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.
"Saskia will be fine. I have one of my teammates here so she won't be alone"
/Since when/
"A couple of days now. Ray's flight got snowed in with the rest so he is staying by us until the skies clear up."
/Have you told him/
"Of course not. He is smart, though, and will pick up on several clues, but by the time he figures it out this whole thing will be over"
/And does he know that I am coming/
"No. So don't make too much of a pest of yourself while you are here."
/Me/ He knew that Ata had blinked in (fake) innocence. /I am so disappointed in you, Kai. I will greet him with open arms and my best behavior./
"Exactly. That's what scares me," Kai smirked while he checked the folders once more, making sure he had everything. "Look, my train leaves in about an hour so I have to get going. I'll see you in a few hours."
/Keep an eye out/ Ata warned. /There have been a heightened number of activities concerning the agents. I've come across a couple here in St. Petersburg. Their surveying the situation and the slightest mistake from you is enough to make them move in./
"I know. Be careful until I get there."
/Love ya./
He rolled his eyes though in a fond manner.
"Love you too, Ata. Bye."
/Ciao./
Kai hung up and placed the cell in his coat pocket before making sure that he had everything. He was only going for two days but he had always been something of a perfectionist when it came to such matters. Going through the papers once more he mentally checked them off.
"Medical bills, health reports, certificate of birth, psychiatrist reports, insurance files..." The amount of papers seemed endless but he finally confirmed that he had everything.
A knock on his door came and Ivan entered.
"Sir, it is time." The old man picked up Kai's rather heavy duffle bag with ease, his age belying his physical strength. After having served in the army for thirty years the weight he sometimes had to carry now was nothing. "I shall bring this to the car. The weather has let up a bit but not for long. Luckily the trains are still running."
"I will be down in a minute," Kai said as he followed Ivan out of his room, locking the door behind him with a key.
"Alright, sir," the gray haired man bowed and left, taking long strides that swiftly carried him down the secret flight of stairs.
Kai started to follow. However, his steps halted before the pastel purple doors. The dolphin emblem stared back at him with a jeweled stone-eye. Softly turning the silver handle, he slipped in and silently made his way across the room and up the pedestal to the white canopy bed, the unicorn night lamp in the corner casting the room in several different colors gave him enough light but he could have easily made the trip in utter darkness, having been in here a thousand times.
Saskia lay in the center of her bed, surrounded by the blue pillows. He had always thought the bed to be too big for her but she tended to toss and turn a lot in her sleep and he didn't dare risk her falling off. Her thin bones could easily be broken by the impact.
Her hair was loose and spread around her head like a colored halo. She slept on her stomach with her head resting to one side on her folded arms. As always her nightgown was twisted around her; it was too big yet she favored it. Her breathing was heavy but that was normal.
Reminding himself of his departure, he climbed onto the bed and crawled to the sleeping girl, the mattress not making so much of a squeak. Reaching her, he gently pulled her onto his lap. Still asleep, she snuggled in closer. Sleepy pink eyes slowly opened and she looked up.
"Kai?" she asked around a yawn and buried her face in the smooth fabric of his coat. "Come back soon."
"We will." Kai gave her a comforting squeeze and she understood his message and drifted back off to sleep.
Kai was about to put her back down but stopped himself. He didn't like leaving her up here by herself. Sitting with her in his arms for a few seconds, he got off the bed, still holding her and taking Mica, a small stuffed dolphin Ata had given her for her fourth birthday that she always slept with, he turned off her night light and left the room.
Descending their private stairway he now stood in the guest hall. He had planned on bringing her to Natasia but as he passed a certain door he got another idea.
The room was dark with the exception of the glow of the green and red stereo lights. Outside the howling winds covered his footsteps as he made his way to the bed. Its occupant was fast asleep on his side facing Kai, dark hair loose and everywhere.
Kneeling, Kai gently laid Saskia down against the slumbering body. The moment their bodies lost contact she whimpered a bit but then feeling the other's body heat, she turned and wrapped her arms around him. The boy mumbled something and returned the embrace still sleeping. Kai tucked the sheets and blanket around her tightly and placed Mica within arm reach. He pressed a kiss on top of her soft hair.
