Rimnerel: Hello everyone! Even though I'm still sick, I'm going to go
ahead and write this chapter and not make you all wait for me to get
better.
Enrique: You should go back to bed.
Kain: She's not going to do it she'll just saying yes to get you off her case.
Rimnerel: Shut up, Kain. Since you have such a big mouth, do the reviews for me!
Kain (shrugging): Thanks to SelenaWheeler, Dark-Mage-Quisits, FREAK014, russle, Midnight Insanity, The-Dark-Fire-Elf, and B. Tiamat Atardecer for all your reviews. We hope you like this chapter as much as you liked the last one.
Rimnerel: Oh, and my friend Dark-Mage-Quisits has started another story called Quest of Hearts and it is so cute! Everyone should read it, or at least people who like many of my pairings anyway.
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Tala continued to stare at the piece of paper resting in his hand. It was like any other number, of course, except for the fact that it was Kenny Shinoda's number. Kenny... The brunette he met that summer who was staying with his relatives for the summer. One of his relatives, Tala could not stand, but that's probably besides the point of why he was looking at the number. Over the course of the weeks that followed their meeting, Tala realized how strong his feelings for the brunette were.
No matter what he told himself, his thoughts continued to head back to Kenny. Causing his sleep at times to be both restless and peaceful. It was strange how one person could do that to an individual. How that young man changed Tala inside out. No one not even Tala's cousin Kai Hiwatari had ever managed to melt the ice around his tundra heart. Tala had not expected anyone to be able to. After so many years of keeping everything inside, he expected to let it freeze and shatter his soul until there was nothing left.
'I guess that's what I get.' Tala thought to himself. 'You did encourage him after all, you idiot.'
Tala sighed, tossing the piece of paper away from him. That was it he wasn't going to sulk over this anymore. He was going to suck it up and act like a man about it. The first thing he was going to do was leave from Doctor Tate's office to ride his bike for a bit. That always helped to clear his mind. Then he would get what he needed from his uncle's house and leave there for good. He and Kai would find a nice place far from there, and live, getting jobs, and living the way they've always wanted.
Getting up from his chair near the window, the red head began pulling on clean clothes to head out. As Tala was ready to put on his shoes, there was a knock on the door. Before he could ask who it was, the door was pushed open, revealing...
"Uncle!" Tala's eyes widened as he backed up towards the bed, as his uncle glared at him, walking into the room.
"I thought this was where you were staying. That bitch thought she was smart hiding you here. But I knew...well maybe I should give Kai the credit for telling me. All I had to do was wait out the time when she wasn't at this office," his uncle smirked.
"What do you want?" Tala responded, his heart hammering at the walls of his chest.
"What I want? That which is legally my property boy you and your worthless cousin. So, where is the other little bastard?" Boris looked around to see if Kai was hiding somewhere in the room.
"Kai's not here. He won't be back until later this afternoon. Leave him out of this, it's me that you really want, isn't it?" Tala stated.
"Bright as always. It's true, I could care less where Kai is and what he's doing. But you boy, you are my main concern. My main focus, because you have tested my patience one too many times. First your damn father married Alexial and fathered such a bastard child as you. Then he took her with him in death, leaving you. Since you could speak, you have tapped my tolerance of you," Boris said, blocking Tala's way from any possible exit.
"You didn't have to take me into your home. You could have left me for a foster home."
"That is true. I would have left you to that, if not for the fact that it was Irene's constant nagging to bring you into our house. You do know that she envied Alexial. My sister married the man that Irene wanted, had her eye on for the longest time. They all went to school together. Irene was devastated when she learned he died. She cried and would have nothing to do with me, calling out your father's name over and over again. Eventually I had to make her shut up."
"What did you do to her?" Tala demanded.
"Why are you worried boy? I've never hit her as hard as I would you. She is still my wife, even if she would rather take out her sexual frustrations on you."
"And you let her! You never stopped her. You knew what was going on, didn't you? You could have gotten her help, but you figured that she would come back to you eventually. Isn't that right, uncle?"
Tala watched his uncle smile with amusement. "Is that what you thought? She went crazy, seeking your company because she caught me in bed with one of my many mistresses. When I told her that she was no use to me, she broke down and ran from the room. You know she wanted a divorce, but I could not allow that. Not with business going so well. I thought she would cry in her room that night, but she sought you because you look just like Mikhail. Which is why you are the bane of my existence. As long as you continue to stare at me with his eyes, I will hate you."
"Then let me go," Tala said. "If you let me leave, then you don't have to worry about me and you can do whatever you want."
"I'm afraid that is impossible for now. Not until you give me that key that your mother gave to you. I know that you have it. I will gladly let you go if you just hand it over," Boris said in response to Tala's request.
"The key...no." That key was all that his parents left him. It was the key to a safety box they left for him when he was old enough. The key went to a bank in Florida where no one but Tala was able to get into it. "That's everything that my father and mother left me. You won't take that away from me."
"Do you know what is in that safety box? I doubt you understand what you're refusing me boy." Boris took a step towards Tala, his eyes cold with contempt and hatred. "If I must, I will beat you out of that key."
"Beat me all you want, I will never let you have the key. I've stashed it away where you will never find it, no matter how hard you look," Tala smiled. "That's the one thing that you will never be able to get out of me, old man."
"You little—"Boris turned bright red as he raised his hand to hit Tala. The red head braced the blow.
"Excuse me, Mr. Balcov, what do you think you're doing?" Judy's voice stopped the blow that was aimed at Tala's head. Boris turned to look towards the doorway, finding the woman with blond hair standing in there her arms folded across her chest as she glared at him. But Tala could see the fear behind her eyes. "I hope you are not planning to hit my patient, now are you? I doubt that the police could over look aggravated assault in this case. I wonder what the town would think of you then, Mr. Balcov."
"You wouldn't dare," Boris growled.
"Try to hit him then," Judy dared. She watched Boris lower his hand, his eyes turning darker with anger, as he swiftly turned from the teen.
"We will finish this conversation another time boy. Be lucky that she saved you, but know that you can't spend the rest of your life cowering between her legs. She won't always be here to protect your ass." With that, he was gone, Tala dropping to the bed, his body shaking involuntarily.
"Tala...what was that about?" Judy walked over to the teen, sitting on the bed next to him. Her eyes looked over him with concern, but he refused to look at her. He placed his head into his hands, taking deep breaths. "Tala?"
"I don't want to talk about it, Judy, just let it be," he said.
"I can't let it be, not when he was about to abuse you even more. Please open up to me," she said.
"Dammit, why does everyone think they can get me to open up to them?" Tala snapped. "I don't want anyone else knowing any thing about me. I just want to be left alone!"
"Tala...do you want to talk about it?" Judy inquired.
"No I don't want to talk about it. I don't want to talk to anyone, especially you! Just leave me alone!" Getting up from the bed, he was about to get his shoes when something nagged at him. With a sigh, he turned around to stare at Judy who was looking at the piece of paper on the floor. He watched her pick it up, studying the numbers carefully, then turn her eyes to him.
