As promised chapter seven in record speed for me. Chapter eight will follow also within a week as it is already half done and since my inspiration has carried me this far I won't be surprised if I work on finishing this story within the next month or so. Anyway hope you enjoy. ignores the lack on interest this story seems to have And thank you very much to those few who continue to comment, I know that is not what fanfiction is about but it really encourages a writer to continue with a few words. Thanks

On with it... ;

Beyblade does not belong to me (insert witty comment here) but Jin Shai sure as hell does drools

Chapter Seven
Control of Victory

"Want to grab lunch?" a rough voice briefly caught Kai's attention as he palmed through the many documents he had obtained regarding what was once Hiwatari Enterprises. "Kai?" the voice came again this time more determined, "food? lunch? I'll pay?"

Kai looked up at last not pleased to be pulled away from his work only to meet Bryan's steel gaze. "Lunch? Sure." He replied half-heartedly returning himself to rifling through the endless papers.

"What are you so caught up in?" Bryan asked Kai only mildly curious but certain that he should keep an eye on the phoenix as of late.

"Uh," Kai looked down at the papers and then back to Bryan unable to explain himself.

"Come on Kai you need a break and we can discuss it over lunch."

Kai nodded feeling that maybe a cup of coffee would refresh him a bit. Shoving the documents into his brief case he rose from the old office chair of his tiny cubicle grimacing at the ocean of similar cubicles that met his sight in every direction. Bryan noticed the frown and placed a hand on Kai's shoulder leading him to the elevator.

-----

"So what are the documents about Kai? Lets be honest Rei wants me to keep an eye on you." Bryan laughed ordering a drink at the small diner a block away from their office building.

"Should you be drinking this early in the day?" Kai asked disbelieving Bryan's regard for himself as the lilac haired man shook his head and pulled a cheap pack of cigarettes from his coat pocket.

"No worse than these." The older Russian shrugged lighting the long cylinder.

Kai shook his head choosing to ignore Bryan's bad habits. Then realizing that Bryan had taken him here to interrogate Kai's sudden interests in the documents, that over the past week he had taken to carrying around with him at all times, Kai allowed his mind to drift upon other topics for discussion. He no more wanted Bryan plaguing him for answers that he didn't have then the documents themselves plaguing him, and yet through all this stress something still bothered him, which would conveniently take their conversation away from him.

"Why did Tala leave you?" Kai asked bluntly not looking Bryan in the eye but instead past him and out the window to the slushy streets of Moscow.

"Hmm." Bryan replied catching Kai's attention in a gaze that somehow reminded him of the glare he had received from Tala a week before concerning his position as a lawyer. Then as if thinking it over Bryan responded, "I told you a while ago he got snotty with his profession." That was all Bryan would say on the topic before looking down at the cigarette he clutched tightly.

Both men sat in silence now, an awkward silence that hovered in the air willing to choke them if they spoke. Kai sipped the coffee that was placed in front of him and then stared at Bryan intently. Bryan would be the answer, Kai had decided a while ago, the way he seemed to accept Kai's questions even if the weren't answered but also the way Bryan always held the same level headedness no matter where Kai knew him. Bryan would also be his step up, Kai planned to regain his company, he didn't quite yet know how but he knew that Bryan would be the help he needed right now.

"Bryan. I need you help." Kai decided that now was the time to tell him. "I've been reviewing these documents," he pulled the said papers from his brief case and lay them in front of Bryan who looked slightly amazed as he began to read topic statements from some of them.

"Where the hell did you get these?" Bryan demanded.

"Never mind that." Kai responded leafing to a few important letters and handing them to Bryan. "I'm going to regain Hiwatari Enterprises and I know there is something here that will allow me to do this."

Bryan stared from the papers to the bluenette and then back to the papers wide eyed. "You have to be shitting me Kai."

Kai narrowed his eyes." I'm not Bryan."

"You are fucking insane Hiwatari." Bryan retaliated snubbing his cigarette and pushing himself to his feet he grabbed his jacket and glowered down at Kai. "You are fucking insane." And then he was gone, leaving Kai not only speechless but responsible for paying for their meal.

-----

"I don't understand it." Kai muttered for about the thousandth time since returning home that night.

"What Kai?" Rei asked watching the Russian intently. Sakura had gone to bed leaving the two of them peacefully alone.

