A/N: SPRING BREAK! YES! FREEDOM! Sorry about the slight delay, but I will try to get as many chapters as I can finished during this week so I can actually have a schedule.

ALSO, WE'VE HIT THE 100 REVIEW MARK! *claps* You all are awesome. Thanks for everything.

MisakaMisaka0202: Thanks! I hoped she'd be more comedic than annoying.

SakuraDreamerz: Thanks! Indeed it was!

Abinac: Thanks! That's actually pretty accurate, considering her abilities…

CHAPTER 25

"In which the new friends and old prepare to get the next key."

"Wait...Where the heck are we supposed to stay?" Kai asked, walking into the kitchen and tilting her head.

Lance walked in next to her, combing his hair. "That's true..."

"Well...We do have extra rooms here..." Angel said, thinking out loud.

Hiro shook his head. "We wouldn't want to be a bother..."

"It's fine!" Angel said, smiling.

Charlie made a slight frown. "Wait. We haven't even met for a day yet, and you're inviting them to live with us?"

"They are our allies. This would be an easy way to get acquainted." Emily said, sipping her tea.

"In other words, they're staying, Charlotte." Raphael said, grinning.

Charlie glared at Raphael. "Are we sharing rooms?"

"Of course not." Emily replied.

"What's a matter, Charlie? Don't worry, I don't bite!" Kai said, making a large grin.

"Most of the time, anyway..." Lance muttered, combing out his hair.

"Charlie, Leo, and Galileo, you can show Kai her room. We'll show Lance and Hiro their rooms a little later." Emily said, still drinking her tea.

"Come on then, guys! Let's a go!" Kai said, dashing down a hallway.

"That's the wrong way!" Charlie yelled, running after her.

Galileo, Leo, Charlie, and Kai walked down the airship's halls, the first three leading the last to her room.

"Are we gonna share the same room and be roommates?" Kai asked, walking next to Charlie, with a large smile on her face.

"No." Charlie said, gritting her teeth. Thank the gods. I'd rather sleep with Raphael than with her.

Galileo gave a disturbed look in Charlie's direction, and then shook it off.

"Charlies? Ya listening?" Kai asked.

"It's Charlotte." Angel just had to agree to let them stay with us. Could be at a hotel, but no. I had to get Phantom's long lost cousin! Charlie thought, annoyed by Kai's constant chatter.

"So, Charlies. What's your element?" Kai asked, turning around to face Charlie.

Charlie raised her palm. "Lightning."

Kai smirked. "Figures. So, what are you guy's hobbies?"

Charlie folded her arms. "Why are you asking us these questions?"

"Ace said we needed to get acquainted. That's what I'm doing." She then turned to the Donatello brothers.

"Hiya, Leonardo! Hiya, Gillian!" Kai said, grinning.

Galileo sighed. "It's Galileo."

"So? What do ya like to do?" Kai asked, turning in Galileo's direction.

"Well...I like to read..." Galileo said, thinking.

"What's your favorite book?" Kai asked.

"I have too many to name..." Galileo replied, looking at the ceiling.

"Do you have any family?" Kai asked.

Galileo sighed. "Only Leonardo. You heard from William what happened to my parents…"

Kai gave a slow nod, and then turned to Charlie. "What about you, Charlies?"

Charlie gave a scoff. "My mother died and my father… I don't like to talk about it."

"You too?" Kai asked, looking at Charlie. Charlie's eyes widened slightly.

"Guess I should elaborate. My dad died, and my mom, I'd rather not speak of. In all honesty, Lance and Hiro are the only family I have…" She said, sadly staring at the floor. But then her face brightened.

"They're my family….I found them all on my own... It's little, and it's broken…But still good. Yeah, it's still good." Kai said, smiling.

As the other three watched her in slight awe, Kai looked at them in curiosity.

"So? Are you going to show me to my room or what?"

"So….Nice place you have have…" Lance said, walking next to Angel and Marie. The two had decided to show Lance around the airship so he wouldn't get lost.

Angel nodded, not replying.

"So…" Marie said, trying to make conversation.

"So…" Lance replied. "You're Marie. I'm Lance."

Marie nodded.

"So….Where are you from?" Marie asked.

"London, originally." Lance replied, combing his hair again.

Marie and Angel nodded.

"Um, Lance…Are you related to Kai or Hiro?" Marie asked. "No offense, it's just that-"

Lance raised a hand. "I understand. All the time we spend together, you'd think we're related. And to answer your question, I'm not related to the pipsqueak."

Marie didn't reply, but simply stared at Lance. He sighed, and then continued.

"You see, even though we aren't related, Kai, Hiro, and I have been a group for a long time. It's a pretty long and complicated story how we got where we are, but it doesn't matter. We're a family, one that doesn't get left behind…" He then chuckled. "Sorry for rambling. After all, it's not nice to bore people with my troubles…"

Angel and Marie stared at him, silent.

