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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
- 17
- 18
- 19
Kali notes: And things get more interesting�rolling right along!

Disclaimer: Don�t own it.� Kali &
muses are just borrowing the wonderful characters and all that goes with them
from their creator.

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 18: Den of Thieves � Part
II

�� Is everything in place, Tala?�

�� That�s the five hundredth time
you�ve asked me that in the last half-hour.��
Tala complained, giving his partner a cross look.� �Yes, everything�s ready.�

�� Sorry.� I can�t help it.�� Kai began to pace back and forth in the
living room of the Hiwatari Enterprises� studio, where UNA agents had gathered
and set up their surveillance equipment.�
They would be basing communications from the studio, while Tala and Kai
trailed after Takao�s signal from the tiny tracking chip they had sewn into his
pants.� Kenny was sitting beside two
other agents � the ones who would pose as his �body-guards� at the exchange �
looking uncomfortable and nervous.

�� We�ve done what we can, so just
relax.�� Tala glared as his partner tread
past him on another circuit.

�� Kai, love, you�re making everyone
else nervous.�� Takao appeared from the
bedroom where he�d been changing.� �I�m
not going to be the only one with an ulcer at the rate you�re going.�

�� The agent paused to study the
reluctant thief with a critical eye.�
�You look like a biker.�

�� Takao raised an eyebrow, grinning a
little.� �I kinda
am.� My bike is waiting downstairs as we
speak, remember?�� He headed for the
door, preparing to leave.� His face went
serious as he grabbed his helmet and gloves.�
�Alright.�
Kenny, you get moving to the meeting spot, and I�ll go meet the bane of
our existence.�

�� Kai and Tala followed him, but
Hilary pulled Tala aside briefly before the red-haired Russian could get out
the door.� The feisty brunette pulled him
down to meet the kiss she planted on his mouth.

�� Be careful.� And take care of them, Tala.�� Hilary said, kissing him again before shoving
him out the door.� �Yell if you need
anything.�

�� Yes, ma�am.�� Tala gave her a carefree grin and winked,
sauntering after his partner.

�� Kenny and the two agents slipped out
next, leaving Hilary behind.� She had
protested at first, but gave in when Takao emphatically told her he didn�t want
anything happening to her � and Tala had been the first to back him up on that.� The lone female of the group capitulated
fairly easily, another thing she wasn�t too pleased with.� It seemed she wasn�t able to separate her
emotions from what she and Tala had done after all, and she didn�t really know
what to do about it.� So she put it aside
to deal with later and let her desire to be more involved go.

�� Closing the door after they�d gone,
Hilary sighed deeply and went back to the living room to put on the audio
headset Tala had set her up with so she could listen in to the flow of UNA
agent chatter and hear what Kai, Tala, Kenny, and the other agents were saying
in order to keep up with what was going on.

~*~*~*~*~

�� Takao
pulled on his gloves and got on his motorcycle, starting the machine.� It roared to life with a throaty purring hum
from the motor.� Glancing over his
shoulder, he saw Kai and Tala settling in to their car in order to follow him
(from a discreet, safe distance).�
Reassured that they were going to be right nearby the entire time, Takao
drove out of the underground parking lot and into London traffic.

�� It was evening � still early on,
however � and yet it was growing quite dark.�
Takao glanced upward at the sky to see dark clouds hovering.� No
surprise.� He thought.� It�s
probably going to rain tonight.� He
wasn�t looking forward to displacing the electric field he had established
around the container in the storage yard that he was keeping the items in with
rain pouring down on him.� Chances were
good that he might accidentally attract lightning doing that, and despite his
abilities even he was not able to
withstand a lightning strike unscathed.�
Still, it had to be done, so�

�� It was a really good thing he hadn�t
mentioned such a possibility to Kai.

�� Takao paused in traffic at a
round-about that was backed up and barely moving.� He was near the agreed meeting spot for
himself and Gideon, and thankfully he was somewhat early so this traffic
probably wouldn�t make him late.� Moving
slowly through traffic and weaving his way along, Takao sighed deeply and tried
to calm his nerves before speaking into the com that some enterprising UNA
techs had installed in his jacket collar.

�� To all you guardian angels out
there keeping an eye on me�I�m approaching the place where I�ll leave my
bike.� After I park, I�ll walk to the meeting
place.�� He said, hoping the agents, Kai
and Tala, and Hilary and Kenny could hear him over the noise of the motorcycle,
the traffic, and the wind as he moved.�
He pulled into a nearly empty parking lot and left his bike secured.

