Griff: D Wah-thup, pookie! *snort-laugh* Inside joke, dun even know why I'm putting it up here. XD Anyway, how was the last chapter? O_o Did j00 like it? Huh? Huh?

Kai: *stares blankly at Griffeh* ._.

Griff: *stares blankly back* .___.

Reader: *stares blankly at everyone* O_o

Griff: Here's chapter five. *still staring blankly* And I don't know what the title should've been, so the name makes no sense. Gomen! XD

Through the Ice

Chapter Five, Uneasy Twist

Kai was angry again. He was angry a lot these days. First off, he was angry at Tyson's whining. Then he was angry that someone had had the nerve to phone and mock him. Now, after his encounter with the 'Girl' and her taunting comments, he was even angrier, if that was possible.

He scratched absently at his blue-striped cheek; it was stinging dimly from his previous incident with the 'Girl'. Auburn eyes closing, the slate-haired teen let his mind wander back.

Flashback

-----

She stared right back at him, undisturbed. 'Want something, perhaps?' Her tone was almost sarcastic.

Kai's fists clenched sub-consciously as he stalled for time, thinking of a reply. This was obviously a verbal challenge. After a while, he spoke, in the same sarcastic voice that she used.

'You tell me, girl.' Inwardly, he chuckled with triumph as her eyes, such emerald eyes, sparked with anger.

'Girl?' she spat, and he was momentarily stunned by her rashness. 'Girl?' Striding towards him, she flicked a hand under his nose, catching his cheek with a spike on one of her bracelets. His hand flew instinctively to his face, and she thrust her head forward, mouth close to his own.

'Don't ever call me… Girl.' She blew a lock of hazel hair from in front of her face, and vanished into the shadows.

-----

End Flashback

It made his heart twist with anger that she wasn't afraid of him. He was so used to beating down people with a mere stare. He wouldn't have minded so much if he couldn't stare someone down, but she was a girl, and that, apparently, confirmed him that he was weak.

'Kai, legend of Beyblading, can't even scare some female!' Eyes flashing open, he was now angry with himself. 'I am not weak.' He spoke aloud, as if the words held some comfort. In a way, it did seem comforting but not that he needed comfort. He would not sink down to the level of the meek. He felt warmness at the back of his mind, and almost growled.

'He's back,' he muttered to himself, fingers closing absently on his blade. Turning it over in his hand, he watched the bit-beast reflect the light. Dranzer was back again.

'Damn it, Dranzer, do you have to spy on my every thought?' he all but yelled.

All at once, the warmness left his mind and with a whirl of red-gold fire, his bit-beast flashed out of its blade. The phoenix settled casually on a chair, sharp golden eyes staring back at the amber eyes of the teen. His hooked beak glinted gold, and when he rustled his wings, they left burning embers on the air, which quickly billowed away to nothing. Dagger-sharp talons closed quietly over the chair back. When the beast spoke, his voice was a soft sound, but harsh like thunder.

'We share the same mind, Kai.'

Kai's eyes flashed with indignation, but he said nothing; he knew it was the truth, and there was no point arguing. So he silently fumed, but shot his bit-beast a question when he found his voice.

'Then you know about her?' He watched Dranzer nod, and a sick feeling swept over him. Great, he thought sarcastically. Now I have an audience to watch me fail at scaring a female.

As if reading his mind, the phoenix shook its head, eyes closing briefly. 'It is not weakness, Kai.'

Kai said nothing again, but his eyes flashed a brief questioning look before it was replaced with indifference. The phoenix understood the confusion but did not say anything. It merely dissolved into thin air and Kai felt the familiar warmness before it vanished from his mind.

Suddenly, it was as if a great weight had been shifted onto his shoulders. They sagged, and he sank down on his bed, weariness taking over him. He didn't want to sleep… But it was so tempting… He sat up straighter and it must've been an hour before he fell back on the pillow and slowly, oh so slowly, let the wisps of slumber take him in its arms.

-----

'Did yours sleep well?' asked a light musical tone to Dranzer.

'Yes, although I had to poke his mind a bit.' The phoenix nodded with a sigh, wings fanning the air gently. He looked away for a moment, and then looked back at the slender winged horse before him.

Her eyes were slightly slanted and of a clear periwinkle blue. A breeze drifted past the two beasts, stirring the femme's ebon mane, tail of similar hue twitching. Two feathery wings of a deep violet shade, so dark it could've easily been mistaken for black, set upon her broad back, flapping softly. Body and limbs were a void-black, wild violet dots spangled against her hide. She pawed the ground with a coal-black hoof, nickering quietly.

'She is hiding her thoughts from me.' She stared at the other beast with a look of amusement, mixed with a silent question.

Dranzer lifted his wings, eyelids flickering. 'Kai is also elusive at times,' he answered shortly, casting a side-glance to the femme.

She laughed, a soft tinkling laugh, and shook out her ebon mane. 'Does he remember her, sirrah?'

The phoenix raised his beak upward, deep in thought. The two were silent for a moment. The winged horse waited for his answer. It came after a while of thinking from the phoenix.

'He seems to know that she's familiar, but his thoughts are hidden quite deeply from me.' Dranzer paused to cock his head at the horse. 'Surely you know of this, milady.'

She nodded slowly, eyes glazing over in thought. 'It will happen, my lord.' The two shared a secret look, and Dranzer gave her a lop-sided grin.

'Yes, and quite soon.'

*****

Griff: *gasp* What will happen soon? *cackle* You'll see. R&R! NOW! XD

Kai: *scared* Please don't say…

Griff: Ooh, yeah! *cackle*

Kai: O.O!