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 andourgoal is to entertain. Enjoy!

Ehm...Sorry for taking so long for the update, didn't intend to, but I have so much to do, and I've really tried to finish it earlier...without success. Hope I'm forgiven!

Chapter 3

The half-demon gazed around the room. It was huge with white walls and several kinds of machines. A huge energy-sphere of some sort was hovering over his head and others, just like it, were placed around the area. He hissed at the stinging pain on his arm and clenched his teeth together.

"I'm sorry" the neko-jin said, then returned to cleaning and bandaging the wounds.

"It's alright"

Takao looked down at the black-haired feline and smiled. Directly after leaving the dungeons behind, his friend had taken him there, to the medical care department.

"So, Takao, what were you doing down there with that thing?"

"Thing? You mean Kai?"

The neko nodded and put the bandages away.

"They caught me after they caught him, and then brought us to the dungeons."

Rei looked up at him with his golden eyes, and kept the look for a few seconds, as if reading the smaller boy's body-language. He then nodded and sat down beside him.

"You won't do that, will you?"

"Huh?"

"What you said to that creep down there. You won't free him, right?"

"Yes I will. He saved me from those vampires, did he not?"

"Takao, demons never do anything for someone else unless it benefits themselves. I don't trust them one bit!"

"But you trust me"

The neko chuckled at the observation. Indeed, he trusted the half-breed with his life if it ever proved to be necessary.

"Of course I do, but you're not a demon now, are you?"

"I'm part…hey, you already know that!"

The feline chuckled again, painfully resisting the urge of rolling his eyes.

"Yes, I do. But it's different with you. You're not brought up with demons, meaning you haven't copied their lifestyle." he rubbed his temples. "They are evil beasts, be careful around them!"

Takao nodded. Rei was probably right. He knew what he was talking about. After all, he had his whole village destroyed because of demons a couple of years ago.

"TAKI! REI-CHAN!"

The sudden shout caused them both to cover their ears, and Rei growled low in his throat, showing his fangs in annoyance.

"Maxine-san, you dip shit! Can you stop screaming all the time! And how many times do I have to say that his name is not Taki! It is Takao!" the feline grumbled and sighed.

"Whatever" the spoken teen smiled happily.

The boy whom Rei had referred to as Maxine had spiky blond hair and blue eyes. But the Germanic appearance was not why he stood out as much as he did. Maxine rose his left hand and ran it through his hair, causing it to cling when the metal on his hand connected with that on his left side of the scull and it clattered when he walked towards them, making the over all appearance pretty peculiar indeed.

Max was wearing a one-sleeved white turtleneck along with white pants, ending just above his knees. he had a metal belt around his waist from where many tools and cords hung. On his left shoulder, a turkey plate of some sort had been attached. His right leg was also covered with a high turkey/silver boot, ending where the pants started. However, the metal covering his left cheekbone and part of his cheek and neck could not be covered, and the fact that he wasn't all human anymore was well known.

"Well, what…Oh my god!" as the boy got closer, he noticed how Takao was wrapped into bandages. "What happened to you?"

"He was captured by Spencer and Ian, then thrown into the dungeons."

Max frowned at the information, but then shook his head.

"That's not it. What happened to you before that, Taki?"

"I was attacked." the half-demon murmured, wanting to avoid the subject.

"What? You did not tell me that. By whom?" Rei said, not taking his eyes from the midnight-haired fifteen-year-old.

"I think their leader's name was Ozuma"

Max and Rei exchanged looks before Rei sighed and stood up.

"That explains it. It's Dunga who beat you up, right?"

Takao nodded, his eyes filling with tears at the memories of the night. The feline smiled weakly and pulled him into an embrace, which Takao returned, though jerking at the pain that shot through his chest. Max sighed and looked down at the floor with sad eyes. Then he suddenly jerked, causing the other two to look at him.

"Maxine-san? What's wrong?" Rei asked in an extremely worried tone. Max rose his hand and turned a small wheel located between the eye and the ear at his metallic side, and an screen went to cover his eyes, along with an virtual keyboard that appeared in front of him.

"Whoa! I've got to get me one of these!" Takao beamed, apparently impressed.

"Mom called" Max murmured, now not taking any notice of the boy's words. "Something is happening at the walls. She want me to get the defence system up and running." he typed something on the keyboard and went to a larger screen. "All the protectors has been summoned to the eastern courtyard, including you Rei, so you better get going. All civilians are to take cover, immediately."

