Rim: Now I'm ready to work with this story after procrastinating forever and a day. Since I figured out that I didn't want to work with Tyson and Kenny, this chapter, here's the less mentioned cast when those two aren't around.
-oooooo-
"You have to use this formula in order to uncover the theorem for the triangle," Michael pointed to the unknown equation Kain was trying to apply to another side of the acute triangle in his textbook. Kain raised his eyes from the book, giving Michael a funny look the red head interrupted as another one of those 'I have no clue in hell what you're talking about' stares. Michael held back a chuckle, seeing as how he didn't know how the blue haired man was going to make it in business if he couldn't do simple college level trigonometry.
"Do you want to run that by me once more?" Kain questioned. "I think it went out one ear and out the other."
"No really?" Michael said the corners of his mouth quirking into a smile. "How do you manage to succeed in business if things like this are going into one ear and out the other?"
"Easy, I'm going to get other people to do it for me," Kain commented, before receiving a slap over the head by his friend. "What was that for?"
"Focus on the work, or you're going to get embezzled out of everything you own," Michael stated, pointing back to the triangle. "Now like I was saying, you have to uncover the theorem."
"You're worst than Kenny, I think you two need to break up because you're starting to be influence by the wrong forces," Kain complained. "By the way, have you heard from your boyfriend since he left on his trip with Tyson?"
"Not as of yet, but I don't expect him to call me every hour on the hour. He's enjoying time with old friends," Michael said with another smile. "And if anything, he can tell me all about the trip when he comes back. He deserves a little time to himself away from things."
"You are one of the most understanding boyfriends I've ever had the courtesy of knowing. Considering the things that have been going on between you, Kenny, and Tala, most people would be on their last nerves by now," Kain leaned back in his chair, eyeing Michael who was unconcerned. Tilting his head to the side, Kain squinted slightly, trying to place his finger on the source of Michael's overabundance when it came to calm. "I don't get it. Tell me what I'm missing out of this."
"Pardon me if I don't understand what you mean," Michael replied, turning his attention back to Kain.
"I'm saying I don't understand how you can just be okay with all this. You're cooler than a cucumber, even after you had dinner with the ex. The same ex who tried to have his way with your boyfriend in a car, and made him cry. Had it been me, I would have more than a few choice words with him," Kain explained.
"You know what happened to him, so don't you think it's a little excessive in doing so. He was only--" Michael started.
"Being selfish and not thinking about whether or not Kenny might have fallen in love with someone else--" Kain replied.
"He was only being himself in thinking that he still had Kenny because he didn't know that Kenny would move on like that. I'm sure Kenny was his first love in the same manner that he was Kenny's. It's hard as hell to get over your first love."
"I wouldn't know," Kain shrugged. "I'm still with my first love."
"Well, you're an exception to the rule, but if Rei wanted to get rid of you, and go with some hot guy he met in a club or bar, you would moping around here for who knows how long trying to get over him," Michael said.
"Don't forget to put into the equation that he left Kenny thinking that he was dead for three years, so he has to take into account that it's natural to try to move on with your life after something like that happening. If he didn't want Kenny to fall in love with someone else, he should have got in contact with Kenny and tell the person he love, that he's alive. He has no idea what Rei and I had to go through picking Kenny back up on his feet," Kain argued, crossing his arms over one another.
"If we're going to take that into the equation, we should also add in that he might not have been able to contact Kenny over the course of the three years he was missing. Don't you think it's strange that he would just disappear all together for three years with no word to the person he loves?" Michael countered.
"I suppose if you're right," Kain thought. "He better have a damn good reason, or I will have to bash his head in for putting through hell and high water when this is all over."
"However it ends will be fine with me. Just as long as Kenny remains happy," Michael smiled. Kain said nothing for a long minute, his mind going over what the red head just said. Before silence could settle between them, Kain spoke once again.
"You're saying that because of your scholarship, aren't you? Have you told Kenny about it yet, or are you trying to find the right moment to spring it on him?" Kain closed his Trig book, turning his full attention on his friend.
