Disclaimer: I don't own anything; only the characters/bit-beats you don't know.


Thanks to:


bba: I hope I'm going fast enough, for you. Anyway, I'm happy to see you like this. Hope you'll continue tuned ^_^ Good Beyblade Reading!

SailorofTears: Wanna know what Mariah meant witl 'I'll be waiting'? Well, aren't you lucky? You're going to find out, if you keep reading. *hehe* Anyway, about your and mind fics, hum...do you mind sending me an e-mail? I think it would be better. My mail is: ocean_depths@sapo.pt


Nina: Well, this will be the chapter where all the mistery around Mariah's sentence, will be revealed. *hehe* Hope you like it. However, beware, not everything is what it seems to be. *evil laugh* Good reading!


Lil Bre: Thank you for your words; I hope you keep enjoying this. Enjoy!


Galux Kitty: I'm sorry if you took my reply in the wrong way, I really didn't wanted to hurt you. All I wanted to say, was that I already have the pairings and that nothing will change it. And, I also meant that nothing is like it seems to be. Sorry again, I really didn't wanted to hurt you. *bows*


Note: Please, forgive the mistakes.


And now the chapter...


Chapter 4: The Lonely Wolf & The Broken Tiger


Ura opened the door of the room she shared with Mariah and, once she walked in, her mouth droped: Mariah was a few metters from her, wearing a black skirt, which wouldn't pass her knees, a pink top and black boots:

"Mariah?" she asked, still shocked and her cousin, turned around:

"Tell me, how am I?" Mariah asked, smiling and Ura blinked her eyes:

"Hum...I mean, it depends, with whom and where you're going." she answered and Mariah giggled:

"I'm going to the cinema." she replied, has she walked towards a chair and grabbed a black jacket:

"Oh really?" Ura asked, interested "And, with whom?"


Mariah blushed:

"Kai." she replied, softly and Ura's mouth droped, again:

"Kai?" she repeated, shocked "Kai Hiwatari?"

Mariah nodded, as she dressed her jacket:

"Yup."


"I thought you hated him." Ura said, sitting on a chair "Besides, does your brother know?"

Mariah shook her head:

"No." she said, slowly "Why should I tell him?"

"Hum...because he's your brother?" Ura answered, tentatively and Mariah rolled her eyes:

"It's just a movie." she said

"Just a movie?" Ura asked, eyeing her cousin

"At least, I think so." Mariah replied, with a bit of pink on her cheeks "After all, he is Kai Hiwatari."

"The lonely wolf." Ura muttered and Mariah raised her eyebrow:

"What?" she asked, confused and the purple haired girl shook her head:

"Nothing." she said "Just, have fun and be careful."

"You know, I will." Mariah answered "Lets just hope, Lee doesn't freak."

"Knowing my dear cousin, as I do, I wouldn't bet on that." Ura said, smiling and both laughed:

"Well, I better get going." Mariah said, after a few seconds "Kai's waiting for me, down stairs."

"Have fun on your date." Ura said and the pink haired girl blushed:

"Ura, we're just going to see a movie." she said and Ura rolled her eyes:

"Yeah, and I'm the World Champion." she replied, before she pointed to her cousin "I'll hold the horses here, but you have to promise you'll tell me everything."

Mariah smiled:

"Thanks Ura." she said, as she opened her room door "Bye!"

"Have fun!" Ura exclaimed and Mariah nodded, before she closed the door "You really need it." she muttered at the end.


~*~


Mariah was able to got out of the hotel, without anyone seen her but now came the tough part: find Kai. 'Strange, he said he would be here.' she thought to herself, as she looked everywhere around her 'Maybe...maybe he decided to stay. Maybe he regreted, the invitation.' As she looked around, Mariah couldn't help but think about that afternoon, when she saw Kai and the boy asked her...


*Flashback*


Mariah was walking down the street, thinking about the talk she had had with Ray. She couldn't believe she had told him, to forget everything. All those memories...if he wanted to forget them, fine, but she woul never do that. Ray had been the one who taught her the art of blading and it had been Ray who had helped and protected her, everytime she was in trouble. Of course, that had been before he left their village. She had understood, after their fight during the Asian Tournament, the reason why Ray had choosed to stay with the Bladebreakers and she had even supported him, but that had been after the Russian Tournament, and the time they had been obliged to say goodbye...again.

