Okay, some surprises in this chapter. And I've taken another suggestion from a reviewer. *grins* A hint at it is suggested in this chappie, see if you can find it! I hope you like it! It's four pages long, a bit shorter than I was hoping, but... I dunno. Enjoy! And as always, please review!
Tala: Purra doesn't own Beyblade or its characters, but she does own her characters and the tournament.
Keehee! Enjoy!
Fortune Cookies Don't Lie
The first thing she did when she returned to the mansion was take a long, hot shower. She didn't care if it was hot outside, nor did she care if it would burn her skin, she wanted to get rid of the feel of their hands on her. Not to mention to clean the bruises she had acquired by being thrown to the ground and slammed against a few trees. After her tears had dried, she had realized how utterly foolish she had been to be so terrified. She could take care of herself. It had been proven enough times and each time she grew stronger, so why had she been so afraid? Was it because of the knife? No, they had brought things much worse than knives with them before. Was it the fact that it was all four of them at once this time? No, that couldn't have been it. Was it because the four bitbeasts were simultaneously attacking Keturah and being able to feel every blow that was placed on the great dragon? That was probably the best answer. No doubt that was the reason why Keturah had been losing as well. But why didn't even that ring true?
Furious with herself, she never noticed as the scalding rivulets of water washed over her bruised skin. Their groping hands, their lewd remarks, their painful administrations...everything was washed away and flowed across the floor. If she looked hard enough, the water was stained crimson. Like my hands, she thought bitterly. Like my life. But then she felt someone else's hands, someone else's soothing words, someone else's administrations... Her heart beat faster and she gasped, staring wide-eyed at the wall of the shower, oblivious to the water that coursed over her and soaked her hair, causing tendrils to slide across her bare skin and cut through her forehead, crossing over her nose to curl between her lips. Even with the thought...the memory of him her body grew warm in a way that wasn't heat, but something entirely different, something she never would have known for what it was until now. In his arms she could easily forget about everything immoral that had ever happened to her and how her past still clouded her future. In his arms she was secure, safe, and warm, protected and watched over. Kissing him... She closed her eyes, unable to keep the small smile from her lips as she crossed her arms over her chest, her hands resting gently on her shoulders. His mouth was so gentle, asking silent questions instead of demanding answers, subtly persuasive and so seductive that she wondered if she could ever refuse him. Kai... Kissing him was all hot chocolate on a cold day and the full moon and breakfast in bed and heaven on earth, something she had never experienced before, nor wanted to with anyone else.
The realization seemed almost anticlimactic when it finally hit her. A wry smile touched her lips and she shook her head, a small chuckle escaping her lips that quickly turned into mirthful laughter. She threw back her head and laughed all of her pain away, laughed until the blood of her past was washed away, laughed until shadows were forgotten and light filled all of the dark corners of her mind, laughed until she could laugh no more. "I'm so stupid," she whispered. Tasha shook her head again and turned off the tap, wrapping a towel around her body before she stepped out of the shower and found another to dry her hair. "Keturah was right." Her lips curved into a funny little smile so full of irony that she would have laughed if the mirror hadn't been so foggy and she could see it. "I tried so hard not to, tried so hard to force myself to not believe... But I still do. I always have and...damn him, probably always will."
Properly dried and dressed for bed, Tasha ran her fingers through her hair, the wry smile still on her face as she stepped out of the bathroom and saw Draco and Melody sitting on the couch, staring at her with bewildered expressions. She shook her head when Draco opened his mouth to speak and he closed it again, frowning as she walked into room, still shaking her head, but no longer at him. When she closed the door behind her they exchanged looks and shrugged, not having a clue as to what that was all about.
Once in her room, Tasha sat down on the edge of the bed and sighed, shaking her head, a slight smile still on her lips. Her gaze unconsciously drifted up to a black box on the top shelf of her closet. The box that she had kept hidden from Draco and Melody since she had first joined up with them. The box that held her darkest secrets. The box that was now only a part of her past.
Early the next morning the sun shone through the glass ceiling of the indoor garden, spilling light through the canopy of large plants that grew there and sparkling in places where the heady scent of flowers took a somewhat solid form. The small stream trickled down the waterfall in soothing waves, filling the rock basin with water, only to fall downward into the stream that circled around the garden again, snaking in and out of the flowers and underneath two stone bridges. A large flat stone was situated beside the highest waterfall and Tasha lay on her back across it, on leg bent at the knee with her arms folded behind her head, her eyes on the sky high above her. Her black hair had been pulled back into a simple ponytail, the lavender highlights giving it an odd light, especially when several of these strands came loose to mingle with the darker ones. She ignored her uncooperative hair and sighed, her chest heaving with the gesture, a tiny smile still on her lips. Ever since she had woken up that morning she had been smiling. Well, maybe not every second, but she was definitely smiling a lot, and as much as it surprised Draco and Melody to see it, they had undeniably been glad she finally was. When Melody had asked about it she had simply shaken her head, a secretive smile exchanging for the former and had shrugged, giving them a wave before she left the room, leaving her teammates staring after her, dumbfounded. Keturah?
