(A/N: Hiya, readers! -bounds in- I'm almost free, almost FREE! I only have final exams, and then next Wednesday I'M FREE! But enough with that, here are the review replies.

Smoke-Angel: Yes, it does happen to be that time of year. I hate stress. It makes me draw badly. Which is bad. lol I actually discovered the word "zephyr" by accident. Sometimes I leaf through my dictionary when I'm bored, and I just so happened to land on that page. lol Who says that I'm educated? Just lucky. lmao

Lunar Fire: Kai Hiwatari is suspicious of everyone. Rei shouldn't take it personally. lol Here's da update!

Storms-winter: NOTV...ARGH! -dies- I'm really trying to write that latest chapter, really I am, but for some reason, there's too much dialogue between Ryan and Mihkail and not enough storytelling/explaining of the reason why Jyana hates Mihkail's guts. But I swear, I will finish that fic, if it's the last thing I do! -strikes pose- Yes, I am a genius chicken. Fear me.

EvilTwinKae: Glad you like it. Thanks! Here's the chappie! Have fun with it, there's another conflict. If you can call it a conflict. Meh. lol

Monarch: Thank you! I shall persist! Yesh, I do admit that they all contrast each other very well. Is it realistic? That's my goal. My hidden goal, anyway, even from myself. lol Yes, I know that Rei is odd. He always is in my fics, isn't he?

crimson gates of paradise: -grabs Esther's head and plays beachball with on a fluffy golden cloud- SQUEEEE, E'S HEAD! -dies-

Crud, I have to go to bed now...happy readings! -runs off with E's head-

Chapter Seven: To Hide From Seeking Eyes

"Hey, Kai?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you gay?"

"No, I'm not."

"Oh. Okay."

The sidewalks were not as full as they should have been at this afternoon hour, but the rain had discouraged most of the usual people, so only a handful of them remained to smoke under the flimsy store parapets. None of them took any notice of the pair of teenage boys hurrying along, their every step a wet, loud slap against the drenched concrete.

"Kai?"

"What, Tala?"

"Are you gay?"

"I am straight, Tala Ivanov, now get that through your thick skull."

"Okay, okay, just asking! You don't have to…"

"You've been asking ever since we left school grounds," Kai retorted in annoyance, delicate brows creased in the deepest of ire, "now repeat after me. Kai. Hiwatari. Is. Straight."

"Kai Hiwatari is straight," Tala repeated in a sing-song voice, "…straight as a ruler?"

"Straight as the damnedest straight ruler you've ever seen. Now drop the subject."

"Fine. So…are we there yet?"

Kai looked up to the sky in silent pleading, vaguely noticing that the rain had nearly stopped. Tala was babbling about something to his right, but Kai was not listening.

That feeling that he had gotten when Rei had passed by behind him had been the same as the one experienced in Carmen's hospital room. It was hazy, but still very noticeable; antagonistic as the bite of a memory that should not have been forgotten. It was like seeing the face or hearing the voice of a relative that one had not seen in years: something tugs at your consciousness, urging memories to the surface, but they always emerge jumbled; flashes of a life long past.

But was it truly a memory?

"…and she's really hot, I swear! Even without the make-up…I've seen her and…hey, are you listening?"

"Yes."

"Liar," Tala accused, prodding Kai's arm very forcefully, "what has gotten into you today? Zoning out in class, staring at nothing in the cafeteria, having cryptic conversations with Rei…what's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," Kai replied stonily, looking straight ahead of him and scanning the sidewalks, "it's just…the rain…"

"Hey, you pulled that excuse on Pretty Boy Kon, but it won't work on me," the redhead said, his tone suddenly severe, "I want the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth."

Almost moaning in despair, Kai averted his gaze from Tala's searching crystal blue eyes, pretending to be entirely absorbed in watching a puddle drain away into the sewers.

"Something is wrong with you," Tala insisted, "tell me, come on!"

"Nothing's wrong!"

"He lies!"

"Tala!"

For a few moments, the red-haired teen was in serious danger of having sidewalk rubble shoved down his throat, but then, it passed again. That wind of nothingness that made no mark on the sand nor sound on the dried leaves.

"There."

Kai broke into a run, heading west in a mad dash that caught Tala off guard.

"Hey! Wait up!"

They are following us.

I know.

