Wild-Roze :HEY CHRIS !! I REMEMBERED THE PASSWORD JUSTAFTER I ASKED U WHATIT WAS, AINT I THE BEST ?? anyway I'm so sorry about the late update, but I have an excuse, I have been in several 11 hour rehearsals for the production that I am in and I am shattered ! Akk ! Anyway, enjoy.

Disclaimer : We don't own Beyblade, we only own our own characters and this plot so don't sew us, k? Bai

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Chapter 6

It was evening and the sun was starting to set, sinking down into the vast city, which was all that could be seen. Atlas slipped the last letter into the post box finally her round was done. Her Grandmother was away in Spain, her job often meant that she had to travel away, before Atlas had gone with her, but she was old enough to stay home alone now. She had turned 13 a few months ago.

Her Grandmother had always advised her to go the long way home through the bustling city, just to be on the safe side, but Atlas was tired and she wanted to get to bed, she decided to cut through a narrow passage of alleyways and take the faster option home.

The young girl walked briskly, ignoring the odd bundle of rags, skin and bone that was some poor homeless person. It was really quite foul along these alleys, you never really thought about it until you were in them.

She sped up her pace, keeping her head down as she passed a couple of 18 year old drunks.

"Hey honey!" One called out. She cast a snide glance at them before carrying on.

"Come back baby!" Yelled the other, as they started to follow her. Atlas sped up more, so did they. Finally she panicked and broke into a headlong run. Her breath caught in her lungs as she sobbed fear, she could hear their ragged breathing, and odd exited chuckles, they were catching her.

She felt a hand grab her by her hair; she screamed as they spun her around, one was holding her from behind, and the one in front of her leered horribly.

"You hold her for me mate, and I'll hold her for you." He said.

She screamed again as a massive pain tore through her abdomen.

She sat up, drenched in sweat; she could still feel the lingering pain between her legs, as she always could after that dream.

She swung her legs out of bed, her whole body trembling, why did her past haunt her like this? She had tried so hard to forget those two men who took her virginity away at such a young age. She had told no one, not even Riley.

They were staying in the Ritz in London, close to where she used to live with her grandmother, already her British accent was returning, Kai had quickly spotted that and teased her as her voice wavered between American and English.

Unfortunately Riley and Johnny were booked into the room next to theirs. Would the torture never end? She got up; she knew sleep would escape her for the rest of this night, she went into the kitchen and flicked on the lights, she swiftly drank a glass of water.

"Couldn't sleep?" Asked a voice. She turned to see Kai.

"Neither could you by the looks of it." She hissed.

"Actually I could, but your screams woke me up." He said, noticing that she was still trembling slightly.

"I-It was just a dream." She muttered. Slowly becoming aware of the fact that she was just wearing a vest top and a pair of hot pants.

"Hn, What kind of dream?" He asked, pretending not to be too interested in what could possibly frighten Atlas.

She looked at him, maybe she should tell him.

"It was about..." She trailed off.

"Yes?" Prompted Kai.

"None of your business Hiwitari!" She snapped, stalking into her room and slamming the door.

"She's just as bad as Johnny when he's pissed." Kai chuckled to himself then walked back into his room.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Riley was sitting on her bed, her laptop in front of her. She was boredly checking her e-mails and replying them. She heard some noises outside, but decided to ignore them convinced it was just Johnny getting something and continued to write an e-mail to Matt:

Hey baby,

How's UBC? Is it any good?

Hope your having fun, I miss ya lots.

You know for winter, I was actually planning to go to France with Atlas, you wanna come with? I bet you do, well we're leaving on the 17th so be prepared and bring Scottie and Legend with you ok? You know how much they love snow. Btw thanks for taking care of Scottie, could you go buy her a new toy? Well I'm finally tired so I'm going to bed. Take care, XOXOXO Riley~

Riley sent the e-mail and turned off her laptop. She put it on the table next to her bed and was about to get under the covers when she heard a 'thud' from outside her room.

She swiftly ran to the door and swung it open. She let out a short yell in surprise and fell backwards from the shock of seeing Johnny at the door with his eyes closed.

"Johnny?" Riley asked getting up from the floor.