The black dragon stirred in her mind and Tasha could see her awaken, opening her beautiful amethyst eyes and stretch her wings, settling herself in a somewhat swan-like posture. Yes, little one?
Thank you.
There was no need for Tasha to tell her bitbeast just what she was thanking her for, Keturah knew. She felt the great creature smile and tilt her head, sending a wave of affection toward the girl. You are most welcome.
"Come on!"
Tasha blinked and turned her head to see Mariah running on light feet into the garden, several yards below her high perch. The black-haired girl watched as Ray joined her, a broad smile on his handsome face. "I'm coming, Mariah. What's up with you?" he asked teasingly when he had caught up with her.
"I'm just excited," she said, jumping up and down, her long pink hair waving with the movement. "You're facing the Shadow Team in the finals!"
Tasha's eyes snapped wide open and she stared at the pair, having completely forgotten about the finals. Hell, she'd completely forgotten about the tournament altogether! She had been so involved in her own problems with the BlackBladers and battling with her mind about Kai, she had forgotten the real reason for her presence in the mansion. If she hadn't cared about being found, she would have slapped herself.
Ray grinned at her and laughed when Mariah threw her arms around his neck and he twirled her around in circles, kissing her cheek before he set her down again. "Great, isn't it? It'll be a great battle. Wonder who I'm facing?"
Tasha debated whether to speak or not but decided against it when she saw Mariah's eyes sparkle and she gave her boyfriend a sort of shrug. "Doesn't matter, you'll beat whoever you face." She spoke with such conviction that the raven-haired girl couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance at being so readily dismissed. The White Tiger blushed from the pink-haired girl's words and he opened his mouth to modestly protest but she silenced him by putting her finger to his lips and shaking her head. "You will, Ray."
"When you say that, I feel like I can beat anyone." Ray gave her a warm smile as he tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, pulling her close. "Thank you." They stayed still for a long time, simply enjoying the warm embrace and their time together and Tasha felt her features soften at the sight. At long last they let go, but their hands remained joined. "Come on, we're going out to eat and I don't think anyone would object to having you along."
"You sure?" she asked, although she had a hard time betraying her excitement at the notion.
"Why not?" he said with a shrug, giving her another sweet smile. "I know Tyson, Max and Chief won't mind, and I think Kai's too preoccupied with the tournament and everything to care."
"So long as you're sure." She looked doubtful, but then the thought of having lunch with Ray and his teammates won over and she gave him a delighted smile. "All right, let's go!" Is this why I let Mariah come here? Tasha thought absently as she watched the two walking hand-in-hand down the path again. To learn about true friendship? Her lips curved into a knowing smile when she saw the pair exchange a look so filled with love that her eyes softened. Or was it to learn about true love? Tasha frowned, her blue eyes widening as realization dawned on her. ...Wait a minute... Keturah!
Yes, little one? Keturah asked, stirring in the girl's mind again and emitting a wave of curiosity and amusement.
You tweaked my mind so I would bring Mariah here! Tasha was torn between laughing out loud and yelling with rage. So I would see them together. So I saw what it looked like to be in love... The sixteen-year-old scowled and glared at the beyblade in her hand, the bit chip flashing innocently up at her. Damn you.
Keturah's musical laughter rippled through her mistress's mind, drifting outward until anyone within the garden could hear the dragon's mirth.
"You know," Tyson said through a mouthful of fried rice, pointing the two chopsticks in his hand at the bowl of fortune cookies at the center of the table. "They say that fortune cookies don't lie. Not ever." He grinned mischievously and his teammates and Mariah exchanged looks as they wondered what that grin was all about. "Even when you add a little something to the end."
The Bladebreakers were sitting at a table in a Chinese restaurant, arranged so that Ray and Mariah sat across from each other and Kai sat between them, at the head of the table. Max sat beside Ray and Kenny sat across from him, leaving Tyson to sit at the end of the table, facing his team leader. They had arrived a half hour before and the food had immediately been delivered, for the people working there had grown used to the team's constant coming and going. They were, in fact, their best customers. And when they had brought along a friend, it was even better.
Despite the fact that she knew if she asked Tyson would gloat over knowing something they didn't, Mariah's curiosity won over. "Like what?" She reached for a fortune cookie, having already finished her lunch as they others had as well, leaving only Tyson eating the remains. She held it in her fingers, not wanting to open it without hearing what the navy-haired teen had to say first.
Tyson leaned forward and swallowed what was in his mouth before speaking, which everyone at the table was grateful for. "In bed." He grinned at Mariah's look of surprise, which was reflected on most everyone else at the table.
