To the guest Phamalama: Nope, it's not that. The storie doesn't follow the series so things might be different. You will find out soon about Zhalia's and Kasim's relationship. Thank you for your review :)

Chapter 2

Be Careful what you wish for

They manage to run away back then. The heat was merciless and exhausted them. Kasim couldn't keep up with Dante, so he carried him in his back, adding to the burden he already felt dragging him down due to the strength he had used. Hopefully, a Foundation's jet was nearby and took them straight to Venice after properly treating them. The fuss occurring the past few months due to the doubts the Foundation had of military's loyalty had him on alert and had agreed to go there with back up.

Three years from back then, Dante still can't swear that he knows everything about Kasim. He is a rather quite boy and very polite to everyone, but at the same time very non-committal. For a kid who has been through so many hardships, he has the strength to smile and always welcome Dante with his glowing royal blue eyes smiling from his cheeks. He is a strong boy and Dante feels proud of that. The first year they had spent together, Metz offered to give Kasim to a seeker family who couldn't make kids and at the same time, he could train and Dante could see him whenever he likes, maybe even become his mentor someday. But Dante, feeling obliged to Omar, decided to keep him. Foundation seekers or not, he can't risk anyone learning about Kasim's special abilities, which at the very end he doesn't know himself even now. He would stay at is house longer than usual to spent time with him, get to know him, teach him Italian besides English –which he seemed to know quite well for his age- and his mother tongue Arabian, taking him for walks in the city, teaching him about the foundation and seekers, trying to make him bring his defenses down and feel safe around him. And he managed to do so…partly. While time was passing by, Kasim started to smile more often, open up bit by bit. However Dante is a top seeker and his job requires his presence, sometimes even for days. Kasim had to stay at the house with his absence for very long periods, but even then, he was still happy. He would read books, play strategy games, watch movies, and play outside, pretty much what every normal kid does, besides training to become a seeker. Since he was very young, Kasim didn't know what he liked, so he occupied himself with everything Dante showed him and eventually, Dante became his role model. Whenever they were together, they would play games, Kasim would listen to Dante's stories, they would train or go outside and when Dante had work, Kasim would either sit and watch him carefully, his bright blue eyes with the innocence in them lightening Dante's burden a bit, or play in his room.

At first, despite his willingness to keep him and take care of him, Dante wasn't exactly good with children. Working alone most of the time and living alone in such a big house with most of the people he associates with being foundation members and their conversations being work-related, he didn't get the chance to interact with kids, since he didn't wish to become a mentor or a coach. Yet Kasim wasn't a very difficult kid to handle and his inexperience didn't seem to bother him. There were many times when Dante would just stare at him and trying to find the right words and Kasim would just gaze back at him, not doing anything and somehow making this silence comfortable for Dante. Just like Kasim, Dante also became more comfortable around him and soon started to have parental feelings for the boy, accompanied with his infamous overprotectiveness and care for the people he values in his life.

They didn't need to talk much and just enjoy each other's presence. Dante would help Kasim and make him smile and with that smile, Kasim would make Dante feel a little bit lighter, no matter how bad his day might have been. He especially liked when he was on his holotome and Kasim would sit on the couch and simply look at him, his big royal blue eyes follow his every move with attentiveness and amazement.

To sum it up, those three years have been rather blissful for the both of them. However, Dante couldn't forget the day of the explosion…the day he found him. Every time he would ask Kasim questions, such as why were kids in the military? Why was he there? What were scientists doing there? What was that project they weren't telling him about? Who could have possibly been responsible for the explosion in the military bases? Kasim wouldn't answer and sometimes, Dante felt guilty for forcing him to recall those memories. During their flight to Venice, the foundation nurse had found multiple cuts in Kasim's arm near his veins and Dante didn't want to even try to imagine what they did to him.

After the explosion, the Foundation started a research to find out the ones behind this and when Dante mentioned the name Klaus, they found out that he was an Organization's mad scientist. They immediately wrecked the alliance, considering the high possibility of the Organization working with their supposed to be allies and after various of failed attempts to track down Klaus, the foundation gave up on the case and kept an eye on their base in Saudi Arabia, as well as at the HQ of the United States Army Cops and Engineers unit. Dante on the other hand couldn't give up on it. Omar's death and his last words kept replaying on his mind… He only wished he had a lead, a way to track Klaus. None of the scientist had survived, Doctor Cody included, and the soldiers remained claimed they only followed orders and were not allowed to know what the whole project was about. Major Declan disappeared as well a few days later, so Dante had no lead and his busy schedule, adding his new responsibility to take care of Kasim, did not give him time for further investigation.

