Disclaimer: Don't own it.

Hey all! Thanks to all of you who reviewed last chapter! This chapter is up earlier than expected! I didn't get to write any of this chapter on my school trip because my free time was limited, but I felt I needed to write it. So when I got home, I wrote it. I Honestly do not know when the next chapter will be up, however. The end of the school year is very close by and I'm going to be dealing with a lot of things, such as studying and testing and saying goodbye to all of my friends (my school is a private school that only goes up to the 9th grade so my class and the 8th grade class are pretty close and all of us 9th graders are going our separate ways next year). Plus, as my profile states in 'progress of fics' under 'Wednesday Evenings', as soon as school lets out, I'll be going on a family vacation. I'll try my hardest to write some (possibly all) of the chapter while I'm on vacation and finish the rest when I get back and then type it up. Though, this chapter is mainly about Tala's and Kai's past relationship and both of them trying to let go. So this is a pretty long chapter, longer than any of the others anyway .;;;;. So now that I've bored the hell out of you all, on with the fic!

Thoughts: /blah blah blah/

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Max ran down the stairs, dragging Bryan along behind him. He stopped short on the last step, Bryan nearly running into him. The blond studied the scene before him curiously. There was a shopping bag on the floor, containing a now broken coffee cup that Kai had bought earlier that day. Tyson, who was standing off to the side trying to stay out of everyone's way, hesitantly reached down and picked the bag up, putting it off to the side. Ocean blue eyes flickered back over to Kai and Tala, frowning slightly at what he saw.

Kai was circling around a narrow-eyed Tala, his crimson eyes raking over his lithe form, obviously liking what he saw. His eyes drifted back to Tala's face, a playful smirk upon his lips.

"Nice…very nice."

Max swore he heard Bryan growl from behind him, but he figured he was just hearing things. He glanced back, seeing Bryan glaring daggers at Kai.

/Maybe I wasn't hearing things after all…/

The little blond shrugged to himself and focused his attention back onto Kai and Tala.

Tala raised an eyebrow at Kai's statement, not really knowing what else to do.

/Does he still love me after he just left me at the Worlds without another word? How could he? Why does he? Or is it simply lust now? Whatever. It doesn't matter to me either way. Kai broke my heart the day he left, and he's certainly not getting what's left of it back. He's still my best friend and he deserves a lot better than me. I can't help him through his times of need, but from what Max says about Rei, I bet he can/

Tala snapped out of his thoughts in feeling a strong arm wrap around his waist. Confused, he glanced over his shoulder, expecting to see Kai, but instead, he saw his lilac-haired teammate. The redhead looked up at Bryan, giving him a 'what the fuck' look, but realized Bryan was paying no attention to him for he was glaring at the person directly in front of the two of them, Kai. Tala looked towards Kai and also found him glaring. The two elder Russians were seemingly speaking to each other with their eyes.

Kai reluctantly broke the gaze first, making Bryan smirk. He looked towards Max, who was still standing on the stairs, and gave him a 'come here' look. Kai went into the living room and sat down on one of the couches, expecting the others to do the same.

Max reluctantly shuffled over to Kai, trying desperately to hide the hickey Tyson had given him, but Kai's keen eyes had immediately caught sight of it and they had darkened in anger. The bluenette glared darkly at Tyson, who was still standing off to the side watching Max walk over to Kai. Tyson caught sight of the dark glare pinned on him and quickly decided that it was time to make his exit.

Max nervously took a seat next to Kai, Bryan sitting in the chair on Kai's right and Tala stretching out on the love seat directly in front of them.

Crimson eyes looked at Max expectantly.

"Talk."

Max bit his lip nervously.

"W-Well….you see…Rei's birthday is on Sunday and he's never really had a real birthday party before. So I figured since he's turning 16, we can have a big party for him and invite all the teams! Bryan and Tala just decided to come a few days early so they could spend time with you!"

The blond teen smiled brightly at Kai. It was only a little white lie. Most of it had been true anyway. Rei's birthday really was on Sunday and Max had actually been considering having a big surprise party for him.

Kai sighed softly and rubbed his temples.

"Does he know?"

"No…it's a surprise"

"Where is he?"

"In his room….I think he's sleeping."

Kai nodded and glanced towards Tala and Bryan.

"Where will they be staying?"

Max smiles cheerfully at Kai.

"Oh! Yeah, um, Bryan's rooming with me and Tala's rooming with Rei. I was gonna give them my room and go room with Ty, but Bryan insisted on rooming with me!"

Kai nodded a 'Thank you' Bryan's way and Bryan nodded slightly back.

Tala sat up suddenly, swinging his legs over the side of the couch in a sitting position.

"Max, why don't you go help Bryan unpack?"

Max looked at him curiously before smiling and nodding. He knew Tala was up to something. What, he didn't know yet, but he knew he'd soon find out. Flashing Tala a secret look, he proceeded to drag a now standing Bryan out of the room.