'I will be back soon. Ata and I will not let him take you back there. Sleep well, Sassy.'
Looking past Saskia to her unaware bedmate he knew that she would be okay. These two had formed a strong bond in the shortest of while. He had been surprised when Ivan told him that Saskia had taken to Ray like a duck to water. His baby sister was quickly intimidated and shied away from strangers, but she had formed a friendship with the tiger the moment she laid eyes on him.
The fact that Ray was an extremely nice guy helped also. The only thing better then the Chinese teen's beyblade skills was his people skills. Serious and quiet were two of the traits that Kai admired from Ray since they reminded him of himself. Still, the tiger carried with him the spirit of his people and fought with a passion very few possessed Those amazing golden eyes always sparkled when he fought with all his soul.
'Amazing golden eyes?' Kai shook his head. 'Natasia did too much caffeine in that coffee.'
He turned and walked out, leaving the two to a restful night sleep.
'Okay, what woke me up today?' Ray asked himself.
No alarm or other sound could be heard but something seemed...new...in here. Opening one eye he looked into unblinking glass eyes of a stuffed animal that stared back at him.
'What the heck?'
Looking away from the stuffed dolphin, he looked down to see purple and blue till his chin. Saskia was laying on her tummy on him, her small body rising and falling with every breath he took. How she got up there or how she got into his room he didn't know. He certainly didn't recall her being here when he had fallen asleep.
A quick look at the alarm clock on his nightstand stated that it was 9.15 a.m. Way pass his rising hour but he might as well not waste anymore time lying in bed. The question was how to get up without waking the little girl. Well, it was past her waking time also so he guessed that he should wake her.
"Saskia," he whispered and mentally slapped himself. She couldn't hear him. Trying again he called her name softly while tapping on a slender shoulder. The young Russian mumbled something then fell into a deeper sleep.
Saskia apparently did not share her brother's tendency of rising before the sun did. He tried again but again she brushed him off and snuggled closer. No way she could be a heavier sleeper than Tyson!
Ray was starting to think that maybe she was sick or something when he felt her tremble. Worried, he brushed away the hair that hid her face and was surprised to see her trying to repress a smile.
"Very funny," he said when she lifted her head to him.
She broke out into fits of giggles.
"And since you played a trick on me, I get to avenge myself. Tickle attack!" Ray's fingers sought out her sides and began to tickle the soft skin. Saskia exploded in high squeals of laugher as she tried to roll off him but he held her tight as he carried out his justice.
"S-st...Sto-stop!" she begged laughingly and when he didn't, she retaliated. The room was filled with laugher as they struggled to tickle the other to death. After few minutes they collapsed back onto the bed, breathing hard while their sides and tummies still tingled.
Saskia reached over and picked up the small dolphin, running her fingers over the soft dorsal fin. Mica was her favorite stuffed animal. She remembered the day Ata had given it to her, bright eyes glittering behind his glasses.
"Kai gone." She rested her chin on his chest and awaited his response.
"He will be back in only two days."
"Ata be coming too!" The thought of the visitor certainly appealed to her. "Ata liking paint."
"Ata sounds like a very nice person." Ray observed, slightly perplexed at her suddenly unarticulated words.
Shaking it off, he sat up, holding the small body to prevent her from slipping off and hurting herself. He couldn't help comparing her to the delicate Chinese tea set that Mariah's grandmother kept in the family's living room. One small tap and it could shatter. Saskia was the same, any bumps and she could break several bones.
"Well, they are not going to get here any quicker if we just lay around in bed. Waiting only makes it take longer. Let us get something to eat."
He stood from his bed and stretched languidly. Picking up the little girl, he walked to the kitchen not even bothering that they were still dressed in their sleepwear.
Natasia was busy as always but this morning a large basket sat on the bar and several snacks and foil-wrapped food sat around it. The cook herself was swiftly cutting onions with a large knife and then putting them on the three long club sandwiches beside her on the counter.
"Good morning," she said merrily as they entered.
Ray was stumped at what all this meant but Saskia squealed.
"Picnic?" the little girl asked hopefully.
"Yes. The TV news people say that the skies will be clear this morning so I think that we need to get out of here and into some fresh air. Would you like that?"
