A/N: Well, this is it! It may be a little weird, but BELIEVE me, it's all going to make frightening sense as the story progresses, okay? Anyway, let's do this!
Disclaimer: Any and all characters that I have stolen from Beyblade are used for entertainment only. They aren't mine, and I do not take credit for them. Happy now?
UPDATE: This is a re-post. I made some slight changes…I'm not going to say it's worth re-reading, however, a few slight details were fixed and the spelling checked. If you like to have all the minute facts, then it wouldn't be a bad idea to read the last passage.
"Done!" Kenny exclaimed to Dizzy, holding up a small, dark bottle as he placed a red cap on it.
"That's great Chief! Wait until Judy gets a load of this!" the female bit beast approved from the small brunette's desk.
Her young master had been working on a chemical formula, for a little over seven months now, that could completely re-arrange any given genetic structure. At least, that was the theory. There was no way of testing it without the proper facilities. But once approved, it could be used in Max's mother's research on bit-beasts, as well as with her studies in the medical field.
"Yeah just wait," the Japanese teen sighed contentedly. "But it may have to set before I bring it over, after all, I should give the mixture a few minutes to balance out."
"Sure thing Chief, but if you don't mind? I'm turning in," she yawned. The LCD screen began fading as Dizzy shut down for some well-deserved rest.
"Alright, see you in a bit."
Shutting the laptop, Kenny picked up the small bottle, heading towards the kitchen. Opening the window above the counter, he set his latest creation on the sill. He'd pick it up in about an hour or so.
As he made his way back through the dojo, he heard Tyson pick up the phone.
"Hey!" the blunette cried in greeting. "Man I never expected a call from you guys. Huh? Oh, sure...wait a sec." Suddenly, the teen's head appeared in the doorway, the phone pressed against his chest.
"Oh! Hiya Kenny, have you seen Kai?" he grinned. The younger teen shook his head.
"He left with Rei about an hour ago, but they should be home soon." Nodding, the Dragon master put the phone back up to his ear, watching his tiny friend as he waited patiently for him to finish.
"Sorry dude, he's gone out. Got a message?" there was a pause. "What! No way! Seriously?" Another pause. "Yeah, no sweat. I'll make sure he gets the message." With that he hung up.
"Chief you're never going to believe this!"
"What is it Tyson?" A wide grin spread across the older teen's lips, barely stopping before it breached his large mahogany eyes.
"Tala has the flu!" he giggled madly. "Ian just called to tell Kai!"
"Well," the other pondered. "That's...unexpected."
"What is?" Came the cold inquiry. Both boys jumped when they realized that their team captain had returned.
And was standing right behind them.
"Oh...uh, hey Kai!" Kenny squeaked before skittering nervously back to his room as Rei appeared behind the stoic Russian. The oldest of the Blade Breakers glared at his pitiful retreat before turning back to Tyson.
"Well? What was he talking about?" he snapped. The younger blunette shrugged.
"I just got a call from Ian, he told me to tell you Tala's got the flu, or something."
"Or something?" he hissed. The Dragon master visibly shrunk back.
"Yeah, he was calling you up to ask you about it. None of them can really remember the last time any one of them was sick."
With a sigh, the phoenix brushed past his teammate. Well? It was unexpected. But he wouldn't need to call them back, he was sure that at the very least, Bryan would have enough sense to call a doctor.
As he made his way down the hallway and into the kitchen, Rei was practically bouncing as he dropped the grocery bags on the table behind him.
"This will be the perfect opportunity Kai! We can make him some brownies with that new recipe that I've been meaning to try out!" The older teen's expression softened somewhat as he helped his partner unload the bags.
"If you know a way to get them to Russia, then I'm sure he'll love them."
"Hillary? Where have you been?" Max asked with a warm smile as the petit girl let herself in. Returning the gesture she held up a gorgeous bouquet of flowers.
"I thought this place could use some color so, I went out to the park and picked these!" Giggling, the blonde teen led her through the dojo.
"That's fantastic! I' m sure grandpa will like that."
"Mm hmm," she agreed following him towards the kitchen. "I just need a vase and some cold water." As they neared their destination, both teens closed their eyes as a delicious smell assaulted their noses.
"Must be Kai and Rei," the Turtle master grinned with a wink. "But don't tell anyone that Kai can cook!" Laughing, they turned the corner, heading strait for the cupboards to look for a vase. Setting her flowers down, the brunette regarded the scene before her.
