I do not own Beyblade/Bakuten Shoot Beyblade, we all know this, nor do I claim to have any right to it's creation. This is simply me enjoying what I do, and pretty much writing about characters that I love. This time I decided to focus on Kai and Tala, because well, they're one of my favourite pairings, but you can take this however you want, whether it's implied friendship, or something else. I suppose at the moment - you couldn't even consider it friendship.

Personally, I imagine Tala's really not the type to keep an issue to himself, especially if the issue he wants to talk about concerns the particular two-toned silent type, who probably spends the majority of his time with his arms folded and mentally judging everyone. To be honest, I don't really see Tala as the one to just let something slide, not if it's bothering him - as team Captain, I assume he'd want mutual respect amongst the team. Anyway, this is based solely after the events of Kai's battle with Rei, in which Tala states that Bryan and Spencer do not trust Kai, nor does Tala himself. Once again, Tala is a character that I haven't written for in a long time, so I may be a little rusty, and I apologise greatly for that. I hope you enjoy this however. Don't worry - there's going to be another chapter, I'm currently in the middle of writing it, it's just this first chapter got a bit too long. Enjoy my loves! - Ellis.

'They don't trust you Kai. And why should they? Frankly, I don't trust you.' That's how it started, and Spencer had been right. Kai Hiwatari was nothing more than your average, arrogant blader, who concerned himself with a bad attitude because he couldn't lose. Or he simply didn't know how to lose and made winning seem a lot easier than Tala believed possible. Tala believed many things were possible, especially where blading was concerned. He'd seen many things, different bladers and team techniques, different blades and styles. He'd witnessed bitbeasts of all shapes and sizes, saint spirits, and some genetically engineered, but never had he witnessed someone leave the stadium as if they were a feather. Surely, that wasn't possible. Rei had been something, he'd been remarkable - Tala had to give him that. He'd already witnessed the true power and potential of Rei back when Russia hosted the World Championships, so he had imagined that Rei would be a tougher opponent than the last. They'd all stood behind Kai, Bryan and Spencer side by side, occasionally a remark would be made by Spencer, and Bryan usually used the narrowing of his eyes to answer him. Tala on the other hand, was further forward, arms folded against himself, and occasionally, his head would dip. He kept his attention on Kai throughout the match however, more or less, so he could understand Kai's techniques, and his methods of thinking. Perhaps he wanted to understand what made him tick and what spurred him on within the moment, or maybe he generally wanted to see what fancy and dramatic technique Kai would muster in order to defeat Rei.

Of course, at this point, the fight had ended sooner than he had previously anticipated, - imagining Rei to last longer. Rei had the speed and accuracy after all, he had Driger on his side, but then again, Kai had Dranzer. Kai had the strength and willpower to continue, and whilst fairly balanced in turn of who could turn up the intensity of the match, Kai would always come down heavier on Rei. Cerulean meets the back of Kai, he wonders if Kai can feel the intensity of his glare, the stare that says everything, that in truth, words simply cannot. Of course Kai can feel it. It feels like a sting, it starts off faint, as it just manages to prick his epidermis. It stings like the first time you mindlessly catch the tip of your finger against the thorns of the rose bush, and finally, it burns. At first Kai couldn't tell if it was the heat of Tala's stare radiating off of him, or Dranzer that so frantically burns within the palm of his hand. He'd found that actually, he'd grown accustomed to her burn, and it never quite scorned him in the way that Tala's glare currently did.

He stands for a moment, he becomes more of a statue more than anything else. It's effortless within the way his visage straightens, and despite the slight scuffs that have edged its way onto his flesh, he almost seems untouched. To Tala, it's like Kai cannot be touched, whatever force you throw at him, he stands at his full height again. No matter the weight in which you apply to his shoulders, Kai never seems to shrink in upon himself, or at least, he doesn't do so whilst he's before a mass crowd and onlooking eyes. That's where Tala's lack of trust comes from, that's why Bryan and Spencer find it difficult to trust him - because Kai is an enigma. Kai is complex and not easy to understand, and everything he seems to do, seems almost effortless. He never seems phased, or interested to respond, - as an outsider looking in, it feels like everything comes like a second nature to Kai. By this point, Kai has allowed a faint dip of his head, a clash of grey and a deep blue run a mock. He insists he does so, to allow himself a moment of peace, a moment a mutual silence collected between himself and Rei, but really there's exhaustion webbed into the crimson touch of his eyes, - but he wears calm, like a mask.

