Black and Grey

by Queen of Vegetasei

AU RxK,TxCxM Reix[TalaOliver] Four years after the Russian Championships, 5 young men are very different people. Conspiracies have made friends have become enemies, everyone's agenda is revenge. Rei returns to Japan with one mission: To claim Kai.

3. Black and Grey Grey

Black and Grey

A/N: This fic is like the story that refuses to be betaed. Which says a lot about my writing and it's relative... goodness. Kudos to Serilia who finally got around to it. I apoligise in advance for exposing you to year old writing. But, due to somewhat popular demand, here is Part two of Black and Grey.

PART 2 - GREY

"I never understood how you have no problems stealing and yet you refuse charity."

Rei 'hm'ed in answer, eyes locked on the blanket of lights illuminating the night outside.

"Rei?"

Rei focused on Tala's concerned voice, shaking his head to draw himself out of his thoughts. He drew his eyes away from the starlit night outside.

Tala's lips twitched. "Stop brooding, if all goes as planned, no one will be hurt too badly, and Hiwatari won't even know it's us. He'll be the first to dance for joy once that thing is gone from his hands."

"Probably."

Rei tilted his head as he finally caught sight of the other man. "Damn, I've forgotten how sexy you look in leather." Rei unconsciously licked his lips as Tala only smiled at him in reply, hitching up the long leather coat and placing one foot against the table to strap knives into their holsters on his belt and thigh.

The worked black leather hugging Tala's legs moved with the shift of muscles, brushing against the tight turtleneck covering his chest as the redhead leaned down to slip another knife into his boot.

"Oh, no I see that look, and even if you DON'T love someone else, there isn't time for that," Tala said, preening a little. If anything, he still enjoyed the attention. "Get dressed." A folded pile of clothing was flung through the air at Rei.

"Yes, mother." Rei bowed mockingly and sauntered into the bedroom, clothes in hand. A second later, he came out, wearing only the similarily hip hugging black leather pants, with a strange expression on his face. Rei looked at his partner eyebrows raised.

"Tala, what did you do to Little Rei?"

The red head slid his eyes sidewards, "Damn animal wouldn't eat the carrot."

Rei's lips quirked. "Then why does he look so traumatised?"

A pink blush spread across Tala's cheeks. "He was being stubborn."

"You spray painted 'CARROT' on him," Rei was definitely smiling now, his tone lightly accusing, "...in orange."

Tala flushed red, choosing to remain silent. Rei gave a hearty laugh, and ruffled Tala's hair affectionately while the other tried not to focus on the bare-chested man in front of him.

"Put on a shirt," he mumbled.

Rei grinned wolfishly and slipped the black turtleneck over his head, pulling his 'tail' of hair out from beneath the clothing. Tala tied on Rei's bandanna as Rei silently worked on strapping holsters and knives onto his body.

"Is it me or did my arsenal grow or something?" Rei looked speculatively down at the table filled with carefully laid out guns, and pulled on the shoulder holsters with a sigh. Another two were locked into place on his belt behind his back, two on his thigh next to the knives and the last holster against his hip.

Tala cocked a .58 magnum in his hands, flipped the safety on and slid it onto a holster on his thigh. "Let's just hope they work, and for once we don't run out of ammo." Another gun went into the hidden depths of Tala's black coat.

Rei slid the guns into their respective holsters and rested his hands on his hips. "Do I look fat?"

Tala's lips twitched into a smile, and said seriously, "Yes."

"Oi! Not doing much for a guy's confidence here!" Rei looked at Tala sulkily, adjusting the weight of the guns a little more evenly before he whipped a long black knee length coat on top, effectively hiding all the weaponry underneath. Both of them prepared in silence, motions practised and casual like they always were in the time before a heist. Last was their beyblade launchers, clipping neatly to their belts. As a final touch they pulled the thin piece of dark material over their heads, and tucked it over their noses hiding the bottom of their faces.

Rei slipped a silver eye visor over his eyes, concealing the amber depths under a band of reflective plastic. Tala pushed his own up to hide vivid azure orbs under a guise of midnight black.

"Let's go," Tala said tonelessly, his heart reminding him it was the last time he and Rei would be together like this with a small pang.

Rei's head shot up melting Tala's sadness with a bright grin. "Wait! Lemme set some water for Little Rei!"

Tala's eyes were incredulous under the visor as the Neko-jin flew to the kitchen. He rolled his eyes and grunted, his mood light once again. "Men."

Moving quickly along the rooftops as silent as the wind, Tala had to admit that even though the facade was cheerful and friendly, Rei had his moments. The tiger-like grace of the Neko-jin was like a dance of shadows next to him, it was amazing how Rei could be like two sides of the mirror.

Moonlight glinted off the silver of Rei's visor as he scanned the area quickly before moving again, not a sound made as he jumped. All distinguishable features of his face, like Tala's was covered. No expression that could give away their intentions or identities. There was no hint of the fun loving Rei at all in these times. Instead the man was dark, emotionless and lethal.

It was worse if his features weren't covered. His amber eyes would burn into any attacker, the glint of fangs bearing viciously like a demon. It was infamous throughout the world to make the toughest guard tremble or even faint before the blow came from practised hands. To Tala, it was dead sexy.

Rei clasped Tala's hand as the other landed beside him and slid both his and Tala's facemasks down. Before Tala knew it, Rei kissed him hard, crushing their lips together in an intense kiss. A groan sounded deep in the red head's throat as Rei forced his lips apart with his tongue, thoroughly exploring Tala's mouth with a strange sort of clinical passion.

It was quite a few minutes before Rei pulled back, watching the flushed and panting Tala with a fanged grin. "For old time's sake. It's tradition." With that, the Neko-jin pulled his mask back up, and leapt onto the next roof.

Tala stood, still dazed. Sure, they usually kissed before a mission back when they were lovers, but never like that. It was too much like a good bye.

A sad and foreboding feeling settled in his stomach as Rei's meaning became clear. It would be their last mission, their last kiss beyond friendship, and the last time he had any chance of being the one Rei loved. Rei truly wanted to be with Kai now. It was bad enough he had to steal from him.

And the guilt just might make him screw up. Especially with Kai there.

Tala pulled up his own mask, taking a few panted breaths as he jumped in determination after Rei. Just because it was their last mission, it didn't mean the risks weren't the same, or that it strictly had to end in goodbye. It didn't mean that he would allow Rei to be hurt. Especially by Kai of all people.

"Where are you going this late?"

Tyson turned to look at the figure on the bed, silently watching the blankets shift as they covered the otherwise naked boy with a smile. "I have a job tonight."

A hand ran through tussled brown hair, letting the blankets to drop as his other hand groped for his glasses. Kenny frowned slightly, seeing Tyson fully dressed. He blushed, cursing his own modesty as ebony eyes ran over his naked form hotly. He gazed back at his lover with half hooded eyes, which were barely visible through his bangs. "Stay with me."

Tyson lifted Kenny's chin, eyes never leaving his, "Chief, I can't. I promised Kai I would do it."

A disappointed look crossed Kenny's features as his hands clenched the sheets. "Like you promised Max you would never leave him?"

Tyson noticeably winced, "Why do you have to talk about him Kenny? It's over between us. And…that was the only time I broke a promise."

With a sigh, Kenny lifted his lips to kiss Tyson's lips tenderly. "I just want you to be happy Tyson."

Tyson's lips answered firmly, capturing Kenny's in return before pulling back gently. "I am happy. I love you Chief. You know that. You should stop worrying about us, and think about yourself for a change. You're too selfless for your own good."

Tyson's eyes widened as Kenny wrapped his legs around him and pulled him back towards the bed with a devious smile. He felt the boy's weight press down upon him tantalisingly, trapping his arms above his head in one movement.

Chief smirked, "You're wrong. I'm too selfish for my own good," he straddled the boy's hips, whispering huskily in Tyson's ear. "This means that you won't be leaving me tonight Tyson," he leaned down and nipped at the boy's lips, grinding their hips together. Tyson gave a throaty moan, making Kenny smile all the wider. "Not if I can help it at least."

Any complaints were soon drowned out in fervent moans.

"This is a little disappointing," Rei looked at the large and anti-cheerful 5-story house that seemed to be completely deserted. "Where are the guards?"

Tala gestured to the lone man sitting in front of the door.

"Guard." Rei corrected dryly.

"It isn't the guards that are a problem. It's the security system. The rest of the men went with the old man to hospital, the house's security is enough to put any thief off," Tala explained.

"Pffft, every place we've robbed said that, and THEY had guards! I feel kinda insulted actually," Rei whispered.

Tala shot him a glare, but it was wasted by the shielding in his visor. "There is no other way in, other than the front door. Dranzer is all the way in the bottom labs. Traps all the way, as well as cameras."

A visible furrow appeared on Rei's brow. "And I can't use Drigger as it's too obvious."

"Hai, then Wolborg will be it," Tala said softly.

Rei shook his head, "No, don't use your beyblade. This is Kai remember? He'll know it's you." Grimly, he clicked the safety off his .45 revolver. "No one will get hurt, we'll go in and out in an hour."

"What about you Rei?"

