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. 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 intention to entertain.
********************************
*~*~*~begin flashback~*~*~*
Gentle hands ran with trembling fingers over the imperfections, withdrawing when he inhaled sharply as one of the darkened areas was prodded.
"Kai..."
Her voice was a combination of shock and pain and the young boy remained silent, puzzled by her behaviour.
"Mama? What wrong?"
She didn't answer. Instead she turned and shouted in a shaky voice his father's name. Soon a tall man ran into the room, concern in his crimson eyes as he knelt down before his small family.
"Vivian, what is it?"
Unable to speak, she pulled back the bathrobe, exposing the boy's hip and legs, once flawless and smooth, now with noticeable red lines and small bruises dotting the waist and upper thighs. For a brief moment an identical expression of shock passed over the man's handsome face before his eyes darkened with something unnamed.
"Kai, where did you get those?"
"Here," he answered honestly, feeling more and more uncomfortable under his parents' eyes.
"Who gave them to you?"
Instead of answering he began to fiddle with the edge of the comforter.
"Kai," his father said in a stern but gentle manner, taking hold of his only child's shin and lifting the small head. "Who touched you?"
His eyesight began to blur rapidly and he started to sniffle. The concerned looks on his parents' faces broke him and he began to sob.
"I'm sorry, papa! I didn't mean to do anything bad!" He was quickly gathered in his mother's arms, clutching her blouse, ashamed though he couldn't understand why. "Don't hate me! I'm sorry!"
"We love you, Kai," his father assured, wiping away the tears from the child's face. "We'll do anything to make you happy. Please, son, who did this?"
Hiccupping, he buried his face in the soft chest.
"He said that things would be okay if I let him touch. It didn't hurt..."
Sergey's eyes narrowed to a glare and he gripped a slender arm, causing the boy to jump and look up at him with wide eyes.
"Did Voltaire do it, Kai?"
Unable to speak through his sobs, he nodded before returning to the safety of his mother's clothed chest.
With the exception of his soft crying the room was silent, neither adults moving. She looked at her husband with despairing eyes, not knowing what to say. She knew he hated his father. He hated *himself* for simply being Voltaire's son. To now learn that his father had been molesting their child in the very same house they were in without them knowing was dangerously cutting the single string which kept him restrained.
And the string snapped.
"Voltaire!!" His voice boomed through their room, causing both her and the child in her arms to jump.
"Sergey no!" she called to him when he rose and strode out of the room, no doubt to find his father. Wrapping the bathrobe securely around the trembling body, she got to her feet and hurried after him, praying to the heavens to protect them as she followed her raging husband to the library.
*~*~*~end flashback~*~*~*
He was still caught in the memory of his mother's warm embrace when a voice interrupted his daydreaming, bringing in a sudden draft of cold.
"You're awake."
He didn't turn from where he stood before the barred window, the late afternoon sun reflecting brightly off the snow and into his eyes, silhouetting him.
"Good. I was beginning to tire of the woman."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Behind him he heard the insufferable bastard chuckle, the contempt sound drawing nearer as the man came over. He could see his grandfather's strong profile out of the corner of his eye but didn't move. A broad palm was rested on the small of his back and he stiffened, flinching when it then curled around his narrow waist, which had grown even thinner.
Voltaire freely ran his hand over the smooth skin, searching under the shirt to feel the noticeable hip bone. He frowned.
"You're too thin. That bitch is being paid to feed you. I should start paying her with my fists."
"Don't touch her. She has nothing to do with us."
"Ah, so you haven't turned mute."
"How long are you going to keep me here?" Kai asked, ignoring both the remark and the hand that now started to rub his stomach, tracing inevitably lower.
"You speak as if you expect me to send you back," Voltaire said, sounded somewhat surprised, in a sarcastic way.
"So you're just going to keep me locked in this room and screw me till you die?"
The other arm joined in and pulled him fully against the sturdy body behind him. Hot breath blew over his ear.
"Basically, though before I die I'll make sure to shoot you first. Then we will both go to hell."
His curt reply was stopped when a wet tongue began to lick his neck, thin lips suckling the skin until another mark formed, one of the many that were still healing.
"And if I kill you first?" he asked softly, not resisting but in no way encouraging or enjoying the action.
"I hardly think that is likely. Only those who are strong can kill. And you, Kai, are anything but. The short time you spent with those Bladebreakers has already clearly weakened you." His hands worked in unison to undo the button and zipper before slipping in the warmth between the material and the boy's skin. "Remember our last night together before you left with those riffraff's to compete in the American tournament? You didn't shed a tear. Now all I need to do is merely touch...," he brushed his fingers lightly over the flesh he found and Kai jerked despite himself. "And you cringe like a virgin schoolgirl."
"You'll do the same when your fellow prisoners turn you into their bitch once the police get you."
"Are you back talking me, *boy*?" Voltaire growled, spinning the shorter male around. "Don't you dare back-talk me!"
"Leave me the fuck alone!" Kai snapped, unable to take the touches, words and the man's mere presence anymore. He shoved the body before him, intent on dislodging him. A crippling pain shot through his body as the hand holding him *there* answered by squeezing to a point of near paralysis and for a few moments spots flickered before his eyes and he was forced to grab the window sill to stop himself from collapsing.
