Rimnerel: Well, let's see. What do I want to say about last chapter.
Tyson: You were wrong for what you did to Tala maybe?
Rimnerel: Oh yes. The mistreatment of Tala. He's not dead, he will be better, you'll all find out what Kenny will say about it. And I think I have an interesting idea for some other action since Tala is out of commission for a while. And no, Kai didn't find Tyson, you will find out why in the chapter.
Ian (jumping up and down): Can I do the thanks Rim? Can I, can I, can I, can I, can I???
Tyson: NO!
Rimnerel: Do them, Ian.
Ian (razzes Tyson): Thank you Rim. We would like to thank B. Tiamat Atardecer, Kougra, Nancys-little-Obsession, SelenaWheeler, blazing-wolf-08, russle, Angevar and everyone else for all their reviews. Now on to the chapter.
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Tala was trying to ignore the throbbing that surrounded him. Trying to float back into the comfortable, embrace of darkness his entire being had slipped into some time ago. There, he didn't have to think about waking up, living, nor the fact that his uncle Boris would probably be the crap out of him again once he got a minute alone with the red head. Tala wanted to know who kept him informed of the going ons within the house? He would personally shorten their life expectancy for the beating he got. The boy hissed as a pair of hands prodded a tender spot in his side.
"Tala...are you awake?" came a female voice he recognized.
Opening his eyes, a painful feat in itself, seeing a woman with short blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail staring at him with light blue eyes. She was seated in a chair, a bag on the edge of the bed. A light smile settled on her lips for a second before it dropped completely. Replaced by a disgusted look, as she stared at the damage the boy's uncle dealt to him. How could anyone hit their own flesh and blood like this. When Kai came and found her, she first suspected it was for the boy's aunt, then she noticed exactly how pale the dual haired male was.
When he told her that his uncle was back from a trip, she expected the worst arriving at the Balcov household. Her fear was only half realized, seeing the state in which Tala was beaten to. Her heart went out to the boy. She was one of few people in town that carried for him because she once had also been a therapist...his and Kai's therapist, before she became a full fledge physician. She knew all their little secrets, about their lives in a whole. Both were also the reason she became a full time doctor, also. Trying to crack open their minds wasn't just a feat, it drained her of everything she had. She couldn't continue to go on, so she gave up the field of psychology, and became a pysician instead.
Yet those two boys kept seeking her out, needing her help. Maybe...maybe if she hadn't given. If she hadn't walked away from those two boys when they were twelve...maybe she could have done more. Opened those locked doors to their hearts, closing a few doors to the darkness in their minds in the process also. The look on her face softened before disappearing completely, but not before the boy noticed. He shifted his eyes, or rather the one that wasn't swollen, from her.
"Tala, how do you feel?" she knew it wasn't a smart question to ask, but she had to know.
"How the fuck do you think I feel, Doctor Tate?" he retorted to her. Why was she even here? He didn't want to talk to her about this. All he wanted to do was go back into his blissful darkness until his world stopped hurting.
The woman wasn't dissuaded by his answer, knowing this was how he responded to the world. To the events surrounding him. Taking a calm breath, she spoke once more in a soft tone. "I sure you feel like shit, so I won't ask again."
"So," the male said, knowing she was using her training as a psychologist to assess the situation. "What's the verdict? Will I be walking any time soon?"
"It's best you get some rest for now," Doctor Tate responded. "You're lucky you don't have a concussion or head tramua. But you have two fractured ribs, a third almost fractured, but only cracked. You were very close to having your nose broken, along with your right arm. The bruises and cuts will heal, you don't have to worry about those."
"Hm..." He said nothing, knowing she was restraining herself from saying it was his uncle that did it. She knew it, after all, she use to be the only one he would confide in. That was...until she decided to stop talking to him. To go away and become a doctor before coming back to town.
"Tala..." the woman began, before the door to the room swung open and the male's uncle walked in the room. She did not make eye contact with the man. She would probably say more than she should, which would not help the boy any.
"Doctor Tate, are you finished here?" his tone was cold, telling her to best still her tongue.
The woman stood from her chair, looking down at the battered boy. Drawing herself up, she turned to stare him in the eyes, seeing the dangerous flicker of anger dancing in his gray eyes. "Yes Mr. Balcov, I am finished here. I'm going to prescribe him some pain killers. You can send Kai to pick them up for him." Turning her eyes back to Tala, she gave him a look of sympathy he didn't notice. "Tala, I want you to rest up until you're healed. That means no riding around on dirt bikes until those ribs of yours are healed, do I make myself clear young man."
"Yes, ma'am," he muttered. Closing his eyes, Tala listen to the woman gather her things, walking out the room. For a minute, he was aware of another pair on eyes burning him, more than likely his uncle's before a heavy set of footfalls followed the lighter pair out the room. Moments later, a familiar pair of steps found their way into the room. Opening his good eye, Tala found Kai coming to his bedside. Slight concern appearing in his eyes.
"Tala..."
"So, who sent for the good doctor?" Sarcasm colored the words as Tala spoke, ignoring the dull ache each word produced. Kai sat down in the chair Doctor Tate was seated at, staring at his cousin.
"She was the only one I could think of that would actually come," Kai shrugged.
"Because she use to talk to us when we were younger?" Tala remarked. "That's just bullshit. She didn't care about us. She just wanted us to--"
"At least she listened to us though," Kai countered, knowing his cousin could go on forever about the mistrust he felt for the woman. Kai didn't have much misgivings for the fact she gave up being their psychologist, left, and came back a doctor. The doors to their minds were better left unopened anyway. That lady went through hell trying to figure them out, in the end, she never did. "At least someone bothered to listen to us."
"Whatever," Tala muttered. "Why did you come back to the house in the first place? Not that I'm not thrilled to wake up with this much damage done."
Ignoring the sarcasm, Kai sat back, folding his arms over his chest. "I ran out of smokes and was going to snatch your pack when I heard the commotion. When I realized it was coming from uncle's study...I knew you were in trouble. I was half expecting him to snatch me in the room and beat the shit out of me also, but he just stopped and turned away from you. Telling me to get you out of his sight. I left you in Clover and Hannah's care while I went to go get Doctor Tate."
"Hmm..."
"Tala?" Kai questioned. "Want me to..."
"No, I want to go back to sleep," Tala mumbled.
"Then here." Kai held up a blue pill to the male. "Take the Valium. I have some more if you want another."
"Thanks." Tala reached up, taking the pill from his cousin, popping it into his mouth, and swallowing it without water. Laying back, he waited for the effects to take hold of him. Kai watched a serene expression come to Tala's face, as the male drifted into a deep sleep. Getting up from his chair, Kai quietly walked out the room, almost bumping into Clover who was hiding behind the door. Tears still continued to streak her eyes, as she stared up at him.
"He's sleep now Clover, it's better not to disturb him," Kai said.
"Will...he be...all right?" she whispered.
"He's been beat before, he shouldn't have no problem recoiling from it. Get back to work," Kai stated, walking away before the girl could say more. On his way down the hall, he was stopped by Hannah. Her face filled with worry also over the red haired young man.
"Kai, make sure you be careful yourself," Hannah warned. "You know how bad a temper your uncle has. I don't need you to..."
"I'm not going to end up like Tala!" Kai hissed. His eyes narrowed into crimson slits. "It's not like anyone in this fucking household tried to stop our uncle. You just went about your business like it wasn't a person being beat the shit out of. I would hate to think if I hadn't come back in this house. Why don't you just ignore us like the rest of the world has, what happens to us is none of your business. You're not related to us, and we aren't children. What we do remains with us?"
