I didn't want to wake up. It was such a beautiful dream. Kai was hugging
me again; we were in a beautiful field. My head was against Kai's chest,
and he stroked my hair lovingly. I snuggled down deeper. I felt at peace.
I wasn't an assassin anymore. Kai was safe. That was all that mattered.
I opened my eyes and looked up at Kai's smiling face.
"Did you say something?" I asked.
"Wake up."
"What?"
"Wake up, Oliver."
"I am awake."
"Oliver..."
Kai grabbed me by my shoulders and shook me. "Wake up, Oliver!"
Grudgingly, I woke up. Enrique's face was inches away from mine. Trust him to interrupt the most beautiful and restful sleep I've ever had in days. I pushed the Italian away and rubbed my eyes.
"What is it, Enrique?"
"Oliver, it's Kai..."
I jolted awake. Kai? Where was he? He was here a moment ago, before I fell asleep. I looked up at Enrique. I didn't like the look on his face.
"Wha... what's wrong? What happened?"
"Just get yourself cleaned up. We leave in a few minutes."
I jumped out of bed. Just running a brush through my hair before pulling my beret, I ran out of my room. Only Enrique was downstairs.
"Enrique, what happened to Kai?"
"He's been admitted into the hospital. I'm not sure what happened. The others are at the hospital with the Bladebreakers. I thought I should come and pick you up. I know you'd want to see him."
I stopped and looked at Enrique. Even the other two had no idea, only Enrique knew about my crush on Kai. I remember when he found out; he found and read my diary. I could've killed him that day, not literally, but he was cool with it once he got over the shock. For a few days after that, he'd make fun of me in private, pretending to be jealous that I chose Kai instead of him. At least he made me smile occasionally, and he was happy in the knowledge that I won't be competition to the girls in the world.
"Merci, Enrique."
"C'mon."
Soon, I was standing in the hospital. I didn't like it in here. The sterile white walls, the smell of disinfectant, the medical instruments... They made me think of impending death, not life-saving. Taking a deep breath, I walked up to the receptionist.
"Excusez-moi, can you tell me where Kai Hiwatari is? He was admitted in a few minutes ago."
The man typed in the name on the computer. "Mr Hiwatari is currently in surgery. If you like, you can wait in the relatives' room, monsieur."
"Oui... merci."
Surgery!? What happened? I walked slowly. In the room, Johnny, Robert and Rei were already waiting. Enrique already gave the excuse that I shouldn't be in the house on my own when everyone was comforting the All Stars and Bladebreakers at the hospital. We all sat in silence. Rei looked pretty upset. Who would blame him? It was his team captain after all... I couldn't take the suspense anymore.
"So what happened? To Kai, I mean."
"The police made the discovery. They found him near the tournament arena, pretty badly beat up..."
I paled. He was attacked?
Rei continued with what he was told. "The paramedics that brought him in said something about major blood loss... he might have been shot or something..."
I took a deep breath. What happened to my vow? I said I'd protect him, and a few minutes later, he was attacked! I stood up, mumbling I needed some air. I shook my head at Enrique, who looked like he was going to follow. I walked aimlessly around the hospital. I stopped at a lift, planning to go downstairs. I was about to step inside when a couple of doctors behind me walked past.
"Yes. Surgery went well. Kai Hiwatari's been moved to Intensive Care."
"We'll give him some time to rest before we tell the relatives. What's his status?"
"Stable. We think he's in a coma at the moment. Extensive blood loss, a fractured rib, lacerations to the abdomen, arms..."
******
Instead of going into the lift, Oliver decided to turn back and walked quickly to Intensive Care. A nurse by the entrance stopped him.
"Excusez-moi, who are you?"
"Oliver DuBois. I hear one of my friends, Kai Hiwatari, was here?"
The nurse checked her files. She read them before looking up, finding Oliver had disappeared. Oliver walked slowly through the corridors of the ward. Beeping, hissing, crying and mumbling echoed around him. Doctors, nurses and porters left him alone, thinking he was an authorised visitor. His breathing was raspy as he looked through the viewing windows of each room, looking for Kai. He found him near the end.
