I don't own beyblade.

Update: Edited on August 2017.

Chapter 04
Coping up

The sound of birds chirping streamed through the windows, stirring Hiromi from a heavy slumber. Hiromi groggily opened her eyes. The simple task was requiring so much effort.
After rubbing them, did they open. She took in the view of bare wooden walls. Hmm weren't her room walls of lavender color?

Hiromi tried to get up, but her body was protesting against that notion. Her head felt heavy, her whole body ached and for some strange reason her clit throbbed too. She didn't remember dancing so much last night. Then why the hell her legs pained like there was no tomorrow?

At long last she got up, without sparing a glance towards her surroundings. She really needed a bath, because she stunk of alcohol.
Throwing the bed sheets away, she swung her legs on the edge of a bed. A cold draft came in through the net windows, making Hiromi shiver. Instinctively she wrapped her arms around herself. But her arms didn't felt the fabric…they felt the skin.

At this Hiromi looked down and was quite surprised to find herself naked. 'Did I sleep in a birthday suit?' Hiromi wondered. She looked around for clothes. They were scattered on the floor along with those that clearly didn't belong to her: red and black striped sweater, trousers and a fedora…
Hiromi's eyes widened at this. Wait a minute…wasn't Kai wearing this outfit? This could only mean one thing. Hiromi slowly turned around and found someone sleeping. Someone she wouldn't dare to sleep with. Maybe in wet dreams. But never in a lifetime.

Hiromi quickly bought her hands up, putting them over her mouth. She would have definitely screamed. It was a close thing. She would have woken the entire dojo and Kai. And one wouldn't want to wake the latter one. Because the last time, when Kai was woken up by Tyson's incessant screaming and whooping, he beat the crap out of Granger for this. Hiromi shuddered at the memory. No one would want a repeat of that episode.

Kai was sleeping on his side, his back facing Hiromi, the sheets drawn up to his waist. Hiromi could only ogle at his smooth muscular back and sexy hair. But then she saw something else too. Narrowing her eyes, she leaned forward until she found a pattern of light red marks on his back. Fingernail marks. Her fingernail marks. Had she scratched his back that much during that intense and passionate moment? Was she holding him that tight when waves of pleasure crashed upon them?

Hiromi blushed a brilliant shade of red, when she observed those marks again. More chirping of birds came to which Hiromi finally came out from a trance. She glanced around, reality falling on her like a ton of bricks. She had slept with Kai! With KAI!...One of her best friends. How can she do it? How can she be so reckless? This wasn't like her. Sure she was bold, but she never crossed the boundaries. It's like she had crossed the silver lining.

"Okay calm down Hiromi…." Hiromi whispered to herself, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. Letting it out, she opened her eyes and came to one conclusion: think later and escape now.

She looked at the clock. It was 5:15 am. 45 minutes were left before her mother comes back from the hospital duty. Hiromi got up and started shrugging in clothes.
'If I could just hurry, I could escape my mom and dad interrogation'.

And with that thought, she picked up her red high heels in hand and quietly tiptoed out from the room. So immersed was she in escaping that she forgot her sailor hat. The priority blocked her from thinking that not to leave evidences behind.

In the hallway, the sound of snores echoed. Everyone was asleep. Perfect, no one would dare question her. However when she reached to slide open the shoji doors, a voice slurred.
"Grandma?"

Hiromi froze. Oh no. she slowly turned around and saw Daichi, leaning against the wall. But there was something wrong. He was looking at her with half-closed eyelids and his stature was slightly bended as though standing straight was proving too much of an effort.
"Daichi, are you drunk?" Hiromi asked, concern flitting in for a younger red-haired boy.
"No…how can I be drunk? I am only 11….why do you always doubt me, grandddmaaaa…." And with that Daichi slumped down, snoring loudly.

Hiromi sighed. Tyson!….what an idiot he is…. Letting Daichi have a pint of beer when he is not even legal!
Time was ticking out but Hiromi couldn't leave Daichi like this. Hiromi sighed, going to him and picking him up.
"Geez….now I know where all that food goes…." Hiromi gasped, going towards the room where futons were kept.

When entering the room, she saw most of the futons were taken. Judging by the size, mostly girls were sleeping. However in the extreme corner she could make out Crusher, Raul and Kevin slumbering in their sleeping bags. For a big guy, Crusher was a silent sleeper.

Hiromi tucked Daichi in a futon, covering him up. After tucking him, she looked at his face. Most of the time, Daichi can be a menace. But sometimes he reminded her of a little brother she never had. Hiromi smiled at his snoozing face.

Before departing she took Michael's baseball bat.

The sunlight streaming through the windows woke him up. He regrets waking up because he was having a headache and his muscles were aching; a hangover. Maybe some coffee might ward it off. With that thought Kai got up and stretched.
He found it slightly odd that he was sleeping naked last night. Sure he sleeps in his boxers only, but nude never. Maybe all that drinking made him heat up so as to strip his clothes away.

