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Once A Thief	By : Kali Category: Beyblade > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 9119 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 12
- 13
- 14
Kali notes: Gee, is Kali behind.� And now her bathroom is green.� Very, very green�� Anyway, I hope everyone enjoyed the last
chapter and isn�t getting bored with this fic
yet.� I have so much more to go!� I appreciate my die-hard readers very much,
and I�ll try not to disappoint.� Oh, and I apologize for making Hilary a
little OOC.� I need her to be able to use
a computer, so�� LOL� Moving on�

Disclaimer: Don�t own it.� Don�t sue.

Warnings: Yaoi (unless you�re on ffnet; then you get shounen-ai),
language, dramatic angst, and other adult content. Don�t
like it, don�t read it!

Pairing: TyKa; others include Tala/Hilary,
mentioned Rei/Mariah

~*~*~*~*~

Chapter 13: Thick As Thieves � Part II

�� A good forty-five minutes later,
they finished their shower and padded out to the kitchen to make brunch and
espresso � and tea for Takao.�
Unsurprisingly, the lovers hadn�t been able to
keep their hands to themselves in the shower and ended up having a hot and
steamy make-out session that had nothing to do with the hot water pouring over
them at the time.

�� They were just cleaning up the
dishes when Takao�s doorbell rang.� He
dropped the towel by the sink and went to answer it.

�� What the�?�� He frowned as he opened the door and found no
one on the other side.� As he stepped out
into the hallway to see if he could see anyone, his foot landed on something and
he looked down.� A plain manila envelope
lay on the floor, addressed to him.�
Takao�s frown deepened and he picked it up, going back inside with a
feeling of dread forming a knot in his stomach.�
Kai stood in the kitchen entranceway, waiting for him.

�� Who�what�s that?�� Kai switched questions when he saw the
envelope in Takao�s hands.

�� I don�t know.� There was no one at the door.� Just this.�� Takao responded dully.� �I�I�m afraid to open it.�

�� Kai plucked it from his lover�s
fingers and went back into the kitchen.�
He held it up to the light, in an attempt to see if there was something
dangerous inside, then set it on the counter. Takao
followed him and watched silently.

�� Do you have a letter opener or
something?�� Kai asked.� Takao nodded and pulled one from a pen holder near the kitchen phone, handing it to the
agent.� Kai slit open the top of the
envelope and emptied the contents onto the counter carefully.

�� Takao glimpsed the photograph that
fell out and made a low noise before he snatched it up immediately to get a
proper look at it.� Kai went over to see
what it was that was distressing the bluenette, and then let out a heartfelt,
�Shit.� when he saw what it was.

�� Dad�Hiroshi�� Takao�s hands shook
as he stared at the picture, tears burning in his eyes.� Kai wrapped an arm around Takao�s waist in
support and took the picture from him to study closely.

�� They look fine.� Maybe a little worse for
wear, but still fine.�� Kai tried
reassuring Takao as the bluenette turned in his arms and buried his face in
Kai�s shoulder with a sob.� �Hey�that�s
good news, isn�t it?�

�� But�who knows if that picture is
fake or not?�� The bluenette cried,
trembling with emotion.� �It�s so easy to
fake pictures these days��

�� Well, there are ways to check that
out.� But that newspaper they�re holding
up between them could be all the verification we need.�� Kai kissed Takao�s forehead and went to grab
his cell phone.� He could barely make out
the newspaper�s name, the date, and the headline of the front
page story, but that was all he needed to begin with.� �Put the picture beside the envelope for now,
Taka.� I�ll have
Tala take it all to the lab for testing.�
You never know�they may find out something useful.�

�� Takao swallowed hard, fighting off
tears, and nodded.� Kai dialed his
partner�s number and waited for the red-haired agent to pick up.

�� About time you called!�� Tala unceremoniously yelled for a
greeting.� �What took so long, Hiwatari?!�

�� I was busy.� Shut up and listen, Ivanov.�� Kai snapped back, then
proceeded to tell his partner about the envelope.� �Are there still people watching Takao�s
building?�

�� Tala, all business now at the tone
of his partner�s voice, made thoughtful, serious noises.� �No.� Not that we could pick out.�
The agents on duty tried following the ones that were watching him
yesterday, but they lost them at the train station.�

�� Damn.� Well, to be on the safe side, bring Kenny,
Max, and the ladies with you through a back entrance, and come up here so we
can start making a plan of some kind.��
Kai drummed his fingers on the kitchen counter.

