Hey everybody! Happy holidays to you all! (I dunno how many of you don't celebrate Christmas. ^^) Hope you have fun!

Oh! I changed my penname, if you haven't noticed. It used to be Psycho-Kitty-Purra, but now it's Midnight Insanity. I needed a change. ^^

This chapter is dedicated to Anh D-ao who is just plain awesome and is one of the greatest friends I could ever ask for. Hope you like this, Jac! XD

Anyway, sorry for the wait, guys! And thank you for the reviews! ^^ Yush, I'm greedy… XD But oh well! It's Christmas, I'm allowed to be. ^^

A few new characters introduced here, guys! *winks* Let's see who can guess who they are! Except for you, Jac, 'cause you already know. XD

I don't own Beyblade or its characters, but I do own my characters and the plot.

Haha, I love Dranzer in this chapter! ^^

Enjoy! And please, please, please review!

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Chapter Two:

Distractions

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"Was the package delivered?"

"Of course it was." The tall blonde swept her long hair gracefully over her shoulder and locked her icy blue eyes on the short old man sitting in the high-backed chair. Every visit to the Hiwatari mansion in Moscow was a hated event because she had to prepare for the Russian cold, which she also hated. At least she was able to make her outfit suit her. She wore black slacks and her favorite black ankle boots with a black long-sleeved shirt and a white vest, which matched her pure white gloves. "I left it with the secretary because he wasn't there, but he should have gotten it by now."

"How can you be sure?" The old man's steely gaze was fixed on her and his eyes narrowed dangerously.

Paige pretended that she hadn't noticed. "I gave her a tip to make sure it would get to him as soon as he got back."

The old man glared at her and leaned forward, steepling his fingers and looking over them at the slender young woman who was currently leaning against the edge of his desk. "I do not like your tone, Miss Summers. Do you forget your place in this operation?"

She fought back a scowl, suddenly reminded that the old man was another reason behind her hatred for Moscow. Instead she straightened and stood straight, hands resting at her sides although she couldn't help but tilt her chin upward in a faintly insolent manner. Do you forget your promise to me? "No, sir."

"Good." Voltaire Hiwatari sat back in his chair and rested a hand on the head of his cane. "You have served your purpose so far, let us hope that it will continue this way." The old man's eyes narrowed slightly and the steely gray orbs flashed dangerously.

"I hold my end of the bargain, you hold yours." Her lips tilted upward into a slight smirk of satisfaction and she rested one manicured hand on her hip.

"Hmm…" Voltaire lifted his free hand and gave her a dismissive wave, which immediately opened the door several yards behind her. "See to it that you do."

Waiting patiently until she was gone and the doors were closed once more, Voltaire leaned back against his chair and made a slight motion with his hand to indicate the tall shadow standing in the darkest corner of the room. In three smooth strides on his long legs he reached the edge of the desk and remained perfectly still, his form still bathed in shadow. Only a faint outline could be seen of a tall, lean body clothed in black pants, boots and long-sleeved shirt, his eyes staring blankly across the room.

"Are you aware of the fact that I keep careful record of all parts of the Black Dranzer Project?" the old Russian asked slowly, eyes glinting with malice.

"Yes, sir." The voice was deep, but flat, seemingly soulless like a man that had long ago lost what he held most dear and had no hope of ever seeing it again.

"Mm…" Voltaire closed his eyes for a moment, his mind racing through the information he had been given just that morning. If what the doctors believed was true, then there was a glitch in his otherwise flawless plan. Voltaire hated glitches. "You realize that your progress has been wavering, correct?"

The young man said nothing for a moment, simply stared at the opposite wall until finally he spoke, just as clearly as before. "Yes, sir."

"And can you tell me why?"

"No, sir."

"I see." Voltaire dismissively flicked his wrist and the shadowy man nodded his head once before he disappeared back into the darkness through a secret passageway that led straight to the lab.

Thin lips stretched into a grim line, Voltaire steepled his fingers and closed his eyes, reaching out with his mind to touch the creature that he had created just a few years before. What stops his progress this time, Black Dranzer?

The dark creature awoke and a deep rumble like thunder resonated through his mind as it cast its blazing eyes upon the old man. It is always the same. The black phoenix shifted until he could partially unfurl his wings. But nothing that I cannot erase. If a phoenix could smirk, it would have then. Forever.

*  *  *

"Sir?"

Kai opened one eye and looked at the young stewardess that had been his only companion for the past few hours with the exception of the pilot and Dranzer. The only thing that marked her as something other than an ordinary stewardess was the service gun in the holster on her belt. Other than that, she was a picture perfect airline worker.

