Battle of the Masters
Chapter Fourteen
by Shadou-sama

Kai sat in the cabin, in the same position Shadra had left him in. He guessed it wasn't exactly the same, because he had gotten up twice. One had been right after Shadra had left, to tell her that he'd help her get Darker back. He had stopped in his tracks as soon as he remembered Ziya's advice. The second time had been to pace. The others didn't know it, but he was a big pacer. If something troubled him, he liked to walk. His teammates thought he just liked to wander.
Shadra had looked very pissed when she had left. He couldn't blame her; he would be the same way if it had been Dranzer instead of Darker. To be truthful, he would have been worse. He would have beaten the guy into a bloody mass of flesh. And knowing her, she might actually try that when she came back.
But it wasn't like she hadn't deserved it. Maybe it would teach her a lesson.
Kai heard the thumping of feet on the green porch outside and the talk and laughter of his teammates. They were back.
"Hey Kai!" Tyson said as he walked in. "You missed a great party!"
"Yeah," Max agreed. "I wish all tournaments held them."
Ray walked in, laughing and agreeing, but stopped cold as he noticed the icy glare Kai had reserved especially for him. Ray raised his eyebrows, as if expecting Kai to explain. Of course he wouldn't comply.
"So are you two a couple?" Max asked.
Ray faintly blushed. "Um, yes."
"Oh man, you should have seen it, Kai," Tyson said, falling back onto a chair. "The DJ put on this song for them and they were the only ones dancing. And they kissed in front of everyone!"
Kai felt his heart drop into his stomach.
"Now we can't have Ray go against Mariah in the tourney. He'll go easy on her," Max said.
Before Kai could stop himself, he asked, "Why?"
"Because they're going out," Tyson answered. "And you're on my case about not listening. Sheesh!"
Ray and Mariah? Not Ray and Shadra? Don't get on the wrong side of Mariah, Shadra had said. Mariah must have gotten jealous of Shadra, gave her a black eye, and went off to spend the rest of the night with Ray, while Shadra had hiked home. And apparently, Ray liked Mariah more than Shadra. So why did Ray have to go and make such a mess of things? Okay, so it wasn't Ray's fault. Kai could have taken her to that stupid dance and avoided the whole thing. He admitted that. But if Ray liked Mariah so much, why did he go with Shadra? Those stupid Bladebreakers, they all have to screw things up.
Shadra walked into the cabin, looking dead on her feet, with her black cat. She looked around at everyone, who had their whole attention on her. No anger, no sadness, no confusion plagued her face. She didn't even glare at him.
"I'm disqualified," she said, deadpanning. She and her cat walked into the smaller room, leaving everyone else confused.
Kai, too, left them to their confusion. The room was dark, the only light being the moonlight when it managed through the thick curtains and a few tendrils coming in from under the door's curtain. He waited for his eyes to adjust. Shadra was already lying in her bed, the cat laying watch. Kai carefully climbed up the wooden ladder nailed to the wall and sat down onto the mattress. Shadra didn't even stir.
"Shadra," he whispered, nudging her. No response. Balla watched him coolly, her creepy red eyes glowing like all cat eyes do.
"Shadra," he whispered again, and nudged her again. Still no response.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, even though she wasn't awake. He knew he had to say something. "I shouldn't have given your bit-beast to someone else. But you hurt me. You left me here to be with Ray. That's why I did it."
Silence ensued, not even a ruffling of blankets. But as he was about to climb back down, the girl whispered back. "I just wanted to go to a dance for once in my life. I've never been to one, none of the schools I've been to have ever had one. I just wanted to see what it was like."
Kai stopped, frozen. He waited in case she had something else to say, then he settled back to his earlier position. "They're horrible," he whispered.
"I know that now. Also that I'm quick the menace on the dance floor."
Kai grinned. So was he. He sobered up quickly once he remembered what he had done. "About Darker…"
"I couldn't get her back. I don't know where Holly has her. I don't know how to get her back. I don't think anyone can right now."
Kai silently climbed back down the ladder. His revenge was the second thing he had ever regretted.

Yuki walked towards the cabin he had rented after dropping Shadra off at hers, feeling good about himself. He had eliminated his greatest competition and made himself numero uno. He knew where Shadra's precious sword was hidden; beneath the porch. Plus he had screwed that bossy wench, all in one fell swoop. Life was pretty sweet.

Holly sat down in a chair at the head office. Two of her akkae were supposed to show up. She glanced out the nearby window. No one was coming.
She was angry. Yuki had outfoxed her and foiled her plans. She almost had Shadra! With her out of the way, the rest would be easy. But no, that stupid akki had to play the knight in shining armor bit. Her only consolation was the fact that she had thought to hide Darker and still had the bit-beast. Shadra would have a lesser chance of stopping them. Though why Shadra would want to, she had no idea. Holly guessed that Shadra just wanted to be difficult. But this suited better to Holly's plans then if Shadra had joined them. Fate works in such wonderful ways.
Two girls walked in. Her akkae were here.
"I'm very sorry, mistress. I couldn't persuade Shadra to join the Masters," Daniel said. The blonde was younger than she looked, which was exactly why Holly had gotten her the desk job.
"Whatever. What did you do, Darcie?"
"Broke some ties to the Bladebreakers."
Holly frowned. Useless. She didn't really want to bring Shadra to her team. Things could go easier with her on the Bladebreakers. "I don't care about getting that vixen on the team anymore. Don't even bother. Anything else?"
Both shook their heads. Holly's frown deepened into a scowl.
"Darcie, get the All Starz bit-beasts. And—no, we already have Bit Trashers'. Daniel, arrange the tournament pyramid so that the Masters meet the Bladebreakers in the finals. Got it?" Both nodded. "Good. Go."
Darcie opened the door to leave, and in feel a teenage girl who looked quite stunned.
"Ziya…" Darcie moaned. "How much did you hear?"
"Uh… none of it?"
Holly's patience snapped. "Tie her up and stick her in a closet! She can't go free!"

To be continued...