HELLOOOOOOOOOO! Jah, I know what you're thinking… 'WHAT?!?!? SHE'S UPDATED???' I know, I'm rotten to the core. BUT I've had this ready for about a week, and the next chapter is half done anyways. Sorry! I'd like to say a special thank-you to Gothic-Kix for getting by butt into gear- thank you sooooooo much! *hugs*. Also a HUGE thanx to Emerald Skies and Sherbet Mayhem. All of these authors are FANTASTIC!!! Now to thank the reviewers:
Gothic-Kix: THANK YOU!!!! Have you updated your fic? I'll go and check it out RIGHT now. Thanx for all the reviews you gave me (erm… dunno how many) but honestly- they helped me move a lot. Thank you!!!!
Chiruri-Katsu: Have I spelled that right? Anyway, hehehe, I'm happy you like this ficcy. I do too… sort of ^_^
WulfyBaby: I highly doubt you've read this, Soph, but I'll mention you anyway! Lol. I dub thee, Nutella!
Artemis 347: Hullo. Wow, that was nice to review every chapter, thank you for that ^_^. You say you wish you knew Sara? Well, that's me!! Hehehe, shameless self-insertion there, oh well. I love Tala… *drool* Thanx sooooo much for reviewing!!
Kai Lovergrl: OMG!!! HELLO!! I haven't spoken to you in SOOOOOOOOOO long- I'm sorry!!! I've been sooooo busy at the mo! *hugs* Anyways… ahem. Thank you for your review- I look forward to them all the time. Email me for chatty-chat.
Lost without you NOT: Yah- poor Kai. Silly gramps, huh? Thanx for the review!
Leila5: Hullooooooo matey ;). How are ya? I'm very happy to hear you're liking this. YAY! Jack says hello by the way! You can have Will… Lol! Thank yooooooooooooooooooooooooooooou.
Emerald Skies: I hate you. HAHAHAHA! Just kidding you kidda bean. Oooooh! They're voodoo dolls? Good good, plenty of Kai torture to come in- oops! Not supposed to give away the plot to Jen's fics am I? Lol. Hmmmm, whan are ya gonna update UTI? Grrrr… *sniffs for some odd reason*
So there ya go!
ENJOY!!!!!!!
Chapter Seven; The Plan Begins
"Hey Kai! Wait up!"
Kai turned around in time to see Woody running towards him with books in her hands almost ready to topple away from her very careless grip. She smiled as she caught up to Kai who was standing with his arms folded, and she offered him some of her books to carry. He looked from her to the books in her hand to the hopeful look on her face and sighed, disliking the idea of having to carry some of her heavy textbooks. Then again, he didn't want the humiliation of having to pick up a pile of books from the middle of the street anyway. Woody smiled gratefully and he grunted, taking the offered books from her.
"What's wrong with your bag anyways?" he continued walking and Woody quickly fell into step with him.
She grinned sheepishly. "Oh, well I kinda ripped it on the way to school this morning."
Kai looked at the pavement for a moment before speaking again. "Why didn't you just go home and get another one?"
Woody sighed impatiently. "Because I couldn't be bothered. Look d'ya wanna help me carry these or not?"
Kai rolled his eyes and continued walking in silence. He was busy studying the sidewalk when he noticed that the laces on Woody's shoes were untied. He opened his mouth to tell her this, but he was too late. Woody had already begun to trip on her shoelaces. Kai saw her heading towards the pavement and sighed, dropping the books and catching her before she fell splat on to the floor. Almost shoving her back to her feet before she recovered he told her to tie her shoelaces and picked up the books he had dropped in order to catch her fall. Woody exhaled a shaky breath and observed that Kai was already walking ahead of her… again.
She shook her head and picked up the books that she had dropped in the process of falling and caught up with Kai again. She practically had to jog back up to him to keep up with his quick strides.
"Thanks for that," she smiled at him but he didn't even look at her.
He grunted. "Like I said, it's easier if you can tie your own laces."
