[A/N: This one took a bit longer to write but it is longer too. Hope you enjoy it. Thanks for the comments. Keep it up.]

[Disclaimer: Insert disclaimer here]


Behind The Mask

[4] The Plans That Go Astray

Rei scanned the shelves of the Zentai māto hypermarket with little to no concentration; frankly speaking he had far more important matters on his mind then what milk would be doing in the canned goods isle, of the corner convenience store. Yes it was in fact a convenience store, and Rei couldn't figure out for the life of him why it was labeled hypermarket, but that wasn't what Rei was thinking about either.

Realizing the milk probably wasn't kept by the canned soup Rei decided to switch isles, instead making his way over to the fridge in the back, mumbling something or other about not needing the large cooler in this weather. Taking the milk and orange juice of the shelf in front of him he dropped them into his hand basket and made his way toward the cashier.

Kai had handed Rei a considerably large sum of money on his way out, which he now pulled from his pocket as the man behind the register swiped his items and packed them away. Rei took the bag off the counter and the change from the cashier, leaving the store with a bag full of groceries, a mind still packed with questions, and a pocket 147 yen lighter than it had been when he had entered.

Rei let his feet carry him where his thoughts went, back up to the 4th floor apartment down the street. To be more accurate the sixteen year old blunette that occupied said apartment. Kai was like a riddle that simply couldn't be solved, an absolute conundrum, he had Rei stumped.

Taking the stairs back up to the fourth floor was no easy feat on his still sprained ankle but Rei decided braving another elevator ride was out of the question, in any case it would give him more time to get his thoughts strait. Between the incident that morning and grocery shopping Rei's scattered thoughts had become only more so.

Kai obviously had some sort of power in the BBA, judging by his interaction with Mr. Dickenson he had to have authority over him, but how did one get higher up than a chairman. Then there was the security measures he had attempted to go through with the night of the attack, that seemed a little strange, maybe Kai knew more than he let on.

There were the events of the morning to consider as well. Kai was in some way sick or hurt, but he'd acted as if it was an entirely normal occurrence, which Rei knew for a fact that it wasn't, he had after all shared a room with him for months, he would have noticed something.

Now that he had the main points all lined up in front him he came to the 'startling' conclusion that nothing actually added up. 'Great that helps'. Rei rolled his eyes at his brilliant revelation as he reached the fourth floor and made his way down the hall towards the flat, and hit the door bell.

The one that opened the door however wasn't Kai. She, yes she, was a small girl with black hair and bright blue eyes that looked slightly out of place between her distinctly Asian features. Rei stared at her, then checked the address on the door making sure he was in the right apartment before turning back to stare at her.

"Come on now, you'll let the cold in."The girl grabbed him by his arm and pulled him forward dragging him into the apartment.

"And you are?" Rei questioned the girl that seemed a little too at home in his captains home. He had been gone only twenty minutes and…oh

"Friend of Kai's." she replied over her shoulder as she made her way back into the kitchen. Rei felt as if his stomach had dropped out at her words, a conformation? Maybe not, most likely not. But Kai was a very private person, how close of a friend did this girl have to be to be so familiar with this place. Then again, Kai certainly didn't seem the type for that kind of relationship, if any, with anyone.

Rei followed her into the kitchen and lifted the bag onto the counter next to where she stood by the sink, water running, sponge in hand. Shaking his head dismissively he proceeded to empty the bag. He was jumping to conclusions, letting his paranoia get the better him, there were a lot of things he didn't know about Kai, she could after all just be an old friend, but the possibility of another option still made him feel threatened.

"The names Nataliya" said now taking the carton of juice from his hand and putting in the fridge. "Nataliya Yatsuma."

Rei gave her a strange look "My dad is french, he took mama's name when they married." She explained shrugging her shoulders. Rei nodded taking two cans of tuna from the now mostly empty grocery bag; she took that from him too. "The Japanese have a strange way of showing their pride I guess."

"I'm-" he began to introduce.

"Rei Kon, I know, not a single self respect beyblade fan who doesn't." she grinned putting away the rest of the contents of the bag and throwing it out.

