Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade.

A/N: In addition to sex in this chapter there's also a discussion about non-descriptive past torture.

Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed. Enjoy.

"Will you be accompanying the tactical team going after Johnny?"

Bryan closed the book he'd been reading and looked at Robert. "I hadn't planned on it. Do you want me to?"

Robert nodded and turned back to look out the windows. "The team is under orders to use all reasonable force to apprehend him."

Standing Bryan moved to stand behind his partner, hands resting on Robert's shoulders as he pressed a kiss to his temple. "And you want unreasonable force used against him."

With a nearly imperceptible nod Robert reached up, tangling his fingers with Bryan's drawing his lover's arm across his chest as he leaned back against the big body behind him. "'Unreasonable force within reason of course. No dismemberment or death. An attack against one member of the family is an attack against all of us."

Bryan smirked and kissed his partner again. "Oh, I can do unreasonable force."

Robert laughed, the sound low and free of any kind of good humour.

Blanket tight around his shoulders Rei stopped outside the partially open door at the sound of Robert and Bryan talking quietly. He knew it was stupid to be lurking, especially after what had happened last time, but after the whole incident with Johnny, he couldn't help but be curious about what they were talking about.

"You will be careful. I don't think after the last time I could-" Robert's voice trailed off, the anguish in the words piquing Rei's curiosity further.

He crept to the edge of the door and peered around it, not sure what to expect. The sight that greeted him was enough to make him sick and he had to bite down on his lower lip to keep from making a sound.

Bryan was standing with his back to the door, a shirt hanging from his hand. From the very top of his shoulders to the waistband of his pants and further, Bryan's back was a mass of scar tissue, varying from long and thin to deep and wide. And every one of them had the white, shiny look of a scar long healed.

Hand going to the tattoo on his chest Rei rubbed at it, unable to tear his eyes from the scars crisscrossing the broad back. He couldn't help but pity Bryan, even if it was the last thing the Russian would want, because he could only imagine how much it would have hurt to be scarred like that, never mind the time it would have taken to heal.

"I'll be careful. McGregor security sucks anyway."

Bryan pulled the shirt on and reached back into the open wardrobe to withdraw a nylon webbing belt and thigh holster. He quickly strapped it on before reaching back in to pull out a long sheathed knife that he stuck in his boot and a sleek, silver 9mm.

It was disconcerting how comfortable he was ejecting the clip to check the rounds before slamming it back into place with a practiced gesture.

Sliding the gun into its holster Bryan pulled out a bullet-proof vest and radio. He clipped the radio onto the back of his pants and got the microphone fixed around his throat. Shrugging the vest on Bryan fastened it with quick, effective motions, another sign of how comfortable he was with whatever was going on.

"Hey."

Bryan's voice was low with emotions Rei would have never imagined the Russian could feel.

He watched, half feeling like he was in a dream as Robert stepped into Bryan, arms sliding easily around his partner's waist as he pressed his forehead against Bryan's shoulders. The Russian seemingly folded around Robert, one hand resting on the back of his neck, holding him close.

Their embrace went on for long moments before Bryan pulled away, thumb skimming over Robert's lower lip. "I promise I'll be back."

Rei shrank back behind the door as Bryan strode from the room, pale eyes bright with the need for revenge.

"You might as well stop skulking around like common chattel Rei, and come in."

Tightening his grip on the blanket he still wore like a cloak Rei crept into the doorway. "How did you know I was there?"

Robert turned towards the bar in the corner. "You will learn Rei, that I know exactly what is going on in my castle at all times. Would you like a drink?"

"Vodka please." Rei sat in one of the chairs, accepting the glass of vodka with a muted thank you. He wasn't planning on actually drinking it, wanting to be completely together. This was only the second time he'd been face to face with Robert since his indoctrination has been broken. It also reminded him of Kai, which was reassuring even if he hadn't seen the Russian in three weeks.

Robert settled in the chair across from the neko-jin, a fine cut crystal glass filled with whisky in hand. "I have no doubt you have questions."

"You love each other."

Rei felt a blush creep up his cheeks and he had to fight to keep looking Robert in the eye. He hadn't meant to blurt it out quite that way, but he still couldn't get over what he'd seen, the emotions between them even he couldn't deny.

Swirling his glass Robert nodded. "And does that really shock you so?"

The vodka in his glass suddenly became the most fascinating in the room and Rei stared at it. He would never admit it aloud, but he was kind of shocked. He'd pretty much lived with the thought that Bryan was psychotic and from Robert there had been nothing but anger and smug superiority.

Any softness between the two had been lost in the indoctrinations and now, free of the mental compulsion Biovolt had placed on him Rei could finally see what had been in front of him the whole time.

