Mizu_Tenshi: *Walks onto stage with a microphone* Well it's the end of this
fic! It's been great writing, right Sam?
Sam: That's right, Mizu, and to celebrate we're...doing nothing
Minako: Yes, but Mizu_Tenshi would like to say thank you to everyone that read and reviewed her story.
Ami: And now, folks, this is what you've been waiting for, we're screening the very last episode of 'You don't always get what you want!'
Tori: *sighs* Oh boy
"." Speech '.' Thought *.* Implied words
Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade
Song: Simple and Clean by Utada Hikaru
*******************
Chapter 18: The end
Once again they were back to celebrating in Tori and Sam's hotel room but this time for a whole different victory.
"Tomorrow we'll all be going our separate ways, right?" Kenny said.
There was a murmur of sad agreement.
"Who cares about tomorrow?" Tyson tried to lighten up the room. "Let's all get together and party!"
~ The dance floor ~
There were other bladers already there when the group arrived. On stage at the front of the large hall a band was set up with a woman in front holding a microphone and singing.
The groups spread out. Tyson and Gary made and instant beeline to the snack table and began to help themselves with the food.
"Hey - " Minako waved as she approached Kai.
"Don't even think about it!" Kai, who was leaning against a wall a little way away from everyone else, shot her a warning.
"What?" she tried to look innocent. "It is our last day together, show some team spirit!"
"Hn"
Minako threw her hands into the air in exasperation and leaned on the wall next to Kai. "Huh, you're so boring!"
"Go dance with someone else then," Kai retaliated.
"Make me."
Kai rolled his eyes and let out an audible sigh. "I've been thinking," He suddenly spoke, "about my Origin."
Minako looked at him. "Dryx? You don't have to worry about loosing control, I'm sure you'll learn how to handle it."
"Maybe," Kai said doubtfully.
"Definitely," Minako nodded, "it's not like you to run. You have to go with the ship, you can't surrender!"
"Woo-hoo," Kai said, his voice dripping in sarcasm.
"Sometimes you have to take risks; you have to go with your heart."
"I don't believe in this heart stuff," Kai shrugged
"Huh, too bad, your heart is the only thing that you can count on a hundred percent," Minako smiled "But it doesn't matter if you don't trust your heart, you can always count on mine to help you out."
Kai shot her a confused look.
"You forgot about it already? You may be very cute but you're not very smart, are you?" She was grinning now. "I gave my heart to you, remember?"
"This?" Kai held the pendant that Minako had given him before the match in his palm; the little heart shaped ruby gleaming in the light of the morning.
"Keep it," she curled his hand around the necklace. "If you can't trust your own heart then at least you can trust mine."
There was silence between the two. Minako half expected Kai to say "oh," or something stupid like that but instead Kai placed the necklace back into his pocket and remained silent.
"It's getting late," Minako commented absently and then an idea struck her.
"Come with me, I got something to show you" she grabbed his wrist and led him out of the dance hall. No one saw them leave.
~~~
The White Tigers were with Ray by the food table so Gary could still eat and talk to them at the same time.
"I can't believe it's the end of the tournament," Mariah commented.
"Yeah, a lot of things have been happening during the past few weeks," Ray admitted.
"Yeah, raiding Biovolt, competing in the tournament." Kevin began ticking off fingers.
"Tori and Sam getting together and now Ray and Mariah!" Li smiled.
"Hey, Ray," Mariah flashed her pearly white fangs. "Remember when I said you could make it up to me later?"
"Yeah?" Ray said slowly.
"Well how about a dance?"
"Dance?"
"You really got me worried, you know? I thought - "
"Okay, okay! You win!" Ray took Mariah's hand and led her to the dance floor, ignoring Kevin's interesting sound effects.
They wove their way though the other couple to a small spot, perfect for the both off them.
"Ray, I'll be going to China tomorrow," Mariah leaned her head on his shoulder and whispered into Ray's ear.
"I know but we'll see each other at the end," Ray comforted us.
"I know but I just want more time to be with you...alone."
'I feel so stupid saying this!' Mariah blushed a deep shade of crimson. 'I wonder what Ray must think of me going all soft!'
"We'll have plenty of time," Ray reassured her. "There's no need to rush."
"..Ray? I..um..thank you."