"This isn't about me, is it Tala? It's about Kenny, isn't it? Would you like to tell me what happened?"
"No, I don't want to talk about. There's nothing to say. He had to go back home because his grandmother got sick. So that's the end of the story. There's nothing else for me to say. Tyson gave me his number saying that I should call, but what's the use. It was a summer fling, nothing more," Tala stated.
"A summer fling? Are you sure you want to tell yourself that?" Judy remarked.
"It was nothing more," Tala assured.
"I don't believe you. I believe that you're just saying that because if you allow yourself to think it's more, you'll be admitting that you really want to open up to him, but you're afraid that he will turn you away once he discovers the truth. Tala, I've known you too long not to know how you think. I know you may think you're okay alone, but you're the most vulnerable person on the face of this Earth when you don't have anyone to turn to. When you reach out for something, it's only halfway because you're afraid and been hurt so much."
"Will you stop psychoanalyzing me, dammit?" Tala scowled at the woman, but she refused to stop.
"You tell yourself that everything's fine until you finally believe it, closing your heart to yet another door that might have freed you from some of that pain. Kenny was a door that you're not going to meet again for a long time, if again at all. You can make it work if you give the effort to try," Judy said. Standing up, she put the piece of paper in his hand, a smile on her face as she pushed his bangs out of his eyes, kissing his forehead. "I love you Tala, like you were a second son to me. It pains me when you aren't happy. Please try to find happiness."
Tala said nothing as she stepped away from him, walking out the door. When she was gone, Tala turned his azure eyes back to the number in the palm of his hand. Could she be right? Was he really so lonely that he didn't know it because of years of growing colder and numb? Was Kenny really the answer that he was looking for?
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Kenny continued to ignore the two that were fooling around while he fixed a certain blue haired friend of his blade. Putting on a new attack ring, Kenny focused on adjusting the weight dish to the balance Kain asked of him. While he was doing this, Rei was fending off Kain's wandering hand, which was now in the Chinese teen's shirt, trying to go lower. Kain had his lips locked with Rei's who was doing his best to be decent in front of his friend.
"You know Kain," Kenny started. "Pay me no mind and fuck him all you want. Of course I feel like having images in my head of you doing things to Rei that are best left in the privacy."
Kain brought his lock on Rei's mouth, glaring at the male that was still working on his blade. "If I didn't know any better, you smart mouth little bastard, I would say that was sarcasm in your voice."
"Oh no, of course not," Kenny replied sarcastically. "You mistook that for my cynical tone."
"Okay you two, that's enough, no bloodshed today," Rei smiled.
"He started it!" Kain said. "You know, that's why you can't get along with Ian in the first place, both of you are so damn sarcastic that you repel each other away."
"Kain, you want to keep your balls intact, don't you? Because I can easily remove them for you if you ever say that I'm like Ian again," Kenny glared.
"We are seriously going to have to do something about that mouth of yours. It's gotten worst since you lost your virginity. I wonder what would all those girls you've turned down say about this," Kain wondered.
"What would all your previous girl interests say about you and Rei then?" Kenny questioned. "You know, they always said that Rei could never go out with someone homely looking, but how did he manage to fall in love with you?" Kenny set the blade he was working on, dodging the pillow that came flying at his head.
"What the hell do you mean homely!" Kain shouted. "I'll show you homely when I beat your ass!"
"You know Kain, you're not fit to kiss it, let alone kick my ass," Kenny laughed. As Kain lunged for him again, the phone rang. Rei got up from where he sat, watching Kain get his hands on Kenny tossing him down on the bed. Kenny protested as Kain sat on top of him, pinning him to the bed. "Get your heavy ass off me! What the hell have you been eating, bricks?"
"Heavy! Keep that up, you're really putting yourself in hot water with me," Kain said, grabbing a pillow and hitting Kenny over the head with it.
Rei grabbed the cordless phone, placing it to his ear. "Hello, Shinoda residence, may I help you?" There was a pause before a man spoke up.
"May I speak with Kenny Shinoda?"
Rei looked over to where Kenny was trying to shove Kain off him. "Kenny, you have a phone call. Want me to tell them you're currently preoccupied with affairs?"
"Kain, get the hell off of me!"
"I thought you liked it when I did this," Kain said in a low tone that sounded husky. "Don't abandon me, not now Kenny, not when—"Kain yelped when Kenny bit him. "You kinky little bastard, stop biting me!"
"Then get off of me, or I will bite you again," Kenny threatened. Kenny shoved Kain to the side, grabbing the phone away from Rei who went to comfort the spot that Kenny bit. "Hello, this is Kenny speaking."
"Preoccupied with affairs? You sure move fast, don't you Kenny." The familiar light tone of Tala's voice came through the phone, causing Kenny to pale slightly. Turning to Kain, he mouthed he was going to get it later, before leaving the room for privacy.
"Tala...um...hi. How...did you get my number?" Kenny asked.
"Tyson gave it to me. He told me that you would appreciate it if I called. I think you would have appreciated my call when you weren't so tied up with other things. I didn't know you liked to bite, that's a surprise," Tala stated.
"No! It's not like that!" Kenny exclaimed.
"Hey, I didn't say a word. What you do in your free time is none of my business, I mean, it's not like we're going together under some long distance relationship or anything. If you want to fuck other people, then go ahead."
"Tala, I told you, you're the only person that I would allow to do that," Kenny stated. Why was it that things always found a way to get worst than it first started out? "I'm not going to just start screwing anyone because I'm not there with you."
"I told you, it's none of my business. You can do what you like and I don't have a problem with it at all."
"Tala, stop saying that. It's not like that between Kain and I. He's one of my best friends. Anyway, he has a boyfriend," Kenny explained.
"You don't have to explain it to me," Tala said.
"I have to when you sound jealous like that."
"I'm not jealous," Tala assured.
"Then why are you saying all those things?" Kenny questioned.
"Why are you trying to explain then, if there's nothing going on?" Tala countered.
"You know...this isn't getting us anywhere," Kenny sighed.
"You're right. I think I should go and let you finish what you were doing? I was just calling to let you know that Tyson gave me your number. Bye Kenny." Before Kenny could say a word, Tala hung up. Cutting off the phone, Kenny placed his head against the wall.
"Shit!"
"Kenny?" Kain peeked out of the room, seeing his friend leaning against the wall. "I hope that..."
"It's not your fault, even if I could make you a scapegoat for this," Kenny mumbled.
"Well...if you feel any better, you can hit me," Kain replied. "Was that the guy?"
"Yes, that was Tala."
Kain stepped out into the hallway, followed by Rei, who looked worried. "You know, Kenny, even though he was arguing with you, he must have been worried that you had forgot him that quickly. I mean if he really didn't care as much as it seemed, he wouldn't have called you. And he wouldn't have sounded jealous. It just means that he cares more about you."
Kenny looked at Kain, smiling momentarily. "I guess you're right. He could have just thrown the number away when Tyson handed it to him. But he bothered to call. So, I guess that counts for something."
