A slight groan escaped from Tala's throat as he began to wake up. He could feel someone running their fingers through his hair…

"Kai…" He murmured.

"Yes, Tala?"

Tala didn't reply, only snuggled closer to Kai's warmth and scent. Sleep was clouding up his mind, but he didn't care; all he wanted was to stay with his ushka (1).

"You okay?" Tala asked quietly, still not moving.

"Am I ever?"

"No, cos you're always a grumpy sourpuss…" Tala retorted. "I mean, physically."

A sigh. "Achy… but… yes, I suppose…"

"Good…"

"You?"

"Nnng…"

A small chuckle. "Sleepy?"

"You bet…"

"Sleep then… Yuriy…"

"Mr Dickenson! Ray and- oh, hey guys…"

Ian and Spencer looked up stonily at the rest of the Bladebreakers.

"What are you doing here?" Ian asked acidly.

"Ray and Kai have gone missing. They've been gone for over a week." Max explained. "Why're you here?"

"Same with Tala and Bryan." Spencer replied. "But if you're looking for Mr Dickenson, you've wasted your time; he's not here."

"What do you mean, 'he's not here'?" Tyson demanded.

"He means, 'the old coot is not here'." Ian retorted. "The woman said he's got some important business to attend to and that we had to wait for him to call."

Tyson sighed and plonked himself in a seat. "I guess we'll have to wait too… when I get my hands on those two for sneaking off, I'll… grrr, just because they're kissing and crap doesn't mean-"

"Wait, hold up. Ray and Kai are together?"

"They're not." Hilary answered for the Japanese boy; Tyson glared as if to say, 'yes-they-are'. "Well, Tyson, they've assured us they aren't and I believe them."

"Well, the girl's got good intuition, then." Spencer said. "Because Ray's with someone else."

"What? Who?" Max asked.

Ian laughed. "If we told you, you'd wet your pants before fainting…"

"Just tell us, Shrimp."

"Okay, okay, sheesh, keep your pants on! Ray's with-"

………

"NO FUCKING WAY!"

The atmosphere in the cabin was a peaceful once; like it had been for two days now. No one was rushing around; the four teens, two wolves and the single racoon were taking life at their own pace…

"I've just remembered!" Ray exclaimed suddenly, catching everyone's attention. "What about the tournament? It's supposed to start in under a week and we've barely trained! And what about our teammates?"

"Kitten's got a good point, cap." Bryan said to Tala.

"I know. But Mr Dickenson will understand."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, Davis and Johnson have gone back to the PPB center in America, therefore will tell Judy Tate, who will most likely get on the phone to Dickenson, who will then come here, knock on our door and will either ask for an answer or give us answers."

There was a hurried knock at the door. Silence. Everyone turned to look at Tala.

"I didn't know you were psychic, Tal." Ray said.

"Neither did I…" Tala muttered, standing and walking to the door.

He opened it to be met with none other than the head of the BBA.

"Tala, my boy! How are you?" The man beamed.

Tala's left eye twitched in surprise as he let Mr Dickenson in. Ray guided the elderly man to the couch before moving back into the kitchen area to make more tea.

"Er, Mr Dickenson, may I ask you something? What are you doing here?"

Stanley's expression turned more serious. "I've heard from Judy about what happened. Before I start, may I ask how Kai is?"

"I'm fine." Came a gruff reply from the hallway.

Heads whipped around to see Kai moving towards them, having to lean on crutches because of his ankle.

"Kai, my boy, I'm glad you got out okay. You boys have all showed bravery beyond my wildest dreams and I must credit you for that." He waited until everyone had sat down in the living room area; he took a sip of his tea.

He frowned, confused at the two supposedly wild animals by the fire, and the third on Ray's shoulder. Fai leapt down from the Chinese blader's shoulder and hoped over to the elderly man, climbing up onto his shoulder.

"My, what a strange little fellow you are." He chuckled. "But I heard what you said before I knocked, Ray. I have postponed the tournament until another three weeks."

"Sorry, sir, but could I ask what you've told everyone?" Ray asked.

"I have simply said that there was a breach in security, though I can guess that the real reason will be spread around by the All Starz; their respect of you has grown since you saved their two helpers and they'll be boasting, especially that Michael. And your teams have been notified with the real reason; I'm afraid I can't not tell them."

"They were bound to find out one way or another." Bryan admitted. "Especially Ian."

"Yes." The old man nodded. "I have organised for your plane home to pick you up in a week's time; that will be enough time for you to recuperate slightly and train for the remainder two weeks, won't it?"

Nods.

"Sir," Kai asked hesitantly, "what happened to my grandfather?"

Mr Dickenson sighed. "He was apprehended by the Russian military sometime after you left, I think. There had been reports of illegal activity by a few of the villages near the facility. He's going to be put away for some time."

"Wonder if Boris will be his cellmate…" Tala muttered in Bryan's ear.

"Though there may be a problem." Mr Dickenson admitted. "He was found unconscious therefore he can claim being attacked."

Ray looked sheepishly at Kai. "Sorry, Kai."

Mr Dickson looked at Ray sharply. "Ray? You're th one who knocked him unconscious?"

"Uh, yeah."

"My, whatever you did, it had a lot of force in it. Well done."

"What do you mean?" Tala asked.

"He's still unconscious."

"Ah…"

"Very well, boys. I have to go, I'm sorry. Get better soon." Fai climbed off Stanley and scuttled over to the two wolves, snuggling into Moon Child's fur.

The elderly man chuckled and walked over to the door, before closing it after him. They heard a helicopter motor start up, before it slowly faded out.

Tala looked at the three animals by the fire, that were currently asleep.

"You know, if we carry on at this rate, we might as well open up a zoo."