"For what?" Ray cast the pink-haired girl a confused look.
"For being Ray."
~~~
"They make a cute couple, don't they?" Kenny commented briefly before taking another sip of his soda.
"Yeah.I guess they do," Ami muttered despondently and took a large swig of her own drink. She refrained from letting her tears fall. Now was not the time of the place to draw attention.
This wasn't right, didn't Ray say that he loved her?
'No he said he *might* love you' Ami's mind reminded her. 'He really loves Mariah, though so just pretend he conversation in the lounge wasn't real.'
"You okay?" Kenny caught on to her wistful glances. "Max is free if you want to dance."
Ami shook her head and watched as Ray and Mariah went back to the snack table.
Her gaze moved back to Ray just as he turned to look at her. She quickly looked at something else but Ray had already caught her and was making his way to her.
"Shouldn't you be with Mariah?" Ami asked Ray, trying to keep her voice even.
"I'm sorry," Ray apologised meekly.
Ami gulped and forced the words out. "It's okay, really, and I'm.I'm.happy that you found someone to love and someone who loves you back," she tried desperately to smile, to show him that she was okay but he didn't seem convinced.
"You don't feel too bad, do you?" Ray asked with concern. "We're still friends."
"I know and I'm grateful for it," Ami nodded.
"Hi Ami!" Mariah came to join them. She wrapped her arm around Ray's waist and they shared a small kiss.
Ami thought she would die right there and then but she somehow managed to keep breathing.
'They're so *nice* it would be easier for me if they just yelled or something!'
"So, I'm guessing you'll be at the next tourney, right?" Mariah smiled. "It's been fun and I can't wait to see you girls again, it's tough being the only girl in a team full of guys."
"Maybe, I wouldn't know," Ami said distantly.
"See you later," Ray smiled kindly.
"Bye Ami!" Mariah waved
"Yeah, I'll see you around."
And then they were gone. She sighed but she didn't allow tears to ruin the happy or supposedly happy moment.
She took another swig of her drink until she remembered that Kenny was still next to her. Had he guessed what they were talking about? How embarrassing!
Ami tried to explain herself but no ideas came into her head. Maybe she just wasn't as smart as she had thought she was.
"Problems?" Kenny asked kindly.
Ami smiled weakly. "Yeah, I guess you could say that."
~ Balcony ~
Minako led Kai out to the balcony of her room "Right here," she pointed to the sky.
"I've seen the sun set before," Kai reminded her.
"Huh, you're not very romantic, did you know that?" Minako frowned.
"Whatever," Kai shrugged and rolled his eyes.
Minako frowned and pursed her lips. She watched him with concerned eyes and then she stood up, making her way almost to the balcony railings she took a deep breath and yelled.
"I AM MINAKO!"
"What are you doing!?" Kai jumped.
Minako turned to face him, her face was red and grinning. "It's fun!"
"You're crazy!" Kai hissed as he clamped his hand around her mouth.
"C'mon, Kai!" Minako said as she struggled to speak. "You wouldn't believe how exhilarating it feels just to yell out to the world, 'I am what I am!' it feels strangely symbolic."
"No, it's just strange," Kai hissed as he struggled with Minako
"Ah, they called those who danced insane because they themselves could not hear the music!" Minako said mistily.
Kai gave up. He smiled at her antics but refused to join in. Minako was probably the strangest person he had met.
"I AM MINAKO HOSHINO AND DAMN PROUD OF IT!" Minako continued to yell oblivious to the amused stares Kai was giving her.
Finally she stopped, grinning even harder than ever and rather breathless.
"Interesting," Kai shook his head. "Strange, but interesting."
"Welcome to a day in the life of Minako Hoshino! That'll be twenty pounds for a detailed tour," she declared proudly.
"I think I'll just buy the T-shirt," Kai remarked.
"...Cheapskate," Minako muttered.
"Hn."
"Don't 'hn' me, stingy."
"Whatever," Kai turned to go back to the party.
"Hey!" Minako called him back.
"What is it? I can't spend my whole evening listening to your sudden bursts of insanity!" Kai said, sounding rather annoyed.
"Hey...t...that hurt!" Minako cried. They stood in silence, staring blankly at each other, perhaps waiting for the other to do or say something.
As usual it was Minako to break the silence.
