[A/N: I've just realized that the URL for the BCP didn't show up so here it is again : h t t p : / / w w w . f a n f i c t i o n . n e t / u / 2 6 4 7 7 1 8 / B e y b l a d e _ C o m m u n i t y _ P r o j e c t

there's another story up so check it out if you're interested.]

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Behind The Mask

[7] To Complicate Things

The whir of the spinning top filled the room as the small metal object steadily picked up speed. In one of the training rooms adjoining the gym, surrounded by enough equipment to make Emily and her precious research center look like a joke, Rei sat cross legged on the floor next to one of the smaller testing dishes, his eyes trained on the blur of silver metal before him.

It had been a good three weeks since Rei had picked up his blade and actually had a go with it, the longest three weeks of his life, and possibly longer than any break from blading he'd ever taken, and Driger wasn't cooperating very well.

"Well his spin slowed down considerably." Leilah reported from behind one of the less complicated machines along the wall. "That explains why the energy scanners readings are so low, the spins not fast enough to generate that kind of energy."

Rei sighed, grabbing the top from the dish and looking at it closely, "any idea why?"

"Nope, that's the extent of my knowledge on beyblades." She shrugged, grinning.

"Perfect." He mumbled under his breath fiddling with the parts, "Where's the chief when you need him."

It was nearing 9.00 in the morning, and Rei, as was the norm lately, couldn't sleep. He'd come down from his room two or so hours earlier to get some practice done, with the week he'd had it had been rather difficult to do anything really. Leilah had met him down in the basement gym not too long ago.

She yawned, "Can we get something to eat now, you've been at this for two hours." She pushed herself off the chair she'd been sitting on and headed for the door, and Rei followed her through the main training area, with the large central dish, he couldn't get over how amazing this place was. "There's an even better one down in the plaza, almost as big as the pavilion." She informed, catching him staring.

"Really?"

She nodded continuing through another large, almost empty room. "Too bad we're on lock down." She rolled her eyes, referring to Kai's orders to stay put.

The central gymnasium was equipped with mats and punching bags and various other pieces of state of the art equipment, and two adjoined locker rooms at the far end. Exiting the gym they passed through a long hallway with multiple other doors he hadn't entered, most of them were locked, Rei assumed it was because Kai hadn't been home in a while, but one of the doors Rei knew lead to the rec room.

Down the hallway and up the stairs at its entrance, the two ended up on the first floor landing of the main sitting area.

Rei's face paled, his entire body freezing over at the sight that met him, of the four teenage boys that seemed to have just walked through the door. Eyes wide and jaw dropped he froze in his spot, the demolition boys, the same boys that had nearly tore apart their team, stolen their bit beasts, and had him hospitalized where standing in his captains living room, and Kai, well he seemed to act as if this were an everyday occurrence.

"It's not polite to stare Kitten." The deep gruff voice of his worst nightmare rang in his ears as the larger boy pushed past him and up the stairs, duffle bag over his shoulder. But it was the reaction of the girl next to him that really shocked him out of his mind.

"Hey to you too Bry." She called up the stairs after him, voice ringing with sarcasm as he flipped her off from around the corner. She shrugged, heading into the living room.

Rei watched dumbstruck as she embraced Tala first then Spencer, before moving over to Kai, and then freezing in her spot, as if just having realized something. She took a step back before looking back at Kai, "Where's Ian?" She whispered almost afraid to say the words only loud enough for the boys surrounding her to hear, but Rei's heightened feline senses caught the feint words from across the room.

The circumstances made it almost obvious, Kai disappearing suddenly after some kind of emergency call from St. Petersburg and coming home with frighteningly subdued Tala, an angrier than usual Bryan, Spencer in a dull trance, and no sign of the small violet haired boy. Anyone who knew the boys so closely could see it plainly.

There was no answer, and the tears welled up in her eyes as she stepped towards Kai again before throwing her arms around his blunette captain and crying silently into his shoulder.

