Disclaimer: Rio is mine... Kao-ri is yohko-lily's... Nikita is Wolfy's… and GOD I wish I had Kai, Tala, and Rei. -. -
"Talking"
"Thinking"
Stress a word
Flashback or Dreams
Shadow
Chapter 5
The sun was shinning brightly down on the grassy knoll as the two Hiwatari children were playing a game of tag with one another and their best friend. The two bluenettes and the red head were running around laughing the entire time. The littlest, Rio, was in her diapers and t-shirt as her older brother in his overalls was chasing her. She was giggling and laughing as Tala ran by and picked her up, and took off.
"Hey! Get back here!" shouted Kai after them. Tala was laughing his head off and Rio was on his shoulders giggling her chubby little cheeks off.
"Like you could catch me in a million years, Hiwatari!" shouted Tala back towards Kai. The bluenette growled lightly and ran faster. Tala noticed this and picked the pace up another notch.
They continued to chase each other under the watchful eye of Kai and Rio's nanny, Katrina. The twenty-some-odd year old kept a careful eye on the children and wasn't letting them out of her site.
"KAI!" boomed a menacing voice from behind Katrina. Tala and Kai slowed down to see the elderly man standing in back of the nanny. Rio squeaked and held her hands out towards their grandfather, but he never returned the gesture. Kai and Tala stalked over to the powerful man.
"Yes, sir?"
"This playtime is over, young Kai," stated Voltaire. "It is time for you to continue your studies. If you are going to be my heir, you must be prime." Kai nodded and Tala put down Rio from his shoulders. The little girl immediately grabbed onto Kai's hand. "Katrina, take the baby and Kai, you report to study 2 for your tutor."
Katrina had to pry the little girl from her grip on her onii-san. Rio didn't want to let go of her brother, but Kai ended up pulling his hand away from Rio to help Katrina. He didn't want to let go of his onee-chan, but he knew Oji-san would be upset if he didn't. Rio wanted to cry but Katrina picked her up and turned to Tala.
"I'll take you home Tala," she said. The red head nodded and waved good-bye to his best friend as Katrina led him down to the way to his house. Rio waved as well with her chubby fingers. Kai waved back, but Voltaire roughly grabbed his wrist and dragged him towards the house.
--
"But onii-san! Please!" pleaded Rio. Kai sat at the table at the little diner in the center of Bay City, unflustered with the pleadings of his onee-chan. He continued to eat his steak as Rio tried to reason with him. "Please, Kai. The Benu is part mine anyway, I should be allowed to sing there if I so chose."
"You only have the Benu's half because of my good graces, Rio," stated Kai. "Plus, once you are out of college you will have a real job and not need the club's financial support." Rio snorted in laughter, catching an eye from her onii-san.
"You aren't fooling anyone Kai," she laughed. "But what's the harm in letting me sing tonight?"
"After last time's fiasco…" Kai began. "I don't trust you as I use to Rio." Rio pouted and sat back in her chair.
"You don't trust me?" She felt hurt, and felt her eyes wanting to swell up. Kai looked up and noticed the hurt in her face. "Through all these years when you've lied to me Kai, I've never not trusted you." She pushed her chair and stormed out of the little diner in a huff. Kai dropped his fork and ran his hand through his hair. One of the waitresses walked over.
"I'll be right back," he said, getting up from his seat and following Rio out of the diner.
--
Rio was flustered; she couldn't believe her own blood did not trust her. Yea, this was the first time Rio had pulled anything like that night on her brother, but he did have it coming to himself. She wrapped her suede coat around her shoulders and stalked into the night towards her apartment, until she turned the corner and crashed into someone.
Landing on her butt, she let out an "ouch", and looked up to see who she had bumped into. A hand appeared in front of her face and Rio looked up to see that it was Rei. She smiled and took his hand gingerly as he helped her up.
"You OK?"
"Yeah. I'm sorry," she said. "I wasn't watching where I was going." Standing up, she brushed herself off. Rei smiled.
"Well, to be honest, neither was I," he laughed.
Kai was coming out of the diner and hear talking around the corner. He heard two familiar voices and stalked over to pear around the corner and saw his onee-chan and new employee conversing. Narrowing his eyes for a second, he continued to watch silently.
"I guess we're both guilty," she giggled. "So, where are you off to now? Not on any 'assignments'?" She eyed him, moving her face close to his and holding in her laughter. Rei snickered and shook his head.
"Now, I'm not obliged to give out that kind of information," he replied. Rio rocked on her feet meekly.
"Oh, I should have expected that answer."
"But if you must know, I was on my way to get dinner before going to 'work'," he replied lightly. "What about you? Did you eat yet? You hungry?"
"I started to eat, but I lost my appetite just a second ago…"
"Oh, 'cause if you were hungry, I would have asked if you would like to dine with me," stated Rei. Kai felt the fire burning inside of him, how dare Rei ask for Rio's company. He was ready to walk in there and interfere, but he noticed the look on Rio's face.
"I would love to go grab a bite with you!" she stated. "I think I just got that craving back!" Her smile was so real, so pure. Unlike her smiles towards the few men she had tried to talk to in the Benu that Kai had seen. Something was holding him back; trust… that was what she wanted from him… he turned and walked back into the diner to pay for his and Rio's food.
