CHAPTER 30

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Dylan Thomas

"Oh" King's guest uttered in surprise at the sight of Gabriela stooping by the door.

She quickly straightened her spine and smiled politely. "Sorry, I almost dropped the tray. Please forgive me for my carelessness, sir," she said with her fingers tight around the edges of the tray holding two cups of tea.

The man seemed to watch her with suspicion for a second, then his eyes cleared and he offered her a huge grin. "Nevermind, darling. Happens to all of us." Gabriela lifted her chin in response. He opened the door further and allowed her to slip past. "I'm off to the washroom. Tell Alistair I'll be right back. He's out on the balcony."

She thanked him and promised to inform her boss and was about to turn around when he said, "Be careful." Gabriela froze, her shoulders stiffening with panic. She looked over at him with fretful eyes, but he simply gestured to the tray. "With the tea." Then left, pulling the door closed after him.

o - o - o - o - o

Finals were starting next week. Tyson spent most of his day cramming for his exams, with Mike and Emily. Max joined their sessions every now and then but since his engineering pals loved him to bits and his girlfriend was possessive as hell, he often had to turn down their invitations to go spend time with them. Tyson understood the need to split time among his friends and partner, he found himself zoning out over Kai frequently during these study meets.

Right now, they were in the library, Tyson copying Emily's lecture notes because she made the best notes while Mike and Em debated over everything on the face of the earth. They just couldn't agree with each other on any matter.

"Mint chocolate, Mike? Are you insane? It tastes like toothpaste. Who wants to eat ice cream that tastes like toothpaste?"

"I don't know, people who have always wanted to eat toothpaste but couldn't because it wasn't edible?"

"Excuse me, what?"

Tyson tried to concentrate on the line he was reading while his friends argued in hushed tones in front of him. He tried and failed. Thoughts of Kai swimming up to the surface and distracting him. He itched to text or call him or do something…

They hadn't seen each other since last Friday and that was four days ago. They'd agreed to not meet on the coming weekend because finals were upon Tyson and it was killing him. Usually he could tamp down these urges by reminding himself that he'd be able to see him again in less than five days. Now that that was not an option, he was growing more and more restless as each day passed without seeing his boyfriend's dark and thoroughly bored face.

He tapped the side of the pen against the desk and reread the line. He understood nothing. He wondered what Kai was doing right now. Probably toiling away in his office. Such a hard worker. Kai had told him that he slept only for four hours on weekdays, spending the rest of the time in his office, managing almost everything by himself because he trusted no one.

And Kai rarely showed the exhaustion he must be feeling because god forbid anybody catch the great Kai Hiwatari looking less than perfect. But on some days the tiredness crept through the cracks in different forms. On the Fridays he showed up later than usual because of pending work he couldn't postpone, Kai didn't argue with Tyson. He was very agreeable and less chattier than what was norm for him.

And Tyson easily caught on to these signs and didn't push him to do anything that required expending a significant amount of energy. Choosing to spend less time outside and more time inside. And when Tyson pulled him into his arms, he came without putting up much fight, melting into him and resting his head on his shoulder.

He liked these nights just as much as he liked the Fridays they went bowling or running. Tyson could talk for hours and Kai would listen to him go on and on. Occasionally asking a question or two that let him know he was paying attention. Tyson would drop little kisses on the crown of Kai's head that he otherwise wouldn't be able to and when he ran out of things to talk about, he sang. Unbelievably off key and in his raspy voice, unable to hit most of the high notes and simply belting whatever song came to mind because the terrible singing put Kai at complete ease.

"Don't you agree, Tyson?" Mike was asking him.

"Uh yeah" Tyson replied without knowing what exactly he was agreeing with and got back to work.

o - o - o - o - o

Kai was elbow deep in reports when Tyson called and startled him. "What?" he barked into the phone as soon as he answered.

"I miss you," said Tyson in a mellowed tone.

"And what am I supposed to do about that?" He turned a page, then rubbed his thumb between his eyebrows. A headache was coming. He could feel it. "You want me to drive forty five plus minutes in New York's traffic just to come see you?"

