Nooooo…I did it again UU….i am so sorry…this time its my fault and lack of concentration…but I have done it..and have started the next one that I promise will be on they way.

Thank you to;-

Kiko Cat;- yep he is another it, but he is no freak it just goes with the story cool name change by the way.

Chibi Drigger; XDDD.talk to you later puppster –giggles-

Kero-chan39:- Glad you like the story –grins-..hope you like the rest of it.

Platinum Rei:- sorry it wasn't soon but I promise my next one will be.

Mei Karmari;- thankies for the review..and I'm still looking for Christmas tale..so if anyone has saved a copy to their computer please send it to me.

Darksaphire:- I haven't meantioned the pairing because it would give the plot away –grins evilly-..i like my cliff's and there are more in the future.

Destiny Lin;..you'll have to read the chapter to find out who it is so there. But I hope you are happy about another update even though its like ages late.

Dark willow aka admiral2;..i wonder if its who you thought it was –tilts head-..well have to see. Glad you liked the chapter though.

Galy;- you'll have to wait and see who the other father is –grins- that's my suspense in the story.

Lena:- you'll have to see who the voice is. –grins-

Arch-Nemesis - ..yes I did have to leave it there…-grins evily- and I'm going to leave you in the dark still –laughs- and here is the next chapter.

Xangel of death Sarah;- thankies for the review…and here is some more hope u like it.

WhiteTigress666:- The father is my little secret you'll have to wait to find out.

Mika;..i'm still looking for my copy of Christmas Tale, but I am looking really hard for it

dimonyo-anghel:- you'll have to wait and see who the father is

cackles-

Chapter 10

" T...Ttala" Rei gulped eyes widening. The red head walked into the room, he looked a little older than when Rei last saw him but his stature and Height was the same as he was 25 now. " w..what aree you doing here?"

" i get a phone call from an old lady saying that a friend that i had lost 2 years ago is in hospital, originally it was for Kai but i was in Hong Kong for business and decided to check it out" said Tala glaring "where the hell have you been, we've been worried sick"

Rei looked away, tears filling his eyes. Omi hugged him.

"i had to go" said Rei quietly "i nearly killed Dunga"

"didn't you hear any radio or TV programmes, we searched everywhere for you, you just disappeared" said Tala angrily before taking a breath "but at least you're alive"

" I missed all of you" choked Rei, Omi moved back and Tala hugged the Neko.

"Oh Rei, what did you do to land yourself in here?" asked Tala

"He was attacked at work but said he was fine but they found him unconscious in his flat" said Omi as he said on a chair facing the two. Tala looked down at Rei who wouldn't look at him "and the doctor said he is malnutrition and over tired"

"well that leads to the point that you can't look after yourself" said Tala. Rei pulled away from him eyes slitted slightly.

"I've lasted two years on my own and i can continue to look after myself" growled Rei, the room was silent before a wail broke the silence. Rei got off the bed and headed to the cot that Tala hadn't noticed and picked the child up and started to rock it.

"wait a minute where did that come from?" asked Tala

"well when a man and a woman.." started Omi, who was cut off my Tala's glare "he's lover or girlfriend"

Tala looked at Rei "You brought the child up yourself?"

Rei nodded and signalled for them to be quiet as he laid the child back into the cot before heading back to the bed.

"well get ready, you're going to Mai's to rest" said Omi. Rei nodded as he got changed sending the others out as he did so he could get some privacy, then he gathered everything of his before opening the door with the child tightly in his arms.

"ready" he mumbled Tala took his bag before they walked to the nurses desk to sign Rei out, the Neko received a note to say he needed two weeks off work. They left the hospital heading for the car park and Tala's car. They piled into the car, Rei placed the child securely on his lap in the backseat as Omi rode up front telling Tala where to go.

They pulled up outside Grandma Mai's 10 minutes later. Rei was the last to get out of the car as they made it towards the front door, the door swung open and Grandma Mai stood there greeting them all before ordering Rei to go and sit down in the lounge. The others followed as Mai went to make hot drinks for everyone. Tala looked at Rei.

"what happened to you Rei, two years, you just vanished" said Tala

"as i said before i nearly killed Dunga isn't that enough. I could of done it to one of you the next time" snapped Rei

"or is it the fact you got someone pregent and they left you holding the baby" said Tala anger in his eyes

"you wouldn't understand!" yelled Rei before turning away to hide his tears but Tala sensed them and wrapped his arms around Rei who turned and buried his head into Tala's chest.

"What about her family, couldn't they help? And why didn't you contact us we could have helped?" said the red head.

"it was and still is complicated" said Rei tiredly "i slept for two weeks and I'm still tired"

"well get comfortable, the settee is the place to sleep so i can make sure you are sleeping properly, but first drink this" said Grandma Mai coming into the lounge with cups of tea as he seated herself down. She made sure Rei drank his drink before he fell asleep on the settee while the others talked quietly around him.

