I know that it's been a while but I did say I needed time to break the writer's block. Lucky for you guys I've figured out what's going to happen for this part of the story so hopefully it won't take me so long to update next time. Though it may still take a little while as I have my other fic to work on as well as essays and exams coming up so please bear with me. Well enough of that time to get on to the story.

Chapter 21: Taken

After a long flight the Bladebreakers had at last arrived in Japan. Kai didn't like the prospect of returning to his grandfather's mansion but at least it was better than putting up with Max, Kenny and Tyson. The three of them had gone back to their homes and their captain hoped that he would now be free from their insanity.

Putting his thoughts aside he entered the mansion with his brother and the two neko-jins. Upon entering he was surprised to see that it actually looked like people could live there instead of the dreary, decrepit building it had been during his childhood. Though there wasn't much time to take in the bright, new décor as Kai's Father was there to greet them.

"Welcome back, I'm glad that you made it in one piece. And I see that you've brought your friends home with you," the man greeted with a smile.

"Yeah, I hope that it's alright if my sister and I stay here for a while Mr. Hiwatari," Ray wondered.

"Of course it is and call me Toshiro," Toshiro replied, "Any friends of my boys are welcome so stay as long as you like."

"Well I'm definitely not friends with one of them and there's no way I'm staying within a vicinity of him either. The only reason I'm here is because my stupid brother insisted on it," Naoko declared as she stormed off away from the group.

"Don't mind her she's in a bit of a bad mood. On a lighter note from what Kai's said about his home it seems that you've really done a number on fixing this place up," Kai's friend commented.

"Yes it took quite a while and with a little more time I should have a couple of the guest rooms prepared for you and the girl. So please feel free to make yourselves at home."

"Thank you, now if you excuse me I have to find and knock some sense into my sister."

Before the other neko-jin could leave as well Kai's brother commented, "Don't bother I'll go after her."

He had been silent throughout the conversation and now he walked off into the mansion.

Ever since Naoko had left Kai had only been paying half attention to everything around him. Her words hurt and every barb that reminded him of her hate stung deeper into his core. Kai didn't exactly know why but the pain he felt from her shunning was far worse than anything he had ever experienced. It was worse than the abbey, worse than his grandfather, worse than even the freezing cold of water. This pain he felt was almost unbearable

Noticing his pain it seemed that his remaining companion attempted to reassure him, "Come on man, things will get better. Now just try not to think about my sister and let's go get settled in."

"Sure Ray, whatever," Kai gloomily replied and the two of them went upstairs to the second floor of the mansion.

Naoko had walked around the large building for a while before stepping into a quiet looking room that appeared to belong to one of the boys. It was like any other normal room, just bigger, and Naoko perched herself on the bed in its centre. By herself she sat there to try and blow off some steam. After a moment of solitude she heard a voice mocking her.

"You know for someone who hates Kai you sure have a funny way of showing it."

It was Kay and glaring at him she growled, "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Well you're the one who wandered into his room so you tell me."

"Oh yeah, like I just went looking for his room!"

"Alright just calm down, Naoko. How about I give you a tour of the mansion so you can take your mind off my brother?"

"What if we run into him?"

"Forget I mentioned it then. If you like we can go to my room where we'll be away from everyone instead?"

"Fine," she replied and they went across the hall to where Kay's room was located.

It appeared to be pretty similar to Kai's room and possessed all the same essential furniture. Besides the fact that no one had used it in years, if Naoko didn't know any better she'd think that this was the room of a normal house rather than a mansion.

As they sat down on Kay's bed Naoko wondered, "I didn't think that you'd have a room here. I thought that you were sent to the abbey right away."

"Pretty much though we had a couple weeks to ourselves before we were sent there. And being a Hiwatari I'm entitled to a room of the mansion anyway," Kay replied.

"Yeah, well being here may be fine for you as it's your home but I don't like having to be stuck here with the one who betrayed me," stated Naoko painfully as she stared out into the blankness of space.

She was then embraced in the black haired teen's strong embrace as he reassured, "I know and I'm sorry for the pain that my brother has caused you. So don't worry about him, I'm here to protect you now."

As she gripped her friend tightly, Naoko looked up into Kay's crimson depths and noticed the genuine sincerity held there.

"I just wish this whole thing could have turned out differently. I go to help him and make sure he's alright but I get thrown into the abbey. And then he takes my bitbeast when he was supposed to save me," she cried out in distress as her mind drifted back to the past.

Flashback

It had been a week since our little study session with the pizza and Kai hadn't shown up for school since.

I hope he's alright. I know that Kai was really worried about getting in trouble for being out so late but he couldn't be in that much trouble, I pondered as I sat at my desk waiting for school to be finished for the day.

The bell was just about to ring when Mr. Bernard spoke up, "Okay babes, which one of you wants to go and bring your sick classmate, Hiwatari his homework?"

Quietly I raised my hand as I was curious to know how my friend was doing. So the teacher gave me a piece of paper with a list of what we had been doing that week and the address.

Eventually I made it over to the place where Kai lived as I groaned, It's such a long way from the school. I don't know how Kai walks here every day.

Looking up at the large mansion before me I stood there gawking at the size of it for a moment before going to knock at the door. A guy in a suit who I figured must be a butler came to answer.

Gingerly I stuttered, "Um… excuse me sir but I came to bring Kai his homework."

"Ah, thank you miss I shall take it up to him," the butler replied.

Handing him the paper I asked, "Can't I come in to see him?"

"I'm afraid not. The young master is very ill and my Lord does not approve of visitors."

"But… he hasn't been to school in a week and I'm worried about him," I protested.

