Chapter Seven

Kane groaned, shifting his arms, only to find that he couldn't move them much at all. Lethargically blinking open his eyes, he allowed them to adjust to the darkness of the room. He frowned suddenly at the sight of metal cuffs around his wrists that chaffed his skin. He shook his fists, testing the strength of the metal. A light growl escaped his lips, realising that the shackles were too strong, but struggling against them none the less.

He gave up after a few minutes, realised that his struggles were futile and were only causing to tire him out. He gazed around the room sullenly, before a thought struck him.

'Kai?' Eyes widening, Kane desperately tried to remember what had happened in that alleyway. The only memories that managed to drift back to him were when Kai showed up and then … everything went blank after that. Shaking his head and groaning, Kane willed away the headache that had formed unexpectedly and the overwhelming sense of dread that had engulfed him concerning the blue haired enigma.

Sighing, after he had managed to quell the murderous pounding in his head, Kane sighed, staring morosely at the dark ground beneath him. He had never wanted the other teen involved in this whole situation, and now he regretted ever telling the other why he had come back. Because of it, he was now involved. Yet there was something about the other teen that had drawn his attention, but as to what it was or how it had come about, Kane was unsure. The only thing he was certain of right now was that he harboured feelings for petite teen, feelings that had never been aroused before by anyone, and he was fairly certain it bordered, or even surpassed a crush.

He remember then, what Kai had said when he had shown up unexpectedly in that alleyway, and felt a small blush spread across his cheeks. He noted that Kai had not seemed upset or angry when he had said that, more hopeful than anything else, and that in itself was enough for Kane to believe that the other stoic teen held feelings for him. It was strange, how after a year, his trust and faith in Kai had never wavered, not that the other teen knew about this, but regardless, he trusted Kai with his life. He was drawn to him, a moth to a flame. And Kai was his flame. Fiery and passionate, yet so undeniably content to just curl up and relax at times.

His mind flashed back to the small kiss he had placed on Kai's cheek before realisation settled in and he took off, shocked. But the feel of Kai's smooth skin under his lips had left them tingling for a long time afterwards … and then that man had showed up again.

Kane sighed, before he had stumbled upon Kai in the park, the same teen had ambushed him in the middle of the city, uncaring to the two dozen or more witnesses. After a short scuffle, he had managed to escape without a single scratch.

And now? Now he was chained to a wall in a dark, dank room with no source of light, save the tinted shadows of grey and black. Growling lightly in the back of his throat, Kane glared at the floor, knowing that Kai was in the same building. Chained up? Possibly. Being beaten? Again, possibly. None of this helped Kane. Only caused him to worry at his bottom lip, concern radiating off him in pulses for the teen that he had dragged into this. But he knew for sure, that Gideon's sadism would think to use Kai as a hostage, a black mail of sorts, and that really got to Kane.

If Kai were to get hurt, Kane knew he would never forgive himself. Sighing, he resigned himself to the torturous thoughts that plagued his mind, and found himself drifting off, a fitful sleep laying in wait.

x.x.x.x.x

Kai hissed, his head snapping to the side as the fierce blow split his lip, a trickle of blood already making it's way down his chin and dripping off to land on the dark floor. Dark chains held his arms above his head, putting tremendous strain on his shoulder blades as the rest of his body hung suspended in mid air, his feet chained together at the ankle. He took a few seconds to recompose himself before turning his head back towards his tormentor, crimson eyes blazing in fury. Yet this had no effect on the man that stood before him, arms crossed his chest, gazing down at the defiant teen with indifference.

"Why can't you just leave him alone? He wants nothing more to do with you, Gideon," The fire burning in Kai's eyes was so intense, so deep and penetrating.

A humourless chuckle floated through the air at this. A sound that was hollow and ominous as its echo ricocheted along the walls. A shiver ran down Kai's spine. The fine hairs on the back of his neck stirring. The man reminded him of Boris, the resemblance was so close that Kai could not suppress that fear that mounted in his chest.

"Why would you care, Hiwatari? Shouldn't you be mad at him for dragging you into this situation?"

Kai growled, shaking his head, "Regardless. I'm here now and there's really nothing I can do about that. So why don't you just let him go. It's obvious that nothing you do will be able to persuade him to follow your orders."

Gideon smirked, "My, my, young, Kai, no matter how perceptive you are in a battle, you are inhumanely dense to situations that are a grave danger to your safety."

Kai growled, "I am not an oblivious fool, Gideon. I know that you plan to hold me hostage in hopes that Kane will agree to join you, but I'm afraid that that isn't going to work. I am merely an acquaintance of Kane, not a friend or anything more. We have only seen each other once over the last year and that was a few days ago. It is highly unlikely that Kane will even consider joining you if it is only me you offer as black mail." Kai was lying through his teeth, hoping, praying that Gideon would not see through his façade.

Gideon chuckled, uncrossing his arms and moving forward, grasping Kai's chin in his large hand and tightening his grip as Kai struggled against the hold. "Then you do not know Kane well enough. But let's put your theory to the test, shall we? If Kane does not care for your safety, or for you at all, then he will not react to what will happen to you, will he?" Releasing his grip on Kai's face, he grinned sadistically, "I will come for you in a while." He turned to move away, but stopped and turned back to face Kai. Reaching into the teen's trouser pocket, he retrieved Kai's faithful beyblade, Dranzer.

Kai's eyes widened, "No! Give me my blade back you bastard! Dranzer has nothing to do with this." His cries fell on deaf ears and Kai struggled desperately against the restraints holding him in place. "Gideon!"

Gideon spun on his heel and walked towards the only door in the room. He paused as his hand reached for the handle, "I'll bring her back to you in an hour, young Kai. But do not feel upset if something seems … off … about her and if something happens to you in the mean time."

Kai's eyes narrowed to mere slits, "Gideon! If you dare hurt, Dranzer … so help you! I'll rip your head off!"

"I'd love to see you try." And the door slammed shut and Gideon was gone.

Kai growled, thrashing about in his restraints, ignoring the pain that flared up in his shoulder blades at the unexpected pressure. "GIDEON!"

Stilling in his movements suddenly, Kai reached out to Dranzer mentally. :Dranzer?:

:Master Kai? What is happening ... why can I not feel you ...?:

:Gideon's taken you away, Dranzer ... he's going to do something! You have to leave your blade for a while!:

:No my little one! I will not leave you!: Dranzer shrieked fearfully, worry filtering through the connection. :I cannot leave you.:

Kai smiled grimly at his bit-beasts devotion and loyalty, knowing that it would take more to convince her to go. :Please, Dranz ... you have to ... for both of us:

:NO! I will not leave you!!:

:Dranzer that is an order!! And you will obey it!!:

Dranzer cooed softly, concern, worry and hurt flickering through the connection. :If that is what you wish ... little one ...:

Kai smiled gently, a mere quirk of the corners of his lips. :Thank you Dranz. You-: A sudden ear-piercing shriek filled his mind, and he found his mouth opening as a silent, agonising scream erupted from his chest. He felt his body convulse in pain and he groaned, gritting his teeth together desperately. :DRANZER!!:

Another sharp shriek of agony pierced his mind. Dranzer was in pain ... and that pain was filtering into Kai through their connection.

His body stung and burned, every inch of his body pulsating in a sharp pain that left him breathless as he desperately tried to fight it off. "DRANZER!!"

x.x.x.x.x

Down in the cell, Kane snapped out of his fitful sleep, panic and fear clutching at his heart. "Kai?!"