Disclaimer: I do not own the series Beyblade, nor any of its characters featured in this fan fiction. I also do not own the song 'In my Time of Need', it belongs to the band Opeth.
Okay, I'm back again. Basically all of you requested a sequel, or a continuation, so I decided to do just that. I didn't realise what a huge response I'd get to my story, I was shocked, then I was jumping up and down yelling in glee. 30 reviews for one chapter!!! I've never gotten such a response. And they all basically said that I hav to continue, so I am.
This is probably up a bit earlier than I expected also, but hey, I was so thrilled that I started writing this as soon as I'd read the reviews.
Just a word of warning, I can't write short fics to save my life, even my one-shots are really long, so this probably will be too, but then you should all enjoy that. I'm planning on having seven chapters, and I'm going to rename this story 'Damnation', the name of the album I'm getting the songs for my chapters from, so just a warning in case you can't find the fic again. No other warnings at this point. Things are still fairly mild.
Hope you enjoy the angst.
In My Time of Need
~I can't see the meaning of this life I'm leading~
A weary traveler stepped into the loud bustling noise of the airport.
He looked around indifferently with cold hard eyes and sniffed in disgust. He hated crowds, people, he hated many things. Mostly, he hated himself, everything he'd done, everything he'd become. He'd left so much behind him because he was too afraid to live.
How pathetic was that?
"So you came."
The traveler glanced to his right once then ignored the person who had sidled up to him as he was contemplating things. He started walking towards the exit, getting his baggage as he passed by.
The stranger smirked and shook his head wryly then followed behind the traveler.
"You're as mature as always Kai," he commented dryly.
"And you're just as irritating as I remember Tala."
The redhead shrugged. "To the eye of the casual observer, yes, I suppose I am, but you should know me better than that Kai."
"I know you more than I'd like to."
Tala raised an eyebrow. "Well, it seems something has your knickers in a twist." He laughed. "You're not still sulking about having to leave that bunch of losers are you?"
"It would be advisable to watch what you say around me," Kai warned in a frosty voice. He glared darkly, his eyes flashing with fire, then he walked off, leaving Tala standing behind him, shivering slightly from both the glare and the chill Kai left in the air and looking down in fear.
Tala looked up, his eyes icy with barely suppressed rage. "You won't be able to hide from me forever Hiwatari," he called out to the retreating Phoenix. "You'll have to face everything eventually."
Kai ignored him, walking out of the airport, his shoulders straight, standing tall, though anyone who knew him could see the dark shadow hanging over his head.
~I try to forget you as you forgot me~
"This is so great Maxie!"
Max blushed at the compliment and waved it off. "It's nothing Tyson, I just felt like cooking and I figured you'd be the best person to ask to be a taste-tester."
Tyson glared slightly at him. "Are you trying to tell me I'm a pig?"
Kenny didn't even look up from his food, as he commented dryly, "Like he hasn't before."
Tyson leapt up. "All right, that's it, I'm insulted." He crossed his arms over his chest. "Not another bite until you both apologise."
Rei reached over for his bowl. "Well if you're not gong to eat, I think I might stuff myself." He grinned as Tyson looked aghast at the suggestion that he take his food.
"I wasn't done with that!"
"Well you looked like you were done." Rei pouted slightly then grinned at Max, putting on his best cute kitten face. "You wouldn't happen to have any more would you Maxie?"
Max grinned at him. "Of course. Here." Max gave Rei another helping of his cooking. "I'm so glad you all like it."
"Like it, we love it." Rei grinned and dug into his food happily. The others followed suit.
"Yeah," Kenny agreed, so engrossed with his food he'd left his laptop in the lounge room.
Tyson just nodded, his mouth full.
Max smiled again. "Well, I've still got plenty more. Dad went to go visit mother in America, so I cooked a bit too much, forgetting for a bit he wasn't here." He cocked his head to the side and let out a little chuckle. "Isn't it funny how you do that? You know that someone's left, but you still expect them to walk through a door any second."
