Authors note: Right, this one is slightly different from the others, but I assure you it is quite important for the rest of the story! Anyways, what happened to the review people? I would appriciate some interest, so that I know you people are still reading ;)

And, if you wanna know how Johnny and Kai's battle turns out I seriously suggest you REVIEW!;)

KirayHimawari: As always you have left a totally awsome response, which is the sole reason why this chapter was finished now instead of in two weeks! :) Thank you so so much! Yes, you are totally right about Voltaire, he his planning his next move very carefully, and Kai is by no means even close to his level, I am already considering my options for when he makes another mistake;) Great that you like the pace of the story, and also how I have portrayed Kai. I am still unsure, have I made him too sappy? He is back in buisness now in this chapter, but I felt like I had to give him a weak moment. You know, he can't be Mr. cold as ice all the time;) Anyway, thanks again!:D


Untouchable

Chapter 11


I could hear laughter; childish, naive and almost insanely happy. Just like my own. There was splashing water as well, and I ran out towards the sea, enjoying the sensation of wet sand between my toes. One of the other children threw a ball at me, and I catched it, throwing it back.

The water came bouldering back towards us, crystal clear and foaming where it connected with dry land. A warm wind was caressing my face, the salty smell of sea burning pleasantly in my nose.

I laughed loudly when the electric blue waves washed over my small feet, before running further out, water splashing everywhere.

"Kai, honey, don't go too far!" Someone shouted.

It was a woman, and her voice made me vibrate with pleasure. I laughed again, barging forward through the water. Moments later I was lifted up, and she laughed as well, running out of the water as I kicked and shouted in utter delight.

She smelled of raspberries, salt water and perfume. And, then there was that other familiar scent, the one which created an air of comfort and safety around her, what made her who she was.

She let me down, and I held tightly onto her hand, laughing and bouncing up and down as we jogged across the beach, headed for the small white tree house which was overlooking the sea. The both of us were soaked, and I let go of her hand, throwing myself headfirst into the sand.

"Kai!" She chastised, laughter in her voice as her features were laced with badly hidden amusement.

Then she got down next to me, the both of us rolling around till we were covered, small grains of sand everywhere.

"Look at us", she said, shaking her head, smiling.

"I am a land-shark", I exclaimed, getting up and running in the direction of the house.

I could hear her laughter behind me, and we arrived at the top of the small hill together. She ruffled my hair, tried to get the sand off with a towel, although I was not exactly overly cooperative. It tickled, and when she finally let go I barged into the kitchen.

Strong arms got a hold of me, and a smiling, slightly chubby man placed me on a chair. I drank cool, fresh milk and ate cinnamon rolls. They were still warm, taken straight from the oven, and I burned my tongue, savoring the pleasant, sugary taste.

She entered moments later, ruffling my hair and kissing me on the cheek. The two of them smiled at each other, and then at me. I grinned, wondering if I should throw a cinnamon roll at him. No, they were too tasty not to eat!

Just then there was a knock on the door, and after patting my head she went to open it. I could hear voices in the hall, and a sudden feeling of unease made me put down the glass, a milky white mustache now prominent over my mouth.

A stranger followed her into the kitchen, and I swallowed, our eyes locking. I had a milk-mustache, and I was full of sand. He didn't approve. With the natural intuition of a child I could tell that he was trouble.

He looked intensely at me, perfectly manicured eyebrows quirking upwards as he took in my appearance. Suddenly things seemed darker, and I hiccupped, nervously shuffling my feet. A shadow on the sun I thought, looking up at him with a sense of finality.

Dark eyes, angry eyes, full of menace. Who was he, what did he want?...What did he want?

The room was dark, and the curtains rustled slightly as a light, airy breeze washed through the room. Hilary was sound asleep, her bra and panties on the floor. I sat up, resting on my elbows. A comfortable silence seemed to have settled, and I slowly got up, wandering over to the open window.

