So hey guys! I got a few private messages asking if I was going to release a third chapter for this, and the answer was: damn straight, (obviously Ellis, since people are reading this now!) Of course I was going to release another chapter, the second chapter ended on a bit of a cliff hanger due to it's length, and I was delighted to get this third chapter finished, and more so when people were actually asking about it. I think it is safe to say that there might be another chapter after this, which will be taking it back to current moment, rather than the flash back, but I can't see it going any further unfortunately, but hopefully you have enjoyed this. Once again this is a continuation of the chapter previous. It's still a flashback to everything prior to Kai's match with Rei. I hope you enjoy, and please let me know your thoughts! - Ellis.
His hands remind him of the blizzard that just recently cast him a cold shoulder in passing. They're raw amongst the palms, and Tala can still feel the biting cold crawling amongst crevices and pulling at snow cast flesh. He straightens his spine almost immediately, and notes the dulled ache that sets in between disks, that reminds him just how he hunched in upon himself when he's stepped out into the cold, and descended into what seemed a futile search. Of course he'd made it back to base in plenty of time, enough time to warm up within the confined spaces of the room that Spencer and Bryan once occupied. When he'd returned, Bryan was nowhere to be seen, so Tala had simply assumed that he had retreated to the sleeping quarters - not that Tala minded. He wasn't that interested in trying to argue with the boy, and he certainly couldn't be doing with any more of his 'ripcord' puns. Spencer on the other hand, had remained his spot, arms either side of him, with palms flat and flush to the floor. He seemed almost like a statue, a peaceful silhouette, whom occupied the milky existence of the moon, as light spread amongst him. Tala found that he looked rather peaceful, and either he was in his own world, or the blurring picture of the television had grasped his attention, and refused to let him go.
The stillness within the air was broken when Tala registered that Spencer was still breathing, and that within a moment of peace, Spencer had turned to eyes to his captain. Spencer saw no sign of Kai, and apparently found no point in questioning what Tala had decided to do with him, though truthfully, Spencer wasn't all too keen on the idea of letting Kai go either. "You didn't go out like that, did you?" Spencer inquires, and the concern is there, and it certainly does not waver. In every essence of the word, Tala was grateful that Spencer actually held that sort of emotion within him - something that Bryan seemed incapable of. It was nice to have another question your own welfare, rather than to bite at your antics to collect your team together. Tala simply pauses before he even considers drawing up a response, and within his pause, removes his jacket to reveal the plain black t-shirt, that within his efforts of fighting back the cold, had loosened and was no longer tucked beneath the band of his trousers. His silence speaks in louder volumes, and also confirmed the answer that he would have given Spencer. Truth be told, Spencer doesn't need an answer to know whether Tala went out like that, or did the decent thing. Tala was many things, he was incredibly powerful, and Spencer was rather sure that Tala actually knew that, but he seemed to possess something that not even Spencer had. He had power, but he also had a heart that maintained the human side of him, the human side that could command a team to victory, or simply command a team to conduct several laps. The human side that would place himself between his friends and certain death, in fact, many of times, Spencer had recalled the numerous occasions that Tala had held himself and Bryan back, in the efforts of preventing harm coming to them. It's a funny thought, Spencer nods slightly. Spencer is much taller and broader than Tala, and Bryan is a lot more feisty, and between them, they probably hold a lot more humane strength than Tala does... But Tala fights for them regardless. And that's why Tala is their team captain.
"You know, you complain about Kai not dressing appropriately, and yet you don't take your own advice." Spencer muses, and Tala notes the hint of amusement that laces Spencer's tone. There's the concern again, but a faint hint of hypocrisy comes with it this time, and alas, Spencer is right. Tala barely nods a response, and supposes that he should find an answer that is appropriate to give, either that, or completely change the subject. Or maybe just go on about how he didn't find Kai, and even if he had, a telling off wouldn't be enough to bring the rebellious two-toned nitwit back to base. In fact, Tala assumed that Kai would only sulk, and then disappear once again.