�� Walking slowly, Takao took in his
surroundings.� There were some people
still about in the streets, though fewer than during normal day hours.� His shoulders hundred inside his jacket a
little as he tried to huddle against the chill of the weather.� When he reached a safe distance of a few
hundred metres from the set of benches in Hyde Park
that he was supposed to meet Gideon at.�
And he had no doubt that some of the people were Gideon�s people �
despite Takao�s rules to the contrary.

�� Then again, it wasn�t like Takao was
playing by the rules either.

�� Shoring himself up for the task at
hand, Takao made his way to the bench and took a seat, gloved hands still in
his jacket pockets, one booted foot and ankle resting casually on his opposite
knee.� The bluenette appeared as cool and
calm as a cucumber to the outside world while he waited for his�employer.

�� He wasn�t waiting long.� Two people � rather familiar people, as in
the same two who had followed Takao and Kai before � appeared in front of
him.� �Tyson Granger�or should we say,
Kinomiya Takao?�

�� Takao looked up at the man and
woman, dressed in black business suits and trench coats, and tilted his head at
them, looking all the while like he was bored and completely
disinterested.� �Well, well.� If it isn�t my shadows.�� He smiled, all teeth, and it was neither
friendly nor amused.� �Where�s
Gideon?� I�m surprised he let you off
your leashes.�

�� The man frowned disapprovingly, and
the woman simply glared. �Do not concern yourself, thief.� Our employer is awaiting your presence in his
vehicle nearby.� We were instructed to
bring you to met him in person.�� The man
spoke English with a heavy accent, not quite German, not quite Russian.� �If you would come with us�?�

�� Uh no.� I go nowhere until my family is released to
Kenny and they leave unharmed without being followed.� I go no where until I receive word from him that this has happened.�� Takao�s blue grey eyes turned to steel,
glinting in the low light.� A distant
roll of thunder echoed quietly.� �That
was the agreement.� If Gideon doesn�t
keep to his end of it, then his precious items get destroyed.�

�� Do that and you�ll never see your
family alive again!�� The woman
threatened, waving a fist at the bluenette.�
Her accent was definitely British.

�� Takao just stared at her disdainfully.� The man hushed the woman and nodded at Takao
warily.

�� Pay no attention to this one.� Gideon wished me to reassure you to your
family members are quite safe and well.�
And that he has already ordered their release as you instructed.�

�� Good.� Then we just have to wait for Kenny to call
me.�� Takao drew his hand out of his
jacket pocket, a cell phone in his grip.

�� The woman was scowling impatiently
with ill concealed frustration, but her partner merely inclined his head in
agreement.

�� They waited in silence for about
only five minutes longer when the cell rang and Takao answered.

�� Takao!� It�s done, and we�re on our way to the
airport.� I�m taking your father and
brother to Paris.�� Kenny�s voice sounded vastly relieved and
greatly worried at the same time.� �Are
you alright?�

�� Good.� Thanks, Chief.� So far everything�s fine. How are they?�� The bluenette felt tears sting, but he didn�t
let them fall.

�� They�re exhausted, weak, and hungry
and thirsty, but otherwise they�re both doing well.� Don�t worry about them anymore, pal.� We�re all safe and sound, so you just take
care of the rest, and I�ll see you really son.�

�� Yeah.�� Takao glanced at the two goons in front of
him and said goodbye to his oldest friend.�
�I�ve got to go now, Chief.� Bye.�� He hung up and put the cell back in his
pocket, standing slowly.

�� Are you satisfied that our employer
has held up to his end of your agreement?��
The man inquired.� For a flunkie, at least he was being polite and reasonable.

�� So far.� Lead the way, then, so I can do the
same.�� Takao replied quietly, really, really wishing he could just walk away.
But he had to see this thing through.

�� The woman stepped forward with a
sneer.� �Raise your hands above your head
and stand still.� We will search you
first to make sure you are unarmed.�

�� Takao rolled his eyes but allowed
the man to search him quickly.� He was never unarmed, because of his abilities
and Gramps� thorough training, but even if he hadn�t had either of those he
wouldn�t have been dumb enough to attempt carrying a gun or a knife or
whatever.

�� He is clean.� Let us go to our employer now, Kinomiya.� Follow me.��
The man led the way, while the woman took up a position behind Takao and
trailed along after them.� On the way,
the man spoke into what looked like a walkie-talkie in a language Takao didn�t
recognize but to whom he assumed was Gideon.

