Sorry I took so long. I just wanted to make sure these two chapters were as good as I could get them. This chapter is filler and I think the story is moving along rather slowly but it's how I work. That and I've been preoccupied 'cause I just got back together w/ my ex-boyfriend. Some of the references I make are assumptions since I haven't read the manga or seen the anime in a while. Please excuse me. Anyway…Hope you enjoy!
"My people are called neko-jin, yet, we are not all cats. Take Kevin for example. He is a neko-jin but his ancestors are of the Monkey Kingdom. Neko-jin is a clam. The village we were in for the Asian Tournament, which was where we grew up."
"By we, you mean the White Tigers?"
"Yes, the others were all born there, but I was not. That village is known as the Central Village. It's…a melting pot, of sorts. Neko-jin from all kingdoms live there. Surrounding it are all of the kingdoms. There is the Lion Kingdom, the Puma Kingdom, Cheetah, Leopard, Monkey, Mere cat, etcetera. Three of the more famed kingdoms are now extinct."
"Which are those?"
"Saber-tooth Tiger, Panther and…Tiger. There is always one kingdom that reigns over the others as well as the Central Village. At one point, that kingdom was that of the Saber-tooth Tigers. They eventually died out and passed their power on to the Tiger kingdom. For centuries there was peace. Then, subtle rivalry broke out between the Panther and Tiger kingdoms. It all escalated into a full scale war that annihilated both kingdoms. One survivor from both remained, meaning the war didn't end there. It was resolved two years later leaving only one person standing…me."
"You… what cla…kingdom are you from?"
"I am of the Tiger Kingdom. My elder brother was to inherit the throne, but now that he is gone, I am to be crowned king of all neko-jin. I… was three years old when the war began and five when I ended it. That's all I want to say for now."
"Rei, I… I don't know what to say."
Rei smiled weakly. "No one who knows has ever been able to speak for a while. Not even my best friend who, by the way, is coming here tomorrow."
Kai looked at him steadily. "Where is he staying?"
"At a hotel nearby. He didn't want to inconvenience anyone, neither did his brother."
"Really. Well if you think that they can take on Tala and Bryan, then they can stay with us."
Rei looked up, his eyes sparkling with undisguised joy. "Would you really allow that?" Kai tilted his head to the affirmative, which resulted in his arms suddenly being filled with an immensely ecstatic neko-jin. This, for some unfathomable reason, caused Kai to blush and avert his eyes while awkwardly patting the other's back. Rei pulled back, seeming to be unaware of his friend's discomfort.
"This will be so awesome. I mean Junichi could beat Bryan in a staring contest or fight any day." Kai was dumbstruck. "And Jinichi would give Tala a run for his money in a physical and verbal battle. Oh look at the time! We should be heading back. Come on Kai! Oh and JiJi is…"
It went on this way until they reached the house.