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Chapter 11 - The Rise of Bega
"I could get use to this," he murmured softly as his boyfriend straddled his lap and they started to kiss, "maybe we should demand to have the house to ourselves more often." "I would like that too, Kai," Rei whispered as he attacked Kai's neck making the dual-hair moan, "we need more time to ourselves." Rei nipped at the tender skin on the bluenette's neck as the man beneath him withered from his touch. He grazed his sharp teeth over the skin that connected his neck to the shoulder and bit down softly to mark what was his property. Their session would have continued further if they had not been interrupted at that exact moment.
"KAI!" came the shout as the front door was opened and slammed against the wall as they heard footsteps, "REI!" A red-head ran into the lounge as Rei turned around to face Tala as Kai glared at his younger brother. "We are kind of busy, Tala," Kai growled, "what do you want?" "Turn on the television now!" Tala ordered as Bryan entered the lounge as well. They looked for the remote control and it was Rei who found it wedged in the cushions of the couch.
He turned on the TV which fortunately was on the sports channel that Tala had been referring too to see Mr. Dickenson in the middle of a press conference. Kai's eyes went wide as Rei turned up the volume since they could not understand what the chairman was saying. "I am sorry to inform everyone today," he began with a sad sigh, "that the world beyblade tournament has been cancelled this year." "What the fuck," Kai growled, pushing his Neko-jin boyfriend off his lap, "what is going on?" "Sssssh," Bryan whispered as he glared briefly at the purple-haired Russian before his eyes turned back to the screen.
Questions were being thrown at the chairman by the press but he motioned for them to be quiet so he could continue. "The reason for this cancellation is very simple," he continued, "I am also sad to inform that the BBA no longer exists. The Beyblading Association has been bought out by a new rival company called Bega. Any blader who wishes to continue in this sport will have to join this new organization. That is all I have to say. Thank you."
The elderly chairman left the podium as BBA security flanked him to keep the reporters away. The scene then shifted to a news reporter behind a desk at a studio as they speculated on the future of the sport from this change. "I can't believe it," Rei remarked as the others were stunned into silence, "how did this happen?" "What the hell are we going to do?" Bryan ask, "the BBA is no more and a new corporation takes over. Does it sound suscipious to any of you?"
Kai rose without a word to anyone as his hands went to his hips. "I'm going to see Mr. Dickenson," he said, simply. "Then we are going with you," Tala added as Rei switched off the television, "this affects all of us; not just you." "Let's go in my car," Rei suggested as he grabbed his car keys off the table, "I do not want to ride on the back of your motorcycle. It always messes up my hair."
It seemed that the four of them were not the only ones wanting a talk with the former chairman. Tyson, Max, Hillary and Kenny were also at the BBA office that was now being packed up. It seemed that the new corporation had no intention of using the old building. "Mr. D won't see us," Tyson stated as they stood outside of his office. "He will see me," Kai snapped, going to the door and knocking. There was no reply but that didn't deter Kai as he went inside.
"I figured I would see you here today," Mr. Dickenson said from behind his desk as he wiped his brow. He was in the middle of packing his things. "What is going on?" Kai demanded, "how was the BBA bought out?" "You took Economics, Kai," Tala reminded with a smirk, "you understand how captialism works." "We have been expecting it for some time," the former chairman informed, "and I tried my best to prevent it but in the end there was nothing I could do. The rest of the board outvoted me and they decided to sell their stock. We were bought out."
"Do you know anything about Bega?" Tala ask with concern, "who is in charge of it?" "I do not know who the new chairman is," Mr. Dickenson informed, "I have only met his representatives but I can give you the address." "I suggest a visit to this Bega is in order then," Kai added as he took the business card from the former chairman, "who else wants to go?" Everyone decided that they would go with Kai to meet the new chairman and find out what was going on. They did not know about the hornet's nest that they were about to stir up.
Meanwhile in a park near the headquarters of the Bega corporation, Brooklyn was laying in the grass and listening to the sounds of nature around him. He felt quite at peace and loved the solitude that only nature could provide him. He had taken a big risk by leaving the building to visit the park. Hiro was suppose to be in a meeting all day with the new board of directors which meant he had nothing to do. He could have trained but this type of weather only made him want to lie about and daydream which he couldn't do inside of a building with his friends.
The sun's rays were warm and it was quiet. So quiet that he could lose himself in his thoughts. Occasionally a bird would land on his knee but would fly off when it saw he had nothing to offer it but a smile. He was puzzled by their behavior since he didn't know why he attracted animals when he was outside. He had possessed the gift since he was a small child and use to take care of the mice that had nested in their house.
