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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
- 18
- 19
- 20
Kali notes: *peeps out from behind wall of muses*� Here�s the continuing saga�� Thank you for not killing me yet!� I think this chapter will give everyone a
little satisfaction.

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 19: Den of Thieves � Part
III

�� Kai refused to leave Takao�s side
after he collapsed.� The medical unit �
after a great deal of quick talking from Tala � grudgingly allowed the distraught
agent to side in the helicopter with Takao as it rushed him to Paris.� Dr. Maison and a team of nurses and orderlies
were waiting for them as the helicopter touched down on the landing pad on the
rooftop of the UNA headquarters.

�� Tala stayed behind to see to the
little clean-up details and the transport of the items to Paris as evidence.� And to later escort a very concerned Hilary
back to Paris.� She�d heard among the agent�s chatter the
requests for medical personnel and surmised the reason for it.� It seemed Tala�s prediction had come true;
Takao had managed to hold on long enough to get the job done, then fell into a deep unconsciousness from exhaustion and
stress.

�� That was bad enough, but what scared
Kai the most had been that weak, wet coughing that shook Takao�s body so badly
his bones rattled.� Angelique confirmed
that Takao had come down with a cold � which, combined with his weakened immune
system and the state his body was already in, quickly morphed into
pneumonia.� Being out in the cold rain,
and the massive use of his abilities in the last 24 hours had just been too
much, the doctor explained to Kai a full five hours after Takao had arrived and
undergone treatment.

�� The next couple of days are
crucial.� It�ll be touch� and go, Agent
Hiwatari.�� Angelique didn�t try to down
play the situation, and Kai appreciated it even if he didn�t like the truth of
it.� He stood on one side of the
bluenette�s hospital bed, facing the doctor over the still, hardwired
form of his lover.� Poor Takao was hooked
up with all kinds of tubes and wires to various machines and IVs, monitoring
his vitals. He was very pale, and Kai could hear the rattle of his breathing
thanks to the pneumonia.� �If the fever
comes down tonight, and his breathing loosens up, he�ll have a good chance at
making it through.�

�� Kai nodded in acknowledgement.� He felt as pale as Takao looked and as
fragile.

�� Angelique studied the agent with a
critical eye.� �I�m guessing that you�re
going to object if I kick you out of here, Agent.� So I�ll allow you to stay here in the ICU
with him.� But you have to promise me
you�ll get some rest and eat well, or else I�ll admit you as one of my
patients.�

�� Kai blinked at her, a tiny smile
kicking up the corners of his mouth.� �Yes, Ma�am.�

�� Good.�� Angelique turned and headed for the
door.� �Because as bad as Mr. Kinomiya
looks, you look like death warmed over.��
Sticking her head out the door, she called for a nurse.� �Nurse!�

�� Yes, Doctor?�� A young woman appeared quickly at the
summons.

�� Find a comfortable chair for Agent
Hiwatari, please, and have a cot set up over there by the wall for him.� And until I give the okay, no one but medical
personnel, myself, and Agents Hiwatari and Ivanov are
allowed into this room.�� The doctor gave
Kai a short wave.� �I�ll check in every
so often, Agent.� And the staff will be
monitoring him every minute.� Perhaps you
would like to go home, shower, eat, and pack a few things for yourself?�

�� Kai shook his head.� �I�m fine.�
When Tala gets here I�ll ask him to get some things for me.�� He reached out to carefully cover Takao�s
hand with his own.

�� Angelique sighed and moved aside as
the nurse returned with a chair, followed by two orderlies hauling a cot.� �Suit yourself.�� She left the room.

�� After the nurse and the orderlies
had vacated the room, Kai sank down gratefully into the cushioned chair,
watching the unconscious Takao silently, wishing there was some way he could
fix the bluenette himself.

�� I�m here, Takao.� I�m here and I promise I�ll be here when you
wake up.�� Kai felt his eyes water and
his chest begin to hurt from the pent up worry and emotion.� �And you�d better wake up,
Kinomiya!� Don�t you leave me!� Not when we finally have the chance to be
together!� I won�t let you�go�� his voice
cracked.� �I love you, Takao.� So fight and come back to me.�

~*~*~*~*~

�� Tala
and Hilary came in late the next morning. Angelique cleared Hilary as a
visitor, and the brunette took up a watch at Takao�s bedside while Tala pulled
his partner outside the ICU room to brief Kai on all that he�d missed in the
meantime.

