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Once A Thief	By : Kali Category: Beyblade > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 9119 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 16
- 17
- 18
Kali notes: Okay!� This is going to take
me FOREVER to type up, so I�m not wasting time with notes.� Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Don�t own it.� Kali &
muses are just borrowing the wonderful characters and all that goes with them
from their creator.

Warnings: Yaoi (unless you�re on ffnet; then you
get shounen-ai), language, dramatic angst, and other
adult content. Don�t like it, don�t read it!

Pairing: TyKa; others include Tala/Hilary,
mentioned Rei/Mariah

~*~*~*~*~

Chapter 17: Den of Thieves � Part
I.I

�� Smiling to himself, Takao knew just
how to get the ball rolling as he sauntered (with a sexy roll of his hips) over
to his suitcase and began to take his clothes off.

�� Correction � it was more of a slow,
teasing strip show for Kai�s benefit than the mundane movements of preparing
for bed.

�� So, lover�� he began in a sultry
voice.� �How was your first experience
being a thief?�

�� Kai, understanding the game
perfectly well � since he had seen the instant shift from adrenaline to lust in
Takao�s stormy eyes � grinned and without consideration for the condition of
his turtleneck yanked it off over his head to toss it in the general direction
of his own suitcase.� �Hn.� How shall
I describe it?�� He pretended to ponder
the answer, pulling his belt from his pants loops and from around his waist,
dropping it on the floor with a heavy clunk.�
�Exciting?� Thrilling,
even.�

�� Takao chuckled knowingly.� �Oh yes�� he purred, bending over at the
waist to pull off his socks.� �It is
that, even if one doesn�t like having larcenous intent�� he heard a muttered
curse and turned to see Kai lose his balance trying to tug a sock off one foot
while watching the bluenette.� Kai landed
on the bed, a little flustered and embarrassed at his lack of grace.� �Are you okay?�

�� Fine.�� Kai choked out, ripping his socks off
violently and throwing them over at his suitcase.� �You were saying�?�

�� Smiling, Takao turned back to his
suitcase and slowly undid the button and zipper of his black pants, even more
slowly sliding them down past his hips, over his butt, and letting them pool at
his feet.� He heard a small groan and
grinned wickedly.� �Oh, it was
nothing.� I just was curious how you
found your first theft, that�s all.�� In
just his boxers, Takao turned back to Kai to find him already nude � gloriously
so � and sitting on the edge of their bed with the covers drawn back
invitingly.

�� The thrill of the job�� he
continued, voice dripping want as he raked his gaze over Kai�s form
hungrily.� �The way it makes your blood
race�your heart pounds��

�� Kai was mesmerized as Takao walked
toward him, every step teasing with the flow of muscles under golden-hued
skin.� The bluenette�s words and voice
were melting away coherent thought, and Kai was sure the night was going to be
wild and long.

�� Frankly, he couldn�t wait.

�� You�re filled with an indescribable
energy that makes you feel like you could do anything�� Takao stopped just out of arms� reach of the
older teen and spun, giving Kai his back.�
He hooked his thumbs under the elastic waistband of his boxers.� �It�s the adrenaline rush, but still�and then
you�re so restless that you need an outlet.��
Eyes closing as he slowly drew his boxers down and off, giving Kai a
direct eye-full of his�assets, he sighed in pleasure and kicked the last item
of his clothing away before facing Kai again.�
A wide smirk flashed briefly at the decidedly lustful expression on
Kai�s face.

�� Kai dragged his eyes upward to meet
stormy, electric blue eyes, his tongue darting to lick his suddenly dry
lips.� �That�s�about it, yeah.�� He sucked in a shuddering breath when he
realized he�d been holding it since Takao had bent over.� �Kinomiya, are you trying to seduce me?�

�� The bluenette shook his head,
midnight blue hair still held back in a ponytail.� �No, I�m not.�� He took a step closer, eyes pined to his
lover.� �Fair warning, Kai�tonight will
not be about seduction,� he stepped closer again, every movement a graceful,
predatory one.� �Nor will it be slow or
soft.� Tonight I am in my element.� I rule this night.�� His footsteps came to a halt in front of the
older man, and he abruptly reached out and pushed Kai backward onto the
mattress.� �Tonight, lover,
is about sex.� Hot,� he straddled Kai
faster than he could sit up or protest.� ��wild, and raw.�� On
his hands and knees above the dual-haired agent, he nearly purred the last
word.

�� Kai, a little stunned, stared up at
Takao in astonishment � and lust � as he spoke.�
He had half-wondered when Takao�s dominant personality would exert
itself in their sex life, but he hadn�t expected it so soon.� Then again, he shouldn�t be that surprised
because, as Takao said, he was in his element tonight.

�� Oh but he was not
complaining.� It was probably the
chemical and hormonal cocktail coursing through his bloodstream, but damned if
this side of Takao wasn�t turning him on.�
He could feel himself harden with each of those last three words, and he
briefly wondered if he could match the bluenette�s intensity before ignoring
his brain and concentrating on Takao above him.�
He understood exactly what Takao was suggesting and this time it
suited him just fine � though he�d make the reluctant thief work for the seme
position.

�� The promising glint in Kai�s
crimson, burning eyes told Takao he was in for a fight � the kind they�d both
enjoy � as Kai slowly pushed himself up onto his elbows to a reclining
position.� Takao backed off a little,
allowing the movement, as he wasn�t ready to initiate the encounter just
yet.

�� Is that so?�� Kai�s eyes thinned and focused on Takao�s
mouth.� �Feeling dominant are we?� Well
then.�� He sat up more fully, stopping
just shy of meeting those luscious lips with his own.� �What would you suggest?�

�� They weren�t even touching yet and
their pulses were speeding up, their skin tingling and body heat rising� Takao shivered
in anticipation, rubbing his nose against Kai�s in an Eskimo kiss of
affection.� �Kai�lover�� he stared
directly into Kai�s eyes from centimetres away.�
�Let�s fuck.�

�� Kai might have laughed at that very
blunt suggestion...but he was suddenly a little too busy.

�� Takao brought his mouth down on
Kai�s forcefully, insistently kissing his lover while his arms curled around
Kai�s shoulders and neck.� Kai made a
throaty sound of pleasure and wound his own arms around Takao, trying to draw
him more fully against himself.� The
bluenette wasn�t cooperating though, and instead of moving closer, moved
back.� His tongue flicked across Kai�s
lips and his hands skimmed down Kai�s chest and back up again.� Takao grinned at the rumble from that
muscular chest and winked playfully at his lover.

�� Kai�s answering smirk held world�s of promise and before Takao realized what he was up
to, had the younger man flipped off himself to the side onto the bed, flat on
his back.� Kai was still smirking as he
crawled up Takao�s prone form.

�� I think there�s a lot of a
shameless tease in you, Kinomiya.�� He
commented, one hand smoothing its way down Takao�s side to his hip, where it� gripped to hold
him still.� �And you didn�t think it
would be easy, did you?�

�� Hmm�not at all.�� Takao smiled, eyes
half-closed.� �In fact, I was counting on
a little resistance.� Just to make
everything that much more fun��

�� Oh really�?�� Kai dipped his head and captured Takao�s
mouth in a hot, passionate kiss, his tongue tangling around the bluenette�s in
challenge.� �Well.�� He said, breathing deeply.� �Bring it.�

�� Oh, I intend to.�� Takao growled playfully � and at the same
time quite seriously.� �Lube?�

�� Kai rolled away briefly to dig out
the lube from the bedside drawer.� Then he
rolled back and dangled it in front of Takao�s face before he dropped it onto
the pillow.

�� Good.�� Takao reached up and pulled Kai down to meet
his kiss, one hand burying itself in Kai�s hair while the other stroked
deceptively up and down Kai�s spine.�
Attempting to distract the agent, Takao�s lips and tongue and mouth
played and teased Kai�s into a passionate duel of kissing whereby air became a
useless, forgotten necessity.� Kai
groaned and kissed back hungrily, his hand holding Takao�s hip down to the bed
while the other held his upper half propped up above the younger man.� Since he couldn�t move his hips well, Takao
slowly raised a leg to rub against Kai�s side and hip before springing his
attack on the agent.

�� A quick movement had his lover
rolled over onto his back with a smug Takao hovering over him, straddling his
waist.�� Kai let out a growl of
consternation and tried to wrestle the smirking bluenette back down to the
mattress, but had little luck.� He may
have been a little stronger and bigger physically, but Takao�s speed and
agility gave him an advantage. �Taka�� he ground out as the younger man�s mouth
descended on his chest and nipped none too gently at the creamy ivory
skin.� �Damn it!�� Kai cursed.

�� Mmm�you
taste really good here, Kai.�� Takao
licked the spot he�d just nibbled on and earned a hiss followed by a tight
groan.� �And here�� he slipped downward,
delivering teasing licks and nips softened by tiny kisses as he went.� He flicked a fingernail across a hardened
pink nub and watched the muscles bunch in reaction, licking his lips before he
swooped in and gave the nipple one long lave with this tongue.� �Maybe I should refresh my memory and find
out if the rest of you tastes as good as this.�� Takao mused, rubbing the other nub with his
thumb absently.� Kai moaned a little and
fought not to squirm.

�� Not if I get tot you first.�� He retorted in a husky voice, reaching down
to grasp Takao�s shoulders.� But his
lover was already slinking downward and trailing hot, damp kisses in his wake,
just out of reach.� �Kinomiya��

�� Takao buried his face against the
soft skin of Kai�s pelvis to hide the grin that formed at the petulant, pouting
tone in Kai�s voice.� Instead of
responding verbally, he turned his head and rubbed his nose against the hard
base of Kai�s raging erection, one hand moving to grasp it and steady it.� Kai gasped and unconsciously lifted his hips
into the touch, moaning as Takao�s hand roughly slid up and down in a circular
motion, his hot breath fanning across the sensitive skin all the while.� Takao leaned in and ran his tongue from base
to tip, making a little humming sound of approval and pleasure.

