ACROSS THE PAGES
CHAPTER 12
Rei had woken up sleepily, but as soon as he'd looked at the calendar (as was his customary wake-up action); a big grin displaced the weariness still on his face. He brushed his teeth quickly,
Rei smiled, actually it wasn't really such a big day for the rest of Japan, but it was definitely a good day for him.
In China it was Lunar New Year, and everybody would be out on the streets, seeking friends and celebrating.
However, Rei wasn't in China, he was in Japan. The good thing, though, was that Lee and the others were visiting the next day, carrying goodies from the elders.
For now though, he'd have to make do.
He was already a little covered in flour, as he rolled little balls of dough in his hand. A large pot of sweet ginger soup sat on the stove, bubbling away, and two tins of turnip cake stood in the fridge. He'd labeled the necessary decorations on the door (all red, as was traditional for good luck).
Humming cheerfully, he finished the little balls, and with one movement, swept them all into the soup. Quickly he thought about what he'd forgotten to hide –he'd hidden away every single knife in the place, including the coffee maker and any shaving utensils he'd found in the house. He'd done everything he could think of, but he still couldn't remember what he had forgotten…
"Mornin' Rei, whatcha doing up so early?" Rei looked behind himself with a jerk. Hand scratching his head rather drowsily, Max looked adorable, standing there on the stairs.
"Morning, Max," Rei said easily. "I'm just making breakfast." Indeed he was, as he'd been smart enough to grind the coffee beans the day before (Kai's only known weakness was his coffee…it was also the one known thing that actually made the blader grumpier than if it were Tyson) and cut the cake as well.
"Oh." Max rubbed his eyes. He reached for the broom in the corner dreamily. "Didn't you clean the floor today Rei? It looks a little dusty…"
Rei smiled again, opening his mouth to answer when he stopped, thinking over what Max had just said. His eyes widening.
The Broom!
"Max, no!" Rei said, almost shrieking. He threw himself forward, almost tripping over himself, grabbing the broom from his blonde-headed team mate. Accidentally crashing into the wall, he lay on the ground a little while, trying to catch back his focus. Three tousled heads poked out from different rooms and looked down.
"Err…Rei, what are you doing down there?" said Tyson with puzzlement splashed all over his face. Kai raised an eyebrow, as Rei blushed at his team's scrutiny. He stood up, dusting himself a little bit, before saying a few Chinese phrases.
At the end of it, the other four (as Hillary had gone to a friend's house in France) looked even more perplexed than before, and Max went as far as to measure the temperature of Rei's forehead.
Chuckling, Rei translated his phrases. "I basically just said Happy Chinese New Year, and good health to you all; may all that your heart wishes come true."
The other bladers' eyes lit up in understanding. It took quite a while until all the questions were answered and all the traditions were dealt with (Tyson, Max and Kenny didn't want anything to go wrong for Rei, and certainly not to jeopardize any luck that was on their side in the beyblade tournaments), but eventually they sat down at breakfast.
They all sat down at the table. At least three of them looking at the bowls in front of them rather dubiously.
"Well," said Tyson trying to sound confident. "Rei's never failed us before, and he won't fail us now, right Rei?" he said, looking in his team mate's direction. Rei rolled his eyes, smiling, and nodded. Tyson, still rather hesitant, but determined to keep his reputation of the bravest of the bunch, took a bite out of one round glutinous flour ball in the bowl of ginger soup.
"Hey, wow, this is good!" Tyson smiled, drinking some of the soup. He played with the little dough ball with his tongue, not realizing the little effect that it had on the golden-headed blader next to him.
Max took an experimental sip. His blue eyes lit up. "Hey, yeah it is!"
Kenny, reassured, started to eat as well. Soon, however, they had finished, and Rei went to wash the dishes, rather peacefully. He had nobody to visit in Japan, or at least, nobody Chinese anyway, so he had planned to stay at the dojo and cook dinner. Disaster soon decided to give a visit, nevertheless, when Tyson inspecting his nails, decided to cut them. Two seconds later, Rei rushed from the kitchen in a flurry of hair and clothes.