Kai looked over at Rei who was curled up placidly on his side gazing at Kai perhaps unaware that his eyes drifted over the bluenette unchecked.

"Sometimes everything," Kai sighed looking over the side of the bed at the folder he had dropped carelessly. "Nothing," the Russian gave up knowing it would be redundant to explain himself to Rei.

"Oh Alright," the neko jin sighed unable to hide his disappointment that Kai still wouldn't talk to him, but contented himself with lying against Kai's accepting warmth instead.

Kai smiled at his companion slowly stroking his silky obsidian locks, Rei immediately reacted to the affection by allowing a sweet rumble tremble through him. The bluenette was almost unable to contain an urge to laugh as he now remembered Rei's quirky talent for purring.

"Kai," Rei questioned sometime later disturbing the silence that had enveloped them comfortably.

"Hm?" The Russian responded lazily almost a sleep.

"Tala didn't want me to mention anything but I thought it might help to talk a little." Rei had stopped purring and pushed himself a way from Kai biting his lip slightly.

Kai groaned inwardly but obediently raised himself up to a sitting position to hear Rei out concerning the redhead which Kai figured had only the problem of having a pole firmly lodged in less than comfortable places. "What about him?" Kai sighed.

"Tala doesn't ask for a lot but he does kind of well…" Rei trailed off and began to pick at a small hole in the bed sheet. "Well, he feels like you disregard him." Rei concluded.

"So what if I do?" Kai asked without hesitation not entirely concerned that he might be hurting Tala's feelings.

Rei looked surprised at Kai's reply but nodded knowingly. "Alright Kai," Rei decided clenching his teeth as if not wanting to say what he was about to say. "I didn't want to put it this way but it seems you are being a little absent minded." He paused, "do you remember why Tala and Bryan broke up?" The timid neko jin asked chewing his lip.

Kai stared at Rei; part angry that he was being approached by such a topic, Rei seemed to want so much out of him, part surprised that Tala and Bryan's separation might have something to do with him, and partly he admired the sweet way Rei managed to make everything he do look so cute. He shook hid head.

Rei looked down as if unsure how to put his own reply. "I don't quite understand why you don't remember, though I once read that sometime people have a habit of suppressing unfortunate memories. Anyway Kai it was because…" a flush of guilt crossed over Rei's face before he regained his stature. "Its because of the lawsuits that Tala chose to defend you for." Rei whispered hardly audibly, but Kai heard him.

"That's not my fault though." Kai growled crimson orb angrily alit. "That's not even logical to pin the blame on me for their disagreements."

"Kai I'm not saying I understand all of the politics," Rei continued voice wavering, he really hated the fact that he had made Kai angry but felt that Tala needed to be protected in this situation. "I'm just telling you that it was really hard on Tala to take on the task of being you lawyer. He was warned that by accepting your case he would risk a lot, but he did it anyway claiming the you deserved the best." Rei looked down sadly, "which of course you do," he added honestly.

"So what does this have to do with Bryan and Tala splitting up?" he pressed still unsure how all of this connected.

"Kai." Rei almost shouted exasperated. "Do you not remember anything?" He sighed slightly frustrated by the way Kai was acting.

"Obviously not." Kai retaliated raising his voice more than he had meant to.

"Damn it Kai." Rei growled uncharacteristically angry by Kai's stubbornness to what he thought was just Kai not wanting to admit he was wrong. "Your case killed Tala's reputation and finances. He was more than happy to help you and never regretted it even when you lost and therefore were unable to repay him for his services." Rei erupted ashamed for Kai. "He helped you despite the cost and even lost Bryan after he broke down and Bryan decided that he couldn't 'handle Tala anymore'!" Rei shot at Kai as angry at the Russian that sat in front of him as he was of the lilac haired one which he had also mentioned for hurting Tala. "Bryan decided to high tail it when things got tough and Tala couldn't support himself and instead of running to me when you need to help you run to him and wash away bad experiences with alcohol." Rei continued almost in tears his lithe body trembling pathetically.

Kai stared at Rei. How could this all have happened? How had this version of himself messed up his life so entirely, and why did Rei still love him? Feeling frustrated and trapped he did the only thing he felt he had left to do, he defended unconsciously.

"Rei," he sighed angrily before narrowing his gaze to meet his companion's directly. "Here you blame me… but…" he continued to glare unaware that his lips had begun to function without permission from his mind, "did you ever think that none of this would have never happened if you had just stayed in China?" He rose to his feet continuing to glare at the man.

