I\'m a father?

Title: I’m a father?

Subtitle: Leaving.

Author: Lady Snowblossom

Rating: PG-13

Pairings: Rei/Bryan, Kai/Tala, Spencer/Ian, Tyson/Max and various other pairings.

Note: Tala grounds Ian. Kai and Rei leave for the U.S.

Disclaimer: I’m not gonna say it.

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Ian sat at the kitchen table: a bag of ice held over his left eye. Spencer sat across the table from him, sipping a cup of coffee. The only sound in the room was the hum of the compressor on the refrigerator. Finally, Spencer sighed and set down his empty cup.

“How does your eye feel?”

“It hurts! How the hell do you think it feels!” Ian snapped as he attempted to glare at the large blonde. Unfortunately, the effect was ruined by the ice bag.

“Spencer.”

Both bladers jumped at the sound of Tala’s voice. Spencer twisted around on his chair, while Ian tilted his head to the left to look at the redhead.

Tala walked into the room and leaned against the sink. His icy eyes swept over the pair at the table. He waved a hand toward the door and ordered. “Spencer, take a hike. I want to talk to Ian-alone.” Spencer immediately got up and left.

As soon as he was gone, Tala flowed with lethal grace over to the table and seated himself in the vacated chair. Steepling his fingers in front of his face, Tala purred softly, “Bryan has taken a walk. I suspect that he will go to Yeska’s and have a few shots. Do you mind telling me just what the hell possessed you to use one of Rei’s headbands?”

“Well, ah,” Ian began nervously. “I couldn’t find my spare hat and I needed something to keep my hair up and out of my eyes; and it was the first thing I came across that would work!” He finished in a rush. He cringed as Tala’s eyes turned a deeper blue and his hands slowly lowered to the tabletop. For a couple of seconds, the angry captain seemed incapable of speech, then he stood and walked around the table to reach out and jerked the shorter boy out of his seat.

Struggling in the hard grip that threatened to cut off his air; Ian stared fearfully into the ice chips that blazed in Tala’s head.

“You . . . unmitigated . . . ass!” Tala hissed, “Rei’s things are SACRED to Bryan! How the fuck did you think he felt when he saw that headband lying in the Beystadium!” The enraged redhead shook his younger teammate, giving him no chance to reply. “I’ll tell you how he felt! It felt like you had ripped his heart out; that’s how it felt!” Tala slammed Ian back into his chair and snarled, “you’re lucky Spencer and I were there to keep him from doing more than punching your lights out!”

“Tala, I . . .”

“Shut up!” Tala growled: his voice raspy with rage. With a supreme effort of will, he got his temper under control. “Ian, you are confined to your room for the next week. You will only leave it to go to the bathroom and to train. Spencer will bring your meals to you. Plus, you will come up with some way to apologize to Bryan for your incredible lack of judgement!”

Tala glared down at the white faced Ian, who nodded. “Now, get out!”

Ian snatched up the ice bag; he’d dropped at some point and fled from the kitchen. Tala watched him go, before sinking onto the nearest chair; feeling utterly drained. Wearily, he crossed his arms and laid them on the tabletop and rested his forehead on them. “Kai,” he murmured, “I wish you and Rei were home, because I’d give my left arm for one of your massages right now.”

He lay like that for sometime, before jerking up when he heard footsteps. Spencer entered and crossed to the table, the big blonde eyed Tala gauging his mood, before taking a seat and speaking.

“He didn’t mean any harm, he just didn’t think.”

“I know.” Tala sighed. “But, he can’t keep pulling shit like that, or running his mouth like he did last night. Bryan is ready to explode and if Ian isn’t careful, he’s going to be the first victim of the fallout!” He shook his head and leaned back in his chair. “So, its’ better that he stay out of Bryan’s way for awhile.”

“All right,” Spencer nodded in agreement. “I’ll see that he stays put.”