"Great," said Rei. He held out his arm Rio grinning as she interlocked her arm in his and walked off towards that same diner Rio had just left from. As Rei went to open the door for her, the door swung open and there stood Kai. Rei's face dropped and both took their arms back immediately. Rio was blushing harshly but awaiting the screams and anger from her brother.
But Kai's expression didn't falter, and he didn't raise his voice at her. 'You owe me big time, lil' one,' he thought to him. Rei was nervous, why wasn't Kai going ballistic on him for holding onto Kai's onee-chan?
"Rio, you better be at the Benu tonight at 11 sharp with a song ready," he said. Rio's face lit up and she squeaked in joy, jumping and grabbing her brother tightly in a hug.
"THANK YOU! THANK YOU!" she cheered. Kai hugged her back and then put her back down. He eyed Rei harshly.
"I want to see you in my office at 10:30," he stated. Rei nodded his head. Kai walked away, leaving the two of them stunned. Rio was a burst of happiness while Rei had to hide his malevolent grin. He checked his watch, 9:00. Plenty of time.
Kai could feel the frustration growing inside of him. He didn't want Rio to be with Rei. But she asked one thing from him. He couldn't deny it. Kai needed to let loose, let his anger out. Quickly flipping opened his cell phone, he dialed a number.
"Yeah, it's Kai. I'm on my way over right now…"
--
Walking up to the apartment, Kai knocked lightly on the wooden door and stepped back, waiting for the response. An old couple walked passed him, eyeing him questionably, but Kai paid no attention to them, and the door was opened. Standing in front of him was a woman with short blond hair that came down to her ear lobes, soft gray eyes, and she was dressed "pleasingly". Her body was half covered in lace, her bra and thong were white lace as she wore a black robe over top, leaning against the wall for Kai.
"Well, come one in, Sir," stated the woman. Kai nodded and walked into the room passed her.
"I can only stay for an hour-"
The woman slammed the door shut and locked it quickly. Turning to Kai, she slammed him against the wall and her lips locked with Kai's, her tongue rubbing over his lips. Kai spun her around so she was now pinned to the wall. Kai pressed her wrists against the wall next to her head, his tongue running under her lip roughly, demanding entrance into her warm cavern. The woman melted at his touch.
She opened her mouth to him and left his tongue slip into her, exploring the cavern. His tongue stroked her own, they only pulled away slightly for air, but Kai put his hands on her face, and pulled her towards the center of the room as he continued to kiss her passionately. Together they flopped onto the couch and the woman pulled away in the dark room. She unclasped her bra and let her full breasts bounce out of their confinement, raising her chest for him. Kai buried his face in their fullness, as he rubbed his thumb over one nipple.
Moaning his name, the woman slid down off the couch, and Kai sat down, spreading his legs, and leaning back letting out a sigh. The woman undid his belt buckle and continued to strip Kai's pelvis area until she saw her prize. Taking his cock in between her hands, she leaned forward and started to lick it, slowly and surely taking it all in her mouth.
Kai stiffed for a second, feeling his arousal growing. As the woman continued to tease and torment his arousal and ball sac, Kai stared into the darkness. Closing his eyes, he saw a pair of eyes crossing his vision. The memory flew quickly back to him, and Kai seemed to be going delusional in his mind. The blond was replaced with a woman with charcoal hair and silver bangs, and silver eyes. He smiled and in his mind he moaned one name as he felt himself release his seed…
"Nikita…"
--
Kai sat in his chair an hour later and Tala was over on the couch, flipping through some magazine when Rei entered the room. Tala's eyes wandered from the 'paper over towards Rei with a cautious glare to them, but he made no other notion towards Rei. Shutting the door behind him, Rei walked over to Kai's desk, not even casting Tala a look.
"You wanted to see me, Sir?" he asked, hands behind his back.
"How was your dinner with Rio?" Kai questioned. Tala fell off of the couch in shock. Both looked over towards the wolf and back towards each other. Tala was baffled, what did Kai just ask? He sat himself back on the couch, curious as ever.
"It was fine," he stated. "Your onee-chan is a very smart woman." Kai nodded.
"And did you find a date for that charity banquet?" asked Kai. Rei shook his head.
"I haven't yet, I've been busy with the work I'm presented," declared Rei, trying to not make it sound like an excuse. Kai nodded, chewing the air and tapping his fingertips lightly on each other.
"I see. Well I would like you to take Rio to the banquet-" Again Tala fell down off of the couch. "As an escort, and a body guard. I don't want anything to happen to her. I'm not trusting of this banquet but as I see, it is necessary for me to attend, and Rio will worm her way in there anyway." Rei smiled deeply inside and nodded his head.
"I would love to escort her," he stated. "Is that all?"
"Yes. You are dismissed." Rei bowed to him and turned to walk out of the room. After the neko-jin was out, Tala ran over towards Kai and slammed his fists on the table.
"Are you baka?" asked Tala feverishly. Kai shook his head.
"I want to see whose side this guy is on," declared Kai. "Besides you can't take her anyway. Aren't you going with the parasite-"
"Nikita."
