Dark: Hope u like this piece. I did xD

Disclaimer/Summary: Check the Prologue.

"..." speaking

Italics' thoughts

:: … :: bit beast talking


Chapter 4... Stoned Kiss?

««Dream»»
His lifeless body fell to its feet, no more sound, no more pain, no more hiding.

Somehow she wished she was in his place.

But that wasn't possible.

The creature walked up to her. At least, that was what she thought it did. Its feet were now right in front of her, covered by a thick, large cloak all around the strong looking figure, its features hided by the wide hood.

Its hand (or claw, or talons... or whatever it was...) picked her up effortlessly. Iris had the feeling it was smirking.

"Ego incurrere-te." The normally unfamiliar language of Latin greeted her. But somehow, she knew it meant "I found you".

"Qui esse tu?" the words to ask who it was in the same language it used passed through her lips as if she used them everyday.

"Integer interrogatio essere ut te velle ego, non reperires?" 'The correct question would be for what I want you, don't you think?' That too, yes.

"Ita."

It leaned in, whispering into her ear, "Wouldn't you like to know?" Silver eyes widened, It knows English? Then...?
««End Dream»»

Iris sat up straight on her bed, the darkness of the room obscuring most of the fear in her wide eyes, What was that all about... The cold sweat upon her skin made her shiver.

She searched the dorm, not moving from her bed.

Axel was sleeping quietly, as was Shauna. Rui was lightly snoring, muttering a few things here and there which she didn't have the patience to listen. Tiff was sleeping with Ignisithar on her palm, copying her own anti-stealing system. And leaning against her, little Nevola seemed to find her quite comfy to sleep against.

A quiet sigh escaped her. Everything's alright... It was just a dream. Just that. Patting the wolf's head and sweeping her eyes over the room one last time, she closed her eyes again.

The clock only read 2.06 in the morning. After all, she was only a human; she needed to sleep.

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The long voyage passed on without much trouble. Except the news of a team quitting. The part of the quitting was alright, sure, but the fact that they were crying like no tomorrow was what was worrying the others.

But no one knew why exactly.

They now had three days till they reached Fortaleza.

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"Again."

The beige and pink beyblade was released yet again by its tired looking beyblader.

"I want your launching harsh and strong, Shauna. It's sufficiently fast, but that fact isn't good enough without a good amount of strength. If you happen to battle Ray, he's equally fast, if not faster, and will defeat you easily." Her captain looked at her calmly, Dromme spinning strongly in front of him.

"I know, I know... Give me some time."

"We've been practising for almost two weeks, and you need even more time? C'mon hun, hurry up! Time's running up."

"No need to annoy her, Tiffany, she knows that." Rui commented, while battling said girl.

Tiff smirked, "Aww, are you supporting your beloved one?"

"Don't say nonsense, Boisvert!" both of them snapped at her. But her opponent's cheeks did blush, much to her amusement.

Iris, on the other side, was on the gym of the ship, working out calmly. She had already trained, since she woke up earlier. After that dream, she didn't sleep much. And to help her annoyance, Kai decided that some exercise would do some good to his team too, since he entered right after when she was doing some stretching.

Great... Effortlessly, she did the splits as if it was nothing, Just what I needed... I just hope Tyson doesn't see me, that way, he'll keep his loud mouth shut and I won't have to-

"Hey Iris!!"

-murder him... "Morning, Tyson." She graciously got up, cracking her knuckles, then stretching her arms above her head.

"Didn't know you were able to do that..." the slight awe in the tone of his voice made her smirk lightly.

"That, and much, much more." She didn't mean it that way, but it just came out. Silver eyes locked with reddish brown ones for mere seconds.

Kai quirked an eyebrow at her in question, She's not referring to... is she? Shrugging mentally, he turned on his heels. He had more things to do than to try to figure out what she meant. After their last encounter, his decision to talk to her had changed immediately. If she doesn't want me around, that's just fine by me. I don't need to worry anymore. Not that I did ever since we separated.