�� All
the items are in the evidence vaults, including the Egg.� Every one of them was there, so at least all
those people he borrowed from will get their property back safe and sound.�

�� And Gideon?� His people?�� Kai
folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the wall.

�� His
people are singing like canaries.� Still,
they have no idea why their boss chose to pick on Kinomiya � or you.� We�ve got addresses and names for places and
people that Gideon is associated with, and Director Dickenson is passing the
word around to the rest of the UNA offices globally.� Raids will be conducted as soon as warrants
can be issued.�� Tala frowned, glaring up
at the ceiling.� �As for Gideon
himself�as a true crime boss, he�s not saying a word except to demand his
lawyer.� He won�t even give us his real
name so we can book him properly!�

�� Kai�s
crimson eyes flashed dangerously, and he pushed himself away from the
wall.� �Where is he now?�� He began walking in the direction of the
elevator.

�� Tala
hurried after him.� �In
lock-up.� Whoa, now hold on,
Hiwatari!�� The wolf quickly stepped into
the elevator and blocked the panel.� �I
don�t think it�s a good idea for you to go anywhere near him at this
point.� You�re not in a calm, level-headed
frame of mind right now, and he�s liable to end up dead before we get answers
out of him if you do.�

�� Move,
Tala.� I�m not going to kill him �
yet.� But I think he�ll be more inclined
to talk to me over you or some other
agent.�� Kai faced his partner unfazed,
and unimpressed by the cold flash of warning in the surreal blue eyes of the
Russian agent.� �You�re not going to
fight me, either, Ivanov, so either come with me for this little chat or get
the hell out of my way.�

�� Tala
growled under his breath and held up a hand.�
�At least tell me what you plan to do, and whether or not you�re going
to get fired for it.�

�� Push
the button and I�ll fill you in on the way down.�� Kai said.

�� Warily,
Tala did so, and on the way to the wing of the UNA building that served as a
medium-security prison, Kai outlined how he intended to go about the
interrogation.

�� I
doubt it�s going to work.�� Tala shook
his head as they approached the guard station.�
�But we�ll see.�

�� Agents.�� The guard
greeted them and they held up their IDs for him to see.� �Ah.�
Going to try again, Agent Ivanov?�

�� Yes.�� Tala nodded as the guard came around the
booth to unlock the sealed doors and allow them to pass.

�� I�ll
have the prisoner brought to the interrogation room, then.� And I hope you get something out of him this
time.�� The guard leaned in
conspiratorially, murmuring, �Word�s come down that his lawyer is expected to
arrive in a few hours from Munich.� The powers that be couldn�t deny him his
phone call any longer, so he called in the cavalry.�

�� Fantastic.� Thanks for the head�s up.�

�� The
guard shrugged.� �He�s a real piece of
work.� None of us down here on guard duty
are overly concerned about his comfort � if you get my meaning.�

�� Crystal clear.��
Tala�s grin flashed teeth in a predatory gleam of white.� �But it�s not me the asswipe�s got to worry
about.�� Tala jerked a thumb at his
partner, who was already half-way down the corridor and heading for one of the
interrogation rooms.� �Do me a favour and
make sure there�s plenty of fire extinguishers on
hand.�

�� The guard nodded, confused by the request and not understanding
what that had to do with the other agent � as Kai had rarely interacted with
the prison guards, and they were unfamiliar with him.

�� Tala
followed Kai into the observation room next to the interrogation room, where
they waited for Gideon to be brought in.�
�Are you sure you can keep your cool on this, Kai?�

�� I
won�t make promises, Tala.� Don�t ask me
for that concerning this bastard.�� Kai�s
expression darkened as he watched the man � now dressed in bright orange prison
clothes and shackled (hands and feet) � be shuffled into the interrogation room
on the other side of the one-way mirror wall and chained to the table by his
feet.� �I will get him to talk, one way
or another.�

�� Fine.� But keep in
mind that we won�t get any justice out of him if you do anything that can be
used against the UNA when he goes on trial.�

�� Believe
me, I know.�� Kai replied grimly, opening
the door to the interrogation room and stepping inside.� Tala closed the door behind himself and motioned for the two prison guards to step
outside and wait.

