Title: Resurfacing
Authoress: Ladya C. Maxine
Rating: R
Summary: see chapter one
Warnings: see chapter one
Disclaimer: I do not own beyblade or any of its characters. Any and all unrecognizable characters belong solely to me and are not to be touched. I am not making any money off of this and I write with the sole intention to entertain.
A/N: Most of this chapter had already been written but the Anne-Marie scene in the middle was really giving me a hard time because I (being the person I am) hadn't really thought through Anne-Marie's story so I had to spend some time thinking up a history for her.
Keep in mind to read the re-written chapters up until now because things have been changed and the chapters to come will be based off of these changes.
******************************
*~*~*~begin flashback~*~*~*
"What's your name?"
He looked over to the bluenette for help but Kai could only shrug helplessly.
Lowering his eyes, he answered the others question.
"I don't have one."
Light purple eyes blinked in surprise.
"Why not?"
"No one ever gave me one."
"Oh..." The pale boy frowned slightly. He grinned, however, when a thought came to his head.
"We'll give you a name!"
All four looked at him, surprised.
"I don't think that's how it works, Bryan," Ian pointed out, absently playing with his rifle-launcher. "Shouldn't his parents do that?"
"I wouldn't mind..." the newcomer said softly, still not meeting their eyes from where he stood next to Kai, not daring to stray from the bluenette even though the others looked friendly enough.
"It isn't going to kill anyone," Bryan argued, turning to Spencer who sat on a log next to Ian. "Right, Spence?"
"Bryan's right. Besides, it will be easier if we can call him by a name."
"Kai?" the lilac-haired blader turned to their leader.
"I guess so."
"Cool. Now, what are we gonna call you...? What do you wanna be called?"
He shrugged wordlessly.
"How about Jordi?" Spencer offered.
"Nah, there's like 20 of those in the Abbey already! Something else."
"Ivan?"
"Sound too much like Ian; we'll get confused!"
Watching as the three friends discussed possible names, he couldn't help smiling slightly. He liked them. Crimson eyes met his as he tapped Kai's shoulder slightly.
"Thanks."
An equally soft smile graced the normally placid face.
"No problem."
"Okay! We got one!" Ian announced, getting their attention.
"How about Tala?" Bryan asked, the other two eagerly awaiting his decision.
"Tala?" he repeated softly.
He liked it. It wasn't a name he had heard before but something about it sounded really...nice.
"Watcha think?" Bryan asked expectantly when the shy red-head didn't respond quickly enough.
"It sounds really neat."
Beside him Kai nodded his silent agreement.
"Then it's official; your name is Tala!" Bryan announced. Standing, the lilac-eyed blader walked over and held out a hand.
"Pals?"
He smiled, blushing slightly as he accepted it.
"Pals."
"Great! Wanna beyblade?"
*~*~*~end flashback~*~*~*
The cheerful voices still sounded in his mind as he slowly opened his eyes, adjusting to the brightness once more. His skin still stung from the many small cuts left by the ripping of infuses, new needles having been placed to keep him monitored at all times.
Soft, warm air blew on his arm and he looked down to find lilac hair.
Bryan was asleep, sitting in a chair next to the bed with his arms resting on the mattress, head laying on them as he breathed softly.
For many minutes he studied his friend, remembering the first time they had met.
People would never believe him if he told them but, of the three bladers Kai had introduce him to when they were still kids, Bryan had immediately befriended him. The light purple eyes had sparkled as the boy, much more cheerful before years of harsh training had drained most, if not all of his childhood enthusiasm, had offered to teach him all about beyblading, explaining the importance of offence and defence and everything in between with a passion for the sport that could only be natural. At the time Tala had had very little of knowledge of beyblading but had been drawn more to the charismatic boy than his words.
Years had passed since he had joined their small but close group. And through the years it was he, of the five, who was the one the rest always protected. Even when he became their captain and a proven lethal blader, his team mates always kept an eye on him, looking out for him.
Bryan in particular was protective in a rather dangerous way, never hesitating to take on any of the other students if they tried to pick on the quiet red-head. The regular fights were what had given the scientists the idea to train Bryan to become an emotionless fighter. There had been times when their violet-eyed friend would disappear for weeks, even months, for extensive training. And while it had worked for the most part, Bryan had never shut out his friends and still felt for them. Still...
'If I hadn't been there, you wouldn't have fought, and they wouldn't have chosen you for the experiment...If I hadn't been there...'
Crimson eyes, tearful in betrayal, stared at him in his mind.
'Kai wouldn't be with Voltaire if it hadn't been for me...He should be with his team, with his *real* friends...Instead he came for me...worried for me...'
"You're up."
Tala snapped out of reverie at Bryan's voice. The teen still kept his arms folded on the bed but his eyes were open and alert, locked on his.
Not responding he returned the stare.
"How do you feel?"
Again, he didn't answer, only looked at his friend.
"Yeah, stupid question," the Bryan sighed, rubbing his eyes. "The police are doing the best they can to find Kai. Every unit in--"
"How's your leg?" Tala suddenly asked softly.
The abrupt change of subject confused Bryan. Tala had almost had a stroke when the truth had been revealed and now he pretended that nothing had happened?
Still, not wanting to make things even more complicated, he accepted the question.
"Nurses aren't hassling me to stay in bed as much as before, so I guess that means it's getting better."
"That's good to hear. Where's Spencer?"
"Surgery. A specialist from Austria flew in last night. They started an hour ago."
Before he could ask about Ian, the door opened and both turned as a nurse stepped in, smiling to find them both there.
