Author's Note:

I'm sorry if this chapter is a bit off, it took me a while to find my rhythm back and a lot of what I wrote out came slow and kind of lazy.

Shout out to my reviewers though, when I see that you guys love this fic so much it really brings back the motivation to keep going. I never half ass things, so this will be completed (Forsaken as well, even though that one is becoming a bit harder to work on than I was expecting.) Never think I will leave a work undone, if it so happens that it never gets finished, assume I am dead, because that would be the only way that will happen.

As always, the chapter name is a song by Poets of the Fall. It makes sense for the chapter, so I recommend looking it up while you read. It speaks extra volumes to Kai and Ray's plight.

Enjoy, if you can, it's not my best work and I apologize for that.

Ray's POV/ Alternate Timeline

You cried, when I showed you the test; I cried when I showed you the test, but you said we'd make it work. I believed you, and for a while the results separated us until we realized we needed each other.

Our friends were confused, how was it possible for a man to be pregnant? Max seemed to understand after only telling him once, Hilary got it the third time, Tyson it took until I was showing; you were always rubbing my stomach the bigger it got. Daichi, bless his little soul, didn't understand it at all. Kenny, the know-it-all he was, already knew. Said he had researched neko-jins the moment we had met.

The letter I received, you tore it up and vowed you'd protect us at all costs. You kept your word, for the most part. It didn't do anything to quell my fears at night, even during the day I was terrified to go anywhere without you by my side. You quit blading, and got an actual job and moved us to a secret location. You didn't even tell the others where we went, but we still saw them in out in public for our monthly get-togethers.

We had what we needed, it was hard, but you did what you could do for us. I could tell, the closer it got to the due date you were getting restless; more stressed. I tried, I really did but you started to push me away again. I didn't blame you though; you didn't ask for this.

You weren't home when it happened, you had taken a double shift at work; at a bar no less. Luckily it was a day where I was with the others, for our monthly get-togethers and I wasn't alone; I would have been terrified if that was the case. Your son was born June twelfth at nine on the dot, weighing nine pounds and six ounces; it was no wonder I was so huge.

An hour later you came barging into my recovery room, the night had done its toll on you, but you put on a mask and held your son for the first time. You cried again, I cried and then he started crying. You didn't let me take him, you were glued to him the moment you saw him. I had only ever seen you smile like that maybe three times since I've known you, and my heart melted at the sight.

When we went home with him the first week, we fought because I was exhausted, you were exhausted, and he wasn't sleeping. The third week we got into a rhythm, but you were still pushing me away and I didn't know what to do. His second month of life, you came home drunk more so than I had ever seen you before and I threatened to leave. You begged me to stay, and I listened because I was still afraid of your grandfather finding us and I had nowhere to go.

He was the pride and joy of your life, you got better, we got better. Things were looking up and you were the best father any child could have asked for, you were the best lover anyone could have asked for. Five years down the road, you received word that your grandfather had died, old and alone in his miserable house. We didn't go to the funeral, but the money you received from his will helped us move closer to the others. I thanked you for days, I had been so alone and now I had my friends again; I had you again.

You weren't all that strict, but your son was a bit rambunctious and he tested your nerves the best he could. I could only sit back and watch, it was too much fun not to help you when you became so flustered. He was a wild one, your son, he kept us on our toes day and night, but you still loved him. Yet, you forgot to love me in return. You were slipping from my reach again, we had never been so close and yet so apart at the same time.

Our world came crashing down on us again, this time you didn't cry, you yelled at me and left. I didn't blame you, I shouldn't have been so careless. I feared you'd leave me for good, be a single parent to our children but you came back. You apologized and asked me to marry you, I didn't accept.

Unlike the last time, you barely touched my stomach the bigger I got, you didn't hold me or give into my needless demands of my cravings at three in the morning. Once again, we were further apart, and I didn't know why. Unlike last time, you were there when I went into labor. You panicked, unsure of what to do and I think I saw you cry a little when I was wheeled away; to bring our second child into the world.