"I guess you aren't as dense as you appear to be at times," Michael teased.
"You keep that up and I'm going to get violent on you," Kain threatened.
"You keep that up and we're going to make you Tyson's first mental patient to be put on medication. Of course if you don't calm your manic ass down, we might forget about the medication and I'll treat you to a club over the head, then explain to the cops once they get here it was self defense," Michael voiced.
"I'd like to see you try to club me over the head," Kain glared playfully at his friend. "Kenny's going to come back and is going to mourn that your balls are glued to your forehead."
"That's it, I'm so not helping you anymore," Michael shook his head. "You're the last person I want sticking their hands into my pants and trying to molest me. Does Rei know about your fetish?"
"What do you mean fetish?" Kain exclaimed, drawing the attention of people walking by their table in the small cafeteria a block away from their school's campus. It was where many students came and got work done for Monday classes on the weekend. The food was always fresh and made only when ordered; the cafeteria being one of the best places around where college kids could get a good meal for cheap.
"Take it easy, calm down before you short circuit," Michael laughed, getting up from the table. "I left you my notes, so you should be fine."
"Where are you going?" Kain raised a brow.
"I promised my stepfather that I was going to meet the couple trying to rent out an apartment downstairs from me. He's not able to meet with them since he's across town, so I'm fulfilling my duties as the reliable son," Michael responded.
"Well you do what you need to do, I'll call you later if I have any problems with this damn triangle," Kain pointed to his book.
"You're still stuck on that same triangle if you call me I'm going to have to take you back to basic arithmetic and leave you there," Michael grinned, walking away from the table while Kain voiced more threats to the red head. A few students walking by the table gave Kain worried looks, whispering to each other while they passed by.
Michael shook his head listening to Kain vent then turned his thought towards the acceptance letter that recently came in the mail for him accepting him the next semester to a school in Michigan. It was what he had been hoping for since he first realized that he wanted baseball to be his career. Neither his mother nor stepfather objected to it when he sat them both down and explained what he was going to do for college. He had the skill, he was willing to work with determination to make his dreams come true, and his parents backed him on it. The only factor which he had yet to add in to the formula was Kenny.
Of course he was going to let Kenny know about this change of events and give him an option as to what he wanted to do, but there was no way he was going to force his boyfriend to tag along with him so far away from his family and friends. Not to mention, Kenny still had to settle things with his former lover. Until his mind was clear over his past feelings and current ones, Michael was going to leave the brunette to come to his own conclusion without interference.
-oooo-
Ozuma leaned back in his seat staring at the people chatting at other tables or walking past his. One or two girls gave him an interested look every now and then to get his attention, but he was far from being in the mood of some flirty girl who wanted a one night stand out of him. It might make him feel better to have a no strings attached affair, however right now he was settling on being pissed off. Halfway with Tyson taking this trip all so suddenly, and his friends refusing to let him sit in his room quietly brooding. Instead, they dragged him out to eat with them, never minding what might be putting him in such a foul state.
Ozuma turned his attention on the three boys that were wrestling over a boneless buffalo wing that his spiky, wild haired friend came out the victor of. The dark haired boy popped the entire wing in his mouth as the other two boys with him, a brunette and a short blonde sitting next to the boy who won out over the wing. Ozuma shook his head, listening to the other two boys complain at the tallest member of the group.
"Next time, will you give someone other than your mouth a chance to have some food," complained the blonde, leaning back in the chair. "It's okay when the rest of us aren't around to woof down the food, but damn you Gouki."
"Don't blame me that the two of you don't eat fast enough," the aptly named Gouki grinned between chews.
"No, we just can't help that you eat too much," the blonde shot back.
"Hey Ozuma, you've been quiet all afternoon, what's up with you?" the other brunette said, frowning at his friend of two years. In fact, all three of them went to the same high school and it wasn't until their last month as juniors the three of them began hanging out together.
