Christmas in Zonei Pt. 11

"Can't wait to see you in those." Raeden's husky voice sent a shiver up Kim's spine.

He smiled up at his lover. "What'd you get?"

With a grin, Raeden held up a pair of Santa boxers and matching red tank top. "But I also got some sexy underwear." He tossed the clothes back in the box and held up a pair of blue silk briefs.

Kim launched himself into Raeden's lap, bowling him back onto the couch. He attacked Raeden's mouth with his lips, but they both started laughing too hard to give it a good go.

"There mere sight of sexy underwear gets you going—I can't imagine what you'll be like once I get them on," Raeden teased.

Kim plucked at the boxers Raeden was wearing. "Let's find out."

*****

"A taxi? Really? Do they even go to Zonei?" Kim knew they did. He'd seen them there before, but the sight was so rare that he had to question the notion.

"Of course," Raeden answered. "You have to hire the high-security taxis, but they'll take you into Zonen even. Not usually Zoneo or lower, but I'm not sure why anyone would want to go there anyway."

Kim shivered slightly, trying not to imagine what life might be like in the lowest zones. "But it must cost a fortune."

"Kim, we have money." Raeden's tone was exasperated. "You need to quit worrying about it."

Kim clenched his teeth against a hot retort. He and Raeden had already had that argument several times in as many days. Kim did have money now—tons of his own money, it seemed. As Raeden's new mate, somehow he'd inherited all of Lyzel's assets. By rights her money and belongings went to Raeden. The mods didn't have any family other than their mate. They could have willed their assets to someone else, but Raeden said he'd never heard of that happening. Mods were usually killed as a pair and then all of their assets returned to the Corporation. It was unprecedented for a mod to outlive his or her mate for more than a few months, let alone retain the wherewithal to do something with their partner's wealth.

Raeden seemed to relish sticking it to the Corporation. He could have kept Lyzel's money for himself, but he'd assured Kim that he didn't need it. He'd said it made more sense for Kim to have it because then Kim wouldn't have to come to him if he ever needed anything expensive. Kim would have his own salary soon enough, and Michelle had assured him it would be generous. Kim imagined it would be way more than he would have any idea what to do with.

The first day that the banks were open after Christmas, Raeden had had Lyzel's accounts closed and all the money transferred into Kim's account. The amount had been staggering. Kim was still reeling in shock. Even Raeden had been surprised with the sum.

"I hadn't realized she was such a savvy investor," he'd murmured, looking stunned. "She always seemed to spend without thought and she didn't like to talk about money so we didn't. I figured she had some set aside, but I had no idea..."

At that point, Kim had tried to get Raeden to take it back, or at least take most of it back, but he refused. "If you don't want it, you can give it away," he'd said. Kim had considered that. Was still considering it but wasn't sure where the money would do the most good. He had decided to sit on it for the time being. Then that afternoon he had spent a small fortune on Raeden's Christmas present.

He was very excited about what he'd found to give Raeden. He hoped his new mate would be overwhelmed by it—in good way—but he was nervous. He wasn't sure if his gift would bring up sad memories or be comforting. Raeden himself seemed quite nervous about the gift he was giving Kim and that piqued his curiosity. Like Kim, Raeden was not carrying a visible gift, only a bag of food for lunch.

They'd agreed on only one personal present for each other and, for some reason, Raeden had insisted that they exchange gifts at Kim's old unit in Zonei—he seemed to think it'd be romantic, although Kim couldn't think of anything more romantic than the night before Christmas when they'd spent their time snuggling in front of the fireplace and gazing at the city lights spread out below them—with the twinkling Christmas tree adding magic to the mood. But in any case, they needed to pick up the things Kim wanted to keep from his old life and figure out what to do with the things he didn't, so Kim had readily agreed to Raeden's plan.

Now he took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "All right," he conceded. "We can take a taxi there, but I think we should take the train back."

Raeden smiled at him. "It'll get easier," he said.

"What will?"

"Spending money."

