Disclaimer: Beyblade is licensed by Nelvana. Takao Aoki made the manga and it is published in English in North America by VIZ Media. In other words, not by me, I did not create Beyblade.

The only things that I do own are my original characters.

­­­------

My Words, Your Words

Story written by: the sound of the bells

Chapter 10 – Cute?

Night slipped by fast and it was already morning. Ling was in the bathroom, washing her face with the warm water. "I wonder where Asuli is…" she turned off the water. She looked at herself in the mirror and brushed her long silver hair. After a while, Ling opened the bathroom door to leave. "Oh," she looked at Hotarubi who was standing out there after opening the door.

"Oh," Hotarubi smiled. She was just going to open the door. "Morning, Ling."

Ling smiled back. "Good morning." She walked out and head back to her room.

Hotarubi followed her. "Wait, Ling!" she called. Ling stopped walking and looked back at her. Hotarubi handed the light blue beyblade. "I saw it in a golden furred dog's mouth so I went and got it back for you," she smiled nervously, remembering how the rain was pouring down from the sky.

"Oh, thank you," she smiled brightly. "I thought I lost it!" Ling looked at the beyblade. There was a picture of a white furred dog with blue stripes on it's back and it had silver eyes on it. "Welcome back, Asuli." She smiled in relief. Then she looked at Hotarubi. "Any word from Fukayna?" she asked.

"…Yeah," Hotarubi sweat dropped. "I'm going to see her at the usual spot at noon."

Ling looked at her with disappointed eyes. "So… she doesn't want to see me. I guess I am useless," Ling walked away.

"No, you're not," Hotarubi said. Ling didn't respond and kept on walking. Hotarubi nervously rubbed the back of her head. "I mean it, Ling. You're more useful than you think… more than me." Hotarubi bit her lower lip. I can never do anything right… she sighed, combing her teal hair with her fingers. Hotarubi turned around and closed the bathroom door behind her.

----

"Good morning, Master Hiwatari," Emily bowed when Kai walked into the kitchen.

Kai looked at her and then around the area. He sighed, "Where's Kita? Haven't she learn about the rules around here yet and how to get down here at the same time as you?" It was time to make breakfast and still Hotarubi was not here to help Emily out. What was I thinking when I let her work here? Kai asked himself, regretting it.

Emily sweat dropped. She touched her short brown hair, trying to think back if she was supposed to tell Hotarubi about the rules. "I'm not sure," she said, bowing again. "My apologies."

Max walked into the kitchen at the other door with a yawn. Kai noticed him and asked, "Hey, Max. Did you not tell Kita?"

"Tell her what?" Max looked at Kai, a bit clueless. Kai just glared at him so Max looked at Emily. She smiled nervously and Max sharply looked back at Kai, also with a nervous smile. "Oh that! Sorry, there just wasn't time to go over it with Hotarubi. I'll let her know and begin her training. Today."

"Alright then," Kai turned, leaving the kitchen. Tyson walked by him. "Whoa, Tyson. You're up early today." Kai was surprised to see Tyson at this hour. It was unusual. Has he finally start getting up like a man?

Tyson yawned. Even he is up early, he felt really tired and his eyes were half open. "Yeah… I… I couldn't fall asleep when I woke up a couple of hours ago after dreaming about something… Eh? I don't remember what I was dreaming about… Huh, oh well," Tyson scratched his face and slowly walked into the kitchen, feeling really thirty.

Kai looked at Tyson's back. He had no idea what Tyson was mumbling about and headed across the living room.

Hotarubi was on the second floor and when she came up to the stairs, she smiled excitedly. She lightly jumped on the stair rail and start sliding down to the first floor on it. "Hehe…" she smiled to herself, feeling free from her troubles for a moment. But then she notice Kai who had just walked out where the living room was. Hotarubi gasped, "Out of the way!"

She was already flying in the air and she's falling right towards him. Kai didn't react fast enough and she fell on him, his head banging on the floor. "The fuck?" he groaned, reaching for his head where he slammed against the hard tiled floor. He glared at the teal hair girl who was laying over him, giving him a weak look. "Kita…" he hissed her last name quietly. If his friends saw this, he'll never hear the end of it.

"My bad…" Hotarubi quickly got off and stood up, blushing a bit. Then she glared, "I told you to get out of the way."

Kai glared at her as he stood up. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her close. "This mansion isn't a playground, Kita," he told her.

Hotarubi shook his hand away, glaring back. "I know. I'm sorry. Who knew that you were right there?" she took a step back away from him, sticking her tongue out.

"Humph," he walked away.

"What? That's it?" she watched him walk away. "You're not going to say anything else? Not going to talk back?" Kai didn't answer and he had gone to another room. Hotarubi tapped her chin, wondering what happen to him for acting different from before. Maybe someone like him can change. She thought to herself, rubbing the back of her head. It hasn't been long that they have meant, but it felt like they were fighting for ages.

"Were you two arguing again?" Tyson walked behind Hotarubi.

She turned to face him. She laughed, waving her hand at him "Yeah, sort of," she replied. "And good morning, Tyson."

"Morning…" Tyson smiled. "So… what do you hate about Kai? Why can't you two just GET ALONG?"

Hotarubi looked at Tyson for a moment with a blink face. She shrugged. "I really don't know why… but he kind of reminds me of somebody who I use to hate a lot back when I was younger."

"You should get to know Kai more," Tyson suggested with a grin. "Don't compare him to anyone else. He's a great friend. I know you won't regret it if you just try to be nicer."

