Hi Folks! I'm happy to be back, and after I had my birthday this week it's my big pleasure that I could finish this chapter and update it for you all. :)

Though, it's not gonna be the happiest one, it's very dramatic so be prepared. However, I hope you gonna like reading it.

Warnings: Hurt, sadness and dark scenes

Flower: Let's get on with it! *rubs hands* Let it rip!

Tyson: Hey, that's my spiel!

Flower: So? I'm the writer here so I'm the boss now. Sit back and enjoy it. *grins brightly*

Tyson: How can I enjoy what you're gonna do to us?!

Flower: *coughs* I guess it's about time to start...

~ Chapter Twenty-six ~

The Mask Falls off

Takao was shuffling a meat-roll on his plate absently.

Should he tell, or should he not tell?

"That meat won't come to life even if you keep pushing it."

Takao glanced up at Max who sitting across to him at the table with a comical expression on his face.

"Huh? What?"

"Something must be bothering you badly if you're so gloomy to that poor meat." marked Max with a lurking smile as to cheer him up. "It's not like you to not wolf down food in record time."

The teen put down his fork and sighed. "I'm just thinking, that's all."

Max took a gulp from his juice then put it down as he stared astonished at his friend. "No way. This is the end of world. Takao Kinomiya is grinding the gears in his head. Just take it easy buddy, because you gonna hurt your brain."

Takao flung a spoon of peas at him but Max only laughed. "Hey! I didn't order rainy peas on my pudding."

"Watch it Max, or I'm gonna tell Rei you stole his incenses and hid them in the girls' toilet." Takao shot him a warning glare.

"He deserved it! They stink awful!" Max complained defensively. "He ate up my dear bonbon-bears." he gushed sad puppy eyes at the image of his empty chocolate box he'd found.

"That was Hilary. She took revenge on you after you'd strewed chalk in her books." Takao informed him flatly.

Max sweat-dropped. "Oh… erm, really?"

"I saw it."

The cheeky grin on Max's face wilted instantly, and he gulped. "Ops." A horrid image of a certain nekojin appeared before him, what would he say if he got to know about his little prank.

"I can't wait to see Rei's face when I tell him." Takao curved a wicked smirk.

Max went pale. "You wouldn't do it."

"You think so?" the bluenette's eyes gleamed in mischief. "Wanna make a try?"

"No, no! Please no!" Max pleaded him in panic. "I take it back! I take back what I said, just don't tell him it was me."

Takao flashed a cocky grin. It was so easy to blackmail the freckled boy, and last but not least, fun. He wondered if Max was really that scared shitless from getting rebuked from Rei. "Hm, I might not tell him if you tell me about a certain red haired beauty." he winked saucily.

"What do you mean?"

"Max, we all saw that you were all over for the mermaid-looking girl on the ball. Zoe." he sing-sang in a teasing tone.

Suddenly, Max's face turned rosy pink. "What about her?"

"You like her, do you?" Takao cooed, pursing his lips. "Aw, our sweet little Maxie is in love, too?"

"I'm not! – I mean… She is nice, friendly… and pretty… and funny… she is a very good company to talk with, so yeah." feeling total embarrassed and needed to drown it into something, Max quickly slurped in his glass of juice eagerly like he could drink out a whole barrel.

Takao stared at him oddly. It wasn't like Maxie at all; he used to babble a lot but never spoke like a tipsy fumbler. Could it be there was really some kind of infection in the air that made people turn into lovesick fools?

"So," Max wheeled back to their original subject, also to avert attention from himself. "What is it about, again?"

Now it was Takao's turn to be nervous. He sighed worried. "There is something I haven't told Kai."

"Don't worry, I don't think he realised that you didn't have the birds and bees talking before you guys did it – Alright, alright, I zip it!" Max held up his hands hastily when Takao shot him a stormy glare.

The bluenette then lowered his guilty gaze on the table.

"It must be serious, if it bothers you that much." his friend eyed him concerned. "What is it?"

"It's hard to tell."

Max made a deadpanned face. "I figured out that much." he prompted Takao further. "Care to tell more?"

"You know… it's sort of a secret." Takao swallowed.