Tyson made a small sound of dejection. Then he said, "Yeah." He was insane. "It's been a week, Kai and we won't be meeting each other for another week and I- I'm going crazy." He heard him huff. "I miss you like crazy. I want to see you. I want to kiss you." And Kai could hear the need and desperation as clear as crystal in his voice.

Kai pinched the bridge of his nose, blinking down at the desk full of papers below. "My day is completely packed. I don't have the time to do that, Tyson." He hated letting him down but he wasn't lying about his schedule. He hadn't even had the time to have a proper lunch today.

Tyson was silent for a while. Then he muttered "okay" in the tiniest voice he'd heard him use and pressed a kiss into the microphone. At which Kai shook his head. "I miss you so much. God, I hate this week," he sighed.

"Bye, Tyson, I'll talk to you later." And he hung up before he got a chance to drag the conversation longer and make him procrastinate.

o - o - o - o - o

Tyson stared at the phone, disappointed and upset. He felt the entire week's weariness tugging at the edges of his soul. He was exhausted as all hell. He couldn't continue studying like this and so he slid the books off of his mattress, straightened out the covers and climbed under them. If this was going to be hell week then he was going to sleep most of it away.

When he woke again, the sun was setting and the room was dark with shadows. He turned to rest on his back when he sensed a weight beside him. Tyson opened his eyes to the sight of a milky arm tangled in bedding right by his side. Someone was buried in the covers next to him and he snatched the blanket off of their face. It took some careful peeling because the sheet was wound around their head and shoulders.

And under the grey blanket he found Kai's blissfully sleeping face. What the fuck? Was he dreaming? Tyson pulled the covers down to his chest, revealing his naked upper torso. Kai stirred, then his lashes fluttered as he came awake. He peered up at Tyson blearily. "Kai!" exclaimed Tyson.

"Hm" he grunted in reply. "Wha-?" He yawned.

"You're here," Tyson couldn't believe his eyes. "You're really here." A week of seeing dull faces everywhere that had him anticipating the apocalypse made the vision of Kai in front of him a sight for sore eyes. His heart danced around in his chest in joy.

"Hm yeah" Kai rubbed a hand over one eye and then smiled at him. A genuine smile. He definitely had to be dreaming. Tyson touched him. His skin was warm. He was real. "But you said you were busy. That you couldn't drive for such a long time. You didn't have-"

"I rescheduled the meetings. It's fine," Kai reassured him.

Tyson looked down at him in amazement. "You drove 'forty five plus minutes in New York's traffic just to come see me'?" he asked softly, feeling like his heart was about to burst.

"Yes" admitted Kai. Another smile. Oh my god. Tyson cupped his jaw, grinning at him. His chest began singing.

"God, I missed you so much." He hugged him. "I love you."

"You too," Kai whispered in his ear. Tyson pulled back to look at him again because he hadn't seen him since last Saturday. Kai stared at him through eyes open to a mere slit, purple orbs glinting grey between his lids. "Gimme a kiss," he requested.

Tyson's heart jumped. "Hold on" he said softly, then reached up and flipped the switch for the fairy lights strung around the room on. The room was immediately immersed in joy and colour and it matched the mood he was in. He could dance for all the happiness swelling inside of him.

He traced Kai's jaw with a finger, loving the hard and smooth feel of it. A question rose in his mind. "Do you know this feeling, Kai? When it seems like everything's perfect and we will all be alright even though that's not really true? We just feel that way because we are happy and content?"

Kai was gazing at him with tender eyes. "Is that how you feel right now?"

