The Trials Of Love And Life

I do not own Beyblade of any of it’s characters. Any side character belongs solely to me and will not be touched or used by another.

Summary: Review to chapter 1.

Writing Style: Review to chapter1.


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Chapter 14.


“Tala, I’m fine.”

“Well at least let me help you with – ”

“No. I told you, I’m fine.”

“Well, what about – ”

“No, Tala.”

Said redhead sat down in a huff as Kai shot him an angry glare over his shoulder while trying, with a very stiff body, to put his sweater on. The redhead turned away from the slate haired professor and tapped his foot impatiently – and annoyingly – on the floor. Kai looked at him again, eyebrow twitching with little nerve as the redhead tapped louder.

“Will you stop that,” he snapped.

“Then let me help you,” grouched Tala with exhaustion.

“I can dress myself, thank you,” barked Kai.

The redhead went silent again, glaring at the opposite wall. He watched Kai through the corner of his blue gaze as the slate haired man slid the shirt over his body, down along his muscular chest and straightened the hem curtly. He folded back the too-long sleeves and sat down on the hospital bed, picking up his pants which lay in a neat fold beside him.

“Has your doctor come to see you yet?”

“He should be here soon.”

Tala looked at Kai.

“You really worried me.”

Sighing, Kai slid his pants on and buckled them without words. Once done, making sure he was dressed smartly, he turned to the redhead and kneeled before him, one hand gently cupping a pale cheek.

“I know, Tal, and I’m sorry,” whispered Kai serenely.

Tala leaned into the gentle touch and smiled down at the other man. Kai sighed, straightened, and leaned over Tala, planting a kind kiss to his forehead before rounding the bed and emptying out the drawer of his possessions. He had spent, according to Tala, a week and a half in the hospital, drifting in and out of heavy sleeps from the morphine, and saying only minimal things that confused the hell out of the redhead.

“Have any plans for Christmas break?” Tala asked conversationally.

“No,” Kai said.

“Well,” Tala said, putting down the magazine he had picked up, “I was thinking we’d spend it together and go to Sankt Peterburg.”

“The cottage,” Kai whispered, smiling.

“Don’t worry,” Tala snorted. “I wont get you drunk and ravage your body ... though it’d be hard not too.”

“If I do recall, my sweet little wolf, it was I who was always ravaging you,” said Kai with a haughty smirk.

Tala pouted.

“Don’t give me that look,” Kai said nonchalantly. “It may have worked when we dated, but it wont work now.”

Tala scowled at him and picked up the magazine again and flipped it open. Kai smirked at him and packed the duffle bag Tala had brought with the possessions he would most need. Something bothered him, though. During the entire time of his in and out stage, he never once remembered seeing Ray.

Does he even know, Kai wondered.

A knock at the door pulled him from the thought. The door opened gently and an elderly, black haired doctor with glittering spectacles entered, his long jaw and stern face set. He gave Tala and Kai a warm smile and closed the door behind himself.

“Well, it’s been a while since I have seen you, Mr Hiwatari.”

“Dr Metzger.”

“Thank you for coming,” Tala said kindly.

“Of course, of course,” Dr Metzger said, waving a hand dismisevly. “I am Mr Hiwatari’s private doctor.”

“Correction, you were my sisters,” Kai said, thought his words were flat.

“No, Kai, I was both of yours,” Metzger corrected with a tone of seriousness. “Now, to business.”

Kai sat on the bed and sighed. Dr Metzger sat down on one of the chairs within the room and looked at Kai’s eyes, shining a bright beam into them. The pupils dilated irritably, but the slate haired man didn’t even flinch. The light was shone in the other and he blinked, startled, and shook his head.

“Still blind, I see.”

“I’d rather not be reminded,” Kai whispered.

“It was very unfortunate what happened, Kai,” Dr Metzger said in a conversational tone. “Tell me what happened?”

Kai sighed and began. “I started coughing. It was fine at first, just a cough. After that, I started coughing up blood and tried to reach for my pills, but I passed out.”

“You don’t remember anything after that?” Dr Metzger asked.

“No.”

“Mr Ivanov, can you fill us in here?” Metzger asked.

Tala nodded.

“A student from Kai’s class came to mine on the floor above. He was frantic, so I decided to check out what happened. I saw ... Kai ... he was throwing up blood like nothing I have ever seen before. I tried to give him a pill, but he wouldn’t stop vomiting long enough for him to keep one down ... ”

Dr Metzger was making frantic notes on a pad of paper.

