Disclaimer: I said it in the first chapter, and I'm not saying it again.
Author's note: I've gotten some negative feedback from this story, mainly on the basis that I paired Kai with Mariam. Honestly, I do feel that Mariam and Max would be a better couple, but I'm not sure about Kai/Salima, since they hardly interact. Then again, Kai and Mariam hardly interact and I paired them up, so there.
As to Kai being OOC, I did warn you that there would be instances of OOC-ness. But on that particular note, what do you call "out of character," the fact that Kai did a striptease for Mariam? My intent was to explore other sides of Kai's nature, as I believe there's more to him than simply being cool and aloof.
Now, I've heard people begging for me to write other pairings, and so I shall. This chapter is for Ray and Mariah, so Ray/Mariah-shippers rejoice!
Timeline: After V-Force.
Mariam stirred and then awoke. "Kai, I had the most wonderful . . ." She trailed off when she saw he wasn't in bed. "Dream."
Where'd he go? Mariam asked herself. She looked around the room and saw that his clothes weren't there. Did he just leave while I was sleeping? Jerk.
Just then, Kai came in carrying breakfast foods on a table-tray. "Sorry I took so long. I was planning on waking you up with the scent of the food, but I see you're already awake."
"You got breakfast for me?" Mariam asked.
"Yeah," Kai replied. He set the table-tray in front of Mariam. "I hope you like it."
"I love it," Mariam said. She took the fork and knife and began to cut her pancakes. "Thanks, Kai. I didn't know you could be so sweet."
"There's a lot more to me than simply being a coldhearted, Beyblade-obsessed bastard," Kai said, half-lightly, half-seriously.
"I know," Mariam said. She took a bite out of her pancakes. "Mmm, these are good. And I know. You really opened up to me last night."
After Mariam was done with her breakfast, she licked her lips, wiping off the sticky maple syrup. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Kai said, taking the table-tray off the bed.
"Now I gotta get cleaned up," Mariam said. "And I hear that this suite has a Jacuzzi. Wanna try it with me?"
"Sure," Kai replied, and he followed Mariam to the bathroom. Of course, he got sidetracked watching her backside. However, they did make it to the bathroom.
"This is the hugest bathroom I've ever seen," Mariam said.
"Not even the bathroom in my mansion was that big," Kai breathed out.
The bathroom consisted of a large shower with an opaque glass sliding door, a well-sized sink, a massive bathtub, and of course, the Jacuzzi.
"There you go," Mariam said. She turned on the Jacuzzi, and it began to fill with bubbling water. Once it was filled almost to the very top, she stepped inside. Kai stripped off his clothes and stepped inside as well.
"Ahhh, this feels great," Kai said.
"Yeah," Mariam said, sighing. "In a way, I'm glad Joseph and Dunga were so stupid."
"Why's that?" Kai asked.
"If they weren't, I wouldn't have had an excuse to get you to go out with me," Mariam replied. "I've . . . been in love with you for a while."
"I thought you liked Max," Kai said.
"I do like him, but not in that way," Mariam said. "He's cute, but I think we work better as friends."
"And what would make you love a guy like me?" Kai asked.
"You have to ask?" Mariam replied. "You're cool under pressure, you know how to restrain yourself (most of the time), and yet you manage to be kind and caring at the same time. That's why I love you." She smiled. "Now what would make you love a girl like me?"
Kai smiled back. "You're strong-willed, confident in yourself, and I admire that in a woman. At the same time, though, you can be compassionate, even to your enemies. So that's why I love you."
There was no more to be said, because there was no need to say anything else. So Kai and Mariam let their actions do the talking, and they kissed.
The temple"I wonder how Kai and Mariam are doing," Kenny said.
"Who besides me is mad we didn't get to see them do it?" Tyson asked.
Hilary whacked him upside the head.
"Ow, what was that for, Hilary?" Tyson asked.
"Can you try not to be such an immature pervert for once, Tyson?" Hilary asked.
"Sorry," Tyson muttered irritably.