Kim laughed. "I imagine it will." They'd gone shopping the day after Christmas and bought clothes for both of them. They'd also ordered groceries and things for the apartment on the infonet. Kim's mind goggled every time he looked at a bill. "Much easier to go from having no money to having lots of money than the other way around, I imagine."

Raeden grinned. "Yes, definitely."

The taxi was indeed high security. Both he and Raeden had to provide not only their intel but also their retina scan before the unit opened for them. The vehicle itself was heavily shielded—able to withstand a significant-sized blast, according to their infonet ad. It ran on surface streets and was driven by computer rather than an actual human being. It did come with an armed guard, however, who politely introduced himself before raising the shield between the front of the cab and the back.

The guard would have frightened Kim if he hadn't been with Raeden. The man was completely encased in high-tech riot gear and carried a high-powered automatic weapon. What disconcerted Kim, however, were the thoughts he picked up from the man—his brain was that of a thug: he was hoping for a confrontation because he enjoyed killing. Kim shivered and shifted closer to Raeden on the red faux leather seat, fully aware that although they seemed to be in private, the guard was observing and listening to them via a hidden video monitor.

When Kim brought that up to Raeden via their mind link, Raeden confirmed that he had already smelled the spy electronics. They kept their audible conversation to the mundane, but mostly Kim stared out the window in horrified fascination as they passed from one zone to the next and their surrounding became shabbier and more dangerous.

In due time they arrived at The Shangri La and it looked even more tawdry than Kim remembered.

I've been gone less than a week and already this doesn't feel like home.

Good! Your home is with me. Raeden smiled at him but Kim could feel his nervousness. He didn't think it was caused by Zonei—it was caused by the Christmas present that he was planning to give Kim. Kim stringently refused to let himself pry into Raeden's private thoughts, and as nervous as he was, Raeden wasn't allowing his thoughts to leak out.

Dirty snow crunched under their feet as they stepped out onto the curb and a biting wind stole Kim's warmth within seconds, reminding him that he needed to buy a warmer coat. The taxi immediately buttoned itself up and took off back the way it had come.

Kim went through the familiar ritual of getting through security. The cold seeped into him and by the time they were standing in front of the door to his unit, he was shivering in spite of just having climbed four flights of stairs. He was about to place his hand on the scanner to open the door when Raeden grabbed it.

Hold, little one. Raeden then knocked on the door.

What's going on, Rae? Kim asked in confusion. Then he heard the sound of someone approaching the door from the other side.

Who the hell is in my unit?

Raeden didn't respond but his anxiety peaked. Kim felt his stomach flipping over. He was thoroughly perplexed and would have been having a panic attack if his protective mate, whom he trusted implicitly, wasn't standing right next to him with a nervous grin on his face.

The door swung open and Kim found himself face to face with an older Japanese man.

Welcome, son, a voice rang out clearly in his head.

Chapter Twenty

Kim stared at the man in front of him in disbelief. Was this really his father? His memories of his father were vague but he had looked at pictures of him often enough. The man did look like his father. He had aged, of course, but still looked young for his forty-five years. His full head of salt and pepper hair was cropped close. He was a few inches taller than Kim, and from what Kim could see of his body—he was dressed in a fitted black tee and tight blue jeans—he was incredibly fit. The man was smiling at him, a great, huge grin. That smile he recognized.

Somehow, incredibly, his father stood before him.

"Dad!" Kim threw himself into his father's arms, blinking back the tears that threatened to overflow. As the older man's wrapped him into a tight hug, a lump bloomed in his throat. He buried his face in his father's neck, the long-forgotten herbal scent washing over him along with a million memories of his earliest years.

Caught up in the maelstrom of his emotions, he barely noticed when he was shuffled into the small unit and Raeden closed the door behind them. Finally, taking a deep breath, he pulled away from the clinging hold he had on his father to look him in his face again.

Hiroshi was still smiling, the corners of his eyes crinkling. Kim became aware that his face was wet and he quickly drew the back of his hand across his cheeks.

"How ... how can you possibly be alive after all these years?" Kim's happiness and astonishment was tempered with a flare of hurt and anger. Had his father abandoned them?

