A/N: Well, I'm back! Let's get on with it shall we?
Disclaimer: See previous chapters.
Stanley Dickenson had seen a lot of things in his time, some things, stranger than others. But this? This took the prize over everything.
When he had received a phone call earlier this morning about Kai, he hadn't expected what he would find after coming down to the teams house later that day.
Sitting at the kitchen table was an eight-year old version of his team captain. His clothes were much to big on him, and his scarf trailed on the ground from where it was tucked around his small neck. His face was bare of his markings, and although his demeanor seemed softer, from what the administrator had heard, he was anything but.
Presently, he was listening to Rei as he tried to explain a few things to him. The young phoenix took in everything that was said without even blinking, asking very few questions.
"Oh dear," he mumbled to himself, producing his handkerchief to dab his brow with. 'How had this happened?'. Max looked up with a small smile.
"He seems to listen to Rei," he offered. The old man looked up. "He was the one who stopped him from getting away, so I think Kai figures that until he can findan escape, he has to answer to him."
Mr. D smiled. "So it seems." The blonde giggled as Tyson walked in, an ice pack compressed against his cheek.
"Although, he isn't too fond of Ty..." The dragon master glared at his friend before sitting himself down in a chair across from the others.
"Whatever. So what do we do now? Kenny won't be done for a while, and until then we're stuck babysitting when we should be training." Just then Kai walked in, following the neko.
"He's right." Everyone stared at the blunette.
"What?" the tiger asked, looking down on the boy at his feet.
"Well, he should be training. I honestly didn't expect to take him down that easily." Tyson growled, clenching his fists.
"Oh yeah?!" Kai nodded, pointing to the dragon's face.
"Yeah. You shouldn't need an ice pack for that kind of hit," he answered matter-of-factly. The Chinese teen stared at him. The hit he'd taken in the stomach was enough to keep him sitting for a few hours, and it wasn't nearly as controlled as the one he had dealt out to the (currently) older blunette.
"WHAT? I'LL BE LUCKY IF YOU DIDN'T CRACK MY JAW!" He rolled his eyes.
"Not likely, if you're screaming like that." Finally Mister Dickenson stood, his gaze stern for such a kindly old man.
"Enough!" Immediately the room went silent. Kai took a step back, but his eyes never left the old man. Tyson 'humphed' and fell backwards into his chair again, mumbling about stupid little kids.
Calming down a bit, the administrator sighed. "I'm sorry boys but we don't need this right now," he reprimanded them gently. "Right now we need teamwork, and patience. Arguing will get us nowhere so I do not expect to hear it in the future."
They all nodded, somewhat ashamed, and finally Mr. D's attention fell to the small Russian. Rei noticed and crouched down next to the young phoenix.
"Kai, this is Mr. Dickenson. He's our benefactor." The boy nodded curtly, his eyes betraying nothing, his stature calm and composed.
"Sir."
"Please," the elderly gentleman smiled. "Call me Mister Dickenson." If he'd heard him, he made no indication of it. The tiger stood again, addressing the head administrator.
"Mr. D, do you have any idea what we can do about this? The tournament is in a few days and..." he trailed off when the boy at his feet eyed him suspiciously. The old director looked around the room apologetically and sighed.
"I'm afraid the most I can do is postpone the competition until we can sort out this mess. If Kenny's efforts prove unsuccessful, then we will have to think of something else. Until then---"
"I have an idea." Max lifted his head, looking at each of his teammates in turn, his gaze resting on Kai for the longest.
"Go ahead," Mr. Dickenson prompted, but the blonde seemed to hesitate.
"He...he remembers Tala," he answered slowly; swallowing hard at the glares he was receiving from the others. "I think this problem is revolving around him."
For a long time the room was silent as everyone came to one undeniable conclusion. Tala was the center of this problem, and the only way to resolve it, was to get in touch with the wolf master himself.
"I think I can place a call," the old man nodded after another moment. "But I can't promise you very much." They all nodded, holding their breaths, but to their surprise Kai didn't say anything. He was still standing slightly behind Rei, his head bowed, arms crossed over his chest. The tiger nudged him after a bit, the others watching just as curiously.