"I should have picked up the other cordless and given him a piece of my mind for taking your virginity anyway," Kain nodded to himself.
"I don't need you're scaring away all the men that come into my life thank you very much, I mean, you're homely looking and all," Kenny teased.
"You know...I was just about to comfort you, but all deals are off dude. You're going to cry on your own shoulder today. Come on Rei let's go back to my house for some afternoon practice. Thanks for fixing my blade, I shall take my leave."
"Oh yeah, after all I did all the work, while you tried to traumatize me," Kenny rolled his eyes. "Go, you've done enough damage already."
"Fine!" Kenny shook his head as he watched Kain drag Rei with him down the stairs. When they were downstairs Kenny stared at the phone, feeling his eyes water.
"I'm not going to cry," Kenny said stubbornly. "If that idiot really believes that I would do something like that, then forget him."
"Hey Kenny I—"Rei stopped at the top of the stairs, seeing the tears that his friend tried to hold back. "Kenny..." Rei went over to his best friend, holding him to his chest, stroking his back. "Just let it out, you don't have to hold it in around me."
"That stupid idiot! He..."
"I know. It's okay," Rei murmured.
"Rei, what's taking you so—"Kain's sentence fell short seeing the brunette's shoulders shaking violently as Rei held him. "Shit...that idiot made you cry. Now I'm really going to have to kick his ass. If there's one thing I won't tolerate, it's anyone hurting you like that." Despite the pain that ran rampant in his chest, he was glad that Rei and Kain were there and they hadn't left. He didn't know how he would deal with this foreign feeling invading his heart.
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Tyson and Kai were coming back from an afternoon of riding when they met up with Tala, whom was practically chain smoking his way through a pack of cigarettes, sitting by the road with his dirt bike. Tyson didn't say a word, the red head looked to be in one of those pissed-off moods that were associated to a fight. Tyson wasn't up to it, and Kai probably didn't feel like breaking up a fight, so neither spoke to Tala as he continued to smoke.
"And what do you think is his problem?" Tyson whispered to Kai as they past Tala. Kai, of course, shrugged, knowing that one of hundreds of things could easily piss off his cousin.
"Kai," Tala called, making it through his last cigarette. "Do you have any smokes on you?"
"Tala, by chance could you humor me? Tell me that you did not go through that whole box from the time I left this morning up till now?" Kai questioned.
"No, I started an hour ago," muttered Tala. "Now do you have any on you or not?"
"You keep smoking like that, and the next time my cousin sees you, it's going to be in a coffin," Tyson shook his head.
"Like I give a fuck how he sees me. He probably wouldn't care too long to shed a tear anyway."
"Okay, I think that an explanation for that is needed immediately," Tyson blinked. "What the hell has gotten into you today? I know for a fact...even though I didn't want to know...that my cousin is crazy about you."
"It was probably just an act."
"How the hell do you come off saying that?"
"I called him today," Tala remarked.
"And!" Tyson exclaimed. "Did he say that?"
"He was with some people. A guy answered the phone Kenny was preoccupied with some other guy that he was biting or something. He tried to explain that the guy was just a friend and that I was jealous and nothing was going on between them," Tala answered.
"Kinky," Kai smirked.
"Shut up!" Tyson glared.
"Sorry," Kai simpered.
"Okay, now back to you Tala," Tyson huffed. "By any chance, did he say that the guy he was biting was named Kain?"
"Yeah. So, you knew about them?"
"You fucking jealous idiot," Tyson laughed. "You're smoking your way to cancer because you think Kenny and Kain are...oh you idiot! Kain goes out with Rei, who was the one that answered the phone. Knowing Kain, he probably was teasing Kenny again they tend to do that a lot. Those two have been friends since sixth grade. Kenny was explaining to you because you sounded jealous and you are. Which proves just how afraid you are to lose Kenny to anyone else."
"Tyson, if I get up, I'm going to put my foot up your ass," Tala glared.
"Shut up, and call Kenny back and apologize. If he doesn't want to talk to you, it does serve you right. You should know, my cousin likes you he would never forget his feelings for you that easily. Well, at least you called. That says something."
"Tyson, let's get going, I think we should let my cousin have some time to himself, come on," Kai urged. "I have something that I want to tell you anyway."
"I can't pick on Tala anymore, fine. I just want him to know that if he hurt Kenny, then I'm not going to be the only one that will kick your ass, because Kain is really protective of Kenny and will hunt you down, so apologize fast and tell him how much you love him," Tyson chimed.
"Shut the fuck up," Tala said. "I'll do whatever I want."
"You—"Kai placed a hand over Tyson's mouth, dragging his boyfriend away. For some reason, Tala just loved to set Tyson off. But in the end, he always thought about what the blue haired teen said, eventually using the bit of advice. Kai had a feeling that was Tala's way of thanking Tyson for things.
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Kenny turned over with a scowl, looking at the clock. The numbers on the clock read 2:48 in the morning. How the hell could be calling his house this late at night. Reaching over on his nightstand, he fumbled for the cordless phone that was hooked up in his room. After two or three tries, Kenny found the phone, picking it up.
"Hello?"
"Kenny?"
It took the teen a long minute to realize that on the phone was Tala. Which was shocking, because after what went that day between them, he doubted Tala would call him back ever again. "Tala...what the hell are you doing calling me? It's 2 in the morning. Shouldn't you be sleep or something?"
"Were you sleep?" questioned Tala.
"No, I was playing croquette," Kenny mumbled half sarcastic, half sleepily.
"Sorry to wake you up, I had a few things I wanted to say to you."
"Okay, so what are they?" Kenny turned over on his side, closing his eyes, hoping he didn't go back to sleep before Tala said what he had to say. There was a long pause before Kenny heard anything.
"I love you."
"What!" That woke Kenny up all the way, as he stared at the phone in his hand. Did Tala just say...what he thought the male just said? Kenny placed the phone back to his ear. "Tala...did you..."
"Yes, I did. I said that I loved you. And I wanted to apologize for earlier. I was jealous. I...I didn't want you to have found someone else that quickly," Tala said. He sighed, trying to think of what he really wanted to say.
"Tala...thank you for apologizing. Kain said he wanted to kill you for hurting me today, but I understood once I thought about it. It has to do with your past, with a sense that don't want to reach out unless you know that it's going to be there for you," Kenny voiced. "Right?"
"Kenny, I didn't mean it. My whole life...it's been one turn after another. You're the first great thing that I've had since Kai has stuck by me after my parents died. I want to be honest with you. Will you listen to me?" Tala inquired.
"Of course, I would never turn deaf ears to you," Kenny replied. He heard Tala chuckle for a second then give up a shaky sigh. "Tala? Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Kenny...my uncle...he came after me today, but Doctor Tate...she stopped him from hitting me. She told me that I was like a son to her. She's the only person in town that's ever been nice to Kai and I. She told me it's not because she use to be our psychiatrist, but because she never wanted to leave us alone to fend for ourselves like she did when I was twelve."