"Johnny?"

"Johnny?"

"Johnny."

"Johnny!" Riley snapped.

"Wha?" Johnny asked yawning, blinking his eyes cutely.

"What are you doing?" Riley asked. Johnny looked at his surroundings.

"Oh I forgot to mention I have a tendency to sleep walk." Johnny said realizing what had happened.

"Oh." Riley said.

"It only happens once in a while." Johnny clarified.

"Ok." Riley said.

"Well good night." Johnny said turning around and walking towards his room.

"Sweet dreams." Riley said then closed the door and quickly fell asleep.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Atlas walked out of her room, still slightly traumatized up by the dream. She had, had little sleep last night and was out in her balcony most of the night. Kai was sitting at the kitchen table sipping some coffee, and reading morning cartoons.

"You read cartoons?" Atlas asked cocking her eyebrows.

"No." Kai said.

"Then why are you reading them right now?" Atlas asked, getting herself some coffee.

"Because there's nothing better to do." Kai growled.

"Whatever." Atlas mumbled, amused that Kai likes cartoons. They had breakfast at the restaurant downstairs then began on their project.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Riley walked out of her room, in dark blue jeans and a matching jean jacket with (fake) fur lining. She walked over to Johnny who was watching tv. His hair was the same like usual and he was wearing baggy beige cargo pants and a t-shirt.

"Did you have breakfast?" Riley asked.

"Nah, I was waiting for you." Johnny said turning off the tv.

"Thanks." Riley said.

"So what do you wanna have?" Johnny asked.

"Whatever you want." Riley said.

"Fine, let's go for starbucks." Johnny said smirking.

"Do you know how fattening those coffees are?" Riley asked appalled.

"Uh? A lot?" Johnny guessed.

"Ya." Riley said in an obvious tone.

"Is that bad?" Johnny asked uneasily.

"No, I love starbucks I just wanted to see your reaction." Riley chuckled.

"I'm gonna get you for that." Johnny swore.

"You do that boy." Riley smirked walking towards the elevator.

"Boy?!" Johnny growled outraged. "Your pulling my string on purpose aren't you."

"Maybe." Riley said getting into the elevator.

Johnny mumbled and followed Riley into the elevator.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Atlas sighed and checked, once more her reflection in the full length mirror attached to the wall. It was today, her Grandmothers funeral, it was being held in a cathedral close to the Thames.

She didn't suppose Kai was too interested in coming along, why would he be? He probably would have forgotten it was today at all. She pulled on her leather trench coat and went into the living room, she saw Kai out of the corner of her eye, not looking at him properly she headed for the door.

"I'm going out, don't wait up." She muttered vaguely.

"What about your Gran's funeral?" He asked.

She turned around, surprised, but her mouth practically fell open when she saw him standing looking out of the window, wearing a black suit.

::Damn! He looks good!:: She thought. Then she almost slapped herself for thinking that; this was Kai, a horrible, cold, heartless bastard!

But then, back in Scotland. He had shown pity and kept her warm that night. She snarled. No! That was just one time, a fluke!

She was so lost in her own thoughts that she didn't realize that Kai had walked over to her and was now standing in front of her. He snapped his fingers, swiftly bringing her out of her momentary reprieve.

"Common Map." He mumbled, walking past her.

She went after him, catching up.

"Kai, I didn't think you'd remember... I-I don't want you come if you don't want to..." She said, not sure why she was being nice to him, probably because she was dreading the funeral.

"Your stupid woman." He said, but surprisingly there was no venom in his voice, "Why do you think I lugged this freaking suit all the way over here, huh? Heh, don't want my project partner walking home in the dark and getting herself raped or something now do I?" He chuckled.

Atlas stopped dead in her tracks. How could he know? Kai turned and looked at her.

"What's your problem woman? Lets go!"

"I..."

Kai stared at her, what was wrong with her, ever since she had had that nightmare the other night...she had been acting really weird.

"Shut the Hell up Kai!" She said suddenly, storming past him to the elevator. He just blinked....REALLY weird.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Riley burst into fits of laughter, and leaned on Johnny's shoulder, gulping down the last of her beer. To put it bluntly, the two were completely smashed. They were sitting in a bar overlooking the Thames, the first stars reflecting off the water and casting strange, leering patterns across the surface, quite romantic really. She was sure there was something important she was meant to be Doing...something about Atlas.. but she couldn't remember.