“Good,” Tala said standing up. “You keep an eye on him. I’m going to find Bryan and bring him home; before he terrorizes half of Moscow.” He turned from the table and headed for the back door, pausing when Spencer said softly, “Good luck and you might want to take a club.”

Tala snorted and went out to go falcon hunting.

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Kai smiled down at the softly snoring neko-jin lying against his chest.

“Works every time.” He murmured quietly, as he carefully maneuvered Rei around and laid him down. Seconds later, he had a pillow under the boy’s head and had him wrapped all snug and warm in the duvet.

A fond smile curved his lips, as he leaned down and kissed his friend on his right temple. Straightening, he stifled a yawn behind his hand and quietly tiptoed from the room. As he started to pull the door too, he decided to leave it open the merest of cracks; so he could hear if Rei got up. Then he went over to the futon to wait for Lee’s return. Stretching out on the futon’s soft surface, he tucked an arm behind his head and closed his eyes: seconds later he was asleep.

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“Onna’s,” Lee grumbled as he trudged along the back street that led to Rei’s home. “Are a royal pain anywhere you care to name!”

When he had gotten home: his mother had been in the kitchen and had been more than willing to supply him with whatever he wanted, but at the same time she had wanted to know why he needed so much food. Avoiding the real reason, he told her that Kai was visiting and Rei wanted to show him proper honor.

Once she had heard that she made him sit outside, while she and his grandmother fixed some of their specialties for Kai to try. When his grandmother called him in, it was to find that they had filled two panniers to the brim with bottles and bamboo boxes, he’d had to hang the Ancestor-blessed things from a yoke to be able to carry them.

So, here he was burdened like an ox, just because Rei had misjudged his food requirements! As he walked along, he began to think about the conversation he’d had with Kai; something about that talk had bothered him and as he replayed it in his head, he suddenly remembered what it was that had bothered him. “Now, why the hell did I say that? I didn’t know anything of the kind!” He exclaimed and startled a pair of ducks, who squawked at him in indignation.

Ignoring the offended fowl, he squinted up at the sun and groaned. “Kai and Rei are gonna kill me! It’s been over two hours since I left! They’re going to be starving!” He paused for a second to adjust the fit of the yoke to a more comfortable position before hustling along the dusty lane as fast as he dared.

By the time, he reached Rei’s; Lee was only too happy to get the yoke off his shoulders and the panniers on the porch. Hopping up after them, he went to the door and knocked. When he got no answer, he frowned and tried the latch, the door swung open easily and he stepped inside. Blinking a couple of times to help his eyes adjust to the shadowy interior, Lee smirked at the quiet snore that greeted him.

He pussyfooted over to the futon and looked down at the two-toned haired boy. ‘He certainly looks different, when he’s sleeping.’ He thought as he gazed at the relaxed features of the resilient Russian. ‘I guess it’s the only time he’s really at peace.’

With thoughts of how grateful he was to have a loving family and friends to support him, Lee turned and went to fetch the food.

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Opening his eyes, Kai became aware of noise coming from the dark recess of the kitchen. Coming fully alert, he quickly shot a look towards the bedroom door; it looked undisturbed. Quickly, he rose from the futon and made his way stealthily to the open doorway and pressed up against the wall. The noise was coming closer and he tensed.

Lee emerged from the kitchen intent on waking Rei and Kai, so they could eat before the food got cold. “Ka . . .uff!” The next thing he knew he was up against the wall and Kai stood in front of him with fist cocked. The two stared at each other; then Kai huffed and lowered his fist and stepped back.

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Rei woke felling warm and secure. For a moment, he just lay there basking in the warmth, but then his stomach rumbled loudly and he chuckled. Getting up, however turned into an adventure, as he struggled to get out of Kai’s wrap job. He had the sudden image of himself as a butterfly leaving his chrysalis and he giggled as he finally wriggled free.

Sitting up on the side of the bed, he glared briefly at the comb and brush that lay on the dresser. ‘Damn it, Kai! How many times do I have to tell you not to do that!’ He snatched up the brush and ran it through his hair before making quick work of wrapping it.