"What did I say about weakness?"
"Fuck you!"
Voltaire roughly spun him around and shoved him forward, forcing him to bend over to grip the window ledge. His knuckles turned white in surrendered, yet despised, anticipation. He cursed himself inwardly; why did he fight when he knew he couldn't win? Nothing he said was going to get him out of here. Closing his eyes behind long bangs, he waited for the pain, or pleasure, depending on what the twisted man was up to.
"Remove your shirt."
Not even asking or rebelling, he did as he was told. Partly because his entire life he had been taught to obey any order, partly because he wanted this done and over with as soon as possible.
He heard the man unbuckle his belt but when no sound of pants being removed came he started to turn his head.
*SNAP*
The first blow was completely unexpected and Kai fell to his knees initially in shock but the pain quickly caught up as his brain registered the lash. Before he could even compose himself another came, this time across his shoulders. The leather belt whistled through the air as it continued to come down, landing on various parts of his back which soon began to bleed, the skin swelling and darkening under the assault.
Yet, despite the pain and shame, he didn't make a sound, his hands gripping the material of the carpet.
'...why is this happening to me?...all I ever wanted was to be a normal kid...'
Neither heard the door open behind them.
"Lord Voltaire..."
Turning from his bloodied grandson, he glared at the woman whose eyes were wide.
"What?" he snapped, unmoved by the tears that started to form in her eyes.
Gripping her hands to her heart to ensure it wouldn't break, Margaret found her voice and answered, though with much difficulty.
"Y-You have a call, my lord. International. F-From one of your companies."
"Ah yes, I was waiting for it. Very well."
Dropping the stained belt, he simply strode out, not sparing Kai a second look or glance though when he passed Margaret he stared her harshly.
"Get him cleaned up; bring him to the washroom ten doors down. Do not let him wander. Once he is done bring him back at once. And make sure he eats something. We will soon be travelling."
With that he was gone, cape flowing behind him with his long hair as he disappeared down the hall.
Kai slowly started to rise but the action caused the welts and cuts on his tender back to stretch and pull, bringing on a burning sting that caused him to hiss. Biting his tongue, he tried again, this time managing to get to one knee, the pain between his legs from his grandfather's vice-grip slowly ebbing, generously leaving his back to throb and sting.
He jumped but then relaxed when gentle hands took his hand and with a grateful nod he allowed her to slowly help him to his feet. The hands moved but returned to lightly drape a towel over his back. When they started to pull away again he took hold of one on his shoulder and it squeezed his hand in understanding and comfort.
"This way."
He watched the door come nearer, feeling as if being in a dream. He had been locked in this room the whole time and Margaret had been forbidden, under pain of both her and Kai's death, to let him out; as she had the keys to the room too.
The lock opened with a sharp click and she led him out.
As they walked down the hall Kai couldn't help looking around. It had been such a long time since he had been here and having been locked in that room ever since his abduction he was seeing and remembering things as if for the first time. The long halls, the endless rows of doors, the towering heights of the ceilings, the imposing paintings, the dark yet regal colours of the walls and carpets; how could he have thought this place as beautiful when he first came here with his parents so many years ago?
"In here," Margaret opened a door and gently pushed him in when he hesitated. It was dark but the light switch was flicked on and he had to blink against the onslaught of brightness that reflected off the marble tiles and pure white sink and bathtub. The bathroom was large, much larger than the one that was adjoined to his room. It was spotless and fresh despite it not having been used in what must have been years.
Sitting down gingerly at the edge of the deep tub, Kai stared at an invisible spot on the tiles as Margaret readied the bath for him, adjusting the right temperature and adding a few soaps that added a sweet smell to the warm water. Satisfied, she dipped a cloth into the water and wringing it out, she turned and he met her eyes, understanding her intentions and carefully allowed the blanket to slip from his shoulders and back, revealing the swollen welts, now much darker with bruising and dried blood.
Biting her lower lip fretfully, she slowly began the painful process of cleaning the wounds, using the cloth to gently remove the caked blood. His body would tense when she touched a particularly painful welt or when the soap stung in certain wounds more than others. Still, he didn't make a sound, his uneven breath the only thing giving away his discomfort.
It took her a good thirty minutes, as she was forced to work slowly, but soon the blood was all gone, leaving the cloth red and his wounds more tenderly. Washing out the cloth and hanging it over the sink, she said;
"I want to change the bed spreads and blanket and clean the room out a bit. Take a bath and wait for me here and I will bring a change of clothes and bandages for your wounds."
He nodded mutely, not meeting her eyes. A hand caught his cheek and raised his head.
"What he just did was low, Kai. Don't make him get to you. He is a coward. Please don't let--"
"It's not that, Margaret…" he finally spoke, very softly. "He has done worse to me before. It's just that…"
She caught the haunted look in his eyes and her eyes softened in understanding.
"Take a bath. It will help. I'll be back as soon as possible."
Placing a kiss on his forehead, she stood and gathering the bloodied blanket and cloth, left the room, closing the door behind her gently.
For many minutes he didn't move until finally a hand rose to touch a swollen but unopened welt on his shoulder. Tenderly feeling it, he felt a throbbing pain in his chest. Images began to swirl before his eyes…
*~*~*~begin flashback~*~*~*
"Bitch!"
"No! Get away from me!"
