Title: Untold Truths
Authoress: Ladya C. Maxine
Rating: PG-13
Summary: see chapter one
Warnings: see chapter one
Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade or any of its characters. All unrecognizable characters belong solely to me and are not to be touched. I am not making any money off of this and I write with the sole purpose to entertain.

'A: I get freak out and try to hit him. B: I remain cool and welcome him since everyone else has. C: I just stand here with my mouth open looking like a complete idiot.'

Ironically, the last one seemed the only logic thought at that moment.

Here before him stood the captain of a team who had been part of an insane plot of total world domination. This was Bryan's leader and Ray's injuries were a painful reminder of what that team was capable of dishing out. The Demolition Boys were ruthless, sneaky, cold, mysterious and just plain evil.

So why was Tala standing there looking more at home then he did? Why were Ivan and Natasia talking with him like they would a life long companion? Why was Saskia so happy to see him as she hugged him? Why was Kai just standing there reading some papers that Ivan had brought him? Why on earth was Tala wearing glasses?

"Ray!"

Saskia wriggled out of Tala's hold to the floor, a technique that Ray had come to discover that she loved to use to get down. Taking the redhead's hand, she pulled him over to where Ray had yet to draw breath. Tala didn't protest but instead followed her until both males stood face to face. Those deceivingly harmless eyes bore into his but something was missing. The certain gleam that had always glittered dangerously in the cerulean orbs was absent.

Though Saskia didn't seem aware that these two hadn't parted on the best of terms, Natasia and Ivan did and held their breath. When Kai had told them that Ata, or Tala as most knew him, was coming they had been extremely doubtful. Ata was a pleasure to have around, and so was Ray, but what would happen when the two of them were in the same room?

Natasia worried her lip as she watched the two bladers. Beside her, Ivan pretended to be busy with the luggage but she could see him watching them out of the corner of his eyes, ready to intervene should punches start to fly.

Kai wasn't concerned at all.

Yeah, it was risky bringing Ata while Ray was here but right now he didn't really care if they would spend the whole time arguing. He needed Ata's help. They are just going to have to get along as much as they hated it. Or at least as much as Ray hated it. Ata had been pretty excited, as in plotting, when he had told him that the Drigger master was staying with him.

And speaking of the Drigger master, why was his hair loose? Not that he minded or anything. Ray looked cute with his hair down.

'I am in need of some serious sleep.'

Kai dropped his eyes back to the papers, anything that would distract him from the ebony hair that framed golden eyes.

Ray took in Tala's appearance, not really sure what to make of him.

He had shed the abbey attire he had worn during the tournament though his style preference was basically the same. He wore long, white jeans that covered his black boots. A belt similar to his previous one hung on his waist. A long sleeved, orange turtleneck sweater beneath a white vest with a wolf emblem on the left shoulder completed the Russian's new look.

And speaking of new look... Glasses? They weren't like Kenny's three-inch thick lenses, or like Emily's saucer sized frames. Instead they were simple, wire framed glasses that suited him amazingly well. If anything, it added an intellectual look to the already calculating stare.

Ata observed Ray and read his emotions like an open book; confusion, anger, distaste, curiosity, worry and a small hint of fear. So many emotions to toy with, so little time...Realizing that Ray needed a few more centuries to recover, he offered to go first.

"You're still living? Bryan has certainly lost his touch," he said in a flat voice.

That brought Ray out of his stupor.

"What is that supposed to mean?" His fists balled and Natasia shot Ivan an unsure look that Ivan relayed to Kai who tilted his head back to the two.

Ray's anger turned confusion and then wonder when Tala simply smiled. Not the annoying you-are-pathetic-and-I-pity-you smile he had more than moderately gifted them with during the World Championships, but an honest smile.

"Relax, Kon. It's good to see you on the mend." He held out his hand.

Numbly reaching out, Ray shook it, expecting a sneaky move at any moment but none came.

'Tala's being human? What's next? Bryan going to send me flowers and an I'm-sorry note?'