"What's happening?" Takao asked when Rei jumped to his feet.

"Where under attack" he summed up and then ran off, tail swaying behind him, ears flat against his head.

At the next moment, something crashed into the house, making a pair of the energy spheres to fall down at the ground. Takao covered his head as he jumped to the side, nearly crying out because of the pained condition his body was in.

"Max! We gotta get out of here!" he shouted to the blonde.

"I can't do that." the cyborg (yes, indeed a cyborg) replied and ran forward to a large computer. He quickly attached a bunch of cables and clips to his metallic part of the face, and then connected them with the machine.

"What are you talking about? You just had to start that damn system and then you can get out of here!"

Max sat down in the chair and put on a black glove over his left hand, turning small wheels and pushing several buttons, pulling a strange helmet over his head.

"That's why I have to stay!"

"But the defence-system…"

"I am the defence-system" he murmured and closed his eyes.

Takao stared at him, trying to keep his jaw from dropping all the way down to the floor. He had known Max to be an intelligent human-being, but that he was part of the sanctuary's safety-system, he had never guessed.

"Uhm…okay…" he murmured, now unsure what to do. Max gazed at him through the corner of his eyes.

"Go, Taki. Run and hide like everyone else!" People were starting to gather in the room, starting the computer systems. A tall blonde woman and one shorter brunette came to where Max was sitting.

"Max, start system 1x-30, and make sure the city's barriers will hold." she commanded quickly.

"You got it mom" he smiled and typed in a code on the screen.

The half-demon backed away slightly and bumped into the brunette girl. Turning towards her, he was met with both annoyance and confusion.

"All the civilians are to take cover! And that includes you!"

"It's alright sis´" Max laughed from where he was sitting. "I know him, right Taki?"

"I don't care, all civilians must take cover, and that includes Taki as well!" she repeated the message.

"Actually, my name is Takao…not Taki…" seeing the response he got from the girl wasn't positive, he smiled nervous "…on the other hand, I'll obey the order, see ya Maxine!" with that, he turned and ran off, the exact moment the lights went out.

'Yippee' he rolled his eyes when he rounded a corner. 'where the heck is the exit?'

The young boy had only been in the palace before, around when he met Rei, but he couldn't find his way through the corridors despite of that. Without the lights, it was like searching a labyrinth. Finally, he stopped, nearly giving up and in need for air. His chest hurt pretty badly.

Nothing but noise from outside the walls could be heard, and Takao listened to it for several seconds before starting to actually use his (excuse for a) brain.

Finding the exit was a goal he would never achieve, but what about the dungeons? He had come from there recently, hadn't he? If he found those, he might find a way out, and then he could keep his promise as well.

He turned direction and ran back. Coming to a halt where the corridors parted into two, he chose the right, and continued his path. The corridor seemed to go on forever, before finally, he felt the space between himself and the walls grow, meaning he had reached the severance room, again meaning that the door he was looking for was somewhere to his left.

He placed his hands on the wall-surface and felt it. It didn't exactly feel like rock, but he knew the door felt different than the rest. Slowly, he walked along the wall, touching the flat surface.

The material shifted to something hard and cold –the door. Releasing a sigh of relieve, he turned the handle, only to find it being locked. This time, it was a sigh of defeat that escaped his mouth and he ran his hand over the lock. It was a simple construction (depending on from who's POV you're looking) and it would not take long to unlock it, and he smiled.

Fumbling in the darkness, he used his claws as tools and ran them in different directions over the gaps in the surface. Merely a few seconds passed before the door clicked and gave a squeaking sound as it opened. Takao smirked triumphantly –being the street-rat he was, locks had never been a problem of his.

The light inside of the prison was made from torches, which luckily hadn't gone out. The half-demon peeked inside, warily aware of the fact that it was the location in which they had run into those vampires.

There was no movement to be seen, and Takao relaxed a little. The ground shook a little when something crashed into the facility he just emerged out of, and he had a hard time standing on his feet. He wobbled inside and the door slammed shut behind him.

"Just great!" he growled and kicked the surface with as much force he could bring, realising that hadn't been the best idea as a sharp pain went through his foot.