Kenny and Rei nodded, but Tyson stopped eating. "Yeah, funny that," he murmured. The others looked at him curiously and he grinned reassuringly. "Just got to go use the bathroom. I'll be back." Tyson could feel Max and Kenny's stares leave him, but Rei's golden eyes followed him suspiciously all the way to the bathroom. He closed the door and sighed, no longer under the scrutiny of his friend.
Rei had stayed for a bit longer than expected. He was still with Tyson, who didn't mind having the boy there at times, but at other times, he got a bit too much to handle.
I guess it's all my own fault, I should have kept a better hold of my emotions. I just forgot he was around. Tyson sighed again and looked in the mirror, flinching slightly as he saw his reflection.
But he didn't have to flinch away any more. He'd recovered from his depression, or so everyone thought. For almost three months now he'd been off his medication, the happy jovial child everyone remembered and loved. There was no hint of the withdrawn pale anorexic boy he'd been for four months before that. But Rei still worried.
With good reason.
Tyson had never really gotten over Kai leaving.
He shivered and looked away from the mirror. He couldn't even think of his name without the fearful painful sensation coursing through him again. A falling sensation, wonderful but frightening in its intensity.
He still loved him. He always would, but he had to face the fact that Kai was no longer there. He'd almost gone completely insane when he was forced to confront that fact.
Tyson shakingly reached into his pockets and drew out a small bottle of pills. He'd told his friends the truth, he was off the medication he'd been prescribed for his depression. These were for anxiety. Sometimes his emotions got too far out of his control, and Tyson didn't like that. He took a pill without water and steadied himself, washing his face, looking back up into the mirror, a bland expression on his face.
How ironic that I've become so much like you. I see now why you ran Kai, but I don't think I can ever stop hating you for it.
~This time there is nothing left for you to take, this is goodbye~
He saw it happen over and over again.
What could have been.
There were so many things he dreamed, imagine, hoped for, dreaded. Each of them sought him out and trapped him in his dreams. There, he couldn't escape them, escape into reality as he'd done so many times before.
But sometimes the dreams were better than reality. He hated what happened, he wanted something different, but it always ended in tragedy. He always came back to reality.
Rape.
One possibility, the one he dreaded, and almost wished for. It would have been a sign of finality, a confirmation of something. It was an end in itself, and in a way, it would have ended everything cleaner than it had been left before. Rape he would have been able to move past.
Love.
The other extreme. But did he even believe in its existence? Did he ever? Was it real? Could he get it? He didn't know, he could never imagine this scenario. It never worked. He could never be happy.
Death.
Suicide. Tragedy. Passion. He saw this one over and over again, it haunted him with its reality. Pain, it was a close friend, he embraced it as a lover now. Sometimes death would be preferable to anything else. But whose death, his own, or the other's?
They came every night, the dreams, the possibilities. Each one terrifying, beautiful, fake. Each morning he awake to the tears and the ache of reality.
What more did he have to give up to be at peace?
~Summer is miles and miles away~
He was back here again.
The tall dark oppressive walls closed in on him and he fought the urge to run and escape the horrific prison, yet he knew he had to stay. He had no other choice.
"There's nothing quite like the feeling you get when you come home."
Kai glanced over at Tala, who was looking up at the Abbey in disgust. "I don't know why you came back."
"I have to." Kai walked over the snow-covered walkway to the entrance of the gothic building and entered the gaping maw of darkness. Tala watched him leave and turned away, moving back over to stand by the gates, staring up at the dark building, not quite ready to go back inside himself.
"So it's true then."
Tala nodded once, glancing over at his companion who had appeared suddenly, leaning with his eyes closed against the wall beside him. "Yeah. He's back."
"Why?"
"Didn't you hear the rumours? He'd left the Bladebreakers after they helped him out with his grandfather." Tala smirked. "The fool." He looked over at his teammate again. "Didn't Boris tell the rest of you?"
"Seems you're the only one with those privileges Tala." The other boy turned away with a glare.