I could feel the wind in my hair for a few coveted moments, as bleak moonlight washed over the neighboring houses. Without thinking I wiggled my toes, closing my eyes, concentrating on the vaguely familiar feeling as my feet sunk into the lush carpet. Saltwater spraying in my face, bickering seagulls in the background. I tried to recreate the memory, tried to convince myself that I was there, in the small white house. It didn't work.

Who was she, the woman? I was intrigued. This was something I hadn't dreamt before, it was something new, unfamiliar, and yet it didn't feel as foreign as one might think. Despite what the reasonable part of my mind upheld, I couldn't quite shake the feeling that this was a memory, not a dream. Could I ever have been that happy, or was it merely an illusion, created by my own mind to compensate for my own lack of a childhood. The first things I could remember were the gloomy, grey existence in Balcov Abby. The pain, the despair, the crushing loneliness; everything which had made me who I was.

This was something different, and with a sigh I turned away, absentmindedly wandering back to bed. Hilary was looking intently at my naked frame, eyes wide.

"Is something wrong?" She wondered, eyes soft.

For just a brief couple of seconds I actually considered telling her everything, confiding in her. It was a tempting thought, to give the burden to someone else, to share the responsibility, the memories. Still, I dismissed the idea just as swiftly as it occurred to me. I couldn't afford such luxuries, couldn't allow myself to sink that low. She looked beautiful in the dark, even more so than when one could see all of her.

"No….it's nothing", I slowly said, lying down next to her.

She placed a hand on my chest, wiggling on top of me. I allowed her too, rested my hands on her hips, our eyes locking. Conflict was evident in her face, desire clashing with her Christian values. I watched, patiently waiting for her to give in; I knew she would. She had taken the initiative, which suggested that my influence had become more prominent. Rey had mentioned that she came from a quite conservative family; no sex before marriage, no dating, no drinking. It never ceased to amuse me how the righteous path always involved forbidding the pleasures in life. Silly, unimportant values I pondered.

When she still seemed unwilling to go through with what she had started I decided to take charge, flipping her onto her back and getting on with it. She gave in immediately, and I rolled over on my side afterwards, back facing her as she snuggled close. Her hands were entangled in my hair, stroking and massaging. It was pleasant, and with a sigh shifted onto my back, allowing her to curl up as close as she could. She yawned, and I stared wistfully at the shadows playing across the roof, brooding, hoping…..wondering. The white tree house, the beach, the woman who smelled like raspberries; where did they come from? Who were they? And, most importantly, were they real?

Boris's words that faithful day were still perfectly clear in my mind:

"Bad blood"

"The Hiwatari line is cursed"

"One way or another they all end up like lunatics".

They were far too close to home, and I knew. It wasn't a very promising predicament, nor very cheerful. Then again Boris himself was not exactly in a position to preach about normality, humanity or any other admirable trait. He himself was a prime example of someone who had gone in the complete opposite direction. Should law enforcement ever get a hold of him he would undoubtedly be in deep shit. No, he was not one to judge. Even if I was a sociopath it was their fault, it was his fault.

The next morning was hectic, and I pushed all other thoughts away, deciding to further investigate the strange dream some other time. Still, it constantly popped up in my mind, fueling a string of never ending questions and conflicted feelings. I was up early, ran my usual round, showered, put on a dark suit, shirt and leather shoes, and then I was off too work. Hilary was still asleep, and as far as I was concerned her presence was already forgotten. I had other, more important things to worry about.

As it was I left the Hiwatari skyscraper after lunch, headed for Wilson & Harris. I wasn't exactly anxious, but I would admit that I was feeling oddly exited. The firm had its offices in one of the many skyscrapers in Manhattan, and I took the elevator after having parked the car in the basement. It struck me as your typical law firm; clean, elegant and stylish, modern, with people dressed in impeccably tailored suits, dresses, skirts and shirts, radiating professionalism and your typical all business attitude.

I was immediately greeted by a distinguished looking grey haired man, who introduced himself as Eric Hartman, senior partner and lawyer. He seemed friendly enough, and I could easily tell that he was interested. Of course, I was heir to the third greatest business empire in the country, no doubt a valuable client. He led me to a roomy, expertly furnished office, almost as nice as my own.

