Hello!

Dia duit!

你好!

Hola!

Bonjour!

Konnichi Wa!

Ciao!

Guten Tag!

There you go, your own personal 'How to Say hello in 8 languages' (9.50 euro, available at all nationwide stores. Batteries not included and you may have to take out a mortgage and lose everything you own and have to live on the street with a dirty blanket and a teddy bear named Rodrigo.)

Well... Enjoy... I guess!!!!! Oh and btw addicted-to-oxygen and xOLuminousBubbleOx rock my sox!

Takuya's POV:

'Don't take life too seriously buddy. You'll never escape it alive anyway

Koichi's POV:

Now, I am not stupid

OK, what Koji said really hurt and from what I saw on others faces, they didn't really like it either. It wasn't long after when the colour drained from both of their faces and they went to bed. So now here I am, with Taki's camcorder, the loner I am waiting for something to happen.

I hope they wake up and are friendly to each other. I really don't feel like feeling friendly to Koji right now. I mean that was un-called for. I mean first insult us all why don't you. Then tell Takuya he's half dead. Then accuse him of murdering his parents and brother. Nice…

Koji's eyes opened. I tried to soak my anger out of my face but it was hard. I knew it was probably going to be likely that he was going to forget what he had said and I didn't feel in the mood of explaining it all again. But luckily his eyes opened wide and tears filled his eyes. Which I must admit was pretty shocked with.

'Oh Koichi I am so sorry!' He whispered looking downwards.

'Forgive me please!'

I grunted. Ooh, go Koichi and your 'I am in a mood with you' tone of voice! Yay!

Takuya stirred in the bed opposite and his eyes slowly opened. They stared at the ceiling so I pretended to have sudden interest in the floor while Koji snuffled beside me. The others were outside and from what I could hear, they were arguing. I was stuck sitting with the guys because, quote:

'He's your twin, deal with it'

So yup… Just shooting the breeze babe.

Takuya turned and looked at Koji. Koji pushed me off his duvet and I landed with a bump and a lot of curses on the floor. He jumped out of bed and jumped into Taki's bed. Takuya made some sort of hissing sound (don't ask me) but Koji suddenly hugged him. I choked on nothing. OK. Temperamental much?

Taki didn't say anything and fell asleep.

Eventually he made up with everyone but had particular time with Zoe who was still in a boiling rage, from Koji being a 'sexist pig' and he saying those horrible things to Taki. Eventually she grunted and gave him a brief hug but she turned away and sat on Taki's bedside, rubbing her arms. Kei or Richard weren't in the room because they were currently were trying to explain why the walls had melted. Oh joy, the thrills of being a teenage freak.

Takuya wasn't well. His breathing was rapid and strained and he gave a jerk now and then or a soft moan. Zoe rubbed his arm whenever he moaned. I just wished we had the proper medicine…like in a real hospital…

Koji shuffled out of Taki's bed and hopped into his own, his apologetic face disappeared now that everyone had forgiven him to a sulky moody face, which seemed more like him. He looked fine except his bandages around his torso. Everyone watched him warily. Zoe still had her back to the rest of us. Koji coughed quietly and finally Izumi noticed his presence. Whipping around she gave him a murderous look that said, 'even though I have heard your apology and I accept…doesn't mean he does.'

Koji kept going and there wasn't much Izumi could do. Koji gingerly sat down on the bed and examined his fingernails. Everyone was staring at him expectantly. Then there was a cough and a groan. We turned surprised to the stirring occupant of the bed. His eyelids opened to reveal his warm eyes and he smiled sleepily, and as quickly as his smile was there it wasn't. I could almost see the knowledge of earlier on today filling his eyes. The night outside was a dusky blue and I heard the Klay starting to quieten.

Takuya's eyes suddenly were filled with grief as he glanced at Koji and I felt it, as probably everyone else did, a heart wrenching grief that pulled at you like there was no tomorrow. Takuya seemed to cover it up.

