AN: Ha is coming to a close! However, it seems to keep extending itself… this is actually the third to last chapter.. I have the next one done and I'm almost done the last chapter wahaha!
Sorry about the long update time.. I just got my internet back after a month O.O I have another chapter for Never..which will be up tomorrow I think =)
Liika stood outside the large white house, chewing her lip in apprehensively. After spending an awkward day with Tala and Kai, Liika found herself wandering around the small town of Bakuten, thinking about her sudden realization. She didn't know why exactly she just wandered instead of going home to sleep, but she did. And after wandering for a good three hours after leaving the hospital she found herself in front of Robert's large home just as the sun was setting.
It was amusing to see all the stares she got because of her attire.
However, because it was getting dark, the temperature was dropping rapidly and Liika's tiny pajama shorts just weren't going to cut it, nor was her flimsy blading jacket. Shivering, she took a calming breath in and started up the walk way. It was now or never. Robert had deserved an apology for a long time.
She reached the door at the top of the porch steps far too quickly for her liking. Even after wandering aimlessly for hours, she had no idea what she was going to say to him. Sighing she reached up and knocked on the door, furrowing her brow anxiously. She wasn't even sure if Robert would talk to her…
The door opened quickly and the chubby little face of Robert's 9 year old sister appeared, her wide crimson eyes blinking rapidly. When she caught sight of who was standing outside the Jagen's front door, the child yipped happily and launched herself at Liika, who caught the flying child gracefully.
"Liika!" The child exclaimed, grinning up at the exhausted girl. "It's been so long! You never come around anymore!" At this she pouted. "Robert said you didn't like him anymore."
Liika smiled sadly, patting the little girl's head. "Yeah, well, I think I hurt your big bro pretty bad Melly."
"But why would you want to hurt Robby?"
"It wasn't intentional." Liika sighed. "Is he home? I really need to talk to him."
The child nodded, her blond hair bobbing up and down. "Yeah, he's in his room studying…Did you know he's going to New York next week??"
"Yup, our whole team is going, wish us luck hm?" Liika said as she passed the little girl and headed up the stairs.
"Good luck Liika!"
Liika reached Robert's door, which was situated at the very end of the hall. His room was in the attic, which meant another flight of stairs for her exhausted body to climb –if he even let her in. Lifting her hand, she knocked solidly on the oak door, hoping that he would be able to hear the thuds over the music she could hear faintly from her position on the second floor.
Faintly she heard a "Come in" called from the room above and hesitantly opened the door, closing it behind her as she dragged herself up the steep steps. Just before she reached the top she paused, the guilt overwhelming her. God, how could she do that to such a sweet man…
"Hello?" Robert called when she didn't appear immediately at the top of the steps.
"Um… hello." Liika replied, finally taking the last few steps that would bring her into the room. Her head was hung and tears swam in her eyes.
Robert was on his feet in seconds, a frown on his face. "Liika?" He demanded incredulously. She was the last person he expected to enter his room! Or even talk to him for that matter. She hadn't said more than three words to him since the State tournament, yet here she was, standing awkwardly in his bedroom. His eyes ran down her figure. She hadn't been in school that day, he knew as much, and he wondered just where she had been. There were rumors flying around school of course, but he didn't know which were true. "Are you ok? You look like shit." He stated after a few moments of silence.
Truly she did. Her short, baby blue pajama shorts were wrinkled and faded, as was the baggy black shirt she wore underneath her white Bakuten B Phoenixes jacket. Her eyes were dull and there were large purple bags underneath them, and it looked as if she might have been crying. She was pale and her hair was limp and messy.
When she looked up, Robert saw that she looked like she was about to cry. He was at her side in seconds, placing a hand on her shoulder and gently guiding her over to his bed, motioning for her to take a seat while he sat in his desk chair. Inside he was confused as hell. Why would she suddenly show up in his house, looking like shit and on the verge of tears? Where had she been all day? Just as he opened his mouth to ask these questions, however, Liika spoke, her voice desolate and full of guilt.
"I-I'm so sorry Robert!"