It was Max who decided that it was silly. "It's just a fortune cookie, Tyson," he said, taking one from the pile and breaking it open. "I'll prove it." He pulled the small slip of paper from the cookie and read aloud "The one you love will find you to return your feelings." The Bladebreakers and Mariah looked at him, only Kai really noticing the flicker of surprise in Max's eyes before it was gone and he began to laugh. "See? It's stupid."
"Maybe not that stupid." Everyone turned to look at Mariah, whose cheeks were flushed pink and her golden eyes were wide as she stared at her own slip of paper. "Your life begins at midnight with someone special." Her eyes flicked upward to meet Ray's and her blush deepened. Ray was blushing too, but he was also grinning.
"In bed," Tyson snickered, earning a death glare from Mariah and Ray and a hit over the head from Max. [A/N. Tyson's addition doesn't work here, for all of you who were curious.]
"What does yours say, Ray?" Kenny asked, trying to divert the wrath of three teens from his unfortunate friend.
"What? Oh." Ray grinned sheepishly and broke open the fortune cookie, looking at the message before he cast a slight smile to Mariah. "Same as hers." [A/N. Sorry! I couldn't come up with another one. ^.~]
"In bed," Tyson snickered again, this time getting a bowl thrown at him by Mariah, which hit him in the head and he nearly fell out of his chair.
"If they're so accurate, what does yours say, Tyson?" Mariah demanded testily, angry that she wasn't close enough to hit him herself.
With dramatic flair, Tyson sat up again and opened his fortune cookie, reading aloud with great enthusiasm at first. "Your immaturity makes you a sour partner..." His voice faded and he scowled at the paper.
"In bed," Max added with a grin. [A/N. Heh-heh-heh...! Sorry, couldn't resist.]
Even Kai cracked a smile at that and their cheerful laughter lightened the mood further, despite the fact that Tyson was slumping in his seat, extremely annoyed with the fortune cookie. "Well, maybe a few of them aren't so true..."
"In this case I believe it is," Ray chuckled, trying not to laugh. Tyson was his friend, after all. He turned his head to see that Mariah was leaning against the table to stop herself from falling onto the floor, laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes. A grin replaced his stifled smile and he looked over to see that Kai was indeed smiling, although it was still only slight but it was a genuine smile. Then again, Kai always loved it when Tyson was shown his place. "What does yours say, Kai?"
The leader of the Bladebreakers looked at him a moment before he broke open the cookie and pulled out the slip of paper. Now the entire team had their attention riveted on Kai, and even Mariah was gazing at him with interest. Unlike the others he read his over first and Ray saw the surprise register on the slate-haired teen's features. "Come on Kai," Tyson said, brightening now that he had a chance at making Kai look stupid. "They're always true. What's it say?" Ray grinned. Tyson seemed to have forgotten what his fortune cookie had said already.
Kai stared at the paper, the words ringing through his mind as he read them over and over. Dranzer stirred and plucked the words from the boy's mind, reading them over and his own surprise mirrored his master's. The great phoenix chuckled softly, sending a gentle wave of amusement. Rather ironic, is it not? Kai was too shocked to make a reply and all he could do was school his features so that it wouldn't show.
"Well?" Max asked, genuinely curious. "What does it say, Kai?"
Broken from his reverie by his teammate's voice, Kai blinked and shook his head, standing up and pushing away his chair. "It doesn't matter." With that he turned on his heel and strode away, his white scarf sweeping majestically behind him as always, the little slip of paper clenched in his hand and its words burning themselves into his mind.
"Someone from your past has returned to steal your heart."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Kai's fortune cookie is a real thing. I got that once. *grins* It's what gave me the idea. I just sort of stared at it when I got it and then started laughing. Perfect, isn't it?
So, did you pick up on my hint? *winks* Hope you did! It'll be revealed further in the next chapter!
Again, I want to thank you guys. I'm not going to list you all (wow, there's a lot!), but I think you understand. You've made writing this story worthwhile, for now I'm not just writing it for myself. And thanks to all of you who have provided information for me! I'm sorry Mariah isn't in character, but when I first put her in the story I had only seen glimpses of her in the episodes and didn't know her personality, so I just assumed it was this way. But now I know differently. So you never really know much about Tala? *rubs paws together* Excellent! Then I won't feel bad about making it all up! Weehee! Thanks again!
Next chapter: It's the finals! The Shadow Team against the Bladebreakers! Woohoo! Who will win? Mwahahaha! I'm not going to tell you, that's who. *grins wickedly* You'll just have to sit tight and find out. Also, Tasha struggles with her newfound feelings and Kai gets more distant than before, but why? And a surprise comes from an unexpected source. Lotsa stuff, lotsa stuff.
So while you're waiting, you can press that pretty little button down there and leave a nice review! *purrs* Pweasey? *widens eyes* Cookies to all those who review! *holds out super-humongo bag of cookies and falls over* *drops it on the floor and grins at reviewers* So shoo! What are you still reading this for? Review!!!!