(A/n: Thankies for the wonderful reviews! ^_^ Please note that I'll be changing my penname as soon as baka ff.net lets me. I'm not going to be numbered! XO
Just-some-girl: Glad you like so far and there will be more. ^^
Kuroi Neko: Yes! The squel is here! Rei's not going to die...yet, anyways...Funny. I like to kill of my favourite character and Rei just so happens to be my favourite...D And the new chappie is here...Now! ^_^
Anime Girl: Nope, wasn't cruel enough to them in the first book. D Just kidding. People hate people that are different (ie. Neko-jins). And neko-jins are so much better than humans! XD Let's all be neko-jins!
Desi: There will be more character deaths and I'm glad to be back too, even though ff.net has now branded me "Angelblood1". -___- Kevin will be here...eventually...and Kai might have trouble finding another housekeeper, but meh. XD Emily does need to die.
Neko Oni: Glad you like it. ^_^
Zidane: MWHA! You have been converted! *gets smacked with the frying pan of reason* @_@ Owwies...
Now, on with the fic!)
"And No Birds Sang"
Chapter 2: City Nights
Rei didn't even get to hug Kai goodbye. The bluenette had taken off during the night and when Rei woke, there was no one but himself in his room.
Kevin, Gary, Grandpa and Tyson were piled in the car, along with Rei and his luggage. They were headed for the train station. Rei couldn't help but feel slightly abandoned. Had Kai left him purposely?
He sighed heavily, watching the dull landscape roll by, almost hidden under a thick fog. Kevin looked up at Rei. "You all right?" he asked, breaking the furtive silence.
"Yes," came the answer and it was tired.
Kevin wondered what Rei was thinking about. He had no time to inquire as the car jerked to a halt. Grandpa glanced over the back of the seat at them. "We ish here now, boys. Ya'll git out and catch yon train, Mister Rei and ya'll have a nice time in da city."
Rei smiled jadedly and clambered out of the car, grabbing his suitcase. "Bye," he said softly and heade for the station, ticket in hand.
Kevin watched Rei go, the sinking feeling in his stomach growing with every passing second. He was leaden with dread that he would never see Rei again. He wanted to call out and stop the older boy and tell him that he was his best friend. But he couldn't. The dread made him silent and all he could do was watch Rei go.
The engine started again and the car started forward, its tires crunching over gravel. Kevin pivoted, wanting to watch Rei until the very last...
They hit a bump and he was jerked roughly so that he bumped his nose on the seat. Gary looked at him from under his eyelashes. "You'd better sit down, Kevin. We wouldn't want you to get hurt."
Kevin obeyed the older neko-jin, turning back and slumping down. "Yeah, sure," he muttered, staring down at his feet.
~*~*
Rei sighed as he watched the car pull out of the station and head back the way it came. He would have liked them to stay until he had to get on the train. He had a funny feeling that when and if he saw them again, not everything would be the same...
There was a loud whistle and Rei had to cover his ears with his hands. He snatched his suitcase from the station floor and headed to the coaches.
Smoke billowed from the train's smoke stack and steam washed over the tracks, covering them in a mist finer than any other. Rei took a step up onto one of the coaches. A hand was suddenly in his face. He glanced up at the conductor.
The uniformed man glared back. "Where's yore ticket?" he asked in highly annoying voice, drawing out some of his syllables.
Rei glowered darkly and handed him the ticket. The conductor handed him back the stub and moved aside, allowing him on, but glared after the neko-jin. Rei sighed inwardly - it was always going to be like this, no matter who fought who. People hated him because of his ears, because of his tail - they were afraid of his differences.
He supposed they couldn't see past the differences and see the similarities. He shrugged it off, but he couldn't shrug off the feeling of the conductor's eyes burning into his back as he walked onto the train and found his seat. All eyes were on him, filled with distaste. The other passengers were obviously disgusted by the fact they would be riding with a neko-jin.
But hey, he was a paying customer too, so they couldn't very well refuse him. Especially not since the ticket had been paid for by Kai Hiwatari.
The train ride was long and dreary. All about him, the train buzzed with talk, but not a word was spoken to him. He sat in miserable silence, wishing he was at home, sleeping by the warm fire instead of on this train, heading farther and farther away from the safety of Kai's arms.
It was long past midnight when the train pulled into his stop. Rei jerked himself from a sort of sleep and gathered up his belongings. He got off the train in a sort of dazed state of mind, walking out into the nightime station.
The station was illuminated by an artificial light, as was the rest of the city. Rei didn't bother calling a for a cab - it would be too much hassel. Who in their right mind would give a ride to a neko-jin at midnight?
