First, we are two girls writing this story. It's me and then it's Endoh Chiaki. So don't you forget about that!

Disclaimer: We do not own the characters from Beyblade in any way or form. However, this story is fictional and the plot belongs to us only, so copying from this is not allowed without our permission. We do not make any money from this and our goal is to entertain. Enjoy!

Chapter 2

Takao painfully pushed himself through the crowd, holding his hand protectively against his chest and doing his best not to bump into people with his slashed arm. The blood mixed with the water from the heavy downpour, staining his skin in a pink colour. The mumbles and gasps echoed around him and one sentence was repeated over and over.

"We captured a demon"

With a final push, Takao came to the frontline. The ground on which the guards were walking was drenched and reflected the dwell light from the streetlights. Through the rain, the boy's eyes fell upon a large metallic cage carried by two men, one big and heavy blonde and one smaller, lilac haired one. He recognised them as the sanctuary's demon-hunters and he was not without experiences involving those two, Spencer and Ian.

But he did not pay them much attention. His eyes had fallen upon what, or more exactly who, was in the cage. It was the demon, no doubts about it. Takao had never actually seen a demon, just when he was a small child, but this was not what he had imagined them to look like.

His, because it was a 'he', hair had the same colour as pure silver and seemed to end in a darker colour similar to black in the back. His skin was almost covered by the heavy black cloak and the rest of the black outfit. However, Takao could still put it in the same category as ivory. His eyes were covered by wet silver bangs falling before his face where he was sitting, leaning against the cool metal.

'Does every demon look as...special...as he?'

Takao stood up on his toes to see as someone taller than himself got in the way. With a small yelp he fell forward as someone bumped strait into his left side, causing him to loose his balance. With a stumbling movement, he crashed down at the street, at the feet of Spencer.

"What the?" Spencer growled in surprise.

Takao sat himself up and shook his head to get rid of the water he had gained when he crashed into a small pool. He looked at the huge man in fear. It was no doubt about it, he'd been recognised. The blonde smirked.

"Well, well, what have we here?"

He dropped the front of the cage, causing the demon inside to crash in to the now lower part of the cage as Spencer grasped around the boy's neck. Takao hissed but could not do much about it considering his current physical state.

"I thought we killed you the last time we met."

"You know there demons, Spencer. They're slippery."

"I know Ian"

"We'll let him tag along"

"I agree"

"Please, let…go" he whispered, tears blurring his vision somewhat.

"Oh, I don't think so, filth. As one of the keepers of peace in the East sanctuary, I decide that your faith will be no different from his" he growled and pointed at the demon.

When a small movement caught his attention, Takao turned his gaze towards the two-shade-haired demon. He was met by the colour of blood. The demon's eyes were as crimson as red wine. Rills of water travelled down the pale face, causing his hair to stuck to his cheeks, framing the burning orbs.

"Oh, you found a friend?" Spencer's mocking words brought him back to reality. "Don't worry, you'll spend a lot of time together, trust me."

Ian put down the cage and took out a small white staff from the inside of his coat. As he put it against the bars, the demon was drawn towards it. It could only mean that it was a magnetic-capture staff. The metallic collar the demon wore was pressed against the bars, and the staff. With this stuck to his neck as well as to the bars, there was no way the demon would be able to get away.

Spencer opened the door and, with a sadistic smirk, threw Takao inside. The small boy hit the other creature inside hard in the stomach but could not move as he landed in the lap of the demon. The door closed with a shriek and the two men once again picked up the cage and started walking, but not before Ian had pressed the reversed-magnetism button, releasing the creature.

Takao's whole body trembled. He still laid in the demon's lap, but he did not dare to move. Scared beyond words, he curled into a small ball, expecting to be killed any moment.

"You're not a demon"

The voice was smooth and scary, startling the boy even more. His breath quickened and he shut his eyes closed when the demon's hand connected with his arm.

"And you are not human" he slowly opened his eyes and stared up into the dark eyes looking down at him.

"No" he answered, not knowing what else to do.

"What's your name?" the voice was not asking, but commanding the answer, and Takao swallowed.

"Takao" he informed hoarse.

"Well, I can tell you, demon or human, if you don't move away from me, I will kill you this very instant."

That was enough to give back his mobility, and he pushed himself away from the demon. He eyed the guy with both great fear and prying. Not thinking twice, he spoke.

"What's yours?"

The demon blinked several times before collecting himself again.

"What's my what?"

"Your name?"

