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 of off this and I write with the sole intention to entertain.
The light filtering through the large windows cast the room in a light violet shade as the sun rose, warming the waking city ever so slightly. The snow fell in sparse blankets and the winds were absent. On the other side of the window central heaters warmed panes the sleeping chambers.
The only sound in the large bedroom was the scratching of pencil on paper and the plucking of guitar strings. The first disturbance came from a small figure that sat leaning against the wall beneath where her older sibling sat on the window seat. Her large nightshirt kept slipping from one shoulder and her lilac bangs kept slipping in her face but she kept pushing them back without annoyance as she drew on, undisturbed. The notes from the guitar strings fell on deaf ears but she could feel the vibrations in the air.
Kai had never understood what drew him to the guitar. He had never really taken any lessons. He barely listened to music. Yet ever since he had picked up the guitar 5 years ago it had become his gateway to peace. With every pluck of the clear strings, he felt the weight of his responsibilities lift off him. They always came back the moment the music stopped but for those minutes he played he had not a care in the world.
In an uncharacteristically soft voice he sang as he strummed the instrument.
"Wise men say only fools rush in
But I can't help falling in love with you
Shall I stay would it be a sin?
If I can't help falling in love with you
Like river flows
Surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes
Some things are meant to be
So take my hand
Take my whole life too
But I can't help
Falling in love with you…"
The final string fell silent, as did the room. Kai leaned his head against the window frame behind him, trying to hang on to the feeling of ease for as long as possible. He sighed and rubbed his eyes wearily.
He father used to sing that song for his mother who in turn sang it to him and Saskia. The melody had always soothed him as it brought back those years of his childhood that he so desperately held wanted back. The years when he could be just a kid; no responsibilities and concerns. The years when his parents had been alive and loving. The years before they had been taken away from him and Saskia by their own grandfather.
The sound of small hands clapping brought his gaze down to where Saskia sat, a big smile on her pretty face. He returned it and lifted her up onto his lap, brushing her soft hair from her face and tying it back into a loose ponytail with a ribbon from her little pouch she had left beside him.
"That was pretty," she complimented, turning to face him and laying her chin on his chest to watch him.
"Thank you."
"They say the snow is little today," she started, playing with the chain around her neck, its small pendant always kept hidden from view. She never understood why Kai forbade her to show it in public. It was very shiny with funny 0's and 1's lined up in the centre circle. "It will be nice to go somewhere now that the snow is better."
Picking up the obvious line, he raised a brow.
"What do you have in mind?" he asked, taking the chain from her and tucking it back in her shirt her clothing.
"Can we go to the zoo?"
A sigh.
"We've talked about this..."
"Please, Kai?"
"No."
"I'll be very careful."
"You can't, Sassy. I'm sorry."
The little girl in his lap sighed in resignation and nodded. Her eyes were shimmering but she bravely held the tears back. She had really looked forward to a day at the zoo.
Kai really did not like the idea. Voltaire's men were everywhere and they would gladly just grab the girl instead of waiting until the court would reach a verdict. The only reason he had agreed that she could go with Natasia and Ray to the parks for the picnic was because they were situated near the hotel. The zoo was some ten miles or so away and though it wasn't that far it seemed like the other side of the world for him.
However, Saskia looked so crestfallen as she sat there playing with the tips of her waist-length hair. She wasn't a spoiled child and would never cry to get things her way but right now he almost wished she did; he would have been able to deal with that easier then her beaten puppy look. When a tear managed to escape despite her attempts to contain it, he caved in.
"Only if Natasia goes with you."
Saskia perked up and threw her arms around his neck.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" She pulled back when she realised his words. "You not coming?"
"I have a meeting in town at ten."
"Oh." Her smile lessened. "When can we go places again? Together?"
"I don't know." He meant and regretted that. "But you can always ask Ata if he wants to go with you."
"Ray too?" This concept appealed to her.
"I don't see why not," he said, pushing down the memory of the warm body against his at the pool table.
"I'm gonna ask them," Saskia announced and giving him a peck on the cheek, she hopped down and bounded out of the room.
He barely registered her departure. This issue with Ray now dominated his thoughts.
