A/N: After a long long delay, we are getting back on track with the original episodes!

Thank you so much to Emi45 for joining in!

Hope you keep reading! :)

Ch 13

(A new trouble)

He let out an irritated growl and bunched up the almost freshly torn paper, throwing it into the dustbin and focusing on the question again.

Another mathematical equation, more trigonometry, the answer was right there, but he needed to prove it, fucking damnit!

He went through all of the possible identities that could be used to step closer to the answer, but none seemed to do the work.

Giving up, something fundamentally out of his character, he stood up and decided to go out for a much needed walk that he had been delaying for hours now.

His head ached from all the strain his sleep deprived eyes had gone under while focusing on the text on his notebooks for so long.

His eyes widened as an all too familiar pang made its existence known in his chest, hurrying over to get himself well shielded behind a wall lest another panic attack may hit.

Though it seemed a false alarm, as his diaphragm relaxed and let in more air, giving his lungs a, well, breathe.

He heaved a sigh of relief and straightened himself, thankful that he hadn't made a pathetic excuse of himself right in the middle of a hall, where any student could witness what a pitiful mess he was.

He regained himself and walked over to one edge of the hall, his tired gaze raking over the endless seams of leaves that rustled over ever so slightly and peacefully with the effect of the bustling wind, calming his mind for a second.

The soft crackling of the leaves seemed to calm the erratic chaos that encircled his mind, working as a medicine.

Soon after, the talk of the trees and wind was accompanied by a pair of footsteps.

He whipped his head to the right, his eyes settling on a sleepy looking Wyatt in his night gear, rubbing an eye while suppressing a yawn.

He raised an eyebrow as the other scuttled closer to him, putting his hands on his hips in a ridiculous manner that seemed to suit him perfectly.

"Shouldn't you be in bed?"

Kai rolled his eyes before turning his attention back to the wide-spread greenery.

A finger poked at his shoulder and made him look into concerned hazel eyes.

"You couldn't sleep?"

Kai decided to go along and nodded, where was the lie anyway?

The other nodded, buying the reply.

"Happens to everyone, I couldn't sleep either"

The bluenette shrugged nonchalantly before turning his attention to him.

"Why?"

"Huh?" Wyatt was so busy looking down the railing that he hadn't heard him correctly.

"Why couldn't you sleep?"

Those dark crimson eyes were now watching him attentively.

"Oh,I… I just miss my parents. They don't live close so"

Kai nodded.

"What about your parents?"

Kai turned to look at him, before pointing upwards with his eyes, "Dead."

"Oh, I'm sorry," his soft voice let out, worried he had upset Kai.

But the other shook his head, "Not your fault"

"Kai-"

"Watch out kid!"

A red flash of a beyblade had come flying aiming right at the bluenette, missing its goal and clashing against the tubelight, causing a rain of broken glass come pouring down over their heads before breaking through another window pane and making its way outside.

"What's going on here, you two all right?

A guard had come up hearing the commotion, intending to get the two boys away but Kai was faster, jumping right out the broken window.

"You kid"

By the time the guard reached over to them, Kai was already down on the floor, his eyes fixed on the silhouette hidden behind the dark shrubs.

The figure moved and he followed, running behind the shadow, weaving his way through endless seams of trees before finally coming up to a clearing.

The figure emerged from its hiding place, a laugh ugly and nasty resounding from its equally disgusting face.

It was the same guy, the giant, with cruel emerald eyes that stared at him maniacally and dirty blonde hair that were held back in a scarf.

"How's it going, Kai?" the grappling voice let out.

His eyes narrowed at the stranger, what did he want? Better yet-

"Who are you, anyway?"

The ugly face twisted into a smirk.

"Oh, don't you worry, Kai. I just came for your Dranzer. And once I get that, It's hasta la vista, sucker"

Nearby, a bush moved and the pale face of Wyatt appeared from behind it, watching the exchange with fearful eyes.

The blonde took out his blade, the same red flash that had come at him before, before fitting it into his launcher and pointing it at him.

Kai almost rolled his eyes at the queer guy.

He really thought taking Dranzer from him was that easy?

Instead, he settled with the lie that had spread around quite fervently.

"I've quit beyblading."

"I thought I had heard that rumor, the great Kai gave up blading," the nasty laugh resounded again, making him want to punch the guy and see if he would be able to laugh after that.

The giant didn't seem to believe his words, and didn't lower the launcher.

How stupid could someone be?

"I don't have time for this," he stated before turning around to walk back to his room.

"Heads up, Kai"

The words came as a warning before his eyes caught sight of the beyblade coming straight at him, his reflexes kicking in right on time and successfully dodging the blade, it crashing against a nearby tree and slashing its stem.

His eyes widened as the upper part of the tree came falling down at him.

