A/N: Just to clarify, this is a bit of a filler, the second season will start after the next chapter, hopefully.

Thank you to James Birdsong for the reviews!

Chapter 6

(Relief)

Four sets of eyes stared unblinkingly at the TV screen, their lips stretched into thin lines and frowns adorning their eyebrows. The colorful flashes of the bright screen reflected into their eyes.

Today was the last day of the trials regarding Voltaire's case, with Boris already having sentenced to death, which they weren't so happy about because the bastard did not deserve any easy death for all that he done to him, but at least he wouldn't be on the same world as them, and that thought calmed them.

The news flashed on every news channel, the frantic reporters repeating their same old words over and over again while the arms around the court held them back from the actual facts.

Kai had left in the morning with Mr. Dickenson to reach the court where a huge decision of his life was to be made. His team of judges had convinced him of their win with enthusiastic words.

Although he had assured Tala and the others that things were going to turn out fine, they could see how his eyes flickered and how his hands fidgeted unconsciously with the nervousness and the uncertainty, and most of all, the fear of the happenings if Voltaire won.

The screen changed to a different scene where Voltaire was being assorted out with a number of cops surrounding him, a slight shine near his wrists convincing them of the handcuffs that were locked almost disgracefully on his hands. His face seemed as expressionless as ever, but they could feel from his wrinkled features that the life the old man prided himself in living and his dreams of dominating the world were no more.

Bryan jumped up on the couch, almost knocking Tala over who was sitting beside him, and punched the air.

"HA!! Take that, motherfucker!!" he yelled at the screen before Ian joined him.

Tala let out a smirk, amused at the antics of his friends before looking at Spencer. The blond gave him a smile, which he returned with his own, before he was kicked in the side by the falcon, accidently.

The redhead pounced over Bryan, bringing them both down, the latter letting out a series of colorful curses.

"It is finally happening, Bry. Don't tell me I'm dreaming," he let out in an excited tone into the lilac haired boy's shoulder before Bryan pushed him away.

"Nah, you're not dreaming, red," he smirked, before getting up.

"I'm gonna call Kai," the redhead stated.

"Don't Tala, he must still be busy with something," the blond reasoned, before adding, "He's gonna come back anyway," when he saw the pleading look Tala was giving him.

The redhead huffed before sitting himself down on the nearest sofa, impatiently waiting for the bluenette to return.

"I am going to make lunch, and you both are going to help me," Spencer shot a look at Bryan and Ian, who opened their mouths to protest but snapped them shut as the blonde gave them a glare that dared them to continue, before surrendering and following him to the kitchen.

Tala lay down, his feet dangling off the arm of the couch, sighing and staring with unfocused eyes at the ceiling.

He could not believe that it was really happening. In their childhood, they hadn't even thought of a possibility that they'd ever be away from the abbey. Though they created hopeful scenarios of the life outside, they knew in their hearts that they were what they were, just dreams.

He could not believe that the two men who had ruined his life in the worst possible ways were finally behind the bars. The relief it all gave him was overwhelming. He had nothing to worry about, they were free, finally free.

The thought made him feel giddy inside.

For Kai though, things were not yet over. He had to make every mistake of his grandfather turn right. He would have to wash the blood away from all the corners and nooks where Voltaire had splashed it mercilessly. He would have to take all the pain away from people who had suffered all their lives due to his grandfather. Life was not going to be too merciful for him.

He was carrying the 'Hiwatari' name on his shoulders, and that in itself was a mark of sin for him. There were people out there who hated him for the things Voltaire had done, who claimed that he was no better than the old man as he had the same blood running in his veins, who hurled out harsh words at him when spotting him in public. He had seen it first-hand.

That day, Tala had been nagging them since morning that he wanted to buy some new clothes, because his old clothes were well, old. But none of his friends wanted to accompany him so he asked Kai to go with him, to which the dual haired had agreed, after receiving a pleading look from those icy blue eyes, that he had been unable to resist.

They had been walking through the aisles, the redhead randomly picking a piece of cloth and then putting it back again before continuing, all the while Kai silently and amusedly watched him, trudging along with a trolley.