"Bryan wait." Tala grabbed the boy's arm. He glared back as Bryan turned around. "What is your problem?"
"Kai. I don't want him here."
"Why not?"
Tala hid his shock well as Bryan slammed him against the wall, leaning in close. Bryan caught his icy gaze with his intense stare. "I know what you want Tala," he whispered, leaning in close to the boy. "You couldn't hide it from me, and now that he's back, you're not going to give up until you get what you want."
Tala smirked. "You do know me well, Bryan." He brought his face millimetres in front of his companion's, his eyes lidded and amused. Bryan leaned in closer. "I always get what I want," Tala continued, his voice barely a whisper, the movements sending slight shivers through the other boy. Bryan leaned in again.
Tala pulled away with a smirk. "Your jealousy and desire are traits that could be used against you in battle. We'll have to work on that in training." Tala pushed the other boy away and walked away, knowing his left a very frustrated falcon to cool off in the snow.
From the darkness of the entrance foyer, Kai could almost see the stream rising from the boy as he stared lustily after his captain. He rolled his eyes at the scene and walked further into the darkness of the place he once called 'home'.
~And no one would ask me to stay~
Tyson sighed as he glanced over at his friends laughing and enjoying themselves. He wished he could join in and be happy too, but his moods had been really weird lately. He would be ecstatic one minute and the next dark and grumpy.
"Tyson," he looked up at the sound of Rei's voice. The neko-jin was grinning at him and gesturing for him to join in the revelry. "Don't you like the movie?"
Tyson managed a fake smile and nodded. "Yeah, I'm just a little tired."
Rei looked at him sadly and nodded, knowing he was lying. "Sure." Tyson couldn't help but feel slightly guilty at the expression on Rei's face. The boy was just trying to help him, and all he'd been doing lately was pushing him away. Tyson sighed as Rei turned away again, the neko-jin not enjoying himself as much as before.
He couldn't help it though, he didn't want Rei to get too close. He wasn't sure what would happen. He didn't want to risk being hurt again by another of his closest friends.
Once the movie was over they all headed back to Tyson's place, considering two of them were staying there, for the afternoon.
"So what do you want to do?" Kenny asked curiously.
Max shrugged. "Not sure, guess we could do something when we get there. Rei? What do you think?"
Rei thought this over with a frown. "I have no idea. What about you Tyson?"
"Don't care," Tyson mumbled. He was walking along with his hands shoved into his pockets, an air of depression hanging about him. Rei and the others looked at him worriedly and shared concerned glances, which Tyson ignored. He knew they worried, but he gave up caring any more.
"Why don't we head over to my place then and check out if my dad's got any new stuff in," Max suggested with a smile. "It'd be great if we found some components to use on our blades."
"That's a great idea Maxie," Kenny grinned. "We haven't done much blading, or even upgrades for a while."
Rei shrugged. "Sure, I'm in." He looked over at Tyson and frowned slightly.
"I think I need to get some rest guys," Tyson told them. "I'm feeling a bit peaky today. Sorry." Tyson smiled apologetically and walked off down the street, knowing the others were staring sadly at his retreating back.
"I'm still worried," Max told the others with a frown. "I know Tyson's fine, but sometimes, he's just so different to what he was before."
"Yeah. I thought for sure something like this might cheer him up." Kenny looked a bit down.
Rei sighed. "I guess he's still caught up in things. I think I'll bail guys, I really should go and keep an eye on him."
Max nodded and Kenny smiled at him as he left. Then Max sighed. "He's chasing a hopeless battle there."
"Yeah. Tyson's still in love with Kai, I doubt he even knows Rei exists."
"But Rei won't stop trying to help him." Max sighed again. "I don't think he even realises what a great friend he has in Rei, or what else he could possibly have."
~And I should contemplate this change
To ease the pain~
It's as I remembered. The sounds, the sights, the scents, the taint is everywhere you go, as is the darkness.
But I like the dark. I thrive in darkness.
Like a monster.
