A/N: I just wanted to say thank you for all of the reviews. I have been busy as of late, and I know for sure that I won't be able to update regularly...just once a week (hopefully). Anyway...on to chapter 26

Chapter 26

Kyra's POV

You're gone. Gone. That's shitty.

I know Andy's still standing there, looking lost…confused. I tighten the grip on my shivs. I have them for a reason. I know you gave them to me for my protection, but I also think that you gave them to me just to see what I can really do. Another test, perhaps.

"Baldy?" It comes out slightly higher than a whisper. That name will get your attention more than anything else will.

"Lost your 'Baldy', huh?"

Instinctively I throw one shiv in the direction the voice is coming from. That voice isn't Riddick's. That voice belongs to someone else. I slink off toward the shadows, just like in Crematoria, and crouch down on one knee. I had thought of dragging Andy with me, but realized I didn't need to. Kid may be a little bit of a food lover, but he's fast, and it seems that he has a good dose of 'natural survival instinct'. Good. I won't have to worry about him now…worry too much anyway. He's still just a fucking kid.

I hear a chuckle emitting from the man the voice belongs to. There was no thud when I threw my shiv. I missed my mark. I shouldn't have missed him. I was aiming for his heart. Why'd I fucking miss him?

I squint my eyes to see him better, but the fucker is hiding in the shadows now, out of eyesight.

"So, you his woman or what?"

His woman? Riddick, where the fuck are you?

"Why don't you step into the light, fuck face, then we'll talk."

'Fuck Face? Yo kid, you didn't mention that she had a gutter mouth like you!" Another chuckle ensues.

There's a faint whisper. The voice the whisper belongs to is the guy's ass I'm going to kick, hard. I use this 'buddy time' these two fuckers are having to scale the wall, leaving a very confused Andy standing next to a very dead Blaze. The kid will get over it…eventually.

I crawl over the balcony and land on my feet, with the slightest noise possible. It's no use of course, I'm in full view of their eyes.

"Riddick." It's a statement, and it's said with a lot of anger behind it.

You're standing near an old man. Actually you're standing beside the old man, holding my shiv. So I didn't really miss my mark, you just stopped it. Interesting, Baldy, very interesting.

"You going to play with my toy some more, Baldy?" I know you can hear the anger in my voice. You shouldn't have left me like that.

I can hear the old man chuckling, but I refuse to pay any attention to the old fart.

"Watch your mouth, woman."

What the fuck I say this time? "Watch MY mouth? What the fuck's wrong with you?"

You merely grunt. That's new, usually you'd just growl. Oh right…I said Baldy. I do what comes natural…I grunt back.

The old fart is still chuckling. I risk glance at him. Recognition starts to hit. "Hayden?"

He stops chuckling and nods his head. "Smart and beautiful…a deadly combination."

"So it would seem Hayden," I say as you grunt your response to Hayden's comment.

I focus my attention back on you, Riddick. "So you made your call then, Bald –"

"Move."

I wiggle my fingers and arch my eyebrows. I moved. The humour of it has been lost on you. Fuck, you're awfully testy today.

"Move, Kyra."

"Where would you like me to move too, Riddick?"

Your only response is to rub your head with the palm of your hand. I notice that you're still holding my shiv in your other hand, and now I'm wondering when you're going to give it back to me.

I sense your tolerance level is at its max and realize I've pushed as far as I can…for right now anyway. I look in the direction you're facing and decide that this is where you want me to 'move to'. I take a step and pause. I'd almost forgotten him, but then again, I don't think I could even forget him.

"Andy?" It's a question of what's going to happen to him now, and even though I don't voice the last part, I know that you'll understand what I'm getting at.

"Leave him."

And just like that, I realize how far from humanity you really are Baldy. "For who? For the next shit who's going to use him as a human carving board?"

You're smiling now, with those big, crowded teeth of yours. Fuck you. I hate your stupid tests.

"Den, go grab the kid and his woman, and hide them somewhere."

"Since when do I fucking take orders from you?"

"Testosterone," I say loud enough for both of these big beefy males to hear. They are wise to ignore it.

You don't even glance in Hayden's direction. You just look up at the sky. "It'll be some hours before I can access the ship. Kids, now. Talk later."

"Fuck kid, you need to develop a personality…and not this I'm darker than shit attitude, although you more than likely have a darker side than most –

"Shut up Hayden and move."

Hayden stands there shocked, because those words came not from you Riddick, but from me. I didn't even hesitate. I don't even care that I sound like a bitch. I just want to leave this place.

