Beginning

SO SORRY!!! Ok... did this chapter take a reaaaal long time or what?! What can I say? " sowwy, but I'm a lazy ass what can I do?! Well waiting is over, the chapter is a bit lame and boring and truly, I only like the ending, but well, it's here.

Chapter 7

It was cold.

No, it was freezing.

Freezing like hell!

What a nerve! Telling me not to be late and she's the one 30 minutes late!

Fortunately, Kai Hiwatari was gifted with a precious little thing called patience and he just stood there, waiting for that strange woman. What else could he do? She was taking him to Japan.

Come to think about it, this is really strange... I was fine, all of the sudden, troubles started coming one after the other... maybe going to Japan isn't a bad idea after all. But... why is she taking me? What's in it for her? Maybe I shouldn't go... I don't know her...

He was suspicious - after all, how many people would pay a perfect strange a trip to Japan, even in a boat like that?

Kai looked around - it was 30 past ten and he started walking away from the harbour.

But even with his head bowed, he couldn't miss the red lights approaching. Nor the familiar sound of police cars.

Another one?

Ever since he arrived at the harbour :on time!: he saw several police cars, one after the other. Busy night for the Scotland Yard...

"Isn't that rude... walking away without your new best friend...", he heard a female calm voice say.

Kai grinned.

"Having second thoughts?", she stated, keeping calm.

He turned back, crimson met golden. He gave her a questioning look.

"And I was thinking you would be mad at me for being late... Sorry, I had some business that needed attending. Make up your mind, boy."

"I don't know, madam," he calmly replied.

"Why now?"

"Got some free time to think. Why? Why are you helping a perfect stranger? And why should I trust you?" he venomously tossed at her.

"Excuze-moi, you asked for my help... Why did I do it? To ease my mind. Don't!" she added before he could say anything. "Trust? Who said anything about trust?"

Kai bent his head, his bangs covering is eyes. His impartiality mask came up - he was thinking.

But his thinking was interrupted by yet another police car.

"I'm going - come if you want!" she told him, somewhat uneasy.

Kai made a little run to the bike and grabbed hold of the girl's waist. Speeding forward she bent over, the wind rustling on her uncovered hair.

A few moments later, they descended the bike and approached the boat. It was almost leaving.

"Come on, hurry up! I don't have all day!!!" the shipper screamed at them. "The bike will have to go to the docking bay!"

"NO! We discussed this already, the bike stays with me! I asked a large cubiculum for that!"

"You're going in a different cubiculum! And who's that?! Your sister?!"

"Never mind him! I will..."

"The cargo area or you don't get in! And there's no need to call the captain, he ordered this!"

She hated to submit, but this one was lost already.

"Get on board, this is gonna take a while, Kai!"

Nodding, the blader made a swift jump to the edge of the stair and boarded. Meanwhile, Panther was standing next to the bike, arguing with the dubious looking man while attending to the bike itself. Looking down at them, he noticed she pulled a little black box from a compartment inside it. Turning around looking suspicious, Kai followed one of the sailors into their "accommodations".

Kai almost felt sick when he saw the room: it was f.i.l.t.h.y.! A putrid stink poisoned the air and it seemed to lodge into his clothings like tobacco; two outrageous beds stood by a rusty metal closet and a broken, rotten wood chair was tugged by the corner of the room. There were several matches on the floor and lots of lose wires coming from the ceiling right next to the light that kept going black over and over again.

"The toilet is on the bottom of this corridor and the washer is right behind the door. Enjoy your stay, if you need anything, just call for the room service." He sneered at Kai before leaving, which didn't take long considering Kai's warning gaze. Entering the room, he proceeded to investigate where the hell that awful smell came from.

Hearing some whistles and someone get slapped he turned back and the woman stormed in, carrying the black box. Carefully placing it on top of the bed, she looked around.

"What a dump...no wonder it was so cheap..."

Walking out she shouted to the old captain something about that not being the arrangement they had agreed. Quick mind made up a clumsy excuse, something like you don't like you can always sleep with the fish, and she was back inside with a murderous face.

Muttering something, she shut the door less then gently and glared at him.

"What?!"

Kai ignored her and looked around one more time. Two mice passed a few inches away from his feet and moved to Panther who was standing by the bed.

"Er... you?"

"What?" she asked. Following Kai's eyes, she looked down and spotted the mice very close to her feet. Too close...

SPLAT!

The first one got squished under her boot and the other sprinted for his life. Kai traced down the surviving one back to his hole.

I hate rats, I hate mice and I hate worms...yuck!

"AHHH!!!"

"What's the matter?" Kai asked, with an amused grin. He was holding a dead mouse covered in worms, decomposing - the source of the smell. Panther's face almost hit the mouse when she turned around, jumped back and screamed.

He opened the small window and tossed the mouse away.

"You can relax now, the bad mouse is gone!"

Glarring daggers at him for catching her in such a humiliating situation, she got back to her task - the black box.

