Chapter XIV

-- Gaiety --

"I'll make it through the rainy days
I'll be the one who stands here longer than the rest
When my landscape changes, rearranges
I'll be stronger than I've ever been
No more stillness, more sunlight,
Everything's gonna be alright,"

Sugarbabes – Stronger.

"I brought that TV to be able to watch it Tyson," Growled Kristin, lazed back in his chair. "Aww, come on didn't your mummy teach you that when you have guests you should put them first?" Kristin kicked the footrest back against the chair frame as he yawned widely, "Give me that controller before I find a need not to have a fairy on the top of our Christmas tree this year." Hilary rubbed her temples as she took a slip of her coco. Before she could speak, Max bounced into the room. "Guy's did you know it's a week till Christmas?" Ray bared his fangs, "Yep, say what'd you guys do at Christmas anyway?"

Kristin smiled, as he hit Tyson on the head and grabbed the controllers from the dazed teen. "We do what everyone else does... just cause we're from the Biovolt, don't make us inhuman you know," Ray shrugged, "Yea I know, but I didn't know if you celebrated it different to us," Hilary watched her fellow team-mates for a while, "We have to make sure we give Xander a good Christmas this year..." Max nodded, "Yea, I guess so... Doesn't Xander get married Boxing Day?"

"Not like it matters much," Yawned a tall, gruff boy, with a crutch propping up his shoulder. "Kai, you should be resting!" Hilary sternly replied. I should be resting, he mocked inside his mind. "Where is Xander?" He asked. Hilary shrugged, "She left with Mr. Dickinson about an hour ago, some identity thing." Kai raised his eyebrow, and glanced in Kristin's general direction. "You wouldn't have something to do with that would you?" Kristin laughed and turned his attention back to a match being aired between the Majestic's and The Saint Shields. "Funny how you should think it was me," He replied after Tyson had finished screaming at the TV for Ozuma to finish Johnny off. Kai glared at him, "You always had a way of getting involved with these things."

They heard the unmistakeable sound of a key turning in the locked door, and a few seconds later Xander walked into the room, her face was pink from the snow and her long black coat was damp with snow flakes trapped in the crimson furs. She kicked the door shut behind herself. "I'm going to kill you Kristin," She growled between clenched teeth as she threw her gloves at him, the defrosted snow dripped down his forehead. "Why, what did I do?" He replied. She threw her scarf down and turned her attention towards him. Her crimson eyes full of bitter rage, piercing his once calm expression. "I just had to see my uncle's dead body," She stormed across the room towards the mini-bar and took out a small vodka bottle; she downed it in one as her temper began to calm. "You knew we did it, you where right there!" He argued. She frowned at him, "After last night, do you think I remember anything other then what Voltaire did?" Kristin shook his head and lowered his gaze "Guess not..."

"I really can't believe you people sometimes," She whispered as she slammed the door to the stairs behind her," Kai strengthened his glare, "I knew you did something."

Xander placed her head against the window; the cold compress was enough to soothe the headache. "I tried mum, I've tried to do everything I can. I promised you I would be strong," She shook her head, her tone lowered, "But...I---I'm not. I know your probably frowning at me now, thinking I'm a disgrace. But please mum, I know I'm a bad sister, I know I've lost my brother, but I swear I will find him."

Why? Kai screamed at himself as he hobbled across his room and slammed his crutch down and fell down onto his bloodstained bed sheets. Tracing the stitches from the knife wounds with his fingers. He closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. The snow drifted apparently endlessly outside. Now the residents of the street where hanging there lights and decorations outside, cheerfully greeting each other and lending each other a hand. Small children where in the process of snow fights, including the several blader's who where in the room below no longer then an hour ago.

He felt somehow guilty. It had not been his fault that Boris had been killed. Even if they had hated him so. The holiday spirit was bound to take over, and between Christmas and her wedding. Kai doubted she'd stay hateful towards Kristin for long. Maybe this was the time to tell her, but maybe they could be the last words she wanted to hear.

