Title: Resurfacing
Authoress: Ladya C. Maxine
Rating: R
Summary: see chapter one
Warnings: see chapter one
Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade or any of its characters. Any and 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 for the sole intention to entertain.
"And I want to thank my grandfather (sob)I never would have made it this far without him. I love you, grandpa! Oh, this is too much (sob...snick) I love you all so...very...much (sniffle)"
"How much longer?" Kai asked the tiger, who was sitting beside him on the couch, almost pleadingly.
"I don't know, but this is way better then television," Ray laughed and cheered along with Max as Tyson turned on the table, blowing kisses to the crowd, which was nothing more than the furniture in their suite.
Four days had passed since their victory. Despite his earlier threats, Kai had allowed them the days off until after the ceremony. The day after the championship had been spent in the hotel room as the others regretted their pig-out the night before, though that did not stop them from going back later that day. Day two had been a bit more active. The other teams had come over. The day was spent talking and blading. Since the buffet chefs were probably fed up with them they had ordered pizza and Chinese food instead. It had been in the night of day three that he thought that he had heard Tala's voice and since then he hadn't paid much attention to his team's antics. He wasn't going to lie to himself and say that everything was alright. He knew Boris and he knew what went on in the man's sick mind.
"...And to the scientist of N.A.S.A who named a planet after me in my honour, I'll never forget you!" Tyson's voice was choked with imaginative tears as he fanned himself with his free hand.
Flowers in the other hand, which he had taken from one of the vases in the room, and a towel around his shoulders to serve as a cape, the navy haired boy was strutting up and down on the table he had pushed to the centre of the room to use as a stage. For the past half hour he had been practising his speech for the ceremony, thanking people, half of which were famous celebrities who didn't even know he existed, while wiping fake tears from his eyes and fanning himself in excitement. Basically, he was acting like the winner of the Miss Beauty Queen contest.
"...And how can I forget the little people who send me all those fan-mail? Special shout out goes to the presidents, the kings, the queens, the czars, the sheiks, the...Hey, what other rich people are there?"
"I think you have had enough practise for today, Tyson, how about calling it quits?" Ray suggested though he was wiping the tears from his eyes.
"Okay, but one moment while I accept our trophy."
Tyson dumped the flowers on Kenny, who was in a chair typing. Removing his cloak, he then took of his baseball cap and swept back his hair. Pulling two strands loose to hang before his eyes, he adopted a rather serious face as he spoke in a monotone.
"Bladebreakers rule. We suck. We give trophy to Bladebreakers."
It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that he was imitating Tala and though Max and Ray cracked up at it Kai narrowed his eyes as Tyson continued to prance on the table like some nature freak in the meadows.
"Look at me! I have a big, bad wolf with freaky crystals growing out of its sides. My wolfie is baaad," Tyson drawled out as he played with the two strands of hair. "My wolfie can sit up and roll over and lose me the championship."
Max was hanging over his stuffed chair with laugher and Ray was faring not better. He still believed that the Demolition Boys weren't all that evil but this was too funny. Even Kenny started to giggle when Tyson pulled up the neck of his jacket to cover the lower half of his face, duplicating Tala's turtle neck over-shirt.
"Yes, sir, Mr. Boris, sir, I will help you take over the world, sir. I will use my pretty eyes to flirt the leaders into submission, sir." Tyson batted his lashes seductively while striking what he thought was a suggestive pose.
Max fell out of his chair, laughing. His laughter was cut short when a cold voice spoke up.
"That's enough, Tyson."
Ray looked over to the slate-haired boy beside him and his smile quickly fell from his face. Kai's composure was calm but his eyes were narrowed to the pinpoint of intensity and the crimson orbs were lit. Ray could almost feel their heat and wisely scooted away.
Tyson, unfortunately, didn't read the warning signs.
"Kai's my enemy. Kai is stronger, I wanna be strong too!" he whined and stamped his feet on the polished table like a spoiled brat.
"This is not funny." Kai's fists clenched even tighter, knuckles turning white.
