Desperate Measures

Dreams are hardly ever what they seem

Giving never sees the evil gleam

Water never gives back what it gets

And you never can avoid the threats…

AN: I WROTE THIS POEM FOR THIS CHAPTER ONLY! TAKE IT WITHOUT PERMISSION AND I SHALL HUNT YOU DOWN!

Angel's POV

I couldn't stop thinking about how I'd just out and said what I did to him. And, boy am I one to criticize, I figured that he would be the one telling me to fuck off, but no he just looked at me with those big dark eyes and... well… kissed me. Damn, I never thought that this day would come. See, I'm the son of his father's worst enemy so that sort of makes matters a little darker for me in the end. And I do mean dark because when we get back to the teams Island I'm going to run as far as I can from Kai and then yell out the fact that I'm in love with his son and that I'm really Boris Balcov's true- blood child. After that, I just hope that the guys- and Chi, of course, - bury me upside down so that when Boris finds out that I'm dead he can kiss my ass.

Well, at least Nick saw things from my angle before he did anything. A lie, I know. He did, in fact, follow me through the crowd of a very busy downtown German village which ended up me saving him from being mugged in an alleyway and confessing my feelings to him on the West River port. Sappy to a point, yes, but at least it worked out for me in the end.

I really do like the water. The way that it can give and take without regrets and still go on with its daily routine of lapping at the shorelines of ever country in the world. Sometimes I wonder how many boats were dragged down into the frigid depths and how many people lost their lives or their loved ones to the stormy seas during various outings. I guess that was the reason why I brought him to the Port: to listen to the water lapping at the tall, stone embankment while I told him my feelings for him.

Well, here I am, hiding away from my team again in the shadows where I like it thinking about the purpose of life and love on so many scales. Typical little me in so many ways- or so Volt says. Sometimes I just want to disappear when a letter comes in the mail for me and I don't know how he knows where I am. I know he's having me watched- he always did. When I was little, there used to me people who would follow my mother and me around from place to place. Once, it got so bad that my stepfather had to remove me from the public school in Russia and place me into a high-security private school to keep me safe. The house we were living in had to be place under top-level security twenty-four seven and then some. It drove mom up the wall one day to hear that Dad (my stepfather) found out that one of the teachers was a spy for Boris. Honestly, how stupid does he think I am? I might be his heir, but I'm not insane enough to try and take over the world. Of course the guy was fired and security was tightened ten fold.

Anyway, there I was sitting in the dark and contemplating the meaning of life when China let out this scream that shook the foundation of the entire west wing of the Farez Hotel in Central Germany. Suddenly, the fun and games of the tournament had just taken on a whole new level of bad. I tore open the door to my room and dashed down the hallway in time to see a man dressed in a black and white suit running away from Chi and Nikki's room. A sickly feeling weighed down my stomach and I knew then that one of my friends had been hurt. I was right. As Alucard, Alixhi, and I piled into the room we saw that sorry sight that no one ever likes to see. China was semi-conscious in her bed while Nikki lay halfway onto the floor of the room fully unconscious of what was happening. Of course, Ty had slept straight through this ordeal. Damn guy could sleep through a flood and wake up on deserted island for all he cared.

"Dear Lord in Heaven!" I said in an exasperated sigh as I ran to his side I didn't want to move him, but I had to know if he was alive. He was just laying there with the sheets covering the lower half of his muscular body looking like a fallen angel and that was enough to give anyone the impression that he was dead. But, as luck would have it, he was alive. I turned my attention to the others who were in the doorway looking as out of it as China did and told them to go get Voltaire. They bolted for the old man's room as if they had the Devil Himself on their heels. "Chi," I whispered as I took the only female member of our group into my arms. "Stay with me, China. You have to stay awake for me."

"What happened?" I didn't look up as Voltaire entered the room only to stare in shock at the scene before him.

"Do you still have the number to Sir Robert's castle handy, Hitwari? If you do, then call them now. We're no longer safe out in the open and I don't need this- not having my friends hurt. This is just something I will not stand for." These were, after all, his flesh and blood that was hurt. I felt the tears weld up from behind my closed eyes and didn't try to hold them back as they fell wetting the starch-white sheets of the bed as China's dark eyes closed in shock.

