Chapter 11
"And I lie until I don't know who I am"
Don't Lie- The Black Eyed Peas
Another day, another annoyance. It had been week since the stupid picnic and Tyson and Kai's tussle, but Rei and Max were still acting as if Kai were about to attack Tyson. Kai understood where they're concern came from, but couldn't they be a little less obvious with their constant watching?
After learning about the fight between Tyson and him from Grandpa, Max and Rei switched off on stalking Kai. Right now, Rei was the one who was trying to discreetly follow him, but the neko-jin was failing miserably.
Wouldn't it be smarter to guard Tyson by staying near Tyson? Honestly, Rei and Max were hopeless. If Kai managed to slip out of their sight (which he could whenever he so chose) then who would be there to protect Tyson? Originally, Kai had thought Rei and Max were watching him and Tyson, but that idea was thrown out the window when Kai found Rei taking nap during one of Max's watch hours.
So now he was stuck with two busybodies tailing him everywhere, including the bathroom! Granted they didn't enter the bathroom with him, but they stayed close to the door. How did Kai know this? Because he always heard their feet scuttling away from the door after he finished his business.
Prisoners had more privacy than him.
Today was going to be different. He was tired and cranky, and would not stand for anymore of this stalking! He had a plan formulated perfectly in his head. The first step was getting him and his current follower outside, and away from where others could hear them, which he was doing at the moment.
He was outside of the dojo, trying to find a place far away from the building, but close enough so as not to alert his stalker to his plans. There was a tall tree that could provide shade and was about the correct distance away from the dojo. Kai chose that as the spot to confront his stalker.
As he headed for the tree he could hear the soft footsteps following him, and smirked inside. This was too easy. Did Rei really think he hadn't noticed what Max and him had been doing? The neko-jin would soon learn his lesson.
It wasn't until under the tree did Kai spin on his heel and glare. His stalker wouldn't have enough to run and hide.
His gaze locked onto the dumbstruck form of Rei. The Neko-jin was frozen in place. He wasn't breathing. The only sign of life in him was his moving eyes, which were desperately trying to find something to look at that wasn't Kai.
Kai let his eyes narrow; knowing what affect it would have on his teammate.
Rei didn't disappoint. The narrowed look caused him to twitch nervously and bow his head in shame. He silently admitted his defeat.
"Are you going to tell me why Max and you have been following me this last week?" Kai demanded even though he knew the answer. He wanted to hear Rei confess what Max and him had been doing. Then Kai would rub the disgraceful deed in Rei's face, and make the neko-jin regret ever spying on him.
"I think you know why I was following you," Rei spoke with a confidence Kai knew the neko-jin didn't possess. Rei's ability to feign calm and confidence was a trait Kai normally admired, but it was a disturbance now. He would make Rei drop his façade.
"I could assume many things, Kon. I suggest you tell me why, before things get complicated." Rei showed no sign of hearing the hidden threat in Kai's tone, but Kai knew Rei was aware of what he meant. Rei was too smart not too.
"I don't want Tyson to run away again, and neither does Max." Rei clenched his fists, and aimed a dirty look at the ground. The show of anger made Kai raise a brow in curiosity. Rei was clearly holding back. His words were laced with a secret passion that was aimed at Kai. This passion was indisputable loathing.
Scoffing, Kai feigned ignorance. "I don't see what Tyson's departure has to do with me."
"Don't lie, Kai!" Rei practically hissed. The loathing Rei was trying hide was seeping out; Kai wouldn't be surprised Rei tried to punch him. "You know that Tyson ran away because of you!"
Kai's sadistic side hummed with glee. Manipulating Rei's emotions was becoming a game; a game where Kai controlled the outcome. "Why would Tyson leave because of me?"
"Don't act like you don't know," Rei spat, fighting back a scowl. It must have been hard for Rei to try to hold on to his mask of composure while wanting to shout at the top of his lungs. It almost made Kai want to take pity on him, almost being the key word.
"Obviously I don't," Kai muttered, letting a hint of anger slip into his voice. "You seem to know everything that is going on, which must mean you are involved in Tyson's departure, not me."
"What?" Rei gasped.
Kai let his smirk show on his face. "Listen, Kon. The only people who know why Tyson ran away are Tyson and whoever is involved. Whatever someone has told you could be a complete lie, or if you're lucky, possibly a half-truth. So may I suggest you and Max stay out of affairs that are not yours."
Rei's jaw went slack. He stared wide-eyed at Kai in disbelief and shock. His body had gone numb from the shock. Not even the bubbling rage in his stomach at the superior look Kai gave him was enough to make him move. He couldn't even reach out a hand when Kai walked passed him.
X.X.X.X.X.X.X.
"You told Max didn't you?"
Kai watched with mixed feelings as Tyson tensed at his voice. Once again he had entered the bluenette's room without permission; it was slowly becoming a habit.
A part of him was satisfied to see such a reaction from Tyson, but another part ached at it. It was the same part of him that had raged with jealous at seeing Tyson staring at Tala. It was also the part that had been taken aback when Tyson questioned him about his jealousy, and the part that had fallen with despair when Tyson thought Kai had feelings for Tala.
Kai had always thought of himself as level-headed, but his dual feelings were beginning to wreck havoc on his mind.
"I didn't tell him everything," Tyson mumbled shyly. His hand ran nervously over his desk where he was located. He couldn't look Kai in the eye, and the same part in Kai that ached glowed with shame.
It took a small portion of Kai's will power to hide the emotions from Tyson, but he wondered what would happen if he didn't.
Kai mentally scolded himself. Now was not the time for such thoughts. "What did you tell him?"
"We fight, and it gets violent." Tyson answered weakly.
Kai sighed. "Good. Better that than the truth."
