Jade felt through his hair. Now this was a nightmare. You weren't supposed to lose brothers. Especially not estranged brothers. Ones that had been separated from him for years. Topaz had to sneak around to see him, using "friends" as an excuse as to where he had run off to for so long.

"If we go to the police...they'll tell our parents. And that'll be the end of Topaz visiting alone...IF he's okay."

Viento rose a brow. Jade was usually optimistic. But he had to understand. When talk of Emerald and Ruby Yu came up...it wasn't pretty. He rubbed his shoulder.

"If Mateo wasn't mad at me right now, I would turn to him for help." Jade sat down and held his head. Lost his brother, his best friend's brother, and his friend.

Viento sat next to Jade and reached around him to feel over his back. "Don't worry, amor."

His mind carried him back to Mateo and Jade's conversation at the park. The park, the place Jade and himself had first shared a kiss as young children. His territory slightly scared by the new image of Mateo and Jade there, but never replaced.

"If you call him. He'll help you, he did say he loved you didn't he?" Jade must have relied on Mateo often while he wasn't there.

"I did betray him...even if it was to help Sergio and Matao. Went against his wishes...didn't mind my own business." He swallowed hard as he took out his cell phone and cautiously dialed Mateo's number. Halfway through it, he stopped. Mateo might not pick up.

He began texting him.

I'm sorry to bother you again. I've lost my brother. If you have any time at all to help, I would be so grateful.

Jade hesitated before sending it.

Mateo pulled out his phone as he looked to see who had texted him.

He said the name he read softly. "Jade." Did he want to try and convince him again? Did he want to talk about his proclamation of love? No it was definately not that one. He wanted to ignore it, but never would he ignore something from Jade, even after that afternoon.

Mateo opened the text to read it's contents. He sat up quickly. Jade needed him. Regardless of if Jade had just shot him in the chest, he would have gotten out of the hospital bed to help him with anything.

He texted him back asking for the last location and time that he saw his brother. CDC security was excellent at finding people.

Jade was relieved to receive a response from Mateo. He read it over and then dialed his number.

"Hi Mateo. I'm sorry about earlier. I was really out of line..."

"It's okay."

Jade allowed a moment of silence before listing the restaurant, the time, and a short description of Topaz and Hidrogeno.

Mateo hung up with Jade after recieving all the information he could. He dispatched teams to look for the two young boys. Even Mateo knew that if Jades parents got wind of Topaz missing, it wouldn't be a good thing.

Mateo was about to stand and head out to find the two himself, but his phone rang the tune meant for his brother Juan.

He flipped it open as he put one arm into his jacket. "What is it?"

"Why did you keep Sergio from me?"

Mateo's eyes closed, more annoyed than anything. "I'll tell you later." He hung up, even when Juan's voice cried out for him to hang on! With that Mateo headed out to try and find the boys.

Topaz ate the sweets, swinging his legs happily. It was a good day. Seeing his brother, getting presents, getting candies, making a friend...His violet eyes turned to Hidrogeno to see if he too was as enthralled by all of the wealth and spoiling they were encountering.

Hidrogeno smiled at Topaz to signify, he was indeed having so much fun eating the snacks and being treated like a little prince.

Carlos came in to check on them once he had finished his work for the day. The amount of work on his desk had lessened exponentially since Mateo took the company over at the age of 20. To keep himself busy, Carlos made sure he was alerted of ever move Mateo made and oversaw that they were all indeed for the benefit of the empire he created.

Hidrogeno and Topaz looked up at the man when he entered the room.

"How are you both?"

"Fine, thank you."

Topaz shouted out a "good!" with his mouth full of candies.

"Topaz, if you're finished eating snacks I'd like you to come with me to a room where you'll have plenty of things to unleash that energy you built up with sugar." It was going to be extremely beneficial for him to mold Topaz into the kind of person he wanted. Eventually he was going to have to contact his parents, no problem. He was certain a flash of money and a promise of the best education in the country would convince them that he was in "good" hands.

