Chapter IV
The Ivanov's Struggles
The red haired boy awoke in the early Russian sun that streamed though his half open blinds. Wiping his eyes sleepily he stumbled to his feet. Focus slowly came to him. He turned to his bed to see a sleeping form, her head muffled in the pillows. He leant over slowly to stroke her auburn hair bronzed by the aurora of the new arising day.
Watching his girlfriend sleep, gave him some sort of hope for the day. He continued with his early morning ritual before kissing his girlfriends head. Over flowing his senses with strawberry.
Carefully, letting the doorknob slide though his pale fingers. He left for the long, winding corridor. Greeting team members he happened to pass, he put on a brave face. Deeper down, the closer he got to the training theatre, the more he had a gut feeling about his younger sister. Deciding against his brotherly feelings, he decided to progress with this 'meeting' with his father.
He approached the door, with his stomach churning. Pushing his weight against the paneled, sliding doors. A large built character welcomed him. The blonde-haired figure leant against the wall opposite the door, a slight grin on his face. "Boss thought you wasn't gonna show,"
"Well," Tala replied, "I have. So where's Boris?"
"Boss, is in there," He gestured with his thumb. Closing his eyes, "Good luck, Captain"
"Thanks Spencer," He glared walking towards the door.
***
"Rayne, Rayne" She poked, leaning over the bed. Her auburn hair falling over her face.
Rayne muttered a few nothings before burying her sweaty forehead into her pillow. "Go away" She groaned
"Come on get up, please" She continued with her irritating poking, the thing that Rayne hated most about her best friend. It was her ignorance, and her wonder for everything. She found it so irritating she gave up. Even thought pain racked her whole body, she arose on her knees using her arms for support.
"I'm up, okay?" She snapped, shaking violently "Will you leave me alone?"
"What's wrong Rayne? Why are you shaking like that?" Her friend leant out her arm to support her ribs. Rayne refluxed quicker then her friend expected, knocking her hand back. Rayne fell back down in over-whelming pain, clutching her ribs.
"Rayne? Why are you acting so weird? Please tell me," Her friend pleaded, sobbing at the site of her best friend so helpless.
"It's nothing," Her cry came muffled by the pillow her head was embedded in. Her lower body from the waist down just seemed to be so harrowing.
"I'm going to get Tala, Rayne. Stay there," She warned
"No! Rhoda! Stop!" She exclaimed. Draining the air from her lungs.
"Why Rayne, your in so much pain,"
"I don't want Tala to know,"
"But he's your brother, he cares about you so much you know" Her apple blossom eyes settled on Rayne's own pained crystal azure eyes. Rayne groaned with pain, "It will tear him apart,"
"But why? Why are you hurt Rayne?" She seriously replied
"If I tell you. Promise you won't tell Tala?"
"I promise Rayne, You know you can trust me."
"And never tell." She paused "Never tell Kai,"
"Kai? What about him?" She asked puzzled, why would Rayne suddenly bring up Kai.? She hasn't talked about him in months. I thought he was dead.
"What I'm about to say, isn't one of the thing's I want Kai to know,"
"But."
"No buts Rhoda, I don't want Hiwatari." She paused fighting for air, "I don't want Hiwatari to know"
Rhoda nodded her head. Not really understanding her friends explanation but understanding her feelings on the subject of Kai, she still loves him.. I knew it.
***
"What's this 'meeting' about then?" Asked Tala not to impressed
"Well, I have a little mission for you. But if you don't want it, I noticed Spencer around the corner, maybe he'll take it,"
"Boris, just tell me about the god damn mission, I have things to do"
"Well, we need the 4 sacred spirits for our testing, we need them. To complete our task"
"So you're sending me to Tokyo, to try and beat the little bastards at a game they can't even play?"
"Well, I certainly wouldn't call Hiwatari a bastard," Boris replied
"Shut up!" He snapped, "Since when have you cared?"
"Since I made you a new blade," He laughed viciously "Here take it. It's called Gaia Wolborg, we forced Wolborg to evolve, he's even stronger then before," A sly smile cracked upon his lips.
Tala stared at him blankly before gripping the Beyblade in his palm tightly, grasping its cold harsh steel.
"I hope you like it, will you do the mission?"
"Depends who with," He finally spoke
"Your sister, Rhoda and Shard"
"Okay, I'll do it." He paused before leaving "One thing,"
"And what would that be my son?"
Tala glared "If Rayne gets hurt I'm holding you responsible,"
Boris held his hand to the 20-year-old's shoulder, "If she's going to get hurt, it's only going to be her emotions, Tala. You are the brother you are there to stop all pain and suffering to her," He paused "No matter what the cost"
***
"But No.." She stuttered, "That can't be."
Rayne sobbed, "It's true," She wrapped her arms around her knees, burying her face. "It happened last night, when I got back from the train station,"
"Rayne, oh my god," She studied her friends curled up form, "What has he done to you?" Rhoda asked beyond a whisper.
