Thanks everyone, I have to say, in my opinion, the last chapter was one of
my best! Your reviews really mean a lot to me, and suggestions are always
welcome! As requested, here's the update!
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Kai continued to move through the dark streets, avoiding the patches of light that the street lamps threw. He couldn't risk anyone seeing him, then he would be able to be traced. He knew exactly which direction to go in, he had been there often enough. He hoped that he would find his answers there; he wondered what real peace was like. Was it the carefree attitude that kept his team mates so happy? He didn't know, and he could only guess if he ever would. Maybe he didn't deserve peace, he had done so much to hurt others, he had done Biovolts bidding when he could have said no. well, if he didn't deserve peace, then let the gods strike him down and end his life. If he survived this, then peace would finally be his.
But still there was that nagging doubt in his mind. He knew the gods wouldn't destroy him; he would never get such mercy. But Biovolt might still be able to make him do things he didn't want to do, they had always found a way. If they weren't hurting him, they were hurting someone else to make him agree. What if he wasn't strong enough to do this? Then he would surely die, he resolved, because he had changed since his escape, and if he couldn't be free in life, he would be in death. With grim determination and fire in his eyes, he continued to head to his desired location.
It wasn't long before he was standing at the gates of the Hiwatari mansion. The almost full moon shed light on the stirring grass, giving the ground an almost eerie grey sheen. He looked up at the gates, judging the height. It wasn't too high; he jumped at the vertical bars and held himself against the cool metal strips before he climbed to the top. He crouched on the curved bars that made up the top of the gate and scanned the illuminated land. It was quiet, and made Kai think of a graveyard. He smiled at himself, but there was no joy in it. He jumped down onto the gravel path. It crunched slightly under his trainers as he walked up the long drive to the front door.
There was no need to be in the shadows anymore, Kai wanted them to know he was here, and sure enough, a shadow passed across one of the upper windows. He paused at the closed front door. He took a deep breath, he had no one to help him now, he was completely alone. He had left behind Dranzer, and with the phoenix, he had left behind Tori. He couldn't let either of them talk him out of this. Letting out the air he had held in his lungs, he put his palms on the door. He gave a big push, guessing correctly that they were not locked. He walked with confidence into the dark hallway, and like before, there was his grandfather, standing on the stairs.
Kai looked up at him, a glint in his eye that was never there before. "I'm back grandfather, and I'm going to finish you this time."
"I'm glad to see you home Kai, and you are mistaken, this time, I will finish you! You will work for Biovolt!"
"It seems we have a conflict of interests, but where as yours will fail, mine will succeed!" came the reply from the blue haired boy; talking with a confidence he didn't feel.
The two stared at each other, the energy in the room, if it could have been released, would have been enough to destroy everything they both cared for, and more.
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Despite Dranzer's interference to make the others know the situation Kai was in, none of them awoke from the dream they shared. It wasn't until the sunlight was streaming through the windows that a raven haired boy opened his amber eyes, narrowing them to slits in the bright light. He rubbed his eyes, trying to remove the tiredness he felt in them. It didn't work. He sat up and looked drowsy eyed at the others still sleeping around him. He shook his head slightly, trying to remember the dream he had last night.
He looked over at Max as the freckled faced boy stirred out of the land of dreams and into the land of the living.
"Morning Max" said Ray softly, trying not to wake the others unnecessarily.
The blonde sat up and looked at Ray with unfocused eyes. "Morning! I can't believe its morning, I felt like I've only just got to sleep!" he looked around, "where's Kai? Is he up already?"
Ray stiffened. He remembered the dream now, how Kai had left them with shining eyes in the night, how his thoughts were on his past, and how he would get it back.
"Max, did you have any dreams last night?" Ray asked. He wasn't sure why but there was something very wrong here.
Max screwed up his forehead as he thought about last night. "Yeah, one about Kai. It was like I was him, and I had to do something. Something important about my past, why?"
"I had the same dream, and I'm betting everyone else did too. Something's wrong here Max, we need to find Kai!"
