he only smiled.
"Thats...more than what my boys could do, in the amount of time waking up. Your determination will make you get to Risa, i just know it." He patted his shoulder, then Kane shook his hand. He looked up at him and only smiled humbly.
"I dont like you either, but you make one hot bird man and a prized expierment. And son... its not a secret that all scientists are a little crazy..." He watched him run out, scoping up his shoes, running in his socks and just smiled.
"That boy.. really does love her.. i hope she loves, and forgives him for this..." The maid remained motionless and blank expression as she was scooped up and then fixed her dress as he twirled out the door.
"That... is one strange boy." She mumbeled, and continued on dusting.

"Of course, I've got promises to keep, Mom and Dad would never let me live it down if I didn't keep them."
Kane blinked.
"Yeah, I'm totally going to ignore the fact that you called me 'hot' and 'prized' now." He smiled though, and waved as he ran....eh, he'd remember to hit him for all this crap later.

Kane hopped the back fence to his house with a light flap and turned to look back over his shoulder.
"You know...you guys are really kinda useful aren't you? No more jumping for me." He chuckled, throwing his shirt over his shoulder and dug in his pants for a key.
"Aw crap." He forgot that he didn't have time to grab one when he raced out of the house that night, so he dug around in the pile of newspaper lain out on the backstep for Abel's cage lining, finally finding the spare.
"Juri!" He called.
"I'm home, did you kill Abel or the Ankle Stalkers yet?" He poked his head into the living room.
"Juri?" He sighed. She wasn't there either. He turned around and scratched his head.
"Kane?" He whirled around to find his sister coming down the stair.
"KANE!" She leapt off the staircase and wrapped him in a hug.
"OhyoulittleidiotdoyouknowhowworriedI'vebeen?" She ran together.
"So you were worried about me?" He chuckled.
"I'm fine...look." He pulled away long enough to turn around.
"See? I'm fine, and they don't even hurt like I thought they would. I've got a day or two to figure out how to use them, then I'm going back to find out where Risa is." He lowered his voice and looked around.
"By the way....how did.....the thing with Chi go?"
"Oh Chidori? That little snippet that you left me with?" Juri fumed.
"I ran her out of here...but I don't think she took the news well, she wanted to see you at the end of a week...but that's shot....you were gone longer than you thought."
"I know, I know, I'm sorry...but....what did she say before leaving?"
"That was it...just to tell you to visit her at the end of the week....then she left.." Kane sighed.
"Let's hope she dosen't do anything rash."

*ding dong* came a ring on Kanes doorbell. (lets just say its 3pm)
Chidori tapped her foot, her arms crossed, waiting. It had been to long for him to have been gone; he had to be home by now, right? She sighed, tapping her foot faster.


In the woods, I came across a rabbit and her family. I watched with curiosity then stepped on a foot. her ears shot up and then her and the babies were off in a blaze. I sighed and stood again and continued walking aimlessly through the woods. I had gone to school all week, Kane absent, Chidori, not saying a word to me. I didnt know what happened... I wondered If i should have went to Kanes to see if he was alright, but I didnt want to intrude...besides, I was the one trying to push him away in the first place...

Ding Dong
"Oh crap." Juri sighed.
"What?"
"Speak of the devil." She ushered Kane into the living room, and sat him down.
"What?" She asked opening the door slightly.
"What do you want?" Kane started to rise, but Juri waggled her hand at him for him to stay put.

She looked to Juri sternly.
"I wanna see Kane, not you. I know he's home; its been like, 9 days." She sternly stared into her eyes, her arms crossed.
"Let me see him or I WILL definitely go to the media about this." the sternness in her voice was indicating she wasn't playing around.

"Pleh you--"
"You wouldn't dare." Juri sighed and Kane moved into sight, his feathers fluffing angrily.
"Get in here...before someone sees." He said with a jerk of his thumb. Turning in the middle of the hall Kane cocked his head and put a hand on his hip, throwing out his other arm.
"What is it that you need to see me so desperately about that you'd risk Risa's......and now my secrets?" Juri sighed..
"You're an idiot." she muttered. There was no use in acting all riled up...not now, but she closed the door and moved the other two into the kitchen.
"Come on kiddies, let's move in here out of the doorway, alright?"

She gave her a look.
"Oh I would." She stepped in and past Juri then saw him... even more beautiful and handsome as before. She turnt a slight pink.
"Kane.. you ditched me the last time we were together and now this? What has gotten itno you! This is not a fairy tale, its REAL! Youre gonna get found out sooner or later! Why would you do this to yourself and not leave Risa alone like she wished!!" She stepped into the kitchen like she said, away from the windows.
"Gte your head out of the clouds, she doesnt LOVE YOU anymore, I do! Why couldnt you just accept the fact youre HUMAN and not a beast!"

