Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade or the characters on it.

Warning:Eventual Slash (Tala/Kai, maybe other couples), child abuse, rape, other mature themes.

Letting Go

When You Were Around

(By: Lene Marlin)

"If you're doing fine,
I don't know
You see, I gave up calling
long time ago
Haven't heard from you,
I guess that means
That I'm no good no more,
that's what it seems"

Tala was on the roof, watching the clouds but not really seeing them, all he could see was red eyes and two toned hair.

A tear fell, he missed all the smiles, the jokes, the long talks and stupid little fights…he missed Kai. The boy was almost a brother to Tala, but he had left the abbey, he had left Tala, and he still couldn't figure out why. Had he done something to Kai to justify his sudden departure? He still didn't know what could have made him hate Tala so much as to leave him in the ruthless abbey to fight for himself.

He didn't hate the abbey as much before. With Kai there, he felt he could do anything, that nothing could really hurt him, because with Kai there nothing could really make him sad. The beatings were almost the same as before, they had, of course, upgraded some of their methods since he was older than before, but still he hadn't expected to feel so affected because of them.

They were more frequent also. Tala knew that Kai had something to do with the lack of punishment he received, before. He usually got softer beatings than other kids in his situation would have, they even forgave him sometimes. He knew Kai made deals with the guards, sometimes even with Boris himself, still, he didn't know what Kai had to offer for them to leave him alone, Kai wouldn't talk about it, he would just crawl back to their shared bedroom tired and bloodied, and he wouldn't even let Tala see his wounds, let alone treat them, as Kai usually did for his.

Tala sighed.

He had waited for Kai to come back for days, weeks, months, even years now. Boris had told him that Kai was with his grandfather, probably traveling around the world, that he had left Tala behind, and that he didn't care about him anymore. He had refused to believe him; he knew Kai wouldn't do something like that to him, but after waiting for months, his hope of Kai's return had started decreasing.

He had even tried to call him. He had stolen Voltaire's phone number, from Boris' office. He didn't know if it was pure luck he hadn't been caught, or it was just that Boris knew he wouldn't find Kai. But he got the number and managed to call him on one of his days out of the abbey.

Flashback

All the kids from the abbey walked out of the abbey and immediately ran toward the parks that were around. Boris let all the kids out of the abbey once a month, of course he put on some tracking devices so they could bring them back, should they try to escape.

"Finally out!" Bryan stretched next to him. "Where should we go?" the older boy looked anxiously around.

"Uhm…guys I'll join you later okay?" Spencer, Ian and Brian looked at him confused. "I just have something to do today."

Finally they all nodded. "Fine, just don't get into trouble" Spencer looked at him just a little worried, but then left with the others.

Tala started making his way through the city looking for a pay phone. After finally finding one, that could make both local and international calls he started dialing the phone number to Voltaire's mansion on Russia.

"Hiwatari's household, how may I help you?" a woman's voice was hear. Tala guessed it was the maid.

"I'm looking for Kai Hiwatari?" Tala was really nervous; he didn't even know what he would say. But that didn't really matter; all he wanted was to hear Kai's voice again.

"Okay, wait a moment sir-" the maid got cut off.

"Who are you looking for?" A male voice was heard from the other end. Tala guessed that it was just a butler.

"I'm looking for Kai Hiwatari, could I talk to him?" Tala asked politely.

"No, you can't. Who is this?" Tala was surprised by the stern voice on the other end.

"I-I'm Tala, a friend of his."

"Well, he doesn't wish to speak to you." With that the man on the other end quickly hung up the phone.

'Well at least now I know he lives there' Tala sighed, hanged down the phone, and left to look for Bryan and the others.

End of Flashback

He had tried to call, some weeks later, but Kai wasn't home, according to the maid that answered, and a few months after that, he had been informed (by that same maid) that Kai had escaped his grandfather's care during a trip to Japan. He didn't really understand why though, he was sure that living with his grandfather would be an improvement to living in the abbey. But when he had asked why the maid had only said that he would be better alone at Japan than with his grandfather. She had told him not to call anymore as he could get into trouble and then she just hanged up. Tala followed the advice and stopped calling, he gave up in trying to find Kai, now the only thing he could do was to hope Kai remembered he had a redheaded friend on Russia, and that he came to find him.

If he only knew more about why Kai had left…

Everyone thought that it was because he thought he was too good for the abbey, and as the rich and snobby kid he was he had called his grandfather pick him up and take him to a "better" place to train. But Tala knew those were just rumors, first Kai wouldn't call his grandfather, under any circumstances, he hated the man. Also, Kai didn't think of himself as better than the other bladders, he actually respected the ones that were able to stay alive on the abbey, since it really wasn't an easy job. Besides Tala knew that the boy wasn't snobby or cocky enough to leave, he just pretended to be, sure he was rich, but he didn't really enjoy his wealth, he preferred a simple life. And at last, he had heard Boris talking to a guard about it.