'This weather better clear up soon. The sooner Ray is gone, the better.'
He didn't dislike Ray or anything; the Chinese boy was the only blader on his team he could stand on both a professional and personal level. Also, he felt the most comfortable around Ray, mainly because they were the two oldest and most mature in the group, though Ray could be a bit too naive for his age at times.
However, now he had to be on his toes at all times to prevent the Drigger blader from finding out what was going on. Ray simply wouldn't understand. He grew up around people who loved him in a peaceful village. Kai's childhood was nothing but darkness and pain with only a few people on whom he could depend.
Also, he didn't like the way he was starting to feel whenever around Ray. He wasn't sure what it was, except that it was a distraction. One that he couldn't afford.
'Why didn't I think things through before allowing him to stay here?'
Sighing he picked up his guitar, needing a few more minutes of soul searching.
/I bet he's a spy./
Ray rolled his eyes as he changed his shirt, which had a huge splat on the front where Tala had caught him with a spoonful of pancake mix.
The contest had been intense, or as intense as a cooking contest could get, and at one point Ray had almost lost but one didn't have relatives in various restaurants all over the world without learning a trick or two. His Tabasco-and-ham omelette had given him the edge. Being the official taster and judge, Natasia had also enjoyed herself.
That is, until the end...
When they had finished and Ray had been declared the winner he had clapped Tala on the back in good sportsmanship...with his hand full of flour which left a large white spot on the other teen's sweater. That had inevitably led to an all-out food fight that lasted a good fifteen minutes. It was only after Ivan came along and got nailed in the face by a flying egg did they call it quits and make a dash for their respected rooms until the two elders cooled down.
While searching for something to wear, he had decided to give the guys a call, feeling a bit home sick. Okay, so they were in Japan; but it was Asia, in any case. So here he was, chatting with Tyson and Kenny. Max was absent because of a dentist appointment. Oh yeah, and Tyson wasn't taking the news of Tala's presence very well.
/I think you should alert the FBI./
"This is Russia, Tyson. They don't have the FBI here."
/That's right. The Russian equivalent of the FBI is--/
/Whatever, Chief. All I'm saying is that it's not safe for Ray now that Tala's around. What if he tries to hurt him or something? For all we know he could be a psycho serial killer/
'Right on...' Ray smiled.
He hadn't told his friends what he had learned from the redhead. That was the last thing he should do. He had taken the time to listen to Tala's past but Tyson had not the patience to do that; Kai had once described Tyson as having the attention span of a moth.
"I know it sounds strange, but I trust him. He has changed a lot since we last saw him. You wouldn't even recognize him. Besides, Kai trusts him," he added while searching for his brush.
/Oh, big assurance there. If I was there, I'd show him./
/Oh brother/ Kenny muttered in the background.
Ray was about to reply when the door to his room opened, admitting Tala inside. He had changed his black sweater to a jaded green that reflected in his eyes. He was flipping through a thick book as he walked and took a seat on the edge of the bed, next to the speakerphone, unaware that he was the topic of the discussion.
Not used to, or even vaguely familiar with, Tala's rather intruding habits, he blinked several times. Was that a Russian habit or something? Nah, Natasia and Ivan always knocked before entering. Guess this was just one of Tala's quirks.
Unfortunately, Tyson was unaware of Ray's new visitor and rambled on.
/If he gives you any trouble, just call me. I'll show pretty-boy not to mess with the world champions./
Tala looked up from his page with a bemused look. Closing the book, he leaned with one arm on the nightstand to listen.
/Why, if he was right here, I would walk right up to him--/
"Tyson..." Ray tried to warn him but Tala waved him to stay quiet. He found this very amusing.
/--and give him a K.O. he would never forget. No, scratch that. It will be so hard he wouldn't be able to remember anything!--/
"Um, Tyson..."
/--then I would cut off those girly lashes--/
Tala held his breath not to laugh, said lashes brushing his cheeks as he tried to blink away tears of laugher. He gifted Ray with an amused smile and shook his head, snickering softly.
/--I'm telling ya, Ray. He is going to have to sleep with one eye open tonight./
"Tyson, I wouldn't--mph!" Ray's words were cut off when Tala clamped a hand over his mouth. Ray shot him a confused look but he just winked and motioned for him to be silent before releasing him.