It was my idea to come back here, to Russia and the Abbey. I'd wandered around for a month or three then I'd gone back to Grandfather when I realised I had nowhere else to go. He gave me a choice. He would retrain me, or Boris would. I chose Boris. At least here I am away from my Grandfather and his 'training'.
I shudder thinking of the time I saw him once I'd finally returned to the house. He was furious, looking ready to kill. He was ready to go after Tyson ...
I don't know why I did it, but I stopped him, brought his attention back to me. I think I said something cocky and he turned back to me, those dark eyes blazing. I was in for it. He gave me the choice but I still didn't leave for a few months.
He still wasn't completely done with me from last time and it took me a while to absorb my 'training' again and to recover from it. So much for grandfatherly love.
At least I'm not with him any more, I'm not sure I could stand another day with him. That mansion just reminds me of everything I've suffered there. I had to get away, it was choking me with the taint.
And now I'm here, amidst and assimilated into another type of tainted darkness so similar to my grandfather's but it is still a welcome change to my mansion. I should be happier, but I know that this place is no better than back in Japan. The only difference is the person handing out my punishment. And the others.
Tala.
It's been so long since I've seen him ... actually, it's only been a year since the World Championships but it seems like an age with everything that's happened. I smirk thinking about him. I know he wants me, he made that much obvious with the first words out of his mouth. The tone he used, the way he stood, his expression.
Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad here. There are some benefits I can see.
Though, he's still not Tyson.
~And I should step out of the rain
And turn away~
I could hear the sound of the rain pounding on the roof of the dojo as I attempted to sleep.
I haven't been able to do that for a long time.
Not without nightmares.
It was always the same thing: Kai. He was in every one of my dreams. Even after all this time I still can't forget him and move on. I don't want to, a part of me wants to hold onto him forever, but I know that he could never love me like I want him to.
I don't care, I just want him near. I want to feel his presence close beside mine. I want to feel his touch on me over and over again, I want him to kiss me, roughly, like he did before. I want him to take me. I just want him.
He was right, I am a masochist.
This isn't healthy, dwelling on him, on what could have been, especially when I know he would have just hurt me. I really have to move on, but I can't I don't want to. No one could replace Kai in my heart.
Rei.
He's been so good to me, so kind and helpful. He never complains, always smiles for me, trying to cheer me up. And all I do is treat him badly, ignore him. I should apologise to him.
But I'm not sure if I can.
See, I know something. I heard Max and Kenny talking once and it got me thinking on a few things.
Rei loves me. There's no other explanation for it. The reason why he's still here, why he puts up with everything. And I'm taking advantage of his kindness and feelings.
Don't I feel great?
But if I apologise to him, I don't think I'll be able to stop myself from pouring out my heart to him. I've kept everything, my emotions, my thoughts, my life, so bottled up and ordered so I can keep control. Once the lid's off, I'm not sure I can stop everything from coming out. And if I tell him, it will just hurt him, knowing I still want to be with the person who hurt me so badly before.
I couldn't do that to Rei, he means too much to me. If it wasn't for him, I don't think I would have coped as well with everything.
Maybe it's time I moved on.
But can I?
~Close to ending it all, I am drifting through the stages
Of the rapture born within this loss~
Kai panted heavily, his eyes drooping closed, his shoulders slumped, his legs trembling from exhaustion. Blood was dripping down from various wounds. His vision was clouded with red as a gash on his head stained his pale face.
"Weakling," a voice hissed from the shadows opposite him.
Kai growled and straightened himself, ignoring the protests in his muscles and bones as he did so. Another sharp pain struck his arm and he cried out, loosing concentration again.
"You've gotten so weak, I should just kill you now."
"I'm not finished yet," Kai spat, flinching slightly as a cut appeared on his cheek.
"Oh really? You look done to me."
"I'm not. Dranzer!"
The Phoenix gave a huge cry and rose up, slamming into the huge falcon appearing suddenly above the dish.
"Falborg!"
