The forbidden; Series

The Forbidden

Chapter 4

A/n; Welcome to the fourth chapter in this series of mine^! There will be a lil Kaitaka action in this wheel!!! *cheers* Have fun reading! Everyone thank you for reviewing for me, pls keep them coming!!

For the disclaimer refer to the Prologue please.
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Tyson shivered despite the warm dry clothes he was wearing now. They had arrived in Arai sooner then expected. He could see it was just getting darker outside through the tiny opening in the front of the tent. A slight chilly breeze brushed past him when Phoenix crawled back into the tent with a bowl in his hands that most probably had something to do with his disguise.

Takao frowned, right his disguise, he didn\'t know what Phoenix was up too but seeing the light substance in the bowl and the scissors beside it didn’t give him a comfy feeling.

Phoenix watch the boy eyeing the bow and scissors suspiciously, somehow he just knew this wouldn\'t go as easy as he might have thought at first. He grinned to himself, Takao really didn\'t have a choice now and beside this was the only way he knew of to hide him from those dammed guards, they would not recognize him as the Fugitive Forbidden they were after.

Takao watched as Phoenix grabbed a rather big flashlight from a plastic back behind him, so that was what he had bought at that gas station. Suddenly the tent was brightly lidded as Phoenix flicked the light on.

\"There everything is set now\", he smirked as he picked up the scissors.

\"What are you planning at?\", Takao said scooting back as Phoenix crawled closer to him.

\"I thought that would be rather obvious, cut your hair ofcourse!\"

Takao looked at him in disbelieve and mild shock as he unconsciously ran his fingers through his dark pony tailed hair. It was a tradition for the Kinomiya Men to grow their hair and wear it in a ponytail like his. There was no way he could break that tradition now could he?

\"No\", he said firmly.

Phoenix sighed, just as he had expected earlier, Takao wouldn\'t let him cut his hair. He sighed in frustration when Takao keep insisting for him to stay away with the scissors. How could that boy be so stubborn? Didn\'t he know he was so easily recognizable just of now? If the guards saw him they would most likely try and kill him.

\"You rather be killed then?\", Phoenix said frowning slightly.

Takao shook his head silently; \"No but............it\'s a tradition for the men of my family to grow our hair out, I can\'t just cut it! I would be dishonouring my family’s tradition!\"

\"Your family isn\'t here now are they? They\'re dead Takao!\" Phoenix said harshly, he didn’t want to but he had too so maybe Takao would understand just why he had to do this.

Takao looked down with a hurt expression on his face; “My father.......he still lives but I don\'t know exactly where he is now\"

\"There you have it\", Phoenix grabbed the teen by his shoulders, \"You need to do this Takao! I\'m sure your father would\'ve done the same. You must or else they might find you and capture you so they can torture and murder you, is that what you want? I can\'t be by your side all the time, what if you get attacked unsuspected like at the lake earlier and I’m not in time to save you?, do you really want to risk that fate?\"

\"No\", Takao said softly, slowly he took the bind out of hair, long strands of inky blue hair fell over his shoulders. He turned his back to Phoenix and with a slightly trembling voice he said; \"Go ahead cut it off before I change my mind\"

Phoenix combed through the long strands with his fingers. It felt surprisingly soft and silky. He took the scissors and started to cut. . When he was done, Takao felt the strange sensation of nakedness in his neck. It was very short now save for the few bangs that framed his face.

Phoenix grabbed the bowl and a special brush.

\"Hold on what is that?!\", Takao demanded.

\"Peroxide, it makes your hair lighter by draining it from the colour, kind of like bleaching\", Phoenix said matter of factly as he quickly applied some on the boy’s hair before he could resist.

Takao felt the coldness of the stuff on his head, he shivered slightly. What would he look like in a matter of minutes?

He hoped Phoenix was doing it right, Phoenix put the brush and bowl aside and wrapped a towel around Takao\'s head.

\"There this has to be in for ten minutes, I’ll be outside rinsing this bowl and brush\", with that the older man crawled out leaving Takao to his thoughts.