Rei didn't know what to think, or how to react, or why either of the two were taking the presence of the enemy so lightly. Or how the girl somehow managed to get her arms around Kai without him ripping them off, or why Kai was hugging her back, but now wasn't the time to worry about that.

Leilah pulled back wiping at her eyes, she swallowed hard and forced a smile on her face. "I'm fine" she said to no one in particular, almost as if she was trying to reassure herself. Before turning and walking back past Rei and hurrying up the stairs. "I'll be right back" she whispered as she passed him, her voice choked and strangled. And Tala followed her up the stairs, not saying a word as he passed by Rei.

Confusion was written all over the neko-jin's face, it was clear enough that this all had something to do with that phone call the day before. Rei was obviously missing something, something big, or maybe more than just one something.

"What's going on?" Rei said suddenly angrily, finally having gotten over his shock. "What are they doing here?" he shot glaring at Spencer as he too passed on his way up the stairs, carrying both his and Tala's bags with him. The large boy didn't retort, and that was a strange occurrence in and of itself.

"They'll be staying here." Kai replied calmly, moving into the kitchen to pick up the intercom.

"What do you mean they'll be staying here?" Rei advanced into the room reaching the bar. "They're the enemy."

"They are not." Kai answered monotone as usual, as if he'd expected this conversation.

Rei's eyebrows rose, "mind explaining that one?" His cocky attitude came through in his voice. The naturally curious dark haired teen was through with being kept in the dark.

Kai looked at him over his shoulder, "They're staying and that's final, if you have a problem with them you can be the one to go." Rei flinched at the bitterness in his captain's voice, realizing for the first time that he'd never been on the receiving end of his captain's anger, and he didn't want to start now. The words stung but he swallowed them. Maybe he had stepped out of line just a bit, it was really none of his business the kind of company Kai kept, especially considering all the trouble older boy was going through because of him.

"Are you at least going to tell me what happened?" Rei tried calmer this time.

"Nothing that concerns you." Rei couldn't help the anger that rose within him this time at the other boy's reply, but he tried to keep it in check, remembering what had happened last time, but Kai was making it increasingly difficult.

"Is there a reason you're being so off with me?" Rei pressed a little angrily, "Kai!" he yelled, face heating up with anger when the other boy didn't answer him, and Kai having picked the intercom off its stand replaced it and turned to face the shorter boy.

"What do you want, Kon." Kai sighed heavily, tired eyes locking on to the boy across the counter. Rei realized for the first time since Kai walked in that the blunette seemed a little off. His normally milky complexion had paled to an almost waxy white and the exhaustion written on his face made him look almost human.

Rei's breath caught in his throat, still leaning over the counter, suddenly distracted by the boy across from him, all the anger went out of him. "What did happen to Ian?" Rei whispered, almost afraid of the answer, finally making the connection as realization struck him, Leilah's tears, Kai's shaking hands, eyes wide with fear, and now the boy's absence. All of this had something to do with the small violet haired boy.

Kai averted his eyes, unable to look at Rei as he spoke, his eyes locked onto the wall somewhere beyond the neko-jin. Kai ran his hand through his hair in agitation. "Ian won't be coming." He said finally after a long silence.

Rei stared at his captain head cocked slightly to the side waiting. "He's dead." Was the monotone reply of the slate haired enigma across the counter. Rei's eyes widened, tanned hands gripped the edge of the counter, it was one thing to suspect it, but another thing entirely to hear it said out loud. The confirmation was shocking.

The only sound in the room was Rei's harsh breathing, as he continued to stare wide eyed at Kai.

"H-how." Rei breathed out Kai shook his head, focusing his attention back on the black haired neko sitting at his counter.

"Murdered." Was the one word reply, but Rei didn't need to hear more, more wasn't important, it was unessesary.

Kai turned away from him, had picking up the intercom once again, and was speaking into it, the Russian words reached Rei's ears but he didn't move from his position still leaning over the bar top, fists clenched painfully against the marble surface. 'Who would have…'

Rei dropped into one of the barstools that lined the counter, resting his elbows on the counter top he brought his hands to either side of his face, massaging his temples. 'Murder…was that why Kai had brought them here…to watch over them, no that couldn't be it, it wasn't as if they couldn't take care of themselves.' Rei wasn't sure how long he sat there, staring out ahead of him, trying to make sense of what was happening. Why was it that his life was suddenly thrown into a whirlwind of fear and suffering, everywhere he looked.