Watching him walk away from her like that made a pang of guilt be felt in her chest. She sighed inaudibly. Deep inside, she did know she didn't have any right to do what she did. He has suffered in his childhood too... It was low and most of all was wrong to use her powers like that, He just came over to talk and all I did was push him away and hurt him. And now it was she who had to do something about it, Bloody hell, what I just can't understand is why do I feel guilty when I just made him feel a small fragment of what I'm feeling right now! She quickly blinked away the tears that threatened to fall, Not like this... Not with everyone watching...

Tyson shook her out of her thoughts as he waved his hand in front of her face, "Iris? You alright?"

"You should go, Kai's waiting." With a last strange look, they all left. Even she admitted her voice had a slight note of bitterness to it. This is getting annoying...

"Talked to him yet?" her head snapped to the side, looking into the expectant face of Ten.

"Wha... who?" wasn't she getting a bit too lost in her thoughts? Since when people sneak up on her?!

The other chuckled softly, "Kai. Now you know his true reasons?"

"What re-" silver eyes narrowed, slowly growing colder, "How? What did he tell you?" And why did he tell you and not me? Her mind added involuntarily.

:: You did not let him explain his actions, Mistress. ::

I don't care! None of it would have happened if he had simply said it all in the first place.

:: If I do recall correctly, Praeceptrix, you did not seem in the mood to listen. Instead, you opted to hurt him. Quite badly, too. :: Dranzer's sudden interruption and just as quick withdrawal made her dizzy, but she ignored it. She was still looking at Ten, waiting.

The violet eyed girl wasn't feeling all that comfortable. She really thought he had spoken to her, "I.. I'm not the one who should tell you that, Iris..."

"I, more than anyone else, have a right to know!"

"I'm not saying you don't. But I assure you, he has a good reason." Even if it's not enough to do what he did.

"A reason good enough to go ahead and slap me, you mean? To call me what I unwillingly was?" normally silver light eyes were now a dull grey tone, the effort of hiding her emotions and not wanting to shed her tears now evident.

Ok, so she learned how to read minds... Ten took a step back, "No.. No reason is good enough for that."

"Glad someone notices that..." Iris hugged her tightly, sighing, "Yuriy didn't do anything else, did he?"

She shook her head, a bit tensely, "No. I've seen him around, but he barely even notices me now. Not that I want him too..."

"Meh... Boys. Who needs them..."

"You can say that again."

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Please, please forgive me,
But I won't be home again.
Maybe someday you'll woke up,
And, barely conscious, you'll say to no one
Isn't something missing?

Later that day, Iris made her way through the ship, wandering almost aimlessly, not really knowing where to look for him, Am I not lucky? Man, when I do want to find him, I don't fucking know where the hell he is!

"Looking for someone?"

You won't cry for my absence, I know...
You forgot me long ago.
Am I that unimportant?
Am I so insignificant?
Isn't something missing?
Isn't someone missing me?

She came to a stop, muttering under her breath, "I'm starting to lose my touch on spying..." slowly, she faced him.

"That, or you're too lost in you. You do seem lost in yourself these last few days. Not what I'd expected from you." He stepped to the side, passing by her, not even stopping or slowing down. Not even sparing her a glance.

Even though I'd be sacrificed,
You won't try for me, not now.
Though I'd die to know you love me,
I'm all alone.
Isn't someone missing me?

She resisted the urge to kick his shin to make him give her a bit of attention. Is it asking too much? "Kai.. We need to talk."

"Last time, you didn't want to." For the first time, anger seeped into his eyes, all directed to her and her alone.

Please, please forgive me,
But I won't be home again.
I know what you do to yourself,
I breathe deep and cry out:
Isn't something missing?
Isn't someone missing me?

If she hadn't willed herself not to react, she would've quickly put more distance between them. She nodded, now unable to meet those eyes, the ones she once loved. I still do, no matter what I say to myself... "I'm sorry." It was barely a whisper, but she had said it.

His eyes softened; just a fraction, but they did. Not that she knew, since she was looking to the ground. He said nothing in return.

