Title: The other side of the barrier

Chapter 1 – Who's there?

The strong northern wind rose, bringing the first snowflakes with itself. Dark clouds appeared on the horizon, looming ominously. The slate haired man turned his eyes to the north, seeing the snowstorm already beginning in Moscow. Far suburbs, where the archeology plot had been situated, were still without snow either on the ground or in the air, but the strong wind was a portent of ice hell that was going to break out.

The excavations territory below him was full of working archeologists and specialists. They were looking for remnants from tsar's old residence.

'That crazy Kablukov, where did he get this damn idea from? Looking for tsar's remnants in Moscow... As if nobody before tried that...What had been to find has already been found.'

His silent tirade had been interrupted by small man in white gown, who approached his boss and timidly spoke up:

'Sir, it seems that the weather will not allow to proceed our research today.'

The wind blew even more, forcing Kai Hiwatari to raise the fur collar of his black coat while nodding to the man. He was to walk away when the noise brought up his attention. In the eastern part of excavations a bigger group of workers had gathered and there was a lot of commotion. One person left the crowd and ran in the Kai's direction, waving his hands and smiling. Reaching the foot of hillock on which his boss stood, he managed to cough up:

'We've found something... It seems to be some kind of painting, but it's too dirty to state for sure,' he took a deep breath and continued. 'It needs some restoration.'

'Transport it to the laboratory. Call me when you find something,' and with that quick command Kai walked away to his car, leaving the commotion behind. He didn't show it, but this new discovery raised his curiosity. It was always like that, when something new was found, something which wasn't meant to to be, he was first to find its previous usage, its hidden past. But now he could do nothing but wait for the first analyses and good restoration. Not that he didn't trust his scientist – all in all, he was employing the best team in the whole Russia – but he tended to work individually.

When he finally reached his mansion, a certain redhead welcomed him, which wasn't the best option considering his rather impatient mood.

'So, you've finally got bored with that foolish rubbish, haven't you?' Tala teased with a smug smirk on his pale face.

'Screw you, Ivanow,' Kai growled, leaving the coat on a stand and heading towards the stairs, up to his room. Much to his annoyance Tala didn't obey, following his friend.

It wasn't that they hated each other guts. They were real friends, more like brothers, but maybe that's why they tended to argue quite a lot and taunt each other.

When they finally reached Kai's room, Tala shook his head at the sight of piles of files and books scattered all over the desk. The room was divided into two parts, one playing a role of study, the other – with a king-sized canopy bed – being the owner's shelter.

'You should concentrate more on new technology instead of digging in books, soil and dust.'

'That's why I have you. Speaking of which, how did it go with ApekSoft?'

'Piece of cake. I granted them with some presentations and my brilliant speech. From now on we have a monopoly for security equipment in all Moscow museums.'

Slate bangs move up as the crimson eyes rolled on at Tala's lack of modesty. He was to say something, but his cell phone interrupted him.

// Sir, we managed to state a few facts. First, the wooden, adorned frame is dated from 18th century, from Peter the Great reign. Nonetheless, the painting is much older – it's from the end of 7th century and it comes from China. //

'7th? The Tang dynasty...' Kai thought aloud. 'Maybe it has come somehow by Silk Route?'

// We think the same, sir. It's highly probable. The canvas is in surprisingly good condition; sometime between 18th and 19th century it became isolated with glass pane. I've already sent it to you, sir.//

As Kai hang up, he saw Tala rummaging around in his bookcases. He shook his head helplessly, knowing that the redhead was doing it only because he was bored.

'Where did you lose your beloved falcon?' he asked, moving also to the bookcase and picking some books that would give him so clues concerning the found painting.

'He is trying to win phoenix's tender,' Tala answered dryly while stretching his back and turning around.

'I'm going to swim a bit. Feel free to join.'

'Hn,' was all did Kai say, his nose already buried in one of the books.

While Tala was making his way towards the swimming pool in the basement, his head was engulfed in thoughts. Even if he didn't show that, he really cared for Kai. After all, they shared the same past, they experienced the same fears and suffering, they spent many years in the same hell.