Ozuma turned his attention on the geeky looking brunette. "I thought I told you three that I wasn't in the mood to watch you stuff your faces and try to hit on girls. I just wanted to stay in my dorm room and be alone."
"What the hell crawled up your ass?" Gouki cocked a brow.
"Other than what's usually up his ass," laughed the blonde.
"Good one Jim," Gouki chuckled.
"Screw you." Ozuma flipped them off with a deep scowl set in his brows. "The only reason I hang around you losers is because I have nothing better to do with my time."
"Is that love we here in your voice, Ozu?" the brunette teased.
"Shut up Wyatt," Ozuma glared at the brunette who held up his hands defensively.
"I thought you were on cloud now? Is there trouble in heaven already with the new boyfriend?" Jim questioned. "We haven't met him yet, and there's already something wrong with him. You really know how to pick from the orchid, don't you, Ozu? So tell us what's wrong with this one."
"The ex is back in the picture...I understood what happened, but I thought he was over the guy. Not to mention the guy is a complete asshole, but Tyson is still head over heels in love with him. He didn't even say a word to the guy when he completely insulted me. I'm starting to suspect that Tyson wants to be with that bastard again," Ozuma said.
"And where's the beau now?" Wyatt questioned.
"The way I heard it, he's suppose to be taking some sort of trip with his cousin to visit friends. He's going to be gone the whole weekend," Ozuma stated.
"I wouldn't be fooled by that if I were you," Jim snorted. "He might have told you that he was going to visit friends, but he might just be sneaking behind your back to screw with the ex."
"You should drop the slut in my opinion," Gouki shook his head. "It's obvious that the tramp isn't interested in you anymore now that his ex is back in the picture. I've seen his types before. They tell you they're over the ex, but the minute he pops ups, they flock right back to him. You're only going to end up hurt if you keep him around."
"I'm in agreement with Gouki on this one," Wyatt added in. "You're messing with a dangerous fire."
"Not to mention the whore has no problem hurting your feelings over this. Just give him up. There are plenty of people who would give if you paid them a little attention," Jim said, jerking his thumb in the direction of another set of girls eyeing Ozuma interestedly.
"Let's not forget about the ever so lovely Victoria, who has had her eyes on you for a long while now," Jim commented.
"What do you mean by that? Vic and I are practically like siblings," Ozuma argued.
"You mean to tell me you have never noticed the wayward glances she gives you. She's not always joking when she says things, Ozu," Jim responded. "She means all of what she says. From what I hear, she's been in love with you for as long as she's known you."
"I've heard the same thing," Wyatt nodded. "I think you should really give her a chance and drop the worthless sack of crap you're going with now."
"Maybe you're--" Ozuma trailed off, his eyes meeting with the dual haired bluenette that just walked into the restaurant and up to the counter. Eyes of interest that once were focused on Ozuma shot to the newcomer; girls around him whispering about how sexy or hot the dual haired man looked. "Hell..."
"What?" the three guys said concurrently, staring at Ozuma.
"The guy at the register that just came in," Ozuma glared.
"That dude? What about him?" Wyatt turned his head to see the man placing an order with the chick at the register who looked about ready to leap over the counter and maul the unsuspecting guy.
"That's the ex," Ozuma growled.
"That's the loser your beau is jumping through hoops over?" Jim rolled his eyes. "He's just another pretty boy to me. There's nothing ever special about his brand. God, your beau is shallow."
"I say we go over and beat the crap out of him," Gouki said.
"I don't want to hear Tyson's mouth about it," Ozuma muttered, pulling his eyes away from the man who took the receipt from the register girl and walked back out of the restaurant, taking with him the hearts of every girl in there.
"Forget that skank," Jim stated, standing up from his seat. "What do you care if he's going to get pissed off because you beat up his little pretty boy? You're going to break up with him soon anyway, aren't you? So come on. Let's go after the bastard and teach him a lesson."
"It's up to you, Ozu," Wyatt offered. "We're not going to do a thing without your say so. In these types of instances, sometimes it's best to throw caution to the wind and do what makes you feel better."
