Disclaimer: Do not own Bryan, Tala, blah blah blah. Do own Bryan's sister though!

Enjoy!


CHAPTER TWO: ICE

Bryan had lain awake most of the night, thinking, remembering, worrying. His sister would blame him. He knew it. She would blame him for leaving her alone for so long. With a soft groan, he punched his pillow into a more comfortable shape and lay down again, restlessly shifting from time to time.

It had all started that day when he had left her alone.

Flashback

It was snowing heavily again. A younger Bryan tugged on a battered coat, making sure his beyblade and launcher were in his pocket, and turning around to face his sister. He smiled.

"I'll be back soon," he said gently. "Let's see if I can't squeeze a bit more cash out of my battles this time."

His sister looked at him wordlessly, but smiled back all the same, motioning with her hands for him to be careful. Bryan, practically fluent in sign language having had to deal with it ever since their parents were murdered in front of his sister's eyes, nodded.

"Don't worry. Have something hot when I get back!"

And he went out of the door, tugging it shut behind him.

It had always been like this; every minute of spare time he went into the park or the square, beyblading for money, making people pay a small sum if they lost, with the lure that if they won he would pay them. It was a good deal, but Bryan never lost.

Until that day.

Bryan couldn't believe it when it happened. One moment his beyblade was in the dish… the next moment it was in his hand.

"But how…" his face creased, and his heart plummeted. His sister would be disappointed. "I don't believe it." He whispered. Then, steeling himself to speak, he looked at the stranger in front of him. "How much do I owe you?"

"Nothing." He said. He smiled, bright blue eyes twinkling. "But you're a good blader. Come with me. I'll teach you things you'd never learn on your own, and with these methods you'll be a millionaire in no time!"

Completely unawares as to where this would be going, Bryan followed him. Followed him, and never returned home to his waiting sister, Liliana.

End Flashback

Bryan growled as he dozed, remembering that stranger. It had been Tala. Tala who had dangled that irresistible bait in front of his face, Tala who brought him here, to Valkov Abbey… but it had also been Tala who had been his friend and companion, Tala who carried his secret messages back to his sister when he found out he wasn't allowed to leave the grounds.

Those messages had never been answered.

Liliana would never understand exactly why he had left her.

She would never forgive him.

-----

Bryan was grumpy when he woke up the following morning, and heavy-eyed from bad sleep. Tala's bright 'good morning' seemed a mockery to him, and didn't reply. He kept surreptitiously glancing at his watch, waiting…waiting…

-----

When the summons for Bryan came, he had worn himself out worrying and mentally arguing. Tala accompanied him down to the lobby where his sister would be waiting. For once, the redhead had the sense to keep his mouth closed.

They descended the staircase to where the figure garbed in a black coat was waiting, her back to them.

There was a silence as the boys stopped a metre away from her.

"Liliana?" Bryan almost whispered. The girl turned around. Tala managed to keep his jaw from dropping. Liliana Ketchnikov was extremely pretty, with her pale, porcelain skin, delicate figure and silvery lavender hair. She had high cheek bones and a rosebud mouth that was now thin and pressed together…but her eyes. Her eyes were a steely silver-grey, and were alight with unveiled anger and bitter sadness.

"Liliana, I-"

The girl simply took one step forward, raised her hand and slapped him as hard as she could across the face. Bryan staggered, completely taken-aback, feeling something suspiciously like tears prickling his eyelids. Then he straightened up and looked at her.

"I deserved that." He said quietly. "I'm so sorry."

Liliana jutted her chin and glared at him, gesturing furiously with her pale, delicate hands. Even to Tala, the meaning was clear.

I'm not forgiving you.


OOoooh the tenseness. Review? Pretty please? Will post next chappy soon!

DerangedCatGirl