I apparently like this fic a lot. Or it's the only one that I've been working on. Ah, I'll get to the others. Enjoy!

Chapter Five- It Started When We Were Young

Well, thought Bryan, I guess there really is a God. He had been feeling rather relieved these past few weeks. He had not been ordered to break a child into BioVolt yet: there were no children to break.

The way BioVolt worked, for as long as Bryan could remember, was almost like prostitution, or even a slave trade kind of market. BioVolt, during Voltaire's reign acted as a loan company to desperate families, first in Russia, then, as they expanded, to other countries, such as Japan, America, Italy, France and many others.

Did he mention that BioVolt never waited for customers to come to them, but only targeted the most desperate of desperate families?

They would keep loaning money out to people, knowing well that they couldn't pay it off, but kept offering anyway, knowing that this was the easiest way to bend people. After a while, these people couldn't refuse BioVolt anything.

Including their children.

BioVolt's illegal operation was kept secret for years because people were much too afraid too speak up against a powerful company. And much too ashamed to admit they had sold their children into slavery. And they couldn't complain, after all, their children were still being fed and sheltered. They were just "away" for awhile.

Most parents never saw their kids after giving them up to Boris again.

Occasionally, if the loans were dwindling in number, Boris would often visit orphanages, paying a tidy sum for kids who showed extreme promise for the future of BioVolt. Bryan suspected that he and Tala were from the latter group. Or, rather, he liked to think so. He didn't like the feelings that coursed through him when he considered being sold into BioVolt.

However, it was becoming harder to target people for children, and Boris could not figure out why. Bryan steered clear of all conversations of this sort, but according to Tala, there had been talk that BioVolt's reputation was in danger because of a few well-placed "rumors" amongst the Russian people. Which was partially why Boris wanted this tournament—he needed to polish some of his tarnished reputation. Also, orphanages were beginning to close their doors to them as well, without giving any explanations or apologies.

This probably wouldn't have been such an alarming and immediate concern if they weren't losing staff so fast. Even people who were hired to bring children back to the BioVolt complex would leave and never come back. Boris was starting to become frustrated. He could no longer go and bring children back himself, since he was the head of BioVolt and running the entire operation. But whoever he put in charge kept walking off the job.

He didn't dare put the Demolition Boys to this task, since he knew all to well that they resented this sort of upbringing, having been exposed to it since early childhood. And out of all his employees he wouldn't want to lose, the Demolition Boys were on the top of his list.

BioVolt employees weren't just resigning. They were leaving in droves. Ian and Spencer speculated that there had to be some kind of driving force, another company who had some kind of grudge against Voltaire. Or perhaps an avenging family. Whoever it was, they never left a trace.

One thing was certain. BioVolt was falling apart.

Bryan found it quite disturbing, but shrugged it off. After all, it was only natural that he should feel concerned, BioVolt being the only home and family he could ever recall. The only madding thing about the whole affair was that Boris pushed them harder at their training sessions for the invitational. The boys didn't know whether if he was becoming more homicidal, or maniacal, and were the most satisfied when Boris locked himself in his office poring over the last of the paperwork Voltaire had left him before he died. "Pity he couldn't have left more of it lying around," Tala often said.

Bryan did not care, when he was blading, he could afford to push Boris out of his line of attention. Recently, the man had taken a special interest in his blading, which was a twist, since Tala had long been his favorite. It didn't matter now.

Bryan's relationship with his bitbeast had grown deeper, after all, late night trips to the practice rooms helped vent his frustration with his weary life. Falborg understood this better than anyone, and Bryan often would just go to the rooms to launch his blade just so he could pass the time with someone he knew. There was no other person whose presence he enjoyed for prolonged periods of time.

Except maybe her. If only she were alive.

Tala walked into Bryan's room one afternoon, as Bryan finished his afternoon nap. Disheveled and surprised, Bryan sat up. "What's up?"

Tala sank into the nearest chair and sighed. "Boris is in one of his moods again."

Brian nodded, silently thankful that he was not second in command. Every time Boris fell into one of his moods, it was Tala, not him, who had to sit there and listen to every screaming obscenity Boris stored up for these particular moments.

Bryan could hardly stand to look at the man, much less listen to him. Not that he was glad that Tala had to go through this, but he was relieved that he didn't have to do it. He looked at his leader.

"But that's not why you're here right?"

