Taiy-Chan: You guys are really, really lucky. You don't realize just HOW lucky you are! Another update! Wow! What the hell is wrong with me? ….Meh, I'm just really bored…

Disclaimer: Must I repeat myself? I don't own anything!

Chapter 16

Fighting

"It's my birthday today, Grandfather!"

"Where'd mommy and daddy go!"

"What is this place!"

"Why can't I go home!"

Taiy cried out and fell to his knees, clutching his pounding head. Memories jumbled together, all pushing their way inside his mind, all wanting to get his attention first, to drag him backwards in time. Taiy shook his head violently, desperately trying to clear it from the muddled voices and blurred pictures.

All the while, Biovolt towered over him.

"Gods…" the dark haired blader ground out, gritting his teeth together. "Not now, not here."

His vision blackened on the edges and he shut his eyes, hunching over, gasping for air. His breath was ragged; his mouth hung open, short gasps escaping him. His pained groan turned into a whimper as his head started to pound harder. He felt so helpless, stranded as his own mind worked against him. Not any of his lifelong training could help him pull himself out of his memories. He couldn't move, couldn't cry out for help. He could only kneel there, crying out and fighting for lost breath.

Horrifying images flashed past his vision, blood and pain clouded his eyes. It was like a scene from a nightmare, monsters that a child fears at night. Only it was different for him because it wasn't a nightmare, they weren't monsters that don't really exist. No, they were his memories of the people that tore his life apart.

'Try to remember the happy times.' But, it was so much harder when you were actually put in the position where everything you tried to desperately to forget catches up to you. The shadow of the pain from the past hurt almost as bad as it did back then. His whole body ached; his eyes were burning and all the while the cool air bit at his skin as if trying to take him back to the present.

"Stop…" he whispered, his choked sob breaking the cold silence around him.

"What are you doing down there?"

Taiy's mind cleared suddenly, as if the muddled thoughts were ripped from him harshly. The blue eyed boy winced and looked up, following the voice that came from above him.

Ice blue met lilac. Taiy's eyes widened.

Bryan snorted.

"Are you deaf or something? I asked you a question."

Taiy fought to regain his composure and got, unsteadily, to his feet, wobbling slightly. He stumbled back and nearly fell, but a strong hand caught his wrist and he was yanked back to his feet.

Taiy gasped and almost fell into Bryan's chest, but stopped himself and straightened, slowly reclaiming his wrist from the older boy. The mixed teen ran a shaky hand through his streaked hair, taking a deep breath.

Bryan eyed him warily.

"What's wrong with you?" he demanded, placing his hands on his hips.

Taiy's hand dropped to his sides and he looked up.

"N… Nothing… I'm okay…" he mumbled, blushing slightly and not believing how pathetic he sounded.

If Bryan didn't believe him, he didn't show it. The lilac haired boy turned and looked up at the Abby, disgust marring his pale features.

"You shouldn't be here, ya know." He said, turning back to Taiy.

Taiy sighed and nodded.

"Thanks…" he muttered.

Bryan stared at him.

"For what?"

Taiy shook his head, turning to leave.

"I… I better head back…" he said, smiling at the other teen.

Bryan shrugged.

"See ya later." The falcon said, waving over his shoulder as he disappeared around the street's corner, not looking back once.

A shot of cold air hit his face as the wind picked up again. Taiy's shoulders slumped and took one last look at the Abby, the intimidating walls standing tall before him. He shook his head and headed back to the hotel.

"He said 'see you later', does that mean 'see you later' as in 'I never want to see you again' or 'see you later' as in 'see you later?"

"Well… Uh… What?"

Taiy flopped back on his bed, stretching leisurely and yawning. It was just getting dark outside and jet lag was finally catching up to him.

"I can't believe he had to see us like that! He must have thought we were so weak looking. Damn it!"

"Tala, Bryan's your friend already. Why the hell are you acting like a little school girl who just fell in love at first sight?"

"He doesn't know us though!"

"Technically, he does."

"Well… Well… You're just in a bad mood! You've been in a bad mood ever since we got back from the hotel! What the hell is eating you anyways?"

"I dunno, maybe because we just decided to walk by the Abby? Why were we even there anyways? Am I the only one who was affected by what happened back there or were you too busy drooling over Bryan?"

