Dolphin-san: Hey everyone. I'm sooo sorry for this taking ages to come out. It is apparently a lot harder than I thought it would be to re-write chapters. Also I made the mistake of buying some books. When I start reading I just can't stop lol. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter. Thanks again to XOKiyokoAoiXO and justareader10 for their lovely reviews.
Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade.
Regular
Thought
Dream/memory
"Bit Beast Speech."
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Kai stood at the edge at of the Beydish, unaware of the cheering girls in the crowd as they tried to gain his attention. His eyes were focused solely on the battle while his mind wandered. Random flashes of memory kept jumping to the foreground of his thoughts, distracting him from the match. Dranzer clashed against the other Beyblade, sending sparks across the dish.
A dark grey Beyblade crashed violently against Dranzer, pushing her back towards the edge of the dish. Kai gritted his teeth and willed his bit beast not to give up.
"Focus, Kai. You need to put all of your will into the match, you can't half ass it. Otherwise Dranzer won't see you as a worthy partner."
Kai stared across at Reiko as she called back her Beyblade before it succeeded in crushing Dranzer. He caught his blade as it shot out of the dish into his outstretched hand and sank down to kneel next to the rim. Reiko walked around and sat next to him, her legs dangling into the Beydish. She leaned back on her arms and looked up at the stars dotting the velvety black sky.
It had been a week since Kai had been given Dranzer by his Grandfather, and he had asked Reiko to help him master the power of the bit beast. The only problem that had presented itself so far was that he had been forbidden from seeking help, as it would be seen as a weakness. Kai had been extremely grateful that Reiko had disregarded this and had agreed without complaint. This had led them to where they were now; sitting wrapped up from the chill of the Russian winter, in the dead of night at one of the outdoor practise dishes that was farthest from the main building of the Abbey so they couldn't be heard.
Kai looked down at his Beyblade and hid a smile behind his scarf. The image of Dranzer seemed to glow red at him and he felt as though the blade was warming his hand, as though the bit beast was welcoming him. He shifted to a more comfortable sitting position and faced Reiko.
"Please don't try to thank me again." Reiko had moved her weight onto one hand while she held the other up to stop Kai from speaking. "I know how much receiving Dranzer meant to you, even though you hate your Grandfather, so I'm going to do everything I can to make sure you won't have her taken away. No matter how long it takes."
"It's just a lot more power than I thought it would be," Kai said as he pocketed his Beyblade. Reiko smirked.
"You'll have to get used to referring to Dranzer as 'she' now, not 'it'." Reiko sternly told him. "Your Beyblade is merely a container for her power, always remember that Kai, because she won't forgive you if you forget it."
Kai lay back to look up at the stars and smiled to himself again. Dranzer had been his Grandfathers gift to him for his seventh birthday, though he had to endure a stern lecture of what it would cost him should he fail to harness her power. Even that hadn't dampened his spirits because he was now in possession of his very own bit beast. It was an honour that not all of the children at the Abbey were allowed. He guiltily admitted to himself that he had been jealous of Reiko when she had received her bit beast Jiana the year before. He had not realised what a great amount of work she had been forced to undergo by herself while training Jiana and was once again filled with gratitude that she was not making him do this alone.
He sighed and watched as the puff of condensed air that formed slowly drifted away on the breeze. Glancing over at Reiko, Kai noticed that she had her blade out and was absentmindedly tracing a finger around the edges of the attack ring. The small image of the black tiger flashed as it caught the light off the moon.
"We should head back inside before you catch a cold."
Reiko's voice was soft and warm. Kai blushed as he knew that she didn't often speak like this. This was a tone she seemed to reserve for him. They moved silently back towards one of the smaller buildings of the complex, where the children slept, ducking into the shadows as a bleary-eyed night guard passed them. Pausing at the door to Kai's room, Reiko hugged him briefly. He was glad for the dark hallway as he was sure his face now matched his crimson eyes.
"You're going to be a great Beyblader one day Kai. I just know it," Reiko whispered in the darkness as she pulled away from him.
