A/N: There is an unintentional reference in this chapter that I've just noticed while I was colouring the speech, its not Exo related but if anyone gets it please leave a comment (it would be nice to meet some fellow fans) ^_^

Color Codes

Suho   Baekhyun   Chanyeol   D.O.   Kai   Sehun   Kris   Xiumin   Luhan   Lay   Chen   Tao

Double checking the trunk while Suho and Lay left the car, Kai stared emptily into the trunk and breathed almost inaudibly.

“Thanks for saving me hyung.”

“What?”

“Th-thank you for pushing me out the way of the boxes.”

“You know I don’t want to see you hurt Kai, I’d never forgive myself if they hit you.”

“Hyung I... when this is over, I think I’m ready to talk about it.”

“Really? Are you sure? I don’t want to rush you.”

“I’m sure, the longer I wait the more time I have to blow it out of proportion.”

“Okay, if you’re sure.”

“I’m sure, let’s go find this library car.”

Smiling as they shyly left the car hand in hand, Kai was surprised by the warm glow heating the shards that once formed his heart. Lost in thoughts that threatened to repair the damage from before the puzzle began, Kai almost walked straight into D.O. who suddenly appeared in-front of him wrapping his arms around his waist.

“Hyung?”

“Yes?”

“What are you doing?”

“You looked troubled, I thought you were going faint.”

“I’m fine, I just got lost in my own head is all.”

“Well try not to get too lost okay? I don’t want to lose you.”

“Well as long as a mysterious shadow doesn’t carry me off I think it’s safe to say you won’t.”

“You think a shadow stole the members away?”

“No... just someone lurking in them.”

“Well in that case, stay out of the shadows.”

Opening the heavy wooden door before them, they were amazed to find a small library fitted into the car.

“It’s like we walked into Kris’ mind.”

“I always imagined a spacious modern library in his head not a dusty old room like this.”

“Well more than one tiny window would be nice, it’s really tight in here.”

“It’s kinda weird there’s a fireplace and no chair in here, isn’t it?”

“Yeah... so where do we start?”

“Look for the self-improvement books?”

Taking a side of the car each they began looking through the rows of books lining the cases. Hearing a heavy sigh from D.O. behind him Kai was almost ready to give up when a flash of green sticking out from between two books caught his eye.

“Hyung, I found something.”

“Really, what’s it say?”

“---------------------------->”

“An arrow? That’s weird.”

“It’s pointing to the fireplace.”

“...Hey for a mock fireplace its set pretty far out don’t you think?”

Pulling the guard away, they quickly began tearing away the back of the firebox. Ripping the façade away to produce puffs of grey smoke, they were lost in a sea of dust as a spluttering Kris fell free.

“H-hyung? Are you alright?”

“I’m... fine.”

“We’ll be more inclined to believe that when you can stop coughing.”

“Honestly guys I’m fine, thanks for getting me out.”

“We’re just glad you’re okay.”

“Well there’s a major kink in my back but aside from that yeah I’m okay.”

“Please tell me you’re joking?”

“Uh, it is all weird but I really am fine.”

“Good.”

“Hey, where’s Tao?”

Exchanging an almost unreadable glance, Kai and D.O. wondered the best way to tell him what was going on.

“Where’s Tao?”

“I’m sure he’s fine hyung...”

“What does that mean?”

“We haven’t found him yet.”

“Found, you mean the others were stuck in stupid places too?”

“Yup, Suho under a sink, Lay in a trunk and now you in a fireplace.”

“That’s weird... Where do you hide eleven people on a train?”

“A-actually ten, neither of us were...”

“Lucky you.”

“How so?”

“You know the other is safe.”

“Yeah, instead of worrying about one member we get to worry about ten... well now I suppose it’s seven.”

“Well I guess the couples aren’t a secret anymore... if they ever were.”

“Between us, no they never were but as far as everyone else goes... I think it’s still just a wishful shippers dream.”

“That always made me feel weird, why would someone want to ship me with Chanyeol or Lay? I mean it’s creepy.”

“So... it’s creepy that people ship you with Tao?”

“I-I... at first... but as far as they know I want to date girls so it’s still weird!”

“Do you want to date girls?”

“No, I want to date Tao.”

“Then why does it bother you what shippers think? You have someone that makes you happy, isn’t that what’s important?”

“You’re right... what happened to Mr awkward when talking about feelings?”

“He’s on vacation while Mr worried about the rest of the band specifically the still missing members’ runs things for a while.”

“Speaking of m-missing members, how can I find Tao?”

“...We don’t know.”

“Hyung, what’s that in your back pocket?”

Producing a blue card from his pocket, Kris looked seriously befuddled as D.O. took it and read the message.

“Cute as a kitten and just as nimble, but better rap up before ending up wet.”

“They misspelt wrap.”

“I think it’s meant to be misspelt... you know, to show they mean Tao.”

“Have they done that with the other clues too?”

“Well they all referenced something you loved if not a clue to where you were.”

“So where is he?”

“I’d guess the car that had showers in it?”

“Well come on, let’s go!”

Following Kris away from the fireplace and into the next carriage, Kai and D.O. stood in the doorway not wanting to get in Kris’ way. Watching as he almost tore the doors from their hinges they exchanged worried looks as he stopped at the door to the third shower room. Staring into the shower room Kris couldn’t believe all three were empty, until catching a soft almost inaudible sob. Stepping inside to look into the shower itself, Kris found Tao tied and gagged in the corner of the cubicle. Quickly setting to untying him, tears of joy steadily began rolling down Kris’ cheeks.

“Tao baby, are you okay?”

“I am now hyung.”

“Are you sure? You’re not hurt?”

“No... why are you covered in dust?”

“O-oh, I was in a fireplace.”

“What? Why??”

“Not important, are you absolutely sure you okay... you look a little pale.”

“I’m fine, just confused.”

“Why are you confused?”

“W-well I was left tied up in a shower and my boyfriend is sitting in tears.”

“I’m just glad you’re okay, I thought I lost you.”

“You’ll never loose me hyung.”

Leaning closer as if to kiss the elder, Tao turned a deep fuchsia as he quickly pulled away seeing Kai and D.O. entering the now cramped room.

“Oh sorry, are we interrupting?”

“Why do I get the feeling you’ve already had a conversation like this tonight?”

“We have, Suho knew we knew but Lay didn’t and he was all shy about it.”

“...So basically we’re all aware we’re all dating but only half of us realise that means that our own relationships are also known?”

“So far it seems that’s the case.”

“Where are Suho and Lay now?”

“They went back to the room’s in-case someone manages to get back by themselves, they got kinda trashed when the train stopped.”

“Why did the train stop?”

“We don’t know, all we know is we left our room and all you guys were missing.”

“Do you guys need any help finding the other 6 members?”

“No we’ll be fine you should rest, that fireplace couldn’t have been good for your back.”

“Please will you tell me about this fireplace?”

“Oh, I-I’ll tell you later.”

Letting Kris and Tao past to head back to the rooms, Kai and D.O. were left wondering what to do next.