Don't I just rule when it comes to creativity of chapter names?
Kazimir: No.
I was being sarcastic! ~whaps him upside the head~
Kazimir: Ow!
Now, shush, I need to speak…
Kazimir: No, you just wanna hear yourself speak.
You know what?! ~duck tapes him to floor with mouth fully covered in 9 layers of the pretty grey tape~ Now, where was I….? Oh yes, I finished typing this Wednesday, but I wanted till wait till today to see if maybe, just maybe I would have my song fic just about ready to post by than… and guess what? I have it fully written ^.^ just not typed . But I'll work on that once I get this posted.
Kai: So get on with it.
Why are you in such a rush?
Kai: I want you to get to the end of the chapter.
o.O??? O…K… Anyway…
Kai: ~interrupting~ she owes nothing, but for the exception of Kayla and one other character introduced in this fic, as well as for that annoying person….
Kazimir: I am not annoying!
Kai: Stress the annoying…
Kazimir: How could you, we used to be friends?!
Kai: Stress the used to be…
Kazimir: ~pouts~
Well now….. I guess that would be it….. Oh wait! ~is rendered unconscious by Kai~
Kai: Read. Now. Or die.
Chapter 4: A Visitor
The next day everyone was out practicing, even Rei. Kayla was sitting at a distance watching them.
"Go, Driger!"
"Go, Draciel!"
The two bit beasts clashed and Driger was thrown from the beystadium. Rei caught it and gritted his teeth in frustration.
"Rei, remember, you haven't been able to practice in almost two weeks." Kenny reassured, trying to calm the raven-haired teen.
"But, Chief…"
"Hey, who's that?" Tyson interrupted.
Everyone turned and looked. A girl with short brown hair was walking towards them.
"Kayla, where are you going?" Rei asked, as she walked past the Bladebreakers towards the girl. As they watched, the two girls stopped in front of each other and stared at one another.
"Are they having a staring contest or something?" Max commented after a couple minutes.
"I don't know." Tyson admitted.
"Maybe we should…" Rei began as he took a step to go towards them.
"No."
"Huh? Why not, Kai?" Rei asked as he and the other Bladebreakers looked at their captain in question.
Kai nodded in the direction of the two girls, "They probably want to be alone." When everyone returned their attention to the two, they were walking towards the forest together; however they were still keeping their distance from each other.
They walked in a tense silence for about ten minutes. Abruptly, Kayla stopped walking.
"Why did you come?" Kayla whispered in a hard voice, eyes red and watery.
"To talk."
"Talk about what?" Kayla spat. "How you betrayed me?!"
"I want to make things right." the girl with brown hair said, sadness filling her voice. Tears began to spill from her blue eyes, "I miss you, Kayla. I need you. You're my friend and I feel so lost without you. I want us to be friends again, go back to the way things used to be…"
* * * * * * * * *
"Rei." Rei turned to face the Russian youth. "You and Tyson battle." Kai's voice and expression left no room for discussion.
With one last glance towards the woods, Rei prepared to launch Driger.
"Read….." Kenny began.
"Oh, let me say it, just once."
"Alright, Dizzy."
"Ready…."
"Let…" Tyson.
"It…" Rei.
"Rip!" Both cried in unison.
The two blades hit the ground and began circling each other. They clashed several times but no one gained a clear upper hand.
"Driger, go!" Rei commanded his blade as it chased after Tyson's blade.
Suddenly, Dragoon turned around and rammed Driger, sending them both backwards. As the two faced each other, they began to circle. But before another attack could be made, Driger lost its momentum and stopped.
Rei blinked a few times, still not quite sure what had happened.
"You lost your concentration, Rei." Kai answered his unvoiced question.
"I…" Driger's blader opened and closed his mouth a few times, but never found the words to speak.
"Alright, Max, I want a rematch for yesterday!" Tyson exclaimed, breaking the silence.
"Fine, just as long as you're ready to lose again!"
"In your dreams, Maxie!"
The bladders took their positions, grinning at each other in anticipation of the battle.
"Ready…" Kenny and Dizzy said together.
"Let…" Tyson.
"It…" Max.
"Rip!" Both cried out.
