Title: Ten Days
See first chapter for warnings/disclaimer/pairings/etc.
A/N: And this might be the second part of the sixth day.
Warning: It's short, 3000 words short, I didn't expect it to be this short when I started writing it, and I apologize for its shortness. I decided to upload it asap instead of sitting here wracking my mind trying to lengthen it.
So I guess this is where we find out how the day ends.
DAY SIX-II
'Cause this is the day that everything changes
And the world stops turning, running straight,
Into the break lights, you've come to nothing
This was wrong and I damn well knew it was. But I was so overwhelmed by my own selfish emotions that I didn't know what to do. Kai was in a relationship with someone wasn't he? Gabriel was the love of his life and they'd been together for roughly seven years, and so I couldn't understand why Kai had initiated a kiss between us. But I was so wrapped up in my own desires I didn't think, I wasn't thinking about the other man, no I blissfully let that persons existence vanish into the farthest part of my mind focusing only on the now, only on this, only on us.
At some point we ended up laying down on the deck floor, I was practically straddling him, trying to catch my breath and he was in a similar state. All I could wonder is how did we end up here, on the dojo floor, in a compromising position, making out? I couldn't control the moan that escaped my throat when I felt his fingers ghost over the small of my back, and before I knew he he pulled me down to him, another kiss, another infidelity, and then it hit me like a ton of bricks
This made me the mistress didn't it.
My day hadn't been as bad as my night was progressively becoming. I had woken up with a start, moving through the dojo hoping to see that my former captain had returned from whatever he'd been doing, my mood immediately plummeted when I realized he wasn't back yet, we just didn't feel complete without Kai present. Sure he was usually lousy conversation but he was still apart of the team. I sighed and dropped down onto the couch letting my eyes flutter closed, I slouched down as far as I could, unsure what the plans were for today but not so sure I really wanted to do anything but mope around my house. I did know however that as much as I wanted to do that, Hilary would never allow me to. Not when I was only here four more days before I departed for London.
A smile graced my lips as I thought back to the past days, my smile was happy but it was also sad, because as much as I thought of all the good things that had happened in the past days, I was also stuck remembering all those moments with Kai. The touch at the river, the almost kiss in the rain. One might consider them romantic, hell even I might consider it romantic but every single time I even for a second thought it that my brain seemed to nag at me, reminding me that Kai wasn't alone, he had someone, and that it was wrong. Every time I was left feeling bad about myself, left feeling like a horrible person.
I must have dozed off on the couch because the next thing I remember were my eyes fluttering open to meet Hilary's who was looking at me with a look between irritated and worried, I grinned at her rubbing my eyes and she sat down beside me
"We're getting ready to go soon Takao, you should probably get up and get ready." I nodded groggily and stood up making my way back to my childhood bedroom to make myself suitable for whatever was in store today.
When I finally reemerged I moved into the kitchen following everyone's voices they all look over at me smiling, and I mumbled a greeting sitting down besides Max grabbing for some of the food on the table, noting Rei must have made breakfast. He was the only person of the group willing to cook for us all, with maybe the exception of Mao, but she had Rin to attend to. Finally it was Max who spoke, bringing me out of my own thoughts
"So Hilary, what exactly are we doing today?" He looked around the room with his bright eyes and everyone seemed to make noises asking the same question looking over at the brunette woman.
"Well, it wasn't exactly my idea. Kenny said the beyblade regional finals for beycity were today, I figured we could all go see the new talent, and then go out to eat, like old times." Max's eyes seemed to get bright, Rei's cheshire grin appeared and his daughter clapped shouting "Beybwade! Beybwade!" and I smiled, it would be a nice sentiment, I hadn't seen the beycity stadium in eight years, I had to wonder how much it had changed.
We arrived at Beycity stadium just after lunch, having stopped to eat at a small local restaurant, I'd been shocked that the waitress had recognized me, she'd smiled at me and asked if I was in the area to watch the regional championship, I'd returned her smile and nodded, telling her I'd not been home in quite sometime as I'd been abroad studying. The others had rolled their eyes at the way she looked at me and talked to me, I later realized she'd most definitely been flirting.
When we entered the stadium I almost froze in amazement, over the last eight years the building had changed. Updated with the times for sure. There was state of the art computer technology that had been designed specifically for beyblading by the Chief and Emily, the entire building seemed to be automated. It was absolutely stunning to see the stadium upgrades, I had to say, Kenny sure thought of everything for the sport but still managed to retain the tradition of the game. The technology could improve but in the end you still needed talent and skill to become the best.