"I know you're upset..." Hannah started.
"Upset? You think I'm just upset? You fucking stupid cunt. You don't know how I feel. You're no better than anyone else in this house. You're a fucking maid who works for shit hours and receives less money than an average person. What would you know? I bet you're the one that kept him informed of everything going on in this house, didn't you?" Kai accused. "You're the only in this whole fucking household that knows everything that goes on. Just admit it!"
"I..." Hannah looked down, ashamed at herself. She had been the one to tell Boris about the relationship between his wife and his nephew. When he called home and asked for reports, he told her about everything. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry," Kai sneered. "I'm sure you are. You're lucky I'm not going to tell Tala. If you're so sorry, you'll tell him yourself and take whatever decision he decides with full blame." The male then walked away, leaving the woman in the hall by herself.
He had to get out for a while, just go riding somewhere. Right now he didn't care if he came back or not. Grabbing his tattered backpack, the young man shoved items in it, then his wallet in his pocket and pushed open the window. Climbing out the window, the dual haired male made his way down the side of the house. Heading for his bike, Kai jumped up, cranking it up and speeding off. He didnt' care where he was going right now. As long as there was road, he would ride it and not stop until every fleeting thought in his head disappeared.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Doctor Judy Tate sat at her desk in her private office, which was connected to the pharmacy on this part of town. When she wasn't needed at the hospital, this was were most of her time was spent. Right at the moment her mind was preoccupied with the files that were spread out on her desk in front of her. She sighed, staring from one file to another, then opened the one close to her right. The name Tala Ivanor was wrote on the side. These files came from back when she was still a psychologist. His uncle first brought him to her right after his parents tragic death.
His uncle reported the boy being wild and disobedient. When she first met the little boy, her perception of him varied. She suspected that the reason he was so opposed to his uncle was because of his grievances for his parents, and how fast Balcov was trying to make him cope. Turning the papers of the file, she finally stopped at one session. Almost two weeks from the first session they had. The date was September 17, 1987.
"Today's session was a breakthrough between me and Tala today. I first noticed he was withdrawn a few minutes into the session, but when I asked him what was the matter, he would only shake his head. I tried approaching, but he cowered away from me, as if I would hurt him. Not to distress him more, I went back to my chair, showing him I was not going to approach him if he didn't want me to. For a while he remained like this. Watching me with careful, weary eyes. Finally he began to settle, walking back to his seat near me. Or I thought he was going to. Instead he approached me and told me I could go ahead and do it if I wanted to. I was confused at first to what he was talking about. Asking him I discovered something I would never have expected," Judy read the paper.
Leaning back, she remembered the young boy telling her how his aunt had came into his room several days before the session in order to molest him. Also telling the woman how the things his aunt told him. Judy was more than disturbed by the confessions, yet when asking the boy what he wanted to do, he shook his head. Saying that things would get better. The boy was smart for being so young, yet....
"Why didn't I take steps to remove him from that environment?" Regret settled with her over not accomplishing a goal that would have made a difference now. She doubted that Irene Balcov would have allowed her to take Tala from that house. The woman was already unstable, and seemed to drop each year that passed. Sooner or later, Boris would have to face the fact she needed professional help and send her to a hospital for better treatment. Then again, anything negative on his image would not sit well with him.
Even now, no one blamed him for how Kai or Tala turned out. Kai was shipped from home to home all the time, so he wasn't there as often as Tala was. And Boris was hardly there to set the boy straight because he worked so hard to maintain the household with his wife sick most times. Or that's what the old folks of the town said. To them, Boris Balcov could do nothing so wrong as beat his nephews to the point of sending one into the hospital. After all, in the past, he has donated money to many pot lucks and other charity events that went on yearly in town.
"That old goat would probably kill...." the woman shook her head at that statement. She didn't want to think about it. With a sigh, she flipped through the file to the last session between she and Tala. The day she decided to stop being a psychologist. Leaning her head back against the back of her chair, she closed her eyes, remembering it as if it were yesterday.
~Flashback~
Doctor Tate turned away from her window, staring out at the nice day it had turned out to be. The weather man commented on there being a chance of showers throughout the day. "Oh, what does the weather man know. It's a beautiful day. I think I might take off early and spend the day with my Maxie." A knock sounded on her door, interrupting her thoughts of going home early and spending the rest of the day with her son Max. "Yes, come in."
"Judy," a woman with short curly red brown hair popped her head into the office.
"Yes, what is it Amanda?" the woman turned to her secretary.
"Tala's here to see you," Amanda said. Her brows furled together giving the woman a look. "It looks like he was in a fight."
"What? Send him in," Judy said. She thought they were making progress with his anger issues. After all, he's been a patient of hers for almost six years now. The boy was twelve and though a still unreceptive about things now, he still confessed a lot to her. Both him and his cousin...when the boy was there that is. Being shifted from one family member to the next didn't give her much time to talk with Kai Hiwatari as it did with Tala. Tala may be a bit of a troublemaker, hearing about him from her son who had no clue that the boy was his mother's patient, but he had quite a few issues he couldn't get over.
The boy in question walked into Judy's office, a cut just above his eye and a bruise appearing on his left arm. His eyes stared at her, not bothering to take a seat, just stood looking at her. Amanda closed the door to the room, leaving the two alone.
"Tala...were you in a fight?" Judy asked as she sat in her chair.
"Something like that," he muttered.
"What happened? Do you want to tell me?" Judy inquired. "Did you get into a fight at school? With that boy, Tyson you're always fighting with?" Tala shook his head. "Then was it at home?"
"You know...my uncle stopped in yesterday to check on things. He told me that I was worthless. I was sitting around doing nothing. He got angry with me and hit me. Was it wrong for me to ask what did I do to him? Did I really deserve to be hit like that. My aunt Irene tried to stop him, but he shrugged her away, saying it was for my own good," Tala replied with a frown. He tilted his head to the side, staring at her. "You know...abuse is a real bastard. No sympathy for the pain it puts others through. The bruises you don't see are the ones that really hurt right now."
"Tala, do you want me to call the police?" Judy asked.
"Why?" he inquired. "You know as well as I do that they wouldn't believe me. After all, I come to you for help. No one in town likes me. Have you heard the rumors going on about me? I'm suppose to be starting drugs. I mean, sure I smoke from time to time, that's only to keep me sane. But I'm suppose to be doing amphetamines. Of all things, this coming from a bunch of kids who probably don't know the difference between amphetamines and barbiturates."
"Kids can be cruel," Judy agreed.
The boy shook his head with a sigh. "I'm tired of it. You know, I doubt anyone would care if I decided to leave and not come back. I mean, I am a devil child." A strange smirk rose to his lips as he reached into his back pocket, pulling out a .45 caliber revolver. "In fact, I think I'll take my chances in hell."
"Tala!" Judy quickly found her way out of the seat. Her eyes widening as she watched him put the gun to him temple. She knew he was shifty about his emotions, but she didn't see the signs of suicide in him. "Tala...put down the gun. I know you might feel like living isn't worth it...but there's no reason you should end things like this."
"Maybe," he said, cocking back the trigger. "Blowing my brains out in your office without first talking things through would be rather stupid. I mean, maybe you have something worth saying."
"Okay, put down the gun then. Let's talk it out," Judy pleaded.
