Disclaimer: You won't get much out of suing me. I mean, really, I am in
high school!
Kai rode across the meadow at a furious pace; cold wind whipped him with vigour. He followed the directions Shea gave him and headed northeast. Before long, the river came into his view. It snaked across the plain like an emerald belt. He rode along the river for a bit longer. Then he saw it, somewhat 50 metres from him, a golden horse lay on the grassy riverbank.
Kai jumped off the horse and walked slowly toward the beast, he saw that the animal was not dead or seriously injured, though it seemed it was exhausted. He moved closer. Then he saw a dark haired boy crouching beside the fallen horse and was examining it carefully.
Kai narrowed his eyes suspiciously. But before he could speak, the boy raised his head and said, "Oh hi. I came by here and saw this horse lying around, you think you can give me a hand getting it to the nearest stable?"
Kai searched the seemingly innocent boy for signs of deception, and he said coldly, "Nice try, but if you want to fool me, you can at least shake off the dandelion puffs in your hair. How long have you been spying on them?"
The boy laughed, and all signs of sweetness faded from his face. Now he was wearing a strange expression upon his face. He clapped his hands together in a mock applause.
"Great deduction work, Kai. I guess you are as the fame marks you, huh?" He sneered.
Kai's face hardened, "What have you done to the horse? And for what reason?"
The boy replied lightly, "It was just a little needle blown with a straw, such primitive weapon. And like the South Americans who invented them, I coated the needle with poison. Not lethal enough to kill the horse, of course. But it will drive it crazy to throw off even the most experienced rider." He laughed, and an evil was glint in his eyes. He continued, "As in why, the almighty Kai has to figure it out for himself."
Kai searched him with his searing gaze again, and this time he caught a flash of pink in the boy's balled up fist. In one swift and fluent motion he loaded his beyblade and aimed it at the boy.
"Give that back." He said in a low and dangerous voice.
The boy looked mildly surprised, "So you noticed. But tell me, why do you care? Where is that indifferent Kai?"
Kai said evenly, "You have something that belongs to a good friend of mine."
"A good friend? Ha!" The boy said jeeringly, "Surely you didn't fall for that wild cat? Of course, I have to say she got some flare. But still, definitely not your type, Kai."
Kai replied smoothly, "I ask you not to tax my patience, or you will regret it." There was something in his voice and made the message across.
The boy studied him in turn, and then he seemed to have made a decision. He tossed the pink blade to Kai and said, "Take that, if you really want it. But bear in mind that one day it shall be mine again."
With that he turned and left without a word. Kai stared after the strange boy, and then he looked down at the pink blade in his hand. The bit was still there, and the pink minx looked as beautiful as ever. He stowed the blade in his pocket and leaped onto his steed. With a jerk of the rein, he turned and headed back to the country house.
Boris was enraged. He screamed at the dark haired boy before him, "You didn't take home the blade, and you revealed yourself to Kai! You are suppose to act only when she is alone!"
The boy looked at him sceptically, "It is not my fault that the girl's friends suddenly showed up. I didn't see them until I shot the needle. It is hard to get a hiding spot with a decent view on a meadow. Nor did I expect Kai to come back and take a look."
Boris's eyes blazed, "You failed the mission! You are a failure."
The boy shrugged indifferently, "Sure, up to you. You can find yourself a new blader if you want."
This subdued Boris. He still stared vehemently at the boy, but he was a lot quieter, "Go back to your quarters now, and think about your mistakes. I will not forgive it another time."
To Boris's surprise, Voltaire was not much angered when he brought the news to him.
He said smoothly, "I did not expect much success out of such a petty theft anyway. The bit-beast will be more subdued if it is won in battle. Our time will come when the world championship game began."
Boris answered politely, "Of course, Voltaire. But." He paused slightly, looking hesitant, then he said, "But what will he think?"
Voltaire waved impatiently, "He will have to wait. He may be not saying much, but he know as well as I that he needs that power I can supply desperately."
Footsteps were heard outside the door. Voltaire narrowed his eyes, "And unless I am mistaken, that will be one of his puppets coming our way. Leave me to talk to him, Boris."
Boris bowed and left through the back door. As soon as he disappeared, the front door to Voltaire's office opened. A man dressed in black robe walked inside. A hideous mask covered all of his features but his cruel eyes.
"I heard that your men failed the task today?" He asked icily, and there was an evil glint in his eyes.
"We were unable to obtain that beyblade today." Voltaire confirmed calmly.
"My master is getting impatient. He will begin to doubt the authenticity of your tales." He said with a sneer.
"That will be very unfortunate," Said Voltaire indifferently, "You boss Tom knows that he needs those power. I don't think he wishes to turn back on the plan yet."
"You will pay my master respect!" The masked stranger raged, "You will hail him by his proper name!"
"No I will not." Voltaire pronounced firmly, "I am not one of his servants or puppets. I work with him, not for him. And the title he crowned himself with, it is foolish. I will not be intimated by such a thing."
