Heeeeeey new and fast update. I figure since you guys have waited so long in general, I'd do my best to update very very soon.
Please read all of this because at one part I know a few of you might be rolling you eyes but I guarantee it will be incredibly satisfying. Time to explore more of the boys relationship with each other and of course Tala's own personal battle about his mother.
I hope you guys enjoy this chapter.
It had been a few days since Kai was re-admitted to the hospital. He was not only suffering physical wounds, but emotional as well. The Blitzkrieg Boys got word that he'd need to be transferred to a mental health care facility. All things considering, Tala thought that'd be best. After seeing Kai's breakdown in front of the house with that crazed look, it was clear that Kai suffered more than Tala. He was quiet, had a bad attitude most of the time, rarely smiled, and like them was at the Abbey...but what purpose did that serve?
Kai had a grandfather, a very rich grandfather, why would Kai be at the Abbey? The other boys he knew were orphans, or were abandoned, some he had known as children left on the doorstep. Others were sent from the far reaches of Russia to the Abbey. Forgotten, forsaken, left at the Abbey. Perhaps they were not completely heartless...they couldn't have known what type of place that monastery was. But as for Kai, why was he sent there? Tala sat in his computer chair, going through beyblade parts as he thought.
Wyatt. The name Kai repeated in his hallucination...someone from his past maybe? Voltaire, his grandfather who didn't seem to let his grasp on Kai go. The redhead was curious about it, and it was a welcomed distraction from his own personal life. A question that rang in his head, where was Voltaire now?
"Someone as powerful as him...he couldn't get convicted even with a paper trail…"Tala spoke to himself. Boris' trial would be soon. Maybe now they could finally be rid of him from their lives. He had no escape now, no tundra to run to. However, Voltaire was still a problem. He had contacted Kai on the island, and the wolf still wanted to know what Kai was doing as he left that day.
He shook his head and stood, putting his shopping list in his pocket and heading out of the house to get more supplies. He blade had been destroyed, and he needed a new one. Metal of course, but perhaps the metal he had used previously was too weak. Strong but light. That's what he needed. Once he got a new blade...Wolborg would return...wouldn't she?
With thoughts weighing heavy on his mind he approached the clerk in a beyblade store. Once his business was done there he walked into Red Square, just enjoying the walk to nowhere. The sound of beyblade's clanking and cheering filled his ears, but a voice cut through, and burned.
It was high pitched, annoying, and made his stomach turn. Turning his head to look he saw the young red-haired girl. The one who he saw in the hospital with his mother. She was at a beydish battling a boy, with Susumu acting as the referee. Tala should have known better. Moscow was large, but Red Square was a tourist attraction, and where most of the bladers gathered for battles.
"Go Cosmos!" the girl cried, her ice-blue beyblade knocked the other out of the dish, and she was declared the winner of the match.
Susumu kneeled down beside her and started to give her pointers. She did well, but there were certain ways she could launch her blade, when to engage, when to defend, but it was all constructive to help her improve and mixed with lots of praise.
Tala glared when he saw a redhaired woman approach him. Natasha Volkov, or so she use to be, but now: traitor. Her expression seemed sullen,but when the girl approached her a fake smile plastered her face. Fake sincerity, fake interest, fake, fake fake. That's all she was now.
The wolf grit his teeth as he watched the happy family. How picture perfect. Tala was no idiot, it was obvious to him. His mother had created a new family. The girl resembled her mother, just as Tala did. The difference was the eyes. Tala's eyes were icy, cold, focused, while the girls eyes brimmed with naivety and comfort. Happiness. With a heavy feeling in his chest he disappeared into the crowd to find a place to set up. Tala stayed where he could see the family, but was far enough away where he would not be spotted by them.
"You like this, don't you?" Natasha asked the girl with a smile.
"Mhm. Beybladeing is the best. One day I'll be like big-brother!" The girl smiled widely.
Susumu smiled, "well...you have a long way to go before then."
"I want to enter the championships."