"I'm sorry, maybe I am a little crazy," Minako whispered just loud enough for Kai to hear. "I won't yell out again if you don't want me to."
"No, do what you want, like I care how crazy you act," Kai shook his head.
"I don't scare you, do I?"
"No way!" Kai replied hotly. "I'm not scared of anything!"
Minako grinned, crossed her arms and brought her face close to Kai's. "Really? Well, we'll just see about that, Kai Hiwatari!"
Kai wasn't sure what she meant but it all became clear a second later when Minako did something that made his eyes widen in shock and then drift to a close. He felt her lips against his as they stood there delicately wrapped in the sunset.
~ Later ~
Kai lay on the soft covers of his bed; his hand was raised above his eyes dangling the necklace from his gloved fingers, faintly observing the way the light reflected off its surface.
"I have power, I know that, but it's dangerous and I should never have accepted it. What am I going to do? I can't just ignore it," Kai muttered.
'.Sometimes you just have to go with your heart.'
"I wonder how Tala is going to deal with an Origin as well," Kai's mind went back to the day they raided Biovolt. "What if I loose it again? I could do some serious damage."
That when it struck him. If he could do serious damage then it was better if there was no one around to do the damage to.
In short, he had to go.
Then again, he couldn't just leave his team and he had just started recovering memories of his brother.
Why did he have to be torn between to feelings? In fact, why was he even having emotions? He wasn't supposed to feel. Was it because Biovolt had gone or was it something or someone else?
He didn't bother with his things; he wouldn't need most of it anyway. If he was to go it was best to do it now when everyone was busy. Rolling off his bed he stole into the corridor and right into the last person he wanted to bump into.
"Hey, Kai, I thought you were supposed to be alert all the time," Tori frowned and, from the look on Sam's face, Kai could tell he had opened the door at the wrong moment.
"Whatever," Kai shrugged it off. The last thing he needed was for someone to get in the way of his departure.
"What are you doing anyway?" Sam asked curiously.
"Nothing," Kai lied.
"Nothing?" Tori frowned.
"Oh, well have a good time anyway," Sam smiled nervously, "Tori and me...have to go somewhere."
Kai looked at them in confusion as Sam went red and began to push Tori down the corridor.
"Hey, Kai," Tori called back. "Normal people use the balcony!"
"The balcony?" Kai raised an eyebrow.
Tori was already half way down the corridor with Sam by the time Kai managed to ask so he received no answer.
'Does he know?' Kai wondered. 'Well at least I he seemed okay with it.'
This time Kai decided to take Tori's advice and use the balcony. Once again he tried to escape and once again he was interrupted.
"Hey, Kai, I -" Minako just walked in as he prepared to vault over the other side. "What are you doing?"
"Minako - " Kai, who had not yet made the jump, turned in surprise.
Minako took one look at him and instantly saw the intention in his eyes. "No way! You're not going to do what I think you're going to do, are you?"
'Damn! Why are people so good at reading intentions? Why do I keep getting interrupted? Why me?'
However, Kai said nothing. It seemed silence was the most appropriate answer.
"This is crazy Kai! Don't you listen to what I say? I know you don't want to leave your team, you can't let fear drive you away, you have to go with your heart!"
"That's your saying, Minako, I can't live the way you do," Kai replied. He felt strange, he felt like an anime character saying a cruel goodbye to a tearful princess.
"I'll tell Tori!" She threatened.
"He already knows."
"What!?" Minako bubbled with something close to anger. "And he agreed with it? Where will you go?"
"Somewhere far away from everyone else," Kai shrugged. "Once I'm sure I've mastered Dryx I'll come back."
"Then you'll have to take me too!" Minako crossed her arms defiantly.
"Don't be crazy, like I'd take you of all people!" Kai snapped.
"Kai!" Minako cried, clearly distressed. "What about on the balcony at sunset?"
"What happened then...it wasn't meant to happen," Kai said softly.
"So..do you mean to say that...you regret it?"
"No! It's not that I just..err..what's wrong with your eyes?"
Minako shook her head, wiping tears from ice blue eyes. "Nothing, you wouldn't understand anyway."
"Minako..."
"Just go!" She yelled but she refused to look him in the face. "You're going anyway so don't stall! Get out of here!"
"Minako..I'm.."