�� Kai sighed deeply and ran his
fingers through Takao�s thick, midnight blue bangs, pushing them out of his
eyes while the reluctant thief gave him a full out demonstration of his oral
skills.� Takao didn�t give him time to
build up or to tease his lover to orgasm.�
Instead, he took Kai deep into his mouth and carefully right down his
throat, swallowing and humming while his hand traced patterns all over the
older man�s sensitive skin around his pelvis and hips, along the crease where
leg met hip and the inside of Kai�s thigh.

�� It was too much stimulation when he
was already extremely worked up, and Kai lost it under the sensuous assault.� He cried out on a startled groan and curled
forward in release.� Takao paused and let
he flood of slightly salty liquid fill his mouth before he swallowed it down
and let Kai slip from his mouth with a �pop� of sound.

�� Kai flopped back to the mattress
gasping and shuddering in stunned bliss.�
Takao licked his lips greedily and studied his lover while Kai caught
his breath.� He knew Kai and all the
things that body language could tell him, and because he knew his lover that
well, he knew exactly how to get what he wanted.� First he needed Kai slightly out of it and
pliable � hence an intense, sudden orgasm.

�� Uhn�wow.�� Kai moaned, giddy on endorphins.� �That was new�wow.�

�� Takao chuckled knowingly and rubbed
his palms slowly up and down Kai�s upper legs.�
�Hmm�I�m not done yet, either.��
Takao promised, urging Kai to sit up with a crooked finger.� Kai pushed himself up, smiling quite fondly
at the bluenette.� He reached for his
lover, needing contact, and�
found himself being shoved back down to the bed with an
enthusiastic Takao kissing him senseless.�
Then he was rolled over onto his stomach before he realized it and Takao
was attacking his back with the same tactics he�d used a few minutes ago on his
front.

�� Not that Kai could find a reason to
complain about it�� He was a little
overwhelmed but at the same time it felt like being worshipped with Takao�s
entire being.� His hands were everywhere,
never lingering in any one place too long (and often not long enough for Kai�s
liking), and his mouth was like a brand all over his shoulders, back, and
neck.� The length of Takao�s front slid
and rubbed against Kai in a full-body caress that drew a long moan from him
unwittingly.� He buried his head in his
arms, folded on the pillow, and shuddered deeply when Takao�s mouth followed in
the wake of ghostly light touches over his bare backside.� �God�� he sighed then gasped as a hand
slipped between his legs and found his reawakening erection, fingers lightly
curling around it and coaxing it back to full0hardness.� �Taka!�

�� You have no idea how sexy you sound
like that, lover.�� Takao informed him,
encouraging Kai�s legs to part further while distracted by the teasing fingers
on his cock and the hot mouth on the smooth, silken ivory skin of one globe of
Kai�s butt.� �I could eat you alive, you
taste so good.�� The bluenette added,
setting his teeth and biting gently to emphasize his words.� Kai made a sound crossed between a growl and
a yelp then murmured as Takao soothed the mark with his tongue.� �Mine.��
He claimed in a gruff, possessive voice, his hands sliding to Kai�s hips
and thumbs spreading Kai open.

�� Head spinning somewhere between
awareness and blissfully horny, Kai only registered what the bluenette was
about to do half a second before he cried out, squirmed in Takao�s grasp, and
moaned unabashedly as his lover�s tongue stroked and dipped and licked and
generally drove Kai insane with pleasure.�
�Oh god!�
Tak-ao�god!�� Kai gripped
fistfuls of sheets and pillow, twisting the linen desperately to hold on and
not lose it completely.� Sweat broke out
all over his body and the room was becoming unbearably hot.

�� Takao made pleased humming noises
and shivered in anticipation at the sounds coming from his beloved at his
attentions.� But the way Kai was moving
his hips and body at the pleasurable ministrations was rapidly wearing Takao�s
control thin, and he finally stopped, grabbing the tube of lubricant from the
pillow that was in danger of being ripped to shreds by Kai�s formidable grip.

�� It took Kai a minute to regain
enough of his senses to realize Takao had paused and made to glance back over
his shoulder at the younger man, panting for breath.� He saw Takao�s hand a millisecond before it
closed on his hip and drew him up to balance on his hands and knees as a slick
finger pushed easily inside him.� Kai
moaned softly and bit his lip as the bluenette quickly prepared him � no real
stretching or lazy strokes, just enough to spread the lube to ease Takao�s way
and be a warning of what he intended for Kai.�
By this time, however, Kai was beyond caring about dominance.� He�d liked everything Takao had done to him
so far � a lot � but it wasn�t enough now.�
He was craving something far stronger, deeper � something to fill this
empty ache Takao had created in him.� H
loved Takao, trusted him with his whole being, and right now�he wanted the
bluenette inside him, filing him completely and pounding him into the mattress
as hard and fast as Takao could manage.

�� Smirking at the ecstasy and urgency
in Kai�s expression as he removed his fingers, Takao yanked the older man up to
sit on his lap, bent knees just to either side of Takao�s own knees.� Kai actually mewled at the feeling of the
bluenette�s hard, slick tip bumping his opening and rocked his hips in demand
as Takao�s arm curled possessively around his waist and held him poised and
still.

�� Takao kissed a damp shoulder blade
and nipped lightly at the nape of Kai�s neck, just below the hairline.� �Tonight you�re mine, Hiwatari, and I�m going
to fuck you until you�re blind, deaf and dumb to everything but me,� he
growled a little and nuzzled Kai�s neck as crimson-eyes crossed and the
two-toned head lolled to the side lethargically.� �And then I�ll do it again until you�re screaming
my name.�

�� God, Taka, please�� Kai nearly swallowed
his tongue hastily stopping humiliating plea to yes, please, do just that.� He was Hiwatari Kai, damn it!� He would have the last word � or try to.� �Promises, promises�� he gasped out, shifting
restlessly in Takao�s grip.� The
bluenette blinked and gave a sharp bark of laughter before he simply pulled Kai
back to meet his first thrust and pushed himself into Kai with one forceful
stroke.� It was as if he knew he belonged
there and there was nothing to stop him from taking what he wanted.

�� Kai choked back a thin moan and
would have fallen forward if Takao hadn�t had an arm around him, anchoring him
in place.� �Fuck!�� He swore succinctly once he got his breath
back.� Takao didn�t give him a chance to
decide if that had hurt or felt good.� He
pulled out then slammed back in forcefully, groaning thickly in Kai�s ear while
Kai mewled again and threw pride out the window.� �Fuck yes!�
Again, Kinomiya!� Come on��

�� Takao grinned in smug triumph and
obliged happily.� His next thrust made
Kai�s teeth clack and the agent pushed himself back onto Takao�s thick, hard
erection to met the next thrust.� A rhythm built up quickly and neither man was
entirely sure where he left of and the other began.� The bluenette�s arm around his writhing,
gasping lover held tight while his free hand stroked any area of sweat-slicked,
trembling flesh he could find in a frenzied need to touch.

�� Kai let himself
be swept away by the storm named Takao and gave himself over to every tingle,
flash, and flood of pure unadulterated pleasure.� A strangled cry emerged from deep in his
throat as Takao shifted just so � hitting his very sensitive prostate at the
same time as his hand wrapped around his aching cock which leaked copiously
with precum.�
Two hard thrusts and a couple sharp pulls with
his hand and Kai was exploding, his whole body shuddering and jerking at the
force of the orgasm that ripped through him.�
Sticky white rivulet coated his and Takao�s thighs and the bluenette�s
hand, the evidence of Kai�s release� painting two different shades of
creamy skin.

�� Takao moaned darkly at the sensation
of Kai�s inner self clenching and contracting around him, and he growled in
approval sinking his teeth into the fleshy part of the curve of Kai�s shoulder
and neck as he thrust one final time and erupted deep, deep inside his
lover.� He clutched the older man to his
chest, locking them together in the throes of the aftershocks of their wild
passion and rode out the ecstasy together with Kai twitching and gasping in his
arms.

�� When they�d caught their breaths and
their pulses stopped racing through their veins at light-speed, Takao chuckled
to himself and nuzzled Kai�s neck and shoulders affectionately.� Still buried deep, he felt Kai shudder as his
hyper-sensitive body responded to the yet full sensation.� �Hell, lover�� Takao dropped loving kisses across Kai�s
shoulders.� �Do you have any idea how
much I�ve wanted to do that?�

�� Dazed, Kai had to swallow a couple
times to find his voice again, clutching at Takao�s arm around him in some
strange need of reassurance as he came down from the orgasmic rush.� �You�never said anything before..� he managed to reply between gulps of air.� �Fuck�I don�t know that�I could handle this
too often��

�� Delighted, Takao snickered,
decidedly giddy and drunk on endorphins.�
�Don�t worry, lover.� As much as I
enjoy screwing you senseless, we�ll stick to you being seme the majority of the
time.�� He assured Kai, who turned his
head slightly to raise an eyebrow at him and smirk wickedly.

�� That so?� Well, since you seem to be reneging on that
promise you made earlier�� Kai moaned softly, feeling the bluenette shift under
and inside him.� ��and you have such
wonderful stamina to still be hard after that��

�� Takao raised an eyebrow in return
and bucked his hips testingly.� Kai let out a whimper before he could catch
himself.� �Lover, I�m not done yet.� I�ll remind you of just who is filling this
wonderfully sexy ass of yours right now, and to just whom it belongs.�� He bucked again and Kai let out a delicious
purr, leaning back into Takao�s chest, damp with sweat, and deliberately
clenching his inner muscles around the bluenette�s cock to tease.

