Title: Untold Truths
Authoress: Ladya C. Maxine
Rating: PG-13
Summary: see chapter one
Warnings: see chapter one
Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade or any of its characters. All unrecognizable characters belong solely to me and are not to be touched. I am not making any money off of this and I write with the sole purpose to entertain.
Ray slept like a cat.
Not the long, deep sleep that could never be disturbed. But instead his rest would always be in the form of a catnap; the tiniest shift in the air or the softest sound never failed to pull him back to reality. It was something that all neko-jin shared in common, though some had learned to master this effect and were able to get a full night's sleep. And did he ever envy them.
A quick survey of his surroundings was usually all he needed to ensure his safety and to return to sleep, but this time sleep remained elusive. Breathing out to allow his body to relax, he waited for the bliss of sleep to take over…and it didn't come.
"Wonderful," he muttered in his pillow.
Raising himself up onto both elbows, his injured arm only mildly straining, he looked through wild bangs at the alarm clock. 4.35 a.m. Way too early to be up.
"Go back to sleep," he tried to will himself but his mind was having none of that. It was up and in waking function and wasn't about to shut down again any time soon.
Rolling onto his back, he stared up into the high canopy of the bed, trying to decide what to do. Remain in the cozy warm bed and die of boredom or get up and do something. Not a no-brainer. After many minutes, he gave up and swung his legs over the bed, readjusting the tie of his loose ponytail.
"I probably only need something to drink."
Yeah, that was it. A good glass of milk would settle him down.
Standing, he stretched with a sharp groan, the aggravated bruise making it presence known on his ribs. Better take a painkiller while he was at it.
Glad to at least have a good reason to be up, Ray silently slipped out of his room and quickly made his way down the stairs, the carpeted steps making his descend undetectable.
As his mind grew clearer, he remembered more and more. Including his 'conversation' with Kai not a few hours ago. Kai had seemed as distant to him as the day they had met. But ever since that day the phoenix had always been pretty civilized to him, discussing things during the long plane or train travels, or giving advise while they would train while waiting for the rest of the team to wake up in the mornings.
'Is it because I am in his home now? I guess so. Kai likes his privacy. Now that I'm here he is probably just trying to stop me from learning even more about him.'
Stepping onto the tiled kitchen floor, he didn't even bother to flick on the switch and simply headed for the cupboard, removing a glass and putting it onto the counter as he searched the fridge for milk. He almost knocked his head on the little lamp in surprise, though, when a loud crack cut through the silent house.
Shutting the door quickly to kill the light, he scanned the area for any signs of intruders but all was peaceful and he could see the still armed security system blinking loyally in the dark.
'Yeah, Ray, really good thinking. A thief who comes crawling through the window of a 50 floor high penthouse?'
But then what had caused the noise?
Again it sounded and Ray finally recognized it as the sound of billiard balls. Someone must be playing pool in the living room.
Forgetting about his drink, Ray softly padded towards the dark doorway that connected the kitchen with the living room and peered into the darkness.
"It's rude to spy on people."
Kai's voice was one he had expected but he couldn't immediately locate the phoenix in the dark den. All he could see was a small orange point of light that seemed to float in the air behind the pool table. As his eyes adjusted he was able to make out Kai's silhouetted shadow against the window where he stood before.
"Can I at least turn on the lights?"
Kai grunted his go-ahead. He preferred the dark when in need of concentration but not everyone shared his way of thinking.
There was a short span of time as Ray searched for the switch. Finally finding it, he flicked it on and had to quickly close his eyes as the light flooded the area. Blinking against it, he turned to Kai.
Despite the cool temperature of the interior, Kai wore his trademark loose pants and a shirt except the buttons had been left open. Sleek chest and stomach flexed with each move he made as he studied the positions of the brightly colored balls. A cigarette dangled from between his lips, swirling thin tendrils of smoke. His face was unpainted and the long bangs fell before the crimson eyes which were pretty aware and keen for someone who hadn't apparently slept all night.
