Dark Mage Quisits: Where's Nicholas? Has anybody seen the author for chapter four? (Lifts up a book) Nikki? o.0

Tala: They went out for ice cream.

DMQ: And they didn't bother to invite their inventor?

Tala: Their kids. You know that kids don't always want people like us around all of the time, don't you?

DMQ: I'm still a kid... at heart anyways.

Tala: She don't own it. 'Nuff said.

Secrets Revealed

"Got your ticket?" Brian was the first one to nearly jump Voltaire at the party when he said that he would like to take the six of them on a world- wide trip to the most exotic places on earth. After what seemed like days Tyson finally got the lavender haired male to agree to a few months of pure and blissful silence. I watched as Alixhi fought the urge to jump his father slash uncle right where we all stood waiting for the limo to come and take us to the airport where Grandpapa was waiting.

"Dad." He said with as much annoyance as possible

"Just asking." Brian said with a sly grin. "Hey, Alixhi?"

"Yeah?" Brian's grin split his face in two.

"Got your ticket?" Alixhi snapped as he tried to get through the barrier that Tyson created with his own body.

"LET ME AT HIM! LET ME AT HIM, PAPA! I SWEAR I'LL KILL HIM!" China let out a hysterical laugh that Alucard joined her with. I still couldn't believe she actually liked this guy. I mean, sure he's a good laugh and all but the least that I can think of his actual usefulness- if, in fact, he has any- would be Beyblading or kicking ass during a good game of Bloodyroar3. Which would have to be a sin if Angel would have lost to him last night. It's a good thing that guy knows his moves with the game or he would have been one sorry sucker if Alixhi had won. I laughed inwardly as I thought about the sleepover we had at the Mansion last night. Alucard and Tyko- once again- pulled a move that no one would have expected from them of all people. They played the alphabet game with a full bottle of Brandy. Alucard was severely sick afterwards though leaving a very drunk Tyko to find an excuse to cover his ass big time. Neither of them slept at all which the four of us still remain skeptical about. Come on, they must have slept. Otherwise Alucard would not have had enough hot air to tell Ty off this morning for leaving him with a mess to clean. And they say there's nothing between them. With the way that the bed was creaking last night you would have thought that they'd come through the ceiling or something. 'Not gay' my foot.

To update anyone who don't know, Alucard and Tyko have been at it for two years now and have somehow managed to escape the ever- watchful eyes of the parents. Though I don't think they would have told them to stop or anything. Bunch of idiots. A monkey could figure it out and yet the parents remain unnaturally out of it. I must have been looking like I needed someone to talk to as I saw Angel approach me from the side of the road.

"Diajabou, Nikki? You look like you could use a friend." Oh Hell, I didn't know he knew Japanese! I really do but I just don't want to talk to anyone right now. You might say that I was a reincarnation of my father if you were to ever see me for yourself. Untalkative, cross- looking, sarcastic, and just plain down- right gorgeous- that's me! Hey! I didn't say I was easy to get along with now did I? I shook my head no and got up off of the grass as the limo neared the driveway of Max's three story town house. "If you do, I'm all ears."

"Thanks anyways, Angel." I said before climbing into the limo beside Alixhi- who was grumbling about having to leave without kicking his father's ass one last time. I felt bad for Angel. I mean, come on! The friggin guy has been around us for a week and none of us even made the suggestion as to showing him around town. Save for that girl who lives down the street from us- Marina I think her name was- who never wanted anything more than to have Angel screw her brains out. No. I'm not about to go around with a sign around my neck saying 'I'M AVAILABLE! COME GET ME!' so that every girl here in town would be flocking to my doorstep wanting to see how good a fuck I was. Yes, yes. I'll wash out my potty- mouth later. I'm psycho...now leave me alone! Dad says I get my psychotic behavior from Great Grandfather, personally, I think I get it from him.

I slid into the passenger seat next to my sister who was trying her pretty damn hard not to bust out laughing again at Alixhi who- surprise; surprise- was still fuming at his father. Has anyone ever wondered what makes him angry? The correct answer to the question folks is REPETITION. It even drives him nuts when I pull the same beyblade moves three times in a row.

