Silver: Sorry if this chapter is updated a little late. ^-^ I'm at my fellow friend's and authoress sleepover. ^-^ Fun! Anyways, a GREAT BIG HUGE thanks to everyone who reviewed! ^-^ They were so good and the comments are especially valuable to me. Thank you so much! I will try my best to keep this story going. Expect a lot of updates over the March Break because I have a lot of spare time. But as soon as school starts, I probably won't be able to update as much, just a small notice. ^-^ Who wants longer chapter? If you do, please tell me so in your reviews. Right now, the average words per chapter are 1,400. I could raise that to 2000 words. However, the time it'll take me to update will be longer, so please tell me what you guys want and I'll gladly write it. ^-^ Now, it's time to recognize all those who reviewed my humble story.
Mirai Shinranui: Wow…awesome comments! I promise I'll read over my stories from now on and see if they make sense. I do that to some paragraphs but not all. I'll try to do better from now on. Thank you for your praises and comments. ^-^ Also, I'm writing this story as I go, so I don't have the whole story already written, I thought it would be better to let the readers decide what they want instead of writing something they don't like. ^-^
BitterCherries: I'm sorry that Tala dies. But Kai and Rei get closer because of it. So it's sort of a win/win situation. ^-^ Plus, I think I have a surprise for you guys at the end, concerning Tala, when everything works out. ^-^ You'll have to wait and see, I promise Tala's death isn't in vain. Thanks for adding me to your author alert! I'm honored.
Sleepstar- I'm sure your story is every inch as good as mine. ^-^ In fact, give me a few minutes and I'll check it out. ^-^ I'm sure you are a talented writer.
Bluumberry- hum… I might be mistaken but amber and red are very alike…possibly a shade or two dark…I'll check it out, thanks for pointing it out. ^-^ Enjoy the story! Shaka Dragomir Nocturnus- I also love it when Kai plays the guitar…just the image makes me want to drool…Thanks for reviewing! ^-^Platinum Rei- Glad to hear that you enjoyed this chapter. There probably won't be too much Kai/Rei fluff (although I'd love to do that) 'till the end, then it's major fluffy chapter! I might make Kai and Rei have some moments alone, not no smoochy stuff until after. That'll sort of ruin the whole angst thing that I'm trying to build right now. Hope that's ok with you. However, in the meanwhile, while I'm building up to the fluff, I'll add a touch of little fluff here and there. Enjoy the chapter!
Silens Fletus- Thanks again for reviewing Tk! Your encouragements are great! Guys check out her fics! They are awesome!
HimoKoSukie- Thanks for your review! I ASSURE that Tala isn't stupid. His death is planned, you'll see later on, I'm still trying to work out the details but still…it'll all work out in the end.
PaleBlue- *hug* feel better now? I know it's really sad right now, but I'm trying to build up to something…it's a mystery. ^-^
Kitsune- Yup, Tala's dead…I don't like it but he's dead. I probably will make a story later about Tala. ^-^ Depends…anyway, yeah, there's only a brotherly relationship between Kai and Tala, that's how I planned it to be. Except Rei doesn't know that and thinks that Kai and Tala are like Boyfriends. ^-^ Enjoy this chapter!
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THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR REVIEWING THIS CHAPTER! ^-^ YOUR ENCOURAGED ARE MUCH WELCOME! For those of you who hate me for 'killing' Tala, stick around…things might not be what they seem. ^-^ THANK YOU! Enjoy the story. ^-^
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Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade. Don't go suing me…trust me, it's not worth it. ^-^ All the other characters that do not appear in the episodes belong to me and only me. Please do not steal.
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WARNING~!: This story is yaoi. Meaning it has a male/male pairing. Don't like it, then leave. ^-^ The pairings are as followed: Kai/ Rei/ Tala triangle (definitely) Tyson and Max is optional (even if I do add it, there will be very little as the story is based on Rei/Kai/Tala)…all depends on the reviews I get on whether I should put up that pairing.
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Summary: Kai learns the tragedy of the deaths of his fellow friend, Tala. Depressed and confused, Kai shuns himself even more from the rest of the world…even Rei. Upset, and confused about his own feelings for the stone Phoenix, and having to constantly live in the shadows of Kai's dead friend, can Rei reach out and thaw kai's frozen heart?
RATING MAY CHANGE LATER~!
*~*Flashback*~*
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Help me, Save me.
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Concentrating on his guitar playing, Kai failed to notice that Rei came into the room they shared. Memories of his childhood slowly came back to him as his fingers stringed the red guitar Tala had made especially for him.
'He was so picky, even with the smallest details.' Kai thought as he stopped and glanced down at a small, golden, fire phoenix carved in the flame like colors of the guitar. Absentmindedly, Kai stoked the cold phoenix as flashbacks of his past flashed into his mind.
*~*Flashback*~*
"Come on Tala! You can do better than that little brother! Feel the power of your blade, Tala!" Urged a young Kai as the two blades clashed against against each other on the ground. Kai could see that Tala was concentrating extremely hard on the battle but it was obvious who was winning. Feeling that it was time to end the match, he commanded Dranzer to attack Tala's blade, sending it flying, straight into Tala.
"Tala! Are you alright?" Kei asked as he rushed over to the fallen figure. He felt his heart melt as he lifted Tala's head only to find crystal teardrops forming at the corners of his sapphire eyes. "I'm sorry little brother, I promise, I promise I will always be there when you need me. I promise."
*~*End of Flashback*~*
'Some promise I kept…I'm sorry Tala, I'm sorry that I couldn't be there when you needed me…' Kai thought as he angrily clutched his palm in a dead grip. Suddenly, he felt the warmth of someone's comforting hands on his shoulders, as if to reassure him. Slowly turning, he was momentarily blinded by the light from the streetlights outside. "Tala…?"
