Disclaimer: Ok if you haven't gotten it by now, I'll say it again. I DO NOT OWN BEYBLADE.
Warning: This chapter contains suicidal thoughts and mentions of rape.
A/N: Ok so this chapter is pretty much when it all sinks in for Tala, so it's going to be a little on the dark and depressing side. (As if the rest of the story hasn't been so far) So please forgive me for all the angst. On with the story.
Chapter 3: A Living Hell
The next morning Tala woke up with evil sunbeams shining in his eyes. At first he felt kinda crappy and he couldn't figure out why, but then he remembered what happened the previous night. Everything that Kai did to him came rushing back, making him feel sick. He ran to the connecting bathroom, making it just in time to empty whatever contents that were still in his stomach from last nights meal into the toilet.
After several minutes of being sick, Tala managed to make his way to the sink to wash his face. He looked into the mirror as the water ran down his slightly bruised face, wondering if it was water he saw or his tears. How could Kai do that to him. They were friends. Weren't they?
Nothing made any sense. The Kai that Tala knew, would never hurt him. And would most defiantly never forcefully take away his innocence. The innocence he so strongly fought to protect from the moment he met the little red-head.
Stumbling into his room , Tala made his way to his bed. Once there he collapsed onto it. All he wanted to do was go to sleep and forget everything that happened within the past twenty-four hours.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door, and the young Chinese neko-jin stuck his head through the door. "Hey Tala, I just wanted to see if you were up yet. Breakfast will be done shortly, so if your hungry just come on down." Rei gave Tala a weak smile. He knew that something happened between Kai and Tala last night. Everyone did actually, but he had the best idea. When he walked into the sitting room the previous night he could smell the faint scent of sex coming of both boys. He had a feeling that he knew exactly what happened, but it wasn't his place to make assumptions or get involved incase he was wrong.
Tala nodded at Rei. "I'll be down in a bit." And with that he was left in the room alone again. Alone to think through things that he didn't really want to think through.
Giving a sigh he got out of bed and went to his dresser, to get his cloths for the day. He decided on a blue knit sweater, much like the one he used to wear under his orange and white jumper, and a loose pair of jeans.
He made his way down the stairs and toward the dinning room. On his way there he bumped into Kai, who acted like nothing had happened between them. They just walked into the dinning room side by side, without saying a word to each other.
Breakfast was an uncomfortable experience for everyone in the room. It was obvious that there was some sort of tension between Kai and Tala, and nobody wanted to be the one to send either over the edge.
Tala sat quietly, eating his eggs and toast. While Kai sat across the table from him, watching every move he made. Tala refused to make eye contact with anybody. He just kept his gaze on the food that he was eating. When he was done he excused himself from the table and walked out of the room, leaving everyone else to finish their meal.
The rest of the day went pretty much the same way as breakfast. While everyone else was doing, whatever it was they were doing, Tala sat quietly and made no attempt to talk with anyone.
It was like that when Bryan had asked him to battle. The battle had ended within minutes, Tala as the loser. And it had been that way when Rei asked him to help him make lunch. Needless to say that it took Rei an extra half hour to remake everything that Tala had burnt.
But here he was, in the kitchen again. Rei asked him to help him with the dinner. 'You'd think that idiot would have learned after this afternoon. I can't cook, but he seems so intent on having me burn the whole place down.'
Right now he was simultaneously making mashed potatoes, baked chicken, and corn on the cob, and things where not going well. His potatoes were chunky, the chicken burnt and the corn... Well the corn was currently over boiling out of the pot.
When he was finally able to get the situation under control Rei walked into the room, only to see the mess that the red-head had made. "Don't worry Tala. I'll clean this mess up later. Why don't you go get everybody and tell them dinners ready."
'Of course you'll clean the mess up.' Tala thought as he left the kitchen. 'Because you're the freaken domestic goddess.' He found everyone in the gym doing various workouts. "Dinner's done." With that one statement he turned and headed out of the room.
Everyone sat around the table as, for the second night in arow, Rei brought dinner out to the table. All attention was placed on the burnt chicken as it was sat on the table. Self consciously Tala slipped his burnt hand under the table, hoping that nobody would notice and realize that it was him who made the disaster before them.
Kai was the first one to eat anything, with the others staring frightened at their plates. He swallowed the mashed potatoes that where on his spoon, before letting his judgement pass. "Disgusting. Did you really make this Rei."