"Kid's got some balls. Brassier and bolder than yours kid, and apparently, almost as big." He's looking at me directly now. "You're going to need them when you face Psycho with a Degree."

"Meet together…three hours."

"Done, kid."

With that you start off with a light jog, passing me by. Hayden takes a good, hard look at me and says, "You watch out for him, now. He's watching out for you, so make sure you've got his ass."

I nod my head, knowing that the relationship between this Hayden guy and you is something very special and unique. Who would have thought that you had a friend…or even a father figure of some sort? Shit, you've picked up your pace. I stretch my legs and ease them into a fast paced jog just to catch up to you.

Riddick's POV

The adrenaline has worn off. I can't hear the rush of blood flowing through your body any longer. I'm curious as to how you're taking all of this.

"Peach?" I keep my eyes looking forward, glancing around to make sure that Hayden didn't miss any of the shit heads working for Blaze. I loved how you killed him. Blood everywhere.

"Yeah Baldy, I'm good."

And just like that we're back to reading each others minds and attitudes.

"How come I smell blood?"

"Fuck if I know why, you're just weird like that, Riddick."

I nod my head a little. "Kyra?" I deepen my voice.

"It's a cut. Keep moving."

Keep moving? I smirk to myself. Your breath is even for now, but who knows how long you're going to be able to keep up with me?

"It's healing already. No worries."

"Okay," I say. You're right of course, it is healing. The blood is fresh, but it already smells like its clotting. I'll look at it after we are hidden.

I keep listening to your feet as they hit the dirt road. They're harder now, and fewer in paces. You're lagging behind a bit.

"Woman that ass of yours need to –"

Fuck. Bright lights ahead. No way around it. I stop running and slide along the dirt road a little. You've stopped too. You're breathing is shorter than mine and deeper. I seems that I set the pace too fast. It wasn't much of a run for me, but for you –

"Would you like to kiss it?"

"What the fuck you talking about, Kyra?"

"My ass, Riddick, would you like to kiss my ass?"

Your definition of humour has a lot to be – fuck it, I'll bite. Where's this going, woman?

"Pull your pants down and bend over, Peach." I allow a smile to form on my lips. I don't, however, turn so that you can see it. My eyes remain focused on the bright lights in front of me.

"First give me back my shiv."

"Okay."

I toss it behind me, and sure enough, it never touches the ground. Your reflexes are improving…slightly.

"My turn."

"The lights are pretty bright. Sure we're going in the right direction?"

"Yes. Bend over."

"And Hayden's going to know where to meet us?"

I growl. Deep, but short.

"What? You mean right now I should bend over?"

I can tell by your slightly raised voice, that you find this conversation amusing. Fuck woman, I hate your games. You're not even good at them.

"Don't start what you don't intend to finish, woman."

"Don't use no double negatives, Riddick."

What the hell has got into you? 'Don't use no' – that's a double negative – fuck. Your smell is suddenly stronger now. You little shit. You're trying to break my concentration, and you did it. You've moved silently on the dirt road to my position. I fucked up. You're right beside me. I can feel your fingers tracing a pattern on my back.

It's a number, and a name. I nod my head. Information for later.

Your fingers start to find their way to the front section of my body. You trace them along my stomach and involuntarily my stomach muscles tighten. I grin. Of all places to start this. You're never going to finish this here. Not now. Not you.

"Riddick?"

"What?"

"We're family, right?"

I nod my head again. Where's this going?

"Good. Cuz as my family, I need you to do something."

Do something? I reach out in an attempt to grab you around the shoulder to draw you close to me, but you suspect that I'm going to grab your throat, and you quickly move back, avoiding my reach. I remain still with no emotion showing on my face. What's going on now? Never thought you'd be skittish with me.

"Look it happened a long time ago…so I put them…so that he wouldn't…and while we're here we can…I want them back."

We're back to the incoherent speaking thing again.

"Fuck, Kyra. Speak clearer."

"Right."

You pause, but you don't continue. I'm still waiting.

"No."

"No, what?"

"No more speaking. It's not far from here. Follow me for a change."

You take off. I can stop you if I want, but you've walked right into the daylight. Worst idea yet, woman. Now they have us spotted. I realize you're waiting for me to follow. Never had to follow anyone before, but now I want to know what it is that you so desperately want to retrieve.

I step out in the daylight, and let the light from the sun shine down on me.

"I hate the light, Kyra."

"I know, Riddick."

A/N: I know that Kyra's got a secret that she's kept hidden from Riddick...I'm just still trying to think of one to write in.