"It's too early for you to be up," Kai commented, removing the lit stick to absently roll it between his fingers as he exhaled a small trail of smoke.
"I needed to take some painkiller," Ray said, which was the truth.
Wait…Kai was smoking! Well, that explained why Kai had possession of a lighter at the airport. But it shocked Ray nonetheless.
"Hn."
Replacing the cigarette between his lips, he walked around to the head of the table and lined up his intended target. With a quick jab he sent two balls into opposite pockets.
"You're pretty good at this," Ray observed.
Focusing mainly on his game, Kai removed the cigarette and sighed in contemplation, eyes searching for a good route.
"If you want you can play, you know."
The invitation caught him off guard but he hid it with a small shake of the head.
"Playing pool isn't really one of my best skills."
"You've played it before?"
"Not really," Ray smiled. "I'm a lousy shot but they play this back in China. When we were little kids, Lee and I used to sneak into the bars to watch the men play. I found it pretty cool and couldn't wait until we were old enough to play. It didn't really turn out the way I had expected it though..."
The tiger fell silent, remembering the episode from his childhood and Kai looked up, poised and ready to strike but uncharacteristically curious at the rest of the story.
"And...?"
Ray was surprised at his companion's interest but answered brightly, unable to restrain himself from smiling, both at the memory and the sheer fact that Kai was (willingly) listening to him.
"I was really excited, hyper actually, and I kinda hit the ball too hard and that sent it flying off the table and nailed one of the patrons in the...Let's just say I wasn't allowed back in there for a very long time."
Kai needed no elaboration and his sympathy went out to the unfortunate patron.
"Needless to say, I never tried playing pool again. Even after I was allowed back to the bar I would just sit on the side and watch the others play. Lee is pretty good at it," Ray rounded off.
"How old were you when that happened?" Kai asked, exhaling away from Ray to make sure the smoke didn't bother the younger teen.
"About eight or nine, I think."
Contemplating the neko-jin for a while, Kai then took a cue from the rack and handed it to him.
"Let's see if age really does make one better."
Torn between refusing and saving his dignity or agreeing and making a fool of himself, Ray stared at the cue-stick.
This could quite possibly be a once-in-a-lifetime chance for him to befriend the phoenix. Sure, they were on the same team and Kai had always treated him better than he did the rest, but there had always been…something he had wanted from the solemn captain. And, having witness Kai's interaction with Saskia, he realized that he just wanted to be able to get along with the older boy as a friend, not just a fellow blader.
This was a side of Kai he had never seen before; he couldn't let something like pride get in the way. Gripping the cue, he nodded, signaling that he was in.
Waiting for Kai to finish his turn, he casually began what he hoped would be a conversation.
"I never knew you smoked," he said, doing his best to keep his tone innocent as not to provoke Kai's cold attitude.
"Only when I need to think a lot," Kai answered. "It's better than drinking in any case."
"Not in the long run," Ray shrugged.
Kai watched as the motion made the loosely tied hair roll off a slender shoulder. It was very rare to see the long hair loose and he found himself wishing that Ray left it like that more often.
'Maybe I do need a drink.'
Sinking the remaining balls, he began to rack them up once more.
"Your turn."
"Uh, Kai…I don't know the rules."
"We're playing Eight-Ball. 15 balls in total. You need to pocket numbers 1 through 7, I'll take 9 through 15. Pocket all your numbers and then the eight ball and you win."
"Oh right. Silly me. No problem."
Kai smiled at that despite himself though each time the neko-jin moved his head, making the dark hair sway, he felt a unfamiliar feeling in him, but he let it slide for now.
"Just watch what I do."
Placing the cue ball in position, he gave it a well-placed tap and the clatter of balls connecting and scattering echoed loudly. Choosing a pocket and calling it, he took aim and the cue-tip connected, sending the intended ball straight into the pocket.
"Your turn."
His only response to that was a you've-got-to-be-kidding-me look.
"With that attitude it's a wonder you can even beyblade."
Whoa, that was stepping over the line. Folding his arms with slight indignation, Ray returned the stare evenly.
