Chapter 8

russle: I don't mind if you are late just so long as you review. :p And I think they'd be used to talking about things like that around each other. After all, look how they were raised.

Castles in the Sky: When editing that chapter I was contemplating taking the vein out. Looks like you liked it though, so I'm glad I left it in. And you're right about Kai. [[sweatdrop]]

lilmatchgirl007: Kai was picking on his cousin, so he can get away with anything. And Russian's are very affectionate people, hence why Kai and Tala will be touchy-feely.

Bloody Mary: The Dark Side? You should try the Shadow Side, my friend. I'm a Shadow Knight so it happens, and studying to become a master. Simply a matter of reading up everything I can about Zen, which comes in handy as Zen and Taoism appear to be the religion of the White Tigers. And herbal tea? I've got some of that. Mostly green tea though...

Kappy Locks: Why do I have a feeling you hate Boris? :p

HimekoSukie: The problem with Aizik is he is nosy and annoying. And Bryan is shutting Tala out, not ignoring him... wait a minute, those are the same thing....

DranzerGirl: People will find my sequels when fate intends them to find the sequels. No need to forgive. It is destiny.

eyriess: Heh, I'm a queen at making things worse. Just you wait. ;)

Cat in the web: O-o Are you a psychic?

Mizuyah: He's the youngest, and smallest, making him a target. I've got to make them pick on him.

Jay Kamiya: Does Bryan ever listen?

SilverSphinx: Welcome to Beyblade! I'm only approaching my first year of being a fan, the annervisary in August. This fic is mostly a Demolition Boys fic, though there are small appearences of the other teams save the Majestics. However, other fics of mine are of the White Tigers and Blade Breakers. Not much with the All Starz and Majestics yet. Anyway, enjoy Beyblade. Oh, and I recommend Untold Truths by Ladya C. Maxine (sp?). Good fic that.

Black Panther Wolf: At the moment Tala is just pissed off.

Time to do something I'm good at: mess with the minds of the characters.

Disclaimer: See first page

Bryan lay staring at the roof, listening to the gentle breathing of Tala as the younger teen slept, tossing occasionally to mutter in his sleep. Tala hadn't spoken when he had come to the room, hadn't even looked at him, instead pretending as if Bryan were not even there.

Bryan sighed heavily. Tala wasn't talking to him, Panas was locked up in a dungeon… what was it about these guys who were attracted to him? Kai had pointed out an interesting irony earlier in the day about how somehow, someway, Bryan seemed to attract the heart throbs of Balkov Abbey.

Tala was hot, no one could deny that. Bryan had discovered that many of the Beyblading magazines featured Tala on their cover or feature pages even if there wasn't an article directly related to him. They say sex sells, and just as they place blond, fake women on the front of many magazines to attract the men, Tala was used to draw in the female market. When Tala didn't appear, Kai's kitten did, and Bryan had to admit that Ray was drool worthy.

Panas had long been considered the second best looking guy in the Abbey, at one point being the best until Tala had reached adolescence and became fair game. With dark shoulder-length, mildly curly hair that seemed to sit perfectly with the fringe falling deliberately over his equally dark eyes, Panas could turn heads and yet at the same time blend in so well.

Panas was that guy that would walk passed and you would instantly feel attracted, but as soon as he was gone you had a hard time trying to remember his face when you tried to describe him to a friend. That was one of the things that had probably helped him stay so long in the Abbey. Where Tala was to be seen, Panas was to be forgotten. The perfect secret weapon.

Bryan rubbed his eyes, growling. There was a difference between Tala and Panas though: Bryan could trust Panas more. It wasn't that he didn't trust Tala. Hell, he trusted the wolf with his life. But Panas…

They had run the Abbey underworld, he and Panas. Just as Aizik had been the crafty supplier of drugs, Bryan and Panas had been able to set up a black market chain to the outside world. They could smuggle things such as letters out, and bring other things in if the price were right. But they always made sure that no one knew exactly who was doing it.

There was something else Panas had helped him with. When Bryan had been 14, the desire to discover what fate had befallen his parents had become too great. He had always known that it was too convenient that they had died at the exact same time, one month after his birth, and Panas had helped him sneak into Boris's office to search out an answer.