There was a huge crash and a flash of light then two blades went spinning out of the dish. Kai watched Dranzer roll away from him slightly then his eyes rolled up in the back if his head and he collapsed onto the ground.
Bryan smirked at the sight, and caught his blade, then stepped forward into the light, beside Kai. "So what do you think of him now Tala?"
Tala stepped away from the wall, his face unreadable and his eyes hard. He stepped into the light and looked down at Kai. "He's not been training much," he sniffed disdainfully. "Even Rei could withstand that attack, yet he could not. Pitiful."
Kai groaned slightly and stirred.
"I do believe a failure of this magnitude deserves punishment," Bryan smirked and looked up to the observation window where he knew Boris was watching. "You have a preliminary analysis of the blader, sir. What do you suggest we do now?"
Boris' voice came over the speakers. "Take him to the lower levels and put him in a containment room. I shall deal with him personally."
"Yes sir," Bryan grinned darkly and bent down to heft Kai onto his shoulders. He frowned slightly. "Looks like Kai hasn't been taking very good care of himself either. He's lighter than you Tala."
Tala frowned. "Just bring him down. His physical health is not your concern."
"I'm sure it will soon be yours though," Bryan muttered.
Tala turned and smirked back at him. "Indeed it will be." He turned back away, knowing there would be a dark glare on Bryan's face, and led the way to the containment cells.
Once they reached the dank dark cells, the shoved Kai into one and locked the door seeing him stirring slightly on the floor. Tala looked through the barred window and saw the garnet orbs revealed.
"Glad to see you're awake Kai."
Kai turned his head and glared. "Fuck off Tala."
"Oh, touchy about the loss? You'll be more than sore about that once Boris is done with his punishment." Tala smirked as he saw Kai pale. "Perhaps you should try harder next time. You might loose more gracefully and less painfully next time."
Kai watched the redhead leave with a growing apprehension. It was just as he remembered here, as painful as his 'home'. He got up, wincing at his injuries, and leaned against the wall, breathing heavily.
He wished he wasn't here. He wished he was anywhere but here.
He wished above all else he was with Tyson.
I'm sure he would have found some way to lighten the mood of this situation, Kai thought wistfully. He looked down in pain, thinking about the boy he'd hurt. Of course, if I had been with Tyson, I wouldn't be in this situation at all. I'd be happy.
He looked up again as he heard a key turn in the lock. He shivered and got to his feet as the familiar robed and masked figure walked through the open door.
"Well Kai, it seems we have a slight problem."
"Yeah?" Kai tried to suppress his shiver, but knowing what was coming next, he couldn't hold it back.
Boris grinned seeing the boy's fear. "Indeed." He backhanded Kai, who slammed into the wall with a huge smack. He coughed, blood trickling down his chin. Boris stepped closer and pinned him to the wall by his throat. Kai choked and tried to tug at Boris' hand, to no avail. "You will need to be retrained as your grandfather has said, but I fear matters are worse than he described."
Kai paled and struggled again to move out of Boris' grip, his vision starting to blacken. He didn't care about the tears streaming down his face, he just wanted to get away. "No, please don't," he tried to plead, but Boris didn't listen, he just began Kai's punishment.
~Thoughts of death inside, tear me apart from the core of my soul~
Tyson knocked hesitantly on Rei's door. It was rather late and he was sure the Rei was asleep, but it had finally gotten to be too much for him to handle alone. This last nightmare had been the final turning point for him. He needed someone to talk to desperately.
Rei opened the door, yawning slightly and looking disheveled and a little annoyed. Seeing Tyson, his expression lightened a bit, but he still looked at him sharply. "Tyson, it's midnight. We went to bed two hours ago."
Tyson looked down. "I'm sorry Rei, but ... I just ..."
Rei looked stunned as he saw a tear slip down Tyson's cheek. He put an arm around the boy and led him inside his room, closing the door behind him. "What's wrong Tyson?"
Tyson sniffed and sat down on the bed beside Rei. "I just ... I need to ... it hurts so much." He suddenly clung to Rei and started sobbing. Rei, who had seen him like this a few times, just pulled the boy closer and gently soothed him, patting his hair gently.
