"What do you think we should do?" Rei asked, being the first person to speak since Tala left an hour ago. The three had been silent ever since, minding their own business.

"How the hell should I know?" Kai snapped, clearly irritated if the tone of his voice was not obvious enough.

Bryan glared. "Don't take out your frustration on him."

Kai glared right back. "If it wasn't because of that little slut, I- no, we- wouldn't be in this position!"

"Mind your words, Hiwatari," Bryan growled.

"Would you two stop it?!" Rei yelled. "It was all because of us quarrelling like a bunch of idiots that Tala became mad in the first place."

"No, it was more than that," Bryan muttered and he did not need to specify because they all knew.

Kai collapsed on a chair nearby and covered his eyes with his hand. He let out a sigh of frustration, wondering why the hell all these happened. Hell, he and Rei were from the same team yet they were treating each other like they were nemesis. Okay so maybe thinking back it was sort of his fault but all those things would not have happened if Rei had not come up with that scheme.

"I'm sorry," Rei said.

"What are you apologising for?" Bryan asked gently.

"It's my fault! If I hadn't-"

"If," Kai interrupted. "It has happened so forget about it."

"So you don't blame me?" Rei asked before shaking his head. "Wait, that's ridiculous. Of course you blame me, especially with someone of your temperament."

Kai let out a low chuckle. "It's funny how well you know me."

Rei shrugged. They had been teammates for what- five years? Well, somewhere around there. If he did not know Kai well, what type of person would he be? Yes. What type of person was he? To have used his friend like that... it was all his fault.

Bryan sighed mentally. He felt jealous. He knew Kai before Rei and yet he had not known how Kai would react yet Rei knew so well. This was why he was jealous. He could not help but feel that Rei understood the Hiwatari more than him. Maybe Kai knew Rei better too. After all, he had known Rei earlier and had even been on the same team as him before.

He mentally cursed as he started thinking that maybe Rei had been serious about Kai when they were together... even though it was only pretence and he had been the one who told Rei to do it. Hell. They really slept with each other though, and Bryan had not told Rei to do that. But he supposed it was needed if Kai were to believe them.

"I'll go out for a while to think," Bryan muttered. Rei made to follow him but he shook his head. "Alone."

Rei nodded in understanding but that did not stop the flash of pain that passed his eyes. Bryan needed to think alone and that was what he would let Bryan do. It hurt him to know that Bryan did not want his help though. Even though Bryan did not say it, Rei knew. It was obvious.

Kai scoffed when he saw Rei's pained expression. "He just needs some time alone."

"He hates me... a little anyway," Rei muttered softly.

Kai rolled his eyes. "Tala hates me... a lot anyway."

"Trust you to be so sarcastic at a time like this," Rei said, shaking his head.

Kai shrugged and turned to look out of the window. "It would have been so much better if none of this had happened."

Rei nodded. "Of course."

--

Bryan let out a breath he did not know that he had been holding. He was having doubts about coming to Russia now. Was it a mistake? Everything that was happening seemed to be jeopardising his and Rei's relationship. He did not know how much longer he could take this. He was starting to hate Rei... a little. Yes, it was his idea for Rei to seduce Kai but Rei could have refused!

"Fuck it all," he muttered.

"Of course," a voice called out sarcastically.

"Shut it, shrimp."

"Bry, what's wrong?" Spencer asked concernedly – ever the mother hen of the group.

Bryan sighed, weighing the pros and cons of the situation wearily. It would not hurt to tell them everything right? They have known each other since they were in diapers! Well, not exactly in the case of Ian but that was really not the point.

"You guys would hate me," he assured them. "Though not as much as Tala."

"We'll try not to," Spencer joked, not convinced the whatever Bryan had done would cause he and Ian to hate him.

"Yes, because we already do," Ian said and was smacked on the head by Spencer. Bryan chuckled lowly.

"I don't think so..." he said.

"Tell us," Ian insisted. "I know we might not be able to help and might - as you say, hate you - but still, we're friends right? Come on, we practically knew one another our whole lives!"

That last sentence was all Bryan needed to push away his doubts. He smiled and nodded before telling them everything. He would be surprised if they did not think that he was a bastard when he was done but he would not know until he was done. But they were his friends and for now, he would have to trust that they would not hate him.

Well, he was certain that Tala would be angry if they forgave him so quickly. He would be too but he was not the one in the red head's position. He knew that Tala would hate him more of course if those two forgave him. After all, he was not the red head's best friend – aside from Kai – for nothing.

--

Tala looked down from the rooftop he was on at Bryan, Spencer and Ian. He let a sigh escape his lips. It was ironic that those three were still so close. Maybe it was because the other two hardly knew anything that had transpired. But already he was feeling like it was his fault. He was the one being left out after all.

