Kai stared into the sunset with half open eyes. Another day has come to an end. He was at his favoriate place to think. It always seemed to calm him, watching the sun go down and its sparkles dancing on the water. Leaning on the wooden bars, his face aglow with the orange light.
"You are my dreams and you are my nightmares."
He sighed, closing his eyes. He had thought it was all behind him, but who would have guessed that all his pain would be brought back in the form of a girl. How strange, the more he stared into the setting sun, the more it reminded him of her. And her eyes, her soft crimson eyes, and the sorrow that he had seen in them.
What would he do? What would he say? When he goes back and face those eyes that watched him through all he's been through?
Well, he can't hide from those eyes forever.
Slowly, he walked through the gate and stepped into the garden behind Tyson's house. He remembered when he trained there with the other bladebreakers. She probably saw it too. He looked up and saw the moon, serenely ruling its kingdom of starrs. If only the world was as peaceful as that.
"Are you looking for her?"
Kai turned around at the sound of Tyson's voice but said nothing.
"Well she left."
"Left? What do you mean by that?" Kai asked, a shiver ran down his spine.
"Left, as in she went away, you know, left."
"What? No way! She's crazy. And you let her go?" Kai said, with a bit of anxiety in his voice.
"Nobody let her go, Kai, she just went," Rei's voice came in. "If it'll make you feel better, she left this for you."
Rei held up the ruby bird necklace, and in the moon light, it sparkled radiantly.
Kai took it from Rei and held the bird up so that the light of the full moon was directly behind it. "Hinomori," he whispered.
"What?" Tyson asked.
"Hinomori, she really is a Hinomori," Kai said.
"How do you know?" Rei asked.
"Her family and my family are great friends. This necklace is a family a heirloom. If you hold it to to the moonlight, you can see a H in the middle of the bird."
"Hinomori? As in Hinomori Fashion? Her family owns the biggest fashion design in the world? Why didn't anyone tell me?" Hilary almost squealed.
Kai nodded. How did Voltaire get a hold of her? And if she really is a Hinomori, that means she has a sister.
Kai put the necklace in his pocket. "Where did she go?"
"Do you really think she told us?" Tyson asked back.
"Where's Kenny?" Kai asked.
"I'm right here," Kenny said sleepily. "What's going on?"
"I need you find an abbey, probably abandoned, in Russia. Can you do that Kenny?" Kai asked.
"Um...of course. You do remember I have Dizzy, right?"
"Thanks Chief."
"So we are going after her after all, huh?" Max walked out of the bedroom.
"I guess so. The Bladebreakers on a mission...I like the sound of that," Tyson said.
"We are not going after anyone. I'm going alone," Kai said.
"What? Why?"
"This is personal." Kai replied.
"Why is it personal? Do you like her or something?" Tyson insisted.
"The guy that runs the abbey is my grandfather. I thought I killed him years ago, but I guess I was wrong." Kai looked away, shaking uncontrollably with anger. Why didn't he die? Why?
"Three churches found, Kai."
"Can you give me some details Kenny?"
"Well, one of them apparently blew up about seven or eight years ago. The second one was built on soft ground and one side collapsed, and the third one was thought to be haunted."
"Can you tell me where the third one is located?" Kai asked.
"Can the grass grow again once it's been cut?" Dizzy asked back. "Of course I can!"
- On the plane to Moscow -
Kai turned Dranzer around and around in his hand. Before he left, Kenny did an all-nighter fixing it up. Halcyon did some serious damage to it.
"Master Kai, may I ask why the hurry back to Moscow?"
Kai looked up to see the kind face of an old man. His face was lined with wrinkles, and his white hair was about to fall off completely. He served the Hiwatari's faithfully, and was one of the few people in this world that Kai trusted and was thankful to.
"Can you make a guess?" Kai said, not wanting to say the truth himself.
"Hoho, Master Kai, I couldn't, I really...well, it's not my place to guess."
"Go ahead, I don't mind. I'm not like my parents, you know."
"Well, if you don't mind me saying so. Judging by the serious look on your face, I would guess... girl trouble?"
Kai blushed a little, and gave the old man a smile. "Oh? Why would you guess that?"
"Master Kai, dear Master Kai, you are seventeen years old, this kind of thing is bound to happen. She must be a special girl to take your heart, Master Kai, and to make you call in this emergency flight all the way back to Moscow."
Once again, Kai smiled. "Nice try, my friend." And that is all he said before leaning back into his seat and looking out the window.
The clouds passed by below as the plane chased the sun. Kai couldn't help but think about what the old man said. An image of Queauri looked back at him in the clouds. Could he be right? Could you really have taken my heart without my knowing it? He took out the ruby bird and put it against the window. Then, the bird began to shine as if it had captured all of the the sun's light. What do you think, Dranzer?
"We are now approaching Moscow airport. Please stay in your seats and buckle up for landing."
Kai awoke to the announcement. Then, suddenly, the plane plunged downward. Slowly, it skidded to a complete stop.
"So, Master Kai, where are we going now?"
"Thank you, my friend, but I'll be going alone from now on."
"As you wish, Master Kai. Uh...one small question, will I ever meet this girl?"
"Do you remember the Hinomori family?" Kai asked.
"Of course, Master Kai. They are now our business partners. Why?"
"Do you remember their two daughters?"
"How could I not? But that was years ago, Master Kai, when they were still alive," a tear came to the old man's eyes, "such a sweet girl, Miss Queauri was, but then her and her baby sister were kidnapped and no one ever saw them again. One could only hope that they've met their end quickly..." He trailed off in tears, unable to continue.
"Oh, I see. I'm sorry to have brought up such painful memories, old friend."
"It's alright, Master Kai, I'm surprised these old eyes can still produce tears. I'm so sorry to be like this in front of you, sir, so sorry. But, Master Kai, why did you ask?"
Kai took out the ruby bird from his pocket. The old man's eyes immediately widened.
"Why, that's..."
"It is."
"But they were gone for so long and Mr. and Mrs. Hinomori were sure they met some terrible end!"
"This was given to me by a girl of fiery hair and piercing red eyes. Can you remember if it is truely Queauri?"
"Oh Master Kai! Master Kai! Then it must be destiny that brought you two together," the old man's face was covered with tears now, "for I swear on this weary old heart, it is her. Are you going to meet her? Where is she now? Oh Master Kai, her parents would be overjoyed, and this old heart can finally rest in peace."
"If it really is her, then I don't have a lot of time. Don't tell her parents yet, please"
"I don't understand, Master Ka, but I will do as you wish."
"Thank you, my friend, thank you."
Kai turned around and walked out of the airport. His right hand grasped Dranzer, and his left hand held the ruby bird.
I know, not a lot of action, but don't worry, you'll get plenty of that next chapter! I had a prediction that Kai would run after her...well, of course, if he didn't, that wouldn't be any fun now would it? =D Thanks, everyone, for the reviews, I hope you like the rest of the story.