"You blade?"

"No. Don't even really like the sport that much, but growing up with Kai makes it hard to break the habit of keeping track." So she grew up with him. Rei sat on one of the high barstools.

"Hi." The hyper tones of the girl sounded from behind him, Rei looked up to find Kai walking over from the balcony across the room. He nodded to her in greeting, had he not known she was here, did she have a key to the apartment.

The strong sent of smoke invaded his senses as Kai passed him, he'd been smoking. It was a familiar scent one he'd smelled often, especially towards the end of the tour, but he never did recognize as cigarettes, or attribute it to Kai for that matter.


"You know that battle with Bryan was absolutely brilliant." She told Rei as she sat next to him on the couch.

"Could have gone better." Rei commented, still a little bitter about the injuries he'd received. Kai came out of his room; he had disappeared beyond the door somewhere around 45 minutes ago, after a short slightly irate exchange with the girl next to him, in which Rei had caught the word fine, no, room, and now. It was times like that that Rei really wished he'd learned Japanese.

He made eye contact with her before inclining his head towards the door, seeing as he had yet another phone call. She stood making her way over to the door way and scanning the room with her eyes, before smiling in satisfaction.

"Good. I should go now" she said taking her jacket from where it was draped over the back of the smaller sofa and slipping her arms into the sleeves. Kai nodded snapping his phone shut as he did. "I'll see you around." She said by way of fare well and made her way to the front door, showing herself out. That was an awkward encounter to say the least.

Kai dropped down onto the sofa next to Rei, right next to Rei. "Doesn't your ear hurt from talking on the phone so much?" He commented, making conversation was always a good way to distract himself from Kai. Rei decided his methods of distraction weren't 100% full proof when Kai only smirked at the comment, in a very sexy manner one might add.

"We're leaving in four days." He said, Rei didn't question him, letting Kai take control was always the best way to handle a situation when dealing with the older boy. Christmas was in seven days time, if Rei wasn't mistaken, and Kai wanted to be in Russia before the 25th.

"How do you know her?" Rei asked, the question had been nagging at him since he had first found her in the apartment.

"Our fathers were business partners." He shrugged getting up and moving towards the kitchen. Rei nodded, it had taken all of 5 minutes of watching their interaction together to realize they really weren't that close at all. She would come to the apartment every once in a while to clean up and make sure Kai hadn't somehow drowned in the mess he made, and that was it. He didn't trust her with his secrets, but he knew her well enough to know she wouldn't try and find them. To her he was a friend someone who took care of her when she needed it, but it was not a mutual understanding, she knew virtually nothing of Kai's life now.

"She said you grew up together." Kai nodded. "You don't seem so close."

"We grew apart." He replied, "People change." And understatement but it would do.

Rei watched as Kai opened the fridge, extracting a bottle of clear liquid and pouring half a cup out over ice. He wrinkled his nose as Kai..., the stench of vodka already filling the room.

"Isn't it a little early for alcohol" Rei commented noting the time, about 3.45, the sun had yet to set and it wouldn't for a long while.

"Arent you a little old for milk" Kai fired back casually, raised eyebrow and all, eyeing the glass of white liquid on the table before the neko. Rei crossed his arms at that and stuck his tongue out childishly, turning back to the muted TV screen, Kai smirked.


It was strange to him that after all these months Rei was only now beginning to notice all of his captain's incredibly unhealthy habits, ok they were downright self destructive. The older boy was currently out on the balcony, in the freezing cold weather, 'probably smoking another cigarette' Rei thought, it would be his fourth today, yeah he had counted.

'Speak of the devil' Rei smiled at the familiar sound of the balcony door opening and the rush of cold air that followed him in as he closed the door behind him.

"Have you packed yet?" Rei asked from his spot on the couch where he flipped through channels on the large screen TV. It was the 21st of December late in the evening and they would be traveling the next day, just after sunrise.

Kai didn't answer him, but he hadn't left the room, Rei could still hear his light footsteps on the carpet. Seconds past but Rei could hear nothing.