Meanwhile, Tyson had heard the interruption.
"Ray? Are you okay?"
"That depends on you," Tala spoke up, voice low and a bit one the insane side but eyes giving away his laugher.
The voice on the other end of the line fell silent for several moments. Ray could hear Kenny gasp softly and the tiger could just imagine the look of horror on Tyson's face.
/T-T-Tala/
"You're trembling. I can smell you fear. I thought you weren't afraid of me," the redhead almost cooed, releasing the neko-jin with a playful wink.
Though Ray could see that Tala was just playing around he actually shivered at the tone of voice in which the redhead spoke.
/I...you...uh...heehee! You know I was just kidding/ Tyson tried to worm his way out. /H-how's it going? What have you been up to? Is Ray alright/
'Smooth as always, Tyson,' Ray grinned as he wrapped his hair.
Tala had taken a liking to this game and made himself more comfortable on the bed. Stretching out, he went back to his book, talking sinister-like all the same.
"Oh, this and that. And don't worry about the Kitten," he simply smiled at the death-glare Ray threw at him. "I am more of a dog person, but I think I can...take care of him."
/I knew it! That's it! You better start praying, Tala! Quick, Kenny, find the number of the national security! Tell them we have a murderer on the line! Ray! If you can hear me: Get outta there! Run for the hills/
Tyson's words and tone were too much for both Tala and Ray and both could no longer contain themselves, erupting in loud fits of laugher. Ray grabbed hold of the dresser top, holding his stomach as he doubled over. Tala fell back onto the pillows behind him, one hand over his eyes trying to stop the tears.
/Huh? What's going on/
"S-sorry, Tyson," Ray gasped between breaths. "I tried to warn you."
/Ray? Are you okay/
"I'm fine, buddy. I just…" he couldn't finish that sentence as another wave of laugher hit him.
Tyson was quiet for a while.
/Heey, were you in on this/
"Partially," Ray admitted while Tala finally got his snickering under control, however he was too weak at the moment to rise.
/Do I hear Tala...laughing/ Kenny asked incredulously.
"Yup. He can be a real hot head most of the time--" A snort from Tala's direction. "--but he's alright."
/Well...tell hyena boy over there that I didn't fall for that one bit. I knew what you guys were up to all along./
"Is that so?" Tala once again spoke with his serial killer-like voice.
/Y-yeah/ Captain Courageous stuttered.
"Ignore him, Tyson. He's just kidding around." Ray said while pulling Tala by the arm off his bed to sit down himself as he rummaged through the drawer for the clip he always wore at the end of his hair.
/Oh, yeah, he's a regular comedian/ the Dragoon wielder grumbled. Kenny was giggling in the background.
"It's time for breakfast so I have to go."
/Breakfast? I just had lunch/
/For the fifth time since 1 o'clock/ Kenny added.
/I'm a growing boy, dudes./
"Sure, Tyson. Well, say 'hi' to Max for me when he comes over."
/See ya later, Ray./
/Bye, Tala/ Kenny called from the background.
/Suck up/ Tyson grumbled and the line went dead.
"Do they ever change?" Tala asked as he retook his spot on the bed, lying on his stomach as he went back to his book.
"Fortunately, no," Ray laughed. "And may I ask why you are here?"
"There was once a woman and a man who met and fell in love. She was a scientist; he was the Minister of Defence. She gave birth to--"
"I didn't mean that," Ray sighed, stopping the redhead before he recited his entire past again. "What are you doing here?"
"To help Kai with something that is of the greatest secret that we will never tell you."
Ray ran his hand through his hair. Speaking of Kai; the two must be very close if he could put up with this all the time.
Okay, that thought disturbed him greatly.
"I mean, why are you in my room, laying on my bed as if you own the place?"
Tala looked around said room. Getting up, he walked around, pushing aside the drapes, looking in the closets before returning to the bed to lay on his stomach and peered beneath the bed.
"Now what are you doing?" Ray asked, thoroughly perplexed at the other's actions.
"Looking for any perimeter lines," Tala answered while scanning the bookcase across from them.
