DARKNESS FALLS


Inside the restaurant, Sanquenix gasped in surprise as the hotel manager led Kenny and his company through the large double doors and to a table with a view of downtown Moscow. The area was decorated to suit the authentic Russian tastes.

"Do you like it, Mister Shinoda, sir?" The elderly man asked before he left them to view the items on the menu. "I personally dictated this spot for you and your friends here. As a favoured customer of the owner for your delightful reviews of the hotel and its many services, you and your guests are free to dine on whatever you wish." Kenny smiled at the man.

"It's wonderful, Gustav, thank you so much for everything." Tala smirked at his lithe lover.

"Suck up." He said, but this only earned him a kiss on the nose once Gustav's back was turned. "So what do you think, Sanquenix? He comes to visit me for a while and he ends up wrapping the owner of a very expensive hotel around his little finger."

"That's not all he's got wrapped around his finger, Tala." The vampire murmured as he took a sip of his wine. "Uh, we're being watched, Kenny." The brunette shifted and called a waiter over to take the orders.

"Sir's?" The young man said. He can't have been over twenty-five and looked like he would drop from exhaustion at any time.

"I'll have steak- medium rare, potatoes mashed and a side of turkey gravy." Tala said politely.

"I'll have the same, but I want my steak well done, please." Kenny smiled.

"I'll take what Tala said, only I want baked potatoes." Sanquenix said as he pointed to the red head. "And can we get some dinner rolls before hand?"

"Sure. I'll be right back." Tala looked at the dark haired man and scowled.

"How did you know we were being watched?"

"I've been watching over Kenny now ever since he came here. I've been guarding him as best I can, but the danger still exists." Scowling, the dark haired man put down his glass and sighed. "I don't want any more wine; it will impair me. Boris is here in Moscow and he's on a blood hunt. He wishes to spill the blood of your team as well as your loved ones. So, naturally thinking of Kenneth's safety, I began to keep a close eye on both Kenny and Boris' underhanded activity."

"I see." Tala said. "And now that Kenny's with me?"

"I've heard talk- from insiders who tend to leak intelligence when drunk- about that bastard using Kenny to get to you and the others." Sanquenix replied. He caught view of the waiter coming and stopped talking. "So," he signalled to Tala. "What do you do in your spare time anyway?"

"Oh, not much," The red head said deciding to play along with the charade. "Sometimes I'll call up a few good friends and have a chat, other than that I just sit around."

"Sir's, your rolls; is there anything else I can get you?" Kenny shook his head.

"No, thanks." The young man nodded and went away.

"Kenny, he's one of Boris' men."

"Is that why he looks so damn tired?" Tala questioned. "Hang on; you said you'd protect MY Kenny, right?"

"Yes, but I, at first, saw no need to protect you because of your abilities." Sanquenix replied softly. "Do you wish for protection as well?"

"Why not, Tala? He's able and willing to risk it for us, let him help protect us."

"Damn, I hate it when you give me that puppy eye look. Alright; but only until this matter with Balcov is taken care of- got it?"

"Of course, Tala. Anything goes though, when I do catch him red handed in the act of attempting to harm either of you."

"I agree. No, Tala, you don't need any of that tainted blood on your hands. Besides, Sanquenix has a very…lethal way of killing without leaving evidence behind."

"That I do, my friend. That I do," The vampire said as he flashed his fangs in Tala's direction for the first time. "You see, Tala, I drain my victims dry and leave them for the vultures."

"That sounds like a delightful dinner for the vultures: Boris ala Dead." Sanquenix could not suppress his laugh as Tala expressed his thirst for his ex-mentor's blood and Kenny joined in. A female waitress walked over to the table.

"Good evening, Sir's. Your previous server has gone home for the evening so I will be continuing his services for the remainder for your meal. Is there anything I can get you other than your dinner?" When Kenny shook his head she smiled and nodded. "Very well, I'll be right out with your food. Should you need anything, just call." She said politely and left to go into the kitchen.


