Hey guys, really sorry about the long wait. Um, yeah a few plot twists in here. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter Nine — Conspiracy

Kai walked slowly back to the front room, thinking over the strange puzzle of his past.

/What the hell was that I saw? I've never remembered anything of Tala before except for a few vague impressions. Did I somehow forget all about our friendship?/ Kai shook his head and frowned. /No, that doesn't seem right. I wouldn't forget something like that, unless I was forced to./

Kai's eyes widened and he tentatively reached a hand to the scar behind his ear. /Is that what they did to me? I knew they had brainwashed us, but did they tamper with our memories as well?/ Kai berated himself for a fool. /Of course they did, that's the entire point behind brainwashing. I guess they wanted all happy memories sucked from us, although, that situation didn't seem very happy./ Kai looked up as he approached the room and noticed that everyone was gathered already by the entrance. /But I guess we had to take whatever happiness we could at the Abbey./

Tala didn't look in his direction as he approached the teams in his usual silent manner. /I guess I know why he's so pissed off with me now. But he seemed shocked to remember all of that. If that was so, then why else could he have hated me so much?/

"Hey Kai, did you get a chance to check out the saunas?" Takao was grinning in his usual silly manner and Kai would have walked straight past him if something odd didn't catch his eye. He looked at Takao's hand curiously, it was wrapped around another paler hand. Seeing Max standing just beside him, Kai smirked.

"I'm sure you had a very enjoyable time there," he commented dryly. Takao looked a bit confused until he saw Kai's gaze flick down to his hand. Then he blushed bright red and let Max's hand go. Max, who had been watching the conversation with slight apprehension blushed too. Kai's smirk grew bigger. "A very enjoyable time it seems."

"Uh … Kai," Takao looked a bit flustered.

Kai held up a hand. "Not my business. I won't say a word unless it starts to affect your training." Then Kai thought of something. "Don't do anything sappy around me either, that's just creep me out." Kai shuddered as he thought of it and walked off.

Takao watched him leave and let out a large breath. "Well, that certainly went better than I expected."

"Do you think he'll tell anyone?" Max asked apprehensively.

"Kai? Actively seeking out someone to gossip? He may have changed, but not that drastically."

Max laughed. "You're right. I just wish we could have told all of them in a better way." Then he went pale. "What are the others going to think. Or say?"

Takao brushed his arm soothingly. "Well, if we have Kai's approval then I don't think the others' will be hard to get."

"You're right again. I'm sorry, I'm just kind of paranoid about everything." He flushed slightly. "This is my first relationship after all."

Takao looked around nervously and pulled Max away a little bit before giving him a quick reassuring kiss on the cheek. "Don't worry, we'll do this together." He smiled gently and Max pulled him down for a quick kiss.

"Thanks."

"No problem." Takao walked over to where Kenny and Rei stood with Max close behind. Takao frowned slightly as he studied Rei. The raven-haired neko-jin looked close to tears. But a fake smile sent his way warned him not to talk about it. Takao shrugged and returned the smile. He looked around for Kai and saw him standing with Mr. Dickinson talking quietly about something.

Sending his gaze around the room he noticed the Majestics were missing. Come to think of it, he hadn't seen them earlier either.

"Hey Chief? Do you know where the Majestics are?"

Kenny shrugged. "I don't know. Mr. Dickinson said they couldn't make it."

"Oh, all right. I guess they must have already seen this place, being investors and all."

"Probably."

Takao looked around again and noticed Tala glaring at Kai. /Jeez, what could have happened? I wonder why those two don't get along? They're so alike, maybe they just rub against each other. Kind of like what me and Kai used to be./ Takao frowned at this thought. /Still are I suppose./ Takao looked over at the others to ask something and noticed the stricken look on Rei's face as he watched how Kai continually kept glancing at Tala. He looked away and was about to walk away when Takao grabbed his arm.

"We have to talk," he hissed quietly to Rei.

* * *

Tala reached a hand into his back pocket as he heard the faint sound of his phone.

"Yes?" he asked quietly as he picked up.

