Tainted Blood

Chapter 16

by. SilverWolf-Ryuki

A/N: And another chapter. Wow, this has got to be the furthest I've EVER gotten... in writing, I mean. O.O I have a twelve chaptered story, but that's like, shit. Plus, that was my first story, so it's really bad. Hm, I hope I'm not boring all of you readers to death!

"Master Robert, our guests have arrived."

"Let them in,"

Rei's ears twitched as he picked up the few sentences from the other room. He frowned. Was Robert going to let them take the bit-beast and go? Or was he going to come with them? Or, the worst of all... what if he won't give the bit-beast to them?

Those were the questions on everyone's minds as the door creaked open and the butler motioned for them to follow him.

"Welcome, sit," Those were the first words that left Robert's mouth as they entered the room.

"Tea, coffee, pop... what would you all like?"

Kai, Ren and Tala asked for tea. Rei and Mariam took water, just to be polite, in case Robert decides to be offended by not taking a drink. Who knew about these rich people?

Not a word was spoken until the butler brought their drinks on a silver tray. Mariam peered at Ren's stony face, to Tala's frowning one, to Kai's unreadable expression, and finally to Rei's curious gaze. She looked at Robert, who was sipping his tea, carefree. She sighed with frustration.

Almost as if he read her mind, Kai cleared his throat.

"About the bit-beast..."

"I've been thinking." Robert put down his cup. "Your purpose is righteous, and it is necessary. About last night, it is a relief that no damage was done."

"If you can call it that," Ren said simply. His voice showed no hint of emotions. However, everyone knew the deep impact of those few words. Everyone was surprised by the boldness, especially Rei, who seems almost as if he forgot about the incident until now.

"I cannot control what I do." Kai said darkly.

"We are not blaming you," Tala frowned.

"I could not remember what I did last night..." Kai said quietly. "At all..."

Mariam felt her face turn red. I can... if that was you...

"But about the bit-beast," She spoke up before it got too far. Suddenly, all eyes were on her. She froze. "Um,"

"What did you conclude from your considering?" Rei asked, sensing her nervousness.

Robert stood with the same dignified look. However, he had a smile on. At that moment, the butler came in with a velvet case. Robert walked over and took the blade out. He then walked to Kai and held it out. "You may 'borrow' it, for the time being. It is my family's possession, after all, but I don't think my ancestors would mind that I lend it out for a good cause."

"Besides, they're dead. I get to run now." He said with a menacing look in his eyes. "No offence to them, of course. I will not be coming along, for I have a country to run."

Rei smiled.

"Thank you," Kai said genuinely.

"Don't mention it." Robert replied. "Tala, I do have something to ask of you though."

Tala froze; his tea cup almost to his mouth.

"Your father sent me several messages, saying if you ever turned up -"

"If he calls again, say that I'm dead." Tala said with dark humour that only seemed to amuse him.

¤

"So, where now?"

It was late in the afternoon and they had just departed from Robert's.

"Does anyone else feel that this is all way to simple?" Tala suddenly spoke up.

"Yes," Ren agreed at once. "But don't complain. Be grateful for the easy parts and when the hard parts come, you can bitch about it.

"Where do we go now?" Mariam repeated.

"France or Greece - make your choice." Kai shrugged.

"In other words, really nice yet girlish guy who can cook versus long-named people with good stories..." Rei added with a grin.

Mariam never had to make the choice though. Just then, Kai's cell phone rang from deep, deep within his bag in a small hidden pocket. The ringing surprised all of them, Kai the most.

"I thought I left my cell phone on the plane that abandoned me in China." He grumbled and snapped it open. "Hello, Kai Hiwatariy speaking."

"Hi Kai, how's it going?"

"Ah, it's Oliver." Ren said with a touch of gloom. "He's always free, isn't he?"

"I'm guessing Robert called you?" Kai spoke into the phone.

"Yes," they could hear a faint voice from the phone. "I've already prepared you a place, and all the places you MUST come to that I added to France, and of course, I'm thinking about the bit-beast thing. Don't you worry though, I'm debating with my sisters about it, and it's all going fine. Of course, I heard you have a girl on the plane. I've got a great restaurant I need her to test out, because in the guarantee, whichever guy takes his girl to the restaurant will impress her so much that, well, you get it. So, all the girls here flatter me too much."