"You have a visitor," she informed.
Bryan smirked as she gently rolled in a wheelchair.
"What did you do? Nag them into submission?"
"Drop dead, Bryan," Ian muttered, obviously annoyed with the fact that he needed help getting around. His sneer was quickly forgotten though when he saw that Tala was up.
"Hey, how are you feeling?"
Bryan was about to cover for him but Tala offered their small friend a ghost of a smile, not wanting to worry him.
'At least one of us should recover in peace.'
"I've felt better," he admitted.
The nurse wheeled the Wyborg blader next to Bryan's chair before leaving the three to talk, closing the door behind her.
For a moment Tala blanked out, watching as Ian and Spencer engaged in what seemed to be a continuing banter. He didn't hear the words, just watched his friends. Ian's legs weren't damaged but a heavy bandage was wrapped around his head, suggesting that his head injuries were more serious than what the nurse told them, so much that they didn't want Ian to be walking, afraid that he may jar his injuries. Also, his arm had a heavy cast fitted securely around it, forcing the bones to mend.
Through his observations he heard his name and blinked. Ian and Bryan were watching him worriedly.
"I'm fine," he assured, only then feeling something wet on his cheeks; he was crying, and hadn't even noticed it.
"Sorry," he said softly, wiping the tears away quickly.
"Kai's tough, Tala," Ian insisted, getting straight to the point. Of the five he was always the one to be rather blunt though now he minded his words for the sake of his friends. "Since he first came to the Abbey he took everything they could dish out at him and threw it back in their faces. He won't let someone like Voltaire get to him. He'll make it out alright."
"He'll make it out..." Tala repeated softly to himself.
"Yeah," Bryan confirmed, "and when he does, he will be stronger than before."
"We all will be," Ian finished, looking pointedly at Tala. The small smile the red-head granted him was enough to make him ignore the throbbing sting in his head; damn medications.
The three sat in comfortable silence for a while until Tala spoke, his question catching the others off-guard.
"What happened to Boris?"
Ian and Bryan exchanged unsure glances, both not wanting to upset the red-head even though it had been Tala who brought the subject up.
"I know what you are thinking but...you yourself said we have to be stronger. And...I guess for me the first thing to do is face the truth," he explained. "All I remember seeing was his face looking down at me while... The rest is just a blank."
Still hesitating, Bryan eventually spoke up.
"He's in jail. Police are using him to try and get information on Voltaire, but he's not talking. His trial should be starting soon though everyone is saying that he will get the death sentence almost surely, if not he'll spend the rest of his life behind bars."
"That bastard deserves worse," Ian muttered but kept otherwise his thoughts to himself. Absently, he rubbed his head gingerly as the slight sting that had been there since morning now persisted.
"Even if he dies he'll always be in my mind," Tala admitted. "He's there with the others. All the people who have haunted me. Everytime I try to rest... Where's Wolborg?"
The change of topic made them blink, Bryan for a second time.
"Huh?" Ian asked.
"I remember Wolborg. I remember, through my nightmares, feeling him next to me. I called him. Why isn't he here?"
"He's okay," Bryan quickly reassured, not wanting his friend to suffer another seizure. "He was here. For five days. Made quite an entrance, or so I heard. Guess the blade forced him to return when his energy ran out. He's lucky he's a man-made bit beast; he has to return when the blade calls him. Otherwise he would have stayed out until he faded away. He'll be back though, especially now that you're awake."
A knock came, followed by the nurse poking her head around the door.
"It's time to turn-in. *All* of you," she stressed, meeting Bryan's eyes. He had talked her into letting him stay over one night. "You can come back tomorrow morning."
"Any word on Spencer?" Ian asked as she walked over to wheel him out.
"No, but so far the surgery has not met any complications. We will know more by tomorrow."
Bryan hesitated with rising but his body actually longed to lie down on his bed. Taking Tala's hand, he gripped it tightly and offered the teen a fraction of a smile.
"Hang in there. The food isn't as bad as they say it is."
The comment actually brought a soft smile to his face and he nodded, returning the grip.
"See you later," Ian reached out to pat his arm before allowing the nurse to wheel him away, Bryan walking beside her, using a walking stick to ease the pressure off his healing leg, as he and Ian started up another light-hearted argument.
Soon the room was quiet once more and he turned to stare blankly up at the roof, seeing nothing but crimson eyes that lingered in his mind. Soon he felt the tears return but this time he didn't wipe them away; what was the use?
As long as Kai was gone, they were all he had.
******************
"I never knew…"
The elderly woman fell silent, her light green eyes fixed on the long white scarf she held in her lap, her fingers rubbing the soft material in a calming way.
"All this time...All this time I thought that he was dead…"
From where he sat with the Bladebreakers, Ray watched the woman with sympathetic eyes.
Soft spoken and kind with an air of nobility about her, their target's ex-wife was a woman of high class; a daughter of a British duke and duchess. Upon arrival she had carried herself with a poise that spoke of her upbringing.
Snow-white hair was swept up in a high bun, held in place by oriental clips. She was older than Mr Dickenson and her face held the lines of age, particularly around her eyes, though they didn't take away any of her former beauty. She was a small lady, maybe an inch or so taller than Ray and very slender, her glamorous yet at the same time comfortable robe-like gown reaching the floor as she walk and now pooled around her as she sat.
"Forgive me if this question is too personal, Mrs Hiwatari--"
"Anne-Marie, please. I've long stopped carrying that name."
"Of course," Mr Dickenson said, "Anne-Marie, did you know of Voltaire's relationship with your grandson?"
