This sorry excuse for a fanfic was written in response to FC's fanfic challenge: to make Kai a girl or give Rei some special ability, but neither of them finds out until love's first kiss.
Well, I haven't exactly been true to the challenge, but since no-one else responded, I guess it's better than nothing . . . right???
Kudos, comments, criticisms, questions, complaints and flames can be sent to lady_z_merquise@yahoo.com.au Word of caution: flames will be laughed at and ridiculed. Have a nice day ^_^
Disclaimer: If I owned Beyblade, it wouldn't be G rated. Rei would wear tiger print hot pants, Kai would pulverise Tyson on a regular basis, Kenny would be gruesomely murdered every episode, Max would get a visit from the Fab 5 and Mariah would be put in a high speed blender.
The album Talk to Strangers is copyright Marc Hunter and whichever record company pays him. I wrote the majority of this fic while listening to it, and since I couldn't think up a decent title on my own, I used the title track because it was essentially what was going on in this fic. Exceptional lyrics from the song are in italics. Obviously, I do not own these either.
Vocab:
Onsen – hot spring
Ryoukan – traditional Japanese hotel
Yukata – light cotton kimono-like garment
Tatami – Japanese woven grass mats generally used in place of carpet
TALK TO STRANGERS
By Zed-sama
Chapter 1: From A Distance
Smile and the world laughs at you,
Cry and you're on your own
There are some people in this world who take your breath away, who light up your world just by being in it. They fascinate you and intrigue you, and yet you feel as if you've known them forever. You don't know why and you can't explain, but something about them makes you feel so complete, so wonderfully warm and content, that you wonder how you could ever have lived without them.
And for me, that person is Kai Hiwatari.
From the moment I laid eyes on him, I knew I'd found someone special. It wasn't just his amazing skill with the beyblade; the way he could instantly analyse an opponent and mercilessly exploit any flaw; the awesome power of his Sacred Phoenix Spirit that he controlled with such precision. It wasn't even his looks, the unusual hair, the finely sculpted features and long tapered fingers that belied his aristocratic heritage, the lean but powerful build that he clad in tight tops and loose pants.
It was the way he carried himself, his proud, aloof bearing that demanded respect and attention that drew me to him. He moved so gracefully, like a dancer, yet his presence was so strong it seemed to radiate from his body. When he spoke, his voice was tinged with sarcasm and disdain. He was so exotic to me, with his pale skin and burning eyes.
The same eyes that were currently locked on Takao's Dragoon blade as my two team-mates fought a practise match. Kai was focussed on the battle, balanced on bent knees with his weight even as he leaned slightly forward at the waist, giving him a look of intense concentration. It was beautiful to watch.
" . . . Rei! Rei, are you listening to me? "
" Of course, Chief, " I lied with a smile, reluctantly tearing my eyes away from Kai.
Kenny adjusted his glasses as if to say ' yeah, pull the other one, Rei ', but made no comment, instead launching into lecture about the adjustments he'd made to my Driger blade. I tried to concentrate, but my attention kept wandering back to the beautiful Russian beyblader who stood not 6 feet away, the sound of his blade tearing around the dish singing in my ears.
*~*~*
" Oh wow, am I beat! " exclaimed Takao as he flung himself into a chair.
" I don't see why, " Kenny said moodily, following Max into the room they shared with the young bluenette, " You hardly did a thing during the entire session. "
" Yeah, well, that's cos I'm saving myself for the finals. "
" If you perform like you did today you won't get past the first round, " growled Kai from behind me. We were staying in a room further down the hall, so there wasn't any need for us to enter the small space.
" Aww, lighten up, sour puss. " Takao wasn't at all fazed by our captain's negativity. Sometimes I wonder if he ever pays attention to Kai outside the beystadium. " I don't wanna burn myself out before we get to the serious end of the tournament. "
Kai hmphed and turned away, continuing down the hall to our room. Takao rolled his eyes after the unfriendly Russian.
" Well I feel like a nice hot bath, " piped up Max brightly. " Who's coming? "
" Oh oh oh! Me, me, me! " Takao enthused, bouncing up and down like an over-excited five year old.