"ona zasnula [1]" The words were Russian but the voice wasn't Kai's, and it didn't take a genius to figure out who was the one talking. Kai, still on the intercom, made eye contact with the voice behind him and nodded as he continued to speak into the phone like device.

The person came around the counter and into the kitchen where he opened and closed cabinets, moving things around for a couple minutes before flipping on the coffee maker. Mumbling some more in Russian, the redhead came into Rei's line of sight, just as Kai was hanging up on the intercom.

Kai turned to Tala, speaking to the boy in his native tongue. Rei watched them, not really seeing. This situation was so much bigger than just Ian, for the Demolition Boys to seek out Kai for help, it had to be so much bigger than any of them could handle on their own. Rei wondered briefly if this had anything to do with his own situation, it seemed impossible, what connection was there between him and the Russian team…absolutely none as far as he knew.

The sound of foreign words reached his ears and he blinked up at the redhead before him. The kitchen was empty but for the two of them. "Where's Kai?" he asked suddenly realizing the absence of the older boy.

"Kotyata strashno? [2]" Rei glared at the other boys smirk, Tala knew all too well that Rei couldn't understand was he was saying. Tala chuckled and Rei couldn't help the feeling of anger that rose in his chest, how could he be so unaffected by the death of his teammate.

"Drink this, it will help." he smirked placing a mug Rei had only just noticed on the marble counter top before him.

Rei stared at the offending almost black liquid in the large ceramic mug. The strong aroma filling his senses, one didn't spend seven months with Kai Hiwatari and not know what coffee smelled like. Rei had never tasted the drink before, and he eyed it warily, regardless of how Kai felt, he still didn't trust the Russian teens.

"It isn't as if I'd poison you or anything" he shrugged moving back across the kitchen to lean against the far counter, "Kai wouldn't be too pleased." He said, cynical smirk still in place. His feline senses hadn't picked anything up, but he continued to stare at the mug with apprehension.

"Do you know who did it?" Rei asked after some silence, referring back to small violet haired boy that had once been his bitter enemy. Tala's expression didn't change as Rei expected it to, the cynical smirk remained fully in place, if not more sadistic, but his eyes had darkened, leaving none of that amused mockery of before.

"Stay out of things you don't understand, Kon." He replied belatedly, "Curiosity did kill the fucking cat."

"Yeah, well satisfaction fucking brought it back." He sneered at the other boys joke.

Tala chuckled again, and Rei wasn't sure why but he suddenly got the feeling they did know who had done it.

"You going to drink that?" Tala said eyeing the forgotten mug of coffee, a challenging look in his eyes, as if daring him to drink it. And Rei took the mug in his hands not liking this, but he'd be damned if he turned down a challenge from the older boy.

Raising the mug to his lips he took a large gulp of the warm liquid, before making a face. Silently congratulating himself on not spitting it across the kitchen once the bitter taste met his tongue, he silently reminded himself never to attempt the drink again.

"Maybe you should have tried it with cream and sugar?" Tala smirked, amused at the other's discomfort and Rei gave him a dirty look, grabbing the sugar and cream from the opposite side of the counter and pulling them towards him.


The clink of the ceramic mug against the glass showcase sounded through the silent tension of the room. Bryan was well aware of the presence of his former teammate stand just beside him, but he chose to ignore it all the same, he didn't want a confrontation, it was easier just to be bitter.

/ / I had a feeling I'd find you here. / / The deep Russian words of the younger boy reached Bryan's ears but he didn't answer, opting instead to continue watching the photographs enclosed in the glass showcase before him, as if they would somehow come alive. The trophies that lined the shelves around them were of a similar manner, engraved with their Russian names, they spoke of a once victorious team. But it wasn't the team's victory that troubled Bryan now, it was the team.

