A/N: I LIVE! (Ahem) grEMLin eVil: I know how it must be for you to wait forever for an ever and I apologise, but I ask please bare with me. I hate college life as much as the next person, but I have to attend and it takes up a lot of my fanfiction time. shadowcat: Thank you so much. I'm glad you enjoyed to chapter and I love that show scene too. CarmenTakoshi: Yay for chocolate. Thanks. (right in time for Easter too) Ian deserved a fright to compensate his arrogant attitude. He'll have many ups and downs. You'll see.

Edit: I've modified small parts of this chapter and improved grammar and spelling. Please tell me if there's anything I've left out.

Chapter Nineteen

From morning, Tala had been feeling great. No one could bring him down – not even Ian and his many annoying fiascos. He felt like a celebrity, though a much more dangerous one and as he stepped into the cafeteria, all eyes were on him. Kai had been the legend before, but Tala was about to steal his spotlight.

Breakfast went slightly slower today as he sat with Bryan, Ian and Kevin – the two youngest gossiping continuously. In a way, Tala was glad Ian had found Kevin. It allowed the Russian to let off some steam with him, rather than annoy Bryan and end up receiving a black eye as his punishment. These days however, the fights between the two had been scarce and Tala missed them, but he wasn't about to intervene. Organised chaos never entertained him.

He had glimpsed around the room briefly noting that Max and Tyson were still sat at separate ends of the room, both looking rough and downtrodden. He could tell they needed each other, especially Max who was good eye-candy, but not in his current state. Tala wasn't about to play matchmaker any time soon, however. After all, it was down to the dazzling duo to fix what they started. And speaking of what Ian was so kind as to refer to as 'the bitches', he hadn't seen them around much. He reckoned they'd been keeping out of trouble. The entire wing loathed them now and Tala had to give Ian credit for thinking up and sustaining such a plan. Beforehand, he had felt that it might fail. After all, Ian wasn't what you would call the smartest of people, cunning maybe, but intelligence was a drawback. Now in a way, he almost respected him – almost.

Presently, they were about to exit the cafeteria. Kevin had disappeared, clearly carrying out his and Ian's little business. (He'd never have any part of that. He couldn't get rid of Lee if he got himself in trouble) Many eyes followed and then disappeared back to their own business when Tala gave them the slightest glance. Many people were desperately trying to get in with Tala Ivanov, but they should know that it would never happen. Tala trusted those who he knew personally, excluding Kai obviously. There were no exceptions.

They trailed down the corridors, inmates opening a wide path for them to pass through. He was loving it.

He felt a light nudge in his arm just then and turned down to Ian, who nodded to something ahead of them. The redhead looked up then to see their faithful adversary approaching, alone. Perfect. He'd been eager to see him for ages.

Crystal snow met sunburnt Earth as their eyes locked, both trying to stare each other down in a silent battle for domination. Neither backed down however, as they approached closer and closer. Ian grinned from the side. Bryan remained stone faced. Others slowed in pace either gagging for a fight or awaiting the worst.

"What are you looking at, Ivanov?" Lee hissed.

Tala grinned.

"Last time I checked, it was a free world," He replied.

"Not in here its not," Lee lifted his hand and stared at it, tightening it into a fist and then loosening it. "Someone might get hurt,"

"Is that a challenge?" The blue eyes flared maliciously.

"Yeah right!" Ian, from his side, laughed mockingly. "Chan wouldn't hurt of fly. It's not his style. He wouldn't set a foot out of line because after all he is the goon squad's bitch."

Lee lightening glared the youngest Russian, eye slitting viciously.

"Funny, I thought that was Rei's job or do you take it turns?" Tala added on, noting the arrival of the aforementioned.

Tala noticed also, that at the corner of his eye, Ian's face went white. He knew that the shorty had an unrestrained disliking for the other Chineseman. In fact, it was almost as powerful as Tala's loathing for Lee, but these days, Ian's blaspheme which was often directed at Rei was more violent then usual. Something was amiss.

"Come on, Lee," Rei immediately intervened. "This is pointless."

Lee's eyes diverted from Rei back to Tala, to which the Russian leered.

"What's the matter, Chan? You're not gonna back down are you?" He teased.

Lee glared again.

"Never!"

Tala smirked once more. He had to admire his adversary's determination, no matter how foolish it was. And Rei too, watching out for his friend, trying to keep him out of trouble, the natural voice of reason. Ian would laugh at such a comment. And Kai?

What was Kai doing in the picture?

The shady character was indeed approaching them, but Tala didn't care. What business he had with Kai was over, ever since the day he'd turned his back on them. He turned his head back to Lee and was about to make yet another satirical remark when he sighted Rei's arm snake around Kai's waist drawing the older closer. The air just got that little bit thinner.

His eyes instantly met Kai's. He gulped and Kai laughed at him silently through his scornful gaze. He knew instantaneously what Kai was doing. It was obvious. And yet, it shouldn't matter to him. He had Bryan now and Kai had found someone else. It was his enemy's friend nonetheless, but he had someone. He was finally off Tala's case. He should be happy. So why was it hurting? Why did it seem so wrong? How could Kai do this to him?

He in took a silent breath, remembering where he was and stared down at Lee.

"We'll finish this later," Tala's voice was acid. "Too many unwanted distractions."

He stared from Rei to Lee and then back at Lee again, before he pushed past the eldest of the Chinese pair, Bryan and Ian following suit.

-

Kai smirked as his ex walked by. His reaction was priceless and Kai couldn't help but openly grin. Rei noticed and asked why, but Kai dismissed the question by changing the subject.

He nodded forward to where Lee was. He was storming off down the hall in a blind fury. Rei blushed a little.

"I'm sorry about him," Rei bit his lip. "He's still not used to the idea that we're an item".

Kai nodded.

"I'm just passing through anyway,"

"You're not coming to breakfast with us?" Rei eyes crystallised.

"Doesn't seem like Lee's cup of tea, does it?" Kai replied, arms folded.

Rei smiled weakly.

"See you later?" He asked, catlike features much more eminent then usual.

Kai, eyes closed, nodded with a smile and then he watched him jog down the hall to catch his friend. Lee was certainly difficult to please.

-

When he returned to his dorm, he flopped down onto his bed and sighed. Tala had been a wreck before, but now he was sinking faster then ever and that proved that the redhead still had feelings for him, but as proud as he was, Kai wasn't about to run back to him. He liked to make people suffer. Cross him once and that was it. Revenge was sour and sweet.

The door flew open then, much like it so often did whenever Max and/or Tyson had had a rough day, and the arrival of his ex made Kai look to the door as it was slammed shut.

"I know what you're doing?"

He had been expecting him.

"Oh really?"

"Well, it's not working?"

"So why are you here?"

"You're full of it,"

"How's Bryan?"

Tala hesitated. Kai had him tongue-tied, but the big shock was that the redhead had come unprepared. That was definitely unlike him. Tala was naturally confident, if not too egocentric.

"He's fine," Came the reply. "But didn't you know? Chan's going be a tough nut to crack. He's not going to welcome you with open arms just because Kon says you're a great fuck. In fact, he'll never except you at all"

Kai sighed.

"Is that all?"

Tala hissed and left the room as fast as he had entered and though he had fulfilled half of his scheme, Kai couldn't help, but feel a little bit guilty about what was to come.

TBC