"Are you sure you want to tell me this now?" Kenny said softly, understanding how painful it must be for him to say all of this.
"Yes...I do. She told me that I didn't have to carry the weight of my past by myself. That if I opened up to you, there's a chance that...you would accept me. Could you really do that, no matter what it is? Could you Kenny?" The brunette's heart went out to the older teen, hearing the vulnerability in his voice. He could just imagine the tears that were slipping down his face by now.
"Tala, I love you. This summer was more than just a fling for me. The more I think about you, the more I think I'm falling in love with you. I'm not an idealistic person who believes in all sorts of fairy tale romances and living happily ever after, but I do think this is love at first sight. I doubt I would ever feel this way for another person," Kenny admitted. "Leaving was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do."
"Kenny...I want to tell you this and I want you to be honest with me. I will understand whatever you say and we will leave it at that, okay?"
"Of course," Kenny said.
"Kenny...when I was six...it was after my parents died on a trip from Russia. I hurt so much having to watch them put my parents in the ground. But it was after the funeral...maybe about two weeks or so, my aunt...she...she came in my room that night...I asked her if everything was fine. But...she didn't say a word. She...she..."
"Molested you?" Kenny finished, feeling his throat close up.
"Yes...but...she didn't stop then...she's been doing it since then. I want to stop...to tell her no...but...I have to please her...so she doesn't cry. She's really sick...she thinks I'm her son and...and that my father is still alive. I really don't want to..."
Kenny could hear the tears in Tala's voice as he tried to continue. "Tala, you don't have to say anymore. I understand, and know that it must be hard for you to talk about it. I don't blame you for what has happened. If anything, I love you more you've fought so many odds to try to make a place for yourself in this world. Who could hate you for what you have no control over? I want to thank you for telling this."
"You aren't disgusted with me?" There was shock in Tala's voice as if he expected Kenny to never want to speak to him again.
"How can I be disgusted with you? It's not your fault you had no control over it. You were just a little boy who only tried to do what he thought was correct. It's learned from so many years, I doubt you did it because you loved it. You had no choice, I don't blame you for it," Kenny assured.
"Thank you Kenny, that means so much to me," Tala admitted. "I thought you would hate me and..."
"I love you," Kenny interrupted. "I love everything about you."
"Everything?" Kenny started to hear the tone he was so use to when talking with Tala. It was funny how shifty he was when it came to emotions. Kenny supposed it was due to the physical and mental abuse he's grown up with. But that wasn't going to stop Kenny from loving him any different than he did when he didn't know a thing about his past.
"Yep, especially your ass," Kenny teased.
"Isn't that my line?" Tala chuckled.
"Well, now it's mine, you're going to have to find a new line," Kenny said.
"Is that so?"
"Yep."
"Kenny," Tala said, a smile in his voice.
"Yeah, what is it?" Kenny responded.
"Can I kill your cousin? I guess I should thank him for kicking me in the ass first, but after that, can I kill him?" Tala questioned. Kenny laughed at the statement. So, it was Tyson that put in his two cents. Well, he guess it was okay, they were even now.
"No, you can't. I think Kai would like to keep him alive," Kenny responded.
"Damn," Tala cursed. "I suppose I'm going to have to be stuck in the same house as him when Kai and I finally leave here at the end of the summer. Well...hopefully you'll come live with me when you graduate?"
"Are you saying that you and Kai are leaving for good at the end of the summer to come up this way to live?" Kenny asked, his heart leaping into his stomach at the prospect that their relationship could continue.
"Well, that's the plan. I have a safety deposit box my parents left me before they died. So, I was going to find out what was in there and I know that Kai's parents will gladly pay for him to leave them the hell alone, so, we were thinking of finding jobs, finding a nice two bedroom apartment and waiting for you and Tyson to graduate. You aren't bothered by that, are you?" Tala wondered.
"No, of course not. I just wish that I were graduating sooner," Kenny sighed.
"Well, the two years will go by before you know it," Tala said. "And you can always stay the weekends if you want."
"I suppose so. But do you really think you can keep yourself from killing Tyson if we stay together?" Kenny chuckled. "I know you like to make him made, and the same goes for him."
"I don't like that idiot baboon of a cousin you have. He's lucky that the only reason I tolerate him is because you're his cousin," Tala announced. "That and the fact that I don't know if you would refuse me any if I did."
"You miss me that much?"
"Hell yes. The other night I had to jack off because you made me so horny. I miss our kisses, our touches, our talks, your humor, and most of all the way you cry out my name as your coming."
"You know, you keep that up, you're going to be doing it again tonight," Kenny grinned.
"I wouldn't mind as long as I can hear you touching yourself too," Tala said in a low throaty voice. "I can just picture you touching—"
"And that's why my cousin said you're a pervert. Now go to bed, must I remind you, it's now 2:57 in the morning," Kenny yawned. "I promise that I will play phone sex operator with you another time."
"What do you know about being a phone sex operator?" Tala exclaimed.
"You obviously will have to meet Kain when you come up here. If there were anyone that is as much of a freak as Kai, it would be him. Funny how their names are so similar and they have blue hair too."
"Great, someone cloned my cousin," Tala groaned. "Well, since you're going to leave me to have a five finger date tonight, I will leave you to sleep. If Kai kills me tonight because you left me alone, then I'm coming back to haunt you."
"Good night koi," Kenny laughed.
"What did you just call me?" Tala wondered.
"Koi, it's Japanese for love," Kenny explained.
"I keep forgetting that you're of Japanese decent."
"And I'm just learning that you're Russian. And Kai is also? His name sounds too Japanese."
"He's both actually. Great grandfather was Japanese," Tala said.
"I see. Well that explains a lot. So, I can go to bed now?" Kenny said, or should we start more into the lines of our ancestry?"
"You really don't want to sit up with me a little while longer? I'll get lonely with just me and my hand," Tala said with a hint of a whine in his voice.
"I told you, the time is now 2:59 in no more than a minute it's going to be three in the morning. As much as I love you, I'm not going to be any good tomorrow and Kain and Rei will drag me out of bed. And if they find that I was doing some things on the phone, they are going to give me hell."
"Just lock your door. I know that you'll enjoy it if you try it," Tala coaxed.
"I'm going to bed now. Go to sleep, save that energy for when you're up here," Kenny yawned again.
"Fine, I will go to bed. Good night, koi," Tala murmured into the phone.
"Night." Kenny hung up the phone with a smile. Turning over on his side, he found that he couldn't get to sleep as quickly as he thought. Maybe it was because of the breakthrough that night, or the prospect that come August, he would be able to spend more time with the male. As he drifted off to sleep minutes later, Kenny made thousands of plans for him and Tala.
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Rimnerel: Okay, I'm done. I don't have anything more. I'm going to bed now.
Kain: Yeah, now that it's 2 something in the morning.
Rimnerel: How was I supposed to know that it would take me this long to finish the fucking chapter, you bastard?
Kai (drags Rim): Off to bed you go. Sick people shouldn't be writing stories this late at night. (to reviewers) The next chapter should be out in a few days, given that she stays in bed and gets better. Oyasumi mina- san.
