MasterFranny: there it is, the twelve! I am glad you're still reading this, and I can't believe how much reviews I got. I believed I would get only thirty for the entire fic, now I've got more than 135... I love you all!

I think I messed up the eye colours, so here are they, for you all to know:

Kai's are Gold

Tala's are Silver

Ian's are Bronze

Spencer's are Rust (or is it Blight?)

Bryan's are Jade

Kiya's are Auburn

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Can't reply to reviewers so I'll say something akin to things you said to me :P and THANKS to all of you who reviewed, you made my day! And let's fight against the new Rule! Sign up every mail you get about it!

Interesting the adults are not there. won't be until the end.

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RATING: M

DISCLAIMER: no own, not now however... evil smirk

"talking"

'thinking'

"(talking into other languages)"

((beatbeast language))

""""""dreams sequences, flashbacks, memories""""""

BREATH OF LIGHT

CHAPTER 12 What can You believe in?

What am I supposed to do

If the World is against me?

I tried really hard,

But nothing seems to be enough

Every step that I took

Was just another wasted breath

And each word I said

Echoed through my empty soul,

Claiming its hopeless price.

Present, Balkov Abbey, Russia

Ray glanced to his right and then to his left, signalling to the others that there weren't guards around their cell.

As the Neko-jinn stepped outside the prison he narrowed his eyes, his pupils turning into slits so he could see better in the dark, and in complete silence he reached the corned of the wall, peering from it to look down the dorridor.

After the bars opened, Robert had declared they couldn't move all together now, risking to be spotted as soon as they left the cell, and he had proposed one of them could go and blind all the cameras.

Ray and Lee offered themselves, and as Lee used his skills to turn the cameras around so they wouldn't look in at the cell, Ray wandered around keeping watch to alert the others in case any guard came near.

Luckily there weren't any, Boris was too sure of himself to even think they could escape so easily.

Ray smiled and signed to Lee that there wasn't any danger. Lee signalled to Johnny, who was waiting on the edge, and the English boy nodded to Robert.

"There are no guards," he mouthed to the BladeBreakers. "We can go outside."

Robert led the way as Ray and Lee watched from their positions: Lee was hanging from the ceiling, his hand tight around one of the cameras, and Ray was glued to the wall, silent as a shadow. Robert turned towards Michael and Max.

"I need you two to return to the hotel," he whispered urgently. "I need someone to call Mr. Dickinson: he may be back by now and wondering where we are".

Michael wanted to protest but remained silent: he knew he had to go. But Max stepped forwards, his face dark, and shook his head.

"I can't," he replied. "Kai is my friend too, I want to be there for him too!"

Michael and Robert looked at each other before turning towards the determined blond with a sigh. He wasn't going to go.

"I will," Lee said, jumping down the wall silently. "Michael needs someone who can watch his back and I'm better than Max at that".

Robert nodded and Max smiled at him.

"Thanks," he mouthed.

Robert grimaced but couldn't hide a slight grin: Kai had really good friends, after all. He pointed towards one corner and the group moved that way, with Ray leading the way.

Lee and Michael remained alone in the dark place, in complete silence, the footsteps of their friends fading into distance.

'Good luck,' they both thought.

"Okay," Michael turned to Lee, "it seems it's just you and me".

Lee smirked and picked up his faithful Gallion, placing it in the launcher, as Michael mimicked him with Trygle, then the two of them turned the opposite way and started their search for the exit.

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Boris stared at the long car that stopped right before the Abbey and bowed as the door opened and Voltaire Soichiro Hiwatari came out. The Director's face showed respect for the owner of the Abbey who, for his part, looked as cold as always.

Voltaire looked at the director with impatient but contented eyes and frowned. Boris stood up straight and smirked in satisfaction.

"(Finally you're here, sir)," he said with respect. "(The plan, it's working fine)"

"(So the boys are all together, I assume)," Voltaire stated.

"(Yes sir, all the Experiments are waiting for you to come)," Boris smirked some more. "(And we have some unexpected guests too: your grandson's friends)".

Voltaire growled in anger, but soon dismissed the thought: his grandson was not supposed to have friends, let alone free will; he was merely a weapon, his weapon for the World's domination.

"(The serum is taking effect?)," he asked in monotone, his cold eyes already looking at the Abbey.

"(Yes, sir, can we proceed?)"

Voltaire nodded, satisfied, and the two moved towards the Abbey.

