Review Replies
Petalwhisker: Thanks ever so much for your review! I'm so happy you liked the chapter and that you love the story! I am forever staying up late, the earliest I've ever gone to bed I think is about 2am, haha, I really should start going to bed sooner cause I'm knackered next morning but...never mind! Anyway, thanks again for your review, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
suzanne: Thanks so much for the review! Yup, things are heating up and coming to the climax of the story, nearly finished it now. OO! I'm so happy happy happy you like my stories! I intend to finish Beat Of A Dammed Lover before I start back on my others, but that shouldn't be too long now despite the fact I've had the longest writer's block EVER! Thanks again!
And we're back with chapter Twenty Five! WOO! I do hope you've enjoyed the story so far and may you continue to do so until the very end!
WARNINGS: Mild death - don't worry, no one important. Seriously bad driving - yeah, I had my first crash not so long back, I shouldn't be proud but I got away with paying absolutely nothing! Grammar maybe isn't up to scratch. Possible mistakes, although I have been through this thing like five times I was tired so the words were kinda blurring together.
Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade, nor any of its characters. Any unknown characters most likely belong to me.
Enjoy!
Chapter Twenty-Five: Subliminal Threats
Smoke billowed out from a grating in the ground; it led down to the cellars below where shouts could be heard and men were bellowing at each other. From somewhere within this giant building a fire alarm was singing loudly in to the chaos. And through the confusion and rising smoke that bulged from every available orifice five shadows skipped their way along the side of the building whispering furiously to each other.
"Kenny, I am not going to forgive you for this!"
"What's your problem? We escaped, didn't we?"
"But my hat! You BURNT my hat!"
"Shh! Tyson, keep your voice down!" Hilary hissed at him "we've no time for this!"
She peered round a sharp corner of the building and gave a small breath of relief; they'd nearly made it to the front of the building, in the parking area several cars sat unguarded as security were round the back of the building still in search of the five idiots who had somehow managed to slip passed them.
"He burnt my hat!" Tyson protested, "that hat was my pride and joy! My baby! My beloved-"
"Oh for crying out loud, I'll buy you a new one!" Kenny snapped irritably as Max leant round Hilary to see for himself "right now we have bigger problems than your stupid hat, how are we going to get out of here?"
"Well, if someone knows how to jumpstart a car we'll be on our way" Max whispered back over his shoulder.
"Do I look like I know how to jumpstart a car?" Tyson answered back in low whistling tones.
"Oh come on, it can't be that difficult" Max reasoned still peering round Hilary "people do it all the time"
Hilary rose her eyebrows and gave him a look "do YOU know how to jumpstart a car?"
Max mumbled and then admitted "no…but I've seen it in movies"
"Oh really, they give a step by step demonstration, do they?"
"It can't be that hard" Max said again "kids are always jumpstarting, that's how they go joy riding"
"Well, next time you see a kid stealing a car, you'll know to ask for an instruction guide"
"There's no need to be like that"
"Then don't act so stupid!"
"Alright, it was only a-"
"Guys, this isn't helping anything" Kenny appeared at their side and gave Max a smack "we need to come up with a solution"
"We could always just find out which car these belong to"
As one Max, Hilary, Kenny and Tyson turned round and looked at the smallest member of the group; Daichi was holding aloft a set of car keys and blinking expectantly at his friends.
"Oh, Daichi, I think I love you!" Tyson cooed, "I swear I could kiss you!"
Daichi looked rather alarmed at this as Max reached forth and took the keys from him; ordering the others to stay put Tyson and Max crept out from their wall and dived behind a convenient tree. Peering round they crept to the next tree and the next, until they reached the cars.
Experimentally Max tried his luck with the nearest one.
"Well?" asked Tyson looking around frantically.
"Nope"
"Try the next"
They darted round the first car and tried the second. And the third. And forth. Fifth. Sixth. Seventh. Eighth. Ninth. Tenth-
"Got it!" Max cheered quietly as the key slipped easily in to the lock and there was a click.
Tyson wafted a hand over the top of the cars and gestured to the others still by the wall; he turned back as Max handed him the keys.
"What are you giving me these for?"
"I don't know how to drive"
"Well neither do I"
"I'm sure you can learn" Max clapped Tyson on the shoulder and slid in to the passenger seat just as Hilary, Kenny and Daichi reached them.