Kai was brought out of his thoughts by a loud cheer from the crowd and realised he had been on auto pilot for most of the match. His opponent seemed to think he was gaining the upper hand and was show boating a bit for the crowd.
Thank God this is just an exhibition match for charity, Kai thought as he focused on what was going on and deciding to finish it quickly. Dranzer picked up on his renewed attention and flames began to swirl around her as she bore down on her opponent and swiftly knocked the blade out of the dish. Once again ignoring the screaming fan girls in the crowd, he made his way back over to his team before leading them out of the stadium. Kai pulled out his phone to text Johnathan to pick them up while the others sat down on the low wall by the road.
"Tyson," Kai spoke without looking up from his phone, "you were pretty good out there today, but some of your attacks are getting sloppy. When we get back I want you to do some practice drills with Dragoon before dinner."
Tyson almost overbalanced on the wall as he started open-mouthed up at Kai. "But I've been practically training non-stop for the last week! Can't I have the day off?" he whined.
"Yeah Kai, you know you haven't always won all of your own battles before."
The team turned at the sound of the familiar voice behind them. Kai grinned.
"Tala. I didn't know you were in town." He walked over to the smirking red head and embraced him.
"Well, Bryan and I have been travelling," Tala motioned to the pale boy next to him, "living life to the full since the BBA shut down Biovolt and relocated us to Japan. It's been great."
"We heard that the Bladebreakers would be at this match and wanted to properly thank you for what you have done for us and all of the children whose lives were affected by Biovolt." Bryan formally bowed to the team. Tyson rubbed at the back of his head, feeling awkward while Max and Ray both bowed back.
"We were just having a look around for a place to stay. Bryan was getting tired of moving around so much and I'd suggested just moving into a flat. Since we knew you had a place near here, Kai, we thought it would be a good idea to pick a place here." Tala grinned at Kai. "You know, so we will have at least one friend here."
"Why did the BBA relocate you here?" Max asked as he pulled a bottle of water out of the bag Anastasia had given to Ray. "Do you have family in Japan?"
Tala thought hard on how to answer. "Well, not really. After Biovolt got shut down and everything, Mr Dickenson wanted everyone to go back to their families. That's where Ian and Spencer are," he mentioned to Kai, who nodded in understanding. "For some of the younger children who had no family, they were put into care, not that Mr Dickenson seemed very happy about it but there wasn't much else he could do. As for us," Tala nodded his head towards his silent companion, "we were too old to go into care, but we had no family to speak of. So we came up with an agreement; if we agreed to do research and investigation for the BBA, we could come to Japan with Mr Dickenson. But like I said, Bryan was getting tired of it so we've been allowed to settle in one place. We really owe a lot to that old guy."
"That must be why Reiko's here then," Ray said as he glanced quickly at Bryan. "She must have been relocated same as you guys."
Tala frowned at Ray. "I had no idea she was here." He looked over at Kai for confirmation, who nodded. "Reiko was moved before Biovolt was shut down, none of us knew where she had gone and we were forbidden to ask about her. Not even Katsina and Setsuko were told anything about it."
Tyson was confused. "Who are you talking about?"
"Katsina Saratov and Setsuko Haruno." Tala looked apologetically around the assembled group. "They're the other members of Reiko's team, that's why it was so weird at the time that even they knew nothing. So Reiko's really here? It's actually a relief to know that. I couldn't stop myself from thinking that maybe she had been . . . but I never stopped looking for her when we were travelling, you never know what you could hear when you're on the road." He shrugged.
"Reiko's staying with us at the moment," Kai told the red-head. "Only since last night though, so I have no idea what she's been doing since back then." Kai dropped his voice so only Tala and Bryan could hear him. "You should have seen her when I found her. She'd been beaten badly by someone, I couldn't just leave her." He didn't mention to the other boys about his seeming memory loss when it came to the dark-haired girl; he got the impression that they wouldn't be very pleased.
"You guys should come over and say hi. I'm sure Reiko would be happy to have visitors, especially if you haven't seen each other in a while." Ray called over from where he was shouldering his bag. Johnathan had pulled up next to the curb and was holding the door for them. "Kai made her stay at home because of her injuries," he said with a grin.