The sudden weight on the back of the couch made Rei tense slightly, the close proximity of the blunettes lips to the side of his face made his breath catch in his throat. Rei closed his eyes against the feeling of the gentle fingers that brushed the side of his face. The hand guided his face to the others, gold met crimson, and he lost himself in those crimson eyes.

Soft lips caressed his; Kai's lips, he gasped, the lips pressed gently against his, and Rei pressed back. His hands buried in the dark blue locks, pulling the other closer, needing more. He moaned as fingers brushed lightly against his neck, tongue brushing against his lips, Rei obliged, he could never deny the other boy.

Rei's moans increased, filling the room at the feeling of Kai's tongue against his, lips moving against each other unhindered by the awkward angle, Kai's tongue massaging his own. It was becoming increasing hard to breath but Kai didn't pull away, Rei didn't want him too. Rei fought for breath, he couldn't hold any longer, he couldn't breathe.

He gasped shooting up from where he lay on the couch, but he hadn't been laying a minute ago, he was breathing heavily, gasping for air, and Kai had gone. Rei stared at the empty space before him; unable to think strait, what had just happened. A sudden sound from behind him caused him to whip his head around suddenly; Kai was walking in from the balcony doors.

Rei froze, suddenly even more confused than before, Kai had still been outside. Rei brought his hand to his head as realization hit him. He dragged his hand down over his face and dropped back onto his laying position on the couch as Kai walked over.

"You alright?" Kai asked his voice apathetic, Rei suddenly felt him so callous, so unlike what he'd been just a minute before.

Rei rolled his eyes up viewing Kai from the upside down angle. "Fine." He mumbled. "I just…" he trailed off unsure of what to say, but thankful for the blanket that covered the lower half of his body, it hadn't been there when he had fallen asleep.

"Nightmare." Kai assumed.

"Huh?" It was far from a nightmare.

"You were moaning in your sleep." Kai explained. Rei couldn't be more thankful for the other boy's inability to tell a pleasured moan from a pained one.

"Have you packed yet?" he asked, not knowing what else to say, hey his luck had been pretty good so far.


Rei pulled the thick black boots on over his socks and ankle brace before fixing the hem of his black jeans and straitening. His bag was by the door, packed and ready, and Kai had yet to emerge from his room.

Abandoning his spot near the entrance Rei crossed the small stretch of floor to the kitchen, setting the coffee maker and flipping the switch. He pulled a mug from one of the cabinets and set it on the table waiting for the machine to finish brewing the dark liquid that was the blunette's addiction.

Kai appeared in the doorway of his room minutes later as Rei poured the dark liquid into a mug on the counter. Crossing the room he dropped his bag on the floor by the doorway and continued over the bar where Rei slid the mug to him across the counter top. Kai sat on one of the high barstools and passed Rei a thick black coat over the bar.

"What's this?"

"You'll need a heavier jacket once we arrive. The cold could aggravate you injuries, there's no use taking the chance." Kai replied not looking at him.

"Thanks." Rei mumbled awkwardly, Kai's tone left no room for argument.

Rei turned to the fridge retrieving the carton of orange juice and an empty glass before returning to the bar. "How are we getting there?"

"Cab" he answered drinking from his mug contentedly. Kai was absolutely addicted to his coffee. Two days ago they had run out of beans and Kai couldn't get his morning fix, let's just say it was not a very pleasant morning.

Rei didn't sit, instead taking his now full glass of orange juice and crossed the kitchen to dispose of the now empty carton. Leaning against the counter he turned to face the other boy, just as his phone began to ring. Kai picked up, speaking quietly into the small black device as he sipped his caffeinated goodness.

Rei looked on, not wanting to look away, the flow of words in the foreign language were somehow soothing when heard in the low deep voice of the sixteen year old boy. His hair, still wet from his earlier shower, hung limply before his crimson eyes. He seemed so at ease, a slight smirk on his lips as he spoke to the person on the other line, Rei envied him.