�� They walked up to a sleek, black
Mercedes limo with tinted windows, and the woman rushed to open the back
passenger�s side door.

�� Please get in.�� The man ushered Takao toward the
vehicle.� �Gideon anxiously awaits you.�

�� Takao frowned, not liking that he
had yet to confirm that Gideon was even in the car, but slowly climbed inside
since he really had no choice.

�� The interior of the limo was dark,
but Takao could make out two figures sitting opposite him as the door closed
behind him and the limo began to move.�
�Gee, you mean my shadows don�t get to come along?� How disappointing.�� The reluctant thief tried to peer into the
dark to see who his companions were.� �So
which of you is the infamous Gideon?� I
mean, after all this time I think you have few reasons to be shy.�

�� Patience, Kinomiya.� We�ve waited�a very long time for this.�� The figure in the corner, the one mostly
covered by the darkness, replied.� He
sounded quite pleased with himself, smug, and it was as if he totally believed
he had the upper hand.� That was fine
with Takao.� The bastard would have his
karma come back on him in many, many ways very soon.� The man�s voice was unfamiliar, and
unremarkable � excepting that he spoke flawless Japanese, rather than the
English Takao had spoken in.

�� Takao raised an eyebrow, sticking to
English.� �That depends on what you think
I�ve been expecting.�

�� Tell us where the items are.�� The other figure commanded, a dim light
switching on behind him on that side of the car.� Takao blinked as his eyes adjusted, but he
still couldn�t see the one who�d answered him in the corner.

�� Not until I know which of you is
Gideon � if either of you really are
Gideon.�� He eyed them with suspicious
stormy blue eyes.� �He could be deceiving
me, couldn�t he?�

�� Gideon� is not my real name, of
course, but that is the name I go by these days.� In the circles I frequent I�ve earned that
title.�� The shadowy one assured Takao,
sounding for all the world like he was indulging the young man with details as
if he didn�t care if Takao knew.� �Even
the authorities don�t know about us yet.��
Now he sounded triumphant.

�� How nice for you.� If you expect me to be impressed by the
achievements of a low-life and his golfing buddies, you don�t know me very
well.�� Takao yawned.� �And you�ll have to give me more than that if
you expect me to believe you�re really �Gideon.��

�� The boss doesn�t have to prove
anything to you, kid.�� The other man
said, pulling out a gun from under his suit jacket and pointing it at
Takao.� �Where are the items?�

�� Kid?� Honestly.�
Can�t you do better than that?��
The bluenette stared impassively at him for a moment, then looked back
at the shadowed figure.� �You�re not
going to shoot me.� And if you did, you
can be damned sure I won�t tell you a thing.�

�� Put the gun away, Franco.� It�s too soon to kill him.�� The thug, Franco (apparently), put the gun
away reluctantly.� �As for you, Kinomiya,
you will tell me where we must go.� I
have no way of proving I am who I claim to be.�
But I�m afraid you�ll just have to live with that � unless you know of
some way?�

�� Takao frowned.� He supposed the guy had a point.� And if this guy wasn�t Gideon�well, there was nothing to be done about it.� �Fine.�
I�ll play along.� Tell your driver
to leave London and make for Portsmouth on the A3.� I�ll give directions as we go.�

�� Franco relayed the information to
the driver of the limo, and Gideon pressed a button on a console between his
seat and Franco�s.

�� Perhaps you�d like something to
drink, Kinomiya?�� A mini-bar opened up
under the console.� �You look very pale.�

�� If you had an ulcer, you�d be pale
too.�� Takao answered, glaring at the
shadows.� He was seriously beginning to
dislike being unable to see Gideon.� �So
thanks anyway.�

�� Oh.�� Gideon chuckled, finding his heath amusing,
apparently.� �How silly of me!� I forgot you were so delicate.�

�� Takao grit his teeth and stayed
silent.� Franco poured a glass of wine
and handed it to his boss.

�� Is there some reason you�re being
mysterious or are you afraid of something when I see what you look like?�� Takao asked, smiling as the glass paused in
its path toward Gideon�s mouth.

�� No.�
Your patience hasn�t changed, has it?�
All in good time, Kinomiya Takao.�

�� Well, if I can�t see you, why don�t
you finally tell me what this is all about?��
Takao eyed his adversary with stormy blue eyes narrowed in quiet
fury.� �Why the hell would anyone go
through all this trouble to kidnap some people and blackmail their family
member into stealing a bunch of ancient artefacts and priceless artwork, and
then expect to get away with it all?�

�� You might call this my
�initiation.�� I have colleagues watching
very closely.� I may go by �Gideon� but I
have to completely earn it, for reasons you don�t need to know.�� The man drank his wine.

