Angel in the Dark Sky

A/N: Long chapter ahead...You have been warned.

Chapter 4: The Past Still Lingers

The party was livelier than anything else that night. The constant chattering of the guests could only be heard faintly beneath the air of mellow music. Everyone seemed very enthusiastic, especially the Russian diplomat who just recently reunited with his kidnapped daughter.

All, except one.

Among the empty tables and seats, a lone Chinese detective idly sat, his head leaning against the palm of his hand. For him, it was a dreadful night. Everything about the party made him yawn: the people who were dancing, the music and the bright lights. It was probably because he was stressed-out that night and wanted nothing but to go home and sleep the rest of the night off. The only reason why he attended in the first place was because he didn't want to disappoint his boss and his colleagues. Not to mention the Russian ambassador who hosted the formal party in his beachside manor to show his appreciation to the detectives who helped solved the case.

But as Lei continued to snub the party, he realized his presence was not needed for Kyosuke was having a good time with two other detectives and Mayla flirting with another. Lei absently played with his drink in his free hand as he took notice of a drunk officer staggering to where he was sitting. As the other man came nearer, he flashed Lei a lopsided grin.

"Wanna dance, sexy?" the man slurred.

This drunken fool of a detective must have mistaken Lei for a woman. Without moving from his chair, Lei looked up at the man before him with a disinterested look in his eyes.

"Leave me alone or I'll be dancing on your head, idiot."

The intoxicated man had a weird look on his face before finally walking unsteadily towards a group of women.

Just as Lei thought he was alone again, his boss appeared from behind.

"Why are you just sitting here, Lei? You should be enjoying yourself just like everyone else!"

"I don't feel like doing anything...I'm tired."

"At least socialize with the other guests. I'm sure they will love your company!"

Lei stood from his seat having been sitting for a whole 2 hours. His body ached from being glued on a chair for a long time. He surprised his boss when he started walking away from him.

"Where are you going?" his boss asked.

"Outside to get some fresh air."

The worn-out detective walked himself out the manor, past the veranda, until he came across an open courtyard. He scanned the whole area along the sitting benches from the fountain below up and stopped when he spotted a dark figure seated on one of the benches. Lei didn't really expect anyone to be out here, in this bare quad. Although the moon was full and bright, he still couldn't make out the identity of this person. Lei could make out a trail of smoke escaping from its mouth…

"That's bad for you, you know that?" Lei stated, nearing the silhouette that seemed to be facing him this time. A pair of sapphire-blue eyes immediately caught Lei's attention.

"The hell are you?" Lei was replied with a low-voiced answer.

"I didn't ask for your name so why ask for mine?"

"I didn't ask for your name."

The Chinese eased himself down beside the melancholic man who looked the other way. His face appeared clearer and Lei found himself gazing at those lovely eyes again...The man took a large puff from the cigarette held between his two fingers before facing Wulong once more.

"Stop staring at me."

Without feeling embarrassed or apologetic, Lei's gaze refused to break contact.

"Your eyes are like liquid moonlight..." he honestly stated.

"I didn't know you were a poet."

"I'm not. I just say whatever's on my mind."

"Why are you here?" the silver-haired man asked straight-forwardly.

Finally, in what seemed like years, Lei broke his stare from the other man; instead looking down where the fountain was.

"I wanted to have some peace and quiet form all the noise inside. The only reason why I came was because I didn't want to disappoint everyone else."

"That's the most fucked-up reason I've ever heard."

"I don't see anything wrong about that!" Lei exclaimed defensively. "What about you? You don't seem interested with the party either. What's your excuse, huh?"

Lei could hear the other man laugh under his breath.

"I came to check out the female detectives. Then I got bored and went outside."

Lei couldn't refrain from laughing to himself slightly. It was rather baffling that he was already enjoying talking with someone he just met. He was about to say something when the man beside him spoke again.

"I don't remember seeing you before. What's your name?"

"Detective Lei Wulong. You are...?"

"Bryan Fury. INTERPOL"

"Don't you mean 'Detective Bryan Fury'?"

"Who cares?"

Suddenly, Bryan stood from where he was sitting, taking another puff from his cigarette. Afterwards, he dropped still-lighted cigarette before crushing it with one foot. Slowly, he began moving away from Lei, expecting him to follow.

"Coming?" Bryan finally called out when he was a few yards from the other detective.

Lei took it as an official invitation and was quick to catch up with the other man who made his way out the courtyard.

"Where are we going?" Wulong asked since he was a bit uneasy all of a sudden.

"The beach."

That would have been obvious for Lei could hear the sighing of the water moving back and forth along the shore.

Feeling rather stupid, Lei dared to ask him an idiotic question just for the heck of it.

"Don't you think it's rather impractical to swim this late at night?"

"What made you think that?" Bryan sarcastically replied as he began removing his black leather shoes; then his socks. "I didn't think you'd be that slow."

"A walk along the beach...sounds like something I read from a book."

Bryan noticed that Lei hadn't removed his shoes yet.

"Must I always ask you to come with me? Frankly, you're starting to get on my nerves." He stated, frustration progressively taking over him.

"I'll walk with you but I won't go near the water."

"Scared?"

"Who wouldn't be? I mean—it's dark, you don't know what's in the water. What if something bites my foot while I walk along?"

In disbelief, Bryan shook his head.

"I can't believe you're that scared. You've been through a lot as a detective and you're scared of the water. There's nothing in the water that'll hurt you."

"How do you know that?"

Bryan sighed hopelessly. "Fine. Suit yourself."