"So what's up, homeboys and homegirls?" Tyson's grandfather asked.
"Not that much, Grandpa," Tyson replied. "We're just about to do some beyblade training."
"Where's Kai?" Tyson's grandfather asked.
"Out with Mariam," Ray replied. "He still hasn't come back from his date with her."
"Ah, they're probably macking on each other as I'm speaking these words, cat," Tyson's grandfather surmised.
"That's probably the truth," Mariah murmured.
"Somebody talking about me and Mariam?" Kai's voice asked.
Everyone turned and saw Kai leaning in the doorway. "Hey, Kai!" Max exclaimed. "How was your date?"
"It went very well, despite your Peeping Tom tendencies," Kai replied.
Everyone was shocked speechless. After what seemed to be an interminable silence, Tyson found his voice. "How did you know?"
"The suits worked, in case you were wondering," Kai replied. "They kept you virtually undetectable in the darkness."
"So how did you know, if we were so invisible?" Max asked.
"I got the feeling someone was following us around," Kai replied, "and I oughtta tell you, the suits only work if the person you're spying on isn't looking for you." He chuckled. "Some of you --- Tyson, in particular --- I expected that from. Others I expected to know better."
"We're very sorry, Kai," Hilary said. "Tyson, Max, Ray, and Mariah wanted to follow you. Kenny and I just went along to keep them from getting into too much trouble."
"And we stopped them from peeping any further when you two were about to . . . well, you know," Kenny added.
"Well, I'll just leave you dogs and cats to chill," Tyson's grandfather said. "See you later." And he departed.
"Thanks," Kai said. "I would have been very displeased if I found out you were watching me and Mariam while we were having sex."
"We're sorry," Tyson said. "We were just really curious as to how you'd handle yourself on a date."
"In case you're wondering, Mariam and I are going to go on another date," Kai said. He smiled.
"Dude, you're in love," Tyson said. He hugged Kai. "Congratulations!"
"Don't touch me," Kai said. "But thanks, anyway."
Tyson released Kai. "Sorry about that, man."
The Saint Shields' lair"So how was your date with Kai, sis?" Joseph asked.
"It was wonderful," Mariam replied. "He was quite the gentleman, too." At least until I got through with him. She smiled wickedly at this thought.
"You're glowing, do you realize that?" Ozuma asked.
"Well, I was just really happy with him," Mariam replied. She smirked. "What's the matter, Ozuma? Jealous?"
"I only wish Kai the best of happiness," Ozuma said. Then he added under his breath, "And the best of luck."
"Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to my room," Mariam said. That said, she went to her room, only to be blocked by Dunga. "Now what do you want?"
"Did you sleep with Kai?" he asked.
"I don't see how that's any of your business," Mariam replied. Her lips curled into a smirk. "But if you're so curious, yes, I did. And he was quite an excellent lover." She giggled and walked past the stunned Dunga.
She entered her room and flopped onto her bed, smiling. The temple"Hey, Ray," Mariah said.
"Yeah, Mariah?" Ray asked.
"We haven't spent that much time together, have we?" Mariah replied.
"Of course we have," Ray immediately protested. Then he paused to think about what she'd just said. "Oh. You mean without the others."
"Uh-huh," Mariah confirmed.
"So what do we do about it?" Ray asked.
Mariah just giggled. "We get away from the others and spend some time together alone. We'll start with a picnic in the park."
"That sounds nice," Ray said. Inside, he was doing somersaults and cartwheels from sheer joy.
He and Mariah went into the kitchen and began gathering the necessary fruits and making the necessary sandwiches for the picnic. After they were done, they packed the fruits and sandwiches into a handy basket and went on their way.
"Where'd Ray and Mariah just go?" Max asked.
"For a romantic rendezvous," Tyson replied casually.
"A romantic rendezvous?" Hilary echoed.
"Yeah, a romantic rendezvous," Tyson replied. "Although you wouldn't know romance if it bit you in the butt."
"I know someone who'd like to touch that butt," Max mumbled.
"I heard that, Max!" Tyson yelled.