�� Fuck you, Kinomiya.� You wouldn�t be there if I didn�t want
it.�� To hide the blush and the
breathlessness that still gripped him, Kai reached up with both hands and drew
Takao�s mouth towards his with one while the other drove fingers into midnight
blue locks and gripped to hold him in place.�
They kissed deeply, tongues tangling and lips drawing demandingly at
each other.� After a few sensuous moments
of kissing, Takao pulled back and smiled fondly at his lover.

�� Kai, my love, you have a
point.� However, I�m not reneging on
anything tonight.�� A warning glint flashed
through Takao�s surreal blue-grey eyes and Kai shivered at the promise held
there.� �Are you up for another round,
Hiwatari?�

�� What do you think?�� Kai retorted, grabbing one of Takao�s hands
and curling his fingers around his own erection, which was beginning to wake up
yet again.

�� Good, because I
know just how I want you this time.��
Takao carefully pushed Kai forward a bit and slowly guided him off his
lap, watching as his glistening cock emerged from its home inside Kai, a small
stream of his own essence dribbling out after him.� The sight just made him want to do it all
over again that much more � especially when he heard the low whine that came
from Kai as he withdrew.� �How can you
sound so sexy like that?�� Takao wondered
aloud, half to himself, and pushed Kai down on the mattress on his back, legs
spread enticingly, silently begging for his lover.

�� I�m not doing it on purpose.�� Kai remarked distractedly, deeply sighing as
the bluenette settled between his legs.�
�Oh yes��

�� Me thinks
someone enjoys being uke more than he�s willing to confess.�� Takao admired the expression of sultry
pleasure in his lover�s face as his hardness slid against Kai�s and came to
rest against Kai�s entrance.

�� I�uhn�like
anything and everything we do, lover.�� Kai
figured that was close enough to agreeing without having to say it.� �So get on with it, damn you!�

�� Takao chuckled and leaned down to
kiss the crimson-eyed man thoroughly, tongue tangling with Kai�s with
deceptively lazy strokes.� His hand
slipped between their bodies, caressing teasing fingertips across
moonlight-pale flesh and rosy, dusky nipples, then
lower to Kai�s abdomen.� While his
fingers drove Kai crazy tracing patterns and memorizing his lover�s body by
touch, he took his mouth away from Kai�s and buried his nose behind Kai�s ear,
nipping and sucking at the exposed column of his neck that Kai offered him by
tilting his head away.

�� Kai lifted his hips slightly off the
bed, trying to get more solid touches, moaning softly.� He was beginning to feel feverish and oh so restless again as Takao�s hands and mouth played his body
like a finely tuned instrument.� The
noises he made were certainly musical to Takao�s ears and he was getting just
as much enjoyment out of them as he was the feeling of that silent strength and
powerfully courageous spirit writhing under him and rubbing himself
against the bluenette at every opportunity.

�� Say it, Kai.�� He demanded darkly, his hot breath fanning
over Kai�s damp skin seductively.� �I
want the words from you this time.�

�� I�won�t�beg.�� No way in hell.� Kai affirmed, fighting not to squirm as
fingers brushed not close enough to his aching erection.

�� I can do this all night long,
lover.�� The bluenette warned, lifting himself up so he could look Kai in the eyes. ��Remember, I said I�d have you screaming my
name.� You�ll say what I want to hear,
Kai, I promise.�

�� You�little�� Kai gasped and
shuddered as Takao�s tricky fingers curled around his thick length.� His hands grabbed onto Takao�s shoulders and
kneaded desperately, encouraging more contact.�
�Not very�likely!�

�� Still resisting, huh?�� Takao licked away a drop of sweat that beaded
on Kai�s skin, relishing his lover�s salty spicy flavour with a dark purr of a
hum, undulating his hips against Kai�s.� �How long do you think you can do that?� Until you want to come
badly enough?�� Takao�s stormy
eyes were nearly block with want as their pierced Kai
through from above.� He pushed himself up
onto his knees and smiled down at his lover wickedly, raising both his hands to
his head.� Fascinated at the exotic
picture he made, Kai watched, totally mesmerized, as the younger man pulled the
hair tie from his hair and shook out the midnight blue mane to let it drape
over his shoulders in a framing halo.� He
bent back down and kissed Kai hard, grabbing the hands that reached for him and
raising them above their heads, pinning them there with one hand while he
ravaged Kai�s mouth.� Kai struggled
against the hold but found he was effectively bound.� The feeling of helplessness washed through
him, mixing with the restless energy and pleasure already singing through his
body, making him light-headed.� He moaned
and unconsciously shifted his legs to hook around Takao�s hips, leaving him
fully open and exposed to his lover.

�� Mmm�you�re
mine, Hiwatari.�� Takao murmured
possessively.� �I know you�re aching,
Kai, starved for me�tell me what you want, lover.�� He shifted lower, letting his hair brush over
Kai�s skin.

�� You are�so�ah!�� Kai cried out as teeth tugged at a hard,
dusky nipple sending shocks of pleasure spiking straight to his already aching
centre.� �Damn it, Taka!� Just..�

�� Takao grinned smugly, hearing
surrender begin to saturate Kai�s raspy voice.�
�Just what?�
More of this?��
He dipped his head and attached himself to Kai�s chest again, an
answering shiver rippling through him at the older man�s mewl.

�� Uhn!�
Yes!� Oh god, no!� Not�I�want..� Kai
tried to shake off the blissful fog blanketing his mind.� �Fuck!�
I can�t��

�� I want you, too, lover, and yes,
you can.� You will.�� Takao slid himself back up to kiss Kai
coaxingly.� �Come on, my love.� Is it really so hard to tell me what you want
of me?�

�� I�will not�beg!�� Kai somehow managed to gasp out stubbornly.

�� Takao sighed and stopped the
teasing, waiting until Kai was looking at him solidly, confusion and frustrated
lust in his flaming crimson eyes.� �I
don�t want you to beg.�� He assured Kai,
mentally adding, Not this time, anyway.� He gave his lover a quirky smile.� �I just want to hear you tell me what you
want to do, how badly you want me, Kai.�
I�m not interested in breaking you of your dominant self one bit.�

�� Kai bit his lip and wrestled with
that for a moment.� �I know�I just�� he
faltered, blushing hotly.� �I�ve never��

�� Takao blinked, admiring the way
Kai�s pale skin glowed red in embarrassment.�
�You�ve never willingly submitted to anyone, I know.�� He smiled sadly.� �Okay.�
I�m not going to force you to��

�� Fuck me, Taka.�� Kai interrupted, face flaming and gaze turned
away as he said in a near whisper, �Take me, fill me, make
me yours�before I change my mind.�

�� Storm blue eyes widened and Takao
sucked in a sharp breath.� �Kai?� I��

�� Please.�� Kai demanded with a quick uplift of his hips.

�� Takao didn�t waste any more time, he
just brought Kai�s legs up over his shoulders and thrust inside him easily,
even deeper than he had before.� �Oh, Kami-sama�� he moaned, his head foggy at the sublime
sensation of heat and tightness surrounding his cock.� �Oh god, Kai��

�� The older man didn�t hear him.� This was�he wasn�t going to last long, not in
this position.� His cock throbbed in
pleasurable pain, and he let out a deep, throaty moan of his lover�s name,
followed by, �Move!� Gods, please��

�� Takao didn�t have to be told
twice.� He pulled back then slammed
himself back in, over and over again.�
His breath came in deep gasps, his pulse pounded in his ears, and all
his attention was singularly focused on the feeling of slipping in and out of
his lover�s tight heat.� The bluenette
forced himself to open his eyes and watch hungrily as
Kai�s orgasm broke over him and made him cry out hoarsely, �Takao!�

�� White light and intense ecstasy
flooded through Kai and he surrendered to it completely, writhing and arching
up to meet the continuously thrusting strokes of his lover as he rode out the
tidal storm of release.� His toes curled,
his nose went numb, and his fingers bit into his palms for lack of anything to
hang onto, pinned as his hands were.

�� Kai was too dazed to be aware of Takao
shoving his legs back to his chest with a growl and pushing himself into Kai as
hard and fast as he could until that shining abyss claimed him also.� Takao�s whole body jerked and quaked at the
force of it, a long, low moan escaping as he filled his lover to the brim and
beyond with his essence.� Kai felt that
as he began to regain his senses and it nearly made his eyes cross.� He shivered in aftershocks of sensation and
watched the blatant euphoria on Takao�s face with sleepy, satiated fondness.

�� Taka�love, let go of my hands,
please?�� Kai tugged at the restraining
hands pinning his wrists above their heads after a moment.

�� Huh?� Oh, yeah.�� The bluenette blinked away his hazy mind and
let Kai go as he fell forward onto his forearms.� He sighed and let his forehead rest against
his lover�s, panting for breath as he tried to regain a little strength.� �Are you�okay?�� He asked between gulps of air.

�� Kai brought his arms down, feeling
them tingle a little from being up over his head for so long.� He draped one arm lazily around Takao�s
shoulders while the fingers of his free hand reached up to thread through
midnight blue hair like water.� Eyes
hooded he breathed deeply of the scent of their passion � the sweat, the sex,
and the mixture of their own unique scents that mingled with the briny sea
breeze from the open window.� �I�m
fantastic, lover.� You�re amazing,
Takao.�� His voice rumbled thickly.� Grinning goofily, Takao carefully and slowly
removed himself from where he was still buried and captured Kai�s mouth in a
sloppy, affectionate kiss.

