XP: Welcome to my new fic! I will probably update this pretty often. (:
FIC: This fic is about Kai and Tala, about how they distanced themselves from other people to try to protect other people, how they can smile and be carefree together. And when the threat arrives, how they will sacrifice and fight for one another to see each other smile, to have freedom again, to live carefreely. So, a fic with darkness, angst, humor, friendship, hurt/comfort, fluff, etc, all combined together at different stages.
CHAPTER ONE: the prologue is angsty. The rest is kinda humor, friendship and fluff. More will come (:
Disclaimer: I don't own beyblade.
Dedication: Dedicated to my best friend, weixin, who will not see this, thank you for supporting me. Thank you for encouraging me. Thank you for being there. I love you~ :D
***prologue***
"Kai... Kai, Run away!" Tala cried out desperately, struggling against his captor as he tried to save himself.
Kai took a step back, and hesitated. He seemed unsure of what to do, eyes flitting about as he tried to sort out his thoughts and conflicting feelings, to seek out a way to save them both. He stood a safe distance away, but he wouldn't remain safe if he continued to stand there. His confused ruby eyes stared into Tala's panicked, defeated blue ones.
"GO!" Tala hissed urgently.
Kai turned to run away, casting one fearful, reluctant look behind his shoulder, before tearing his gaze away, running ahead. Tala's sacrifice would not be in vain. Tala watched with a heavy heart as Kai got further and further away until he could no longer see Kai.
A dark, evil chuckle could be heard behind Tala. "So selfless..."
Tala flinched when a rough, calloused hand stroked his cheek.
A haunting, familiar voice spoke. "Hello...my son..."
Tala squeezed his eyes shut in despair.
***Back in time***
"Kai! Wait up!" Tyson gasped, trying to catch up to Kai who was walking briskly in front, scarf swishing behind him. Kai paused in his step, turning around. Tala stopped as well, as he was walking beside Kai.
"Kai... why...why did you change teams? Why did you join the blitzkrieg boys without telling us at the last minute?" Ray asked, hurt.
"You must've had a reason," Max said weakly, as though trying to convince himself.
Kai gave them a cold glance. "I couldn't stand being around you imbeciles for so long."
"Yeah, who could stand annoying brats like you," Tala said haughtily, blue eyes gleaming cruelly.
"Is that true?" Tyson asked, looking at Kai with pleading eyes. "You're lying right? You wouldn't join those evil Russians without a reason?"
"Tyson," Kai sighed, as though speaking to a dimwitted child. He stared at Tyson condescendingly. "I told you, you guys were just a bunch of slacking, immature fools. I refuse to be a babysitter any longer. Besides, didn't you always speak behind my back about how i was evil? You should be happy that I'm gone." Kai smirked.
The team stared at Kai in shock, disbelief on their faces. Kai turned away coldly, walking away at an even faster pace than before down the hall. Tala tilted his head and gave them a cocky smirk before following Kai.
They walked in silence for awhile.
"Why did you lie?" Tala asked softly, turning to look at Kai. Tala's soft blue eyes were gentle as they stared into Kai's ruby ones, full of inner turmoil, regret and guilt.
"They were better off without me. They wouldn't understand," Kai shook his head slightly.
"Kai..." Tala sighed.
"Tala, believe me, I know what I'm doing. Those brats are better off living their perfect little silly lives without ever knowing the horror of the abbey."
Tala remained silent, contemplating. They entered the conference room, and Tala sat beside his team, the Blitzkrieg boys. He cast Kai a questioning look, to which Kai answered with a hard stare, before moving to lean against the wall. Tala understood, and broke eye contact.
All of the teams were in Japan, and were gathered together after the championships. They were here to talk about the old times, and to decide what to do in the future, and stay in contact. Mr Dickenson had actually used threats to make people who didn't want to come participate. The bubbly old man walked in, beginning his welcoming speech. The Bladebreakers glared at Kai with eyes full of betrayal and distrust, after their confrontation in the hallway. Kai leaned against the wall in a corner, ignoring them.
"So! What are your plans?" Mr Dickenson said, breaking the tense atmosphere.
The teams all gave excited answers, about going on vacations, then going back to their own country. The Bladebreakers were going to stay together at Tyson's dojo, but occasionally go back home to visit. The Blitzkrieg Boys and Kai were silent.
"Tala? What about your team?" Mr Dickenson asked warmly.
Tala flinched and looked up, as he had been lost in thoughts. Spencer gave him a worried look before helping him answer. "We're probably going back to Russia."