The blonde woman smiled down at him, her brown eyes warm and friendly as she made a gesture with her hand toward the door. "We land soon. I hope you rested well?"

Instead of answering, he nodded once and cast his gaze out the window, although it was rather pointless because all he could see was the Mediterranean Sea far below and a scattering of clouds in the clear blue skies. The phoenix stirred sleepily in his mind and lifted his head, using his master's eyes to gaze out the window. Beautiful view, the ancient being commented.

"Please buckle your seatbelt, we're beginning to land," the stewardess said beside the navy blue curtain that separated the passenger side from the cockpit. Without answering, Kai did as he was told and closed his eyes as he felt the small aircraft begin to land. His bitbeast's reaction to landing was always the same, even though they had done it a thousand times. The phoenix loved the feeling of landing.

The moment they touched the ground Kai's lips twitched when his ears popped, but the thought left his mind entirely when the stewardess opened the exit door and the steps slowly descended to the ground on the private landing strip. Without hesitation he unbuckled his seatbelt and stood, pulling his duffel bag off of the overhead compartment and slinging it over his shoulder.

Warm, salty air surrounded him the instant he took a step off of the plane and he paused at the top of the steps, allowing his eyes to adjust to the brilliant light that surrounded him. The turquoise waters lapped at the thin beaches of bleached sand and in the distance fins of dolphins could occasionally be seen cutting through the waves. Behind him stood tall mountains adorned with pine, chestnut, oak, and cork trees on their steep slopes and small evergreen shrubs dotted the landscape nearby.

An old woman dressed in a simple pale blue sundress walked energetically despite her cane, a warm smile on her thin lips making the corners of her pale blue eyes crinkle with lines of laughter and sorrow. Her long gray hair was pulled into a low ponytail that hung to the middle of her back and it swayed gently in the breeze as she stopped at the foot of the steps. "Kai Hiwatari…" She shook her head, her smile broadening as she held out her hand. Without hesitation Kai walked down the last few steps and grasped her hand with his, giving her the first real smile anyone had seen for a long time. "My adopted grandson… It has been far too long, my dear boy." If she was expecting any resistance when she pulled him into her arms for a hug she never showed any as she held him tight, her eyes swelling with happy tears. "You've grown so tall! Let me have a look at you."

Kai obediently stood still, a ghost of a smile on his face as the old woman looked him over, nodding every so often until she stood in front of him and placed a hand on her hip before she reached up and tugged a wayward strand of slate-colored hair. Although he would never admit it, he had missed the old woman over the years and somehow wasn't surprised that she hadn't changed much.

"My dear boy…" Maria Reeves shook her head and wiped a tear from her eyes. "You're actually cooperating!" Warm laughter rang like bells from her throat as she gave him a brilliant smile. "I had the hardest time keeping you in line, young man, but look at you! So tall and handsome."

Are you kidding? It is still impossible getting him to cooperate, the red phoenix sniffed, materializing out of the beyblade in the duffel bag to stand on the landing strip, wings tucked against his sides, his fiery plumage shining brilliantly in the afternoon light.

A faint blush had appeared on Kai's cheeks when his adopted grandmother had called him handsome, but it immediately disappeared when Dranzer had made his comment. The two-toned teen cast an annoyed look over at his bitbeast, who completely ignored him as he preened his feathers.

"Dranzer, you old bird," Grandmother Maria said affectionately, placing a hand on the phoenix's shoulder. "Still alive?"

That was enough to make Kai smirk and Dranzer lifted his head, giving the old woman an indignant look. No thanks to this youngling, but yes. After saying this, the phoenix gave his master a rather smug look, only making Kai's smirk turn into a mild glare.

"Still squabbling I see." With a smile and a wave Grandmother Maria shook her head and turned, beginning to walk toward the large Italian-style estate that the old woman called home. Kai picked up his duffel bag and slung it over his shoulder again before he followed after, stretching his legs to catch up and then walk by her side. To his amusement, Dranzer had to make a sort of awkward hop before he was able to lift up off of the ground and soar into the sky, sunlight glittering on his long tail feathers. "You must be nineteen now."

"Yeah." His voice was slightly hoarse from not being used in so long and he grimaced inwardly. But then everything was forgotten when he took his first step on the stone walkway that led up to the house. To him, the place looked like an island paradise.

