Title: Crimson's Child

Authoress: Ladya C. Maxine

Rating: M

Summary: see chapter one

Warnings: see chapter one

Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade or any of its characters. Any and all unrecognizable characters belong solely to me and are not to be used without my permission. I am not making any money off of this and I write with the solely to entertain.

To his relief the rain had let up an hour before night fall. The grounds were still soaked from the day's showers, forcing him to slowly make his way to his destination to prevent slipping on the slick mud or frozen patches of water. The air around him was thick with post-rain moisture, the fresh scent of stirred earth clinging as he went along. Behind him the night life of Moscow was stirring, before him the forest slept on as always, dark and looming as the trees became thicker.

He sneezed unexpectedly, the sound echoing beyond the shadowy trunks, making his blue eyes widened and his body freeze, like a deer caught in a car's headlights, but nothing stirred. Sniffing softly, he pulled the coat tighter around him and dared to continue, still eyeing the area uncertainly for any sign of activity. By now the density of trees had blocked out any view of the city behind him.

He had told Kai that he knew the way, which wasn't a complete lie; he would have been able to find the hide-out on his own…during daytime. Now, with everything cloaked in night shade, he hesitated too often, torn between what he knew and what he dared. Was it just him, or did the right directions seem darker and scarier?

In the middle of debating whether he had to turn left at the thorn bush or right at the fallen log he began to step forward when a deep sound vibrated above his head, startling him badly enough to lose his footing and trip. Ignoring the slight throb on his left side, he twisted around, frantically searching the branches for the source. For a moment he breath caught in his throat to see large, luminous orbs peering down at him and it wasn't until the figure repeated the sound that he realized it was just an owl.

Relieved, he shakily got to his feet, thoughts immediately going to the jacket. Sure enough, he could feel the sliminess of mud smeared on the cloth. Any attempts to wipe it off only served to spread it even more. He couldn't give Kai his jacket back like this! Maybe he should hide it for now, pick it up on his way back home and wash it…

Something landed on his shoulder, earning a small cry out of him at its suddenness. His struggles only escalated when a hand covered his mouth, someone pulling him back against them.

"Shh!"

He stopped when a now familiar voice hissed in his ears. The hands released him and Kai stepped back, giving him a once over to make sure he wasn't hurt. There was no way he could hide the jacket. Not that Kai would be asking for it anytime soon though. To his surprise the bluenette had another jacket on, its dark colour was swallowed up by night. In fact, he wouldn't have been able to tell if the person before him really was Kai if it hadn't been for the voice and the white scarf which managed to stand out even in the shadows.

"Did you hurt anything?" Kai asked when he remained silent. He shook his head. "Come on then."

A hand grabbed his and he was once again led away though unlike two days ago he felt no wariness, allowing Kai to lead the way.

"H-How did you find me?" he asked after a few minutes.

"I kinda guessed that you'd have trouble getting here," Kai answered truthfully, releasing his hand to climb over a pile of logs, holding him once more for balance as he did the same. "But you were on the right track."

Soon enough the looming trunk appeared, a strange orange light visible from within. A fire? Kai didn't give him a chance to ask, letting go and disappearing through the narrow entrance with him following closely only to almost retreat when he caught sight of the light source burning within.

He had guessed right that it was fire; it was understandable that he hadn't considered that what was feeding the bright orange and red flames was a large bird! Upon their entrance a fire wreathed head raised from where it had been peacefully dozing on the ground. Shimmering eyes quickly recognized Kai before fixing on him, the fire bird tilting its head to one side.

"Don't be afraid," Kai soothed, taking his hand and pulling him back in. "She won't hurt you."

Despite Kai's faith in the creature's capabilities, he remained close to the bluenette, his eyes never leaving the bird. Her, according to Kai this was a female, bearings weren't threatening as she seemed to have been resting, her wings folded against her body. Three extremely long tail feathers encircled the inner radius of the trunk, the middle and lengthiest just a foot or so away from the two boys from their spot at the entrance. Flames licked at the glowing feathers yet didn't even singe the leaves the bird was laying on.

"Her name is Dranzer," Kai informed. "She's my bit beast."

Too overwhelmed to even ask what he meant by that, he nodded, ready to agree with anything the bluenette said. When he felt hands on his back trying to urge him forward he resisted, turning wide eyes on Kai.

"W-What…?"

"Trust me," was all the bluenette said and he found himself doing just that, allowing Kai to inch him closer to the bird who watched the slow progress with a cocked head, her long mane almost reaching the floor. Once they were only a foot away from her Kai reached out and she obediently lowered her head, flames getting dangerously close to the boy's fingers. To his horror Kai closed the distance, rubbing the feathers between those vivid eyes.

"Be careful!" he spoke before thinking, grabbing Kai's hand back. He expected to find burns and blisters but the skin was unblemished, only ever so slightly reddened. Confused, he met Kai's eyes to find the bluenette watching him with an amused smile on his face. His cheeks warmed and he knew he was blushing, releasing Kai's hand. "I didn't want you to get hurt…"

"Dranzer would never hurt me," Kai assured. "She's my best friend."

Said friend leaned in slightly, eyeing him curiously. He tried to back off but found his back against Kai's chest, trapped. Worrying his lower lip, he could only watch helplessly as Kai took his hand in his, lifting it to lightly graze the large bird's beak. The expected burn never came, to his surprise, even as a few of the flickering flames ran over his hand, evaporating in thin air. Mesmerized, he dared to lift his hand higher, touching the space between the eyes like Kai had earlier. She allowed it, turning her head to nuzzle in his hand.