"As I said, the parasite," declared Kai firmly. "What ever possessed you to bring her?" Tala shrugged.
'Well, Kao-ri hasn't left her apartment since that one night, and I think Bryan's taking her anyway…Wait! Why the hell do I care about that brat?'
"Anyway, you will still need to stay close to Rio all night," declared Kai. "I don't want anymore of a risk than I've already put on her." Tala nodded, still not liking the idea that Rei goes with Rio. "You were the one who insisted I go to this affaire anyway Tala…"
--
"COME ON KAO-RI!" shouted Rio banging on the door to her best friend's apartment. Rio was dressed in a long navy blue satin dress that was fitting. There was a slit that went up her right leg to just above her calf. She wore diamond earrings and the same necklace she always wore. Around her shoulders was a matching shawl. Her hair had been put up into a tight bun but a few of her bangs fell out and instead, Nikita had used the curler iron and made them spinning. She continued to bang on the door. Bryan was standing next to her in his tux.
Slowly the door opened and they both could see Kao's eye peering out. "What do you want?" Rio rolled her eyes and pushed the door open, revealing the rest of Kao in a crimson halter-top dress that came down to her ankles.
"So you are ready! GOOD!" exclaimed Rio.
"I'm not going," said Kao-ri with each word dropping an octave. Rio rolled her eyes.
"Of course you're going! Now shut the trap and get out of that damned apartment!" Kao shook her head.
"I don't want to go-"
"Come off of it, Kao. Bryan's here," said Rio, looking back towards the Hiwatari bodyguard.
"I'm sorry to put you through this trouble, Bryan, but I can't go…"
"Why not?" asked Rio.
"Because… just because…" Rio looked back to Bryan and nodded her head. Kao's eyes shrunk as she watched Bryan advance on her. Putting her up hands in defense, she was no match as the man picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. Rio grinned sheepishly at her best friend as she watched her being carried down the stairway by Bryan.
Getting outside, Bryan put Kao back on her own two feet, and the three limousines were set up. One for Kai and his date, another for Tala and Nikita, and a third for Rio, Rei, Bryan, and Kao-ri. Getting into their limo, Rei got out and helped Rio in, as Bryan helped Kao in. Shutting the doors behind them, the three limos took off towards the docks.
Stopping outside of the pier, the three limousines opened their doors to reveal the four couples. Dangling on Kai's hip was Sakaki Tomoe, a woman close to Rio's age with long charcoal colored back hair. Rio and Tala suspected that Kai only took her because she looked identical to Nikita, but Kai never stated his motive for taking Tomoe. To be all-honest, she was in quiet a few of Rio's college classes, and Rio never found her too appealing as a person…
The girls all interlocked arms with their dates and Kai and Tomoe led the way, followed by Tala and Nikita, and Bryan and Kao-ri. Rei looked down at Rio who was having a hard time containing her excitement. Fixing a piece of Rio's hair to get it out of her face, Rei smiled at her.
"You ready?" She nodded and they started off after the others. The governor, his wife, and two 20-year-old twin girls immediately greeted them. Kai shook hands and played his part as a caring citizen.
"I'm glad to see that you were able to attend tonight's festivities, Hiwatari-san," said the governor, as he was shaking hands. "And this must be the lovely Rio." The elder man looked over to Rio as he took her hand gingerly. "You are as beautiful as ever." Rio smiled and blushed.
"Thank you sir," said Rio. The man nodded.
"Well this place does look crowded," declared Kai looking around the deck of the cruise liner. There was not much room to walk around as it was packed to the brink with the richest people in and near Bay City. Diamonds were fashioned all over the place by the women.
"Yes, Kai, it was quite a turnout," declared the governor. "Come, I wish for you and your companions to dine with me tonight." Kai bowed to him slightly and took Tomoe around the waist and followed the snowy-haired man down to the dinning hall. Nikita couldn't help but contain a growl inside of her.
--
Sitting down in their seats, dinner was served rather quickly. Kai and the governor talked politics and business with each other, Kai purposely avoiding certain other areas' of discussion. Finishing her meal, Rio looked down and noticed a few couples dancing down there. Rei watched her eyes and got out of his seat.
"Would the lady care to dance?" he asked holding out his hand. Rio nodded and took his offered hand, was led down to the dancing area. Tala and Nikita joined them, and surprisingly so did Bryan and Kao-ri. The musicians were strumming a soft slow song right about now, and the couples paired up and moved together with the music.
'This is boring' thought Tala as he was slow dancing with Nikita. The woman continued to glare at Kai's concubine menacingly. She couldn't help but feel jealousy over Tomoe. That girl didn't deserve a man like Kai—WAIT! What did she just think?? She had to get her mind off of Kai and Tomoe… how?"So...Tala...nice night eh?" she asked. 'God nice try for a conversation Nik...' Tala seemed to be in his own world, not even remotely clued into what was going on around him or even what Nikita was saying.
"Hmm? Oh... night...nice...yea...I guess so."
"You as bored as I am?" Her eyelids drooped a little bit, as the late night of dinning and listening to Kai converse with Tomoe peeping in here and there about herself and about school, and how she and Rio were like the best of friends. Well that part was when Rio wasn't around to back up that "information".