�� So,� Takao stared at the shadowed
corner with growing anger.� �This is just
some�adolescent initiation rite to a group of thugs and criminals?� You�d put people who have nothing to do with
you through hell just for that?�� He
could not believe it.� �That makes no
sense at all!�

�� Please.� You�re underestimating my intentions.�� Gideon snapped, obviously upset at Takao�s
statement.� �This is more than just my
initiation, though that was the main reason.�
I can�t believe you haven�t figured it out yet, Kinomiya.�

�� Sir?� We�re on the highway, Boss.�� Franco interrupted, looking at Takao
expectantly.� �Where to know, kid?�

�� The bluenette regarded him for a moment,
wishing he could just spark the both of them and be done with it.� He gave the final directions, crossing his
arms over his chest as Franco relayed them to the driver.

�� Figure out what, Gideon?� Enlighten me, since you�re so pleased with
yourself and I�m so dumb.�

�� Gideon poured himself another glass
of wine and raised it in a toast as he answered.

�� Revenge, Kinomiya.� Revenge.�

~*~*~*~*~

�� Kai watched as UNA agents hauled the
two shadows that had been tailing Takao away, and others swarmed all over like
busy little bees.� He could hear Takao�s
conversation in one ear over his com, and the constant chatter of the UNA in
his other ear.� He wasn�t really
listening to what either was saying, but as long as he could still hear Takao�s
voice, he was able to stay sane.

�� Tala finished his conversation with
two agents and hustled over to his partner.�
�Hey!� They�ll be on a plane back
to Paris and
thoroughly debriefed, Kai.� Hopefully
they�ll spill their guts.�

�� Hn.�� Kai nodded and glanced back at his watch.� He could hear Hilary�s voice in his ear
relaying info to the agents she was with back at the studio.� She was saying something about directions.

�� We should get going if we�re going
to catch up, don�t you think?�� Tala eyed
the other agent.� �Is he still on the
com?�

�� Hn.�

�� Then he�s fine.� Come on, Hiwatari.�� Tala sighed and tugged on Kai�s arm, trying
to get him to move.

�� Wait a second.�� Kai didn�t budge, but reached up to push a
small button on the ear bud that would allow him to speak to Hilary.� �Say that again, Hilary?�

�� Kai!� Takao�s given directions to Gideon!� They�re getting off the highway!�

�� Where are they headed?�� Tala joined in with his own com.

�� Hold
on�� An agent is checking the area with
the satellite�� Hilary paused then continued, rattling off an address.� �It�s a
storage yard near the Portsmouth
harbour, a �MacGregor Commercial Shipping Ltd.��

�� Kai cursed at the name, but
nodded.� �Okay, thanks Hilary.� I know it.��
Hiwatari Enterprises often used the company itself for shipping.� He straightened and began giving orders.� �Attention all units!� This is Agent Hiwatari.� The target vehicle has started in the
direction of its destination.� This is a
mobilization order!� All units converge
on the coordinates and prepare for the sting.��
He gestured at Tala and began working his way back to their car as he
heard the team leaders of each unit respond with confirmations and their ETAs.� He hoped Takao
could stall and keep Gideon busy for the hour and a half it would take him to
get there (thankfully, being an agent got him through traffic and toll stops
much faster than your average driver).�
Then he had an idea, and stopped outside the car instead of getting in.

�� Tala, you go join the studio team
and I�ll meet you at the storage yard.��
Kai reached into his pockets and pulled out a pair of leather driving
gloves, slipping them on.� Then he
grabbed his jacket � also leather � from the car and shrugged into it.

�� What?� Where are you going?�� Tala called after him as he walked away.� �How are you getting there?�

�� Takao�s bike!� It�s faster!�
Go on!�� Kai yelled back, starting
to jog.� He dug the set of spare keys
from his jacket pocket that he�d swiped from Takao�s place that morning.� He was supposed to have had someone use the
keys to take the machine back to Hiwatari Enterprises for safe-keeping, but Kai
decided this was a much better idea.