Kai was barely recognisable. His face was badly bruised and swollen, with a stitch by his eye. His arms were an angry shade of purple, blue and black. Wires led out of various positions on Kai's arms onto a machine which kept up its insistent beep, signalling life in the still body. A gas mask was strapped around his nose and mouth, providing oxygen to the phoenix. A blanket covered his body from the chest down, hiding the rest of the damage from Oliver's eyes.
Tentatively, Oliver opened the door to the room and walked slowly to the boy's side. Kneeling down beside the bed and winding his fingers around the weaker fingers, Oliver let the tears fall.
"I'm so sorry, Kai..."
"Oliver...?"
The unicorn looked up to the door. Max was standing there. He was pale and had very red eyes. His usual happy smile was absent.
"Max. What are you doing here?"
"My mom... she's three doors down. I thought I saw you walk past the room." Max whispered. "What happened to Kai?"
Oliver looked back at the still figure. "He was attacked..."
Max frowned and rubbed his eyes. Opening them again, Max noticed Oliver's hand intertwined in Kai's. He stared for a while. Oliver noticed and nodded. He hadn't the strength to deny anything at the moment. Max nodded and turned away.
"Max." Oliver said.
"Yeah?"
"Don't tell anyone, please? Only Enrique knows..."
" 'k"
When Max left, the nurse from the front entrance came in, an exasperated look on her face.
"Monsieur, you can't be in here at the moment. Mr Hiwatari needs his rest."
Gently, she steered Oliver out of the room and ward. Oliver shrugged the woman's hands off his shoulders and walked out of the hospital. When he got outside, Oliver wiped his eyes dry. Enrique found him.
"Oliver, where were you? The doctor..."
"I saw him, Enrique. He doesn't look too good."
"Oliver..."
The unicorn couldn't stand it. He needed to walk; to get as far away as possible. This wasn't happening. He must still be dreaming! Oliver took off, ignoring Enrique's shouts to wait. Oliver didn't stop until he got home and landed face down on his bed, clutching his pillow. His eyes were wide and scared, sweat collecting on his forehead.
******
My head was thundering. The stress I had bottled up for the past few days exploded inside me like a hydrogen bomb. I never knew I had this much emotion pent up in my core. I shook and shivered; the cold fingers of fear, shock and stress running along my veins, biting into my heart and mind. Blood, death, fear, hurt... they all fought to make their presence known in my mind. Director Judy and Kai... it cannot be coincidence. Somehow, the both of them were connected. They were attacked for whatever reason, maybe by the same person. But who? Why?
"Why...why...why?"
The familiar vibration in my pocket brought me out of my frenzied mantra. I groaned. No... not now... not ever... please...
"Hello?" I said, holding the phone shakily to my ear.
"Shadow. Cypher again. I need to meet you."
"What? Why?"
"A discovery. I think I know where the chip might be. I need to speak to you, though."
"Where?"
"Inside Notre Dame Cathedral. Midnight."
"Okay."
I let the phone drop out of my hand and I buried my face into the bedcovers. Again and again... won't it ever end!? Won't I ever be able to cut myself away from this double life!? I hate being Shadow. I hate having to be named after the darker sides of everyone. I hate to have to hide in them. I hate having to run in them and protect myself in them.
Eventually, I heard the others come home, but Enrique probably knew my mood, so got the others to leave me alone. Ten o'clock rolled round and they went to bed.
After a while, I decided to drag myself from my bed and got changed. Whatever Cypher had to say may be important. After I got dressed, I just sat on my bed, watching my clock. 22 23... 22 24... 22 25...
I stood up. I couldn't just sit here; otherwise I'd go mad again. Quietly, I wandered down the corridor, just listening to the snores of the other guys. Then I stopped at one of the guest rooms. Kai's room. I walked inside. I just needed to be in a room that held his presence. I sat on his bed and looked around. He was very tidy. A lot of his things were packed away. I looked on the table. The files were there. I picked up the documents and opened the file. The first page was in English. Kai was true to his word. There were five pages worth of translated work. I quickly read through the files; all dated.
