A/N: I'll skip formalities on this one. A little shorter, but I don't think you'll be disappointed, and yes. Tala and Bryan ARE a couple but...I'll let you read about that.
Disclaimer: Don't own it. Wish I did, but alas, it simply wasn't meant to be.
Flashback
Two small boys sat alone on the playground, enjoying each other's company. Classes had ended hours ago, but the lilac haired boy had no reason to go home, and his friend wouldn't leave him.
"Boris was rambling again," Bryan confessed before he took another drag on his cigarette.
"About what?" Tala asked from where he was hanging upside down on the jungle gym.
His friend's uncle, Boris, was a tutor of sorts. Neither of them were really quiet sure exactly what he taught though. More often than not (according to Bryan), the man would come home late, muttering strange equations under his breath along with various names. Of course, they had never been able to put those names to faces...
"Stupid things...pointless things..." he muttered, tapping off the end of the wrapped stick. "The guy's crazy," he added as an after thought.
"Yeah," the redhead paused to jump down. "But we knew that."
"No---" the older teen sighed. "It was, different this time."
"Like how?" the smaller boy asked, taking a seat by the other. "Was he on something?"
"Maybe." Tala tipped his head to the side, worriedly.
"Bry? I was joking."
There was a long pause as Bryan stubbed the smoke, his appearance melancholy. In the silence they felt suffocated. Neither of them having ever kept secrets from the other. Gently, a small hand took hold of a larger one, ice blue eyes meeting vibrant lilac.
"What did he say?" Offering the younger boy a ghost of a smile, he squeezed the slender hand in his own before answering.
"Something about a new job," started uncertainly. "A new subject, and a better potential...some millionaire with an opportunity for them both. The epitome of perfection, stemmed by, " suddenly he mimicked his uncle. "Countless years of research and failure!"
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Tala giggled quietly, before the older boy continued.
"And a name," he nearly whispered. "A full name."
"What?" Bryan turned, his eyes wide and frightened, but somehow excited as well.
"He slipped," was the simple reply. "His new student is, Kai Hiwatari."
End flashback
'If only we had known,' Tala thought as he stared at the computer screen. 'We wouldn't have taken it into our own hands...'
Suddenly he jumped, his cell phone ringing loudly through the room. Rei's head snapped up from the desk and he looked wildly around before his golden gaze finally registered the Russian answering his phone.
The redhead frowned. Only two people had his number.
"Hello?"
"Fine, don't sound happy to hear from me," came the flat reply. A grin slowly spread over pale lips.
"Bry? What's up?"
"Not a helluva lot," the large Russian answered. "But if you've got any suggestions as to what I can do to liven things up a bit, I'm all ears." Tala laughed.
When Kai had decided to go to America, Bryan had offered to stay behind and keep an eye on things. Apparently, he was regretting the decision.
"Sorry, but you know I'd tell you if I had something. Besides, Kai would kill me if I gave you an idea to say, rile up a certain uncle of yours..." he trailed off suggestively. He could practically see the insane grin.
"Call me back?"
"Mm, Hmm." With that the redhead turned off his phone, allowing his fingers to fly over the keyboard once more. This time though, he was smiling.
"Uh..."
Without taking his hands off the keys, the Russian blinked and turned around, remembering that he wasn't exactly alone. Rei stared back for a few seconds before he quirked an eyebrow.
"Who's Bryan?" he asked slowly.
"He's mine," Tala smirked, going back to the screen. "But don't ever tell him I said that." The neko giggled, before standing up from the desk, stretching with a groan of satisfaction.
Turning slightly, the Chinese teen chose to stare at the clock, allowing the numbers on the wall to register in his head. He rubbed his eyes tiredly before heading to the door. This called for some serious coffee.
It was 2:28
"Where to?" Opening the door, he looked back at the other.
"Coffee. Want anything?"
"Sure..." he trailed off, leaning closer to the computer before continuing. "Uh, whatever they've got, so long as it's black." Nodding, Rei slipped out into the darkened hallway, padding silently down the corridors.
