Chapter 4
Cat in the web: Phew. I was wondering if this fic would compare to Out of the Darkness. Good to know it does.
Acey1: I'm looking forward to seeing your fic. Remember, send it to my address, not White Tiger Claw. They're separate, after all. And that info would freak you out, for sure. :p
Brotherhood Tiger: I love Bryan too. I love him so much he told me he wants to take out a restraining order against me. Kevin's already got one, and Lee bought himself a high-tech security system the other day. So far Kai and Ray have done nothing, so... :D
Bloody Mary: Are any of the D Boys "modest"? :p
Jay Kamiya: The genetic thing arises from something Boris and Voltaire discussed in their meetings in the series. You should know the ones I mean
russle: Hyper is good. Now just CATCH UP!!! ;)
lilmatchgirl007: They won't find out for a few dozen chapters yet. Things must happen first... [[[evil laugh]]]
Lullaby Lily: Come to think of it, 'the core' is kinda freaky, isn't it. Hmm...
Mizuyah: Was your fic is script form or something? I'm taking a risk with the reviewer replies. If FF.N had some means for the authors to reply to reader reviews and queries, I wouldn't have to do this. Same can be said for a lot of writers. I guess it's something for them to look at.
Disengage: The last chapter might have relieved you, but this one will make you hate me
KuronekoHikage: Everything was coming up with 'Server Busy' for me last night, even this site. So it probably wasn't just you
Werewolf of Fire: Here's an update for you. Enjoy
Ashla: I wouldn't live. But I look forward to your returning. Have fun!
Reiven: O-O oh my. Here, let me help you with that plot. I should have added a bigger warning. Never realised it was a health and safety risk. :p
Curtis Zidane Ziraa: Wow, nice job. I'm a full time Uni student. Hard work, no cash. Sometimes I feel so cheated...
Blk Dranzer: 'Icy Wind that Burns' is one of my favourite lines too. And I'm a big fan of foreshadowing. Can you tell? :p
umi n secylia: They fed another program overtop, and no, no sign of a repeat yet. I keep emailing them, but I think by now I'm on their ignore list. And I'm so glad you got it! :D
signourney: I have set 'Update Nights' which many of my readers have worked out. Sometimes I miss them, but not very often. Thanks for joining us.
Bryan is probably the most central character in the story, but Tala is the other main. Time to juice things up a bit.
Disclaimer: See first page
"And where have you been?"
Bryan looked up as he closed the door. "For a walk."
"And just walked out of breakfast?" Tala tapped his foot where he stood with his arms crossed over his chest, all his weight on his left leg. "You've been closing yourself off from everyone again, Bryan. Why?"
Bryan cast him a casual glance as he crossed to the room's desk, plucking up Falborg and sitting on the desk's edge, beginning to fiddle with the blade. "Needed to think."
"About what?"
"About what to do with my life." He looked up at Tala out of the top of his eyes. "What do you reckon? Do the zoo first? Or should we travel?"
Tala was unable to keep from smiling. "Jerk."
"Thank you."
Tala crossed toward him, placing his hands on the desk on either side of Bryan's hips. "How about we spend some time alone first?"
Bryan raised an eyebrow, slipping Falborg into a pocket. "What did you have in mind?"
Tala smirked. "Talking, kissing, cuddling, raw and passionate sex…"
"Talking, kissing, cuddling, fine." Bryan raised an eyebrow. "You're not ready for the rest."
Tala frowned. "You never told me why. Maybe it's you who's not ready."
"Oh, I'm ready." Bryan shrugged. "It's a mental thing, Tal. You still don't know what you want."
Tala scowled. "I want you."
"Want me for what?" Bryan tapped him gently under the chin with the crook of his index finger before he stepped away from the other. "There's more to a relationship than the physical aspects."
"You're one to talk." Tala watched him pick up the newspaper from the bedside table and sit on the bed, flicking through it. "You can't even feel love."
"Rub it in." Bryan stopped at the spread devoted to beyblading. "Love isn't everything."
"What else is there?"
Bryan looked up at him. "Commitment."
"Commitment?" Tala blinked, scrutinising him. "It's not like we can get married or anything, Bry. Commitment isn't important."
Bryan's gaze returned to the paper. "You've just proven my point."
Tala growled, dropping into the chair by the desk. "You can be so infuriating at times."
"Nice to know I haven't lost my touch."
"Bryan…"
Bryan frowned, eyes flicking upward. "Boris always taught us to be patient. Did you leave yours back at the Abbey?"
Tala glared at him. "Why do you always have to be such a prick, Kuznetsov? Why can't you just for once be nice for a change?"
"What is 'nice'?" He saw Tala growl. "No, I'm serious. Define nice."
"Nice is being polite, actually listening to someone and not thumping them if they say something you don't like, smiling every so often, and just plain saying hello when you see someone you know."
"I'll have you know the only person I thump is Ian, unless someone threatens me or my teammates." Bryan scratched the back of his neck. "I can be polite. Part of our training was to be gentleman after all. I do greet the people I know. But the smiling thing…" he scowled. "If it ain't genuine, then people can tell, adding insult to injury."
"Then why don't you smile?"
"Because I can't." Anger began to flicker at the back of Bryan's mind. "What's your problem anyway?"
"My problem is you." Tala's sapphire eyes were cold enough to make hell freeze over. "You refuse to try to change-"
"You want me to change?" Bryan's hands balled into fists. "And what's wrong with just being me?"
"When you were little-"
"Who cares what I was like when I was little. At least I still had my innocence then. Times change, Ivanov, and people change with it. You never had a problem with me before. This is the way I am, and if you don't like it, then that's your problem."
Tala watched as Bryan stood, moving toward the door. "Bryan." He didn't stop. "Bryan." Bryan opened the door. "Bryan!"
Bryan slammed the door behind him.
Tala sighed, shaking his head and moving toward the abandoned newspaper. Why did Bryan always have to be so difficult?
Bryan is being difficult? [[[Holds up mirror for Tala]]] Take a look in here, blue eyes.