Disclaimer: Characters by Aoki Takao, Beyblade Project, etc.

Warning: Fluff, innuendo.

Reviews: Thank you to Tenshi of Freedom, Rapunzelle, Blaze Queenie, Party in the Afterlife, and Elemental Gypsy!

Author's Note: I wrote most of the chapter (except the beginning) before I even wrote the battle scenes. I knew where I was going, just not how to get there! But that's all over now…. If I did anything more I wouldn't have any readers; it sounds like you'd all die of suspense or heart attacks.

Never fear for the injured parties! Spencer has worked his magic, and would like to assure you that they're fine. They really weren't as badly hurt as Tala may have thought, though I'm sure everyone involved in this party has a fair number of bruises, especially Kai and Raul. They'll be ok, though.

------OUT OF MY CONTROL------

by destinykitty

------Part 7------

The Return

I helped Kai climb into the back seat of Max's little racer and into Miguel's open arms, waved a vague goodbye to Bryan and Ian as they assumed a protective proximity to the blue convertible, and watched my friends drive away. I was not ready to return home yet. Too much had happened in the past half-day, and I needed time to internalize and unwind.

I turned my ride toward the open road and kicked it to life.

Miles of blacktop passed beneath the tires of the stolen cycle as I inattentively drove through the night. Thoughts, half-formed and transient, flitted over the surface of my mind, but I paid very little attention to them. Feeling had consumed my being entirely, and as I did not often tackle such an insubstantial opponent, I found the troublesome predicament difficult to resolve.

Finally, as dawn was breaking over the far reaches of the horizon, I turned back toward headquarters. I had arrived at a self-reproachful conclusion: all that happened yesterday was basically my fault, and therefore I should remove myself from the vicinity of those people who were important to me before I caused them any more grief and pain.

I parked the stolen motorbike in our garage as quietly as I could, climbing off it wearily. The long ride and the previous day's fight and rescue mission had left me stiff and sore, but the resolution to eradicate my ill-fated presence from my friends' lives gave me a slight boost of bitter energy. If all went well, I would be long gone before they even woke up. Sleep would have to wait.

I passed an appraising eye along the comfortably familiar shape of my black motorcycle parked nearby, drawing comfort from the sleek lines and the memories of many tough places that bike had helped me escape. At least this was one friend I would not have to leave behind, and which could not begrudge me the trouble that seemed to choke my path of life. I sighed. Shrugging off my leather jacket, I tossed it over the handlebars and slumped off to my bedroom.

It took very little time to throw extra clothes and all the money I could find into a travel bag as well as a few small but significant items: the cell phone I rarely used, the fake ID that I used to escape Russia, the comb and gel so necessary for achieving the demonic spikes I liked styled into my hair. Glancing around the cramped, dark room, I knew I would not miss it. I had no memories of any significance that were tied up with this nondescript space.

I swung out into the hallway and nearly collided with an unexpected obstacle.

"Tala!" Bryan exclaimed more loudly than necessary in the otherwise quiet hallway, stepping back unsteadily. One quick look told me that he had been celebrating in his favorite manner: hard liquor. He threw an arm over my shoulder, still exuberant from our success.

"That was one good night, huh?" he grinned, offering me the vodka. I pushed the bottle away and shrugged.

"What, ya in a bad mood again? Pissy redhead…" he complained in a tone that he probably thought I couldn't hear. I rolled my eyes, trying to escape from under his arm, and he caught sight of my travel bag. "Where are you going?"

"I donno – I have to get out of here," I mumbled, not meeting his eyes.

Bryan was silent for a few moments as he tried to fathom my reasoning, but then he shrugged and gave up. "Well, you'd better see Kai before you leave or he'll be pissed," he advised helpfully, letting go of me to take a swig out of the vodka bottle hanging from his fingers.

"I guess… you think he's in his room?" I called to Bryan's back as he started shambling down the hall, a low tune audible under his breath.

"Will be for the next week, I bet," Bryan grinned, making indecent bucking movements with his hips. Trying not to work out what he was referring to, I nevertheless grimaced as understanding struck me: where Kai was, Miguel must be also….

Exasperated with the unnecessary mental images Bryan had inflicted on me and sincerely hoping that I would not walk in on anything, I stopped outside the door of Kai and Miguel's room to listen tentatively for suggestive noises. Everything seemed quiet, other than the muffled snores from nearby rooms probably occupied by sleeping 'Breakers, so I dropped my bag and opened the door cautiously, ready to retreat at the first sign of movement.

The room was silent and relatively dark, with one dim light illuminating the bluenette and his lover in bed. Miguel was asleep with his face resting on Kai's chest and both strong arms wrapped around my friend's thin body. Kai's chin lay amidst Miguel's wild hair; his eyes were closed but one long-fingered hand gently combing through the blond locks showed that Kai was awake. Reluctant to interrupt such an intimate moment I turned to leave.

