.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.' .'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.

THE PINKNESS!!!

.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.' .'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.

GOB: Gomen to all. I know I'm a horrible author who updated once in 70 million blue moons, but once again, I got writer's block... My sister once again destroyed my chapters... The world must hate me...

Kai: Nah, they don't hate you.

GOB: snifflesReally???

Kai: Really, their dislike for you surpasses the word 'hate'.

GOB: wails I don't want to be hated!!!

Tala: Smooth Hiwatari. Now she's whining.

Kai: Shut up.

Akira: Here are the thank you's.

GOB: This will be EXTREMELY SHORT BUT VERY IMPORTANT! I'm very sorry but my baka sister deleted the original chapter...

.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.' .'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.

Thank You To:

(I'm not writing anything, because I only have a very limited time to write. Besides, I have a date to get ready for!!! )

! Hiwatari-gurl !

! Syaoran-Lover !

! phoenix the 1st !

! Kai baby-girl !

! Jouka no Kou !

! Lefty !

! kazeilla !

! Lychee Fairy !

! MasterFranny !

.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.' .'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.

STOP!!!!!!!! I HAVE DECIDED TO PRETEND THAT A BUNCH OF THE BATTLES ARE ALREADY DONE!!! WE'RE NOW CURRENTLY IN THE SEMI-FINALS, MEANING ONLY FOUR TEAMS ARE CURRENTLY STILL IN THE TOURNAMENT!!!

THIS IS THE ONLY WAY I CAN ADD THE EXCITEMENT!!!

THE TEAMS THAT ARE IN THE FINALS ARE:

TEAM12 – KAI, AKIRA, BREN, TEA

TEAM11 – DERICK, CALLY, ??????, ????? (THE ???? ARE THE GOONS WHO REPLACED JACE, AND VICTORIA WHO WERE HURT BADLY...)

TEAM9 – MAX, BEN, HIROMI, KYLE (MAXIE IS KEWL...)

TEAM5 – LEE, SERENA, CODY, BLAINE (LEE WILL LOSE IN A HUMILIATING AND PAINFUL BATTLE MWUAHAHAHA!)

OK, NOW I'LL STOP CAPITALIZING EVERYTHING. Okay?

LOL, sorry but that was important.

I know some of you may think I started the Kai/Akira romance too fast, but I wanted it too seem like they always had hidden feelings for one another. So sue me, I think it's romantic!

Now, wait a sec while I re-read my last chapter to find out what was going on!

Weird elevator/waiting music

Urghness... I think I may just skip some parts in the fic... I'm confusing myself!!! No more time frames... They are just too time consuming to think up realistic times for everything...

Awwww, I lurved writing that!!! Hmmm, too bad Kai left Tea all alone, poor, poor unsuspecting Kai...

Well, on with the fic!!!

.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.' .'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.

Akira muttered softly under her breath as she got up, and leaned on the bed frame... She suddenly realized she wasn't leaning on the bed frame, but the chest of a certain crimson-eyed boy who was currently sleeping while leaning against the bed frame.

Akira's face heated up as she remembered the events of that early morning. She knew Kai wasn't done talking with her yet.

She suddenly smiled as she remembered the last words he had said to her,

'I care more than you could ever know. You mean more to me than anything else. I could never hate any of you. Even if you tried to kill me, I could never hate you.'

He said that she meant more to him than anyone else, that he could never hate her. Not 'any of you' but just 'you'.

She smiled softly as she got up and made her way to her bathroom. She suddenly stopped, turned around, and softly kissed the sleeping Kai on the lips, before turning red, and quickly making her way to the bathroom.

Once the door closed, a single crimson-eye opened...

Once that eye was sure the coast was clear, the second one opened, and the stoic boy slowly rose from his position leaning on the bed frame.

He gazed at the bathroom door, where the sounds of running water from the shower could be heard clearly, unmuffled by the door.

He slowly ran his hand through his hair, and mutter somewhat sarcastically,

"Wonderful. Now what?"

He sighed and quickly made his way to the door, out into the hall, and into his room without anyone seeing him...

Or so he thought...

.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.' .'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.

"Derrick, you have the girl?" Gideon's cold, uncaring voice slipped smoothly through the telephone and into Derrick's ears, sending cold shivers down his spine.

"Yeah, we got her. Heh, it was easy. The moment Kai slipped out of her room, we went in and got her, without making any noise."

"Good. Get the boy."

"And then we'll get Akira."

"No," Gideon spat, as if disgusted by the remark, "Leave the other two to my men. Yuki and Hao will take care of those two. They are out of your league."

"Yes sir."

Derrick listened to the click of Gideon hanging up, before throwing the phone across the room.

He seethed with anger.

