Title: Innocence

Author: PandaPjays

Chapter Title: Broken

Rating: T

Warnings: See Chapter One

Disclaimer: See Chapter One

Author Note: FINALLY! INTERNET/hugs anyone and everyone/ It feels so good to be back. I love the internet and the internetness of the entire thing.

Just as a random point of interest- who's on Gaia Online? I only found it a few weeks ago and am hungry for friends. My username's pandapjays - original huh? Ahhh! It's so good to be back online!

I shut the door with a bang and turned on Kai. "Are you insane?" I asked angrily, pulling a small knife out and cutting the wrist ties I had put on him earlier.

He blinked before considering my question. Honestly, is that the type of question you're meant to think about?

"Not the last time I checked." He eventually replied.

"Then you need to go and check again! You were doing a very impressive impersonation of a crazy person back there!" I pulled out one of the chairs that were around the big table and flopped down on it. Ignoring the softness and cushioniness of the chair I glared at Kai. "We're screwed."

Kai pulled out a chair beside me and sat down facing me. "How so?"

My God he's hot. Yes, random thought but I haven't seen him for… A very long time. Now he's sitting right across from me…

No. Those are bad thoughts. I shouldn't be thinking stuff like that. For one thing, Kai's with Tala. He just proved it then. Kai would never have put himself on the line for anyone else like that. I mean, this is the Kai who brought us the concept of 'Kenny-burgers'. This is also the Kai who is staring at me during my inane mind-babble.

"Rei?" He asked, waiting for an answer.

"Huh? Oh… well we are screwed in many different ways. For one thing, Boris has everyone captive out there. For another, you had to be an idiot of Tyson proportions and for once in your life and open your mouth- also for once in your life- nice timing to show us that you can speak by the way. Instead of letting you get beaten to a pulp by Alekzandr for opening your trap I offered to do it instead!"

Kai raised an eyebrow. "You don't think saving me from the green haired hulk was a good thing?"

"No! I mean yes! I mean… GAH!" I covered my face with my hands and tried to order my thoughts.

"I mean," I continued more calmly, "I mean that I wasn't thinking that clearly when I stopped him. Now Boris expects me to beat you to a bloody pulp."

Kai looked at me quizzically. "Then why don't you?"

I stared at him. If we were in an anime series of some sort this would be the perfect moment to cue an anime fall.

Kai watched my reaction with a guarded expression in his eyes. "You can't be too shocked by that question, Rei. In case if you haven't noticed, you work for Biovolt."

I sighed. "Yes, Kai. I have noticed that small fact. And what I told you before was true. I don't want to hurt you."

Kai glared at me. "Then why the hell did you join Biovolt?"

I stopped myself from doing a double take. Did that just mean what I think it meant? Did Kai just say that me joining Biovolt hurt him? Before I began doing a happy dance and looked at Kai, noticing how red his neck and wrists were from the various things I had done that night. So much for that theory.

"Because… I-" Crap. I can't think of a good reason that doesn't involve me pledging my undying love for him. What is it about being in his presence that makes me have my internal banter switch into overdrive? I spent so long in Biovolt that I thought I had accepted that he could never be mine. What happened?

"Because you what?" Kai asked, sitting back in his chair.

Ah. That's right. Kai happened. I can't trust myself when he's around. Maybe going to Biovolt was a good idea after all. If I get as far away from Kai as possible then I won't feel this way.

"Rei, why did you join Biovolt?"

But even if I leave and immerse myself in Biovolt someone would probably come after me. That someone would most likely be Kai. Not because he particularly likes me but because he'll feel responsible for me, So if I make it clear to him that it's not worth coming after me then he can go on living his life without me and I can't screw up him and Tala.

"I joined Biovolt for reasons that don't concern you, Kai." I said levelly.

Kai's eyes narrowed. "Rei." He said warningly.

"Kai," I replied in the same tone, glaring at him.