Woody spluttered indignantly and remembered why she had to catch up with him on the way home anyway. Shaking her head she matched the quick pace that Kai was striding at and shifted her books to get a better hold of them.
"I was wondering if you would like to come out shopping with us today in about an hour," Woody was watching Kai's reaction.
He thought a moment before replying. "Who's 'us'?"
"Well, there's me, Rei, Tyson, Max couldn't make it- practising for the play, Kenny couldn't come either, Sara and Jenny. That's about it… I think. Oh yeah, and you, if you're coming," she gave him a hopeful look. It was about time he went out with the rest of the group. All the offers to do something fun Kai had always flatly refused, and it was up to Woody to persuade him to go shopping with them after school. Rei and Tyson were depending on her to try and convince Kai to come with them.
"Uh… okay then," Kai carried on walking whilst Woody stayed on the spot, her mouth gaping open in shock. She quickly shut it in time to see Kai turn around and wonder why she had stopped once more.
"Really?" she asked, surprise leaking into her tone.
Kai rolled his eyes. "Really."
Woody shrugged and told him when and where they were meeting. Waving a final goodbye, she took the books off him Kai walked in side his house, throwing his bag in the corner of the hallway and running up the stairs before his Aunt Maud could interrogate him on his day.
He watched the whole thing, hidden from the pair's view. He couldn't help but grin at the fact that he had now found Kai's weakness. Who ever knew it was going to be a girl? Tala grinned as he saw the scene unfold. How obvious was Kai? The way he helped his 'friend' carry her books, the way he caught her tenderly when she fell, and the way they had been speaking to each other. Oh yes, Tala thought, Kai definitely has a weakness.
With one last sly grin, Tala walked away swiftly to tell his boss the newfound news. Oh, he was so going to get a reward for his hard work.
Kai checked his watch and looked around him to see if anyone was going to turn up. He'd been standing there for about fifteen minutes waiting for someone to turn up, but of course, they'd all have to be late. Letting his arm fall down to his side, Kai growled slightly and looked around him once more, before resorting to leaning against the statue in the centre of town that they'd all agreed to meet at. He closed his eyes and thought about some things for a while.
He was angry with his grandfather. Angry at the fact that he still was turning up unexpectedly in his life all the time. Angry at the fact that his grandfather wouldn't let go of Kai, or leave him be. Angry at the fact that he had to be related to the evil man.
Kai clenched his teeth together in aggravation. He could look after himself, but why him? Why not some other kid in his school? Why did he have to move his life every time his grandfather came along? He was perfectly happy before he came to this town, well, as happy as Kai could get.
Kai's thoughts were interrupted when he heard some familiar voices nearby. Opening one eye to look at the time, he saw that he had been thinking for five minutes. The voices got closer and closer until he could hear what they were saying.
"Gosh, does he always fall asleep standing up?"
Laughter. Kai noted that Jenny had said that. He kept his eyes closed.
"He looks about as still as that statue!"
Some more laugher, Sara had said that.
"Guys, leave him alone, he always does that when he's having a 'deep moment'," Kai had almost heard the air quotes Rei had spoken. Kai smirked and opened his eyes.
"I'm not asleep."
A few people jumped out of their skin as they heard Kai speak. They hadn't expected that. Rei and Woody were both laughing at Tyson and Sara, who had both squealed slightly. Kai looked at the group. They seemed different out of school, probably because they were in their own clothes. Well, other than Sara and Jenny, who seemed to think it was okay to wear what they wanted in school. Rei and Tyson were wearing their usual clothes. Rei's red bandana with the yin yang symbol on it stood out vibrantly against his thick black hair, and he was wearing his traditional Chinese attire. Tyson had his blue cap shoved over his messy blue grey hair haphazardly. He wore his blue shorts with a yellow top and a red jacket. Woody had her jeans on with a light blue tee shirt on and she also wore a dark blue cap. Jenny had baggy combats on and a black mesh top over a black strap top. Kai briefly noted that this had been the first time he'd seen her without a hoody on. He'd ask about it later if he could be bothered. Sara had her hair down with a skirt that went to her knees and a black strappy top on to match her black flat suede boots. She must have had the biggest shoe collection Kai had ever seen.