"Please..." His father's voice was low and calm. He released his hold on Kim's shoulders, but touched his arm gently. "Sit. Relax. Let me make you some tea. Then I will answer your questions." He gestured toward a pile of cushions scattered across the floor and Kim looked around the room in surprise.

The heavy curtain that had separated the room into two halves was gone and bright winter sun shone through the windows. The worn overstuffed chairs had also disappeared and in their place were a large woven tatami mat, seating cushions, and throw pillows. The plastic boxes that held Kim's things were stacked neatly in a corner, but a Japanese-style, dark wood, modular unit, with drawers and cupboards, took up one whole wall.

The next thing Kim noticed was that the room was warm. Looking around, he spotted a large modern space heater, plugged into the PowMon. How lovely it would have been to have had that while he'd lived here. His father obviously had means. More questions came to mind, but he bit them back. Perhaps sensing his impatience, Raeden took his hand, led him over to the cushions, and settled down with him.

He waited with high anticipation while his father went through the ritual of making tea. It seemed surreal to be sitting in his old unit watching his father making tea in his old teapot. He fidgeted and Raeden laid a calming hand on his knee.

Leaning close, Raeden said quietly, "Merry Christmas, Kim!"

"This is your present for me?" Kim asked, agog.

"Yes. Do you like it?"

"I'm overwhelmed! I ... I never imagined... " He let out a short laugh. "Of course, I like it. I love it! Oh my God! My dad! How on earth did you find him? You did find him? He didn't just come back on his own?"

"Michelle found him," Raeden replied, "but I'll let him tell you his story."

Hiroshi had placed the tea set on a small tray which he now set on the floor in front of them. Dropping gracefully onto one of the cushions, he said, "I'm sorry. I still need to buy a zashiki table."

Kim could only guess that his father meant the short tables that Japanese used when they were sitting on the floor. Another pang of loss swept over him; if he'd grown up with his father around, he would surely have known this already.

Hiroshi smiled at him, a sort of wistful smile as if he knew what Kim was thinking. He served in silence, settled back, and took a sip of tea. "So, what I am going to tell you is for your ears only. Do I have your agreement that my story does not leave this room?"

Both Kim and Raeden nodded solemnly.

"You are, of course, familiar with the Corporations's former policy of testing everyone for telepathic inclinations?"

"Former policy?" Kim echoed. He'd wondered why he'd never been tested, but wasn't aware that the government had discontinued the program.

"A few years ago they decided that the results they were getting were not worth the expense. You were never tested, were you?"

Kim shook his head. "No, never."

His father smiled tightly. "I'm glad."

"So what happened to you? Where have you been all these years?"

"The day I never returned home to you and your mother was the day I was tested for telepathic abilities. As soon as they saw my score, they whisked me away to be studied, poked, prodded, and trained. I've been a prisoner ever since."

Kim stared at his father in horror. "Seventeen years! They've kept you prisoner this whole time?"

His father nodded. Kim glanced at Raeden. The big mod's face was stony and while anger was radiating from him, there was no surprise. Raeden had obviously already known this.

"But you ... you are well?" Kim asked. His father looked healthy.

Hiroshi let out a mirthless laugh, shaking his head. "Recently, I've been mostly left alone. Confined but not molested. The early years—when they didn't know what they were doing and I had no means to defend myself—those years were rough. I've been imprisoned in virtual solitude for quite some time now. I am sure it has taken its toll on my psyche. I cannot judge my own mental health. Nevertheless, I am alive and functioning still, and I've been reunited with my son, so that is something.

Kim threw himself at his father, pulling him into a tight embrace. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry," he murmured into his father's neck. After a brief moment he realized that Hiroshi was not hugging him back; his body was stiff as a board. He started to pull away and his father patted him awkwardly on the shoulder.

"You will have to forgive me. I'm not used to such close contact."

The lump that had been in Kim's throat since he'd entered the unit swelled to choking proportions.

"It's okay, Kim," Hiroshi said gruffly. "I know it's normal for family to comfort one another. It will take some time before I adjust, but I enjoyed your hug."

Kim nodded and retreated back to his own cushion where Raeden wrapped a comforting arm around him. Kim snuggled into Raeden's warmth. Not trusting himself to speak, he nodded at his father to continue his story.

