Chapter 2

"I have wandered far and wide for something real, something to die for, but I have found you and you do not see all that is me, all that is true."

-Vanessa Carlton

Tyson lay awake in his warm, comfy sleeping bag as he stared at one side of the dark green tent. He hadn't seen Hiro since Max and him had been playing at the river. It worried Tyson. Since Hiro ran off so often the other chaperones had decided to wait until morning before sending a search party. Besides, for all they were concerned, Hiro was an adult who could take care of himself. It was different for Tyson, knowing that Hiro was an adult didn't stop the feeling of uneasiness from clenching his stomach, which was starting to feel as if it were putty. Rolling over and closing his eyes in an attempt to get some sleep, his thoughts drifted to all the possibilities that would keep Hiro out late. His over active imagination made any chance of sleep disappear.

"Tyson," The groggily voice of Max groaned beside him. "Get some sleep. Your worry is so strong I can feel it radiating off you."

He didn't want to upset Max, but he couldn't help it. Something was amiss.

There was a frustrated sigh and suddenly Max was sitting up. His friend looked down at him with his usual smile lingering on his lips, albeit sleepily. "Everything is going to be fine, Ty." Patting the other boy's head gently Max continued in a comforting voice. "Hiro is strong and smart, he'll be fine."

Tyson pouted at his friend's treatment. He was acting like Tyson was a little kid who had just lost their mother in the mall. Pushing himself up, Tyson looked at his friend, hoping his face displayed his frustration well. "I know Max, but it's not like I can control how I feel." Turning his now heated glare towards the tent door Tyson's voice became think with emotion. "After hearing Tala's story I'm scared, and for the first time my brother doesn't seem invincible."

Silence filled the tent as Max pondered what Tyson said. He knew a lot about Tyson but never knew Tyson thought his brother was invincible. Cocking his head in a curious fashion the blue-eyed boy voiced his internal question. "Why do—I mean—why did you think he was invincible?"

Shrugging at the question, Tyson tossed open his sleeping bag and began to look through his backpack, which was holding all of his cloths—he always kept it close. "I'm not really sure, but I think it was because he is older than me and can do what I can't, and even though he never showed much compassion to me he still was there watching me. It was almost like he was my guardian angel."

"Oh," Max was a little stunned by Tyson's reasons, but then again maybe it was easier to think of Hiro as a guardian angel rather than a distant brother. Watching the brown-eyed boy pull out his daytime cloths and start taking off his pajamas and replacing them with jeans and a yellow shirt, Max was able to put two and two together and figure out what Tyson was planning. "Don't even think about it Tyson!"

"He is my brother, damn it!" Tyson yelled knowing what Max was talking about. "You can't expect me to sit here and hope that everything will be okay by morning." He scowled at his best friend, who was the only thing stopping him from leaving. If Max continued to push the issue he didn't know what he would do.

Staring at his friend, Max knew he had to make a decision soon or Tyson would leave anyway. Sighing, he thought about the pros and the cons of the situation, and came to what he thought was the best choice. He couldn't leave Tyson alone, but he couldn't be running around all night when Hiro might turn up later. "Okay, for one hour we'll look for him, and that is it, or else we will be in big trouble."

Smiling at his small victory the blue-haired boy pounced on his friend and squeezed him in a tight embrace. "Thank you Maxie! I love you pal!"

Rolling his eyes at his tanned friend's actions, Max gently pulled away from the other boy and crawled over to his own bag to look for cloths, while muttering under his breath sarcastically, "Sure thing, Tyson."

X.X.X.X.

The chilly air made the boys shiver as they walked through the desolate woods. The trees, once friendly shapes, had taken on twisted and deranged forms, and their leaves blew loudly in the howling breeze. An owl hooted not far away causing both boys to jump in fear. With chattering teeth Max asked Tyson, "I know it hasn't been an hour, but can we please go back to camp, I freezing." As if to prove it the blonde's body quaked when another gust of wind brushed over them.

Stubbornly shaking his head, Tyson continued forward. Maybe it was the part of him that wanted to find Hiro, and maybe it was the other part that wanted to prove to his brother he was worthy of his love, but he would not quit until he found the older teen. The snapping a twig coming from his left caused him to focus his attention on whatever had made that sound.

