Chapter one:

It had been so long since he had been in his homeland. Not that he missed it or anything but it just felt…uncanny. Stepping on his motherland meant going back, back to those bad days.

Sighing loudly, Kai looked around to see if anything had changed since he had left this place, Nope.

Every thing was the same; even the trees were still covered in snow as usual. He gave his little house one last look from the outside, just the same. The roof was covered with snow as well as the front of the house that gave the impression that no one had visited it for a long time which was entirely true.

Picking up his bag from the road where the taxi had dropped him, he started to make his way towards the door. Once inside, he noticed that it was also the same. Not that he expected it to change but this house always reminded him of all the good times he had shared with his parents many years ago. The furniture was covered with dust and it was as chilly inside as it was outside. Making his way in the kitchen to make himself a cup of tea, his eyes fell upon the news paper which lay on the counter. Now that's unusual, Kai thought as he picked up the paper, where did this come from? And its yesterdays'! must be Ross.

Dropping it back, he unzipped his bag and took out a bottle of coffee. Placing it beside the stove he opened the cabinet to find the already washed kettle and a bottle of tea. Confused he filled the kettle with water and placed it on the burning stove. Picking up his bag once more he started to ascend the stairs, towards his room. Finding the door open he went inside. Everything was just the same except…

"It's a wonder you're on time." The figure on the bed said not even looking up from his book.

"Tala!"

The older boy looked at his watch and continued, "or maybe a little late."

Kai`s lips twitched slightly, forming a little smile. If it was someone else, other than Tala, they would be regretting saying it.

Getting up from the bed Tala held out his arms for Kai who had dropped his bag and was now making his way towards him.

Kai who gladly returned the embrace stepped away from the red headed blader.

"Welcome."

"I should be the one saying that as you're in my house." Kai smiled.

"My, my. Why so cheery?" the red headed smirked, "must be the after effects for living with Tyson and Max for a longer time than your health can take."

Kai ignored him and asked instead, "how come you're here?"

"Thought you'd need some company." He answered plainly. Sitting again on the bed he asked, "so why are you here?"

"lets go get a cup of coffee before we talk about it." Kai said and stepped out of the room and went down stairs.

Once in the kitchen, he washed two cups and filled them with boiling water. Adding sugar and coffee he placed the cups on the table just as Tala walked into the kitchen. He took the cup and sat on the chair, the book still opened in front of him. Taking a sip from his cup he looked up and gave Kai a questioning look.

"What?" came an annoyed retort.

"About my question?" he said an amusing smile on his lips. It was not like Kai to forget a something that easily, not even the monotonous ones.

"Oh…business matters." Kai said ignoring the grin and taking a sip of his own coffee. It felt good, the hot contents warmed up his insides. He took another sip. "When did you arrive here?"

"This morning. You could have stayed in your other house. I mean this place is way too small." Tala gave the kitchen a considerate look.

"So, how did you know I was going to come here?" He asked, ignoring his last sentence.

"I know you too well." Tala answered as it explained everything.

"yeah… it creeps me out but anyways, Where did you get the keys from?"

"Mr. Richard had them didn't he? All I had to do was ask him."

"How exactly did you know I was coming to Moscow?"

"Mr. Dickenson told me." Tala who was once again lost in the book responded uninterestedly. Being Kai's best friend he was always aware of his plans and everything. The crimson-eyed blader never kept a secret from him. Tala always knew what was on his mind and could easily tell when Kai was down. Being raised up in the abbey they knew each other, they both shared a ruthless past there.

"so, what exactly are these business matters?" Tala asked folding a page of book and closing it to show that Kai had his full attention.

"Wanted to sell the house, I can't keep it. It reminds me of them and I do have another house which is much comfortable."

"So, are you staying here today?"

"nah. Just getting some documents and then all I have to do is ask Mr. Richard to sell it for me." Kai stood up and placed his cup in the sink. The blade-breakers were having a vacation after the champion ships. Max was with his parents in America, Ray in China and Tyson in Japan. The team captain had decided that he no longer could take care of this house and there will be many poor people willing to buy it. Mr. Richard was his personal aide. He was neither too young nor old.

"What do you mean I can't go back to Japan?" Ray asked exasperated dropping his bag on the floor.

The lady, who was sitting on the other side of the counter exhaled noisily and ran a hand through her dark brown hair. Today, all she had been doing was explaining to everyone why they can't go to Japan. It wasn't a tough job but some people were impatient and lost their temper.

"Listen, the plane which was supposed to go to Japan has some problems. You'll have to wait for a few days."

I can't stay here any longer. The white tigers are eating my head up, Ray thought frustratedly and sighed. Not that they weren't his friends but it was too much work staying with them. Lee would ask Ray every now and then to bey battle with him while Mariah was always playing with his hair which really annoyed him. As for the other two, well eating competitions and running around were too much. It was fun at first but Ray thought he would gain too much weight and Drigger needed some rest too.

