Beyblade Fan Fiction ❯ The Price of the Past ❯ Explanations and Rising Conflicts ( Chapter 5 )

AN: The chapters will probably be longer from here on out, which I think is a good thing. To be honest, I prefer to write more, but there were certain places that I had as stopping points, and it would detract from the story to try and force extra stuff in. Now that I've gotten to this point, the natural breaks and occasional cliffhangers come later. BTW, I've moved my review response to the end of the chapter. Enjoy and Review.

 

Warnings: Language, Violence, Prejudice, almost-lemon

 

Disclaimer: Still can't say that it's mine. I do own the OC who shows up at the end of the chapter.

 

 

Internal Dialogue

 

Chapter 5

 

“Would you calm down, Takao?!” The bluenette in question stopped his pacing and looked to Max with a nervous smile.

 

“Sorry,” he responded while taking a seat in the grass next to the blonde. “I'm just worried. We have no idea exactly what's going to happen, and it's frustrating.”

 

“We've still got about five minutes before the time they're supposed to be here,” Kenny pointed out from the other side of Max. “Just be patient; we'll find out what's going on then. Dizzy and I did everything would could, so you should be ready for just about anything.” For once, the bespectacled teen had left his laptop, and therefore Dizzy, behind. She had been working overtime to help them prepare for whatever they might face tonight and was in dire need of a recharge.

 

“I think tha…” Whatever Max was going to say was cut off by a cold, familiar voice.

 

“What are you doing here,” Tala wasn't asking. Something in his icy blue eyes was off, but for the life of them, the Bladebreakers couldn't place it. They were concerned with other things at the time, anyway - the six bladers that had just appeared, for one.

 

“We were asked to come,” Takao responded defiantly as the three stood, blades in hand. Even the Chief had brought along his own, bitless blade; it never hurt to have extra help.

 

“I highly doubt that,” Spencer snorted from behind the wolf master. Next to him, Ian was trying to hold back a snicker, and for once he actually managed to keep a straight face. Of course the dual glares from Rei and Kai had kept him from giving away anything.

 

“Rei? Kai?” Max threw a questioning glance to his - former? - teammates. The golden-eyed neko-jin winked at the Draciel master giving him all the answer he needed.

 

“Come on, Rei,” Kai finally spoke up, grabbing his love's hand and stepping towards the Bladebreakers.

 

“What do you think you're doing?” the scarlet haired teen growled menacingly. This is working perfectly so far. “We have to get back to the abbey and train for the finals.”

 

“Then go and train,” his twin intoned. “That has nothing to do with us anymore.” He turned to face the other neko-jin. “You didn't actually think that we would stay in that place, did you?” His voice contained that same mocking edge that Takao remembered hearing only two times before. The crimson-eyed blader remained silently at his boyfriend's side while sending his infamous glare to the Demolition Boys.

 

“You know we can't allow this,” Tala replied acidly. He saw his brother's ear twitch and paused for a moment to listen. So we were right; Boris sent some of his men to follow us. He pulled out his blade and launcher, a signal for the others to do so as well. A nearly imperceptible nod from Kai let him know that it would be Max they were to go after. Had it been Rei, it would have been Takao. Apparently, though, they had finally decided which of the Bladebreakers would have to sit out the rest of the championships. By now, everyone had their blades ready and they were facing off.

 

“We're not going back,” Kai stated fiercely, launching a newly re-merged Dranzer. Shortly after, nine blades were spinning furiously around one another on the park floor. It was obvious that the Demolition Boys had the upper hand, but Driger and Dranzer were able to fend off most the attacks from the Wolborg and Falborg. Surprisingly, Dragoon was defending rather nicely against Vyborg. We made the right choice then, Rei thought grimly, though he was relieved. The raven haired blader spared a glance at Max and Draciel to confirm his conclusion, noticing that he was relying far too much on Kenny's aid. He's still in it, but he's slowly losing ground, he observed, finally satisfied that he and Kai had indeed made the right choice.

 

“Enough of this,” Tala halted the wolf's advances, the rest of the Demolition Boys following suit. The Bladebreakers also called their own blades off for the moment. Unseen to Max, Takao and Kenny; Kai and Rei threw quick looks to their `enemies' indicating that it was time. Without warning, but completely expected by two, the blades of the Demolition Boys surrounded Draciel; with four simultaneous blows, it stopped spinning completely. Max watched with unconcealed horror as his bit beast, his friend, was forced from her home and into Tala's blade. It had all happened so fast that had those who could have or should have helped appeared to be unable to do so.

 

“Draciel!” the blonde choked out, collapsing to his knees while tears ran freely from his eyes. He missed the looks of regret and guilt that passed over six faces.

 

“You cowards!” Takao hissed, fully intent on unleashing the full force of Dragoon on the seemingly cold-hearted bladers. Something inside of him was calling out for vengeance, feeding into the dragon's power. He never got the chance to see full effects of his suddenly more powerful blade; the Demolition Boys had already recalled their blades to their hands.

