Chapter 4: A Day of Peace

I'm woken from my sleep by movement in the room. They're being quiet but not quiet enough. I don't move because I can sense Rayne's aura in the room. Why I don't know. Perhaps she's just here to wake me up.

It surprises me when she crawls under the covers next to me. I can't say anything. There's a chance that she was sleep walking and even after a sleepwalker lays back down there is still a chance of causing some sort of emotional damage so I just lay there as she gets comfortable, laying her head on my chest. For several moments I just lay there unsure of what I should do. Finally I decide to take a chance and wrap my arm around her shoulders, and as soon as I do a can feel her shaking and I feel a drop of moisture land on my chest. She's been crying. Wrapping my other arm around her, I softly stroke her hair hoping to calm her so she can rest easier. I hate seeing people I care for crying... Yeah I know I just met Rayne but I know her better then she or the others realize. Trying my best to help her relax so she can sleep because I know she is awake just too upset to say anything I begin to hum a Serus Lullaby. I don't know all of it but enough it seems to work. I can feel Rayne begin to relax in my arms and her breathing level out into a sleeper's breath.

I continue to hum and stroke her hair until she falls asleep. I had planned on slipping out of bed after she fell asleep so as to avoid any awkwardness but she won't let me leave so I continue to stroke her hair until I fall asleep myself. The last thought that goes though my head is about how soft her hair is.

April 29th, 2010 1:30 pm

Fen's POV

I was the first to wake the next day. I looked around and instantly noticed something amiss. Rayne was not in the spot she laid down in the night before. I gently wake Rini and Hotaru. Wake up girls. I say as I gently shake them awake.

"Huh? Wha? Whats goin on Fen?" Rini asks rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

Rayne isn't in her bed. I can smell her scent coming from the room Rei let Kiba use.

"Hang on. Let me grab my camera." Hotaru says as she reaches into her bag and pulls out her camera. "Ok. Let's go find her." She says as we get up and sneak to the room. As we do so Ami, Bunny and Rei wake up and ask us what we're doing and we tell them that we believe Rayne is in bed with Kiba. All three of them get up and follow us to the room.

Be very quiet. Kiba tends to be a light sleeper. I say as Rei quietly opens the door and we see Rayne snuggled up against Kiba and he has his arms wrapped around her protectively. Hotaru brings her camera up and takes several quick pictures. It's gonna be fun to see how they react to these pictures.

"I'm gonna have fun showing Rayne these." Rei comments with an evil grin.

"You are so evil, Rei." Bunny says with a giggle.

We best go. They are starting to stir. I whisper as I quietly back away. After a few seconds they follow closing the door as quietly as it was opened.

Kiba's POV

Just as I open my eyes I see the door close out of the corner of my eye. "I think we were just spied on." I hear a voice say from next to me. Looking at my side I see Rayne still curled up next to me in the same position as when I fell asleep. My arms are still wrapped around her and my hand rests on her hair. I start to move my arms until she grabs hold of them and puts them back how they were. Looking down at her with mild confusion she says, "I want to stay like this a bit longer. I feel safe and comfortable." Deciding not to argue I tighten my hold and subconsciously pull her closer.

"You know they will likely get the wrong expression from this?" I ask looking down at her resting on my chest.

Turning her head up so she can look at me she answers, "Let them. They would've started talking about how we'd make a cute couple as soon as we got to the beach." Turning her head back she snuggles closer to me and we go into a comfortable silence until we hear a knock at the door and Darien yell in that we are leaving for the beach in 30 minutes. "Ok. Be out shortly." I yell back. I hear Rayne grumble to herself about how everyone has to interrupt her personal time. Loosening my hold on her she sits up slightly and looks down at me.

"Thank you for last night. I needed someone to just hold me." She says smiling.

"You're welcome. I can understand the need to be comforted." I say sitting up myself so that we're eye level. "You kinda caught me off guard though. Didn't expect you to sneak into my room in the middle of the night."

"Sorry. I just didn't know where else to go. Everyone else asks too many questions. I just knew somehow that you wouldn't." She said leaning her head on my shoulder.

Wrapping my arms around her I say, "If you want to talk I'll listen but I won't force you to tell me anything you don't want to."

"Thank you." She whispers as I feel her arms wrap around my back.

After a few minutes of just sitting there I gently pat her back and say, "You should probably go and get ready for the beach. I'll be out in a little bit."

Grudgingly she pulls away and gets up. "Oh alright. I suppose you're right. There's a pair of shorts on the desk you can use. They should fit you." She says walking towards the door and flipping the light on. Leaving she smiles back at me before shutting the door.