"Don't worry Tyson, it'll be okay. I'm here and I want to help. You don't have to do anything."
"But I want to tell you," Tyson sniffed. "But I don't want to hurt you."
Rei smiled at him. "I'm here for you, I just want to help and if talking will help you, I will listen."
Tyson nodded, still holding onto Rei. "I've tried to keep things to myself, I didn't want to worry you guys, but I can't do it. I'm not a person who can just keep secrets."
"What secrets?"
"I still love him." Tyson could feel Rei's sudden stillness and heard the sharp intake of breath. "I want him," he continued, as predicted, unable to stop. "I know he hurt me, but there's something to him. I don't want to let him go, even though I know I should." Tyson laughed dryly. "He called me a masochist, but I loved it when he kissed me, but only him. I don't think I'd be able to love anyone else with such passion. But it hurts to know he's not here."
Tyson looked up to see Rei was looking away from him. Tyson winced slightly, knowing this was a bad idea. "I should go." He was about to pull away from Rei, when the neko-jin stopped him.
"No, it's okay. I'll always be here if you need me." Rei managed to finally smile at him again.
"Thanks. I know that it's not good, but I can't move on, not yet. Sometimes I wish he'd just raped me and had done with it."
"What?" Tyson paled as he heard Rei's shocked exclamation. "When did that happen?"
Tyson looked away guiltily. "He didn't do it, I provoked him to, but he stopped himself. That means he cares about me doesn't it? The fact that he didn't do it?" Tyson looked up at Rei pleadingly. "Doesn't that mean that some part of him cares for me, doesn't want to hurt me? I was right about him, he doesn't really meant to do it, right?"
Rei stared down at Tyson in pain. The boy looked so hopeful, and he was going to have to dash it all if he wanted Tyson to feel better. "I don't think so Tyson. I'm sorry, but Kai doesn't care for you, not like you wish him to. I can't lie to you and pretend that I like Kai after what he's done, but I know that whatever small feelings of compassion he has are most likely gone from him now."
Tyson looked stricken at these words. He pulled away, much to Rei's protest and stared at the Chinese boy before him, tears in his eyes. He got up and stared at Rei intently. "You're wrong, he has to care about me, otherwise he would have hurt me more."
"What do you mean more?" Rei looked angry. "He's driven you to depression and mental instability! For seven months you've had to deal with what he's done to you. Please Tyson, you have to move on and stop hurting yourself by dredging his memory up continually." Rei looked at him pleadingly. "You can't do this to yourself."
Tyson turned away and walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Rei sighed and laid down on his bed, one arm over his face. He could feel the tears form and start to slide down his cheeks.
"Can't you move on?" he whispered brokenly. "Can't you give up the person who hurt you so badly? Can you just look and consider what you could possibly have with me?"
~At times the dark's fading slowly
But it never sustains~
Kai woke to pain. He cried out pitifully, tears forming in the corner of his eyes. It was just as he'd woken all those months ago.
But this time Tyson wouldn't be here to help him out and carry him to his home.
No, this time he had to get out himself and go back to his room, readying himself for this sort of punishment every time he failed. It was just as it was when he was a child.
He winced, the tears mingling with dirt and dried blood on his cheeks, as he pushed himself up off the ground. His arms collapsed and he lay on the floor again, breathing heavily.
At least I know they won't come for me too soon, he thought with some small degree of satisfaction. Though it was not enough to drive away the pain and humiliation he felt.
The punishment was starting to fail them again. He was becoming more resistant to everything. Perhaps it was the time he'd spent away from the Abbey and his grandfather. In those few short months with the Bladebreakers, he'd rediscovered his emotions and had found out what it was like to have friends. It wasn't easy to give that sort of thing up again.
They wouldn't be able to beat it out of him again. They would have to resort to worse measures. Kai was sure they'd start soon, knowing that he was still not responding even to the continual near-death situations he was placed in.
