Chapter 24

Acey1: Maybe a bit of column A, and maybe a bit of column B. Who knows. Only time will tell. And Bryan was never 'using' Tala...

MyHeartBleeds: People have a tendency to get attached to my OCs. Guess that's why my Star Wars OC Cenev ended up winning a Best OC award. Hm...

Ramen II: Everyone (the boys) in the Abbey have a thing for Bryan at some point, yes. It's the rebellion thing. And Ian had a thing for Tala in Out of the Darkness. I have a tendency to give Panas a lot of good lines when Bryan's not saying them, because I write those two as similar yet opposites (that makes sense?). And yes, I love the conversations too. :p

HimekoSukie: It's a miracle he said it at all, really. Personally, I was ready to beat it into him with a stick.

eyriess: Actually, it took longer than that - Out of the Darkness. And there is really only one author I look to for updates... not saying who though in case she's reading this and the other authors I read get upset. I really must start leaving reviews...

animeandraia: Stories without mood swings are flat. I hate flat fics. I hate Overture. ((glares at her least favourite fic)). And Bryan is just stubborn. I think it's cute. :D

Jay Kamiya: About time indeed.

Mizuyah: This will be my first time doing cosplay. My mother is a really good at sewing, so hopefully she has the patience to teach me. I also hope my machine has enough needles and I don't sew my fingers again ((winces at memory)). And Bryan has woken up. Finally.

Kappy Locks: I write most of my characters as religious in some form or another. The White Tigers, for example, follow the Way of the Tao. And the Demolition Boys didn't just learn blading in that Abbey, if you understand what I'm saying. They believe in God and Satan, though they also know who's pulling their strings of their destiny. ((points down)) That guy.

Werewolf of Fire: Puppy eyes don't work on me, sorry, and you'll just have to wait and see.

Reiven: I agree about the eyes. When I saw the pics I showed my sisters and we started abusing the animators. I'm also a little ticked off about ((points at Lee)) THAT GOD DAMNED SHIRT!!! ARGH!!!! By-and-by, do you know anything about Kevin's voice? I'm trying to find out which one they gave him: Asian Tournament, or Russian Championship?

lilmatchgirl007: lol!!! I loved that analysis. Yep, it seems it sure did take all those things. I think it's more the fact Bryan died that drove it home. It's the whole death/rebirth thing. I love that concept in mythology.

Chaco and Lily: No sequel to this fic for a while, I'm afraid. I've got other fics I intend to finish first before I start anything new. You'll just have to stick with Overture and Ketsuron for now.

Bloody Mary: Yeah, you've gotta love his timing ((sweatdrop))

KuronekoHikage: Was it Bonding you read? Some good moments in that, but very extreme. If it wasn't Bonding, could I have a title and/or author name? I have a tendency to like that foursome. Boris and Voltaire? ... ... ... Eh... ... ... I can actually see that... ((hides))

Lullaby Lily: It makes perfect sense, and it's perfectly right. Panas indeed has fallen in love with Bryan and wants him for himself, but is willing to accept Bryan's choice if it makes Bryan happy. I think he was secretly hoping Bryan would realise he couldn't love Tala. And yes, all issues resolved... well, mostly. :p

DranzerGirl Well I live in Australia, so a long way from you no doubt. And the plant tree is growing well. I had better water it tonight, though. The Ketsuron stem is growing buds for another battle scene and a sex scene in the near future, and the ending is thinking about sprouting. A while to go though I think.

I like this chapter. You'll see why.

Disclaimer: See first page

Kai frowned, staring at the box he had set in front of him. Ray slept silently, curled into the space beside him. Tala was dozing lightly in the seat across the way, Ian and Spencer having vanished into their bedroom as soon as the sun went down.

Kai couldn't sleep. He had tried, but he had ended up coming right back downstairs, finding the box and it's contents right where he had left it. Tala had been right where he had left him too, curled in the seat, gripping Bryan's Ultimate blade tightly in his fingers, Falborg hanging in view from the chain around his neck.

Ray had joined Kai not too long ago, sitting for a while before he had fallen asleep. Kai knew he should probably take Ray back to their room but there was something about the box, calling to him. It was urging him to uncover it's secret, something still lost within the recesses of his mind.

Blinking, he reached forward, drawing the box closer. He studied for a moment, fingers probing the inner layers of the midnight-blue satin. He frowned, finding a depression and pushing at it slightly, hearing a small click. Tala jolted slightly, coming out of his doze, clear eyes blinking.

"Find something?"

"Maybe." Kai pulled at the now loose layer, lifting it up and setting it aside, gazing in and frowning. "There's another blade in here."

"Another blade?" Tala slid forward, leaning to gaze inside, taking in the jet-black blade. "There was a forth Ultimate?"

"There must have been." Kai plucked up the blade, holding it to the light, both young men gasping as the green and bronze shot over the blade.

"Panas!"

Tala sat back, gaping. "I remember now. Panas used to train with us."

"This is why." Kai closed his eyes, the memories flooding back. "He did all the tests and experiments too. He was the original genetically perfect blader."

"Bryan was modelled on him," Tala continued. "Just as we were modelled on Bryan. That's why Boris never had Panas removed from the Abbey whenever he failed an exercise."

"Uh." Kai rubbed his temples, groaning. "This is getting way too confusing."

"Tell me about it." Tala sighed, rubbing his eyes. "So what next? Boris is our father and just neglected to tell us?"

"Tala, that train of thought is going to lead to you being dropped off the top of this building."

"Like you could lift me."

"Zip it, cous."

"Make me."

Kai reached behind him, scooping up a cushion and smacking Tala over the side of the head before he set Panas blade down, gazing back into the box. As Kai inspected it Tala scooped up the blade, studying it.

"You know, it's been a while since I saw Panas's bit beast in action." Tala looked up, frowning. "Boris rarely lets him use Pegasus."

"Pegasus?" Kai frowned. "But isn't Panas's blade called-"

"Horborg," Tala said, rolling his eyes. "He's a winged horse so Panas started calling him Pegasus to avoid all the teasing. Horborg got really peeved one day and charged one of the other bladers, which kind of settled it for Panas. He's called him Pegasus ever since."

"Understandable." Kai frowned, lifting the final layer of the box and glancing in. "Empty. That's all there is."

"Not even some spare parts?" Tala glanced down, sighing. "And here I was looking forward to another surprise."

Kai glanced up. "Why?"

"Well, it takes my mind off… other matters." Tala shrugged, tilting his head. "What's that?"

Kai glanced back into the box, tilting that box and seeing something catch in the light. Kai frowned, picking the box up, Tala following him so they could stand directly under the lights, making the wording clearer.

"It's some kind of address," Kai said, frowning. "I'm not sure…"

"It's where the box was made. See, it's got the date of the blades too." Tala's frown deepened. "And that year…"

"Isn't that the year Bryan was born?" Kai squinted, eyes widening as he looked up. "Do you remember seeing this address anywhere on the records?"

"I don't know." Tala gazed down at the writing. "It says its Biovolt property. We should take it to Dickenson. So he can check it by what they already have."

"We should." Kai handed him the box as he moved toward the coach, leaning over and shaking Ray gently, the neko-jin awake in an instant. "We're going to find Mr Dickenson," Kai told him. "We might have a lead."

Heh heh. Horborg. And fingers crossed, yes?