He trudged along the street, looking at the adress on the yellowed slip of paper Kai had given him. "127 Elm Street...Room 24..."
He glanced around at his surroundings. The city was huge, tall houses dwarfed by towering skyscrapers. Their artificial lights shone into the late night sky and blocked out the stars. Cars rushed by, sending up water from puddles. Street lights beamed down, lighting up the night. On some of the buildings, glitzy signs with flashing lights tried to attract the eye. Pubs, strip clubs, bars...
Rei guessed he was in the downtown core. There wasn't a street sign in sight and he sighed heavily. He should have ask for directions, he really should have, but who would give a neko-jin the time of day?
He walked along, admiring the rows upon rows of shiny new cars parked alongside the curb, their owners presumably having a drink in one of the clubs. Rei kept walking.
At last, he came to an intersection. He sighed in relief and disappointment. He'd been walking along Elm Street all the while, but he couldn't remember any of the numbers on the buildlings. He looked at the sreet, which stretched off into the distance, as far as the eye could see, lined with buildings.
He turned back. He'd just have to re-check a building or two and see if he was even close.
"Lost hun?"
He glanced up, startled by the voice. He looked around hurriedly to see if there was anybody else about. A green-eyed girl smiled warmly at him. "I asked ya if you were lost."
She walked toward him, still smiling. Rei couldn't tear his eyes away fom her, startled by the sudden friendliness being extended to him. He couldn't answer her. Instead, he nodded stupidly. She smiled. "Whatcha got there?" she asked, looking down at the note in his hand from over his shoulder.
She rested her hands on his shoulder, putting her weight on him. He could feel her breath on the nape of his neck. Was it him or was it suddenly very, very humid in the city? He wanted to take off his overcoat, but refrained himself. "127 Elm," the girl said slowly.
"Oh, I know where that is, hun."
She pointed down the street a bit. "It's just down there. Ya'll see it - big place called 'Mandarin'. Ya can't miss it."
She removed herself from his shoulder and gave him a wink as she started to walk away. "Ask fer Sakura - she'll make sure ya'll git a room tonight."
And with that, she was gone and Rei was alone on the street corner again. He blinked in stupidity, then looked back towards his destination. He started off down the street.
~*~*
Rei coughed, walking in through the front door into a haze of cigarette smoke. The girl had been right - the Mandarin was a place too big to be missed. He curled his nose as the scent of alcohol, smoke and sex assaulted his senses. He pushed his way through the crowded room, out of the bar and into the back.
The back room was quieter and the lights weren't fogged by smoke. An older woman - maybe in her early fifties - stood behind a desk, wearing a snarl as her expression. Her face was covered in gaudy make-up and her hair was frizzy and dyed red. "What can I do for you?" she sneered, looking Rei over and up and down. "Pretty-boy," she added afterwards.
She was chewing gum and she blew a bubble and popped it then, as if to accentuate the sting the remark had. Rei timidly apporached the desk and handed her the stub Kai had given him about reservations. He didn't say anything. He looked at the floor instead.
The woman looked from the ticket back to Rei, chewing her gum and looking rather disgusted. "So, you've got a reservation," she said, her contempt evident in her voice.
Rei didn't look up from the floor and said, more to himself than anybody, "I was supposed to ask for Sakura."
The woman laughed, a wretched choked sound that became a bark because of years of inhaling nicotine. "You're speakin' to 'er, boy!"
Rei flattened his ears against his head, as if to shield himself from her laughter. The woman turned serious. "Sorry, hun, but you're room's been booked over. Shoulda got here sooner. First come first serve at this place."
She handed him back the paper. She gave him a once over. "But," she said,"if ya ever wanna have some fun, drop by and ask for me."
She gave him a wink and laughed. Rei crumpled the paper in his hand and flattened his ears again. He turned and walked back out, out of the bar, onto the empty street. He sat down on the curb, feeling tears start in his eyes. He wiped them away briskly.
He'd just gotten here and already, things had turned rotten.
~*~*~*
"So, you think Hiwatari would do something like that?"
"Yes. I do think he would."
"But...why on Earth..."
"Because -"
"It just doesn't make any sense."
There was a sigh. "I know it doesn't."
A pause followed. "So...What do you want done about it then?"
Another pause, then, "Find him. Kill him. Take it.Do whatever it takes, but just make sure you get me that -"
"Yes Sir!"
"And Jose."
"Yes, Sir?"
"Don't fail me this time."
"Y-yes Sir."