Wyatt's eyes filled with fear as the tree made ready to bury Kai under it, screaming out, "Kai, watch out!" before running up to the clearing.

"Oh no"

The massive tree hit the ground creating a large ear-tattering noise, raising the dust all through the air.

Beside him, the giant snickered, proud of himself.

He was about to go down at him, but his eyes caught sight of a green smudge through the fogginess that the dust had created, heaving a sigh of relief as Kai's whole form came into view, seemingly unscathed and safe.

The pale face turned to them and he could see the anger filling up in the crimson orbs.

"Leave!"

The order was barked out at the one standing behind him, Kai's eyes glaring venomously.

"Not till I-"

"Hey! What's going on here?" The blonde's words were cut off when various other students gathered up at the sight of the commotion, light from torches flashing around everywhere.

The giant gritted his teeth before fleeing from the sight.

Some boys recognised Wyatt and rushed up to him.

"Wyatt, are you alright?"

He nodded, still in a daze, staring at Kai who stood with his hands in his pockets as if nothing had happened.

The guard broke his way through the line of students, coming up to Kai.

"Are you alright? Everything okay?"

"You had us all worried sick," another boy piped up, turning his attention to Wyatt.

"What" the others stared at Kai as he untangled himself from the branches of the tree and started walking away, not giving a damn about the others' questions, for all he cared, they were asking Wyatt all that and not him.

No one cared for him.

A boy shook Wyatt and pulled him out of his reverie.

"Are you okay?"

"I-um, I'm fine," he answered, following Kai with his worry-filled eyes before breaking into a run to catch up with him.

Kai heard the footsteps approaching him, but didn't bother looking back. By now, he had completely memorized how Wyatt's footsteps sounded.

"Kai!"

The other caught up to him, huffing and panting before looking up at him.

"Do you have any idea of who he was?"

The other shook his head almost nonchalantly.

Wyatt frowned.

"Kai, you could have gotten seriously hurt, aren't you even a bit concerned?"

"That is none of your business, kid."

Wyatt's frown deepened even more.

"Why is it not my business? You could have gotten buried under that tree and god knows w-"

"Just shut the fuck up, kid," Kai sighed exasperatedly for the billionth time. This boy was gonna have a nice red imprint of his fist right in the middle of his face if he didn't stop pestering him, though he wondered why he hadn't done that yet.

Wyatt sighed, his cheeks puffing up and lips forming a pout.

"Well, I was just trying to help!"

Kai sighed – yes, once again – and turned to look at him. He was right, he was just trying to help him. A second of delay and he would have been in the hospital right now. He shuddered.

"Fine, sorry kid"

Wait, had he just fucking apologized to him?!

As he muddled over his mind contemplating his actions, the other lit up at the words.

Kai had apologized to him? Someone whose main, well, second main purpose in life was to say sorry for things he hadn't even done?! He was being apologized to?!

As his giddiness lasted, he looked upon the bluenette who was now staring the other way and instantly felt bad.

Kai was already going through something not so pleasant, he didn't know what it was, let alone the cause of it, but he could see from the other's actions that he didn't seem so collected and untouchable anymore. He seemed different now, distracted, unfocused, late to class almost everyday, skipped meals, and wasn't so well kept anymore.

And now another problem had come up. Some boy – or was it a man the size of him? – thought it was a great idea to play around with him, barging right into the school. The audacity of some people.

But Kai had refused to take his beyblade out, why?

"Kai, listen"

He smiled a little as the bluenette turned his attention to him, raising a perfectly shaped eyebrow.

"I know you don't trust me that much, hell i don't know if you trust me at all, but still, if there's anything you wanna talk about, I'm all ears," his eyes turned serious as he spoke.

Kai let out an amused smirk, his eyes darkening.

"You won't be able to hear it"

Wyatt's eyes widened, "I-is it that bad?"

Kai didn't give an answer to that, instead voicing out, "You should go Wyatt, it's pretty late"

Wyatt was about to object that the time was late for the both of them, but stopped himself.

Who was he to control Kai?

He walked away with slumped shoulders and worry filled eyes, searching in his mind for a cure for a disease he had yet to diagnose.

Kai let out the breath he was holding as the footsteps of the other faded into the darkness, taking Wyatt away from him, his crimson eyes dimming now and losing their ever persistent power now that there was no one to witness them and have a laugh.

He turned around, his eyes landing on the fallen tree.

What did that giant want from him?

He was thankful that he hadn't just gone right in and grabbed for his beyblade, which he was sure would have evoked the pending battle between Dranzer and her counterpart, and of which, he was scared to even think about.

Combine it with his brain playing tricks on him and making him lose control over his own body.

He couldn't dare to imagine what would have just happened right now if had used his beyblade. Black Dranzer would surely have-

He shook his head, he needn't think about her.

