GabZ – Glad you liked it. Rey's fans will have to forgive me (or not) but to me the only reason Bryan would lose to Rei was if Tala told him so. The redhead is the leader of the D-boys after all.

My Sweet Little Pain

I let out a tired sight. This is it, I would finally be finished. Whatever plans Boris had for me, it would end today. Tyson didn't stand a chance.

Did I?

Bryan regained consciousness, eyes clear and deep staring at me like always. Still, I know this state won't last long. He took considerable damage, and the effort to control Falborg can be unbearable sometimes. Soon he'll be forced back to unconsciousness and I'll be lucky if I'd be still alive when he wakes up.

That doesn't ease his grip on my sleeve though.

"Come back." – he says in a raspy voice. And I know he's not talking about the recently emptied spot on the bench.

But I can't promise him anything. He knows that too. That's why he doesn't fight when I slowly pry his fingers away from me. Still, there is just one way to pry those untamable and even annoyed eyes from me.

And Bryan knows that too.

Guess we deserve each other.

"I'm sorry." –can't help but whisper when I finally free myself from his death grip.

"I know. I heard the first time. "

-x-

I'm trapped inside myself.

My memories are nothing but mist and pain. I see my body moving, hear my own voice, yet it's somebody else's. Someone created to be in control.

Cyber Tala.

Is that everything I am now?

There's a boy lying on the bed next to mine. His sharp untamable eyes are staring at me, unblinking. He is stabbing me, I just know it.

But I feel nothing. It means nothing.

Suddenly the boy opens his mouth.

"I should kill you." – he says in a monotone voice.

"Why?" – I hear myself asking, even if I don't care about the answer.

"Cause you're dead." – he states, seeming just as uninterested as I was.

"I can't be dead, I'm talking to you. "

"Oh, but you are." – his lips twist in a strange way – "You just don't know yet."

I frown. How can such a stupid person be my roommate?

"That's why you'll lose tomorrow."

I feel my eyes narrowing and the ice inside me responds with the same fury.

"I won't lose." – my voice is nothing but ice, but the boy seemed unfazed. Briefly, I wonder why – "Say that again and I will kill you."

His lips are twisting again. He gets up, pulling a knife from under his pillow and walks slowly to me. My heart is steady; my body is cold and unfeeling. Yet, something on that scene seemed to trigger something else. A memory?

"You can try." – he puts the knife on my hand, eyes never leaving mines – "But if you do, I won't be there to help you."

"I don't need your help." – I clench my fingers on the knife's handle. All that matter is Boris' voice echoing in my head, giving me directions. If I really kill this moron, will I hear it better?

"You do." – the boy walks away to lie on his bed once again – "We both know you hate to be dead. "

With that, the boy was out, sleeping away whatever problems he had.

Staring unblinking at the ceiling, knife still in hand, I never envied a boy so much.

-x-

Everything is going according to plan. I'm winning, that Tyson-brat is talking nonsense in hopes to pull off a miracle, and there's a six foot tall ice wall preventing anyone to see what I'm about to do to him.

Then why I feel so uncomfortable? I have my orders! I have to execute them, no matter what! Hell! Boris is screaming in my head so loud I can't even hear my own thoughts and, if even this is not enough, I know damn well victory is life!

So why something feels…off?

Tyson is up now, screaming something at the top of his half frozen lungs. He's talking about friendship and how bad it is to try take over the world. Honestly, he should be complaining to Boris, not to me. I'm just a tool. I'm…

"You're dead. You just don't know yet."

Something inside me clenches so tight I miss my target, letting Tyson get away and regroup. Not that he does it. The brat prefers to keep on his stupid speech. Can't he see I'm not listening?

Apparently, he can. He's screaming a lot louder now, eyes stabbing mines.

Stab…like a knife…

Next thing I know Tyson is attacking and I'm too damn slow to dodge. Wolborg is send flying over the beystadium, landing smoothly on the ice. Still, there was some damage and Wolborg wobbles a little. And I…

I caught myself…longing?

Idiot! Focus! – I try to scream but Boris voice is so loud I can barely heard my own thoughts. On the ground, Wolborg wobbles a little more, seeming just as confuse. Shit! I have to do something before…

"That's why you'll lose tomorrow."

I scream in rage and attack, sending all the ice I had straight to Tyson. His eyes are wide with fear and shock and…and…

Why wide? It shouldn't be wide. Eyes…eyes should be sharp and hollow and almost sad. Like a blade or a knife or…a thorn.

Boris screams so loud in my head I nearly cry out. My body is still, solid like a rock yet I can feel myself crumbling on the inside, becoming nothing but a useless pile of broken pieces. It hurts and I can't understand why. I shouldn't feel a thing! Not anymore!

But the pain was still there, swallowing everything. My thoughts, my plan, even Boris orders began to fade, giving to the pain. My body kept attacking but I'm doomed. Deep down I know it.

Tyson calls out for Dragoon and start building up whatever power they have left. I do the same with Wolborg. It's the final blow and the winner will take it all. And I will win. I will claim the victory and power. I'll claim my own life!

Maybe this pain will fade away after that?

For a split second I swear I felt someone on my back, staring straight at me like my ridiculously big ice wall was nothing. But it was impossible; no one was looking at me. I had no one. Boris and his orders are all that matter! My roommate's unfazed face flash before my eyes, clenching my heart like I never felt before, screaming to me to look back, but it still doesn't matter! Nothing does!

I stare at Tyson, he stares back. We're ready.

3…2…1..

"Tala!"

-x-

He is right behind me.

Who is he? I don't know. I don't dare look back.

He's probably someone sent to punish me. I'll see his face soon enough.

After all, I lost.

Tyson is offering his hand with a big smile, like we haven't just tried to kill each other. I do some damage control and shake his hand.

He is still behind me.

A ghost of a chill touches the back of my neck and slowly runs over my spine. I force myself to stand still and say something to Tyson like a good loser.

Then, I retreat.

His steps don't make any sound but I know he's here, like a shadow of sorts. A cold, sharp shadow that follows only me.

My heart misses a beat and I caught myself longing again.

Why?

The locker room pops up from nowhere over my right. Just a couple more steps and I'll be inside. Something inside me twists and begs. I don't know what is it but I feel like begging too.

Just a little more…

The floor disappears. Everything goes dark.

He catches me.