[A/N: Mwha...Plot development! WOOT! *dances* R&R pleez? *puppy-dog eyes*]
Just-some-girl: Glad you like so far and there will be more. ^^
Kuroi Neko: Yes! The squel is here! Rei's not going to die...yet, anyways...Funny. I like to kill of my favourite character and Rei just so happens to be my favourite...D And the new chappie is here...Now! ^_^
Anime Girl: Nope, wasn't cruel enough to them in the first book. D Just kidding. People hate people that are different (ie. Neko-jins). And neko-jins are so much better than humans! XD Let's all be neko-jins!
Desi: There will be more character deaths and I'm glad to be back too, even though ff.net has now branded me "Angelblood1". -___- Kevin will be here...eventually...and Kai might have trouble finding another housekeeper, but meh. XD Emily does need to die.
Neko Oni: Glad you like it. ^_^
Zidane: MWHA! You have been converted! *gets smacked with the frying pan of reason* @_@ Owwies...
Now, on with the fic!)
"And No Birds Sang"
Chapter 2: City Nights
Rei didn't even get to hug Kai goodbye. The bluenette had taken off during the night and when Rei woke, there was no one but himself in his room.
Kevin, Gary, Grandpa and Tyson were piled in the car, along with Rei and his luggage. They were headed for the train station. Rei couldn't help but feel slightly abandoned. Had Kai left him purposely?
He sighed heavily, watching the dull landscape roll by, almost hidden under a thick fog. Kevin looked up at Rei. "You all right?" he asked, breaking the furtive silence.
"Yes," came the answer and it was tired.
Kevin wondered what Rei was thinking about. He had no time to inquire as the car jerked to a halt. Grandpa glanced over the back of the seat at them. "We ish here now, boys. Ya'll git out and catch yon train, Mister Rei and ya'll have a nice time in da city."
Rei smiled jadedly and clambered out of the car, grabbing his suitcase. "Bye," he said softly and heade for the station, ticket in hand.
Kevin watched Rei go, the sinking feeling in his stomach growing with every passing second. He was leaden with dread that he would never see Rei again. He wanted to call out and stop the older boy and tell him that he was his best friend. But he couldn't. The dread made him silent and all he could do was watch Rei go.
The engine started again and the car started forward, its tires crunching over gravel. Kevin pivoted, wanting to watch Rei until the very last...
They hit a bump and he was jerked roughly so that he bumped his nose on the seat. Gary looked at him from under his eyelashes. "You'd better sit down, Kevin. We wouldn't want you to get hurt."
Kevin obeyed the older neko-jin, turning back and slumping down. "Yeah, sure," he muttered, staring down at his feet.
~*~*
Rei sighed as he watched the car pull out of the station and head back the way it came. He would have liked them to stay until he had to get on the train. He had a funny feeling that when and if he saw them again, not everything would be the same...
There was a loud whistle and Rei had to cover his ears with his hands. He snatched his suitcase from the station floor and headed to the coaches.
Smoke billowed from the train's smoke stack and steam washed over the tracks, covering them in a mist finer than any other. Rei took a step up onto one of the coaches. A hand was suddenly in his face. He glanced up at the conductor.
The uniformed man glared back. "Where's yore ticket?" he asked in highly annoying voice, drawing out some of his syllables.
Rei glowered darkly and handed him the ticket. The conductor handed him back the stub and moved aside, allowing him on, but glared after the neko-jin. Rei sighed inwardly - it was always going to be like this, no matter who fought who. People hated him because of his ears, because of his tail - they were afraid of his differences.
He supposed they couldn't see past the differences and see the similarities. He shrugged it off, but he couldn't shrug off the feeling of the conductor's eyes burning into his back as he walked onto the train and found his seat. All eyes were on him, filled with distaste. The other passengers were obviously disgusted by the fact they would be riding with a neko-jin.
But hey, he was a paying customer too, so they couldn't very well refuse him. Especially not since the ticket had been paid for by Kai Hiwatari.
The train ride was long and dreary. All about him, the train buzzed with talk, but not a word was spoken to him. He sat in miserable silence, wishing he was at home, sleeping by the warm fire instead of on this train, heading farther and farther away from the safety of Kai's arms.
It was long past midnight when the train pulled into his stop. Rei jerked himself from a sort of sleep and gathered up his belongings. He got off the train in a sort of dazed state of mind, walking out into the nightime station.
The station was illuminated by an artificial light, as was the rest of the city. Rei didn't bother calling a for a cab - it would be too much hassel. Who in their right mind would give a ride to a neko-jin at midnight?
