Disclaimer: For the 9th time, I don't own Cats.

A/N: We're nearing the end of our story. Just a few more chappies to go! I figured that Cori hasn't spent enough time with Tanto, so this chapter mainly focuses on them. Thanks to everyone that reviewed and read! Enjoy!

Coricopat blinked his eyes open and glanced around, momentarily confused at the unfamiliar surroundings of Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer's den. That confusion didn't go away as he noticed his queenfriend had disappeared. Cori sat up to look for her brother, but he quickly realized that he was gone, too. Did he sleep in? Where was everyone?

The tri-coloured tom stood up and stretched his arms over his head. He winced as his shoulder popped, and dropped his arms. He pricked his ears forward as he noticed a piece of paper on 'Teazer's scratched, wooden table that wasn't there before. Cocking his head in interest, Cori padded over to it and picked it up.

-Gone stealing. Will be back by dinner time.

Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer

Cori smirked as he set the note down. He knew 'Teazer couldn't hold off from stealing for long, even if he didn't approve of it. He felt Tanto enter his mind with a groggy feeling. She had obviously just woken up.

That's nice...You get to spend the whole day with me for once. I wonder if she'll bring you back anything? Tantomile thought with a hint of amusement.

The psychic tom chuckled mentally. Good morning to you too, sleepy-head. I don't expect anything. Plus, I don't want anything that was stolen from someone else. He finished with a slightly sarcastic tone. He branched his mind out and discovered that almost everyone else was up as well. Tanto was also currently walking towards the den. Cori stepped outside and smiled as he met up with his sister. He missed spending time with her, just the two of them.

They walked along the path in perfect synchronization as they mingled their thoughts with each other. Coming to the center clearing, the two psychic cats took a seat on the unoccupied TSE-1. Cori found it was still somewhat early in the morning, but everyone else was already going about their daily routines.

The psychic tom let his mind wander as he and Tanto relaxed in the sunlight. It was another cloudless day, and it didn't look like anyone wanted to waste a minute of it. He observed the minds of the cats around him, as he had done so often before. Victoria and Mistofelees were feeling content as they cat-napped side-by-side on the Great Tire at the opposite side of the clearing; Jenny was feeling stressed out by the trouble-making kittens she was watching, and Munkustrap was planning the night-watch schedule for tonight. Thankfully, Cori wasn't on the mental list.

Sighing happily, Cori and Tanto closed their eyes and lay down. All they wanted to do today was catch up with each other and relax. That was about to be postponed, however, when Cori felt as well as heard his sister's stomach growl with hunger.

I'm too lazy to catch breakfast...What about you? Tanto thought as she rolled over onto her back. Cori imitated her perfectly.

The psychic tom groaned mentally. He sat up in harmony with his sister. I'm not. I'm making you come with me. If you want food-

-you have to catch it; I know. Come, before Alonzo scares the mice away. Tantomile interrupted as they stepped off the tire. Cori couldn't help but smirk slightly. Alonzo may be second-in-command to Munk, but he wasn't the stealthiest hunter by far.

The psychic siblings walked over to a quieter spot in the junkyard, where they sensed lots of mice were. Cori got into a crouch as he snuck up to an over-turned box. He swiped it aside and quickly grabbed one of the few mice that were hiding under it. He chewed on the mouse while turning around to look at Tanto. She stood at the mouth of the tiny clearing where he had left her. He felt that she was about to use magic because he tensed unexpectedly.

Tanto twitched her paw and Cori heard a tiny squeak coming from the pile next to him. Rolling his eyes, he watched as his sister made her way over to the trash heap and picked up a dead mouse from underneath a small tire. Its neck was snapped. Smirking with satisfaction, Tanto picked it up and ate it in two bites. Done with their meal, the twins walked back to the center clearing.

You cheater. Cori scoffed as they lay down again on the dilapidated car.

It's called being efficient. I have powers, so I use them. Tanto retorted smugly as she stretched herself out on the hood.

Her psychic brother simply rolled his eyes again as a response. They both remained silent as they enjoyed the warmth of the metal underneath them and the hot sun above them.

After what felt like hours, Cori and Tanto were pulled out of their relaxed trance by angry waves pouring off of Tumblebrutus. Groaning in unison, the twins sat up to see what was going on. Tumble and Pouncival were yet in another play-fight. Only this time it looked like Tumble wanted to do some damage. The twins read the peeved tom's mind and found that Pounce had beaten him in poker for the third time in a row. Only this time, the stakes were higher. Tumble just lost a date with Electra.

Tanto chuckled. No wonder he's so angry! He's had a crush on Electra for the longest time! Munk better step in soon or a good scare isn't the only thing Pouncival is going to walk away with! She exclaimed with a bemused smile.

As if on cue, the silver tabby walked into the clearing and hurried up to the two fighting tom-kits. He grabbed them by the scruffs of their necks and Tumble and Pounce immediately stopped fighting. Tumble was still seething and bearing his teeth, though. Pounce looked fearfully at Munk with his ears drooped.

"Want to tell me what's going on, boys?"Munkustrap asked expectantly. He let go of their fur and stood between them so they wouldn't start fighting again.

Tumble seemed to calm down a bit as he answered, "He made me lose a date with Electra in poker! I bet he cheated, the little-"

"No name-calling! I hate to be so rough on you, Tumble, but Pounce won fair and square and you just have to deal with that."The silver tom interrupted sternly. "Maybe you can go on a date with her some other time?"He added in a softer tone. Tumble sighed in disappointment but nodded.