Rei had been more difficult to defeat than Kai had first anticipated, just as he wrongly assumed Max would be an easy opponent, perhaps, a little stronger in comparison to the last time they fought, properly. He'd promised himself that he would never doubt the power nor intensity of another again, - how could he have ever doubted the will and strength of Rei? He notes that his eyes have now closed under the thick of his fringe, and he's thankful that onlookers can't see the full extent of the battle. He's exhausted, and it would be obvious within the way his chest heaved, if he wasn't unconsciously holding his breath. Rei speaks, and Kai can feel eyes upon him, delicate stares that seem to have crawled through his barricade, and he finds himself looking up. Despite the very intensity of the match previously, no member of White Tiger X holds an intense stare, nor one that confirms that Kai was undeserving of the win.

"Kai." It's simple and straight to the point, there is no beating around the bush, nor the requirement to tip toe upon egg shells. It holds no deeper meaning, and comes from someone incapable of bearing a grudge.

"Yeah?" Voice is heavy within his slight turn, his back now greets Rei. He doesn't turn out of selfish need, nor arrogance, nor would he deem another unworthy; he's tired. Kai is Kai after all. The machine like boy, who performs with such intensity and beauty, the boy who constantly strives for perfection... The boy who can't tire because his walls begin to fall down, and everything that he's spent building, comes crashing around him, and voices become far too loud. Everything becomes obnoxious in his face, and it's difficult for him to maintain the reputation he'd obtained. That's why he turns away.

"Good luck, bud." Rei's voice comes soft. In fact, his voice had always been soft, even when he was raising his voice, even when he was re-enacting Tyson's immaturity, Rei had maintained a soft composure. Kai would admit to the faint snort that drifts between nostrils, the sort that writhes with amusement, but isn't amused by Rei's words. It's also not the sort of snort that drips with arrogance, nor a degree of blindness that Kai had let go of a long time ago, - in fact it says: 'I'm going to need it.' Kai knows that he is going to need, but regardless of what he thinks about Tyson, and despite what he knows of him, and his tendency to make amateur moves, Tyson is perhaps going to be his most difficult, and yet, best battle yet. Kai nods in recognition of this, and finds that his arm has risen, tightened fist aimed for the sky, like he belongs within the stars; but he's a boy incapable of reaching them.

"Thanks." That's all he says, and that's all he needs to say. Rei had known Kai long enough to know that Kai spoke very little, but even the shortest of conversation held meaning. Even the slightest thank you spoke louder than Kai ever could. He steps from the platform, each step is precise and calculated, and for a moment he fears that if he ceases to think, he might just fall. He fears that he might just miss a step, and everything in which he keeps the closest to him, will unravel before him. Naturally he hears Bryan call out, a faint congratulation - they are teammates after all, and it's due to this win, alongside Tala's that they're entering final territory. Alas, Kai plays the ignorant card, his silence is all that he can muster, for fear he may say too much, and he might stare at the other for too long, and in doing so, give everything away.

Tala has never been one to stand down and ignore something, not when it sets with a heavy weight upon his chest, call it irritants, or perhaps, simple curiosity. Kai made it look so easy, and with Rei's given power and speed; it shouldn't have been easy. To blissfully ignore Bryan, and not even rise to Spencer's comment, of course that had been the last straw. It had been the last cog to turn, and Tala had finally decided that he needed to discover what made the boy tick, what made him squirm when under pressure, and more so, to discover what he was up too. Didn't Tala have a right to be suspicious? They'd fought alongside one another before, to find that Kai bore no interest in performing alongside the Demolition Boys, and found no stimulus in performing as a team. He'd made it clear that he'd been in it for himself, and then all it had taken was a moment of weakness on Kai's behalf for him to turn his back on the team that had tried to embrace him.

Of course he had the right to be suspicious - Kai is the strong and silent type, who ventures out in the bitter wilderness of Russia bearing little of a coat. Of course Tala had warned him, but really, he'd only felt like a nagging mother, who pried too much into her son's private life, and honestly? Tala didn't care for Kai that much. Or at least, Tala didn't think that he cared for him. He'd claimed that he'd rather Kai do as was suggested, so that they could make it to the finals, but had sooner realised that he'd paid more attention to Kai's unwavering silence than he cared to admit. Of course the lack of trust lingered amongst him, it's embedded amongst his flesh, held perfectly within the crystal blue lake, he claims for eyes. It's precisely held within the way Tala looks at Kai, and he's certain that Kai knows of this, - but then Kai started throwing around speeches about new moves, and Tala had witnessed his strength after following him. Now he wasn't so sure as to what the boy was actually capable of.