Tala stared at him wide eyed before turning to Kai as they walked to the car. "Did you look the doors and windows and chain her to a chair?"
"No," said Kai, bewildered and alarmed, "why would I have done that?"
Tala gave Kai a searching look and Kai instantly knew his cover was blown. Tala had realised that he couldn't remember Reiko or anything to do with her.
"Because just telling Reiko to stay put doesn't stop her." Kai sighed, knowing that Tala wasn't going to call him on his forgetfulness. Tala grinned as he climbed into the car after Bryan and said over his shoulder to Kai, "She'll just up and leave whenever she feels like it and nothing can get in her way."
Back at the Hiwatari mansion, Reiko was absentmindedly flicking through channels on TV while dangling her legs over the side of the couch. She stretched her arms out in front of her and heard a satisfying pop in her shoulder.
There's never anything good on TV these days, she thought as she swung her legs back down onto the floor and switching off the screen. I should probably go home to get my stuff. Not to mention the girls will probably be worrying about where I went.
"You shouldn't do that, you know." Jiana appeared draped languidly on a chair. She stared up at Reiko. "Kai told you to stay inside."
"And when have I ever had to listen to what Kai tells me?" Reiko said grumpily to her bit beast.
"You used to listen to him. You would have listened to Tala," Jiana mumbled, looking away from the other girls piercing gaze. Reiko turned her back on the dark skinned girl.
"I haven't seen Tala for a couple of years now. I never should have listened; never should have trusted him when he said he'd be there for me. I stayed put and waited for him, to help me, and he never came. It's why I ended up here in this state." She motioned angrily at her bruised form.
"I know that, Reiko. And you should know that Tala would have got you if Boris hadn't managed to move you before he could get to you." Jiana sat up and reached out to Reiko.
"Well then he should have come for me sooner!" Reiko swiped furiously at her eyes as tears threatened to fall. "Forget it, I'm going." With that, she stormed out the front door and started running.
"You can run away from everyone else, but I'm always going to be here for you." Jiana's voice sounded from in Reiko's mind.
I know, Reiko thought back as she finally let the tears fall. I know you will.
She continued running through the city, ignoring the sleek black car that drove past in the direction she had come from.
Kai turned in his seat to look back at the dark haired figure as she ran round a corner.
"Was that Reiko?" Ray asked as he followed Kai's line of sight.
"Johnathan, stop the car and let me out," Kai said urgently. The second the car came to a halt, he jumped out, closely followed by Tala. As the door slammed shut behind them, Johnathan started to drive again.
"I guess it was," Max said, bewildered at the actions of his companions. Bryan shifted nervously when he realised he was left sitting alone next to Ray.
"Kai, wait up!" Tala called, catching up to Kai as he turned another corner and he spotted the ends of Reiko's long hair whip out of sight ahead.
Kai's teeth were gritted and he frowned as he picked up his pace to try and keep Reiko in sight. "I told her to stay put! What if she gets attacked again? That fool," he growled.
"I told you she wouldn't stay put," Tala panted as they finally saw Reiko disappear into a block of flats.
Upstairs in the flat, a girl with short, dark spiked hair and red streaks walked towards the door where someone was pounding on it from the other side.
"If you don't stop that right now I'm going to come out there and kick your teeth in!" she yelled through the door.
A muffled, but familiar, voice answered, "Come on, Setsuko, let me in already. I've lost my key and you know I've never trusted this place."
Setsuko unlocked the door and threw it open to reveal her silver eyed friend. "Where have you been all night? We were up worrying, you know," she said as she pulled Reiko into a hug.
Reiko placed a kiss on the top of her hair before moving into the living room of the small apartment, where she spotted a petite girl standing at the window and peering out from between the curtains. She smiled. "What no hug?" Reiko asked the red haired girl innocently.
"Reiko! Thank God you're safe!" The teen practically threw herself into Reiko's open arms with relief.
