hey guys, im sorry this is sooooo late but i've been extremely busy lately and havent had much time type this all up. Thanx to all of my reviewers and readers, i keep this up for you guys so thanx for the encouragement and praise, without further ado...

Chapter 23

Hours passed as Kai sank deeper and deeper into his depression not even realizing that Angel was watching him. He stared off into the shadows with a haunted expression while the words of Boris echoed emptily in his mind. More and more he felt lost and confused. What was he? He was no longer the strong, cold-hearted devil he once was but neither could he play the role of the affectionate lover. What did that leave him to be? Could he handle having a weakness none the less being one? Could he even love? Or was all Boris said the cold hard truth. The latter which he sadly admitted was his most feared truth. He could not love. He was awoken from his thoughts by a weak voice, calling him. At first he thought it was imagined but as he listened he instantly recognized it as Angels.

"Kai," Angel whispered still tired from the drugs side-effects.

He looked down meeting her fiery green depths once more and couldn't help but suddenly feel a knot in his stomach start to form and his eyes start to simply stare deeply of their own accord.

"What's wrong?" she finally asked, though she had heard most of what Boris had said.

At first Kai didn't know what to say but his voice seemed to find itself and answer of its on will,

"Nothing"

"Kai, please. I know something's wrong."

Kai stared at her a moment before looking away once again in to the shadows avoiding those piercing eyes as long as he could.

Angel sighed in defeat,

"I realize your not the type to admit nor ask when you need help. Your strong and I admire that, and that strength has saved me many times. I care for you Kai, I just want to be there for you when you have problems or fears. The way you've been there for me."

Kai could feel the concern radiating from her as she stared at him searchingly and he couldn't help but feel different. He felt strangely happy and relieved as if the weight that he now struggled to carry was lessened, yet still the feeling could not reach all of him and though he tried he could not help but hear Boris mocking him. A shiver went through his spine at the thought of the man and he found himself holding Angel even closer to him, whether to protect her or soothe his fears though he could not tell,

"Its nothing. You should go back to sleep, you'll need to regain your strength."

"As do you." Angel smirked.

"I'll be fine."

"Then so will I"

Kai gave her an agitated but amused look before staring off once again into the shadows.

"I'm sorry." Angel suddenly whispered.

He instantly looked at her perplexed,

"for what?"

"For getting you locked in here. If I had just been strong enough we would both be out of here but I wasn't. "

"It wasn't your fault…besides I at least wont get lonely."

Angel sent him an unamused frown with a bit of difficulty before settling more comfortably against Kai as both stared quietly out into the shadows which held so many nightmares and fears for both of them. Throwing each into their own deep and troubled thoughts, and soon both had fallen into a slumber each others presence holding off the others nightmares.

Kai awoke from his light slumber to the sound of the squeaking hinges groaning under the weight of his cell door. Instantly his eyes narrowed on the grim face of Boris staring down at him.

"Master Voltaire wished to speak with you."

Knowing he had no choice in the matter Kai gently lay Angel down on the ground before standing to his feet and following Boris out of the cell where he was instantly clamped in irons and marched down a series of black empty hallways. Soon he was brought before a single lit doorway and upon entering found his Grandfather sitting behind a grand oak desk staring at him emotionlessly.

"Do sit down." he none the less ordered.

Kai did as he was told wondering what the old man wanted with him now. He thought he had given up on him years ago why then had he taken him again?

"I will put this bluntly. I want you to Beyblade for me once again, and so I have decided to give you one last chance to return to me. If you do I will forget all about your previous betrayal."

"No thanks grandfather" Kai spat in return. How dare he think he would actually return to him of his own choice. What was he thinking?…What was he planning?

"I thought you'd say that." Voltaire grinned, " Might I enquire how your little Angel is doing?"

Kai growled warningly making the old mans grin widen,

"Then I doubt I need to explain to you the seriousness of her condition. You of course know that she will die without the antidote but what you may not know, Kai, is that she only has 3 days left."

Kai's blood ran cold and his heart stopped altogether. 3 days! Only three days!

"Give me the antidote now! Kai growled jumping to his feet and glaring menacingly at his grandfather.

