Chapter 20

"If I could fall into the sky do you think time would pass me by?"

Vanessa Carlton

"This is… interesting," Max said unsurely as he took a sip from his soda can. He knew Hiro, and sometimes even Anthony, had come to talk to Tyson, but he never expected for him and Tyson to sneak out of the mansion with a bag of food and soda to have lunch with the two werewolves. The two werewolves nodded their heads in agreement to Max's comment, but Tyson kept smiling like there was no tomorrow.

"Oh come on, Max," Tyson said happily as patted Max playfully on the back. "Don't be such a spoil sport. Besides it's been a while since I've eaten a meal with my brother, and it's not like we are running away, so there is no reason for Rei and Kai to worry."

"I guess so," Max admitted in defeat as he took another sip of his soda, barely listening to the voice in the back of his head that was wondering how Rei and Kai got them foods and drinks when the two vampires didn't have jobs. "So Tyson did you leave them a note so they wouldn't worry."

The expression on Tyson's face instantly fell, "Oops."

Max huffed indignantly at Tyson's answer, "Figures."

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

Kai's eyebrow twitched in irritation. He had searched the mansion from top to bottom and there was no sign of Tyson or Max, which could only mean one thing: the two had run off again. Sometimes he wondered how two teenagers could outsmart two vampires who were centuries older than them. Growing agitated as he continued to search the place again just to make sure he hadn't missed them he noticed Rei snicker every time he walked by. Needing to get out some of his frustration Kai began to interrogate the raven-haired vampire. "Exactly what do you find so funny?"

This question only caused Rei to smile; revealing one sharp fang, as he's eyes glittered with mischief. "Oh nothing," Rei tried to sound innocent.

Kai studied the other vampire's face and frowned disapprovingly. "I recognize that look. That's your 'I know something you don't know' look. What are you not telling me?" Kai said suspiciously.

Feigning hurt Rei answered, "How can you say that after all these years? You know I would never keep something from you; you'd kill me if I did."

Sighing in defeat Kai left Rei alone, he knew he wasn't going to get any information out of the other vampire. If Kai had persisted though he might have gotten Rei to tell him about the note Max left him, telling him about the two younger boys plans to spend the day with Hiro and Anthony.

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

"So you left Rei a note?" Tyson double-checked after hearing Max tell him this.

Nodding his head Max took a sip of his drink before calmly replying, "Yes, I didn't want Rei to worry. Plus, I don't trust you enough to believe you would be responsible and write a note."

Tyson looked like he had just been shot. "I'm hurt Max. How can you say such things about me? I thought you were my best friend."

"He is your best friend," Hiro joined in on the conversation as he took nibble of his rice every now and then. "In fact, you and Max are so close that he was able to guess what you were going to do before you actually did it."

"Are you saying I'm irresponsible!" Tyson was standing up now, towering over his older brother, who sat on log next to Anthony, who was trying his best to stay out of the fight that was about to occur. "Just because I didn't leave Kai a note doesn't mean I'm irresponsible! Besides, Kai isn't at all concerned about my feelings, so why should I care about him?"

"Whether you care about him or not doesn't change the fact that you were being irresponsible Tyson," Hiro replied curtly, which only added fuel to Tyson's fire.

As the two brothers fought Anthony murmured to himself in quiet voice so no one else could hear, "I thought Tyson said Kai was concerned with him, but only when it came to his next move or if Tyson was having a break down." Feeling a little confused Anthony decided to keep quiet.

As the bickering went on Max and Anthony continued to eat their meals, but Anthony stopped half through his when his heightened senses picked up someone approaching. Glancing over his shoulder he was too stunned to speak when he saw the person behind him, and no one else had yet noticed their new arrival.

As silent as possible the new guest snuck behind Tyson, who was still arguing with his brother, and hit him on the head lightly, but with enough force to make it clear he wasn't happy. "Exactly what are you doing out here Tyson," a voice hissed.

Cursing and rubbing his head where he had been hit Tyson replied dryly, "Eating lunch with my friends and family. Got a problem with that Kai?" Tyson made sure each word sound harsh as he turned to face Kai, who wasn't looking too pleased either.

"I do have a problem with it when you don't tell me." Kai answered, his voice just as harsh as Tyson's. "And if I remember correctly didn't I tell what could happen if another werewolf or vampire found out about a connection between any of us?"

The look in Tyson's eyes softened and his voice still carried the same sound of bitter hatred, but there was a bit of teasing in it too. "Yes, but the last time I checked I wasn't a vampire or a werewolf, so I don't have anything to worry about."

As if by magic Kai's own gaze began to soften and his voice became more playful also. "That may be true but you have been associating with vampires for a while now and because of that you're classified with them."

Max, Anthony, and Hiro all watched the scene play before them with stunned eyes. Max was shocked by the fact that the two boys hadn't tried to kill each other yet, and were in their own strange way flirting with each other. Anthony was still in the shock of seeing his brother after so many years. Hiro was surprised by how Kai was acting, because Tyson always made Kai sound a whole lot worst than how the vampire was acting right now. Clearing his throat Hiro got both boys' attentions; it was over protective big brother time. "So, this is Kai?"

Tyson nodded his head in confirmation. Scanning Kai over Hiro was able to see that Kai definitely would have the strength to protect Tyson, but that same strength could be used against Tyson. Sounding calm Hiro spoke to Kai. "I've heard that you've taken a liking to my brother."

"I've heard you've abandon and emotionally hurt your brother," was Kai's comeback. He still didn't like Hiro. It was because of Hiro Tyson didn't want to be with him at first, and now here was Tyson's brother again taking time that could have been spent alone with Tyson away from him.

"I never meant to hurt my brother, and I want to make sure you aren't going to either." That comment took everyone by surprise. "As Tyson's older brother it is my job to make sure that he ends up with someone who's not going to hurt him later on in life."

A growl came form Kai's throat. "You say that you abandoned your brother, which really gives you no say in his life anymore." Kai's voice came out venomously as he spoke. "I've known your brother longer than you can comprehend, and I've only seen you hurt him, so if I were you I'd be more concerned about myself than me."

A smirk grew on Hiro's mouth as he listened to Kai. Looking at Tyson he said in a playful voice, "Sorry Tyson, but it seems Kai is a good guy and is very intelligent, so I give him my blessing to continue to court you."

Tyson's mouth hung open in shock. One moment he had been fighting with Hiro, the next, Hiro's giving his blessing to Kai to continue chasing him. "What!" Tyson exploded, "You can't do that! You can't tell me what to do!" Talk about a personality change though, Tyson thought. Hiro was against Kai and than Kai just said a few words and Hiro gave Kai permission to do whatever he pleases with me.

"I never said you had to marry him or anything like that Tyson. I just said he has my blessing which means I wouldn't mind if you two hooked up," Hiro reasoned with his younger brother.

Before Tyson could comment a hand engulfed his own and pulled him away from his friends and family. Glancing at who was holding his hand he saw Kai as calm as ever pulling him the direction of the mansion. "Come on Max!" Kai shouted over his shoulder to the blond. "It's starting to get late and it's best not to stay here when night falls unless you have night vision."

"Wait Kai," Tyson whispered to the vampire. "What about Anthony? He is you're brother, aren't you going to say 'hi"?"

Truth was Kai hadn't planned on talking to his brother. He had always thought his brother was dead so he didn't know what to say, but if it would make take Tyson happy he might as well. "Anthony!" Kai called over his shoulder, making the older boy stiffen. "Hi."

A moment of silence went by before Anthony answered, "Hi."