He trudged along the street, looking at the adress on the yellowed slip of paper Kai had given him. "127 Elm Street...Room 24..."
He glanced around at his surroundings. The city was huge, tall houses dwarfed by towering skyscrapers. Their artificial lights shone into the late night sky and blocked out the stars. Cars rushed by, sending up water from puddles. Street lights beamed down, lighting up the night. On some of the buildings, glitzy signs with flashing lights tried to attract the eye. Pubs, strip clubs, bars...
Rei guessed he was in the downtown core. There wasn't a street sign in sight and he sighed heavily. He should have ask for directions, he really should have, but who would give a neko-jin the time of day?
He walked along, admiring the rows upon rows of shiny new cars parked alongside the curb, their owners presumably having a drink in one of the clubs. Rei kept walking.
At last, he came to an intersection. He sighed in relief and disappointment. He'd been walking along Elm Street all the while, but he couldn't remember any of the numbers on the buildlings. He looked at the sreet, which stretched off into the distance, as far as the eye could see, lined with buildings.
He turned back. He'd just have to re-check a building or two and see if he was even close.
"Lost hun?"
He glanced up, startled by the voice. He looked around hurriedly to see if there was anybody else about. A green-eyed girl smiled warmly at him. "I asked ya if you were lost."
She walked toward him, still smiling. Rei couldn't tear his eyes away fom her, startled by the sudden friendliness being extended to him. He couldn't answer her. Instead, he nodded stupidly. She smiled. "Whatcha got there?" she asked, looking down at the note in his hand from over his shoulder.
She rested her hands on his shoulder, putting her weight on him. He could feel her breath on the nape of his neck. Was it him or was it suddenly very, very humid in the city? He wanted to take off his overcoat, but refrained himself. "127 Elm," the girl said slowly.
"Oh, I know where that is, hun."
She pointed down the street a bit. "It's just down there. Ya'll see it - big place called 'Mandarin'. Ya can't miss it."
She removed herself from his shoulder and gave him a wink as she started to walk away. "Ask fer Sakura - she'll make sure ya'll git a room tonight."
And with that, she was gone and Rei was alone on the street corner again. He blinked in stupidity, then looked back towards his destination. He started off down the street.
~*~*
Rei coughed, walking in through the front door into a haze of cigarette smoke. The girl had been right - the Mandarin was a place too big to be missed. He curled his nose as the scent of alcohol, smoke and sex assaulted his senses. He pushed his way through the crowded room, out of the bar and into the back.
The back room was quieter and the lights weren't fogged by smoke. An older woman - maybe in her early fifties - stood behind a desk, wearing a snarl as her expression. Her face was covered in gaudy make-up and her hair was frizzy and dyed red. "What can I do for you?" she sneered, looking Rei over and up and down. "Pretty-boy," she added afterwards.
She was chewing gum and she blew a bubble and popped it then, as if to accentuate the sting the remark had. Rei timidly apporached the desk and handed her the stub Kai had given him about reservations. He didn't say anything. He looked at the floor instead.
The woman looked from the ticket back to Rei, chewing her gum and looking rather disgusted. "So, you've got a reservation," she said, her contempt evident in her voice.
Rei didn't look up from the floor and said, more to himself than anybody, "I was supposed to ask for Sakura."
The woman laughed, a wretched choked sound that became a bark because of years of inhaling nicotine. "You're speakin' to 'er, boy!"
Rei flattened his ears against his head, as if to shield himself from her laughter. The woman turned serious. "Sorry, hun, but you're room's been booked over. Shoulda got here sooner. First come first serve at this place."
She handed him back the paper. She gave him a once over. "But," she said,"if ya ever wanna have some fun, drop by and ask for me."
She gave him a wink and laughed. Rei crumpled the paper in his hand and flattened his ears again. He turned and walked back out, out of the bar, onto the empty street. He sat down on the curb, feeling tears start in his eyes. He wiped them away briskly.
He'd just gotten here and already, things had turned rotten.
~*~*~*
"So, you think Hiwatari would do something like that?"
"Yes. I do think he would."
"But...why on Earth..."
"Because -"
"It just doesn't make any sense."
There was a sigh. "I know it doesn't."
A pause followed. "So...What do you want done about it then?"
Another pause, then, "Find him. Kill him. Take it.Do whatever it takes, but just make sure you get me that -"
"Yes Sir!"
"And Jose."
"Yes, Sir?"
"Don't fail me this time."
"Y-yes Sir."
[A/N: Mwha...Plot development! WOOT! *dances* R&R pleez? *puppy-dog eyes*]