"Why did you join Biovolt?"

"I told you. It's none of you-" I was cut off by Kai standing up so fast his chair flew across the room to hit the wall.

"It is every bit of my business." He said angrily. "You're on my team and-"

"I'm not on your team anymore!" I yelled at him, surging to my feet. It's moments like these that I'm glad that the person who built the soundproof walls around us was born. "If you need any proof that I'm not in your team anymore look at it! Tala's there instead of me!" Why the hell am I so angry? I'm meant to get him angry- not the other way around.

Kai gave me an icy glare. "In case if you didn't notice, Tala became a part of the team after you left. Tala stepped up into the position that you left, Rei. All of this is your fault."

I shut my eyes and hit out at Kai wildly. "It's NOT!" I don't want to hear this. He's wrong. I opened my eyes in surprised when something warm closed around my fist. Kai had grabbed my hand mid-punch. I looked to where my fist would have connected with Kai's cheek if he hadn't stopped me.

"I thought that you said you didn't want to hurt me." Kai said, gently lowering my arm, letting go when it was at my side.

I looked down at my hand in horror. Is this what Biovolt has done to me? Is this what it's made me into? A person who uses violence to solve their problems? But that isn't me! I wouldn't do something like that… would I? "I-I'm sorry." I stuttered, still staring at my hand.

I felt tears begin to well up in my eyes. Why did I have to go and screw everything up? Kai's right. It is my fault. I continued staring downwards so Kai wouldn't see how upset I was and began to move backwards toward the door. "I have to go."

"No you bloody well don't have to go! Not until you answer me!" Kai yelled, grabbing on to my arm. "Rei, why did you join Biovolt?"

I shook his arm off angrily. Before looking up at him, ignoring the tears that were beginning to fall from my eyes. "Why the hell do you want to know anyway? It's not like me telling you will change anything. I will still be with Biovolt. You will still be Biovolt's captive. Tala will still be comatose. There is no point in telling you."

Kai blinked. "There is a point in you telling me! Sure, all of that will be the same but the difference will be that I know why."

"But that still won't change anything." I objected.

"It will change everything for me."

I frowned, "You can't have everything you want, Kai. The way I see it, you have pretty much everything you wanted. You have a great team that just lost some dead weight in the form of me and you have a great boyfriend to boot! What do I have? I have a room full of angry former-friends, a reputation as a deserter and orders to beat you into the ground. Who do you… Kai?" I stopped mid-rant and looked at him, confused.

Kai was staring dumbly at me. "B-boyfriend?" He asked quietly.

Oops, did I say boyfriend while I was busy ranting? He wasn't meant to know that I know. Ah well- too late for playing dumb now. "Yes boyfriend. Your boyfriend to be more exact. Tala. Remember him?" I glared at Kai, still ignoring the tears streaming down my face.

Kai held up his hand. "I'm sorry. Boyfriend? Tala? N-"

"-Don't try to lie to me Kai. I know you and Tala are together. If seeing you two on the couch back when I was part of the Bladebreakers wasn't proof enough for me seeing you with him tonight definitely was enough. You've completely replaced me with him!"

"No! I didn't! I haven't! I…" Kai trailed off, looking lost. I don't think I've ever seen Kai look like that before. It's a new expression for him. Here I was thinking he could only do mildly pleased, pissed off and the ever favourite emotionless.

"Yes. You did and you have. Why didn't you tell me about you and Tala?" May as well ask questions that I actually want to know the answers to while I rant.

"I uh… No… I" Kai trailed off again, seemingly searching for words and not finding any. Another first for him.

"You could have just told me. Even that would have been better than me finding out in that way." Kai opened his mouth to say something but I interrupted him by raising my hand. "Don't tell me that you were going to tell me, Kai. I know you. You would've been happy if I'd never found out. If I hadn't found out I still wouldn't know. You know that as well as I do! Why didn't you TELL ME?" I finished off hysterically. I could barely see Kai through my tears. He was more of a skin coloured blob with a tuft of hair than an actual person. "Why?" I asked pathetically.