�� No, Kai, you are the amazing
one.� You are so beautiful in your
pleasure�� the younger man nuzzled Kai�s neck with his nose and lips, purring
and humming with afterglow.� �So sexy��
his hand slicked over Kai�s chest and trailed fingertips down to his stomach,
playing in the pearlescent evidence of Kai�s release idly.� �And all mine.�� Takao claimed Kai�s lips in a deep,
possessive, passionate kiss, not letting up until they needed to come up for
air.� He buried his face in Kai�s
shoulder and murmured, �I love you.� quietly, over and over, punctuated by
soft, butterfly kisses to any available patch of skin.

�� After several
moments had passed and they had their pulse back to a normal pace.� Takao sighed contentedly and untangled
himself from his lover.

�� You up for a
shower, Kai?� I don�t think you
want to sleep sweaty and�sticky.�� He
wiped a bit of cum up from Kai�s abdomen with a finger and stuck it in his
mouth with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

�� Relaxed and completely uncaring for
his messy, naked appearance, Kai stretched languidly and tucked an arm behind
his head, running his other hand up and down the bluenette�s upper leg and
inner thigh.� �It doesn�t bother me at all,
gorgeous.� I feel more than good right
now.�� And he did.� His body was tired and sweaty, and in a few
significant places, sore � but the good kind.�
He felt well-loved, marked in all the ways he could ever ask for as
Takao�s.� Kai found�he didn�t mind the
role-reversal so much, even liked it a great deal.� It might take a while for his pride to get a
clue, but letting Takao top him was an experience he hoped to repeat often.

�� The bluenette laughed.� �I�m glad. But trust me, even if you don�t
mind sleeping this way, you will mind waking up like this.�� Takao grabbed his hair tie from the sheets
and swept his hair back into a loose ponytail, climbing off the bed and
stretching out the kinks of his own satiated body.� �I�ll go run a bath for us.�� He said, bending down over Kai to give him a
quick kiss.� �Be right back, love.�

�� Hn�I�m not going
anywhere.�� Kai watched the ultra-sexy
movement and wiggle of the reluctant thief�s backside as he padded toward the
bathroom.� One of his
favourite views.

�� Forty minutes later, they�d scrubbed
themselves and each other clean, washed their hair, and were preparing to go
collapse into bed with the knowledge that their partners would be awake in the
morning wanting to leave.� While Takao
combed the knots out of his hair and quickly plaited it or the night instead of
blow-drying it, Kai changed the sheets on the bed and opened the bedroom window
a bit more to let in the cool night sea-air to the humid, hot room.

�� Kai was already lying on the bed
under the sheet on his back, staring at the ceiling with his arms folded under
his head, when Takao finally emerged from the bathroom and padded over to join
him there.� Crawling under the sheet, he
snuggled up to Kai�s side with a sigh of contentment and smiled at the arm that
draped itself over his shoulder and down his back.

�� You okay?�� He inquired, his
voice husky and sleepy.

�� Hn.� Never better, love.�
We should get some rest.�� Kai ran
his hand up and down the bluenette�s spine idly, encouraging sleep.

�� Yeah.�� Takao agreed, eyes closing.� �Love you.��
He murmured.

�� Kai kissed the top of his head and
cuddled the younger man closer.� �Me too.� Sleep well,
love.�

~*~*~*~*~

�� Hilary leaned against the door after
closing it behind herself and heaved a huge sigh of relief.� �I am so glad that�s over.�� She looked down at her hands, giving a
mirthless laugh.� �Kami�I�m
still shaking.� If this is what it felt
like for him, all this time�� How did he
cope, Tala?� How could he not go
absolutely insane?�

�� Tala came toward her and clasped her
hands in his own, tugging her toward the small kitchen.� �Sheer will, Hilary.� He�s operating on will power alone now. His
health is a big red light that he�s not coping at all.� He just continues to plough forward toward
his goal, locking everything else away until it�s accomplished.�� He sat her down on a bar stool at the island
counter and rubbed her hands soothingly.�
�You need to calm those nerves, sweetheart.� I�ll make us some tea.�

�� But�that can�t be good at all!� How long can he keep doing that before his
body has had enough and forces him to take the rest and whatever he
requires?�� Hilary watched the Russian
fill the tea kettle and set it on the stove.�
�And what will happen when he does accomplish his goal?�

�� Pulling out two mugs and searching
for the teabags, Tala frowned, not sure he should tell Hilary his opinion on
the matter.� Sensing his reluctance, the
brunette reached out and gripped his sleeve as he walked by.� �Tala?� Please.�
I want to know what to expect so I can do whatever I have to in order to
help him however I can, even if all I can do is call the others and tell them
to get her immediately.�

�� Sweetheart, Kinomiya is very, very
lucky to have good friends like you.�
Because of that�I think it�s the one thing that will keep him alive �
and Kai.� My partner will not let him go,
no matter what.�� Tala drew her into a
comforting embrace, and she accepted it willingly.� �Kinomiya�I think that after tonight, he�s
got one last good shot of ending everything before his mind and body simply
implode.� And after it�s all said and
done��

�� What?�� Hilary clutched at his shirt, looking up at
him with molten, honey-brown eyes that shone with tears.� �Tell me, Tala!�

�� I think we�d better have a medical
team standing by, because I�ve seen extreme stress and body-breakdown before.� Likely he�ll just shut down until his mind
decides he�s been repaired enough to cope again.� He�ll need time, a lot of it, and quiet rest
to even begin to regain his health.��
Tala stated quietly, closing his eyes and holding her close at the
shuddering sob that answered.� �But like
I said, he has you and all those other friends of his, and he�ll have Kai.� So in the end, though it will be a long road
to recovery, he�ll be okay.�

�� Hilary sniffled and nodded, smiling
shakily.� �Thank you, Tala.� For being honest with me.� I�as soon as we have caught
the one or ones behind all this, I�m calling Kenny and telling him to get
everyone to come here as soon as they can.� Takao�will need to rest knowing his family is
safe and his friends are here with him.�

�� Good.� Now�� Tala pulled back and went to pour their
tea.� �You drink this and try to relax
some, Hilary.� We need the rest, too, and
you�ll never sleep wound up as you are.�

�� She nodded and obediently sipped her
tea after letting it steep in silence.�
Half a mug later, she broke the quiet again.� �What about Kai?�

�� What about him?�� Tala leaned against the counter next to her,
sipping his own tea slowly.

�� Should we tell him what might
happen?� Don�t you think he should be
prepared?�

�� Tala shook his head.� �If he doesn�t already suspect the
possibility � and I think he does, he�s just pretending otherwise for his
lover�s sake � then I�m not going to tell him.�

�� Why not?�

�� Because I can see what his reaction
would be to the possibility that anything worse could happen to that man.� He�d freak and try to bundle the poor guy off
some place safe and where Kinomiya would go insane being unable to do anything
to get his family back safely.�� The wolf
explained.� �I may not have known him
long, but even I can see how that would affect Kinomiya, even though Kai
would be intending to protect and help him.�
He wouldn�t be happy at all, and it could damage their fragile
relationship beyond repair, this time.��
He shook his head.� �No.� Better to let the kid do what he needs to and
pick up the pieces after, when they�ll have all the time in the world to fix
all the wrongs in their lives.�

�� Hilary sighed.� She had to agree with him on that point.� He�d pegged Takao�s stubbornness down exactly.� Telling the bluenette he couldn�t do
something was almost guaranteed to make him do it.� �Alright.� So what do we do, then?�

�� Tala downed the last of his tea and
shoved his mug toward the sink for the next day.� �He�s pack.��
He replied matter-of-factly.�
�Like I told Kinomiya, Kai became pack somewhere along the lines of our
strange relationship.� He wasn�t just a
partner or an acquaintance anymore.� I
would fight for him, I would fight with him against his enemies, I�d protect him with my life, if I had to.�� Tala shrugged,
ice-blue eyes calm and accepting.� �It�s
just how it is for a wolf.� He tilted his head curiously at the strange
expression of thoughtfulness on her face.�
�What?�

�� Nothing.�� Hilary shook her head and smiled, reaching
out to cup his cheek with her hand.�
�You�re truly amazing, Tala.� I�ve
never met anyone quite like you.�

�� An easy grin took over his features
and he stepped closer, tilting her chin up with a finger.� �Is that a good thing, or should I be
worried?�

�� It�s good.� I�get the feeling even after a lifetime of
getting to know you, I�d still have a lot of things to
learn about you.�� She blushed but didn�t
look away from his steady, surreal gaze.�
His eyes, she decided absently, were his best feature and probably her
favourite one, too.� They didn�t
intimidate or scare her at all, as she imagined most people were.� There was a great degree of intelligence in
those eyes, and despite the chill blue colour they were always so warm when
they looked at her.

�� While she mused over his eyes, Tala
was trying to figure out just how receptive she would be to a kiss or two.� He wanted to, badly, but he didn�t want to
push anything.� After all, circumstances
were strange and they hadn�t even gone on a date yet.� Then again, they were in a unique
situation, and she was one of very few people he�d ever met who could
meet his gaze unflinchingly and repeatedly.�
Without fear or revulsion.� It was rare enough that his lonely need for
acceptance screamed at him not to let her slip away.

�� Testingly,
he leaned in closer, and when she didn�t pull away, he asked softly, �Hilary?�

�� Hmm?�� She looked at him questioningly, either not
registering how close he was or not caring.�
He stroked her jaw with his thumb and inched closer, still wary of
rejection of disinterest.� Hesitantly, he
paused again.� �Hilary, sweetheart�I��

�� She smiled softly at him and brought
her arms up to rest on his shoulders.�
�As much as I appreciate your chivalrous sentiment with me, Agent
Ivanov, I would just like to know why you haven�t kissed me yet?�

�� He blinked, momentarily surprised,
then swooped in and swiftly set his lips to hers before she changed her
mind.� Her arms curled around his neck
welcomingly and he swept his hands downward to grasp her waist and pull her
against him, tingles of warmth making him shiver in pleasure.� Hilary made a murmuring sound, her lips
parting beneath his and Tala pressed his advantage, running his tongue along
her lower lip before stealing inside.