 

“We're leaving,” the redhead stated coolly. “This,” he gestured to the lifeless green blade resting on the ground. “This is not the end; you will all pay for their actions.” It went without saying whose actions he was referring to. Bryan, Spencer and Ian followed their captain without a word, the four bladers disappearing before anyone had a chance to stop them. Kai and Rei stood by in silence, watching as Kenny and Takao tried to comfort the distraught teen who could do nothing but stare blankly at the empty blade lying not two feet from where he knelt. They could only hope that the younger bladers would understand; they would get part of the explanation later that night, along with the White Tigers and the All Stars. Only Lee, Kevin, and possibly Michael, would get the full story.

 

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“You're fucking kidding me!” Eddie sputtered indignantly the moment he and his team had stepped in to the Bladebreakers' suite. “What the hell are they doing here?” The dark-skinned blader was livid at the sight before him; next to him, Emily was no better, however she chose to keep her rage silent for the time being. Michael and Steve were a great deal calmer, though the former was still rather visibly upset due to recent events. The crimson haired captain of the All Stars was the only one of the four who thought to wait for explanations before coming to any conclusions, a trait seemingly uncharacteristic of the Trygle wielder if one wasn't well acquainted with him.

 

“Be quiet, Eddie,” Michael commanded. “I'm sure the reason we're here is so that they can tell us what's going on. If you act like an ass, they'll be inclined to leave us in the dark.” He motioned for his team to enter the lounge area and sit down. As the Bladebreakers already occupied the two couches, Michael and Steve made due with the two recliners while Emily and Eddie chose to stand against the wall - as far from Kai and Rei as they could be. There was still room on the couch with Rei and Kai, but the calmer members of the All Stars thought it might be safer to stay out of range should their more incensed teammates start something.

 

“We're already so inclined,” Rei muttered from the couch. “At least in Emily and Eddie's cases.” Kai kept his mouth shut knowing that he was far too tempted to send Dranzer against the aforementioned bladers should he be drawn into an argument with them. Max, Takao and Kenny looked on, having already heard at least part of the story about BioVolt, confused as to the tension between some of the All Stars and their teammates. Apparently they weren't privy to certain details of the American leg of the qualifiers. They didn't get a chance to ask when the sound of a knock on the door easily replaced the question with apprehension. Looks like things are about to start, Max thought as the Chief called out that the door was open.

 

“So what was so important that you called us over in the mid…” Lee's annoyed voice dropped off as he took in the sight before him. The three other White Tigers were just as quiet when they saw their former teammate and his boyfriend smirking at them from the couch across the room.

 

“Is that any way to say hello, Lee?” only three people in the room weren't completely thrown at the teasing inquiry from the slate haired teen. While Michael smiled slightly at the interaction - he wasn't as close to Rei or Kai as the two White Tigers, but he had gotten along with them very well - Lee and Kevin grinned and approached their friends.

 

“Welcome back!” the short neko-jin exclaimed, pouncing on the golden-eyed blader and hugging him to the point he could barely breathe. Lee, on the other hand, nodded to the two and sat next to his old friend, pulling his lover from the gasping Rei and onto his lap. The three younger Bladebreakers couldn't help but smile at the scene despite the fact that they had never realized just how close the four really were.

 

“Rei!!” the rose haired blader screeched, breaking up the small reunion. Mariah chose to ignore the fact that the phoenix wielder was even the room, let alone circling his arm around the black haired teen. “I was so worried about you,” she managed to bring the volume down a notch. Finally, she acknowledged Kai with a cold, amber glare. “You,” she fumed. “This is all your fault. My Rei would never have done anything like that if it wasn't for you.” He raised an eyebrow at the possessive term but chose not to respond, the same thoughts running through his mind as had when the All Stars first came in.

 

“Yours, Mariah?” Rei, however, had no such qualms. “Since when I have ever been yours? For that matter, I'm more than capable of making my own decisions. Kai did not persuade me in any way to leave the Bladebreakers.” Only Rei, Gary and Lee heard the `Told you so' that passed through the Galman wielder's lips. The pink haired neko-jin was too baffled by the response to have paid the barely whispered words any attention.

 

“But your… your not like him,” she was grasping at straws. Apparently Gary and Kevin's words from the previous day still hadn't gotten through.

 

“Sit down, Mariah,” Lee finally spoke up. “We weren't invited here for a debate on Rei's personality or relationship.” She narrowed her amber eyes at him but did as he said, dropping gracefully to the floor in between the two couches. Gary chose to remain standing against the wall near the two All Stars, surreptitiously keeping an eye on them as they looked ready to attack at any moment.

 

“So Judy's not coming?” Takao looked to Michael who shrugged.

 

“We couldn't find her,” he replied. “So we figured we could tell whatever you wanted to talk about later.” Max looked slightly disappointed that his mother wouldn't be joining them, but he let it pass in favor of clearing up the mess surrounding the recently returned bladers.