Takao drew his knees up and rested his chin on them , his head felt very warm, almost as if it was glowing and it made him wonder if everything was still going good under that towel, what if all hi hair would fall out just like that?

A feeling of sadness washed over him as his thoughts drifted off to his father. The tradition that had been in the family for so long was broken now , he had done it by allowing hi hair to be cut. He briefly wondered if his dad would blame him for doing so but it was like Phoenix said , it was for his disguise and for his own good.

He knew his father was somewhere up north near Kento, on a dig site, his father knew he was a forbidden but he hadn’t been angry or shocked when he found out. Takao sighed as he wondered if Phoenix would travel through Kento, he decided he would ask that later. He would then also try and get to know more about that mission Phoenix kept talking about.

Takao was shook from his thoughts into reality when Phoenix called out for him. He let out a small nervous sigh and crawled out of the tent to stand across the man in front of him. The sky had darkened completely, the moon was out and full and stars were shining brightly.

Phoenix gave him a tiny reassuring smile and started to unwrap the towel from the teens head.

\"Now bend over a little so I can rinse your hair with this water”, Phoenix said holding up a large bottle of crystal clear water, the fire was reflected in it.

Takao did as he was told and shivered when the cold water made contact with his head, he felt long slender fingers massaging his scalp to rinse the peroxide out and he couldn\'t stop himself when he let out a small sigh at the soft touch.

Phoenix took the towel and turned it around so he could somewhat dry Takao\'s hair.

When he was done, Takao stood up straight and ran his fingers through his short damp hair. He took the little mirror phoenix offered him . The older man turned the flashlight on to have more light then the fire and then Takao looked in the mirror and had the shock of his life.

Not only was his hair so much shorter, save the few bangs that still framed his face, it was also a very light blue almost silvery colour and it made his eyes look even darker then they already were. He could do nothing but stare at the reflection in the mirror that stared back with an equal expression.

He couldn’t say didn\'t like his new look, infact it was rather stunning!

\"Wow\", he whispered in disbelieve.

Phoenix smiled to himself as he hung the towel to dry, he would wash it in a launderette tomorrow to get the stains from the hair paint out of it. He stared at Takao for a moment as the teen ran his fingers through his now so much lighter and shorter hairs several times as if he couldn’t believe his new do was for real. . The guards of Voltaire wouldn\'t see him as the one they were after now , they weren\'t that smart thankfully. To Phoenix , the boy looked rather luscious and he couldn’t stop unbidden thoughts entering his brain. He blushed slightly as he kept staring while he took some steps closer till he was almost chest to chest with the teen.

Takao blushed as he returned Phoenix\' stare with an odd expression on his face where a blush was quite evident by now.

\"Thanks for all of this\", he said softly. He couldn\'t look away from Phoenix\' piercing eyes, he felt like losing himself in this staring match that they had going on. He refused to blink, afraid he might break the spell that seemed to be upon them.. And then suddenly he was roughly pushed back against a nearby tree when a hot mouth ravished his lips.

Takao screwed his eyes shut, his arms magically found their way around Phoenix’ middle, his fingers clutched the material of the young adult\'s sweater uncertainly. Hungry for more , Phoenix parted his lips on a sigh and licked the younger\'s lower lip.

Takao couldn\'t resist him even if he wanted to try, his lips parted and his mouth was immediately invaded by something soft and moist. He felt it lightly caressing his tongue and it felt rather nice, hesitantly he touched his own tongue against Phoenix\'s .

Phoenix sensed the insecurity and hesitation and smirked against Takao\'s lips. This must’ve been the first kiss the teen had ever gotten. He slowly trusted his tongue in and out the boy\'s mouth and tangled his fingers in the light short locks of his hair.

Takao sighed shivering slightly. He felt dizzy when he slowly began to run out of air. He had always imagined how it would be to kiss someone like Phoenix was kissing him now at the moment but he could\'ve never imagined it to be so overwhelming. And no matter how hard his mind screamed at him for this being so wrong, he was kissing a boy, a young adult who was older then him and mature according to the laws. He was still a minor at that and while his mind kept pondering these facts he couldn\'t help but wonder why something that felt so frigging right could be so wrong in any way..