Enrique: You should go back to bed.
Kain: She's not going to do it she'll just saying yes to get you off her case.
Rimnerel: Shut up, Kain. Since you have such a big mouth, do the reviews for me!
Kain (shrugging): Thanks to SelenaWheeler, Dark-Mage-Quisits, FREAK014, russle, Midnight Insanity, The-Dark-Fire-Elf, and B. Tiamat Atardecer for all your reviews. We hope you like this chapter as much as you liked the last one.
Rimnerel: Oh, and my friend Dark-Mage-Quisits has started another story called Quest of Hearts and it is so cute! Everyone should read it, or at least people who like many of my pairings anyway.
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Tala continued to stare at the piece of paper resting in his hand. It was like any other number, of course, except for the fact that it was Kenny Shinoda's number. Kenny... The brunette he met that summer who was staying with his relatives for the summer. One of his relatives, Tala could not stand, but that's probably besides the point of why he was looking at the number. Over the course of the weeks that followed their meeting, Tala realized how strong his feelings for the brunette were.
No matter what he told himself, his thoughts continued to head back to Kenny. Causing his sleep at times to be both restless and peaceful. It was strange how one person could do that to an individual. How that young man changed Tala inside out. No one not even Tala's cousin Kai Hiwatari had ever managed to melt the ice around his tundra heart. Tala had not expected anyone to be able to. After so many years of keeping everything inside, he expected to let it freeze and shatter his soul until there was nothing left.
'I guess that's what I get.' Tala thought to himself. 'You did encourage him after all, you idiot.'
Tala sighed, tossing the piece of paper away from him. That was it he wasn't going to sulk over this anymore. He was going to suck it up and act like a man about it. The first thing he was going to do was leave from Doctor Tate's office to ride his bike for a bit. That always helped to clear his mind. Then he would get what he needed from his uncle's house and leave there for good. He and Kai would find a nice place far from there, and live, getting jobs, and living the way they've always wanted.
Getting up from his chair near the window, the red head began pulling on clean clothes to head out. As Tala was ready to put on his shoes, there was a knock on the door. Before he could ask who it was, the door was pushed open, revealing...
"Uncle!" Tala's eyes widened as he backed up towards the bed, as his uncle glared at him, walking into the room.
"I thought this was where you were staying. That bitch thought she was smart hiding you here. But I knew...well maybe I should give Kai the credit for telling me. All I had to do was wait out the time when she wasn't at this office," his uncle smirked.
"What do you want?" Tala responded, his heart hammering at the walls of his chest.
"What I want? That which is legally my property boy you and your worthless cousin. So, where is the other little bastard?" Boris looked around to see if Kai was hiding somewhere in the room.
"Kai's not here. He won't be back until later this afternoon. Leave him out of this, it's me that you really want, isn't it?" Tala stated.
"Bright as always. It's true, I could care less where Kai is and what he's doing. But you boy, you are my main concern. My main focus, because you have tested my patience one too many times. First your damn father married Alexial and fathered such a bastard child as you. Then he took her with him in death, leaving you. Since you could speak, you have tapped my tolerance of you," Boris said, blocking Tala's way from any possible exit.
"You didn't have to take me into your home. You could have left me for a foster home."
"That is true. I would have left you to that, if not for the fact that it was Irene's constant nagging to bring you into our house. You do know that she envied Alexial. My sister married the man that Irene wanted, had her eye on for the longest time. They all went to school together. Irene was devastated when she learned he died. She cried and would have nothing to do with me, calling out your father's name over and over again. Eventually I had to make her shut up."
"What did you do to her?" Tala demanded.
"Why are you worried boy? I've never hit her as hard as I would you. She is still my wife, even if she would rather take out her sexual frustrations on you."
"And you let her! You never stopped her. You knew what was going on, didn't you? You could have gotten her help, but you figured that she would come back to you eventually. Isn't that right, uncle?"
Tala watched his uncle smile with amusement. "Is that what you thought? She went crazy, seeking your company because she caught me in bed with one of my many mistresses. When I told her that she was no use to me, she broke down and ran from the room. You know she wanted a divorce, but I could not allow that. Not with business going so well. I thought she would cry in her room that night, but she sought you because you look just like Mikhail. Which is why you are the bane of my existence. As long as you continue to stare at me with his eyes, I will hate you."
"Then let me go," Tala said. "If you let me leave, then you don't have to worry about me and you can do whatever you want."
"I'm afraid that is impossible for now. Not until you give me that key that your mother gave to you. I know that you have it. I will gladly let you go if you just hand it over," Boris said in response to Tala's request.
"The key...no." That key was all that his parents left him. It was the key to a safety box they left for him when he was old enough. The key went to a bank in Florida where no one but Tala was able to get into it. "That's everything that my father and mother left me. You won't take that away from me."
"Do you know what is in that safety box? I doubt you understand what you're refusing me boy." Boris took a step towards Tala, his eyes cold with contempt and hatred. "If I must, I will beat you out of that key."
"Beat me all you want, I will never let you have the key. I've stashed it away where you will never find it, no matter how hard you look," Tala smiled. "That's the one thing that you will never be able to get out of me, old man."
"You little—"Boris turned bright red as he raised his hand to hit Tala. The red head braced the blow.
"Excuse me, Mr. Balcov, what do you think you're doing?" Judy's voice stopped the blow that was aimed at Tala's head. Boris turned to look towards the doorway, finding the woman with blond hair standing in there her arms folded across her chest as she glared at him. But Tala could see the fear behind her eyes. "I hope you are not planning to hit my patient, now are you? I doubt that the police could over look aggravated assault in this case. I wonder what the town would think of you then, Mr. Balcov."
"You wouldn't dare," Boris growled.
"Try to hit him then," Judy dared. She watched Boris lower his hand, his eyes turning darker with anger, as he swiftly turned from the teen.
"We will finish this conversation another time boy. Be lucky that she saved you, but know that you can't spend the rest of your life cowering between her legs. She won't always be here to protect your ass." With that, he was gone, Tala dropping to the bed, his body shaking involuntarily.
"Tala...what was that about?" Judy walked over to the teen, sitting on the bed next to him. Her eyes looked over him with concern, but he refused to look at her. He placed his head into his hands, taking deep breaths. "Tala?"
"I don't want to talk about it, Judy, just let it be," he said.
"I can't let it be, not when he was about to abuse you even more. Please open up to me," she said.
"Dammit, why does everyone think they can get me to open up to them?" Tala snapped. "I don't want anyone else knowing any thing about me. I just want to be left alone!"
"Tala...do you want to talk about it?" Judy inquired.
"No I don't want to talk about it. I don't want to talk to anyone, especially you! Just leave me alone!" Getting up from the bed, he was about to get his shoes when something nagged at him. With a sigh, he turned around to stare at Judy who was looking at the piece of paper on the floor. He watched her pick it up, studying the numbers carefully, then turn her eyes to him.
"This isn't about me, is it Tala? It's about Kenny, isn't it? Would you like to tell me what happened?"