Everyone had long since left, but the Chief had allowed him access to the building once the neko had explained the nature of the story he was concocting. Of course, Tala had expertly faded in, unnoticed. Kai had made it clear before they'd left that Tala couldn't be involved with the press. The tiger glanced at the floor at the memory.
He was a good person; loyal, strong...and somewhere underneath that icy persona he was also kind, and understanding. Kai was a man of many faces---if only he wouldn't hide them so much.
With a sad sort of sigh, the Chinese teen rounded the corner to stop in front of a counter complete with sink, cabinets and a coffee pot.
Ah. Glorious caffeine. Man's real best friend. Never-mind the dog.
As he started his diligent task of bringing both him, and the redheaded Russian back to the world of the living, a new sound startled him out of it. Footsteps, at least a level below.
His breathing hitched, and he paused halfway between opening the cabinet to grab two mugs. He was frozen, the hair on the back of his neck standing on end. But, the more he listened, the less he heard. Straining his hearing, the neko concentrated until finally, he breathed out a long sigh of relief. It must have been his imagination. After all, no one could enter the building without a keycard.
Allowing himself a moment to relax, he finished putting the mugs on the counter, and settled for watching the coffee brew in the pot. He must really be tired...he was so sure...
Rei's eyes drifted shut, and he waited patiently for the beverage to finish. The soft sound of the liquid against the glass acted as sort of a lullaby, and his head drooped on his shoulders a bit. It was soothing, in an odd way.
The liquid.
Against the glass...
His eyes snapped open, quickly sliding to the pot. It had stopped. The coffee was finished. His heart skipped a beat, flip-flopping in his chest. It wasn't silent, even though he should have only been able to hear his breathing, and now, the rapid beating of his heart against his ribs.
He was sure this time. There were footsteps; steady rhythms that tapped their way across the tiles, then were suddenly muffled by carpet, only to continue their tapping as they reached the tiles once more on the stair case.
Moving cautiously to the balcony, the tiger leaned over the railing, searching for a figure in the dark. He could see nothing, the monotonous tapping never ceasing to mock him. But it was getting closer...
Suddenly he froze, squeezing his eyes shut when something slid across the back of his neck. His breathing was ragged, his arms shaking. He was gripping the railing, expecting a blow that never came. Hesitantly, he looked over his shoulder.
Sighing in relief and frustration, the Chinese teen glowered down at his hair wrap, which had fallen in front of him when he'd leaned over the railing. Letting his head drop, he took long, calming breaths.
Maybe it was time for a haircut.
Furrowing his brows, Rei moved back down the way he'd come, trying not to make a sound and go as quickly as possible at the same time. Once he reached the door he took a deep breath, his heart racing in his chest. Shutting the door behind him, he pressed his back up against the wood, his golden eyes wide as they bore into Tala's back.
"There's someone in the building," he whispered. The other froze, his slender hands poised over the keyboard.
"You're sure?" he whispered back, but his voice had taken on a deadly seriousness that seemed to blanket the room in thick layers of ice. The neko shuddered.
"Positive." Abruptly, the Russian went back to the computer, pulling up camera feeds from the main security system. Fidgeting slightly, the Chinese teen glanced at the light switch.
"Should I---"
"Don't bother," he hissed. "This room faces the street, they already know where we are." Swallowing hard, he crossed the room in response, looking over the Russian's shoulder and at the screen. His eyes widened considerably as he glanced at the hallways projected on the monitor.
"But...there's," he shook his head in denial. "You have to believe me, there WAS someone!"
But the building was completely empty.
Turning to look up at the distressed teen leaning towards him, Tala opened his mouth, when something caught his eye. Whipping back around, he stared long and hard at the screen before pointing to the lower right hand corner.
"Look." Shifting his view, the younger male did as he was told.
The picture was of the main entrance. From the observation of the camera, one could only see the tall, glass double doors, and the backwards writing on its surface consisting of the name of the building and its address, besides the carpets and a small potted plant or two that cast the floors into shadow. But on one side, something peculiar grabbed their attention, and held them in a cold, vice grip.
The door on the left was just swinging closed.
Rei leaned his head against the glass, watching the lights around them as they drove to his apartment. Tala had decided it was best that he spoke with Kai before the neko saw him again. The tiger had simply nodded, to tired and shaken up to argue.
