-sighs- well, didn't exactly reach 30... but it's pretty close... I only said I'd put up a goal so that I could stall my update 'cuz I like to write ahead... and I didn't have too much ahead of that chapter.

I don't know if Ian will try to bite Tyson's hand off again, but I know he won't in this fic. I'm not that keen on Tyson, so I usually bash him a little in my fics :D. I'm not planning to have any characters other than the Neoborg, Kai (obviously) and maybe a few servants here and there. The servants will just be there to serve them, nothing else. So no BryanxRei either. Sorry.

Anyways, here's Kai in all his glory and the rest of them. Tala doesn't really communicate with him all too well, at the moment.

Disclaimer: Not mine. Don't sue me.

Chapter 4

"We're going to stay with him?" exclaimed Ian.

"I believe you boys will get along just fine, considering you boys grew up together. Well, I have another meeting to attend, so I'll let you boys become reacquainted," said Mr. Dickenson before running off hurriedly, not wanting to be in the middle of any dispute.

Kai walked closer to the Neoborg a few feet and stopped.

"Let's get one thing straight. I don't like you; you don't like me. We'll just stay out of each other's way, got it?" snapped Kai.

"Wouldn't have it any other way," glared Bryan.

Kai began to walk out of the room, and the Neoborg followed soon after.

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The boys got into a sleek black limo waiting outside. Their bags stuffed into the back, the boys sat facing one another. Kai sat with his arms crossed and eyes closed, while Tala looked out the window. Bryan sat glaring at Kai while Spencer watched the trees go by. Ian, however, was fascinated by the buttons. Wanting to keep his image, he stared at them, but the lure of the buttons was too strong. He suddenly burst out, surprising everyone, and pushed all the buttons within his stubby arms' reach. Windows started to go up and down wildly, while the lights flickered on and off. Trays and cabinet doors fell open and shut repeatedly and the limo began to swerve. The boys slid along their seats squishing each other into the doors, and Ian even toppled over.

"What do you kids think you're doing back there?!" yelled the driver. Bryan and Spencer held the flailing and crazed Ian back while Kai yelled an apology to the driver. However, when Kai turned back, he couldn't help but smirk.

"What are you smirking at, Kai?" sneered Bryan.

"You guys, of course."

"And why would that be?" Kai smirked even more.

"You're acting just like Tyson and the others when they first got into my limo."

"You're comparing us to those dimwitted friends of yours?!"

"Seems like it."

"Your team is no match for us—"

"First of all, they're not my team. Second, we did beat your team in the championships a few years ago."

"That was a long time ago! It doesn't count! Besides, you screwed us over joining our team all of a sudden—"

"I won all my matches."

"We would've won, but then you betrayed us and went back to that other pitiful team, which screwed over Tala!" Everyone stopped. Bryan had not meant to say that, and was cursing himself under his breath. Kai, on the other hand, was shocked with this newfound information. He glanced at Tala. Tala had shifted uncomfortably while staring outside intently and biting his thumb, ashamed. He didn't want to hear any of it, and most of all, he didn't want to see Kai.

"Tala?" said Kai, softly.

"Don't you dare address our captain, traitor," interjected Spencer.

"You've done enough damage as it is," continued Ian. Kai looked at them for a moment, before glancing out the window. It was silent the rest of the ride.

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The mansion was grand rising up three stories. Windows were neatly ornamented and lined along the walls. Large columns rose from the ground to the roof, framing the large carved wooden doors and the various potted plants on either side of the doors. The boys followed a long pathway lined with colourful flowers to the doors. The Neoborg walked in a silent awe.

Stepping inside the front doors, Kai casually threw his keys to the side and walked in. The others, however, couldn't help but stare at everything around them. A large wood staircase rose from the ground, covered in a deep red rug. The floor was made of a stunning dark wood, and large oriental vases stood in each corner holding up a beautiful arrangement of dried flowers.

"Welcome to your new home," said Kai wearily, "follow me and I'll show you guys to your rooms." The boys were too astonished to make a smart comment, and followed Kai, quietly taking in their new surroundings. Going up the stairs, they walked along various hallways to a slightly narrow hallway. "Choose a room in this hall. It's yours. Bathroom's the 8th door on the right. Dinner's at 6," and with that Kai turned to leave.

"Aren't you going to tell us where we eat?"

Kai rolled his eyes and sighed exasperatedly, "Breakfast and lunch, you can deal with yourself in the kitchen, though if you're really lazy, you can go find someone to make something for you. Dinner's in the dining room."

"And those places would be…"

"What? Can't find your way around your own home?"

"We just got here!"

"Want a map?"

"It'd help."

Kai smirked before walking away, "like I'd make maps of my own house. You actually want my help? I find that hard to believe. Go find everything yourselves. I'm not your baby-sitter."

"That jerk," muttered Ian, "who does he think he is?"