They had stopped at a particular aisle where he had picked a light blue sweater when a lady interrupted them.

"Are you Kai Hiwatari?" she asked, her eyes full of accuse as she glared at the dual haired boy.

"That would be me," he replied calmly.

Her eyes, that had been glaring at him turned to pure hatred, and she spat in his direction.

"Oh, so you are the grandson of that heartless fucking monster who got my husband murdered," her eyes shined with tears but the loathing in her eyes did not falter.

"I am sorry for your loss, but I had no part in any of my grandfather's plans. You can give me your address, and I'd make sure you get compensation for all your losses."

"I don't need your damned charity, you imbecile. You think money can bring him back?"

"That's the only way I can help"

Her face contorted into a snarl, and she continued, "Help, the only help a bastard like you can do is to take my life too, so that I won't have to suffer from my dear love's loss every moment. But what about the children then? Oh, I'm sure you won't hesitate to kill them too, murderer. How different would you be from that fucker, when you have the same fucking blood in your veins? I hope you die in the deepest pits of hells."

Kai's eyes had darkened, staring at the ground with a blank look, before she grabbed him by the collar.

Tala had jumped in and pried her hands away before the security guards finally rushed over and took them safely away from the insane woman.

He had tried to talk to Kai all the way back, but the bluenette hadn't uttered a single word. When they had reached home, he had rushed straight to Tala's room and locked the door.

He had repeated the incident to his teammates when they asked about Kai's unusual behavior. After listening to him, Bryan had picked a vase sitting near him and sent it flying over before it smashed against the opposite wall, all the while muttering out ways to give the insane bitch a slow and agonizing death.

Tala had been worried, glancing every few minutes at the locked door before finally searching for a spare key that he knew Kai had kept somewhere. Luckily, he found it in a drawer of the guest room that Kai used.

When he had opened the door, he was met with Kai's back as the slate-haired boy lay on his side facing away from him.

He had tentatively put a hand on Kai's shoulder before the bluenette had turned around to face him. The crimson orbs were seemingly empty, but he could read the feeling of hurt reflecting in them, which made him look so vulnerable that he hadn't the moment to think of his actions before his arms had circled themselves around the boy and pulled him towards him. Kai had, after some struggle, given up, and had simply laid his head on his shoulder.

After a while, he had fallen asleep. Tala had become too worried to leave him alone. That night, Kai had slept next to him, while the redhead held him close, comforting him as much as he could.

A sudden thump shook him out of his thoughts and looked over the back of the couch, a bowl of some kind of sauce? Or batter? – he wasn't good at all in the kitchen except maybe making coffee – he didn't know exactly what it was, but the fact was that it had fallen, and all its content had been sent flying around the whole floor of the kitchen.

Spencer was looking downright outrageous now. 'Oh shoot, better hide before he lashes out at me', thought Tala sarcastically, praying for the lives of Bryan and Ian as he went upstairs into his room, closing the door shut just as the blonde yelled at the two with anger.

He chuckled to himself, before sitting next to the window. The streets and roofs outside were covered with thin sheets of snow, some crumpled and dirtied by passengers and automobiles, some fresh as a newborn. He gazed up at the sky, which was a dull gray.

The city of Moscow was freezing, but he was used to it. He could even say that he loved it, that chill that went up his spine whenever his skin touched the pure yet sinful snow, that hid so much of the ugliness of the world below it.

Suddenly, his eyes followed a sleek black car coming down the road, his eyes lighting up as he rushed down, ignoring the bickering still going on between his teammates, and opened the door, smiling softly at Kai who was getting out of the car.

The bluenette looked exhausted to say the least, his eyes bloodshot with the lack of rest, his hair looking as messy as ever, his form slackening, but he didn't seem as nervous and tense as before.

He stepped inside the house, followed by Tala, who put a hand on his shoulder, silently sharing his own joy at the decision the court had made.

Kai gave him a weary smile, squeezing the hand on his shoulder ever so slightly before looking at the kitchen.

Kai raised an eyebrow at all the mess he was met with. Bryan and Ian were still cursing and fighting with each other as if there was no tomorrow, while Spencer tried to get them to stop. They hadn't even noticed him.