Before he could say anything, Ata looked down at Saskia who was gently tugging on his sleeve. Meeting his eyes, she smiled and once again began to lead him, this time away from the rest and up the stairs. Maybe she was going to show him her latest artwork. Ata halted for a moment and removed a black bag he had slung over one shoulder. A laptop carrier. He placed it on the couch and picking up Saskia they headed upstairs, Saskia chatting happily in Russian as their footsteps disappeared.

"Okay...anyone wants to tell me what is going on?" Ray asked, his eyes clearly showing his confusion. So far he had been living in riddles.

"Ata is going to be staying with us for a while," Kai said as if it was an everyday event.

"Yeah. One problem: he's the enemy."

"He isn't."

"Kai! Since day one he has been nothing but our nemesis."

"Since day one he has been nothing but our ally," Kai corrected.

"But he--"

"Was invited by me to stay as a guest. Don't forget that this is my home and I say who stays and who doesn't. This discussion is over."

With that Kai picked up his travel bag and exited the room towards his study.

"Am I missing something here? Did you guys know about this?" he asked, turning to the adults who nodded. Natasia cleared her throat.

"I know that your experience with Ata in the past has been nothing but unpleasant. However, you don't know why he acted the way he had. Believe me, Ray, the teen you know is not the real Ata. I cannot tell you why but you will see that Ata is a very different person then what he had been forced to display to you and your team."

"Forced to display?" Ray started to second doubt his first reaction. Tala's eyes had held a different light. A more docile side, though in them there still burned a spark that could burst into a blazing inferno if tampered with.

"You will have to see it to believe it," Ivan agreed as he lifted the luggage with ease. "Ata takes some things a bit too extreme but he is in general a very decent young man."

"That I really have to see to believe. And why do you keep on calling him Ata?"

"That's his birth name. You can say that Tala is just an alias. Now that that is settled, I need to make something for our travelers to eat. Do you want anything, Ray?"

"Okay, sure. I could do for one of those club sandwiches," he agreed, following the chubby cook into the kitchen.

'Settled? This is far from settled.'

Letters. Nothing but thousands upon thousands of black letters. And numbers. And charts. All lined up in seemingly endless rows. Lines and curves, curves and lines. Black on white, white beneath black.

Black...Long…flowing black…

"Enough already!" he snapped.

He had been in here for hours going through his paperwork that cluttered his large desk and two thirds of the study. Natasia had brought in some food for him but it still sat where she had left it, untouched and cold. He had no time to eat. Most of these papers had to be filled out and sent off by tomorrow morning. The hearing was due in a few days and he still needed to get a response from the National Child Abuse association. Once he had those papers in hand he would feel a lot more secure.

"Kon is as articulate as ever."

Kai looked up from his work to see Ata leaning in the doorway. His redheaded friend never really took note of the concept that closed doors were meant to be knocked on. Then again, Ata always did things his way.

"For someone who's supposed to be a feline he sure did an amazing impression of a fish," Ata continued as he entered and sat down on the chair opposite Kai.

"He's used to confronting cocky, arrogant and irritant Tala..." Kai stopped to think it over and then shrugged. "Well, actually there's not much difference there so I guess he should get used to you soon enough."

"Ouch," Ata said in mock pain, placing a hand on his heart in emphasis. However, his teasing expression became more sober. "Her last attack was bad. I studied her movements upstairs and her balance is somewhat off. She also slips between speech."

"To what extent?"

"While showing me one of her paintings, she explained, and I quote; 'The diorama can be enhanced by the dilution of the paint which will quadruple the variation of color tone.' After that she switched back to saying that the kitty picture she drew yesterday was pretty.

Ata leaned with his elbows on the desk, twin bangs falling before his almond-shaped eyes.

"Ivan said that the extent of the damage is unknown. She never had a level 9 attack before. They usually never get higher than 5. If it ever reaches level 10 the chip will fry and kill her." Kai rubbed his temple.

"They have picked up the pace," Tala reported. "It won't be long before they come after her."

"Did they complete the device?"

"Yes. I sneaked into the labs before I left and it was standing ready. They have the system up and running. All they need is that chip. If they get it there's no stopping them. Not with the chip and Black Dranzer on their side..."

Ata trailed off, waiting for Kai to respond to the last sentence, which he did.

"What about Black Dranzer? Why didn't you mention him earlier?"