Robert blinked rapidly, clearly taken back by the outburst. His mouth open and closed a few times before settling into a thin line of consternation. "For what?" Sure their relationship hadn't ended on the best of terms, but most of that he attributed to himself. If only his timing had been better…
Two words were all that was needed to break the dam and let loose the torrent of tears that had been threatening behind her eyes since she made the discovery all those hours ago. Liika scrubbed furiously at her eyes, trying in vain to wipe away the tears that now flowed freely down her pale cheeks. Even though it was her that hurt him, he still asked why she was apologizing! Now she really felt bad.
Her voice left her, so she was forced to cradle her face in her hands and just sob. She hadn't cried in a very long time, well not since the first round with Robert back in February. She had cried more in the last four months than she had in the last four years.
Robert felt his heart crumble at the pathetic sight she made, and while he was immensely confused, he couldn't find it in himself to demand the answers he wanted. Instead, he stood from his swivel chair and sat down beside her, pulling her quaking form into his arms. He let her cry until her sobs turned into quiet sniffles.
"You-you were right." Her cracking voice shattered the silence about ten minutes later.
Robert raised a purple eyebrow. "Hmm? About what?" He replied quietly, continuing to rock her back and forth subtly.
"Everything." Liika sniffled, closing her eyes. "Hiwatari…me…just everything. I was so cruel to you…yet you still tried. I'm sorry Robert, I never meant to hurt you…I never meant to fall for him..." She trailed off, her shoulders shaking once more.
Robert's eyes drifted close. So that's what this was about. She must have finally figured out what the whole world already knew. It was strange, he always thought that when the time came, and she realized that she was in fact in love with the A captain, that it would hurt more. But all he felt now was a sort of numb satisfaction. All he wanted was her happiness. Sure letting her go in the first place had wounded him beyond imagining, but he had had four months to repair his heart. Part of him would always love the girl that was the first to capture his affection, yet he knew from the moment he took her in his arms once more, that she could and would be nothing more than his surrogate sister. And strangest of all, that didn't bother him. He was even…happy about it.
His lips tilted up in the corners as he angled his head down to hover over the top of hers. "Liika…" He sighed, hugging her reassuringly. "I don't blame you for what happened between us. No one chooses who they love…I think it's just something that happens. In Hiwatari you see someone very similar to yourself, yet at the same time, someone completely opposite. Because of this you wouldn't let yourself even consider the possibility that you might like him. You were so busy competing with him, and convincing yourself that you hated him, that you masked the truth. Hiwatari is just as guilty of that as you. As for what happened at the State Tournament, that was my fault. My timing was horrible, and I knew that, but I was angry and hurt. I couldn't stand the thought that my girlfriend was in love with someone else, even if she wouldn't realize it."
"I'm so sorry…"
"So am I."
Silence lapsed over them again as both amerced themselves in their thoughts. The minutes ticked by, but neither cared. Just so long as the strained tension that had been so apparent between them for the last few months no longer existed.
"What do you say we forgive and forget hm? I would very much like to have you as my friend, as well as my captain." Robert asked, pushing Liika back a bit so that he could look down at her.
Liika's eyes opened and she stared up into Robert's kind eyes. A smile formed on her lips. "That, my vice-captain, is a great idea! I think I've had enough sadness for one day!" She exclaimed, pulling away and crawling fully up onto his bed. Flopping down she lay her head on one of his pillows and stretched her short legs down the bed with a large yawn.
Robert smirked, shaking his head. Reaching over to his desk he plucked a couple of tissues out of the box and handed them to the blue haired girl. "I was meaning to ask. Where were you today? You and Hiwatari had most of the junior grade creating scandalous rumors about you."
Liika took the tissues and wiped her eyes and blew her nose, tossing them into the trash beside the bed afterwards. She yawned again. "I was at the hospital with Kai…his father beat his mother almost to death last night. Kai called me around midnight."
"That would be why you are still in your pajamas?"
"Yup."
The smirk on Robert's face grew then, a devious gleam forming in his crimson eyes. "I just have one question." He said, barely masking the amusement in his voice.
"Shoot."
"Kai?"