Then they heard another voice.

"I wonder if she's cute... hey, can I talk to Rei? Reeeeeii? Is she cute? Huh? Kai... let me talk to Rei... fine, fine, never mind."

"He sure talks a lot..." Mariam remarked with a sweat-drop.

"He's...social." Tala managed to choke out.

"In touch with his feminine side," Rei reworded, "he prefers to call it that."

"Straight as a toothpick though..." Ren added. "Enrique must be there too. I'm not so sure about him though,"

"They're popular with the ladies... I'm still wondering how." Tala sighed. "Oliver's getting more talkative too... it's becoming un-bearable – big mouths mixed with cold air-conditioning."

Mariam raised an eyebrow as Enrique continued to talk, along with Oliver.

"Is she hot? Well, that doesn't really matter. When are you getting here? I'm getting impatient..." Enrique ranted on.

"Oh, and it's really hot in France right now. I know Ren has air conditioners resembling nuclear warheads in there, but I suggest you NOT wear sweats out here." Oliver's voice interrupted.

"We're in wine season, so get ready to be tipsy... oh, no, wait, that's a few hours later. Anyways...I want to show you the training arena I made. I think you'll like it, but I don't know. Kai? Kai? Alright, I'll stop bothering you. Bye... hey, bye everyone!" Enrique chirped, and a beep told them he hung up.

"Bye guys! See you soon!" Oliver hung up as well.

Kai closed his eyes and shut his cell phone. "I need Advil."

¤

Well equipped with Advil, water, sunglasses and stress balls, the five arrived, to find the green-haired and blond-haired teens. The two were wearing more high-classed clothing, while the four (not Ren) dressed in what Enrique called tourist clothes. The five nearly gagged over the blast of thick, hot humidity that hit them when the exited the plane.

"Hi guys!" Oliver greeted. His eyes shone brightly. Beside him, Enrique had the same dreamy look he always did, and he also had a lipstick print on his face.

"Hey." Enrique waved.

Mariam gulped down water that she brought. "It feels like a sauna here..."

"I did warn you." Oliver laughed. "I'm Oliver, nice to meet you."

"I'm Enrique. And who might you be?" Enrique hastily wiped the red off his cheek.

"Mariam," The blue-haired girl started to feel a bit uncomfortable.

"Enrique, lay off, she'll murder you." Rei joked. "She's like Mariah..."

Enrique shuttered. "She is one sharp cat, that Mariah."

"This girl's a shark." Tala informed him.

"Oh, a shark... which reminds me, we should be getting to the restaurant." Oliver brightened. He pressed a button on his watch and in no time, a limousine came rolling in.

"Ladies first," Enrique winked at Mariam.

"I wouldn't flirt with her if I were you." Tala muttered under his breath. "She's taken."

"By whom, may I ask?" Enrique flashed a smile. "Who is this someone more charming than me?"

Tala turned his gaze to Kai, who held the door open as Mariam slid in.

"HIM!" Enrique nearly screeched.

Everyone turned to stare at him, including some Korean tourists nearby.

"Sorry, replaying a break-up in my mind." Enrique grinned slyly.

"Are you sure? He's ... he's a frozen rock!" Enrique hissed. "Although he does have that aura of complete..." Enrique's eyes narrowed as he thought of a word to replace sexy. After all, he was a straight guy... and he intended to squish all the rumours of him being gay. Starting to call other men sexy would seem a bit conspicuous. Hey, at least he was honest. I've got to stop hanging around the girls...

"We get it." Ren said flatly as he butted into the conversation. "They don't know it yet... can't you tell?"

"Oh," Enrique blinked. "OH... that way... OK, I'll leave her alone then. The thing you can't have is the thing you want... too bad."

"If you don't bug off, they might both murder you." Tala smirked.

"Think of that..." Enrique winced. "A shark and a phoenix, both out to get me..."

"Are we going or not?" Mariam snapped, cranky of all the heat.

In no time, the limo was driving off.

¤

A/N: Whoot, chapter. Oh yeah, who's good? Anyways... this should be fun, a few days with Enrique and Oliver. Those two can be hilarious... don't mind their minor OOCness. It is an AU story, after all. ;D Next chapter, I'll try to fit in some events in China.