ACROSS THE PAGES
CHAPTER 6
"Wow, I've never seen Rei so mad before," Tyson murmured to Max, quietly. "It's scary."
Max nodded, agreeing whole-heartedly. He looked on anxiously as sullen, cold red eyes looked at Kai's meal defiantly. Rei, on the other hand, was eating quietly, almost calmly. Yet, there was an air of pride surrounding him, a righteous indignation that would have even suited those of a prince. He ate quickly, although not choking himself, at rapidly excused himself from the table.
The three youngest bladers looked at Rei in dismay, as he swept almost regally out of the room.
Silence ensued until one of the boys decided to speak up. "Um, Kai, don't you think that it'd be worth it to just apologize?"
There was no answer.
"Kai?"
There was a crash of cutlery, before Kai stood abruptly from his seat, heading towards the corridor.
The three people left in the dining room looked at each other worriedly.
"Um…it was worth a try?" asked Tyson, hesitantly. The other two just continued eating in silence.
-
Rei walked off to his room, sitting on the windowsill. Although many people would have deemed the action dangerous, he himself was extremely confident in his balance –he was a neko-jin after all.
He sat pondering the morning's events.
-Flashback-
"You should be practicing harder! Why can't you get that maneuver right?" Kai exclaimed, snapping at him as both his and Rei's blades circled in the Beydish endlessly.
Driger and Dranzer had been practicing a particular move for a week, and yet, Rei hadn't yet grasped the concept of the defense tactic.
"Move to the left! No, move to the right…no, you're not doing it right!"
Rei cracked.
"Well, I'm sorry I haven't been up to scratch lately, but maybe you would like to consider the fact that not only do I cook, clean and wash in this household, which, by the way, is in itself not an easy task, but I am also still not exactly fully recovered from that match from Dunga which triggered something in my left leg, that by the way, one of your team members, what was his name again? Oh, yes, BRYAN, injured!"
Rei stood, panting dangerously, his beyblade back in his hand. His hair was a little loose, and a few of his raven strands hung about his face. Together with his glowing eyes, and the cut-throat blade nestled in his right palm, he was not a sight to be taken lightly.
Kai walked towards him, eyes flashing, an angry retort on his tongue.
"No, Kai." Rei cut off his speech with a quick slashing gesture of his left arm. "Don't say anything. Come to me when you've actually thought it through and remembered that I'm a human being, and not some kind of super robot that can do all your bidding." He turned, spitting the last part of his sentence out as if it were an obscenity.
Kai walked back a step, obviously not a little taken aback, as Rei continued to walk back to the dojo, his cloth-bound braid swinging behind him like the tail of a tiger.
The session hadn't really continued after that.
-Flashback Ends-
Rei sighed. Although he'd been a little out of line, his remarks weren't unfounded. He was almost completely exhausted, and it didn't help that only recently he'd been getting back his sleep. Even so, now and again, rain, which was getting to be a normal nuisance these days, would keep him awake with the strange feelings that accompany broken-and-healed bones, and his neko-jin cat instincts.
It was true that he did much of the housework in the dojo –and everyone knew it. Tyson and Max often forgot their chores, and in order to stop Kai from yelling at them for half the day, Rei had learnt early on to do some of their chores. They still tried, but many times forgot, and Rei was tired of it. He had also picked up the habit of doing Kenny's chores, as more often than not, their resident genius would stay up late to do their formulas for him, thereby rendering him completely worn out for the next day.
That, too, he was tired of doing.
All he wanted was a little more rest and a little less of nagging. He placed his head on the cool wood of the window frame, running his fingers over the tiny grooves. Overstretching a little as he straightened his leg, he absently massaged some of the muscles while watching the clouds race across the sky in slow motion.
He didn't see the eyes that watched him from the doorway.
-
Kai watched the black haired figure currently sitting on the windowsill of their shared bedroom. He knew Rei was right in what he said –he wasn't stupid, he knew that Tyson and Max had often shirked their duties –and knew that he'd taken his temper out on the boy.
It wasn't really the fact that it was taking Rei so long to absorb the move that was bothering him. It was more the fact that he wasn't used to it. Usually Rei got whatever he was learning in a snap, giving him more time and space to teach the younger two, and also to relax.
The fact that Rei hadn't grasped this defense move yet had completely overthrown him, but there it was. And instead of showing the other blader more patiently, which was what Rei rightly deserved, he'd yelled at his companion.
No wonder Rei was so pissed.
Sadly he watched as Rei pressed a few pressure points on his leg. He'd known that the blader's injuries still hurt him, but had absolutely no idea how to approach him about it. That too, had frustrated him.
He hated feeling helpless.
He hated being helpless to help the one person who had helped him so much.
Looking on, he unconsciously reached into his pocket for Rei's last letter. It was well worn, being fingered at many times unconsciously, and, even for a few times, when he was in conscious thinking.
Reaching clarification, he reached for a pen, and stepped from the room.
-
It was nearing six o' clock, Rei realized numbly, as he watched the sun setting. HE let out the breath of air he was holding. Even when an argument was raging through the household, even if World War 3 would be announced the next morning, one thing would never change. Rei would still make dinner.
He jumped down lightly, the slight self-massage to his calves helping tremendously. He looked in surprise at the piece of paper at his feet.
