Through the fire

by Ajedrez

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Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply.

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Summary:

After a tragic loss, the Bladebreakers are finally back on track, only to find themselves and their friends in another of those 'situations'. Secrets and lies, new threats and new hopes. Things aren't always what they seem. A changed outlook on the past might just provide new perspectives for the future. (Set in two timelines after the first season.)

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AN:

If anyone reading my GW story is reading this one too – the next chapter for that should be out soon, too...

By the way, do I need to remind you this is rated M? Nothing graphic in here, but mention of mature themes. In later chapter things might get more gory, so decide for yourself if you're continuing to read (not that there seem to be many interested in this story – just kidding...)

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V. (the flame keeps burning)

Further down south, the All Starz were analysing their friends' and competitors' victory. Their own team, like that of the Bladebreakers, had changed a lot over the past years. It had been a long and sometimes even rocky road until they had accepted each other as one single team again – old aversions were hard to overcome, when suddenly your team manager decided to take your worst enemy under their wings, but that was what happened.

After Boris Balkov had been arrested in the aftermath of the Russian tournament three years ago, the Demolition Boys had been cast out of the Abbey, thus rendering them homeless. Judy Tate had taken the initiative and offered them a new home and a new perspective in life – a decision that was not really welcomed by her own team, but in the end they had become friends, at least for most of the time.

Spencer, the eldest, had stopped taking part in competitions and worked with Judy and her team of scientists and training the others. Ian had given up beyblading altogether (unless for fun with his former team mates) and concentrated on his school career, although he still lived with the rest of them and accompanied them to their tournaments regularly.

So it was only 19-year old Bryan and 18-year old Tala who were actually added to the All Starz, under the leadership of Michael, which was sometimes challenged, but usually accepted. The Russians might still seem rather cold to an outsider, but the original All Starz had come to know them better and learned how to handle them. To everyone's surprise, underneath that emotionless and sometimes cynic behaviour they all hid a good heart – and in Tala's and Ian's case a wicked sense of humour, too.

This day, however, most of the gathered All Starz noted that Tala was watching the Bladebreakers' performance with an uncharacteristically gloomy expression, but for the time being decided to leave him be.

"So, what do you think?" Judy asked her team after the tape ended.

"They are much stronger than last year. If they keep it up that way, they will be a hard to beat in the world championships," Michael stated.

"Provided they qualify in the pan-Asian tournament," Emily added in a bored tone.

"Sure, but who's doubting that? The three best teams qualify and their only real rivals are the White Tigers, as far as we're aware of," Eddy commented.

"Hm, I think you're right there," Judy agreed. "And I don't think the Bladebreakers already gave their best here. Especially Ray... I don't know, but I had the feeling he was not fully concentrating..."

The others agreed, musing what might have been the cause.

"Hn," was Tala's only comment which managed to draw Michael's attention, however.

"Aha, the great Tala has an idea," he elbowed the Russian playfully into the side.

"Shut the fuck up and leave me alone." The redhead almost ran from the room. Exchanging a concerned look, Bryan and Michael followed, while Judy held the others back from interfering. Although Tala often showed his mischievous side, he still could be moody at times.

"Okay, what's up Tal'," Michael had Tala cornered in his own room.

"Nothing," the other sighed as he threw himself on his bed.

"Sure," Bryan, who had joined them, said sarcastically.

"Really. It's nothing. – At least for you lot..."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, some people still remember that on this very day one of their friends died..." Tala stared into the distance.

"Kai..." Realizing what Tala was on about, Bryan virtually growled out the name and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Michael sighed and flopped down onto the bed next to his Russian friend. "I can't understand why Bryan is still so angry, nor why you – and Ray apparently – still grieve so deeply... I'm not sure he really deserves it... "

"Hm... " And after a short pause. "I think Bryan can't forgive himself for not being able to help me, when Boris punished me after we lost due to Kai's betrayal..." Michael did not know the details of what had happened back then, but he was aware that it was pretty bad. Rumour had it that Tala had almost died. "I guess it's easier for him to blame Kai for everything..."

"And you don't?"

"I don't know, honestly. I'm still angry. But most of all, I don't understand why he went back there, you know. He might have been Voltaire's own flesh and blood, but, contrary to popular belief, that did not make things easier for him. I just don't get it. He once was like a brother to me and now I'll never be able to ask him whether that time meant anything to him. Why he betrayed us... and then ditched the Bladebreakers in turn..."

"So you don't believe in the the common theory... hunger for power and the likes...?"

Tala sighed. Usually Bryan was his confidant, but sometimes it was so much easier to talk to Michael, even if there were things he would never tell the American...

"No... Yes... I'm not sure. Kai wasn't really like that. The Kai I knew, that is. But I did not really know him anymore, when he rejoined the Demolition boys... Much less afterwards..." Both teens fell silent, remembering when Judy told them the news.

