Hello, chapter two is out! Enjoy!
BETA:SouthernDragon
Rating: M
Warning: Violence, harsh language, possible character death, alcohol, smoking and sex scenes.
Paring: Kai/Ray. Maybe others.
Disclaimer: Don´t own the characters in this story, only the plot and some of the weapons. ^^
"Talking"
`Thinking´
AN: "Chapter two…action!"
The metallic gate outside the warehouse was closed after the man entered. A minute later the grey van was coming to a halt behind the next building. The hidden satellite in the side mirrors was on and took up all the voices from the block.
Kai leaned back in his chair, ignoring his teammates who moved around in the vehicle. His eyes got sharper as he was listening at the voice of the man they had fallowed.
"Do you have the papers?"
"Yes, the boss also sends his regards."
"Damnit you stink. What if I would have told your boss that doing business with a drunken representative is not very flattering?"
"C´mon give me a break, I´ve had a rough day..."
Kai snorted at the comment but kept listening.
Inside the man was standing by a simple table and was facing his boss client. A man with black beard and was wearing a dark jeans jacket and black pants. He was surrounded by four well build men. This man was known for owning the harbor in the underworld. Everything that was coming in and out the city from the water way was going through him.
The briefcase the man had with him lay on the table in front of them. "So? Do we have a deal?"
"During the circumstances, we do."
"Great, then I will be on my way."
'Damn, this is not helping us.' He thought about it for a moment and grew impatient. "Fuck this. We taking him out." He said and got up from his seat. After stretching his shoulders he pulled out two shiny swords under the seat again and turned to his teammates. "Ready?"
A whip of black leather was stretched by hands covered by black fabric and a scythe was moving in a circle before stopping by the owner's hand.
He had gotten his answer.
The chubby man sighed in relief. He was glad that he had completed the deal without trouble. Now the boss was going to treat him with a slight of respect when he got back with the good news.
"We´ll keep in touch."
He was just going to leave when the big door was being open. Three shadows in the moonlight met him and he only had time to gasp before he was met with a fist in the face, making him stumble back to keep his balance. His noise was colored in crimson and when he realized that it was broken he screamed out in pain as a late reaction.
The client was also surprised where he stood but out of a reflex he sent out his men to fight the intruders. He didn´t care if they were after the other man or not. He did not accept other people on his territory.
The first man screamed in pain and dropped the bat he was using as a scythe sliced a thin wound across his stomach and chest. He fell to the floor and shielded his wound in fright.
The fallen mans comrade was going to shot the silver haired intruder but a whip caught his wrist and with a yank he was forced around before meeting with a boot in his face, making him see darkness.
The remaining two guards attacked the third intruder who stood his ground. By raising his two Katanas he easily defeated them without giving them fatal wounds. He didn´t bother the effort.
The man who was crying on the floor and was holding his nose cried out even more as the blue eyed intruder brought his foot down on the others chest with a smirk. "Missed me?"
"Y-You? Wha-t in t-he h-h-ell!" he said with a scared face.
"Are you really that surprised? Maybe this teaches you that taking advantage of underage boy´s sexually is probably not a good idea… Besides, I have better taste than that. " The redhead said, but when a comment from behind was heard with something like; could have fooled me he threw out his right arm and whipped his comrade over the arm.
"Fuck! You psycho, I dare you to do that again!" Was the protest but he only answered with his middle finger, making the leader of the group to step in as always.
"Enough." He said in a calm voice because he knew they would listen. His redhead comrade stepped back as he approached the man on the floor who was shaking slightly. Probably by pain.
"Who are y-you p-people? W-why d-d-id you fallow me!" he sobbed.
"It wouldn´t have to be like this if you just had gone to your boss like you said you would." The leader said as he lighted his cigarette in a calm manner. His comrades stayed behind him.
"I didn´t thin-k it would m-matter what I said to a whore! I ca-cant g-give you the i-information!"
The redhead glared for the comment about him but kept quiet and looked over to his silver haired comrade who kicked one of the men who was about to wake up.
"Oh, but you will. And you will do it fast." With a katana against his throat, the man sang like a bird.
"I was just doing business here for him! He wants this harbor for his plans! I'm going to meet him tomorrow night!" he yelled as the blade pressed even harder on his skin.
"Where?"
"Oh, please! I c-ant!"
"Three...two..."
"In an empty warehouse! You know the one that used to be a car garage by the subway, nearest Central Park!"
"I know where it is." Kai said and threw his cigarette aside. His expression changed and he looked like he was thinking about something before he sighed and looked back at the man.
"Thanks."
"W-what do y-you want me to s-ay to h-him?" he asked as the leader took a step back from him.
"Nothing." He said, and with a fast movement the Katana was brought down and slit the screaming mans throat. Blood splashed from the wound on the leader's legs but he didn´t noticed. "Because you not going to the meeting." he said and turned to his comrades as the man fell to the ground motionless.