This made Max more curious; he leant closer to him with wide eyes. "You got me fully keyed up now pal."

"Max, I'm serious!"

"So I am… what secret?"

Takao was eyeing Max ponderingly. For the first time, he was glad Kai and Rei were having extra gym class so they weren't around. Thinking that Max would be an easy cake to pick first quickly deflated when Takao suddenly remembered of that nasty scene where the blonde was ticked off when he caught him trying to pal up with Weylin. He didn't know how would he react if he got to know he was playing two identities behind their backs, let alone Kai. The knot in his stomach was squeezing tighter by each day. He had waited way too long.

"It's not only about Kai." Takao started on, mustering up his courage. "I didn't tell you guys because… I couldn't."

The blonde boy was listening to him with intense stare.

"I wasn't honest with you, sorry. When my shoulder got injured by a demon and you guys were backing me up to heal me, I did tell the true but I didn't tell how did it happen. Then, under the assault on the Bonfire festival when I disappeared, it wasn't for unreason… The same happened on the ball when Devon popped up and messed up the party. I–I know who is that masked guy because…"

"It's okay." Max put a hand on his, stroking it reassuringly.

Takao gawked at him. He must be looking very miserable because Max smiled at him with so much tenderness and understanding all of the sudden like Takao was about to read up his last will. "You can tell it for us when you feel ready."

Takao's jaw dropped. "But – I thought, you want to know it."

"Yeah, but it's not true friendship when you force out things from your friend."

Takao found himself speechless. Since when did Max started taking wise-talking lessons from Rei? The always eagerly curious blonde boy, who was acting like a bouncing around child at Christmas time, now turned to an old-wiser? Holy Dragoon's shake.

"Besides, I think I like this masked guy." Max winked at him mysteriously. "He is super cool."

"Urgh, yeah… but –"

"And if you're worried that Kai will kick you out if you tell him whatever it is, you can still come over to cry on my shoulder bud." Max beamed a confident smile.

"I'm not a crybaby." Takao retorted sulkily.

"Yes you are. I saw you weeping on chemistry class when the teacher told your grade." Max said wittily.

"It was only because Weylin blew onion-distillate under my nose!"

* x ~ Ö ~ x *

No matter what, Takao wanted to be done with it so he could get rid of that knot in his stomach and return eating properly again… if Kai let him live after then. However, things turned out not the way he planned. Kai had instantly left after class to arrange something important, as Rei told him, which left Takao only in more fret. Boyfriend or not, Takao had no option than to get used to the fact that Kai was still having the tendency to slip back into the role of being a lone-wolf, now and then.

When he got home a surprise was waiting for him. There was a letter waiting on his bed. Kyo, his tabby cat was sitting at the window which was left open. Somebody had snuck into his room?

The cat jumped down from the ledge when Takao entered his room to great him. He purred softly.

"Meow."

"Hey little fella. Are you hungry?" Takao gave him a soft stroke below his furry ear-line and sat on his bed.

Opening the mysterious letter, which he assumed was from Kai, he looked confused. There was only one short sentence on the paper:

Come to the old church at six clock.

No sign of the writer.

"Strange." Takao furrowed his eyebrows. He knew Kai was cheap with words but it seemed like his sentences were getting shorter by each letter he wrote. Takao snorted sarcastically. Typical Kai; he was romantic and passionately in bed, but niggard at writing love-letters.

But it also could be that he was really in hurry, as Rei had said. Takao shrugged. "It seems if I want to find out what does Kai want to tell me I have to go to that place. Right, Kyo?"

"Meow."

* x ~ Ö ~ x *

The only old church Takao had heard about was at outparts of the city, in the most desolated, lonely place. If there was anyone who still visited that place were probably ghosts. The hair-rising sight sent shivers down his spine. The rigid stone walls, covered by twining plants, towered frightfully over the teen. In the background wolves yowled in the forest.

Kai may was a rich man with a royal taste when it came about home furnishing but he had the most lunatic, creepiest ideas for dating places. Last time they made out in the Black Forest, then in the shabby warehouse where Kai liked lurking around, and now this… what came next? Having sex in a crypt? Takao thought sardonically.