"I knew nothing. I had already left him before Kai was even born. The man was violent and there were times when I had to hire security in our own home because I was afraid of him. He had changed so much after our marriage, nothing like the gentleman I had first met. Sometimes I think that it had all been an act, his kindness. But he was never satisfied with anything. He had cheated on me many of times but always denied it. When our son, Sergey, was born he had been so proud, boasting that the Hiwatari line would be strengthened. But our son wanted to plan his own future, not be his father's shadow. When he became engaged to Vivian his father shunned him, calling him a lost cause and waste of his time; Voltaire for some reason never liked Vivian though I found her a wonderful young lady."
She dabbed gently at the corner of her eyes with a tissue.
"After their marriage Voltaire was irate. He fired all the security guards and would strike out often at me or one of the servants. One was even critically injured and died a few days later. Her body was buried by the others under Voltaire's orders. I was scared. I didn't dare inform the officials; he had threatened me with my life if I tried. I didn't know what else to do. It was Sergey who convinced me to leave. So I did. I left him and after paying hundreds of dollars I managed to get a divorce, despite his protest against it.
"Our son arranged a new home for me in South America. He often worried about me, you know. Once out of Russia, I had cut off any connection with Voltaire. I begged Sergey and Vivian to come with me; I was afraid for their lives but they assured me that they were capable of taking care of themselves."
She raised her head to watch them all, her tears softening their faces and hearts.
"I never even saw my grandson in person. I received a letter from Sergey after the birth along with a picture." She opened her purse and took out a photo, handing it to Mr Dickenson. "I carry it around with me everywhere. It's the closest I have ever been to Kai."
A small family of three smiled back at them form the photo. A handsome man with spiked blue hair with a small ponytail at the back sat with both arms around a young woman whose long silvery hair was left loose, framing her weary but happy face. She was lying on a bed, her arms holding a small bundle wrapped in cloth. A small head with slightly curly, blue/slate hair peeked out of the blanket along with big, scarlet eyes. A tiny hand held onto his mother's finger.
"Sergey forbade me to return to Russia for my own sake. He promised me that they would come visit me when they could. When Kai was five years old they sent me a letter saying that they were coming but that they first had some business to deal with. Had I known they were going to Voltaire I would have stopped them with everything in my power."
"And when it was too late you had thought that there was nothing you could do," Bruce concluded.
"They never came. A few days later I received a letter that stated that all three of them were missing and that Voltaire claimed that they had never reached his home. It was then that I knew he had killed them. Had I known that Kai was still alive then I would have risked everything to get him away from his grandfather…If I had only known…"
"But didn't you see or hear about Kai afterwards? I mean, the beyblade tournaments are always broadcasted on TV," Tyson pointed out.
"I can honestly say that I myself do not know the answer to that. I had just isolated myself so much from everything. I don't even know if I read the newspaper or watched any television. I hid myself from him, fearing that he would find me next."
Ray showed the black casing he had idly been playing with.
"How is it then that Kai had your phone number?"
"I can only assume that his father had given it to him before he had been killed. That casing once belonged to me before I gave it to Vivian as a gift. I had entrusted them with the phone number of my house phone."
Again they fell silent, processing what they had just learned.
"I am truly sorry you had to learn about this the hard way, Anne-Marie," Mr Dickenson said. "All these years you thought Kai to be dead and to then find him again alive but in a life-threatening circumstance is something I know is hurting you. And I'll understand if you do not wish to get involved. But your help would be very much appreciated."
"I will help you, despite what I feel. I owe this much to Kai. I want to at least see him once and let him know that he has a relative who loves him the way he should be loved."
Ray released a breath of relief. Things were finally going to come together.
"We thank you. Now if you--"
"I'm sorry to interrupt you, Mr Dickenson, but…I would really love to see Kai; a picture of him or something. I…I never got to see him grow and to now know that he lives, I wish to see my grandson."
"Oh…I fear I don't have any photos with me at the moment," Mr Dickenson apologised.
"I do," Kenny spoke for the first time, blushing when all eyes turned on him. "I keep a few pictures of the team on my laptop. If you want I can show you, ma'am."
She smiled at the small boy.
"I would really love that, young man."
Placing Dizzy on the table, Kenny entered a few passwords and codes and before long there was a beep and the file opened. It was a picture that had been taken after the American tournament. Tyson and Max were kneeling on the ground, grinning goofily. Kenny knelt next to them, smiling shyly. Behind them, Ray stood on the left, arms crossed and smiling with the boy next to him who smirked back.
Anne-Marie's eyes began to water slowly as she studied Kai.
"He looks just like his father…but he had his mother's eyes…"
They all shared looks above her head, understanding just how much this woman had been deprived of.
"He is so perfect…" She reached out with a hand as if to touch the screen but then stopped. Sniffing softly, she looked away, unable to look any more. Kenny closed his laptop.
"I'm sorry, ma'am. I didn't mean to make you upset…"
"I'm not. I've never felt as happy as I do now. I will not rest until Kai is with me. I will not let Voltaire take away another member of this family. I won't…"
"Then we'd best get started. There's a lot to do be done," Mr Dickenson said.
***************
Sniffing softly, Margaret finished making the bed, tucking in the sides neatly. This done, she straightened and looked around the room.
It was so different from when she had first seen it a decade ago. Then it had been bright and alive with its occupants' toys and treasures. Now it looked so bare and deserted, the evening skies outside casting a dim gloom through the tall windows.