�� Well,
well�so his majesty Hiwatari finally decided to come and visit.� Lucky me.� Should I be honoured?�� Gideon sneered at the agents.

�� No.� You should be scared.�� Tala leaned against the wall near the doors,
arms crossed over his chest.� �You�re up
on several international charges, Gideon.�
And until your lawyer gets here, you have no protection and no rights
with us � the UNA, that is.� We don�t
play by the same rules as local authorities.�
Cooperation will get you somewhere but withholding anything we ask of
you will get you a world of pain and suffering.�

�� Gideon
scoffed.� �I don�t think so.� Even the UNA can�t torture its prisoners to
get what it wants out of them.� You can�t
threaten me like that.�

�� Kai
reached into his pocket and pulled out his badge and ID, handing it to
Tala.� �You�re right.� The UNA can�t.�

�� Tala
opened the door to the observation room.�
�Five minutes, Kai.�� He stepped
through the door and let it close behind him.

�� I
won�t need that long.�

�� Wait��
Gideon frowned, looking back and forth between the door and Kai with the
beginnings of real worry.� �What�s going
on?�

�� Simple.� The UNA doesn�t condone the use of violence
to obtain statements or information from prisoners or witnesses.�� Kai flexed his fingers and cracked his
knuckles.� �But Tala just took my badge
and ID.� Right now, Gideon,� his voice grew dark and smoky, while his eyes burned with
unholy fire in the low light of the room.�
�I�m not UNA.� So the rules don�t
apply.�

�� Gideon�s
eyes widened and he shook his head.� �You
can�t� You�re
bluffing me.� Badge or not, you can�t
just�� He tried to stand up and move
away, but couldn�t because of the chains.

�� Kai�s
fist lashed out, catching the man straight in the jaw and knocking him back
into his chair.� �You think I care?� After what you�ve done to him?�� Kai hauled Gideon up by his shirt and punched
him again, this time hearing the satisfactory sound of breaking bone.� Gideon�s nose gushed and his head snapped
back with the force of the blow.� �You pathetic piece of shit!�
So help me, if he dies, you will know the true meaning of pain, and I
won�t care if you spill your guts about your reasons for what you�ve done!�

�� Fuck
you, Hiwatari!�� Gideon snarled back, a
little muffled and garbled thanks to his broken nose and the blood that poured
out of it.� �You and that little freak
boyfriend of yours deserve it!� You
ruined my life!�

�� Kai�s
eyes narrowed dangerously. �He raised a
hand, clenching his fingers slowly into a fist.�
�Oh really?�
Well, I don�t have a clue who you are or what you�re talking about.� Nor do I care.� You�ve caused Takao enough suffering.� His family were innocent bystanders.�� A glow encased his fist, slowly growing
brighter and becoming tinged in reds, oranges, and yellows.� �You used them, and turned Takao into to a
thief.� For what?� The right to be some
big-shot in the criminal world, and revenge?�� He opened his fingers and the glow became a
brightly burning, flickering ball of flames.�
His eyes reflected the light and flared with the use of his abilities,
something he rarely did because of the potential for destruction and injury to
others.� �You dare call him a freak, when
you set up such elaborate and ridiculous schemes such as this one you�ve used
on Takao?� And by
association, me?�

�� Gideon�s
eyes were wide again, this time in real fear.�
�Wh�what
are you?!�

�� I am
the one who will introduce you to the flames of hell.�� Kai brought the flames in his hand close to
Gideon�s face, letting him feel the heat of it.�
Gideon instantly began to sweat, and try as he might, he could not move
away from them, anchored to the table as he was.� �Refresh my memory, �Gideon.�� How did we �run your life,� and who the fuck
are you?�

�� Thanks
to your lover-boy I got kicked out of school!�
And thanks to your family, my family was destroyed when Hiwatari
Enterprises fired my Pop!�� Gideon
flinched as the flames got so close to his face he could feel the burn tingling
his skin � like a sunburn.

�� Keep
going.�� Kai demanded, holding on to the
fire in his hand with waning concentration.