�� Hilary threaded her fingers through
the hair at the nape of his neck and hung on as her world spun pleasantly and
something deep in her centre roared to life.�
She opened her mouth to his, accepting and inviting without hesitation,
pressing herself against his front with the new sensation of hunger welling up
inside her for him.� She had been kissed
before but it had never felt like this, never made her crave the next
wave of feeling from simply a kiss before.�
Even though her rational brain was telling her this was probably a
mistake and she was going to end up hurt in the end, she kissed him back
passionately and told that rationality to go take a flying leap.� Somewhat shyly at first, her tongue met his
then more readily twined with and stroked his in return.

�� Tala�s head spun dizzily with want
of this woman in his arms.� Instinct and
lust were rapidly overpowering his control and common sense.� He tore his mouth from hers, panting, and
nipped along her jaw to bury his nose behind her ear.� He inhaled her scent deeply, his wolf side
registering it as someone he�d never thought to find, registering it as someone
he�d never thought to find, someone he hadn�t dared hope for.� Something in him from his lupine genetics
clearly defined Hilary Tatibana as a mate and it
scared him, if only a little and only for a moment.

�� Then desire took over and he shook
off the uncertainty with difficulty, pressing her back against the counter and
remaining there, his face buried in the crook of her neck, and their arms
wrapped around each other desperately.�
He could feel every breath she took and he could hear her pulse rapidly
flowing in her veins as quickly as his own did, and he growled softly, flicking
his tongue over that pulse in her neck in silent communication of how close to
the edge of his control he was.

�� Hilary kept her eyes squeezed shut,
shivering excitedly at that growl.� She
held still, breathing heavily while she waited to see what he would do
next.� Truthfully, she wasn�t sure just
what she was going to do next, now that her mind was working a little
more clearly.� This need for him aside,
she was interested in him and a relationship would be very welcome.� However, she didn�t know if this was going to
end the minute the entire situation with Takao was over, and that uncertainty
was unpleasant. Yet she couldn�t ask for guarantees.� That would be both unfair and unreasonable to
either of them.

�� With a somewhat tenuous hold on his
control again, Tala raised his head enough to brush his lips against her ear as
he spoke, the growl still in his throat making his voice thick and rough.� It sent sparks down her spine and she gasped
lightly, unconsciously pressing closer.

�� Hilary, sweetheart�you have no idea
how badly I want you right now.�� He
rubbed his lips against the shell of her ear, a nuzzle,
and grinned at the tremor that ran through her.�
�It�s up to you.� If you aren�t
ready for that much yet, don�t hesitate to say so.� I won�t push and I�ll respect that.�� The growl escaped again and he shifted
restlessly, his hardness now pressed blatantly obvious through their clothes
against her. She moaned and it was one of the most exciting sounds he�d ever
heard.� �Oh god�but if you want me to
back off tell me now.� Tell me to
stop, sweetheart��

�� Tala�� She moaned
breathlessly, her whirling mind and heart feuding over her answer.� There was no denying what she felt right
then, that she wanted him just as much in return, but could she risk her
heart?� Could she enjoy her body�s desire
and keep her emotions out of it?�
�I�� She fought the battle out
and turned her head to meet his penetrating gaze that begged for an answer,
holding his head between her hands with fingers slipping effortlessly through
silky, flame-red hair feverishly.� �Yes.� Take me to bed��

�� Holding out for her was its own kind
of torture, and Tala didn�t waste time once he�d gotten what he wanted.� He scooped her up into his arms and carried
her toward the bedroom where he slowly set her back on her feet by the
bed.� Watching his hand reach behind
Hilary�s head to unfasten the hair clip that held her rich, mahogany hair up
and back out of her face was almost surreal.�
Looking back down into her eyes, he carefully surreal.� Looking back down into her eyes, he carefully
set the clip on the bedside table and ran his fingers through her hair, taking
the time to enjoy the feel of it slipping through his fingers.� He stared into her eyes with enigmatic
ice-blue eyes.

�� Last chance, sweetheart.�� He warned softly, as if speaking too loudly
would ruin the moment.� She smiled up at
him and slid her hands up his chest to his shoulders.

�� I want this, Tala.� I want you.�� She replied in assurance.� Standing up on her tiptoes, Hilary brushed
her lips across his.� �So please��

�� Tala captured her mouth once again
in answer and acceptance, pulling her flush up against his front end proceeding
to devour her hungrily.� His hands
dropped from her hair to her waist, stealthily pulling her shirt up from her
skirt and slipping them underneath to touch bare skin � though he didn�t raise
them from her sides yet. Tala had every intention of going slow and savouring
this, and he didn�t want to rush her since he suspected she was relatively new
to sex.

�� To his pleasant surprise, she didn�t
object when he finally did draw the shirt upward and off over her head.� Before she could find embarrassment at being
partly nude in front of him, he took her hands in his and guided them to his
own shirt front, encouraging her to undo the buttons and remove it
herself.� Obligingly, Hilary fastened her
eyes on the task, biting her bottom lip as she fought to concentrate and keep
from trembling.

�� Once his shirt joined hers on the
floor, he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her deeply again.� �Don�t be afraid to touch me,
sweetheart.�� He urged, guiding one of
her hands to his chest after breaking the kiss and trailing a hot line of
kisses across her jaw to her ear.� Her
other hand gripped his shoulder as a gasp escaped and a shiver ran through her
body.� He smiled and flicked his tongue
across her pulse again, trailing fingertips down her spine lightly to brush the
clasp of her bra.� The damp palm at his
chest rubbed up and down experimentally, occasionally brushing his nipple.� �Ahh�� he groaned
at the sensation, turning his head to kiss her appreciatively again.

�� Hilary kissed back, openly enjoying
the way this was going.� She was grateful
he seemed to know she was nervous despite that she wanted him, and as such
sought to reciprocate the pleasure he was giving her.� She hadn�t known that she could have this
effect on a man, let alone this wild and enigmatic soul that was treating her
like a precious gem.

�� Tala left off kissing her and
murmured against her kiss-swollen lips, �I�m taking this off now,� as he
unclasped her bra and reached up to slip the straps off her shoulders and down
her arms, following his fingertips with his mouth on each bared shoulder.� He removed the lacy bra completely and
dropped it on the floor, smiling at the bashful blush that turned her creamy
skin a pretty shade of pink.� Dipping his
head to kiss her deeply again, he turned and sat on the side of the bed,
drawing her down onto his lap without breaking away.� Keeping her thoroughly distracted that way,
he unzipped her skirt and slowly slid his palms down her sides, under the waistline
of the skirt to her hips, thereby shoving the skirt off enough that with a few
guided movements allowed him to simply pull the garment right off and leave it
on the growing pile of clothing on the floor.

�� Hilary blushed again when the kissing
paused and he pulled back enough to look at her.� She had a ridiculous urge to cover herself,
but the lustful gleam in his chilly eyes held her immobile.� She made a thick whimpering sound in the back
of her throat as Tala traced one finger from her cheek slowly down her neck and
over her collarbone, then even lower to curve over the swell of her breast �
all while he stared into her eyes from inches away, the other arm circling her
waist to hold her in his lap.� His touch
was hot, making her skin tingle, and she let out a gasp as his finger teasingly
rubbed her nipple lightly.

�� You�re so beautiful, Hilary.�� Tala sighed, finally breaking their eye
contact to look down at what his finger was doing and to see her glory for himself.� When she
shook her head to deny that, he simply cupped her breast fully in his hand and
flicked his thumb back and forth over the rosy pink nub.� �Yes, you are.� I�ll prove it to you, if you still want me
to.�

�� Swallowing thickly, she nodded.� �Yes.�
I just�don�t know what I�m supposed to do.�

�� Tala grinned and leaned in to plant
a worshipful kiss to the flushed swell of flesh in his palm.� Hilary could feel his lips moving over her
skin as he replied, making curious shivers of sensation tingle through her system
and pool at her centre.

�� Sweetheart, you can do whatever you
like.� I�m yours to explore.�� Tala nuzzled his nose against her breast, then captured a nipple in his mouth, manipulating it with
teeth and tongue to earn a startled moan from the woman in his arms.� He released it and moved to do the same to
the other. Hilary unconsciously arched into the touches and feeling of his hot,
wet mouth surrounding that bundle of nerves, keening throatily.� Her hands clutched at his strong shoulders,
nails pressing into his skin, and leaving indentations.

�� The wolf growled something in
Russian under his breath and in a quick movement lifted her and rolled her over
him and onto the bed on her back until he hovered over her, perfectly
positioned between her legs so she could feel the hard length of his erection,
confined yet by his pants and underwear, pressed right against her most
intimate flesh.� Hilary gasped, her
thighs squeezing against his hips as they instinctively tried to close.

�� That�s what you do to me,
sweetheart.�� Tala rocked his hips to
emphasize his point and she gasped again, shuddering.� He cupped a breast once more and squeezed a
little, massaging it gently but firmly before leaving it to stroke down her
flat abdomen and over her side to her hip.�
Leaning in, he captured her lips briefly and smiled to reassure
her.� �Still okay?�

�� Pulse pounding in her throat, she
could only nod, running her hands up down his arms restlessly in
encouragement.� Tala kissed her deeply
again.� �Good.�� He said, pushing himself up and away from
her.� �Be right back.�

�� Confused, Hilary half-sat up,
wondering why he was leaving her.� Then
she turned a bright shade of red as he abruptly stripped off the last of his
clothes and turned back to her, his arousal erect and blatant before her.� At her expression, Tala couldn�t help but
laugh lowly, the ultra-masculine kind of males everywhere who have just felt
their masculinity had been confirmed.�
But, not wanting to scare her, he crawled back onto the bed with her and
situated himself where he�d been before, hiding his lower body from her view.