Rei's turned his head slightly, moonlight glinting off his visor as he caught Tala's hidden meaning. Kai would be there to stop them, with whatever means possible without knowing who he was. Kai... Rei shook his head. "Don't worry about me. This is our final job. Let's make it spectacular ne?"

Tala nodded stiffly, sensing Rei knew what he was doing. "Guard, through the front door, stairs going down, cameras to the left and right, security lasers, more cameras, tunnel of beyblades and perhaps more guards. Final prize behind a metal titanium door, coded to fingerprint and eye scan. Alarms, trip wires through out," he summarised quickly.

Rei smirked. "No problem."

As one they went for the guard.

Kai swore as he leapt from his bed, the sound of alarms ringing shrilly through the air. Hurriedly slipping on a pair of pants and a shirt, he grabbed Dranzer and launcher from his bedside table, cursing as he ran towards the source of the disturbance.

Where the hell was Tyson?! He was being PAID to guard the house! And the guy usually didn't break his word. What kind of idiot would take on Hiwatari mansion anyway!?!

He didn't stop as he pounded down the hallway and skipped the stairs by jumping a clear storey down, surging with adrenaline as he ran for the front door. What met him was a broken heap of wood. The lone guard was unconscious against the wall, clearly having been punched out effectively in seconds.

He cursed Tyson to hell and back.

Kai saw the urgent blinking on the guard's walkie-talkie, and deftly picked it up. "Talk."

"M-M-Master Kai, the cameras are going offline rapidly! Everything from 1st basement level has been taken out! The cameras can't get a good shot before they disable it! They're heading toward the labs!" A panicked voice replied shakily.

"Set all defences up. ALL of them," Kai clarified as he started to run down the stairs, noting the almost silent damage done to the cameras as he passed. "And shut off the alarm!"

"Y-yes sir!"

Immediately, the house drifted in silence.

What could they want? All the money was tied up in banks, or vaults elsewhere, and the heirlooms were upstairs. There was nothing downstairs except the experimental labs and training grounds! Except...

"FUCK!" With startling fear, Kai started to run all the more faster.

'Not Black Dranzer! Please don't let it be what I think it is!' he thought wildly, only paying half attention to the security guard yelled the theif's progress to him.

------------------

"You weren't kidding!" They were cutting it close. They hadn't expected the front door to be finger print coded too. The alarms had sounded as soon as they touched it. They had no choice but to shoot the door down. But by now, Kai would be awake and going after them. And the security was just as bad as Tala had predicted.

Rei aimed his gun and let off another round, shattering the upcoming security cameras as Tala shot past him flipping through the air as laser guns shot past his lithe form. A microsecond later, Rei ran after him, knowing that the lasers needed to charge for at least a few seconds before the next shot. He still had to resort to flipping, as the lasers were too many to dodge all at once.

Tala gestured for Rei to follow, twin .58's in hand as he smiled slightly at Rei's foreign, muffled voice. "The best is next."

With only a slight hesitation, they pushed on, falling into familiar attack and defence patterns of their single-minded partnership. Guns went blazing, exploding the launching beyblades with shocking aim in mid air. Rei yelped a little as one cut across his exposed cheek, but pressed on, alternating between shooting, kicking and plain dodging the whizzing beyblades as he ran, Tala in front to clear the way.

He felt like Indiana Jones as what looked like arrows and spears embedded into the wall just as he barely skimmed by, still running all out.

"Cross Lasers!" was Tala's barely spoken warning before a line of light came at them.

Both of them slid knives out and dug them into the roof, heaving themselves up as the band passed underneath, slicing the arrows and spears cleanly, horizontally in half. Rei and Tala swore as more came there way, making them leap, flip and even fly on some occasions out of the way.

"This is getting dangerous," Rei gasped, his breath becoming heavy as they ran on what seemed like countless corridors and stairs with Tala leading the way, and Rei following in complete trust.

Tala shot out another camera in reply. The hallways went deadly silent as the alarm stopped.

"He's coming," Rei commented grimly.

"C'mon!!!" They had arrived outside what looked like a solid steel wall, their breaths coming in heavy pants. Tala shot out the last camera with a flick of his wrist.

Lasers came into existence on both sides of the square room.

"Fucking light shows," Tala muttered, breathing hard as he watched the lasers enclose around them.

Rei smirked inwardly, "Why is it that you talk dirty now but not..."

"Just hurry up before we get killed."

Chuckling at the unexpected, but not unusual crudeness in these circumstances from his partner, Rei clicked Drigger D onto its launcher.

"Let it rip."

Titanium door fell down in 4 diagonal pieces and Drigger went neatly into Rei's hand.

"After you, my lady," Rei bowed mockingly.

Tala dragged him by the wrist inside the dark hallways.

"Creepy," Rei duly noted.

"Just like Kai," Tala commented in reply.

"You feel that?"

Tala nodded, gripping calming pressure of Rei's hand to warn away the crawling darkness around them. The other shifted past him, superior night vision working away to search the shadowed looming forms around them. Tala's unease rose. The power of the bit beast was palpable in the air, and he felt a shiver of raw fear, quickly and harshly shoved down by training. Kai was the prototype. He was the end product. Black Dranzer would be no problem if Kai could control it.

That was the problem wasn't it? Kai was strong. He was just some kind of inferior product of the man. And Rei...

"Tala, you okay?" Rei asked sincerely.

The troubling thoughts went away with his voice. Even if Rei no longer felt the same way, they loved each other once. He would never lie about something like that.

Tala grunted his thanks in that one sound. God he hated the darkness. Even worse was when he was underwater. Any order to his thoughts always went bye bye then. Geez, you'd think he was a normal whining teenage girl from the way he was carrying on.

Light swarm into sight, a single circle over a small singular platform in the shape of a long ornate, stick and claw, where a innocent looking piece of metal lay between the tips of clawed fingers.

That piece of metal had caused more shit to hit the fan than any other object in the world. Otherwise known as the bit beast, Black Dranzer.

"Bad vibes," Rei noted, and tilted his head. "Do we just... pick it up?"

"No, I do." Looking like he wanted to be nowhere near the thing, Tala reached out with a gloved hand, shaking slightly as he reached for the bit. Rei caught his hand moments from the stand.

"Tala, rule number one."

The red head looked at Rei in confusion, then blushed, "Right, no evidence..." Even gloves could leaves traces of scent and fibers. "Sorry."

Rei laughed, the sound muffled behind his veil. "Forget it, Black Dranzer is evil. You know, it, I know it, pick it up, we'll go, THEN we can cheerfully shred it."

Tala nodded, slipping back into business mode, his earlier nervousness gone. Black Dranzer couldn't possibly corrupt him without direct contact. He was being foolish. With practiced motions, he took a pair of pliers from his coat, picked the bit beast up between the plastic clamps.

Rei sucked in a breath, a wave of worry washing over him.

Without incident, Tala deposited the bit inside a thick, insulated pouch, slipping it inside his inner coat pocket. Both of them exhaled with relief.

"Let's go," Tala directed with a not too composed smile.

Rei's visor glinted dangerously for a second before he nodded, grabbing Tala's hand to start running. His voice was low as he spoke, "We're not in the clear yet. Remember the rules," he reminded his partner coldly.

Tala glanced at Rei as they ran, questioning silently at the sudden change in personality. Tala shook it off. He trusted the other man with his life. Rei had an inane ability to sense what was happening around him with those strange instincts of his. Tala had mused quite often that it probably had something to do with Rei being part cat.

With defiant flips and dodges, they sped past the traps.

"Guards," Rei warned, gesturing ahead. He turned abruptly off into another hallway, leaving Tala no choice but to follow. They bounded up several stairs with flying leaps, the walls becoming more furnished as each level went by, always ducking just out of sight from the torchlight of roaming guards.

Tala frowned as they ran toward an open set of double doors. This was not the way they came down. The layout of the house rose to his thoughts. The guards were looking for them too closely, blocking the direct exits. Which meant--

Rei swore as a blue blur cut the wall inches from his face as soon as he entered the doors. He moved quickly out of the way as another expert slash of the beyblade barely missed his face. Feeling his stomach turn to lead, Rei spun to face his opponent, knowing all to well who it was. Red eyes glowed nearly black with fury as they pierced through him with pure hate. But Kai could not see any of the hurt in Rei's eyes under the black visor at that one look. 'As it should be,' Rei thought sadly to himself.

Kai grabbed Dranzer from the air and replaced it on his launcher with a malicious sneer. "Give whatever you took back, and I'll spare your lives," he drawled coldly, crimson eyes blazing.

Rei laughed inwardly, that was Kai for you, not even a curious 'Who are you?' but straight to the point. He glanced at Tala who took a flanking position behind him, cursing his own misguided feelings. He wouldn't be able to shoot Kai, and if Tala did, he would never forgive him. Neither of them could take out their beyblades at the risk of being identified.

The three came to a standstill.

Kai scowled studying the thieves that dared enter his home. "Give it back," he said in a deadly whisper.

