Men Don't Change: Chapter 4
Darkness consumed everything in his path as Kai walked home. The mansion was hard to miss, even at night. It looked a little ominous as he neared the gate, but he didn't care. He had been living here ever since his parents died and he had been placed under his grandfather's guardianship. Now that the old geyser was locked up in prison, the property was his. His to do with what he wanted.
The halls were empty, but it didn't really matter. It wasn't like he needed an escort. Hilary might, but she probably found her way all right, anyway.
He climbed the stairs to the North wing. He knew his way by memory. Third room on the left, second floor. The spiral staircase had made him dizzy sometimes as a kid, but by now he had gotten over it. It took him a minute to find his key and unlock his room, but when it was done, he quietly, though without knowing why, slipped in, and relocked the door. The bed was a little cool when he crawled in, but he was used to that. It didn't matter what the weather was like. People used to say he was immune to atmospherical conditions. Not really. He could just take it better, that's all.
1:45. He still couldn't get to sleep. Normally, he could fall asleep at will, and still wake up before the sun rose, but tonight was different. Almost like he were subconsciously waiting for something.
He tore back the covers and walked over to the desk across his oversized room. On the shelf were countless beyblades lined up neatly in rows. He picked up the blue one on the end. The one with the portrait of the legendary phoenix on it and flames on the sides. He held it close to his eyes, examining every inch of it. This blade had stood with him, through thick and thin. It had won him the lead position in a gang, had saved his butt a couple times, not to mention his life. It had even won him fame and the trophies lined up on his wall and in the cabinets downstairs. But the one thing it had never gotten him, the one thing he wanted most...
Knock, knock.
Unusual. The servants knew not to disturb him at during the late night and early morning hours. He could chastise them in the morning. Right now, it may be something important. He shoved the blade into his pocket, and opened the door.
"Hilary," he whispered.
"Hi," she said. She looked so graceful, so gorgeous, angelic in that satin nightgown she wore. The way the material shone, it appeared as though she was wearing a rainbow of shimmering colors. She had trouble looking into his eyes, embarrassed, as she explained, "I couldn't sleep. And I...don't know where anything is. Um, think you could keep me company?" She was serious.
"No problem," he managed to say. He stepped aside so she could come in.
"Wow. It's so huge!" she exclaimed in awe. "Much bigger than mine."
"Yeah."
She wandered around the room, checking out all his personal items. She was particularly interested in his beyblade collection and trophies. "You won this?" she asked pointing to the 3rd Annual International Beyblade Championship First Place cup.
"It was too easy."
"They stopped hosting that tournament in 2000, didn't they?"
"The countries decided it was easier to send their candidates to the World Tournament. It was a lot cheaper and maintained economy stability."
"Cool."
"How'd you know about it?"
"I studied a lot with Tyson. You know him, all about blading."
"Really."
"Yeah. I'm amazed he actually read those books. He hates reading. Quite an extensive collection of blades there, Kai."
"And expensive. Every one I've owned since childhood. Each one custom- made." Was she impressed? Or just fishing around for things to discuss?
"Can I touch?"
"Why not?"
"Awesome." The smile on her face practically glowed. It's true what she had said. What one person feels, the others feel, too. She was happy, and it was beginning to light up the room, and himself. She picked up the one he had used to dominate in the abbey. "Hardcore."
She didn't know about his past. It was only natural she wouldn't understand his expression.
"Something wrong, Kai?" she asked. "If I'm bothering you, I can leave."
"It's not that," he whispered.
"You okay? You look as though someone died." She placed the beyblade in his hands. "Something to do with this?" He put it back where it had been. She put her hand on his as he withdrew it. "Tell me." Her voice was so gentle, so peaceful. But his history was so painful. He pulled his hand away and sat on the bed. Hilary followed.
"What's up?" She sounded genuinely concerned and curious. He refused to look at her. She took her hand under his face and made him look at her. "Tell me," she urged.
'No wonder Tyson wanted her. She can be...seductive sometimes (the tame definition, not perverted). Especially...now...'
"Please?" she pleaded. It was so tempting when she put it that way. He found himself telling her about the abbey, about his grandfather, about...his life in general. He even told her about the BladeSharks. How he met Tyson, how he joined the BladeBreakers. They're adventures together.
"We're sort of like a second family to you, huh?" Hilary asked.
"Most of them can be annoying. At times, even Ray can seem a little...off. I envy that. I want that naïve happiness. That childish bliss. I even regret sometimes how I treat them."
"You wouldn't trade us for anything would you?"
"Sometimes I think I would, but other times, I feel like I enjoy friendship."
She smiled. "It seems many people underestimate beyblading. It earns you fame, sometimes money, and friendships. You envy us, but we also envy you, Kai."
He looked at her. "But it doesn't win everything."
"What do you mean?"
"There's one thing it won Tyson but hasn't won me."
"What's that?" She drew closer to him.
"I think you can figure it out." She was momentarily confused. But she understood as they came closer and closer together until their lips touched.
The next morning, for the first time in forever, the sun rose before Kai. He sat up, not remembering ever closing his eyes or falling asleep. The maid strolled in, broom in hand.
"Good morning, Master Kai," she greeted. He grunted in return. He noticed that Hilary was curled up beside him. He pulled the blankets and moved them gently up to her shoulders so she'd be completely warm. Then he got out, careful not to wake her, and pecked her on the cheek, aware that the maid noticed.
His clothes were already laid out for the day. As he dressed, the maid made sure to look away, though since she had cared for him since childhood, it was no big deal even if she did see him in his boxers.
As he left, he gave his "nurse" specific directions how to care of her, and to let her sleep.
"Tell no one," he ordered.
"Your secret's safe with me, Master Kai," she answered. She smiled when he had gone. He had finally learned to show affection for another.