As Fury strolled farther away down the beach, Lei could feel his heart beating faster when he realized that he was all alone now. A couple of minutes later, Bryan was out of sight and it was quiet again, save for the distant rumbling of the waves and creatures. From where he was situated, the surroundings was close to pitch black, if it wasn't for the bright moonlight creeping from the area near the beach. He felt like an idiot standing by himself in the dark, only because he was afraid of something so trivial.

All by himself, Bryan walked along the shoreline where the water barely made contact with the dry sand. Moments later, Lei came running towards him from the distance, barefooted.

"I knew you'd come eventually."

"I was just checking if you were alright." Lei simply quipped coolly.

Rather than arguing over nonsense again, Bryan pulled him by the arm, causing Lei's feet to come in contact with the water. Lei gasped in startle, not because of fright but because of the sudden coolness enclosing his feet.

"That wasn't so bad now was it?"

Instead of answering, Lei swiftly kicked sand to the stunned man's face. During the short distraction, the playful detective released himself from Bryan and sprinted across the beach.

"Try and catch me!"

Bryan cursed out loud in anger but immediately figured out what Lei was trying to carry out. Lei wasn't striving to infuriate him in any way, instead expressing his way of accepting him. He gave Lei a good 2 minute head start before charging forward to catch up on him. Lei was fast, but Bryan was even faster. The taller man covered twice as much distance as Lei did for a shorter period of time. If it wasn't for the sand beneath his feet, Bryan most likely would have seized Lei in no time.

Three minutes had gone by and both individuals showed no sign of stopping, not even Lei. The Chinese glanced back over his shoulder and saw that Bryan was only a few meters away, gradually decreasing the distance between them. Determined to win this 'race', Lei accelerated and managed to expand the gap in no time. However, as Lei's speed increased, he overlooked an obstacle embedded underneath the sand (possibly a rock) and tripped, harshly crashing onto the dry sand face down and instantly putting a bitter end to their 'race'. Nearby, Bryan broke into hysterical laughter, obviously adding insult to Lei's misfortune.

In contrast to Bryan's automatic reaction, Lei was fuming, his face turning red with humiliation and resentment. His silky-soft hair that was tied back into a ponytail was now disheveled, covering the right side of his face with its long tendrils.

"Shut up!" Lei spat, slowly lifting himself from the harsh beach sand. He didn't need a mirror to see that he was soiled with grains of sand.

The American at last ceased from his apparent madness.

"What's wrong? Can't take a joke?"

"I'd rather not be the joke."

Out of pity, Bryan reached down and grasped Lei by the wrist, his other arm wrapped around his back. Lei allowed himself to be handled briefly as Bryan slowly raised him back to his feet, groaning silently.

At that very moment, Bryan caught a glimpse of what he thought was a 'different' side of Lei. Quite different from the one who kept asking him pointless questions and making exaggerated complaints. The taller man marveled at the sight before him. The way Lei's hazel-brown eyes looked up at him inoffensively, his hair provocatively concealing the side of his face in fine strands, the way the moonlight emphasized the delicate features of his face...

In Bryan's eyes, he saw a deity before him.

A goddess.

On the contrary, Lei was puzzled why Bryan was critically staring down at him for no reason. Watching as Bryan reached his pale hand to touch the side of his face, Lei couldn't prevent himself from feeling tensed all of a sudden. In fact, the tension manifested itself into his physical appearance. Lei's face grew hot and flushed. Still, he did not flinch nor yell at the American, instead permitting him to progress even more.

At this point, Bryan caressed the hot flesh beneath his touch, at the same time amused by Lei's changed look. Lei swore he could feel his legs shaking and oh how he wished he was lying on the sand as was before. Inch by inch, the gap between the two closed in until they became one. Lei felt Bryan's hot breath tickle his nose. His widened eyes looked up into the taller man, anxiety abruptly turning into fear. He honestly didn't expect this to happen.

Bryan leaned further down until his lips rested beside Lei's quivering ones. The Chinese shut his eyes and his irregular breathing escalated.

"You're so beautiful..."

Right after those words were whispered against Lei's lips, Bryan kissed him. Lei's body stiffened. He was unable to resist since Fury had either of his hands on each side of his face. With no other option available, Lei's own hand clutched on either shoulders of Bryan, hesitantly returning the kiss. Bryan more than welcomed the gesture and the kiss intensified. The fear eventually subsided, replacing it with an even stronger emotion that Lei could not explain. This unknown feeling took over him completely as he found himself moaning softly.

Instantaneously, nothing else seemed imperative. The only thing that mattered was this very moment. Their moment. Furthermore, Lei thought he was imagining to himself when he heard his name being called from afar.

"Lei!"

Lei's eyes shot wide open.

The detective heard it for a second time, this time more audible. He recognized the voice as Kyosuke's. Though neither of them wanted to part from each other's lips, Lei hurriedly broke away; avoiding eye contact with Bryan. He failed to witness how disappointed the other detective looked. Right when he turned his back in the process of leaving, Bryan caught his arm and pulled him back into an open-mouthed kiss once again.

"When can I see you again?" Bryan asked in a hushed voice, sounding very concerned to say the least.

"I...I don't know." Lei replied doubtfully. He wanted to see him again soon himself. "I have to go now."

With that, the long-haired Chinese freed himself from Bryan and rushed his way back to where he left his shoes. Hastily, he wore his socks back on before stepping into his shoes. As he did so, the thought of that silver-haired stranger clouded his mind. He knew this was one night he wouldn't forget.