"Huh?"
"Hmm, I don't see any territorial indications. Sooo, basically I can come in whenever I want. You don't own this room or anything. It's a free world." He rolled over onto his back for emphasis.
"Ever heard of a little word called 'privacy'?"
"I've heard of it in my life but I never came around actually looking it up in a dictionary."
"You...sigh...I give up." Ray threw up his hands in exasperation. He slumped into one of the overstuffed chairs. "So I can expect you at any time of the day?"
"I suppose," he replied while reopening his book.
A knock sounded and Ivan entered, wearing a clean uniform and a somewhat sour expression. He certainly hadn't gotten over that egg incident.
"Master Ray, have you seen-- ah, there you are, master Ata," he said when he caught sight of the bespectacled teen lounging on the bed. "I was looking for you. You have a call waiting for you in the main study."
((The court?)) he asked, receiving a nod. Rising, he walked over to the elder, still speaking in their native tongue, mainly because Ray was listening. ((Can you check to see if the fax has come in yet?))
((I was to bring this to master Kai at once.)) He held up a large, brown envelope in his gloved hands. ((These are the forms he requested.))
Of course, Ray couldn't understand a word they were saying, much to his frustration. However, when he heard the name 'Kai' and Ivan pointing to the envelope he figured out the connection.
"I can take it to him!" he volunteered.
When Tala and Ivan gave him a curious look he realised that he may have said that a bit too eagerly. He forced himself to calm down.
"I mean, I have nothing else to do," he pointed out casually.
To his relief Ivan simply nodded. However, Tala was staring at him with inquiring eyes, the blue orbs scorching his golden ones as they tried to search out his soul.
"I thank you, Master Ray. But do be careful with them; they are very valuable to Master Kai," Ivan warned as he handed the envelope over to him.
Ray was surprised by the weight. Papers? Felt more like an entire forest!
"I now can and shall carry out your orders, Master Ata. Keep in mind that breakfast is ready and waiting for you."
Ivan bowed slightly and left.
Ray started to follow but Tala's eyes pinned him down. Had he even blinked yet?
'Whoa, it's like his eyes are gluing me to the floor!'
"You are rather helpful this morning," Tala finally spoke in a observing tone, breaking the silence that had almost broken Ray. Cocking his head to one side, he asked, "Any reason for that?"
"Reason? No! I mean, no. I...uh...I just really have nothing to do. That's all...yeah, that's it."
"I see..." Tala's eyes narrowed.
"Ata!" an excited voice shouted and a small blur shot into the room.
"Hi, Ray! Can we go to zoo?"
Mercifully, Tala took his gaze off Ray, who felt as if the room got a whole lot bigger. The redhead looked down at the small girl who hung at his waist. He lifted her onto his hip.
"Who said you could go to the zoo?"
"Kai." She played with one of the slender red bangs.
"Then I guess we can. I just have something to do in the study and then we can go."
"You come too, right Ray?" Saskia twisted around with hopeful eyes.
'Me? Go to the zoo where there are many large pits filled with carnivorous giants with the only thing protecting me is a metal railing which someone could 'accidentally'push me over? Gee, I wonder what I should do…'
He liked Tala, but the older teen's current demeanour was starting to unnerve him. It was like a game of cat-and-mouse, except that he was the mouse at the moment. He was starting to reconsider Tyson's offer but then he was again taken off guard when Tala smiled.
"Sometime today, Kitten."
Was Tala toying with him? Like a cat toyed with his food?
'Aargh! Enough with the cat puns!'
"Sure, sounds like fun," he said with a small voice.
"Yay!" Saskia wriggled free and ran to hug Ray around the waist. She then bounced out the door and down the stairs to the kitchen. She must have been on sugar high or something.
"She likes animals," Tala explained.
"That's nice." What was the wolf thinking at that very moment? "Um...I guess I will bring this to Kai then...He's in his bed, right?--I mean bedroom!"
"Yeah," Tala said while he folded the corner of a page of his book, marking his place.
"Then...I guess I should just...you know..."
"Bring it to him?" Tala helped out.
"Uh-huh..."
However, he just stood there.