"No, I think I want to keep it here. Just in case you know," the boy grinned. "The other day, I was talking with Kai. He's in Cleveland right now. He told me about this movie he watched where these guys took turns putting a revolver to their heads and pulling the trigger. It's some sort of game. Are you familiar with it?"
"It's called Russian roulette," Judy said, her heart in her throat. "A very dangerous game of chance."
"Russian roulette...I like the name. Let's play." The boy pulled the trigger, Judy covering her eyes, but heard only a soft clip. Opening her eyes, she found the young man grinning wider. "One down."
"Tala..." She watched him cock the hammer back again. "Tala, please."
"May I ask a question? Why have you listened to me for this long?" The male pulled the trigger again, watching the woman flinch.
"Because I care. I want to help you feel like a part of this community. You're a very smart boy, Tala, which is why I scared of you doing this," she answered, watching him pull the hammer back again. "I would be sad if I lost you like this today. Kai would be sad, and so would your parents."
"But they aren't here to stop me," Tala said, pulling the trigger again. "They died six years ago. My uncle says that he's glad that my father died. That he wish I was with him that day instead of my mother. He cared a lot about her, did you know that?" He cocked the hammer back again. Seeing the fear in her eyes.
"Yes. She was his only other family that made it from Russia with him. You remind me of your mother and father. They would come to me for advice many times. Especially with your mother pregnant with you. She wouldn't want you to do this. And I know that they aren't here, but I am. I can tell you about them if you want," Judy said.
"Really?" Tala inquired, pulling the trigger again. "My aunt keeps telling me that I'm her child. You know she can't have children?" He pulled back the hammer again.
"Yes. And she was proud of you when you were born. She told the town about how wonderful a baby you were. Both your mother and aunt loved you greatly."
"Did my uncle like me?" The boy pulled the trigger again, counting five now. There were only three more chambers left.
"I...I don't know. He never said much about you to anyone in town unless they asked him. Your father was proud of you. He would take you everywhere with him." She became more desperate, watching him pull the hammer back again. There were only three more chambers left. "Tala...please...put down the gun, it's making me nervous."
"I think it's fun. Tell me more about my parents. Did I go on trips with them?" He pulled the trigger again, then cocked back the hammer. "That's six, right?"
"Yes...it is Tala...you know...we can talk about your parents more if you would just put the gun down."
"Nah, everything's fine," he said, pulling the trigger again. "Okay, let's stop talking about my parents for now. I want to ask you one important question?" He cocked the hammer back to the final chamber. "Will you always be here for me?"
"Of course. No matter what, I will. Now put the gun down," Judy begged, tears streaking her cheeks.
"Thank you Doctor Tate," he said. "I think we're finished for today."
"Tala!" she screamed as he pulled the trigger, but there was no loud shot, no explosion, no blood, no body crumbling to her floor. He stood there looking at her curiously with a devilish grin. He lowered the gun and put it in his back pocket.
"What?" he questioned.
"Ta...la..." Judy's legs gave out as she flopped down into her chair.
"Yes, Doctor Tate?" he answered as if nothing had happened.
"Are there...a bullet in there...?"
"No...was there suppose to be? Is that how you play Russian roulette? Oh, okay! I'll remember that. See you next week Doctor Tate, I'll tell Kai that's how you play the next time I speak with him." The boy headed out the door, leaving a very disturbed Judy Tate to tremble in her chair and come to a solid decision.
~Flashback ends~
"If I had known he didn't have a bullet in that gun...I would have put him across my knee and gave him a lesson in scarying me like that," Judy stated as a knock sounded on her door. Looking up, she found her son coming in the room. "Max, how are you sweetie?"
"I'm fine mom, when did you get back here?" Max replied. "It's starting to get late you know."
"I know," she smiled. He had grown into such a wonderful son. She loved him so much, which was why she couldn't understand how someone could abuse their own flesh and blood. What kind of person was that? In all the time raising her son, she never once rose her hand, or laid a finger on him that would leave a mark.
"Mom...are you okay?" Max asked.
"Huh? Oh...yes, I'm fine Max. So, tell me what have you been doing today?" Judy said, pushing her thoughts away from the afternoon's events.
"Well...I was hanging out with Tyson and the others today. Oh! But I haven't been able to tell you yet cause it keeps slipping my mind. Tyson's cousin, his name is Kenny, he's staying here the summer too. Kenny's really smart and he actually listens when I tell him something important, unlike Tyson has the tendency to do. And he likes these epic stories and stuff. He's really nice, you should meet him. You would never think that he was Tyson's cousin," Max babbled. Judy smiled, amused at the simple things her son found interesting.
"He must be a nice young man."
"Kenny's really cool. When you have some free time, you can meet him."
"All right, let's go home now," Judy said, closing the file on her desk, and putting all of them away.
"How was your day mom?" Max asked.
"Mine...well..." Judy sighed. "I had to see a patient at home today. It wasn't too pleasant."
"Oh. Oh! Did you know that Tala and Kai were looking for you earlier? I guess they needed to get medicine from you or something. I don't know, but I told them you were probably at the hospital. Did you see them today?"
"Yes...I did see them today. But enough talk, let's go see what we can round up before your father comes home," she said.
"Okay!" Max felt his mother's slight uneasiness over the subject. He wondered what had happened when they found her? He didn't want to pry in her business, but he was worried, seeing that sad and almost regretful look in her usually bright blue eyes. He hope nothing bad had happened.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Why isn't there anything around here to do?" Tyson moaned as he laid in the grass looking up at the clouds. Max and Zeo were up in one of the higher branches of the old peach tree in Max's backyard. Kenny was typing on his laptop while Johnny was looking over his beyblade. "I'm bored!"
"Aren't you always bored?" Zeo chimed.
"Of course you're not bored, you two are making out up there," Tyson said as an peach fell directly on his head. "Ouch! What was that for?"
"What do you think that was for?" Max said, climbing down from the branches with a peach in his hand.
"What? You're still my best friend! I mean, you guys are up in a tree out of sight from the rest of us. How am I to know what you're doing. I mean, not that I want to know or anything. Then you get all defensive and hit me with a peach," Tyson exclaimed, as another peach hit him in the head. "You know, both of you are starting to make me want to kill you."
"And if you don't leave us alone, we'll hit you with another one," Zeo said, hanging upside down looking at Tyson. A peach was in his hand. "I don't want to have to use this."
"Fine, fine." Tyson looked over to Kenny who was typing. "Hey Kenny, what are you doing?"
"Talking with Rei...or was talking to Rei. He's getting a bit distant on me. He was telling me about something then just went off into his own realm," Kenny said. {Hey Rei, wake up!}
{What? Did I space out again? ^_^ Sorry.} Rei sent back. {Now what were you talking about? Oh yeah, you finally admitted that you liked that guy. So have you told him?}
{No, he hasn't been around. Since about a week ago, I think he's just...well...I don't know. I guess he has things to do or something like that.}
{I'm sure he'll pop up. But listen, I have to go, Kain's coming over soon and} Rei's sentence broke off as if he was thinking about something.
{Sorry. Thinking about someone} Rei sent. {NO!! I meant something! I'm not thinking of someone.}
{You know, you could learn to follow your own advice. Tell Kain I said hi and both of you behave.} Kenny smiled knowing that would send the Chinese boy ballistic. {Now let me go. I have other things to do.} Kenny logged out of box before Rei could write him back. By now, he was writing Kenny a hysterical email saying there was nothing going on between him and Kain and that when Kenny got back to the city, he was going to hurt him. As of late, Rei had been touchy about small things, Kain being one of them. He wondered if those two... "Who knows."
