DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of this stuff (except Lily and her songs), and do not intend to. But I do want Kai's car. X3 DO NOT COPY.

Note: To those of you have been faithfully reading so far:

OMG! I can't believe you have actually had the attention span for this (or the time, for that matter). But anyway, I trust that you will not begin boredom until after I am gone and have left my stories and fan fiction legacies. Thank you.

And sorry for keeping you all waiting! I've been very busy with… stuff… (Woo)

Chapter V... Rain

Soon, Lily had finished putting on the last of her small bit of make-up and seven-thirty was close enough as she would allow it to get. When it was already there, she hugged Fred for good luck and went out the door to meet Kai. What she needed the good luck for, she didn't know. On a subconscious level, she was truly hoping for something to happen.

When Lily walked out, she saw Kai's eyes light up. She was dressed in a soft velvet blue and sea-green blouse, tied at the waist with a black silk ribbon. Her skinny and tailored grey pants weren't that appalling, but complimented her eyes and skinny black Stilettos. The gold locket was still enshrined around her neck, showing off its polished beauty for all to see. Her hair covered her face and neck like a soft black frame, pale face and sapphire eyes glowing like the moon that crept into the black sky.

"So, what's the place?" Lily asked as she slid into Kai's Mercedes-Benz. She really liked this new car of his, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren; One of the most expensive cars in the world and very beautiful too. Kai's, in particular, was jet-black and had dark red leather on the interior.

"I can't tell you," Kai replied with a grin. "Because you'll either not like it…" He trailed off as he began out of the driveway, leaving Lily hanging… momentarily.

"Or?" She questioned, a little annoyed at him not finishing his sentence. The look on her face was enough to make a fire die, and Kai spilled.

"…Or you'll kill me for taking you there." Kai finally told her. He grinned at her in a teasing way, and expected her to ask more, but she didn't. For that, he was thankful.

Lily then noticed that they were going up into the upper west side of the city, and she had an idea where they might be going. Even though back then it was extremely pricy, now it was a place that they could go top without batting an eye.

As she had predicted, they ended up at their favorite restaurant, Rain. It was an Asian cuisine that consisted of Chinese, Vietnamese, and Thai foods. With its good food (including sushi rolls) and friendly environment, it was a place to remember; But not to relive…

As they walked in, they were shown to their private table at the second. The staff knew who they were.

Finally ordering their food and drinks (with Lily asking for a special Sobe), they began to talk of familiar things. Kai was explaining his theory of dreams when they finally ordered their food. It was then Lily did something astonishing; she did not ask for her meat rare.

Kai stared at her, astonished. "But… why… how…?"

Lily grinned at him. "Something, it appears, has changed." She replied to his unfinished questions, quoting from a song.

Both had a good time talking and laughing in their little private area of Rain. The zen-like area brought peace to them both and there was never a worry on their minds.

After eating, they left to the "somewhere else" that Kai had spoken about earlier. Lily watched the buildings go by, but did not recognize anything that might belong to the past. She decided that he was taking her somewhere new, and that sort of bothered her. He was sticking to the past, so why did he change?

But then the scenery began to become the slightest bit recognizable. A small area of the outside suburbs took form in soft, rolling grass untainted by neither animal nor man. It was like a paradise of the Midwest… surely someone had made all this? But no, it was their secret spot, hidden from the rest of humanity by special means. She searched for the old abandoned house, but there came none. Where she expected it to be, right by the linden tree they planted so many years ago, was nothing but patches of grass over dark soil.

It was here that they decided to get out and take a small hike up the slope to the largest patch of grass on the barren spot. Kai trudged all the way up with her, carrying a picnic basket and part of Lily's weight with him.

Kai then laid down a blanket for them to sit upon and brought out the Electric Reindeer.

Lily saw him pull out the wine from the corner of her eye as she looked up at the moon. So he wasn't kidding… Lily thought, stomach churning. The wine was red, but not so strong that it would carry them off into Lalaland. She remembered the sharp taste of it even as the scent wafted from the cup. Memories flooded back into her mind as she sampled it the slightest bit; just two kids doing some foolish things in an old abandoned house, drinking imported wine and not even caring about the rest of the world.

"You think I'm as easy as before?" Lily teased after the wine had touched her lips the second time. Kai looked up from his cup and raised a brow inquiringly. "We're not kids anymore you know… I can hold myself a lot better than before." She didn't want to say "liquor" or "alcohol" because it sounded so vague and weird when it rolled off of her tongue.

"No, I'm not—" Kai started, then stopped. Lily knew he would sound ridiculous and waited for his better reply. "It's not like I'm trying to start something, really… I, I don't know what I'm doing this for…" He trailed off and looked into the pale moonlight.

Lily sighed and touched his arm with her free hand. He looked up and she looked away, biting her lip in absent thought. "Until now it's just been joking and messing around," She started, "and… I never really prepared for something like this to happen. I mean, what's supposed to happen after you… It's just, I never expected to meet you, and I never expected to be right here with you, at this hour…" Lily let go of his arm and put her glass down, lying down on the soft blanket. "Just like old times, huh?" She sighed.

