Beyblade Fan Fiction ❯ Endure ❯ Ordinary World ( Chapter 2 )

Authoress' Notes:  Due to the recent loss of both my yahoo account and my yahoo group, the update for this has been a long time in coming. I'm sorry for that. But it couldn't be helped. So to all my former group members, keep checking my bios on the various fic sites for updates. I'm trying to find a new place to set up shop, but so far Yahoo seems to be the only option - despite the fact that I'm peeved to the heavens with them. >_< Stay tuned for more news on that… In other news, OTKH may be gone, but TyKa lives on!! That's right! We've moved on to better things, and there is now a wonderful, fabulous, fantastic new (English) forum for all things TyKa! ^___^ Check my bio for a link, TyKa fans!

 

Warnings:        Yaoi, adult language, angst, & probable lemons.  Specific warnings will be given each chapter if relevant.

 

Disclaimer:       I do not own Beyblade, its characters, or anything else to do with it.  I do not own any of the songs from which I borrowed to make chapter titles. They belong to whomever they belong to (which isn't me!). I own only the OCs that will appear in this fic.

 

Pairings:        & nbsp; TyKa, Rei / ?, Max / ?, Kenny/Hilary, Tala / ?, others TBA.

 

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Chapter 02: Ordinary World

 

~ Kai ~

 

“Are you certain you ought to go in there, Master Kai? This place…”

Kai tugged on his blading gloves and glanced at his servant. “Yes, Gregory. I'm sure. It's not like I'm going in there alone, after all.” He looked over his shoulder at the small army of police behind him. “This is the last piece of business that I have to take care of before I can truly look forward to my future. I am shutting this hell down and putting Boris behind bars where he belongs.”

The old man sighed. “Yes, sir. I must admit that I agree with you there. But please, be careful.”

“Always.” Kai reassured him. “I have Dranzer. And you know she would never let anything happen to me.” The crimson-eyed teen walked up to the gates of the Abbey, a cold, hard expression taking over his features. The police had gathered too, and had surrounded the entire complex.

The captain of the police force walked up to Kai and stopped next to him. “We're all set, Hiwatari. You're sure that he's in there?”

Kai nodded shortly. “I have a reliable source. He'll be in the lower levels about now, watching his elite bladers run through their practice drills. Remember, you and your people handle the upper levels.” He pulled Dranzer from his pocket and the blade glowed red for a moment before he set it to his launcher. “Leave Boris and the Demolition Boys to me.”

“It's your party, kid.” The captain shrugged.

Kai looked up and grabbed onto the gates, swiftly climbing up and over them to land like a cat on the ground on the other side. Working quickly, he unlocked the gates and pushed them open.

“Welcome to hell, captain.” The teen drawled with a humourless smile. “Let's go.”

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Fifteen minutes later, Kai was standing in front of the doors that led to the walkway above the largest beydish in the entire facility. It was also the one in the lowest levels of the Abbey, where the Demolition Boys had their drills and practice matches.

Kai took a deep breath, grasping his launcher firmly in one hand as he tried to calm himself down. His memories of this place had never been good ones, and he didn't want to go back in there. But he really had no choice.

Facing his fears was something he'd been taught once by a midnight blue-eyed boy named Tyson. And Kai would never be able to face the World Champion again if he didn't do this.

Steeling himself and pulling his mask of indifference and cold anger on once more, the dual-haired blader raised a leg and kicked in the double doors.

He strode into the giant room, launcher and blade at the ready and aimed directly at the man who had controlled not only Kai's existence but that of all the children of the Abbey.

“You!” Boris growled in fury at the sight of Kai. “What are you doing in my Abbey?!”

“Correction, Boris.” Kai replied in an empty voice. “The Abbey belongs to me now. And I've decided this pit of hell has long since needed to be shut down.”

Boris smirked and crossed his arms over his chest. “Is that so? And what does your Grandfather think of this? He will be furious with you for this, Kai.”

