A/N: Here we go guys! Sorry that this chapter is a little bit shorter than the others, but I promise that the next one will be longer! So...
Disclaimer: I don't own BeyBlade.
Tala watched his friend pacing around the room, ignoring the random, incoherent phrases that spilled over his frustrated lips. Kai had called him early, WAY too early for his liking and now he barely had time to explain his reasons for fear of halting his anxious habits. The guy needed to sit. And maybe have a drink, but mostly...he needed to sit.
"Kai," the other Russian started. "What's wrong?" He turned, regarding his friend carefully, before sighing and falling face first onto the couch next to him.
"I don't know," he muttered into the pillow. "Every thing is just...screwed up."
"You mean screwed?"
"That too..." Tala laughed quietly, pulling himself up to sit on the arm of the couch they were currently sharing.
"Well, what was that phone call about? You sounded ready to tear someone's head off."
"I am ready to tear someone's head off."
"Right..." he nodded in mock agreement. "As if you needed to go to court for murder too."
With a sigh, Kai rolled over, rubbing his eyes tiredly. Tala's own eyes softened in understanding and he tilted his head to the side with a warm smile.
"You're going to win this case Kai...you know that, right?"
The younger of the two didn't reply, simply turned on his side, tucking his arm beneath the pillow. His normally fiery gaze seemed shattered as the stared into nothing. Finally he spoke, cold, and indifferently.
"I've been the fool all of my life Tala. I want it to end," he added angrily. The redhead regarded him for a moment longer, before standing with a sigh jamming his hands in his pockets.
"Don't we all," was the last thing he offered before showing himself out.
Max sat with Tyson at his desk, going over ideas for the blunette's latest project. The blonde was more comfortable now, and he found it surprisingly easy to talk to the other. Apparently, he'd dropped out of college and saved up to buy a small studio where he could work on his one true As it were, Tyson was actually the "team" he'd referred to on the phone.
"Okay so, how many characters do you want?" he asked. They had a basic plot outlined; now they just needed to figure out the characters. Tyson scratched his ear thoughtfully.
"Well, there are going to have to be a lot of them..." Max shook his head.
"The main characters Tyson, the MAIN characters." The blunette shrugged.
"Well, just two at first, but as the story progresses...five, I think." The blonde nodded, scribbling down some notes.
"Ages?"
"Twelve through...fifteen." Turning around in his chair to start typing on his computer, Tyson couldn't notice the glances Max was throwing in his direction.
Oh Gods...I can't believe I'm actually going to risk this... Taking a deep breath, the American teen tapped his 'boss' on the shoulder.
"Uh..." he trailed off when the other swiveled back around in his chair.
"What is it?" he asked curiously.
"Well, I actually...needed to tell you...that...I think...I...have to leave!" he blurted. Inside he mentally kicked himself. The blunette simply looked over his shoulder at the clock.
3:57
"Sure thing," he shrugged. "You can drop by anytime tomorrow if you want." Max nodded with a smile, gathering his things, but inside he felt like he was going to be sick. If he didn't do this now, then he was going to regret it...
"Tyson?"
"Yep."
"Do you...uh, well I was thinking, if you wanted to I mean...um, maybe we could go back to my place and order a pizza. We could finish our stuff there..." he trailed off, looking up hopefully as the other stared at him. Just, stared. Immediately a rosy blush blossomed furiously on the blondes pale cheeks and he turned around quickly, muttering.
"Sorry. I shouldn't have..." suddenly strong hands on his shoulders forced him to turn around again.
"Hey it's cool, just hang on a sec and I'll grab my coat."
"You mean...you don't mind?" he almost laughed, watching the other teen as he grabbed his coat of the peg.
"No," he answered, grinning. "I don't."
Rei looked at his watch as he stepped into the lobby of...seriously, the most gorgeous hotel he'd ever seen in his entire life. He would have simply ogled at the sheer size of it, but almost as soon as the door had closed behind him, a woman came running over to him.
"Are you Rei?" she asked politely. He nodded, albeit hesitantly. She smiled, thrusting a plastic card into his hand. "Here. Mr. Hiwatari is on the top floor, he tells me I should send you right up."
"Um, thanks but...which room?" she tipped her head to the side before blinking a few times.