Tyson nodded. Kai ran a thumb along his chin. Then gently tugged on it, beckoning him closer. Tyson fell into his embrace the way a man who had worked hard all day and hadn't rested for a minute would lower himself down into the bed in complete relief and contentment. Kai kissed his mouth then. Sending them some place where nothing was wrong and everything was wonderful. Sparks exploding behind his eyelids.

o - o - o - o - o

He stood outside the cacophonous stadium under the dark and ruddy sky. A streak of red slashing through the darkness from where the sun was setting at the lowest point near the horizon. It stretched across where he stood, cloaked in a long black coat with its collars turned up. He was on edge today. Something wouldn't settle inside him and he felt irritable and high-strung. King had mocked his age and inexperience for the thirtieth time earlier. They'd been in the lobby, exchanging pleasantries when he was suddenly made fun of for being only nineteen. "Still a little wet behind the ears this one," he'd remarked to his secretary with a smug grin. Gabriela had pressed her lips into a tight smile and glanced apologetically at him. His calm disposition had allowed him to still chuckle politely in return but a fire had been lit in him. And it craved to do some damage. Some explosive damage.

Yes, Kai was only nineteen. Turning twenty coming October. He was in some ways still immature. And immature people tended to act without thinking of the consequences of their actions first. And tonight he was angry in a way he hadn't been in a long time. And his immaturity was what was making him dial the gang he'd asked Tyson to ask JB to pay someone to pay someone to pay someone who knew how to blow things up and escape scot-free. The inmates of the building and the hosts would be given enough time to evacuate the place before the entire establishment went up in flames. Let King feel the heat sizzling his veins right now.

The call connected and a male voice spoke on the other end of the line. Kai closed his eyes against the carmine sun as he told them that tonight was the right time, envisioning a bedding of the same rich colour catching fire and reducing to ashes. No more pervy clients, Taeyong. You're a free man starting this hour.

o - o - o - o - o

Taeyon's glitter-lined eyes shone with bewilderment in the glow of the blazing building as he was ushered into a car along with other hosts by the same driver who always drove them to nail and hair appointments. Their managers were nowhere to be seen.

It had happened all of a sudden. Without any warning whatsoever. Taeyong had been primping in front of a gilded mirror, getting ready to go out on the stage next when the shouts and screams started. Eliza had darted in to the waiting room and screamed they were under attack. A bunch of guys in clown masks, carrying cans of kerosene and explosives were threatening to set the building on fire in under a minute.

The hosts in the room had run for their lives then, not caring how little they were wearing. He'd managed to catch a glimpse of the attackers. Masked and hooded. There was no identifying them. Once he'd reached outside, Taeyong had seen the clients who were dressed and clients who were in various states of undress spilling out of the building. The last of them making it out before an explosion struck and the roof was blown wide open. Fireworks erupted victoriously in the sky.

Taeyong scrambled with the other hosts toward the company owned cars they used for transportation with Eliza and Millie, his two best companions at the club as the rest of the bombs exploded. He got in and slammed the door shut blinking wide eyed at their assaulters. They had come in a single car, blasting some tinny electronic music at high volume. The car skidded in circles now, hurling bombs at the building from the window in glee. Mad men.

What did they want? Taeyong watched the clients escaping in their own luxury cars bearing brand logos. He worried what was going to happen to him now. Their contracts had been in the building but only copies. The original contracts were in King's vault in Shinjuku. Taeyong was thinking of Kai and his sincere-sounding vow to get him out of there. If Kai were behind this attack and this was his method of enacting revenge on King and keeping his word to Taeyong, then he needed to have thought twice about his plan. Burning one building down wouldn't accomplish anything. They could hole them somewhere discreet for a while till another building was arranged or have them do personal at-home service in the meantime. Taeyong hated. No, despised. At-home service. There were no security to keep them from doing something he didn't like to him. Nothing to keep him safe. Shit. Shit. Where were they going?

He looked out the window and then at the driver when he didn't recognize the route they were taking. Panic seared up his throat, wiping it dry. Hosts were rarely allowed to go outside the building. When they had to go to a doctor or a hair salon, they were driven there by a designated driver. They were always escorted to places. Never allowed to roam or linger. Taeyong didn't know what most of the outside world looked like. He didn't know any streets other than the ones they traveled past when being taken to appointments. And his belongings…

Oh god, it was only hitting him now. All of his belongings were burning down to nothing back in the building. Including the rose gold chain his sister Mia had given him the day they'd been shipped to America. It was the nicest thing she'd owned back then and she'd gifted it to him because she knew he liked it and he was depressed and guilty over getting caught and sent across oceans because of his stupid mistake. She'd done it simply to cheer him up and now it was gone. Its intricate designs melting into a shapeless puddle.