Now Kai smiled, crimson eyes burning with intensity. “Tsk, tsk, Boris. One would think you'd keep up with your employer. Oh wait! That would be me now.”

The older man frowned, beginning to look just a little worried. “Speak plainly, boy! You make no sense.”

“Let me speak slowly so you can understand, old man. Voltaire Hiwatari is dead. And since the old fool was so full of himself and believed he'd live forever, he never changed his will.” Kai gave Boris a very satisfied, smug look. “Understand now? Everything Voltaire once owned belongs to me now.” He put on a thoughtful look, enjoying the look of shock, disbelief, and sudden fear on Boris' face. “I guess that makes you my employee, doesn't it? Well, in that case…Boris Balkov, you are so fired. And just to rub more salt into the wound, for all the pain and suffering you've caused me, my team, the children of this forsaken place, and everyone else whom you have harmed…”

“You dare challenge me, you stupid child?!”

“I don't have to. Rot in jail, Boris. Because when they're done listing your crimes, you will be tossed into a cell and the key thrown away.” Kai glanced over the Abbey master's shoulder. “He's all yours, Captain.”

“Why thank you, Hiwatari.” The police captain came up behind Boris with two other burly officers, grabbing him and cuffing him quickly. “Take him up to the surface, men, and get him behind bars as fast as you can.”

The two officers led a cursing, enraged Boris away, and Kai lowered his launcher, a vague sense of relief washing over him.

“I think we've accomplished what we came to do.” The captain declared, looking around. “We've cleared out the upper levels, and the place is empty now. What's this place for, anyway?”

Kai shook his head. “Not quite finished.” He murmured. He walked over to the railing of the wide walkway and looked down at the beydish. Four teens stood around the edge, staring back up at him silently and without expression. The police captain looked down also and blinked in surprise.

“Uh…wow. I didn't even know they were there. Who are they?”

Kai ignored the man and gave the four teens a nod of greeting, focusing on the redhead. “Tala.”

The Demolition Boys' captain nodded back, folding his arms over his chest. “Hiwatari.”

“I'll meet you boys up top.” Kai turned, leading the way out the doors. The police captain hurried after him.

“Excuse me, but what about those kids?”

“They aren't a problem you need to worry about, Captain. They are my responsibility.” Kai said nothing more.

The man studied him dubiously, but shrugged. “If you say so.”

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Kai waited at the Abbey gates, Gregory at his side. The Demolition Boys appeared not long after Kai arrived, and joined him silently.

“I was beginning to wonder what was taking you so long, Kai.” Tala said, ice-blue eyes glinting. “About time you showed.”

“You mean you knew about all this?” Ian exclaimed, staring at his captain in shock. “And you didn't tell us?”

“He couldn't, shrimp.” Bryan gave the shorter blader a small cuff to the head. “If too many people found out, then Boris would have gotten wind of it and gone into hiding. We'd never have our freedom.”

“Did you know?” Spencer demanded.

“No. Only that Tala had some sort of plan to get us free of the Abbey.”

“It doesn't matter any longer.” Tala snapped, shushing them. He looked back to Kai, meeting his gaze solidly for a moment. “So it worked. Now what? We have no where to go, Hiwatari.”

“That remains to be seen.” Kai held out his hand and Gregory placed four manila envelopes on his palm. “Thank you, Gregory.” He looked back to the four bladers. “On behalf of the BBA, I have the honour of giving you four bladers of the Demolition Boys a second chance. Should you accept these envelopes, your pasts will be forgotten, and you will have the opportunity to use your skills and abilities to become useful members of society.”

Tala's eyes narrowed. “And what's in those envelopes?”

“Scholarships. To a new university.” Kai met Tala's gaze and let the red-haired Russian see what he'd let very few see in him - his emotions. The dual-haired phoenix continued earnestly. “It's an education, Tala. A real one, with normal people who don't have evil ambitions of taking over the world or enslaving our bit-beasts. It's a chance to do what you want with your lives - to live them as you choose.”

