Ack! Double update! I saw the former chapter as a little short, so here's another!


For Disclaimer and Warnings, see Prelude


Chapter 5:

A Little Bit Of Violence

'Tal, what did you put for number 26?' Rei looked up from his spot on the carpet, unrestrained bangs falling over golden eyes.

There was no reply.

The neko-jinn sat up to peer over his mattress to see Tala lying on his own bed, eyes closed and headphones on. The prospect of the Russian having been doing his homework was rather far fetched.

He tried again.

'TALA!'

The red-head opened an eye, glancing at his roomie.

'Rei.'

'Are you planning on doing your homework this year?'

Removing his hp momentarily, Tala smirked.

'Homework. Yeah. Right. Good one.' Headphones returned.

Rei frowned at this, glancing down at his own near complete sheet. With a sigh, he went back to the questions. When he was finished, perhaps he could perhaps take a trip down to the bey dishes and get some practice in with Drigger. Maybe he'd run into Kai…

'Can I copy your answers, Rei Rei?' An innocence drowned voice floated into Rei's left ear.

He jumped slightly at the surreal blue eyes suddenly in front of him. The Russian was sprawled atop his roommate's bed, leaning down to where the neko-jinn covered the answers with his arm.

'No, Tala. You're intelligent enough to do it yourself.'

Tala appeared to ponder this, before smirking.

'I don't doubt my intelligence, Rei Rei, just my motivation!'

Standing, the neko-jinn gathered his things. The paper was placed in his lock box, underneath Rei's journal and photo album.

He grabbed his keys and Drigger.

'I'm going down to the dishes-' He noticed Tala eyeing the lock box, 'And don't even bother; it's Blitzkrieg-Boy-proof.'

The red-head's face fell. 'I'll see you at dinner, then.' With that, Rei was out the door.

The corridor was empty, and the ebony-haired blader was thankful. He didn't feel like being wholly social. 3 levels later, and Rei found himself in the near deserted gym. It was state of the art- the best equipment possible to purchase; from a swimming pool to martial mats.

'Tala all ready drive you outta there?' Apparently, the latter were getting a good work in.

Bryan, who had spoken up, got to his feet, ignoring the offered hand from Kai.

Kai…

The horribly attractive blader himself was out of his normal black and purple outfit- opting for a simple pair of army print khaki's and a white shirt. Muscle shirt.

Rei had to make a double take. Even throughout their travels together, he'd only ever seen Kai in 4 different outfits- the recent jacket, shirt pants combo, last tournament's slightly bolder attire, their newly acquired school uniform(which he made look godly) and pyjama pants. Just pyjama pants. Rei forced himself not to visualize it. Last time he had, the young neko-jinn had completely zoned out, actual saliva having made its way down his chin. Luckily, no one had noticed.

'What are you two doing?' Rei approached the blue mats, looking between the two Russians.

'Sparring.' Kai sniffled slightly, before grabbing the bottom of his shirt and promptly lifting it over his head.

As the young blunette discarded it off-handedly discarded it, Rei's aw hit the floor. He would no longer take responsibility for his actions- his mind had out up an "Out of Order" sign.

Kai noticed his staring.

'Rei…?'

'Hgn…?' the indiscernible reply drew a laugh from both Russians.

'One more go, Kai- then I'm hitting the showers.'

A smirk.

'Will Tala be joining you?' The statement was spoken with innocence so uncharacteristic to Kai, yet it was near drowned in smug innuendo.

'You're going down, Hiwatari.'

Rei watched in slight shock as both took a swing at each other, neither hitting home, however. Their attacks were smooth and powerful, dodges graceful and well-timed. Both Russians seemed equal- for a good 10 minutes they fought- neither getting hit once.

Until…

'Son of a bitch!' Bryan cursed as Kai's fist collided with his jaw.

The rather lanky teenager was sent back via the impact, finding himself sprawled on the mats. Spitting out the blood accumulating in his mouth, he stood.

'Damn you and your agility.' The tone, nevertheless, was playful.

'Just get to the showers- you stink.' More good-hearted jibing.

'You ain't exactly rose petals yourself, Kai.'

Rei smiled slightly. He'd never seen them like this before. It was a surprising revelation. With anyone else, their personalities would have clashed dramatically, but for Bryan and Kai, it worked oddly well.

'Good job,' the lavender-haired blader didn't seem any worse for wear.

Kai merely nodded, watching him leave.

'Wow, Kai.' Rei gave him a toothy grin.

The Russian smiled in reply, slightly bowing his head.

'It's compulsory.'

'For?'

'Boivault test subjects.'

Rei mentally took a step back at the tone. He'd hit a sore spot, and silently reprimanded himself for his lack of sensitivity.

'Do you enjoy it? Being able to fight, that is.' The neko-jinn almost put his foot in his mouth.

Kai shrugged.

'It's a useful skill.'

A nod from the smaller. He himself did Ancient Chinese martial Arts: not that he was a master, but he had the basics. Rei may have been small, but his years of training had taught him to manipulate others' body weight, so he could flip anyone from Kevin to Spencer. Not that he'd ever try to get into any kind of combat with the latter. That could end up quite messy…

'How long have you known how to fight?' Rei attempted to keep the conversation going, lest the Russian get bored and leave.

Kai took up a near-by towel and wiped the sheet of sweat from his face.

'Since I was 8.'

Rei paused at this. At the age of 8, he himself had still been inside playing with toys. At the age of 8, Rei had still been playing pretend and getting lost in the jungle. Just how hard had Kai's childhood been?

'Kai… can I ask you something…?'

A small smile.

'You've done it before and I'm yet to kill you.'

Rei took it as permission to continue.

'Do you…' Hesitation. 'I mean… would you…-'

'Yes! He'd love to throw you up against the nearest wall/and or door and make sweet, sweet love to you!'

Both turned to see a familiar red-head, no more then a meter away. He beamed.

'Tala,' Kai put on a horrible fake smile, 'Do me a favour and fuck off…?'

The second Russian batted his eye lashes flirtatiously, putting on a hurt look.

'So loving, aren't we, Kk-chan?'

Rei fisted his hands, fuming silently.

'What do you want?' Kai's patience was evaporating.

'Just to tell you that I'm staying with Bry tonight- you can stay with Rei,' Tala approached his former team mate, kissing his cheek just between two of the blue triangles, before whispering, 'Then again, I'm sure you won't mind… don't be too rough on your little kitten: he doesn't really seem to me to be a masochist…'

Tala just avoided Kai's swing, laughing like a maniac and sprinting for the double doors.

'Keep it down then!' Kai just got time to holler this before his undoubtedly deprived "friend" ran from the gym.

Rei, through his blush, managed a smile.

'Someone gave him sugar, ne…?'


This just goes to prove one of my subliminal messages…

Tala is a pervert.

A cute pervert, but a pervert nonetheless…