Author's Note: I love writing letters. Ultimate Kai Luva, my soul sister, knows this as much as anyone else. It is one of the most beautiful things anyone could ever give me -and above all, I can never lie in letters.
Disclaimer: I will not be repeating this again until the end of the story, as I find it utterly ridiculous to repeat something everyone here should know.
ACROSS THE PAGES
CHAPTER 1
It had started a long time ago. Two years, really. They'd just arrived backing Japan, getting off a seventeen hour flight.
Rei's usually-shining hair had half slipped out of its wrap, and his golden eyes were heavy with fatigue. The weight on his shoulders was normal now- it almost felt like a part of his body.
Kai looked at him worriedly, out of the corner of his eyes. Max and Tyson skipped ahead, a large grin on the darker-haired blader's face at coming home. Kenny walked, laptop tucked snugly under his arm –albeit slightly in the fashion of an exhausted man.
They were all tired, he knew, so he had already told the drivers to park nearer to the exit.
"Bring…"
Kai dug for his mobile, already slightly irritated from the long plane ride. The others turned to look at him.
"Hello? I see." He sighed, clearly annoyed. "We'll go by taxi. Goodbye." He glared at the phone, then turned around to face the team.
"We have to go by taxi." Max shrugged, dragging the navy-haired blader into another direction. It didn't really matter to him. Kenny groaned slightly, then, adjusting his backpack, he too, started moving towards the exit.
Kai looked at the remaining member of the team. Golden eyes shut for a bit, then, as if gathering the remainders of his strength, made his way to the taxi stop –a good twenty metres away. Even in his bedraggled state, the neko-jin still managed to walk with grace.
Kai strode a few steps behind him, keeping an eye out for the Chinese boy. He knew Rei would be too proud to ask for, or even accept, help.
Minutes later they were finally seated in one of the many yellow Japanese cabs queuing in the streets, and about two hours and a half later; were finally home.
Gratefully, Rei placed down his backpack and carrier bag. He still wasn't quite fully recovered from his battle with Dunga.
"Woo! We're home!" cheered Tyson, jumping around the furniture.
"Yeah, and it's late," Max said with a yawn.
Tyson whined. "Aw, man, we just got back!"
Kenny sighed. "Yes, after a seventeen hour plane trip across the world!"
"Oh, fine." Tyson pouted. One by one, they made their ways to their own bedrooms. Tyson sharing with Max, Kai sharing with Rei and Kenny and Hillary getting the small bedrooms near the staircase as usual.
The lights turned off one by one, with calls of 'oyasumi!' sounding throughout the house. After a while though, Rei gave up on sleeping, eventually straying to the living room, where he'd curled up on the sofa.
"You're not usually up this late, Kon."
Rei turned around, body slightly tense in a defensive position. Crimson eyes stared at him, Kai's body not even slightly apprehensive about the upcoming 'attack'.
"Oh. It's you." Rei turned around again, wrapping his arms around his legs in what the Bladebrakers called his 'pensive' position. Just a tad filled with anticipation at the feel of Kai's continuous stare.
It was only a moment before he felt a weight on the other end of the sofa, but many more passed before he felt Kai's stare lift off of him. The silence was companionable, although by no means was it in anyway one of a close friendship.
Strangely, it was Kai who broke the silence first. "Worrying doesn't really help much, Kon."
Rei started, his body giving a little jump. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a glimpse of a smirk pass over Kai's face.
Stupid arrogant jerk, he thought grumpily. Yet somehow his shoulders and back seemed to relax, if only by a tiny little bit, and his eyelids suddenly declared themselves heavy.
"I'm going to bed." His voice came out somewhat distantly, like a calling from afar. Drowsily, he rubbed his eyes with his arm, standing up just a tad unsteadily
He thought he saw a flash of amusement cross his captain's face, but berated himself for being so tired that he couldn't think straight. Dragging his half-dead body up the stairs, he planted himself into bed with a mumble of "Goodnight Kai," at his doorway.
