A/N: Well, here it is, by far one of my favorite chapters in this story if I do say so myself. I know you guys are going to like this! Anyway, enjoy, and Red Angel will be updated by Monday I hope. After that, look to my bio for important updates! Thanks!

Disclaimer: See chapter one.

...

Rei leaned on the counter, silently checking over his ingredients to make sure that, no, he did not have to go out to the store for a third time. Satisfied for the moment, he cursed himself. There is no need to be this nervous, he told himself calmly. It's just Kai, and he's just coming over for dinner--- Suddenly, Max's comment earlier forced it's way to the head of his muddled thoughts.

"Dammit, no!" he yelled, repeatedly pounding his fist against his head. "Get out, get out, GET OUT!" But it did little good. His thoughts lingered on the possibilities, and they were far from pure.

Frustrated, he slumped down over the counter, his head in his hands. "Gods, what am I doing...?"

"You're crushing, moron." The joking reply drifted to his ears from around the corner as Max slipped out of his room and into the kitchen. Turning, Rei regarded his friend as if pondering this possibility, then shook his head.

"Am not."

"Are too."

The neko sighed, burying his head in his arms. "Shut up," he mumbled.

The blonde teen offered him a sympathetic smile, but it went unnoticed. "No sweat man, we all go through it. Even him I bet."

The tiger snorted as he stood, slamming himself down at the kitchen table. With a mournful groan, he let himself fall forward until he hit the table. Max winced.

"He could have anyone he wants," came his reply, muffled by the table. "There's---"

"Don't even think about starting the, oh-there's-no-reason-for-him-to-like-me bit," the American teen cut him off. "You make it sound like he isn't giving you a chance." Rei lifted his head slightly, looking up at his friend through innocent, golden orbs.

"He is?" Max folded his arms across his chest, raising a delicate eyebrow in exasperation.

"You're hopeless." The Chinese teen put his head back down on the table, none-too-lightly.

"I know."

"Yes, well, as amusing as that is, as your friend I should probably tell you to work on that."

A silence fell over room, neither awkward nor comfortable, both simply waiting for the other to continue. Finally, Max looked at his watch before grabbing his jacket and keys.

"Anyway, it's nearly four, and I wanna stop over at the studio before heading over to Miriam's, okay?" The neko was instantly alert.

"You're leaving?! That means Kai will be here in an hour!" he shouted, pitifully stumbling from his chair. In truth, the dish he was preparing didn't take long at all, but he still had to get ready!

Rolling his eyes, the blonde teen caught his best friend by the shoulders as he ran by, effectively stopping him in his tracks. "Listen, everything's going to be great, you're just too messed up to realize it. Slow down dude, and I'm sure you'll have a great time."

Taking his words to heart, the tiger smiled, nodding. Why was he so nervous anyway? It was just Kai. Gorgeous, sexy, hot, dreamy, god-like Kai. See? Nothing to be nervous about.

He fought the urge to scream.

"Thanks Maxie. Say hi to Tyson and Miriam for me."

"Will do," he promised before picking up his bag and heading for the door. "Have fun!" he winked over his shoulder as he let himself out. Rei blushed at the witty comeback that had nearly passed his lips.

"I need serious help," he muttered.

Briefly, he wondered if he'd call Tala for advice, but it was fleeting. He didn't know his cell number, and if he called the hotel he'd run the risk of getting Kai on the line instead. So, he checked his supplies one more time, nearly having a heart attack before realizing that his spices were still in the cabinet. Rubbing his temples, he headed for the shower. Suddenly he froze in the door to his bedroom, his large eyes widening anxiously.

What was he going to wear?

...

Tala took his time on the sidewalks, his body in America while his heart remained in Russia. Tilting his head to stare into the city, he took in the buildings, the people, the streets... With a sigh he fixed his gaze on his shoes instead, trying to imagine frigid winds and snow crunching beneath his feet. He wished he were back home with his lover.

The redhead smiled wryly to himself, jamming his hands into the pockets of his jeans. It hadn't even been a week and all he could think about was an ocean away.

Pulling one of his hands free from his jeans, he brought his cell phone with it. He kept walking, absently checking through the settings, but inside he knew he was waiting for it to ring.