Flashback

Tala was walking thought the many corridors in the abbey; he had finished his training earlier than expected, so he was free for the afternoon. He was rounding another corner, when he heard Boris' voice.

"…we don't want another incident like that one before!" Boris' voice was hushed and Tala had to get closer to listen. The guard whispered something Tala couldn't hear, but he supposed it was some kind of excuse, for Boris' reaction to it. "If you would have been able to stop Kai from going in there, nothing of this would have happened! You know how important he was for our plans, and now we can't use him anymore! So, it is your fault, you should have remained in your position as it was ordered!"

Tala heard the director's footsteps fade into another hallway. He turned around and went in the direction to his room.

End of Flashback

Tala didn't know what was behind the doors the guard was supposed to protect, no one did, it was just another mysterious place in the abbey no one was allowed to enter. When he had asked Spencer about it, he had just told him that he didn't know exactly what was inside, but he had told Tala that he shouldn't try to find out, since there had been an explosion around that place, and that it was dangerous. When he had asked when, Spencer told him that it was around the time Kai had left the abbey. Tala didn't know what to make out of all the information collected, so he had chosen to just wait for some new clues.

The worst part was that almost everyone thought of Kai as a traitor. He had been told many times that he shouldn't care about Kai's departure, since he wasn't worth all the trouble, and investigation, even Ian had tried to make Tala forget the phoenix blader. But Tala knew that even if all of them said they hated Kai, they still cared for him, he could see it in their eyes. They were hurt because of his of his disappearance, but they still missed their friend, so they just hid it behind anger.

"Tala you better come inside Boris wants to show us something." Bryan had just come out of the trapdoor that led to the roof. "It has to do with that stupid Japanese team that came today."

Tala sighed and stood up. "Okay, let's go."

They got to Boris' office but he, Boris wasn't there yet, even if Ian and Spencer had already arrived.

"Where's Boris?" Tala walked in and sat in one of the chairs in front of the director's desk.

"Late, I guess." Ian, walked towards the chairs too, and sat between Spencer and Tala.

"Did any of you see the team that came yesterday?" Bryan chose to lean against the wall.

"No, I heard they came while we were still in practice." Spencer was the one who answered. "I heard they defeated one of our bladders."

"That doesn't mean they're good. Maybe our bladder was really weak." Bryan argued.

"Indeed young Bryan." All of them tensed when they heard Boris' voice. "That's why I've decided to show you the battle, that way you can decide for yourselves if they are strong or not. Please take a seat." Bryan obeyed and sat on the last free seat, next to Tala.

"Here's the match with the Bladebreakers, learn their strategies, learn how to destroy them. They might be strong opponents." Boris walked towards the door as the match started, an evil smirk forming on his face. He would've loved to stay and see their faces, when they realized who was part of the Japanese team, and how he didn't remember anything, but he had better matters to attend to, more pleasurable ones…

As the video advanced they could notice that the Japanese blader was losing, it wasn't until later that the actually managed to turn things around, thanks to some advice from his teammates. They were focusing so much on the match, the movement of each blade, the strategies, that none of them really saw the team.

Almost at the end Tala started analyzing the team. There was a Chinese cat-like boy, a really small one who kept talking to his laptop, a blond one who was giving advice to the blue haired one, which he had called Tyson, all of them seemed to have come out of a circus. But the fifth one he was quiet, distant and cold, he didn't talk as much as the others. Tala couldn't help but to stare at him, he seemed oddly familiar. The stranger then turned and looked directly at the camera. 'Those eyes…' Tala couldn't stop the gasp that fell from his lips; he stopped the tape. The others looked at him confused.

"That…that's Kai!" He pointed to the image, to where the Russian was. His teammates looked towards the image, they gasped too when they realized that Tala was right.

"Are you sure?" Bryan walked forward, he was breathless with anticipation. He stared at the image for a while.

"Those eyes are his, as red as before." Spencer was watching the image with big eyes.

Ian was the first to react. He jumped from his seat and ran towards the others; he looked at each of them in turn, a big smile on his face. "The hair is just like before too! Can you believe it? He's here! He's back!"

"Let's see if he's actually back." Tala nodded toward the TV and pressed the button so the video could continue.

After the Bladebreakers won and the abbey kid had been disposed of. They realized Kai wasn't really coming back, he hadn't even tried to help the kid, the Kai they knew would've done anything to help any abbey boy, even if he had trouble because of it. He had even ignored Boris, as if he didn't know him.