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It was a almost a year after the Demolition boys had joined the All Starz. Despite the doctors' fears, Tala had made a full recovery and proved himself a strong addition for the team. He was just fighting Eddy in a mock battle, when Judy entered the gym rather hesitantly. She called them together and mainly looked at the Russians on her team, when she announced in an unsteady voice: "I just had a call from Mr Dickinson... There has been an incident in Russia... One of Voltaire's mansions went up in flames. They don't know the cause yet, but it seems the heat was immense. The police could only identify Voltaire's body through the serial number of an artifial joint or something of the kind... It was pretty much all that was left... They think... Well, the people in the town said his grandson stayed with him and... and they found a charred beyblade that looks exactly like Kai's... They... they believe Kai... Kai is presumed dead. I'm so sorry guys..."

They were all shocked and silent, that is until Bryan ground out: "No need to be sorry. He got what he deserved. May he burn in hell." And with that he turned and left his even more shocked companions behind. They never really talked about the matter again...

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Meanwhile, Bryan was out for a run in an attempt to work off some steam. He himself couldn't quite understand why he still got so upset whenever someone only mentioned that damned name. He knew he wasn't being reasonable, but it was one thing for one of his brothers to betray the rest of them. It was another matter altogether, if the same almost caused another of his brothers to die. They might not be related by blood, but still Bryan considered this the worst betrayal possible.

When he had arrived at the Abbey, Tala and Kai had already been there, which was exceptional in so far as Kai had not even reached the usual entry age of six yet and Tala just barely. Bryan attributed it to this fact, that the other kids seemed to shun the bluenette and therefore also his friend, the redhead, so he sometimes took care of the little outsiders and their friendship – or rather "brotherhood" – evolved, with the later addition of Spencer and Ian. It was only several months after his arrival, that Bryan learnt of Kai's true position in the Abbey, but then his opinion of the straightforward yet sometimes inexplicably shy little bluenette had already been formed. Being the second-youngest among the five of them, Kai often found his older "brothers" defending him against the bullies in the Abbey. His friendly nature had endeared him to the others, so they never minded helping him, even if he was often singled out by the master of the Abbey.

Things changed over time and so did the Demolition boys' characters. The harsh treatment in the Abbey left its mark on all of them, most of all Hiwatari, although the majority of the other kids never understood. His brotherlike friends were the only ones to observe the pressure that was put on the small shoulders, but even they could only guess what the bluenette had to go through.

It had not taken long before the bluenette knew how to fend for himself – and a vicious little fighter he was when other kids attacked him, both verbally and physically. His brothers were proud of that and never noticed how he grew more and more silent and broody, as they all went through a similar phase. Still, Hiwatari's change should have been more noticeable since he started distancing himself from everybody. While he was undergoing an increasing number of individual training sessions with Boris, they saw less and less of him. And when they did spend time together, he would hardly utter a word or spare them a glance. Maybe they didn't realize because, compared to his relationship with everyone else, he still seemed to keep the closest bond with his brothers, Tala in particular. Oh, how they had been deceived... The lying and conniving brat had them all fooled. He only used them until he didn't need them anymore. Then he went all power-crazed, blowing up half of the Abbey, and disappeared from their lives.

Still, Bryan could have forgiven him all that, had it not been for his ultimate betrayal. Hiwatari must have been aware of the fact that failure was not taken lightly in the Abbey, yet he had abandoned them again, knowing fully well that Tala, as their team captain, would go through hell for their loss – the same Tala who once was supposed to be his best friend. Bryan would never forget the night, when a blood-soaked redhead had been thrown into his cell in the Abbey... And he would never forgive Hiwatari. Never...

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They had taken Tala away early in the afternoon and he still wasn't back, now that night had already fallen hours ago. Bryan paced in his moonlit cell, worried for the redhead, angry at the bluenette, confused about everything that had happened in the past few days. First, Kai's return had given them all hope. Boris had not given them hell like they were used to by now. And then the defeat... In a way he felt oddly glad that Biovolt's plans had been thwarted, but the personal consequences they were going to suffer from now were much heavier on his mind.

He was just stopping close to the barred window, when he heard footsteps approaching and the sound of something being dragged through the corridors. Then the door cracked open and a bundle was thrown inside. It took Bryan a moment to realize that this bundle was human, and not just any human, but his red-headed captain and friend. He rushed to his brother's side and gasped in horror. They had all been through harsh punishment one time or another, but he had never seen anything as bad as this.

For a second or two he thought the other to be dead. Only on closer inspection did he find Tala was still breathing and had a weak pulse. The unconscious teen was running a high fever and and the blanket covering him was soaked in sweat and blood – Bryan did not know where to start trying to stop the bleeding, since there seemed to be so many cuts and bruises all over – and he did not really have the necessary means to treat Tala in any way.

He felt even more alarmed when the blanket slipped off and revealed the teen's bare body, exhibiting some unmistakeable marks. For the first time in years, Bryan felt angry tears running down his cheeks. Unable to do anything else, he simply gathered Tala in his arms and whispered soothing words while the distressed teen slipped in and out of consciousness – and red-hot fury was eating himself up inside..

Eventually, they had to consider themselves lucky that the BBA had called in the police to investigate in the Abbey, otherwise they would have lost Tala for sure. Even so, it took the redhead several weeks to recover. Bryan did not need the hospital's confirmation to know what had happened that day. And while he dried Tala's first tears since forever, after the red-head woke up from his coma, he felt the flame of ire flare up inside him and swore to never let it burn out, until he had taken his revenge...

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TBC

AN: Any comments?...

04/29/06