Comrades

Chapter 2: Leaks & Plans

From Coming To Terms…

As inconspicuous as the exchange between Kai and Tala was, it did not go unnoticed. However, as surprising as the former fact was, the observer was someone nobody would actually believe to have seen the exchange. Especially since she was currently still dancing, and to a slow song no less.

Yes, for some inexplicable reason, Hilary had seen, though not heard, Kai and Tala at the beverage table. Well, perhaps the reason was not so inexplicable as she knew she was trying to focus on something else other than the dance she was having with Tyson. She had never been in such an awkward position in her life. Especially with all the teasing and knowing glances that were sent her way… However, upon seeing what happened between two supposedly feuding parties, Hilary's mind was sent into overdrive and a memory flitted back to the front of her mind.

But she knew she'd have to wait before she could start piecing things together.

Hilary Tatibana was currently sitting on the lush green grass under a shady tree. Her ruby-red eyes were staring off on a fixed point in front of her, mainly on what seemed to be the hospital building. However, contrary to what people might think, she was not thinking about the 'miracles' that had happened in that particular hospital. She was in fact thinking about a revealing conversation that she had overheard in that same hospital two days ago.

She had not time to dwell on the conversation she had overheard along with Kenny until now. The past two days had the un-hospitalized BBA Revolutions members and several other Beybladers from the other teams giving Tyson intensive training. And she was also too busy fretting over the outcome over Tyson's match against Brooklyn. She did not want Tyson to end up in the hospital due to any major injuries. She didn't think she could take much more of it. Kai landing in the hospital had stressed out the entire team. It was enough. Therefore, the conversation had been pushed to the back of her mind, and only yesterday night at the celebration party did it come back to her.

"Is it true?" Hilary asked herself rhetorically. "Did so much really happen to both of them?" For the umpteenth time, the brunette ran through the conversation she had overheard in her mind…

FLASHBACK

"Kenny? What do you guys know actually know about Kai?" Hilary asked her bespectacled friend curiously. This was a question that had been bugging her for ages since she set eyes on the slate-haired teenager. Kai always had a mysterious aura around him and she was unable to figure him out.

Hilary had long decided that Kenny was the best one to give her the answer (although she knew that the other boys would gladly provide her with the information) and it so happened that it was only the two of them walking to the hospital to visit Kai that very day.

"Kai? Well, I don't think we know him very well. You know he's a very private person. We know he's had a harsh childhood in Russia, which is why he's distant. He doesn't trust easily too. So if you really think about it, we don't know him that much at all. But we all do know that he's our friend and vice versa after rescuing him from the ice."

"What ice?"

"It's a long story. In short, Kai defected to the Demolition Boys for a period of time in Russia during the first World Tournament the Bladebreakers participated in. He then challenged the Bladebreakers to an unofficial match. We won and saved him from death on the thin ice of Lake Baikal," Kenny replied. He adjusted his spectacles before asking, "Why are you so interested?"

Hilary fidgeted with her orange jacket top slightly as they reached a corner. "Just wondering… that's all."

"Are you serious?" a shocked female voice exclaimed.

"Shush! Not so loud," another female voice hissed worriedly.

Kenny and Hilary peeked furtively round the corner to see a few nurses congregating at the nurses' station. They were all talking, though there was a main person who was doing the speaking. Curiosity getting the better of the two teenagers, they stayed hidden to eavesdrop.

"Kai Hiwatari actually tried to save the life of Tala Ivanov!" Nurse #2 repeated in a softer but incredulous voice. "H-How?"

"I… I don't know! But the name 'Dranzer' and phoenixes kept cropping up. You all know that I don't know about Beyblading anymore than you do! I don't even see what's so nice about spinning tops!" Nurse #1 answered.

"Well, there always were sayings about phoenixes having the ability to resurrect…" Nurse #3 added hesitantly.

"Aren't phoenixes just… just legendary creatures?" Nurse #2 commented, "How can they be… real?"

"Wasn't there this supernatural occurrence in the ward just before Tala regained conscious?" Nurse #3 suddenly asked. "You did say that, didn't you Kiore?"

"Um… yes. The temperature in the ward suddenly rose for no apparent reason and well, there was this reddish-gold aura surrounding him… I would never have believed it if I hadn't been there and seen it for myself," Nurse Kiore answered, sounding half-awed just by recalling the incident. "But you know, that's not all I heard when I was outside the ward that day."

"How long were you out there?" Nurse #4 asked.