Hilary gave Tyson a dubious look "do you know how to drive?"
"No, do you?"
"No"
"Ah" Tyson nodded with a sigh and gave the car a critical look "it can't be that hard"
"Of course not, just do the opposite of what grandpa does" Kenny instructed as he piled in to the back along with Hilary and Daichi.
"Right" Tyson nodded and skipped round to the driver's side "note to self, if I make out of here alive then book driving lessons" he clambered in and shut the door. There was a pause during which Tyson cast an eye over the dials and levers that were littered across the dashboard "oh boy"
Rolling her eyes Hilary leant forward from the back and whispered in his ear "cars tend to work a lot easier if you put the key in the ignition"
Tyson scowled at her but did as he was told; he turned the key and the engine roared in to life, Tyson removed the handbrake as he'd seen his grandpa do a thousand times and pushed the stick up until it rested against the letter R, which Tyson took to mean reverse.
"Uh, Tyson" Max patted his friend on the shoulder.
"Kinda busy here, Max"
"This is urgent"
Tyson looked up.
Tyson screamed.
Matthew Hiwatari, Kai's father, was standing in front of the car looming darkly over them like a tall shadow; he blocked out the sunlight and gazed down at them all, his arms were folded and his glare was dark.
Max lifted his eyebrows "not bad" he commented "but Kai's still scarier"
From the back Hilary growled in frustration "hit the gas!" she screeched.
Tyson leapt in to action; his foot slammed down on what he hoped was the gas, the car shot back twenty feet its wheels spinning against the gravel as they skidded on to the driveway. Somehow as he flew backwards Tyson grabbed on to the steering wheel and turned it round three times; they span on the spot, Hilary screamed and Kenny clung on to the seat for dear life.
Matthew Hiwatari was already running for a big Harley bike that was parked on its own; he jumped on to it and started up, revving as the bike surged forwards. By sheer luck and something Tyson would later protest as natural skill the car had was now roughly facing the huge double main gates that led out in to Russia. Adjusting the car Tyson roared up the driveway and the car screamed forwards, wheels spinning and engine burning, and Matthew Hiwatari came closer behind.
The rest of the car journey was a mixture of blurred road and shouted out instructions, none of which Tyson heard.
"Mind that tree!"
"Keep to the left side of the road! We don't want any crashes!"
"In that case we'd better drive on the right side of the road! In Russia you drive on the right"
"No you don't!"
"Yes you do!"
"Don't!"
"Do!"
"Don't!"
"Oh drive through middle!"
"Look out for that bush!"
"Go faster, he's gaining on us!"
"Faster, Tyson, faster!"
"Don't slow down!"
"Oh no, we're going to die!"
"Kenny, don't be so dramatic!"
"Watch out for that statue!"
"Don't drive off the edge of the road!"
"TYSON, WATCH OUT FOR THE GATE POST!"
Tyson saw it just in time and veered off to the left; the car shot out of the main gates and the dragon hit the brakes as hard as he could. The car skidded forward, rubber burning; the other side of the road was zooming towards them closer and closer. They all screamed. The wall was coming closer. And closer. They were going to crash. They were going to-
The car lurched to a halt centimetres from the wall and Tyson let his head fall back with a cry of relief; the others breathed out huge sighs and Kenny laughed hysterically.
"Guys" Hilary was looking through the back window and prodding Tyson's shoulder.
The dragon looked back and gasped; black smoke expanded from the main gates almost clogging everything, the air was rank with fumes that caught in the throat and the small flickering of a fire had lit. The huge bike was abandoned on its side its engine still rumbling. Matthew Hiwatari lay some metres away, his body still and his arm flung out in a broken position.
Tyson swallowed "guess he didn't miss the gate post"
The motor bike sped away and snow flew out in the vast expanse; left behind stood two tall figures both watching with grim expressions as the bike disappeared from sight. Kai wasn't happy. Tala was a traitor, someone not to be trusted. And yet Ray was with him, determined to believe that there was some good in the redhead.
A frown marred his crimson eyes as he continued to stare down the empty road. Had he been too hard on Ray? Maybe the neko-jin would have kept Black Dranzer secret, just like Kai had asked of him.
No, the risk was too great.
Tala was still in league with Boris and if Boris got his hands on Black Dranzer then hell would break loose.