The two men were like lithe shadows, hidden in the dim lighting of the room, their features hidden behind facemasks and visors that reflected the flickering light for only a few moments before going dull once again. Physically, only the one in the background seemed to be a match for him, the one infront of him slighter in build and shorter by a few inches in height. He would not underestimate them. Black Dranzer's aura rippled through the air around them. Anyone who could stand to be so close to that thing was as strong as himself. Uncomfortable fear jolted down his stomach as memories flashed through his mind of the powerful lure of the bit beast. It was one of the few things he feared, and with good reason. He could remember all too well the lure of that power, calling to him in its perfection as it did now, whispers in his mind which always lurked, reminding him of his own loss of control. But the bit beast was his. His burden to bear. Not anyone elses.

Kai gritted his teeth as the two men made no move to draw either beyblades or weapons. If they were not going to move, then he'll have to take Black Dranzer back by force, whether they defended themselves or not. Inwardly, he wanted them to succeed and take the horrid thing away from him once for all.

Rei watched the flicker of determination set in Kai's features with a sinking heart. He knew it was absurd, but he had hoped Kai wouldn't fight them. Already Rei could feel his own emotions cloud over his thoughts as Kai studied them suspiciously. Normally he would be fighting for his life, with no conscience to what he was doing to the other party. But it was Kai, and in no way could he hurt him, to do so would only hurt himself more. His mind worked overtime to think up and discarded every move he was capable of in favour of escape while not causing harm.

Grimly, Rei decided he had no choice but to make this as fast and painless as possible.

"Fine, if you will not defend yourself, I will take it back with force--!" Kai's eyes widened as the man in front of him launched a flying kick at his head. Reflexes and training kicked in just in time to block it with an arm, moments before the leg could have impacted on his neck. Kai realised his mistake too late as the leg shifted and promptly kicked Dranzer and launcher from his hand to thump across the room.

His eyes narrowing, Kai dropped to the ground and slammed his own leg into his opponent's, knocking the intruder to the ground before running for his beyblade.

Rei smiled sadly behind his bandana, flipping upright in one movement. He gestured with a frantic arm movement to Tala towards the window on the far wall before going after Kai, his heart wrenching painfully at his own actions.

Kai gasped as a blow struck his shoulder, knocking him aside moments before his hands touched Dranzer. He heard the sound of metal on metal as the launcher was undoubtedly kicked away once again. He blocked the next punch with an arm, spinning to meet his opponent. "Who are you?" There was something familiar...

Rei was slightly taken aback by the age-old question. Kai was getting nervous. Was Max right? Was Kai really that weak now?

'Doesn't matter, you still love him,' his inner thoughts countered.

Kai saw the opening and lashed out, striking the man in the chest with booted feet, sending him back several metres with a surprised cry. He growled softly, and went after him.

Someone suddenly twisted his arm behind his back, locking him in position against their body. Kai saw the tips of flaming red hair brush his cheek, with surprise.

"You will not hurt him." A muffled, and foreign voice hissed beside his ear.

Kai realised it was the partner of his opponent, and wondered briefly why that voice sounded so familiar. With a growl, he slammed his foot over his shoulder in a move of surprising flexibility, knocking the other to the ground with a grunt of pain.

Rei stood, torn between worry for them both. He blocked Kai's punch with an open palm, hating himself as he used his speed advantage to slam Kai to the ground with a tornado kick. "Get out of here!"

Tala clenched his teeth, the copper taste of blood on his tongue from where he had bit his inner cheek when Kai had kicked him. He shook his head at the threatening command. He would never abandon Rei like that. They get out together or not at all. Rei KNEW that!

"GO dammit!" Rei dodged a flurry of punches from Kai as he got back up, adrenaline pumping into his mind as he desperately blocked and dodged Kai's attacks. He heard the footsteps of what were probably guards storm towards the room.

Tala stood uncertainly. His head shot up at the sound of guns cocking in the doorway. With little hesitation, two guns came into his hand, levelling a round of incapacitating bullets at the guards in the doorway before they could blink.

Kai's eyes narrowed as some of his guards were shot down, anger surging through his mind as he attacked in earnest at his opponent.

Rei grimaced as the guards fell to the ground, clutching their legs or shoulders. He quickly flipped backwards to avoid Kai's next attack, his head swimming with the pain of Kai's punches. He couldn't take much more of those hits and still stay conscious. But he couldn't stand to hurt Kai seriously either. Rocking lightly on his feet, Rei leapt, locking his feet around Kai's waist to bodily throw him to the ground a few feet away. He saw Tala discard the guns in disgust, out of ammo. They clattered to the ground to join two more sets of empty weapons. Setting his teeth, Rei shot at the guards, emptying his own chamber of bullets in one quick dismantling round of metal rain. A word screamed past his lips. "GO!!!"

Tala clenched his hands, glancing at the window in contempt. He saw more barrels pointed at him.

"I'll be fine! Go!" Rei yelled, struggling to keep his voice low and foreign.

Torn in anguish, he knew he needed to get Black Dranzer out no matter what for his own selfish desire. He knew that if he gave in, he would have to abandon Rei to his fate here. His own need for revenge was a constant taunt in his mind. But at the cost of his saviour? Tala hesitated, a foot turned towards the window.

"Go!" Rei saw Kai get up again.

Tala gritted his teeth, hating himself more than any other moment in his life. His heart almost tore in pain as he ran towards the window, bullets spraying all around him. He pointed his last, lone gun backwards aiming to disable, not kill, as he took out most of the guards with one round before diving through the window, shattering the glass upon impact.

'I'm sorry Rei.'

Rei watched him go with relief, knowing how much this meant to Tala. His distraction was enough to get a stray bullet lance across his side as the spray of bullets came toward him and was barely dodged in time.

Kai!

The guards didn't know Kai was behind him!

Rei heard the gunshots ring, watching in horror as Kai made himself get up once again. If he moved out of the way, Kai would be shot! If he stood there, he would get killed, and the bullets would still get Kai. He wasn't quick enough to return fire, and the already moving bullets would still hit! Consequences raced through his mind to counter each possibility. It left him with only one option.

Kai's eyes widened as the man dived at him, seeing the spark of the following bullets with wide eyes, moments before the jarring impact and the sound of metal slicing through flesh could be heard twice. A bullet whizzed only a fraction of a centimetre past his ear from the man's shoulder before his back slammed into the ground, momentarily stunning him as the man's weight followed.

Rei cried out in pain as a shockwave of agony shot up from his leg, and burst into his mind from his shoulder, the copper taste of blood erupting in his mouth in a cough as they smashed into the ground. He heard a clang of metal on tile as his visor was knocked from his face, his eyes meeting the dilated irises of shocked crimson.

Bullets discharged harmlessly above them.

"Hi," Rei rasped. With that, he gave into the bliss of unconsciousness.

Kai's eyes widened to saucer plates, watching the brilliant amber eyes close, the growing wetness of blood on his arms and shirt making nausea rise up to accompany the torrent of horror.

"Rei... REI!"

Beep! BEEP! BEEEEEP!!!

"Okay, okay! I'm coming already! Stupid Japanese hotel service," Oliver mumbled, his mind still swimming in afterglow as he wrapped a robe around his otherwise naked body. With an irritated hand motion, he unlocked the three locks on his room. "Yes, what is it--"

His eyes widened slightly as red hair came into view, followed by a leather outfit directly from his hottest fantasies. The leer was pushed aside by worry as he saw the dark red stains of blood on the black leather.

Incredulous blue eyes met his.

"Fuck me, YOU'RE the buyer!?" The words were spoken with such vehemence that Oliver blinked in surprise.

Slowly, the wheels clicked into place in his mind, and he stared back at the red head that was undoubtedly Tala with his own incredulous look. Understanding flashed though his thoughts. "YOU'RE the master thief I sent?!" He cursed in French, only to stop as the barrel of a gun was pressed against his head.

Fury shone in Tala's eyes. "You! Because of your offer that-that-" A low growl escaped his lips, "I should kill you."

Oliver stared at the cold fury being directed at him, willing his body to be calm against the press of metal and the need to ensure his own survival. "Come inside, then we'll talk," the Frenchman spoke quietly, stepping back from the barrel and fully opening the door.

Tala glared at him stonily, reluctantly putting the gun away. With a tired look, Tala sat down in a heap on the lounge sofa, arching an eyebrow as a man, hurriedly pulling on a hotel uniform, with a ruffled and thoroughly shagged look wheeled out an empty trolley.

Oliver smiled at the man before he closed the door after him. "Room service," he explained.

Tala rolled his eyes, watching as Oliver sat down on the opposite lounge chair.

"You're hurt," Oliver pointed out.

"Doesn't matter," Tala said tiredly, his eyes closing. Hands slipped inside a pocket and withdrew a small cloth pouch, throwing it towards Oliver with a flick of a wrist.

Oliver didn't have to open the pouch to know what it was. He could feel the power emitting from inside the small bag of cloth the moment Tala took it out. He stared at the sheer evil that sat on his open palm with a strange recoiling disgust. He quickly dropped it to the couch. Oliver's eyes looked up in surprise to meet misty azure as a laugh that sounded depressingly like sob came from the other man. Tala glanced at the pouch, a hand tearing away the mask covering his face before running a hand through flaming red locks.

"Are you happy?"

Oliver didn't quite know how to answer that question, nor could he place the bitter pain Tala's tone had become. Instead he reached over to the mini-bar and pulled out two glasses, filling then with straight vodka, and handed one to Tala. "It's satisfactory I guess. I expect you want to get paid," his own tone was uncertain. Truthfully, Oliver had never expected Tala to be the one who he had hired.