As if sensing his thought process Robert spoke. "Remember Rei, that despite everything Biovolt did to us, we are still human, and as such crave the companionship of the one person who means the most to us. You saw the scars on his back?"

Rei nodded and swallowed against the nausea he could dimly feel rising. He didn't want to think it, but part of him couldn't help but imagine Robert doing that to Bryan, the Russian letting it happen because he clearly was in love with his partner.

Robert frowned. "It is not what you're thinking Rei. My father, despite his unwavering loyalty towards Voltaire, had one issue he could not get behind. To him, no member of the Jurgen family would ever sully the family name by taking a partner not of noble heritage."

"Bryan is the only child of peasants. They sold him to Biovolt and while Boris accepted him as part of the program, he was never happy about the bond between Bryan and I. Any of the others would have been a better match in his mind and he pushed to have it changed but Voltaire remained firm."

"Two years before the Worlds Bryan and I had our civil union, though only Kai and the others knew about it, as we decided keeping it from Voltaire and Boris was the best for both of us. I never found out who, but someone told Boris. He was livid, had been hoping Voltaire would still change his mind about my partner."

"I was busy with business, mostly ignoring the feeling of unease that had been plaguing me all day. It wasn't until much later I realized it was Falborg trying to get my attention, still unfamiliar with the bond linking all our divine numen together."

Enthralled by the story and unaware that he had been leaning forward Rei jerked back with Robert suddenly stood. "What happened?"

Scrubbing at his face Robert moved to the windows. "I returned to the Abbey. Following Falborg's guidance I ended up in the lower levels, not far from the room where we were kept."

"Bryan was the first thing I saw, just inside the room, lying on the floor, his back rent open, blood pooling on the stone beneath him. Boris was standing over him a bloody cane in hand, grinning manically. There was a table with other destructive implements nearby and even to this day I can't bring myself to wonder what he was planning."

Feeling horrified Rei couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to have a parent like that. What memories he had of his own family were fuzzy at best but not even in his wildest dreams could he imagine them turning on the person he loved.

When Robert spoke again his voice was low. "I don't clearly recall what happened next, but before I knew it I had a knife in hand. We'd all been trained in hand to hand combat and it was disturbingly easy to overpower him. Biovolt taught us to use an enemy's weakness against them and so I did, destroying his right kidney."

"What did your mother say?"

Robert turned back from the windows at Rei's question, a grim smile on my face. "She understood. You must remember she's a Hiwatari Rei, she knows what this is all about, what Bryan means to me. Now Rei, we must speak of you and Kai."

Hands tight around the glass still in his hands Rei fought the urge to sink back into the chair. He'd been longing for Kai since he'd come out of his catatonic state, but the sudden shock of having his previous life back on top of five years as part of the elite echelon of Biovolt had almost been too much to handle so yelling had seemed like the best choice.

But he'd gotten used to sleeping next to Kai, to always having the Russian nearby during the day and it was starting to ache not having him near.

Rei sighed. "What about Kai?"

Crossing back to the chair opposite the neko-jin Robert dropped into it. "You know what I'm going to say Rei and have all along. Kai has been in love with you for years."

Gaze dropping to the vodka again, Rei closed his eyes against the warm flush that spread through his body. Kai had never said it to him in the five years they'd been together but Rei had always known it was true, said through Kai's other words and action. Even hearing it from Robert was enough to send his heart racing.

"How do you know?"

Robert smiled, the twist of his lips oddly affectionate after his earlier anger. "I may not have had much contact with my partner and the rest of our group, but Kai and I stayed in contact. He has never been good at hiding his feelings for you, at least not to me."

"You were the one he was always talking to in the evenings."

Draining his glass Robert set it aside. "Yes. Now, might I suggest you seek out my cousin and fix what Johnny has almost managed to break. I detest the way the both of you have been moping around my castle and disrupting mine and Bryan's peace."

Gathering up his blanket Rei slid out of the chair and smiled at the older man, knowing Robert didn't actually mind their presence. "Thank you Robert. And I hope Bryan returns safely."

The flash of surprise across Robert's face at his hopes for Bryan sent another thrill of happiness down Rei's spine and strode out of the room, needing desperately to find Kai.

Rei dropped the blanket to the floor as he entered his room before starting on the massive job of unbraiding his hair. Once most of the knots and tangles had been removed he entered the bathroom, freezing at what greeted him on the vanity.

It was a brand new tube of waterproof lubrication setting on a piece of paper. Big block letters across the paper read "Put it to good use before I lock the two of you in the pantry."