Susumu's face hardened as his daughter spoke of Kai, about how she would challenge him, how she would beat Tyson and become the new champion. She had been involved with beyblading almost her entire life because of her father. She grew up watching the championships, and designed her very first beyblade, the one she had named Cosmos. So far it was undefeated in street battles, but Susumu didn't think it would hold up in the championships...so he said
"Then I'll help you design a special blade for it." Susumu smiled.
Natasha watched the girl as she ran off to challenged another blader, then looked at Susumu.
"Tala...the boy on Kai's team...he is my son…" Natasha sighed, "He's from a previous marriage...I didn't think I'd see him again…"
"I'm familiar with him. Tala and the Blitzkreig Boys...previously the Demolition Boys. They're a strong team. You never knew?"
"I didn't. I told you I've never been much into beyblading, I hardly know anything about it…I wouldn't know about the championships or-well any of the teams…"
"So Risa has two brothers...I wonder how she'll react when she hears the news that she has another big-brother to look up to." Susumu scratched the back of his neck, not sure how to react to the news of being a stepfather, or that Natasha had hidden something so important from him.
Cosmos has knocked another blade from the arena. Risa smiled proudly as she caught her blade.
"Papa how'd I do that time?"
"Hm? O-oh, fine…."
She puffed out her cheeks, "you weren't even WATCHING were you?"
Susumu showed a guilty smile, but soon Risa's anger turned into a smile as well. It was okay, she'd just show him again.
"Cosmos…"Tala said, approaching the dish. Risa blinked and looked over her shoulder, her mouth dropped open.
"Y-y-you're Tala! Tala from the Blitzkreig Boys!"
Natasha pulled her eyebrows together, she walked forward to approach him, but he shot her an icy glare. It was a warning to her. Nervous, she clasped her hands together in a praying situation as tears filled her eyes. Susumu's hand touched her shoulder comfortingly.
"Oh my gosh! Can I shake your hand?! Can I have an autograph?! You're Kai's partner aren't you-oh wow this is so cool I'm a really big fan of your team and I never thought I'd get to see Russia but anyway I want to join the championships so I'll see you there right? That'd be so cool I mean if we could fight each other for the title. My name is Risa! I've been blading for such a long time and I've followed practically all of your matches hehe you're pretty scary oh my gosh I must be so boring-"
"How about less talking and more blading?" Tala interrupted her, barely able to stand her voice any longer.
"Blade? You and I?" Risa sounded shock.
"Did you not hear me?"Tala readied his launcher.
Natasha worriedly looked between Tala and Risa. Could this be a good thing? Was Tala reaching out? Perhaps it was good...even if Tala was angry at her, he wouldn't take it out on Risa. She was innocent in all this.
"Oh!" Risa fumbled with her launcher.
Susumu looked a little worried, but Natasha assured him everything was fine. Tala wouldn't hurt her. But Susumu's distrust came from his knowledge of beyblading. The redheaded man who stood across from his daughter was infamous for his power and ruthlessness while blading. However, Natasha assured him that Tala would not hurt Risa. That he had figured out Risa was his sister, and there'd be no way Tala would ever harm his family. He cared too much, he loved too much, and it would make Risa so happy to find out after the battle that Tala was her brother.
"Uhm…"Before starting the match Susumu went to Risa and whispered in her ear. Tala's weak points while blading, and briefly gave her a strategy of when to attack.
"Blader's ready? 3….2….1!" He yelled.
Tala launched his blade simultaneously with Risa. Once it began, Tala watched as her blade attacked his.
Just as I thought...she's weak…
"Wow...You're good."Tala smiled.
Risa's eyes lit up, "You think so? I told you, I'm going to join the championships this year!"
"I see…"Tala's blade was being knocked around by Cosmos. It appeared that Risa was winning. Each hit made Risa's confidence grow, along with her happiness from the compliment from Tala.
Natasha sighed in relief as she watched Tala battle Risa.
Tala's icy eyes drifted to the ground, as a slam made his blade teeter on the edge.
"I bet your daddy taught you...didn't he?"
"That's right! Soon I'll be the best blader around! I got ya! Cosmos! Judgment!"She yelled, moving in for the final attack.
A twisted smirk appeared on Tala's face as he peered at her with a haunting gaze. His blade smashed into hers, causing it to fly back and wobble, sparks rising from underneath as it tried to rebalance.
