Leading the way, towards the light

Pairing: Kai/Aichi

"Are you even sure he's gonna be here?" Misak's voice whispered softly to the boy. Miwa flashed a large grin.

"Oh I'm sure." the blond responded.

"And why is that?" a deeper males voice came out. The group nearly scrambled from out of their hiding spot seeing the guy.

"Shin-san?" Misaki asked, raising an eye and looking at him up and down. They hadn't been expecting him to be there. He was up to something. "What are you doing here?"

"Well we all are part of a time right?" the manager had reasoned holding his index finger out, a frown formed on his face. "And its manager, remember?" Shin's voice almost pleaded, really hoping for the name to sink in.

"We're not even in Card Capitol," she reasoned with a shrug, despite never addressing him by said name.

"Hoi, Hoi" Miwa, waved his hands in front of the others, stopping their argument. "We can all watch from here, I think they're coming.." Miwa's voice turned into a soft whisper as he grabbed Misaki's arm and dragged her back to their original hiding spot, behind the tree.

The manager followed suit, taking cover behind a rather wide tree trunk. He saw two familiar faces, crouching down. Both slender middle school boys, with black and brunette hair grinned up at Shin.

"Katsumi-Kun? Izaki-kun? You're all here too." Shin caught the nervous laughter, well on everyones except Misaki's part she simply looked away. "Alright you guys, what are you doing here?" he pleaded for an answer, only to be caught off guard by the young grade schoolers crouched down beside the bushes.

"Ah-All of you huh?" Shin asked, suprized at seeing Aichi's younger sister and the spiky haired Kamui to also be here they looked so attentive. Emi held a finger to her lips, as they all crouched back down.

It was there, they saw Kai Toshiki-kun walking an actual close distance near the flustered Aichi Sendou. Aichi was going on about thanking Kai, and Kai was suggesting something the boy needed to see, or go to. Aichi could barely look up from the ground, as Kai walked on nonchalantly, hands in his pockets.

"So we're doing what?" Shin asked, scratching the top of his messy green hair.

Each of the members had their own agenda for the situation. "We're keeping track of Aichi and Kai today, something seemed off.." Misaki started, a finger to her lip, as she tried to think over the reasons.

Miwa nodded in agreement. "Yes! I didn't even set this one up for them, usually I have to force the guy, then these guys followed~" Miwa gestured a smug smile on his face, eyebrows lowered, pointing to Aichi's classmates.

"Hey! I'm here simply as the strongest Vanguard Fighter, and love guru! To give Aichi-kun our support!" he spoke in triumph a fist in the air, as he finished, an air of oveconfidence. "After all he won't find something as grade 3 as my Korrin-chan and I have~ But I can help from the sidelines and stop him before he embarasses himself in front of Kai like some level zero!~" Morikawa and Miwa laughed.

One as a feeling of thinking something so genius. Miwa simply amused by him. "You really can't help but like this guy~" Miwa's voice soothed out in a way that caused Izaki and Katsumi to back of from him, nervously. Miwa continued laughing to himself.

Emi had bowed her head, eyebrows scrunched up and she questioned. "Aichi's relationship?" she spoke the word so foreignly, as it was the first time ever the idea had been thought up.

Her brother was much too shy and timid, barely wanting to wake up in the morning. He talked in his sleep and needed his sisters help for everything, she had reasoned. The group gave a small look of sympathy, Misaki mumbling something about it being 'Quite cute.'

"Aichi you see.." Misaki tried to put it in simple TV-Y terms for the girl. "Really likes Kai."

"Oh," Emi said. Then it clicked. The constant looks of defeat, coming home from the card shop because 'someone' wasn't here. The way he seemed after a game during tournaments, looking for approval. Aichi had liked someone, and that someone is Kai. "Kai likes Aichi?" she thought the question aloud.

Misaki and Miwa exchanged a look and then nodded to her. The whole group thought over it, Katsumi and Kamui, finding the idea of Kai having feelings illogical.

"Definately, I mean i've known Kai for a while and never saw him look at someone else that way..Its something in his eyes I guess~" Miwa-kun smirked.