Tyson and Max stayed focused throughout the entire battle as each beyblade tried to over-come the other. After a long and intense match, it ended in a draw.
As both boys held their beyblades, they stared at each other.
"Rematch?" Tyson grinned.
"You know it."
For the next few hours the Bladebreakers practiced, well, mostly Tyson and Max, but eventually the others got into the action as well.
However, they had to stop because the sun, their main source of light outside was fading below the horizon. And it didn't help that thick, dark clouds covered the sky.
Rei tried to convince everyone to wait till Kayla got back to eat, but eventually; they all got tired of hearing Tyson complain about being hungry. While Tyson scarfed down plate after plate of food, Rei only played with his food, barely touching any of it. Every once in a while he'd glance out the window, hoping to see Kayla come back.
"Man, I'm full!" Tyson announced.'
"That's got to be a first!" Max teased.
"Hey, take that back!" Tyson yelled, playfully pouncing on Max. The two proceeded to wrestle each other.
Lightning flashed across the night sky and a light rain began to come down from the sky, but quickly becoming a down pour.
"Rei, what's wrong?" Kenny asked. Everyone stopped, turning to look at a distraught Rei.
"Maybe we should go look for her…" Rei began, but was cut off as he was slapped across the face. Holding his red cheek he turned to the person who had slapped him. "Kai?" Everyone stared on in silence while the two stared at each other.
After a minute of tense silence, Kai spoke. "All afternoon you've been distracted and unable to concentrate on practicing because of that… girl!"
Rei's eyes flared with anger. "She has a name you know! Her name is KAYLA!"
"It doesn't matter what her name is, she's not a part of this team and she is irrelevant!"
"How can you say she's irrelevant?! If it weren't for her, I may have been paralyzed or I may have even drowned!" Rei exclaimed.
"She served her purpose, so why is she still here?! I say good riddance!"
"How can you be so heartless?!"
"I'm trying to think about the team and getting us ready to win the American Tournament!"
"So what if I had one day of bad practice?"
"You haven't been able to practice in almost two weeks! And all you've done in that time is hang all over her! Now it's time for you to stop being so self-centered and focus on what's important!"
"Well, it looks like we have different opinions of what's important!"
"I guess so." Kai sneered. "So maybe you should go after your girlfriend and forget about the team." Rei stared at Kai in shock as Kai stalked past him. Muttering in a voice filled with hurt and inaudible to the others, he said, "You've already forgotten us…"
Thunder shook the cabin walls and the slamming of a door was heard. Rei winced. Just than, everyone noticed two new figures, for the first time barely visible in the next room, staring into the kitchen.
"Averil and I will just go to bed and not bother you all." A girl chocked out, barely holding back tears. The two turned to walk away.
"Kayla…" But Rei's protests died on his lips when she turned back and looked at him. Her expression was so sad and ….. sorry?
"Come on." Kayla said to Averil, leading her to her current room.
"I'm going to bed…" Max spoke tentatively, followed by Tyson and Kenny, leaving Rei to his thoughts. Rei stood for a second; looking after his friends than began to walk to the room he slept in, but stopped. He gulped, Kai was in that room. How could he face him? What was he going to say? Dread over came Rei and he could feel his knees weakening beneath him. He backed up till his back met the counter in the kitchen. Sinking to the floor, Rei pulled his knees up to his chest and began to cry.
* * * * * * * * *
Closing the door, Kayla leaned against it, sliding to the floor as fresh tears sprung from her eyes.
Averil did her best to console her, pulling her into her arms and rocking her as she cried. "Shhh… it's okay, everything'll be alright."
Looking up at her, she said between sobs, "How can you say that? Look what's happened to them because of me?!"
"And what happened to them?" she asked in a soothing voice, pushing raven locks away from her friend's face.
"I'm tearing them apart!"
"They just had a fight, it'll be fixed." Averil smiled weakly, "I hope anyway…" Tears began to flow from her eyes too.
"… We'll work things out, I'm sure we can…" They both hugged each other and wept on each other for some time.
After about fifteen minutes, wiping the tears from her face, Kayla stood up and offered a hand to help Averil up, "Come on, let's get some sleep." Nodding, Averil took the offered assistance and got up, and walked over to the bed that looked unused. "Here, you'll want something dry to sleep in."
