Author Notes: Well, this is the longest chapter so far...written in the shortest time. Weird, huh? Thanks so much reading the previous ones and reviewing them.

Disclaimer: This fiction uses the song Half-life by Duncan Sheik. Love the words. Was the background music for one of the sequences of What A Girl Wants….think you'll like it. And thanks for reading the story so far with your patience!

Confessions

Max and Ray were back again. This time Hilary would be entering the competition too. And it's really needless to say that she was the one being trained especially hard. Hiro was back too and in form as well. He seemed to have recovered from his shock pretty well. Right now, Hilary was battling Daichi in a one-on-one match.

"C'mon Coach" said Daichi, yawning "I'm tired of battling her! I'm gonna win anyway!"

"Give it a rest, Daichi" said Max "She's doing fine."

"Yeah" smiled Tyson "Look who taught her after all."

Max looked at Kai, as Tyson passed this remark. The expression on his face was unreadable.

"I'm bored" said Daichi, slacking off "I'll win with my eyes closed."

Hilary had reached the end of her patience.

"No offence, but I really think you shouldn't underestimate Jules, Daichi. You see…she is a bit stronger than your Strata Dragoon!" said Hilary, suddenly transferring all her energy to her blade "Jules – waterfalls attack now!"

Hilary's blade began to spin faster and water issued from her blade and flooded the dish. Daichi's blade was caught in the tide.

"Hey!" he yelled.

"Go Jules" yelled Hilary.

With a final strike she made Daichi's blade fly out of the stadium. Her own blade came flying back to her. She raised her palm and caught it.

She grinned wickedly at Daichi.

"I won't say 'I told you so', Daichi" said Hilary.

"Neither will I" said Hiro, looking at the agonized Daichi beating all over the floor. "I told you: you must respect the other blader, Daichi!"

Kenny typed furiously at his laptop and then looked up at Hilary smiling. "You have improved since the last time, Hilary" he told her "Nearly as good as me now."

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN AS GOOD AS YOU?" shrieked Hilary at him.

The others sighed deeply.

"Who's next?" asked Tyson, hastily changing the subject at once "Hiro – who have you lined up?"

"Kai lets see you battle Hilary" answered Hiro.

"Why him?" asked Hilary at once "I don't want to battle him!"

"Well unfortunately you can't choose who you want to battle Hilary" answered Hiro "And don't even dare to tell me you are tired. When you have joined the team – you'll do whatever I tell you."

Hilary sighed heavily, and took her position. Ray volunteered to be the referee.

"Hey Kenny" said Max "Did you find out why my blade behaved strangely that other day?"

Kenny nodded.

"I have some theories Max" he replied "But I'm not a 100 sure."

Max put his mind back to the game going on in front of him. Hilary seemed to be in pretty good form. It was now a fire-water fierce battle.

'That's it!' Max realized 'Hilary didn't have a bit-beast the last time I saw her. She must have got it…'

"Where's your head Max?" asked Kenny, nudging him slightly.

"Nowhere" replied Max "Tell me, Chief. Exactly when did Hilary get her bit-beast?"

Kenny more or less told Max the entire episode. When he finished his narration, Max looked at his Draciel.

"Water element, huh?" he realized suddenly "So that's why my Draciel seemed so restless that day. The very day Hilary found her Jules."

"I guess we found Hilary's family then!" said Kenny.

Hilary was locked in a battle against Kai. No matter what his feelings for her was he wasn't going to let emotion rule his heart. She was just another opponent to him in the blade dish.

"Dranzer attack" he yelled.

"Dodge him, Jules" shrieked Hilary.

She cleverly navigated her blade away from harm's way. Kai looked at her with gritted teeth.

"Lucky" he breathed.

"That's mean" said Hilary suddenly letting her emotion get into her game "I worked on this move for a long time, you know!"

"Sure" shrugged Kai.

"Careful, Hilary" warned Tyson "Don't let despair get into your game."

'Despair?' The word echoed around the room suddenly. Tyson could see it, thought Hilary, he knows it too. Yet he pretends not to know. Oh, Tyson!'

She lost focus of the game completely. Kai unleashed his Dranzer's full power on Jules. Hilary's blade flew out of the dish, right at Hilary. She tried to get out its way. But it hit her on her head. She collapsed.

"No!" gasped Kai. He watched as though in slow motion, her falling to the ground.

At once the others crowded around her and tried to wake her up. Hilary wearily opened her eyes. The faces appeared a total blur in front of her. She could only see one face clearly among all others.

"Tyson…are you there?" she muttered "Tyson…help me!"