"Mr. Hiwatari", someone greeted me, and I turned around, momentarily stunned.

She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen; slim and nicely built, long slender legs. Her hair was an exotic strawberry blond, and she had freckles. Cute, I liked girls with freckles. Her eyes were a beautiful blue-green, and they were sparkling, lively…sharp, intelligent. She was a shark.

"My name is Emily Wilkinson, I am here to assist Mr. Hartman", she said, smiling.

I regarded her with my most charming smile, reaching forward to shake her hand.

"Kai Hiwatari", I responded.

She smiled again, and the three of us sat down in expensive leather chairs. The secretary served coffee, and after exchanging a few customary polite phrases Mr. Hartman took the lead, leaning forward slightly to look at me, eyes roaming my face. He was trying to decide what to make of me, seizing me up so to speak. It was fine by me, if he was as good as rumors had it this was to be expected. Had he done otherwise I would have been disappointed. Still, this Emily had caught me off guard, captured my interest.

"Mr. Hiwatari, tell me, what can we do for you?" He inquired, smiling enthusiastically.

I leaned back, thinking it through one last time. Was this the adequate thing to do, the reasonable approach? Yes, the analytical part of me felt sure of it. Then again I couldn't plan for all possible scenarios. Dealing with my grandfather was after all risky business.

"I have a….problem", I hesitantly said.

They both looked at me, he radiating polite assertiveness, while her eyes looked me up and down with shy appreciation. I ignored it, all the while wondering how I could get to her.

"My neighbors are harassing me".

Mr. Hartman smiled ever so slightly, seemingly having picked up on the hint of sarcasm in my tone.

"How so?" He calmly wondered.

"When I am not present they sneak around on my property", I paused dramatically, flashing them a cool smile.

"Obviously I value my privacy".

"Of course", Mr. Hartman agreed.

He crossed his arms, thoughtfully contemplating my words it seemed, eyes narrowing. I stared back, unmoved, unwavering.

"Mr. Hiwatari, I am afraid we cannot help you unless you have more….disconcerting information", he continued.

I caught the glance they exchanged, and smiled slightly.

"My other neighbors have expressed certain concerns".

"They believe someone bugged my house while I was gone the last time".

That got their attention, and an uneasy silence settled while I patiently tapped my fingers against the side of the chair. Emily looked at me, eyes glinting with something I couldn't quite place. The predator in me caught it the moment it surfaced, the familiarity. It was the glint, the natural, aggressiveness of a lioness perhaps, the need to draw blood, to hunt and to conquer. She was shy in her own, strange way, but she still had that self assured confidence, and of course she was sharp. I found her intelligence sexy, arousing.

"Can you prove this", she asked, pursing her lips in an unreadable expression.

I shrugged, regarding her with one of my more intense gazes. It delighted me that instead of giving in she looked straight back at me, unafraid, determined; and I smirked ever so slightly, eyes glinting.

"I suppose so, I haven't had the house checked since I arrived back home yesterday. However I looked at my security cameras this morning, and they clearly shows my…..harassing…..neighbors entering two days ago"

I paused to look at the both of them, taking in their reaction with a certain amount of satisfaction.

"It shouldn't be difficult to find out if the house is actually bugged", I then concluded, noticing the approval in Mr. Hartman's eyes.

They both nodded in agreement, and after deciding to call in a surveillance expert we shook hands. I had just set something big in motion, and my grandfather wouldn't like it very much. Everything depended on the fact that he considered this as part of the game, and that I got him interested enough to allow things to continue. If not, well….then I suppose I would have to endure yet another round in the tank. The mere thought of it made me clench my jaw in disgust. Just don't think about it I told myself, forget it….everything.