"So, as I said, the beginning years were rough. I missed you and your mother terribly. Every day I chafed against confinement and fought my captors with every means I had available to me. Their restraints were unassailable and the more I fought them openly, the harsher their punishments became.

"But they were training me in telepathy during this time. I learned a great deal and started picking up on their thoughts. I realized the hopelessness of my situation and ceased to fight them openly. But I never gave up hope of escape—well, sometimes in my darkest hours hope would desert me—but when I saw the sun again it would always return. I thought of you and mother constantly and wondered how you were doing. Worried about how you would cope without my income. It looks like you managed to keep your Zonei status, at least." He smiled again, a small wan smile. "When I am done with my story, I would very much like to hear yours."

"Of course. There's not much to tell."

Hiroshi cocked an eyebrow at him and looked meaningfully at the giant mod whose lap Kim was practically sitting in.

"Well ... until I met Raeden, anyway." He felt heat rising in his cheeks and quickly turned the conversation back to his father. "So, what did the Corporation want from you?"

"They wished to train me to be one their spies, but I didn't want to work for them. And I certainly didn't want to comb through peoples thoughts and report on them. The more I resisted the harsher their methods became."

Kim shuddered. He did not want to imagine what his father had gone through, but sitting on his slate-blue cushion, telling them his story, the older man was composed. A deep sense of calm emanated from him and Kim wondered at its source.

As if reading his thoughts, Hiroshi said, "I have studied the old ways. I meditate daily for at least an hour. It has been a balm to my soul."

Kim nodded.

Your father is amazing. Raeden spoke clearly in his mind and Kim noticed a minute widening of his father's eyes.

I think he can hear us, Kim responded.

Hiroshi smiled. Yes, I can. I'm sorry. I did not mean to eavesdrop, but your mental conversation is as clear to me as if you had spoken aloud.

"But the information I received is that you lost your telepathic abilities," Raeden said, speaking aloud.

Kim's father nodded. "Yes. It was how I survived. How I eventually escaped—with your help, of course. It would have taken me another year or two to do it on my own."

Both Kim and Raeden looked at him expectantly, waiting for further explanation.

This is one of the things I don't want to leave this room, Hiroshi said, using their mindlink. The only reason they let me go is because they no longer have any use for me. I managed to gain enough telepathic ability to fool their tests. I let my ability appear to gradually wane, of course. I didn't want to give them any reason to study me further. Slowly, slowly, with each test they administered my score dropped. I am now, apparently, completely mundane. Have been for three years.

Kim's heart started thumping with hope. You fooled their tests? That's possible?

Yes. It wasn't easy. The telepathy test involves a trained telepath reading your mind and judging how well you can sense them. Sometimes they'll strike using a technique that is very painful to a telepath, but would not be noticeable by a mundane. You need to learn to withstand that without appearing to notice. You also need to put some thoughts on display for them to tromp through and to hide your real thoughts so well that they don't even realize you're hiding them. It took me a long time to perfect my techniques.

So you are a powerful mind reader? Raeden asked.

Yes. I have met no one better.

Can you train Kim to fool the testers?

Likely, but whether or not he can learn well enough before they test him is doubtful.

Kim shuddered slightly. Would they take him away from Raeden and torture him like they had his father? Then another thought occurred to him and he was horrified.

If they succeed in reading my mind, they'll find out about you!

Yes. Hiroshi's calm demeanor didn't change. It was a risk I was willing to take because I don't want to lose you to the same fate that befell me. But we have much to do. Raeden said that you will report to CorpSci next Tuesday morning to begin training as a warrior pair. I expect they will test you soon thereafter. I would like you to remain with me until then and I will spend every waking moment training you. His father grinned evilly at him. And I might not let you sleep.

Kim glanced at Raeden to see his reaction. The big man was frowning at his father and Kim sensed his trepidation. Kim trusted his father instinctively even though he really didn't know him at all anymore. But the thought of spending time away from Raeden when they had just gotten together was an anathema. He could feel Raeden's horror at the idea as well.