A/N- a little warning; just a little bit of blood, gore, and violence in this chapter; nothing too graphic though.
"Please don't tell me that that is the place you want to break into." Zorya muttered staring at the building in front of them.
The building wasn't tall nor wide; not that big at all. But they could see the security was high just by looking at the walls. Cameras scanned the area and laser, motion-detector guns sat in their cradles. There were two doors in sight; one larger than the other, but both guarded by burly men and German Shepherds.
"Sorry, but that's the place." Tala muttered, glancing over the one of the large ferns that hid what I call the-save-Kai-bandwagon.
Cha'tima's mahogany eyes softened at the slight fear he saw in the redhead's eyes. He raised a paw and rested it on Tala's leg, silently reassuring the teen. The Russian turned to the black wolf and smiled, placing his hand on the black paw, giving a silent thank you.
"So what's the plan?" Ray asked.
"We- Moon Child!" Tala hissed at the grey and white wolf who was advancing towards the building, Cha'tima following. "Get back here."
"Wait…" Bryan murmured, grabbing Tala's hand and gesturing over to another patch of ferns nearby. "More wolves…"
Sure enough, three wolves were creeping out towards the guards; another four on the other side. The German Shepherds raised their heads and growled, baring their teeth at the wild versions of themselves. One of the guards raised a radio to his mouth and muttered something into it, fiddling with the lead that he held his dog. Suddenly, a load of domesticated dogs raced towards the wild ones, looking frenzied. The wolves picked up their pace, but Cha'tima was the fastest, sprinting fast before leaping and pouncing on the closest dog, as a wolf would normally do on prey; the German Shepherd was killed on impact.
This seemed to drive the dogs even wilder, fighting with all their energy. It was one wolf against one dog, now that Cha'tima had killed one, luckily, so neither side was outmatched by the other. Bryan felt Tala's hand spasm in his grip when Moon Child was almost bitten; he squeezed the redhead's hand reassuringly in return.
The guards were distracted by this sudden, unprovoked (or so they thought) wolf attack, and Zorya took this to his advantage.
"We're moving. Go, go, go!" He shouted.
The three teens didn't hesitate for a second, running out across the snowy grass and through the smaller of the doors. Behind them, they heard the door close with a clang. Turning round, they saw half of the hunters.
"They're going to take out those guards and be lookouts." Zorya answered their unspoken questions. "Now come on, we probably don't have much time."
Fai leaped off Ray's shoulder and scampered down the hallway, the others following it. They ran in silence, the only sounds being their footsteps. Fai suddenly stopped at a crossroad, and edged out. They stayed where they were, watching the little, white Racoon Dog sniff around.
Laughter suddenly echoed down one of the hallways and they froze.
Ray bit his lip. "Fai!" He hissed at the small dog. "Get back here."
But the racoon didn't pay heed. Only sat there in the middle of the crossed hallways. Two men in white coats strode into view and stopped before Fai; one had blonde hair, the other, a light brown.
The blonde bent down, his naturally kind-looking face stretching into a smile. "Heya, little guy. What are you doing in here? You better get going; if you're caught by anyone else, they won't be as kind as us."
"What should we do? We can't leave it here. They'll extract his soul like those other animals if he gets found." The brunette asked worriedly, an American accent evident in his voice.
"I don't think they're bad," Ray whispered, "not bad at all."
"Looks can be deceiving, Ray." Tala whispered back before edging out.
The two men looked up suddenly. "Hey kid, what you doing in here?"
Tala raised his gun launcher. "Tell me where Kai Hiwatari is." He growled. A click sounded. "Tell me now and lead me there quietly, or else my temptation to blow your brains out will be raised significantly."
"Isn't that his beyblade launcher?" Zorya whispered quietly in Bryan's ear.
Bryan smirked, his hand clasped over his own launcher. "Yes, but what did you expect? For them to be fake and just for show?"
"So they're-"
"Real guns, yeah." Bryan rolled his eyes and Ray pouted.
"Hey kid," The blonde said, both men raising their hands to their heads, "Just, please put the gun down. We'll take you there, don't worry. We've been waiting for someone to turn up."
