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Since I'm lazy today, I just want to say thanks to everrrryyyoonnee! Weee! Enjoy this very long chapter, yay, you've earned it!

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"Starlit"

Chapter 4

"..Tala."

Tala huffed softly, his lids opening slowly. He blinked, he must have fallen asleep after Judy had left him. He looked over at a simple, round, blue clock on the wall. 1:30pm.

"Tala?"

He quirked his brows, looking over to Judy. He sat up, his hospital gown ruffling. "Hm? Yes?"

A/N: (Tala's gown does not show his bum, it wraps all the way around…as much of a disappointment that is to some of my readers. . )

Judy walked over to stand next to his bed. "….we found a camera in your blade…as well as a tracking device."

Tala's eyes narrowed. "…Is that all?"

Judy nodded. "..we would've been able to analyze them…but well, they just disintegrated when we removed them from the their casing. I should've expected that." She said, looking to the side with irritation.

Tala watched her expressionlessly before shrugging. "It's fine, don't worry about it. I'm just glad it's removed from my blade."

She seemed to think differently, but her expression jumped as she dug in her tan coat, pulling out his blade and handing it to him.

He took it, his blue eyes giving the blade a once over, noticing a big difference from when he'd last seen it. The blade shone brighter and the scratches were smoothed out.

"I hope you don't mind. I figured it could use a bit of a tune-up." Judy said hesitantly.

Tala smiled, shaking his head. "It's no problem. Thanks, it needed it."

She replied with a tired smile. "Well I better be going, take it easy."

Tala stared as she walked to the door, the urge to call her back bubbling up inside him. "…ah…Judy?"

Judy looked over her shoulder once more, giving him a friendly smile of question.

Tala sighed, looking down at Wolfborg and it seemed like the blade was giving him strength. "…I hope you can forgive me for what happened at the Championships….if things would've been different-"

Judy held up a peach hand. "It's okay, Tala. Everyone deserves a second chance."

His head snapped back up, lips parted in mild surprise. Judy gazed at him for a second with a sweet smile and then left the room.

Tala's pale fingers tightened around his blade. 'I have a chance now, too….a chance for a better life…..' His head sagged to his chest. '….but Boris isn't done with me yet…I know it….and I don't know what he's planning…but I know it has to do with me….'

He was snapped from his gloomy thoughts when hot warmth flashed through his fingers. Uncovering his bit, he looked over the design of Wolfborg, the circular disc flashing at him encouragingly.

He cracked a small smile. Wolfborg had been with him through everything and for the first time he felt a guilt that stemmed from just that. Wolfborg had been abused by him in his conquest for the ultimate power. He felt sick. He felt ashamed….

His left hand grabbed up a fistful of blanket, squeezing tightly. 'All this shame…ever since I finally realized my mistakes I've just been feeling ashamed….and I regret everything….it's tiring….'

Wolfborg flickered.

'…yes, this is the first step to becoming a better person….I have to realize my wrongs and do what I can to make it better…'

"..are you alright?"

Tala raised his head, brows raised. "Huh?….oh." He muttered. Max stood at the door his hands behind his back, a curious look on his face. "…yeah…just thinking.."

The blonde offered him a simple smile. "My mom told me what you said."

Tala tilted his head in question.

Max went on, rolling back on his heels. "…I forgive you, too. I think my mom is right. No, she is right."

Tala bit his bottom lip, feeling strangely sick. How could these people ever forgive him? He closed his eyes as Kai's voice floated through his mind.

"You've changed, Tala."

"Thank you, Max."

The kid-ish blader beamed. "It'll take Tyson some getting used to, but welcome to the gang." And with that said, he waved and bounded from the room leaving Tala in a state of shock.

How could they accept him? What if he turned on them? How could they trust him so quickly?

His shoulders drooped. 'Kai…he was just like me…waking up from the terror…he probably felt just the way I'm feeling now….'