 

“Then I guess we should get started,” the navy haired teen stated. “First thing: Rei and Kai are back with the Bladebreakers.”

 

“Why would you let them back?” Emily questioned in a biting tone. “Kai stole our bit beasts and demolished both mine and Eddie's blades without a second thought. Rei followed his lead like a love-sick puppy. You can't trust them.”

 

“You don't know what you're talking about,” said neko-jin hissed, eyes slit and fangs bared. “And it's not like you'll never see them again.” His faced relaxed, forming an amused smirk. “I can't say I didn't enjoy watching Kai shred your blades, though.” From either side of him he heard snorts and repressed chuckles.

 

“Should have taken care of you when I had the chance,” Eddie muttered under his breath though everyone heard it.

 

“What are you talking about?” Michael's sharp, blue eyes bore into the basketball lover.

 

“Nothing,” he replied while glaring at Kai and Rei.

 

“Oh?” Kai's sarcastic voice cut in. “So it was nothing when I came across you, Emily and five others trying to attack Rei? Not that you were doing a good job of it, but the principle remains.” Steve and Michael looked on in shock at their teammates, confused as to why they would do such a thing.

 

“That's why you came back covered in bruises that night,” the football player concluded. “Why would attack him? He didn't even win his match; if anything, I would have thought you'd be mad at Max for that.”

 

“Because they're prejudiced assholes, that's why,” Lee answered for them, sending the two in question a glare of his own. Mariah and Gary, having heard nothing of the incident but understanding the implications all the same, mimicked his look. If Kenny's eyes had been visible, he too would have been seen throwing a dirty look at the two. Michael and Steve had narrowed their eyes in perplexed contemplation only to have them widen in realization while Max and Takao remained innocently confused.

 

“What would they have against Rei?” the water master was the one to voice the question.

 

“I'm a neko-jin,” the raven haired blader clarified. “People from around the world look down on us, saying we're not human.” He sent a rather meaningful look to Eddie before continuing. “Of course you'd think someone from America with Eddie's heritage would have a different opinion.”

 

“You've got to be kidding me,” Max's voice was flat, the depths of his eyes containing nothing but disbelief.

 

“What? You thought it would be fun to spread the hate?” the green haired All Star asked while looking at his teammate.

 

“It's not the same thing,” the brown eyed teen's voice held conviction; he obviously firmly believed what he was saying.

 

“You're a gay, black man, Eddie,” Michael's voice was full of exasperation and irritation. “How could you possibly feel this way?” The blader chose to ignore what the others were saying.

 

“Look,” Emily put a halt to the arguing. “Our personal opinions on this matter are of no consequence right now.” Despite her words, the disgusted look remained on her face. “We're here to discuss the actions of Kai and Rei over the past several days.” No one was happy with the outcome of the previous dispute; however they had to agree that there were more important matters to attend to.

 

“She's right,” Takao agreed. “The three of us,” he gestured to those on the couch with him, “have already heard some of it, so I think it would best if the rest of you listen to what they have to say before jumping down their throats.” Never had the others, save Max and Kenny, seen this side of the dragon master. All outward appearances suggested that he was easy going and absent minding when not blading; the emergence of this new personality trait had ensnared the attention of those who may not have previously been willing to listen.

 

“The Demolition Boys are not the threat you believe them to be,” Rei started, eyeing everyone to make sure they wouldn't interrupt. “They're not stealing bit beasts because they want to.” His crimson eyed lover picked up the explanation from there.

 

“I knew what was going on,” he admitted without remorse. “I was raised in the abbey for several years, and it is not a place you want to be. And no, I'm not giving any details; it's none of your business.” He calmed himself from the unwanted memories that were raging in his mind. “It had always been my plan to return to the abbey and help the others go against the organization, BioVolt, which is headed up by both Boris and my grandfather.” He had to stop at the several stunned faces in the room. They're already shocked and I haven't told them anything truly important, yet.

 

“The night Kai went missing,” Rei picked up the story after noting the annoyed look on his boyfriend's face. “We ended up at the abbey where they told us Kai had fallen into the river and was being treated for hypothermia. Takao didn't believe that for a second, and I didn't either, so he made a challenge. During the battle, something happened that changed a lot of things… I looked up and met Tala's eyes, and both of us were pulled into a memory.”

 

“So it's true, then?” Lee interrupted his adopted brother. “He is your brother.” The golden-eyed teen nodded even as several gasps sounded through the room.

 

“My twin, actually,” he clarified.

 

“How is that possible?” Steve was the one to ask. “Not only do you look nothing alike, but you're from completely different parts of the world.” Noises of agreement were made at the assessment.

 

“That's not entirely true,” Rei responded. “We were both raised in China until we were five.” He took a breath to shake off the raw emotion he still felt at the remembrance of his mother's death and separation from Tala. “Some things happened that I'd rather not talk about. All you need to know is that BioVolt came for us - we don't know why - and Tala was brought to Russia to train.” He closed his mouth, refusing to say anything else for the moment.

