A/N: On with second chapter! Thank you for reviews! I hope there's at least someone out there reading this second chappy…

Oh, an announcement: The name of this fic will change in about two or three days. Not much, tough: I'll take 'the' out of it. This will be called "Shadows of past" instead of "The Shadows of Past" from now on.

Well, now to the story.


CHAPTER 2: Trust

When Dara opened her eyes the next morning, everything was blurry for a while. The bright light of the room made her eyes hurt. She squinted at the black blob on her view.

" Djadja?" she rasped.

The figure cleared out a little, revealing her a raven-haired, golden-eyed boy, who looked at her with worry and suspicion in his eyes. " How are you feeling?".

She blinked and rubbed her sore eyes, then carefully got up into a sitting position. " Sore, but I'll live". Her eyes adjusting to the light, she gave the boy a quick look. " You Ray?".

He nodded, suspicion growing. " Yes. How did you know?".

She gave a dry laughter, rolling her eyes. " For the tournament, your faces are in pretty much every magazine. It's kinda hard not to know you".

Ray smiled sheepishly, scratching his head. " Oh, right… Guess so…". He then walked towards the open door. " She's awake", he announced to someone.

Loud yells were heard, and Ray moved away from the door as three boys stepped in and rushed up to her bed, followed by a fourth one she couldn't see for the duo blocking her view.

" 'Bout time to wake up!" the blonde, Max as she knew, chirped, sounding far too high-pitched for her liking. She'd just woken up, for crying out loud!

" Hn", she commented, adjusting to the sounds.

" Are you alright? Feeling hungry?" the bluenette, Tyson if her memory served her right, fussed, making some flaps with his hands.

" Give the girl some space!" the third one just as nearby her, Kenny, or Chief, ordered the two, then looked at her. (Or was he looking at her? It was hard to tell when she couldn't see his eyes.) " So… Why did you came to us last night? You said you wanted to warn us about something".

Warn? Her eyes widened as she remembered. Damnit, how could she have been so careless!

" What time is it?" she asked, frantically.

Ray took a look at his watch. " Almost noon. Why?".

She cursed loudly in Russian, trying to struggle up despite the protest of her sore body. " I've stayed for too long… If uncle will notice…".

" Hey, you're not going anywhere!" Tyson ordered, forcing her back down. " Geez, you're just as stubborn as Kai!".

The name struck her, and her eyes widened.

Kai!

Her gaze flew to the other side of the room, landing on the familiar boy who was leaning against the wall with arms crossed over his chest, glancing at her deep in thought. A small smile found its way to her lips.

The others stared in wonder as Dara and Kai looked at each other, both having something they couldn't quite grasp onto on their faces.

" Um… Perhaps we should give them some privacy?" Ray finally suggested, in deep discomfort.

" Yeah", Tyson agreed. " That might be a smart move to make".

As the four left the room and closed the door, Kai walked up to Dara, sitting by the bed she was occupying. For a moment nothing was said, then he suddenly remembered that he had something to give her. After searching his pockets for a moment, Kai found Dara's blade and handed it to her.

" I believe this belongs to you".

" Thank you", she muttered, taking a critical eye on the blade and giving a look of relief when noticing that it wasn't damaged.

" Now… Would you care to explain me why I know you?".

Dara's eyes widened and she looked at him for a long moment, almost like pondering whether he was ready for the answer or not.

" You don't remember, do you?" she finally whispered, sounding heartbroken, squeezing her eyes tightly shut, then whispered in Russian. " You said you'd never forget…".

Kai frowned. " I… I don't understand why I should remember". For a while he gathered his

thoughts, then remembered something. " Last night, you told that your uncle hurt you. Why?".

Dara finally opened her eyes and looked at him, sapphire-eyes flaming. " Because I wanted to warn you. Voltaire… He's coming your way. Fast".

Kai felt his entire world spinning. No, no, no… Not after all this time, after all he'd done to escape that man who kept haunting him in his nightmares. No feelings, however, crosses his face. " That's not possible. He's in prison".

" No, he's not anymore". She sighed, seeming frustrated. " Look, there's no time for explanations", Dara noted sharply, then paused. She was probably still exhausted from her ordeal. " Look, my uncle was ready to kill me to keep me from coming to you. This is serious, Kai. You have to prepare yourself to take down Voltaire AND Biovolt – for good this time. Before they'll take over".

Kai stared at his hands, clenched into tight fists. Sure enough, he'd always known that this day was coming, but now that he was facing it… " How can I trust on you not being one of my Voltaire's men?".