Even though I'd be sacrificed,
You won't try for me, not now.
Though I'd die to know you love me,
I'm all alone.
Isn't someone missing me?

Which was making her nervous. Why is he just standing there? Why doesn't he say something, anything? Why doesn't he do something? Say he's sorry too, kiss me- Damn. Did I just think that last thought? By a stupid reaction of some sort, – Probably for seeing Rui do this most of the time, back at school... – or by weakness, she did what no one on their right mind would do in a moment like this one. She gave in, leaning heavily against him, her lips mere inches from him own. The smallest thread of hope waiting for him to continue.

Kai wasn't about to give in to her though. No. It would all start again if I did. His arms encircled her just enough to not let her fall, but his lips were set in a thin line, pulling back from hers as much as he could.

And if I bleed, I'll bleed,
Knowing you don't care.
And if I sleep just to dream of you
And wake without you there,
Isn't something missing?
Isn't something...

Letting out an almost silent whimper, she leaned in herself. His warmth and scent were all around her, making her light headed. She had suffered enough, she needed relief. A contented sigh left her as her lips captured his once more. But something was wrong. He's not responding... It was like she was simply kissing an inanimate object. Cold and detached. A tear slipped as she pulled away, turning her back to him, her shoulders tense from her attempt at not letting him see she was almost crying.

Even though I'd be sacrificed,
You won't try for me, not now.
Though I'd die to know you love me,
I'm all alone.
Isn't someone missing me?

"We're not meant to be, Iris."

The soft tone he used made her stop, but not turn around, "There's no reason for that. We were together a year ago, everything was fine." She gulped down the uncomfortable lump on her throat, "I just don't understand... why do you say that?"

««Flashback»»
"But you could tell her that. I'm sure she would understand."
««End Flashback»»

If I tell her, there's a chance that she'll understand... Although she'll be in constant danger. But then again, she might not believe me. Kai wasn't sure of what to say. Should I?

"Well? If you haven't had a reason, you wouldn't do that." At least, not the Kai I once knew. The mournful tears kept falling, much to her frustration and attempts at stopping them. She might want to get as far away from him as possible, but her mind demanded answers from him.

He chose his words carefully, giving nothing away, "There is no reason. My feelings, if I even had had then in the first place, changed. That's all."

Iris wanted to scream. To cry. But most of all, she wanted to die at hearing him say that to her. To her. Being hurt by Boris, I understood... I knew he loved seeing me in pain, and saying that it was what I was there for. But being hurt by you in such a way... There are no words to describe that. "It meant nothing to you."

"I didn't-"

"You only wanted to get to me..."

"That's not true-"

"You bastard, you just wanted to-!"

"Stop it!" He took a hold of her shoulders, slightly shaking her, "It wasn't like that. I didn't use you. I'd never do that."

"Like you'd never hit me?!" she still had her back to him.

For a moment, he tensed, looking taken aback, "That was different."

"And how so?" maybe if she pressured him enough, he'd break and tell her. At least, give her a hint, "You mean you didn't? I dreamt it?!"

"I did hit you. I just don't want you getting hurt-"

"So you hurt me yourself."

The annoyance in his eyes clearly increased, "-by anyone. Being with me, that might happen."

"How? Oh right, I forgot just how strong Tyson can get..." the sarcasm was dripping from every uttered word, as she rolled her eyes.

:: Kai... It would all be much easier if you simply told her. ::

Crimson eyes closed, "BIOVOLT. I want you to keep your distance because of them."

When she looked at where he was, he was gone. Looking everywhere, she couldn't find him. So, it was true... He didn't really mean it. But why all this scheming to try to push me away? We would have figured something out. Still lost in her own thoughts, she went back to the ship.

Marishka came out of her hiding spot, jumping down graciously to the floor. Her pretty features were scrunched up in displeasure while a quiet growl escaped her. "If this goes on the way it is now, the plan won't work. They must be together. They are indeed soul mates, but we could care less about that. But if they stay like this, we do not have any weapon to use against the Praeceptrix. And that, we cannot have." She huffed, turning around, her clear grey eyes narrowing at the pacific sight that was the calm sea, "Aleera is in that forest they are going to, preparing everything. Till then, I'm on my own. Now... how to put them back together.. Hn..."