Much like last time, you were glued to your daughter. She looked more like me than you, but you didn't care; she was perfect in your eyes. This time, we already knew what to expect and it helped us come back together. We weren't so far apart now, and it wasn't until your daughter was three did I accept your proposal.

For once we were happy, everything was going right. Until you slipped, you slipped so far away from us and there was no way to get you back this time. We shouldn't have been so careless, we thought we were safe. I had your word that we were safe, but you lied.

Your son was fifteen and your daughter was ten when we laid you into the ground, of course it rained. It rained for days, and like my tears it didn't stop. Fear gripped me tighter than it ever had before, and I left Japan; left you. I took your children with me back to my village, I didn't feel any safer there either, but I knew it would be hard for those who took you from me to find us there.

I never married again, never smiled again, never loved again. You were all I had, all I would ever have. I pushed on for your children, god your son looks just like you and it kills me every day. This wasn't how it was supposed to be, you should be here aging with me, not me surpassing you. I wasn't prepared to be the oldest of the two of us, I wasn't prepared for the days as they rolled on by like nothing happened. They did, years would pass without giving me a second thought. Time is cruel in that way, it never stops, and our children never stopped growing.

Your son did his best, he tried, but he got into a group with some bad people and he ran away. I haven't seen him in seven years, and I don't know whether he's alive or not. Your daughter hasn't left my side, she takes care of me when I'm the one who should be taking care of her. She's stubborn though, just like you, and she won't let me.

When I go, I want to be happy and at peace, but I don't think that's going to happen. I still feel trapped here, like I'm being watched day and night. This wasn't how it should have gone, I should have left the moment I got that letter. You didn't deserve this; our children didn't deserve this. I could have left you, even though it would have killed me to do so. Now, it was too late, and I've lost just about everything in my life.

If I could go back, I would leave you. I wouldn't tell you a thing, and I'd be alone till I died, but if that meant you were safe I would do it. Just to protect you, to protect our son. I failed you, just as you failed me. I shouldn't have believed your lies, and you shouldn't have believed mine.

Maybe in another life, I'll do the right thing. Maybe in that other life, we'll find a way back to each other. We'll have our children, we'll be safe. You'll have me, and most importantly I'll have you.

Normal POV

Tears rolled down Ray's cheeks as he sat there on Kai's bed, lost and feeling more alone than he ever had been. Kain, his son was gone, it was his fault and he didn't know how to make it better. Leaning closer, gently Kai cupped Ray's cheek in the palm of his hands, gently pulling him closer to his face till their lips touched. His thumbs gently rubbing away the tears that rolled down his lover's face, Ray sobbed into the kiss. The shock wave came down ten-fold, and Ray held back a purr as he leaned closer into the kiss. His own hand cupping Kai's own dying bruised face, feeling the raised skin of old and new scars from over the years on his skin.

Part of him felt wrong, being this close to Kai again while their son was missing. The other part of him was begging for this, he needed to be given some sort of strength. There was nothing else they could do right now, it was a waiting game as Kai had said.

Fingers traced every line of the other's features, having forgotten the way they made up the other, secretly memorizing and studying the other again much like they had done the first time they had been together. It was old, and it was new, this feeling where their lips and hands touched the other. Ray pulled back slowly, everything was moving in slow motion for him, as he leaned back on his elbows in the center of the bed. Kai following, just as slow, like he wasn't sure if he should keep going. He didn't stop though, not now, not when he too needed this comfort.

Tentatively and slowly their lips touched again, it wasn't rushed nor was it hard. It was slow, mesmerizing and intoxicating. Trembling fingers met chests, backs, and arms. Biting back any noise, as if making any would ruin the moment or break them further. How could they do this and not stop? Kai did, pulling back and looking ashamed, until Ray pulled him back down. Tears stained his tan skin, and as Kai's eyes met Ray's, tears rolled down his own cheeks.

Just as slow as before, hands pulled and touched. Clothes were left on the floor somewhere, hands traveled thighs and backs; less shaky and stronger. Pulling the other, molding the two together. Still no noise passed their lips, or erupted from their throats. Their eyes were locked in a deadly match, constantly asking unspoken questions.