"At least ten minutes. They seem to have shared a past together. I remember hearing references to keeping promises, looking out for each other since young… You know, things like that…"

The nurses continued discussing for a few more minutes, but Hilary and Kenny had heard enough. They drew back their heads and Hilary leaned back against the wall, bring a hand to her forehead to rub her temples. The conversation she and Kenny overheard was bringing a headache to her. The details weren't clear, but it was enough for her to know that Tala and Kai's past were connected, perhaps intertwined would be a better word. It was obvious that they had crossed paths many a time.

"Kenny… Was Tala part of the Demolition Boys?" Hilary asked tentatively.

Kenny looked at Hilary, his face oddly pale. "Erm… y-yeah. In fact, h-he was the team captain," the boy stuttered slightly before gulping.

"So they knew each other since young…?"

"I- I guess so… they were both from the… Abbey…"

"What abbey?" Hilary pressed.

"That's an even longer story, Hilary," Kenny answered, looking absolutely uncomfortable about the subject. He looked even more flustered and worried than when he realized that statistically, Kai's Dranzer had suffered too much damage to hold on any longer against Brooklyn during the Justice 5 tournament.

Deciding not to probe further into Kai's relatively mysterious past, Hilary declared, "I think we should get Kai and Tala to acknowledge their friendship."

At her words, Kenny looked positively alarmed despite Hilary being unable to seek out his eyes. He almost shrieked out, "What? No! No! No! You can't do that! Kai… Kai, he won't be very happy… We, we don't know e-enough about both of them! W-What if they don't like what we do? What if… what if we make things even worse! What-"

"All right Kenny! I get your point!" Hilary hissed as she smacked a hand over Kenny's mouth to stop the boy from getting the attention of the nurses or doctors. "I won't do anything."

Relieved, Kenny gave a nod and said, "Um… I think we should move."

Hilary nodded her head. However, in her heart, she was thinking just the opposite of what she had promised.

Hilary sighed. It didn't help much… She still had so many gaps about Kai's past, much less Tala's. Kenny for some unknown reason, to her at least, seemed almost mortally afraid of Tala or any of the Blitzkrieg Boys in the times the two teams had met during the recent World Championships. But especially Tala and Bryan. Sure, they didn't look the friendliest lot on the block, but Kenny acted close to petrified sometimes. Which made her wonder what was it that was so scary about those teenagers. It was almost as if the Blitzkrieg Boys were psychotic murderers to Kenny.

"Hmm… perhaps asking Kenny wasn't the best option after all," Hilary murmured to herself. "Who else can I ask?"

At that moment, sounds of soft footsteps alerted her to another person arriving at where she was. Turning her head, she saw the figure of Tyson Kinomiya approach. "Hi Tyson, didn't expect to see you here."

"Well, I didn't think I'd see you here too," Tyson replied as he settled down beside his brunette friend.

There was silence for a few moments (apart from the chirping of the birds) before Hilary broke it with a question, "Tyson, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"And will you please answer truthfully?"

"Er… yeah. Of course I will. I never lie!"

At any other time, Hilary would've seriously questioned Tyson on his last line. But she didn't. "What do you know about Kai and Tala?"

Tyson blinked. Now this was an unexpected question. Perhaps if Hilary were curious to know more about Kai, he would be less surprised. But drag Tala into the mix? Hmm… He could understand why Hilary would want to know about Kai since she was about the only female Kai considered a friend… Tyson could see the seriousness in Hilary's ruby eyes and knew that it was important to Hilary to get a straight answer out of him. Tyson sighed as he leaned back against the tree with his arms behind his head. "I'll try my best to tell you everything, Hil'. But there're some things that are best left unmentioned… for now at least."

"You sound like you're going to tell me some deep, dark secret about them."

"I am… I guess," Tyson replied solemnly, looking to Hilary like he had matured a few years in that short span of time. "But before I tell you all that I know, I still have to ask this: Why do you want to know this information? Especially the bit on Tala."

"Oh… Well, you see…" Hilary related what she had overheard in the hospital to Tyson. And then she added, "If what I heard is true, I'd like them to be friends again. I mean… from what I heard, they sounded quite close… you know what I mean?"

Tyson nodded. "Yeah, I know that. In fact, I believe that they used to be great friends. But Kai has never let any of us onto his Abbey days in Russia. Not much at least. I'm not sure if I'm entitled to tell you the entire truth, or at least the parts I know… But in short, Tala and Kai both grew up together. They were trained since young in the Abbey on how to become a Beyblading warrior and a lot of other things that would only be taught to adults working as secret agents and spies." Noting the startled look on Hilary's face, Tyson added, "That's only the simplified and emotion-void version, Hilary. And it's as much as I can tell you…"

What exactly happened to them? Hilary wondered. Despite her better judgment, she still wanted to know more. She wanted to know as much as she could. "What about the other Blitzkrieg Boys?"