" I must say, I could do with a bath myself, " said the Chief. " Did you know that this ryokan is famous for its natural hot spring baths? According to my laptop – "
" Forget the lecture, Chief! " groaned Takao, " Let's just go and enjoy it! " He turned to me, his Prussian blue eyes agleam. " You coming, Rei? "
" Sure, " I agreed with a smile, " I can't remember the last time I went to an onsen. "
" Great! We'll see you in 10. And tell the sour puss he can come as well, but only if he promises to be nice from now on. "
" I'll be sure to tell him, " I laughed, waving as I closed the door and started down the hall. Of course, I had no intention of doing so. I liked Kai just the way he was. Sure, he could be a cold-hearted bastard at times, but it was just his way. He didn't waste time with pretentious niceties. Whenever he said something it was usually the truth as he saw it, blunt and sometimes harsh, but invariably true.
The door to our room had been left slightly ajar. Since these doors were fitted with automatic locks that could only be opened by the key, which Kai carried, it was a sign that he didn't wish to be disturbed. Judging by the sound of running water coming from the bathroom, Kai was planning on early night.
I sighed, breathing in the musky smell of the ryokan's tatami matting, and began to gather my things for the onsen. As much as I appreciate Kai's desire to be left alone, sometimes I wish that he'd be a little more sociable. I mean, it can't be healthy keeping everyone at arm's length all the time. He really should try to be nicer to those who cared about him.
Instantly I chastised myself. I was being selfish. We all knew that Kai had been trained to be a perfect, emotionless beyblader by those creeps at the Russian abbey. It must have been really hard for him to change. And he HAD changed – not dramatically, he'd been under Biovolt's influence for too long for that – but he had slowly allowed himself to become a part of our somewhat oddball team, and he had accepted the fact that he wasn't going to be rid of us anytime soon. In fact, he'd made heaps of progress since the Bladebreakers had first been formed, when he'd barely said a word to us unless we were making him look bad. Now he actually cared about what we did outside the beystadium, whether we trained hard and why we weren't performing as well as we could.
As I changed into a fresh cotton yukata, my mind skipped back to when we'd come up against the Saint Shields, to the night when I'd lost Driger. Somehow, it had been Kai who comforted me the most when it felt like I'd had my soul ripped violently in two. It was Kai who understood that I didn't need words or consolations, but just to know he was there beside me. He respected my space and only pushed when he knew I was ready. Kai wasn't bad. In Takao's words, he just dressed that way.
" Hey come on, hurry up guys! " Takao, eager and impatient as usual, hammered on our door before racing down the hall.
" All right, give me a second! " I yelled back, rummaging frantically through my bag. Where is that damn -? Ah, got it. I knocked on the bathroom door.
" Kai? Aren't you coming? "
I didn't really expect an answer, but I was faintly disappointed with the total lack of reaction from our captain. With our busy touring schedule, it wasn't everyday we got to relax in the onsen of a famous ryokan.
But Kai didn't seem the least bit interested. I sighed. " I'm taking the key. I'll leave it at the front desk, if you decide to come down later. " So saying, I pocketed the room key and closed the door quietly behind me.
I went down to the reception and deposited to key, just as I had told Kai I would, then followed the signs to the hotel change rooms. Putting my toiletries in a small wooden tub, I stripped and placed my folded yukata neatly in one of the baskets on the shelves that adored the walls. Then, taking a couple of towels from another shelf, I picked up my effects and passed through the doorway into the washroom.
The washroom consisted of a tiled floor that opened up onto a patio that looked out over the onsen and the surrounding gardens. Along each wall were open cubicles with a small stool and mirror, a low bench, hand-held showerhead and bucket.
I chose a cubicle and set about the laborious task of washing my hair. As much as I love the feeling of my hair hanging freely down my back, when you have hair as long as mine, it's easier to keep it wrapped up to protect it from dirt and wash it once a week or so. Much cheaper, too.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not vain about my looks. Despite what most people think, I don't grow my hair out of self-pride. I grow it out of respect for my older sister, who died giving birth to a stillborn daughter when I was much younger. I don't remember much about Meng, but I do remember playing with her long, long hair and admiring its sleek raven colour. That's why I've never cut my hair, because it's a constant reminder of my beloved sister.
When I was satisfied I had rinsed the last of the conditioner out, I carefully combed my hair and braided it, then wrapped it into a makeshift bun and pinned it in place with a few hair needles. I couldn't wait to get into a nice warm bath!
