I know, I know, I'm back again. I just can't restrain myself, I've got a sudden burst of inspiration. This was a silly little thing I came up with just a short while ago, and hopefully it'll be as good as it was in my head.
Warnings; Bryan.
Pairings; Ray x Bryan is the main pairing.
Disclaimer; What do you think?
Other; Original names for all. Don't know it? Google it.
Chapter One
Friend and Foe
''Why is it always raining when we take the bus?''
The raven haired man looked displeased at the sky, large and vast as its leaded colour stretched out before them. Endless herds of black clouds, like large sheep, pouring rain over them as if they were crying.
''Hn.''
His stoic, silent friend had his eyes somewhere else, his lips a taut line as he stared at the end of the road. His hair was already wet and plastered against his skin, a mask of blue and grey which made the paleness of his face look almost eerie in the grey afternoon.
Rei zipped his coat closed all the way up, so that the collar shielded his neck from the cold droplets of rain. He didn't mind the weather, in fact he found it peaceful. His Russian comrade on the other hand, didn't look too happy. Not that he ever really did, come rain or come shine, but today seemed to be especially bad towards him.
Kai kept glancing menacingly at his wrist watch, demanding the minutes go faster even though they ignored him, instead seeming to go even slower. The bus they were waiting for was ten minutes late already, which wasn't half as annoying as it was tiresome. He would have preferred to take the car, but of course not.
Takao just had to borrow it the night before because, against all logic, there was one girl in the world who didn't find his gluttony and sloth appalling. Of course Takao hadn't asked before borrowing it. Of course Takao couldn't drive. Of course he had crashed the car right into a tree. Of course, Kai had to pay for the reparation.
He wasn't quite sure how the kid did it, but when Kai had tried to strangle him Takao had run like he had never run before.
So, there they were. Two famous sportsmen, at a bus stop in the middle of nowhere, in the pouring rain. All for the sake of going to a banquet Mr. Dickinson had, quite mercilessly, made them go to. Kai didn't like the idea of travelling by bus at all, Rei was just happy to get out of the dojo for a while.
''Hey, there it is!''
Kai had already spotted the vehicle, and wasn't at all surprised or joyful about Rei's statement. For a moment he even thought the Chinese looked a little disappointed. He couldn't quite understand why, but Kai suspected the Tiger even liked the rain. He wouldn't have been surprised if he would have suggested they walk into town. Even though it was an hour away by bus.
To add a perfect touch to a perfect day, the bus halted in the middle of one very large, very deep puddle of water. A small wave of dirty water and mud flew against them splashing relentlessly and unforgiving, leaving their clothes drenched and soiled.
Kai sighed. He really hated communal transport.
X
What a fucking waste of time. Boris muttered vehemently as he stood in the far corner of the room, throwing death glares at everyone who dared pass his way. His clothes were itching, the food was cold and his drink tasted like cow bile. The whole banquet like some old, sad, never ending movie in black and white which just refused to die even after the projector had burst into flames.
He had absolutely no idea why he was even there at all. A handsome eighteen-year-old like him surely could have come up with something better to spend his night with than this. An old party thrown together by sponsors and Somebodies, hosting all the famous Beyblade faces under one single roof. Yuriy must have been either half insane or really drunk to even consider accepting the invitation.
Of course the Wolf claimed he had been none of the sort. Boris didn't really care. He hated his friend anyway for dragging him along. Now what was that thing he had used again? Oh, yeah, blackmailing. What a lovely, lovely man Yuriy was. The next time he caught side of the flaming red hair Boris would make sure to set it on fire.
Snarling, the Falcon decided the least he could do was find some real booze to drink. The punch was lukewarm and smelled like piss, a nasty colour dominating it. He didn't really know where to look, but he was certain there had to be some sort of bar someplace. After all, if the Big Shots were there, they usually brought the whiskey and cognac.
Pushing his way through the crowd of suits and blazers, pumps and gowns his mood was twice as shitty when he finally got to the middle of the room. By the fourth foot he had trampled and the third stomach he had 'accidentally' elbowed, the Russian had already come up with several ways to torture and kill people with the plastic spoon stuck between his gritted teeth.
