sleepy death hug. I toss this thought quickly from my mind as the arms release me enough so I can turn around, even if it is still a trying feat to accomplish, especially since it's actually not just arms wrapped around me but a whole body. I let out a sigh of relief when I come face-to-face with Kai instead. From the looks of him, he's just as exhausted as I was. I feel a familiar nervous anxiousness wash over me from seeing him again but he looks so serene I have no desire to disturb him right away.

I settle back into the chair and just stare at him for a few minutes, wondering why it was so easy for him to make me forget everything that I should actually be thinking and feeling and replacing it with only desires to be close to him. It's not like he was even doing anything but somehow just knowing it was his arms that were wrapped around me put me in a place where anything before that just didn't matter.

I start to feel a tingling in my leg as a numbness wants to set in and I try to shift again without waking him. When this becomes a futile attempt, I decide (much to my own disappointment) that there's only one way to get free. I take the opportunity to kiss him lightly on the cheek and nuzzle his face, hoping the unexpected contact will bring him back but he only seems to pull me tighter.

I try again by shaking him a little. He breathes out a sleepy sigh but still doesn't stir. Who knew it was so hard to wake up Kai? With his usual always aware and alert attitude, it was strange to even think he could sleep so deeply. I suppose he is human after all.

"Come on, dear. We should find a real bed," I say teasingly. If he had been awake I would have instantly been graced with his fiery glare at the endearing term but lucky for me he is just barely aware of my consciousness. All my instincts tell me it's better to let him sleep, being permitted to witness such a moment was something I had a feeling I wouldn't get very often. Temporarily forgetting the reason I had tried to wake him in the first place, I brush a hand through his hair. He groans, his normal protective instincts probably kicking on. His eyes start to open sleepily. "Hi." I smile softly and push myself up as he blinks to get his focus on me. "I was beginning to think you were dead. You made my leg fall asleep." He is slow to respond and after taking a moment to piece together what was happening, he shakes his head.

"You're awake?" It's posed as a question but it isn't really a question as much as it is an observation. I answer it anyway.

"Yeah. I'm all yours. But let's go to bed first. You must be exhausted."

The arms tighten around me again and he pulls me towards him, his lips meeting mine when I stumble forward. He keeps his eyes closed and leans his forehead against mine, seemingly still trying to get his bearings before he drops his legs to the floor and overpowers me with a much deeper kiss. Turning me and pushing me back into the chair, he moves over me, the kiss growing more passionate with the more awake he gets.

I guess I wasn't the only one craving human contact after the separation. Unlike the confusing moment I had shared with Tyson, every part of my body is responding, knowing exactly what it is it's been waiting for. Everything about his touches and kisses is familiar and desired and the more he throws at me, the more I don't want him to stop.

His knee slides up on the chair between my legs, one hand caressing my neck and tilting my head up as the same knee pushes into the chair and he grows taller. I gasp as my body wants to drift up with him but is forced down with his other hand while he towers above me. My hands grip his clothes to pull him back down and I feel him smirk before he pulls away to look down at me affectionately.

"Hi," he gives me a proper greeting. I'm sure he's just admiring his handiwork as I regain my composure and shake my thoughts back into reality.

"I didn't know you were so intense when you first wake up," I gush as I catch my breath.

"Maybe if you weren't always sleeping you would," he teases back. My face twists in displeasure at the insinuation but he doesn't give me time to retort as he leans back over and kisses me again. This kiss and the several that follow it become more eager and purposely stimulating and I moan when the hand floats down my neck and loosens my collar to drop my shirt down and expose my shoulder. The feel of the cool air touching my skin only makes my desire stronger, so I push up and grab at his hips to gain control over him and bring him closer. He pushes me back down and brings his other knee up on the chair so that he is straddling my leg and holding me in place. The kisses move down my neck and my fingers dig into his lower back.

The front door slamming makes us both jump and we break apart, our eyes shooting to the source.

"Damn-it." Tyson. He passes the room halfway and looks over, nodding towards us without much of a reception before continuing on. If I had to guess he probably didn't even notice that we were both there, so chances were he hadn't paid mind enough to know what we'd been doing.

"Everything okay?" I call awkwardly to the empty space that he has left in his wake. Two more bangs sound and a kick hits the wall.

"Fine thanks!" Tyson calls back before slamming his own door and silencing the rest of house. I look back at Kai, the moment ruined, and ask what I believe we are both thinking. Or perhaps what we SHOULD be thinking.

"Maybe we should go see if he's okay?"