Liika's face blossomed a cherry red color and she shot to a sitting position, glaring fiercely at him. Snatching up a pillow she brought it down over his head rapidly.
Robert laughed, bringing his arm up to ward off the feathery weapon. "I was just curious!"
"Curious my ass! You just want to tease me!"
He shot her a grin as he stole the pillow away. "Hm, how true."
Both collapsed onto the bed, side by side, laughing until their sides hurt. For the first time in months both could say they were truly happy. They had their friendship back, and were even closer than before they went out.
Liika yawned, turning on her side and curling herself into a little ball. "I'm so tired…" She trailed off, closing her eyes.
Robert knew the instant her pale lids shut that she was asleep. Amusement danced in his eyes as he reached over and grabbed the thin blanket at the end of his bed and draped it over her, before returning to his desk to study.
He should give Mr. Tomoda a call and inform him that Liika was probably not going to be home that night.
Kai paced his hotel room anxiously, not quite sure what to do with himself. His butler had insisted that he stay in a hotel for a few days until his father could be found and charges laid. He would be safer that way. Unfortunately, that left Kai with nothing to do but pace.
Pace and think about her.
The snipey blue haired wench that had captured his attention and his heart. After she had left the hospital, or rather after Tala had practically ordered her home to bed, an aching desolate feeling washed over him. He felt completely alone, even when his best friend was right there beside him. He had the intense need to see her…or at least talk to her. To know she made it home all right. This made him angry at both himself and her. How dare she make him so completely dependant on her! Like her opinion mattered!
Hell who was he fooling? It did.
In some stupid, inconsequential way, her opinion meant everything and it pissed him off. Did she feel the same? Did his opinion hold any sway over her? Doubtful.
Groaning, Kai stalked to the phone and jerked it out of it s hanger. He couldn't take it anymore! Just a few seconds, that's all it would take. Just to make sure she got home ok.
The phone rang and rang until finally someone picked up.
"Hello?"
Kai's eyebrow twitched. Damn. Tyson. "Is To-Liika there?"
"Nope, can I take a message?"
"No. That's fine. You wouldn't happen to know where she is would you?"
There was a pause. "Uh, yeah actually. I think she's staying at Robert's tonight."
The offhanded comment floored him. Staying at Jagen's?? What the hell?? Kai could feel his blood begin to boil and white-hot jealousy seared through him. With out another word he hung up the phone and stormed out of the hotel room. He needed to do something that would calm him down, because at that moment he felt like destroying everything in sight.
Tyson stared at the receiver in confusion. Whoever had been calling just hung up on him. But that wasn't the strange part. The strange part was far more odd and confusing that that.
He could have sworn it had been Hiwatari on the line.
Liika peeked around a corner and down the hall that the nurse at the reception office had said Kai's mother was. For some strange reason the thought of seeing Kai alone again frightened her. What would she do? What would she say? Then there was the whole fact that he had been avoiding her since last Friday, the day after she had spent all day with him at the hospital. It was now Thursday morning, May 1st and she was supposed to be at Robert's house in an hour to catch a ride to the airport in Denver. The National Tournament started tomorrow.
It irked her that he was avoiding her. Hell, it was supposed to be her avoiding him! After all, it was her that just came to the life-altering conclusion about him, not the other way around! She didn't really have a clue about he felt towards her. One minute he was insulting and harassing her, the next minute he was relying on and kissing her. Therefore he wasn't allowed to be the one avoiding her. Now if that wasn't some messed up logic.
Seeing the coast was clear, Liika rounded the corner and paced down the hall, looking at each door trying to find the one that occupied Katherine Hiwatari. She found it quickly enough, and placed her ear gently against the wooden surface. Not hearing anything she decided it was safe enough to knock and did so, waiting for the reply. Excitement as well as nervousness built in her as she reached to the small pendant around her neck that had become her good luck, and comfort charm since she had received it at Christmas. She never did give it back, both because she didn't know how and because she loved it too much.
A muffled "Come in" sounded through the door and Liika opened it slowly, poking her head in the room to make sure the woman was alone. When she found she was, Liika stepped fully into the cheerful hospital room and shut the door firmly behind her.
