Hi! Me again. Well, here you go!

Ah, reviewers, pearl of the sea, love of my life!

Glimmern-glitas- That's okay! Everyone has hectic days. Thanks for reviewing again!

Torri-Chiobie- I know, I'm putting him through so much! About the pairing...it might not stay that way...

jadestar123- Chibi-Tala is one of the cutest things on earth! Of course Brooklyn will try. And about your suggestion, it's eeriely close to something I AM going to do...

Hippochick- I have an idea...right now I'm scribbing some to see if my idea will work out...Yeah, I know, I was thinking that people might confuse the two kids while I was writing that part.

Melitot Proud Eye- YEAHHH! You make me very happy with your nice words! Your name is cool, it looks like you put some thought into it! And about the chapters, I don't really know how many there'll be...

cry of the wolf- I know, Tala is absolutely adorable! And it's actually keep up the GOOD work, although what you wrote could've just been a typo. Thanks for reviewing!

Inoure- My name actually means Solitaire Hell Fire. I think. Anyway, could you please tell me which combinations are in your name? I tried a whole bunch but I can't get it!

ariotlatio- I know! Huge difference, 'no?' Heehee! Cool! I'm chinese-canadian too! By the way, what does your name stand for/mean?

personne du monde- I completely agree...

Well, enjoy!

----------------------------------

He was strapped to a chair, completely unable to move. The room was dark, but people with flashing, reflective goggles kept switching on blindingly bright lights above him. The whole thing seemed surreal, blank faces and bright lights swimming in the darkness of his vision.

A gloved hand held a cup to his lips, forcing him to swallow some cold, bitter liquid. He tried to spit it out, but it was too late. He could already feel the liquid coursing through his body, numbing his nerves until he felt absolutely nothing.

Now, the real operation began. The strange people carefully inserted tiny scalpels in the skin of his arm. Carefully, and very slowly, they began peeling back the layer of flesh, revealing the throbbing veins and red muscle beneath. He tried to scream, but no sound came out.

The surgeon-scientists began to lay wires down amongst the veins. They threaded some within the muscle, the wire snaking in and out of the tense flesh. They severed certain veins and quickly soldered metal tubes to them. Finally, they began fitting in pieces of computer chips between some of the wires.

After what seemed to be an eternity, the surgeon-scientists deftly sewed the layer of skin and flesh back on, to cover the work they had done.

The boy wanted to throw up, but he was immobilized by the sedative. He could only watch with growing horror as the surgeon-scientists snipped off the last thread and began moving towards his face, the scalpels flashing ominously in the light –

Yuri awoke with a start. He slowly realized that he was safe, in his own room. He sat up, wrapping his blankets around his shaking shoulders. He put a hand on his forehead, his body slick with sweat. His heart was still pounding.

He hadn't told anyone about his nightmares. He had had them once in a while, but ever since Nikita appeared, he'd been having them every night. And they were always about the same sort of thing. Surgeries and metal. He wasn't sure where this all stemmed from, but he was positive about one thing. The boy in the dreams was himself.

Yuri slid a hand along his arm. The flesh felt whole enough. Ugh. He shook his head, his hair lightly slapping his face. He had to stop dwelling on these nightmares. It wasn't like they were real.

He sighed, drawing a hand through his hair. His hair. He smiled mirthlessly. He'd wanted to look different, to have no relation whatsoever to this Tala Valkov. So he'd combed his hair down, until the ruby tresses had pooled around his shoulders. It hadn't been a difficult task. His hair could be easily manipulated. To return it back to its original winged style all he'd need to do was comb upwards.

He slowly turned and dropped his legs over the side of his bed. There was no chance of going back to sleep now. Sliding his feet into slippers he got up, wrapping a nearby robe around his body. He needed to shower.

--------------------------------------

Aya skipped down the hallway towards Aira's classroom. She was almost at the door when a very tall man stormed out, practically knocking her over. Aya stared after him in wonder. The man's thick white hair hung to his waist, his bangs covering a cold, black eye. His face was cruelly handsome, its pale shade contrasting with his black suit. The cape fastened to his shoulders by an elaborate brooch billowed out behind him as he strode powerfully away.