"Kai...?" he stopped when the young phoenix raised his head to look at Mr. Dickenson, his bloody gaze intensifying with each passing moment.
"Will you excuse me sir?" he ground out angrily. Without a word, the head administrator nodded his consent and they all watched as the blunette whirled around and stormed back to his room knuckles turning white as he clenched his fists at his sides.
"What was that all about?" the dragon master called out, letting the ice pack fall off of his face.
"I'll go check on him," the neko offered quietly, turning down the hall, heading towards the room that he and Kai shared.
"Make sure you bring a helmet!" Tyson called after him.
...
Rei was standing in front of the door, listening as the young phoenix paced the floors, muttering in his native tongue. Allowing him a few more minutes to vent, the Chinese teen knocked lightly on the door, and opened it a crack.
Kai had stopped by the window, his eyes burning into the neko as he stepped into the room. Refusing to be intimidated, the tiger looked him over before speaking.
"Are you alright?" A flicker of something crossed those crimson orbs and a hardly noticeable growl escaping the boy's throat betrayed his emotions.
"You lied to me." Golden eyes widened at the accusation, and the teen shook his head quickly.
"About what?"
"Max told me that none of you knew anything about Tala other than where he was," he told the other slowly as if he were speaking to a small child. Rei frowned at this, his brows furrowing in confusion.
"That is the truth."
"Then how come you know how to get in touch with him?!" he asked, his voice shaking with just barely controlled rage.
Unsure about how to answer that question, the Chinese teen started to make his way over to his captain---
"Stop that!" the neko blinked in surprise when Kai stepped back until he nearly hit the wall.
"What?"
"Stop trying to comfort me!" he yelled, his cheeks reddening in anger. "I didn't ask for your sympathy! All I want is for you to answer my question!"
At a loss for words, the surprised teen shut his mouth, and sat down on his bed. Leaning forward on his knees, he placed his head in his hands, taking deep breaths as he tried to piece together his thoughts. Finally he started, careful about the words he chose to best explain their actions.
"We didn't want to get your hopes up." The boy across the room glared at him when he lifted his head to meet the ruby gaze. When he didn't answer, the tiger continued.
"The only way for us to get in touch with him is to get in touch with..." he trailed off, not wanting to rile his captain up again. Kai understood.
"Boris," he finished, letting his back hit the wall so that he could slide down into a sitting position on the floor.
"Yes," Rei confirmed. He watched sadly as the blunette folded his arms over his knees and buried his head in them.
"He's seventeen now." It wasn't a question, just a statement to be acknowledged. Nonetheless, the Drigger wielder was surprised to hear it pass the smaller boy's lips. Kai raised his head, resting his chin on his arms, looking up at the window.
"And he's still..." he drew in a breath then, as if he were afraid of his own conclusions. Gently though, his gaze returned to the neko.
"What am I doing here?" he asked timidly, his voice wavering with uncontrollable emotions. Rei swallowed, his expression pained.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, why am I here? I should be in Russia, I'm one of the Demolition Boys. Why am I here?" His voice was small, so unlike Kai's that it was hard to listen to. It was a pleading, helpless tone, something none of them would ever hear from their stoic captain.
"We don't know," the raven-haired teen answered after a moment. His voice was scarcely above a whisper when he finished. "You never spoke very much about your past."
Suddenly, a knock on the door startled them, and after a nod from the young phoenix, he called out that who ever it was could come in. Promptly, the door opened, admitting Tyson and Max. The blonde offered them a smile.
"Mr. Dickenson's left with Kenny, they're going to make a few calls." He told them, taking his time. "But he left us some money, so that we could go out and get Kai the things he needs."
"If," Tyson stepped in. "He promises to stay with us the entire time." The blunette glared at the dragon master, but stood all the same, keeping close to Rei.
"You have my word," he promised.
...
The Blade Breakers were sitting on one of the many benches that lined the sidewalks of Bay City, waiting for Kai to come out of the store. He had insisted that he go in alone, leaving no room for argument, and although they were skeptical, they allowed him one hour before they came looking for him. He agreed, and now the others were waiting patiently, praying that they hadn't made a bad decision.