"Yay!" Saskia bounced, still in Ray's arms and who put her on the barstool. She took a small bowl of strawberries and popped one into her mouth, handing a large one to Ray.
"So where are we going?" he asked Natasia as he leaned against the bar edge.
"The parks of Moscow."
"Isn't that where all the beybladers go to practice?" Ray asked remembering when he had met up there with his old team, the White Tigers. The All Starz had been there as well.
"That's just part of the parks. Where we are going is a quieter spot where people go to relax. You are free to visit the beyblade grounds if you want. You need to practice to keep your skills sharp."
She was right. Ever since his match against Bryan at the championships he hadn't battled once. The doctors had been dead set against it and went so far as to confiscate Drigger for two weeks after they caught him in the hallways at night trying to sneak off to practice. It had almost felt alien pulling the rip-cord yesterday when he had been with Saskia in the garden.
"Sounds great. As awesome as this place is I need some open air myself. Here, let me help you," Ray offered as Natasia started to put away the take-away lunch. Saskia helped out also and pretty soon everything was ready.
"The snow has let up and the sun may be out but a good sweater is what you need to wear. And unless you wish for the entire female population to be following us around I suggest you freshen up a bit, Ray," Natasia spoke while she relayed her words in sign language to Saskia who giggled in agreement.
"Huh?" He had forgotten that his hair was still loose and that he only wore a loose pair of sleep pants and a sleeveless shirt. Catching Natasia's coy meaning he blushed but nodded.
"Alright then, go get dressed. I will take care of Saskia. And don't worry if it takes a while, one can always be fashionably late, can't we darling?" she signed to the little girl who smiled and nodded as she popped another strawberry in her mouth.
/The parks, huh? Sounds neat./
"It is. I'm hoping to get some blading done. Soon the tournaments will start again and you guys would have to find a new team member if I can't get back in the game."
/As if! Tear up some concrete, Ray. There's no way we are gonna let you leave the team./
"Thanks, you guys," he smiled at Tyson's words, missing seeing the team's faces.
Pulling on baggy black jeans and, since it was not the best weather to wear his Chinese shoes; he also pulled on the fur-lined boots that Ivan had bought for him yesterday. The butler had brought up a whole new wardrobe for the cold climate; everything had been paid for by Kai.
'Crap! I forgot to thank him!'
/So where's Kai/ Tyson asked, as if reading the neko-jin's mind.
"St. Petersburg."
/Isn't that in America/
"No, Tyson, that's Pittsburgh. St. Petersburg is about five hours from Moscow."
/So what is he doing there/
"Don't know. Kai isn't big on telling others his business. All I know is that it is something very important and top secret and no one should know about it."
/Well make sure to fill us in on everything you learn/ Tyson said not catching Ray's meaning of 'no one'.
/Tyson/ Max obviously realized that this was not something they should be getting into.
/What/ Tyson obviously didn't have a clue what he had missed.
"Hey guys, I've got to go. Natasia and Saskia are ready, I can hear them downstairs."
/We have been talking for over an hour/ Kenny admitted/Oh, we contacted the White Tigers the day you called us and told them about your delay. Mariah sent her wishes for your recovery, Gary asked if the hospital food was any good, Kevin wishes you strength and sanity in dealing with Kai and Lee says he still wants that rematch from the Asian tournament./
"Good thing I'm here for a couple extra days," Ray laughed as he gave his clothes a final straightening. "Tell them all that I am doing fine and that Kai isn't that bad. Lee better watch himself because when I get back he is gonna get a taste of my fully healed power."
/Yeah, yeah, whatever/ Tyson said while yawning exaggeratedly.
/Bye, Ray! Call soon/ Max shouted from the background.
/We miss you, tiger-poo/
He turned off the speakerphone and turning he spotted Saskia waiting in his doorway. She was dressed in a long, gray skirt till her ankles with white boots. Her turtleneck sweater was of a pale blue that matched her hair, which was tied back into two pigtails, and she had a gray bonnet on. Natasia was a great cook and fashion expert as well.
"Ready to go?" Ray asked as he picked her up. She smiled and nodded but stopped him when he started to leave.
"Mica."
"What?"