Then Kai understood one thing - it wasn't hers. She was doing her best to see were the opening was, but there was no sign of where a key or a card would fit.

"Shimatte!"

"That's a cover."

"Damn... how the hell..."

"That's a cover I said. HELLO?"

"Hn? You said anything?"

"... That's a cover..."

Panther's eyes questioned him. Why was he so sure of that? Placing it back on top of the bed, she sat on the floor next to it, admiring it like if it was some sort of golden idol from a lost tribe.

Think, think girl! He is right, it is a cover... let me see...

She grabbed it once more, her long fingers caressing the smooth material. Made on demand. Strange... this seems like Eros work... that means.... bingo!

Her fingers were touching the box, looking for a bump. When she found it, she streched her arm behind her back and tried to grab the knife.

"Gimmie that!" she told Kai has the boy kindly grabbed it.

"Hn. And people say I have a bad temper..." he replied.

She stopped her task and looked at him.

"Listen dude, I don't like stuff being imposed upon me. And you were basically imposing just then and honestly, right now, I'm busy! We'll chit-chat later". She replied. Then, she smiled upon seing is face looking down at him.

She was smiling at him. A real smile. Kai couldn't help but do the same.

Maybe this won't be so unbearable after all...

"Ok, now shut up, I've got work to do!"

Then again, some things never change...

Finally, with the knife in her possession, she finished her task: with the sharp object, she managed to lift the darn cover and expose an oak box with titanium strains around it and a little locker that nevertheless, seemed unbreakable.

"And just how do you plan on opening that?"

"Dear Kai, when you can't jump over a cliff, step around it! My saying couldn't be more true."

"Hn?" I think that's a Chinese saying...

"Eheheheh."

She stood up and walked to her backpack. From the inside of a most peculiar shaped like bag, she took some steel and iron objects. He couldn't help but think he knew what they were for and what kind of people used them for...

Her tongue out and one eye closed, her fingers carefully, but knowingly, grabbed the box and used the objects to open the locker. A few moments of sweat and...

Crack

The box was open. And Kai's suspicious were confirmed.

A red blood ruby rolled out from the box. Bent over it, Panther let go of herself and dragged to the floor holding the ruby high in the air. Its pure crystalline glow flooded the room when the sun peeked in to take a look. It was really beautiful.

And it's mine.... she thought with a delighted grin.

"So, you are a thief..."

"I prefer robber if you don't mind," she grinned. "The Eye of Rashir, special private collection, travelled all the way from India so the west could take a good look at it... what a shame, they won't see it anyway... ain't I selfish?"

"Are you gonna sell that?" he asked? Upon her denying face, he added "So you are paid for it?"

"Yes. Very well actually. Modesty aside, I'm pretty good at what I do and lately my targets seem to be rather stupid. You see, there's a certain number of good alarm programming companies and safe craftsmen. Once you know their technique it's pretty easy to get your ass passed the security systems. And since they are so convinced of themselves, poor guys don't even bother making their safes "safer" and honestly, even a cheap pickpocket could open that! Now do you understand what I mean with ease my mind and clean my conscience? You're not the first I help out like this. It helps me feel better"

"Did you ever stop to think about getting caught?"

"Oh, of course, so many times, it's not like this is my dream job or anything! But, it's already in my veins, to late to get it out. And even if I wanted, I can't. I need the money to sustain myself and those around me. You have any idea how much it costs to maintain my bike?!"

Kai wasn't sure he wanted to reply. Of course he didn't agree to that, a crime is a crime, but he was there because of the crime she had just committed. Wait a minute, that meant he was...

"An accomplice! I'm a god damn accomplice!"

"Jesus, take it easy, nothing is going to happen!" and with she walked out of the room leaving Kai to his thoughts.

And right now there were many.

Poor Mrs Tompson... I have to get there fast... but at this rate, it will take me about 2 months to get there... Oh man, this is gonna be a long trip...

But is main concern wasn't the trip - it was the post trip. What was he supposed to do once he got there?! He couldn't just walk into his mansion (why didn't I sell it!?) and demand his grandfather to release her! First of all, the second he approached, the entire house's security would fall on him. Second, he had nothing to bargain except his bitbeasts, and there was just no way he'd turn them over. Third, he didn't want to admit it, but he was still afraid of his grandfather.

It was such a relief when I saw him get out of the courthouse with those handcuffs holding his hands together. Prettiest fashion wear he ever had if you ask me... :hn: But the worse, is that I'll never forget his face. He was more then mad, all I could read out from his face was pure despise, inconformity and, hate. A hate for the one that had betrayed him, the one that unconsciously caused his downfall.

Me.

He really thought I'd use Black Dranzer. I almost did. I really wanted to defeat Spencer, especially considering I am stronger, more capable and he cheated with the water he used! But the cost was too high. You shouldn't have demanded my friend's bitbeasts. Who knows, maybe by now you'd be ruling the world with you if you hadn't.