The answer had been in Boris's diary, and he had confirmed it through security footage Boris had kept as a momento. Boris had murdered them, right there, in his office, as they had been telling the man that they were leaving and returning to their home, taking Bryan with them. Boris had disagreed, pulling a gun and shooting them dead where they sat, not giving them time to react.

Bryan had been in his mother's arms.

Bryan let out a shaky breath, closing his eyes. He had been distraught when he had first seen the footage, returning to his room in tears, this being the last time he had ever cried. Panas had comforted him, kissing away his tears as the 17-year-old had held him, whispering the confessions of love.

A smile played across Bryan's lips at the memory. That was the first time anyone had ever told him that they loved him. Naturally, Bryan had been scared, unable to comprehend the fact that someone really did care for him. What was harder to comprehend was the fact that they loved him in that way, especially since it was Panas, the one Bryan thought of as a big brother.

Bryan had always been attracted to guys. Being raised in an environment where girls were prohibited had done that too him. The first time he had lain eyes on a girl had been during a trip with Tala, Kai and Boris to the marketplace when Bryan was four, the three boys gaping at these 'strange shaped boys'. The women had crowded around cooing, pinching cheeks and making a fuss, terrifying the three children to the point Bryan desired never to lay eyes on one again.

Thus, when it came to love, he sort a male companion, and at 14, that companion had been Panas.

Glancing to the side Bryan took in the outline of the other, reaching out to gently brush back a strand of red hair. He sighed, smiling ever so faintly. These days his companion was the one he had always thought of as the youngest of his three brothers, the other little brother being Kai. And there was no time that Bryan admired Tala so much then when the 17-year-old was sleeping, so calm and peaceful, portraying an innocence he had never had.

In some ways, Tala was still innocent. He had readily admitted to Bryan that he had never been in a relationship before, that he had never made love. Bryan, Tala had said, was the first person he had shared a bed with by choice.

Bryan had slept with Panas. That was something he had not told Tala, but he knew Tala already knew. Most of the boys at the Abbey knew about the incident where someone had accidentally set off a small gaslike canister that had sent fumes through the wing that contained the bedrooms of the Demolition Boys.

It had been before Ian had joined the team, Spencer a new recruit and becoming the target of Tala and Bryan's suspicion. Spencer had later been proven innocent, but at the time Tala and Bryan did not really know the older teen, and did not trust him.

Tala and Spencer had found spare beds in dormitories while the contaminated wing was aired out, but Bryan had had more trouble. Panas had stepped forward and offered to share a bed, Bryan accepting though it were two years following the ending of their relationship.

Two years ago Bryan had shared a bed with Panas, just as he now shared one of Tala. But now Tala slept soundly while Panas was probably chained up somewhere, pain coursing through his body. Not to mention the other Abbey boys…

No. No, Bryan couldn't allow it. Not to them. Not to him.

Bryan slid from the sheets of the bed, treading softly so not to wake the other. He dressed, pulling on his boots and picking up his jacket, pausing as he frowned. He reached out, taking the blade into his hand and gazing down at it, the faint light catching on the bit chip.

Without hesitation Bryan plucked the chip from the blade, pocketing it while keeping the chip in his hand. He searched his pockets, finding the chain and setting the chip into its place upon the pendant. Moving toward the bed Bryan gently sat on the edge, cupping pendant in his hand

"Take care of him for me, Falborg."

He reached out, carefully threading the chain around Tala's neck and clasping the catch. His fingers gently caressed the younger's face before he leant down, pressing his lips to Tala's forehead and hesitating as he went to straightened. He leant a second time, lips touching Tala's gently before he smoothed Tala's hair, smiling as Tala muttered something in his sleep.

Bryan stood, taking up his jacket again and moving to the door, pausing as he glanced back, studying the others form and fighting the urge to return. Deep inside something churned, and to Bryan's surprise he realised it was the slightest trace of fear. Not fear for what he was about to do, but rather fear for the one curled, so vulnerable, so beautiful, upon the bed.

Genuine sincerity played over Bryan's expression as he sighed. He had to do this. It was the only way. As he pulled the door behind him he paused one last time, the slightest of whispers drifting in the night air.

"I'm sorry."

O-O;; He's not doing what I think he's doing, is he?