'….' Spoken
"…." Thoughts
italics bitbeast/master talking
/italics/ - telepathic between Rei and -x-

Chapter 6

Kai and Rei stayed in the bathroom a bit longer than planned.
After an hour and a half someone started knocking on the door.
'Shit…who is it Rei?' asked Kai while he tried to concentrate to call back his wings into his body.
'It's Boris…' said Rei. 'Yes!' called Rei. 'Who is there?'
'I need to speak to Kai.' said Boris, ignoring the neko's question.
'Just a second.' called Rei. He eyed Kai, who's wings had just disappeared. 'Want to take some clothes on first?'
'I don't think Boris can wait that long…He was pissed off this morning, and I doubt his mood has changed. As long as you are with me
he won't do anything.'
'Okay. I'm unlocking the door then…'
/Pretend you're washing my back…/ said Kai telepathically.
The two princes heard a click, and almost immediately Boris entered.
'What's wrong Boris?' asked the crown prince.
'I wished to talk with you privately, about tomorrow.' said the man.
'Everything I have to say Rei can know. Besides, I'm quite enjoying my bath at the moment.'
'I…' started Boris annoyed.
'Master Kai?' interrupted Kenny. 'Lord Voltaire requested you and Rei to be present at dinner in a few minutes.'
'Thanks Kenny.' said Kai. He turned to Boris. 'Excuse us but we have to dress.'
Boris practically exploded, but left.

'Kenny?'
'Yes Master Kai.'
'Do we really have to attend dinner? Or did you just save me from a horrible conversation?' asked Kai while he got out the pool and
started drying his body.
'Both.' said Kenny smiling. 'I was send by Lord Voltaire to get you two, but it'll take a while before dinner is prepared. When I saw
Boris enter your bathroom I thought I could help you a bit.'
'You're a life saver Kenny.' said Rei patting the slave on his shoulder after he'd taken on his pants. 'But I wonder what Boris wanted… I'm sure he didn't want to talk about tomorrow…'
'He was just hoping to catch me alone I guess.' said Kai indifferent, as he took on his black tank top. 'Kenny, do we have guests at dinner?'
'No. Just the normal attendants.'
'Then I don't have to overdress myself…' said the prince sighing. 'Sometimes I really wish I wasn't the crown prince…'

When Rei and Kai entered the dining room the first thing they noticed was that Boris wasn't there.
'Where do you think he is?' asked Rei whispering while he sat down next to Kai.
'I don't know. It's strange, but it confirms my suspicion he only wants me 'privately.' Good afternoon grandfather.' added Kai while he turned to his grandfather.
/He doesn't look too good Rei. Can you sense anything wrong with him/ asked Kai

/No, I can't sense anything wrong at the moment… maybe he took a disease or something like that…/

'How's your back?' asked Voltaire after he'd taken a sip of wine.
'Fine. It's healing very well. Thanks to Rei's help.' said Kai.
'And thanks to you I still can't use spells that need a high level of magic.' teased Rei. 'It wore me out, almost completely you know.' he
said winking.
'I know bro, I know. I'm grateful for your help.' said Kai while he filled his plate. 'About tomorrow grandfather… I still don't see why I need a new slave. Kenny is more than enough help.'
'We've had this discussion before Kai. I want you to pick a new slave, and that's final.'
'Do you want me to, or did Boris advise you?' said Kai dryly.
'Kai! You don't speak about your mentor in such a way!'
'Excuse me, but I don't see him as my mentor anymore. I've learned what I had to learn, and he's more a nuisance to me now than a help.'
'Kai!' said the king pissed.
'Let it be bro…' said Rei softly. /We already know what is going on in the castle…/
'Fine… I'm sorry for my accusation. May I leave?'
'Apology accepted. Yes, you may leave. You may go too Rei, if you want.'

When the two princes were out of the dining room Rei said: 'Why did you do that Kai?'
'I don't know. It just came out…just forget it, and help think of a way to get rid of Boris.'
'I will, you know that, but still…Grandfather will report this to Boris, you know that…'
'I know. I don't care. I'm too busy with other things to care though.'
'Whatever you say bro…' said Rei in a disbelieving tone. "You'll regret that decision bro…" thought the black haired teen. Not in annoyance, but more in worry.