He stops at the locker room door - the team locker room, and assumes that this is where Kai would have gone. He can't imagine that Kai would go anywhere else at the moment, and for that matter, what would be his reason to go anywhere? As for Spencer and Bryan, they'd departed not too long ago, apparently Kai's arrogance had bested Spencer, and his silence had only pressed all the wrong buttons of Bryan; who'd then declared he had no time for him. Tala wasn't buying his rubbish though, he knew that over the past few weeks, Bryan had warmed to Kai, perhaps there was even a hint of mutual respect that danced between the two of them, but nothing more. Regardless, Tala had noticed that Bryan looked at Kai differently to what he first had, perhaps because Kai had finally proven his worth, and in doing so, won Bryan's respect. That didn't mean Bryan liked him.

Tala's fingers are at the handle now, there's no hesitance within him, he'd simply been listening out for any movement, or Kai's inner monologue to come out as actual spoken nonsense. Not to mention that Tala isn't the type to hesitate, he's the team captain after all, the team captain simply can't hesitate. He pushes at the door carefully, and right now he's quite thankful that they were given the locker room whose door did not squeak nor creak. He's met with a silence, an eerie sort of silence, then again, Kai did feel like the embodiment of all eerie silence, but this didn't feel right, and something felt... Different. It felt like there was something wrong, or maybe there was just no one here, and Tala's fuel of wanting argue his point with Kai was finally running thin. Or perhaps, he'd simply not scanned the area properly, and thus not noted the very back of the boy that he'd been searching for.

Like a wolf to it's prey, Tala feels he's ready for the onslaught, but Kai has never been the prey; not really. Kai is the predator, a King of the skies, with the very embodiment of a Queen aside of him, and this feels all too easy, like the wolf within Tala has plucked the phoenix so easily out of the sky. Where was the fight? The plagued grunt that registers that Tala has invaded Kai's peace and serenity - but that doesn't even come. Truth be told, if Tala hadn't been watching Kai with such intent, he wouldn't have noticed that once broad shoulders have sunk in upon themselves, and actually - wait, did his - is he shaking? No it can't be, the Kai Hiwatari shaking? Like a turned down puppy? No way. At first, Tala assumed it might have been amusing to witness Kai within this state of mind, that if anything, it might have been somewhat satisfying to see Kai being pulled down from his pedestal, but actually, there's no amusement found within Tala's visage. Countenance is almost still, a veil of shock is almost pulled over him - had the match been as easy as Kai had made out?

He's still now, but his crown is still dipped. Kai's chin is pressed flush to his chest, crimson eyes are firmly shut. The thickness of his lashes reach out, and grasps onto the outline of his cheeks, pressed tight to pristine flesh, with constellations cast amongst his face. At first they're at peace, and linger within the frayed lines of Kai's face, but then there's a disturbance about him, there's a shift within his brows, and how his eyes are quick to flutter open. He wonders if the other saw, if this entire facade that Kai had created had been exhausted and had crumbled in one measly moment, and that any reputation he had once had, has been lost to a period of superior weakness. He's still exhausted now as he glances down at the blue metal of his blade, held firmly between calloused digits. He looks over the damage, the slashes that sever the metal, and upon close contact, look like a real tiger had bound their claws to his Dranzer. Regardless, she'd seen it through to the end with him, she hadn't turned her back on him, nor regarded his ideals as nonsense. Maybe Dranzer understand how important this was to him.

"If you stare like that for much longer, someone might think you care, Tala." Kai utters, and he can feel the cold burn of Russia's harshest of winters present within the tone he uses. 'So the arrogance didn't die out then?' Tala almost wants to tell him that Kai should climb down from whatever high he was on, or simply get off of cloud nine altogether. He almost wants to utter that he doesn't care about Kai, he's never cared about Kai, in fact he probably wouldn't care if Kai dropped down from exhaustion right now - he almost says it, but holds himself back. It's not true, and Tala has come to realise that. He might not trust the fellow Russian, but it doesn't mean that he doesn't care about him. Of course he does, he wouldn't have remained silent for so long otherwise. He wouldn't have stared upon the shaking back of his fellow teammate for so long, pondering on what he could do to help him, if he didn't care.

"I don't trust you, Kai." Tala spits instead. It's better than revealing too much. He's now stood aside of Kai, hands at his hips, and he's pretty certain that Kai is aware of just how close he is, but either he's too proud to give him the time of day, or he really is too exhausted to even move and create distance between themselves. Then again, Kai is all about dramatics, but even if he did resort to moving in order to escape Tala, Tala would only follow him anyway. At first nothing is said, there's an exchange of breaths, a realisation that yes, Kai is still alive and within the room. A realisation that Kai is human, and that he isn't the machine that he makes himself out to be.