"So, what was up earlier?" Tyson asked, desperately in need of something to do. Rei shrugged, the look in his eyes distant as he recalled his conversation with the blunette earlier.
"He was upset that we hadn't told him that it was possible to get a hold of Tala." Max sighed unhappily.
"I'm sorry guys, that was completely my fault." The dragon master shook his head.
"It was a good idea Maxie," he assured his blonde friend, placing a hand on his shoulder and offering him a cheesy grin. "Better than anything I could've come up with." The American teen giggled.
"It's probably the only lead we've got anyway..." the neko trailed off before adding. "Do you think he'll answer?" The blunette shrugged.
"He's a pretty unpredictable guy, and his relationship with Kai is anything but sunshine and roses." Sapphire eyes sparked at the comment.
"You know, I was thinking the same thing. Don't you guys find it strange that during the tournament Kai and Tala hated each other, but now that Kai seems to be reliving his past, Tala suddenly jumped to best-friend status?"
"Yeah," Rei agreed. "What do you think happened?"
"Whatever it was, it must have been pretty bad," he paused, checking his watch. "He's got fifteen minutes guys." Tyson nodded.
"It's weird."
"What is?" the tiger asked curiously. Tyson sighed, leaning back on the bench to fold his hands behind his head.
"Kai is. I mean, I always thought that maybe he was different when he was younger, you know? Like, nicer, more open. But he isn't so different, and I guess now that I know, I'm kind of regretting it." The others nodded.
"When he woke up this morning, he said he was late," shaking his head he corrected himself. "We were late. He thought I was Tala." For a moment they pondered this, until Max blinked in realization.
"The only place that Tala and Kai were ever together in was the Abbey..." Tyson shot up in disbelief, his eyes wide.
"No way! I didn't think he was there since he was that young!" The Chinese teen could only offer him a sympathetic look.
"He hasn't really talked that much about his past Ty, and I don't think he even remembers some of it."
"Didn't his memories come back when he went back to Balcov Abbey?" the blonde inquired, raising an eyebrow. The neko hesitated.
"I think most of them did, but...sometimes he talks in his sleep. It's in Russian a lot of the time, but from what I do hear, he doesn't always understand them."
"Well, couldn't they be just weird dreams?" Max prompted. The Drigger blader shook his head.
"When he thinks I'm asleep, he talks to Dranzer about it..."
"Man," Tyson groaned, flopping back down next to Max on the bench. "This is nuts." The other two were about to sympathize, when the bell over the little shop jangled, betraying a customers exit. They all turned to face the boy in front of them, their mouths all falling slightly open.
His scarf was still in place, but Kai had picked out a pair of khaki cargos that hugged his waist gently, held up by a black belt that supported his launcher in a holster in the back. He was wearing a black turtleneck tank top whose sleeves were lined in red, along with a pair of black fingerless gloves and boots. Finally blinking himself out of shock, Max looked down at his watch just as the numbers changed.
"He's good," he mumbled to Rei. "One hour, right on the dot." The others also blinked, Tyson rolling his eyes as well.
"Well, his fashion sense sure hasn't changed," he muttered before standing. He was promptly hit in the face with a small object. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!" he yelled, stumbling backwards slightly. Looking down, he found the wallet they had given Kai with Mister Dickenson's money in it. Bending down to pick it up, he rounded on the small boy.
"YOU---"
"You really do need to train," the young phoenix cut in, ignoring the others snickering behind the dragon master. He focused only on the reddening of the older blunette's cheeks as he continued. "It was easy enough to anticipate, no one I know would have missed it. Then again," he paused to look over the other teen. "I shouldn't have assumed that you even had the reflexes to avoid harm, after you didn't have the sense enough to dodge a blow to the head."
"WHY YOU LITTLE---" Before the Japanese teen could do anything that would endanger his safety (and the safety of those around him for that matter), Max and Rei jumped to their feet and yanked him back to the bench.
"LET ME GO!" he hollered. "I'LL TEACH THE LITTLE BRAT TO TALK TO ME LIKE THAT!"
"Yes let him go," came the bored reply from the petit figure, who was watching with feigned interest. "So we can all see just how pathetic he really is."
