Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade.
Heyy, hope you like this two shot!! xxx
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Wednesday, 3rd August 2007, 4:20am
Kai and Hilary ran as fast as their limbs would carry them, with their feet stammering across the concrete floor. They tore down the cement tunnel, not pausing for a moment to look behind them. Tears streaked down Hilary's face, flying off her cheeks and sprinkling the ground in their wake. Blood was flecked across their clothes and it coated Kai's arms like elbow length gloves. He gritted his teeth and tried to keep the fear suppressed as it welled within him. The fear was all that was driving Hilary, otherwise she would have given up long ago.
Kai chanced a glance over to her. The pain that he saw written on her face was enough to make him tear his eyes away once more. He looked back down the tunnel. It was winding and long, with no windows or doors, let alone any distinguishing features. There had to be some way out of Boris's labywrinth of death. Kai tried to think back at what had gone wrong.
What had been their first mistake? Why were they there and how did they allow themselves to be put in this position?
--
Tuesday, 2nd August 2007, 2:35pm
Kai sat up from under a large fig tree. The sun shone down on him, providing some warmth to the otherwise cold atmosphere. He sighed and looked around him. Hilary, Tyson, Ray, Kenny, Max and Daichi were standing around him with cheerful grins.
"What?" He muttered.
"Happy birthday!" Hilary cried happily. "You thought we didn't know, didn't you?"
"You did a good job at hiding it," Tyson said with a grin, "But we found out from looking at your beyblade profile in Mr Dickenson's office! Ha!"
Kai pulled a sour face and sat back against the tree.
"It's my birthday. Woo."
His monosyllabic tone would have killed their spirit if it had been only a few months earlier. They'd learned to tolerate his stoicism and lack of interest in everything.
"You're not going to get rid of us Kai," Ray said with a smile, "We're going to hang out with you all day if we have to, whether you like it or not."
"Didn't know you liked torturing yourselves."
"Very funny Kai," Hilary said with a smile, crouching down in front of him, "Come on! You have to get dressed!"
"I am dressed."
"She means, dressed as in nice clothes and all that," Max said, "Not dressed as in stray dog."
Kai raised an eyebrow at the smirking blond.
"You can't talk." he then turned his attention to Hilary, "Why?"
"Because we're all going out," Hilary said with a smile, "It couldn't be more perfect! I won a prize and was invited to spend one night at a place called the Yumei Hotel. It says I can bring eight people but when I called Tala he said he'd rather slit his wrists than spend one night with Tyson."
"Can that be my resoning too?"
"No!" Hilary said firmly.
Kai sighed and got to his feet slowly, stretching his arms wearily.
"I suppose it'll give me a little more time before I meet Nick-opotamus again."
"Constable Nick Kraige?" Hilary asked, "What did you do?"
"Burnt 'Roberts sucks cock' into the grass on the school oval."
"Why?!" Hilary asked anxiously, "You know they'll come straight for you when they find it!"
"Because he's a prick," Kai said calmly, as though it justified his crime.
Kai thought about the Yumei Hotel. He'd never heard of it before and as time wore on, a swirling feeling manifested in Kai's stomach.
--
'That was it,' Kai thought, 'If I had refused and trusted my instincts, then maybe none of us would be in this mess! Maybe he... maybe he wouldn't have died!'
Hilary suddenly stumbled on the ground, the concrete tearing at her fragile skin as though it were wet paper. Her hand slipped out of Kai's and he stopped instantly. He turned and dropped to one knee at her side.
"Come on, we have to keep moving!" He hissed, trying to keep his voice down as much as his fear would allow.
Fear. Now that was a feeling that Kai hadn't felt in a long time. This reminder was ten times worse than anything he would have imagined. It was cold, powerful to the point that it almost controlled him. It had already taken over his heart with each of it's icy tendrils coiling around it like a viper. Just like a mouse trapped within the coils of a python, his heart raced and writhed like crazy, unable to shake the frosty and unrelenting grip. It was almost more than he could stand. Though, whatever he felt was only the tip of what Hilary must have been feeling. She was trembling all over as she lifted herself onto her hands and knees, her bangs falling around her face and catching few of the tear drops that streamed from her eyes. She sat back on the floor, unable to move. Kai could see she was about to give up.
