Where to start... I'm back again! I can see how sporadic my updates are and I apologize to all my readers. Recently I've gotten a new computer, since the old one was full of viruses. Of course, this means that I wasn't allowed to transfer any of my old files... and yes, I am just making excuses. Also, please remember that Tala is telling a story, so his point of view is all written in past tense... well, most of it. I was just reminding everyone (as well as myself).

I won't be doing anymore review thanks because I'm lazy, but please know that I'm very grateful to all of my reviewers. You don't know how happy it makes me to check my e-mail and see wonderful comments and requests for updates. Thank you all.

Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade. Please don't sue. Thank you. :)

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Searching for Your Feathered Soul

Chapter 7: Alone Together

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Flashback Normal POV

"Welcome... to the Cyborg Project!"

Tala's hands pressed harder against the cold glass, tears still running in staining lines down his cheeks. The young blader leaned forward and set his forehead on the hard surface, reveling in the cooling relief that it brought to his feverish temperature. Though, he couldn't stay relieved, not with his best friend trapped as a floating experiment just above him.

"Well, what do you think?" Boris asked again, bending down to put his face right next to Tala's. This question disgusted Tala. Though he knew what speaking back to Boris would get him, he pulled away from the man and stared at him defiantly.

"I think you're horrible! How could you do this? How!" The redhead's anger only earned him a laugh from Boris.

"Easily." Standing up straight, Boris stalked over to the child and placed and hand under his chin, roughly bringing the insolent blue eyes to look into his own. "Besides, it's not Bryan you should be worried about." At that, Tala's eyes widened.

"Leave the others alone!" He shouted, though it pained his jaw. Boris only laughed again.

"Do you really think I'll bother with the others? I chose Bryan as the prototype because he is the second strongest blader in this abbey. You, however, are the best." Before he could continue, Tala pulled away and ran back to stand near the tank. However, Boris was unaffected.

"Though young, you show great potential. You'll be the star of this abbey. You'll make us powerful," Boris finished, moving back to Tala's side. The redhead shied further around the tank.

The other Demolition Boys still stood as if their feet were plastered to the floor. Their young eyes were so full of fear and confusion, which made Tala even more scared as he looked to them for support. Ian he could understand. The dark-haired blader had always been skittish. Spencer, though, was a different story. As Tala saw the true horror in the normally strong willed boy's eyes, he knew that the situation was bad.

Tala's eyes caught their attention after a while, his blue orbs pleading for help from his friends. Boris stood still where he was, watching the silent interaction with a strange pleasure, as if he knew how it was going to end.

Unfortunately, as Ian and Spencer saw Boris watching them, they each cast one last, sorrowful look to their captain, then turned tail and ran. Tala's face held an unbelievably shocked expression. He couldn't believe that his friends and teammates had just abandoned him and Bryan. From behind him, he could hear Boris's evil laugh.

Tala's POV

Remember how I was wondering why we all weren't as good friends anymore? Well, I think I have my answer. Some friends, huh?

I was standing at the door now, my hand absentmindedly tracing along its surface. It was cold and hard, just like the rest of the room. I began to wonder then if I would ever leave this confinement, if I would ever see the light of day or feel the cold Moscow winds again.

Suddenly, I could've sworn I heard something outside my door. Not that hearing people pass down the hallway would've been strange, mind you, but footsteps, even on the hard abbey stone, didn't usually make such a loud noise. I pressed my ear against the door, listening for anything else, but I didn't hear anymore sounds.

Running my hand through my hair, I was annoyed to find that it had become quite greasy, though that should've been expected. Grumbling at how disgusting I suddenly felt, I wiped my hand on my pants and retreated from the door.

Settling back down on my bed, I sighed. I figured whatever I'd heard had been my imagination. Turing to face the wall, I pulled the old sheets up over my shoulder and closed my eyes. I wished sleep, but I was so tired that it wouldn't come.

Flashback Normal POV

With two of his friends gone and one of his friends currently unable to do anything, Tala was at a loss. The sharp witted and intelligent young child couldn't remember a time when his mind was so empty of good ideas. He thought of running, but knew that wouldn't work. Besides, he couldn't abandon Bryan.

Boris moved closer, but this time Tala didn't move away. The madman grabbed the redhead by the arm and pulled him towards a door that stood not far away from the rows of tanks. Tala didn't even put up a fight. Standing in front of the door, the man looked down at the child.

"I'm not sure you're ready yet, however. The process has had adverse affects on our current subject," still Boris spoke of Bryan as nothing but a lab rat. "To make sure you don't try anything, we'll be keeping you here." As his words registered in Tala's mind, the man threw open the door, revealing a dank, empty room.

"I..." Tala tried to pull away, but was held fast by Boris's strong grip.

"It's alright..." Boris said, obviously not meaning comfort, but truly only saying so for his own enjoyment. Pushing the child forward, he laughed as the redhead stumbled to his knees on the floor and slammed the door shut.

Once alone, Tala moved into a sitting position pulled his legs up, hiding his face behind his knees. If there was one thing the child truly hated, it was being alone.

………

A few hours later, Tala had fallen asleep like that and was awakened by the sound of the door. He sat straight up quickly, but regretted it as his back pained from sleeping the way he had. Trying to ignore the pain, he squinted at the light.

"I have some company for you," Boris said dully as he stood outside the door. The man quickly ushered another child into the room and the slammed the door just as hard as before. Tala's eyes widened as he saw who it was. Jumping up, the pain in his back completely forgotten, he threw his arms around Bryan's neck, pulling his friend into a hug.

"I was worried... are you okay?" When Bryan didn't respond, Tala pulled away and looked at his friend. All the spikes that had adorned his body earlier were gone, replaced with clumsy wrappings. The cut along his face had stopped bleeding and looked as if it had been cleaned, but it was still red and the captain believed it would more than likely leave a scar.

Despite his friend being physically alright, Tala's gaze was drawn to the other's eyes. Bryan's lilac orbs held the same, distant expression that they had as he floated helplessly in the tank.

"Bryan, are you okay?" Tala tried again. His efforts only warranted him no response. The tears that had dried began to threaten at the back of his eyes again. "Bryan, please answer me." No response.

At that, Tala broke down, he fell to his knees and began sobbing, while Bryan still hovered unmoving over him. "Why...?" The redhead choked out between sobs. "Why did we ever have to come to this place?"

After a while, the tears had stopped and Tala felt as if he couldn't cry anymore. In this one day, he'd given all he had and his young body was drained. The Demolition Boys' captain stood, looking Bryan, who still hadn't moved, straight in the eyes.

"I'm sorry that I couldn't stop Boris from hurting you," Tala told his friend sorrowfully. "From now on, I'll have to be strong." The young child moved his hands to the lilac-haired boy's shoulders and carefully moved him backwards towards the wall. "I promise I'll protect you." Tala pushed his friend down so that he was sitting against the wall before moving to sit next to him.

They stayed like that for a while, Bryan's gaze staring off somewhere in his own mind and Tala's off into the darkness of the room. Shaking himself from his daze, the redhead turned to his friend.

"We're together, but I'm alone," Tala whispered. Moving his gaze back to the darkness, the young child vowed again to protect his friend. He would become strong, he had to. The gloom seemed to eat at the captain's mind until it was as blank as his friend's.

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Okay, there you go! Tell me what you think.