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The black and silver beyblade spun quietly, the faint sound of it was the only thing that broke the silence.

Sitting at the railings, one hand holding her chin, was Ten. It was dinner time, but she didn't really care. She was concentrated on her blade. But then again, she wasn't worried about it that much either. A sudden sound made her look at a certain direction. She saw nothing, and for that, an eyebrow quirked in confusion, but still… Something's not quite right… Another hasty clash made her glance back at Deathscythe. What-

Besides her beyblade, another white one was grinding against it, harshly, seriously. A shadow loomed over her a few seconds after, as violet eyes looked up. They widened, Tala... Great.. Right now when I'm here, and no one in sight…

He walked down the few stairs of the second floor of the ship, now in level with her.

"Tala." She stood at her full height. Which, mind you, only reached his chin.

"Ten." A slightly different glint was in his clear blue eyes. A cold one, "Care to battle?"

That alone made her hesitate, "Why?"

"Just a simple match. Nothing more, nothing less."

Her eyes instinctively looked for an exit. One found. Right behind the teen blocking her way. If I do need it, there's no way he'll let me pass. Guess I have little choice in this, "Alright."

:: Be careful, Mistress. ::

Silently, Wolborg returned to his beyblader's hand. Tala quickly readied it once more, stepping into position, eyes set on Ten, who did the same.

Never looking away from each other's eyes and not even needing a sign, both beyblade's were released at the same moment, crashing into each other before separating and landing on the floor, circling each other. Their bit beasts, not having any orders from any of the bladers, simply reflected their respective emotions: in the harshness of his attack, Wolborg barely hesitated, while Deathscythe simply held her ground.

"What do you think you're doing?"

Looking up, she frowned, "And what do you mean with that statement?"

Red eyebrows immediately narrowed, lips curling back from his teeth, "You're stronger than that, Much, much stronger. All you're doing at the moment is embarrassing your bit beast. I'd have a better battle with an amateur."

So what? I don't want to fight you... Not like this. Ten could feel Deathscythe's annoyance at that comment. And at that, she couldn't stop a bit of her own anger. He's only provoking us... A quiet growl was at the back of her throat, but she said nothing in return.

Wolborg's next move was easily evaded by the Black Angel. That made pale lips curve into a small smirk, "Now that's better, Rosa. Let's see what you've got."

Whatever.. Deathscythe. The black blade increased its speed and energy, heading for the white one. They both met harshly once more, sending sparks everywhere around them.

Straightening himself, Tala turned his back to her. A few seconds later, Wolborg returned to his hand.

The other top soon did the same, its owner looking back at him in confusion, "Why did you do that for?"

No reply.

"Tala?"

"I didn't realise it before. Now I do. And I'm sorry for that." His back was to her, impossible to know his true feelings since his voice was impassive.

And he never spoke to her quite like that. "What are you talking about?"

He was silent for brief moments. Calmly, slowly, he turned around again to face her, no emotion to be read in his pale features. He made his way towards her, stopping a few feet away from her. They locked eyes. The turquoise orbs gave nothing away, "You are acting as the victim. Which you clearly aren't. And you're rubbing that on my face."

"That's a lie. And I still don't know what you are implying." The distance between them wasn't what she would call close, but still, Ten didn't feel completely secure. And that was another new thing that happened in his presence. She took a few steps back. Only to find a wall behind her. The only exit was now at her left.

He lifted one hand. She flinched in reaction; the last time he had done that was to slap her. But all he did was rest it over her cheek gently. "Don't you remember Axel? Or are you already with someone else?" as disguised as it was, she picked up the slight hurt tone in that sentence.

"I never did anything with Axel. He's only a friend. Or with anyone else for that matter." Her own tone was now of accusation, "Contrary to you!"

"What?!" the anger he had been holding back was finally visible. His other hand placed itself beside her head, blocking her escape.