"Been through the same things like Kai and Tala. They all knew each other from back then… and their personalities then were not always like what they're now. Bryan was way worse in the past…" Tyson grimaced slightly as a certain memory of a Chinese boy lying on a stretcher flashed back into his mind. He didn't hate Bryan for his actions anymore, but some facts could never be changed.

"What about Bryan?"

Tyson looked at Hilary for a moment and then looked away. "You don't want to know… and it's the best you don't for now," the Japanese boy replied as he thought: It's best that Hilary doesn't make a judgment about Bryan because of what he did… "Oh and there's another member of the Blitzkrieg Boys actually. His name's Ian and like the other four, he's from the Abbey too."

There was a minute of silence as Hilary digested the information and overturned the idea of whether she should try and make Kai and Tala friends again. Finally, the chestnut-haired girl looked at Tyson and said, "I'm sure they were friends in the past. And I'm sure they can be friends again, Tyson. Although Kenny told me not to interfere, he seems to be so terrified of the other Blitzkrieg Boys sometimes, like they're psychotic murderers… but I think… I think I want to help them be friends again. Tyson, what do you think? Should I?"

Tyson contemplated over his choices. He too would like to see Kai become friends with Tala. From all he had heard, the duo had seemed close during their ragged childhood. But if Kai ever found out… They'd all be in for it and risk losing Kai's trust in them for sticking into his own private business. But it'd all be worth it if it worked out. All they needed was a plan… he supposed. As for the bit about the former Demolition Boys being psychotic murderers… well, he decided it was only when they were under Boris' charge. But Hilary needn't know that.

"Screw what Kenny said Hil'!" Tyson replied enthusiastically, a grin on his face. "We're going to help Kai and Tala become friends once again!"

Hilary smiled. "You really think we can?"

"Hey! Nothing's impossible! You're talking to the World Champion here, y'know!"

"What in the world does Beyblading have to do with this?"

"Er… well… nothing?"

"TYSON! You idiot!"

Tyson and Hilary went ahead with their plan to try and get the two stoic youths to become friends. But first of all, they needed much more planning to make their scheme work out and yet not be detected by the two seemingly very perceptive young men. This undoubtedly required a huge amount of work which Tyson and Hilary knew that with just the two of them working on it, would not do at all. And therefore, a meeting was held where all the teams, almost all in actual fact, came together to brainstorm.

Now, it was mid-way into the meeting, which consisted of all teams (inclusive of BEGA and the Majestics, who had stayed to help thwart Boris) except the Blitzkrieg Boys. Which might not be such a good thing after all.

"I wonder why you left Bryan and Spencer out of this," Emily said thoughtfully, "They are the ones who knows Kai and Tala best."

"I agree with Em' on this one," Max added. "I don't know if they'd be too pleased about what we're doing, however, they do know their teammates considering that they've known each other since they were of single-digit ages… Perhaps we should've gotten at least one of them here."

Tyson became silent. True. He hadn't thought of that. It would be best if they were to put the scheme into action without Kai and Tala suspecting a thing. Or not suspecting too much to become overly wary. But to approach Bryan and Spencer without Kai or Tala, or even both, noticing would be difficult. Though there had to be a way out of that minor problem. "You know what, I think you're right. But getting Bryan and Spencer here without any inquiries from ol' Kai and Tala noticing is not like rattling off the alphabets."

"Which is why I think we need people who are light on their feet to follow them and find an opening to get them," Oliver Polanski said with an elegant, almost regal, smile on his face and a knowing glint in his eyes.

"Follow them!" Tyson exclaimed incredulously, "You'll probably be heard or sensed by all of them before you know it!"

"I did stress 'light on their feet', didn't I?"

"… OH!" Tyson finally got the hint. Taking up his role as self-elected leader once more, he said, "Mystel! Ray! You two are in charge of following the Blitzkrieg Boys! Okay?"

The said duo nodded their heads, knowing well why they had been selected. Ray, being a neko-jin had the ability to move swiftly and stealthily, very much like a wild cat. Mystel, on the other hand, seemed to possess the powers of magically disappearing and then appearing somewhere else. In other words, he moved agilely and quietly. Definitely light on his feet.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" demanded Tyson as he got up, pulling the other two boys to their feet too. "Go now!"

Casting wry glances at each other, Ray and Mystel turned to Tyson simultaneously and mock saluted. "Yes sir!"

"Is it me or have Bryan and Spencer just disappeared without so much as a sound?" Tala asked Kai as he scanned his surroundings (a clearing in a grove) for signs of his two teammates and friends.