"So he's not coming back?" Ian looked sadly at the floor.

All of them sat in silence occasionally talking about the battle, and strategies, but mostly just thinking in reasons why Kai wouldn't come back.

No one knew how much time had passed when Boris returned to his office, but it startled them all, making Boris smirk. They all sat up strait and tried to mask their surprise, which wasn't so hard; they had years of practice after all.

"Tala, Ian, I'll have to ask for a favor from you." His smirk grew wider, "There are some intruders in the grounds. You have to make sure that they don't see the inside of this abbey."

Both Tala and Ian rose, nodded and left. "You two go back to training. You are discharged." Bryan and Spencer stood up and they too left the room.

Tala and Ian stepped out onto the roof, so they could see the intruders and determine if they were a danger or not.

"The Bladebreakers." Tala whispered to Ian.

"Kai's not with them." Ian pointed out. They both realized that, that was probably the reason they were there. Kai must've been inside the abbey.

Both jumped in front of the Japanese team.

"You don't have a problem with us dropping in, do you?" Ian sneered.

"I hope not cause you're the intruders here." Tala added.

"Got that? You're trespassing on private property."

"Is our friend in there?" Tyson asked. Although it seemed more of a statement.

"No." It was Tala that answered.

"That was a quick answer, we haven't described him yet! Well I think he is in there." Tala knew he had answered too fast, but he didn't want Kai leaving again.

"Oh, do you, now? Then go right in." Ian smirked at them. "If you can get past me."

Ian got into a beybattle with Tyson. "Take your time." Tala whispered to his teammate. Ian understood; he had to stop them for as long as he could.

Ian was winning through the whole match, and the Bladebreakers were getting more nervous with each strike against their teammate's beyblade.

Boris' voice was heard through Tala's earphone. "We've got Kai." With that the transmission was finished.

"Finish it." Tala addressed Ian, who just picked up his blade, ending the battle, Tyson complained, but Tala just ignored him. "We just got word. Your friend, the boy you're looking for, his name's Kai, isn't it?" They didn't hide their surprise.

"How did you know?" A short boy with glasses on his hat asked him.

"He was spotted around the back entrance of the abbey today. He was outside a bit too long though, he's got a fever." Tala lied easily, and he was pleased to see that they bought it.

They asked to see him, but Tala politely told them that they weren't allowed inside the abbey, and promised to let them see Kai when he got better. With that they left, but not before asking his name and Ian's.

Back inside they walked over to Bryan and Spencer in the training area.

"What happened?" Bryan grabbed his blade back.

"It was Kai's friends, looking for him."

"So…he's here?"

Before Tala could answer a group of guards came through, he saw that they had Kai with them. Kai looked Tala and his lips turned upwards a little, a hint of a smile was formed. Before he could smile back a guard pushed him ahead into the hallway, and surely he was going to a dungeon and receive punishment for leaving.

"Do you think Kai's gonna be on our team?" Ian asked excitedly as they walked back to their rooms.

"If he survives the punishment." Bryan said nonchalantly.

"Bryan!" Spencer reprimanded Bryan. "You didn't have to say it like that." He shook his head in disbelief.

"You know it's true, Boris was really mad when he left the abbey. And he hasn't returned from the punishment yet."

"Let's not talk about this, okay?" Tala interrupted. His teammates weren't helping him ease the worry he felt.

They reached their rooms, which were in a private section of the abbey. And each went into their own. Tala to the one on the farthest on the right, since he was the captain he had a room to himself, while Ian and Spencer had to share. Bryan was supposed to have a roommate too, but since they were only four he had a room on his own, but there was a spare bed on his room.

Bryan couldn't sleep, the truth was that he was really worried about Kai, even if he had pretended he wasn't. Actually he felt like crying just thinking on what could be happening to his old friend.

He was musing about it, when he heard footsteps on the hall outside, he turned round, towards the wall and pretended to be sleep. The guards walked into his room, they seemed to be carrying something, they put it on the spare bed on his room. Then they left, Bryan waited for them to leave, and didn't move until the footsteps had faded.

He turned slowly and fearfully, he heard some shuffling followed by a faint moaning. Bryan walked turned the light on, and gasped.

In front of him lay a beaten and bloodied up Kai. He was unconscious, and by the way he was struggling for breath Bryan could tell he had some ribs broken.

Bryan realized he would need help in healing some of his wounds. He stared at Kai's body for a second longer, and ran out of his room. He got to Tala's door and knocked on it really hard.

"Tala, come quick, you've got to see this!" He heard movement inside and went toward Spencer's room.