Tala frowned. "How did you know?"
"What? Do you think that we don't know about Kai Hiwatari? The world-class beyblader? Even Judy's team would come to rescue him!"
Ray walked out too. "You know Judy Tate?"
"Know her?" The brunette scoffed. "We work for her! Well… used to, until we were kidnapped by Voltaire…"
The blonde continued. "We work at the PPB center, with the All Starz. We've been stuck here for over a month, being forced to work for Voltaire." He caught the look in Tala's eye; he glanced at the hallway opposite when Bryan appeared. "You have to believe us."
Tala's eyes tightened and Ray swore he saw flames flicker off him for a second. "You better not be lying." He replied, lowering the gun, but keeping it cocked. "If you are and if you're leading us into a trap, I will be redecorating the nearest wall in an interesting new colour I call 'hint of brain'; got it?"
If the situation wasn't so desperate, Ray would be laughing at the redhead's words. He contained his laughter and followed the redhead down the corridor, who was in turn following the scientists. He felt the strangely familiar weight of Fai crawling up his back and onto his shoulder.
They passed through many ID-card activated doors and seemed to be heading down underground. Many a time, Ray thought they were going to be found, but the two men, whom he later found out that the blonde was called Johnson and the brunette Davis, saved them.
They suddenly stopped. Johnson was muttering something to Davis very worriedly; he turned to them.
"We… we've hit a little snag, guys." The brunette stuttered. He pointed around the corner to an open door where rowdy laughter boomed out. "You see that door? That's the elite guard of this facility." He moved his hand along to a metal door. "And that's the door we have to use to get down to the dungeon; where Kai's being held. If we just go out and use that door, we'll get caught."
"The elite guard…" Bryan muttered. "How elite are they?"
"I don't know for sure, since we're not allowed to ask questions around here and I've never met them. But I've heard they disappear from time to time and wear a lot of fur; a lot." Johnson explained.
Bryan's eyes narrowed. "It's them."
"Who?"
"The hunters that attacked me."
A loud, booming, obviously tipsy laughter was heard, carrying over the other voices.
Bryan smirked. "Yup, that's the head honcho's laugh; I know it. And just by the noting of the excessive amount of fur adds to it; they might have well have been born furry." He caught a feral look in Tala's icy blues. "No, Tala, you can't just go barging in there. We need a plan and that plan has to contain trying to avoid them."
"I agree with Bryan." Zorya nodded. "They sound like they're from the Sawtooth tribe up North of our own village; a brutal hunting village, even by us hunters' standards."
"But how're we going to get past them?" Davis wondered aloud. "We need some sort of distraction…"
Ray had only been half listening to their banter; he had been looking at the racoon, their eyes having a silent conversation. He snapped out of his slight comatose.
"What if…" He began, catching everyone's attention. "What if Fai brought them out of the room and just as they reach this corner… BAM, they're down for the count."
"Hm… that could just work." Zorya murmured. He smirked. "Well, we-" He indicated at his 'brothers', "need to get back at them for hoarding all that Caribou, so that gives us some fighting passion."
"But are you sure you want to risk your racoon, Ray?" Davis asked. "I can see that you're very close…"
"He'll be fine. You'll see."
It happened all so fast. One moment Fai was scampering up to the door, the next… Zorya's fist had collided with the face of whom Bryan called 'the head honcho'. A huge fist fight broke out between the two groups of hunters; it was more of a mosh-pit than a fight, though.
Tala turned to the two scientists who were staring at the fight with fearful eyes. "You stay here." He instructed. "Go round up all the scientists that have been abducted in one way or another and tell them to get ready to get out of here; but don't raise attention." The two men nodded and ran off down the corridor, back the way they came; Tala turned to Bryan and Ray. "Ready? We need to edge around there and get to that door."
Ray and Bryan nodded. Ray felt Fai's claws grip into the clothes on his shoulder to stop himself from falling off, but Ray picked him up. "You go on ahead." He muttered to the racoon. "It'll be safer than having you on my shoulder. Just get to that door without getting trodden on."