I feel like such an idiot. What was meant to be me driving Kai away so he can't be hurt by me has now become me being a pathetic sobbing mess in front of him. Why can't I do anything right? I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand and looked at Kai. I kind of preferred it when he was a blob. At least then he wasn't purposefully hiding his emotions from me.

"Rei, I have no idea what you're talking about." Kai told me levelly.

"You do! You DO!" I yelled, stepping forward and hitting him lightly on the chest, my arms weak from crying so much. "You're with Tala and there's nothing I can do about it." I mumbled miserably, burying my face in his shirt.

I felt Kai's arms wrap around me. "No, Rei. I don't." He said gently. "I'm not with Tala."

I looked up at him in shock. "B-but I saw-" I began but trailed off. My stomach feels like it's about to either implode or spontaneously combust. It hasn't quite decided which it wants to do yet. Hopefully it'll decide soon before I explode. That could be messy and hard to clean up. Also, I want to hear what he says.

"What you saw and whatever conclusions you drew from that weren't right. I'm not with Tala. I was never with Tala. If I were I'd have to be in love with him… Or at least like him more than I like most people-"

"-Meaning not at all?" I quipped, beginning to feel better because of my close proximity to a certain Russian.

"-Exactly." Kai chuckled softly. I wouldn't have heard it if I wasn't leaning against his chest. As it was, it was like a small earthquake next to my ear- except nice and no loss of life.

"As I was saying, Tala's a friend, nothing more. What you saw… well… To be honest I'm still not sure what the hell that was about. He kissed me and told me that he loved me… We were just talking normally before that happened- it was pretty sudden. Then I had to tell him that I didn't feel the same way. That was an experience I don't want to repeat."

"Why?" I questioned, a small bubble of hope in my stomach. I'm not quite sure what reply I want… At the moment the running favourite is- 'Because, Rei, I love you and want to screw you like a bunny.' I doubt that would happen though… So I'm going to stop fantasizing and actually listen to what he says.

"I realised, on some unconscious level at least- I didn't actually realise it then, that I like someone else. More loved them, really."

Any and all hope that I had had burst like a balloon being sat on by a hippopotamus. "Oh." I said despondently. It figures that I'd be wrong about the Tala theory only to find out that Kai still loved someone else. My Karma sucks.

"So imagine how upset I was when I found out that the person I loved up and left the country without saying anything to me. Then, after spending a hell of a lot of time searching for him find out that he's working for a company I despise for reasons I'm not going to delve into. Then he injures me on several occasions – not to mention ties me up and drags me into a room with the pretence of hurting me more. Then- of all things he gets angry at me for having a non-existent relationship with one of my friends."

Woah… That is some story… I wonder if all of that actually happ- Hey! "That's me!" I exclaimed, showing the full extent of my brainpower.

Kai smirked. "Yes, Rei, That is you." He said levelly. He suddenly looked worried. "Is that…ok?" He asked looking at me unsure.

I never thought I'd live to see this day. Kai looks nervous and unsure. Who am I to refuse him what he wants? Who am I kidding? YES!

I looked up at him, a huge smile spreading across my face. "That's more than ok." I told him, looking in his eyes. And then…wow.

There is no word in any dictionary in any language in any planet or time period to describe the feeling of Kai kissing me. But I shall try. My head's in such a fuzz at the moment that I can't really think that clearly. His lips on mine and his tongue in my... I didn't think it was legal to do those types of things with your tongue. I'm not complaining though. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer to me. I wouldn't have thought it was possible but apparently it was. He moaned as the extra inch or so of our fronts that weren't touching before came into contact. I never actually thought I would be this close to Kai, let alone being this close to Kai with him kissing me.