"But we are. We have a new lead." He said and turned to the remaining man that was on his knees in fright. The looks from Bryan and Tala had made him paralyzed.
"Who are you people?" he asked.
"I'm not going to tell who I am, but I'm going to tell you what you just did. He was a burden and you put out his light. End of story. Don´t make me come after you if you tell someone otherwise. It would be such a drag." He said as he swung his sword to the side to get rid of the crimson stains.
The client could just nod and watched the three intruders to leave his building just as calm as they had entered.
"Kai. Is it okay to let him live? What if he describes us to that boss?" Tala said while he collected his whip in his hands as they were walking back to the vehicle.
"Yes. He won´t talk now when he saw what happened to the other. Besides, it would have caused much more trouble if we had of killed him. He has a big group under his command, and he always stays in line." Was the answer as he turned to Bryan. "We have some preparations for tomorrow. You know what to do."
"Yeah Yeah."
The night kept going like nothing happened.
The sun rose through the open window. The white curtains swayed by the wind next to the single bed. Golden eyes slowly opened and the owner groaned in protest of the light. He changed position in his bed and hugged his pillow while looking at his clock with one eye open.
"7:15?" he murmured to himself, before his eyes widened. "Shit!" he screamed as he noticed that he had forgotten to set the time. He quickly got out from the cozy bed and hurried to clean himself up.
"Stupid, stupid, Stupid!" he yelled to himself as he put on his black uniform in a hurry and left his apartment. He felt like he was flying down the stairs before leaving the big building with his highest speed.
Today was an important day for him, and he couldn´t be late for his class. It could jeopardize his good reputation as a student. The world seemed to be still as he run past many people both in the park and in the street.
His body was protesting as he finally reached his destination with heavy pants. His heart was pounding his chest and he was happy that he had skipped breakfast. After taking in some much needed breath he fixed his posture and with a poker face he entered the school doors to get to his first lesson before his meeting.
Golden eyes were scanning the white clock on the wall. He couldn´t concentrate on his lesson when it only was 10 minutes left before he was going to find out his future. He couldn´t help but to feel slightly insecure. This was not an easy scholarship to get. Only one brilliant student that showed most potential in the subject would get the opportunity to even get close to it. He admitted that he was good enough to be on the top three but was he really qualified to get it? His thoughts came to his grades. He had good grades and not many notes for been sleeping in late. Not one mark on bad behavior...but was that enough?
A pat on his shoulder woke him up from his thoughts and he turned to see a grinning Tyson.
"Worried Ray?"
"I guess."
"Don´t be! You are the best gymnast in this school." Max said not to loud to get caught by the teacher. "If you don´t get it, then they are crazy."
Ray smiled at his friends. Right now he needed their support. "Thanks guys."
Right on cue the bell rang and the lesson was ending.
"Take a seat Mr. Kon."
The raven haired student obeyed carefully and watched the older man walking back and forward behind his brown desk. The office was well decorated with an old and more sophisticated taste. All furniture was in varnish brown wood: a couch with blue cushions, the desk, and all the shelves. Thick books in many colors were filling the biggest one. In the room was a big dark green carpet that was so soft, it was an awkward feeling to walk on it. Two big shiny windows gave the principal a good view on the schoolyard. The man himself was tall and proud looking. Not the type the kids would ask to play with them. He had that kind of face, saying he was better than everyone else and that they should know that. With a dark suit with the school logo in it, his grey hair in a rich hair cut, and a big mustache under his big nose, he made Ray very nervous.
"I have to admit, Mr. Kon. The school noticed your talent very early so it would be a lie not to tell you that we have seen your progress during this six month."
"Thank you sir."
The man took a seat by his desk and closed his hands together on the blank surface. "You are very gifted and should never stop with what you are doing. Not only that, you have also been a very good student. You grades shows that you are a hard worker and that is exactly what we a looking for in a student who applies for a gymnastic scholarship."
"Thank you sir. I have been working really hard. Just coming to New York was a big step for me, but since I arrived, I felt very earlier that this was the place where I wanted to be." The raven said as he remembered the words Tyson had told him about sitting straight on the chair. The principal was very picky with that kind of stuff. He thought it showed that you were prophet raised.
"That was very nice to hear. May I ask, what is your background in gymnastic? Who is your former trainer?" he asked as he leaned back in his seat to hear the story.
"Well, to be honest, I have never been trained. I learn it myself back home in my village in China. I have always been good on it so when I got the chance to prove myself in New York, I couldn´t pass the opportunity down. My dream is to compete in the schools name."
The man smiled as he listened. Something Ray never had seen him do before. He couldn´t help but to feel that this was going very well. Could it really be happening? He felt his fingers tense of excitement.
"I have to say I'm very impressed that you have learned everything by yourself, it is really an achievement. It would certainly be in the Schools best interest to have you in the Gymnastic team. Your gym teacher has put in very good words for you."
"Thank your Sir! It would be an honor to be in the team."
"Which is just the reason it hurts me to decline your scholarship."