"She likes you," Kai said, smiling softly. "She doesn't burn people she likes."

Finally at ease, he gave the bird a last pat before withdrawing.

"Where did you find her?" he asked. Granted, his knowledge of nature was pretty limited, but common sense was more than sufficient to tell him that large, burning birds were not an everyday appearance.

"I got her last year. She lives in my beyblade." He held up the blue blade. "But I let her out everyday; she must get pretty lonely in there."

He looked at the small blade, then at the large bird, then back at the beyblade before regarding Kai with a quizzical look.

"Isn't it too small for her? How does she get in?"

Rolls were reversed as Kai now studied his, bemused.

"She's a bit beast."

"What's that?"

Silence for a moment.

"Don't you have a beyblade?"

Feeling strangely guilty, he shook his head.

"I don't have a lot of things."

Saying so reminded him of the jacket and he shrugged it off, warily staring at the brown stains before handing it to the bluenette.

"It got dirty when I fell…I can clean for you! I promise I'll bring it back tomorrow."

Kai barely glanced at the stains, crimson eyes on him.

"It's okay," he assured and then, to his surprise, removed the jacket he now wore, handing it to him. "Mud's easy to get out; I can clean it back at the Abbey. You can get this one until then."

Get? Until then?

"I don't understand," he admitted even as Kai placed the jacket in his arms. The bluenette wore a thick sweater but why was Kai giving him another one of his jackets? "But…what if this one gets dirty too? I don't want to spoil your things."

"This one is yours," Kai explained as he folded said jacket. "Don't worry; once it's been cleaned it will be as good as new. I get them dirty all the time."

"You're…giving that one to me?"

"I have six jackets; it's not like I can wear them all at once. It's going to get colder and I don't want you catching a cold or anything."

He couldn't speak for many moments, mainly staring stunned at Kai's attentiveness. It felt so strange, having someone who showed any interest in him other than an easy lay. Realizing he should say something he stammered a few times before finally stringing a sufficient amount of words together to form a sentence.

"W-Why are you…doing thi-this?"

A hand gently touched the now vague colouring of what was once a bruise on his cheek. For a moment he was struck with the realization that the markings on Kai's face reminded him of bruises themselves.

"Because no one else has," was the soft answer. "Because no one should hurt…"

Dranzer leaned in, nuzzling Kai's face with soothing chirps, earning a smile once more from the bluenette. He was surprised when the fire bird gave him the same treatment, tugging gently on the red bangs so similar in colour to her feathers. Giggling at the ticklish feeling as she nuzzled his neck, he relaxed, the warmth of her body comforting in a paternal way. He didn't even notice that Kai had stood until the bluenette sat back down next to him, handing him a ration pack.

They fell in silence, sitting side by side as they ate. He tried offering a piece of the bread to Dranzer but she eyed it with mere curiosity as Kai explained that bit beast didn't eat. After their meal Kai pulled out a small container from the backpack he had brought along. Inside it were several square pieces of something brown.

"Chocolate brownies," he announced, taking one and handing it to him. "The cooks made a lot today."

He had never eaten anything sweet in his entire life and was taken back at the taste; it was utter bliss taking that first bite. Licking his fingers clean, he was surprised to be handed another but accepted it graciously. Finally, after having eaten five, they were done, which was good as he was starting to feel a bit queasy.

"Maybe you ate too much," Kai concluded, feeling his forehead. "One time I ate a whole bag of candy and I got really sick and had to throw up." He shook his head. "You're not that sick; you stopped in time."

Before he could answer a sudden crack of lightning lit up the world outside the trunk, startling them both at its suddenness. A few seconds later the steady beat of rain gushed down in heavy curtains, instantly blurring the view of the woods beyond the entrance.

He sighed. It was going to be a long way home with an uneasy stomach and heavy rain. He must have spoken his thoughts out-loud because Kai shook his head.

"It's dangerous to walk through the woods in a thunder storm. We'll have to wait." With that he scooted over to Dranzer where the bird had been contently sleeping. One fiery eye opened to regard her young master and a great wing rose, held suspended in the air as Kai placed a few blankets on the ground.

"Lie down; it'll make you feel better," the bluenette instructed when he crawled over in curios inspection. "Dranzer's flames will keep us warm and dry."

Stomach full and mind slightly lulled, he allowed the bluenette to gently pull him over until he was resting on the thick blankets against the bird's soft side. The flames ran over his skin, leaving pleasant warmth in their wake. Sighing, he turned onto his side as Kai stretched out next to him. The wing lowered, forming a heated cover till their chest.

"Aren't they going to be mad if you don't go back?" he asked, not really knowing who 'They' were but guessing that Kai answered to them when things came down to it. The bluenette faltered for a moment, his answer evasive.

"The rain will let up before morning; I can make it back by then."

Accepting the response, he took a definite position on his stomach though kept his eyes on Kai as the bluenette mirrored him, resting his head on folded arms, the crimson eyes still troubled despite his assurance. They fixed on him when he lightly touched Kai's face, offering a sleepy smile. Kai returned both gestures.

"Good night," he whispered softly

"Good night."

Despite his efforts he soon surrendered to sleep, lulled by the pattering rain outside and Kai's steady breathing next to him. He kept his eyes on the scarlet pair till sleep finally set in.

Tbc…

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