Wow, thanks to everyone who reviewed! I really appreciate it. I wrote you guys a nice long chapter, I hope its up to par!

Lyson: Thanks so much for reviewing, I hope I can meet your expectations :

Ihaveananimeaddiction: Don't worry, he'll be fine. I do intend to torture him a bit in this fic though x3

pinball62: Thanks! I'll do my best to update regularly.

GabZ: Haha, don't worry, I'm a personal fan of Tala-torture too. Details on the way!

blazingfire03: Thank you! -blush- I'm glad you liked it so much! Well, I'm not sure what pairing I'll use... This will probably turn out to be some weird love

square thing between Kai, Bryan, Rei/Tyson (I haven't decided yet),

and of course, our favorite redhead. Who Tala will end up with in the

end might come down to what my reviewers have to say :3

tala-fangirl: Thanks for reviewing, I promise to keep the chapters coming

Dark Fantasy01: Thanks so much for reviewing! Again, I'll do my best to update often.

Once again, thank you to everyone who

reviewed!

Disclaimer: Nope, not mine. I don't own Beyblade. Wish I did though x)

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"I need to speak to Kai."

"Yeah sure...Wait, wha-? Bryan?!"

The thin lips curved into a slow smirk, and the smooth voice pushed past them once more...And... Was that a chuckle?

"Its nice to know I've made an impression. But seriously Tyson, I need to speak with Kai."

The Russian reclined back into the chair, hearing the cheap plastic groan beneath his weight. He hated hospitals, waiting rooms especially. Something in him was powerfully

repulsed by the stark, pained, sterile smell of the place... But for Tala, he could manage.

The redhead had pulled through just fine, as expected. Bryan knew he would want to see him soon- he could almost feel his friend's anxiety. But for the moment, Tala had Ian, who was no doubt lecturing him, and apologizing, and crying...

The midget was a general train wreck in these situations.

And as much as Bryan would've liked to join him- this was more important.

He was, with this phone call, securing the redhead's future.

He frowned at the drawn out silence, and it was an expression that carried out into his voice "Tyson.I'm still here."

"Err, Kai...He can't come to the phone right noww..."

"Kinomiya, if you hang up, I swear to god, I'll make you regret it." the line was delivered coolly, with the grace and poise of a man who had shed blood. And

even though he was a thousand miles away, the threat had the desired

effect.

The voice on the other end went silent- though it was a different kind of silence, and Bryan knew he had gotten his way.

Muffled voices on the other end, an annoyed grunt----

"Kai speaking. Who is this?"

The lilac haired blader's face hardened, a tightness settling about the corner's of his mouth.

"Hello?"

Bryan wasn't going to pretend.

The familiar, deep voice had struck a cord in him, a memory... A vague pang of bitteress anger, and maybe even wistfulness, resounded in his chest, and it was a moment more before he spoke.

"Kai... It's been awhile."

Again, silence on the other end.

A different type of silence- and this time, Bryan didn't know what to make of it

"Bry..."

The falcon bristled thoroughly, and a taught feeling of tickling rage drove lines to settle upon the once impassive brow. How dare he call him by that name? That name which Tala had given him so light-heartedly, so lovingly... That name by which only his closest friend's called him.

Kai should've known better.

Stiff,and more than a little unsure, the bluenette continued: "What do you want?" What should've been a demand was soft-spoken, wispy... Kai sounded tired. Really tired.

It became clear to the lilac haired blader that Kai wanted nothing to do with them. Not because he no longer cared- but because now Bryan, Tala, and Ian- the people who

had once been his family, were now synonymous with pain, and the trauma he had experienced. They reminded him of the abbey- that heartless place, that robbed him of more than just his childhood.

But Bryan made no allowance for this.

And instead of feeling sympathy, he found himself growing angrier.

He was possessed for a moment by the driving want to inflict pain. He wanted to let Kai know what he had done. He wanted Kai to know that it had been in his absence that Tala had been raped- not once, not twice, but for almost seven years. Bryan wanted to tell him how Tala had survived the abbey for him- how he had wanted to make it, if only to see him again.

But where was he now? Kai was in Japan, with his new team, with his new friends... And Tala was in the hospital. With doctors who didn't really care, looking small against

the white clinic sheets... With bandaged wrists, and sad blue eyes.

Disgust choked at Bryan's throat and set his eyes blazing. It was for Kai that Tala had pulled through- not for him. The mere thought of Kai had become a comfort to the

red head, even when the bluenette couldn't be bothered to call... But he, Bryan, was there holding his hand every day, mopping away the drenching tears from that beautiful face... Whispering sweet comforts...

It was for him, Bryan, that these affections should've been directed towards- not Kai.

And that's what really stung.

"D'you know...We almost lost Tala last night Kai."

"What...What do you mean?"

"He tried to kill himself Kai."

And choking silence. He could feel the shock, the regret, the guilt.

And it made Bryan smile.

"Why would... Why would he do that?" Kai's voice faltered, though was devoid of emotion.

"Do you really have to ask? I think you know Kai."

"You're saying that this was my fault?"

And that son of a bitch had the nerve to sound angry.

Bryan's face hardened.

"I haven't seen you guys in months, how could this have been my fault?" Kai hissed.

"That's just it Kai. You haven't been around. You haven't even had the decency to call, to check in. You've been selfish Kai... D'you know what they did to him back there?"