 

“After they left they abbey,” Kai continued for him, “Rei told the others he was going to visit his old team when he was actually going back to find Tala; he did, but Boris showed up and forced Rei to join the rest of us.”

 

“That only explains part of it,” Gary spoke up for the first time. “Why did you wait until now to come back?”

 

“We had things to take care of,” the bluenette replied. “Rei needed to get Driger back, I needed to make Dranzer whole, and we had to make sure our plans would work no matter what.”

 

“What do you mean `make Dranzer whole'?” the Chief asked, an idea of what Kai was talking about already forming in his mind.

 

“Exactly what it sounds like,” was the answer. “Black Dranzer was a part of Dranzer that the scientists extracted with hopes of creating the perfect destructive weapon. They never realized that a bit beast would be loyal to its partner regardless of how they manipulated it.”

 

“So they want our bit beasts for the same reason…” Mariah concluded, so in awe with the story that she momentarily forgot her anger.

 

“Is that what happened to Driger?” Kenny wanted to know. “Even without seeing him come out, Dizzy was able to detect the increase in his power.”

 

“No,” Rei answered. “Driger was never split the way Dranzer was. They did something else to him.”

 

“So you and the Demolition Boys both have an unfair advantage over the rest of us,” Emily sneered, completely ignoring the point. “You should be disqualified.” The raven haired blader shook his head in irritation while Kai snorted in disdain at the comment.

 

“How is that any different than what Project Power Blade does?” the crimson eyed blader bit out. “The four of you all have scientifically modified bits - two sides of the same coin.” The carrot haired girl could only glare as she knew he was right.

 

“What about our bit beasts?” Kevin quietly asked. He knew that whatever Kai and Rei were up to involved the return of the stolen spirits, but he had to hear it from their mouths. Everyone looked at expectantly to the bladers being questioned.

 

“They'll be returned after the finals,” Kai responded, his voice taking its emotionless nature.

 

“You let them take Draciel, didn't you?” Max suddenly realized while tuning out the argument, having turned the earlier scene over in his mind and paying closer attention to the details he had noticed but not given attention to before. “You could have stopped them, but you didn't. Why?”

 

“She was the weakest of our four bits,” the response from Rei was completely devoid of feeling, making a few of the bladers do a double-take to make sure it was he who had actually spoken. “They had to return with something to keep Boris off their backs to make up for the loss of two bladers. If it had been either ours or Takao's, then the scales might have tipped in BioVolt's favor. As it is, we're on equal ground, power-wise. It was the only way to keep Boris from advancing his plans before we could do anything about them and appeasing his anger.”

 

“Why did you let them take Draciel, though?” Michael asked. “What could this Boris possibly do to them that would justify it?” His question was relevant to those in the room who had lived somewhat sheltered lives, naïve to the three bladers who knew all too well what men like Boris could do to instill such fear. Lee gave a sidelong glance to the two sitting to the right of him, wondering if the abbey was anything like the place he and Rei had been forced to train in.

 

“I don't think you want to know,” the orange eyed neko-jin responded softly earning himself a rather pointed look from his green haired lover. Gary, Steve, Kenny and Michael also seemed to understand what he was saying and left it alone. Takao and Max were still confused but chose not to press the matter as they recognized the haunted looks that lingered in their friends' eyes. Mariah, Emily and Eddie were also clueless, but they weren't as easily put off; they were only further angered by the lack of response.

 

“We have every right to know!” the pink blader growled. “After what's been done, we deserve to the truth about everything that's going on! You can't tell us anything that will validate what you've done!” She was directing the tirade at Kai, still under the false impression that `her' Rei could never be so cruel a person.

 

“You have no idea what you're talking about,” Rei hissed in anger, eyes once again forming slits. “Drop it! Mr. Dickenson is fully aware of the situation, and he's left it up to our discretion to tell what we see fit to whom we see fit.” The revelation that Stanley Dickenson was in on this kept the three irate bladers from pressing any further, but it did not by any means calm them.

 

“We're finished here,” Kai stated firmly. “My team needs to train tomorrow, and they need rest.” Taking the not-so-subtle hint, both the American and Chinese teams stood to leave. Before Lee and Kevin could move through the door, Rei asked them to come back the next morning, to which they agreed. Kai quietly made the same request of Michael, adding that the rest of his team should be left in the dark. The burgundy haired teen agreed, and shortly after, the suite was empty of its visitors.

 

“I don't understand everything that's going on,” Max began as he moved towards the bedroom where Takao and Kenny had already retreated to. “But I trust that you guys know what you're doing. If you say that I'll get Draciel back, then I believe you.” He offered a smile that held only acceptance and forgiveness for the two older bladers.

 

“Thanks, Max,” Rei returned the gestured while Kai nodded in acknowledgement. The three made their way to their respective rooms, secure in the knowledge that things were okay between them.

