Rose: Wow chapter seven, we're one a role!

Rina: I know but I want to get one more chapter up because once July comes around I'm not going to have much time to update anything

Rose: O.O Very busy... July isn't a good month

Rina: Yeah anyways I don't own beyblade or the story in which this is based. I also don't have a spellcheck but I did my best so enjoy!


Hilary Tatibana had never forgotten a thing she'd once known about feeling self-conscious. Still, that seemed like another lifetime, and she no longer thought twice about standing alone in a crowd with nothing but her musings for company.

Here at the open house, she felt completely at home. She'd already visited with most of her friends, met and mingled with the firm's employees, spouses and significant others in numbers equal to that of the media. Lingering now by the lobby's receptionist station, she sipped her ice tea and people-watched, getting a secret little kick out of witnessing the professionalism projected by her gAL-gEAR partners, excluding the bed-ridden Mariam.

To think these were the same women she'd discussed bikini waxes and hair-care products with, these where the women whom she shared tales of sex gone wrong as well as sex gone right, with whom she indulged in chocolate and maragritas (though the latter two definately not at the same time) was amazing to her.

Like the rest of the gAL-gEAR partners, Hilary was confident in who she was, and what she wanted from life. She loved her work in multimedia design, and especially loved being part of the team at gAL-gEAR, though she was, admittedly, constantly amazed by the company's success.

Hilary was lucky, as well, in her friendships, including what she shared with all her co-workers -those were friendships that went beyond those bounds. Their bond was that of sisters, and Hilary didn't know what she would've done without her best friends' support over the past month. Breaking off her relationship with Tyson had been one of the most difficult things Hilary had ever endured. She'd thought the pain of the loss would ease with time... She thought wrong.

She'd known that Tyson would be here today. Dragon Spirit Sword School, the samurai training ground he owned, had done a special training program for last month magazine...

She'd known he'd be here, but had that knowledge made it easier or harder to come, to mingle... to see him approached by one woman after another. To see him give each undivided attention which was so like the Tyson she knew. Always having time for a pretty fan...

No, Hilary didn't mind standing alone in a crowd, but now that Mariah and Ray had run off, leaving Hilary at loose ends, she was having trouble keeping he eyes off of Tyson and Emily Tompson.

Whatever had Judy been thinking? Why did she hire that woman in the first place? That was a rhetorical question if Hilary had ever asked herself one, because she knew the answer. Emily's qualifications could've earned her a gAL-gEAR partnership if there were any to spare... not that the six founding members had ever talked about taking on a seventh... If the issue was brought to a vote any day but today, Hilary would truely have to weigh that was best for the company against her own personal feelings. Em, after all, was damn good at her job.

If a vote was taken today, however, Hilary's vote would have to be no, because Em couldn't keep her hands off Tyson! And although Hilary's head had made the decision to end their relationship before it tumbled farther to nowhere, her heart had not yet given him up.

'If you're standing here all by yourself for a reason, I'll leave you alone. But if you don't mind the company, then I'd love to stay and chat. These function things aren't really my thing, so it's good to have someone to talk to!' At the sound of Max Tate's voice, HIlary turned and looked up into the baby-blue eyes of Judy's son.

At six feet even, he was an inch shorter than Tyson, though he shared the same lean swimmers build. His hair was cut spicky and was light, a colour somwhere between yellow and an off gold. Just like his mother's... 'Hey Maxie...' She said and smiled. It was a smile more genuine than any she'd delivered so far today. 'I must say, I am surprised to see you here... I didn't think you're mother even let you into the offices.'

Max chuckled. 'She doesn't too often. But she wanted me here tonight, so I came.'

'Still on bad terms with your mom over Mariam, Maxie?'

His face paled. 'N-no!' He protested. 'We're really not!'

'If you say so Maxie...' She sighed, he always was terrible at hiding things. Every emotion he had showed in his clear blue eyes.

Still slightly paled, Max downed the rest of his club soda then whispered. 'Hil, not that it's any of my buisness, but did you know Emily's moving in on your territory?'

Hilary kept her eyes on the bottom of her empty cup instead of glancing beyond Max towards Tyson and Em. 'Tyson and I aren't together any longer...' She mumbled.

Max looked completely shocked for a moment, then squeezed her elbow before letting her go. 'I'm sorry. I had no idea... well I guess that's what I get for taking an inturnship half way across the country for six months. I've completely fallen behind in everything, haven't I?'

Hilary gave a small, careless shrug and tossed back her shoulder length brown hair. 'Don't worry about it Max. The split was amicable enough... Tyson and I are still on speaking terms... kind of.'