Seven years before, Balkov Abbey, Russia

"(You want what?)" Boris couldn't believe what the boy was asking him. "(You want to test the serum yourself?)"

Kiya nodded firmly. On his face there was no fear of any sort or any uncertainty; he was completely sure about his decision.

They were one before the other in the director's office; Kiya had entered without knocking, like he was used to doing. Boris hated it, but the boy wasn't the bit least impressed by him, and no torture could tame his spirit, no beating could make him yell in pain or cry or beg to stop. He was strong and he showed it with all his being.

Kiya was a kid like all the others, and still, he was different from any other. His eyes burnt continuously with internal fire, a fire that wasn't the one the Phoenix possessed, but was just as hot, as well as an icy glare that rivalled the Wolf's own cold stare, but still it was different.

He had entered the Abbey appearing to be incapable of hurting a fly, but he showed strength few possessed as well as an intense determination and passion. He owned a Sacred Beast, one shaped as a Basilisk.

Boris raised one eyebrow as he looked at the young boy, mildly wondering if he knew what he was asking him to do.

His purple eyes burned as Kiya waited for the director's reply. He was sure about what he wanted; he knew this was the only way he could help Yuri and Kai. Both of them were too young and inexperienced. They went through a lot, and Kiya's only desire was to keep them save.

Even if that meant to become like them.

They had grown like a family, the three of them, Kiya as the older brother, always keeping an eye on them, and they shared a bond not many could acquire in their lives. Their friendship went deeper that brotherhood.

"(You know your organism may reject the serum?)" Boris looked at the young boy with interest.

He knew that boy had a close friendship with both his experiments. Besides, if Kiya's organism rejected the serum, then he would die and Kai and Yuri would understand they were merely tools; if he lived, Boris would gain another weapon for his army.

"(I know,)" Kiya stated calmly, but still there was no fear in his voice. "(But it won't: I'm strong enough to survive)".

He looked and felt sure about his words, and Boris smirked.

"(If you're so sure, then why not? That would be interesting.)"

Kiya smiled at himself, satisfied, and turning he left, not giving the director another glance.

Boris looked at the door as the boy closed it behind himself, and a thoughtful expression appeared on his face, well hidden by his mask.

"(Master Voltaire will be interested too,)" he commented, pressing the bottom of his videophone. "(It's not common to see one of his kind volunteering to be experimented upon)".

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"(You couldn't possibly have done that)," Kai hissed as he looked up at Kiya with wide eyes.

"(Tell us it's just a joke,)" Yuri coughed. "(Tell us you didn't!)"

Kiya merely smiled at them, his eyes sparkling with happiness.

"(I did it,)" he blinked. "(We will be bound forever then, do you understand?)"

Kai felt a stab in his heart and he shook his head. He couldn't believe Kiya to be that carefree, not about the experiments, not about the Project.

"(Do you realize you could die!)" Yuri yelled at him, his voice broken from despair, "(I don't want you to leave us!)"

Kiya's smile never faltered as he held Kai and Yuri's hands in his own.

"(You have faith in me?)" he asked. "(You believe in me and in my strength?)"

It was a calm speech, a statement more than a question. And both Yuri and Kai could do nothing but nod. They trusted Kiya, and they were sure he was strong, stronger then both of them.

"(Then don't be afraid,)" Kiya smiled again, the warm smile the two boys had grown accustomed too, the one that could calm their turmoil. "(I will never leave you, so it's pointless to be afraid.)"

Kai felt his confidence return as he let a shaky grin appear on his lips. He glanced at Yuri and the red head nodded, smiling.

Nothing to worry about.

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"(Wow, that was an experience,)" Kiya tossed his blade on Yuri's bed and stretched, his eyes glancing at the two boys who were on the verge of tears. "(What?)"

Kai sobbed and ran towards Kiya, hugging him, and was soon followed by Yuri.

"(We thought you were dead,)" Kai wailed. "(You didn't come back and we thought the serum killed you!)"

"(We were afraid, we couldn't even think about going on without you,)" Admitted Yuri, trembling.

Kiya felt his heart warm up at the two's words and smiled at them.

"(Little Brothers, as I said before, you have nothing to worry about. I'm strong and my system accepted the serum)".

Kai wiped away his tears and looked up.

"(So now you're...)"