"Hmm?... bored...yea..." Nikita shook her head. He wasn't paying attention to her and she didn't blame him. She really didn't want to be there with Tala, she wanted someone else. Her eyes cast over towards Kao-ri and Bryan.
'Poor Kao...she looks like a zombie' Tala's eyes as well wandered over towards Kao-ri and Bryan for a second, before his gaze settled back on Rei and Rio who were about fifteen yards away from him and Nikita.'Hm... something's not right here...' He never liked Rei, Tala was open about that, no doubt about it. He still wasn't pleased with Kai's "test", especially when it included Rio. Had Kai lost his mind?
Nikita continued to glare at Kai and Tomoe. She growled inside her head, but neither Kai nor his whore ever looked back at her. 'Bastard...'
Rei continued to slow dance with Rio across the floor, purposely-keeping distance between him and Tala. Tala was suspicious, and Rei knew it. He didn't want any chance at a screw up there…
"So...anything new?" he asked Rio. The Hiwatari shrugged and rested the side of her face on his muscular chest.
"Just boring classes. Ugh, college is such a drag," declared Rio. "It doesn't help I have to listen to Tomoe in some of the classes. So... how's the "business" going? I hope my brother isn't troubling you too much?" She looked back up at him, staring him in the eye for a serious answer. Oh how she had fallen for the neko-jin.
"Nah. He isn't, but you don't have to worry. I can take care of myself you know," declared Rei.
Rio laughed lightly, "I'm sure you can handle yourself. Just a girl thing to worry..."
"So...did you ever figure out what was wrong with your friend? Man...that last note nearly busted my ear drums," recalled Rei. Rio's cheery expression dropped as she cast her eyes in Kao's direction, looking passed Tala and Nikita.
"Kao... yea... actually I'm lucky I even got her here. Had to get Bryan to carry her out of her apartment to get her here," said Rio, half jokingly.
Rei laughed at the idea. "What happened to her must've been pretty bad if you could get her 'out' of her apartment..."
"Kao's usually a riot. Hell, she's the reason I 'changed' my performance at the Benu," said Rio. "But yea. She's really depressed. I tried to get Tala to bring her, but she flipped a shit on me about that."
"She has a thing for devil horns over there?" He gently spun Rio around in tune with the music before catching her again and continuing the dance.
Rio spun and put her hand back on his shoulder again. "She won't admit it. But I know she does. Even when she was with her ex. It was always so obvious."
"Poor Kao-ri. Well what about you...how many ex's have you had?" Rei raised a brow as he lowered his head towards Rio with big eyes.
"Do you want me to lie?"
"I take it your brother's stricter than I thought then?" he asked, raising his head back to its normal level.
"You don't know the half of it," sighed Rio. "At least you could get out of it... or you could have. Me… I'm stuck with him."
"You're a good dancer Rio..." said Rei as he twirled her again changing the subject.
"At least you don't have two left feet!"
"He, he..." he sweat-dropped, "At my old job you had to be really quick on your feet..."
"What did you do?" asked Rio curiously.
'Think Rei think damnit!!!' "Uh...my oto-san used to be a cop remember? I was a cop for a little while as well." Rei mentally wiped his brow.
"Really? I never really knew my oto-san," she said a little depressed. "Hmm…it was only Okaa-san, Kai, and me growing up... and of course Tala was like an onii-san... I think he spent more time at the diner than with his own parents. And then there was Oji-san. That was about the family I had."
"So...what did your okaa-san do?" asked Rei. 'Other than steal an ancient power from my boss.'
"Oh, she worked at this little diner on the other side of Japan. Not much else. She was always there. There was that job and at the hospital."
"Interesting...your okaa-san must've been very beautiful...where else could you have gotten your good looks from?" Rei winked at Rio, which caused her to blush even more than she already was.
"I'm no where near her..."
"I bet you're ten times prettier..." said Rei letting out a heart breaking smile. "So is it true what they say about the ancient po—"
-- A few minutes earlier --
Tala continued to stair at the wall as he danced with Nikita on the dance floor. Nikita looked between Tala and Kao, they looked all too similar. She smirked…
'I think I can fix Kao-ri's zombie-ness.' "So Tala...what do you think about Kao-chan?" asked Nikita mischievously.
"Hmm...Kao...yea..."
Nikita continued to prod him. "You like Kao-chan?"
"Hmm...Kao-chan?...what...WHAT?!" Tala was totally caught off his guard and almost fell down on Nikita. The woman burst out in laughter at Tala.
"Tala for a second there I thought you were going to start drooling…" Tala wiped his mouth quickly at the comment, which only made Nikita laugh even harder than before. This grown up hit man was acting like a teenager…
"So you do like little Kao-chan..."
"No…she's…Rio's best friend. I have to baby- sit them too much to ever think about her other than some stuck up, snobby, little taker brat," declared Tala in a rush to cover his tracks.
Nikita frowned. "So then you hate her..." She looked away from Tala and mumbled "You're no better than Juro then..." Tala eyed her while she was mumbling to herself, and stopped dancing, holding on to her shoulders.
"What's that face for?? You are too much like Rio and Kai... you're thinking something..."