Tala sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, he gave the other teen a small smile, amused at his earnestness. “So you are human. We wondered about that.”

Kai scowled at him and his face went carefully blank. “This is not about me.”

“Oh relax. Tell me, Kai, what's the catch with these scholarships?”

“No catch. It's an acknowledgement of your skills.” Kai's mouth turned up in a half-smile. “Mr. Dickenson believes in second chances and accepting one's responsibilities.”

“Hmm…we will have to think about this.” Tala finally said.

Kai nodded. “Of course. You're welcome to stay with me until you've made your decisions. I have plenty of room.”

“Fine. We'd have managed on our own, but we're not above accepting your hospitality, Hiwatari.” Tala accepted on his team's behalf.

“Good. Gregory will see to you. I have one last thing to do.” Kai gave the envelopes back to Gregory and walked back through the Abbey gates.

“What are you going to do?” Tala asked, following him. “Kai?”

The fiery teen raised his launcher, taking up a launching stance ad feeling a sort of healing calm flood his mind and body. “Stay back, Tala.”

“What are you…?” The redhead's eyes widened, a jolt of realization hitting him as Kai prepared to launch. “Oh…shit.”

“Let it rip!” Kai launched his blade directly at the Abbey's front doors. “Dranzer! It's finally time to bury the past!” Extending his arms in front of himself, arms crossed and palms facing the Abbey, Kai dug deep for his beypowers. “Dranzer…Blazing Gig Tempest!!”

There was a flash of pure red light and then an explosion that made Tala and the others yelp and duck, arms covering their heads for protection from flying debris.

Kai lowered his arms and raised his face to the mid-afternoon sun, closing his eyes and basking in the heat radiating from that heavenly body and the raging inferno he'd created from the empty facility of the Abbey.

“It's finally over. Thank you, Dranzer.” He said to the air and raised a hand to catch his blade as it returned to him, surprisingly undamaged.

Tala slowly came out from under his arms, looking around cautiously. “Holy shit! What was that?!”

Kai, feeling incredibly at peace now, turned and walked toward the car. “It's over, Tala. Let's leave the past behind.”

The redhead took a last glance at the burning building, then turned and followed the phoenix in silence, his team hurrying after them in reluctant awe.

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Two days later, the Demolition Boys gathered in Kai's study, lined up in front of the crimson-eyed blader as he sat at his desk.

“We've made our decisions, Kai.” Tala informed him, looking down the line at the other bladers.

“I see. And what have you decided?” Kai set aside his book and leaned back in his chair, observing them steadily.

“We have a question first.” Bryan spoke up. Ian was fidgeting and Spencer seemed nervous for some reason. “If we were to turn down the scholarship, what would happen to us?”

“That depends. Hypothetically, why would you turn down the scholarships?”

“I've never been to school before.” Ian admitted, still fidgeting restlessly. Spencer nodded in agreement.

“Neither have I. The shrimp and I have been in the Abbey since we were barely able to walk.” The tall Russian said.

“They aren't prepared to function in society, yet.” Bryan explained, glancing at Tala. “Neither am I, truthfully. But we still have skills that would be wasted. We would rather be put to work and be useful somehow - without being a risk to others, if you know what I mean.”

“Yes, Bryan. I do. Actually, I had thought that you would say something like that when Mr. Dickenson came to see me and discuss your futures.” Kai smiled slightly, folding his hands in front of himself on the desk's writing surface. “We do have another option for you, but only if the reason you don't want the scholarships is not because you're planning on running off and becoming career criminals.”

“We've done…not-so-legal things in the past, Hiwatari, but we're not that bad!” Ian protested. Kai held up a hand.

“I know, Ian. Relax. Here's the deal: if you don't want the scholarship, then you can come to work for the BBA. They need trainers with real skill, and they also need bladers to test new equipment - launchers, blades, etc. There are other positions, too, if neither of those suit you. They also need tech-people, judges and officials for competitions and tournaments…let's just say there are plenty of ways for you to make yourselves useful and not let your skills go to waste.”