Ruby had a seat. The secretary had been rushed from her comfortable desk to pull Mr. Lapis Li from a meeting. He rarely attended meetings. That's why he hired his cousin, Spinel Li. But the vice president was out of the country, and these people had to be spoken to. And glared at. Being asked to step out was a death sentence, but Ruby Yu was doing the talking. Lapis excused himself, stating it was a family affair and left. People protested, but he ignored them. He was rich and powerful enough to.

Lapis glanced at his younger sister before he went to sit at his desk. She looked up from her nails.

"What is it."

"Topaz has been away for awhile."

"And."

"Do you know his friends?"

He stared at her. "I'm supposed to know about YOUR son's friends?"

"I can't figure out where he is. I figured maybe he started hanging out with ruffians around here." She flipped her hair, looking quite annoyed that he wasn't throwing himself to appease her.

"I do not hire ruffians." Lapis sat back in his chair, folding his hands onto his abdomen.

Ruby crossed her legs. "So you have no idea."

He didn't respond to that. Instead, he waited a good moment before he warned, "Keep a good eye on the other one."

She rose and left, knowing very well that one was under lock and key. Literally.

Lapis would dispatch a few guards to find out what had become of his nephew. Nothing serious. Just to find out where the mischievous little brat was.




((I think it would be GREAT if Carlos kept Topaz too. ^_^ Lappy would make it work!))

Li Corp security made it back quickly, not only did they note to Lapis Li that Topaz was taken by Carlos Caluroso. They also informed him that CDC guards were looking for him as well.

Lapis sat back, somewhat confused as to why Carlos Caluroso's own guards would be looking for the child. Was it some kind of deterrent? He canceled returning to the meeting room and headed out of Li Corp's main office. Once in his limo, he snapped orders to head to where Carlos lived. He would need to strike a deal with him.

The announcement that Lapis Li was there to see him, came to Carlos through the housekeeper he kept with him always. She knew a great deal about the man considering she had been his worker since his first mansion was purchased.

Carlos nodded at her.

She hurried towards the door to let Lapis in. She kept her eyes off of him. Being the most experienced worker she knew any wrong move would get her in serious trouble. Her hand motioned towards the kitchen table where Carlos sat drinking coffee. He stood when Lapis entered the room, his friend and a respected businessman.

Lapis nodded to Carlos and had a seat after a strong handshake. They made sure their grips were equally firm to express the confidence they had.

"Carlos, you're looking well."

The Caluroso nodded. "You too."

"I know this is uninvited, but I learned you have my nephew."

"Topaz."

Lapis nodded. "You picked him up along with another child? If you have any intent to keep him, I would like to encourage you to."

Carlos smirked some. "If you're telling me to keep your nephew there must be a reason behind it. You never do anything without cause."

Lapis chuckled some. It had almost a sinister tonal quality that brought a chill to his friend's back. And little startled the man. "But of course. He's spoiled, hyperactive, and destructive. Especially with fire. As much as I would like to mold him into someone useful rather than a wild animal, my little sister wouldn't approve. With him in your hands, I'm sure good things will happen."

"And how will you convince her...?"

"I do admit, I haven't quite decided. He's either dead or missing. There are child slavery rings abound, and he could be a victim of it. Just depends on what I feel like doing. She's a failure at a parent if she was already willing to donate her eldest to a ring. The youngest already hides from loud noises. She doesn't know what to do with potential."

((AWWWW Jace-per HAHAHAHA That's how I'm going to say it from now on! *stares at Fuego* ...someone had better get on it or Fuori (I think..) will be all alone! ..Helio too... *remembers Jace and Rafael* *Giggles at you* You know what that means!)

Carlos nodded as he listened taking long drags on his cigar between sips of his coffee. "Women aren't capable of making good decisions with a clear head." Slowly Carlos smirked. It was eerie how two evil men thought of nearly the exact same ideas. "I had planned on doing what you mentioned. He's extrememely over-energetic, now it's just putting that energy towards being productive."

"He's here with you now then?"

"With my nephew in the other room."

"Why are CDC guards looking for him then?"