�� I
can�t believe you don�t remember me, Hiwatari.�
I�d have beat the shit out of you that day if
that�gay freak, Kinomiya, hadn�t
shown up and interrupted!�

�� Kai
pulled back a little, satisfied they were getting somewhere.� He heard the door open behind him and Tala�s
footsteps as he entered the room, but ignored his partner.� �Excuse me?�
I don�t remember ever being in danger of being beaten up.�� He lashed out with his other fist, socking
Gideon in the solar plexus and knocking the wind out of him.� �And I recommend you stop calling Takao
names, or I�ll shove this down your throat.��
He held the fireball up threateningly and Gideon shied away, wheezing.

�� Kai,
your five minutes are up.�� Tala said
from the sidelines.� �The guards will be
back any minute.�

�� Keep talking, asshole.��
Kai let the fireball dissipate, then tossed a
handkerchief at the man.� �And clean
yourself up.� You�re a mess.� What�s your real name?�

�� Schwarz.� Jacob
Schwarz.�� Gideon managed to get out,
groaning and holding himself in pain. �You�ll pay for this, Hiwatari!� I�ll make sure you end up in jail alongside
me for assault.�

�� Kai
ignored the threat and studied him with a deep frown, trying to place the
name.� German names were not uncommon in
post-World War II Japan, but they still weren�t common enough to run into them
so frequently that Kai would recognize it immediately.� �Schwarz�Schwarz�oh.�� Recognition did dawn after a few moments of
deep thought, and Kai stared at him disbelievingly.� �Jake.�
The one who thought it would be fun to bring his gang of losers along
and try to bully me.� I remember
now.� Takao was on hall monitor duty that
day and hauled your ass to the VP�s office.��
He blinked at Jake.�
�Strange�you�re intelligence doesn�t match your little scheme very
well.�

�� Why
you�� Jake snarled something quite unflattering in German, and Kai just laughed
� though not like it was funny.� There
was a very nasty tone to that laugh, one that made Tala decide the
interrogation was over.

�� Okay.� Come on, Kai.�
Let�s go relieve Hilary.� This
loser is going away for the rest of his life so you needn�t waste anymore
energy on him.�

�� One last question.� The sword.�� Kai
slammed his hands down on the table in front of himself and leaned across it to
glare right in to Jake�s face.� �Where is
it?�

�� He
received a sneer and a feeble attempt at spitting on him as an answer.� Kai wiped the spittle off his face and lashed
out once more.� Then he turned on his
heel and stalked from the room as the guards came back.

�� Tala
eyed the mess of a man with contempt.�
�Reset his nose and get him cleaned up.�
He had an accident.� Fell face
first into the cement floor trying to escape, dumb bastard.�� The guards chuckled in understanding and went
to haul Jake out of his chair.

�� Yes, sir, Agent Ivanov.��
The one guard held out a sheet of paper as he passed.� �Director Dickenson is looking for you and
Agent Hiwatari, sir.�

�� Tala
sighed and took the paper.� �Yeah,
thanks.�� He unfolded the paper and
scanned the memo quickly.

�� You�ll
all regret this!� I�ll have my
revenge!�� Jake continued to shout and
swear as the guards dragged him out of the room.� Tala ignored him and went after Kai.

�� He
caught up to his partner at the elevators.�
�Kai!�
The director requests our presence as soon as possible.�� Tala waved the memo at the dual-haired agent.

�� Whatever.�� Kai rubbed at his eyes wearily.� Tala frowned.

�� Maybe
you should hit the locker room, first.� Shower and change, okay?�
You�ve got the loser�s blood on you.�

�� Kai
looked down at himself and made a face.�
�Ugh.� As good as that felt, it�s
always so messy.�

�� Tala
snickered, following his partner to the locker room in the training hall.� �Maybe.� But you succeeded in getting enough
information out of him to figure the mess out.��
He sat on a bench and crossed his arms while Kai opened his locker and
dug out spare clean clothes, a towel, and some bath supplies.� �So you know him from high school, huh?�

�� Hn.� Kai stripped down and
wrapped the towel around his waist, turning and heading for the first shower
stall.� �Unfortunately.�

�� What�s
the story?�

�� I
only know about how he tried to gang up on me with his group of loser friends
once, intending on beating me up for � apparently � being gay and having sex
with Kinomiya Takao.�� Kai related the
entire tale from his memory over the noise of the water as he showered.� �It was the first I�d ever heard of any
rumour about us, and there wasn�t ever anything like that going on at that point, either.�

�� So
he�s just a bully and a homophobe who holds a grudge.� How quaint.�� Tala shook his head.� �What is
the world coming to?�

�� Yeah.� Takao was on hall
monitor duty that day, and he was the one who hauled Jake down to the Vice
Principal�s office for trying to bully me.��
Kai, towel wrapped around his waist again, stepped out of the shower and
went to put his clothes on.� �Not that I needed his help or anything, but he did
it anyway.�

�� Tala
grinned.� �Of course
not.�

�� Kai
shot him a dark look.� �Don�t even think
of making the comment I can see brewing in that head of yours.�

�� Ice blue eyes widened in mock-innocence.� �Wouldn�t dream of it!�� Tala grew serious again.� �I take it you don�t remember seeing him
around after that.� He did say he got kicked out of school.�

�� I
guess.� I didn�t pay any attention.� Why would I, anyway?�� Kai paused in the middle of pulling on his
dark purple, long-sleeved turtleneck shirt, a slight smile crossing his
face.� �Though�it�s strange��

�� What
is?�� Tala glanced up at him.

�� Now
that I think about it, that little event resulted in Takao and I turning that
rumour into reality � sort of.�� The
crimson-eyed agent flushed and hurriedly pulled the shirt over his head to hide
his heated face.� �We started going out
not long after that, though minus the torrid sexual affair.�

�� The
wolf made a face of his own.� �Okay, I
get the idea, thanks.� Say no more on
that subject, please.�

�� Kai
rolled his eyes and stuffed his things into his locker.� Except for the shirt.� Eyeing it, he decided to just throw it
away.� Tala handed him the badge and ID
he�d been holding onto and Kai clipped the ID to his black jeans� belt loop,
stuffing the badge in one back pocket and his wallet in the other.

�� Let�s
go, Tala.� I want to check in on Takao
before we go up to Mr. Dickenson�s office.�

~*~*~*~*~

�� Hilary
looked up as the two agents quietly came into the room.

�� Hey.�� She greeted them softly.� �Everything go okay?�

�� For
us, yes.�� Tala moved to the end of the
bed and Hilary got up out of the chair, allowing Kai to take his place.� �For Gideon � otherwise
known as Jacob Schwarz � not so much.�

�� Hilary
went to stand with him, her hand automatically reaching for his.� She frowned in thought, not noticing when Tala
threaded their fingers together to hold her hand more tightly and intimately
than a simple hand grasp.� �Schwarz...?�
her accent couldn�t quite wrap around the different sounds, but it was close
enough.� �Why does that name sound
familiar?�

�� You
wouldn�t know him personally, Hilary, but he was in high school with us.�� Kai responded, Takao�s
hand gently clasped between his.� He
raised that hand and pressed the back of it to his cheek.� �The guy was a bully and complete loser.�� Was it him, or was Takao a little cooler to
the touch than before?� He sighed.

�� Oh.� That jerk.�� Hilary
sniffed in feminine disgust.� �He was
always trying to get a couple of my friends to go out with him � though we all
knew all he wanted was sex.�

�� Tala
growled something nasty in Russian and Kai glanced at him with a raised eyebrow
of amusement.

�� How very noble of you.��
Kai commented in Russian, a very confused and suspicious Hilary looking
back and forth between them.� �Next you�ll
be riding a white horse and wearing armour.�

�� Shut
up, Hiwatari.�� Tala advised, flipping
him off with a raised middle finer.

�� Hey!� It�s rude to speak in another language around
someone who doesn�t understand!�� Hilary
scolded and scowled at them, nudging Tala none to gently in the ribs with an
elbow.

�� Tala
was just saying how he�d have liked to�� Kai began translating only to be hastily
cut off by Tala.

�� been there to defend your honour!�� The red-headed agent declared, grinning a
little.� He shot his partner a warning
glare that meant �keep the part about ripping his balls off and stuffing them
up his ass to yourself, Hiwatari!�

�� Ri-ight.�� The brunette didn�t fully buy that, but she
let it slide.