Most boys would have been much more discreet about their movements while playing hooky, but not Rei Kon. It was as though the world had not laid any concerns on him, as it did to others. His step was broad and flowing, his expression placid but unrevealing as he strolled leisurely down the sidewalk.

Rei was a strange boy, but that was not the only reason that had drawn Aria to love him.

Will you speak to them?

I don't know.

I thought you knew everything, boy.

I'm not all-knowing.

You certainly act as if you are.

I do not!

Kai's and Tala's presences were getting closer, and as Aria flitted around, she looked over her shoulder, making Rei turn his head as well.

What are you so worried about? He asked, amused despite himself.

I just have this feeling…that boy…Kai…he can see me.

He can't. Not yet.

The air was stagnant, devoid of wind. Aria looked up to the sky, joining her hands as a concerned look darkened her gaze.

Tarian is gone. I…I cannot find him…

He'll be alright. You know him.

Yes. But I am still…worried. For both of them.

What about all three of them?

Aria turned to look at the boy for a moment, but his face was as pensive as ever. She smiled.

Yes. All three of them.

"He's not doing anything."

"I know. Just wait."

"For how long?"

"For as long as it takes."

"What are you talking about?"

Cursing under his breath, Tala continued to walk with his shoulders slumped. This was, obviously, not his idea of a skipped class.

"I think I'd rather go back," he muttered crossly, shoving his hands into his pockets, "and next time I ditch class, I'm not even gonna try taking you with me…"

Kai took no heed of the redhead, who was continuing to talk to himself, and went on as cautiously as ever, although he had a feeling that it did no good.

It doesn't matter. I'm going to get to the bottom of this.

No matter what it takes.

The day was growing steadily darker. A school bell tolled in the distance, and closer by, a bicycle's trilling bell sang its tune, but they were all ignored. The leaves in the trees offered no poetry, the wind having made itself scarce since the end of the rain.

Where are you, Tarian?

I told you not to worry about him, Aria, Rei admonished gently.

I know, but I cannot simply let him wander where he wishes to wander!

Why not?

He can be…irresponsible…when he is troubled.

He was responsible enough to stay around for this long. And he found the girl, didn't he?

You act as if you do not know her name.

I don't really know her. What use is it to speak her name?

Shaking his head, Rei kept on walking. He had reached a more open part of town, and yet there were hardly any others but himself, and of course, the two trailing him from a distance.

The square in which he stood was made entirely of stone tiles, but at the edges, it was decked with trees large enough for one to hide behind. Rei gave a small smile, stopping in the middle of the place, and Aria stopped with him, sensing his thoughts.

You cannot! Someone will see you! She said in concern.

There's no one here, Aria. You'll be safe. Now please…do me this favor?

Oh, you…you are too adorable to deny.

Smirking, Rei looked up to the sky for a moment. It was still quite darkened by its previous load of rain, but in the evening, the moon would surely peek out.

Ready?

Yes.

Sharply, he turned, wrapped hair whipping smoothly, thrusting all of his will towards the other end of the square. The earth opened at the roots of two trees with a low rumble and tremor, swallowing them into itself in a cloud of dust. Twin, shimmering wings materialized momentarily at Rei's back, perfectly diaphanous under the wan light of the sun, then they faded as the magic dispersed, and shouts of surprise rang out from where the sand cloud was dying away.

"Bloody hell!"

Aria laughed at the voices, twirling about and placing a fleeting kiss on Rei's tanned cheek before clapping her hands in delight.

That was excellent! May we do it again?

Smiling but shaking his head, the amber-eyed boy affectionately trailed the fingers of his left hand over the spirit's bare forearm before stepping closer to the two boys coughing and cursing in the dust. Aria was still giggling.

"Good afternoon, Kai Hiwatari and Tala Ivanov," said Rei pleasantly, acting as though his stalkers had been doing the most normal thing in the world, "I'm glad you finally decided to come out into the open."

"The pleasure's all ours," Tala replied in a choked voice, spitting in order to expel the sand from his mouth.

Kai said nothing, choosing instead to glare at the space behind Rei's back. The sulfur-eyed teen looked over his shoulder, pretending to follow Kai's gaze.

"What are you staring at?"

The other did not answer. Aria was starting to look worried as Kai's gaze swept over the entire square.

Rei…

Wait…

"You must be finding me pretty strange."