Tall fronds grew along the tall stone pillars that supported the roof of the outdoor corridor, and the doors were made of solid wood, probably oak, with domed archways overtop. The roof itself was made of red curved stone and the many windows – sizes from only a foot in each dimension to covering at least half a wall – remained open with light colored curtains fluttering softly inside. A garden wove around the snaking walkway, full of colorful flowers and tall fronds and fruit trees. A tropical bird with long tail feathers and a graceful beak turned its head to gaze at him with one coal-black eye before it spread its wings and took off, soaring into the sky until it disappeared.

The old woman had stopped at the doorway of the house and had been watching him take it all in for the past few moments, a small smile on her face as she waited patiently. When he finally looked back at her his face was expressionless, but his mahogany eyes told her all that she needed to know. "Welcome to my home in Corsica, my dear."

I believe he likes it, Lady, Dranzer stated as he poked his head around the corner of the veranda.

"Well you're welcome to stay as long as you like," Grandmother Maria said before she cast her gaze on the phoenix. "Both of you. Have you found the shelter?"

Yes, thank you. Keturah described it quite well. It is lovely. The bitbeast bobbed his head respectfully, his golden eyes shimmering with pleasure.

"Thank you, I'm glad it meets your approval." The old woman pulled open the door, revealing a living room with colorful rugs and tables made of lightwood with even more plants inside crystal vases and brick-colored pots. "Tasha prepared a room for you just a few hours ago. Make yourself at home." She smiled as she led him into the house and through a series of rooms before she came to one of three doors at the end of a short hallway. She pushed it open and revealed a large bedroom with several large windows just wide enough for a small person to fit through, the beige curtains pulled back and fluttering gently in the tropical breeze. The bed was pushed to a corner near the door, the headboard and one side against a wall, the pale blue sheets neatly folded at the end. A large desk had been pushed against the wall near the door, complete with a chair.

"I sent Tasha down to the village a little while ago to get some food for dinner," Grandmother Maria said softly, her hand still on the door as she watched him slowly step into the room and drop his duffel bag onto the floor. "She should be back soon."

Kai turned his head, gazing at her through the corner of his eye, not knowing how to express just how he felt. Even though he had never been to Tasha's native land before, it already felt like home. "Thank you."

The old Italian woman smiled and reached forward to ruffle his two-toned hair, just like she had done countless times when he was six. "You may not have been born into my family, young Kai, but you are still my grandson. My home is your home."

*  *  *

"Is that all you need, Miss Tasha?" the middle-aged Italian man asked, giving her a warm smile as she took the canvas bag filled with fruit from him after paying for her purchases.

"Yes, thank you, Antonio," she replied, giving him a small answering smile before she tipped the edge of her wide-brimmed hat made of dried ferns woven together, something that her grandmother had made for year two years before. A stream of light caught the silver ring on her thumb, making it gleam and catch the eyes of some of the villagers. Seeing her around the marketplace was common and all of the villagers knew who she was. Her grandmother had a great influence on the small area surrounding her estate.

Laden with several canvas bags filled with fruit, vegetables, loaves of chestnut bread and other necessities, Tasha made her way through the narrow dirt roads of the village, her ocean blue eyes on the sky as she watched for any sign of a plane. She thought she had heard something sometime before, but had been distracted at the time and she hadn't the heart to awaken Keturah from her nap to investigate.

Once outside the actual village, she was surrounded by nothing more than a large amount of evergreen shrubs and ferns with the occasional small tree poking up and providing a bit more shade along the dirt path. After a few minutes of walking, Tasha reached into the pocket of her long khaki cargo shorts that hung loosely on her hips and pulled out the keys to the black jeep that she used to take her to and from the village. Key ring around one finger, she twirled it until the right key was in her hand and a moment later inserted it into the lock. When the door opened, she swung into the driver's seat and carefully placed the canvas bags into the back seat, propping them up against the doors and seat so they wouldn't fall over.

It rather amused her that her grandmother hated the jeep so much. She didn't like cars much either, but she did like the little jeep. It sure made her trips to the scattering of villages near the city of Calvi easier, anyway. Since her grandmother never used it, grocery shopping was now chiefly her job, something that she didn't mind in the least. The scenery was beautiful and the wind in her face felt absolutely fabulous.

Tasha turned her body around to make sure she didn't back into something as she made a tight turn to hit the broadened trail that led a wandering path to her grandmother's estate. Or rather, through the estate. Her grandmother owned a great deal of land.

Glad to have the wind rushing through her long dark hair, she took off her hat and placed it next to her, taking a pair of sunglasses from the glove compartment and setting them on the bridge of her nose. Instantly the scenery around her darkened and she smiled slightly as she shifted into fourth gear and put more pressure on the gas pedal. The fresh, clean air of the Mediterranean Sea swept around her and she leaned against the seat, completely content.