“Paying jobs?” Spencer asked, mildly shocked. “The BBA would just take us in, no questions asked? Are they stupid?”

“Oh hell no. Of course not.” Kai gave a short laugh. “You'd start on probation, just like everyone else does. But you'd also be hired on my recommendation.” He gave them all a level, hard stare. “And my catch is that if that's the route you choose, then you'd better not make me regret putting my faith in you, because if you misstep even once, I will make sure you regret it.”

“We understand that, Hiwatari. You don't need to make threats to get your point across.” Bryan sighed. “I suppose they'll want us to undergo some sort of psych therapy?”

“Yes. But on that, Bryan, you'll just have to trust me when I tell you that it can only benefit you in the end. Boris put us all through a lot of mind games. It may take a while for some of you to work through all that programming and mind controlling, but it'll happen.” Kai looked at each of them in turn. “So what have you decided, then?”

“Bryan, Spencer, and Ian will not take the scholarships, Kai.” Tala said, speaking for them. “I will.”

Bryan stared at him. “Captain?”

“You three will take the BBA's offer of a job, Bryan. And you will submit to whatever psychiatric testing and therapy they ask you to undergo.” Tala faced his team, trying to be the leader they'd always looked to. “Ian and Spencer…you were true children of the Abbey. You knew no other way to live then that and what you were trained for. Working at the BBA will let you see what real life can be, and when you're ready, maybe someday the BBA will offer you that scholarship again.” Tala turned to Bryan and stared at him sadly. “As for you, old friend, you need the kind of help I can't give, no matter how hard I would try. We all had to deal with Boris' mind games and brain-washing, and Boris may have messed with me physically - what with all my cybernetic implants and all - but you…you he messed with mentally, Bryan. And though we in this room would understand best what you've gone through and what was done…we aren't the ones who can help you find your emotions again.”

Bryan blinked impassively. “But…what about you, Tala?”

“You're just going to leave us?” Ian, the youngest of them all, clung to Spencer's leg, fear in his eyes. “You're our captain, Tala. Who's going to lead us?”

Tala shook his head. “That's what I'm trying to get at. You don't need me, Ian. I'm telling you to take the BBA jobs because I want you to have the opportunity to learn that for yourselves. Besides, it's not like I wouldn't be keeping an eye on you while I'm gone.”

“Do we at least get to keep our sacred spirits?” Spencer asked, looking at Kai. The phoenix nodded.

“Of course.”

“Alright. So what next?” Tala inquired, turning back to Kai.

“I call Mr. Dickenson, and we make arrangements for Bryan, Spencer, and Ian. As for you, Tala, you can stay here with me until we leave for Canada, or I can have Mr. Dickenson find somewhere else for you to live - a sort of foster home - that you can go to in between school years.”

Tala made a face. “I really don't think so, Hiwatari. You, I can put up with. Some strangers…not a very good idea.”

“Fine. Consider my home your own, then.” Kai shrugged. “Just no wild parties or crazy sex orgies, got it?”

“What kind of person do you think I am?!” Tala growled indignantly. Kai chuckled and waved a hand at him.

“Oh relax. It was a joke.” Kai picked up the phone and flipped open an address book to look for the BBA CEO's private number. “I'll call Mr. D and get everything worked out, guys. Leave the details to me.”

“I want in on the conversation, too.” Tala stated decisively, sitting down in another chair across the desk from Kai and looking very much like he wasn't going to budge.

“Hn. Whatever.” Kai didn't really have a complaint with that. Tala was their captain after all, and Kai would do the same with his own team. I think you'd be proud, Tyson. He thought, dialling the number. I'm trying to be someone worthy of you. I just hope it's enough, someday…

 

~ Max ~

 

“Dad! We have to go! I'm going to miss my flight!”

