(A/N: Thankies for the reviews! ^^ I feel loved......Ooooh my, Kai's NOT in your good books now, is he? I told you....
Kai: ~-~ Why me?
Angelblood: Celina, my....that was odd.....and extremely welcome! ^^ Much to my amusement! Thankies for brightening my day! Rei's smile is freakishly large....O.o;;
Rei: ^___________________________________________^
Everyone Else: O_o;;
Rei: What?
Angelblood: Neeeee who....Tsuki, don't kill Kai yet! Crucial to the plot, he is!
Kai: ......
Rei: *pets Kai* Feel honored. She's saving you from the hords of rabid Kai/Rei fangirls.
Kai: ......
Rei: -_-'
Angelblood: ^^;; I found your review amusing.
Kai & Rei: Simple minds, simple pleasures.
Angelblood: _._ (- upside-down! ^^) Awwww, they is sho cute! ^^ *cuddles Rei and Kai*
Rei & Kai: o.O;;
Angelblood. ^^;; Kitten Fang, yup. Drama. Angst is better tho...Mmmm, angst. Kai is just silly.
Rei: Silly boy! ^^
Kai: .......
Angelblood: Sense-smnenshe. When does Kai ever think straight? I personally believe he's slightly insane....;;
Rei: No, that's me! XD
Kai: .......
Angelblood: Auri, I will write more! And it's nice to know that ppl actually want me to update! XD Hurrah! I feel loved. ^^ Diamond Dew: ^O^ THANKIES! *squeals* I was aiming to do that! XD Shock! XD Yippee! *dances*
Rei: .;; Think she's lost it?
Kai: Yup.
Rei: .;; Let's leave while we can....
Kai: Can't. Chained to wall.
Rei: O_o;;
Angelblood: XD Everybody's hitting Kai!
Rei: STOP HITTING ON MY BOYFRIEND! XO *huggling Kai*
Kai: *choking* O.o;;
Angelblood: Mmmm....lies and betrayal....:9 Yum! XD And yes, pity Rei!
Rei: ^^
Angelblood: Rei-kun isn't going ne where ne time soon, sorry to say tho. If Kai dun want him, you've still got me to go thru! XD
Mariah: And me!
Li: And me.
Kevin: And me.
Max: And me.
Tyson: And....me....;;
Rei: O.o;; I'm a very desired person....
Kai: *huggling Rei, glaring at all the other peeps* MINE! XO BACK OFF, GET YOUR OWN BISHIE!
Rei: ^^ He luvs me, he really really luvs me!
Angelblood: Neeeeeeee who....Kawaii Kai: Yup, at least he's not a total ass. ^^ Jenny-fer: Yay! Odd reviews return! XD Tho I need Max's mum and Emily back to complete the story...thankies. ^^ And yes, I could do a Max/Tyson lemon. ^^ Lady Zephyros: Don't kill Kai yet@ Crucial to the plot, he is! Thankies for the review and so very glad u r enjoying the story! Mystik-chan: Thankies for the review! XD Fangirls r NEVEr a good thing in a bishie's eyes. And pray tell, what do u mean I'm the "authoress of the week/month/alooted amount of time"? Oo I am confused....Asaka! Hello! ^^ *huggles* Long time no see, ne? Ne wayz, thankies for the review! Linity...isn't she Rei's sister? Oo;; Does this mean Rei's related to Emily and if Kai and Rei were to get married and then Kai was to sleep with Emily, that would be almost like sleeping with his cousin?
Rei: Baka. Damare!
Kai: Yeah. What he said.
Rei: ^^
AB: -_-' Ne who....correct me if I'm wrong 'bout that. Alyia: Never fear, chapter ten is here! Hey, that rhymed! XD
Rei: Oh God....
Kai: Here we go....
AB: ^^ Thankies for the review! wateranddice: My, my language. Oo *is slightly afraid* I'm gonna add the new chappie now...I don't want to see u go nuts. ^^;; Thankies for the review! Luv u too, hun! ^^ And now, less talk, more story!)

End of the Affair: Part 10 - Junk
~*~*
Judy tapped her foot impatiently on the floor, keeping count with the ticking of the clock. She sipped her coffee. "Where is he?" she murmured aloud, glancing up at the clock.

Every second that ticked by meant less time for Kai to show up. What would she do if he didn't turn up? Cancel the meeting? The potential investors wouldn't be pleased- they'd been waiting MONTHS for this. "Really, Kai, great way to loose business," she muttered, extracting herself from the kitchen chair.

She wandered into the hallway, picking up the phone. Maybe Kai was already down at the office, preparing the last few documents, making sure everything was truly ready to go. Yes, that seemed to be Kai-like behaviour. That would be where he was.

She picked up the phone and dialed. She cradled the reciever between her cheek and shoulder, turning to the stairwell as she heard someone stomp down them. Max appeared, his ever-present smile gracing his freckled face. "Mornin', Mom!" he chirped, cheerfully, eyes lighting up.

She turned away, waiting for someone to pick up the phone and save her from the impending conversation. Max's face fell. "Oh, right," he murmured, his tone dropping instantly.

