ACROSS THE PAGES
CHAPTER 7
Kai woke up gradually, peeping out slightly from under his eyelids. It was a habit he'd picked up at Biovolt. To check out who as in the room before he woke up. To surprise the enemy if needs be.
He looked out towards the window –sunshine was pouring in like golden rain and he got up, walking towards the door. He wasn't going to waste his training time because the imbeciles he lived with hadn't woken up yet.
He was awake, and he was going to train.
He paused, after taking a windbreaker with him, as he noticed the autumn winds and wrote off a quick, short note to Rei.
After all, he didn't want them looking for him…
-
When Rei had woken up that morning, he hadn't noticed anything unusual. He had brushed his teeth, washed his face, dressed, combed those –damn! –tangles out of his hair. He'd made his bed, then after debating n what sort of breakfast he would cook, closed the door after himself.
Kai's note floated down from Rei's desk, caught by the light breeze that entered through the window. Circling around slowly, it was swept neatly under the neko-jin's bed.
Downstairs Rei hummed as he fried a few more pancakes…
-
"Morning Rei!" Max said cheerfully, skipping down the rest of the stairs.
"Morning!" Rei replied just as cheerfully. He was carrying a plate of sweet-smelling pancakes, balancing a little cup of chocolate in one hand, and a cup of blueberries in another. Rei smiled, just as Tyson, dragging an over-exhausted Kenny, entered the dining room. They were followed by Hillary, who stomped into the room, yelling on a bit about how Tyson had kicked an astronomy book of hers down the stairs.
They sat down at the table, Rei keeping a plate of fluffy, beautifully fried pancakes on a dish, knowing how Kai could sometimes get caught up in his training. The others, too, continued eating –after all, it was expected that Kai would train, and this was normal to them.
Finishing up his own breakfast, Rei piled up the dishes, already starting to wash his own, mind a little puzzled at Kai's late return.
Normally he isn't usually out so late. Why isn't he back yet?
He wondered, his hands still mechanically bathing themselves, as well as the dishes in bubbly water, then shrugged.
Ah, he's Kai. He can take care of himself.
After finishing the dishes, and still no Kai later, the three bladers left decided to go out into the garden to wait for Kai.
"After all, don't want old Sour puss mad at us, huh, Rei?" Tyson had said, grinning.
However, they'd just opened the glass windows before they'd heard an onslaught of thunder and rain, and hastily retreated inside.
"Whoa," Tyson exclaimed. "It's like a waterfall out there!" He pointed towards the continuous rain that literally poured down the window panes.
Rei looked outside, silently agreeing, and felt a stab of concern. Was Kai under shelter? But then he dismissed the little thought, although it nagged at him for some time, thinking simply, that of course, this was his captain and his captain wouldn't be stupid enough to get caught in the rain.
Four hours later and Kai hadn't come back. Gradually the atmosphere in the room had gotten tenser, nobody saying anything, yet everyone worrying.
The rain hadn't stopped and when the clock struck six o' clock, Rei knew that something had to be done.
"Tell Mr. Dickinson that Kai hasn't come back yet." Rei's voice was calm, but inside he was frozen, fearing for Kai's safety. "I want you all to stay here until I get back, okay?"
They looked at each other, then nodded at him. "Okay," he said, picking up an umbrella. He headed out, immediately attacked by the growing rainfall.
Going over the roads, he picked the main street, checking each alleyway and corner, painstakingly asking some of the shopkeepers if they had seen Kai. Gradually he grew panicked as each and every shopkeeper shook their heads, and as he exited the last one, he headed towards the playground.
There he only found one little girl, who was almost in tears, and he took a side-trip, escorting her to her gratified mother.
When he was done it was eight.
Where is he? Rei thought frantically, starting to run now. A car honked at him, as he ran across a road, and he tripped, slipping onto the pavement, his umbrella falling behind him. A slight crunch told him that his umbrella had been destroyed.
Getting up, although his mentality was sinking slowly, he walked towards the park in the rain, running through the many places that Kai could be. The 'closed' sign that hung on the gates told him otherwise, although he yelled anyway to see if Kai was locked inside. The clock beside the gates told him it was ten, and by now Rei was really starting to go paranoid.
There was only one more place that Kai could be, and his mouth whispering tiny, tiny prayers, he ran to the rose field that nobody knew that Kai went to, except him. Pushing aside the fence door, he ran amongst the grass, making his way towards the tree.