"Well, excuse me for trying to lighten up the mood! At least I can actually forget about the past once and a while and not act like a brooding bitch all the time!"

"If I'm such a 'brooding bitch' then why the fuck are you my friend anyways, huh?"

"I dunno, I was wondering the same thing!"

"You-"

"Okay, enough! Both of you! Can't you see what you're doing! We all know that something screwed up happened back there at the Abby, it happened in China too, remember? You two are acting like spoilt children! Grow up already!"

"You don't know what you're talking about, Ray."

"Oh, please, Kai. Don't drag me into this too. You and Tala are fighting for no reason at all. You both are shaken up after what happened back at the Abby and are taking it out on each other. Until you two have calmed down, I'm taking over this body."

"But-"

"NO buts. You two aren't going to talk until you've sorted yourselves out. So, starting now, shut up!"

Taiy's blood red streaks faded to jet black, his unruly hair growing slightly longer. Ice blue eyes melted into deep golden. He sat up and sighed, rubbing his temples. He could feel a headache coming on.

Hauling himself out of bed, the dark haired boy made his way to his bedroom door. Glancing into the mirror on the wall beside him, he frowned. Ice blue leaked into his golden eyes and navy tattoos were reappearing on his cheeks.

"You two stop trying to take over the body or I will get angry." He growled to his reflection. The colours immediately stopped swirling and he nodded his approval.

Taiy headed for the main part of their hotel suite, searching for his team. Where were they anyways? They weren't here when he came back from his very…. Eventful walk.

Reaching the kitchen, Taiy saw his friends sitting around a polished, wood table. He stretched, much like a cat, and shuffled over to them. Max looked up when he came over and smiled. Taiy offered one in return and sat at the table beside the blond.

"Hey Taiy…" Tyson began. Taiy looked up to show he was listening. The bluenett went on. "Why is your hair all black? And your eyes gold?" the younger boy questioned.

Taiy grinned slightly, shrugging.

"Kai and Tala are fighting over a little thing, so I took over the body." The dark haired boy's sharp fangs glinted in the light as he smirked.

Hilary chuckled.

"Typical Ray, playing the mother-hen again?" she laughed. Taiy glared at her. "Anyways," the brunette continued. "Mr. Dickenson told us today that the Finals will be in a couple of days, so we better get practicing if we want even a small chance of winning. Remember, we're going to be battling the Demolition Boys. Don't forget what happened the first time you guys went up against them."

Tyson rolled his eyes.

"You weren't even there." He scoffed, ignoring the deadly glare send his way. "And plus, that was way back then. We're champions now, we can handle amateurs like them." He added.

Taiy bit his lower lip.

"I wouldn't call the Demolition Boys amateurs, Tyson. We only just won that time. And have you even stopped to consider the fact that the Demolition Boys have probably been training for the finals for the last couple months?" when Tyson stared blankly at him, Taiy sighed. "Didn't think so." He muttered.

Kenny closed his dark laptop, looking around the table at his friends from behind thick glasses. Glancing at the clock up on the wall by the fridge, he frowned.

"We get some sleep, it's already 9:30." He announced, turning back at his team. "We're going to have to get up early tomorrow to train." His eyes flickered over to Taiy. "You're going to lead the exercises tomorrow, right Taiy?" he asked the dark haired boy.

Taiy shrugged.

"Kai would probably like that."

Tyson groaned.

"Great, not only do we have to get up at the crack of dawn, but now we get to look forward to a loooong training session with the Ice-Block."

Max laughed and patted his friend on the back.

"Don't worry, Tyson. If you die, I'll make sure that they bury you and not eat your corpse." He laughed harder at the look on his friends face.

"Thanks for the encouragement, Max." the blue haired boy droned sarcastically.

Max winked at him, smiling.

"Any time, my friend, any time."

Taiy chuckled, getting to his feet. Fatigue was finally taking its toll. He rubbed his golden eyes and yawned.

"Well you guys, I better hit the sack; I'm beat. Night." his friends called their good-nights after him as he dragged himself back to his room.