If he'd remained awake just a little bit longer, he might just have heard the tiny whisper spoken past his door.
"Goodnight Kon."
-
The next morning dawned as a new start; and as usual, all the Bladebrakers –apart from Kai- had dragged themselves to the dining table. Or at least that's what Tyson's somewhat sleepy mind had told him. Pieces of Max's voice, however, soon told him otherwise.
"Where's Rei?" Max inquired worriedly.
Where's breakfast? Tyson thought irritably. Figuring that his friends would not appreciate said thought though, he quite sensibly decided to refrain from saying it out loud. Instead, he decided to dig into his emergency supplies where he knew a box of cereal lay. Satisfactorily he produced the product with a flourish and happily began to crunch a handful of –he glanced at the package –Cocoa Crunchies.
"Maybe he's out training already?" he asked, his mood already starting to take a decidedly chirpier outlook.
"He's sleeping."
The rest of the team looked, wide-eyed, at their captain, all movement with the cutlery and the food ceasing immediately. Kai continued to sip on his coffee. Ever so slowly, he looked up into the stares of his comrades.
"Is something wrong?"
"You're letting him sleep in?" Tyson asked in amazement.
"Why not?" Kai asked back coolly, placing his coffee back down onto the table. Tyson waved his hands, gesturing helplessly.
"B –because…" he looked at Kai, then put down his hands. "Oh, forget it."
Kai looked at him, expression hidden, as always. He narrowed his eyes, and a few seconds later, opened his mouth, issuing an order –rather like a general commanding his troops.
"Training will begin in half an hour, outside. You'll start with ten laps around the yard." He turned away. "Fast laps."
The team groaned. It was going to be an extra tough day of training.
-
Rei's body had seemed to have lost it's sense of timing.
When the usual time for Rei to wake up came, Rei had turned over. When it was time for Rei to make the breakfast for the rest of the team, the only thing that happened was him snuggling up to his pillows more. And when sunlight poured in, wrapping Rei in a tight cocoon of warmth, Rei's body…twitched.
It wasn't really until it was almost nearing lunchtime, that the raven haired blader's eyes blinked open; first one, then the other. Sleepily, he sat up, bringing his arms around in a full-circle stretch, then covering his mouth in a yawn. But when Rei's brain finally decided to take notice of his surroundings, he blinked.
That's right. Rei blinked.
Why on earth is there sunlight at 6 am in the morning? He wondered puzzledly. He got up slowly, taking his time, and moved his way to the bathroom. After taking a luxurious shower (he liked to start his mornings off fresh and clean), he dressed himself, ready to yet again, make breakfast for what often felt like a bunch of elephants (or at least one elephant and a bunch of more sensible humans).
It was only when he saw the kitchen clock when getting out the frying pan did he do a double take and screech out an obscenity that would rarely spout out of Rei's mouth.
"SHIT!"
Quickly, he ran out of the kitchen, practically scrambling for the door. He tripped, crashing haphazardly onto warm, light wood. A note, tucked into his sash, slipped out. He grabbed at it.
Kon.
Stop panicking. We're in the garden. Now that you've finally gotten some sleep, maybe you'll be able to train like you're supposed to.
Kai.
It was a few minutes before his mind had fully absorbed what the letter was truly saying, but when he did, Rei smiled. He walked calmly out of the door.
-
Rei walked towards the centre of the yard, where the rest of the team were. Kenny, seeing him walk over first, waved. "Rei! Here!"
Rei walked a little faster, ending up in a small jog towards the Chief's side. "Hey, what's up, Chief?"
Kenny smiled. "Checking out the database for the new bladers. Apparently there're some pretty good new people out there."
"Really?" Rei looked at the screen, scanning over the information being displayed there. "Hey, cool! I like this new guy's quota!"