Kai pulled away for a second before coming back at a different angle. This time, instead of the kiss being demanding and rough this one was long and slow and Mmmm. I love Kai Hiwatari. He is everything I ever thought he'd be and more. Mushy- yes. True- VERY YES. Ahhh I'm in love.

Kai ran his hands down my sides, making me shiver and lean into him more. I don't think I've ever been happier. If I could float I would. It feels wrong to still be standing on the ground.

Kai pulled back and, ignoring the small whimper I gave at the loss of him, took my head in his hands and wiped underneath my eyes with his thumbs, getting rid of any tears that were still on my face from my crying session. "Rei?" He asked softly.

"Mmmm?" I replied, still overcome from the wowness of the moment.

"Your mascara's running."

Dammit! My eyes snapped open to glare at him. "You just ruined the most perfect moment of my life!" I can't believe he just did that!

"I'm sorry." He said, the amusement in his eyes telling me just how sorry he was. "It's just that you were on a different planet to this one where we still need to figure out how to get out of here." He leaned forward and kissed me on the forehead, "I'm sorry. I couldn't think of any other way to get you back."

It actually makes a hell of a lot of sense when he says it like that. I shook my head, trying to clear the last of the 'wow-ness' that was still clouding my head. I didn't want to but it was sadly necessary. I buried my head in the folds of Kai's shirt before mumbling crankily. "I'll get you back when we get out of here."

Kai smirked. "Deal." He kissed the top of my head before stepping away from me and distancing himself. I forced myself not to follow him. "Ok. What do we have to do?" I asked.

"Apart from free everyone, and figure out what happened to Tala and trying to fix him for lack of a better word?" Kai asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"You forgot beating Boris into the ground for being a butthead."

"Yes, that too… You never told me why you began working for him. I mean, you knew that he was basically one of those people who will not only force you down but kick you while you're there and then steal your wallet. So why did you decide to be loyal to him?"

"It's complicated."

"Do I look like I'm going anywhere?"

"That's not the point. I'll tell you all about it later. At the moment we have to try to concentrate on getting everyone out of here."

"What about that girl? Tala's sister? I can't even remember her name."

"Tahlia? We have to try to save her. I know it doesn't seem like it now but she's good people. She just has slight…. Issues when it come to her brother."

"If that's issues I'm auditioning for Happy in the next production of Snow White."

"Point taken. But if possible can we get her too?"

"Fine. But she's second priority to everyone else."

"Agreed. So how can we get everyone out in the first place?" I asked, taking a seat on one of the chairs in the room.

Kai sighed and took a seat opposite from me. "I haven't got the faintest idea. Do you have any weapons?"

I nodded and pulled out the gun that I had been given before this epic night had begun. I had tucked it into the waistband of my pants and forgotten about it. I set the gun on the table and winced at the loud sound it made as the metal hit the wood.

Kai stared at the gun. "Let me guess. Long story?"

I nodded. "I only have one gun though."

Kai put his elbows on the table and ran his hands through his hair. "One normally is enough."

"Not when you have a hall full of people who are ready and willing to shoot you with bigger guns."

Kai held up a finger. "Unless, of course you have their leader with your one gun."

I nodded. "True. But doing that's still really really hard."

Kai sighed and looked at me. "I think you may have been right.

"About what?" I asked, looking down at the table. I don't trust myself to look at Kai directly. The urge is really strong to jump across the table and tackle him to the ground before getting around to some serious making out, regardless of the ridiculous situation we're in. I'm in awe of Kai's foresight and self-control. How the hell did he know that he needed to move away from me before either of us could think rationally? Do I really want to know?

"That we're screwed." Kai gave me a small smile.

"True enough, but that shouldn't stop us, should it?" I asked, risking a glace up at Kai.

"No. But we still only have one weapon-"

I held up my hand, interrupting him. "I may have a way to get another one. Take mine. At least then we'll both be armed."