"Hey, Katsina, I take it you missed me?" Reiko laughed as she placed a small kiss on the short teens head before releasing her.
"Of course we did. What happened to you? You said you were just going to get something to eat from that noodle house down the road." Katsina glared accusatory at her younger friend.
"That was my plan, but I met up with some very unwelcome people," Reiko told them as she moved over to the kitchenette to get a biscuit.
Setsuko opened her mouth to question her further, but was interrupted by another knock at the door. Sighing angrily, she stomped back over and wrenched the door open.
"If you don't piss off right now I'll –"
Her words trailed off to silence as she took in the two boys standing in the hallway. It may have been a few years since she had last laid eyes on them, and she knew that her own appearance had changed a lot since then, but there was no mistaking that she knew who they were. The dual-haired boy bowed politely before speaking.
"Hello. We were just wondering if a Miss Yin Kon, or Reiko, was here. We would try elsewhere but this seems to be the only inhabited apartment." Kai kept his tone polite as he spoke to the short girl who had answered the door. He forced a smile as she continued to glare at him. "Is she here?"
"Why do you want to know?" Setsuko asked him. It was clear that neither Kai nor Tala recognised her now after so long, but she wasn't willing to forgive either of them for abandoning Reiko as they had each done in their own way.
Tala matched the girls glare with a frown of his own. "I don't think we need to tell you why we're looking for her. Now, he asked you a question. Are you going to answer it or not?"
"Hmm, I really don't think I have to tell you anything," Setsuko said, mocking Tala's tone. The red head was about to angrily respond before Reiko decided to speak up from the kitchenette.
"It's fine you guys, I know why they're here." She walked over to stand next to Katsina. Crossing her arms over her chest, she stood defiantly across from Kai. "How did you know where I was?"
"You ran past the car when we were on our way back. I thought I'd asked you to stay at home?" Kai moved farther into the apartment, ignoring the protests from Setsuko. "Why didn't you just stay put?"
"This is my home, you know. I had to come back to make sure these two were okay." Reiko draped her arm over Katsina's shoulder. "I'm fine. You don't have to worry so much, Kai."
"I had my reasons for not wanting you to leave," Kai said gently as he touched Reiko's arm. "You should come back with us."
"What were they?" Katsina piped up, raising one eyebrow at the taller boy. "What were your reasons?"
Kai turned cold ruby eyes on the stranger standing too close for his liking next to Reiko. "I'm not likely to tell you, now, am I?"
Reiko stiffened and pulled away from Kai's touch. "Then I'm not going back with you. How dare you come barging into my home, insult my friends and think you can boss me around?" She squared off against Kai, forcing him back towards the door. "You have no right over my life to tell me what to do, and I'll damn well go where ever I want!"
Just as Kai was backed out the door, Reiko finally noticed who the second voice had come from. Stopping in her tracks, she did a double take and stared open mouthed at the tall red head standing next to her.
"What are you doing here?" she managed to ask incredulously, before Tala moved forward quickly and enveloped her in a massive hug, lifting the shorter teen off her feet slightly.
"I can't believe you're actually here," Tala laughed joyously. "I didn't want to quite believe it when Ray told me that they'd seen you." He let go and stood back to look at Reiko properly. "You look as pretty as ever."
Reiko blushed furiously. "Don't think that compliments will make me forgive you, Tala. I haven't forgotten the promise you broke." She pulled stiffly away from Tala as his face fell. Looking over at Kai, she took a steadying breath before addressing him again. "As long as these two," she motioned to Setsuko and Katsina, "are here, this is where I'm going to stay. You can't say anything to change my mind. I'm sorry."
Kai closed his eyes in resignation, sighing. God damn, why must she be so difficult? I don't want to leave her here, but she won't leave her friends alone.
Isn't the answer to your question a very easy one?
Kai twitched at the sudden intrusion of another consciousness in his own as the female voice rang in his head. Relaxing again as he realised it must be Jiana, he focused on communicating with her.
Well what is this easy answer then? he asked. The sound of light laughter filled his mind.