"Nicer?" she flattened her eyes at him. Tyson made it sound like she was the one who was causing the tension between them. Hotarubi was going to say something but give another second thought. She laughed, "I guess you're right. But… I think he looks cute when he's mad, now that I think about it."

Tyson's eyes popped out, shock. "What? Kai?! Cute?!" he grabbed her shoulders and shook her back and forth. "What's so cute about him?" he asked. "And don't tell me that is your reason for not getting along with him."

Hotarubi laughed again. "Maybe… maybe… You're cute when you're mad too, Tyson," she told him.

"I didn't ask about that!" he slightly blushed at her. "What do you find Kai cute? Just when he gets mad?"

"Something like that," she looked away with a smirk. "I didn't say that I like him, did I? Why are you so nosy about?"

Tyson put his hands to his sides, shrugging a little. "Nothing," he said, scratching his face. "But if you do think that way… can you try not to annoy him too much?"

"I'm just being honest with my feelings, Tyson," Hotarubi patted on his shoulder. "Not everyone can get along with everyone, right? Didn't you use to not get along with Hiwatari too?"

He looked at Hotarubi, silent. "…Something like that," Tyson said. He remembered how he first time he met Kai.

Hotarubi beamed and nudged him. "See?" she said.

"But we get along now," Tyson countered. "All you two need is some kind of dramatic event to happen. Maybe that way, you two will come to understand each other and even become friends. Great, huh?"

"Never in this life time," she slapped his arm with the back of her hand. It didn't sound like a good idea.

"Yo, Tyson," some guy called from the stairs. "When's breakfast?"

Tyson and Hotarubi both looked where the voice came from. Michael smirked as he walked down the stairs and Steven was behind him. "Is that…?" Hotarubi eyes started to sparkle. "Michael and Steven?!" Now she was starting to jump from joy. "Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god!!"

"Looks like I got a fan," Michael smiled at Hotarubi. Steven didn't say anything as they approach her and Tyson on the first floor.

Hotarubi took a big step and introduced herself. "Morning! I'm Hotarubi Kita and I just started working here! I'm eighteen by the way. It's going to be so awesome working in this mansion now that you guys are here!" She jumped in front of Steven and she started to chat with him.

Tyson grumbled and looked at Hotarubi who was getting excited just over these two guys. "What's so great about them?" he asked her. She didn't act the same way when they both first met.

"Can you throw a football at me?" she asked Steven. She didn't hear what Tyson asked and looked at Michael. "Let's go and play ball you guys! Is that alright?"

Steven looked at Michael who looked back at him. They both shrugged. "Uh…" they both stared at her.

"Hotarubi," Max walked in on them. "Sorry, but there's no time for that. You need to start cooking breakfast with Emily right away." Hotarubi looked at him with a disappointed look. She nodded and hurried off to the kitchen.

Steven watched her go and looked at Max. "Weird cute fan girl there," he commented.

Max nodded with a chuckle. "I know, but that's how she is," he said.

"Is she friends with you guys?" Michael asked out of curiosity.

"Yep," Tyson nodded, showing that he was proud of it. He smiled, "Hotarubi is my childhood friend."

Michael smirked. "You say that, but is that all you think of her?" Tyson looked at him with a confused look. Michael crossed his arms. "Childhood friend doesn't last, Tyson. Especially with a girl." Michael said. "Don't you have, like, a crush on her or something back then? No history between the two of you? Hm?"

"Why are you asking about that?" Tyson slightly blushed, lightly glaring at him.

Max nervously laughed and patted on Tyson's shoulder when he walked up to him. "Michael is just kidding. Don't think about it too much," Max told him.

Tyson pouted.

----

"Hotarubi," Max knocked on her bedroom door.

An hour had already passed and she was just hanging around in her room. Kai seemed unhappy even after doing her job with Emily and it pissed her off. Hotarubi opened the door and smiled at Max. But it suddenly her smile turned upside down when she saw what he was holding. A blue and black maid's dress. "Am I supposed to wear… that thing?" she asked, looking disgust.

He nodded. "Yeah. This is your work outfit. You know, just so we know who works here."

"But you guys KNOW that I do," Hotarubi pouted. She didn't like wearing dressing and anything that deals with skirts.

Max nodded. "Yes, we do. But if Kai brings a guess here or when someone comes, we want him or her to know who works here. Come on, try it on." He held it up to her. Hotarubi slammed the door in his face. "Hotarubi?" Max blinked.

"I refuse to wear it," she said.

"If you don't, Kai might make a big deal out of it," Max told her. "He might even fire you."

Hotarubi opened her door again. She looked at Max's smiling face with another pout. He had a point. She needed to remain in the mansion because she was ordered to. She didn't really agree with it, but she needed some money also. "You're lucky that you're so cute," she grabbed it with a light glare.

"Oh, when you're done," Max said before she closed the door. "Meet me downstairs so I can tell you about the rules around the house. Uh, I mean the mansion."

"Yes, yes," she nodded, closing the door. "Understood." She waited until she heard his footsteps going away. Hotarubi sighed and looked at the dress and then threw it on her bed. "I will never wear skirts for the rest of my life," she glared. As much as she loves to cut it up into pieces, Hotarubi decides to leave. She had to leave to meet Fukayna anyway. She opened her window and climbed on the tree and headed down. "I'm so glad I have a tree near my room," she grinned and jumped on the ground when she was close enough. Hotarubi looked back up at the window and then ran.

­­­------