Chapter 5

Normal POV

"Tala, didn't expect to see you back so soon, sir." said Sister Emily from the front courtyard.

"I'll be gone before you know it." said Tala. "I request a profile on Kai Hiwatari. I recently learned he was under this orphanages care before he ran away…?"

"That's correct. Seems like everything around here has to do with Kai today," said the Sister, standing up and leading Tala inside. There, a mass of children were crowded around Rei and Mrs. McClain, but mostly around Rei. He smiled warmly at the young children, simply laughing at their numerous and curious questions. He had rewrapped his hair with his white ribbon but he might as well have kept it loose for by the time Mother Judy came and ushered all the children away, the tail bore gaps of black from the small hands accidentally pulling on it. He pulled it back off and wrapped the ribbon over his hand.

"Who is that?" asked Tala.

"I'm not certain, but I think that is the gentleman Sarah spoke about to Mother Judy when she asked about Kai. She was definitely right about how peculiar he looks." They walked over to Mother Judy who was apologizing to Rei about the children.

"Mother, Tala wishes a profile on Kai."

"See to it then," Sister Emily led Tala to the records office. "Now, Sarah, what's all this about bringing this young gentleman out here?" Rei blushed. She thought he was at least 19!

"This gentleman has been keeping secrets from us about Kai." said Mrs. McClain, putting emphasis on how she would not classify Rei as a gentleman, no matter how kind he seemed on the outside.

"That's not a problem." Rei's eyes tensed. "Kai was fortunately found just a few before you arrived."

"May I go see him?" asked Rei suddenly. Mother Judy nodded and made to lead him to Kai's room, but he shook his head. "I can find him." He sprinted up the staircase, two at a time. Mother Judy proceeded to the record office, Mrs. McClain following.

"Before you speak," started Mother Judy, interrupting the other woman. "I want you to know that you're very prejudice against that young man." She fixed Mrs. McClain with an icy stare. "Knowing you, you don't have a good reason to be."

Rei's POV

So Kai. You were found. I had hoped otherwise, but sadly. I knew you'd end up back here. Tension builds as I listen for you, thinking of your condition. Were you attacked? Are you conscious? Are you injured beyond what I say last night?

Are you like me? Are you…a neko-jin?

I hear your heavy breathing Kai, you sound close to tears. I grab the doorknob and take a breath. Please don't have done anything stupid.

Normal POV

When Rei opened the door, he sighed with relief to see Kai lying on his back on the floor, unchanged. He stared at the ceiling with eyes filled with bitter tears. "Leave me be." he grumbled.

"If you insist, Kai." Rei said. Kai sat up. He smiled as he stood up, Rei entering and sitting on the bed as Kai sat next to him. "I must admit I knew you'd be back here. I had hoped you'd last longer before you came back, though."

"What are you doing up here Rei?" Kai asked. Rei grinned that sinister smile Kai disliked so much.

"Mrs. McClain found out about me helping you, and she decided that Mother Judy should know. That's when I heard about you being brought back." As he spoke Kai rummaged though his drawer and pulled out the long cloth bandages, washed, dried, and apparently fluffed.

"Do you want these back?" Rei accepted them back and wrapped them around his other hand.

"Shi-shi, Kai." said Rei, smiling. Suddenly, his smile faded and his pupil lengthened in the room. "This is my final word Kai. To hear a little sharper than normal, try focusing on the sound you hear. If you know what you're listening for, you'll know what you're hearing."

"Bye, Rei." said Kai as the neko-jin stood up and left. He meandered down the hall a few paces before seating himself on the wide marble railing facing out to the level below. At the same time, Tala came up the stairs and paced down the hall. He stopped when he reached Rei.

"Your quite the character." he said. Rei made no movement. "In the business world wildcards like you are good advantages to ones company." Rei turned to stare at Tala, smirking his fanged smile. Tala took a step back.

"You wouldn't want to trust me, Tala." said Rei. "It's my neko-jin nature to be deceiving." Rei turned back facing out. "And just a heads up, Kai isn't fond of people like you."

"What do you mean?" said Tala. He had a sudden temptation to push him off.

"Exactly what I said." With that, Rei slipped off the railing. Tala gasped and looked over the edge, expecting to possibly see a blood covered body. He was completely perplexed when he saw Rei walking off, as if he merely jumped a few feet down a couple of stairs.

"Remarkable! I wonder…" He walked to Kai's still partly open door.

"Go away."

"So this is Kai Hiwatari."

"Leave." said Kai, lying with his back to the door.

"Don't be brash Kai, I might be adopting you."

"Don't waste your time. Come back when you're not an uptight CEO. When you're like Rei, you can come back if I haven't escaped again."

"So that's his name. Rei you said?" Kai remained silent. "Touched a sensitive spot have I?" Kai sat up and turned around.