"Thanks, "Averil replied, taking the clothes.
Once both had changed, they each climbed into one of the two beds. Turning off the light, Kayla whispered with a voice hoarse from crying all day, "Good-night, Averil."
With an equally as hoarse voice, "Sleep well, Kayla."
~3 hours later~
Kai came out of his and Rei's room, with the excuse that he was thirsty, glancing around him as he walked to the kitchen. When he stepped into the kitchen he switched on the night lights. Glancing towards the window he could see that the pounding rain had gone down to a light drizzle. When he looked ahead of him, he saw Rei curled up, asleep on the kitchen floor. He stood in shock for a few moments. Than, tentatively, approached the Chinese youth. When he got close to him, he noticed tear tracks down his face. Carefully, he adjusted his facial features to their usual expressionless look. Slowly, he bent down and put his arms around Rei's waist and under his knees. Lifting him, he carried him back to the room the two of them shared, remembering to turn off the kitchen lights on the way. To Kai's surprise, Rei did not wake. Laying him down on Rei's bed, Kai removed his shoes. He paused, wondering if he should take Rei's shirt off too, but thought better of it. Lastly, before climbing into bed himself, he pulled the sheets over Rei's sleeping form. Giving Rei's peaceful, sleeping body one last look; he turned off the light and climbed into his own bed.
* * * * * * * * *
Stretching, the black-haired girl sat up in bed. Glancing around the room she noticed that the other bed was empty. 'I wonder where she is… Probably just in the bathroom.' With that in mind, she got dressed and than headed out to the kitchen. When she got there she found her 'missing' friend. "What are you doing?"
"What does it look like?"
"Getting ready to cook breakfast…" Kayla answered. "But why?"
"Remember when we were little, and we'd have one of our 'petty' fights....?"
* * * * * * * * *
The Bladebreakers awoke to the smell of breakfast being cooked. Strangely though, they all seemed to wake-up at the same time. They all gathered in the room outside the kitchen, staring at each other.
No one wanted to be the first one to go into the kitchen, not after last night. As they stood there, Kai and Rei carefully avoided looking at each other. Soon, however, their decision of what to do was taken from them.
"Morning." Kayla said from the doorway into the kitchen. After an uneasy pause she continued, "Breakfast is ready." Everyone followed her slowly into the kitchen. Taking seats at the circular table (A/N: I refuse to say round table! :P), Tyson sat in between Kenny and Max, and Rei next to Max. Kai hesitated, but than took his normal seat next to Rei. Just as they all sat down, Kayla walked over with plates of food and another girl stood behind her with more food. As Kayla put down food for Kai, Rei and Max, she nodded towards the other girl. "This is Averil." Averil smiled at the team as she gave food to Tyson and Kenny.
Rei glanced over at Kayla, but she carefully avoided his eyes. Quickly, Kayla walked over and picked up two more plates and laid them in front of the two remaining seats. The two girls looked at each other, and with a nod from Kayla, they too sat down to eat. Breakfast was quiet in the beginning, but soon Tyson's normal antics lightened the mood. By the time everyone finished eating, everyone but Kai had a smile plastered on their faces, whether it be genuine or forced.
"Come on, we better practice." Kai said stiffly as he rose from his place at the table. Tyson, Max and Kenny got up to follow, Kenny to fetch Dizzy and the other two to fetch their blades. Kayla and Averil took this as a signal to start cleaning-up the mess from breakfast.
Pausing at the door, but not looking back, Kai said over his shoulder, "Rei, it's time to practice." Rei blinked and looked-up at the Bladebreakers' captain. "You're a part of this team and I expect you out there in five minutes to practice like the rest of us." Without waiting for a response, Kai proceeded outside to start practice.
Despite himself, Rei smiled. Rising, Rei briskly walked out of the kitchen, everything and everyone else forgotten.
"Well, looks like your 'plan' worked, Averil." Kayla smiled.
"Thank you, thank you very much." Laughing, the two set to work about cleaning-up. After a few minutes of silence, the brunette broke the silence. "What about us?"
"What do you mean?" Kayla asked from the sink, not even turning around.