�� Fine.� I�ll go round them up and we�ll be over in
about an hour.�� Tala agreed and hung up.

�� Are you sure it�s a good idea to
bring the others here?�� Takao asked, worrying
his bottom lip between his teeth in concern.

�� It�ll be fine.� Tala knows what he�s doing.�� Kai said assuredly, walking over to his lover
to enfold him in a hug.� After a moment,
when the bluenette stopped shaking with emotion, he released him and picked up
the pictures very gingerly to slip them back into the envelope.� �I�ll get these to Tala, and he�ll let the
labs run all their tests on them and get a definite answer by tomorrow.�

�� Takao nodded, watching the envelope
like a poisonous viper.� �Thanks,
Kai.�� He spotted a piece of paper that
had come out of the envelope with the pictures but hadn�t
been noticed before.� �Oh�there�s a
note��

�� Kai caught the unenthusiastic tone
and reached to pick it up.� �Do you want
me to read it first?�

�� The young thief closed his eyes
briefly and shook his head.� �No, I�ll do
it.�� He held out his hand and Kai
dropped the paper on his palm.� �But thanks
for offering.�� Takao looked down at the
paper as he opened it up, then proceeded to read
aloud.

�� As you can see, your family is alive, and have been treated well.� Continue your job as you have been and you
may even see them alive again in person.�
Do not presume to threaten us without considering consequences, for we will
not hesitate to do something drastic to these two men.�� Takao stopped reading and snarled at the
paper angrily.� Kai squeezed his
shoulders and looked over one shoulder to see if there was more.

�� You have your confirmation.�� He continued reading aloud while Takao
seethed.� �And you will notice, out of our
good faith, that we have removed our people from watching you, as you so
brashly �requested.�� For your
information, they were there to find out where you disappeared
to.� We do not like being kept in the dark on things, and we will remind you
that our agreement included a stipulation that you would inform us of your
plans and movements.� Refrain from
disappearing again or we will be forced to take action against our �guests.��

�� Kai let out a soft whistle and took
the note, placing it carefully back in the envelope with the pictures.� �Try to ignore it, Taka.� They�re still trying
to play at being in control of the situation, and you know they aren�t.� It�s our game now.�� He stated in a firm voice, looking down at
the bluenette�s stormy blue eyes.� Takao
sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly, nodding.

�� I know.� I know�but it still makes me mad.�

�� Kai bent and kissed Takao lightly on
the lips before hugging him close.� �Be
mad.� You have every reason to be.� Just don�t let your temper rule your head,
that�s all.�

�� I�ll try.�

�� Kai�s cell phone went off, startling
them.� The agent grabbed it from the
counter where he�d let it and answered it.� �Yes?�

�� We�re about five minutes away,
Kai.� By the way, a pizza delivery guy is about to deliver your pizza time now.� Give him the envelope and whatever, and he�ll
deliver it back to the labs.�� Tala
graciously informed his partner.

�� Pizza?�� Kai made a face.� �Couldn�t you have picked a nice Chinese
place instead?�� Takao perked up and
glanced at the phone in Kai�s hand.

�� Tala�s bringing us pizza?�� He asked, happily.� Kai rolled his eyes.

�� No.�
We don�t have a Chinese restaurant on the roster.�� Tala replied, and Kai could hear the smirk in
the Russian�s voice.� �Deal with it and
eat like the rest of us lowly humans.�

�� Whatever.�� Kai chose to ignore it and walked over to
Takao�s apartment window that looked down on the street below.� �That you in the Central
Air van?�

�� That�s us.� We�re going around back and we�ll be up in a
few minutes.�� Tala hung up � again.