The next day, the Bladebreakers headed out early to go to a nearby park to train. With Tyson grumbling under his breath, and Tala and Kai finally have made up with one another, they started their usual exercises, Taiy leading the way. By lunch time, Tyson had finally convinced Taiy to let them have a break. So, they lay out on the grass, their sweat-soaked bodies being dried by the sun.

"Fancy seeing you here."

The Bladebreakers sat up, searching for the owner of the voice. Soon, their tired eyes landed on a group of four Russian bladers to their right. Tyson snarled and Kenny coward behind Hilary.

The Demolition Boys stood before them, Bryan smirking slightly. They were dressed in casual clothes, light jackets protecting them from the harsh wind. Taiy got to his feet, not able to take his eyes off his old friends.

Bryan raised a brow.

"I saw you yesterday." He said, bold as always.

Taiy nodded.

"You're the new Bladebreaker!" Ian shouted, pointing an accusing finger at the dark haired boy. "You're the one who replaced Kai and Ray!"

Taiy resisted the urge to roll his ice blue eyes.

"Well, duh."

"The name's Taiy." He said, smiling slightly, walking over to them and holding out a hand.

The Russians just stared at him, not moving to take up his friendly offer. Right when Taiy was about to pull away, though, Bryan clasped his hand in his, firmly shaking it twice before letting go.

Taiy grinned.

"Oh my God! He just shook our hand!"

"Why is everyone pointing out the obvious today?"

"Cause they feel like it?"

"Well, I knew that much."

"What did happen to Kai and Ray?" Spencer asked, finally speaking up. Taiy turned to him.

"Uh… Well…" he stuttered, blushing slightly.

"Shit! We haven't come up with a story yet! How could we have forgotten!"

"Quick! Think fast! Damn it, Kai! Aren't you supposed to be the smart one!"

"Why do I always have to right your wrongs?"

"Cause that's your job, of course!"

They were all looking at him, and he knew it. Why his team didn't step to help him, he didn't know but, he was sure going to get them back for it later.

A long, uncomfortable silence ensued, and Taiy shifted nervously from side to side, his cheeks reddening further.

Bryan's lilac eyes narrowed.

"What happened to them?" He demanded. When he got no answer, he continued. "Does their disappearance tie in with the fact that Tala is missing too?"

The Bladebreakers' eyes widened.

"Damn, why does he have to be so smart?"

"Aww, you're just jealous."

When he was met by silence for a second time, Bryan growled.

"I'll take that as a 'yes'." He hissed.

"It…. It's a really, really long story…" Taiy said, looking at the older boy. The mixed blader sighed. "And a complicated one."

"Well," Bryan cut in. "If you got Tyson to understand, I'm sure I will."

Tyson jumped at Bryan, his hands closed into tight fists, but Hilary and Max held him back. They knew almost too well just what Bryan could do in a fight.

Taiy bit his lip, seeming to think it over.

"Why are we doing that all of a sudden? I never used to chew on my lip."

"It's a habit we inherited from Ray."

"What? Why are you blaming me! It could just have easily been you, Kai!"

"Ray, I saw you do it a thousand times."

"…Shut up."

Taiy shuffled his feet, trying to decide whether to go and tell the long story, or to keep quiet and hope that they'd leave. Unluckily for him, the Demolition Boys had a lot of patience.

"Except for Tala."

"What! I have patience!"

"Right…"

Finally, Taiy opened his mouth to speak, only to snap it shut when someone entered the clearing. The dark haired boy spun around, noticing, vaguely, that the Demolition Boys did the same.

Upon seeing who it was, the ice blue eyed teen growled. This was so not his day, he decided. Not at all.

The purple haired man smirked at them, a triumphant look in his eyes. Though it made Taiy sick to have to look at him, he couldn't seem to avert his gaze.

"Well, if it isn't Taiy…"

"Boris…"

Taiy-Chan: Well, there you have it! Not too short, not too long! I really can't believe I'm updating this fast! Wow….

So, Boris-the-spider has finally shown up! What will happen in his encounter with Taiy? Will Taiy eat him alive? Or will he cut his head off?

See for yourself in the next chapter of…. BEYBLADE F FUSION!

Oh yeah, you ever wonder what the F stands for in the title? Well, a few people have guessed it right, but, if you can't figure it out, then you're just gonna have'ta wait till the end! HAHAHAHA!