The neko and his partner were positively covered in flour, as well as an assortment of other ingredients. The raven-haired teen was checking the first batch of what she assumed were brownies, while the phoenix sat on the counter, mixing another bowl in his lap. It was too cute.
"Here!" came Max's triumphant cry, snapping the young girl from her silent musings.
"Thanks," she nodded, taking the glass container from the eager blonde, filling it with water at the sink. "This is just perfect."
"Glad I could help," he waved before heading back the way he had come.
Hearing the conversation, the others in the kitchen looked up to see who had infiltrated their workspace. The eldest immediately turned his face down again with a glare, setting the bowl on the counter besides himself before hoping down to assume his classic touch-me-and-die pose against the wall. Rei just smiled, wiping his hands off on his pants.
"Hi!" he called, shutting the oven again. She only offered him a smile as she arranged the flowers in a beautiful pattern of colors. "Who are those for?" he finished curiously.
"No one really," she shrugged. "I just think they look nice." With a sigh she set them on the windowsill, moving a small glass bottle to the counter to make room. Satisfied, she shook her head, turning to find her previously lost company.
"Tyson!" Kai roared suddenly.
Whipping around, the Chinese teen found their food-obsessed friend trying to steal the brownie mix from his koi, with Max's help of course. Sprinting forward, he grabbed the blonde around the waist, bodily hauling him from the room.
"You finish it Kai! I'll keep these two busy, just add the vanilla and put them in the oven!"
"Maxie! I'll save you!" Tyson hollered, seeing that his partner in crime was in need. Diving into the hallway after them, he left his captain alone in the kitchen, momentarily forgetting about the chocolate batter.
Muttering under his breath, the stoic teen glanced around the kitchen, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Where is it?" he yelled, wincing slightly when the ebony-haired teen yelped, as he was, no doubt, hit with a pillow.
"I left it...on the...counter!" he yelled back, panting.
Looking around the room again, his eyes narrowed as they fell to a small container beneath the windowsill.
"Does it have a red cap?"
"Ye—OW! YES!"
Bringing the bowl with him, the phoenix picked up the small, dark container with a red cap. Adding a teaspoon of it to the mix, he stirred it in before turning the bowl over into a pan. Re-setting the timer, he slipped the brownies into the oven, smirking victoriously as he removed the first batch of brownies. He then filled the now empty bowl with water, and placed it in the sink. Heading out into the hall, he found his neko curled up on the floor, desperately trying to shield himself from Tyson and Max's successive pillow bashings.
With a sigh he pulled them back by their collars, facing them towards the kitchen. They struggled, only pausing when their captain spoke up.
"The kitchen is all yours if you clean it once you're done."
"Deal!" they shouted together, dropping the cushions as they barreled back through the dojo.
Turning to his fallen tiger, Kai crouched down in front of him. Tipping his head at the sight of the kitten curled up in a ball at his feet, he tugged gently on the long ponytail that had unraveled slightly during his small excursion.
"You okay?" Lifting his head, Rei blinked cutely.
"Did you find the vanilla?" Nodding, the Russian smiled as the teen before him sat up, smirking so that one of his perfect fangs slipped over his bottom lip. "Then it was worth it."
Helping himself up, the Chinese teen pecked his captain on the nose softly. "My knight in shining armor," he purred.
"For what? Saving your cooking?" The tiger pouted cutely.
"It's the thought that counts, right?"
Suddenly, they turned questioning gazes on Kenny who had just entered the room with them. The phoenix quirked an eyebrow, but settled for moving away from the other teen, and propping himself up against the wall. His koi frowned, but politely addressed their teammate.
"What's up Chief?"
"Rei," the small brunette answered. "I just got off the phone with Mister Dickenson! He heard about Tala, and he plans to stop over in Russia before heading to America to see Judy. He says that if you want, he can deliver the brownies himself!"
"Cool," the neko replied, turning to his partner.
"I just have to pack up some things first, but once your stuff is done I'll bring it down to BBA headquarters okay?"
"I've got something too," Kai spoke up suddenly, reaching into his pocket. "Here, have him give this to Tala as well." Reaching out, Kenny grasped the crisp white envelope with a nod.
"Will do!"
Tala jerked forward as he sneezed again, reaching for one of the tissues strewn about his comforter. None of the guys would let him get out of bed unless it was necessary, and frankly, it was pissing him off.
Blowing his nose, he threw it on the floor once he was finished. On top of being ordered to intimidate a rock for the past few days, the Wolf master also had to deal with a sore throat, constant nausea and unforgiving fevers. It was so frustratingly pitiful he was nearly ready to escape out the window using his bed sheets as a rope.