"Look, see, even Wyatt of all people says we should go bash this guy's head into his skull and be done with it," Gouki pressured. "Just say the word, and we're out of here."
"Maybe it will help me feel better," Ozuma said slowly, getting up from the table.
"Sweet, I need a fight, this is the perfect excuse to have one," Gouki beamed, grabbing his coat and pulling it on.
The others followed example then left the restaurant, finding the bluenette walking down the street only a few yards in front of them. Taking brisk steps, the four teens followed behind their target that was anything but oblivious to the fact he was being followed. Kai just didn't believe Tyson's boyfriend was so stupid to try to gang up on him. Kai had figured when he spotted the brunette with three other guys, he was going to continue glaring at him and not make such an idiot move as what they were obviously planning to do.
Of course, who was he to let them be disappointed with this confrontation? Continuing on his way, Kai turned off, bee lining directly for the empty parking lot surrounded by two high buildings that would be adequate enough to keep bystanders from viewing what was about to go down. As expected, the four boys followed him, stopping four yards from him. Kai silently sized each one up, his eyes lingering momentarily on the tallest one who couldn't been no more than a few centimeters taller than Kai at best. This one was itching for a fight, Kai could feel it; it would probably be best if he took the big guy out first then work his way down to the small fries, leaving Tyson's boyfriend as dessert.
"Looks like he's not as stupid as he appeared to be," the tall dark haired guy smirked, walking up to Kai whilst the other's followed in his trail. Kai said nothing, cutting his eyes to Ozuma. "How nice of you to lead us here so we can kick your ass without an audience."
"I think he's scared Gouki," the short blonde said.
"You're not so tough when you have your friend around you, are you?" Ozuma said, stepping forward. "So tell me, where's my boyfriend at?"
"From what I last heard, he went to see his childhood friends," Kai said coolly, seeing anger flare in Ozuma's eyes.
"That little bit--" Ozuma started.
"Don't make the mistake to disrespect him in front of me. I'm not the type of person who likes to hear those sorts of things coming out about someone I know, unless they actually deserve it. And from what I know, Tyson's the last person you should be calling a bitch," Kai interrupted, narrowing his eyes with disgust. "He's not the one who told me about the trip before you get your panties in a knot and rant. My cousin heard that little piece of information from Tyson's cousin, and told me."
"Yeah, I'm sure," Ozuma snarled. "For all I know he's back at your place right now."
"Do you really think that if he was at my place, I would be standing here talking to you and wondering why you are afraid to approach me without an entourage trailing behind you," Kai said with an arrogant grin crossing his lips to find the shorter male flushing in anger. "Sorry, did I hit a nerve on that last note?"
"Ozuma let me handle him," the tall guy the blonde had called Gouki growled, cracking his knuckles, still eyeing Kai. "I can make him sing a different note in a few seconds."
"That's right Ozuma pass off your dirty work to someone else. Who knows, he might be able to land a blow on me before the three of you have to drag him to the hospital. Of course I might actually be nice and have my cousin pick us up, and we give you a lift to the emergency entrance," Kai responded.
"Ozuma, move," Gouki ordered, drawing his fist back.
"Bring it on, I want to see what you can do," Kai beckoned. The other three men scattered as Gouki lunged himself at Kai, swinging. Kai leaned back, the blow Gouki aimed at his head missing. Stepping in, Kai booted Gouki in the chest, sending the boy wheeling back, clenching the area as he tried to get his breathe back. Out the corner of his eyes, Kai saw the blonde. Shifting in his direction, he grabbed the blonde's arm, wrenching it behind his back and shoving him into his tall friend. The two of them tumbled over each other, falling back.
About this time, Kai felt the blow in his back. Turning around, he raised a brow at Ozuma who was drawing back to hit him again. Blocking the next attack, Kai happily returned the blow, watching Ozuma hitting the ground. Walking up to the aqua eyed teen, he leaned down, shaking his head, as Ozuma pulled himself up, moving his hand to wipe away the blood gushing from his nose.