/ / We need to talk about this. / / Kai spoke up again, the lavender haired boy having nearly forgotten his presence was caught slightly off guard by the words but he didn't flinch.

/ / So talk, I have nothing to say. / / He spoke finally acknowledging the other boy's presence, though he didn't turn to face him, he wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing he had his full attention.

/ / I'm not going to make excuses for myself. / / Kai said, his voice calm and quiet as he spoke, never taking his eyes from Bryans back. / / I messed up, I shouldn't have run like that, without even saying a word, I could have at least come back. But the fact is I didn't. / / Kai paused for a minute not knowing what exactly he wanted to say, they both knew the entire story, but there was still so much that needed to be said, Kai didn't know where to start. Bryan didn't reply or show any signs of having heard a word he said, but Kai knew he was listening either way.

/ / I was…scared, alright. I didn't know how else to react, half the abbey was burned to the ground, the experiments all destroyed, Boris was going to have my head. At that point I had no other options. / /

/ / You could have faced him, like the rest of us had to, we had to face him for you. / / Bryan almost growled out.

/ / You know my punishments have always been a million times harsher than any of yours, that's why I couldn't come back, imagine the hell he would have put me through for running away. I really wouldn't have come out of that one alive. / / Kai answered back silencing Bryan again, he knew this all already, hearing it again only aggravated him more. There had been no other option, but it had still felt like betrayal, it had still hurt. / / I couldn't contact you after that, because of Voltaire, I didn't realize you didn't know what happened. Maybe I was being selfish at the time but… / / Kai trailed off.

/ / So you're asking me to forget, that you turned your back on us, to save your own damn skin, you want me to just forget that for two whole months we thought you were dead. / / Bryans voice rose as he spoke, finally turning to face Kai with anger in his eyes.

/ / I'm not asking you to forget anything. / / Kai spoke in the same monotone voice.

/ / No your asking something much harder, you're asking me to forgive. / / Bryan clenched his fists as he spoke, his teeth gritting in anger. If Kai wasn't to blame, than no one else could be, who else could he blame for Tala's pain, who else could be blamed for Ian's misplaced admiration who else was to blame for Spencer's silent grieving. / / If you'd been there, if you'd seen, you wouldn't have been able to forgive you self. / / His voice came out low this time and his eyes glazed over, directed at the floor, as if he was looking something that wasn't really there, something that hadn't been there for nearly five years. Bryan knew he wasn't making sense but now wasn't the time for logic, he was too angry to care.

/ / I know. / / Bryan's head shot up and his eyes landed on Kai, that had been a reply he hadn't expected. / / It's only natural that you'd be a little bitter, we were only kids then, we didn't get that we couldn't protect each other from every kind of pain that came our way… / / Bryan's eyes widened slightly at those words, was that what he had been trying to do, but that kind of heartache wasn't something someone could stop. Had he been trying to protect Tala from losing Kai. / / …I just think it's time we all let some things go. / /

Bryan turned around, his hand reached out to grab the mug of slowly cooling hot chocolate off the showcase before him. / / It's not that I don't trust you, / / Bryan began and Kai smirked slightly, knowing he could still get through to his old friend, / / I know you're not some kind of traitor…I just don't know what to expect from you anymore. / / His voice was rough as he spoke, trying to cover up for the lack of it in the words he said, it wasn't an apology but it was the closest thing to one he'd ever get from Bryan, and it was rather satisfying.

/ / Expect no more running away. / / he said, at one point in time his words had been as good as gold to the Demolition Boys, he only hoped they had the same value now. With that he turned and left the small trophy room, taking with him the mug of untouched coffee he still held in his hands, he left Bryan to his thoughts.

The corridor before the gym was still empty when he emerged from the room, and he assumed Tala and Rei were still in the kitchen where he had left them. Praying to the higher powers that Tala hadn't done something to the neko he headed past the rec room and back up the stairs where he had come.