Tala slammed his hands on the table, ignoring the pain that came from slamming his burnt palm against the wood. It hurt that Kai would say something like that, when he tried so hard to do something right. It seemed like it was becoming a habit for Kai. Hurting him, that is. "Well I'm sorry you don't like the food Kai. But not all of us can be amazing cooks like Rei. I worked really hard on dinner, so I would appreciate it if you would just shut up and eat the damn food." Tala stormed out of the room, leaving everybody shocked. That was the most the petite boy had said all day. When everyone looked in Kai's direction, the duel haired boy just shrugged.
Bryan excused himself from the table and went to where he assumed Tala would be. He walked into the red-heads room without so much as knocking. "Hey Tala. What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Tala was sitting on his bed, arms and legs wrapped around his favorite pillow. "I just want to be left alone right now."
"Liar. I know you Tala. You're not the type to just blow up on people like that. Now really, what's up?"
"I said nothing. Kai just pisses me off is all. He never takes anybodies feelings into consideration. I tried really hard to make dinner and he just... just. God he is such a bastard." Tala threw his pillow, barely missing Bryan's head.
"Listen Tal, you need to unwind a bit. We where all thinking about going to a club tonight. You should come with us. I think it will do you some good to get out of this place."
Looking at his long time friend, Tala couldn't help but concede to his wishes. "Ok. I'll go." Though he agreed to go he wasn't all that excited about it.
After Bryan told Tala when he should be ready by he left, closing the door on the way out.
ONE HOUR LATER
Everyone was waiting for Tala by the front door. When they finally heard him coming down the stairs, they all looked up to see him. He was wearing a pair of tight fitting leather paints that rode low on his hips. His top was a simple black tank that stopped right above his navel. It was an outfit that he would have usually looked great on him, but not tonight.
His usually pale and translucent skin looked sickly pale, and there was a bruise on his hip that was halfway covered by his pants. There where bags under his eyes that made him just looked sick.
Bryan was the first to approach him and see if he was ok. All he got for his effort though was a tired sigh. It appeared that the wall that Tala let down earlier when they where alone, was back up again.
Since the club they were going to was only a short distance away they al decided that they were going to walk. When they where about a block and a half away from Kai's mansion, Tala distractedly stepped into the street intending to cross it. He hadn't noticed the car that was speeding towards him until he heard the horn beeping at him. Tala looked up and had headlights shining in his eyes. He made the choice not to move. Maybe if the car hit him it would kill him and everything would be ok.
He was disappointed though when he felt something knock into him other then the car. When he came back to his senses he realized that he was laying in the middle of the road with Bryan on top of him. "Tala are you ok. What were you thinking you could have been killed."
Bryan must have pushed him out of the way of the car. He risked his life to save Tala. "I-I. I was just shocked I guess. When the car came." Of course Tala lied. What else could he do. He couldn't very well just tell Bryan that he should have let him get hit.
"Hey guess I'm gonna take Tal home. He seems a little shaken up." Bryan pulled him to his feet and started heading in the direction of Kai's house.
"No." Kai was the first one to come out of his stupor. Everyone else just watched the interaction between the two older Russians. "Just go ahead. I'll take him home. I didn't feel much like going out anyway." With that he forcefully pulled Tala away from Bryan and started walking home.
When they were far enough away from the group that noone could over hear them Kai turned to Tala. "How fucking stupid are you Tala? Why the hell would you walk out in front of a god damned car?" By this point Kai was shacking the small boy before him. When he didn't get a reply from the red-head, his hand lashed out against the already abused cheek.
Tala instinctively reached up to soothe his cheek, hoping that it wouldn't mark more then it already was. Feeling a sharp pain in his arm, he realized the only reason why he wasn't on the ground again was because of the grip that Kai still had on his arm. Looking up at Kai with tears shining in his bright blue eyes, he saw the angry expression that he was being given.
In fear he pulled his arm out of Kai's grasp and started to run away. He didn't make it very far though, maybe a couple of yards at the most, before he was tackled to the ground for the second time within ten minutes.
'Not again.'
A/N: Aw poor Tala. He just can't get a break can he? I have to tell you though that it will get a lot worse for him before it gets better. Sorry I'm just sadistic and like to torture him.