Tyson took her hand in his, "Stay with me, Hil. You'll be alright."

Hilary closed her eyes.

"What could have distracted her so much?" wondered Tyson, when they were back in the dojo.

"Are we going to start that all over again?" asked Daichi, exasperatedly.

"What?"

"How many times, Tyson?" said Daichi, with the air of a know-it-all "She was distracted by you calling out 'don't let despair get into your game', you idiot!"

"I did?" asked the clueless boy.

"Get a clue" said Max "She obviously likes you. Something made her despair and especially-"

"Especially after you shouted" said Kenny. He made his laptop face them and said "Watch this…Hilary was doing fine. But her blade lost momentum as soon as you called out to her."

"Wait a minute" said Tyson, huffily getting to his feet "Are we discussing the match summaries or the emotions?"

"They're kinda related, Tyson" said Ray, gently. He was aware he had broken the heart of another young girl back home too. And could totally sympathize with Tyson.

"Well, in that case I'm so outta here!" he said, loudly.

He rushed out of the dojo into the warm evening.

"Will someone tell Tyson, when he returns that he left his own house?" said Daichi.

The Bladebreakers fell about laughing. Max looked over at the dark corner where Kai was sitting alone.

'Poor Kai' he thought 'I wish Tyson would hurry up and realize that he does love Hilary. Otherwise there will be more heart breaks than can be imagined.'

Tyson went to the river dock, quite unconscious of where he was really going. He did not expect anyone to be there at this time. But someone was there: Hilary!

"Hilary?" gasped Tyson "What's she doing here?"

He walked over to where she was sitting. She was looking at the brilliant sunset in the Western skies. She heard his footsteps and looked around.

"Oh" she said. Tyson opened his mouth to say something but Hilary pressed a finger to her lips and pointed out to the sunset. Tyson looked beyond at it. His eyes grew round as he drunk in the beautiful sunset.

He too sat down beside her and enjoyed it.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" asked Tyson in a wonder filled low voice.

"Yeah" said Hilary "It's really gorgeous."

Silence fell between the two of them. Hilary felt rather elated and happy; nothing could spoil her mood today.

"Hey, Hil" said Tyson "How's your forehead? You took a pretty bad hurt on the head in the afternoon!"

"I'm fine, really" said Hilary.

Music came floating from someplace near by. Tyson got to his feet and extended his hand.

"Would you like to dance with me?" asked Tyson.

'He's not joking' Hilary realized. She took his hand involuntarily and got to her feet. They waltzed in slow motion for sometime. They were lost in another world.

"I have something to tell you" said Tyson, softly in her ear "I find it hard to accept it times, Hil. But you must believe it."

"What is it?" asked Hilary, in a low tone.

"Hilary: I really care about you. And I know if something happens to you, it'll simply break my heart" he continued.

Hilary waited with a beating heart. Wouldn't the idiot tell her the truth he had been hiding?

'Wait a minute…this is the song which is playing' realized Hilary.

I'm awake in the afternoon
I fell asleep in the living room
And it's one of those moments
when everything is so clear
before the truth goes back into hiding
I want to decide 'cause it's worth deciding
to work on finding something more than this fear
It takes so much out of me to pretend
tell me now, tell me how to make amends
maybe, I need to see the daylight
to leave behind this half-life
don't you see I'm breaking down
lately, something here don't feel right
this is just a half-life
is there really no escape?
No escape from time
of any kind

She closed her eyes and to hear those magic words she had longed to hear from him, for a long time now.

"You listening to me, Hil?" asked Tyson, looking down at the brown head.

"Yeah" said Hilary "I am"

"Here it goes then" said Tyson "I really hope this says it all: There's a rhyme and reason/ to the wild outdoors/When the heart of this star-crossed voyager/Beats in time with yours. Hey Hil – I love you."

Hilary looked up at him, tears glistening in her eyes. He had finally said what he had to, what she wanted to hear always.

"Me too, Tyson" said Hilary, smiling through her tears "I love you too!"

Tyson grinned at her. Everything had come right finally. All those stabs, weird fights and misunderstandings cleared themselves finally. He held her close as though afraid something might just separate them.

"Hey Tyson" said Hilary, blushing a little "Because we confessed…does that mean we won't fight?"

"Nah" said Tyson, grinning "I don't think we'll ever stop fighting. It's part of us. And I think we'd do better to accept it."

Hilary smiled. Ah, Tyson was talking like a wise owl after all!

'I'm so happy' she thought 'Hope this is not a dream.'

"Don't worry" said Tyson as though reading her thoughts "This isn't a dream, Hil. Trust me."