"Not because I see why that's any of your business, but it's Kai"

"Nice to meet you, Kai!" he held out his hand, but the only thing he was met by was a murderous glare, causing him to quickly draw back. Takao hissed at his hasty action and grasped gently around his injured hand.

"What happened?" this time, Kai sounded a bit softer, but still extremely threatening.

"Nothing, just hurt myself earlier"

Kai let his gaze travel over the small body, and a cool shiver travelled down Takao's spine. The crimson eyed teen chuckled and leant backwards.

"You're not welcome here either, right?"

"That's not true, I've lived here my whole life" the sudden outburst made Kai gaze at him.

"So, your mother was a human" Takao widened his eyes and cut his sentence. "And your father…was a demon"

"…Yeah" the boy whispered, turning his eyes to the floor.

"A child of taboo. A half-breed more hated than anything or anyone else existing on this cursed planet. You have my sympathy, Takao."

"Shut up, you bastard. I don't need your pity. I can survive on my own, I don't need anyone liking me"

"Really? Then tell me, Takao. Why is it that you're still hiding like a cockroach in this city? If you were as independent as you claim, you would have left a long time ago."

"None of your business, Kai"

"Is it that you put faith in humans? Do you believe that they eventually will change their minds and take you in with open arms?"

"Nobody asked you to do a full analyse of my life"

"Or is it that you think you know the humans better than Demons, and therefor chooses to be abused and unwanted wherever you go? Are you afraid of Demons?"

"Shut up, jerk! Why the heck do you care anyway!"

"Are you afraid of me?"

"No"

"You should be"

Kai took Takao's arm in a firm grasp, pulling the boy closer. Takao gasped at the action and desperately tried to get away, with no success. The demon then eyed the slash on the upper part of his arm with a frowning expression, totally confusing the small half-demon.

"Hey!" Ian hit the bars to get their attention. "Cut it out, idiots and get the hell out!"

They had stopped in front of the palace's dungeons. Every criminal captured in the area was put there, for life time. It was a huge cave, fronted by thick, white metal-bars. Inside there was a deep black tunnel. The prisoners were not separated from each other and that caused fights often leading to death.

The cage had been connected to the dungeon door, and was now opened so the two of them could get out into the tunnel. Kai slowly got out to stand safely behind the bars, and Takao hesitantly followed him. The door closed behind them and Spencer chuckled at them.

"Captured like two fishes in the net, this is pathetic. One gives up his freedom to save someone else and the other practically stumble right across my feet. What a lucky night"

Ian nodded and turned to Takao. If not he kills you, someone inside these walls will. After all, no body likes those of your kind." with that said, the two hunters left.

Takao listened to the droplets of water connecting with the ground and frowned at what Ian just had told him. He gave Kai a wary glance and quickly pressed himself against the cold stone wall when it was returned.

"I thought you said you were not afraid of me" Kai smirked triumphantly.

"I-I'm not" Takao mumbled and turned away.

The cold breeze was piercing through his skin, and he quivered. Inside of the cave, it was dry, but not warm. And the fact that he was both wet and hurt did not make the situation any better. Takao folded his arms around his body to protect it from the icy wind, but he could not stop the unwanted quivers.

Suddenly, something was dropped down at his shoulders with a sigh. When recognising it as Kai's cloak he smiled slightly.

"Thanks"

"Don't mention it"

Takao turned to him. His body was muscular but slim and he apparently had a very high body temperature, not getting cold in that thin outfit. Then, something caught his attention.

"You're a bird-demon?" on Kai's back, two fire-coloured wings were now visible. Through this information, Takao observed another trade-mark that of birds, Kai's hands were normal, but the nails looked like a bird's talons.

"Yeah, so?"

"Nothing. Just asked." he tugged at the black cloak. "Won't you be cold"

"No"

That was as much for an answer he would get, and he knew it. Sighing, Takao looked outside the bars.

"What can we do?"

"When did the two of us turn into a 'we'?"

"But I thought…"

"Look, Takao. I'm not befriending you in any way what so ever. You just happen to remind me of someone I know, that's all."

"Oh" he pulled up the collar of the cloak. "I understand"

Kai started to walk further down the tunnel, and Takao grasped around his wrist. The bird-demon turned and glared at the smaller boy.

"What?"

"Where are you going?"

"What does it look like? I'm going on a god damn walk in the summer-sun."

"But, are you going down there? You might get killed"

"So what? As soon as the sun comes up, people are going to gather by this entrance to catch a glimpse of whatever's in here, and I won't stand there as a monkey in a cage!"