Downstairs she heard a door slam shut and she knew it was time to go. Heading for the door, she stopped when something glimmered in the low moon light. She knelt down and picked up the lonely object, her fingers trembling as the cold metal touched it.
Simply staring at the small bit, she shook her head and placed it in the front pouch of her uniform. She didn't look back at the room that had witnessed so much suffering for so long, flicking the lights off and leaving it in complete darkness.
The halls seemed to mock her retreat, chasing her out of a place where she didn't belong. But instead of retreating to the stairs, she determinedly made her way to the tall double doors at the end.
The air of the dead swept over her for a second time but she refused to let it affect her. Coming to stand next to the bed and its deceased, she carefully pulled back the sheets, exposing the late Hiwatari's.
Silently, she knelt down and every tenderly removed the golden charm bracelet from the nearest skeleton before walking around the bed to remove the heavy Rolex from the other. That done, she stared at the taunting 'Rot in Peace' not before pulling that off too, tearing it to shreds and allowing the pieces to flutter to the floor.
"May you now be at peace," she whispered and respectfully pulled the sheet back up to cover the remains.
Nothing stirred but for the small shreds of paper as she closed the large doors for the last time.
Reaching the first floor she faltered as the lone figure came in sight, standing silently before the opened front doors, staring at the mountain range that loomed in the not so far distance.
"Kai?" She quickly made her way to him. "Kai, are you okay?"
He didn't even seem to hear her, continuing to stare outside. At the close range she could hear a soft sound; humming. The same lullaby melody sounded haunted as he continued to sing to himself, his lips moving ever so slightly as he would sometimes sing the words.
Blinking back tears, she reached out and ran a hand through his hair. He didn't even notice her but she continued, praying that somewhere behind the stoic face he could feel her.
"Woman."
Voltaire stood in the parlour and flicked his cane.
"Bring him. Our ride is here."
Their ride turned out to be a helicopter that awaited them in the immense back yard. The pilot, a stern looking man, bowed as the three neared; Voltaire leading the way while Margaret followed, her arm wrapped around Kai to guide him as he seemed oblivious to what was going on.
"Get in," Voltaire ordered, taking Kai from her.
Faced with two men, the pilot was also wearing a gun, she had no choice but to do just that. Kai was then lifted by the pilot into the chopper and she quickly pulled the teen to sit next to her, adjusting his seatbelt and wrapping both arms around him and continued to stroke his hair as he continued to hum uninterruptedly.
Voltaire climbed in and for a moment he looked as if he was about to take the boy from her but then he smirked and sat down opposite the two.
The blades spun to life and soon she felt them lift off, hovering for a few seconds before gaining altitude and soaring high. Looking out the window, she could still make out the dark silhouette of the mansion nestled in the mountains.
"You can run all you want, my lord Voltaire, but you can't run forever."
He laughed at her words, polishing the silver grip of his cane.
"Woman, I won't be running anymore. That mansion had been merely a pause-point in my plan; just a place where I could tie up last minute things. Once Kai and I have reached our destination we will remain there."
"The officials will find that mansion. They will find the bodies of your son and daughter-in-law. They will find evidence that Kai had been there. They will find enough to be able to track you down. No matter how well you plan, you always miss something."
"Well then, it is a good thing I have a fool-proof solution that will destroy any such evidence."
With a flick of his thumb the silver head of his cane clicked open, revealing a single black button. Smirking haughtily at the bemused woman, he looked out the window at the house now far below them.
"It took a team of 200 men fourteen months to build that house. Ironic that I can demolish it with one single finger in mere seconds."
Margaret was just able to grab Kai as he pressed the button, setting off the hundreds of pounds of explosives he had left behind.
The mountains seemed to crumble as a massive blast shook their very foundations. A gigantic ball of fire billowed up from amidst their peaks, the smoke blacker than the night sky. Though they were safely out of its reach, the shock wave rocked the chopper and Margaret hugged the teen to her, fearing the force of the explosion was enough to knock them out of the air.
As suddenly as it had started, the chaos was over, leaving nothing but a hundred meter deep crater where the house had once been; a deep pit of burning debris and ink-black smoke.
Her ears still ringing from the blast, Margaret slowly released the teen though not completely, staring with wide eyes at the destruction.
"There, problem solved," Voltaire grinned.
Kai hadn't notice any of it, still humming as he allowed the woman to hold him, his only reaction to her was his hand which held onto hers though this went unnoticed by both adults.
"Bastard…" Margaret whispered to the elder Hiwatari.
"Yes, you've called me that before," he waved her off, sounding bored. "Now that the house has been taking care of there's just one more stop we have to make near the cliffs overlooking the ocean before we can reach our destination."
"Another stop? Why?"
His almost maniacal grin returned at that.
"You've seemed not to have taken notice to what I had said earlier. Once *Kai* and *I* reach our destination we will remain there. Who ever said that you'll still be with us till then?"
Her eyes widened and so did his grin.
"I always get rid of *all* evidence, my dear Margaret. *All* evidence…"
Pushing the looming end out of her mind, she could only pull Kai closer, resting her head on his soft hair as she stared out the window at the plume of smoke that was quickly fading from view as the chopper began its journey to *her* final destination.
Tbc…..
***************
Okay, this ended up much longer than expected but I felt that the last part with Kai, Voltaire and Margaret had to be added.
I did this because I feel that the story is dragging and needs to reach an end soon. Don't worry, I'm not going to rush these last chapters but there's still a lot that has to happen and it's about time I start to get them done.
Also, please check my bio page for some interesting announcements!