"He needs to be honest with himself though," Misaki finished the statement and Emi, began to put the pieces together. The blond and purple haired girl nodded in agreement at the idea.

"So it is a date" Emi spoke in an "ah-ha" type of voice, making a discovery. "There fore, I need to be here for Aichi's safety at the least, its always better to be safe then sorry," She proclaimed. Shin-kun having a gleam in his eye at seeing her joy at her announcement. It reminded him of when he was back in grade school .

"Alright you guys, its settled." Shin-kun said a hand rubbing the back of his neck. "Only cause I also care about this team, and am a bit curious...But we should find a new place someone like Kai is bound to spot us all in the same place like this," he pointed over to where other couples, and families were on benches near and around the area. It would help them blend in.

The two teens continued walking side by side down the park. Kai slowing down his pace only to see his blunette exhausted. Aichi held onto both of his knees and breathed out loudly. "K-k-ai-" Aichi stammered out feeling a larger hand grasping his own.

Kai smirked down at the boy, and dragged him up to where he was standing straight. "We're almost there," Kai said, a normal person would take his tone as being rather distant, but Aichi sensed assurance around there.

The walked past a few couples, one being an open lesbian couple and a few "close" friends as well of the same-sex. Aichi blushed feeling Kai's hand slip over his. He noticed a wide grin from a long haired-male sitting by the tree, a book laying idly. Kai glared at the guy, for reasons Aichi didn't understand, and felt himself yanked, closer. He was right against Kai, feeling his body flush against the older boys side.

Kai stopped suddenly as they walked away from the crowds of people. Behind the two of them a certain crowd of vanguard fighters were crouching down, some getting tired of their position. Misaki glared down at the boys, while Emi held a finger to her lips.

Kai motioned for Aichi to sit next to him, there was no one, at least in the open around them. Kai sighed before pulling Aichi down next to him, to the point where the boy was practically sitting on top of him. "S-sorry." Aichi said, as Kai just held a longing look towards him.

This is it. All that was before the boys were a couple of nearby picnic tables, some grass, and well a lot of dirt.

"S-so, Kai-kun? You've been here before?" Aichi asked, inwardly scholding himself for a question that had an obvious answer. He mumbled something under his breath like 'its nice' before he face began to fluster.

Kai only needed keeping a fixated gaze onto the boy. "Years ago.." he whispered in a deeper voice. His eyes seemed to fade out of their usual aqua-green glow, it seemed as if a white cloud of grief surrounded and framed his pupils. Aichi's lip trembled, as he held onto the side of his jeans. He looked anywhere but at those eyes, the grassy field seemed much more interesting now.

"With Ren." Kai said, hand reaching over and grasping Aichi's soft, slender fingers, he urged the boy to come closer. Aichi swallowed, very hard. His eyes getting lost again, hoping to find the answer within everything that was Kai Toshiki.

"Sendou, Aichi." Kai sighed after saying his name, before taking matters into his own hand. He took a firm grip onto the boys hand, and again had dragged the boy next to him. The younger boy was shaking, barely anything but a 'W-What?' forming off his own lips. He's scared, Kai noted mentally. His eyes began to close, thinking again about the boy.

Why was he even doing this? He knows not to get involved with anyone again. What happened with Ren..ruined him. Yet with Aichi there seemed to be a light. As if Aichi's very own heart, very own Vanguard, leading him through the hell he'd been drowning in all these years. Leading him back to the man he was before, he lost everyone he loved.

Aichi was someone so precious, so fragile, that he feared ever getting close to. He didn't want to lose him the most of all. His ray of hope, could always shine, and find happiness, and Kai was fine. Just like in the tournaments he sat behind, watching Aichi's every move, feeling his chest ache. He became quite good at fighting the urge to show open compassion, hugging, high-fives, smiles. Though it was hard to surpress in himself, a part wanting to do things with Aichi or say something, helping lead the boy to victory.

Kai couldn't do that, he need to see Aichi find his own way. His own goals in life, his own style of Vanguard. He feared the slightest touch might break the boy.

