I was seated behind the grey desk in my grey room sitting in my grey chair staring bored at the grey background of the computer screen. What was with this place and grey? I had my feet rested against the desk top leaning back in the chair slouched down, yawning to myself trying to stay awake. I blinked as I thought back to the previous few minutes; my new boss was an absolute weirdo.

He had his hair greased so much it seemed to be plastered to his head parted down the middle and showing his grey roots. The small fat man had a stubble beard a mix of white and black making it look like salt and pepper on a piece of wrinkled leather. His skin was badly skin damaged and age spots were evident. He was clearly a man who liked a sunbed.

I had just been yelled at by the leather man who called it a disgrace that children these days saw being late and lazy as an acceptable thing. I had wanted to snort at him and give him an example on how he was far lazier than I was. True I was late but I had been talking to Kai, and true I was slightly lazy but I believe that after the life I'd had I deserved to be a bit lazy. Besides I was not a child.

I think that had insulted me the most out of everything he had lectured me with. I was an adult, just cos he could remember the war didn't mean I was a child. He had even left muttering about not taking on children who had never heard the word work before. That was very insulting too. I already hated my boss, and I had only known him less than half an hour. If he wanted lazy, I could show him lazy. Leaning back in my chair I sighed out in annoyance, I just wanted to go home. No forget that, I wanted to speak to Kai.

As though on cue my phone vibrated, my heart picked up its pace slightly as I reached for my phone. My breath hitched as I opened up my messages.

'Hi love, how's your first day of work going. So proud of you for actually going, I was convinced you'd skip out on it. Stay there for the whole day and I'll do all the housework when you come back' I sighed in annoyance, I had hoped for Kai but it was just the wife. I was almost angry at her for calling. But then it hit me, no housework, I hated housework. It was boring. I could get out of that. Smiling I texted back, not doing what I had done to Kai and continued the conversation I stopped it immediately.

'Alright, bye, X' I placed my phone back into my pocket and leaned forwards in my chair, trying to think about what I should do. I should probably do some work but I had no idea what my job entailed. All I knew was this is my office. Sitting straight in my chair I slumped forwards; today was going to be long and boring, I could tell.

0000

To pass the time till the end of the day I had become fixated on watching the clock that hung over the door. That clock, too, was grey. I was beginning to think the guy who worked here liked grey a little too much. Seriously, how could this not hurt his eyes? I'd have to bring in some colour from home. This place was starting to remind me of the abbey too much.

My phone vibrated once more today, and unlike earlier I didn't get my hopes up, I'd only end up being let down again. Pressing the button that showed me my new message the smile I had been fighting won and spread across my face. Finally, Kai had texted.

'Hey Tal, are you doing anything?'

'No, just bored waiting for this pain of a day to be over so I can go back to bed.' I answered as I ran a hand through the back of my head; I wasn't going to ruin my hair.

'Where are you working, I came to your city to see Bryan, if you're close by I'll drop in and see you.' I didn't know why but my heart picked up slightly at that.

'I'm on Orgreave Way, that stupid building that's painted grey. You can't miss it. I'll be waiting just say you're here to see me and they should let you in' I texted back sending it to him as fast as I could, I was excited, probably more than I should have been.

'Alright, I'm on my way. Bye X'

'Bye X' I wasn't sure why I texted him a kiss but it was too late to change it now.

0000

I was sitting anxious in my chair, I felt like a school girl with a crush. I halted at that.

"Where did that thought come from?" I asked myself shaking my head in confusion. I had no idea.

A buzz filled my room stopping me from questioning myself any further. I looked around, where had that come from?

"Mr Ivanov, there's a Mr Hiwatari here to see you." I finally looked down and saw the small intercom type thing sitting on my desk staring up at me.

I pressed the small button on it leaning in close.

"Uh, ok thank you." I answered more than a little hesitant. I had never been this nervous. Lifting my finger I watched as my door swung open and there stood Kai. He had grown; he was at least six foot one. And he had filled out even more, he had always been muscled but now it looked like he had been working out like a mad man. He still had the markings on his face; of course, he'd had them since he was a baby I hadn't thought he'd get rid of them.

He still wore his scarf, again I hadn't thought he'd be rid of that either. He was smiling down at me.

"Hey Tal, I see you haven't changed." He smirked at me; I felt my cheeks heat up at that.

"Yeah, I can see the same can't be said for you. You look great." I complimented, feeling very self-conscious. He just grinned at me and closed the door behind his back.

"You look bored." He told me as he pulled me out of my chair.

"Yeah, and you look taller than me" I noted as I realised I had to look up slightly to meet his eyes.

"Yeah, seems you haven't grown since the last tournament we were in. I remember I used to be a head shorter than you." I smiled as I looked up at him, I had really missed Kai, not really knowing why and not bothering to think about it I pulled him into a hug. Wrapping my arms around him as I held him; I could feel him tense for a moment before hugging my back.

"I've missed you Kai" I admitted as I placed my head under his chin. I felt him resting on my head as he answered.

"Me too, it's been miles too long Tal, I still can't believe you're married. And I missed it."

"I'm sorry about that, I would have invited you but I didn't think you'd be interested."

"Why wouldn't I be interested?" He asked as he placed a hand on the back of my head. Normally I'd have pulled away should anyone try to do that, but with Kai I didn't mind.

"I don't know, I just didn't think you'd find it interesting." I shrugged in his grip as I continued "besides, it's not like it's a secret that you don't like parties. I didn't think you'd be bothered about coming and I didn't want to get my hopes up that you might come and to have them dashed when you didn't arrive."