Taeyong put his head in his hands, feeling terrible. The car suddenly came to a stop outside a gate so tall he couldn't see what lay behind it. He noted the houses lining either side of the street and frowned. They looked big and boisterous. Where were they? Hosts were severely discouraged from asking questions but that had never stopped him from blurting things out when he was panicked. "What is this place? Where are we?" he asked in a rush. Eliza who was sitting beside him sent him a warning glance.

Taeyong ignored it. The driver didn't answer. Instead he turned around and asked him to step out of the car. Just him alone. And nobody else. "What? Why?"

"Get out, Tae," he insisted in a more tense tone. A pleading note underlying it. And it spurred him into action. Taeyong softly opened the door and stepped out. Feeling numb and out of body as his heels hit the paved ground.

Eliza and Millie sent him reassuring nods and looks even though he could see the worry in their glances as clear as day. Fuck. The door closed and the car turned right around and sped down the street they had come. Taeyong's breath escaped him in gasps. His body quivered in the scant clothing and heels. Shoulders shaking, he turned to face the wrought-iron gate. It opened as if it recognized his face and let him in.

Taeyong walked down the driveway with unsteady steps toward the well-lit house that mimicked the size of the others on the street but seemed less proud about it. He reached the end of the driveway and the foot of the steps leading to the house feeling as though he were in a dream and climbed up the stairs in a trance.

He had no money. A step. No mobile phone. Another step. He couldn't reach out for help. Another step. He was trapped. An ornamental fish in an aquarium. That swam around in circles. Round. And round. And round.

At last he reached the top step and one of the front doors were opened. Taeyong looked up and when he saw who owned the house, he felt a glimmer of hope for the second time in his unfair life.

o - o - o - o - o

"Can you calm down?"

"Am I uncalm?"

"Yes you are."

"Don't you think it's only appropriate given the fact that you burned down the company I've worked at for almost my entire life and all of my possessions are gone now?"

Kai considered him for a second. Kim Taeyong and all his 188 cm of fiery beauty. "Take a seat."

"No, thank you." He crossed his arms.

"At least let me explain then," Kai requested in a neutral tone. A lock of blonde hair twinkled in the overhead light.

"Fine" agreed Taeyong, but a frown still remained on his face.

Kai ran a hand through his hair, thankful for the silence. "Alright, I'll answer your questions in order. First one," he held up a finger, eyebrows raised, "where are your friends and other hosts? They are safe." Taeyong looked unconvinced, so Kai elaborated. "They're being taken to one of my safe houses outside the city. The driver agreed to cooperate with me because I can be social when I want to and he is a good guy who has always wanted to get you all out of there." Taeyong's shoulders relaxed a bit. "Second, what about your possessions? That's the sacrifice you're making for your freedom." Taeyong appeared outraged and was about to interrupt when Kai shot him a warning look. "Third, what do I think I'm doing burning down a company building hoping to free you when all of your original contracts are in King's mansion back in Shinjuku?" Kai took a breath. "First of all, I don't hope," he said with a humourless smile. "Second of all, my men got hold of your contracts – yes the original ones in Shinjuku - and had fun destroying them last Friday. So to answer your question," he cocked his head, lost in thought for a moment, "I think I'm doing great."

Taeyong looked at him. And looked at him. Started to borderline stare at him. And Kai thought: I can see your heart in your eyes. You're happy. You're grateful. More grateful than you've ever been in your entire life. "Your possessions back at the building – which I'm sure were not much – are the sacrifice you're making in exchange for a second shot at life." The former host fought hard to keep the tears from his eyes. And a smile from his face. And a thank you from leaving his lips.

And he succeeded.