They looked at each other for a brief moment before understanding passed between them. They got up quickly and began to wake the others. It wasn't long before they were sitting in a circle, each confirming they had the same dream.
"Shouldn't we see if Kai is around? We know he gets up before we all do, and he might still be around here, we could all be over reacting!" said Hilary, hoping what she had said was true. She hadn't liked the determination she had felt as Kai in the dream.
They all agreed and it wasn't long before they were calling for Kai all over the building. They met back in the training room, all empty of Kai. They talked in worried voices, until Ray saw something on the floor by Kai's bed. Everyone else fell silent as they watched him cross the floor and crouch by the rumpled sheets where Kai had slept at some point. They crowded round him when he didn't get back up. Cradled in the palms of his hands were Kai's blade, and the bit chip of Black Dranzer.
"He wouldn't have gone far without Dranzer, would he?" asked Hilary with a tinge of panic in her voice.
"I would have normally said no, but that dream makes me feel very certain that he would and he has." Replied Ray.
"Considering we don't know what's happened to Kai, I think the best thing would be to wait for a period of time just to make sure he hasn't just gone for a walk or something. Then we can start searching for him," came the practical plan from Kenny.
"Good plan chief!" said Tyson. Everyone else agreed to it.
"What's that?" asked Max, pointing to the scruffy black book next to the still crouched Ray.
"Its Kai's" he replied, "He was reading it last night, it's written by him I think, but it's in a different language. And there's a lock of hair in it too."
He handed it over to Kenny who flicked through a couple of pages.
"It's written in Russian mostly, but I think there's some extracts in French and other languages. I'll analyse it and see if it will shed any light on Kai's whereabouts" he told them.
"Good idea. I guess the rest of us should wait to see what happens. We should probably tell Mr. Dickenson as well at some point, in case this is serious" said Ray, everyone nodded, but the panic was visible in their eyes. Kai hadn't been right lately, and there was the kidnap he almost didn't survive. They all had a right to worry.
They all set about getting changed and eating breakfast, but nobody put any effort into what they did. Dranzer could only watch, helpless, as they set about interpreting Kai's book and telling the adults. No matter how hard the phoenix tried, all calls to the team went unanswered out side of the cocoon of sleep that had been so easy to invade. Now they were awake, their minds were not open to the pleas thrown in their direction. If only they would listen, they would have heard exactly where Kai was, and what he was doing.
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They continued to stare each other down. It was some time later before Kai's grandfather couldn't keep it up any longer and looked away. Kai smirked at the old man.
"You can look at me like that all you want, boy. Weakness is a part of me, how ever much I hate it. I would expect nothing less from you then to be perfect. And you will be. Oh yes, soon you will be perfect."
"There is no such thing as perfect. I am not, and will never be, perfect. Wince at that if you will, but nothing you can do will make me accept anything is perfect" answered Kai.
"Oh but there is! From my plans, to your genetics and abilities. What I have made is perfect!"
"You may have had a hand in what I am now old man, but I am my own person, and some of me you played no part in!"
"You are very mistaken Kai, and I will prove it to you! But for now, lets get you settled in!" the grey haired man clicked his fingers.
Two figures materialised from the shadows that were made by the stairs. Leon's grin and Tadashi's stone like features fixed on Kai as they approached him. Leon's fist pulled round and swung at Kai's head. Kai made no effort to avoid or block the blow. He took the punch and staggered back slightly, standing back up straight he glared at his grandfather. Blood trickled from his nose and dripped onto the rich red carpet.
"It seems my grandson likes to play games now. We can't have that! Render him immobile, then follow me!"
Tadashi moved behind Kai and put her arms under Kai's own and pulled hers back over to her, holding Kai's tightly. Now Kai was held still. Leon proceeded to punch Kai in the head until the blue haired boy slumped with no resistance in Tadashi's arms. Taking an arm each, they dragged the unconscious Kai to his grandfather.
His grandfather took one look at Kai with disgust in his face before pivoting and walking down the hall. The two holding Kai followed without a word. Now Kai was in the belly of the beast, and escape seemed hopeless.