"What? It's so dangerous there..." Mr Dickenson asked worriedly. "Won't there be a lot of people after your lives?"
"We'll lie low," Spencer assured.
"Heh, we'll kill them before they kill us," Bryan said smugly. Ian grinned and nodded. "We wouldn't want to leave our homeland due to a bunch of idiots wrapped up in crazy ideals."
Mr Dickenson smiled, they would be able to take care of themselves. "...Kai, m'boy? What about you?" The teams became silent at once.
Kai opened his eyes, staring at Mr Dickenson's friendly face before closing his eyes. "Dunno."
The teams stared at him for a while, before going back to their own conversations. Speaking of schools, jobs, places they wanted to go, etc.
Mr Dickenson frowned at Kai. "Kai... you know you can stay with me if you don't have anywhere to go, right?"
Kai nodded, giving a small smile, before it disappeared when the bladers looked at him again. "I wouldn't want to trouble you, Mr Dickenson," Kai said politely. He respected the old man a lot. Mr Dickenson passed around a piece of paper and pen for the bladers to write their emails, phone numbers and house addresses. They did so excitedly, with loud murmurings. The paper reached Tala last at the table. Tala stared at the piece of paper, took up a pen, twirled it, and wrote his name. And did nothing else.
The blitzkrieg boys stared at him. They had at least written their contact numbers, though they didn't want Bladers to visit them as they wanted to keep a low profile, or spam their inbox. Tala stood up, walking over to Kai, passing him the piece of paper, whispering in Kai's ear, before walking back to sit down.
Whatever Tala had said, it had Kai staring at Tala's back with a slightly... warm look? Kai scribbled down his name and passed it to Mr Dickenson.
Mr Dickenson's mouth curved downwards. "Kai... Tala... what haven't you guys written anything beside your names?" The other bladers looked up now, confused as well.
"Hmph, they probably think they're too good to hang out with us," Tyson said bitterly, crossing his arms.
"Tyson!" Ray whispered, elbowing him.
Tala and Kai exchanged a look. And both said nothing.
"M'boys... at least write something down," Mr Dickenson said softly. Kai took back the piece of paper, and looked briefly at Tala. Tala gave him a sly look. Kai smirked then, and scribbled down a contact number for him and Tala.
In Kai's contact number section, was a replica of Tyson's contact number. In Tala's contact number section, it was the contact number of a fast-food store. Kai passed it over casually, blank expression betraying nothing.
"Well, it was good to see you guys again! Have fun, and good luck in your future endeavors!" Mr Dickenson said brightly. The teams stood, giving each other warm handshakes and some hugs. They slowly moved out, leaving the Blitzkrieg boys, Kai and the Bladebreakers in the room. The Bladebreakers glared at Kai again before moving out.
The Blitzkrieg boys now glowered at Tala, seething.
"What the hell was that about, Ivanov!" Bryan growled.
"What's wrong, Tala?" Spencer asked, with strained politeness.
"I... I am going with Kai," Tala said softly. "You guys are welcome to join."
"Are you kidding? Tala! He left us behind in the abbey! He used us again and again!" Ian spluttered.
"I'll take that as a no," Tala sighed, staring at his hands.
"Tala! Have you gone crazy!" Bryan growled.
"No, Bryan," Spencer held Bryan back, looking at Tala coldly. "He's made his decision. He'd rather stay with the traitor than us." Tala's heart cringed from the way Ian's face looked so hurt. Bryan hissed, punching the wall, making a decent sized dent. "Let's go," Spencer said, without looking at Tala. The Blitzkrieg boys went out.
"...Are you sure?" Kai looked out of the window. "They'll still forgive you if you go back now."
"No, I've made my decision. I'm with you," Tala replied, back facing Kai. The two stayed like this for awhile, before Kai moved over to Tala, sort of hugging him by putting his arms around Tala's shoulders, resting his chin on the top of Tala's head. "Don't get used to this, Ivanov."
Tala's eyes were brimming with unshed tears as he blinked them back. "Course not," Tala said with a shaky voice. The two stayed like this for awhile, before Tala shrugged Kai's hands off, standing up. "So, Kai, you better not regret this either," Tala said cheekily. "I can get pretty annoying."
"Yeah, yeah," Kai said with a slight smile and closed eyes, looking peaceful.
"Let's go then," Tala said softly. Kai nodded, and they both walked out, not knowing where to go, but knowing that they would be together.
***Later***
"...Empty," Tala commented dryly when they went into the apartment. It was rather empty, having only a bed, a sofa, etc, the bare minimum.