�� Tala kissed her again until she was
pliant and willing in his arms once more, and she�d forgotten her embarrassment
and nervousness.� Then he propped himself
up on one forearm and brought her hand to his lips, bestowing soft,
affectionate kisses to her fingertips and knuckles in between his words.� �Hilary, I�m not asking this to pry into your
personal life but because I would like an idea of the extent of your�sexual
activities so I don�t scare you or hurt you, so�how far have you gone?�

�� Blinking dazedly up at him, mildly
surprised at the question, she licked her lips.�
�Ah�not so far as this, I�m afraid.��
She admitted with a slight flush.�
�I mean, I�ve dated but never��

�� He smiled, an awed expression taking
over his features.� �Really?� Well�I�m honoured you�ve chosen me, of all
people, to share this experience with then.�
I�ll have to try my best not to disappoint, won�t I?�

�� Well, you haven�t so far.�� Hilary smiled back shyly.� Tala gave a sharp bark of laughter and kissed
her lightly.

�� I promise it only gets better from
here, sweetheart, so just enjoy.�� The
wolf pulled her against him and rolled onto his back, looking up at her with a
satisfied smirk.� He could feel her
body�s warmth pouring off her against his whole front, and from where she now
straddled his hips, she could feel the dampness and female heat against his
thick and heavy hardness.� She obviously
didn�t realize how sensuous she actually was, but that just made her more
charming and sexy in Tala�s eyes.

�� Hilary watched him under her, a
perpetual blush staining her cheeks as his eyes roamed over her freely.� She suddenly wanted to kiss him, like he had
been kissing her until now.� Swallowing
the nervousness that welled up in her throat, Hilary bent down until her lips
barely brushed Tala�s.� Then, flicking a
quick, assessing glance at his face and finding no reason not to continue in
his expression, Hilary kissed him fully.�
She felt a full-body shiver run through him before his arms wrapped
around her to clasp her close to him and he answered her kiss with one of his
own.

�� Tala had been a little startled when
she�d kissed him but then was inordinately pleased she�d taken some
initiative.� He held her against him
while they continued to kiss with building passion and need until any hesitancy
Hilary had couldn�t be found in her kisses.�
At that point, Tala began running his hands over every inch of bare skin
he could reach, attempting to get her accustomed to his touch but also to find out
where she liked to be touched most.

�� Somewhere in the haze of pleasure,
Hilary lost her panties without even noticing.�
It wasn�t until she felt his fingers in the most intimate of places that
she realized how open and vulnerable she was, how naked and exposed, to his
eyes and touch.� Hilary was still
hovering above him when she felt his rough, calloused fingers part her and slip
into her, and she froze for a moment, a breathy little gasp of shocked pleasure
escaping.� She heard a faint chuckle from
Tala and squeezed her eyes shut helplessly when those fingers found a small
bundle of nerves that set her whole body on fire.

�� Oh!�
Oh�god�� Hilary moaned, trembling at the sparks of sensation that
gathered at her core in an ever tightening ball of heat.� �Tala?� I�you�please!�� She didn�t know what she was asking for � to
quit or to give her more � but he seemed to understand anyway.

�� Shh�sweetheart.�
I know.�� Tala continued to tease
her as he slowly sat up, forcing her to a sitting position as well, which
allowed his fingers to plunge deeper.� It
brought a thick moan from the brunette.�
His eyes nearly crossed.� He
wasn�t going to be able to hold out much longer.� �Damn.��
He swore, a growl making his voice rough and low.� Hilary shivered and clutched at his arms and
shoulders, dropping pleading kisses here and there as her body involuntarily
began to rock against the digits buried inside her.

�� Tala�uhn�Tala�I
want�you.� Now.�� Hilary whimpered, pressing herself against
him and flicking her tongue over the pulse beating rapidly in his neck where
she buried her face.� She would never
forget the scent of him, like the crisp, fresh air after a snowfall in winter
with a hint of musk.� Nor would she
forget the slightly tangy taste of him on her tongue.

�� Tala growled something in response
and suddenly his fingers were gone.�
Shuddering at the loss, she pulled back from him to find out what was
wrong � only to be swept up in a soul-searing, passionate kiss as he picked her
up slightly and lay her down once more on her back.

�� He had to muster up what little
control he had left to end the kiss and roll away from her long enough to dig
out a box of condoms from his suitcase by the bedroom door.� Quickly pulling one out, he tossed the box back
into his luggage and padded back over to the bed, carefully opening the packet
and taking out the protective sheathe.

�� They were both clean, he knew (he
had regular checkups and her virginity didn�t leave room for STDs), and though
Tala was already beginning to think of this woman as a mate he was certainly
not going to chance getting her pregnant.�
He was not ready for cubs and fatherhood, and he was pretty sure
neither was Hilary.

�� Tala dropped the wrapper on the
bedside table and knelt on the bed with Hilary, holding out the condom to
her.� �Here,
sweetheart.� Do the honours?�

�� Blinking, Hilary took it and failed
miserably at fighting not to turn bright lobster red.� In the end, Tala (grinning mischievously the
entire time) helped her to roll the condom on over his erection smoothly.� For a few moments longer, he let her explore
him with her hands where she�d been too shy to touch him earlier.� But it was just too much right then and
before long he was gently pulling her hands away from his now leaking cock and
urging her to lie down again.

�� Tala followed, settling over her
like a big blanket with her legs on either side of his hips, poised at her
entrance.� �Absolute
last chance, Hilary.� Do you still
want this?�� His icy-blue eyes pierced
through her honey-brown ones and he waited for her answer.

�� Smiling shakily with nerves, Hilary
licked her suddenly dry lips and nodded.�
�Yes.�� She whispered, raising a
hand to brush his flaming red hair from his face.� �I trust you, Tala, and�I want this.� I want you.�

�� If you need me to stop or
something, just say so, alright?�� Tala
leaned into her, dipping his head to capture her mouth with his and slowly
pushing into her.� Once fully seated, he
had to pause and collect his willpower again.�
She just felt way too good, her damp, tight heat driving him
crazy.� He could feel every ripple of
sensation run through her with the clenching and relaxing of her body around
him.� �Oh god��

�� Hilary had no idea that it would
feel this good.� Sure it stung a little
bit right at first � and she�d expected pain � but it wasn�t too bad, and now
that little hurt was fading and getting lost in the much more pleasant
sensations of Tala�s kisses, the soothing and exciting caresses he gave her and
the simple feeling of full from having him buried in her to the hilt.� Cautiously she let go of his shoulders where
she�d been grasping tightly to curl her arms around him and cracked an eye
open, followed by the other.� She hadn�t
even realized she�d closed them.� Tala�s
expression and the tightness of every muscle insight told him how much he was
working to hold back, for her sake, and she giggled giddily.

�� Tala blinked,
startled, and looked down at her, �Uh�� he raised an eyebrow at the sparkle of
amusement in her eyes.

�� Sorry!� I was just�laughing at myself.�� Hilary swallowed back her giggles.� She was oddly touched by his gallant care for
her, and it made her laugh because it was an odd thing to be touched by � not
to mention at a strange time.� �Blame it
on the happy-hormones��

�� Tala quirked a smile and shook his
head.� �You�ll have to tell me what was
so funny someday, sweetheart.� But for
now�� He shifted, withdrawing partly and
smirking at the sound of loss that escaped from her.� ��let�s find some more of those
�happy-hormones� shall we?�

�� Before Hilary could reply, Tala
thrust back in, kissing her deeply again.�
She groaned and hung on as he built up a rhythm.� His hand slipped down her arm to her chest
and cupped a breast in his palm, rubbing the hardened pink nub with his
thumb.� Hilary gasped into his mouth,
arching into his body as heat began to pool in her core and tighten like a
spring.� Unknowingly, her hips began to
move in answer to Tala�s thrusts � which were becoming less controlled and more
erratic.

�� Then suddenly he pulled her tight
against him and rolled onto his back so that she was on top of him and he was
still buried within her � only now more deeply.�
Shuddering with helpless pleasure, she continued to move over him, his
hands falling to her hips to guide the movement of their bodies.

�� Tala watched pleasure take over the
brunette completely with glittering blue eyes.�
She was so incredibly beautiful above him, like this, and he was sure it
was the most beautiful sight he�d ever see.�
Her hair fell in rich mahogany waves, tumbling down past her shoulders,
her pale, ivory, sun-kissed skin was painted in a delectable pink flush, and
her eyes were huge and molten brown as they stared down at him unseeing.

�� So good�gorgeous�� Tala gasped out,
letting one hand leave her side to the inside of her thigh, tracing a path
teasingly to where their bodies were joined.�
�Come on, Hilary, and let go for me.�

�� Uhn�god�Tala!��
Hilary cried out, lost in the swirl of passion and lust.� That ball of heat was expanding, and it felt
like she was going to explode if something didn�t happen soon.� She didn�t know what, but she asked for it
anyway. �Please!� I�I��

�� Yes, sweetheart.�� Tala slipped a finger between their joined
bodies and found her clitoris one more time, ruthlessly using that button to
push her over the edge before he lost it himself.� Her whole body paused, trembling, before she
shuddered tremendously and threw her head back, grinding down onto him as she
cried out his name.� He growled a thick
curse in Russian and thrust up into her one final time before letting go and
following her into orgasm.