"At least I had my jacket." Tala finally responds, after dropping himself down onto the sofa. He's so effortless within his movements, so graceful, now he knows what it feels like to drift like a feather. He sits within silence for moment, and has to silently admit to himself, that for a moment, he felt like a small child that was trying to win one over another, for having something that the other didn't possess. In this case, it was jacket, and Kai seemed to lack of one, in fact, Kai just lacked of any sort of layer that would actually keep him warm. At times Tala didn't even know why Kai wore a scarf when he seemed to have sworn off the purpose of a jacket. Tala has now found that his response has earned himself a vague silence from Spencer, perhaps because Spencer realised that yes, that was true - at least Tala had more sense than Kai, or perhaps, Spencer was figuring out a way of saying: that's childish, without actually saying it. Nonetheless, Tala can see the faint shake of his friends head, it's caught amongst the moonlight, and it's only within the moonlight, that Tala notices features that belong to Spencer, that would otherwise go neglected. He assumes that Spencer has found some sort of amusement from what Tala has said, and that settles him somewhat.
"That's true." Spencer finally states, and there's a moment of silence that comes, and Tala doesn't mind it, because with Spencer it's not awkward, nor are you waiting for some frantic speech to come from him. With Bryan, you're awaiting his outbursts, the sort where he can't hold his tongue, or you can hear the cracking of his knuckles, as he so idly forces them together. With Spencer you can tell him to be quiet if he talks too loud, and he'll apologise, with Bryan you can expect fireworks as he claims that you defied him, but also because Bryan genuinely loves the sound of his voice. Kai on the other hand, is different. There's no reason to tell him to be quite, because he doesn't talk anyway, and even when he does, it's usually a faint mumble, or something that puts you in your place, and you realise just how uncomfortable he makes you. There's movement aside of him, and Tala tilts his head to watch as Spencer comes to stand up - he's actually frightfully tall when Tala is sat down, and Tala has to bite at his lower lip to prevent himself from gulping.
"I stayed and waited up because Bryan threatened to lock the door on Kai. The kid's got a bad attitude, but I wouldn't want him to freeze to death. Frostbite maybe..." He's trailed off at this point, and at first Tala couldn't tell if Spencer had gotten side tracked and simply stopped talking, or if Spencer had actually left the room. Turns out he'd left the room, and he too would be retreating to the sleeping quarters, and that left Tala to wait up for Kai. Thanks Spencer. Tala supposes that actually, he doesn't quite mind that the other Russian has left him, it leaves Tala to his own devices, to ponder his thoughts, and establish just what he'd seen. Kai had been hellbent on leaving his mark, striking various objects and obstacles, that dared to defy him, and nonetheless, Kai had proven his worth. Proven why he should be the one to crush Tyson; but there seemed to be that one little thing that had bothered Kai. Tala had noted it within the way Kai had snatched up his blade, and uttered brutally to himself to it wasn't good enough, whether he was telling himself, or Dranzer that it wasn't good enough, Tala hadn't been too sure. Tala had just witnessed the strong, silent type that is speak no nonsense - in fact don't speak at all - Kai Hiwatari in a moment of frustration, and that had seemed to have sat well with Tala. He did vow however, that he would later return to Kai's spot, and discover the full extent of Kai's power. Could he actually be getting better? How much powerful could one individual become? That's when he hears the door, someone mindlessly thumbing the handle in order to get the door open, and of course, that person, can only be Kai, unless Bryan has decided to tip toe into the hall and is now attempting to lock the door... Tala couldn't imagine that. Bryan is the most heavy handed person Tala has ever met, Bryan never does anything light, nor graceful, he's all about power and aggression, noise, and well... Making sure people know you're there.
"Kai." His voice comes stern, and he honestly hadn't realised just how stern it sounded until he was looking Kai within the face. He'd also jumped up a lot faster than he'd anticipated, and now feels like the puppy who got far too excited when their owner came back. By now his arms are folded against his chest, head tipped slightly; there's something dark and dangerous about the way he stands. It doesn't phase Kai however, he doesn't even rise to the voice, nor does he blink, in fact, truth be told, Kai hadn't even opened his eyes, even when Tala had called out to him. "Hey, what are you doing, Kai?" There's ignoring Tala, and then there's Kai ignoring Tala, and you can tell which annoys him more. Kai's ignorance, he's very defiance to not answer him, flares up a fury within a Tala, a blizzard that only he can cast, but ice and fire have never gone well together. If anything, Tala is almost scolding himself for assuming that he might have actually gotten answers from Kai - he was foolish to think that even after all this time, that Kai would actually answer to him. Apparently Kai answers to no one.