He decided to try again at getting to his feet. The door had been left open for him after Boris had left, a mocking taunt from the director of the Abbey. Kai got to his knees and steadied himself with his hands, one against the wall. He managed to get up onto trembling legs and leaned heavily against the wall, panting, trying to stop the dizzying feeling in his head and to get his breath back. He took one small step forward and almost fell over again, but he grit his teeth together and concentrated.
He knew he must look pathetic. The great Kai Hiwatari, reduced to this pitiful state. If his teammates were here, how they would laugh to see him like this. Former teammates, he corrected himself. Though, Tyson helped me out once. Would he do so again? Even after what I did to him? Tyson is a forgiving boy, but I may have pushed him too far with my actions.
Did I really want him so far removed from my life? Am I happy being so far away from him? Kai sighed, knowing the complete opposite was true. He looked up and saw that being lost in his thoughts, he had managed to get out of the small room and to the bottom of the stairs.
This would be the greatest chore he had yet faced. But he was no quitter.
Life is pain, and living is overcoming that pain.
~Would someone watch over me~
Rei peered nervously through the crack in the door to see if Tyson was still up. Their fight the night before had torn at his heart through the whole day, and he'd finally come to apologise. He shouldn't have said such things to the boy while he was so obviously distraught and seeking comfort.
He knocked hesitantly on the door. "Tyson?" he called out.
"Come in." Rei took a breath and opened the door. Tyson watched him enter, still half-dressed and his hair damp from the shower. Rei gulped at the sight and at the slight hardening around Tyson's eyes.
"I came to apologise." Tyson looked shocked at the admission and Rei continued. "I shouldn't have said such things to you, especially not while you're still coping with things. It was harsh of me."
Tyson studied him curiously, looking for any hints of falsity, but Rei looked guilty and saddened. Tyson smiled at him, knowing that Rei only sought his well being. "I shouldn't have come to you like that."
"No," Rei walked swiftly to him. "I told you that I would be there for you. I will never desert you Tyson. I'll be with you for as long as you need me, a shoulder to cry on, a friend to talk to, even just someone to sit with." Rei smiled at him. "I won't judge you, or hurt you."
"Thanks Rei. You've always helped me out when I needed it." Tyson smiled shyly. "I've never really had a close friend who'd done that for me." He laughed. "Mostly because I never needed it before. But I am glad you're here."
Rei nodded. "Me too. I enjoy being in your company."
Tyson blushed slightly. "I'm not that interesting to be around." He turned and pulled on his shirt for bed, having talked to Rei with it still in his hands. Rei was the one to blush slightly at the display this time.
"Hey Rei?"
"Yeah?"
"Could you stay with me?" Rei's breath hitched as he heard the quiet request from the boy turned away from him slightly. Tyson seemed embarrassed, but fearful as well. Rei couldn't refuse him.
"Of course."
"Maybe with you here, the nightmares won't plague me," Tyson whispered. Rei heard him and paled. He didn't realise how bad things were for the boy. How much had he kept inside, hidden from them all?
He climbed into the bed after turning off the light, sliding in beside Tyson, his heart pounding hard in his chest. Tyson turned and snuggled into him, causing Rei to gasp softly then place his arms around him comfortingly.
"Sleep well Tyson," he murmured softly, drifting slowly off to sleep, his heartbeat returning to normal once he'd gotten used to the situation he was so suddenly placed in.
"Wish I could," Tyson whispered back. He glanced at Rei's calm face, noticing the closed eyes and steady breathing. He gently placed a soft kiss on Rei's cheek. "Thank you."
~In my time of need~
Kai was in a state of half-consciousness as he heard the door to his room open slowly. He didn't open his eyes, being too tired. He didn't need to, he could tell who it was that had opened his door.
The familiar scent washed over him as the intruder stepped closer to his bed. Kai couldn't care, he was still concerned by his severe injuries. He'd managed to find his way back to his room without collapsing, then as soon as he'd gotten to his room he resisted the urge to fall onto the bed and go to sleep. Instead, he went to the bathroom and washed the blood and grime off himself, almost passing out as he did so. Finally he was clean and trying to sleep, but it seemed someone else had other ideas.