~~ The known heads of the operation known as Biovolt, Boris Balkov and Voltaire Hiwatari, had been charged with plotting world domination by using beybladers and bitbeasts as part of their plan. However, there had been inconclusive evidence in the initial investigation, so some charges were dropped and Hiwatari was given seventy (70) hours of community service. Balkov, however, had escaped police custody. ~~
The rest of the files described the search and the projects the two were working on. The Demolition Boys and Kai kept creeping up, but the last page caught my attention. It was dated later than the others.
~~ Later on in our private investigation, we had concluded that there was another associate working with Balkov and Hiwatari, or at least a mole in the BBA offices, as much evidence had gone missing. This backs up the sightings of a woman at the beginning of the Balkov Investigation, who was seen speaking extensively with Balkov and Hiwatari at several occasions, although her identity was unknown. This woman may have some connections in the BBA and may be behind the disappearing evidence and maybe some strange deaths of BBA officials.~~
I looked through the rest of the files, even though they were in Japanese. There was a fuzzy picture clipped to the last page. It was of Boris Balkov, but the other person next to him was too close to the edge and undefined. I shook my head and packed the documents away. I checked my watch. Quarter past eleven. I stood up and placed the files in the drawer of the table. I went back to my room and climbed out my window.
Time to meet with Cypher.
******
Oliver walked into the Cathedral. It was five past midnight; Oliver knew he was a little late, but it couldn't be helped. It was hard to move in the shadows if there were policemen walking around, looking for a serial killer. Oliver took a deep breath and shook a little, looking up at the crucifix on the wall at the end of the aisle. He made a cross on his body before the statue of the Virgin Mary and bowed his head.
"Me pardonner mes péchés." he prayed.
"A bit late for that, isn't it, Shadow?"
Oliver looked up and around. He couldn't see anyone in the Cathedral.
"Where are you?"
"Over here."
Oliver followed the direction of the voice and found a stairwell. A shadow of a person moved further up. Oliver followed and soon found a crowd of bells in front of him. The bell tower. Oliver's eyes adjusted to the darkness. A familiar figure sat some way away, looking down at the city, wearing a similar uniform to his own, but Oliver knew that Cypher's colours were inverted, didn't wear the visor or claw gloves, and his belt pack hung loosely around his waist.
"You're late, Shadow."
"Got withheld. The recent attacks have the police on their toes."
Cypher nodded and stood up. He was taller than Oliver and a crossbow was slung over his shoulder.
"Yeah. The attacks..."
"You said you knew where the chip was. Well?"
"I think it may be right under your nose, without you even knowing it. You know the beyblades the PBA gave to the Bladebreakers, compliments of the late Douglas Smith?"
Oliver nodded slowly. Cypher continued.
"I think they hid the chip in one of the new beyblades. I checked one out; he didn't have it."
Oliver frowned, then stiffened. Cypher checked one out... the attack on the All Stars, then Kai... Kai had a new beyblade...
"You were the one who attacked the All Stars, then Kai, weren't you", Oliver said, shakily.
"Yeah. I thought I'd check it out when I arrived. I had no idea the boss had phoned you to find it. Saved you the job, though." Cypher replied flippantly.
"And Kai...?"
Cypher adjusted the crossbow strap. "He struggled. He must of figured something out, when I wanted his beyblade. It kinda got rough, and we fought..."
Oliver shook his head. "But you two... you two were friends, or something once! You grew up with him from the age of eight!"
Cypher shook his head. "You know what we were told, Shadow. We can't get close to anyone. Complications arise."
Oliver shook. "But..."
Cypher's face faltered, registering the many implications Oliver's 'but' had..."Shadow... you didn't...?"
"You knew anyway... you knew! How could you, Tala..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, that's another long awaited chapter done. I'm sorry for one or two of you who think Oliver's revelation and Kai's acceptance were too quick, but I needed to move the story along, and the revelation and acceptance had to be like that. Anyway, no-one guessed who Cypher is. I was kinda mean, wasn't I; not to leave any clues. Oh well, how about some Max plushies to cheer everyone up?
