Yurii: I am SO SORRY TO ALL MY FAITHFUL READERS! High school is/was fucking evil. ( . ) Damn all finals and homework to the sulfurous abyss of hell. –Ahem. – Anyways, I advise reading over the other chapters; you'll find that they're somewhat changed. Oh, and I finally got some ideas after watching the musical Zhivago. It's a freaking brilliant show. ENJOY!
Mmm… Morning already…
Anya sighed, not wanting to get up from the warmth of being in her love's arms. A small smile graced her lips as she recalled the previous night's events.
Lying beside Anya, Kai felt her stir. He'd been awake for around an hour by now, unable to go back to sleep, satisfied watching the phoenix in his arms sleep, admiring her and marveling that he could possess a creature as beautiful as she was. He still couldn't get over the fact that he'd actually laid down the girl of his dreams and made love to her, despite knowing that it was very much a reality. It really didn't matter though, she was his. He was brought out of his thoughts when Anya started singing.
Little child, be not afraid and someday you'll know little child, be not afraid little child, be not afraid
though rain pounds harshly against the glass
like an unwanted stranger, there is no danger
I am here tonight
little child, be not afraid
though thunder explodes and lightning flash
illuminates your tear-stained face
I am here tonight
that nature is so
the same rain that draws you near me
falls on rivers and land
on forests and sand
makes the beautiful world that you'll see
in the morning
though storm clouds mask your beloved moon
and its candlelight beams, still keep pleasant dreams
I am here tonight
though wind makes creatures of our trees
and their branches to hands, they're not real, understand
and I am here tonight
And someday you'll know for you know, once even I was a well now I am grown and I hope that you'll know... everything's fine in the morning
that nature is so
the same rain that draws you near me
falls on rivers and land
on forests and sand
makes the beautiful world that you'll see
in the morning
little child, and I was afraid
but a gentle someone always came
to dry all my tears, trade sweet sleep for fears
and to give a kiss goodnight
and these years have shown
that rain's a part of how life goes
but it's dark and it's late
so I'll hold you and wait
'til your frightened eyes do close
that nature is so
the same rain that draws you near me
falls on rivers and land
on forests and sand
makes the beautiful world that you'll see
in the morning
the rain'll be gone in the morning
but I'll still be here in the morning
She was still an amazing singer; regardless of the number of times she berated herself. Blue eyes met his crimson ones, half open and warm. He smiled and kissed her forehead.
"хорошее утро, влюбленность. вы все еще пеете красивейше." (1)
"хорошее утро, Kai." (2) She replied with a smile before closing her eyes again and burying her face in his chest. He reached an arm over, pulling her body flush to his. They seemed to fit so well together.
"If this is a dream, please don't wake me up." She muttered sleepily.
Kai just smiled, stroking her dark hair away from her face.
She's mine… she's really mine…
He'd told himself this probably a hundred times by now, and he still couldn't believe that someone like her had really happened to him. The fact that he'd been through hell and back before made it feel like this was the heaven he'd fought to get to. She'd seemed like such a child when he first met her, and she'd matured into an incredible young woman.
Anya opened her eyes again to look up at him. The way the sunlight hit her figure, her eyes of frozen turquoise appeared so warm, her hair falling around her shoulders and a slightly dreamy look on her face made her look angelic, in every sense of the word.
"Kai? What are you thinking about?" She asked with a smile.
"What do you think?"
She smiled and pushed herself up to kiss him softly on the lips. He leaned over and returned it, tender and warm as opposed to the fierce, fiery passion of last night. Anya was slightly surprised, but it was in a good way…
So this is his gentle side…
She knew it was there, it was only a matter of getting him to show it.
Kai's hands slid up her arms to her neck, finally stopping at her face, his thumbs slowly caressing her cheeks. His lips moved sensually over hers, intermittently brushing his tongue over them and drawing a soft sigh from her. Her own hands lifted and rested around his neck, playing with his hair as his fingers ran through her dark brown tresses, feeling their softness between the calloused digits.
They broke apart after a moment or two, Kai resting his forehead against hers and halfway lying on top of her. Anya smiled to herself.
He looks so beautiful when he smiles…
The moment was pretty much ruined when someone knocked on the door, both of them thankful that it was locked.
"Anya, Kai, get up and make it quick."
Anya sighed in relief. It was just Tala.
"It's not that late, Tala." She replied.
"I know, but you should get Kai out of here soon. Your father is returning early and will be arriving this afternoon."
They didn't have to be told twice. In a few minutes, both of them were up and halfway dressed. Outside the door, Tala only counted 3 minutes before Anya whipped open the door. The redhead entered, Anya locking the door behind him.
"The only thing I can think of to keep from getting Kai killed for getting in the way of your father's plans to have you try and marry that Brooklyn bastard is to take him back with me. He won't think to look with me, and since my father is already acquainted with him, it's probably the safest place as well."
The two phoenixes exchanged looks. Anya nodded in approval; she knew from years of being friends with him that Tala didn't suggest plans if the chances of it succeeding were below 50 percent. However, looking back at Tala, she could tell that something else was bothering him.
"Tala, what's wrong? And don't try to tell me that it's nothing, you're a lousy liar when it comes to my questions."
Tala sighed and rubbed his temples.
"Father recently got word that there are political groups rousing rebellions all over the country, and we may have to go into war. And as we all know, that means drafting."
Anya rested her forehead in her palm and sighed.
"Shit…"
Kai remained silent, his eyes and expression betraying that he was deep in thought.
"Does that mean… you'll be going too?"