Ata sighed and removed his glasses and stared in open earnest at his life long friend. When he spoke his voice was grave.

"The chip is not the only thing they want."

Kai feared what was to come next but he nodded for Ata to continue.

"Kai, your grandfather wants you back."

"He's been trying to recruit me for years," Kai stated with a small shrug.

"This is different. He is not going to take no for an answer anymore. You are the only person who can wield Black Dranzer and he plans to use you as the weapon once the chip has been activated. You know this."

"And you know that I'd rather hang myself than side with that bastard."

"Voltaire may be desperate but he is no fool. He will do anything in his power to force you to join him. Anything."

"…Saskia."

Watching his friend with sympathetic eyes, Ata rose to walk around the desk. Seating himself on the edge before the bluenette, he crossed his arms though nudged his friend's foot with his.

"Unless you surrender yourself he will hurt her. If he wins the case then there will be no way you can stop him from getting the chip."

"He would kill her even if I do agree. He'd do anything to get it. Saskia doesn't matter to him anymore, Ata. After all he had his lackeys do to her, all the experiments and tests, he lost interest in her. She's just a storage place for that thing."

"You've been through just as much suffering as she, Kai. Please don't start blaming yourself for what you couldn't have prevented."

"He kept on saying that he wanted her to be like me. He tried to play god and mold her into a perfect person." He looked up but stared at nothing in particular. "Saskia was already the perfect person. She was born perfect. But nothing is ever good enough for him."

"Saskia still is perfect. We will win this Kai. With your resources and what I have seen there's no way the jury would give him custody of her." His hand slipped to rest on the back of his friend's neck, feeling the thin line that had healed many years ago.

"But what if we lose, Ata? What then? Saskia…the entire world, for Christ sake. All because of me..."

His words fell silent as warm lips touched his, their tenderness effectively easing him to relax if ever so slightly. Closing his eyes, he leaned forward, searching for more contact from the one person he would ever openly call his closest and dearest friend. Tracing a hand lightly up and down the other's back, he took command of the kiss, pulling the redhead onto his lap when Ata made no rejections.

Kai never really dawdled on memories, since most of his were traumatizing or depressing, but it were moments like these that kept him sane and in control during the day and allowed him to rest peacefully at night. Holding Ata, he felt safe as well as protective of the Wolborg blader. Just like how he felt with Saskia.

Once sure that the bluenette was efficiently relaxed, Ata pulled away, eyes slightly darkened and a light flush on his cheeks. Many would have viewed what had just happened as a moment between two lovers. They would have been way off. There was a sacred place between friendship and love and he and Kai had been lucky enough to find it. This kiss was just one of the hundred they had shared during their lives.

Brushing the silver bangs out of the crimson eyes, he whispered softly to the younger teen, "You have to sleep, Kai."

"I slept--"

"For about half an hour this morning. I mean some serious sleep."

Kai was about to object but realized that he was too tired to do that. Not saying a word, he nodded, reluctantly relaxing his hold on the other so that Ata could stand up.

"Great. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to re-familiarize myself with this maze you call a house."

"If it is such a maze then how do you always know where to find me?" Kai challenged.

"Call it a sixth sense," Ata tossed back, adjusting his shirt.

"Ata."

"Hm?"

"Can I trust you not to drive Ray mad while you are here?"

"If it is that important for you," he sighed, acting as if it was a great inconvenience. "But you can't blame me if I toy with the kitten a few times. He's just so clueless and gullible; it's almost adorable. I can't help wondering, though, why you allow him to stay here. You usually keep outsiders far away from yourself, not to mention Saskia."

"He's not an outsider," Kai argued, pretending to go on with his work though he was really bowing his head to hide the ever so slight blush. "Ray's just…Ray."

A silence followed before Ata answered, in a palpably hinting voice.

"I see. So he's…a friend?"

"Something like that."

"Uh-huh. We'll see about that."

"What does that mean?"

"Nothing. See you later, Kai." Ata waved and turned though not before Kai saw the scheming light in the blue eyes. The door closed before he could get another word out.

'Please have him behave,' he begged the higher power before picking up his pen and returning to the documents.

Tbc…

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