Disclaimer: The Khaos's are entirely my own, but I possess nothing and no one else. :(
The Racing Queen Chapter 3: Friends.
Kat took off and was rapidly gaining speed. She had left the competition behind in the first lap and was now two full circuits ahead of all the other racers. She allowed herself a moment to take in and enjoy the speed at which she was going, that feeling of time standing still. She was so immersed that it almost didn't register when the sleek black bike came towards her.
The Shadow King. He was a local legend. And he was gaining.
Kyoya revved the engine and sped up, the gap between him and The Racing Queenwas closing.
Kat was beginning to worry, she had never needed to go anywhere near top speed since she started racing in Japan. Gotham races were brutal, and very often deadly. She had installed a few additions to her engine (with Lucius's help) just to be safe. She swerved gracefully around the obstacles, neck and neck with the other rider.
Just when Kat thought she was going to have to give in and take it up a notch, the wails of sirens pierced the night.
"Queen here," She said into the intercom in her helmet, "Get out of here guys! The cops are on my tail!"
"Be careful," Jack said, the sounds of panic behind him, "You've probably saved us big time." Kat jerked on the handles and skidded before driving straight off the ramp and into traffic below, earning a few honks.
"Don't mention it. Just go." Kat easily maneuvered through the traffic, taking a roundabout way back to the penthouse. She was running through her usual precautions to avoid cops, but failed to check for competition. If she had, Kat would've noticed a black bike trailing behind her. She pulled up behind the building to her own private entrance. She lovingly ran her fingers over her bike before taking off her helmet and shrugging of the jacket.
Well, well, well.Kyoya inwardly chuckled as he cruised past; Kat Khaos is the infamous racing queen.
Kyoya made a U-turn and drove in the direction of home.
Such an enigma, that girl.He thought to himself, One minutes she smirks, swaggers and tosses orders around like she owns the place, next thing you know she's having a tea party with Hunny, Haruhi and that damn rabbit.
He pulled into his garage silently. He ran his finger over the sign of the shadow king his before taking off his helmet and shrugging off his jacket. He walked back inside and trudged up the stairs to his room. He tossed the keys on his table and got into bed, not even bothering to take off his clothes.
Brrring! Brrring! Brrring!
Kat groggily opened her eyes, rolling over to look at the clock.
It was one in the morning!
Muttering curses under her breath she answered the phone, "Hello?"
"Kat, cara mia!"It was her brother Kaida.
"Kai," She groaned, "For the love of God, why are you calling me at one in the morning?"
"Is it really that early? Oops, forgot about time zones." He said sheepishly, "I'm in London with Rina and she's just told me the most delightful news."
"Fine," Kat said with a sigh, "I'll bite. What's the news?"
"You remember Kuon Hizuri?" He asked.
"Hmm. Let's see, do I remember my Uncle Kuon? Nope." Kat rolled her eyes, "But the name sounds vaguely familiar."
"Ha, ha, ha," He brother laughed sarcastically, "You are soo not cute. Anyway, he's asked Rina to do a film with him, since, you know, Grandpa was in the drama and Kuon's playing him, and Rina looks just like Mom and she played the girl. Long story short she's going to be in Japan for three months, starting next week. Christine isn't coming but I'm going for a few weeks." He seemed reluctant to speak of Christine.
"Is she pregnant?" Kat asked bluntly.
Her brother had apparently been taking a drink, because now he couched and spluttered.
"Oh God," Kat smacked her face with the hand not holding the phone, "I cannot believe you've gotten her knocked up. I assume that Rina doesn't know. Is she leaving you?"
"No, thank goodness," Her brother said with a sigh, "She says that she needs some space. That she's not sure she wants to raise a child with a man who doesn't want to commit. I am committed!" Kai said belligerently, "I'm just don't feel the need to go through all the pomp and circumstance to prove that I love her. I love, I've bought a house with her, and now I'm going to have a kid with her! Why isn't that enough!"
"Kai," Kat groaned again, "Look at it this way. You tell her you love her, you give daily physical and verbal prove of your love. But you won't marry her, and she has to wonder if she's doing something wrong. Have you fallen out of love with her? Are you just saying 'I love you' out of habit? Family means everything to Italians, you know that."
"Oh."
"You, dearest brother, are a complete idiot." Kat let out a long breath, "I've got school in the morning Kai, and I need some sleep."
"More late night escapades?" Kai sounded amused, then his voice hardened, "It better not have been with a boy…"
"No Kai! Sheesh, you're going to have a girl. I can already see it." She said exasperatedly.
"You think so?" His voice sounded wistful, "Night Katerina."
"Goodnight fratello."