Kai didn't sleep well that night. He didn't have nightmares but his dreams were far from pleasant. Just before he woke up he dreamed about his meeting with Takao and Max. When he woke up the only thing he remembered was the blue haired 'stranger' who knew so much about him without ever having the chance of meeting him before.
'Master Kai? Are you awake?' asked Kenny when he noticed the prince shift in bed. Kenny was already awake, and had prepared the
princes formal attire.
'Good morning' Groaned Kai.
'Bad dream?'
'Yes…no…sort of.. Help me remember that I find out where those two from yesterday come from.' he said while he sat up.
'Before or after the formalities?'
'After. Grandfather hasn't given me a specific time yet. I can't just leave. By the way, I just need my normal clothing for breakfast.' said
the prince when he saw the cloths prepared by Kenny. 'Thanks for preparing them though.'
'I'll get your clothes right away.'
Kai yawned and stretched himself, noticing his wounds didn't hurt anymore. He could still feel them, but they weren't painful.

"Dranzer did a good job with my back…Where is she by the way, I haven't seen her since yesterday…"

Kai took on his clothes and started brushing his hair. When he was finished he felt Dranzer land on his head.
'Hey, I just brushed my hair you know.' he teased while looking at his friend in the mirror.

I know, that's why I did it. teased Dranzer.

'I've got to go and join grandfather at breakfast. Did you find anything?'

I'm afraid not Master Kai. I do know where they've spend the night, but I couldn't find out anything more…the dragon was constantly following me around.

'A well, nothing that can be done about it. Maybe I'll go to them myself…'

Are you sure Master Kai? Because yesterday…

'Don't worry. I'm fine. I overreacted…'

I'll see you when you have to pick your slave then. I'll be watching you.

'What? What if you're seen, you can't just do that…'

I risk being seen every day Master Kai. The castle isn't a safe place for me either if I want to stay not known…

'That might be true, but there will be a lot of people watching…there always are a lot of people watching with something 'special'…'

Master Kai, you worry too much. To a lot of people I'll be too far away to see what I really am. Don't worry.

'If you say so Dranzer. Well. I guess I see you later today then, I really have to go to breakfast now…' said the prince patting the phoenix on her head.

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

'Can we go outside again without being followed Dragoon?' asked Takao, looking out the bedroom window.

She isn't close by anymore, but please, be cautious Takao-sama…

'I will Dragoon, I will.'
'So. What are we going to do now?' asked Max. 'Getting caught isn't that big of a problem, being made a slave is different. We could be killed instead of sold into slavery! Besides, I really don't agree with you. Slavery Takao! Slavery!' said the blond teen, restlessly pacing through the room.
'You don't have to follow me Max, you know that. I've made up my mind though.'
'Where you go, I go. But that doesn't mean I agree with it!' reacted the blond, almost angry. 'Anyway, what are we going to do with our weapons, personal stuff, the horses…they were raised especially for the royal family. We can't just sell them…'
'I'll send them back home. They know where to go.'
'But Takao, what if…'
'If this, if that… everything can happen, I know… I can't do anything about it if I want to go on with my plan.'
'Takao…' tried Max again.
'Don't Max. I don't want to fight with you. My decision is made. I'm not going to change it. Either help me, or go back home.'

That stung.

'Takao…' said Max, almost crying… 'You're making a big mistake…You're going to regret that decision…'
'Max…' said Takao nicely. He approached the blond teen and gave him a hug. 'I wouldn't know what to do without you, but if you decide to stop now, I can understand. I won't force you into anything.'
'But you are forcing yourself. No one should force themselves into something…' said Max softly.
'Max…I want this…well, not this, but I know I have to do this. I know this is what I have to do to be with him…'
'But…'
'Shhh… I know what you want to say… I'm going. You don't have to.' said the blue haired teen, sitting down on the bed. Max followed him.
'Takao…I promised I'll follow you, protect you… I will keep that promise…'
'Thanks Max. I really appreciate it. You're the best friend a man can get, you know that?'
'Yeah, and you're the worst idiot on the planet.' teased Max back. 'So back to one of my first questions…what are we going to do with our stuff and the horses?'

TBC

O.o … I planned to already be with the choosing of the slave by now…but so many things just popped in my head, I just had to write them! Sorry for that. In the next chapter though, Kai and Takao will meet again, and so will Max and Rei.

Thanks for all who reviewed, it really means a lot to me that there are people who take the time to read my stories.

Btw, I forgot to mention in previous chapters, my mother tongue isn't English, it's Dutch. I do not have a BETA reader, so there are definitely grammar and spelling mistakes in it. Sorry for that. Point the mistakes out and I'll correct them ;)

Until next time!

/Yume