I'm sorry the chapters are so short... I'm balancing five choirs, two plays (come see the first in January!), and a handful of difficult classes. And how'd I get a C in gym? My teacher says that I haven't fulfilled the requirements and that I don't participate in class, but that's total BS. Augh, I'm so worked up now that I think I'm going to throw my chair in a fit of rage.

"Kai, where are we going?" Tala hissed quietly, as they moved quickly through the aisles the train.

"We need to be someplace safe." Kai's lips were drawn into a tight white line, eyes smoldering. "I'm bringing you to the Bladebreakers." Tala stopped and pulled his lover's arm, bringing him to a halt.

"Kai, they hate me, if you haven't noticed," he said, raising an eyebrow. "They'll kill me." Kai glanced around (while ignoring the question), and pulled Tala into an empty train compartment.

"I at least have to go back to get some things we'll need..." Kai chewed his lip in subliminal anxiety before smiling. "But until we get there... It's just us." From inside his pocket, he pulled out a paperback picture book.

"...The Disney version of Pinocchio?" Kai coughed and shrugged, refusing eye contact.

"...Uh, yeah. I stole it."

"It looks fairly old."

"It was from a used book store."

"We didn't pass any-"

"Hey, you want to read it or not?" Kai huffily turned to the first page. Tala let out a small laugh and rested his chin against Kai's shoulder as they read. And they continued to read until they reached the Bladebreakers.

--

Kai silently crept through the still open window of the hotel and motioned for Tala to follow. Everything was still in its place. Kai assumed that no one had even noticed his absence: he wasn't exactly taken into account for social matters. Moving swiftly, he gathered his money, a pocket watch, and a long thin knife, which he placed in his boot.

"Stay close to me," he ordered grimly. Pushing open the bedroom door into the conjoining living quarters, Kai cleared his throat, to which the rest of the team turned to face him.

"Oh, hey Kai. Need something?"

"Guys, I'm sure you remember Tala." The room fell silent as their eyes filled with anger. Tyson's voice broke the dead air.

"Who do you think you are, bringing him here?" Kai noticed Max slowly inching towards the telephone.

"He's wanted for rape and murder, Kai!" Kenny exclaimed, turning on the television, which depicted Tala's unsmiling face on the screen. Kai narrowed his eyes and looked towards Tala. This was a problem. Tyson rose from his seat lazily.

"And I hear he's a faggot, too," he spat, moving as to block Max from view. The blunette rolled his eyes and wordlessly withdrew the blade from its confines.

"Stop trying to buy time, Tyson," he hissed. In two swift strokes, Kai swung his arm and slit Tyson's throat, spraying blood across the nearest wall, and cut the telephone cord, severing connection to the outside world. He stepped closer to the blonde in front of him, smirking. "Clearly, it's not going to matter if I tell you that those are mere accusations, ne? I'm sorry, boys, but I can't let you leave, now."

Tala watched with stoic interest as his lover cut down his own teammates, until he saw Kenny attempt to reach the door. Under instinct, Tala grabbed him by the shoulder and whirled him around, pinning him against the door by the throat. Applying more pressure, the brunette soon relaxed into the confining hold and slid down to the floor dead.

"Rei." Kai's voice cut through the air cleanly, as he eyed the nekojin while bending to retrieve the wallets of his fallen comrades. "You will live. You will be a witness to this crime. You will make it clear to the authorities that we were never hear. Understand?" Rei quieted his gasping breaths and nodded. "Let's go, Tala." Once again, they left through the window and headed to the train station.

"Boris is more intelligent than I thought," Kai spat, once settled into another compartment, "using his connections to get you high on the most wanted list... The whole world's looking for you." Tala remained silent, face turned away from his partner. "Tala, what's wrong? Tala?" His voice softened, as he gently turned the pale face to look at him. "Why are you crying?"

"The Blue Fairy," Tala whispered, feeling disgustingly vulnerable and immature, "only turns those who are good to real boys." Kai frowned and pulled the redhead into a hug.

"Tala, listen. In the real version of Pinocchio, the Blue Fairy doesn't make him human. Rather, he is already carved from living wood and changes himself." Kai's voice trailed off, as he wiped away the wetness with his sleeves and placed a kiss on Tala's forehead. "Who needs the Blue Fairy? I hear she can be a real bitch." Tala gave a short laugh and wrapped his arms around Kai's waist.

"I love you, Kai." And he meant it. Tala closed his eyes and knew that as long as had his hero, his past and faults meant nothing.

I am very sick right now. Bahhhh.