As the pink haired girl tried hard to stop tears from appearing on her eyes, she looked down: she missed her best friend...no, she missed her love. Why? Why hadn't she been able to tell Ray the truth, as Kevin had told her? Why did she had to be such a weak, and keep everything to herself? Why?

Suddenly, Mariah run into someone and, when she prepared herself to hit the ground, she felt an arm around her waist. For a few seconds, she couldn't move. That, until a rough voice was heard:

"You really should see, to whom you ran into, kid."

As she rolled her eyes, Mariah looked up:

"Sorry, Kai." she said, as she straighted herself "I didn't see to where I was going. Sorry."


Kai crossed his arms:

"Just be careful, kid." he said


"Wait!" Mariah exclaimed, as the blue haired boy was about to walk again


"What is it, now?" Kai growled and Mariah looked at her feet:

"Why are you always calling me 'kid'?" she asked, though she really didn't knew why she was asking it.


Kai rolled his eyes:

"Because that's what you are." he replied and Mariah rolled her eyes:

"If I'm correct, you're not older than me, so you're calling yourself a kid." she said and Kai growled.


When she heard him growl, Mariah giggled:

"What's so funny?" the boy asked and Mariah shook her head:

"It's nothing." she said "Well, sorry for er...crashing into you, I really didn't see you." but when she was about to walk away, Mariah felt a hand on her arm:

"Wait." Kai said and the pink haired girl, looked at him:

"Yes?" she asked and Kai looked down. Then, Mariah notice something: was Kai blushing? 'No, why would he be blushing?' the girl asks, to herself 'Kai thinks he's too cool, to blush.'


"Would you come...I don't know, maybe see a movie?" Kai asked, after a few seconds and Mariah blinked:

"Huh?" she asked, before she could stop herself. Kai Hiwatari was asking her, to go see a movie with him? No, that had to be a joke

"Don't make me repeat again, Mariah." Kai said and Mariah gasped: he had treated her by her name? Now that wasn't something you would heard everyday. 'Ok, what if he's being honest?' Mariah asked to herself, as Kai looked at her, with his face emotioness 'What if this is just a friendly date? Besides, I really need to have some fun.'

"Sure Kai." she said, smiling "I'll go."

"Today, at 7?" Kai asked and Mariah nodded:

"Ok, met you at the hotel entrance." she said "But I really need to go to the hotel, now. See you then?"

"No, I'm going to the hotel too." Kai said and both started walking.


*End of Flashback*


After looking around her one more time, Mariah sighed: she should have known Kai was kidding with her. Besides, why would a guy like Kai want something with a girl like her?


"Going somewhere?" a rough voice asked and Mariah turned around, to face the darkest corner of the street.

"Who...who's there?" she asked and, out of nowhere, Kai appeared, with his arms crossed. When she saw him, Mariah blushed: Kai was wearing a pair of black pants and a dark blue shirt but, for her, it was enough to made her feel unconfortable. 'But he looks handsome.' Mariah thought, before opening her eyes wide 'Handsome? Since when Kai's handsome?'


"Thought I had ditched you?" Kai asked and Mariah snapped from her throughts:

"I...er...Well, yeah, since you weren't here when I came." she replied, laying her hands on her hips

"Is that so?" Kai asked, smirking and Mariah rolled her eyes:

"What if we leave, before someone sees us?" she asked and Kai nodded:

"Fine." he said and both teenagers walking down the streets, while trying to stay away from each other for at least a half-metter.


What they hadn't noticed, was a pair of eyes, looking at them.


~*~


"Hey Ura!" Max exclaimed "Wow, you look great."

"You think?" the purple haired girl asked, smiling and the boy nodded:

"Yeah, that color is great on you."

Blushing, Ura looked down at her dress: she had decided to use a midnight-blue dress, which had some sparkles on the skirt:

"Great to heard, because this is one of my favourite dresses." she said, winking at the boy

"Ura, where's Mariah?" Lee asked, eyeing his cousin


"Oh, she's feeling a bit sick." Ura replied, as she sat on her chair

"Sick?" Lee asked, looking worried "What happened?"

Ura shruged:

"Don't worry Lee, it's a girl problem." she answered "It happens more often, than you know."

"What kind, of girl problem?" Kevin asked and Ura looked at him:

"Don't be inconvenient." she said, before looking at Lee "And don't you dare go there, and interrupt her rest."