His thoughts dissolved abruptly when he, as luck would have it, quite so brusquely bumped into a person.
The person made a slightly startled noise, and Boris was just about to grunt something very angry at him before he stopped himself. For the first time in his relatively short life, he found himself somewhat mesmerized. Two golden eyes gleaming mysteriously at him in the light of the crystal chandeliers, depths that held secrets of ferocity that was rare to find around these days.
Boris blinked, angry that he had gotten off his track but yet when he tried to speak, his tongue tangled itself into a knot and left him silent. Gaping oddly, before doing the only thing he could do, which was give the man a solid, hateful glare. Rei only raised an incredulous eyebrow at him, a little dumbstruck himself at the look he was given.
''Boris?''
''For fucks sake''
''People usually call me Rei''
Boris growled, slapping himself in the face with a loud grunt as he bitterly damned the entire world. Of all the people he could have bumped into, it just had to be the one he had tried to kill. What a nice little touch to his failed night.
''Oh! Oh no!''
Boris cracked an eye open to peak through his fingers at Rei's outburst. The man looked slightly nervous, or perhaps guilty, over what the Falcon didn't know. The less sense it made to him when the man started wiping his shirt with a napkin.
''What are you doing?''
''You've got punch all over! Shit, it's really sunk in…''
''Fuck, Kon! Can't you do anything right?''
Rei glared thinly at him, and like a snake his hand gripped the Russian's collar, forcefully dragging him closer.
''Shut up or it's gonna stain''
Boris was just about to answer, before he was yanked forward and through another crowd of guests. For being so lithe the Chinese was surprisingly strong, fast in his steps and Boris couldn't focus enough on breaking free as he had to concentrate not to trip and hit his head on the marbled floor.
Chattering voices took no notice of them, guests stepping aside as they went. Rei had no real idea of where they were supposed to go, or just what he would do to save the shirt when they got there. But he kept a brave face, the glint in his eyes lying that he knew exactly what to do, as he dragged Boris faster and away from the people.
Rei couldn't say he liked Boris. Well, he could but then he would be lying. He didn't hate the man, far from it. Actually he had tried to befriend him, since Boris seemed to be the last of the Russians to really warm up to them. It was like the Moscow winter had corroded his very marrow, refusing to let go of his hatred even when his friends did.
Yuriy wasn't the cuddliest of people, but at least you could have a civilized conversation with him. And Kai, well he was Rei's best friend. Even though the cold hearted Phoenix was a bastard in everyone's eyes, Rei was eternally grateful to have him there. But in the end, the one tough nut to crack, the one who would always look at him as if they were still back at that match, was Boris.
Rei didn't know what made the man so hateful, but it sure made him feel uncomfortable. He tried to keep away from the Falcon when possible, but every now and then he didn't think it would hurt to be nice to each other. Boris didn't, as usual, share this opinion and instead stuck to his theory that every human was an idiot and a backstabber and he would not, for one second, trust any of them. Hell, sometimes he even had a hard time trusting his own friends.
He didn't have much time to glare holes into the back of the Tiger's head though, as soon they had reached the second floor. Too deep in his scheming Boris hadn't noticed when they stumbled up the long staircase, even less had he noticed the large, wooden doors that Rei was heading for.
''It never struck you that they're probably lock – ''
He didn't have time to finish his sentence as they had crossed the threshold. The doors swung close behind them, all the noise from the party choked and stifled, the only thing reaching them now was the breathing of one another. Silence made the room look sort of mysterious, a large king size bed and long, velvet curtains hanging by the largest windows Boris had ever seen.
The midnight blue sky with the pale moon shining through, bathing the room in a peculiar, silver glow. It was creepy, in a way, because it felt like they had just fallen into some bad movie. Everything they needed now was an old grandfather clock.
Ding, ding, dong.
Oh, there it was. Of course. His life wasn't fucked up as it was, he just had to suffer through a very cliché night at a very cliché house too. Why didn't he see that coming?
