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GOB: Yay, finally an update. I apologize for not updating sooner, but lots of things to deal with, and school just started, yuck!

Kai: Excuses, excuses...

Akira: Oh, shut up!

TEA: YOU LET ME GET KIDNAPPED!!! BAKA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GOB: Err... hehe, um, here are the thanks and replies to you wonderful reviewers! Boo... only 9? Oh, well, can't blame you people for getting mad about my late updates... PWEASE FORGIVETH ME OH GREAT LORDS AND LORD-ESSES OF REVIEWER-NESS TAKE PITY ON MY POOR DEMENTED SOUL!

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Kazeilla: Yep, I had my OC kidnapped! Hope you don't hate me too much for these lack of updates!

Hiwatari-gurl: Yeah, 2 more quotes!!! 2 more quotes!!! And yes cliffy!

Pyro-At-Heart: Glad you liked it! Hope you like this chapter too!

MasterFranny: Wow, thanks a bunch! Don't worry; I'm going to start packing in the information! Hope it keeps you readers happy!

Syaoran-Lover: Lol, glad you liked it so much! I hope this one will live up to your expectations!

RedLefty: Yeah, Tala does need a threat. BUT KAI-KUN GETS ONE FIRST!!!

Phoenix the 1st: Authors aren't updating thanks to the penitentiary also known as school!

Kira (Kai's twin): Lol, I already read those fics! And I know pink is not the new black, but who'd tell Kai that when he's wearing a pink shirt... just imagine him topless... drools...

Kawaii Angelwings: I AM NOT A MAN!!! But thanks for the review!!!

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GOB: And on with the fic!!!

Akira: GOB doesn't own anything that is copyrighted by someone else.

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"Oh. My. God."

That was the general expression on everyone's faces when Akira walked into the dining hall, followed by Kai, Tala, and Bren.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! YOU GUYS ARE WEARING PINK!!!" Tyson burst out, laughing his head off, whereas everyone else looked at him horrified...

Kai, Tala, and Bren were going to murder him, didn't he understand that?

Kai exchanged glances with Tala and then with Bren, he slightly nodded.

Bren stepped forward and said calmly, "We know, isn't it awesome?"

Tala smirked and added, "After all, pink IS the new black!"

Kai smirked devilishly, and finished off with, "What do YOU think?"

All boys stared intently at the others, awaiting their answer.

Needless to say, the replies were all,

"Oh yeah!"

"Totally cool!"

"Where can I get one?"

After all, who'd insult Hiwatari Kai and Ivanov Tala? Bren was lucky he was with those two...

And Akira... Well, she found the whole thing hilarious!

After that incident, things proceeded normally, that is until Kei got an extra key to Tea's room to go get her. It was time to eat after all, and she had been in her room all day.

As everyone was talking merrily, Keisuke burst through the doors yelling his head off.

After he had calmed down to speak, he uttered only three words before Kai sped off, closely followed by everyone else,

"Tea's... Been kidnapped."

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Kai raced through the crowded hallways of the hotel, shoving people out of his way, and rushing off before their raging comments could reach his ears. Nothing was worth stopping for. Not even Dranzer who had fallen out of Kai's pocket as he ran...

(GOB: HE LOST DRANZER!!! AHHHHHHH!!!)

He threaded in and out and slammed his fist against the elevator button, but gave up after a mere two seconds, opting for the stairs instead. He bolted up the stairs, taking them 2,3,4,5 steps a time, and swinging himself up higher with the stair rails, rather than just running up the steps.

All he could think about was making sure his sister was okay. He had promised his parents that he would never let anyone or anything hurt his brothers and sisters as long as he lived. He and Keisuke had both given their word.

And he NEVER broke his word.

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Tea opened her eyes blearily; her head was killing her.

She forced them to stay open, as she tried to figure out where she was and what had happened. All she could remember was going to sleep, and then... and then waking up here, wherever here was.

As she tried to stand up, she realized both her arms chained her to the wall. They were changed low to the floor, which prevented her from standing up.