You don't have to focus that much to talk to me, Kai. Just think normally as you always would and I can hear it.Kai could tell the bit beast was smiling. And all you have to do is take the other two with you. Then Reiko will be in a place where you feel she is safe and secure, and she won't be constantly worrying about her friends and trying to go back to them.
The dual haired boy let out a sigh as the simplicity of the plan hit him. He opened his eyes and stared at Reiko, glancing at the other girls standing behind her. He was sure he'd probably end up regretting this.
"Look, I get why you don't want to leave them, but I really would feel better if you came back with me." It wasn't lost on the girls that Kai had dropped saying 'with them'. "If you would both be okay with it, your friends can come with us to live at my home. Would you consider coming back then?"
Reiko turned to look at her friends. All Kai and Tala could see were their eyes darting from one to another. No words were exchanged; though Kai suspected a telepathic conversation was going on to keep the two boys out. At last they all turned back to the two in the hallway.
"We've decided that if you would really be alright with two more people moving in, then we'll come with you." Setsuko levelled her gaze at Kai. "That's the only way we'll let Reiko leave with you."
"Fine." Kai's temper was getting short and he knew that his control wouldn't last much longer if the conversation continued. "Just hurry and collect your stuff. You probably won't need to bring much with you just now, we can send for the rest you want to bring along later. We can leave as soon as you're ready."
The girls headed off back into the apartment to collect their belongings while Kai let out a frustrated sigh. Tala leaned against the wall opposite the door and watched silently as Kai called Johnathan to pick them up and to tell Anastasia that there would be two more living with them.
"You sure you're alright with this, Kai?" Tala asked as Kai hung up the phone.
Kai just glanced up before continuing to fiddle with the device in his hands. "I'm just going to have to go with it, Tala. You didn't see her last night. I need to keep her safe and if this is the only way I can do that then. . ."
Tala understood what Kai meant. The other boy usually had quite a reserved personality after all. Ten minutes later, the girls were back with backpacks slung over their shoulders and Setsuko locked up after them. The group made their way downstairs in time to see Johnathan pulling into the street.
"We'll someone to give us directions, or we can just follow your car if that's alright?" Katsina said from beside a dark car that Setsuko was busy unlocking the boot of to stow their bags.
"I can ride with you guys." Tala made his way over to the two waiting girls. He grinned over his shoulder at Kai. "Reiko can go with you and Johnathan."
"That's fine with us." Setsuko climbed in behind the wheel and started the engine as Johnathan held open the door for Kai and Reiko.
The drive back to Kai's home was quiet in the car. Reiko sat next to Kai, staring out the window. She let her hand wander over to find Kai's and she loosely wound their fingers together. Kai glanced over at her and noticed that her expression never changed while she did this, making him think that the movement had been unconscious. He looked out the opposite window, pink tingeing his cheeks, as the car sped its way out to the edge of the city where Kai's home was situated.
The ride wasn't long by car and soon they were pulling up at the front door with Setsuko's car following suit. They all piled through the door into the entrance hall and the girls instantly dropped their bags down. Ray, who had been walking through from the kitchen, stopped in his tracks when he spotted another two new figures before him.
"Who the hell is this now?" he asked incredulously, hardly believing that his team captain had brought more strangers home.
"Well, you've met Ray now at least," Kai said as he took off his shoes and gave Ray a questioning look about his tone. "MAX! TYSON! Come here please!" Kai called out to the rest of his team. The boys came jogging out of the living room, while Bryan came down the hall, drawn by the noise. Everyone stared at the two newcomers as they also took off their shoes and put on the slippers Anastasia offered them.
"Who's this?" Max looked from Kai to Reiko to Tala and back again.
Reiko picked her bag up again before answering him. She motioned to the red streak haired girl on her left. "This is Setsuko Haruno and," she waved to the short red head on her right, "this is Katsina Litvinov. They're my team mates."
"Team mates?" Tyson looked confused.
"Beyblade team I mean. Our name's Silver Blaze."
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Dolphin-san: Well I hope that was worth the wait. Sorry again to everyone who was waiting for this. I'll really try to get these chapters finished faster.
Ja Ne.