"I am but you'll never know..." she smirked.
"Tell me... now," demanded Tala, his voice sounding slightly threatening.
"Hmmm...no...."
"Tell me Nikita or I'm going to have a nice chat with Kai tonight, about the looks you've been giving him," snickered Tala. Nikita could only return Tala with a glare, but then she let a smirk glide onto her face instead.
"And I'll be sure to tell Kai that you're drooling over the little neko-girl that's Rio's best friend..."
"And Kai would care about my personal life how? Now, if I got you two back together... I could see a nice bonus in it for me. I was looking for a new penthouse anyway..."
Nikita's eye twitched. "Oh you're good Tala...but...I happen to be better...I'll tell Kai how you left Kao-ri and Rio alone that one night..." She stopped herself to laugh menacingly, "…to get tampons! Rio tells me things..." Tala's eyes widened in the horror of the thought. How dare Rio tell Nikita! His anger built up inside.
'They are dead!' "You... wouldn't... dare..."
"Try me menstrual boy," Nikita smirked, "…now repeat after me...Nikita wasn't planning anything."
"…" Tala didn't answer, his face growing red in his anger and humiliation.
"Tala..." said Nikita in a dangerous tone, waving her finger at him. Tala then smirked and lowered his head towards Nikita's.
"'Tala'. There I said it." Nikita rolled her eyes and started to dance with Tala once more. Her eyes fell onto Tomoe.
'Stupid bitch...' Tala noticed now where Nikita was looking and a smile formed on his face.
"Do I detect a hint of jealously?" he asked rather quickly.
"Do I detect a sense of jealousy?" Tala gave her a slightly confused look as she was trying to shift the conversation. "'You better not be dating Kai Tala'." Nikita smirked as Tala's face fell once again. "Yeah I heard about that too..."
But Tala wouldn't let her get the upper hand of the wolf. "Do I have some competition?" he smirked, raising his brow jokingly.
"Yeah they have 20 pairs of legs ten heads and 10 different names..." she sneered. "And the one over there is named Sakaki Tomoe." Nikita threw another dirty look towards Tomoe.
"So I am right. Hmm... I could go and get her away from Kai if you want a little one on one time with him..." he snickered with a devious grin.
"I AM NOT JEALOUS OF THAT WHORE, GAY-BOY!!!!"
"Now... that is not very nice to call me that, Nikita... I'll have you know, Kai's not my type... Hard to believe. I know, but he just isn't," said Tala, his voice laced in sarcasm and humor. Nikita laughed lightly.
"You're funny when you're not being a bastard Tala..."
Tala smirked, "Do I take that as a compliment coming from you?"
"Please don't." Nikita looked over at Rei and Rio. "They'd make such a cute couple…" Tala looked where Nikki was now, and could only growl.
"I don't trust him."
"But still if we could trust him...they'd be so cute together! And he did save her life Tala can't you cut him some slack?" asked Nikita. Tala shook his head at the thought of actually trusting a neko-jin.
"And hell's just a sauna... Rio's not going to get hurt again. If that means she's single all her life... I'll make sure she is," declared Tala. Nikita rolled her eyes.
"Ugh you and Kai, I swear you're both idiotic fools!"
"I prefer the term intellectually correct."
"Fuck off Mr. Perfect..."
"No thank you, Nikita," began Tala, "…I prefer not to fuck myself." He smirked with a witty grin towards her.
"I hate you Ivanov...you know that..."
"I don't need someone to love me to fuck them," winked Tala. Nikita grabbed him by the color of his tuxedo.
"If you ever do that to Kao-ri I'll... Oh look at me babbling nonsense..." Nikita laughed nervously.
"Are you mistaking Kao for Kai? I thought you just said I was gay? Are you jealous of me? Do you want my bitch that bad?" Tala was laughing a storm inside.
"AHHHH I HATE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!" Nikita attempted to shake him insanely, but the much taller Russian wasn't fazed.
"Just admit it... you want Kai back..."
"Never..." Tala's eyes caught a hold of Kao and he frowned.
"What happened to her?" asked Tala nudging his head towards Kao.
"Go find out for yourself, gay-boy," groaned Nikita pushing herself away from Tala. "I need a drink." She left the dance floor, walking over to the bar.
Tala walked over towards Kao, after she and Bryan broke a part. "Hey Kao..." Kao-ri turned dully towards Tala.
"Tala...nice to see you..."
"Um... you don't seem to be yourself."
"What do you mean? Then again...perhaps I'm not myself..."
"Well. You've deffinetly been high tailing it every time I turn down the same isle at the Benu as you."
"I apologize..." Kao-ri started to walk away from the glass wall next to her, but Tala grabbed her shoulders and pulled her back.
"What's wrong? You know you can talk to me. I'm a professional about keeping secrets," he joked, trying to get the girl to smile. And it worked as he saw a tiny smile crack on her face.
"I know...but how could I tell you something...that's already been told..." Tala was confused. He obviously didn't hear anything so he wanted to know now.
"What are you talking about? Tell me what's wrong." Kao-ri's smile faded as she shook her head no towards him, not looking him in the eye anymore. "Come on, Kao. Trust me... You can tell me-" Suddenly Tala heard a ticking sound and he stood up straight looking around.