Max nodded silently and finished his drink. Setting his glass on a nearby table, he gently trapped her hand beneath his. 'Hilary, why don't you have dinner with me tonight?'

Did... did he just ask me out? 'Now? Tonight?' Hilary wasn't sure she could remember how to breathe.

He smiled one of he oh, so charming smiles. 'Yeah now... You're one of my best friends, and it's apparent you need to talk, so why not?'

I shouldn't let my mind get so carried away... Max is happily with Mariam... he's just worried about me... but still... it was nice of him to ask... 'I'd love to.' To hell with Tyson and Emily, She'd just been asked out to dinner by the Max Tate, what girl in her right mind wouldn't say yes?

'Great.' Max glanced at his watch. 'I've just got to call Mariam and see if she needs anything. She hasn't been feeling well over the last week or so. She's been getting sick a lot in the mornings, and feeling really tired at night... But you already knew that didn't you?' The brunette nodded, thinking of her indigo haired friend sick at home. 'After that, we can go. How does seafood grab you?'

Hilary doubted she'd be able to swallow a single bite. 'Sounds perfect.' She said, because it did.


Her pride was never going to recover from this one. Julia had decided that moments after the little disaster had happened in her office. Even now, Kai was driving her nuts with every little touch of his hand to the small of her back, or to her elbow. The constant reminders of what he'd done to her only a short while ago had her biting her tongue to keep from moaning out loud.

What they'd done in her office had caught her completely off guard by the passion. She'd been seized by a desire she'd never known before. Her hunger has stemmed from a lust that was primal and raw. A lust for nothing, she told herself, but the physical bliss that had shuddered from the center of her body.

They stood to the left of the receptionist's station in the lobby of the gAL-gEAR offices. Each of the partners was there, except Mariam, she'd been too sick to come...

This open house was important to Judy, Julia knew that, it was important to all of them, but Judy had a more personal stake on the line involving the company's start-up and her relationship with her son. Those details hadn't been shared, for whatever reason, however julia knew it was about Max's taste in women. As much as Judy respected Mariam as a buisness genius and a partner, she didn't want her anywhere near her baby boy.

'That's not going to happen again.' Julia hissed lowly in Kai's ear.

He raised a brow, pretending he didn't know what she was talking about.

'Don't act innocent Hiwatari!' She snapped, poking his chest with one finger. 'You know what I'm getting at!'

Kai moved one of his hands to the center of her back, drawing tiny circles between her shoulder blades. Julia shivered. His touch was like a hot plate! Coils of heat radiated in ever expanding loops until she was sure she'd melt into the lobby's floor. 'You better mingle.' He leaned down closer to add, 'People're getting curious.'

'Curious about what?' She asked, though she was hardly unaware of the pairs of eyes checking them out.

'Us.'

Unfortunately, he was right that she needed to mingle. Even more unfortunately, she wasn't sure she could do so and hide the lingering remnants of what she was feeling. Heat still infused her face, and the lace of her bra still scraped the sensitive skin of her breasts, which ment any time she twisted she remembered.

She'd give anything to wash Eric and the entire day from her mind. Better yet, blow off this unholy alliance. But giving up now would only leave her exactly where she'd started. One more one-nighter to add to her fast-and-furious reputation... Except this would be her second date with Eric, wouldn't it? If what they were doing could be called dating... (which it wasnt!) and not just fooling around (which it was!).

'There you are Julia!' Sang out a voice Julia could have gone the rest of the day without hearing. 'I've been looking for you everywhere. The reporter from So Teen wants to talk to you about gRAFFITI gAL for their fall preview issue. I gave them my outlook, of course, but I don't yet know the specifics on the colours.'

For a very good reason... Julia thought. You can't keep your mouth shut! Then she took a deep breath, and gave Kai a smile that said This is what I was talking about. Finally, she turned toward the approaching, or would that be descending, Emily Tompson. Julia hadn't been exaggerating when she'd told Kai that Em had BRAT written all over her.

Two or three inches shorter than Julia, the American woman was all fire and flash. Her skin was finely tanned, her orange hair a study in slashes and sharp angles framing a face both sultry and mysterious. She was a beautiful woman, Julia had to admit that. But Em's career drive was like fingernails down the chalkboard to Julia own aggressive nature.

In other words, the two didn't blend into a seamless team. 'Em, I'd like you to meet a friend of mine, Kai Hiwatari. Kai, this is one of gAL-gEAR's buyers, Emily Tompson.'