However by the time he was brushing his teeth, he noticed some strange red marks near his jugular. Kai paused his brushing and touched the spot. It felt like teeth marks. What the hell bite him? Bugs don't have that big teeth….and what is that? His eyes followed a trail of red smudged marks on his chest. He rubbed the spot and found it was glossy and a little sticky.
'What is this?' Kai wondered, examining the material.

After spitting, he stepped under the shower. While the hot water soothed his sore muscles and washed away the pungent smell of alcohol, Kai tried to piece everything together. He does remember having a drinking contest with Tyson. Then what happened last night that landed him exposed with strange marks decorated all over his torso?
'I wish I hadn't drank that much'

After taking a shower, Kai went to his room. His room looked clean excluding the floor, where his clothes were littered. As he bent down to pick them up, he came across a sailor hat. What the? He observed it closely….

A drinking contest….him sitting on rock….Hiromi dancing….later kissing him and he kissing back, coming to this room and stripping each other off….oh no…

In shock Kai sat down on a floor. He glanced around the room. Well nothing suggested sex….except for his scattered clothes and the questionable red marks on his chest. Lipsticks marks. He does recall Hiromi wearing a red lip color.

What the hell they done? Scratch that…he? Thinking back now he remembers teasing Hiromi. His ridiculing aggravated her so much that she straddled him just to shut him up. This wasn't supposed to happen.

But looking at Hiromi perspective it would have happened because Hiromi hates it when people underestimate her. He of all the people should have known that.
And what about him? When she launched herself on him why didn't he pushed her aside? He could have easily overpowered her.

Some part of him was glad that Hiromi kissed him. He couldn't shrug off the pleasant feeling that Hiromi marked him well with her mouth.
Another part of him was feeling guilt. He took advantage of her when she was drunk. He too was drunk and horny but that doesn't resolve the issue. He needs to talk with Hiromi. Like right now.
"Hey you okay?"

Kai looked up and saw Ray standing by the doorway, holding two cups. For once his hair was untied so it flowed past his shoulders, tousled. He was wearing a white shirt, unbuttoned and track trousers.
"Coffee?" Ray asked raising the mug.
"You made one for me?" Kai asked suspiciously.
"No, actually I made it for Mariah but she is sleeping. And I don't want to waste a perfectly good coffee" Ray answered.

Kai smirked. True, Ray sure knows how to make a good coffee.
"Here…sorry it's not black"
"Whatever it should do its job"

In silence they drank the hot beverage. Kai meanwhile was hiding the hat. He didn't want the others to catch up on truth when he himself was coping with it.
"Damn what a party it was…." Ray said.
Kai didn't say anything.

"And it all ended on a happy note…" Ray continued.
"You might want to think carefully before speaking" Kai muttered
"Huh?"
"Your shirt"

Ray looked down and saw what Kai meant. His shirt were carrying lipstick marks in a color of pink.
"Damn Mariah….i will have trouble getting rid of it" Ray said joking, rubbing the stains.
"Hn"
"So Kai…you okay? Something seems to be troubling you" Ray asked.

Something….i wish it was nothing, Kai thought sarcastically. Still he answered.
"Hangover"
"I understand, I got one too last night….but Mariah was able to sort it out…"

Yeah, Hiromi did a good job in remedying it too.

"Doesn't it surprises you that sometimes Sex can be such a best medication in a world" Ray said. Then he added rather slyly" of course you wouldn't have any idea"
"What that's supposed to mean?" Kai snapped
"Come on Kai…for all we know you hadn't been laid….it's about time you did, you should have availed the chance last night…"
"What?"
"The reason it was so crowded last night because your fan girls paid a visit….didn't you fancy accompanying them?" Ray asked an impish smile on his face.
"Ray you know better than anyone else that I don't sleep with any girl just to fulfill their fantasies…"Kai snarled.
"You don't know what you are missing"

Kai glared at Ray, at which Ray looked away. If looks could kill people, Ray would be a dead man. Meanwhile Kai thought about what Ray said. Truth be told, he himself liked it…no…loved it…..everything; the tenderness of Hiromi, her vulnerability, her moans sounding like a symphony in his ears.

"I will check on Mariah…" Ray said, standing up. Then he added" hey listen…I am sorry for about the whole bangin thing. I know you don't like to expose yourself to anyone, even if it includes your nudity"
Then he winked at him and left.

'If that's the case…why the hell I felt comfortable at revealing myself to Hiromi' Kai thought, staring at ceiling.
'It's the alcohol that did this….i will never drink again' Kai concluded, looking at the sailor hat.