"Don't be silly," she shook her head as she walked away. "There is only one room on the top floor!"
Rei cocked an eyebrow as he watched her retreating form, before turning back to the key in his hand. Shrugging, he headed for the elevator, surprisingly not being stalled by the residents. As he reached the top floor though, he began to get somewhat nervous. There was no possible way that he could have insulted Kai in the span of ten minutes last night, was there? He knew the guy obviously wasn't all that social but...he'd actually sounded angry on the phone. It wasn't all that comforting.
Warily he stepped from his metal sanctuary when the double doors slid open, and glanced down the hall. At the very end there was one door. Sighing, he headed for it, looking at the key when he arrived.
Does he just expect me to walk in?
The thought was absurd and yet, here he was, with a key that more than likely went to this very door. Worrying his lower lip he knocked instead.
"Come in," came the not-so-friendly response. Placing a hand on the knob, Rei slid the key in, waiting for the tiny light on the lock to turn green before he was able to open the door.
Slipping in, he let the heavy portal shut behind him before looking up into a pair of blood red eyes. Swallowing hard he handed the key back. Wordlessly the other took it, turning on his heel to walk into the kitchen. Deciding he should follow, the neko trailed behind the stoic Russian awkwardly.
"Uh, Kai?" he ventured after a moment. "Is there something wrong?"
Suddenly the Russian stopped at the table, not bothering to turn around as he answered.
"You're a reporter." The raven-haired teen was sure his jaw had hit the floor. But moments later he shut his mouth, angrier than he could remember being for the longest time.
"What did you do, look me up?" he shot back, glaring heatedly at the other teen. "You dragged me all the way down here to accuse me of something you ASSUMED I was doing?"
"I didn't drag you anywhere," Kai growled, turning around. "And I didn't HAVE to look you up. How many guys do you know that carry a handy little notebook and a pen with them on a regular basis?" Rei felt his cheeks heating up.
"Okay, so now that we've gotten passed that..." he snapped sarcastically. "I guess we can skip the formalities and go straight to the part where you kick me out huh?" The blunette growled, his hands balling into fists.
"I don't tolerate being lied to."
"I didn't lie to you!" the neko yelled, his eyes slitting dangerously down the center. "Where was I going to fit my occupation into our oh-so-lively conversation last night? You clipped every attempt I made!"
"Well it's a good thing I did isn't it?"
"What the hell are you talking about!?"
In a few swift strides, Kai closed the distance between them, looking down on him so that their noses were inches apart. Rei just glared right back, a pearl fang slipping over his bottom lip.
"You're just looking for the answers that no one has," he snarled. "You're all the same, prying into peoples lives and digging up things that should stay buried. Don't you think I have my reasons for not talking to the press?"
"Kai, don't you think that if I was REALLY looking for a good story," he hissed venomously. "That your name would have been plastered ALL OVER THE NEWS THIS MORNING!?" Crossing his arms over his chest, the Russian regarded the other for a moment before responding.
"What are you looking for then?" In that instant the rage in the tiger's eyes faded, and he felt very small beneath that gaze again.
"I was thinking the same thing myself last night," he answered honestly. "Right now, I'm not so sure."
Kai didn't answer, his eyes momentarily softening, though the action was lost to the neko who chose to look anywhere else. He could feel a headache coming on, and he winced, rubbing his eyes with his cool fingers. Of all times...
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah," he whispered, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'll be fine."
"Look," the other sighed. "I...want you promise me, that no one else will be involved."
"What am I going to tell them Kai? All I know is where you are."
"That's more than they know." The neko shut his eyes to take a deep breath.
"I won't say anything. I promise." With that he turned on his heel, making to show himself out. Suddenly, a hand on his wrist jerked him back.
"Good," came the arrogant tone. "'Cause I want to start over." Rei stopped, looking back up at the other teen. Searching the crimson orbs he could find only honesty. Figuring it was the closest thing to an apology he would get, he nodded, smiling.
"Well then, hi I'm Rei." The Russian shook his head with a grin, letting go of the others wrist.
"What?" he replied. "Don't expect me to answer."
A/N: Thanks so much for your awesome reviews guys. I'm glad you believe that I'm keeping Kai in character, THAT'S been a challenge. Oh, and to Cat in the web: my hat is off to you, you hit the nail on the head. Until next time!