"Did I get you all the information that you'll need?" the redhead asked for nearly the hundredth time. He seemed pretty calm about what had happened, and oh how the younger teen envied him.
"Yeah, I'll go over it tonight," he answered quietly, fingering the disk in his pocket. With a sigh the Russian turned back to the road, choosing to drop his attempts to engage the other in conversation.
Since they'd realized someone had entered the building, obviously looking for something, they'd come to two conclusions: someone was prying for answers, or it was one of the employees. And now, Rei was completely reserved. Shaking his head, Tala wracked his brain, remembering which street to turn down, mentally patting himself on the back when he found the apartment complex.
"Thanks for giving us this chance," he said quickly. "I'm sure Kai will be in touch." With a simple nod, the Chinese teen closed the door behind him, starting for the main entrance.
Sighing, the redhead pulled out again, reaching into his pocket for his cell phone.
"We've had a security breech." Kai growled on the other end, and the distinct sound of glass shattering filled the background. Patiently he waited for the blunette to calm down.
"No, I don't know who it was, but there wasn't a confrontation. I'm not sure how worried we should be just yet." Again he paused, listening.
"He's fine. A bit shaken up I think, but I'll give you the details in sec, I'm just pulling in."
Rei opened the door of his apartment slowly, as if in a daze. The whole experience seemed to have jumped off the television straight out of the Twilight Zone. And no matter how tired he was, he didn't think that he could sleep. He was afraid that if he shut his eyes again, he'd miss something important, like the way he'd mistaken the footsteps for coffee brewing. What if this person had a weapon, and he'd noticed to late?
Stepping in, he didn't even bother to turn on the lights, his bright eyes already well adjusted to the dark. Throwing off his jacket he hung it up, heading for the couch. And stopped dead in his tracks.
Taking a step back he covered his mouth with a closed fist, trying not the giggle at the situation.
Maxie was lying down on his stomach, draped lazily over, whom he could only assume was Tyson, who was snoring softly on his back. He had a strong arm wrapped possessively around the petit blonde's shoulders, while the other was hanging limply over the edge of the couch. They both looked completely content, and it was such a drastic change from his night, that Rei was still trying to suppress his laughter.
Glancing over the room he noticed random papers scattered all over the floor and the coffee table, pencils and markers as well. Curiosity getting the better of him as usual, the neko picked up some of them.
The first one he had made him blink. It was...well, it resembled himself when he was thirteen---fourteen maybe, wearing the Chinese tunic his mother had sent him a few years ago for his birthday. He seldom ever wore it, but he recalled Max debating with him that he should, on previous occasions. He smiled to himself at the American's signature beneath the picture.
Flipping over the next page he found his friend staring back up at him, and he almost burst out laughing again. The teen was chibified, and it was the cutest thing that he'd ever seen. Although, the outfit that he was wearing wasn't something he ever wanted to see in reality. Too many bright colors, and WAY to many stars. Still, it suited the tiny cartoon. Below it was Tyson's signature.
The last one was a rendition of Tyson he supposed, not having really gotten a good look at the guy. Long navy hair, ponytail at the base of his neck, tight jeans, and a cocky smile. Again his golden eyes slid over Tyson's signature. Shaking his head, the tiger turned the paper sideways, craning his neck a little. Okay, he could admit to seeing something. But what Max saw in him was pretty much beyond the Chinese. Shrugging, he set the papers down again, pausing when another fell from the pile. Picking it up he studied it.
It was only half finished, merely a sketch, but he knew right away that it was Maxie who'd drawn it. A stoic Russian stood in shadow, his arms crossed, blue triangles adorning his cheeks. Two-toned blue hair, and a glare that would kill any weak hearted creature who happened by.
It was perfect, but he doubted that Kai would allow them to publish it.
A/N: There you have it folks, suspense and mystery...two genres I have to desperately work on. But, you tell me. Personally, this was my favorite chapter yet, but I feel a little uncertain about where I cut it off. Any suggestions? Oh and please be aware that I'm using the V-force descriptions...they just fit better that the first season did. Anyway, thanks for your reviews! Again I am happy that you are enjoying this as much as I am!