"Again, I'll repeat myself. You. Rosemary. Together. Kissing. I think that alone explains the situation I'm in. Now, who's playing the victim?"

Tala pulled back, away from her again, eyes narrowed. But he didn't reply to that. He simply swung the door open and slammed it shut behind him.

Five long minutes passed until Ten sighed softly, her knees making contact with the floor, "Oh God... What have I done?"

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People everywhere, eating, dancing, enjoying themselves... Everyone was happy and for brief moments, no one remembered they were supposed to be rivals.

Well, almost everyone was happy.

"Iris..."

"I'm not going and that's final! He'll be there." She wasn't all that sure about what happened in their last little rendezvous... But right now, like this, all she wanted was some space to breath, without him for the time being.

Four frustrated sighs came out of four frustrated teens.

Rui rubbed his temples, "Know what? I'm kinda tired of this... It's annoying me. But anyway, I don't care right now. I wanna have fun. And if Catherine doesn't, then I sure as hell won't be here." Catching Shauna's hand as he walked, he gently pulled her along, "C'mon, Shauna!"

Giving the rest of them a thrilled grin, Shauna soon followed, "See you guys on the dance floor!"

"Bah! You wish." Iris didn't look as if she would change her mind. The remaining blond linked her arm through her friend's.

"Ah, but you will come to the party. It's the last day of the voyage. You'll have fun! Come on." She only found resistance and an arrogant nose in the air.

If Robert could see her now, he would be proud, "No. I'm not going. I told you I'm not going to stop you from having fun. Go ahead, I won't go anywhere."

But alas, with Axel's help, they half dragged half accompanied the black haired girl to the room where the party was being held. Once there, they noticed there was a stage and a dance floor. In the back of the room, food and drinks were waiting.

"Hey, maybe there will be a music band acting!" Tiff grinned widely, "Linkin Park!!!"

"Know what? Drink water, wine's bad for you..." the other female smacked her, "But perhaps you're right. Except on the Linkin Park thingy. Maybe Ten will sing for us instead."

"No one told us we'd sing." The three teens turned around to look at the speaker, Forest.

"But we can always ask someone to let us, of course." Ten added happily.

"Of course."

And of course that, for over an hour, the girls talked. Along the way, Shauna and Rui came over, and more talking ensued. Said blond playboy had succeeded in dancing with all the present ladies... Except for two.

Returning from the dance with Tiffany, a slightly tired Rui leaned over the table, looking from Iris to Ten, "So... Which of the girls follows to dance with yours truly?"

"Get over yourself, Rui." The black haired blader stuck her tongue out at him, "This is one girl you won't dance with!"

"Yeah, get in the line. It's my turn now." Axel got up. Walking up to Iris's side, he held out his hand, "Will you give me the honour, mademoiselle?"

Smiling up at him, she placed her hand in his, Why not.. "The honour is all mine, Milord." Giggling at just how stupid all that sounded, Iris let him lead her to the dance floor. Almost as if it was on purpose, a few seconds after they got there, a soft ballad started playing. Or better saying, at first, it was quite soft indeed. But Lit didn't really play soft songs.

You make me com...

You make me complete...

"Miserable."

"Lit."

Both teens looked at each other and smiled. Respectively, that was the name of the song, and its singer.

You make me completely miserable.

"You know the song?"

"The eMule programme is excellent for getting songs like that one." The older boy grinned lightly, "The song's beautiful, really. It makes me remember past times... Happy and not."

Her smile faltered. She knew what he was talking about. His girlfriend. Correction, his ex. That story had a long past behind it, and not a simple and happy one. And certainly did not have a happy ending.

Ever since she knew him, back when she was around six, he and Melissa were close friends. They both were eight, they both liked each other. Or so she said she liked him. They were around thirteen when they started dating. None had had a girlfriend/boyfriend till then. True, in Axel's case. Iris had always warned him about that fact, that she wasn't fair to him, that she was cheating... But poor him, he really was in love with her.