Read & Review, please.
Authoress: Ladya C. Maxine
Rating: R
Summary: see chapter one
Warnings: see chapter one
Disclaimer: I do not own beyblade or any of its characters. Any and all unrecognizable characters belong solely to me and are not to be touched. I am not making any money off of this and I write with the sole intention to entertain.
A/N: Most of this chapter had already been written but the Anne-Marie scene in the middle was really giving me a hard time because I (being the person I am) hadn't really thought through Anne-Marie's story so I had to spend some time thinking up a history for her.
Keep in mind to read the re-written chapters up until now because things have been changed and the chapters to come will be based off of these changes.
******************************
*~*~*~begin flashback~*~*~*
"What's your name?"
He looked over to the bluenette for help but Kai could only shrug helplessly.
Lowering his eyes, he answered the others question.
"I don't have one."
Light purple eyes blinked in surprise.
"Why not?"
"No one ever gave me one."
"Oh..." The pale boy frowned slightly. He grinned, however, when a thought came to his head.
"We'll give you a name!"
All four looked at him, surprised.
"I don't think that's how it works, Bryan," Ian pointed out, absently playing with his rifle-launcher. "Shouldn't his parents do that?"
"I wouldn't mind..." the newcomer said softly, still not meeting their eyes from where he stood next to Kai, not daring to stray from the bluenette even though the others looked friendly enough.
"It isn't going to kill anyone," Bryan argued, turning to Spencer who sat on a log next to Ian. "Right, Spence?"
"Bryan's right. Besides, it will be easier if we can call him by a name."
"Kai?" the lilac-haired blader turned to their leader.
"I guess so."
"Cool. Now, what are we gonna call you...? What do you wanna be called?"
He shrugged wordlessly.
"How about Jordi?" Spencer offered.
"Nah, there's like 20 of those in the Abbey already! Something else."
"Ivan?"
"Sound too much like Ian; we'll get confused!"
Watching as the three friends discussed possible names, he couldn't help smiling slightly. He liked them. Crimson eyes met his as he tapped Kai's shoulder slightly.
"Thanks."
An equally soft smile graced the normally placid face.
"No problem."
"Okay! We got one!" Ian announced, getting their attention.
"How about Tala?" Bryan asked, the other two eagerly awaiting his decision.
"Tala?" he repeated softly.
He liked it. It wasn't a name he had heard before but something about it sounded really...nice.
"Watcha think?" Bryan asked expectantly when the shy red-head didn't respond quickly enough.
"It sounds really neat."
Beside him Kai nodded his silent agreement.
"Then it's official; your name is Tala!" Bryan announced. Standing, the lilac-eyed blader walked over and held out a hand.
"Pals?"
He smiled, blushing slightly as he accepted it.
"Pals."
"Great! Wanna beyblade?"
*~*~*~end flashback~*~*~*
The cheerful voices still sounded in his mind as he slowly opened his eyes, adjusting to the brightness once more. His skin still stung from the many small cuts left by the ripping of infuses, new needles having been placed to keep him monitored at all times.
Soft, warm air blew on his arm and he looked down to find lilac hair.
Bryan was asleep, sitting in a chair next to the bed with his arms resting on the mattress, head laying on them as he breathed softly.
For many minutes he studied his friend, remembering the first time they had met.
People would never believe him if he told them but, of the three bladers Kai had introduce him to when they were still kids, Bryan had immediately befriended him. The light purple eyes had sparkled as the boy, much more cheerful before years of harsh training had drained most, if not all of his childhood enthusiasm, had offered to teach him all about beyblading, explaining the importance of offence and defence and everything in between with a passion for the sport that could only be natural. At the time Tala had had very little of knowledge of beyblading but had been drawn more to the charismatic boy than his words.
Years had passed since he had joined their small but close group. And through the years it was he, of the five, who was the one the rest always protected. Even when he became their captain and a proven lethal blader, his team mates always kept an eye on him, looking out for him.
Bryan in particular was protective in a rather dangerous way, never hesitating to take on any of the other students if they tried to pick on the quiet red-head. The regular fights were what had given the scientists the idea to train Bryan to become an emotionless fighter. There had been times when their violet-eyed friend would disappear for weeks, even months, for extensive training. And while it had worked for the most part, Bryan had never shut out his friends and still felt for them. Still...
'If I hadn't been there, you wouldn't have fought, and they wouldn't have chosen you for the experiment...If I hadn't been there...'
Crimson eyes, tearful in betrayal, stared at him in his mind.
'Kai wouldn't be with Voltaire if it hadn't been for me...He should be with his team, with his *real* friends...Instead he came for me...worried for me...'
"You're up."
Tala snapped out of reverie at Bryan's voice. The teen still kept his arms folded on the bed but his eyes were open and alert, locked on his.
Not responding he returned the stare.
"How do you feel?"
Again, he didn't answer, only looked at his friend.
"Yeah, stupid question," the Bryan sighed, rubbing his eyes. "The police are doing the best they can to find Kai. Every unit in--"
"How's your leg?" Tala suddenly asked softly.
The abrupt change of subject confused Bryan. Tala had almost had a stroke when the truth had been revealed and now he pretended that nothing had happened?
Still, not wanting to make things even more complicated, he accepted the question.
"Nurses aren't hassling me to stay in bed as much as before, so I guess that means it's getting better."
"That's good to hear. Where's Spencer?"
"Surgery. A specialist from Austria flew in last night. They started an hour ago."
Before he could ask about Ian, the door opened and both turned as a nurse stepped in, smiling to find them both there.