 

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No words were exchanged as they dragged themselves towards one of the twin beds in their shared room. They didn't care that it would be a tight fit as they hadn't had this kind of privacy since the tournament in America. While traveling through Europe, they had been forced to share a room with the three younger members of their team, and after they reached Moscow, they had been sharing a room with the Demolition Boys. Pushing aside all the weariness seeping through their bones, they hungrily grabbed for one another, desperately trying to make up for the intimacy they were unable to share over the past several weeks.

 

“Gods, I've missed this,” Rei hissed as Kai's talented mouth made its way over the sensitive skin of his neck. The only response he received was the merging of their lips as tongues clashed in a sensual dance. The force with which Kai's body crashed against his caused them to tumble onto the bed with the older teen on top, left knee between his legs pushing up against his arousal. The gasp forced from the golden-eyed teen's throat was enough to break the impassioned kiss. Taking advantage of the temporary separation, Rei ran his hands underneath his lover's tight shirt, forcing the muscular arms up and removing the cloth in one, swift motion. Fangs immediately grazed over the newly exposed flesh sending pleasant shivers down Kai's spine. Pushing his partner back to the bed, the bluenette moved his hands to undo the sash that kept the neko-jin's tunic in place all the while trailing lips over the heated flesh of the exposed neck. Experienced fingers had the knot undone in a matter of seconds, shortly after which he was treated to the sight of Rei's toned abdomen and chest.

 

Molten gold met smoldering crimson in a fervent gaze that silently communicated every ounce of pent up desire in a single look. Kai slowly trailed a finger up from the Chinese teen's torso, outlining the muscles of the lithe figure until it reached his chin where it changed course and slipped underneath the customary hair wrap. Swiftly unraveling the white binding, he wove his fingers through silky, raven strands while Rei watched the entranced face of his lover with desire. Slowly, ever so slowly, he brought his head up from the bed to nip at the exposed neck, lightly scraping his sharp teeth over the pulse point in a show of dominance brought on by his feline nature, further exciting the slate haired teen. Not one to submit so easily, Kai shifted so that he was completely straddling his lover and rotated his hips, grinding their still clothed erections together causing a wonderfully agonizing sensation to run through every nerve in their bodies. The movement, along with the enticing friction from the fabric, compelled the neko-jin to bite down, breaking skin and claiming the phoenix wielder as his own not for the first time.

 

Their motions became frantic, limbs tangling together, positions shifting back and forth for an indeterminate amount of time until both teens could no longer stand the restraining clothing that housed their aching members. Kai teasingly slipped a hand beneath the black pants Rei always wore, brushing fingers along the tip. Gold eyes shut tightly at the feather-light touch, the need for more contact further exciting him. Seeing what he was doing to his love, Kai quickly removed the last layers of Rei's clothing, repeating the process with his own pants and underwear. The stared at one another for several seconds, taking in the beauty displayed before their very eyes as if it was the first time all over again.

 

Their lips met once in again in a fiery kiss, mouths swallowing moans and gasps caused by the heated friction their nude forms created. The building tension was almost unbearable and it only furthered their desire to unite in a way that only lovers could. Neither had stopped to think of the implications of what occurred only a few short nights ago as Kai went to prepare Rei. The moment a slim digit pressed into his outer ring, the neko-jin inadvertently lost himself to the horrifying memory of the guards at the abbey. His body began shaking uncontrollably even as his breath came out in short gasps. Immediately noticing what was happening and cursing himself for not realizing sooner, Kai stopped what he was doing and gathered his lover into a protective embrace, absently stroking a hand through black hair in an attempt to soothe him.

 

“Rei,” he whispered softly. “It's okay. You're not there anymore, you're with me.” He continued comforting his partner with quiet words and gentle caresses as the raven haired teen continued to sob softly at the remembrance of his abuse. Eventually, the tremors subsided to occasional shivers.

 

“I… I didn't even think about that,” Rei spoke quietly, not quite able to bring himself to look at Kai. “And then… then I was suddenly… back in that place again.” He finally turned shadowed eyes to meet worried crimson. “One second I was here with you, the next I was lost in a nightmare.”

 

“I know,” Kai kept his tone soft, his hand still combing through the long hair. “I should have remembered what it was like for me, that you would have the same reaction.” The neko-jin curled into the warm arms, resting his head in the crook of Kai's neck. The phoenix wielder moved to pull the comforter over them and tightened his embrace.

 

“It will go away, won't it?” he asked hesitantly. “This feeling of shame, the way it haunts me even when I'm here with you, someone I know will never hurt me?” Crimson eyes closed in contemplation.

 

“I don't know,” the bluenette sighed reluctantly. “I still have nightmares, but the feelings fade more everyday.” He opened his eyes and turned the neko-jin's head to face him. “No matter what, I will always be here. And so will Tala and the others. We'll help move past this, at your own pace.” The raven haired teen looked as though he were about to protest, but Kai held a finger to his lips. “You don't have to say anything; I know you're afraid that you'll be left alone. I've been there before, but you have to trust that I will stay by you; I love you. I know it's hard to accept, but it wasn't your fault; no one will abandon you because of something you had no control over.” Rei sighed with relief. He hadn't realized just how much he needed to hear those words, how infinitely terrified he was that Kai would no longer want him after being used in such a manner.

 

“I love you, too,” he eventually replied before drifting to sleep, safely in the arms of the one he loved. Kai kept a silent vigil over his sleeping neko-jin until he was satisfied that there would be no nightmares. Don't worry Rei, he thought. We'll put an end to those heartless bastards. None of us deserved this. Soon after those thoughts passed, the two-toned bluenette joined his raven haired partner in a surprisingly dreamless slumber.

 

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“We were lucky,” Spencer commented as he and Bryan entered their unoccupied room. The lilac haired team nodded in agreement, shutting the door behind them.

 

“On both fronts,” he replied. “We `stole' a bit beast that won't make the collection powerful enough to accelerate BioVolt's plans, and it managed to keep the bastard from punishing us too severely.” His eyes narrowed in anger. “It pisses me off that Tala got the worst of it.” The two made themselves comfortable on their respective beds, careful of the bruising hidden beneath their clothing.

 

“We knew it would happen, though,” the blonde was just as displeased with the situation. “He holds Tala at fault for the loss of half of his pet project it took him over eleven years to put together.” It's disgusting to think of people as an experiment… As if the whole Kai-Black Dranzer thing wasn't enough, now it turns out Tala's one, as well.

 

“Not to mention he's team captain,” Bryan muttered bitterly knowing full well that his friend understood the underlying statement - Tala would always be held responsible for any of their actions, including those deemed traitorous.

 

“There's something I've been wondering,” Spencer spoke up after a few minutes of silence. At the quirked eyebrow indicating he had the falcon master's attention, he continued. “Well, I think it's pretty obvious that Boris had had a lot of this planned out for years. He's been connected to Voltaire since before Kai was born, which is how he got his hands on the Phoenix, but…” he trailed off to see if the lavender haired teen was catching on.

 

“But how did he even know about Tala and Rei in the first place,” Bryan finished. The blonde nodded; his teammate had easily seen where he was going. “He would have had to known of their connections to Driger and Wolborg before they even knew about bey blading themselves.”

 

“Right,” the blue-eyed teen agreed. “But those bits are native to completely different areas of the world. The tiger spirit is Chinese in origin, and the wolf is from the northernmost part of Siberia.” This analysis only served to further confuse the point. The twins obviously had a mixed heritage, Chinese neko-jin being the most blatantly displayed in Rei. Tala, on the other hand, only appeared to be mildly neko-jin whereas he could pass for several different non-Asian nationalities in every other respect.

 

“That bastard!” Bryan suddenly growled as some of the pieces fell into place. “Boris somehow set the whole thing up. They were probably bred specifically for his plans.”

 

“How could he have possibly done that?” Spencer wanted to know, though he could easily see where the idea had come from. “Twins are a fairly uncommon occurrence; there's just no way!”

 

“Boris has always had the world's top scientists on his payroll,” Falborg's wielder stated. “That most likely includes any number of who could be capable of manipulating a pregnancy.”

 

“Shit!” the blonde cursed. “If that's true then what about the rest of us? What are the chances that we aren't anything more than experiments either?”

 

“What difference does it make?” Bryan returned. “It wouldn't surprise me if half the bladers in the circuit are somehow connected. The only important thing is that we're here, and one way or another we'll make sure the son of a bitch fails.”

 

“I know,” the whale master sighed. “I just don't like the idea that we might only have been born on the whim of a deranged man who wants nothing more than to control everything. It's… it's… I don't know what it is, but I don't like it.”

 

“Like I said,” the nineteen year old reiterated. “It doesn't matter why. What matters is that we choose our own purpose.” Spencer nodded, though he was still upset about everything from their treatment to the things they had just discussed; Bryan couldn't fault him for that as he was fairly distressed by it all, as well. The two leaned back in their beds and spent the rest of the early morning waiting in silence for Ian to return with Tala. Hopefully, the redhead would be in better shape once he finished his short cycle in the regeneration chamber.

 

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This is insane, Michael though as he looked back and forth between Kai and Rei. He, Lee and Kevin had just been given all the details on what the true purpose of the abbey was. The two neko-jin had known it might be bad, Kevin had been told stories of the time Rei and Lee spent in the training camp in China, however they hadn't expected to hear this. The redhead, on the other hand, was completely shocked at what he was hearing. Completely and utterly insane.

 

“This can't be real!” he said aloud. “They experiment on bit beasts and humans?!” It was obvious that Michael was having troubling taking everything in.

 

“Look at this,” Rei handed his blade to the teen in the recliner. The blue-eyed blader nearly dropped Driger, stunned at the raw energy it was emitting. “Driger was always one of the most powerful bits. They did something to him, though, and now you can feel his power when barely touching him.”

 

“Yeah,” the auburn haired youth's voice shook slightly. “That's how you guys finished the match so quickly the other day and how Black Dranzer could take our bits?”

 

“Yes and no,” the golden-eyed blader replied. “We could have finished just as quickly before the enhancements, but that is what made Black Dranzer capable of taking them. Wolborg, and I assume the other Demolition Boys' bit beasts, can as well. Possibly Driger, but I have no intention of finding out.”

 

“So,” Kevin spoke up on the second couch from next to Lee. “They're crazy scientists who want to take over the world with an army of powerful bit beasts, and they do this by altering the bladers and bits alike.” For once, the monkey wielder's words were not laced with sarcasm.

 

“How does BioVolt get the bladers to do what they want, anyway?” Michael asked. “I mean, couldn't they just leave?”

 

“Most of them were raised in the abbey,” Kai stated. “I was raised in the abbey. It's… not a pleasant place. I was lucky to even be out of there for the last few months.”

 

“That doesn't really answer my question,” the redhead returned. Blood-red eyes hardened; he really didn't want to get into Boris' methods.

 

“They use torture,” Rei spoke up quietly; something in his voice, however, caught the others' attention. He turned his golden orbs to Lee, giving the White Tiger captain a meaningful look. “It's indescribably worse than what they did to us in China.” Orange eyes widened minutely as a shiver ran down his spine. Rei was only in the abbey for a few days, and that look on his face… He looks like it will haunt him for the rest of his life. What do they do that could be worse than the training camp grandfather forced us to go to? A gentle squeeze to his arms from his green haired lover brought him out of his thoughts. Refocusing his eyes on the tiger master, he noticed that Rei seemed to be repressing shivers as Kai took his hand.

 

“They beat us everyday there, Rei,” Lee whispered, but he knew his friend could hear. “And you were never affected like this,” his voice had risen in volume, drawing Michael's attention; Kevin had heard every word and was looking intently between his lover and his friend while Kai continued to holding his partner's hand as he already knew exactly what was causing this. “What could they have possibly done to you?”

 

“I... They…” the raven haired teen choked on the words, not sure if he wanted anyone else to know.

 

“You don't have to tell them,” Kai spoke so quietly that not even the other neko-jin in the room could hear. Raising his voice, he addressed the others. “Don't push it,” he warned. “Just know that things are worse in the abbey than the facility in China, which is something else we need to talk about.” He received nods of acquiescence from them albeit somewhat more reluctantly from the Galeon wielder.

 

“So what does that place in China have to do with this?” Michael was the one to ask, taking the more than subtle hint to change the subject.

 

“It's a part of BioVolt,” the crimson eyed teen replied.

 

“Figures,” Lee muttered bitterly while studying the floor. The times he and Rei had spent there had in no way been a summer vacation. They had been forbidden to speak of what really went on by his grandfather, but he had told Kevin shortly after having gotten together with him. The thought of his grandfather's command to tell no one suddenly struck him and he snapped his head up.

 

“Lee?” his lover questioned, concerned by the sudden anger burning in the orange orbs.

 

“Grandfather knew, didn't he?” he more stated than asked; Rei nodded all the same.

 

“I'm sorry,” the tiger master responded. “I know you tried to look past the fact that he sent us to that place; I did the same thing. After all, he was a grandfather to me, as well.” He ran a hand through his longish bangs and sighed before glaring into the empty space in front of him. “But after finding out about his connection to Boris… I just can't forgive him.” Even Lee, in all his anger at the moment, was surprised to see such hatred radiating from his eyes.

 

“What are you leaving out?” Michael, too, had noticed the change in attitude.

 

“Does it have to do with Tala?” Kevin seemed to be piecing things together.

 

“Yes,” Rei hissed out though they all knew the venom in his voice wasn't directed at them. “The things I didn't want to talk about last night have to do with this. I told Kai I didn't want the others to know for the same reasons that we didn't tell them everything that's going on. Like the rest of what we've told you, this stay between us. The Demolition Boys are the only other ones who know.” After Kevin, Lee and Michael once again confirmed that they would keep everything to themselves, Rei told them of the memories he and Tala had recently regained, as well as what they had learned through the strange dream that gave them a more omniscient perspective of the events from twelve years ago. Once he finished, Kai began to tell them of his past, some of which Lee and Kevin already knew. His parents' deaths when he was only six, Voltaire's sudden change from a warm grandfather to a cold megalomaniac, and ending with the destruction he caused to the abbey that led to his escape.

 

By the time Kai had completed his story, it was near the time the other Bladebreakers had said they would be back. The first thing Takao saw when he entered the suite was the five bladers sitting in an utterly chilling silence. Behind him, Kenny and Max seemed to be frozen by the unsettling atmosphere, as well. Five sets of eyes looked in their direction; the combination of disgust, anger and horror they saw snapped them back to reality.

 

“I think we'll go out for dinner,” the dragon master uttered to which Max and Kenny could only nod. It was obvious that their silent friends had some things they needed to work out. The weak smiles they caught from Kevin and Michael and the short nod from Kai reassured them that it wasn't anything they had done as they turned to leave not even a minute after arriving.

 

“Do you think we'll ever know everything that's going on?” Max quietly asked as they made their way to the elevator.

 

“Probably not,” the bluenette replied. “I'm not really sure I want to know everything, anyway.”

 

“I would,” the Chief joined in. “It might take some of the burden off their shoulders if they would let us help them more.” Takao shook his head.

 

“I don't think so, Chief,” the dragon blader stated. “They're talking to the people they want to help. I have no doubt that's why Michael, Lee and Kevin were there. And after seeing the way Rei and Kai looked last night, and how they all looked just now, I think that the best thing for us to do is let them handle it.”

 

“Besides,” the blonde interjected. “We're already a part of this, just in a different way. You have to admit, though, it's partially our own faults for them not trusting us with everything. We wavered too much when this all started.” He released a sad sigh as he thought of the way Lee and Kevin had to essentially knock some sense into them. “Lee and Kevin never once doubted them, even after Kai took their bits.”

 

“I suppose,” Kenny conceded. “But where does Michael fit in?” The other two simply shrugged as they entered the elevator; they didn't know the answer to that, either.

 

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The quiet tapping of swift fingers over a keyboard was the only indication that someone was in the expansive and dimly lit laboratory in the hidden depths of the abbey. Only two people had free access to the room that served as one man's prison, though recently two teenaged boys had been brought here in varying stages of unconsciousness. The silhouetted figure paused in his work - the work his `warden' would never release him from - to gaze around at the various pieces of scientific and medical equipment that littered the floor and countertops. His shadowed eyes lingered on the exam table that had not more than five hours ago held the unconscious form of a young man with brilliant, red hair - hair that reminded him of someone from long ago. The other youth, another male with extraordinarily long, ebony hair, had also reminded him of that same person. His features, the slightly pointed ears along with the fangs peaking from his mouth, had been the first thing in nearly seventeen years to remind him of his lost love when he had been brought in only days earlier. They're alive. I had no reason to doubt him when he told me they were dead, but I should have known… The scientist let his wandering thoughts drop off with a shake of his dark hair.

 

“What does it matter anyway?” the man whispered to himself as he turned to once again to face the computer, the light from the screen illuminating his previously hidden face. “Even though they are still alive, I will never have a chance to know my children. I don't even know their names, and in all likelihood, they've been doomed to the same fate as me.” Pale hands combed through jet black hair before returning to once again strike the keys. Blue eyes brimmed with unshed tears as he directed them to the list of names he had been ordered to go through. These ten boys… All of them have been in this very room at some point, the most recent being Kon and Ivanov. It's not likely any of them recognize that their entire existences have been engineered and manipulated. There has to be something I can do for them, a way to get them out of Boris' reach. Looking over the list again and pausing on the final two names, he realized he could no longer resign himself to this horrible life, not when his own children's futures were at stake. Xiu Juan, I swear to you, I will make sure that our sons do not become slaves to BioVolt like their weak father. With a new resolve, Dr. Aleksei Ivanov set to work on the list, his purpose to subtly alter the files so that Boris' plans would fail. He didn't know that he was making his own plans, these same young men were plotting in such a way that it would only make what he was doing that much more useful. Nine of the ten had already been drawn together in some way or another, and soon, the tenth would join them as well. His actions would not be in vain.

 

TBC

End of chapter notes: So there you have it, the introduction of Tala and Rei's father. I'll be adding the tenth member to the mix next time… Don't worry, though, I'm not going to have another one of those long, conversation chapters again. Oh, and yes, the whole prejudice thing might be a little overused, but it comes into play later as it's a plot point for when I get into the BioVolt in China thing.

 

Reviews

Blackrose: I wouldn't worry too much about Max and Tyson being paired as it's not going to happen. Their personalities, to me at least, aren't what I would consider good for that kind of relationship. As for being locked in, the DBoys are only locked in for `bedtime'. Since I'm having them meet at 8pm, I figure that's early enough that they could still be out on errands or whatnot.

 

Arsinen: You asked for the KaiRei moments at exactly the right time, though I'm not sure this is what you were wanting. As it is, they've got to work through Rei's recent trauma before I can write a nice lemon for them. There will be some more progressively heated moments for both them and my other two pairings in the next several chapters, though.

 

Cambria75, xxanimexluverxx, person, Kat, Hi, Crystal Rose, Daesgal, and Liah: I appreciate the reviews and support. And to those of you who mentioned it, yeah, I'm having fun with the Mariah bashing… and Emily bashing. I've only ever liked one female character in Beyblade, and she didn't show up until GRev, so it will be something like thirty chapters and two sequels before I can bring her in.