"You're what? You're sorry? If you were really sorry you wouldn't be doing this at all!"
'Why is she so upset? I'm not dying and I'll be back. Now that the tournament is over we would have gone our separate ways anyway,' Kai couldn't remember being this confused.
'...Well who wants to waste their time beating others? Life doesn't last forever so we should spend our time having fun and doing what we love..'
Minako's words before the raid on Biovolt came floating back. What did Kai love doing? Beyblading of course but without his team victory was shallow. He loved beyblading with his team no matter how much he denied it, it was the truth.
'Each day is a grain of sand slipping through your fingers, once it's gone it won't come back so why waste any of it doing anything except what you want to do?' Kai smiled to himself. It was all so clear now.
Minako instantly tensed as she felt a gloved hand on her shoulder.
"You do know that we will be parting soon. I'll be going back to Japan."
"I know but at least I can call you," Minako smiled faintly.
"You have to be the dumbest, strangest, most annoying, most persistent, crazy, little - "
"I know, I know!" Minako held up a hand. "So you're staying with your team?"
"It took you that long to figure it out?"
Minako beamed. Maybe it was her imagination, maybe it was because she was so relieved but she would swear Kai smiled at her. Not one of those amused smiled he so often gave but one out of pure kindness and maybe something more.
~ The next day ~
The teams hauled their luggage across Heathrow air station, looking for the right terminal. The plane tickets had been bought and now they were waiting for their flight to be called.
It was quite packed in the airport not to mention incredibly loud with people talking amiably and the speakers on the walls blasting out the words to 'Simple and Clean' above the din.
"I can't believe we've got to stay in England!" Sam sulked.
"You're not going to stay in the hotel, are you?" Mariah asked.
Sam shook her head, "Staying with Minako's ma, we still have to find a new team mate since Ami can't blade anymore."
"Next flight to China, terminal two is ready," a young woman's voice echoed through the loud speakers.
"That's us!" Kevin leapt from his seat.
The team said their last goodbyes and then they were off.
The two remaining teams sat still as the speakers returned to the song, finally, the airhostess spoke again.
"Next flight to Japan, terminal three is ready."
"C'mon, that's our flight!" Kenny urged the team onto their feet.
"Hey, can you guys go on? I wanna talk to Kai," Minako asked as her own team got ready to go back.
Kai nodded to his team, indicating that he would catch up.
"So.this is goodbye, huh?"
"Yeah, bye." "Um...I feel stupid."
"This is why I hate long goodbyes, can we jut make this quick?"
"Okay," Minako nodded.
"Err...take care..I guess..and tell my brother to practice, I want a real challenge next time!"
"A real challenge? I nearly had you on the floor you cocky little - " Tori yelled before being hit by both Sam and Ami.
Minako laughed nervously in the direction of her team and then back at Kai. She took a few tentative steps forward to plant a kiss on his cheek. "Goodbye."
Kai stood there for a few seconds then turned and began to walk in the opposite direction
//And when you walk away//
Minako watched him leave with a faint smile on her face and then, slowly, she rejoined the rest of her team.
//You don't hear me say//
She nodded at their concerned looks, reassuring them that she was fine. They seemed to reach the conclusion that she was in no mood to talk and they left the airport together.
//Please, oh baby//
She hadn't told him everything she had planned to but she suspected that Kai knew. Some things were better left unspoken anyway.
//Don't go//
At the last minute she looked back just to catch a glimpse of Kai's white scarf fly in the wind before he disappeared.
//Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight//
Minako let a smile dance across his lips. Bringing out a blue beyblade her finger traced the sharp edges with revere.
//It's hard to let it go//
She drew it close to her face to take in every small detail, every fine chip in the metal and then, almost tentatively, she kissed the phoenix.
**********************
Mizu_Tenshi: Well that ends that. Not everything was explained but I think it's much more fun to let you, the readers, think about it. Why does Minako have Dranzer? Well I'll let you think about that. Hint: remember the event on the balcony?
Minako: Yeah, we'll let your imaginations make up something suitable like what happened on the balcony
Sam: Oh, BTW, Kai and Minako do love each other but Kai's not the one to express it but it was hinted!
Ami: Hope you enjoyed that. There may be a sequel there may not be one. Tori: *Sighs* Oh Lord, no.
