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Chapter 5 Saving the Phoenix

'You have to reconsider this Takao!' repeated Max when they arrived at their room. 'You can't just do that! You don't even know how he will react if you see him again, you have no certainty of success with this plan. Besides, what do you think to do, once you're on the inside of the walls?''Calm down Max, the neighbours don't have to hear us. And at this moment, this is the only way I can get close to him.' explained Takao letting himself fall on the bed. 'I want you to know, I'm not completely content with it either, but this is the only thing I can think about at the moment. Don't worry too much about me. I can take care of myself.'
'And what should I do? Assuming he chooses you and you get in.' said Max, still irritated.
'I… I haven't put thought in that actually.'
'You're not leaving me out here alone!' said Max stubborn
'Then what do you want to do?' asked Takao while he sat up. He eyed his blond companion.
'I don't know, but you're not letting me out of this Takao. I didn't accompany you to leave you alone! Who knows what might happen to you!'
'I know I know, but Max, really, I…'
'If you're going, I'm going.'
'What! I know you want to help me Max, but this is going a bit far.'
'And you going isn't overdoing it! Takao, you have to realise, if something happens to you inside and I'm not there I'll never forgive myself.'
'Neither would I if I were in your shoes, but I can't let you come with me Max.'
'Why not? Too dangerous?'
'Also.'
'Even more reason to go with you.'
'Max…'
'You're not going to get me change my plans Takao. If you go, I go with you.'
Takao sighed. Max was a nice guy, but when he had his mind set on something, he couldn't be talked off. Neither would he though.
Takao smiled friendly and said: 'Well, if you want to go that badly I can't stop you.'
'Thanks Takao.' said the blond. He knew Takao would eventually let him, but he'd rather not argued about it.
'So, what's your plan your highness.' teased Max.

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-flashback-

'Boris. Who are those men?' asked young Kai, rubbing his eyes out. Boris had woken him up by practically smashing the door in. The men next to Boris had a strange style of clothing. Both men were clad in long robes, the one completely black, the other man's robe was sand coloured, and had a dark red decoration at the end of the sleeves.
Weapons weren't allowed inside the palace, though the black clothed man did have some sort of staff with three blades on top.
'Boris?' asked the prince while he quickly took on a bathrobe while his legs were still covered by the blankets. He normally slept in shirt and shorts, but the night had been extremely hot, so he'd shed his clothing. The prince didn't like it when someone could see his exposed body, especially not Boris.
'What's going on?' asked the prince annoyed while he stood from his bed. He quickly glanced outside and saw that the sun just started to rise. 'What's so important to wake me this early, and in such a way?' he said glaring at the door. The lock was broken.
'My apologies my prince. You didn't respond to my calls, and the door was locked so…'
'I always lock my door when I'm asleep.' snapped the prince. 'Who are they!' he demanded to know.
'Your grandfather wanted you to be checked up. He hired these two men.'
'He would've told me that beforehand. Who are they really Boris? Answer me.'
'Like I said, they're here to check you up.'
'My personal doctor already did the day after my tenth birthday, not even three weeks ago…What do you want Boris?'

Meanwhile Kai was trying to reach Rei telepathically, but he didn't have any control over it yet, mainly because Rei told him he could do so only a week ago, and he hadn't had the time to practice yet.
'Boris?' asked the prince, his eyes widening while his mentor approached him. The man grabbed his wrists and pushed him on the bed again.
'Be a good prince and lay still while they do their job.'
'NO! Let go of me Boris. I'll have grandfather…' He was suddenly silenced by a kiss from Boris. If possible the princes eyes widened even more. He didn't know how to react. His body went limp. Kais mentor took the opportunity to tie the princes hands to the headboard. Kai snapped back to reality.
'What the … BORIS!' yelled the teen while the two strangers also approached the bed. The dark clothed man with the staff cast a spell over the princes body so he couldn't move. He could feel everything else though. First the other man used his powers to read the princes mind, trying to find anything Boris had told them to look for. He frowned
'What's wrong!' asked Boris.
'He's being protected by someone. I can't reach his mind.'
'What? Who!'
'I do not know my Lord. But I do know that I can't do much now. If I do I might damage him severely. He will never be the same again, and if you want to keep it from you know who, I can't do that.'
"You know who? Who do they mean? Grandfather?" He started trashing when he felt the man trying to read his mind again. It didn't really hurt, but it was really annoying.
'Get out of my head!' screamed Kai. 'There's nothing there you need to know!'
'Silence boy.' said the black clothed man. He raised his staff again and silenced the prince with a spell.

"What kind of magic is this? Rei sometimes 'practised' on me, but it never felt like this… Is this…black magic…is he…a wizard? Rei told me he's a sorcerer, he only uses his magic for good, but this guy…"

The prince was so lost in thought that he forgot to struggle.
'Gideon.' said the psychic to the black clothed man. 'Let's see what you can find. DON'T scar him.'
'You know I can't do much if it can't be seen.' sighed the wizard. 'Ah well, let's start.'
Kai closed his eyes. He didn't want to know what was going to happen. He didn't want to have to relive the images the rest of his life.
The wizard cast several spells on the body. The one more painful than the other. The prince cried out, and tears started falling down his cheeks.