�� An hour later he was getting closer
to Portsmouth,
with yet constant UNA chatter in his ear.�
It seemed everyone was converging on the storage yard.� That was fine.� Now he wasn�t really paying attention to the
other agents.� Now, he was focusing on
the voice of his lover, and the barely audible replies he was getting of their
conversation in the limo.� He couldn�t be
more than a half hour, maybe even less, behind them now.� Zipping through the freeway traffic was
considerably easier with the bike, and Kai was thankful for the fact that it
was a Japanese model, that Takao had filled the gas tank before going to meet
Gideon, and for the riding goggles Takao left with the bike.� Otherwise the wind would have given him one
hell of a burn for as fast and long as he was going.

�� Kai frowned as he heard a particular
word burn into his ear from the com.� Revenge?�
He thought.� Well, we�d already assumed that.�
But for what?� There wasn�t
much else said after that.� No matter
what Takao tried, he couldn�t seem to get Gideon to explain anything else.

�� He looked up as he went flying past
the sign warning of the exit to the Portsmouth
harbour.

�� Hang on, Taka.� I�m on my way�� Getting as much speed as he
could and still be in control of the motorcycle, Kai hurried toward the
harbour.

~*~*~*~*~

�� The window of the limo rolled down
smoothly as it pulled up to the guard booth at the entrance of the storage yard.� Takao pulled a key-card out of his wallet and
handed it over to the night guard.

�� Mr. Granger, sir.�� The guard nodded in greeting.� No motorcycle tonight?�

�� Nope.�� Takao flashed a smile that he hoped didn�t
show any strange emotions that would make the guard suspicious and want to get
involved somehow.� �I�m with clients,
tonight.� Business is booming, Tony.�

�� Congratulations on that, sir.� Here�s your card back.� Sign here, please?�� Tony the guard, whom Takao had met several
times coming to the storage yard in the past, handed the bluenette a clipboard
and pen.� Takao signed the sheet and
handed it back.� �Alright.� I�ll open the gate for you.� Call if you need anything!�

�� Thanks.� See you later, Tony.�� Takao wished he could warn the poor guy that
he was going to be swarmed by UNA agents very, very soon.� The limo pulled ahead as the gates opened up,
and the window rose back into place.

�� The storage yard was filled with
piles and piles of shipping crates � huge ones.�
The kind that travel by sea rather than by air or train.� Toward the back of the yard, however, were a
series of old ones that had been converted into storage sheds.� They stood piled one on top of the other, two
crates high and four crates to a block.�
It was one such block of storage that Takao had rented from the shipping
company.� The CEO and current owner of
MacGregor Commercial Shipping Ltd., Johnny MacGregor, was an old classmate of
Takao and Max�s from Harvard.

�� Takao gave directions through the
storage yard, internally preparing himself for the confrontation and for the
use of his abilities it was going to require to turn off his homemade security
system.

�� Stop here.� That�s it there.�� Takao gestured at the block that was sitting
behind a high, wire fence that was adorned with signs that warned of high
voltage � and barbed wire along the top.

�� Very well.� Franco.�

�� The thug opened the limo door and
got out, motioning for Takao to follow.�
Takao got out and walked over to the gate door of the wire fence.� He turned and waited.

�� Franco had gone around to the other
side of the limo and opened the door for Gideon.� Takao cursed the yet low light of the yard,
and the fact that the storm rolling in had followed from London to block out any light from the moon
and stars.� As Gideon walked around the
limo and stopped beside it, his back was to the single yard light in that back
corner of the storage facility.� All
Takao got was a flash of dark hair and a trench coat, much to his frustration.

�� Why the high voltage signs?�� Franco demanded.� �Hurry up and give the boss what he wants,
kid.�

�� Takao bent and picked up a pebble
from the ground.� �Why?�� He repeated mildly, tossing the pebble up
over his shoulder and the top of the fence.�
There was a sharp ZING of sound and a flash of intense blue light as the
pebble struck the electric field that pulsed around the block of crates as an
invisible shield.� �That�s why.� It�s the reason you needed me so badly to get
into the storage crate where I�ve got the items.� No one gets in there without me.�

�� You�ve always been too
clever.�� Gideon didn�t appear to be very
happy with Takao.� �And being such a
freak only made me despise you more.� Now
if you�ll do whatever you have to?�

�� Takao nodded, ignoring that comment,
and turned to swipe his key-card through the box beside the door.� A little light on the box turned green from
red and the lock slicked open.� The low
rumble of thunder briefly distracted Takao and he looked off in the direction
it came from.� In a brief flash of
distant lightning a few seconds before the next rumble, Takao thought he saw
three dark helicopters flying in his direction against the backdrop of the
storm clouds.� He hoped they were the UNA
units as he turned back to slip through the door.