He laughed from that memory since Kai had not liked him befriending rodents. That was probably the first and only time that he had gotten the better of his older brother. He had started to cry when Kai had caught the mice and was going to kill them. His father had made Kai let the mice go after seeing how he had reacted. He sighed as he knew that his solitude would be interrupted when his boyfriend and coach found out that he had disappeared. Hiro would have a fit if he knew that he was outside and alone.
He had been so protective of him since the seizure that he had been forced to sneak out to get away from all of the mother hens. It wasn't only Hiro, who was overprotective but also the majority of his friends. Garland and Rick were no better and would often make him stay in their company for the entire day to train if necessary. Mystel would worry over the slightest thing like a sneeze as would Julia. Raul and Daichi would just keep an eye on him and try to give him his distance but the others had blackmailed even them to spy. Oddly enough, only Akane left him alone.
She had been strangely quiet of late and he believed that she was cutting again. He had not felt the desire to cut since being reunited with Hiro. Hiro always had the power to keep those thoughts away. He respected her privacy but he had been forced to tell Hiro about it. Hiro had all ready known about her problem and had replied that he could only interfere if she ask for help. Until then, they had to give her space and leave her alone.
His solitude was interrupted when he heard the sound of footsteps pounding the pavement and cracked open an eye to see two boys greeting one another on the sidewalk. "Koji, did you hear?" the first boy said inbetween gasps, "the world tournament has been cancelled. The BBA has been bought out by some organization called Bega." "Yeah, I just heard the news on the radio," the boy named Koji replied, "what do you think is going to happen?" "More than you ever could wish for," Brooklyn thought as he closed his eyes and just listened to bits of their conversation, "Boris is going to bring respect to blading and bring its reputation up to that of the other professional sports or so he says."
He still had his doubts about Boris' motives but Hiro had reassured him that everything was legitimate. He just wished that he could believe him. Something told him to never trust Boris but he couldn't remember what it was exactly. He believed it had something to do with the nightmares that haunted his dreams every night. They were too real and vivid to be mere dreams. What exactly had Boris done to the bladers he had trained at the Abbey? He had heard the accusations from Tala and Bryan but nothing had been proven so he somewhat doubted their claims.
He sighed as he tried to drift off to sleep in the warm sunshine but something prevented it as he felt a shadow over him. He opened his eyes to see Hiro standing there dressed as Jin of the Gale. His arms were crossed over his chest and his eyes were focused on and glaring at him. "What the hell are you doing out here?" he demanded, making even Brooklyn flinch from the sound of his voice. "I needed some peace and quiet," he replied with a shrug, "and I couldn't get it inside of that building. No one will leave me alone in there."
"They are just worried about you as I am," Hiro stormed, "we are trying to watch over and protect you." "It was just one seizure, Hiro," Brooklyn reminded, getting angry as he glared at his boyfriend, "I haven't had one in a very long time. It is nothing to be overly concerned about. I did not eat that much breakfast and my blood sugar was probably low and that is why I had it. I can't stand having all of you hovering over me every second of the day. I needed some time away from all of it."
Hiro sighed deeply and knew that Brooklyn was right but he couldn't help but worry. This was his boyfriend after all and he had been through so much all ready. He just wanted to make certain that he was safe. "I'm sorry if I have been overbearing," he apologized, "but I love you so much that I have to worry." "It is okay," Brooklyn replied, accepting the apology as Hiro sat down beside of him, "I take it that Mr. Dickenson has made the announcement about the BBA."
"We watched it on television," Hiro informed, "and you know what that means." "That we will probably be getting a visit from Kai and the others soon," Brooklyn groaned, "I am not looking forward to their arrival." "Nor am I," Hiro added, "but Boris isn't worried. The public doesn't know it yet but he has all ready gotten support for Bega from several other corporations and from promoting Ming Ming. She is at the top of the pop charts."
"I hate her music," Brooklyn mused as Hiro laughed, "she is all show but no style or substance. She couldn't sing to save her life but the public laps up whatever the critics say is hot. I don't think I will ever understand pop culture." "I have to agree with your view, tenshi," Hiro agreed, "I don't think many of your friends like her as well. She is only popular because of her looks and that she is attractive to the opposite sex. I guess that is why we don't like her."
They both laughed which made Brooklyn feel pretty good for once. "Now let's go," Hiro informed as he stood up, "I think you have had enough leisure time today. You need to go back and study. I am not going to allow you to throw your education away." "I know all of that material all ready," he complained as he took the hand that Hiro offered, "I don't know why you don't let Akane and me take the high school exams. We are so far ahead of our grade level that it is meaningless for us to be kept behind."
