Chapter 20!Thanks for the reviews!

chapter 20: The truth about my life

Kai slowly opened his eyes. He was surrounded by golden light. He looked down, and saw that what he was standing at, wasn't the dirty ground in the forest, but a clean white stone. In front of him, was a small stone-bridge, and in the middle, a waterfall. The water cascaded down from nothing, and there was nothing else than the water, the bridge, and Kai. Everything else was light! Was he dreaming? No, it felt real. I cant describe all the things he saw, actually no one can. That place its kinda hard to describe, but it was something like that. One thing is shure, Kai had never seen anything like it in his life. He walked slowly over the bridge, and was just about to reach his arm out to touch the water, when he saw someone on the other side of it.

He gasped, and took a few steps backwards. Behind the waterfall, stood an old woman. She was wearing a golden dress, and her hair shined in the light from a sun Kai was too blinded to see. A beautiful, red bird sat on her arm, and looked at him with warm, black eyes. The woman smiled.

Kai swallowed. "Who...who are you?"

:Dont you recognize me?: She looked a bit disappointed.

And then he understood. "Dranzer?!"

Dranzer nodded. :Yes, it's me.:

"But where...where am I?"

:You're home.:

Kai's eyes widen. "What do you mean?" But he understood exactly what she meant. "Am I...dead?"

She laughed. :Master, you humans looks at death like something horrible. But did you feel any pain at all?:

"No, I didn't... But, I dont understand! What happened? The last thing I remember is that Voltaire shot Gryff!"

:No, he didn't. Gryff is okay. Now, he's with your friends, fighting for their lifes:

"What? But-"

:Master, you did the exact same thing for your friends, that you father did for his family...:

Kai's mouth dropped open. "But, thats not possible! Only a count can do that, they're the only ones who got the power!"

:Thats right! Only a secound before Voltaire tried to shoot Gryff, you turned eighteen. And that means that you are the new Count Hiwatari!:

Kai stood still, and looked into the old womans eyes. :And that means: she continued. :that you had the power to protect Gryff. You died to save his life:

Suddenly, the whole glade was covered in fire! Ray screamed, and covered his head with his arms. But nothing happened, he didn't get burned. He looked up. Helena had fell down from the horse, whitch he guessed, had escaped. The ten soldiers had thrown Tala, Spencer, Ian and the unconscious Bryan, to the ground. They tried to run away, but tripped in each other. Voltaire had lost his balance, and tried to get up, while supporting himself to a nearby tree.

"NO!" Gryff yelled, as the fire disappeared. Kai was lying on the ground, his clear eyes looking up at the sky without seing it. Gryff dropped down beside him. "Kai?" he whispered, and looked into his eyes. The stars reflected in them. He didn't care if Voltaire shot him now or not. The only thing that mattered, was that he would never hear Kai laugh again. Never.

Tala sat down beside him, looked down at his friend. It felt like time passed by slower that usual...

"Get up!" Voltaire looked down at them.

"Dranzer...theres some things I really wants to know..."

She smiled, and stroke the birds red feathers. :You want to know about the counts, and how they got their powers...:

He didn't ask how she knew that, just nodded. :Master, do you think that you are a human?:

Kai frowned. "What else should I be?"

:Well, you and your family never have been humans. I remember the first person of your family, that I met. That's long time ago now, nearly seven hundred years... She was a wery good mistress, and I gave her a gift in return. The most powerful gift ever created!:

Kai steared in wonder. :A choice.:

"A choice? What kind of choice?"

:I asked her, if she wanted to live with the humans, as the most powerful amongst them. And she answered: 'Dranzer. Your offer is huge, but I know that I would have done a big mistake if I said yes. I dont want any change. You are the only one I've got, but I have never been happier! I dont want to lose that.' And because of her pure heart, I gave her the only thing she needed to survive. Freedom. Being a phoenix, means freedom.:

"You changed her into a phoenix?!"

:Yes, I did. And I have done the same to all those who can call themselves: Count Hiwatari. You're not a human Master. You're a phoenix.:

Kai laughed. "But thats impossible! I think I would have known if I wa sa phoenix! They are...well..." He pointed at the red bird. "...birds."