"You remember the PSY Qualia." Kai stated, it wasn't a question but he still wanted to hear Aichi's voice. That innocent sound that reassured him, there was someone who still looked up to him, for who he was, and would stay beside him.

He felt Aichi squeeze his hand, a red blush across his cheeks. "I'm sorry Kai-Kun." Aichi had apologized again, the overstretched smile overtaking his face, as tears fled from his half-open eyes. He reflected his own experience using that power, how he had pushed Kai against the wall in that situation. He almost lost himself, almost lost Kai. The man who got him this far in life, that made the hell he was living in, the day to day, worth struggling for. He wanted to become stronger, not give in. "That's not that battle I wanted with you.." Aichi shivered feeling, Kai take hold of his other hand, pulling Aichi to the side.

"I'm not referring to that," their last duel, Aichi hardly being anything but himself. The way Aichi had changed scared Kai. He didn't want to see that happen to him!

Blue eyes met Aqua, and the younger boy felt his heart was going to explode. The brunette held the small boy closer to him, it was as closest to an embrace as they were able to get. Over course being them it was awkward. The only sound heard was their own breathing and rustling behind them. The rustling behind them?!

Kai had turned around, still holding tight to the boy. He gave quite a large glare, hearing shaking, and giggles (most likely Miwa or of feminine nature) from behind them. Kai released Aichi's hand, giving a glance toward him. That one look exchanged assured him he'd be back and to stay where he was for the time being.

"How long do you plan on hiding there?" Kai started, annoyed, he crossed his arms in front of his chest.

Miwa being the first one to come out, laughing sheepishly, followed by Misaki. Then Izaki, Katsumi, Kamui and..even Shin-san and Aichi's little sister?

"Eh? Emi?!" Aichi turned around at the sound of his sweet younger sisters apology.

"I don't see what's the big deal, we are simply supporting your date, Kai-chan~" Miwa cooed out the last part, and if looks could kill, well he would never have gotten Kai's name. He noticed Kai, death-glare him again. That same look that screamed This conversation is not happening and will not be discussed further.

Miwa waved his hands defensively in front of his face, noticing the small blunette come up behind him. Though there may be a chance to talk to Aichi about what they had been doing~

The blond noticed a change in his best friends expression. His eyes were outwordly very stern and it was far from a gleam, but something about his posture seemed much calmer. Looks like you saved me here. Miwa thought.

"Emi?" Aichi approached his sister, a rent tint staining right above the bridge of his nose, and he twiddled his pointer fingers together, nervous. The orange haired girl smiled up at her brother.

"I had to make sure my brother was safe and sound, you never know what happens on dates," Emi pointed an accusing finger right in front of her brothers face. Said boy felt all the blood rush into his face again, Kai simply turned away, but Aichi still caught his gaze.

"It just goes to you, you need my help Aichi~" Emi announced proudly, Izaki and Katsumi, laughing at the girls announcement.

Katsumi beamed with over-confidence, a hand brushing through his black spiky hair, as he leaned his head back, flashing a grin. "And well since its not going to be anything like my love-life I had to support, in the way I can."

Kai was getting rather disturbed by everyone's presence and their constant bickering over the two of them. It was just that, supposed to be the two of them.

"I was helping Aichi find his winning image, and.." Kai said calmly. His feet moving before his words and he felt himself walking away from the situation.

Miwa continued to grin "And?"

Kai felt himself swallow lightly at the comment, he forced it down. "He still has a ways to go~" Kai said before turning on his heel, raising a hand beside him. It didn't seem entirely polite but Aichi couldn't help but follow the boy.

"W-wait!" Aichi shouted after the boy. "Kai-kun?!" The blunette dashed through the park before he caught up to Kai.

Miwa cheerfully turned to the group, "He seriously needs to stop lying to himself~" Misaki smirked at the comment.

"Kai-kun?" Aichi said the boy's name, a phrase he never seemed to tire of, he desperately kept his pace up. He wanted to stand beside Kai and not be dragging him down. To be Kai's equal, that is what he wanted.

"Hn?" Kai grunted out his reply, but the expression in his eyes, even the line of his lips felt much softer. Aichi began stuttering out his words until he formed his question.