Lance scratched his back. "Well… this is awkward."

"Wonderful you're stating the obvious." Angel replied.

"If I was stating the obvious…I'd say you're hot." Lance said, smiling.

Angel simply scoffed and folded her arms. "Pfft."

"I mean, since you're the fire element and all-" Lance started.

"Lance! Stop harassing her!" Kai said, walking down the hallway with Charlie, Galileo, and Leo following her.

"I'm not harassing her-"

"Yeah, right. Or you're doing that turkey mating call you call flirting." Kai replied, rolling her eyes.

"Turkey…Mating call?" Leo asked, unamused.

"On another note, what do we do now?" Angel asked, folding her arms.

"Well…" Charlie said, thinking.

"Hey, guys!" Raphael said, running towards them.

"Hello, Raphael." Marie said, smiling.

"So, what are you guys doing?" Raphael asked, standing next to Marie.

"We're not sure-" Galileo started, before Kai cut him off.

"You and me, we're gonna battle!" She yelled, pointing at Raphael.

"Huh?" Everyone else asked.

"You're Phantom R, correct? The Rhythmic, thieving sensation that has a questionable relationship with the daughter of his arch enemy?" Kai asked.

"Yes…." Raphael said, ignoring Charlie's glare.

"Well, ever heard of the Phantom B?" Kai asked.

"No…." Raphael replied.

Charlie raised her hand. "They're a thief whose thefts are similar to yours, Phantom. My father looked into their case to see if Phantom R and B were one and the same… However, the thefts take place in America, not France…" Then her eyes narrowed. "Wait….That was classified information….How'd you learn about it?"

Kai winked and grinned.

Charlie's eyes widened. "Wait…. You're-"

"Phantom B, that's a me!" Kai said, and then turned to Raphael.

"Listen up, R! You've got yourself major competition!" She said, pointing at him. "There can only be one Phantom on this ship, and it's gonna be me!"

Raphael smirked. "Are you sure?"

"You bet your hat I am! I'm the ultimate cat thief and the ultimate dancer too!"

Raphael sighed. "Oh dear. It seems I have a rival. If I were to lose, then I'd lose the beautiful gaze of dearest Charlotte as well!"

Charlie scowled. I don't want your gaze, you idiot.

"Well, too bad! I'm gonna beat you at your own game!" Kai said, winking.

"Shall we, then?" Raphael said, changing into his Phantom R attire.

"Huh? How'd he do that?" Lance asked, watching from the side with Angel.

"No one knows." Angel replied, starting to smile. "This should be entertaining."

Emily stared at the blueprints, unblinking.

It's been half an hour… I still don't get it…. She thought. Hiro sat across from her, staring at it as well.

"Do you understand any of this?" Hiro asked, finally breaking the silence.

"Not at all." Emily admitted, sitting up.

Hiro sipped his tea silently, staring quietly at the blueprints.

"Why did you go back?" Emily asked.

Hiro adjusted his glasses. "Details, please."

"After J.F detonated the electromagnetic pulse…"

"Hm…Why did I go back?" Hiro asked, looking at the ceiling. "It's true, I don't act like a person who cares about material items…But then again, no one is what they seem." He said, finishing his tea.

"To someone else, those items that I saved may look like simple trinkets…But to Kai and Lance…Those items mean so much more…" With that, he adjusted his glasses.

"You know them that well?" Emily countered.

"Of course. They're my family." Hiro replied.

Emily stood up. "Let's see what they're doing, then."

"This is a one on one battle. Tiamat weapons are allowed. First one knocked out is the loser. Please refrain from killing each other." Angel said, standing in the center of the gym. Everyone had decided the training gym would be the easiest place to fight with the least amount of damage.

Kai took out her wind fans, and twirled them around. "This is going to be fun. Too bad I'll win so quickly that I won't be able to enjoy it."

"Don't be so sure." Raphael replied, drawing the dragon sword.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Marie asked, worried.

"They'll be fine." Leo replied, adjusting his hat.

"Maybe they'll K.O each other and let me get some peace…" Charlie muttered.

"On my mark…" Angel said, holding up her fingers.

"Uno! Due! Tre! Via!" Kai yelled, launching herself forward. She dashed forward, spreading her fans and dashing towards Raphael.

"Prepare for trouble, Phantom B's double!" Kai yelled spinning and forming a small tornado.

Raphael danced away, avoiding the attack all together.

"Is this really fair?" Raphael asked, avoiding another tornado. "I'm not sure those fans could take a blow from the dragon sword…"

Kai smirked. "I don't remember saying anything about fighting with my fans. Do you?"

"Wait…What else could you fight with? I don't think your fists would work either…" Raphael said, thinking.

Kai made a toothy grin. "That's not what I had in mind." She then shoved her fans in her pocket and then reached under her robe.