Finished, he padded barefooted to the door and was reaching for the knob; when he heard Kai and Lee talking. Pausing, he listened intently.

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“I think,” Lee said stepping away from the wall. “That makes us even.” At Kai’s questioning look, he elaborated. “You thought I had broken in, didn’t you. I thought you had, so we’re even. Now, where’s Rei?”

“Asleep, the last I looked.” Kai grinned.

“Oh, and how did you accomplish that, may I ask?” Lee inquired raising an eyebrow.

“Brushed his hair.”

Lee smirked, “learned that trick, have you.”

“Yeah,” Kai replied, walking over to the fire pit and sitting down. “We had gone out riding on motorcycles and his hair got all snarled. When we got back to the hotel, he tried to straightened it out, but was having problems, so I went over and helped out; by the time I was through, he was sound asleep.” Kai smirked up at Lee. “I’ve used it from time to time on him. He gets annoyed about it, too. So, how did you find out?”

“Believe it or not, we were trying to figure out why girls are so preoccupied with their hair. My sisters delayed things all the time, because they had to fix their hair! So, one day when we didn’t have anything better to do, we went down by the waterfall and Rei took his hair down and I started to brush it. Fifteen minutes later, he was snoring away.” Lee gave Kai a wry look. “I wonder if Bryan knows that trick?”

“I’ll ask him the next time I see him.” Kai replied, “if he doesn’t, just asking will be enough of a hint.”

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Rei grimaced, “I so don’t think so! Its’ bad enough that you pull that stunt, I don’t need him getting in on the act!” He continued to listen, ignoring his conscience.

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Lee laughed, “poor Rei! Something tells me he’s going to be spending a lot of time sleeping.”

The two grinned at each other in perfect understanding. Then Lee turned serious; he sought a seat on the futon, before he faced the other captain.

“Kai, there’s something I need to tell you. I didn’t know that Bryan and Rei were mates, until I found out about the baby last night.”

“But, you said.”

“I know what I said,” Lee growled; glaring down at the hands clenched in his lap. “What I knew was after the Worlds, he stayed in Moscow because he wanted to help you with teaching the Demolition Boys how to live with their new freedom. Never in any of his letters, did he mention that he had fallen for Bryan: only that you and Tala were together.”

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‘I think its time I joined them,’ Rei thought as he listened to Lee’s confession. He pulled the door open and spoke. “I didn’t tell you because you would have come charging back to Moscow to argue with me about my choice.”

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Lee’s head shot up and Kai slew around. Rei smirked at them from the open door before walking across the room. “Face it, Lee,” he continued as he perched himself on the opposite side of the fire pit from Kai. “You don’t like Bryan and the others and for good reason, I’ll admit.”

Tossing his head, Rei laughed softly, “hell, I DIDN’T like them! But, after the BBA and the Russian government shut the abbey down and they had nowhere to go; well, I guess you could say I felt sorry for them; they were so lost. So, when Kai and Mr. D. asked for my help; I agreed.”

“So,” Lee said staring at his friend, “when did your feelings change.”

“One night, Bryan and I got to talking about the championship and he took me by the hand and told me that he hadn’t wanted to hurt me, but Voltaire and Boris had ordered him to make an example of me. He disobeyed.” Rei whispered: a haunted look on his face.

Kai got up and went to Rei and put his hands on the Chinese’s shoulders. The tiger tilted back his head and flashed Kai a quick smile, before returning his attention to Lee. Sobering, he continued. “He didn’t use Falborg’s full power against me. He . . . he told me that from the first moment our eyes met, he knew that if he destroyed me: he’d be destroying himself. So, he risked everything: his life, Falborg, everything – for me.”

The tiger looked down to where his fingers were unconsciously making pleats in his tunic’s fabric, then he looked back up at his old friend. “How could I not love him after that?”

Lee nodded: eyes full of understanding, “you couldn’t.”