Kane sighed, and Juri moved to the stove and started heating water...she was going to need a serious tea break after all of this.
"I know this is real Chidori...that's how I know that what I did may very well have put me out in the open...but...I knew...I knew that if I had any chance of saving Risa from that CRUEL threat of yours..." He fluffed a little, stroking a feather that lay at his side.
"I had to become at least a fraction like her." Kane sighed, spreading a little and stretching out in the kitchen.
"Does this look like a beast to you?" He asked.
"Do I look the part of the monster I am? What do you know of me really?" He cocked his head and pulled his wings back in, after feeling Juri tap them.
"You're crowding me Kane." She said.
"Sorry..." He sighed and looked back.
"How do you know if it's really love that you feel for me?"

Chidori lowered her eyes.
"So you did this.. to save Risa... or be with her when you go down?" she looked at him. She watched in awe that the feathers fluffed and moved on their own; this was the real deal...
"How did you get them..? Same way as her?" she asked concerned. She pulled out a kitchen chair and rubbed her eyes. She shook her head.
"No... you... dont look like a beast... you look... magnificent. But.." she looked up, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"You and her are beasts! The world can never accept you! I... cant accept you...being with her... i loved you since kindergarten Kane, and you never once gave me the look you give Risa all the time. She transferred here like 10 months ago... ive been at your side all your life... dont you know how that feels? Dont you even realize how that makes me feel? That you'd just look pat me just like that?" By now she was sobbing and rubbing her eyes. Her tears fell onto the table, her shoulders bobbed.
"It.. is love... Ive loved you since kindergarten Kane..."

Kane sighed.
"No one's going down. Not if I have anything to say about it." He shook his head.
"I...I'm not at liberty to say how I got them....but if you have to have an answer, yes....the same way as her." He knew it was a lie, but for all his flaws, the Professor didn't need to be dragged into this affair.
Kane moved beside Chidori and knelt by her.
"And do you know why that is?" He asked softly, his hand on a knee.
"Do you know why I can look at Risa like that?" He was smiling, gently but smiling.
"Because Chidori......she wasn't afraid....she wasn't afraid to be herself...she might have hated what she was, but she didn't let it slow her down...you've changed....people have to adapt...but......I knew it was you...I knew it was you and Kisa that caused Risa that stomach injury....you and the other girls hid. You all hid behind masks of tourture and anger around each other, backstabbing and clawing each other's throats out....that was clear the day of the dodgeball game. I wanted someone who wasn't afraid to admit that they wern't perfect, and who didn't try to be around me..." He rose to stand.
"Chi....she....she wasn't afraid of me."

She sighed, knowing she held Kane and Risa future in her hands.
Should I let them be happy, then me unhappy? or tell the media... and me... still be unhappy because Kane will not love me.. ever.?
She glanced over at him, kneeling at her side. She nodded.
"I... was never afraid of you... I... just want to be with you... ive always wanted to be with you..." she sighed, burying her face in her folded arms on the table.

"Then why did you never look me in the eye?" Kane's face broke with a sudden hurt.
"I was always 'Kane the hottie' to the girls...and 'Kane the freak' to the guys.....and because of that....no one....not one single person looked me in the eyes....ever."

"Every time I tried... your eyes were so cold, and always looking mad... I was afraid you'd shoot me a cold stare, or lash out at me and Id break down.. so... I..." she sniffed, looking over her arm at him with one wet eye.
"I wanted you from afar and just admired... and would always call you Kane the Hottie..." she laughed a bit.
"I was the one that came up with that name... cause t fit you perfectly." She smiled at him, he lip still quivering.

He smiled slightly.
"You of all people should have known that was a mask of my own." He said with a deep chuckle.
"I was scared back then...I didn't want to hurt anyone, so I kept them all at arm's length...but even that almost cost me my sister." He sighed and turned back to look at Juri who was smiling with a proud look on her face.
"I suppose you'll have to come up with a new name for me now though....'Flyboy' might just cut it." He chuckled again, shaking his head.

She slowly stood and looked him in the eye, after wiping her face on her sleeve. She walked up to him slowly and hugged him... a real, genuine hug.
"You... will always be the one that got away... I'm sorry..." she buried her face in his collarbone.
"I... promise you wont ever hear from me again... ever. Ill leave yo alone..." she let him go quickly and started for the door.

Kane smiled and returned the embrace.
"I'm kind of sorry to hear that....I'm going to miss the thought of you girls fighting over me." He chuckled and scratched the back of his head.
"But....I'm glad you understand." He stood there a minute and then his eyes widened.
"Oh Chi!" He moved to her and looked around.
"There's no one else who knows about Risa right?" He asked quietly.
"I just want to make sure there's no chance of anyone finding out."