"That's why you can't tell Kai," She murmured, "It would rip his emotions apart,"
"I won't" Rhoda sobbed, "But what are you going to do?"
"I'm leaving Russia, I'm heading for Tokyo. I'm gonna compete in the Asian tournament"
"Straight away?" She replied wiping her tears away with her sleeve.
"Tonight," Rayne's tone sad fully "I need to get away from here,"
"I understand Rayne, but when will you tell Tala?"
"I'm not"
"But. You have to!"
"What he doesn't know, won't kill him," Rayne replied stretching her legs before jumping off the bed with a wince.
"But, he'll want to know," She argued
Rayne shook her head, emptying the contents of her draws into a black duffle bag. "I'll tell him when the time is right,"
"That won't be before you leave will it?" She asked
"Well, there is something I have to get first" She sighed looking to the gusty kaze outside.
"Something?" Rhoda repeated tucking her auburn hair behind her ear.
"He belongs to me, and I'm taking him back."
"Rayne, I don't understand," Rhoda paused before clicking onto Rayne's plotting, "But what about Ablaze?"
"Ablaze, is just an copy of Black Dranzer, I want the real thing"
"Rayne, you cannot get to him, he's too heavily guarded!"
"Rhoda, you know, I know and they know that I am its soul guardian, they can't stop me!" She exclaimed stuffing random accessories into the overfull bag. She sighed in annoyance and adjusted the drawstring to keep it all locked in. She reached her arm across her large pine desk to collect her launcher and rip cord, but the image of her best friend locked in her mind kept her from gripping it, she flexed her fingers above it, changing her decisions. Wondering if running from her problems was the right thing to do. She finally grabbed them stuffing them in a random pocket on her mini- skirt. She ran her fingers along the silky touch of her pale Russian skin. Before opening her arms out wide to her friend as a gesture of a hug.
"You take care Rayne," Rhoda sobbed
"I will, please don't worry about me, I'll be fine"
Rhoda nodded in agreement before letting go. "Well this is the last time I'll see you again,"
"Please don't talk like that Rhoda, I'll see you again. Just not over the next few weeks that's all"
"Promise you'll come back though?"
"Of course," Rayne replied, "I will miss you," She whispered reaching for the door, hunching her bag upon her shoulder.
Rhoda sighed deeply "Keep contact Rayne, I want to know that you're still alive,"
Rayne looked at her friend in amusement before smiling, "You take care"
"I will, please be careful"
"I'm strong I'll make it though," She paused lowering her voice, "I have too"
The red haired boy awoke in the early Russian sun that streamed though his half open blinds. Wiping his eyes sleepily he stumbled to his feet. Focus slowly came to him. He turned to his bed to see a sleeping form, her head muffled in the pillows. He leant over slowly to stroke her auburn hair bronzed by the aurora of the new arising day.
Watching his girlfriend sleep, gave him some sort of hope for the day. He continued with his early morning ritual before kissing his girlfriends head. Over flowing his senses with strawberry.
Carefully, letting the doorknob slide though his pale fingers. He left for the long, winding corridor. Greeting team members he happened to pass, he put on a brave face. Deeper down, the closer he got to the training theatre, the more he had a gut feeling about his younger sister. Deciding against his brotherly feelings, he decided to progress with this 'meeting' with his father.
He approached the door, with his stomach churning. Pushing his weight against the paneled, sliding doors. A large built character welcomed him. The blonde-haired figure leant against the wall opposite the door, a slight grin on his face. "Boss thought you wasn't gonna show,"
"Well," Tala replied, "I have. So where's Boris?"
"Boss, is in there," He gestured with his thumb. Closing his eyes, "Good luck, Captain"
"Thanks Spencer," He glared walking towards the door.
***
"Rayne, Rayne" She poked, leaning over the bed. Her auburn hair falling over her face.
Rayne muttered a few nothings before burying her sweaty forehead into her pillow. "Go away" She groaned
"Come on get up, please" She continued with her irritating poking, the thing that Rayne hated most about her best friend. It was her ignorance, and her wonder for everything. She found it so irritating she gave up. Even thought pain racked her whole body, she arose on her knees using her arms for support.
"I'm up, okay?" She snapped, shaking violently "Will you leave me alone?"
"What's wrong Rayne? Why are you shaking like that?" Her friend leant out her arm to support her ribs. Rayne refluxed quicker then her friend expected, knocking her hand back. Rayne fell back down in over-whelming pain, clutching her ribs.
"Rayne? Why are you acting so weird? Please tell me," Her friend pleaded, sobbing at the site of her best friend so helpless.
"It's nothing," Her cry came muffled by the pillow her head was embedded in. Her lower body from the waist down just seemed to be so harrowing.
"I'm going to get Tala, Rayne. Stay there," She warned
"No! Rhoda! Stop!" She exclaimed. Draining the air from her lungs.
