Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade or any of its characters. I do own Konna, Tanya and any other new characters. I also own the name of the school.

Room to be Ourselves

Twilight Poet

---Chapter 7---
Punishment

Somewhere in the mess of pushing, prodding and yelling, Tala had vanished. But that was the least of the girl's worries. They now knelt nervously in front of a very smug German boy.

"Well, well. What have we here?" he chuckled.

"Blind and stupid!" Konna remarked, "How ever do you survive?"

In one fluid movement Robert's hand was wrapped in Konna's hair and yanking her head back. "I see your ears don't work well," he hissed.

Konna coughed, "Yeah, too bad my nose works fine!"

Standing in outrage, Robert delivered a swift kick to Konna's chest that sent her flying backwards onto Oliver's legs. Dazed, Konna blinked a few times as Oliver helped her up. Her mind, however, was locked on one thing. The faint, but obvious, ripping noise coming from the bandage around her chest. She figured it must have been all that running. Suppressing the panic that threatened to overwhelm her, Konna shuffled to Tanya's side and bent to whisper in her ear when the blond pulled her away.

"Oh no," he said, "I've seen what happens when you two whisper."

"Very good Enrique," Nodded Robert.

"laplap briste! Masalai faicinn LUKIM! Halpim! Cuidich!" It was a rough mixture of Scottish and Pidgin English, but Konna knew her message got through as Tanya's eyes widened.

Another thought protruded into her flustered mind. One of her bloody captors was SCOTTISH! She stared at Johnny and he stared at her.

"Well?" asked an impatient Robert.

Johnny shook his head. "Only a few words were Scottish. Briste – broken. Faicinn – see. And cuidich – help. The rest was gibberish."

Konna and Tanya paled as the group turned towards them.

"What's broken?" asked Oliver, a little bit concerned.

Konna could feel the sweat trickle down her neck. "N-nothing, c-can we please get this punishment over and done with?"

"Why the hurry?" smirked Enrique, kneeling beside her.

Dispite the growing feeling inside, Konna resisted the urge to run. Any sudden movements could tear the fabric the whole way. Then it would be a VERY interesting morning. One that neither of the girls wanted.

"N-No hurry," Tanya smiled, edging towards Konna, "Just curiosity."

"Are you magnetically attached?" growled Johnny, dragging Tanya back, "Or… err…"

There was a moment of silence as all eyes fell on the two 'boys'.

"Are you…?…you know…" Oliver blushed.

Tanya stared wide-eyed, "No, no! Kon's my cousin and I think he's hurt himself. I just wanted to check."

"Oooh!"

Johnny let go of Tanya and she crawled over to Konna. Pulling her away from Enrique, they whispered.

"How bad?" asked Tanya

"Half way at least." Konna replied carefully, knowing too well that all ears were dropping eaves on this conversation.

"That's bad," Tanya frowned, "How long can you last?"

"As long as needed, just can't do any fast movements is all,"

"Good Gods! What's on earth is the matter?" cried Robert. "Do you need medical attention or not?"

Konna and Tanya looked at each other. Unknowingly, Robert had just given them a way out!

"I-I'll be fine," Konna stuttered, pulling herself up and swaying slightly, "give me your worst punishment! I can take it!"

Enrique peered at her, "Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure! I've never been surer in my life! I'll beat anything you throw at me!" She groggily beat at the air, stumbling lightly.

Tanya jumped up to 'catch' her, "Don't be stupid Meathead! You need rest!"

"NO!" Konna practically yelled, "I WILL PREVAIL!!!" she slumped in Tanya's arms.

"Here we go again," Tanya shook her head sadly.

"What the hell is happening to him?" stared Robert.

"Car crash," stated Tanya, "He was in a car crash and knocked about some kind of organ, I don't know long, scientific thingamabob names. All I know is he ain't supposed to be chased halfway 'round a bloody school, tackled, knocked down, pulled about, yelled at, hit, run over, spat on and kicked in the chest! At least not on the same day!" She glared daggers at the solemn group. She turned to a guilty Robert. "Ok mate, I'll make a deal with you. Let me take Kon to his room to get some rest, than we'll do your 'punishment' in a more civilized-like way tomorrow. Deal?"

Robert waved his hand in their direction, "Yeah, yeah, go on. But you better not run tomorrow."

Konna looked dizzily at him, "Cornel Von Luger! It is the sworn duty of every soldier to try and escape! If he cannot, it is his sworn duty to cause the enemy to use an inordinate number of troops to guard him and his sworn duty to harass the enemy to the best of his ability."