A flicker of auburn passed through his eyes, making its appearance in a slow spiral before disappearing the way it came. Kai smiled hesitantly, he didn't know how to react. He could say he was happy Kiya was now one of them, but he wasn't happy all the same.

"(It's rather cool,)" Kiya let himself fall on Yuri's bed. "(At the start it's kinda painful but it's just one moment...)"

Closing his eyes he let his body relax, and when he reopened them he found Kai and Yuri looking proudly at him, handing him a plate of food.

"(We stole it from the kitchens,)" Kai smiled. "(We thought you would be hungry)".

Kiya blinked.

"(But weren't you afraid I would be dead?)"

"(At the same time we both knew you wouldn't leave us,)" Yuri stated, his blue eyes shining with trust. "(You promised)".

Kiya nodded and took the plate then motioned for the two to sit near him. They both complied, snuggling near the friend they had grown used to call brother.

Present, Balkov Abbey, Russia

Tala couldn't stop looking at the sleeping teen on his lap, as his mind wandered through the newly found memories, his eyes lingering on Kai's face, contorted in pain.

He hadn't said a word ever since he let the tears fall, remaining in the comfortable silence with his friends as he tried to give comfort to the distressed beauty that remained deep in sleep.

He was still burning with fever, and Tala knew there was nothing he could do to stop it but wait, wait for the fight to be over and the serum to awake the frozen spirits inside, calling them back to life after all these years.

His eyes trailed across his face over and over again as his mind kept asking how he could forget every little detail, how he could've managed to live without the other part of his soul.

Bryan felt relieved as he glanced at the red haired blader holding Kai lovingly, and a smile found its way onto his normally emotionless face. His clear eyes showed how much he cared. Near him, on the floor, Ian leant on Spencer who was trying to relax with his eyes closed.

The atmosphere in the room had changed completely after Bryan's outburst, not just relaxing, but easing the tightness they all felt deep inside, being held in such small space.

There was nothing to do but wait.

Wait, and maybe linger in the memories they shared, trying to find something happy in the past, to avoid thinking about the present.

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"What do you mean with 'we're lost'!" Tyson grabbed Robert's arm in a tight grip and looked at him with fury in his eyes.

The older blader barely looked at him, his face calm.

"What I said," He replied calmly. "Tyson, not one of us ever entered this place before, we don't know where we should go."

Tyson blinked, "oh," and released the German's arm.

"We should try to the left," Ray appeared before them, pointing to the corridor at their left.

He had gone off twice, but returned saying the corridors looked all the same.

"Why there?" Max asked.

"I feel a slight breeze coming from that way, maybe it leads to a larger room," Ray replied. "We have no other option than try each one".

Robert shared a look with Johnny who shrugged.

Robert shared a look with Johnny who shrugged.

"Head left," the German ordered to the group.

It took no longer than one minute before they reached a big room that looked like a training area: there were many dishes scattered around and even some training machines; near every dish there was a strange thing that resembled a mechanical launcher BeyBlade ready to be launched.

Tyson whistled.

"What a training room, no wonder they're so good at Blading," he whispered, looking around.

His eyes widened at the sight of a big transparent tube in the far side of the room. It was connected to a big computer-like machine at his right and it was empty. It looked like the one he had seen when he entered the Abbey in search of Kai the first time, when Boris revealed his plans to him, showing that Kai could beat him in no time with Black Dranzer.

Ray followed his gaze and frowned: the huge tube looked rather impressive to him, and he couldn't help but wonder about its purpose.

"This is a training room, but there is no one in here," reasoned Robert, uncertainty lingering in the back of his mind. "Where are all the kids that are supposed to be in here?"

Johnny shrugged but didn't answer as he stepped towards the glassy tube, his eyes narrowing in confusion.

"We found no one around as we walked here," he finally stated. "That's because this is a secure area of the Abbey. I think no one is allowed down here".

Max blinked and cocked his head in wonder as he scratched his chin.

"So what does that mean? That not all people who live in this place know about its real purpose? That not all bladers are trained to dominate the World?"

Johnny nodded.

"That's what I meant, yes," he replied, spotting another door near the tube. "Only the Demolition Boys are trained here, I bet my money on it".

'And Kai,' he added to himself.

"So we will find them down here," Ray reasoned hopefully. "Maybe we can use our BitBeasts like we did before!"

Tyson's face lit up at the thought and he grabbed his BeyBlade, holding it before his eyes.