"Yup!" Kenny beamed, happy that someone was sharing his interest for once. Usually the team left the computer work to him. He was proud that they thought he was so good at what he did, but sometimes he did feel a little unappreciated.
"Wow," Rei leaned closer, checking out a few more profiles. A shout interrupted his thoughts.
"Hey, Rei! Had a good rest?" Tyson grinned, poking his friend in the ribs. "I still don't get how come you get to sleep in," he complained.
Rei blushed a little. "Yeah, I was kind of tired." He sneaked a look at Kai, but the captain was battling against Max.
"You want to battle?" Tyson asked, hopping from foot to foot in impatience.
"Sure!" Rei took out his beyblade. All through the battles, he wondered how to thank his rather stoic, silent captain. For of course he had to thank him –Rei's brain couldn't even think otherwise. But all through the training session, he hadn't had a chance to speak to Kai –and even then, he was sure that the dual haired boy didn't want the matter overheard by the rest of the team, in case of them saying he was 'soft'.
By the time evening had come by though, he'd finally thought of something. He looked for some paper.
-
It was after dinner, really, when Kai had felt the little scrap of paper digging into his pocket. During the meal, Rei had kept sneaking little glances at him, and although he would never ever admit it, he was feeling a little suspicious and wary.
Kai looked around quickly, scanning for his team. Seeing no one, he speedily unfolded the little piece of paper.
Kai.
Stop panicking. It's not self-destructive. Next time when you want to let me sleep in, give me a warning so I won't kill myself with a heart attack first thing in the morning.
Rei.
P.S. Thanks.
Kai scanned the area fleetingly. Spotting no one, he allowed himself one, little smile. Then he pocketed the note.
And that was how it began.
Author's Note: It just occurred to me that I write two A/Ns but the first one is just about the story -anyone can read it if they want to...the second one, down here, EVERYONE should read as it concerns the updates...and personally I know how annoying it is for people to have to keep checking for a story. In case there are people who actually love this story (I still don't quite believe there are any, it's just to wonderful to know), this is for them! I update every week to every two weeks...never anything more (unless I'm completely writer blked, and I will warn you, and even then it will probably only be late by one or two days). The update day is Monday (Hong Kong time, so perhaps Sunday for everyone else). If it doesn't appear, you can assume I have broken my arm or an emergency has arisen. It was early today because I loved you guys so much, and because the chapter was already written. I do not abandon my stories. This story will never be discontinued.
P.S. Can you please tell me if 'From Tokyo With Love' sounds better than 'Across the Pages'?
Replies to reviewers: Ultimate Kai Luva: I know it's more convenient, and I didn't post it until I'd editted it...Thank you for saving Kai from a 'white scar'!
Only Secret: It amazes me still that so many people reviewed a story where the a/n was longer than the story itself. I hope England will appreciate you for what you are, an amzing peson, and a brilliant friend.
Prozac Fairy: I update every week/two weeks, as I said, so I hope that you check here! I was so impatient to post this chapter (I had it ready for a long time, and am writing the next one) that I posted a day early!
Echo in the Dark: Is this soon enough? I'm so glad that you liked it so far, it was seriously worrying for me that it was a little too confusing.
Reis1gurl: Believe me, I had no idea that you would love this! I'm glad that you do! It means a heck of a lot to me!
Miiyabi: Thank you for the faith! Usually my prologues are confusing in order to create suspense...I explain everything gradually later on, that is my favorite way...and incidentially my favorite type of book to read! (I'm an analyst type with books and I love whodunits) It should make more sense a little later on...I was a little worried that nobody would understand that the two were hugging though!
Bloody Shadows: I never ever discontinue a fic...although I might often be late with my posting (although even then, it's usually only a day or two late). I love this plot, all letters that I have recieved are very dear to me, and so this story is precious to my heart. I will definitely never abandon it!
Fan: Thank you for that comment! I love that you told me that, I appreciate it so much!