Darkness consumed everything in his path as Kai walked home. The mansion was hard to miss, even at night. It looked a little ominous as he neared the gate, but he didn't care. He had been living here ever since his parents died and he had been placed under his grandfather's guardianship. Now that the old geyser was locked up in prison, the property was his. His to do with what he wanted.
The halls were empty, but it didn't really matter. It wasn't like he needed an escort. Hilary might, but she probably found her way all right, anyway.
He climbed the stairs to the North wing. He knew his way by memory. Third room on the left, second floor. The spiral staircase had made him dizzy sometimes as a kid, but by now he had gotten over it. It took him a minute to find his key and unlock his room, but when it was done, he quietly, though without knowing why, slipped in, and relocked the door. The bed was a little cool when he crawled in, but he was used to that. It didn't matter what the weather was like. People used to say he was immune to atmospherical conditions. Not really. He could just take it better, that's all.
1:45. He still couldn't get to sleep. Normally, he could fall asleep at will, and still wake up before the sun rose, but tonight was different. Almost like he were subconsciously waiting for something.
He tore back the covers and walked over to the desk across his oversized room. On the shelf were countless beyblades lined up neatly in rows. He picked up the blue one on the end. The one with the portrait of the legendary phoenix on it and flames on the sides. He held it close to his eyes, examining every inch of it. This blade had stood with him, through thick and thin. It had won him the lead position in a gang, had saved his butt a couple times, not to mention his life. It had even won him fame and the trophies lined up on his wall and in the cabinets downstairs. But the one thing it had never gotten him, the one thing he wanted most...
Knock, knock.
Unusual. The servants knew not to disturb him at during the late night and early morning hours. He could chastise them in the morning. Right now, it may be something important. He shoved the blade into his pocket, and opened the door.
"Hilary," he whispered.
"Hi," she said. She looked so graceful, so gorgeous, angelic in that satin nightgown she wore. The way the material shone, it appeared as though she was wearing a rainbow of shimmering colors. She had trouble looking into his eyes, embarrassed, as she explained, "I couldn't sleep. And I...don't know where anything is. Um, think you could keep me company?" She was serious.
"No problem," he managed to say. He stepped aside so she could come in.
"Wow. It's so huge!" she exclaimed in awe. "Much bigger than mine."
"Yeah."
She wandered around the room, checking out all his personal items. She was particularly interested in his beyblade collection and trophies. "You won this?" she asked pointing to the 3rd Annual International Beyblade Championship First Place cup.
"It was too easy."
"They stopped hosting that tournament in 2000, didn't they?"
"The countries decided it was easier to send their candidates to the World Tournament. It was a lot cheaper and maintained economy stability."
"Cool."
"How'd you know about it?"
"I studied a lot with Tyson. You know him, all about blading."
"Really."
"Yeah. I'm amazed he actually read those books. He hates reading. Quite an extensive collection of blades there, Kai."
"And expensive. Every one I've owned since childhood. Each one custom- made." Was she impressed? Or just fishing around for things to discuss?
"Can I touch?"
"Why not?"
"Awesome." The smile on her face practically glowed. It's true what she had said. What one person feels, the others feel, too. She was happy, and it was beginning to light up the room, and himself. She picked up the one he had used to dominate in the abbey. "Hardcore."
She didn't know about his past. It was only natural she wouldn't understand his expression.
"Something wrong, Kai?" she asked. "If I'm bothering you, I can leave."
"It's not that," he whispered.
"You okay? You look as though someone died." She placed the beyblade in his hands. "Something to do with this?" He put it back where it had been. She put her hand on his as he withdrew it. "Tell me." Her voice was so gentle, so peaceful. But his history was so painful. He pulled his hand away and sat on the bed. Hilary followed.
"What's up?" She sounded genuinely concerned and curious. He refused to look at her. She took her hand under his face and made him look at her. "Tell me," she urged.
'No wonder Tyson wanted her. She can be...seductive sometimes (the tame definition, not perverted). Especially...now...'
"Please?" she pleaded. It was so tempting when she put it that way. He found himself telling her about the abbey, about his grandfather, about...his life in general. He even told her about the BladeSharks. How he met Tyson, how he joined the BladeBreakers. They're adventures together.
"We're sort of like a second family to you, huh?" Hilary asked.
"Most of them can be annoying. At times, even Ray can seem a little...off. I envy that. I want that naïve happiness. That childish bliss. I even regret sometimes how I treat them."
"You wouldn't trade us for anything would you?"
"Sometimes I think I would, but other times, I feel like I enjoy friendship."
She smiled. "It seems many people underestimate beyblading. It earns you fame, sometimes money, and friendships. You envy us, but we also envy you, Kai."
He looked at her. "But it doesn't win everything."
"What do you mean?"
"There's one thing it won Tyson but hasn't won me."
"What's that?" She drew closer to him.
"I think you can figure it out." She was momentarily confused. But she understood as they came closer and closer together until their lips touched.
The next morning, for the first time in forever, the sun rose before Kai. He sat up, not remembering ever closing his eyes or falling asleep. The maid strolled in, broom in hand.
"Good morning, Master Kai," she greeted. He grunted in return. He noticed that Hilary was curled up beside him. He pulled the blankets and moved them gently up to her shoulders so she'd be completely warm. Then he got out, careful not to wake her, and pecked her on the cheek, aware that the maid noticed.
His clothes were already laid out for the day. As he dressed, the maid made sure to look away, though since she had cared for him since childhood, it was no big deal even if she did see him in his boxers.
As he left, he gave his "nurse" specific directions how to care of her, and to let her sleep.
"Tell no one," he ordered.
"Your secret's safe with me, Master Kai," she answered. She smiled when he had gone. He had finally learned to show affection for another.