"K-Kai? What are you doing?" Raphael asked, watching as Kai approached him with a seductive smile.

"Nothing, Raphael… What's the matter? You seem a little- " She took a moment to pull his face closer to hers. "Flustered."

"K-Kai?" Raphael stuttered, his face turning a bright red.

"What's the matter, R? You've kissed a girl before… Haven't you?" Kai said, gently stroking his cheeks.

On the sidelines, Charlie and Marie were watching with their eyes widened.

"S-She can't do that! That's cheating!" Marie protested, her cheeks turning a deep shade of red.

"Yeah!" Charlie agreed, her cheeks turning as red as Marie's.

"It sounds like someone is a little…Jealous." Leo said, smirking at Charlie.

"I am NOT jealous!" Charlie retorted, turning even redder than before.

"T-That's private information!" Raphael said, flustered.

"Aww….Because I'd be honored to be your first…" Kai said, leaning closer. Raphael froze, starting to sweat, until Kai broke into a wide grin.

"I win."

Raphael gave a bewildered look. "How?"

"Because I have a sword pointed at your gut, that's why." Kai replied. As Raphael looked down, soon enough he saw a long sword pointed at his stomach.

"K-Kai?" He asked, nervous.

Kai started laughing, and removed the sword from its position and stabbed it into the ground next to her.

"Don't worry. I don't gut my friends." She said, folding her arms and grinning.

"Wait….Where'd you get that sword from?!" Raphael asked.

"Oh, you mean Kaze? Got 'im as a gift. He's made of obsidian." Kai responded.

"I meant where did you keep him during the beginning of the fight?" Raphael asked.

"Oh. In my dress. Where else?" Kai asked.

Raphael just sighed. "Never mind."

As everyone walked in, Charlie glared at Kai. Kai just smirked.

"Don't worry, Charlie. I wasn't going to kiss him. I would never steal your boyfriend." She said, giving thumbs up.

"HE'S NOT MY BOYFRIEND!" Charlie yelled, the edges of her hair cackling with electricity.

"You're getting awfully riled up about the guy who isn't your boyfriend…" Lance commented, combing his hair.

"NO ONE ASKED YOU ANYTHING!" Charlie retorted, causing Lance to move back a bit.

"So, who's gonna spar next?" Kai asked, hiding her sword again.

Angel cracked her knuckles. "Me, I guess. Who's going to go vs. me?"

Lance made a sly smile. "Me."

Angel gave a sigh. "Wonderful. You'll bore me to death with your stupid pickup lines."

Kai started laughing. "This will be so much fun. I bet ten bucks that Lance is going to be beat in the first ten seconds."

"Don't be so sure, Kai. The Holy sword users have another, secret ability!" Lance said, standing across from Angel.

"The ability to be complete idiots?" Kai asked, dryly.

"No! The ability of transformation!" Lance said, jumping high in the air above everyone, starting to glow. There was a blinding flash of Light, and something clattered to the floor.

It was the holy sword, with Lance nowhere in sight.

"Um, Lance?" Leo asked, confused.

"Oh, come ON!" The sword said, wiggling on the floor.

Charlie jumped back. "Lance?"

"Yes, it's me." The sword/Lance said, still moving on the floor. "Like I said, the Holy Sword user has transformation abilities.

"Right. So if something scary happens and a sword starts flopping on the floor, it's Lance." Kai said, picking up the long sword and stabbing it into the ground next to her, and then kicked it.

"C'mon, sometime to freaking day…" She said, and with a poof! Lance was back to normal.

"Why…Would you turn into a sword?" Charlie asked, her eyes narrowed in confusion.

"He's compensating. Any who are you two going to fight or what? My bet is still standing." Kai said, folding her arms.

"Alright. For real this time." Lance said, standing across from Angel.

"To ensure that Lance doesn't get sniped Hawkeye style in the first three seconds, this is going to be hand to hand." Kai said, standing between the two combatants. "Of course, elements can be used."

"Huh? But he doesn't have an element…" Marie said, looking confused.

"True. Shall we, mademoiselle?" Lance asked, balling his fists.

Angel didn't respond, but simply pounded her hands together, causing both her hands to glow a bright orange. "Fine."

"Are you going to fight every time my back is turned?" Emily asked, walking in with Hiro at her side.

Angel made a sour expression. "You would too after listening to him for a while…"

Hiro adjusted his glasses. "We've found the Aqua and Ice Keys."

END CHAPTER 25

Here's a sneak peek of the next chapter!

"So, where do we get this next key, anyway?" Kai asked.

"It's not where, it's a how." Hiro said, adjusting his glasses.

"Elaborate a little more?" Leo asked.

"Simple. Those keys are the first place prize in a nearby, illegal, and highly dangerous drag race occurring soon." Emily said.

"We're going to enter it, aren't we?" Raphael said, sighing.

Don't forget to read and review!