Like I mentioned earlier, the events in V-Force aren't in this, but some characters are. Like Wyatt and Hilary. I'm using Wyatt's English surname because I don't know the Japanese one. So if anyone knows, could they just let me know? And does anyone know either of Hilary's surnames, Jap or Eng? Thanks.
Chapter One
Present Day
Kai stepped out of the terminal and looked around as he did every time he got off a plane. There was no one waiting here for him, yet every time he searched for a face he longed to see again.
"I'll bet you're glad to be back here," someone commented coming up behind him looking around the airport.
"I suppose." Kai walked off making the others follow behind him. Some of his companions glanced at each other before following him out to the customs area.
Kai ignored them and continued on, thinking over what he had to do here rather than everything else that was threatening to distract him. Like being so close to Tyson again. He sighed as he passed his bag through the x-ray machines, thinking about everything that had transpired before.
"Name?" A bored attendant asked.
"Kai Hiwatari." He handed over his passport.
"Reason for stay?"
"Business." The man looked a bit surprised. Kai was just over sixteen. He looked over at the others gathered nearby.
"Right." The man looked at something on his sheet. "Are you for Mr. Dickinson?"
Kai looked at him suspiciously. "We are."
The man smiled. "He's organised different transportation for you from the airport, you'll have to go past the other gates. He sent a message ahead and apologises for not contacting you sooner." The man handed over a piece of paper and tickets.
Kai nodded, taking the message. "Thank you." He got his passport back and waited for the officer to check his companions'. He read over the note and frowned. It seemed they were to be spilt up.
"What's the problem?"
"Ian and Spencer are to return to Russia and work with the Majestcis and their informants," Kai informed them. "Bryan and Tala are to go to America with Judy and the All-Stars while I'm to remain here with Mr. Dickinson for another assignment."
The others nodded, accepting this without question.
Kai walked off again, leading the way to the first gate. "Robert's sent his jet, they'll be meeting us at gate five." Ian and Spencer nodded at this and followed him to the gate.
The violet haired blader was indeed waiting with Enrique, a very excited Oliver and a rather grumpy Johnny. Robert walked over when he saw them and smiled.
"Hello Kai," he said, shaking his hand. Kai frowned slightly, hearing a slight coldness to his tone.
Kai ignored it for now. "Robert. You know about the change of plans?" The captain nodded. "Good. Ian, Spencer." The two boys stepped forward. "You take your orders from Robert now, unless superseded by Mr. Dickinson." The boys nodded at this.
"Hey Kai." Oliver bounded over, but did not hug him as he did the others. (actually it was quite funny to see the expressions on Tala's and Bryan's faces when he did so) But then, for some reason, Kai intimidated the boy slightly.
"Oliver." Kai looked over. "Enrique, Johnny," he greeted. Enrique waved and winked, while Johnny merely raised an eyebrow.
"We haven't seen you in ages, you have to come stay with me when you have time."
"I'm a fairly busy person," Kai sidestepped his offer graciously.
"Yes, it was rather unfortunate that you had to start your work with Mr. Dickinson during the celebrations at the castle," Robert mused, ignoring Kai's sharp look.
"Things came up."
"Indeed."
Kai stared at him intently. Just what is he hinting at? Did he know about Tyson and Rei? Kai couldn't ask him in front of everyone, but the ice in his eyes and the tightening of his face told Kai everything he needed to know. He looked away.
"We've got to go, the other plane will be taking off soon." Kai strode away again without so much as a goodbye. Robert glared after him. The others looked a bit confused at the situation, but wisely kept their mouths shut. Tala and Bryan spared a glance between themselves then followed Kai.
The excuse about the plane was a blatant lie. It wasn't coming for another half-hour. The three boys sat down in the waiting area. Kai pulled out some papers and went through them while the other two watched him. After a while Tala gestured something to Bryan and the boy nodded and got up.
"Where's he going?" Kai asked distractedly, not even looking up.
"Bathroom," Tala supplied.
"You wanted to talk about something?" Kai wasn't a fool.
"Answers."
"We all want those."
"Cut the shit Kai, what the fuck happened? You've been weird since the end of the last mission."
"Homecoming jitters." Tala glared at him. Kai still hadn't looked up. "Look Tala, it's not your business, so don't talk about it again."
"Robert knows."
"Robert knows many things, doesn't mean I necessarily said a word."
"Which more than likely indicates there is a problem of some sort with your team. Most likely Tyson, considering he and Kenny are the only ones here and I doubt that Kenny and you talk enough to have a serious falling out."
"Perceptive. How long has it taken you to think of that?"
Tala glared again. "Look Kai, your private life is yours, but if it starts to affect your performance in the missions I'll have to step in as your second and take things to Mr. Dickinson."
"I seem to recall giving that same lecture to my team many times, I think I practice what I preach, so you need not worry about what problems I may have in my private life interfering with anything." Kai slipped the papers back into a briefcase and stood up. "Plane's boarding. Where's Bryan?"