Kai flinched slightly as a weight pressed down on the bed, then leaned back, still to tired to comprehend everything, his mind hazy, looping around and confusing him.
"Tyson?" he breathed.
He felt the intruder move closer and lean in to him. "Not quite," came the whisper.
Kai's eyes snapped open.
"Tala!" he gasped.
The redhead smirked at the reaction he'd gotten. "Glad to see you finally remember my name." He moved over, stretching one side of himself over Kai's still form and looked down upon him.
"What do you want?" Kai asked, closing his eyes again.
"You."
Kai snorted then gasped in pain as Tala pushed down on his shoulder. He glared up through pain-filled eyes at the boy to see Tala still smirking.
"Not a good idea Kai," Tala warned him. "I don't believe that you have the strength to resist me right now."
"Probably not," Kai admitted.
Tala leaned down, bringing his body closer to Kai's, his icy eyes lidded seductively. "That's unfortunate, I wanted to make you scream without any help. But I'll settle. I don't think I'd get this sort of opportunity again."
"Definitely not."
"Well, while you're here, you might as well enjoy yourself with me." Tala placed ghostly touches of his lips along Kai's jaw, up to his ear. "Pretend I'm your draconic bitch if you really want. It might help you loosen up a bit," he breathed into his ear, laughing at the growl that emitted from Kai.
"Don't push it Tala," Kai warned with a dark glare and a hiss. "I won't be like this forever you know."
"But you'll probably be like this for most of your stay here." Tala looked down at him again in amusement and flicked out his tongue, tasting Kai's soft lips with a smile. "You won't be able to stop me from doing this to you over and over again."
"Who said I wanted to?" Kai smirked back at him and lifted his hands to bring Tala's face down to his, capturing him in a kiss.
~Close to ending it all, I am drifting through the stages
Of the rapture born within this loss~
Could I do it?
Tyson stared down at the bloodied knife in his hands, his palms and wrists already stained with the liquid of life dripping down onto the floor of the bathroom.
He'd had the nightmare again, though worse than ever this time. He wasn't sure he could take any more of this, it was getting too hard to bear. But he was not one to just give up, he never had been. Even Kai could not take that away from him.
He quickly washed his hands, the white porcelain turning red, then got out some bandages and disinfectant from the cabinet. He cleaned and bandaged his hands, having gotten quite familiar with the routine during his depression. But he hadn't done this for a long time. Strangely that posed no problem. Like riding a bicycle, it was hard to forget how to properly treat and bandage wounds.
Tyson looked out of the door of the bathroom and over to his room, the door left open.
Rei was still lying peacefully under his blankets, a soft beautiful smile on his face. Nightmares weren't plaguing him as they were Tyson. He was sure that Rei's dreams contained nothing but happiness for the boy.
Guess it didn't help having him there. Tyson sighed and started placing things away in the bathroom, cleaning up any mess he'd made, the red stains soon fading and once again revealing sparkling white. He turned off the light and closed the door behind him making his way back to the room. He climbed back into the bed after closing his door.
He looked over at Rei with a pained expression.
I'm not sure what can help me now. Things are getting to be too much for me. I can't do this alone any more.
He looked over at Rei, tears starting to form in his eyes again.
"Rei?" he whispered, pushing on the boy slightly.
Rei stirred and opened his eyes groggily. "Tyson?" he asked in a slurred voice.
"Help me Rei," Tyson breathed, clutching the boy tightly to him. "Please help me."
~Thoughts of death inside, tear me apart from the core of my soul~
AN: Oh my gosh! What have I done to Tyson?!! ... I blame high school for all this angst!
Complications galore in this chapter. You guys wanted a continuation, well you got it. I cannot write a long piece without having plot lines and complications and for an angst especially, I need major ones.
At least things are enjoyable this way. (I hope) Tell me what you all think.
Adieu.