At this bit of information Carlos took a moment to think it over. At the table Carlos had seen Viento and with Viento there was the brown haired boy, Jade. Who listens to Jade's music? Juan. Carlos remembered having to wait outside in the limo while Juan demanded to wait in line for Jade's autograph.

"It must be Juan doing Jade a favor."

((Oh...I messed up...Their ages apart are really...screwed here. *LAUGHS* In the other RP, Jasper came along when Jade was 18 and Topaz was 10? And here they're only 13 and 5...drat, I messed up. *LAUGHS* OH WELL...Fuori can just have an old man. Jaspy's just a toddler thing anyways right now. Haha!))



"Ah." That made sense. Lapis had seen Mateo and knew he wouldn't fiddle with queer little boys like Jade. The brunet was a very young pop singer and full of smiles and joy. He approved of the silent, rough youth. As for Juan, he hadn't a clue how Carlos produced such a boy. All he could reckon was that Juan had fallen on his head. Numerous times. He blamed his own son, Paraiba, for being like Juan, because he wasn't raised by him.

"Just have them say he's kidnapped and taken to..." Lapis rubbed a temple. "Perhaps Guatemala. May I have one?" He gestured to the cigars. The quality was good, and he could recognize what they were from by the scent.

"Of course, of course. I didn't know you smoked." Carlos offered him one and lit it.

Lapis smirked as he smoked, taking long drags. His gaze turned to look about the kitchen. "I'll visit to see how he's doing. If you don't mind."

"Not at all. Anything for a friend."



(("Friends." *wink wink*))

((Oh! I know you mentioned changing all their ages and such, I didn't know if this was one of ones you wanted to do. *laughs* I forget the ages are not all lined up and off the timeline, everyone in my mind looks and acts the same regardless! Hahaha. You know Carlos and Lapis love each other! Haha, Morgana's jealous))

"Just to make sure he's out of the way of anyone finding him, I'll go back to Mexico and stay there. I came to check on Mateo, and the new building that's going up."

Lapis nodded at the information. "I can see it from Li Corp."

"Spare no expense to create a domineering persona."

"It's height?"

Carlos had made sure the CDC building wouldn't be taller than Li Corp's. Bringing his business to America was a great economic move, but as a friend he wouldn't challenge his friend's status and as a businessman there was no combating Li Corp's massive holdings. The many businesses who had tried failed miserably never to regain any type of strength.

"It's three stories shy of yours."

Mateo walked into the kitchen with both hands in his pockets. Nonchalant, even if he was surprised learning Topaz was there with Carlos. The moment he saw Lapis Li he nodded his head at him. "Sir. I'm sorry to interrupt, but.." He had to think of something, what reason could he give that Carlos would buy. "--Juan was pressing me to find Topaz for that singer he likes." Juan was the butt of everything wasn't he?

Carlos gave an annoyed short sigh. "Topaz is in the room with Esperanza's son. I'm taking them both to Mexico with me."

"Not to Mario......"

"Of course not. Make up something to tell Juan."

Mateo nodded his head before acknowledging Lapis with another. He exited the room thinking of what he was going to tell Jade.

Carlos watched Mateo head out. He always felt so proud of his son when he would see him. Everything a good businessman needed, Mateo had.

"How's your Sapphire? Going to hand over the reins soon?"

Carlos was almost regretful that Juan had turned out to be a boy, his personality was more suited to be a woman. If Carlos had a daughter he would have offered her to Lapis' son. It would have been a wonderful business venture.

((*laughs* I suppose. Let's see how this works out. This means Saphire and Rubaeus are wandering around somewhere...))


Lapis watched Mateo leave before turning his attention back to Carlos. He had to admit he was jealous. What he would've given to have his eldest more like Mateo...

"Temporarily."

"Oh?"

"I'm afraid my wife meddled in his upbringing far too much. He can't fight. He doesn't have the fierceness I'm looking for when dealing with business relations. He's not driven. He can work, but he's very distracted." Lapis felt along the length of the cigar. "I noticed it a long time ago and created a backup plan."

Carlos leaned in, interested.