"Hn." Kai rolls his eyes, sighs, and nods, but makes no move to get up or to allow me to go after him. I sit up straight so my body presses against his and kiss him softly on the chin, if only to get his attention off his disgruntled thoughts.

"It won't take long," I say and he meets my eyes.

"Is that supposed to be motivation?" he responds sarcastically. "If it isn't Tyson, it's Tyson. I'm tired of this." He pouts. In Kai terms, his pouts are more like broods. His whole demeanor just takes on this dark aura of hatred. I push myself farther to try and calm him once again. My hands crawl up his back and rub down his shoulder blades. He slowly allows himself to relax and then growls, smirking before he hovers back over me. "Tyson can wait. He doesn't seem to be going anywhere…" he whispers lowly, biting my neck and slipping my shirt farther off my shoulders.

"Wait, Kai…" I exhale as my eyes slip shut uncontrolled, ignoring everything that is telling me to rush off to my other friend's aide. Later I would probably look back and decide what I should have done instead but after not having had such contact for four endless days, my body belonged to him and my thoughts no longer had effect. "I missed you…" I hold him tighter as if it will keep him from ever leaving again. His hands work to unbutton the rest of my shirt.

The front door slams open a second time and I wince as I feel teeth bite down on the tender part of my neck. The shock cause me to release him and give him the freedom to stand up.

"Hey Tyson!" Max shouts down the hallway. He sounds upset. Kai growls but not the same growl as before. This one is much more gruff and annoyed. I'm sure now would be a bad time to tell him that Max will be staying over from now on?

Kai takes on a menacing stance that is enough to make Max stop short when he goes to cross the entryway. He smiles weakly as Kai's glare fixates on him like a knife being thrown through the air.

"Uh, hey Kai. When did you…" he notices me when I move to straighten myself, suddenly aware of how exposed I am. I pull my shirt back on and re-button it frantically before I grab on to Kai's hand, stopping him from walking over and hurting the poor unprepared blonde considering his focused anger to already be painful enough. "S…sorry to interrupt. Did um…Tyson…happen to come through here?" Max goes on, trying his best to behave normally even if his face is doing a great impression of a tomato right now. Kai just continues to glare so I answer him by nodding my head in the direction of Tyson's room. Max accepts my answer and starts to leave but he looks to Kai for permission before departing.

"Would it be terrible to get some damn respect around here? The doors don't slam themselves," Kai fumes, making his voice almost loud enough to be heard by Tyson as well. Max swallows guiltily and seems frozen in place and I laugh to myself at his petrified expression. I'm sure neither of them would appreciate my amusement at this particular time but it is hard to stop myself when something so simple receives such a huge response. I hide my smile before either of them notices and look down.

"S…sorry," Max stutters out again. I let go of Kai's hand as he turns away, managing to seem bored after all that. He now walks to the coat rack to gather his coat and scarf.

"Hey, wait," I jump up and over the chair, surprised at his choice to exit. "Where are you going?" He puts on his coat and scarf but stops his walk towards the door, allowing me the chance to follow but giving no other indication that he is going to explain.

Max meets my eyes as I turn back unsure. I didn't want to leave if something serious was going on but at the same time, I didn't want to let Kai leave without me either. I had waited too long to see him again and I wasn't about to let it be completely taken away, especially in this manner.

Max is a little less hesitant, just wanting to get on with his own business and get into the safety of his own room, so he takes a step in that direction but still waits for our approval.

"Can I…?" he stops and looks down embarrassed.

"What's going on with Tyson?" I venture to ask as I grab my own coat. Kai seems to tick at my stalling but continues to wait (im)patiently for me. Max blushes and shifts on his feet.

"Nothing important. Just a bad day. Sorry for disturbing you." He nods, no longer feeling threatened enough to stay and hurries on without receiving our permission.

I turn and swiftly catch Kai's hand again as he makes his move for the door.

"Just wait a minute." I temporarily halt him so I can pull my coat on. I button it up as he opens the door. Giving one last glance back as I hear Max's door close timidly, I follow Kai outside. The cold air hits me instantly and I pull my coat around me tighter, reaching absently for Kai's arm to wrap around for warmth. When I don't find it, I turn in his direction and see that he has already taken off ahead of me and doesn't show signs of slowing down or waiting for me to catch up. I jog the short distance to get back to his side and shiver as the air digs its artic chill right into my bones.

Not that I mind the silent walk with my boyfriend at night so he can get some air and clear his head but damn if he didn't pick the coldest night of the year.