"Tala."

Kai's voice stopped me; I turned to find wine-red eyes turned in my direction. Kai looked tired but otherwise normal, at least normal for when he was with Miguel. I don't think most people beyond our set would ever imagine seeing such a soft expression on the teen's tattooed face.

"H-hey, Kai," I started awkwardly. "Um… how are you feeling?"

Kai shifted slightly under Miguel's arm, trying to sit up slightly; the bigger blond grumbled in his sleep and clasped Kai more tightly beside him. Giving up with a small smile, Kai murmured, "I'm alright."

"They didn't… do anything? Hurt you?"

Blue-gray spikes waved back and forth as Kai shook his head. "I imagine they were afraid to, with the threat of Voltaire's retaliation hanging over their heads."

"Mm," I agreed, scuffing the floor with my toe.

"How's Raul?" Kai asked gently.

I looked up at him quickly, then away again. "I— don't know. I haven't seen him since Spencer took over."

"Tala…" He gave me a searching look, then beckoned me closer. I approached reluctantly, kneeling beside the bed to meet his eyes.

"You don't have to blame yourself," he said softly, running his free hand over my shoulder comfortingly. I inhaled shakily, dropping my head onto his blanket so he couldn't see my face. He knew exactly what I was thinking anyway; he is extremely empathetic.

His hand smoothed over my tense shoulders again and I felt a ferocious wave of emotions sweep over me. "I failed," I croaked out.

"No, Tala; we're alright."

"I swore to protect him. I should have been able to keep both of you safe. I failed!"

"Tala, no one expects you to do everything on your own. They overwhelmed all of us, and used my weakness against me." He paused, his other arm tightening around Miguel's shoulders. "But you came back. You brought Miguel to me. You saved Raul. No one blames you for what happened before that. I know you would have come sooner if it would have helped; Spencer told me how hard it was to keep you here."

I almost smiled, but caught myself and buried my face in my arms on the bed, trying to resist being cheered up when I still felt that I deserved to be punished for my part causing all the trouble in the first place.

"I don't worry for myself, you know," Kai said softly, fingers smoothing over my shoulder again. "I never do. It is you I worry about, all of you, because I know you would do anything for me and I don't want to see anyone hurt on my account."

I looked up at him, my eyes burning. "I would never leave you in their hands."

"I know. You need to protect your friends. That is a good instinct."

"But I mess everything up! That's why I deserve to be alone!"

"No, Tala. Everyone makes mistakes. But if you leave us, that will be a very big mistake."

I stared at him. "How did you know…?"

He rolled his eyes slightly. "Tala, you're an open book. You know that, right?"

Laughing gently at my bemused expression, he gave me a friendly shove. "Now go! There is someone waiting for you and I don't want to be the one keeping you away from him."

"Yeah," I agreed vaguely, standing. When I reached the door he called me again. "What?"

"Go to him," he emphasized. "I don't want to hear that you were scared to face a tiny kid. I'm sure Bryan would mock you about it forever."

"Yeah, ok, whatever," I replied. "And I am not scared!"

------

Of course to tell the truth, I was rather worried. I didn't have any idea what I would find in the medic ward near Spencer's room. I had carried Raul out of Boris's headquarters, but there had been so much going on that I never really thought about how seriously injured he might be. Then Miguel and I ran off to save Kai and left Raul in better hands.

I knew that he had been pale and tired and cold and hurt, I just didn't know how badly.

Standing at the door to the room that housed Spencer's collection of medical equipment, which I hoped was not being used, I caught myself hesitating. I was very worried about what I would see and almost wanted to turn and run now. But Kai's teasing words stuck in my head, and I realized that he had probably said that to motivate me in case I faltered. He does know me too well, I thought as my hand gripped the doorknob in front of me.

I pushed the door open, wincing as it made a tiny noise in the silent dimness. Peaking around its edge, I let my eyes adjust to the soft lighting of the small ward.

A high bed dominated the center of the room in the middle of a vast array of machinery. Several of these contraptions appeared by tiny bright lights to be plugged in, but none were disturbing the peace of the gloomy room with any noise. I breathed easier, taking the lack of beeps and flashes as a good sign. Creeping closer to the bed I looked down on its half-hidden occupant.

Dwarfed by the oversized bed and curled on his side with his thin back toward me, Raul appeared to be smaller than ever. Bandages wound around his head and adorned the few visible areas of skin not cloaked in warm blankets. Afraid that I would wake him, afraid that he would break, I settled a hand gently on his shoulder.

He shrank away from my touch, though I wasn't sure whether this was a conscious or an instinctive movement. I pulled my hand away, gazing at him uncertainly.