Her eyes, now adjusted to the dark, scanned the room. It was a small square room with no windows and no light. All there was were cement and stone blocks, making up the walls. She could faintly make out a dark, wrought iron door. Even if her arms weren't chained, the door was probably locked. The dark slowly began to drain what little hope she had to begin with.

She was officially scared..

But her heart raced even faster when she heard the hard thump of boots outside her cell...

(GOB: Should I kill her off??? NAH! She's not the one(s) who's going to die!)

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Kai blew straight out the final door on the staircase, making his way just as quickly towards Tea's room. He was scared, yes scared, of what he might find. But he was sure of one thing. If they dared lay a hand on her, he would kill them.

He'd kill them all.

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Akira's P.O.V.

This... can't be happening. It's starting just like before... First Tea... Then Bren... Then they'll be after me...

What am I thinking? Tea's been kidnapped; we've got to get her back....

I don't want to lose the best friends I've ever had.

I've already lost enough thanks to those monsters.

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Kai saw the door had been left open and he wondered how they had dragged her through the hallway, and then mentally smacked himself. How could he save his sister if he wasn't smart enough to realize that Kei had probably left the door open after discovering their sister missing?

Those bastards probably drugged her and carried her off out through the window.

Kai hands balled up into extremely tight fists at the thought. He'd make them pay; he'd make them pay with their lives.

Kai stood in the doorway, frozen at the sight.

Nothing was out of place. No blood, no signs of struggle, nothing.

The only thing wrong with the picture was that there was no little sister yelling at him for just barreling in to her room without knocking.

He'd give anything to hear her yell at him.

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The others all raced after Kai, and froze right behind him. They too were shocked by the normalness of the room. It was as if nothing was wrong. Just another day. But this day had already taken a turn for the worst.

Kai slowly and numbly walked in the room, followed by the others.

Not a word was spoken until,

"DAMN!"

Kai suddenly snarled as he punched the wall with such incredible force that the room shook, causing a few frames to fall off the wall, including a mirror.

The mirror splintered into pieces.

As Kai gazed at his reflection in the shards, all he could think was,

"This is all your fault. If you hadn't left her alone. If you had just stayed right here, protecting your little sister, she'd be all right; she'd be with you right now. If you had just been there for her...Instead off rushing off. She needed you and you just abandoned her. The same way your parents and brothers abandoned you at the abbey. "

He slowly turned around, and faced the others, who had all been shaken by the show of anger. He slowly slid down the wall, ignoring the glass cutting his back. He looked down, his eyes shadowed, and said,

"Call the police Bren. You know whom to ask for. Everyone else, go back down to the dining hall and stay there. None of you are to go anywhere without at least three other people, and at least two cell phones. Akira, give them all my number."

Everyone glanced uncertainly at Kai, and then at Kei, Bren and Akira, who all nodded. Everyone slowly filed out the room, but Akira paused at the doorway to glance at Kai, but the sight just hurt too much to watch, so she rushed off...

She ran away,

Because she was scared.

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Kai pulled his body off of the floor and slowly made his way towards the balcony in his sister's room. He sighed softly as the cold air whipped his scarf high up into the air. Once more, he thought,

"This is all my fault. If I hadn't left her alone. If I had just stayed right here, protecting my little sister, she'd be all right; she'd be with me right now. If I had just been there for her...Instead off rushing off. She needed me and I just abandoned her. The same way my parents and brother abandoned me at the abbey. "

He closed his eyes tightly. He didn't want to think about the abbey. He knew his family had no choice, but to leave him there. It was either that or he'd have been killed, they all would have been...

But he always felt as if they abandoned him, as if they deemed themselves and each other more important than him.

Except for Taichi... Tai had stayed with Kai through it all, but in the end, he too abandoned Kai... and then had gotten himself killed. Kai had never even been able to say good-bye. He had already been buried by the time Kai had heard the news. He wished his eldest brother were here right now.

He really needed someone to help him think things through...

He knew he could talk to Kei, Bren or Akira...

Akira...

If he hadn't have gone to her room, he could've stayed with his sister and protected her.

It was her fault...

If she hadn't distracted him from protecting his sister, he'd have been there. It was her fault, if only she was stronger, but she was weak, too weak. She was scared child with no hope of ever being useful. She was...