He was about to knock on the punk door (not that he expected anyone here, unless Kai got here first), when it opened creakingly. He nearly leapt into the air when a floating lamplight appeared in the darkness. Then a cloaked figure stepped in the silhouette of light. His face was hidden behind his brown, sleazy hood, but from his wrinkled, bony fingers, that was holding the lamp Takao assumed he must be the priest.

"Um… hi." the boy greeted meekly. The man didn't speak up. "Sorry, I just… hehe, I didn't think I would find anyone here – I mean, who would come praying into such a spooky place, expect zombies." Takao snickered sheepishly, scratching his head.

The cloaked man stared wordlessly at him.

Takao sweat-dropped. Was this man mute? It even turned in his head that he might was blind, or deaf – should he wave a hand before his face to see if he gave a reaction? Nah, that would be way too improper.

"I'm waiting for my friend. He could be here any minute."" he went on chattingly.

The hooded priest stood still.

"…But I can wait for him outside, if I bother."

For that, the priest opened the door fully, in a silent inviting.

"Thanks man." Takao said brightly, inside hoping that Kai would turn up very soon and tell what was this all about. He didn't want to stay with this creepy man alone for so long.

The small hair on Takao's neck bristled up and a shudder past through him when the door closed with an ominously squeaky sound. The priest peered at Takao for a minute long then, without a word, he turned to walk afore.

Takao gulped. Slowly, he followed after the man while he took wary glances around the place. Through the half-shattered mosaic windows faint light filtered in where the pale moon peeked inside. The archaic squared timbers arched crumbly above him like there was a threat this building would crash in anytime soon. In the graved hollow of the walls squeaking bats were nestling, and of an angel stone-statue Takao first thought it looked like a winged beast with a lance holding in its hand.

He was going to kick Kai's ass for dragging him here.

"So, I assume not many people turn around here, huh?" Takao continued as he tried to make a conversation with the priest somehow, and also to break the petrifying silence that was freaking him out incredulously.

But the man gave no tune of his voice. He kept walking ahead of the teen towards the pulpit with the lamp dangling in his hand… or better to say, he was actually shuffling stumblingly as if he was hundred years old. The hem of his cloth slid along the dusty floor.

"Man, I wouldn't come here for sure, but Kai always has weird ideas. Haha." he added in a nervous laugh as he cast a grimacing look over the benches that were bespread by thick spider's web. "I bet Kai told you what's up, right? Of course he did. It's so typical him to hire a mute priest who is deaf as well, so I wouldn't get the chance to draw out the surprise from you, right?"

No words. Takao took another try.

"Come on man, it wouldn't be a sacrilege if you tell me a little bit of it. At least say something! Why did Kai call you here? Is there going to be a wedding? If yes, then I have to turn you down because I'm not even engaged, and I bet Gramps wouldn't allow it for me at this young age." he chuckled cockily. "Or is there another reason?"

The stubborn silence snapped Takao's patience finally. "Hey! Don't you know that keeping your back turned to someone who is talking to you while not giving a damn answer is rude?" he snapped impetuously.

Suddenly, the man tumbled and fell forward on his knees. The lamp broke in a crash on the cold ground.

Takao ran up to the man's side frightened. "Hey mister! Are you okay?" he gently placed a hand on the man's back and arm to help him up – when he felt something strange. Even through his clothes he could feel the coldness radiating from the man's body. His skin was white and rigid like a frozen corpse.

The priest's whole body started shaking. His limbs became pliant and elastic. From his wrinkled fingers that were gripping fitfully onto the ground long claws grew out.

Cold tension stabbed into Takao's guts.

"What the –"

The man turned his head at him and Takao's eyes went wide as he gasped.

Underneath the hood a pair of razor-thin, red eyes gleamed. Then…

BUFF.

The next moment Takao flew twenty feet high in the air before he fell with huge crash among the wooden benches. The first moment he felt like his arms and legs broke into several places, his waist twisted, and his neck throbbed like someone has hit with a club from behind. He laid there spread among the shatters in the conscious of incredible pain. Then, something surged through him and the stinging ache was ebbing away slowly. When he tentatively moved himself he surprisingly realised that none of his bones were broken. If it was some kind of miracle or Dragoon's power had healed him – hi didn't know – but he was glad for it.

