Though this tale is nowhere near done, I want to say thank you to everyone who has read this, new and long timers. Thank you as well to those who have left reviews. I'm humbled by your support, whether you just read my stories or decide to leave a comment or two. It means the world to me. I can't put into words how honored I am and how happy it makes me. I feel like I'm the luckiest person in the world. Once again, I'm grateful to everyone, both on and off of this site, that takes the time from their busy lives to read my works. Each and every one of you are truly a blessing. :3
This chapter was a long time coming, and while I didn't get to put everything I wanted to into this one, it was still a lot of fun to do. I hope you all enjoy this and what's to come. ;)
On a personal note: Thank you PreciousRoy for all the help during my rough times and the wonderful ideas. This chapter is dedicated to you. I hope it puts a smile on your face and brightens your day. Seriously guys, if you haven't already, check out her stories. They are beyond amazing and have entertained many a Beyblade fan. :)
Chapter Thirteen: Flare Ups
Come breakfast, Gou was sat awake and while eating told by his doctor that the roads were finally clear enough for travel and he was set free. Upon hearing it, the teenager was elated and from Kai's spot in the chair, looked ready to jump up and down. After the man left Kai carefully filled out Gou's release forms, the smell of the hospital food turning his stomach for the millionth time.
As Gou chewed on his eggs and sausage wrap, he pondered what their next destination would be.
"Hey Kai?" The CEO held up an index finger and after a few more scribbles, he put the ink pen down. As he set the clipboard aside he looked up expectantly at the boy who put his plastic, dark green fork down.
"Where are we heading next?" Gou asked.
"The upper part of Berlin. That's in Germany." Gou nodded and said,
"I know where Berlin is, I'm not stupid."
"Are you sure?" At the condescending tone Gou's mouth fell open.
"Wha-?"
"Because I'm beginning to wonder," Kai added, cutting him off. Gou's left eye twitched. Now he was just being ruthless. This asshole.
"What's your problem?!" Gou nearly shouted.
Kai leaned forward, flushing red from fury. He definitely wanted to say something and Gou could tell that this "something" had been brewing on High for quite a while. So long in fact that the boiling pot was getting ready to overflow, big time.
"What's my problem?" Kai said, obviously faking a calm tone and cocking a brow, which immediately lowered.
"What's my problem?!"
It was with that roar that Kai exploded out of the chair, making it fall back, slamming to the floor with a loud bang. He stormed forward and violently gripped Gou's shoulders. This startled him, as it would anyone. He was now stiff as a board and on the verge of hyperventilating. Gou felt a harsh shake, his head moving back and forth limply, followed by that man's voice.
"You're my problem! You and this attitude of yours! You're-"
"You are such a hypocrite!" Gou finally snapped, cutting him off, screaming at the top of his lungs so the older man could hear him.
Gou already felt like a screw up in his dad's eyes given the circumstances and all that's happened thus far but this just added to it. God, his dad's younger self was awful. He'd almost say that he was near abusive.
Kai opened his mouth, no doubt about to tell him off more, but three audible knocks cut him off. Gou felt the hold on him loosen. He lowered his shoulders once he saw Kai take an unwilling step back. He knew he wasn't done and was further angered by the interruption, hence the audible growl.
The door was opened to reveal the nurse. Gone was her cheerful demeanor, she looked disgruntled and ready to strike. She glowered icily at Kai and stepped up to him. Despite being half a head shorter, to Gou, it appeared she was challenging him. If he wasn't so angry he'd find this amusing.
"Keep it down! I can hear you two, mainly you Mr. Hiwatari, at my desk, which sits all the way at the end of the hall and I don't like that. This is a place of healing and I would like if you respected it." The two nodded and while looking between the males, the nurse leered at Kai again. She pointed at Gou and said, accusation dripping from her tongue,
"I oughta throw you to the streets. Why is he in that coat? Where's his gown? Where's his bedspread?" Gou blushed, pulling his knees to him, forgetting he was covered by blankets too.
No matter which way you looked at it, this whole thing was awkward. Relative or not, he hated being naked in front of anyone. Side note, he loathed his baby pictures. Why did parents have to be that way?
"In the bathroom, on the floor," Kai answered slowly, seemingly back to his old self.
"Why?!" This nurse wasn't having it. There was an unmistakable fire in her eyes.
"Gou threw up and needed a shower. I-" She put a finger to his lips and after lowering it sternly said,
"If you do that again, we won't let you come back here. We do those things. Not you. Understand, Papa?" Kai nodded.
"No, no nodding. Do you understand? Yes or no?"
"Yes," Kai said, a bubble forming in his throat.
"Yes, what?" Kai cleared his throat.
"Y-yes, ma'am."