What was wrong with him?

It wasn't her fault, nor was she weak and scared. It was his fault for not keeping a closer eye on things and falling asleep on Akira's bed. God, what on earth was he thinking blaming her? He knew she was as worried as he was. And yet he blamed her.

Kai opened his eyes and looked to the sky, he hadn't realized it had already gotten dark out.

(GOB: I can't remember what season or month I said this was so I'm now saying it's the first week of December, okays?)

He saw a few lazy snowflakes drift down and melt instantly. He wished he could just melt away and leave all his problems behind.

His head was constantly plagued by problems, he couldn't remember the last time he had been able to relax, the last time his problems just seemed unimportant...

!!! IF YOU DON'T WANT TO READ A SAPPY KAI/AKIRA PIECE OF FLUFF SKIP THE NEXT SIX PARAGRAPHS !!!

Actually, that wasn't quite true...

A faint blush spread across Kai's features as he remembered the last time his problems drifted away. It didn't take all that long, as it has just been the night before...

He shook his head violently, trying to get the thought out of his head, but to no avail.

Loath as he was to admit it, he had enjoyed the kiss, well, kisses. His mind and body just seemed to relax, even under the circumstances. He refused to believe that it meant anything.

He couldn't... love anybody...

Could he?

Kai took a deep breath and then left his sister's room, locking the door behind him. He made his way to the dining room. Bren was next on the list. He had already lost his sister, he wasn't about to lose one of his best friends too.

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The others, after leaving Kai, walked silently down the hallway and waited for the elevator. Bren was busy calling the police and asking for Officer Kanada (an actual officer, my dad's friend, I don't own...) who was an old friend of Kai's, not to mention being the only police officer who knew what really happened to the Elementals all those years ago.

Akira had already written down Kai's cell number down on pieces of paper and handed them out. Everyone was deep in thought, and frightened.

Akira was worried about her brother, if Gideon's sick little message was to be believed, Bren was the next target. She kept as close to him as humanly possible.

Bren sighed as he finished called Officer Kanada, he was extremely worried about Tea, and was slightly terrified as he realized he would be next. He was also worried about Kai, losing his little sister was killing him. It was like a really bad horror movie. He glanced down at his little sister and immediately put a reassuring arm around her.

He could see that she was afraid. Afraid for tea, afraid for him and afraid for herself. She was also worried about Kai.

He new about his sister's feelings towards their stoic friend. He had found undeniable proof after he had secretly read and photocopied a page from her diary. She had never found out and he'd like to keep it that way.

Though he did wonder if those two would ever get together...

Or if he would ever get the nerve to ask her out, hell, even if he did, he'd still have to get permission from her brothers and THAT would be impossible.

He tightened his grip on Akira when he felt her shiver. He knew she was scared for him, fuck; he was scared for him too! A little known fact about him was his chronic fear of blood. It gave him the creeps...

The elevator doors opened and they all got on. (It's a HUGE elevator...) It was a quiet ride until Tala broke the silence,

"I think it may be best if we all roomed with someone else. Those guys can get past any security system."

That little comment seemed to break the ice completely, and in the end, all the girls decided to room together, and even through the seriousness, the same thought ran through Mariah and Tia's minds... (Tia is Tea's twin...)

"Now's my chance to see how Akira feels about Kai..."

The guys had followed the girls' example and all roomed together... Well except for Tala. He said he'd just bunk up in Kai's room. They all knew that the blue bishie wouldn't room with all of them.

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Kai slowly walked down the stairs. He had ignored the elevators, purely for the fact that he wanted to prolong his time away from the other bladders for as long as he possibly could. His head was still to exhausted and confused to deal with the questions he knew that were going to be asked. He also knew he had to put up a strong face; otherwise, he may just break down completely.

He took a deep breath when he reached his floor, and opened the door to the dining hall. He saw the big group all huddled together in a corner, oblivious to the countless people around them. Kai gazed at the cheerful people for a moment with resentment. These people were bladders who hadn't even made it into the tournament, boorish fans, and people who new nothing of the sport, but just wanted to be seen. They sickened him. But he would have given the rest of his life up to be like them for a single second.