Kai's grip got a little tighter, digging his fingers in the back of Ray's head. His hair falling around them, like a shield. Ray's own fingers dug down into Kai's back, his legs wrapped tightly around his lover's waist. Kai kept their balance sitting in the middle of his bed, as Ray moved against him in a slow pace. Riding him out as long as he could, just so that he wouldn't have to wake up to his nightmare of a life.

Strong pale arms held Ray to Kai's chest, every inch of their bodies that could touch, did so. Lips locked once more, sucking any pain away that they could. Tears came back to Ray's eyes, but they went unnoticed as he rode out his climax. No noise passed their lips, and they stayed wrapped around the other for what seemed eternity. Ray's head resting on Kai's shoulder, his face buried in the crook of his neck as his tears dried up. Kai's chin resting on Ray's shoulder, stroking his hair and back in slow and calming motions, until Ray fell asleep.

Gently Kai pulled Ray off him, setting him back onto the bed and covering him with new unsoiled sheets. He placed a soft kiss on the tan forehead, before dressing and leaving without looking over his shoulder.

A week had passed, and they were no closer than to finding their son since the day he was taken from them. Hopeless and lost, they clung to each other, it was all they knew how to do. Tala had stayed with them, looking just as lost and hopeless as the days rolled by. He and Kai had exhausted all their resources to search for Kain, always coming up with nothing for their efforts. It had become tiring, frustrating, and it didn't help the tension that was starting to loom over their heads.

Tala straightened his back, having been bent over Kai's shoulder as he looked along with him at the computer screen. Having gone through files upon files of old and new employees of Hiwatari Enterprises, once again nothing was of any help.

"Maybe we should call Bryan back…" Tala whispered, and Kai's back tensed at the suggestion.

"Why?" He sneered back, his eyes turning dark.

"Maybe he'll have a better idea of where they took him, or at least who was behind this whole thing."

"He said he didn't know where they took him." Kai bit back.

"Let me go then, I'll see if he'll tell me something. There has to be a reason he did this, please Kai?" Tala begged, something he was never prone to do before.

"I can't stop you from doing what you want, you've been free to stay or go as you please." He released a breath of air, resting his back against his chair as he crossed his arms and closed his eyes, stilling his rising temper.

"That's not what I meant… I couldn't leave you two to deal with this alone… I couldn't deal with it alone, but I think Bryan will tell me without you two around." Tala sighed out, shaking his head as he lent back on the desk.

"Do what you want Tala, but it won't change the fact that he has betrayed us. Regardless of his reasoning's." Kai's tone turned cold, and he glanced sideways to meet Tala's eyes.

"I never said I was going to forgive him, I can't." Tala chewed his bottom lip, holding Kai's gaze for a second longer before he adverted his gaze to the opening of the study. "Ray?" Tala called, having just noticed him standing there in the open archway.

Kai's head shot up the second he heard his lover's name pass Tala's lips, his eyes sweeping over him quickly and landing on a small brown box being clutched to Ray's chest. He was shaking as he stood there, tears were rolling down his face, but he didn't move any further than the archway. Bolting up from his chair, Kai swept over to where Ray stood. His eye's quivering as tears threatened to spill as they locked onto the box in Ray's hands.

"I… I can't open it…" Ray's voice cracked, as he held the box out to Kai, his arms shaking.

"Go sit down." Kai ordered in a calm tone, willing his voice not to break as he took the box.

Ray nodded as he took a seat on the leather arm chair, holding his hands together as his right leg started to bounce without him willing it to. Tala came over and sat on the arm rest of the chair, pulling Ray's shaking form in an embrace around his shoulders. Both looking up to where Kai now stood before them, his eyes not leaving the box in his hands.

He hesitated, swallowing the lump in his throat before gently pulling the lid away, letting it drop to the floor by his feet. Ray held his breath, the air growing thin and it became harder for any of them to breathe as Kai's face paled slightly. Slowly he reached in, cradling the box in one arm, and pulled out a piece of paper. The box crashed to the floor, holding the paper in both hands as he held it close to his face.