'Taku-' Koji began but was cut off when Takuya suddenly buried his face in his hands.

'Takuya!' we all exclaimed surprised. We almost all leapt on him in that millisecond. I heard Koji's breath catch as he looked at Takuya. I glanced at him and he looked up with a look said, 'I've broken him…' And with that Koji's own eyes filled with tears and fat spurts flew down his cheeks. I didn't know I was crying too until I saw everyone's faces. Takuya had his hands completely covering his face and his fingertips were caught in the knots of his hair and almost pulling the strands out. Takuya's chest didn't jump to signal any sobbing or he didn't utter a noise.

We stayed like this for a few minutes like on freeze, with out hands outstretched and sobbing while Takuya hid his face.

The door suddenly opened to reveal Kei. She stared in confusion at us.

'Is there…something wrong…?' We all looked at Takuya hesitantly but he removed his hands to a blank face and dry eyes.

'Yes… everything is just…fine.' He said in monotone, which was even worse than before.

Izumi nodded.

'Well… if you say so children…' Kei murmured as the door swung closed again to leave us in peace. Takuya just stared at the door.

'T…Takuya?' Zoe asked placing a hand on his shoulder, 'Is everything alright?'

'Yes.' The answer was short and almost stung like a bee. This wasn't Takuya. He was always more vocal than this. A look of pure agony was adopted on to Koji's face.

'Oniichan?' Tommy asked sliding into his lap. But Takuya's arms remained motionless and his eyes were so blank they were lifeless.

'Takuya I just wanted to say I am so sorry-' Koji began but was cut off by Takuya.

'It's ok. Some of it was true anyway.' Takuya stared at the door, oblivious at our attempt to get more than abrupt answers out of him.

'No Taki, it wasn't. I didn't mean them. I was just angry and-' Koji's breath caught again.

We tried to get anything more out of him, even changed the subject and teased him but his face was emotionless and his eyes still staring. Izumi brought herself so that she blocked his vision. He didn't blink. She brought her face even closer so that they were a hairs breadth away from him. I felt myself blushing.

But he didn't notice. Didn't respond. Didn't react.

The night was a long one, and eventually the one-way conversation broke down and we were left in silence. We were to meet The Great Ones (cue shitty music!) or someone in the morning. We needed sleep, but no one could. Tommy started getting hysterical, rubbing his face against Takuya's trying to get any reaction. But Takuya was like a statue, sitting bolt upright. Eventually his figure slackened and he fell backwards. It was about 4 in the morning. I looked over, intrigued. Koji hadn't moved from the spot where he had been sitting on the bed. Izumi threatened him to get lost but he didn't move. When 6 came we knew we had less than 2 hours of 'sleep' to go. So we got dressed quickly, with the luxury of a bath.

'Takuya…? Are you going to have a bath?' Izumi coaxed him. She held out a hand to help but he just mechanically got out of bed and limped over to the bathroom door. Takuya came out 5 minutes later, wet and dressed. He hadn't bothered changing the bandages. He hadn't bothered to dry his hair and it was dripping all over him. Eventually Izumi came over to him and got a towel and trapped him inside to dry him but he pulled away, a blazing anger riding up in all of us. And then it was gone.

His eyes stopped glowing red from fire and became a blank brown. His pupils seemed faded and uneven. Then there was a creak like machinery grinding together and Takuya closed his eyes and flashed them open again. He was panting.

Next thing, Koji was on the ground, his cheek a flaming red and Takuya's hand was raised in a fist.

'What the hell is going on in here!' screamed Richard, who had come in with slippers and a nightcap. Kei followed rubbing her eyes. Koji quickly explained, wiping the tears off his face.

Everyone turned to look at Takuya who's face wasn't as blank as before. His face was molded into a thoughtful expression before he said:

'Hm. I feel better now. S'OK, Koji.'