“I asked if someone had called the ambulance and a student said yes,” Tala went on. “When the paramedics got their I told them the situation and they gave Kai a sedative which stopped the vomiting. After that he was rushed to the hospital where – ” he looked at Kai, “ – he flat-lined.”

Dr Metzger looked up from his notes to stare at Kai, who was glaring angrily at the floor, hands clutched into the sheets.

“This is serious, Kai,” he said in a hushed voice.

“You don’t think I know that,” said Kai in a tight voice.

“This is the same ailment that was striking down Mavra,” Dr Metzger said tartly. “The same symptoms, same side affects.”

“Mavra didn’t die from this fucking disease,” Kai snapped, standing fast.

“Sit down, Kai,” Metzger demanded.

Kai sat, though gruffly.

“I know Mavra didn’t die from this, but she would have anyways,” Dr Metzger said in a high, angry voice. “Do you really think she’d want you to die from what she was given?”

Kai didn’t answer.

“Mr Hiwatari, you need to be very careful,” Dr Metzger said, taking a deep breath. “This is something far advanced than any virus or disease I have ever seen. Were lucky it cant be spread through blood on contact.”

“No shit,” Kai muttered.

Tala looked at him sympathetically. Kai turned to him and gave him a smile, reaching out and taking the redheads had to squeeze it.

“I’m going to have to monitor you, Kai,” Dr Metzger said, reaching into his briefcase and pulling out a prescription slip. “You need to go to my office and get more of the pills. Take one once a day without water. Understand?”

Kai nodded tightly.

“Good. I don’t want to have to see you unless it has something to do with other than this illness,” Metzger said.

Kai didn’t even nod this time.

Dr Metzger nodded to him politely, turned to Tala and shook the redheads hand, and walked tot he door without a second word. It closed behind him and Kai let out a long sigh, his eyes fluttering tiresomely. Though he had done nothing but sleep the entire time he had been in the hospital, it was restless. His mind was nothing but a void of swarming thought and comprehension.

He got up, stretched, though wished he hadn’t due to his stiff back and muscles where he had been suctioned to wires and tubes, and picked up his duffle bag. Tala was standing at his side by the time he straightened. They looked at one another, Tala’s eyes watery and sad. The redhead reached out, tangled his hands into Kai’s hair, and pressed their lips together, his own trembling madly.

To his pleasure, Kai did not pull away. He dropped his duffle bag on the floor, wrapped his arms around the redheads waist, and pulled him closer, leaning back against the bed for support as Tala’s mouth opened welcomingly and their tongue danced together happily. Kai sighed, pulling away, and brushed a few loose red strands from his friends glowing face.

“Tala – ”

“Please ... don’t,” whispered Tala, cupping Kai’s cheek. “We don’t have to be anything Kai, just ... let me ... let me be with you.”

Kai stayed silent and looked away.

“Life was so good for us back then. I know I screwed up, I know I did,” Tala said, lowering his eyes to the floor sadly. “I ruined everything we had. I broke your heart and my own for selfish reasons. But ... I want to be with you again, to prove it was wrong of me.”

Kai reached out, and pulled Tala’s face close. Their foreheads touched, staring at each other so close it was blurring. Tears were shimmering in the redheads clear blue gaze, sadness and happiness melted into one; swimming and swooning in his eyes. His arms draped loosely across Kai’s slumped shoulders. Kai, sighing deeply, tilted his head forward and kissed his friend again; a soft, lingering kiss.

“Let me think about it,” Kai whispered.

Tala smiled and hugged him, burying his nose into Kai’s shoulder and breathing in his scent. They pulled apart and Tala picked Kai’s back up from the floor. He held it away from the slate haired man as he reached out to it and shook his head cutely. He bounded to the door and swung it open, standing aside for his friend. They exited together, smiling at one another, hands cupped together.

*~*~*

Max sighed, sitting down on one of the benches outide the school for a little down time. He pulled his jacket a little tighter around his frame, feeling the licks of cold against his skin. He sniffed back the runniness in his nose from his previous ailment and set his book bag down beside him on the bench, resting it easily against his side.

Miguel was meeting him for lunch at this particular spot, but his boyfriend just happened to be late. Not as usual, but he was sometimes late for his own personal reasons, and Max never questioned him. Was there a reason too, he thought not. They had a healthy three year thing going on and the golden haired male didn’t see it to accuse his boyfriend of cheating on him so far along.