There was stiff quiet and Bryan took the moment to compose himself. There was a tightness, a choking in his throat.. Were his eyes wet? Halting fingers reached up to rub

away the gathering tears.

What a mess.

"You wouldn't have called to tell me this if you didn't want something Bryan. What do you want?" and this time, the question was hard, because Kai was hurting.

"I've already bought him a plane

ticket-"

"To Japan?"

"-Now he just needs somewhere to stay. Thought you'd be the perfect candidate."

"Bryan, we're training... I can't babysit him. Besides, he needs professional help-"

"No Kai. He needs you."

Painful silence. Bryan held his breath.

"...When is he due to arrive?"

Bryan exhaled.

There.

He'd done it.

It would be a month before he could see the redhead again. It would be a month without his soft warmth, his lovingly home-cooked and often burnt dinners, a month without tears, and month without his sailing laughter...

A whole month.

And the loneliness that settled in Bryan's heart was indescribable.

Hiwatari, you better take good care of him.

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Tala's POV

I made Bryan promise to write to me. Not e-mails. But hand written letters.

Things always look more meaningful when they're hand written, you know? I'll miss them. Bryan, and Ian...

And god, do I miss Spencer...

But Spencer I can never see again.

Spring in Japan is lovely... Its a real spring here. In Russia, back home, I know that it is still cold, and people are still wearing coats. The snow is being cleared, and people are assessing the winter-damaged earth... But here, its just spring. There are cherry-blossoms, and those pretty, petti-coat like flowers hand like fragrant sugary tufts from every tree.

Russia is still recovering, and Japan is in bloom.

I pull the withering cigg from my lips, and watched the smoke-rings bloom from my lips.

Supposedly, I quit a long time ago. But what Bryan doesn't know wont hurt him.

"Excuse me sir, but there's no smoking in the airport."

I look up, my eyes focusing on the stewardess who was speaking to me, and I shift under her reprimanding touch. I glare at the polished hand on my shoulder, and she gestures towards the overhanging sign. So there's no way to claim that I

didn't know...

My other option? To come off as a total bitch.

"I can read, thank you."

"Well then, could you please-"

"The airport's under construction... No?"

"Um , yes sir, but that's besides the point."

Do you know who the new hall will be named after? Do you know who's funding you're expansion?"

"A man by the name of Hiwatari..."Now she looks completely puzzled, and I straighten

myself.

I love winning.

"That's right. I watch the smoke issue from the end of my cigarette, and can't help but think how elegant it looked. The stewardess looked disgusted.

"Do you know who I'm visiting?"

"... Mr. Hiwatari?"

She looks like she's deflating in front of me.

" Right again. Goodness, you are bright one." I'm leering now. What can I say? I simply can't help myself...

"So, may I suggest that you leave me to my cigarette. I'll be out of your hair soon enough anyway."

Though Kai was supposed to pick me up from this dreadfully empty airport an hour ago..."

I hope he hasn't forgotten me.

Though this wouldn't be the first time.

I'm so eager for him that I can hardly bear it...

I'd forgotten how much I need him.

The woman is about to say something biting, I can tell because her pretty, make-up'ed face has a hard-edge to it... An ugliness that meanness always brings.

But a deep, familiar voice, and the important sound of shoes clicking against tiling cuts her off.

And its him.

I can scarcely believe my eyes.

He looks so strong, and it makes me want to cry. I stand up abruptly, shouldering my light pack, but when he says my name I still feel small.

"Tala, sorry I'm late... I thought you quit smoking..."

"I thought you knew me better."

How I haven't lost the ability to speak is beyond me...

And I don't mean to be so snappish, really I don't. Its just because I'm nervous. And he's statuesque, and he's perfect.

People really don't change, do they?

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Kai's POV

He doesn't look like someone who tried to kill himself, but his bandaged wrist insists that he did...

He looks so smooth... His ankles crossed, his knee-high slick leather boots smoothing over slender legs and skin-tight white jeans... His long torso clothed in a grey double breasted jacket...

He looks good.

And... Is his hair shorter?

Yes... It is. Soft red locks had been clipped into a short, pixie-cut. Rebellious vermilion drifts about his soft, pretty face, bangs brushing against his brow.

It suits him.

The pale bodice of a cigarette is held between his pink lips, and his clear, otherworldly-blue eyes meet me in a stare that gives him away.

Yea... I thought I knew him better too.

The stewardess excuses herself, looking embarrassed. I pay her no mind though.

...Because now Tala's hugging me, and my heart is aching. My god, I've been such an asshole.

My arms wrap around him, and re-familiarize themselves with the slenderness of his toro... I can feel soft fabric against my fingers, and I hug him to me like a rag

doll. He smells like cigarettes and winter... And, if it makes any

sense at all, he smells like cold.

I can feel him gasp my name over and over again, like a mantra, like I've saved his life. And I feel the hot tears soak my shirt.

Bryan, what were you thinking?

How can I possibly fix this?

"Tell me,

Do you see me as some kind of a shadow,

In the yawn of the evening?

Don't leave me to those,

Who would believe me,

When I sell them,

Kiss and tell them.

History is written by the winners,

Yea this history is written by the winners,

And I want my say."

TBC.

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Yay! Another chapter! The snippette of lyrics at the end is from the song "Natalie" by Bell x1.

Sooooz, tell me what you think, and thanks for reading :3