Aya was puzzled by the strange person, but thought no more of it until she entered the classroom. Instantly, she could see something was wrong.

Aira was crouched in front of a fallen bookshelf, slowly picking up the scattered objects around it. At first sight, this would seem very normal, but for the shaking of his arms, and the redness around his wrists, like someone had gripped there too tightly.

" Aira." Aya called, wondering if she should intrude.

Aira jolted, and dropped the can of paintbrushes he had been holding. The can fell with a clang and the paintbrushes rolled every which way. He looked up, and Aya noticed the bruise on his cheek and the redness around his eyes. Tear trails streaked down his face and his normally smooth hair was wild and frizzy.

" Aya. Hey." Aira tried to smile. " You startled me." He bent over on his knees to pick up the paintbrushes, but his hands were trembling so badly that he dropped them again. " Oops! Clumsy me." He chuckled weakly.

" Hi Aira. Are you…are you okay? You look – " Aya hesitated, not wanting to go over any lines.

" Yeah, I know. I was in hurry this morning so my hair's all frizzy and I slept badly, so yeah, and – " Aira blabbed on.

" Aira." Aya interrupted, giving her teacher a look.

" I'm not fooling you, eh?" Aira sat back on his heels. " No, I didn't think so." He sighed.

" Aira, what happened?" Aya walked over and knelt before the young man.

" Nothing, nothing." Aira tried to brush it off. Aya looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

" You don't believe me, do you? I always was a bad liar under pressure." Aira laughed, sitting back with one leg stretched out and one propping up his arm. What he said though, was in fact, a lie. Aira was actually an excellent liar. How else could he stop the suspicious questions of his friends and colleagues about his injuries? It was only under great emotional stress when his ability failed him.

" Tell me what's wrong. I was able to tell you, sort of, and it really got a load off my chest. I wouldn't tell anyone else." Aya persuaded, leaning forward on her knees. Her eyes were earnest, locked with Aira's.

" Did you – did you see that man?" Aira asked, not looking up from the ground.

Aya nodded, still looking deeply into Aira's eyes.

" That – that man. That man was my older brother, Keishii Namasaki." Aira lowered his head even more, his bangs hiding his face.

" Your brother? Kei?" Aya suddenly thought back to her other conversation with Aira. ' When my father died there was still no respite from the pain. Kei made sure of that.' Aya's eyes darted to the bruises on Aira's face and around his slim wrists. " You mean…"

" Yeah." Aira nodded painfully, wincing as he gripped his own wrists too hard.

" But that's – " Aya cut herself off, looking around at the scattered art utensils. She could suddenly envision what had probably happened. Kei had probably come in, surprising Aira. They would've talked a bit, Aya imagining angry words coming from Kei's mouth. He would've grabbed Aira's wrists too tightly. He must've gotten so angry that he knocked over the bookshelf and hit Aira before leaving.

" Please. Please don't say anything." Aira whispered, his eyes closed tightly.

Aya felt so sorry for her poor teacher. He really was rather young. Aya carefully put a hand on Aira's shoulder. " I'm not going to. Now, come on, let's get you cleaned up." She gave him a reassuring smile.

Aira sniffed and dabbed his eyes with his sleeve. " You're right. I'm being silly." He slowly stood up, straightening his clothes.

Aya fished around in her pockets, and finally pulled out a comb. She walked over to the sink and wet the comb, going back to Aira after she had done so. She gently combed through the tangles in his hair, often returning to the sink. Finally, she undid the ribbon on her own braid, and tied it around Aira's hair, making a horsetail.

Meanwhile, Aira had been washing his face with a damp towel, and applying some cover-up to his cheek until the bruise was no longer visible.

After that was all finished, Aya examined Aira's wrists. " I don't know what to do for these."

