Chap 5

Mew! Thank you for all reviews! You all make me so happy:3

Oh, and special thanks to Shadow Vampiress as usual for being my beta! I forgot to mention that last time…

OOOOOO

Rei heard the little bell at the door ringing, but was occupied by some heavy boxes, full with tea. His head was pounding, and he could hear his ragged breath and was greatly displeased with it. Damn boxes! Or rather, damn his arms! They felt heavy and week. Usually, he didn't have problems putting up three boxes at the same time, being much stronger than he looked. But with the fever in his body he should have predicted that it would be too heavy. So, damn fever!

As he kept struggling with his task at putting the tea boxes at the highest shelf he heard his costumer arrive at his desk, wishing it would be Takao or Max, or anybody willing to help small Chinese youths with their hands full off really heavy boxes! Turning his head towards the new arrival, his eyes widened. A newcomer! Almost dropping his burden, he called out to the pale man before him.

"Um…excuse me, but do you mind helping me out here? Please?"

He watched as brilliant wine eyes seemed to snap out of some kind of daze and the man before him took two wide steps and easily heaved the three boxes away from sight. And his poor arms, Rei thought.

Holding out his right hand in greeting towards the young man before him he smiled cheerfully.

"Hi! Thank you so much for helping me, I fear I would have gotten a really bad headache if you had not showed up! Oh, and I'm Rei by the way… welcome to Voltowk, I don't believe I have seen you around here before."

'And a nice voice to.' Kai thought. He hated that, when he met somebody with a pretty face and nice body only to hear that he voice didn't suit the person. Like high-pitched voices, oh, how he hated that…

"Kai."

Shaking the others hand Rei smiled nervously after all his rambling. This Kai person didn't seem like one who enjoyed talking that much… Ouch! His head was already having a headache, why did he simply just stay in bed this morning?

"Oh, yes, sorry what is it that you where looking for in my humble shop? "

Rei thanked himself for not trying to strike up conversation, just take on the role as the seller.

The man, Kai, only nodded in some kind of acknowledge and took three small blue colored vacuum packed plastic bags, with a picture of a mountain and small clouds on it. Turning around he simply nodded to Rei.

"These."

"Ah, a coffee lover, are you? So I guess you do not wish me to grind the beans then?"

Kai haltered in pulling up his wallet. Did he have a coffee machine at home?

….

No, he didn't. Only a simple coffee maker. Cursing some well-chosen words he let his eyes scan the store. Please say he sold…

Laying his eyes on a delicately designed creation he walked towards it, swiftly checking the brand and the different grinding types. Nodding in satisfaction he let a smirk grace his features as he locked his gaze with burnt honey.

"And this."

Rei stared a little dumb founded at the man before him, before smiling softly, nodding his head once before dropping to his knees behind the desk to take out an identical looking machine and gently packing it in a fairly big box.

"I take that you are here to attend the university then."

At this Kai merely raised his eyebrow, as in silent question as he handed Rei his credit card.

The dark haired boy before him only blushed slightly as his smile widened a fraction.

"Only the students from the university can afford to buy this coffee for daily use, and at the same time decide to buy a machine like this."

"I forgot to bring my own."

A giggle almost escaped Rei's lips at the simple reply, as he handed back the credit card, along with the receipt. All the while he had a feeling he should know who this man before him was. He carefully shook his head as he tried to straighten out his thoughts, with little success. Then he thought of something.

"I hope you don't live to far away from here," Rei then said, a worried expression gracing his fair face, "That machine is both big and heavy, and in this weather you may drop it."

Shrugging Kai took the small plastic bag the coffee had been placed in on the left wrist, and then gripped the machine with both his arms making his way to the exit. Throwing a smirk over his shoulder.

"You can't live far away in this place, and besides I can always buy a new one."

Then he was gone, stepping out in the cold weather.

Rei simply shook his head smiling, spoiled young rich brats! Then he froze, now he knew he better close for the day, and go up to his apartment and sleep his illness away. That had, obviously, been the Hiwatari Kai! The one who insulted Takao and Max! Now frowning he swiftly closed the shop, putting up a 'sick' sign at the door and made his way towards the stairs and his nice warm bed. He felt like his body where burning!