"Neither will I, but still…" he looked into the darkness.

"What?"

Takao shook his head.

"Nothing, let's go then. Let's see how far we can get"

"I still don't understand when I got to be a part of a 'we'"

"Alright sunshine, what's your problem?"

"My problem is that you're stuck to me like a fucking plaster"

"I'm not!"

"Well, what then?"

Takao fell silent as they walked side by side through the labyrinth of corridors. The different paths were lighten up by torches, making it easier to see what was before them. It was silent, the only thing to be heard was the steps of themselves.

"How old are you?"

"Huh?" the sudden question took Takao aback and he didn't know what to answer.

"I asked how old you were"

"Fifteen, you"

"Eighteen"

"Wow, you look so much older than that" Kai smirked at the remark.

"And you look so much younger"

"Well, I…hey!" me hissed in an accusing wine.

They reached a larger area, holding a few rags on the floor and food lying on a table at the far end. Takao smiled and rushed forward towards it. It had all sorts of things; grapes, chicken, bread, pork, vegetables, potatoes, apples among others. It was more food than Takao had ever seen. As he dug in to a chicken leg, Kai quirked an eyebrow.

"What?" Takao said with food in his mouth.

"Have you never seen food before or what's the deal?"

"No, well, yeah, but this is so much of it. I had no idea there was this much food!"

"You're kidding me, right?"

Takao shook his head and grabbed an apple. Kai sighed and leant against the wall, arms folded and eyes shut. Takao jerked his shoulders and continued his meal. He suddenly froze, dropping everything he held in his hands. The sound came closer and he was able to tell they were the voices of two men.

"Stir your stumps, idiot!"

"I'm sorry, Lee, but it's your fault for getting me into that fight! It hurts walking!"

"My fault? Well, Johnny, what can I say to that, except that you're a fucking wimp!"

"Okay, that's it! I'm gonna…" the red-haired paused and stared at the boy.

Takao quivered at the confused glare he received. One of them had red hair and lavender coloured eyes, fangs showing. The other too had his fangs showing–vampires.

"What the hell?" Lee growled irritated. "What do you think you're doing? Do you think we give away our food without payment?" the vampire lunged forward and pinned him to the ground.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know it was yours"

"Like I care. We do not feed shrimps if we don't get anything in return!"

Takao found himself stare into dark golden orbs, totally paralyse his movements.

"I'll pay you back! I promise!"

"I know you will, and I know that because I'm gonna make you this very moment!"

The guy roughly let his hand travel down under the tunic and with his claws, dug deep into the flesh and the boy gasped. He could not get away from the vampire, and he had no chances of defending himself. Without thinking, he screamed.

"KAI!"

"…What?"

Both Lee and Johnny turned towards where the scream had been pointed, confused. Johnny trembled slightly when he realised what it was that was standing in front of him, but Lee just gave a loud 'humph'.

"Does he belong to you?" the vampire asked the bird-demon in a surprisingly polite way.

"…No"

"Then can we claim our payment the way we want?"

"You can"

"YOU BASTARD!" Takao shrieked at the state.

"If we can stay here for the night, and we can eat what we want, that is!"

"Of course, feel free to stay as long as you wish" Lee smirked

"KAI?" Takao was getting desperate, and he did not know what to do.

"You have to learn to correct your own mistakes, Takao. First lesson you should have learned by now."

"Takao" Lee tasted the name. "That sounds like a little kid. How old are you? Would it be a horrible crime if you got killed?"

"He's fifteen" Kai informed from his position on a pillow, munching on a pear.

"Fifteen, eh? Well, that's close enough" he bent over and bet Takao's arm hard, causing blood to flew freely.

Takao groaned and tried to get away, but it did not work. Johnny sat down by his side, glancing over his body with hunger.

"You know what we're accused of?" he whispered into the boy's ear. "murder and sometimes in Johnny's case, rape"

"No shit" Kai's sarcastic comment made them both chuckle.

"Fine, do it. It's not the first time someone wants me to pay in a disgusting way" Takao whispered, close to tears by the treatment.

"Good boy" Lee dragged him to a sitting position, and pulled of his grey tunic after removing the two cloaks. he then lifted the boy up in his lap, making him straddle his waist. Johnny dug his teeth deep into the skin of Takao's shoulder.

"You sure you don't want to join?" Lee sneered at Kai's direction. "You are a demon, after all"

Kai just glared at him.

"I prefer to be alone, and I also prefer women"

"Suit yourself" Johnny laughed and forced his tongue inside the boy's mouth, tarring into the lips with his fangs, at the same time as Lee bet his already hurting hand.