Or maybe he did.

Maybe she could make him forget everything? Was that the reason why her power seemed so alluring? Was it a sign? A way to his destiny?

No, no, NO.

She wasn't his, and he wasn't hers. He had Dranzer, he didn't need her. Then why did his mind keep telling him that he did?

He would surely have to do something about her…

Spencer looked up from the screen when he heard a pair of footsteps coming downstairs, craning his neck to spot an unruly looking Bryan with a morning head sluggishly stepping down.

The falcon made himself a quick cup of black coffee and plopped himself next to the blonde.

A ridiculous expression appeared on his face as his gaze locked onto the screen, some old lady giving advice on how to cut vegetables the right way.

He looked back at Spencer and gave him a weird look, "Who the fuck watches this right in the morning?"

Spencer glared at him, before turning his attention back to the TV.

"Where's Tala?"

The blonde sighed before muting the TV, shifting his attention to him.

"He's been out since last night"

"What for?" Now the falcon's entire attention was on him, he had even set his mug down on the coffee table.

"Hell if i know"

"The fuck do you mean, Hell if i know?! Where the fuck is he?!" the falcon glared at him angrily before standing up.

"I don't fucking know! You think this is something I'd joke about. He went out last night at around ten, and hasn't returned since then."

"But he would have told you where he was going. He never goes without telling!"

Spencer would have been amused and almost laughed at how worried Bryan was being, because all this concern the falcon only reserved for the redhead, but right now the situation didn't fit really well with laughing.

Instead he shrugged.

"But you could have told me at least, god fucking damn it!"

"Told you how? Your phone was dead. And you came home at around three. And you were obviously drunk. Anyway, I did go after him, but couldn't find him. So I decided to come back. Think he just needed to be alone."

"But why?! Why the fuck would he even- Wait, does it have anything to do with Kai?"

"I think so."

Bryan's face twisted into an annoyed frown.

"What do you mean, I think so?!"

"I think the two had a fight or something over the phone"

Bryan's eyes darkened with anger, as expected.

"Of course it'd be that motherfucker"

Spencer sighed. Weren't they already over with their teenage hormones? What was with these mood swings of theirs? He felt like their parent, a gloomy, exhausted, done-with-life parent.

Huh…

"Bryan, why do you always act like this whenever Kai is mentioned? I thought we had all forgiven him?"

Bryan sighed heavily and sat down, before looking up at him, "Because I don't want Tal getting hurt again."

He took his gaze away as the emotions whirling in his smoky orbs made them too vulnerable for his liking.

Spencer put a hand on his shoulder, "I understand Bryan, after so many years, we may have doubts, but we have given him a chance, haven't we?"

Bryan didn't say anything.

"He won't hurt him, Bryan, you just need to-

"Who won't hurt who?"

In their conversation, they hadn't noticed the front door opening and letting someone in, before the chilly voice spoke up.

They jerked their heads to look up at the intruder, only to realize it was the same one the talk had started because of.

"TALA! Where the fuck were you?!"

Bryan gripped his shoulders and shook him roughly, making the snow on the fiery red hair come falling down like rain.

"Bryan, let go of me! Fuck's sake."

He shook himself out of the other's clutches and gave him a loathful glare, before huffing and sitting down on the couch.

"Where were you?"

"None of your business, now get out of my face!"

"Not until you tell me where the heck you were!"

Tala sighed exasperatedly before yelling at him, "Do I ever fucking ask you anything when you go and waste yourself god knows where?!"

"As you just said, you already know I'm going to go waste myself, so you'd know where exactly to find me, now spit out, where were you?"

"I was nowhere"

Bryan raised an eyebrow, "Nowhere?"

"I mean, I was just wandering around, no place in particular"

"You were wandering around, all night?"

Tala cringed before nodding.

"Mind telling why?" This time it was the blonde that spoke up, giving him a look laced with concern, yet frustration as to having been kept in the dark.

"I-"

"You what?"

"Bryan, stop it now, would you? No one's paying you for interrogating him, just sit down and let him tell at his own pace"

The other shrugged before sitting down next to the redhead, looking at him expectantly.

"Spencer said you and Kai fought"

Tala nodded, though kept his gaze away from them.

"Why?"

"I don't know"

Bryan's eyebrow twitched again, this bastard.

"What the fuck you mean, you don't know?!"

"What I don't know is what's wrong with him."

"With Kai?"

He nodded.

"What did he say to you?"

"Nothing just-"

"Just?"

He groaned irritably, "I don't know okay?! Stop it, just stop it, leave me alone!"

Spencer put a hand on his back in a comforting manner, before speaking again, this time, in a soft manner, "You won't keep anything from us, Tala, will you? We are just worried about you, and Kai too."