"Come here!"
"Get out! Kai, run!"
The sound of leather connected with skin and he jumped as she screamed in pain, struggling to free her hair that was knotted into a large fist, painfully keeping her grounded as the belt continued to strike her legs, left exposed and unprotected by her bathrobes.
"You monster! Let me go!"
"I said shut up!" Voltaire growled, cracking the belt again across her now red and swollen skin. "Fucking bitch! How dare you say I have no honour! How dare you call me a coward!?!"
Tears streaked her face as she sobbed and moaned in fear, pulling out several strands of her cerulean hair as she tried in vain to pull out of his grip, clawing at his hand as he roughly yanked her head about.
"Kai! Go to your room!" she begged, eyes meeting his where he sat shivering in the corner of the room.
Her hair was released but a violent shove sent her forward while the hand now gripped her bathrobe, pulling it off to leave her completely vulnerable to the whips with now came harsher, striking her everywhere; her torso, legs, back and face.
"You are a disgrace to my family, whore! My son was a fool to taint my blood with you peasant genes! You are an embarrassment!"
"You're a monster!" she shouted back, her body trembling and bleeding as she curled in a ball on the floor to protect herself.
"Mama!"
"Kai! No!" she shouted as he started to run towards her, eyes watery. She screamed shrilly when the belt lashed out at the child, catching him squarely in the chest and knocking the breath out of him, causing him to fall to the floor, gasping and gripping his chest in pain.
"Kai!"
The doors to the bedroom swung open, slamming loudly against the walls.
"Get away from them!" his father raged, running over to physically shove the elder Hiwatari, dealing him a solid punch to the jaw. "I'll kill you, bastard! How dare you hurt my family!"
What followed was an extremely loud exchange of foul words, curses, and promised deaths but he heard none of them, instead crawling over to where his mother laid in a heap, weeping as her blood stained the carpet. Reaching her, he nuzzled her face. A hand raised and desperately pulled him close to her, shielding him from the violent argument while she whispered softly in his ears, stroking his small back to ease the shivering.
"Mrs. Hiwatari?"
Gentle hands wrapped a large towel around them both and Margaret helped his mother to her feet, allowing the younger female to lean against her while clutching Kai close to her. Unable to do anything else, Margaret led them out of the room, the angered voices still echoing loudly in the hall and their ears as she brought them away to get cleaned up.
*~*~*~end flashback~*~*~*
The bath water rippled as his tears fell, the circles growing larger until finally disappearing.
'None of this would have happened…No one would have been killed…Both of you would still be alive… If I had only been stronger…'
Swallowing a shuddered sob, he slowly rose from the edge and removed his bloodied pants and stepped into the bath, gingerly sinking until he was sitting as comfortable as possible.
He allowed his head to rest against the edge, ignoring the stinging pain as the soap water washed his wounds, whatever medications Margaret had added to it cleansing away.
He could still see her; long cerulean hair cascading down her slender shoulders. Her eyes bright and her smile wide as she sang to him, played with him.
He could still hear her; soft voice that had soothed him through hard times, her heartbeat steady and strong against his ear when he would lay his head on her chest.
He could still feel and smell her; skin so soft it could have been silk. She had always smelled of mint.
What had happened? How could things have gone so wrong? Why had this pain been brought onto him?
His father was such a strong man. He had been so strong, lifting him up high into the air, sometimes even while his mother held him. The deep voice had whispered so many promisses that his father had always kept, going to great lengths not to break them.
*…We'll be alright…We are getting out of here…*
He had promised them. He had left them for a few minutes to get the car. Those were the last words his father had told them.
'He never got the chance to see us one last time. She never got the chance to hug me one last time.'
The faces of his parents floated in his mind and with a broken sob, he closed his eyes as the tears streamed down his face to fall silently into the water.
'I never got to tell them how much I loved them…'
*****************
*~*~*~begin flashback~*~*~*
"Please…no!"
"You take me for a fool?! You think I can't count?!"
"That's all that she gave me--"
"I don't give a fuck! I want my money!!"
"There isn't anything else! Please…!"
"Come here."
"…please…I will bring the rest of the money tomorrow…"
"I said, come *HERE*!!"
Gasping softly between his sobs, he slowly shuffled forward, blue eye pleading with the tall man before him.
"Not again…please, not again…"
"Get on your hands and knees."
"Jacob…"
"*NOW*!!" the tower of a man boomed and he wilted beneath the volume.
Unable to do anything else, he obeyed. Not a second passed before his pants were undone and pulled down, leaving him open to his molester who knelt behind him. A rough hand ran down his spine and he began to cry, only to be dealt a sharp slap to the back of his head.
"Time to pay up, bitch."
His pleas turned into a bloodcurdling shriek as the man began the assault on his already broken body.
"Nooo!!!"
*~*~*~end flashback~*~*~*
"NO!"
Wires snapped out of place as he shot up, covered in sweat and breathing harshly, tears streaming down his face. He frantically began to shove away the hands that were trying to keep him down.
"Get off me!! Don't touch me!!"
"Calm down!" a woman's voice spoke.
"No! NO!!"
More needles pulled free from his arms and the sight of his blood only brought on more hysteria.
"Someone please help me!!" he cried, sobbing and shouting at the same time.