"Tala, where are you?" It was Bryan, he sounded worried.

"At a BBA training facility. I meant to tell you about the latest trip, you were supposed to come."

"Maybe it's a good thing I didn't."

"What?"

"Where are you? I need to see you and I've got to help them.

"Who?"

"Celia and Alex. We're being chased."

Tala swore loudly, catching the attention a few people nearby. "I'm on the west side."

"Us too. Whereabouts?"

"The recently done up factory in the old market centre."

"I'll be there soon. I've got to loose our tail first though."

"Right. I'll be waiting."

"Oh, Tala, wait." Tala froze as he heard Bryan say this. "I've found the info."

Tala paled. "Get here as soon as you can. Forget the tail, you could get yourself killed. Just hurry, I'll find some way to cover your ass. And take care of the children."

"Will do." Bryan hung up. Tala stared at his phone for a second before swearing and running over to Mr. Dickinson.

"Sir, I've got a problem."

"What is it Tala?" Mr. Dickinson asked calmly, looking at the frantic boy in concern. Tala was usually more composed than this. Kai was staring at him curiously.

"Bryan's on his way here with two other people."

"That's good, isn't it?"

"No sir, he's being chased by some of Boris' men."

"What did he do?" Kai raised an eyebrow. "It's not like Bryan to be sloppy and let himself get a tail."

Tala sent a frosty glare in Kai's direction, but when he saw that Mr. Dickinson wanted to know as well, he sighed. "For the past year, we've been searching for dirt on Biovolt. Boris and Voltaire couldn't be properly convicted with only the evidence of the BBA. I know they've still got another base somewhere and they're starting their experiments all over again. We've been looking for them and some of the information they had one us as well as other children. Bryan finally found them today."

"Who are these two others?"

"A young boy called Alex."

"The kid that Takao fought when we first came here?" Kai asked in surprise.

"I'm surprised you remembered," Tala retorted dryly. Mr. Dickinson sent him a disapproving look and Tala quieted. "The other is a girl Bryan, Alex and I are staying with. She and her family have been helping runaways from the Abbey for years. They found Spencer and Ian's parents for us and look after the three of us for now."

"Celia," Kai whispered and Tala froze.

"How do you know her?"

"I was the first child she and her family took in." Kai rounded on Tala with a fierce glare and grabbed him by the front of his shirt. "If you've put them in danger, I swear I'll —"

"Kai! That will be enough!" Mr. Dickinson had a rarely seen, but very furious and serious look on his face. "Release him now." Kai looked at him resentfully then let Tala down, aware of the gazes that were now fixed on them. "Now we will deal with this calmly. Tala, would you and your team please wait for Bryan while I get everyone down into the basement."

"Is it that serious?" Kai asked with wide eyes.

"Bryan was trying to get five files. His, Ian's Spencer's, mine and of course, yours. Yes, I'd say this is serious and well worth the results. He's got more children Kai, I will not stand by and let him do that to more innocents again and neither will my team."

Kai glared at him. "You've put us all in danger."

"By simply being here everyone in this room is in danger." Tala glared at him once more then walked back over to Ian and Spencer and told them to wait out front for Bryan.

"Insufferable little —"

"Kai," Mr. Dickinson chided. "Tala is doing what he must to achieve his end."

"I know that, but it doesn't excuse the fact that he put everyone in danger," Kai hissed, clenching his hands tightly as he spoke. He glared at the redhead one last time then turned coldly to the old man. "I'll be with my team." Then he walked away.

Mr. Dickinson shook his head sadly. "Oh Kai, what happened to you? More importantly, what happened to you and Tala?"

* * *

"Hey Kai," Max called out cheerfully, though slightly apprehensively. He was still nervous about Kai knowing about him and Takao, but he didn't have to worry as Kai brushed past him with barely a glance.

"Kai?" Kenny asked worriedly, "Are you all right?"

"Peachy," Kai muttered, leaning against a wall. He glared at Tala once more before he noticed something was off. Looking around, he spotted Takao walking towards them slowly, but there was still something up.

"Where's Rei?"