"You thought I wouldn't arrive? Why wouldn't I? You're my closest friend, well at least you were who knows how much things have changed; I would have loved to have been there." I felt a pang of guilt hit me at his words and I found myself staring down at his shoes.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have presumed. You can come to our anniversary if you want? It's next month, I can call you to the party she wants to throw" I saw him smirking at me. "What?" I asked raising a brow at him.

"Correct me if I'm wrong but I always thought anniversaries were supposed to be between the two dating. You know, dinner maybe go to the cinema; not throwing a party"

"I know it's a little weird but she'd my wife, and as my wife I have to make her happy. And to do that she wants a party, so she's getting one." He just smirked at me and it made me feel extremely self-conscious. Especially with the close proximity we had, that I had only just remembered. I pulled away from the hug that had been going on for about well five minutes and tried to hide the blush I knew was coming to my face.

"I guess I'm supposed to say that's sweet? But if I'm honest that just makes you sound like a puff." I scowled at the blue haired man before me. True he was now taller than me but that didn't mean I was going to be intimidated. He certainly never was when confronted with someone taller than him in other words me.

"Shut up, that's just what someone does when they're married. Do whatever their wife wants. It just makes things easier." I answered, I could see what he was thinking and I had to slap him for it. Only the back of my hand to his chest, and it was soft, but still I think I made my point.

"Alright, no need to be stroppy" he joked with me as he pulled me back into a hug. I returned it immediately.

"I'm not, and what's with all the hugs?"

"I don't see you complaining" he retorted making me blush once more. What was wrong with me today? It seemed whenever I spoke to him about something he'd make me blush. Not to mention that strange thought I had before he came into my office.

"I'm not, anyway. Grab a chair and sit down. I want to catch up"

"Isn't that what reunions are for?"

"Maybe, but I like having a good idea already. I know everything about the other Blitzkrieg boys but you and I lost touch. I hate that and I want to know and you're going to tell me. I'll tell you about me after." I grabbed his hand and pulled him to the chair that was seated on the other side of my desk. I pushed him down making him sit and grabbed at my spiny chair. Pulling it around the desk I set it just a few feet from him. Dropping down on the soft spongy seat I pulled my legs up sitting Indian style and resting on my knees.

"Alright, fine. But that's just because you looked cute when you were trying to convince me." I blushed at that, I had never been called cute before. Not even by my wife. "What do you want to know?"

"Do you still beyblade?" I asked; I was curious about that, I didn't think he would but then again I never thought I would stop.

"Not as much. I take her out every week or two to practice to make sure I don't decrease in ability but we don't do nearly as much as we used to do. I remember back in the abbey it was from dawn till dusk training. And we'd be hit if we did any less."

"Yeah, I remember those days. I never thought we'd get out of there" I admitted feeling the scars I had on my back sting, my mind tricking me into thinking they were new again. I groaned to myself at the feeling, thankfully it was a mental groan so he couldn't hear anything.

"What about you Tal? Do you still blade?" Kai asked me and I felt myself become a little sad at my answer. I shook my head.

"No, I don't, and it's not as though I don't love the game anymore. I do, it's just that. Well..." I trailed off, not wanting to finish.

"The wife doesn't want you to anymore?" He asked shocking me slightly, how did he know that? I guessed that by my expression he had figured he was right, which he was. "You shouldn't give up something you love just because the one who you're supposed to spend the rest of your life with doesn't want you to do it anymore. Marriage is a partnership. No one's supposed to make all the decisions, and it sounds to me like she's making them all. You haven't half gotten weak Tala"

I should have been insulted by his words, hell if it was anyone else I would have been but, with Kai they just seemed true. Maybe they were. I don't know. I did let her have all the control; and that shouldn't have happened. I should have had a say in my own life but. Weak, was I really becoming weak? The thought had never crossed my mind before. But now that I think about it, I think Kai may be right. Maybe I am becoming weak. I lowered my eyes to the floor as the realisation hit home.

It was true, I would have to put a stop to that; not a hope in hell was there that I'd become weak.

"Maybe I am becoming weak Kai, but that'll stop now. I'm not being married to someone who believes they have control over my life. We spent our entire childhood under complete control of Boris and your grandfather. That's not going to happen again"

I saw him smirk at my words and nod his head approvingly.

"I'm glad to hear that Tal" he told me simply and the grin on his face made me smile back. I felt a little stupid as I smiled at him; I knew my face was red. Why? I didn't know. "Anyway, it's my turn to ask a question. Are you happy with your wife?"

I was shocked at the question.

"Y-yeah, of course I am. I wouldn't be married to her if I wasn't. Why do you ask?"

"No reason, I just wondered. I had never pictured you with a wife; I suppose I always imagined you to be on your own. Never needing another for support and you can't get much more dependent on someone then when you're married to them." I nodded my head at him as I took in his words.

"Yeah, I guess that makes sense. I never pictured myself with anyone either. But, things don't always turn out as you picture. So do you still keep Dranzer with you everywhere you go?" I asked quickly changing the subject.

Without answering with words he pulled out a blue blade a phoenix chip settled in the middle.

"What do you think?" He asked smug. I smiled at him.

"You make me wish I'd brought Wolborg now. I keep him at home on my drawer. He stays there a lot now. I feel kind of bad for it." I admitted to him.

The two of us kept talking for God knows how long. I didn't care what time it was I just wanted to catch up, I could see the clock ticking from the corner of my eye but I didn't care even the slightest. Who cared if I was fired? I didn't I just wanted to talk to Kai.

please read review