"Why Rayne, your in so much pain,"
"I don't want Tala to know,"
"But he's your brother, he cares about you so much you know" Her apple blossom eyes settled on Rayne's own pained crystal azure eyes. Rayne groaned with pain, "It will tear him apart,"
"But why? Why are you hurt Rayne?" She seriously replied
"If I tell you. Promise you won't tell Tala?"
"I promise Rayne, You know you can trust me."
"And never tell." She paused "Never tell Kai,"
"Kai? What about him?" She asked puzzled, why would Rayne suddenly bring up Kai.? She hasn't talked about him in months. I thought he was dead.
"What I'm about to say, isn't one of the thing's I want Kai to know,"
"But."
"No buts Rhoda, I don't want Hiwatari." She paused fighting for air, "I don't want Hiwatari to know"
Rhoda nodded her head. Not really understanding her friends explanation but understanding her feelings on the subject of Kai, she still loves him.. I knew it.
***
"What's this 'meeting' about then?" Asked Tala not to impressed
"Well, I have a little mission for you. But if you don't want it, I noticed Spencer around the corner, maybe he'll take it,"
"Boris, just tell me about the god damn mission, I have things to do"
"Well, we need the 4 sacred spirits for our testing, we need them. To complete our task"
"So you're sending me to Tokyo, to try and beat the little bastards at a game they can't even play?"
"Well, I certainly wouldn't call Hiwatari a bastard," Boris replied
"Shut up!" He snapped, "Since when have you cared?"
"Since I made you a new blade," He laughed viciously "Here take it. It's called Gaia Wolborg, we forced Wolborg to evolve, he's even stronger then before," A sly smile cracked upon his lips.
Tala stared at him blankly before gripping the Beyblade in his palm tightly, grasping its cold harsh steel.
"I hope you like it, will you do the mission?"
"Depends who with," He finally spoke
"Your sister, Rhoda and Shard"
"Okay, I'll do it." He paused before leaving "One thing,"
"And what would that be my son?"
Tala glared "If Rayne gets hurt I'm holding you responsible,"
Boris held his hand to the 20-year-old's shoulder, "If she's going to get hurt, it's only going to be her emotions, Tala. You are the brother you are there to stop all pain and suffering to her," He paused "No matter what the cost"
***
"But No.." She stuttered, "That can't be."
Rayne sobbed, "It's true," She wrapped her arms around her knees, burying her face. "It happened last night, when I got back from the train station,"
"Rayne, oh my god," She studied her friends curled up form, "What has he done to you?" Rhoda asked beyond a whisper.
"That's why you can't tell Kai," She murmured, "It would rip his emotions apart,"
"I won't" Rhoda sobbed, "But what are you going to do?"
"I'm leaving Russia, I'm heading for Tokyo. I'm gonna compete in the Asian tournament"
"Straight away?" She replied wiping her tears away with her sleeve.
"Tonight," Rayne's tone sad fully "I need to get away from here,"
"I understand Rayne, but when will you tell Tala?"
"I'm not"
"But. You have to!"
"What he doesn't know, won't kill him," Rayne replied stretching her legs before jumping off the bed with a wince.
"But, he'll want to know," She argued
Rayne shook her head, emptying the contents of her draws into a black duffle bag. "I'll tell him when the time is right,"
"That won't be before you leave will it?" She asked
"Well, there is something I have to get first" She sighed looking to the gusty kaze outside.
"Something?" Rhoda repeated tucking her auburn hair behind her ear.
"He belongs to me, and I'm taking him back."
"Rayne, I don't understand," Rhoda paused before clicking onto Rayne's plotting, "But what about Ablaze?"
"Ablaze, is just an copy of Black Dranzer, I want the real thing"
"Rayne, you cannot get to him, he's too heavily guarded!"
"Rhoda, you know, I know and they know that I am its soul guardian, they can't stop me!" She exclaimed stuffing random accessories into the overfull bag. She sighed in annoyance and adjusted the drawstring to keep it all locked in. She reached her arm across her large pine desk to collect her launcher and rip cord, but the image of her best friend locked in her mind kept her from gripping it, she flexed her fingers above it, changing her decisions. Wondering if running from her problems was the right thing to do. She finally grabbed them stuffing them in a random pocket on her mini- skirt. She ran her fingers along the silky touch of her pale Russian skin. Before opening her arms out wide to her friend as a gesture of a hug.
"You take care Rayne," Rhoda sobbed
"I will, please don't worry about me, I'll be fine"
Rhoda nodded in agreement before letting go. "Well this is the last time I'll see you again,"
"Please don't talk like that Rhoda, I'll see you again. Just not over the next few weeks that's all"
"Promise you'll come back though?"
"Of course," Rayne replied, "I will miss you," She whispered reaching for the door, hunching her bag upon her shoulder.
Rhoda sighed deeply "Keep contact Rayne, I want to know that you're still alive,"
Rayne looked at her friend in amusement before smiling, "You take care"
"I will, please be careful"
"I'm strong I'll make it though," She paused lowering her voice, "I have too"