"Did you say something?" I asked.
"Wake up."
"What?"
"Wake up, Oliver."
"I am awake."
"Oliver..."
Kai grabbed me by my shoulders and shook me. "Wake up, Oliver!"
Grudgingly, I woke up. Enrique's face was inches away from mine. Trust him to interrupt the most beautiful and restful sleep I've ever had in days. I pushed the Italian away and rubbed my eyes.
"What is it, Enrique?"
"Oliver, it's Kai..."
I jolted awake. Kai? Where was he? He was here a moment ago, before I fell asleep. I looked up at Enrique. I didn't like the look on his face.
"Wha... what's wrong? What happened?"
"Just get yourself cleaned up. We leave in a few minutes."
I jumped out of bed. Just running a brush through my hair before pulling my beret, I ran out of my room. Only Enrique was downstairs.
"Enrique, what happened to Kai?"
"He's been admitted into the hospital. I'm not sure what happened. The others are at the hospital with the Bladebreakers. I thought I should come and pick you up. I know you'd want to see him."
I stopped and looked at Enrique. Even the other two had no idea, only Enrique knew about my crush on Kai. I remember when he found out; he found and read my diary. I could've killed him that day, not literally, but he was cool with it once he got over the shock. For a few days after that, he'd make fun of me in private, pretending to be jealous that I chose Kai instead of him. At least he made me smile occasionally, and he was happy in the knowledge that I won't be competition to the girls in the world.
"Merci, Enrique."
"C'mon."
Soon, I was standing in the hospital. I didn't like it in here. The sterile white walls, the smell of disinfectant, the medical instruments... They made me think of impending death, not life-saving. Taking a deep breath, I walked up to the receptionist.
"Excusez-moi, can you tell me where Kai Hiwatari is? He was admitted in a few minutes ago."
The man typed in the name on the computer. "Mr Hiwatari is currently in surgery. If you like, you can wait in the relatives' room, monsieur."
"Oui... merci."
Surgery!? What happened? I walked slowly. In the room, Johnny, Robert and Rei were already waiting. Enrique already gave the excuse that I shouldn't be in the house on my own when everyone was comforting the All Stars and Bladebreakers at the hospital. We all sat in silence. Rei looked pretty upset. Who would blame him? It was his team captain after all... I couldn't take the suspense anymore.
"So what happened? To Kai, I mean."
"The police made the discovery. They found him near the tournament arena, pretty badly beat up..."
I paled. He was attacked?
Rei continued with what he was told. "The paramedics that brought him in said something about major blood loss... he might have been shot or something..."
I took a deep breath. What happened to my vow? I said I'd protect him, and a few minutes later, he was attacked! I stood up, mumbling I needed some air. I shook my head at Enrique, who looked like he was going to follow. I walked aimlessly around the hospital. I stopped at a lift, planning to go downstairs. I was about to step inside when a couple of doctors behind me walked past.
"Yes. Surgery went well. Kai Hiwatari's been moved to Intensive Care."
"We'll give him some time to rest before we tell the relatives. What's his status?"
"Stable. We think he's in a coma at the moment. Extensive blood loss, a fractured rib, lacerations to the abdomen, arms..."
******
Instead of going into the lift, Oliver decided to turn back and walked quickly to Intensive Care. A nurse by the entrance stopped him.
"Excusez-moi, who are you?"
"Oliver DuBois. I hear one of my friends, Kai Hiwatari, was here?"
The nurse checked her files. She read them before looking up, finding Oliver had disappeared. Oliver walked slowly through the corridors of the ward. Beeping, hissing, crying and mumbling echoed around him. Doctors, nurses and porters left him alone, thinking he was an authorised visitor. His breathing was raspy as he looked through the viewing windows of each room, looking for Kai. He found him near the end.