"I know that there's gonna be a change
Better find your way out of your fear
If you wanna come with me
Then that's the way it's gotta be
I'm all alone and finally
I'm getting stronger

You'll come to see
Just what I can be
I'm getting stronger,"

"No---Kai... what could he mean to me?" The bit-beast laughed heartily, and again to eat at her advent calendar, "I know he means more to you then you could ever know," She turned her attention from Tyson mis-aiming snowballs and hitting Hilary, to Arkenzere, who persisted in eating her chocolates. "Kai has just been my friend for a really long time that's all," Arkenzere almost choked on his mouthful of food. "Your hearts either fluttering for Kai or Urquhart... take your pick." Xander shook her head, "Me and Kristin where once, but never again. It was too much trouble." Arkenzere laughed, "Too much trouble? You where the one who gave him the trouble," She smirked, "He was the awkward one..." She paused, "You know, I'm glad I came back," Arkenzere scoffed more chocolate, "Me too. So what's going to happen about your uncle?"

"He can burn, for all I care to be honest." Arkenz' shook his head, "Somehow I thought you'd be slightly sad about his death." She laughed slightly, "What's to be sad about? The bastards dead." Arkenz' nodded, "But even so, how do you think your brother's going to cope?" She grimly smiled and shrugged; "He's seen enough family member's die to cope with death. Sometimes, he copes with it better then I do," Arkenz licked the chocolate from his lower lip, "That's because he knows that he has to stay strong for you."

"What's the point?" She asked, throwing her hoodie to one side, and then took off her damp black shirt and placed it on the radiator, "I'm the big one, shouldn't I be looking out for him?" Arkenz smiled, throwing his hand back though his unkempt hair, "No, because he knows that in the state your in, you need to lean on him, not the other way around." She raised her eyebrow, "Benji knows only what he needs too," Arkenzere shook his head, "I think he knows more then you think he does,"

There came a knock at the door.

Arkenzere jerked his head as a beckon. Xander reached for a black vest and pulled it over her eyes as she exited the room. Instead of knocking, there where bangs on the door.

"Hang on," Shouted Xander as she pulled the chain from the latch. "Holy shit," She gasped as she opened the door. "Last person you suspected?" Questioned the familiar tall man, dressed once again in his dark green tailored suit. "Well generally yes, Wren." As his figure towered over her, he saw an empty sitting area, with a dark blue spirit hovering about, which Wren registered as her bit-beast. "So can I come in?" Xander frowned in disapproval, but opened the door wider.

"This isn't a social call, I should warn you," Began Wren, clutching the mug of coffee Xander had just made him. "Oh really?" She sarcastically replied, placing her own mug down on the coffee table. "James sent me, to check if you where alright," She threw herself down in Kristin's chair, "He has legs, he can drive." Wren rolled his eyes at the young girl. "Not when he's caring for your brother," Xander's eyes where wide with shock, "Why... what's wrong with him?"

"It seems... Voltaire has gave him a virus, we aren't quite sure what he's been struck with... but we hope it's curable." She threw her fists down on the armrests, her hair covering her tear soaked eyes.

"Sometimes I feel so down and out
Like emotion that's been captured in a maze
I had my ups and downs
Trials and tribulations,
I overcome it day by day,
Feeling good and almost powerful
A new me, that's what I'm looking for,"

"Is there anything we can do for him?" Wren shook his head, "James wants to go home, bring Benji with him. It's not safe here, Ellone's coming too," Xander wiped her eyes on her sleeve, "Did Tala take Ellone to Mr.Dickinson like he promised?" Wren nodded, "Yes, he did. I was there. She told us about everything she could remember, she's just a little bruised now, nothing serious. Talking of serious... where is he?" Xander regained her calmness after drinking her coffee; the heat burned her insides slightly. "Kai? I guess he's sleeping..." Wren nodded, "Knife wounds I hear," Xander nodded, "Yeah, I feel so bad about it you know?" Wren looked over at her, his eyes raged a mix of emotions, "Look Alexander, I'm so sorry about me taking you to him, I should have done what Dickinson told me,"

Xander frowned, "It doesn't matter now does it? What's done is done. And before you say anything, I don't want to know what you where doing at the abbey,"

Wren took out a small silver card from his pocket and placed it down on the table in front of her and dusted off his jacket, "I should be going now, goodbye to you. James shall see you tomorrow, okay?" She stared blankly at the card... she recognized it somehow... "Yea," She replied meekly.

"I know that there's gonna be a change
Better find your way out of your fear
If you wanna come with me
Then that's the way it's gotta be
I'm all alone and finally
I'm getting stronger

You'll come to see
Just what I can be
I'm getting stronger.

Didn't know what I had to do
I just knew I was alone
People around me
But they didn't care
So I searched into my soul
I'm not the type of girl that will let them see her cry
It's not my style
I get by
See I'm gonna do this for me"