GUESS WHAT GUYS! GUESS! KAI AND HILARY FINALLY MEET UP IN THIS CHAPTER! WOOOOOO!

Ray: Moonlight Serenity doesn't own and is no way affiliated with beyblade, or the Offspring and their song "Kristy, Are You Doing Okay?"

Mariah: No one has any right to put their hands on you. If you or a loved one is being harmed, please find the courage to talk to someone you trust.

Kai: on with the fic!

Chapter Nine – Hiromi, Are You Doing Okay?

As Tachibana Hiromi emerged into the spring, the sun hanging in a cloudless blue sky briefly blinded her. In those moments, she wondered what she would see when her vision cleared. She'd contacted Stanley Dickenson, but she wasn't sure if he would be the one waiting for her. She wasn't sure if anyone would be waiting for her. She couldn't decide which scenario was better, either. As the glare across her ruby eyes began to dissipate, she craned her neck to take in her surroundings. Eventually, her eyes rested on the figure of a young man leaning against the hood of a silver Camaro. Hiromi's breath caught in her throat as she took in his appearance; he was even more rakishly handsome than she remembered and still able to make her heart throb within her chest. She settled into gazing into the familiar amethyst orbs. From a distance, she could still recognize the emotions flickering under the surface of his steely façade.

Hiwatari Kai didn't break eye contact with the girl gawping at him. She was much thinner than he remembered and slightly taller. She wore practical brown tennis shoes, a brown floral dress that hung below her knees, and a blue cardigan with a matching blue headband in her hair. Her chocolate tresses were cropped short – the longest layer rested just above her chin. She held a bag she'd carried on for the trip so she could freshen up before her stop. She flushed, but he didn't free her from his stare.

The girl cleared her throat, closed her eyes for a moment, and stalked over to side compartment on the bus in order to grab her luggage; however, before she could wrench her bag from the recesses of the cavern, a strong arm shot out a grasped the handle. She wasn't sure when he'd moved, but she now realized he was scarcely a breath away from her. As he tugged the bag loose, his arm grazed her shoulder lightly – his silent affirmation that she was more than wishful thinking. The pair both felt a familiar spark at the contact, but neither commented. The girl blushed again. When she turned, he was looking at her almost expectantly. She nervously registered that it was too late to run back to the bus – Kai was holding the majority of her possessions. He closed the storage area. She swallowed.

"Ohayo," she murmured. She hoped her voice would be a little stronger, but it wavered and rasped. It betrayed her anxiety. She grunted and tried to clear her throat. "Are you here to pick me up?"

"Yes," he replied. She nodded a little to herself.

"Thank you, Kai," she tested his name on her tongue. She dropped the affectionate suffix, but it still tasted all right in her mouth. He tipped his head forward a little. The bus grumbled behind them as the driver revved its engine and began to roll forward onto its next destination. Hiromi took a deep breath. "Well," she started, "where are we going?"

"Anywhere you want to go," he told her and the pair moved toward his car. As long as I can stay with you, he thought to himself. Kai placed her stuff in his trunk and they climbed into the vehicle.

"I'm actually kind of hungry," she hesitated. It was true. She'd hardly had anything to eat in the last few days between the butterflies and bus rides. It would also elongate her estrangement from the rest of the team. She needed time to ease into the water and Kai seemed like he would offer an opportunity for this. He didn't seem angry, upset, or hostile, bur rather accommodating. He nodded again and shifted his car into reverse. She felt an urge to touch his resting hand. "How are you?" she asked to distract herself.

"I'm all right," he said slowly. She didn't miss his knuckles whitening and twitching on the steering wheel – the little things always gave Kai away and she knew how to watch for them. She marveled at how seamlessly she was slipping beneath the surface with Kai. Everything, all of the emotions, was coming back to her almost easily. "I'm going to take over Hiwatari Corp."

"Really?" she wondered aloud.

"Yes."

"That's impressive," she blew out a puff of air. She watched him as he wove through traffic effortlessly and then parallel parked on the same block as a small restaurant that she'd always loved. She was sure this wasn't a coincidence. He remembered her favorite place to eat after two years. The man beside of her would never cease to amaze her.