"Hey," a soft tone called, causing him to stop. Turning, he found Kai standing a few feet away behind him.

"Hey," he offered back with a weak smile. The smaller teen studied him for a while before gesturing over his shoulder.

"You know, you passed it. Five minutes ago," he added with a small smirk. Tala blinked, just able to make out the park in the distance.

"Oh," he started intelligently, slipping the phone into his pocket again. "I was---"

"Thinking." Kai answered with a nod. "I know."

They walked back the way they'd come in silence, the grey skies above them adding to the already somber mood that had fallen upon them. When they'd reached the park, the air was thick with moisture, the clouds rolling in darker and darker. The older Russian opened his mouth to comment on this, but abruptly he was enveloped in a fierce hug.

"I'm sorry."

"Kai..." he trailed off, returning the gesture although neither let go.

"You shouldn't be here," the blunette told him. "And I'm sorry."

Pulling away, the redhead shook his head. "I just miss him, that's all." The other watched him apologetically.

"I---"

"Need my help." Tala finished for him suddenly, waving the small note in front of his friends nose. The younger teen frowned but nodded, sitting down on a bench a little way off. The older Russian followed, sitting down as well.

"So," he began, leaning back. "What's up?" Inwardly the slender teen smirked when Kai started fidgeting, but he didn't push.

"I called Rei this morning," he started, but after that he couldn't seem to find the words to finish, and everything was distracting him. Two fine eyebrows arched over impossibly blue eyes expectantly.

"And?"

"We talked..." The redhead tried to hide a grin. Imagine that.

With a sigh, the crimson-eyed Russian glanced at his friend before leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. "And, he asked me to come over for dinner," he finished finally.

"Nervous?" When Kai didn't answer, the older teen threw his arm over his shoulders. "You know what? I bet you he is too."

"Maybe," the blunette agreed, leaning into his friend. "But I bet you he's done this before." Blue eyes widened, realization dawning in them. Taking hold of the others strong chin, he kissed his forehead.

"You have nothing to worry about," he promised. "No one is really sure about what to do on a first date."

"Well, what did you do?" Tala blushed. Letting go of him he coughed, looking away.

"Now is hardly the time to change the subject." A wicked smirk sparked within his narrowed ruby eyes.

"I didn't change the subject at all," he countered nonchalantly. The older teen glared at him.

"Let's just say things didn't exactly go as planned." Figuring he would ask Bryan about it some other time, Kai shrugged it off, a delicate silence descending on them. Eventually, the taller Russian stood, offering a hand to his younger friend. Taking it, the blunette stood as well, looking up in question.

"Let's go then," Tala clarified, pulling the other along. "You're not going in jeans and a T-shirt."

...

Rei smiled to himself as he cut the steaks into strips and added it to the jalapenos and garlic in the skillet. Wiping his hands on a towel, he paused to check the noodles, his smile spreading into a grin.

Cooking had always been a hobby of his, working in the kitchen one of his greatest past-times.

Probably because he was a genius at it.

Allowing himself a giggle, the tiger stirred the noodles a few time before going back to the combination in his skillet. After he'd taken a shower he'd felt much better, that is, until he realized that he needed an outfit. So, scrambling around like a madman (because it was already four twenty), it took him all of fifteen minutes to find exactly what he'd been looking for.

He'd chosen a form-fitting, forest green tank top that revealed the black ink on his shoulder blade as well as a pair of dark, khaki cargos that rode provocatively low on his hips. He'd braided his hair, finishing it off with the red clip he normally wore at the end of his wrap, and allowed for his yin-yang bandana to keep his bangs in check. In the end, the neko was very pleased with himself. All that was left to do was finish the meal.

Looking over his shoulder, he frowned at the clock.

5:05

Turning back around to add the vegetables to the steak mixture in the skillet and drain the noodles, he decided that a little extra time was good anyway. Stepping away from the stove, he quickly tossed the salad before placing it on the table and then remembered the rice cooking that he'd all but forgotten. Just as he was taking it off the burner, a knock sounded at the door. Pausing a moment to take a deep breath, the tiger walked across the room, and politely answered the door.