"I think you're right," Kai replied as he too surveyed the grove where they were originally planning to train in. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary though. "But they can take care of themselves."

"Hmm… yeah, I suppose so," Tala murmured. Then as a sly smirk took over his features, he asked, "So Kai… are you up for a challenge?"

Smirking, Kai replied almost arrogantly, "You're on!"

As both teenagers launched their Beyblades, they never noticed four figures in the not too distant trees of the grove. But had they not noticed them right then, Kai and Tala would not, and never would, have the chance to again. For after a little while, the foursome vanished from the woods.

"You are planning to WHAT?" Bryan thundered as he stood up and slammed a fist hard onto the coffee table, making it quake under the great force and also making several glasses of juice spill over. Spencer put a restraining hand on his friend's shoulder before forcing the gray-haired young man to sit down.

Bryan could barely believe what he had heard from the idiotic bunch of Beybladers before him. There was no way. No damn way would he agree to help to this plan. No. Never. Never in this life would he agree to do such a thing. They had to be insane to think he would actually agree to assist them in getting Tala and Kai to become friends again. Bryan snorted mentally. He'd probably the first one to tell Tala not to trust Kai than to tell Tala to befriend that… that traitor.

Then glaring at everyone other than Spencer, he replied in a cold voice, "There is no way that I would agree to help you. Hiwatari has betrayed us too many times, caused too many misfortunes to fall onto us to ever gain my trust again. Haven't you gone over this fact before you came to approach us?"

Tyson gulped. Though he had been on the receiving end of one too many death glares, Hiwatari-style no less, the look Bryan was giving them was scary. He tried not to shudder as he looked at Bryan directly in the eye. Tyson opened his mouth to speak, but was beaten to it by a determined looking, albeit a little uncertain, Hilary.

"Listen, Bryan. I'll admit I don't know any of the four of you well, but I do know that you have spent a childhood together. Though, um, not in very… pleasant circumstances, but you've all stuck by each other. And well, I've heard things that suggest that Tala and Kai have been like… best of friends in the past and… you know Dranzer played a part in Tala's awakening! You were there, with Spencer too! What would Dranzer be doing there if not for Kai?"

"Probably an attack on his conscience," Bryan stated contemptuously, glaring at Hilary who tried not to back away or show any signs of fear. "If he has any that is."

Despite being slightly afraid of the gray-haired young man, Hilary continued to speak. "Kai is not heartless. Neither of you are despite the way you act. You can't expect people to be perfect… I think, I think that any past… grudges, should be put to rest. I-"

"Look here, girl," Bryan growled, "He has betrayed our trust so many times that I don't know if I can believe what he says again. Fine, I'll admit that him saving Tala has redeemed himself a little, but it's not enough. He betrayed us for the Bladebreakers during the Russian Tournament-"

"You'd rather Kai have stayed? And have Boris and Voltaire ruling the world?" Mariah demanded incredulously, not flinching at the look Bryan sent her way.

"Even if I scratch that off the record, he has other betrayals. Starting with Black Dranzer, way back when he was a kid. He left after leaving half the Abbey in ruins. And Tala was punished for not stopping him. Then he left to join BEGA this year and right after we were beginning to think that he didn't solely join the team just because he wanted a shot at beating Tyson. He has wrecked the last ounce of trust I would ever place in him."

"Would you like to know what Tala said to Kai during Kai's coma?" Hilary asked quietly.

Bryan didn't answer. Neither did Spencer who had been quiet throughout everything, though the burly Russian was thinking through what had been said. Personally, Spencer was a little more inclined to help than Bryan was. Their minute circle of trusted friends knew Bryan to be rather prejudiced at times. And could ignore any evidence that proved what he believed in to be contrary. This was certainly one of those times. Spencer also knew that Bryan, like him, was thinking about Tala visiting Kai constantly, wondering what happened in the ward. But Spencer was sure that Bryan would not show that he was interested in front of everyone else. However, Hilary had taken the silence as consent and began her story.

At the end of it all, Spencer was more than half convinced that Bryan would agree to help, if only because it seemed that Tala would like to reconcile with Kai. But Bryan was still Bryan. And the gray-haired boy had put on a fight before finally, grudgingly mumbled, "Fine… I'll help."

That simple answer brought about a change in the room's atmosphere. Previously wrought with tension and apprehension, a sense of relief washed over the room and its occupants. Tyson gave the two Blitzkrieg Boys a huge grin, as did a fair few in the room.

"Alright! Now we can really get down to business," Tyson announced with much zest.

