A/N: I finally found a spare hour or four to write this, but unfortunately that means I rushed it a little, and as a consequence, I absolutely hate how some of this chapter came out. Really, really hate. I cannot for the life of me write actiony scenes...So, I apologize for the crappy writing. Oh, and I broke down and used Japanese (once) which I also apologize for ::sweatdrop::

If it isn't clear, btw, they're all speaking in Russian now. When I have the other bladers turn up, I'm considering using Russian for a couple of words, so does anyone know where I can find basic Russian? Just 'yes, no, bugger' kinda things. Internet translators only use symbols ::scowls::

Anyways, hope you like this bit!

Warnings: Yaoi/shounen-ai, teenagerness, self-injury, blood (mild), OOC (lots), one use of Japanese.

Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade, and this fic is meant purely for entertainment, not money, blah blah blah. Any unrecognisable characters are probably just incredibly badly-written canon characters...::sweatdrops::

Review Responses are at the bottom (I got reviews! Yay!)

Chapter 4: Emotional Trauma Is A Bitch, Yes? (or Part B of Chapter 3, if you prefer...)

Ian wandered into the living room, yawning sleepily, aiming for the couch.

Which wasn't there.

"What? Where'd the couch go?" He looked around slightly more alertly and finally noticed Kai and Tala busily moving furniture to the edges of the room, clearing a largish space in the centre. Tala shook his head at him in mock despair.

"Go and get dressed, Ian. And eat breakfast. I'm sure you can manage to pour yourself a bowl of cereal?"

Kai, lugging a small table past, stopped to smirk.

"If that's too much for you, Spencer is in the kitchen. I'm sure he'd be happy to...assist you." Tala and Kai looked at each other and simultaneously began to snigger.

Knowing he was outnumbered, but not fully registering when this had become a battle situation, Ian retreated to the safety of the kitchen and Spencer from the dual attack. This was all Kai's fault, he was sure of it...

-------

Bryan opened his door, checking surreptitiously up and down the short corridor before venturing out and heading to the kitchen, moving lightly on the balls of his feet. He slid silently down, coming closer and closer to the target and the food contained therein. Everyone should be out of the way...Kai and Tala generally retreated to their room in the afternoon, to do God knew what, Spencer did the same but to work on his beyblade and exercises, and Ian spent every second of his spare time in the living room immersed in his games or the television.

Everything looked clear...he was barely a couple of yards away from the door to the kitchen...he hadn't managed to sneak out and get breakfast, as Tala had somehow managed to be constantly going to and fro along the corridor all morning. He was, much as he hated to admit it, hungry...

Passing the door to the living room, pushed to, unusually, but it made it less of an obstacle...nearly there...

His stomach growled. Loudly.

Oh, shit, Bryan had time to think before the door was pulled open and Spencer looked down at him. Bryan thought he saw a faint gleam of amusement in the blond's blue eyes, quickly hidden.

"Hey, Bryan. I was just coming to get you. Tala's decided we've lazed around long enough," he paused, "So he's set up a training regime. Beyblading and physical."

Bryan upgraded his mental obscenities to 'Oh, fuck.' And wondered if he could blow Spencer off with his icy temper. But Spencer was already moving aside to let him in to the room, and every particle of Bryan's highly trained and brainwashed body was telling him that this was training, and Tala was the captain, and this was his purpose. So, naturally, he went in. Damn.

Tala stopped from where he'd evidently been sparring hand-to-hand with Kai in the cleared space in the centre of the small room and turned towards him. The lavender haired Russian heard Spencer shut the door behind him and move to stand next to Ian, who was perched precariously on the high back of the couch. Bryan tried not to feel like a rabbit in the headlights of a ten-ton lorry.

"Hey, Bry. I was just sending Spencer to go get you. Up for some training?" the redhead said cheerily enough, but his eyes were narrowed slightly. Bryan guessed he'd finally torn himself away from Kai and whatever had been bugging him the last two days and noticed his own conspicuous absence, apart from at the evening meal.

"Of course." He made his own voice as cold and bored as always. Wouldn't do to act out of character, after all.