�� Yeah.� Let�s get going before that storm gets any
closer.�� He said, shivering as the
deceptively gentle sensation of pure electric current touched his skin.� All the little hairs on his arms and the back
of his neck were rising at the latent static in the air, and he slowly raised
his hands, palms up and outward to the field.�
He took a few calming breaths and concentrated on the current, reading
it carefully before he reached for it.

�� Hurry up, Kinomiya!�� Franco�s voice sounded impatiently from
behind him.

�� Unless you want me to accidentally call down lightning from that storm, you�d
better learn patience.�� Takao snapped,
closing his eyes so he could simply feel
what he was doing and not get distracted again.�
�So shut up!�

�� Why you��

�� Franco.� Sprechen Sie nicht.�� Gideon�s voice (in German) cut him off, a
very dark, deathly tone that Takao hadn�t heard the man use until now.� That
tone was one that made Takao believe that he really was dealing with the Gideon who had turned his life into pure hell
for months.� �Whenever you�re ready,
Kinomiya.� But please � speed it
up.�� And that was a warning.

�� Takao frowned in concentration.� He pushed his hands against the field and
stiffened as the current briefly pushed back against him, then relaxed as it
pulsed through him instead, a steady throb that was as if he were merely part
of the circuit now.� Drawing in a deep
breath, Takao pulled that energy directly into himself and with each pulse fed
the energy into the ground beneath him until the field dissipated
completely.� Lowering his hands, he
stepped forward and used his key-card to open the door to the container.

�� There.� Everything�s inside.�� Takao gestured at the open door.

�� Come away, Kinomiya.� Stand with the limo, please.�� Gideon ordered.� Takao shrugged and did so.� The driver got out of the limo, a gun trained
on the bluenette steadily.

�� And here I hoped that we could part
ways on neutral terms.�� Takao frowned at
the driver, then looked at Gideon.� �Is
this really necessary?� Everyone got what
they wanted.�

�� Not yet, no.�� Gideon disagreed.� �Franco, you and I will go check the items
and make sure they are all there as promised, while Reynaud here keeps an eye
on our�guest.�

�� Yes, sir.�� Franco disappeared into the storage container
and light spilled out when he turned the lights on inside.

�� Reynaud, if he so much as twitches,
kill him.�� Gideon walked by and entered
the container also, quickly enough that all Takao managed to see of him this
time was the dark brown, neatly cut head of hair Gideon sported.� Huffing in frustration, Takao folded his arms
over his chest and leaned against the limo.�
In the distance, he could hear the familiar hum of a motorcycle engine,
and the steady eats of the helicopters� blades in between the roll and rumble
of thunder.

�� It seemed the cavalry had caught up
to him at last.� He just hoped Kai and
Tala made their move sooner rather than later.

�� Then he blinked, glancing over at
the storage container in contemplation.�
Why was he waiting?� He could
handle this easily.� With that in mind,
he dropped his arms and looked back at the driver.� First, he had to do something about him and
the gun.

�� Tell me, how did you get caught up
in this?� How does any one of you
suddenly decide to become career criminals?�
Don�t you have better things to do?�

�� Reynaud frowned and shook his
head.� �Je ne parle pas anglais.�

�� Takao smiled engagingly.� The hand nearest the limo, hidden mostly from
view between his leg and the black car, curled into a loose fist, and the
bluenette carefully focused enough power into that fist to stun a human and put
him out for several hours.

�� Ah.�
Pardon.�� Takao replied in perfect French.� �I was just wondering how you got into this
business.� But�� He released the energy
with a quick flick of his wrist and fingers directly at the driver, and Reynaud
went down with a hard thud.� He didn�t
even have time to cry out.� ��I don�t
really care.� Sorry.�

�� The reluctant thief shivered as rain
began to fall, a soft pattering of sound that hid the even quieter shuffle of
his foot falls as he snuck over to the wire fencing and pulled the gate door
closed.� The lock engaged automatically
and Takao grinned to himself as he sauntered back to the limo and leaned
against it.� Glancing back along the path
they�d driven on arrival, Takao blinked and raised an eyebrow as the motorcycle
� now recognizable as his � bearing his lover quietly rode up to stop behind
the limo, any noise smothered by the thunder.