Arriving back home later that day was awkward. I didn't stay for very long. Instead I merely packed a bag. Rey had texted me the moment I arrived home the previous evening, suggesting that I spent a couple of days with him and the guys. At least until I got the whole surveillance thing figured out. Of course, I knew Tala and Bryan hadn't planted anything. My grandfather had, and pinning it on them was the perfect opportunity to rid myself of any potential bugs. Heartless yes, but still necessary, and experience had taught me the importance of looking out for my own interests. After all no else did.

Hilary was all smiles when I arrived. She looked like a child on Christmas Eve, and I was vaguely amused, although she paled in comparison to Emily Wilkinson. Hilary was different. She lacked the ambition, the drive; she was too compliant, too…safe. This Emily girl was sharper, more strong minded. I liked that; as far as I was concerned it was what I would normally look for in a woman. In addition to looks and intelligence of course. She had it all, and I was intrigued.

"Kai! How are you, how was your trip?"

The words were spoken with a characteristic, almost insanely prominent enthusiasm. It was Tyson. I spotted Rey in the background, shaking his head slightly before smiling at me.

"It was good, thanks for keeping an eye on things", I casually responded, quickly sidestepping him when he tried to give me a hug.

Me and Rey nodded at each other, and I followed him upstairs to the guest room, dumping my bag on the bed. It was a decent room, wide, airy, plenty of space, perfectly comfortable furniture. I pulled the curtains aside, gazing thoughtfully at Tala's house. What were they doing? Planning? What did they want? So many questions I reflected, and I still didn't have the answers I needed, wanted. Perhaps I never would.

"Kai?"

"Hm?" I turned around.

Rey was looking at me, and I could tell that he was onto me. To some degree he knew that I was playing games, but then again he seemed willing to help me. Of course, he was attracted to me, and naturally this served to strengthen my position.

"Is everything alright?" He asked, looking intently at me.

I stared back, calmly trying to assess his behavior, place it in the right context.

"Why wouldn't it be?"

He shrugged, eyes roaming my face for clues.

"Well…you…you seemed….sad when I spoke to you on the phone the other day", he said, shrugging once more.

"Bored would be a better description", I avoided, guardedly watching him.

He smiled ever so slightly, giving me a playful slap on the shoulder.

"Our future corporate leader doesn't like wearing a suit?" He asked, laughing.

"Hn"

I smirked wolfishly in response, and the both of us went downstairs. The bladebreakers as they called themselves had arranged a barbecue, inviting other beyblading teams. A few had already arrived, and they regarded me with interest. As always I had a distinct tendency to attract attention, mainly because of my looks, and in addition my cold demeanor seemed to perk people's curiosity. Girls in particular, although I had noticed that even straight guys were interested enough to insinuate things. Too bad for them that I wasn't interested. A slight smile settled on my features…..Emily Wilkinson on the other hand….

The others were outside in the garden, lounging by the pool, playing volleyball, beyblading or merely chatting while Max and Tyson were busy with the grill; to Rey's displeasure I might add. He immediately rushed over to take control, and I grinned as Tyson was brutal shoved away, exiled to the pool. Max approached me with a big smile, proceeding to introduce me to the others.

They seemed nice enough, polite, a little eccentric; in other words your typical beyblade crowd.

"So Kai, do you blade?" One of them asked me, a Scottish guy named Johnny.

He struck me as the obnoxious type. Spoiled, full of himself, and of course he was a brute. He lacked refinement, and although he wasn't stupid his loud ways by far overshadowed his intelligence. Pitiful I reflected, raising an unimpressed eyebrow at him.

"Depends", I calmly responded, one of my first conversations with Tyson coming to mind. People were so predictable.

"On what?"

I smiled, crossing my arms, regarding him with my trademark icy glare.

"Are you perhaps afraid? He asked, an accusing edge to his voice. What a childish thing to bring forth. Still, he would have his way, although he would regret this afterwards.

With a snort I stood up, stretching leisurely. Johnny's friend, Robert, looked intrigued, curious. For some reason I had gotten his attention, and my alarm bells were going off. I would have to be careful. He was smart, and he was observant.

"You have got yourself a match", I said, smirking dangerously…