Green eyes flashed indignantly, but as soon as Ray placed him on the floor, he scampered off, indeed reaching the metal door (which had been opened by one of Zorya's men) without earning a single footmark.
Ray swallowed and watched as Tala darted out, keeping to the wall of the corridor, but having sometimes to dart inwards to avoid stray hits that were not actually intended for him; Tala reached the door and Ray let out a breath of relief.
But it was sucked back in when it was Bryan's turn. One of the Sawtooth hunters must've seen Tala because a few were trying to end their fights quick so that they could go after the new intruders. Bryan easily dodged one punch intended for him and punched the man back. But he hadn't noticed the man behind him, an evil glint in his eyes. The man raised a fist, ready to hit Bryan in the base of the skull but Ray acted quickly. Darting out himself, he moved swiftly over to Bryan, pushing his lover out the way just in time; though it came with a price.
The punch caught Ray in his temple, making him fly back and fall to the ground. He was still conscious, though blinding pain and dizziness was stopping him from moving.
The man towered above him and raised a gun. But just before he pulled the trigger, he swayed a little bit. His eyes slid out of focus, before rolling up into his skull. He fell down dead. The reason? A gunshot to the head, courtesy of Bryan. Lavender eyes were burning with an untamed fire before they softened slightly upon spotting Ray. He rushed over, punching a few men who got in his way, picked up and swung the neko over his shoulder, before rushing to the door.
Upon getting behind the safe door, Bryan placed Ray on his feet. The Chinese blader was leaning heavily against the wall for support, and hand over the injured temple.
"Ray…" Bryan laid a hand on Ray's forearm, another over the hand clasped over the side of his head. "Ray, look at me."
Amber eyes slid open slowly, gaining bearings. Slowly, the many Bryans slid into one. He blinked and groaned softly.
"You okay?" The neko-jin asked.
Bryan smirked. "I think I should be asking you that…"
"Bryan, Ray." It was Tala, standing below them on the stone steps that led down to darkness. The redhead spotted Ray's injured form and frowned. "What happened?"
"He took a blow that was intended for me." Bryan answered.
"I'm okay, Tala." Ray said quietly, closing his eyes once more to calm the dizziness. "Just… give me a few seconds…"
And soon, they were descending the stone staircase. The air around them became freezing, burning their throats with its cold, icy hands.
Just when they thought the staircase could be endless, it smoothed out. They stood on the threshold of a large room… and there was Voltaire and Kai.
(A/N- I was sorely tempted to leave it there, but since is having a winter clean, I have all the time in the world…)
In Voltaire's hand, there was a black remote control. Bryan sent Tala a questioning glance if it was the remote for his mind, but Tala shook his head.
"So Kai," Voltaire drawled, "have any last words."
"See you in hell, old bastard." Kai spat.
"So I shall."
And Voltaire pushed one of the buttons on the remote.
Many things happened at once.
The wall that Kai was manacled to began to fall forward, obviously intended to flatten the Russian.
Ray rushed forward and leaped up, grabbing onto one of the hanging chains from the ceiling. He used his body's momentum to swing forward and kick the unsuspecting Voltaire in the head, knocking him unconscious.
Bryan also rushed out, sprinting towards the falling wall. He ran under it…
The wall stopped falling.
Kai looked to the side of him weakly. "Bryan…?"
Bryan grunted in reply. He was using his shoulder to keep the concrete slab up. It was taking all his energy to do so, but it was working; the only problem being that it was his injured shoulder.
Just after Bryan rushed out, Tala realised what the Falcon was planning to do. He ran out, rushing to the wall too. When he saw the wall stop, he wasn't surprised; he only increased his speed. He reached Kai and grabbed one of the rusty manacles in two hands. He pulled it apart and did it to the other three, ultimately setting the Phoenix free. He dragged Kai out from under the slab, some distance away and held him in his arms, tears welling in his eyes at his boyfriend's condition.
