As always the standard disclaimer applies: I do not own the Happy Tree Friends; they are the property of Mondo Media. In addition the character of Fresko the Feline belongs to Deviant Art user Yoshi Lord. I own only my own characters and this story.

Now here's chapter 51:

51 – BONDING

Fresko was very thoughtful after reading Loco's story and he sat up for a while that night thinking it over. It was a surprise to him to find out that he had known Barry when he was a kitten; his memories of those days were hazy anyway although, when he thought hard about it, he did have a few recollections of a young boy that he used to play with way back then.

The next morning Fresko got up early and went up to the roof to get some exercise. When he got there he found that he was not alone; Barry was already there and deep into a solo martial arts practice. Fresko looked hard at his face and was finally able to connect the teenager in front of him with the young boy from years ago. Of course Barry had changed a lot, as was only to be expected when aging from six to fifteen, so Fresko didn't feel bad that he hadn't recognized him sooner.

Fresko watched with appreciation as Barry went through his routines with the fluidity and grace of the long practiced expert. Fresko's experienced eye was able to follow the details of the routines in ways that the amateur or casual practitioner would not have and he could tell at once that Barry was well on his way to becoming a master of his craft. Without saying a word Fresko stepped forward, assumed a shadow position alongside Barry, and began to mark the routine that Barry was doing. Barry didn't break his flow in the slightest. He merely nodded his recognition of the cat but otherwise continued to practice, with Fresko marking him perfectly. After a while a subtle unspoken signal was exchanged between the two and Fresko began leading the routine and Barry began marking him. For a few minutes Fresko created moves that the human teenager copied before another signal passed between them and the leader/follower dynamic switched back. Then it switched again, and again, and again. Only the most discerning eye could have told the moment when the leadership switched hands; to anyone else the routines might have looked like they had been choreographed by someone else entirely.

After marking each other's movements for awhile another signal seemed to pass between them and, from standing side by side, they both turned and faced each other. Now, instead of marking moves exactly, they began to mirror each other's moves instead, switching off the use of the left and right sides. After several turns of this they both came to standstill. They bowed to each other and broke apart, ending the routines. The two of them walked over to the edge of the roof and looked out over the slowly moving landscape far, far below.

"You're up early" said Fresko after a short silence.

"So are you" said Barry, "but I'm often up early. The early morning and the late afternoon are my favorite times to practice."

"I feel the same way" said Fresko, "great minds think a like."

"I doubt my mind is at your level yet" said Barry. Fresko made a dismissive gesture.

"You're on a level I'll probably never reach" said Fresko quietly, "which is only to be expected from the one who castrated Klure." Barry turned suddenly as Fresko nodded his head.

"Yes" said Fresko quietly, "I know all about it. Loco told me himself, and more." Before Barry could say anything Fresko told him about their shared past.

"You?" said Barry finding his voice, "that kitten who lived next door? That was you?"

"Yes" said Fresko, "so I'm not some stranger sticking his nose where it doesn't belong (at least I hope not). You always did like to play rough back then. I think I understand why now."

Barry clenched his fists but said nothing.

"You want to get him, don't you?" said Fresko, "Klure, I mean."

"Yes" said Barry softly, "so that he never hurts anyone like that again."

"You already saw to that" said Fresko raising an eyebrow, "because of you he'll never rape anyone or anything again."

"No, but he can still hurt people, and he's gotten crueler over the years if what our intelligence says is true."

"Why has he never come after you?" asked Fresko.

"I've wondered about that" said Barry, "Flippy says it's probably because he's XL-Jack-3's second in command. XL-Jack-3 needs him for important work and doesn't want him to go running off on personal vendettas. And if he's never sent lower agents after me it's probably because he doesn't want to admit to anyone exactly how he got mutilated."

"That was foolish of him" said Fresko dispassionately, "he's given you time to develop into a fighter. It looks to me like you've used it pretty well."

"Thank you" said Barry.

"You're an important person now" Fresko pointed out, "you're a Councillor, just like you were a year ago during the last war. Klure could legitimately claim to XL-Jack-3 that destroying you would help the Marauder cause."

"Maybe" said Barry in a noncommital manner, "but there are others on the Council who are more important than I am, and I doubt that XL-Jack-3 will give a damn about me until after he's taken care of them first."

"But eventually – " Fresko started to say, when Barry nodded.

" – Eventually Klure and I will meet again" he said, "it's bound to happen."

"And when it does?" Fresko asked, though he knew what the answer would be.

"Either I kill him" said Barry calmly, "or he kills me."

(To Be Continued)

A/N - Well that's the end of the "Fresko Arc." In the next chapter I'll be starting a new section of this story so be sure to come back and check it out!