:If you dont belive me, I suggest that you ask him.: She pointed over his shoulder. Kai turned around, and gasped. A man stood in front of him. He had two-toned hair and crimson eyes just like him. He was wearing a white shirt and white pants. An old rapier hang from his belt, the same Kai had used when he challenged Voltaire so many years ago.

"Dad!" He ran forward and threw his arms around his fathers neck. "Dad. Oh, I've missed you so mutch!"

"I've missed you too Kai." He held Kai on a arm's lenght, while Kai dryed his eyes with his hand. "I must say you have grown! Last time I saw you, I could hold you in my hands!" He looked up at the old woman. "Hallo Dranzer. I see you have taken good care of him..."

:I've done my best, sir:

"And Kai..." He looked down into his son's eyes. "What Dranzer says is true. I'm sorry I never told you, but I thought you wouldn't understand. Maybe I was wrong..."

Kai smiled. "I see... But, how's mom? And Anya! Where are they?" Armand Hiwatari hesitated. "Well...actually, I dont know..."

"But, aren't they here?"

"No. You see, when a phoenix dies to save someone they love, the protection is complete, at least for some hours..." He smirked.

"What? Do you mean that-"

"Yes, I think they survived, like you did..."

:Master.: He turned around and looked into Dranzer's warm eyes. :There's one more thing. I am, as I think you have noticed, wery old. Have you ever heard the story about the phoenix?:

Armand placed a hand on Kai's shoulder. "Upon the completion of its life cycle, the famed firebird burns until nothing but ashes remains. And from that ash and flame, the phoenix rises!"

Dranzer lifted her arm, and the red phoenix took off, and flew up to the golden sky. Up to the sun...

"You mean that?-"

:Yes, Master. My time will soon be complete. That's why I disappeared all the time. I wasn't strong enough to be with you in wery long time.:

"But that means that-!"

:No, Master. I'm not going to die. You're forgetting the last sentence! And now, I will give you what I gave my first mistress! A choice...:

Kai looked up at his father, who nodded, and smiled.

:I will give you the chanse to move on with your father. Or to return to earth to complete the task He gave you..."

"He? You mean...God?" Dranzer's eyes shined, but she didn't answer. "But, I'm confused! What task? I cant fight Voltaire!"

"Kai." Armand said. "The strongest doesn't necessarily win! Do you remember the story I told you when you were a child? About a young man that fought one of the best swordsmen in the country. The other man was muth stronger than him, but d'Artagnan moved so fast, he couldn't get near him!"

Kai nodded, he remembered that like it was yesterday. "But I dont thing we will be fighting with rapiers."

"Kai, the weapon has nothing to do with it! Its you that matter! What you choose to do! I know you cant compare to d'Artagnan! No one can! But its all in here..." He placed a hand over Kai's heart. "...you got something Voltaire doesn't have!"

"Wait! I've heard that sentence before. If you just replace 'Voltaire' with 'Voldemort', I think you've got it..."

Armand laughed out loud. "Hey! I'm trying to be serious here! But you're right! I doesn't mean 'love', although that's something he doesn't have. Or, maybe I do. I just know, that you will figure it out one day."

:Master, I'm ready when you are.:

Kai nodded. "You're right. Dad, I wish that I could come with you. But, I can't. Not yet." He hugged his father, and felt that more tears threatened to fall. "I'm wery proud of you Kai. I hope you know that. And one day, we will meet again. I promise..."

Kai looked at him for the last time, before he turned towards Dranzer. She smiled, and reached out her hand. Kai did the same, and their hands met, in the middle of the waterfall.

"And by the way Dranzer, the name is Kai, not Master."

Everything disappeared in a blinding light. The bridge, the waterfall...his father, who smiled at his only son, disappeared in golden light. Kai felt a bit weird. He was on his way back! Back to those he loved more than everything! He closed his eyes, and secounds later, he opened them again. And the first thing he saw, was Gryff, who sat beside him, crying.

Yay! Long chapter! I've been waiting for this chapter since the first one! The answer to nearly everything! Surprised? I hope you're glad Gryff survived:P Oh, and that story Armand was talking about! You should read it! Its one of the most beautiful stories I have ever read: The three Musketeers.

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