'Kai should find someone for himself at last. Maybe he would become less moody. I know that being the head of that dead bastard Voltaire's company is a bit tiresome, even for him. But still... ' He stopped on his way and clenched his fits. 'He doesn't deserve this shitty life, his childhood and the Abbey. Even more than we all...'

'Damn!'

The pale fist hit the wall, making the nearby statue shake a bit.

Cool water in a pool was all he needed right now. While he was doing the tenth length, he caught the glimpse of a lilac haired man standing on the side of pool wearing nothing but swimming trunks. Tala stopped and smirked.

'It took you ages,' he swam in Bryan's direction. 'How was it?'

'You know Tala that I can pass on my arguments effectively.' Bryan smirked, sinking to the water and wrapping his arms round the slander waist of his lover. 'Though I was really missing you,' he murmured into redhead's neck. Tala turned his head and they crossed his lips in a passionate kiss.

Suddenly there was a loud slap and they felt something heavy and wet on their heads.

'What the fuck?' Tala cursed, trying to get rid of the wet towel from his head.

'I thought you had invited me here to swim, not to watch your make out session.'

They raised their heads only to see Kai standing over them with his hands crossed. Tala was to speak his mind about the wet towel on his head but a servant who had just entered the pool interrupted him.

'Sir, the painting has arrived.'

Kai followed the servant, eager to see the find. The Russian pair, with still dump hair, quickly joined him, the towels threw on their shoulders.

'I thought you aren't interested in such "rubbish",' Kai said with a smirk, not bothering to stop on its way.

'I want to see what is all the fuss about,' Tala answered, trying to dry his hair with towel. Bryan remained silent, apparently not familiar with a topic. They reached the hall where a few servants where standing with the big frame covered with some fabric. As Kai approached the package, Tala was initiating Bryan into the details.

Kai uncovered the frame with one swift move, revealing the paining. It was showing a black haired boy, who was sleeping in an embryonic position. He was painted in such way that the observers could watch him as if from the ceiling. His long hair where braided and wrapped with white fabric, the long bangs held back by red bandana. He was wearing Chinese clothes – a long, white, sleeveless shirt with slits on its sides, black pants and shoes on bare feet. His slender waist was wrapped around with red sash.

'Guess your client won't be interested. As far as I know, he was looking for something "tsarist". It's too oriental for his taste,' Tala remarked.

Kai rolled his eyes but silently agreed with Tala. It wasn't what he was supposed to look for. Nevertheless, it was still valuable and interesting for him.

'Take it to my room,' he ordered, putting the cover back at the paining.

It was late night when Kai entered his bedroom. He had done his usual work out and looked through some books concerning the Silk Route. When he was about to lie down, the covered frame caught his eyes. Approaching it, he tenderly lowered down the curtain, closely examining the canvas. A small bedside lamp was casting dull light, making the figure of boy even more realistic.

'Wait a second...' Kai suddenly thought, taking an even closer look. 'Strange, I would give my right arm that his leg was previously bent...'

Making a step forward, he found himself nearly touching the canvas, his chest only millimeters away from its surface. He felt strange pang in his heart as he slowly touched the cold glass, which was separating him from the sleeping figure. He couldn't tear his eyes off the Chinese face, being absorbed in his fine features, his peaceful face, and his ideal contour.

'Perfect,' he thought. 'He even looks as if he was blinking...' this thought struck him. 'What the hell...' he whispered while the boy in the painting slowly opened his eyes and turned a sleepy face in Kai's direction. Chinese eyes grew a bit as he became aware of the Russian presence, who himself wasn't less shocked. The boy stretched himself and approached the glass, touching it with both his hands. Stunned, Kai took one step back, still not sure about the sight in front of him. His shock rose even more, when he heard silent, muffled voice from behind the glass pane:

'Who are you?'

The curtain, suddenly thrown on the frame, blocked him the vision of slate haired man.

TBC

A/N: It's just a start, so I decided to keep this chapter a bit "superficial", without sinking in deeper matters – if you get what I mean ;)

You can get an impression that Kai is some kind of bookworm, but it's not the completely true. He is still the tough, fit and wise guy we all love

Anyway, please leave a review and write what you think about it:)