There was a silence as everyone turned to the furious Koji.

'What? That's it??'

'What do you mean that's it?' Takuya asked. His voice was bouncy again.

'Is this some kind of joke?'

'No I'm sure your face was always like that?'

'WHAT THE HELL TAKUYA! I WILL FRIGGING MURDER YOU!'

Koji proceeded to chase Taki around the room. Izumi laughed hard and turned to me/

'That's Takuya for you. Stupid Takuya…' She smiled fondly.

'By the way Taki, what were you talking about to Kei last night? You know before… Koji…' I broke off. But I was curious. Sue me!

'The key-' He broke off, and slapped a hand to his mouth. The others were now just talking in small groups and often laughter would break the air.

'What key? Huh?' JP asked joining in.

'Nothing. No key. None you should be concerned 'bout guys. Forget I mentioned anything about a key.'

I shrugged and turned away, curiosity burning up my insides.

JP's POV:

Yep-well next was the meeting of The Great Ones.

First we had to pour water on Takuya to wake him up, (no really, literally), and then we had to get ready. I didn't know what we had to get ready for because we had had showers about an hour before and were just newly dressed but Kei made us all go and wash again. Ew and she said he had to supervise us. (No idea…) so we cleaned everything. But why would we need to clean everything if it was just going to be covered up by clothes? Kei told me not to be smart. Hey! I am the eldest. I am smart! Lucky Zoe managed to get out of supervision because she was a girl and she wasn't having Kei looking at her while she showered. I should have used that trick…

Takuya went last and he was surprisingly fast. Kei came out after him, white.

'Hey! I don't look that bad!' Takuya joked but Kei just shook her head, dazed.

'What's wrong?' Tommy asked.

'Uhh… Takuya? Did you bandage up…or' Kei asked, averting the question. Takuya raised his eyebrows. 'You were there. Yeah I did… Oh…' Takuya glanced down abashed. Confused Tommy asked what was wrong again and I asked as well. Izumi put a hand over Tommy's mouth and Koichi and Koji simultaneously slapped me across the back of the head.

'Ow!' I said. 'Jeez it was just a question-' I started

'It's my cut…on my stomach and my back…JP…' Takuya filled me in not unkindly. The others glared at me. Takuya rubbed the back of his neck and stared at the ground blushing red. There was an awkward silence. Takuya had his camcorder in his hand.

I saw the bleeping red light. Record.

'T-Takuya?' I asked.

'Yeah Jeep?'

'How long has that been on?'

I never turn it off…why?'

Everyone stared at him. I glanced at the screen. 'How come it has full battery!'

' That thing will never fucking die…' Koji said staring balefully at the camcorder. Takuya pointed it up and his face and pushed it into his face. Koji protested.

'Camera-shy…? You shouldn't be with that long hair!' Takuya pulled his ponytail and twirled his silky hair in his fingers.

'Yeah well at least I don't have your mess of a hair…' he said yanking on a clump of Takuya's hair.

'Yeah well least I don't look like a girl!' Takuya said, yanking his ponytail equally hard. There was a silence. Everyone was staring at Koji who was fuming and Takuya, who had lost interest and was staring at a pillar and humming.

'Excuse…me?' Koji said, speaking through clenched teeth.

'You…look…like…a…fricking…girl…' Takuya said slowly.

'That's IT KANBARA. YOU ARE GOING TO GET IT!!' Koji swore and started hitting out at Takuya, who had zipped behind the bed. Koji stumbled after. Suddenly Takuya ran over and grabbed Tommy's hand and pulled him along, a mess of laughter after him. We all giggled watching the show. Takuya came to stop at the door laughing and Koji was breathing heavily.

'How do you do that? Well I guess I have those wounds on my back…'

'Wounds? Sure look at me! I'm a living wound. Your just a big lazy lump who can't catch up to their sick-…' Takuya trailed off. Kei stood looking at her feet. Suddenly the door burst open, knocking Takuya flying. Luckily he landed on Koji.

