AN: Hello. Well, here's the next chapter. Which I hate with a passion and was devilishly hard to write. Not to mention absolutely dissatisfying and short as hell. But I decided to post anyway and get past this stupid point. (Looks grumpy)

Warning: Besides the usual, which I don't need to warn you about. (In fact you're probably reading this because of it.) So the only warning...sucky writing. Oh yeah, and very little substance. (Winces) Well, I'm just trying to be honest. Oh, and it's not beta-ed and probably has a million mistakes. Sorry.

Soul's Journey

Last Time:

Forcing himself to calm down after Kai's touch, Tyson steeled himself. He couldn't tell Kai. He would have to do without his mate.

Taking a deep breath, he opened his eyes. And noticed the concerned faces of his friends staring back at him.

Chapter Nine

The Trouble with Wings

"You okay Ty?" Asked Max, concern easy to hear in his voice. The blonde looked like he wanted to hug him, but refrained. "You suddenly stopped and started shaking. You didn't even hear us calling you."

Tyson did his best to give a reassuring smile. Thankfully, he was quite practiced at smiling even when he didn't feel like it. "I'm okay. Just got some weird feelings through my wings. Nothing to concern yourself with." Tyson felt like applauding himself. That wasn't even a lie.

"Are you sure Tyson?" Rei was studying him with those golden eyes. "It wasn't anything to do with Damien or demons?"

"I'm sure. It had nothing to do with them." Tyson stated quite firmly. "Trust me."

They must have seen the truth in his eyes because they dropped it. Though Tyson was sure they would still watch him out of concern for his well being. He couldn't blame them for that. If the positions had been reversed, he would have done the same thing. Still, he would have to be careful.

Sighing inwardly, Tyson looked up at his friends (At times like these he wished the Chief were here. Then he wouldn't feel so short. He had to look up at everybody!) "I guess it's time we should go. We've been here long enough."

Tyson watched in slight confusion as weird looks spread across his friends faces. What? Was it something he said? Why were they looking at him like that? Did he suddenly turn pink or something? "What?"

Max and Rei shared a look. "Um, Tyson, how exactly are you going to do that?" Max asked slowly.

Tyson blinked. Huh? "Do what?"

"Uh...leave?"

Tyson scrunched up his nose in confusion. "How am I going to leave?" At Max's nod, Tyson's confusion rose another notch. "By walking out the door?" It was supposed to be a statement, but it came out as more of a question.

"Well, yes Tyson, that is how one would leave." Rei's fang flashed as he grinned. "I think Max is trying to ask how you plan to leave without anyone seeing those." He motioned to the two quite large, much too realistic wings that at the moment were half spread in a comfortable balanced position.

Tyson felt his face flush with heat. He had totally forgotten about his wings! They just seemed so natural, like he had had them forever. Once he had gotten used to them, he hadn't given them another thought.

"I, I don't know." He managed to stutter out a moment latter. How on earth was he going to get out of here! He was pretty sure people would notice a boy with huge white wings walking down the street! And flying was out of the question. If someone saw him... he didn't even want to think about it. Most likely they would think him an angel, an alien, or a government experiment gone awry. Not good.

"Well, can you like make them disappear or something? Or make them smaller?"

Tyson looked at Max incredulously. Make them smaller? How on Earth would he make his wings smaller? He didn't exactly have a shrinking potion in his pocket. Or a magic spell up his sleeve. "I can't make them smaller. And as for making them disappear... I don't know."

"You don't know? How could you not know? You're Gabriel aren't you?"

Tyson looked up at them all. Ah, how to explain? "Yes, but I am more Tyson then Gabriel. And I don't remember everything. Some stuff is still blank or fuzzy like." He shrugged. "I guess giving me everything all at once would have sorta, I don't know, short circuited my brain or something. So I only remember some things. Mostly feelings actually. It's kinda like I have slight amnesia and things are slowly coming back to me."

A look of understanding seemed to pass over everyone's face. That made sense actually. "Do you have any idea how long before all your memories come back?" Rei asked.

Tyson simply shook his head.