The feeling of guilt was hard to carry, let alone burry it, but Kasim's presence and his expressions of gratitude, the constant warm smiles and the sweet 'Thank you' he would give Dante before the lights are off and he falls asleep, helped him manage to keep going for those three years.

Right now, there was another concern in his mind. Even though Kasim has assured him many times that he doesn't mind him missing for missions and that he understands, Dante has that strange feeling when he leaves him alone. Knowing that he might be in danger due to his special powers, which he also refuses to talk about –and in fact Dante has noticed a few…movements from the Organization to Kasim- and also worrying about him because he cares, he asked a year ago, a new Irish female seeker, Scarlet Byrne, to take care of him whenever she can. Scarlet wasn't an active seeker on the field and mostly focuses on providing information about myths and history, so he doesn't deprive her of her missions. She seems to be a very kind person with a lot of charm, despite the excessive familiarity towards him which he found rather annoying at times. At first Kasim didn't seem to like her and complained to Dante about her being rude, but stopped after a week. When he asked him if that was indeed true, he said that he was just shy, though the way he said it was not convincing enough so he kept an eye on Scarlet. However, after an entire year passed, Dante's doubt disappeared.

With her being responsible for Kasim when he was away, Dante and Scarlet had a lot of chances to talk and occasionally meet each other. Dante couldn't say he feels something special about her, apart from respect and gratitude for taking care of Kasim and for her knowledge, when the ginger haired female seeker seemed to have other aspirations for him. She did not hesitate to show her affection with both words and acts and in other occasions, Dante would have rejected her as politely as he could, but he couldn't find someone else trustworthy enough to take care of Kasim when he is gone. So he kept contact with her and at the same time tried to keep an appropriate amount of distance.

Recently though, the Irish seeker told him that she will move back to Ireland and gave Dante no other option. He needed her presence for Kasim and could not do otherwise. He told her his idea and somehow made her agree with his limitations. This wasn't going to be ordinary, this will happen for Kasim only. That didn't stop Scarlet for celebrating her 'victory' and throw herself on Dante's arms as she had done may time in the past. Dante wanted to gently push her away, but he agreed with himself to endure it, for Kasim. He knew that one day, the way he cares exceedingly about others will get him into unnecessary trouble, but he knows he can endure his recent one.

Here they are, Dante Vale and Scarlet Byrne, both of them sitting on the couch and waiting for Kasim to come out of his room to announce him the news. Dante noticed that the boy liked to spend a lot of time in his room, talking to himself. He wouldn't let others in and when Dane asked him about it, Kasim said that he is talking to his secret friend and that Dante wasn't supposed to know about him but he told him so because he trusts him. Another weird thing Kasim does is being really overprotective of the object he has wrapped around his old clothing, the clothes he wore at the day of the explosion. Dante remembers how tight his grip around his big pocket attached to his shirt was. The object it contained never caught Dante's sight and as far as he knows, it's still in that big pocket of the old dirty shirt Kasim hides under his bed and asked Dante to not look at it. Of course Dante was really curious and couldn't help but suspect that this object was related to Kasim's special powers, but wanted anything but betraying Kasim' trust. Scarlet told him that she knows nothing about the content and hasn't bothered Kasim about his little self-talks, another reason why Dante approves of her presence.

The two adult waited patiently, with Scarlet's face being decorated with a big smile and Dante leaving out sighs, until the now 8 years old Kasim got out of his room. He had grown taller and gained some weight he needed. His dark brown hair had gotten longer and at his birthday, he got a new modern haircut with shaved sides and bald undercut, with the rest of the hair remained, wrapped in a ponytail. His big royal blue eyes never fail to lighten up the room and the bruise besides his big lips was long gone. He was wearing one of the many sets of clothes Dante has bought, Jean male shorts with ripped parts, a baggy white long sleeved sweater and red converse shoes. On his neck hangs a leather string, holding the amulet of his first titan, Memphis.