"Please….stop…stop…what are they looking for? What do they need to know? Please…someone…make him stop…"

The prince fainted, gladly accepting the dark world around him. A dark world without pain for the time being.

-end flashback-

'When I woke up I couldn't remember all what happened. The only thing I knew was that my body hurt like hell, and that I was bleeding…' Said Kai. He didn't mention where, but Kenny knew that Boris had probably used the opportunity of the prince being out cold to please himself.
'That's awful. Did you tell Lord Voltaire?'
'I wanted to, but before I could reach him, Boris found me first, and threatened to kill you and Rei if I told anyone about it. I never saw those two men again, but sometimes they still haunt my dreams. I now know what they were looking for, but I don't understand why it was so important to Boris. Anyway, now you know why I 'freaked' earlier today. I must warn you though, if you tell this to anyone, I'll have to punish you, and I will do it.'
'I understand Master Kai…'
'Kai? Are you here?' called Rei from out the corridors.
'In my bathroom. Come in.' said Kai. The prince heard the door being unlocked and shortly after Rei came into his view.
'I've been searching for you for over an hour now. Why didn't you tell me you were going to take a bath…what…hey…why are you…and…Kenny…You told him?' asked Rei when he suddenly realised his brother had his wings exposed.
'Yes, I told him. I had to. Is Boris nearby?'
'In his room. Shall I lock the bathroom door again?' asked Rei while he approached Kai. The lock already closed before Kai could answer.
'You really use your magic too much bro.' teased Kai. 'Want to help me clean my wings?' he asked while he took out his pants again. He handed them to Kenny and slipped into the water again.
'Sure. What happened today though?' asked Rei while he took out his top.
'Why do you think something happened?'
'Because you ask me to join you. Normally you do that when there's something on your mind. So…what happened today?'
Kai smiled faintly. 'You're too smart bro.' he teased. 'I'll tell you in a sec…Kenny…?'
'Yeah, I know. I'll leave you two alone. Do you need my help after bathing Master Kai?'
'I'll manage. Thanks Kenny.'

When Kenny had left Kai sighed deep. 'Should I tell, or do you want to read my mind?' asked Kai while he started cleaning his left wing with a soft brush.
'I'll read your mind. It's faster, and it'll spare you from repeating it. Shall I take care of your right wing in the meantime?'
'Yeah, thanks bro.' Kai felt his adoptive brother enter his mind. He didn't mind though. They often did so, so they could talk even when they weren't in the same room. Over the years they had practised a lot with telepathically talking, and the only time Kai couldn't succeed was when Rei blocked him out. Rei could, if necessary, always read his brothers mind, but he didn't when Kai had made clear he didn't want to. Meanwhile also Rei started to brush Kai's crimson feathers. It was silent for a while, and when Kai didn't feel Rei anymore he turned around to face him.
'Why didn't you tell me? You know I would've wanted to be present when you talked to those two.'
'I know, but I knew you were meditating, and I know I shouldn't bother you then.' said Kai smiling nicely. 'But what do you think about those two?'
'The blond one is cute.' said Rei blushing slightly. 'I mean… they're strange, but we've got to find out more about them. They interest me, and I wonder how the blue haired teen knew about your wounds, and that you have been unconscious for a while.'
'Do you think I should contact them again?' asked Kai while he stretched his wings. 'Sorry.' he added when he almost hit Rei. 'I felt like stretching.' he teased.
'Right..' teased Rei. 'I don't know. I certainly want to speak to them. Maybe I'll go in the city tomorrow.'
'Tomorrow? I can't join you then…' said Kai a bit disappointed.
'Why not?'
'Grandfather wants me to get a new slave. He said I had to choose one tomorrow, but he didn't tell me when tomorrow. I'm practically stuck to the palace…'
'O? You didn't tell me that. Why do you need a new slave? Isn't Kenny enough of a help?' asked Rei surprised while he continued brushing his brothers wings.
'To me he is, but grandfather doesn't think about it in the same way. He probably wants someone else to look out after me. He knows I order Kenny to not tell him everything, and new slaves are easy to manipulate.'
'Hmm…do you want me to be present tomorrow Kai? In case your wounds start bleeding again or something like that? I could help you without even being near to you, or touching you, but I do have to see you if necessary.'
'If you could, I'd like that.'
'But…' added Rei
'But what?'
'I dunno. It sounded like you wanted to add a 'but'…'
'I did…I know you hate slavery…so do I, but I don't have a choice. You have.'
'I know, but if you want me to be by your side tomorrow, I will be.' said the neko jin smiling sincerely.
'Thanks Rei. But back to those two…did you know dragons could be held as pets?'
'No, I didn't, but I thought the same about phoenixes.' the black haired teen teased.
'Dranzer is not my pet.' teased Kai back.
'No she isn't, but who says that dragon was a pet?'
'True… now stop teasing and help me with my wings.' said Kai nudging Rei softly in his side. 'I don't get a lot of time to let them out you know.'

TBC