Tala nodded his head solemnly. Anya looked up, sighed, and stood up.
"Well, lets not just sit around and wait for a plan to form itself. Tala, can we stay with you for a few days? You know, just to work things out."
"If you can arrange the transportation."
"Done."
The princess looked over at Kai.
"Are you okay with this?"
He looked up and nodded, nothing more than that.
"Alright then."
"So let me get this straight, you're going to be a freaking Captain even though you're only eighteen?"
Tala smirked at Anya's reaction.
"You got it."
The brunette fell back against her seat, trying to register that her best friend was now a high-ranking military figure. Even Kai managed a smirk at her reaction.
"Great, just freaking great." She stared hard at Tala. "If you get yourself killed, I'll never forgive you for it, got it?"
"I get it, I get it."
"So don't die!"
Tala couldn't help but laugh.
"Right, like I'm going to waltz up to one of the Bolsheviks and say 'hey, would you shoot me please? I have to get a little payback for my friend back home'. Honestly…"
Anya glared at him, not finding it very funny. Luckily for the redhead, he was saved from her wrath as the driver announced that they'd arrived. As they got out, Anya felt the birthday present Tala had given her, still wrapped up in her parka's pocket. She had already unwrapped it enough to figure out what it was, and she had the horrible gut feeling she would have to use it soon.
It was dark inside as the heavy wooden doors swung open.
"GET THEM!"
There were the sounds of a struggle in the dark, and when the lights came on again, Tala was being held by two Russian soldiers, Anya by one and Kai having to be restrained by three. Brooklyn was sitting on the staircase with a triumphant smirk on his face. Anya was itching to wipe the stupid look off his face.
"Well, well, well. Fancy meeting you here."
"Brooklyn you bastard! Let them go!" Anya screamed angrily, still struggling against the soldier that had her in a kind of bear-hug-restraint.
"Unlikely, my dear princess. It seems you are unaware that Kai is basically a wanted man after that little stunt with stealing my place in line."
"Place in line! I am not a prize to be won!" She yelled back, now fully enraged.
Brooklyn paid her no mind, only enraging her more.
That boy has no right…
Anya could feel her body temperature rising, a sign that Dryxaria was starting to take control.
"As for you, Kai…" Brooklyn trailed off, trying to decide what to do to the crimson-eyed young man. "I think it would be appropriate to send you off to fight."
Kai smirked defiantly.
"What makes you think you can make me?"
It was Brooklyn's turn to smirk.
"Because, Mr. Hiwatari, you committed a serious offense by having an affair with the Grand Duchess Anya Nickolai. I could have you beheaded for that."
Kai glared darkly at the orange-haired duke.
Bastard…
Brooklyn turned to the guards.
"Take him away. As for Valkov, barricade him in his room so he doesn't get in the way."
Before any of them had the chance to react, one guard knocked Tala unconscious while the others started to drag a fiercely struggling Kai away.
"Tala! KAI!"
Anya struggled against the guard's grip, but despite her training, he was a lot stronger than she was. She glared at him.
"I command you to put me down!"
Brooklyn smirked.
"They are my guards to control; you have no power here."
Now thoroughly furious, she managed to grab Tala's gift to her, a knife with a 9-inch blade, out of her pocket, flip open the blade and plunge it into the guard's arm. The man screamed in pain and immediately let go, Anya dropping to the floor and bolting outside as the car with Kai in it sped off out of sight.
"KAI!"
"Hey, Hiwatari! You with us?"
Kai looked up in annoyance at the man who'd spoken. It was another frigid Russian night, the only source of warmth being the campfires the men were huddled around. It was to his luck that he'd been placed in Tala's regiment, but he couldn't help but miss Anya. She was all he could think about for the past two months.
As for the one who'd spoken, a Corporal named Bryan Kuznetsov, he was okay. Sarcastic, but okay. The others in his "campfire circle" were a short navy-haired soldier with mahogany eyes and a tall blonde young man with green eyes.
"Hn."
The lavender-eyed officer only rolled his eyes in response and turned back to tending the fire. The other two remained silent, though it was only for a little while before Tala walked up, another soldier behind him.
"You got a new recruit to add to your little campfire group. This is Yurii Savinov (3). Make sure he gets up on time."
Without so much as another word, the redhead went back to his tent. There was an awkward pause. Kai studied the new soldier. He had messy, dark brown hair with spiky bangs that fell over his blue eyes, not too tall either. Ian stood up.
"Rookie, eh? Ever shoot a gun?"
Yurii just nodded.
"Any good?"
He held his hand up horizontally and wavered it to show he wasn't bad.
"Don't you talk?"
"Not much."
The others smirked.
"Well, now that you're here, I'm Ian, Ian Pappov. That's Spencer Dekanozov, Corporal Bryan Kuznetsov and the 'lone wolf' over there is Kai Hiwatari."
Yurii held up one hand in a sort of wave to say hello.
"You'll share a tent with Hiwatari. –yawn- I'm going to hit the sack. Доброй ночи. (4)"
The others followed Bryan's example, leaving Kai and Yurii outside. Except for the crackling and popping of the fire, it was silent. Kai turned back to staring out at the forest and thinking. A moment later, he was surprised to feel Yurii put his arms around his waist and nuzzle his neck… just like…
"Anya?"
"Missed me?"
Yurii: -suspenseful music- dun dun dun! How was that for a return chapter? Review please!
(1) Good morning, love. You still sing beautifully.
(2) Good morning, Kai.
(3) Heh… I kinda sorta changed my pen name cuz I liked this name.
(4) Good Night