"W-what were you going to tell me about the Psy Qualia?" Aichi asked.

Kai turned on his heel, to face Aichi a bitter shade in his aqua eyes, and his lips pursed together. "I lost someone very important to me, that was the last place, I ever had a normal fight with him again...he's still lost" Kai mourned over his friend, seeing the downcast, slouching Aichi in front of him.

"Oh," Aichi mumbled out, not noticing himself shaking.

Kai completely stopped moving, closing the space again betwen them. How many times did he have to take the lead here. Why was it he kept giving in to this boy? No matter how he tried, a part of him deep down. "Uwah-Ka-" Aichi screamed out before feeling his back crash against the hard solid wooden surface.

His back was against the trunk of the tree, an unreadable look on Kai's face, before he felt the boy close in one him. "Idiot," Kai said. Oh. Aichi's mind began to figure out his own feelings as his heart was pounding. He felt himself almost falling, but was held up by the older boy. How long had that hand been at his waist.

Before Aichi could think another thought, he felt his face flush again. Kai and his noses brushed slightly, before Kai angled himself. Their lips connected, and both of their first kisses began. Kai claimed his lips, and Aichi squirmed under him, hands nervously clutching to the back of Kai's jacket.

The two boys nearly lost track of their environment, Aichi almost slipping away from the flat surface he was against. Kai opened his eyes briefly and pulled them both back to their spot. He felt a dominating warmth licking against his lips. "Ka-" he tried to moan his name before the tongue entered his mouth.

Kai's eyes were completely shut, and Aichi finally followed suit. He felt himself feel light, almost like when he just won a great vanguard fight, seeing Kai's half-smile at his success. But-oh this was even better. Aichi hadn't realized how much he wanted this until, he felt the warmth slip away.

The look on Kai's face, couldn't be seen as anything but compassionate. Aichi had tried to calm himself by thinking he really can't tell to well this time of night.

"I lost someone precious to me, and i'm not about to lose another one," Kai's face formed into a smile, his eyes swirling, as if they were fighting back a strong pressure. Kai was trying not to cry! "And, i'm not about to lose you" Kai voice stated, this was something he was going to do, he leaned in again to kiss the boy. Too flustered to even move, he felt Kai twine their hands together before pushing up against him.

Aichi moaned feeling himself between the weight of his crush, and the weight of the stable tree. He couldn't get away from this, and honestly he wouldn't. Their tongues began to dance and caress, as they lost themselves inside each other.

As their kiss broke, Aichi felt himself sobbing, Kai's eyes widened. He held tightly onto the boy. "Kai-kun." he sniffled out, "I -l-love you!~" he exclaimed voice squeaking at the word love.

"Aichi.." Kai's voice hushed the boy, they didn't exchange words after that, they didn't need to. He kissed the younger boys temple before, leaving marks across the boys neck, under his chin and back to his lips.

Aichi held on tight arms wrapped around Kai, hands tangling themselves in the older boys suprizingly soft hair. Kai kept an arm around the boy's waist, seeing his closed eyes, he truly smiled. His eyes slipped closed, before continuing their kiss.

I wasn't alone in this after all. Kai thought, happy at the way this turned out, Aichi's words. He had been in love with Aichi much longer, so afraid of breaking him and losing him. But maybe together they could find their own path towards the light, both surviving and living for each other.

As the boys felt the need for air, Aichi felt himself being pulled head first against Kai. Kai's eyes were beginning to cloud his vision. "Aichi I.." he started "love"...then placing a quick peck against the boy's lips. That expression just too much for him now. "You."

Kai held the boy close against him, not wanting to lose him. Losing his parents and Ren was hard as hell. He was going to protect those precious to him. Now he was keeping his Aichi close to him physically and sooner or later, he'd reveal more about himself. Who Kai Toshiki truly was, feeling some spark inside him, seeing the boy close his eyes against his chest.

Aichi wouldn't leave. He would've run away by now, but he was still here, and that was what Kai needed the most. Kai leaned down claimed Aichi again, something that should have happened long ago, and will continue. Finding that path toward the light, together. Just the two of them