"Here, here." Ray agreed, laying his head on Bryan's shoulder and shifting closer to the Falcon.

Tala smirked. "You know, if someone told me that you two were together, I'd call them a bullshitter."

"Actually, when I told you, you nearly fell off my back in surprise but was quite comfortable with it. No mentions of 'bullshitters' whatsoever." Kai said smugly.

Tala glared at him. "I meant no one but you, smartass. I mean, only 3 years ago, Bryan almost killed you; no offence, Bry."

"Yeah, well you know what they say? Opposites attract, just like magnets." Ray replied softly.

"I suppose…" Tala said with a small sigh. "Well, it's like that with me and Kai."

To emphasise his point, he stood and plonked himself in Kai's lap, leaning against the hard chest.

Kai raised an eyebrow. "Comfortable?"

"Very; thank you."

"Oh don't mention it. That's what I'm here for; for you to use me as a pillow."

"Can I ask you two something?" Bryan said suddenly, catching the two Russian's attentions. "How did you two get together?"

"He was pining after me, I felt something for him, we ended up kissing, there you go, the end." Kai said.

"Pining, eh?" Bryan smirked at Tala. "Didn't know you were that type of guy, Tal."

"Well, at that time, you didn't know I bent this way either."

"Well I have to say that to you too about me."

"That, I have to agree with; I always thought that you were as straight as six o'clock, but I guess I'm proved wrong. So what are you; twelve o'clock, or three o'clock?" Bryan raised an eyebrow, confused. "Twelve o'clock is fully gay and three o'clock is bi."

"Nice use of puns, Tala." Bryan chuckled. "I think you'll find I'm twelve, thank you."

"Ray?" Tala asked.

"Same." The neko replied.

"I always thought you fancied that pink fuzzball." Bryan admitted.

"Who, Mariah? She's a sister to me; nothing more." Ray said with a shrug. "What about you Tala?"

"Twelve. Kai?"

"Oh aren't we all in a sharing mood?" Kai asked sarcastically. "Twelve. But what's with the question, Wolfie? Or has your wolf-like curiosity gotten the better of you?"

"Fifty-fifty." Tala replied. "But I just wanted to know, just in case we had to watch out for any girlfriends."

"Tala." The said redhead turned to look at the Falcon, who was staring at him in slight disbelief. "If we were bisexual and if we were to date a girl, she would have to be someone who either didn't know us or didn't care. I would never in a million years date a fan girl or one of those female bladers."

"Why not the bladers?" Ray asked, curious.

"No offence to you, Ray, but they've all got sticks shoved up their asses. They're too proud." Bryan said boredly. "And they're either too girly, too smart, or… too pink."

"I suppose you're right…" Ray sighed.

"Why the change of tone, Ray?" Tala asked.

"Just the thought of how Mariah would react when she finds out about me and Bry."

"Describe this thought to me."

"Well, it involves lasers, scratch-posts and the Berlin Wall."

"I think I'm on your wave link…" Tala laughed.

"I guess I should stay on your good side then, Kitten, if you can think of the many ways to get rid of me." Bryan said, smirking, pulling Ray's hair out of the loose ponytail and running his fingers through the ebony tresses.

"Why haven't you wrapped your hair today, Ray?" Kai asked.

Ray shrugged. "Couldn't be bothered. Too much of a hassle for just relaxing."

"It looks nice down." Tala complimented. "Please keep it down from now on. Please?"

Ray laughed. "Okay, Tala, I will. But if it gets knotted, you're brushing it free."

Tala laughed as well. "Fine. I'd actually like to brush your hair; it looks really soft." He looked at Bryan. "Is it soft?"

Bryan smirked and nodded. "Like silk, only softer."

Ray blushed and smiled bashfully. Tala chuckled.

"Oh come on, Ray. Stop being so modest!"

"That's what I've told him before, but does he? No."

Ray pouted. "So what if I'm modest? Sue me."

"I'd love to, but there's no need to." Kai said.

"Yeah; you own half of Russia already." Tala retorted.

"No…" Kai whispered huskily in Tala's ear. "We own half of Russia."

He turned Tala around so that the redhead straddled his hips and captured his lips in an open mouthed, breathtaking kiss.

Bryan rolled his eyes, but glanced down at Ray, smirking evilly.

"What are you thinking of, Falcon?" Ray asked, though he was catching onto it.

"I'm thinking…"

Bryan leant down and pressed his lips against Ray's in a tender kiss.

The two kisses were totally different… yet…

They held the same amount of passion…

As I always ask myself: Why is love intensified by absence?

I ask myself again for these two couples…

But how strong will their love become?

We'll just have to wait and see until the new love begins.

Why is Wolf Love intensified by absence?

THE END!

(1) The Russian equivalent of 'koi', you could say.

I know I said I'd do an epilogue, but I wanted to round the fic off like this. Phoenix love is finished… can anyone guess why I called it this?

Oh, the 'Why is love intensified by absence?' thing? I came up with that, so… you can use it, but just say that I came up with it (that was pointless, sorry)

AndI just had to add that final statement, sorry...

But just wait until the sequel- 'Wolf Love- Animal Magnet'. It will be posted soon, but not right away!

Until then…

Up, up and away!

Demi-goddess – Queen of OCs

Preview of Wolf Love- Animal Magnet - (don't read if you want to be TOTALLY surprised. This isn't a spoiler, though)

What happens when Demi-Goddess gets bored but wants to do the next Wolf Love? Well, she sets the evil-yet-wanting-to-do-good Ancient Greek Witch on our heroes. The witch's mission is to make sure that the two couples are actually true to each other. How does she do it, you ask? Well, you'll have to wait and see!