Disclaimer: Don't own it. Wish I did, but alas, it simply wasn't meant to be.
Flashback
Two small boys sat alone on the playground, enjoying each other's company. Classes had ended hours ago, but the lilac haired boy had no reason to go home, and his friend wouldn't leave him.
"Boris was rambling again," Bryan confessed before he took another drag on his cigarette.
"About what?" Tala asked from where he was hanging upside down on the jungle gym.
His friend's uncle, Boris, was a tutor of sorts. Neither of them were really quiet sure exactly what he taught though. More often than not (according to Bryan), the man would come home late, muttering strange equations under his breath along with various names. Of course, they had never been able to put those names to faces...
"Stupid things...pointless things..." he muttered, tapping off the end of the wrapped stick. "The guy's crazy," he added as an after thought.
"Yeah," the redhead paused to jump down. "But we knew that."
"No---" the older teen sighed. "It was, different this time."
"Like how?" the smaller boy asked, taking a seat by the other. "Was he on something?"
"Maybe." Tala tipped his head to the side, worriedly.
"Bry? I was joking."
There was a long pause as Bryan stubbed the smoke, his appearance melancholy. In the silence they felt suffocated. Neither of them having ever kept secrets from the other. Gently, a small hand took hold of a larger one, ice blue eyes meeting vibrant lilac.
"What did he say?" Offering the younger boy a ghost of a smile, he squeezed the slender hand in his own before answering.
"Something about a new job," started uncertainly. "A new subject, and a better potential...some millionaire with an opportunity for them both. The epitome of perfection, stemmed by, " suddenly he mimicked his uncle. "Countless years of research and failure!"
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Tala giggled quietly, before the older boy continued.
"And a name," he nearly whispered. "A full name."
"What?" Bryan turned, his eyes wide and frightened, but somehow excited as well.
"He slipped," was the simple reply. "His new student is, Kai Hiwatari."
End flashback
'If only we had known,' Tala thought as he stared at the computer screen. 'We wouldn't have taken it into our own hands...'
Suddenly he jumped, his cell phone ringing loudly through the room. Rei's head snapped up from the desk and he looked wildly around before his golden gaze finally registered the Russian answering his phone.
The redhead frowned. Only two people had his number.
"Hello?"
"Fine, don't sound happy to hear from me," came the flat reply. A grin slowly spread over pale lips.
"Bry? What's up?"
"Not a helluva lot," the large Russian answered. "But if you've got any suggestions as to what I can do to liven things up a bit, I'm all ears." Tala laughed.
When Kai had decided to go to America, Bryan had offered to stay behind and keep an eye on things. Apparently, he was regretting the decision.
"Sorry, but you know I'd tell you if I had something. Besides, Kai would kill me if I gave you an idea to say, rile up a certain uncle of yours..." he trailed off suggestively. He could practically see the insane grin.
"Call me back?"
"Mm, Hmm." With that the redhead turned off his phone, allowing his fingers to fly over the keyboard once more. This time though, he was smiling.
"Uh..."
Without taking his hands off the keys, the Russian blinked and turned around, remembering that he wasn't exactly alone. Rei stared back for a few seconds before he quirked an eyebrow.
"Who's Bryan?" he asked slowly.
"He's mine," Tala smirked, going back to the screen. "But don't ever tell him I said that." The neko giggled, before standing up from the desk, stretching with a groan of satisfaction.
Turning slightly, the Chinese teen chose to stare at the clock, allowing the numbers on the wall to register in his head. He rubbed his eyes tiredly before heading to the door. This called for some serious coffee.
It was 2:28
"Where to?" Opening the door, he looked back at the other.
"Coffee. Want anything?"
"Sure..." he trailed off, leaning closer to the computer before continuing. "Uh, whatever they've got, so long as it's black." Nodding, Rei slipped out into the darkened hallway, padding silently down the corridors.
Everyone had long since left, but the Chief had allowed him access to the building once the neko had explained the nature of the story he was concocting. Of course, Tala had expertly faded in, unnoticed. Kai had made it clear before they'd left that Tala couldn't be involved with the press. The tiger glanced at the floor at the memory.