"Wouldn't that work better if you actually started walking?" The Russian leaned against the doorframe, eyes unreadable behind the lenses.
"Okay." Ray cursed himself inwardly and moved to pass Tala, but a pale hand shot out and grabbed his upper arm, the strong grip almost breaking bones. The older boy's hot breath whispered into his ear.
"Knock before you enter. Don't want to catch him changing off guard, do you?"
Ray felt his face turn hot from that tempting vision but he nodded and when Tala released him he practically ran down the hall.
Ata watched him go with a serious face and his arms crossed. The moment the long braid turned into the doorway that led upwards to Kai and Saskia's rooms, however, he allowed himself a soft cough of amusement, which quickly became soft chuckles.
He had had his suspicions since the world tournament. He had seen the looks on the Bladebreakers faces when they had thought that Kai had betrayed them. All of their faces had held anger. Except for Ray. Those exotic eyes had dimmed with hurt and betrayal...and something else that he would have gone deeper into had he not been busy with preparing to lose the championships.
Yeah, that had been planned. By the team, sans Boris. Whether he was cold-hearted Tala or care-free Ata, he still had his pride and blader's spirit. So purposefully losing, to Tyson no less, had been as pleasant as having one's tooth pulled without aenestetic. Of course, when faced with what would have happened had he just kicked the rookies butt and Biovolt's victory…Sacrifices were often necessary.
But enough on the past.
He had had suspicions since Kai first told him. Well duh, his friend liked Ray more than he would ever let on. He knew Kai well enough to see through the whole 'we're-just-team-mates' façade. It was going to take some pressuring to get the bluenette to fess up, but hehad beenup for a challenge, and some good old teasing on the side.
Now, however, he had picked up that same unknown light in Ray's eyes at the mention of his blue-haired friend's name and his suspicions were renewed. That ruby blush the kitten had displayed at the mention of Kai partially clothed now confirmed his thoughts.
"Ray like Kai," Ata said to himself softly and snorted. "Oh, this is priceless."
Smiling, he walked off.
Things were going to get much more interesting...
Once he was out of sight, Ray slapped himself on the forehead. Hard.
"Really inconspicuous, tiger."
He had told Tyson that Tala was okay, but how could he be sure? Just because he knew the guy's past? Just because he knew less than 12 hours worth of the guy's present state of mind? Tala had really pulled off the cold front they had faced during the world tournament; what if he was pretending again? He had made him squirm on purpose!
Ray leaned against the wall and closed his eyes.
"I guess it is too easy to blame my problems on someone else..." He looked at the heavy envelope in his hands. "Tala didn't make me feel nervous...well, maybe a bit with those eyes, but I should have taken a better grip on my feelings. The last thing I need right now is Tala knowing about my thing for Kai…which I don't have," he added in weak denial to himself.
Pushing himself off the wall, he started to ascend the stairs, holding the envelope close to him.
'But if I don't then why am I acting like some fan-girl? He's my captain, has been so for a year. I respect him and his blading skills. Why do I need more? I can't change how my heart feels, which it isn't, but at least I should be able to answer my own questions...shouldn't I?'
And to think his friends called a psychological-thinker. Hah!
He reached the landing. The phoenix-emblem doors seemed so very far away yet it seemed as if he reached it way too soon despite his small steps. Now they looked so much taller than him. God, everything that belonged to Kai was imposing!
'Maybe I should just leave it at the door. Kai will see it when he comes out.'
A very tempting suggestion from his mind but he remembered Ivan telling him that this was something very important. He couldn't just leave it on the floor like some scrap of paper…which it was actually, or rather, several scraps of paper…Okay, he had to stop trying to analyze everything before it drove him nuts.
Silence was all he could hear on the other side of the door and after many minutes of indecision he raised his fist and knocked twice, the loud sound startling him.
There came no answer so he knocked again, braving to do so a bit harder. Again no answer.
Was he still sleeping? No, Kai always woke at 4 a.m. And besides, Saskia said that Kai had given her permission to go to the zoo earlier.
"Kai?" he called out and cringed at his timid voice.
Thankfully, there came no reply so Kai hadn't heard it.
"Kai!" he called out again, pleased to hear his voice more confident.
