Chapter 16

Ashla: You can also have a character in blinding pain and pleasure at the same time. I love being a writer. And Bry should be used to it by now, considering all the things I've done to him. I mean, I've got him cross dressing by choice in another fic I'm writing... [[[evil grin]]]

MyHeartBleeds: Same person? Okay. And is SC you? Adding yourself into a fic. And watch your head. :p

Reiven: Have any voodoo you want. I have plenty. And I bought a Menchi plushie! [[[huggles Menchi]]]

Jay Kamiya: Bryan's surviving thus far. No word that it will last though...

HimekoSukie: That's the most obvious explanation of Boris's intentions, yes. But you'll just have to wait and see.

Ramen II: Panas is a shapeshifter in terms of character. You never know what he's going to do next. That's what I love about him.

Werewolf of Fire: Spencer with glasses? O-O;; .......... Okay, I can see that --;;

Chaco and Lily: I always have something up my sleave. Just you wait and see what evil thing I'm going to do next.

Kappy Locks: Panas shall make a cameo, yes. Right when Bryan is having a breakdown. Sound familiar? :D

KuronekoHikage: OMG you glomped Panas!?!?! [[[stares for incredibly long time]]] And you're not dead?! [[[spots heated glare]]] Yet. The only person Panas lets glomp him is Bryan. Or Kai and Tala. It depends on his mood. [[[glare heats up]]] I'll just run away now. He seems to be in one of said moods right now. [[[runs]]]

eyriess: Aww, what's wrong with a dead Panas or Bryan? Well? :p

Cat in the web: Bryan is an important project, yes. You just don't know how important he really is. And Bryan feels he has no emotion because of the programming from the scientists. Remember the series.

Bloody Mary: Bryan isn't exactly an optimistic guy. But he's pretty much telling himself that. He's on an emotional low... which is always... whatever...

Mizuyah: Yeah, Underdog is a good song too. I also like Sign of Wish and Kaze no Fuku Basho. The soundtrack is great.

DranzerGirl: I doubt Bryan is listening. He can be so stubborn sometimes.

Lullaby Lily: Welcome back. I'm glad you've like this thus far. Hope you can catch more chapters from now on. I know what it's like to have blocked sites, though it's been a while since I've had that. Anyway, hope you had at least some fun.

Want to see something freaky? Read the very last paragraph of the last chapter, then the first two of this one. You'll see what I mean.

Disclaimer: See first page

Tala gasped, eyes opening as he abruptly sat up. His gaze searched his surroundings, taking in the silence of the room as the pink light of dawn crept in uninvited. He sighed, wiping the sweat from his face and laughing at himself.

He swore he had heard Bryan. It had almost felt as if the other were right there in the room with him, ordering him to not give in. "I would never give up on you, Bryan. Not after everything we've been through."

Swinging out of bed Tala went about preparing for the long day. He stood in the flow of the water, letting it cascade over him as he sighed. He had barely slept last night, cold despite having had the temperature up and extra blankets on the bed.

It felt strange sleeping alone. True he had slept alone for a long time, but now he was used to curling up against Bryan whenever he felt a chill, warm in the elder's embrace. Not to mention he felt a tad safer, despite how corny it sounded. He just couldn't get over the fact that Bryan wasn't there.

As Tala shaved he bit back a smile as he remembered the first time he had grown stubble. Bryan had given him a hard time, offering to pluck them out with tweezers. Tala remembered how the year before that he had teased Bryan about the exact same thing, Spencer thinking them weird and even saying so.

It hadn't been as bad as when their voices had broken though. Bryan's had been the worst, as his had broken deeper than Tala's. Bryan had always had that faint growl to his voice, that accent that no one could work out where he had picked it up.

Tala had been the first to realise something was wrong when Bryan refused to speak to anyone, Tala cornering him and demanding to know what was wrong. Bryan had stubbornly refused to speak, Tala trying to coax him into giving up his secret. Finally, after a training session, Tala had found a note under his bedroom door. 'Wolf. Nothing personal. My goddamn voice is breaking. Give me a couple of weeks. –Falcon'. Tala remembered how he had laughed, and despite wanting to rub it in he had given Bryan his space.