�� Took you long enough.�� Takao commented in a quiet voice and winked
at Kai, who got off the bike and took off the goggles.� �And who said you could ride that?�

�� Better me than some agent you don�t
know.�� Kai retorted, vastly relieved to
see his lover completely unharmed.� He
looked down at the body of Reynaud dispassionately.� �Who�s this?�

�� Driver.� Gideon and minion are in there.�� Takao jerked a thumb in the direction of the
container.� �Gleefully going through the
items to make rue they�re all there, no doubt.�
Can we please spring this trap?�
I�m exhausted.�

�� Kai nodded, eyeing the bluenette as
he reached for his ear.� Takao was pale,
and there was a heaviness� around his
eyes that spoke of how low on energy he was.�
�You okay, otherwise?�

�� I�m fine.�� Takao wasn�t going to mention that the limo
was probably the only thing holding him up at the moment, though.� He dug his cell out of his jacket pocket and
opened it.� He had one last little
contingency ready.

�� Tala, is everyone in
position?�� Kai asked.� There was some static buzzing in his ear before
he caught the reply.

�� Yep.� Just say when and we�ll illuminate Gideon on
the error of his ways.�

�� Good.�� Kai met Takao�s gaze and gave a short
nod.� �We�re ready.�

�� Takao raised his voice and yelled to
be heard over the rumbling thunder and pouring rain.� �Hey, Gideon!�
I think your driver is feeling a tad under the weather!�

�� Franco appeared first, stepping out
into the darkness and rain.� �What are
you shouting�shit!� Reynaud!�� He moved forward, gun coming out and pointing
at Takao through the fence.

�� Franco?� What is it?��
Gideon came out in a hurry when he heard the thug curse.� But he stopped just outside the container
door when he saw that the wire gate was closed and locked.� He looked toward the limo at Takao, drawing
his own gun.� �Kinomiya!�

�� What?� You didn�t really think I was going to play nice, did you?�� Takao tilted his head as the distinct sound
of two guns being cocked and the safeties on them being released split the
moment of silence between thunder from above.�
�You�ve got to be kidding me.�

�� Let us out now, or we shoot you
where you stand.�� Franco glared
threateningly.

�� Shoot me and you won�t get
out.� Sorry, but you�re trapped.� And there�s nothing I want to do about
it.�� Takao shrugged and pressed a button
on his cell phone.� It dialled a number,
which was actually a command code programmed to close the container door
remotely.

�� The shadowed figured of Gideon
visibly jumped when the door behind him swung shut abruptly with a �clang� of
metal noise.

�� And now you have no access to the
items.� You have nothing to bargain with,
and nowhere to go.�� Takao put his cell
phone away, and held his hand out to the darkness behind hind him, where Kai
stood hidden from view.� �Is that about
how you wanted it, lover?� Hope you like
my gift to you.�

�� Kai grasped Takao�s hand and stepped
forward.� �Gee, for us?� What a nice present.� Don�t you think so, Tala?�

�� Light suddenly flooded the scene,
banishing any and all shadows and darkness as the UNA agents surrounding them
turned on search lights and such, revealing themselves to the captive
criminals.� A helicopter came to hover
overhead, low to the ground, and allowing Tala to drop with a predator�s agile grace
to the ground near his partner and Takao.�
He joined the two and cast smug, ice-cold eyes over the two caged men.

�� What?� No bow?��
He commented, earning a snort of laughter from Takao and an eye-roll
from Kai.

�� Sorry.� Didn�t have time to wrap them up all
pretty.�� Takao responded wryly.

�� Oh well.� It�s the thought that counts.�� Tala folded his arms and turned a
no-nonsense, all business glare on the criminals.� �You�re surrounded by the UNA!� You will drop your weapons and hold your
hands up where they can be seen at all times, and surrender!�

�� Franco looked like he wanted to take
his chances, but Gideon dropped his gun and raised his hands.� �Franco.��
He said, and it was all that was needed before the thug did the same.

�� Kai squeezed Takao�s hand before
releasing it and going to the fence with Tala, a dozen other agents appearing
out of nowhere to cover them.

�� What�s the code, Taka?�

�� Grad.�� Takao replied, watching as Kai paused for a
moment, his eyes closing briefly in pained remembrance before quickly punching
the date on the key-pad and scanning Takao�s key-card.� Then he left Tala and the others to swarm the
place and capture Gideon and Franco, and deal with the unconscious Reynaud, in
favour of returning to Takao�s side.