"Nope." Tala swung his legs forward. "Bryan, something's wrong with BioVolt. How is it that it's falling apart? When we were children, they would tell us stories on how we came to come here, reminding us that we were nothing but trash to do its bidding. Children would come in droves." He took a breath.

"Now, all of a sudden, they can't make it here. Why? Who's behind it? There's nothing to trace, no paper evidence, no witnesses, no survivors, no anything! It's like the shipments never existed! We know they're disappearing, but nobody else knows anything! And the number of people that have gone missing in the past few years! It's incredible. It's like they vanished into the clear blue sky, without a trace!"

He looked at his feet and said softly, "I have to admit I am a little relieved though… all those kids, they never knew what hell they were in for… and now, they'll never find out." His head snapped back up. "Boris ordered me to check up on all these mysteries, but I'm not going to report anything to him even if I do find something," he said fiercely, "I can't make myself do it. And now, I'm telling you as captain, to disobey that particular order if it's given to you. If Boris gives it to you, don't do it."

Bryan understood. He nodded and fell back on his bed.

"Bryan?" There was hesitation in the question this time.

"Yes?" Bryan didn't bother opening his eyes.

"You don't think these disappearances had to do anything with that explosion nine years ago do you?"

"What makes you say that?" Bryan asked his best friend coldly. "Who are you talking about? I don't see the connection here."

"Well…"

Tala's voice faded away as soon as he saw a tightening in Bryan's jaw, but he continued, "Bryan, she was the first to disappear, you know how we never found her body…" He could not continue because his friend had snapped straight up and angry emerald eyes were glaring straight into his bright blue ones.

"Are you saying that she was sacrificed in order free everyone else?" he snarled.

"No! But all the disappearances started with hers? Have you ever wondered if she was a part of something bigger? Maybe there was some sort of renegade rebellion that went wrong. She was in the science and technology department, Bry, and you know as well as I do, that that's the department that took the heaviest losses in terms of BioVolt employment!"

"No one," Bryan's voice was barely above a whisper, but to Tala it sounded like a crack of a whip, "is to mention her. No one. Don't even hint that she was a part of a conspiracy. Mention it again Tala, and I will hurt you."

Silence filled the room. Tala looked down. "All right."

Bryan eased back down and closed his eyes again. He hated to admit it, but Tala had just voiced a nagging worry, and hope, in his own mind. What if she was a martyr? She died trying to save him. Nostalgic thought, very reminiscent of the redhead's ideas of love and chivalry, but she wouldn't have.

She didn't have the right persona for a martyr anyway. He'd believe she was a priestess before a martyr. He knew her much too well, even after all these years. Had she been alive, she'd laugh at the thought.

The other option: if she were a part of a resistance group, they killed her off on purpose. That thought angered him beyond belief. But when he really thought about it…

Her personality wasn't one that would agree to working in a group.

She was alone in the world, as was he. He thought it would have been nice if they could have been alone together.

It had to be an accident. It just had to be.

God, I almost wish it were true… that she didn't die…

Flashback

He could hear her laughing down the hallway. She always provoked him into doing this when he was busy. Not that he minded, this always felt like the right thing to do. Why she was so fond of playing hide and seek he couldn't be sure.

"Because it's fun, and you're not as unhappy to see me after we play it." She chanted as she raced down the hall.

"Don't read my mind like that," he called back in false irritation. "And why do I have to chase you? We could just sit and talk."

"Less talking, more chasing! Besides, you wouldn't want to miss the surprise, would you?" She stopped and turned a sharp corner throwing him a grin. Even if he was trained in martial and athletic arts, he had to practically fly after her to keep up.

He realized that she was leading him down to the laboratories, a place that he'd never been allowed to visit before. Or never could really. None of the bladers had ever been down there before because nobody ever took them.

She always prided herself on being the exception. They weren't really breaking rules, but he did eye the door warily before following her in.

"Like it?" Light brown waves swayed as she led Bryan through the laboratories. "Welcome to my second home. The BioVolt research center!" She laughed.

It was the only home she truly accepted, and that was apparent by the way she nearly danced around the machinery. It was deserted this lunchtime hour, and he supposed that's why she took him down here. He'd probably be starving later; he hadn't had lunch yet. But this was worth it, just to see her.

Bryan looked around. It looked like a big storage room full of old electronic junk to him. "What is that you do here?" he asked. He knew that his beyblade was made in this very room, but he had no idea where to begin to look.