He was a good person; loyal, strong...and somewhere underneath that icy persona he was also kind, and understanding. Kai was a man of many faces---if only he wouldn't hide them so much.
With a sad sort of sigh, the Chinese teen rounded the corner to stop in front of a counter complete with sink, cabinets and a coffee pot.
Ah. Glorious caffeine. Man's real best friend. Never-mind the dog.
As he started his diligent task of bringing both him, and the redheaded Russian back to the world of the living, a new sound startled him out of it. Footsteps, at least a level below.
His breathing hitched, and he paused halfway between opening the cabinet to grab two mugs. He was frozen, the hair on the back of his neck standing on end. But, the more he listened, the less he heard. Straining his hearing, the neko concentrated until finally, he breathed out a long sigh of relief. It must have been his imagination. After all, no one could enter the building without a keycard.
Allowing himself a moment to relax, he finished putting the mugs on the counter, and settled for watching the coffee brew in the pot. He must really be tired...he was so sure...
Rei's eyes drifted shut, and he waited patiently for the beverage to finish. The soft sound of the liquid against the glass acted as sort of a lullaby, and his head drooped on his shoulders a bit. It was soothing, in an odd way.
The liquid.
Against the glass...
His eyes snapped open, quickly sliding to the pot. It had stopped. The coffee was finished. His heart skipped a beat, flip-flopping in his chest. It wasn't silent, even though he should have only been able to hear his breathing, and now, the rapid beating of his heart against his ribs.
He was sure this time. There were footsteps; steady rhythms that tapped their way across the tiles, then were suddenly muffled by carpet, only to continue their tapping as they reached the tiles once more on the stair case.
Moving cautiously to the balcony, the tiger leaned over the railing, searching for a figure in the dark. He could see nothing, the monotonous tapping never ceasing to mock him. But it was getting closer...
Suddenly he froze, squeezing his eyes shut when something slid across the back of his neck. His breathing was ragged, his arms shaking. He was gripping the railing, expecting a blow that never came. Hesitantly, he looked over his shoulder.
Sighing in relief and frustration, the Chinese teen glowered down at his hair wrap, which had fallen in front of him when he'd leaned over the railing. Letting his head drop, he took long, calming breaths.
Maybe it was time for a haircut.
Furrowing his brows, Rei moved back down the way he'd come, trying not to make a sound and go as quickly as possible at the same time. Once he reached the door he took a deep breath, his heart racing in his chest. Shutting the door behind him, he pressed his back up against the wood, his golden eyes wide as they bore into Tala's back.
"There's someone in the building," he whispered. The other froze, his slender hands poised over the keyboard.
"You're sure?" he whispered back, but his voice had taken on a deadly seriousness that seemed to blanket the room in thick layers of ice. The neko shuddered.
"Positive." Abruptly, the Russian went back to the computer, pulling up camera feeds from the main security system. Fidgeting slightly, the Chinese teen glanced at the light switch.
"Should I---"
"Don't bother," he hissed. "This room faces the street, they already know where we are." Swallowing hard, he crossed the room in response, looking over the Russian's shoulder and at the screen. His eyes widened considerably as he glanced at the hallways projected on the monitor.
"But...there's," he shook his head in denial. "You have to believe me, there WAS someone!"
But the building was completely empty.
Turning to look up at the distressed teen leaning towards him, Tala opened his mouth, when something caught his eye. Whipping back around, he stared long and hard at the screen before pointing to the lower right hand corner.
"Look." Shifting his view, the younger male did as he was told.
The picture was of the main entrance. From the observation of the camera, one could only see the tall, glass double doors, and the backwards writing on its surface consisting of the name of the building and its address, besides the carpets and a small potted plant or two that cast the floors into shadow. But on one side, something peculiar grabbed their attention, and held them in a cold, vice grip.
The door on the left was just swinging closed.
Rei leaned his head against the glass, watching the lights around them as they drove to his apartment. Tala had decided it was best that he spoke with Kai before the neko saw him again. The tiger had simply nodded, to tired and shaken up to argue.
