Oh I had fun with this chapter xD

I always seem to have fun with Kai's chapters.

-Anii

Chapter 24: Kai

Kai plopped down on the courtyard bench, his head falling forward in his hands. He groaned loudly before throwing his head back and watching the gray sky above him. It had looked dreary all day but not a single rain drop had fallen from the sky, thankfully. Helen had him running errands all day and most of the time he was racing across the school campus.

"Zero how could you!?"

Kai's head snapped up as he saw a rather frazzled Headmaster prancing behind a furious looking Zero.

"I didn't do anything!" Zero snapped, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"I heard it from several girls that you were in the girls' locker room!" Kaien shouted, although he was still in his playful mode.

"I bet you any money that they were the girls bullying Diva in the locker room! That's why I went in. Isn't it the teacher's job to protect his students?!" Zero explained.

"But they could have been changing!" Kaien argued.

"I made sure everyone was dressed! Why are you stalking me damn it! Go bother someone else with your incessant chatter!" Zero's pace quickened

Kaien opened his mouth to rebut and Zero jabbed a long, thin finger in Kai's direction, "Why don't you go bother him?!"

Kai slouched in his seat, hoping he could turn invisible. He liked Kaien well enough but at the thought of being subjected to another errand, Kai's aching muscles howled in protest.

Miraculously, Kaien continued to follow Zero, shouting and frantically waving his arms as the two disappeared around a corner. Their voices dimmed until only silence remained. Kai let out a sigh of content and closed his eyes.

His peace, however, was shattered before it could even begin. Footsteps alerted him to someone's arrival and his eyes shot open. Haji stepped back, putting his hands up innocently. "I didn't mean to wake you."

Kai smiled and shook his head, "You didn't. Sorry. I didn't mean to jump like that."

Haji, in full gardener attire, began his meticulous work on the rosebushes without uttering another word. A group of chatting girls passed by and one broke away from the rest and wandered up to Haji, all smiles. Kai frowned as his protective side jumped forward.

They may be avoiding making their relationship official, but Haji was still technically his sister's boyfriend. Unfortunately, Saya couldn't openly admit to a relationship with the school's gardener since they were undercover.

Lost in his thoughts, Kai had missed the entire conversation but as his mind focused back on the girl and Haji, his brotherly attitude rose up higher and higher, breaking down his will more and more.

"So." The girl flicked her hair over her shoulders. "I was just wondering if you had a girlfriend."

Say yes. Say yes. Kai urged.

Haji rubbed the back of his neck and glanced away nervously, his pale cheeks turning as red as the roses beside him. "I don't."

Kai mentally face palmed as the girl's grin widened. "So, you're available?"

Haji blinked, confusion crossing his face. Oh god, don't say yes. Kai had the urge to bite his nails but his hands were busy keeping him glued to the bench.

"I'm not busy." Haji shrugged his shoulders. "So, yes. I'm available."

Double face palm.

The girl laughed cheerfully and playfully pushed Haji's shoulder. "I didn't mean available like that."

Haji's brow furrowed as his confusion grew. "Then how did you mean it?"

"I was asking if you'd want to date me?" The girl pressed a hand to her very developed chest to emphasis the word 'me'.

Kai wanted to slap a 'whore' sticker on her forehead and send her on her merry way. Stop that, Kai. She's probably a very nice girl. Kai told himself. Yeah, a very nice girl who steals your sister's boyfriend!

It wasn't that long ago that Kai was into girls just like her when he was in high school. But after all the things that had happened, girls who didn't respect themselves didn't even cross his mind. Maybe he really was an old man in a young guy's body but he had more important things to worry about than women. He had a brother to put through college and two sisters to protect. And apparently Haji needed protection too.

The Chevalier's entire face turned redder than a tomato and he stammered, unable to form a complete sentence. Oh dear lord, I have to save this idiot! Kai hissed to himself.

He launched up from his seat and slid one arm around Haji's waist. In seven years, Kai still hadn't grown taller than the pale Chevalier but he pushed that thought away for later. He gave the girl a dead serious look, "Actually, he's mine."