He notes how the cold has nipped at Kai's nose he can see the vacant reddening as it runs up towards the bridge of his nose, and Kai can dip his own nose into the comfort of his scarf, all he likes, that 1-0 to Tala. In your face Kai, for not doing as I suggested. Not to mention that Tala can see how the bitter cold has nipped at Kai's cheeks and kissed them a burning red. It might have seemed somewhat pleasant to Tala, if it wasn't upon Kai that such colours would be drawn too. He senses that Kai might be cold, but he can also sense that Kai is attempting to maintain his bad attitude and tough guy composure - he can see it within the way that Kai immediately broadens his shoulders in the attempt of gaining height. Or the way in which he collapses further into himself, as an attempt at once again erecting the walls that Kai has spent building. Or the way in which he seems to tighten his knuckles, so much so, that even the tips of his fingers have started to become white, he doesn't even want to know what the boys hands actually look like. He imagines that they must be splintered, judging from the state of his gloves. He assumes that they must be sore, and red, scuffed and bruised, bloodied and- I don't care. He thinks, but he also knows that, that isn't the case. He knows that he wouldn't mind actually looking at his hands and cleaning them up for him, or even forcing Kai to tend to his own hands... Actually he'd rather not. He's seen Kai's firsthand response to something as this, he doesn't actually care and honestly, Tala can't recall a time where Kai tended to his own wounds, in fact, he's pretty certain that Kai leaves them.
A shake of his head, and Kai is drawing near, and guess what? He still hasn't responded, he's still a silent as ever, still as arrogant and as proud as ever. Apparently he's too proud to even answer Tala. That's when Tala's fury rises once again, the inner wolf seems to surface, and Tala finds himself biting, before he can even stop to evaluate the situation. He knows that Kai is one who often shies from contact, whether it's something that generally makes him uncomfortable, or there are more sinister truths to it, he doesn't like it, and for a moment - Tala forgets.
"Hey, you can't keep ignoring me, Kai. Answer me." Before he's even debated the positives and the negatives and figured out if he could defend himself in time, should Kai decided to jaw him, his hand is firm at Kai's wrist. He'd actually been aiming for higher, but it turns out he held a better chance at rooting Kai to the spot, because it worked, even if it was for a short moment. Kai stopped within his movements, but Tala felt Kai tense underneath him. He couldn't tell if it was an instinct of Kai's, or whether it was silent for: get the hell off of me, before we see how many teeth I can remove in a single punch. It seems to be a sudden movement, something that catches Kai off guard, and he doesn't like it, because he doesn't understand it. That's when Tala takes a good look at Kai, and notes how his fists are actually shaking, and the very vibrations - though subtle - are running up the span of Tala's own hand, and he wants to let go, he does, of course, but he needs to know. He needs to know what Kai is up to, or if he's in trouble. It's then, when cerulean pools dance up the span of his arm, that he notes the ugly scarring, and the flesh wounds that have become the basis for the very threat in which Kai poses. Some scars look terribly old, old beyblading wounds he supposes - he knew Kai pushed himself to limit, but he didn't know just how far he pushed himself. Other scars looked fairly new, like they only had received the opportunity to heal over, whereas other wounds bore a scab. Some looked agile, the flesh around the wound threatening to rip open and spill all of Kai's secrets. And others were new. He could smell the metallic scent that danced around them, the vermilion stains that had dried into his skin, and threatened to remain amongst the course of dewy marble.
Now Tala understands the true extent of Kai's powers, he'll hurt himself over and over, and continue to do so, until he has perfected something. He'll continue to ache and bleed and bleed himself dry, if something isn't perfect. He strives for perfection more so than anyone else Tala has ever met, and he should know, it was drilled into him as a young age to strive for it, but this is something else. This is a mental illusion that bites down upon you, forces you into a corner, and gives you no other option. It's frightening, he knows, but he has his teammates to talk to, individuals that he can strive for perfection with alongside... Kai is alone. Tala doesn't even have the time to further assess the matter, nor come to understand the very extent of the situation before him, in fact, he doesn't even have the opportunity to draft up some speech in aid of taming Kai, before Kai is harshly pulling himself away from the red head.
"Wha- Kai. Kai!" He doesn't even have the chance to comprehend the matter, never mind compose himself, instead, he's attempting to understand just what power Kai actually has at his disposal. He knew Kai was powerful, and he knew that Kai was worthy of fighting alongside, rather than against, but now he wasn't quite sure of just what he was capable of. If he could do this to himself, and continue to do this to himself, and constantly push himself to limit... What could Kai actually do to others? More so, what could he do to Tyson?