Disclaimer - If you recoginize anything, then I do not own it.
Thank you to LaugingFreak, Kai's kitty, darkstaress92, animelover6000, Katja Kitayima & FlamesOfFury for reviewing. A special thank you to LadyHearts92 for sending me a message & reminding me get back to this story. I am sorry that it took longer than expected to finish this chapter. I am still not satisfied w/h it but I'm tired of rewriting it so here you go.
A/N - First off, I apologize for the lateness of this chapter. I have been suffering from a severe case of writer's block & lost interest in writing for a while. You can place some of the blame on my Sims game for taking time away from my stories.
Chapter 17 - Traitors & Lies
It had started like an ordinary day. Well as ordinary a day as one could have around the headquarters of the most powerful beyblading organization in the world. Many of the top bladers were nervous since the deciding matches would be fought the next day to determine the future of beyblading. Brooklyn found himself in the park nearby, sitting on a hill and just watching life pass by around him. He appeared to be deep in thought with his eyes fixed on nothing in particular and one of his legs drawn gingerly to his chest. His chin was resting comfortably on his drawn up knee.
He looked like any other patron enjoying a quiet day at the park but he had more pressing matters on his mind than just the beautiful day. The J5 tournament was tied and he didn't want to think what would happen if either Garland or Akane lost their matches or heaven forbid both. He knew that Boris had been furious over Rick's loss but his mood seemed to have mellowed with the twins' win and then Mystel's tie. He didn't want them to be overpowering in their victories since it would not entertain the crowd and the fans would think they were cheating. All that mattered to him was how much money he could make.
Brooklyn didn't really believe that Balkov cared for any of his bladers. They were just tools to ascertain his victory over the former BBA bladers that had been a thorn in his side years ago. He sighed sadly as he closed his eyes. "A penny for your thoughts?" a familiar voice ask as he opened his eyes to see Hiro standing over him, "you seem to be a thousand miles away." He crouched before him, looking concerned as Brooklyn sighed sadly again.
"The look on your face is too serious," Hiro remarked with a slight smile, "do you want to share your concerns?" "I was just thinking," he admitted with a slight smile, "I figured that you would be working with Akane and Garland for their matches tomorrow." "They both stated quite clearly that they did not need me hanging over them," Hiro informed with a slight laugh, "they said that my presence was just making them even more nervous. Besides, Mystel and Rick are working with Garland and Julia and Raul are training with Akane. I have faith in their abilities and know that they will do their best. That is all I can ask of them but I will check on them shortly."
Brooklyn smiled as Hiro sat down next to him. "It is such a beautiful day," Hiro continued, "I knew that you would not be able to stay inside." "I felt like I would go insane if I stayed in that building any longer," Brooklyn sighed, "I needed to get outside and away from beyblading for a while." "It is hard to believe that a battle for the future of beyblading is going on around us," Hiro mused with a smile, "I wish I could be as carefree and enjoy the day like you but I can not. I have somewhere I need to be. Can we talk later?"
"I'll be around," Brooklyn smiled as they parted with a short but sweet kiss, "love you." "Love you too," Hiro replied with a smile as he disappeared with a wave. Brooklyn sighed with relief as he fell back onto the soft grass. He used his arms as a pillow as his eyes shut. "No worries," he murmured as he drifted off to sleep having no idea of the storm that was brewing just a few miles away.
Hiro's eyes scanned the interior of the diner and sighed with relief when he did not see anyone that he knew. He had chosen this particular place since it was isolated and out of the way. He didn't want anyone to know about the meeting that was going to take place here. It was suppose to be private or so he hoped. Hiro sat down at a table away from the other patrons and ordered a cup of coffee along with a cup of tea for his impending company.
A few minutes later, the waitress sat the two mugs down and left him alone. Hiro sipped the scolding and bitter liquid, having gained a preference for the beverage over tea from when he had travelled around with his father. He glanced at his watch, thinking his companion might be late or may not show at all when he saw a shadow standing over him. "I thought perhaps that you would not come," he said, quietly as the owner of said shadow sat down across from him, "thank you for meeting with me again."
"I have been needing to speak with you as well," his companion remarked with a smile, "but I had a hell of a time getting away from Kai. He would not leave me alone and followed me like he was my shadow." Hiro smiled as Rei took a sip of the cooling tea and smiled even more. "How did you sneak away?" Hiro ask with interest, "I had a hell of time getting away from Boris. I was ordered to train the kids all day but they are capable of practicing without my constant supervision."
"I take it that they are working hard," Rei remarked with a slight laugh, "Kai was brutal with us. I actually got sick of blading." They both laughed as it lightened the dark mood that surrounded them. "How is Tala?" Hiro inquired as he played with his now empty mug. "His injuries are healing," Rei replied, his smile fading from the seriousness of the question, "but he is still in a coma. Has Brooklyn ask about him at all?"