That night a strange fog fell across the land of Russia as the three companions found their way home. There was no moon to guide their footsteps as they walked along the snow-filled streets of the inner city and no stars could be seen from any direction. Each of them knew that trouble was lurking, waiting for them to separate and go off in different directions so that it could devour them and drag their remains into the dark unknown.

Tala breathed in a sigh of relief as Sanquenix unlocked the door of the house. Hero- who generally took to strangers- ran from the newcomer in fear and ended up hiding under the couch whining until Kenny reached for him. This made Tala laugh as the dog refused to listen to the very man who took care of him. The darker haired man just sat on the armchair and waited.

Tala looked at Kenny and grinned Devilishly. "Now?" He asked, but the brunette would have none of it. He hung up the coats and walked into the small kitchen where he proceeded to make some steamy hot chocolate for them to drink.

Tala sat there across from the vampiric man and sighed as he 'checked him out' so to speak. The other was dressed in a pair of decent looking black jeans and a pale grey shirt with black trimming. Talas own suit was a pair of locally tailored dress pants and white button-up shirt and an over-vest to match the pants with silver and gold trimming. The red head watched as the other mans eyes wandered over the walls as he looked at the few pictures that the Demolition Boys had taken together and the paintings that Ian had done and hung on the walls. He sat back and laughed.

"What?" Sanquenix asked in surprise as Tala gave a short yet mirthless laugh. "Is there something wrong?"

"Yeah, actually." There was a silence that one might only hear at a funeral then and it chilled the vampire to the bone. "Now that I've got you alone I've a few questions that I want answers to and I don't need you 'beating around the bush' either." Tala's eyes grew cold and merciless as he stared at the other man who was sitting across from him. Their gazes locked for a moment and Sanquenix sighed in deep regret of having to be left alone with Kenny's lover. "What was Kenny to you that made you come running to his aide?"

"I…" Sanquenix trailed off for a moment. No, he decided, I should be truthful with him if I am to protect them. "Kenny was not really a friend to me and my troupe in the past. Shall we say that he was somewhat of an enemy? He was with Tyson's crowd at the time and we- the Dark Bladers- drew them into a trap using Kenneth as bait as well as their beyblades. We wanted their bit beasts for our own uses, but it was something that Kenneth had said to me that made me change my mind about harming him. You see, there were four of us who had gone up against the Majestics and lost. As punishment for our failure, we were sentenced to become what our beasts were at the time- mine being a vampire. Though Robert was thwarted by Tyson in a head to head battle, my curse remained and Kenny told me that I should make good use of my new and strange abilities if I was to live the life of a nightwalker."

"So at one point in time you and Ken were enemy's?"

"Yes."

"Ok, now that we've established that much, how in the hell do you plan on protecting us from an enemy that we can't see?"

"Simple, Tala, since my arrival here in Moscow, I've been watching a certain man- namely Boris- as his foul plans have taken flight. There was once or twice where he tried to cause you pain but I put a stop to his antics before anything could happen."

"Ok, so what. You still could be one of his men. How do you expect me to trust someone that almost hurt my lover in the past?"

"For one: I'm not, nor do I ever intend to be that mans lackey. For another thing, Tala, if I wanted to actually bring harm to Kenneth's fragile form, I would have done so on the day when we first met. I've no intention of hurting him anymore than he's already been hurt."

"Fine, I can live with that. But honestly, Sanquenix, did you think I would not be able to protect myself against someone of Boris' ways?"

"Honestly? You want the honest-to-God, never-tell-another-soul truth?" Tala nodded. "I didn't like you at first, but Kenneth summed up your relationship in three words: 'I love him.'"

"He told you that?"

"Yes." Sanquenix said abruptly. "I listen when Kenny talks. When he asked me to remove my cloak, I did so without question because that's what he wanted. He has asked that I protect you as well, and I shall because he requested it." Tala scoffed at the vampire. "I also have a great and deep love for him, but he is your lover. He chose to spend the rest of his life with you. Who am I to argue! You two were practically made for each other."