His eyes danced over the writing quickly, once, twice, a third time before he pulled it back down and handed it over to Ray. Ray froze, his eyes going from the paper to Kai's until he reached out and took it. Tala's grip tightened on his shoulders as he peered over Ray to read the paper along with him, their hearts had stilled for a second.

Ray looked up from the paper back up at Kai, tears coming out in full force as a smile crossed his lips as he released his breath of air. Tala too released a breath of air, taking a hand and placing it over his chest to still his nerves.

"He's alright…" Ray's voice was still cracking, but there was hope in his tone.

Kai simply nodded, a small smile gracing his features.

"He won't be for long though…" Tala managed to say.

Ray flipped the paper over in his grasp, the light catching it and he could see lighter writing between the bold letters of the message. Not even his keen eyesight could fully read the tiny print, and he looked back up at Kai with more hope than he had ever shown the past week.

"There's a hidden message in this note, do you have any candles?" Ray's voice picked back up, no longer the weak man he was moments before.

Kai nodded again, sweeping out of the room quietly as he headed for the kitchen. Tala watched him leave, and peered back over Ray's shoulder at the paper. They studied the paper in Ray's hands again until Kai came back with a candle, their anticipation overwhelming them as Kai lit the candle having placed it on the corner of his desk. Ray handed the paper to Kai, standing on the tips of his toes as Kai held the paper over the flame. The bold letters fading out into the back of the paper, smaller light-colored words appeared around them.

'Dad's, I'm alright. I can't come back to you right now, dogs won't let up and I can't get away fully. They have the house being watched, and I can't get to you yet because of that. If I go back, they'll just attack us again. Bryan is keeping me safe right now, he's the one that delivered the box to your doorstep. Don't pay attention to the previous message on this page, it means nothing. Bryan is playing the part of my kidnapper for now, but I'm not out of trouble just yet. They want to lure you two back to where they're keeping me, I don't know where that is though. Don't come, ignore that message at all costs. In three days, Bryan will come back to you and then he'll bring you to where I am. Come alone, don't bring uncle Tala. Do not come armed, just bring Dranzer and Driger. They won't suspect that, I have to go now though. I love you two'

Ray's eyes swelled with new tears and he gripped onto Kai's forearm that held the paper, reading the hidden message again before he let out a shaky breath. Kai's muscles relaxed as did Tala's, having read Bryan was on the right side tugged at his heart.

"Three days…" Ray breathed out, wiping his face with the back of his arm. "I still don't understand why Bryan is doing this…" He shook his head slightly.

"I wish I knew too… I know he said not to come, but how am I supposed to stay back?" Tala asked through gritted teeth.

"You will stay back, I don't need you to jeopardize my son's life further." Kai's voice was cold as he spoke, pulling the paper away from the flame of the candle.

"In case you forgot, I wasn't a part of this. I've been here trying to help." Tala bit back.

"That's not what he meant Tala, if Kain said for you not to come it's best you don't. We appreciate you helping us, truly we do, but we need to listen to what Kain instructed. I know this can't be easy for you, not knowing Bryan's true intentions and all. This is our son's life though, being dangled in front of us right now. Please understand." Ray had turned to him; a pleading look in his sad golden eyes.

"Alright…" Tala sighed out before walking away, leaving the two in the study alone as he retreated to his room.

"That means you can't bring any weapons." Ray turned to Kai, who looked to be deep in thought.

"Bringing our blades isn't going to protect us…"

"It's what Kain said to do, trust him." Ray placed the hand he had been holding to Kai's forearm on his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"What if this is a trap? How do we even know he wrote this? It could have been Bryan or the people who took him. The main message says where they are, and what we should do. I have the money they're asking for, it'd be a lot simpler if we did what the first message asks of us."