"Do you think we'll be able to be friends again? Like we used to be?" Averil pleaded.
Kayla continued washing dishes and Averil drying them for a few more minutes. "I don't know… it still hurts, Averil, and I'm not sure for how long it will…" Averil hung her head in defeat. "But I do want to try and be friends again. It'll take a lot from both of us… but I think, with time, we can."
Averil nodded, hope and determination gleaming in her eyes.
After they finished, they went and sat down in the next room on the big couch. Picking up the deck of cards Tyson had left on a small table, Kayla began to shuffle them. "Rummish?"
"Sure, but can I go first since you're dealing?"
"Of course."
The two girls played about five games of Rummy before they got tired of it, so they moved on to crazy 8s, all the while just talking a little bit about trivial matters.
Looking at the clock, Kayla suggested that they start getting lunch ready. Putting the cards back on the table, they got up and went into the kitchen.
"When was the last time we ate outside?" Averil asked, staring out the window at the perfectly clear, blue sky.
"I don't know… a long time I guess…"
"Mhm." The brown-haired girl agreed. "Why don't we have a picnic than?"
Kayla raised an eyebrow, "You know it's not just the two of us, that we're talking about…"
"Ah, come on, they spend all day outside, don't try and tell me that they wouldn't enjoy it! All guys like being outside!"
Seeing her friend's pleading face, she gave in, "Oh, alright, let's see what we can find."
* * * * * * * * *
All morning the Bladebreakers trained and practiced everything from strengthening muscles to basics to battling. By the time lunch came around, everyone's mood was considerably lighter. In fact, all five of them were happy- in their own way that is.
* * * * * * * * *
As they rummaged through the pantry, Averil said tentatively, "I probably need to head back soon; they'll be worried about me… And, Kayla, everyone misses you so much…"
"I can't, not yet." Sighing and turning to face Averil she said, "I'm just not ready yet."
"That's alright, I understand." The grey-eyed girl lied, forcing herself to smile she went back to work on finding food to fix.
About one and a half hours later, they had everything ready. Taking one last look around the kitchen to make sure they had brought everything outside, they turned and left the cabin. As they did, they saw the Bladebreakers coming towards the cabin. They both waved cheerfully to the boys as they approached.
"It's so sunny out, so we thought it would be nice to eat outside, especially after yesterday's storm." Kayla spoke cheerfully and had a slight bounce to her step.
Once they had all reached the picnic area, everyone grabbed a plate and began filling them with food.
"Hey, Tyson, leave some for us!" Max whined.
"Yeah, Tyson!" Kenny added in.
"Seddle dow, Chif!" Tyson replied between food. "Dere pledy of fod fo evyun!"
"Don't worry, I've figured out how much to make now, so there should be enough for everyone to get their fill…. except Tyson." Kayla winked.
Everyone laughed and settled into light conversation. Averil stayed mostly out of the conversation to begin with, but soon she started to add in a few words here and there. By the end of lunch, though, she was adding in full sentences to the conversation.
"So, how long are you going to be staying?" Tyson asked, rubbing his full stomach, and burping, "'scuse me."
"Well…" Averil began, glancing over at Kayla. Kayla looked away, staring at the sky with sudden fascination. "I guess…" she looked around than finally rested her gaze on Tyson, "I guess I need to be getting back soon…"
"You don't want to be stuck traveling at night, so you probably should leave in a couple of hours. At the latest…" Kayla interjected with an emotionless voice.
"Yeah…" her friend replied in the same voice. Both girls looked down and refused to meet anyone's questioning eyes. "Let me help you clean-up before I go." Averil rose and started picking-up dishes and Kayla followed suit. Once both girls had entered the cabin the guys looked at each other.
"What was that all about?" Tyson asked no one in particular.
"Don't know." Max replied.
"What do you think, Rei?" Kenny asked.
"Hm…" was all Rei did to show he had heard the question as he stared off into space with a look of deep thought on his face.
* * * * * * * * *
Going straight into the kitchen both girls put whatever they were carrying down, than leaned against the counter, Averil with her face in her hands and Kayla just leaning on her hands.
"I don't want you to go yet…"
"Than come back with me."