"Doctor!" the nurse cried, struggling to keep the teen down before he hurt himself. "DOCTOR!!"
Staff began to pour into the room, eyes wide in shock at the sight of the boy who had been basically dead to the world but a few seconds ago. Pushing his way through the throng, the doctor approached the bed and attempted to aid the nurse, shoving aside the empty stretcher to get more room. Others moved to help but it would seem that the more restrained him, the more aggressive he got.
"We have to sedate him!" another nurse said, holding onto a trashing hand with all his strength.
"No! We can't risk it killing him!"
"If we don't do something he will end up killing himself!"
"Not to mention us!"
Ignoring the shouts, he looked down at the boy. The once brilliant blue eyes were now ghosts of their former selves; pale, the pupil dilated in fear. Tears were streaming down his almost white face as he continued to fight them.
After many minutes of useless restraining, soothing and even some threats, the doctor was about to give in and have the teen sedated when a commotion came from the back of the now crowded room. Staff moved out of the way as a tall, burly figure pushed his way through, spurred on by his captain's cries. Behind him followed a lilac-haired teen who limped badly yet whose face was stern in determination.
"Get off him!" Spencer shouted, having heard Tala's cries from down the hall.
Bryan moved past his friend, pushing away the personnel. Tala again tried to get out of the bed, still caught in past horrors, but his advance was stopped once more, this time by his team mate grabbing him and holding him in a grip/embrace.
"Let me go! Please!"
"Snap out of it! It's me!"
The voice seemed to slice right through his shrouded nightmares and the red-head almost went limp, gasping for breath as he clutched the lilac-haired boy's shirt. Everyone watched anxiously, unsure what to do.
"It's okay, it's only me. I'm here, Tala. Spencer is here too. We won't let anything happen to you," Bryan soothed, stroking the fiery red hair as he whispered softly to the distraught teen. "No one is going to hurt you."
"B-Bryan…?" he blinked, as if coming out of a trance.
"Yeah. It's me," he smiled softly, flinching mentally when the dull eyes lifted to meet his. Eyes that had always gleamed with determination and strength, now scared, if not dead.
Staring into the lilac eyes, Tala felt full awareness finally settle in. Feeling exhausted, he lay against the other's chest, still trying to stifle the soft sobs as he held onto his friend with as much strength as he could gather. Looking over Bryan's shoulder, he studied Spencer.
"Spencer…" he held out a hand. Bryan took the blond's hand and guided it to Tala's where it took hold of the trembling, ivory hand, squeezing gently in comfort. Some of the fear subsided a bit in the dull eyes at the sight of his two team mates.
"Ian?"
"He's okay too. Just can't get out of his bed yet," Bryan informed, still stroking the teen's back as he held him close, in protective fierceness.
"…how's Kai?"
Spencer took a sharp breath and he felt Bryan stiffen at the question. Looking up, he saw Spencer no longer faced him and Bryan refused to look him in the eyes.
"Let the doctor take care of you, Tala."
"Where's Kai?" he persisted, refusing to be laid back down and keeping his eyes on Bryan.
"You had a horrifying ordeal, young man. You need time to recover," the doctor said but he heard none of it.
"Where's Kai?!" he demanded, voice beginning to quiver with dread. This wasn't happening!
"Tala…please…" Bryan begged, knowing the news would surely push the red-head over the edge.
"Where is he?!?"
"Please remain calm, it's not good for your blood pressure--" the doctor tried but his hands were pushed away as Tala refused him.
"WHERE?!?!" he shouted, body trembling along with his voice.
Before Bryan could shush her, a nurse answered.
"He was taken by Voltaire."
The entire world turned silent to his ears. Nothing seemed to move. Nothing seemed to even exist. *He* felt like he didn't exist. Was he even breathing?
What seemed like eternity passed too swiftly and he found himself back in the hospital room, surrounded by doctors and nurses, facing Bryan who watched him with sympathetic eyes.
"Tala…"
While he had first been crying in fear and anger, new tears started to roll down his face. These were of pure and simple despair. Shaking his head softly, he tried to deny it. Tried to tell himself that he heard wrong. He slipped from Bryan's embrace, laying back as a sudden weakness swept over him.
Bryan cursed Boris; cursed his very existence. Cursed the man for what he had done. He wished deaths upon their former trainer that were of the slowest and most painful kinds. He prayed that the man suffered badly before going down to Hell where he belonged.
Accepting the truth for what it was, Tala slowly sat back up, holding out a frail hand which Bryan took and pulled his friend back into a brotherly embrace. Taking hold of the blond's hand, Bryan guided their friend down, allowing their captain to wrap an arm around him too.
Watching the two team mates comfort their captain with soft words, the doctor quietly ushered the others out, sending one of them to check on the fourth member, knowing the boy would want to be with his friends as well.
They were left in silence and with each other.
Bryan continued to rock the red-head, listening to Spencer speak in whispers to Tala, offering hope.
'How…' Bryan wondered, staring out the window at the night sky, 'How did things get so bad…?'
No answer came, only Tala's soft sobs.
tbc………
**************
For the record; this is *NOT* a yaoi fic (with the exception of m/m rape) so there is no Kai/Tala or Tala/Bryan or whatever type of pairing. They're just *FRIENDS* (seriously).
Read & Review, please.