With that, he disappeared into the kitchen. Judy bit her lip and ignored the sting of tears in her eyes. He was her son, right? And seeing him like that hurt her. Her maternal instincts washed over her and told her to comfort her baby boy, but she checked herself. She wasn't about to delude him into thinking that this was okay. Because it wasn't.

Sighing, she hung up the phone. There was no one there. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted and hurriedly scrawled note on the hallway table. She scanned it. It had to be Kai's writing- it was neat, but still full of grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. She supposed that he was still learning- English was a confusing language. Still, it was better than that mongrel Tyson's.
Unconciously, she clenched her fist. Even thinking about Tyson made her angry. She looked towards the kitchen. It was time to have a talk with Max.

~*
The woman behind the counter stared back at him dumbly. It was then Kai realized his blunder. "Sorry," he muttered, flustered.

He'd just made his entire request in Japanese when this woman clearly wouldn't know a word of it. "I'd like a ticket to Japan."

The woman blinked and processed this, then turned to her computer. "I'm sorry, Sir. We're booked full until next week-"

He slammed his hands down on the counter angrily. "Damn it woman! I need to get on a flight to Japan- NOW!"

She looked up, bewildered. Then her eyes narrowed. "Sir, we cannot get you on a plane to Japan until next week, so you'll just have to wait-"

Kai growled. "When I said I needed to get on that plane now, I meant now. As in, right this instance."

"Well, you're going to have to wait."

"Ma'am, do you have any fucking clue who you're speaking to?"

The woman didn't respond.

"I'm Kai Hiwatari-"

Her jaw fell open and Kai smacked himself mentally. Why did that happen every time? "I need a flight to Japan, right now."

The woman looked back at the computer dumbly. "Mister Hiwatari-" Kai winced at the horrible pronuciantion of his surname.

"I'm sorry, but we don't have any available seats on any of our regular flights right now. But I'll see what I can do," she added hurriedly, seeing Kai's eyes narrow.

"Nevermind," he muttered, moving away from the counter.

He whipped his cell phone out of his jacket, hastily dialing. "Hello? Yes, this is Kai," he growled when the secretary inquired who he was.

"Look, I need you to get my plane ready- yes, THAT plane, seeing as how it's the ONLY plane I own-and I need you to get a driver down here now- Did you hear me? I said right NOW. That means immediatley. Send it to this address- yes, I AM at the airport- because I was trying to get a flight! Just get the goddamn plane ready and send the goddamn car already!"

He hung up, ready to tear his hair out. "Who hires these idiots?" he muttered, walking out of the building, into the pouring rain.

~*
Mariah sighed heavily, watching the rain pour down outside the window. "It's so depressing," she murmured, watching the water droplets, mesmerized.

Kevin frowned, looking up from the card game he was playing with Gary. The simple-minded fool didn't have the wit to look at Kevin's cards while he was distracted. "Cut the crap, Mariah," Kevin muttered. "No need to be all gloom and doom all the time."

"Yeah," said Gary. "It makes Gary sad."

Kevin had the sudden urge to pound his head into a wall. "Gary, will you please stop referring to yourself in third person?! It's driving me crazy!"

"Gary is sorry."

Kevin pulled at his hair, making a face. Mariah sighed and turned back to the window.

"You know what Mariah needs?" Gary asked, drawing a card from the "fish" pile.

Kevin looked at him inquisitivley. "What?"

"A vacation. The rain isn't doing her any good."

Kevin blinked several times, rapidly. He was in awe- Gary actually had a good idea! "You're right," he said slowly, and Gary smiled.

"Gary is always right when it comes to friends."

Kevin sighed and shook his head in dismay. "Gary, you'll never learn."

Gary only smiled. "A vacation, huh?" chimed a fourth voice from the doorway of the living room.

Kevin and Gary looked up to see Li leaned against the frame, arms folded over his chest. Gary nodded. "Yup."

A smile crossed Li's features. "That's a good idea Gary. A really good idea."

Apparently, the more he pondered the idea, the more he liked it. He turned to face them. "What do you say guys? We're going on vacation!"

Kevin and Gary cheered, glad to "finally get out of this dump" as Kevin so elegantly put it. Mariah merely turned her attention back to the window, watching the the heaven-sent tears. The world was crying with her.

~*
Kai scrambled off the plane as quickly as he could, shading his eyes against the blinding sunlight. His guilty consioucness was driving him insane- he had to apologize to Rei. God, he was such an ass.

Why did Rei even bother with him? It wasn't like he was open to open displays of affection- everything they did was behind closed doors. Why would somebody like Rei even bother to put up with that?

He scrambled into the car, slamming the door shut. "Home," he ordered impatiently, and the driver knew exactly what he meant by that.

Kai mentally cursed the traffic, impatience growing on him with every passing second. God, he had to get home and apologize to Rei. He just had to.

~*
Micheal turned over the brown-paper packet in his hand and frowned. "You sure this is worth my money, Steve?"

The green-haired boy shrugged. "Hell if I know. I don't do that stuff. I only sell it."

