Anime: Gomen-ne! Sorry!!! Stoopid internet at home is on the blink. But.
it did give me ample time to get ahead on all my fics, so mass updates all
round!
Anya: Finally...
Anime: Not like you helped much.
Anya: How can I? You stuck me in some stupid tube!
Anime: Feh, stuff happens. Well, onwards with the update!
===========================================================
Kai paced the room at their hotel, his mind whirling but calm at the same time. He played with a small object in his hand as he walked.
So... Boris is really back... And he has Anya for some sort of experiment. But how did she get involved with it in the first place? And why can't I shake off this feeling? Like it's all so familiar?
Kai stopped before he walked straight into the wall and turned to wall across the room the other way, never breaking his line of thought, never releasing the little trinket.
And what does Boris want with all those teams? He isn't planning to enter the World Tournament and try to take over the world that way again, is he? That's stupid. Every police officer, Interpol agent and FBI agent, as well as BBA operative, in the whole of America will rain down on him if that happened... What is he up to? And why is Kenny taking so long!?
Kai stopped short at the sound of the said boy's voice in the other room. It sounded victorious, but surprised at the same time.
"Guys! Kai! I managed to open the files!"
"What's with this 'I' business, Chief!? I was the one who broke through the encryption codes."
"Sorry Dizzi. You did a lot of great work."
"That's better."
Kai walked towards the door, placing the trinket he was playing with in his hand on the pillow of the bed. He shut the connecting door behind him, Anya's white rose necklace shining, lonely on her pillow.
******
"What have you found, Chief?"
"Well, this is a full report on the experiment..." Kenny said, bringing up the file.
"Long winded, if you ask me." Dizzi commented. "Who wants to read three hundred and fifty three and a half pages worth of some mind alteration and control experiment?"
"Mind Alteration?" Kai questioned.
"Yep. Says here it's been going on for around ten years, but six years ago, they had to put the experiment on hold."
"Why?"
"Hang on. Takes time for all this to be processed.... Ah, here we go! The prime subject for experimentation and data holder for the whole thing... disappeared?"
"Disappeared?"
"Says here she disappeared. She!?"
"She!?" The Bladebreakers said at the same time.
Dizzi ran through the files again, then stopped. "Erm... guys..."
"What is it Dizzi?" Kenny asked.
"You may want to sit down..."
******
"What did you find, Diz?"
"Well, I found a profile and full report on the kid who was supposed to be the first experiment and data holder. Code Named AB: Mindset. Full name; Anya Orlenda Balkov. There's a picture and everything." Dizzi said, showing them.
"What!?" Kai said, sitting up suddenly.
"Balkov? That can't be our Anya, can it?" Ray asked.
"Sure, she speaks Russian, is filthy rich, she has one mean temper and acts like she has a stick shoved half way up her butt... but I wouldn't in a million years think she was Boris's kid!" Tyson said.
"She isn't..."
All the boys turned to look at Kai, whose eyes were clouded in memory, staring at the picture of the seven year old girl on the laptop screen. He recalled the buried memories of Balkov Abbey. Recalling the memories before he met Black Dranzer...
******
"Kai! Tala! Alexander!
A little girl of seven ran up to the group of boys, silver eyes sparkling. Her lilac pigtails bounced with every foot step, held by furry yellow bobbles. The three boys before her offered tiny smiles, as though the ability to smile was getting lost on them. The tallest boy pushed his over large red bangs from his face, aqua eyes shining but scouting the area for anyone who might reveal them to the Abbey guards. The second tallest toyed with his scarf, loosening it slightly. The youngest was the one closest resembling her, only with dark grey hair. Alexander smiled.
"Zdravstvutye, Anya!"
"Shush!" Kai hissed, looking up from his chore. "We don't want to get caught, do we?"
"Niet... but I'm excited! What's the whole secret about, guys!?" Anya asked, questioning each of the boys in turn.
Alexander smiled. "You know your birthday is after tomorrow? Well, count this as your birthday present."
"What?"
"We're going to try and sneak out. See what Moscow has to offer the Abbey's best in beyblading."
"Really..." Anya said in hushed tones. "But, sneaking out is against the rules."