He scrambled out from the mess of woods and was about to brush off the age-old dust from his clothes when his eyes caught on something. He wasn't wearing his normal outfit anymore. Dark trousers with a characteristic blue, silk shirt. He could feel also the small waves of swishing of his wings. Peering through his azure mask he noticed that he was not the only one who had transformed.

On the place of the crumpled clothes that laid around the ground in shreds was standing the ugliest beasty demon he'd seen so far. It was nauseant too.

"Oh no… not again." Takao groaned with bored expression, rolling his eyes. "Can't you creeps just fall into a hole and stay there?"

The hellish monster's eyes blazed. "You have a big mouth, scrawny little dwarf, but not so long after I've torn you into pieces and put you in my stomach."

"Yuck… you are so disgusting." Takao grimaced. "Believe me, I would taste terrible for you… your hideous stomach wouldn't bear such awesome guy like me."

"Devon told me that I shouldn't underestimate your power, but he didn't mention you're a pesky brat." the demon growled. Seemingly it was getting angrier by every second; the spiky fur on its back bristled up.

"Oh he just probably forgot it. No big deal." the cheeky teen shrugged recklessly. "Don't worry, I don't think he has a bigger brain in that thick skull of his than that hole in your head. You're just another pawn of his sickish chess game he thinks he can win."

"How dare you, you cocky vermin!" the demon bellowed in such venomous tone that shook the walls. The arching cracked dangerously as dust strewed from them. "I could have trampled you right at the first sight! I gave you the chance to live a little bit more before I kill you but you've overtaxed my patience!"

"Save it for yourself because the one who is gonna be put away is you." the teen retorted with smug confident.

"YOU!" the demon howled in a thunderous voice. Thin cracks ran along the stone walls in zig-zag lines.

Its gigantic, long tentacles twisted and they hurled with direful vehemence at the blue haired boy. CRASH. The benches were mashed into million of pieces as if they were made of porcelain. Dense smoke and dust diffused in the air. There came no voice…

The demon roared up in an evil laugh. It went easier then it thought. It withdrew its tentacles to see the damage it had caused; see the teen's deadly shattered body, his blood, and bath into the marvellously horrible sight of its victory. Slowly, the smoky cloud dissolved and the demon looked dumbfounded.

There was no one among the brash.

Where was he?

"Hey, you pumpkin-head! Search for me?"

The demon looked up. High above on the archive ceiling was floating the boy, wings spread wide. Takao was grinning wickedly.

"Heh, you missed it!" he tainted.

"Why you little brat!" the demon fumed. "If I get you I'm gonna rip you into small pieces!" it grabbed a bench and tore it into half.

"You have to catch me first!"

The demon was foaming with rage as it started tossing sharp wooden pieces at the mocking teen. Takao was flapping here and there playfully, dodging each of them.

"Hah! You missed!"

A next one flew at him.

"Nope. Still not close!" he sing-sang gleefully, swishing off.

Then another.

"Nah, you're slow as a snail."

"WHY YOU!" the beast howled and not only the ground shook by his voice but the whole building. Pieces of shreds fell from the roof.

"Ow." Takao rubbed is head as he tried to dodge from having more to fall on him. He coughed as he sniffed dust. "Hey, watch it!"

It seemed it was the last drop in the water; the nasty playtime was over. The demon lost its last bit of patience too. What happened next wiped off the grin from Takao's face. The demon's long tentacles that ended in claws elongated just as its fury body… it grew larger and bigger… more and more, until it was nearly as tall as the ceiling.

"Ops." Takao gulped. This was no joke anymore.

From the demon's spiky back more pair of tentacle claws grew out. They swished around like they were lasso. For Takao, the beast resembled to a grown-too-big plant, mixed with polyp arms.

"Now let's see who is gonna have fun." the demon growled maliciously.

"Pft. Like I'm gonna be scared from a few big roots." Takao put it down despisingly.

"This is the last thing you'll see from this world!" high roar filled in the building as several clawed tentacles flung straight at the masked boy like giant snakes.

Takao was in hot danger. No matter how many times he tried to get away from the lashing claws, one swung after the other whenever he dodged one. He didn't even get the chance to attack back. Their constant chasing resulted more and more holes on the walls and roof, each time the demon missed its attack.