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. 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 intention to entertain.
********************************
*~*~*~begin flashback~*~*~*
Gentle hands ran with trembling fingers over the imperfections, withdrawing when he inhaled sharply as one of the darkened areas was prodded.
"Kai..."
Her voice was a combination of shock and pain and the young boy remained silent, puzzled by her behaviour.
"Mama? What wrong?"
She didn't answer. Instead she turned and shouted in a shaky voice his father's name. Soon a tall man ran into the room, concern in his crimson eyes as he knelt down before his small family.
"Vivian, what is it?"
Unable to speak, she pulled back the bathrobe, exposing the boy's hip and legs, once flawless and smooth, now with noticeable red lines and small bruises dotting the waist and upper thighs. For a brief moment an identical expression of shock passed over the man's handsome face before his eyes darkened with something unnamed.
"Kai, where did you get those?"
"Here," he answered honestly, feeling more and more uncomfortable under his parents' eyes.
"Who gave them to you?"
Instead of answering he began to fiddle with the edge of the comforter.
"Kai," his father said in a stern but gentle manner, taking hold of his only child's shin and lifting the small head. "Who touched you?"
His eyesight began to blur rapidly and he started to sniffle. The concerned looks on his parents' faces broke him and he began to sob.
"I'm sorry, papa! I didn't mean to do anything bad!" He was quickly gathered in his mother's arms, clutching her blouse, ashamed though he couldn't understand why. "Don't hate me! I'm sorry!"
"We love you, Kai," his father assured, wiping away the tears from the child's face. "We'll do anything to make you happy. Please, son, who did this?"
Hiccupping, he buried his face in the soft chest.
"He said that things would be okay if I let him touch. It didn't hurt..."
Sergey's eyes narrowed to a glare and he gripped a slender arm, causing the boy to jump and look up at him with wide eyes.
"Did Voltaire do it, Kai?"
Unable to speak through his sobs, he nodded before returning to the safety of his mother's clothed chest.
With the exception of his soft crying the room was silent, neither adults moving. She looked at her husband with despairing eyes, not knowing what to say. She knew he hated his father. He hated *himself* for simply being Voltaire's son. To now learn that his father had been molesting their child in the very same house they were in without them knowing was dangerously cutting the single string which kept him restrained.
And the string snapped.
"Voltaire!!" His voice boomed through their room, causing both her and the child in her arms to jump.
"Sergey no!" she called to him when he rose and strode out of the room, no doubt to find his father. Wrapping the bathrobe securely around the trembling body, she got to her feet and hurried after him, praying to the heavens to protect them as she followed her raging husband to the library.
*~*~*~end flashback~*~*~*
He was still caught in the memory of his mother's warm embrace when a voice interrupted his daydreaming, bringing in a sudden draft of cold.
"You're awake."
He didn't turn from where he stood before the barred window, the late afternoon sun reflecting brightly off the snow and into his eyes, silhouetting him.
"Good. I was beginning to tire of the woman."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Behind him he heard the insufferable bastard chuckle, the contempt sound drawing nearer as the man came over. He could see his grandfather's strong profile out of the corner of his eye but didn't move. A broad palm was rested on the small of his back and he stiffened, flinching when it then curled around his narrow waist, which had grown even thinner.
Voltaire freely ran his hand over the smooth skin, searching under the shirt to feel the noticeable hip bone. He frowned.
"You're too thin. That bitch is being paid to feed you. I should start paying her with my fists."
"Don't touch her. She has nothing to do with us."
"Ah, so you haven't turned mute."
"How long are you going to keep me here?" Kai asked, ignoring both the remark and the hand that now started to rub his stomach, tracing inevitably lower.
"You speak as if you expect me to send you back," Voltaire said, sounded somewhat surprised, in a sarcastic way.
"So you're just going to keep me locked in this room and screw me till you die?"
The other arm joined in and pulled him fully against the sturdy body behind him. Hot breath blew over his ear.
"Basically, though before I die I'll make sure to shoot you first. Then we will both go to hell."
His curt reply was stopped when a wet tongue began to lick his neck, thin lips suckling the skin until another mark formed, one of the many that were still healing.
"And if I kill you first?" he asked softly, not resisting but in no way encouraging or enjoying the action.
"I hardly think that is likely. Only those who are strong can kill. And you, Kai, are anything but. The short time you spent with those Bladebreakers has already clearly weakened you." His hands worked in unison to undo the button and zipper before slipping in the warmth between the material and the boy's skin. "Remember our last night together before you left with those riffraff's to compete in the American tournament? You didn't shed a tear. Now all I need to do is merely touch...," he brushed his fingers lightly over the flesh he found and Kai jerked despite himself. "And you cringe like a virgin schoolgirl."
"You'll do the same when your fellow prisoners turn you into their bitch once the police get you."
"Are you back talking me, *boy*?" Voltaire growled, spinning the shorter male around. "Don't you dare back-talk me!"
"Leave me the fuck alone!" Kai snapped, unable to take the touches, words and the man's mere presence anymore. He shoved the body before him, intent on dislodging him. A crippling pain shot through his body as the hand holding him *there* answered by squeezing to a point of near paralysis and for a few moments spots flickered before his eyes and he was forced to grab the window sill to stop himself from collapsing.