''Take off your shirt''
Probably for the same reason he didn't see that coming, either.
''What?''
Rei gave him a tired look, not at all in the mood to play games.
''Fine, I'll do it''
Boris, alarmed now, grabbed the man before he had the chance to reach the shirt's buttons. Rei gave him a meaning stare, but Boris simply glared at him.
''Don't you fucking dare!''
''Stop being such a child!''
''A child?! You're the one who's trying to molest me!''
Rei growled, backing away from him with a shake of his head.
''What? What?!''
Rei didn't answer him, massaging his temple as a headache had begun to form. All the while Boris watched him cautiously, fists clenched in case he would have to defend himself. But Rei had no intentions of even trying to attack him. Instead he walked over to the nearest of the obscenely large windows, and with a little more effort than necessary, flung it open.
Cool, chilling night breezes flowed into the room, leaving goose bumps across their skin. The fresh smell of lavender and exhaust fumes rose against the sky, all the twinkling little stars sparkling shamelessly in the dark abyss.
''If you put your shirt here the draft will dry it.'' He didn't turn around, golden eyes fixated on the diamonds above. ''You could borrow my jacket meanwhile''
Boris suddenly felt a little stupid. Which soon turned into anger, and he found his patience with the other Blader had been running on empty the whole night. At first he had been disgusted with him, standing in the same room with a man who wanted him to get undressed was not Boris' idea of a great night out. Now he was just frustrated, turning around as he began to take the shirt off.
''Look and you're dead, Kon'' he warned darkly.
Rei just scoffed. Not that he had to turn around, he could see the pale Russian's reflection in the window glass. Snow white skin stretched over strong muscles, moonlight cascading down his back like water, reflecting in his grey hair and for a moment the man looked slightly…
''Give me the jacket, it's fucking freezing!''
Boris' barking voice drew him out of his thoughts, but before he could react to it a large, wet shirt fell harshly onto his face. Rei muttered, trying his best to unbutton his jacket when his vision field was covered in white. But in some odd way he managed to get it off, throwing it into random direction of the room.
Boris caught it effortlessly, squeezing into the clothing, about three sizes too small for his build. He had to try hard in order to button it, but gave up when he had reached the last three. Rei tapped his fingers against the wall, shirt still firmly placed in his face as it dripped punch on his shoes.
''You done yet?''
He took the growl as a 'yes', finally taking the shirt off his face and flinging it over the window pane. Making sure it was secure and wouldn't fly off into the night like a large, stained, white bat made of 100 percent cotton, he turned around, a Cheshire grin on his lips.
''It suits you''
He gave the other a look of amusement, the black jacket clearly tight on the Russian who was not looking happy at all. Boris snarled.
''Shut up.''
X
When morning fell on the dojo Hiromi had the shock of her life. Up early as always, she had just begun brushing her teeth and put on some tea when someone had knocked on the door. The rest of the household had been sound asleep, the clock being no more than six in the morning. She would much have preferred to stay in bed, but figured she should try to eat something before Takao awoke to ravage the fridge.
Dragging her way over to the door, pink slippers and bath robe in all their glory, she let out a loud yawn and opened it. Then she let out a loud shriek.
Boris just glared at her, ears ringing furiously at her cry. She quickly covered her mouth, staring in shock at him as if she wasn't sure he was really there. Perhaps she was still a bit tipsy from the welcoming drinks, or maybe she was still dreaming. Whatever it was it couldn't be who she thought it was, standing at the door. It just wasn't possible.
''Where's Kon?''
Hiromi blinked, gaping as to say something but remained silent. Trying to melt the shock of the mirage of Boris at their doorway, a mirage the even spoke to her, at six in the morning was just too much to ask of a person who hadn't had her morning tea yet.
''Fine. Be useless. Give this to him when you – ''
''Boris?''
Rei's head had appeared at the doorway, tired and still in his pyjamas with a load yawn to boot. Hiromi was gaping even wider now, looking at Rei, then at Boris and back at Rei again. The Tiger looked questioningly at her, but the woman just shook her head.