"You worried?"
"Niet. It's exciting!"
Tala looked around and nodded. "Okay. Alexander, you first, then me, then Anya, then Kai. Keep a look out outside whilst we try to get out."
"Da."
Soon, all four children were walking around the streets of Moscow, in awe at the city around them. They stared at the shops and people they saw. So many things to see, so little time. Around mid afternoon, the four children sat on a street curb, exhausted from their wandering.
"Wow... I knew Moscow was big, but not this big..." Alexander whispered.
"Yeah... I've only been at the memorial building before..." Anya said.
"Oh yeah... to see the portraits of your parents, right?"
"Da... Look!"
Anya jumped up and ran to a nearby shop window, pressing her face against the glass. The boys followed, seeing what Anya was staring at.
"It's just a florist, Anya." Tala said.
"I know. But look! Roses! White ones..."
Kai looked from Anya's bright, wide eyes to the bouquet of white roses on display. So Anya likes white roses... the young boy thought.
******
Kai looked up, snapping back into reality. The Bladebreakers looked at Kai questioningly. The captain sighed and sat up.
"Anya is Boris's niece. She came under his care when her parents died when she was a baby."
"You knew? And you never told us?" Tyson said.
"I buried most of my memories of Balkov Abbey, Tyson, since I left. That included knowing Anya... The memories only surfaced properly just now..."
"How well did you know her?" Max asked.
"Anya, Tala, Alexander and I were best friends, in a way. We'd always train and play together... Anya was one of the few girls in the Abbey. The fact she was Boris's niece was like an added pressure on her, I suppose..."
The boys simply stared at their leader, who was struggling inside with the still resurfacing memories. The last one was the last happy memory he had of Anya, before she disappeared...
******
Anya grunted, pulling her ripcord hard. The purple and white beyblade zoomed out at the seven year old's signature speed. The blade ripped through the dish, chasing the other blade until it was kicked out. Anya cheered, her opponent, a boy no older than her by a few months, screamed in defeat as he fell through the platform he stood on, sliding down and away from the Abbey for good. Anya didn't care though. She'd learnt a long time ago not to care about things like that. Kai and Tala walked to her, having completed their matches as well, winning, as per usual, with similar attitudes to their opponents as Anya. Anya smiled as the boys approached her.
"I'm getting good, aren't I!?"
Kai and Tala nodded, smiling. "We gotta be careful around you. You might get us kicked out of the Abbey next." Tala commented.
Anya giggled. "No chance. You two are too good for me."
Kai shook his head. "Nuh-uh. I heard the scientists talking before. They think you'd be perfect."
"Perfect for what?"
Kai shrugged, looking a little more than upset. "I just heard them say that you'd be perfect and that they'll get you tonight for the test."
"The test...? You don't think they mean..."
Tala blinked and completed the question himself. "The scientists think Anya could make it through the Ultimate test?"
"I just said that they were going to use her in a test. I don't know which one."
***
"Anya!"
The girl turned around, her pale face surprised to find the three boys standing in front of her. She shifted slightly, adjusting the duffle bag on her shoulder and pulling her blue jacket closer. She had a new white scarf, a lot smaller than Kai's, tied around her neck. She hid her eyes under a big brown hat that she'd have to grow into. Kai walked forward, frowning.
"Where are you going, Anya? You weren't kicked out, were you?"
"Niet... I... I'm leaving the Abbey!"
"Why?"
Anya shifted again, looking uncomfortable and upset. She kept rubbing the back of her neck, over her scarf, like something was itching or aching. "Something... I can't tell you... Not yet, at least."
"Anya!"
"Niet! I'm leaving, and you can't stop me!"
"But where would you go?" Alexander asked, worry building for his cousin.
"Yepunyea, Americue, Kittai, I'll probably go to all the places we all want to visit one day."
The friends stood around. The snow started falling on the group, the sun having set long before Anya snuck out. Anya rearranged her duffel and sighed. "I'm gonna go now guys... I'm sorry. Be the best bladers for me..."