"I'm glad you could make it," Kai sarcastically rolled his eyes and stared to walk down the street towards the cinema that they were going to.
Jenny poked him in the side. "Someone's grouchy."
"Don't touch me."
Jenny's smile faded slightly at the pointed look he was giving her. The others snickered at Kai's unsocial behaviour, not getting the point.
Rei and Sara were walking at the front of the group, casually chatting to each other. In fact, Sara was doing most of the chatting; Rei was just staring in disbelief at the fact that she could talk so much. He wasn't really paying much attention to where he was heading. He just watched Sara chatting and waving her hands about to help illustrate what she was saying.
"Oh yeah, I was like at this place, and it was going 'Burn baby BURN!' and they were selling all this merchandise for like, loads of dosh."
Rei frowned, and tried not to laugh at her crazy disco movements.
"What's… uh… 'dosh'?" he asked, watching her movements cease for a second.
"Money."
"Oh. You have some crazy words,"
Sara laughed and nodded watching the path ahead. Rei still wasn't looking at where he was going. He continued walking until-
"REI! Watch out!" Woody shouted, but it was too late.
A sharp pain moved throughout Rei's lower abdomen. He stopped in his tracks and doubled over in agony, holding his groin. He reeled backwards away from the fire hydrant that he had just walked into, seeing double. Rei heard a few grimaces from the males of the group.
"Oh my… Rei, are you okay?" Sara and Jenny rushed back to check if Rei was okay. Rei nodded slowly, wincing.
Sara helped him stand up straight by putting her arm around him for support.
"Rei, do you have eyes?" Kai asked, looking at him with an almost sympathetic look. Almost.
"Uh… yeah…?" Rei wasn't sure where this was heading.
"Are you blind?"
"No…"
"Well, why don't you use your eyes in the future and stop drooling over Sara so you can see where you're going?"
"Ouch," Woody said, laughing at the shocked faces of Rei and Sara. Jenny joined in with Woody, smirking at the pair. Sara rolled her eyes.
"Come on Rei, let's go," Sara walked ahead of the group, still helping him walk.
The group continued their trek to get to the small cinema. When they reached there they were faced with a small problem.
"No way are you getting me to see that!" Woody was shaking her head firmly at the choice of film that the others had chosen to see. "You know how I am with gore, the Last Samurai is the LAST film you're gonna get me to see."
Kai snorted. "Well, if you're too much of a wuss…"
Woody nodded and smiled. "Glad you got to see things my way."
Rei sighed and shook his head. They had been arguing about this for the past ten minuets and he'd had just about enough. "The film's gonna start soon, guys." Rei checked his watch. It was five minutes to five. The film was due to start at five and they hadn't even got the tickets yet.
Woody sighed. "Look, I know you all really want to see this film," there were a few shouts of agreements at Woody's comment, "And I don't. So why don't you just go… and I don't?"
Tyson cheered and grabbed Jenny and Kai's arms, dragging them towards the queue for the tickets.
"Tyson, get off my arm."
Tyson dropped Kai's arm as if it had burned him.
"Thank you." Kai turned to Woody. "Will you be okay walking alone?"
Woody snorted. "Well, this town is sooooooo big and dangerous," she waved her arms in mock distress. Kai rolled his eyes.
"Fine. See you at school tomorrow."
Woody laughed and patted his arm, saying goodbye to the others. They all waved back at her and Tyson continued dragging Jenny to the ticket queue.
"That was so sad-" a sob cut off what Sara was going to say next. "He… he…"
"There, there dearie," Jenny patted Sara on the shoulder and raised her eyes skywards. Nobody else in the group cried at the film. "Think of how happy Bob was."
They all laughed. "Bob, are you a ladies man? I know why you're quiet, they make you wear a dress, don't they Bob?" Tyson quoted.
Sara smiled sadly. "I bet you he… he… DIED!!!" She sobbed again.
