Hey everyone, it's me again. This chapter is over 1,000 words shorter than usual. This laptop is acting idiotic right now so please forgive me! If you're going to blame anyone, blame the laptop. XD

Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade or any of its characters.

Ages for new people in this chapter:

Krasota (you'll find out who she is in this chapter, as I said before): 18

Enjoy~


"So," Rei swallowed the noodles he'd been chewing, "I'm guessing you don't like your grandfather?"

Kai laughed humorlessly before making sure Rei's younger sister wasn't in ear shot of the two. The pink haired girl was waiting for them to finish eating. She'd met one of her friends from school and was having a lengthy conversation with the other girl.

"No," The Russian frowned. "He's a total bastard."

The nekojin looked at Kai in surprise. That was a strong word to use for the man Kai was said to be close to. Rei had seen Kai on TV once, and he'd been smiling while standing next to his grandfather.

"Why is he a..." Rei hesitated. He didn't feel very comfortable swearing. "...bad person?"

Kai scoffed, obviously holding back some smart comment about Rei not saying the word 'bastard', but he answered Rei's question nonetheless.

"He's kind of," Kai coughed, "abusive."

Rei's honey eyes widened. "You're not joking?"

"Why would I joke about something like that?" Kai asked, raising an eyebrow.

The raven haired boy looked downwards apologetically. He hadn't meant to offend Kai; he was just so shocked that the seemingly secure and calm Russian was being abused.

"I'm sorry, I -"

"Why are you apologizing?" Kai chuckled, smirking when the nekojin blushed slightly.

Before Rei could speak, a familiar red head walked towards them, a widening smirk on his face. Next to him was a girl with hair just as bright as his, though she had larger bright blue eyes and was smiling.

"Hey kitten," Tala winked at Kai, "kitten's hot boyfriend."

Rei blushed and sent Tala a mock glare, while Kai just rolled his eyes and scoffed offhandedly. The girl who had been standing next to Tala stood in front of their table nervously.

"Hi." She said quietly.

Tala laughed and patted her on the back casually, "No need to be so shy, Krasota! These are just my friends." He leaned over towards Kai. "Of course, I wouldn't mind being something more..."

All the redhead got was a slap to the face, which caused Rei and 'Krasota' to burst out laughing.

"My brother is a little bit of a handful," Krasota giggled.

Kai and Rei both nodded in agreement. He certainly was a handful. Since Tala had already seated himself next to Kai, Krasota coughed slightly and looked at Rei apologetically.

"Sorry we're ruining your date." She said, sighing when Tala continued to hit on Kai.

"We're not on a -" Kai stopped himself quickly when he remembered Rei's presence, instead shaking his head offhandedly. "It's fine."

Tala pouted and laid his chin onto the table. "Where's your sister, Rei? I'm sure Krasota would love to meet her."

Rei smiled slightly and called for Mariah, who quickly ran over to the table. She pulled out a chair from an empty table and sat in it, scooting closer to her brother.

"Hi, I'm Krasota." The Russian girl greeted the other girl shyly.

Mariah perked up and beamed. "I'm Mariah!" She grinned, flashing her feline like teeth. "Krasota is beauty in Russian, isn't it?"

Krasota blushed and nodded her head modestly. "I don't know why my parents named me that..."

"Because the Ivanov family is naturally beautiful." Tala answered, grinning when his sister sent him a look. "That was a compliment, Sota."

The Russian winked at Kai, "I know someone else who's naturally beautiful." Kai snorted and looked away, rolling his eyes as everyone else laughed.

"Would you like anything to eat?" Rei offered politely.

"Well," Krasota's voice grew quiet, "I do kind of feel like soup..."

Rei nodded and asked his sister to fetch the waitress, which Mariah did promptly. After Krasota and Tala's orders had been collected, the woman scurried away in order to inform the chefs.

When the food was finally ready and served, the group began to chat about various things. It ranged from whether or not Kai and Rei were a couple, to why Mariah had gotten hit with an egg in her class yesterday.

The latter had happened because the pink haired neko jin had gone slightly psychotic and her friend, alarmed, had chucked a raw egg at her. Mariah didn't find it funny as she'd been in pain, but everyone else laughed anyway.


Kai's mind was racing with the events of earlier that day. He'd gone to the mall with Rei and his sister, and had spilled the secret of him being abused. He'd done it so easily; as if Rei was one of his close friends.

In a way, the neko jin was. Someone Kai felt like he could rely on, or trust when it came to sharing secrets.

When he reached his mansion, unexpectedly, his grandfather was waiting there for him. He looked angered. Kai wasn't surprised; he'd gone out of the house unauthorized, after all.

Though he still didn't find himself caring.

His grandfather pointed towards the stairs, "V svoyu komnatu! (To my room, now!)"

Kai cursed under his breath in Russian and began his trek up the steps, looking over his shoulder as he watched his grandfather stomp after him. The man was clearly enraged, his anger growing by the second.

When they finally reached his study, Kai heard Voltaire slam the door loudly behind them before stalking in front of Kai, his face only a hair's breath away.

"You were conversing with that boy again," Voltaire snarled, "weren't you?"

"What's it to you?" Kai responded boldly, half-expecting a slap or a punch.

But to his surprise, all he got was laughter, though it might've been just as painful as it carried such malice and devilishness.

"Since physical pain inflicted on your own body doesn't bother you..." The man trailed off, grinning evilly as he saw his grandson's face contort with anger and fear.

"Don't touch him!" Kai snapped, clashing his teeth in anger before letting his arms drop to his side. "If you don't hurt him...I'll listen to you."

"But that will cause him to hate you, Kai." Voltaire remarked, though it wasn't out of worry. "If you're willing to take that risk, though..."

This reminded Kai that Rei would virtually hate him if he did this. It sent waves of hesitation to his brain, and his heart was begging him to reconsider. But if he didn't do it...Rei was going to get hurt.

"Too late!" Voltaire cackled manically, startling Kai. "I'll choose for you. I can't wait to see that kitten's face twist in pain!"

Kai yelled out in protest, but his grandfather had already brushed past him and exited the room. When Kai tried to run after the man, he discovered that the door was locked from the outside.

Cursing, he tried to ram his body against the door's frame, but of course it didn't work.

"Rei..." Kai shook the images of a sobbing nekojin out of his mind and looked around for any means of escape. "...I'll protect you, don't worry."


This chapter is far shorter than usual but I'm busy, so sorry about that. I give Tala a sister because I felt like, well, Rei has one, sooo...plus I have a friend named Krasota, and she's Russian. Kai won't have a sister because I didn't introduce her in the first or second chapter, so it would be far too odd if she was introduced so late.

The egg part was thrown in for noobishness, so sorry if it made no sense. It wasn't really supposed to. XD And Voltaire's such an evil troll, not letting Kai decide on his own. Tsk, Voltaire!

Voltaire: Shut up before I-

Cherry: Do you want me to rip off your testicles, or shoot them off?

Voltaire o.o *runs*

Cherry: Yeah, that's right! Hit the trails, bitch!

Translations:

Krasota (Russian) = Beauty (English) {{ This is Tala's sister's, who is an OC/Original Character, name.}}

V svoyu komnatu! (Russian) To my room, now! (English)

Heh, I'm tired and stuff, so I won't say much in this author's note. I should have the next chapter up tomorrow, though, so don't worry. Thanks again for over 90 views!

R&R, and please be respectful or helpful if you point something out. No flames or hate allowed