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Chapter Seven - To Bega or not to Bega?
"Did you finally make a decision?" Brooklyn ask Julia as he sat next to her on the sofa, "regarding the whole Bega deal?" "After what nearly happened to you at the warehouse," Julia informed with a slight smile, "I definitely changed my mind about Bega. Rick was suppose to call that scout and make arrangements to meet. It is time for us to get off the street. It isn't safe anymore and next time some pervert could succeed in molesting my brother or Daichi. I can't allow that to happen."
"I can agree with you on that account," Brooklyn added, "but as long as we stick together, we should be fine. You know, even after an attempted rape, I do not regret meeting all of you. Getting to know the five of you has been one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I didn't have many friends before I met you. Garland and Mystel were the only two who would even speak to me at school. I didn't know what real friendship was until you took me in and gave me what I needed the most. It would be perfect if only one more person was here."
He was thinking about Hiro and smiled. He had a reason too since he knew that his boyfriend was around somewhere. He hadn't deserted him like his siblings had claimed. He had stayed in town and was watching over him. It was enough to lighten his mood and keep him smiling for a while. He couldn't wait to rub it in the others' faces.
"And I'm glad that Akane and Daichi brought you to us," Julia remarked, wrapping an arm around his shoulders, "It's like I have another little brother besides of Raul and Daichi." She ruffled his hair playfully that made Brooklyn laugh from the gesture. It was nice to be loved and accepted for who you were instead of letting others dictate their opinion onto you. That is what the other children at school had did to him. They had never given him a chance to show his true self and had ostracized him because he was different.
They had made fun of him for being parentless and for his shyness. Well, all of them except for Garland and Mystel. Garland had been his first real friend and it had happened on his first day of middle school. Some of his bigger classmates had been picking on him for various things and Garland was the one who had told the bullies to leave him alone. He, singlehandedly, had made them back off and then offered his hand in friendship. Brooklyn had took the offered hand without a second thought and had never regretted the decision that he had made.
How could he? Garland had always stood by him; no matter what happened and unlike others didn't judge him because of his homelife or his past. The next year, Mystel had been in a similar situation since he was new to the school. Both he and Garland had made the bullies back off when they had been picking on the Egyptian, who had just moved into the neighborhood with his foster parents. Brooklyn couldn't understand why other children felt the need to act in such an atrocious manner. Why did they have to torment someone new and different? Were they that self-conscious about themselves?
He put the thoughts out of his mind since there was no need to dwell on the past. He had to focus on the future since he could find no comfort in his memories. His first priority was to get back together with Hiro and then make his siblings understand what he felt for the older man. He was never going to be happy without him. That was certain from all of the feelings that he had brought up by his rescue at the warehouse. His thoughts always returned to him; whether he wanted them or not.
At that moment, Rick returned and flopped down in a chair. "We are set to meet with him tomorrow," he stated, "at a building in the downtown district. I hope that we are doing the right thing." "Of course we are," Daichi remarked with a grin, "when have you ever led us wrong? You have always made good decisions for all of us. We trust your judgement."
A small smile escaped Rick's lips before he frowned again. Brooklyn knew that look well. Rick was afraid and he was certain that it had to do with Bega. He probably feared that he would lose what he considered his family if they joined. Did he really think that his team would desert or abandon him?
"We are not going to leave you," Julia stated, picking up on the thought as well, "so don't worry, Rick. We are a family and we intend to stay that way." No more was said on the subject as Raul and Akane returned with dinner. They were only having ramen tonight since their funds were rather low but at least they had something to eat. Anything was better than doing without.
The main topic of discussion during dinner centered around Bega and their thoughts on the new league or what it would be like. Rick was very quiet which was unusual and made some of the others nervous including Brooklyn. It wasn't like him and after finishing his portion, he disappeared to the roof for some solitude. None of the others were brave enough to intrude on his privacy as Brooklyn sighed. He decided to find out what was bothering the older teen himself.
He walked up the stairs and onto the roof. It was a pleasant night as he stared at the city around them. Rick was stretched out on the ledge and staring at the full moon as if in thought. Brooklyn really didn't want to disturb the older teen in his reflection but knew that when he felt a little down, he wanted some type of company and it didn't matter who it was. All that mattered was someone was willing to keep you company in the silence that usually followed.
"Would you like some company?" Brooklyn ask as Rick turned around and shrugged. "It doesn't matter," he replied as his head turned back to look at the moon, "but I have a feeling that you are not going to leave even if I ask." Brooklyn sat down beside of him on the ledge as his eyes turned to the moon as well. "Isn't it a beautiful night?" Brooklyn remarked with a smile, "I've always enjoyed stargazing even though you can't do much of it in the city with all the lights. Doesn't looking at all of that sky make you feel insignificent and small?"