Hilary felt unusually happy the next day. She greeted the Bladebreakers with more than her usual enthusiasm. All of them stared at her. Max smiled to himself, guessing quite correctly what had happened between the two. Tyson turned scarlet when he saw Hilary but he greeted her cordially too. Kai watched from the shadows, his expression unfathomable. Hiro came out of the dojo and greeted them all. He paused for a minute in the direction of Kai. The ghost of a surprise passed over his face. The next minute, it was replaced by his usual concern for the team as the Coach.

"Okay, team" said Hiro, clapping his hands "Gather around here please."

The Bladebreakers gathered around Hiro as he explained their battle strategy to them. Kenny took down notes on his computer. The rest of them paid rapt attention, except Daichi. Who being used to battling with his heart, hated to use his head during battles.

"So" said Hiro "Today…I have decided to make the weak battle the strong and the equals' battle amongst each other!"

"What?" echoed everyone.

The first battle planned was between Tyson and Max. It was a fierce battle. Tyson lost this time because Max's training back home had molded him into a finer and stronger blader. And Tyson needed lots of practice still!

"Never mind" said Kenny "According to my stats you're still in the league, Tyson!"

"Well blast the league" said Tyson, grumpily "I wanna be at the very top!"

"You will" said Kenny, preparing to battle Hilary "Just keep at it, till you're absolutely perfect!"

Hilary came and faced Kenny. On Ray's signal she unleashed her beyblade on Kenny's hopper.

"He gets to battle" commented his Dizzie "While I'm trapped inside his laptop!"

"Be quite, Dizzie" said Kenny "Just let me concentrate. Go, Hopper"

"Jules Attack" yelled Hilary.

Their blades collided with a sickening crunch and flew apart. Kenny's blade seemed to fly out of the stadium.

"Stay in the game" shouted Kenny "C'mon now – you can do it!"

Hopper landed safely inside the dish.

"Yeah…" said Hilary "For how long?" she drew herself to full height and yelled "C'mon Jules – waterfall attack!"

"Is this a good time to tell you I can't swim?" asked Kenny, scared a little.

"Kenny!" shouted Tyson, Max and Ray in unison.

"Ah, well" smiled Hilary "Guess I'm gonna win."

She sent another tidal wave attack on Kenny's blade and emerged as the winner of their battle. She could have jumped for joy on having being able to beat Kenny in her 2nd Match!

"Good work, Hilary" smiled Hiro "Now…it's Daichi versus Ray."

"What?" they said together "Why not Kai?"

They looked at one another and said, "You think I'm worse than Kai?"

"Yeah I do" again in unison.

"You're ON!" shouted the pair of them.

Sweat drops appeared on Hilary, Kenny and Tyson's heads'.

"Boy…that was unpredictable" said Hilary, lamely.

Once practice was over, the entire team headed for the river. They lay down on the soft grass and looked up at the skies above. Hilary mused over the previous day's sunset. The music still rang in her ears.

"Hey Hilary" said Tyson's voice in her ears "You there? Hello?"

"Yeah" said Hilary "What's wrong Tyson?"

"You being quiet…it kind of freaks me out!"

"HOW DARE YOU!"

Hilary sat up in a flash, a very indignant look on her face. She faced Tyson furiously. He too sat up, a bit scared of her.

"Hey, no sweat. I was just joking!"

Hilary got up disgusted. "You know what Tyson? Just a silly kid and nothing more! A child just given the title of a World Champion of 3 consecutive years! And now if you don't mind, I'm leaving!"

She walked away from them. No one stopped her. Tyson looked around at the others.

"Did I say something wrong?" he asked.

"Beats me!" said Daichi, shrugging.

Max pushed the pair of them aside and said, "You two brats!" in a your-so-insensitive tone.

After a while Kai got up and unnoticed by the others napping there left the river bank.

Just as he had expected Kai found Hilary in the river dock again. She was gazing over at the ocean beyond. It was so vast…where did it begin and where did it end anyway? She felt inner peace thinking about nature. Especially the water element soothed her.

'Maybe that's why my bit-beast specializes in water' she thought 'My Jules does calm me so!'

Kai silently came behind her and sat down beside her.

"Hey" said Kai "Are you alright?"

"I guess" said Hilary, not taking her eyes off the ocean "Why?"

"Just asking"

A brief pause followed.

"Why are you here Kai?" asked Hilary, in a gentle voice "Won't the others worry."

"They are too busy sleeping" said Kai.

"Oh – and you?"

"I came here to keep a promise I made you long time back" replied Kai.