Kai wasn't there.
I can't find him. I can't find him. Why can't I find him?
Rei ran through the field, some of the weeds cutting through his clothes, some of the roses cutting his arms, almost as if they were bleeding their colour down his hands. Desperately his eyes flicked to and fro, searching, searching, ever searching.
Soon, he'd reached the other end of the field, yet there was no sign of Kai. Looking out towards the endless black skies and fields, he stood there, and a choked sob escaped out of his throat.
Rubbing his eyes furiously at the water he knew wasn't tears, he walked, slowly back home, eyes still looking despite the ever growing despair on his heart. He stepped into the doorway, where a nervous Tyson was actually wringing his precious hat, and Max was pacing down the hallway.
Normally he would have laughed at the sight, but this time he did not notice, only going to the living room, soul seemingly sinking through the floor.
Literally snatching the phone from Kenny, who had been helplessly babbling down the phone, he stood there, in the centre of the living room, eyes wild with worry. He spoke harshly into the phone, still wet, and still quivering with cold. Lightning flashed outside, lighting up his face, which was drawn taut with worry.
"What do you mean you can't find him? I don't care what you have to do, you –"
"Rei!" Rei scowled, baring his sharp teeth as he spun around, saying quietly, trying to remain patient: "Now is not the time, Tyson."
"But, Rei –"
"No, Tyson, don't you see? I'm trying to tell them what the heck is happening, so that they can find Kai and to do that I need –"
"But Rei, Kai's outside!" The phone clattered to the floor, breaking the silence until the thunder crashed down around them, and at that point, he ran out of the living room.
Feet thundering on the floor boards, he ran, faster than he'd ever run in his life, running towards the main door of the dojo, heart racing with him.
Oh, if there's anything, anything up there, please, please let him be there, please, please let him be safe. He prayed silently, as he ran, those few seconds being the slowest he'd ever known.
When he reached the doorway, he had paused, before slowing down. Dread had settled into the pit of his stomach, allying itself with reason, tumbling and recreating disbelief.
Then he'd taken a deep breath and turned the corner, and stood there looking, but simply not seeing.
Finally, his eyes absorbed the sight of dark blue hair, tinted just that little shade darker because of the rain, slate bangs pasted to a pale forehead, and a lean toned body in his sight. A windbreaker was casually tossed over one shoulder as Kai accepted a single fluffy white towel to dry his hair. Rei stared a moment, then, after his tired brain had registered the fact that Kai was there, in front of him, and quite, quite safe, he ran, launching himself off towards his captain.
"My Lord!" He threw himself, soaking wet, into Kai's arms, shivering, and golden eyes still wide. "Don't you ever do that again!" He whispered fiercely, hugging Kai tightly.
Kai's crimson eyes grew wide, his arms full of a trembling, frightened neko-jin.
Little droplets of water ran down his hair, collecting at his feet in a little lonely puddle. The neko-jin's body shivered as cold drafts of air wafted over his utterly drenched form, the towel lying forgotten.
"Rei," Kai's eyes softened, and he hugged Rei closer to him, as he noticed his friend's constant shaking. "You're cold," he said, admonishing, pulling away. Rei only pulled him back tighter.
"Don't you dare, Hiwatari, don't you dare." Rei's eyes were drooping, his body over-exhausted, his mentality relaxing finally, with relief. Yet he had completely rejuvenated himself as soon as Kai had started pulling away from him, an irrational fear that the captain would disappear again completely overtaking him.
"Hey, I'm here now. I'm not amongst the dead quite yet, so you can relax Koneko." Kai joked humorously, but his arms hugged the neko-jin ever closer.
Rei did not say anything, only his shoulders growing tense. The other bladers stood around, awkward, not knowing what to do. Absently Kai rubbed the place in-between Rei's shoulder blades, placing his head on top of Rei's silky damp one. Noticing Tyson, Max and Kenny standing around him, he lifted his head again, saying, quite quietly:
"Tyson, go to the kitchen and boil some hot chocolate. We'll all need some at this time." Tyson nodded, following the quiet command without any question for once. Max murmured a little something as well, following the navy haired blader.
Kai placed his head back onto Rei's, slipping an arm around the raven head's waist.