"Well, that still doesn't explain how you're going to leave." Max crossed his arms and put on his thinking face. "Hmm...we could, nah too eye-catching, maybe...? No, we don't have the materials. How about...?"

The others decided to simply ignore Max for now. And hope that he didn't think of anything too crazy.

"In your memories, do you remember ever not having your wings?" A cool voice asked. Everyone, save Max who was still mumbling, looked over at Tala in surprise. (Or anger in Kai's case)

"Um... yeah actually. Why?"

"Well then, now you know that it is at least possible to make your wings go away." Tyson's eyes widened as he looked at Tala. That's right! If he remembered not having his wings at times then he must be able to put them away. But how?

Feathers, this was so annoying! He just wanted his wings to go away for a little while so he could leave. Was that too much to ask for? Go away wings!

"Tyson?"

He needed to put them away. He really, really wished he could remember how. It was so frustrating!

"Tyson."

And he wanted to leave so badly. He needed to get away for awhile. Away from Kai. He needed to think, and he couldn't do that with his mate so close and at the same time so far away from him. So much had happened to him today.

"Tyson!"

He was tired. Really tired. And he wanted his mate so badly it hurt. And he couldn't have him. It made him want to cry, or scream, or maybe just hit something! He needed to leave, before he did do one of those things. Or all three. Why wouldn't his wings go away so he could go home already!

"Tyson!"

Whipping his head around, Tyson jumped about a foot in the air. "What?" He squeaked out. "Don't scare me like that!" Clutching his hand to his chest, beneath which his heart was beating erratically, he looked as his friends. Who in turn were looking over his shoulder. "Um, guys?"

No one spoke. Surprising, it was Kai who did anything. With a wave of his hand, he motioned behind Tyson. Feeling slightly freaked, he turned his head. To look at nothing. There was nothing behind him. Nothing at all.

"Wha...my wings! They're gone! But how?"

"They just kinda, uh, disappeared." Max said slowly.

"Really?"

Suddenly, Kai's voice spoke up. Slightly startling since he hadn't spoken since...had he spoken at all! "Does it matter how it happened? It's what you wanted correct? Now we can leave."

A sharp spike of pain flew through Tyson as the irrational thought of Kai wants to get away from me!, flew through his head. Mentally shaking himself, Tyson couldn't help but think, what was that? That wasn't normal Tyson thoughts. Strange.

Tyson forced a smile on his face. It was hard, but he managed. "Yeah, Kai's right. We can all go now."

His friends looked unsure at first, but eventually they said there good byes and everyone left. But as Tyson made his way home, he couldn't help but wonder. Now that it had finally happened, how different were things going to be? Not to mention...Damian.

Standing outside the entrance to his home, Tyson looked up at the sky. The sun was getting ready to go down. He hadn't realized that they had spoken for so long. Of course, he had been unconscious for a portion of it. But, so much had happened today. And he had a feeling, a bad feeling. Something was going to happen. Something big, and something most decidedly not good.

"Damian, if you can hear me, please don't do anything foolish." He whispered into the wind, before heading inside.

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

Somewhere, deep inside mountains that no human ever ventured, things were stirring. Someone, something within had felt it. What he had been waiting for. A burst of power, a familiar pulse. Finally, after so long, he had come back.

The mysterious being already felt the stirring in his blood, the re-awakening of his spirit. Soon, very soon, he would finally get what he deserved. What he should have, would have had if others hadn't gotten in his way. And this time, NO ONE would stop him. He felt a grin tug his lips for the first time in centuries. Yes, this time things would go the way he willed.

Fangs glinted as he opened his mouth, uttering the one name that said it all. "Gabriel..."

TBC

AN: I was way too stuck on this part. But don't worry; the next chapter starts the real stuff. The heart of the story. Up till now, it's just sort of been preparation. In fact, the only part I liked of this chapter was the end. Which, incidentally, was what I was trying to get too. --

Well, thanks for reading. The next chapter will be up much faster than the last one. Oh, and all of you that reviewed. Thank you! Glomps you all I think reviews are the only thing that go me through this horrible block. (Mutters, block heh, more like Mountain.) I love you all. (Sniff)

Till next time,

Wing