Beside the phoenix Bryan stood with his hands shoved deep in to his pockets; he scuffed the ground with his boot and kicked the snow. It was cold all the way out here, the wind was sharp and the sky above was dull. Most likely it would snow soon. Bryan looked sideways at Kai who stood so still; they had taken a stand together, when Tala the traitor had faced them they had kept as a team. So what did that mean? Did it mean anything? Was it even worth knowing? Would Kai only turn away? The falcon cursed silently under his breath and shook himself. He didn't need Kai's approval. He didn't need Kai.
But when they'd had…when they'd had something…Bryan had liked it; he'd enjoyed it, it had been good. Kai had been something Bryan had never had before and he'd liked that. Bryan wanted that back. He cursed himself again but he wanted it back. He just didn't know how to get it. He grimaced at the ground and kicked it again.
"You didn't go with Tala"
The falcon looked up quickly "what?"
"When Tala was here you did not join him"
"Why would I? He's a traitor" Bryan replied with some confusion.
"He's your Captain"
"So?"
The phoenix looked at him for the first time "didn't you swear always to follow your Captain?"
"…Yeah" Bryan nodded slowly, he didn't know what else to say "so what?"
"I merely thought that meant you would follow Tala no matter where he went"
"So long as I feel like it" Bryan added "and I don't feel like it"
Kai nodded "I see"
A silence fell again and it was filled only by the wind which swept down from the higher ground where the air was even colder. But the freezing land didn't bother Kai. He could feel it. Black Dranzer. It was burning in to his pocket; calling to him, reaching out for his lust and need for power. He could almost hear it. He knew it wanted him to touch, to slide a hand in to his pocket and take it out.
His jaw tightened and he forcibly dragged his hands away; Black Dranzer wasn't going to control him, not again. He wouldn't be so weak. His fingers tingled impatiently, Black Dranzer rustled restlessly; it was like a low sweet sound that was only meant for Kai. The black phoenix was singing to him, and it wanted him; Kai's hand twitched subconsciously as a flare of teasing power swept up his body like a hot flush.
His fingers felt cold and heavy but his touch was light as the decision not to be called by Black Dranzer ever again faded away in to blurred words that felt fuzzy in Kai's brain. He could see Black Dranzer, those eyes burning in to him; his brain was shutting down and all he could see was the great black wings rising up to shake themselves out and the beak was lifted up and stretched luxuriously as Kai's resolve weakened.
It was the one thing in the world that could break him: power, it was his hunger, his desire; because that was the one thing he'd been taught to crave. Block away it all, save the hunger for power. It had been his downfall time and time again, now it was happening once more; because Black Dranzer was in his hand, rested silently on his palm. It flashed in the light of the sky-
A hand clamped down on him, hard and cruel; Kai lashed out, sending his attacker flying, there was a curse and a thud to which the phoenix gave no attention as he gazed back at the Bitbeast before him-
Next thing he knew he was being rugby tackled down; the two bodies crashed in to the snow and grappled together as Black Dranzer was stolen from him. The Black phoenix screamed out in fury and the part of Kai's head that belong to the beast launched forwards striking out at the one who tore them apart-
"Snap outta it!" Bryan snarled forcing Kai's hand back; he straddled the phoenix's waist and pushed Kai down harder. The phoenix struggled back but Bryan was ready this time and he caged in the body beneath him. Black Dranzer had been flung from Kai's clasp; it landed without sound in to the snow where it flashed angrily as its attempt to prey on Kai's weakness failed thanks to the rough falcon.
Kai's chest was heaving and he felt as if he'd opened his eyes from a heavy and drugged sleep; all he could see above him was Bryan's face, close to his, scrunched in a snarl as the falcon fought to keep control. Kai turned his head to look at the Bitbeast in the snow and Bryan's hot breath blew on the side of his face; he looked back at the falcon above him and relaxed. Their noses were almost touching, the gap between their mouths almost a solid object instead of thin air; their eyes locked as something other than a hunger for power rustled within them.
It was a hunger, but of another kind and almost as one they felt the hankering of another's body, of another's taste; Bryan licked his lips in anticipation and a thrill buzzed when the crimson eyes lowered to watch, the excitement grew and, despite the cold wet snow soaking in to their clothes, the air was hot-
"Well, what do we have here?"