Kai himself was relieved at the sight of him. He was glad he was unharmed and had made it safely out of the building and reached here. Where he wasn't being held prisoner or forced to service clients he otherwise wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole. He was safe. Safe. And Kai could sleep easy tonight. And he almost said it out loud. That he'd been losing sleep knowing Taeyong was trapped and had been trapped for a decade within King's filthy claws. Along with other people. All of whom had been sexually abused since their childhood.

And while he managed to keep his mouth shut about most of it, he still couldn't stop himself from saying, "I'm glad you're here," and "You're safe now." The last sentence a mere whisper they both pretended to not have said or heard.

"You don't have to say thank you," said Kai.

"I wasn't going to," replied Taeyong. "Where am I sleeping?"

"You can take the guest room." Kai led them upstairs to the guest accommodation. "Here," he said as he opened the door and turned the lights on, showing him the room. "There's a bathroom with towels and toiletries. Actual clothes in the closet." Taeyong snorted delicately. "And hot water in the bath as well."

"Prepared," he observed. Thorny as ever. But there was intense vulnerability right underneath the surface. And Kai could see through his thorny exterior quite easily. Had seen his innocent heart show in his eyes earlier.

There was a moment of awkward silence between them when Kai lingered uncertain if he needed anything else and Taeyong read him wrong. He glanced at him. And Kai stiffened a bit. He looked away and asked in the most depressing tone he'd ever heard, "What do you want in return?"

Kai shook his head. "You've already done your part of the deal. You gave me information. That was more than enough." The sudden tension that had appeared in Taeyong's body eased a little.

"It was only information. I don't want to owe you for this." He didn't seem convinced.

"You don't. You earned your freedom. It's not a gift from me or something I can hold over your head. You risked your neck by telling me the things you did. You could have gotten in so much trouble if you'd been caught. And this is just me holding up my side of the bargain."

There was glitter caught in his lashes. Kai took a step back. Taeyong inhaled deeply, appearing as though he was telling himself to calm down and not worry so much. Kai was about to leave when a question stopped him short.

"Who is he?"

He turned to look at Taeyong over his shoulder. He had an awed expression on his face. "What?"

"You're in love with someone. Who is he?" he asked again.

Kai wondered if he was that obvious. He gulped. "Why do you ask?"

"Because it's not everyday men turn down an offer from me. He's got you good. What's his name?"

Kai lifted an eyebrow. "Flatter yourself much?"

Taeyong smirked. The first sign of a real smile from him. "It's the truth."

"Tyson Granger," he said as he spun on his heel, then looked over his shoulder as he recalled something, "And by the way, that information you gave me, just put me miles ahead of King." He walked away leaving Taeyong wondering what he meant by that and how much trouble it was going to bring all of them.

o - o - o - o - o

"What do you mean?"

"What do I mean?"

"Mm" Tyson gently grabbed a fistful of Kai's hair at the front of his head to make him face him. Kai looked at him languidly.

He had one of those sated smiles on his lips. He was very pleased with something. He usually had that look when he was plotting and all his chess pieces were stationed to make a winning move against King.

"You're giving me the creeps," Tyson mock shuddered in Kai's lap. "Why is he staying here?" he asked again. "Why couldn't you let him stay with the other….um…what are they called again?"

"Hosts" Kai was so distracted with whatever was going on in his head, he kept giving Tyson choppy unsatisfactory responses. "Okay, hosts, so why is he staying here? Kai!" he snapped, startling him.

"Goddamn, you're a pest, Tyson," he grumbled, trying to dislodge him from his lap. Tyson protested and he let him be. "Taeyong?" he asked exasperatedly.

"Yes!"

"I'm having him stay here till he finds a job that pays him enough for him to move out to a place of his own. And here, he is untouchable. Nothing can harm him here."

"So your safe houses are not as safe as this house?"

"They are."

Tyson stared at him confused. "Don't tell me you're the added security here." He made a face.

But Tyson could tell improved safety was not the only reason why Kai was keeping Taeyong locked up in his own house. There was something else he wasn't telling him.

"I'm getting his papers ready. Once they're set, he can work at my company for a while till he finds one he likes better and also pays better."