"Good." Tala smiled. Bryan wondered if it was coincidence that his canines looked almost exactly like Wolborg's. Something was seriously wrong here...

"I was just done sparring with Kai. How about you take his place?"

The moment the sentence was out of Tala's mouth, Bryan knew something was up. Ian was looking puzzled, and was opening his mouth to say something when Spencer touched his arm. Ian looked back at him, his face only just on a level with the blond's despite his high seat on the couch back. A look passed between them and Ian closed his mouth with a snap.

And Kai...Kai was looking pissed off, but not at him. He was glaring two burning holes in Tala's back.

"Tala..." he said with a note of...warning? Concern? Whatever it was, Tala completely ignored it, smiling sweetly at the bluenette.

"Kai." Oh look, there was another one of those meaningful looks. Bryan was starting to feel left out...

And then Kai walked to the edge of the room, leaning against the wall, obviously surrendering the staring match, and Tala turned those big blue lamps on him.

Bryan did his best to ignore the weird atmosphere and walked to the centre of the roughly marked out 'ring', facing his captain.

"Any style, no weapons." Tala ordered as Bryan removed his belt and over shirt, leaving him in a short-sleeved pale tee shirt and loose trousers.

Tala, already stripped down similarly, nodded to Kai as they dropped into loose defensive positions.

Kai nodded back, and said simply, "Begin."

------

Tala's mind dropped into a coldly analytical state the moment the word left Kai's lips. He watched unemotionally as Bryan circled slightly to the left, then sprung forward in a perfect, fluid attack. Bryan was always the first to attack, as aggressive in martial arts as in Beyblading. Tala dipped and swayed, and Bryan's perfectly controlled punch breezed past his ear. He slid past the other boy as Bryan aborted his attack and smoothly twisted in order to block the high kick Tala aimed for his head.

They broke away, watching for weaknesses in each other's defences. Occasionally they launched short, testing attacks, but neither fully committed himself to a full-out assault. They had trained too much, too long, in each other's company to not be fully aware of their own weaknesses and strengths. They were equally matched.

Or, at least, they were equally matched, Tala thought wryly. He could feel Kai's eyes boring into his back again. The original plan for trapping Bryan had involved them setting up a match, and then having Bryan fight Kai under pretence of 'training'. And that was exactly what they'd done, except for the Kai bit. But Bryan was his teammate, and he was the captain, and this was his fight.

He dodged another attack from Bryan, a vicious hand chop to the windpipe, and managed to push his opponent off balance with a kick to the knee. As brutal as Bryan had appeared in his match against Rei, he wouldn't intentionally seriously hurt Tala, like Tala wouldn't normally intentionally hurt him. But, Tala thought, blocking another throat strike, Bryan was fighting like he normally did, secure in the knowledge that Tala could handle it. Trouble was, in his weakened state, he wasn't at all sure he could handle it...

----

Kai watched, none of his inner turmoil showing on his face, as the two bladers fought with a remarkable level of skill. Both were partially pulling their punches, but Kai saw a bruise already coming up on Bryan's cheekbone from a skilful punch from Tala, and the redhead was favouring his right side. At first glance, the two fighters appeared to be completely equally matched, but as he watched, the blue-haired boy could tell that Tala was already dropping back slightly, evading attacks instead of blocking, launching less of his own, shifting into a defensive mode, something which none of them would normally choose to do. The tide of the fight was turning, and not in Tala's favour. The fight had been going for almost a minute and a half now, although it seemed longer, and already Tala was becoming winded. The skin around his mouth was tight and he was sweating.

Spencer was looking at him across the room, an equal amount of concern showing on his face. He and Ian had known something was up, as neither Tala or Kai had been seriously training before Bryan had showed up, instead exchanging irritating secretive looks. He'd guessed that the something was to do with Bryan, but he probably hadn't been expecting Tala to go and fight Bryan, for kami-sama's 1 sake.

Kai looked back, trying to reassure Spencer even though he wasn't overly confident himself. The last thing they needed now was Spencer interfering in the fight – if Bryan got angry, there was no telling what would happen.

