Notes: I am using the Japanese names for this piece. This is set before the beginning of the series and is based on Yuriy's backstory, which you can find online.
Yuriy (Tala)
Boris (Bryan)
Borg (Boris)
Something Akin to Heaven
by: zulka
Yuriy/Boris Centric
One-shot
All Yuriy and Boris heard, was the constant sound of beyblades clashing, day in and day out. They saw boys come and go. If you did not prove your worth and that you were strong enough, you were a failure and needed to be disposed of.
Yuriy and Boris did not know about beyblading, not while they were out in the streets. They had other things to worry about, more important things like finding food, keeping warm and being safe.
Beyblading did not enter into that equation.
Beyblading wouldn't have entered into their lives if it weren't for that man, Borg. It was Borg who recruited them, Borg saved them. He brought them to the center, and introduced them to this game. But Borg never called beyblading a game, Beyblading was a means to an end.
Conditions were not ideal, and they had heard many of the other kids whimpering, crying even. But not them, they had been disillusioned already. There was nothing left to fall apart. So while the other boys came under illusions of grandeur, they came because it was their salvation, quite literally. And just like them there were other boys, other boys who held fire in their eyes, and an indomitable will to continue fighting. They were the enemies, the ones to watch out for, because they wanted this just as badly. It would be too easy to lose to them.
Training was hard and the punishments worse. But they were resilient. The streets and the abusive life they had, had made them so.
There were times when Yuriy thought that maybe, just maybe it wasn't okay. But then he would remember cold floors and old shoes. There was no going back; there wasn't anything to go back to, not for him.
The only thing they could do was look forward. Yuriy knew that Boris wasn't too sure. But Yuriy was sure. Yuriy had never felt more sure in his life.
The fighting was endless, day and night, to some it was hell, all this training. Some were relieved to be kicked out. Runaways, the ones that left home willingly would go back.
But hell was subjective.
He and Boris had everything and nothing. The Center offered them food and shelter, but only as long as they continued to win. Yes, it was conditional. It wasn't the best. But it was something. It was better than what they had before.
Boris was unsure. Yuriy was not.
Boris needed reassurance. So when he watched Yuriy staring into the snow, he wondered.
Yuriy saw and didn't see the snow at the same time. Yuriy had visions of the future and what the future held. It promised more than training and endless fighting. The center and beyblading would get them there.
Boris understood, there was no going back. The future was the only thing they had.
The Center was the means to an end. Not the best but better than the cold lonely streets.
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AN: Hmm. Not too sure about this piece. But I like Yuriy and Boris and wanted to focus more on them. I love Yuriy's backstory. I hope you guys get a change to read it. Reviews are greatly appreciated. Thank you for reading.