A bitter laugh escaped his lips as Tala drained the glass in a single gulp, wincing as the fiery liquid shot down his throat, but thankful for liquid's properties to dull the pain from the bullet wounds. He waved the glass around. "Are you happy?" He asked again.

Oliver shrugged, bringing the glass to his lips.

"You had better be." Another bitter laugh, "That THING may have cost Rei his life," Tala looked into his glass before grabbing the bottle from the table and taking a healthy swallow of its contents.

Tala felt a strange kind of satisfaction in seeing the glass slip out of Oliver's fingers. The Frenchman's startled eyes searched Tala's. "What did you say?"

Tala's lips thinned, his eyes closing. "You didn't know did you? Your offer, it was the last thing I needed to complete my revenge. I asked him to help me. And Rei-" Tala swallowed another sob back and made himself pour the story out. "He agreed, disregarding his feelings for Kai for me. So he could make me happy. The heist went as planned, but Kai ambushed us in one of the rooms. Rei didn't want me to be revealed so I would be kept out of danger--" Tala took a calming breath, fighting tears, "He couldn't fight back since it was Kai, and I couldn't have done it alone. He told me to go." A pale hand clenched the soft fabrics of the lounge. "And I left him. I left him... "

Oliver moved beside the other man, and awkwardly wrapped his arms around Tala as silent tears coursed down pale cheeks.

"I left him when he needed me most just so I could finally get my revenge..." Tala buried his head in Oliver's chest, his fists clenched tight. "He could be dead, and it would be my fault. They could have killed him without ever knowing who he was without a second thought." A wet, choked chuckle. "Have you ever hated yourself so much you want to rip out your own heart?"

Tala felt Oliver swallow, his arms wrapped steadily around Tala even though he seemed obviously distraught too. "Shhh, cherie, he'll be fine, Kai would never hurt him." Oliver glared at the pouch with Black Dranzer, recoiling from its presence.

His heart softened as Tala gave into soft sobs.

"It's my fault. I should've done more research cher, I didn't know. Rei could die for some worthless piece of metal and it would my fault. All so Max could take over the BBA," Oliver murmured to himself.

Tala's sobbing stilled abruptly. "What?"

Blue and violet met. Oliver caught himself, his face grimacing into one of pained remorse. "Cherie, I am in business with Maximillion. He needs Black Dranzer destroyed so he could have no opposition from Voltaire in taking over the BBA. I had no idea..."

"Max. Again, it's Max," Tala said tonelessly.

Oliver felt strangely empty as Tala pulled away, the blank mask in place again, though the eyes held a world of sorrow. "Where are you going?"

Tala grimaced as he stood, wobbling tiredly on his feet though his movements sang in determination. "To get Rei back."

"Cherie, you don't know if he-"

"I'm not leaving him there!" Tala cut in angrily, spinning around to face Oliver. "And if he's... if he- I'll never forgive myself. Never. I can't leave him there."

Right then, Oliver was far more worried about Tala. The man swaying on the point of exhaustion, still bleeding from open wounds in his skin, and obviously drunk. He would not make it downstairs without collapsing, much less all the way to Hiwatari Mansion and taking on Kai. Or face the grief should anything have happened to Rei.

Oliver grabbed onto Tala's wrist. "Rest. I will not let you go and kill yourself. Kai is not dishonourable. Rei will NOT die. It is far more likely you will if you go back there without treatment and rest!" Oliver pulled Tala closer. "I will not let you die."

Tala bit his lip, "I can't leave him there, I can't."

"Then don't. We shall go to him when you're rested and well. You're in no condition to help him cherie," Oliver spoke gently, "Kai will not hurt him."

Tala looked about to argue but nodded tersely, letting himself be led to the bedroom before he collapsed in utter exhaustion on the fresh sheets.

Oliver watched him fall into fitful slumber before going into the kitchen and flipping open his cell phone.

"Maximillion, what is the meaning of this?" Anger was barely controlled in his voice.

A humourless laugh met his ears and again he was struck by the total contradiction Max had become. "Oliver, Oliver, Oliver. You should stop doubting me. All follows my plans. I will have someone pick Black Dranzer up later. Or do you wish to destroy it yourself?"

The uncaring words grated on his nerves, his anger wearing thin with worry. Oliver gritted his teeth continuing with a quiet menace. "This was not part of the deal. Did you know?"

"He's fine. All follows to plan."

"You sick twisted son of a-"

Max's voice interrupted the stream of French curse words coldly. "Don't interfere. I am not the patient, happy, little boy anymore. This is business. Don't get in my way."

The line disconnected.

Oliver threw the phone against the wall before sinking down onto the floor, suddenly suffocated by his own feelings of hatred and worry. Soft choking sobs turned into strangeled laughter as the irony of it all hit him. It really wasn't worth it. Rei...

The blue hazy light cast waves upon his face, tired lines mixing in with his worried frown and confusion. The uncomfortable crackling of the dried blood on his clothes could be heard as a hand ran nervously through blue tinged grey hair.

"Master Kai?" A timid voice questioned in the dim lighting, the stark contrast of a white coat clearly stating the man's occupation.

"How is he?" Kai asked quietly, his voice gone hoarse long ago for reasons he didn't want to think about. A pale hand rose to touch the glass, eyes looking back at the almost death-like stillness of the figure inside.

The Doctor cleared his throat. "The wound to his shoulder did not damage anything important, and completely bypassed his heart. The wound to his leg fractured his femur bone, and severed many muscles. Both bullets had gone straight through."

Kai tensed, fingers clenching against the glass.

The Doctor gulped, "However, our friend is healing nicely with the nutrients in the tank, and we have acquired compatible blood to go into his system as soon as the healing process is done."

Kai glanced in the man's direction.

Understanding the look in those threatening crimson eyes, the Doctor nodded, and told him what he wanted to hear. "He'll be fine in three days or so."

Kai breathed a silent sigh of relief and relaxed somewhat, though kept his guard up when the Doctor came to stand next to him. "What?"

"Sir, we have found some strange genetic... differences in his DNA. I thought it would be prudent to have it come to your attention. His healing rate seems to be faster than that of a normal human, and… bone structure, muscle density, teeth, even some parts of the brain, most of his physical traits are developed differently than those of normal humans. If I didn't know any better, I think he may have been crossed with some kind of wildcat. Sir, are you sure he's safe?"

Kai could have laughed if the situation wasn't so bad. Wildcat indeed. Biting back the urge to laugh hysterically, he grunted, shooting an irritated look at the Doctor.

The balding man nodded hastily. "Yes, yes, I understand completely sir. It's none of my business." The man hastily clutched his clipboard and bowed, stepping backwards towards the door.

"Doctor Borscht," The man jumped at the low voice speaking his name, raising his head to meet the chilling gaze of his employer. "Tell security," Kai continued, lips lifting in a frightening smile, "If they see a girl with pink hair and cat ears, shoot her on sight."

The Doctor nodded and hastily backed out of the room.

Kai let his shoulders relax a little more as the door closed, leaving him alone once more. His hand dropped from the glass to swing by his side once more. His eyes stung, but no tears would come, no relief from the pain he felt inside his heart and the confusion in his mind. An overwhelming sense of betrayal ran with a torrent of unanswered questions. But really, it all added up into one.

"Rei... why?"

Tala woke with a pounding headache and a crusty sensation that was all too familiar. He also woke in a soft bed. It smelled expensive. Azure eyes blinked rapidly as the gaps in his memory filled in, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the sheets in remembered pain.

"Feel better cherie? I have lunch."

The red head stared at the boy standing respectfully in the doorway, slightly dulled violet eyes matching the soft purple of his robe. Tala looked away in humiliation, not wanting to see the judging gaze at his outburst earlier. Just how long had he been watching him?

Oliver tilted his head, completely misunderstanding the adverted gaze. "I didn't take advantage of you if that's what you wanted to know. You've slept for a whole day. I didn't want to disturb you," he spoke in natural Japanese instead of the usual accented dialect, making Tala blink with surprise. The sound of the flawless vowels seemed wrong, and Tala found himself actually missing the French accent even though Oliver sounded less arrogant this way.

"Stop speaking like that."

Oliver smiled slightly, his eyes lighting up at the soft rasp of words, though the tiredness remained. "Very well cherie, whatever pleases you."

They stared at each other unsure of what to do as awkwardness crept into the tense silence. Just what does one talk about with your ex's ex? Heated energy sizzled into existence as their eyes lingered on each other.

There was definitely an attraction between them. And it would be wrong to act on that with their circumstances... right?

Oliver glanced behind him, looking almost surprised to see the trolley he had brought in. "Forgive me, lunch?"

Tala grunted, wincing as his sore muscles were stretched as he reached for the food. His whole back tensed as hands started to knead his shoulders from behind. How did...?

"Just relax petite." Oliver murmured, hands doing miracles on his sore muscles.

Tala struggled to swallow the mouthful of food he had in his mouth. "I thought you weren't going to take advantage of me." He could practically hear Oliver smiling behind him, and damn that man's skill with his hands!

Oliver grinned as Tala leaned into his touch, though the intake of food to those parted lips didn't stop. A low noise from those very lips almost made him moan in unison.