"Who knows what?" Tyson asked.
"Oh, nothing much. I was just teasing Rei. I think he has a new interest."
"Really? Do you know what she looks like?" Tyson said sitting up with mischief in his eyes.
"Well...I'm running on a guess but I think I know them," Kenny smiled. His mouth quirked. Rei would really have his head when he found out that Tyson might discover.
"What's she like? You have to tell me!"
"Well...she's...well, they've known each other for a while now. Sometimes they argue, but most times they are great friends. Not really tall, maybe up to Rei's height. Blue eyes. That's about all you get out of me. Rei would kill me otherwise."
"No way! Next time you talk to Rei, tell him to send a pic of her," Tyson said.
"I thought you were trying to go with Mariah?" Johnny said as he looked at his friend. The male with blue hair frowned, folding his arms over his chest.
"I was trying to go with her, then she decided that she wants to flirt and hook up with Lee," Tyson glowered.
"No way. You mean Lee, Lee! Lee Xie? That same Lee!" Johnny remarked before bursting out into a fit of laughter. "Oh my god! You lost her to Lee! That is funny. The same guy that didn't stop pissing in the bed until he was ten! Oh, that's classic Tyson, just really classic!"
"Shut up! That's not funny! What does she see in him! He's...he's..."
"Now Mariah's boyfriend!" Johnny finished, before Tyson pounced on him and the two started wrestling.
"I'm going to kill you McGregor!" Tyson stated.
"Hey, guys! Stop fighting did you hear about Kai and Tala!" Max said suddenly. Remembering something he had overheard a week ago. Johnny sat on Tyson, who glared up at his friend.
"What did those two do now?" Tyson said. Kenny was as attentive as the others, being that he was beginning to worry about the red haired male he hadn't seen in over a week now. When he did manage to get the others to stop following him, Kenny would go sit out on the hill and wait. Having finally learned not to get lost in the woods. Yet, there was never a sign of the red or blue haired boys. It was like they up and vanished.
"Well...I was listening to my mom talk to my dad one night last week. She was saying something about Tala being stubborn about not staying in bed. I think he's like sick. You know with a summer cold," Max said. "Second rumor is that Kai packed some of his things up and just disappeared from the house, not telling anyone where he was going. I think it has something to do with their uncle staying there for a while."
"What's wrong with their uncle?" Kenny inquired.
"Everyone in town says that Mr. Balcov, Tala and Kai's uncle doesn't like them having all these rumors and stuff flying around. So he's trying to reform them, but both are rebelling against him. Maybe that's the reason Kai left for a while. I don't think they like him too much. But he seems like a nice guy. He's always giving to charities and stuff in town. He's this big business trader or something," Max replied.
"I don't think they like anyone," Tyson snorted.
"Hey, Kai seems to like you well enough," Johnny teased. "Now that Mariah has dumped you, you can now give yourself to Kai fully!" The other three boys watched Tyson's face light up to bright red as he dumped his best friend off of him and stormed off. "Hey! I was just joking! Oh come on Tyson, can't you take a joke!"
"Leave me the hell alone! I'm heading back!" Tyson shouted.
"Fine! Pout then you big baby!" Johnny shouted back.
"Don't you think we should--" Zeo started.
"Oh, he'll cool off, let him go," Johnny grinned.
"All right then."
While the four boys continued to do their own things, one very pissed off blue haired young man stomped his way back to the main road which led back to his house. He could not believe that Johnny would say something so....so....so idiotic! Why in the four corners of hell would he run to Kai because a girl he liked chose some other guy over him.
Kai?
Kai Hiwatari of all people?
Why would Johnny even mention it? That guy drove Tyson's head five different ways. Not to mention his constant flirting with anyone that paid attention to him. He not only made Tyson see red, but his equally demonic cousin. Why on Earth were they put there to continue to cross paths with? Just the very thought about the taller male with dual hair and crimson eyes made Tyson's blood boil...yet...it also made him excited. For some time now, when their paths crossed, it was like a game they played, no one moving unless they had to. Tyson didn't know who was winning, which made this feeling so much more...
What? Desired?
"What the hell am I thinking?" Tyson berated himself as he leaned against a tree, closing his eyes. "There's no way."
"No way what?" came a low voice. Tyson almost jumped away from the tree, opening his eyes to find...well....Kai walking his dirt bike along the road. His eyes were turned to Tyson in a curious manner, different from most times they met.
"What the hell are you doing?" Tyson screamed, though he didn't know why. Kai just looked at the male, stopping along his journey. "Are you stalking me?"
"For one, it's not your road. Two, I'm going back home. I'm walking my bike because I don't have any gas. Now if you would excuse me," Kai said, not in the mood to flirt. Just getting back into town, he found that his anger had yet to subside. Tyson blinked, not believing that Kai would turn up a chance to flirt. But why should he care? It wasn't like...
"Hey! You can't just ignore me like that!" Tyson said. Kai stopped again, looking over at the male who was glaring at him.
"I answered you didn't I?" Kai replied. "That wasn't ignoring you." Tyson's cheeks turned scarlet. "Why are you so angry with me? I've been out of town a week and come back and you're angry with me for something. No logic in that Tyson."
"So it is true. You have been out of town. Why?" Tyson stated.
"I don't want to talk about it," Kai muttered. "Now..."
"Pussy," Tyson mocked. "The Kai I know isn't that much of a pussy. What did you do with him, drop him off while you were away?"
"Tyson," Kai warned. "I'm not in the mood."
"Pussy," Tyson repeated again with a smirk. "So the imfamous Kai Hiwatari is going to walk away like a whipped dog. Wait till I tell everyone in town. In his absence Kai has become soft." Kai growled low in his throat as he put down his bikes kickstand and walked up to Tyson. Reaching the male leaning against the tree, Kai placed both his hands on either side of the tree, glaring down at the younger.
"Don't piss me off right now Tyson, I'm in a bad mood," Kai said.
"Is that a threat?" Tyson continued to mock.
"Don't make me have to shut you up."
Tyson tilted his head up, daring to meet those firey orbs, as they stood centimeters from touching. "Do it then." That was about all that needed to be said before Kai swooped down, taking hold of Tyson's mouth in a bruising kiss. The heat of it was so intense that Tyson gasped, allowing Kai's hot tongue to slip inside his mouth, subduing the younger's before the battle even begun. A moan slipped from Tyson's mouth, but was swallowed into the kiss. Tyson's pulse blazed as he grabbed Kai, bringing him closer, the older male's body crushing his against the tree, but Tyson didn't care. God this was so good.
When Kai pulled away, he panted, staring down at Tyson with hooded eyes. Tyson could only stare into those eyes, those dark, dark eyes as Kai reached his hand up, combing it through Tyson's hair. Tyson moved his hands up, pulling Kai into another kiss, but Kai held back.
"Why?" Tyson whispered, his blue eyes shimmering with want.
"You're not ready yet," Kai murmured as he pulled away from Tyson and walked back to his bike. Tyson stood shocked by the words as Kai went about his way. Only after the male was gone did his legs give way. He wasn't ready yet?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kai: He wasn't ready yet! Why!
Rimnerel: Stop screaming at me! He wasn't ready yet! You'll understand in the next chapter!
Tala: How come he got to kiss Tyson before I kissed Kenny! Mutiny!
Ozuma: God you dudes are babies. (both try to jump on Ozuma)
Rimnerel: Um...okay...yeah. But I hope everyone like the chapter. Friday. I can only update every five days because of how long the chapters are getting. So I will see everyone Friday. Bye now!