"I should be stronger. I'm the teacher's pet. I'll do everything for Mr. Boris. Anything Mr. Boris wants. Mr. Boris can do whatever he wants with me because I--"
Before the dragon could even defend himself, or know what was happening, he was knocked/tackled off the table and pinned to the floor, looking up in shock into eyes that glared at him with a look that was dangerously bordering on hate. He could hear the others shouting in surprise but Kai's voice wasn't drowned out.
"I said drop it," Kai hissed through clenched teeth.
It took Tyson a few moments to get over his shock but he was soon able to form a few words that expressed his thoughts exactly.
"What the hell is your problem? I'm just kidding around!"
"Then get serious and quickly."
"Hey, guys, come on! Break it up!" Max tried to pull his captain off the navy haired blader but Kai was stronger and easily shrugged him off.
"Take those words back, Tyson!" he ordered.
"Why should I after all they've done? They almost took over the world! They hurt Ray on purpose! They're just a bunch of mind controlled creeps who like to hurt people!"
"You don't know anything about them! Now take those words back!"
"Like hell I will! And why do you care about them anyway?"
"That is none of your business."
"Are you still buddies with them?"
The inferno in the crimson orbs diminished drastically as the accusation hit home. Kai was left unable to answer and Tyson's eyes narrowed.
"Well, are you?"
Instead of answering, Kai stood and turned to walk away. Tyson quickly scrambled to his feet and roughly grabbed him by the shoulder, turning him around.
"How can we trust you if you keep switching sides?" he yelled in the older boy's face.
"Just stay off their case, Tyson. I'm warning you," Kai growled.
"We've stuck by your side through everything and you've never even said thank you but when I say one thing about those guys you get all defensive! We're your friends, Kai! Why can't you get that through you thick skull?"
"You're my team mates," he answered, shrugging the boy's hand off him.
"Oh, that's how it is, huh? Yeah, when we were going for the championships we were chums but now that you've got what you want we aren't important to you anymore, are we?"
"It's not like that and you know it."
"What have they ever done for you? If you are such great friends then why did you ditch them and come back to us?"
"None of your business," he repeated, secretly asking himself the same question.
"Why do you protect them? They got exactly what they deserved! Especially Tala!"
"Guys, let's stop this before you do something you will regret later." Ray came to stand between them, trying to block them from one another.
"I'm not going to regret this."
His left fist shot out pass Ray and caught Tyson in the eye with a sickening crunch. The boy cried out and fell to the floor, cupping his rapidly swelling eye.
"Tyson!" Max fell to his knees beside his friend. Angered, he turned to the team captain. "What is wrong with you? We're all on the same team, for god sakes!"
Kenny ran over and together he and Max helped Tyson to his feet and led him to the bathroom to find something for the swelling. The navy-haired boy continued to loudly curse as he was guided away. Ray turned to Kai, shocked.
"Leave me alone."
Kai turned and stalked off towards their room. It wouldn't have been very wise to approach Kai just yet so Ray decided to go and see if he could be any help in the bathroom.
The bouquet of flowers laid forgotten on the floor.
begin flashback
"Well, he is my son, after all. A nice fee is more than befitting."
"It would be, if you treated him like your son. To me he appears more like a burden to you than anything and I am more than willing to take him off your hands."
The woman took a thoughtful drag from her cigarette, running her other hand through her limp hair as she sat in the torn armchair.
"I don't see what he could be useful for, but I'll take money any day. What's your price?"
" 500."
She frowned, raising a brow.
"500? I have clothed and fed him for five years."
"Both of which you did half well."
" 1000."
" 600."
" 950."
" 700."
" 900."
"750 and that is my final offer. I'm sure you can get more than enough with 750 dollars."
"Deal."
"You've made a wise choice, ma'am," Boris smiled, handing her the envelope with money.
"When will you come back for him?" she asked with an indifference unbefitting of a mother.
"I wish to take him with me right now, if you don't mind."
"Take the brat. But don't come complaining when he proves himself worthless. I still don't understand what other use you see in him other than a messenger boy or slut."
"I've been working with children for a long time. I can see when a youngster has potentials, though I must admit your son is very easy on the eyes."