There was a silence, and he lifted his head again to look at Dara. She had a pained look upon her face, her eyes showed something close to fear. Eventually, she shifted her top a little, revealing an old gunshot-wound between her shoulder and chest.

" Because this was what I got the last time I rebelled against Voltaire". Her eyes flashed, from both rage and pain. " And there are many other scars he's left me, most of them beneath the surface".

Kai nodded silently, remembering very well the price of defying the might of Voltaire Hiwatari.


/ " Mama! Papa!" a seven-years old Kai cried helplessly, trying to get to them, but was restrained by Boris Balkov.

His father, Aleksei Hiwatari, stood bravely before his wife Miyami in a protecting gesture, shielding her from his grandfather who was stood before the couple. Aleksei's auburn eyes flashed with rage. " Leave my family alone, father. You are in my house now, and I want you to be removed".

Kai let out a scream of terror as Voltaire hit his father hard across the face, his father stumbling back slightly by the brutal impact. " I'll show you that there's no disrespecting your elders, son".

" Leave our house, now", Miyami hissed through her teeth, mahogany eyes showing pure hatred towards the old man. " Leave our son alone".

" Kai is a Hiwatari, Miyami", Voltaire told her in an emotionless voice. " His destiny is to become my heir, and there's nothing you or my pathetic son can do about it". With those words Voltaire pulled out a gun, aiming it at Miyami's forehead. The Japanese woman gasped, eyes widening.

" You wouldn't dare… Not in front of your grandson…".

" Just watch me", Voltaire reassured her.

" NO!". Kai's heartbreaking voice echoed in the walls of the house, along with a deafening bang as the gun went off.

But before the bullet ever touched Miyami, Aleksei moved. He whirled around, turning to face his wife with a gentle smile upon his lips.

" Aishiteru", he whispered and brushed her face tenderly. Miyami, tears welling into her eyes, leaned in to kiss his lips, but never made it. Aleksei's body jolted as the bullet met his back, and with a groan the Russian fell limp into her arms.

" No!". Miyami fell to the floor with her husband's motionless body in her arms, desperately stroking his two-toned bangs that held an unearthly glow in the silvery light of moon. Tears shone like diamonds as they escaped her eyes, her long, black hair fell to hide her face as she pulled Aleksei's body into a tight, loving embrace, shaking from sobs. " Aishiteru, Aleksei… Don't leave me, please don't leave me…".

Kai cried helplessly as well in Boris' irony grip. Those were the last tears he was allowed to cry for years.

After a moment, another shot was heard, and Miyami fell limply to the floor beside her husband. /


For a passing moment Kai closed his eyes, letting the memories wash over him. He then forced them open again, looking at Dara. " What does my grandfather want from me this time?".

" You know what he wants", Dara noted.

Kai frowned and gave a small nod, knowing that she was right.

" I know how much you want to be free, Kai. From him, from the Abbey, Biovolt, your past, your memories…". Dara trailed off for a moment. " You'll have to destroy Black Dranzer to get that. You've known it from the begin with".

Kai's eyes squinted. Black Dranzer… He hated that bit-beast, if possible, even more than his grandfather. Without it, his grandfather might've left him alone, left all those he loved alone… Because of it, he had lost everything he'd ever dared to love.

He looked at Dara once again, eyes filled with all the emotions he couldn't hold back any longer, his heart tearing apart by all the pain coming back to him. " I'm not sure if I have the strength". Kai was terrified by his words, almost angry at himself. Never before had he ever shown anyone such weakness in him, showed himself that way. But he couldn't control himself, not before this girl.

Dara seemed both stern and gentle as she took his hand, not even thinking how he might react to the touch. " I know that it scares you, but you're the only one who can do it, for you're the only one who can control Black Dranzer. It's your chore, Kai, but you won't have to do it alone".

Kai frowned as he looked into Dara's sapphire-blue eyes, a weird feeling growing inside of him. This girl before him… She was so familiar, brought him so many feelings… But why?

" I see that you have many questions, but time isn't the right for them just yet", she told him, seeing the confusion in his eyes.

He nodded, unsure, and looked at her without saying a word for a while. " How can we trust you?".

Dara smiled. " There's only one way", she told him. " I need to prove to you that I'm worthy of your trust".

Kai lifted an eyebrow. " And exactly how are you going to do that?".

Her eyes flashed as she looked at him in the eyes. " The Abbey way".


About half an hour later as the two bladers stood against each other in the building the Bladebrakers had used to practice during their stay in Russia. The rest of the gang looked on, filled with excitement, as the two lifted their launchers, ready to begin the battle.

" Remember that she's just a beginner", Tyson advised. " Give her some slack, 'k?".