The masked stranger didn't stir, but his eyes betrayed his fury. Finally he replied, "If that's what you say. We will expect the task done by the deadline you laid out for yourself. No later than that."
Voltaire nodded, "Of course. But tell Tom to remember his end of the bargain as well."
The masked man left without a word.
Mariah couldn't understand why she was surrounded by water. All around her there was water, those cold, eerie water. She couldn't breath.
"Help me! Ray!" She cried. She couldn't hear herself. But apparently someone did. She felt a comforting hand on her arm.
"It's okay, Mariah. I am right here." A soft voice chimed.
Mariah forced her eyes open. She was lying in bed, and there were at least three layers of quilt on top of her. Ray was sitting on a small chair beside the bed.
"Do you feel all right?" Ray asked with concern in his voice.
Mariah nodded. She was still cold, and she felt drained and a little frightened, but other than that, she felt fine. She turned to look at Ray. He was very pale, and his golden eyes were clouded with weariness.
She smiled, "You look terrible, Ray."
Ray smiled back at her warmly and teased, "You really think so? It's all your fault, you know."
The two of them jumped and pulled a part when they heard a distinctive cough. They turned and found to their surprise Kai standing before the door. He stood there with his arms crossed, and a slight smile was playing upon his lips.
"Having fun, you two?" He asked.
Mariah blushed just a little, and Ray ignored that comment. Kai walked into the room and took a seat beside Ray.
Ray turned asked, "Did you find anything?"
"Yes, I found quite a lot." Kai replied and tossed the pink blade to Mariah, "And I believe that is yours, kitty."
Mariah caught the blade and gasped, "Galux! Thank you for returning it, Kai! It must have fallen out of my pocket when the horse threw me. Where did you find it?"
Briefly Kai told them of his encounter with the boy. When he finished, the other two looked sombre. The three of them sat in silence for a while, pondering over the incident.
Then finally Ray said quietly, "It seems that someone is after us."
Mariah continued, "And it seems they know a lot about us."
There was a long silence again. Then Kai spoke, in his usual curt and cool manner again, "We sill just have to be careful."
They all fell silent, a dark mood had settled upon them.
A/C: Ok, here goes the chapter. Whoever can guess who that Tom is gets brownie points! Though that part of the story is not going to get resolved, I am leaving it for the sequel (and yes, I am planning one). And. does anyone think Kai is a little too warm in this story? I am trying not to create any OCCness. So he will get back to his cold self in the future. Ok maybe not TOO cold.
Kai rode across the meadow at a furious pace; cold wind whipped him with vigour. He followed the directions Shea gave him and headed northeast. Before long, the river came into his view. It snaked across the plain like an emerald belt. He rode along the river for a bit longer. Then he saw it, somewhat 50 metres from him, a golden horse lay on the grassy riverbank.
Kai jumped off the horse and walked slowly toward the beast, he saw that the animal was not dead or seriously injured, though it seemed it was exhausted. He moved closer. Then he saw a dark haired boy crouching beside the fallen horse and was examining it carefully.
Kai narrowed his eyes suspiciously. But before he could speak, the boy raised his head and said, "Oh hi. I came by here and saw this horse lying around, you think you can give me a hand getting it to the nearest stable?"
Kai searched the seemingly innocent boy for signs of deception, and he said coldly, "Nice try, but if you want to fool me, you can at least shake off the dandelion puffs in your hair. How long have you been spying on them?"
The boy laughed, and all signs of sweetness faded from his face. Now he was wearing a strange expression upon his face. He clapped his hands together in a mock applause.
"Great deduction work, Kai. I guess you are as the fame marks you, huh?" He sneered.
Kai's face hardened, "What have you done to the horse? And for what reason?"
The boy replied lightly, "It was just a little needle blown with a straw, such primitive weapon. And like the South Americans who invented them, I coated the needle with poison. Not lethal enough to kill the horse, of course. But it will drive it crazy to throw off even the most experienced rider." He laughed, and an evil was glint in his eyes. He continued, "As in why, the almighty Kai has to figure it out for himself."
Kai searched him with his searing gaze again, and this time he caught a flash of pink in the boy's balled up fist. In one swift and fluent motion he loaded his beyblade and aimed it at the boy.
"Give that back." He said in a low and dangerous voice.
The boy looked mildly surprised, "So you noticed. But tell me, why do you care? Where is that indifferent Kai?"
Kai said evenly, "You have something that belongs to a good friend of mine."
"A good friend? Ha!" The boy said jeeringly, "Surely you didn't fall for that wild cat? Of course, I have to say she got some flare. But still, definitely not your type, Kai."
Kai replied smoothly, "I ask you not to tax my patience, or you will regret it." There was something in his voice and made the message across.
The boy studied him in turn, and then he seemed to have made a decision. He tossed the pink blade to Kai and said, "Take that, if you really want it. But bear in mind that one day it shall be mine again."