You transmitted so much to me. A desire to have power, control power. But some things can't be controlled. And Black Dranzer is one of those.

No one ever really understood what really happened between us both, or why I refused Dranzer so easily. They think it was like what happened with the Psykicks, they thought I was blind by the power, overwhelmed by their bitbeasts power incapable of reasoning. But it was very different. Black Dranzer didn't want to control me, he wanted to have me. He demanded me to forget anything around me and concentrate on him and him only. And so I did. I could see every inch of perfection, every curve, every detail. Just like I had seen so many years before. He always called out to me; he was so similar to Dranzer, the beast that has always been with me, training with me, protecting me. Strange, they are so similar, yet so different. It's not like Dranzer is less powerful, it's just that Black Dranzer seems to have this desire to win, to prove himself that I don't understand. That's what attracted me; he even managed to make me forget Dranzer. She stood with me all this time and I left her so easily.

I still don't understand why she forgave me.

And I still don't understand why Black Dranzer wanted me to hate her.

The end! For now that is "... I hope next chapter comes out sooner, I don't know why it took me so long to write this! Well, at least I have next chap already written in my mind ! And I have to thank my friend authoress Nessi for it (check out her stories :D)

You know, I think I'm going to make a protest! Does anyone know how to contact managers?! I really do miss the star like thingies TT!

Now, to my reviewers, thank you all:

R2RO:

Hi Arturo :waves at screen: Thanks for all the nice reviews. Of course I won't stop writing! I might just... take a while... you know... to update... seems like I have a bigger will to write during school time. Guess it's my way to relax from school. Thanks for the supporting words, they really mean a lot J

Haruka Hana

Gomenasai Haruka-san! I do take a long time to update don't I? I can see you are getting fond of my little Panther hum? Yes I take particular pleasure in her our do him because of that, he really thinks girls are a bit useless doesn't he? I'm not sure how I'll make them interact it should prove to be something interesting if I can actually find something for them to talk about --... Humm, his reunion with the Breakers... oh yes, it's going to be something memorable :evil grin:. As for Mrs Tompson, I think everybody will take a surprise ;), like you said, wait and see :D

Ja!

Isa Koliki

Hello editor-sama! I praise myself humbly upon your generosity :man do I butter up well or what?!: Just kidding now you have your work eased ne? Oh yes, late review better then none, but you it doesn't matter since you read my story whether you want it or not :P.

Babai

Lil Tanuki

Hello and welcome to my story ! I'm very glad you are enjoying it and hope you like it till the end ;). Couldn't agree more, he's so cute isn't he? Pity he's not real, ne? :wait a sec! he's not real?? Next someone is gonna tell me Santa ain't real either! :OO:

FireKai

Wow, I'm so honoured ! So many reviews, thank you so much, you gave me a serious ego bost .

One by one them: so, chapter one... thanks, a good head start is very very important . You can't imagine how nervous I was when I finally managed to post that, since it was my very first fic ne? I'm hardly as good as you say, but I think I can say I improved from chapter to chapter, one gets more mature has she writes more and more ). Of course having an editor also helps clearing out some doubts ;). Descriptions are no big deal if you have the proper inspiration and I already pointed out a very good story haven't I? Around chapter two, I didn't want to lose my reviewers so I had to add some action; thought I later realized I overreacted it completely. Still, it wasn't all to bad ;. Chapter 3...yes it's very complicated. I'll give you a clue: try imagining it in your mind, it should make things easier. Also another clue on the interpretation of it and later chapters as well: appearances can be deceiving :D... Chapter 4: couldn't make a long story based on Kai, Kai, Kai and... hum, Kai... besides, they are very important for the main plot as well! Still, Kai is by far the most interesting and cool character of the anime, ne? As for chappie number 5 ahahaha! Gotcha ya all (well not all)! Well, have you noticed you hardly have interesting girls in Beyblade and the ones existing are few? I just thought a girl would bring it something special, and since I'm very fond of Panther, she got her entrance ticket to my first fic ! I'm so sorry about the text formation, gomen! It's not the first time it happened, but I always have problems with the format when I have to put the file from WordPad to Word :S. I'll see if I can re edit them with the proper format! Finally, chapter 6! It was big and it was the only way to get his ass to Japan!

So, FireKai, thank you so much for all the lovely reviews and all the encouragement you gave me it means a lot to me ! I'm glad you like my jokes as well .! Well, till next chapter!

Joke:

Why did the chicken cross the road?

To get to the other side!

(not funny?)

A recently married couple just moved to their new apartment. He turns at her and says:

If you want to live with me, these are my rules: Monday night I go take a coffee with my friends; Tuesdays I go to the Bingo; Wednesday I go to the cinema with my buddies; Thursdays, Fridays I take a drink with them. Saturday is ball day. On Sundays I go to bed early because I need the rest for next Monday. You want, you do it, you don't, you should.

To what she replies: to me, there's only one rule: in this house, there's sex every night. Who's in, is, who's not, it should.