"I do admit that Akane has an uncanny knowledge of history," Hiro admitted as they linked their hands together and headed back to the building, "she reminds me of my father in that aspect. She seems more in tune to the past than the present." "And I love language arts," Brooklyn added with a smile, "I think I want to be a writer someday." "I'll support whatever career you decide to follow, tenshi," Hiro remarked and Brooklyn knew he was smiling beneath that face plate from the way his eyes were twinkling, "because I know that you will be good at anything you decide to pursue." Brooklyn was glad that Hiro was so supportive of him and only wished that his siblings could be the same way.
Fortunately the pair made it back to the building before Kai arrived. They parted in the atrium as Brooklyn decided to go to his room and get his books as Hiro disappeared to speak with Boris. Brooklyn knew that his brother could be there at anytime and even though he was calm on the outside; he was shaking like a leaf on the inside. He was nervous about the eventual confrontation that he knew was coming. He didn't know how they were going to react to seeing him with the enemy. That was the way Kai and especially Tala would perceive Boris at least.
He had been away from them too long for any of his siblings to forgive him so easily. Kai would definitely have a fit when he saw either Hiro or himself especially together. Then they would demand that he go back with them. There was no way that he would allow that to happen. Hell would freeze over before he went home with them. They still treated him like a small child when he was perfectly capable of making decisions for himself. He was heading back to their room when he heard a commotion in the atrium that he had to investigate.
"Is this it?" Rei ask with awe as he looked up at the building before him. It was so tall that he lost count of how many floors there were. "This is the address on the card," Kai informed as he too looked up at the skyscraper and did a typical 'hmph'. He wasn't impressed by the building and wondered who could pull such a stunt off. At first, he had thought it was perhaps his grandfather who would try such a manipulative takeover but then remembered that he had been in jail for tax evasion; although he believed he had just gotten out.
"Let's go," he stated, coldly as he walked to the door and pushed it open. The atrium had people lingering about, most of them bladers, who were wearing Bega trainee uniforms, signifying that they were of a lower status than the top bladers of the organization. Most of them went silent as they walked toward a reception's desk, where a woman was sitting and talking on the phone. "Is that Kai Hiwatari?" one whispered as Kai got impatient from waiting for the woman to finish her phone call, "I wonder what he is doing here." Tyson just waved and smiled at some of the teens who recoginized him making Kai roll his eyes in disgust.
"How may I help you?" the woman ask as her attention turned to them, "are you here to join Bega?" "We wish to speak to the person in charge," Kai demanded as he crossed his arms. "I am sorry but the chairman is in a meeting," she informed, "he is unable to see anyone at the moment." "May I help you?" another voice ask as Yamato Masoe appeared, wearing a coach's uniform and with a smile on his face, "It is quite the honor to have the world champions and runners up grace our presence. Are you interested in joining Bega?"
"We are here to speak to the one in charge," Bryan snapped, "we wish to see the chairman and we are not leaving until we do." "The chairman is busy," Yamato informed, "you will have to come back later." "We are not coming back," Kai added, his temper flaring, "I need to see him now!" Rei grabbed Kai's arm and tried to pull him back but he jerked out of the Neko-jin's grip. "Getting upset is not going to solve anything, Kai," Rei reminded, his golden eyes narrowing into slits, "we will have to come back."
"I agree with Rei," Max added, "we don't need to cause trouble." "I.am.not.leaving," Kai ground out as the secretary was calling for security. "Neither am I," Bryan added as Tala tried to calm his boyfriend but like Rei failed. About twenty of the security detail emerged from doors as most of the bladers disappeared from the lobby, leaving only the Bladebreakers and two members of the Blitzkrieg Boyz. "You were told to leave," one guard stated, "if you do not go on your own, then we will force you."
Kai growled but the man made a mistake when he put a hand on him. Kai punched and kicked him back. He didn't like for anyone to touch him in that manner except for Rei or one of his siblings. It soon turned into a fist fight between the security guards and the Bladebreakers. Hillary and Kenny had taken safety behind the secretary's desk but the four Bladebreakers and two Blitzkrieg Boyz weren't going down without a fight. It did not help that most of them had taken Kendo lessons from Tyson's grandfather in their spare time or had been trained in the martial arts from a young age like Rei.
Brooklyn was wondering what was going on as he sprinted down the hallway and peeked around a corner. He gasped when he saw who was fighting in the lobby as he backed up and started to hyperventilate. He calmed down after a few moments and wasn't surprised to see that Boris and Hiro had arrived. "THAT IS ENOUGH!" Boris shouted as his yell stopped the fighting in the atrium, "I ORDER ALL OF YOU TO BACK OFF!" He was referring to his security detail as Brooklyn stood back and watched the following happen with wide eyes.