"What does pool got to do with beyblading?"
"Everything; skills, determination, concentration, tactics, strategies, practice."
"Well, unless I see a bit beast come blasting out of the eight-ball, I really don't see a resemblance."
Here was the cocky, know-it-all attitude they had first known Ray with. The tiger could be rather capricious when needed. It reminded him strongly of Ata.
Snubbing his cigarette in the crystal ash tray, Kai leaned his cue against the wall and walked over.
"Show your starting stance."
Shaking his head with a sigh, Ray did as he was told, combining what he remembered seeing the guys at the bar do with what he had just seen Kai pull off.
"Hardly acceptable."
Figures. Kai was as big a critic in pool as he was in beyblading.
"Hey, this is my first time in years. Give me a break."
"Uh-huh," Kai muttered half-interested, going about correcting Ray's stance. "Keep in mind how your feet are placed on the floor. Your elbow needs to be higher and your shoulders a bit more turned to the side. Extend your sighting arm more and keep the cue-tip just off the table."
Doing as Kai said, he was surprised with the significant improvement already.
"How do I shoot?"
Picking out an easy enough target, the solid red just a foot from the far corner pocket, Kai adjusted Ray's arm just slightly to the left, knowing he would have to slant this shot.
"Is the cue-tip, cue-ball and pocket in one straight line with each other?" he asked, watching the now concentrated look on Ray's face with a hint of amusement. Once the neko-jin set his mind on something there was no way he would stop until he reached it.
"Yeah, but I think the cue-tip should move a bit more to the left. The eight-ball is in the way."
Silently complementing the tiger on his insight, Kai leaned over to see if Ray was indeed right.
"Look," Ray pointed with the cue, "I could just hit and sink the green instead."
"That's too easy. Aim for a more challenging shot. You have the sight already, put it to use."
"Fine, let's do it your way." Ray rolled his eyes before turning serious. Concentrating, on the pocket, he called his shot out and with a well-aimed hit, managed to pocket the red in one fluent movement.
Kai smiled at the tiger's gasp of surprise but a sharp ringing that startled both teens broke the moment. Shaken back to reality, Kai realized that he was still leaning over Ray. Pulling away quickly, he cleared his throat and feigned calm, removing the ringing cell phone from his pants' pocket.
The sudden loss of warmth alerted Ray that Kai had moved. Then it hit him that they had been standing so close together. Straightening with a slight blush, he watched as Kai answered the call, the smooth voice speaking in Russian.
'Just great,' Kai thought to himself darkly as he listened to the man inform him that he was needed in town to sign some papers. It was only matters having to do with the hotel, but he had wanted to spend at least one full day at home before having to go off again.
Breathing out in exasperation, he fished in his pocket for the pack and popping another cigarette in his mouth, he lit it and took a deep draw. He had gone for more than a year without smoking, but right now the pressure was too much and it was the only thing he could turn to.
The fresh smell of smoke made Ray glance over from where he had been lining up another shot, having found a new love for the game. Despite Kai's calm posture, it was clear that the phone-call had not been on his list and it wasn't a pleasant surprise either to receive it.
'Phone! Oh, man, the guys!' An entire day had passed and he hadn't called them yet!
Putting down his cue, he walked out of the room quickly, not even saying a word.
Kai immediately sensed the departure of the neko-jin and turned just in time to see the long flow of raven hair disappear round the corner. Wanting to shrug it off, he turned back to the view of the waking city before him, not noticing that he drew his shirt shut as the temperature seemed to grow colder.
"No, I am not kidding you guys," Ray swore as he brushed his hair, hands free since the phone next to his bed turned out to be a speaker phone.
/I'm gonna kill Kai! Just wait until I get my hands on him/
"Tyson, chill out. He has his reasons--," the Chinese blader reasoned.
/Does he have a game room in his house/ Max's interrupted him.