"No, Hilary, look at me!" He whispered, "Hilary! Look at me!"
She looked up at him slowly, her flowing eyes wide and filled with terror... and guilt.
"It's my fault," she whispered, her voice hoarse from screaming, "It's all my fault Kai. It's my fault they're dead,"
"We don't know that the others are dead!" Kai said firmly, "Come on, we have to go!"
"That's right Kai. Just keep running,"
Kai and Hilary whipped around in horror and saw Boris standing there. Hilary screamed.
--
The Previous Day...
Hilary, Tyson, Max and Daichi all ran ahead of Kai, Kenny and Ray, unable to contain their ever growing excitement as they walked the red velvet carpet into the shining Yumei Hotel. The walls looked as though they were made of white marble and the desks were made of dark granite. It appeared that the rim of everything, from stair hand rails to the grout between each of the pearly tiles, glistened gold in the light. The fresh aroma of bamboo and vanilla ice-cream was in the air, making it feel even more welcoming.
Other hotel guests shifted their eyes onto the group of teenagers that entered the building. Hilary looked around at them. They were all dressed formally in suits, furs and heels, with pearls and diamond cufflings. She looked at herself. A flowing white sun dress with heels, a silver plated bracelet and a regular wheely suitcase in tow. She wasn't even wearing any obvious make-up. Just a little foundation, mascara and cheep lipgloss. Nothing in comparison to the women wearing their glittering eye shadows, blushes and cherry lipsticks. She stopped and waited for Kai, Kenny and Ray to catch up, feeling completely out of place in the large, fancy hotel.
However, much to her relief, most of the other guests eyes were fixated on Kai. He stood out like a dark, brooding cloud in a glistening golden paradise. He was wearing his dark cargos, black shirt with jacket and sneakers. Not to mention his scarf which flowed in his wake. Kai looked around at the people also, noting their judgemental gaze and cold sneers. One woman whose beauty had caught both Hilary and Kai's attention snorted at them before walking towards the door. Hilary watched in awe as she held a fur-boa around her arms and her golden dress, that cut off just above her knees, fluttered silkily behind her. Her blond ringlets bounced, shining brightly whenever it caught the sun.
'She is gorgeous,' Hilary thought, 'I wish I could look like that!'
"Slut," Kai muttered, just as the gorgeous woman walked past.
She stopped and looked at him hatefully. Kai also stopped, a smirk playing on his lips. Hilary turned to Kai in shock and hit him in the chest.
"Kai!" She turned back to the woman, "I am sorry about that Miss."
"Keep your dog on a shorter leash," she said to Hilary in a rude tone. "Or at least put him on one."
"I'm sure she could get one from you," Kai replied casually, "Probably a studded collar also. Handcuffs and whips too."
Hilary smiled and the woman apologetically before pulling Kai away from her. The woman turned on her expensive, pointed heel and walked out in a huff. Hilary stopped tugging Kai and looked at him sternly.
"Cut it out! Do you want to get us kicked out of here before we even check in?"
Kai shrugged. Hilary sighed.
"Come on, the others are at the reception desk already."
Kai yawned and nodded. Hilary walked over to the others swiftly, pulling the note detailing her competition win to give to the receptionist. He looked over it carefully then smiled.
"Hello Miss Tachibana. We've been expecting your arrival." He put his hand under the desk and pulled out a keycard, "Here you are. Room 1156 on the top floor. There are eight beds set up for your stay."
"We'll only need seven," Hilary said, reaching out for the card, "Our other friend didn't want to come,"
"Awesome!" Tyson said, snatching the keycard out of his hand before Hilary could take it, "We're on the top floor!"