'Who do Hao and Yuki think they are??? Just because they replaced that Jace guy and Victoria chick on our team doesn't make them any better than me!' Derrick's thoughts which were already wild and angry, were made more so when he saw Kai exit Akira's room.

'And who does he think he is? Akira belongs to me, no one else. I'll show Gideon. I will capture her, and she will be mine.'

With that final thought Derrick stormed off.

.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.' .'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.

Kai quickly took a shower and got dressed. He kept running through what had happened the night before and what had just happened. He had no clue as to what he should do now.

He ran his hand through his hair before finally deciding on not bringing either of the... of the kisses up unless Akira did first. All he needed right now was to have another argument with her.

He went to his little kitchen and got a glass. He walked over to the sink to get some water, but stopped halfway. Another thought had hit him.

She was slitting her wrists again. He said he wouldn't mention those kisses...

But he WOULD talk to her about her cutting.

He swore softly under his breath as he remembered the blood.

He had thought, they all had thought, that she had given up cutting. But now...

"FUCK!" Kai suddenly snarled when he crushed the glass he was holding. He had been putting more and more pressure on the glass that his grip had shattered it, causing hundreds upon hundreds of sharp little shards of glass to enter his skin. Rivers and streams of dark crimson blood soon appeared all over his hand.

"Tsk, tsk Blue," A nonchalant, but slightly grim voice floated through the air, "Getting angry isn't going to fix anything."

Kai's eyes shot up to face the intruder, as he took a fighting stance and began to mentally berate himself for not paying attention to his surroundings and being caught off guard.

He immediately calmed down when he saw who the nonchalant intruder was.

"Tala." Kai mentally sighed. He relaxed and moved to the sink and began to wash his hand, carefully taking out the shards of glass. "What are you doing here?"

Tala gazed at Kai and frowned. He knew something was up, but cleared his head of that thought. Ha had much bigger news than a mere thought to share with his old friend.

"Joining the Elementals."

Kai froze, before turning around and thundering, "WHAT?!?"

Tala laughed softly at the incredulous expression on Kai's normally masked face.

"No need to yell Kai, I can hear you just fine. I managed to talk the BBA Officials into letting me join your team, saying you guys needed another person to 'help' with the 'tournament'."

Kai's face resumed its unreadable-ness (GOB: Dun ask XD), but mirth showed clearly in his eyes, "And they believed you?"

Here Tala smirked cruelly and crossing his arms behind his head, stated arrogantly, "Hook, line and sinker!"

Kai rolled his eyes at this, and turned off the water. His cuts were clean enough. He grabbed a paper towel and dried his hand.

"Do the others know?"

Tala nodded and replied, "Everyone, including the Brat Packs. They're all confused as hell. I couldn't find your sis, Tea, but I left a message on her cell. I'm surprised you were in your room. I looked everywhere outside for you. You're normally already out and about at this time, and you weren't in your room at all last night. I checked back here every half hour. Where were you? And what were you doing?"

Kai froze and was glad as hell that Tala couldn't see the faint blush slip lazily onto his features. He'd be damned before he'd tell Tala the events of the night.

"Nothing, now let's go."

Tala looked confused, but then a determined look spread onto his face, and thought,

"You're up to something Hiwatari Kai, and I'm going to find out what exactly happened last night... or my name isn't Ivanov Tala!"

(GOB: Hehe, it's not... it is Ivanov Yuriy)

.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.' .'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.

After a while, Akira stepped out of her room, being sure to lock the door behind her. She had a bad feeling she was being watched so she hurried.

As she was walking down the narrow hallway, she paused at Tea's door. She had called Tea right after she had gotten dressed, and had gotten no answer. She was positive that the other girl was sleeping in. she didn't want to listen to Kai berate his little sister because she slept in.

Kai...

When Akira had gotten out of her shower, she had frozen. Numb with shock, she had realized that Kai was in her room, and on her bed. And she would have to go out there wearing nothing but a towel to get her clothes to change into.

After what seemed like years, she gathered up her courage and quickly and silently opened the door and stepped out of the washroom.

The first thing she had noticed was the fact that Kai was nowhere to be seen. She had sighed with relief and proceeded to get dressed. Conveniently forgetting the fact that she'd have to face Kai extremely soon...

Akira stopped at Tea's door and rapped the wood with her fist. After getting no answer, she tried again. Then again... then again...

Exasperated, she gave up and left, thinking that Tea had already woken up and left. She made her way to the main lounge where everyone else was waiting to hear which teams would be facing off in the semi-finals. She was hoping to go against either Team9 (Max, Ben, Hiromi, and Kyle) or Team5 (Lee, Serena, Cody, and Blaine), anyone as long as it meant she didn't have to face off against Cally, Derrick or the other creeps Gideon had under his beck and call. She hated that creep with a passion and was deathly afraid of him.