"But, if she's sick, I have to go see her." Lee said, getting up from his chair


"Oh no, you don't." Ura said, grabbing his arm "Sit down Lee, I told you it's a girl problem, tomorrow she'll be fine."

As he growled, Lee sat next to her:

"Ura, wanna dance?" Max asked, after a few seconds and the girl looked at him:

"Sure." she said, before looking at her cousin "I mean it Lee, don't you go there."

"Ok, I won't." he said and the purple haired girl looked at the other boys:

"None of you will go." she said, locking her eyes with Ray's "I'm serious."


"Ok." everyone said and, after smiling at Max, both teenagers walked towards the dance floor.

"What do you think, that happened?" Kevin asked to Lee, who shruged:

"How am I suppose to know?" he asked "I'm not a girl."

"Well, I can go see her, if you want." the green haired boy said and Lee shook his head:

"No, let her be." he answered "Besides, Mariah needs to rest."

With that answer, the subject was dropped.


"Lets ask for food!" both Tyson and Gary said, and everyone rolled their eyes.


"Hey, has anyone seen Kai?" Ray asked

"What? He didn't come?" Tyson asked, looking around and Chief shook his head:

"I saw him walk away from our room, maybe he went for a walk." he said and Ray looked at him:

"Maybe." he said


"Excuse me." a voice said and everyone turned around, to face a 17 year old girl. Her hair was very strange, since it was black and blue, with two locks of pink. Her eyes were golden and brown and she was wearing a pair of jeans and a pink top "Can I speak with Mr Kon?"

"That should be me." Ray said, raising his hand "May I help you?"

The girl licked her lips:

"Actually, I would like to speak with you, in private." she said and Ray nodded:

"Sure, lets go outside." he said, getting up "You can order, Chief, I won't take to long." with that, he and the girl walked away.


"Wow, who is she?" Tyson asked

"How am I suppose to know?" Chied asked, as he shrugged


~*~


"Hum, if you don't mind me asking, can you tell me your name?" Ray asked, as the two teens stopped close to the pool's door


"My name is Heiya." the girl replied "And you're Ray."

"Yes." Ray answered "Now, what did you wanted to tell me?"


"To open your eyes." Heiya said and Ray raised his eyebrow:

"Excuse me?" he asked, confused

"She likes you, she really does but, if you don't fight for her, you'll lose her."

"What?" Ray asked, confused "What are you talking about?"

"See this?" the girl pointed to her hair "This will continue, until her heart is won by one of you."

"Of whom are you talking about?" Ray asked

"Just listen to your heart." Heiya replied, before walking away

"Wait!" Ray exclaimed, before run after the girl. However, she was nowhere to be seen "Strange girl." he mumbled, shaking his head "Strange indeed."


~*~


"I loved the movie, thanks for bringing me here, Kai." Mariah said, as the two teenagers walked away from the cinema


Kai shruged:

"You're welcome." he said, in his usual voice


Suddenly, Mariah smiled:

"Hey, why don't we go dance?" she asked, clapping her hands "I know a great place!"

"I don't think so." Kai said, in his usual rough voice and Mariah rolled her eyes:

"Fine, lets go to the hotel where everyone will see us." she said. She didn't understood why she wanted to spend more time with Kai, but she felt so happy she just didn't wanted to go sleep yet.


"Where's the place?" Kai asked, as the girl was about to give the first step.


Slowly, Mariah turned to him:

"It's just around the corner." she said "And, if you feel like it, you can blade there. They have an arena, only for players."

That seemed to interest Kai, since he seemed to look curiose:

"Really?" he asked, and Mariah nodded:

"Yeah, we - The White Tigers - usually go there." she answered "It's very cosy."

"Ok, lets go then." Kai said, grabbing her by the arm


'Ok Mariah don't blush.' Maria thought to herself, before raising an eyebrow 'Blush? Why would I blush? He's just Kai, the cold and lonely guy...'


"Here it is." she said, after they had walked for five minuted and Kai raised his eyebrow:

"This...is it?" he asked, poiting to the building in front of him, which seemed to be falling a part.


Mariah winked at him:

"Don't let the outside fool you." she said, smiling "Now, c'mon." without realising, she grabbed Kai's hand and dragged him inside:

"Hey look, it's Mariah!" someone exclaimed and the pink haired girl waved:

"Hi!"