"No, I don't want to talk about. There's nothing to say. He had to go back home because his grandmother got sick. So that's the end of the story. There's nothing else for me to say. Tyson gave me his number saying that I should call, but what's the use. It was a summer fling, nothing more," Tala stated.
"A summer fling? Are you sure you want to tell yourself that?" Judy remarked.
"It was nothing more," Tala assured.
"I don't believe you. I believe that you're just saying that because if you allow yourself to think it's more, you'll be admitting that you really want to open up to him, but you're afraid that he will turn you away once he discovers the truth. Tala, I've known you too long not to know how you think. I know you may think you're okay alone, but you're the most vulnerable person on the face of this Earth when you don't have anyone to turn to. When you reach out for something, it's only halfway because you're afraid and been hurt so much."
"Will you stop psychoanalyzing me, dammit?" Tala scowled at the woman, but she refused to stop.
"You tell yourself that everything's fine until you finally believe it, closing your heart to yet another door that might have freed you from some of that pain. Kenny was a door that you're not going to meet again for a long time, if again at all. You can make it work if you give the effort to try," Judy said. Standing up, she put the piece of paper in his hand, a smile on her face as she pushed his bangs out of his eyes, kissing his forehead. "I love you Tala, like you were a second son to me. It pains me when you aren't happy. Please try to find happiness."
Tala said nothing as she stepped away from him, walking out the door. When she was gone, Tala turned his azure eyes back to the number in the palm of his hand. Could she be right? Was he really so lonely that he didn't know it because of years of growing colder and numb? Was Kenny really the answer that he was looking for?
------------------
Kenny continued to ignore the two that were fooling around while he fixed a certain blue haired friend of his blade. Putting on a new attack ring, Kenny focused on adjusting the weight dish to the balance Kain asked of him. While he was doing this, Rei was fending off Kain's wandering hand, which was now in the Chinese teen's shirt, trying to go lower. Kain had his lips locked with Rei's who was doing his best to be decent in front of his friend.
"You know Kain," Kenny started. "Pay me no mind and fuck him all you want. Of course I feel like having images in my head of you doing things to Rei that are best left in the privacy."
Kain brought his lock on Rei's mouth, glaring at the male that was still working on his blade. "If I didn't know any better, you smart mouth little bastard, I would say that was sarcasm in your voice."
"Oh no, of course not," Kenny replied sarcastically. "You mistook that for my cynical tone."
"Okay you two, that's enough, no bloodshed today," Rei smiled.
"He started it!" Kain said. "You know, that's why you can't get along with Ian in the first place, both of you are so damn sarcastic that you repel each other away."
"Kain, you want to keep your balls intact, don't you? Because I can easily remove them for you if you ever say that I'm like Ian again," Kenny glared.
"We are seriously going to have to do something about that mouth of yours. It's gotten worst since you lost your virginity. I wonder what would all those girls you've turned down say about this," Kain wondered.
"What would all your previous girl interests say about you and Rei then?" Kenny questioned. "You know, they always said that Rei could never go out with someone homely looking, but how did he manage to fall in love with you?" Kenny set the blade he was working on, dodging the pillow that came flying at his head.
"What the hell do you mean homely!" Kain shouted. "I'll show you homely when I beat your ass!"
"You know Kain, you're not fit to kiss it, let alone kick my ass," Kenny laughed. As Kain lunged for him again, the phone rang. Rei got up from where he sat, watching Kain get his hands on Kenny tossing him down on the bed. Kenny protested as Kain sat on top of him, pinning him to the bed. "Get your heavy ass off me! What the hell have you been eating, bricks?"
"Heavy! Keep that up, you're really putting yourself in hot water with me," Kain said, grabbing a pillow and hitting Kenny over the head with it.
Rei grabbed the cordless phone, placing it to his ear. "Hello, Shinoda residence, may I help you?" There was a pause before a man spoke up.
"May I speak with Kenny Shinoda?"
Rei looked over to where Kenny was trying to shove Kain off him. "Kenny, you have a phone call. Want me to tell them you're currently preoccupied with affairs?"
"Kain, get the hell off of me!"
"I thought you liked it when I did this," Kain said in a low tone that sounded husky. "Don't abandon me, not now Kenny, not when—"Kain yelped when Kenny bit him. "You kinky little bastard, stop biting me!"
"Then get off of me, or I will bite you again," Kenny threatened. Kenny shoved Kain to the side, grabbing the phone away from Rei who went to comfort the spot that Kenny bit. "Hello, this is Kenny speaking."
"Preoccupied with affairs? You sure move fast, don't you Kenny." The familiar light tone of Tala's voice came through the phone, causing Kenny to pale slightly. Turning to Kain, he mouthed he was going to get it later, before leaving the room for privacy.
"Tala...um...hi. How...did you get my number?" Kenny asked.
"Tyson gave it to me. He told me that you would appreciate it if I called. I think you would have appreciated my call when you weren't so tied up with other things. I didn't know you liked to bite, that's a surprise," Tala stated.
"No! It's not like that!" Kenny exclaimed.
"Hey, I didn't say a word. What you do in your free time is none of my business, I mean, it's not like we're going together under some long distance relationship or anything. If you want to fuck other people, then go ahead."
"Tala, I told you, you're the only person that I would allow to do that," Kenny stated. Why was it that things always found a way to get worst than it first started out? "I'm not going to just start screwing anyone because I'm not there with you."
"I told you, it's none of my business. You can do what you like and I don't have a problem with it at all."
"Tala, stop saying that. It's not like that between Kain and I. He's one of my best friends. Anyway, he has a boyfriend," Kenny explained.
"You don't have to explain it to me," Tala said.
"I have to when you sound jealous like that."
"I'm not jealous," Tala assured.
"Then why are you saying all those things?" Kenny questioned.
"Why are you trying to explain then, if there's nothing going on?" Tala countered.
"You know...this isn't getting us anywhere," Kenny sighed.
"You're right. I think I should go and let you finish what you were doing? I was just calling to let you know that Tyson gave me your number. Bye Kenny." Before Kenny could say a word, Tala hung up. Cutting off the phone, Kenny placed his head against the wall.
"Shit!"
"Kenny?" Kain peeked out of the room, seeing his friend leaning against the wall. "I hope that..."
"It's not your fault, even if I could make you a scapegoat for this," Kenny mumbled.
"Well...if you feel any better, you can hit me," Kain replied. "Was that the guy?"
"Yes, that was Tala."
Kain stepped out into the hallway, followed by Rei, who looked worried. "You know, Kenny, even though he was arguing with you, he must have been worried that you had forgot him that quickly. I mean if he really didn't care as much as it seemed, he wouldn't have called you. And he wouldn't have sounded jealous. It just means that he cares more about you."
Kenny looked at Kain, smiling momentarily. "I guess you're right. He could have just thrown the number away when Tyson handed it to him. But he bothered to call. So, I guess that counts for something."
"I should have picked up the other cordless and given him a piece of my mind for taking your virginity anyway," Kain nodded to himself.