Tala looked around. "Coming now." He pointed. Kai nodded. He waited for the two bladers to gather their possessions. "Michael and Judy will be waiting for you at the airport with the information for your next mission. Take your orders from them or Mr. Dickinson." Tala and Bryan nodded.
"See you around." Kai walked off again, not waiting for their replies. Tala shook his head after him and Bryan looked at him curiously.
"What is it?"
"Tyson."
"You were right then." Bryan headed over to the attendant taking the tickets. "He's going to have a hard time dealing with a mission by himself."
"Kai will persevere through sheer will if need be," Tala snorted "He's too stubbourn and proud for his own good sometimes. If his problems get to much, he eliminates them."
Bryan stopped suddenly. "You think he'll kill Tyson?"
Tala laughed. "Kai wouldn't dare harm a hair on Tyson's precious head. No, he'll just push the boy away again until he's no longer a problem. That's how he always operates."
Bryan shrugged. "So do we."
"But we're not in love with a guy like Tyson. How do you think he'll react when he finds out Kai's in town? I'm not actually too sure Kai will be able to push him away again."
Bryan smiled suddenly, a very rare thing to see. "Wish we could be there to see it."
* * *
Kai waked out into the main area for arrivals, looking around for a sign that Mr. Dickinson was nearby.
"Kai Hiwatari?" He looked up to see a man with a BBA coat on and nodded. "Mr. Dickinson sent a car for you. You'll be briefed at headquarters." Kai nodded again and let himself be led away by the man.
The car trip was a long, smooth and utterly boring and uneventful. Kai arrived at the familiar town where he'd lived with his grandfather and with the Bladebreakers for some few days at a time. He felt a small pang of nostalgia watching the buildings go past outside the tinted windows then shook his head, berating himself for indulging in such meaningless thoughts and emotions. They eventually stopped at the large headquarters just outside of town.
Kai stepped out of the car, grabbing his bags. A worker took them from him with a smile, but Kai barely took any notice. He strode into the lobby and over to the main desk.
"Kai Hiwatari to see Mr. Dickinson," he informed the receptionist.
"He's expecting you, go straight in." Kai nodded and walked over to the elevator and pressed the button for the top floor. On that floor another receptionist waved him into Mr. Dickinson's office.
"Kai," the older man smiled cheerfully seeing the young blader. "I'm glad you're here."
"You have a new mission for me?" Kai asked coldly, sitting down in one of the chairs. Mr. Dickinson seemed not to notice Kai's distinct lack of courtesy and went to his desk and sat down, ruffling through some papers in his drawer before pulling out a file.
"I do indeed." Kai was handed the file, while he opened curiously. The top page was a profile. "His name is Wyatt Smithwright, his father was involved with monetary investments for Biovolt. With the downfall of the company, they're getting desperate. Mr. Smithwright is refusing to aid them to bring the company back from the ashes. We think Biovolt will go after his son and have agreed to help."
"Are all of the investors going back to Biovolt?"
"Some of the smaller ones. The other larger investors don't have anything to use against them. Mr. Smithwright is unable to protect his son however, him being at Whitney Prep School."
Kai nodded. He flicked through the file a bit more. "So I'm to protect him?"
"Yes, but we also have other safety measures up. You and young Wyatt here will both be attending the local high school as normal students."
"Hide in the general population?" Kai thought this over. "He's not from around here so it could work." He frowned suddenly. "What grade?"
"Well considering you have missed an entire school year, you'll have to be dropped down a grade for your age." Kai made a face and Mr. Dickinson smiled at him. "Wyatt will be in your grade as well, so it is better this way anyway."
"Fine, so I'll be in the tenth grade."
"Ninth Kai."
Kai looked stunned. "Ninth? But I'm sixteen! I should be in the eleventh grade normally!"
"At a prep school, yes, but because of the differing rules of public system you would have been put in the tenth grade if you hadn't missed out on the year."
"But that means …" Kai paled slightly, thinking about who would be in his class. He shook his head. "What's our cover story?"
"You're Kai Hiwatari returning to your home town, Wyatt will be a friend visiting from another part of the country you met on your trip over the past year." Kai nodded and flicked through the pages a bit more. There was something he wanted to ask, but Mr. Dickinson could see he didn't want to mention anything.
"The others," he finally asked quietly. "Where are they now?"
Mr. Dickinson smiled, knowing Kai would get around to asking that eventually. "Rei went back to his home town with the White Tigers, as you know, keeping in contact with him." Kai blushed slightly, wondering if Mr. Dickinson knew, or even suspected anything that had gone on a few years ago. "Max stayed here with his father for a while, then they both moved back to America with Judy. Kenny and Tyson both went back home and now attend the same high school you will be attending."
Kai nodded, looking impassive, but inside there was only one thing he could think. Shit.
AN: Oh Kai has no idea what he's in for and that's what he gets for being such a meanie to Tyson … even though I made him be that away.
Oh well, hope you enjoyed this update. The next one should be out soon too.
Until then,
Laters.