Tyson's eyebrows met his hairline. "You're making him live with you and work for you. Did you even ask him if he wants this?"

"Yes. He knows there's no other way. He won't accept money from me but he doesn't have a penny to his name either. Desperate times, Tyson."

Tyson narrowed his eyes. This whole set up seemed wrong on so many different levels he didn't even know how to express it fully. "I want to meet him," he said at last and earned Kai's complete attention.

"You want to meet him?"

"Yes"

They both looked toward the door of the guest room upstairs that was visible from where they were sitting on a couch in the hall.

"Right now?"

"Yes"

"He's probably sleeping."

"Why?"

"He's been in there for a long time. What else could he possibly be doing?"

"There are lots of things, Kai." Tyson stood up. Stretched a bit. Tugged on Kai's arm till he finally gave in and followed him upstairs too.

"Okay what am I supposed to say?" he asked conspiratorially as they walked down the corridor leading to Taeyong's room.

"What the fuck? You don't even know what you're going to say to him?"

"I'm nervous!"

"You're the one who wanted to meet him right away!"

"Shhh," Tyson hushed him. "You're being too loud."

Kai pursed his mouth, mad. They walked in silence the rest of the way there and when they reached Tyson proceeded to freak out and Kai had to smack him atop the head. The commotion outside his door brought Taeyong out of the room.

At the sound of the lock clicking and the door opening, Tyson shut up and resorted to his go-to polite greeting. "Hey man, I'm Tyson Granger, nice to meet-" the words died in his mouth when he finally saw him. Kai had talked about him before, but he'd never mentioned how he looked. He elbowed his boyfriend in the ribs for that. Kai took the blow like a champ.

"I guessed," the man – but really it felt weird to call him a man – replied in a cool voice. He had a pinched look on his face like he was annoyed. Kai had told him he'd bought actual clothes for the former host but Taeyong stood in what Tyson called underwear. A white, slim fit crop top with spaghetti straps and a matching set of thin white trousers. His belly button was pierced. Oh my god, thought Tyson. "Nice to meet you too."

"Heh yeah," he said lamely, then cleared his throat and scratched the back of his head. "Um, yeah I just came to say hello." He was staring. Oh god he was staring. He had to stop staring. "You're very beautiful," he blurted out without thought.

Taeyong's full lipped mouth grew tight around the corners. "And you're quite plain," he deadpanned. Had that been supposed to be funny? Did he have a weird sense of humour or something? Tyson laughed awkwardly.

Kai shifted by his side. Taeyong's cold gaze drifted to him. "Should I have your dinner brought upstairs or…?" asked Kai. Tyson shot him a glance.

"No. I'll come down. Thank you." He had one hand on the door as though he wanted to shut it in their faces. Wow, he was giving off some seriously rude vibes. Tyson backed off. May be he needed to sleep. He was having a tough time after all. He could come and try making friends another day when he was not so irritable or upset.

"Well, this was nice," Tyson clapped his hands together. "You can get back to whatever you were doing before I came to disturb you, hehe. See you later?"

Taeyong forced a wry smile on and closed the door with an unceremonious "bye". Tyson and Kai looked at each other for a moment. Then Tyson mouthed, "'Shall I bring your dinner up'? What the fuck?" at him.

"Are you insane? Who do you think he is?" Tyson asked him once they were out of earshot. "The Queen of England?" They descended the stairs one step at a time. "Why did you have to do that?"

Kai tried to evade him first, then when Tyson refused to let up, he sighed in resignation. "It just came out, okay?"

"What? You mean you- Kai Hiwatari."

"Let it go, Tyson. Let it go."

"I will if you tell me why you were smiling like a villain earlier."

"Okay" Kai grabbed him around the waist and carried him to the bedroom.

o - o - o - o - o

King was enjoying a quiet afternoon lying on a chaise lounge with a cocktail in hand when he received news of the Elite Club fire. The glass had dropped from his fingers as though it were slicked with butter and he'd gaped at Peter, his senior adviser and marketing consultant in shock for a good thirty seconds.

