Lirin: Tuesday again *sigh*

Rei: it looks like Lir is having another bad week so far. But even still we want to give everyone else some cheer.

Kai: so first we we'd like to send out thanks to yukikittycatofwisdom, black wolf-kot, suzanne, beckylovesgigs, Geirr Bassi, Anime-rocz-nd-u-no-it, Kelseywazhere, and Beywriterfor sending reviews, honestly they did perk our depressed authoress up some. and a reminder that the Disclaimer is in chapter 1.

Chapter 9: Cold Trails

Tala sat in Ian and Spencer's room staring at the map they had. A week had gone by since they missed the kill and ever since they have been searching the place. The map was covered in red Xs in locations that were misses. He was getting tired of this. They were working with a cold trail that wouldn't pick up until the next new moon, providing the Nekos were still near by.

"We're back" Bryan sighed as he and the other two came into the room.

"Any luck?" the Wolf demanded before the door was closed.

"Nothing" Spencer said sadly.

"I knew we should have taken that girl out when we had the chance" Ian complained sitting on the bed.

"Maybe so, but then three more would be running free" Bryan pointed out sitting on the other bed.

"We currently have four running free" Tala growled glaring at his group. "I'm going back to Japan tomorrow and getting some research done, maybe this pack has some go to places."

"Why not ask Kai to search for you?" Bryan asked.

"He's still busy with his own search. Plus he wont answer my calls for long." Tala was pouting as he remembered Kai quickly hanging up on him.

"Well if you don't drunk call him all the time then maybe he would listen to you when you do call" Ian pointed out laughing and the others joined in.

"It was twice" the red head yelled stomping his foot much like a child's hissy fit.

"Yeah twice, when you were with someone else and told him how much you love him before moaning that other person's name" Spencer reminded him.

"Shut up, shut up, shut up!" Tala lost what little patients he had and got off his chair. "I'm going for a walk. And don't anyone dare follow me." He slammed the door shut as he left and the others stood there in silence staring and the closed too.

"Think we were too rough this time?" Bryan finally asked taking his eyes off the door and looking at his friends.

"Probably" Spencer agreed nodding his head. "He'll cool down soon though and come back. After all he is going to want some rest before going back to Japan tomorrow."

"What should we do until he gets back?" Ian asked leaning back to lay on the bed and look at the ceiling.

"Mark off where we checked today and start plotting tomorrow's search. We can't give up on it" Bryan said going to check the map. For only a week they had covered much ground, but still had plenty to go. He grabbed the marker and marked off where today had failed.

XxXxXx

"Kai are you alright?" Rei asked as they sat on the porch waiting for Tyson to finish the evening training. Max was already taking a shower and getting ready for the night.

"Fine. Why do you ask?"

"You seem distracted lately. Like you've been thinking hard about something. And you've been running off a lot too, to see your grandfather and coming back depressed."

Kai was deeply touched by Rei's genuine concern for him and smiled taking his boyfriend's hand and squeezed it lightly. "Oh, yeah, he's been getting on my case to get ready to become his successor. But I like my life the way it is now."

"But Kai if he's telling you to get ready, don't you think he might be passing away soonish?"

"No" Kai laughed making his eyes twinkle in delight. "That guy has too much life left in him to die now or in the near future. He's just trying to be a jerk. And it is working."

"But still he might know something you don't. I think you should be taking this a bit more seriously."

"Will it make you feel better if I do?"

"Yes."

"Hey Kai how much longer" Tyson interrupted their conversation. He was jogging in place, sweating and breathing hard.

"You can call it a night" Rei told him. "And don't forget to study for that test you have in a couple days."

"Thanks Rei" the bluenette smiled at him and ran for the house.

"Shall we head in too? It is beginning to get a bit nippy out here."

"You can" Kai sighed looking up at the sky. "I have to go back to my grandfather tonight."

"Oh..." Rei looked at their joined hands so Kai wouldn't see the disappointment there. "I should have known that."

"I'm sorry Kitten. But I promise soon this wont be a problem."

"It's alright."

"I promise Rei that this weekend you and I will go off somewhere and do something, just the two of us with no interruptions."

Rei smiled and kissed Kai's cheek. "I'll hold you to that my Phoenix. Have a good night."

"You too Kitten. Sweet dreams too" Kai stood up and then offered his hand to help Rei. Then the Chinese teen was on this feet Kai pulled him close for a passionate kiss.

XxXxXx

Kai sat in the dimly lit lab next to the computer and had several books opened. He had still yet to find anything on this Raymond Kong, he was ready to give up, but with Voltaire sitting in the room he didn't dare to it unless he wanted to get beaten. Plus he heard that Tala was returning tomorrow and he could get help then, as long as the red head didn't try and do anything stupid again. But for now his trailed was colder then a vampire's touch and that really bothered him.

Well that wasn't completely true, but he didn't want to try the possible lead he had. He refused to even think it again even if proof was there for him to suspect.

Lirin: sucks to be the Russians. i wonder if they'll get luck and find anything before the next new moon.

Tala: oh my beloved Kai i'm coming home to see you. welcome me back with open arms and a warm bed we can make hot like the good old days.

Kai: leave me alone Wolf!

Lirin: I'm going to leave those two alone, seems Tala isn't getting that Kai's moved on. so thanks for reading and please review.