Sweats broke out on Takao's skin and he gritted his teeth. This wasn't good. At this rate, the whole building was going to fall on them.

Then he got an idea. He changed tactics and started flapping across the long tentacles in criss-cross, the claws following hot after him… but not long. The tentacles ended up in a big tangled mess which was pulled into a tight knot due to the stretching. Suddenly, the claws stopped only a few inches from Takao's face, frozen in mid-air.

Takao grinned cockily.

With its tendrils tied up, the demon looked now like a giant radish.

Takao clutched at his stomach in laugh. Demons were really stupid. However, his naughty trick was paid back ruthlessly, when a missed out free tendril swung at him.

Burning smack hit on his cheek and forced him back through the window. When he came back to himself, he noticed he was lying on the snowy grass and cold breeze nipped on his naked, throbbing cheek. His eyes went wide in shock. He had lost his mask!

He jumped to his feet to look around but at that moment the demon sprung out through a large hole on the roof. Somehow it managed to free itself. Takao realised there was no time for it now for searching. He had to get done with this beast fast, till he had the chance.

Wasting no time, he quickly concentrated his energy to call Dragoon's power. Raging storm surged through his veins, his hair swayed as wind caught up in the air wildly. Mahogany eyes went dark. "Hey you monster! Go back to hell and stay there!" he shouted and the frantic hurricane inside of him went lose.

The huge blast of power threw the beast back against the stone wall, harshly. The impact grooved a big crater. The demon laid slumped against it, tons of blue feathers sticking out from its ugly body. They glowed in blue before it mouldered completely.

The quietened down breeze blew off the soft ashes that was left of it.

Takao was standing there with a deep frown on his face. Strange. Defeating this monster wasn't that hard. In his mind he recalled when the demon said Devon had sent it to kill him… if Devon's goal was really to put him out of the way tonight he would have come himself our would have done it in a more sneaky way. If he wanted him dead why hadn't he sent a whole horde of demon from his army? Sending one puppet among his cards was kind of foolish, it was an evident fiasco, unless… it was a trap.

Then he heard it. The deep smoky voice that always sent shivers down his spine.

"Tyson?"

The boy shuddered. No. Please, just… not here. Not now. Not like this. Feeling his stomach wrench into a tight knot in trembling fear, Takao tried to take a deep breath as he turned around to face the inevitable.

When his eyes met crimson ones, he felt like all of his power faded away. Left him weak and vulnerable. "Kai." Takao rasped in faint voice.

In the moonlight Kai was staring shocked. "You… it's not possible." He didn't want to believe his eyes. He'd just got here and saw what happened. The mischievous masked boy was Tyson Kinomiya?

For the first time, Takao felt his heart gonna skip out from his throat. "Kai, I… I can explain it."

The dual haired snapped out of his stupor and suddenly his features went hard as rock. "What is there to explain?" he glared furiously.

"A lot." Takao hurried to answer, but he felt like he was fighting a dead battle he'd already lost. The racking desperate that Kai wouldn't believe him got over him. "Kai please, just… hear me out."

"No need for it. You lied for me." a fist clenched by Kai's side. Crimson eyes got filled with deep anger, hurt and something Takao hadn't seen on him – betrayal. How could he do that to him? His words carried bitter pain. "How long have you played this?"

"I…"

"Was this some kind of joke?"

"No!"

"A stupid challenge to get in my near and seduce me like some fool?"

Had he only played with his feelings right from the beginning?

"No, Kai! I wouldn't do something like that, I swear!" Takao shook his head determinedly. He couldn't let Kai think it was just a dirty prank.

Blazing crimson eyes narrowed in hate. "Don't you dare to swear for me anything!"

Takao started walking towards him. "You can't really think…"

The older teen however backed from him, which made Takao stop stunned on his tracks. "Don't come to my near." Kai threw at him dismissively.

The bluenette froze on his spot and suddenly it was like someone had put a glassy wall between them. Pain squeezed his heart. "No… Kai…" slowly, he reached out a shaky hand for him. "Please…"

It was too late. The ice-cold barrier that once held Kai in its protective captivity had returned, this time even stronger.