A bus-boy had appeared behind them with a shining luggage trolley. Kai kept his dufflebag with him as he headed for the elevator. He had a bad feeling about this hotel already.
--
Kai flopped back on his bed after having thrown all but one pillow from his bed. Laying on the ground were at least ten beautifully embroidered pillows, the same ones Kai had just thrown unceremoniously away. Ray, whom he was sharing a room with, looked at him with a smile.
"Not a fan of luxury?"
"Not accustomed." Kai replied. "I haven't been in a place like this since my childhood. Too many rules in places like this anyway."
"So you'd prefer Youth Hostels more to this place just because of the difference in rules?"
"Yes."
Ray couldn't help but laugh. The room they shared was the same size as Kai's lounge room. When the receptionist had said that they were in a room on the top floor, they hadn't expected the room to be the only one on that floor. It was larger than most of their houses.
Hilary suddenly burst into their cream coloured room via one of the two doors. She grinned at them and almost skipped over to the curtains, throwing them open and allowing bright light into the otherwise dark room. Kai shielded his eyes from the glare as Hilary looked at him and Ray, framed in the heavenly light in her pretty white dressed as though she were an angel.
"Isn't this great?" She asked with a grin, "I love this place!"
"Hn,"
Hilary pouted and looked at him. "You're such a mood killer Kai,"
He looked at her and shrugged his shoulders. She felt her cheeks go a little red. He opened his mouth to say something when the room bell buzzed. Hilary ran out of the room and to the doors which was actually also the elevator. She hit the button and it opened, allowing a waiter to pass her a note.
"This is a part of your prize Miss," he said, his voice carrying the soft hint of a accent.
Hilary smiled and took it from him. "Thank you!"
Kai and Ray both walked out of their room and into the lounge room. It was a round room with a built in kitchen, a lot of priceless furniture and door-lined walls.
"What's that?" Ray asked her, eyeing the message.
She smiled and glanced quickly at Kai.
"Get dressed nicely, we're going down for a free buffet dinner! Also, I think I'll order a birthday cake for you Kai so we can celebrate."
"Do what you want," Kai replied with little to no interest, "I don't care."
"What's wrong?" She asked, "You seem very on edge."
Kai shrugged and walked back to his room to get ready.
-
It was seven-thirty at night when Kai finally emerged from his room, entering the lounge room where all of his friends were waiting for him. Hilary almost fell over in shock. He was wearing the exact same clothes. The only different was that his hair was ruffled, as though he'd been sleeping for two hours.
"You didn't even change!" Hilary said in outrage.
"I'm I not allowed to be comfortable on my birthday?" Kai asked.
Hilary grumbled and hit the elevator button, waiting for it to arrive. Kai couldn't help but admire Hilary's stunning ability to adapt to any environment. She was wearing a beautiful black cocktail dress with heels and matching purser. Her hair was done up in a fountain bun and a small glittering clip held her bangs out of her face. Her makeup was done beautifully and she wore a simple silver necklace with a cross. He also noticed how Tyson was admiring her also and felt as though a horrible, angry creature was trapped within his stomach, trying desperately to get out.
It wasn't long before the elavator arrived and Hilary walked in first, closely followed by Kai and Tyson who stood on either side of her. The dress had a low V-neck halter top, which, in conjunction with her miracle bra, gave her perfect cleavage.
"Tyson," she said sweetly, "You look at my chest one more time and I'll smash your face so far into the wall that you'll be made a permanent fixture. Understand?"
Tyson looked away and nodded sheepishly. Hilary hit level one-restaurant then leaned back against the inside of the carriage. It was a tight fit inside the small compartment but they all fit well.
"I can't wait till I get into that buffet!" Max said excitedly, "I'm going to have so much ice-cream!"
"Me too!" Daichi said with a grin, "Also I want chips! And a cheeseburger! And soda!"
"This isn't friggen MacDonald's!" Hilary snapped.
Kai watched as the elevator level number descended past 4. 3. 2. The moment 1 arrived they were all ready to pile out of the small space but the doors didn't open. In fact, the elevator hadn't even stopped. It was still going.