There was no telling what would happen now, either...Bryan was frowning, sensing something was off in the fight. He initiated another attack, a dual one, with a blow at the redhead's chest designed to wind him and a strike to Tala's leg with his foot to disable him.

Tala avoided the leg strike clumsily, regaining balance just in time to receive the punch full in the chest...

------

Bryan felt his fist connect hard with Tala's ribcage, and watched in bemusement as the other boy staggered and bent slightly, trying frantically to draw air into his lungs and maintain his defensive posture at the same time.

What the hell? Bryan thought. The leader of the Demolition Boys should have been able to evade the attack with relative ease. He knew that something had weakened Tala recently, but to this extent...?

Instead of pressing his advantage and following up his attack with another blow, the pale Russian held back slightly, aiming for another leg strike to drop Tala to the floor and end the match. It was getting out of hand – if he hadn't pulled that chest strike, Tala could have been dealing with cracked ribs. As it was, he was going to have some impressive bruises...

Caught up in planning how to end the match as quickly as possible, Bryan failed to see Tala's foot extending outwards and then suddenly snapping round as Tala launched himself at Bryan. Bryan raised his arms instinctively to protect his face, just in time to catch Tala's foot full in his stomach. He ignored the sudden flare of intense pain from his belly as he spun out of the way again, making Tala stumble slightly. He frowned again, pushing the oddly continuing pain out of his mind as he noticed the sweat streaking Tala's face. With that blow, he'd thought the previous weakness had just been a clever feint, but-

He suddenly became aware of the deafening silence in the small room. The others had been quiet all through the sparring, realising that this was more than just training, but now there was absolute silence.

Tala was staring at him with an odd look of mingled triumph and regret, anger and sorrow. Bryan followed the gazes of the other occupants of the room and looked down at his chest and belly.

"Shit."

Looking up again, he realised he'd said that out loud, surprised by the lines of red tracing their macabre way across the pale fabric of his tee shirt. That last strike must have made them bleed through the bandages, he thought distractedly.

Tala moved towards him.

"Shit indeed, Bryan. Mind if I take a look?" The look in his eyes, suddenly icy, left no room for argument. Bryan thought briefly at about trying anyway, but figured the uncaring exterior was probably going to be the most effective. He did not resist as Tala pulled the stained tee shirt up and unwound the bandages. He stood emotionless as Ian swore fluently in the background as dark, sluggishly bleeding slashes, looking uncannily like what Bryan had been known to inflict on opponents with Falborg, only worse, were revealed. Scabbed over cuts showed older wounds had been inflicted. A few white scars showed that perhaps this was not the first time Bryan had turned to this control method. All the cuts were neatly in line, same length, same width, marching horizontally across his heavily muscled stomach.

Tala traced delicate, pale fingers across the wounds, crumpled bandages hanging from one hand. He looked up at Bryan, emotions swirling in his eyes as blood stained his fingertips, beading along the cuts.

"So, Bry. Do you want to tell me what the hell is going on?" His voice, still as cold as ice, cracked like a whip in the silence.

"It's none of your concern." Bryan's voice rivalled his captain's for sheer frostiness.

"None of my concern? Last time I checked, Bryan, I was team captain. Your little," he prodded Bryan's stomach, "-problem is going to cause trouble. Why are you slicing yourself up? And more to the point, why didn't you tell us about it? We're your team, Bryan. If you can't trust us, who can you trust?"

Bryan snorted coldly.

"You make it sound like I'm pregnant. And it's none of your business," he repeated. "I saw no reason to tell any of you."

Tala looked like he was about to rip Bryan's head off. Kai decided now would be a good time to intervene. He moved forward, drawing the other two Russians' eyes to him.

"Bryan, I know that you're struggling with the adjustments of life away from the Abbey. It's not a weakness, but running away and denying the truth is. So, why do you hurt yourself?" His fingers reached out and joined Tala's at the bloody furrows in the pale skin.

Bryan wavered almost imperceptibly.