The blue markings were back on his face, they hadn't been there for quite some time, he never wore them in the house, the made him look so untouchable. The shirt that Kai wore was that of a dark, almost black, navy blue color that accented his eyes. He wore dark jeans and a black leather jacket. The sight of him was stunning; Rei couldn't take his eyes away.

"Come on." The sound of the his voice punctured Rei's thoughts, he preferred when the boy spoke Russian. Lost in his thoughts Rei hadn't notice, Kai was standing now, draining the contents of his mug and leaving it on the counter. Rei followed suit, finishing his own drink before leaving it in the empty sink.

"Shouldn't we wash-"

"Leave it, Nataliya will get it." Right she did have a key, somehow that knowledge still bothered Rei The fact that she could walk in at any given moment.

Kai slung his large duffle bag over his shoulder. Crossing the room he locked his bedroom door as Rei slipped on the coat Kai had handed him earlier. It was a little big for him, seeing as it was Kai's, but Rei preferred it to his own. He smiled slightly, liking the warmth and of the coat, and the fact that it still smelled of Kai.

The blunette walked past him leading the way out the door and to the elevator and Rei followed, grabbing his bag by its handle as he went.


The cab was warm, and Kai sat in the back seat by his side. He had taken off his jacket sometime in the beginning of the ride and draped it neatly over the seat between him and Rei. Rei still wore his wrapped cozily around him, not willing to part with it anytime soon.

The car ride was long, and quiet, they drove out past the still sleeping city to its outskirts. It was 6.53 on Kai's watch when the cab pulled to a stop outside…well it was just outside, in a wide open field, in the middle of nowhere.

Getting out of the car Rei followed Kai, who appeared to know exactly where he was going despite there being no where to go. The cabby followed behind them, carrying both their bags.

An air field Rei soon realized, spotting the large figure of what appeared to be a small private airplane a little way's off. It was white with a large HE printed just behind the wing in the same royal blue as the carpeted stairs the descended from it.

The cabby left the bags by the bottom of the stairs, according to Kai's orders, before being paid and dismissed by the teen, who then picked up his bag, slinging it over his shoulder and took the stairs up into the plane. Rei followed him, taking his own bag as he went.

As expected the interior was luxurious, each chair equipped with a small personal Television for the convenience of the passengers The HI emblem once again emblazoned on several spots of the interior.

Rei dropped his duffle on one of the empty chairs in the front of the plane before venturing towards the back and picking out a seat near where his captain was already settled head back, eyes closed.

Being a member of an international beyblading team, Rei had of course taken a private flight on multiple occasions; this however was unlike the small jets often provided by the BBA's transport service. For one thing the royal blue interior was far from similar to the dark orange of the BBA's trademark, and the HE would instead read BBA.

"Kai, what does HE stand for?" Rei questioned, assuming it would lead to the answer of another unspoken question like 'where the hell did you get a private jet that isn't property of the BBA.'

"Hiwatari Enterprises." Was the monotone answer of the older boy, to which Rei faltered for a minute.

"W-wha..." Not the most graceful of replies but Kai understood despite the lack of coherence.

"Hiwata-"

"I heard you…" Rei cut him off, receiving a Raised eyebrow and one eye blinked open. "…but what?"

"It's a business corporation in Russia. Head of the beyblade industry, we sponsor the BBA."

Rei gaped wide eyed at the older teen across the aisle, suddenly realizing why Kai had so much power in the BBA. "We as in you and you're grandfather." Rei questioned after a short silence. The hum of the engine could be heard as the plane was began to move down the runway.

Kai rolled his head to the side finally looking at Rei dead on.

"Right stupid question-"

"No."

"What?" Rei was confused now if not Voltaire than who.

"No, Voltaire doesn't own any part of it."

"Then who?"

"It was my father's business." He stated simply. The words rang out in the quietness of the room. Kai had never spoken of his family, he hardly mentioned his grandfather and never anyone else.

"Was?" Rei asked, Kai turned away from him, facing front again.

"It's a part of my inheritance." He continued ignoring Rei's comment. "But I don't get full ownership for another two years." When he turned 18. Rei heard him, but only vaguely far too interested in his previous statement.

"Did you know them?" he asked. He didn't need to elaborate.