�� They�re here.�� Kai informed his boyfriend, who�d joined him at the window.� �And when the pizza guy shows, give him the
envelope and he�ll take it to the labs.�

�� Takao blinked.� �The pizza guy?�

�� It�ll be an agent in
disguise.�� The crimson-eyed man took the
younger man�s hand and led him over to the sofa, flopping down onto it, and
pulling Takao with him to sprawl over top of him.� �Trust me.�

�� You know I do.�� Takao sighed and snuggled in
comfortably.� �We can�t get too
cozy.� The others will be here soon��

�� We can until they do.�� Kai rubbed a hand up and down Takao�s
back.� �I don�t feel like being all
professional at the moment.�

�� Takao laughed softly.� �Good point.�

~*~*~*~*~

�� You lot look absolutely ridiculous.�� Takao stated, holding open his door and
staring at the group of his friends and their disguises.� �I mean an air conditioning repair crew?� How very unoriginal.�

�� Tala gave the bluenette a dirty look
and walked past him.� �I�ll have you know
that the UNA paid good money to buy out this company and make it a front
company for our use.� It works every
time.� Haven�t you noticed your AC isn�t
working?�

�� Ha.�
Ha.�� Takao glared back and
allowed the others to troop into the apartment.�
�Welcome to my humble abode.�� He
welcomed them blithely.

�� Wow.� This is really cool!�� Max bounded around the living room with his
usual youthful energy.� �You�ve got great
taste, buddy!�

�� Thanks,
Max.� I figured you�d appreciate it.�

�� In the kitchen, Kai was showing the envelope
and its contents to his partner, while making tea and coffee for the group and
their brainstorming session.

�� What�s your
thoughts on it, Tala?�� He asked,
plugging in the kettle for tea and flipping the switch on for the coffeemaker.

�� Generic everything,
to the point where it�s probably untraceable.� Probably made on one of those PCs at some
internet caf� somewhere and just left on your doorstep, so to speak.�� The redhead sniffed the letter
curiously.� �Didn�t
even leave a scent on it.� All I
smell is paper and ink.�

�� Damn.� I was hoping for a little more.� What about the picture?�

�� I�m not a photography expert, but
it looks real.�� Tala shrugged.� �Unfortunately, using the London Times as the newspaper of choice
doesn�t tell us much since you can find it all over Europe,
let alone the world.�

�� Yeah.� That�s what I
thought.� Still, the labs may find
something.�� Kai glanced over at the door
when a knock sounded and a voice called out �Pizza delivery!�

�� Good timing.�� Tala gathered it all up and went to the door.� He opened it and passed along the envelope
after accepting the pizzas.� The �Pizza
Guy� slipped the envelope into the insulated carrier he�d
had the pizzas in and nodded at Tala.

�� Enjoy your pizzas, sir.�

�� Thanks.�� Tala closed the door with his foot and took
the stack of pizza boxes into the kitchen, setting them on the counter.

�� Well, I guess we should eat this
and start planning.�� Kai mused, turning
to the direction of the living room.� �Takao!� Bring
everyone to get some of this pizza before it gets cold!�

�� The bluenette strolled back into the
kitchen sniffing the air hungrily.� �Smells really good.�
I�ll get the plates.�� He said
with a smile, moving around Tala and Kai to dig out plates from the
cupboard.� �So the letter and everything
is gone?�� He asked.

�� Kai nodded and hooked an arm around
Takao�s waist after he put a stack of plates down on the counter.� �They are.�
Put it from your mind for a little while, love, until we hear something
from the labs.�� He kissed Takao lightly
on the cheek and released him to pick up a plate and grab some food.� �I think you�re safe eating this pizza,
Taka.� I don�t think it breaks any of
your rules.�

�� After everyone had claimed their
share of pizza and were settled in Takao�s living
room, it was Hilary that started off the brainstorm session.