They heard an almighty BOOM and his head shot up. Dust swirled in the air, creating a brown, opaque fog. For a few heartbeats, Tala thought that the wall had fallen on top of Bryan, but when he heard coughing, he breathed a sigh of relief.
He saw Ray rush past, obviously having just finished with Voltaire, and into the dust. The dust and dirt settled and Tala finally saw the two other teens. Bryan was lying on his back, Ray kneeling next to him, though he was awake.
Tala's eyes flickered down to Kai to see him awake himself, eyes half lidded and smiling.
"Took your time…" He muttered.
Tala shook his head sadly and laid a chaste kiss on the Phoenix's lips. "That's gratitude for you, eh?"
But their banter was cut off when they heard footsteps crashing down the staircase. Tala's eyes widened in fear at the thought that it could be those Sawtooth hunters; that Zorya's men had been killed; that the hunter he had grown respect for had been killed.
He shot a look in Bryan's direction to see the Falcon on his feet, though on arm was thrown around Ray's neck and he was leaning heavily on the White Tiger. Tala could see pain flickering through lavender eyes and could also see that his jaw was set against the obvious pain.
"Kids!"
Tala sighed; it was Zorya. The brunette appeared, a few men behind him. The hunter gasped and rushed over, kneeling next to Tala.
"You okay, kid?" He asked, mainly directing the question at Kai. Tala nodded. "Good, come on. We need to get out of here. Those two guys, Davis and Johnson, told us that an alarm's been raised and backup troops are heading here now." He helped Tala stand.
The redhead nodded in thanks. "Help me get him on my back."
Zorya did so and soon, the saving-Kai-bandwagon was making their way back up the stone steps; Zorya in front, with two of his men behind him, Tala next, carrying Kai on his back, one more hunter, then Ray supporting and helping Bryan to walk, then the last of the hunters.
Light met their eyes as they reached the top. They walked past the heap of bodies of the Sawtooth hunters, but one caught Ray's eye.
"That's the guy-"
"Who hit you, yeah." Bryan finished.
"You shot him?" Ray asked, noting the small hole in the skull where blood was still trickling out.
"The only thing I could do…" Bryan replied weakly. He smiled. "Sorry; I know you hate that kind of violence but-"
"It was the only thing you could do, yeah I know Bry." He smiled back. "But it was either me or him and I'd choose me any day."
"Looks like you're repaying a favour…" A weak voice whispered raspily in Tala's ear.
"What do you mean?"
"Wasn't it only a few weeks ago that it… it was I who was… giving you a piggy-back ride?" Kai's voice, even though weak, held a lot of humour.
"Well," Tala replied, "you know me; always repaying what's needed."
"There you are!" Davis exclaimed as they rounded a corner; he stood by the last ID-card activated door that they had passed through. "Quick, there's not much time left. We must hurry."
He swiped his card through the indent on the wall and they rushed through. They stopped before a sliding metal door this time, though. Davis swiped his card in this indent and the door slid open to reveal…
Moon Child.
And she did what she usually did, except to the least obvious person- Zorya.
The main hunter fell back, the wolf licking his face affectionately. He pushed the female wolf off him and laughed.
"Hello to you too, you little rascal."
He stood and walked out; meanwhile wiping his face of wolf drool. Davis walked in after the other brunette and swiped his card on yet another door. It opened and a cold wind blew in; they were free.
Waiting for them outside were three, off-road military-type vans. One of them drove off, obviously full with scientists, as they reached them. The black wolf, Cha'tima, was waiting for them by one of the vans, with a familiar racoon on its back.
"Fai…" Ray chuckled. "Social little thing…"
They were helped onto one of the vans and soon were off, through the woods and away from the hellhole. Ray looked over opposite him and smiled; Tala and Kai were reunited.
Tala looked like he was going to cry, cuddling up to Kai, his ear over Kai's heart listening to the beat. Kai had placed his cheek on the top of Tala's head, a serene expression on his face.
Ray smiled again and felt a squeeze around his waist. He looked up at Bryan, amber eyes sparkling, before cuddling up to his own lover; Fai cuddled up in the neko's lap too.
