"I don't know what to do." Tala admitted, resisting the urge to bang his head against the cold brick acting as his chair back.

"You don't have to. We should just find him again" Kai offered

"We can't, they won't tolerate anything from you. You're already a murderer. I don't want you put in prison Kai, you'll die. Be it from sun or starvation, you'll die." Kai stared across at the redhead, unsure what to say. What could he say? The boy was trying to help him, but unwittingly hindering him too.

"I don't care." He mumbled, more to himself than Tala. "I don't care that I might die. I deserve it. I'm a monster."

"Kai..." he started, but trailed off, not knowing what he could say. He knew as much about Kai as the bluenette did himself. And yet, it was like they'd known each other for years. How do you respond to something like that?

"You can't even deny it yourself." Pulling his knees to his chest Kai rested his forearms on his knees. "I am a monster, aren't I Tala?"

"Yes" he admitted, glancing across at the bluenette. "But I don't care. We can fix this, you'll always be a-a...monster, but we can fix what you've done." The redhead placed his hand on Kai's covered shoulder, trying to think of any way to comfort him.

"Thanks." He finally managed to say, staring at the first person he could remember meeting in his life. A boy he knew for only a few days. And already he was his best friend. "I don't know how I can repay you Tala"

"Don't. Just stay alive and don't give into your dark side. That's all I want."

Pushing himself back to his feet Kai held out his hand.

"Alright, I promise I won't." Taking the offered hand Tala managed to gain his footing. "Now, let's do what we failed to do earlier. Talk to Barthez."

"Kai, we lost him."

"Then we'll find him again. Come on Tal. I don't just want a confession I want answers. We weren't prepared before I'm sure we can handle it now. You're not going to run away again, are you?" He knew the bluenette was baiting him. And it worked.

"Am I hell" throwing his head into the air he stormed off in the direction he hoped Barthez was walking. "Well Kai, coming?" He asked sparing him a quick glance back.

A strange sense filled him, almost like he knew he hadn't reacted to that how he once had. He was almost sure he'd have been snippy and short tempered. But, he didn't care, it was far more fun this way. He was sure of that.

"Barthez!" Tala yelled, calling the Vampire out. "Barthez! Get the hell down here!"

Strangely the Vampire dropped from the rooftops.

"Now, now Tala. I'm here. You're not going to run with your tail between your legs again are you?"

"Not a chance" gritting his teeth he glared at the Vampire. "I want to know everything. Every dirty little secret you have on Kai. Everything."

"Are you sure? I promise you this my little spectacle. You won't like it. I dare say you'd be petrified, horrified."

"I don't care. He'll always be my closest friend. My best friend no matter whom or what he is." He insisted, staring up at the Vampire, any trace of fear he may have had evaporated from the fire of his hatred.

"I'm shocked Tala, you've grown a backbone. Last time I saw you, you were quaking in your boots. Seems you're becoming a man." His tone was, as always, mocking.

"Shut up, I'm not a man, I'm a teen. A teen who's mature enough to know that you're an absolute bastard. And you're going to hell." Crunching off gravel in the background was ignored by all parties, none wanting to take their eyes of the other for a millisecond should they run.

"Language boy." His tone dropped, ice dripping from it. "Now, what should you wish for? I'm sure it's not just to curse at me."

"Of course not. I want to know what Kai did, why he did it. Who he did it for?"

"That's easy boy, he was a rebellious child. One that suffered from his parents doting. He wanted his own life and begged me to free him from his parents' shackles." Smiling he continued "they're both alive still, I presume. They were when I last saw them, who knows what accidents they may have been involved in." The smirk that took over his face spoke volumes but neither bit. They stayed ridged by the other, the crunching in the background finally registering. It wasn't with Barthez though. The man was still rambling about his parents, and strangely Kai didn't care. He couldn't find it in him to care what the man was saying. If his parents were gone that was of no importance to him, he never really knew them.

The crunching neared, the steps being forced to quiet themselves, a task easier said than done. The two shared a mutual hidden glance, trying to decide whether it was friend or foe. They soon found out.

"Barthez! Freeze, you're under arrest for murder and child endangerment" a circle of police officers surrounded the threesome, guns pointed at the Vampire who looked incredibly stunned. So much so that he didn't move a muscle when an officer grabbed him.

"Anything you say can and will be used in evidence against you. If you come willingly and don't struggle in the slightest we'll ensure you have a lightless cell." The Vampire followed the uniformed officers lead, guns trained at his head as he was pushed in the direction of the undercover police car.

His face was twisted in confusion. And though he was better at hiding emotion than most men he couldn't wipe the look of complete bemusement. The cogs in his mind were visibly turning. How was he tricked? How were police there?"

"Well done" one of the officers who'd stayed away from the killer commented, shifting his eyes to the teens.