Looking at it with slight déjà vu, he unfolded it quickly.
Rei,
I don't usually say these words, but in this case I know that I truly deserve to say them.
I'm sorry.
Rei gasped.
It must seem cowardly to write in on a piece of paper; I know very well that people usually say it to the other person's face, but I thought this way would work better for us.
Those three, two? Words are to ask your forgiveness, and I hope that you truly do forgive me for shouting so many times tonight. I, too get over stressed, but I know that is not an excuse. After all, you do as much for us as I do for you. It's just that normally, you absorb things so fast it surprised me a little that you didn't get it this time. Most of the time you do so well that I can spend more time on the other two. I know I haven't appreciated that enough.
Again, I hope you forgive me.
Kai.
Fingers grasped the piece of paper fragilely, as if it might break. Golden eyes, widened slightly, read three words over and over again. He sat numbly on the bed that Kai and he both shared. Words, and more words running through his brain.
Settling on the one thought that was the most coherent of them all, he reached for the pen that he knew was on the table. However, he was remotely stopped by the other hand that had already snatched the pen away from him. The hand that was not his.
He looked up slowly.
Kai's eyes stared down at him, questioningly. The pen was swiftly tucked into his trousers' pocket, and for a moment they just stared at each other.
Kai opened his mouth. "I –"
Fingers stopped his mouth, gently, but firmly pressing down. Effectively stopping speech.
"Don't worry about it."
Sunlight washed the two in shadows, and then one climbed into bed.
"Does it hurt?" A whisper, hushed in the dark.
A shake of raven bangs, as both lay down on the soft, soft mattress. It'd been a long, hard day.
They fell asleep facing each other. Both were smiling…
Author's Note: This is just to ask this, but I was wondering if you liked the personal responses that you're getting from an insane, somewhat-nutty authoress…namely me! I, myself, liked these when I was reading other people's fics… (before writing my own, I mean, I still read other people's fics!) so I figured you'd like them too…it seems unfair that you review, and bother to give me a piece of your opinion and I don't give you my own…not that I'm doing it because it's obligatory! Far from it, because I love talking to you guys, but just wondering if it's a bit monotonous to you guys, or something. Cause if it is, I'll stop! Okay...read on!
Responses to Reviews: JJ CJ: Ever faithful to my fics, I love reading your review. I must be sounding slightly repetitive, but take comfort in knowing that the fact is well rationalized! My parents were in university in the Philippines, and they met there, so I've been wanting to go there for a while, if not for their glowing praises of the country, at least out of curiosity of where they met!
ProzacFairy: And I thought I was the only one that went hysterical in a review. I must admit I've never had a reviewer that did that before, though! It's quite a compliment, actually…don't worry, the next chapter is even more fluffy! Yes, Tyson's annoying, irritating…and completely loyal and brave. Heck, if I had a sibling, that'd probably be his character!
Reis1Gurl: It seems that every time I come back from a vacation, I always find out on the last day that something happened to the poor country while I was in it. Perhaps I'm a jinx? It's quite sobering to know that I left London the day before the explosions; I was on the exact same train, on the exact same line, and at the exact same time, just one day before. It's something to be thankful for; especially so, since I lived in a bed-and breakfast that required us to pass the bus 30 route to reach the station. I'm still very grateful for that. But when I came back from the Philippines, that typhoon…wow…just wow…I am very, very lucky.
Echo in the Dark: Although slightly exhausted still, I was really glad to receive that bit of criticism. It means I can improve, and I thank you for saying it; I hardly say it myself because I'm usually too scared that I've offended the person. All authors like praises, but it takes a courageous reviewer to actually try to criticize…and this one was well-founded. I thought I'd joined the pieces of the story okay, but when I looked back…well, I really must have been more frazzled than I thought I was! I promise to do better, but thank you very much!
Black Magician Girl3: This is one day late, but I knew I could not make it one day later, it would be breaking my honor to you guys!
Neko yoka: Thanks for reviewing; I think you're a new one to this story. I'm afraid though, that for your request, I can't answer it! My most enormous problem (which is followed by the one that Echo in the Dark mentioned earlier) in writing is dragging it out. I tend to think of endings, then beginnings to a certain theme. And then I fill in the middle. Unfortunately, I've found that trying to make a longer chapter/story, whatever, makes me drag out the story, which makes everything lost its dramatics, storyline, and general plot. So in order to stop myself from giving you mindless dribble, I've made myself write 1000 word chapters, and more, only when I have immense inspiration. Please forgive me, but I do have my reasons for doing so…I hope you enjoy the story anyway!
Dark-night-sky: If you could do that, it'd be great! I made mango pudding last Sunday, so I'm improving! Gradually, but getting there!
queenOFanime535: Loved that review, it was so cute…Just asking this, but why FOE! I didn't know I made an enemy…
kaei kon: That's why I'm currently using notes…it's a bit weird if they just suddenly talk…but they will eventually, do not worry! It will not be a mute relationship, I can assure you! And I'm very gratified that you took so much trouble to review this chapter! Thank you so much!
BloodyShadows: Yup, they're warming up like toast in an oven! Always liked my toast crispy, not crunch for some reason…ANYWAY! Thanks for faithfully reviewing so far! I've kept tabs, and your name just keeps popping up!