Cursing, he turned and ran down the tunnel. His body felt stiff and heavy, but it didn't really bother him. What bothered him though was that no matter how far he went down the dungeon, he couldn't find anything alive. Stumbling along the hard rock surface, he was abruptly cut to an halt when a huge piece of the ceiling fell down, that, if not for his inhuman reflexes, would have crushed him.

As he managed to land on his feet a few steps away, he gasped for air. He coughed and put his hand at his troubling chest. It hurt to move. He didn't really understand why and frowned with frustration. Then, a loud sound from above caught his attention. seeing as an huge boulder was on it's way down, he tried to jump to the side, but failed miserably.

Landing on his side because of his pained breathing, he couldn't do more than cover himself. He curled up and put his hands over his face and preparing himself for the impact.

The impact never came. He felt like if hovering, without moving –not the most promising feeling. Opening his eyes, he found himself tucked to someone's chest. He rose his gaze and looked into the face of Kai.

The crash when the boulder hit the floor reached him and he jerked frightened, but stayed in the grip, feeling somewhat like a complete idiot.

Landing by the wall, Kai exhaled almost unnoticeable and put the half-demon down. They stared at each other without speaking. Whilst Takao now had all his wounds bandaged, Kai was covered in blood and Takao widened his eyes, forgetting about the humiliating experience he'd just suffered.

"What happened to you?"

"None of your business." was the sour response he received and he glared at the taller boy who stroke the red substance from his face.

"Okay then, fine, be that way you big jerk! While you've been running around here and apparently living the wild life, I've been…"

"Shut up, and follow me"

Takao growled low in his throat but did as he was told, doing his best to keep up with the demon. He didn't want Kai to know, but he couldn't quite keep the same speed as him. Suddenly putting a foot in a crack on the floor, he fell to the side and crashed into the wall. Groaning, he rose to his knees.

"Ow…ow…ow…ow!" he whined as two feet got visible in front of him.

"Honestly, what the hell are you doing? Were you born under a rock or something?" The blue-haired demon snorted angered.

"NO! I wasn't thank you very much!" the floored boy growled, sitting up and leaning against the wall. Kai eyed him perplexed from where he stood. "What?" Takao finally snapped.

"Are you just going to sit there?"

"So what if I am! It's none of your business" the half-demon sneered, getting back with the same response that Kai had given him.

"Oh aren't we a smart-ass?" Kai smirked and put out his arm for Dranzer to land.

"Yes we are."

Kai glared at the arrogant half-breed while stroking the bird's feathers. he sighed and growled loudly in frustration.

"God, you're just the same as he is, stubborn as a fucking donkey! And that's not a compliment, believe me!"

Takao blinked in surprise, but didn't move.

"Like whom?" he asked.

"None of yo…Forget it!" the bluenette sighed with fatigue and shook his head. "Rise to your feet, moron, if you don't want to be trapped here for all future!"

Takao slowly stood, but taking a step forward, he fell down on one knee. Cursing, he tried once again with the same result. Kai rose an eyebrow at the failure.

"Don't tell me I have to carry you…!" he muttered, annoyed.

"YOU DON'T!" he snapped and tried again. despite of his determination, he stumbled forward, right into the arms of the demon. He stiffened and Kai rolled his eyes.

"If you wanted me to carry you that bad, you could have just said so" Takao's eyes shot daggers at him, but he wasn't received the time to reply as the elder teen picked him up, bride style, and started running towards the exit.

Takao blushed slightly and but kept his mouth shut. After all, he couldn't really walk by himself so that the demon helped him was a good thing…was it not?

The cave once again shook violently and rocks fell down to the ground around them. Takao clenched his hands shut at the other's shirt and yelped when a large boulder emerged from the ceiling and landed a mare inches from where Kai just had lifted his foot.

"Fucking crap!" the bird-demon growled and quickened his steps.

Coming to an halt behind the white bars, Kai put the boy down. Takao walked forward and grabbed the bars and looked outside. The air was filled with thick smoke and shrieks along with the deafening explosions and battle shouts.

"How are we going to get out?" Takao asked and turned to Kai.

Kai chirped to the red female-bird and she flew outside.

"…I sent her to find keys" the bluenette answered the unspoken question from Takao.

"Wow, she must be eerily attached to you"

"…Eerily?"

"How did you meet her?"

"I don't know"

"Sure you do, tell me!"

"I can't remember"

Kai held a distant expression, as if thinking of something else and Takao frowned.

"Can't remember my ass" the half-demon mumbled, rolling his eyes and with that receiving a glare from the taller boy.