"I guess," Rick added with another shrug, "it makes you feel that no matter what you do, your choices in life are not going to make a difference in this world of ours. I've always felt unimportant and insignificent. I guess that is part of growing up without parents. I was left on the doorsteps of an orphanage in New York and grew up there. I never knew what it was like to be loved or accepted. I stowed away on a ship to come to Japan, where I thought I could make something of myself. I guess I was wrong."
"Why do you doubt yourself?" Brooklyn snapped, "I think you have made a hell of a difference in the lives of six people. You helped Akane, Julia, Raul and Daichi when they needed it. You even helped me when you didn't have too. I see how you care about everyone and I think you have even helped yourself. Everyone seems to think of you as an older brother and even though I haven't known you that long; I feel that way as well. You bring out the best in people. Fame and fortune isn't everything you know."
Brooklyn fiddled with the hem of his shirt as he pulled at a loose thread. "I'm sorry about that," he stated, after a few moments of uncomfortable silence, "Hiro told me that I need to stand up and speak for myself more often instead of letting others always dictate my life. I guess I felt a little overwelmed. If anyone is useless, it is me. I'm the one who has only caused pain and trouble to everyone whose paths I have crossed. If it wasn't for me, my mom would still be alive. Why did she have to die for me to live?"
Rick's eyebrows raised from that question since Brooklyn had been reluctant to talk about his family to anyone and here he was spilling his guts out to him. "What happened to her?" Rick inquired as Brooklyn took a deep breath before continuing. "She died in childbirth," he stated, "and I don't believe that my father ever recovered from his loss. Then he died in a car wreck when I was eight. My older siblings have taken care of me since and my oldest brother is my legal guardian."
"Hiwatari right," Rick remarked as Brooklyn looked at the older teen with shock. "How did you know?" Brooklyn ask, afraid that Rick might use the information to his advantage. "I see a resemblance between you and Kai from the Bladebreakers," Rick admitted with a small smirk, "but you look more like Tala than Kai. Don't worry about it, kid, I'm not going to call them if that is what you fear. I respect the privacy of all those who live on the streets. I know that you left home for a reason and when you sort it out, then you will return. Otherwise, it is none of my business."
Brooklyn gaped like a goldfish for a few minutes before turning his head back to the moon. "Do the others know?" he ask, his voice no more than a mere whisper. "Julia was the one who pointed it out," Rick informed with a smirk, "she is a big fan of Tala from the Blitzkrieg Boyz and pointed out the resemblance you share. Then when Akane reminded her that Kai was his brother, we remembered there were two other Hiwatari siblings. We knew you weren't Mariam but we couldn't find much information about the youngest Hiwatari so we just assumed your identity."
"Kai has always shielded me from the press," Brooklyn noted with a smile, "he ask the media to leave me alone until I competed in a tournament. He told them that I had enough to deal with and that my privacy should be respected since I was so young. I don't know if it was his plea or glare that worked." Brooklyn chuckled from the remark as he heard deep laughter erupt from Rick's throat. "It was probably the glare," Rick added a few minutes later, "he has one of the deadliest glares that I have ever seen. Has he always been that way? You know with his distant and cold demeanor."
"Ever since I can remember," Brooklyn continued with a shrug, "he's the oldest and the one that was responsible for the rest of us after dad died. Well, he had to deal with both dad's death and our paternal grandfather. He caused quite a lot of trouble for him as well. I spent some time with him in Russia and let's just say that it wasn't at all pleasant." The night wasn't chilly but Brooklyn shivered from the memories that resurfaced from the mere mention of Russia. He had made a vow that he would never go back there again.
He just wished his memories could stay buried in that frozen Siberian tundra but that devil bird wouldn't allow him to forget. He often wondered what had happened to that blade. He knew it hadn't been destroyed since the connection was still there; weaker yes, but still in existance. Zeus hadn't been able to break the connection completely because of the power that the dark beast held. He had helped keep its influence to a minimum at least.
"I was abused as well," Rick added after seeing how he reacted to his remark, "by those who were suppose to be my protectors. You never recover from it and it always makes you weary to trust others. It is hard to get close to anyone after that so don't be too hard on yourself, kid. It will get better one day. I know that you have a bright future ahead of you. I can see it." Brooklyn turned to Rick and smiled slightly, hoping that what the older teen had said was true ; maybe one day he would have the peace and happiness that he sought.
The next day, they found themselves in front of a huge skyscraper that appeared to be still under construction. "Is this the place?" Raul ask as Brooklyn tensed. Something about the building made him nervous for some reason or maybe it was something inside of it. "Let's do this," Rick stated as he walked forward to the entrance with his team following behind him. There were other teens in the atrium of the building but somehow their contact managed to find them in the crowd.