'Hey buddy! Thanks for breaking my fall. You're a lifesaver!' Takuya smiled. Koji opened his mouth to complain to be met by a sneeze from Taki.

'OH MY GOD I HATE YOU! YOUR FLIPPING SNEEZE WENT IN MY MOUTH!'

'Good. Maybe my sneeze can send in some of my Taki germs and kill all the bad Koji germs. Team Actimel!'

'UGH! YOU PERV-' Koji was cut off by a timid ah-hem by the door. Takuya sheepishly got off Koji. Koji stood up swearing at his idiotic friend. Takuya leaned over to say something back but sneezed again…in his face.

'Ahh good times…' Takuya sniffled while a vein popped in Koji's forehead.

'Humph…' came the voice from the door. Koji and Taki swivelled around smiling and scowling but heir faces soon melted away to seriousness.

'The…3 Great Ones will see your presence now…' The small elephant like Klay said proudly.

We all rose from wherever and followed silently. I noticed that the castle was almost empty. From the spread of Darkness no doubt…

We came to mighty doors. We had seen these before. Walking through, the door creaked like it hadn't been oiled in years. The room was grandly furnished and had swirling designs and brightly coloured walls. The room was stretched out above a thick plush carpet. We suddenly knew why we had to shower again. Even now our scruffy clothes and trainers didn't belong here. Noting that Takuya in front of me already had a blotch of blood seeping though his t-shirt. On other circumstances I would have yanked his t-shirt up told him something witty. But I wouldn't dare do it now. It's OK I wouldn't be able to think of anything witty to say anyways.

'Wow. I like the décor. Maybe they have like, Dion here!' Koichi said excitedly. Everyone turned to stare at him.

'I mean- I'm a man and I don't like home furnishings with… dreamy wood chippings and- I mean…' Koichi trailed off and started whistling the Sound of Music to get everyone to stop looking at him. It didn't work.

Standing in the middle of the room was the Klay in all their splendour. Two looked very similar, angel-like Klay with white outstretched wings but they were very noticeably one boy and one girl. The other was another angel type creature, with grey wings and a sullen expression. We came to halt behind Takuya. We stared at them in awe. Takuya's face creased into a face of 'deep thinking'.

'I've…I've seen you before…' Takuya whispered in amazement.

'Yes…' came the heavenly voice from the girl angel. 'I've been sending you dreams to come here. Eventually I had to take matters into my own hands with the help of the other Great Ones… I am Swem. The Klay with the white wings is Unzi and the darker winged one is Nathu.' She spoke as if they weren't beside her.

'Wait- You brought us here?' Izumi stepped forward, anger flashing on her face. 'You brought us to this hell hole so we can all die?'

'You will not die if you save the world…'

We all froze. Wait…wait… save the world? But we were 8, 14 and 15. How the hell was that going to work?

'What?' I asked stupidly. I stepped forward. I was the oldest. Even though Takuya had become the leader in this topsy-turvy world, he needed a break. More than anyone… The grey winged one glowered at me and I stepped back with a jolt.

'We will talk to your leader only. He is the Fire Soul.' Takuya grimaced as Izumi came up behind him.

'Who says weren't as powerful. You obviously run the joint here but we're more powerful and could take you down for the count. Do you understand?' Izumi cracked her knuckles for effect. His eyes flashed a dark red and wind picked up at her feet. The grey winged one shut up but the male angel laughed.

'You expect us to believe this façade?' Izumi flushed and Taki carefully and gently pushed her back and stepped forward.

'Leave them alone. It's me you want. They want their lives and I want their safety. Return them and I will do your bidding.' We stared at Takuya like he was a mad man. Go back? Without him…?

'I am afraid I cannot do that Fire. You are going to need all the help you can get to save our world. So your friends stay here until that happens. Then you are free to leave.'