"I knew he'd say something like that." Tanya sighed, "Don't worry Cornel Vo- I mean, Robert, sir. We'll be here tomorrow. Even if I have to chase him halfway 'round the bloody school, tackle him, knock him down, pull him about, yell at him, hit him, run over him, spit on him and kick him in the chest!"

With that finally note, Tanya slung her friend over her shoulder and stalked out the door. Not daring to give up the act, Konna conveniently fell 'unconscious' and so Tanya had to carry her anyway. Reaching Konna's dorm, she knocked on the thick wood. A very surprised boy with blue hair and a cap opened the door.

"WOAH!" he cried, letting them in, "What happened??"

"My cousin met up with some… unexpected company, "Tanya smirked.

Konna's room was almost identical to Tanya's, except everything faced the other way. Tanya rubbed her shoulder; Konna wasn't exactly the lightest thing to carry up and down hall ways. As she laid Konna on the floor in the middle of the room, a blond-haired boy came running over.

"Geez! Had a tough day?" he asked.

"Blame those bloody moneybags," Tanya hissed, "They've got their heads shoved so far up their asses, they can't see when their 'games' aren't games anymore."

"Be careful," warned the blond, "The walls have ears… if you know what I mean."

Tanya nodded, "Yeah, I catch your drift. Take care of him eh?"

A shadowy figure jumped off on of the bunks and came into the group.

"Ello Kai," Tanya blinked, "Didn't see you there!"

The blunette grunted and walked straight passed her to kneel beside Konna. Taking her in his arms, he laid her on the bottom bunk before jumping up onto the top again and continued what ever it was he was doing before they had 'so rudely interrupted him'.

Tanya could barely suppress the laughter than swelled inside her. Konna had a protector. How sweet. If Konna knew, she'd chuck a spazz! Allowing for a gleeful grin to flash across her face, Tanya left the room and wandered into her own. To her shock, the room was empty.

She shook her head, "Middle of the day on a weekend, why would there be people here?"

You're here aren't you? Teased her alter ego.

"That's different, I had to help Konna."

Yes, but you didn't have to come back here! You could go somewhere else."

"And what? Exercise? Go swimming?? Nah, here is just fine."

Suit yourself

"Yes I will."

Ok, I'm not complaining

"Good."

No, you won't get another word from me about how BORING this is!

"Now don't start that again!"

Tanya's breath caught in her throat as arms snaked around her waist. They pulled her close and she felt a warm breath on her neck.

"Do you always talk to yourself?"

"Tala!" Tanya chocked, "What are you doing??"

"Don't mess with me," the redhead laughed, "Tanya."

She froze, "Oh bloody hell! How'd you find out?"

She felt lips press against her neck and shivers ran down her back, He whispered in her ear, "You really should change in the bathroom you know."

"You're sick," Tanya hissed.

"Am I?" he chuckled.

One hand moved away and she heard the sound of the door locking. Panic filled every nerve in her body, this was NOT good! His lips were running up and down her neck and his arms wrapped tighter around her stomach. For a moment she didn't refuse.

You HAVE to get out of here! Yelled her alter ego, shattering the trance she'd been in.

"No!" she cried, trying to pull away.

Tala growled and pulled her tighter. Tanya's eyes scanned the room. It was CLEAN! The cleaners had come and picked everything off the floor! No mess meant no weapons! She was running out of time. Tanya whimpered. Konna would know what to do.

Well Konna's not here! You're on your own so you'll have to figure this one out by yourself! COME ON!! THINK!!!!!!!!!!

Yes! Ok Tanya, think, think. Beds? No, they're DEFIANTLY no help. Bathroom? No, she'd need to look around and find something and she had a feeling Tala wouldn't stand by and let her find a weapon. That left only one thing. The window.

Perfect! I knew you could do it! Know think of a way to get both of you over to those curtains.

Right… curtains… How the HELL was she- a thought crossed her mind. One she didn't like. But she didn't have time to think of something else. It would have to do.

God give us strength. We're gonna need it.

Bracing herself, she turned around and faced Tala head on. He looked breath-taking in the half-shadows. Mentally slapping herself, Tanya pushed away all thoughts like that. She needed him to be completely oblivious to his surroundings and there was only one obvious was to do that. Closing her eyes, she leant in. He needed no more temptation and in moments he was kissing her. As their lips meant, Tanya let her alter ego take over. (Aren't alter egos handy?)