Kate's face brightened into a full-blown smile as she caught who it was that was visiting her this early. It was, after all, only 8 am. However, she knew that her son would be by shortly and that the two of them were leading their teams to the National Tournament in New York. "Liika!" Kate exclaimed, urging the girl over so that she could hug her.
Liika tread to the bedside and accepted the hug, hugging back gently so that she didn't hurt the woman. She had just come out of the ICU three days before, and still looked horrible. Her face was still a mass of bruises, and one of her arms was casted and in a sling. Liika could see bandages extending her chest and abdomen through her blue hospital gown. The sight of her made Liika frown. She couldn't believe they hadn't found the bastard yet… "Good morning Mrs. Hiwatari! You look like your feeling better." Liika said cheerfully, plunking down in the chair beside the bed. It smelled slightly of Kai, which made her wonder just how long he had been in with his mother, and when he had left.
"Oh don't call me that! It's much too formal, please call me Kate –if you wont call me mom." Kate said with a wink. She reached out her good arm, motioning Liika closer so that she could take the girl's hand.
Liika obliged by shuffling the chair closer and placing her hand in Kate's larger one. She smiled, a little uncomfortable. "Alright, Kate it is. You're looking better…" She said, trying to change the subject.
"I'm feeling a bit better too! Much better than when I was in the ICU." Kate replied, squeezing Liika's hand a bit. "But enough about me, you know why I'm in here and I'm sure my son keeps you updated with how I'm doing. How have you been? Kai talks about you a lot…but never the little personal things. How are your grades this semester? I understand you did very well on your finals in January."
The blue haired girl frowned minutely. Kai didn't keep her updated, that was part of the reason she was here. He didn't even talk to her, or look at her…or even be in the same vicinity as her. Her heart ached. Stupid Kai. Shaking herself mentally, she snorted. Now was not the time to think about Kai! Even if he did talk about her to his mother… "I've been pretty good, busy, but good. Nationals start tomorrow, so we've been training for that. My grades this semester are good…my lowest is in Drama, but that's because Mr. Amery hates me." She grinned ruefully before continuing. "And yes I did very well on my finals. Even beat Kai in AP History." Her grin grew and her chest puffed out with pride. It was the only course she beat Kai in, and she sure as hell was going to gloat about it!
Kate laughed, pride dancing in her silver eyes. "I'm so glad! Sometimes my dear son gets a bit big headed when it comes to school grades –he was the top of his class at his last school too. I'm glad he's met his match in you. Actually I'm glad he met you period, you've done wonders for him."
Liika blinked, a blush flushing her cheeks. The woman was practically giving her a stamp of approval to date her son! Hell, she was talking as if she already was. But what had she really done for Kai? Argue with him? Punch him? Make his life hell? That was pretty much it. She hadn't done anything to help him…well except be there for him when he needed her. And how did he repay her?? Avoidance. Her eyes narrowed fractionally. Stupid Kai, always making my heart hurt. She didn't want to cry in front of Kate. "I ha-haven't done much. Fight and argue with him maybe…" She replied finally, after looking embarrassed for a few moments.
The older woman tsked and squeezed Liika's hand again. "Nonsense. You may not see it, but Kai has come a long way since going to Bakuten. He has changed, and most of that I attribute to you. Kai works best when he has a competitor you see." Kate said primly, her eyes moving down Liika, until they landed on the necklace that hung around her neck, then they lit up like Christmas lights. "So that's where it went." She stated smugly, her smile turning more into a smirk.
"Huh?" Liika asked, glancing down at her chest curiously.
"You're necklace. It was my Great Great Grandmother's, it's a family heirloom. I don't have any girls of my own, so I gave it to Kai to give to the very special girl that caught his eye." Kate grinned like the Cheshire Cat. "And he gave it to you."
Liika was stunned. Her mouth dried instantly and a sort of numb shock settled over her limbs.
He gave her his mother's heirloom.
The necklace wasn't just some overly expensive piece he had bought from some jewelry store in Denver, but an actual family heirloom.
It was priceless.
Her breath caught in her throat and she suddenly found it hard to breathe. What could it mean? Why would he give her something so important?