"What did I say about weakness?"
"Fuck you!"
Voltaire roughly spun him around and shoved him forward, forcing him to bend over to grip the window ledge. His knuckles turned white in surrendered, yet despised, anticipation. He cursed himself inwardly; why did he fight when he knew he couldn't win? Nothing he said was going to get him out of here. Closing his eyes behind long bangs, he waited for the pain, or pleasure, depending on what the twisted man was up to.
"Remove your shirt."
Not even asking or rebelling, he did as he was told. Partly because his entire life he had been taught to obey any order, partly because he wanted this done and over with as soon as possible.
He heard the man unbuckle his belt but when no sound of pants being removed came he started to turn his head.
*SNAP*
The first blow was completely unexpected and Kai fell to his knees initially in shock but the pain quickly caught up as his brain registered the lash. Before he could even compose himself another came, this time across his shoulders. The leather belt whistled through the air as it continued to come down, landing on various parts of his back which soon began to bleed, the skin swelling and darkening under the assault.
Yet, despite the pain and shame, he didn't make a sound, his hands gripping the material of the carpet.
'...why is this happening to me?...all I ever wanted was to be a normal kid...'
Neither heard the door open behind them.
"Lord Voltaire..."
Turning from his bloodied grandson, he glared at the woman whose eyes were wide.
"What?" he snapped, unmoved by the tears that started to form in her eyes.
Gripping her hands to her heart to ensure it wouldn't break, Margaret found her voice and answered, though with much difficulty.
"Y-You have a call, my lord. International. F-From one of your companies."
"Ah yes, I was waiting for it. Very well."
Dropping the stained belt, he simply strode out, not sparing Kai a second look or glance though when he passed Margaret he stared her harshly.
"Get him cleaned up; bring him to the washroom ten doors down. Do not let him wander. Once he is done bring him back at once. And make sure he eats something. We will soon be travelling."
With that he was gone, cape flowing behind him with his long hair as he disappeared down the hall.
Kai slowly started to rise but the action caused the welts and cuts on his tender back to stretch and pull, bringing on a burning sting that caused him to hiss. Biting his tongue, he tried again, this time managing to get to one knee, the pain between his legs from his grandfather's vice-grip slowly ebbing, generously leaving his back to throb and sting.
He jumped but then relaxed when gentle hands took his hand and with a grateful nod he allowed her to slowly help him to his feet. The hands moved but returned to lightly drape a towel over his back. When they started to pull away again he took hold of one on his shoulder and it squeezed his hand in understanding and comfort.
"This way."
He watched the door come nearer, feeling as if being in a dream. He had been locked in this room the whole time and Margaret had been forbidden, under pain of both her and Kai's death, to let him out; as she had the keys to the room too.
The lock opened with a sharp click and she led him out.
As they walked down the hall Kai couldn't help looking around. It had been such a long time since he had been here and having been locked in that room ever since his abduction he was seeing and remembering things as if for the first time. The long halls, the endless rows of doors, the towering heights of the ceilings, the imposing paintings, the dark yet regal colours of the walls and carpets; how could he have thought this place as beautiful when he first came here with his parents so many years ago?
"In here," Margaret opened a door and gently pushed him in when he hesitated. It was dark but the light switch was flicked on and he had to blink against the onslaught of brightness that reflected off the marble tiles and pure white sink and bathtub. The bathroom was large, much larger than the one that was adjoined to his room. It was spotless and fresh despite it not having been used in what must have been years.
Sitting down gingerly at the edge of the deep tub, Kai stared at an invisible spot on the tiles as Margaret readied the bath for him, adjusting the right temperature and adding a few soaps that added a sweet smell to the warm water. Satisfied, she dipped a cloth into the water and wringing it out, she turned and he met her eyes, understanding her intentions and carefully allowed the blanket to slip from his shoulders and back, revealing the swollen welts, now much darker with bruising and dried blood.
Biting her lower lip fretfully, she slowly began the painful process of cleaning the wounds, using the cloth to gently remove the caked blood. His body would tense when she touched a particularly painful welt or when the soap stung in certain wounds more than others. Still, he didn't make a sound, his uneven breath the only thing giving away his discomfort.
It took her a good thirty minutes, as she was forced to work slowly, but soon the blood was all gone, leaving the cloth red and his wounds more tenderly. Washing out the cloth and hanging it over the sink, she said;
"I want to change the bed spreads and blanket and clean the room out a bit. Take a bath and wait for me here and I will bring a change of clothes and bandages for your wounds."
He nodded mutely, not meeting her eyes. A hand caught his cheek and raised his head.
"What he just did was low, Kai. Don't make him get to you. He is a coward. Please don't let--"
"It's not that, Margaret…" he finally spoke, very softly. "He has done worse to me before. It's just that…"
She caught the haunted look in his eyes and her eyes softened in understanding.
"Take a bath. It will help. I'll be back as soon as possible."
Placing a kiss on his forehead, she stood and gathering the bloodied blanket and cloth, left the room, closing the door behind her gently.
For many minutes he didn't move until finally a hand rose to touch a swollen but unopened welt on his shoulder. Tenderly feeling it, he felt a throbbing pain in his chest. Images began to swirl before his eyes…
*~*~*~begin flashback~*~*~*
"Bitch!"
"No! Get away from me!"