She pointed with a mitten-covered hand to his bed, which Ivan had made sometime when they were preparing for the picnic downstairs. The small dolphin sat proudly on his pillow, aqua eyes reflecting nicely in the morning sun. Wriggling out of Ray's hold, she trotted over and picked up the stuffed marine creature before returning to his arms.
"That's a nice animal," Ray commented as he watched her cuddle it.
"Ata gave me."
"I can't wait to meet him."
"Perhaps it would be in your best interest if you didn't," Saskia replied.
Ray almost lost his grip on her from shock. Her voice had sounded so...different. More mature and her words weren't that of even an eight year old. Now he was completely lost. First she speaks like a five year old and now she spoke as an adult. What on earth was going on here?
"Ray?"
He blinked and looked down at her. She tickled his neck with Mica's nose, all signs of the mysterious adult gone, replaced by a little girl who was worried.
"Ray okay?" Her voice was definitely back to being soft and child-like.
"How did you just do that?"
"Huh?"
Something was definitely wrong here but Saskia looked as lost as he did.
"N...Nothing. Come on. Natasia is probably going to leave without us."
"Uh-uh."
"Uh-huh."
"Uh-uh!"
"Uh-huh!"
They uh-uh'ed and uh-huh'ed all the way down but in the back of his mind Ray was still troubled by what he had just experienced.
Saskia was not an average girl. She was sweet and everything a little girl should be, but there was something about her that did not sit well with him. Also, the short moment in which he had seen that necklace, which she had taken extra care to keep out of sight since that occurrence, still lingered in his mind. How could a trinket get him so worried? As he spent more and more time with her he knew that there was a very special reason why Kai kept her a secret.
'Kai...'
If any could answer his questions it would be his team-captain. The blue-haired enigma had been so reclusive lately. Kai never, ever lost his cool but that night when he had sat at the bar holding Saskia Ray had seen the look of tiredness and...fear? Yes, fear. Kai was afraid of something and that something had to do with Saskia.
'Kai, why can't you accept my help? Why can't you accept my friendship? Why can't you accept me?'
The last thought struck him.
'Whoa, where did that come from?'
He quickly erased that line of thought and turned back to Saskia who had been studying him with calculating eyes he looked at her. She smiled sadly and lowered her eyes.
"Some truths are best left untold," she whispered as she laid her head on his shoulder.
Crimson pair surveyed the busy streets with hawk-like interest. They followed every person who passed by with a scrutinizing glare and many people actually made a large circle around him as he walked down the sidewalk, black ankle-length coat flowing behind him.
He had gotten the papers he had requested as well as a court date. All he needed now was an alibi and that alibi was probably his only chance to win this. His pessimistic voice told him that he had a very small chance on succeeding and his optimistic voice agreed, but he had to go for it.
He could not sit back and allow him to get that chip.
'Knowing that bastard he will put his operation in movement soon. I have to stop it before it is too late. I won't allow them to get that chip or Saskia!'
His frustration was vented out with a swift punch to the side of a parked truck, leaving a considerable dent in it. Fellow pedestrians' mouths fell open at the boy's strength but amongst them a lone standing figure smirked.
"That works much better on something that has feelings."
Red eyes lifted to stare at the person whose arms were crossed, a travel bag over one shoulder. Despite the tone, the eyes behind the glasses held an understanding light. Ata stepped closer and laid a hand on his shoulder.
"I cannot promise you a victory, but I swear to you that I will not let you face this alone. I will do whatever it takes to ensure Saskia's well-being."
Kai shook the other person's hand and smiled before pulling his friend in a much-needed embrace. Things were looking up already.
"Thank you, Ata."
The air was filled with whirling beyblades and shouted orders.
Ray's blader spirit felt reborn as he walked amongst the other bladers. God, he had really missed this! His fingers were itching to take hold of his ripcord and let his own blade join the battle but at the moment smaller digits were holding them tightly.
Saskia's rosy eyes darted nervously from him to the other bladers to the stone dishes and back to him. A particularly loud howl from a defeated player nearby made her bury her face in his pants' leg. Lifting her onto his hip, he turned her eyed to him.
"Do you want to go back?" he asked, sensing her uneasiness.
"N-no," she said bravely though her death grip on his coat suggested otherwise.