Something so special.
Tears rose in her turquoise eyes. He frustrated her to no end! He jerked her emotions around like a child did a toy, and thought nothing of it! How could he be so cruel, so heartless?
How could he be so sweet?
She sighed, her heart swelling with even more love for him. Damn him. He just had to be him didn't he? She loved every thing about him, and it broke her heart. She didn't have a clue how he felt, and even worse, she had suspicions that he didn't feel. Towards her anyway.
"Liika-" Kate started, seeing the distraughtness of the girl beside her, but she was interrupted when the door opened and Kai strode in, a heavy duffle bag over one shoulder.
He paused in the threshold, his eyes narrowing into slits as he caught sight of Liika's blue head in the chair beside his mother. Part of him drank in the sight of her –a sight that he had been denying himself for the past week-, but part of him swelled in anger and jealousy, unable to forget the fact that she spent the last Thursday night at her ex-boyfriends house. "What are you doing here?" He spat, finally deciding that she would know his displeasure. It hurt him to talk to her like that.
Liika jumped to her feet and spun around, hastily wiping tears from her glassy eyes. "What does it look like you dolt, I'm visiting you're mother! In case you haven't noticed." She shot back, her voice holding more hurt than anger. "But I can see my presence isn't wanted here so I'll leave." Turning once more she bent down and gave Kate a hug, kissing her on the cheek and smiling. "Get better soon ok? I'll come visit when we come back from Nationals, champions." She winked before picking up her back and striding towards the door.
"Liika wait!" Kate finally managed to get out, still in a daze from the pace of the events that had just taken place. She was going to have to have a talk with her son about his attitude towards the girl he obviously loved. "I'm really glad you came, and please do come back and visit –champion or no."
Liika threw a smile over her shoulder and pushed past Kai, wincing as her chest brushed his arm and electric current ran through her. God, he could make her feel like gold with no more than a touch.
As soon as Liika had left the room, Kai sighed wearily and shut the door, taking Liika's abandoned chair. He felt really guilty.
"Kai Daemon Hiwatari, I am ashamed of you!" Kate scolded instantly, frowning at her only son.
Kai sighed again, hanging his head. "So am I."
"The way you treated her was totally uncalled for! You broke that poor girl's heart!" She continued, ignoring his answer.
"You don't understand." Kai muttered, rubbing his hand over his face. Broke her heart? Yeah right. She doesn't care like that…He ignored the obvious hurt in her eyes and voice.
"Try me."
He looked up then, into his mother's understanding silver eyes. He almost broke down. His shoulders slumped, causing the material of his Beyblading jacket to wrinkle. "I called her last week…after she came to the hospital and stayed with me…I was going to tell her…but do you know where she was?? At Jagen's! She was staying the night there." Kai explained, sounding angry. "She spends the night with me, then goes and spends the night with him! How could she do that to me?"
Kate was silent for a few moments, mulling over her son's quandary. She could see how he could be jealous and angry. However, he obviously wasn't looking at things from Liika's point of view either. "Kai, did you ever let her explain herself?"
"No." He answered sullenly.
"Mm. She probably doesn't even know that you called. You said I don't understand, but you're wrong. I understand a great many things. Among which, is Robert Jagen's relationship with Liika." Kate said.
Kai snorted. "They were together."
"I know that Kai. But the key word is went. It was my understanding that they are no longer a couple."
"It was my understanding too."
Kate sighed. "Kai, before you condemn someone you must first be sure of the crime. Besides, even if she did have some sort of affair with Robert that night, it is her right. Kai, you have no claim over her…yet. My advice would be to confront one of them. Ask what went on, before treating poor Liika like dirt and hurting her further."
Kai clenched his teeth, knowing his mother was right. Perhaps he would have to have a talk with Jagen. He couldn't right face Liika until he knew one way or the other what went on. "Fine. You're right. I'll talk to one of them."
"Good!" Kate chirped, smiling at her handsome son. "Now, you can inform me as to when it was that you gave Liika Grandma Elenor's necklace, and why you didn't tell her its significance."
Kai paled. Damn.