"Isn't there any other way I can go back to Japan?" he asked trying to think of ways to make an excuse to the white tigers if they invited him to stay with them. He didn't want to hurt their feelings.

"If there's an emergency, you'll have to go to Russia and take a ticket from there to go to Japan." The lady smiled at him.

"Ok, so when will I leave for Russia?" Nice, I will get to see my captain's birth place, he thought sarcastically.

"There's a flight in an hour, if you'll like I'll make your ticket."

"Sure." Ray was thankful that he wouldn't have to face the tigers. He waited as the lady worked. "and when will the plane leave from Russia to Japan?" after some time Ray asked.

"Don't know, But it's the all I can do if you want to leave. The helper will tell you the timings there." She smiled and handed him the ticket.

"Please fasten up your seat belts. The plane will be taking off in a few minutes. We will reach Moscow in about nineteen hours and uh… forty three minutes. Have a nice flight." A voice said and exited chatter started. Ray was sitting beside the window with an old couple beside him. He pulled out a magazine from the pocket of the front seat and started to look through the pages. After a few minutes the plane started to move and soon was flying in the air. Ray placed the magazine back in the pocket.

A thought crossed his mind, What if I meet Kai there? He can show me around. But he instantly shook it away, knowing well that he will never meet Kai and if, by any chance, did happen he will never waste his time on him.

He sighed and closed his eyes.

A small tug made him open his eyes. He rubbed them and looked at the old lady sitting beside him. "Your lunch, son."

Ray took his tray from her and nodded thankfully.

Kai unlocked the door, taking off his snickers and placing them in the corner he walked inside on the carpeted floor, Tala doing the same. The floor was covered with white soft carpet, making his way inside the hall, he saw Bryan sitting on a sofa with his portable video game in front of him.

"What are you doing here?" Kai asked placing his bag on the sofa and sitting alongside him.

"Hey." Came a distant reply. However, Tala who was holding mails in his hand sat on the opposite couch and answered "thought we should settle here for a while. We got bored of that cabin." Tala looked through the mail and threw away the junk posts. A strange package caught his eye. It was a light golden colored envelope with silver decoration on its corner. Inside was a light blue colored paper.

"Hey, check this out!" Tala cried waving the paper in front of Kai's face.

"What is it?" Kai looked up from the bundle of papers which were on his lap to see an excited Tala. This better be good. It was rare to see Tala so keyed up. Kai took the blue paper from him and scanned it, his expressions never changing.

"So what do you think?" Tala tried to read Kai's mind but his face was expression less. "You're not going to… are you?" his voice became doubtful.

"Of course I decline." Kai said in a matter of fact tone.

"What's all the noise about?" Ian's voice told them that they weren't alone. Sure Bryan was also in the room but he was so engrossed in the video game that he wasn't paying attention to his surroundings. Ian made an attempt to snatch the piece of paper from Kai's hand but it was too high for him to reach.

"Back off…what the?" Spencer took the opportunity and grabbed the paper from him.

The letter was in Russian; clearing his throat he read the letter out loud. Bryan had paused the game and was also looking at Spencer. The room was silent the only noise was the shuffling of the pages on Kai's lap. Even though Kai's eyes were on the papers his attention was on Spencer's voice.

"'Dear Mr. Kai Hiwatari,it is our personal invitation to inform you that 'tomber amoureux pictures' are willing to take you in one of our very famous movies…' Is it for real Kai? But why him?" Spencer turned to Tala. "And if he decline one of us can go right? I mean we are his friends aren't we?" He gave Kai a quick look; he was still searching the papers.

"Do continue." Bryan said calmly.

"Uh… 'you are also allowed to bring your friends but there are only two other main roles left so we warn you that only your two friends can have an actual part in this movie and if the acting is not proper, we are sorry to say that they won't be selected. The set is in Moscow's vienne streets park. The movie will start on the morning of 23rd December, 2009 and it will take it two months to complete it i-e 23rd February, 2010. As we are aware that you will be free during this period so we hope that you will join us. We will be very proud to have you as the main actor. Yours genuinely, tomber company's manager.'" Spencer looked at the people in front of him. Kai's expression's told him that he was uninterested while the other three looked quite excited.

"There are two other parts hun? So I'm quite sure I'll be picked for one." Bryan said proudly.

"and I'll be for the other."

"no I'll be."

"you can't `cause I am way better than you."

"oh yeah?"

The four Demolition boys started shouting. Fighting who was better. Bryan and Tala's faces were inches apart while Ian was jumping up and down shouting. Spencer was re-reading the letter to make sure that it was addressed to the right person.

"no one will get selected." All the four heads turned to the source of the voice.

"and why is that?" Tala asked placing his hands on his hips.

"not a single one of you is perfect." Kai said simply as it explained everything. Getting confused looks he sighed and got up. Reaching the table, he Placed his papers there he then walked back and said, "I mean Spencer is too big, Ian is too short, you…" he looked at Tala and continued "are a girly boy and …"

"Hey, I'm not a girly boy."

Kai continued, "It isn't a problem Tala, I still like you and as for Bryan his eye sight is weak and they don't need blind actors."