"No, we can't do that. I know you didn't get to know him, but this is his handwriting, he wouldn't lie to us. You have to have a little more faith in our son, he knows what he's doing." Ray protested, his hand gripping Kai's shoulder a bit tighter. "Three days is going to kill me, just as much as you, but we have to do what he says. Please, no weapons." Ray pleaded again, his eyes boring into Kai's.

"I don't know if I can do that Ray…"

"Kai, please. I'm begging you, I understand how you feel but please trust him." Ray's grip tightened as a small amount of anger was starting to froth forth in his stomach. "Trust me."

Kai stared back, going back into his thoughts for a moment before he nodded his head. He didn't like the idea of just being armed with a simple toy, even if it held a great bit-beast within it. What was his son thinking? He willed himself, with all he had, not to go against Kain and Ray's demands. The main message on the note made more since than Kain's did, all they wanted was money. Holding his son for ransom, he had the money, but part of him wondered why that was all they were after. They went great lengths to attack him and his family, kidnap his son even. Just for money, and then where did Bryan play into this? He mused to himself.

"Alright. We'll do it his way then." He finally spoke, coming out of his thoughts as Ray had squeezed his shoulder again.

"Promise me?" Ray pleaded, his eyes boring into Kai's as if he was seeking out a lie in his words.

"I promise." Kai breathed out.

"Thank you." Ray sighed out, his hand dropping to his side as he released his hold on Kai.

"I can't promise you that I won't beat the piss out of Bryan, when I see him though." Kai's voice turned cold and threatening again as he started away from Ray.

"I won't hold you back." Ray said with a slight chuckle, getting a grin in response over Kai's shoulder.

Kai's POV

Three days, it seemed so close and so far away; until the day came. We weren't happy, we weren't excited to be going. We were nervous, apprehensive and Ray was sick to his stomach. I don't blame him, he's never had to do something like this. He tried to keep busy best he could around the house, knowing we were being watched he tried to act normal, but I could see his nose turn up and snarl every now and then. His pupils would slit, he'd bare his fangs whenever he walked by a window. I don't know if he ever saw them, or if that was just a reaction he had. I never asked, and he never said.

When Bryan came, late into the night, my fist became well acquainted with his face. It took all I had in me not to beat his life out of him, eventually though I had to stop and let him up. He didn't say anything to us, communicating with motions of his head and eyes. We followed him outside to the awaiting van down past the gates, Tala hadn't come out from his room to see him. Ray had gripped onto my arm the entire walk to the van, I had to put on a front. If they were still watching us, I couldn't look weak towards them.

I know I promised Ray, normally I don't break my promises; not to him least of all, but I did. I brought my smallest gun with me, hidden securely in the tops of my boot. Dranzer was tucked safely in my pants pocket, I still have no idea why we're putting our trust in our blades but here we are. Kain's right, it won't look suspicious, but what can it do for us? If aimed right, a beyblade could seriously injure, the bit-beast could kill if you willed it to. There's still not a lot of protection from them though, they can't stop bullets or knives from gutting you out.

We climb into the van, it's all black in and out. There are no back windows, it's one of those van's you know belong to some shady people, but we get in it anyways. As we sit in the back, there are no seat here it's just open space, Ray holds my hand tighter and his shaking is becoming uncontrollable now. His nails are digging into my flesh, but I don't dare pull away from him. If he feels he can trust me to protect him, I won't let him believe otherwise; because I will protect him.

The anticipation is bubbling and slowly rising, I can see it in his eyes and the way his back stiffens. Bryan hasn't said a thing to us, nor we him. The tension in the air is gagging us right now, but what else is to be expected? I can't see past the front seats out the windshield, and there are no windows, so I don't know where we're going. It's a long drive, longer than I was anticipating. Ray's emotions got the better of him and he fell asleep against my shoulder, every now and then his hand would twitch, or his eyebrow would raise and fall as he dreamt.

The van came to a stop, it was slow and careful, so it hadn't woken Ray up. I nudged him awake as Bryan exited the driver's seat, we had to wait for him to open the sliding door for us as there was no handle on the inside. Ray went to leap forward from the inside of the van, but I pulled him back, they could have just been waiting for us to step out and kill us the moment they saw us.