Kai's eyes, locked to his opponent, flashed. " No", he muttered, more to himself than Tyson. " This one is no beginner".

" Okay, you guys ready?" Kenny asked, ready to start the countdown, and received two nods. " 'K then! 3… 2… 1…. LET IT RIP!".

And boy, they did!

Pretty much straight after hitting the bey-dish, the two blades zoomed towards each other, sparkles flying as they crushed together. After that, they spun together, separating only for a flash of a moment, giving each other nasty hits. Sparks were flying all the way.

The rest of the team watched, bewildered, barely daring to blink their eyes in fear of missing something.

" Wow!" was all Max could muster.

" Guess this girl is no beginner after all", Ray whispered, amber eyes widened.

None of them could tell for how long the match had lasted 'til they saw Dara's eyes flash.

" ZEBA!" she called, summoning her bit-beast.

" DRANZER!" Kai summoned his own phoenix, eyes burning.

" Any info on Zeba, Chief?" Tyson asked Kenny, who was squeezing Dizzy so tightly that his knuckles had turned white.

" Just a sec…". Kenny typed furiously for a moment. " Nothing what so ever". The boy sounded deeply confused. " I don't understand… There should be at least something… Unless this is the first time it's shown".

All their jaws hit the floor as the beast appeared with a majestic roar. The black panther's emerald eyes seemed to be on flames as it saw its opponent and roared again, revealing its huge claws and fangs.

Dara smirked at their astonishment. " What's wrong? Didn't expect that a little-girl could have such a beast? She's a beauty, isn't she?".

" Lets see if she has any power in those claws of hers", Kai stated through his teeth. " DRANZER! FIRE ARROW!".

" ZEBA! EMERALD TEMPEST!".

The panther roared once more, and seemed the light into a green fire as she and Dranzer stormed towards each other. As they collided, the entire practice-stadium was filled with heat and blinding red-green light. Everyone gasped as they covered their eyes from the light and flames, unable to see anything for a long moment.

Eventually the light faded, revealing the outcome of the battle. Both blades had flown off the dish, now laying motionless on the floor.

" I can't believe this!" Kenny gasped. " It's… It's a tie!".

Giving each other a long, stern look and a nod of acceptance, the bladers collected their blades back, satisfied with each other's skills.

" Find me trustworthy?" Dara asked, already knowing the answer.

" Yes", Kai replied.

Looking at the two, the rest of the gang felt deeply confused by the bond that was evident between the couple. It had taken them for so long to make Kai open up. How could that girl do it in one day? Unless…

" Guys… Do you see something familiar in Dara?" Ray whispered, making sure that the couple couldn't hear him.

" Now that you say it… She resembles kinda lot a certain Russian we know", Tyson replied, with a deep frown upon his face. " But how is that possible?".

" Unless she's an Abbey-kid as well", Kenny whispered.

The gang couldn't help but feel a slight bit of distrust and worry as they looked at the girl. Kai seemed to trust her, but… What if she was Voltaire's spy? What if she would betray them?


The same night, a small, helpless yelp of pain ran through the small, deserted park, followed by yet another kick of cruel punishment.

" This was the last time you disrespectful brat disobey Voltaire's orders", Boris Balkov hissed in Russian through his teeth, giving yet another kick to the badly bleeding boy who'd long ago fallen to the ground. The snow below the boy was stained with red.

The boy squeezed his eyes tightly shut and winced, trying desperately to block the excruciating pain away.

Stay strong… You must warn Kai before it's too late… Stay awake… He winced again. Nadja…

" I… am not… afraid of… you…", he hissed in Russian, and used all his willpower to force his piercing-blue eyes open, darting a gaze of stone-hard determination and hatred to the man.

Boris gave him a disgusted look, and rewarded his bravery with another kick, harder than the previous ones. " You are a fool, Tala. And you know how fools are treated in the Abbey, ne?".

Boris aimed a one last kick on the barely conscious Tala, this time to his head, and watched with much satisfaction as the boy growled before falling to the ground, unconscious. He gave a disgusted snarl as the boy's blood stained his shoe.

" Ditch him into the river", he ordered the two men behind him.

" We will, Master Balkov", another one of them promised.

With that, Boris turned around and walked away without looking back. As he took out his cell-phone and dialed the numbers, a crack of ice and a splash of water were heard behind him.

" Master Voltaire? I called to report that the problem has been taken care of", he announced.


TBC?


A/N: Oh no, what's going to happen to Tala? And who exactly is Dara – or that Nadja Tala was thinking about?

Wanna read chapter three?

Well, bye at least for now! Please do review!