"This is retarded," he muttered. "Feeling guilty when nothing was my fault."

It was true he realised. None of the things that happened was his fault. Perhaps falling in love with the Hiwatari was one but that did not exactly count. Then there was forgiving Kuznetsov and Kon too. But what was done was done and he did not intend to forgive them a second time... unless they deserved it.

"They don't," he murmured, contempt laced in his voice.

"You don't have to be so hard-hearted most of the time," a voice pointed out calmly from behind him.

"Shut it," he snapped, knowing at once who that voice belonged to.

Said owner rolled his eyes and stood beside Tala, watching the conversation as well though he could not hear them from this height.

"Well I don't know what they're saying since I obviously can't read lips like you," he commented, shrugging.

"I have a brilliant suggestion then; fuck off," Tala said.

"You wish," replied the other person sourly.

Tala turned to face Garland and glared. "What are you doing here?"

"I saw you stalking and so I followed?"

"I asked you 'what'," Tala repeated, turning his attention back to the more important issue. That being the conversation his teammates were having.

"No reason," Garland replied.

Tala rolled his eyes. Garland had been in Russia for about a year for a 'pleasure vacation' as he had put it and it was a coincidence they met but ever since the fateful day, Garland and Tala had sort of form a friendship – well, acquaintanceship.

Tala ignored Garland. He would leave sooner or later and he prayed sooner! Garland was currently being like a bug – an annoying bug buzzing around.

"Why are you still here anyway?" Tala decided to ask instead. Well, snapped. "Isn't your pleasure vacation over?"

"Yes," Garland replied. "But I have decided to stay here to watch the show first."

Tala glared at him. "Show my foot."

"Well then, at least until your problem is settled," Garland said.

Tala ignored and glanced down at his teammates. It appeared that Bryan was already done with his story since the other two pretty much looked like they were comforting while scolding him. Weird but whoever said that the Blitzkrieg Boys were not?

"They should have punched him right?" Garland asked wearily, noting the coldness in Tala's eyes as the other two welcomed Bryan back like a brother.

"Yes," was the curt reply.

Garland glanced down once more and sighed. "What a troublesome bunch."

He turned to leave but paused when Tala did not move. "You're not coming?"

"No."

"Suit yourself," Garland said and strode off.

Tala did not bother to reply and looked down instead, this time he was met by Bryan's eyes. He stared back coldly as he read the other's eyes.

"You're angry they forgave me without a second's thought.' The eyes read.

"Yes, I am." Was what Tala's eyes read before he walked away.

Words were not needed for them to communicate. That was how close they were. Unfortunately.

--

Rei stood up suddenly, causing Kai to glance at him. Ever since Bryan left, the two had been sitting on the bed and arm chair respectively, chatting about the past, the present and even the future. And of course, the current problem.

"I have to find Bryan," he declared. "He probably hates me but I'll risk it."

"And if he avoids you?"

"I said I'll risk it."

Kai shook his head. "Foolish."

Rei shook his head as well and walked over to Kai. He then petted his head as a mother would to a child and smiled sadly. Kai glared at him in annoyance, not liking to be petted one bit.

"Kai, being in love is all about being foolish. Haven't you realised that yet?" he asked softly before taking off silently, leaving Kai to his thoughts.

Kai sat there, pondering Rei's words. Of course being in love was being foolish. Was he not foolish when he was in love with Rei and cheated on Tala? Was Rei not being foolish when he agreed to help Bryan with his plot? Was Tala not foolish for not leaving Kai sooner until it was too late?

"Tch, even an idiot knows that," Kai muttered.

"And how many people understand that?" Tyson asked as he walked into the room.

"Tyson?" Kai asked in surprise, unable to keep his usual stoic demeanour. Who could when someone they lest expected suddenly waltzed in front of them?

"Yep, the one and only world champ!" he said, pumping his fist into the air.

'Of course,' Kai thought with sarcasm.

"I know you're going to ask why I'm here so I'm going to spare you the suspense and tell you," Tyson said while Kai wondered when the other knew him so well. "Well, I'm here because Max and I heard that you and Rei have some problems and so we are here to help."

"So Max is here too?" Kai asked.

"Yep!"

"Jolly..." Kai muttered.

"Kai, there's no need to feel too upset about these things," Tyson said, sitting beside his friend.

"Hn."

Tyson rolled his eyes. "Things like these are always difficult so there's really no need to be depressed over it."

"And?" Kai asked.

"And we are going to help you with your problem. So ja ne!" Tyson exclaimed abruptly and ran out of the room, leaving no room for the Hiwatari to protest.

Kai stood up and closed the door lest unexpected people showed up again. He sighed and collapsed onto the bed, with every intention of having a nice, long slumber.

TBC

-Winterblazewolf