"Tyson! No!" Rei shouted, snatching the nail cutter out of the blunette's hands. He breathed in relief as he saw that he had been just in time.
Tyson stepped backwards. "What on earth Rei?" he said, bewildered. Rei was about to answer when the doorbell rang. Loudly, and for several times.
Rei, whose eyes had begun to look rather wild, ran towards the door. And opened it…
And promptly got enveloped into a huge, bone-cracking hug.
"Rei!" As four pairs of arms decided to suffocate the blader, the rest of the team looked on, completely and utterly amused.
The four pairs of arms retreated. And Rei could finally call out names: "Lee! Mariah! Kevin! Gary!" He beamed.
Six minutes later saw him sitting with a huge package in front of him, as the White Tigers handed out sweets and candy and red packets left and right.
"We took a holiday over here because we didn't want Rei to miss so much. Fortunately we can get back home later and still not miss dinner," said Kevin, who had been rather calm this morning.
"Yeah? Well maybe you can explain why Rei's been acting so weird." Tyson said, Max nodding along fervently.
"Acting weird?" Gary raised his eyebrows curiously. "How?"
"What on earth are they talking about?" questioned Mariah curiously.
They recounted the events of the morning, Rei blushing a tint of slight crimson.
Lee laughed loudly, throwing his head back. The other three Tigers also laughed; Mariah giggling, Gary chuckling and Kevin pounding his hands on the floor. "Oh, man that is priceless," he said, holding his stomach a little in pain.
"What's so funny?" Tyson said, echoing the thoughts of all the Bladebrakers (except, naturally, Rei).
They explained, amongst much laughter, and soon the Bladebrakers laughed also. "So that's why you just ran up and grabbed the broom from my arms!" Max exclaimed. "I almost thought that I was dreaming!"
"And that's why you stopped me from cutting my nails! I nearly thought you'd finally gone insane, Rei!"
Lee nodded, still chuckling to himself. "And about the food….you should have trusted Rei from the start; he could cook village delicacies at the age of eight. Even if they were rather small in proportion," he said with amusement.
"Hey, I was only eight! I didn't think about how much everyone ate. If I knew there were people like Tyson around on the other hand…" he said teasingly.
Even Kai smirked on that one.
They talked late into the night, talking over many stories…even going over some Chinese legends for the curious members of Rei's team. Some of the time had been spent reliving general stories about Rei's childhood, and both teams had to roll around on the floor at his antics.
"I can't believe you asked that question!" said Tyson, holding his stomach. The White Tigers had just told the Bladebrakers about how, when Rei had found out he was a neko-jin (he'd lived in the village only since he was five or six), he'd asked the elders if he could ask a few questions. Smiling patiently the three had agreed, and consequently had then had cramps trying not to laugh at the young charge.
There had been "So…dogs won't bite me, right?"
And "I can still climb down trees?"
And, finally, the most notorious question of all: "Do you mean that I've actually been eating cat food all my life?"
Suffice to say, the Bladebrakers would not forget that one in a hurry.
Throughout the day, the White Tigers hadn't stopped smiling, even through the gigantic meal that Rei had still managed to cook up despite the short notice.
At nine, though, they had had to leave.
"We were already stretching it by coming here." Lee explained this as Rei protested the rapid packing that his four childhood friends had already carried out. Kevin, Gary and Mariah were already standing at the door. Even Kai looked slightly unhappier at the fact that they were leaving.
Rei nodded sadly. "Well, be sure to come again soon, yeah? I want to know the village gossip more often!" he said, winking at Mariah. The others laughed, and although the atmosphere was by no means happier, it was at least much looser. Closing the door, Rei turned around, and grinned (he had to) at the completely shattered looks on his friends' faces.