"What is it Tala?" asked Kao. Tala brushed his finger over her mouth to silence her. The ticking was growing more rapidly and louder. Turning to look at the glass wall, he noticed flashing red light.
"GET DOWN!" he screamed at the top of his lungs. Everyone in the room looked towards him, and Kai stood up in his seat staring at Tala, as the Russian pushed Kao behind him.
There was a huge explosion and the glass was shattered, sending the stray pieces flying. Rei quickly, with his neko skills, pulled Rio to the ground and jumped on top of her, shielding her from the flying glass. Everyone else fell to the ground, and covered their wrists, necks, and eyes.
The glass shards settled on the ground and the crowd of people ran out of the cruise liner as quickly as they could, finding any possible exit. Kai instructed the governor and his family to leave the area as soon as possible. Taking his advice, the man and his relatives left the smoking room. Tomoe followed them, under Kai's orders. Kai jumped down from the platform and ran towards the dance floor, crushing more glass as he ran.
"TALA! RIO!" he shouted into the smoke, coughing as he inhaled some of it. He came across a coughing Nikita on the ground. Helping her onto her feet, "You OK?" Nikita nodded.
Tala was lying on the ground on his back; rolling side to side as his right hand was covering is agonizing eyes. The pain was unbearable and taking over his whole body. Tala seized to feel anything other than the burning sensation in his eyes. He couldn't feel the warm crimson blood covering his hand and seeping through.
"What the hell!" cried Rio under Rei's protective position. She continued to cough as she inhaled the smoke as well.
"You OK?" asked Rei softly towards her. Rio nodded.
"RIO!" shouted Kai, trying to find his onee-chan.
Kao-ri opened her eyes and rolled onto her hands and knees, careful with the lying glass shards all around. She looked around and saw Tala on the ground through the thick smoke. "T-T-Ta-Tal-a?" she said shaking. Carefully, Kao-ri crawled over to him.
"Ugh..." Kao-ri saw his face and hand, and her eyes popped out of her head.
"TALA!!!!!" shouted Rio, finally seeing her oldest friend on the ground in pain.
"What the fuck! Rio you Ok?" asked Kai finally making it over to her and Rei.
"Don't worry about me! Tala's hurt!" cried Rio, choking on her words.
"She's ok Kai," nodded Rei. Kai shook his head and rushes over towards Tala.
Kao-ri knelt next to the man who was going into shock, and reached a hand towards him, trying to find his free hand. "Tala..." Tala continued to moan and cover his eyes. He felt his body convulse into the symptoms of shock, but he couldn't tell anyone.
"Fucking bastard..." mumbled Kai when he got over to his best friend. He looked and saw the multiple gashes on Tala's face and body from the glass shards. Tala had been closest to the blast; he got the blunt of the attack. Kai didn't know what to do. From what he could see, Tala was in serious trouble. The man tried to roll onto his feet, but Kai pinned him to the ground. Rio was shaking under Rei's arms in fright. She was scared out of her mind. Kao-ri widened at the blood leaking down Tala's cheeks and face.
"No..."
Suddenly a bunch of men dressed in black suits rush in to the smoke-filled room and surrounded the group. Kai glared at the men, the only one in the room (or so he thought) who knew who they were… Bái Hu Zu men. Each had a gun cocked in their hands. Then stepping around them was their leader, dressed his best.
"It seems I just missed the festivities," stated Lee, cracking a joke. No one in the room was amused. "Kai...we meet at last..."
Rei held Rio protectively in his arms, close to his body. "It's ok...it's going to be ok Rio..." he whispered into her ear. The Hiwatari, growing pale with fright, nodded her head slightly.
Tala could hear the voice. He knew it too. "Bastard..." Tala struggled to get up but Kao and Kai thrusted him back to the ground.
'Who is that?' wondered Rio still hiding under Rei.
"So you planned this, you bastard," snarled Kai, standing up in front of Kao and Tala.
"No!" quickly cried Kao as she saw Tala struggling to get up. "Stay down, you're hurt!!! Tala please...for once just listen to me...let Kai and the rest of us take care of this...you need help..." Rei rose onto his feet and took out his own gun.
"Rio...stay close." He glared at Lee's direction. 'This wasn't the plan...he wasn't supposed to blow up the ship.' Tala continued to groan, but since Kai was standing he found his chance to get on his hand and knees, his one hand still covering over his eyes.
'That one does have spunk,' thought Lee to himself, watching Tala. Kai pulled out his own gun and held it towards Lee's face.
"Don't get involved, Nikita," Kai said watching as Nikita started to move forward. She was halted by his words, fearing that if she did anything wrong… "What the fuck do you want Lee? I see you set this up nicely enough."
'Be careful Kai... please... I don't want to lose you too...' thought Rio, pleading in her mind, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Damn it Tala!!! Fine be stubborn!!!" snapped Kao. She forced him to wrap an arm around her shoulder and helped him to his feet. Rei was glaring at the guards surrounding them.
"Give me the power Kai...the ancient power that belongs to the Bái Hu Zu that your whore of an okaa-san stole from us!!!" demanded Lee. Rio and Kai felt the anger rising inside of them.