A loud shriek revealed the phoenix's return. In her claws, she was carrying a shiny silver-key. Kai smirked and allowed the red bird to land on his arm, after dropping the key into his hand. Takao jerked at the curses coming closed from outside the bars somewhere to their left, and he turned to the demon who was in progress of unlocking the door.

"Would you mind hurry that, you snail!"

Kai looked over at him very surprised and chuckled when he turned back towards the lock. With a 'click', it went open.

"Okay, come on!"

Takao followed the order and swept his arms around the taller boy's neck as he was picked up. Feeling a little foolish, he glared down at the ground and therefor didn't notice the reason to why Kai suddenly dropped him down at the ground. He yelped when he connected with the hard surface and groaned at the aching in his chest.

"So, you managed to escape, huh?"

The grumbling voice belonged to Spencer, who presently held the demon above the ground in his collar. The light eyes sparkled with anger and amusement, and he half dropped, half threw Kai down at the ground.

"Hey! Pick someone your own size, jerk!" Takao growled and ran forward. But without his full strength available, he was no match for the heavy man who kicked him away instantly. Crying out in pain, he put his arm over his chest to protect it from further damage.

"For that, you're going to pay!"

The half-breed rose his head and looked at the bird-demon who now stood on his feet again, offensives and defensives on full alert. The huge blonde smirked at the threat/promise.

"And why's that, freak? Don't tell me you actually care for that bloody monster."

At that insult of the half-demon, Kai rose of the ground, using his wide wings. The red feathers reflected the dim sunlight, and Spencer covered his eyes from the dust that emerged from the ground. In a movement too quick for him to detect, Spencer was pinned to the ground from above, and he growled in surprise and fury.

"You are the monster!" Kai said through clenched teeth. "He's just a kid, you fucking bastard"

Takao watched them with both fear and confusion. Where did that protective attitude come from? Why was Kai protecting him so harshly?

Spencer glared at the demon.

"A kid, huh? A kid that steals, pick fights, escape and make the life miserable for everyone in this sanctuary? He's a filthy thief!"

Another explosion echoed around the walls of the city, and screams cried in the early morning.

"And what choice have you left him, if I may ask?"

"Don't you dare blame his crimes on us, you devil! We took good care of his mother and when she died, he went berserk!"

"Oh really. And how did his mother die then?"

Takao shifted his position, feeling uncomfortable and the muffled sound caught the demon's attention. The midnight-haired teen scratched his head at the questioning gaze he received.

"Can we go now?" he asked hopefully.

Kai studied his small frame on the ground for a few seconds before releasing the blonde. Wings swaying behind him, he walked over to where Takao sat and gently picked him up, careful not to hurt him further.

"Aw, ain't you two cute" Spencer taunted as he got to his feet, receiving a death-glare from the fiery demon.

"If you value your life, I'd suggest you take of before I loose my patience"

Spencer did not argue. Casting the small boy a hateful smirk, he turned and left. The bluenette mumbled several curses as he walked in the other direction, and Takao smirked.

"What?" Kai snapped.

"You sure are a funny character" was the answer he received.

Fearing that they might be found, they stayed in the shadows of the burning buildings. Everywhere, the ground was stained with blood and dead bodies. The noise from the living people and the explosions was deafening, and Takao, with his fine hearing, had to cover his ears causing Kai to roll his eyes. Several of the city's protectors ran by and Takao widened his eyes at the ones that followed them -They were demons.

Kai shook his head and backed further into the shadows of the alley, dragging Takao with him.

"What's going on? Why are they attacking us?"

"Because, they want to put this sanctuary into ruins"

Both looked up at the side wall where the reply had come from. The black hair hung loose in wild tresses that swayed in the breeze, and his eyes were now mare slits, tail hanging down behind him.

"Rei." Takao whispered.

The feline jumped down on the ground and placed himself in front of Kai, a hateful and hostile expression playing over his face. His ears laid flat against his head and his tail wriggled back and forth.

"Hello kitty cat" Kai smirked amused, and Rei hissed at him.

"Hey, hold on a second!" Takao waved his arms I n the air. "This is not the time to fight! We gotta get out of here!"

Rei sighed and calmed himself, although reluctantly. He looked outside of the small passage to the alley, and turned back.

"You" he pointed at Kai. "Do you know somewhere safe to run?"

Kai nodded at the question.