Tala sighed before looking up at him, the anger in the crystal blue orbs dimming slowly.

He replayed the whole of the conversation to them, realizing alongwith how overdramatic he himself had also been, and feeling instant regret over it.

The two watched on as the redhead's face turned gloomy and miserable after he had finished telling them, most probably beating himself up for the fight that had ensued between him and Kai.

"I don't think he is doing okay, Tala," the blonde said thoughtfully, after Tala was done.

"I know, I shouldn't have said those things to him," the redhead buried his face in his hands, clutching his hair weakly.

"It's not your fault, Tala"

Tala looked up to find Bryan staring at him calmly.

"But that doesn't solve anything! We finally got him back and-"

"Calm down Tala! He's not going anywhere."

"But his condition, and he's not even picking our calls anymore anyways," Tala's voice turned more and more desperate with each passing word, which made them both acknowledge that maybe the situation wasn't as unserious as they had thought.

"We need to do something, guys, we do. Or we're gonna lose him for sure,"

Bryan pulled the – almost on the verge of tears – redhead into himself and let him rest his head on his shoulder.

"Not one word more, okay?" The falcon's voice was stern yet soft.

The redhead nodded lightly.

A few minutes later, and the lithe body was completely still.

"Asleep?"

Bryan shrugged, as much as he could in his position.

"Better let him be. He's been lurking around all night."

Bryan nodded before looking up at him, "What about Kai?"

"We'll have to figure out something. After all, he is one of us, and we do need to look after one another"

His eyes widened and a soundless cry escaped his lips as his body was acted upon by gravity and pulled downwards almost too quickly for his liking.

He gasped breathlessly as his body made impact with something solid, shaking like a leaf.

He was yet to overcome the fact that he had been thrown right out the window before a firm hand roughly grabbed the back of his collar and jerked his head up.

"Hey, kid, everything okay?"

He raised his head up and his eyes landed on Kai, realizing that he wasn't dying, before stuttering out an uneven, "Yeah, yeah, I guess so."

He looked towards Kai to find him gazing at his blade, Dranzer.

As his own eyes landed on the royal beyblade, he felt a sudden mesmerizing towards it, some power lulling him into it.

He shook his head to get out of that daze, but that sudden attraction had left him wondering.

What would it feel like having a power that strong within his control?

Surely, it won't be something normal, it must feel ethereal, if every blader's love for their Beyblade was anything to account for.

What if, what if it was his?

He looked down as Kai jumped and landed on the ground, motioning for him to do the same.

He took up a little courage before jumping down too, his eyes clenching shut with the adrenaline before his feet touched the earth, pain spiking through his ankles.

He straightened up and brushed himself off before following Kai out and away from the school premises.

They walked along the river bank silently, before Wyatt interrupted the peace.

"Why didn't you use your beyblade, Kai?"

Kai gave him a piercing glare before walking onwards, his grip tightening on said blade.

Soon, they came under a bridge where some old wooden boxes lay covered with tarpaulin.

Kai removed the cover and slid a small box out slid a small box out of the middle of the rubbish, dropping the blue blade inside it, before putting it back in its place and rearranging the cover.

"Hey Kai, I'm sorry, I think I really messed things up for you back there."

Kai shook his head, "Not your fault."

"You still don't know who he is?"

"No clue"

"Well, there's got to be a reason for it."

"Hn"

"He said he wanted to take your Dran-"

"Let's go back"

He looked at Kai quizzically as the latter cut him off, but shrugged it off and stood up.

As they walked back, Kai let himself lag behind a few steps, slipping a hand into his pocket and gripping the content inside it.

His fingers traced over the sharp edges before coming to rest at the bit, warmth spreading through him at the action.

Dranzer.

He had been quite surprised to notice the looks Wyatt had been giving to his Beyblade the moment he had stepped into his secret room.

And they didn't seem too innocent to him.

Those looks resembled the looks of a shooter, eyeing his prey with an underlying lust.

He had been shocked, of course, to see Wyatt out of all people, doing that, but Black Dranzer was an attention lover, and she could do anything to be worshiped.

Wyatt had been too close to him, to her, and had been pulled right into her dark aura.

He needed to keep him away from him, lest he prove to be some kind of trouble for him.

A few steps ahead, Wyatt walked silently, his eyes lowered and letting his brown bangs cover them.

A suspicious glimmer seemed to flicker in them every once in a while, his mind drifting towards that malicious power, succumbing to it.

He would get it, he needed to get it.

All his life, he had been bullied, put down, shown as weak, nobody respected him.

Now they would.

He smirked slightly, now was his time…

Hasta la vista - Goodbye or see you later, something like that I guess?

Did calling Dunga a 'giant' mean I was body shaming him? Oh dear no.

Thanks for reading!