"It's about time," Kai said from his post against the wall. "I knew their feelings for each other ran too deep for it to be just 'friendship.'"
"Are you sure about that?" Kenny asked.
"Sure I'm sure," Tyson replied. "Who wants to check it out?"
"No, no, no!" Kenny protested. "We've had enough of that!"
"Yeah, Tyson, you gotta stop this voyeuristic streak you've been on lately," Hilary said.
"Didn't you have enough fun seeing my new girlfriend in a bra and thong?" Kai asked.
"Ok, ok, I see that I'm obviously outvoted," Tyson said. "Who wants to bey-battle me?"
"I'll go," Kai said. "You could use the ass-whipping."
Max laughed.
"What's so funny, Max?" Kai asked.
"I know someone who'd like to whip Tyson's ass," Max replied, winking at Hilary.
"Not in the way that you're thinking, you damn pervert!" Hilary yelled.
"And I don't want to touch Hilary's butt at all!" Tyson added.
"Please," Max scoffed. "You two are so obviously attracted to each other. Remember when you were shoving your tongues down each other's throats last night?"
Kai just smirked. "Can't say I didn't see that one coming, though I wish I could have seen it for myself."
"That was a fluke!" Tyson yelled.
"And it'll never happen again!" Hilary added.
"Sure . . ." Max drawled.
"Never again!" Tyson yelled. "Do you hear me, Max? Never again! And if you'll excuse me, I've gotta bey-battle Kai." He stomped off, ready to channel that fury into smacking Kai's Dranzer around.
"Heh," Kai said, and followed Tyson out.
"I'm going, too," Hilary said and walked out.
"Yeah, to cheer on Tyson!" Max shouted after her.
"Max, I don't think it's such a good idea to get Tyson and Hilary riled up like that," Kenny said.
"Relax, Chief," Max said. "I'm only trying to get them to stop hiding from the truth."
"I know, but you should let them alone so that they can figure that out for themselves," Kenny advised.
"Sure," Max said.
"I know you're trying to help, but what you're doing is the equivalent of shoving them down a path," Kenny said. "You should let them choose the path that they wish to take."
Outside the temple"Come on, Dragoon, finish him off!" Tyson yelled.
"Give him no quarter, Dranzer!" Kai yelled.
The two beyblades crashed into each other, furiously struggling against each other. Dragoon backed away and raced around the walls of the dish, circling Dranzer. Then it raced at the blue blade, but Dranzer moved out of the way.
"Come on, Tyson," Kai taunted. "Can't you do any better than this?"
"I'll show you!" Tyson yelled. "Dragoon, attack!"
The blue dragon emerged from the beyblade.
"If that's how you wanna play, then fine!" Kai yelled. "Dranzer, attack!"
The red phoenix emerged from the blue beyblade and stared down the blue dragon.
"Victory Tornado!" Tyson shouted.
"Flame Saber!" Kai yelled.
The two bit-beasts collided, struggling against each other with all their might. The combined energies created a vicious gale and blinding wind. When both faded, Dragoon and Dranzer were both out of the dish, but Dragoon was still spinning.
"I win," Tyson said, picking up Dragoon. "Good match."
"Yeah," Kai agreed, picking up Dranzer. "But you weren't properly focused. Your mind was elsewhere and it showed in your blading."
"I beat you, didn't I?" Tyson asked.
"You did," Kai replied. "What I meant was that you were still carrying a lot of anger from what Max said and it colored the way you played."
"He just doesn't know what he's talking about," Tyson said.
"Sure," Kai said.
The parkRay had set the blanket and Mariah had laid down the basket.
"Let's eat," Mariah said, sitting down with Ray.
"So how have the White Tigers been doing?" Ray asked.
"We've been all right," Mariah replied. "We've competed in some local tournaments, some in other countries. Other than that, it's been the usual. Gary still likes to eat a lot, Kevin's still a sneaky little brat, and Lee misses having you around."
"I miss him, too," Ray said. "He's a good friend. Other than missing me, how's he been?"