Rumours said that the week when Axel had missed classes for seemingly no reason was when he finally found out that one of his best friends had indeed slept with her. Though he was not in her school anymore for almost two years, the whole Dominatrix Team knew that wasn't true. He wouldn't sacrifice his studies for a girl, no way. That just wasn't Axel.

Though, something did happen for them to break up and to Axel see the truth. The true reason why Iris always had some conflicts with her captain was that. She knew Melissa was deceiving, yet Axel refused to believe that.

Stuck to a chair
Watching this
Story about me

Everything goes
By so fast!
Making my head spin...

Used up all of my friends
But who needs them,
When you mean everything...

"I see."

"Hey, no need to close the subject. I'm over her since last year, remember?"

"Hu huh." Again, he was lying. He never did get past 'over it'... He never trusted anyone like before after that. He took almost half a year to trust Shauna, and even more to Tiff.

"I mean it, Iris." His arms wrapped around her loosely.

"I'm not saying anything." Her own rested upon his shoulders.

I love things that we should fear,
I'm not afraid of being here..
So much the same...

Kai turned away from the mindless chatter of his team-mates. He didn't even know why exactly he decided to come, he just did. Looking around, most of the people at the party were dancing. He rolled his eyes in boredom.

A flash of black and red made him look up though. So she's here. She was dancing. With her captain, Axel, if he remembered it right. They seemed to be talking.

It makes me helpless, alone...

"Iris..."

Said girl looked up at him.

"The same thing you used to tell me about her... The same for you, 'k?"

"Duh, but what are you implying anyway?"

Nothing to share,
Why should I
Care if you're near me?

Give up all of my plans,
But who needs them?!
When you mean everything...

I love the things that we should fear,
I'm not afraid of being here..

So much the same...
It makes me helpless, alone...

He looked up as if searching for something, his eyes now out of view from hers, "I'm just saying. As a warning." His dark hues locked with crimson ones, unnoticed by her, "Just by the way."

If anything, Iris knew he was speaking of Kai in some level. After that first day, if he heard his name or anything related, Axel sent her a look of warning. Which was leaving her annoyed, "By the way, huh... In Kai's way, by chance?"

You make me com...

You make me complete...

You make me completely miserable

The sixteen year old looked back at her immediately. He nodded shortly, "Exactly. I don't trust him. I just don't."

"I'm not asking you to." Ok, so why the hell was she defending him? "I know him, remember? I'm with him-"

"With him, just for a few weeks. Like you said." A sigh escaped him, as he pulled away from her, his arms dropping to his sides, "I'm only looking out for you."

I love the things that we should fear,
I'm not afraid of being here..

So much the same...
It makes me helpless, alone...

Iris's stare changed to the ground, "I know. But I also know in what I'm in, thank you." That came out a bit colder than she mean it to. He nodded at her again, leaving. Leaving her feeling guilty and alone.

You make me com...

You make me complete...

She turned around to leave. Only to find her path blocked.

You make me completely miserable
You make me com...
You make me complete...
You make me com...
You make me complete...
You make me completely miserable

Inevitably, silver eyes locked with reddish brown ones as she lifted her head. Any insult or remark was caught in her throat at seeing him again.

Being with me, that might happen. I want you to keep your distance because of them.

His words repeated in her head.

"I'm sorry. For everything." Knowing he'd probably snap back at her like he did last time, she stepped to the side, starting to pass by him, her head lowered once more, "I shouldn't have done what I did to you."

His hand – cold compared to her skin – held her arm. "I shouldn't have called you that in the first place."

True.. She glanced at his hand, before looking up at him. She didn't know if it was just her, but the environment made his eyes seem even darker, albeit lighter in some ways. Confusing? Just like her mingled thoughts.

"We're not meant to be, Iris."

That hit her like a ton of bricks. She pulled her arm away, out of his reach. Quickly making her way through the mass of people, she thanked the gods for being relatively small. That made things much more easier.

Ignored everyone else, the girl opened the doors to the balcony and kept on running. If it wasn't for the firm grip on the railings, she probably would've fallen over them and into the ocean. Her breathing was ragged as she hoped that he had lost her.