�� We
should go, Kai.�� Tala glanced at the
clock on the wall.� �Mr. Dickenson�s
waiting for us.�

�� Yeah.�� Kai stood up
and leaned over to lightly brush his lips over Takao�s cheek, which was the
only part of his face other than his forehead that wasn�t mostly covered by the
oxygen mask.� �I�ll be back soon,
love.� Rest well.�� He murmured, brushing Takao�s hair out of his
eyes affectionately.� He laid Takao�s
hand back on the bed and made his way to the door.

�� Hilary
followed them out.� �He�s doing better,
Kai.� The nurse that checked on him last
said his fever seems to be going down.�

�� Kai
nodded, smiling a little in relief.� �Good.� Thanks, Hilary.�

�� No
problem.� Don�t worry.� I�ll stay here with him until you come back.�� She waved goodbye to them as they walked off,
then turned and went back to the bluenette�s bedside.

~*~*~*~*~

�� Well,
Agents, first of all I�d like to commend you on your work on this case.� You�ve been working tirelessly with great
effort for months now and I�m glad to say it has paid off.�� Director Stanley Dickenson clasped his hands
in front of him on his desk as he looked across the expanse of it, cluttered
with paperwork and files, and stacks of newspapers, at Kai and Tala.� They regarded him in return, seated in the
two cushioned chairs for guests.

�� How
is the young Kinomiya, Agent Hiwatari?�

�� Still
unconscious, sir, and still in the ICU.�
His fever seems to be coming down.��
Kai answered, leaning back in the chair.�
He was tired, and would prefer to be sleeping right then instead of
working.� But�there was
still things that needed doing � if only so that when Takao woke up, he would
have nothing to worry about.

�� Ah.� I see.��
Mr. Dickenson nodded sadly.� �What
does Dr. Maison say about his condition?�

�� She
is hopeful that if his fever breaks he can make a full recovery.�� Tala replied when Kai remained silent.� Glancing at his partner for a second, the
wolf continued.� �Personally, I think he�ll
be fine.� He�s got�too much unfinished
business.�

�� Hmm�yes.�� The old man stroked his moustache
thoughtfully.� �I do hope that is the case.� In the meantime, I wanted to release the
statements of Gideon�s people, and of Kinomiya Tatsuya and Hiroshi, to you and
to give you a summary of the conclusions that we�ve reached based on these
statements.�� He pulled several folders
from the piles on his desk and handed them over to Tala.� The two agents proceeded to flip through the
pages while their superior spoke.

�� After
reviewing the transcripts that were taken of the conversation between Takao and
Gideon during the operation, I contacted several branches of our offices
world-wide to inquire if there had been any new criminal elements that appeared
to be coming into play recently.� There�s
rumours of an organization forming, made up from leaders and bosses of the old
Underground � Mafia, Triad, Yakuza�it goes on and on.� According to the statements of Gideon�s
people, these crime bosses were once very powerful and important people within
their organizations.� But lately they�ve
become disillusioned and dissatisfied by their ways and results, and so they
are attempting to break away and form a new organization.� There are supposed to be 13 heads of the new
group, but it�s still in the process of being formed, and so��

�� Hn.� They�re still determining their pecking order
and earning their memberships.�� Kai
slapped the folder in his hands closed and dropped it on the desk in
disgust.� �These criminals are all the
same no matter what they try to say otherwise.�
And they�re all lame and juvenile.�

�� How true.�� Tala
agreed, adding his folders to Kai�s on the desk.� �You forgot pathetic.� Still, at least we know Gideon wasn�t full of
crap when he told Kinomiya about his �initiation.��

�� Yeah.�� Kai regarded
the old man warily.� �So what are your
plans for him, anyway?� I think his story
has been completely corroborated and proven.�

�� Quite so.� And I am
more than willing to release him as soon as he�s healthy, with no charges.� However, there is one issue that stands in
our way.�� The Director suddenly looked
as tired as Kai felt.

�� Issue?�� Kai didn�t
like the sound of that.

�� What
sort of problem?�� Tala asked, frowning.