Rei growled when Tyson tried to get at the unfazed phoenix with renewed vigor.
"Calm down," the American teen hissed. "People are staring!"
"He's only doing it to instigate you," the Chinese teen added. "Be the bigger person Ty!"
"Bigger moron," came the muttered reply. The tiger had had enough. Whipping around, he threw his whole arm into the motion as he brought his open palm across the blunette's cheek.
Kai yelped as his head was snapped to the side, his eyes widening a fraction before they narrowed dangerously. He didn't look up, and even Tyson had shut his mouth at the murderous flame that had ignited in those crimson depths. Breathing heavily, the tiger lowered his hand.
"Don't you ever make me do that again, do you hear me?" he spat at his captain. He could feel his palm stinging, and his stomach churn as he took in the red mark beginning to form on the young phoenix's cheek. But he never let his gaze falter. The petit Russian had to understand that none of them would put up with his behaving like this.
"Kai?" All of them watched, mystified as the blunette regained his composure, and inclined his head. The soft reply barely reached their ears---
"It won't happen again." Feeling suddenly guilty, Rei kneeled down in front of the younger male. Squeezing his shoulders lightly, he caught his attention.
"I'm sorry," he told the phoenix sincerely. "I shouldn't have hit you, and I promise you that it won't happen a second time." The pale boy watched the teen curiously, as if he didn't quite understand, but after a moment he nodded. With a smile, the neko stood, ruffling the slate bangs affectionately. Taking a step back, Kai frowned, smoothing out his bangs again.
"Wow Rei," Max grinned, flashing him a thumbs up. Tyson sighed, deciding to get back at the runt later. Instead, he picked up the wallet again, and opened it.
"Hey wait a minute, he didn't spend any of it!" glaring at the smaller blader, the Dragoon wielder fixed him with an accusing look. "Did you steal that stuff?"
Kai actually looked offended. "No," he ground out, obviously struggling to keep his temper in check. "I used my own money." The American teen raised his eyebrows.
"But Mister D left that cash for you, you didn't have---"
"I know," he answered, crossing his arms and turning away. "This way, I don't owe him anything."
"You're such an ungrateful little brat," the Japanese teen bit out. The Drigger blader held his breath. Surprisingly, the blunette just put one hand in his pocket and started off the way they'd come, letting his answer float over his shoulder as he navigated the sidewalk.
"You don't know enough about me to back up anything you say. You're a bunch of empty threats and half of the things that come out of your mouth are comebacks that merely cover up your own insecurities. I don't have to listen to you Tyson, your words mean nothing."
...
At the Japanese BBA headquarters, Kenny and Mr. Dickenson had taken it upon themselves to get in touch with the leader of the Abbey himself: Boris Balcov.
Of course, this was easier said than done.
"Do you have a scheduled appointment, Mr. Dickenson?" The communications officer grunted through the speakerphone, his gruff baritone practically scratching the paint off the walls.
"No, I do not." The old man answered exasperatedly. "This is an official Bey Blade Association conference call. It is a matter of the highest priority. Now, I demand you put me through!"
"I'm sorry Mr. Dickenson, but without---" suddenly he paused, and a shuffling noise could be heard in the background along with muffled voices. Kenny and the old man held their breaths, letting it out slowly when Boris's oily voice floated through the room.
"Stanley," he greeted with false delight. "This is a most special occasion indeed."
"Boris." Mr. Dickenson offered curtly. "I must ask you to let me speak with one of your boys." Kenny gripped his laptop tight to his chest, practically seeing the elder Russian's long face twisting into a confused scowl.
"I am afraid that is out of the question," he replied coolly after a moment. "They are training at present." Calmly, Mr. D leaned forward towards the phone as he spoke.
"Then I must insist that you allow them a five minute break. I won't be long." Seeming to consider the thought, Boris continued.
"On what grounds?"
"Confidential ones."
"I see," he answered slowly. "And to whom would you be speaking?" The senior hesitated a moment before replying.
"Tala." There was a long silence before the man on the other line began again.
"You're in luck Stanley," he answered with a smirk. "Tala has just stepped into my office."