He cleared his throat. They immediately looked towards him.

"The fuck are you doing?" he pointed to the mess on the floor.

Tala smirked. Kai acted just like a father who was taking care of his messy and bratty kids who couldn't do a thing on their own. Or better yet, a mother…

His smirk widened.

"What you grinning at?"

"Huh?" Kai had noticed him smirking, narrowing his eyes suspiciously at the redhead, somehow knowing what the other was thinking.

"Don't you think you have some responsibility towards them? You are their fucking captain for God's sake"

Now his smirked was wiped off, and he looked downright pissed.

"The fuck you said?" he glared at Kai.

"I said, you are irresponsible, Tala," Kai's smirk widened as the redhead's face slowly started to match his hair. It was just too easy to rile him up.

"Why you-"

Before he could finish his threat, the others were already around Kai, swarming him with questions.

He stepped forwards and grabbed Kai's arm, pulling him towards the couch, with his teammates also following.

As soon as he sat down, he was immediately surrounded by his four friends, who kept throwing questions at him one after the other.

He was so tired both mentally and physically, but he didn't want them to worry, so he hid it the best he could, and kept answering them, giving them the whole detail of the happenings of the court.

He sighed heavily as his phone began to ring, pulling it out and glaring at it before picking it up.

As expected, it was some irresponsible employee who couldn't do a thing by herself and now had created some trouble for him to deal with.

After giving her a good few pieces of her mind and having her fired, he put the phone down, leaning against the backrest of the sofa, covering his closed eyes with one arm.

Tala must've sensed his weariness and shooed the others away because when he opened his eyes, Bryan, Spencer and Ian were gone, hopefully cleaning up the mess in the kitchen, and Tala was standing before him holding a glass of water and a pill.

He took the pill and chugged it down without asking what it was for, and let his head drop on the redhead's shoulder as soon as Tala sat down next to him.

"You okay?" Tala's voice was laced with concern.

"Hn"

He collected himself and stood up, his eyes blurring and dizziness crowding his mind because of the lack of sleep and food.

Tala looked ready to say something, but he shrugged him off with a "I'm just tired" before making his way upstairs to wash up and maybe get a little sleep, but with the noise that Bryan and Ian with their continuous bickering, it wasn't too probable.

A shout resounded downstairs after which there was utter silence. He let out an amused smile, guess the redhead was going back to his 'captain' mode. Thankfully for him, that'd at least bring some peace to the house.

Sitting down at the edge of Tala's bed, his eyes locked onto a picture that the redhead always kept there, one that was taken years ago, blurred and faded with the passage of time, the colors all jumbled up into the creases where it had been folded, a picture, of the five of them.

He picked it up, staring at it almost in a trance.

His thoughts wandered the longer he watched it.

His life was, what one could call, a rollercoaster. There were so many ups and downs that he was struggling to keep up with them. With all the pressure building up on him, he wasn't sure of what everything was going to turn to. Whether, things were, for once going to turn out fine? Or were they just going to keep knocking him down? Putting him back to those corners of the past where he never wanted to go again? Was it ever going to go his way?

He had literally no fucking person to look upto in times so rough he was almost drowning. Everyone was mean, betraying, and cruel. The word that described them best was, monsters. And he knew, in the deepest corners of his heart, that having been constantly surrounded by such evil excuses of humans for most parts of his life, he was turning into one too. He felt no sympathy or emotion towards anyone. Hell, he had just gotten his only living relative behind the bars for his whole life. He knew he was also evil, a monster in the heart. As that lady had said, he was made of that same blood, who was to say that he wasn't going to become just like him? He was a sick bastard, who at tines had liked to watch others in pain, who could turn so cold even his reflection in the mirror could unnerve him, whose heart had been hardened so much and for so long that it was no different from a stone now, whose feelings and hopes had been murdered by his blood, whose heartlessness made everyone keep away from him, whose cold walls no one could break through.

Except.

He put the picture back gently.

Whatever things may be, or whatever anyone might say, he realised that he didn't need to give a fuck.

As long as he had them, he was fine being a monster…

Thanks for reading.