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The smell of roast Chicken and vegetable woke Rei up, so he stretched and yawned. The sound of giggling made him look about to see Tala playing with his child, Rei watched on then he realised he had never had the time to play with his child let alone the time just to be with it, guilt suddenly rose in his body as he watched the small child play building bricks with Tala and laugh at the simplest things. Tala looked up and caught the sight of guilt in Rei's eyes.

"what's the matter little one?" asked Tala, Rei scowled at the name.

"nothing" he said as he smiled, Tala narrowed his eyes.

"easy or hard way Kitty" he said jogging Rei's memory

"I haven't played with the child for so long, i forgot what it sounded like when it laughed" Rei confessed before looking away

"work does that to you, but not for two weeks it's not" said Tala he looked up as Grandma Mai who nodded. "i think a holiday would do you two wonders"

"i can't i don't have the money" said Rei "and the rent on the flat needs to be paid"

"that is not a flat and you don't need the money to go on holiday everything will be paid for and there are a lot of people that want to see you" said Tala

"I can't" said Rei "I'm sorry i just can't"

"Why? You're off work, you're rent and holiday is paid for" said Tala

"I can't face them" said Rei quietly "sorry Tala"

"Is it because of the little one?" said Tala "let them see that you're alive"

Rei was trying to come up with an excuse but couldn't think of one that would shake the red head off.

"be my surprise to the team when we get back please" said Tala,

Rei saw that he could play along with the mother abandoning the child story and nodded slowly.

"great your things are upstairs, chose what you want to take with you, not that there's a lot there" carried on Tala

"its enough" defended Rei as he heaved himself up and headed upstairs to pack his and the child's things, listening now and then to hear if his child was alright.

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When he had finished packing he sat on the bed to have some time to think about the story he could use about the child and the mother before a voice interrupted his thoughts.

"little cub, I did what would be right for you" said Grandma Mai as she entered the room.

" I know and I should have done it years ago but I'm scared" admitted Rei

"You missed them and the times that red head must have travelled here its surprising he hadn't seen you yet" said Grandma Mai " and you can keep up the mother story, it will be fine"

"but the father will be Grandma what if they figure it out" said Rei

"they don't know anything about Neko Jin's, you're generation of our race hardly know the ritual only the healers and the ones with the gift. So they can not figure it out" smiled Grandma Mai patting him on the shoulder "come on Dinner is ready"

"Grandma Mai?" asked Rei as he stopped.

"yes Young cub" smiles the Elder Neko, Rei wrapped his arms round Mai and hugged her.

"thank you for everything, you've been there for me always, I don't know how I would have done any of this without you"

" you're a fighter Little Cub but everyone needs a shelter to go to and food in there stomachs" she said hugging him tightly before pulling away "come on it will be getting cold"

The Two Neko's walked downstairs looking slightly happier as they sat down at the table and started eating their meal that Grandpa Xiou and Grandma Mai had prepared and made.

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The meal was finished and Mai ushered Rei and Tala into the lounge while she, Xiou and Omi cleared the stuff away, Omi being the new one under Mai's wing.

Rei sat on the floor and played with his child as Tala looked on, studying the child that looked familiar.

"if you don't mind me asking but where's the mother?" asked the red head looking at Rei, Rei stiffened slightly.

"she was killed in a car accident, they saved the child but she had too many injures" said Rei trying to make it a convincing story, he looked away from the red head.

"I'm sorry I brought it up but the others will ask" said Tala as he joined Rei on the floor.

" no its alright" said Rei sending a small smile at Tala "how's everyone been?"

"you can find out when we get there, you've been missed" said Tala truthfully.

"I couldn't face coming back" said Rei " and then with Micca dying and the little one here I just couldn't"

" what about a phone call or a letter?" asked Tala " just something to say you where okay"

"I just couldn't and I'm sorry its my way of dealing with this, its to run" said Rei

"you don't need to anymore" said Tala smiling " our flight is early tomorrow so I suggest you get some sleep and I'll pick you up at 6 am"

"okay" said Rei looking at the red head and realising how bad he felt lying to him but it had to be done, he walked Tala out after he had said his goodbyes to the others, Rei watched the car drive off and waved when Tala beeped his horn. Slowly Rei walked back inside and his child came walking towards him and hugged his leg.

"come on little one we've got to get some sleep, we're going to Japan tomorrow" said Rei lifting the child into his arms, who cuddled close their arms around Rei's neck as it purred in comfort knowing Rei was upset about something. Rei hugged the child back and a purr rumpled from his chest in answer to calm his child down, they stood like this for a while before the door opened and the others came into the room.

"come on young ones get to bed, you've got an early start tomorrow" said Grandpa Xiou seeing the child in Rei's arms almost asleep. Rei nodded and stifled a yawn, bidding goodnight to everyone and a goodbye to Omi.

"see you tomorrow" called Omi as he left the house.

Rei walked upstairs and placed the child in the cot beside his bed but it whimpered and clung to Rei, the raven haired Neko sighed before picking the child back up and putting him on his bed, once he was sure the child was settled he reached into his bag and pulled out some night clothes for himself and the child. Once they where changed he lay beside the child, who curled up next to him as Rei curled up around his child and they fell asleep.