Disclaimer: I own nothing but the clothes on my back and a handful of lint... Yes, I am mindlessly broke. :(

III. We Begin

Jared felt his wife's small hands squeeze his shoulders upon hearing Kaidou's request. The barely concealed look of horror on her face did not go unnoticed by the two men- Jared most of all. He did not know exactly what had happened between Rei and Kaidou in the past but he knew enough. He knew that once upon a time, Kaidou had been Jun Hino's protégé, that Kaidou had been to every event Jun and his lovely daughter had been to. He knew that Kaidou's marriage had been an archaic political marriage. And now that he was face to face with Kaidou, he knew, from the predatory gleam in his eyes, that he was pining for his new wife.

He knew what he wanted to do- he wanted to refuse Kaidou's request. But he couldn't- it wouldn't be diplomatic, it wouldn't be cordial.

Because we all have to play.

Deceit was the theme for the day. They all had important roles to play. Jun, the supportive father and the honest politician, Rei, the quintessential trophy wife and he, unfortunately was to play the diplomatic businessman, cordial host and adoring husband. So how could he, the cordial host, possibly refuse a guest's request?

One look at Rei and he knew she knew what he was thinking about.

"Of course you can." With that, he hesitantly loosened his hold on Rei's petite frame and handed her off to Kaidou, but not before planting a chaste kiss on her luscious lips, to show where ownership lay.

Her heart did a little flip at Jared's chaste kiss, but that little flip did nothing to quell her fear of what's to come.

Kaidou…

Inevitable circumstances have somehow become Rei's new pet peeve. Inevitable weddings, inevitable propositions, and now, the inevitable dance with the one man she had been trying her very best to avoid.

Rei felt her body stiffen as Kaidou moved closer. Just when he reached for her, she stopped him dead in his tracks with an icy glare that all but said 'Don't mess with me unless you want to be dismembered in the most painful way imaginable'. A small smile crept to her lips at Kaidou's stunned expression to her rather blunt visual warning. When Kaidou finally recovered, she had already wound her arms about his neck and started to sway to the music.

Her smile was short-lived when a mischievous grin appeared on her dancing partner's lips. Kaidou's imposing frame bent so his lips were close to her ear. "You play your part convincingly." He softly whispered in the most sensual voice she had ever heard from him.

Sensual?! It wasn't even possible- how could those words possibly sound sensual? There was nothing mildly sensual about 'you play your part convincingly'. Sensual was not a word commonly associated with Kaidou. He was a practical man, a tactician, a logical thinker. There was nothing sensual about him. Yet there she was, shivering in his grasp because of words that have somehow inconceivably become sensual.

Damn you.

He was her confidante, her close friend, her fellow kindred spirit… He was the man she fancied herself in love with, but never in those younger years did she realize that Kaidou was just like any other man, that he too had an allure, and that he was also sensual. When she realized that, she began to panic. She could deal with Kaidou, her father's assistant. She could even deal with Kaidou, the worthless bastard who broke her heart. But she was having a hard time on handling Kaidou, the man- the married man who was being non-too subtle about his intentions. She panicked and looked around for a familiar face.

Jared.

Rei felt a slight tug on her hips and looked up. "Don't worry, I'll be returning you to him after this dance."

And there he was again, using that voice. She glared at him and tried her very best to act nonchalant. "Where's Maya?"

"Dancing with dignitaries."

Her perfectly shaped eyebrows arched at his instantaneous answer. "You mean campaigning?"

Knowing where the conversation was headed, he decided it was best to change topic. "That was a good show you put on at church."

"I do what I can."

She felt him stop, his hands gripping her hips tighter. "What for?"

"You know how these things work, Kaidou."

He bowed his head and grew somber for a while. When he looked at her, she could tell he was disappointed. "Yes, I just didn't expect you to be doing this."

"This? What pray tell is this?" She hotly demanded, being extra careful to keep her voice low enough so the other dancing couples could not overhear.

He let go of her hips for a moment and gestured generally about the reception area- flailing his hands desperately. "This show, this masquerade. Why are you doing all this?"

"I like to torture myself."

"Why?"

"I'm a masochist." Came her sardonic reply.

Kaidou dropped his head, defeated. "Rei, I know you. I can tell when you're lying."

"Of course you can, lying is your specialty." She finished her retort with a saccharine smile.

"Rei, please, I know you need help."

Fleetingly forgetting about their guests, Rei stopped dancing and looked at Kaidou pointedly. "This isn't the place for this discussion, Kaidou."

He, also shortly forgetting about where they were, dragged Rei to the balcony- a better reception for 'this discussion'.

Not at all pleased with being dragged around during her own wedding, in a rather uncomfortable gown, Rei snatched her hand from Kaidou's grasp and gave him the most scathing glare she could muster. "What are we doing here?"

"We have to talk." He answered calmly.

"About what?"

He looked at her pleadingly with those steel blue eyes and said, "I just want to help you."

"Help me with what?" She angrily demanded, "There's nothing you can 'help' me with."

"I know you, Rei." He declared.

Rei crossed her arms and looked Kaidou straight in the eyes. "No, you knew me. Now, you don't."

Undeterred, he inched closer, "I know the girl I kissed eight years ago."

Her expression was deadpan, her mouth set into a thin line. "She died when you left."

"I wont leave you now." He knew it was a nearly impossible declaration, but he wanted her to listen- he wanted… He wasn't exactly sure what he wanted from her, but he knew he wanted something and he knew she was the only person who could give him what he wanted.

She surprisingly threw her head back and laughed for the first time in weeks, "We both know that's a lie. And," She raised her right hand and showed him her platinum wedding band, "you're a bit late, Kaidou." With that she went back to the reception area to look for Jared.

TBC

AN

Forgive, forgive for the late update. I swear, the next one will be in two/three days… I've been experiencing connection problems and the DSL people aren't helping… DAMN THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The title for this chapter was supposed to be 'The Cards are Dealt' but it's too long so I stuck with 'We Begin'… I guess things will pick up from here. :D

Review, flame… whatever… anything is welcome.

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THE REVIEWERS! MWAH!!! ME LOVES YOU ALL!