The short note was signed only by a smiley face, but knowing the handwriting was Bryan's was enough to make the simple smiley a demonic presence.

Rei snatched up the lube and tossed it in the shower before stripping down. He got the water set to just where he liked it, just short of scalding and slipped in. The scrub down he gave himself was perfunctory at best. Twisting his hair into a knot at the base of his skull Rei opened the lube and squeezed some onto his fingers.

Casting the tube aside Rei rested one foot on the ledge of the tub and braced an arm against the cool tile, forehead against his arm. He took a deep breath before reaching back, jumping a little as he smoothed the slick across his entrance.

He worked slowly, rubbing his fingers around his anus, imaging it was Kai's fingers, wanting to feel the Russian pressed against his back. Biting on his lower lip he slowly pressed one digit inside, twisting, and desperately hoping to hit his prostate.

Lightning pleasure raced through his body and Rei gasped before pressing another finger inside, pressing against his prostate again.

In his mind it was Kai behind him, long callused fingers sliding in him with ease, that low voice promising him everything.

The three weeks since Kai had last touched him were heavy in his mind and Rei rocked back against his fingers, panting as he sank another finger into his body, heedless of the odd angle of his wrist, needing to feel the pleasure, wanting Kai more than he ever had before.

Arousal heavy in the pit of his stomach Rei eased his fingers from his body and turned the water off. He needed to come, but even more he needed Kai and he knew his fingers and hand wouldn't be enough.

Tracing a thumb over the damp head of his cock Rei picked up the lube and stepped out of the shower. The door in the far wall lead to Kai's room and Rei unlocked the door that had kept his lover away for three weeks as he had locked his door into the bathroom every night, still too conflicted to even run the risk of seeing Kai. It swung open on well-oiled hinges and he lingered in the doorway, taking the moment to look at his partner.

Despite the fact the sun was still setting, bathing the room in warm tones Kai was already asleep on his back, one arm above his head, the other draped across his stomach. His head was turned towards the door, mouth slack in sleep, the familiar, well-loved lines of his face softened in sleep. The dark sheets were twisted around his leg, emphasizing the paleness of his skin.

Hand tightening around the tube of lube Rei padded into the room gratified when his partner didn't move. Kai only slept that well when he felt completely safe and the only other place he slept like this was in their Moscow penthouse.

Kneeling on the bed, cock hot and heavy against his stomach Rei carefully caught the edge of the sheet and pulled it down to reveal Kai to his gaze. His lover's legs were parted, cock half hard against his thigh, the silver ring through the head bright even in the dimness of the room.

Rei moved between Kai's parted legs, legs skimming up strong muscle in a touch too heavy to be teasing but light enough to keep from rousing him. Curling his hands around lean hips he leaned down to press a kiss to the edge of Kai's navel, tongue darting out to taste smooth skin.

Kai shifted under him and Rei pulled back waiting until his lover settled with a quiet murmur. Body aching with the need to feel Kai stretch him wide Rei uncapped the lube and squeezed some onto his hand. Tossing the bottle aside he wrapped his hand around Kai's cock and stroked him, spreading it as it hardened and lengthened, the heft of it familiar across his palm.

A murmur had Rei raising his head to find Kai staring at him, dark eyes hooded and confused. Taking advantage of his lover's confusion Rei released his cock and smoothed the rest of the lube over his entrance before moving to straddle him. He reached back and squeezing Kai's cock one last time slid down on it, breath leaving his body in a strangled moan that bore only a passing resemblance to his lover's name.

Strong fingers dug into his hips as he settled into a hard rhythm, needing to come, needing to feel Kai pierce him through. Kai matched his every thrust, fingers on his hips biting in each time they came together and Rei knew he'd have bruises in the morning but he couldn't care because it meant Kai wanted him.

A hand slid from his hip upwards, fingers rolling a nipple before pinching hard, sending a spasm of pain through his body, mixing with the pleasure and sending him even higher. The fingers gentled and slid to touch the tattoo on his chest, stroking the bold lines reverently.

"Rei, look at me."

Kai's voice was a mere rasp in the silence of the room, but compelling and Rei met his gaze. His lover's dark eyes were razor sharp, entirely focused on him, letting him see everything he'd known for five years, that what was between them was unbreakable despite Johnny's best attempt.

The hand on his chest slid lower, wrapping around his cock and squeezing once before he was coming, milky fluid spattering Kai's chest and hand. Hands digging into Kai's shoulders he continued to ride out his orgasm, rocking back against his lover's cock until Kai was coming too, body trembling under him.

Finally it was too much and he collapsed against Kai, face pressed into his lover's neck. Arms came up around him cradling him close and he drifted to sleep with Kai slowly softening inside him.