His lungs burned when Phoenix stole a few last nips and broke away stepping back with a smirk around his lips.

\"I\'ve been wanting to do that to you since the first time I laid my eyes upon you\", he said hoarsely. Takao looked at him through half lidded eyes as he catched his breath touching his slightly swollen mouth with his fingers. His face reddened a good amount and phoenix laughed softly.

\"I like to see you blush for me\", he teased.

\"Err...\", Takao said softly as he opened his eyes completely so his vision would clear somewhat.

\"That was...\", he trailed of as he saw the grin on the other boy\'s face.

\"Your first kiss ever, wasn\'t it?\", Phoenix said finishing his sentence as he took a step closer towards the teen again.

Takao nodded frowning, how the hell had phoenix worked that out?

As if he could read his thoughts phoenix said\" I sensed your insecurity and hesitation\".

He leaned in towards Takao\'s ear, \"Don\'t worry you\'re pretty good when it comes to kissing, I enjoyed myself greatly\", he whispered.

Takao fought the furious blush that threatened to come out with no avail.

\"Dammit\", he cursed softly as he looked down to hide his red cheeks.

Phoenix observed him for a little while before he cleared his throat and took Takao\'s chin in his hand.

\"Sky\", he whispered slowly.

Takao looked at him with a confused expression on his face.

\"Its perfect for you......................\", phoenix said

\"Sky?\", Takao asked in wonder.

\"Your alternative name, I can\'t keep calling you Takao when we are in the open, its bound that someone might lay the connection and find out you are the one they look for.\"

\"Sky....................I don\'t like it that much, can\'t it be something else?\", Takao frowned.

Phoenix let out a sigh and smirked, \"Like?\"

\"I don’t know err\", Takao stammered, his mind was still a bit fogged, \"its alright I guess although I don\'t know how that suits me exactly\"

\"Your eyes remind me of the summer evening sky, you know when its just darkening and the sky is mostly blue and blue is a colour that definitely suits you, your hair is like the shining sparkling star in a midnight dark blue sky.......................so it suits you see?, \"Phoenix smirked.

Takao just nodded, that explanation hadn’t made much sense but he could live with it.

\"Hold on if you give me a codename you have to have one too\"

\"I already have, phoenix is my codename\"

Takao lifted his eyebrows in surprise

\"You didn’t really think that was my real name did you?\", Phoenix mocked.

\"N..no ofcourse not, so what is your real name then\"

\"Kai\"

\"Kai\", Takao said thoughtfully.

Kai turned around and sat down by the fire with a sigh. Takao sat down next to him when Kai motioned him over.

\"My whole name is Hiwatari Kai\", Kai paused to see what affect that had on the boy but Takao didn’t seem to lay a connection between his last name and the evil emperor.

\"I\'m Hiwatari Voltaire\'s grandson\", he added silently. He\'d figured it would be best to be honest to Takao about certain things.

Takao\'s eyes widened in shock, \"You\'re joking right?\" he said loudly as he jumped up.

He refused to believe it, he had been in company of the enemy all this time? He just lost his first kiss to the enemy, this could not be true.

\"Trust me I wish I could be joking about a thing like that.\"

\"But...............\", Takao stared off in the distance as he thought something over, Kai was a forbidden he had seen the mark in his neck as prove of that. So he couldn\'t really be the enemy right?

\"Its confusing isn’t it?\", Kai said motioning for the teen to sit down next to him again.

Takao just nodded but didn’t sit down next to him , instead he sat down across him with a wary look on his face. Kai\'s sighed, he had expected something like that.

\"I\'ll explain a few things to you then to make it clear\", he started as he threw some wooden sticks on the fire that he found beside him.

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Max sighed as he switched channels on his TV, the news was always the same nowadays. Takao was still missing. Max wished he could go and try to find him but where in heaven\'s name would he start?

