Chapter Four up... Enjoy...

Chapter Four: True Identities

"You don't know? Oh, that's good. Can't you be a bit more creative?" Mariah stood with her hands on her hips as she questioned Tala's answer.

"What about 'he fell off a cliff'? Would that suit you better?" She could hear the sarcasm in his voice.

"Atleast it's better than 'I dunno'." Tala rolled his eyes in reply.

Lee pulled Mariah down and looked to the clock. "Guys it's getting late. How about we really get to sleep now?"

Choruses of agreement sounded throughout the room as the teens finally settled in for the night. Silence soon filled the room and darkness settled in as all the lights were extinguished. Soon all of the teams were sound asleep in their bedrolls.

A loud crash was heard throughout the house, waking all that were asleep. As they rubbed their eyes they heard some mutters of annoyance from within the kitchen.

"Whoops... That doesn't go there... No, no!"

Another loud crash was heard and Kevin jumped out of the kitchen, to find all eyes set on him. "I didn't do it."

"Kevin!"

"What? I was just..." Kevin wasn't able to finish as Mrs Kon entered the room with a stern look on her face. Kevin smiled unsurely and looked up to her. "You see, it wasn't my fault, Mrs Kon. I opened up the draws to, well, I just..."

Mrs Kon crossed her hands and nodded her head. "I understand Kevin." Kevin relaxed and walked over to the couch. "I also understand that you are going to walk back in there and clean up that mess."

Kevin stood up in protest. "But..."

"I don't want to hear any buts, Kevin. Go, now."

Kevin got up and slowly walked into the kitchen while everyone else decided it was time to get up. Mrs Kon smiled to everyone and started walking into the kitchen. "Breakfast anyone?"

After not too long there was a vast feast put before them, Mrs Kon insisting that breakfast was the most important meal of the day and that they must all have their fill. Layed out before them was eggs, bacon, breadrolls and a wide selection of fruit. With eyes wide in awe Tyson peered at all the food set around the table.

"I'm in heaven! Wow, Rei, your mum is a good cook."

Rei smiled and seated himself between Mariah and Lee. "Yeah, well that doesn't help if she actually likes to cook."

Tyson's smile widened, "Even better."

From the corner of the table Tala nudged Kai and grabbed a breadroll. He brought his head closer to Kai's as he whispered in his ear. "I know someone who can put on a better feast then this, hey?"

Kai smirked and leant over to pick up a plate. As he started to pile his plate Tala looked over to the assortment. "So does this mean I need proper etiquette? Like using a plate?"

Kai shook his head in disapproval and laughed silently, "Yes, Tala, it does. Now get one."

Tala leant over the table to reach the pile of plates. While reaching over his jacket sleeve came up to reveal a black mark that just happened to catch Mariah's attention. She thought she saw the top of a circle and became more interested. Knowing that Tala wasn't one to just answer all questions thrown at him she decided to enlist some help. Leaning over she saw Michael's wallet hanging out of his pocket and took it carefully, placing it on the side of the couch. Michael, not noticing that, got up and proceeded to pile his own plate with food. Tala had just passed by him and Mariah stuck her foot out causing him to stumble into Michael. Michael just pushed Tala away and continued to pile his plate.

Mariah didn't want to make it look too suspicious, or get too messy, so she let everyone finish eating before she decided to cause trouble. It wasn't long before everyone had finished so she leant over to Michael and whispered, "Hey, do you have your wallet on you?"

He looked at her confused but checked anyway, "No. Where'd it go?"

She looked back at him, "Well I just thought I'd ask because when I saw Tala bump into you before it looked like he put a wallet or something up his right sleeve."

Michael got up from his seat with a grim expression on his face as he headed over to Tala. Yanking Tala's right wrist he pulled him up and pointed his finger right at Tala's face. "Where'd ya put it? Give it back dork."

Tala got up and pushed Michael away, "What d'ya think you're doing?"

Mariah pulled on Michael's shirt until he was at her height. "Check his sleeve."

Michael grabbed Tala's wrist once more but when he went to pull it up Tala hit his hand away, "What are you doing? Leave me alone freak."

Michael just grabbed his wrist in a better grip and when Tala tried to pull away Michael realised he'd have to try harder. Pulling Tala into a headlock he slammed him down on the ground and pulled up his right sleeve. Everyone else was watching in surprise as the two battled it out. What the sleeve revealed shocked both Michael and the Neko-jins. It was definitely not a wallet but what lay before them was a tattoo. One exactly like what the story told; a cross with a circle around the edge, though it beared a little bit extra because below the circle was a crown.

Tala pulled away and shoved Michael back while quickly pulling his sleeve down, "What the hell are you doing, you psycho?"

Mariah just got Michael's wallet out and chucked it to him, "Sorry, but I wanted to find out what that was." Looking to Tala she pointed a finger at him accusingly, "You're an avarian! And a criminal too! What could you have possibly done to earn that mark?"

Everyone else, other than the Neko-jins, caught on but were still questioning. Emily asked the question that they were all thinking, "You mean that story is true? About the Avarians, Faeries and stuff?"

Eddy interjected, "How can it be true? That stuff is like fairy tales?"

Mariah was ignoring everyone's questions and was still glaring at Tala. Lee had suddenly looked defensive as he stared at the avarian criminal while Kevin, Rei and Gary all had looks of pure surprise on their faces. Lee, wanting to find out the reason for him having the punishment of the worse offence on his wrist, stood up and took hold of his sister's arm as he demanded Tala for an answer. "What did you do? You have the full circle, but you also have the crown."

Tyson looked to him questioningly, "You've told us what the circle and the X are for, but what is the crown for? Is he like a noble or something?"

"Far from it I bet!" Tala glared at Mariah's insult.

"What would you know. You have no idea about how I got this, and you don't have a clue of the reason either."

"Then tell us the reason!" Tala just stuck up his middle finger in answer which earnt him a very hard slap from Mariah.

"Don't use those kinds of gestures!" Tala turned around and started heading for the door, not wanting to have to explain anything. Lee grabbed his arm and pulled him onto one of the couches. Brian moved over to stand up for his friend.

"Just leave him alone. If he doesn't want to tell, then you don't have to make him, got it?" Lee didn't falter and instead looked to Brian.

"I think it would be better if he did, perhaps then it would put us all at ease."

Kevin smirked and eyed Tala, "It means that he did a criminal offence against the crown. If he ever goes back to the world and gets caught for an offence, it means he goes straight to the royalty, no questions ask. After that, well, it usually means death." Kevin leant back into the couch as he looked to Tala, "You gotta feel sorry for him though, with how their kingdom is at now."

Tala just looked to Kevin, "What?"

"You know, with the King and Queens death, and then the new ruler coming in. That place is in shambles."

Rei spoke up before Kevin could continue, "Take the peasants for example. Now that the treaty has been broken the trade has stopped which means all imports and exports have stopped. The peasants have to grow their own food or trade with others in their own town, but its just been made harder with the new taxes being introduced all the time. The place is in an uproar."

Tala looked stunned, "When did all of this happen? I was there when the King and Queen died, but when did it all fall apart?"

Kevin looked to him weirdly, "How long have you been away?"

"Nearly ten years. I don't know where the portal is so I've never been able to get back."

It's all starting to unfold piece by piece, isn't it? If you think you know what's gonna happen, intrigue mewith your ideas. But only if you haven't read it yet. lol. Otherwise that would be cheating. Review please...