I have permission by SmiffyizdaBest to use her character Tari for this story. This is my first story in a long series. Smiffy has part two. i have part 3 and she has part 4. Enjoy. BE NICE! FIRST STORY PEOPLE!


Kai snapped at that moment. "What! They are after you?" He barked. Sora grimaced and nodded. Tari glowered at her brother for his outburst. "I'll take you upstairs where we can get you some clean clothes and you can clean up a bit ok?" Tari said, turning her head to Sora. Sora brightened up and she tried, in vain to get up again. Tari smiled and gently helped the injured girl to her feet. "Thank you Tari. Kai please thank your father for his hospitality. I am in your debt." Kai looked at Sora in confusion as she and Tari made painfully slow progress up the stairs.

"It means, Kai, that she's very grateful for all of us to help her and she wants to pay us back." Susumu said as he reappeared in the living room. Kai jumped and landed on the floor. "But why? She's from Biovolt. I would help any person that came from there." Kai said. "Think of it a little deeper Kai We just saved her life. Sure she's not out of the woods yet, since the infection set in, but we saved her from a harsh death none the less. Heck, I would repay the person back who id that for me." Susumu explained. Kai went silent, diving into his own thoughts. Suddenly, the boys heard laughter coming from up stairs. They looked at each other and sighed, "Girls."

Upstairs in Tari's room...

Sora's eye twitched and her face was contorted into a mask of horror. She had faced guns, whips, and a pack of viscous hunting dogs that were out for her blood, but this was the worse torture she had to have been through. Tari was laughing uncontrollably and rolling on the ground. Sora's voice was clipped with mock fear, "You are one cruel girl Tari. You have a sick sick mind." Sora was wearing a girly pink tank top and pink shortie shorts. Tari gasped out a sorry and handed her some grey shorts and a sleeveless blue shirt. Tari herded her into the restroom and told her to take a shower. Sora saluted Tari and closed the door.

The shower was turned on and Tari collapsed on the bed. A knock was heard and Tari called out, "Come in." Tala came in and closed the door behind him. "How's Sora?" Tala asked. "She's fine. She's just sore. Tala... she's just like us. She's covered in scars." Tari whispered. Tala sat down next to Tari and gently placed his larger hand onto her smaller hand. "Boris did that all of us. Nothing the future can't erase. I mean just look at us." Tala hugged her and played with her two toned hair. Tari sighed, "Then she's going to stay with us. Whether anyone else likes it or not." Tala smirked and nuzzled her hair. "That's my girl." Tari grinned cheekily, which was ruined by a yawn. Tala laughed softly and laid down on the bed, letting Tari fall asleep on his chest.

He faintly heard the shower turn off and movement. The door opened and Sora stepped out drying her hair. "O I'm sorry Tala. I'll leave you two alone." Sora said, throwing the towel basketball style into the clothes hamper. Tala just nodded groggily and fell asleep. Sora smiled softly and headed out the door, turning off the light and locking the door. She heavily placed her injured leg forward and hobbled toward the stairs. She gingerly climbed down the stairs, leaning heavily on the rail for support. Sweat beaded down her forehead as she finally reached the bottom and tripped. Strong arms caught her in their grasp.

"Are you alright?" Ray asked. Sora gasped a yes and stood shakily. "My names Ray." Ray said, sticking his hand out. Sora grasped it and smiled, "I'm Sora." Ray smiled and watched as Sora continued into the living room. Sora hobbled into the room and smiled. On the couch were Tyson and Hilary, fast asleep on each other. Sora chuckled and placed a blanket on the two. She collapsed onto a bear hide chair, curling up and looking out the window.

Five minutes later...

Sora shifted restlessly in her sleep. A gold phoenix entered her dream and spoke to her. ((You are not alone now young one.)) Sora gasped in shock as she saw she was surrounded by bit beasts. Wolborg, Romani, Spiked tiger, Dranzer, the gold phoenix, driger, dragoon, draciel, a white phoenix and two achingly familiar bit beasts, a eagle and a horse. Sora ran up to them and gave each of them a hug. (Mother! Father!) Sora cried into the eagle's feathers. The horse and eagle cried with her repeating what the gold phoenix had said ((your not alone anymore beloved. Trust your new friends.)) Sora nodded and raced back to the circle. The group each repeated it until their voices lulled Sora into a deeper sleep, where no nightmare can haunt her. One by one the bit beasts walked up to the girl and placed a gentle paw on her. They all chanted, ((BY THE BLOOD THAT RUNS THROUGH US, BY THE MOON AND SUN, YOU ARE SAFE HERE. THIS IS YOUR HOME NOW YOUNG ONE. HERE YOU SHALL STAY. NEVER TO BE ALONE OR HURT AGAIN.)) They all left silently and Sora dreamed peacefully.