"I already told you I can't!" Kayla said in annoyance, turning her back to the counter and crossing her arms in front of her chest.
"Why not?!" Averil exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air, than putting them over her chest as well, pinning Kayla with a fierce gaze.
"You don't understand…" she whispered.
"Tell me! What don't I understand?"
* * * * * * * * *
After a while, the five youths filed inside and into the kitchen.
The two girls where just finishing up and putting away the last few dishes. Turning to face the new arrivals to the room Averil said, "Well, it was nice meeting you all."
"Yeah, it was." Tyson agreed, stepping forward and shaking her hand. He gave her one of his goofy smiles and she couldn't help but smile back.
Max, Kenny and Rei also bid her farewell with a warm smile and a hand shake. Kai just nodded his acknowledgement of her leaving accompanied by his usual 'Hn.'
Than, Averil turned to face Kayla, holding out her hand, "I may not fully understand, but maybe someday I will… it just may take some time… but maybe we can go from here."
"Yes, definitely." Kayla said, grasping her friend's hand and flashing her a genuine smile. "I'll be praying for that day to come."
"So will I."
"Come on, I'll walk with you a little ways." Kayla said, smiling. The two girls turned to leave.
"Bye again!" Averil called out.
"Bye!" The guys yelled back.
"I'll be back in a bit." Kayla said, turning back to face the Bladebreakers, before turning again to walk with Averil to the door.
"Well that was interesting." Dizzy said from Kenny's arms.
"Yeah, definitely." Tyson agreed.
"Come on," Kai said disinterestedly, "We need to get back to practice."
Everyone collectively groaned, but one glance from Kai shut them up.
As they practiced, Tyson brought up the subject of Kayla and Averil, but Kai quickly killed the conversation.
"Who made him king of the world?" Tyson muttered to Max.
"Hey! I said no talking!" Kai barked.
* * * * * * * * *
"Yes… but I don't think that either are going to be brave enough to say anything… My guess is something like what happened to you will happen to them…" Averil trailed off.
Kayla was lost in deep thought as the two walked on in silence. Averil touched her shoulder and she jumped as she was brought out of her thoughts.
"I think here is where we should part ways…"
She nodded, but it took a few seconds for Kayla's brain to process this information as Averil began to walk away. "Wait!" Averil stopped and turned around, only to be tackled into a hug. "Good-bye… friend."
"Bye." Both blinked back tears as they parted ways. Once Averil was out of sight, Kayla turned and walked back to the cabin, again, lost in thought.
When she got back she noticed how long she had been gone and went straight to the kitchen to start cooking dinner.
* * * * * * * * *
And so practice went on in relative silence. As the sun dipped below the tree line, Kai mercifully called the end of practice for the day.
"Woo-hoo!" Max and Tyson cheered in unison, racing each other back to the cabin.
"Mmm, something smells good." Tyson commented upon opening the door.
"Hey, back from practice already!" Kayla teased as she came out to great them, wiping her hands on a dish towel as she exited the kitchen.
"Already?!" Tyson exclaimed. "I would have passed out if we hadn't stopped."
"Go wash up, once everyone's in and clean we can eat." Kayla commanded as the remaining three entered the cabin.
"Alright!" And Tyson dashed off.
"You said the magic word, 'eat.'" Max joked as he walked to go wash-up.
Dinner passed rather pleasantly. It wasn't quite as cheerful as it had been a day ago, but it was a much lighter mood than at breakfast or lunch.
Once dinner was finished, Tyson and Max were volunteered to help Kayla clean-up. Rei retreated to the next room to listen to music and read a magazine. Kenny also joined him, but instead of music and a magazine, Kenny typed away on his lab top, talking to Dizzy. Kai, surprisingly, settled down to read on the coach next to Rei.
A whole lot of water, and thirty minutes later, a soaking trio finished with the dishes.
"That's the last time I get you guys to help me." Kayla said in mock annoyance as she went into her room to change into dry clothes.
"That was fun!" Tyson grinned.
"Come on; let's go get into something dry." Max said pulled Tyson behind him into the room they shared, closing the door firmly behind them.
Twenty minutes later, Tyson and Max emerged dry and with a deck of cards.