Rustling could be heard coming from the bushes and Max crept closer to Tyson, whether for his own protection or his friend's, they were both ready for whatever was in the bush. Weren't they surprised when two guys around their age stepped out from the shrubbery. One had long black hair that reached below his waist and was tied into a ponytail with golden eyes that were almost cat like. The other was dual blue-haired boy with crimson eyes that could pierce one's soul, and blue triangles marking his white cheeks. The first boy wore lose button up emerald shirt with black pants that hugged his legs. The other wore a matching outfit but with a red shirt and a chain daggling around his right leg.

The raven-haired boy smiled cattily at the two cold and defensive boys. "Well, well, Kai look who entered our forest," the boy purred.

Tyson relaxed and smiled at the two strangers when he heard the new piece of information. "Oh so are you guys the rangers that work here?"

A smirk formed on the face of the teen known as Kai. "I guess you could say that." Taking a few steps closer to the two boys Kai managed to move the stunned Max away from Tyson and began to circle the blue-haired boy like a shark, studying him. "Why exactly are you two walking out in the woods at a time like this anyway?" The older boy said with disinterest but Tyson didn't seem to notice.

"I'm looking for my older brother," Kai stopped studying Tyson for a moment to look him in the eye and went back to his studious gaze. "Have you seen him? He looks like an older me, but with a lighter shade of hair and more mature looking?"

The longhaired boy who had kept silent, but had been eyeing Max the whole time seemed to think it over. Shaking his head his golden eyes showed his sympathy towards the Tyson. "I'm sorry…"

"Tyson."

"Tyson, but we haven't seen anyone who fits that description." The younger boy seemed to deflate and his blond friend joined him in the process. Frowning at their disappointment the cat like boy got an idea when he saw them both shiver as the wind blew past them. Putting on a mask of friendliness he said, "Hey, you two look pretty cold, why don't you stay at our place for the night."

"Can't," Tyson answered. "We're with our science class, and if we're not in our tents tomorrow morning then we'll be in big trouble."

Don't worry we will explain to whoever you want why you were with us instead of at your campsite, since I doubt only you two and your brother were here. That okay with you Kai?'

A predatory gleam flashed through Kai's eyes as he looked at the boy who had fascinated him so much, but it disappeared almost instantly, uncaught by Tyson or Max. "Fine with me."

The two younger and clueless boys looked at each other for confirmation.

Tyson began to shake his head, but stopped when Max's icy grip seized his wrist. He looked down at the cold appendage, eyes wide.

"I'm really cold, Tyson." Max shivered. "Can we please put off searching for your brother for now?"

"But—" Tyson sighed. He couldn't let Max freeze; he was his best friend. "How far is your home?"

"Not long. It may even be closer than your campsite." Rei answered.

That settled it then. Tyson nodded his head, though inside his heart tugged at him, pleading with him to continue with his search.

Rei clasped his hands together and grinned, revealing his sharp fangs. "Great, now follow us and you'll soon be sleeping on luxurious beds."

X.X.X.X.X.X.

The walk hadn't taken too long, but Max and Tyson could have sworn it was supposed to be at least half a day's worth of walking and not ten minutes. When they saw the house both gasped. It wasn't a house but a mansion that looked as if it could hold thousands of people and still have room to move around in. "Are you two going to stand there or are you going to come inside and sleep," the teasing voice of Rei rang through the air.

Collecting their thoughts and blushing at how silly they must have looked to the two, the boys went inside the cold empty house, but they didn't get to enjoy it for long when Tyson saw something that looked oddly familiar. The blue-haired boy walked up to the blood red couch in the room. On it he saw something he hadn't expected to see: his brother's jacket.

Hot breath was on his ear. The husky voice of Kai made him stop thinking and made his breath hitch. "You weren't supposed to see that." Everything after that was pain and the seductive darkness of his mind.

Author's Note: So for those guys who have read this story before you've probably noticed a new format. I used to have songs at the end of chapters, but I realized it's probably better just to have one quote per chapter.