"Don't you dare call my okaa-san a whore!"
"Stay out of it Rio! You're going to regret that, Lee. I don't know what you're talking about anyway," replied Kai.
"Humph...Kao?...where's that bastard," asked Tala, letting go of his face, showing the goriness of it. He looked for his gun.
"The ancient power Kai...give me it...or tell me where it is!!! Or else..." Lee snapped his fingers and some guards to move in on Rio and Rei. Kai's eyes popped wide open
'Is this a test...are you testing me Lee?' growled Rei to himself.
"You stay away from her you bastards!!!" shouted Nikita.
"Leave her out of this!" snapped Kai. "She has not part in it! There is no power Lee! You are chasing a fucking fable!"
Lee snorted, shaking his head at Kai. "Fine then Kai...if that's the way it is...Guards! Kill them all." Lee turned his back on Kai and started walking away from the group. Rei glared at him.
'I'm not done with you Lee...I need to know why you're jeopardizing my mission...' Rei pulled out a smoke bomb from his pocked, and ran swiftly towards the direction Lee left. "Kai! Get everyone out of here...I'll take care of Lee!!!"
"Don't! You fool!" shouted Kai at the running figure. Rei stopped and spun around.
"Hey...I've got a small matter of revenge I gotta take care of!" Rei 'informed' Kai, "...now get Rio and the others out of here!!!!" Rei threw the smoke bomb on the ground, as the smoke spurted out. The suited men were too busy coughing, giving them the time needed. Kai grabbed Rio from the ground.
"Get out of here!" He then grabbed Tala from Kao-ri, and started to run out of the room, dodging the sight of the suited men.
"What about Rei!?" asked Kao-ri as she watched the Hiwataris and Ivanov get out of the room.
"Kao-ri...just run damnit!!!" barked Nikita grabbing her wrist and pulling her into a dead run in their high heels. Rio turned back and looked at Rei as he was running, Nikita grabbed her as well.
"REI!!!! DONT!" Rei looked back in Rio's direction, he felt his heart sinking. Why was his heart sinking? No… it couldn't be… Rei shook the idea out of his head.
'Mariah, Mariah, Mariah!' he continued to chant in his head. "Lee..." Then around the corner, Rei found his boss and onii-san of his fiancé. Rei let out a growl towards the leader. "Why are you interfering with the mission? I having enough trouble even found out anything about the ancient power..." But Lee didn't seem to listen to him as the neko-jin continued to laugh at him, slapping his knee. Lee was crying he was laughing so hard.
"Brilliant performance back in there, Rei. I applaud you," said Lee as he mockingly clapped his hands together. Rei shrugged his shoulders, shrugging off his anger.
"Yeah...thanks," he replied. "I've barely gained their trust...but I think with this heroic act...I might be in their inner circle now..." Lee's brow rose.
"That little bitch seems worried enough. You better not do anything that would upset Mariah…" Rei shook his head.
"I 'saved' her from Kevin. I've earned her trust easily," declared Rei. "It's just Kai and that spike-headed freak guard of his."
"Yes," pondered Lee, tapping his fingers to his chin. "They are becoming a problem. Did you find any information out on the power?"
"None yet...I've only just begun my little game with their minds...you can't rush these things you know..."
"I will wait, But I am not very patient, Rei."
"I know Lee..."
"It seems as though I have more trust from Kai's women then from Kai himself..." Lee laughed at the thought. "He's not very patient either. You need to speed it up."
"Right." Rei ripped the sleeve of his tuxedo off and messes up his hair, making himself looking ruffled. He undid his shirt and pulled half of it out. "I should get back to them now...what do you think should I say, that you managed to get away or that you pulled a fast one and let out your full army of guards on me?" Rei chuckled lightly. Lee was fiddling with a gun that was in his hands from earlier in the room.
"You want this to be realistic right?" Lee quickly raised the automatic and pulled trigger. Rei richotted into the wall, clutching his shoulder. "There... no hard feelings, friend?" Lee turned on his heel and walked out, the other suits following behind him.
Rei's eyes widen in pain. 'He...He shot me.... the bastard shot me...' Rei stumbled his way towards the exit; he fell to his knees holding his shoulder. 'Damn...it hurts...'
--
Outside of the 'liner, all the guests were standing in clutter, all in an uproar and ready to panic even more than they had already. Kai had Tala lying on the ground and some women offered their shawls to him as a pillow. Kao sat next to him, crying lightly. Tomoe was nearby, wanting to cling to Kai, but he was currently holding his frightened onee-chan. Then there was a gunshot from in cruise liner. Rio's eyes widened and she cried out.
"NO! REI!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. Rio tried to run off towards the cruise liner and Rei, but Kai's grip on her tightened.
"Don't be foolish," he stated. Nikita stood next to them, Tomoe on her other side.
"Rio...if Rei's as good as he says...then he's fine..." she tried to cheer up the hysterical girl, but Rio fell to her knees crying her eyes and heart out. Kai followed her to the ground, as did Nikita as the girl cried into Kai's chest.