Akira took a deep breath, and stepped into the elevator.

.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.' .'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.

"Did you guys here??? Tala joined Kai's team!!!"

"Ivanov Tala is on the same team as Hiwatari Kai!!!"

"Major bloodshed, that's all I've got to say!!!"

"Maybe he's gone evil bastard again???"

"What were the officials thinking???"

Those were the general comments being made as news circulated through the crowds that the famed leader of the Demolition boys was joining the team of Hiwatari Kai, his so-called rival and worst enemy!

The Bladebreakers, along with most of the other teams, had decided to just ignore the news, after all, there was no way in hell that Kai would allow Tala onto his team, unless he was positive there was no plans or schemes of stealing bitbeast or any other general 'evil-villain-type thing'.

"Hey, there's Kai!" Tyson said shouting, as he ran towards the tall Russian, only to freeze at the sight of... "ACK!!! TALA!!!"

Both Russian boys stood and watched as Tyson ran around and around in panic, a cold smirk tugging at both of there faces. Everyone else just sweat dropped and anime fell.

"Idiot." Was all Kai muttered before walking past him and leaning on the wall farthest from Tyson. Tala rolled his eyes before following his friend, and sat on the floor while leaning on the wall. Both Russian's blatantly ignored the others.

After the initial shock wore off, everyone resumed what they were doing before, but every few moments someone would glance at the two, and wonder what exactly was going on.

.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.' .'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.

Akira stepped through the doors and let her eyes roam across the crowds. Even thought most teams were out of the tournament, they were sticking around to see which team would be the victor.

Her eyes suddenly locked onto a pair of crimson eyes. She quickly averted her gaze, but made her way over to where Kai and Tala were. Her brother, she noticed, was standing intently in the middle of a line to the refreshment stand. She rolled her eyes at this, and was startled by a voice commenting next to her,

"Exactly HOW are the two of you related..." She whipped around and calmed down slightly at seeing a calm Kai and a smirking Tala. Glaring at Tala, as he was the one who had spoken, she responded coldly,

"We're not. Don't you remember? I'm adopted."

Tala winced and was about to apologize, but Akira brushed past him and sat down defiantly on a chair placed against the wall near to where Kai and Tala had currently been leaning.

"Smooth Ivanov." Kai muttered, before making his way back to where they had been before. Tala scowled slightly at this, and sat back down where he had been before. He knew he had to give Aki8ra some time alone. She seemed to have something on her mind too...

"Where's Tea?" Akira's voice knocked both Kai and Tala out of their thoughts. Tala frowned and glanced around the room. Akira was right, Kai's sister was nowhere to be seen.

"I don't know. Probably slept in or something like that." Tala responded, sending Akira a hopeful smile. He relaxed when she smiled softly at him back. He knew he had been forgiven.

"Maybe. Akira, did you check in on her before you came?" Kai asked quietly, a slight edge to his voice. Akira jumped slightly, and Tala noticed how she hesitated in answering Kai, and how she made sure not to catch his gaze.

"Yeah, I knocked on her door, but nobody answered. I think she said something about going shopping yesterday, but I'm not sure."

"Fine." Kai's response was short, and simple, but in his mind he was deep in thought, trying to recall what Tea had said the day before. His thoughts were interrupted by a voice over the speaker.

"The semi-final matches of the Canadian Mixed Tournament will be as follows," The nasal voice of the speaker droned, "Team12 – Kai H., Akira K., Bren K. and Tea H. versus Team5 – Lee K., Serena M., Cody W., and Blaine P." Here the speaker paused while a buzz of excitement flowed throughout the crowd.

"And the second semi-final match will be between Team9 – Max M., Ben L. Hiromi T., and Kyle D. and Team11 – Derrick S., Cally G., Hao R., and Yuki C.

That is all."

Kai frowned. He had never heard of Hao nor Yuki. They must either be new to Gideon's goons or very good, good enough to be kept secret all these years. Kai was banking on the latter.

The crowds dispersed and the teams all went there separate ways.

.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.' .'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.

"Well, now we know who we're up against." Bren said, through a mouth full of Glossette Peanuts (GOB: Don't own, just eating them right now ).

"Kai, you may want to warn Max. Gideon is NOT going to pull any punches." Tala said seriously to Kai, ignoring Bren, "Unlike Voltaire, he's not going to toy with you before striking. He'll take down any and all obstructions."

Kai frowned, "I know and I will. But something's still bothering me."

Akira glanced up, but still being careful to avoid Kai's gaze, "What's still bothering you?"

Kai closed his eyes slowly, before admitting, "I'm not exactly sure. All I know is that something is very wrong right now. And it doesn't deal with Gideon, or if it does, not directly."