The next day, Kat dragged herself out of bed and made herself a cup of coffee. She glanced at the clock. Noon. She picked up a newspaper. Wait, what? NOON!
I'm Late!
Kat got dressed quickly, running a hand through her hair and slipping into a pair of dark jeans and a dark blue, long sleeved tee.
She grabbed her coat and flat out ran to the school. She was just sure Kyoya would use any excuse to get rid of her. She flung open the door to the music room.
Hunny, Mori and Usa-chan, looked up from a tea party, apparently surprised to see her.
"Am I that late?" Kat asked, wincing a little.
"No actually you're early." Hunny said, and Kat sighed with relief as she dropped onto a chair, "Have you hurt yourself again?" He asked.
Kat gave him a sheepish smile, "I lied the day I met you. I come prepared because I get into all sorts of trouble; it isn't unexpected. But no I'm not hurt just tired." Kat's thoughts were drawn to the events of the night before. The race with its unexpected competition and then the phone call, with its unexpected surprise.
"Kat-chan are you sure nothing is wrong?" Hunny asked, seeing her face.
"Hm? Ah, no." She said still distracted.
As the other hosts arrived, they were surprised to see Kat already there, brooding over a cup of tea and glaring into its depths as if the answer to all the mysteries of the universe were hidden inside.
For the most part, the customers left her alone today after finding she would only give monosyllable answers to any kind of attempt at conversation. In fact, the girls seemed to think Kat's brooding and moody behavior was enthralling.
Kat left immediately after activities and stuck her iPod in as she slowly walked home.
After having walked a block, Kat felt someone tug on her jacket. She pulled an ear bud out and looked over her shoulder.
"Oh, Hunny- senpai, Mori-senpai. Sorry, I didn't notice you there."
"We just wanted to make sure you were alright." Hunny said, concern written all over his face. Kat glanced at Mori.
"Yeah," He agreed, in his normal monotone.
Kat sat down on a convenient bench with a sigh, before looking up at her friends.
"I'm sorry I worried you." She said honestly, "I received a phone call last night and it's rather disturbed my peace of mind." She ran her fingers through her hair again, "My brother and sister are coming to see me.
Hunny sat down next to her and Mori leaned against a tree.
"Why would that bother you?" Hunny asked, curious.
"My brother and sister are successful and they care for me, but they have very forceful personalities. I can only take them in small doses." Kat replied.
And my brother just knocked up his girlfriend.
"What do they enjoy doing?" He asked.
"Well my brother Kaida likes and martial arts and tea, and my sister likes fencing, and shooting, manga, and they both love ballroom dancing. Could I ask a favor of you?" Kat asked suddenly, giving Hunny and Mori a sideways glance.
"Yeah." Mori said.
"Of course, what are friends there for?" Hunny said brightly.
I guess we are friends…
"Well, can you help me practice my dancing?" Kat asked giving them a pleading look.
"Sure, right Takashi?" Hunny asked.
"Hai" Mori said with a nod.
Kat pulled herself up, "Are you busy right now?"
"Nope." Hunny answered as he bounced off the seat. He then looked questioningly at Mori, who shook his head.
"My place is right around the corner." She tossed over her shoulder as she led them along the block.
Hunny noted that they were in the commercial district, expensive shops, restaurants and hotels on every side. He was surprised when she suddenly turned into a small alley and gestured for them to follow. It was behind one of the most expensive resorts in Japan.
Kat ran up to the garage door and quickly punched in her pass code. As the doors opened she smiled and said, "Welcome to my paradise."
It was a three-car garage full of bikes, cars and strangely, a vending machine.
"Please come in." She walked over to the far wall and pressed the button for the elevator, "It may look a little lazy for me to have an elevator to go upstairs, but I have the penthouse and 25 flights of stairs is not how I want to start my day."
With a ding, the elevator arrived. The trio stepped in and as the ascended Hunny saw that the walls were glass and the elevator was apparently suspended in the air of the large resort. From his perch on Mori's leg Hunny saw a spa, a bookstore, several restaurants, a water park, and a few full sized roller coasters.
"My brother Kai owns this resort," Kat said, nodding towards the lively scene below, "When I told him about wanting to live by myself, he gave me his penthouse here in the building and built himself another suite of rooms for him and my sister on the floor below. It's kinds minimalist, but I really love living here." With another, ding! The elevator announced the floor. The doors slide open, to reveal a large foyer. Suddenly the sound of an automated female voice filled the room.
"Welcome home Ms. Khaos." It said politely, "Shall I pull up a menu for your guests?"
"Would you like something to eat or drink?" Kat asked the two boys.
"Do you have strawberry cake?" Hunny asked with an in love look.