Alas, he did not. Barely a minute later, the doors opened again, as Kai passed through them. Sighing, she hided her face in her hands. "Why is it so complicated... I feel guilty if I hurt you... I feel complete when I'm near you... No matter what you do, I'll always-" one of his fingers was placed over her lips.

"That feeling is not necessary right now." He whispered softly, dangerously close to her ear.

Her eyelids closed as she let herself be drawn to his mere presence, "Then what do you call this?"

"A state of sheer confusion, in some ways."

At that, silver hues snapped back open. Iris turned around. The closeness she was from him was alarming, though she did nothing to change the fact, not right now, "You still remember that?"

"Back on the bus when we were heading to the airport, in Japan. Why would I forget something you said?" the way he said that seemed to mean why he hadn't forgotten...

You tell me. Her will was to say that out loud, but she kept quiet. She turned her eyes away from his. "Well.." she wasn't sure if he heard her; she could barely hear her own whisper, "If that's all, I'll be going." Iris made a move to walk away, though she found her path blocked by his arms, one on either side of her. She gave him a questioning look, one dark eyebrow lifting.

"You said you had feelings for me." He said quietly, his eyes giving nothing away. Although, hers too, only letting him see her impatience surfacing.

The way he refused to say that forbidden word would be amusing, if the situation wasn't serious. "You said you didn't."

Why does she have to be always right? "So I did."

She let out a mirthless chuckle, "So? Let me go."

Leaning in, he glared at her as he spoke, "That's the problem. I can't. You tell me why. I'm tired, because at night, I think of you. I don't sleep all that much already, but this is too little even for me. At seeing you dance a few minutes ago, it annoyed me to no end. And I don't understand that. I never felt this way before either. Only you make me feel like this."

She glared right back at him, "Oh really? Then, please enlighten me why did you say you didn't have those so called feelings towards me. Because that, darling, is a proof that you do have them. Not my fault if you're too thick to keep ignoring them." Clearly, she could see him measuring his chances: let her go, or not.

Kai finally opted to pull away from her. Correction, his arms did. To her surprise, his lips brushed hers ever so lightly, "As you said earlier, it's complicated."

"It wouldn't be..." her eyes locked with his again, no longer showing impatience, but hope, "We already apologised... We only need to forget."

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From the glass doors that led to the balcony, Axel watched as they both hugged briefly. His eyes narrowed, They made up... This can be bad.

He had nothing against Iris's attraction towards Hiwatari. It wasn't her fault. And a good observant look in her eyes said she wasn't happy without him. She was in love. Again, he did not blame her. He knew how that was.

Though, something just wasn't right. He doesn't particularly inspire confidence in me... He had no proofs, but still he knew. Time for a more serious talk with her. She'll be in denial, as he was all those years ago. But Iris needed to hear the truth. What happened in Russia was enough for her as it is.

But then again, if she didn't want to hear him, he'll just have to be there for her. Protecting her.

The older boy sighed softly, turning away from them, I'm more of a baby sitter than their captain... He closed the doors as he re-entered the ship.

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In the shadows, above the unaware couple, Marishka grinned to herself. Good.. The plan went well. Playing with some teenagers' minds is easy.. Especially, since they were both already confused. Within a few days, the boy will do us a favour. And he'll be the downfall of his own race by bringing the Praeceptrix to her knees. How ironic. Phase two completed.

...TBC...


Thanks 2:
Tenebrae Rosa: xD thnx 4 the correction. Didn't see that o.O;; & I dun have tablets. Bleh, can't swallow them 4 the life of me. Nope, effervescent thingies & 15 mins dozing off is all I need 2 get rid of the worst headache :D

IcePhoenixLove: well, despite ur idea being tempting, it wasn't exactly wat I was thinking. That was more along the lines of wat is yet 2 come on the 3rd series ;D hehe, but I do hope these last events were enjoyable & that something clicked into place, nya?

Dark: Ok, I'm healthy again. But just 2 b sure, keep reviewing xD Soo... Ten shud end up w/ whom exactly? (A)