"Come here!"
"Get out! Kai, run!"
The sound of leather connected with skin and he jumped as she screamed in pain, struggling to free her hair that was knotted into a large fist, painfully keeping her grounded as the belt continued to strike her legs, left exposed and unprotected by her bathrobes.
"You monster! Let me go!"
"I said shut up!" Voltaire growled, cracking the belt again across her now red and swollen skin. "Fucking bitch! How dare you say I have no honour! How dare you call me a coward!?!"
Tears streaked her face as she sobbed and moaned in fear, pulling out several strands of her cerulean hair as she tried in vain to pull out of his grip, clawing at his hand as he roughly yanked her head about.
"Kai! Go to your room!" she begged, eyes meeting his where he sat shivering in the corner of the room.
Her hair was released but a violent shove sent her forward while the hand now gripped her bathrobe, pulling it off to leave her completely vulnerable to the whips with now came harsher, striking her everywhere; her torso, legs, back and face.
"You are a disgrace to my family, whore! My son was a fool to taint my blood with you peasant genes! You are an embarrassment!"
"You're a monster!" she shouted back, her body trembling and bleeding as she curled in a ball on the floor to protect herself.
"Mama!"
"Kai! No!" she shouted as he started to run towards her, eyes watery. She screamed shrilly when the belt lashed out at the child, catching him squarely in the chest and knocking the breath out of him, causing him to fall to the floor, gasping and gripping his chest in pain.
"Kai!"
The doors to the bedroom swung open, slamming loudly against the walls.
"Get away from them!" his father raged, running over to physically shove the elder Hiwatari, dealing him a solid punch to the jaw. "I'll kill you, bastard! How dare you hurt my family!"
What followed was an extremely loud exchange of foul words, curses, and promised deaths but he heard none of them, instead crawling over to where his mother laid in a heap, weeping as her blood stained the carpet. Reaching her, he nuzzled her face. A hand raised and desperately pulled him close to her, shielding him from the violent argument while she whispered softly in his ears, stroking his small back to ease the shivering.
"Mrs. Hiwatari?"
Gentle hands wrapped a large towel around them both and Margaret helped his mother to her feet, allowing the younger female to lean against her while clutching Kai close to her. Unable to do anything else, Margaret led them out of the room, the angered voices still echoing loudly in the hall and their ears as she brought them away to get cleaned up.
*~*~*~end flashback~*~*~*
The bath water rippled as his tears fell, the circles growing larger until finally disappearing.
'None of this would have happened…No one would have been killed…Both of you would still be alive… If I had only been stronger…'
Swallowing a shuddered sob, he slowly rose from the edge and removed his bloodied pants and stepped into the bath, gingerly sinking until he was sitting as comfortable as possible.
He allowed his head to rest against the edge, ignoring the stinging pain as the soap water washed his wounds, whatever medications Margaret had added to it cleansing away.
He could still see her; long cerulean hair cascading down her slender shoulders. Her eyes bright and her smile wide as she sang to him, played with him.
He could still hear her; soft voice that had soothed him through hard times, her heartbeat steady and strong against his ear when he would lay his head on her chest.
He could still feel and smell her; skin so soft it could have been silk. She had always smelled of mint.
What had happened? How could things have gone so wrong? Why had this pain been brought onto him?
His father was such a strong man. He had been so strong, lifting him up high into the air, sometimes even while his mother held him. The deep voice had whispered so many promisses that his father had always kept, going to great lengths not to break them.
*…We'll be alright…We are getting out of here…*
He had promised them. He had left them for a few minutes to get the car. Those were the last words his father had told them.
'He never got the chance to see us one last time. She never got the chance to hug me one last time.'
The faces of his parents floated in his mind and with a broken sob, he closed his eyes as the tears streamed down his face to fall silently into the water.
'I never got to tell them how much I loved them…'
*****************
*~*~*~begin flashback~*~*~*
"Please…no!"
"You take me for a fool?! You think I can't count?!"
"That's all that she gave me--"
"I don't give a fuck! I want my money!!"
"There isn't anything else! Please…!"
"Come here."
"…please…I will bring the rest of the money tomorrow…"
"I said, come *HERE*!!"
Gasping softly between his sobs, he slowly shuffled forward, blue eye pleading with the tall man before him.
"Not again…please, not again…"
"Get on your hands and knees."
"Jacob…"
"*NOW*!!" the tower of a man boomed and he wilted beneath the volume.
Unable to do anything else, he obeyed. Not a second passed before his pants were undone and pulled down, leaving him open to his molester who knelt behind him. A rough hand ran down his spine and he began to cry, only to be dealt a sharp slap to the back of his head.
"Time to pay up, bitch."
His pleas turned into a bloodcurdling shriek as the man began the assault on his already broken body.
"Nooo!!!"
*~*~*~end flashback~*~*~*
"NO!"
Wires snapped out of place as he shot up, covered in sweat and breathing harshly, tears streaming down his face. He frantically began to shove away the hands that were trying to keep him down.
"Get off me!! Don't touch me!!"
"Calm down!" a woman's voice spoke.
"No! NO!!"
More needles pulled free from his arms and the sight of his blood only brought on more hysteria.
"Someone please help me!!" he cried, sobbing and shouting at the same time.