/You kidding me! From what I've heard he has an entire freaking amusement park over there/
/Calm down, Tyson/ Kenny tried to pacify the raging teen. /It doesn't matter if he is rich. The most important thing is Kai himself. Still…what type of computer system did you say he has/
/Kenny/
"Kai isn't the type of guy who likes attention. You know that. He probably wanted to avoid all of this," Ray said. Standing to straightening his jacket, he said, "Look guys, it's no big deal--"
/Oh yeah, suuuurree! You can say that because you are there. Where's Kai? I am gonna give him a piece of my mind./
/You have none to spare Tyson/ Max laughed, which was cut off by the sound of a tackle and some scuffling about. Kenny's voice spoke above the two wrestling bladers.
/And what about this little sister you talked about. Tasia/
"Saskia," Ray corrected. "She is a doll, guys. I've never met anyone like her. She is deaf but can speak and loves to draw. She's sweet, generous, funny--"
/And she's Kai's sister? Whoa/ Tyson said somewhat breathlessly having probably escaped Max's head lock.
"Aa. I think I will send you guys some pictures by e-mail."
/Okay. So how are your injuries/ Kenny asked.
Ray looked at his reflection in the tall floor mirror. His upper body was still bandaged and so was his arm but he could move them fine again.
"I'm doing fine. The arm is doing great and almost all of the bruises are gone. I went to the doctor yesterday for a check up."
/That's good to hear. So, what are you going to do now/
"I'm not sure. I guess I'll hang around the house. They say that the weather is cleared for the time being, but they advise against going out because it can change pretty quickly. Hey, I hear Natasia downstairs so I've got to go. I'm starving!"
/Well, just take it easy--/ Kenny started to say but Tyson but in.
/Are the walls wallpapered with money/
"Goodbye, Tyson," Ray rolled his eyes. "I'll call you guys tomorrow."
Hanging up, he made his way out of his room and down the stairs. Voices from the kitchen proved to belong to, not only Natasia, but Kai and Saskia as well. The latter was dressed in an outfit similar to what Tiffany had been wearing two days ago. Sitting next to Kai on the high barstools, Saskia nibbled on a slice of apple as she read a book she had laid out before her.
"Good morning, Ray," Natasia smiled as she handed Kai a mug of coffee. The bluenette turned his head to meet his eyes but then looked away, still speaking on the phone.
"Ray! Lookie!" Saskia hopped off the barstool. Holding the book proudly above her head, she pointed to a picture on the open pages; a ballerina caught in a mid-air jump.
"That's great, Saskia," Ray agreed, quickly putting two and two together; Saskia was obviously a lover of many types of art, including ballet. At least she had the lithe body for it.
"When I am bigger I am going to be just like her."
To back up her words, she made a graceful twirl, her socked feet easily spinning her on the tiled floor.
"Not when you haven't finished eating, dear; you will get sick," Natasia cautioned, picking up the petite girl and placing her back on her seat.
Taking the seat next to Saskia, Ray watched Kai talk for a moment, noticing how he no longer had a cigarette, probably for Saskia's sake.
"Can you come see me dance?" Saskia asked, now eating a bowl of grapes.
"Dance?" Ray repeated.
"I'm gonna practice beam-walking today."
"But where..." Oh yeah, she had a studio right next to her room. "Sounds great."
She herself beamed before turning to wait patiently until Kai finished his conversation, resting her chin on his arm as she watched him. Sitting side by side, their differences but similarities as well were even more obvious.
Kai finally closed the phone and looked down to Saskia's who was watching him with anticipation from where she leaned against him.
"Today I'm gonna practice balance. You be there?"
"I have to go to town for something. But I'll be back as soon as I can," he promised. He wanted to simply shrug off the meeting and stay with her but his responsibilities weren't so easy to get rid off. At least he could get everything done as quickly as possible and be back in time.
Disappointed that he had to go off, again, but understanding that he had to take care of them, she nodded and hugged him.
"I wait for you."
"Then I better go now."
He kissed the top of her soft hair and stood, nodding to Natasia and gave Ray a lingering look before disappearing out of the room without another word. A while later the front door opened and closed as he left.