She was suprized that he had returned the hug.
"Highschool is over. Were all on our own now..."
At the door she looked to him, her eyes and face expressionless.
"No... noone knows about her." That was why he hugged me... to get the truth of that... feh.
She turned to leave, opening the door, and pushing him behind it.
"Dont get caught... Ill always love you." and with that she walked out of the house, her eyes hidden from the world to hid her misery, loniless, and failure.

"Yeah....strange isn't it?" He sighed and bowed deeply.
"Thanks......I mean that."
He nodded.
"I won't.......trust me." He smiled and headed back.
"Well, that was anti-climactic...wouldn't you say?"
"Oh shut up Juri, this isn't some soap opera you know..."
"Could have fooled me." She poured two cups of tea and handed Kane one.
"So now what?"
"Now..." He started.
"Is the fun part.." He grimaced..learning how to fly....goodie.

I paced in my cave, watching the sun set every time I turned around, wondering If i should go see him... if he was alright...
"Kock knock" came a voice. I looked up and saw Noah in the doorway. I smiled at him, hoping him being here would keep my mind off Kane.
"Oh hey, what are you doing here? no Hita today?"
She shook his head, walking towards me.
"No, the professor needed him. I came to keep you company...spend some time together you know?" he looked to the dead fire.
"i assume you havn't eaten yet?" i shook my head.

Kane looked out his window at the darkening sky...he would have to leave soon. It had been a long hard road, but between flights around the city at night, and his normal runs, Kane had finally begun to understand how his wings worked. Or at least well enough to fly. He sighed against the cool glass and willed his stomach to quiet.
"Nervous?" Juri asked coming in and sitting beside him on the bed.
"You have no idea." He replied.
"I'm...really just worried about what Risa's going to say." Juri reached out her hand and clasped his shoulder.
"You know, after Mom and Dad died, I made a promise that I was going to keep you safe...I'd do my best to raise you so that they'd be proud of both of us....Kane...this I can't tell you as a parent....but I can tell you as a sister. Risa's going to understand..just promise me something."
"What?"
"Come back here....and come back alive...alright? That's all I ask...everytime you leave...it's like Mom and Dad all over again." Juri's eyes grew misty and she stifled a sniffle.
"Oh man...." Kane smiled and enveloped his now bawling sister in his arms and wings.
"Don't worry about me....I'll be back alright?" Juri got a hold of herself and shoved back.
"Fine, just don't come crying to me if you die out there." She huffed wiping her eyes.
"If I die Juri at least you won't have to put up with me coming home with cuts and stuff anymore." He leaned over and kissed her cheek quickly.
"Guess it's about that time." He said hopping into his window and throwing it open.
"Alright, alright, go on you....and be careful!" With a wave Kane was out the room and sailing over the city, gaining altitude with every flap.

Landing in the grass in the Professor's yard, Kane headed for the door, ringing the bell to let him know he was back on schedule.

The expressionless maid answered the door once more. The moon reflected off her silky white hair.
"May I help you?" she said in her monotone voice again, the candle lighting up her creepy, pale face.

Back in my cave, I sat infront of the fire as Noah lay sleeping in my sleeping bag. He was flying earlier and hit his head on a branch, trying to collect fruit for us to eat. I thought it would be best to let him sleep, but sometimes I wondered why he insists on staying here...? I sighed, laying down on my side beside the fire and watched the moon come out from the woods, bright and yellow. I let out a big yawn and continued to stare, into the fire, or out the cave opening, whatever my choosing.

"Yeah, is the Doc still awake? I'm back to find out about Risa." Kane poked his head in over the maid's shoulder looking aound.
"Wow, it's kind of amazing how you hear the doorbell in a place like this....you gotta have superhearing or something."

She lowered a brow and pushed him back a bit.
"i do have super hearing, the Professor injected me with some cat serum.." she looked up, her eyes like black dots until the light hit them, turning them into slits. She tucked her long white hair behind a hear, showing a cat ear.
"This way.." she said softly, turning around, a sleek tail waging behind her as the massive door began to shut.

In his office, the Professor was humming to himself while he looked over a nude Hita, under the light on the table.

He chuckled and smiled.
"Well then, I guess we know why you're so quiet all the time." His mind went quickly to the idea of Oreo and Misty with Abel...and he laughed under his breath..
"Regular cat and bird episode there." He muttered.
"Kay." He said falling in step behind her...watching the swishing tail the whole way.

"He is in there. Please knock before you enter." She pointed to the room at the end of the hallway, then walked off.
Inside, the Professor finished up his exam on Hita while he jumped down off the table and began to dress in his shorts and tank.
The professor glanced up and saw Kane in the doorway.
"Ahh finished training already my boy?" she raid, placing his book down on the table.
"Hita, this is Kane, spliced with an eagle, my perfect splice. Kane, this is Hita, spliced with a Barn Owl."