A group of men wearing masks had shown in the middle of the evening and burned the place to the ground. No forewarnings or note left behind. An independent incident without motives? Alistair struggled to his feet. Such things did not exist. The club had been burned down on purpose by someone he had bad blood with at the moment. There were several candidates. "And the hosts?" he'd screeched at Peter.

"Gone. They disappeared. My hunch is this whole thing was orchestrated by the hosts themselves. No one has more incentive to watch the company burn more than them."

"What nonsense are you speaking, Peter?" Alistair bellowed. "The club is their only means of livelihood. I put a roof over their heads! They wouldn't dare destroy what they'd worked so hard for all this time. No, somebody else is behind this," he began pacing as the wheels in his head started turning, "And they've probably got my hosts hidden somewhere." He put on his slippers and stalked back into his house. "Clean that up! I will get to the bottom of this."

o - o - o - o - o

Gabriela was given a documentation task in King's office that day. She diligently typed away on her laptop, looking up from her work occasionally to make sure her boss was still in the room. And on one of these times, he wasn't anywhere in the room. He'd left. She was alone.

King's laptop sat on the desk to the left of where she sat on a chair beside it. If she were to nudge the device just a little toward her, she could peek at his open inbox.

Gabriela pushed the pencil holder behind her own laptop to the floor. It clattered to the ground and stationary rolled this way and that. She knelt to the floor and gathered them quickly and as she was putting them back on the desk, she let her arm collide with the edge of King's laptop monitor. Quite hard.

The laptop moved. Gabriela reoccupied her seat and snuck a glance toward the laptop screen. If she leaned back a bit, she would be able to make out what was on it. She checked the door to the office and made sure King wasn't going to catch her red-handed before resting her back against the chair and furtively glancing at the laptop monitor.

A mail was open. And it had been sent to Garett Brav. Brav was the man who had been visiting King frequently the past few months. The contents of the mail was short and she read it quickly.

From: kingpetronarch

To: garrettbrav

Sent: 19:24

Subject: A change of location

There is an emergency. Package must be moved immediately. New location is: 63.8601, 54.8320

Digitally signed

Alistair King

Gabriela quickly copied the mail into a notepad on her laptop and saved it. Then moved King's laptop back in place and went back to her work. Choosing not to snoop any further. And it had been a wise decision because King walked in less than two seconds later.

Gabriela sat in her chair stiffly, trying her best not to look guilty.

"Everything alright?" inquired King.

"Mhm" She gave an exaggerated nod and a smile.

o - o - o - o - o

Kai was in one of his uglier moods when Tala stopped by his office around 1pm. The room was flooded with sunlight as he walked in in that eternally smug way of his.

"I ordered my schedule cleaned this afternoon," informed an irritated Kai, reaching for the phone to dial his secretary.

Tala chortled. "Now now, there's no need for that. She tried to stop me. I simply came by to chat. Let her be."

Kai took his hand off the landline. "What do you want? I'm working."

"You mean studying," he corrected, indicating toward the file in the CEO's hold. It contained the chronological history of Petronarch's European investments. Kai put it down on the desk with a thunk. "Thank you for giving me your full attention." Tala mock-bowed. "I come with a proposal." He sat down on one of the chairs in front of Kai's desk.

"You said you came by to chat."

"About the proposal," amended Tala.

"Get it over with quickly," Kai swung the chair around so it was facing the proper direction and took a seat across his visitor. "I don't have much time."

"How do you think the tournament's going?"

"Quite well."

"Hmm yes, I agree. Are the kids interested?"

At this Kai sat up straighter. He'd been wanting to brag about the success of the exhibition tournament to someone other than King or a member of his payroll. "Well, they're buying Beyblades again. Normal ones. We're not mass producing the specialized beys. The goal is to conduct a separate tournament for the new fans once the exposition is over. The winner gets a Kenny beyblade."

Tala arched one of his brows. "I was not aware of that."

"The information hasn't been made public yet."