Kai walked into the living room and saw Sora curled up on his bear hide chair. He sighed and gently lifted her into his arms. She shivered and huddled closer to his chest, her ear over his beating heart. Kai froze momentarily but continued up to his room, where he placed Sora on his bed and he curled up on the spare bed. They both dreamed peacefully probably for the 1st time in their lives.

Next morning...

Kai woke up with a bang, literally. "TARI! YOU FRICKEN IDIOT! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU AND LET ROMANI ROAST YOUR BONES!" Kai groaned and rolled over. Sora was not in her bed, so that meant….. CRASH! Tari had dived into Kai's room to avoid the snowballs lobbed at her frame. "Save me Kai! I think Sora has rabies!" Tari joked, diving under Kai's bed. Sora stormed into the room, still slightly limping and her eyes with a dangerous red gleam to them. "Where is the whelp hiding?" Sora growled throwing a snowball up in the air and deftly catching it. Kai pointed under the bed and Sora grinned like a viscous dog. She crept forward and lit a firecracker and stuck it in the snowball. She casually limped next to the bed and rolled it under the bed. She grinned and hopped out of the room.

The next moment, Kai's face was covered with snow and Tari crawled out from under the bed, all black faced. "Never wake up Sora with a snowball." Tari coughed. Kai smiled and said, "No lie eh sis." Tari gave him a raspberry and ran out of the room. Kai rolled his eyes and changed into some warm clothes. "Kai hurry up! Me and the team are going to head home!" Ray yelled. Kai bolted through the door with only some jeans and his belt on and slid down the banister. He landed on the ground and watched in silent amusement at his teammate's faces changed. "Why are you guys leaving?" He asked. "Grandpa caught a cold and I wan to go take care of him. The guys want to head home. Sorry but we are going home for Halloween." Tyson explained. Kai sighed but nodded. Tari ran into the room with a red eyed Sora after her.

Said red eyed girl stopped dead in her tracks, turned around, and went into the kitchen. Tari looked confused until she saw her brother without his shirt on. "Wow Kai. I just saw the first girl that didn't jump you." Max joked. BONK! Max rubbed his head and moved out of range of Kai's fists. Tala laughed at Kai and herded his friends out to the trucks. "Be back by lunch time!" Tala yelled out of the truck window, as he drove away with the team.

Tari stood next to her brother and asked, "So…. What do you wan to do now?" Kai looked at her and she looked at him. "DOG RACE!" They both yelled.

In the kennels…..
All of the dogs sneezed. *NO! We don't want to race today!* the dogs groaned and fell face first.

Tari and Kai were getting fully dressed in their dog sledding gear when Sora walked in on Tari and asked, "May I watch?" "Of course Sora. You'll just have to hitch a ride with me though. You wouldn't be able to see the whole race if you just sat on the porch." Tari explained. "Please. Sora it would be better if you did stay on the porch. I always beat my little sister." Kai chuckled. "KAI! YOU JERK!" Tari barked. Kai sweat dropped" and ran out of the house. Sora watched Tari chase him and looked confused. "I'm stuck in a crazy house.

Outside, much to Sora's amusement….

Kai was running for dear life, Candy and Slush nipping at his heels. Tari had sicked the female dogs on his sorry butt and they had their orders to take him down… and maim him. Evil laugh. "Say sorry Onii-san and I'll call them off." Tari called out. Kai gave her a raspberry and stayed just a head of the 'demons from heck' just to put Kai's nickname for the dogs, nicely.

Sora hobbled out to the porch with Susumu helping her and they both watched the strange show of sibling love. Sora laughed and asked, "Are they always like this?" Susumu scratched the back of his head in embarrassment and replied, "Unfortunately yes. They always act like this when they come home. Especially when the come home with Tala for Tari's birthday, Halloween and Christmas." Sora looked confused for a moment before she asked, "When's Tari's birthday?" "The 30th." Susumu replied promptly.

