NEW LIFE : A SECOND CHANCE

As Sam, Xing Han and Ali were walking to Company LV, Ali whispered to them, "Isn't anyone going to ask why Lucka has a shoulder gun strap? Do you think the others are armed as well?"

"Pshaw," Xing Han said dismissively, "They're Team Zero! A business team. Why would they be armed? He probably got that specifically to hide the kitten."

"That ... doesn't quite sound right, Xing Han," protested Ali.

"Yes," agreed Sam, "There are so many cheaper alternatives to a shoulder gun strap."

"Also," Sam continued as he patted his notebook, "They're not normal business team. The way they walk and the way their bodies seem to be ready for action gives me the impression that they're trained."

Ali nodded. As one who was trained in martial arts since young, he noticed that, too.

"Maybe they double as bodyguards?" Xing Han speculated, "Who knows? They're Kyle's men. That's all I need to know."

"Of course," Ali said, "But one can't help but be curious, right?"

"There are many layers to Kyle," Sam said, "He's like an onion."

"What? He makes you cry?" Xing Han gasped, then dodged the head smack from Ali.

"You think you know him," Sam continued, as if Xing Han never said anything, "Then he reveals something, and then another, and another. It's like he's this complex thing, all bunched up into one."

"It's so fascinating," Sam said, a sparkle in his eyes, "I've never seen someone so complicated before."

"Pah, what complicated?" Xing Han said with a wave of his hand, "Feed him, he's happy. Touch Kay, you're dead. Throw girls at him, he runs."

Sam looked at Xing Han, then slowly patted him on the shoulder and said, "That's why you're his best friend. Opposites attract. A simple man with a complex man."

"Yeah! That's right! I'm his best friend!! BEST. FRIEND!!" Xing Han said happily, completely missing the part that Sam just called him an idiot.

Ali was just laughing at the side, covering his mouth to stop it from being too loud.

.:*?°☆...:*?

Kyle had checked the map. The nearest pet store was within walking distance, so Kyle decided to walk. As the air was getting a bit chilly, he opted to wear a trenchcoat today.

The black trenchcoat reached up to his knees, and he wore a crisp white shirt and a slim black tie. His black dress shoes clacked on the floor as he quickly walked by. However, instead of the proper black pants, Kyle was wearing a pair of black jeans.

Yesterday had been his limit for wearing a proper suit and today, he was cheating a bit. It was only the first impression that was important and after the purge, he doubted people would actually say anything about the semi-casual wear he sported.

Even if they did, he didn't care.

Kyle knew he looked good but he was slightly unaware of how well he looked. Due to his lean body frame and height, the trenchcoat swaying slightly as he walked, he cut a really dashing figure. He was so preoccupied with thinking of all the things he needed to get for the kitten that he hardly noticed the stares of passers-by.

Actually, he was so used to such stares that after a while, he developed a shield and became quite oblivious to it all. Which, unfortunately (or not, depending on how you looked at it), added to his charm even more. That unconcerned, dreamy-eyed look was quite captivating.

So when he walked through the pet store doors, the two employees that had been busy yawning away in boredom for getting the morning shift, stand up straight. They gave each other a high five as they silently watched Kyle go around the store.

One happily hopped over and asked, "Can I help you?"

"Ah, yes," Kyle said, deciding that it would be much faster to just get help this time, "I need some nursing bottles for kittens, milk replacement formula, a litter box, some kitty litter, a scooper, a hot water bottle and a bed for a cat."

"Oh, I'm sorry but we don't have hot water bottles here," she said with a sad face.

Kyle tsked but it couldn't be helped. He knew it was a gamble but he had hoped they might have. It would normally be sold at a pharmacy but he didn't have time to go to one after this. Kittens lose their body heat easily and it would be best if they slept on top of a hot water bottle.

He made a mental note to get that later after finishing up at Company LV. He would need to get some wet wipes and paper towels as well anyway.

"It's fine," Kyle said in resignation, "Just the other items then."

"You have a new furbaby in the family?" the talkative young lady asked.

Kyle wondered fleetingly why people would ask the most obvious question. With all the things he was buying, wasn't it obvious that he had a new kitten? It was like asking a person who was munching on a burger whether he was eating a burger.