"O-oh no!" Risa frowned, "Well, I'm still not out yet!"
"You've been blading for a long time, with your father right...and...your mother?"Tala's eyes switched to Natasha who looked away in shame.
"That's right. I love blading! I've never lost a match with this blade. Here I come!"
Her blade moved in a zig-zag formation and dodged an attack from Tala, before reversing and slamming him from behind.
"You think you're good enough to be in the championships?"
"I've trained all my life! I love this. There's nothing else I'd rather do but beyblade all the time, blade because I love it, and compete with others who love it as much as I do!" Her eyes glimmered as a smile crossed her face.
"It's fun, isn't it? To just blade. With friends, with strangers, it doesn't matter. It's the love of the game that matters, even if you lose...at least you tried your best!" A cute and sweet smile crossed her face as she gazed at Tala.
"Heh…"Tala closed his eyes, a smirk appeared on his face once more. When he opened his eyes they were cold, dangerous.
"Wolborg! Attack!" He ordered as his silver blade charged at Cosmos, Risa dodged it, or so she thought until Wolborg whipped around and collided into hers with a strong force.
Risa gasped, "Cosmos!" her blade had shattered into tiny pieces. It hadn't fell apart, it completely broke into thousands of irreparable pieces.
The girl stood there, completely stunned.
"You're no beyblader...I was hoping you'd surprise me and give me a challenge! There's bladers who haven't been spinning as long as you with more talent…"Tala scoffed.
Susumu glared and began to storm over.
"But...I never lost….C-Cosmos…"Risa reached for the remnants of her blade.
"Face it kid, you're not ready for the big leagues. Give up."
"Tala!" Natasha snapped at him.
"Of course your father would tell you you had potential, that you will be the best, but they are all lies. You're trash."
Once Susumu got close to Tala, in a swift motion Tala backhanded the man and sent him spiraling to the ground.
"Let that be your first lesson in beyblading. You are nothing special. Absolutely nothing about you is remarkable, or stands-out. Your power, your form, even your blade are all….trash." Tala collected his blade and exitted the crowd.
Natasha had rushed to Susumu's side who had a large red mark forming.
"That bratt…"Susumu snapped under his breath.
Risa had fallen to her knees tears in her eyes at her broken blade, and even more hurt at the words of Tala. She was trash? He said she was good...but that was a lie.
"Papa….why….why did I lose? What did I do wrong?"she cried.
As Tala walked the street, snow began to fall from the sky. In time, there'd be a new layer of snow covering the ground, covering everything. The twisted smirk from before still occupied Tala's face. Small intervals of mad laughter escaped him as he walked, before he collapsed in an alley-way and let out his roaring and mocking laughter. Her face, he enjoyed her face. Such happiness crushed within seconds, such confidence destroyed.
Her face! The look on her face!
Tala held his sides and fell over laughing, tears in his eyes from such hard laughter. If she found him, challenged him again, he'd destroy her over and over. No mercy, no survivors, he'd break her blade as many time as it took before she admitted defeat. Yes. She'd be so humiliated she'd never want to hear the word beyblade again. The thought of it would turn her stomach, would cause her to cry, would make her vomit. Her eyes would reflect shame and defeat. He would teach her, he'd be a good brother and teach her pain, teach her how the world really was.
"Hahahaha! She-she thought she...ahahaha she thought she had a chance! She thought she was someone!"He roared.
Sweeter than Risa's look of defeat, was the look of his mother's face during the final blow. She looked frightened, horrified, shocked, and appalled. Yes...how he missed that expression of fear from people.
His sides began to hurt, but he couldn't stop laughing, and he felt lightheaded and absolutely euphoric. He dropped his arms out to his side and gazed up at the cloudy sky as his laughter calmed.
A smile still formed his eyes as he sat up and let his body calm before standing. Once home Ian had asked him where he'd run off too, and that Bryan was out looking for him.
"I bought some new parts."Tala admitted.
"Is that why you're smiling like that…?"
Tala held out his hand and showed Ian the shiny new blade, "Beautiful isn't she? This model is much better...when the championship battle starts, I guarantee we will take home the title of world champion."