''I'll be in the kitchen'' she said, before soundlessly leaving them.
Rei's suspicion rose sky high and he immediately turned to stare at Boris.
''What did you do?''
''Nothing! I knocked on the door!''
Rei nodded, not the slightest convinced.
''Uh-huh. Then what?''
Boris just snarled, throwing something at him with blunt disregard of whether he hit the man or not. Rei grabbed the flying object by reflex, seeing now that it was his jacket.
''Hey, you brought it back!''
''It wasn't much to steal''
Rei smiled, still not fully awake but thankful none the less.
''I was actually planning to swing by and get it today''
''Well, lucky me! Now you don't have to.''
Boris turned to leave, hands gruffly in his pockets and a look of utter dislike on his face, glaring with hostility at the road as he began to walk. Rei stood watching the man leave, leaning against the doorway with a slight smile tugging at his lips.
Maybe the maniac wasn't that bad after all.
X
Yuriy watched his comrade silently as he, not so silently, wolfed down his lunch. The Falcon pretended not to notice him, flipping through a magazine he wasn't all that interested in while he waited for his coffee to cool. The minutes passed between them, minutes under which the aqua blue never let go of its target.
He had noticed the brute having a slight change of mood during the past days. It wasn't all that detectable, one would have to be Kai to notice such a small change. But Yuriy wasn't all that bad at detecting things either, in fact he was a master at analysing, picking people apart with his cold stare before piecing them together in reverse order again.
And Boris, well, he wasn't exactly rocket science. Either he was extremely irritated, or extremely mad. If he didn't make sarcastic comments, he made rude insults. Which was the main change Yuriy had noticed. Lately, the man had been abnormally quiet. Sure he had snarled a little here and swore a little there, but he couldn't remember the last time a whole day went without Boris making someone cry.
This wouldn't do. They weren't in Japan for no reason, staying at a shitty hotel in a district where no one spoke a word of English. A tournament was coming up, and a quite important one as well. It wasn't spoken of much in the Beyblading circuits, but it was common knowledge that the older a player got, the less he or she got to play. After all, it was a youth sport, and sponsors wouldn't spend millions of dollars on a person who was supposed to sit in a booth, working like any other decent person.
It didn't help if you were extremely good at your sport. A champion could stay a little longer, but in the end, no matter how tough you were every career had to end. And that was why this tournament was so important. It was probably one of the last they would ever attend, and Yuriy could not afford to lose it on the behalf of one of his teammates acting weird.
''I know I'm good looking, but if you don't stop staring I'll thrust that fork into your eyes''
Boris didn't look up, but his tone indicated that he was nothing but serious. Yuriy growled, putting down his fork as he leaned against the table to stare more intensely now.
''Are you on drugs?''
Boris couldn't really believe his ears.
''What?''
But Yuriy was serious. The look in his eyes scarily resembling the one of a parent grilling its child for coming home late. The Anger Beast inside of Boris roared, woken from its slumber and in a very grumpy mood.
''You've been acting weird lately'' Yuriy pointed at him. ''What's going on?''
''What are you, my mother?''
''No, I'm your team leader and if you've forgotten, we have a tournament coming up!''
Boris snarled, his coffee ice cold now. He crossed his arms to glare bitterly at the redhead, glare thin and unforgiving. He couldn't care less about a stupid tournament. The only reason he ever began Beyblading was because of the Abbey. And that was all in the past now, so why should he even bother trying? He wasn't even allowed to physically hurt people in a match anymore. The BBA had totally sucked all the fun out of the game.
''I don't care! We're going to be yesterday's news soon enough anyway!''
Yuriy slammed his fist against the table, half standing now as he leaned in to glare threateningly at the other. Boris rose to glare back, gritting his teet like an angry guard dog.
''If you want to be an asshole, then fine, but don't drag the team down with you!''
''Since I'm not wanted here anyway it doesn't really matter, does it?!''
''Your attitude is what isn't welcome here, Boris! Shape up or get out!'''