"Well, what ever he thinks he is, you'd better get used to it. We're gonna be staying here for a while," sighed Tala before walking down the hallway. Glancing behind each door, he chose a suitable room for himself, and the others soon followed suit.

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Tala walked into his room. The blood red curtains were drawn to either side of the large window, held up by a fancy gold rope. Red covers and comfortable pillows lay on the soft double bed, with a matching night table beside it. A dresser sat in a corner of the room beside a sizeable closet. A television sat in a corner of the room in front of a love seat, while a desk lay in front of the window. Locking the door behind him, he placed his bag on the bed and looked out the window.

His room overlooked the Japanese garden behind the mansion. Trees and shrubs were delicately trimmed, and rocks were neatly arranged along the banks of the stream. Fish could be seen swimming in the clear water, and a deep green turtle was caught sunbathing on the rock beach. A pebbled walkway wound its way through the garden, with a dark wooden bridge crossing over the stream.

Tala stared at the garden. It was breathtaking. When he tore his eyes away from the sight, he attention was drawn back to his bag. Not bothering to unpack he dug in his bag for the items he found in Kai's room back in the abbey. One by one, he pulled out the articles. First came the necklace chain, followed by the notebook. Placing them gently on his bed, he searched for the last few items. Tala pulled out a worn stuffed dog. In time, its soft brown fur had become rough and torn, yet it smiled gaily at Tala. Tala smiled. Setting it on the bed, he pulled out the last item: a soft white article folded neatly into a square. Unfolding it, he realized it was a knitted scarf.

"He… actually kept it," murmured Tala, grinning.

Tala wrapped it around his neck. Snuggling against the soft yarn, he saw something flutter down to his bed. Looking at his bed, he noticed a piece of paper had fell from the scarf. It was a photo of all of them. Bryan and Spencer were standing in the back smiling without a worry in the world while Ian stood overexcited in the front. Kai and Tala, though, were laughing in the center with their arms around each other's shoulders. Tala chuckled at the memory. On one of their nightly walks, Kai had spotted a poster for a fair. Early the next day, Kai had snuck into his grandfather's office and slipped some money into his pocket. Kai and Tala convinced the others to sneak out with them to go to the fair. First ones in line, the boys had spent the whole day at the fair, getting high on cotton candy and going on rides. All was bliss… that was until they went back to the abbey. They were all punished severely, but they all took their punishments with a smile in their minds. Nothing could take the memories of that trip away from them. Tala looked at the photo contentedly, letting his memories play in his head.

His attention was then turned to something glinting in the sunlight. Looking over, he noticed it was the necklace. Picking up the chain, he looked at it closely. He knew it was familiar. Closing his eyes, he let himself get lost in his thoughts. Moments later, his eyes snapped open. Digging in his pockets, he searched for something. Not finding it, he turned to his bag. Throwing his clothes and various items over his shoulder, he rummaged around his bag, mumbling to himself, "Shirt… pants… toothbrush… another shirt… brush… toothpaste… bingo!"

Laying the necklace out, he fit the item he found into the broken chain. Tala grinned. Sitting on the bed was the complete necklace—charm and all. The silver chain blinked happily at Tala, glad to be in one piece. Shining at the end of the chain was a silver wolf. It stood on all fours, twisting around to face Tala, its tail swishing behind it. Its fur was carved deeply, and its fangs were sharp. Tala was almost too scared to touch it with its stunning authenticity. Sitting on the bed, propped up on his pillows, Tala shifted the necklace to the night table. He picked up the notebook and placed it against his thighs, looking at it curiously. He had never seen it before—or Kai with it. He flipped to the first page before closing the book abruptly.

"I shouldn't be reading it. It's Kai's. I've got no right to. I should just return everything." He glanced at the cover, his curiosity pulling him in. "But… it's so tempting… to find out about the way he thought as a kid…" As a child, Kai was unpredictable. Just when one thought they had him figured out, he surprises them.

He heard a knock on his door.

"What do you want?" snapped Tala.

"It's five. We're going to look for the dining room. Who knows how long it'll take for us to find it. Coming?"

Tala thought for a moment, before saying, "'Kay." Shoving the precious items in his bag, he hid the bag under his bed. Tala opened the door.

"Boy, you sure got comfortable quickly," commented Spencer, seeing various items scattered around Tala's room.

"Yea, it looks like your old room, but worse… and nicer all at once," said Ian, poking his head into the bright room and seeing a large bed. Tala quickly nudged Ian out of his room with his leg.

"Come on, let's go," said Tala, walking down the hallway quickly.

"What's his problem? I was just looking in his room."

Spencer shrugged, "who knows? Let's go, we don't want to lose Tala, and much less starve." The others nodded in agreement before running down the hall to catch up with their captain.

I've really got nothing to say right now. I'm tired and have lotsa work to do... French grammar confuses me, as do all the accents. But that's just me blabbering, please review. I might stall somewhat for my next update even though I do have the chapter written. Depends if I get time to work on the fic this week. I want to finish this fic before Christmas though. :D