"Where are you living right now?" The question had not been foreseen and it threw Sanquenix for a loop. "We have a few extra rooms for a while, if you want." Tala's eyes pleaded with the other man to take up the offer of a warm bed and hot meals. "I'm sure that Kenny would like to have your company when I go out." He tempted further, hoping that the use of his lithe lover would sway the vampire's decision.

"No, I'm quite afraid that as far as living here goes, I cannot. Although, you have made the offer quite tempting, I absolutely have to decline. I need to keep an impervious watch on that bastard until this mess is sorted out once and for all."

"I understand. Well, might as well go help Kenny with the cocoa, want to help?"

"Certainly." Upon walking to the kicthen door, the vamipric man grimaced. Was not Kenny supposed to be making hot chocolate for them? "Uh, Tala, do you smell anything?" Tala sniffed at the air.

"No," He replied. He sniffed again. This time, a deadly scent entered his nose and sent him reeling. "Jesus! Is that propane we're smelling?" Tala's eyes widened as Sanquenix bolted into the kitchen. "Sanquenix! Kenny!" This is insane! Tala thought as he groped for something to cover his mouth with. Cold air? Where from? Then it hit him. They had been sitting in the living room, which was two doors down from where Kenny had been making their drinks. There was a door to the back yard in the kitchen… "God damn it! He yelled as he covered his mouth. Coughing spasms wracked his form uncontrollably. Someone grabbed his waist and dragged him outside to the front porch. He looked up into Sanquenix's eyes and just prior to passing out whispered his thanks to the other man.

"Damn, just when I was hoping to call a truce, too." The vampire cursed. Gathering all of his speed and knowledge of the common hideouts belonging to Boris, he took to the rooftops in search of Kenny before it was too late. The propane stove had been turned off before he left and the smell was slowly disappearing into the atmosphere, but the stench of that man was all over the place in the room that Kenny had occupied not too long ago. He spotted the flat where the curtains were drawn back to expose the people inside. One, two, three… OK so there are five guards in there. Not so bad seeing as I've already scared them out of their wits. Thought Sanquenix as he surveyed the room. Two guards at the door…oh! There he is! All nicely tied to the bed and ready to rape at Boris' sign. Disgusting.

He listened to the conversation- well, Kenny was yelling. Boris was the one talking. "You will serve me for the time being. And don't even think about calling on that guardian of yours. I've made sure you can't, in fact."

"You're sick in the head." Sanquenix laughed at Kenny's bold response. "The only thing I want is to see your sorry ass dead. Do you hear me? D-E-A-D!"

'I can do that.' Sanquenix saw Kenny stiffen and then relax as he realized that his protector was talking to him via thought-speech. 'Do you want me to help you, Little Love?'

'Yes.' Kenny's answer was strained. 'I don't know how much longer I can keep up a brave front. Where are you? Where's Tala?'

'Right outside; I'm on the roof opposite the room you are now in.' There was a short pause. 'Tala is safe at the moment. What happens when I attack those men in there, it may scar you mentally.'

'Do whatever you have to. Just get me out of here. I couldn't care less if you slowly strangled every one of them!'

'Very well.' Seconds later it was as if Armageddon had broken loose upon Boris' troupe as Sanquenix mercilessly and viciously killed every one of them leaving no trace of his existence behind. Kenny watched, fear gripped him, but he shook it off instantly. This was what he had wanted; what he needed to happen. "Come." Sanquenix said gently as he wrapped Kenny in a blanket and lifted him up. The job was done. Kenny, Tala, and the others were safe now. Sanquenix's job here was completed at last.

The next morning, Tala woke to find that Sanquenix had kept his word and returned his lover back to his arms. Kenny's naked form moved slightly, but he did not wake. Silently, Tala thanked whatever deity that had sent the vampire to watch over them.


YAY! Yet another chapter to add to my onslaut of four consecutive postings for a chapter in one day! Horray for me! Rim throws confetti around.