For a long time, both teens simply stared at each other.

Kai was standing before Rei, dressed in a tight back tank top sporting a red trim on the edges of the sleeves, as well as a pair of grey/blue cargos that rested on his hips snuggly. Around his neck was a long white scarf that trailed down his back, the tails fluttering around his knees. He seemed almost regal to the tiger, like a noble taking a moment to visit his subjects, and his confident stance only added to his majestic appearance. Finally the stoic Russian shifted, slightly uncomfortable by his scrutinizing gaze, bringing the curious neko back to reality. Fighting a blush, he offered a warm smile.

"Come on in," he said, stepping away from the door. The blunette entered, standing silently where he was, taking in everything about the apartment as Rei turned his attention back to the stove.

"Sorry dinner isn't ready yet, it'll be just a few more minutes." Kai blinked, coming out of his revere to study his companion for a moment.

"I don't mind."

The raven-haired teen brightened gratefully before retrieving his and Kai's plates from the table. Setting them down on the counter he muttered something to himself before glancing back to see that the older teen hadn't moved. Quirking an eyebrow, he was suddenly fixed with a bloody stare.

"You can come in," he told the blunette gently around a smirk. Kai seemed to have only just realized what was going on, as if he had been in a daze the entire time. Now, as he slipped off his shoes, he let his bangs fall over his face to hide the pink tinge that he could feel blossoming over his cheeks.

"Do you want any help?" he asked suddenly, straightening as he walked into the kitchen. Rei paused as he divided the rice up on their plates, thinking.

"Actually, I'm all set here, but there are some drinks in the fridge if you could grab those for the table?" Nodding, the Russian did as he was told. When he looked back up, he caught a glimpse of the tattoo on the Chinese teen's shoulder blade when he had reached over the stove to add noodles to whatever he was cooking in the skillet.

"When did you do that?" he asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

"Do what?"

Coming to stand behind the neko, Kai brushed his hand lightly over the markings on his tanned skin. "This."

Rei stopped what he was doing, his golden eyes widening slightly. His skin prickled under Kai's fingers, and after the other teen pulled away, the tiger found himself sorely missing the sensation.

"It's a long story," he replied softly, as he turned off the burner and took the skillet up in his hands. Reaching around him, the blunette picked up their plates and followed the other teen to the table. When the tiger had put glasses of water down along with their drinks they sat, and Rei allowed his guest to serve himself first while he finished.

"I actually got this, when I turned ten," he began, surprised when Kai didn't seem the least bit shocked by his answer. "My people believe that we all possess a guardian spirit to protect us in our times of need," he stopped a minute when the Russian handed him the serving spoon.

"Yours is the tiger?" he asked, waiting patiently for his host to finish before beginning his own meal.

"Yes, but..." The Chinese teen blushed, looking up as he placed the spoon back in the skillet. "You must think I'm an idiot," he muttered. The older teen shook his head.

"Why do you do that?" Rei blinked, slightly confused. With a sigh, the stoic teen elaborated. "You write yourself off too easily."

"Sometimes people won't except the truth," he confessed timidly.

"I'm not going to berate your beliefs." At this, a smile began teasing the corners of the neko's full lips, until finally they expanded into a bright, gratifying smile. Kai felt a warmth surge through his chest at that look, and he smiled back despite himself.

"That means a lot. Thanks Kai." There was a long pause until finally, Rei picked up his fork, nodding for the blunette to do the same.

"Tell me what you think," he insisted, refusing to eat until the other teen had tried it.

Almost tentatively, Kai brought the noodles and rice to his mouth, lowering his head as he savored the tastes that assaulted his tongue. He had only ever sampled a few Russian dishes, each with it's own blunt yet crisp tastes, and even fewer American dishes during his stay. But this food was full of flavor, and he could feel the spices burning at his lips. He had truly never tasted anything quite like it, and when he looked back up at the slightly nervous neko-jin, his crimson gaze was sincere.

"It's amazing." Rei beamed, finally starting into his own dish. He felt his heart hammering in his chest, but it felt wonderful.

For the most part, dinner was eaten in silence, although neither was really uncomfortable with this, each only wanting to enjoy the other's company. And when the meal was over, Kai helped Rei clear the kitchen.