"Good to know." With a quick but tender smile flashed in Gou's direction she left the room, closing the door.
Kai went around and plopped down in his chair, leaning back in it and having his fingers rub his forehead. Now, that was humiliating. In time, Gou's voice reached his ears. Both knew to keep it quieter this time around.
"I'm fine, it's you who's got the problem," Gou muttered.
"If you don't learn to control that attitude of yours-"
"Says the almighty jackass."
"Excuse me?!" Kai bellowed, sitting up.
"You heard me," Gou bit back.
Kai took a deep inhale through his nose and let it out the same way. It was a technique he'd learned from Ray some years ago. He wasn't the meditating type, but it did keep him from assaulting people.
"I didn't mean to press your buttons. I've been meaning to talk about-"
"Then, talk. And while we're on the subject of meaning to, I've been meaning to hit you!" Gou was clearly more riled up than before.
At Gou's threat, Kai smirked, amused. What could a scrawny kid ever do to the likes of him? After a mental chuckle or two, Kai straightened up and said,
"You, my little troublesome piss-ant, are so lucky we're in a hospital right now."
"And so are you, ya damn egotistical workaholic!"
A set of soft, and kind of nervous, knocks penetrated the intense atmosphere. With an annoyed groan, Kai got up to answer. He knew it couldn't anyone outside the hospital staff or the team so he didn't bother with formalities. Not that he used them that much anyway, minus work.
Within seconds, Kai stepped back in with Kenny who was holding a brown paper bag full of stuff. The teen said nothing, he just stared indifferently at the two.
"Hey Gou," the Chief said with an elated smile. "Doc called and said you're finally a free man. I brought you a few sets of clean clothes. Including the ones you came in." Blinking twice at the friendly gesture, the boy didn't know what to say. He only nodded in response. As the man handed him the bag he rushed off, briskly walking, into the bathroom.
Once in there, he discretely locked the door and was dressed in minutes. Gou stood in front of the mirror and looked himself over, wearing the same black turtleneck sweater and jeans from over a week ago.
Considering things, he'd certainly lost weight, his physique much bonier than before. While most would be happy to lose a bit, he didn't see that as a good thing. He inwardly gagged in disapproval and disgust.
At this rate I'll never be strong like him. He was referring to how Kai looked in his younger, more active years. Yeah, one would never suspect a Hiwatari to have body image and self-esteem issues. Especially not Kai's son. Yet another thing to feel ashamed about. He was a Hiwatari, they're supposed to be confident, indifferent, and show no weaknesses. At least, according to society.
Tearing himself away, he decided to check his pockets. Immediately he stumbled across his face paint and was relieved.
Good, now for- His thoughts were abruptly stopped by a cold sweat washing over him, along with blaring alarm sirens going off in his head.
He rummaged frantically through the bag on the counter and after doing so felt his body ignite. Once again, he was fuming, but this time he didn't see red, he saw black. Which was way worse according to his AP Psychology teacher.
Gou, now moving purely on instinct, stormed out of the bathroom with bag in hand. After spotting the adults, who were talking about flights, he rudely shoved one to the side and aggressively yanked the other out into the hallway by their wrist.
"Where the hell is my stuff?!" Gou barked aggressively. The Chief raised a brow at that.
"In your pockets?"
"Like hell they are!"
The man sighed, squeezing the bridge of his nose, rather than escalate matters he decided to play along. Gou would eventually see he'd just overlooked them and apologize later, right? At least he hoped so. Considering who's son this was he might not get it but you never know.
"Ok. What's missing?"
Gou raised a hand and began counting them off on his fingers, whispering the items. "My phone, my Beyblade, the cloth, my launcher, and the note I got from Simy."
Kenny put his hands on his hips and said, "I'll look again, but I can assure you, no one took your stuff." This was ridiculous, he knew everything was in there. He checked everything was in there last night.
Though he wanted to say more, Gou just nodded in response. This was awful. Hello, screw up number a million.
"What is going on out here?" Came a stern voice.
Three guesses who that is, the Chief thought, rolling his jewel green eyes. He watched as Gou went rigid at Kai's tone, and a look of pity washed over his skinny features. That poor kid, what had Kai done to him?
Unknown to them, Kenny had heard what they'd screamed at each other just before he knocked, and the nurse told him about the shouting match that she had to quell. Maybe that had something to do with it.
"I'm talking to Gou, Kai," Kenny told him.
"I know that. But we don't have all day. Hurry up."
The scientist in training went back and forth between two, scanning a fuming Kai and a stiff Gou. He sucked in the insides of his cheeks, biting them for a moment. Well, it was now or never. He looked at Kai and said, "Can I have a word with you?" Kai groaned. The hell did he want?