"I know that he wants to visit him," Hiro stated as the waitress refilled his cup with fresh coffee, "but he's afraid that he will bump into either Kai or his grandfather." Rei nodded since he understood Brooklyn's behavior. He couldn't blame him since he didn't trust Voltaire either. Even now, he didn't trust the man since something about him made him a bit uneasy and weary but Kai said that he had changed. Well he wasn't the one who had suffered from the abuse like Brooklyn had at his hands.
How could a person change in so short of time? A few years in prison could not change the man but Rei held his tongue since he knew how Kai would react if he questioned the man's motives. "We try to keep someone with Tala all of the time," Rei replied as he took another sip of his tea, "since Kai does not want him to wake up alone. Bryan stays at the hospital with Tala most of the time since Kai or Mariam can not. It may be wise for Brooklyn to stay away. I know Tala would understand."
"I wish Kai did," Hiro murmured, so softly that Rei almost missed it. He could not be angry since what Hiro said was true. Kai had a stubborn streak and when his mind was set on something, it was impossible to make him budge on the subject. He and Brooklyn were more alike than either realized since they both had that stubborn trait that made them impossible to deal with at times.
"I worry about him a lot," Rei admitted with a nervous laugh, "I can't help but worry about the kid. He is stuck inbetween being a child and a young adult. I think everyone wants to give him more freedom to make his own choices but with his past, we tend to be overprotective and that only makes the matter worse. I am just as guilty as the others because when I look at Brooklyn, I tend to see the hurt little boy more than the maturing young man." Hiro nodded in agreement since everyone tended to view him in that manner and it only frustrated Brooklyn even more.
Hiro would admit that his secret meetings with Rei had made him realize that a lot of things would have to be settled once this tournament was over. Reconcilation between the different parties would have to come first and decisions made regarding their situation. It was inevitable because life could not continue in this manner. Kai would eventually reach his limit and force Brooklyn to return home. Even Hiro knew that Brooklyn still needed the support and love that only his siblings could provide but forcing him would only result in hurting the teen even more.
"What happens?" Hiro murmured as Rei looked at him puzzled, "when this tournament is over?" Rei nearly spit out his mouthful of tea, swallowed it painfully as he wondered the same thing. What would happen once the Justice Five tournament was over? He hadn't really thought of it until now. "I don't know," he admitted after a few minutes of silence, "It all depends on who wins."
They both sighed since they knew the consequences if either of their teams lost. If G-Revolutions won, then Hiro and Brooklyn would be the losers. If the Bega team was victorious, then many professional bladers around the world would be at a disadvantage against the powerhouse known as Bega. It was really a no win situation and honestly, Rei didn't know which outcome would be better. How would they work everything out?
As the two pondered this quandry, neither noticed the door to the diner open and another familiar face enter. His ruby red eyes narrowed as he looked around the establishment and then began to burn with rage when he saw what he had suspected all along. His boyfriend, the love of his life, was sitting at a table and having tea with the very man that had taken advantage of his baby brother and had been the sole cause of all of his problems of late. This was treason, it was unforgiveable and his honor demanded justice. He didn't know who he was more mad at; Hiro, for taking his baby brother away or Rei, who had lied to him?
Kai stalked over to the table that they were sitting at as Rei saw him first. He dropped his tea in surprise as the ceramic mug shattered on the tile floor. Hiro turned around to see what had startled his companion as his face paled to a sickly shade of white when he realized it was Kai. Out of all the people who had to discover their secret meetings it had to be the hot headed and ill tempered one. He would have rather faced his family, Mariam or even Bryan at the moment than the enraged older brother.
"Rei," Kai growled as he glared at both men who rose from the table, "please tell me that this is not what I think it is. I had a feeling that you were up to something but I did not expect this. Why are you meeting with him?" Hiro took a defensive stance while Rei swallowed and smiled uneasily. Hiro's hands clenched together in fists as he prepared to defend himself if necessary. "It is not what you think, Kai," Rei finally replied as he tensed, "meeting Hiro is the only way that I can find out how Brooklyn is doing. You may not care about him anymore but I do."
"You know that I care," Kai spat as his ruby orbs narrowed and were blazing with anger from the betrayal of his boyfriend, "but you don't go behind my back and meet with him. I could understand if I found you with Garland or Mystel but not Hiro. He's the reason why my little brother ran away from home. Hiro is the one at fault here; not me and you are just as bad as he is if you are willling to sneak around with him." Kai's arms crossed over his chest as he considered the argument won but Rei wasn't in the mood to let him off so easily. He was willing to fight back for what he believed in.
He may not agree with Hiro's actions toward Brooklyn but knew that they had to start letting the younger make his own choices. If he made a bad choice, then he would have to suffer the consequences of such an act. It was all part of growing up and that was what he was doing. Brooklyn was fifteen; he was no longer a little boy and they had to stop treating him as such. He had been through more hell in his young life than the rest of them put together and had been forced to grow up way too soon. It was time to finish letting him grow up.
The other patrons of the diner were watching the confrontation with interest; thinking perhaps it was a lover's spat between the two men over Rei. The situation may have been funny if it had not been so serious. "I won't allow you to speak badly of Rei," Hiro defended as his arms crossed over his chest, "I am the one who convinced him to meet with me so we could discuss a matter that affects all of us. We are essentially on the same side. I am only doing this for everyone's benefit."
