"It's still ringing...Er... yes... hello Jiraya. It's Kai... from the bar? Yes. I was wondering... cough... if you'd like to go for a drink sometime? Er.. yeah... Samuel's Bar?... Yeah... when?...How about tomorrow night?...7ish?.. Ok then. I'll meet you there. Bye."
Kai exhaled deeply and put his phone back in his pocket. Done.
"Now that wasn't too hard was it?"
Kai just looked at Ray, who could almost see the flames of anger in Kai's eyes at such a question being asked in that tone.
"Ok. Ok. Don't kill me yet. We've still got along way to go..."

Chapter 7.

"Are you done yet?" Ray called through the bathroom door. He put his ear up against the door and could hear much cursing coming from the room's occupant.
Kai was struggling to pull a comb through his thick hair as Ray had insisted that it needed something doing to it before the dreaded date. He stepped back and looked at himself in the mirror.
"It's fine." He assured himself. He'd managed to tame his hair a little bit but it still held some of the unruliness of its owner.
Kai opened the bathroom door to be greeted by a defeated looking Ray.
"Well, I don't suppose it'll go any better then that. Nevermind. Come on, you don't wanna be late." Kai followed Ray to his car and got in the passenger seat.

The ride to Samuel's was a very quiet one. Kai's was more of a nervous silence. Ray's one of anticipation. He was excited for Kai. He wanted this to go well for his former captain. He felt that he deserved to have a bit if normality in his life. Ray pulled up outside the bar and... nothing happened.
"Go on then."
Kai sat there.
"Kai, it'll be fine. You're Kai Hiwatari. Since when does anything not go how you plan!"
At that Kai awoke from his temporary paralysis, quickly got out the car and walked into the bar. Ray drove away speedily, not wanting to give Kai any excuse to back out and get back in the car.
Kai headed straight for the bar and ordered himself his usual; double vodka, straight. "I wondered when you were going to get here."
Kai swung around quickly.
"Oh. Hi. I didn't realise you were already here."
"I've not been here long."
Jiraya looked different to when Kai had last seen her, she had had her hair tied back in a ponytail when she'd been working at the bar of the restaurant. However, now she had her hair down, framing her round face perfectly. She still wore no make-up that Kai could see, apart from her lips looked slightly shiny. Kai guessed that was some sort of glossy stuff. He wasn't exactly an expert on women's toiletries so he didn't really know what it was. Jiraya was wearing a simple off-white top and a creamy coloured knee length skirt that, overall, made her look quite elegant but still casual. Kai once again noticed those piercing green eyes and found himself being lost in them. He couldn't help it, there was just something about them. He suddenly realised her was staring and looked away sharply.
"Something wrong?" Jiraya asked, concerned.
"No. Nothing's wrong." Kai searched desperately for something to say. He liked the silence, but he was starting to feel uncomfortable. How could he have let himself get into such an unfamiliar situation? He hated not being in control.
"Have you worked at the bar long?"
"Well, I've worked there for nearly two years, which I guess you could say isn't long, but it feels like longer. Do you work?"
Kai started at being asked a question. He wasn't usually one to be forthcoming with information about himself. He considered the question.
"I do something you wouldn't understand so there's no point explaining."
"Oh."
Silence followed.
The night continued with the pair exchanging small titbits of information every now and then. The night really didn't seem to be going well, and Kai was getting more and more closed off every second. This was just too strange to him. Jiraya had noticed this about Kai and was getting curious about this young man whom had asked her out but then seemed to be enjoying the night less and less as it went on. She had been on many dates before, but this was definitely the weirdest one. She'd been thrilled when Kai had asked her out as she'd spotted him as soon as he'd walked into the restaurant the other night. He'd stuck out as a person who really didn't want to be there. His whole demeanour had been defensive from the second he'd entered. However she'd, for one thought he was absolutely gorgeous, but also thought that he looked mysterious. She wanted to understand him and she didn't even know why. She was intrigued by him. This is why she persevered with him.

Half an hour later and the couple were no better off. Kai was still avoiding most of Jiraya's questions, and Jiraya was still trying to get him to answer them, when the lights in the bar suddenly dimmed and music came on.
Kai looked around, slightly confused.
"The place turns into a disco after half eight." Jiraya explained. "Do you want to dance?"
Kai gave Jiraya a look and flatly replied,
"No."
"Come on. One dance. I swear. But I suppose if you're scared then we could just stay here." Jiraya purposely laid down a challenge to Kai who picked up on it immediately. Kai Hiwatari never refused a challenge... but it was dancing. Kai didn't dance. It was pathetic and girly and just not right! But then again she was questioning Kai's courage and that couldn't be allowed to stand. Kai made a move to go with Jiraya but then stopped.
"Come on Kai," Jiraya's voice softened. "Just one dance..." A bolt of electricity shot up Kai's arm as she lightly took hold of his hand. He looked down at where their hands were entwined and suddenly felt quite giddy. Her touch felt like... like a live power cable attached to his body, but it felt...nice? Kai looked up into the hand's owner's face. Jiraya was smiling softly. Those piercing eyes were once again penetrating his cold exterior. He couldn't stop it. It was what had caused him to ask her out in the first place. Those eyes...
"Er.. em.." Stuttering again! Get a hold of yourself Kai! He mentally scolded. Jiraya's face brightened further.
"Oh good. Come on then." She said cheerfully, and proceeded to drag Kai across to the rapidly filling dance floor.

Another chapter up. Hope you like it. It should be getting good soon. I've got some good ideas for the next few chapters, especially the next one. In fact I might write it straight away so that I don't have chance to forget it!