A/N: I am soooo sorry guys! I had such a horrible case of writers block that it took me five freaking tries to get this chapter the way that I wanted it. Plus has been all wonky with my computer, and I have been trying to update this for seriously like, 2 weeks but...nadda! Anyway, I am again, sorry for the wait, and do not worry! I believe my creativity has returned, and I think you're going to like this next one. Oh! And I kinda went on a frenzy now that I've found my muses again, and I am posting a Kai/Tala/Rei fic called Red Angel, as well as a Kai/Tala called Racing Time. Check 'em out if you like!

Disclaimer: I don't own BeyBlade. None of it. I simply use the characters in my poor attempt at honing my skills as an author.

...

For the first time in a very long time, Kai felt a wide grin spreading across his lips as Boris was hauled away by Russian officials on the T.V. screen in front of him. Tala laughed maniacally, turning quickly to the phone to call Bryan, leaving the room with laughing sapphire eyes. He connected with his lover almost instantly, and the other teen shook his head as his friends began rapidly spewing out their native tongue in such a way that it was barely discernable, even though it was their first language.

Forgetting coffee on the counter, the blunette flicked off the program, taking the stairs two at a time to reach the shower. His heart was swelling against his ribs, and he was getting restless. He wasn't stupid enough to believe that he was out of the woods yet, but this small sliver of hope demanded attention.

...

"Rei!" a cheerful voice cried from the kitchen.

Slowly the tiger sat up, rubbing his eyes angrily with a closed fist. It was Saturday. And on Saturday, it was his constitutional right to sleep in.

"Rei get you're lazy ass out of bed! NOW!" the blonde hollered for good measure.

Groaning in the realization that he'd never get back to bed, the tiger stretched before dragging himself to the kitchen. Max was practically bouncing where he stood, holding the phone out to him.

"It's Kai," the American teen grinned widely. Suddenly wide awake, the neko lunged for the phone.

"Hello?"

"Channel eight. I highly recommend it, I just loved the performance."

Rei giggled madly at the hint of the smirk in the older teen's smooth tenor. Quickly, he turned on the small set on the counter, flipping through the channels. A gleaming fang slipped over his bottom lip as Kenny ended what ever he'd been reporting in favor of a video clip.

Tipping his head slightly to the side, the tiger watched curiously as a middle-aged man wearing dark sunglasses and a billowing cloak was hauled from his house and shoved non-to-lightly into the back of a police car. He sneered.

"Is that Boris?"

"The one and only," the Russian sighed. Scrunching up his nose, the Chinese teen flicked off the T.V. before flopping down into the couch.

"You don't sound too happy..." he trailed off, slightly hurt.

"When I see him? No, I'm not generally happy."

"Well I'm glad I could help," he answered sarcastically.

"But..." Kai paused, seemingly unsure. "You did."

Rei smiled as he sat down lightly at the kitchen table. There was something different about his voice this time. The normally stoic teen had let his guard down, if only for a moment.

"I know," he answered softly, frowning as an awkward silence settled in.

"Yeah, well," the Russian started up again. "I'll see you around."

"Kai wait!" the Chinese teen gasped, an idea lighting up the bulb suspended over his head. "Would you like to come over for dinner?"

There was no response from the other end for so long that the tiger was starting to believe that he'd already hung up.

"I'd like that." Rei smiled so brightly just then, that even Max stared up from his bowl of cereal.

"Does five sound good?" he practically purred.

"See you then." With that, the line went dead.

For a long time after he'd hung up, the ebony-haired teen simply sat at the table, grinning as if he'd just won the lottery. Which, wasn't so far from the truth, but it was unnerving his blonde friend.

"Hello? Earth to Rei!" Blinking, said teen turned, his grin far from gone.

"Maxie? I need a favor." Tipping his head curiously to the side, the American teen regarded the other suspiciously.

"Oh yeah? Like what?"

"Can you find a place to crash tonight?"

Blue eyes lit up in realization, and forgetting his cereal on the coffee table, the petit teen pounced his older friend happily.

"Just promise me one thing, he winked. Rei cocked an eyebrow.