"Stop it... this isn't the time for this," Tala said with as much composure as possible... which was surprisingly, quite a lot.

"I can see why Rei likes to make you scream mon ami, you don't do it often," Oliver teased.

Tala looked at him and loosened the straps on his coat, watching Oliver's expression turn to one of surprise. The coat flopped heavily onto the carpet along with the ensemble of weapons.

"Cherie, I thought you said..." Oliver ran his admiring gaze up the lithe body, trailing off as Tala pulled off his shirt.

The red head nodded. "I meant it. I expect a running circuit by the time I get out of the shower," he winced, "And perhaps some bandages."

Oliver tilted his head in understanding, though disappointed as he watched the half naked man walk into the adjoining bathroom. The emotion in Tala's face had receded back into the mask of indifference the man usually wore.

Silently Oliver went into the lounge and started to set up a laptop on the small coffee table. His hands were unsteady as he typed; worry for Rei pushing into his mind as he was reminded what this money was for. Thirty million was barely a glitch in his vast funds, realistically, Oliver could be said to own most of France and its neighbouring countries. What other man could claim to have the Lourve open only to himself? The Effiel Tower closed for a day so he could take only a minute of his own day to stare at the view from the top. It disgusted him how they would just comply like that with his demands, but he really didn't expect anything less. He really had been a bastard back then. Still was to an extent. A pretty large one if current circumstances were any indication.

It took Rei to make him realise that there was more to life than money. Tyson had of course played a part in that a few months before that, but seriously, Oliver just couldn't stand that walking stomach for long, especially if Tyson was eating him out of house and home. The Frenchman sighed, trying to concentrate on the laptop, and to resist the urge to slam his head against the keyboard in frustration.

Lover, friend, companion. Rei had been what many couldn't even mimic. A true friend. It wasn't because of his money, though god knows Rei needed some, or his power or fame.

Rei had loved him; just for him.

Oliver smiled bitterly for a moment. Money had been his dependence for so long, the same worthless money that put Rei in danger. At the same time, money was the one thing that kept him going. Self-loathing welled in his mind.

"Set?"

The green haired man looked up, realising his finger had been pressing down on the 'x' key for over a minute. Quickly he deleted the few pages worth of xs', and nodded, shifting aside to let Tala sit down next to him.

The red head frowned. "This is pathetic."

Oliver lifted a perfect brow in question. "Excuse moi?"

Rolling his eyes, Tala poised his hand over the keyboard. Oliver's eyes widened as the fingers suddenly fazed out of view, typing so fast he could barely hear the keys move. But he did recognise the moving of money on the screen, going from account to account in seconds, legitimate and legal in a few minutes, separated into two accounts evenly.

"How..."

"There's a reason why I'm a master thief. There is no place I can't hack into. I was built for this," Tala said flatly, as if making that kind of money legal in only a few minutes was normal.

Heck, even Oliver's own illegal dealings took a few painstaking weeks to be made legal. Oliver's gaze shifted into awe as Tala continued to work, a hand going absentmindedly to tuck a still wet strand of red hair behind his ears.

Tala ducked his head a little. "Stop looking at me like you want to pound me into a mattress Oliver."

A red hue spread over the Frenchman's cheeks, though he found the bluntness refreshing, and the imagery a little too provocative. "Non, non, I stare at you in awe... though the thought has crossed my mind."

Tala gave him a dubious look before frowning back at the screen, speaking softly. "I'm worried." He didn't have to say whom for.

Oliver let out a breath, "So am I cherie." He frowned, "What's that?" And pointed to almost unnoticeable glitch of numbers in one of the columns.

Tala's eyes flashed with surprise as he looked back at the computer screen. "What have you got on this computer? Anything important?"

"Things I need for business, I take it with me everywhere," Oliver answered uncertainly, eyebrows rising at the urgency in Tala's voice.

"Someone's trying to hack into it," Tala poised his hands over the keyboard, "They must have allocated the detector to the exchange of money. But... !"

Catching on, Oliver quickly stared at the screen as it fazed momentarily, startled as the screen went black. "That makes no sense. Could it be the police?"

Tala started to type, hands moving fast, the screen turning into uncomprehensible green script as he worked. "No, this person is after information. No cop is this good." A startled gasp as he suddenly stopped typing as what looked like a surge of electricity connected him to the keyboard. His eyes widened, as a hissed breath escaped his lips, a hand coming to press against his temple while the other seem welded to the beyboard..

"What is it?!" Oliver watched with something between morbid fascination and concern as Tala's fingers slipped into red flames of hair, his breath coming in choked gasps.

"They're... inside... " Tala's eyes closed, fluttering as his face twisted in pain as what seemed like a vivid torrent of images were torn from his mind, specifically targeting what happened last night. A low growl sounded deep in his throat. "GET OUT OF MY MIND!!!"

Oliver's eyes widened as what looked like a ghost shot out of Tala's body, red hair flaming behind its spectral form. A glowing representation of pure energy as she dropped soundlessly to the ground, blinking. "Dizziara?"

The next thing he knew, Tala's gun barrel was pressed against Dizzy's head, eyes like ice chips glaring dispassionately at the barely dressed girl. Oliver was instantly by Tala's side a hand on the man's shoulder in warning.

Dizzy blinked and said one word, "Wow," before their world went white.

"What the fuck did you do!?!"

Blonde hair shifted as a sword came inches from a tanned neck. Light and dark blue orbs met with a sizzle of energy.

Max couldn't help bristling with anger seeing those eyes again, lit with passion and anger as they glared down at him, the light of the surrounding computers glinting off the unsheathed sword in the heated tension.

"Tyson."

A hand clenched his shirt, bringing their heads together, the sword dropped forgotten on the floor.

"What did you do?" Tyson's voice went deadly soft, "I get woken at 3 a.m. by Kai yelling at me for at least an hour on the phone telling me Rei had gotten shot while trying to steal Black Dranzer, the only bastard crazy enough to send a friend to do that for his own means is YOU. Now TALK!!!"

Max looked up with a blank face. "It's none of your business what I do anymore Tyson."

"It fucking is when you involve my friends. Noticed you didn't deny it either." Tyson's eyes seemed to burn with flames as he leaned closer so their noses were almost touching. "Rei got SHOT Max! Doesn't that mean ANYTHING to you!?"

"Rei was doing his job. He's perfectly fine." Max refused to look away from the intensity of Tyson's eyes, glaring back with his own. With a cry of anger, Tyson slammed him against the nearest wall, never letting go of his shirt.

"You heartless bastard Max! Don't you care at all what happens to any of us?! We used to be friends for god's sake! Teammates! Or have you turned so much into your bitch of a mother that you've forgotten what a friend is!?" Tyson snarled quietly.

"I never knew you would go so low as to insult the dead Tyson. Or is your deluded sense of honour so dubious as to destroy your memory as well as your brain?" Max's gaze hardened, "You shouldn't talk about friendship Tyson when this is the first time I've seen you since we broke up." A tight smirk passed Max's lips as Tyson flinched at his words.

"We're not friends Max," Tyson shot back just as vindictively.

Max tilted his head slightly upwards, his glare challenging the taller boy. "Then what are we Tyson?"

Silence reigned as both refused to tear away, breaths mixing with their closeness. Tyson looked like he was about to punch him at any moment. Their gazes battling, unwilling to look away as a tornado of emotions passed between them in a moment.

Suddenly, Max felt Tyson's lips crushed against his, hard and unrelenting, a tongue forcing past his lips, delving inside and thoroughly ravishing his mouth in a bruising kiss. Tyson's hands slipped behind his head, forcing Max to remain where he was. There was no gentleness at all behind the swordsman's heated lips as they slid against his, teeth biting down on the soft flesh of Max's bottom lip causing a small whimper to escape from the blond.

Growling from deep inside his throat, Max dug his fingers into Tyson's hair, returning the kiss full force as their tongues battled, neither of them wanting anything but to punish the other as their lips met again and again with cold passion.

Their bodies pressed together against the wall, grinding harshly against each other in aggression instead of heat, tongues diving down each other's throats in the midst of low moans that were more a reaction than actual arousal.

With a noise that was part snarl and part groan, Tyson tore his lips away, stepping back shakily and running a hand through his hair as he panted for breath. His eyes watched Max with confused intensity. The blond boy appeared as thoroughly kissed as he himself probably did, hair mussed from roving hands, lips swollen and red, breaths coming in jagged and uneven. God he looked beautiful.

Max stared back warily, leaning against the wall as he tried to regain his breath. Ice blue eyes were open and confused, vulnerability he hadn't seen for a long time shining in those depths.

A small intake of breath drew their eyes towards the door, where Kenny stood, head turning back and forth between them as his visible facial expressions filled with a mixture of shock, satisfaction and sadness. Without a word, the chestnut haired boy spun on his heel and walked out of view.

"Kenny," Max lifted himself from the wall, making a move toward the door.

"No, I'll go talk to him," Tyson looked at Max with the same confusion brimming in his eyes, "Nothing has changed Max. Whatever the hell just happened doesn't mean anything."