"You have a visitor," she informed.
Bryan smirked as she gently rolled in a wheelchair.
"What did you do? Nag them into submission?"
"Drop dead, Bryan," Ian muttered, obviously annoyed with the fact that he needed help getting around. His sneer was quickly forgotten though when he saw that Tala was up.
"Hey, how are you feeling?"
Bryan was about to cover for him but Tala offered their small friend a ghost of a smile, not wanting to worry him.
'At least one of us should recover in peace.'
"I've felt better," he admitted.
The nurse wheeled the Wyborg blader next to Bryan's chair before leaving the three to talk, closing the door behind her.
For a moment Tala blanked out, watching as Ian and Spencer engaged in what seemed to be a continuing banter. He didn't hear the words, just watched his friends. Ian's legs weren't damaged but a heavy bandage was wrapped around his head, suggesting that his head injuries were more serious than what the nurse told them, so much that they didn't want Ian to be walking, afraid that he may jar his injuries. Also, his arm had a heavy cast fitted securely around it, forcing the bones to mend.
Through his observations he heard his name and blinked. Ian and Bryan were watching him worriedly.
"I'm fine," he assured, only then feeling something wet on his cheeks; he was crying, and hadn't even noticed it.
"Sorry," he said softly, wiping the tears away quickly.
"Kai's tough, Tala," Ian insisted, getting straight to the point. Of the five he was always the one to be rather blunt though now he minded his words for the sake of his friends. "Since he first came to the Abbey he took everything they could dish out at him and threw it back in their faces. He won't let someone like Voltaire get to him. He'll make it out alright."
"He'll make it out..." Tala repeated softly to himself.
"Yeah," Bryan confirmed, "and when he does, he will be stronger than before."
"We all will be," Ian finished, looking pointedly at Tala. The small smile the red-head granted him was enough to make him ignore the throbbing sting in his head; damn medications.
The three sat in comfortable silence for a while until Tala spoke, his question catching the others off-guard.
"What happened to Boris?"
Ian and Bryan exchanged unsure glances, both not wanting to upset the red-head even though it had been Tala who brought the subject up.
"I know what you are thinking but...you yourself said we have to be stronger. And...I guess for me the first thing to do is face the truth," he explained. "All I remember seeing was his face looking down at me while... The rest is just a blank."
Still hesitating, Bryan eventually spoke up.
"He's in jail. Police are using him to try and get information on Voltaire, but he's not talking. His trial should be starting soon though everyone is saying that he will get the death sentence almost surely, if not he'll spend the rest of his life behind bars."
"That bastard deserves worse," Ian muttered but kept otherwise his thoughts to himself. Absently, he rubbed his head gingerly as the slight sting that had been there since morning now persisted.
"Even if he dies he'll always be in my mind," Tala admitted. "He's there with the others. All the people who have haunted me. Everytime I try to rest... Where's Wolborg?"
The change of topic made them blink, Bryan for a second time.
"Huh?" Ian asked.
"I remember Wolborg. I remember, through my nightmares, feeling him next to me. I called him. Why isn't he here?"
"He's okay," Bryan quickly reassured, not wanting his friend to suffer another seizure. "He was here. For five days. Made quite an entrance, or so I heard. Guess the blade forced him to return when his energy ran out. He's lucky he's a man-made bit beast; he has to return when the blade calls him. Otherwise he would have stayed out until he faded away. He'll be back though, especially now that you're awake."
A knock came, followed by the nurse poking her head around the door.
"It's time to turn-in. *All* of you," she stressed, meeting Bryan's eyes. He had talked her into letting him stay over one night. "You can come back tomorrow morning."
"Any word on Spencer?" Ian asked as she walked over to wheel him out.
"No, but so far the surgery has not met any complications. We will know more by tomorrow."
Bryan hesitated with rising but his body actually longed to lie down on his bed. Taking Tala's hand, he gripped it tightly and offered the teen a fraction of a smile.
"Hang in there. The food isn't as bad as they say it is."
The comment actually brought a soft smile to his face and he nodded, returning the grip.
"See you later," Ian reached out to pat his arm before allowing the nurse to wheel him away, Bryan walking beside her, using a walking stick to ease the pressure off his healing leg, as he and Ian started up another light-hearted argument.
Soon the room was quiet once more and he turned to stare blankly up at the roof, seeing nothing but crimson eyes that lingered in his mind. Soon he felt the tears return but this time he didn't wipe them away; what was the use?
As long as Kai was gone, they were all he had.
******************
"I never knew…"
The elderly woman fell silent, her light green eyes fixed on the long white scarf she held in her lap, her fingers rubbing the soft material in a calming way.
"All this time...All this time I thought that he was dead…"
From where he sat with the Bladebreakers, Ray watched the woman with sympathetic eyes.
Soft spoken and kind with an air of nobility about her, their target's ex-wife was a woman of high class; a daughter of a British duke and duchess. Upon arrival she had carried herself with a poise that spoke of her upbringing.
Snow-white hair was swept up in a high bun, held in place by oriental clips. She was older than Mr Dickenson and her face held the lines of age, particularly around her eyes, though they didn't take away any of her former beauty. She was a small lady, maybe an inch or so taller than Ray and very slender, her glamorous yet at the same time comfortable robe-like gown reaching the floor as she walk and now pooled around her as she sat.
"Forgive me if this question is too personal, Mrs Hiwatari--"
"Anne-Marie, please. I've long stopped carrying that name."
"Of course," Mr Dickenson said, "Anne-Marie, did you know of Voltaire's relationship with your grandson?"