Rei got up from his fall and continued his struggling walk out of the cruise liner. He made it to the docks and then slowly down the ramp. The crowd gasped and Rio looked up with her blood shot eyes. Rei made it halfway down the ramp before his missed his step and fell down, rolling down the ramp onto the docks, landing in a clutter.
"REI!" Rio got out of Kai's grip and ran over towards Rei, quickly kneeling to his side, pushing him onto his back. Rei looked up at Rio and with his only good hand, use the back of it (which wasn't bloody) to wipe away that rouge strand of hair from her face.
"H-Hey Rio...w-what're...you crying...about....?" He then clutched his shoulder tighter.
Tala was still on the ground moaning, a few of the people offering their coats to cover the shaking man. It was a disaster, this whole banquet. Kao-ri covered Tala with the coats and carefully took one of the shawls from the women and placed it over his eyes.
"Tala...we need to get you to a hospital..." said Kao-ri in a soft voice.
"And we need to get Hero-boy over there to the hospital too..." declared Nikita.
"No...I'm fine... really..." said Tala, shaking like he was in Antarctica in a swimsuit.
"Shut up," said Kai. "You're not kidding anyone. Someone, call an ambulance now!"
"One is already on the way!" shouted someone from the crowd.
"Call another then!"
"Damnit Tala," gritted Kao-ri through her clenching teeth. "No you're not fine!" Kao-ri was trying to stop herself from crying.
Rio was kneeling neck to Rei, crying hysterically again, only this time she was happy that he was alive. "You bastard... you're hurt!"
"N-No I'm not...o-ok maybe I am," said Rei, starting to laugh nervously.
"Don't go psycho on me now!"
"I'm not going psycho Rio!!!!"
Tala was moaning the ground, trying to get up even though he was shaking horribly. Kai kneeled down next to him and took off his own jack and piled it on the mountain of coats.
"Calm down," said Kai. "You're going into shock. You got to stay with us." Kao-ri tried to hug him in the mountain of coats.
"It's ok...everything's going to be ok...soon..."
"My...eyes..."
"Just stay calm, Tala," instructed Kai. "Keep talking. You have to stay awake. What happened back there?"
"I heard....the ticking.... and then... I saw a red light... the last thing I saw was Kao in between me and that glass... I can't... my eyes.... pain..." Tala's voice drifted in and out of its strength and he could feel his body losing its energy, and he felt more tired. He already couldn't see, so he wanted to sleep.
"No, Tala," commanded Kai. "Keep talking. Don't stop."
"Oh Tala..." said Nikita looking from above.
"Rio, take your shawl and wrap it tightly around his wound," shouted Kai towards his onee-chan. Rio nodded and did so, trying to hold back the tears. "Take your coat and cover him. Tala, just stay calm. We're going to get you to the hospital."
"No… hospital…" Tala started to go frenzy on them. Kai growled. He knew the only thing Tala was deathly afraid of was hospitals. It wasn't helping. Tala was struggling to get up and get away. The white building was the last place Tala wanted to be, even if his eyes were in trouble.
"I can hear the ambulance," said Nikita, swatting down next to him. "So it's too late Tala…" Kao-ri tried to hug him with more effort.
"I'm sorry...but you're hurt badly Tala...we don't have any choice..."
"Hey...hey Rio," said Rei through some labored breathing. "I'm.... I'm sorry that I got you worried...and-and that I'm makin' you cry..."
Rio sniffled, "Too late for that now." She secured the tie and put more pressure on the wound.
"Sorry.... Rio...d-d'you think you could forgive me...?"
"What do you think, baka?"
Rei laughed lightly, "P-Probably not..." Rio leaned down and hugged him tightly, trying not to hurt him anymore. She pressed her face into the crook of his neck, crying into him. "Please don't cry anymore Rio..."
"I don't want... the fucking hospital...never again..." Tala moaned, still trying to struggle. A few of the men nearby had to help Kai and keep the strong Russian on the ground.
"Suck it up. You're the one who convinced me to come here anyway!"
"I'm sorry," cried Kao. "I'm sorry...it's all my fault..." She started crying on the mound.
"It won't be long now," said Nikita as the bright ambulance light were flashing in their sight.
"Kao... stop... crying," struggled Tala.
"I-I'm not crying!" protested Kao-ri, more tears spilling. Tala could see, so he couldn't see her tears.
"Don't... argue...with...me...woman."
"Then stop telling me what to do you-you baka!"
"OUT OF THE WAY!" Two stretchers were brought from the two ambulances and two teams of EMTs rushed over to the neko-jin and Russian. Kai walked over and peeled Rio away from Rei, holding on to her tightly. Rei was put on the stretcher and secured. As he was placed in the back of the van, he waved to Rio, who could only cry into her brother all the more.
Those who came for Tala worked quickly. They took off all the coats and grabbed a thermal blanket from the van. Wrapping him in that, they quickly took gauze pads and replaced them for the shawl and wrapped his head with the pads over his eyes carefully. Soon he too was on a stretcher and put in the ambulance van. With the doors shut, the crowd could only watch as the two were driven to the Bay City Hospital…
Mah!!!! THIS IS LONG! 19 pages on Word with 10 point verdana font. o.O WOW! Now things are really heating up!!! Well until next time...
lil phoenix