As Kai walked up to where the two stood, which was a few doors away from Gou's room, he noticed Kenny gently urging Gou to go back inside. The boy only nodded and headed to his room, keeping his gaze on his feet. Well that was odd, but Kai shrugged it off, instead deciding to focus on what Kenny wanted.
Hard crimson met firm green, and as silence settled in between them, it became weighted and those firm eyes began to nervously shift. Now what was he supposed to do? Kenny's mind froze, he couldn't do this after all.
"Is- is it ok if I make a quick call?" Kai looked down to see his knees shaking. His gaze moved back up to his face and he nodded. Seriously, Kenny really needed to grow a spine. Once you start something, finish it.
Chief briskly walked off into the waiting area and pulled out his phone, he needed some help. Seeing Kai's eyes and knowing his temper, he wouldn't listen but he knew someone who could keep him in line and possibly fix whatever mess this was.
Back inside his room, Gou slid down the door, curling up on the cold floor. He was glad Kai was being told off, well that was debatable but still, but didn't anyone get it? Doing that would only cause more problems. Kai Hiwatari was someone you didn't talk like that to, notably this one.
In all my years' dad has never treated me the way he has, Gou thought, his stomach knotting up again. His younger self is something else I tell ya.
Adjusting his position, Gou felt something hit his hip. Standing up, he shuffled around until he felt something and pulled his hand out. In it was the locket his father had given him when he was six, having made it for him in his spare time. Looking at it fondly, a thought occurred to him,
Dad always took an extra or longer shower when he was really stressed out. Maybe the same will work for me? Tucking the locket safely away he went toward the bathroom. Maybe the steam would help his stomach too?
Once he turned the squeaky dial to warm and stripped bare, Gou stepped in, letting the water massage the back of him first. The heat relaxed his shoulders almost instantly. Man, this was heavenly. Turning around to duck his head into the rush of raining droplets, their last encounter and phone call flowed through his mind, looping in a cinematic fashion, his father's words echoing as the images swiftly went by. Gou took a breath through his mouth, the water running off of him in vining ribbons. He had to see this through. His dad was counting on him. But how could he continue when he was miserable here?
How different would my life have been if I was born now? Answer, my worst nightmares personified.
Heavy footsteps pounded down the halls, the man turning sharp corners left and right. He, Susumu Hiwatari, was absolutely livid. He couldn't believe he'd been called back here. First to explain Gou's situation and now to help Kenny deal with his temperamental offspring. This was ridiculous. He found his way to the back of the hospital to find Kai just outside the double-doors. He appeared to be smoking and as usual, when he was like this, he wasn't bundled up.
"What the hell is wrong you?!" Susumu began, coming to a stern stop. He stood in front of him, looming over his son who was currently curled up on the freezing and soaked concrete, a lit cigarette stuck limply between his lips.
Kai acknowledged his father by glaring up at him through his long blue-gray bangs but he said nothing. Susumu, in turn, folded his buff arms over his chest, stood in a wide stance, showing who Kai had inadvertently gotten it from.
"Is 48 hours really all it takes for you to go completely mental? I got a call from Chief a bit ago saying there's been a problem at the hospital. I get here and find out that it involves Gou. I'm also told by his nurse that you're in one of your moods. Do I even need to ask what happened?"
Susumu snatched the cursed stick out of Kai's mouth. When he had Kai's gaze, he continued speaking. "I'm getting real sick of this, boy. This is the last time I'm gonna say this, learn to control your damn temper. You wanna be a role model for the next generation, right?" He paused, taking a breath. Susumu watched his son, waiting for an answer. When he didn't get one that just irked him more.
"Kai!"
Said man looked away, the lights of his eyes flickering with anger. His father's icy voice cut into his ears. "Then set the right example."
"Don't you even go there," Kai said after a bit. He then rose to his feet, matching his father in height and fierceness. Both stood with their arms at their sides but their frames were still firm.
"Set an example?" Susumu nodded. "That's just rich, dad." Kai smiled and shook his head, nearly laughing. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Kai wasn't laughing because he found this funny, no far from it, he was upset. How dare this man try and give that kind of advice, considering all he'd put him through.
"What are you getting at?" At his dad's question, Kai stood stiff, looking his father in the eye. Damn he wished he could control fire.
"You want me to set a proper example? Hm, how can I? Mine walked out on me long ago. He left me with a mentally unstable Japanese man and a sadistic Russian, little orphan Annie caretaker, tyrant to be used and abused!"
Susumu sighed, not this again. A lump formed in his throat and his eyes went wet in the corners. He felt horrible for what he'd done when Kai was four-years-old. Choosing a game he adored over his own family was foolish. It was ironic, he wanted to make children happy, yet he failed at doing so for his own. If Susumu had known what kind of man his father would age to be he never would've left him with someone like Voltaire? Even now, the immense regret and guilt ran deep. When he found out what Voltaire and Boris had done to Kai it took all he had not to abandon his morals and kill the hell-bound bastards. But instead, he tried to make amends at home and found it was too late. According to Kai anyway.
