ACROSS THE PAGES
CHAPTER 13
It was starting to get rather annoying –the looks, the glances –
He didn't know what had happened on Valentine's Day when he and Kai were out, but suddenly Max and Tyson were completely shy at the mere sight of each other. It hadn't been really obvious before Chinese New Year, but then again, Rei had been way too hastled then, to take any notice anyway.
He knew that there wasn't really something wrong, per say, but definitely something different about the two of them. As he saw yet another bashful look, there was a pause before a blush appeared.
Rei's eyes sharpened. The same thing had happened for a continuous number of days already –and he'd be damned if he didn't do something about it.
I wonder if…
He shook his head.
But no…it can't really be that…
As he saw yet another flushed face though –this time with Tyson, he reassessed the arguments in his head.
But maybe it's possible…
With this thought in mind, Rei continued to act normally, and as practice came and went, he passed a little note into Kai's hands.
Kai-
Can you distract Tyson? I want to try out something. It's nothing too disturbing, trust me on this. I just have a little theory…tell you later if you're actually interested…
Rei.
Kai, reading the rather strange enigma that was the note, raised his eyebrows, as he was rather prone to do when he was skeptical of something. Rei, noticing the now rather familiar gesture (Kai tended to be rather skeptical of 'most everything), raised an eyebrow right back –used as a challenging gesture this time.
As the captain sighed –half with amusement and half with ill-hidden no-way-am-I-getting-in-the-way-of-that– he gave a thank you grin. It wasn't everyday that the captain gave a team member a go-ahead without knowing precisely down to the smallest detail what on earth they were up to. And Rei was well aware that he was the one who got most of those –even Kenny got little past Kai, and he was the Chief!
He had to hide the giggles that threatened to erupt though, when he and the others heard Kai's way of 'distracting Tyson'.
"Tyson, run four laps around the tennis court behind the stadium," Kai said, almost casually, from his place on the sofa. He was reading the newspaper, his crimson eyes scanning the columns lazily.
Tyson, looking at him in shock, spluttered. "Why?"
Kai glared at him. "Because."
Tyson gaped. "B –but…"
"Make that six laps," said Kai intensifying his glare.
"But that place is already a mile away! Just walking there will give me exercise, let alone running around the thing."
Glare intensified. "Eight laps," said Kai, placing down his newspaper and crossing his arms. Rei, looking on at the scene, managed to think that, if Kai had been a toddler, the whole thing might have looked rather cute. As it was, Kai was a teenager. And he looked nothing like 'cute'.
In fact, one would say that he looked rather intimidating.
Rei smirked. Time to get Maxie alone…
"Okay! Yeesh! I'm going, I'm going," said Tyson hastily walking to the door. "But can you at least tell me what the heck this is for?"
Kai paused, as the whole room looked at him. Rei included. As Kai looked at him out of the corner of his eye, Rei cocked his head curiously.
Kai opened his mouth.
"You're getting fat."
There was momentary silence before an utter upheaval occurred, with Tyson yelling at the top of his lungs. Rei shook his head.
Trust Kai to think of this sort of distraction, he thought, looking on with amusement. He watched as Max went predictably to calm Tyson –it was a normal thing in the Bladebraker household to see Kai upset Tyson. It was just as normal to see Max calm, or comfort (whatever the situation called for) the hot-headed boy, just as it was normal to see Rei do the same for Kai.
Taking the sudden look that Kai had thrown at him as a signal, he looked over at Max –only to find him closing the door to Tyson's back noiselessly.
"Hey, Maxie!" he called, silently thanking Kai in his head. "Can I talk to you for a second?"
Throwing him a curious look, Max nodded. "Sure," he said giving a typical Maxie-smile: cheerful and friendly it never really failed to brighten up Rei's day –nor Tyson's, at least as long as Rei could remember. Walking rapidly, Rei entered his room, motioning to Max to sit on his bed. The golden-headed blader had hardly sat down before the interrogation had started.
"Do you like him?" Rei said, getting straight to the point. If he'd given time to Max to think up a good answer, he'd never get anything out of him.