Max watched Tyson run from the room, his eyes hardening as his finger touched his lips, remembering a time when a smile from the boy would mean his happiness. When his own freely given emotions would mean the smile he treasured. He compared that with bitter irony with what they had now. His hand dropped flaccidly to his side, a shaky breath inhaled through tender lips, "No, nothing has changed at all."

-----------------------

"Chief!" Tyson grabbed Kenny's wrist, spinning the other boy around. "Kenny," his voice softened.

"Don't worry about it," Kenny replied quietly, refusing to meet those dark blue eyes.

"No, it didn't mean anything I swear, Max and me were just-"

"That's the problem," Kenny looked up, the smallest glint of rusted brown (A/N: His official, unofficial eye colour) shining underneath chestnut bangs as he met Tyson's eyes briefly before they were hidden from view again. Tyson heard the annoyance in his voice. "You and Max are always running around each other. Always denying what you feel and then coming to ME for comfort! I KNOW what happened, and I can see it plain as day! For god's sake! You two love each other! Anyone can see that except you two! All you're doing is hurting each other, again and again!" The brunette's voice lowered, "Hurting me."

"But I-" Tyson struggled beyond his own confusion at Kenny's reaction. Tyson tried again, his voice utterly sincere, but the words spilled out in a half strangled plea.

"Chief... I love you."

Kenny broke away from Tyson's grip, shaking his head, "No, you don't."

Another flash of bloodied brown, angry behind those chestnut wisps. "You really don't get it do you Tyson? Both of you have been using me like some toy ever since you two broke up. I'm not some kind of…go-between Tyson! You love HIM. And even if he doesn't admit either, Max loves you!" Kenny took another step back.

"Chief-"

"No. Go back there and sort it out with him. I can't take this anymore. I just can't." With that, Kenny turned and ran.

Tyson raised a hand at the departing figure despairingly. "Kenny..."

A hand bore down his shoulder. "You love him?" There was no way it could be anyone other than HIM.

With a snarl, he slapped the hand away, spinning around to face the blond. "Don't touch me! Don't you dare touch me you fucking bastard." Tyson's eyes widened as he was shoved against the wall.

"Stop talking to me like that. Actually, just stop talking." Max's mouth crushed against his momentarily, before quickly pulling away. Max's gaze didn't waver, his hand placated against Tyson's chest, holding him there. "I ask again. Do you love him?!"

A little breathless, and VERY confused, Tyson nodded.

Max closed his eyes, "Then we have a problem," then opened again, "We both love him, and now with whatever the hell is happening between us, this is getting unnecessarily complicated."

Tyson touched his lips with his fingers, his mind catching up a second later, Max had KISSED him. "What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?"

Max shoved him higher up the wall, "Shut up," And ravaged his lips again with a ferocity and heat that Tyson was pretty sure killed most of his remaining brain cells. When the blond pulled away again, both of them were breathing raggedly. Max leaned in, eyes narrowed, "This is revenge. Don't kiss me unless you mean it Tyson."

Suddenly, Max pulled away face blank, and Tyson gasped at the loss of contact, his eyes focusing on the boy who stared back at him with an impervious calm. The only sign that the kiss had happened at all was his own hastened breathing.

Max's eyes had returned to the icy steel that was now so common in his gaze. "We have company."

Tyson watched as Max walked away, completely confused. Everything was happening at once, and he had the distinct feeling he was being left out of the loop. Pushing himself off the wall, Tyson followed the corridor blindly towards the door at the other end.

He felt the abrupt sense of danger just as he stepped into the doorway, Max's words registering in his mind. Max wasn't someone who took the world lightly anymore, and the term 'company' was never used as a descriptive term for friends, at least around here it wasn't.

His eyes widened at the scene.

Familiar flame red hair came into view, a bright splash of colour in the otherwise grey room, a green head he barely registered as Oliver not far off, both of them dressed in what looked like hotel robes. Tyson tensed, eyes darting around the scene, finally realising where the dangerous aura was coming from.

Tala, a gun in his hand, the barrel pressed against Max's temple, the other hand clutching Dizzy's decapitated head by her hair. Even more disorientating was the fact that the rest of Dizzy's body was being held down by Oliver. Kenny was looking very pale in his chair in a corner.

Four pairs of blue eyes flickered towards him.

Tala's lips quirked, not moving but acknowledging his former rival's presence with a glance, "Tyson, give me a reason why I shouldn't kill him." He gestured to Max, flicking the safety off the gun with his index finger.

Tyson froze momentarily, unsure of where he stood in this situation, then grinned and shrugged, "Kill him."

"Hear that?" Tala's teeth bared suggestively.

"Is there a reason you want to kill me Tala?" Max replied calmly, "Or is this a nice insane trip to the past? Want my bit beast too?" The blond remarked icily.

Tala's eyes narrowed. "Don't push me Max. It may not solve anything, but it'll make me feel a whole lot better if you're dead."

"What, so then you and Rei could live happily ever after? And here I thought you weren't stupid."

Tala's finger added pressure to the trigger. "This is not about me and Rei. This is about you hurting him by manipulating every one of us just so you can gain power. You're no better than Voltaire."

Max laughed, "This is business, not world domination."

"Max is right-" Kenny started, looking desperate and fearful, his head turning every few seconds to stare at Dizzy.

Oliver shot the brown haired boy a look, "Be quiet mon ami and stop defending him. Max is no longer the person we knew."

"I'll say," Tyson muttered, finally deciding he had no place here, and leaned against the wall to observe.

Tala noticed a small flicker of pain cross Max's eyes at Tyson's words. "Talk blondie. Why did you send us there?"

Max smirked, "I'll talk when you put Dizzy back together."

Oliver jumped as Dizzy's head spun of its own accord in Tala's hand. "Yeah! PUT ME BACK TOGETHER YOU JERK!!!" The dismembered head then started to gnaw on Tala's wrist with determination.

"Mon dieu..." Oliver murmured.

Tala's eye twitched, "Stop it or I'll reprogram you." His gaze didn't waver from Max's, but his grip did tighten around Dizzy's hair.

"OW! OW! OW! Oi!"

"Dizzara!"

Tyson stumbled back as a light burst from his pocket, materialising in the human form of Dragoon after one loop around his body, and rushing to the other bit beast's... er... head. Tyson shouted a warning, pulling his bit beast out of the way just as a lethal looking knife pierced the air where Dragoon's neck was.

Tala spared them a glance, another knife appearing between the fingers of the hand still holding Dizzy's head. Dizzy herself looked spooked. Tala noted the fast reaction with another quirk of his lips, his respect for Tyson rising a notch. "Don't move," Tala ordered quietly, "Move and he dies." The red haired man didn't take his eyes off Max.

Tyson narrowed his eyes, holding Dragoon back and stood defiantly. "Tala, don't do this. As much as I want Max dead, it shouldn't be on your conscience."

Oliver's eyebrows disappeared into his hairline. Tyson was going to try the Tala reasoning thing? How many times would that work?! Then again, Tyson did have this weird knack for this kind of stuff. To put it plainly, the guy annoyed you enough to give up.

Tala evidently had the same thought, and snorted. "Talk Mizuhara, or I'll make you talk."

"No," Max shot back stonily, his face blank of emotions. Tala glared back just as stonily, the threatening atmosphere in the room rising as the silence continued.

A shaky intake of breath in the corner sounded, "I'll talk. Just let them go."

Tala and Tyson both noticed the brief look of betrayal that flashed across Max's eyes as the blond turned to stare at Kenny.

The chestnut haired boy shook his head weakly. "Max, I don't want either you or Dizzy hurt by your stubborness. They deserve to know." Glasses glinted as Kenny turned to Tala, "Put the gun down, and give Dizzy to Dragoon. I'll talk."

For a few bated moments, silence hung in the air, looks of uncertainty exchanging between Oliver and Tyson while Kenny, Tala and Max stood still.

With a resigned breath, Tala slung the gun back, flicking the safety on with a finger and made it disappear somewhere... behind him. The red head threw Dizzy's head at Dragoon with a flick of his wrist, an impassive look on his face. With a glare at Max, Tala shoved the boy aside and turned to face Kenny. "I'm listening."

Kenny stared at Max wearily, and began.

----------------------------

Kai opened his eyes tiredly, getting up with difficulty from the hard lounge, muscles tense and sore. Crimson red eyes adjusted to the dim lighting in a few minutes as he stumbled through the adjoining double doors for what could have been the third time that night, and the sixteenth time in the last three nights. For no particular reason other than to quell his own worry.

His heart nearly stopped when he saw that the bed was empty.

A choked breath escaped his lips as a form sprang from the darkness, a coil of rope... hair? winding painfully around his throat.

Kai lost almost all the breath he had left when dangerous golden eyes swam into view, glowing above the subtle glint of fangs. The next thing he knew, his face was being buried into a pillow, a weight slamming on top, and holding his back still.

"Where am I?" The familiar voice was low and menacing, sending a spark of unexplained arousal down his body. Kai struggled for breath, only to have the rope tighten around his neck, "Who the fuck are you?"

The former Captain cursed himself for not turning on the lights, and stupid enough to let his guard down when he KNEW memory lapses were common after a tank healing! Black dots danced in his blurring vision from the lack of oxygen.