Aira stared at the inflamed area for a moment, and then leapt into the air. " I have an idea!" He ran over to the supply cabinet and took out two long strips of white cloth. He walked back over to Aya and handed her the cloth. " Wrap these around my wrists, tightly."

Aya slowly began to wind the cloth around.

" Tighter!" Aira commanded. When Aya complied, Aira hissed with pain.

" Are you okay?" Aya instantly stopped.

" Yeah. Continue. Keep it tight." Aira spoke in short bursts, his face contorted with pain.

Aya finally finished wrapping the cloth around, tying the ends into a small bow.

" There!"

" Thanks." Aira smiled despite the pain. " Why don't you sit down? Class starts soon." He glanced at the clock.

Aya nodded, smiling cheerfully.

-----------------------------------------

Aira drove home in his pale blue Porsche convertible. His forehead was furrowed with worry as he stared at the streets around him. He sighed, seeming unable to stand it any longer. At the next red light, he pulled a little silver cell phone out of his pocket and chose a number from the speed dial, holding the phone to his ear.

" Hello?" A feminine voice picked up.

" Hello Kirei. It's me, Aira." Aira said grimly.

" Aira? What's the matter?" Kirei could hear the unhappy tone in his brother's voice.

" Kei's back." Aira said shortly. He could almost see Kirei's surprised reaction.

" K-Kei? But – but he's in Russia!" Kirei sounded terrified.

" Calm down. Kei is here. He visited me today." Aira sighed, driving onto the highway.

" Oh my god, Aira! Are you okay?" Kirei had always been the most emotional of the three.

" Relax, Kirei. It's just a couple of bruises. He mainly just startled me." Aira reassured his brother.

" Okay. But what is he doing here? He wouldn't just leave his business." Kei was the CEO of a prestigious law firm.

" I really don't know. I hope it's just another one of his short visits. I called you to warn you. Be careful." Aira pulled into his spacious driveway.

" Thanks. I will be. Bye." Kirei hung up.

Aira clicked his phone shut and stared at the tiny silver communicator. He hoped Kirei would be all right. He always ended up with worse injuries than Aira.

-----------------------------------------------

Kirei walked home. His mind was completely occupied by one thought. Kei. The rose-haired young man rubbed his arm nervously. The last time Kei had appeared, he'd broken Kirei's arm.

Kirei heard something behind him and whirled around. There was nothing there. It must've been his imagination. He turned back around and started walking again. This thing about Kei was making him very skittish.

A distinct tap on the pavement sent Kirei spinning around again. Nothing. He took a deep breath, brushing his curly hair away from his face. There was no one there. Kei was not there! He tried to convince himself of this, but he soon found it was much easier to try and block Kei out completely. Don't think, don't think. Think about…cherries! Yes, he liked cherries. Kirei laughed nervously to himself, fingering the gold stud in his left ear. Funny how cherries were the first things that came to mind. The ruby globes were Kei's favourite fruit – no! No thinking about…Kei. Kirei's thoughts trailed off as he saw a pair of shiny black boots and the end of a silver cane before him. Kirei raised his eyes, following the pant legs, the black silk shirt, and finally, to Kei's smirking face. Kirei's heart almost stopped.

" Kei." Kirei breathed, frozen in place although his mind was screaming for him to run.

" Hello, dear brother." Kei tapped the silver cane on the ground deliberately. It was the same tap Kirei had heard several minutes ago. The pink-haired boy flinched at the sound; that cane was very painful when used the way Kei used it. The cane was solid silver, and long enough so that Kei could grasp under its snarling dragon's head easily, while the bottom still touched the floor.

Kirei quaked as Kei approached. The older man lifted the cane and whipped Kirei across the face with the top, one sharp draconian fang cutting a long gash in Kirei's cheek. Blood dripped from the dragon's mouth, making it seem more life-like that ever.

" I'm back." Kei laughed, the sound growing louder and louder until it echoed throughout the street and cut through the silent night.

-----------------------------------------

Please Review!