Immediately, the boys ran forward and took Anya up in a big group hug. Soon, Anya was dropped and she wiped her eyes of the four tears that dared to escape her eyes; one for each of their little group. Unsurprisingly, the boys weren't crying. They hadn't cried in a long time. Kai went into his pocket and pulled out a small white rose.
"Remember when we went out to Moscow before your birthday? I got you this... It was all I could afford..."
Anya took the delicate flower gingerly, holding it gently in her hand like it was a precious jewel. She sniffed and put it away carefully.
"Blashover spasiba, Kai... I love it."
The quartet stood around in silence for a while. It wasn't until they felt the wind bite coldly down onto their bones that they bade a final reluctant farewell. Anya turned and walked away towards the city, the boys back to the Abbey. Kai turned to catch one more look of his best friend. Not even her footprints in the snow stayed behind.
******
The shrill tone of the phone brought Kai out of his remembrance talk. Ray got up and answered. The boys watched and listened to the one sided conversation.
"Tomorrow morning? That soon, huh... what about.... oh... I see.... Well, thanks for letting us know. Wait, Michael. We may need to talk to you and your team..."
Ray looked to the guys for confirmation to meet the All Stars. Kai nodded. Ray returned to speaking to Michael.
"Yeah. How soon can you come? In a few minutes? Great. We'll be waiting. Bye."
____________________________________________________________________
Anime: And we end it there for today. Oh, and I'd just like to bring up a small congratulatory message for Mizu-Tenshi, who, chapters ago, had rightly guessed Anya's involvement with the Balkov family!
Anya: Humph...
Anime: Aw... still can't believe you're related to him?
Anya: ...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ssykes4000 - Got your laptop back yet? You better!!!
SulliMike23 - lol, neither are present at the moment to comment, but thanks for the added defence, Sul!
Samb101 - Well, not quite as soon as I would like, but here's the update!
Every Storm has an End - Er... let me think about that one.
Bimbo-blonde - Naw, Anna and Anya aren't related. They just freakily look alike. It happens.
ShadowYami - Thanks for the earplugs; they came in handy. The Chibis really needed them!
Mizu_Tenshi - FWEE! Another person who likes Mark! Yah, well, with Tyson and Kenny in tow, how CAN you be inconspicuous.
Anya: Finally...
Anime: Not like you helped much.
Anya: How can I? You stuck me in some stupid tube!
Anime: Feh, stuff happens. Well, onwards with the update!
===========================================================
Kai paced the room at their hotel, his mind whirling but calm at the same time. He played with a small object in his hand as he walked.
So... Boris is really back... And he has Anya for some sort of experiment. But how did she get involved with it in the first place? And why can't I shake off this feeling? Like it's all so familiar?
Kai stopped before he walked straight into the wall and turned to wall across the room the other way, never breaking his line of thought, never releasing the little trinket.
And what does Boris want with all those teams? He isn't planning to enter the World Tournament and try to take over the world that way again, is he? That's stupid. Every police officer, Interpol agent and FBI agent, as well as BBA operative, in the whole of America will rain down on him if that happened... What is he up to? And why is Kenny taking so long!?
Kai stopped short at the sound of the said boy's voice in the other room. It sounded victorious, but surprised at the same time.
"Guys! Kai! I managed to open the files!"
"What's with this 'I' business, Chief!? I was the one who broke through the encryption codes."
"Sorry Dizzi. You did a lot of great work."
"That's better."
Kai walked towards the door, placing the trinket he was playing with in his hand on the pillow of the bed. He shut the connecting door behind him, Anya's white rose necklace shining, lonely on her pillow.
******
"What have you found, Chief?"
"Well, this is a full report on the experiment..." Kenny said, bringing up the file.
"Long winded, if you ask me." Dizzi commented. "Who wants to read three hundred and fifty three and a half pages worth of some mind alteration and control experiment?"
"Mind Alteration?" Kai questioned.
"Yep. Says here it's been going on for around ten years, but six years ago, they had to put the experiment on hold."
"Why?"
"Hang on. Takes time for all this to be processed.... Ah, here we go! The prime subject for experimentation and data holder for the whole thing... disappeared?"
"Disappeared?"
"Says here she disappeared. She!?"