"Yeah, I was just thinking about that," Tala put in dryly, "as a matter of fact, I'd like to ask you, right now, to quit whatever means you are using in order to seduce Hiwatari here, because I don't wanna follow you around town anymore!"

"Tala!"

"Hey, I'm not the one chasing after his ass all day!"

"I am not chasing after Rei's ass!"

We should leave now, Rei, he can see me!

Wait. He can't. I…wait…I understand now.

"Kai. I need to speak to you tonight," Rei requested, raising his voice over Kai's and Tala's bickering.

The redhead cut his words short and turned towards the ebony-haired boy in bewilderment. Kai was silent. Rei regarded him just as quietly, waiting for an answer.

Finally, as Tala was mouthing soundlessly in disbelief, Kai's gaze steadied, but then he looked away, unable to remain level with the gold-colored eyes.

"How's my place?"

"Fine."

"Your place?"

The hospital windows were still shining with crystalline raindrops in the late afternoon sun, but she did not see it, nor would she have wanted to. Distractedly, she ran a finger across the cool glass, breathing outward slowly until the window fogged and the heat was rebounded back towards her.

"I can't see you, Tarian…I…I can't see anything without you…"

Wearily, Carmen leaned her forehead on the hard surface before her, breathing in the coldness, her fingers still tracing foreign patterns on the condensation that had accumulated.

"Why am I so stupid?"

Was she expecting an answer? The normal onlooker would never tell, and the supernatural one shook her head. Carmen closed her eyes, although knowing that there would be no change from her world of black.

"I know you're there, Ceridwen."

So you do. You are powerful indeed.

"No. Just…observant."

Hm. I see that he has taught you well.

"Not really."

"How can you say that? Ceridwen asked in mild surprise, You love him, do you not?

"Maybe."

The female spirit smiled gently, placing a lithe hand on the girl's shoulder.

That is hardly an answer, child.

"Don't call me a child," said Carmen tiredly, hunching over to hold her head in her hands, elbows propped up on the chilly windowsill, "only Tarian calls me that."

Ceridwen had nothing to say, so she continued to observe the child with whom the object of ehr affection had taken refuge.

Minutes passed in this manner, and Carmen did not raise her head. The faint sunlight persisted through the glass, lighting the walls in its pallid glow so that they seemed even colder than usual.

"You love him too, don't you?" the ebony-haired girl queried in her same soft voice, "and he still has feelings for you, and that's why he doesn't want to come back to me. Because he knows that you're here with me."

Ceridwen sighed gently, flipping her mass of ruby hair over her shoulder.

That is probably the case. He has always been stubborn.

"How long have you known him?"

A long time. Perhaps…too long.

"I've known him for only eleven years."

A sudden, dry laugh shook her slender body, and she deigned to look up, breathing on the window once more as though the act was her only indulgence.

"It seems like forever to a person like me," Carmen continued quietly, "a child…I've only been here for sixteen years…you and Tarian have been around for much longer than that."

Ceridwen nodded in acquiesce, trailing her gaze to the frigid surroundings. A shiver took her, and she summoned her flames to warm the room. Carmen smiled as the heat touched her, soft as the wind that she used to hear in her mind.

"Have you seen Kai yet?" she asked now, turning towards the spirit.

No. He is not yet ready. Aria claims that her child will speak to him first.

"That's not what I meant. I was asking if you had seen him."

I…yes. I did, answered Ceridwen, disconcerted by the sudden adult air that the girl's voice had taken.

Carmen's face was lit by a smile once more, and Ceridwen was starting to understand why Tarian had remained with this child for so long.

"Is he good-looking?" she questioned further, half turning back to the frosty window.

A slight, very slight wind stirred outside the glass, and Carmen reached out to touch the chilled surface again, brushing it wistfully.

Yes, he is. He is very attractive.

"Will you speak to him if he comes today?"

I do not know.

"We'll see if he comes, then."

Kai did not come that afternoon, nor did he that evening, but there was one other visiting, hidden in one corner of the bleached space, sighing softly as his winds danced outside.

(A/N: Well there we go. I'm starting to have an inkling of where this story is going, so never fear! The next chapters will be much less boring than this one! -salutes-

Carmen of the Spanish Inquisition (Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!) lol Sorry. I have Monty Python quotes stuck in my head. -dies-