She was able to escape her parent's questioning. She reached her home before her father woke up from his nap and her mother returning from the workplace.
Hiromi was now lying on her bed. She was afraid to sleep. Because whenever she closed her eyes, her mind would start flashing images of last night. Pleasant but at the same time so disturbing. Kai's naked body, his gaze, he interlocking his fingers with her after sex.

Hiromi touched the spot where he gave her a love bite. She blushed. Now since they had slept together, what should she do?
Avoid him….yeah that's a possibility, but if she started doing that, others would notice this. They might draw conclusions….and that's the last thing she wanted. Draw attention towards the matter she clearly wants to forget. But she does she really want to forget the night?

For the first time she saw Kai open not only physical wise but emotions wise too. She never seen him so revealed.
Hiromi turned to her side. He was drunk; he probably might not even remember it. The latter thought gives her an ache in her heart. She didn't want to forget this night.
After tossing in her bed for a couple of times, she came up with only one solution; don't talk about it. Pretend it didn't happen….yeah that will do.

Every one woke late the very next day of the party. It was late afternoon when finally some activities could be seen mulling inside the dojo. Mathilda's camera was being passed around. Most people were amused by the photos and were praising Mathilda's photography skills. While others pouted that they looked weird.
Tyson meanwhile was sitting beside Kai, drinking black tea and eating cardamom. His trusted antidote for warding off hangovers. It was oddly quiet until they heard the screaming of Michael.

"Where is it? Where is it?" Michael asked, a panic expression etched on his face. He then went towards Tyson and started shaking him by the collar.
"Have you seen it?"
"Seen what?" Tyson asked tiredly.
"My baseball bat!" Michael cried
"Huh?"
"I kept it beside my futon before going to sleep and when I woke up it was gone!"
"Knock it off you doofus" Rick shouted irritably.

While Michael was busy retorting to Rick's command, Ian wondered out aloud" Why the hell he's worrying about it? It's just a bat…."
Unfortunately Michael heard it. He confronted Ian, with rather a fury face and bellowed….

"Just a bat….just a bat…."
"Oh no there he goes again…." Eddy said. The PPB All Stars team groaned. They already knew what was coming.
"Do you have any idea, how valuable that bat is? It ought to be on the top list of antiques….." Michael began. He started ranting about the bat, saying how it came into his hands. It was passed down from generation to generation.

Kai was having a hard time sitting still. Where is she? He was having a sudden urge to throw a mug of black tea on Michael's face. That will shut him up. It would also steam out the impatience building inside him.

The shoji doors slid open. It was Hiromi holding Michael's bat. Silence adorned the kitchen. Michael stared at the object on Hiromi's hands.
"Thank God he shut up" Rick muttered audibly.
"Hmm hi guys…." Hiromi greeted stepping inside. Everyone greeted back with the exception of Kai and Michael.
"You took my bat…" Michael asked in deadly whisper.
"Huh? Oh yeah I did, sorry I should have asked….you see I needed something to defend myself while going back home…"
"You too?" Michael asked sadly. And with that he tugged the bat from Hiromi's hands, slouching away.

The PPB All Stars team started laughing, while everyone was in a state of confusion.
"Did I do something wrong?" Hiromi asked.
"Hmm nope" Emily laughed.
"That's how many girls rick?" Eddy asked
"Five including Emily" Rick answered.
"You see you aren't the only girl using Michael's bat for defense" Emily explained. At which everyone laughed. Kai noticed that Hiromi was making eye contact with everyone except with him. Why was she doing that? Was she disgusted at him? That's not good…or was she afraid that she would blush when looking him in the eye? The thought made him smirk slightly.

"What's so funny?" Mariah asked, entering the kitchen.
"Romi used the bat" Emily said.
"High-five girl…" Mariah cheered, bringing her hand forward, Hiromi slapping it in a return.
"You used it too?"
"Yeah, when I was sneaking off…."
"Sneaking off?" Hiromi asked curiously.
"After the break…." Mariah then paused. She then asked" Didn't I tell you?"
"No"
"Oh my God! Have I gone old? You got to hear about this!" Mariah squealed.
"Yeah wait till she tells you the craziest things she did" Emily chipped in. With that, the girls left the kitchen. Kai silently growled. At this rate, he will never get her cornered.

Kai stood up swiftly, taking a pencil and yellow post-it page with him. No one noticed him. Outside in hallway, he quickly scribbled a message.
He saw Hiromi at the end of a Hallway. Perfect. On his way, he bumped on Hiromi, causing her to lose balance. Mariah steadied her, before she fell down.

"Watch where you are going Hiwatari!" Mariah spoke.

But Kai didn't pay any heed. He left without even glancing back.
"Jerk" Mariah exclaimed" You okay?"
"Yeah I am fine" Hiromi answered. She knew why he did it. When others weren't looking, she took out a note that was slipped in her jacket's pocket.

'Meet me in park, right now'

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