Disclaimer: I don't own BeyBlade.
Tala watched his friend pacing around the room, ignoring the random, incoherent phrases that spilled over his frustrated lips. Kai had called him early, WAY too early for his liking and now he barely had time to explain his reasons for fear of halting his anxious habits. The guy needed to sit. And maybe have a drink, but mostly...he needed to sit.
"Kai," the other Russian started. "What's wrong?" He turned, regarding his friend carefully, before sighing and falling face first onto the couch next to him.
"I don't know," he muttered into the pillow. "Every thing is just...screwed up."
"You mean screwed?"
"That too..." Tala laughed quietly, pulling himself up to sit on the arm of the couch they were currently sharing.
"Well, what was that phone call about? You sounded ready to tear someone's head off."
"I am ready to tear someone's head off."
"Right..." he nodded in mock agreement. "As if you needed to go to court for murder too."
With a sigh, Kai rolled over, rubbing his eyes tiredly. Tala's own eyes softened in understanding and he tilted his head to the side with a warm smile.
"You're going to win this case Kai...you know that, right?"
The younger of the two didn't reply, simply turned on his side, tucking his arm beneath the pillow. His normally fiery gaze seemed shattered as the stared into nothing. Finally he spoke, cold, and indifferently.
"I've been the fool all of my life Tala. I want it to end," he added angrily. The redhead regarded him for a moment longer, before standing with a sigh jamming his hands in his pockets.
"Don't we all," was the last thing he offered before showing himself out.
Max sat with Tyson at his desk, going over ideas for the blunette's latest project. The blonde was more comfortable now, and he found it surprisingly easy to talk to the other. Apparently, he'd dropped out of college and saved up to buy a small studio where he could work on his one true As it were, Tyson was actually the "team" he'd referred to on the phone.
"Okay so, how many characters do you want?" he asked. They had a basic plot outlined; now they just needed to figure out the characters. Tyson scratched his ear thoughtfully.
"Well, there are going to have to be a lot of them..." Max shook his head.
"The main characters Tyson, the MAIN characters." The blunette shrugged.
"Well, just two at first, but as the story progresses...five, I think." The blonde nodded, scribbling down some notes.
"Ages?"
"Twelve through...fifteen." Turning around in his chair to start typing on his computer, Tyson couldn't notice the glances Max was throwing in his direction.
Oh Gods...I can't believe I'm actually going to risk this... Taking a deep breath, the American teen tapped his 'boss' on the shoulder.
"Uh..." he trailed off when the other swiveled back around in his chair.
"What is it?" he asked curiously.
"Well, I actually...needed to tell you...that...I think...I...have to leave!" he blurted. Inside he mentally kicked himself. The blunette simply looked over his shoulder at the clock.
3:57
"Sure thing," he shrugged. "You can drop by anytime tomorrow if you want." Max nodded with a smile, gathering his things, but inside he felt like he was going to be sick. If he didn't do this now, then he was going to regret it...
"Tyson?"
"Yep."
"Do you...uh, well I was thinking, if you wanted to I mean...um, maybe we could go back to my place and order a pizza. We could finish our stuff there..." he trailed off, looking up hopefully as the other stared at him. Just, stared. Immediately a rosy blush blossomed furiously on the blondes pale cheeks and he turned around quickly, muttering.
"Sorry. I shouldn't have..." suddenly strong hands on his shoulders forced him to turn around again.
"Hey it's cool, just hang on a sec and I'll grab my coat."
"You mean...you don't mind?" he almost laughed, watching the other teen as he grabbed his coat of the peg.
"No," he answered, grinning. "I don't."
Rei looked at his watch as he stepped into the lobby of...seriously, the most gorgeous hotel he'd ever seen in his entire life. He would have simply ogled at the sheer size of it, but almost as soon as the door had closed behind him, a woman came running over to him.
"Are you Rei?" she asked politely. He nodded, albeit hesitantly. She smiled, thrusting a plastic card into his hand. "Here. Mr. Hiwatari is on the top floor, he tells me I should send you right up."
"Um, thanks but...which room?" she tipped her head to the side before blinking a few times.
"Don't be silly," she shook her head as she walked away. "There is only one room on the top floor!"
