The car ran fast down the road. Maybe a bit too fast.
Kai's grip was hard around the wheel. He hadn't said a single word since he had started to drive.
Rei didn't dare to say anything either. He could feel Kai's anger towards him and crawl under his skin.
A magical night, indeed.
Rei leaned his head against the window and shut his eyes.
He could only blame himself for the messed-up situation. His own carelessness had lent him to this. If he wouldn't have been so stupid now Kai wouldn't be upset with him. He had been such an ass earlier with his patronizing words. He had added insult to injury. Rei wouldn't blame Kai if he despised him now.
Suddenly the car stopped. Rei heard Kai step out without saying a word to him.
Rei looked out of the window and frowned. It was his favorite place, the panoramic view of the city. From up there, away from the city's lights, the night sky was much clearer. Why did Kai bring them up here? He had thought he was going to drop him to his house.
Rei got out of the car and took only a few steps before his ankle started to hurt again. Great. He sighed and sagged on a bench instead of joining Kai on the railing.
Something smelling awful reached Rei's nose. The smell of cigarettes.
Since when does he smoke? Rei wondered to himself, but he didn't ask, he knew better then do that.
"I'm sorry for what I said earlier," he started, "I shouldn't have told you those things, it was out of line."
"I only asked you one thing," Kai started, voice raising. "To stay away from them. But of course, you have to always go your own way!"
"I didn't-"
"You didn't what?!" Kai interrupted him. "You didn't want to be discovered? To betray me?!"
"I didn't want to keep things away from you!" Rei replied. "I- just give me the chance to explain."
Kai turned around, crushing his cigarette under his foot. "Then start to talk! I want you to tell me everything from the beginning. And don't omit anything."
"Fine," Rei said, sighing.
Like Kai had asked he told him how he was "contacted" by his parents, their story and what they had asked him. The only thing he had to omit was the part where Susumu and Misaki believed he was capable to make Kai change his mind because Rei himself didn't believe he can do it. The only one who could get through that thick skull of his was someone else. Rei could only be just Susumu and Misaki messenger.
Kai listened silently, his facial expression not changing a bit apart for a slight frown. The clenched hand against the railing was the only thing that really gave away his composure.
"That's it," Rei finished. "I don't know what they want to tell you, but it seems rather important."
"He is still an idiot," Kai muttered to himself.
Rei furrowed his eyebrows at Kai's remark towards Susumu but stayed quiet. The way he had said it sounded almost like fondness.
"And do you believe them?" Kai asked him.
The question threw him off a bit. "I do," Rei answered sincerely.
"Why?" Kai insisted. "What makes you think they are not lying?"
Rei stalled a moment before he answered. "My instinct."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "Your. . . instinct," he said slowly and then burst into laughter.
Rei stared at him bewildered. It wasn't a fake mocking laugh. Kai was genuinely laughing. Rei didn't know if to feel offended, but he couldn't help but smile a little at Kai's softened expression.
Kai cleared then his throat and moved away from the railing. "You are still naive," he said, using his favorite insult.
Rei may have pouted a little. Well, at least Kai didn't look like he was angry at him anymore. Rei felt like a burden had been lifted off his shoulder.
"Are you going to see them?" he couldn't help but ask.
"No," Kai answered predictably.
"Aren't you at least a bit curious?" Rei tried again.
"I don't care if they were really forced to leave me," Kai said, not looking him in the eyes. "They are dead to me."
Rei flinched at the cold words. "You shouldn't say something like that," he said quietly. "Especially if you don't really mean it."
Kai looked back at him and gave him the long lets-discover-what-is-going-through-the-head-of-those-poor-mortals look.
Rei eventually stared down at his uncomfortable shoes.
"Fine," Kai huffed. "I will think about it."
Rei looked up in surprise. If Kai said so then he did really mean it.
"How did you get hurt?" Kai asked suddenly.
"What?" Rei said, confused.
"Your ankle," Kai quipped. "You were fine back at the party."