Tilting his head to the side, he heard the big guy getting up, rushing at him. Ignoring Ozuma for a few seconds, Kai went in low as the guy swung again. Narrowing his eyes, Kai came up with an uppercut, sending the guy wheeling back again from the blow. Taking the opportunity to follow up with a second blow, Kai cocked back his other fist, hammering the slightly taller man in the temple, bringing him back down again.
The blonde tried tackling Kai around the waist and bringing him down. Raising his elbow, Kai brought it down a couple of times in the middle of the blonde's back until he let go. Ramming his knee into the abdomen of the blonde, he allowed the man to hit the ground, holding his stomach as he retched up dry coughs. Turning back to Ozuma, a fist caught him square in the face, pushing him back. Looking down the teen who was smirking because he got a blow off, Kai grabbed Ozuma's fist.
"Now that you've got your hit, let me return it with interest," Kai grinned, ramming his fist repeatedly into the side of Ozuma's temple. Releasing the now dazed teen, Kai smashed his fist into the boy's face, sending him sprawling back to the ground. Bending down, Kai picked Ozuma up by his hair. "Now have you learned your lesson yet?"
"Fuck you..." Ozuma spat.
"That's the wrong answer I was looking for," Kai said, drawing back and bashing his fist into Ozuma's face again. "Now, let's try this again. Have you learned your lesson?"
"Fuck...you..." Ozuma repeated.
"As I said, that's not the answer I was looking for," Kai sighed, striking Ozuma again in the face. "Now are you going to say it, or will I have to use your head as a punching bag for the next few minutes until you're unconscious?"
"Leave him alone!" Kai tilted his head to see the brunette who had stayed out of the fight pulling out a cell phone. "Leave him alone or I'm going to call the police."
"Well, at least someone was smart enough not to get involved with this fight," Kai remarked, dropping Ozuma on the ground. Dusting off his clothes, he walked towards the brunette who took backwards steps away from him. "Don't worry I don't have a reason to hit you. You were the only smart one to realize had you got involve, you would be spending the next few weeks nursing a raped ego. However, calling the police...that would be a bad idea considering that I was the one attacked, I might have to file charges. You know how that goes."
"Just leave them alone, and I'll look the other way about this," the brunette squeaked as Kai walked past him.
"If that's how you want to do it, then I'm all for it," Kai grinned, walking away. "Whenever Ozuma comes back around, tell him don't do anything foolish like this again. Next time I won't hesitate to not hold back."
-oooo-
Rei sipped on his mocha latte, lifting his eyes to the two men sitting across from him, enjoying their own drinks. He waited for one or both of them to speaking, wanting to hear what they had to say before he put out his own opinion first. It was hardly ever that Rei sought out Oliver, but it was one of those instances he needed closure on something.
"So," Rei started when neither Oliver nor Robert spoke. The two looked up from their drinks, focusing their full attention on the dark haired young man who happened to see them in the café on his way over to Kain's place and had asked them for a few minutes of their time. "How have you both been?"
"Fine, I can't complain too much over things," Oliver smiled, putting down his cup. "You seem to be in good spirits, yourself Kon."
"I guess so. I'm working hard on keeping things in order with school, home, my boyfriend, and Kenny. I suppose this is exactly why they call me a mother hen," Rei flushed.
"I wouldn't consider you a mother hen," Robert spoke. "It's natural to worry about your friends when what's happening to Kenny occurs. Sometimes it's better to worry a lot than worry a little. So many things can go wrong when you worry a little that you're not prepared for, but even if you worry a lot, you're always prepare for any scenario that arises."
"I've never thought of it that way before," Rei admitted.
"Robert's right, you have nothing to be ashamed about worrying over Kenny," Oliver nodded. "He will be able to work this out with Michael and Tala."