�� Some
of the victims of the thefts are adamant that all those involved be brought to
justice.� I have been in contact with all
of them, and there are a few who are so very upset that they are insisting that
even if Mr. Kinomiya was being forced into it, he still committed serious
crimes and deserves to be punished for it.�
I�m afraid that unless these few can be convinced that the charges
should be dropped, it will be very, very difficult to absolve the young man and
give him freedom.�� Stanley explained grimly, watching Kai in
concern.� The crimson-eyed man was
eerily, coldly silent at the news.� Stanley pulled a
handkerchief from his pocket and mopped at his brow.� �I have an idea, if you would care to hear
it.�

�� By all means.�� Tala
nodded.

�� I
think the best way to convince these dissenters is to show them that the young
man has � is � suffering for what he�s done.�
Perhaps, if they see that he is truly ill, they will be easier to
convince that his crimes are forgivable and to let him live with his choices.� Outside of a prison.�� Director Dickenson mused.

�� You
mean to appeal to their sympathetic sides and make them feel more of an
empathetic connection to him so they�ll be more inclined to drop the charges?�� Tala thought about it for a moment.� �It may work � if they have sympathetic sides
to appeal to, that is.�

�� And
how would you do that anyway?�� Kai
wanted to know.� It sounded like pity
more than sympathy to him, and he wasn�t sure Takao would like that when he
woke up and found out.

�� Have
them come here and see Takao looking all sick and fragile, one step away from a
near-death experience�� Tala thought aloud.�
�We know he�ll be fine but we don�t need to tell them that.�

�� Yes.� That is exactly what I had in mind.�� The old man agreed.� �What do you think, Agent Hiwatari?�

�� I don�t like it, and I know
Takao won�t like being pitied.�� Kai
replied bluntly.� �However�I think we can
swallow our prides long enough if it keeps him out of prison.�

�� Takao
had offered to apologize and return the items he�borrowed in person,
however we � the UNA and his legal counsel � agreed that it wasn�t a good idea,
even if it was a very nice, noble one.�� Stanley continued.� �In this instance, though, I feel we can use
the intent to his benefit.�

�� Tala�s
eyes narrowed deviously.� This sounded
like fun.� If there was one thing he
enjoyed, it was messing with people who were obstructing justice.

�� They hammered
out a plan of action, and the two agents left their superior to make a long
list of phone calls while they went to finish up some paperwork.

�� Kai
pulled his cell phone from his jacket pocket to check his calls.� �Oh�shit.��
He sat heavily in his desk chair and looked up at his partner.

�� Oh
shit,� what?�� Tala sat in his own chair
across from Kai.

�� Setting
the little device on the desk, Kai slowly pushed it away.� �Mother.� I�m hoping she�s not trying to call me
because they found the safe empty.�

�� Oh.� Shit.��
The wolf echoed glibly, running a hand through his hair.� �You�d better call and find out.�

�� I
really don�t want to.�

�� Well,
you have to call her anyway, to get those employee files and information from
Hiwatari Enterprises.�

�� Shit.�

�� Yep.� Look at it this
way � no more secrets, right?�

�� Kai
sighed and dropped his head to the desk top with a thread.� �I hate this.�� He complained, coming perilously close to a
whine as he reached for the phone on his desk.�
Tala watched him covertly, under the pretence of looking busy with
paperwork.

�� Kai, sweetheart!��
Hiwatari Masumi�s voice came over the line and Kai winced.� �I�m glad you called me back so soon��

�� Hello,
Mother.� I�m sorry I haven�t been
calling.� We�ve�made a lot of headway in
the case and we�ve been very busy.�

�� Oh.� I�m glad to hear that.� And Takao?� How is everything going with him?�� Masumi inquired.� �How is he feeling?�

�� Kai
closed his eyes in pain, and Tala stopped writing to watch and listen
closely.� �Ah�things between us are going
well, Mother, thanks for asking.� Ouch!�� The crimson-eyed man glared at Tala, who had
kicked him in the chin under their desks.

�� Kai?�

�� Sorry.� I banged my knee on my desk.�� Kai scowled and covered the exclamation.

�� Are
you busy, son?� You can call me later if
you like.�

�� No, it�s fine, Mother.�
Who knows what kind of time I�ll have later.�

�� How
is Takao feeling?�

�� He�s�not
doing so well at the moment.� He�s here
at the UNA medical wing.�� Kai informed
her in a quiet voice.