"Doctor!" the nurse cried, struggling to keep the teen down before he hurt himself. "DOCTOR!!"
Staff began to pour into the room, eyes wide in shock at the sight of the boy who had been basically dead to the world but a few seconds ago. Pushing his way through the throng, the doctor approached the bed and attempted to aid the nurse, shoving aside the empty stretcher to get more room. Others moved to help but it would seem that the more restrained him, the more aggressive he got.
"We have to sedate him!" another nurse said, holding onto a trashing hand with all his strength.
"No! We can't risk it killing him!"
"If we don't do something he will end up killing himself!"
"Not to mention us!"
Ignoring the shouts, he looked down at the boy. The once brilliant blue eyes were now ghosts of their former selves; pale, the pupil dilated in fear. Tears were streaming down his almost white face as he continued to fight them.
After many minutes of useless restraining, soothing and even some threats, the doctor was about to give in and have the teen sedated when a commotion came from the back of the now crowded room. Staff moved out of the way as a tall, burly figure pushed his way through, spurred on by his captain's cries. Behind him followed a lilac-haired teen who limped badly yet whose face was stern in determination.
"Get off him!" Spencer shouted, having heard Tala's cries from down the hall.
Bryan moved past his friend, pushing away the personnel. Tala again tried to get out of the bed, still caught in past horrors, but his advance was stopped once more, this time by his team mate grabbing him and holding him in a grip/embrace.
"Let me go! Please!"
"Snap out of it! It's me!"
The voice seemed to slice right through his shrouded nightmares and the red-head almost went limp, gasping for breath as he clutched the lilac-haired boy's shirt. Everyone watched anxiously, unsure what to do.
"It's okay, it's only me. I'm here, Tala. Spencer is here too. We won't let anything happen to you," Bryan soothed, stroking the fiery red hair as he whispered softly to the distraught teen. "No one is going to hurt you."
"B-Bryan…?" he blinked, as if coming out of a trance.
"Yeah. It's me," he smiled softly, flinching mentally when the dull eyes lifted to meet his. Eyes that had always gleamed with determination and strength, now scared, if not dead.
Staring into the lilac eyes, Tala felt full awareness finally settle in. Feeling exhausted, he lay against the other's chest, still trying to stifle the soft sobs as he held onto his friend with as much strength as he could gather. Looking over Bryan's shoulder, he studied Spencer.
"Spencer…" he held out a hand. Bryan took the blond's hand and guided it to Tala's where it took hold of the trembling, ivory hand, squeezing gently in comfort. Some of the fear subsided a bit in the dull eyes at the sight of his two team mates.
"Ian?"
"He's okay too. Just can't get out of his bed yet," Bryan informed, still stroking the teen's back as he held him close, in protective fierceness.
"…how's Kai?"
Spencer took a sharp breath and he felt Bryan stiffen at the question. Looking up, he saw Spencer no longer faced him and Bryan refused to look him in the eyes.
"Let the doctor take care of you, Tala."
"Where's Kai?" he persisted, refusing to be laid back down and keeping his eyes on Bryan.
"You had a horrifying ordeal, young man. You need time to recover," the doctor said but he heard none of it.
"Where's Kai?!" he demanded, voice beginning to quiver with dread. This wasn't happening!
"Tala…please…" Bryan begged, knowing the news would surely push the red-head over the edge.
"Where is he?!?"
"Please remain calm, it's not good for your blood pressure--" the doctor tried but his hands were pushed away as Tala refused him.
"WHERE?!?!" he shouted, body trembling along with his voice.
Before Bryan could shush her, a nurse answered.
"He was taken by Voltaire."
The entire world turned silent to his ears. Nothing seemed to move. Nothing seemed to even exist. *He* felt like he didn't exist. Was he even breathing?
What seemed like eternity passed too swiftly and he found himself back in the hospital room, surrounded by doctors and nurses, facing Bryan who watched him with sympathetic eyes.
"Tala…"
While he had first been crying in fear and anger, new tears started to roll down his face. These were of pure and simple despair. Shaking his head softly, he tried to deny it. Tried to tell himself that he heard wrong. He slipped from Bryan's embrace, laying back as a sudden weakness swept over him.
Bryan cursed Boris; cursed his very existence. Cursed the man for what he had done. He wished deaths upon their former trainer that were of the slowest and most painful kinds. He prayed that the man suffered badly before going down to Hell where he belonged.
Accepting the truth for what it was, Tala slowly sat back up, holding out a frail hand which Bryan took and pulled his friend back into a brotherly embrace. Taking hold of the blond's hand, Bryan guided their friend down, allowing their captain to wrap an arm around him too.
Watching the two team mates comfort their captain with soft words, the doctor quietly ushered the others out, sending one of them to check on the fourth member, knowing the boy would want to be with his friends as well.
They were left in silence and with each other.
Bryan continued to rock the red-head, listening to Spencer speak in whispers to Tala, offering hope.
'How…' Bryan wondered, staring out the window at the night sky, 'How did things get so bad…?'
No answer came, only Tala's soft sobs.
tbc………
**************
For the record; this is *NOT* a yaoi fic (with the exception of m/m rape) so there is no Kai/Tala or Tala/Bryan or whatever type of pairing. They're just *FRIENDS* (seriously).
Read & Review, please.