"What's today?" Sora asked. "The 11th. Tari just wanted to come here before the annual big storm hits and all the fun begins." Susumu explained. Sora looked delighted for a mere moment before her face fell. "I must leave soon, but I cannot leave until I repay you and your children back for your kindness to me." Sora muttered, so Susumu couldn't hear her. (Why must you leave? You heard the Gods in your dream last night little sister. You may stay here now. This can be your new home.) A thin icy voice said in her head. 'Tomi, the last time I stayed anywhere for more than a week I was shot or beaten and the kind people that took me in were injured or killed in some way.' Sora replied. (( Tomi is right though mistress. Spiked Tiger and Tari invited you to stay with them the night they saw to your wounds.)) Romani's voice echoed in her head.

Before Sora could reply, Tari popped out of nowhere and yelled in a hyper voice in Sora's ear, "WHEN'S YOUR BORTHDAY?" Sora fell over in surprise and gingerly lifted herself to her elbows to reply. "The 13th of this month." "COOLIO!" (HEHEH MY WORD) Tari yelled and hugged Sora until she turned blue. "Tari I highly doubt Sora I suppose to be that color." Susumu said, a sweat drop forming on his brow. Tari released Sora, grabbed her wrist, and dragged her to the kennels. Susumu looked after the two girls and said quietly to himself, "You are welcome here always Sora."

Kai was there already, trying to hook up Duke and Blake to his racing sled. "GOD FORSAKEN DOG! HOLD STILL!" Kai yelled and he slipped the harness wrong over Blake's bouncing head. "Here, Kai let me help." Sora stated and whistled. Blake came bounding over and stood quietly as Sora slipped the harness over his massive head. Tari and Kai looked at Sora with a weird look. "What?" Sora asked. "He doesn't listen to anybody." Tari explained. "We have an understanding." Sora said. Tari and Kai shrugged and finished hooking up the dogs.

"Pick one sled." Tari said to Sora. Sora laid down in Tari's cargo hold and grinned like a mad man. "Are you ready for a run Slush?" Tari called to her husky. Slush jerked forward in her traces eagerly and barked. *Hecks to the yeah!* Slush said. Sora grinned and asked quietly, "Once we get back what do you guys want to do?" "Well Tala will be back by then so, I say we have a snowball fight. Boys against girls. That is if Kai and Tala aren't afraid to lose to a couple of girls." Tari said, a challenge evident in her voice. Kai growled playfully and said, "Your one little sister." Tari exploded at that, "KAI! I'M SO GOING TO KILL YOU." Kai took off with his dog sled, and Tari was right on his heels. Sora smiled like a mad man and laughed. She was finally free….. For now.

Tari slowly pulled into the lead and kept the position, taking the turns sharp and dangerously. All three were laughing like mad man and women. The dogs were barking happily when Duke stopped suddenly and the race was halted. "What the heck! Duke what's wrong?" Kai asked. The dog pricked his ears to the right and they all heard it next, dogs barking and gun shots. Tari heard Sora whimper. Tari turned to her cargo hold and found Sora curled up in the fetal position. "What's wrong Sora?" Tari exclaimed. Sora whispered in fear, "It's Boris. I'm sacred. Please I'm sacred." Kai and Tari looked at each other.

The dog barking came closer and then they heard the voice that made their blood freeze. "SORA! YOU CAN COME OUT NOW! COME QUIETLY AND WE WON'T HURT YOU…. THAT BADLY ANYWAYS!" Boris bellowed. Sora whimpered again and flattened herself against the boards. Kai growled in an angry way and called softy to his sister, "Come on Tari. We need to head back. Boris knows where we live." Tari nodded and took off with her dogs and Sora. Kai took up the rear and they raced away, the wind singing in their ears.

The dog barking grew louder and Slush growled and tried to turn her head to look. (Keep your head forward Slush. Little sister is alright.) A warm sweet voice purred inside Slush's head. Slush growled in annoyance but continued to run forward. "TARI! Once we get inside the house, you hide Sora." Kai called to his sister. Tari gave him a thumbs up and she kept Candy and Slush running.

Inside Kai's head…..