Tyson: You were wrong for what you did to Tala maybe?
Rimnerel: Oh yes. The mistreatment of Tala. He's not dead, he will be better, you'll all find out what Kenny will say about it. And I think I have an interesting idea for some other action since Tala is out of commission for a while. And no, Kai didn't find Tyson, you will find out why in the chapter.
Ian (jumping up and down): Can I do the thanks Rim? Can I, can I, can I, can I, can I???
Tyson: NO!
Rimnerel: Do them, Ian.
Ian (razzes Tyson): Thank you Rim. We would like to thank B. Tiamat Atardecer, Kougra, Nancys-little-Obsession, SelenaWheeler, blazing-wolf-08, russle, Angevar and everyone else for all their reviews. Now on to the chapter.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tala was trying to ignore the throbbing that surrounded him. Trying to float back into the comfortable, embrace of darkness his entire being had slipped into some time ago. There, he didn't have to think about waking up, living, nor the fact that his uncle Boris would probably be the crap out of him again once he got a minute alone with the red head. Tala wanted to know who kept him informed of the going ons within the house? He would personally shorten their life expectancy for the beating he got. The boy hissed as a pair of hands prodded a tender spot in his side.
"Tala...are you awake?" came a female voice he recognized.
Opening his eyes, a painful feat in itself, seeing a woman with short blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail staring at him with light blue eyes. She was seated in a chair, a bag on the edge of the bed. A light smile settled on her lips for a second before it dropped completely. Replaced by a disgusted look, as she stared at the damage the boy's uncle dealt to him. How could anyone hit their own flesh and blood like this. When Kai came and found her, she first suspected it was for the boy's aunt, then she noticed exactly how pale the dual haired male was.
When he told her that his uncle was back from a trip, she expected the worst arriving at the Balcov household. Her fear was only half realized, seeing the state in which Tala was beaten to. Her heart went out to the boy. She was one of few people in town that carried for him because she once had also been a therapist...his and Kai's therapist, before she became a full fledge physician. She knew all their little secrets, about their lives in a whole. Both were also the reason she became a full time doctor, also. Trying to crack open their minds wasn't just a feat, it drained her of everything she had. She couldn't continue to go on, so she gave up the field of psychology, and became a pysician instead.
Yet those two boys kept seeking her out, needing her help. Maybe...maybe if she hadn't given. If she hadn't walked away from those two boys when they were twelve...maybe she could have done more. Opened those locked doors to their hearts, closing a few doors to the darkness in their minds in the process also. The look on her face softened before disappearing completely, but not before the boy noticed. He shifted his eyes, or rather the one that wasn't swollen, from her.
"Tala, how do you feel?" she knew it wasn't a smart question to ask, but she had to know.
"How the fuck do you think I feel, Doctor Tate?" he retorted to her. Why was she even here? He didn't want to talk to her about this. All he wanted to do was go back into his blissful darkness until his world stopped hurting.
The woman wasn't dissuaded by his answer, knowing this was how he responded to the world. To the events surrounding him. Taking a calm breath, she spoke once more in a soft tone. "I sure you feel like shit, so I won't ask again."
"So," the male said, knowing she was using her training as a psychologist to assess the situation. "What's the verdict? Will I be walking any time soon?"
"It's best you get some rest for now," Doctor Tate responded. "You're lucky you don't have a concussion or head tramua. But you have two fractured ribs, a third almost fractured, but only cracked. You were very close to having your nose broken, along with your right arm. The bruises and cuts will heal, you don't have to worry about those."
"Hm..." He said nothing, knowing she was restraining herself from saying it was his uncle that did it. She knew it, after all, she use to be the only one he would confide in. That was...until she decided to stop talking to him. To go away and become a doctor before coming back to town.
"Tala..." the woman began, before the door to the room swung open and the male's uncle walked in the room. She did not make eye contact with the man. She would probably say more than she should, which would not help the boy any.
"Doctor Tate, are you finished here?" his tone was cold, telling her to best still her tongue.
The woman stood from her chair, looking down at the battered boy. Drawing herself up, she turned to stare him in the eyes, seeing the dangerous flicker of anger dancing in his gray eyes. "Yes Mr. Balcov, I am finished here. I'm going to prescribe him some pain killers. You can send Kai to pick them up for him." Turning her eyes back to Tala, she gave him a look of sympathy he didn't notice. "Tala, I want you to rest up until you're healed. That means no riding around on dirt bikes until those ribs of yours are healed, do I make myself clear young man."
"Yes, ma'am," he muttered. Closing his eyes, Tala listen to the woman gather her things, walking out the room. For a minute, he was aware of another pair on eyes burning him, more than likely his uncle's before a heavy set of footfalls followed the lighter pair out the room. Moments later, a familiar pair of steps found their way into the room. Opening his good eye, Tala found Kai coming to his bedside. Slight concern appearing in his eyes.
"Tala..."
"So, who sent for the good doctor?" Sarcasm colored the words as Tala spoke, ignoring the dull ache each word produced. Kai sat down in the chair Doctor Tate was seated at, staring at his cousin.
"She was the only one I could think of that would actually come," Kai shrugged.
"Because she use to talk to us when we were younger?" Tala remarked. "That's just bullshit. She didn't care about us. She just wanted us to--"
"At least she listened to us though," Kai countered, knowing his cousin could go on forever about the mistrust he felt for the woman. Kai didn't have much misgivings for the fact she gave up being their psychologist, left, and came back a doctor. The doors to their minds were better left unopened anyway. That lady went through hell trying to figure them out, in the end, she never did. "At least someone bothered to listen to us."
"Whatever," Tala muttered. "Why did you come back to the house in the first place? Not that I'm not thrilled to wake up with this much damage done."
Ignoring the sarcasm, Kai sat back, folding his arms over his chest. "I ran out of smokes and was going to snatch your pack when I heard the commotion. When I realized it was coming from uncle's study...I knew you were in trouble. I was half expecting him to snatch me in the room and beat the shit out of me also, but he just stopped and turned away from you. Telling me to get you out of his sight. I left you in Clover and Hannah's care while I went to go get Doctor Tate."
"Hmm..."
"Tala?" Kai questioned. "Want me to..."
"No, I want to go back to sleep," Tala mumbled.
"Then here." Kai held up a blue pill to the male. "Take the Valium. I have some more if you want another."
"Thanks." Tala reached up, taking the pill from his cousin, popping it into his mouth, and swallowing it without water. Laying back, he waited for the effects to take hold of him. Kai watched a serene expression come to Tala's face, as the male drifted into a deep sleep. Getting up from his chair, Kai quietly walked out the room, almost bumping into Clover who was hiding behind the door. Tears still continued to streak her eyes, as she stared up at him.
"He's sleep now Clover, it's better not to disturb him," Kai said.
"Will...he be...all right?" she whispered.
"He's been beat before, he shouldn't have no problem recoiling from it. Get back to work," Kai stated, walking away before the girl could say more. On his way down the hall, he was stopped by Hannah. Her face filled with worry also over the red haired young man.
"Kai, make sure you be careful yourself," Hannah warned. "You know how bad a temper your uncle has. I don't need you to..."
"I'm not going to end up like Tala!" Kai hissed. His eyes narrowed into crimson slits. "It's not like anyone in this fucking household tried to stop our uncle. You just went about your business like it wasn't a person being beat the shit out of. I would hate to think if I hadn't come back in this house. Why don't you just ignore us like the rest of the world has, what happens to us is none of your business. You're not related to us, and we aren't children. What we do remains with us?"