Willing himself, not to panic, Kai did the only thing he could do... and slammed his head backwards into Rei's. A choked gasp of relief escaped his lips as the rope loosened around his neck, the weight clearly unbalanced on his back. Kai took a few rasping breaths, fire burning down his sore throat as he did. Before he could move to defend himself, Kai was flipped onto his back, the weight once again pressing down on him, holding him down.

A shiver ran down his spine to see amber eyes, glowing with anger trapping him with their intensity. Light glinted off Rei's bared canines, the usually pliant lips drawn back in a decisive sneer as the black pupils of his eyes slitted like a cat's. At that very moment, Rei scared him. There was something inhumane in that gaze; without thought, conscience or mercy.

Kai gulped for breath, watching as Rei's eyes widened in recognition, the amber dulling with distress as the pale features swam into view in the moonlight.

"Kai..." Rei rolled off him, his hands covering his face with a small sob. "I'm sorry, I didn't know-I couldn't remember, and you- I couldn't see- Oh God, I'm sorry..."

Kai tried to regain normal breathing patterns, his fingers tracing his tender neck, and feeling oddly disappointed for the loss of warmth from Rei's body. His eyes lifted to meet distraught amber, no longer glowing, glazed with sadness.

"I hurt you." Fingers came within an hair's breath of his pale skin before snapping back, Rei's hand dropping down to the mattress, while the man refused to meet his eyes.

Kai frowned, struggling to get his throat working properly, "No..." The single word was a rasp, and Rei noticeably winced before shaking his head almost violently, still not meeting his eyes.

"I-I should go," Rei lifted himself off the bed, stilling momentarily as if waiting for a impulse of pain, then lifting a hand to his shoulder with surprise.

Kai looked around frantically, and was absurdly thankful to find a glass of water on the nightstand, gulping it down in one swallow. He took a few breaths to clear his throat before trying to speak. "No. I won't let you go."

Rei tried a halting smile over his shoulder. "No, I don't want to ruin your life anymore than I've already done."

The man stopped as a hand clamped around his wrist.

Kai's eyes narrowed, pulling Rei back to sit on the bed. "I mean no. You are not to leave until you explain why you stole from me, and tell me who your accomplice was."

Rei flinched, stung by the coldness in Kai's tone. He had almost forgotten why he was here. Memories flashed through his mind, and once again, a hand lightly touched the healed skin on his shoulder where there should be a gaping bullet wound. A wave of relief went through his body to know that Tala had escaped without being found out. Rei bit his lip as Kai looked at him expectantly, "I can't do that Kai." No matter how much he loved Kai, he couldn't betray Tala like that. There was no telling what Kai would do if he knew. The Neko-jin lifted his eyes to meet cold crimson. "Am I a prisoner here?"

Kai frowned slightly. He wanted to let Rei go. Black Dranzer meant nothing to him. There was nothing he hated more than that accursed bit beast. It did, however, mean everything to his grandfather. If he didn't get it back, before his grandfather recovers from his so called 'heart attack' the consequences would be fatal. But it would be fatal for them both if he kept Rei here.

"Kai?" Rei was only looking intently at him, not realising his life was in his hands.

Kai felt a surge of jealousy out of nowhere for this man that Rei would waste his life on. He was being selfish, but he wanted to know who that other man was. The only way to do that was to keep Rei here. If he let Rei go, he might never see Rei again. His grandfather would hunt Rei down like a dog, before turning his fury on Kai. Rei had saved his life. Kai couldn't do anything but repay that, even if it meant keeping Rei prisoner. Even if they both died in the end, he would die happier having spent the last few days with Rei than alone.

"Yes," Kai clipped finally, and shook those last thoughts out of his mind.

"Are you going to lock me up?" Two tanned wrists lifted in the air, as if asking for a pair of handcuffs to clap down on them. Rei looked so heartbrokenly resigned that Kai almost kicked himself.

The grey haired man shook his head violently. "No." Kai adverted his eyes and stood abruptly, his shoulders were tense as he started walking toward the doors. "Follow me," he commanded in a low voice, somehow managing to make his voice indifferent.

Rei blinked in confusion and cautiously followed, made fully aware he was only wearing what looked like a flimsy hospital gown by the draft on his backside. He wondered briefly if the whole of his butt was displayed, but stopped himself short of feeling for it. Instead contenting himself by peering curiously at the heavily decorated surroundings. Rich baroque style paintings were on the wall, alongside heavily framed mirrors and tapestries. But unlike the other mansions he's been in, the whole effect was very impersonal, like the whole house was a museum of these things.

Even Oliver's mansion had paintings upon paintings of Oliver's family and and Oliver himself, with much fine art and heirlooms, that looked to be smoothed by thousands of little touches.

Kai glanced backwards to see Rei touching a lamp on one of the side tables, a finger brushing past the surface to take off a layer of dust. He flinched slightly, making a mental note to tell the servants to clean this hallway up a little more. A ghostly wind breezed along the hallway, and his eyes widened a little as Rei's gown lifted to reveal sleek thighs and delectable cheeks. Blood rushing to his face, Kai cleared his throat and started walking once again.

Rei stepped away from the lamp a little guiltily. Kai probably thought he was going to steal it or something. Sighing below his breath, Rei followed, wiping the dust covered finger on his gown. He almost knocked Kai over when the other man suddenly stopped.

For a moment they stared at each other, chest to chest, before Rei stepped back hesitantly, and watched in wonder at the flash of disappointment across Kai's eyes.

Kai gestured inside the open door, breaking contact, "You can stay here."

Rei looked inquisitively at Kai, ignoring the room, "I thought you said I'm a prisoner here... I was expecting, well, I was expecting dungeons, bars... "

Kai looked horrified at the prospect. "You thought was going to trap you in one of the dungeons?"

Rei winced at the fact that Kai HAD dungeons in the first place. "I did steal from you Kai, and I know how much Black Dranzer meant to you."

Kai narrowed his eyes, "It means nothing to me. You foolishly saved my life against the total incompetence of my own guards. What I want to know is why."

"I couldn't let you get hurt," Rei answered simply, 'I love you too much for that to happen,' he added silently. Kai's eyes looked at him sharply. Rei smiled weakly, becoming lost in that gaze. Kai's eyes were the most expressive thing about him.

Kai's face didn't change, his eyes speaking volumes. Questions he wanted to ask desperately, but unwilling to be spoken for fear of the answers. Resolutely he looked at Rei, wanting to shake him with screams of "Why?!" He hadn't wanted to be saved. He most certainly did not deserve Rei sacrificing himself for him. He wanted answers to his own confused feelings about the other man.

Pursing his lips, Kai spoke, "You're confined to the premises of the Hiwatari property until I say so. This is the fourth level in the house. There's a bathroom adjoining here. The kitchen is on the first floor to the left of the staircase, the dining room to the right of the main hall. You can go anywhere with an unlocked door."

A familiar red bandana and white length of cloth appeared in Kai's hands. Rei took them thankfully, feeling distinctly the weight of his untamed hair held loosely in a braid. Their fingers lingered together barely touching. The moment was broken as Kai stepped back, nodded briskly and turned to leave.

Rei hastily reached a hand to stop him, winding his fingers around Kai's wrist, a desperate look on his face. "You haven't told me where your room is."

Kai stared at him for a moment, searching, his confusion apparant. "Are we still friends?" He asked unexpectantly.

"Are we?" Rei asked back. Silence greeted his question.

"Perhaps. I don't hate you," Kai said truthfully after a long while, sounding like he was only realising that himself.

A relieved smile came to Rei's lips, "I'm glad." He wanted nothing more than to reach out and touch him. "You don't trust me do you Kai?"

"I don't know." Kai paused. "Yes. I trust you," he corrected.

His heart flooded with warmth at those words. Perhaps they could be fixed. Perhaps they could still be friends. Perhaps he still had a chance. "I'll try and keep that trust then, Kai."

Kai nodded briskly, tilting his head. "I'm upstairs." Crimson eyes went dull, uncertain feelings flickering across them. "I don't think we'll be seeing much of each other."

"Because I'm you're prisoner right?" Rei whispered, resigned.

Kai paused, his back to Rei, "Because I don't know how to act around you."

Rei watched, knowing he was truly lost as Kai walked away. "Neither do I…"

-----------------------

"All you're telling me is that after Max's old man died in a car crash, he took over the store, Judy, who you view as some heartless mother moved here to take care of him and together, they took over the Japanese BBA?"

Kenny blinked at Tala's summary of the lengthy tale he had told in the past 2 hours.

"You make my life sound so simple," Max said dryly.

Tala shrugged, "I'm a thief, not a storyteller," and gestured to Kenny, "That's his job."

Tyson snickered, and turned his eyes on Tala, "Still the same bluntness. How come you and me never got together?"

Tala arched an eyebrow, "Because you're an annoying, overly cheerful idiot with a large amount of luck."

"Oui," Oliver muttered in agreement.

"Hey, I beat everyone here fair and square!" Tyson cried indignantly.

"Thus the luck," Tala said, his lips quirking a little. An arm waved at Kenny, "Continue."

Kenny took a deep breath, and locked glasses to Max's eyes, "But at the same time, Max was in love with Tyson." Tyson looked away, an indescribable look in his eyes, while Max was the perfect imitation of a statue, tilting his head slightly to the side. Kenny bit his lip and went on, "Of course, Judy wasn't very happy about that. Her only son was in love with another boy. To make it worse, he was in love with the boy who beat her former team, without even the littlest inclination of intelligence in his head," Kenny smiled a bit at Tyson, "No offense."