The sight that met Kai was not a very pleasing one considering how many time he had asked Tala to leave Rei be. Rei appeared to be pouring a full mug of coffee, complete with cream, down the drain of the kitchen sink only a couple feet from where Tala stood leaning up against the counter snickering behind his own coffee cup.

Kai sighed heavily, taking a sip of the coffee in his own mug and grimacing at the taste of now cooling liquid. Crossing the room to the kitchen Kai opted to pretend he hadn't noticed the scene before as he placed his mug in sink by Rei's now empty one and poured himself a fresh cup of the steaming liquid in the coffee pitcher, this time opting to skip on the cream.

Rei busied himself with the kettle, making what Kai assumed to be a cup of tea to drown out the taste of the bitter liquid he had just consumed, an annoyed expression still marring his face. His brow creased in concentration as he added sugar and vanilla to the mug on the counter before him, Kai couldn't help but find it slightly comical.

"Zabavno, ne pravda li [3]?" Tala smirked placing his mug on the counter next to him, and uncrossing his legs, Kai smirked as well, eye shifting to lock the cerulean blue, but he didn't look up.

"YA dumal, chto ya prosil tebya vesti sebya [4]." Was the reply Kai gave, and Rei looked in confusion between the two smirking faces.

"YA vsegda delayu [5]."

Rei cleared his throat, getting the attention of the two Russian bladers. "Do I need a personal translator hear." He grumbled crossing his arms over his chest.

"Don't worry kitten, It isn't as if we were speaking about you or anything." He smirked cynically at him, confirming Rei's suspicion that they were in fact doing just that.

Kai took a sip of the fresh coffee in his mug and eyed Tala meaningfully, suddenly Rei felt like the third wheel standing between them, and he wanted out. Acting casual Rei turned away from the two, fighting down the feelings of possessiveness that had been steadily overcoming him lately. Pouring water from the kettle into the mug he mixed the contents prodding the tea bag lightly he watched the liquid get steadily darker, and the warm vanilla scent assaulted him.

The kitchen was quiet for some time after that and Rei wasn't sure how long he stood there, feeling out of place, prodding and mixing his tea silently. He was well aware of Tala's voice saying something in Russian a little while later before his footsteps sounded as he exited the kitchen.

"How long have you guys known each other?" Rei asked after a couple minutes had passed, he turned to face Kai, taking a sip from his tea.

"A long time." He smirked behind his coffee cup, "Since we were kids."

"So…you were in the abbey with them?" Rei asked tentatively, it was a sensitive subject, but a question that he had always wondered about. He had suspected, but hadn't known for sure.

Kai's head shot up suddenly, "…Yeah." He said after a short pause, he knew he couldn't avoid the question but he didn't want to have this conversation with Rei.

Rei had figured at some point since the boys had walked in that this was the sort-of-family Kai had previously referred to. For some reason it made him slightly uneasy knowing they had been together for so long, but it made him feel slightly better about Kai's betrayal during the Russian tournament, maybe it wasn't entirely about the power.

Rei crossed the kitchen to the bar that separated it from the living room and set his mug down, before taking a seat on one of the stools, still facing Kai. "Is he always like that?"

Kai let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, the abbey conversation wasn't one he ever wanted to have, but Rei didn't want to know about the abbey, he wanted to know about the people that were close to the blunette. "No…" Kai answered, smirking again, "…he's usually worse."

Rei wasn't actually disappointed by what Kai had said, he found he liked the witty sarcastic Tala considerably more than the devilish version they'd faced off against in the tournament.

Kai took another sip of his coffee, studying Rei, it wasn't so much Tala that he'd worried about, it had always been rather easy for just about anyone to get along with the redhead. It was Bryan that Kai wasn't too sure about, the volatile, lavender haired boy wasn't likely to take easily to Rei, the old conflict of their battle in the tournament Kai was sure still stood fresh in both their minds. All that was left was to cross his fingers and hope for the best.

TBC...


[1] "She fell asleep."

[2] "Scared kitten?"

[3] "Amusing, isn't he?"

[4] "I thought I asked you to behave yourself."

[5] "I always do."