A few moments later, everyone in the room was pretty much absorbed in their discussion to make this plan a success. No matter how impossible it seemed to be.

After all, it was for the good of two young men that they had come to tolerate (for some) and respect…

Right?

A few days later, after some of the most meticulous planning any of the Beybladers had ever done (which spoke a lot considering that amongst them were the Majestics and Emily), the plan was just as about as flawless as it could get. They had asked the help of Mr. Dickinson and Dr. Judy for the plan too and both adults were very glad to provide the teenagers with what they had asked for. Now, all they needed was a perfect opportunity for Bryan and Spencer to place Step One in to action. Which both boys did with practiced ease when it came to being straight-faced and lying through their teeth.

Bryan was assigned to 'tip off' Tala, considering he would never have volunteered to 'inform' Kai at any rate. Therefore that job was obviously left to Spencer. And so both Bryan and Spencer managed to get to speak to their respective teammates privately and then pretend to drop off a note that they claimed they had found.

As soon as this was done, both Russians had radioed Ray and Lee to inform the two neko-jins that they could start following their targets. Mr. Dickinson had graciously provided the wireless communicators for them to use. And so the plan proceeded with Ray following Kai and Lee, Tala, to make sure that both teenagers went the right way and did not suspect anything amiss.

Now, Kai was quite suspicious after reading the note as it told him to be at a deserted building at 10pm. Though against his better judgment, Kai followed the directions of the note. He did not suspect as much as he would have until he bumped into Tala on the way… and happened to have received the same note.

"This smells fishy, Kai," Tala stated after both of them had gotten over the surprise of seeing each other.

"You don't have to tell me," Kai replied, "But I say we follow it through… and give those jokers, whoever they are, hell for this."

"Ah… that I like." Tala smirked.

Despite the casualness in their tones, both boys had their senses on high alert, ready to detect anything that felt out of place. They were now heading into a part of the city that was famed for being the haunt of street gangs and the likes. Although they knew they could hold their own, neither boy fancied facing down a bunch of drunken hooligans. And therefore, they sped up their pace but kept impeccably calm all the way. But even with their sense alert, it was a wonder that they never suspected that they were being watched…

"I can't say I enjoy the prospect of what lies ahead of us," Lee muttered to Ray. "What with them plotting our murders afterwards…"

Ray snorted, "If this goes well, I don't think we'll be murdered much."

Lee gave an untrusting look before deciding to drop the subject. They still had work to do. Like reporting to the others when their query neared the building. The building where everything would take place. Lee wasn't sure if he liked to be in Kai and Tala's place as an old, gray building loomed up in the horizon.

Back with Tala and Kai, the duo had just stopped in front of a building, which seemed like the one they were supposed to go to. Double-checking with the slip of paper he had, Tala confirmed with a nod that this was the right one. It seemed normal enough, if not for the lack of inhabitance and there was a definite need for it to have a few coats of paint. However the normalcy only extended to its looks, for once they stepped inside the front door, both boys were faced with hundreds of barrels – all pointed at them.

"Now… why does this seem so bloody familiar?" Tala questioned, his voice loaded with sarcasm as he drew out his launcher and blade.

"Hmm… could it be that we've faced this array since time begun?" Kai quipped, sarcasm dripping from his words. He held Dranzer and his launcher steady in his hands.

"I suppose… All right. I guess its show time," Tala replied with narrowed eyes as the machinery in front of them started to whir. "Three…"

Clink!

"Two…"

Chink!

"One…"

Whirrrrrr!

"LET IT RIP!"

Besides Wolborg and Dranzer, a few dozens of other blades shot out from the barrels in front of Kai and Tala.

Another chapter completed! And with a delightful cliffhanger too. Mwhahaha. Evil me! But that's the fun of it. This is under the Suspense genre. Sorry if there isn't much of Kai and Tala in here. Don't fret, there's gonna be tons of them in the next chapter!

Thank you to FlamesOfFury, SOMEONE2003 and AngeLhearteD for reviewing! Love ya reviews!

FlamesOfFury: Well, I didn't know I portrayed Brooklyn well. For starters, I haven't watched G-Rev yet. So all I did was well, use my head to think and imagine, I guess. I'd like to try perhaps a one-shot on Brooklyn, but I don't know enough of him yet. Guess I'll have to wait for that one.

SOMEONE2003: Yes, the Blitzkrieg Boys are hard to write. Especially if you want them in character. Always glad to help you, even if it's only through my fanfics!

AngeLhearteD: I think you're seriously addicted to my fic. Not good. Ha. Just kidding. Glad you loved it. And glad you could wait. This update isn't too slow,I hope!

-- carzla --