"I don't need you're scaring away all the men that come into my life thank you very much, I mean, you're homely looking and all," Kenny teased.
"You know...I was just about to comfort you, but all deals are off dude. You're going to cry on your own shoulder today. Come on Rei let's go back to my house for some afternoon practice. Thanks for fixing my blade, I shall take my leave."
"Oh yeah, after all I did all the work, while you tried to traumatize me," Kenny rolled his eyes. "Go, you've done enough damage already."
"Fine!" Kenny shook his head as he watched Kain drag Rei with him down the stairs. When they were downstairs Kenny stared at the phone, feeling his eyes water.
"I'm not going to cry," Kenny said stubbornly. "If that idiot really believes that I would do something like that, then forget him."
"Hey Kenny I—"Rei stopped at the top of the stairs, seeing the tears that his friend tried to hold back. "Kenny..." Rei went over to his best friend, holding him to his chest, stroking his back. "Just let it out, you don't have to hold it in around me."
"That stupid idiot! He..."
"I know. It's okay," Rei murmured.
"Rei, what's taking you so—"Kain's sentence fell short seeing the brunette's shoulders shaking violently as Rei held him. "Shit...that idiot made you cry. Now I'm really going to have to kick his ass. If there's one thing I won't tolerate, it's anyone hurting you like that." Despite the pain that ran rampant in his chest, he was glad that Rei and Kain were there and they hadn't left. He didn't know how he would deal with this foreign feeling invading his heart.
-----------------------
Tyson and Kai were coming back from an afternoon of riding when they met up with Tala, whom was practically chain smoking his way through a pack of cigarettes, sitting by the road with his dirt bike. Tyson didn't say a word, the red head looked to be in one of those pissed-off moods that were associated to a fight. Tyson wasn't up to it, and Kai probably didn't feel like breaking up a fight, so neither spoke to Tala as he continued to smoke.
"And what do you think is his problem?" Tyson whispered to Kai as they past Tala. Kai, of course, shrugged, knowing that one of hundreds of things could easily piss off his cousin.
"Kai," Tala called, making it through his last cigarette. "Do you have any smokes on you?"
"Tala, by chance could you humor me? Tell me that you did not go through that whole box from the time I left this morning up till now?" Kai questioned.
"No, I started an hour ago," muttered Tala. "Now do you have any on you or not?"
"You keep smoking like that, and the next time my cousin sees you, it's going to be in a coffin," Tyson shook his head.
"Like I give a fuck how he sees me. He probably wouldn't care too long to shed a tear anyway."
"Okay, I think that an explanation for that is needed immediately," Tyson blinked. "What the hell has gotten into you today? I know for a fact...even though I didn't want to know...that my cousin is crazy about you."
"It was probably just an act."
"How the hell do you come off saying that?"
"I called him today," Tala remarked.
"And!" Tyson exclaimed. "Did he say that?"
"He was with some people. A guy answered the phone Kenny was preoccupied with some other guy that he was biting or something. He tried to explain that the guy was just a friend and that I was jealous and nothing was going on between them," Tala answered.
"Kinky," Kai smirked.
"Shut up!" Tyson glared.
"Sorry," Kai simpered.
"Okay, now back to you Tala," Tyson huffed. "By any chance, did he say that the guy he was biting was named Kain?"
"Yeah. So, you knew about them?"
"You fucking jealous idiot," Tyson laughed. "You're smoking your way to cancer because you think Kenny and Kain are...oh you idiot! Kain goes out with Rei, who was the one that answered the phone. Knowing Kain, he probably was teasing Kenny again they tend to do that a lot. Those two have been friends since sixth grade. Kenny was explaining to you because you sounded jealous and you are. Which proves just how afraid you are to lose Kenny to anyone else."
"Tyson, if I get up, I'm going to put my foot up your ass," Tala glared.
"Shut up, and call Kenny back and apologize. If he doesn't want to talk to you, it does serve you right. You should know, my cousin likes you he would never forget his feelings for you that easily. Well, at least you called. That says something."
"Tyson, let's get going, I think we should let my cousin have some time to himself, come on," Kai urged. "I have something that I want to tell you anyway."
"I can't pick on Tala anymore, fine. I just want him to know that if he hurt Kenny, then I'm not going to be the only one that will kick your ass, because Kain is really protective of Kenny and will hunt you down, so apologize fast and tell him how much you love him," Tyson chimed.
"Shut the fuck up," Tala said. "I'll do whatever I want."
"You—"Kai placed a hand over Tyson's mouth, dragging his boyfriend away. For some reason, Tala just loved to set Tyson off. But in the end, he always thought about what the blue haired teen said, eventually using the bit of advice. Kai had a feeling that was Tala's way of thanking Tyson for things.
-------------------
Kenny turned over with a scowl, looking at the clock. The numbers on the clock read 2:48 in the morning. How the hell could be calling his house this late at night. Reaching over on his nightstand, he fumbled for the cordless phone that was hooked up in his room. After two or three tries, Kenny found the phone, picking it up.
"Hello?"
"Kenny?"
It took the teen a long minute to realize that on the phone was Tala. Which was shocking, because after what went that day between them, he doubted Tala would call him back ever again. "Tala...what the hell are you doing calling me? It's 2 in the morning. Shouldn't you be sleep or something?"
"Were you sleep?" questioned Tala.
"No, I was playing croquette," Kenny mumbled half sarcastic, half sleepily.
"Sorry to wake you up, I had a few things I wanted to say to you."
"Okay, so what are they?" Kenny turned over on his side, closing his eyes, hoping he didn't go back to sleep before Tala said what he had to say. There was a long pause before Kenny heard anything.
"I love you."
"What!" That woke Kenny up all the way, as he stared at the phone in his hand. Did Tala just say...what he thought the male just said? Kenny placed the phone back to his ear. "Tala...did you..."
"Yes, I did. I said that I loved you. And I wanted to apologize for earlier. I was jealous. I...I didn't want you to have found someone else that quickly," Tala said. He sighed, trying to think of what he really wanted to say.
"Tala...thank you for apologizing. Kain said he wanted to kill you for hurting me today, but I understood once I thought about it. It has to do with your past, with a sense that don't want to reach out unless you know that it's going to be there for you," Kenny voiced. "Right?"
"Kenny, I didn't mean it. My whole life...it's been one turn after another. You're the first great thing that I've had since Kai has stuck by me after my parents died. I want to be honest with you. Will you listen to me?" Tala inquired.
"Of course, I would never turn deaf ears to you," Kenny replied. He heard Tala chuckle for a second then give up a shaky sigh. "Tala? Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Kenny...my uncle...he came after me today, but Doctor Tate...she stopped him from hitting me. She told me that I was like a son to her. She's the only person in town that's ever been nice to Kai and I. She told me it's not because she use to be our psychiatrist, but because she never wanted to leave us alone to fend for ourselves like she did when I was twelve."
"Are you sure you want to tell me this now?" Kenny said softly, understanding how painful it must be for him to say all of this.