Kai put down his own glass and leaned back on the blanket, hands behind his head, staring up at the silver moon with Lily. The both of them stayed there for the longest while, not talking and watching the clouds slowly thicken over the moon, dimming the light overhead.

This moment of silence gave them both time to think things over, chew the facts they knew. Kai acted before Lily and turned towards her, head held up on his hand and elbow. Lily saw him out of the corner of her eye and turned her head.

"You know, with all of the things I've experienced lately, it really has been like a flashback," Kai softly sighed and plucked a blade of lush grass before him. "and I've been trying to keep it that way just for this date—" Kai stopped himself after that, denying himself that he even said the word.

Lily could do nothing but stare at him. She was hoping he would do something that would break the silence, but within moments nothing came. It was then she decided to take the initiative.

"You didn't just call it a date, did you?" She teased. A small, cute smile creased her lips.

Kai turned and pinched the bridge of his nose, squinted his eyes and calling himself a stupid idiot. Lily. oblivious to his cussing, tugged at his collar and he was pulled towards her. "You've got no right to call yourself that." She said. Their faces were barely an inch apart.

Kai was shocked, but then decided to answer her, "How come?"

"'Cause you're not a stupid idiot." Lily told him. She drew closer to him, already feeling his warm breath against her face.

Kai had no answer. This time, Lily was stunned. He was usually the one to retaliate with force, but his sharp mind had dulled with the wine. Who was vulnerable now?

But she had to continue, to break this sudden silence that she hated. "And," she said slowly, "because I love you…"

Kai had only four words to say to that: "I love you too…"

And, after a dramatic pause, Kai pulled his head closer and their lips touched in what could only be defined as a kiss. Lily felt it passionate, long, and strong, like when they were stupid kids. Innocence felt wonderful…

After only moments of their kiss, Lily felt something splash on her cheek. Confused, she gently pulled out of the kiss and asked, "Are you crying?"

Kai furrowed his brows, just as confused as she was, but saw the water on her cheek. He looked up and felt slow, random drops falling on his face. "Rain." He said, looking back towards Lily.

Rain? Uh-oh. Lily was not a big fan of rain, as it did weird things to her body… Kai saw her eyes widen, and in a flash she was up and looking around for shelter. The car was too far away, and Lily did not want to get there late…

Never in a long time had Kai seen her panicked like this. It kind of scared him and he got up with her, took her hand and started over to the big tree that they had planted those few years ago. Lily, frantic and up for anything that could shelter her, followed quickly. Rain was already falling down her pale face…

When they were over there, Kai led her to the other side of the tree. There, she saw wooden planks nailed into it. A ladder? She thought. Her eyes followed it up into the canopy and found a tree house nestled in the strong limbs. She felt Kai tap her on the shoulder. Looking over, she knew by the look on his face that they were meant to go up.

Lily was never good at climbing, but it seemed that these steps were thick and sturdy. It occurred to her then that Kai had made this tree house not too long ago. For what, she didn't know…

As soon as they both were up there, Lily tried to take a look around. There was a glass window on one side of the house that let the faint moonlight filter in, but there was no light other than that. Kai felt his way deeper into the room and touched something, then turned it on to let a soft red light flow in the room. What he had found was an electric light, not very traditional or romantic, but smart. If a flame was lit in here, then it might burn the whole tree. Lily knew this just as well as Kai.

Lily looked around and found the room quite cozy. There were a number of throw-like pillows in one corner, a chest in another, and a little table under the window on which rain slid down the crystal-clear glass.

"How…" Lily started, openmouthed at the room that had been made so beautiful and just like their old room in the abandoned house…

Kai stared at Lily, jaw slowly slacking. "Lil--…" He started, then stammered, "Your… your…"

Lily knew what he was talking about and quickly turned from him. Hiding her face, she muttered, "Kai—"

"What… is it?" Kai asked, bewildered.

Lily pulled out her compact mirror from her pocket and saw her white reflection. Her skin had become almost white where the water touched her, and her eyes were no longer sapphire but silver. In some rare spots, there were dots of black found where the rain had washed away the layers of make-up she applied every day. Opening her mouth and wrinkling her lips back, she found the familiar shiny white teeth that covered her human "canine" teeth. In a small part of the mirror, she caught Kai looking over her shoulder. She snapped it shut and turned away, hissing, "Kai, don't… I can't be seen like this…"

"Lily…" Kai began, reaching a hand towards her shoulder, then thought better of it and reeled it back in. "Lil, I… I just want to know what's going on."

"I bet you would want to know…" Lily hissed, feeling very uncomfortable with her make-up washed off. Without it, she felt naked. She lived with the stuff her whole career, and nobody knew what was behind that pale mask.

"I do." Kai replied flatly. Lily wanted to turn and scowl at him, but she didn't. Instead, she sighed and looked out the door at the chilly, pouring rain.

"Fine then, but don't judge me because of this." She growled. A part of her was hurting for being angry towards him, but she carried on. With a long pause and audible sigh, she began, "It all started when I turned thirteen…"

Yowza! What was that kiss? But what's with the rain changing Lily's appearance? Tune in next time!