Their bond cracked.

He closed his eyes for a brief moment as he took a breath, then said. "It's over Kinomiya." he snapped in a frosty tone. "I have nothing to do with you anymore." with that he spun around and stalked off.

All of his hopes and love had shattered into million pieces and fell into the sticky mud in a flip of moment. Takao fell onto his knees. He was unable to believe it was over like that. He couldn't lose Kai. Not him too.

"Kai… KAI!" he screamed from the top of his lungs, but his plea died away in the cold darkness.

Up among the branches of tree, Devon was smirking.

* x ~ Ö ~ x *

Gramps knew Tyson was a strong boy. The Kinomiyas were always persevering and faithful what made them marvellous, but Tyson was especially a special one. He was the boy who carried the sun shining brightly even when it rained. He made people smile on their gloomy days, and never thought twice to spring to help for anyone when that needed.

His smile was his strength, his shield, just as his weak point too.

Sometimes Gramps mused how much Tyson resembled to his mother. His stubborn, thick-headed character was sure his father's but that chirpy attitude with that cheerful face was undoubtedly his mother's. A strong but sensitive soul, which should be never hurt.

Kicks and harsh telling off, no matter how many times Tyson had to endure difficulties, he was always back on his feet in no time, bouncing around with his happily smiling face as if nothing happened.

However, this time it wasn't like that.

As Gramps was standing at the bedroom door with a solemn expression, watching his grandson grieving silently on his bed with his knees pulled up to his chest, arms folding them, his head lowered between them, made him worried. Last time he'd seen Tyson in this state was when Hiro and his dad had left, and it took him a whole month before he'd accepted and got over it.

If Tyson was depressed it must be something serious.

Gramps sighed, and he stepped in. "What's buggin'ya T-man? If you keep your face long like that you gonna lose your nose."

The teen didn't spare a glance at him. He wasn't in the mood to listen to his cheer-up lessons right now. He just wanted to be alone. His eyes were hidden behind his long locks of hair while Kyo was sitting beside him, purring softly to comfort him. "Go away Grandpa. Leave me alone." he murmured.

"If you have the mood to send off your oldie, then you can also tell what's wrong." Gramps said calmly. He went to sit down at the end of bed. He supported his chin on his kendo stick as he waited.

But it seemed Takao didn't want to take part in the conversation this time. He was closing himself away. He diffused that specific behaviour that Gramps knew so well – childish stubbornness.

"I don't know what happened that made you so mopy, but one thing I know – it won't do anything good if you keep mourning here to yourself." he went on matter-of-factly.

"Geez, thanks for the wise advice." the bluenette grumbled in a bilious tone under his nose.

The old man's moustache curved slightly in a well-known smirk. There was only one way to bring out Takao from sulking. "Oh not at all, that's why I'm here, to cheer up my lil' dude when he is sulking."

"I'm not sulking." Takao retorted shrewdly.

"Well, if not, then something must be bothering you… don't you want to pour out your heart?"

The teen snorted. "Like you would know you anything about it." it came out faster before he realised what he'd just said, and even though he didn't mean to hurt his grandpa who was the only one he still had, but wallowing in his miserable feelings was really getting the worst out of him.

But his grandpa didn't seem to take it to his heart. He smiled softly. "You may not believe it, but long years ago I was also young and impetuous like you. Let me guess… is it Kai?"

Just hearing the name made Takao's heart flip. The recent happenings made him remember over again why was agony eating him up inside. Kai. Raising his head a bit finally, there was a pink shade of colour on his cheeks. "How do you know?" he asked in a small voice.

Gramps chuckled heartily. "That guy has been driving you nuts since the first moment. I noticed it right away the day you invited your friends here. Max and Rei are very good fellow for'ya, but Kai was another cake. I suspected that he was some way special for you. Reminds me when your mother met your dad." he winked playfully.

Takao looked embarrassed. "…Oh."

"Did he affront you?" Gramps gave him a searching look.

Takao shrank himself smaller in guilt. "Not really… he got very upset because I've kept something from him."

"I see." Gramps nodded understandingly. "And now he doesn't want to talk to you."