"Kai, I've made my amends for that. I really wish you'd try and see that," Susumu started.
"I will never see that," Kai seethed, the hurt coming through.
"Your mother forgave me why can't you?" Susumu asked.
"Because mother is a saint. I, however, am not."
"Do you honestly not see how much of an asshole you are?"
"I see what an asshole I am. But, do you see how big of a cowardly cock you are?!"
"I came back didn't I?"
"Oh yeah you came back, ten years later!"
"Doesn't that account for something?" At this point he was begging for his son's forgiveness again and also wondering how this all turned into being about him and his screw ups.
"Like hell it does! To reappear after the damage has been done? It means shit! Just like all your other apologies!"
"All the more reason you ought to be a better man than I was." Susumu was now on the verge of crying but he had to be strong.
Hearing that the younger Hiwatari's world froze. He was speechless. A better man than him? How? He was trying to be but Gou made him so angry and did things he knew would upset anyone. Kai'd never dealt with big, mega fans well either, let alone one practically glued to his side 24/7. Gou was a constant reminder of how much he'd hurt Wyatt and the consequences of his actions. No matter what he did, it blew up in his face time and time again.
"Son," Kai looked at him, the other's voice knocking him back to reality with a hard hit. "All I'm saying is, be what you've always wanted in an Idol or parental figure. Understand?"
In his dazed state all Kai could do was nod, feeling nothing but numb. Forgetting his lit cigarette, Kai went back inside. Not caring that the door nipped his ankles as he stepped in and went on down the hall.
Gou rinsed the combination of shampoo and conditioner from his hair, running his fingers through his saturated and darkened locks. Once done, he let out the breath he was holding. Not wanting to choke on or get water up his nose.
Feeling the heat wear off he turned the dial farther to the left again. The clouds of steam grew in size and the mirror fogged up completely. Patches of his skin were already red and others were tinted pink. His face was flush and it was getting harder to breathe. He'd been in here for who-knows-how-long and he didn't care. Screw everyone else, he needed this.
Kai opened the door to see the room he and Gou shared empty, but the sound of running water gradually entered his ears. Ok, Gou was in the shower.
"Kai?" He turned and gave Kenny his trademark glare. On top of dealing with his deadbeat dad, he was the last person he wanted to see.
"What?" Kai growled out harshly, feeling his lips mouth the word plainly.
"I... did some thinking and Gou needs to come with us. We're taking a plane there so we'll land in Berlin in about 1 hour and 50 minutes. Calculating wait time and distance which is 1,004 miles (1,615.78 kilometers), you'll see him again in three hours."
Kai turned to face him directly. "And your point is?"
"The guys and I believe that you're the reason Gou was put in here in the first place. We think your argument with Hilary and pushing him to talk about his family problems made his anxiety spike, causing a severe attack. He may idolize you but let's face it, you're a bad influence. I was told about the argument the nurse had to break up and I also heard you guys going at each other's throats before I knocked. So I can only imagine what you put him through when no one was around. Poor guy goes rigid as a tree when you talk. He never used to do that. No matter what you say he's coming with us. As young as Gou is, he needs better people around him. That means, not you. That's my point."
Kai licked his lips and said, "Are you done?" The man nodded. "Good. Now let's let Gou decide this."
Beneath the scalding water, Gou sat curled up on the floor, every part of him red and sweating. His head draped limply in his folded arms that held his knees to his chest.
Why should I bother saving someone like him? Why? Gou thought, unsure of what to do. After all he'd seen, experienced, its a wonder his father ever attracted someone other than street walkers looking for a quick bite. Was his father as great a man as he remembered, or was he just seeing him through rose colored glasses? At this point, what was reality and what was fiction? He wasn't sure anymore.
With a tear stained face and arms, he shakily reached back to push in the dial that would shut off the water. Not able to do it sitting down, Gou stood up and unsteadily leaned forward.
When did I get so weak? I can't even turn off the shower.
With haggard breaths Gou tried again, getting the same result.
Damnit! He blinked, his vision going foggy. No, that's just the steam getting in his eyes right, right? He wasn't overheating, though the voice in his head was screaming otherwise, it wasn't true. Then, there was a thud and total darkness.
Hearing what sounded like a bulky shampoo bottle fall, Kai's head snapped in the direction of the bathroom and he ran toward it, a knot forming in his gut. Chief wasn't far behind but he didn't care. Only one thing was on his mind; was Gou okay?
To Be Continued...