"You sure? I wouldn't mind." Ray brushed a stray strand from her brow.
"I okay," she assured.
Jeremei had driven them to a nice spot in the park where the snow was very little, despite the large snowstorms, and where the ground formed a natural patio overlooking the frozen river. Ivan had come along as well and the five of them had had a nice breakfast, talking and laughing
When their meal had finished Ivan left for some business in town and Jeremei drove him there and would return for them the moment Natasia called him on the limo's phone. When the two elder men were gone a friend of Natasia happened to be passing by and the two ladies quickly fell into conversation. Ray decided to give the two friends some moments of peace and volunteered to look after Saskia. He wanted to go check out the beyblading that was going on in the park section nearby.
Saskia had been eager to join him but now the large number of people, who were so different from the quiet, sophisticated people in the hotel that she was used to, and the constant rush of battle was getting to her. Still, she tried to be brave as to not disappoint Ray who was right at home here.
"Hey, nanny!" a grated voice called out. A guy some years older than Ray, sporting a green Mohawk and numerous piercing, stood before them, puke-green beyblade in hand. You've been walking around the whole time. How about actually battling?"
The punk's volume got other people's attention and a ring soon formed around them. Loving the attention, the punk continued.
"I recognize you. Ain't you that blader from TV? Ray, is it? The one who got really messed up by Bryan?"
Kids around them started to mutter in admiration and excitement as his identity was revealed.
Well, what are you waiting for? Let it rip!"
"I'm not interested," Ray said calmly.
"What? Too good to blade with us lowly street bladers? Come on! I'll take you out just like Bryan did."
The green-haired punk rounded the dish and came to stand a foot before him. Ray was no expert but his nose detected the stench of drugs him.
"Look, whoever you are. I am not going to blade you. Now get out of my way." Ray stepped around him, intending on leaving.
"Coward! No wonder you got bashed so badly."
"Oooh!" The crowd watched the growing tension, uncertain if they should intervene.
For his part, Ray didn't care and continued on his way.
Punk, however, not liking being ignored, decided to hit even lower. After all, this guy didn't even look very tough holding a little girl in his arms.
"Maybe your little sister would want to play with me."
The punk reached out and gave one of Saskia's pigtails a cruel tug. The little girl cried out and tried to pull away but he simply yanked it again, harder, making tears spring into her eyes as she twisted in Ray's arms to get away from the pain.
The other bladers were not at all amused with the punk's low tactic and started to move forward but within the space of a second the punk cried out and soon found himself lying on the ground while clutching his nose which was broken and bleeding. He looked up with shocked eyes into fierce golden ones.
"Touch her again and your won't be able to hold a blade again for the rest of your life." The tiger's eyes were mere slits and his pointed canines glistened, clicking as he growled out each word. His fist, which had some of the punk's blood on it, was balled and trembling with the want to strike again. Saskia stood behind him, clutching his coat as she peeped around his legs at her aggressor.
"Alright! Alright! I'm sorry!" the punk shouted.
"You think that talking will get you anywhere in the world of beyblading? Think again. You're right, Bryan bashed me up pretty good and I was in the hospital for several weeks. And I am damn proud of my achievements and will do it all over again if I could. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a friend here who needs me."
Ray picked up Saskia and with a final predatory glare he walked away, the crowd around him applauding his friendship to the little girl who still sat sniffling in his arms.
/Subject 191191191 is being carried away from the conflict by male teen identified as Ray Kon./
"Has 191191191 been damaged?" His gray eyes narrowed.
/191191191 sustained no damage of importance./
"Perfect. We cannot afford to have subject and chip damaged."
/Shall we move in now, sir/
"Is 1119 present?"
/No, sir. There is only one male with her./
"Peculiar...Keep your position for the moment. We cannot risk any mistakes at this time. Have your men keep vigilance on 191191191 and all subjects around her. Report back if anything happens, especially if 1119 resurfaces."
/Yes, sir./
The intercom beeped and the connection broke off.
Leaning back in his chair the man steepled his fingers.
'Where are you, 1119? What are you up to?' His eyes narrowed dangerously. 'Do not try to cheat fate. This is your destiny, I see bloodshed in your future.'
Tbc…
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