Yay I updated! I kind of had some trouble sorting my ideas for this chapter and it came out a little shorter than the others meh whatever. I hope you enjoy.

Warnings: Same thing as in the others.(too lazy to type the warnings. XD )

Disclaimer: Do you see Kai and Rei getting it on? Do you see Mariah andHilarydying painful deaths? Noso I don't own it.

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Chapter 8 Closing In

"Come on we're almost there" Kai said as he noticed that the rest were falling behind. "Well Kai slow down we've been walking for the past week you kind of get tired you know" Tala complained glaring at the stoic teen. "Sorry Tala but if we don't move it we're never going to get there" he said turning back around and standing there until they caught up with him. He sighed thoughts of Rei had been plaguing his mind for the entire trip back. He just couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen to the neko-jin if he didn't get there in time. He snapped out of his thoughts at hearing Bryan speak "How much distance do you think they've covered?"

Kai looked at him and then back out to the snow covered ground "A lot is all I can say" he answered "Well come on I'd like to rip Boris' eyes and tongue out" Tala said walking past everyone in a new determination.

Tala smiled a bit as he looked behind him only to find Alexandre only a step behind him. "Hey you okay?" he asked the small blond. "Yeah a bit tired but getting back to camp is more important" he answered smiling his light blue eyes glinting in the light of the day. "That's good because the way Kai is worrying we're so not stopping for longer than five minutes" Tala said with a slight smile slowing his pace so the teen could fall in step with him.

"May I ask?" At Tala's nod he went on "I know that he wants to get there to kill Boris and Voltaire for trying to kill of us. But what's it to him if China loses the war? It wont affect us any" Alexandre observed as he looked at Kai who had taken the lead once again. "I'm not sure if this is the truth but back when we were trying to get as much information from the Prince. Kai got involved with him, hoping that he would give some info. Turns out it went the complete opposite and it fired up the prince's will to not fall to us" Tala explained trying not to reveal too much on Kai even if they were the only once around.

"That still doesn't answer the question" Alexandre pushed his eyes glinting as he looked at Tala. "You remind me a lot of Vichel" Tala smirked as he noticed the look in Alexandre's eyes. "Whatever now answer the question" he said making Tala blink in surprise. "Heh he got you good Tal" Ian teased making the redhead glare at the short man who was walking a little ways ahead. "Shut your trap shrimp. Or I'll step on you" Tala threatened glaring daggers at Ian. "Yeah uh-huh whatever" he taunted "Zip it Viocklovski" Bryan snapped effectively shutting the other man up. Ian sped up to catch to Spencer who was walking just behind Kai.

"To answer your question Dimitrov. Kai has a thing for the Emperor of China and wants to protect the fool, though that's just my opinion" Bryan answered easily. Alexandre blinked over at Kai, since he couldn't see the two toned hair's face he couldn't make a conclusion but he shrugged "Thanks I guess, but from what I've heard he's not one to feel." "That's a lie he does feel he's just extremely good at hiding it. Like right now if one of us was to drop dead, he'd be nice enough to close our eyes and dig us a grave" Tala said as he laughed at the image his mind had conjured. "Or he could just let you rot and/or let the wild animals eat your flesh" said man said glaring at the redhead. "Yeah right Kai we all know your conscious wouldn't let you" Tala retaliated as he kept walking ignoring the death glare the other was sending him.

"Tala just shut up" Bryan said catching up with his lover and wrapping his arm around his waist. "Fine" he said and leaned against Bryan as they continued to walk.

"Look we're almost there. I recognize this weird rock form, when we passed it the first time. It was like maybe half a day" Ian said pointing out a rock that looked suspiciously like a roaring tiger. "That's good come on. When we get to camp they will more than likely not be there. We'll rest for couple of hours and then we'll move south taking the route their taking" Kai informed as he nodded at Ian's great observation skills. The man was annoying to all hell but was very good at remembering things such as the one he just did.

"Yay finally I'll be able to actually sleep" Tala gushed as he ran all out for about ten yards before he stopped dead in his tracks, swaying on his feet. "Tala!" Bryan called as the other fell over on the snow, the white fluff cushioning his fall. Bryan ran to see what had happened Alexandre and the rest falling in behind him.