"Yes"

"Will you take us there?" the amber-eyed neko-jin asked commandingly.

"Sure, but I do nothing for free"

Rei narrowed his eyes.

"So, what do you want?"

"Nothing yet, but you will owe me!"

The neko growled and ran his hand over his face. It was clearly visible that he hated the situation and that if it weren't for Takao, he would never agree to it.

"Fine" he roared aggravated. "But I will hold you to your words!"

"Do what you want, but right now, there's no time. Anything you sissies want to brig with you? Because when they're finished here, there won't be a building standing."

Rei took the question under consideration and looked up at the castle.

"Yes. Actually, there is." He gracefully jumped up at the wall and took off, leaving the two behind.

Kai sighed annoyed and sat down at the ground, with dranzer that landed on his shoulder. Takao eyed him thoughtfully. The blood that covered his body had started to dry up.

"Does it hurt?" He asked and Kai looked up at him.

"No" he stated simply. "It's not my blood."

Takao nodded and sat down at the wall, hissing at the pain shooting through his chest, earning a glance from Kai.

"What did you do?" he asked the half-demon.

"I don't know."

Kai smirked and leant backwards.

"Fair enough."

They sat in silence, listening to all the commotion around them. It was strange, despite that Takao had lived in the eastern sanctuary for his whole life, and knew most people pretty well, he didn't pity them, nor felt sorry for them, and it troubled him.

"Kai?"

"What?"

"I'm hungry."

The demon chuckled and leant his head against his hand.

"You don't say"

"Hey, I'm serious!"

He didn't receive and answer, and he grumbled a bit offended with the knowledge that the demon didn't care one bit.

Then, someone landed before them, and Takao jumped to his feet, which naturally he shouldn't have done. Clenching his teeth together, he looked over at the neko.

"About bloody time!" Kai snapped and stood up, coming to an halt when he saw what Rei was carrying. "What is that?"

Re glared at him. Although the neko was a bit shorter than the demon, he was feisty and fiery all the same, though, he was also easily angered.

"That is Mizuhara Maxine" he growled, referring to the fainted blonde in his arms.

"Whatever!" Kai muttered and picked Takao up again. Takao didn't do any resistance, and wrapped his arms around the demon's neck.

"Takao?" Rei said warily.

"It's okay, Rei."

The neko nodded and placed himself behind the bluenette, carrying his friend tucked to his chest. Kai peeked outside and nodded to say that the coast was clear.

They moved quickly through the doomed city. Except for the screams and cries from the inhabitants, it was quiet…too quiet.

"We got to move faster!" Kai grumbled and turned to the feline. "How fast can you run?"

"A lot faster than this, and a lot faster than you" the neko smirked.

"Then I suggest you get moving. Meet us at the main entrance!" with that said, the demon rose into the sky.

From his position in Kai's arms and a good thirty meters into the air, Takao could cast a quick analyse on the damage the sanctuary had suffered. The palace was demolished to the ground and the rest of the buildings didn't look that spared either.

As quickly as they had left the ground, they landed again, outside of the walls. A few moments after they'd arrived, Rei came in sight. He really was fast, like a cheetah when he wanted.

"Where to?" the neko asked and looked at the demon.

"Follow me!" the feline did as he was told without any further questions.

"What's the hurry?" Takao rolled his eyes and yawned. "We're already outside!"

"Moron" was all he got for an answer and he glared at the crimson-eyed teen.

As they reached the forest, they dove in behind the trunks and down behind a huge rock at the same time the sound of a deafening explosion rolled around them, causing everything to dim in smoke. Takao screamed and covered his ears and Kai pressed him down against the ground, protecting him with his own body. Rei too had to cover his ears whilst he protected Maxine in the same way Takao was protected.

When everything finally settled, Takao opened his eyes and found himself underneath Kai's body, staring into his face, and he blushed badly.

"He-hey, get off me!" he murmured weakly.

Kai, however, just stood to his knees so that he straddled the half-demon's waist, and Takao went dark red. The demon smirked at the reaction, then picked the boy up again. Rei too rose to his feet, Maxine still in his arms.

"Now what?" he asked, ears pointing straight upwards.

Kai started to walk without replying, and Rei growled but followed. Takao turned his head and looked at what used to be the east sanctuary. He sighed and tucked himself closed to the demon's chest. What had been his only home for fifteen years, was now…completely gone.

Tbc