�� So where do we go from here?� I mean, the people that are behind all this think Takao is already working on the last item,
right?�

�� Takao sighed and took a careful sip
of his hot tea.� �Yeah.� I made sure Gideon thinks that is why I�m
around Kai and�uh�risking my neck by doing so because he�s UNA.�

�� Kai paused in his eating, looking at
his lover with a small frown on his face.�
�Hold on.� Why would being with me
be part of your next item?� I don�t have
anything like antiquities or jewels or manuscripts.�� Crimson eyes narrowed suspiciously.� �What exactly is the last item on your list, Takao?�

�� The reluctant thief put his teacup
down and fidgeted under the steady heat of his lover�s gaze, glancing at Kenny
for help.� �Ah�well��

�� The last item was a gift to a
certain family in the late 1890s from Czar Nicholas II.� The head of the family had saved a relative of
the Czar after some kind of accident.��
Kenny explained, adjusting his glasses and nearly squirming when Kai�s scrutinizing gaze turned on him.� �Russian history books are a little difficult
to delve through.� The Czar had the item
commissioned from a Russian goldsmith/jeweler designer who had become quite
famous at the time�.Faberg�?� Maybe you�ve heard
of him��

�� Kai frowned a little more.� �Yes.�
I know of Peter Carl Faberg�� he stopped, the
frown disappearing as he put pieces together and came up with the only possible
conclusion.� �Hell�it�s an Egg, isn�t it?�

�� Takao looked down at his feet with a
deep sigh and a tiny nod.� �A Faberg� Egg that was given to the Hiwatari family by
Nicholas II, and has remained in the Hiwatari family�s possession ever since,
despite numerous occasions they could have lost or sold it��

�� Without any sort of intelligent
response that Kai felt he could make, he stood and went to stare out the window
from Takao�s sliding glass doors that led out to a
small balcony.

�� Tala�s blue eyes flicked back and
forth from Takao to his partner to Kenny and back again.� �Alright.� So we know the last
item.� What were you intending to do to
acquire it, Kinomiya, before Kai found you in London?�

�� Takao winced and laughed, though it
held no humour.�
�Pray he wasn�t around when I stole it�� he
answered, running a shaky hand through his hair.� �I didn�t really have a plan yet.� I�d only just finished at the Museum, after
all, and I needed more information before I tried coming up with a game plan.�

�� Point taken.�� Tala acknowledged.� Thinking, he asked another question.� �Do you know anything more now?� I mean where it is, how hard it would be to
acquire?�

�� It�s in the vault in the third
floor library at my parents� estate in Italy.�� Kai said from his stance at the balcony
doors.� �To get it, he�d have to somehow
find a way to get there, then have a way to get inside
and get past all the security � not to mention my parents.�

�� Takao slowly raised his stormy blue
eyes to meet the sharp, heated crimson set Kai had pinned him with.� �Like I said, I
needed more information than that.�� He
repeated, softly.� �But I�d probably do
as I had with a couple of the other items � I�d get on the staff somehow to
gain access to the place and when I had the opportunity I would get the Egg and
leave.�

�� And now that you�ve been discovered
and the blackmailer�s have seen you with Kai�?��
Tala inquired.

�� It�ll be seen as Takao using me to get inside and near the Egg long enough
to steal it and get out again without being suspected.�� Kai answered for the bluenette, who hung his
head and fidgeted under that hot gaze.

�� Oh.�� Tala said in an �of course� kind of
tone.� �Right.�

�� Ah�� Hilary spoke up, trying to dispel
some of the tension in the room.� �Since
that�s what Gideon thinks we should
just let him keep thinking it and in the meantime do something else,
right?� I mean, Kai could ask his family
if he could borrow the egg for a while or something, couldn�t he?�

�� Kai gave her a strange look and
shook his head.� �No way would that work.�

�� Why not?� Takao wouldn�t have to steal it that way.�� Hilary
crossed her arms, put out that they wouldn�t even
consider the idea.

�� Aside from the fact that my father
would never agree to loan me a precious, valuable family heirloom like that��
Kai retorted dryly.� �I couldn�t tell him
why I want to borrow it either, when
I couldn�t guarantee it would be returned � and returned in tact, at that.�

�� Hilary subsided.� �Oh.� Didn�t think of that.�

�� Kenny sighed and took off his
glasses, polishing the lenses with a corner of his shirt.� �It also has to appear to be stolen, or
Gideon and his people will be suspicious, and that�d be too risky to Mr.
Kinomiya and Hiroshi�s lives and safety.�

�� Judy tapped her fingers thoughtfully
on her leg.� �So you�re saying that
basically Tyson will have to steal the Egg somehow, and there�s no other way to
obtain it without making the blackmailers suspicious.�

�� Max groaned.� �What a mess!�� He flopped back against the cushions of his
sofa chair.� �What do we do, then?�

�� Tala ran a hand through his
hair.� �Well�we�re going to develop a
plan to steal it, I guess.� Getting in to
the Hiwatari estate won�t be hard, since we�ve got all kinds of excuses, but
actually stealing the Egg��

�� Kenny flipped open his laptop.� �I�ve got floor plans and security details,
and now that we know where exactly the Egg is located, we should be able to
formulate a workable way of getting near that library and getting the Egg.�� He glanced at Kai hesitantly.� �If Kai is willing to help us, since he knows
the place best of all��

�� Takao looked up and met Kai�s eyes,
silently asking for help.� He had to do
this, to save his family and he hoped Kai would forgive him.� �Kai, I��

�� Don�t look at me like that,
Kinomiya.�� The dual-haired agent rubbed
a hand over his face and went to sit down next to his lover again.� �I said I was going to help you however I
could, and that�s what I�ll do.� I just��
Kai growled a curse and kicked at the unoffending coffee table (without actually
making contact) in frustration.� �You�re
asking me to steal from my own family.�
That�s pushing it.�

�� Takao flinched guiltily and
hesitantly curled an arm around Kai�s waist.�
�I�m so sorry, Kai.� I don�t want to do this either.� If there were some other way I�d take it in a
heartbeat, but��

�� Kai closed his eyes and turned,
gathering Takao into his arms and pulling him close to hug him.� The thief buried his face against the inside
of Kai�s shoulder and hugged him back.

�� Shh�it�s
not your fault, Taka.� I�m
not mad at you for this.� I don�t like
it, but I�ll do it.�� Kai pressed a kiss
to the bluenette�s forehead, holding him against his side protectively.

�� Thank you.�� Takao murmured, snuggling into his lover�s
warmth gratefully.

�� Alright.� So�what have we got to start with?�� Judy went over to Kenny and gestured at his
laptop screen.� �Are those blueprints to
the estate?�

�� Kai ignored the others as they
gathered around Kenny to look at the plans.�
�What had you come up with for a plan, Takao?� Now, I mean.�
I can practically hear the gears grinding in that head of yours.�

�� Well�� Takao ran a hand through his
hair and blew out a deep breath.� �First
off, how would you suggest we go about getting into the estate?�

�� You mean an excuse for going?�

�� Takao nodded.

�� Like Tala said, we have several
good ones.� I want to take you to meet my
parents, for one thing.�� Kai smiled a
little at that, and Takao blushed.� �And
my mother did want Tala to come visit
more often.�

�� Alright.� That would work.� From there, once we�re on the inside, it�s a
matter of having the opportunity to get into that library.�� Takao frowned thoughtfully.� �I think this time around, I may have to wing
it and play it by ear.� I�ve never had a
personal relationship with the people I�ve stolen from before, so this is all
new.�

�� Hn.�

�� I can tell you that you may need
some help in this one, Takao.�� Kenny�s
voice drew their attention.

�� What do you mean?�

�� If you want to make this appear to
be a true robbery for Gideon�s benefit, then your best bet would be to do it at
night, sneaking past all the security systems and breaking into the vault.�� The petit genius informed him.� �And this time, you won�t have time to
memorize where all the cameras and motion detectors and everything else are
before you go in.� You�re going to need
someone to hack the system and tell you where and when to go.�

�� And why can�t I just take out the
security system?�� Takao asked, lifting
an eyebrow at this opinion.

�� It�s the way it�s set up.�� Kenny pointed at his screen.� �See, even if you shut down the major power
source here, there�s another power station here that you�d also have to shut
down � at the same time.� You can�t be in
both places at once, Takao.�

�� Why at the same time, Chief?�� Max wondered.

�� There�s a fail-safe.� If the power doesn�t go off all at once �
like in a power outage or blackout � then the alarms will be triggered.�� Kenny looked up and met Takao�s gaze, his
expression deadly serious.� �The Hiwatari
family is the wealthiest, most socially prominent family or personage that we�ve
had to deal with, Takao.� Their security
is also that much more elaborate and�secure than any other, also.� This time, you are going to need back-up on
site.�

�� Well�I�ll have Kai and Tala.�� The bluenette pointed out.

