A Month Of Kaider

Twelve: The Family Nobody Wants

A/N: Warning: Panic Attack

Cinder drums her practically non-existent nails on the bus window.

Unlike most days, she doesn't see Kai walking back because he's had to stay behind and help the girl who wants to enroll with them.

Without even knowing her name, Cinder despises her with a burning passion. But she can't exactly explain that to the Principal, and she can't stop Kai from doing his prefect responsibilities.

"Are you ready to tell them now?" Winter whispers, pulling her from her thoughts.

Cinder nods, having talked to both Kai and Winter about this. "Yeah."

Winter smiles. "Good. I knew you were brave enough to do it."

The two of them travel in silence until they get home, then Winter links her arm through Cinder's and the two of them walk inside, ready to unveil their secret.

Cinder stops in her tracks when she sees both Evret and Solstice waiting for them in the living room, solemn looks on their faces.

At the same time, Winter freezes, her elegant composure melting as she sees the look on her parents' faces.

"We have something important to discuss with you," Evret tells them.

"What's happened?" Winter asks, Cinder unable to speak because of the fear burning inside her heart.

"It's about Cinder." Solstice gestures for them to sit down.

"Mum? Dad? What is it?"

Solstice sighs. "Before Cha- Cinder's parents passed away, they signed some documents."

"About what?" Cinder asks quietly.

"About who would look after you if they were ever no longer able to," Solstice replies.

Cinder's face pales, but Winter frowns. "What are you saying?"

"Cinder's adoptive parents have been in contact," Evret says.

Winter shuts her eyes, gasping, and looks for Cinder's hand to clasp.

"And they want me to-" Cinder stops, trying to breathe.

"They've requested that you go live with them," Solstice says, her voice cracking.

Cinder's knees buckle and she stumbles, falling onto Winter, who guides them both to the sofa.

"How can you just let this happen? We're family!" Winter shakes her head angrily.

"There's nothing we can do. They're not fostering her, they've got adoption papers and that overrides our authority." Evret explains. "And, as I'm sure Cinder knows, they are technically related to her already."

Cinder shakes her head, groaning.

"Already related?" Winter asks.

"Cinder has a step-mother and twostep-sisters," Solstice says, confirming Cinder's thoughts.

"You're not serious?" Winter fumes.

"I'm afraid we are," Solstice intones. "You have about a week left with us."

"No," Cinder mutters, getting up and ignoring their worried looks.

She runs.

She runs out of the door, she runs down the street, she runs through the park, she runs past the strangers giving her odd looks, she runs until her lungs ache and then she runs some more.

She ends up crashing near the forest, sliding down under a tree and bringing her knees up to her chest, hiding her head in her arms.

Her heavy breathing fades into huge gulps that lead to panicked gasps.

She can't see the trees, she doesn't know where the sky is and she can't tell what time it is, the birds too loud, the ground too hard, the smell of wild flowers too strong.

She can't breathe.

Just when she thinks her lungs are going to collapse, someone kneels beside her.

They kneel to one side of her, pacing two of her fingers on their wrist so she can feel their pulse. Their other arm wraps itself around her shoulders, pulling her close and providing warmth.

Just by the warmth and solidarity of their embrace, she can tell who it is. Even before that, she could recognise their soft, familiar hands.

Of course it would be him.

Who else would leave everything to find her? Who else would risk getting lost to get to her? Who else would give up their time to stay with her?

"Come on, Cinder, breathe with me, match my pulse, you're okay, I'm here..."

The person incessantly murmurs the words, not stopping until she can breathe in time with him.

"Kai..." she breathes, going limp against him.

He kisses her forehead. "It's okay, just breathe with me."

Cinder knows that she's shaking but she can't feel anything except the hum of Kai's voice telling her that everything will be okay.

It takes her a good half hour to calm down, at which point she looks up at Kai.

He's smiling at her, his copper eyes shining with concern and reassurance.

"Th- they s- said that... said that I- I have t- to... to g- go live w- with th- them..." Cinder stops, flinching at the sound of her own voice.

Kai doesn't let go of her, running his hands through her hair slowly, soothingly. "I know."

Cinder nods, immensely thankful that she doesn't have to explain. She's never felt so lost, so unable to function, that she can't even form a single sentence.

Kai laced their fingers together. "Hey, I'm here for you, you'll be okay."

Cinder shakes her head. "I- I've met... m- met them o- once b- before a- and they're... they're not g- good."

Kai's hand stills for a second before carrying on. "What do you mean?"

Cinder shakes her head, curling up into Kai as much as possible. "Ev- Evret and S- Solstice d- don't kn- know..."

Kai kisses her hair softly. "It's okay, I understand."

"N- no you, you d- don't..." Cinder gasps. "Y- you have a... a perfect l- life..."

Kai flinches so hard that a heavy guilt settles in Cinder's stomach despite how upset she is.

He swallows. "Right. A perfect life," he echoes, his voice surprisingly flat.

"Kai?" Cinder asks, getting no reply for a good five minutes.

"Sorry. How about we get you back home?" Kai suggests gently. "You'll probably catch a cold if you remain here."

Cinder nods, letting Kai pull her up. The two of them walk all the way back, Cinder leaning on Kai right up until he knocks on her door.

Winter's the one who throws the door open, visibly sagging with relief as she catches sight of Cinder, soon joined by Evret and Solstice, who share the same look.

Cinder smiles as best as she can, which is, admittedly, terrible.

"Thank you, Kai." Evret claps a hand on Kai's shoulder, nodding to him.

Kai smiles. "It's no trouble."

Winter sends Kai a questioning glance but he shakes his head, clearing answering a question Cinder hadn't noticed Winter asking.

He squeezes her hand as a goodbye, murmuring his 'I love you' quietly enough that only she hears it before turning.

Cinder smiles as she watches him go, thanking the stars that she's met him at all.

I'm really going with this drama now... Sorry! Hope you enjoyed this, thanks for 15 votes and see you tomorrow!