Her eyes shone with excitement. "Watch." She turned on a large device. Bryan turned his attention to a screen and watched with amazement at the data on his blade that she collected. Number of rotations per minute, energy measurements, force of impact on other blades, everything he could think of was on that screen.

"How did you collect so much information?" he stared at the screen. The science department really thought of it all. Even he didn't know this much about Falborg.

She grinned. "There are some things that should remain secret. Some things that can't be shared with other people." Bryan looked at her.

"Like what?" he said quietly.

Her eyes sparkled. "Um…"

"Is it a secret?" He was disappointed.

"No, not really. It's only that I was thinking on telling you I actually like you," she causally replied before turning her attention back to the machine.

Like? Me?

His own eyes studied the monitors before looking back at the girl operating them. "Is it okay if I like you too?"

Bryan shook his head. After all these years… he still couldn't forget her. But she was gone, and nothing could change that.

She hadn't changed, and Kai decided to ignore the fact that the circumstances had because they were annoying to think about too much. Aya had come over to the dojo to talk to Hilary, and while their conversation was friendly enough, Tyson had sent glowing glares at Kai the entire evening, clearly displeased.

After a while, even Hilary couldn't ignore her boyfriend's obvious hints. "Excuse us," she said apologetically to Aya and Kai, "but I'm going to need a few minutes to talk to Tyson for a bit, okay?" She yanked him out of the room, hissing, "Stop acting like a sulking child, for goodness sake…"

Aya looked after them, clearly amused. "Someone didn't explain to Tyson that I wasn't going to be a problem, hey, Hiwatari?"

"Hmph. I explained it perfectly. He's just being obnoxious."

"Perfectly, huh? There seems to be a discrepancy in communication here. I'm inclined to think it's on your part."

"Whatever," he mumbled. "You always blame stuff on me."

"Awww," she said mockingly, "You're sulking just like Tyson now. It's endearing!"

"Bah."

They sat in silence, listening to the soft sounds of Tyson's and Hilary's strained argument.

"He doesn't really like you, you know."

She wasn't disturbed. "I know. Not many people do."

"You're too confident." Kai shrugged indifferently. "You make people feel uncomfortable with your presence."

"Oh psht. Don't tell me you actually believe that, Kai," she said with a raised eyebrow.

He shrugged. "One can't be too careful about oneself."

She smiled. "You're sweet and all trying to look out for me," she cooed, "but please don't overexert yourself. The strain shows, dear."

He threw up his hands. "I give up trying to talk to you."

She giggled. "All right then. Would you settle for just listening then?"

"Sure."

She smiled at him again before looking down at her hands in her lap.

"I… I think Bryan won't forgive me for what I've done."

"I've forgiven you. Don't worry about it. He will."

"Bryan doesn't forgive as easily as you. And I've been dead to him for years. Not that that in itself means anything; I know he's missed me. I do have sources, you know," she added, seeing his confused look.

She continued. "But I still think… it won't be hard to get him to trust me again. He loves me much too much for that. But it will hurt him. Deep down inside, he knows who I am. And deny it all he wants, when the time comes, he won't be able to ignore it anymore. He takes safety in thinking I am dead."

"You don't know how much he grieved."

"He cut himself off from you guys for a month."

His head jerked up. "How did you know that?"

"What kind of BioVolt scientist would I be if I couldn't spy on anyone?"

"What the hell does that mean?" he asked sharply.

"Why Kai, your grandfather didn't tell you? BioVolt was Russia's leading agent on intelligence! We had all the equipment anyone could need for wiretapping and such. Oh, of course we used them for Russia's benefit, but surely no one could fault us if we used it for our means as well?" Her smile was bitter.

"You've been spying on us since you left?"

She held her right hand up. "I solemnly swear I haven't seen anything that I shouldn't have seen." She smirked, "Bathrooms were off limits anyway."

"Nessie! This is no time for joking! You shouldn't have been able to see us at all."

"It's Aya," she corrected gently, "And remember my objective. How am I supposed to destroy BioVolt if I don't know anything about it?"

His crimson eyes burned into hers with something akin to frustration. "If you know so much, what do you need me for? You must know how to get into the complex without my help."

She stared at him blankly, as if trying to remember what it was she was going to say. But Kai knew better. He finally realized that her asking for a favor was much more than asking a friend for a favor. What exactly it was still confused him.

Her eyes dropped to the floor. "It amuses me."