"I see how weak she has made you grandson, how weak indeed. Still here is my generous offer. You will take the drug and serve me and I in turn she give her the anti-dote and let her go free. I'll give you a few moments to think over your decision."

Kai's mind was instantly thrown into a torrent of thought. What was he to do? If he took the drug he would suffer a fate worse than Angel, but if he didn't Angel would die. No matter which way he looked at it he would lose so how could he choose? By becoming a slave of Biovolt again she would be healed, but what could he be used for? His grandfather must have some world claiming scheme of the highest level in order for him to want him back so strongly. Would it truly become her life for the world? Kai's agitation boiled beneath the surface as he felt Voltaire's amused gaze boring into him. The old man knew what his decision would be and he mocked him for his weakness. Yet s much as that fact demanded his rebellion he could not. For Angel's sake he would submit to this demon, would leave behind the life he had so savagely fought for only to give it back to those who had ripped it from him, damaging it beyond repair forever. But what did it matter? His life was confusing anyways. Because of Angel he could no longer be the cold unfeeling fighter he once was but neither could he be what Angel wanted. Did he really want to live in this limbo of failure anyway? Biovolt was offering him a definitive being, a place to exist again, where he wouldn't be a failure to every single person. On top of this Angel would be healed. What more could he think of? What better solution could he offer? If not for Angel, for his own desire of belonging, he would make his choice. There was no turning back any longer, heaven forgive him, there was no turning back.

"Time's up." Voltaire sneered in mockery.

Kai met his gaze with a fixed and determined stare of fearlessness and his voice was icy with hatred and determination,

"I accept your offer," Kai gritted out "Grandfather."

"I thought you would." the old man sneered making Kai feel even more disgusted.

Voltaire simply pressed a button on his desk and two guards opened the door allowing Boris and Coach to enter before following them in as well.

"Guards, take Kai down to the labs. They know their orders."

The guards nodded in response before taking Kai's arms which he quickly shrugged off and leading him away. As soon as the door had closed behind them Boris quickly turned and addressed his superior,

"Lord Voltaire, I thought that we were going to keep both Kai and Angel under our control? Are we not going to use them both for our, I mean your plans?"

"Yes Boris, but you forget. The drug must be taken willingly for it to work right and to do that we must make Kai submit to it of his own free will. Thankfully for us the trial drugs had been killing Angel off slowly for years and with this last dosage of the finished drug, reacted with it. Angel truly has but three days left, and as Dai already knows the antidote has been made as requested. Using this information as leverage we have found Kai's weakness and so now he will do whatever we tell him."

"What of Angel?"

"Angel shall return with Dai" Voltaire began nodding towards Coach, " who shall in turn keep her alive using the antidote and ready her for my plans. Should she be useful."

"Will not Kai try to rescue her? You must admit your grandson is a determined one if anything. What if he escapes and goes after her then what will we do?"

"Relax Boris. If I am correct after the first dosage of the completed drug is given the victim has a window of 2-3 hours immediately following of which they will have no recollection. Is that not correct Dai?"

"Yes my Lord, it is."

"Good. Then we will convince Kai that in a fit of rage which he had evidently been concealing he slaughtered Angel before we could set her free. The pain of his guilt will be so great that he will willingly take the drug from then on to simply forget of it. Then he shall obey my every command without question for the rest of his pathetic life."

"Brilliant my Lord, absolutely brilliant." Boris smirked in evil anticipation.

"When and where shall I take Angel?" Dai asked smirking as broadly as Boris.

"Tonight after Kai has taken the drug, you shall return with her to Wales and thereby await my orders."

"Yes sir."

"As for you Boris, Kai shall be returned again to your training. Train him hard and strengthen him for our upcoming plans."

"Yes sir."

"Good. You are dismissed."

Both gave a low bow before exiting, grinning like maniacs as they went their separate ways glorying in how perfectly their plans were going.

Sorry guys but I'm going to have to end it here. I know this most likely is terrible but I really have been trying to update forever , I've just been so busy! Well hey please review and pray I get this updated asap, cuz I still have a few more twists up my sleeve before this thing is finished. Later and peace out.

LightInTheDarkTempest