Over the past two years since her arrival in Corsica she had grown to love the island of her birth. Being five when she moved, she didn't remember much of her childhood there, but she was glad that she had known it at least a little. Out of the many homes that she had at one time called her own, this one was the closest to her heart.

The moment she neared the center of the estate, she could see the tail of the small airplane that she had been waiting for and she slowed down, well aware of the noise the jeep could make. As usual, her grandmother stood at the end of the veranda, patiently awaiting her return. Tasha parked the jeep in the sheltered area that had become its home and got out, slinging the three canvas bags over her shoulders before she shut the door.

"He has grown up," the old woman commented as she accompanied her granddaughter into the house. Tasha nodded as she placed the canvas bags on the counter and carefully relieved them of their contents. "He didn't squirm when I embraced him or mussed his hair."

Tasha coughed in an effort to keep herself from laughing, brushing her lips with the back of her hand as she picked up a rather large cluster of grapes from the bowl near the stove. With her free hand she brushed back the wayward strands that had come loose from the long braid that hung down her back when she had been driving, making the five silver hoops and the cuff and chain in her ear shimmer and ring softly in the soft light of the kitchen. "You've missed him," Tasha observed as she popped a grape into her mouth, leaning her hip against the counter as she pensively watched her grandmother.

Maria Reeves sat down in one of the chairs against the wall and gave her granddaughter a broad grin. "I have. He was rather charming when he was six years old."

"Especially when he started calling you 'grandmother,'" Tasha added knowingly, unable to hide the small smile as she put another grape in her mouth.

"Yes, well, that was your doing, if I remember correctly," she said with an amused smile. "He hardly said a word when he arrived. Poor dear, he seemed so tired."

Tasha tilted her head to the side as she nibbled on another grape, taking time to turn her head to the side and spit the seed into the pot near the door. "He isn't much of a talker anymore," she said finally. Her fingers unconsciously turned the silver ring on her thumb, although her grandmother didn't miss the action. "So he's asleep?"

"I would assume." Maria took a section of the grapes the girl had in her hand and nibbled on one of them. "I haven't seen him since he arrived." She suddenly laughed and placed the grapes in her lap. "Dranzer made an entrance. Do they always squabble so?"

Amused, Tasha shook her head. "Sometimes. Dranzer likes to tease him."

I cannot help it if it is so much fun, the phoenix stated in their minds, sounding cheerful and much, much younger than he really was. The bitbeast gave a theatrical sniff and Tasha could almost see him lifting his head regally. He puts it on himself, anyway. There was a pause and then the creature added, more seriously this time and with a definite touch of affection in his tone, He is a bit tired from the past few days. He slept all of the way here.

"Hmm…" Maria thoughtfully looked at the nineteen-year-old before her and then nodded. "Perhaps you should check on him, Tasha."

The raven-haired girl look at her for a moment before she consented and reached into the cupboard and pulled out a small bowl, dumping her section of the grapes into it. She wiped the juices from her fingers on the hem of her white tank top and gave her grandmother a brief smile before she headed toward the bedroom she had made up only hours before.

"Today is an excellent day for a swim." Tasha turned her head to see the old Italian woman giving her a slight smile and the teen found herself returning it.

Instead of going straight to Kai's room, she went into hers and placed the bowl of grapes on the desk before she went into her large closet and searched for her bathing suit. It took a few minutes of searching, but when she finally found it she tossed it onto her bed and then rummaged around in her dresser for the black shorts she always wore with them. After she had cast a glance out the windows to see if anyone was around – and the chances of there being anyone nearby were extremely slim anyway – she kicked off her sandals and peeled off her tank top and bra, exchanging them for the black bikini top that she had bought the year before. Her old suit no longer worked because she had grown a bit more over the past two years and no longer fit comfortably in the navy blue two-piece.

With a deft motion she tied the black cords around the back of her neck and then behind her back, making sure they were tight and wouldn't come loose in the water. There wasn't much resistance when she pulled her shorts off and tossed them onto the floor, soon followed by the gray bikini-cut underwear. Not liking the idea of being mostly bare in the middle of the day, she yanked on the black bottoms cut much like the ones she had just pulled off, something that seemed very unlike her. The bottom was high cut and the suit itself didn't bother hiding any part of her lean body.