There was no need for words as Dragoon's chip glowed faintly. Tyson turned towards the corridor they all came from and the glow stopped. He turned again towards the door near the tube and Dragoon glowed brightly.

Tyson beamed happily and motioned his friends to move. Johnny pulled at the handle of the door, but found it locked. The European looked around but found no key, and the door was made of steel so it seemed almost impossible to break through.

Robert glanced at the door in wonder and saw that near it there was a panel with a keyboard. He instantaneously knew that they needed a password to enter, and none of them knew it.

"What now?" Tyson asked, downcast. "If we really need a password, we will never be able to go through there".

Ray nodded and looked around; if Kai was behind that door, he wasn't going to be unmotivated just by some closed door. He wanted to help his friend very badly, not only him but also the Demolition Boys. He glanced at the big computer at their right and nudged Max.

"Now I wish Kenny was here…" he mumbled.

"There's no need of Kenny being here," Robert stepped towards them. "Johnny, come here and search for anything that resembles a password".

Johnny grumbled but complied as he sat down before the huge screen, looking at the keyboard with concentrated eyes. After a second he started typing -not as fast as Kenny would, but quick enough.

"Wow, here I thought you were only good at bickering," Tyson whistled.

The English boy shot him a glare but turned to the screen, confused. "That's written in Russian," he turned to Robert. "Is there anything that may help us?"

"No," the German sighed. "It's just a list of numbers and things I don't know".

They all remained there depressed, not knowing how to work with the password; then Tyson looked up with fiery eyes and stepped before the closed door with a grimace.

"I'm not going to be stopped by this fucking door!" he raged. "Dragoon, destroy the panel!"

Dragoon flew from his launcher and crashed against the keyboard on the wall, smashing it to pieces: discharge started to crackle around the panel and a loud click pealed from the door.

The group beamed as Tyson grinned proudly: when the mind couldn't do it, then it was time to use strength. They opened the door slightly and peered in, finding a long and endless corridor almost completely enveloped by darkness.

With the common agreement, Ray stepped into the dark corridor, followed by Robert and the other teens.

Inside Tyson's BeyBlade, the huge Dragon hoped it had been a good idea. What they would see at the end of the corridor could change their lives completely.

Six years before, Balkov Abbey, Russia

Tala rested his head on the mattress of his bed while he glanced at Kai re-bandaging his wrist carefully.

"(You okay?)" He asked, concerned. "(That has to hurt)".

Kai flashed him a smile and tightened the grip of the bandage before straightening on his own bed. He had gone through another beating session after he tried in vain to protect a boy from Boris' whip.

Of course when Boris went mad like that, it was mere luck he ended up with just a broken wrist -the other boy had died.

"(My wrist hurts but it's bearable,)" Kai replied, looking down at the white bandages. "(I wish I could've saved that boy though)".

Tala shook his head.

"(Stop thinking you can save them all!)" he urged his friend. "(Care about yourself and leave Boris to hurt the boys, they reject you and you still help them! I thought after two years you would understand it,)" he added.

"(Just because you were changed two years ago doesn't mean I was too,)" Kai replied quietly, hiding his wrist under his red glove, not to be seen by Kiya. He knew how he would react if he ever found out: he would look at him with his pleading eyes, feeling hurt for him. He didn't want to hurt Kiya.

"(What?)" Tala blinked. "(What do you mean?)"

In the two years they'd known each other, he'd never asked Kai when he'd been turned, nor had the thought entered his mind.

"(I was turned when I was six,)" he told Tala as he stood up, gritting his teeth in pain. "(Not too long after I entered the Abbey for the first time)".

Tala remained speechless, looking in awe at Kai. Six years old. His grandfather really was a horrible man.

In two years, Tala never met with the Abbey's owner, though Kai was called into the Director's office once a month to talk with his relative, and every time he returned to their shared room bleeding and in great pain.

"(I don't want you to be hurt again,)" Tala whispered, looking at Kai. "(You are the only person I care about, except Kiya that is. But you're different, I can't stand living without you; I care for you more than I do for me)".

Kai blinked and looked at him, raising one eyebrow. All their life together he had never heard Tala talk like this. Kai himself felt something deeper than brotherhood for his red haired friend, but he didn't know what it was, had never ever experienced similar emotions before. He liked Tala a lot, but not the way he liked Kiya, or the way he remembered he used to like his mother. This was something deeper, something strange, and he was quite confused about it all.