"Is it safe to be going out in this weather?" Ray asked, slightly put off by the silent departure.
Natasia glanced out the window, watching as the snow fell in heavy but subdued layers.
"Well, the air is very cold. Poor Jeremei has to go to the doctor today for a very sore throat. I keep telling him to wear a scarf but he always forgets. We old people do that a lot."
"Natasia isn't old," Saskia protested.
Taking away the child's empty bowl, she smiled gratefully.
"Thank you, Saskia. But I'm afraid that age is catching up with me."
"You still very pretty," the little girl was persistent.
Natasia merely laughed softly, accepting the compliment since it meant so much to Saskia. However, turning to Ray, she could tell that something was on the tiger's mind as he pushed the rest of his toast around his plate with his fork.
"Is there something wrong, Ray?"
"I was just wondering; if Jeremei is sick, then how is Kai going to get to town? Did he call a cab? He's not going to walk, is he?"
Knowing Kai, he would probably do just that.
"No, silly!" Saskia giggled. "He drives. Kai can drive really well. And really fast!"
She slid off her chair and making a motor sound, she ran out of the room.
"Oh, that's good. It's too..."
Drive...Drive?...Drive!
"What!"
The lights of the sleek all-black Jaguar flashed with a disarming beep as he turned off the alarm absentmindedly, once more on the phone as he walked down the tall steps that led to the office building now behind him. Above him, the clouds were converging; a shade darker than it had been when he had gone inside two hours ago. The midday sun was hidden and its presence was missed as a strong, cold wind blew through the streets.
Making his way through a crowd of pedestrians who were also going about getting to their destination before the skies opened up, Kai opened the passenger door to dispose of a pile of paperwork that had to be read and signed by tomorrow onto the passenger seat. Walking around to the driver's side of the vehicle, he had to speak louder over the noise of the town.
"He didn't meet with court?"
/He said that something came up and he would have to postpone it. The case has been moved two weeks ahead. The date hadn't been officially confirmed so he has a right to ask for a renewal. And he has somehow managed to find files containing information about your family that could turn the odds heavily in his favor./
"Damn it!" Kai leaned against the car door, running a hand through his hair as he tried to think up a counter move. "Has his lawyer mentioned anything?"
/Nothing. All we know is that he will argue in court that as a second-to-direct family member he has the rights to possession. And further more.../
A single flock of snow fluttered down before his eyes, soon followed by others as the clouds unleashed their load. Footsteps became more hurried as people quickened their pace to get out of the snow but he remained where he was.
His lawyer went on talking but another voice cut through his mind, female but with a metallic ring.
Warning, C.A.G. has been located+
Not showing any signs of having detected the spies, he casually turned, pretending to be observing the busy sidewalk across the street. A cafe was situated to his left and its sheltered patio was pretty full as people had decided to wait out the snow, hot coffee in hand as they chatted or read the newspaper. He effortlessly looked over all to pinpoint a man who was sitting in the far back, garbed in a dark coat as he read a book, looking harmless.
An agent.
"I have to go. We will talk later."
He hung up before the man could say anything else.
"Scan area for agents."
Scanning...one located+
"A scout," he sneered. This was not good. If the agents were already being sent out then that meant that the operation had been set into motion.
"Keep scanners on."
Affirmative+
Giving the man another hate-filled glare, he stepped into his car and started the engine. As he drove away he saw in his rearview mirror as the man stood and stalked off into an alley.
"She's really good," Ray admired, watching as the little girl effortlessly ran up and down the narrow beam lightly on her toes, stopping for a mid-air jump-split before doing a cartwheel, all the while keeping amazing balance. "Who's her instructor?"
"I am." Natasia smiled at his surprised blink. "I know, I don't have the figure of a dancer."
"No, no…It's not that," Ray quickly said, shaking his head. "I didn't mean it like that."