"If you say so," she shrugged, having counted the crisp bills. Turning in her seat, she craned her neck and yelled, "Boy! Get in here!"
He had been sitting the entire time in the hallway just outside the living room, listening to them bargaining. Jumping in fright, he timidly entered the room, coming to stand unsurely next to the large chair.
"You're going with Mr. Balcov."
No words of farewell or anything. Just the simple, yet hard and cold, facts.
"Yes, mama."
"He's all yours."
"It was wonderful doing business with you, ma'am," Boris said as he rose to his feet, holding out a gloved hand to close the deal.
"I have more than I ever wanted. In fact, perhaps you would want to look at the others as well? I have a girl just three years older than him," she plainly offered, the prospect of more money making her eyes shine.
"I fear I will turn down the offer. Girls are not what I am searching for and this little one here is of the perfect age."
"Fine, but do know that the offer still stands."
"I'll keep it in mind. Good day, ma'am."
With a slight bow of his head he turned and headed for the front door, stopping when the small boy remained standing, looking between the two adults with a torn expression.
"Come," Boris said gently.
Starting to follow the tall stranger, he turned to give the woman a final look but she was too intent on counting the money in the envelope once more.
"Bye, mama," he said hopefully.
She merely grunted and waved him off, having already erased him from her mind. Sweeping his eyes around the miserable place that had been his home during his short life, he fought the urge to cry and ran out after the stranger, who stood waiting for him next to a big car.
"We have much to do," the man said, opening the door for him.
"Yes, sir."
"Call me Boris. I prefer to keep my relationships with my pupils on a... personal level."
The house slowly faded from view as they drove off.
Next to his mother, no one knew he had left, but just like her, they didn't care either.
end flashback
Wearily, he opened his eyes when a sharp prick alerted his nerve system that something was being done to him, again. He turned his head to find one of the scientists from beneath the abbey injecting needle after needle into him. A guard stood close by to ensure he wouldn't try anything. The scientist picked up another needle and their eyes made contact. Her gaze was full of sympathy for the young teen but her job and life depended on her obedience to her boss. It didn't mean that she had to like it, though, and she felt another stab of disgust when he groaned and tried to pull away from her. His attempt was rewarded with a brutal punch to his torso. His hands were bound to the bed's iron headboard so he couldn't curl around the throbbing ribs to protect himself.
"Stay still, runt!" the guard barked.
In the distance he heard the door to the room open and heavy footsteps neared them. The guard jumped to attention and a voice he had feared since childhood spoke up.
"And?"
"Sir, he has received the shots you asked for. The minerals and vitamins in them will ensure his survival, though it is only temporary," the scientist said, keeping her head bowed in forced respect. "He is very weak, sir."
"I know he is," Boris said as he looked over his beaten apprentice.
"Sir, if he is such a...weakling, then why do you keep him? Surely it would be best to release him?" she suggested, hoping that maybe he would see things her way.
His answer was a ringing slap across her face.
"How dare you question me? Guards, take her away and dispose of her!"
As she heard the approaching footsteps she knew she had no way out of it. Standing her ground she decided to go down but not before voicing her thoughts.
"You fucking bastard! He is just a child! How dare you do this to him? I hope you burn in hell for you sick lust! You're a coward! A damn coward!"
The guards grabbed her arms and dragged her out but her screams were still loud and clear for several minutes afterwards as she continued to fight them down the hall. The explosion of a firing pistol finally silenced the lady and the building fell eerily still.
"Well, that was dramatic. You seem to have many supporters, my dear Tala." He sat on the edge of the bed and caressed the barely conscious blader's face. "My, my, didn't she have some ugly things to say about me? You don't believe them, do you?"
He pinched a cheek until it bruised.
"No..." Tala was just able to breathe out the words, his ribs still stinging from the guard's punch.
"You should," Boris grinned. "I do tend to favour pretty boys with a rather...unhealthy...lust."
Tala closed his eyes and turned his head away sluggishly as he felt the hands start to explore his ravaged body once more.
Tbc...
Read & Review, please.