Takao whimpered as they pressed him down against the hard rock. Lee smirked at the injuries still pretty fresh over his skin.

"Seems like we're not the only ones to take advantage of your cute ass, little human"

"Half-breed"

"What?" Lee murmured as he and Johnny shared the space on Takao's body.

"He's a half-breed"

"Really? That means that this is not a crime, and that explains the alien taste. How boring, you have to make that up to us, Takao" the vampire growled and flipped the boy around so that he had his back upwards.

The boy cried in pain as Lee dug his teeth into his shoulder, but the vampire did not care about it. Johnny lifted his head by the hair and forced him into another blood-filled kiss, and he had to gasp for air.

He cried, as never before. It hurt, more than the earlier forms of abuse he'd been through.. His resistance was weakening, and there as nothing he could do, no one was going to help him. No one. He was alone.

A heavy weight suddenly fell upon his back and he choked at his loss of air. Blood was dripping down at the floor underneath his face, but it was too much to me his own.

"…Enough" the words caused him to turn his head upwards. "That's enough."

"But…you said we could have him" Johnny yelled as his comrade fell to the side, head no longer attached to his body.

"So I did"

"Then why?"

"Because you did not ask for HIS permission"

Takao folded his arms around his blood-stained body and gazed at the demon in disbelief. Kai took one step forward and cut deep into the throat of Johnny with the dagger he had exposed, and the limp body fell to the floor.

It was silent, the only thing to be heard was the breathing of the two lonely figures standing in the cave. Kai slowly put the dagger away.

"Put your clothes back on"

Takao did as he was told, but hesitated when he came to the black cloak. He walked forward towards Kai and held it for him to take.

"I believe this is yours"

"Yes" he accepted it back and hung it over his red wings.

"Why did it take so long?" the small boy smiled weakly.

"Don't know what you're talking about."

"You saved me"

"I was just wasting some time, that's all"

"Maybe you do have a heart somewhere in that frozen body of yours"

Though, Kai did not seem to be listening. He had pulled out a small bag and was in progress of untying it. Takao leant forward.

"What're you doing?"

"It is time"

"Time for what?"

Kai turned the bag, and grey ash slowly fell to the ground. It gathered in a pile, and Takao quirked and eyebrow.

"What…"

"Hush, be silent"

Takao clamp shut his mouth and stared at the pile. At first, nothing seemed to make it any different from ordinary ash, however, it soon started to glow like an ember. The half-demon widened his eyes as the ashes started to move, making quiet chirping sounds. From the gray substance raised, a red and yellow bird.

"Wow. It's gorgeous! But what is it?"

"A phoenix. She died a few hours ago, just before I was captured."

"She…died? Then how come she's here?"

"If a phoenix dies a natural death of age, it burns up, just to be reborn from the ashes"

"She's beautiful" they both turned their attention towards the opposite wall when a noise could be heard. Light streamed from a newly opened side door, causing them both to blink and raise their arms to protect their eyes.

"Takao!"

Takao's heart skipped a beat at the voice. He recognised it so well, and he had never felt so relieved.

"Rei!"

The newly arrived boy ran forward and captured Takao's small body in a tight hug. His feline ears laid flat against his black hair, and his tail waved back and forward. He too had his fangs showin and his pupils widened in the dwell light –he was a neko-jin.

"You idiot. How the hell did you end up down here? Lucky for you I was on duty and just happened to watch the cameras! What the hell happened?...You look like shit!"

"It's a long story. Can we take it later?" Rei nodded at the request.

"Of course, but now we have to get you out of here…and clean you up a little"

"What about Kai?"

Rei turned to stare at the demon, who was watching quietly from where he stood, holding his female phoenix in his hands.

"Thank you for watching over Takao, but I'm afraid I can not take you away from here" Everyone knew that the feline boy had to swallow all of his disgust just to form the words, but no one paid it any attention.

"I'm not dumb, I understand that perfectly" Rei nodded and turned back to Takao.

"Come on now."

Just as they were about to leave the dungeons behind, Takao turned around.

"Kai?"

"What?"

"I'll return for you"

"Don't bother"

"I will, and when I do…"

"Then what?"

"Will you and…"

"Dranzer" Kai supplied.

"Do you and Dranzer want to come and get away from this town with me?"

Kai looked down at Dranzer and made a chirping noise. The phoenix returned the chirp with another melody and Kai looked back up at the boy who was glowing with expectation.

"…Fine, we will"

Tbc