"There you are," he called, waving a hand, "I was hoping that you would come." "Yamato-san," Rick greeted as the others bowed as well, "I told you that we would come and listen to your offer at least." "Then follow me please," he said with a smile as they followed him down an empty hallway, "my boss would like to see an example of your skill. Out of all of the bladers that I have watched, you six possess the most talent and power than I have ever seen. Why haven't any of you competed in a tournament before?"
"We can not abide by the rules and regulations of the BBA," Rick replied, "and there is problems with registration as well." "Well you are going to discover that the head of Bega does not care about your living status," Yamato informed, "he doesn't care if you live on the streets or are runaways. Our legal department might be able to help out with any situations you might have with guardians or parents. We stand behind the bladers that join us. We provide the top bladers in Bega with whatever they need which includes housing, training and an education. We provide many opportunities for all in our organization."
By this time, they had arrived in what appeared to be a training room that had a beydish in the center. None of them noticed the figures standing on the balcony above them watching but they did see the other six teens waiting in the room. "We need you to demonstrate your skill against these six trainees," Yamato stated as he waved a hand at them, "to see if you are good enough to join Bega." "I'll go first," Daichi offered, stepping forward with his launcher and beyblade. It only took him a minute or so to beat his opponent. Daichi smirked as Gaia Dragoon flew back into his hand.
"Very good," Yamato complimented, "we would like the twins to blade next and show off your tag team skill." Raul and Julia agreed to a dual match as two of the other teens stepped forward. Brooklyn frowned since they looked familiar to him but he couldn't place where he had seen the pair before. Raul and Julia easily won their match since they had more skill and practice than the other set of twins. Akane stepped forward next and she nearly destroyed the dish in her bid to prove herself as a worthy blader.
Brooklyn could feel the heat from her attack from even where he was standing. It had been that powerful and she had shattered her opponent's blade. Rick followed Akane and he too won his match. Brooklyn thought this was too easy for some odd reason as he walked forward. "That is all we need to see," Yamato insisted as Brooklyn eyed him wearily, "the six of you have failed in your duties and need to do some soul searching if you wish to continue to be members of the glorious Bega. You may need to recommit yourself to your training."
Brooklyn was confused as to why they didn't want him to battle and what was up with threatening to throw out the others? Would they do the same to them if they lost a match? He was about to open his mouth in protest but Yamato silenced him. "I wouldn't worry about them," he offered with a sincere smile, "I am certain that the same will not happen to you. Your skill and talent will make the six of you rise to the top of Bega's ranks. I have no doubt about that."
At that moment, his headset beeped as he talked to another. Another moment later, he turned back to them and smiled. "The chairman wishes to meet you," he stated with a smile, "and invite you to join us. It is not often that the director of Bega gives out such an invitation personally." They waited for a few moments as they heard footsteps in the hallway and the door opened. Brooklyn's reaction to who entered the room made his friends uneasy as he backed away from the man.
"Boris," Brooklyn whispered as the man who had helped make his life a living hell, seven years earlier walked into the room. He began to shake violently from his presence as he paled to a deathly shade of white. "Brooklyn," Akane called, trying to snap him out of it as she shook his shoulder. He pulled away violently from her as he whimpered from the small touch. "It's been a while since I saw you," Boris stated, looking intently and fondly at Brooklyn, "you were just a little boy when your grandfather visited my training facility. I apologize for what happened there. You were never suppose to touch that beyblade since it was off-limits to everyone."
Brooklyn gulped as he looked at the man standing before him. He sounded different, somehow, sincere maybe but this was the same man that had trained Tala and his team; nearly killing them in the process. The same man that had molested Bryan. How could he even think of trusting him after everything that had happened? He looked older now than he had then but it had been seven years.
"I am Boris Balkov," he introduced to the others, "the chairman of the Bega corporation or the Beyblade Entertainment Global Association. I am looking for talented young bladers such as yourself to join my pro-blading league. All of your needs will be provided for and you will be given opportunities that the BBA does not offer its bladers. I hope that you will decide to join with Bega." "No," Brooklyn whispered, looking at Boris, "I will not join Bega."
The other five bladers looked at Brooklyn, who was scared out of his skin by the man before him but still brave enough to speak his mind. "I have changed, young master Hiwatari," Boris informed, "and if I can not convince you to join, then I believe that he will be able to change your mind. I am not the same man that you remember from your childhood." The door behind him opened again as a figure stood within it. "I can't believe it," Brooklyn whispered as the person came into the room, making him stay frozen in place, "Hiro." "Hello, Brooklyn," his boyfriend greeted with a smile, "I knew that I would see you here eventually."
R & R
Astera Snape