Disclaimer: In First Chapter

Warnings: In First Chapter

A/n: I’m not even gonna bother apologizing for this delayed update…because it’ll make no difference *sigh* but I do hope you enjoy it! Because it took me quite a long time to piece this together.

Chapter 16:

The tension was palpable by the time Bryan was shoved through the motel room door, he barely caught himself from falling flat on his face because he was in a panic, for the second time in his life ever that Bryan had heart palpations’.

The first time he ever experienced panic was when Tala had slit Boris Balvoc’s throat open and the blood had stained his clothes and the smell had tainted his senses, now after leaving a body…alive…a body of a person who…

“T…Tal…a…we…ha…ve to…go….”

“Shut up! You moron! Do you realize how you’ve compromised us?!”

Bryan turned shakily to look at Tala who was seething mad, his blue eyes narrowed to tiny sharp slits and his mouth in a definitive sneer as he stepped toward Bryan.

Bryan stepped backward and he tried to form the words but Tala was cutting in like razors to his breathing,
“You’re a fucking idiot! One time, one time you’re asked to not fuck up! You just can’t do it! I have had it with your shit!”

“What the hell’s going on here?” Spencer walked in through one of the side room doors when he heard the shouting.

Tala spun to look at him,
“Bryan…he raped and killed some woman in her apartment and he didn’t kill the bitch!” Tala kicked one of the single couches and it slid and nearly toppled from the force.

Spencer looked at Bryan with slight shock and Bryan was shaking his head,
“…N….no…a…h….ha…I…didn’t!” he shouted the last part making both Spencer and Tala frown,
“Your trying to lie about it? You fuck tard! I saw her! I fucking saw her lying there!”

“It…wasn’t me…Tala!” he shouted again, “…we need to help her!”

Bryan didn’t realize that due to his background this didn’t make sense to either of them and they both just stared at him,

“I don’t believe this…” Tala groaned and walked over flopping in to the chair he’d kicked, holding his head as if he were in agony, leaving Spencer to deal with Bryan.

“Okay, did you leave any traces…finger prints?” Spencer asked calmly.

“Are you kidding me???!” Tala yelled and stood back up as if the seat were on fire, walking over to Bryan and getting into his face, “…has there ever been a time when you didn’t fuck up and get caught if it weren’t for me?!” he shouted into Bryan’s face.

Bryan just back stepped, still finding it hard to breath in all his panic, Spencer placed a hand on Tala’s shoulder,
“Okay, just relax, you’re here now and there isn’t anything we can do to fix what he’s done, we just have to get out of here.” Spencer tried to reason.

“Get out to where?!” Tala turned on him viciously, batting his large hand away, “…we’re here for an important reason! We’re here on somebody else’s coin! We’re here trying and Bryan is…he is always fucking up!” Tala sounded a little out of breath,
“And where the fuck is Kai!!!” his voice broke and he shoved Bryan suddenly who fell into the small table behind him and onto the floor, making a bit of a noise.

There was silence after that for a few moments only the sounds of Tala and Bryan’s escalated breathing could be heard, when Tala finally found no solution that he could voice he turned without looking at the other two and walked out slamming the door having never removed his coat in the first place, he was ready to go.

Spencer looked at Bryan who was sitting in a hunched over bundle resting his elbows on his knees and holding his head, there was no blood on Bryan except dried on his hands and Spencer found that a little strange,

“Where are you gonna go…to hide for a while?” Spencer asked the question quietly since the scene had become more sad than angry but Bryan answered by shaking his head,
“I’m not going anywhere…”

“They will come for you…”

“I didn’t do anything.” Bryan seemed a little calmer now, his voice having lowered to its usual tone.

“You’re seriously telling me that whatever Tala witnessed, you didn’t do.”

Bryan nodded and stood up slowly, looking at the blood on his hands,
“I managed to call the police before Tala dragged me out of there…so I just hope…they get to her.”

There was a brief silence while Spencer stared at Bryan’s worried facial expression,
“Who is…this woman?” he asked.

Bryan didn’t answer and just walked away, slamming the door to the small run down bathroom.

“I am surprised to see you…” Voltaire’s old baritone voice announced as he took the spectacles from his face and stood up from behind his desk in his personal study.

Kai still wore one of his coats, the other taken off at the door when’d arrived 5 minutes ago and he stood with his hands in his pockets, still gloved, he didn’t want to appear too comfortable even if he needed to get involved with his grandfathers dirty business.

“Yeah…I am too…I guess I just felt like I needed to touch base…”

“Touch…base.” The old man repeated and Kai could tell that even in his old age Voltaire was suspicious as ever, so Kai allowed himself to relax just a bit more and he walked over and took a seat across the desk from the old man, making his grandfather sit back down.

Voltaire was a heavy set man, sturdy and broad with very light grey hair and his wrinkles were from years of a wealthy yet dodgy life, his dark brown eyes appeared black and Kai remembered as a younger boy, about 12 years old, that those eyes had always frightened him, that was before he was old enough to garner his own trademark death glare and perfect it.

They stared at each other for a while, Voltaire drawing his own conclusion and Kai trying to appear as calm and collected as he could so his grandfather would relax and stop suspecting him. Voltaire eventually smiled,

“Is it money then?” he asked as he leaned back and linked his hands together, his elbows resting on either arm rest.

Kai allowed a smirk, to sooth his grandfather’s questions,

“I have money…its power and legacy I seek…” he paused and sat forward to look straight into his grandfathers eyes, “…see, I’m a little bored with living a teenagers life…we both knew it would happen eventually.” He raised an eyebrow as if his grandfather wasn’t keeping up.

Voltaire laughed deeply and nodded but he was very pleased and Kai knew he had made the first connection, from here on out it shouldn’t be too hard to establish business ties, Voltaire had always seen only what he wanted in Kai and that made manipulating him easy.

“How long will you be staying?” Voltaire stood, putting an arm out for Kai to get up as he came around the desk, Kai stood and the hand landed endearingly on his shoulder, Voltaire beaming with pride at having his grandson on his side.

Kai walked with him to the door of the study and he frowned,
“Well I’m actually staying in town…”

“Nonsense.” Was the short final answer and as Kai stepped out of the room he turned around to face Voltaire in the hall who was still taller even though Kai was at his adult size all these years later,
“…I honestly don’t mind, the city is refreshing.”

“Business begins immediately Kai, I can’t have you staying far away, if I am to introduce you to my business colleagues then you need to be present all the time.”

This was both a good and bad thing, it meant that Voltaire had something big going on and Kai was straight in, but that would mean staying at the manor and that would mean leaving Tala without explanation and only Bryan as a fill in.

They walked in silence along the lavish hall until the approached the grand staircase and began going downstairs, a young woman passing carrying fresh towels for one of the many bathrooms, she greeted them both and blushed at the sight of Kai, she was probably in her early twenties and admittedly quite pretty.

Voltaire noticed her blush and he looked at Kai as they reached the bottom,

“Quite an attractive girl isn’t she, I hired her because her mother is very ill and she needs well paying work to support the woman.”

“You pay well.” Kai stated with a small smile and he looked at his grandfather ignoring talking about the attractive girl.

Voltaire smiled,
“I’ll have you know that I have increased pay, a happy worker is a quiet one.” He said with a sly smile and Kai nodded knowingly, of course Voltaire required silent workers for all of the illegal things that came through the manor in a day.

They had reached another room and proceeded to a lower level now, going down more steps to his grandfathers ‘business’ area underground, Kai still remembered the place very well. Voltaire was determined to speak however and ruin the silence,

“…I would never suggest you being involved with the help here in the house…but as a grandfather interested in your future…do you have a young woman in your life?”

Kai stopped smiling now and he just looked at the walls as they walked, equally lavish even below level and he felt Voltaire’s eyes on him,

“I’m not trying to pry my boy…it’s just that…marriage is a necessity when trying to create a legacy…because you will need an heir…being the only Hiwatari left with fruitful loins…”

“Grandfather.” Kai glanced at him feeling more than a little annoyed, “I have quite a bit of time to consider marriage and children, and I hardly think this is relevant to me making important business ties.”

“Very well, I suppose that is true…” he opened a large door and walked in and Kai followed, closing the door behind him, the large board room was warm and smelled like fresh coffee because a coffee machine was switched on.

“I have a meeting in twenty minutes.” Voltaire informed as he opened one of the filing cabinets and took out a small folder, “…important business to do with property near central Moscow.”

Immediately Kai’s attention was got, considering where he had last seen his grandfather and the man ‘Boris’ who Tala and his friends had been looking for. He walked over and casually took the folder and opened it, only showing mild interest as he flipped through the random information, seeing the condemned building form stamped by the government made him frown because on the very next page was a sales deed that was well into the 2 million dollar mark.

Kai gave his grandfather a questioning look,
“I take it the price of this property has something illegal to do with it…since it’s condemned.” Kai held up the sheet with the giant red stamp across the paper and Voltaire nodded,
“Yes…I knew you would catch on quickly, you were after all cut from the same cloth.” Voltaire took the folder and started going through it for something.

Kai hated being put on the same level with his grandfather, it annoyed him that he really did know so much about illegal business, but he was raised in this environment, he couldn’t be too angry at himself for it.

Voltaire took out a few photos and laid them on table surface, the boardroom table was huge, and they were at the far end inside the room. The photos were quite dark but Kai could make out what appeared to be…

“Below the top levels of an abbey, known as ‘Balvoc Abbey’, is scientific research and laboratory testing facility.” Boris was smiling and Kai offered a smile as well even though he was clenching one fist behind his back tightly, he knew the abbey, the orphanage…the place where Tala came from…the same Tala who murdered the man who owned it.

“Boris Balvoc…the owner, died an untimely and rather unforeseen death a few weeks ago.” Voltaire informed Kai with a bit of a sneer and Kai found that at that moment was the best time to ask questions, so he approached the situation calmly and looked away from the pictures of labs.

In the back of his mind thinking of how Tala and the others loathed that place and he knew it was because of the treatment they had received, he wondered if it had something to do with the testing facilities and it made his skin crawl.

“How did he die?” Kai inquired in a dull voice.

Voltaire started looking through the photo’s again,
“His throat was cut…” Voltaire said shortly, “…he ran the facility a little like a military operation…the children who lived there were exceptionally disciplined.”

To Kai that translated as enslaved and tortured but he remained silent as his grandfather handed him a photo and Kai’s heart skipped a beat when he saw it, the pale skin, the dark red hair and those empty blue eyes. The picture was horrible though because Tala had bruises, one on his left cheek and darker one surrounding the left eye. His lips were cut in several places and he appeared to have bruises lower on his neck as well, but the photograph was primarily a profile shot so he couldn’t make out much else. Tala’s hair seemed messy and unkempt and he had a scowl on his face in the photo.

“That is the boy who murdered him…wretched child. I remembered Boris often spoke of how vile he behaved and how unstable he was and how often he required discipline, hence the reason he looks so terribly beaten in that photo, that was about a week before he killed Boris.” Voltaire explained in a conversational tone.

Kai was staring intently at the photograph, having kissed those lips and touched every inch of that glorious skin just hours earlier, he felt a horrible painful rage that threatened to explode at the idea of what they did to Tala at the abbey and he had to use his own child hood discipline of hiding emotion to keep himself in check.

Kai’s voice was a little hoarse when he spoke again,
“What’s his name?” he feigned disinterest and placed the photo onto the table with the others.

“Yuri Ivanov.”

Kai frowned, since he didn’t know Tala by that name but he couldn’t say that and he instead nodded and moved forward with his questions,
“So what is the plan for the abbey now, why are you buying it?”

Voltaire pulled out the head chair and sat down, Kai didn’t bother to sit and he leaned against the table,

“Well…the testing previously done there was very successful and Boris, before he died was making great progress, genetically enhancing the children and making leaps and bounds in human alteration.”

Kai was just staring at the floor, trying not to let himself be controlled by the urge to strangle the old man talking so callously about such disgusting things.

“So…I am planning on re-establishing the abbey…starting fresh.”

“What happened that the building was condemned…how could it just be so easy to do that?” Kai asked quickly, knowing his grandfather wasn’t beyond government corruption.

Voltaire glanced at the clock wall, obviously expecting the people soon,
“Well, after police entered the abbey and found Boris dead, they put out an international search for the young boys responsible, Yuri, and the three who escaped with him…because they went on a killing spree of sorts…” he was staring at Kai and Kai made a point to look mildly interested.

“They haven’t found them…but there is speculation that they may be in a country on the Asian continent due to a few recent unexplained murders that are befitting to these hooligans.” Voltaire said it with irritation as they obviously posed a threat to his illegal dealings, if they were caught; they were likely to expose the information about the labs.

“I do hope to find them first…the little bastards could ruin everything if caught by the police and they don’t keep their filthy little mouths shut.” He confirmed Kai’s theory and he had become visibly tense, it made Kai tense too….because that meant Voltaire was after them…and if Boris was still alive like they suspected…that meant that there were a lot of dangerous people far more worrisome than the police that they had to look out for.

“Anyway…after investigating the abbey and condemning it, the government wanted it demolished because it appeared to them as just an old and terribly decrepit old orphanage, which was the point so that they would never suspect anything more…but the government are fools, because the abbey had such high security despite being run down but they didn’t even notice…so without seeing anything suspicious they were willing to give it up.” He again glanced at the clock before continuing.

“With that, I made a proposal and offered the government a good deal of money…as you saw…to sell me the property and in return I would refurbish and reinstate the orphanage for homeless and parentless children. The money was enough to make them practically throw the deed at me and so I now own the abbey…and I will do as I said…while also continuing the necessary research.”

There was a knock at the door and Kai stood up straight and faced the door, Voltaire standing up as well and a group of nine men in suits entered, all looking stuffy and very much like pedophiles to Kai.

They all eyed him wearily and one in particular had approached quickly and shook hands with Voltaire before giving Kai a once over.

The boy was obviously still a teenager, pale skinned and rather nervous looking, his light grey eyes very unsteady in his deep eye sockets, he looked deprived of sunlight and food and Kai was urged to slap him for looking at him that way, like Kai was inferior…or was it suspicion and mistrust?

He couldn’t tell because the boy spoke to Voltaire and looked away,
“Lord Voltaire, I am honored to work for you…as my father did.” He spoke now ignoring Kai and Voltaire nodded,
“Boris was a good man.” Kai knew that was a lie and but he kept his gaze on the younger boy who shifted uncomfortably under his gaze as Voltaire went on, “…and now I will expect of you, what I had of him…” trailing off, it was clear Voltaire wasn’t finished speaking.

Kai had pieced this entire thing together, Boris was dead…and this was Boris’s son, who obviously resembled the deceased man greatly if Tala and Bryan mistook him for Boris. This boy, this frightened teenager was expected to take over a facility involved in abusing children…Kai couldn’t see that working out well, not with the nervous twitch that this boy had.

He was concealing his anger well though, also his disgust because now he knew that everything bad that had happened to Tala had been by indirect hand of Voltaire…his flesh and blood.

“Who is this?” an older man from the group stepped up and looked at Kai distastefully.

Voltaire, proud as ever, stepped beside Kai and held his shoulders firmly,
“This is Kai, my only grandson and the only living Hiwatari beside myself…” he stated and everyone seemed to straighten up, suddenly deciding Kai deserved respect,

“…with impeccable timing…I must say…” he squeezed Kai’s shoulders, “…he has returned to me to be a part of the Hiwatari legacy.”

“Impeccable timing?” someone asked as confused as Kai was in his grandfather’s confident grip.

“Yes…see I had reservations about young Alexander running the abbey…he is a mere 16 years old and he always was a very submissive boy.” Voltaire released Kai and began a small walk as he was about to monologue.

What horrified Kai was that at the word ‘submissive’, Alexander noticeably quivered and Kai wondered if that meant what he thought it did…how far did the child abuse go? And he wondered if Tala had experienced that sort of child abuse. Worse…was that this was Boris’s son and if Boris was the abuser…did that mean this boy was a victim of incest. It was all horribly gag provoking and Kai bit down on his jaw to keep himself from either shouting or puking.

He looked Voltaire who continued talking and Alexander was just staring at the floor,

“…with Kai here now…older and more experienced in these sorts of things…I will have him run the abbey at the head…training Alexander to take over eventually when Kai is ready…for I may not be around very much longer…” Voltaire stated and Kai felt himself hoping the man dropped dead right then.

Alexander was looking at him now with wide eyes and Kai cleared his throat,
“This is rather short notice grandfather…”

“You don’t need much time Kai…your born with my blood in your veins…” the deceptive smile that made Kai’s skin crawl appeared on Voltaire’s face and he held his breath unconsciously, “…you’re a natural.”

Kai numbly nodded, he was supposed to get involved and so far he knew a few things for certain. Boris was dead, so Tala had succeeded and that meant his revenge was complete, so Tala could go back to Japan or Kai could take him somewhere safe, just the two of them. He kept that in mind when someone’s cell phone rang and after a short somewhat excitable conversation he smiled at Voltaire, no one had sat down and everyone seemed on edge,
“Lord Voltaire…we have news…I should discuss it in private with you.” He gave a certain look that Voltaire obviously understood because the old man came over and patted Kai and Alexander’s shoulder before walking out, all of the men following except the two teens.

Kai wanted to know what the happy news was but he would have to pry it out of Voltaire later.

“Kai…”

He looked at the teen standing a few feet from him and he nodded,

“Yeah…”

“I…look forward to working with you…” Alexander said and a small sniff was heard from him, also when he brushed a hand through his greasy purple hair Kai saw how shaken his hand was.

“Do you…?” Kai asked a little sarcastically, feeling like he shouldn’t trust this boy.

“Yes…because…because…” he didn’t look like he could say what he wanted and Kai noticed how a little bit of a cold sweat had broken out on the boys face.

He didn’t understand this child’s predicament but something told him he wasn’t far off in assuming the worst had happened to him at some point, maybe it was still happening.

“Well…whatever your reasons…I’m sure we’ll get along…okay.” Kai offered a rather weak smile and Alex offered an even weaker one back, revealing two chipped teeth and a cut on the inside of his lip…like…bitten open skin.

He sighed quietly and sat in his grandfather’s chair, hoping that he could get out of here soon, that same day if possible and see Tala, to tell them not to worry and to get out of the country. Tala was his priority…his precious and absolutely perfect Tala.

Tala had ended up in the city, walking through the few people who dared come out when it was this cold, he’d had to get out of the motel earlier because the urge to kill Bryan was far too strong and another murder would only mess things up even worse.

He bumped into quite a few people along the side walk and the he crossed over and walked into an alley way, a small tight space about a meter and a half wide, it was familiar to him because he had been there before, he was here now in hopes of negotiating some crystal meth but when he got far enough in he saw an old police line draped across the steel door and it was obvious the place had been discovered and raided at some point.

“Fuck this!” Tala shouted and kicked a stray piece of garbage out of his way, “…why…is everything so fucked up!” he kicked a trash can over, “…and where the hell are you Kai!” he kicked the wall and a small piece of brick fell out, the sudden vibration in his leg and the numbing feeling reminding Tala not to go kicking wall’s in front of people…lest someone ask him any questions.

He covered his face in his hands, getting angrier by the second; he didn’t understand why the hell he needed Kai so badly…what reason could he possibly have for being so dependent. Tala was never dependant…but there was something about the strength and the warmth and firm body and the touches…the kisses…the words…that meant so much and it angered him that he wanted to hold onto that…Tala want to surrender to Kai, he wanted Kai to treat him like he was fragile…he wanted Kai…to have him.

He fiddled with the ring on his finger and looked at it, feeling himself shiver involuntarily, not from the cold but from the thoughts of Kai…just thoughts of the other made him feel light headed…what was wrong with him?

He stuffed his hands into his pocket and felt his Beyblade there, usually carried as a weapon since he used it for nothing else, it was comforting to know that the one thing that freed him from slavery, he had control over, the sharpness of that blade cut Boris’s throat…but the son of a bitch was still alive.

Tala kicked out again, connecting with the wall and cracking it, causing several chunks of the dark brick to crumble and he felt the numbing surging vibration in his leg as it recalibrated in case he needed the power again.

“…ahg…” he groaned and started walking away from the damage and back into the quiet streets, very few people walking around.

He dragged his feet but his steps were with intention to get back to motel and try to clean up the mess, he made sure to avoid going the route that the young woman’s house had been on since someone might have found her dead body by then. He walked with his hands in his pockets and his head down, a few people looking at him as they passed but Tala just kept a calm face, the chances of being recognized seemed too slim.

After five minutes of walking he had zoned out and it was regrettable because Tala hadn’t noticed the grey car driving several meters behind him and he hadn’t noticed that he’d reached a rather empty open area while avoiding the suburbs…he was thinking again…about Kai…wondering when he’d get back, if he were there already waiting…

The car drove beside him and Tala noticed it then since it’s slow movement was too obvious, he stopped and the car stopped and two large built men got out, wearing long coats and glasses even though it was over cast, Tala didn’t show any reaction as they stood either side of him. His first thought was cops…he’d been recognized, but when one of them pulled back their coat to reveal a nine mil very casually Tala’s eyes narrowed and he sensed major trouble.

Before he could react though a gun was pressed between his shoulder blades by the other man,
“Just get in the car Yuri…and this will be painless.”

What could he do but listen, these men knew him and that solidified his suspicions that Boris was alive and had people looking for them. Very angrily Tala moved forward and got into the car when the back door was opened for him.

One of the men got into the back with him, holding the gun to his side against his ribs and the other got in and drove, it was silent and Tala wasn’t panicking but he knew this was bad…Kai was becoming a bit of a pain…and if Tala was right…he was in for a world of that very thing very soon.

He just stared at out of the window as his breathing clouded up the pane; the man in the driver’s seat took out his cell phone and called someone to relay the victorious news.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Tala was a little surprised to see the large mansion as they drove up to it; he had honestly never expected Boris to live in anything better than a hole for pigs.

‘I guess the piece of shit moved up…’ he thought bitterly as the car halted at the bottom of the entrance stairs, the door to Tala’s side opened and he was yanked out roughly by his arm.

This was minimal compared to the treatment he was in for, he knew already because he’d lived it and suffered it for most of his life. Walking up the stairs while being pulled along, Tala was so much thinner and smaller than these bulky men, they entered the front door without knocking or letting anyone know they were there. During the long drive Tala had considered trying to kill the two men…but that meant more bloodshed that could be traced to him and also the fact that he wasn’t immune to bullets.

He grit his teeth as he was shoved against a wall next to door, before being pushed through the door and nearly falling down the dark stairs, as they got deeper into the house the treatment became worse and when they reached the bottom Tala was faced with another two men, not dressed formally but rather like the brutes they were, here came the pain.

He was handed over to the large men and the other two left back upstairs.

Grabbed by his hair Tala grunted and tried to lessen the pain by stumbling to keep up with the burly man holding him roughly as they walked along the darker hall, he knew better than to provoke them and say anything, beside that he was keen on seeing Boris again, if he got to murder the bastard a second time then he’d die happy.

After some walking and passing several doors Tala was shoved through a door at the far end of a hall and he fell on his knees, he then looked around the office, it was small and kind of fancy, it resembled something Boris might like and Tala tried to stand but a boot connected his back keeping down.

He glanced at the big guard with murderous intent but the other guard now held a gun aimed at his head…a shot gun. He looked up when he heard a noise and Tala’s eyes opened a little wider when the chair turned around…he expected Boris.

But the boy sitting in the chair was equally familiar and Tala found himself laughing suddenly, sitting back on his haunches and laughing and Alexander just stared at him and stood up,
“You find something funny?”

“Fuck yeah!” Tala didn’t miss a beat and he stood up, shoving one of the guards back and the guard stood down because Alexander said nothing to stop Tala.

“I find it really funny! I thought you were Boris! Can you believe it! You little runt! You look so much like that fucker I actually gave him credit believing he survived…” Tala was smiling like a demon out of hell and he slammed his hands on the desk making Alexander jump, “…but I should’ve known I killed the motherfucker…” he looked relieved in some way and Alexander frowned.

“You killed my father Yuri…”

“Like you give a shit!” Tala scoffed and looked Alexander in his weary dark circled eyes and Alexander faltered like he would cry, “…are you gonna tell me you missed getting beaten, sworn at and molested?!” Tala drove the dagger home and Alexander slammed his own hands on the desk,
“Shut up! My father loved me!”

“Hell yes! He loved you every night while you were on all fours like a dog!” Tala retorted and leaned forward on the desk challenging the younger boy but he said nothing and tears started to line his eyes from humiliation and anger, the two guards exchanging looks at Tala’s words.

But Alexander smiled bitterly,

“Well, I can’t deny that I am happy for certain reasons that he is dead…but I won’t thank you.”

Tala gave him a rather amused expression and he looked at the guards,
“Where is this place?”

“This is the house of the man who my father worked for…the man who owned the abbey.” He informed and he sniffed loudly before flopping into his chair, looking nothing at all as important as a man in his office should, but Alexander wasn’t a man and Tala thought he looked pathetic when he looked back at him, his head still throbbing a bit from the rough handling of his hair.

Tala frowned and raised an eyebrow,
“Your working for…wait…your following in Boris’s footsteps, working for whoever this guy is?” he asked a little stunned as Alexander was the easiest push over, doing Boris’s job would kill him.

“I am going to be co directing the abbey…when its re-established in a few months…the research will continue and everything will be as it was when we were there…” he wasn’t smiling and he didn’t sound happy.

Tala shook his head,
“You wanna be a part of that…inflicting the pain you experienced yourself first hand on some other innocent kids?” he asked quietly.

Alexander looked angry but he couldn’t meet Tala’s glare,
“I have no choice…I’m not like you Tala…I can’t kill people and fight people and I am completely normal…”

“Pathetic and easy to bully, impressionable and gullible…” Tala elaborated.

“I am being forced into this because I have nowhere to go…”

Tala sounded like he snickered right before he became serious again,
“Co directing…?”

“Yes…” he nodded to Tala, “…with Lord Voltaire’s grandson…he is a little older than me and apparently more suited to be in charge until I am ready.”

“Lord Voltaire…” Tala snickered again and then he became visibly angry, “…I suppose they are gonna kill me in this big fancy mansion…”

Alexander said nothing and he blinked and Tala smiled again a little bitterly,

“At least I killed one of the assholes who made our lives miserable…we can’t win em all.” Tala mumbled.

“I hope not…” Alexander mumbled back and Tala looked at him sharply,
“Huh…”

“I mean…I mean that I hope…they don’t kill you.” He said sincerely, remembering that Tala was always harsh, but he had many a time come to help Alexander when the children pushed him around, taking advantage of the fact Boris didn’t care, Tala was not all bad, he just hated certain people.

“I hope they do…because otherwise…I’ll end up miserable…like your gonna be.” He said seriously and then turned, “…shall we go then.” He smiled at the guards who looked at Alexander expectantly.

Alexander stared at Tala who wasn’t looking at him and then he sniffed again,

“Take him to the holding room…and…wait for instructions from Voltaire…no food…no water…” his voice broke and he sounded like he would cry, “…don’t give him anything and search him weapons.” He finished and placed his head down on the desk.

The guards moved forward and grabbed him roughly and Tala remained quiet as he was man handled, preparing himself to spend what could be days without light, food and water in complete isolation…

…well, this would be the easy part.

In Japan

When Max answered the door the last person he expected to find was Michael and with him Max’s ex girlfriend Emily.

“What…do you want?” Max was alone in the house so this was a little nerve wrecking even if Michael was standing crooked and looked like he was the most miserable man alive.

“We need to talk to you guys.” Emily said holding Michael’s arm as if she could support his weight.

“No one’s here…Hillary and Tyson are out and Kenny went home and Rei is-“

“Not here?”

Max nodded and he shuffled his feet,
“He took off last night…” Max said randomly and leaned against the door, trying not to make eye contact with Emily, even though he felt more self conscious because he was shirtless and his jeans were low cut and he felt awkward with his ex girlfriend and her boyfriend staring at him.

“Michael has something important to tell you…all of you.” Emily glanced at him and Max frowned,
“Like I said…Emily, nobody is here…but if you want, you guys could come in…” he looked at Michael, “…you probably wanna…sit down.” He moved out of the way.

“Not really…” Michael cracked a rare smile at Max, “…its hurts too much to put pressure on it.” Emily smacked his arm lightly and shook her head as he limped inside.

Max was surprised, but Michael seemed to be a little nicer after having his weener chopped,
“Michael…what actually happened…to you?” He pointed at Michael’s crotch briefly.

Michael sighed and leaned against a wall,
“He…basically took a small chunk out of the flesh…it’s not all gone…it’s just…crooked shaped and it looks really funny…plus I can’t get an erection…yet anyway…not that I wan-“

“Michael!” Emily shushed him and smiled nervously as Max, “…he took a few pain killers before we left so he’s a little out of sorts.”

Max nodded and he smiled slightly,
“Can I get you anything to drink?”

Michael piped up,
“You got any alcohol?”

“Please…just some soda or juice Max.” Emily said sternly and gave Michael and exasperated look as she stood beside him.

When he returned they were still standing and after drinking the juice and some silence had passed, Max sighed and placed his hands in his pockets, still feeling awkward,
“So…what is this about?”

Michael handed Max the empty glass and once Max held it Michael made a serious frowning face,
“It’s about Rei…” he stated and Max frowned having already heard so much confusing stuff.

“He came over to see me a couple days ago and he asked me to be involved in something with him…to take revenge on Kai…”

Max’s eyes widened, even though he already knew what was coming as Michael told him,

“…he asked me to claim that Kai raped him and that Rei came to me for sympathy because he knew I had been assaulted because of Kai…”

Emily nodded,

“…and when Michael told me…I told him to go to the police.”

Max looked at her,

“Did you?”

“Yes…” Michael answered, “…and now they are looking for him because he had apparently pressed charges against Kai despite having no evidence…”

“They had intended to investigate Kai…but when Michael came forward, even after being a victim they found Michael more believable…now they are looking for Rei to ask him questions.” She finished.

Max was speechless, things were getting out of hand and he was witnessing it.

“Where is Kai…?” Michael asked looking around.

“Kai…is…not here.” Max mumbled and bit his lip, hoping that Kai having left the country wouldn’t help Rei’s case…or Michael’s.

Kai had been forced to spend two nights at his grandfather and meet with their board 3 times in two days, they kept mentioning strange things about not making any progress with ‘other matters’ but that left Kai without a clue.

Since he had no idea and couldn’t decipher anything and Alexander had seemed distant and very distracted Kai knew for a fact that something was going on that he was not aware of and that he hadn’t had a chance to question Voltaire about.

Never the less, he had to achieve one thing and that was getting out of the house and back to the motel, he could tell them all that they didn’t need to be in Russia and go back to Japan, Kai didn’t give a shit about disappointing the old man.

Having had his clothes cleaned and dried and ready for him, Kai was walking steadily down the grand staircase to the front door, passing the young woman again and she blushed again, which made Kai shake his head at the silly girl.

That did however remind him of how badly he wanted to hold Tala in his arms right then and just kiss him and tell him everything was okay.

But as he got to the bottom of the stairs one of the men from Voltaire’s board strode by heading toward the bottom floor, he barely glanced at Kai but when Kai made his steps louder the man slowed in walking and looked at him,

“Ah, young Kai...will you be attending the board meeting?”

Kai raised an eyebrow, he hadn’t been told of a board meeting, so what the hell was this…he realized then that is grandfather had been keeping things from him and that meant that something bigger than the abbey deal was happening.

It was purely curiosity that made Kai want to know what it was so he played it cool,
“Oh…no I will be heading into town…” he nodded politely with his best fake smile and the older man nodded and walked on, heading into the small room which would take him down to the bottom floors.

He glanced at the front door, weighing his options…should he leave and make it back to Tala in time to book an afternoon flight…or see what deal his grandfather had going on.

He decided and evening flight would do and so he made his way to the room the other man had just gone into and then downstairs, walking as quietly as he could with his boots, Kai came to the board room door and it was slightly open so he opened it further and walked in.

They were all standing and no one noticed him but two unusual people were in the room, two large guards and Kai flinched when the guard punched someone kneeling on the floor, he took quicker steps and he heard his grandfather laugh and tell whoever it was that they were pathetic. He heard another small kick and grunt and then Voltaire noticed Kai coming up on the other side of the desk,
“Ah grandson…I hadn’t intended to see you here…but I suppose it wouldn’t harm to introduce you…”

Kai saw his arm come up to embrace his shoulder but he only wanted to see what was going on, so keeping a calm face he walked to his grandfather which brought him to the front of the crowd.

Kai’s heart stopped.

On the floor, head bowed and blood dripping onto the marble floor of the boardroom, was a thin, pale and shirtless red haired boy, shoulders shaking and hair matted with dried blood. Kai pushed his hands into his pockets to keep his hands from shaking and the guard pulled Tala’s head back harshly with a hand full of the soft red hair in his fist, making Tala groan, his face was beaten, swollen and bleeding and he struggled to open his eyes because they were swollen too.

“Yuri…” Voltaire’s voice made Kai jump slightly and Voltaire patted his back, “…I’d like you to meet my grandson, he’ll be heading up the research at the abbey…taking over where you ended things.” Voltaire sneered and stepped forward.

Kai saw Tala stare at him, no facial expression and his eyes just empty and it hurt Kai…it broke him down inside too see nothing in Tala’s eyes, not even a hint of shock at what was obviously displayed to him as betrayal, Kai didn’t even see hurt…fear…recognition and when Voltaire grabbed Tala’s face roughly and made him look at him Kai felt frozen in place, he was shaking but he was trying to conceal it,
“We’ll use you as a training specimen for the new scientists…then we’ll throw you to the dogs to die.”

Tala smiled suddenly and Kai discreetly leaned against the table for support when he saw the blood between Tala’s beautiful white teeth as he grinned at Voltaire,
“…” Tala wheezed before he spoke, “…you can kill me…see if I giva shit…” he was slurring and blood ran over his lips from his open mouth, “…I got nothin’ anyway…and…I won..t…tell you shit…” Tala mentioned about the other boys and managed to sneer despite the swollen muscles in his face and he spat blood in Voltaire’s face.

Earning him a head jolting back hand which rendered Tala instantly unconscious and decorated the wall in that directions with little red blood splatters. Voltaire took a clean handkerchief that was offered to him and with a disgusted expression he wiped away the blood on his nose and under his eyes,

“Disgraceful…take him back to the holding room.” He instructed and the guards lifted his limp body and dragged it out, Tala’s head bobbing lifelessly.

Kai didn’t notice that Voltaire looked at him and then patted his shoulder again making his jump again,
“You’re a bit shaky boy, it’s been a while since you’ve been exposed to real violence…but you’ll come around…that’s the filth that killed Boris…Alexander’s father…he’ll be useful and when he is no longer, we kill him off.” Voltaire said with relative composure despite breathing heavily, his old body not handling frustration and exertion the way it used to.

“Alexander…let me know if Yuri gives any trouble.” He told the boy who he’d left in charge.

They all filed out and Alexander stood there, only the two of them and Kai noticed Alexander was equally shaken, but now no longer able to contain his rage, Kai took two large steps to Alexander and practically threw the shorter boy against the wall making him cry out in pain as Kai lifted him off the ground and against the wall,
“I swear to god I’ll kill you right here…tell me where they are keeping Tala…I know you knew about this… and you’re in charge!” Kai released one hand just quick enough to slap him right before gripping him again and holding him, “…right now.”

Alexander was so frightened because Kai looked as dangerous as Voltaire did when he threatened him, all he could manage was a nod and he mumbled,
“I…I know where they keep him…” he answered revealing he knew Tala as something other than Yuri.

“Tell me…”

Alrighty, next chapter will have naughty content, so small children stay away! Thanks for reading and please review!