Chapter Four

Tiny Bubbles

As the limo moved through the streets, Rei found herself once more mesmerized by the sights of the city. Though it was turning to dusk and the sky was overcast with gray clouds, the neon lights made it seem as if it was mid-afternoon. Her feet were starting to hurt, but at least she had managed to learn how to breath in the constricting piece of silk that surrounded her body. She glanced once from the window to silently observe the man she was with. He wore his power like a second skin and from what little she had seen of him, he didn't hesitate to wield that power. She turned her head back to looking out the window when she caught him staring at her out of the corner of his eye.

Vicious found himself watching her as well. He knew just how deadly she could truly be, but there was something almost innocent and nieve about her as well. She was looking at everything around with child-like wonder. Though taught to deal death with a touch, she had been sheltered. She would get a rude enough awakening in short order on how cold and deceitful people could be. He was about to say something when the limo finally came to a stop in front of a ritzy restaurant called the Golden Pagoda. It was susposed to serve only the finest, which Vicious had yet to see.

Shin climbed out of the passenger side and opened the door to allow Vicious and Rei to exit as well. Vicious climbed out first and held his hand to help Rei out. He usually avoided places like this, but he wanted it to start getting around about his 'consort' so when she was seen with him in more 'restricted areas' nothing would be thought of it. Rei looked at the out-stretched hand and it took a moment before she realized she was susposed to take it.

Taking his hand, Rei attempted to exit the vehicle gracefully, but caught a heel on the hem of her dress and all but tumbled out of the vehicle. Vicious easily stopped her from landing on her face on the pavement, and as he helped her to right herself, he arched a brow. "Yes,' he thought to himself. "This was going to be a long night."

As Rei straightened up, she felt how hard and well formed Vicious' body was. He may use his power to control others, but he hadn't let his body grow soft. What was causing her to have these thoughts. She just offered a small smile and a shrug of her shoulders. She grabbed onto his arm as if for dear life, though it didn't show. "Shall we?" she asked as if nothing had happened. Vicious gave a small, barely perceptive nod.

Shin moved ahead of them and had the door opened as they approached and then entered. Once inside, the hostess approached them, and as she was about to ask if they had a reservation, Vicious' stared unnerved her to the part where she found herself tounge-tied. Vicious made a mental note to have the woman fired. Shin whispered something to the woman and she nodded slowly. "Right this way, sir," she finally managed to stammer out. The woman led the trio to a table in the back of the restaurant, away from others and where they could observe anything approaching them as they had a wall to their backs.

As Rei slid into the booth, she found herself with Shin on one side and of course Vicious on the other. A waitress came over to their table and handed them menus. "Make I get you something to drink?" She was looking them over, but the cold aura radiating from Vicious had her turn her attention to Shin instead and she gave him a wicked smile that promised if he wanted... "Bottle of Red," Vicious slightly growled. Rei was about to make mention that she didn't drink, but thought better to keep her mouth shut at the moment. The waitress nodded and hurried off.

She sensed the tension and was hoping to lighten the mood, so she turned towards Shin as she opened the menu. "I think that waitress likes you." Shin just smiled a little and quickly went about pouring the wine. The tension was still there. This wasn't good for the digestion. But as she scanned the items on the menu she got a perplexed look on her face. She was use to the simple dishes served by the temple. Ninety-nine percent of the items she saw, she had no idea what in hell they were. She really hated to show ignorance on this, so she figured to hide that ignorance a bit with the simple statement. "It looks all so good, I'm not sure what I want."

Vicious sat down his glass and looked at Rei. A slight smile was on the corner of his lips. She was so innocent and so deadly that the combination and situation was very enjoyable. "I would go with the lobster. I have heard it's tasty." He then noticed that she hadn't touch her glass of wine. "Is it not to your liking?"

"I don't drink. It dulls the senses and the reflexes," she replied. She was being truthful, and with the knowledge she possessed if she ever lost control, dire things could happen. "Hot tea would be nice, though."

Vicious had to admire her honsety. A waitress passed them and he ordered hot tea to be brought for Rei. Then his attention turned to a tall man, a woman on each arm. His eyes narrowed a bit. "Shin," he said quietly. "Ian Rakaki has finally shown up." Shin turned to look at who Vicious was talking about and nodded.

Rei had returned her attention back to her menu. She had never had lobster, but she did see a salad at the bottom of the list. That would work. As she was trying to figure out what some of the other dishes were, a woman walked by the table and then stopped. Rei raised her head and could see that the woman had had to much to drink. "Vicious," she stammered out. Rei sensed Vicious tense just a little. "How good it is to see you. What has it been, three years?" She tried to push in to join them but Vicious wouldn't budge.

"Veronica," Vicious said as cold as the grave, that even Rei shivered a bit at the tone. "Good night." Dismissing the woman, he had other fish to fry.

Veronica didn't take the hint. "Julia never did appreciate you, Vicious," she slurred as she leaned across the table, almost knocking over the wine glass that was placed in front of Vicious, and almost fell out of the top of her barely non-existent dress. "Running off with Spike the way she did." His closed around the glass and it shattered in his hand.

Rei smiled at the woman as she used her napkin to clean up the mess, though her eyes never left the woman. "I belive you were asked to leave," she said, in a tone just as cold as Vicious'. "I suggest you do so," still keeping that sweet smile.

Veronica finally noticed that Rei was there. "Was I speaking to you, bitch," she snapped back. Rei just smiled and shrugged a bit until Veronica attempted to run a finger down Vicious' chest. Quicker than a serpent's strike, Rei had raised in her seat caught the woman's wrist, pressing down on a couple of nerves that caused the woman's right arm and shoulder to go suddenly numb.