Ok kid, lets do this!

Slowly, she led the distracted boy closer and closer to the window. Once they were close enough, Tanya reached up and pulled at the thick, heavy curtains. Tala realized what she was doing and let go to try and stop her. He was too late and the large rail trapped him under the fabric. Tanya made to jump out of the way, but her footing slipped and she fell backwards and hit the glass. It shattered under her.

-0-0-0-

Konna's eyes shot opened and a piercing scream erupted from her throat. Startled by the, all too girl-like, noise, Kai fell off the bed and landed with a groaning thud. Konna didn't notice though. Her body and mind her flooded in agony. Pain like she'd never felt before lurched through her body and she squirmed, trying to find its source. Kai was watched her in shock.

"Tan," Konna croaked -her throat dry. "Tan's in trouble!!"

Stumbling from the bed, Konna ran full speed out the door and into the hall wall. Tanya's door was locked… WHY WAS IT LOCKED?!?! She began to pound on the door.

Co-…oo…th…-a…w-windo...

The message was weak, sketchy and scrambled, but Konna knew what it meant and bolted down the hall and out a side door. She took the steps 4 at a time as she launched off the last step and ran full speed. Crushing flowers, Konna ran through the gardens and around to the side of the building. There she found Tanya lying on the ground. Glass was everywhere and her friend was loosing blood.

"What the hell happened?" Konna whimpered.

Her first thought was to get a teacher, but Tanya would kill her if they were revealed now… If she remembered correctly, there was a hospital a few streets away.

"Hold on buddy," Konna whispered to her unconscious pal, "We're going for a little run."

She pulled Tanya up bride-style, so as not to let the glass cut deeper than it already had. Checking the coast was clear, she half ran, half stumbled out the front gates and onto the street. Being a Sunday, no one was around. Konna cursed and ran on into town. Once they were a good distance away from the school, she yelled for help.

"HELP!" she screamed, "Someone! Anyone! My friend's hurt! PLEASE CAN ANYONE HELP US?!"

Her voice echoed through the streets. No one came. No one helped. No one cared.

Konna faintly remembered something her dad told her:"Honey, if you're ever in trouble, don't yell out HELP. No one will come because they're too afraid they'll get involved or hurt themselves. If you need help, yell FIRE. People will come than because even if they don't help, they're going to burn anyway. People will respond to FIRE because they want to help themselves. But once they're out, they have to help you, even if there isn't a fire!"

Konna took in a deep breath, "FIRE!!!!! FIRE! FIRE!!!!! WE'RE ALL GONNA BURN!! FIRE!!!!! FIRE!! FIRE!!!"

And, just as her beloved old man had predicted, people came pouring out of their houses. Most carried belongings, other's carried pets. They all stopped when they could see no fire. They turned angrily to Konna, who now stood on top of a bench.

"What's the big idea yelling fire?" asked a fat man in carrying a small TV.

Konna held tightly to Tanya. Her rage exploded, "WHY??????" she screamed, "I YELLED 'FIRE' BECAUSE NONE OF YOU WOULD RESPOND TO 'HELP'!!!" She pointed accusingly at a priest. "YOU! You're a man of the lord and you turn a deaf ear when a person calls for assistance!"

The priest turned red and hung his head.

A snobby looking woman stalked up to her. "Now you see here young man! I-"

"YOU??" Konna interrupted, "Yes it's always about you!" tears were falling down her face now, "My best friend is dying in my arms and all you can do is stand there whining that I've disturbed you're private time!!!"

All eyes turned guiltily to the Tanya and the blood that splashed onto the wooden boards of the seat.

"Now," puffed Konna, "Can any of you 'nice people' find time in your 'busy schedule' to drive me to a hospital?" he voice dripped with sarcasm.

Konna knew she'd over done it. But she was so angry and it wasn't like anyone had tried to stop her.

"I can get you there, I know a short cut." A policewoman walked up to them. "But hurry, I don't think your pal has much time left."

WVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVW

Twilight Poet: Sorry about the mushy bit, but I honestly couldn't think what else would make her jump out a window. And also sorry if the end bit's a bit harsh. You see I've just had a fight with Mum. My twin brother used up all our internet time and framed me. And –of course- Mum believed his every word! It's the time he deleted all my emails and I was blamed ALL OVER AGAIN!! #pulls hair# Anyhoo, I hardly EVER fight with her so my mind was distracted…