Getting up, I stretch and grab the shorts off of the desk. Holding them up I take a mental measurement of them and find that Rayne may have been right. These shorts should fit me just fine. Setting them back down I take my pants off and set them aside before picking the shorts back up and putting them on. They fit rather well. They're long. Going down past my knees, black in color with a silver line going done both sides, and a white checkmark on the bottom of the left leg.

I pick up my shirt and look at it. It's a bit ripped in the sleeves. Grabbing one sleeve I rip it off then repeat the process on the other. Looking at the now sleeveless shirt I nod in approval before putting it on. I look in the mirror and give a quick look over. The shirt shows off my arms but hides the worst of my scars. The shorts cover the upper part of my legs but still shows off the muscle that I've built over the years of fighting. Grabbing the sunglasses sitting on the desk. Something I picked up during my walk though the Hall of Time. Along with the rest of my clothes I wore when I met the others in this time.

Hooking the shades on the collar of my shirt I walk out to join the others. I find Darien waiting out front.

"The others went ahead to secure a good spot for us at the beach. Left most of the bags here for us." He says pointing to the bags beside him. "Fortunately the beach isn't that far from here."

Picking up five of the six bags I say, "Well we best get going. Don't need them pissed at us."

At that Darien picks up the last bag and we head off for the beach.

At the Beach

Arriving at the beach Darien and I scan the beach for the others. I'm the first to spot them sitting next to a beach house a short distance from the shoreline. I don't see Rayne immediately. Ami is the first to see us walking towards us. After arriving at the spot they picked out we set down the bags and Darien takes his shirt and shoes off. After a moments hesitation I take my shirt off. I didn't wear shoes because honestly I didn't see a point. My feet are toughened to the point where I could walk over broken glass and not cut myself. As soon as I take my shirt off, I can feel several pairs of eyes on my back. And I know they aren't checking out my scars. Looking over my shoulder I notice that Ami is the one staring the most.

"Take a picture Ami. It'll last longer." I hear a familiar voice say coming from the direction of the shore. Looking in the direction of the shore and see Rayne walking up fresh from the water. Her bikini is clinging to her body like a second skin and I can't take my eyes off her. (Honestly I doubt what she is wearing would get any other attention. It's... It's reveling is all I can say.) From the corner of my mind I hear Rei and Bunny giggle. Obviously at the look on my face. "Like what you see, Wolfie?" She asks when she's standing in front of me wearing a triumphant grin. She was trying for this response. Damn.

"You like to make people uncomfortable don't you?" I ask with a sigh. Glancing at Ami I can see her blushing furiously behind her book. Embarrassed at being caught staring at me.

"It's fun to pick on people." I hear Rayne respond. Hearing that I can't help but smile in response. So much like Rosa. She had the same habit of embarrassing people.

Hearing laughter coming from near the beach house I see Fen playing with Rini and Hotaru. Looking around the beach I notice there's no one else but us here. Before I can ask Bunny answers my question. "It's a private beach. Belongs to one of our friends. She'll be here later this weekend."

I nod in understanding as I sit down on one of the beach chairs that were set out before Darien and I arrived. As soon as I lean back and close my eyes for a moment I feel someone sit in front of my and lean against my chest. Opening one eye I see Rayne leaned up against me. Without even arguing I close my eye again and lightly wrap my arms around her waist. Upon doing so I hear Rei, Bunny, and Ami gasp softly. Guess they didn't expect that. I have to fight to hold back a smirk. "Why so surprised? We already know you got a picture of us sleeping together already." I say looking over at the three of them. I see Rayne look at them as well and we both can't help but laugh at the look on their faces.

The day goes by rather quick. Before we know it night has fallen. Having worn ourselves out from a day of fun and games we just sit and stare at the stars. "So Kiba, was it such a bad idea to join us today?" Rayne asks from her place leaning against me on the beach houses' deck.

Looking down at her I take a moment to pretend to think. Truthfully there is nothing to think about. I had fun. More fun then I have had in years. "Yeah it was." I answer finally, readjusting my arms around Rayne, placing them in a more relaxed position. In response, she places her hands on top of mine and relaxes into me more.

From the corner of my eye I see Hotaru pull out her camera and take another picture of me and Rayne. Looking to my right, I see Bunny using Rei's lap as a pillow and Darien had to leave a couple hours ago. Something about someone calling in sick at work, Ami's laying on a hammock sleeping with a book covering her face. Rini I see using Hotaru's lap as pillow with Fen curled up behind Hotaru's back.

Looking back down at Rayne, I see she dozed off against me. Pulling her higher so I can get comfortable myself I slip into a peaceful slumber.

To Be Continued...

Love Knows No Time. Love Started In Another Life Can Continue Into The Next.