Hi! thanks for the likings, but what really gave the kick for me to write this update, was the review from Hibisha :) I already thought there was no one reading this til the end and liking it enough to review. I write with the power of reviews :D
I hope the long break hasn't rusted my writing skills. but at least I have managed to come up with what Kai is. there is a new plot twister here, I really hope it is a pleasant one.
Chapter 12
He had tried to act normal at school the next day. He certainly didn't feel like telling his friends what he had seen yesterday. But inside he was very anxious. Mentally he was mocking everyone for the slightest mistakes, just so he would feel a bit better and forget about things for a while.
He rushed home after school even though his friends invited him to roam the city together. Once home he sat and waited for Kai to contact him. He had been smart enough to save Kai's number to his phone, but he had decided not to be the one calling. Partly because he didn't want to be clingy, and partly because he wanted Kai to see the trouble of making the contact.
He tried to focus to his homework, but it wasn't very effective. Then he gave up and just played with computer and opened telly for background noise.
There he managed to waste time easily. He was snapped back to present by the fiercely ringing doorbell. He jumped up and went to the door, forcing himself to walk calmly there, no dashing. And before he turned the handle he breathed deep to calm himself. His heart was still beating a bit too hard when he opened the door.
It was Kai, seemingly relaxed standing behind his door. He was amazed by Kai's composure. He knew he couldn't be that collected if he was coming to someone's home for the first time, especially if he was going to explain what he had been doing with another guy. He felt his jaw tightening and anger clawing inside of him. But he needed to be more grown up. So he couldn't throw a tantrum about everything he didn't understand. Or because he was afraid that he was on the loosing end.
The crimson eyes turned to look into his eyes.
"Hi" Kai said. He nodded and stepped away from the doorway so Kai could come in. which the red eyes did. He watched how Kai took his shoes off and straightened up. Wearing just basic jeans and black tight t-shirt. Kai met his gaze again. "So." Kai said casually "You want to talk here or..?"
he shook his head
"No, you can come and sit down" he answered and walked ahead of Kai to the sofa. He closed his laptop's lid and turned the volume down from TV. Then he sat at one end of the couch and following his example Kai sat to the other end. He turned so he was leaning at the armrest of the sofa and facing Kai. But he kept silent. He didn't exactly want to make it easy for Kai. Not that Kai's face showed anything he was feeling. He stared and tilted his head to the side. Finally Kai sighed and rubbed his eyes. When the hand lowered, Kai looked weary
"I guess I have to tell you know" Kai said quietly, sounding somehow defeated.
"yeah, I think you do. What was that yesterday?" he asked, voice tense. Kai stretched his legs out and leaned his head to the backrest, looking forward now.
"It was work" Kai said hesitantly. He snorted
"I thought you said your work wasn't illegal?"
Kai sighed again and closed his eyes. Only now he noticed that Kai looked really tired. There was a faint dark rings under the red eyes and the gray hair wasn't as clean and shiny as it usually was.
"It's not what you think." Kai said quietly. He believed Kai. How could he not, Kai sounded so sincere and seemed so worn out.
"Are you okay?" he asked. He was a bit worried about Kai now. There was a smirk.
"Yeah. Just had a long day." Kai fell silent, unmoving. He just continued to look. Then Kai opened his beautiful eyes "He was just my informant. Nothing else."
he frowned
"Informant? Are you finally telling me what it is that you do for living?"
Kai nodded
"He is part of a mob. And he is ambiguous, so he is clearing the ladder to gain more power."
he was puzzled
"What do you need information about a mob?" he had had no idea that Kai hang out with dangerous people like that. And now he understood "Was that why you were worried about me making a scene yesterday?"
finally Kai turned his head and looked at him.
"I just didn't want to let him know that we know each others. Like I said, he is ambiguous. He would probably try to pump information and help out of me if he could use you as a weapon."
a smile tucked his lips. It felt good to hear that he meant that much to Kai. Even if Kai didn't say it directly like that. But he was even more curious to hear all now
"But what for do you need the info?"