"Oh." Rei smiled awkwardly. "I jumped from the balcony to catch up with you," he confessed reluctantly. "'miscalculated a bit the height." Or maybe the force of his ankle. Since he had that incident with Takao it always gave him some problem. Maybe it was the time to see a doctor.
Kai sighed and moved past him.
"Where are you going now?" Rei asked, following him with his gaze.
"Don't move, I'll be back soon," Kai said over his shoulder.
"Where do you think I could go," Rei muttered to himself as he watched Kai disappear.
He stretched his legs on the bench and stared up at the sky. It was one of the last waning moon's nights of this month. It was like the moon was smiling at him from up there, sending him a last goodbye before the beginning of the new cycle. The new season was coming.
Rei hugged his good leg against his chest and put the front-head on his knee as he thought about the night.
What will President Daitenji think? Irresponsible that was like it. He had left without any warning in the middle of everything. He didn't even have his phone with him to contact anyone. He had left it with Hiromi since she had offered him to keep it for him in her handbag. What a mess. He had to get back. He just wished for one thing to go well tonight before. . .
Well, maybe it was a sigh. A push to take the right decision. The only decision.
Finally, Kai came back with a shop bag in his hand.
"You have to bring me back to the stadium," Rei urged.
"I don't," Kai shut him down, grabbing Rei's leg and making himself a place on the bench. "I'm not your chauffeur," he continued, putting his leg back on his lap.
"What are you doing?" Rei asked, bewildered. He felt his cheeks warm up as Kai raised the hem of his pants. He put an ice pack on his ankle and Rei groaned at the sudden cool sensation.
"Here," Kai said, passing him a can of iced green tea.
Rei blinked owlishly at him. He knew Kai cared for them all regardless of his rough exterior -it was one of the things he loved the most of him- but it still surprised him when he did things like that.
"There is a convenience store nearby," Kai said like this explained everything.
"Thanks," Rei said, still confused. "But I really have to go back."
"Everything is fine," Kai told him, opening his own can with one hand. "Yuriy told me Daichi is going to take my place."
"But-"
"Stop worrying," Kai cut him off. "You passed the last weeks organizing everything and nothing will go wrong even though you aren't there."
"Us missing is already something wrong Kai and you punching a paparazzi isn't what I would call good either."
"Those paparazzi will not have a job by tomorrow." Kai took a sip of his beverage and smirked. "You already taking your role seriously."
"It's not that," Rei whispered, looking away. "I just wanted this night to be perfect before I... go back to the village."
"So, you decided."
Rei just nodded, staring at his can. "I can't turn my back to my people." It had never been his wish, despite everything.
"You want to go back, even though you strike in your life to always go forward."
Something in Kai's voice put Rei on the defensive.
"Becoming the leader of my clan is a privilege," Rei said, putting down the can still unopened.
"Tsk," Kai snorted. "You don't really care about becoming the leader of that stupid village."
"I will not allow you to disrespect my people, Kai," Rei said, voice tight in anger.
"You are disrespecting them by accepting a position you don't want," Kai countered.
"You don't know what I want!" Rei argued.
"I know you enough to see that you are making your decision for stupid reasons!"
Rei made to move his leg away, but Kai stopped him.
"The Rei I know would never back down in this way."
"It doesn't matter if I want to stay ok?!" Rei conceded bitterly. "I made my choice!"
"Fine." Kai let go of his leg and got on his feet. "Maybe it's better so," he sneered, throwing the can away. "Daitenji needs someone better than a pushover who makes half-assed decisions on fear."
The words were like a slap on his face. Rei had never judged Kai's decisions, even the more questionable ones, and seeing Kai do this to him hurt.
"Why do you care so much?!" he shouted, standing up as well, not caring about his injury. "You have never cared what people do unless it does concern you!" His decisions will not affect any tournament, his defeat will not influence the team's success anymore. "So why are you being such an ass?!"
He was in front of Kai now, shoulder tense and hands clenched tightly.