�� Dizzy with the afterglow, Hilary let
her seemingly boneless form collapse over her prone and panting lover.� Distantly she felt him easing out from her
and his arms wrapping around her to hold her to him. �Breathing hard and trying to calm her
frantically beating heart, Hilary simply lay there, not really caring if she
ever moved again.

�� Tala nuzzled her neck
affectionately, brushing her hair out of her face.� �Hey.��
He greeted her softly when she opened her eyes and smiled at him fondly.

�� Hi.�� She brushed her fingertips across his
cheek.� �Wow.�

�� He chuckled.� �Hmm�yes, that�s a fairly accurate
description.�� Hilary blushed and punched
him lightly in the arm.

�� Shut up.� My mind�s all fuzzy.�

�� You�re okay then?�� He inquired, savouring the feel of her
pressed against him and lightly stroking one hand up and down her spine.

�� Are you kidding me?�� She rolled her eyes and stretched
languidly.� �Though�I think I understand
why so many people get into so much trouble because of this now.�

�� Tala blinked then laughed, kissing
her on the nose.� �Oh,
sweetheart.� There are definitely
reasons.�� He kissed her again, this time
on the mouth.� �I�m going to go clean up
a bit and I�ll be right back.�

�� She nodded and let him separate
their tangled forms to roll away and get off the bed.� While Tala was in the bathroom, she snuggled
under the bedcovers to wait for him.

�� Hilary had nearly fallen asleep by
the time he returned and slipped under the covers with her, spooning her from
behind with his body.

�� Get lots of rest, Hilary.� Don�t want to be dead on our feet tomorrow,
right?�

�� Yawning, she shook her head and
cuddled his arm around her waist.� �Nope.� �Night, Tala.�

�� Smiling in the darkness, more
content than he�d ever been, Tala closed his eyes to
sleep.

�� Goodnight,
sweetheart.� Sweet dreams.�

~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~

�� The day dawned somewhat gloomy and
grey, hinting at a storm.� The four
conspirators didn�t waste time gathering up their belongings in preparation to
leave the island and head back to the mainland and their waiting jet after a
light breakfast.

�� Takao noticed Kai�s mood shift
almost immediately that morning.� But he
waited until they were safely on board the jet and in the air before he
confronted his lover about it, away from any prying ears (other than Tala and
Hilary).

�� What�s wrong, love?�� Takao inquired in concern, taking Kai�s hand
in his own and squeezing.� �You�ve been
out of sorts all morning.�

�� Kai sighed, rolling his shoulders to
ease the tension that was making him stiff and uncomfortable.� �I had�a bit of any argument with my father a
couple nights ago.� It�s still bugging
me.�

�� Tala raised an eyebrow from where he
sat next to Hilary, an arm still draped around her shoulders casually � still,
because they had no reason to pretend any longer, even if they really hadn�t
had to act much in the first place.�
�What?� Is he trying to get you to
come back to Hiwatari Enterprises and take your place again?�

�� No.�
He knows I won�t.�� Kai shook his head
with a slight smile.� �Mother wouldn�t
approve of that either.�� He glanced down
at Takao.� �Father confronted me with the
results of an investigation into Takao.�
He knows all about your Grandfather�s debts, and the mysterious
disappearances of your Father and brother � but not the circumstances of that,
thankfully.�

�� Takao�s eyes
widened in shock and dismay.� �He
had me investigated?� Why?�

�� the hell, Kai?�� Tala stared at his partner.� �Why�?�

�� He said it was to protect me and my
inheritance.� He wanted to make sure
Takao wasn�t trying to use me somehow to get at the fortunes my family has
amassed over nearly a century of business.��
The crimson-eyed agent�s tone dripped sarcasm and deep annoyance.� �I told him he had no right,
that I knew everything I needed to know about Takao, and that he could
shove his investigation � in a round-about manner.�

�� Takao winced, looking away.� He knew Kai would give him hell for it, but
he felt immeasurably guilty.� This is all my fault.� He
mourned, staring blindly out the small window of the jet.� If it hadn�t been for me�Kai is suffering
so much because of me.

�� I�m so sorry, Kai.�� Hilary said softly.� �This�entire situation is causing so much
turmoil!� I hope when its over,
everything can be fixed.�

�� Maybe.� Father and I don�t see eye to eye on a lot of
things, Hilary.�� Kai looked at Takao
again, noticing the lack of response.� �Taka?� Look I know
it�s a shock, and I don�t like how he�s digging around in your life like this,
but it doesn�t change anything between us.�
Kinomiya?�

�� Haunted, storm-blue eyes turned to
meet his own.� �I�m so sorry, Kai.� I�I�ve turned your whole
life upside down, and caused so much grief for you and�everyone.� I swear I�ll make things right again,
somehow!� You should�you should just move
on and let me go�I wouldn�t blame you for it at all��

�� Smack!

�� Takao fell back against his seat
with the force of the slap, his cheek stinging painfully where Kai�s hand had
connected.� He blinked in stunned shock
as Hilary gasped and Tala merely watched in silence.

�� Kai stood over his lover, hands on
hips with fiery eyes blazing as he absolutely fumed.� �That was for expecting me to just
give up on you and the love I have spent years trying to find again,
Kinomiya Takao.� That was for implying
that I would even think of abandoning you or allowing you to suffer even
one second longer alone in this confounded mess.�� Kai glared hotly as Takao stared up at him
with blue eyes rapidly filling with tears, a hand hesitantly reaching up to
touch his own injured cheek.� �Didn�t you
hear what I said two minutes ago?!�
Nothing has changed!� God damn it,
Kinomiya!� I love you!� And if you think for one minute that I�m
going to let you give up on us, I swear I will toss you out the window!�� He slumped suddenly, his anger drained away
as quickly as it had been ignited.� Kai
dropped down to his knees in front of Takao and gently wiped away the silent
trickle of tears that fell from the bluenette�s eyes.� �Have you gotten that through this stubborn,
thick skull of yours, Taka?� Please don�t
make me slap you again.�

�� The bluenette sniffled inelegantly
and nodded sheepishly in apology.�
�Sorry�Kai, I�must have lost my mind for a moment, there.�

�� Hn.� As long
as you�re back to your senses and you never say anything like that again.�� Kai lightly touched his fingertips to Takao�s
red cheek.� �I hope I didn�t bruise
you.� Do you want some ice?�

�� No.�
I�m alright.�� Takao nuzzled Kai�s
hand, holding it to his face.

�� Hilary shook her head, relaxing against
Tala�s side once more in relief as the tense confrontation was diffused.� �I swear they�re the only two people I know
who can tear a stop off each other one minute then make cow eyes and cuddle the
next.�� She murmured half to herself.

�� Tala snickered into her hair,
kissing the top of her head affectionately and sneaking in a few nuzzles of his
own.

~*~*~*~*~

�� They
split up at the airport once they reached London.� Tala took Hilary to the studio flat at
Hiwatari Enterprises, while Kai went with Takao to the business suite.

�� After
setting their bags down in the bedroom, Takao began setting up his laptop at
his desk, preparing to make final plans with Kenny.

�� So
what exactly are you thinking of doing, Takao?��
Kai inquired, reclining on the sofa and watching the bluenette be busy.

�� I
had planned all along to use the items as the bait for a trap.� My original
idea was to give the location and pass for the storage to Gideon as soon as my
father and brother were released, then to have an anonymous call to the police
made by Kenny to have them all captured at the storage area red-handed, as it
were.�� Takao explained, turning the
computer on and sitting in the office chair.�
�Now, though.� I think I�ll have
to change my plans a little.�

�� Impressed
somewhat by the simplicity � yet thoroughness � of the plan, Kai nodded.

�� Takao
glanced at the clock and did a quick mental calculation.� �I hope Kenny�s still up.�� He said as he picked up the phone and
dialled.

�� Kai
pulled out the storage box that housed the Egg and set it on the desk.� �Shall I make tea for you, Takao?� And maybe order something to eat?�

�� The
bluenette nodded absently as he heard someone pick up on the other end of the
phone line.� �Hey,
Chief.� We�re back in London.�� Kai wandered into the kitchen and began
making tea.

�� Takao!� I�m
glad.� Everything went okay, then?�� Kenny�s voice sounded much more relieved than
any other time Takao had talked to him after a hit.

�� Yeah.� We�ve got it
and we�re ready to end this.�� Takao
signed in to his laptop.� �I�m taking the
picture of the Egg now, and I�ll send it to you so you can pass it on to
Gideon.�

�� Right.� So how are
you going to do this, Takao?� Please
don�t take risks if you don�t have to.�

�� It�ll
be fine, Kenny.� Listen, here�s what I think would be best: I�m not handing over
anything to that bastard until I�m satisfied my Dad and Hiro are safe.� Make sure you put that in the email � there
will be no negotiations about how we make the exchange � it�ll be my way or
he�ll never see any of these items at all.�

�� Of course.�

�� Kai
set a steaming mug of tea near Takao on the desk dropping his hands on his
lover�s shoulders and working the tense muscles into relaxation.� �Put it on speaker, love.�

�� Huh?� Oh.��
Takao reached out and pushed a button on the phone base before hanging
up the receiver.� �You�re on speaker,
Chief.� Kai wants to get in on things.�

�� Certainly.� Hello,
Kai.�

�� Kenny.�� Kai returned the greeting solemnly.

�� Takao
turned and looked up at Kai.� �That same
statement goes for the UNA, Kai.� My way or no way.�

�� The
agent frowned, sensing a catch somewhere in his words.� �I would agree to that, but why do I think I
won�t like your plan?�

�� Because you won�t.�
We�ll take whatever precautions you think are absolutely necessary, but
the whole thing is going to happen how I say it is.�� Takao�s storm-blue eyes flashed, daring Kai
to challenge him on it.