"I understand your pain, Angel. I'll call him right now so that we can move the team to a place of higher security. Perhaps then we shall all sleep a little better." I nodded my head in agreement.

Three hours later a BBA bus arrived and took us, along with the few possessions we had, to the castle of the prestigious Robert Guerilla and his well known team called the Metal Alchemist's. One of the members was already at the door when the bus pulled up to the 16th century style castle and led us inside.

He had pale purple hair and deep green eyes and with the way he was standing I knew that he was Lewis Guerilla, Roberts only son. "Father has asked me to show you to your rooms. You will be left alone in the morning so that you can explore and get the feel of the castle as well as some well deserved rest from your ordeal tonight. The twins will be seen to in the morning by a valued family friend." He looked over his shoulder at me and sighed. "Nice to know that you're still alive Angel. The last time I heard anything about you he had actually approached you and a member of your team. Might I inquire as to the person that was with you?"

"That would be me." Alixhi yawned. Tyko suppressed a giggle as he too fought to keep from yawning.

"Batten down the hatches, people, the Black Holes are on the loose again." Alucard laughed as they tried to ease some of the tension that had taken over our very existence. Although no one felt like laughing at the moment, we did feel as though they were gifts from above because of their vague sense of humor. Even Voltaire had to smile at them for trying.

Lewis' face changed as he did a double take and was stunned at the resemblance that had, at first sight, taken me aback as well. "Are you by some stroke of uncanny luck related to Brian Kutzenov?"

"Ya-huh, I'm his nephew and adopted son. The name's Alixhi."

"But I was told that he nearly died."

"Oh, that, well the doctors did loose him twice after his attempted suicide ages ago, but he got better, fell in love, and changed his life for the better." My friend explained between yawns.

"I understand." The second in command of Metal Alchemist said as he led us through a maze of hallways that all looked alike. "This is Alixhi's room." He said as we stopped outside a wooden door. "Each of you will have your own rooms with a bath and will be expected to wear the clothes laid out for you for the evening meals in the dining hall. The only rule that father has is that you not set off any of the hidden traps or try your hand at the secret passages that are assembled within the castle." I heard Alucard say something in Japanese to Tyko and the older laughed slightly.

"Where are the rest of the rooms?" I asked finally and he stopped in his tracks.

"Yours, Angel, is down the hall; second door on the left. Ms. Hitwari is in the room one door up from you, her brother is the door directly across from her, Ivanov is the second door on the right- this one, and Tate is the next door down." Was the reply that I received. "To make this situation a little easier and to allow each of you to check on the others during any time of day or night, there are conjoining doors."

"I have one thing I want to say to my team members. As a general rule, if you wish to train while you are here please ask for the directions so that no one gets lost or disobeys any of Guerilla's house rules."

"Anything you say, Boss." Ty said. "Can we go back to sleep now?"

I groaned as he asked and nodded. "And I want you to actually get some sleep. We do have a tournament to win." It was Alucard's turn to groan as I said that and I knew that they knew what I meant. Yes, they can be dense, but they're definitely not stupid.

The next day was no better. The team was at their wits end and I was ready to have a nervous breakdown. I found that the castle had a garden which was where I could find the three remaining members of Shadow Storm at any time that day either laying in the grass or playing Marco Polo in the maze part of the garden. Roses lined the pathways and deep green vines curled their way up the jagged sides of the huge complex. The grass felt like velvet as I lay back and watched the clouds roll by in little puffs taking their dead time. Heck, at least they had nothing to worry about except blocking the sun and moon.

That afternoon while I was playing a challenging game of chess against Dani McGregor- the only daughter of Sir Johnny McGregor- a maid came in carrying a silver tray with another letter addressed to me. My heart skipped a beat as I recognized the writing as my mothers. I tore open the letter and began to read it.

Dear Angel,

things are so bleak without you here to cheer the place up. I thought that you might like to know that you have a new little sister on the way. Hope this tidbit of news helps to brighten your spirits somewhat.