Boris let out a furious roar as he swept the plate of food off the table. The porcelain made a loud, complaining noise as it flew through the air, meat and rice splattering all over the carpet as the plate crashed right into the wall. Yuriy didn't tear his eyes away, drilling his anger and frustration into the other.
''Like I'd want to stay with a bunch of morons!'' Boris yelled, throwing the cup to the floor as a final act of anger before he, with no seconds to spare, brushed past Yuriy and out of the room. ''Don't come crying back to me when you lose, you dipshit!''
Slamming the door shut behind him, Boris was finally gone.
Yuriy stood snarling, glaring at the empty space left behind as the silence laughed haughtily at him. Digging his nails into the wood, scraping upp claw like lines in the surface, he couldn't remember when he had last been so angry. It was as if everyone he knew was a backstabbing bastard, everyone leaving when the moment seemed suiting.
To add to his frustration, Ivan stuck his large nose in matters where it didn't belong. Waltzing into the room, he grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl on the counter, taking a large, loudly bite. Chewing obnoxiously, he leaned casually against the counter, giving Yuriy a bemused look.
''You know'' he said, mouth full of apple. ''I think ol' Boris has found a ladyfriend.''
Yuriy sighed angrily. The world just wasn't sane anymore.
''Who in her right mind would even consider talking to him?''
Ivan shrugged carelessly.
''I dunno. Some dumb bastard, that's for sure.''
''Yeah'' Yuriy muttered. ''One damn dumb broad.''
X
Three weeks. Three weeks was all he had before the tournament would begin. Three weeks of excessive training brought on and supervised by Kai, three weeks of Takao's never ending moaning and Hiromi's unforgiving cooking. Three weeks before he had to answer the questions of the press, wondering just like the entire world why he had abandoned his team, again.
It was hard from time to time not to feel like the traitor everyone said he was. But then again, all of them were. At one point in a Beyblading career, the Blader had to decide what was more important. The team or victory? Sometimes it was harder to choose, but in the end it all came down to one thing. All anyone ever really wanted was victory.
But he hadn't forsaken his team. He was going to compete with the White Tiger X, he just didn't want to train with them. And Takao had an open spot in his dojo, and with the hotel prices being what they were he hadn't had the stupidity to decline. And despite their quarrels, they were friends.
Max was staying with the All Starz, and Takao had stuck with Hiromi, he couldn't do much else since she was as hard to get rid of as a tick. Kai was merely offering to help them train, he himself not interested in the tournament at all. Rei had asked him why countless of times, but the Russian had only smirked, like he had much bigger plans in mind.
The curiosity was nearly killing him, but Rei guessed he would find out eventually. If he liked that or not was just for time to decide. He had much bigger problems at hand to deal with anyway. One of which was that his Blade refused to do as he wanted it to. He didn't know why, but he had gotten the feeling that Byakko had been in a foul mood recently.
Recently as in the past six months.
Rei sighed, mud splashing up at him as the Blade spinned by him, angrily circling around and around in displeasure, as if it tried to tell him something. The Chinese just shook his head with a low mutter, trying to understand what was wrong. But Byakko seemed to have a pretty good guess, twirling around much fiercer now, ripping up Takao's grandfather's lawn like the bit beast tried to dig its way through the earth.
Rei turned to look after it as it made a bold u-turn, racing through, cutting everything in its way in two. He watched it as it sped off like a light in the distance, before he heard a very, very angry roar. Rei wasn't too sure, but he had a feeling he knew who it was.
''Watch where you aim that fucking thing!''
Yeah, it was Boris all right. Rei could recognize that voice anywhere. He crossed his arms as he tried to keep the amusement from his face when the man came stumbling through the bushes, mud all over his shoes, angrily clutching something.
He gave Rei a malevolent glare, grunting as he stretched out the closed fist. Rei was a bit surprised that the man didn't try to assault him.
''What's that?''
''It's your fucking Blade. Are you trying to kill me?''
''Now, I think that's your job.''