"Of course we do. Mori, tea?" Kat asked giggling a little at Hunny's expression.
"Yes." He said.
"Marsha," Kat addressed the voice, "Did you get that?
"Yes Ms. Khaos." It affirmed, "I shall alert the chefs to your request immediately. Will that be all?"
"Yes, thank you." Kat noticed that Hunny and Mori had already gone into the other room. (More like, Hunny had gone and Mori followed him)
Kat followed them in. The whole apartment was basically one large room, aside from the bedroom and bathroom. In the middle of the room, there was a freestanding slate fireplace of immense proportions.
In front of it was the living room. This consisted of several low couches with dark brown upholstery, a striped rug and a glass coffee table.
To the left was the dining room, one long table made of dark wood with a bench on either side, and a tall chair at the head and the foot.
Behind it was the kitchen, which had stainless steel and glass appliances and dark granite countertops.
The area to the right of the fireplace was completely empty, save a large grand piano and some kind of sound board/ computer.
Hunny was zipping around looking at all of the visible rooms at a dizzying speed while Mori made himself comfortable on a couch.
"Open curtains." Kat said to the room at large. The gray curtains, which had previously looked like fuzzy wallpaper, were slid open, revealing three glass walls.
"Cool." Mori said, with eyebrows raised. Kat was slightly taken aback by his willingness to voice an opinion without being prompted. It must have shown on her face because Mori turned to Kat and gave her a genuine smile.
Kat smiled back, "So this is my place. Have you finished your inspection Hunny?" The small boy skidded to a stop.
"Where's the bedroom?" He asked, tilting his head to one side.
Kat turned, hands still in pockets, and looked back at the wall with the doorway to the foyer. It was a dark grey and, to Hunny's surprise, there were two doorways.
"The restroom and my bedroom are through there." Kat said, "Only one bedroom though because my brother felt that either the person he brought home would be either sharing his bed, or would prefer their own suite." Kat rolled her eyes.
A beeping noise came from the elevator. Kat walked back out and pressed a button on the wall. A screen pulled up and showed a man in a waiter's uniform standing in the elevator with a cart of deserts and a tea tray.
"May I come in Ms. Khaos?" Kat pressed the button to open the doors.
"Just put it on the coffee table please." Kat said.
While this was going on, "Takashi do you think this is all of her parent's and brother's money?" Hunny asked.
"Some." Mori replied.
Just then, Kat came back in, followed by the waiter.
"We'll wait on ourselves," Kat said, waving him off, "Thank you. I'll have Marsha alert you if we need anything." She paused and looked up, "Marsha?"
"Yes, Ms. Khaos?"
"Please let Rene into the elevator." Kat said as she handed a now seated Hunny a piece of cake and poured he and Takashi tea.
"Of course."
"Here you go guys. I'll be right back." Kat walked into the hall. She went to her bedroom closet, she ran her finger over the plethora of dresses she owned, till her eyes landed on a short, loose purple knit dress with long sleeves that floated around her as she did a little pirouette.
Perfect.
Kat located a pair of black leggings to wear underneath and pair of stilettos and glanced in the mirror.
Not too shabby, Kitty Kat,Kat said to herself, Not too shabby at all
She was so grateful that they agreed to practice with her, she had once been very good, but she had trouble finding a partner that she could work with and wouldn't dance with anyone but the best. She walked back out just in time for Hunny to eat the last bite of the last cake.
Okay,Kat thought as she looked at the empty cart, there were four different kinds of cake and one for each of us. That's twelve. I know Mori didn't eat any. So in the time it took me to grab a dress and come back out, Hunny ate 12 cakes?
"Shall we practice now?" Hunny asked when saw that Kat had returned. Kat noticed that he wasn't behaving quite so... immature? Cute? For a second, he almost looked his real age.
"Sure, this way." She said leading them towards the area with the piano.
"Marsha, my dancing disk please. The swing." Kat's heels clacked as she whirled around, "Let's start slow, it's been a while for me." She paused and looked at the two boys, trying to decide who would go first. Mori subtly tilted his head towards Hunny.
"C'mere Hunny." Kat paused, "May I call you Mitsukuni?"
"Sure Kat-chan." Hunny said with a small smile.
Kat stood poised as the Music started, a slow note played by the trumpet. Hunny offered his arm and she stepped close.
Right, right, right. Left, left, left. Apart. Together.
They repeated these basic steps a few times before Kat and Hunny started adding some simple twirls and dips. The music was fun and fast paced.
Kat's hair product seemed unable to withstand the speed at which she was moving and Mori noticed that her hair curled gently around her ears.
