I've decided that A Blue Christmas is on hiatus until next holiday season. Never fear, for I shall continue to write it! ...and post chapter three. But that's the last chapter until next holiday season, I think. I'm just not in a holiday mood...

That said...

Here's the sequel I promised!

Please note: This is going to be multi-chaptered, so this is just the first installment. ::laughs evilly:: prepare for more character torture!!! Some of the plot from my original sequel is still salvageable...as long as I make some...minor...adjustments.

Info-ish things:
"Talking"
'Thinking'
/Bitbeast speaking/
Scene split: 0x0x0x0
Beginning/End: -x-x-x-x-

-x-x-x-x-

Chapter One
Where's Everyone Now?

It had been a month.

One lousy month.

A slow passing of days, thirty of them, since they had returned from America.

Mariam had opted to go back and stay at the dojo with them, once she had been released, and she had done so. Josef, Ozuma, and, surprisingly, Dunga, had agreed with her decision. Tyson and Daichi had been wondering why they had not objected. Kenny had a theory, but neither Max nor Mariam denied or confirmed a possible romance between the two.

They spent a lot of time together, but mostly around others. None of them knew whether the two spent time with just one another. No one cared to ask, either. Based on what had happened between Hilary and Kai, everyone had just decided to let well enough alone. Even Tyson and Daichi had agreed to this unspoken rule, despite their curiosity.

Mariah, however, hadn't seemed to be able to go home with her brother, Kevin and Gary fast enough. Rei had been cheerful enough around her and about her decision, but now that she was gone, he hadn't bothered to conceal his disappointment or loneliness. No one knew how to console him, or wanted to, in case he went suicidal again...not that he remembered anything that had happened, including his attempted suicide.

Mostly, though, they just ignored his unusual glumness, and carried on as usual.

Well, mostly.

Unbeknownst to any of the others now having taken up permanent residence at the dojo, Hilary and Rei were spending a lot of time together, privately. They weren't in a relationship, no, but they were blading. Rei was continuing the training he had started with her a little over five weeks before, but everything couldn't have been more different.

Her instructor no longer had a spark of determination in his eyes, and took every defeat Hilary handed him with resignation. He no longer even tried to win, just let her practice her form, and build up her strength, speed and stamina.

It was during one such practice; Hilary finally lost her temper with his lack of...anything.

"Dammit, Rei! Fight back for once!" She shouted, her long strand of patience finally snapped. The golden-eyed boy froze, like she had slapped him. "How am I supposed to know if I'm getting better if you won't face me?! Just hitting you around the dish isn't fun and it isn't helping me learn how to be a better blader!" When she realized what she had said, she froze and put a hand over her mouth in horror.

Rei was studying the ground closely, his bangs covering his eyes.

"Rei, I'm sorry, I just-"

"You're right." Ruby eyes widened as gold ones looked up and locked on them.

"W-what?" Hilary blinked and stammered, feeling like a thunderstruck deer.

"You're right," a soft smile appeared on his face. It wasn't a bitter one, like the ones he had shown everyone else, but it wasn't a happy one either. It was a sad, memory-reflecting one. "I've been trying to help you...but all I've been is a hindrance..." His smile vanished, and he returned to studying the ground.

"Rei, if everything I've said hasn't stuck with you, just listen to this and this only. You've taught me more than I had ever dared hope to learn from when I first met all of you. With out you, I wouldn't even know how to use my blade at all. No one else taught me the fundamentals, and let themselves be used as a punching bag just so I could do it until I could get it right. You've been more of a help than I have been since I joined this team."

Wide golden eyes that were starting to brim with a tear or two stared at her.

"I don't care if you barely remember anyone. You're strong, loyal, brave, and the best friend anyone could ever ask for."

Rei's smile was weak and shaky, but it was there.

"Thanks," he murmured softly as they both called their blades back to their hands. Arms casually thrown over one another's shoulders, like the best of friends, they walked back to the dojo. Hesitantly, Rei asked about some things that had happened that he had a vague recollection of. Grinning, Hilary told him what she remembered, helping fill in the blanks.

Both were grinning and close to laughing as they approached the dojo; they were so preoccupied they both failed to notice Kai, Max, Tyson, Kenny, and Daichi training out back. All five looked to find the source of the soft laughter.

"Kon," Kai growled icily.

"Kai," Rei nodded, a slight spark of some of his earlier determination showing in his eyes.

"Particular reason you're wrapped around our coach?" Everyone was sure frost would issue forth from Kai's mouth after this comment.

'Now what...?' Hilary wondered with a mental sigh of annoyance.

0x0x0x0

Brooklyn sighed as he called Zeus back to his hand after a particularly difficult match with Garland. It had been so difficult because he was having trouble keeping his focus. It was all her fault.

"Thinking again," Garland inquired, face unreadable. Brooklyn nodded before turning and heading into the small patch of woods near the edge of the property. It was there he finally found some peace...usually.

"Usually" was not today.

'Why did she just...accept me? I ruined her beyblading career and she just...accepted me. Why?!' His puzzled brain close to hurting, he rested his forehead against the cool bark of a nearby tree.

/Are you alright, master?/ A familiar voice inquired.

'I'm fine, Zeus...'

/Perhaps you should rest? You have been working hard.../

'I'm fine, Zeus.'

/...consider it./ With that, his bitbeast's presence vanished, leaving Brooklyn to mentally curse himself out in several languages.

'Great. Just great.' He thought bitterly as he sat down upon an old tree's great gnarled roots. Stretching out, in a futile attempt to relax, he drifted into an uneasy doze. Sleeping, he failed to notice the dark cloud that hung across the sky, or the torrential downpour that commenced.

0x0x0x0

Back at Garland's mansion, Ming Ming, Crusher, Mystel and Garland were waiting for Brooklyn to come in. Mystel was keeping watch at the window, Ming Ming was painting her nails, Crusher was staring at the walls or floor, and Garland was practicing his martial arts in a cleared out corner of the room.

All stopped and rushed to the window when a sudden drumming on the roof began. As one, they looked outside to see water lashing the windows and all the signs of a violent storm showing themselves.

Shaken, all of them sat on the furniture, in positions their natures dictated, and looked at one another.

There was no way Brooklyn was still out in that...right?

0x0x0x0

Mariah sighed as she lay in the cool grass at the base of the hill where all the White Tigers had trained as kids. Looking up at the white, fluffy cotton ball clouds that were adorned artfully in the bright blue sky above her, she wondered if she was insane.

She had left her best friend, the one she had cared for all of her life, because he couldn't remember. No matter how you said it, she had abandoned him. All because it hurt. And why shouldn't it? He had known her almost all his life, and he couldn't remember her?

'I just don't get it...' The pinkette sighed and shifted so she was laying on the right side of her body. Golden eyes widened as they met wickedly dancing jade. Startled, Mariah jumped, pulled back and was on her feet in an instant. "Who're you?!"

"Relax, koneko." The voice was a purr, and as Mariah observed her unwanted intruder closer, she realized the woman looked more like a cat then she herself did. "I did not intend to startle you...however, recent events must be cleared up."

"Recent events?" Golden eyes narrowed as she surveyed this woman more closely than ever. Why did she look so familiar?

-x-x-x-x-

Notes:

The mansion thingie is...not close to the dojo. So it's NOT gonna storm at the dojo or anywhere near it...for right now at least.

Eh, we'll see.

Hope you liked!
Emma