Bffimagine: Hi! Sorry for not updating in a while… this chapter got messed up so I have to re-write it now. Only problem: I forgot what happened… O.o so if the flow of the story is a little wrong, forgive me, but let me know (ONEGAI!)

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Tala nearly dropped his cup of tea when he heard knocking at the Abbey door.

"Who…?"

He set down the cup of Earl Grey—one cream and two sugars—and ran down the three flights of stairs to the door.

Yanking it open, his jaw must have dropped for he felt himself consciously closing his mouth afterward.

"Kai!"

Nodding weakly, Kai sighed in relief as Tala took the bags from his grasp. He held tighter to Rei without the other objects occupying his hands, and he smiled in a tired greeting to his friend.

"Long time no see, Tala," Kai said hoarsely, pulling Rei's body closer to him.

"Sorry about sort of crashing in on you… but… a little help would be appreciated."

"You can stay as long as you want, Kai," Tala smiled and opened the door next to his own.

The room was elaborately furnished in polished cherry wood, the deep hues of roan red mixing pleasantly with stark white sheets.

Kai set Rei on the cot beside the bed, binding his hands and feet with soft strips of cloth just in case he should wake without changing back to his human demeanor.

Meanwhile Tala made the bed, putting layer upon layer of sheets on top of it. The comforter was fluffy and crisp, everything almost blindingly white.

"Do I want to know what happened?"

"Long story, my friend," Kai replied wearily.

"Looks like witch hunters are out to get you."

"Vampire hunters, actually."

"Dah? I suppose you have more explaining to do," Tala sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"Nyet. Can I tell you about it tomorrow?"

"Not when there is a quite obviously werewolf Rei lying in the room on a cot."

"Alright, have it your way. We had a fight with some suspicious bladers. They turned out to be a werewolf and a vampire."

"Okay…"

"The werewolf bit Rei just before Rei took him out, and the vampire succeeded in draining me… almost completely. He was injured, though, and before the rapid vampire healing powers kicked in, some of that blood had dripped into my mouth."

"Explains the fangs," Tala chided lightly, pulling Kai's lip.

"Bite me," Kai responded crossly.

"As long as you won't bite me," Tala chuckled.

"Yuriy…" warning tone.

"Kai…" mocking that warning tone.

Uncomfortable silence.

Then hysterical laughter.

"I honestly thought you were going to bite me!" Tala laughed, clutching his aching sides.

"I definitely should have," Kai laughed with equal vigor.

The laughter eventually subsided, leaving both Kai and Yuriy breathless.

"For some reason, that was odd."

It was tension that melted off both their shoulders in that moment, and as soon as it ended, the tension smashed down again, metaphorically winding both of them.

All it took was Kai's little wince.

"Ne, Kai, are you okay?"

"I got injured in the scuffle."

"Go shower. I can bandage you're wounds after."

"No, just bandage Rei now. I can take care of my own injuries."

Silent agreement was followed by soft padding footsteps.

Comfort in the form of the hot spray of water showered over Kai, soothing out the tenseness and washing away the blood.

His clothes, at the same time, were soaking in hot, sudsy water in the sink.

The cuts had not stopped bleeding but had slowed enough when he came out of the shower. He dried off with a towel that later was thrown into the sink to soak as well due to the inane amount of blood it had absorbed. Kai then pulled on some boxers and set to work dabbing at his wounds with disinfectant and wrapping them as neatly as he could.

He had the most trouble with either of his arms due to the fact that he would only have one hand to work with, and those wounds were rather messily dressed, but he covered them anyway with his long-sleeved pajama top.

Pulling on his pants as well, Kai opened the door and walked quietly up to the bed, then ruining his efforts to be unobtrusive as he flopped onto the soft pillows.

"Agh!" Tala was jerked awake from his position on the floor, Rei's injuries neatly dressed and the medical kit tidy and organized on the ground beside him.

"Sorry about that, Yuriy," Kai murmured, eyes clouded with fatigue.

Tala waved it off.

"Just go to sleep. I'll see you in the morning."

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bffimagine: SLOW chapter, I realize. I don't know what happened -.-"