I've been rather busy but enjoy the two chapters I've uploaded. Thanks again for support to all and please keep reading/reviewing!

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

~ Harmless Curiosity ~

The time now reads seven fifty. Outside the glass windows of the airport, the skies appear clear and calm, yet strangely bland and dull. Passengers rush to board, some saying tearful goodbyes to their loved ones and others calmly handing in their tickets. A group of teenagers carrying very small amounts of luggage await their flight to be called in the corner near the bright yet dull windows. Of the five, two of them sit quietly while another two stand with their back against the wall that divides their section from the section adjacent. The two toned member of their group gazes outside, watching dispassionately as planes arrive and depart. A curious face framed in gold looks curiously around the building and tugs gently on the sleeve of the redhead sitting next to her to catch his attention.

Tala turns to Lux momentarily and answers her with a silent glance.

"What are all those shops over there?" She asks, her eyes burning with curiosity.

"They're souvenir shops. Why?" he replies without much thought.

Lux looks at the shops some more. "I want to go see the shops…"

"Our flight will be here soon, so I suggest you forget that idea." Tala replies softly.

He turns from her but continues to watch her a slight bit longer through the corner of his eye. He eventually turns his eyes away but his expression now bares a barely noticeable touch of melancholy as his thoughts wander to a time long before when he had heard similar words. He recalls the expression he had only just seen and thinks back to the young girl in his memory whose eyes bore that same expression of inquisitiveness so long ago. He turns back to her one more time to watch her, unaware that the two toned blue haired youth had shifted his gaze from the outside to the two of them.

Soon, Tala's thoughts are disrupted by the robot-like voice announcing their flight to Moscow. Lux looks to the stores one more time in longing curiosity before turning to line up with Kai and the Blitzkreig Boys to board their plane.

...

Meanwhile, in a dull warehouse seemingly ready to fall apart, a black clad youth lays atop some crates reading a magazine while his silent companion leans, eyes closed, in a corner. Sounds of construction are faintly audible in the distance and unable to disturb the two. The lightly glowing eyes of the reader stares motionless at the image and text covered page for a while. Unable to focus and tired from holding the booklet, Wyvynn slams the magazine aside and sits up.

"Something the matter?" Zane asks, his eyes still closed.

"No, nothing." Wyvynn replies.

"You're bothered by Lok's attitude, aren't you?" Zane continues. "You're thinking over what he said to us in the beginning and thinking about his current actions and his treatment of Sparky…aren't you?"

Wyvynn keeps his glance elsewhere. "Why would I bother to think that?"

Zane remains silent for a moment. "You're idealistic. That's why it bothers you. You saw how he lied to Lux to trick her to come with us and you wonder if or not he's lieing to you as well."

"Shut up, will ya?" Wyvynn says almost in a whisper.

Zane remains quiet but opens his eyes to gaze at the outside.

Wyvynn then jumps off the crate.

"I'm gonna go for a walk, 'kay?" Wyvynn mutters as he shuffles his feet toward the door.

Zane watches him go but returns to his previous position soon after.

...

The clouds hang low, covering the shining orb that has yet to cross the celestial meridian. Light rain has also started to fall, casting a silvery, wet veil over the city of Moscow. At the airport, the sounds of jet engines are audible as planes land and depart. A particular plane moves slowly as it closes in on a ready terminal. Momentarily after its halt, passengers begin to exit the winged vehicle at a slow pace. Five teenagers consisting of one female and four males exit together amongst this group, flowing slowly with the rest like leaves down a river to the baggage pick up and customs. As they move toward customs, glittering shops along the way catch the eye of the golden haired girl in their group. Almost automatically, she walks a little closer, tacitly expressing her desire to see the items there.

"Lux, we have to go through customs." Kai reminds her, taking hold of her arm gently.

Lux turns to him with a look of disappointment that immediately begins to soften his determination for them to move.

"She just wants to take a quick glance." Kai turns to Tala who then suggests, "If you're worried, one of us could just go with her."

Lux's face lit up upon hearing that.

Kai turns back to her and sighs, letting go of her arm.

Taking that as a sign of approval, Lux runs off toward the souvenir shops.

"She was always curious to see things that are sold in stores back then too..." Tala notes softly out loud.

Kai turns to him but soon refocuses again onto Lux to watch over her while she picks out a small stuffed cat off the shelf. He continues to watch as the shop owner approaches her to ask something likely typical of shop owners. Lux replies with some form of question and gets a reply. She then turns to Kai for a moment and then back to the stuffed toy. Interpretting this as she wants the toy, Kai approaches them.

"You want that right?" he asks her.

Lux nods but then quickly shakes her head instead causing Kai to be confused.

"Uhm...its ok!" she says, getting ready to put down the toy. "You've bought me a lot of things in the past when I went shopping with Hilary...so..."

"Here." Kai sighs softly and holds out his credit card to the shop owner.

Lux turns to him surprised.

"It's fine..." he tells her.

Lux stayed silent for a few moments unable to find words. She wholeheartedly appreciated his kindness towards her. Holding the small stuffed animal close to her, she softly utters,"Thank you"

After the purchase was complete, the two of them head back to the rest of their group to line up for customs. When that finished, they head toward the exit but as they do they are greeted by a short russian boy who shares a similar sense of style with Tala, Spencer and Bryan.

"Ian!" Tala looks at him with surprise. "What are you doing here? I thought I told you to hide from those goons."

"You said you guys would be coming back today so I came to get you" he replies with a friendly smile.

"But-" Spencer begins.

"But nothing, those guys' headquarters are toast. I'll explain later." Ian then turns to Lux. "Who's the girl?"

Lux stares back at him while holding onto the small toy Kai bought for her.

"Her name's Lux." Kai introduces her, seeing as she forgot to introduce herself.

This snaps Lux to attention.

"Uhm...It's very nice to meet you..." she says softly, trying to make up for her inattentiveness.

"I'm Ian, nice to meet you too." Ian returns. "Anyways let's head over to our temporary place"

"Temporary?" Kai questions.

"Our old place got stormed." Tala answers.

Satisfied, Kai move along with them, leading Lux along in the process.