"Tala are you okay?" he asked for once his mask of indifference gone. "Tala?" he tried again lifting up the limp redhead onto his lap. He checked his pulse and sighed to find out there was one a little erratic but there none the less. The redhead whimpered as he scrunched up his features as if he was in great pain. "Tala?" Slowly the redhead opened his ice blue eyes that seemed to in and out of focus. Tala turned his head away and closed his eyes again. "Tala don't you dare go to sleep" Kai said making the redhead groan in annoyance.

"I think he's just exhausted. He hasn't slept at all Kai. Even you got a five minutes of sleep last night" Spencer pointed out. He remembered watching the redhead stoke the fire up to keep the rest of them warm he had offered to take watch so the redhead could get some sleep but the other denied it and told him to go back to sleep. Kai sighed as he saw Tala close his eyes again. "Okay well we'll take turns carrying him and when we get back to camp let's hope they left our tents where they were" Kai said as he watched Bryan cradle the sleeping redhead in his arms.

Their trek had taken longer than Kai had wanted it to take but with Tala out cold and having to stop to check the redhead was still alive consumed their time but eventually around the six in the afternoon they arrived at what used be the camp site only to find it completely empty except for their tents. They had all sighed in relief and had made their way to their own tent Bryan taking Tala to his to bundle him up to keep him warm.

Some time later all of the were sitting outside around a big fire eating some of the non perishable food they had found. They were all silent basking in the warmth the fire gave off. Occasionally a pair of lilac eyes would look in the direction of his tent hoping to see the red head walk out.

"He'll be fine Bryan. Tala is too stubborn to die without cutting off Boris' tongue" Kai broke the silence after getting frustrated with Bryan's constant worry. "Shut it Hiwatari I should be telling you not to worry about your precious kitten. I know that, that is the reason why you're in such a hurry to get to the Imperial City" Bryan snapped glaring at Kai who glared back. "I suggest you speak of the things you do know of instead of making things up Kuznetsov" he said tightly as he stood to go and walk around. Bryan sighed he knew he shouldn't take his frustration out on Kai but he was just worried about his lover.

Bryan stood and looked at Ian "Keep watch until Kai comes back" he ordered and walked back to his tent. He laid down beside the redhead and pulled him close. Laying the other's head on his chest, he closed his eyes a relief washing over him as the other wrapped his arms around him. "I love you Tala" he whispered kissing the top of his head. His only response was a tired sigh but smiled when he saw the slight smile on Tala's lips. He closed his eyes and fell asleep with no worries except the dull guilt of telling Kai off in front of everyone outside.

"Bryan?" a sweet voice said in his ear making the other stir in his sleep. "Come on Bryan Kai says we need to leave. That we've wasted too much time already" he said shaking the lilac hair lightly. Bryan slowly opened his eyes and smiled at the site that greeted. A smiling Tala with tousled bed hair, "It feels like forever since I've seen you" he murmured pulling Tala down and kissing the other's lips softly. Tala sighed and said nothing and let Bryan kiss him. Bryan ran his tongue over Tala's bottom lip nipping it slightly asking for entrance into the hot cavern that he knew so well. Tala readily opened his mouth welcoming Bryan's tongue with his own. War inside their mouths soon commenced drawing slight moans from the redhead who was fast losing the war. In the end the redhead gave in with a loud moan and let Bryan climb over him. Tala moaned softly as Bryan began kissing his neck and running his hands over Tala's toned abs.

"You know Tala I remember specifically telling you to wake Bryan up and get ready to leave. Not wake Bryan up and start shagging each other" Kai's voice said over Tala's whimpers of pleasure. Bryan slowly pulled away from the neck he had been marking and turned to Kai who had a glare on his face "That would be my fault. So you ready to go save your kitten" he said pulling completely away from Tala who groaned in protest. "You better shut it Kuznetsov, just because I slept with him doesn't mean I love him" he said curtly watching Bryan get dressed and Tala sitting up with flushed cheeks. "Come on we're leaving. We're already late as it is" Kai said turning away and walking out into the frigid air. Tala sighed and ran a hand through his hair tousling it even more. "Come on wolf we need to get moving" Bryan said as he began to pack a few things. Tala nodded and stood "I'm going to get my stiff. I'll see you in bit" he said giving Bryan a peck on the cheek on his way out, shivering when the air hit him hard almost knocking him over.