Ian was surprised at the change in Tala's mood.
"All of you will be getting new beyblades too. We'll be on top of everyone else...we won't even need Kai this time. When I face off against Tyson...I'll bury him beneath the ice." Tala clenched the blade in his hand.
Ian looked up at Tala, not knowing what had changed Tala's mood so intensely.
"Bryan went out looking for you."
"What for…?"
"We've been worried! You haven't been acting like yourself and with the way Kai's been acting we've been worried you might have a breakdown or something."
"Don't be ridiculous….I'm fine. I'm not going to break down about such things."
Ian crossed his arms, "Very reassuring…."he said sarcastically.
"I'll give you schematics for Wyborg…"Tala changed the subject and walked past him.
When nightfall came around, Bryan returned home looking dejected from not being able to find Tala. After being told by Spencer that Tala had come home hours ago Bryan got angry and stormed to Tala's room.
"Tala!"Bryan snapped.
"Uhg, what? Do you really have to yell?"
"I was out looking for you!"
" I know. I heard. What did you want me to do? Go out and look for you while you were looking for me?"
"I….I don't know…."Bryan looked away and blushed, realizing how stupid he looked.
"Anyway…"Tala folded the newspaper he was reading shut and handed a slip of paper to Bryan.
"Falborg's new design."
Bryan looked over it. "New…?"
"The metal beyblade I had made before the island was too flimsy...it was good that I got to use it, improved but not perfect." Tala shook his head, "This design will be better. You're all getting new blades."
"Even Kai?"
"Kai I don't think will be in the blading game for a while. I'll go visit him and get an update on his situation, but for now we worry about us."Tala crossed his legs.
Bryan looked at the schematics then looked back at Tala, "Well I'm still mad at you even though you're bribing me with a new beyblade."
"It isn't a bribe….don't be stupid." Tala turned back around to his newspaper.
Bryan gripped the paper in his hands as he stared at Tala. He felt afraid, but didn't know why exactly. He felt as though Tala was going to go far away soon. It balled in his stomach, and had been growing since the island. The feelings he had for the redhead that surpassed friendship, the feelings that nagged and ate away at him over his best friend who he was sure was drifting far from him.
"Tala…"
"Hm?"
"I was wondering something…"
"What is it?"
"Are you-I don't know...upset with me?"Bryan asked delicately.
Surprised, Tala turned to face him, "No? Why would I be upset with you?"
"I'm sorry Tala, your family picture, I knew that it meant alot to you...I lost it on the island-"
"I don't care if I never see that photo again…"Tala said abruptly.
There was an awkward silence that followed before the redhead spoke again, "Bryan...it wasn't your fault. I'm not angry at you."
"Are we cool?"
"Yes. You're not the one I have problems with." Tala retorted.
Bryan sat down on Tala's bed, "That's...good."
"You've been asking me so many questions lately...how about I ask you one for a change. Are YOU okay?"
"Yeah...I think so. You saw your mom again...do you think you might run into your dad now?"
"He's dead…"
Bryan blinked in surprised and looked at Tala.
"That's what I told myself. That he died. So that maybe one day, Boris would walk up to me and tell me that my father had passed away and I wouldn't feel anything. He died a long time ago. If he shows up again...IF….well I'm already seeing ghosts from the past anyway."
"Hm...you think mine will?"
Tala scoffed, "No. I think you're safe."
Bryan sighed and laid down on Tala's bed with his arms behind his head. He felt better but still couldn't shake the feeling. He just wanted to be close with Tala, wanted to spend time with him, even though they lived together it felt as though a block of ice was between them. The falcon wasn't quite sure how to approach it though.
In the morning Tala went to the facility Kai was being held. The redhead was allowed to visit him, but was warned about the two-toned's state.
"Morning."Tala took a seat in a chair next to Kai's bed, "You look awful."
Kai turned away from Tala in defiance and looked out the window. Tala rolled his eyes but leaned forward to get a view of his face.
"Your stripes are gone...I don't know why I always thought you were born with those things. But you just paint them on?"
"They're not stripes."
"They looked like stripes to me."
"Did you come here to irritate me?"