Emily eyed Kai, who glared back at her like he did everyone. Julia could only watch and wonder why she'd bothered to get out of bed this morning. After shaking Kai's hand, Em crossed her arms over her chest and raised a confident brow. 'I don't think I've seen you with Julia before, Kai... But it's hard to keep track with her. Lucky girl... she has so many friends.'

Julia temper rolled to the tip of her tongue, but Kai put the brakes on her first bad words of the day with nothing but the stare he delivered straight to her. A stare that said Leave this to me. Julia felt apprecation for him weld in her chest.

'I'm luckier.' Kai started, a protective emotion flashing through his eyes as he moved his gaze from the brunette beside him to her rival. 'She's wonderful...' Emily shorted in disbelief.

Julia bit her lip... no other man had ever said anything so wonderful about her before! She patted him on the shoulder, and gave Em a sweet smile. 'This guy's too charming to release out into the general public. I have to keep him locked away.'

The other woman tapped a long pale finger on her bare forearm, her arms still crossed. 'I'm quite certain I haven't met a slave before. Shouldn't you be wearing black and licking her feet?'

At that, Kai's own anger boiled over, but somehow he managed to keep it in, and only glared daggers at the orange haired woman. 'Leave.' He hissed.

Emily's eyes narrowed, but she didn't push the conversation any farther. 'Julia, the reporter's over by the front door talking to MingMing.'

Julia glanced over, searching out her partner's long blue hair. MingMing Pellow, no doubt, was chewing off the reporter's ear with her always uncanny predictions for the next fashion season. 'Thanks Em. I'll work my way over there.' Julia started to turn away, but couldn't stop one last dig from falling off the end of her tongue. 'You're welcome to come along and hear what Judy and I have planned.'

'I appreciate the offer, but the information will come across my desk soon enough.' Emily lifted her chin, her interest caught by something beyond Kai's shoulder. 'Besides, I have something I need to discuss with Judy. You two enjoy the rest of the afternoon.'

The other woman spun gracefully away, and Julia leaned to peer around Kai's body to see what had Em on the prowl. 'Oh please...'

Kai followed the direction of the two-toned brunette's gaze, blowing out a loud snort once he, too, saw who had snagged Emily Tompson's attention. 'Tyson?'

'Well, he's definately not torn up after dumping Hilary.' She retorted.

'He looks terrible.'

'Yeah, he puts on a good act...' And that was another thing. If what Hilary had with Tyson wasn't true love... Julia glanced around the room, finding Hilary at the end of the bar in conversation with Mariah Wong, Ray Kon... and Max Tate! Interesting... Knowing Judy, she'd been pleased with this sudden turn of events.

'Act?' Kai kept his gaze trained across the room as he leaned in low. 'He's a reck.'

'Hmmph.' Julia did wonder... 'That would make him capable of human emotion.'

'He is.'

'Sure... Just like the rest of you men.' She said with a snort. 'Lust, pride, wrath, greed, envy, gluttony, and sloth!' Julia continued to cut her gaze between Tyson and Hilary until her date moved to block her line of sight, forcing her to look up. 'What?' It was all she could say, They didn't have to talk about this here did they?

'Makes me wonder...' He smirked. 'How much of you is an act?'

She bit her lip. 'Someone's talkative today, why don't you keep it up, and go talk to Ray. He's waving you over, and I have a reporter waiting for me.'

Kai looked as if he had much more to say, more that came from a place he wasn't ready to reveal or revisit. A place resonsible for the picture-collaged wall-paper in his office at Breakerz'. And the need to immerse himself in what for most was a simple job, but for him was all-consuming. But then his pride chased the vulnerble glint from his eyes, and he nodded. 'Fine.'

'Fine.' She agreed, and marched away.

She stopped at the bar and grapped two shots of whiskey. Downing them, she reached for another, not daring to look back. She could still feel his crimson eyes into her back her. Gasping, she resisted the urge to grab two or three more, and slammed her empty glass back down. She was in deep trouble as it was. She didn't need to compound her sins by washing away her worries with boose.

She needed to keep a clear head in order to convince herself she wasn't falling in love...


There you have it, another, little longer chapter DONE DONE DONE!!!!

I thought it'd be nice to intermingle with some other characters beside Kai and Julia for a change.

I actually liked this chapter. Next time, we'll get a little girl time in with the partners of gAL-gEAR at a meeting.

Until then, this is for MIKAERA because i'm going to west now and won't update for sometime... I hope she'll review this time...

HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY!!!

Dong-Chun-Mei