"What the?" Hilary was about to push the 1 button again when the doors opened. They were all surprised when they found themselves staring out across a thin, dark corridor of dark grey concrete. I was like a tunnel to an underground bunker. The only light came from a single light bulb screwed into the ceiling every four metres. Hilary hit their floor number again and again but to no affect. The elevator didn't work. It didn't take long before Hilary started cursing at the elevator.
"Give it up," Kai muttered softly, "It won't work."
Ray sighed and walked out of the elevator, into the dark hallway.
"Let's go you guys. There has to be a set of stairs around here some where."
Hilary tried the button two more times before groaning with reluctance. She looked at Kai, an apology flowing through her expression.
"I'm so sorry Kai. So much for your birthday banquet."
Kai shrugged, "Wasn't that hungry anyway."
Hilary smiled then walked out of the elevator with the others. Kai hesitated a moment. Unease and anxiety crept into the pits of stomach, eating away at him constantly. Tyson put his hands behind his head and walked down the hallway, the others following him.
"Let's go. The faster we find the stairs the faster we can eat."
"Wait up!" Daichi and Kenny called out in sync, running up until they were in step with him.
Hilary stopped and looked back at Kai who still stood in the elevator compartment.
"Kai? Are you alright?"
He snapped out of his trance and nodded, wishing that he were telling the truth. Slowly, he walked out of the carriage. The moment he took a few steps away from it, the metal doors shut instantly, way faster than usual. Kai looked at it and heard the carriage moving towards the upper levels. Hilary and the others heard it also, except for Tyson, Kenny and Daichi who were already a fair distance away.
"Argh!" Hilary screamed, "You bastard piece of shit elevator! Now you work!?"
"No," Kai said quietly, looking around with his intense, crimson eyed gaze, "Some things not right. Hilary, how did you win that competition? What was it about?"
"I'm not sure," Hilary said quietly, "I don't even remember entering a competition."
Kai looked around and noticed something on the ceiling. A small black glass dome that protected surveillance camera's within. Just beneath it was a little audio box. He gritted his teeth.
"We've be set up," He said quietly.
"What?" Max asked, "How do you know that?"
"Don't you think it's strange that Hilary won a competition she doesn't remember entering? Or that the elevator of a six star hotel suddenly takes us here then magically begins working thee moment we walk out? Or that there are camera's lining this hallway?"
"You sure you're not just being paranoid?" Ray asked.
Kai shot him a withering glare then looked around.
"Who has their phone?"
Max and Ray patted their pockets and shook their heads. Hilary checked through her bag then sighed.
"Nope. Must have left it in the room."
Kai growled then looked around once more.
"Where are Tyson, Daichi and Kenny?"
Hilary, Max and Ray looked around but couldn't find their friends.
"They must have gone on ahead." Max said, anxiety creeping into his voice.
Kai turned to the elevator doors and scanned them.
"If we can open these doors I can climb up the shaft and get some help," Kai said quietly, looking back and nodding to Ray.
The Chinese blader nodded and walked over to his side. The moment both boys put their hands on the metal door, they were blasted back by a burst of electricity, slamming them into the opposite wall. They both hit the wall hard and slumped down to the ground. Hilary screamed from the shock and she and Max immediately ran to their friends sides. Hilary shook Kai frantically, trying to wake him up.
"Kai! Kai, please open your eyes!"
Kai groaned a little then woke up, just a few seconds before Ray. Both boys winced and looked at their hands. Hilary took Kai's hands in her own and bit her bottom lip. The once tough skin was now almost completely burnt off, replaced with raw and bloody burns. Ray's hands were no different.
"Are you alright?!" She asked Kai nervously, taking his face in her hands and looking into both of his eyes.
"Peachy," Kai muttered, forcing himself to his feet.
He looked back to the elevator doors. That idea was definitely out. He gritted his teeth and looked up to the security camera's.