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Kai continued to move through the dark streets, avoiding the patches of light that the street lamps threw. He couldn't risk anyone seeing him, then he would be able to be traced. He knew exactly which direction to go in, he had been there often enough. He hoped that he would find his answers there; he wondered what real peace was like. Was it the carefree attitude that kept his team mates so happy? He didn't know, and he could only guess if he ever would. Maybe he didn't deserve peace, he had done so much to hurt others, he had done Biovolts bidding when he could have said no. well, if he didn't deserve peace, then let the gods strike him down and end his life. If he survived this, then peace would finally be his.
But still there was that nagging doubt in his mind. He knew the gods wouldn't destroy him; he would never get such mercy. But Biovolt might still be able to make him do things he didn't want to do, they had always found a way. If they weren't hurting him, they were hurting someone else to make him agree. What if he wasn't strong enough to do this? Then he would surely die, he resolved, because he had changed since his escape, and if he couldn't be free in life, he would be in death. With grim determination and fire in his eyes, he continued to head to his desired location.
It wasn't long before he was standing at the gates of the Hiwatari mansion. The almost full moon shed light on the stirring grass, giving the ground an almost eerie grey sheen. He looked up at the gates, judging the height. It wasn't too high; he jumped at the vertical bars and held himself against the cool metal strips before he climbed to the top. He crouched on the curved bars that made up the top of the gate and scanned the illuminated land. It was quiet, and made Kai think of a graveyard. He smiled at himself, but there was no joy in it. He jumped down onto the gravel path. It crunched slightly under his trainers as he walked up the long drive to the front door.
There was no need to be in the shadows anymore, Kai wanted them to know he was here, and sure enough, a shadow passed across one of the upper windows. He paused at the closed front door. He took a deep breath, he had no one to help him now, he was completely alone. He had left behind Dranzer, and with the phoenix, he had left behind Tori. He couldn't let either of them talk him out of this. Letting out the air he had held in his lungs, he put his palms on the door. He gave a big push, guessing correctly that they were not locked. He walked with confidence into the dark hallway, and like before, there was his grandfather, standing on the stairs.
Kai looked up at him, a glint in his eye that was never there before. "I'm back grandfather, and I'm going to finish you this time."
"I'm glad to see you home Kai, and you are mistaken, this time, I will finish you! You will work for Biovolt!"
"It seems we have a conflict of interests, but where as yours will fail, mine will succeed!" came the reply from the blue haired boy; talking with a confidence he didn't feel.
The two stared at each other, the energy in the room, if it could have been released, would have been enough to destroy everything they both cared for, and more.
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Despite Dranzer's interference to make the others know the situation Kai was in, none of them awoke from the dream they shared. It wasn't until the sunlight was streaming through the windows that a raven haired boy opened his amber eyes, narrowing them to slits in the bright light. He rubbed his eyes, trying to remove the tiredness he felt in them. It didn't work. He sat up and looked drowsy eyed at the others still sleeping around him. He shook his head slightly, trying to remember the dream he had last night.
He looked over at Max as the freckled faced boy stirred out of the land of dreams and into the land of the living.
"Morning Max" said Ray softly, trying not to wake the others unnecessarily.
The blonde sat up and looked at Ray with unfocused eyes. "Morning! I can't believe its morning, I felt like I've only just got to sleep!" he looked around, "where's Kai? Is he up already?"
Ray stiffened. He remembered the dream now, how Kai had left them with shining eyes in the night, how his thoughts were on his past, and how he would get it back.
"Max, did you have any dreams last night?" Ray asked. He wasn't sure why but there was something very wrong here.
Max screwed up his forehead as he thought about last night. "Yeah, one about Kai. It was like I was him, and I had to do something. Something important about my past, why?"
"I had the same dream, and I'm betting everyone else did too. Something's wrong here Max, we need to find Kai!"