I came out of my thoughts when I heard Max speak to Rin who was sitting on his shoulders in a piggy back ride whilst Enrique walked quietly beside my blonde friend. "Just think Rin, in a few more years this will be you." The girl cheered and I grinned, with parents like Rei and Mao, and an uncle like Lee, I had to make bets Rin would be a champion in the making. I felt a small pang, I had to wonder if I would ever be walking through a beystadium to be a spectator for my own child. It seemed so unlikely now, since I had realized that I wasn't interested in just anyone.
We sat in our seats getting comfortable, I was actually a little excited to be able to witness beyblading without competing, as my love for the sport had numbed as I grew up. I couldn't help but laugh a little when I saw the new referee parachute into the stadium in true DJ Jazzman style. Of course Daichi would, he always one for going big despite his small exterior. He must have seen us because he smiled and gave us a short wave before he began to speak into his microphone calling out the finalists. I glanced over at my friends all of them watching the opening contently besides Max who was doing everything he could to keep Rin seated, laughing nervously as she seemed to be about ready to bounce off the walls. He was to blame for that, sneaking sugar into her lunchtime snack. The girl was clearly on a high.
I saw the two boys enter the stadium and the crowd seemed to burst into cheers. I almost smiled when I heard their exchange, obvious rivals in the sport. It reminded me so much of myself and Kai to watch them battle against each other. One so bright and full of determination the other full of raw power and talent, it was like they were shadows of our teenage selves, and I truly wished I had been in Kai's company to witness it. I could just imagine him looking over at me giving me a knowing look and a ghost of a smile, thinking the exact thing I was.
When the battle ended in smoke I suppose I hadn't been so surprised of the outcome. Whilst Kenny stared in total awe that the underdog had taken the regional title and many of the BBA representatives and other young bladers stood frozen from the unexpected win, the stadium silent. It was like it was in slow motion when I heard Enrique chuckle from my left causing me to look over at him curiously, before I heard him speak
"Just like you huh, Kinomiya?" A grin slowly made its way onto my face the curiosity melting away and Enrique gave me a small smile his pale green eyes moving back towards the show, the audience breaking out into cheers after the initial few seconds shock wore off. I couldn't help but smile down at them, my eyes shining brightly.
I must have forgotten how well known I was in Beycity amongst younger bladers, or perhaps amongst the beyblading community in general. I had never associated with anyone who enjoyed the sport in London, choosing to keep my distance from it so that I could focus on studies, distancing myself from people who would only befriend me because of my fame, the fame I had received from a game, a sport I had only partook in for fun. But suddenly one of the two finalists pointed in my direction uttering words that echoed through the entire stadium:
"Isn't that Takao Kinomiya?" The stadium once again fell quiet, until the building seemed to burst out into whispers, excited whispers, and with that I truly wished that I had stayed on Kai's strict training regiment. But then again, I never expected after a decade that I would be running through Beycity stadium being chased by young and older bladers alike, all looking for the person I wasn't anymore, the world champion, the strongest blader alive, the wielder of the sacred spirit dragoon. My friends were on my heels, as we made a break for the exit, I suppose looking back on it, it was quite comedic, especially hearing Rin's loud giggles as she screamed: "Faster baba, faster!"
"I never realized Takao would get so much attention at a beyblade competition, it's been ten years!" Hilary said sitting in her chair at the restaurant still looking exhausted from the chase.
"Well, even though it's been ten years you do have to realize, Takao's beybattles are some of the most monumental in the sport. No one has blown the roof off a place or destroyed an entire building since." Enrique remarked with his Italian lilt, his mouth hidden by his teacup. Hilary blushed bright red seeming to forget my record for destruction in final matches, especially in my last tournament cycle. Max patted her on the back comforting her trying to ignore the glares he was receiving from Mao who had to deal with a very cranky Rin who was experiencing her first ever sugar crash thanks to her godfather. Kenny was sipping on his soda before he spoke
"Yes well, Takao is a fairly historical figure in the sport, but that may change in the coming years if these new bladers are any example of the rest of the worlds talent." We all agreed at that. The finalists battle had been far more grand than my first battle with Kai had ever been. It had taken me three years and a lot of soul searching, determination, training and stubbornness to ever achieve the skills I had. I had been almost sixteen when I was able to literally blow the roof off the joint. These kids were four years younger and already made the building shake.
"If it keeps up like this beyblading it going to be an extreme sport." I said and we all laughed at the idea, but I suppose we all knew it were true. Ten years had passed, and beybladers were more and more talented and powerful much younger, it was only a matter of time before they reached new heights and life or death situations happened in every match, not just when the strongest clashed. For a fleeting moment I thought of Brooklyn and wondered what he was up to these days.