Secretly, Mori and Hunny had both wanted sisters, but there had been nothing but boys in the family since Mori's mother (Hunny's Dad's sister) had married his father.
Kat twirled away from Hunny for a moment as the track changed to a rumba. Hunny kept up with her for a while but he stumbled as it got more complex. She stopped.
"Here let me show you." Kat said gently, and started to dance with an invisible partner. Mori recognized the dance so he stepped up to the invisible partner's place.
"You have some serious skills." Kat said to Mori as he dipped her.
"Thanks." Mori said with a small smile.
Kat was silent when they danced, she felt so at ease when they where there. She was doing this dance perfectly, completely at ease. Her face was radiant with her enjoyment. This was one of the few truly feminine traits of hers; a passion for dancing. Hunny and Mori could see girlish side of her, and they thought no less of her than when she was her usual snarky self.
"Ms. Khaos?" Marsha's voice called as the track ended.
"Yes?" Kat stepped away from Mori and he grabbed a water bottle and towel laying nearby, wiping off his face.
"Forgive my intrusion," Marsha said apologetically, "But they forced me to let them in. I couldn't very well say no."
"Wait, who?" Kat looked around, and saw Mori and Hunny. Then she noticed something, "Mori," She asked, suddenly suspicious, "Where did that water bottle come…?"
"Katerina, darling!" A male voice called from the living room.
"Kai?" Kat whipped around the corner and ran into her older brother's chest. She wrapped her arms around his neck, "It's wonderful to see you! But I thought you said you weren't coming until next week?"
"Plans changed." Another voice said close to her ear.
"Lucius!" Kat started in surprise, "Oh excuse me. Kai, Lucius, meet my friends Haninozuka Mitsukuni and Morinozuka Takashi. Mori, Mitsukuni this is my brother Kaida Khaos and his best friend Lucius Fox."
Kaida Khaos was a slightly intimidating man. He was a good six five and had the body of model, long red hair that he wore in a lose ponytail and dark indigo eyes. He rather reminded Hunny of a certain actor he was acquainted with…
Lucius Fox was a middle aged African American man, with graying hair and a mustache. He was quite a bit older than Kaida but they were close friends despite their seeming lack of shared interests and very different personalities.
"Kai, would you play a waltz for me?" Kat pleaded with a puppy-dog pout.
"I'd be delighted." He said scuffling her hair.
An hour they practiced, until Hunny and Mori had to get back to their homes for training. Kaida was unusually quiet. They were sitting in the living room; Kat was talking to Lucius about what was happening back in Gotham.
"So let me get this straight," Kat said with a laugh, "In the six months I've been gone, Bruce Wayne has managed to burn his house down?"
Lucius nodded with a wry grin, "Seems strange doesn't it?"
It was very strange now that Kat thought about it, Bruce Wayne was very close to Kai's age and Kat had seen him at social functions. He acted like a playboy, sure. But Kat knew lots of people who put on public personas. She looked at Lucius, who was gauging her expression, and got the feeling that he thought it was odd too.
Shaking her head, Kat changed topics, "So the bike is still riding like a dream."
"Is it?" Lucius grinned, "That thing is probably one of my best works, you've got enough technology to launch a missile with that bike." Lucius was teasing, but what Kat didn't know was that it wasn't that far from the truth.
"I almost hit a spot of trouble the other night." Kat said, lowering her voice, "I was neck and neck with the local hotshot and the cops showed. I ended up having to drive straight of the ramp into traffic. Have I ever thanked you for the custom shocks?"
"I don't know why you would," He said with a chuckle," you built them, I just let you use my shop."
Kaida was gazing at Kat with a fond expression. She turned to him with an eyebrow raised.
"Rina threw you out didn't she?" Kat asked dryly.
"Err… Why would you suggest that?" Kai innocently asked. Kat snorted.
"Because I know my sister."
"Yes, well, Rina called Christine to ask why she wasn't coming to Japan with us and Christine told her. I was then told, in four different languages, that I was a no good playboy, and that the only thing protecting me from names like 'swine' 'bastard' and 'son of a' female dog," He finished, upon seeing Kat's expression, "Was that she didn't want to insult herself by association and other lovely little comments like that."
"You know you deserve it. Just wait till Mom and Dad get a hold of you." At suddenly grinned with malicious pleasure, "No, just wait till her parents get a hold of you." Kai visibly paled and the other two laughed, both knowing it wouldn't be long now till Christine had a ring on her finger.
"Kitty, there's something else you need to know." Kaida said with a suddenly amused smile
"Yes?" Kat asked, tilting her head to one side.
"Uncle Kuon and Kyoko-chan are having a kid." He said, smile still in place.
Murphy and I will give reviewers sparkly digital cupcakes!