"I know you're upset..." Hannah started.
"Upset? You think I'm just upset? You fucking stupid cunt. You don't know how I feel. You're no better than anyone else in this house. You're a fucking maid who works for shit hours and receives less money than an average person. What would you know? I bet you're the one that kept him informed of everything going on in this house, didn't you?" Kai accused. "You're the only in this whole fucking household that knows everything that goes on. Just admit it!"
"I..." Hannah looked down, ashamed at herself. She had been the one to tell Boris about the relationship between his wife and his nephew. When he called home and asked for reports, he told her about everything. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry," Kai sneered. "I'm sure you are. You're lucky I'm not going to tell Tala. If you're so sorry, you'll tell him yourself and take whatever decision he decides with full blame." The male then walked away, leaving the woman in the hall by herself.
He had to get out for a while, just go riding somewhere. Right now he didn't care if he came back or not. Grabbing his tattered backpack, the young man shoved items in it, then his wallet in his pocket and pushed open the window. Climbing out the window, the dual haired male made his way down the side of the house. Heading for his bike, Kai jumped up, cranking it up and speeding off. He didnt' care where he was going right now. As long as there was road, he would ride it and not stop until every fleeting thought in his head disappeared.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Doctor Judy Tate sat at her desk in her private office, which was connected to the pharmacy on this part of town. When she wasn't needed at the hospital, this was were most of her time was spent. Right at the moment her mind was preoccupied with the files that were spread out on her desk in front of her. She sighed, staring from one file to another, then opened the one close to her right. The name Tala Ivanor was wrote on the side. These files came from back when she was still a psychologist. His uncle first brought him to her right after his parents tragic death.
His uncle reported the boy being wild and disobedient. When she first met the little boy, her perception of him varied. She suspected that the reason he was so opposed to his uncle was because of his grievances for his parents, and how fast Balcov was trying to make him cope. Turning the papers of the file, she finally stopped at one session. Almost two weeks from the first session they had. The date was September 17, 1987.
"Today's session was a breakthrough between me and Tala today. I first noticed he was withdrawn a few minutes into the session, but when I asked him what was the matter, he would only shake his head. I tried approaching, but he cowered away from me, as if I would hurt him. Not to distress him more, I went back to my chair, showing him I was not going to approach him if he didn't want me to. For a while he remained like this. Watching me with careful, weary eyes. Finally he began to settle, walking back to his seat near me. Or I thought he was going to. Instead he approached me and told me I could go ahead and do it if I wanted to. I was confused at first to what he was talking about. Asking him I discovered something I would never have expected," Judy read the paper.
Leaning back, she remembered the young boy telling her how his aunt had came into his room several days before the session in order to molest him. Also telling the woman how the things his aunt told him. Judy was more than disturbed by the confessions, yet when asking the boy what he wanted to do, he shook his head. Saying that things would get better. The boy was smart for being so young, yet....
"Why didn't I take steps to remove him from that environment?" Regret settled with her over not accomplishing a goal that would have made a difference now. She doubted that Irene Balcov would have allowed her to take Tala from that house. The woman was already unstable, and seemed to drop each year that passed. Sooner or later, Boris would have to face the fact she needed professional help and send her to a hospital for better treatment. Then again, anything negative on his image would not sit well with him.
Even now, no one blamed him for how Kai or Tala turned out. Kai was shipped from home to home all the time, so he wasn't there as often as Tala was. And Boris was hardly there to set the boy straight because he worked so hard to maintain the household with his wife sick most times. Or that's what the old folks of the town said. To them, Boris Balcov could do nothing so wrong as beat his nephews to the point of sending one into the hospital. After all, in the past, he has donated money to many pot lucks and other charity events that went on yearly in town.
"That old goat would probably kill...." the woman shook her head at that statement. She didn't want to think about it. With a sigh, she flipped through the file to the last session between she and Tala. The day she decided to stop being a psychologist. Leaning her head back against the back of her chair, she closed her eyes, remembering it as if it were yesterday.
~Flashback~
Doctor Tate turned away from her window, staring out at the nice day it had turned out to be. The weather man commented on there being a chance of showers throughout the day. "Oh, what does the weather man know. It's a beautiful day. I think I might take off early and spend the day with my Maxie." A knock sounded on her door, interrupting her thoughts of going home early and spending the rest of the day with her son Max. "Yes, come in."
"Judy," a woman with short curly red brown hair popped her head into the office.
"Yes, what is it Amanda?" the woman turned to her secretary.
"Tala's here to see you," Amanda said. Her brows furled together giving the woman a look. "It looks like he was in a fight."
"What? Send him in," Judy said. She thought they were making progress with his anger issues. After all, he's been a patient of hers for almost six years now. The boy was twelve and though a still unreceptive about things now, he still confessed a lot to her. Both him and his cousin...when the boy was there that is. Being shifted from one family member to the next didn't give her much time to talk with Kai Hiwatari as it did with Tala. Tala may be a bit of a troublemaker, hearing about him from her son who had no clue that the boy was his mother's patient, but he had quite a few issues he couldn't get over.
The boy in question walked into Judy's office, a cut just above his eye and a bruise appearing on his left arm. His eyes stared at her, not bothering to take a seat, just stood looking at her. Amanda closed the door to the room, leaving the two alone.
"Tala...were you in a fight?" Judy asked as she sat in her chair.
"Something like that," he muttered.
"What happened? Do you want to tell me?" Judy inquired. "Did you get into a fight at school? With that boy, Tyson you're always fighting with?" Tala shook his head. "Then was it at home?"
"You know...my uncle stopped in yesterday to check on things. He told me that I was worthless. I was sitting around doing nothing. He got angry with me and hit me. Was it wrong for me to ask what did I do to him? Did I really deserve to be hit like that. My aunt Irene tried to stop him, but he shrugged her away, saying it was for my own good," Tala replied with a frown. He tilted his head to the side, staring at her. "You know...abuse is a real bastard. No sympathy for the pain it puts others through. The bruises you don't see are the ones that really hurt right now."
"Tala, do you want me to call the police?" Judy asked.
"Why?" he inquired. "You know as well as I do that they wouldn't believe me. After all, I come to you for help. No one in town likes me. Have you heard the rumors going on about me? I'm suppose to be starting drugs. I mean, sure I smoke from time to time, that's only to keep me sane. But I'm suppose to be doing amphetamines. Of all things, this coming from a bunch of kids who probably don't know the difference between amphetamines and barbiturates."
"Kids can be cruel," Judy agreed.
The boy shook his head with a sigh. "I'm tired of it. You know, I doubt anyone would care if I decided to leave and not come back. I mean, I am a devil child." A strange smirk rose to his lips as he reached into his back pocket, pulling out a .45 caliber revolver. "In fact, I think I'll take my chances in hell."
"Tala!" Judy quickly found her way out of the seat. Her eyes widening as she watched him put the gun to him temple. She knew he was shifty about his emotions, but she didn't see the signs of suicide in him. "Tala...put down the gun. I know you might feel like living isn't worth it...but there's no reason you should end things like this."
"Maybe," he said, cocking back the trigger. "Blowing my brains out in your office without first talking things through would be rather stupid. I mean, maybe you have something worth saying."
"Okay, put down the gun then. Let's talk it out," Judy pleaded.
"No, I think I want to keep it here. Just in case you know," the boy grinned. "The other day, I was talking with Kai. He's in Cleveland right now. He told me about this movie he watched where these guys took turns putting a revolver to their heads and pulling the trigger. It's some sort of game. Are you familiar with it?"