"Alright, you've got my attention! Who the fuck are you?!"
Static came through the audio box and a soft, sinister laugh echoed throughout the halls. A laugh that Kai knew all too well.
Tyson, Daichi and Kenny all stopped where they were and looked up to another dark dome and audio box.
Kai felt a small bead of sweat form on his brow.
"Kai," the sinister voice said finally, "Long time no see. Oh how I've missed that smile of yours."
Kai clenched his fists. Ray, Max and Hilary all looked at him.
"Who is it Kai?" Ray asked.
Kai ignored him, "What do you want?"
"I want what every master wants. To see how far you've progressed. This is your little test Kai, to see just how detached you are. Don't forget the rules of our training Kai. One; show no weakness. Two; have no emotional attachments that may weaken you. Three; show no mercy. They are the guidelines I drilled into you, though, it appears that you have forgotten all three. This test is to remind you of who you really are Kai. Have fun in my Labyrinth."
"Don't you dare leave!" Kai suddenly roared, "Don't fuck around with me! Let us out of here right now! Boris!"
Hilary, Ray and Max all looked at Kai in shock. Boris laughed again.
"I'm sorry Kai but I'm afraid I can't do that. Besides reminding you of the person you are, I have some personal revenge to take on one person of your group."
Kai's blood suddenly ran cold.
"Tyson,"
He ran down the hallway as fast as possible, heading in the direction that Tyson, Daichi and Kenny had been going.
-
Tyson stared at the audio box, knowing full well who was speaking and knowing that he was the one in danger also. He looked around and saw that none of his friends had been following him besides Daichi and Kenny. Kenny looked at Tyson nervously.
"Tyson, was that who I think it was?"
"We have to get back to the others right now!"
Tyson started running back that way he came with Kenny and Daichi right behind him. In the distance he could see Kai running towards them.
-
Kai saw Tyson and instantly felt relieved. They were just within ten metres of each other when a large metal wall slid out of a gap in the concrete, completely seperating them. Kai stopped quickly and looked at the wall. He tested to see if it was electrified by tapping it with his foot then once he was happy it wasn't, he banged his fists against it hard.
"TYSON!" He yelled.
Max, Ray and Hilary, who now carried her heels in her hands, all stopped beside him.
-
Tyson slammed his fists on the wall, hearing dull thuds come from the other side. He felt the panic trying to set in on him but he wouldn't allow it to take root. He couldn't, not if he wanted to live. Daichi and Kenny watched, not knowing what was going on.
"Tyson?" Kenny asked, "What's happening?"
"It's Boris," Tyson said, hitting his fists again and again, "Kai and I are in danger! We have to get out of here! KAI! Can you hear me?!"
Tyson pressed his ear against the metal and listened intently. He waited a moment then cursed. There was no more thudding coming from Kai's end. He was about to start pounding his fists against when he froze and looked at the walls, seeing something he'd overlooked before. Lining the walls was numerous dark holes, around an inch in diametre and spaced out as if they were the dark patches on a chess board. The grid started a metre from the ground and ended half a metre below the ceiling, just above Tyson's head. The grid of holes extended out for almost five metres. He felt his body go cold.
"Oh no," he whispered.
Daichi, who stood beside Tyson, looked at him anxiously, "What wrong?"
Kenny walked towards them.
"NO! DON'T MOVE!" Tyson shouted but it was too little too late.
Kenny's foot sunk a little as he stepped on the trigger, making him trip. Tyson didn't think. He instantly grabbed Daichi and dragged himself and the young red head to the ground as metal spikes shot out of the walls. Tyson had his eyes closed but felt a warm syrup fleck his face.
-
Kai had his ear pressed hard against the wall but could hear nothing. He sighed and looked back to his friends who all looked scared. He sensed the camera watching him from behind the little glass dome and gritted his teeth.
"We have to get out of here," he muttered, mainly to himself.
"Kai?" Hilary said quietly with an obvious quiver in her voice, "What's going on?"