Rei cocked an eyebrow as he watched her retreating form, before turning back to the key in his hand. Shrugging, he headed for the elevator, surprisingly not being stalled by the residents. As he reached the top floor though, he began to get somewhat nervous. There was no possible way that he could have insulted Kai in the span of ten minutes last night, was there? He knew the guy obviously wasn't all that social but...he'd actually sounded angry on the phone. It wasn't all that comforting.
Warily he stepped from his metal sanctuary when the double doors slid open, and glanced down the hall. At the very end there was one door. Sighing, he headed for it, looking at the key when he arrived.
Does he just expect me to walk in?
The thought was absurd and yet, here he was, with a key that more than likely went to this very door. Worrying his lower lip he knocked instead.
"Come in," came the not-so-friendly response. Placing a hand on the knob, Rei slid the key in, waiting for the tiny light on the lock to turn green before he was able to open the door.
Slipping in, he let the heavy portal shut behind him before looking up into a pair of blood red eyes. Swallowing hard he handed the key back. Wordlessly the other took it, turning on his heel to walk into the kitchen. Deciding he should follow, the neko trailed behind the stoic Russian awkwardly.
"Uh, Kai?" he ventured after a moment. "Is there something wrong?"
Suddenly the Russian stopped at the table, not bothering to turn around as he answered.
"You're a reporter." The raven-haired teen was sure his jaw had hit the floor. But moments later he shut his mouth, angrier than he could remember being for the longest time.
"What did you do, look me up?" he shot back, glaring heatedly at the other teen. "You dragged me all the way down here to accuse me of something you ASSUMED I was doing?"
"I didn't drag you anywhere," Kai growled, turning around. "And I didn't HAVE to look you up. How many guys do you know that carry a handy little notebook and a pen with them on a regular basis?" Rei felt his cheeks heating up.
"Okay, so now that we've gotten passed that..." he snapped sarcastically. "I guess we can skip the formalities and go straight to the part where you kick me out huh?" The blunette growled, his hands balling into fists.
"I don't tolerate being lied to."
"I didn't lie to you!" the neko yelled, his eyes slitting dangerously down the center. "Where was I going to fit my occupation into our oh-so-lively conversation last night? You clipped every attempt I made!"
"Well it's a good thing I did isn't it?"
"What the hell are you talking about!?"
In a few swift strides, Kai closed the distance between them, looking down on him so that their noses were inches apart. Rei just glared right back, a pearl fang slipping over his bottom lip.
"You're just looking for the answers that no one has," he snarled. "You're all the same, prying into peoples lives and digging up things that should stay buried. Don't you think I have my reasons for not talking to the press?"
"Kai, don't you think that if I was REALLY looking for a good story," he hissed venomously. "That your name would have been plastered ALL OVER THE NEWS THIS MORNING!?" Crossing his arms over his chest, the Russian regarded the other for a moment before responding.
"What are you looking for then?" In that instant the rage in the tiger's eyes faded, and he felt very small beneath that gaze again.
"I was thinking the same thing myself last night," he answered honestly. "Right now, I'm not so sure."
Kai didn't answer, his eyes momentarily softening, though the action was lost to the neko who chose to look anywhere else. He could feel a headache coming on, and he winced, rubbing his eyes with his cool fingers. Of all times...
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah," he whispered, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'll be fine."
"Look," the other sighed. "I...want you promise me, that no one else will be involved."
"What am I going to tell them Kai? All I know is where you are."
"That's more than they know." The neko shut his eyes to take a deep breath.
"I won't say anything. I promise." With that he turned on his heel, making to show himself out. Suddenly, a hand on his wrist jerked him back.
"Good," came the arrogant tone. "'Cause I want to start over." Rei stopped, looking back up at the other teen. Searching the crimson orbs he could find only honesty. Figuring it was the closest thing to an apology he would get, he nodded, smiling.
"Well then, hi I'm Rei." The Russian shook his head with a grin, letting go of the others wrist.
"What?" he replied. "Don't expect me to answer."
A/N: Thanks so much for your awesome reviews guys. I'm glad you believe that I'm keeping Kai in character, THAT'S been a challenge. Oh, and to Cat in the web: my hat is off to you, you hit the nail on the head. Until next time!