A loud complaint from Rei’s stomach and his embarrassed blush broke the somber atmosphere. Laughing, Lee pointed at Rei, “come on, let’s get you fed! I don’t want to have to answer to Bryan because you decided to go on a diet!”

“Phffft!” Rei blew him a raspberry.

Kai just smiled.

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Tala came out of Yeska’s, a look of concentration on his face. Portly little Yeska told him that Bryan had left just ten minutes before he arrived. The friendly bartender/owner relayed that Bryan had had one shot of vodka and a cup of coffee; then he had gotten up and left.

‘So, where was he?’

The redhead stuffed his hands in his pockets and headed down the street trying to imagine where the falcon would go. As he walked along, his blue eyes scanned the crowd for threats and for a familiar head of lilac hair. He was beginning to give up hope of finding Bryan, when he overheard two girls.

“Are you sure it was him?”

“Of course, I’m sure! How many other brooding, sexy purple haired bladers do you know?”

“Well, there is that Majestic.”

“Robert? Oh, pleazze! Bryan Kuznetsov is way cooler than him!”

“I could argue the point, but it isn’t worth it. I wonder why he was heading for the river?”

“Like I’d know! Honestly, Josee, I . . .”

Tala didn’t wait to hear anymore, he took off, pushing his way through the crowd. Ten minutes later, he was walking along the bank looking for his friend. He finally found Bryan sitting on the bank near one of the marble bridges. He walked down the bank and dropped to the ground beside the silent falcon and put an arm around his shoulders.

Bryan leaned into the embrace; it took him back to the abbey and all the times Tala would hold one of them after a grueling day; offering comfort and support.

“I’ve grounded Ian. He’ll be spending the next week in his room,” Tala said quietly, “but, I’ve been thinking that we can’t blame all of this on Ian, I’m at fault too.”

Bryan jerked his head up and stared opened-mouth at his captain. “Tala! How could you be to blame for that idiot! You didn’t give him that headband.”

“No, but I’m the one who wouldn’t tell Kai why Rei left. And I encouraged the rest to keep quiet; out of respect for your privacy. I now know that I should have told him and I should have kicked your ass out the door and sent you packing to China; with orders to stay until you’d straightened this mess with Rei out.”

Bryan reached down and began plucking bits of grass and just tossing them aside. “No, the blame is all mine; Ian is right. I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did. But,” he looked up at Tala, a faint sheen of unshed tears shining from his eyes. “God help me, Tala, I couldn’t bear the thought of some pervert using a picture of my tiger to jerk off to!” A single tear ran down Bryan’s cheek.

Tala threw both arms around his fragile falcon and pulled him to his chest. “Shh, Bryan, I understand, I wouldn’t have wanted Kai to do that shot either, but we have to remember they have the right to make their own decisions. But that’s all water under the bridge and what’s important is getting the two of you back together.” He paused and shot a Kai patented death glare at an old woman glaring at them from the path that meandered along the side of the river. Under the fierceness of that glare: the elderly woman moved on.

“Witch.” Tala whispered.

Bryan peeked up at him, “Tala?”

“Nothing important, Bry.” Tala refocused his attention. “Listen, we’re leaving for New York in three weeks; Mr. D. has arranged for us to live in a house next door to where the Bladebreakers will be staying. Once we get there, Kai and I will figure out some way to bring the two of you together and leave you to work it out. Just promise me; you won’t lose your temper, ok?”

“I’ll . . . I’ll try.” Bryan said softly.

“Good.” Tala released Bryan and rose to his feet; he reached down for the falcon and pulled him up. The pair stared at each other for a moment; then Tala leaned in and gave Bryan a brotherly peck on the lips. “Let’s go home, falcon. Supper will be waiting.”

Bryan smiled, “right behind you, wolf.”

Tala laughed, “behind me is where you belong, falcon!” And he went scrambling up the bank, laughing as Bryan gave chase.

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“Will you stop arguing with me!”