"Who wants to play poker?" Tyson asked, shuffling the deck.
"I'll play, but only if it's stripe poker." A seductive voice whispered in his ear, but still loud enough for all in the room to hear.
Everyone turned to look at the speaker with huge, shocked eyes.
"I'm just kidding, gees. You guys take everything way too seriously." Kayla said, and without missing a beat added. "Rei, can I borrow your ear outside for a minute?"
"Borrow my ear?"
"Don't make me hurt you, Rei Kon." She warned.
"Sure..." Perplexed, Rei got up and followed the dark-haired girl outside. Once they were both outside she closed the door.
"I wonder what they're doing out there..." Tyson said, reaching over to Max, pretending that he was going to kiss him.
"Stop it, Tyson!" Max laughed, pushing Tyson away.
"Don't be so juvenile."
"What's your problem, Kai?" But Kai ignored him and walked into his and Rei's room, closing the door behind him with a rather loud slam.
"Come on, Tyson, deal the cards already!" Max urged.
"Hey, Kenny, wanna play?" Tyson asked.
"I don't know… I have a lot of data to go over…"
"Oh, go on, Chief, have some fun."
"Alright, but only if you insist, Dizzy."
"I do, now go on and have some fun." Sighing, Kenny walked over to join Tyson and Max.
"For the first round we'll just keep it simple." Tyson stated as he dealt out the cards. "Five card draw, no wilds."
So for the next hour the trio played poker and when they got bored with that, reverted to black jack.
* * * * * * * * *
Kayla walked over to sit on the edge of the porch. Rei walked over and sat beside her.
"What's up?"
But at first Kayla didn't respond. Than, slowly, she began to speak, "Remember, what I told you the other day about me?"
"Yeah…"
"Well, if you didn't realize, Averil was the friend who…"
"Betrayed you?" Rei finished for her.
Not answering, she continued, "Averil's a very observant person, she notices things that a lot of people miss, mostly because she tries to keep her distance from certain things…" Rei remained silent, even though he was confused as to where this was going. "Anyway, you're probably wondering what all this blabbering of mine has to do with you." Rei nodded. "This afternoon, she pointed something out to me, and I've been thinking about it since than… and she's right."
"What's she right about?"
* * * * * * * * *
"Hey! Wanna play?" Max called out as Kayla and Rei re-entered the room.
"Nah, I think I'm going off to bed." Kayla yawned.
"Me, too." Rei agreed, walking towards his and Kai's room.
"Sleep well, Rei, and sweet dreams." Kayla called out to him as she opened the door to her room.
"Night." Rei replied, blushing, but no one really noticed, except for Kayla who giggled.
"Night, guys!"
"Night, Kayla!" They all said in unison.
"Night, Rei!" Tyson said for him and the others playing cards.
"Night." And with that he slipped into his and Kai's room. "Hey, Kai." He said as he entered the room.
"Hn."
Glancing over at Kai, Rei undressed into his boxers, as he always did. Fidgeting slightly, Rei got into bed and forced himself to face the wall, than called over his shoulder, "Night, Kai."
After a long, deadly pause, Kai answered, "Night."
A few minutes later, Kai too slipped into his own bed and turned off the light. Once the light was off, Rei rolled over to face his team captain. The window above the Russian's bed let moonlight in to play on his features. Sighing, Rei closed his eyes and drifted off into blissful sleep.
***
~regaining consciousness ~ Well, I hope you enjoyed the chappie! Kai…. What are you doing?!
Kai: ~hits Kayla with a two-by-four knocking her unconscious, than beams with joy~ You promised I could after this chapter… ~continues to smile ~
~mouth hangs open~ I didn't think you'd remember! That's why! ~shakes head~ But you know… I don't think I've ever see you smile this much before… ~thinks~ If hitting people is what it takes to get Kai to smile… Oh, Tyson! Would you come here for a minute? ~grins evilly~ Anyway; I was going to say this before the fic, but someone ~glares at Kai~ interfered with my plans… Thank you to:
Just-some-girl1
L@DyFiCtIoN
IceAngelSaraneth
Porticulis
Bimbo-blonde
for reviewing for this fic! Thank you all some much ^.^