Cha'tima and Moon Child looked at each other before nuzzling each other affectionately and settling down for a light doze… together…
Blue eyes flickered open as he felt the vehicle slow down. He suppressed a yawn and carefully sat up fully.
He glanced around the interior to see Zorya in a doze himself… in fact, everyone in the back was asleep; even the two wolves.
Tala smiled. They are so mates… he thought. But… I thought Moon Child was an orphan… how does she know this wolf; Cha'tima?
The cover on the back was pulled aside and Johnson's friendly face appeared.
"Nice to see you. You guys okay?" He asked, climbing in.
Tala chuckled. "Sleepy but yeah, we're okay." He glanced at the beaten Kai in the corner of his eye. "I think…" He added as an undertone.
But the blonde man seemed to catch this. "Don't worry. We've kitted your cabin with more medical supplies, food, clothing, you name it."
"Our… cabin?"
Johnson moved to the cover again and pulled it aside once more. Tala looked out and smiled; he- they were back home. Back at their cabin.
"How-"
"Zorya knew." Johnson chuckled. "Well, he told us… when he was awake."
"I am awake." Zorya said suddenly, his brown-green eyes flickering open. He did look wide awake. "We're here, I guess."
"Yes. Come on, you kids do look like you need a rest."
They were helped out of the military vehicle (Tala having woken Ray and Bryan up; Ray then waking up the two wolves) and Tala almost saw-
"Bryan Kuznetsov, was that a smile I saw?" Tala asked, a grin on his face.
Bryan smirked, still being supported by Ray. "Could've been, cap'n, you never know."
Tala chuckled and carried Kai towards the cabin's oak door. He kicked it open and immediately made his way to his and Kai's shared room. Ray walked in next and sat Bryan on the couch.
He frowned. "I think I know what's causing you that pain, Bry."
"I've most likely bruised a muscle or something Ray, no biggie."
"Yes, biggie, Bryan." He held up his hand, which was covered in blood. "You're gash has reopened."
"Don't give me a lecture on safety, Ray. Would you rather me have reopened my wound or have Kai thinner than a stingray?"
"A reopened wound, of course. And I wasn't going to give you a lecture, Bry. You did what was best." He smiled, and gave the Falcon a peck on the lips, before moving over to the kitchen counter, washing his hand, and picking up a small, white briefcase.
Opening it, he found a full kit of first aid. He picked out the same things he had used to treat Bryan's wound before and was about to walk back over when Tala emerged from the bedroom.
Ray smiled in greeting. "Is Kai okay?"
Tala sighed. "I think so. He's really thin, so I have a feeling he's malnourished. He must've lost a lot of blood from the cuts on his body, I think he's sprained his ankle… but, he'll live." The redhead moved over to the second first-aid kit. "So how's the Falcon?"
"He's reopened that wound." Ray replied, standing next to Tala and watching his lavender haired lover remove his jacket and shirt.
Tala moved over to the couch and studied the Falcon's cut. "It looks like a clean cut, so it should be okay. But jeez, Bry, what the hell did you do to piss them off? Could you ask for a bigger cut?"
"Not likely." Ray muttered.
"Oh great; being bullied by both my captain and boyfriend…" Bryan muttered. "Aren't I loved?"
"Oh, totally…" Ray replied, before firmly kissing Bryan.
Tala rolled his eyes before moving away to pick up the first-aid kit and walking back to the bedroom.
Meanwhile, Bryan pulled Ray onto his lap so that the neko-jin straddled his waist. He savoured in the moan that came from Ray when he eased his tongue into the younger's mouth.
Ray moved the hand that wasn't around Bryan's neck to his shoulder. Clutched in this hand was an antiseptic wipe, which he moved down along the wound, using his sense of touch to follow the cut…
But unfortunately, one cannot concentrate on cleaning something when being ravished by one's boyfriend.
A/N- well, I hope you enjoyed the two chapters rolled into one. No this isn't the last 'chapter'. There is at least one more after this…
Then…
Tala: You eat yourself?
D-G: No, duh, the next sequel! Anywho, review!