"And what's that?"

"Just not on the couch, okay dude?"

Initial shock registered in golden eyes as the words tumbled from pale pink lips, but the neko was laughing as he pushed his, obviously too enthusiastic, friend off his shoulders.

"Maxie you pervert! He's coming over for dinner!"

"Whatever you say," he waved him off dismissively. But, as he stood, brushing himself off, he picked up the cordless phone before taking it into his room and shutting the door.

Shaking his head, the tiger sighed contentedly before pouring himself a bowl of cereal. Now he had all day to decide what he wanted to make for dinner.

Crunching thoughtfully on his breakfast, the Chinese teen brought himself back to the other day when he and Kai had been together in the coffee shoppe. The older teen had taken cream and sugar in his drink.

Taking another spoonful to his mouth, he weighed the possibilities. If that was any indication as to the others tastes, then it was clear that he preferred relatively flavored things to bitter/dry ones. With that in mind, he began wracking his brain for the perfect dish.

Finishing his cereal, he pushed the bowl away. He didn't know any Russian dishes, but he doubted that Kai would like the idea very much anyway. One doesn't leave a country to find it everywhere else.

He wrinkled his nose at the thought of most pasta's that came to mind. He wasn't very good at them, and he didn't trust himself to cook the sauce correctly. It would either turn out like broth or like stew. Either way, it made him visibly cringe at the memories. And he sure as hell wasn't making hamburgers...or hotdogs.

Suddenly, a thought struck him. He hadn't prepared any of those dishes since he'd moved in with Max, but he remembered them perfectly. How could he not? He grew up on the stuff. Running down a mental list of his favorites, he paused, stopping on one he found particularly pleasing. He'd have to go shopping, but it'd be worth it.

Just as he was standing, his friend entered, hanging up the cordless, and flashing Rei a thumbs-up.

"I'll be at Miriam's tonight. She's got an extra room in her apartment now that Kevin's moved out." The tiger pondered this.

Miriam was a puzzle to him. They'd met at the University, she was a class below them and generally, she wasn't a person that the neko would suggest any kind of contact with, because of her nasty temper. She was quick to insult, and violence, having had a rough past, growing up in a gang when her parents passed away. All she had left was her brother Kevin, who was exactly the same. In a way, they reminded him of Kai, because deep down he knew they were just defensive, and on occasion they would get together, the four of them, on certain holidays. He knew they appreciated his company, but it was Max that they'd fallen in sync with.

"So," said blondes sly smirk broke him from his revere. "When should I make myself scarce?"

"Four," the Chinese teen answered decisively, nodding his thanks. Shrugging, the younger teen grinned.

"What did you decide on then? I could hear you mumbling with my door closed." The other grinned, a perfect fang slipping over his bottom lip.

"I think I'm gonna go with something I learned back in China." A cute pout formed on the American teens lips.

"How come you never make me anything so good?"

"You never ask." Rei answered simply, braiding his hair and heading to his room to slip on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. The other rolled his eyes, heading for the shower.

"Where are you going now?"

"Shopping, I'll be back in an hour," he called over his shoulder as he slipped on his shoes. Grabbing his keys, the neko turned one last time to inspect the house before leaving. He groaned.

"Maxie, do me another favor?" Hearing the shower turn on, he waited for a reply.

"Yeah?"

"Clean the kitchen for me?"

"RRREEEEEEIIIII!"

---Flashback

Kai blinked as the door swung open, immediately turning his head into Tala's chest at the blinding light that poured through the opening. His eyes burned, so he kept them shut tight as the other boys led him slowly out of the house.

He shivered slightly. It was cold, though, not as cold as it was in the winter. Something crunched beneath his shoes, and he longed to examine it and explore, but it hurt to open his eyes. A chilled wind nipped playfully at his cheeks and he smiled, taking a deep breath of fresh air for the first time that he could remember. It was wonderful.

"You..." Bryan trailed off, uncertain.

"I what?" he snapped, his good mood fading. He wasn't sure if he liked Bryan yet, and it was hard not to tear at him. There was a moments' pause before the larger Russian continued.