He fell silent and went back to counting the bills Micheal had handed him.

"Ya know, if this doesn't work like it's supposed to, you're in for a pounding Steve."

The ex-football player merely grunted. "Huh, like a scrawny white boy like you could pummel me."

Micheal snorted. "You sound like Eddy."

Both of them grinned ruefully, remembering how they'd got back at Eddy for all his remarks about them. Steve's face fell. "I feel kinda sorry for the guy. But the bastard deserved it."

"Had it coming all along. Didn't know what hit him."

"Shame we couldn't have seen the look on his face."

They snickered. Micheal looked skyward. "Kinda sorry for the bastard who did it though. Life in prison."

"Ah, he was a drunk. He was just in it for the money. 'Sides, saved our asses."

"Still, should've asked that Italian boy. He knows what he's doing."

"A right proper sort of hitman. Not like the scum we hired."

Micheal nodded. "They both got what was coming to them."

The two Americans grinned ruefully at each other.
~*
Emily sat at the local cafe, pondering the chaotic state of her social life. Maybe it was true that career-women couldn't have lives. Her's sure didn't seem to be working out.She stirred her coffee, watching the cream swirl and dissolve. "Why did he leave me like that?"

She looked up as someone sat down across from her. "Hello, Emmy. Did you forget about our meeting?"

She smiled and shook her head at her British cousin. Robert nodded curtly. "Good. I've got to make this quick- chess with Johnny in half-an-hour. That boy never gives up."

"He sure is stubborn."

"I don't know why I even bother with him sometimes. At least Enrique and Oliver can carry on a good conversation. Johnny is-"

"Rude, boisterous, tempermental and moody."

"Permantly PMSing."

Emily laughed, though the sound was a little forced. Robert smiled at her. "So, what's been going on, Emily?"

She sighed and looked back at her coffee. "A lot has been going on."

A waitress came floating by and Robert ordered a tea, quickly, before turning back to his red-head cousin. "What's wrong? It's that Kai again-"

"He's only part of the problem."

Robert frowned. "I take it that it's a big problem, then."

She nodded. "Well then, tell me about it."
He settled himself down in his seat. "Johnny can wait."
~*
Kai flicked on the lights in the bedroom, dropping his suitcase with a thud. "Rei, I'm home. Rei-koi?"

"What?"

The voice was choked, weak, strained and muffled. Kai frowned. "Where are you?"

"What does it matter to you?"

Kai pulled off his coat and gloves, then crawled onto the mattress of the bed and leaned over the edge. Rei was curled up, wrapped in the sheets.

The neko-jin looked up at him, something between anger and resent fusing with the pain there. Kai's forehead creased in worry. "You've been cutting again, haven't you?"

Rei looked away. Kai knew him all too well. Kai slithered down to join him on the floor. He grasped his wrists. "Rei-koi, this can't go on. Where?"

Rei lifted the red-hued sheets and showed the bluenette the long, cruel gash on his abdomen. "Rei-koi," Kai whispered, tears springing unbidden to his eyes.

He pulled the raven-haired boy into an embrace, horrified by the fact that Rei was hurt to this extent- without the fact that he'd almost betrayed him. God, what would he do then? He nuzzled Rei's hair fondly. "God, Rei, God. I'm so sorry."

The neko-jin simpered and buried his face in the relative safety of Kai's shoulder. Kai rubbed the other boy's back. "Shush, shush, it's okay now. I'm here, I'm right here. I won't ever leave again- I promise."

Rei looked up at him, momentarily believing him, then shoving him away with vile contempt. "No," he hissed. "You lie! You always lie to me! Yaro!"

It hit Kai then just how much he'd hurt Rei. And it hurt, hurt to see the boy he loved cower away from him, eyes full of contempt and hate. "Rei..."

Seeing no other way, he swept the neko-jin up in his arms and kissed him as passionately as he could, swirling his tongue around in Rei's mouth- gentle, but fierce, loving but lustful all at the same time.

When he let go of him, Rei stared back at him, eyes big and round lik a three-year-olds'.

Bewildered, the younger boy held a hand to his lips, running his fingertips across them lightly. His eyes asked his question for him. Kai wrapped an arm around the fragile neko-jin gently. "I love you Rei. I love you more than you- or I- could ever know."

Rei swallowed, but said nothing. They sat like that for a moment, neither sure of what to do. Finally, Rei crawled over to the bluenette and curled up, laying his head on Kai's lap. He purred slightly, until, at last, he drifted into a restful sleep. Kai settled the neko-jin on the bed and went to call the psychiatrist.
~*
[A/N: XD Finished! Mwha! Ebil chappie, took forever....tho I think it's one of my better chappies. Lots of new characters added in, lots of plot. The White Tigers on vacation? Emily's cousins with Robert? Will she tell him about her problems? Micheal on drugs? Who's this mysterious "hitman" in jail? What will Judy say to Max? What of Rei going to see the psychiatrist? Will Kai ever find out who hires the idiots that work for him?! Find out in the all powerful Chapter eleven! XD Until then, R&R!]