'So we are…prisoners now?' Tommy trembled biting his thumb. Takuya wrapped his arm around Tommy and his eyes flashed a dangerous fiery red.

'No…deal.' Walking swiftly away we followed quickly.

'Fine. Your family will be returned to you if you complete this task.' Takuya halted suddenly making everyone crash into him.

He whipped around suddenly furious.

'Give me back my family!' he whispered furiously. Suddenly the walls started to melt downwards and we could already see the crowds of Klay peering in worriedly. The ceiling drooped like melting ice-cream and fire lit the floor but it just licked at us like friendly dogs. Yet the Great Ones leapt from the floor as if their feet had been burned.

'PEACE!' shouted the male angel, waving his hand. A wave of energy doused the flames, leaving Takuya practically steaming in the middle of the smoky room. The room was completely destroyed and no one seemed to mind except the messenger who was staring mournfully at the room.

Takuya glared at the 3Great Ones. The stare was held for about 10 seconds until Taki started coughing madly, and he ducked his head. His cough was like a seal barking. He wiped his blood-covered hand on his sleeve and Izumi lightly slapped him across the head. He turned around smiling.

'I understand your bond, Souls, for we too share this bond, yet not as strong. You need to control your temper Fire, for you are weak…' Takuya narrowed his eyes, absolutely furious. The same rage coursed through our bodies. I felt myself step forward in synchronise with the others.

'Douse your rage Fire. It affects the others.' He spoke with a bored voice. Takuya reluctantly swallowed and we felt the anger melt away but it was still a small throb in the pit of our stomachs.

'Where…are his parents…?' Koji choked out. The male angel turned towards him.

'We took them, to lure Fire to this world. We kept them here unconscious but unfortunately they were sucked into the defective Portal. We moved the Portal just about a day's away from here so we could keep an eye on it but still be relatively from the Darkness seeping through the crack. We do not know who cracked it. So this Portal is holding your family hostage. I can also explain the wound on your back your friends found you with. We needed you to take in the Souls power. The others took it with no problem. Yet your body refused to inhale it so… We got one of our men to open a wound to place it in you. A small price…' We bared our teeth and a low growl but he just smiled blandly and went on, 'Also you are sick because your body is rejecting it. I said to the others there was no need to go to such extremes to put the Fire soul in force. But they insisted.' He smiled and my stomach lurched. I couldn't speak as the other shook with deadening anger. Takuya turned away staring at the blackened wall. I felt sadness overwhelm me. I gasped and the female turned towards me.

'Calm, Thunder. No race can be won in a hurry…' she spoke in a light lilting voice. I turned my head, furious at her for insisting to basically use Taki then just let this Soul that would save the world for him, kill him in the process.

Takuya breathed deeply.

'Well…' We looked at him expectantly. The 3 Klay nodded their heads, knowing they had the upper hand. Which made them jump when they heard what Taki had to say next.

'Hmm… You're blackmailing thieves, and you can shove your deal up where the sun don't shine…' He smiled sweetly.

'You IGNORANT-' the grey winged one began, his arms outstretched as if to strangle Takuya. But Takuya blinked and the roof ripped off. Just like that. Izumi stretched out her arms and a huge tornado descended from the sky and trapped them all in a grey deadly vortex.

Takuya yawned and fire erupted from his body and swirled with the tornado. Klay scattered, screaming in all directions. Takuya glanced concernedly in their direction.

I watched the fire tornado destroy everything in its path.

'You can do that?' Koichi screamed back.

'I don't know what I can do…' Takuya laughed, sending his flames soaring like an eagle into the clouds. The fire became so fierce he was just an occasional black silhouette. The 3 Klays were frozen, but surprisingly calm. Eventually the male angel reached out and sent out a burst of energy to douse it. But the energy immediately evaporated. He looked alarmed. The two others beamed out other sorts of energies yet they evaporated similarly. Starting to realize their power wasn't working they started to tremble. Their cries were lost in Takuya and Izumi's tornado. And as soon as it started, I ended. The 3 Klay were ground-bound and were shaking. The male angel tried to retain composure.