“Are you sure you have everything you need?” Mr. Mizuhara asked for what Max was sure must have been the fiftieth time that day.

“Yes, Dad! I'm sure. Now, can we please go? Mom's already out in the car waiting for us!”

“Okay, okay! Go!”

The blonde teen grabbed his carry-on bag and ran out the door for the car, his father following along behind after locking the house up.

“Oh, man, Mom! It's going to be so great to see everyone again! Kenny emailed me last week and said that he and Hilary, and Tyson, and Rei all got scholarships, too!” He bubbled excitedly as he got in the car. His mother smiled and nodded at him in the rear-view mirror.

“That's wonderful, Maxie. And you'll have the All-Starz there, too. It will be quite a reunion, won't it?”

“Yeah! It's going to be a good year. I can feel it.”

Max, still grinning to himself, stared out the car window as they drove toward the airport, getting lost in his own thoughts.

Before he knew it, they'd arrived, and Max got out to collect his luggage and go collect his ticket for his flight north to Canada.

Inside, he met up with the All-Starz and said his final farewells to his parents before walking with the American team to their departure gate. The five teens boarded the plane, found their seats, and settled in.

“So, Max, are you ready for University? It's nothing like high school, you know.” Michael asked. He was sitting on Max's other side, and the blonde had claimed the window seat.

“I think so. It'll probably take me a couple weeks to get used to it, but it should be a lot of fun! I can't wait!” Max replied eagerly and Michael laughed.

“Yeah, kid. In all honesty, neither can I. I'm about ready to start a new phase of life, I guess.”

“Oh, really?” Emily poked her head over their seats and gave the captain an arch look. “Since when did you grow up and realize there's more to life than blading, fame, and fortune?”

“I've always known, Emily.” Michael shot back, folding his arms and leaning back in his seat. “I just chose to enjoy it as much as I could while it lasted.”

“Uh huh. Right.”

Max sweatdropped and tuned their good natured bickering out. He was used to it by now. Instead, he put on his headphones and found a radio station he liked, then sat back and relaxed, determined to enjoy the flight.

 

~ Tyson ~

 

“So tell us, Kenny…” Rei inquired, standing up and peering over the seats down at the brunette, Tyson, and Hilary. “What's the deal with this university, anyway? Why's it in Canada?”

“I'm glad you asked, Rei.” Kenny flipped open his laptop and proceeded to punch keys to call up some data. “I did some research and stuff, and found out quite a lot.”

“And?” Tyson asked, taking off his headphones and setting them aside.

“Well, the BBA picked Canada for all kinds of reasons - its climate, its peacefulness, strong economy, etc. But they picked western Canada to build it in because most of the largest and oldest institutions are located in Ontario and Quebec, so the BBA thought it would be a good idea to spread out a little more.” Kenny explained, turning the screen of his laptop to show them all the pictures of the new University he'd found on the internet. “See? That's it. It's in a small city in central Alberta.”

“Small city? Look at that aerial view! We have towns bigger than that in Japan!” Hilary shook her head. “It's hard to believe they have all this space and yet such a small population.”

Rei smiled. “I've been all over the world, Hilary, and each place I've been to has its own charms and unique quirks.” He looked thoughtful for a moment. “I've never been to Canada, though.”

“It's an adventure for all of us, then.” Kenny said wisely. “Nothing we can't handle, right?”

“You bet, Chief!” Tyson agreed. He stared out his window and thought quietly to himself, I can't wait.

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Authoress' Notes: Okay! Just a few things… 1) I know in previous chapters I've had Lee/Mariah listed as a pairing that I'd intended to put up. However, that was before I was educated to the fact that they're brother and sister. So that's changing! *sweatdrops* 2) From this point on, you're going have GRev characters thrown at you when you least expect it! But keep in mind that this fic is still based BEFORE GRev because I haven't seen the whole thing yet. And 3) the TyKa IS coming! I swear! Please R/R!!!!