"I'll go first." It was a command, and he released my hand and I stepped out.

Slowly and carefully I got out of the van, peering around me in the darkness to see if I recognized anything. Nothing, it was pitch black where we were. I could feel the sturdiness of the gravel under my boots, so we weren't out in the middle of nowhere. A light flickering on in the distance caught my eye behind Bryan, and my head shot up to where the light was coming from. It was high up there, glowing against the darkness of the night. We were near a building, a tall one at that.

"Ray." I called out, holding my hand out to him without looking away from the light, trying to press my eyesight against the darkness to see if I could make out anything else important.

His hand came down into mine again and I pulled him from the inside of the van, his golden eyes roaming his surroundings quickly. His pupils were already slit, and his hair was sticking on end. His neko side already coming out and we weren't even in the face of the real enemy yet, he's going to tire himself out if he keeps it up, but I don't voice my opinion to him.

Bryan motions for us to follow him, and I lead Ray behind me. His hand isn't as tight in my as it was before, it's loosened around mine. It's a good thing too, in case we need to reach for our blades or protect us. I won't use the gun unless I absolutely need to, part of me is trying to hold out hope that Kain's plan would work.

Lights flood the opening of the building as we step closer, the glass doors to the building gliding open as we near them. Stepping through, my eyes darting every which way about us. It's a foyer, painted crisp and white. Polished floor tiles, the odd potted plant here and there along the walls. A receptionist desk at the opposite side of the room, elevators lining the walls that incase us. I recognize this place, it's my place of work, Hiwatari Enterprises. Ray seems to take notice, even though he hasn't been here in five years. I never changed the way it looked since then, so it wasn't a surprise he caught on.

Bryan leads us to an elevator, picking the very last one on the right wall. He presses and holds the button down, it lights up under his thumb and I can feel the air in my lungs tighten. Every elevator, but one, leads all to the same floors as elevators do. This one, this particular elevator leads to my office. It's the only one that does so, and another wave of tension hits me as I make that realization.

The doors open and we all slide inside; Ray's trembling is now nonexistent. He's just as tense as I am, ready to kill if need be. He doesn't look at anything in particular, but he never once glances at Bryan or in his general direction. I can't say the same for me, I've been eyeing the shady bastard the second we got into the elevator. He just stands there, emotionless and unreadable as always.

The elevator ride is fast, it has to be because my office is on the last, 35th, floor. The door's slide open and Bryan steps out, I hold Ray back again as I step out first. All lights are on, nothing looks undone or touched that would indicate foul play. Everything is where it should be, the circle of sofas in the middle of the room. The odd potted plants that Tala insisted on putting in there, his desk at the far-left corner of the door. My desk, right against the window on the right of the room. The leather chair behind my desk is spun around so we can't see the person behind it, though I can see their arms on the armrests on the sides.

I beckon Ray to me once more, this time I don't hold out my hand as we'll need them both now. The air in the room isn't as tense as it should be, but there is anger in my stomach and my blood pressure is rising. Once Ray had come and stood beside me, Bryan walked over to the desk and stood beside it. His hands crossed in front of him, and he set his back straight. If he was supposed to look intimidating, it didn't work. Not with those bruises and blood stains I left on his face, his eyes are hard and trying to stare us down but that's also not as intimidating, since one is halfway swelled shut.

"Where's my son?" Ray steps forward, the silence that had loomed over us was too long for him to wait it out.

I reach to pull him back, but he slips through my fingers, standing in the middle of the room. I rush over to him, he doesn't know what he's doing. Any wrong move and we could be killed on the spot, standing out in the open like that was foolish of him and I could have smacked him for doing such a stupid thing. A slight, hearty, laugh comes from behind the chair across from us.