Tala smiled softly. 'That's why he's been so understanding…'

He couldn't help the chuckle that escaped his lips. Max and Judy had forgiven him, they'd gone through Kai's episode of change….Kai had changed…

'And so can I…'

Wolfborg glimmered in agreement.

Feeling an itch behind his right ear, he scratched it. When his hand came back to his lap, flakes of dried blood spotted his fingers. His lips hung in distaste. His hair must be filthy.

'Just great…I probably look like some deranged hobo. I was wondering why Max looked so amused.'

With a deep sigh, he slid his legs from under the covers, letting them hang off the bed, the tips of his toes brushing the cold, tiled floor. Turning his head he scanned the room and found a second door adjacent to the entrance. The small blue sign next to it clearly identified it as a bathroom. He raised a brow, wondering why he hadn't noticed it before.

'After monotonous prison containment, who would notice anything other than the escape route?' He thought sardonically as he stood. His balance was much better now.

Preparing himself, he took small steps, eventually moving at a semi-fast hobble. 'I feel like a damn penguin.' He thought as he grabbed hold of the door knob to his destination.

"…they've found the camera and tracker, sir." A young monitor told a fuming purple haired villain.

"What?" The fuming purple haired villain hissed.

The monitor shrunk back. "…The advisor of the All Stars, sir….Tala notified her of a change in the structure of his blade. We hid it as best as we could sir, but young Tala has sharp eyes. No worry though, both disintegrated upon air contact."

The fuming purple haired villain's eyes narrowed lethally. "Blast that, Tala. He's too sharp for his own good…..no matter." The fuming purple haired villain said with a confident smile. "…we still have two other devices at our disposal. Tala won't be so keen to these as the last."

"Yes, sir."

"Let us remind Tala that we're not through with him yet…"

A/N: (I'm terribly sorry for the 'fuming purple haired villain' thing, I couldn't resist..)

Tala turned as a knock sounded outside the bathroom door. Making sure his towel was secure around his waist, he went to drying his hair. "Come in."

There were a few seconds of silence before the door opened and Kai stepped in. "…you can walk?"

Tala smirked, blue eyes looking at him with playful annoyance. "Yeah, I can walk. And boy did that shower….help…" He trailed when he noticed Kai's pensive stare.

Looking down at his chest, he winced. The scars. He wouldn't doubt that his body looked something akin to an old, gnarled tree. He sighed, not bothering to hide it. "Do you think you could get me some fresh clothes….something other than a gown with tiny blue flowers?"

Kai nodded quietly and left, leaving a tense note to hang in the air.

Tala was sitting on his bed when Kai next entered the room. He noticed Kai's concrete set scowl with steady impassiveness as the other boy set the new clothes at the end of the bed. He then walked over to the cabinets on the right hand side of the room and pulled out fresh gauze.

Tala arched a brow as Kai sat in his chair by the bed and grabbed up his right leg. "Hold still." He muttered.

Tala tried not to stare as Kai wrapped his wounds, but he found himself somewhat embarrassed and even flustered as had to pull up his towel a little so his knees could be accessible.

This uneasiness stayed with him until Kai had finished with all his limbs and lastly, his chest and stomach.

"Get dressed. I'll wait outside." Kai told him mechanically before leaving, closing the door behind him.

Tala blew out a tired breath, observing his clothes with mild interest. A long sleeved white shirt with a sky blue t-shirt to go over that; tan khakis with many pockets and under that a pair of socks with plain white tennis shoes. Tala wondered if Kai had meant to match the shirt to his eyes.

Shrugging, he got dressed. When he was done, he sat back down on his bed. "I'm done."

Kai reentered, but only stopped, leaning on the door of the bathroom. "Are you up to coming downstairs? Tyson and the others are in the lobby….they want to talk."

Tala tensed, but only nodded. Getting up from his bed, he walked over to Kai without hobbling and he knew the hot shower had helped relaxed his muscles. Ah…that shower. That shower had been heaven.

