Mizu_Tenshi: I know people have been asking but no, this is not the end there are a few more chapters left. You'll see why so stick around and R&R.

"..." Speech '...' Thought *...* Implied words

Disclaimer: I don't own this anime

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Chapter 9: Where it all began

The pair travelled through most of the evening and way into the early night when Ryo suddenly stopped.

"I'm hungry," he complained but if Kai had heard he chose to ignore it. "Can we stop and eat somewhere? Please?"

Again Kai kept walking in silence, pretending Ryo was some invisible entity he did not have to be concerned with.

"We haven't eaten in ages," Ryo pointed out.

'God, this guy's like Takao! Why am I always stuck with the dead weights?' Kai sighed inwardly.

"I need energy."

"Fine," Kai stopped abruptly but didn't turn round to face Ryo, instead he looked across the street at a restaurant that still had its lights on. "That place looks cheap."

Ryo burst into a smile and followed Kai like an obedient puppy towards the restaurant.

Inside was dimly lit with a counter blocking the way to the kitchens while the rest was taken up by about five round wooden tables and several chairs.

The door chimed as Kai pushed it open, drawing the attention of a lady at the counter.

"Welcome, we're closing in half and hour so order quickly and eat quickly," the smiling lady beamed at them from behind the cash register.

Ryo gazed up at the menus pinned up on the walls then turned to Kai. "What can we afford?" Ryo asked.

"The egg noodles and maybe a bowl of miso soup each," Kai answered, frowning at the money in his hand.

"What?!"

"It's better than nothing," Kai pointed out.

Ryo sighed deeply and let his shoulder sag "fine," he muttered despondently.

"Egg noodles and miso soup comin' up!" The lady continued to beam.

Since Kai and Ryo were the only customers there they could choose where to sit. Taking their places at a table by the window of the empty restaurant they sat down in silence the only noise was the cook in the distance and the TV blaring on a shelf behind the counter.

Kai kept his head bowed and stared at his hands, to Ryo he was just being his usual reserved self but Kai was deep in thought.

They had escaped Roskovi inc., they had escaped Boris but now what? Where did they go from here? They couldn't run forever.

Ryo turned his gaze from Kai's pensive mood to the woman singing on TV. "Hey, she's not bad, right Kai?" Ryo smiled.

Kai blinked once but didn't look up but it was obvious he had heard from the way his eyes seemed to snap back into reality.

Ryo groaned, "you gotta stop zoning out! I said the woman is pretty good at singing, isn't she?"

"I guess," Kai muttered faintly.

Ryo groaned again, smacking his head with his hand he closed his eyes as if he was embarrassed.

Kai looked up at the TV screen for the first time. It was a woman singing as Ryo had said.

/All alone Solitude consumes my soul without hope Searching for a face I've lost Across the endless streets I walk all day Searching the crowds for the one I love/

'Another sappy song about lost love,' Kai rolled his eyes.

"She's cute," Ryo said, blushing at the TV causing Kai to roll his eyes even further.

"That's Prisicilla Asagiri," the smiling woman said as she placed steaming food in front of them, "here you go, two bowls of egg noodles and miso soup."

Kai paid the woman with most of the money he had. She winked playfully at him and returned to put it safely into the cash register

Ryo pounced onto the food and began to devour it immediately while Kai calmly ate at a slower pace.

"So what are you boys doing out alone so late at night?" the woman questioned as the cash register closed with a clang.

Kai looked up in annoyance at the woman but answered anyway, grunting the word, "Crossroads."

"Crossroads, eh? As in Crossroads Orphanage?" the woman blinked. "That's quite a while away, you boys planning to walk all the way?"

"We have to," Kai shrugged, "there aren't any alternatives."

"Well I could give you lift once you're finished with those bowls," she offered.

"Thank you very much, ma'am," Ryo dipped his head politely but Kai was far more suspicious.

"Why?"

"Huh?" the woman blinked at the question and then blushed. "Oh, well, you know what they say; if we can all do one good thing a day the world would be a better place."

That was enough for Ryo and he instantly resumed eating, Kai however stared at the woman disbelievingly. Someone was actually offering to help without charge?

The woman blushed under his gaze "now, eat up before it goes cold!" she urged Kai

They ate quickly. Ryo was the first to finish and Kai let Ryo take half of his egg noodles since he wasn't that hungry.

"Ready, boys?" the woman asked, shrugging on a brown coat.

"Ready," Ryo nodded.

The woman led them out to her car and ushered them in before taking her place at the wheel.

"Don't know why you want to go to the orphanage," she smiled cheerily.

"That's our business," Kai eyed her coldly, still wondering if this was some sort of trap.

"Okay, okay, no need to get so touchy, I just love a good story, that's all." She seemed unaffected by Kai's stand-offish nature and revved the car up.

Since neither one had a watch that worked they had no sense of time or how long it took to travel but by the time the car came to a halt the last of the stars had appeared.

"Thanks for the lift," Ryo said as they got out of the car.