"What? How did you know we'd be here?"

"Your friends, they told us where to go. We just waited for the right time." He answered calmly, his gun still grasped tightly in his hand.

"They told you?" Tala checked, wanting to laugh. They'd been watched the entire time. They were being watched now.

"Yes, they swore quite a lot."

"That'd be Bryan you spoke to. Can we go or do we have to stay?"

"We can go. Come, you'll have to sit in the back of my police car. I understand that you were in one not too long ago Kai. I'm sure this is the last time. We'll be bringing you back to the station in case we need you." The two nodded motioning for the officer to lead the way. They weren't sure what they were doing. But at least Kai would finally have justice for what was done to him.

Whether he was willing or not at the time he was only fourteen. If he wasn't old enough to leave school what made the sick murderer think he was mature enough to believe he could choose his fate?

An old brown car was before them in seconds. The car looked run down, but under the layer of dirt it could be sold for a considerable amount. It was an old American car, the type undistinguishable, modifications making it resemble numerous others.

"Get in" the officer commanded, but it held very little authority. They followed his command though, slipping into the backseat. Both glad this didn't look like a police car, neither wanted condescending looks from adults as they passed. "I need to stress that you're not under arrest." His voice broke in, breaking the silence before the car purred into life. He was a young man, perhaps twenty, but he seemed far less mature than that.

They didn't respond, sharing quick glances of rolled eyes. Of course, they were stuck with the idiot.

The car pulled from its spot, following after the other well hidden vehicles and the murdering Vampire who was like a drugged Shih Tzu. Completely harmless.

The car pulled up outside the station, everyone else already having arrived.

"Good." The officer sighed. "I was afraid the papers would hear about this. They always seem to be one step ahead of us. A little embarrassing actually." The officer rubbed the back of his head in a show of embarrassment. Shutting the car off he unlocked the backdoors, allowing the teens to exit of their own free will.

Slipping from the seats they walked straight towards the station, their curiosity growing by the second. Was Barthez back to normal? Had the officer's been killed and the killer escaped? Was he waiting inside to kill them both?

The last thought made both halt in their tracks. That possibility was growing more and more likely. How they'd hate to be killed in a police station. Surrounded by police officers.

"Well, come on then. Let's get you guys inside." The officer led them inside, his demeanour changing once more. Authority and confidence sweeping over him. It was far more reassuring for the teens. At least, if Barthez was waiting to kill, they'd have a chance of escaping.

Inside the building the vampire was resting in a chair, motionless. His eyes were spaced out, but they were flicking as though he was analysing everything and anything. The teens stood by the door, their bodies marginally out of view as they tried to determine whether it was safe or not. The officer stood in front of them, shielding them as he glared at Barthez.

"What's wrong with him?" He demanded, leading the red and blue haired teens into the room.

"We're not sure, he's been this way since we apprehended him. We're calling someone in to check him. The guy proclaims to be a supernatural guru. Hopefully he can give us some answers. Till then, we're locking him up, the room will be mostly lit by the sun. Just to ensure that if he comes round he won't escape."

As the officer spoke some of his subordinates grabbed the subdued vampire and hauled him off into the back.

"I must congratulate you boys" he continued "I'm very impressed, a few hiccups but that's to be expected. You are children after all."

"Thank you" Tala answered for both of them, forcing a smile. It was supposed to be a compliment but it felt more like an insult.

"Not at all. Hiwatari, I must admit I had my doubts. I was very much expecting to kill you. But you came through. I'm a man who believes people should be rewarded. And you most definitely will be. You're free to go, and my men will supply you with blood when you need it."

"Thank you" he reluctantly thanked. He wasn't one for gratitude.

"Hopefully we won't be in touch for the wrong reasons. But if murders pop up like these you're the first we're coming to."

"Understood."

"We'll be seeing you around. We'll update you with Barthez."

"Don't bother. I wanted revenge and I've got it. I don't care for updates. I just wanna know if he breaks out." Grabbing Tala's arm he span the boy strolling out with him in tow.

As soon as the doors closed behind them the walked casually down the road, not caring that it was only a few hours till sunrise.

"You really mean that Kai? Are you satisfied?"

"Of course, why should I care?"

"But what about your parents?"

"What about them? I can hardly remember them. There's no point. Besides I have a new family now. They're squatters but who cares? It works" A bright smile overtook Tala's face as they walked off into the distance. "What?"

"You admitted you cared."

"No I didn't"

"Yes you did"

"I didn't."

"You did"

"Tala stop it."

"No"

"Tala"

"No."

"God, I'd have rather been locked up"

Their bickering continued as they walked home, but neither minded, family life wasn't bliss after all.

I didn't plan on this but as I was finishing off the chapter it seemed like a good place to end the story. So this is the final chapter. Thanks for reading and please review.