"Even if you did, I wouldn't hold anything against you. It's true; I used to be a dancer. Many, many years ago. Maybe not a legend, but good enough to make magazine covers and the news. I lived to dance." She smiled, performing a simple stance to prove her story. "I dropped out of school at the age of twelve to dedicate all my time to the arts. When I was twenty, my car slipped on a patch of ice and slammed into a light pole. My knees…I am very lucky that I can still walk."
"But you couldn't dance anymore, could you?" he asked sympathetically. It must be horrible to be forced to do something you loved. If he had really broken his arm he would no longer be able to beyblade. The mere idea made his tremble.
"Oh, I healed. But yes, my career as a dancer was over. I had counted too much on dancing to take in accounts to ensure that I had a back-up plan. I was workless and costs had to be paid. Elaine had been a fellow dancer in my class and she took me in. She had a very good heart."
"Elaine?"
"Elaine Hiwatari, wife of Sven Hiwatari."
"Kai and Saskia's parents," Ray concluded.
"Yes. Sven had already had a very decent and well paying position as the head of a software company. Elaine had danced until motherhood made her put away her ballet shoes for good. Her love for the arts has transferred now into Saskia." Natasia smiled proudly at a perfect summersault.
"I think it's really cool how she can follow the music by the vibration in the air. Her other senses must be off the chart for her to do that. I must admit that I wouldn't have believed this if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes," he said, applauding with Natasia as Saskia balanced on one leg, extending the other one far behind her as she leaned forward, nose almost touching her knee.
"Dancing is the only thing she loves to do next to drawing. She has the poise and elegance for it, but..." Natasia sighed disappointedly. "A few professional lessons are all she needs to smooth out a few edges, but no dance school wants to accept her."
"If you ask me, it's their loss."
"So I believe to. But it's not so easy for her to understand. Last year, a group of tutors from the Chantee L'ecole de Danser, a very exclusive and well sought after dance school in France, came to Russia to participate in the annual art festival. Saskia had entered and we had provided our own music, music that she knew by heart. Oh, you should have seen her, Ray. So beautiful and elegant as she twirled and tiptoed on the dance floor. Everyone had been captivated by her skills. When she was done there had been a huge round of applause. She was so excited, especially when mentors from Chantee approached her."
"What happened?"
"Jealousy, that's what. One Tiffany McSnobbe. She had participated also and she is a decent dancer, but decent isn't enough to earn you attention from top artists. And then," she shook her head in disgust, "she walked over and with a voice so innocent that it could have been nothing but fake, she said, 'That was wonderful, Saskia. I mean, deaf people aren't really known to dance so well.'"
"You're kidding me," Ray gasped at the cruelty of the blonde.
"I wish it. That had changed everything. To be a dancer one must be able to hear the music. I explained to them that all they would have to do was give her the music beforehand and she would easily learn to follow the vibrations it made in the air. That's how she knows what to do. All they had to give her was a little patience. In the end, they turned Saskia down. They couldn't risk 'wasting their time' on someone with so many medical issues."
"That must have been hard on her." His eyes followed the small body as it did a couple of back flips on the beam.
"Devastating. She was utterly devastated, Ray. She locked herself in her room and refused to leave it. The only person she allowed inside was Kai. It took him a few days to coax her to eat again. For hours she would simply sit in his lap and cry until her tears ran out. To have the one thing you dream of dangled before you before being so cruelly snatched away..."
A small cry of triumph as Saskia successfully executed a spinning back-flip broke through and both Ray and Natasia had to smile as she hopped up and down on the bar proudly.
"Did you see! Did you see that! I did it!"
"Excellent, dear! Truly wonderful!" Natasia clapped as she walked over. "Your landing was precise and your back was straight."
Ray leaned back against the cool mirror surface, watching as Natasia explained a new posture to the eager girl. The soft notes of classical music that was being played by the music system in the closet behind him soothed him where he sat on the bench.
A very long beam that stood three feet off the ground now dominated the dance studio, which had been empty when she had showed it to him yesterday. Where it came from or how it got there, he didn't know. Padded mats had been placed beneath and around it but by the looks of things, Saskia didn't need them.
