Griff: *bounce* Hiya, kids. Welcome to chapter 6. XD Yes, and I need more reviews… C'mon, you guys can get me more… Please? x}

Kai: *sulks moodily in background*

Griff: *puppy-dog eyes* If I can get Kai to kiss yew, would yew give me reviews? :D

Kai: O.O *whacks Griff over the head and runs away*

Griff: u.u Guess not. Anyway, enjoy! n.n

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Through the Ice

Chapter 6, Disturbed Dreams

Kai sat awake in his bed, although it took some effort not to just fall back and sleep… But he didn't want sleep he wanted to think. So think, he snapped in his head. He leaned against his pillow, letting his mind drift. Thoughts of the girl immediately crossed his head. His lips curved into a scowl; he didn't need her bugging his mind as well as in life. But her presence persisted in his head until he just sat back and allowed them to wash over him. Flashes of past meetings with her flew through his mind, and his troubled thoughts mixed as one as he drifted off in sleep.

'What's your name?' he asked softly, voice almost gentle. Pink petals of cheery trees floated down on the gentle breeze, settling in his hair.

The girl brushed the pale petals from her hair, lavender eyes cast out to the lake. She rubbed her arms and smiled quietly. She sat down, back leaning against the thick trunk of a cherry tree, not answering.

He traced a finger across her shoulder, marveling at the soft whiteness of her skin. Muscular arms crossed each other, head leaning back as he too, leaned against the trunk.

She stood and pressed herself against him, shivering gleefully as his arms laced behind her back, holding her to his chest. She rubbed cheeks with him, planting a soft kiss over his neck.

He felt her head in the crook of his neck, and he bent his head to nuzzle her own, eyes closed in bliss. He could hear her murmuring his name.

'Kai… Kai… Kai…'

'Kai! KAI! WAKE UP!'

Amber eyes snapped open as Kai jolted awake to the clamoring of his friends. His chest rose and fell sharply as he panted, sweat coming down in beads over his forehead. After his breathing calmed, he put his hands over his face, rubbing absently at the shark-fin stripes adorning them.

Kenny, Tyson, Max, and Ray hovered over him, all babbling his name and each teen was trying to tell him something, although it hard to decipher what; their voices were overlapping each others until it all became a big blur of sound.

'KAI! KAI! KAI! There's a girl -'

'- Said that she wanted -'

'Such nice eyes -'

'But we told her that you -'

'KAI! KAI! KAI! I WAS TALKING!'

Head snapping up, he yelled back, 'Will you all shut up and talk one at a time?' He slapped Tyson away from him; the shorter teen was tugging at his pant leg, trying to squeal something to him.

Tyson ignored him and persisted, his voice drowning out the others'. '– Says her name's Karrie, and she wants to talk to you!' He shot his teammates a look of triumph that he had delivered it and not them before turning back to Kai.

Kai's mind twisted in puzzlement, even as his face betrayed nothing. Karrie… Who's that? He dismissed his questioning thoughts and nodded absently to Tyson, muttering, 'I'm coming.' He watched as Tyson grabbed Max and Ray, bolting out of the room and singing, 'Kai's got a DAY-ATE! Kai's got a DAY-ATE!' The slate-haired teen made a mental note to punch Tyson and called out as Kenny left.

'Pass me that, Chief.'

Kenny paused and grabbed the black vest that the other was pointing at. He rolled it into a wad and tossed it to Kai, who caught it easily in one hand. He pushed his glasses up and walked quickly away as Kai pulled the shirt on.

Suppressing a wide yawn, he looped the telltale white scarf around his neck, tied a neat knot and strode out of his room.

Outside the hotel, Karrie was leaning casually against the wall, surrounded by Max, Tyson and Kenny; Ray had gone out somewhere, perhaps to meet with Mariah. She was politely answering their various questions, and laughing at their random jokes.

Tyson was in the middle of a joke - ('What did one chicken say to another? Nothing; chickens don't talk!') - when Kai parted the lines. He shut up immediately, and feeling rather foolish, he slipped backwards to watch, Kenny and Max following.

Kai's mahogany eyes traveled up and down the slim form of Karrie, taking in her raven-black hair and lavender eyes. Her dress composed of a red and black tank top, fitted neatly over black bell-bottoms. White and navy runners, a crimson bandana, and a silver necklace topped it off. He saw all this in a second and gave her a vague nod.

Karrie smiled and blurted out, 'Tia was right, you are cute!'

Kai was rather stumped for an answer. This wasn't the way he expected anyone to greet him. He merely nodded again, feeling for the first time in his life, a bit stupid. Tyson sniggered from the sidelines, while Karrie carried on.

'Anyway, Tia said that I'm supposed to ask you out. Not on a date,' she hurried on, seeing the look on Kai's face, 'Ask you if you're in.'

He processed this information, and ventured a short question. 'In what?'

Karrie's mouth opened slightly and she chuckled. 'I can't believe that I forgot to say! There's a Tournament coming up, and it's quite elusive, not at all for minors. Tia's hosting it and she said that I'm s'posed to go around looking for over-minor bladers, you know, people who've won every other tournament?' She went on without waiting for an answer. 'So I thought, hey, the Blade Breakers might just scratch up to the mark -' (Tyson's face scrunched up. 'Might just?') '… so I came running by. You're the leader, and I had to consult this with you.' She took a breath and stared back at Kai. 'So… Are you up for it?'

'Yeah!' Tyson blurted out. 'We can take them all down! C'mon, Kai, please?' He turned big puppy-dog eyes to Kai.

Amber eyes briefly closing, Kai crossed his bare arms. He inclined his head at Karrie, eyes flashing open. One word escaped his mouth, and Karrie grinned.

'Fine.'

*****

Griff: This one's one of mah longer ones. u.u Sorreh it took so long, I had writer's block again.

Kai: *mumbles something*

Griff: *ignoring him* Review? Pretty please, with a cherry on top of Kai and whipped cream? D

Kai: *groan*