"Meh," the raven haired swordsman grunted indifferently in return.

"She was homophobic?" Tala cut in.

Kenny nodded, and laughed bitterly. "Let's say she was kind of... annoyed her son was a faggot," he said bluntly. Max smiled slightly, so did Tyson. Oliver looked surprised. "To compensate for her son's 'illness' as she called it, Max was made to work. Judy integrated him into her new company, moulding him into her perfect protege, giving him no time at all to be with Tyson."

"Please, I wasn't some kind of dough. It was my choice," Max stated coldly.

Kenny nodded, his head bowed, "That's right. It was. You were driven by the need to fulfil your father's dream. Judy was the only parent you had left to look up to. But she would never love you back. And you knew that. But you didn't stop trying. You kept doing her bidding, taking on more hours, more responsibilty, growing more cold as her happiness grew at you being torn from Tyson... and me."

They were silent, Tyson adverting his eyes, and Max seemingly lost in memories.

Kenny turned to look at Tala, "Tyson of course didn't give up that easily, but neither did Judy. Between his love for a mother and his love for Tyson, Max was torn. Hurt repeatedly when Tyson kept accusing Judy of 'turning him', growing colder as his mother withdrew all emotion, except that of ambition and determination, growing apart from both myself and Tyson with each passing day," his voice had lowered to a whisper. Kenny cleared this throat, and began again in a stronger voice. "By this time, Max was the Vice President of the whole company, which Judy had mockingly called the Bladebreakers Corporation."

Oliver dug in his robe for a packet of cigarettes, "Do you mind?" They shook their heads, watching as Oliver lit the match with practiced ease. The green haired man turned his attention back on Kenny, "A question if you will, what was your role in this?"

Tala glanced at Oliver, "I didn't know you smoked."

Oliver rolled his eyes, "I'm French," as if that was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Chief was working for Max as his technician," Tyson answered instead.

Kenny nodded, "Oliver, you're one of Max's main investors, do you remember when Max told you he was president?"

"Oui, it was general knowledge, n'est pas?" Oliver frowned as a dark shadow crossed Max's expression.

Kenny shook his head. "That was the day that Max's mother was assasinated."

Oliver took a long drag of his cigarette, "Mon dieu," he could only mutter.

Tala crossed his arms, "Let me guess, she got jealous that her son was gaining more power than her, and her own position was losing control of the Board of Directors? Her ambition was moving too fast and too radical so she had to be gotten rid of."

Tyson looked surprised. "How did you know?"

Tala shrugged, noticing Kenny shaking his head slowly with a frown. "Usually happens when the leader of a company is being irrational. Happened often enough in BioVolt when I was still there. Though Voltaire would never be stupid enough to get assassinated."

Max smirked, "But the catch is, I ordered the assasination."

Tala's eyes widened, "You what?!"

Max shrugged, "I claimed what was rightfully mine. She took everything away from me, including my happiness, leaving me with nothing but what she gave me. Money, ambition, determination and leadership. There was only one thing she kept from me. Power. Her mistake was trying to get everything too soon. The Board got tired of her rants, I had no further use of my 'mother', so I got rid of her."

Tala leant over in one move and swiped the cigarette from Oliver's shocked lips, taking a long draft. There was a haunting coldness in Max's eyes. It was as if that cheerful child that had appeared in the World Championships never existed.

Oliver raised an eyebrow, watching the wisps of white blow out softly between Tala's lips, "You smoke?"

Tala nodded slightly, "Yes, but Rei hates it, so I don't do it often."

Kenny shook his head, "Max, stop lying. You know that wasn't true. You would never be cold hearted enough to order your mother's death. You loved Judy, even if she didn't love you."

Tyson looked confused, "Chief, what are you talking about? He killed her!"

"No, he didn't." Kenny ignored Max's warning glare, "Judy was assasinated, but it wasn't Max who ordered to kill her."

"Kenny, you're deluding yourself-" Max started coldly.

"No, I looked through all the files, all the accounts," There was a flash of rust as Kenny's eyes cut across Max heatedly, "There was no money exchange, no order, and unless you killed her yourself with your bare hands, there is no way you could have been involved. The Board perhaps, but not you." Kenny lifted his lips sadly in the resemblance of a smile, "There was nothing you could do to change any of it either. And if you didn't take charge, there was no way the company would stay afloat. I also know who was behind her killing. So do you."

Max remained sullenly silent, totally ignoring Tyson's confused and imploring stare.

Tala and Oliver waited on baited breath.

"The one who assasinated Judy is the reason why you try to do everything now," Kenny stated, eyes locking with Max's, "I backtracked it over months of research. The one who ordered her death was Voltaire wasn't it? And ever since, you have wanted revenge, to utterly destroy that man."

Tala's frown deepened as he and Oliver turned to look at Max also. The blond smiled slightly, his face blank.

Kenny frowned. "Judy was getting too big, taking over everything too quickly. Voltaire and the Hiwatari clan is the only other corporation big enough to oppose her, and she was going into their turf. She was a threat to Voltaire, and with no one else to take up the company, or so he thought, her death would mean no more competition.

The Board is useless by themselves, they would never agree to anything if someone doesn't push them in the right direction. Even I was only a minority since I had only computer skills, and couldn't lead if my life depended on it. To Voltaire, killing Judy would solve all the problems. Hiwatari would monopolise the Beyblade trade in Japan and most of the world besides the BBA. But they didn't know about you; Maximillion, Judy's equal, if not better, in intelligence, ruthlessness and sheer innovation," Kenny pressed, his voice growing steadily harder and more determined with each word. "If it was you that had killed Judy, morale wouldn't fall, as the Board would see it as part of the plan. Even those sympathetic to Hiwatari Clan would join you if they knew that you had ordered your own mother's death. Only you Max could have led them, and you knew it, so you did."

Max gripped the hand rest of the chair he was sitting on, "Kenny, you're stepping out of line-"

"But you couldn't let it go, could you?! It was better that Tyson left you since you couldn't think of anything but revenge! Better that the world thought you were cold hearted so they didn't know how much you cared. So that you could plan Voltaire's utter destruction. Taking over the BBA to gain enough numbers to take away Voltaire's money and business, taking away Black Dranzer, Volatire's ultimate creation, poisoning him subtly to take away his health and land him with a heart attack. And finally, using Rei's love to take away the only person Voltaire cared about, his grandson, Kai," Kenny's eyes blazed a haunting congealed blood colour, even through those thick chestnut bangs. It was probably why he hid his eyes. They were horrifically beautiful to stare at. "Wasn't that what you were doing all along?"

Tyson looked decidedly pale, "Max, is that true?"

Max gritted his teeth, obviously furious, "You think you have me all figured out Kenny? That everything I do is just petty revenge?" His arms flung wide. "I want justice!" He leaned forward, sneering.

"Did you know Kenny," Max said in a deadly whisper, his face stormy with repressed anger, "Did you know, that my mother was fucking Voltaire to try and get him to merge Hiwatari with us? So she could rule equally over Japan's trade? It was nothing new for her. She did the same thing in America! It didn't matter that he was a bastard, or that he was twice her age, he had everything she wanted! Volatire's power and money actually attracted her!" Max spat the last in disgust, surprising himself at the words flowing uncontrollably from his lips. Nothing could stop them now.

"She and Voltaire shared the same ambition, the same ruthlessness, the same cold hearted need for power. But everything went to hell after he found out that my mother was actually pregnant, with Voltaire's CHILD. She told me that she was 3 months into her pregnancy and was going to use the child to take over Hiwatari. If the child lived, Kai would be pushed out of the picture since he was only a grandchild, not the SON of Voltaire."

Max laughed bitterly, staring at the pale shocked faces of those around him, even Dizzy and Dragoon looked shaken, "That was the last conversation Judy and I had. Voltaire had her killed that night. He took both mother and brother from me with one bullet, and left them to die in an alleyway. He didn't even care that our company was his main competition, after all, if she was dead, our company was ripe for the taking anyway! Two lives for the price of one!" Max snarled angrily, "Revenge is too simple for this. Even if my mother never loved me, she was all I had left. For taking her and my baby brother away, I will bring eternal suffering on Voltaire."

Tala's fists clenched, unwilling to mention his own agenda of revenge.

The blond stood, giving a searing glare as he moved towards the door, "Don't stand in my way."

Kenny and Tyson took a deep breath, looking visibly shaken, their hands clenched at their sides. Oliver watched Max go out the door in shock, Max's words running through all of their heads repeatedly.

"Holy shit," Dizzy said.

END PART 2

A/N: I am a twisted little bunny. You may now start guessing where I'm heading with this. Trust me, it gets worse.

Once again, sorry for the medicore writing. Congratulations to anyone who has made it this far to actually give a review. But, more plot to come. If you haven't noticed, all my ideas for a beyblade fic based on season one has been channeled into this one mega beyblade fic. Whee. No worries, everyone will be fine in the end. Okay, not really. That never happens. -forebodes- Join us for next week/month/year's episode of torturing Rei!