"Go to bed, it's been a long day," he said softly, pressing each person in the small of their back and their shoulders to get them moving. As soon as he saw that the three younger had disappeared up the stairs, he yawned, cat-like, and started for the kitchen. He hadn't had time before, to clan the dishes.
"Wash the dishes tomorrow, I know you're tired." Kai didn't have to specify what; the amount of cutlery and dishes used had already proven testimony to Rei's hard work started from days before.
Rei smiled: "I'll just go soak them; otherwise the bugs might decide to wander in." He turned again, getting one step forward.
Kai seized Rei's shoulder, turning him slightly. "I've already soaked them."
Rei nodded giving a 'thank you' smile, and they both went up the stairs together.
It only took them ten minutes to get to bed, but Rei had stayed up, brushing his hair. Kai walked out of the bathroom wearing tracksuit pants and a towel over his shoulder even though his hair wasn't wet (Rei had warned all of them in time). "I'm glad I learned more about you," he said, taking over the hair-brushing. Rei, relinquishing his hold on the brush, allowed himself to relax under Kai's administrations to his hair –the event had become a daily habit once both had found out about Rei's purrs.
Rei's eyes softened for a while, and he replied: "Well, next time we'll have to have a Russian festival then, won't we?"
Kai turned to look over at him, surprised. Rei stared back at him, letting him know that he understood what he had said, and that he had meant the connotations of it too. He reached out, after a while, for the lamp.
"Good night Kai."
Kai's hand stopped him though, and they shared a glance as Kai flicked the switches of both lights.
"Sweet dreams Kon."
And Rei grinned.
Replies to Reviews: JJ CJ: Yep, you did! -laughs- Yeah, I did switch...I guess it's because I'm just so used to using either that I switch between the two...hope you don't mind! You did that with your friends? There's no snow here in HK...apart from that one time in 1994 when the top of the tallest hill had some ice, I don't think there was anything that resembled snow ever!
Fading Background: I am so sorry that these chapters were so late. There are 3 though, and they're each at least two times as long as my normal ones...which should gratify the person who once said that the chapters I update are way too short!
Kaei Kon: Could you translate the Russian please? -Sweatdrops- We're even with the snow though; I've only seen it twice (In India of all places and in Korea when I was six) and I'm afraid I get colds very easily so I couldn't do the random angel thing anyway...I'd love to though, someday! We'll compare notes?
Prozac Fairy: Thank you!
animeobsession: Well, if it makes you feel better...I couldn't read the review until much, much later...but I've taken the advice! I luff your reviews muchly too!
Little-Purple-Phoenix: UKL and I talk often about you...lol, so far we've both agreed that you're a very nice person. Any further, though, I'm afraid I'm not too sure...I don't know you very well, bu tthanks for the review!
Reis1gurl: I've done just that!
SpottedShadow2947: Thanks a lot! I rather liked the scenes too...lol.
dark-night-sky: Thanks for reminding me (actually at that time I was working on the Valentines chapter...which I'd finished straight after I started the Christmas chapter). I procrastinate alot too! I love my English, Philosophy and Econ classes, but I'm afraid the same can't be said for my math and Bio...and nobody's normal anyway!
Stunstar: I was really quite afraid that Kai was getting out of character in these 3 chapters...I've already restricted myself a little on the number of times he speaks...but darn! I apologise once again for the delay in updates, but promise you that hopefully nothing else will happen that will keep me from it ever again.
everybodys-fool: Oh dear. Um...I'm sorry? -ducks- Okay, I solemnly swear that I shalt not delay in updating chapters unless in condition of sudden death or injury.
Echo in the dark: I've got the lyrics, do you want them? -teasingly, naturally- By all means, please let me find all the mistakes in this! I'd love you to, so that I can improve. I hate those kinds of stories too, by the way. I actually tried to change the style of my fics occassionally, but unfortunately in long stories I still seem to revert back to my original -sweet and lovely- state. Oh well!
darksafire: Let's vary the apologies. This hand shalt not wrong thou blessed happiness again! There we go, a bit of variety. Anyway, I do apologise. I have 'onegai'ed! Wakalimasuta, doumo arigato gozaimasu!