OOOOOO

At the same time, Robert and Oliver where sitting in the nobleman's living room, as he, just like Kai, had his own penthouse to live in during his stay in the Russian village. Blowing gently at the hot liquid in his mug, he let his eye rest at a computer, quietly reading the stats on the screen. Oliver was doing the same, only he was looking at his own computer, a glass of the same liquid, now identified as tea, in his small hands.

Neither of them had barley given the other a glance, or spoken a word to the other in hours.

Turning his eye towards his old time friend, Oliver suddenly grinned,

"What a wonderful time we're having Robert! There is never a quiet moment, spending time with you."

Giving a smirk at the comment and teasing tone he simply replied.

"Then I vote that we do this more often."

OOOOOO

Holy! It was so dark! His whole body was damp of sweat, and his hair stuck like glue to his skin.

There was somebody, something, out there, and it was something scary. He had no wish to go out there, he did not dare.

Suddenly the dark started pulsing and he gasped in surprise and fear. Air could not move! A terrified scream wanted to rip from his throat, but somehow, it was trapped there, inside of him. Oh please, no… No! NO!

But he felt how the dark touched him and suddenly the dark was cold and wet, and he felt now and again something cold and slimy, and this time he succeeded in letting out a scream, but the darkness filled his lungs, and he could not breathe.

But nonetheless he continued to scream.

And that was how he woke up, by his own screams.

Quickly snapping his mouth shut he yelped in pain as he bit his tongue. Grimacing at the coppery taste he got up, on very shaky legs, and took the comforter with him. No he was not going back to sleep in the alcove. Wrapping himself up in the item he stumbled to the kitchen, and took some painkillers gulping them down with aid by a glass of water. Groaning he went to a closet and brought out another comforter, he was freezing and his teeth were chattering. Collapsing on his sofa he curled up in a tight ball, for once feeling sorry for himself. As he felt very alone and very sick. Damn fever dreams!

Because that was all it was he decided. A simple fever dream.

He was still shaking when sleep once again claimed him.

OOOOOO

Kai was seated in a comfortable chair, at the kitchen, new grinded coffee in hand and reading a history book on economics. And it was as boring as the book was thick. Growling in annoyance he fought the urge to snap the book shut. Bringing the cup with the hot coffee to his mouth he savored in the taste. Sighing in the comfort the dark liquid gave.

And with a smirk, his thoughts where wandering back in time, to earlier that day, when he met the beautiful boy, Rei.

Well, he was hardly a boy anymore. A young man did suit as a better description, but than again not. Rei had something adorably boyish about him, an innocence that attracted Kai. Why he didn't know. Maybe he wanted to take it away, or make it his own, and frankly he did not care.

That boy was a challenge, and the only fun thing Kai had here in this small place.

Besides, it could only be an act, something he played at to attract the costumer, but Kai did not really believe that himself. The boyish or, Kai thought with a smirk, girlish youth had seemed so pure that it could simply not be an act. And he found himself longing for the next time he would meet the dark haired boy again.

There was just something about Rei. And it intrigued Kai, very much so.

OOOOOO

The annoying sound of a telephone awoke Rei in the evening; sluggishly he reached for the phone and put it towards his ear noticing that he had it upside down.

Not really knowing what he was doing, he slowly turned the little phone around while he mumbled something unintelligent into the air, hoping the one at the other end would hear him.

"Rei? Hey buddy, how are you feeling? I saw that you had put up a sick sign at your shop."

Ah, it was Takao, why did he have to call when he himself where sleeping peacefully in his comfy…

"Sofa?"

"Eh? What?"

"I'm in my sofa?"

"Huh? Rei come on! I'm trying to talk to you!"

Shaking his head he tried to force his brain to start working correctly, but the whole world seamed to spin and the dull headache he awoken with suddenly exploded and for a second he was sure his poor head had been run over by elephants, but he was in Russia and there where no elephants here…

His strange thoughts where interrupted by a strange sound escaping his lips, something that sounded like a whimpering groan if he had to describe it, which he really did not want to.