"Do you like ice cream?" the tiger asked suddenly, once they had finished. Furrowing his brows, the Russian couldn't remember having ever tried it.

"I don't know," he answered truthfully, slightly put off when the neko's eyebrows shot up disbelievingly. He was reassured shortly after when the Chinese teen produced a large tub from the freezer with a giddy look on his face.

"Care to find out?"

...

Kai dipped his spoon into his bowl again, allowing himself a generous amount of the frozen substance, which he proceeded to put in his mouth. Pulling the utensil passed his lips slowly, he let the ice cream melt in his mouth before swallowing.

He liked the mint, it reminding him of everything he had ever some to cherish---the snow in the park in Russia, cold and refreshing. Those few moments when he could embrace it seemed worth staying outside forever. Tala and Bryan, his best friends; soothing and enjoyable, and a great comfort when he needed them. And Rei...

He glanced at the younger teen at his side on the couch. He had folded his legs and put the bowl in his lap, eating out of it happily as if it were the only thing that gave him joy. Kai quirked a smile at this child-like behavior, feeling much more at ease with the Chinese teen.

"What's you favorite flavor?" he asked on a whim. Rei pondered the thought for a moment, holding the spoon in his mouth as he did.

"Sherbert." He answered decisively after removing the utensil. "It's kind of..." he trailed off, trying to find the right words to explain. "Fruity, and tropical," he shrugged, nudging the teen beside him. "It's great stuff, I'll have to get you some." Kai nodded, taking the information in.

"Have you traveled a lot?" The Russian paused, swallowing his ice cream before shaking his head wordlessly. Inwardly Rei kicked himself, recalling that Kai had told him in the coffee shop that he had been forbidden to leave his house. Looking away, ashamed, the neko set his bowl down on the coffee table in front of them.

"I'm sorry." Again he shook his head, setting his bowl down next to other.

"It's fine."

When he looked up, he found himself trapped in an impossible golden gaze. He felt rather than saw, the guilt and worry glittering in those depths, and was drawn to it. It scared him, but no matter how much he wanted to, he couldn't pull away. The tiger was close, any closer and their noses would be touching. For a moment his breath caught in his throat as the neko opened his mouth to say more, instead, leaned in further.

Hesitantly, he leaned in as well.

When their lips brushed against each other, Kai stopped, unsure. Thinking he had gone too fast, the Chinese teen began to pull away, but the moment the Russian could no longer feel the heat of his skin against his own, he knew that he wanted it. He moved with Rei, causing the raven-haired teen to look up, searching his garnet eyes for consent. Allowing his eyes to fall shut, silently, he gave it.

Leaning in again, the tiger took Kai's lips in his own, relishing in his taste. His hand slid to the back of his neck, pulling the older teen closer, deepening the kiss. The Russian gasped slightly, his parted lips giving Rei's tongue access to the rest of his mouth. He pressed himself up against the younger teen, pulling him closer by his waist, wanting more.

RING

Abruptly they parted, startled when the phone rang. Cursing under his breath, Rei kissed him lightly on the lips with an apologetic look before hopping the couch to grab the phone on the counter.

Kai sat where he was, not being able to feel anything but the sensation of the tiger's lips lingering on his own. It burned, and yet he wanted more.

His first kiss.

The neko's worried voice broke through his musings. Sitting up on his knees, he leaned over the back of the couch, watching his newfound lover as he paced the kitchen floor.

"He didn't even stop by?" A long pause, and the raven-haired teen paled considerably. He glanced over at the clock, and the blunette followed his gaze.

7:12

"Alright, thanks, I'll let you know. Yeah, bye." Tipping his head to the side, he waited for Rei to explain. In a shaky voice he spoke---

"Max was supposed to go over to a friends house tonight," he told him, unconsciously wringing his hands together. "That was her."

"What is it?"

The younger teen looked up at him then, as if pleading him to tell him that what he had just heard on the phone was a lie.

"He never showed up."

...

A/N: Uh-oh. What happened to Maxie? Guess you'll have to wait and see! Thanks for all of your wonderful reviews guys, you have no idea what they mean to me!