Rei couldn't take it anymore, he couldn't stand sitting on the bed and watch the only person he cared about be swallowed in agony. Quickly leaping to his feet, he quietly walked over behind Kai and gently placed his hand on his shoulder. His heart almost leaped to his throat when he saw Kai slowly to face him, however, the same heart nearly dropped to Hell when he heard the name that Kai murmured.
"No Kai…not Tala…Tala's gone now. It's me, Rei. Do you want to talk?" Rei asked after he managed to control his emotions.
"Rei?" Kai asked with a lost voice.
"Yeah Kai, it's me. Not Tala." Rei whispered through clutching teeth. Rei witnessed with sadness as a sudden flick of loneliness managed to escape Kai's emotion barrier when he found out that it wasn't Tala.
Slowly, Kai's head switched back to it's fallen position. Rei silently watched this as he felt his usual calm temper start to flare. Seeing how pitiful Kai looked just made Rei even angrier. Moving his body so he towered above the Captain, Rei gently raised Kai's head with his left hand to meet his own feline glare. Rei, once again, faced those lost red orbs. Before his confidence wavered, Rei slowly raised his other hand and in one swift movement, that hand connected with the same side of the Captain's face leaving a red hand mark where Rei's hand had connected.
Almost hesitantly, Kai slowly raised his own cold hands and placed them on his red cheeks. He just sat there for a few seconds, as if his brain was only starting to register what had just happened. When it finally does, he felt his temper rise. 'How DARE he slap me? How DARE him?'
Rei watched as slowly, as feelings began to enter those eyes that he had always admired, even if those emotions were anger, towards him. Feeling a fight brewing up, Rei quickly braced himself for an all-out war. But, much to his surprise, just as fast as those emotions flared in Kai's eyes, it left it. Instead of yelling at Rei, Kai simply tilted his head away and ordered, "Leave Rei, leave me here and don't come back. I don't want to see your face anywhere near mine. Go now."
Rei, feeling as if he's been slapped, was sure which one was worse. Having the Captain of the team yell at him, or having the same person hate you. As if appeared, he somehow managed to accomplish both.
With a sigh, Rei jerked Kai into a standing position, and started to yell, " You FUCKIN' bastard! Do you know how friggin' stupid you are acting? If you miss Tala that much, why don't you die with him? You are acting like a lovesick puppy that just lost his owner. Tala wouldn't want you to be like this! He wouldn't want you to act like the pathetic being that you are right now! So straighten up Kai, you need to get over your grief for Tala. He's gone. Nothing can change that, Kai…why can't you just accept this fact?" Towards the end, Rei gradually softened his tone toward Kai, however, his temper still remained.
Kai listened to Rei's sudden outburst with not comments, however, as soon as Rei finished, he began to yell back, "Don't you dare tell me what to do Rei! You have no right to tell me what to do and what to believe in. You're right, Tala means the WORLD to me. More important that Beyblade, the team, more important that YOU!" Kai finished and almost spat out the last word.
Stunned by both Kai's outburst and his words, Rei stood speechless for a few seconds before spinning around onto his heels and marching angrily out of the hotel room, nearly bursting with anger.
Kai watched, for the second time, as Rei stomped outside the room that they used to share. Shaking his head as he remembered the way that they've argued. 'We've never argued like that before…never like this…' He cringed as the door slammed shut behind Rei. Slowly making his way back to his guitar, he strung a few cords and started to play a familiar childhood song that he and Tala used to sing together.
*~*Flashback*~*
Kai and Tala sat together, on one calm, summer night, after practicing for hours on end in the abbey. A young Kai gently opened a large wrapped package from Tala, who claimed it to be a birthday present for Kai. Eagerly unwrapping his gift, Kai was surprised to find a guitar case inside the carefully picked fiery wrapping paper. Shocked with surprise, Kai snapped open the case only to find a similar guitar, much like the outside paper, with one remarkable difference- a delicately carved phoenix. Unable to describe his feelings, Kai simply turned to Tala and grinned a happy, toothless grin, to show him how much he loved this gift.
Tala, understanding how rare that Kai smiled, accepted this simple gesture as a thanks from his older brother. Leaning over, he enwrapped Kai in a tight brotherly hug. As Kai slowly responded to the hug, Tala lifted his head and smiled a toothy smile up to Kai. His heart now completely melted, Kai leaned down and gently placed a comforting kiss on Tala's forehead. Moving to get more comfortable, Tala curled up and leaned onto Kai's shoulder, giving Kai access to his new guitar.
Kai slowly ran his hand over his new present and smiled in gratitude before playing a familiar song on his new guitar.
*~*End of Flashback*~*
Tears fell freely as a pair of Chinese-styled shoes pounded on the stone cement.
'Stupid Kai, he wants me out of his life, ok then, that's what he'll get.' Rei thought as he ran
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A pair of blue eyes peered out of the darkness as it inspected both of the angry figures. Gently shaking its head, a small smirk appeared at the tip of his perfect mouth. Fingering his blade, the figure let the darkness swallow him once more.
TBC…
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A/N- Need I do this pleading thing again? PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE , PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks a whole bunch! ^-^ Ok a few questions, if you want, can you give me an answer? I would appreciate it. ^-^
Q1- Who want a Tyson/Max sideline pairing in the story? Just minor fluff…
Q2- Who want Kai and Rei to continue on fighting for a very long time?
Thanks for answering these questions~! I appreciate it. ^-^ thanks! Now remember! R&R!