"How can you say that?" Bryan asked, eyebrows furrowed.

"I can tell." Was the only reply as the phoenix master walked out of the room. He picked up his boots from the corner and walked upstairs toward his room. His room was just the same with black carpet and blood red walls. His bed was in the middle of the room and was made. Richard must have hired someone.

The night's sleep was refreshing, and there had been no sounds from Bryan's room that night.

Tala rubbed his eyes and surpassed a yawn. The rays of sun were coming through his bedrooms window. He stood up from the bed and went into the bathroom.

After taking a quick shower, he went into the kitchen to find an old women standing beside the stove. Sensing his presence, she turned around to welcome him with a small smile.

"You are master Tala, aren't you?"

Tala just glared at her.

"uh… I'm Gloria, Mister Richard hired me." She smiled again.

"As a chef?" he asked.

"uh… well yes you can say that and for some other jobs too." She turned towards the stove and said cheerfully, "Pancakes with banana shake for breakfast. You go sit with all your friends in the hall, I'll prepare the table."

Tala did as he was told; walking into the hall he saw that the three Demolition boys were there.

The same voice, which had been heard so many times before said "we are going to land in Moscow's air port in about twenty five minutes. You are not allowed to unfasten your seat belts till the plane land. Thank you and have a nice day."

Ray looked out of the window; there was still no sign of light, meaning the sun was yet to show itself. He sensed the plane landing as he felt something funny in his stomach. The voices also started coming inaudibly through his ears.

Once outside the air port Ray was feeling cold. Everything was covered in white snow and he didn't even know where to go. He took a few steps and looked around, everything was so white.

Maybe this was a bad idea.

Ray looked around to see if anyone could help him. Everyone was engulfed in their own matters, pulling children along with their bags and moving their hands to stop taxis. A yellow cab pulled in front of him. The man rolled down his window and took out his head and said something in a language which was completely unfamiliar to him. When Ray didn't answer the driver said something angrily pulled away. After a few seconds, he was out of Ray's site.

"I just lost myself in one of Russia's biggest cities." Ray shouted making heads turn towards him but he didn't care. He buried his face in his hands. A hand on his shoulder made him look up. A man in his late thirties or early forties looked down at him politely.

"what's wrong kid?" Concern was evident from his voice. His expressions were thoughtful like he was thinking about something very important.

Ray thought that the man was his only hope in this unfamiliar city so he said, "I don't know where to go." his voice made something shine in the man's eyes.

"You're Ray Kon aren't you? Well I know just the place. My name's Ross Richard by the way." The man extended his hand for Ray to shake.

"You sure this is the right place?" Ray asked the driver. Their car was standing in front of a large house, no a mansion, Ray thought.

"Yes, Ross asked me to drop you here." The driver voice brought back Ray to reality.

"It doesn't look like a hotel to me." He said more to himself than to the other, confused.

The driver gave a small laugh before clearing his throat and confirming, "It's not."

"am I allowed?"
"you'll have to find that out by yourself." The driver smiled.

Ray walked out of the car taking his bag with him. The driver gave a brief nod before starting the car. Ray sighed just as the car pulled away. He then turned to face the front of the house. Running his hand through his hair nervously he started to walk to the front door.

The door bell brought the four to reality. No one made an attempt to open the door, only staring at each other.

"Go get it Ian." Bryan ordered turning to his game, he un-paused it and went up the stairs, towards his room.

"Why me?" he protested.

Another bell.

"Because Gloria is out of the house, just do it." Tala said sitting on the soft couch. Spencer had gone into the kitchen. When Ian didn't move from his place, Tala glared at him for a moment and made an attempt to stand.

"Ok, ok I'm going." He gave up and walked out of the room leaving Tala alone.

The people living here aren't deaf are they? Ray thought as his hand made contact with the door bell for the third time. He was quite sure that there were people in there because he had heard voices coming from inside. Ray thought of banging his fists on the door. Keeping this thought in mind he held his hand up in the air, just as it was about to touch the door it opened. Ray looked at the small person who had opened the door

"I…uh…"

"What are you doing here?"

Backing away from the short person in shock he pointed his finger at him. "you're… you're…" Ray's suspicion was confirmed by the voice that came from the inside of the house.

"Who is it, Ian?" Tala's voice reached Ray's ears.

"Look who came to visit us Tala." Ian gave Ray a wicked smile.

Footsteps were heard and the next moment Tala was standing in front of Ray.

"What are you doing here?" Tala glared at him with a raised eyebrow. He couldn't keep himself from grinning at the priceless expressions that the tiger master gave.

"I… uh … It was some sort of misunderstanding. So, I guess I'll be…" Ray stopped in mid-sentence when he saw Spencer. They are going to eat me alive. Ray wanted to tear his hair.

Tala smirked as Ray's expressions became fearful. It wouldn't hurt just to play with him for a little while, he thought and extended his hand to grab Ray's shoulder, "You're not going anywhere Kitty."