'Why the heck is that sorry son of a gun after Sora?' Kai growled. (I wonder the same thing master. What would Boris want with a girl like Sora?) Drazer replied. Kai remembered the night he saw the brand on Sora's arm. He growled, more like snarled and pushed the dogs harder. Blake obliged willingly and nearly pulled Duke off his feet. Tari frowned and growled in anger. ((What's wrong mistress?)) Spiked Tiger asked inside Tari's head. 'I'LL FLAY BORIS! I'LL RIP OUT HIS EYES AND MAKE HIM SUFFER IF HE TOUCHES A SINGLE HAIR ON SORA'S HEAD!' Tari roared inside her head. Spiked tiger jumped at her mistress' ferocity. ((I agree with you mistress. I shall warn Romani.)) Spiked tiger disappeared.

"Tari Kai! Sora! I'm back!" Tala yelled, jumping out of the truck and not watching his back. BANG! Slush bowled him over with a bound and stopped. "Tala take the dogs to the kennel. I got to hide Sora! Boris is in the forest!" Tari panted. Tala's smile vanished and he took charge of the dogs. "Once your done Tala, go inside." Kai barked. Tala saluted and rushed the dogs to the kennels.

Tari hurried Sora up the stairs and hid her in the first room in the hall, Kai's room, in Kai's closet. "Stay here. Hide under his boxes and stuff. Whatever you do, don't come out or make a sound." Tari said, closing the door. Sora shivered in fear and waited.

Kai was in the living room, keeping an eye out the window. "What's wrong son?" Susumu asked. "Boris is in the forest looking for Sora. He's heading this way." Kai growled. Susumu growled along with him and sat in the chair next to the door, ready to give Boris a good one two. Tala came in with Ice and Slush on his heels and he looked between the two. "If you two stare out the window any harder you'll break it." Tala joked lamely. Kai and Susumu snorted and continued to look out the window.

Tari bounded down the stairs and she too kept looking at the window. "There he is." Tala growled, spotting the purple haired tyrant first. Boris was taking long strides toward the house, a pack of sum 5 mix breed hunting dogs snarling and barking at his feet. He walked right up the porch and knocked on the door. Susumu let it fly open and he glared at Boris. "Hello Susumu-sama. May I talk to your lovely children for a mere moment?" Boris asked, a fake smile gracing his lips. Susumu growled again and he balled his fist. "What do you want Boris?" Kai snapped. "I was hunting an escapee from our newest faculty, I was wondering if you by any chance saw her?" Boris snapped, his polite manners dropping. "Be gone Boris. We haven't seen any people besides Tala around here lately." Tari snarled. Boris's cruel narrowed and he stepped further into the house.

"Then you won't mind me looking in your house for her." He stated. Susumu growled and launched a fist at Boris' head. Boris dodged it and knocked Susumu in the head with his gun butt. Susumu fell down, unconscious. Kai and Tari raced to their father's side, cursing in many languages at Boris. (U can imagine what they r saying) Boris grinned evilly and headed up the stairs. "Where are you Sora dear?" Boris called out sweetly. Sora shivered in fear again and climbed as she quietly could up to the top of the closet.

Just in time too. Boris threw open the door and looked trough every thing. "Where are you whelp?" Boris snarled. "Boris get out before I call the police." Tari snarled, Slush growling and snapping at her feet. Boris straightened up and glared at Tari. "Fine. I will leave but watch yourself Tari. I know you are hiding number thirteen. She is very unstable. She can explode at any given moment." Boris walked down the stairs and walked outside. Tala slammed the door with a curse. "I hate that sorry son of a," Tari stopped him with a punch and they looked at Susumu. He was coming around, cursing Boris in Greek at the moment.

"Kai, go get Sora. I'll look to dad." Tari ordered. Kai sighed and heaved himself up. He looked around and gave his friend and family a last look before heading up the stairs. He entered the room and looked at the damage. His clothes were everywhere, pictures on the floor and just a mess. He sighed and picked up his picture of his mom. "O mom, what are we going to do?" Suddenly he heard crying. He went to his closet and found Sora on the ground and her crying. "Sora? Are you alright?" Aki asked, dropping to eye level. "I have no home. I'm sorry, but I'll leave if you want me too." Sora sobbed. Kai looked at her with surprise and he was seized by and impulse. Hug her. He did. (Poor unfortunate girl. She has nowhere to go.)) Dranzer cooed.