Rei didn't know why he said it, wasn't even sure what he meant by it. Boris didn't seem to know either, as his flustered look was torn mercilessly between being furious or satisfied. He settled with just being irritated, unclasping his hand to show the Blade was actually there. Rei looked down, but immediately wished he hadn't.
''What did you do to it?!''
There, in the madman's hand, was Byakko. Every piece of it. Totally mangled and crushed, split into many little pieces the only thing remotely whole was the bit beast itself, gleaming angrily as if it was mad at them. Boris shrugged indifferently, waiting for Rei to grab it so he could get away from there.
''I didn't do anything. You launched it at me when I was innocently taking a walk.''
''I have a hard time imagining you doing anything innocent. Are you made of metal or what?''
''No.''
''Byakko's completely obliterated!''
''Must be made in Taiwan, then.''
Rei groaned, collecting the remnants of his Blade with a desperate grimace. It was, without doubt, beyond saving and even if he would be able to repair it, it would take far more time than three weeks. Rei bit his lip. He was fucked.
''Why were you walking by here anyway? Aren't you staying at that hotel?''
Boris scoffed.
''Not really, no. Besides, this is on the way to the airport''
Rei raised a questioning eyebrow, for a moment forgetting his Blade tragedy as he studied the odd grimace on the Russian's face.
''Why are you going to the airport?''
''To sell bread.''
''Really?''
''No, you moron! Why do you think I'm going to the airport?''
Rei wondered if the Russian was stalking him. They had, in the past week since their awkward encounter at the banquet, had the bad luck of bumping into each other. It wasn't anything big, and it was hard not bumping into another Blader when they had all gathered in the same town to compete at the same tournament, but Boris had seemed to run into him more times than the others.
It was that time at the bus stop, then another at the dry cleaners, the grocery store, a local Beyblade-shop and yet again at the dry cleaners. Boris had been rude and mostly ignored him, but Rei always got the feeling that those blue eyes stared at him when he wasn't looking. Perhaps that was why he found he hadn't been able to concentrate much during the last week. Those ice cold eyes always in the back of his mind, unnerving and unsettling him.
And now those eyes were staring at him again.
''What about the tournament?''
''Fuck the tournament. You know as well as I do we're fucked anyway.''
''Speak for yourself.''
Boris snarled, shooting a glare as if firing a gun.
''You know I'm right. We're getting older and by the end of this year, I bet you'll lose your sponsor.''
Rei wanted to argue, wanted to tell Boris he was a pessimistic whiny brat but he didn't. Because deep down, Rei knew he was right. He had had the same thought for months. Everyone had. They just didn't say it out loud. No one wanted to admit that they were stars on the brink of falling, soon to be swallowed by oblivion.
All except Boris who served the truth on a silver plate.
''So that's it? You're going home?''
''What else would I do? Stay in Japan?''
Rei shrugged. He wasn't sure why, but a part of him didn't want the Russian to leave. He had made a vow a long time ago that he would give everyone a second chance. Boris was no exception, and maybe in a way Rei recognized his point of view. They were both two strangers in a faraway country they weren't that used to, performing a sport they knew was pointless in the long run. The only difference was that Rei actually had a soft side.
''The least you could do is take my Blade to the shop.''
''You won't get it done before the tournament anyway.''
''And I bet your ticket isn't valid until afterwards.''
Boris glared. Damn it, the kid was right. He didn't have any money to spend and Yuriy, the bastard, had booked tickets impossible to reschedule. Maybe the redhead suspected they would try to escape, maybe the airline was a group of no good idiots. Boris knew he wouldn't be able to get home before the tournament was over, but he had ignored that fact. Decided to improvise, sneak onboard if he had to. Rob someone, anything just to get out of there.
But the longer he stared into the golden eyes of his rival Boris knew that it was a plan destined to fail. He swore loudly, kicking the dirt angrily as if it would make anything better. He glared hatefully at Rei, as if the man was responsible for everything. Rei just smiled at him, which only made the Russian's blood boil. But eventually, he gave in.
''Fine''