Chapter Seven everyone! As many of you probably noticed, Chapter Six was NOT spell checked. I do apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. I completely forgot to spell check before I posted it, as lame as that sounds. I need help! I can't find any last names that are Arabic that go with the name Gabriel. Does anyone have any ideas? Sadly, the story I need it for will not be posted on FFN because it is an original and I have yet to make a Fiction Press account. Please send in any suggestions. Other authors, that means you too! BTW, for all of you that are interested and think it's a pretty nifty idea like I did, all of my friends and I are writers and since we all have so many ideas but not enough time to write them, we devised a Writing Committee. What we do is we all pool our resources, time and stories and we have three or more people working on one at the same time. It's kind of like a newspaper office. O.o Anyways, that way we get new, fresh ideas and our stories get done faster. . Strange thing is, I didn't actually think that I would like this story when I first began it. True story. Hope you all like this chapter!
Disclaimer: Your more cracked than I thought
Chapter Seven An Unprecedented Response
Kinau and Rai arrived back at the club a little after ten. Duo was sitting at the bar exuding fury. Heero was working behind it but Kinau could see that his eyes were sharp as glass. Wu Fei could be seen from the kitchen with his hair pulled back in its usual ponytail and a very nonchalant expression. He hated letting people know something was bothering him but Kinau could see it. He always looked preoccupied when he was trying to hide it. He snuck up behind Duo when Heero's back was turned. Sensually, he ran his finger down Duo's spine making him shoot straight up, almost falling off his stool. Heero spun around, ready to defend his lover from unseen enemies but once he saw the brunette glomping the teen, he relaxed.
"Kinau, we were so worried!! It just wasn't the same without you!"
Heero looked around but no sign of Rai lingered. Odd.
Wu Fei and Quatre peeked out from their respective work places and, as if some great hand had been holding the tension in the air was taken away, the mood instantly lightened. He could see them let out an inward sigh of relief.
"Koi, how did it go?" Heero asked, wiping a glass off.
"Yeah, did he molest you? ' Cause, if he did…"
Kinau laughed but shook his head. He had no doubts about what Duo would do to Rai. And when you threw Heero into the mix, well that was just plain scary. They would tear him apart at the first hint of foul play. As much as he was angry with Rai and did not like him, he was interesting. When he was not trying to invade Kinau's personal space, he was a very intellegent conversationalist. He brought fresh things to the table to talk about instead of the usual 'who are we gonna kill, how much they're worth, when work is tommorrow, etc.' He wasn't ready for Rai to die and, although he would never say it out loud in front of his lovers, he did not think he wanted Rai to die at all. The vampire had been around ever since Kinau had first come to Shinjuku. He had witnessed many important events in his life. Like the first kiss between himself and Duo and Heero, or his first time on stage. Or the first time he met Tom, or the Lady, and the first time he entered Temptations. He had been there being a pervert for all of those. In fact, as Kinau now recalled, Rai had jumped to his defense with everyone else when Dumbledore found him. Without question.
"It was actually not bad. Rai behaved himself most uncharacteristically. He kept his hands to himself the entire time and I met his twin sister."
Duo shuddered at the mention of Tsuki.
"She was really nice to me and I got Rai in trouble with her after I showed her my bruise."
Heero raised an eyebrow but accepted what he said. Duo reluctantly followed his lead. They were not aware that Rai had just heard everything and was, even then, pondering over Kinau's words. The Lady's voice called Kinau down from the stairs leading to the Lower Levels. He bounced away happily.
"I was wondering when you would morph in." Heero said caustically.
Rai's look was eloquent.
"We need to talk. The three of us. We can go up to my balconey or we can talk here."
Duo gave Heero a look and made to say something but the Japanese man spoke first.
"I assume this is about Kinau."
Rai nodded and the look in his eyes was so angry and grim that Heero's curiousity won out. If Rai attacked he would simply kill him. On the other hand, he may actually have something worth listening to. About Kinau? What could it possibly be?
" Trowa, Duo and I are taking ten." He called back to his comrade.
Trowa gave an 'ok' and slid behind the bar. Heero gave his thanks and the two lovers followed the vampire up to the balconey.
It was empty of everyone except them and Rai gestured to the three chairs situated in a circle. It looked like a macabre therapy session. Duo was getting impatient. He really had a thing about the undead. The dead he could deal with. That was their job, after all. They dealt with the dead. But if it was dead and still talking and moving, that's when it became a problem.
"So what do you want?" He growled out of clenched teeth.
Rai looked him square on.
"Have you ever seen Kinau's scars before?"
The question seemed to rock them. Duo looked confused.
"Yes…"
"All of them?"
More confusion. Heero picked up the conversation for Duo.
"Which ones would you be talking about?"
The vampire turned around and looked out over the balcony at the child sitting at the bar. Kinau was chatting away happily with Trowa who was smiling in response. The patrons ordering their drinks seemed immersed in his very presence. The atmosphere around them seemed lighter. Kinau had that effect on people.