'Now p-please… Consider…' He began but was cut short by Koji.

'We said no…now please get us home.' He threatened.

'I would but we can't. We can get you here but not back. Part of the Portal to the Real World has been damaged. And I remind you if this world is destroyed, your world will be not long after. Darkness' power stretches that great…'

'So…the Portal…it's not here? After all this time…' Koichi gasped.

'It is west of here… It will take about a day to walk. There are 3 worlds may I remind you. The problem is the 3rd one (the bad one) is leaking into ours and I'm sure it is happening to your world as well.

'There is only 1 good one and that's the Real one… Here is hell…you've made sure of that…' Koji spat. Suddenly an image flashed in our minds.

We were silent. What about our families? Destroyed. I felt tears prick my eyes and fear flood me like a gushing waterfall.

'B-but…we're not that powerful! How do you expect us to defeat-' Izumi said, cut off by a small frightened sob. Takuya wrapped his arms around her. She cried on his shoulder.

'Is…is there any way you can just send them home…? I'll do whatever you want…Or maybe just protect them here…' Takuya choked, hugging Izumi closer.

'I'm sorry. This is the way it has to be. There is no more of my castle left anyways…' the male angel shrugged. Takuya blinked, and the splendour was back, the walls not blackened and the ceiling still intact. Not a scuff on anything.

'Thank you, I'm sorry…for your trouble. But we really need your help…' the female angel whispered. Taki buried his head in Izumi's soft hair. I found myself walking closer and joining in the embrace. Koichi, Tommy and Koji followed. I felt Takuya's back starting to slack where my podgy hand was. I bit my lip nervously. I looked up and saw everyone still had their heads buried low, and hadn't noticed Takuya starting to lose it.

'Just as he was getting better…' I thought. Too much power I thought…He just has too much. Eventually his head rose and I saw his eyes were rolling back in his head. The three Klay's voices were a blur. Taki stumbled backwards and landed with a heavy thump on the ground. I was down by his side by the time everyone was looking up in confusion. I went to touch him and drew my hand away. I screamed in pain. From where my index finger had touched him, a burn boil was already forming. I glanced at the others in fear.

'Do not be alarmed children… I will help Fire-' The male angel uttered.

'His name is Takuya or Taki. Not Fire. Not Child of Fire. Not Weapon…' Izumi hissed in disgust. The angel merely shrugged and bent gracefully down. He picked Takuya up in a swift motion and was standing before you could blink.

He looked surprised.

'He is light…' He said.

'What did you expect? He is only 14…'

The female angel paled. 'A child?… but I thought…' She whispered.

'Well you thought wrong. You thought we were fully grown? Sure Takuya is the smallest in his class!' Koji said angrily. The angel turned away.

'Sending a child to its death is a great sacrifice…but one that I am willing to make…' He whispered.

'EXCUSE ME?' Izumi stormed up to him. He loomed over her, at least 5 times the size of her. 'YOU EVEN ADMIT IT…YOU…YOU… bastard…' Her voice trailed away. She started to kneel down and she buried her head in her knees and her weeping was very audible in the awkward room. I walked over slowly with Koji and helped her up. She lifted her hand, but sensing my own pain in my finger, I jerked her away from the fainted Takuya. She sobbed louder.

'She's getting hysterical…lets go…' Koichi said, grabbing Tommy's hand. I didn't realise Tommy had been crying until I looked at his blotched face but he held his chin high and was pursing his lips trying not to cry. His bravery gave me courage and I left the mournful Klay holding Takuya.

Koji turned around as we reached the door.

'I hope you're happy…'

Hi,

I'm not bothered to write anything. So stop reading! XD

Love your mother.

PS: Its stew for dinner