He couldn\'t say he wasn\'t worried about his fried, no he worried himself sick these days, even more now that his friend\'s photo had been broadcasted all over the nation.

A soft knock on his door shook him from his thoughts.

\"Max? Can I come in?\", a soft high-pitched voice said.

Max stood up from his bed and opened the door for the brown-haired girl.

\"Hey Hiromi\"

Hiromi handed him a plate with sandwiches, \"Hey yourself, your father gave me this with the message that you had to eat sooner or later...........so you still aren’t going downstairs unless it’s really needed?\"

\"No\", max said taking the plate from her and sat back down on his bed.

Hiromi took the chair from Max’s desk and sat down besides his bed. Max offered her a sandwich but she declined.

\"My dad really disappointed me, I hate him for what he did\", Max said with a slight frown.

Hiromi sighed,\'\' You know.....................you can\'t stay mad at him like forever. I think you sh0ouldn\'t be so harsh on him\"

\"How can you say that after what he did to Takao? He reported him Hiromi! Takao\'s fate is sealed if they find him...............if they find him I will never se him again that\'s for sure and ...............\", max trailed of frowning and looking away from the girl next to him.

\"Right I almost forgot\", he started still not looking at Hiromi,\"You never got along with Takao in the first place so I guess you\'re thrilled that he is gone now huh?\", he finished angered.

Hiromi looked hurt,” That is so not true and you know it Mizuhara! Okay so I and Takao weren’t exactly the best of friends but I would never ever be thrilled to see one missing with a faith that could be even more badly the death awaiting them!\"

\"Then why are you defending my dad so much!?\"

\"I\'m not! I just said you shouldn’t be so harsh on him! What he did was wrong but in his mind it was the right thing, he acted on instinct, he wanted to protect you, you know. It was a mistake , everyone makes mistakes no one is perfect\", she finished softly.

\"Yeah well\', Max said slumping down against his pillows. He knew Hiromi had a point but still, it hurt so much to know that his on flesh and blood, his father could be so cruel.

Max sighed as he felt Hiromi sitting next to him on his bed. She wrapped her arms around him.

\"Life is so unfair isn’t it?\", she said softly.

Max nodded staring at nothing in particular but Hiromi felt him relax in her embrace.

\"I’m going to find him! I\'m not staying here not being able to do something!\", Max suddenly said sitting straight up.

Hiromi released him and looked at him with a comical expression of shock.

\"But how? Where would you start???\"

Max sighed,” I don\'t know yet but I do know I can\'t stay here doing nothing!\"

It was quiet for a little while , well until Hiromi spoke up.

“I’m going with you! “, she exclaimed which made Max looked up in total shock and wonder.

“Say what?”

“You heard me Mizuhara, you can’t go out on your own, geez you don’t even know where to start. And besides I’m getting freaked out here in this hell hole with all those freaky guards around us. Oh and nothing you say can stop me from coming with you!”, Hiromi said firm.


A thump at the door made them both look around to see Kyouyu standing there scratching his head and grinning sheepishly.

“ Sorry to disturb you but the door was slight ajar and well…………………….where are you two going?”, he said closing the door behind him as he stepped into the room.

Max and Hiromi looked at him for a second before Max decided to speak up.

“ We are going to find Takao!”, he said firmly.

Kyouyu gave him an odd stare before he nodded knowingly.

“ I expected something like this to happen, heck I wanted to suggest the very same thing so” , He took his dearest possession , a laptop, from his shoulder bag and started it up, “ I’ve done research already. We don’t know where Takao is right now right? Well I know where his father is. He is at a dig site near Kento in a little place called Sinai, we could go there, who knows maybe Takao is on his way over there too. I mean his dad is the only living relative he has now…….”, Kyouyu trailed off as he showed them the fruits of his research.

“ What would we do without you Kyouyu!”, Hiromi exclaimed glomping him .

“ Eh……….”, Kyouyu said blushing slightly, “ Let go of me Hiromi”

Hiromi just smiled at him and let go only to wrap her arms around Max who blushed even harder then Kyouyu had done.