�� Oh dear.� That�s not
good.� Is it serious?�

�� It
is.� But he seems to be improving under
the best care we can provide for him.�

�� I�m
so sorry to hear that, dear.� If there�s
anything we can do��

�� I
know.� Thanks, Mother.�

�� Listen,
the reason I called earlier�something strange happened the other day.� �Masumi�s voice turned more serious and
slightly confused.

�� Something strange?��
Kai frowned, sitting up straighter.�
Tala leaned closer over his desk.

�� I
decided that I wanted to have my mother�s rubies taken out of their old
settings and have something new made, so I put them in the safe in the library,
but when I opened it up I noticed something was missing.�

�� Kai
tensed and swallowed hard.� �The Faberg� Egg.� I
know.�

�� There
was a pause.� �Actually,� I was going to say the rings we were
keeping for you until you found Takao�� I
just wanted to make sure it was you who�d taken them.� But now that you mention the Egg��

�� Uh�yeah.� I have the
rings, Mother.�� Kai had to fight off the
urge to hide under the desk.� He could
almost feel the motherly disproval and stare over the phone.� �The Egg, too.�

�� Alright.� What�s
going on, Kai?�

�� Uhhh�� He cast a
pleading look at Tala, who smiled faintly and shrugged in a way that said, �I
haven�t got a clue.� She�s your mother.�

�� What
did you do?�

�� Nothing!� Well, not
anything that wasn�t�� Kai flushed.� �Um,
would you and Father have time to come to Paris
for a day or two? Two days from today, preferably?�

�� I�m
sure if it�s necessary we can arrange our schedules to do so.� Why?��
Masumi sounded rather suspicious and wary.

�� There�s a lot of things to tell you, Mother.� About the Egg, and Takao�� If you would, I would be very grateful.�

�� Hold
on, Kai.� Your father just came in.� Let me ask him.�� Kai waited patiently � as much as he could, considering how nervous he seemed to be at the moment.� He could hear his mother speaking to his
father in the background.� �Susumu, dear,
our son wants us to come to Paris
for the weekend.� He says its important.�

�� That�s
quite short notice.�

�� Yes,
but I think we should go.� It�s about
Takao and�� Masumi stopped.� �Well, he�ll
tell us more when we get there, I�m sure.�
I don�t really know what this is all about.�

�� I�ll
have to check my schedule and talk to a few people first.�� His father�s tone was slightly disgruntled,
but curious.

�� Kai,
son, you heard that?�

�� Yes,
Mother.� You can call me when you know
for sure, if you like.�

�� The files.�� Tala
reminded his partner.� Kai nodded at him.

�� Oh, and could you have someone get some information for Tala and
I, Mother?�

�� What
kind?�

�� We
need old employee records on a former employee in the Japan
branch.� I only have a last name, but it
should be enough.� Schwarz.�� Kai requested.� �And we need whatever you can send us on
MacGregor Commercial Shipping��

�� MacGregor?� Certainly, dear.� For the case?�

�� Yes.� We could do the legwork and such ourselves,
but this will take less time and be much easier.� Thank you.�

�� Of course.� I�m happy
to help.�

�� Kai
glanced at this watch.� �I have to go,
Mother.� I�ll expect your call soon,
though.�

�� Yes.� Take care, Kai.� I hope Takao gets better soon, and say hello
to Tala for us.�

�� So.�� Tala leaned
across his half of their shared desk with his usual playful smirk as an
expression.� �How�d it go?�

�� You
are truly a pain in my ass.�� Kai scowled
and got up.� �I can�t work on this stuff
right now.� I�m going to sit with Takao
for a while.�� He left his partner with
their paperwork.

�� Tala�s
bemused expression faded as he watched the crimson-eyed agent walk away.� He�d hoped his usual humour would help ease
some of the tension in Kai, but it didn�t seem to work.� He knew of a another
way, but�he decided that he�d do this paperwork first, and let the man spend
some much needed time with his hospitalized love.

~*~*~*~*~

Kali Notes:� Yes!�
Hit him again, Kai!� *coughs*� I�ve wanted to
write that part for a loooong time.� XD� Has the picture become clearer?� Let me know what you think!� Please
R/R!!!!
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Once A Thief