Kai was barely recognisable. His face was badly bruised and swollen, with a stitch by his eye. His arms were an angry shade of purple, blue and black. Wires led out of various positions on Kai's arms onto a machine which kept up its insistent beep, signalling life in the still body. A gas mask was strapped around his nose and mouth, providing oxygen to the phoenix. A blanket covered his body from the chest down, hiding the rest of the damage from Oliver's eyes.
Tentatively, Oliver opened the door to the room and walked slowly to the boy's side. Kneeling down beside the bed and winding his fingers around the weaker fingers, Oliver let the tears fall.
"I'm so sorry, Kai..."
"Oliver...?"
The unicorn looked up to the door. Max was standing there. He was pale and had very red eyes. His usual happy smile was absent.
"Max. What are you doing here?"
"My mom... she's three doors down. I thought I saw you walk past the room." Max whispered. "What happened to Kai?"
Oliver looked back at the still figure. "He was attacked..."
Max frowned and rubbed his eyes. Opening them again, Max noticed Oliver's hand intertwined in Kai's. He stared for a while. Oliver noticed and nodded. He hadn't the strength to deny anything at the moment. Max nodded and turned away.
"Max." Oliver said.
"Yeah?"
"Don't tell anyone, please? Only Enrique knows..."
" 'k"
When Max left, the nurse from the front entrance came in, an exasperated look on her face.
"Monsieur, you can't be in here at the moment. Mr Hiwatari needs his rest."
Gently, she steered Oliver out of the room and ward. Oliver shrugged the woman's hands off his shoulders and walked out of the hospital. When he got outside, Oliver wiped his eyes dry. Enrique found him.
"Oliver, where were you? The doctor..."
"I saw him, Enrique. He doesn't look too good."
"Oliver..."
The unicorn couldn't stand it. He needed to walk; to get as far away as possible. This wasn't happening. He must still be dreaming! Oliver took off, ignoring Enrique's shouts to wait. Oliver didn't stop until he got home and landed face down on his bed, clutching his pillow. His eyes were wide and scared, sweat collecting on his forehead.
******
My head was thundering. The stress I had bottled up for the past few days exploded inside me like a hydrogen bomb. I never knew I had this much emotion pent up in my core. I shook and shivered; the cold fingers of fear, shock and stress running along my veins, biting into my heart and mind. Blood, death, fear, hurt... they all fought to make their presence known in my mind. Director Judy and Kai... it cannot be coincidence. Somehow, the both of them were connected. They were attacked for whatever reason, maybe by the same person. But who? Why?
"Why...why...why?"
The familiar vibration in my pocket brought me out of my frenzied mantra. I groaned. No... not now... not ever... please...
"Hello?" I said, holding the phone shakily to my ear.
"Shadow. Cypher again. I need to meet you."
"What? Why?"
"A discovery. I think I know where the chip might be. I need to speak to you, though."
"Where?"
"Inside Notre Dame Cathedral. Midnight."
"Okay."
I let the phone drop out of my hand and I buried my face into the bedcovers. Again and again... won't it ever end!? Won't I ever be able to cut myself away from this double life!? I hate being Shadow. I hate having to be named after the darker sides of everyone. I hate to have to hide in them. I hate having to run in them and protect myself in them.
Eventually, I heard the others come home, but Enrique probably knew my mood, so got the others to leave me alone. Ten o'clock rolled round and they went to bed.
After a while, I decided to drag myself from my bed and got changed. Whatever Cypher had to say may be important. After I got dressed, I just sat on my bed, watching my clock. 22 23... 22 24... 22 25...
I stood up. I couldn't just sit here; otherwise I'd go mad again. Quietly, I wandered down the corridor, just listening to the snores of the other guys. Then I stopped at one of the guest rooms. Kai's room. I walked inside. I just needed to be in a room that held his presence. I sat on his bed and looked around. He was very tidy. A lot of his things were packed away. I looked on the table. The files were there. I picked up the documents and opened the file. The first page was in English. Kai was true to his word. There were five pages worth of translated work. I quickly read through the files; all dated.