Kai nodded and took the gun, examining it closely before tucking it into his pants and making sure it was concealed with his shirt. "Thanks." He sighed before standing up and giving me a rueful look. "That leaves just one more problem… Well at least one more problem that we can solve here and now."

What the hell does he mean by that? I stood up as well, having a mild panic attack trying to figure out what he meant. "Which is?"

"The entire time we've been here, you're meant to have been beating the crap out of me- to put it bluntly. When we leave this room I have to look like it."

I blanched. "No. Way. In. Hell." I said slowly and deliberately. "You can't expect me to deliberately hurt you."

"You did out there." Kai pointed to the door leading out to the main hall.

I looked away, ashamed. "That was… different."

Kai raised an eyebrow. "How so?" He began to make his way around the table toward me.

I stopped. How had it been different? Both times I'd been told to hit him. How was Kai's order different from Boris's? "I… didn't have a choice." I finished off lamely.

Kai looked confused. "Of course you did. You could have chosen not to hit me. It was just easier to do it." He reached a spot next to me and waited.

I stared at him in shock. "No… I…" I shook my head in denial. "I-it wasn't like that… I-"

Kai stopped my babble by covering the small distance between us and giving me a chaste kiss on the lips. "It's ok. Everyone's done something they aren't proud of when they were told to at least once in their lives."

I licked my lips. "Even hurt people they love?"

"Yes, especially them." Kai sighed and looked away.

I wrapped my arms around his waist. "Who?" I asked gently. There was something he wasn't telling me.

"My parents. It's my fault they're dead." He sighed and buried his head in my hair.

I hugged him tighter. I can't believe he just said that. Kai never shares anything even semi personal, let alone something like that. "I'm sure that it wasn't you're fault." I said soothingly.

Kai lifted his head and met my eyes. "Yes. It was. I was the one who set fire to our house when Boris told me to. It was me and no one else. I knew full well that they were inside and still did it. It was my fault."

I stared at him, half afraid and half feeling deep pity for him. I'd known that his parents were dead. I just didn't know that it was like that. "Kai…" I said, trying to think of anything else I could say after that.

Kai gave me a small, sad smile. "Like I said, my fault. I know that I'm responsible for their deaths and I accept that. Just because someone orders you to do something doesn't mean that it's ok to do it."

I couldn't think of anything to say to that so I remained silent, my head resting on Kai's chest. I could hear his heartbeat through his clothes. It was a really comforting sound.

Kai sighed and kissed me gently on the forehead. "I love you, Rei." He whispered softly, holding me close to him.

I looked up at him and kissed him on the cheek. "I love you too. I'm sorry for before."

Kai shook his head. "Don't be. Who am I to lecture you?"

"Someone who actually knows what he's talking about?" I ventured.

"Sadly, no." Kai smirked then wiped his face clean of emotion, stepping away from me and detangling our arms from around each other. "But we're avoiding the issue. Hit me."

I stared at him. How can he skip from being emotionfull- if that's a word- to being emotionless in the blink of an eye? It's unnerving. Useful in situations like this but unnerving nonetheless. "No."

Kai sighed. "Look, Rei. I'd hit myself if I could. I really would. But I can't so you have to do it."

"But…" I began, trying to think of an excuse.

"But nothing. Hit me or we can't leave this room."

"I…I…"

"Rei." He said, using the commanding tone he normally reserved for Tyson when he was being difficult. "I know you don't want to but I'm not asking you. I'm telling you."

I swallowed and nodded. "Ok" I said in a small voice, balling my hand into a fist and drawing it back. This is insane. Who the hell finds out they guy they love returns their feelings then abuses them within half an hour? It's just not done. It's not right. It's-

Kai catching the punch aimed at his face interrupted me from my mind babble. "That was weak. Hit me hard and then you only have to hit me once."

I gulped and nodded and prepared to hit Kai as hard as I could. This is insane.

Please tell me what you think!