Everyone: Happy holidays!
~ The water angel
Sam: That's right, Mizu, and to celebrate we're...doing nothing
Minako: Yes, but Mizu_Tenshi would like to say thank you to everyone that read and reviewed her story.
Ami: And now, folks, this is what you've been waiting for, we're screening the very last episode of 'You don't always get what you want!'
Tori: *sighs* Oh boy
"." Speech '.' Thought *.* Implied words
Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade
Song: Simple and Clean by Utada Hikaru
*******************
Chapter 18: The end
Once again they were back to celebrating in Tori and Sam's hotel room but this time for a whole different victory.
"Tomorrow we'll all be going our separate ways, right?" Kenny said.
There was a murmur of sad agreement.
"Who cares about tomorrow?" Tyson tried to lighten up the room. "Let's all get together and party!"
~ The dance floor ~
There were other bladers already there when the group arrived. On stage at the front of the large hall a band was set up with a woman in front holding a microphone and singing.
The groups spread out. Tyson and Gary made and instant beeline to the snack table and began to help themselves with the food.
"Hey - " Minako waved as she approached Kai.
"Don't even think about it!" Kai, who was leaning against a wall a little way away from everyone else, shot her a warning.
"What?" she tried to look innocent. "It is our last day together, show some team spirit!"
"Hn"
Minako threw her hands into the air in exasperation and leaned on the wall next to Kai. "Huh, you're so boring!"
"Go dance with someone else then," Kai retaliated.
"Make me."
Kai rolled his eyes and let out an audible sigh. "I've been thinking," He suddenly spoke, "about my Origin."
Minako looked at him. "Dryx? You don't have to worry about loosing control, I'm sure you'll learn how to handle it."
"Maybe," Kai said doubtfully.
"Definitely," Minako nodded, "it's not like you to run. You have to go with the ship, you can't surrender!"
"Woo-hoo," Kai said, his voice dripping in sarcasm.
"Sometimes you have to take risks; you have to go with your heart."
"I don't believe in this heart stuff," Kai shrugged
"Huh, too bad, your heart is the only thing that you can count on a hundred percent," Minako smiled "But it doesn't matter if you don't trust your heart, you can always count on mine to help you out."
Kai shot her a confused look.
"You forgot about it already? You may be very cute but you're not very smart, are you?" She was grinning now. "I gave my heart to you, remember?"
"This?" Kai held the pendant that Minako had given him before the match in his palm; the little heart shaped ruby gleaming in the light of the morning.
"Keep it," she curled his hand around the necklace. "If you can't trust your own heart then at least you can trust mine."
There was silence between the two. Minako half expected Kai to say "oh," or something stupid like that but instead Kai placed the necklace back into his pocket and remained silent.
"It's getting late," Minako commented absently and then an idea struck her.
"Come with me, I got something to show you" she grabbed his wrist and led him out of the dance hall. No one saw them leave.
~~~
The White Tigers were with Ray by the food table so Gary could still eat and talk to them at the same time.
"I can't believe it's the end of the tournament," Mariah commented.
"Yeah, a lot of things have been happening during the past few weeks," Ray admitted.
"Yeah, raiding Biovolt, competing in the tournament." Kevin began ticking off fingers.
"Tori and Sam getting together and now Ray and Mariah!" Li smiled.
"Hey, Ray," Mariah flashed her pearly white fangs. "Remember when I said you could make it up to me later?"
"Yeah?" Ray said slowly.
"Well how about a dance?"
"Dance?"
"You really got me worried, you know? I thought - "
"Okay, okay! You win!" Ray took Mariah's hand and led her to the dance floor, ignoring Kevin's interesting sound effects.
They wove their way though the other couple to a small spot, perfect for the both off them.
"Ray, I'll be going to China tomorrow," Mariah leaned her head on his shoulder and whispered into Ray's ear.
"I know but we'll see each other at the end," Ray comforted us.
"I know but I just want more time to be with you...alone."
'I feel so stupid saying this!' Mariah blushed a deep shade of crimson. 'I wonder what Ray must think of me going all soft!'
"We'll have plenty of time," Ray reassured her. "There's no need to rush."
"..Ray? I..um..thank you."
"For what?" Ray cast the pink-haired girl a confused look.
"For being Ray."