"This whole thing was a trap," Kai said, walking back they way they'd come, "It was set up by Boris Balkov in order to get me and Tyson. I am worried about Tyson at the moment. I can take what ever Boris throws at me but I doubt Tyson can."
Ray, Max and Hilary flanked him, not wanted to venture too far apart lest they two were separated. They walked on past the elevator doors, trying to ignore each of the little camera domes that were fixed to the ceiling every eight metres. Kai suddenly stopped and looked at the walls. His crimson eyes pierced through the darkness and saw grids of holes in the walls on both sides of the corridor.
"Wait here," he muttered to his friends as they stopped just behind him. Kai crouched down and crawled on his knees, keeping low so that his head was below the lowest row of holes. He travelled in a zig-zag pattern, hitting his fist down hard on every square block that made up the floor. He was around halfway through when his fist slammed down on the trigger stone. Metal spears immediately shot out of the walls, skewering the other side with such force that it made the concrete chip and crumble. He looked back at his friends and nodded his head.
"Come through now."
Hilary hitched the skirt of her dress up and crawled under the bars, followed by Max and Ray. Kai emerged the other end and looked up at the camera that was watching them. He smirked coldly.
"You'll have to try better than that Boris."
He turned back to his friends and offered Hilary his hand. She smiled and took it appreciatively.
"You alright?" He asked, his voice carrying a hint of genuine concern.
Hilary blushed a little and nodded, "Yeah, I'm fine. Scared out of my wits, but fine."
--
Tyson opened his eyes and looked down at Daichi who was still in his arms. The young red head was trembling but otherwise fine. Tyson breathed a sigh of relief and shook him gently.
"Daichi, you alright man?"
Daichi looked at the blue-haired boy and nodded jerkily, trying not to shake so much. Tyson smiled.
"Good. Are you alright Ken-"
The moment Tyson looked around for his friend he froze in terror. All the colour immediately drained from his face and sweat joined the trembling that plagued his body.
"K... Kenny!"
The teen was standing up right behind Tyson with over thirty metal spears piercing straight through his lifeless body. His feet didn't even touch the ground. Blood poured from all over his body, but streamed like a waterfall from his neck which had a bar sticking right through it. Scarlet and crimson had already stained his formal clothes and dripped into the small pool from the tips of his black shoes. His arms were extended a little and gruesomely fixed into place.
Tyson felt the tears stream from his eyes as he looked into Kenny's eyes which stared blankly into space. He could sense Daichi staring also but couldn't move a single muscle. Kenny, his friend, his best friend, was dead. Another bar had gone straight through his head. Death had been instant. So then... why was his face twisted in pain? Tyson finally tore his eyes away, trying to stop the sobs from escaping his throat.
"No," he whispered brokenly, "Kenny... no..."
Daichi buried his face into Tyson's shirt, his shoulders shaking with sobs. Tyson slowly started crawling down the corridor, under the rows of bars. It broke his heart to leave Kenny there but he had no choice. There was no way to get his body free and there was no way to stand up in the thick rows of bars. He pulled Daichi with him until they finally emerged the trap. He sat on his knees and pulled Daichi up beside him, feeling a stinging sensation in his shoulder.
"Hey, Daichi man. You're not hurt are ya?"
Daichi fell to his hands and knees, his tears falling from his clenched eyes. He shook his head. He looked up at Tyson and, to Tyson's surprise, his already pale face lost even more colour.
"You're cut!" He said in panic, pointing at Tyson's shoulder.
Tyson looked at his stinging shoulder and saw that one of the spears must have torn through his jacket and cut open his shoulder. It was deep but Tyson didn't care. He smiled and pulled Diachi into a hug, like an older brother.
"I'm alright man. Don't worry. We'll be fine, okay? I won't let you get hurt."
Diachi nodded and hugged Tyson, his sobs starting once more. Tyson suddenly gripped Daichi tighter as Boris's cold laughter echoed through the halls once more.
"Oh Tyson, if only you had the power to fulfil that. It's not very nice to fill the boy with false hope."
