Tala watched Hilary go, still held fast by Bryan's arms. "Damnit Bryan! Let me go!" He snarled. Kai seemed to be feeling the same way, his eyes glued to the doorway as well as he fought with Spencer.

"That's enough boys," A familar voice said. The room fell silent. Both bladers turned to look at Mr. Dickenson. He was wearing a very dissapointed and dissapproving expression and was flanked by two large men in suits. "I don't know what happened here, but I think it's time for you two to leave." Bryan finally loosened his grip, letting Tala go. Tala took off after Hilary, not sparing a glance at the people who had congregated around them. He burst through the doors into the bitter cold Russian night. His eyes searched desperately for the missing brunette, but he saw her nowhere.

"She's gone, Tal," A voice said from behind him. He turned to see Bryan standing behind him, for once, his ever present smirk missing.

"Where could she have gone? She has no one here..."

"I don't know...The best thing we can do is go home and wait for her to come back." Tala stood there, considering Bryan's words.

I shouldn't have let Kai get to me like that. Now Hilary's gone. It's freezing, she's in a foreign country, and she has no one. He clenched his fists.

"She'll show up there. Like you said, she has nowhere else to go," Bryan said to him. Tala found himself nodding. "Let's go."

XXX

Hilary was freezing. She had left in such a rush, she had forgotten her coat. Luckily after she ran a few blocks, she caught a glimpse of a bus. She jogged to the bus stop and with a screech it came to a halt in front of her. Quickly, she got on, taking a seat towards the back. People stared at her at her as she passed, but she ignored them. She supposed she probably did look a bit out of place in her dress and make-up. When she found a seat, she rubbed her arms in an attempt to alleviate the cold.

Her head fell against the glass and for a moment she merely watched the buildings and people fly past her. The lights that donned the trees lit her eyes. She tried not to think about what had just happened, but unwillingly, the events came rushing back.

Flashback

"So Kenny's studying at Tokyo University?" Hilary questioned. Tyson nodded.

"He wanted to come, but he had exams."

"And Daichi?"

"He went back to his village to spend time with his father for the holidays." Hilary nodded in understanding. "So what's going on with you and Kai?" Hilary stiffened. She knew it was coming, but no matter how many times someone asked her, it still hurt.

"It's kind of complicated."

"The ice king not all you thought he'd be?" Hilary sighed. "Sorry," He said quickly. "That was a little insensitive. It's just...you left so suddenly, you know? All of us were worried. And now you're not even staying with him?"

"I'm with Tala," She interceded quickly. "I mean..." She flushed crimson. "I'm staying with Tala," She corrected. The blush was not missed by her old friend.

"What's going on there?"

"...That's a bit complicated too." Tyson nodded.

"How's Kai taking you guys being apart?"

"I wouldn't know. Tonight's the first night I've seen him since we decided we need a little time apart," She admitted. Tyson raised a brow at something behind Hilary.

"At least things between him and Tala are still okay." Hilary's brows furrowed and she turned around in time to see Tala and Kai talking not far from where her and Tyson were standing. She smiled. Maybe those two were getting along after all.

"Hilary," Someone called from behind her. She turned to see Max jog up beside them.

"Hey Max. What's up?"

"You won't believe what Rei just told me. I guess he was talking to Lee and-"

"Oh...shit," Tyson said next to her, interrupting Max. Hilary looked up at him, then followed his gaze in time to see Kai tackle Tala onto the refreshment table. Her jaw dropped. For a moment, she didn't know how to react.

"What's..." She drifted off. She watched Kai punch Tala square in the eye. When she realized she wasn't rooted to the spot, she made to run at the pair. Tyson grabbed her. "Hil, you'll get hurt." He held her back, preventing her from running towards the boys who were matching each other, blow for blow. The way they were going at it, she couldn't stop them if she tried...

She saw Bryan and Spencer emerge from the crowd to tear the two apart. Both boys fought their teammates, still trying to hurt the other.

"You don't deserve her!" Tala screamed at Kai.

"And you're so much better?" He countered.