"Your grandfather, bless his soul, had a dream young Kai. That dream was never fully reached, thanks to your friends. Not once, but twice were his dreams crushed by your little ramble of bladers. The first world champions when that Japanese oaf beat Tala, to when the same Japanese boy took down BEGA. You had done something right for once, under the guise of wanting to battle that boy again. You failed, all you are is a failure to your grandfather's legacy and name."

He pauses for a second, his voice is old and rough. If he was a follower of my grandfather he was old, and I could hear it in that voice of his.

I can see Ray tense beside me, he doesn't know that, yes, I did go back to my grandfather then. I did join BEGA because he told me to, it wasn't to fight Tyson again for a stupid title. It was because he wanted me to kill them and take their bit-beasts again, wanted me to end them all right then and there. Boris was still working for Voltaire, that whole spiel of him turning a new lead, all rubbish and lies; that man has never once spoken the truth in his life.

I obviously didn't do it, I didn't kill them all like my grandfather wanted or take their bit-beasts. I couldn't, as annoying and stupid as the others were, I couldn't do that to them. They had been my friends, they showed concern for Tala over the course of him being in a coma. How could I have done that to them, to Ray? My battle against Brooklyn, the first time was to show me just how powerful the experiments had gotten. All that shit about natural talent, a farce. He had been enhanced by Boris, I tried to stop him, but I failed the first time. Second time, I was almost killed in my attempts to stop him. When I did, he became more unbalanced and became useless to Voltaire.

"Then… To spite your grandfather more, what do you do? You fornicate with a man, a man of no background and no standing of any kind. You disgraced your grandfather's name, your name. We tried, we did, to make sure these things didn't happen the way they did. Your toy, your pet, didn't listen though. He didn't listen to the warnings we set out for him, he wanted to test us. How has that worked out for you, in the long run? What did defying us bring you?" Ray stiffens again as he's now the subject of conversation, but I don't dare look away from the back of that chair.

"Luck would have it though, his filthy heritage graced us with our answer. We were a little more than excited to see the Hiwatari line continue, in the form of your son. Though, your pet ran away. That didn't do us any good, how could it when your grandfathers dream had yet to be fulfilled? He gave you the company, to keep you distracted. He knew you would use everything in your power to find your pet, but the workload he left on your shoulders became overbearing." The old man knows too much, but everything he is saying is common knowledge to most of those who were close to Voltaire. It also leaves out Bryan and what he has to do with this all, he's still just standing there by the desk.

"It took some time, but we found your pet after he came running back here. Thanks to Bryan here." He waves a hand towards where Bryan is, it juts out from behind the back of the chair and I can see Bryan tense at this. Why?

"Don't be too mad at him young Kai, it's not like we gave him much of a choice to do this for us. Family… Family is a strong bond young Kai, something your grandfather tried to instill in you, but you kept breaking that bond. You pushed him away, like he was nothing. For what? He made you who you are, who you were to become and without him you would have been nothing. You CHOSE to be nothing, for the sake of NOTHING!" The man's anger rises, but he has yet to show us his face.

"Your son is safe, for now. We've been keeping a close eye on him while he's been under our care, he's not been harmed in anyway. He's actually been very compliant in the orders we give him, smart boy you have young Kai. He must have been taught the value of what family means, though he wouldn't have learned that from you. He's more than eager to see your grandfather's dreams come true, he wields Black Dranzer with such force and anger. I can only think that some of that anger, is directed at his fathers. Lying to him the way they have, not trusting him enough to make his own decisions." He sneers, and my blood runs cold.

All this time, has been about wielding that damn blade again? Their first plan was to kill Ray, but because he became useful to them, this is what it came down to?! It wasn't some rival company of mine, no this was personal in their eyes; because it damn well was! The moment Kain took hold of that damn blade, he would no longer be able to control himself, that much I knew. The anger this old buffoon speaks of, is probably true but I don't have any words to make it better. It was more directed towards Ray than myself anyways, but that just pisses me off more. I've forgiven him for what he did, he did what he thought was right. All I can be thankful for, is that we found each other again, because it doesn't seem like even if he had stayed we would have been safe.

That still leaves one question, where does Bryan of all people, fit into this?!