"No problem, take care of yourselves...oh I didn't get your names."

"I'm Ryo and this is Kai," Ryo pointed to himself and then at Kai.

"Well have a nice life boys!" the woman waved as she drove off.

"Well, we're home," Ryo let out a small satisfied sigh.

"Follow me," Kai gestured.

They approached the open window Kai had used for his first escape and clambered in.

Ryo walked ahead and flicked on the light switch.

"Ahh!" someone yelled from the shadows.

"Trish?" Ryo asked uncertainly.

"Ah! Kai! Ryo! What are - "

"Long story," Kai cut through her impatiently

"Yeah, I should ask you what you're doing up past bed time and in our rooms!" Ryo frowned

~~~

"...So yer on da run?" Trish asked Kai once Ryo had finished relaying their story.

"Yes, I can't stay long."

"That's right we just came to...why did we come here?" Ryo looked at Kai uncertainly.

"To drop you off," Kai replied bluntly.

"What!? Wait a second! You're going on your own?" Ryo looked at Kai incredulously.

"That's right," Kai eyed Ryo coldly as if saying, "and don't you dare defy me!"

"That's crazy! I'm coming with you!"

"Me too!" Trish piped in.

"Stop!" Kai yelled and the two fell silent. "I work better alone, okay?"

"But - " Trish began to protest

"You've done a lot for me but from here on in I have to go alone," Kai tried to explain.

Trish and Ryo both bowed their heads submissively, accepting if not understanding that some things had to be done by yourself.

"They'll be a lot questions being asked but don't worry," Ryo assured him, "I'll cover it for you, Miss Berry is a ditz anyway."

"Yer team came round a few days back," Trish suddenly remembered, "they're lookin' for ya; give dem a ring."

"I have to go now," Kai shook his head.

"So this is goodbye?" Ryo asked, hoping that Kai would shake his head at that too and say "Actually, I could use some company. Wanna come?" but he didn't say anything.

"Take care, okay? Trish looked optimistic.

"Good luck," Ryo smiled.

Kai nodded his thanks, "if my team come back here tell them I've gone back to the start; to where it all began."

~ Bladebreakers ~

The Bladebreakers finally made it to Crossroads Orphanage but unfortunately all the lights were out and there was no sign of anyone being awake at this times of night.

"Aww man, they closed!" Takao moaned

"I told you we should have gone earlier," Kenny said with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

While Takao made his brilliant come back Rei walked purposefully
towards the door of the orphanage.

"Hey Rei, where are you going?" Max cried.

Rei knocked lightly on the door. "Hello? Is anybody in?" he called.

"Forget it, Rei, they'll all be asleep," Takao said from behind but Rei continued to knock louder.

"Hello? Open up!" He was banging on the door by now.

To everyone's surprise the door eventually opened and at the doorway was a sleepy-eyed five-year-old girl with black hair and brown eyes.

"Whatcha want? It's night!" she grumbled.

"Trish!" Rei exclaimed.

"Rei?" Trish gasped; her eyes were wide with astonishment. "Rei, come in!" she opened the door and they all entered the orphanage.

"Trish we came here to ask you if - "

"Kai was 'ere a few minutes ago," Trish cut through Rei.

"What?!" The Bladebreakers almost yelled.

"What's up, Tri - " Ryo had came from his room looking as sleepy as Trish now had his eyes wide open. "Oh my God!"

"Dey came lookin' for Kai," Trish waved a hand in the direction of the Bladebreakers.

"Do you know where he is?" Max asked eagerly.

"He came here a few minutes ago," Ryo explained, "but then he left."

"He left?!" Takao cried and then slapped his forehead in frustration. Was Kai intentionally leading them through the whole of Japan?

"Did he say anything about where he was going?" Rei questioned.

"Yes but it's kind of cryptic," Ryo nodded.

"What?"

"He said.." Ryo paused as if he was not entirely sure what Kai had said. "He said he was going back to where it all began."

"Where it all began?" Max looked confused.

They stood in thoughtful silence for a minute or two, trying to discover what Kai had meant when suddenly Takao jumped causing the others to step back in case they were hit.

"I got it!" Takao snapped his fingers.

"Where?" Everyone chorused.

Takao ignored everyone's inquiries and turned to the Kenny. "Chief, can you stay here in case he comes back?"

"Sure but where are you guys going?" Kenny asked.

Takao smiled an all knowing smiled, he replied enigmatically, "to where it all began."

~ Roskovi inc. ~

"What do you mean they escaped!?" Mr Roskovi roared with anger.

Boris said nothing, his head was still throbbing with pain not to mention the humiliation of being knocked out by a teenager.

"You screwed up, Boris! I told you to take them to Biovolt but you didn't and what's more you lost my most prized possession! Get out of my sight!" He yelled.

Boris growled but left as he was asked to do.

Mr Roskovi snarled in frustration and threw a glass of wine at the elevator just as Boris got in it. The wineglass hit the closing doors and shattered leaving a trail of blood like liquid trickling down the metal door.

"Sir, they can't have gotten very far," Mr Simons pointed out. "If can have the whole team tracking them down in a matter of minutes."