They looked at each other for a brief moment before understanding passed between them. They got up quickly and began to wake the others. It wasn't long before they were sitting in a circle, each confirming they had the same dream.
"Shouldn't we see if Kai is around? We know he gets up before we all do, and he might still be around here, we could all be over reacting!" said Hilary, hoping what she had said was true. She hadn't liked the determination she had felt as Kai in the dream.
They all agreed and it wasn't long before they were calling for Kai all over the building. They met back in the training room, all empty of Kai. They talked in worried voices, until Ray saw something on the floor by Kai's bed. Everyone else fell silent as they watched him cross the floor and crouch by the rumpled sheets where Kai had slept at some point. They crowded round him when he didn't get back up. Cradled in the palms of his hands were Kai's blade, and the bit chip of Black Dranzer.
"He wouldn't have gone far without Dranzer, would he?" asked Hilary with a tinge of panic in her voice.
"I would have normally said no, but that dream makes me feel very certain that he would and he has." Replied Ray.
"Considering we don't know what's happened to Kai, I think the best thing would be to wait for a period of time just to make sure he hasn't just gone for a walk or something. Then we can start searching for him," came the practical plan from Kenny.
"Good plan chief!" said Tyson. Everyone else agreed to it.
"What's that?" asked Max, pointing to the scruffy black book next to the still crouched Ray.
"Its Kai's" he replied, "He was reading it last night, it's written by him I think, but it's in a different language. And there's a lock of hair in it too."
He handed it over to Kenny who flicked through a couple of pages.
"It's written in Russian mostly, but I think there's some extracts in French and other languages. I'll analyse it and see if it will shed any light on Kai's whereabouts" he told them.
"Good idea. I guess the rest of us should wait to see what happens. We should probably tell Mr. Dickenson as well at some point, in case this is serious" said Ray, everyone nodded, but the panic was visible in their eyes. Kai hadn't been right lately, and there was the kidnap he almost didn't survive. They all had a right to worry.
They all set about getting changed and eating breakfast, but nobody put any effort into what they did. Dranzer could only watch, helpless, as they set about interpreting Kai's book and telling the adults. No matter how hard the phoenix tried, all calls to the team went unanswered out side of the cocoon of sleep that had been so easy to invade. Now they were awake, their minds were not open to the pleas thrown in their direction. If only they would listen, they would have heard exactly where Kai was, and what he was doing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They continued to stare each other down. It was some time later before Kai's grandfather couldn't keep it up any longer and looked away. Kai smirked at the old man.
"You can look at me like that all you want, boy. Weakness is a part of me, how ever much I hate it. I would expect nothing less from you then to be perfect. And you will be. Oh yes, soon you will be perfect."
"There is no such thing as perfect. I am not, and will never be, perfect. Wince at that if you will, but nothing you can do will make me accept anything is perfect" answered Kai.
"Oh but there is! From my plans, to your genetics and abilities. What I have made is perfect!"
"You may have had a hand in what I am now old man, but I am my own person, and some of me you played no part in!"
"You are very mistaken Kai, and I will prove it to you! But for now, lets get you settled in!" the grey haired man clicked his fingers.
Two figures materialised from the shadows that were made by the stairs. Leon's grin and Tadashi's stone like features fixed on Kai as they approached him. Leon's fist pulled round and swung at Kai's head. Kai made no effort to avoid or block the blow. He took the punch and staggered back slightly, standing back up straight he glared at his grandfather. Blood trickled from his nose and dripped onto the rich red carpet.
"It seems my grandson likes to play games now. We can't have that! Render him immobile, then follow me!"
Tadashi moved behind Kai and put her arms under Kai's own and pulled hers back over to her, holding Kai's tightly. Now Kai was held still. Leon proceeded to punch Kai in the head until the blue haired boy slumped with no resistance in Tadashi's arms. Taking an arm each, they dragged the unconscious Kai to his grandfather.
His grandfather took one look at Kai with disgust in his face before pivoting and walking down the hall. The two holding Kai followed without a word. Now Kai was in the belly of the beast, and escape seemed hopeless.