If dad's looking for a real deal psycho, then Alixhi's his man- o-o-ops!- BOY. To be a man he'd have to put his pride on the line and ask my sister out on a date. He hasn't ever told me directly about his feelings for her, but I can tell just by the way he looks at her that if he doesn't ask her soon, no one will.

Angel eyed Alixhi from the seat across from us and unexpectedly upped with his hand and gave him a crack that left the other Russians ears ringing. "Grow up and act like a man, Alixhi. If you can truly call yourself that." Finally! Somebody agrees with me! Maybe I should shake his hand? Absolutely NOT! I shake with no one. I mean it. I don't even shake hands with my own sister- which pisses her off to the extent that Pa has to actually tie her down to keep her from killing me. He-he. Off track there, ain't I. Doesn't matter. Okay. Now where was I? Oh, yes!

We were riding along when grand papa said something that got us all pretty nervous. "We're all going to go check out the opposing teams for the tournament so that you all can get a good idea about how much work that needs to be done."

"I've met and spoken personally with the team captains of the Freedom Fighters of the United States, 2nd generation White Tigers of China, and the Dark Mages. They are the direct descendants of the Majestics. Not to mention that there are at least twenty other teams that will be competing for the Team Championship Title." Angel said. Alucard nodded.

"So, Hotshot, where do we come in?" Hotshot was/is the nickname that Alucard gave to Angel the day that our new team member pulled a double defense, triple attack to win a match. That move is a rare find. "It's not like you couldn't find a good group of Russian bladers to work with."

"Wrong. You are the best of the best that I could find with the help of Voltaire, of course." Angel said. His voice held a hint of pride as he spoke. "I wanted a team that didn't only look at the strategies of the other teams but analyze them as well. You all surpassed that when you showed team effort, strategy, mind and blade power, and experience when it came to analyzing your own. To tell the truth, I've never seen a team more built to win than you five." China stopped fussing over Alixhi's bruised cheek and stared at Angel.

"So, it wasn't grand papa's idea at all?"

"I needed Voltaire to explain the rip to the parents without giving away my purpose. You see, I own Russia's newest Abbey. Quantum House was built to support the team that I thought could over come any hardship thrown their way. Voltaire here is just my sponsor." Well, wasn't that interesting? Not as interesting as the fact that he'd gone to the most untrustable person in the world according to Father and asked for help in tracking down the best of the best. OH well, I suppose it could be worse, right?

No one spoke until we were well on our way from the airport in Grand papa's black and red Slater Jet with its dual impact system, thirteen hundred watt speaker system, and three mini bars.

"Kai didn't seem too happy to see me. Any idea why, Nicholas?" Grand papa asked; his Russian accent sounded beaten down in more ways than one. He had taken me aside to chat while the others ate.

"Uh... I guess he still blames you for his not so nice childhood."

"I have tried to make it up to him by giving his children everything they could ever need and letting him live his life in peace with his wonderfully nice lover."

"Don't you see, he's never forgiven you! And when he finds out that you lied to him, Brian, and Tala, how are they going to take it?"

"Nikki! I did not lie, I only told half of the truth. You see, I don't want Kai mad at me until the day that I die so I wanted to show him that I could be a good man for once in my Hell- ridden life. You, surely, understand this?"

"Are you saying that you are dying on us, Grand papa? Who's going to get your estate? Why didn't you tell Da about this? I'm almost certain he would have understood." He sighed ruefully and I stood there fighting back the tears that threatened to fall from my brown- gold eyes.

"This is hard to explain. You must not tell the others what I am about to tell you, Nicholas. I have something called terminal cancer. Do you know of it?" I nodded. "Good. I have had this formidable disease for almost three years, but I am fighting a losing battle. Understand? You must not tell you team anything that I have told you, Nikki. Never say a word" By this time, I was really going to bust into tears, but I decided against it.

DMQ: Just writing this made me sad. RRR, people.