"Yes, make it so," Mr Roskovi murmured his consent. "Do what you have to, kill who you must I just want Kai working for me the other one doesn't matter."

"Yes sir," Mr Simons bowed low before retreating.

~ Bladebreakers ~

The team all slammed into each other as the small van did another sharp corner.

"Can't you drive any safer, grandpa?" Takao asked.

"Don't worry little dude!" Takao's grandfather laughed. "This baby can take a little punishment."

"I was talking about me not the van and do you have to talk like that?"

"Hey, you're lucky I don't get out my kendo stick. You wakin' me up at night and all to go chasin' after one of your little buddies."

"Sorry sir but were really worried for our friend," Rei apologised from somewhere behind.

"Aww, it's okay, dude just sit back and relax, we'll catch up with the little dude no problem," he reassured them.

"Yeah, like we can relax the way you drive," Takao wanted to mutter but the van took another corner and he was thrown into one side of the van.

~ With Kai ~

Kai didn't know how far he had travelled, he had hitchhiked and stowed away on lorries and cars to get where he was now.

He sat by the empty bowl where he has once met and battled Takao, where he had hit Carlos, where it had all began.

'Where am I going?' Kai wondered. 'What am I even doing here?'

He looked at the water running to his right. His cuts, gashes and bruises had either been reduced to measly scabs of had completely vanished but his arm was still aching. It would take a while before it completely healed.

He adjusted his gaze from the water to the stars, staring into the twinkling sequins that lay on the black velvet of the sky.

He slowly closed his eyes, allowing himself to be cradled by the breeze he sat there soaking up moonlight on his creamy skin.

He thought of his team and where they were. He had to survive this ordeal, he couldn't leave them without a captain; they'd fall apart.

'Don't flatter yourself,' a nasty voice inside Kai's head hissed. 'They would be fine without you, in fact, they'd be better off without you.'

Kai shook his head to rid himself of the voice but those thoughts lingered in his mind. His team...They were so different from him, so unique, so friendly it was unbelievable and sometimes even disgusting.

But then again what did it matter if he never saw them again? What did it matter to a cold, uncaring, monster like him?

Optimistic Max always there to cheer you up, kind and caring Rei with that sparkle of understanding in his eyes, smart Kenny always ready to help and Takao, can't-live-with-him-can't-live-without-him Takao. What did it matter that he would never see any of their faces again?

It mattered. It had to matter because he was Kai and not Voltaire.

"Sometimes," Kai said to no one. "Sometimes people choose and awful path to follow. My whole life was training and discipline in the coldness."

His mind flickered to his life in the abbey, from the time he met Carlos, to when he became the leader of the Bladebreakers, to being sent into the orphanage. It was as if his life was flashing before his eyes without him actually dying.

Voltaire ... Boris .. .the abbey ... the Demolition Boys ... the Bladesharks ... the Bladebreakers ... Mr. Roskovi ... Trish ... Ryo ... the orphanage...

Where did he belong amongst the sea of countless faces and places?

Kai looked down at his gloved hands, "I don't belong here I am pitiful."

"KAI!"

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Mizu_Tenshi: No it is not ending next chapter but it is sort of ending. Err, the 'Sometimes people choose an awful path' is from Beyblade. I can't remember what episode it was though. Action is on its way!

whisper*2*imaginary - Yeah, he did try. Action is on its way!

SquirrelOfShadows - Lol, thanks and yay for frying pans!

mazurashi san - Thank you. Hopefully chapter ten will be up soon

Identity Thief - Thank you so much! I've started watching V-force too. They changed Tyson's eyes! He's got brown eyes now!

kai baby-girl - Thanks, hope you liked the chapter

MidnightMidlight - I know; Kai should get at least a little revenge but then he would probably feel like he was being his grandfather.

Syaoran-Lover - It's kind of in the middle now. Glad you liked the idea of knocking Boris out. I should have made Kai rob him as well.

darkdragoncrystal - I'm not sure. Maybe three or four more chapter the most. Do you think that's too long or too short?

anomynous - Yay they escaped and Boris got what he deserved! Yeah, Boris is stupid; he left them in the kitchen of all places.

dragonmaster - Wow, thanks, I'm glad you like it so much.

blackdranzergirl - Thanks. Nah, I guess Ryo isn't so bad now.

Dark Ice Dragon - Thank you and the next chapter will be up next week.

heatherthegreatone - Thanks, I like the frying pan too. Roskovi is going after Kai. I know this chapter made it sound as if it would be ending but it isn't, not yet anyway.

evil-tala - Hmm, I see your point. What is wrong with reading fics during school? That wasn't the end

Atari6 - Well here you go! The next chapter will be up soon. There are still more to go. Dark Phoenix - I never thought of Ryo joining a team but yes, Sarisa was taken after training. Hopefully Kai will be all right.

sabrea - Thanks for reviewing! Will do!