"Kenny, help me go get a few towels and blankets." The brunette dipped his head, heading off to the stairs. "And go get two t-shirts out of my drawer; it's the one on the bottom of the closet in our room." Footsteps sounded up the stairs, growing distant, as he obeyed Kai's orders.
Softly Kai escorted the uptight neko to the living room, setting him down on the sofa. Grabbing the hot chocolate that Tyson had already prepared and was holding out to him, he closed Rei's hands over the warm cup, letting him rest his head on his shoulder.
Kenny headed towards them, draping a towel over Reis shoulders nervously, and giving Kai the two shirts. After a little nudging from Kai, Rei lifted up his arms, already too fatigued to speak, and took off his own Chinese shirt, putting on one of Kai's loose shirts. Sighing, he drank a little of the beverage in his hands, letting out a pent up breath of air.
The other bladers breathed a sigh of relief, and smiled, sitting down on the various chairs and sofas in the room.
"You alright?" Kai had set his own drink down on the coffee table, concentrating on his team member sitting beside him. A slight nod was felt, as Rei moved his head a little bit, and Kai relaxed that tiny bit more.
"Rei? Rei?" He looked down at the neko-jin, only to find him fast asleep.
Kai smiled, as he noticed Rei's sleeping face. Gently gathering the smaller blader into his arms, he cradled the raven head on one arm, supporting the shoulders, the other arm holding up Rei's long legs. The other bladers, looking on silently, stood aside, as he carried the dozing neko up the stairs and into their room.
Laying him down, he covered him up with a thick, warm blanket, knowing that Rei would probably end up with a cold the following day.
Author's Note: I am so sorry to yet again provide a chapter late. This was one of my favorite chapters, actually, and I'd written it a day before the actual deadline, but I couldn't seem to post it. I couldn't get onto until today, and I can swear by my heart and soul I have no idea why! I hope you love this chapter anyway, and be sure that the next chapter –unless something major happens, e.g. an earthquake –will NOT be late!
Replies to Reviewers: ProzacFairy: Yes, I love it also. However, this chapter is one of my favorite pieces –I had this idea in my head long before I even imagined the 2nd one!
JJCJ: You mean it! They're in character? Awww…I could hug you! Now if only I could send my atoms through the computer…-sweat drops- Anyway, I'm glad you loved the scene.
Personally, I love being replied to, and I love replying to you guys too! I just thought I might be being a little mah fan (Cantonese for troublesome) so yeah!
Shin Rigel: This story was already feeling loved; now it's feeling beautiful! Let's just hope it doesn't get too vain! –sweat drops-
Kaei kon: Oh, I loosen up when I review people; usually only the authoress sees it you know? But when I'm writing the story, well, I'm writing it for you guys, so of course it has to be good! You deserve it! And thank you for the window compliment…I imagined that when I was coming home on the bus!
Reis1Gurl: Thank you! Hope you KEEP loving it!
ChibiPhoenix: I hope you're not offended, but I actually don't know how this is going to end. I have certain events stuck in my head, and I know that they're going to play themselves out, but right now I'm just letting the story just flow out of my fingers!
Shirogane Ayumi Asagi Kiyoshi: Wow! I took a look at your c2…and I just realized that I subscribed to it a long time ago! Isn't that funny? Anyway, thank you!
Waterspirit1: Thanks…I love notes and letters too!
Sangus-chan: Well, I'd like you to keep reviewing and reading, but if truly makes you uncomfortable, then I suggest that you better not read it. There's a lot more yaoi pairings that are going to happen –very inevitable since there are just some characters that I believe belong to each other.
Dark-night-sky: And you think my emails aren't strange! Thanks for the recipe, really appreciated it!
Beloved a.k.a The Fool: This is about as sad as it can get. I really don't love dealing with character death, although I can do it, I almost tear myself apart when I actually do. I get so attached to my characters that they're a part of me. Naturally they still go through a tonne of angst –I'll be warning you guys of that, when the time comes, but there will definitely not be any character death…especially since I will work so hard to get them together!
Bloodyshadows: Yes, I'm keeping tabs on some of you. There's going to be a slight surprise for a few of you in the upcoming chapters...I'll leave you to find out, but it's pretty obvious anyway...I mean what else can an aspiring authoress do!
KawaiiYoukai9517: I'm afraid the update wasn't soon, but it's here! It's here!