"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT BORIS?!" Tyson roared, "Why are you doing this to us!?"
"I am doing this because you ruined me Tyson. I bet you would never have opposed me if you knew what I was capable of. Now look at what has happened. Look at what happened to your little friend. It's your fault he's like that now. I won't say anymore as Kai and the others are listening to this. I want them to squirm, not knowing what happened to their friends. Before you try, they can't hear you Tyson. I just thought you'd like to know that."
"Fuck you Boris," Tyson said venomously.
Tyson's mind started working in overdrive. There had to be some way to escape. He looked back up to the camera.
"You said this was a labyrinth right? Does this labyrinth have an end?"
"Yes it does Tyson, very good. This place does have one escape. It is on the opposite side of the maze. However, as you have already seen, there are traps. That was one of the milder traps that I have set. Along with that there are numerous soldiers poised and ready to kill. However, I am not without mercy. If at any point in the game you wish to kill yourself then just lay down and wait. One of my men will find you eventually."
"There's no fucking way we're going to do that," Tyson hissed, "We'll get out of here and when we do, you'll be sorry."
"I'm shaking." Boris said sarcastically, "Have fun kids,"
--
It had been several hours since Boris's last message and Kai, Hilary, Max and Ray were exhausted from having to avoid so many traps. Ray looked at his watch.
"It's almost midnight," he mumbled.
"We should be getting close to where Tyson, Daichi and Kenny were," Kai said quietly, turning down another corner in the seemingly never-ending maze of corridors. "At least I hope,"
"I hate it when you sound uncertain," Hilary said quietly.
Kai stopped, surprised at the amount of fear that was carried in her soft voice. He turned and looked at his friends. Ray and Max were both staring at the ground intently, trying to hide their anxiety fueled fear. Hilary was also staring at the floor, however, tears trickled down her cheeks from her glossy mahogany eyes. Kai felt guilt well inside of him.
"Hilary, I-"
Kai stopped mid-sentence. Ray looked up instantly and pulled both himself and Max to the ground. Kai twisted his body, grabbing Hilary and pulling her away as a spear shot past them, grazing Kai's arm. He didn't even wince as it tore through his flesh. Hilary screamed and held onto Kai tightly until he pulled her off and held her behind him. He looked at his shoulder with little interest then returned his gaze to the man who had just thrown the spear. Ray and Max were already back on their feet. The man was dressed in a completely black military uniform, equipped with a machete on his belt. One thing that was strange about him however was that he was wearing a predominantly white Japanese 'fox' mask, revealing only his dark brown eyes.
"So," Kai analysed the man, "I'm guessing you're one of Boris's little lap dogs."
"My master has told me not to kill you," The man said to Kai, "Your friends however, well, let's just say that they have bounties on each of their heads."
"Hold on, kill?" Max asked nervously, "Do you mean to say that Boris wants us all dead?!"
"Why not me?" Kai said angrily.
The fox mask shifted a little as his cheeks raised, hiding the smile beneath.
"Because you're special Hiwatari. You are still valuable. You still have what it takes to be an assassin."
Kai gritted his teeth, trying to ignore his friends whose eyes had all turned on him.
"Kai?" Hilary asked, "What does he mean? You're not an assassin."
The man laughed coldly, "Oh yes he is."
"Shut up!" Kai shouted.
"Not only him though," the soldier continued, "But also Tala, Bryan, Spencer and Ian. They are all assassins. Unfortunately, they all developed a mind of their own and abandoned Master Boris. The one who remained loyal to him the longest... was Kai."
"I said shut up!" Kai yelled.
He was about to charge at the man when he drew his machete, aligning it with Kai.