~~~
"They make a cute couple, don't they?" Kenny commented briefly before taking another sip of his soda.
"Yeah.I guess they do," Ami muttered despondently and took a large swig of her own drink. She refrained from letting her tears fall. Now was not the time of the place to draw attention.
This wasn't right, didn't Ray say that he loved her?
'No he said he *might* love you' Ami's mind reminded her. 'He really loves Mariah, though so just pretend he conversation in the lounge wasn't real.'
"You okay?" Kenny caught on to her wistful glances. "Max is free if you want to dance."
Ami shook her head and watched as Ray and Mariah went back to the snack table.
Her gaze moved back to Ray just as he turned to look at her. She quickly looked at something else but Ray had already caught her and was making his way to her.
"Shouldn't you be with Mariah?" Ami asked Ray, trying to keep her voice even.
"I'm sorry," Ray apologised meekly.
Ami gulped and forced the words out. "It's okay, really, and I'm.I'm.happy that you found someone to love and someone who loves you back," she tried desperately to smile, to show him that she was okay but he didn't seem convinced.
"You don't feel too bad, do you?" Ray asked with concern. "We're still friends."
"I know and I'm grateful for it," Ami nodded.
"Hi Ami!" Mariah came to join them. She wrapped her arm around Ray's waist and they shared a small kiss.
Ami thought she would die right there and then but she somehow managed to keep breathing.
'They're so *nice* it would be easier for me if they just yelled or something!'
"So, I'm guessing you'll be at the next tourney, right?" Mariah smiled. "It's been fun and I can't wait to see you girls again, it's tough being the only girl in a team full of guys."
"Maybe, I wouldn't know," Ami said distantly.
"See you later," Ray smiled kindly.
"Bye Ami!" Mariah waved
"Yeah, I'll see you around."
And then they were gone. She sighed but she didn't allow tears to ruin the happy or supposedly happy moment.
She took another swig of her drink until she remembered that Kenny was still next to her. Had he guessed what they were talking about? How embarrassing!
Ami tried to explain herself but no ideas came into her head. Maybe she just wasn't as smart as she had thought she was.
"Problems?" Kenny asked kindly.
Ami smiled weakly. "Yeah, I guess you could say that."
~ Balcony ~
Minako led Kai out to the balcony of her room "Right here," she pointed to the sky.
"I've seen the sun set before," Kai reminded her.
"Huh, you're not very romantic, did you know that?" Minako frowned.
"Whatever," Kai shrugged and rolled his eyes.
Minako frowned and pursed her lips. She watched him with concerned eyes and then she stood up, making her way almost to the balcony railings she took a deep breath and yelled.
"I AM MINAKO!"
"What are you doing!?" Kai jumped.
Minako turned to face him, her face was red and grinning. "It's fun!"
"You're crazy!" Kai hissed as he clamped his hand around her mouth.
"C'mon, Kai!" Minako said as she struggled to speak. "You wouldn't believe how exhilarating it feels just to yell out to the world, 'I am what I am!' it feels strangely symbolic."
"No, it's just strange," Kai hissed as he struggled with Minako
"Ah, they called those who danced insane because they themselves could not hear the music!" Minako said mistily.
Kai gave up. He smiled at her antics but refused to join in. Minako was probably the strangest person he had met.
"I AM MINAKO HOSHINO AND DAMN PROUD OF IT!" Minako continued to yell oblivious to the amused stares Kai was giving her.
Finally she stopped, grinning even harder than ever and rather breathless.
"Interesting," Kai shook his head. "Strange, but interesting."
"Welcome to a day in the life of Minako Hoshino! That'll be twenty pounds for a detailed tour," she declared proudly.
"I think I'll just buy the T-shirt," Kai remarked.
"...Cheapskate," Minako muttered.
"Hn."
"Don't 'hn' me, stingy."
"Whatever," Kai turned to go back to the party.
"Hey!" Minako called him back.
"What is it? I can't spend my whole evening listening to your sudden bursts of insanity!" Kai said, sounding rather annoyed.
"Hey...t...that hurt!" Minako cried. They stood in silence, staring blankly at each other, perhaps waiting for the other to do or say something.
As usual it was Minako to break the silence.