"I don't remember." he answered his voice and expression apathetic, and his eyes empty, but Rei knew better. "I was six." The words slipped out, he didn't know why he said them he just did. The room fell quiet and Rei wondered briefly about the 'family' he would be spending Christmas with, maybe Kai had siblings he hadn't spoken of.

He'd been an orphan from such a young age, Rei could relate to that. "I never knew my parents." He spoke Kai turned to look at him and for a minute their eyes locked. Rei didn't see pity in those depths, he didn't see sympathy or someone trying desperately to relate. Rei was relieved that Kai only listened completely passively.

"They were murdered…by hunters." Nekojin hunters. "They found me on the outskirts of the village…the villagers did." He paused he'd never talked about it before, but he knew the story be heart, he'd replayed it to himself a million times over. "The elders raised me; Lee's grandfather, so we grew up together, them and the white tigers are the only family I've got."

"Some family." Kai said quietly, Rei didn't reply. Kai was right after all, but he didn't know the half of it.


They landed it Moscow airport 9 hours later, Rei had slept most of the way, not having slept much the night before. The sun was low in the sky and looked to be about ready to set. Rei wasn't too sure he wanted to get off the plane; Russia after all was not his favorite place in the world, far from it.

"Need a push." The sarcastic tone of his team captain came from behind him.

"No thanks." Rei answered back sarcasm ringing in his own voice. Yeah, this was definitely the last place he wanted to be, Kai or no Kai.

"Having second thoughts, it's too late. Move." Kai was definitely in one of his better moods today, hence the sarcastic teasing, or maybe it was just being. Rei wasn't sure Kai actually was home sick, the boy after all wasn't the sentimental type, but the constantly open windows definitely gave the impression of it.

Rei did move, bag in his hand and pulling the jacket closer around him at the sunned onslaught of biting cold wind. Kai followed, once again donning the black leather jacket though hung open. There was a limousine waiting for them off to the side, and they approached it, Rei all too eager to get out of the cold.

Sliding in Rei took his seat across from Kai, dropping his bag on the floor by his side so as not to ruin polished beige leather interior. Somehow despite the relaxing atmosphere and the cozy warmth of the car Rei found it difficult not to be on edge, he wasn't exactly accustomed to this sort of luxury.

"Is this property of the company too?" Rei asked a little bitterly, where was all this luxury three weeks ago, when they were traveling around on busses with broken heaters and staying in beat down hotels. That reminded him, "Where are we staying?" he asked not waiting for Kai answer the first question, he knew he wouldn't anyway.

"Don't worry about it." That always seemed to be his answer, but Rei found it difficult not to worry. He wasn't a charity case, but somehow Kai made him feel like one.

Twenty minutes in the toasty enclosure, watching the beautifully snow paved streets of Moscow pass by, found them in the heart of Moscow. The long black vehicle passed through a large decorative gate and pulled to a stop before the tall elegant looking building in the center of the large estate, Rei had never seen this part of the city before.

The door was opened by a middle aged man in a classic chauffeur's uniform. The elder brunette bent his head in a bow like gesture as the two slid out of the car into the open air.

"Welcome sirs." was his humbled greeting as he straitened. Kai nodded to him in acknowledgement, allowing him to take his bag, Rei did the same though not entirely sure why they didn't just let the bellhop get it. That, however, was entirely irrelevant so Rei discarded the thought and followed Kai through the silver encrusted mahogany doors of the Andreeva Palace hotel.

The luxurious interior of the building certainly did justice to the architecture and surrounding buildings. From the sight of the reception area alone Rei almost turned tail and ran, he didn't have much of his tournament earnings left, and Rei was positive one night in this place cost more than everything he owned lumped together, which wasn't much considering.

The deep red of the carpeting gave off the impression of a 'red carpet', and the golden chandeliers and tables accented the color beautifully. The remaining furniture in the room was of a dark brown, and the walls an eggshell color.

