The sunlight fell on Queauri's closed eyes, telling her to awaken. The birds sang their song outside, on the tree brance. Such delightful songs to celebrate the answer to a long awaited prayer.
Opening her eyes slowly, she saw the sunlight reflected on the ceiling. Through the window, its pigments spread out and formed a small rainbow. Queauri smiled, what a beautiful sight. She felt something on her face, a small mask, feeding the needed oxygen into her lungs. She tried to lift her arms, at first, they didn't respond, but then, she moved them. A numb feeling in her fingers, but that's all ok. The sunlight, the birds, the songs, the rainbow, never before has woken up to such a warm welcome.
She looked around the room. It was filled with the morning light, and an orange glow of warmth. A picture of a rose was hung on the far wall, bringing an artistic touch into the room. Such soft colors, unlike her cell at the abbey. She tried to turn her neck, the same numb feeling, but when she turned her head, all of the numbness seemed to go away.
"Kai," she said, but no sound came out. Just as well, she lay there, watching him.
Kai sat there, sleeping, with one leg on top of the other and arms crossed on his chest, and his head bent forward. He wore a loose white shirt and casual jeans, somehow, it made him look tired and innocent. (Can you imagine?) The triangles on his face were...gone.
Queauri lifted her hand and gently caressed his cheek, they really were gone! At first, he didn't wake up, but leaned a bit on her hand. Then, his eyes opened and he jerked back.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you, I just..."
"No, don't talk, you need to rest."
Queauri smiled at him, which made him blush.
"I'm fine, Kai. In fact, I've never been better," she said, and proceeded to take the oxygen mask off.
Kai watched quietly, the glitter of her fiery hair in the sun's light, the soft glow of her face, the sparkle that's now in her eyes...unconciously, he smiled.
Queauri propped up her pillow and sat up. She realized Kai's soft gaze.
"What are you smiling about?" She asked softly.
Kai looked away, stood up, and turned around so she couldn't see his blush.
"Um...my...my parents contacted your parents. They should be flying in this afternoon."
Queauri smiled, "Really? My parents? How's my sister?"
"She's fine, she's in the next room. If...you want to see her, I can have her bed moved next to yours."
"No. That's ok. I'll take you word for it, I trust you."
Something about the word trust shook something inside him. It's always been there, but now, it's stronger.
"Kai?"
He turned and saw her outstretched hand. Unsure of whether or not he should take it...his heart thundered in his chest...he took her hand and it led him to sit down on the bed beside her.
"Can you tell me what happened? What happened to me? To Voltaire? And to my sister?" She asked.
"You were paralyzed by that gas, you could have..." Kai paused.
"I know this part. I was on the brink of death, but then, I felt such a warmth calling me back. At first, I didn't want to come back, for death seems so comforting, no more pain, no more worries. But then, I felt your tears," she leaned into his arms and felt his heart pounding, "and I had to come back."
Kai looked down at the girl who showed up one day and tried to take Dranzer, the girl who cried her heart out in his arms beside the geyser, the girl in whom he saw himself reflected in her eyes. And he finally understood what his heart was trying to say.
"Voltaire is dead, Queauri," he said as he returned her embrace and felt himself melt in her arms. "you don't have to cry anymore."
-- Two Months Later --
"Hi, thank you for coming." Queauri's mother and father greeted the guests coming in. Queauri stood beside them, along with Midori, smiling. Everyone would make a comment about how grown-up she looked and how cute little Midori was.
"You don't really have to stand here with me, dear, go in and meet people," her mother nudged her a little.
Still getting used to her new home, but so happy to finally be with her parents again, Queauri went in to make her mother happy. All these people, none of whom she's ever met before, smiled at her.
"So, you must be the birthday girl. Queauri, right?" A quite plump man got in front of her. His reddish face smiled at her through tiny dot-like eyes.
Queauri smiled politely, "Yes, I am, and who might I have the pleasure of talking to?" The words fumbled a little in her mouth, how can anyone talk like this? she wondered.
"Oh, allow me to introduce myself, the name is Kagoniru, I'm one of the many business partners of the Hinomori Fashion." The plump man beamed proudly.
"Nice to meet you, sir," Queauri said, and offered her hand.
"I'd like you to meet my son, he's about your age, name's Reca." He pushed his son in front of him.
Reca took Queauri's hand and kissed it while bowing. Surprised, Queauri jerked her hand back. The brown haired boy smiled a little, making him look quite mischievous.