"Hey Mariah, looking good." a boy from a corner said, but Mariah just waved. When he heard the comment, Kai felt his insides twist, though he didn't knew why. The only thing he knew was that, out of the blue, he had wanted to hit the boy


"Hey Mariah, is he your boyfriend?" a orange haired girl asked, looking at the teenagers' hands

Suddenly, both Mariah and Kai looked down, to their hands, before letting go of each other. However, while Mariah blushed, Kai looked normal:

"No, he's not my boyfriend." the pink haired girl replied, as she shook her head "We just came here to dance."

"Oh, have a good time." the girl said, before she winked a Mariah "Follow me."

"Strange people." Kai said suddenly, and Mariah chuckled:

"They're not that bad." she said "Besides, most of them are old friends."

"Really?" Kai asked, with his eyebrow raised "I knew there was something between you, and those guys."

"Hey!" Mariah exclaimed, hitting Kai on the arm


Kai smirked:

"Hey, don't get me wrong." he said, crossing his arms "Just telling the truth."

"Oh, shut up." Mariah said, as both of them entered in other division.


The place looked like a disco, with the difference there were couchs, small tables and a fireplace.

There were three or four groups, where Kai could see couples and people dancing a fast song: 'What the hell is this place?' he thought, while Mariah lead him towards a table, on a corner


"So, like it?" the orange haired girl asked and Kai shruged:

"Strange place." he said and Mariah rolled her eyes:

"Is there something, that's not strange to you?" she asked, but Kai doesn't reply


"Want me to bring you, something?" the orange haired girl asked and Mariah looked at her:

"No Kira, but thanks." she said and Kira smiled:

"No problem, if you need something just call me." with that, she walked away.


"So, besides the wierd part, do you like this?" Mariah asked, after a few minutes in silence.


Kai shruged:

"I told you, it's weird." he said


Mariah was about to reply, when a song catched her attention:

"Oh, I love this song!" she exclaimed


"No." Kai said suddenly, and Mariah looked at him:

"What?" she asked, confused

"There's no way, I'm going to dance." Kai said and Mariah rolled her eyes:

"Fine, I'm not going to force you." she replied "Why don't you go blade, or something? You only need to go through that door." when he saw the door, Kai walked towards it, leaving Mariah behind "No need to say 'thanks'." she muttered, before walking towards the dance floor


~*~


The place was very strange, indeed: the arena was huge and it was full of teenagers, with their blades. There were five or six bowls and, without wasting more time, Kai walked towards a group:

"Hey man, wanna blade?" a sixteen years old boy asked but Kai ignored him; he just grabbed his blade and launched it towards the bowl:

"Lets do it." he said, crossing his arms


~*~


As Mariah danced, her mind was on Kai: she just couldn't explain but, she couldn't forget him. But why? He's just the lonely wolf, like Ura called him.' Mariah thought 'Besides, I should be thinking about Ray and everything I've done... But, since I started to talk with Kai, I feel different...Why?'


While the pink haired girl danced, a pair of eyes looked at her: she was a easy spot, due to her pink hair but the real reason he couldn't take his eyes off her, was because the way she was moving her body. 'What? She's just a kid!'


Slowly, he walked towards Mariah's side and put a hand on her shoulder:

"Lets go." he said and the girl looked at him:

"What?" Mariah asked "Why?"

"Because it's almost midnight." Kai replied

"What?" Mariah asked, surprised "Shoot!"


With that, both walked away, while Mariah waved goodbye:

"You know, I can see you've change." Mariah said, when the two of them stepped outside


Kai crossed his arms:

"What do you mean?" he asked and Mariah chuckled:

"You're less cold, now." she said "And, who would have thought you would ask the kid here, to see a movie?" she asked, with her hands inside her jacket pockets.


Kai smirked:


"I'm a man of many surprises." he replied and Mariah raised her eyebrow:

"Oh really?" she asked, crossing her arms "Don't you mean a boy?"


Kai raised his eyebrow: 'Is she challenging me?' he asked, to himself

"No, I'm a man." he said and Mariah smirked:

"Lets see that man, then." she said. She couldn't believe she was actually flirting with Kai, and he was playing along.


Without any warning, Kai walked towards her and put a hand on her arm:

"Don't forget," he started and Mariah looked at his eyes only to see warm and emotions she never thought she would see, in Kai's eyes "you asked for it."