"Because-" Kai shook his head, staring away. "Forget it."
"No, I want to know now!" Rei insisted pleading.
But of course, Kai ignored him. The disappointment raised in Rei but what was he expecting? He didn't even know for what answer was he hoping at this point.
Rei turned away from Kai, he had the sudden need to get far away from him. He had to find a cab, but he didn't have any money. How was he going to get home? He was tired, his ankle hurt, and he had nothing on him except for an armband that brought him anything but luck. What a perfect summary of his life.
"Because I can't just let you wither away, Rei."
Rei's eyes widened at the sudden words.
"I don't want you to go."
Rei turned around quickly and staggered, but Kai was right there and grabbed him by the arms before he could fall. Rei found his face against the other's chest. He could hear Kai's heartbeat. It was getting faster, just like his. Rei looked up, eyes locking with Kai's.
Something inside Rei snapped. He pushed his good leg on his tiptoes and pressed his lips against Kai's.
Kai didn't move a single muscle.
Realizing it, Rei felt his stomach drop and he shrank away.
He shifted his eyes to the ground – not wanting to see Kai's expression - and tried to move away, but Kai was still holding his arms and didn't let him go.
"I'm sorry," Rei blurted out, his voice shaking, "I don't know what took over me-"
Kai put a hand under Rei's chin and forced him to meet his gaze. Red eyes burned into Rei with violent intensity, but there was no rage or disgust. And then. . . It happened so fast that it took Rei a moment to understood what was happening. He felt his eyes get teary as his repressed emotions exploded from pure happiness.
Kai. . . Kai was kissing him! His lips were warm and persistent as they pushed harder to deepen the kiss.
Rei's mind was too lightheaded and could only form one coherent thought. Kai wanted him too. His instinct - the same instinct he had ignored when it came to his feeling for Kai - guided Rei now. He let his eyes flutter shut as he opened his mouth with a little moan. Kai tasted bittersweet. Of cigarettes and oranges.
Rei's heart beat even faster, it was like it wanted to escape from his chest. It was too much! His legs trembled and he was sure that the only thing that kept him on his feet was Kai's grip on him.
Somehow, Rei found himself pressed against the railing. They kissed, again and again, touching each other. Rei didn't know for how long. Maybe they would have never stopped if it weren't for the sudden firework that made them both jump in surprise.
Rei chuckled at their reaction. The fireworks came from the stadium and it meant that the match had ended.
"'want to see the firework?" Kai whispered teasingly, his hand wandering on Rei's back.
Rei hid his face against Kai's neck and nodded, not trusting his voice. His clothes were starting to feel even tighter and Kai's touch didn't help. Rei wasn't sure he was able to hold it and not embarrass himself.
Free from the mischievous hold, Rei turned around and looked up at the sky. The fireworks were beautiful, he had always liked them, but his attention didn't last long. He glanced at Kai and wondered for a moment if this was all a dream, but the sound and the colors of the firework was too real to be something made up by his subconscious.
Kai looked back at him, his face was still flushed, and his eyes shined in a way Rei had never seen before. Was he feeling the same happiness? Rei wanted him to feel his same sensations. He took Kai's hand in own and smiled when Kai intertwined their fingers together.
The firework ended, living total silence in its wake. It was like the spell had been broken and the "what now?" lingered unsaid in the air. They had to talk.
"The match ended," Rei said, breaking the ice. "We should get back."
"You are still on that?" Kai asked, his free hand started to fiddle with one of Rei's long strands.
"I left my phone and keys to Hiromi," Rei explained. "I don't want to climb my window and scare my neighbors."
Last time he did it the old lady who lived over him had thrown him a bucket of water. And now that he thought about it, he couldn't climb his window with his injured ankle.
"Then come with me," Kai said quietly.
Rei swallowed. "What?"
"Come with me," Kai repeated. "To my place."
Very short chapter sorry but I hope you still enjoyed it. I can't believe I finally reached this point, we're halfway through the story but other things have still to happen ;)