"Bryan?" Another voice joined the fray. The three in the centre of the room looked over at Ian, who had jumped off the couch back and moved towards them, Spencer at his back. He looked confused, and slightly hurt.

It was the final straw. Bryan batted away Tala and Kai's fingers gently and pulled his shirt down, heedless of the fresh stains appearing. He sighed.

"I...just have to control...things that I feel. I can't let myself become so...emotional..."

"What do you feel?" Kai questioned softly.

"I don't know...frustration, anger, fear..." he looked embarrassed.

"Fear at breaking away from Biovolt?" Ian asked unexpectedly. Bryan nodded. Ian shrugged. "We all have that, Bry. You shouldn't shut yourself off from the people who understand you best, y'know. Not good thinking, that."

"He's right," Tala said. "Please, Bry, promise to find some other way to work off your frustrations? What you're doing hurts us all..."

Bryan nodded reluctantly, his emotional turmoil showing on his face.

Tala suddenly wrapped an arm around Bryan's neck and uncharacteristically hugged him, careful of the cuts. Ian leaned against the pair and Spencer set a hand on Bryan's shoulder.

"We're all here for you." He said in his deep voice.

Kai started to move away slightly, feeling like he didn't belong in the unusually emotional huddle. However, one long arm snaked out of the bundle and grabbed his arm, drawing him into the group. If Kai were honest, which was a terrifying idea, he would admit that he didn't really fight the hold that much. He mentally chalked up the incident to emotional neglect in his childhood, not knowing that Bryan was simultaneously chalking the brief hugging up to Boris' 'have-no-emotion-but-hate' training and making a mental note to add an extra hour to the torture session he was planning when he finally got his hands on the bastard. Of course, he already had several days' worth of torture accumulated. Boris was going to be one unhappy man...

The boys broke away from each other, looking faintly embarrassed again.

Bryan broke the quiet.

"So, exactly how do you propose to 'relieve my frustrations'?" he asked dryly. Tala brightened up.

"Well, it's simple! You're less frustrated now, aren't you? You haven't tried to strangle Ian with his own entrails yet, and you even accepted physical contact!" Bryan was forced to admit this was so. "So obviously, that workout helped you burn off your anger. Therefore, all you need is a good bout of sparring every day or two. I'll kick your arse around the room, and you can get rid of that excess...tension." Tala finished happily, only to wilt slightly when met by four incredulous stares.

"What?"

Bryan answered.

"Oh, nothing, apart from the fact that you're nowhere near strong enough to fight me regularly. You're barely standing upright now!"

Now that he mentioned it, Tala did feel a bit shaky. He felt Kai's hand slip unobtrusively under his elbow and glanced at him with a mixture of annoyance and gratitude. It wouldn't do to faint – pass out – he mentally corrected, now.

"What are you talking about? I'm fine-"

Ian cut him off with his irritating laugh.

"Oh, come on, Tala, we all know you've been sick. Bit of a hypocrite you are, telling Bry to trust us, then keeping things to yourself. We've all noticed there's something wrong, as if Kai hovering around protectively wasn't a big enough clue!"

Tala turned an accusing stare on Kai, who shrugged.

"I can't help it if your team is so perceptive."

Tala sighed.

"Fine...I'm in withdrawal from the drugs Boris was giving me to enhance my strength." He admitted shamefacedly.

"There, was that so hard?" Spencer rumbled. "Now, what are we going to do about these matches? Neither Ian or I are trained in combat skills as intensively as you three are, Tala needs to take it easy for a while so he doesn't damage himself, so I figure that leaves Kai." He laid it out logically.

Bryan looked over at the bluenette, who scratched absently at one of his tattooed cheeks.

"I'd appreciate the chance to practice with someone at my level," Kai admitted. "If I'd make a satisfactory sparring partner, I don't mind."

Bryan shrugged too-casually.

"It's all the same to me," he said. "I don't care whose arse I whip. I'll win, either way."

"In your dreams." Kai sneered back, and suddenly everything was all right.

Ian (inevitably) broke the comfortable atmosphere.