"You guys are loud" Alexandre commented from where he too was packing the little amount of things he had. "Nice to know you can hear our passion" Tala teased as he too began to pack his things. Alexandre shook his head in amusement as Tala rummaged through his stuff looking for important things that he would need and that included almost all his weapons. "Is all that really necessary?" Alexandre asked as he watched Tala "If you want to survive then yes" he answered as he sheathed his beautiful sword that had a bluish tint to it making it look like smooth ice. "Wow that is nice" Alexandre awed the sword as Tala tied it to his waist. "Yeah I happen to like it as well. There are two others like this" Tala explained as he gathered his stuff and walked out of the tent with Alexandre in tow. "And who holds them?" he asked as he caught up to Tala. "You'll find out later, trust me" he said as they approached the others who were waiting.

"Now then let's get going we need to move since we lost a lot of time yesterday and this morning" Kai said as he began to walk in the direction that he was sure the Russian army had went.

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"This is wonderful, it's only a matter of time before their defenses give in" Boris smirked evilly as he got another message that they had pushed another defensive line back. "We must press on the attacks there will be no more resting until we reach the Imperial City" Voltaire informed his eyes glinting evilly as he looked at a picture of Rei. A latest one that had announced that he had been officially crowned the Emperor of Imperial China.

'So sad you wont have time to do anything to help it. Because your country will be mine' Voltaire thought his gaze turning to a soldier that had just come in with another message. "And what is this?" he asked at the soldier bowed "It's a message from the front lines" he answered not looking at Voltaire or Boris.

"Hmm let us see" he said and unrolled the piece of parchment reading through it quickly. "We must hurry their southern forces are heading this way. And they are the more experienced armies and the larger ones in number" Voltaire said looking at Boris. "Sir I understand" he said and went on his way to deliver the message directly to the generals.

"We're on the brink of the city men! We must push them back further until we have them trapped within their city" Boris said to the generals who all nodded. "Yes sir!" they said in unison as they all filed out of the tent, one word present on their minds 'Victory.'

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"Dammit this can't happen!" Lee shouted as he put his hands on his head, after reading another message. "They are pushing us back and faster

than before. At this rate by the time the southern forces get here there will be nothing left of this city!" he explained to Hito who sat in front of him. "We'll try to get the last few lines to hold them off as much as possible. And Lee you have to tell Rei to do something, the Russians are right on top of us" Hito said as he stood and walked out of the room to go to the front lines himself.

Lee sighed and looked out the window, the snow was still falling and that was big disadvantage to them. The Russians were used to it and could move faster in it than they could. Lee wearily got to his feet and started to make his way to Rei's chambers.

A couple of weeks back Rei had been put on bed rest for his failure to take care of himself. "Rei?" he asked as he entered the room. He smiled seeing the neko-jin fast asleep in his bed blankets bundling him up and keeping him warm. He didn't have the heart to wake him so he sat down to wait for the raven haired neko-jin to wake up.

Slowly golden eyes revealed themselves to the world and looked around. Rei turned around and saw Lee sitting in a chair with a slight smile on his face. "Lee why didn't you wake me?" he asked as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "I didn't have the heart, besides your mumbling made it very amusing" Lee said making the other blush. "Mumbling?" "Yeah you kept mumbling a name 'Zhen'" he answered as he nervously played with the message he had in his hands. "Oh" Rei said inside glad that Lee hadn't heard the name 'Kai' leave his lips. "I wonder, who is this Zhen, Rei?" he asked raising a black eyebrow. Rei blushed as he looked down at the sheet wrapped around his abdomen as he laid a hand on his now more noticeable swell "It's what I've been planning to name my kitten." Lee smiled "I would think you would give the kitten a Chinese name not a Japanese one" "Oh well I just really like the meaning of the word" Rei answered as he began to sit up. "So anyways what brought you here?" he asked now looking serious.

Lee sighed as he looked away "Let's just say that the Russians are on our doorstep" Rei blinked at the parchment Lee held out to him. He wearily took it and read through it. When he was done he closed his eyes and let a breathe. He then began to get out of bed alarming Lee "What are you doing?" he asked "I'm doing what I should have done a long time ago" was his only response as the neko-jin walked into his closet.