There was another pause and Kenny took the opportunity to quickly set up his laptop, facing the recorder towards the phone, nodding when he was ready to Mr. D. The old man nodded back solemnly, both of them jumping when another voice cut through the air. The Chief shivered. One that practically lowered the air temperature around them to below zero.
"What? And make it fast." Before the head of the BBA could respond, Boris's voice sounded in the background, hardened dangerously.
"Mind your manners boy," he spat. A barely audible sigh came from the teen.
"Fine. Hello sir, what do you want, and make it fast...please." Mr. D was shocked to say the least, as was Kenny. But after a moment he regained his composure, the fate of his team riding on this phone call.
"Tala, I need to ask you a few questions." The line was silent, and they almost thought that the redhead had hung up.
"Well?" Clearing his throat, the old man started up again.
"I need to know a few things about Kai---"
"Is he dead?" Startled, Mr. Dickenson wasn't quite sure of how to reply.
"Excuse me?!"
"Is. He. Dead?" The icy voice repeated, chillingly calm. When the head of the BBA couldn't find the right words to respond, Kenny nearly jumped up from his seat.
"No he's not dead! What would possess you to---" again they were cut off.
"If he's not dead then there is no point in speaking with...either of you." With that the connection ended, leaving the two standing in the room to stare incredulously at the phone, the dial tone echoing off the walls.
...
Tala hit the floor hard, his lip splitting as his teeth sunk deep into the . spite the crimson life fluid dripping down his chin, he kept his mouth clamped shut to keep from crying out again as Boris buried his foot deep in his stomach. Gasping, he tried to pull his knees up to protect himself, but the director grabbed his ankles and flipped him over so that he was lying on his back and sat heavily on his bruised chest, pinning his arms above his head.
"I'm not going to ask you again boy," he hissed, his anger rising in his throat when Tala barely flinched. "What did they want?"
The wolf blader glared back at his trainer, but refused to say a word. Growling, Boris drove his knee into his pupil's chest, adding more and more pressure until the pale teen threw his head back in a silent scream, gasping for air. He tried to wrench himself free but he could feel his ribs cracking---
"Kai!" he called out to the ceiling. "They wanted to...they..." he gasped, trying to breathe. Finally the older Russian lifted his knee, relieving Tala of the weight.
"Yes?" he growled. The younger male shut his eyes, trying to answer between panted breaths.
"They wanted...to...know about...Kai..."
"And what did you tell them?" Boris sneered. Turning his head away, the wolf master glared at the wall.
"Nothing." Abruptly he cried out as his trainer wrenched him up by his hair.
"You better not be lying boy," he ground out before slamming Tala's head hard into the stone floor. The pain exploded through his skull, making black spots dance in his eyes, he felt numb; unable to move. Satisfied, Boris stood, striding across the floor to his chair to watch as his pupil struggled.
"Do you think that by resisting me, you'll be able to convince yourself that you are not mine?" he asked casually, grinning wickedly when the wolf froze, his eyes widening momentarily. Finally he groaned, turning over so that he could push himself up.
"I don't belong to anyone." Boris's grin widened.
"But you do," he insisted. "You are mine. You've always been mine. I made you what you are, and that is perfect." A flicker of emotion passed over his cold blue eyes as Tala faltered.
"No," he shook his head. "You don't have---"
"Control over you?" A maniac laugh sounded through the room. "Of course I do."
The smaller male was still shaking his head, paused on his hands and knees, glaring at the ground.
"Stop..."
"You obey my every command, and no matter what you try to prove, in the end I always win."
"No!" he yelled, his arms shaking from the strain and rage building up inside of him. But he was also afraid. Afraid because, the words the one man he hated more than life itself spoke, were true.
"Oh?" the older man taunted. "Then what is your definition of control?" When Tala didn't answer he smirked, standing to stride across the room to the door.
"Get back to your training."
Why the door snapped shut, the wolf master bowed his head, a few stray tears dripping off his long lashes to shatter on the ground between his hands. Because in the end, he could do nothing but obey. He was merely a possession.
He belonged to Boris.
...
A/N: Wow. That was probably the most sadistic thing I've written in a long time. I enjoyed it anyway. So, what now? .:grins:. Now, the real fun begins.