With that he turned and left without a word. Kai stared after the strange boy, and then he looked down at the pink blade in his hand. The bit was still there, and the pink minx looked as beautiful as ever. He stowed the blade in his pocket and leaped onto his steed. With a jerk of the rein, he turned and headed back to the country house.
Boris was enraged. He screamed at the dark haired boy before him, "You didn't take home the blade, and you revealed yourself to Kai! You are suppose to act only when she is alone!"
The boy looked at him sceptically, "It is not my fault that the girl's friends suddenly showed up. I didn't see them until I shot the needle. It is hard to get a hiding spot with a decent view on a meadow. Nor did I expect Kai to come back and take a look."
Boris's eyes blazed, "You failed the mission! You are a failure."
The boy shrugged indifferently, "Sure, up to you. You can find yourself a new blader if you want."
This subdued Boris. He still stared vehemently at the boy, but he was a lot quieter, "Go back to your quarters now, and think about your mistakes. I will not forgive it another time."
To Boris's surprise, Voltaire was not much angered when he brought the news to him.
He said smoothly, "I did not expect much success out of such a petty theft anyway. The bit-beast will be more subdued if it is won in battle. Our time will come when the world championship game began."
Boris answered politely, "Of course, Voltaire. But." He paused slightly, looking hesitant, then he said, "But what will he think?"
Voltaire waved impatiently, "He will have to wait. He may be not saying much, but he know as well as I that he needs that power I can supply desperately."
Footsteps were heard outside the door. Voltaire narrowed his eyes, "And unless I am mistaken, that will be one of his puppets coming our way. Leave me to talk to him, Boris."
Boris bowed and left through the back door. As soon as he disappeared, the front door to Voltaire's office opened. A man dressed in black robe walked inside. A hideous mask covered all of his features but his cruel eyes.
"I heard that your men failed the task today?" He asked icily, and there was an evil glint in his eyes.
"We were unable to obtain that beyblade today." Voltaire confirmed calmly.
"My master is getting impatient. He will begin to doubt the authenticity of your tales." He said with a sneer.
"That will be very unfortunate," Said Voltaire indifferently, "You boss Tom knows that he needs those power. I don't think he wishes to turn back on the plan yet."
"You will pay my master respect!" The masked stranger raged, "You will hail him by his proper name!"
"No I will not." Voltaire pronounced firmly, "I am not one of his servants or puppets. I work with him, not for him. And the title he crowned himself with, it is foolish. I will not be intimated by such a thing."
The masked stranger didn't stir, but his eyes betrayed his fury. Finally he replied, "If that's what you say. We will expect the task done by the deadline you laid out for yourself. No later than that."
Voltaire nodded, "Of course. But tell Tom to remember his end of the bargain as well."
The masked man left without a word.
Mariah couldn't understand why she was surrounded by water. All around her there was water, those cold, eerie water. She couldn't breath.
"Help me! Ray!" She cried. She couldn't hear herself. But apparently someone did. She felt a comforting hand on her arm.
"It's okay, Mariah. I am right here." A soft voice chimed.
Mariah forced her eyes open. She was lying in bed, and there were at least three layers of quilt on top of her. Ray was sitting on a small chair beside the bed.
"Do you feel all right?" Ray asked with concern in his voice.
Mariah nodded. She was still cold, and she felt drained and a little frightened, but other than that, she felt fine. She turned to look at Ray. He was very pale, and his golden eyes were clouded with weariness.
She smiled, "You look terrible, Ray."
Ray smiled back at her warmly and teased, "You really think so? It's all your fault, you know."
The two of them jumped and pulled a part when they heard a distinctive cough. They turned and found to their surprise Kai standing before the door. He stood there with his arms crossed, and a slight smile was playing upon his lips.
"Having fun, you two?" He asked.
Mariah blushed just a little, and Ray ignored that comment. Kai walked into the room and took a seat beside Ray.
Ray turned asked, "Did you find anything?"
"Yes, I found quite a lot." Kai replied and tossed the pink blade to Mariah, "And I believe that is yours, kitty."
Mariah caught the blade and gasped, "Galux! Thank you for returning it, Kai! It must have fallen out of my pocket when the horse threw me. Where did you find it?"
Briefly Kai told them of his encounter with the boy. When he finished, the other two looked sombre. The three of them sat in silence for a while, pondering over the incident.
Then finally Ray said quietly, "It seems that someone is after us."
Mariah continued, "And it seems they know a lot about us."
There was a long silence again. Then Kai spoke, in his usual curt and cool manner again, "We sill just have to be careful."
They all fell silent, a dark mood had settled upon them.
A/C: Ok, here goes the chapter. Whoever can guess who that Tom is gets brownie points! Though that part of the story is not going to get resolved, I am leaving it for the sequel (and yes, I am planning one). And. does anyone think Kai is a little too warm in this story? I am trying not to create any OCCness. So he will get back to his cold self in the future. Ok maybe not TOO cold.