Witch-Bitch

Disclaimer: Only the strangers herein are mine.

Author's Note: this is complete AU

Author's Note: I'm going to be adding more 1st POVs, so names will be used from now on.

Note on Fonts: please look at previous chapters.

Chapter 17: still is so

Rei's POV

This was… I had- really, what could I do? My job was nearly done, by the look of things. I grimaced inwardly. I wanted this, and I didn't. when they came out of the room to meet me at the nurse's station, they weren't touching, or looking as if they had made up from this morning. if you hadn't known them like I did, you would've said they were just friends.

But there was this look of giddy happiness on Becky's face. And on Kai's, just a hint of satisfaction showing through. So there it was.

"thanks Rei. For filling out the papers," Kai said awkwardly when they stopped in front of me. I stood up from my chair, shrugged.

"not an issue. Let's go," I said as I turned around, more to Becky than Kai.

"uh Rei? About my bike-"

"I'll drop you guys first, then go back to my place and get the bike-tow-"

"you still have it?" he asked in amazement.

"yeah." I stopped, then decided to be civil, for Becky's sake. "it wasn't always a bike-trailer, Kai. I use it for my deliveries now."

"Rei, what did you tell them happened?" Becky asked me tentatively. So she was unsure still. I knew she had it figured out, that it had finally clicked in her mind when she broke away from herself in my car. But she was still coming to terms with just knowing that.

"that Kai had fallen onto the bar at the Ellipse." She knew what I was talking about, she had fallen onto it a couple of times. I realised I had unintentionally opened a door for them, and groaned inwardly. I heard her sigh of relief.

"I haven't skated in years, Rei. What if they do a follow up with the manager?" Kai demanded.

"they won't. believe me, they see enough of us here during the weekend to know the score," Becky assured him. I gritted my teeth, glad that I couldn't see them being affectionate behind my back. I heard him suddenly pick up on the 'us'.

"you?" he said in disbelief. Oh, this is just nauseating.

"yes, me. what, you think I stay inside with my books all day?" she teased, slightly hurt, but not taking his ignorance seriously. Oh gods, let this just be 'pride & prejudice: re-incarnated'. Or part two. 'the sequel'. Bloody hell…

Kai's POV

"how long?" I asked her as I turned her 'blades over in my hands. Rei had already dropped us and then brought my scrambler back here. Becky and I were once again alone in the house, her parents having gone out for a private dinner. it wasn't as uncomfortable as before, but I still wasn't allowed in her room; I don't know whether that's from before, or from this new situation we were in now.

"since the craze started." She ran her fingers through her hair absently, stretching her legs out over the arm of the couch. Long, incredibly sexy, jean-clad legs. "six, seven? I don't really remember. I got them for my birthday and I didn't really take them seriously, but then Ricky got into skating and I didn't want to be left to just watch. And then he left and it went dormant for a few months. Rei…" she paused for a second, gritting her teeth temporarily. "Rei pushed me to start again after- well, you know," she said in an apologetic tone.

I knew. I kept quiet, looking at them more critically. Completely black, they were scratched and scored just above the wheels so repeatedly that they formed a broad, grey stripe on either side. The inside shoe was also black but looked faded and worn in. the clasps were custom, definitely not part of the original model, and a dark-red colour. On the back of both blades were upside-down triangles, painted in a brighter red than the clasps.

"so you skate?" she asked, breaking my study. I put the 'blades on the floor and leaned back into the chair.

"used to. till I got my quad-bike , and then scrambler, and then the Katana," I replied.

"spoilt, aren't we, mister Hiwatari?" she mocked, turning her head to face me. her eyes were sparkling with mischief. Before she knew it, I had pounced on top of her and was tickling her ribs. She giggled like mad, weakly protesting and failing to push me away.

"depends on who's doing the spoiling," I ragged at her, hinting at before. she was soon completely out of breath, wheezing her laughter, and I had to stop, with much reluctance. She gasped for air underneath me, completely flat on her back along the length of the couch. I braced myself above her and just smiled.

"uncle," I said for her. she grinned, wiping the tears from her eyes. Uncle, she mouthed. A moment later, something creeped into her eyes; the grin faded, she recovered her breathing, and her eyes became bright. She shifted under my weight.

"Kai, get off." I thought I could tease her back into her comfort zone.

"no. I'm comfortable."

"I mean it, Kai. Get off me," she demanded shakily.

"why?" I asked, curious as to why she was getting so worked up about this.

"do you want your truth or mine?" I could see her breathing quicken in panic. I sort-of understood what she was asking.

"yours." She closed her eyes, attempting to calm herself.

" I wish you hadn't said that," she muttered. "and I wish I wasn't so damned honest." She took in a deep breath and what she said next caught me completely off guard.

"it's too soon for those parts of our anatomy to be touching."