“But, Lee! There is no reason for you to walk out to that damn field and back again!”

Kai shook his head as he rose from the futon and went to the bedroom door. He stuck his head inside and calmly said, “if the two of you don’t keep your voices down, you are going to wake up the rest of the village.” Looking straight at Rei, he nodded toward Lee, “and Rei, if Lee wants to see us off – let him. He’s a big boy. He can decide things for himself.”

Rei glared at Kai, who didn’t looked impressed. Then, when Lee snickered, he transferred the glare to the lion; who stuck his tongue out at him. “Now, that was and I quote, mature, unquote.” Rei growled.

Kai chuckled, “come on, you two, it’s nearly dawn. By the time, we make the field, the ‘copter should be there or about to arrive.”

Lee snatched up Rei’s duffel bag and the three headed out. The streets were dark and they had only the fading light of the moon to travel by. Kai watched Rei and Lee moving confidently in the faint light, his own vision hampered by the dimness of the light, but he knew that the neko-jins would warn him if there were an obstacle in the path, so he wasn’t worried.

Ten minutes of walking saw them out of the village and as the sky slowly turned gray, they picked up the pace. They reached the field just as the sun burst over the horizon. At the same time a dot that quickly became a helicopter appeared.

“Looks like your ride is on time,” Lee said as he watched the helicopter approach. He turned to Rei, handed him his duffel and gave him a quick hug. He whispered into Rei’s ear, “take care, my brother, I’ll see you soon.” Then he held him at arm’s length and gazed earnestly into Rei’s face.

Rei smiled, “you take care also, my brother. Until we meet again.” Lee nodded and released him.

Lee went to Kai and stuck out his hand, the Russian gripped it and they looked at each other. “Take care of him and the kitten, phoenix, or I’ll be forced to kick your ass!” He shouted over the heavy roar of the blades that kicked up a small storm of gravel, sticks and grass as it landed. Kai nodded; his eyes on Rei as the Chinese blader shielded his eyes from the debris.

The black ‘copter landed and a door slid open. A man dressed in a black flight suit appeared and jumped to the ground, he quickly approached Kai and bowed. “If you and your guest are ready to go, Mr. Hiwatari, we should get under way. The radar is showing bad weather headed this way.”

“Very well, give us a moment.” Kai answered. The man bowed and quickly returned to the helicopter. Kai turned to Lee and said, “don’t worry until something changes, I’ll guard Rei with my life. You have my word.”

“Accepted.” Lee replied and bowed. Kai bowed in return, then he turned and took a bemused Rei by the arm and led him to the helicopter and helped him in. He quickly followed Rei in and the door slammed shut.

Lee turned away from the debris kicked up from the wash of the blades, but he looked up in time to see Rei wave and he waved back. “Goodbye, tiger, may the ancestors hold you in their hands.” He whispered; his eyes following the helicopter until it was out of sight, then he turned and headed home.


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Well, what do you know two chapters in the same week, I must be sick! Actually this is my Easter gift to everyone!

Bryan: She’s out of her mind! She’s even got me crying!

Look, you grouch, it was one stinking lousy tear, it won’t hurt you to give up one lousy tear.

Bryan: It’ll ruin my image.

What are you: a male supermodel! You don’t have an image!

Rei hugging Bryan: Stop picking on my koi!

I thought you were eating your kibble.

Rei: Tyson stole it.

TYSON! I swear if I didn’t need him for the next chapter; that boy would be so outta here!

Tyson: What are you yelling about?

Kibble, Ty, kibble! You stole Rei’s kibble! I refuse to get up at three in the morning to make him more so get your butt in the kitchen and start making it now! Bryan can supervise, because I’m sure he doesn’t want to get up then, either!

Tyson: Rei can make his own. EEPP!

Bryan: You heard her, get moving! (Drags Tyson towards kitchen by collar, Rei trailing behind.)

And our little comedy act is over till next time! Inuyasha, here I come!