“ This is so exciting!”, She exclaimed, “ so when do we leave?”

“ How ‘ bout we meet each other around midnight at the Baycity park p-playground?” , Kyouyu said thoughtfully.

“ Great”, Max said when he finally was released from Hiromi’s grip, “ We are going to this right! We stick together no matter what and we will find him!”

Hiromi and Kyouyu each laid their hand on Max’s outstretched one and agreed with him. Then they planned on what to do with their parents. Hiromi suggested leaving notes. After they reran the whole plan they said goodbye and Hiromi and Kyouyu went home to prepare themselves for the midnight escape.

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Takao stretched and looked at the clear blue sky above him, birds were chirping their songs in the trees that surrounded him . He took in some more of his surroundings as he sniffed in the fresh morning air. His eyes drifted back towards the tent, which was currently taken down by Phoenix or rather Kai. Takao frowned a little as he sat down on the sandy surface of the ground. He watched Kai doing his thing while his thoughts drifted of to the events of the night before.


So Kai was the emperor’s grandson and he was a forbidden who ran away from home when he was twelve, he had been able to hide the mark from his grandfather for two years before it was discovered. Then he had ran away from home to save himself . He’d been living on the streets for quite some time when he had met a Chinese man called Xing Chino , the man had taken him to his home in Chinatown located in Kunai and he had been raised there with the mans grandson Rei . When he was eighteen he had said good bye and his savings were free of charge so he used the money to buy a \'cycle and to survive on the streets once more but with a mission this time, he would try get revenge on hi grandfather for making all the people suffer, the people he was a part of.

Takao’s frowned deepened, the story was still a bit confusing but he understood most of it. The way he saw it, was that Kai had gone through some rough times and that he was clearly not the enemy as he first thought had been after Kai confessed after that burning kiss they’d shared.

Takao blushed as he thought of that, he had enjoyed it greatly, he never thought kissing could be that intense and now that he had a taste of it he wanted more but he was too shy and nervous around Kai now to even take that step.

“ Takao………………..earth to Takao” , Kai said kneeling in front of the teen.

“ Eh?.......................oh”, Takao said clumsily as he looked back at the young adult.

“ It’s time to go, we will be underway the whole day, remember that old man I told you about yesterday?”

Takao nodded, blushing at Kai’s closeness.

“ We will be visiting him hopefully tonight, if we arrive in Kunai on time, so we can get you a false ID and stuff you need.”

“ Right”, Takao said thinking about that. He knew now that Kai carried a false ID with him and that was one of the reasons he was never catched on that \'cycle, he had a false license as well and that old man had arranged it for him.

“ You coming?” , Kai said already ready to leave.

“ Oh y..yeah!” , Takao said as he took the helmet from Kai’s hands.

Kai smiled knowingly at him as Takao sat in front of him again . He started the \'cycle and took off to their new destination.

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Meanwhile back in the forests of Baycity three teens walked hurriedly along toll they reached a long lane that led top the highway out of the city.

“ Are you sure hitchhiking is a good idea?”, Hiromi said thinking about the bad things that could happen.

“ We don’t have another choice do we? If we take the train it’ll cost us too much we don’t have much money to begin with so………plus we are not near old enough to have a license of any kind and we can\'t drive cars “ Max said , the heavy backpack that held a new set of clothes and necessary stuff was making him warm while walking in the early morning sun. Kyouyu and Hiromi were carrying similar backpacks though Kyouyu also carried a tent on his.

“ We will make it Hiromi don’t worry, we’ll protect you no matter what”, max said firmly, Hiromi h=gave him a small smile and then pumped her fist in the air.

“ All right let’s do this!!”

And so the three tens began their quest to find their beloved friend back not knowing what adventured would await them……………………..

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And so Chapter 4 ends! How did you like it? Bet you curious as to why Rei is raised in Japan instead of Chine ne? Since he lived in a Chinatown in Kunai XD. You’ll find out why in the next chapters also there will be some more TYKA action and just how are our three travellers doing? Read it in the next instalment, which will be out sooner then this one was. Gomen!

Jen