12: Bad Boys Don't Cry

sakura9566: Yes, Melanie's site is very good. I worship her very much. #^_^#

Sarcasmcat: I'm well known for my cliffhangers

TigerRain: I discovered how short the chapters were when I compiled this fic for Melanie. It's a problem that is being amended in Believe.

TigerTerror: Three cats? Well, at least you'll be warm in winter. Pity about the leg room. :p I used to have a dog who did that, but she's been moved out to the shed. We got sick of her demanding to go out early in the morning.

some weird person: The only thing that shares a bed with me is my toy cat. Yes, I'm 19 and still sleep with toys. #^_^#

Platinum Rei: Kai pay to free Tyson? lol

Hmm. Their teammates are in danger, and I have a title called 'Bad Boys Don't Cry'. Now why would I do that? Also, I apologise for the lateness, but what with Christmas and my 19th birthday, I haven't been online.

Disclaimer: We'd all get rich off those shares, so popular is the sport becoming. A new Olympic event maybe?

Kai's eyes burned as he crumpled the letter in his hand. "Zika."

Lee looked at him, forcing himself to unclench his fists. "Know him?"

"Know of him. Laurence Zika owned a company that was a rival of my grandfathers. He declared himself bankrupt just over a month ago when the cops starting looking into him for suspicious dealings. He destroyed all his files before they could find anything."

"Sounds like he's trying to get back on his feet," Ray hissed, fangs glittering. "So what are we going to do about it?"

Kai looked down at the letter in his hand and frowned, holding it out to Lee. "Address it to the BBA. Mark it as urgent. Ray, start getting ready to go. It takes forever for you to put you hair up, so get started now."

"What are you going to do?" Lee asked, scooping up the envelope and smoothing out the paper of the letter.

Kai moved down the hall. "I have a phone call to make."

Lee frowned after him, glancing at Ray who shrugged, before moving toward the kitchen to find the pen that Mr Dickenson usually left on the counter with a notepad to write down anything that was needed when they went shopping. Glancing at the notepad as he picked up the pen, he smiled faintly as he saw the lengthy list. Tyson and Gary would be responsible for that… Gary…

Lee sighed, shaking it off. Letter first, worry later. Falling to pieces was not an option. Besides, they had been able to get through the Winton thing okay, so why should this episode with Zika be any different. He looked up as he heard Kai swear softly as he accidentally got his foot caught on the edge of the rug and almost went plummeting to the floor. The teen grabbed the phone, glancing quickly back at Lee before he punched in the numbers, listening to it ring.

"Hiwatari residence."

"André, its Kai."

"Ah, Master Kai. How goes your stay in America? Master Voltaire was coming to see you-"

"André, I need you to check the database for any information on Laurence Zika. I want to know if he owns any property around here."

"Just a moment sir, I will check."

Kai sighed, leaning against the wall and looking back toward Lee as the other finished addressing the envelope and put the letter back inside, running his tongue over the glue to moisten it before sticking it down. Kai couldn't help but wonder if the neko-jins tongues were like a real cats. What it would feel like to have it run over bare skin-

"Sir?"

He snapped back into reality. "Here, André. What did you find?"

"Laurence Zika owns a property not far from where you are staying, Master Kai. A few hours drive, but you must remember that when I say 'not far' I am referring to overall in the world."

"Can you give me the address?" Kai snagged the pen from the table and pulled the pad closer, the nib flying across the page as he took down the details. "Thank you, André. Don't expect to hear from me in a while."

"Of course, Master Kai. Is there anything you wish of me to tell your grandfather?"

"The one thing I would like to tell him would get us both killed, André."

"I know what you mean. Good luck with your mission, Master Kai. Please take care of yourself. And be safe."

Kai smiled as he hung up the phone. Somehow hearing the voice of the man who had been his father figure as well as his butler always made him feel better.

"Is that a smile I see?"

Kai turned toward the voice, spotting Ray as the other teen finished putting on his top. "You're probably still half asleep."

Ray raised an eyebrow as Kai stepped passed him and toward the bedroom, turning to follow the taller teen. "Probably."

Lee glanced up as the two entered, slipping on the last of his shoes before scooping his hairbrush off the bedside table. "So what was that phone call about?"

Kai held up the piece of paper. "The location of Laurence Zika's property."

Ray blinked, taking it from him and staring down at it. "How…"

"Let's just say having a grandfather with plans of world domination comes in handy at times." Kai pulled on his shoes, glancing toward the mirror and noting that he needed to top up his face paint. He shrugged; no time for that now. "I'd say it's about half a days travel away."

Lee, who had finished tying up his hair, slid up beside Ray and looked at the address. "How do you work that out? If I'm not mistaken, it would take almost 12 hours or just under to get there."

Kai smirked, straightening. "Not if you speed."

Two pairs of cat-eyes settled upon him, Ray blinking. "And you intend to pay the cab driver how much?"

Kai's smirk widened as he moved from the room, the other two following him and frowning as they watched him enter Mr Dickenson's room. Looking in the doorway, they spotted Kai searching through the draws, letting out a satisfied grunt as he plucked a something from the back.

Turning toward the pair, Kai dangled the keys from the end of his finger, crimson eyes sparkling as he grinned devilishly. "Up for a road trip?"

Vroom vroom.