"So, now that that's sorted out," he eyed Tala and Bryan. "Which one of you is going to cook dinner?"

In the ensuing uproar, Spencer mused light-heartedly that maybe they were all well on the path to normal teenagerhood. They seemed to have the melodrama, the stupidity and the inability to look after themselves down pat. Funny that...

-------

Kai stumbled out of the kitchen, reaching up and whacking the smoke alarm situated on the doorframe. The shrilling noise cut off, and Kai wiped his streaming eyes as smoke poured thickly out of the room. He surveyed the four bladers in front of him, wearing expressions that ranged from hangdog, to mildly amused, to murderous, right the way down to Ian who was rolling around on the floor laughing his head off.

"Right," He declared grimly. "Enough is enough. It's time to call in outside help..."

TBC...

1 Kami-sama - God.

A/N: Aaand we all know who that it, don't we? ::sighs:: I swore I'd never write self-injury or NCS fics...I'm hopeless.

Review Responses:

Fluffy's sidekick: ::presents update:: Voila!

Sarcasmcat: ::blushes:: Thankies for the review!

Summing Up The Stars: And, for once, I did update quickly! (ish).

Devlinn Reiko-sama: It was a long wait for the last chapter, I know ::bows head in shame:: But, yep, update now!

Darks Light: I like Ian/Spencer, even if it is a whacked pairing in terms of the sizes of the characters...and I updated quickly? You must have read it just before I updated...you missed the 4 month gap in updates...::blushes with shame::

Smile :): Lo, there is an update! ;)

Bra-Two: Thanks! Here's the next lil bit!

Crowkeeper 990: Heh, thanks for leaving me a nice review, and thanks for the spellchecking. I expect you'll find lots in this...::scowls at evil Word spellcheck:: Hope you like!

Werewolf of Fire: Hey, another Ian/Spencer fan! Just goes to show that height doesn't matter when you have love...::evil laughter:: You have indeed got to love the pairing...

Darkening Dreams: ::huggles you:: Thankies for the compliments! ::ego swells:: Thanks for the heads up about Sky and Digital TV, although I've never heard of 'Adelphia' channel either, I'm afraid...I keep thinking about Philadelphia cream cheese spread now...weird!

Blue Misfit: Nope, not discontinued! I finally managed to reel out some more, with help. Hope you like the update!

Babymar-mar: Yeppers, Kai 'did the kissy-wissy with tala-wala' ::cracks up laughing at mental images:: Thankies for the review!

Rejiita: Thanks for the review! Here's the next bit o' crap...

Shady gurl: I'm sure Spencer is just a big softy at heart...::watches him demolish Kai in the finals:: Well, occasionally, anyway :)

Ilex-Aquifolium: Hehe, no, I'm still more or less in this plane of existence and all...::holds out update in peace offering::

TNTiggris: Thanks! I'm glad you like the chapter titles...I personally hate the fic title, so I'm happy I didn't completely screw up titles and stuff...

I luv Kai: ::sweatdrop:: Well, that's one of them, I guess. I'm personally not overly impressed with either V-Force or G-Rev. No Tala at all in one, and what did they do to Tala's eyebrows in G-Rev?! Lol, I know that's a weird thing to hate, but they irritate me...stupid pointy things...Thanks for the review!

Phyrefly: Manly and sexy indeed...but yeppers, so adorably cute too! ::huggles::

Lady Snowblossom: Uh-huh, cutting bad, and yes, Bryan does indeed need Rei to...relieve some tension...:giggles maniacally:: And Kai is an adorable mother hen! ::huggles them all::

Blue-winged-donkey-rabbit: Really? Well, go you then for supporting fun pairings! Rei is coming, don't worry! Kai's exhausting his mental recipe book...mmnmn, sugar and coffee....::drools::

Luana Hime: I'm happy it meets with your approval! ::giggles:: And yeah, I always thought that V-force was kinda anti-climatic...no Dboys, for one thing...

Thankyou to everyone who took the time to review! ::huggles:: I cherish each and every one of them! If you liked, please review?