He made his way calmly towards the huddled group, who were all silent. Each was in his or her own little world, taking in the reality of what had happened.

They all glanced up though, when they felt Kai's shadow pass over them, as he took his spot in the darkest part of the corner, leaning against the wall next to Bren who was sitting in a chair and Akira who was sitting on the floor, her knees pulled close to her chest.

The others had sprawled around them in a half circle, sitting on chairs, or on the floor, some were just standing around.

Kai leaned against the wall with his eyes closed and everyone watching him for a good five minutes before opening his eyes, and speaking.

"All of you go about as if nothing has happened, but stick together. Get back to your hotel rooms before dark, no exceptions."

And with that he walked off.

They all followed his instructions and went about the tournament. But they were all still on edge. How could they just act like nothing had happened?

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GOB: Okay, the 'mysterious people' in this next bit are the other people that were following Kai in Chapter 2 and in Chapter 18 ( 8:15am, 9:10am ) Just so you know! I sort of forgot them before... hehe, but they make the chapter and story more interesting and add another little connection between certain peoples!

Kai continued walking, well aware of the four figures following him. He now knew who they were, and he could recall sensing them when he had first spoken to Bren after the World Championships. He also remembered sensing them during the match between Robert and Tyson where the loudmouth had ended up defeating himself.

He made his way up onto the roof, vaguely aware of voices traveling through an open window underneath him. It seemed that Bren and Tala were filling Officer Kanada in on what had happened.

He stopped short of the ledge before finally acknowledging and speaking to his followers.

"What interest would the Dark Bladers possibly have with this tournament?"

Kai turned around and stared intently into the dark shadows, as one by one, the four stepped out into the moonlight.

(GOB: If anyone knows the correct spelling, I'd really appreciate it!)

"Sanquinex, Lupenex, Cenotaph, Zomb, what do you deem so important to follow me?"

Sanquinex was the first, and only one to speak to Kai, and reveal the answers to his questions.

GOB: Now, should I tell you what they're saying? Or should I make it like in shows where you see the people talking, but there's no dialog, only suspenseful music? Hehe... I'll make you wait! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I ISH VERY EVIL!

Kai stood still for a moment, disbelief clearly visible in his eyes, as he clutched the tiny box that Sanquinex had given to him. The four Dark Bladers watched with deep interest as to what the blue blader would do next. What he did shocked them all.

He smiled softly and said,

"You can never know when someone is good or evil until they die..."

He walked away, and the Dark Bladers just let him go.

As Kai entered the elevator, he finished what he had started to tell the Dark Bladers in his head,

"If a good person's last deed was evil, they died because of their treachery. If an evil person's last deed is good. They died because of their honorable sacrifice. That's all there is to it."

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The Girls!

All the girls sat comfortable on the floor in Tia's room, as it was the largest, due to the fact she was sharing with Ria.

Ria had finally been told the news of Tea's disappearance and had locked herself in one of the bathrooms. They had all agreed on giving her a little time to deal with what had happened.

After all, she had lost her parents when she was only two years old and she had lost her eldest brother even before she had met him. Tai had been killed when he was only 14, two years before Ria was born, and four years before their parents were killed.

They had also all agreed not to mention anything remotely sad, as they didn't want to even dream about something horrible happening to Tea. Keisuke had assured them all that Tea would be kept safe until Gideon had all four Elementals, which would never happen. Everyone had taken comfort in his words, as they could tell it was true. So Mariah and Tia had taken it upon themselves to introduce a new subject...

"So Akira..." Tia started, smirking,

"We were wondering..." Mariah stated calmly, but with taunting eyes, as Tia suddenly burst out,

"DO YOU LIKE MY BROTHER?!?"

Akira raised her eyes in surprise and replied, "Sure I do, Kei's my friend."

Mariah let out an exasperated sigh.

"No! We meant KAI!"

At this, all the girls turned their eyes towards Akira as a light red covered her cheeks.

She realized everyone was waiting for an answer, and quickly, but hesitantly, replied,

"Of-Of course! He's a friend too..."

Tia smirked and replied, "A friend. Uh-huh... suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuure..."