"You really haven't ever come out of that room, have you?" he inquired slowly. When they stopped at the road, Kai shook his head. The redhead's grip on him tightened, a feral growl escaping his throat. They walked the rest of the way in silence, but when they stopped again, the smallest of the three felt Tala's hands shift from his shoulders to his eyes.

"Wha---"

"Open your eyes." Slowly, he did as he was told, blinking again at the small amounts of light that filtered through the others fingers.

"Now, I'm going to move away, just let your sight adjust. Tell me if I'm going too fast." He nodded his consent and waited. Slowly, the pale hands pulled back; stopping for a little until eventually they fell by the sides of their rightful owner.

Wincing, the blunette took a step back, relaxing only slightly when strong hands steadied him from behind. It was so bright, and for a moment all he could make out were blurred shapes and colors. He smiled, having never known colors to be so brilliant. And gradually, everything came into focus.

Gasping slightly, he looked around wildly, taking in as much as he could. They were on the grass but it was covered in a thin layer of snow that glittered unlike anything that he'd ever witnessed. He'd only read about these things in books, and unable to contain himself, he bent down to touch it. It was cold, but soft, and he squeezed a handful of it in his palm, his grin spreading when it melted into water and slipped between his fingers.

Looking up again, his garnet gaze fell to the trees surrounding them, and the clear blue sky, dotted as it was with grey snow clouds. Suddenly a bird flew into his view, and he gasped in surprise, falling backwards ungracefully.

Slender arms caught him though, offering warmth and support when he blushed at his stupidity. Bryan laughed deeply behind them, and soon enough, they were all giggling uncontrollably.

"Where are we?" Kai asked after they had calmed, turning to his two companions curiously. Off to his right there was a fountain; it was frozen, and crumbling, but the center was carved beautifully and many people sat around it, watching small children fooling around in the snow.

"This is the park," Tala answered. "It's where most people go to relax." Nodding, the youngest of them turned back around in the redhead's lap, spreading his legs slightly so he could pack snow between his hands.

"Can you take me here again?" he asked hopefully, pausing in his work to watch it slowly melt away again.

Ice and lilac clashed; smiling once more at the gift they were able to give their new friend.

"Yes," they said together. "We will.

---End Flashback.

"So, I see what you've been up to lately." Tala smiled at the grin he knew was plastered all over Bryan's face.

"Well, know me," he shrugged. "At least they're out of the way for now."

"Yeah," the larger Russian sighed.

"What's up?" the redhead inquired, flopping down on his bed.

"You put 'em up, so do I have to stay here?" The other blinked before smiling gratefully.

"I would say no, but Kai is still on edge about this. I can tell. If you asked him he'd probably say it's all right for our sake, but..."

"That's okay, I'd better keep an eye on my dear uncle anyway," he chuckled darkly. "Wouldn't want anything to happen to him in that horrible place now would I?"

"Of course not," he mock sympathized. They both laughed.

"Well then, I'll let you go, Kai is gonna be on you in a few for being gone for twenty minutes." Tala shook his head.

"Take care."

"I will."

Flipping his cell phone closed, the slender Russian placed it on the bedside table before thumping his way downstairs. He had all the grace and poise to glide down them without making any sound, but, where was the fun in that?

Slipping into the kitchen, he stole a piece of toast from Kai's plate and read the note that was place next to it.

---Meet me at the park in an hour. I need your help.

Kai.

Two perfect eyebrows arched over electric blue eyes as he re-read the letter. Shaking his head he picked up the phone, curiosity getting the better of him. Searching through the call log, he paused, a grin spreading on his lips.

The only call made today was from this hotel room, to Rei's apartment.

Tala nodded to himself knowingly, before stealing the other piece of toast and taking the steps two at a time to make it to the shower.

...

A/N: Well, there you have it! Thank you so much for all of your support guys, and a special thanks goes to Neko Phoenix Girl! After reading her shout out to me, I realized that I couldn't give up (as corny as it sounds), and she also fueled my idea for adding Miriam to the characters. She may not know it, but she was a great help! Thank you so much NPG! And to everyone!

Next time: Rei and Kai's dinner!