"I really hope so," Rei sighed. "I've been worrying about him ever since he realized he had feelings for Michael. I don't want to see him hurt anymore than he has been already. I remember when he first thought Tala was dead. It was as if I lost my best friend. You would see him smile, but you knew the only thing putting it there was a need to not worry everyone around him."
"I can imagine how it must have been for him. The way he first talked about his book and Tala, you can tell," Oliver commented.
"How is his book coming along anyway?" Rei tilted his head, looking between Robert and Oliver. "He keeps telling me that when he's finished, he will allow me to read it but he doesn't want to ruin the surprise of it yet."
"You should probably ask Robert how it's coming along, I've handed over my editor position to him," Oliver said.
"Oh really, I wasn't informed on that," Robert smiled.
"I thought you knew," Oliver raised a brow. "Do not tell me that old age is settling in already."
"You're not cute," Robert frowned.
"From what I've been told, I'm adorable," Oliver batted his eyes at his friend playfully.
"You two are almost worse than Kenny and Kain. Only I don't think anyone has threatened to lock the other in jail for assault...I hope," Rei blinked, a smile crossing his lips.
"Not recently," Robert said simply. "I'm still plotting on how I'll be able to get away with murdering him."
"Don't you mean you're trying to find a way to tell the police that I murdered you?" Oliver countered.
"Okay...I stand corrected, you two are worse than Kain and Kenny," Rei said, standing up from his seat once he was finished with his latte. "I'm just going to leave you two to plot each other's death and I'm going to head off on my way."
"Yes, I think it's best that we don't have any witnesses," Robert nodded.
"I'm going to worry now," Rei pointed out, moving away from the table. "Someone let me know if I have to call the authorities to make sure you're all right."
"Worry not," Oliver smiled. "I'm glad we were able to make you feel better. Sometimes it helps to confine in someone other than people you know very well. They may give you a deeper insight into your own feelings and thoughts."
"I suppose you're right," Rei said. "Thanks for the advice." Leaving Oliver and Robert, Rei headed out of the café. Pulling his coat tighter around him, Rei shoved his hands into his pockets.
He couldn't wait for the warmer weather to finally hit so that the cold winter nights would finally let up and he didn't have to bundle up under fifty blankets to keep warm. Snow crunched under his boots as he walked along the new snow dusted sidewalk, taking in the scenery around him. Stopping at the crosswalk, he kicked a clump of snow near his foot, looking over at the crosswalk sign as someone stepped beside him. Looking up at the new arrival, he was shocked to find Tala of all people beside him.
"Tala...?" Rei said, catching the red head's attention. Tala looked down into gold eyes, finding Kenny's friend standing beside him. "Hi..."
"You're Rei...right?" Tala blinked, having to search through his thoughts to remember the raven haired young man's name. Seeing the smile rise to the young man's lips, Tala returned it briefly.
"Funny meeting you at a crosswalk," Rei said, wondering if he was going to be able to get the red head to chat with him.
"Funnier things have happened," Tala shrugged.
"I suppose you're right," Rei smiled. "I was about to head over to see my boyfriend, then I got distracted, now I have no idea where I plan to go. What about you?"
"I went looking for my cousin, I haven't seen him for a few hours," Tala answered. "I figured maybe if I walked around, I would be able to find him." For a long second Tala watched the other male's eyes flicker reflective as he contemplated something in his head. Moments later, Rei turned his attention on Tala with another smile.
"You don't mind I help you do you?" Rei wondered.
"I guess not..." Tala hesitated, not knowing whether to make heads or tails of Rei.
Noting the hesitation, Rei gave him a reassuring smile. "I'm not trying to spy on your or gather information. I just thought it would be nice to talk. You can turn me down if you feel uncomfortable with it. I won't take offense or anything."
"It's fine. I believe you would never interrogate me for others," Tala interrupted. "Tell me though...since we're on that subject. Just how much has Kenny told you about things?"
"Anything specific you're asking that I know about?" Rei tilted his head up at Tala.
"Everything not including what occurred three years ago. I'm asking about more recently concerning Kenny and his boyfriend," Tala explained.