"He's been doing well," Mariah said. She smiled. "He's even finally realized that there's more to life than just beyblading and started dating."
"That's good to hear," Ray said. "I always thought he should get out of his shell." He ate his sandwich, and Mariah ate hers. In between bites, they talked.
"So how've you been doing lately?" Mariah asked. "I heard about the tournament, but I didn't get a chance to see you."
"It was hell," Ray replied. "It started when these cloaked bladers who later revealed themselves as the Saint Shields attacked me and the others with invisible bit-beasts. Also, there was this organization trying to steal our bit-beasts. It organized a Beyblade team called Psykick for that purpose. After we trashed Psykick for good, we found out that it was just a front for someone even worse."
"Whoa," Mariah said.
"That someone turned out to be Dr. Zagart, a man who once worked with Mr. Dickenson," Ray continued. "He organized the theft of an ancient rock that contained bit-beasts, or sacred spirits as the Saint Shields called them. He started removing those bit-beasts and giving them to his bladers to use to steal our bit-beasts. As for the Saint Shields, they stole Driger from me and sealed him away. In our last battle, we managed to take back Driger and they agreed to leave us alone."
"That must have been awful, seeing Driger taken from you," Mariah said. She reached inside her pocket and removed her own blade, looking at the image of Galux in the bit-chip. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost Galux."
"Hopefully, you'll never find out," Ray said. "Anyway, we made a new friend named Zeo. One night, for reasons unknown to us then, he turned on us and sided with Zagart. In the final rounds of the tournament, we found out that Zeo was really an android created in the image of Zagart's dead son. Zagart wanted our bit-beasts because he thought their powers could make Zeo human."
"That's insane," Mariah said. "This isn't Pinocchio! You can't make an android into a real boy."
"Anyway, Tyson defeated Zeo and won the tournament," Ray finished. "We and Zeo became friends again after he accepted the fact that he wasn't human."
"That's good," Mariah said.
After they finished their sandwiches, Mariah and Ray turned their attentions to the fruits in the picnic basket. Ray picked out a red apple and began to eat to it, and Mariah took out a purple plum and ate that. They partook of the other fruits in the basket, including the grapes.
Ray was quite surprised when Mariah dangled a grape in front of him.
"Huh?" he wondered.
"Silly," Mariah said. "You're supposed to eat the grape."
"Oh," Ray said.
"Open wide," Mariah said, smiling.
Ray opened his mouth and Mariah fed him the grape. Then Ray took another grape and fed it to Mariah. They went on like this, feeding each other grapes, until the grapes were all gone.
"To tell you the truth, I missed you the most," Mariah said.
"Why?" Ray asked.
"You have to ask?" Mariah replied. "You were my best friend, and you still are. But . . ."
"But what, Mariah?" Ray asked.
"I want more," Mariah replied. "I'm in love with you, Ray. I think I have been since the day I discovered that boys weren't icky."
Ray blushed.
Does he feel the same way? Mariah wondered. Please, let it be true. Let him love me the way I love him.
"I'm in love with you, too, Mariah," Ray said. He reached out to caress her cheek. "I think . . . I always have been. I love you, Mariah."
"I love you, too, Ray," Mariah said.
They leaned closer to each other, closer, closer, until their lips finally met in a soft, gentle kiss of first love. Mariah reached up to undo his hair bindings and his impossibly long black hair flowed free, entwining with her pink locks. As the kiss went on, it became more passionate and heated. They fell onto the blanket, Mariah on top, and continued kissing.
As they kissed, a figure watched them from a hidden spot in the bushes.
"Savor your happiness now," the figure said. "Because when the time comes, your and the other Bladebreakers' bit-beasts will be mine. And there will be no happiness for you."
End Notes: I didn't like how short this chapter turned out to be, but I figured it would be better to end it now since I had no further ideas brewing. Anyway, it's anyone's guess who that figure watching Ray and Mariah is, and I'll be writing an extended version of this chapter that'll appear on adultfanfiction.net and mediaminer.org on account of the extension being a lemon scene.