"Yes...I do. She told me that I didn't have to carry the weight of my past by myself. That if I opened up to you, there's a chance that...you would accept me. Could you really do that, no matter what it is? Could you Kenny?" The brunette's heart went out to the older teen, hearing the vulnerability in his voice. He could just imagine the tears that were slipping down his face by now.
"Tala, I love you. This summer was more than just a fling for me. The more I think about you, the more I think I'm falling in love with you. I'm not an idealistic person who believes in all sorts of fairy tale romances and living happily ever after, but I do think this is love at first sight. I doubt I would ever feel this way for another person," Kenny admitted. "Leaving was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do."
"Kenny...I want to tell you this and I want you to be honest with me. I will understand whatever you say and we will leave it at that, okay?"
"Of course," Kenny said.
"Kenny...when I was six...it was after my parents died on a trip from Russia. I hurt so much having to watch them put my parents in the ground. But it was after the funeral...maybe about two weeks or so, my aunt...she...she came in my room that night...I asked her if everything was fine. But...she didn't say a word. She...she..."
"Molested you?" Kenny finished, feeling his throat close up.
"Yes...but...she didn't stop then...she's been doing it since then. I want to stop...to tell her no...but...I have to please her...so she doesn't cry. She's really sick...she thinks I'm her son and...and that my father is still alive. I really don't want to..."
Kenny could hear the tears in Tala's voice as he tried to continue. "Tala, you don't have to say anymore. I understand, and know that it must be hard for you to talk about it. I don't blame you for what has happened. If anything, I love you more you've fought so many odds to try to make a place for yourself in this world. Who could hate you for what you have no control over? I want to thank you for telling this."
"You aren't disgusted with me?" There was shock in Tala's voice as if he expected Kenny to never want to speak to him again.
"How can I be disgusted with you? It's not your fault you had no control over it. You were just a little boy who only tried to do what he thought was correct. It's learned from so many years, I doubt you did it because you loved it. You had no choice, I don't blame you for it," Kenny assured.
"Thank you Kenny, that means so much to me," Tala admitted. "I thought you would hate me and..."
"I love you," Kenny interrupted. "I love everything about you."
"Everything?" Kenny started to hear the tone he was so use to when talking with Tala. It was funny how shifty he was when it came to emotions. Kenny supposed it was due to the physical and mental abuse he's grown up with. But that wasn't going to stop Kenny from loving him any different than he did when he didn't know a thing about his past.
"Yep, especially your ass," Kenny teased.
"Isn't that my line?" Tala chuckled.
"Well, now it's mine, you're going to have to find a new line," Kenny said.
"Is that so?"
"Yep."
"Kenny," Tala said, a smile in his voice.
"Yeah, what is it?" Kenny responded.
"Can I kill your cousin? I guess I should thank him for kicking me in the ass first, but after that, can I kill him?" Tala questioned. Kenny laughed at the statement. So, it was Tyson that put in his two cents. Well, he guess it was okay, they were even now.
"No, you can't. I think Kai would like to keep him alive," Kenny responded.
"Damn," Tala cursed. "I suppose I'm going to have to be stuck in the same house as him when Kai and I finally leave here at the end of the summer. Well...hopefully you'll come live with me when you graduate?"
"Are you saying that you and Kai are leaving for good at the end of the summer to come up this way to live?" Kenny asked, his heart leaping into his stomach at the prospect that their relationship could continue.
"Well, that's the plan. I have a safety deposit box my parents left me before they died. So, I was going to find out what was in there and I know that Kai's parents will gladly pay for him to leave them the hell alone, so, we were thinking of finding jobs, finding a nice two bedroom apartment and waiting for you and Tyson to graduate. You aren't bothered by that, are you?" Tala wondered.
"No, of course not. I just wish that I were graduating sooner," Kenny sighed.
"Well, the two years will go by before you know it," Tala said. "And you can always stay the weekends if you want."
"I suppose so. But do you really think you can keep yourself from killing Tyson if we stay together?" Kenny chuckled. "I know you like to make him made, and the same goes for him."
"I don't like that idiot baboon of a cousin you have. He's lucky that the only reason I tolerate him is because you're his cousin," Tala announced. "That and the fact that I don't know if you would refuse me any if I did."
"You miss me that much?"
"Hell yes. The other night I had to jack off because you made me so horny. I miss our kisses, our touches, our talks, your humor, and most of all the way you cry out my name as your coming."
"You know, you keep that up, you're going to be doing it again tonight," Kenny grinned.
"I wouldn't mind as long as I can hear you touching yourself too," Tala said in a low throaty voice. "I can just picture you touching—"
"And that's why my cousin said you're a pervert. Now go to bed, must I remind you, it's now 2:57 in the morning," Kenny yawned. "I promise that I will play phone sex operator with you another time."
"What do you know about being a phone sex operator?" Tala exclaimed.
"You obviously will have to meet Kain when you come up here. If there were anyone that is as much of a freak as Kai, it would be him. Funny how their names are so similar and they have blue hair too."
"Great, someone cloned my cousin," Tala groaned. "Well, since you're going to leave me to have a five finger date tonight, I will leave you to sleep. If Kai kills me tonight because you left me alone, then I'm coming back to haunt you."
"Good night koi," Kenny laughed.
"What did you just call me?" Tala wondered.
"Koi, it's Japanese for love," Kenny explained.
"I keep forgetting that you're of Japanese decent."
"And I'm just learning that you're Russian. And Kai is also? His name sounds too Japanese."
"He's both actually. Great grandfather was Japanese," Tala said.
"I see. Well that explains a lot. So, I can go to bed now?" Kenny said, or should we start more into the lines of our ancestry?"
"You really don't want to sit up with me a little while longer? I'll get lonely with just me and my hand," Tala said with a hint of a whine in his voice.
"I told you, the time is now 2:59 in no more than a minute it's going to be three in the morning. As much as I love you, I'm not going to be any good tomorrow and Kain and Rei will drag me out of bed. And if they find that I was doing some things on the phone, they are going to give me hell."
"Just lock your door. I know that you'll enjoy it if you try it," Tala coaxed.
"I'm going to bed now. Go to sleep, save that energy for when you're up here," Kenny yawned again.
"Fine, I will go to bed. Good night, koi," Tala murmured into the phone.
"Night." Kenny hung up the phone with a smile. Turning over on his side, he found that he couldn't get to sleep as quickly as he thought. Maybe it was because of the breakthrough that night, or the prospect that come August, he would be able to spend more time with the male. As he drifted off to sleep minutes later, Kenny made thousands of plans for him and Tala.
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Rimnerel: Okay, I'm done. I don't have anything more. I'm going to bed now.
Kain: Yeah, now that it's 2 something in the morning.
Rimnerel: How was I supposed to know that it would take me this long to finish the fucking chapter, you bastard?
Kai (drags Rim): Off to bed you go. Sick people shouldn't be writing stories this late at night. (to reviewers) The next chapter should be out in a few days, given that she stays in bed and gets better. Oyasumi mina- san.