Tainted Blood

Chapter 17

by. SilverWolf-Ryuki

A/N: Yeah, mum set the kitchen on fire. Now my instant noodles are ruined. The cupboards are black. - -; thank god it wasn't a big fire. Ah, imagine that...

"Air conditioner..." Rei sighed with content, and made a sound that resembled purring, which the restaurant assistant manager scowled at.

"Ah, let it go Lars," Oliver waved off his assistant manager. "Prepare us the specialty we've been working on."

"Yes sir," Lars muttered and shot an evil glare at everyone before walking off, shouting at minors.

"Don't mind him," Enrique put his hands behind his head. "He's bitter than Oliver's still better at him at everything. He came from alower family... something about injustice..." He shrugged. "Stereotypical guy, he is, thinking the poor will be successful and the rich are dumb."

"What are the appetizers, I'm getting hungry." Tala mumbled.

"Manners," Oliver scolded with a big grin: very unconvincing.

"Garlic bread-sticks," Enrique revealed with a flourish as the waiter came.

"Oh, yippee..." Tala said sarcastically as he shoved two in his mouth.

"If you want to impress girls," Mariam put a breadstick into her mouth. "Make sure the time between appetizers and first course isn't longer than 5 minutes or so. Trust me, you don't want the girl eating the breadsticks and then not wanting to eat anything else."

"Why would they do that?" Kai shook his head. "Totally idiotic..." He turned to Enrique. "Reminds me of you,"

"Oh, don't be so flattering." Enrique winked. Kai shuttered.

"Enrique, when we said you could not hit on Mariam, it does not mean you have to start hitting on Kai." Ren stated simply and quietly so that only Enrique, Rei and Tala heard. After those words reached their ears, Rei and Tala nearly snorted bits of chewed-up breadstick onto the heavy white table-cloth.

Enrique took the insult easily.

"You should have made it clear earlier." Enrique grinned jokingly. Ren cocked an eyebrow at him.

This guy reflects insults... well, that's a first.

"Hear that, Lars?" Oliver shouted at Lars in a tone of voice none of them had heardhim use. "5 minutes or less, that's how long between appetizers and first course! And it is 5 minutes or less, not more!"

"Yes, Mister Oliver," Lars's voice came back.

Within a few moments, a waiter came, balancing 7 soups on his platter. The soup bowls were small, but the soup looked really good. It was a thick broth.

After they were half-way through the second course, the waiter came, snatched up their food, and put down 7 plates of shrimps.

And when they were barely done that, the waiter snatched that up, and came up with 7 plates of pieces of sea-bass, salmon and creamy mushroom.

That was barely nibbled upon, before the fourth course came, with Foie Gras and wine, and apple pieces as decorations. But before they could really dig in, the fifth course came, with creamed spinach, potatoes and beef, and blue cheese with spaghetti that nobody touched. They had around 4 minutes to eat as much as they could, before they came to the last course before desert. A plate of chicken stir-fry and sauce was placed before them. Following the hasty schedule as usual, they came to desert in less than 6 minutes.

"OK, that's it," Mariam slapped her fork down as the waiter came with desert. "Why give us a big plate of food and then snatch it away? Honestly, a girl would feel insulted that her food was being exchanged under her nose in lightning pace. Give smaller servings and a nice amount of time to actually put into our mouths."

Oliver calmly turned to the waiter. "Tell Lars to stop hurrying everyone in order to ruin our meal. And do NOT snatch the desert away. Go, and come back when I call."

The desert was cheese, red wine, fruits with chocolate and caramel dip and a small 'cup' of ice-cream.

"The food was good," Ren frowned. "Your assistant manager, however, needs to be fired."

"The food was good," Rei agreed. "And your assistant manager needs to be fired."

"I just said that," Ren growled.

"Yep, yep," Rei waved Ren off.

"Is he drunk?" Tala stared with amazement.

"Naw, Chinese wine is the strongest in the world. He can't get drunk off of that low stuff." Ren shook his head. "He should be used to strong alcohol."

"But he's not used to Russian or perhaps French alcohol." Mariam pointed out.

"Well," Enrique scratched his head. "See, I kind of, uh,"

"Spiked the already alcoholic wine?" Oliver guessed. "I told you not to do that."

"It was so tempting..." Enrique grinned slyly. "I just wanted to see who got the wine."

"I bet you were hoping Me, Ren or Mariam." Kai sneered. "Nice try. Max tried to spike my punch once."

"Good times," Rei slurred and dropped like a rock off of his chair and face first into the ground.

"What happened?" Mariam smiled with amusement.

"I dumped it on his head." Kai merely said and took a sip of his ice wine.

"Well that's fun." Oliver sighed. "Typically you... I'd like to see you drunk."

"Or High," Enrique pitched in.

"He'll probably kill you while he's drunk or high." Tala gave a small laugh. "Lack of self-control means red face and knife."

"Hah," Ren smirked. "That'll be the day."

"I'm not red-faced and angered when I'm drunk and/or high." Kai growled.

"Ooh, how do you know?" Mariam challenged.

"Experience...?" Enrique waggled his eyebrows.

"Kai... high and drunk...?" Ren raised an eyebrow and tried to picture it.

"I cannot see it, personally." Oliver tapped his chin.

"How about we try and see?" Tala smirked.

"I will not drop so low to the stage where you can test me for my reply." Kai growled.

"I'd like to see it too." Mariam grinned evilly. "Come on, Kai..."

"No," Kai said firmly.

"Why not, are you afraid?" Mariam teased.

"Do I look scared?" Kai said with a blank expression; the same one he's been wearing throughout the conversation.

"Just a tad," Rei mumbled from the ground. Everyone looked at him, and as if to prove he was still drunk, he gave a loud snort before snoozing away.

"Vodka or Chinese?" Kai held out his hand.

¤

A/N: And yes, Kai gets drunk. Can't wait until next chapter... xD might be a bit disappointing. Of course Kai has self control... he'll never get too wild... And mind you, it's the first time I've done a chapter without switching scenes. I've got no inspirationt to switch to Zeo, Lee and Mariah, but I'll do it soon. I swear!