"W-what?" Max stammered, looking at him briefly. Rei only took this as confirmation –there was a remarkably skittish way about the blonde.
"Do you like Tyson. More than a friend." Rei said this slowly, gently.
"I don't know what you mean," Max said, or, to be more accurate, stuttered.
"I think you do," said Rei gently. "You like Tyson in a much-more-friendly-way-than-friends way, and frankly, I think its fine." Rei accompanied his speech with a shrug.
Max stared at him. "You think it's fine?" Rei shrugged his shoulders again.
"Why wouldn't I?" he asked. "I'm not insane, I'm not prejudiced, I don't think random human beings are dirty, and I think love is rather limitless." He tilted his head a little. "I think that covers everything, don't you?"
"But your religion…" said Max, confusedly.
"My religion tells me that everybody is equal and that everybody should be loved."
"Oh…" Max said, eyes wide. Then, in a matter of milliseconds, he threw himself at Rei. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" he said, and Rei, already completely engulfed, hugged him back.
"So I'm guessing you like Tyson," he said teasingly, as Max –after long, long minutes –raised his head.
Max only blushed in response, and before long he joined Rei (who had burst into laughter) into hilarity.
It was only after everyone was asleep that he sat on the steps of the dojo and grinned to himself. Smiling to himself gleefully –and rather worrying a few pedestrians that were walking nearby, he placed his hands into his pockets and whistled.
Now I only have to find out about Tyson…
He stood, heading back to the dojo.
And then after that…Let Operation Get-Maxie-and-Tyson together commence!
Author's Note: IT'S LATE AGAIN! I'M A TERRIBLE AUTHOR! AAAAH! I apologise and bow down for any distress I have caused with the exams and stuff that i have going on. Please forgve me. Even if I'm sort of hysterical right now.
Replies to Reviewers: JJ CJ: I certainly hope that was a good thing to wake up to in the morning! It's something i aim to do; make your days better.
Stunstar: Really, you're Indian? I went to India last Christmas and it was absolutely FREEZING! Oh my gosh I didn't know that the place could be that cold...
Reis1Gurl: You just gave me a reason not to kill Rei off. Really. I like my life right now. And I don't particularly want to commit suicide just yet. Especially when you're all going to chase after me with weapons of torture in the afterlife for not continuing the fic.
Vivi314: I never really noticed that about my fic you know? Anyway this one ends with a smile too, but I'm afraid that's because I'm rather tired. I actually came back from a job experience today, which required me to write a whole load of reviews for different CDs, books, movies...the works. So yeah. But thanks for telling me something totally new about my fic! And I'm glad they're in character.
ProzacFairy: Thanks! I hope that means it made you smile!
dark-night-sky: -pouts- I want to eat cake too! I actually haven't eaten any cakes recently, though my friend baked one for my other friend.
darksaphire: Oh, I'm so sorry! I was really tired when I finally finished all three chapters, but really that isn't an excuse! I apologise profusely..I really do try and get my reviewers' names right! I assure you that they will hook up! Just not too soon.
animelover6000: I would never abandon a fic. But yeah!
Nkingy: Have done and will do. Thanks!
Saphira's Ember: I hoped they would: they really are almost my friends now. Thanks for sharing that with me!
Echo in the Dark: Really? Well I hope mummy dearest didn't ahve too bad a shock. Lol. I'm glad that I can make you guys so happy. As it is, there's going to be a chapter next Monday, as I'm trying to get back to the original schedule. And oh yes, there will be drama in the future, but not the unrealistic kind. This story's gonna be looooong.
Danya2: Yes, I'm updating! I'm updating! I hope you see the same level here (I made Rei a little smirk-y this time round).
hoshicat: Yes, they're starting to talk -with body language! Lol...not the real talking yet however, so still some work to do.
QueenOFAnime535: Aww...I'm completely flattered -flutters eyelashes- Just kidding, I'm flattered but not in that way. Anyway I was hoping that the whole thing would turn out that way...
SilverMoonWolf: Thanks! I will.