"Did he leave already?" asked Kai.

"I'm not sure," said Tala slyly. "Tell me more about him."

"His name is Rei, he lives alone with Driger, and he's one of the few people I've met in my entire life who I can relate to!" Kai shouted. Tala took a step back. "He protected me from Mother Judy, he practically saved me from freezing to death, he made me change my mind about some people and he made me say Merry Christmas with actual heart behind it," Kai started taking steps toward Tala, warm, angry tears running down his face. "He is a neko-jin, but even though he's disliked by some for it he's still laidback, calm, sarcastic, and he's not a power hungry cooperate jerk like you and my grandfather are!" He had made Tala back up into the wall as he stood there huffing at him. Tala took advantage of his exhaustion.

"Watch your mouth Kai. When you're at my place you won't go shooting off like that, understand?" Kai's tears became cold on his face.

"Your place?" he repeated. "I refuse to go anywhere with you!"

"I disagree. Your paperwork is all ready and all we have to do is sign it." Kai gasped. "Come on Kai.A real legend is about to be born." Tala grabbed Kai's arm and dragged him out of his room. At the end of the hallway Mother Judy stood with an official looking paper in her hand. When they got closer, Kai broke free and ran up to her.

"Please, I don't want to leave with the likes of him, isn't there anything you can do?" Kai pleaded. Mother Judy thrust the paper into his hand.

"Read it." she whispered. Kai's eyes ran over the paper. What was he supposed to be looking for? Was there a way out in all that official mumbo-jumbo? When he read the first signature, his eyes lit up like a wild fire. He looked up to a pen held out by Mother Judy. He looked around him and through the gaps of the short pillars of the railing. Kai took the pen and crashed to the floor, signing his name. He left the pen there and raced back to his room.

Kai's POV

As I feverishly throw the content of my drawer into my duffle bag, my mind travels over one thought.

I'm leaving, and I can't be brought back.

I said I'd never go with someone. But I will. I'd said I'd leave on my own. But I didn't. I quickly pull the drawstring and grab the document and a picture.

The last remaining picture I have of my mother and father.

I'll miss them, true, but I shall no longer mourn and will always find their spirits within myself. I' will do everything as I you have done for them in my new home. I take one last look at the other signature. Interesting last name. I grab my bag and return to Mother Judy. A half glance and I catch Rei's face looking elsewhere, but he is wearing a smile instead of that wicked grin. But now I am the one who wears the sinister smile.

Normal POV

"Kai I need the document." said Mother Judy. Kai gave a small 'oh' and handed it back.

"Good bye Mother Judy." said Kai.

"Good bye, Kai." waved Mother Judy as Kai bounded down the stairs, his bag flying behind him.

"That was a nice change in attitude." said Tala.

"That is to be expected Tala. For you see I wanted to make sure Kai knew what he was getting into. He would not have signed so eagerly for you. I've always wanted to see Kai happy, even if it was only for a few minutes." There was a clever twinkle in Mother Judy's eyes as she descended the stairs, Tala behind her. She stopped at the foot of the stairs where Kai had nearly tackled Rei to the ground. "Or did this gentleman not tell you, Kai isn't fond of businessmen."

"Let me see that from!" growled Tala. Mother Judy handed it to him, and he took it and unfolded it. He looked speechlessly from the document to Rei and back. Rei grabbed Kai's bag and the two walked out the door.

"Rei, promise we won't ever have to go back there." Kai said. Rei nodded. At the same moment, both stopped. "I hear it…" Rei grinned. Kai was a fast learner. "Footsteps?"

"Correct." said Rei and both turned to see a very pissed Tala coming toward them. Rei put down Kai's bag as he marched closer. "Kai, I have a question for you."

"Name your price neko-jin. I'll pay it for the Hiwatari heir." Tala said.

"That would be giving away my brother." Rei said. Kai gasped. Out of nowhere, Tala lunged a fist a Rei. Kai shouted as Rei dodged the blow, bending back nearly completely vertical. Then he raised his foot and threw his weight forward, hitting Tala full force in the chest and sendinghim to the ground. Rei picked up Kai's bag and continued walking as if nothing happened.

"What was your question Rei?" Kai asked.

"Instead of being your father, could I be your brother."

"I think you answered that."

"Yeah."

"I dunno about you but this was the best Christmas ever." said Kai. Rei smiled. You deserve it, Kai.

OWARI!

Kai: Interesting.

Gatem: I knew you'd like it.

Rei: I got to use my martial senses in the end.

Gatem: I had to put something like that in there.

Kai: You made Tala act like Gozobura Kiaba.

Gatem:

Rei:

Kai: Well?

Gatem: That… is sheer genious! Why didn't I think of that?

Kai: Because your not—

Rei: Kai don't answer that. R&R people!