Maybe it's because he pitied the girl, or maybe it was because he had blown off steam with the purge yesterday, but whatever he was, he merely replied her with a simple "Yes" instead of the sarcastic one he would normally have given.

He then said, "I'll just wait at the cashier. Please just sent the items there."

He quickly ran off to avoid having to answer more inane questions.

.:*?°☆...:*?

It was 10 am when Kyle finally managed to make his way through Company LV's doors.

He had to lug all the stuff back to the hotel, listen to Kay squeal then reprimand him for not getting any cat toys, set up everything before he could escape. He practically ran out this time.

As he walked through the door, he felt the atmosphere was completely different than the last time. Yesterday, he was practically unknown and mere curiosity. This time, however, everyone scattered about hurriedly, kinda like mice when the cat walks in.

Kyle laughed internally at that but kept up his stoic face. As he wasn't doing any purging today and everyone already knew him, he didn't have any killer aura. The receptionist stood up and greeted him with a smile.

"Director Kyle, welcome back," she said.

"Thank you. Keep up the good work," Kyle commented.

She grinned even wider, "I will Sir, thank you, Sir."

People were staring at her in jealousy. She was the only one that didn't appear to be scared of Kyle, and Kyle didn't look like he was ready to blast at her either.

As Kyle stood to wait for the lift, he couldn't help but notice how the people beside him were slowly ... inching away from him. He merely stood there, pretending not to notice.

Currently, the devil in him wanted to scare them but the angel in him told him that he had scared them enough yesterday. The two were fighting with each other and he was trying very hard to keep a straight face.

Finally, the ding of the lift indicated it had arrived. When the doors opened, the people inside were frozen to see Kyle standing there. There was an empty space all around him, so all they could see was just ... him.

They quickly exited the lift, acknowledging and greeting him as they passed by.

Kyle walked in and turned, but no one followed him in. Instead, they just stood outside. Kyle pressed the 'open' button and asked, "Not coming in?"

"Oh, no no Sir," they all chorused, their voices mixed but he could get the gist of it.

"Oh, okay then. I'll be going first," Kyle said, not making a fuss about the whole thing.

He pressed the 'close doors' button, then turned to face them. He had been looking down and to his right before this, and now, he just tilted his head up a bit and looked at them.

As his long eyelashes revealed his smouldering blue eyes, his lips curled up to his never-before-seen Charming Smile as he said with a sigh, "What a pity."

The doors closed.

The women (and a few men) that were outside, were frozen. The Devil could actually be so ... so ... breathtakingly gorgeous and sexy like that? Darth Vader? What Darth Vader?? Some women were mentally kicking themselves for not daring to go into the lift with him at that point.

Kyle grinned to himself.

He couldn't wait to actually be older and look more mature. It was fun to tease people but a part of him felt a bit weird if he did it to the older women. He shrugged, thinking of the past 13 years. It had really dragged on and truthfully, he was getting impatient.

It had been so long. The dissatisfaction he felt at not being able to meet his kids ate up at him. He was keeping himself busy and playing around at the same time - just to keep his mind off the past. It worked most of the time but ever since Dahlia ... he started to feel the itch again.

Kyle sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.

He's probably feeling this way this morning because of Oreo. He had deliberately tried to keep his past life activities separate from his present life. Seeing Kay earlier, and how she was with Oreo, triggered memories and feelings he wished remained hidden.

Images flashed through his mind. His son, who was just like his father, would be bringing back stray kittens with this aggrieved look on his face. Remembering how he would crawl into the storm drains when he hears meowing, his little heart unable to let them be.

His daughter, whose soul was like a cat for all cats just seem to come up to her, rubbing themselves on her and begging attention. She could call out to them and they'd come running, and snuggle to her. Cat Whisperer indeed.

Kyle felt his heart lurch painfully. He gritted his teeth and closed his eyes, taking deep breaths. It's been 13 years. Thirteen. He knew that they were fine but it didn't make the pain of separation feel any less. He knew that 'she' was still alive, taking care of them and he must never, ever meet up while 'she' was still alive.

What sort of conundrum would that be?! Kyle, meeting Kylie. Unimaginable.

Just then, the lights flickered in the lift.

Then, it jerked to a sudden stop.