"I have another set of twins. Instead of being read children's books, they're being read texts about strategy. Communication." He added a chuckle. "Even organized crime. Anything that will get them thinking. I will make them well rounded and powerful. They won't be touching anything like fairy tales." He shook his head. "They're also training. They're just little boys, but I'm not going to waste any time. My wife is upset they're off at a boot camp I've set up. But Rubaeus especially has been doing well. They'll be what I want even if it kills them.

"Sapphire doesn't understand all the work I've put into making Li Corp what it is. Kids these days. Spoiled." His dark violet eyes stared before him. "I'm going to make Saphire and Rubaeus think of nothing more than acquiring Li Corp."

((It's that kind of talk from Lapis that makes Morgana and Carlos hot.))

Carlos smirked, how perfect that sounded. "I'm sure they'll be perfect with you guiding them. That strategy seems to work the best. Mateo's been cut off from most types of affection, especially maternal. I'm not sure what happened with Juan." Even Carlos had to laugh at it. "At least he's usefull when manipulated the right way."

"Oh really?" Lapis looked interested in how Carlos used his Juan. The youth seemed so incompetent at times. "Forgive me for asking, but I cannot help but wonder how you manipulate him. My second son is...absolutely useless. I could some ideas on how to change that."

"With Juan I figure out what makes him tick. He's interested in keeping people safe and protected. So I told him in order for him to do that there are certain things he has to do. Which just happen to be everything that I require. Learn business, languages, and even kill."

Lapis listened as he thought over if anything here could be applied to Paraiba.

"No one suspects the sweeter nicer Caluroso to pull out a gun on them. He's sadistic and brilliant if it deals with something that will benefit the people he loves. Sadly he happens to love more people that I would enjoy."

A guard moved over to Carlos slowly as he entered the kitchen. "Sir......." His voice shook as he spoke.

"What is it?"

"The.....This just came in." He handed a paper to Carlos. On it was written the events that happened in such a short amount. Fernando out of jail, Sergio and Matao taken by Juan to be brought to America.

Carlos read over the short sentences on the paper.

The guard was already gone, all his job was was to deliver the paper. He didn't want to face the wrath of what would happen after Carlos read it.

"Point made, Juan just released two whores his mother gave birth to from a brothel Mateo put them in. Apparently my brother is out of jail too, I'll need to look at the footage from the jail to see who the hell decided to do this."

Lapis pressed the cigar butt into the ash tray. It was a shame to press waste into something so ornate. He leaned on an arm and listened, a brow raised. "This sounds serious. Didn't you put Fernando in maximum security?"

"Of course."

"I'd like to see this too. Who could possibly be both cunning and stupid enough to do such a thing?" The tall, dark blue haired man didn't even care if he might have been overstepping his boundaries. After a lifetime of wealth and power, he exuded a personality that made you want to serve him.

Carlos motioned a guard to bring his laptop over. From it he could access the feed from the security tapes. Mateo and Juan had shown him how to use it, he hated computers but found them necessary for business.

Carlos moved to the chair next to Lapis as he pressed the necessary command, and security codes. He was so comfortable with Lapis that he didn't mind disclosing any information no matter how hidden it was to him.

The main password happened to be "Esperanza". That was his biggest secret.

The footage for the past two days was skimmed through. Carlos made a disgusted face watching Fernando go about his daily business in the jail cell. The majority of which, included meeting "friends". He pressed the button to skim faster.

"How my father still likes him best is beyond me."

Before long the footage of Morgan and Fuego's visit showed up. "There's his son, Rafaga. I'm not sure who he's with though."

The long, rose colored hair was unmistakable. "It's Morgan. He's Li Corp's Vice President's son." Lapis withheld the usual words that accompanied his description of him. Queer would've been the nicest thing he said about him.

Carlos leaned closer to the monitor, swearing he was looking at a woman at first. But it would make sense Rafaga would be with a male. He stupidly sold his soul and eternal devotion to Bobby White.

"He's not capable of doing it himself." Reaching over, Lapis pressed the button to fast forward the footage. His eyes darkened at the movement in the dark cell. While he could not see the person well, there was clearly someone. After watching the tricks used to sneak Fernando Caluroso out, he was able to deduce who they were.

"Damn Russians..."