"Kai…" Rei sobbed, "how can you say that?" he asked his words following the phoenix as he retreated the room.

Rei fell back on the bed heart broken. He had just chased Kai away from him and what was worse, was maybe it was his fault maybe it was Rei that was the problem. Frustrated with his tears Rei rolled over and pressed his face into the pillow trying to contain his sobs. It was all his fault, how could he have accused Kai?

-----

Kai wasn't even sure he had meant what he had said, and had begun to feel ashamed of how he had treated Rei yet his dignity kept him firmly rooted to the small desk downstairs in the living room.

Kai hated being blamed he always had, he never wanted to feel like someone's misfortune was his responsibility. Looking around at the life that surrounded him he wondered anxiously if it was him that had brought everyone down. As was true with Tala and Bryan, Rei and maybe even Tyson, Max and Kenny, they were all here in Russia and it was definitely not for the weather Kai thought grimly.

He placed his head in his hands suddenly weary.

What had Bryan meant that night he claimed that Kai had treated being rejected from Hiwatari Enterprises as a true Hiwatari and not a man?

It was well past midnight when he gained the ambition to skim over the papers again that were upstairs in the bedroom he shared with Rei. And not until past one that he returned downstairs with them having finally the strength to obtain them.

There had to be something here he had missed something that had caused all this disaster something that shouldn't have happened. His thoughts began to fly at him from all extremes the last few weeks attacking him all at once.

He could accept that Rei was his lover, he could even accept their adopted daughter, he could accept that he was not rich and not powerful nor in the command of nothing. He could accept that he didn't know his place in the world, but he could not accept that the same curses that plagued him had dragged down so many others.

Rei was suppose to be a chef, he and Kai had always planned to eventually move to Japan to be closer to Max and Tyson, he remembered suddenly. Rei was going to train for his culinary degree and Kai had even thought of starting his own training facility with the money he would receive after selling his business. In those days Bryan and Tala were hardly seen out of sight of one another and Tala who planned to become a lawyer was already receiving many job offers from firms all over Moscow. These were the only times he could recall, so why was reality so far from these fantasies they had all once belonged to?

A single paper caught his eye a testimony from his Grandfather himself which accused Kai of slander and threat. Another document spoke of Kai threatening to take the business down with him. A third which he retrieved later told him that he had even threatened the newly prepared owner; Jin Shai himself.

Good. Thought Kai slightly amused hoping that he had intimidated the cocky man but then remembering the jaded gaze Jin possessed, Kai felt disappointed.

The more he poured over the files the more he realized how low he had sunk, begging for lost opportunities, threatening at will and trying pathetically to manipulate the employers' council with bribes he didn't have. Sheet after sheet of the accusations suggested a desperate Kai. A Kai that he never even was he thought with disgust at this Kai's lack of tact.

Statements from Tala in Kai's defense appeared now and then which were professional and well written but all follow ups expressed rejection that the bluenette would ever win the case that unfolded before him. He really had been a failure and for what? Why had he not just given up and found Rei? He wondered suddenly longing for the neko jin's warmth. Was it dignity? Or did it have something to do with his Grandfather? Kai sighed rubbing his eyes red from lack of sleep. He leaned away from the desk a moment staring out the tattered window to the dawning Russia with disapproval. There had to be something he had missed, and with that he fell asleep at the desk, the documents for his pillow.

It wasn't until a few hours later did he feel a gentle rub on his shoulder. Waking in a most exhausting manner he stared up at Rei who only smiled hair slightly ruffled but all and all a warming sight.

"Good morning Kai koi," the neko jin whispered softly setting down a cup of coffee as if nothing had happened the night before. "I'm going to make breakfast." Rei smiled again and then pulling a red housecoat closer around his slim form he made his way to the kitchen.

Kai hardly nodded before his eyes immediately dropped to the work he had abandoned the night before, and there right in front of him lay the answer he had been searching for. It was so simple that he almost had to double check it, but it was there unmistakably. How was it that always the simple things were over looked Kai thought hopefully, then grinned. Maybe he wouldn't remain such a failure. If he could plague everyone with his misfortune, then maybe it could also work in reverse. Now he could find away to not only restore his life but the ones that surrounded him too.

Well? Please read and review. And as always your feedback is always appreciated negative or positive.