"No!"Tala said honestly, "I'm merely curious, that's all."
"They were shark fins. My first team were the beysharks."
"Okay...fair enough." Tala nodded and looked around the room, "But...you're not with that team anymore, why still wear them?"
"Hmph. My grandfather hated them. He cares about appearance, order, and neatness."
"So...you're rebelling?"
Kai didn't answer; he continued staring out the window.
"No offense Kai, but I really don't think he cares about that now. I mean, even if he did care about it, it is definitely not high on his list of things he should be concerned with." Tala shrugged.
There was still no answer, so Tala only sighed and sat back in his chair.
"Who's Wyatt?" he finally asked.
Kai immediately tensed; a name that Kai didn't know Tala knew. In a flash he lunged at Tala and grabbed him by the collar of his jacket.
"Ah, hey Kai!"
Kai slammed Tala against the wall, knocking the wind out of him.
"Where did you hear that name?!" Kai demanded, "How, how do you know it?!"
"Kai-"
"HOW?!"
"Can't...breath…."Tala was gripping Kai's wrists.
Upon seeing what he had done, Kai's eyes widened and stepped backward. Tala coughed and gasped for air, grasping at his throat and rubbing it sorely.
"Ow...what's your damage?!" he coughed.
"Just...just tell me how!"
"You were mumbling it! You kept repeating that name, "Wyatt, Wyatt!" over and over again outside the house!" Tala frowned at him.
"Wyatt is...it's my fault...it was all my fault…"Kai walked backwards until his back hit the wall.
Sinking down to the floor he put his hands on either side of his head. "It was my fault…"
Tala kneeled down infront of him, "What happened?"
"He...I…"Kai began to say but stopped.
No. Kai thought. I can't...Tala I can't…
"I can't…"He mumbled.
Tala let out a sigh. Kai wouldn't let anyone in, that was for sure.
"You like to act like you don't need people, like everyone is just disposable to you…"
Kai gripped his hair and sunk into himself. That wasn't true, they weren't disposable to him. He wished they were. He wished he couldn't care, but all of them kept coming back.
I treat everyone so horrible...why...why do they keep coming back to me?!
"Tala...why did you come here? For me...why?"
"You visited me in the hospital."
Kai looked up, his eyes meeting Tala's piercing stare. Kai had been in a coma when Tala was healing in the hospital, he couldn't have visited him.
"A while ago, after BEGA. I heard Tyson, Ray, Max, even Daichi. I could hear them all. I heard you too."
Kai remembered. After his loss to Brooklyn, he saw Tala in the hospital, he wondered if his voice had gotten through to him.
"I get it, you like your privacy, you like your solitude, but stop pushing people away. You're part of the team, Kai. You're a Blitzkreig." Tala explained.
Kai remembered sinking into the ice on Lake Baikal, after he had taken Black Dranzer and tried to steal his friends bit-beast. His friends on the Bladebreakers, who despite everything, still wanted to help him and join his team. Tala, who had welcomed him on the Blitzkreig team and even took him as his tag-team partner. The redhead who had followed him on the island, who was here trying to help Kai in any way he could.
"If you don't want to tell me fine…"Tala dug into his pocket, "And you clearly don't want my company, so maybe you'd prefer his." The redhead's hands Kai a new Dranzer Beyblade.
After handing over Dranzer, Tala began to stand up and leave, but Kai grabbed his waist.
"Wait…"
What do you guys think? I don't know about you, but Kai visiting Tala in the hospital was a big thing for me. Kai didn't even know Dranzer would be there, he just went to visit him and Tyson KNEW that Kai would be there eventually. He also thought to give Tala Dranzer.
I can't get over Tala and Kai's smile to each other near the end of the series either.
Oh and expect for Tala to show more of his strength of the Tala we know and love in first season and the manga, and less of Tala in G-rev who almost lost to KENNY. Tala who was so feared by his own team in the manga, who would say phrases like "the meaning of true terror" and "the god of war!" and who threatened Ray by placing his launcher against his head.
In my mind, Tyson, Kai, and Tala are the strongest bladers around. There is going to be many more cool battles to come guys I assure you.
I thank all of you for your support! 3