"I'm sorry, maybe I am a little crazy," Minako whispered just loud enough for Kai to hear. "I won't yell out again if you don't want me to."
"No, do what you want, like I care how crazy you act," Kai shook his head.
"I don't scare you, do I?"
"No way!" Kai replied hotly. "I'm not scared of anything!"
Minako grinned, crossed her arms and brought her face close to Kai's. "Really? Well, we'll just see about that, Kai Hiwatari!"
Kai wasn't sure what she meant but it all became clear a second later when Minako did something that made his eyes widen in shock and then drift to a close. He felt her lips against his as they stood there delicately wrapped in the sunset.
~ Later ~
Kai lay on the soft covers of his bed; his hand was raised above his eyes dangling the necklace from his gloved fingers, faintly observing the way the light reflected off its surface.
"I have power, I know that, but it's dangerous and I should never have accepted it. What am I going to do? I can't just ignore it," Kai muttered.
'.Sometimes you just have to go with your heart.'
"I wonder how Tala is going to deal with an Origin as well," Kai's mind went back to the day they raided Biovolt. "What if I loose it again? I could do some serious damage."
That when it struck him. If he could do serious damage then it was better if there was no one around to do the damage to.
In short, he had to go.
Then again, he couldn't just leave his team and he had just started recovering memories of his brother.
Why did he have to be torn between to feelings? In fact, why was he even having emotions? He wasn't supposed to feel. Was it because Biovolt had gone or was it something or someone else?
He didn't bother with his things; he wouldn't need most of it anyway. If he was to go it was best to do it now when everyone was busy. Rolling off his bed he stole into the corridor and right into the last person he wanted to bump into.
"Hey, Kai, I thought you were supposed to be alert all the time," Tori frowned and, from the look on Sam's face, Kai could tell he had opened the door at the wrong moment.
"Whatever," Kai shrugged it off. The last thing he needed was for someone to get in the way of his departure.
"What are you doing anyway?" Sam asked curiously.
"Nothing," Kai lied.
"Nothing?" Tori frowned.
"Oh, well have a good time anyway," Sam smiled nervously, "Tori and me...have to go somewhere."
Kai looked at them in confusion as Sam went red and began to push Tori down the corridor.
"Hey, Kai," Tori called back. "Normal people use the balcony!"
"The balcony?" Kai raised an eyebrow.
Tori was already half way down the corridor with Sam by the time Kai managed to ask so he received no answer.
'Does he know?' Kai wondered. 'Well at least I he seemed okay with it.'
This time Kai decided to take Tori's advice and use the balcony. Once again he tried to escape and once again he was interrupted.
"Hey, Kai, I -" Minako just walked in as he prepared to vault over the other side. "What are you doing?"
"Minako - " Kai, who had not yet made the jump, turned in surprise.
Minako took one look at him and instantly saw the intention in his eyes. "No way! You're not going to do what I think you're going to do, are you?"
'Damn! Why are people so good at reading intentions? Why do I keep getting interrupted? Why me?'
However, Kai said nothing. It seemed silence was the most appropriate answer.
"This is crazy Kai! Don't you listen to what I say? I know you don't want to leave your team, you can't let fear drive you away, you have to go with your heart!"
"That's your saying, Minako, I can't live the way you do," Kai replied. He felt strange, he felt like an anime character saying a cruel goodbye to a tearful princess.
"I'll tell Tori!" She threatened.
"He already knows."
"What!?" Minako bubbled with something close to anger. "And he agreed with it? Where will you go?"
"Somewhere far away from everyone else," Kai shrugged. "Once I'm sure I've mastered Dryx I'll come back."
"Then you'll have to take me too!" Minako crossed her arms defiantly.
"Don't be crazy, like I'd take you of all people!" Kai snapped.
"Kai!" Minako cried, clearly distressed. "What about on the balcony at sunset?"
"What happened then...it wasn't meant to happen," Kai said softly.
"So..do you mean to say that...you regret it?"
"No! It's not that I just..err..what's wrong with your eyes?"
Minako shook her head, wiping tears from ice blue eyes. "Nothing, you wouldn't understand anyway."
"Minako..."
"Just go!" She yelled but she refused to look him in the face. "You're going anyway so don't stall! Get out of here!"
"Minako..I'm.."
"You're what? You're sorry? If you were really sorry you wouldn't be doing this at all!"