Akira glared at her and suddenly lunged at Tia with a pillow, starting what was doomed to be a dangerous-pillow-destroying pillow fight.

A happy point in the night, was when Ria came out of the washroom and joined in. she was still worried, they all were, but she trusted Kai to get Tea out. He always was there when you needed him.

Always.

No exceptions.

None whatsoever.

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The Boys!

The guys, minus Kai, Tala and Bren, all camped out in Keisuke's room because... it was the closest, if not the largest...

The guys had opted out talking and had decided to just watch a movie.

They had decided on Johnny English (Rowan Atkinson is awesome!!!), choosing to go with humor over horror. None of them needed to see blood and guts just yet.

The guys spent their night in quiet companionship.

After the popcorn fight, that is.

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Tala and Bren walked outside into the dark night, both restless. They had decided to stick to the allies; after all, the two of them were strong enough to deal with anything.

They walked along in silence before Tala suddenly hit Bren softly in the shoulder and murmured,

"Someone's following us. Next corner we jump em'."

Bren nodded slightly to show he understood and the two continued on and hid by the corner, ready to strike out.

They waited in silence then shot out, each taking one of the men, but Bren was sent into Tala when both men shoved the teens with surprising force.

Tala and Bren leaned against the alley wall and waited for the man to speak.

The taller one spoke.

"Ketsumi Bren, you will be coming with us."

Bren started to protest when the screen of the laptop the other man was holding caught his eye.

On the screen was an image of Gideon holding a dark black gun to Tea's unconscious form.

The sight caused Bren's blood to run cold and his eyes turned to cold pits, a rare show of intense anger.

All was silent until Bren's voice reigned out,

"I'll go willingly... Just don't hurt her."

And so he left, leaving Tala frozen in place.

They had lost another one.

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GOB: Now, I think I'll tell you what happened between Kai and the Dark Bladers!

Sanquinex was the first, and only one to speak to Kai, and reveal the answers to his questions.

"We came to give you this."

He handed Kai a small, black, stone box. Kai took it and wordlessly asked him what he meant.

Sanquinex started quietly, and Kai interrupted not once. Nor did he speak until Sanquinex had fallen silent for many moments.

"Inside that little box holds a medallion. This particular medallion is a Solar Eclipse." Here, Kai's eyes widened with recognition.

"This medallion was given to me by a young teen about 14. In fact, it was given to me the day before he died. He asked me to watch and wait. To wait until the time was right and then deliver it to his youngest brother, along with a message.

'You'll be doubting yourself again, won't you? But know this Kai I won't be murdered, but I will die. I'll die by taking my own life. I know, we ALL know, that the only way to defeat Gideon is to bring Drazer into the fight, but to do so; you'll need incredible amounts of power.

By giving up my life, I can give you the power you need. Inside my old medallion lays my power. It's your now. Stop blaming yourself for everything.

You can't fix all the worlds problems, nor should you be blamed for them.

Stay sharp.'

That young man who gave me that message was Hiwatari Taichi, your brother. The message was meant for you along with that power. I can only hope you use it for the goodness of the light, instead of the evil within the dark."

Kai stood still for a moment, disbelief clearly visible in his eyes, as he clutched the tiny box that Sanquinex had given to him. The four Dark Bladers watched with deep interest as to what the blue blader would do next. What he did shocked them all.

He smiled softly and said,

"Being dark doesn't mean you're evil, just... different. You can never know when someone is good or evil until they die..."

He walked away, and the Dark Bladers just let him go.

As Kai entered the elevator, he finished what he had started to tell the Dark Bladers in his head,

"If a good person's last deed was evil, they died because of their treachery. If an evil person's last deed is good. They died because of their honorable sacrifice. That's all there is to it."

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GOB: Done! I know, you all hate me for having Bren captured too... Or do you people hate him? No one mentions him in his or her reviews...

Bren: I'm unloved...

Tea: Awww... I lurve you Bren-Kun! Glomps

Bren: -

Kai: ...

Akira: Review please!

GOB: And tell me which of my OC's you hate, or which one you like the least! Also, which one do you like the most?

Ria: BAI BAI ERRYWUN!!!

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