Tala stood up and moved to stand before Kai. Wordlessly, he pulled Kai to his feet.

"We need to talk."

Kai nodded and Tala linked arms with him, leading him outside, beginning to walk around Tyson's extensive yard. He frowned slightly, trying to find the right words. Tala stopped suddenly and unlinked his arm from Kai's. Blue eyes studied thier surroundings curiously. They had wandered over to the big tree not far from the pond. Tala sighed softly and walked over to the tree, leaning against it.

Kai looked at him curiously and moved to stand in front of him.

"Tala? What's wrong?"

Tala looked up at him, his blue eyes not betraying his emotions.

"Kai…I…" He paused, looking down at his feet before looking back up at him, "I…want you to move on…"

Kai looked at him in surprise.

"You know?"

Tala shifted uncomfortably.

"Yeah…I do. Look, I know it'll be hard for you, but you have to do it. I've been there before. When you left me at the Worlds without saying a word I was heart broken. You didn't call for months and before we hung up you didn't even say 'I love you'. So I figured we were over, but my team helped me move on."

Tala paused for a moment before continuing.

" Kai, we both know it would have never really worked out, even though we both loved each other deeply. Though I still love you, I don't love you -that- way. So I'm begging you…please…-please- move on. For both our sakes."

Tala looked down, a single tear threatening to spill from his eye. He silently cursed himself for being so weak. His training at the abbey taught him to hold back these emotions.

Kai frowned and lifted Tala's chin, wiping away the now spilt tear with his thumb.

"Tala…it's not as easy as you make it sound, but I suppose I'll try to, if it's what's best. Though it seems that you have not truly moved on. You still act as though Boris is watching your every move. Don't think I didn't see the shame in your eyes because you shed that one tear. Tell me Tala, how long as it been since you've cried."

Tala tensed when Kai mentioned Boris' name. He looked away, trying desperately to hold it all inside, to keep in the unshed tears that made his eyes shine.

Kai frowned and moved his hand from Tala's chin to his cheek.

"How long?"

Tala bit his lip and looked back towards Kai.

"10 years…"

Kai's eyes widened slightly. Tala hadn't cried since he was 6 years old. Though Kai hated to ask the next question, he was going to have to if he was going to make Tala move on completely.

"Why did you cry that last time?"

Tala blinked back tears, still trying to hold on to his training.

"W-When Boris first touched me…"

Tala shook his head, unable to continue. His voice was shaky, Kai feeling the cold wetness of Tala's tears on his hand. Tala's answer was what they had all feared for years. They all knew Boris had hit Tala, but they could only suspect the other things he did to him.

But at least now Tala was finally letting it all go. Kai pulled the crying teen close, rubbing his back comfortingly. They stayed like that for what seemed like hours before pulling away from each other.

Tala sniffled softly and wiped his eyes, being careful not to smear his eyeliner. He smiled weakly at Kai.

"Thanks…I needed that…"

The bluenette allowed him a half smile.

"I know…but I've been wondering something…"

Tala link arms back with Kai and started back towards the house. He cocked his head to the side cutely.

"Oh? What's that?"

"Are you and Bryan together?"

The redhead teen laughed softly, pushing Kai slightly.

" -NO-! Why would you think that!"

"No reason…he just seems awfully protective over you…"

Tala mock glared at his best friend.

"You know something I don't! Tell me!"

Kai smirked, making Tala look at him curiously.

"He's staked his claim on you, or that's what he told me."

"WHAT! That bastard! Why didn't I know!"

Tala pouted slightly, Kai leading him back into the house. Kai smirked and ruffled Tala's hair slightly.

"Go get cleaned up. I'll see if Bryan and Max are done unpacking."

Tala nodded silently and headed off towards the nearest bathroom

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Rei yawned and stretched, sitting up in bed. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and got up, stretching once again. Rei jumped slightly in hearing a loud knock on the door. The neko-jin frowned slightly, wondering who it could be.

"Come in?"

The door opened, revealing the lithe form of Tala Ivanov.

Golden eyes widened in surprise.

"Tala!"

Tala flashed him a weak smile.

"Hey…um, Max said I could room with you…I would have roomed with him but Bryan already called it…"

"Yeah su—wait. Bryan's here!"

"Yeah, but don't worry. He won't bite…at least I don't think he will…"

"That's reassure…"

The two teens fell into an awkward silence, neither knowing quiet what to say. They were both on opposite sides of the room, Tala leaning against the now closed door and Rei sitting on the edge of his bed.

Rei sighed softly. This was just perfect. His crushes' ex-boyfriend was here, probably trying to win him back. He suspected his dear team captain was probably overjoyed to see him. As much as Rei hated to admit it, the redhead looked more stunning than usual.

Rei hid a frown. He knew that this was going to be a very awkward visit, for the both of them.

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Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Please review! It makes me happy:D.