"Wh...what do you mean?" Mariah asked and, as an answered, she felt Kai's lips on hers. 'What the hell...?' she thought but her mind went blank, when she felt something run along her lower lip. That was her first kiss, a long and intense kiss, she always thought she would share with Ray. Without thinking, Mariah put her arm's around Kai's neck, while Kai put his hands on her waist 'Damn, this is good.' Kai thought, as Mariah moaned.


However it was then that Kai stepped back and looked at Mariah, who had her eyes closed and cheeks pink. He couldn't help but think she looked cute 'What? Cute? C'mon Hiwatari, it was just a challenge.'


"We're here." he said and Mariah opened her eyes "See you, tomorrow." and before the girl could say a thing, Kai walked inside the hotel.


'Ok, what happened?' Mariah asked to herself and, as an answer, she blushed 'I didn't kissed Kai...I didn't kissed Kai...shit, I kissed Kai!'


"Oh no!" she groaned "This can't be happening, not to me!"


Still muttering to herself, Mariah walked inside without noticing a pair of eyes, watching her.


~*~


'I really need to do something but, what? I don't know what to do, to make her understand what happened.' Suddenly, Ray's thoughts were interrupted when the door was opened, and Kai entered:

"Where were you?" the black haired boy asked, while his friend walked towards his bed


"None of your business." Kai replied, coldly


"Well, we were waiting for you to go see the Majestics but, since you weren't here, we decided to go tomorrow." Ray said and Kai raised his eyebrow:

"Really?" he asked, still in his cold voice "What are they, doing here?"

Ray shruged:

"Vacations, I think." he said


"Great, that's really what I needed." growled Kai "Those losers, around here."

"Kai..." Ray started, slowly


"What?" the other boy asked, annoyed

"What's going on between you, and Mariah?"


"Who? The kid?" Kai asked, as he sat on his bed


Ray rolled his eyes:

"Yes, the kid." he said

"Nothing." Kai said "Don't you think I have more to do?"

"Well, sorry I asked." Ray said, laying on his bed "Goodnight."

With that, everything went silent.


Trying to block Mariah's image of his mind, Kai closed his eyes: 'Damn, that kid.' he cursed 'And damn that kiss.'


~*~


"Ura?" Mariah asked, as she closed the door "Ura, you're up?"

"You bet I am."the purple haired girl said, walking towards her cousin "Now, tell me everything and don't you dare to hide a thing from me." she sat on the couch "So, how was the date?"


"It wasn't a date!" Mariah exclaimed, taking her jacket off "We went as friends."

"Oh, so you're in the 'friends' terms, huh?" Ura asked, smiling and Mariah shruged:

"I guess so." she said


"What did you do?" Ura asked and Mariah smiled, as she sat on a chair:

"Well, we went to the cinema and then I took him to the Mura."

"You did?" Ura asked, surprised "He went with you?"

Mariah chuckled:


"Yeah he did, but he prefered to blade and I stayed, dancing." she said

"Hum...what else?" Ura asked, interested


"Well..." Mariah cleared her throat. The kiss...how could she forget it? Her first kiss, so intense...so powerfull...


"Hey, why are you blushing?" Ura asked, breaking Mariah's thoughts. Then, she opened her eyes wide "No! You did...?"

"What?" Mariah asked, not noticing how hot her face was

"You kissed him!" Ura exclaimed "It's written all over your face! I can't believe it! You kissed Kai Hiwatari and you liked it!"


"No!" Mariah exclaimed, blushing harder "I mean, yes but..."

"You admitted!" Ura exclaimed, laughing "I can't believe you like him!"

"What?" Mariah asked, shocked "I don't like Kai, not like that, anyway."

"They, why are you blushing?" the purple haired girl asked, smiling "And why your eyes look like stars? C'mon, you like Kai!"

Mariah looked down:

"No, I don't." she said "I like Ray."

"Yeah, right." Ura muttered, getting up "Well, now that I know everything I needed to know, I'm going to bed. G'Night, dear cousin."


With that, she walked away.


When she's all alone, Mariah took a deep breath:

"I don't like Kai." she muttered "I don't." but, deep inside, she wasn't so sure anymore.


~*~


"The lonely wolf and the broken tiger...then, only the ocean tear and the sad lion will stay." a voice said to the night, before desappearing with the wind.


To Be Continued...


A/N: So, did you liked it? Oh, and don't forget, not everything is what it seems to be. Please, review. Thank you.