~~ The known heads of the operation known as Biovolt, Boris Balkov and Voltaire Hiwatari, had been charged with plotting world domination by using beybladers and bitbeasts as part of their plan. However, there had been inconclusive evidence in the initial investigation, so some charges were dropped and Hiwatari was given seventy (70) hours of community service. Balkov, however, had escaped police custody. ~~
The rest of the files described the search and the projects the two were working on. The Demolition Boys and Kai kept creeping up, but the last page caught my attention. It was dated later than the others.
~~ Later on in our private investigation, we had concluded that there was another associate working with Balkov and Hiwatari, or at least a mole in the BBA offices, as much evidence had gone missing. This backs up the sightings of a woman at the beginning of the Balkov Investigation, who was seen speaking extensively with Balkov and Hiwatari at several occasions, although her identity was unknown. This woman may have some connections in the BBA and may be behind the disappearing evidence and maybe some strange deaths of BBA officials.~~
I looked through the rest of the files, even though they were in Japanese. There was a fuzzy picture clipped to the last page. It was of Boris Balkov, but the other person next to him was too close to the edge and undefined. I shook my head and packed the documents away. I checked my watch. Quarter past eleven. I stood up and placed the files in the drawer of the table. I went back to my room and climbed out my window.
Time to meet with Cypher.
******
Oliver walked into the Cathedral. It was five past midnight; Oliver knew he was a little late, but it couldn't be helped. It was hard to move in the shadows if there were policemen walking around, looking for a serial killer. Oliver took a deep breath and shook a little, looking up at the crucifix on the wall at the end of the aisle. He made a cross on his body before the statue of the Virgin Mary and bowed his head.
"Me pardonner mes péchés." he prayed.
"A bit late for that, isn't it, Shadow?"
Oliver looked up and around. He couldn't see anyone in the Cathedral.
"Where are you?"
"Over here."
Oliver followed the direction of the voice and found a stairwell. A shadow of a person moved further up. Oliver followed and soon found a crowd of bells in front of him. The bell tower. Oliver's eyes adjusted to the darkness. A familiar figure sat some way away, looking down at the city, wearing a similar uniform to his own, but Oliver knew that Cypher's colours were inverted, didn't wear the visor or claw gloves, and his belt pack hung loosely around his waist.
"You're late, Shadow."
"Got withheld. The recent attacks have the police on their toes."
Cypher nodded and stood up. He was taller than Oliver and a crossbow was slung over his shoulder.
"Yeah. The attacks..."
"You said you knew where the chip was. Well?"
"I think it may be right under your nose, without you even knowing it. You know the beyblades the PBA gave to the Bladebreakers, compliments of the late Douglas Smith?"
Oliver nodded slowly. Cypher continued.
"I think they hid the chip in one of the new beyblades. I checked one out; he didn't have it."
Oliver frowned, then stiffened. Cypher checked one out... the attack on the All Stars, then Kai... Kai had a new beyblade...
"You were the one who attacked the All Stars, then Kai, weren't you", Oliver said, shakily.
"Yeah. I thought I'd check it out when I arrived. I had no idea the boss had phoned you to find it. Saved you the job, though." Cypher replied flippantly.
"And Kai...?"
Cypher adjusted the crossbow strap. "He struggled. He must of figured something out, when I wanted his beyblade. It kinda got rough, and we fought..."
Oliver shook his head. "But you two... you two were friends, or something once! You grew up with him from the age of eight!"
Cypher shook his head. "You know what we were told, Shadow. We can't get close to anyone. Complications arise."
Oliver shook. "But..."
Cypher's face faltered, registering the many implications Oliver's 'but' had..."Shadow... you didn't...?"
"You knew anyway... you knew! How could you, Tala..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, that's another long awaited chapter done. I'm sorry for one or two of you who think Oliver's revelation and Kai's acceptance were too quick, but I needed to move the story along, and the revelation and acceptance had to be like that. Anyway, no-one guessed who Cypher is. I was kinda mean, wasn't I; not to leave any clues. Oh well, how about some Max plushies to cheer everyone up?