" The scars on his hips. The scratches."
Heero's face had gone blank and Duo was looking alittle confused. Rai could see the thoughts ticking behind Duo's head. How did he know about scars that they didn't and how did he see them if they were on Kinau's hips. Rai could be trying to cause problems but…How could he have seen them on Kinau's hips? Why would Kinau hide them from his lovers but let his enemy see them? Why would he lie and say nothing had happened if he hadn't given Rai permission to see them and the vampire had used force?
"No. We haven't." Heero admitted.
Rai nodded, his look becoming all the more grim.
"His uncle did them when he was younger. Probably just before he came here if my memory serves correct. His uncle used to rape him. All the time. Kinau described it to me as him being the 'family whore'."
Duo stood up angrily.
"How do you know this and we don't?!? How did you find out about all of this and Kinau didn't tell us?!"
Rai slammed his hand down on the table to quiet the angry man. It worked well even though Duo was still fuming.
"That's not the point! The point is we have to kill these bastards! If Kinau gets taken by Dumbledore then he will be sent back to these people!!"
Duo crossed his arms in a huff.
"Yeah, fat chance, pal."
Rai stepped close to them, his face falling blank and empty.
"It's more likely than you think."
Heero stepped in between them, successfully shielding his mate from their enemy even though he knew that Duo didn't need it. It was more to stop Duo from jumping the gun and jumping Rai.
"So what do you propose we do about this?" He asked, his hand curling around to Duo's waist to calm him.
Rai grinned at last although it was a dark smile filled with destructive promises. The same one Duo used when he became Shinigami.
"We do what we do best. We kill them. We kill them and we leave their miserable carcasses to rot in their own home."
Duo looked at Heero and they shared a silent message. As much as they hated and despised Rai, he was right. They couldn't let Kinau go back there. In a way, they both understood why Kinau didn't want to show them those scars. He was ashamed of what he had been. Of the things he had been forced to do. He didn't want them to think less of him for what he had done.
" Sounds like a plan."
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"A job? Isn't this a little sudden?" Kinau asked, looking over at Heero with surprise.
Duo had gone to wait on a party of eight who were all heavily intoxicated. He'd been really thrilled to do that.
"It's quite a ways away so we will be gone for a few days. So we've decided to leave immediately instead of waiting. You can stay with Quatre and the others if you need to. Actually, I believe that I would prefer it."
Kinau frowned.
"Does it have a time limit?"
Heero looked at him and anger at Kinau's relatives washed over him again. And ever so slightly…suspicion. All of the questions that Rai had risen in them had still gone unanswered. Surely Kinau wasn't fooling around with that bastard behind their backs…Right? Kinau wouldn't do that…would he?
"Hai. It has a time limit."
Kinau huffed dejectedly. The job had asked for Heero and Duo expressly so he didn't get to go on this one. Maybe he would have a hit soon. Hopefully. They were leaving for a few days, they'd said, but they didn't say how long exactly. That was probably because they didn't know but Heero could usually give him a rough estimate.
" Alright…"
Heero's hand touseled his hair playfully but Kinau could tell something was on his beloved's mind. He pulled him down for a spine tingling kiss that had women nearby sweating.
"What's wrong, Koi? What are you thinking about so intently?"
He couldn't help but be a little concerned. Heero didn't often have that grim, thoughtful look in his eyes. The Prussian blue orbs gazed into his own as if searching for some unseen answer that he only had to look for to find. A hand encircled Kinau's wrist and he was pulled slowly and gently into Heero's body. The women nearby were watching them with pleasure filled gazes. Kinau laughed inwardly. They were crazier than rabbits in heat. He wrapped his arms around his lover's neck and let Heero kiss and nuzzle him to his heart's content. The Lady had encouraged behavior like this. It made the women happy and the men didn't have to worry about their girlfriends running off with the help.
Duo, Heero and Kinau had absolutely no problem. Neither, in fact, did Quatre or Trowa. Wu Fei, much to his relief, been confined to the kitchen most of the time so he didn't have to participate. Rai had been seen glaring when these 'displays' were on. PDA at the peak of it's usefulness. A shudder ran through him at the feel of a hot tongue on his neck. The women weren't the only ones with problems. What was he going to do for so long without his kois? Hell if he knew.
"Kinau, Heero, you seem to be having a good time." The Lady said with a wonderful smile.
Severus was at her side looking like he had better places to be. Kinau blushed violently and Heero just rubbed circles on his back to comfort him. The teen waved to the potion's master who inclined his head in acknowledgement. The Lady was wearing a Victorian styled dress made of what looked like some swaying material and leather. A long heart shaped locket hung down near her navel from a silver chain. She looked stunning in it.
"Kinau, I apologize for not being here when you came back. How was your date with Rai?"
He just shrugged.
"Not bad, actually. Not as bad as I expected. It was…interesting."
Heero's arms tightened around him and Kinau snuggled close to him reassuringly.
" Good. I would have hated it if you had had a bad time. Kinau, may I speak to you in my office, please?"