WaterSpirit1: Did you guys actually like the Christmas surprise? Because not many of you actually reviewed. SO I'm not sure if any of you knew it was for you or not. Anyway, I hope you all did! And thanks for the review...
tntiggris: Thank you very much! I feel incredibly honoured...it's amazing but I found my story on a c2 the other day and I didn't recognise it...I actually read the summaries first, you see, so it was kind of strange to se my own prologue!
skimmie: Rather commanding aren't you? Well, mam/sir I've done my duty and shan't neglect it again!
queenOFanime535: Thanks...the fic or me? Lol, just joking...
Neena14: I'm afraid I'm one of those slowpoke writers who likes every single event between the two to be danced around but completely significant, if you know what I mean! They will get some action later though...I'm afriad it might be a bit of a wait...however...but check in on the action between the others.
BloodyShadows: And I thought that prison was bad...apparently really really nice fluffy reviewers are even worse. That is not to say I don't want you to review! I love your reviews! Just that I feel like I've failed...WAAAAAAAAH! Okay, I feel much better.
Colour Me Black: If guilt were a black drop in 100 ml of water, my house would be flooded and it's designers wreaked with grief about the damage done to the white wallpaper. Not a sweetie...more like a selective softie...only to Rei.
hoshicat: Hope you liked Kissing Santa Claus, then! I hoped that helped you make your decision in not murdering me with sharp glass-like weapons.
flammes: Thank you! Here are...err...3 chapters? Eh, hoped you liked!
Ultimate Kai Luva: Sorry, I didn't really have time to wait until you'd editted everything. Next time, yeah?
A/N: Quick (eh…maybe not!) lesson on Chinese beliefs if you're listening...err reading… This is all based on my family (I'm Chinese) so ignore me if this wasn't what you learned in your classes, or isn't what you do in your family.
Most of what the Chinese do on Chinese New Year is based on its language, so if you don't get what the heck I'm talking about, just skip this bit.
The little balls of dough are called 'tong yuen'. Yuen means round in Chinese, but it can also mean 'finished' or 'whole' (tong just means soup). In the olden days, people used to rush home for this festival in order to eat this delicacy; if they didn't arrive, they were taken for dead (bear in mind that there were no telephones then). This was because in making this delicacy the family were getting together again, becoming a 'whole' again. In my family, big ones and small balls of dough are made, as they can symbolize the 'big ones and the small ones of the family'. They can be made with ginger soup, or as an actual meal (in other words, sweet or savory).
Three, eight and nine are lucky numbers. Eight because it sounds like the word 'luck'. Three because it sounds like the word 'live'. Five and seven and four are not mentioned on this day because five and seven are numbers which are part of the death rituals, and four has the same sound as 'die'.
Any sort of cake is usually eaten on the day because the sound for cake in Chinese (gou) can, if written in another way, also mean high. Basically the tradition for this is that people eat cake so that they get more promotions (gou gou bou sing –or, higher and higher steps rise).
The decorations are red because I don't know why, but Rei would have hung the luck sign upside down as the word 'upside down' in Chinese has the same sound as the word 'arrive'. The sound is dou if anyone is actually curious.
Rei was so panicked about the broom, because in China it's like 'sweeping the luck away'. He was also anxious about Tyson's nail-cutting, because it resembles cutting your luck away. He hid away all shaving utensils, simply because the word hair, in Chinese is pronounced fat, and this is the same sound used for the word luck. You can't even wash your hair on that day, which is why Kai doesn't.
Li-see packets (or red packets as they're called in English) are always given to children, and oftentimes to anyone who isn't married.
And yes I know everything is a little bit rushed. If it compensates, this thing is twice as much as my usual chapter.