A person walking into the next viewing of the Last Samurai gave Sara a particularly dirty glance. She'd obviously just spoiled the ending for them. Sara seemed unaware of the fact that she was spouting the plot to the whole cinema in between her rather hysterical wails. She dabbed her eyes delicately in fear of smudging her eyeliner. Rei laughed.
"Could you understand a word they were saying, Rei?" Sara asked hopefully.
Rei frowned slightly. "Uh… no, I'm Chinese, not Japanese."
"But… aren't they the same place?" Sara blinked slightly.
"No."
"Oh… that explains the bad grade in geography then."
"Yeah."
"Sorry."
"No problem."
"But I am…"
"S'okay."
"Sure?"
"Yeah."
"ARGHHH! Will someone give me a ring when the conversation comes back to life?!" Jenny asked. Kai smirked and Tyson snorted.
"Sorry…" Sara trailed off and blinked again. "So…. What were we talking about?"
Kai kicked the empty can along the walkway. He decided to head home straight after the movie, whereas the others decided to go back to Rei's for something to eat. Guess who's that idea was. Kai rolled his eyes at the thought of Tyson eating even more food after the extra large tub of popcorn that he consumed at the film.
He couldn't see much. For a summer's night it was pretty chilly, and the moon was overcast with heavy grey shadows. All around him were the looming shadows of the houses and trees, their spindly arms reaching out along the pavement bizarrely. The dark air around him hindered his vision a little, and it was difficult to distinguish whether the movements around him were shadows or whether there was something he'd missed slinking around from the back alleys to the fore run of the street. He shivered, for some unknown reason, and then continued, rounding the corner to his street. Oddly enough, he would feel glad to get home to the warm house and his aunt's regular squeals of "Kai, you shouldn't be out this late! The streets are no place for a young boy!" Yeesh.
Kai was turning the corner that led to his road when something caught his eye – despite the blackness that was closing in around him. Frowning, he walked up to it, trying to decipher what it was, having some difficulty because of the dim lighting of the street lamps. Picking the object up, he studied it closely before it hit him what it was.
Woody's cap.
/What's her cap doing in the middle of the street?/
Kai looked around himself cautiously as if expecting the answer to jump out at him from the looming shadows. He decided that the best thing to do was to return it back to her house. That way he could make sure that she was safe, kill two birds with one stone.
He jogged up to the gate and slipped through it quietly, conscious that it was getting late. Looking around for a moment, he slid up the path and enjoyed the feeling on the even footpath leading up to Woody's front door. He studied her cap again, not looking at where he was going. Kai felt the level of the ground change, and realised he'd stepped on something as a loud crack almost echoed through the silent street. He froze on the spot. He didn't want to look at what he'd stood on. He closed his eyes and opened them again, looking down.
A slender arm was poking out from the bushes at the side of the front garden.
Kai throat went dry, and he swallowed loudly, not daring to move. But soon curiosity got the better of him and tugged at the cold arm, hoping to remove a prosthetic arm from the bushes.
Pity.
Gradually, he removed what was jammed behind the small leaves and branches.
Kai leaped back and opened his mouth to cry out, but he couldn't. The image of her eyes wide open burned into his mind and he squeezed his eyes shut once again, not wanting to believe what he had just seen.
/It's just a dream… it must be./
Sick rose up in his throat and he had to swallow it down before opening an eye. Shakily, he raised his hand again to check if her body was still there. Hoping he was just imagining it.
Her eyes were still open, staring up unseeingly at him. They were empty. Void of any emotion. Emptiness reflected inside of them.
Kai fell to his knees and scrambled backwards away from the body, not wanting this to be happening.
It was.
And lying before him was the lifeless corpse of…
/No…/
HAHAHAHAHA! Left you at a bit of a cliffy there, didn't I? MWAHAHAHA! I've had fun writing this chappie.
So, tell me what you think and maybe I'll update a wee bit faster.
REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!
Tra.
Oh, and I don't own the Last Samurai… or Kai… or Tala… or any beyblade characters. Damn…