"She!?" The Bladebreakers said at the same time.
Dizzi ran through the files again, then stopped. "Erm... guys..."
"What is it Dizzi?" Kenny asked.
"You may want to sit down..."
******
"What did you find, Diz?"
"Well, I found a profile and full report on the kid who was supposed to be the first experiment and data holder. Code Named AB: Mindset. Full name; Anya Orlenda Balkov. There's a picture and everything." Dizzi said, showing them.
"What!?" Kai said, sitting up suddenly.
"Balkov? That can't be our Anya, can it?" Ray asked.
"Sure, she speaks Russian, is filthy rich, she has one mean temper and acts like she has a stick shoved half way up her butt... but I wouldn't in a million years think she was Boris's kid!" Tyson said.
"She isn't..."
All the boys turned to look at Kai, whose eyes were clouded in memory, staring at the picture of the seven year old girl on the laptop screen. He recalled the buried memories of Balkov Abbey. Recalling the memories before he met Black Dranzer...
******
"Kai! Tala! Alexander!
A little girl of seven ran up to the group of boys, silver eyes sparkling. Her lilac pigtails bounced with every foot step, held by furry yellow bobbles. The three boys before her offered tiny smiles, as though the ability to smile was getting lost on them. The tallest boy pushed his over large red bangs from his face, aqua eyes shining but scouting the area for anyone who might reveal them to the Abbey guards. The second tallest toyed with his scarf, loosening it slightly. The youngest was the one closest resembling her, only with dark grey hair. Alexander smiled.
"Zdravstvutye, Anya!"
"Shush!" Kai hissed, looking up from his chore. "We don't want to get caught, do we?"
"Niet... but I'm excited! What's the whole secret about, guys!?" Anya asked, questioning each of the boys in turn.
Alexander smiled. "You know your birthday is after tomorrow? Well, count this as your birthday present."
"What?"
"We're going to try and sneak out. See what Moscow has to offer the Abbey's best in beyblading."
"Really..." Anya said in hushed tones. "But, sneaking out is against the rules."
"You worried?"
"Niet. It's exciting!"
Tala looked around and nodded. "Okay. Alexander, you first, then me, then Anya, then Kai. Keep a look out outside whilst we try to get out."
"Da."
Soon, all four children were walking around the streets of Moscow, in awe at the city around them. They stared at the shops and people they saw. So many things to see, so little time. Around mid afternoon, the four children sat on a street curb, exhausted from their wandering.
"Wow... I knew Moscow was big, but not this big..." Alexander whispered.
"Yeah... I've only been at the memorial building before..." Anya said.
"Oh yeah... to see the portraits of your parents, right?"
"Da... Look!"
Anya jumped up and ran to a nearby shop window, pressing her face against the glass. The boys followed, seeing what Anya was staring at.
"It's just a florist, Anya." Tala said.
"I know. But look! Roses! White ones..."
Kai looked from Anya's bright, wide eyes to the bouquet of white roses on display. So Anya likes white roses... the young boy thought.
******
Kai looked up, snapping back into reality. The Bladebreakers looked at Kai questioningly. The captain sighed and sat up.
"Anya is Boris's niece. She came under his care when her parents died when she was a baby."
"You knew? And you never told us?" Tyson said.
"I buried most of my memories of Balkov Abbey, Tyson, since I left. That included knowing Anya... The memories only surfaced properly just now..."
"How well did you know her?" Max asked.
"Anya, Tala, Alexander and I were best friends, in a way. We'd always train and play together... Anya was one of the few girls in the Abbey. The fact she was Boris's niece was like an added pressure on her, I suppose..."
The boys simply stared at their leader, who was struggling inside with the still resurfacing memories. The last one was the last happy memory he had of Anya, before she disappeared...
******
Anya grunted, pulling her ripcord hard. The purple and white beyblade zoomed out at the seven year old's signature speed. The blade ripped through the dish, chasing the other blade until it was kicked out. Anya cheered, her opponent, a boy no older than her by a few months, screamed in defeat as he fell through the platform he stood on, sliding down and away from the Abbey for good. Anya didn't care though. She'd learnt a long time ago not to care about things like that. Kai and Tala walked to her, having completed their matches as well, winning, as per usual, with similar attitudes to their opponents as Anya. Anya smiled as the boys approached her.