Pounce gulped as he asked, "Are you going to punish us, Munk?"He was always scared of getting in trouble.

Munk thought about this for a moment. He looked from Pounce to Tumble before he shook his head. "No, I'm not. Tumble just overreacted this time, that's all. I'm just glad no one got hurt. I'll let you two off with a warning. If I see either of you using a queen for a bet again, there will be consequences. Now shake paws and apologize."He explained as he stepped away from the two tom-kits.

Pounce half-smiled as he stuck a paw out. "Sorry, Tumble. If I knew you liked Electra, I wouldn't have bet on her."He said apologetically.

Tumble didn't hesitate to shake his paw. "I'm sorry I overreacted. I hope you guys have a good time."He said earnestly as they both walked away with their problem solved.

Munk smiled after them, satisfied that he had done his job properly. He strolled off, enjoying the beautiful day.

Well that was interesting. It's nice that those two don't have hard feelings towards each other. Coricopat commented to his sister.

I will rue the day when Pounce and Tumble aren't friends anymore. They're like brothers. Tanto replied with a mental laugh.

Cori's mind perked up as a question popped into it. I know I've asked this before, but what do you do while I'm out with Rumpleteazer? He asked. There must be other things that she did besides cleaning and practicing magic, right? He just never bothered to ask until now.

Tanto smiled. Believe it or not, I actually hang out with other cats while you're off gallivanting with your queenfriend.

Her psychic brother looked disbelievingly at her. You do? I've always wondered why your mind seems to be occupied while I'm out. Who do you hang out with? Of course he already knew, but he wanted to hear her say it.

Rumpleteazer's friends are a little too...active for me. I hang out with Cassandra. You know, I never knew we had such similar personalities! It feels great to talk about things that toms don't understand. Tanto said happily as Cori shared the feeling.

The tri-coloured tom smirked. What do you talk about that you can't talk about with me? He asked in mock-offense. Even he knew there was no substitute for queen-to-queen conversations. Tanto needed someone to talk to about things that only queens would know.

Oh, we talk about dance and singing-

Cori interrupted with a mental scoff. You can talk about dance and singing with me!

His sister rolled her eyes in response. We do everything together, in perfect harmony! I don't need to talk about it with you! Plus, it's more fun to discuss it with another queen. She replied in a slightly sarcastic tone.

Very well. What else do you talk about? The psychic tom continued.

Tantomile hesitated for a moment before saying, Cassandra talks about mated life when I ask. I find it quite interesting, seeing as I might never get to have one. I guess that's as close as I'll get. Cassandra says that being mated to someone is the best thing that will ever happen to a queen, apart from having and raising kits. It seems like such a fulfilling life, being a mother. Her tone was sad and Cori felt her feelings of sorrow and longing as well.

He tried to perk her up by sending comforting and hopeful waves between them, but his sister just pushed them away. Hey, don't think like that. I'm sure you'll get a mate someday. You just have to wait for the right tom to come around. He reassured her in a soft tone.

Tanto sighed. Do you know any other psychic toms in this junkyard, Coricopat? I know you're just trying to help, but with our unique predicament, finding a mate around here for us is as likely as Tugger being faithful to one queen! Sometimes I think being psychic is more of a curse than a blessing. She said spitefully.

I think of the Bond as a curse, too, sometimes. But it's what makes us who we are. Without it, we wouldn't be able to share feelings or thoughts. I guess that's the only upside to it, other than doing everything in unison and finishing each other's phrases when we talk. Cori explained optimistically.

Tantomile merely pouted in disappointment. When it came to personal matters like this, it was very hard to make her see the bright side of things. I hate that the Bond prevents us from having a non-magical mate! Normal cats aren't built to handle so much magic. Being mentally linked to one of us for a long period of time could very well kill them. I guess that's how our type prevents half-breeds and ensures we stay purely psychic. Has the Bond started with you and Rumpleteazer yet? She asked with a slightly worried tone. In normal cats, the start of a mental link with a psychic, or the Bond, could be hard to detect at first. A shared thought here or an unexplained feeling there could easily be missed. When the normal partner begins to feel constantly exhausted and they know what their psychic partner is thinking, it might be too late. The Bond could be impossible to reverse by that point.

Believe me; I've been looking for the signs. I haven't seen anything yet, fortunately. Thank Bast this only happens with intimate relationships. The only reason we don't have many friends is because we both have terrible social skills! I guess the deal breaker comes when I kiss her. That's as intimate as I want to get with her. Until then, I'll try to postpone that. Cori said grimly. He felt Tanto mentally agree.

She nodded her head as she replied, It's still inevitable, though. I hate to say this, but whether you kiss her or not, the Bond will start eventually. You're quite attached to her as she is to you. I wouldn't be surprised if it started very soon. My advice is to at least get your first kiss before you might kill her. As much as it breaks both our hearts, when you catch that first shared feeling or thought, you have to break up with her no matter how much it hurts. ...Do you love her? She asked, and Cori shot her a surprised look.

After a moment of silence, Cori whispered, "Yes...I love Rumpleteazer. Why do you ask?"He furrowed in brow in confusion. What did loving 'Teazer have to do with ending their relationship? It was contradicting to him.

Tantomile placed a comforting paw on her brother's shoulder. "If you love her-"

"...set her free."Coricopat finished. It made sense to him now. The best and most loving thing he could do to 'Teazer was to let her go so she wouldn't be shackled by the fatal magic of the Bond.

His sister smiled grimly. She looked up at the sky and noticed it was near noon. They had until evening to mentally prepare themselves for the hardest blow Cori's emotions had taken for a long time.