ACROSS THE PAGES
CHAPTER 9
Kai entered the darkish room quietly, not needing to switch on the light as some was already shining in through the windows. Rei was already awake, from his nap, even though it was 7 pm at night. Kai had almost expected that he would sleep the night through, but he was glad that he wouldn't have to cook the dish a second time –it was starting to look slightly lumpy.
Rei had sat himself up, and already looked much better. He was a fast recoverer, Kai knew, from the previous injuries, even though many of the When Rei took the spoon though, his hand was trembling so hard that he had to try again. Determinedly he took the spoon and drank a little of the congee but it wasn't long before some spilt onto the tray.
"Open your mouth," and it was an order but Kai's eyes were soft. Rei pouted, but opened his mouth, rather like a bird opening its mouth to retrieve food as Kai placed a spoonful of congee into Rei's mouth. Rei winced as the overly hot substance slid down his raw throat coughing just a little as it did so.
Immediately there was a hand at his back, rubbing away the nuisance. The next time Kai held out the spoon he'd blown a little on it and rei smiled, albeit with fatigue, whispering a little 'thank you'. Gradually, bit by bit the congee disappeared and soon the bowl was empty. Kai nodded with approval, as he held out the last spoonful.
"One more."
Kai said this with a little encouragement in his voice and Rei hid a grin with difficulty. Taking the spoon in his mouth, he swallowed the lat bit, but as soon as Kai took the spoon away he made a small, protesting sound. He held Kai's wrist in place weakly, then proceeded to lick the spoon clean, tongue scraping and sweeping the cutlery piece spotless slowly before letting go.
Kai took the spoon away with an amused touch of the lips though for some odd reason his breathing was just that tad bit shallower than usual.
"Hungry?" he asked, humor present in his voice. Rei shook his head. "Tasty," he said in his reply, licking his lips –and making Kai's eyes shift that little bit more. Rei quirked his lip a little mischievously as Kai swept the dishes off into his arms, taking them to the kitchen.
He slipped back down under the covers, his eyelids already slipping over golden orbs, as Kai turned around. The captain's lips curved upwards, talking quietly before he exited out of the door.
"I'll cook some more then."
Even in his dreams Rei smiled.
-
The next morning dawned bright and clear as usual, the sunlight bouncing and reflecting off pure, white snow –which was not usual.
That said, it was, of course inevitable that at precisely 7 am the doors of Takao's dojo would burst wide open and a navy haired boy with his wheat blonde companion would tumble into the snow. Laughing wildly with abandon, they rolled around in the cold, fluffy substance. A while later they called out to the two older bladers they spied in the large entrance.
"Come on, Kai! Get out here!" yelled Takao loudly, in the direction of the house.
From the (safe) thresholds of the dojo, Kai shook his head as he supported a wrapped up Rei who was laughing freely. Kenny too, was standing with them, although slightly away.
"Aw, come on, please?" whined Tyson, as he stomped a little towards them. "It's Christmas!" Kai shook his head again, and the two bladers already in the snow pouted.
"Oh, well," said Tyson, shrugging. He took a little bit of snow into his hands then looked at it thoughtfully. Almost experimentally he balled it up and then threw it into Max's face.
"Hey!" Max took up some snow, and a snow fight quickly escalated.
It was approximately after the two younger (though not youngest, that was Kenny) Bladebrakers were simply rolling around in the snow that one single, powerful cry echoed through the dojo.
"Come and get it!"
It was Hillary's turn to cook, and although not fabulous, she was clearly the best cook in the house next to Rei and Kai (though the others did not know about the latter one). Therefore the other two were quickly abandoned in favor of filling empty stomachs. The older two had already eaten, Kai not saying anything but eating congee along with Rei to show support. Rei in turn hadn't said anything, only silently appreciating the gesture.
They stood, still standing companionably at the doorway, before Rei broke the silence.
"Come on, you know you want to!" said Rei, elbowing Kai gently in the ribs. He waved towards the beautiful snow that was tumbling down in distant far off sheets. He would have gone himself, but really, he didn't have any choice –he still didn't have much strength in him although he was really much, much better.
Kai grunted softly.
"Come on, Kai!" Rei said. He looked at the other blader expectantly. When his captain did nothing, he wrapped the blanket around his shoulders tighter around himself with determination, then pushed Kai out in the snow.
Startled, Kai turned and caught Rei's arm, pulling his friend along with him. Lying next to each other, they smirked a little, then let their mouths relax into soft grins. Rei sat up, and to Kai's amusement, started building a small ball in his hands of some sorts.
"What are you doing?" he asked, picking up a random stick and putting it in his pocket.
"Building a snowman." He said, quickly making another of the said sculptures. They were rather small, and it was quite obvious that this was because of the blader's lack of energy.
"I've never done it before." Kai said this suddenly, and Rei turned to look at him in surprise.
"You've never made a snowman before?" Kai shook his head, and Rei grabbed his hand. "Then we'll just have to make another then!"
He grabbed Kai's hands, holding them in between his weak shaking ones, and made him shape a ball of snow, the biggest yet. Kai looked at him out of the corner of his eyes, and felt something inside him warm at the sight of the concentration in Rei's face. He and the neko had managed to make two large balls of snow, and Kai placed them on top of one another.
Rei grinned at this voluntary moment, and looked around finding a stick or two. Picking up only one, he was about to hunt for another, when a hand touched his arm and he turned. A stick waved in front of his face, held by none other than his captain. He smiled, then stuck his stick onto the left side of the snowman, indicating with signs, signals and motions for Kai to do the same. Then together they took two stones that Kai magically produced out of nowhere and a string that had unraveled from the inside of Rei's pocket, producing the face.