And he probably would have done just that too, if Bryan hadn't walked in with a glass of juice and some of the capsules the doctor had, no doubt, left for him. Groaning, he turned over, burying his head in his pillow.
"You'll never get better if you keep this up."
"Fuck off," he sniffed, not able to protest when the larger teen sat him up again by the shoulders.
"Just take them," he ordered, thrusting the pills into the red head's palm. "Cause I'm not leaving until you do." Glaring at his teammate, Tala swallowed them defiantly, with a gulp of juice.
"Happy?"
"As I'm ever gonna be," the other joked, standing to leave. He set the glass back down on the bedside table, ducking instinctively as the tissue box was thrown at his head; it had been like this since day one. Chuckling quietly, he picked up the nearly empty object, and placed it next to the glass.
"Anyway, get some rest, Mr. Dickenson is stopping by tomorrow." The pale teen blinked in surprise.
"Why?"
"I think it had something to do with Boris and Voltaire's disappearance."
"Oh joy," he muttered as the other Russian left. For a moment he glared at the door, finally deciding that he'd had enough rest to last him the rest of his life. Reaching beneath his pillows, he pulled his laptop out, looking through various files out of sheer boredom. Suddenly, a small bell, quite literally, rang him back to reality.
Entering the program, he found a message waiting for him. He smiled...it was from Kai.
I heard the news. So, the great Tala Ivanov has the flu? Interesting. I always thought the common cold would be your downfall.
Rolling his eyes, the older Russian gave a quick response.
Thanks. That really makes me feel better, you know?
Not what I was going for but...if you insist.
Shove it Hiwatari. I don't think you have the slightest clue what it's like to have Bryan, Ian and Spencer waiting on you hand and foot. I haven't moved for three days because I've learned from experience that they will make sure that I won't move again….EVER again.
I would laugh, but I believe you. So, despite it all how is everything?
You mean without Boris and Voltaire? Okay I guess. It's refreshing to wake up whenever we feel like it, but at the same time it's weird.
I think I understand.
What I mean is, all of us know that they aren't really gone. So I guess we're just kinda waiting for them to find us again.
What is that supposed to mean?
Not what you think. He sighed before continuing. It's not like we want them to show up again...but I can't shake the feeling that we're---I don't know really.
Being watched?
Tala frowned, glancing around the room until his electric blue eyes fell to the window.
In a way, yes.
Ever since Mr. D told me about this...
The sentence trailed off, and the redhead shuddered, his eyes flicking towards the window again. Shaking his head, he growled, frustrated.
What?
I've been looking over my shoulder a lot.
You too huh? Well, keep it up.
I'm just afraid that I'm going to turn around and he's going to be standing right there. I'm afraid, Tala...
Don't be. It's part of the sick little game he's playing.
I know.
Anyway, how's everything in Japan? He smirked, practically seeing Kai as he rolled his eyes in annoyance.
Tyson needs a lobotomy, Max needs to watch his sugar-intake, Kenny still needs a life, and Hillary needs to stop trying to help out around the house. Hell in a nutshell.
The older Russian laughed quietly to himself as he read the response, knowing that the other was probably smirking as well.
Sounds like fun.
Only you could have fun in Hell.
Yeah well, what about the kitten? Seems like he's on your good side.
He's my boyfriend.
Tala blinked, not sure whether the blunt reply was the truth or not. Quirking an eyebrow, he continued.
When did this happen?
A few weeks ago. He made me help him bake you some brownies to make you feel better.
Like them.
You cook?
He does.
You didn't answer my question.
There was a long pause, but the response finally blinked into the small message box. The Wolf master grinned.
Yes.
Gee Kai, how sweet of you!
Yeah well, Mr. D is bringing them over when he comes to see you tomorrow so, enjoy. Smart-ass.
Bryan told me he was coming, I think. Actually, Bryan also told me to sleep but, did I listen?
Obviously not. But you should, so I'm going to get going.
Thanks for your sympathy.
Talk to you later Tala.
Reluctantly, the pale teen shut his laptop, sliding it back beneath his pillows. He sat for a long time, just staring out the window, but as the silence set in he admitted defeat, lying back down in his bed to get some more sleep.
"Well," he yawned, shutting his eyes. "It can't get much worse, can it?"
…
A/N: Well there you have it! Hope you like it, and you guys know the drill, I'll answer any important questions in the chapter following the one you reviewed, and as always your reviews are important, but flames don't sit well with me. Although all of your opinions are respected, flames do burn, just keep that in mind...However, constructive criticism is always welcomed!