"I deal with it. That's my job. I find info to others."
he thought about it a moment
"You mean like a private eye?"
Kai lifted an eyebrow surprised
"well, yes, that's rather good example. I just have bigger business than ordinary detectives. I usually work for companies. Finding the chiefs' secrets and selling them to someone."
he was taken aback
"You are a corporation spy?"
Kai shook his head and sat up
"No. I don't find out the secret's of the products. That's illegal. I just dig out what dirt the people have hidden. That's not against any law." Kai snorted "I have done it a lot. I have needed to find some leverage against some important people in order to stay in business. Now they don't dare to attack me, because they know I would drag them down with me" a smug smirk spread to Kai's lips. "It's fun and exciting job" the red eyes looked deep into his eyes "But it has it downsides too. If something goes wrong, things could get really ugly"
he nodded
"the bigger the reward, the bigger the stakes"
Kai nodded.
"But why do you need to indulge into mob business?" he inquired. He knew, like everyone does, that the business world was a dark and cruel place. But not quite a mafia. Or so he hoped. Kai huffed
"Because I need police to help me too. If I have access to their database, it's easier to find people that are lost. And find their crime registers." Kai's eyes looked somewhere far off for a moment "That's where I learned about you. And Brian. They let me used them when I give them tips to fight the crime"
he rubbed his temple. It all sounded like a movie plot. But he couldn't imagine Kai lying about something like this. The red eyed guy would have come up with something more plausible if he were to lie.
"Why were you checking me up?" he asked a shiver running down his spine. The red eyes burned him. Then an amused sparkle appeared in them and Kai chuckled
"Don't worry, you are not in danger."
he puffed in annoyance
"I know that. I haven't done anything bad" he stated. Kai lifted a questioning eyebrow, making him nearly blush. Of course he had pushed the boundaries like everyone does sometimes. But he had never broke them. Then Kai shook his head and run a hand through the gray hair, messing it up some more. "I was checking up Connor. And of course I run a background check to his closest friends too" Kai's voice was so calm and stoic it took him a moment to realize what Kai had said.
"Why were you looking Connor?"
Kai avoided his gaze.
"That you have to ask from him. It's not my business to tell tales"
his eyes narrowed when he stared Kai, who sternly answered his stare. Connor had been odd about Kai, normally the levelheaded guy had been rather rash and quiet.
Then his phone rang. Frowning to the interruption he dug the phone out of his pocket to see who it was. His eyes widened seeing the I.D
"What is it?" Kai asked, sounding half curious, half alert.
"It's.." he swallowed "It's Rei" he looked up at Kai "I haven't talked to him since..."he drifted away and looked at the phone again.
"Since you left Brian?" Kai asked. He nodded numb. Kai growled "I don't know about Rei. I didn't check Connor's old friends and there was no mentions of him lately." Kai sifted closer to him and touched his shoulder "What is he like?" there was a faint alertness in Kai's tone. He smiled a bit
"He is nothing dangerous. He is actually very kind person." he fell silent again. "except..." Kai sighed.
"You don't have to answer, you know that?"
he looked up at the crimson eyes. They were fully focused to him, he smiled more relaxed
"I know. But he wouldn't call if it wasn't something important"
the red eyes were so strong. While they were on him, he wanted to be worth their attention. He didn't want to be a childish looser, running away from his past. So he pressed the answer button and lifted the phone to his ear
"Hello?" he said. He heard a sob
"Tal? Is that you?" Rei said at the other end, ragged breaths cutting the sentence in parts. Worry and sorrow clutched his chest. He recalled Rei as a sweet kid. A bit naive, always willing to help others even if he wouldn't get anything in return. He had been especially hurt that it had been Rei who had cheated with Brian, because he had thought he could always trust Rei not to hurt anyone. But despite the fact that Rei had let him down, he hated to hear him so sad and hurt. He could say he would never forgive Rei, but neither could he really stop caring for the Chinese guy. They had met in third grade. They had become fast friends because he defended Rei from bullies that tried to pick a fight because Rei was new and Chinese. And Rei had had his back when his tricks had caused trouble.
He pressed the phone harder against his ear
"Rei, are you okay? What's wrong?" he glanced at Kai who was staring him intently, brows knitted in frown. He let his hurt and anger go. It had been better that he had gotten rid of Brian. Of not, he couldn't be with Kai now.
"It's Brian. He is.." there was a crash and a yelp.
"Rei!?" he called to the phone, now clutching it with both hands. His heart beat faster. "REI!" he yelled. Then he listened, there was running steps coming through the line and doors slamming. Then Rei spoke again, breathing heavily
"Tal, please, I know I have done wrong, and I am really sorry. But please, help"
"What's wrong?" he asked, "What can I do?"
Rei panted, then spoke to the phone between gasps
"Meet me at the school. As soon as possible. Please?"
the begging voice was irresistible. He could see the begging amber eyes in his mind.
"Okay" he said.
"Thanks" was the last word he heard before the line was shut. For a moment he stared at the phone in his hands. Then the hand squeezed his shoulder
"What was that?"
he looked at Kai
"I don't know. But Rei needs help. We are going to meet him at school"
Kai narrowed his eyes and lifted his eyebrow at the same time. Impressive feature at such.
"Why are you doing this?" Kai asked "Wasn't he the one who stole Brian from you?"
he shrugged
"That's past. And I guess he is still my friend" the looked deep into the lovely crimson eyes "Besides, I couldn't be like this with you if I would still be with Brian, could I?"
Kai smirked
"No. I don't do adultery, no matter what"
he grinned
"Good to know" he stood up from the couch. "Now, are you coming with me? Or you have work to do?"
Kai yawned, then jumped up from the couch.
"Nope, I dealt with work before coming here." the red eyes locked onto him "And I don't want to let you go there alone. We don't know what's going on"
he shook his head amused
"Don't always think the worst"
Kai snorted
"I don't. I was sure you wouldn't be pissed at me"
he scratched his head
"I learn from my mistakes"
Kai massaged his cheek mockingly and he felt blood rushing his cheeks. He was still embarrassed about that. To wipe it away, he stepped closer to Kai and petted the pale cheek. Kai's eyes widened in disbelief and the red eyed guy took a half step back. Then the eyes momentarily closed and hand grabbed his hand. The crimson eyes looked at him with a mix of vulnerability and fire in them. He smiled softly
"Why are you so worried of gentle touch?" he whispered. Kai hesitated, then shook his head and stepped away, still holding his hand, but not on the cheek anymore
"Not all at once. Let's go help your friend first"
he frowned and wanted to argue, but remembering Rei's sobs he just couldn't waste more time. With a sigh he nodded
"Fine."
grabbing his keys they went to put shoes on. He noticed that there was a puddle on the floor where Kai's shoes had been.
"What were you doing on your way?" he inquired. Kai just waved his hand dismissively
"Nothing much" short silence "You happen to have a lighter with you?"
he rolled his eyes but chuckled.
"I might" they left the apartment and he dug around his pockets while going down the stairs.
"Here" he said and held out a new lighter to Kai "How do you always loose yours?"
Kai glanced at him while lighting his smoke. Then he pulled a lighter out of his own pocket.
"I didn't loose it" Kai said through the smoke. He looked at the lighter. The upper part of it was blackened and it was empty.
"The hell?" he asked. Kai just chuckled and blew smoke out. He tried to pry what Kai had done with it while they walked, but it didn't get him anything, except amused and comfy Kai.
so? how did you liked it? if you are wondering why is there this new twist, it just sounded too good to be dismissed. it will let more light into Kai's past too. otherwise I would have ended this story here, right after Tala finding out what it was that Kai does for living. but now there will be at least two more chaps.
well. I hope you liked, and I really hope you bother to review. because if you do, I bet I can do a new chapter by the latest next week. of course unless my computer breaks. then everything will be on hold. but fingers crossed that my laptop won't die. and that you review. I really love reviews. they make my day. thanks in advance to anyone who sends me one. (or more.I wouldn't mind ;) )