"Spencer, Ian come here!" At that moment Tala came out of his room. He hadn't changed out of his clothes, and he seemed worried, he had been waiting for Kai to return.

Tala ran into Bryan's room. While Spencer and Ian came out of theirs. They also looked as if they were waiting for Kai to come back.

"How is he?" Spencer asked as soon as he saw Bryan.

"Not so good." Bryan didn't really know how bad the wounds were, but by the way Kai was breathing he knew they were deep and painful.

The three of them ran into his room, and almost crashed against Tala, he was standing near the door, staring at Kai's still form. He reacted as soon as they entered the room, walking towards the bad and moving Kai into a more comfortable position.

"Spencer, you're better at this, than me." Spencer walked up to Kai, and carefully removed his torn shirt, he started poking Kai's ribs.

"He broke at least one rib." he kept poking until he was sure how many broken ribs there were. "It's two." he sighed. "Let's clean his wounds first. Ian bring me a towel and warm water, please. And Bryan, bring the first aid kit." Both of them left to bring what was requested. "Tala, you help me move Kai so we can start with the ones in his back." Tala approached them and together they moved Kai so he they could see the wounds on his back. Kai grunted in pain.

"Won't this damage his ribs?" Tala looked at Spencer worried.

"Not much, and we need to stop the bleeding of his other wounds." Ian came back with the water and towel, Bryan behind him with the first aid kit. Spencer grabbed the towel, (already wet with the water) and started cleaning the bigger wound. Kai moaned in pain and Tala was about to stop Spencer from continuing, but he thought better of it and sat back again.

Tala knew Spencer was good in treating any kind of wounds, and it wasn't as if he didn't know how to treat whip injuries, it was after all the most common form of punishment in the abbey. But Kai looked so fragile...covered in blood, with some purple bruises showing. His face paint was almost gone, and he could hardly breath...he just didn't want him to feel any more pain.

They all stared breathless at Kai once the blood had been cleaned, his skin was marred by thousands of bruises and cuts (along with some old scars). Most of them were clearly caused by the several beatings and whipping he had received as a punishment but some seemed to be caused by fingers especially those around the hips and chest. Tala touched those marks softly and followed the trail until his hands reached the waistband on Kai's trousers he was starting to have a really uneasy feeling about those bruises. He was trying to make sense out of them, when his hand was stopped by Kai's own.

"Where am I?" Kai tried to sit up. His voice was hoarse and dry.

"In Bryan's room." Tala pushed him back to the bed. "Try to relax, you've get a lot of injuries."

Kai nodded and laid back onto the bed. "Could I take a bath?" Tala looked at Spencer, waiting for him to say if it was safe or not.

"Yeah, I guess it's okay. Just be careful, you have some ribs broken and a fractured wrist."

"Thanks." Kai tried to stand up again, though he was having too much trouble so Tala helped him, and led him into the adjacent bathroom, where he left Kai leaning against the bathtub, which he soon filled with warm water. He left some of Bryan's sleeping clothes next to the bathtub and left after confirming Kai didn't need any more help.

Tala sat on Bryan's bed next to Spencer and sighed. He stared at Ian and Bryan while they changed the bloodied sheets on Kai's new bed for new ones. All he could think about was how much Kai had grown. He wasn't the cute kid he knew anymore, but he hadn't changed for the worse, he was actually even more beautiful than before. Was he feeling attracted to Kai? Maybe that funny feeling he got when he was near Kai when he was a kid wasn't just excitement for a new adventure, maybe it was...Tala sighed again.

"Take your shirt off." Tala's head snapped up when he heard Spencer's voice, Kai had just come out of the bathroom. His hair was free of blood now and he looked very tired. He sat on his new bed and complied to Spencer's command.

Bryan walked forward with some bandages ready to be used and passed them to Spencer, who started wrapping Kai's wounds. Beginning with the whipping ones, he then wrapped Kai's wrist which was fractured and put bandages on his other multiple cuts.

"I'll stay here and watch over him. Bryan, you go sleep in my room." Bryan nodded and left, followed by Ian and Spencer.

Kai had drifted off while Spencer was still wrapping his wounds, Bryan and Ian had put him under the covers and he was sleeping peacefully now. Tala walked over to Kai's bed, he couldn't control himself, all he could think about was how beautiful Kai looked, and soon he was caressing Kai's hair.

Tala took his hand back as Kai stirred. His eyes fluttered open and landed on Tala.

"Hey…" Tala smiled at Kai, the younger boy returned it even if it was weakly, and instantly fell back to sleep.

A/N: Thanks for reading this!

Please Review!

-XxFallingxAngelxX