He sighed, his breath coming out in a cloudy wisp before him. Feet crunched behind him and he turned slowly, but was stopped in sudden fear as a hand clamped across his nose and mouth, an intoxicating scent filling his nostrils. He squirmed, heart pounding, years stinging his eyes. He tired to pull away, punching the chest pressed against his shoulder, but it was futile.

His eyes blurred, darkness surrounding him. His breathing was eradicated and weak, coming in puffing pants through the thick cloth. He hands lipped from the chest in front of him to hang limply at his sides, head lolling onto the jacket pressing into him. He heard the crunch of more feet and voices, but it was all lost to the unconsciousness of sleep.

*~*~*

Tyson sat up, tired and groggy, Claud lying next to him on the floor of the living room. The pair had been exhausted from school, so had tried to make their way to the couch for a quick nap, but only made it to the floor before passing out with weariness. It was only then, at that moment, Tyson noticed something out of place.

The front door ... open?

He felt cold fear drip into his veins. He huddled closer to Claud, the cool breeze moving the door back and forth on it’s hinges over the hearth rug just below it. He reached out and touched Claud’s shoulder, shaking it, trying to – silently – wake his lover up.

“Claud,” he whispered desperately. “Wake up.”

“Mmhm, nope,” mumbled Claud.

“Wake up you bastard,” Tyson hissed in a high voice. “I think someone’s in here.”

Claud opened a single eye.

“Yea, you and me,” he growled.

“No, someone who isn’t supposed to – ”

SLAM.

Tyson jumped, huddling deep into Claud’s chest as the icy haired man sat bolt upright, staring around the flat with wary eyes. He held his nay haired boyfriend close, muscular arms flexing with nerve as he scanned the living room warily. Tyson trembled in his arms, clutching the front of Claud’s wrinkled grey shirt.

“Get up slowly,” whispered Claud.

“I – I don’t think I can m – move,” Tyson muttered.

“Yes, you can,” said Claud, pulling Tyson to trembling legs.

He lead his navy haired lover to the door, forcing him through and stood within the jam, staring out into the flat. Nothing seemed out of place. Reaching out, Claud grabbed the doorhandle, letting the frame slowly creak shut. His hand was grasped and he tired to pull away but was forced through the door, Tyson reaching out, frightened, behind him.

The door slammed shut and Tyson ran at it, pounding his fist into the hard wooden face. His eyes had burst with tears, screaming Claud’s name at the top of his lungs. He knew no one could hear him, because at this time, everyone in their dorm was out at classes or enjoying the last of their fall freedom before the snowy season decided to set in.

A white cloth pressed against his mouth and he breathed heavily, the intoxicating smell of tranquilizer filling his lungs. He swayed on the spot, getting dizzy, and breathed in again, to afraid to try anything or move. He gaze a jerk, but the body held and he swayed, falling forward, eyes sliding shut, to highly intoxicated to stay awake.

*~*~*

“No.”

“I’m going to class.”

“I said no.”

“Get out of my way.”

“Kai.”

“Tala.”

They stared at one another, glare upon glare. Blue upon red. Kai crossed his arms, as did Tala, both sighing simultaneously. Kai’s eyebrow twitched with annoyance. Tala’s raised indifferently. With a frown, the older Professor advanced on his counter-part, hoping to scare him out of the way.

It didn’t work.

“Tala, just move,” sighed Kai.

“No.”

“And why?”

“Because you doctor said for you to get rest Kai, not to immediately get out of the hospital and go to work just to spite yourself,” argued Tala.

“I’m not spiting myself,” said Kai. “If anyone, I’d spite you for getting in my way.”

Tala pouted.

“Really, you would?”

Kai sighed, defeated for the first time in a long time.

“No.”

“So I win?”

“Yes.”

Silence.

“Say it again.”

Kai quirked an eyebrow. “What?”

“Say it again. Say I win.”

“Tala, no.”

“Aw, please.”

“No.”

A pouting lip.

“Fine ... you win.”

Tala jumped forward, wrapped his arms around the taller Kai’s neck, and kissed him. They fell into the opposite wall, Kai caressing Tala’s cheek softly. They separated, smiling at one another. Tala’s white-blue orbs sparkled with happiness and Kai let his own crimson ones soften to deep passion. He hadn’t felt this type of passion in years.

Slowly, he dipped forward, sliding his tongue along Tala’s upper lip, before moving his cheek to press against the redheads, and licked his earlobe, teeth grazing over the rounded and soft surface. Against him, Tala shuddered, leaning into the forgotten touch, and moaned.