Kai stood a little behind to look at their handiwork, thinking it done, but by the look on his team mate's face, it was not so. He watched with interest as Rei twisted the sticks that represented arms around a little so that each and every stick was touching.
Kai realized that from far away it would look like the snowmen (or women?) were holding hands.
They stared at their work, Rei obviously finally satisfied, and Kai strangely satisfied too, for something that was just a bunch of snow.
Then Rei lay down, plopping himself in the snow. Then he waved his arms and legs about, giggling, and Kai smiled softly at the rather childish sight. He knew that Rei would never have really done this in front of the others, and after thinking a moment he hesitantly lay next to his friend. Rei looked at him then, smiling widely, and in a show of defiance –though he still lay there –he placed his hands behind his head.
Rei burst out in peels of laughter.
Kai looked at him bewilderedly. Rei giggled a little and smothering his laughter temporarily behind one hand, murmured. "Your arms, you made a snow angel."
Kai looked at him askance, then as if he was insane. Rei laughed even harder. "It's true! You made a halo! Behind your head!"
Kai rolled his eyes, but didn't swear as he would normally do. Somehow, out here, he didn't want to taint anything. "But don't they need wings?" he enquired, though it was not nearly a comeback.
Rei thought for a moment, Kai watching his golden orbs grow a little distant as he stared into them. Then they softened, and Rei spoke. "Well if I've got the wings and you've got the halo then we'll just have to share, won't we? Half it and help each other?" He said this quietly, mysteriously, and smiled softly, one of those rare secretive, yet open smiles that Rei gave to so few people.
Kai stared a moment, then nodded, smiling also.
Lying in the snow, they lay, exhausted, a little bit of snow on Rei's face. There was silence, peace for a moment. One moment in the world where everything was tranquil, everything was still.
Then Rei sneezed.
It was a cute sneeze, but immediately Kai sat up, looking Rei over rapidly, checking that he wasn't building a fever again. Unaware that he had made another print in the snow that joined their little snow drawings together.
"Oh, Kai, I don't want to go back in yet!" Rei whined, tired of staying in one room for so long.
"You're not well yet," stated Kai. He started helping Rei up, and the neko resigned himself to the order, but winced as he lay pressure on his leg. His body was still tired. Kai caught the flinch, and sighing softly, bent down, and waited patiently.
Rei looked at his captain's back, now extremely confused. "Kai?"
Another sigh, that produced a little white puff of air. "Get on my back."
With awe, Rei did just so, wrapping his arms around Kai's neck and placing his coal colored head next to Kai's two toned one. Kai got up, shifting to adjust their weights, but trying not to jostle Rei too much for fear of pain. Then they went towards the dojo s doors, Kai carrying Rei as if he were nothing. Fortunately they didn't bump into anyone –Kai didn't want his image destroyed –and Rei was set down into an armchair safely, with Kai bending down in front of the said piece of furniture.
Silently fetching a cup of hot chocolate to the neko and one for himself, he sat on the arm of the chair, and they talked quietly to each other, using few words, but many gestures, their conversation not of mainly terms, but of actions.
Outside the window three miniature snowmen guarded the dojo diligently, standing next to the shadows of two angels that were holding hands.
A/N: Check in next week and the week after because I have a Christmas present for you guys!
Responses to Reviewers: stunstar: Why, thank you! I think your reviews are wow!
everybodys-fool: I really hope you don't cry...it gets kind of hard to read the fiction if you do, and it's not really good for your skin.
ProzacFairy: LOl..I was hoping it would be.
alysei: I liked this chapter even better...-coughs-
lurkindarkness: Neither, although they would be something to stop authoresses in their tracks. Firstly, the story's not nearly over since I haven't even had them get together first. Secondly I form attatchments to my characters! Too hard to kill them off...
KaeiKon: Oh, Tyson didn't blackamil! But, no, they didn't wake up that way. Kai had to find soemthing to eat for the tiger.
dark-night-sky: LOl, hope your writer's block wears off soon!
KawaiiYouKai9157: I would never do anythnig really really bad to Rei...well, not potentially killing off anyway. Oh, never mind that didn't make sense.
Reis1Girl: Thank you! All due to the muses and Rei and Kai naturally!
Echo in the Dark: -Gives out applause accordingly- Thanks for the long compliment! It really boosted me up...lol...Kai didn't swear either!
Addanight: Now that was the best compliment I ever had apart from the one which had my reviewer telling me that I had her running out of her office crying. And that was an HPDM fic. I can definitely understand your review! Your English isn't that bad, unless of course, you are English, but even then it's still pretty normal. I'm not too sure about everyone liking my fics though! Although I do hope so, there are some much better authoresses than me!
JJ CJ: You just realised? Lol...remember? You had my HPDM fic Cygnus Melancoryphus! And 7 sins now...poor thing!
BloodyShadows: I'm a procastinator too, but I'm trying to break the habit! Not quite successful, btu getting there! Hope you like this chapter...heh, I'm greedy! I want you to like all the chapters!
Sangus-chan: I'm glad! Have you written any stories that are yaoi?
Your Haunting Dreams: This happens next! Lol...
Waterspirit1: I'm dreamind of a White Christmas...lol! I always loved that song...and I guess it partially influenced the fic, apart from cute small snowmen. I always liekd those jsut as mucha s the big ones, and the angels just stuck in my head!