Kasim smiled as he saw Dante, but when his eyes caught Scarlet, he had to suppress a frown, when the ginger haired seeker shot him a bright smile and a loud ringing greeting. He returned their greetings with his own rather dead one and sat opposite of them. Noticing his weird expression, Dante spoke.

"Kasim, are you alright?" he asked concerned, earning a nob and two head shakes by the mentioned young boy

"I am ok, just a bit tired. Are you leaving on a mission?" Kasim asked, guessing that it would justify Scarlet's presence. However, his adoptive father had other plans.

"No, I won't have to go away for some time" he answered his question and then took a deep breath before shooting him a warm smile and tried to find the right words to announce his decision. It wasn't because he was afraid of Kasim being disturbed, since he hadn't complained about Scarlet, but saying this would bring him the burden of realization of what he is about to do. He asked for nothing more than what he has already given him, a home, food clothes, yet Dante was ready to make that choice for Kasim. He cares a lot about that boy, who always somehow makes him see the bright side and spread a smile on his lips. Before he could utter a single word, Scarlet took his hand in hers and moved closer to him.

"Kasim my dear boy, me and Dante have something to tell you, right Dante?" she then turned to him and Kasim's narrowed his brows. Dante gathered his courage and looked at Scarlet, before turning to Kasim.

"Me and Scarlet will get married Kasim" he said and the boy gasped in surprise "This way, she can be by your side, look after you and teach you what she knows. A seeker should possess valuable knowledge, besides titans and magic power. Also, Scarlet is a kind person and has shown how much she cares for us through the year. I believe this will be a god change for us, right?"

Dante finished his speech and waited for Kasim's reaction. The boy stayed silent for a while, trying to digest the news and after a few moments, he started shaking his head and looked at Dante with an expression of a sad puppy. It was clear he did not approve of his adoptive father's decision, but what Dante could see was not just disapproval. He looked frightened, as if he had just seen his biggest fear come to life, as he kept looking at Dante and then at Scarlet. Dante had his eyes fixed on Kasim and didn't notice the daggers Scarlet was shooting with her stares towards the boy.

"Kasim?" Dante pulled away from Scarlet and tried to approach him, but Kasim just shook his head once again and shot him a hard expression, the hurt in his big royal blue puppy eyes made his heart clench and Dante couldn't help but wonder what the reason of such a reaction is.

"No! No! You can't marry her!" Kasim almost shouted at Dante's face and his shaky voice revealed his fear due to the high possibility of this marriage happening. He took a few steps back and towards his room.

"Ok, calm down and tell me why are you saying this?" Dante kept calm and watched how Kasim grew more and more frustrated.

"She is…she is..."

"She is what Kasim?" Dante demanded to know and turned to look at the mentioned female, who at the last second changed her deadly glare to a faked hurt expression, before turning to Kasim again. He looked like he was about to say something, but at the last moment changed his mind.

"No, I can't get you into this! I don't want to put you in danger!" Kasim said and stormed in his room with Dante and scarlet following him from behind.

"What danger Kasim? Please, talk to me" the auburn haired adult asked with an expression that was a mixture of caring and confused.

When they entered the room, they found Kasim holding his old cloth, his hand stuffed inside the big pocket, ready to take out what was inside. Dante couldn't believe he was about to reveal the content of his pocket he has been curious about for so long and wondered what does it have to do with him marrying Scarlet. Scarlet, watching Kasim's movement, she took a few steps back and eyed the boy attentively.

As he pulled his hand out of his pocket, all three seekers in the room confronted the sight of a bottle. It was green with different motifs and a beautiful, exotic shape. Kasim took it in his hands carefully and then embraced it, as if it was the most precious thing in the world and then…he whispered something to it, really quietly, but loud enough for Dante to hear.

"I'm sorry, I know I am breaking my promise, but I need you" He told the bottle and Dante's confusion and curiosity reached their apex, when Scarlet smirked evilly.

Kasim rubbed the bottle, took a deep breath and eyed the two adults seriously. The lid of the bottle threw itself away and a golden mist started coming out of it and Dante had to cover his face.

Scarlet stood there with an insane grin of satisfaction plastered in her face and eyed Kasim in anticipation. The boy held the bottle close and fixed his gaze on Dante, fear crystal clear in his royal blue orbs.