“Kai ... we shouldn’t,” he whispered, shivering at another long lick.

“I know,” said Kai, sighing against him.

Shuddering, Tala wrapped his arms around Kai’s shoulders and pulled their bodies together, rubbing his growing erection into the male in front of him. He buried his nose into Kai’s shoulder, squeezing his eyes shut. Slowly, he felt Kai’s hands creep beneath his shirt and brush delicately against his nipples ... just how he like it.

Oh, hell, what’s one time, Tala thought, licking at the slate haired man’s neck.

*~*~*

Ray slid down the path to the dorms as he raced back to his flat. It was freezing outside, he had forgotten his assignment, and now Tyson, Max or their boyfriend’s weren’t picking up the phone probably because they were to busy having sex. With a heavy sigh, Ray bounded the stairs by two and landed expertly in front of the flat door, heaving for air.

He pushed the door open quickly and burst inside, striding to his room in four bounds and jumping over to his desk to grab his work from the week previous. Suddenly, the hair on the back of his neck stood erect and he tensed, the feeling of foreboding setting in. He clenched his fists, staring straight ahead, and listened.

A shadow moved across the room and he turned sharply, fist flying and screamed, jumping back and tripping over his desk chair to land in a heap behind the desk. His head smacked the ground, stars bursting like wild fire behind his eyes, the room fazing in and out of proportion.

“Ray,” croaked Claud from above him.

“Fuck, Claud, don’t scare me like that,” Ray panted, staring at the ceiling as it rotated.

“Tyson ... what happened to Tyson?’ groaned Claud.

Ray, confused, looked up from the ground at the light blue haired man. He was holding the back of his head, which was bleeding, and looked thoroughly beat .. .literally. His cheekbone was cut up, his bottom lip swollen, his movements still, and blood running through his fingers from where he might have been struck or slammed his head into something.

“What happened?” Ray gasped, jumping to his feet.

“Someone fucking jumped me,” Claud grumbled, hissing from the pain his head was causing.

“How?” Ray asked, standing up, stumbling, and sitting Claud forcefully on his bed to examine him.

“Me and Tyson came back for a nap after last class. We fell asleep and then Tyson woke up. He saw the front door open and we could feel something wasn’t right,” said Claud, rubbing his purling eye.

“What happened after that?” Ray asked, checking out the bleeding on the back of Claud’s head.

“I told Tyson to go outside. We did, but I got pulled back in here and the door slammed on me. After that, every things a blur.”

Ray stared at the bruised man before him and swallowed. Something didn’t feel right when he had entered before, and now Tyson was missing. But ... what about Max? And about Miguel. Where they okay?

“Have you talked to Max or Miguel?” Ray asked, fear dripping from each word.

“Miguel was taking Max out for lunch this afternoon,” Claud said, leaning froward to rets his elbows on his legs. “ I don’t think – ”

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK ...

Ray jumped, Claud stiffened. They stared at the front door, watching as it thumped loudly from impact of a fist. They looked at one another, looked back at the door, and looked back at one another again. With a thick swallow, Ra stood, edging his way to the door, Claud right behind him.

He reached out for the doorhandle when ...

BOOM.

“AHHH,” Ray screamed.

“Miguel,” Claud gasped loudly.

“Claud ... Ray?” He looked at the two with shock and confusion.

“Don’t fucking scare me,” Ray snapped.

“Sorry,” Miguel said apologetically. He suddenly became very serious and rushed inside. “Is Max here?”

“No, he isn’t,” Claud said. “I’ve been here all day.”

“Fuck,” Miguel whispered.

“Why, what’s wrong?” Ray asked.

“We were supposed to meet for lunch, but when I went to pick him up, he wasn’t there,” Miguel sighed, staring at Max’s open bedroom door with longing.

“Claud,” Ray said frighteningly.

They looked at one another, Miguel staring between them in confusion.

“What’s going on?” He asked.

“Claud was attacked and Tyson’s gone too,” Ray said, turning to Miguel. “He was knocked out when I came in and almost frightened into a heart attack.”

Miguel gave Claud a quick once over and his sky blue powder eyes widened in shock as he noticed how battered and bruised his best friend was. Ray looked around the damage of the flat, but found nothing out of proportion. He sighed, worried about his friends. Tyson disappeared when Claud was attacked, Max wasn’t where he was supposed to be to meet Miguel for lunch ... where were they?

“You don’t think ... ” Ray whispered.