"I knew nothing. I had already left him before Kai was even born. The man was violent and there were times when I had to hire security in our own home because I was afraid of him. He had changed so much after our marriage, nothing like the gentleman I had first met. Sometimes I think that it had all been an act, his kindness. But he was never satisfied with anything. He had cheated on me many of times but always denied it. When our son, Sergey, was born he had been so proud, boasting that the Hiwatari line would be strengthened. But our son wanted to plan his own future, not be his father's shadow. When he became engaged to Vivian his father shunned him, calling him a lost cause and waste of his time; Voltaire for some reason never liked Vivian though I found her a wonderful young lady."
She dabbed gently at the corner of her eyes with a tissue.
"After their marriage Voltaire was irate. He fired all the security guards and would strike out often at me or one of the servants. One was even critically injured and died a few days later. Her body was buried by the others under Voltaire's orders. I was scared. I didn't dare inform the officials; he had threatened me with my life if I tried. I didn't know what else to do. It was Sergey who convinced me to leave. So I did. I left him and after paying hundreds of dollars I managed to get a divorce, despite his protest against it.
"Our son arranged a new home for me in South America. He often worried about me, you know. Once out of Russia, I had cut off any connection with Voltaire. I begged Sergey and Vivian to come with me; I was afraid for their lives but they assured me that they were capable of taking care of themselves."
She raised her head to watch them all, her tears softening their faces and hearts.
"I never even saw my grandson in person. I received a letter from Sergey after the birth along with a picture." She opened her purse and took out a photo, handing it to Mr Dickenson. "I carry it around with me everywhere. It's the closest I have ever been to Kai."
A small family of three smiled back at them form the photo. A handsome man with spiked blue hair with a small ponytail at the back sat with both arms around a young woman whose long silvery hair was left loose, framing her weary but happy face. She was lying on a bed, her arms holding a small bundle wrapped in cloth. A small head with slightly curly, blue/slate hair peeked out of the blanket along with big, scarlet eyes. A tiny hand held onto his mother's finger.
"Sergey forbade me to return to Russia for my own sake. He promised me that they would come visit me when they could. When Kai was five years old they sent me a letter saying that they were coming but that they first had some business to deal with. Had I known they were going to Voltaire I would have stopped them with everything in my power."
"And when it was too late you had thought that there was nothing you could do," Bruce concluded.
"They never came. A few days later I received a letter that stated that all three of them were missing and that Voltaire claimed that they had never reached his home. It was then that I knew he had killed them. Had I known that Kai was still alive then I would have risked everything to get him away from his grandfather…If I had only known…"
"But didn't you see or hear about Kai afterwards? I mean, the beyblade tournaments are always broadcasted on TV," Tyson pointed out.
"I can honestly say that I myself do not know the answer to that. I had just isolated myself so much from everything. I don't even know if I read the newspaper or watched any television. I hid myself from him, fearing that he would find me next."
Ray showed the black casing he had idly been playing with.
"How is it then that Kai had your phone number?"
"I can only assume that his father had given it to him before he had been killed. That casing once belonged to me before I gave it to Vivian as a gift. I had entrusted them with the phone number of my house phone."
Again they fell silent, processing what they had just learned.
"I am truly sorry you had to learn about this the hard way, Anne-Marie," Mr Dickenson said. "All these years you thought Kai to be dead and to then find him again alive but in a life-threatening circumstance is something I know is hurting you. And I'll understand if you do not wish to get involved. But your help would be very much appreciated."
"I will help you, despite what I feel. I owe this much to Kai. I want to at least see him once and let him know that he has a relative who loves him the way he should be loved."
Ray released a breath of relief. Things were finally going to come together.
"We thank you. Now if you--"
"I'm sorry to interrupt you, Mr Dickenson, but…I would really love to see Kai; a picture of him or something. I…I never got to see him grow and to now know that he lives, I wish to see my grandson."
"Oh…I fear I don't have any photos with me at the moment," Mr Dickenson apologised.
"I do," Kenny spoke for the first time, blushing when all eyes turned on him. "I keep a few pictures of the team on my laptop. If you want I can show you, ma'am."
She smiled at the small boy.
"I would really love that, young man."
Placing Dizzy on the table, Kenny entered a few passwords and codes and before long there was a beep and the file opened. It was a picture that had been taken after the American tournament. Tyson and Max were kneeling on the ground, grinning goofily. Kenny knelt next to them, smiling shyly. Behind them, Ray stood on the left, arms crossed and smiling with the boy next to him who smirked back.
Anne-Marie's eyes began to water slowly as she studied Kai.
"He looks just like his father…but he had his mother's eyes…"
They all shared looks above her head, understanding just how much this woman had been deprived of.
"He is so perfect…" She reached out with a hand as if to touch the screen but then stopped. Sniffing softly, she looked away, unable to look any more. Kenny closed his laptop.
"I'm sorry, ma'am. I didn't mean to make you upset…"
"I'm not. I've never felt as happy as I do now. I will not rest until Kai is with me. I will not let Voltaire take away another member of this family. I won't…"
"Then we'd best get started. There's a lot to do be done," Mr Dickenson said.
***************
Sniffing softly, Margaret finished making the bed, tucking in the sides neatly. This done, she straightened and looked around the room.
It was so different from when she had first seen it a decade ago. Then it had been bright and alive with its occupants' toys and treasures. Now it looked so bare and deserted, the evening skies outside casting a dim gloom through the tall windows.