'Why is she so upset? I'm not dying and I'll be back. Now that the tournament is over we would have gone our separate ways anyway,' Kai couldn't remember being this confused.
'...Well who wants to waste their time beating others? Life doesn't last forever so we should spend our time having fun and doing what we love..'
Minako's words before the raid on Biovolt came floating back. What did Kai love doing? Beyblading of course but without his team victory was shallow. He loved beyblading with his team no matter how much he denied it, it was the truth.
'Each day is a grain of sand slipping through your fingers, once it's gone it won't come back so why waste any of it doing anything except what you want to do?' Kai smiled to himself. It was all so clear now.
Minako instantly tensed as she felt a gloved hand on her shoulder.
"You do know that we will be parting soon. I'll be going back to Japan."
"I know but at least I can call you," Minako smiled faintly.
"You have to be the dumbest, strangest, most annoying, most persistent, crazy, little - "
"I know, I know!" Minako held up a hand. "So you're staying with your team?"
"It took you that long to figure it out?"
Minako beamed. Maybe it was her imagination, maybe it was because she was so relieved but she would swear Kai smiled at her. Not one of those amused smiled he so often gave but one out of pure kindness and maybe something more.
~ The next day ~
The teams hauled their luggage across Heathrow air station, looking for the right terminal. The plane tickets had been bought and now they were waiting for their flight to be called.
It was quite packed in the airport not to mention incredibly loud with people talking amiably and the speakers on the walls blasting out the words to 'Simple and Clean' above the din.
"I can't believe we've got to stay in England!" Sam sulked.
"You're not going to stay in the hotel, are you?" Mariah asked.
Sam shook her head, "Staying with Minako's ma, we still have to find a new team mate since Ami can't blade anymore."
"Next flight to China, terminal two is ready," a young woman's voice echoed through the loud speakers.
"That's us!" Kevin leapt from his seat.
The team said their last goodbyes and then they were off.
The two remaining teams sat still as the speakers returned to the song, finally, the airhostess spoke again.
"Next flight to Japan, terminal three is ready."
"C'mon, that's our flight!" Kenny urged the team onto their feet.
"Hey, can you guys go on? I wanna talk to Kai," Minako asked as her own team got ready to go back.
Kai nodded to his team, indicating that he would catch up.
"So.this is goodbye, huh?"
"Yeah, bye." "Um...I feel stupid."
"This is why I hate long goodbyes, can we jut make this quick?"
"Okay," Minako nodded.
"Err...take care..I guess..and tell my brother to practice, I want a real challenge next time!"
"A real challenge? I nearly had you on the floor you cocky little - " Tori yelled before being hit by both Sam and Ami.
Minako laughed nervously in the direction of her team and then back at Kai. She took a few tentative steps forward to plant a kiss on his cheek. "Goodbye."
Kai stood there for a few seconds then turned and began to walk in the opposite direction
//And when you walk away//
Minako watched him leave with a faint smile on her face and then, slowly, she rejoined the rest of her team.
//You don't hear me say//
She nodded at their concerned looks, reassuring them that she was fine. They seemed to reach the conclusion that she was in no mood to talk and they left the airport together.
//Please, oh baby//
She hadn't told him everything she had planned to but she suspected that Kai knew. Some things were better left unspoken anyway.
//Don't go//
At the last minute she looked back just to catch a glimpse of Kai's white scarf fly in the wind before he disappeared.
//Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight//
Minako let a smile dance across his lips. Bringing out a blue beyblade her finger traced the sharp edges with revere.
//It's hard to let it go//
She drew it close to her face to take in every small detail, every fine chip in the metal and then, almost tentatively, she kissed the phoenix.
**********************
Mizu_Tenshi: Well that ends that. Not everything was explained but I think it's much more fun to let you, the readers, think about it. Why does Minako have Dranzer? Well I'll let you think about that. Hint: remember the event on the balcony?
Minako: Yeah, we'll let your imaginations make up something suitable like what happened on the balcony
Sam: Oh, BTW, Kai and Minako do love each other but Kai's not the one to express it but it was hinted!
Ami: Hope you enjoyed that. There may be a sequel there may not be one. Tori: *Sighs* Oh Lord, no.
Everyone: Happy holidays!
~ The water angel