"Um...it's very nice to meet you too," she managed to say.
"Well, I'll leave you two young people alone," Reca's father said, and walked away smiling from ear to ear.
"May I have the honor of dancing with the birthday girl?" Reca asked, and pulled Queauri onto the dance floor without waiting for an answer.
As the music started, Queauri danced. She stole a glance at her mother, who taught her everything she knew about dancing in the past two months. Her mother smiled at her and gave her a tumbs up.
Sighing, Queauri went on dancing, knowing it'll make her mother very pleased. Finally, the music ended, and the dancers bowed to their partners. Queauri turned and walked away.
"You know, Queauri, you're a very good dancer," Reca said, as he caught up to her.
"Thank you, Mr. Kagoniru," Queauri said, still having trouble with how her words sounded.
"Yes, in fact, you're the only one that I found who dances good enough to dance with me."
Queauri wondered if that was a compliment or not.
"Hey Reca, I see you've already danced with the birthday girl. It's just like you to get the first dance," another boy, with jet black hair and too much hairgel, walked up.
"Of course, Shinji, my family is very close to the Hinomoris," Reca replied.
"Don't brag, Reca, you and I both know your family only comes second. You'll have to beat the Hiwataris first," Shinji said.
"Hiwatari? As in Kai Hiwatari?" Queauri asked, changing her mind about escaping while the two talked.
"Yeah, you know him? What am I saying, everyone knows him. He's the guy that won the world champion beyblade tournament, but then got beat by Tyson. Don't get your hopes up, princess, Kai doesn't attend any parties, no matter how close his family is to yours," Shinji smirked.
Reca saw a look on Queauri's face, a look he didn't like. "Huh, I could beat him if I tried," he said.
Queauri was instantly interested, "Really? You beyblade?"
"Of course, doesn't everyone?" Reca replied with a smirk. "Come on, Shinji, let's have a battle."
"Shouldn't we go outside first?" Shinji asked.
"Don't be scared, Shinji, I won't beat you too badly. But just in case, let's go on the balcony."
Queauri followed them onto the balcony, curious to see what they could do. The two boys launched their beyblades, and soon, other kids who where there went to watch.
Queauri could see Reka liked the attention. Reka turned to her and winked.
"How about this, Shinji, winner gets to dance with the princess," he said. Shinji smiled, "You're on!"
The two circled their beyblades around each other, ready for attack. Reka attacked first, but Shinji dodged it. Not like being made of fool of, Reka attacked again. This time, the two beyblades spun against each other as sparks flew off in all directions. Another boy, who was watching, joined in with his beyblade.
"You did say, winner gets to dance with the birthday girl, right Reka?"
Soon, another two boys joined in. The battle looked like a lot of fun, but Queauri didn't really want to dance with anyone. She sighed, too many things are happening without her control, is this really the life she'll have to get used to?
"Can I join?" Queauri asked politely. Reka smirked, "Girl's don't beyblade."
Queauri was speechless for a while, part of her wanted to scream back at the guy, and part of her knew she had to keep under control. Wordlessly, she solved her problem the only way she knew how.
"Go, Halycon, show these boys what a girl can do!"
The dark red beyblade entered the ring and knocked two beyblades aside as it entered.
"What the?" Reka said.
"How did she?" Shinji said.
"She's a girl!" Someone watching said.
Queauri has had it. She'll show them, but she can't get too violent...
"How about this? Whoever can move Halcyon one inch gets to dance with me," she said. That got the boys' attention.
Reka circled from behind, glided up the side of the ring, and came crashing back down. Halcyon spun in place as Reka's blade bounced away. Shinji decided it was his turn, so he made his beyblade jump up, and when it came down, it came down at an angel. However, Halcyon jumped up as his beyblade came down, and with one spin, knocked it out of the ring.
"Why you," Reka said, loosing a lot of his gentlemen charm, if he ever had any. He charged Halcyon head on, but, after many sparks, his beyblade bounced back, torn of its attack ring.
"That's pitiful. Doesn't anyone of you rich kids have any real skill?" Queauri asked, bored out of her mind.
Suddenly, a dark blue beyblade jumped into the ring and crashed into Halcyon. Taken by surprise, Queauri was forced to step back a bit.
"Did I hit you too hard?" A voice said.
"Kai? I thought they said you didn't come to parties," Queauri smiled.
"I make exceptions."
Well, I guess this isn't the last chapter, oh well, chapter 14 coming soon then. =D Please review and tell me what you think.