The hotels employment was decked out in the finest designer suits and uniforms, each with a golden name tag pinned to the breast of their suits. The visitors were another story entirely. Dressed in the latest of Paris fashions, overpriced shoes and bags and cell phones that probably cost more than Rei could imagine. Diamond rings and gem encrusted eyewear, fur coats and fur lined boots, Rei definitely didn't belong here.

"Kai um…" but when he looked to the side the older had gone, across the reception and at the main desk the blunette stood speaking to a man behind the desk. Thanking god for the protection of the expensive looking jacket Kai had loaned him, that made him look the least bit presentable, Rei, very self-consciously and very quickly, crossed the room to the counter where his captain stood.

He was conversing now with who appeared to be the manager, a middle aged man with graying hair and a straight face. Rei waited unsure of what else to do, feeling out of place he averted his eyes to the floor all of a sudden feeling as if ridiculing eyes watched him.

"Let's go." The deep voice of the older boy caused him to look up. Still insecure he followed close to Kai to the elevators at the far end of the room.

Once alone in the elevator he turned to Kai, his nervousness of the luxurious environment allowing him to forget his other discomforts.

"Kai-" he was cut short, Kai already knew what he would say.

"The Andreeva Palace and the entire surrounding estate are property Hiwatari Enterprises."

"That means, you own this place?"

"One of our more successful projects, Beyblade isn't the only industry we dominate."

The rest of the 41 story elevator ride was a quiet one in which Rei processed his newly acquired information. Kai was the owner of a multi-million dollar company that was the head of not only the beyblade industry, but apparently tourism as well, Rei was afraid to wonder what else the enigmatic boy had up his sleeve.

When the elevators came to a stop on floor number forty one the two boys stepped out of the elevator and into a small but lavish entrance way with large double doors in the center. The limousine driver stood by the door their bags at his feet waiting.

Kai approached the door, pulling a Key from his pocket he slipped it into the slot on the large mahogany door and turned.

"Thank you Sergei, Vy mozhete poĭti [1]."

"Dah, ser [2]." he bowed again before heading towards the elevator.

Kai took the bags from the floor pushing the door open to allow them both entrance into the suite. Stepping through the now open doorway Rei followed him into what wasn't actually a suite, but an entire mansion on top of 40 floor building.

Rei passed the spot where Kai had dropped their bags by the door pulling off his shoes as he went, leaving them on the hardwood floor by the entrance.

The kitchen was built much in the same fashion as the one in the flat back in Tokyo, this one with deep mahogany and a dark green marble. The floor around the large double doors was hardwood, blending well with the deep crimson carpet of the rest of the room, the furniture all of black oak and velvet.

Kai was halfway across the room taking off his jacket to sling it over the back of the black velvet two seater.

"I'll show you your rooms." Kai spoke, inclining his head to a doorway to their left that held an ascending stair way. Rei followed Kai across the room and up the stairs, slinging his bag over his shoulder as he went.

To say that his surroundings were lavish would be the understatement of the century, Rei couldn't imagine spending a single night in a place like this, let alone a couple days, he still found the unprecedented luxury rather uncomfortable.

Kai's phone rang as they neared the top of the stairway pushing open the swinging door he reached his hand into his pocket pulling out the small black device and putting it to his ear.

"Hello." He spoke into the phone, continuing down the hall, Rei followed still scanning his surroundings.

"Kai, gde ty byl, ya pytalsya svyazatʹsya s vami vesʹ denʹ [3]." The panicked voice came over the line, unlike its usual calm teasing tones.

"Tolʹko chto prizemlilsya, chto sluchilosʹ [4]" Kai answered the others tone making him nervous.

"Chert vozʹmi ty ne dolzhen priĭti" he'd stopped walking now, focusing all his attention on the voice over the phone. "Kai, Ne hodi nikuda, ne vyhodya iz doma. [5]"

"chto sluchilosʹ [6]."

"On ushel, Kaĭ, ushel [7]." his voice was suddenly quiet as he spoke the words as if afraid to say them. Kai swallowed hard his face paling.

"How? What happened?" choked whispers barely escaped his lips, The sound scared Rei.

"Ya ne znayu, Ya ne znayu [8]" the turmoil in his voice struck Kai.

