Disclaimer: I don't own it.
AN: I hope you all enjoy this chapter.
"What the hell Kai?" Tala leaned against the door frame, crossing his arms against the early morning chill. Kai ran a hand through his still disheveled hair, setting his bag down. "Tala, it's too early. Just let me in." The redhead stepped back, smirking. "Shouldn't you be at home cuddling with Rei?"
Kai picked up his bag and brushed past the other Russian before dropping it on the floor in the living room next to the couch. "No!" Tala was doing a very good impression of a fish. Kai and Rei had been nearly inseparable for the six months they had been together and now Kai was about to rip his head off for even mentioning the neko-jin.
"Kai, what the fuck is going on? Three day ago you could barely keep your hands off of him." The slate haired Russian sighed. "Tala, it's a long story and right now, I just want to sleep. You'll know all in the morning."
Tala threw up his hands up. "Fine. But if you did anything to hurt him!" He walked off, not even his enhanced hearing catching Kai's words. "But no one cares if I get hurt."
*****
When Kai came out of the bathroom, fully dressed and looking like he was only half awake, Tala was at the kitchen table looking painfully chipper with a cup of tea gently steaming in front of him. Kai got his own glass before sitting across from his friend. "Spill it Kai, I want to hear exactly what happened."
Kai swirled his tea, staring into the pale gold liquid. When he spoke his voice was barely audible. "I woke last night to find Rei crying." Tala leaned closer not wanting to miss a word. "I asked him what was wrong and he said that he had a nightmare. I knew that he was lying. He hasn't suffered from a nightmare since we got together. I manage to wheedle it out of him. He told me that he loved someone else and I left. That's why I was on your doorstep this morning."
Tala took a drink of his tea, blue eyes fixed on Kai. "Kai, you have got to be the biggest bastard on the face of the planet." Mahogany fixed on the redhead, burning with rage. "What the hell are you talking about Ivanhov? You weren't there. You didn't see the look in his eyes."
Tala rubbed at one temple, feeling a headache coming on. "Obviously you never paid enough attention to your kitten. You missed the way that he watched you, and worried when you were out of the room for even half a minute. I think when he said that he loved someone else; he meant that he also loved you. I remember him telling me that many neko-jin in his village have more then one mate."
The redhead got to his feet and moved to stand next to Kai, resting his hand on his friend's shoulder. "You know that jumping to conclusions has gotten you in to before. Don't jump to one about Rei's feelings. He wouldn't change his mind that quickly. Give him a chance. I've got to go. I have some errands I've got to do."
Kai also got up. "I've got to go sit through meetings all day. I'm sure that I'll be gone all night." The slate haired Russian disappeared, leaving Tala staring after him. He dropped the mugs into the sink, not caring if they broke. "Fucking bastard. He doesn't know what he's lost."
*****
Tala wiggled through the crowd at the bar, icy eyes searching. He had gone into his office for several minutes to retrieve some files before spending the rest of the day running around town before heading downtown to one of the most well known and best bars in the city.
"Rei!" The neko-jin turned from where he stood at the end of the bar, a glass in his hand. He saw Tala and smiled, snapping back to the glass when one of the bar patrons growled at him. He quickly finished the glass and took the money from the patron, slipping it into the pocket of his pants before moving down to meet Tala.
Tala had to admit that Rei looked absolutely edible. The neko-jin wore tight leather pants that clung like a second skin, along with a black tank top with an unbuttoned red shirt over the top. His hair wrap and headband were both red, enhancing his eyes.
Kai had never approved of Rei's wardrobe at work. The Russian was possessive and hated having people look at the neko-jin in any way other then friendship. Ironically enough, it had been, in a roundabout way, Kai that had gotten Rei the job. Although Rei was only eighteen, the bar had hired him immediately. They had wanted the fame of having Kai Hiwatari's lover working for them.
Tala leaned over the bar and kissed Rei on the forehead. "I thought I'd let you know that Kai showed up on my doorstep last night." Rei unfolded the bench behind the bar and sank down on it, folding his arms on the counter. "That's good to know. Tala, I shouldn't have said anything. I didn't think he was going to break down like that."
Tala slid onto a stool across from the neko-jin, ignoring the look he got from someone who was going to sit on it. "Rei, don't worry about it. Kai is just too thick to see that you still love him. Give it enough time and he'll come crawling back."
Rei nodded, feeling exhausted. After Kai had left last night he had spent almost the entire night pacing and trying to keep from breaking down again. He had fallen asleep shortly before dawn and had awoken an hour before work. Resting his head on his arms he closed his eyes, wanting nothing more then to go home and sleep.
Warm fingers combed through his bangs and he found himself purring. He wanted human contact and right now he didn't care who it came from. "And what if he doesn't? I'm not sure I could handle it. I've been in love with him for so long, and in all that time I never told him. And then once were together, I don't tell him that I love another for fear of driving him away, and I did just that!"
The Russian gently forced Rei's head up, blue and gold meeting, the Russian smiling. "If he doesn't, he's losing one of the most precious things in his life." Tala's soft smile widened and became more wolf like. "Now, do I get to know who your other love is, or I'm I going to be forced to wait?"
Rei flushed red. "Tala, you're not hel-" He was cut off as one of the patrons beat his glass against the bar. "Hey, sexy, get your pert ass down here and get me more alcohol!" The neko-jin got to his feet and raised a finger to silence Tala. "Don't worry about it. I'm used to it by now." He stretched up and grabbed a small glass off of the shelf and filled it with tequila.
The man handed Rei three dollars and downed the shot, beady black eyes on the neko-jin as he slipped the money into his pocket. The man set his glass down and licked his lips, half standing in his seat and leaning forward. "Say, how 'bout we go back to my place and have some fun?"
Rei bared his fangs in a silent growl. "I don't think so. I have better things to do then spend time with a drunken old leach." The man lunged forward, grabbing on to the raven haired teen's arm with a powerful grip. He pulled the neko-jin forward. "You'll be going anywhere I want young one!"
Abruptly the man found himself on the floor, his cheek rapidly bruising, split lip leaking blood. He looked up, eyes widening in shock. Tala was standing over him, blue eyes burning with anger. The redhead reached down and hauled the man to his feet. When he spoke his voice was deadly calm. "If you ever touch him again you will not live to see the next day. Do you understand?"
The man nodded rapidly, feeling himself turning bright red. He had just been shown up in the bar by a teen that was less then half his age. Tala dropped him and the man scrambled to his feet and rapidly left the bar.
The owner of the bar, Greg, appeared next to Rei, afraid that the neko-jin would go home and tell his lover. "Rei, why don't you take the rest of the night off?" Rei nodded, feeling like he could sleep for the next three days. Not having Kai around was going too seriously screw up his sleeping.
"Tala, can I get a ride back to the apartment?" The older teen nodded. "Yeah. You shouldn't be walking in your condition.
*****
Kai was staring at the living room wall, his thoughts occupied by what Tala had said to him that morning. The front door opened and the slate haired Russian didn't move, thinking that Tala had finally returned.
He slowly got to his feet, the hair on the back of his neck standing on end. Slowly he turned to see a tall, lean figure standing in the doorway.