"We will never be on the same side!" Kai spat as he lunged forward and grabbed Hiro by the collar of his jacket, "looking at you only disgusts me." "Kai, let him go," Rei growled as he grabbed ahold of his arm and tried to pry him off, "we need to talk but not here where there are people watching. We do not need to air our dirty laundry to the press." Kai's eyes widened by that last word and although he hated Hiro for what he had done, he did not want this story to be leaked to the media. It would just cause even more grief for his family and with the public all ready on Bega's side, they did not need to give even more.
Kai let go of Hiro but shoved him away as his back painfully collided with the table. Hiro grimaced but knew it could be worse as he looked at the hateful glare on Kai's face. It looks could kill, he would have died ten times over. He was certain of it. Kai then stormed out of the diner leaving Rei and Hiro as the latter paid for their drinks and nodded that he was ready to face the devil.
The door opened a crack as a set of eyes looked around the room. Akane was the only occupant since she was sitting near the beydish and tinkering with her beyblade. She appeared to be putting on a new attack ring and turned her head when she heard the door open. She gasp when she saw Hiro enter and dropped the small tool she had been holding. She rose and walked to her coach as her hand went to her mouth.
"What happened to you?" she ask, motioning to the black eye and bloody nose that he now sported, "I am pretty certain that you did not have those when you left." "Kai happened," Hiro murmured as he sat down and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his nose, "I went to meet with Rei and Kai followed him. Let's just say that the confrontation was not pleasant for anyone." "I can imagine," Akane smirked as her attention went back to her blade, "but I could have told you that this would happen eventually. So how are you going to explain this to the others? I am pretty certain that Brooklyn is going to notice and ask questions."
"That is why I came to you," he added as she turned back to him, "my excuse is going to be that I was accidentally hit by a beyblade during practice." "You know my control is better than that," she huffed with indignation, "I would never hit someone in the face with my blade." "You are the only person I trust to keep this between us," Hiro pleaded, "I can't tell Brooklyn. It would just upset him and I don't need him hysterical at the moment." "True," Akane replied after a few moments of thought and then sighed, "fine, I'll do it. I don't like it but I will do this for you and you owe me a big favor."
"It is a deal," Hiro nodded as he pulled out Metal Driger as the two went to the dish after she was through adjusting her blade. Many would ask how Akane knew about his supposedly secret meetings with Rei. Well, she was the one he had sent to set up the first meeting. Rei would not answer his phone at first and Hiro had been desperate to speak with him. Akane had offered to meet with the Neko-jin and keep everything discreet. She did not like to gossip and had done it because she understood that it would help Brooklyn.
After taking the first message to Rei, Akane had acted as a go between for the pair on occasion so no one would find out about their meetings. It had worked until a certain boyfriend had gotten suscipious. They practiced for a while since this not only gave Hiro an excuse to how he got the black eye but also gave him the opportunity to evaluate Akane's progress. Hiro had a feeling that Kai had his work cut out for him since she was blading better now than he had seen her since joining Bega. She had turned into a pro blader in a very short amount of time.
The door to the room opened as Brooklyn looked in and smiled when he saw Hiro but then gasp when he turned around. "What happened?" he ask, running forward and looking at his face. "I lost control of my blade," Akane explained before Hiro had a chance to speak, "and Ares accidentally hit Hiro." Brooklyn looked as though he didn't believe the story as he looked between the two. Hiro hated lying to him but knew the truth would only upset him and he didn't need a distraught teen on his hands. He had enough to worry about at the moment with the tournament than having to deal with an overly emotional boyfriend as well.
"It looks worse than it feels," he reassured with a smile, "so don't worry about it. It was just a freak accident and I am just as much at fault as Akane. I should have ducked when she warned me but I was distracted and this is the result. I will visit the nurse later and have her look at it." "It looks painful," Brooklyn added as he touched the skin gently, "but if you say you are okay then I believe you."
Hiro smiled and sighed with relief when Brooklyn turned to Akane and had his back to him. "How is your practice going?" he ask as Akane held out her hand and her blade returned to it, "with the exception of the accident?" "I believe she is ready for her match tomorrow," Hiro replied for her with a smile, "why don't the two of you find your friends and go out for the remainder of the evening? You definitely deserve a little free time after being cooped up practicing all afternoon." Akane understood his subtle gestures and nodded.
She knew that he wanted to rest and think for a while with probably a slab of meat on his eye. If Brooklyn stayed, he would only hover over the older the rest of the evening and possibly end up annoying him. "How about ice cream?" Akane suggested, knowing Brooklyn's one weakness and that he couldn't resist the offer of the sweet and delectable treat. Brooklyn turned back to Hiro, who nodded as the younger smiled brightly and glomped him gently as a reward. Hiro sighed as they left since it would give him some time alone to think and that was what he needed at the moment. Kai and Rei had given him a lot to think about and now he needed to figure a way out of this mess.
AS