"Ah" Tala tilted his head back. He was doing spectacularly impressive in the games. Defeating his opponents with scintillating displays of his skills and power the way Kai had asked him to and more. And the slight issue with instability he'd shown in the earlier matches were gone now. He was in complete control of his self again. The semifinals were to be held in the upcoming week and finals not long after that. He was a top favorite to win the tournament.

"How are the sales? Better than they were two years ago? When the game was at its peak popularity?"

Kai thought for a moment. "No. But we're getting there and much quicker than I expected."

"What if I told you that you could double that pace?" Tala leaned forward. "May be even…triple?"

Kai frowned. "What do you mean?"

Tala could tell he was intrigued and so he smiled. "Let me show you something." He stood up. Walked toward the windows and drew the blinds closed, washing the room in a dim sepia light. Kai watched him, swiveling in his chair. Then Tala turned to look at Kai.

He was simply standing there and so Kai blinked in confusion. He'd been expecting something. But the next time he opened his eyes after closing them, his surroundings had morphed. His office was covered in snow. Piles and piles of snow.

There was snow on his desk. On his couch. On the floor. There was snow falling from the frosted ceiling onto his head. Kai shot to his feet. "What did you do? The papers!" He dove for the vulnerable files, but Tala's voice stopped him short.

"They're fine. You don't have to worry." He didn't go on much more than that. Kai stared at him. And the room they were now standing in. His Antarctican office.

"How are you able to do this?" asked Kai in a stunned whisper. "You don't have your blade with you." He didn't. His beyblade was nowhere to be seen. The last time he'd frozen a building, there had been a top spinning before him. So had that all been for show? Didn't he actually need a blade to summon his bitbeast's powers?

Tala knelt. His feet was buried deep in the snow. He pinched some between his fingers and straightened back up to show Kai it was real. "You can actually touch it. It won't disappear if you do. Amazing, right?"

Kai nodded dumbly. Very much shaken. "Want me to tell you how I can do this? Why don't I just show you, Kai? It's much easier that way."

"Show me how?"

"I know you've got your blade with you. I know it's somewhere in this room," Tala said as his eyes swept the whole place. "I can teach you."

Kai wasn't thrilled by the offer and Tala knew. "You're probably wondering why I'm being so generous. There must be a catch. There must be something in it for me and there is! Here's my proposal: take part in the exhibition match before the final. It would not only boost your sales. Your participation would have kids scrambling to buy beyblades. You're a former champion, Kai and you've nearly defeated Tyson Granger. You know, now that I think about it. If you somehow manage to get Tyson himself to participate." He paused for emphasis. Even letting out a small gasp before continuing. "It. Would be. Amazing."

A large part of Kai badly wanted to find out how Tala could manage to wield his bitbeast's powers as if they were his own but the rest of him was concerned about how Tyson would react to his participation. He would be affected to say the least. "Tyson will not participate, Tala."

"Have you even asked him?"

"Yes and his answer was no. I will not bring it up with him again."

Tala muttered "whipped" under his breath.

"And as for your "proposal"," continued Kai. Tala gazed at him with wide eyes. Expectant. "I will think about it. Now unfreeze my office and go away. I have to get back to work."

Tala looked as though he could fly with excitement i.e., he looked the same as he always did. Smug and bored. But now there was also a glint in his gaze that hadn't been there before. He snapped his fingers and the room was restored to its previous state. "Alright, I'll be on my way then." He snapped the blinds back and the sun bossed its way into the room. Tala sighed. "Have fun studying." He strutted out the door with the same flourish with which he had entered and closed the door.

Kai's gaze lingered on the door as though he could still see Tala walking away for a couple of moments and then he bent his head back over the investments file.

A/N: Hello, bebes! I hope you had fun reading this chapter. I had fun writing it. Im sorry for taking so long to update. i wasn't at the best of my health. Thank you for understanding. Ill try to update sooner. Thank you for your continued support and warm encouragement. I love you all. I hope to see you again soon. Thank you for reading. Leave a review. Stay happy and healthy. Bye byeeee