"Did I get you all the information that you'll need?" the redhead asked for nearly the hundredth time. He seemed pretty calm about what had happened, and oh how the younger teen envied him.
"Yeah, I'll go over it tonight," he answered quietly, fingering the disk in his pocket. With a sigh the Russian turned back to the road, choosing to drop his attempts to engage the other in conversation.
Since they'd realized someone had entered the building, obviously looking for something, they'd come to two conclusions: someone was prying for answers, or it was one of the employees. And now, Rei was completely reserved. Shaking his head, Tala wracked his brain, remembering which street to turn down, mentally patting himself on the back when he found the apartment complex.
"Thanks for giving us this chance," he said quickly. "I'm sure Kai will be in touch." With a simple nod, the Chinese teen closed the door behind him, starting for the main entrance.
Sighing, the redhead pulled out again, reaching into his pocket for his cell phone.
"We've had a security breech." Kai growled on the other end, and the distinct sound of glass shattering filled the background. Patiently he waited for the blunette to calm down.
"No, I don't know who it was, but there wasn't a confrontation. I'm not sure how worried we should be just yet." Again he paused, listening.
"He's fine. A bit shaken up I think, but I'll give you the details in sec, I'm just pulling in."
Rei opened the door of his apartment slowly, as if in a daze. The whole experience seemed to have jumped off the television straight out of the Twilight Zone. And no matter how tired he was, he didn't think that he could sleep. He was afraid that if he shut his eyes again, he'd miss something important, like the way he'd mistaken the footsteps for coffee brewing. What if this person had a weapon, and he'd noticed to late?
Stepping in, he didn't even bother to turn on the lights, his bright eyes already well adjusted to the dark. Throwing off his jacket he hung it up, heading for the couch. And stopped dead in his tracks.
Taking a step back he covered his mouth with a closed fist, trying not the giggle at the situation.
Maxie was lying down on his stomach, draped lazily over, whom he could only assume was Tyson, who was snoring softly on his back. He had a strong arm wrapped possessively around the petit blonde's shoulders, while the other was hanging limply over the edge of the couch. They both looked completely content, and it was such a drastic change from his night, that Rei was still trying to suppress his laughter.
Glancing over the room he noticed random papers scattered all over the floor and the coffee table, pencils and markers as well. Curiosity getting the better of him as usual, the neko picked up some of them.
The first one he had made him blink. It was...well, it resembled himself when he was thirteen---fourteen maybe, wearing the Chinese tunic his mother had sent him a few years ago for his birthday. He seldom ever wore it, but he recalled Max debating with him that he should, on previous occasions. He smiled to himself at the American's signature beneath the picture.
Flipping over the next page he found his friend staring back up at him, and he almost burst out laughing again. The teen was chibified, and it was the cutest thing that he'd ever seen. Although, the outfit that he was wearing wasn't something he ever wanted to see in reality. Too many bright colors, and WAY to many stars. Still, it suited the tiny cartoon. Below it was Tyson's signature.
The last one was a rendition of Tyson he supposed, not having really gotten a good look at the guy. Long navy hair, ponytail at the base of his neck, tight jeans, and a cocky smile. Again his golden eyes slid over Tyson's signature. Shaking his head, the tiger turned the paper sideways, craning his neck a little. Okay, he could admit to seeing something. But what Max saw in him was pretty much beyond the Chinese. Shrugging, he set the papers down again, pausing when another fell from the pile. Picking it up he studied it.
It was only half finished, merely a sketch, but he knew right away that it was Maxie who'd drawn it. A stoic Russian stood in shadow, his arms crossed, blue triangles adorning his cheeks. Two-toned blue hair, and a glare that would kill any weak hearted creature who happened by.
It was perfect, but he doubted that Kai would allow them to publish it.
A/N: There you have it folks, suspense and mystery...two genres I have to desperately work on. But, you tell me. Personally, this was my favorite chapter yet, but I feel a little uncertain about where I cut it off. Any suggestions? Oh and please be aware that I'm using the V-force descriptions...they just fit better that the first season did. Anyway, thanks for your reviews! Again I am happy that you are enjoying this as much as I am!