"I'm sorry," I muttered. Maybe it would be better if I left. He had seen enough trouble already; surely he didn't need me causing him more grief. I always create problems for people….

Sighing, I moved towards the door, then stopped. If I left, who would take care of him?

Kai will take care of everything, I reasoned with myself. He always does.

I folded my arms over my chest, wishing briefly that I could be anything like Kai. He is so caring, so thoughtful, so wise and strong. He can handle any situation. All I'm good for is brute force, but Bryan and Spencer are better fighters than I am. And yet Spencer is gentle and understanding. Even Ian has his own special niche. He had certainly made escaping interesting under the cover of all those explosions.

Bryan is a psycho but he doesn't care what anyone else thinks anyway. I need people, but I am so bad for them. That's why I have to avoid people, especially those that I care for. I took another step toward the door, then glanced back at the bed.

I wanted to protect Raul; I wanted to know that he was safe. But I was realizing that I was the one from whom he had to be protected. Without me around, he might be able to recover and lead a normal life.

I turned to leave and almost tripped over a small girl just entering the room. She looked tiredly up at me through gold bangs starkly different in color from the long brown hair falling down her back.

"What are you doing here?" her high voice challenged.

"I just, uh, came to see how Raul was doing. I'm going now."

"Oh…" she trailed off. "You're Tala, right?"

I nodded, stepping out into the hallway.

"He was asking for you."

I glanced up at the quiver in her voice to see that the girl had tears in her eyes; she brushed them aside hastily as she confessed, "I didn't think I would ever see him again."

"What do you mean?" I breathed, instantly worried that she might be connected to Raul in some intimate manner that would supersede my care for him, the budding relationship that moments before I had been ready to abandon.

"He was stolen off the streets when we lived alone, and I couldn't find him. He's my twin brother, you know. I haven't seen him in two years."

"Oh," I replied, feeling a little silly as relief swept through my insides, leaving me dizzy and weak. I leaned an arm against the doorframe, resting my head in the bend of my elbow, hiding my eyes in the fabric of my sleeve. I suddenly felt intensely tired.

"Thank you," ventured Julia's hesitant voice.

"Hm?" I murmured, pulling away from the wall. If I stood still for much longer I was going to fall asleep on my feet.

"For saving him. Those months of not knowing where he is were awful, but finding out that he's in serious danger was much worse." She bit her lip, glancing into the medic ward. Her shoulders were drooping with exhaustion.

"Why aren't you asleep?" I asked impulsively.

She turned to me, expression showing a bit of Hilary's annoying conviction that I was a complete idiot. "I told Spencer I would keep an eye on Raul."

"I'm here."

"But aren't you going somewhere?" she continued, eyeing my bag.

"I changed my mind." Perhaps it was the thought of someone else being there with him that made me feel possessive of Raul, pushing me to stay. Fighting for him had certainly strengthened my attachment and concern.

We heard a low whimper and both turned to see Raul stirring. Julia rushed to his side, leaving me at the door. I approached slowly, again hesitant.

Julia was fretfully asking Raul questions to which he did not respond. Instead he cried quietly, "Where's Tala?"

"I'm here," I answered immediately, stepping up to the other side of the bed and again placing a hand gently on his shoulder. He turned to face me, seeking comfort. "I dreamed you went away."

"Sshh, I'm right here," I murmured, smoothing his messy hair with one hand, my guts twisting apologetically. If I left, would he get even weaker?

He caught my hand, sliding it under his cheek as he rolled over to face me. "Don't leave," he pleaded tiredly.

"Raul, are you going to be ok with him here?" Julia interrupted rather unnecessarily.

Raul nodded, eyes closed as though he was about to fall back asleep on my hand. The girl glanced at me, then gave a short nod. "Fine. I'll leave you two alone."

"Close the door, will you?" I asked as she exited. She glanced at me, momentarily scandalized, then sighed and did as I had requested.

Raul's eyes opened as he felt me move, watching me climb onto the big bed next to him. He shifted backwards a bit to give me space, sighing serenely as I pulled him into my arms. The pink-haired head settled lightly on my arm as he wiggled up close to my side.

"Promise you'll stay," he said again, clearly worried about being abandoned.

I sighed. He had good reason to worry, though I could not guess how he knew that I meant to leave. Shifting to lie on my back, Raul's head resting on my shoulder, I quietly promised, "I will do my best."

Thought I had not responded as he asked, my small acquiescence seemed to be enough for now. The small boy was soon comfortably asleep in my arms.

I wasn't sure what I could honestly promise him, but somewhere in my mind, a tiny, hopeful bubble of thought wondered whether, with Raul at my side, my luck might just change for the better.

------

The next chapter will be the wrap-up, and the end of this story. That will make it twice as long as I expected, at least in number of chapters.

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