"Okay, let's try it then." Natasia patted the beam and the little dancer hopped up gracefully, finding her balance at once. Repeating the steps more to herself then her student, Natasia walked alongside the beam. "One step, two step, kick out, twirl once, kick out, kneel, and turn..."
Saskia turned…and squealed happily, startling both Ray and Natasia.
"Kai!"
Sure enough, the older bluenette was leaning in the doorway, arms crossed as he had been silently watching his baby sister's progress. Now discovered, he stepped into the room.
"Concentrate, Saskia," Natasia warned, tapping a wrapped foot gently to get her attention. "Distractions cause mistakes."
Not wanting to make any mistakes in front of her big brother, she focused once more on the move though her eyes kept shifting over to Kai to make sure he was watching. For several minutes it went on like this, the only sounds being the classical music and Natasia's voice. Finally, with a flourishing dismount, Saskia landed evenly on both feet on the mat, earning a well-rounded applause from her audience.
Watching as she threw herself into Kai's arms, Ray could only wonder at their relationship. He had never met anyone who could make the phoenix smile so easily. It surprised him how well smiling suited Kai.
"Ray!"
Feline reflexes were just barely quick to catch the small body that jumped on him, a train of giggles following thereafter.
"You like my dance? Natasia said I get better!"
"It was awesome. I can't believe you can do all that stuff!"
Shy but proud of his compliment, she started to play with his ponytail, again. With a timid voice, she asked, "Do you think I can dance for people? With lots of pretty lights and a big stage?"
Natasia's explanation from earlier came back to him and he worried his lip, not wanting to down the little heart but neither wanting to fill it with false hope.
"Maybe one day. But until then, you dance only for yourself. All that matters is if you love doing it. It doesn't matter if there are a million people or just one."
Nodding at his words, she turned her pink eyes back to Kai who was talking with Natasia in whispers. Both looked wary about something but finally finished and walked over.
"It is almost dinnertime. We should go get ready," Natasia announced, always cheery when it came to food.
"Ready for what?" Ray asked, releasing Saskia so she could return to Kai.
"We are going to eat out tonight. Luna Chat is one of the hotel's finest restaurants. I think we should go celebrate Saskia's outstanding progress."
Smiling shyly, Saskia buried her face in the loose cloth of Kai's pants.
"Sounds good. But can it live up to your cooking?" Ray asked with a raised brow, garnering a laugh from the red-head.
"I suppose it is reasonable. Besides, I'm too tired to cook dinner. Now come on, I have reservations for eight o'clock. You all have an hour to get ready, which is more than enough time."
Kai watched as the two walked ahead of him and Saskia, laughing like old friends as Ray kept on insisting that the five-stars restaurant's food could never measure up to Natasia's own meals, which was close to the truth. From the back, he followed the swaying ponytail of the neko-jin that moved with each step he made, swinging harder whenever he would jump to the side to avoid Natasia slapping him playfully.
"Ray is very nice."
Looking down to meet serious pink eyes, Kai closed his own scarlet pair for a moment to fight down the self-hatred. A faint squeeze on his hand made him answer.
"Yeah, he's a very good guy."
"Will they hurt him too?" she asked softly.
Stopping and kneeling down before her, he took hold of both small shoulders.
"No one is going to get hurt, Sassy. Not Ray, not you, not Natasia or Ivan or Jeremei. And once he's here, neither will Ata. I care too much for you all to let that happen."
"What about you? They are going to come after you because of--"
"Shh," he placed a finger on her lips. "Don't talk about them here. The court will make the final decision. Until then, he cannot get you. Or me."
Nodding but eyes still brimming with concern, she stepped into his arms and allowed him to lift her up, wrapping her own arms around his chest as he started to walk again. A slight trembling in his chest told her that he was humming very softly, a lullaby he had sung to her for all of her life.
'Please, don't let them come after us. Make them leave us alone...' she begged silently as the soft classical music that still played in the abandoned studio slowly drifted out of hearing range.
Tbc...
Read & Review, please.