"YOU!" Bryan hissed as he pointed a finger at Boris. "Yes, it is me, boys," Boris stated, looking down at the group of them, "It has been a while since I have seen some of you. My, you have grown into handsome young men." "Balkov," Kai snarled as his eyes narrowed, "what the hell are you doing here?" "I should be asking you that question," Boris remarked with a smirk, "what do I owe the pleasure of your visit? Are you here to join my organization?"
"Your organization?" Tala questioned as his face fixed into a frown, "what are you molesting and manipulating bladers again?" "If I was you, I would watch what I say," Boris added, "Bega is now the only game in town. If you wish to blade, you will have to join with me." "I would rather retire from the sport I love," Bryan snapped as the others couldn't blame him for his anger, "than work for you again." "Well if that is your decision," Boris shrugged, "then we have nothing more to discuss. Hiro, would you kindly show our guests out?"
Hiro was standing beside of him as Kai's face contorted in even more anger. "It figures that you would work for him," he spat, "one pedophile deserves another." "You have some nerve showing your face here," Tyson added with a snarl of his own, "now that I see what kind of people Balkov hires, I agree with Bryan and would rather retire than join Bega. What kind of bladers would join your organization?" "You would be surprised, Tyson," Boris sneered, "there are several that I think even you would recoginize."
"No one that I know would join up with you," Tyson spat since he didn't like Boris either, "no self respecting BBA blader would ever join a venture you headed, Balkov." Brooklyn knew that they were going to find out about him eventually as he stepped out from the hallway. "I would," he said so softly that everyone almost didn't hear him. Eight heads turned toward him as Brooklyn shivered from the attention. For a few moments, no one knew what to say as several mouths dropped open.
"Brooklyn," Kai whispered as he took in the sight of his baby brother, who to say the least had changed since last he had saw him. He was wearing a long white coat trimmed in navy and gold with white pants and brown loafers. It was strange to see him attired in such a uniform and made him look more innocent and threatening at the same time. "What are you doing here?" Kai demanded as Brooklyn flinched from the tone of his voice, "You do remember what he did to you before." "Boris has changed," Brooklyn defended as his hands were shaking, "and I joined him of my own free will. You can't tell me what to do any more."
"Like hell," Kai spat as he stalked forward, "you are going home with us right now." Brooklyn took a step back as Kai approached but he never did reach him. That was when he saw three figures jump down from the upper level were Boris stood and heard other footsteps from the hallway. "He is not going anywhere with you, Kai," Garland defended as he, Mystel and Akane stepped in front of him. Both Akane and Mystel had their launchers ready as Kai stopped his advance.
Rick, Julia, Raul and Daichi appeared from the hallway behind him as they put themselves inbetween he and Kai. "Garland, get out of the way," Kai snarled, glaring at the silver-haired teen, "you have no business interfering in a family affair. This does not concern you." "Yes, it does," Garland snapped, "If it involves Brooklyn, then it does involve me and the rest of us. We care about him more than I believe even you do."
"What do you know of my feelings?" Kai snapped at Garland, "I am his brother, his guardian. You have no idea what I feel for him. Now, get out of the way or suffer the consequences." "If you want to get to Brooklyn," Rick added as his arms crossed, "you have to get through us first." Kai ignored the warning as he advanced. Brooklyn couldn't believe what happened next as he heard the words, "Let it Rip!"
Akane launched her blade that barely missed Kai's face by less than an inch. It didn't touch his skin but did cut off a lock of his hair as it past by. Kai growled as his eyes narrowed on the black blade that now spun in front of its owner. "Next time I won't hesitate to hit you," she smirked, "now, I suggest you step back and leave Brooklyn alone. He doesn't want to go home with you and I for one can not blame him."
"Get.out.of.the.way," Kai ground out as his teeth gritted together. He pulled Dranzer from his pocket and was about to launch the blue blade when another was about to interfere. "Beybattles are for the stadium," Boris snapped as Bryan stopped in mid-launch, "not in the lobby of my building. If you wish to continue this, then let's do so in an appropriate venue. I know of the perfect place for you to settle this matter and I have an offer to make."
Before they could say a word in reply, Boris walked away as a guard motioned for them to follow him. "I don't like this, Kai," Tala whispered since he was a bit uneasy, "what does Balkov want?" "What he always does?" Kai replied as they watched Brooklyn disappear down another hallway with his friends and was tempted to follow to try to talk some sense into his little brother, "he wants us to join Bega but that will only happen if hell froze over. We need to grab Brooklyn and get out of here. I have an idea." Tala tried to listen to Kai's plan but he was having bad feelings about this entire situation. They knew nothing of the bladers that worked for Balkov and he knew that it was going to be a lot harder to get away than Kai thought.
R & R
Astera Snape