"It's called Russian roulette," Judy said, her heart in her throat. "A very dangerous game of chance."
"Russian roulette...I like the name. Let's play." The boy pulled the trigger, Judy covering her eyes, but heard only a soft clip. Opening her eyes, she found the young man grinning wider. "One down."
"Tala..." She watched him cock the hammer back again. "Tala, please."
"May I ask a question? Why have you listened to me for this long?" The male pulled the trigger again, watching the woman flinch.
"Because I care. I want to help you feel like a part of this community. You're a very smart boy, Tala, which is why I scared of you doing this," she answered, watching him pull the hammer back again. "I would be sad if I lost you like this today. Kai would be sad, and so would your parents."
"But they aren't here to stop me," Tala said, pulling the trigger again. "They died six years ago. My uncle says that he's glad that my father died. That he wish I was with him that day instead of my mother. He cared a lot about her, did you know that?" He cocked the hammer back again. Seeing the fear in her eyes.
"Yes. She was his only other family that made it from Russia with him. You remind me of your mother and father. They would come to me for advice many times. Especially with your mother pregnant with you. She wouldn't want you to do this. And I know that they aren't here, but I am. I can tell you about them if you want," Judy said.
"Really?" Tala inquired, pulling the trigger again. "My aunt keeps telling me that I'm her child. You know she can't have children?" He pulled back the hammer again.
"Yes. And she was proud of you when you were born. She told the town about how wonderful a baby you were. Both your mother and aunt loved you greatly."
"Did my uncle like me?" The boy pulled the trigger again, counting five now. There were only three more chambers left.
"I...I don't know. He never said much about you to anyone in town unless they asked him. Your father was proud of you. He would take you everywhere with him." She became more desperate, watching him pull the hammer back again. There were only three more chambers left. "Tala...please...put down the gun, it's making me nervous."
"I think it's fun. Tell me more about my parents. Did I go on trips with them?" He pulled the trigger again, then cocked back the hammer. "That's six, right?"
"Yes...it is Tala...you know...we can talk about your parents more if you would just put the gun down."
"Nah, everything's fine," he said, pulling the trigger again. "Okay, let's stop talking about my parents for now. I want to ask you one important question?" He cocked the hammer back to the final chamber. "Will you always be here for me?"
"Of course. No matter what, I will. Now put the gun down," Judy begged, tears streaking her cheeks.
"Thank you Doctor Tate," he said. "I think we're finished for today."
"Tala!" she screamed as he pulled the trigger, but there was no loud shot, no explosion, no blood, no body crumbling to her floor. He stood there looking at her curiously with a devilish grin. He lowered the gun and put it in his back pocket.
"What?" he questioned.
"Ta...la..." Judy's legs gave out as she flopped down into her chair.
"Yes, Doctor Tate?" he answered as if nothing had happened.
"Are there...a bullet in there...?"
"No...was there suppose to be? Is that how you play Russian roulette? Oh, okay! I'll remember that. See you next week Doctor Tate, I'll tell Kai that's how you play the next time I speak with him." The boy headed out the door, leaving a very disturbed Judy Tate to tremble in her chair and come to a solid decision.
~Flashback ends~
"If I had known he didn't have a bullet in that gun...I would have put him across my knee and gave him a lesson in scarying me like that," Judy stated as a knock sounded on her door. Looking up, she found her son coming in the room. "Max, how are you sweetie?"
"I'm fine mom, when did you get back here?" Max replied. "It's starting to get late you know."
"I know," she smiled. He had grown into such a wonderful son. She loved him so much, which was why she couldn't understand how someone could abuse their own flesh and blood. What kind of person was that? In all the time raising her son, she never once rose her hand, or laid a finger on him that would leave a mark.
"Mom...are you okay?" Max asked.
"Huh? Oh...yes, I'm fine Max. So, tell me what have you been doing today?" Judy said, pushing her thoughts away from the afternoon's events.
"Well...I was hanging out with Tyson and the others today. Oh! But I haven't been able to tell you yet cause it keeps slipping my mind. Tyson's cousin, his name is Kenny, he's staying here the summer too. Kenny's really smart and he actually listens when I tell him something important, unlike Tyson has the tendency to do. And he likes these epic stories and stuff. He's really nice, you should meet him. You would never think that he was Tyson's cousin," Max babbled. Judy smiled, amused at the simple things her son found interesting.
"He must be a nice young man."
"Kenny's really cool. When you have some free time, you can meet him."
"All right, let's go home now," Judy said, closing the file on her desk, and putting all of them away.
"How was your day mom?" Max asked.
"Mine...well..." Judy sighed. "I had to see a patient at home today. It wasn't too pleasant."
"Oh. Oh! Did you know that Tala and Kai were looking for you earlier? I guess they needed to get medicine from you or something. I don't know, but I told them you were probably at the hospital. Did you see them today?"
"Yes...I did see them today. But enough talk, let's go see what we can round up before your father comes home," she said.
"Okay!" Max felt his mother's slight uneasiness over the subject. He wondered what had happened when they found her? He didn't want to pry in her business, but he was worried, seeing that sad and almost regretful look in her usually bright blue eyes. He hope nothing bad had happened.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Why isn't there anything around here to do?" Tyson moaned as he laid in the grass looking up at the clouds. Max and Zeo were up in one of the higher branches of the old peach tree in Max's backyard. Kenny was typing on his laptop while Johnny was looking over his beyblade. "I'm bored!"
"Aren't you always bored?" Zeo chimed.
"Of course you're not bored, you two are making out up there," Tyson said as an peach fell directly on his head. "Ouch! What was that for?"
"What do you think that was for?" Max said, climbing down from the branches with a peach in his hand.
"What? You're still my best friend! I mean, you guys are up in a tree out of sight from the rest of us. How am I to know what you're doing. I mean, not that I want to know or anything. Then you get all defensive and hit me with a peach," Tyson exclaimed, as another peach hit him in the head. "You know, both of you are starting to make me want to kill you."
"And if you don't leave us alone, we'll hit you with another one," Zeo said, hanging upside down looking at Tyson. A peach was in his hand. "I don't want to have to use this."
"Fine, fine." Tyson looked over to Kenny who was typing. "Hey Kenny, what are you doing?"
"Talking with Rei...or was talking to Rei. He's getting a bit distant on me. He was telling me about something then just went off into his own realm," Kenny said. {Hey Rei, wake up!}
{What? Did I space out again? ^_^ Sorry.} Rei sent back. {Now what were you talking about? Oh yeah, you finally admitted that you liked that guy. So have you told him?}
{No, he hasn't been around. Since about a week ago, I think he's just...well...I don't know. I guess he has things to do or something like that.}
{I'm sure he'll pop up. But listen, I have to go, Kain's coming over soon and} Rei's sentence broke off as if he was thinking about something.
{Sorry. Thinking about someone} Rei sent. {NO!! I meant something! I'm not thinking of someone.}
{You know, you could learn to follow your own advice. Tell Kain I said hi and both of you behave.} Kenny smiled knowing that would send the Chinese boy ballistic. {Now let me go. I have other things to do.} Kenny logged out of box before Rei could write him back. By now, he was writing Kenny a hysterical email saying there was nothing going on between him and Kain and that when Kenny got back to the city, he was going to hurt him. As of late, Rei had been touchy about small things, Kain being one of them. He wondered if those two... "Who knows."
"Who knows what?" Tyson asked.