"YA idu [9]."

"Niet, vy ne mozhete, pozhaluĭsta, Kaĭ niet [10]."

"YA ne mogu ostavitʹ tebya, kak eto! YA na moem puti [11]." Kai answered trying to keeping his panic in check but it showed on his pace. With shaking hands he shut the phone gripping it tightly for a minute as he collected himself before turning and heading back towards the stairs.

"Kai where are you going, what happened." Rei called after him grabbing his arm around the elbow, he was already on the second step. Rei froze Kai's arm was still shaking.

Kai wrenched his arm from Rei's grasp "Something's come up, I have to go." He spoke averting his eyes, embarrassed at his show of emotion, but there was no time for this he had to leave now.

"I'll go with you then." He was worried, and he didn't know anything here.

"No!" Rei flinched at Kai's raised voice. "I can't take you with me, Sasha will be up in a few minutes you'll be fine." He said continuing down the stairs in a rush.

"who? And how long will you be gone."

"May be a few days, not long." his voice was urgent.

"A few days!" they were standing in the room they had first entered into now, Kai putting his jacket on and grabbing a set of Keys off the rack by the door.

"I'm leaving you Sergei and the car." He turned to Rei's anxious expression. "I wouldn't leave you here if I didn't know you could handle, but I can't take you with me." He opened the door and walked out slamming it shut behind him.

"Well which is it?" he mumbled under his breath to the now empty room.


Kai had been driving at high speeds for four hours now and was quickly nearing his destination. Up in northern Russia, the sleek black car glided through the falling snow, unaffected by the icy streets beneath it, though that was due partially to friction of the tires being high enough to melt the ice.

When the car skidded to a halt some twenty minutes later before the grand mansion his friend had spoken of in the phone calls Kai threw the door open, sliding out of the car. He turned to face the manor not moving, he just stared. Inside was something he never thought he'd have to face. Kai slammed the car door shut, stepping around the car he leaned against the warm hood, thrusting his hands in his pocket.

He had acted strictly on impulse, without even thinking the sound of his friend's voice over the line had made him act so irrationally. But he was here now, and what was he to do but go to them waiting inside the house. They needed him, or did they, maybe it was just what he wanted to think, they had done so well without him.

Kai through his head back, staring up at the dark grey swirls above him, any minute now his fear would get the better of him, like it always did. And minute now he would get back in the car and had back for Moscow, and the penthouse. But it didn't happen, once inside there would be no denying it, there would be no more running away, he needed to fix this, what he'd broken, he needed to try.

Kai stood making up his mind, there was no turning back now, slow steps carried him closer to the closed door up the walkway, his boots growing heavier with every step. He raised his hand and clasped his fingers around the heavy brass knocker, no turning back now. And then he released it, watching the intricate ring drop against the hard wood, the sound resonated in his ears and through his brain, and for the first time in what seemed like forever, Kai Hiwatari faced his problems head on.

Seconds past and fear flooded through him, what if he had been too late. What if they'd all gone. Anxiety flooded through him, what if…he stopped, there was a sound like footsteps on the other side of the door. He closed his eyes begging it to be one of them.

When the door knob turned his eyes snapped open in anticipation, and the door followed their lead. And the teenage boy that stood over the threshold laughed, faint and humorless, as if in relief. When he opened his mouth to speak the words didn't come and he just shook his head, stepping out onto the front step he wrapped his arms around the blunette, burying his face in the color of his jacket. Kai embraced him back, pulling him closer, the familiar red hair brushing his cheek.

TBC...


[1] 'You may go.

[2] 'yes, sir.'

[3] 'Kai, where have you been, I've been trying to reach you all afternoon.'

[4] 'Just landed what's wrong.'

[5] 'Damn it you should have come.' 'Don't go anywhere, don't leave the house.'

[6] 'What happened.'

[7] 'He's gone, Kai, gone.'

[8] 'I don't know, I don't know.'

[9] 'I'm coming.'

[10] 'No you can't, please Kai don't.'

[11] 'I can't leave you like this! I'm on my way.'