"You treat her like shit!"

"You know nothing about her. I know what she wants!" Tears of humiliation and hurt burned at the corners of Hilary's eyes. Tyson had released her by now and she stepped away from him. Tala and Kai both turned to look at her. She backed up as she felt the eyes of every other person in the room follow their gaze. Before she knew what she was doing, she ran through the door, not looking back.

"Hil!" She heard someone call after her, but she kept running.

Hilary wiped away the tears that escaped the corners of her eyes. This was all her fault. Kai and Tala were best friends before she came into the picture...

Maybe it's time for me to leave Russia. Her head fell back against the seat. Who was she kidding? She had nowhere to go...Maybe Tyson and Grandpa would let her stay at the dojo for a little while...? But where would she get the plane fare? Kai had paid for her plane ticket to Russia...

No...She thought, interrupting herself. I can't leave things screwed up the way they are now. I have to fix things.

As Hilary continued to ride the bus to who knows where, she wished she had asked the rest of the bladebreakers what hotel they were staying at. She wasn't ready to go back to Tala's...but she had no choice. It was late and the buses would stop running soon. Not to mention it was roughly fifteen degrees outside and she didn't have a coat. She would freeze if she didn't get inside sometime soon.

XXX

Tala was pacing in front of the fireplace, glancing out the window every five minutes.

"Will you please relax?" Spencer said from his position near the door. Bryan was sitting at the window and Ian had long since passed out on the couch. All four of them were still wearing their suits, too worried about the missing brunette to change.

"She doesn't have a coat. She'll freeze!" Once again Tala moved to run out of the apartment, but Spencer stood in the way.

"Tala. There's nothing you can do. Kai is already out looking for her. You should be here in case she comes back." Tala nodded, even though he had been told this eight times before.

"It's so late out..."

"Tala. Relax. She'll be here." Spencer looked down at Ian and sighed. "I'm going to take him home. Let me know when she gets here." Spencer picked up the tiny blader. Tala opened the door for him. "See you later." And with that, the blonde man left.

"I need a cigarette," Bryan said as he stood.

"I thought you quit," Tala said absent-mindedly as he glanced out the window again.

"You're stressing me out."

"Let me know if you see her." Bryan nodded.

XXX

Hilary hastened up the steps and then the path that led to Tala's apartment building. She rubbed her arms. Why was it so damn cold here?

"You're back." Hilary almost jumped out of her skin. She put her hand to her heart and turned to see Bryan sitting on a bench beside the walkway, smoking calmly.

"You scared me, Bry."

"Sorry." Hilary glanced up at the building. Bryan stomped out the butt of his cigarette.

"Um...Is Tala up there?" Bryan nodded. Hilary nodded too, all of a sudden not in such a rush. She rubbed her arms again.

"Here." He handed her his suit jacket. She opened her mouth to protest. "Just take it." She nodded and draped it over her shoulders. It was warm and she immediately pulled the front shut. "You know...Tala is really worried about you. You shouldn't have run off." Hilary sat heavily on the bench Bryan had just vacated.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be a bother. I just needed to think." He nodded.

"Kai's never going to change, you know." Hilary stiffened, then turned to face him.

"...What?" He shrugged.

"Tala really cares about you. You should give him a chance." Hilary was taken aback. She had no idea what to say...

"Tala...doesn't know what he wants."

"He wants you."

"The last two times I tried to get closer to him, he pushed me away. If he wanted to be with me, that wouldn't be the case." Bryan sat down beside her.

"Tala isn't used to people showing him physical affection. None of us are." He admitted. "Plus, he's not exactly thrilled at the idea of stealing you from Kai." Hilary looked away and considered Bryan's words. "Think about what I said okay?" She nodded. He did as well, before standing and walking in the opposite direction of the apartments.

"Where are you going?" She questioned.

"Tell Tala I'm staying at Spencer's." He called without looking back. Hilary stood herself. She looked up at the building, before making her way inside.

I know it's a short chapter, but I rushed a bit on this one because I updated this week. Next chapter will be up Monday. Thanks for reading.