"Oh, nothing much. I was just teasing Rei. I think he has a new interest."
"Really? Do you know what she looks like?" Tyson said sitting up with mischief in his eyes.
"Well...I'm running on a guess but I think I know them," Kenny smiled. His mouth quirked. Rei would really have his head when he found out that Tyson might discover.
"What's she like? You have to tell me!"
"Well...she's...well, they've known each other for a while now. Sometimes they argue, but most times they are great friends. Not really tall, maybe up to Rei's height. Blue eyes. That's about all you get out of me. Rei would kill me otherwise."
"No way! Next time you talk to Rei, tell him to send a pic of her," Tyson said.
"I thought you were trying to go with Mariah?" Johnny said as he looked at his friend. The male with blue hair frowned, folding his arms over his chest.
"I was trying to go with her, then she decided that she wants to flirt and hook up with Lee," Tyson glowered.
"No way. You mean Lee, Lee! Lee Xie? That same Lee!" Johnny remarked before bursting out into a fit of laughter. "Oh my god! You lost her to Lee! That is funny. The same guy that didn't stop pissing in the bed until he was ten! Oh, that's classic Tyson, just really classic!"
"Shut up! That's not funny! What does she see in him! He's...he's..."
"Now Mariah's boyfriend!" Johnny finished, before Tyson pounced on him and the two started wrestling.
"I'm going to kill you McGregor!" Tyson stated.
"Hey, guys! Stop fighting did you hear about Kai and Tala!" Max said suddenly. Remembering something he had overheard a week ago. Johnny sat on Tyson, who glared up at his friend.
"What did those two do now?" Tyson said. Kenny was as attentive as the others, being that he was beginning to worry about the red haired male he hadn't seen in over a week now. When he did manage to get the others to stop following him, Kenny would go sit out on the hill and wait. Having finally learned not to get lost in the woods. Yet, there was never a sign of the red or blue haired boys. It was like they up and vanished.
"Well...I was listening to my mom talk to my dad one night last week. She was saying something about Tala being stubborn about not staying in bed. I think he's like sick. You know with a summer cold," Max said. "Second rumor is that Kai packed some of his things up and just disappeared from the house, not telling anyone where he was going. I think it has something to do with their uncle staying there for a while."
"What's wrong with their uncle?" Kenny inquired.
"Everyone in town says that Mr. Balcov, Tala and Kai's uncle doesn't like them having all these rumors and stuff flying around. So he's trying to reform them, but both are rebelling against him. Maybe that's the reason Kai left for a while. I don't think they like him too much. But he seems like a nice guy. He's always giving to charities and stuff in town. He's this big business trader or something," Max replied.
"I don't think they like anyone," Tyson snorted.
"Hey, Kai seems to like you well enough," Johnny teased. "Now that Mariah has dumped you, you can now give yourself to Kai fully!" The other three boys watched Tyson's face light up to bright red as he dumped his best friend off of him and stormed off. "Hey! I was just joking! Oh come on Tyson, can't you take a joke!"
"Leave me the hell alone! I'm heading back!" Tyson shouted.
"Fine! Pout then you big baby!" Johnny shouted back.
"Don't you think we should--" Zeo started.
"Oh, he'll cool off, let him go," Johnny grinned.
"All right then."
While the four boys continued to do their own things, one very pissed off blue haired young man stomped his way back to the main road which led back to his house. He could not believe that Johnny would say something so....so....so idiotic! Why in the four corners of hell would he run to Kai because a girl he liked chose some other guy over him.
Kai?
Kai Hiwatari of all people?
Why would Johnny even mention it? That guy drove Tyson's head five different ways. Not to mention his constant flirting with anyone that paid attention to him. He not only made Tyson see red, but his equally demonic cousin. Why on Earth were they put there to continue to cross paths with? Just the very thought about the taller male with dual hair and crimson eyes made Tyson's blood boil...yet...it also made him excited. For some time now, when their paths crossed, it was like a game they played, no one moving unless they had to. Tyson didn't know who was winning, which made this feeling so much more...
What? Desired?
"What the hell am I thinking?" Tyson berated himself as he leaned against a tree, closing his eyes. "There's no way."
"No way what?" came a low voice. Tyson almost jumped away from the tree, opening his eyes to find...well....Kai walking his dirt bike along the road. His eyes were turned to Tyson in a curious manner, different from most times they met.
"What the hell are you doing?" Tyson screamed, though he didn't know why. Kai just looked at the male, stopping along his journey. "Are you stalking me?"
"For one, it's not your road. Two, I'm going back home. I'm walking my bike because I don't have any gas. Now if you would excuse me," Kai said, not in the mood to flirt. Just getting back into town, he found that his anger had yet to subside. Tyson blinked, not believing that Kai would turn up a chance to flirt. But why should he care? It wasn't like...
"Hey! You can't just ignore me like that!" Tyson said. Kai stopped again, looking over at the male who was glaring at him.
"I answered you didn't I?" Kai replied. "That wasn't ignoring you." Tyson's cheeks turned scarlet. "Why are you so angry with me? I've been out of town a week and come back and you're angry with me for something. No logic in that Tyson."
"So it is true. You have been out of town. Why?" Tyson stated.
"I don't want to talk about it," Kai muttered. "Now..."
"Pussy," Tyson mocked. "The Kai I know isn't that much of a pussy. What did you do with him, drop him off while you were away?"
"Tyson," Kai warned. "I'm not in the mood."
"Pussy," Tyson repeated again with a smirk. "So the imfamous Kai Hiwatari is going to walk away like a whipped dog. Wait till I tell everyone in town. In his absence Kai has become soft." Kai growled low in his throat as he put down his bikes kickstand and walked up to Tyson. Reaching the male leaning against the tree, Kai placed both his hands on either side of the tree, glaring down at the younger.
"Don't piss me off right now Tyson, I'm in a bad mood," Kai said.
"Is that a threat?" Tyson continued to mock.
"Don't make me have to shut you up."
Tyson tilted his head up, daring to meet those firey orbs, as they stood centimeters from touching. "Do it then." That was about all that needed to be said before Kai swooped down, taking hold of Tyson's mouth in a bruising kiss. The heat of it was so intense that Tyson gasped, allowing Kai's hot tongue to slip inside his mouth, subduing the younger's before the battle even begun. A moan slipped from Tyson's mouth, but was swallowed into the kiss. Tyson's pulse blazed as he grabbed Kai, bringing him closer, the older male's body crushing his against the tree, but Tyson didn't care. God this was so good.
When Kai pulled away, he panted, staring down at Tyson with hooded eyes. Tyson could only stare into those eyes, those dark, dark eyes as Kai reached his hand up, combing it through Tyson's hair. Tyson moved his hands up, pulling Kai into another kiss, but Kai held back.
"Why?" Tyson whispered, his blue eyes shimmering with want.
"You're not ready yet," Kai murmured as he pulled away from Tyson and walked back to his bike. Tyson stood shocked by the words as Kai went about his way. Only after the male was gone did his legs give way. He wasn't ready yet?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kai: He wasn't ready yet! Why!
Rimnerel: Stop screaming at me! He wasn't ready yet! You'll understand in the next chapter!
Tala: How come he got to kiss Tyson before I kissed Kenny! Mutiny!
Ozuma: God you dudes are babies. (both try to jump on Ozuma)
Rimnerel: Um...okay...yeah. But I hope everyone like the chapter. Friday. I can only update every five days because of how long the chapters are getting. So I will see everyone Friday. Bye now!