Bren frowned and replied, this time without anything in his mouth, "Can't you be slightly more descriptive?"

Kai was about to respond when the elevator jerked, went up, went down, and finally just stopped altogether, with the lights flickering erratically.

It hit them all at the same time...

"WE'RE STUCK!!!"

.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.' .'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.

GOB: WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! HIWATARI-GURL'S FERRET JUST DIED!!! THIS CHAPTER IS NOW DEDICATED TO ITS POOR SOUL!!!!!!!!!! REST IN PEACE MISHA!!!

.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.' .'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.

"I don't believe this!" Akira wailed as she sunk down onto her knees, "Why us? WHY ME???"

Kai, Tala and Bren all rolled their eyes.

Akira overreacting...

Nothing-new there.

"So now what do we do? We're stuck." Bren stated flatly. Joining his sister on the floor of the elevator. "And I'm out of candy."

"No one cares Bren," Kai rolled his eyes, "We'll get out of here soon."

"How soon?" Bren asked, staring at his empty Glossette's package.

"Maybe an hour or so." Kai and Tala answered.

"Bet you're wrong. It'll take at least three or four hours." Akira retorted.

"Well you're on, little one." Tala sneered, while Kai added,

"Loser has to do whatever the winner wants!"

Akira's eyes narrowed, "Fine. What do you think Bren?"

Bren responded, "I'm with Kai and Tala."

"Then let the game begin Boys."

.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.' .'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.

((( THREE AND A HALF HOURS LATER )))

"FINALLY!!!" Kai snarled, causing the repairmen to back away. As he, Tala, Bren and Akira stalked out of the elevator.

"Come on," Tala muttered, "let's get out off here."

"Right behind you." Bren agreed, as the four made their way to their rooms.

As they were about to separate, Akira's voice sing-songed over to the boys,

"Don't you remember our little bet?"

The guys all froze and gazed at Akira who was motioning for them to enter her room.

Akira laughed at their expressions and replied, "I got these because I KNEW I'd win a bet against the three of you, I just knew it."

Kai growled slightly while Tala responded, glaring, "Bought what and what are you going to make us do?"

Akira smirked and pulled out three shirts... three PINK shirts.

She handed them out to her horrified friends.

To Tala, a pink shirt with the words, "Real Men Wear Pink" written on it in white.

To Bren, a pink shirt with the words, "Pink Ain't Only For Girls" written on it in white.

And finally, to Kai-kun, a pink shirt with the words, "Tough Guys Wear Pink" written on it in a dark red.

The boys stood there stunned, gazing at their respective shirts. Akira smiled warmly as she spoke,

"You'll be wearing those for the rest of the day. And you WILL have to go out in public. Now GET CHANGED!!!"

.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.' .'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.

Akira stood smirking in front of Kai, Tala, and Bren. Each boy had changed into his shirts, and Akira had noticed a bonus.

The shirts were fairly tight, so they showed off each boy's muscles. Akira smiled at the sight. Pink was DEFINITELY their color...

"Well boys, let's go!"

The boys followed Akira out of her room, with identical scowls... only Kai started to smirk, and when Tala and Bren noticed this, they immediately understood and smirked as well...

This was going to be... fun.

.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.' .'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.

"Oh. My. God."

That was the general expression on everyone's faces when Akira walked into the dining hall, followed by Kai, Tala, and Bren.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! YOU GUYS ARE WEARING PINK!!!" Tyson burst out, laughing his head off, whereas everyone else looked at him horrified...

Kai, Tala, and Bren were going to murder him, didn't he understand that?

Kai exchanged glances with Tala and then with Bren, he slightly nodded.

Bren stepped forward and said calmly, "We know, isn't it awesome?"

Tala smirked and added, "After all, pink IS the new black!"

Kai smirked devilishly, and finished off with, "What do YOU think?"

All boys stared intently at the others, awaiting their answer.

Needless to say, the replies were all,

"Oh yeah!"

"Totally cool!"

"Where can I get one?"

After all, who'd insult Hiwatari Kai and Ivanov Tala? Bren was lucky he was with those two...

And Akira... Well, she found the whole thing hilarious!

After that incident, things proceeded normally, that is until Kei got an extra key to Tea's room to go get her. It was time to eat after all, and she had been in her room all day.

As everyone was talking merrily, Keisuke burst through the doors yelling his head off.

After he had calmed down to speak, he uttered only three words before Kai sped off, closely followed by everyone else,

"Tea's... Been kidnapped."

.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.' .'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.

GOB: 16 pages, whew. Hope that makes up for my tardiness!

Bren: Review.

Tala: Or

Kai: Else!

Bren & Tala: Why does he get the threat?

GOB: PLEASE REVIEW!!!