It was just passing into evening, so the soft blue of the horizon was merging into the great star-studded velvet of the night sky. The onsen itself was rather large, enclosed by rocks that had been worn smooth by time and water. Faint steam rosing from the surface, numerous lanterns and garden torches illuminating the spring and the carefully cultured garden that surrounded it. Takao waved and called me over to where he and the others were sitting chest deep in the water.
Setting down my things on the patio, I descended the stone steps and stepped into the onsen, sucking in my breath a little at how hot it was. But my body adjusted quickly and I waded across the pool to my friends, where I sat down gingerly and allowed myself to sink up to my neck, my head resting back against the warm smooth stone. Gods, it was blissful. I literally feel the tension draining from my body.
" SLAM DUNK!!! " yelled a voice, and before I knew it my head was being forced beneath the water. I snorted in surprise and fought back, and was rewarded with being let up. I gulped it in eagerly, having had only the barest of moments to take a breath before I'd been dunked. My hair had come loose and now it drooped all over my face and shoulders. I lifted my fringe and looked around for my attacker.
The culprit wasn't hard to deduce. By the insane grin on Takao's face and the surprised worry on Max and Kenny's, I knew it could only be him. My first instinct was to fight back, but I was in too much of a good mood to spoil the evening. Instead I leaned back against the stone edge, resting my elbows along the top and letting my fingers dangle in the water. I merely grinned at Takao, but inwardly I was filing the incident under the TO BE REPAID section of my mind.
Fortunately, the audacious bluenette soon got into an argument with Kenny and I was allowed to slip back into my little piece of heaven.
I tried to focus on what the others were saying, but I found myself getting drowsy, lulled by the delicious heat of the water. I must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I knew, Takao was shaking my shoulder.
" Hey Rei, wake up dude. " I half opened by eyes and blinked at him. " We're gonna go and get some dinner. I'm starving! You coming? "
I yawned. " Not just yet, buddy. I'm gonna soak a little more, then I'll come and have something to eat. "
" Well don't be too long. " Takao chirped, " Cos there ain't gonna be much food left by the time I'm done! "
I laughed at bid them all goodnight.
By this time the spring was almost empty and the crickets were in full chorus, and I listened with half an ear as I continued to slip and out of consciousness.
At length, I decided that I was beginning to resemble a prune a little too much for my liking, and stepped out of the water and on to the patio. Wrapping one towel around my waist, I began squeezing the water out of my hair, when a feminine voice broke into my thoughts.
" Say, are you Kai Hiwatari? "
Badly frightened, I looked wildly around and realised that the question was coming from the other side of the fence, from the girls' spring. I was confused. I was the only one here as far as I could see, and it was laughable that I should be mistaken for Kai. And how the hell could they see through the fence anyway? It was made of tall bamboo poles and covered with huge canvas sails. I opened my mouth to reply, but before I could someone else answered for me.
" No. "
The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end and a cold fear erupted in the pit of my stomach. I knew that voice! I'd listened lovingly to it nearly every day for the past few years!
But what would Kai be doing in a girls' hot spring? said the logical part of me. And why would he be denying that he was Kai? Get a grip, Kon. You're hearing things.
" Are you sure? " asked another voice, " You look just like him! "
" Exactly. Like him," came the sneering reply, and there came some nervous laughter. There was no mistaking that sarcastic tone!
I sat down abruptly, holding my head in my hands. Gods, this was impossible! I must be going crazy!
But part of me was insistent. You KNOW that voice, Kon! It's Kai!
Ridiculous! my rational half screamed. There's no way Kai would say that he wasn't Kai, and moreover, be in a GIRLS' HOT SPRING!!!
Unable to bear the doubt any longer, I ran to the opposite end of the patio. Spinning around, I took a running jump at the divider. My fingers latched on to the top of the partition, and with much kicking and grunting, I managed to haul myself up onto my elbows.
The girls screamed and scrambled for their towels or dived into the spring, but I only had eyes for one figure who stood defiantly knee deep in the water, rock in hand and poised to throw. Burning crimson eyes glared up at me, widening as their owner realised who I was. My name tumbled from his – her – lips, a disbelieving whisper.
" Rei. . . "
Frozen in shock, I could only stare helplessly at the woman before me.