“What ... think what?” Miguel asked snappishly.

“Dude, calm down,” Claud warned.

“Sorry, but it just isn’t Max not to show up,” Miguel whispered.

“True,” Claud sighed. “I’m really worried about Tyson.”

“So, what do you think Ray?” Miguel asked.

“Well ... what about Michael? I mean, he attacked Tyson in the lunch room, and me,” he whispered, rubbing his arm uncomfortably. “So ... maybe ... ”

They stared at one another.

“Michael,” Claud whispered angrily. “That bastard.”

“We should talk to the Headmaster,” Miguel said.

“And say what ... ‘excuse me sir, our boyfriends aren’t around, can you help us?’” Claud said mockingly.

“We have you as proof some things wrong,” Miguel snapped to his friend.

“Come on, let’s go then,” Claud whispered.

The pair turned to Ray, who was still searching around the flat. He finally turned to them and they moved to the door, closing it behind them. Ray stared ahead at the pair of backs in front of him. He winced, feeling something, and clutched the railing, his head beating faster and faster. He panted for breath, hissing in pain, tears in his eyes. What was wrong with him? Why was he in pain? Why?

*~*~*

“GOD ... KAI ... ”

Tala arched, clutching the slate haired mans lower arm just beneath his elbow tightly as he arched beneath the larger body. His climax hit like thunder, body arching away from the bed, chest to chest with the male above him who had gone stiff with his own release.

Kai clenched the sheets beneath him tightly, arms trembling with weakness. They finally give way and he collapsed on top of Tala, his erection limping away as he felt his semen swim deep within the redhead. He could hear Tala’s heart and sighed. A pang of guilt seared through him, the thought of Ray finding out causing him to roll off of the redhead and turn away.

“Kai?” Tala whispered.

“Hm,” the other replied.

Tala fell silent, turning the other way and curling into the sweaty and semen coated sheets. He looked at his hand, the white sticky substance making him frown sadly. He heard the bed creak and stiffened, listening hard. Arms wrapped around his waist and his body was pulled against a sticky sweaty one.

“I’m sorry, Tal,” Kai whispered. “It’s just the whole thing that’s happened today.”

Smiling, Tala rolled over and wrapped his arms around Kai’s neck, pressing his lips lightly to the slate haired mans. They leaned their foreheads together, resting calmly. Tala breathed slowly, closing his eyes tiredly. It had been so long since he’d had sex, and it was always good with Kai, ex-lover or not. Smiling, he nuzzled the slate haired man under the chin an began to doze off.

“Wanna go again?”

His eyes snapped open and he flipped on top of Kai, staring down at the smirking slate haired Professor. He smiled brightly, leaned back, and grabbed Kai’s penis in his hands, stroking it slowly.

“Yes please.”

*~*~*

“Ray, you okay?” Miguel asked.

He nodded slowly, the beating in his heart receding. Looking up slowly, he gasped and pointed behind Miguel and Claud. The pair stared at him and slowly turned. They both gasped, jumping back ...

Arms wrapped around Ray’s waist.

A cloth was draped across his mouth.

He struggled.

Miguel was struck first, and was the first to fall.

Claud next, right beside him.

Then ... darkness.

*~*~*

Ring Ring ... Ring Ring ...

Kai turned over in his sleep, eyes opening blearily, his cellular glowing ominously in the darkness of the room. He felt the bed shift and peered over his own shoulder at the tousle haired redhead beside him. With a smile, Kai leaned over and reached for his phone, checking the I.D. before answering.

Unknown ...

With curiosity not as his est friend, Kai flipped his phone opened and, with a groan said, “hello?”

“Kai ... ”

He froze, cement hardening his blood, breath gone from his lungs. His heart was pounding, the blood in his ears rushing loudly. His mind was on fire, eyes wide and staring at the opposite wall. He swallowed, licked his dry lips, and forced out his voice.

“M-Mav – ra,” he whispered.

“Kai ... help me ... ”

A clicking in the background made his hair stand on end. He looked down at Tala still fast asleep beside him. The urge to wake the redhead up was growing greater and greater as the seconds passed, but he was to shocked and frozen into paralysis to do anything. Instead, he swallowed again, and whispered out his words.

“Mavra ... where are you?”

“Help me Kai, please. The warehouse.”

The line went dead.

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A/N: Sorry for the late update, but school has been a bitch. Well, next chapter. Hope to get the next one up by (not this Friday) but the next one after that. Laters people and remember to review or NO UPDATE.