Downstairs she heard a door slam shut and she knew it was time to go. Heading for the door, she stopped when something glimmered in the low moon light. She knelt down and picked up the lonely object, her fingers trembling as the cold metal touched it.
Simply staring at the small bit, she shook her head and placed it in the front pouch of her uniform. She didn't look back at the room that had witnessed so much suffering for so long, flicking the lights off and leaving it in complete darkness.
The halls seemed to mock her retreat, chasing her out of a place where she didn't belong. But instead of retreating to the stairs, she determinedly made her way to the tall double doors at the end.
The air of the dead swept over her for a second time but she refused to let it affect her. Coming to stand next to the bed and its deceased, she carefully pulled back the sheets, exposing the late Hiwatari's.
Silently, she knelt down and every tenderly removed the golden charm bracelet from the nearest skeleton before walking around the bed to remove the heavy Rolex from the other. That done, she stared at the taunting 'Rot in Peace' not before pulling that off too, tearing it to shreds and allowing the pieces to flutter to the floor.
"May you now be at peace," she whispered and respectfully pulled the sheet back up to cover the remains.
Nothing stirred but for the small shreds of paper as she closed the large doors for the last time.
Reaching the first floor she faltered as the lone figure came in sight, standing silently before the opened front doors, staring at the mountain range that loomed in the not so far distance.
"Kai?" She quickly made her way to him. "Kai, are you okay?"
He didn't even seem to hear her, continuing to stare outside. At the close range she could hear a soft sound; humming. The same lullaby melody sounded haunted as he continued to sing to himself, his lips moving ever so slightly as he would sometimes sing the words.
Blinking back tears, she reached out and ran a hand through his hair. He didn't even notice her but she continued, praying that somewhere behind the stoic face he could feel her.
"Woman."
Voltaire stood in the parlour and flicked his cane.
"Bring him. Our ride is here."
Their ride turned out to be a helicopter that awaited them in the immense back yard. The pilot, a stern looking man, bowed as the three neared; Voltaire leading the way while Margaret followed, her arm wrapped around Kai to guide him as he seemed oblivious to what was going on.
"Get in," Voltaire ordered, taking Kai from her.
Faced with two men, the pilot was also wearing a gun, she had no choice but to do just that. Kai was then lifted by the pilot into the chopper and she quickly pulled the teen to sit next to her, adjusting his seatbelt and wrapping both arms around him and continued to stroke his hair as he continued to hum uninterruptedly.
Voltaire climbed in and for a moment he looked as if he was about to take the boy from her but then he smirked and sat down opposite the two.
The blades spun to life and soon she felt them lift off, hovering for a few seconds before gaining altitude and soaring high. Looking out the window, she could still make out the dark silhouette of the mansion nestled in the mountains.
"You can run all you want, my lord Voltaire, but you can't run forever."
He laughed at her words, polishing the silver grip of his cane.
"Woman, I won't be running anymore. That mansion had been merely a pause-point in my plan; just a place where I could tie up last minute things. Once Kai and I have reached our destination we will remain there."
"The officials will find that mansion. They will find the bodies of your son and daughter-in-law. They will find evidence that Kai had been there. They will find enough to be able to track you down. No matter how well you plan, you always miss something."
"Well then, it is a good thing I have a fool-proof solution that will destroy any such evidence."
With a flick of his thumb the silver head of his cane clicked open, revealing a single black button. Smirking haughtily at the bemused woman, he looked out the window at the house now far below them.
"It took a team of 200 men fourteen months to build that house. Ironic that I can demolish it with one single finger in mere seconds."
Margaret was just able to grab Kai as he pressed the button, setting off the hundreds of pounds of explosives he had left behind.
The mountains seemed to crumble as a massive blast shook their very foundations. A gigantic ball of fire billowed up from amidst their peaks, the smoke blacker than the night sky. Though they were safely out of its reach, the shock wave rocked the chopper and Margaret hugged the teen to her, fearing the force of the explosion was enough to knock them out of the air.
As suddenly as it had started, the chaos was over, leaving nothing but a hundred meter deep crater where the house had once been; a deep pit of burning debris and ink-black smoke.
Her ears still ringing from the blast, Margaret slowly released the teen though not completely, staring with wide eyes at the destruction.
"There, problem solved," Voltaire grinned.
Kai hadn't notice any of it, still humming as he allowed the woman to hold him, his only reaction to her was his hand which held onto hers though this went unnoticed by both adults.
"Bastard…" Margaret whispered to the elder Hiwatari.
"Yes, you've called me that before," he waved her off, sounding bored. "Now that the house has been taking care of there's just one more stop we have to make near the cliffs overlooking the ocean before we can reach our destination."
"Another stop? Why?"
His almost maniacal grin returned at that.
"You've seemed not to have taken notice to what I had said earlier. Once *Kai* and *I* reach our destination we will remain there. Who ever said that you'll still be with us till then?"
Her eyes widened and so did his grin.
"I always get rid of *all* evidence, my dear Margaret. *All* evidence…"
Pushing the looming end out of her mind, she could only pull Kai closer, resting her head on his soft hair as she stared out the window at the plume of smoke that was quickly fading from view as the chopper began its journey to *her* final destination.
Tbc…..
***************
Okay, this ended up much longer than expected but I felt that the last part with Kai, Voltaire and Margaret had to be added.
I did this because I feel that the story is dragging and needs to reach an end soon. Don't worry, I'm not going to rush these last chapters but there's still a lot that has to happen and it's about time I start to get them done.
Also, please check my bio page for some interesting announcements!
Read & Review, please.