"Actually, I was speaking to you," Rei replied, still smiling as she sat down in her seat.

Unable to feel her arm, Veronica rose from the table and tried to shake it out. She huffed and flounced off towards the woman's room. "Very nice," Vicious said. By then a waitress had come over and cleaned up the mess and brought another glass.

"I need to go visit the ladies room," she said softly. "To wash the wine off of my hands." Vicious nodded and slid out and helped her out of the booth. Ready to catch her in case she fell again. She did have a habit of doing that. "Thank you." Then, walking carefully she followed in Veronica's wake.

Once Rei had left them, he turned to Shin, a whisper so low that Shin barely heard it. "Sell this place tomorrow, and I think it is time for Ian to discover what happens when someone crosses me. "

"I will take care of it tomorrow," Shin replied. "Shall I call for Adam and David to accompany me?"

"No. We'll have Rei take care of it, and just see how good she really is." He then picked up the glass of wine that had been set in front of Rei and sipped at it. The waitress finally returned. "Lobster bisque," he said and sent her on her way. This was the reason he really loathed to come to place like this.

While the men were talking business, Rei entered the ladies room. Seeing that only Veronica was there, she locked the door so as they won't be disturbed. "What did you do to my fricking arm, you bitch," Veronica all but yelled.

Rei walked towards her, still a bit unsteady on the heels, but managing. "Let me get one thing clear." The smile was gone and it was as if the temperature in the room dropped twenty degrees. "When someone hints for you to leave, you leave, or bad things could happen to you."

Veronica looked Rei over and figured that she could take her. She was, afterall, a bit taller and had a bit more weight. "I would be careful little girl. You don't want to make me angry." She tried to sneer, but in her drunken state it was comical.

Rei walked over to her and sent a quick jab to her lower back, causing the woman's knees to buckle. She knew she wasn't susposed to use her knowledge willy nilly, but from the way Vicious reacted, she wouldn't be missed by him. "Oh, too much to drink?" Veronica rubbed at her legs trying to get the sensation back to them. "Tell you what. Apologize for your behavior to Vicious and Shin, and I will help you walk again."

Veronica glared daggers at her, but she wanted to just get out of there. "You're lucky I'm drunk or I would of taken your head off by now." Rei tsked tsked at her, still waiting for an answer. "Okay. I will apologize, but this isn't over."

"Yes, it is." Rei then released the nerves she had shut down and Veronica felt the tingling feeling of her legs and even her arm come back to life. "Let me help you up." As she helped the woman to her feet, she pressed a bit on a couple of nerves that would slow the blood to the brain, and then stop it completely in about two days time. She then released Veronica. "I'll be out in a few."

Veronica stumbled out of the ladies room, and it wasn't all because of the drink. She then made her way to Vicious and Shin's table. Vicious didn't even acknowledge her this time. "I'm sorry," she said and then started to make her way towards the exit of the establishment.

Rei washed her hands and then made her way back to the table. Just as she arrived their dinners had arrived as well. Vicious stood and let her slide back in. "She had a change of heart," he said as he once more took his seat.

Rei just smiled and smelled at the food. "It smells delicious." She sensed he was waiting for an explanation. "We had a heart to heart talk."

"How long does she have?" he asked, sensing what she had done. He was even more impressed since he was going to have her killed discreetly anyway.

"About two days." Rei then picked up the chopsticks and gingerly tasted the dish before her. "This is good, but rich." She took a couple more bites and then a sip of her tea. "Now, why did you really bring me here."

Vicious took a bit of his own meal. "Ian Rakaki," motioning with a small nod of his head towards the man who had entered. "He hasn't fulfilled his obligations to me. I want to see you in action," the words were whispered.

"Quick or want to wait a few days?" she took another bite of her meal.

"Quick."

Rei took another bite of her meal and then once more excused herself. Vicious once more let her out, and she gave him a wink and picked up Shin's half empty wine glass. She started to head over to the man's table. She laid her hand on Ian's shoulder to get his attention. "Mr. Rakaki ," she said.

The man looked up to the woman who was standing over him. "Yes, and do I know you?" The women with him were giving her looks that could kill.

"No, but you do know my date," she then leaned down and whispered in his ear. "Vicious." The man's eyes got wide. "He was wanted to say hello."

Ian turned his head to see Vicious staring coldly back at him. Sweat broke out on his brow, and she could feel him tremble under her hand. "Sen...Send him..my...regards," barely getting the words out.

"Oh I am afraid that won't do." She dropped the glass of wine in Ian's lap. "I do apologize, for this mess." As she leaned over she used the back of his neck to steady her as she bent to pick up the glass. In doing so, a couple discreet jabs and then she rose. "Good evening." She turned and walked back to the table.

As she slid into the booth again, that damn heel got caught in the hem of her dress and she feel with her head ending up in Shin's lap. Before she could get up herself, Vicious grabbed her upper arm and pulled her back upright. Even as he took his seat, again, he continued to hold onto her, and his hold wasn't a gentle one either.

All of a sudden, Ian raised quickly from his chair clutching at his chest. Knocking dishes off of the table, he fell to the ground and then within seconds, before anything could be done to him, he expired on the spot. "Heart attack," Rei said finally getting her arm free from Vicious' hold.

They ate the rest of the meal in silence. This time, however, as she left the table, she didn't trip over her dress, but she held tightly to his arm anyway. Vicious smiled to himself. At least the meal was on the house since he owned the restaurant. They made their way past the medical staff and out to the waiting limo.