As he was about to speak, the door opened and Kiya stepped in, his face showing the same warm smile he was used to wearing.

"(Hey boys, guess what?)" his eyes sparkled as he pointed to his shoulders, and both Kai and Tala were stupefied to see a little boy sleeping on his back.

"(Who's that kid?)" Kai glanced at the sleeping boy with curiosity. "(He's so small!)"

The boy on Kiya's back opened his eyes sleepily and glanced at them with reddish tired eyes of a much lighter colour than Kai's own, tinged with brown. His hair was of a strange colour, violet mixed with blue, but the most surprising thing was his nose: it was so big.

"(His name is Ian,)" replied Kiya, sitting on Tala's bed and carefully laying down the small boy. "(don't guess wrong, he's seven)".

Tala's eyes widened: seven! He looked like he couldn't be older than five!

The boy named Ian blinked again and yawned as he glanced up at the two, a light grimace appearing on his face.

"(What are you looking at!)" he growled, glaring at them. "(Have something to say?)"

Tala smiled lightly and Kai smirked.

"(Nothing –shrimp,)" Tala sneered, with playful voice. Then he turned to Kiya. "(What is he doing here anyway?)"

"(I'm not a shrimp!)" Whined the small boy.

"(No you are not –shrimp,)" replied Kai, not even looking at him.

"(I found him being beaten by some of the older boys because of his nose and I took him away with me,)" Kiya smiled his trustful smile at them. "(I think he'll need someone who can protect him!)"

"(I can take care of myself!)" Ian thumped his fist on the mattress.

"(Sure you can,)" Kiya replied kindly, petting the smaller kid who looked the least scary of them all.

"(He can't stay here,)" Tala prodded. "(They will beat him more if they know he's with the freaks.)"

Ian's eyes flared and he stood proudly on the floor, looking up at them with fiery eyes.

"(I. Can. Take. Care. Of. Myself,)" he stated.

Kiya smiled at him as he prodded him back onto the bed.

"(Da, little one,)" he grinned. "(Oh, and by the way, I got a roommate)" he added, blinking happily.

Both Tala's and Kai's attention turned to him in a flash: they both knew what that meant.

"(I invited him here,)" Kiya stretched. "(So you will meet him and his Beast)".

Ian looked sharply at Kiya, pulling out a blade from his pocket.

"(I've got a Beast too, you know. She will protect me! She's a snake!)"

Tala decided not to point out that Ian previously had said he didn't need protection and instead leaned towards his bey, looking at the Bit Chip.

"(Yeah, you're right, this is a Beast,)" he nodded. "(So what's her name?)"

Ian looked away blushing.

"(She has no name,)" he admitted. "(I couldn't think of a good name for her)".

"(You can call her Wyborg,)" Kai suggested. "(Since you're now stuck in this place, and Tala has a Beast called Wolborg, and you're going to stay with us from now on)".

Ian grimaced, but then grinned.

"(I like how it sounds,)" he smiled happily.

There was a soft knock at the door and Kiya's face brightened.

"(Here they are! Come on!)"

"(Wasn't there just one?)" Kai asked, puzzled.

"(Kind of, I invited Ian's roommate too,)" Kiya smiled again.

Tala and Kai looked at each other and sighed as two boys entered the room. One was well built and had brown eyes and blond hair, the other had light violet hair and clear eyes, and he looked rather scary.

"(Morning,)" the blond one waved his hand slowly. He looked stupid, but the look and the flicker in his eyes told Kai and Tala otherwise. "(It took us awhile to find the way here since some boys thought it would be funny to pick Bryan here up.)" He pointed to the other boy. "(So we had to stop and give them a lesson)".

Bryan growled and looked around, then seated himself on the chair near Kai's bed, glaring at them.

"(What's this thing about staring?)" Ian eeped, looking at Bryan. "(Don't think I'm a coward! I can beat you anytime!)"

"(Sure you can –shrimp,)" Bryan replied in a monotone voice before a small smirk appeared on his face.

"(Hey!)"

Kai smiled; despite the pain firing up his wrist -the serum was keeping his system from healing- and closed his eyes. He had a feeling they were going to become friends.

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MasterFranny: review if you care! And, I am working on the sequel of my other fic, but it will get some time. For the other one, don't let the fact that you cannot vote the pairing stop you from reviewing! You can still tell me your fav couple, we can play that way… -smirks-.