Nothing. Well, that was a waste of masculinity.
"Kai, I've got--" His hand touched the handle of the door and it swung open ever so slightly. Saskia mustn't have closed it properly in her excitement when she had left earlier.
The room beyond the doorway was dark. Pushing it further open, he slipped inside, the shadows quickly swallowing him, cloaking his entrance. His keen sense of sight helped him to survey the room.
He could make out the dark shape of a large bed, also on a pedestal like Saskia's, however, it was not a canopy. Its dark wood almost black and the headboard was carved into a phoenix, the bird's magnificent wings spreading out to both sides and it's eye a large ruby. Could a jewel that size be real?
Opposite the bed the drapes were still drawn shut, hence the lack of light. He could feel the cool tiles beneath his feet, however, he encountered carpet as he passed the bed. A large cupboard to in the corner held all the electronic equipments, though some looked like musical machinery. Something about that didn't make sense to him.
Before he could start analyzing, however, he suddenly found himself almost losing balance as the floor disappeared beneath his feet. As it turned out, he had unknowingly walked into a sudden indention in the floor. A Beydish. It was so dark that he had missed the slick, bowl shaped sunken object.
'Put the envelope on a table and get out of here.'
He would have but he then saw a strip of light coming from beneath a door in the wall to his left. His ever quickly piqued curiosity got the best of him and he silently moved forward towards it. As he neared he picked up an instrumental piece being played.
Instrument? Was someone else staying here without anyone having told him?
Leaning against the door, it shifted opened and he was able to peep inside. The room wasn't lit but the curtains were open, morning light shinning on a large bookcase and carpeted floor. His view was limited so he couldn't see anyone, however, he could hear a melody. Now that it wasn't muffled out by the door he recognized it as the soft plucking of guitar strings. Daring to open the door wider, he peeped around it only to find the enigma known as Kai sitting in one of the large bay windows that lined the left side of what he now saw was a personal study.
Kai hadn't noticed him and that was bizarre on its own; he could always sense where you were and what you were doing even with his back turned to you. Tyson had learned that out the hard, and painful, way.
At the moment he was facing Ray but his head was lowered over his guitar as he concentrated on his playing...Which was amazing! The slender fingers danced over the strings, producing a soothing rhythm that Ray would have never believed Kai capable of conjuring. What was he thinking? He never even knew that Kai played the guitar!
Ray stood there, entranced by the relaxed figure. The Bladebreakers' captain was always calm but never relaxed. Right now Ray could even go so far as to say he was at peace.
And then Kai began to sing, in a soft but clear tenor as mystical as the Dranzer wielder.
"And I'd give up forever to touch you
Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't want to go home right now.
And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
Cause sooner or later it's over
I just don't want to miss you tonight."
Kai sat up straighter as he slowly allowed himself to be enveloped by the song.
"And I don't want the world to see me
Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am"
The voice that was always so cold and commanding was gone, leaving behind a tune that could have made an angel green with envy. The phoenix's head swayed ever so slightly with the rhythm, crimson eyes closed the whole time yet his fingers knew their cue.
"And you can't stop the tears that ain't coming
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything feels like the movies
Yeah you breathe just to know you're alive."
Ray watched transfixed as Kai stood from the ledge, eyes still closed. The phoenix had still to discover him but for now he could study his team leader. He would have never thought Kai to be a musician. He had seen the boy with a Discman and headphones, but they were only used when Tyson started to complain too much. Now, as he listened to his captain's alien but soothing voice, he was torn between swooning and bursting into tears. Neither were pretty, but this was just a sight too precious for words.
"And I don't want the world to see me
Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am.
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
Yeah tell me...who...I am..."
The song ended with a final quiver of the strings.
Ray was unable to think, much less move. The echoing sound of that voice would drift in his memories for eternity and the sight of Kai so completely absorbed in the melody was a sight he would cherished close to his heart--
"How long have you been here?"
Tbc…
A/N: The songs, 'Iris' by GooGoo Dolls, and 'I can't help falling in love with you' by UB40, belong solely to their artist and I will never claim them to be mine. But they are the best! My personal favourites!
Read & Review, please.