You asked me before you left to keep an eye out for any teams that might surface in your absence. That man who continues to harp on us about you seems to have brought one to life in central Moscow. I'm not sure if there is a name to go along with this team, but your father seems to be just a little worried about you romping around the world with the likes of Voltaire Hitwari. Though I've assured him several times, but he's consistent in his thoughts that Boris will try to ruin this grand opportunity for you to mark your place as the youngest abbey owner in the world.

Anyway, your sister needs a name and I did promise you before you left that you could name her whatever your heart desired. I ask you now for that name. I do not feel very well and the doctors have said that she is going to be my final child. Just think, you're finally getting what you want in this world. Might I propose one question? Have your team been informed of you background yet? Don't hold them in the dark, my Darling. Tell them everything so that they will know and understand you better. I have to go now, so take care of yourself and have as much fun as you can reaching that goal of yours. Your father and I are both very proud of you so don't give up! We love you and pray for your safe return to Russia.

Love,

Mom

I was stunned at the words that jumped off the paper at me. The letter itself was only one page long, but I felt the hot tears run down my face as I read them over again. Dani looked at me in amazement as I sat there and cried my heart out for the woman I left in Russia. There were two points to this coin that I now held and I was walking the very fine line between telling everything I knew and leaving out a few choice details.

"Somethin' wrong, Angel?" Dani asked as she handed me the box of tissues that was on the mantle. "Ah don't like the way you started cryin' when ye read the letter. From yer mum, was it?"

"I need to call an emergency team meeting, could you help me rally my team, Dani? I'm not sure I can remember all of the hallways in this place look alike."

"Sure. You can use the library for this meetin'."

"Thanks." I was shaken. Well, you would be too if you were the youngest person to establish an abbey, recruit a team on gut instincts, travel the world while being chased by a mad man, and cry like a baby at the first news of a new family addition. I liked the fact that mom was having another baby and I didn't know what I wanted her to be called. Heck, what was I thinking- not knowing what to call my own little sister. I was going to spoil her silly! My mother knew what I was in a sexual sense. She also knew enough to send me her unconditional love.

My heart sank to my feet and I stumbled as I walked along the hall. Who was I kidding, thinking I could hide everything from the people I cared for the most outside of family ties? How could I do this to my team, my friends, my lover? These were people who would backstab a backstabber­­- if you let them- just to level the playing field! There I was, a fifteen year old child walking along the halls of a very old, very prestigious castle whining to myself like a child should. I realized it then that I was actually acting the way that a teenager should. I didn't have the answers to all the questions. I didn't have a magic wand in my back pocket that made all the bad things go away. I was just a confused, overwhelmed teenager that had too much on my plate and I needed help. Lots of help.

I reached the door to the library and stood there staring at it like my very future depended on what I was about to tell my team. In a sense, it actually did, because what I had to say could either tear apart what I had struggled to keep together or make it stronger.

"No one ever got to the top without falling on their face once or twice, Angel." Voltaire's voice echoed through the hallway.

"I..." My head dropped. "I'm confused, Voltaire. I've fallen before, several times to be precise, but I've never sunk this low. This is a whole new level for me and I don't know what to do."

"You're starting to sound like a normal teenager."

"Is that so wrong?" I asked. "To sound normal? That's what I want from this world- to actually feel safe and normal for once in my life and not be frightened of who might be waiting to hurt my family and friends next."

"I understand." He replied in his all-too-calm manner. "You want what my grandson Kai wanted all those years ago. You want to be yourself. To do the things that other teenagers do and live your life."

"Yeah, that is what I want." I sighed as I drew in what felt like my last breath. In a few moments, I would be the one to tell everything to my team that I'd been holding back. "Oh, God in Heaven help me!" I cried as I fell to my knees. "I don't know what I'm doing! I don't even know if they're going to vanish on me like all the other so-called friends I've had. I trust these people- I love them as much as I would family and I don't want to hurt them anymore than I already have!"