"Rei?" Takao's voice again. But it did not really sound like him, the tone was so strange, filled with authority and concern. And worry. If there was something Rei hated it was to be the source of someone's worry, or hurt or burden. So, in a voice husky from sleep and fever he managed to croak out some words.

"I'm fine Takao, you woke me up, and that's all."

"So you are still feeling sick huh?"

"Mmm…"

"Damn it! I knew I should have made you close the store when me and Maxie were with you this morning!"

A little taken aback by his friend's outburst Rei franticly tried to say something that would make Ty feel better. Rei had heard the pained guilty tone the other vice cheery man had, and it made him feel bad. He did not wish to worry!

"Calm down Takao! I'm fine really, just some fever. I will probably sleep it off tonight okay?"

"You are having the shop closed tomorrow right."

Oh, oh. That voice was almost never directed towards him. It was the commanding voice. And it was also clear that his friend had just given him an order. Not a question.

"Takao…"

"No, seriously, if you have it open tomorrow you may only be sicker. Then you won't be able to work for days, right?"

Damn logic. Only murmuring softly Rei showed Takao he had won.

"Great! Then me and Max are coming over tomorrow to see how you are feeling!"

OOOOOO

BEEP BEEP BEE-

A hand shot out from under the blanket to shut the awful thing off. Why did he forget to turn the alarm clock off yesterday?

As Kai had a free day from the university he had every intention to sleep for a long time, but obviously those plans had been cancelled. Groaning tiredly he went over to his coffee machine and let it do its magic so Kai himself soon could taste it.

He could just as well start to study for the upcoming exam. He had to get the top score, or he would never forgive himself. Being a serious businessman he felt a lot of responsibility, he disliked doing poorly or god forbid, fail, in anything. He had to be perfect.

Taking a large sip of his coffee he sighed in pure bliss, coffee did that to him. That and well, sex. There was no better stress relief.

As he drank the bitter liquid he pondered if he should look in the coffee shop where Rei worked, but decided against it. It would not do, he should better read the letter again and try to judge his chances.

Try to work out if there was anybody in this god-forsaken village that would be positive for changes. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, remembering why he was here again. If he had just been more observant, more skilled. Maybe he should be somewhere else? Some better place.

Kai grimaced; it would do no good to think of the past, now he had to prove himself worthy, show that he deserved to take over. That he could handle rough turns and repair his mistakes.

But could he really? Deep, deep down he was not so sure as he wanted himself to believe he was, what if he failed this time too? Now there was even more at stake. More than he ever thought that he would be forced to face in his learning period.

Damn that man to a thousands hells! How could he, Kai, succeed where that old scabby man had failed? And why was it so important that he could take Voltowk on? Kai just didn't understand.

Looking out on the snow-covered community he closed his eyes in a slight despairing feeling. But when he opened them again he felt more confident than ever. Of course he could make this, he was better than that old goat anyways; he had proved it countless times. So why did he feel that he was so incapable of doing this? He should stay here a while, learn and use that knowledge to his advantage. He would show them all! He was no puppet to anyone! Whether they believed it or not! He had showed his worth so many times that he all but guessed that the ones in Moscow already missed him and his way to take the challenges and his ideas.

He would succeed again; there was no other option, simple as that.

When Kai left the small but delicate table in the kitchen where the small coffee cup with the small amount off now cold coffee, his mind was set. Little did he know that he had not only sealed his own destiny, but also a young man no older than twenty, with long raven hair, a symbol of the older man's corruption. A more innocent but not to be expected to back away from a fight that involved things that meant a lot to him. he had also sealed the fate of the very special young man named Rei.

OOOOOO

Urgh, I thought that I would update as soon as I could, as I have gotten myself a job, finally. And now when I fight to pay my rent in a while there is a chance that I'm not going to update in some time. I will do my best but I'm not promising anything. And, as I have lost my book where my whole "plot brain storming" was in, some of the most important details where lost. I will try to find it again, but feel free to give ideas to what can happen in the future, I still have the big plot in my head, so no worries, I know where this is going, as this is what I think of when I serve people their meals!

Heh, I am such a nice waitress, am I not?