Becky's POV

Why did I have to say it? Now he's going to think I'm an emotional idiot. Keep your eyes closed, maybe he didn't hear you. of course he did, you moron! How could anyone not hear that loaded answer! Fuck, did I just ruin everything? WHY DID YOU HAVE TO THINK THAT WORD! other things, think other things… clouds, metallica, anything- shit, shit, shit, shit, shit. I have to open my eyes someti-

I felt suddenly relieved of his body pressure, and I let out the breath I was holding in. I couldn't open my eyes just yet. I felt so embarrassed; I could feel my cheeks heating up. I'd just admitted to thinking of this in another way, him in another way. Can't I ever keep a secret to myself? Yes, others, just not your own. Crap…

"Becca, what do you mean?" he asked softly. my spine turned to water. He said it again. twice now. I don't even think he knew he was calling me that again. it made me feel even more uncertain now. "unscrew your eyes for just one minute and explain," he insisted. I didn't. open my eyes, I mean.

"you know exactly what I meant, and don't make me further humiliate myself by asking me to say it out loud," I said, starting out in a squeak but then getting some resemblance of normality in my voice. He was quiet after I answered. I wondered what he was thinking, what emotions were crossing his face while he thought on my words. If ever there was a time for a black hole to appear, it would be now.

"I won't…" he exhaled loudly. I opened my eyes to the tiniest slits and looked at him. his eyes caught immediately on mine and I had to open them wider.

"it's barely the end of the first day and you're already thinking that far ahead?" he attempted to downplay with humour, smiling weakly. Don't get-

"don't make fun of me, Kai!" I snapped. oh great: you did. the smile faded off his face. I sat up quickly, turning to face him at eye-level. "I didn't mean to sound like that," I said hastily, trying to apologize. "I just- well, how can it not cross your mind?" wrong turn, backtrack NOW. "what I mean- you always think ahead, don't you, when you kiss somebody?" close, expand on that. "being together doesn't mean just lips and words, right? You've got to think of what's coming next if you love each-oth-" oh SHIT, I said it! Damnit! I buried my face in my hands, totally defeated and mortified. I heard a short chuckle come from him. I've totally lost the plot.

"you are so cute when you get tangled in your own tangent," he said affectionately. I looked through my fingers at him, totally confused. He stood up from the floor and sat beside me, putting an arm round my shoulders. I tensed for a second and then forced myself to stop.

"what?" I said stupidly, putting my hands down. He traced my cheek with his finger, just like the other night.

"I won't go there if you don't want to," he said gently. "but you've got to understand that I need to touch, and hug, and hold, and play with you like you're all mine, like you're my kitten. It can't just be when we kiss. it has to be all the time." With every word he said, I could feel the centre of my chest tighten into a knot, harder and more difficult to untie with his explanation.

"Becca?" he said, asking for my answer. With a final jolt, the last knot was tied. His eyes peered at me, waiting patiently for me to say something.

"go slow," I pleaded. He smiled reassuringly and pulled me closer to him. my heart thudded against my ribcage. I have to fight it. But I don't know if I can.

Tala's POV

Perfect! Just a little nudge in the right direction, just the tiniest crack in this precious shell, and all the forces of their nature would weigh down on it, the pressure building until either one or the other cracked.

"Tala," someone said behind me. I knew who it was and turned around slowly, just to annoy him. but when I turned around, the person I was expecting wasn't there. Instead-

"Tessa. What a pleasure." She narrowed her eyes at me.

"spare me the crap. What are you doing here?"

"taking a break from driving. You know how it is, joints ache, eyes tire-"

"why at this particular house?" her blue eyes sparked dangerously in my direction.

"thought I should visit Kai, see how he is," I replied. She rolled her eyes.

"weak, Tala, even for you," she said, her voice dripping with acid. I felt my temper flare, but held it back.

"really and truly. And why would it concern you?" I took a step towards her, attempting to make her step back with my bullying, but it didn't faze her.

"she's my friend too. Now why don't you just leave?" I sensed a threat to her tone. I didn't want to make a scene, so I just smiled and shrugged.

"all right, you win. I'll go," I replied, heading towards my car. I felt her eyes on me as I got into the seat, revved the engine, and reversed out of the driveway. I gave her a cheerful, sarcastic wave, and then I was heading home. Bitch.

Rei's Mentor's POV

"we have a problem. You know what mine's about, and now it concerns yours too."

"what is it?"

"Tala is becoming too involved. He's doing this for his own pleasure, instead of the Union." He sighed.

"I knew this would eventually happen." I heard water rippling around him. I rolled my eyes.

"why are you still in your conduit?"

"he's a better surfer than I was." He sighed again. "I'll monitor him. if it gets more out of hand, I'll take care of him. pity that we can't reassign new Guardians, hey?"

"yes. a pity," I said sarcastically.

"don't be like that Anya," he chastised me.

"I didn't expect it would be this difficult when we… volunteered." He was quiet for a while.

"I know. They did warn us though."

"they did." I heard him smile.

"I'll talk to you soon."

To be continued…

PO: wow, I just introduced so many twists in this one, I'm really proud of myself!

Rei: she is. Grinning like the Cheshire cat to the screen.

Zicky: not so maniacally as she usually is.

PO: hey, I'm still here!

Rei & Zicky: we know

P.S. what can I say? sorry for the long break in transmission, I had a honours paper of plus 30 pages to do in 5 months. Thanks for sticking around )bows(