"I'm getting good, aren't I!?"
Kai and Tala nodded, smiling. "We gotta be careful around you. You might get us kicked out of the Abbey next." Tala commented.
Anya giggled. "No chance. You two are too good for me."
Kai shook his head. "Nuh-uh. I heard the scientists talking before. They think you'd be perfect."
"Perfect for what?"
Kai shrugged, looking a little more than upset. "I just heard them say that you'd be perfect and that they'll get you tonight for the test."
"The test...? You don't think they mean..."
Tala blinked and completed the question himself. "The scientists think Anya could make it through the Ultimate test?"
"I just said that they were going to use her in a test. I don't know which one."
***
"Anya!"
The girl turned around, her pale face surprised to find the three boys standing in front of her. She shifted slightly, adjusting the duffle bag on her shoulder and pulling her blue jacket closer. She had a new white scarf, a lot smaller than Kai's, tied around her neck. She hid her eyes under a big brown hat that she'd have to grow into. Kai walked forward, frowning.
"Where are you going, Anya? You weren't kicked out, were you?"
"Niet... I... I'm leaving the Abbey!"
"Why?"
Anya shifted again, looking uncomfortable and upset. She kept rubbing the back of her neck, over her scarf, like something was itching or aching. "Something... I can't tell you... Not yet, at least."
"Anya!"
"Niet! I'm leaving, and you can't stop me!"
"But where would you go?" Alexander asked, worry building for his cousin.
"Yepunyea, Americue, Kittai, I'll probably go to all the places we all want to visit one day."
The friends stood around. The snow started falling on the group, the sun having set long before Anya snuck out. Anya rearranged her duffel and sighed. "I'm gonna go now guys... I'm sorry. Be the best bladers for me..."
Immediately, the boys ran forward and took Anya up in a big group hug. Soon, Anya was dropped and she wiped her eyes of the four tears that dared to escape her eyes; one for each of their little group. Unsurprisingly, the boys weren't crying. They hadn't cried in a long time. Kai went into his pocket and pulled out a small white rose.
"Remember when we went out to Moscow before your birthday? I got you this... It was all I could afford..."
Anya took the delicate flower gingerly, holding it gently in her hand like it was a precious jewel. She sniffed and put it away carefully.
"Blashover spasiba, Kai... I love it."
The quartet stood around in silence for a while. It wasn't until they felt the wind bite coldly down onto their bones that they bade a final reluctant farewell. Anya turned and walked away towards the city, the boys back to the Abbey. Kai turned to catch one more look of his best friend. Not even her footprints in the snow stayed behind.
******
The shrill tone of the phone brought Kai out of his remembrance talk. Ray got up and answered. The boys watched and listened to the one sided conversation.
"Tomorrow morning? That soon, huh... what about.... oh... I see.... Well, thanks for letting us know. Wait, Michael. We may need to talk to you and your team..."
Ray looked to the guys for confirmation to meet the All Stars. Kai nodded. Ray returned to speaking to Michael.
"Yeah. How soon can you come? In a few minutes? Great. We'll be waiting. Bye."
____________________________________________________________________
Anime: And we end it there for today. Oh, and I'd just like to bring up a small congratulatory message for Mizu-Tenshi, who, chapters ago, had rightly guessed Anya's involvement with the Balkov family!
Anya: Humph...
Anime: Aw... still can't believe you're related to him?
Anya: ...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ssykes4000 - Got your laptop back yet? You better!!!
SulliMike23 - lol, neither are present at the moment to comment, but thanks for the added defence, Sul!
Samb101 - Well, not quite as soon as I would like, but here's the update!
Every Storm has an End - Er... let me think about that one.
Bimbo-blonde - Naw, Anna and Anya aren't related. They just freakily look alike. It happens.
ShadowYami - Thanks for the earplugs; they came in handy. The Chibis really needed them!
Mizu_Tenshi - FWEE! Another person who likes Mark! Yah, well, with Tyson and Kenny in tow, how CAN you be inconspicuous.