Our food came and we all settled down to eat, making small talk about the day, about the weather, about tomorrow. Mao had finally managed to get Rin to fall asleep and she was now leaning between her parents, her eyes closed looking peaceful. After we'd finished our meals we paid and left, having to almost pry Max away from the establishment before he could eat dessert. The last thing we needed was a sugar high 26 year old. They were admittedly much harder to deal with because they had the rights of an adult and the mind of a child jacked up on sugar. The entire way back to the dojo Max had a pout on his lips and kept giving Enrique puppy dog eyes. Enrique seemed totally immune to the Half-Americans antics.
It wasn't fifteen minutes after we'd returned to my family home that we heard the door open and Kai enter the building. We greeted him but he must have been in a particularly bad mood, as he walked by us without a word moving to the backyard to sit outside. I realized Gabriel wasn't with him, and I noticed a look in Enrique's eyes that I was certain was a mix between relief and happiness. Something I didn't understand. We all lazed around the living room not really talking, the day had been exhausting more because we'd been running for our lives near the end of it. Slowly people started to filter out of the room, Hilary and Kenny taking their leave for the night with intent to meet us the next day, Mao and Rei moving to check on Rin and get some sleep knowing the little girl would probably rise early because she'd fallen asleep so early, Mao had been sure to give Max a scary warning glare before leaving, Max's hand had moved to brush over Enrique's when she did. The three of us sat for a few more minutes before he stood up grabbing Enrique by the hand and pulling him to stand also.
"We should be going to sleep I guess, I'm beat." The blonde yawned for emphasis but I half felt like there was something else in those oceanic eyes I heard him say as he moved Enrique in tow: "Don't stay up too late." I didn't understand what he meant at first, nor did he give me anytime to question him as he pulled his significant other out of the room but it hit me moments later: Kai. I stood up and moved towards the back of the dojo to see where he'd gone off to brood.
And now I was here.
My head resting against Kai's shoulder as his hands ran through my hair, which had long since been freed of the elastic, I was still in a state of confusion by his actions, I couldn't understand his sudden affections. He came back here, alone. He refused to speak seeming particularly moody and now he was showering me with affections meant only for a lover. Had something happened? I had never in my wildest dreams imagined my admission would lead to this, to admit the feelings I had helf onto so long I didn't even know what force had pushed me to do so, but something had. Something deep inside me had forced it out unexpectedly, and now I was trapped in a situation I didn't understand, but as much as I didn't understand it, I knew what I had to do. I moved my head from his shoulder and looked down at him from my position in his lap. He was about to lean up and kiss me again but I moved my hand to stop him before I spoke
"We can't do this Kai." I mumbled and he looked at me with those shocking red eyes, I moved to get up from where I sat, shivering at the cool breeze that hit me, finally I spoke out again: "This can't happen, not when you have him." The flash of emotion in his eyes almost broke my heart but as fast as it happened he seemed to freeze up and avert his gaze. Back to how it always was, back to ignoring everyone surrounding him. The mask was back. I moved away from him, leaving him alone in the backyard getting away from him as fast as I could before the tears spilled from my eyes.
What I never mentioned was how my heart had soared when he'd kissed me, how I'd felt complete for the first time in so many years. What I had never said before I left the back of the dojo was that I had wanted to do this, I had wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of the night with him, to spend the rest of my days with him but I couldn't. Not when he had a long term relationship, I couldn't sneak around and pretend it was okay to have relations with a taken man. What I hadn't said was that I had wanted to right then and there make him leave Gabriel Sattiay and fulfil my own selfish desires, but I couldn't because that was wrong.
And because I was fighting so hard to be a good person, fighting so hard against the horrible and selfish person I was slowly realizing I truly was.
This is the day that everything changes and your worlds collide
You know in time you'll wake to find you're a little unbroken.
Mmm, beautiful angst I missed you. Thank you Kinomiya for having a moral compass so I could bring this story back around from its recent happy feel.
Anyway, I'm going to be honest. I have no ETA on Day Seven, I know exactly what I'm going to put in it and I likely will start writing it right away but I have literally no inspiration to write anything which means I probably will write it paragraph my paragraph, slowly. It took me everything I had to write this chapter, but I owed everyone the end the day within the ETA I had given. I didn't proofread this chapter fully before posting it if there errors I'll fix them in the next couple days.
I'm still aiming to get this story done by May, and there's only four more chapters, so I likely will get it done. I'm just going to be taking more time because my mood has shifted for the worse as of late.
Anyway, Review please. I can't guarantee reception will inspire or motivate me to get Day Seven done fast, but it will give me some form of reassurance.