"Don't move," The man said quietly, "I am under orders to tell your little friends all of this. Besides, it's rude to interrupt. Anyway, unbeknown to everyone, Kai had been following Boris's orders for quite a while, even up until he joined the BladeBreakers. His job was to successfully infiltrate BBA headquarters and take out that pompous little doughnut, Dickenson, along with his ace team the Blade Breakers. After that he was to frame the higher-ups of that childish little organisation to make it look like a great big conspiracy. Kai would have been the only 'witness to the crime' after supposedly 'escaping with his life'. With all of it's orchestrator's behind bars or dead, the BBA would crumble, making way for master Boris and his organisation. He would be completely unopposed and should anyone rise up, Kai would be the one sent to take them out. However, we didn't expect Kai to befriend anyone, especially considering he's a hateful little bastard. Yet sure enough, it happened and once he created bonds with you lot, he forgot his mission and decided to live like a good person."
"Kai," Hilary said quietly, "Is that all true? Were you sent to kill Mr Dickenson?"
"Were you going to kill us?" Max asked.
Kai felt his stomach tighten uncomfortably.
"Yes. That was my mission. But that was a long time ago! Things have changed."
Ray, Max and Hilary all felt a pain in their hearts. The stabbing feeling... of betrayal. The soldier laughed coldly.
"Yes, they certainly do. However, it appears your skill level hasn't changed at all. I should know. I was once your personal trainer, well, whenever Master Boris wasn't training you."
Kai gritted his teeth, "So, the coward behind the mask is actually you Raudrie. I thought you'd be dead by now, though it looks like vermin is harder to kill than I thought."
The man raised his free hand and removed the fox mask, revealing the heavily scarred and stubble covered face behind. He laughed softly and threw the mask away.
"I see you've kept your charming personality. Now, let's see if you're still able to hold your own against me."
Raudrie ran at Kai, slicing the machete down in a glittering silver arch. Kai grabbed Hilary again and avoided the slice. Raudrie didn't hesitate for a moment after missing, taking another few steps so he was standing right in front of Ray and Max, his blade poised. Kai turned quickly, seeing what was happening.
"Shit!"
Raudrie laughed, "Die!"
Max and Ray didn't have enough time to move. Kai quickly sank into a crouching position and whipped is foot out, kicking Raudrie's legs straight out from under him before he could hack through Ray and Max. Kai leapt at the man and tackled him to the ground but before he could do anything. Raudrie twisted both of them around and pinned Kai beneath him, holding both of the teens hands in his own. Kai went to move but Raudrie stabbed the machete straight down into Kai's shoulder, pinning it to the ground. Kai roared in pain as his ex-trainer sat on his abdomen with a sadistic smirk.
"You're weak Kai! Still too weak!"
Raudrie heard something beside him and looked around just in time for Ray's foot to collide with his head. His head jerked away and the shock made him release Kai's hands. Kai instantly took the machete with his right hand and drove it up into Raudrie's chest, spraying himself in blood. Raudrie choked and looked down at Kai who was shaking from the pain that flowed from his shoulder.
"I may be weak," he hissed through clenched teeth, "But I'm still stronger than you!"
He pushed Raudrie off him, letting the corpse flop onto the floor beside him. Kai rolled himself onto his right hand and knee, his left shoulder bleeding horribly. He gritted his teeth against the howl of agony that threatened to erupt from him and closed his eyes and fist. He looked at his left hand and moved it up beside him, trying his hardest not to let the pain overwhelm him. He looked up and saw Ray, Max and Hilary all kneeling beside him. Ray pulled off the red sash from his waist and looked at Kai's injury.
"That's really bad," He said quietly, "Here,"
He took his sash and wrapped it tightly around the wound whilst Max put pressure on it to try and stop the bleeding.
"Why are you helping me?" Kai asked as a drop of sweat fell from his brow, moistening the floor, "I was an assassin,"
"We don't care what you were Kai," Hilary said softly, "All we care about is who you are,"
"You can a load of chances to kill Mr D and all of us," Max said with a smile, "But you didn't,"
"You saved our lives instead," Ray added, "You're our friend Kai."
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Please review
Just felt like writing a horror/tragedy, I feel like I'm still stuck in writers block and it's making me really shitty so sorry.
xxx