Ray felt his heart sank and his body to freeze. It was like a slap in the face. It showed on his body language as his posture sank a little but mostly on his shocked expression. "W-wha...?"
"I'm very sorry. You were a good candidate, but unfortunately it wasn´t enough. But I thank you for your interest." Just like that, it seemed like the man didn't have much to say about the matter as he took forward a pile of document to start with. Ray sat there just staring at him as he wrote something on the first two of them, when he dared to say something.
"Sir, may I ask what I did wrong?"
"You didn't do anything wrong. You should be proud of yourself." The man said without looking up.
That just sound contradictory, your prick.
"Then what? Why don´t I get the Scholarship?" He knew he got the other´s attention as the pencil stopped. But was it a good sign?
"Mr. Kon, I don´t think it´s proper to have this discussion." It was a serious warning. A typical over class attitude he had gotten to know. It was not proper to talk back to a grown up, it was not proper to whine about something either. It was not proper behavior...
Defeated he got up from the chair. His legs felt like they were asleep. He had made it halfway to the door when it struck him that this was not a proper behavior from the principle himself. What had he to lose? For once he could finally speak his mind, since he arrived to this school.
"With all due respect sir. If I was that good of a candidate, then think I deserve to know the reason why you turn me down." He said and turned around. You could hear a needle fall after the statement. Once again the pencil stopped and this time the older man even put it down and looked at him with stern eyes.
"You think so? Mr. Kon..."
"Please sir, skip the formalities. Call me Ray. I just want to know why."
"Formalities are always in order Mr. Kon." The principal said firmly and sighed. "Even though you were a good candidate you were not the only one."
"I was the best one in my class. Didn´t know other classes where into the same field."
"There are also other things that are counting in the selection." The man put down his glasses. He was feeling a headache coming. It was an obvious that this student didn´t come from the ordinary homes that attended in this school. He was a little too rude.
"Mr. Kon. This school has many families in generations. We have a very high standard that has to be maintained. Not many students get the chance on this kind of Scholarships because this in particular is one of them that we usually hold on to until a special talent come along. Like I said to you before, we were very impressed by you in every as we took the decision we had to compare you to the other possibilities as well."
As the light hit Ray he felt even more bitter than he had done before. Right now he wished that he had never asked.
"I understand..." he mumbled.
"I'm glad you do." The man said satisfied.
"So when is this rich kid taking my place?"
"Mr. Kon!"
"Well, it's true! You turned me down not because my lack of skill but of the reason I'm from a little village in China! If I had been from a wealthy block nearby you had been very happy to let me into this school."
"Your disappointment is understandable Mr. Kon, but don´t say things you don´t mean. It is not polite."
"Just answer my last question and then I leave. Which class is this person in?"
The principal glared and looked out the window before he cleared his throat. "If you find any satisfaction by that information, I will tell you. He will arrive in September."
Ray had to laugh out in irony. How could he have been so stupid? All the signs had been there! He knew he didn´t fit in to this over class, but he had ignored that because he had just thought he had been accepted for his talent.
"He is not even old enough to go in this school..." He said with a smile. Now he understood. "Well...I hope he will make this school proud when he arrives." He said and moved to the door and turned the doorknob.
"Even though the spot on the gymnastic team were already taken, I thank you for your time Sir. For a poor boy from China it is a big deal. I will be leaving with a plane in the end of this week."
"I'm sorry it turned out this way." He man said and it was almost like he meant it. Almost.
"Me too only thing I don´t understand with this is that; in the papers it said that the person who would get the Scholarship, would have to work hard with his talent in the schools name...If I had know that the talent you were looking for was to be rich, then I wouldn´t have wasted your time." With that he left the office with a stunned principal.
Tyson and Max rushed forward with happy faces but got shocked as they saw his sad expression. After a while when they sat on a bench on the schoolyard he told them what happened.
"I can´t believe this... Max said. "Are you leaving us now?"
"I have to. I can´t afford to go here anymore."
The blonde looked like a sad little puppy when he suddenly got an idea. "But Ray! We can help you with that..."
"No!" he called out making both of them to jump. Either of the two of them heard Ray yell before. He was always calm and collected.
He felt bad for the outburst, he knew that they would be more than happy to pay for his school but it was not an option. Not just because he was too proud, but that he also didn´t see the school in the same way as before. Not that he was going to tell them that. Leaving Tyson and Max was the only thing he felt sorry for.
"Sorry guys, but I can´t take your money. If I don´t get the scholarship then I don´t belong here." With a sigh he got up from the bench. "I have to go, see you tomorrow."
He left his friends there and was going into the hall when an arm suddenly blocked his path. By pure instinct he jumped back and watched the stranger´s arm with caution.
"Giving up so easily?" Was a comment from around the corner?
"What?" he asked with a frown when the person showed himself.
"A scholarship isn´t the only way to stay in this town." The stranger said with a confident smirk.
"Who are you?"
TBC.