"I wish…I wish…" He started hesitant with a shaky voice, but Scarlet's expression pushed all his doubts aside. "I wish that Scarlet Byrne leaves our lives forever!" the boy shouted with his eyes shut and the gold mist gathered by his side and started taking the form of a person. Dante had no idea how to react. Kasim's secret object has been revealed in front of his eyes and ha cannot find a proper reaction. Helpless he turned to Scarlet and finally noticed her sickening expression, while her figure started to fade away, her last words directed at Kasim.

"Careful what you wish for dear" she said with a mocking tone before she completely disappeared and Dante hurriedly averted his gaze to the person besides Kasim, who had fully taken a human form.

It was a tall, tanned, beautiful midnight blue haired woman with golden orbs, big pale pink lips and a green and gold Arabian princess attire which reminds you of the Disney princess Jasmin. The woman kneeled beside Kasim to match his height and looked at him with a forced smile.

"Your wish has been granted master Kasim" she said and Kasim's eyes got watery as he wrapped his arms around the woman's neck and hugged her tight.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry Zhalia, I had to do it!" he said with a shaky voice, not minding his loud sobs and the women, who is apparently named Zhalia, patted his head and caressed his back, a soft expression gracing her features.

"I know…we both knew it would come to this one day Kasim"

Dante was speechless. Scarlet had just disappeared right in front of his eyes and now a woman who he had never seen in his life just popped out of a bottle and starts comforting Kasim. Taking a few deep breaths, Dante started to connect everything…Kasim's 'self-talks', his overprotectiveness of the bottle, his specialty, Zhalia saying she just granted his wish, calling him master. His eyes widen in surprise and he didn't bother suppressing a gasp, as he carefully eyed the woman again before approaching her and Kasim.

"You-You are a genie aren't you?" he asked in disbelief, even though what he witnessed only seconds ago was the strongest proof. Zhalia looked at him with empty eyes and let go of Kasim.

"Yes I am" she replied and Dante shook his head and covered his forehead with his palm. As a seeker, he has seen many bizarre and weird things, but this was beyond his fantasies. A genie has been at his house al this long! He didn't know how to feel about it, or about Kasim hiding her from him. He could only wonder why. And what was Kasim saying about putting him in danger? Is Zhalia dangerous? No, it can't be, Kasim wouldn't have kept her if she was. Then what on earth is it?

Kasim let go of Zhalia and turned to Dante, his adoptive father, with an apologetic expression.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know whether it was right to tell you or not. I promised to keep her existence a secret." Kasim explained and Dante narrowed his brows in curiosity.

"You promised? To whom did you promise that?" he asked

"Jaqueline, Doctor Cody" Kasim replied and Dante got confused for what seemed the hundredth time this day. Zhalia felt a bit awkward listening t their conversation, but she knew as well as Kasim that Dante had to know what this was all about.

"Kasim, tell him" She encouraged the boy who gave her a surprised and confused look.

"But, Zhalia-"he protested but Zhalia stopped him.

"If you trust Dante then so do I" she said with a reassuring smile and Kasim let out a sigh, knowing that he is about to put his mentor and father in a great danger. However, he didn't have the chance to say anything.

The whole house started to shake and the window of Kasim's room broke into thousand tiny pieces.

A/N: Hello everyoe! Chapter two is up! I hope you are having a wonderful day my beautiful aliens!~
I don't usually make chapters of this length, so this makes me feel a bit uncomfortable but i have to admit it's easier and takes less time.
Thank you for your views and reviews, i appreciate your support ^.^

Soooooo...Kasim has been hiding a genie all this long and it's non other than Zhalia! How do you feel about it? Why did Kasim promised doctor Cody to take care of Zhalia and keep her existance secret? What is his relationship with doctor Cody and Omar after all? And how is Klaus conected to all this? What is this science project, who is responsible for the explotion, why were there kids in the military, Kasim included, are questions about to be asnwered later on... But why did Kasim fear Scarlet so much? She is...what? What secrets hide behind what happened three years ago? What is the situation that Kasim doesn't want to put Dante in?...

That's all for now my lovely authors and guests! Any view or review is appreciated!

Thank you for your support and for your own awesome stories.

~~Never forget to smile and stay aweome~~

Lots of love from Irene Rays ^.^