Bryan pulled away from Kai and sat up to look with startled aggravation at the man standing over them; Kai too sat up, and looked over his shoulder at the man he'd half expected to see since he'd learnt the truth. He turned away, facing Bryan rather than the man behind him.
"I was wondering when you would find me" he said emotionlessly "it took longer than I thought"
Tony glared, angered by the mere sight of Kai who still sat so close to the falcon "but I still found you!"
"That may be" the phoenix conceded "but I still gave you more credit than you're worth"
Tony sneered, tempted to reply scathingly; but, then like the flick of a switch, he brightened and a crude ugly smile spread across his mouth "that hardly matters now, Hiwatari, because I'm going to kill you"
The bike had slowed its speed as it had hit Moscow and the wind did not whip passed them so cruelly; but still the neko-jin was frozen, clinging to Tala's back like a solidified backpack. His fingers were numb and his shivering had ceased a good ten minutes ago; his body had gone in to shut down and Ray felt he would never move again.
But that didn't bother him, not nearly as much as something else that plagued him; because he was becoming scared that he'd been wrong, it was worrying him that he'd been wrong about Tala. Totally wrong.
He hadn't felt any concern until they'd reached Moscow; Ray hadn't asked where Tala was going and to begin with hadn't felt he needed to, but now the wolf sped on with such purpose that Ray began to wonder. As soon as they'd reached the city they'd left the main roads and instead clung to the empty back streets where the wind wailed down like a cold monstrous scream. Once or twice he'd thought about asking Tala, or making the wolf stop; but his lips were too frozen together, and Ray wasn't sure now Tala would stop if he asked him.
It wasn't until they'd passed the train station, skipping over a main road and down a back alley, that Ray suddenly had a bad feeling he knew where they were headed. The feeling had grown worse when Tala had slowed and paused the bike briefly to call someone; the conversation had been short and in Russian, meaning the neko-jin hadn't understood anything.
It had occurred to the tiger that he should try to disembark; but he hadn't moved. He hadn't known why and, when Tala had put away his phone and started the bike once, Ray had kicked himself for being stupid. Maybe it was because he was still trying to believe that there was good in Tala, still something human that Ray could find again.
He knew he'd found in that shed they'd shared; there had been something in Tala then, desire, hunger, something that revealed a human aspect. And Ray had found it. Maybe he could find it again. Maybe all wasn't lost.
But he began to rethink his hopes when they slowed at the main gates of the abandoned Abbey; Tala brought the bike to a halt and ceased the engine, pushing Ray back he propped the bike up and clambered off.
"Get off" he said to the neko-jin who sat still frozen to the seat.
"What are we doing here?" Ray asked softly as he hugged himself, squeezing his arms tightly to revive life back in to them.
Tala looked back at him, and for a moment they shared a look which Tala expected the tiger to break at any moment "if you don't know the answer then you're stupid" he replied coldly as he knelt down to lift up his trouser leg.
"I know the answer" the neko-jin whispered as Tala pulled a small gun strapped to his shin, Ray had caught a glimpse of it before but Tala had kept it close and out of his reach "but I want you to tell me any way"
"What's the point in that?" the wolf asked now standing back up and slipping the gun in to his inside pocket.
Ray looked at him, locking the icy blue with his golden "because I want you to admit to what you're doing"
Tala stared back and for a moment he didn't answer, then his jaw tightened and he said in a blank voice "I'm going to give you to Boris. It will be a token of my loyalty, and he will trust me again"
"And then you're going to kill him" Ray finished.
"If you already knew that, what was the point in asking?"
"I wanted to see if you felt any sense of wrong"
The redhead snorted "and why should I feel that?"
"Because I don't want you to do this" Ray replied, he leant forward in his seat to look closer at the wolf, not letting their gazes part "please, Tala. You know what he'll do to me, and you'll have to let him experiment on me before he even thinks of trusting you again"
"It's no skin off my nose" the redhead shrugged "you're the fool for thinking I felt anything for you"
And there you have, Tala the badass as always. So that's me updated, I can now return to my checklist, do a little study and then return to the highlight of the early eveing: watching Supernatural! I love Dean and Sam!
I do hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Please feel free to review, give me your thoughts.
Thanks for reading!
Kisses
Kiki