"Sort of like that, yeah." Takao sighed, his face dropped. "I've totally messed up."

Long silence stretched between them and Takao nearly jumped out of his skin when Gramps suddenly wacked his kendo stick on the bedpost. Even Kyo leapt into the air, his fur bristled up.

"Ack! Gramps what the heck?!" Takao looked at him startled, grabbing fistfully to his hammering heart.

"Then why are you mourning here like a weeping school girl instead of going after him and tell what you need to?" Gramps rebuked him sorely.

"I tried but he won't listen to me Grandpa!" Takao said defensively.

"A Kinomiya never gives up!"

Then it hit Takao. That's right! Since when did he give up so easily? He always managed to come through whatever barrier stood before him. He went straight through them, crashing down each. He didn't back off nor did he submitted to defeat when Albert tried to sweep him away from going near to Kai, and even whenever Kai told him off he didn't let himself down because he knew Kai didn't mean it for real. Then why was he so slumped now?

Here he was moping in his room while his inner-side was kicking and screaming at him to get his ass together and make things right again. Now there was one option left he could do. His gaze suddenly brimmed with determination again. "You're right Gramps. Now I know what should I do!" he jumped across his bed and rushed out of the room.

Gramps grinned slyly. "Hehe, I knew he would get back to it again. He only needed a good ol' whack on his sense." he turned to Kyo then. "It seems we are on our own, pussy."

Kyo hissed at him. He was still angry for getting scared like that.

"Mm… still peevish at me, eh? What do you say for a nice, warm milk?"

"Meow."

* x ~ Ö ~ x *

Takao was running breathlessly till he reached the Hiwatari Mansion. He was glad when he found the gate unlocked and went in without hesitation. Fortunately, he didn't bump into anyone who could distract him. He went around the corner to search Kai's balcony to his bedroom.

When he got there he cried up.

"Kai! Hey Kai, are you there?"

About a minute later the balcony door opened and Kai walked out with a resentful, rigid look.

"What do you want?"

"There is something I need to tell you. Please Kai, listen to me."

The dual haired folded his arms dismissively. "I don't want to hear your lies, Kinomiya. Now fuck off before I throw you out with my servants!" he was about to turn and leave loftily.

"No Kai! Wait! Just for a minute – I… I need to tell you this! You must know it!" the ponytail haired teen hurried to the old tree they'd used last time and started climbing on it. "You misunderstood it! It might seems like I betrayed you but I did not."

Kai watched with curious interest as the boy was crawling clumsily along the branches towards him.

"If you would just – hear out the whole story – then you would realise…" Takao babbled panting while he was struggling hard to not fall. "Whoa! – Why is this so wobbly?"

Resting his elbows on the iron-rail lazily, Kai watched now with a smug smile of his lover's clumsiness. "You are stupid." he marked sardonically. This was fun.

"Shut-up. I just have to find balance and… Whoa!" Takao suddenly slipped over and was now hanging down with his hands. "Ack – Kai! Give me and hand, would you?" he looked at him for help.

The dual haired peered at his shiny nails with a bored look. "Sorry, but I don't feel like it. Help yourself."

"Come on Kai, don't be a jerk!" Takao squawked. "You can't let me fall down!"

"Who cares." Kai droned, and yawned. "You were the one who told me to shut-up."

"I didn't mean it like that! – Ahh!" the branch broke and Takao landed on the snowy ground with a muffled thud on his butt.

Kai snorted a chuckle. Takao was really as stupid as clumsy. Having enough of it, he turned around and walked inside carelessly.

"Kai! Come back!" Takao cried after him on the ground but it was useless.

Up in the sky Devon was watching the theatrical scene with a victorious, self-satisfied smirk. Things just couldn't go better. "Excellent. Everything goes the way I thought. Now it's time to bring up my next plan." his malicious eyes blazed with eerie madness. "Very soon, your golden heart will be all mine, my dear phoenix boy."

~ End of Chapter ~

So that was all for now... yeah I know, I was kind of mean but that's how it is and I have bad news - from now on things gonna get even darker. I still have a few wicked surprises in my pocket till to the very end, but I can assure you, you'll like the ending. There is three more chapters left from this story, so if you have something to say drop a review. Thanks! ;)