The crosswalk sign changed, allowing them to walk across. "There's really not much to tell. You want Kenny to make up his mind about who he wants to be with. Pardon me putting it that way."
"You don't have to apologize, I want you to be honest with me," Tala announced. "Sometimes the truth is ugly."
"Well..." Rei chewed on his bottom lip briefly, then went back to speaking. "Michael hasn't really taken a side in this from what I heard. He's willing to go along with whatever Kenny decides to do in the end. I also know about what you did to Kenny when he first found out that you were alive. I'm not going to say anything towards it, I understand in a sense why you did what you did."
"You must be the rational friend," Tala simpered. "The bluenette reminds me of Tyson."
"Had Kain ever heard you say that, I do believe he would be very upset with you," Rei chuckled.
"More so than he is?" Tala questioned.
"You have a point there," Rei nodded.
"Kenny went to go visit Tyson's friends," Tala said. "He plans to tell the woman that looked out for me and Kai growing up that we're alive. I wonder how she's going to take it. I'm sure if she had her way, she would be giving us an earful right now. She was that sort of person. She would probably want an explanation also."
"Have you told Kenny yet why you were gone for three years?" Rei asked. "It was very hard on him to believe you were dead for so long. It broke him up hard. At times I worried he would never pull himself back together."
"Do you blame me for it?" Tala looked down at Rei curiously, searching his face for any animosity. "I blame myself for allowing him to go so long without knowing."
"No, there's no point blaming you, it's not going to get me anywhere except frustration. We might as well drop the blame game because it's useless to either of us," Rei shrugged indifferently. "I have a feeling something happened where you had no choice but to disappear, am I right Tala? Otherwise why would you wait so long to pop up. Had you been toying with Kenny's feeling from the get go, I would have known and Kain wouldn't have a need to kick your ass. I would have done it for him."
"You're insightful kitten..." Tala murmured, a smile warming his face. "I'm beginning to like you more and more."
"So," Rei pushed a little bit, wondering if Tala was going to shell up.
"I don't know what I'm going to do about Kenny. There's a lot I have to tell him about what happened three years ago. None of it is pleasant, it left holes through us. Often we can't sleep or function due to it," Tala admitted. "I don't want him to cry or suffer because of it. I'm tempted not to tell him at all, just make up something to appease him."
"You don't wan to take the coward's way out of things, do you?" Rei added in.
"I've never in my life. I walk forward, taking the crap thrown at me," Tala sighed. "I guess that's why I'm so screwed up now."
"I hope that you'll be able to heal. Kenny never told me everything about your past. The pieces he's shared, it seems to me you're the last person who deserves to suffer in this world. I believe things will work out in the end," Rei assured.
"Are you saying that because you're trying to make me feel better?" Tala raised a brow, looking at Rei.
"I'm saying it because it's true," Rei shook his head. "Today, someone told me that there will be times you have to confine in someone you hardly know to often make the right decisions and choices in life. It doesn't hurt to have an unbiased opinion every now and then either."
"Maybe you're right kitten," Tala thought. "Just maybe this is what I needed."
"No need to thank me, if you ever need to have another talk, I'm always free," Rei beamed.
"I'll keep it in mind then," Tala said returning the smile. "What about for anything else?"
"Don't push your luck," Rei commented, catching the look he was receiving from the red head.
"I was just testing my limits," Tala replied. "Only joking no need to look like you wish to castrate me." Rei said nothing as they continued on their search for Kai, however he had a feeling he just found himself a new friend in the red head. He couldn't quite place his finger on it; there was just this huge hunch...and maybe the lopsided grin on the red head's face.
-oooooo-
Rim: There sweet heavenly potatoes, I'm finally finished with this chapter. After several weeks of procrastinating. And Chao...that fight was so predestined long before you said a word about it, so don't think that I did it for you. Okay, maybe partially for you. Moving on now, I'm going back to reading my new Sherrilyn Kenyon novel.