"Oh shut up, we can change that," Kai said offhandedly. "Put your things down in a corner, we'll go shopping."
"Shopping? I love shopping!" Tala grinned. "Especially when I'm not the one to pay!"
"Hn," Kai nodded. Tala nudged him, and Kai looked over coldly, before the ruby eyes softened, and they shared a small smile. Tala went to throw his bags of personal belongings on the sofa. "Let's go then!"
The two of them went out onto the cold streets. They went into store after store, buying cups, plates, food, more decorations, clocks, plants etc.
***Clock store***
"This is so cute!" Tala pointed at a small clock that was shaped like a cat.
"...You'll smash it in the morning when it rings," Kai smirked, teasingly.
"..." Tala had nothing to say to that. He blushed lightly at the tease. Then he perked up at the sticker on it. "Oi! It says it can't be broken!"
"Then buy it," Kai said smoothly, moving over to another end of the store.
"YES!" Tala cheered.
***Plant store?***
Tala stared at the many plants, as Kai waited patiently for him to decide. "I don't see why we need plants." Kai sighed.
"Neither do I," Tala admitted. "It was a whim."
"Hm, whims are good for now," Kai nodded.
"CACTUS!" Tala pointed to the mini-cacti at the side.
"Why do you like cactus so much?" Kai said, amused.
"They're pointy, like my hair!" Tala said, laughing. "...That, and I know I'll pretty much kill any other plant."
"Alright, buy it," Kai shrugged with one shoulder.
"Yay!" Tala laughed.
***Mug store***
"...We're not buying that, Tala."
"Why?" Tala blinked.
Kai pointed accusingly at the mugs. On one of them, it wrote, 'I love my angel' with a cute angel on it, full of hearts. "It's so..."
"Cute? Girly? Cliche?" Tala suggested.
"...Yes."
"Whim," Tala insisted. "Buy it."
"...Fine."
"...Seriously?" Tala gave a incredulous look. "...Kai, you really know how to pamper someone." Tala took another mug off the shelf. It was had mini-devil with devil horns.
Kai paid for both of them.
***Game store***
"Kai. This." Tala stared at the xbox with a feral look. "Mine."
"Sure," Kai paid for it without a second thought.
***Accessories store***
"Kai!" Tala pointed to two matching silver bracelets. They were simple, with a small skull in the middle.
"...You sure?" Kai looked at Tala.
"Yeah!" Tala laughed. He was having too much fun, getting to buy anything he felt like buying. He clasped one around Kai's wrist. "See? IT fits!" Kai simply gave a fond, exasperated sigh, and paid for the two bracelets. Kai wore it on his right hand and Tala wore it on his left.
***After shopping***
"I'm tired!" Tala complained, carrying many shopping bags.
"Sit here," Kai commanded, pointing at the bench, dropping his plastic bags on it.
Tala plopped down without a complaint, and stared interestedly at the many shopping bags. He could hardly remember half the stuff they bought.
Kai came back quickly, thrusting something in Tala's face. "Here. You like strawberry, right?"
"...What is it?" Tala stared at the cone suspiciously. There was a pink ball on top...
"Ice-cream. Lick it," Kai commanded.
"No, you lick it first!" Tala said with paranoia. How can such a thing exist? Yes, he'd heard of ice-cream, but... pink? Kai gave a small snort, and took a small bite. He thrusted it to Tala again. Tala hesitantly took a bite too.
IT WAS COLD!
Tala recoiled. Then blinked. It was sweet... sweet snow...? Tala licked it. Yum... He closed his eyes in bliss.
"It's a strawberry ice-cream, I thought you would like it," Kai smirked, sitting down beside Tala.
Tala stared at the ice-cream in wonder, continuing to lick it. Kai simply leaned back and watched him, a soft smile on his face. Tala obviously liked it.
"Thank you, Kai!" Tala smiled brightly, face one of utter happiness, his blue eyes glowing with euphoria. Kai chuckled and wiped off the ice-cream stain on the corner of Tala's mouth.
"What are you, a kid?" Kai snorted.
"Oi!" Tala pouted, pretending to take offence. "...I want more. Buy me all the flavors, Kai!"
"...You'll get a stomachache, Tala," Kai frowned disapprovingly.
"Whim!" Tala insisted.
They had made a rule earlier that whatever whim came to Tala's mind, they would do it, ignoring the consequences. Tala was quite happy about it, and had a lot of fun, which made Kai quite happy too.
"Fine," Kai sighed, defeated.
Tala got a stomachache when they got home, like Kai said.
XP: Hope you liked it! Review to feedback and help the story improve (: