A/N: I hope you guys like this one, it's by far my favorite idea I've had yet! I'll update this one quick, because I have a feeling your going to get a kick out of the next chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own BeyBlade, the characters, plot, or anything. I use them for my own purposes, but I take credit for nothing.

...

Ruby eyes followed the whirling top with a calculated gaze, as it ran circles around the opponents that had been set up in the miniature bey-dish in the snow. The cold nipped at the figure, but despite it all he was content. It was a rarity for them, to be outside. And even if he was only training it was a welcome change from the hard stone, and closed doors of the Abbey.

Silver bangs brushed his forehead playfully as they danced with the frozen wind. Kai pushed them out of his eyes with a gloved hand, blinking away the snowflakes that caught on his lashes. With a deep breath he monitored his blades progress, mentally keeping track of weaknesses and strengths that he'd have to report to Boris when he was finished.

Behind him, he heard footsteps crunching through the layers of ice on the Abbey grounds. The blunette narrowed his eyes. Looks like I won't need to report my progress after all. .

He kept himself focused on Dranzer, making sure there was nothing that his trainer could exploit for a possible punishment.

Suddenly, a familiar sound erupted behind him, but before he could turn he was hit from behind, falling face first into the snow.

"What was that for?!" the young phoenix cried, twisting around to face a snickering Tala as he caught his blade as it returned. The redhead shrugged.

"It's my job to keep you in line, slacker," he answered coolly with a smirk. "You weren't focused."

"Like hell I wasn't!" he grinned back, balling his fist to create a discrete snowball in his palm. His captain didn't seem to notice.

"Well I caught you off guard didn't I?"

"You aren't the only one..." he trailed off, turning his head, feigning innocence. The wolf master quirked an eyebrow.

"Oh yeah?"

Nodding, Kai whipped his hand forward, releasing the snow at Tala's face. Bull's-eye.

"HIWATARI!" he hollered, shaking the snow from his face and hair. He tried to glare at the other boy, but it came out as a quirky half-smirk, because of the smile teasing his lips. The phoenix would have noticed---if he hadn't been busy making more ammo...

Forgetting protocol for the first time in three years, the two allowed for nothing but a full-fledged snowball war.

"You are so dead, you hear me?"

"I heard you," the phoenix panted. "But your aim sucks so bad, I don't have to worry about it!"

Hurtling another frozen grenade at his redheaded target before he could reply, the blunette toppled over laughing when he landed a direct hit that sent his captain sprawling.

Taking advantage of the momentary distraction, the wolf master tackled the smaller Russian, pinning him to the ground with his hands above his head.

"You really need to work on this."

They both laughed, taking a small intermission to catch their breaths. Tala shifted forward, so he was sitting on Kai's chest, allowing him to remove his hands from his captive's wrists, replacing them with his knees. They were both panting, and for a long time the only sound was that of their heavy breathing. Finally, the redhead broke the silence.

"Who sucks now?" The phoenix snorted, but his captain crossed his arms over his chest expectantly.

"What?" Electric blue eyes glittered down on him.

"Say it." Crimson eyes narrowed in response.

"You wish."

Smugly, Tala reached over to the side, carefully packing snow and keeping an eye on the boy beneath him. Finished, he held a massive chunk of snow over Kai's face.

"Say it."

"Don't you---" his words were cut off as his vision turned white. Sputtering, he thrashed his head, trying to find the surface again. When he was able to see, he found that his captain had another ready for him.

"Say it," he grinned, raising his hands slightly.

"You're going to regret this," he countered, glaring at the boy above him. With a shrug, he let the bomb drop. He was prepared again by the time the blunette had recovered.

"Say it."

"No."

Splat.

"Jerk."

"Say it."

"No."

Splat.

"This is your last chance before I make you say it."

"Wasn't that the point?"

Splat.

Kai jerked forward in his chair, his eyes darting around the room.

Silence ricocheted off the walls around him, blanketing the plushfurniture and rich carpets of the office around him. The window to his right was cracked open slightly, allowing the warm summer air to fan the curtains, while a small sun-catcher on the glass stole the setting sun's rays to cast it's colors across the floor. Nothing stirred, and nothing made a sound.

With a sigh of relief, the phoenix settled back, allowing himself to relax a bit. Almost immediately the feeling faded as he recalled his dream.

"Dream?" he wondered out loud. "Or memory?" Shaking his head, he glared at the coffee table.

That wasn't possible. He'd never been friends with Tala...ever.

Not that he could remember anyway.

The blunette's glare intensified. During the Russian tournament, he had been forced to relive his past, all of his suppressed memories suddenly bubbling to the surface. And although he was sure that everything was back where it belonged, from time to time something would nag at the back of his mind. There was something that he was certain that he was forgetting.

But not that.

Rubbing his temples he growled low in his throat. "If Tala and I were really that close, I would have remembered when I saw him. I would have remembered," he reasoned. Logically, it made sense; it was just...it had all felt so real.

He jumped when the door opened, cursing himself under his breath. Tyson and Max bounded in, Kenny in tow. He sneered.

The Three Stooges.

"Hey Kai? Any word from the old man yet?" the world champ inquired, all too joyfully. The phoenix blinked.

"No," he snapped. Kenny sighed.

"That's nearly four hours he's been in there then." Max nodded at his side.

"I can't believe all this crap they're putting us through..." he trailed off, glancing at the door.

Mr. Dickenson was currently trying to negotiate with the elders of Rei's village to allow him to enter the upcoming tournament with the Blade Breakers again. Apparently, they weren't all too happy with the tiger for leaving them in the first place, and so they were putting up a fight. Their decision was unanimous. Rei wasn't leaving the village to compete, unless it was to be in the name of the White Tiger clan. Hopefully, with the help of the BBA, the decision would change.

"Anyone hungry?" The phoenix rolled his eyes.

"I would have thought that you'd come from the cafeteria." Max smirked.

"The vending machines anyway..." Tyson pouted, sticking out his tongue at his best friend.

"No one's answered my question," he replied indignantly. The American teen sighed, giving in.

"Alright Ty, I'll go with you." Both of them stood, wearing identical grins as they headed towards the door. When they shut it behind them, the room was plunged into silence again, abruptly cut off though, by Kenny's frantic typing.

"How's...Dranzer?" Chief asked hesitantly, glancing up every few seconds to make sure that he hadn't upset his captain. The blunette regarded him curiously before shrugging.

"Fine." Nodding, the small boy finally met the ruby gaze fixed intently on him.

"Mind if I do a check up? I can't make upgrades from here, but I can get an idea of the work I'm going to have to do." Raising an eyebrow, the phoenix produced a blade from his pocket, tossing it to the young teen across from him.

"It's the others who need this," he informed, crossing his arms over his chest again as the other got to work. "I'm ready for this tournament."

"Are you?"

Crimson eyes narrowed sharply. "Excuse me?"

"Well, what...what I meant was...uh, that---" suddenly he was cut off, as the door opened, admitting Mr. Dickenson into the small lounge area.

"It's done!" he smiled happily beneath his mustache. "Young Rei will be joining us tomorrow morning!" Kenny beamed where he sat, hopping to his feet as soon as the news passed the head-administrators lips.

"I'll get the others!" he cried, running from the room with Dranzer and Dizzy clutched tightly to his chest.

Kai fidgeted slightly in his seat, watching the other warily. He never liked being alone with him. He wasn't afraid of the elderly supervisor, nor did he have any reason to be, but some part of him was still unsure about his relationship with the old man.

"So what do you think, can you whip them into shape in time?" came the joking comment. A pale face snapped up in response, meeting a warm smile. The blunette nodded, seemingly nonchalant, though he leaned a bit further back in his chair.

Mr. D frowned at this as he eased himself into a chair across from the Russian teen. Ever since the world tournament, the young phoenix had been more than stiff and curt with him. He'd hoped it would pass but even now, nearly six months since the incident the younger male was still skeptical about him, or rather, the life he'd been given and the people involved in it.

The old man looked up to find himself faced with a ruby glare, tipping his head to the side when the eldest of his boys shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.

"Tyson needs to focus more," Kai replied, watching the man across from him closely. "But they'll be fine...I don't worry about it so much anymore," he added softly with a deep breath.

Mr. Dickenson beamed. "Glad to hear it. And I am proud..." he trailed off. He'd held similar conversations with his team's captain before that hadn't ended so well.

"I'm grateful," the pale teen answered awkwardly, looking up again. "For that..."

Nodding, the administrator leaned back as he waited for the others to arrive. The room fell silent again, but both of the figures in the room were content. The tension had receded, allowing them to sit comfortably in each other's presence.

Letting out a breath he hadn't been aware that he was holding, the phoenix shut his eyes, his shoulders relaxing against his seat. He wasn't about to jump the old man and smother him in a hug, but, he hadn't been lying, and it felt good to let him know.

...

Tyson let out a loud whoop in his excitement. Rei's plane would be landing any minute, and soon they would be a team again. The Blade Breakers were being reunited, and even Kai felt the familiar spark that he'd grown accustomed to around his teammates.

Sitting heavily on the benches positioned before the large glass windows, the phoenix watched the planes as they took off. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see a figure that he couldn't have mistaken for anyone else if he tried. The neko was heading this way, his head ducked to avoid attention. Turning away, the blunette waited for the others to notice allowing himself a discrete half-smile.

Three...two...one...

"REI!" Max called running over to his Chinese friend. The Russian rolled his eyes.

All too predictable.

Tyson grinned, running after his blonde companion. "Hey buddy! How y'a been?"

Kai watched the Drigger blader closely as the others rushed him. Gently the tiger lifted his head, offering them a bright smile.

"It's good to be back," he replied.

"Well it's great to see you again!" the dragon master added, moving to thump his friend on the back. The blunette watched curiously as the neko stepped lightly to the side, grabbing the younger teen's hand to shake it instead.

"Thanks."

Slightly confused, but not deterred in any way, Tyson shook his hand before leading them all back to the group, Mr. Dickenson coming away from the wall after allowing his boys a moment to reacquaint themselves. Extending his hand, the Chinese teen grasped it, his eyes shining with an unexplained gratefulness.

"Hello sir," he addressed the man before him. The head-administrator smiled warmly.

"How are you holding up Rei? Was your flight enjoyable?" The tiger shrugged, but his movements were stiff as he pulled away.

"I'll live." Turning suddenly, the ebony-haired teen inclined his head towards his captain, who was still watching him with a calculated gaze.

"Kai."

The phoenix nodded, though he never took his eyes off of the younger male. His movements were clipped, and strained, and although he looked genuinely happy to be back with his team, his smiles seemed forced. Cocking an eyebrow, the blunette shook it off, standing and heading towards the exit.

"Well," he heard Mister D behind him. "We should probably get going. I've set up a small house for you all to use during your training weeks so follow your captain, he's got the keys."

Everyone blinked, before realizing that their captain was nearly out of sight.

"KAI!" Tyson whined, scrambling to follow with Max, Rei, and Kenny behind him. "WAIT!"

"Thank you!" Chief called over his shoulder to the elderly man left chuckling quietly to himself behind them.

...

The slender body on the bed winced as another applied a cool cream to the fresh wounds on his back. Tala shut his eyes, gripping the edges of his bed, as Kai finished and began winding a roll of bandages around his torso. He hissed slightly as they were tightened, but he bit his lip, refusing to let the pain overcome him. With a sigh, the boy behind him finished.

"Done." Was the simple reply. Nodding, the redhead turned, his ice-blue gaze inspecting his small companion.

"How about you?" he answered softly. "Anything that I missed?" The blunette shook his head, opening his arms, inviting Tala into a gentle embrace.

Grateful, the wolf master leaned into the strong chest. Shutting his eyes, he pushed Kai back gently so that they could rest together. They each had their own separate beds, but there were no cameras in the dorms, and they felt safer in each other's arms...

Kai blinked when Rei tapped him lightly on the shoulder. He glared ahead angrily, shaking his head to clear it before turning around to face his teammate.

"What?" The tiger rolled his eyes.

"Is this where you and I are sleeping?" he asked as if he'd said it twice already. Furrowing his brow, the phoenix looked back the way he'd been facing before the Chinese teen had come up behind him.

The door was wide open, revealing a simple room of white. It was furnished with only two twin beds, with dark comforters, a table that sat between them supporting an alarm clock and a small lamp. Across from the beds was a single bureau nearly running the entire length of the wall, and to the right of it was another door that lead to the bathroom.

"Yes," he answered finally. The other nodded, brushing by him and into the room.

Kai stayed where he was. There was something familiar about this room to him; something that kept dancing just out of reach, mocking him. A memory that he couldn't quite grasp---

His breathing hitched.

It was exactly like the dorm he'd shared with Tala when he'd stayed at the Abbey. The very same room he'd just remembered. Almost immediately his eyes narrowed, and he stepped into the room quickly, shutting the door with a 'snap'.

'No,' he reprimanded himself. 'It couldn't have been a memory. I'm letting my emotions get to me, and it has to stop.'

"Something wrong?" Looking up, the blunette regarded the curious golden orbs ahead of him.

"Nothing," he sighed, setting his bag down and heading to the bathroom to splash cold water on his face.

He shut the door, glaring at his reflection in the mirror. Four blue triangles glared at him from his pale cheeks, a permanent reminder of his position; his rank in his trainer's eyes. They were sharp; intimidating...meant to strike fear into his enemies. It was required, and a curse. In Russia everyone knew he belonged to Boivolt, they could tell at a glance. He could never escape, and it made him sick.

Reaching up, he smudged the paint, rubbing at it until it had disappeared from his face. The water in the sink had turned blue by the time he'd finished, and angrily he wiped his face with a towel before shutting off the tap. His reflection was softer now when he stared at it, and for a fleeting moment he wondered what had happened to the boy he was staring at now. Unconsciously he found himself missing that boy, wherever he was.

Growling he threw the towel at the opposite wall before throwing the door open. His eyes widened suddenly before narrowing at the boy before him.

Rei was staring at him like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming vehicle. He'd removed his shirt, deep cuts and dark bruises visible on his back and down his tan arms. There were more, but before he could finish his inspection the tiger turned, snapping him back to the present.

The phoenix fixed him with a softer look, moving slowly so as not to startle the Chinese teen.

"What happened?" he almost demanded, stopping at the edge of the bed. The neko had been inching away with every step he'd taken, but any further and he'd topple off the bed. Still, he shook his head defiantly, not saying a word.

Kai watched him closely as he reached for his shirt and leaned forward, taking his wrist. The ebony-haired teen yelped out of surprise, looking up at the blunette, his eyes wide. With a sigh, the older teen took the tunic and tossed it across the room.

"Lay down."

"W-What?" Slowly the Russian teen pulled the other forward by his wrist until he was closer to the center of the bed. Then, sliding his hand to the back of the neko's neck, he applied pressure until Rei was lying on his stomach.

"Lay down," he repeated.

"Kai, what are you...?" the tiger trailed off, wincing as he struggled to sit up.

"Don't move," he demanded sharply as he rummaged through his bag. Rei blinked, watching as his captain produced some bandages and small containers from his bag. After setting them down on the table, he walked briskly back into the bathroom and came back out holding a wet towel.

The older teen sat down on the bed, pushing his teammate to lie back down. Finally the Drigger blader complied, trying to settle down as crimson eyes drilled holes into his back. His own eyes fluttered shut when a pale hand moved across his neck, brushing his long hair out of the way.

"This may hurt," the phoenix warned as he pressed the steaming cloth against the injuries.

Clutching the comforter beneath him, the younger teen bit his tongue to keep from crying out as his captain cleaned off his wounds. He gasped slightly when he felt a cool palm press against his shoulder.

"Try and relax, it isn't as bad as it feels." Nodding, he took a deep breath and silently let go of the world around him, calming himself down so that Kai could finish. For a long time the room was silent until Rei opened his eyes to look at the teen over his shoulder.

"The elders weren't pleased with my decision," he started, his grip loosening on the fabric of the blankets beneath him. "They had half a mind to disown me, if one of them hadn't suggested I pay for what I'd done first."

Switching the towel for a bottle of cream, the blunette began to apply it to the gashes that marred the once flawless skin, while listening carefully.

"What had you done?" he asked, anticipating the answer.

"I betrayed them..." the neko trailed off softly. His stare was blank, almost if he believed what he'd said and was sorry for it. The phoenix faltered slightly.

"Sit up," he commanded after a moment, picking up a roll of bandages. The Chinese teen did as he was told, and waited patiently until Kai was done.

"Don't tell the others," he pleaded, turning around to stare into a crimson storm. The older male shook his head reassuringly.

"I won't." Standing, he tossed his things back into his bag, pulling out a pair of shorts and a T-shirt before heading to the bathroom to change. But before he shut the door he stopped, causing his roommate to watch him uncertainly.

"Rei. You didn't betray anyone. The tournament was over when you made your decision, and so was your duty to your team. Max and I made the same decision...you're not a traitor."

"Kai?"

But the Russian didn't offer any more, simply closed the door behind him, allowing Rei some privacy to get ready for bed.

...

A/N: Well there you have it! Hope you like it, and you guys know the drill, I'll answer any important questions in the chapter following the one you reviewed, and as always your reviews are important, but flames don't sit well with me. Although all of your opinions are respected, flames do burn, just keep that in mind...Constructive criticism is always welcomed though!