Her jaw went slack and Haji's blush was threatening to burn him into ashes. Kai nodded, "That's right, honey. Better find someone else to hit on."

The girl's eyes narrowed in disbelief so Kai planted a kiss on Haji's lips. As he mentally gagged, he flashed her a victorious smile. He turned to Haji, who stood as still as a statue, "See ya later, babe."

As Kai walked away, cool as a cucumber, Haji and the girl stood, motionless and stunned beyond belief. He shoved his hands deep in his pockets and cheered mentally. "Big brother to the rescue." He muttered jokingly. You're welcome, Saya.

A vibrating in his pocket made him stop momentarily as he pulled out the new cell phone. The screen displayed an unknown number but Kai answered it anyway. As he pressed the cell to his ear and continued his walk to his room, he said, "Hello?"

"Kai!"

Kai blinked and stopped mid-stride. "Mao?"

Mao laughed on the other end, "Who else?!"

"Sorry, I don't have your number." Kai began walking again and raised an eyebrow. "How'd you get this number anyway? This phone's new."

"I called Riku and he gave it to me." She answered simply. "You're dead next time I see you."

Kai cracked a smile. "Why am I in trouble now?"

"You came home and left without even calling me!" She pouted.

Kai laughed softly. "You're in Vietnam. I was home for a total of five minutes and then we were packed and ready to go."

"I don't care! I would have been on the next plane out of here!" Mao insisted.

Kai turned around a corner and stifled his laughter. "You wouldn't have used the private jet? I'm offended."

"That jet's for business only." Mao scoffed.

"You're a big shot now, you can do whatever the hell you want."

"I am not a big shot, Kai." Mao hissed playfully.

"Aren't you Okamura's right hand man?"

"Woman. But yes." She was trying to hide it but Kai still heard the pride in her voice.

Akihiro Okamura was a reporter who had helped the Red Shield later on in the Diva investigation and then joined the Red Shield as a full-time member. With the Red Shield's help, he became the owner of one of the leading newspapers and the top rated Okamura TV station.

In return, the Station and newspaper helped the Red Shield to get inside information and to also cover up some Chiropteran mishaps.

Mao was also a member of the Red Shield and she worked side by side with Okamura in the company's headquarters in Vietnam. She loved her job.

"It's good to hear from you, Mao." Kai said softly with a smile.

"We haven't spoken in years. What have you been up to since you left the military?" Mao asked just as softly.

"Oh you know, fighting Chiropterans, being a big brother, kissing men." Kai teased.

"K-kissing…? What the hell, Kai?" Mao demanded.

"Gotta go, Mao." Kai shouted loudly into the phone, cutting off her protests. "I'll call you tomorrow. Bye!"

He ended the call, chuckling to himself as he slipped his key into the lock. His phone vibrated again just as he twisted the key and he pulled out his phone, smiling. He answered without looking as he pushed his way into his apartment. "Look, Mao, it was just a one time thing. This girl was messing with Haji so I planted one on him-"

"Kai?"

Kai nearly dropped his phone as he heard his little brother's voice through the phone. "H-hey, Riku!"

"I'm not even going to ask. How's everything going at the Academy?" Riku muttered.

Kai kicked off his shoes. "It's boring. You aren't missing anything. We don't even have a single lead yet."

Riku mumbled something under his breath that Kai couldn't catch. "You'll let me know if something happens, right?"

Kai dropped down onto his bed, "Of course I will."

"You better. I have to go. It's time for Anna's lunch." Riku ended the call and Kai set his phone on the nightstand.

Homesickness crashed into him momentarily before he brushed it aside, putting his hands behind his head. He took a deep breath and felt his muscles relax as he lay still on his bed.

As an image of his lips on Haji's, Kai bolted upright. "I need to brush my teeth."

He smelled sweat and his nose crinkled. "And a shower."

Okamura really didn't get a TV station and newspaper of his own at the end of B+ but I just thought it'd be a nice touch xD Anyways, please leave a review! -Anii