Even though she had gone swimming in her suit many times before, she was always a bit unnerved by the fact that she was wearing so little clothing. In a swift motion she pulled on the long black shorts and slid into her sandals before she stepped in front of the mirror, wondering if she should remake her braid or not. After a moment's thought she decided against it and simply reinforced the band that held it together. Her long hair still retained the purple highlights and there were several tiny little braids that had been braided into the single thick one that fell down her back. It was a much simpler style than she had used during her stay with the rest of the Shadow Team, but she liked it. It was much easier and didn't interfere with the things that she did. Not only that, but the weight of the braid was almost reassuring somehow and she couldn't think of any reason to get rid of it now.

There was no hesitation in her stride as she took the two steps that were required to cross from her door to the one that belonged to Kai. But with one hand on the doorknob, she paused. She had no idea why, but it suddenly felt so strange.

He remains asleep, youngling, Dranzer said gently at the very edge of her mind, his deep voice warm and affectionate. He may not admit it, but he has missed you. Tasha sent a silent thank you to the phoenix before she turned the knob and slipped inside, silently closing the door behind her.

The interior looked just as it had when she had left it, with the exception of a black duffel bag lying on the ground near the bed and the black dress shoes that had obviously been kicked off. Her eyes swept across the room until they came to rest in the figure lying on the bed. He lay on his stomach, one arm supporting the pillow beneath his head and the other stretched out, his knuckles just brushing the headboard. A white button-up dress shirt had been tossed onto the foot of the bed, leaving him clad only in black slacks and the silver chain around his neck. A thin sheen of sweat shone on his strong back, slightly thicker between his shoulder blades and his two-tone hair was mussed and damp, some clinging to his face and neck.

A soft sigh escaped her as she silently made her way to the bed, kneeling beside him and gently brushing the thick bangs away from his sweaty brow. The moment her fingers left his hair, his eyes opened and she found herself staring into the endless depths of his dark mahogany eyes.

"Did I wake you?" she asked softly, hoping that she hadn't. From what Dranzer and her grandmother had told her, Kai needed all the sleep he could get.

"No." His husky voice was muffled by his arm and the pillow, causing her to smile slightly in amusement. [A/N. *drools* Yumm……]

Instead of speaking, Tasha lifted her hand and gently began smoothing his hair away from his face. With her other hand she reached for the bowl she had placed on the floor beside her and broke off a grape from the vine, holding it up for him to see. Knowing Kai, he hadn't eaten any of the airline food – and who would blame him, the stuff was horrible – and he was more than likely hungry. "I picked these from the vines out back just this morning," she explained as she held it out to him.

Kai looked at the purple fruit for a moment before he took it from her and popped it into his mouth. He blinked in surprise for a moment before he swallowed. "You grow your own food?"

"Some of it." Tasha rocked back on her heels and rested her arms on her knees, having picked up the bowl so it was easier to reach. "Sometimes we fish, too," she added as an afterthought. "How was the wedding?"

The young man munched on a grape he had taken from the bowl and said nothing until he had swallowed it. "Colorful." Tasha lifted a brow to indicate that hadn't quite been what she had asked for, although she knew that was about all she would get. She wished with all her heart that she had been able to be there, but she couldn't leave her grandmother.

In a smooth motion she stood, the bowl of grapes still in her hand as she tilted her head toward the door. "Why don't I show you around? Then you can tell me the real reason why you came here."

Kai's brows furrowed in a small frown until he saw the fact that Tasha simply knew him well enough to see that he hadn't come to Corsica just to pay a visit. The first giveaway was the fact that Kai Hiwatari did not just pay a visit to anybody, no matter who they were. The second probably had something to do with Dranzer.

The phoenix's indignant comment to that last thought was quiet, but didn't go unheard. Why is it always my fault?

~*~ To Be Continued ~*~

Aww… Poor Dranzer! *snugs him* He gets so much crap. XD It might seem weird, but he's actually one of my favorite characters in this story.

Haha! Long chapter! I hope you liked it! *waves a paw*

Next chapter: A little Kai/Tasha fluff for you guys, warm beaches, an old friend, and… I dunno. ^^ We'll see.

On a side note, I've got two other Beyblade fics going on right now, so check 'em out! One of them is an AU one-shot (Kai/OC) and it's finished. Christmas story, you guys! The other one is an angsty piece and set in the Beyblade world. Check 'em out and let me know what you think! As always, if you've got any questions for me, feel free to ask!

Ehh… *scratches head* That's everything, I guess. ^^ Except for HAPPY HOLIDAYS, YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *hugs everyone* Thanks so much for sticking with me! You guys rock!

Now that I've given you your Christmas present, you can give me mine. REVIEW! *cackles* XD

Happy holidays, all!

~*~ Midnight Insanity