"I'm sorry miss, please leave," the butler insisted as he closed the door to the mansion.

Still filled with worry for my friend I decided, No, there is no way I'm leaving without seeing that Kai's alright.

Glancing around I managed to find a tree that led up to one of the windows. In hopes that I would find Kai I climbed up its trunk and snuck into the mansion. Entering the building I was inside something that appeared to be a bedroom.

Please let this be Kai's room, I thought as I took in my surroundings.

I went closer to the bed to get a better look at it and what I saw frightened me. Kai was lying there and he looked half dead. His clothes were torn, blood was gushing out all over his body and his eyes were closed. Worried for his life I ran to my friend's side, desperately hoping he was still alive.

"Kai, please be alright! Please just wake up!" I cried as I shook his pale form.

A moan escaped him as the older boy's eyes fluttered open.

"Ugh, I hate that bastard," Kai moaned again but I was too overjoyed to really notice.

Instead I hugged him as relieved I cried, "Kai!"

He winced in pain from the embrace and as I released him Kai stared up at me.

It seemed to take a moment to regain his bearings but once he had the blue haired boy wondered, "Naoko, what are you doing here?"

"I came to bring your homework and you haven't been to school for so long I had to come check up on you. What happened to you?"

"Nothing new, just my bastard grandfather making my life a living hell. Though it's not like it's anything I don't deserve," he replied darkly.

"How can anyone possibly deserve this?"

"Because I do," Kai said looking away.

"Nobody deserves this kind of punishment. You're a good person, Kai," I said placing a hand on his shoulder careful not to hurt him this time.

"No I'm not. You don't know what I did."

"Then why don't you tell me what you're hiding and why you think you deserve this?"

"You wouldn't understand. It's to do with my past," he said with even more despair in his voice than before.

Curious at what could bring him so much pain I insisted, "Come on Kai, you know you can tell me anything. We're friends, remember?"

"Yeah well you shouldn't be my friend, everyone close to me ends up getting hurt. And it's impossible for you to understand this, if you knew the truth you'll just end up hating me."

"No, you're my friend and I could never hate you. Just tell me what's bothering you, it will help to talk about it."

He looked about to answer me but then the sound of footsteps was heard drawing closer to Kai's room.

"Crap, you've been here way too long. Now get out of here before it's too late," Kai ordered desperately but before I could the door was barged open.

"Boy! Get up it's time for your training!" bellowed the old man who had dragged Kai from the principal's office that one day.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm getting up already, grandfather," Kai glared as he moved to a sitting position.

The motion obviously caused him pain but he fought to conceal it. And as the boy sat up the old man noticed me.

"Who the hell is this stupid wench and how did she get in here?" Kai's Grandfather demanded as he grabbed me by my hair.

"You leave her alone. She hasn't done anything," Kai growled as he got up.

Rising to his feet Kai screamed out in pain and fell to his knees.

"So you've finally learned your place and bow before me, Grandson?"

"I'd never bow to you, I just can't stand after you decided to break my leg," Kai spat with hatred.

Disgusted I wondered, "He broke your leg? Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yeah, I can handle it, don't worry about me," my friend replied before glaring back at his Grandfather, "As for you let her go and put her down this instant!"

"I don't think so, boy, she is a trespasser who needs to be dealt with. Now if I didn't know any better I'd think you care about this wench but that can't be," the man holding me raised his brow in question.

"Of course I don't but if you think you're going to hurt her you're dead!"

"So this is the little bitch that made you soft. How many times have I told you that emotions are for the weak? No matter, you got her involved so your little friend can suffer," the old man cackled evilly.

My eyes bulged with fear as I was scared out of my wits by this point and squeaked, "What are you going to do to me?"

"I am going to send you to a facility I have in Russia where you will learn your place," he replied with an evil smirk.

"No, I'm not going! My brothers won't let you do it," I squealed in fear.

"Your brothers won't know what happened to you, no one will. You know far too much and if you didn't want to face the consequences you shouldn't have been curious about things that don't concern you," he simply stated as Kai protested with the man.

But Kai's Grandfather didn't listen as he began to pull me away from the room. I looked back at my friend who was desperately trying to struggle to his feet but to no avail.

As I was dragged over the threshold of the room's entrance I heard my blue haired friend call out, "Don't worry, Naoko, I'm going to come and save you!"

End Flashback

As the memory of the day Naoko had been taken to the abbey faded the girl buried her head into Kay's chest.

"Hey it's okay, I'm here for you now," the older boy comforted.

"I know, I'm just so mad at Kai," she replied feeling even more enraged from the memory.

"Well cheer up. Voltaire's in prison, the world is safe, we're here together away from the abbey, and everything's alright now," Kay stated as he sent the girl a grin that was almost a smile.

"Yeah, you're right."

"So now that we're finally free will you go out with me?"

"I guess," she replied as Kay leaned in closer and kissed her.

Naoko allowed him to do it and gave into the kiss as she thought, I may have cared about Kai before but I'm still just so mad at him for what he's done. Kay's right, I shouldn't be worrying about him. Besides I don't think we can ever go back to the way it used to be and be friends again after everything that's happened.

After a while she broke the kiss and stood up from the bed.

Her companion looked up at her with concern, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I'm just going to find Ray and see if he wants to go see our brother Logan with me," Naoko replied.

"Oh alright, you want me to come with you?"

"No that's alright. Thanks for cheering me up though," Naoko sent Kay a smile as she left his bedroom.

There you have it this chapter is finally done. I'll try to have the next one up within the next couple of weeks but I'm not making any promises. Anyway I hope you enjoyed it and please feel free to drop me a review of what you think.