Following Kai without a word, they stepped into an elevator, Kai punched a button and down they went.

Tala frowned as that downward lurch waved through him, making him feel like his stomach had been moved.

When they stepped out of the elevator, Tala quickly assessed all who sat in the springy, cushioned, maroon chairs of the lobby. Just Tyson, Max, Ray and Kenny. He sucked in a quiet breath as all eyes turned to him.

Though Tyson seemed somewhat reverent, his gaze was disapproving and unhappy. Ray looked bored. Max smiled idly and Kenny was just gazing at him without much of an expression, fingers resting on the keys of his open laptop otherwise known as Dizzy.

There was a deep silence.

"Somebody get out a knife so we can cut some tension cake." Dizzy abruptly stated, Kenny looking down at her in mild protest. "What? You guys need to lighten up."

Shoving his hands in his back pockets, Tala tried his best not to crack a grin.

Tyson stood up suddenly, lashing his pointer finger at the red head. "You and Boris are up to something, aren't you?" He accused.

"Tyson!" Max cried indignantly.

Tala shook his head at the blonde before focusing on Tyson. "Believe it or not, but no. I'm through with Boris."

"That's what you think, boy."

Yeah it's what I've become that I fear the most

I never thought it could get so wrong

Tala's eyes widened in dismay. What the hell? Did he just hear that right? He turned his head from side to side in confusion.

I believe there is a part of me that I cannot beat

A part of me that I can't defeat

"What's your deal, dude?" Tyson gripped, just as confused at Tala's sudden consternation.

Tala stopped looking around and blinked slowly before shrugging irritably. "..Nothing."

"Right. So, as I was saying, you better watch you're back cause I'm watching you! I won't let you scumbags catch me off guard!"

"Tyson!" Max cried again.

Tala smirked wryly. "I'll keep that in mind."

The side of me that just doesn't belong

"Hah! See, he's admitting it!"

Tala couldn't help it as he scowled, Tyson's accusations were starting to annoy him already. "I admitted nothing. What I told you was the truth, but you've been known for your rather thick head, if I can remember correctly."

"Well you remembered wrong! I know something is up you bit beast thief!"

Kai promptly marched straight over to Tyson, popping him upside the head.

The blue haired blader howled, one hand rubbing vigorously where he was clobbered. "What's your problem, Kai? He's our enemy!"

Kai's crimson eyes narrowed. "Keep your thoughts to yourself."

Tyson gave him a wounded puppy look, sinking in his chair.

Moving away from Tyson, Kai positioned himself in the middle of the room. "If any of you have a problem with Tala, you can take it up with me. Say anything negative to him and you'll end up like Tyson."

Tyson whimpered.

Eyes looked from one to another.

Tala found himself locking gazes with Ray once again. He arched a brow at the irritated look he was given. What was that dude's deal? He lacked further time to analyze the neko-jin's expression as it switched onto Kai.

And that's when it clicked. Was Ray.…jealous?

"If that's settled, how about some ice cream?" Ray suggested randomly.

Tyson immediately stopped pouting and jumped up. "Yahoo! That sounds like a great idea." He moved to the lobby doors. "But this is far from settled!" He added, watching Kai in case the slate haired boy made another move to pop him.

Kai only glared, arms crossed menacingly.

"Alright, then." Ray muttered, turning on his heel and following after Tyson, but as he turned, Tala was given another glimpse of his grudging gold eyes.

Judging by the weight of my fucked up world

I think maybe I should take a step back from this

Befuddled, Tala vaguely took notice as Kenny stood up and left, Kai slowly pursuing, but Max remained in the room, looking at the red head expectantly.

Feeling the comfortable gaze upon him, he smiled and walked over, joining Max as they left the building in a lax silence, moving to catch up with Kai.

I need to quit pushing just let it roll

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TBC…

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"Death Trend Setta" by Crossfade