He seemed somewhat taken aback. Apparently, so was Heero. Kinau nodded with a subdued expression.
"Of course, My Lady…"
"Excellent. Severus, It was lovely talking to you and travel safe. It would not be good for you to come out of the wrong fireplace."
"Goodnight, Lady."
Kinau said goodbye to Heero and Severus before following the Lady to her office. The lower levels were buzzing with activity. People getting ready for bed who's shifts were over and people who were about to go on stage. He loved this buzz of life. It was so unusual to see no one down here. The sound, however, was cut off abruptly when the heavy wood door closed behind them.
Quatre sat in one of the chairs in front of her desk with a smiling expression on his face. At his side were Tom and Rai.
"Kinau, don't look so grim. You aren't in trouble."
He must have had some sort of strange look on his face for Quatre to say that but he schooled it quickly. Just like Heero had taught him.The Lady sat down at the desk and gestured for him to sit in the chair beside his friends and the vampire. After everyone was comfortable, she turned to Kinau.
"You are probably wondering why I have you and the odd assortment of company in here, correct?"
He looked at Tom and then back to her. The man was being very closed off and distant. He wouldn't even look at Kinau.
"Hai…"
She sat back and sighed. Rai was watching Kinau intently. At his look, the teen blushed uncontrollably. He couldn't help it. The memory of the night's last events was too fresh in his mind.
"Kinau, I want you as my heir. To be my successor."
He gaped like a fish. Disbelief was written, no, scribbled on his face. Rai's smirk of amusement was what brought him back to his senses. At least he wasn't blushing anymore. He would hate for everyone to know that Rai had bothered him tonight. He looked over at Quatre. The man thought his expression was just as funny as Rai did.
"But, my Lady, I thought Quatre was going to be your heir."
She smiled but shook her head.
"Iie Kinau. It's you. Quatre has no interest in being my heir as he has already made fully clear. And why, do you wonder, are Tom and Rai here?"
Kinau nodded. This was all such a shock and after everything else that had happened lately…For some reason, he was reminded of the kiss between Tom and him. He began to blush again.
"They are here because you have a connection with them both. Tom metaphysically, and Rai through…well…Rai wants you to be his fledgling. Seeing as how your chances are fifty-fifty, I thought it necessary for him to be here. Will you accept this Kinau? Will you accept the title of being my sole successor and taking care of the club and all of the people who live here and depend on me and this place?"
There was no hesitation. If he didn't accept, eventually, all of the people who lived and worked at Temptations would be thrown out when the Lady was too tired to go on. He couldn't let that happen. He had been here for years. He had practically grown up with these people. He couldn't let them lose their home and family if he could stop it.
"Of course I will accept, My Lady. I couldn't let everyone down like that."
She smiled, a trace of pride in her eyes. She knew that she had chosen right. However…
"Can you do what's best for this place and it's inhabitants even if it includes becoming Rai's mate or someone else's?"
He froze. Quatre looked carefully blank, although he wasn't as good as Heero. Kinau could tell that he was worried. Tom had stiffened slightly. Kinau's heart was heavy. Rai was as blank as if he were dead. That in itself was debatable. He couldn't imagine a life spent with Rai and not being able to see Heero or Duo or Tom or anyone.
Surely he would die. For the first time, he realized that the Lady was right. His chances of being bonded to Rai for eternity were good. It was disheartening to say the least.
"Of course…" He said softly.
She nodded in understanding, sympathy in her eyes.
"Marriage between leaders is a common thing, Kinau. It seals deals and creates alliances. After I am gone, you will need to hold onto the alliances we have now. For example, with the Dark Lord or with Rai's clan. Also, you will inherit everything for me. My magic, my estates, my knowledge and my experience. Tom and Quatre will be your closest advisors and more than likely you will change due to the things you will know and have seen. Don't get discouraged, though. I will teach you everything it is that you will need to know. As of now, you have as more authority than any other person working here."
It was all so much…His mind couldn't decide whether it was too much or not. A warm hand touched his softly and Kinau looked up at Tom. He was looking down at him with something in his eyes that was impossible to interpret.
Kinau understood, though. Tom had known the Lady would say what she did about the marriage. He had been afraid to see what he would think. But when he saw Kinau's mind in turmoil, he came to offer comfort and support. The hand stroked his head and Kinau smiled his thanks at him. He could do this and he would. Rai had been watching the scene with barely veiled jealousy.
Author's Notes To the Readers:
I know, I know. My chapters before this haven't really been spell checked. I'm not really very good at that when I am typing on another person's computer. I try but you know these Word Processor programs. Sometimes they pick up the mistakes and some times they don't. So how did you all like it? Did you like it, love it, hate it. Well, actually, don't bother reviewing it if you hated it. If you do, then I don't care. For all of you who do like it, I love you all. You all are the reason that I spend countless hours on the computer at home and at school, typing through classes and lunch even when I am sick of staring at a stupid glowing screen. Love ya!