�� Why did you choose that date?�� Kai asked.

�� Takao smiled sadly.� �Because it�s a date I�ve never been able to
forget.�

�� Kai shook his head and reached out
to brush the wet locks of hair out of Takao�s eyes.� It was beginning to pour, and lightning was
crackling across the black skies.� �Well,
maybe now you can forget.� At least the
bad parts.�

�� Takao�s smile turned a little
brighter.� �Yeah.�

�� How are you doing, love?�

�� Before Takao could reply, two agents
marched by with a shackled Gideon between them.

�� Kinomiya!� Hiwatari!�
This isn�t over!� I swear I�ll have
my revenge for all that you�ve done to me!�

�� Kai held up a hand.� �Hold on.�
Bring him here.�� The two agents
complied and dragged the struggling man closer.�
�What the hell are you going on about?�
And who are you anyway?� I don�t
recognize you.�

�� He looks kinda
familiar but I can�t seem to place him, either.�� Takao scowled at Gideon, who began swearing
dire revenge and spewing threats instead of answering Kai�s questions.� �At this point�I can�t even bring myself to
care.�

�� Kai waved the agents away and they
hauled Gideon off.� �Well get the story
out of hi, don�t worry.� For now, he�ll
be taken to Paris
and held until Mr. Dickenson decides how to prosecute the case, and�� Kai
stopped and reached out to steady Takao when he noticed the bluenette seemed to
be swaying slightly on his feet.� �Hey,
Kinomiya�whoa!�� He barely managed to
catch Takao when he suddenly pitched forward.�
�Takao!� What�s wrong?�

�� The bluenette groaned as Kai rolled
him over onto his back so that he lay half propped up in Kai�s lap, the gent
having knelt on the ground with him.�
�I�sorry, Kai.� I�m�so tired�and I
don�t�think�� he coughed, a wet, thick sound that scared Kai boneless.

�� Taka, love�oh god!�� Kai looked around frantically until he spotted
his partner a few yards away issuing orders to other agents.� �Hold on, alright, Takao?� Just�� TALA!�

�� Hearing his name in a voice that
held panic, the wolf glanced around until he spotted his partner on the ground
with Takao in his arms.� Worry and dread
shot through him and he began to shout for the medical unit as he hurried over
and knelt next to them.

�� What happened?� Kai�hey!��
Tala snapped his fingers in his partner�s face when Kai didn�t
reply.� �Hiwatari, answer me!�

�� I�he just collapsed.� Taka?��
Kai swept the soaked mass of Takao�s hair out of the way.� Dull blue-grey eyes looked wearily up at him
as another harsh coughing fit wracked his body.�
�What�s happening to you?�

�� Just�tired.� I�m�fine, Kai.�� He wasn�t, but Takao didn�t like that scared
look in Kai�s eyes and wanted to erase it.�
�It�s over�now, right?�

�� Kai shuddered.� He didn�t like that wording very much.� �Gideon�s in custody and your family has been
rescued, yeah.�� He assured Takao, pretending
he hadn�t thought the worst with that statement � that he was dying.� �You�re safe, and I�m safe, and everyone else
is fine.�

�� Good�� Takao�s eyes drooped shut,
unable to stay open any longer.�
�Can�t�stay�awake�Kai?�

�� I�m right here.�� Kai felt the tears slide down his cheeks and
he gripped Takao�s hand tightly.� The
medical unit was approaching on the run, and Tala was getting up to move around
to Kai.� �What can I do, love?�

�� Stay�don�t leave�me.�� Takao murmured.� Everything hurt, and it was all so dark and
wet. He just wanted to sink into the ground and sleep, but there was something
important he had to tell Kai.

�� I won�t.�� Kai promised fiercely, gripping his hand so
tightly he had to be cutting off Takao�s circulation.� �Never, Takao.�

�� Kai�� The medical unit had arrived
and began looking their patient over, but Takao didn�t notice.� He couldn�t feel anything at all for some
reason.� �I�love you�� he whispered
before he lost the fight and everything ceased to exist.

�� Taka?�� Kai�s heart stopped when the bluenette went
limp and his head lolled to the side.�
�No�� Tala�s hands dropped down on his shoulders and were trying to pull
him away to let the medical unit do their job.

�� TAKAO!�

~*~*~*~*~

Kali Notes:� Well, you can�t say you weren�t expecting
that�� Is a picture beginning to form
here for everyone?� Find out in the next
chapter!� Please R/R!!!!
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Once A Thief