Not even five minutes later Rei walked out with his warrior attire with a sword attached to his side. "Rei what the hell do you think you're doing?" "Obviously I'm going to go and tell those idiots on the front lines to hold those Russians. Lee you know as well as I do that we can beat these Russians, snow or no snow we can beat them" Rei said as he began to walk out the door his hair twitching with every step he took. Lee blinked a couple of times before realization came over him "Rei!"

Lee ran out of the room running to where he was sure Rei would be heading. "Rei you can't do this" he said as he stopped the young Emperor in his trek to the stables. "Yes I can" Rei said as he tried to pry Lee's hands off his shoulders. "No you can't Rei think for a couple of minutes" Lee said looking into golden eyes that only reflected fear and despair. "What do you want me to do Lee! My country is being taken from me and the people I am trusting to defend it are not doing what they are suppose to!" he yelled the calm demeanor melting away to complete despair and fear as he began to hug himself. "What do they want from me! I never did anything to them Lee! Why are they attacking my country!" he ranted as he slid against the wall down to the floor holding his swell protectively.

Lee blinked away tears that were threatening to fall as he watched his best friend give into despair. "Rei please get a hold of yourself. This isn't like you. The old Rei wouldn't despair in such a way" he whispered as he knelt and pulled the younger into an embrace. "I'll go and tell all the leaders that they must not give up. And I'll even send notices for everyone to get out of the city as soon as possible. Come on stand up" he said helping Rei to his feet. Rei leaned heavily against Lee as he supported him all the way back to his chambers. Rei hated the feeling of being weak and that's exactly what his pregnancy had done to him but it had also strengthen his ideals to free his country from Russia's pressure.

Lee undressed Rei, leaving him in just a dressing gown and laid him down. He quickly put everything away in the closet and walked to Rei again. "Rei you gotta believe. You can't do what you just did, you have to think about the life you are about to bring into this world" Lee advised as he ran hand over his best friends swell, smiling as he felt the baby inside squirm under his hand. Rei also smiled "Thank you Lee I don't know what I would do without you" "You would win either way Rei. You are very strong, you just need to think and not despair" he smiled as Rei pushed his hand off his belly. Even after so long he still didn't like being touched on his swell Lee thought.

"Okay well I'm off to tell those idiots on the front lines to do their jobs. And no more despairing I wouldn't want to see you suffer" "I'm sorry it's just that I felt so trapped that I didn't know what to do" Rei quickly explained. "It's okay I'll be back after night fall. And I promise to come here first thing and tell you how things went" Lee said as he leaned down and laid a gentle kiss on his forehead. "Now get some rest I don't want to see Chao hovering over you like a moth to the fire because you can't rest" he teased. "Shut up you" Rei said with a mock glare "Off with you." "Alright, alright I'm leaving and I more than likely will take Tyson with me" he said "Good he needs the exercise" Rei said and smiled at the look Lee had on his face "That's what Max told me okay" he said raising his hands in defense. "Uh-huh yeah whatever. Well I gotta go, I'll see you later on tonight. An please no more episodes like the one you just pulled okay?" "Yeah okay." "You promise?" "I, Reimond Kon, Emperor of Imperial China promise that I will not pull another episode of despair" he finished his oath with his left hand in the air and his right hand fingers crossed. "Yeah okay Emperor Reimond Kon there was no need for the speech. Bye" Lee laughed as he waved and walked out of the room, running down to the stables and alerting all the guards in the palace to send word to all the citizens of the city to leave for safer grounds.

Rei smiled as he watched Lee leave. "Thank you Lee" he said softly as he laid back on his pillows. He closed his eyes and smiled when there was a dip on his bed. "Drigger where have you been?" he asked opening his eyes and looking at the White Tigers own golden ones. Drigger just purred and cuddled his master being mindful of the swell. Rei shook his head and slowly began to scratch the tiger behind his ears. "Kai..." he whispered to the air as he closed his eyes, falling asleep almost instantly, one thing plaguing his dreams. That thing being a someone who had plagued his mind for the last two to three months. 'Kai...please help me...'

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Those last few sentences made me almost cry and I'm the authoress. Well see ya.

P.S please review. I would really apreciate the feedback...plus I like it when i get reviews especially good ones. ;)