�� Yes.� But can either of them hack a security
system?�

�� Kai and Tala exchanged looks, then shook their heads.

�� I can�t.�� The dual-haired agent sighed.

�� I can use a computer fairly well,
but I don�t know about hacking a security system.�� The icy-blue eyed wolf frowned.

�� Then I�ll have to come along.�� Kenny closed his laptop decisively with a �click.�

�� You can�t, Kenny.�� Takao stated, voice firm.� �You, and Max and Judy, all have to go home
and continue as if you�re oblivious.� And
it�s too dangerous for you, Kenny, to be involved any further in this than you
already are.�

�� What?!� Takao, I am up to my eyes and sinking fast in
this debacle!�� Kenny retorted.

�� Besides which,� Kai added, �We
wouldn�t have an excuse for having you along to tell my parents.�

�� We could come up with something!�

�� No, I agree with them.�� Jody set her hand on Kenny�s shoulder.� �You provide them with as much info and data
as you can, then go home, Kenny.� You do
have a job to get back to, as well.�

�� But��

�� What about me?�� Hilary suddenly asked, looking a little put
out at being forgotten.

�� Tala studied her for a moment.� He wasn�t sure he
liked getting her further involved in this, but�there were possibilities � for more
than one reason.� �How are your computer
skills?�� He asked, ignoring the stunned
expressions on Takao and Kenny�s faces.

�� Well, I was pretty handy with one
to begin with.�� She replied, tossing her
hair over a shoulder proudly.� �I have
some mad secretarial skills, you know.�
But I�ve been around Kenny for a long time now, and I�ve picked up a few�techniques.�

�� Kenny�s jaw dropped.� �What?!� Since when?!� And why haven�t you said anything before?!�

�� Hilary scowled at him.� �You never asked!� And I had to use my skills fairly often to
research some of the stuff you had me
looking for to help Takao!�

�� Kai hid a smile at Kenny�s shocked
expression (he looked like he was going to have a heart attack).� Takao looked as if he didn�t
know whether to laugh or frown, and Tala�had a delighted smirk on his
face.� �Ivanov�what are you thinking?�� Kai inquired, seeing a definite gleam in
those surreal eyes to be wary of.

�� Well, we can�t justify the brainy
one, there.�� Tala drawled, stretching
his legs out in front of himself and crossing them at the ankles, hands folding
behind his head.� He looked positively
smug.� �But Ms. Tatibana�well, that�s a
different story.�

�� Hilary blinked at him, baffled.� �I don�t understand.�

�� Simple.� It may require some acting from us, but it
shouldn�t be too hard to pretend we�re dating, right?�

�� Uhh��
Hilary blushed, speechless.

�� Takao smothered a laugh,
Kai rolled his eyes to the heavens seeking divine intervention, and Kenny�

�� What?� Are you insane?� That�s incredibly risky!�

�� Kenny nearly had a fit.

�� Max frowned in
concern.� �I have to agree with
the Chief on that.� And I don�t know that
Kai wants to lie to his parents any more than absolutely necessary.�

�� Kai glanced at Max with a raised
eyebrow.� He hadn�t
expected the blonde to care, not with the recent hostile and untrustingly
attitude.� �No.� I do not.�
However, this could be very necessary.�

�� While they all argued for and
against the idea, Tala leaned over and asked Hilary quietly, �It�s your
decision, Hilary.� I only made a
suggestion.� Don�t
let us make your decisions for you.� Do
you think you can pretend and help us, or would you rather not take the risk of
getting so involved.�

�� She met his gaze unflinchingly,
feeling something warm rise in her chest at the seriousness with which he
asked.� Tala�was truly unique, and she
was beginning to appreciate him as she never had
anyone else before.

�� I�ll go.�� She stated decisively.� �I can do it.�

~*~*~*~*~

Kali
Notes:� Whew.� I�m getting out of
practice typing things these days!� I
hope all my readers are still hanging in there!�
The fun parts are coming up � to read for you, and to write for me.� LOL� Stay tuned�� Please
R/R!!!!
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Once A Thief