Tala remembered how he had jumped when that voice had whispered 'like?' in his ear, how he had spun around to find the amused Bryan. It had been strange, as he had always thought of Bryan with that higher pitched mocking tone he had had in his younger years, but this new voice had been… well, sexy.

Tala sighed as he got dressed. He swore it was around then that he had first started developing deeper feelings for his 'big brother', though it would be many months after that he would finally realise that he had fallen for him.

Bryan had always been there; a confidant, a brother, a friend. Bryan had been the one who had protected him when they were little from the older boys. Bryan would lend Tala spare parts for his beyblade when Tala didn't have the right ones on him. And on those dark stormy nights it was to Bryan's bed that Tala would creep too, curling up against him, safe in his 'big brothers' arms.

Bryan not being there was… wrong.

Tala made his way out into the corridor, running his hand through his hair as he moved down the stairs to the main level. Hearing the sound of his name he paused, looking back and spotting Kai and Ray moving toward him.

"Feeling better?" Kai asked.

"Not really." Tala forced a small smile. "How long you been up?"

"About an hour."

"There's still some breakfast," Ray said as they moved toward the dining hall. "It takes Tyson forever to eat, so he's probably still there. How'd you sleep?"

"I didn't."

Kai and Ray exchanged a quick concerned look as they entered the dining hall, sure enough finding Tyson still at the table, a heaped plate before him. Tyson mumbled a greeting as he heaped in another spoonful, Tala not even seeming to notice.

Kai dropped into the seat beside his cousin, watching as Ray disappeared through a side door having spotted Lee beckoning to him. Kai watched as Tala ate a little, Kai frowning thoughtfully.

"You're letting yourself get too worked up, Tal."

"You think I want to be worked up?" Tala looked at him out the corner of his eye. "My boyfriend is missing, Kai. And the last time we spoke to each other was when we were fighting."

"Tal…"

"He probably thinks I hate him." Tala rubbed his eyes, sighing. "Ever since we got out of the Abbey all we did was fight. Over everything. It was like he was closing himself off from me. Every time I tried to get him to open up, more doors slammed shut in my face."

Kai frowned. "You were both adjusting to this new lifestyle. You were born and raised in the Abbey. Everything here is new. He probably felt vulnerable."

"That was no excuse for closing me out." Tala sighed, staring down at the table. "The guy never even said he loved me. He didn't have to mean it, but just to have heard it…"

"Stop talking like that. You sound like you've already given up on him." Kai reached out, setting a hand on his cousin's shoulder. "Bryan has never been one to say something he doesn't mean. The only person he would ever lie to is Boris. The reason he never said he loved you is because he doesn't want to lie to you."

"I reckon he loves you." Tyson swallowed his mouthful, looking up. "You could see it when he looked at you. I just don't think he realises it."

Kai shot Tyson a grateful look as Tala sighed, looking away. They glanced up as Ray returned, Lee and Michael just behind, sombre looks on their faces. Kai glanced quickly at Tala before he stood, moving to join them.

"The BBA finished looking into Boris's and Biovolt's assets," Ray said softly. "Dead end."

"There were a few properties," Lee continued. "The BBA sent out some teams last night to look into them. They were all deserted, and there was nothing that could give us any clue as to where they had gone."

"They also completed running scans on Biovolt's databases," Michael said, shaking his head. "They found a lot on the research Biovolt conducted on the bit beasts, but there was nothing on the bladers. Not even a list of who trained there."

"Doesn't surprise me." Kai glanced over his shoulder toward where Tala was eating before returning his attention to the three. "So what are the BBA going to do now?"

"There's very little they can do," Lee said softly. "They're going to keep searching, but without a lead…"

Kai nodded, sighing. "I was afraid of this."

Ray set his jaw. "So who's going to tell Tala?"

"No need." Kai looked back, sympathy playing through his crimson eyes. "He heard."

At the table Tala ate the last bite of his bread before he finished his drink, standing and slowly walking from the room, keeping his back to the others so they couldn't see his tears.

Hey, what do you know? Tyson said something right for once. And is Tala crying? hugs Tala