At least it isn't raining.

I should just be happy he let me tag along. I'm sure if it were anyone else they wouldn't have made it that far past the door.

We walk in silence for quite some time. The street lights flicker, sending eerie shadows across the pavement and instinctively I move closer to him as if his dark aura will protect me.

He sighs.

"What happened while I was away?" his voice breaks through the still night like a hammer. I hold my breath a minute from the impact and then release my own sigh.

"This is what you want to talk about right now?" I spit out incredulously. He stops walking and turns to face me. I was shocked that that was what he had decided to start with instead of asking what I thought might have been wrong or what we should do about it. Then again, he never really was one for involving himself in other peoples' problems. That had always been something we drug out of him. Mostly because we all knew he would know a way out that was more than likely better than anything we ourselves could come up with. Either that or we wanted somebody to tell us when we were doing something stupid.

"You didn't want to tell me on the phone," he reiterates the conversation we had, crossing his arms. I snort, crossing my own arms and finally letting that anger I couldn't find earlier take control. He takes that as an indication that he needs to push harder. "Clearly something happened."

"You didn't care enough to check in," I retort. I didn't know why I suddenly decided to bring that up but he wasn't taking the bait, choosing instead to make me feel like I was the one who deserved to feel blamed.

"Are you really making this a fight?" He wasn't pleased, giving me his best 'I asked a clear question, why can't I just get a clear answer without the hostility?' face. Hearing nothing but an accusation, I can't stop myself from reacting defensively.

"Me?" I start, suddenly furious beyond words. "Me?! Everything you DO instigates a fight!" I shoot his accusation right back at him. He just rolls his eyes.

"I thought you were better than that." I growl and throw my hands up, walking away from him before being taken over by the urge to hit him. My body burns with the adrenaline and I clench my hands into fists and then release them again. The action doesn't go unnoticed as Kai watches me carefully. Seeming to realize how ridiculous we are both acting, he does his best to fix it before we really are throwing fists. "I'm not an enemy," his voice takes on a calming tone. I shoot him a dirty look before I huff out the annoyance and force myself to settle down, reaching a similar conclusion and wondering why I let myself get so worked up in the first place. Kai had not been the reason why my (and his) personal desires had been denied (twice) and it wasn't really fair to be taking it out on him.

"It's not related to what just happened," I respond with only a slight resentment lingering in my voice. I make a slight pause, the rest of it slipping away from me as I go over the situation in my head. "At least I don't think so. It shouldn't." I consider everything, going over any possible ways that it could be connected and then affirm my choice by shaking my head. "I don't see how it would be." He takes the two steps I had put between us and bridges the space by taking hold of my arms. I tense, remembering that we are still outside and take a glance around to see if anybody is around to see us. The cold comes back to me as well, having been suppressed by the bout of fury and I curl my shoulders up to fend it off.

"Just tell me what happened," he insists, bringing my attention back to him. I look up and let him explore my thoughts by locking our eyes.

"Max moved in," I say quietly. He closes his eyes but doesn't move. Bad sign. I rush to explain before he can become upset. "I was busy with work and didn't notice. Otherwise I would have stopped it. But…" His eyes open again to gather the rest of the information and I take a deep breath. "I think it was Tyson's idea. He…" I hesitate. Telling him what happened could go in many different directions and after having such a wonderful reunion, they weren't looking too great for anyone. "He…" I weigh the possible reactions, unwilling to let anything make this situation worse, but he just grows more uneasy.

"Tell me." Firm. Demanding. Forceful.

"He thinks you brainwashed me." An eyebrow raises. I bite my lip.

"Really?" Cautious. Reserved. Unreactive. Possible disbelief.

"Yes. He called you an addiction." I laugh a little at the thought. When you stopped to consider what made up an addiction, it probably wasn't too far off base. But as far as Tyson was concerned, it wasn't the type of addiction that really needed to be rehabilitated. It wasn't preventing me from functioning and it wasn't doing harm to anyone. "I think Max is his back-up to separate us somehow. Or maybe to protect him. I don't know."

He smirks.

"This could be interesting." Not a reaction I was expecting. He leans forward and places a small peck on my lips. "If he thinks he can separate us, then who are we not to give him a fight?" I shiver, getting a tiny chill from the words and he wraps himself around me to calm me down.

"I don't like that gleam in your eyes. What are you thinking?" He grabs my hand and pulls me back towards the house.

"Don't worry, it was actually YOUR idea."

I really don't like the sound of that…