�� Tell
me what you�re going to do first, Kinomiya.�
Why won�t I like this?�� Completely on edge and resentful that Takao didn�t trust him � as
Agent Kai of the UNA � Kai�s frown deepened.

�� Ditto.�� Kenny�s tone
agreed with Kai�s expression.� �I doubt
I�ll like this any more than you, Kai.�

�� Kenny,
you�re going to fly back out here, but to London
this time instead of Paris.� Do it quietly.� I don�t want Gideon or his people to know
you�re gone until the exchange is made.�

�� Alright.�

�� Here�s
what�s going to happen: Gideon will meet me face to face to claim the items,
but he�ll release my family to you � and some bodyguards we�ll have �hired� �
first.� Some UNA agents
in disguise, perhaps.�

�� Kai
blinked.� �Done.� Get to the part I won�t like, Takao.�

�� Shut
up, Kai.�� Takao replied mildly.� �Kenny will call my cell from the car or
whatever after he�s driven away with my family safely and without being
followed.� When I get that call, I will
go with Gideon to the storage site and open the place I rented for him, at
which point the UNA can swoop in and arrest him and any others.�

�� Wait.� You are going to meet this guy somewhere, get
in a vehicle with him and go to where you�ve got everything stashed?�� Kai�s hands fell away from Takao�s shoulders,
and he scowled.� �No
way!� That�s way too risky!�

�� Takao
folded his arms stubbornly, meeting Kai�s blazing eyes
with his own solidly.� �My
way or no way, Agent Hiwatari.��
He stood slowly, nose to nose with his lover.� Kai could feel the static building around
them, the hairs at the back of his neck and on his arms beginning to rise. He
reached out to set a hand on Takao�s arm but quickly snatched it back when a
sharp jolt, stronger than a static shock, crackled through the air the instant
his hand was too close to Takao�s skin.

�� Ouch!� Damn it, Kinomiya!� What was that for?�

�� He
won�t touch me, Kai.� No one will.�� Takao raised an eyebrow when Kai tried to
touch him again, and released a little more static.� Kai yelped and took a step back, shaking his
tingling hand to try and get feeling back into it.� �What did I just say? Look,� Takao gave an
exasperated sigh at the wounded expression on Kai�s face.� �I know you love me and want to protect me
but you need to put it aside, Kai, and help me to help myself.� If you don�t work with me on this you�re just
going to hinder me and nothing will get accomplished.�� He held out a hand to Kai.� �Please?�

�� Wary
of being shocked again, Kai stared at the offered hand.� �I don�t like it.�� He stubbornly reiterated.

�� I
don�t either, Kai.�� Kenny interrupted,
making them both start.� They�d almost
forgotten him.� �But I agree with Takao,
and his plan will be one that Gideon will be more inclined to agree to.�

�� Then
explain to me why, Kenny.� I need to
understand the reasoning behind this risk before I agree to it.�

�� Takao
let his hand fall back to his side, but he watched Kai anxiously, suddenly
afraid Kai wouldn�t see reason and then where would he be?� �My plan is such that it sees my family free
and safe from any further harm, and keeps Gideon believing he�ll still be in
control of things.� He won�t need my Dad
and Hiro any more because he�ll have me.� And he�ll need me, Kai, because he won�t get
into the storage room unless I let him in.�
There�s an electric field around it, one that requires my talents to
dispel and to allow someone to pass through it.�

�� Kai
mulled that over, still seeing all the ways that something could go wrong.� He absolutely hated that Takao had a point
though.

�� Kenny?�� Kai�s voice held a bit of desperation.

�� I�m
sorry, Kai.� Takao�s right.� It really is the best solution.�

�� Kai
closed his eyes for a moment.� �It�s so
much more difficult to organize a sting on the move, you know.�� He stated, defeated.� �And, damn it, you are wearing a tracking
chip and Kevlar!� I won�t let you do this
otherwise!�

�� Takao
smiled faintly and held out his hand again.�
�Fine.��
He agreed easily. He let Kai grab his hand and yank him into his arms,
holding onto the older man just as tightly in return.� �Thank you.�

�� Don�t
thank me for this, Taka.� Please don�t.�

�� I
promise that we�ll do whatever we have to for me to stay safe.� And you�ll be watching over me the whole
time.�� Takao stroked Kai�s cheek with
the backs of his fingers and ran them through his hair.� �Right?�

�� Like
a hawk.�� Kai promised fiercely.

�� I
would say you�re more like a phoenix, Kai.��
Kenny chuckled.� �You have a
temperamental, fiery personality, and the way you seemed to be reborn after all
this time you�d disappeared for��

�� Takao
smiled at the image.� �Sort of like that
sculpture your Mom made.�

�� You
guys are entirely too sentimental, you know that?�� Kai shook his head wryly.

�� Anyway!�� Kenny did
his best to get back to the subject.�
�Kai, you�ll handle the UNA end of things?�

�� Yeah.�� Kai agreed,
though reluctantly.

�� Good.� I�ll start composing the email, Takao, then I�ll let you look at it so you can tell me to edit
however you want.�

�� Alright.� We�ll get
started on things here, Kenny.� Thank
you.�� Takao reached out and hung up with
the press of a button.� He glanced at his
lover to see that Kai had already whipped out his cell phone, getting ready to
start making calls.� �Kai?�

�� Hmm?�� The agent
glanced at him questioningly.

�� It�ll
work.� I�ve had months to think this
through and plan.� And now that you�re
with me � and Tala and Hilary, too � things will be a lot easier and safer.� I�m very grateful for that.�

�� I�m
just worried about you, love.�� Kai
sighed and draped an arm around Takao�s waist.�
�And this Gideon character makes all my instincts light up neon signs in
warning.�� Something keeps poking in the
back of my mind about this whole thing.�

�� Takao
nodded, taking Kai�s hand in his and leading him to the kitchen.� He was hungry.� �I know.�
I keep asking myself a lot of questions, too.�� The bluenette pulled out a phone book and
began searching its pages for a take-out/delivery place that fit (as closely as
possible) Dr. Maison�s rules.� �Like who
did my Dad and brother annoy so much that they�re willing to do something like
this to all of us?� Why
the items that were chosen?�

�� Mine
is�why you?�� Kai pointed at a page
absently.� �Sushi.� Why you, Takao?� And you think it was an enemy your father
and/or brother made?�

�� I
can�t think of anyone I know that
would be my enemy and hate me enough
to do this.� So that leaves Dad and Hiro
� and Gramps.� But he was a harmless old
man, and kind.� He wouldn�t hurt anyone,
so I doubt it was because of him.�� Maybe not.� But you
see, I don�t see the connection between you and me �
or at least, my family.�� Kai mused.� �It�s the Egg that really bothers me,
Taka.� Think about it, someone is trying
to ruin your life, and possibly worse.�
Yet the Egg my family has � had
� is only one of many such artefacts in existence.� But this Gideon wants the Hiwatari one, so��

�� Takao
blinked.� He hadn�t even though of
that.� �Good point.� If you follow that line of logic, then that means
it�s someone who has a beef with either both you and I, or both the Kinomiya
and Hiwatari families.�

�� They
stared at each other for a moment.

�� I
can�t think of anyone.�

�� Me
neither.�

�� Stumped
for the moment, Takao ordered food.� When
he�d hung up the phone, he smiled as Kai pulled him into a deep, lazy kiss.

�� And
that was for�?�� Takao asked when Kai let
him go.

�� Just because.�

�� I
like those kind.��
The bluenette curled his arms around his lover and snuggled in,
contented.

~*~*~*~*~

�� Two
days of planning � meticulous, careful planning � and Takao finally gave his
approval to what they�d come up with.�
Whoever �Gideon� was, he/she agreed to the terms Takao set out for the
exchange of the items for his family, and the Kinomiya sword.� Kenny had flown in immediately, and was
staying with Tala and Hilary at the studio above Hiwatari Enterprises.� The petit lawyer looked slightly more
flustered than he had the last time Kai had seen him, but he couldn�t blame
Kenny.� If Kai had been the sort of
person to show such chaotic stress, he figured he�d look much like Kenny did.

�� But
it was Takao that Kai was most concerned for.�
The bluenette had this eerie calm air about him, as if there were
nothing at all wrong.� It spooked Kai.� When he mentioned so to Takao the evening
before the exchange, he almost immediately regretted it because a bleak, very
un-Takao expression passed over his lover�s face and Takao turned away from the
older man to step out onto the balcony and grip the railing.

�� I�m
not calm.� I�m just trying to pretend and
keep it together for a little while longer, Kai, because if I don�t�� Takao
said in a quiet, harsh voice.� �There is
no alternative for me.� My family needs
me to be strong, so that�s what I will be.��
There was a finality there that nearly broke Kai�s heart.� He�d never wanted to see or hear this forced
severity from Takao.� In high school, Kai
had appreciated the younger teen�s exuberance and gaiety � even when it got on
his nerves.

�� So
all Kai could do was to join Takao on the balcony and wrap his arms around him
from behind and hold the bluenette.

�� Not
alone.�� He murmured into the midnight
blue hair tickling his chin.� �Never again.�� Kai
promised, staring out at the city of London
under a setting sun.

�� Takao
let out a deep sigh and relaxed, holding Kai�s arms around him as if he were
afraid the dual-haired man would disappear.�
They stood together there for quite some time in silence, Kai lending
his strength and support and Takao absorbing it like a sponge.

~*~*~*~*~

Kali
Notes:� Okay�this chapter is embarrassing.� Why is that?� *goes off to hide*� Move on to the next chapter, folks,
and enjoy!� Please R/R!!!!
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Once A Thief