-1Thank you all for waiting patiently for this. I tried to finish it off in a happy way, so I hope you all enjoy it. Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed this story and inspired me to continue writing it. I appreciate your feedback and comment. Don't forget to leave a last review too :P.

Show me the meaning

By EpitomeOfMisery

Chapter IX: Meaning

Light footfalls padded across the carpet in the dark. As silent and graceful as a phoenix. He was done and back in under a minute.

It took the Russian little time to leave the bedroom, place the objects under the tree and be back in bed, without a sound.

"IT'S CHRISTMAS!"

The shout from the American resounded through the household, soon followed by the sound of footsteps sprinting across the plush carpet.

"Merry Christmas, mom! Merry Christmas, Dad!" Max shouted as he passed his parents door. "I'm gonna start on the presents!" He beamed, dropping to his knees in front of the tree and beginning to rummage through the many brightly wrapped parcels.

Kai looked up from where he sat, just behind the blonde, at the kitchen table. A soft smirk crossed his lips briefly, before he turned his attention back to the cup of warm coffee in front of him.

"Wow! All these are for me!" Max cried, separating a large pile of presents from the rest.

Kai paid no attention to the younger, as Max sorted through the gifts, dividing them up according to whom they were for. The Russian briefly pondered over the reason why there were four piles, but let the boy continue without questioning him.

Max pushed two of the piles to the side, one after the other. "Okay, there all mom's gifts and these are all for dad!" He stood up, bending down and picking up the last pile with slight difficulty.

The master of Draciel staggered over to where Kai sat, disposing the many parcels onto the floor beside the kitchen table. "Here you go, Kai! I put all your presents in a pile ready for you."

The slate haired youth turned to regard him with slight confusion. "My presents?"

"Sure!" Max grinned. "You didn't think all that stuff mom and dad brought was just for me, did you?"

Crimson eyes ran over the heap of gifts, before he placed his mug back on the table and stood up. "I can't except this," he said, tone as emotionless as always.

Max blinked. "What do you mean, Kai? Of course you can except it! They're your presents! Mom and dad brought them for you! You can't have Christmas without presents!"

Kai regarded him silently for a few moments, before closing his eyes briefly. "Your family have done enough for me, Max. I appreciate the thought, but there's no need for you to waste your money on material goods for me."

"But Kai!" Max protested. "Stop being so polite and just except something off someone for once! We didn't buy them because we felt obliged to or anything, we brought them because we wanted to. Because you're a friend, but also because you're almost like a part of this family now!"

The Russian turned to face him. "….Part of the family?" He muttered, half to himself and half in question to Max.

"Sure! So what if we're not blood relations? Now come on, let's open presents!" Max beamed, running over and pushing his own pile over beside Kai's. He sat on the floor, pulling Kai down to sit with him.

The American quickly chose a small parcel, tearing off the paper.

Kai watched him for a few seconds, before a small smile spread across his face. He reached out, taking a medium sized square package and neatly stripping off the brightly coloured paper.

Before long both boys sat surrounded by random pieces of wrapping paper and an impressive pile of gifts each.

Kai folded each bit of torn wrapping paper and placed it neatly in a near perfect pile to the side. He then turned to look over each present in turn.

Max was already sorting through a selection of new Beyblade parts and deciding on which of his new clothes he should wear.

The American had already taken out Draciel and was currently unscrewing his old attack ring, to replace it with a new one. His hand slipped and the plastic piece dropped from his grasp, bouncing across the carpet. "Oh no!" Max cried, diving after it into a pile of wrapping paper.

The blonde sighed in relief as he picked up the green ring, before his attention was diverted by something under one of the larger pieces of paper.

"Hey, there's another gift here! I must have missed it!" Max beamed, picking up the rectangular parcel wrapped in dark blue paper. He looked over the package, his smile replaced with a look of confusion. "I wonder who this is from? It's different wrapping paper to the stuff mom and dad used."

Kai wasn't looking at him, sorting through his gifts and carrying piles of wrapping paper over to the waste bin.

Max tore away the paper, his eyes widening as he started at the box.

It was a plastic case with a glass lid, showing the contents of a brand new set of fingerless gloves, beside a selection of new Beyblade parts and an expensive looking green, easy-grip launcher.

Max noticed something on the floor, picking up a small white card with an engraved image of a phoenix in the corner. He read over the writing.

To Max, Merry Christmas, from Kai.

The American turned to his team-mate, staring at the Russian who sat with his legs crossed and arms folded.

"K-Kai… did you get me this…?"

Kai sat unmoving, his expression not changing in the slightest. "Hn. It says from Kai. That's my name."

Max blinked, before breaking into a huge grin. "Thanks so much, Kai! This is so great!"

Crimson eyes opened and looked at him with the usual stoic expression. "There's no need to thank me, Max. That is nothing compared to what I owe you for all you've done for me."

"Yeah, maybe so… but you didn't have to go out and get me something like this. I've seen these sets in they shops! They're really expensive!"

"Hn. I have a little money left over from tournaments. And now I have someone else providing my living essentials, I guess I saved up a bit."

Max beamed, jumping at Kai suddenly and enthusiastically hugging the Russian.

Hearing a slight growl, Max leant back, laughing sheepishly. "Sorry Kai. Got a little carried away there," he said.

Kai gave him a light glare, before allowing a small smile to show on his face.

As the sky gradually darkened, Kai tilted his head back to look up at the stars. A soft sigh escaped his lips. A sigh of contention.

Even he couldn't this new life had suddenly been presented with. Shelter. Food. People that were more than willing to take care of him and even treat him like their own son. Max's mom and dad were the closest he had ever had to parents. And Max. Max had become like a brother to him.

Max's parents had also loved the gifts he had brought them. They bestowed praise on him, insisting there was no need for him to go to the trouble.

But he had felt entitled to. He wanted to thank them for all they had done for him. The gifts he had brought were the best way. He could show his gratitude, even if his stoic pride didn't allow him to do so face-to-face.

"Hey Kai!"

The Russian smiled softly, hearing the voice call out just below him. He watched silently as Max clambered his way onto the roof, managing to pull himself up beside the phoenix.

"Man. It's cold out her," Max commented, rubbing his arms through the fabric of his winter jumper.

Kai gave no reply, his crimson orbs once again fixed on the sky. For once he had opted to wear long sleeves. A brand new black hooded jumper with the image of a phoenix across the front covered him. A present from Max's family.

He glanced at the American boy who was also staring up at the sky.

Max was right. They may not have been blood relations, but if he couldn't be a part of his own family of blood relations, this was the next best thing.

Snow gently floated down from the sky, a gentle breeze blowing around the two boys as they sat together on the rooftop.

For once, Kai let his barrier slip, a genuine smile lining the pale face. He didn't know how the others would react to finding out that he was living with Max's family, or what would happen next, but he had learnt one thing.

The meaning of a holiday he had never been able to experience before.

"…Hey, Max?"

The blonde turned, surprised to hear the other speak. "…Yeah, Kai?"

The slate haired youth was silent, his gaze fixed on the stars. "Thanks."

Max blinked, confused. "For what?"

Kai smirked slightly, closing his eyes briefly. The wind whipped at them slightly, throwing his scarf billowing out behind him. "You'll understand one day," he replied vaguely.

Max frowned slightly, shrugging as he turned to look back at the Christmas night.