Hiromi nearly smiled despite the awkward situation, but it was suddenly stifled. She paled. She wounded such an incredible specimen. She lied to him. She hurt him. She left him. The girl's vision started to swim. The images before her eyes were not reflections of the current reality, but of past events.

When she woke up, her head was throbbing terribly. A knot that had welled on the back of her skull beneath her chocolate locks was pulsing keenly. Her throat was dry and her body felt stiff and achy. She was sore. She groaned. The sun was peaking through a dingy window encrusted with dirt and grime. It made her headache worse.

Hiromi lie in the floor for a few minute and tried to remember how she'd gotten there. It took some time, but she pieced the events back together loosely. She'd stayed at her own home the past two nights and her mother hadn't caused a lot of fuss. In fact, the previous night she hadn't seen her mother at all – her mother had left that evening to go to a neighbor's house. Hiromi assumed the woman would be too inebriated to return.

"Oh," she moaned painfully as she recalled the details. Her mother had returned, after all, and she hadn't been happy. She'd stormed into the room in the middle of the night and sunk her nails into her daughter's fleshy shoulders.

"Did you drink it all!" she had shouted.

"Wha-?" the girl had muttered groggily as she tried to understand the situation. As she was ripped from the bed, a thick, empty bottle of vodka was thrust in front of her face. The girl had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach – apparently her mother didn't remember finishing the bottle earlier that afternoon.

"Little thief!" her mother had cried before cracking it across the back of the girl's head. Everything was fuzzy after that.

Once Hiromi had acquainted herself with the events that led to her headache, she tried to push herself to her hand and knees. She whimpered, but bit her tongue to hush herself. She grunted as she crawled to the other side of the room and groped for the phone in a pile of clothing. She desperately hoped it was charged. When she found it, she didn't waste any time. She dialed.

"Mushi mushi," Kai answered.

My mother knocked me out last night, Kai, Hiromi thought desperately as she bit her tongue again. I need help. The girl didn't say any of these things aloud, though. She could handle herself. She was strong enough to do that, right? She didn't need to drag him into her life if she should be able to handle it, right? It wasn't because she was too weak to be honest, right? Shit bit back another whine – these thoughts weren't helping her aching head.

"Mushi mushi," Kai repeated darkly – he clearly hadn't recognized the caller ID.

Startled out of her thoughts, she replied ineloquently, "I'm not feeling well, Kai."

"Are you all right?" he asked with a trace of concern coloring his tone – he recognized her voice immediately.

"H-hai, but I won't be at practice today."

"Okay," he said. "Do you need anything?"

YES! She felt something within her rebelling, I need you to come and get me! I'm scared. It hurts. Please, Kai, help me. "No, I'm all right."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." I'm not sure. I need you. Help me. "Yes, I'm sure. I've got to go. Sayonara." She shut off the line before he'd had time to bid her farewell. She fell back to the floor in a heap. Thankfully, she was certain her mother wouldn't be up for a while yet – the events of prior night and the hangover would keep her at bay. Hiromi closed her eyes and succumbed to sleep.

"Hiromi," the girl in question startled. The heart tucked neatly behind her ribs was racing. She felt her mouth tingle as the blood returned to her lips – she'd been pressing them into a thin line. Gradually, the memory began to subside and fade into the past. Progressively, the present came into focus. Hiwatari Kai was holding one of her hands between his own large palms and looking at her worriedly. He was so close that she could feel his breath skimming across her face. "Hiromi," he asked softly as he peered deeply into her eyes. His brow was creased with disquiet and he frowned, "are you doing okay?"

woooohooooo. This one was hard to write. Awkward. How awkward? Sometimes not awkward enough, but I think when you had a connection like they did/do, somethings just come easily. It's like those special friends you lose touch with that you can still fall into conversation with easily after so much time has passed. Also, I know this might've been a little confusing at times - Hiromi having a flashback and talking about what happened the night before in the flashback. BUT TEH PLOT BE MOVING! Finally, right! Finally. Thanks to everyone that stuck to with this story patiently until now.

Lots of love and joy and thanks to: zulka, cakg123, and Kitty Chandelle! Your reviews make my life!

Well, that's all for now. Sorry for being a little nonsensical - I'm sleepy. Please, please, please, please review :3 Please? Pretty please? I want to know what you thought :)

Ja ne!