"Which-?"

Then the realization dawned on her. Here in this very place she had made Kai promise her –

"If you ever love someone, will you tell that person at once?"

"I – I don't know, Hilary" said Kai, closing his eyes.

His hands were balled into fists.

"Well, do me one favor: tell her before its too late." Hilary said in the same voice.

"I'll."

Hilary smiled at Kai, "Who's the lucky person?"

Kai looked rather sad as he said "She's sitting right in front of me!"

Hilary quickly got up and looked down at him. Was she in a dream? Kai was in love with her? Was this some sick joke…Kai…why was he complicating her already complicated life?

"But Kai…" began Hilary slowly.

"Hear me out please, will you Hilary?" asked Kai, not quite meeting her eyes.

"Of course" said Hilary at once.

"I know that you like Tyson more than all of us others" he said "And I know I really have no chance of you being in love with me. But I couldn't help it. I couldn't stop myself…and today I think I finally found the courage to tell you this...Hilary?"

There was something oddly familiar about this entire scene. Hilary forced herself to look at Kai. She knew what he would say and she would have to hear it out too.

"Hilary?" said Kai quietly "I think I'm in love with you."

Hilary couldn't help it anymore. She seized Kai by his shoulders and forced him to look straight at her.

"Please tell me this is untrue?" she begged "Please don't ruin my life."

"I'm sorry" said Kai in the same tone of a lovelorn person. He lent forwards and kissed Hilary "Like it or not: I'm in love with you."

He got up and left her alone. Hilary's mind began racing wildly. She fell down on her knees…as dumb as a statue gazing out into the sea without really seeing it.

She was blinded by tears running down her cheeks.

Next day morning: Max was on his way to the market when he came across a young boy with brown hair practicing in the river bank. He smiled recalling all the time they had been there, working hard. This boy seemed to feel someone was watching him. He turned around and spotted Max standing there. A smile broke across his face at once.

"Hey there Max" he called, waving his hand at Max.

Surprised that this boy knew him, max went forward and greeted him.

"Hi. Do I know you?" he asked.

"You sound like Hilary!" said the boy, smiling slightly "I'm Eric. I'm your classmate?"

Max had to think hard to place Eric as one of his classmates. Hilary had forced them to join school at a time when there was only a week before the holidays. So he never really got to know any of his classmates.

"Sorry. Can't place you" said Max, apologetically "I say!" he exclaimed catching sight of Eric's blade "Is that your blade?"

"Yeah" said Eric. He picked it off the ground and held it before Max's eye. Max lent forward to see it. The bit-beast seemed so cool and just like –

"Hilary's bit-beast" realized Max, suddenly "Hey is you're bit-beast by legend some sort of water nymph?"

"Yeah, that's right!" said Eric, looking amazed at Max's knowledge "This is Jupiter. Legend has it there were four: Jupiter, Janise, Jasper, and Juliet. They were siblings you know, and were powered by the water element. They were guided by a sacred bit-beast…"

"Draciel!" realized Max, wide-eyed "No wonder my blade's been acting strangely."

"Well that's not all that is to the legend" continued Eric "You see, when combined together the four water spirits can create the most awesome force ever. But the blader has to be a strong person or else – the world's at stake!"

Max turned a horrified expression at Eric, "Do you know where the other bit-beasts are?"

"No" said Eric, turning away and closing his fist around his blade "But I have a feeling, we'll know soon enough."

Max didn't like to think how soon this soon was.

It was morning and Hilary was still in bed. She hadn't slept a wink last night, worrying about herself, Kai and Tyson. What would happen if she ditched one for the other? What would happen to those to already friends…who am I kidding? Rivals…if she chose one over the other? With these thoughts making her mind whirl, Hilary wearily got up from bed and dressed for the day…

A song played in the background apt for her situation right now:

Somebody else round everyone else
you're watching your back, like you can't relax
you're trying to be cool, you look like a fool to me
Tell me
Why do you have to go and make things so complicated?
I see the way you're acting like you're somebody else gets me frustrated
Life's like this you
and you fall and you crawl and you break
and you take what you get and you turn it into
honesty
promise me I'm never gonna find you fake it
no no no

Disclaimer again: Complicated – Avril Lavigine song. Suits Hilary right?

Author notes: Couldn't come up with anything better! I did have a tough time getting Kai and Tyson to confess…now the bit-beast theory is half-explained…and now I have to tell you the reason of Katherine's departure. Trust me, I will. I have everything planned out. But do let me know what you thought of this chapter. Bye for now: Misty Elizabeth.