"Oh?" I knew that voice- it was Tyko. I looked up from my place on the floor. "We figured you were hiding things from us since we left home, but this sounds like it's tearing you apart." I looked for my older counterpart and noticed that I was alone in facing Ty. No under-the-table help this time. There was no turning back the clock on the mistakes of my past and I really was tired of running. "Pain; is that what you think you've caused us?"

"I…" I tried to face him, but the way he was looking at me was unbearable. "I'm so sorry, Ty. I can't lie anymore, I can't." I felt his well-built body sink to the cold stone floor next to me and hold out something. It was an envelope with Boris' writing on the front and it was opened. It was dated for two months ago when we were in Stephenville, but it wasn't addressed to me. Instead, it was a letter to Kai, Tala, and everyone else that had been hurt by Boris in the past. "Who?"

"I did." He replied softly as he threw the piece of paper to the floor. "I so happened to be the one who got to the mail first that morning and I read it. I've been carrying it around with me ever since so that my father wouldn't know. He knows you a little too well for someone who doesn't even know you."

"You did that for me? But why?"

"Do you know what my theory is? You knew he was following you around the world. You knew that he was doing the things you kept taking the blame for. You knew all along that it wasn't safe for anyone to be around you." I squeezed my eyes shut as more tears streamed down my face. "Should I continue? Yes? Well then, I have something to say to you, Angel, if you knew all these things and you knew about him you should have told us. Why didn't you? You could have saved us all the pain of finding the truth out on our own."

"I c-can't d-do this ANYMORE!" I screamed as I got up and bolted for my room. I had made a promise to my team, my mother and myself that nothing would happen. I had broken that promise. I had placed them all in danger and I knew it. Tyson was absolutely right. I did know all those things and I hid them from the world. I slammed the heavy wooden door and stormed into the bathroom. "You were right, Boris. You did win in the end and I lost everything I worked so hard for. Things that you didn't have to work half as hard for I have lost because you couldn't leave me alone! Hey, how ironic is this? I'm leaving everything I own to my little sister, Abigail Selena. An Abbey for Abby. I'm not like you, Boris! I didn't have to kill my way to the top, I actually worked to find the best of the best and you took that away from me! I HATE YOU!"

"Do you really?" So he was there inside the castle, waiting for me in the shadows of my room. "You sound so uptight, my boy. Relax, join me and this will all end." I felt like laughing at his futile attempt to pull me into his fantasy world of hate and pain.

"No it won't. It won't end because you won't let it. You are a monster, Boris."

"Am I? Perhaps you should look in the mirror, dear son, because you are more like me than you will ever know."

"NO I'M NOT! I didn't kill my friends to make it in the world! I didn't deliberately hurt my friends-"

"No, but you did hide the truth from them."

"Let the boy be, Balcov." Voltaire said as he opened my bedroom door. Behind him were two of the very people I had been calling my friends from day one.

"Nikki…" I whispered. His eyes dropped to the floor.

"Did you lie to me on the pier?" He asked, his voice was filled with pain as he struggled to speak. "I need to know that my feelings were not put out in vain, Angel, did you lie to me?"

I swallowed my pride. "No, Nick, I really do love you. Please, please forgive me for the pain you're suffering right now. I didn't mean for this to happen. I didn't want to hurt you or your sister or haveanyone of you getting hurt. I'm so sorry. I am, and I'll understand if you want to leave me now and forever." Boris gagged.

"G-gay! My son! Do yourself a favor and kill the boy now. Your stupid compassion will be the end of you forever if you don't."

"Are you threatening me?" I asked. "You are, aren't you? You just threatened my life and the lives of those I love."

"So? Big deal, grow up and act like a man, Angel boy."

"But I'm not a man. Not yet anyways, because I'm still a teenager. And you know what? I'm under a lot of stress right now and there is only one solution to it: get rid of the cause." I walked over to my bedside table and took out the gun I had acquired from my stepfather's office desk. "There can only be one of us standing and I've had enough of you." I pulled the trigger and Boris went down. Exhausted, I fell to the floor and passed into a world of darkness.

DMQ: Well, you know what they say: 'Desperate times require desperate measures.'