The bar they were in had some crappy comedy night going, the stage was empty at the moment, but in his drunken state, Johnny couldn't tell.

"This guy couldn't make me laugh if I was laughing my ass off and he was makin' me do it!" He slurred.

Riley giggled.

"Johnny," She said. But he interrupted her, standing up, waving his beer around.

"Cummon skinny! Make me laugh !" He yelled at the stage, several people stared disapprovingly at the pair, muttering about "Young people these days".

"JOHNNY!" Yelled Riley.

"Yah?" He said, toppling back into his seat.

"That's a microphone stand!" She said between gulps of a new beer.

"Yeah, well forgive me for asking a microphone stand to tell a joke... you know I-I guess I'm just old fashioned that way." He mumbled incoherently slinging his arm around her shoulder.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Atlas sat in the front isle in the cathedral, the coffin was propped at the front, surrounded by blood red roses, Kai was sat next to her, looking very bored, but for once he kept his mouth shut. Some one tapped her on the shoulder, she looked around to see a youngish looking priest.

"Would you like to say a few words?" He asked. He had gone through the ceremony already.

"I haven't prepared anything." She said.

He shrugged.

"I'm sure it doesn't matter, just say what you want."

She went reluctantly to the front; she had never been good at public announcements. She looked around the large room, she knew barely anyone in here. Just a few of her grandmother's old friends. She sighed, Riley wasn't anywhere, she was sure she would have been here.

"I don't know what to say..." She said pathetically, "Apart from thanks for coming." After a few second's silence a few people vaguely clapped, not sure if she had finished, Atlas stepped down and sat back next to Kai.

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Riley and Johnny stumbled into their hotel room hanging onto each other for support. They sat down on the couch still laughing and giggling.

"I haven't been this hammered since...since summer." Riley said dazedly Johnny's head fell limply onto Riley's shoulder and began to snore. Riley smirked then fell asleep on the couch tiredly.

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Kai and Atlas walked into their hotel room, Atlas walked into her room staring at the ground. Kai stared wondering what was so wrong, he didn't give a rat's ass when his grand parents died, he was actually relieved that Voltaire was gone. He shrugged it off and walked into his own room.

Atlas threw her coat to a corner of her room and sat on her bed holding her pillow. She couldn't believe that her last relative was gone, and Riley wasn't even there

. ::Riley should have been there she's supposed to be my best friend.:: Atlas thought bitterly. ::I Hate her... she was probably too damn busy hitting on Johnny to even care, or realize what day today is!::She could tell her bitbeast was about to say something, so she swiftly shut him out.

She started sobbing, she could remember when she was visiting her grandma and they made chocolate chip cookies together, they had always been Atlas's favorite cookies, even until now. She cried into her pillow.

Kai was outside her door; he could hear her crying on the other side.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Riley groaned as she opened her eyes. She was lying on the couch on top of Johnny, with a killer headache.

"Ah, fuck." She growled squeezing her eyes shut because of the pain. She pushed herself off Johnny and went to find the Advil she had packed. Riley swallowed two pills and went to take a nice hot shower, forgetting about Johnny.

After she put on some make up and changed her clothes.

::There's something I forgot to do... Hm... What was it?:: Riley thought to herself.

::Atlas's Grandmother's funeral perhaps?:: Her Bitbeast Shadow said bluntly.

"FUCK!" Riley shouted half way out of her room.

Johnny jumped up and fell off the couch in shock. He was clutching his head in pain. "What's wrong?" Johnny asked groggily.

Riley paced around her room nervously, ignoring Johnny and mumbling to herself.

"Could you please stop that." Johnny growled.

Riley chucked him the case of Advil and continued to pace back and forth.

"What's wrong?" Johnny asked.

"I-I forgot Tas's granny's funeral." Riley said clearly upset about this.

"Don't worry we're leaving tomorrow, you can settle this when you get back." Johnny said trying to calm her down.

"I-I can't believe it! T-Tas is going through the hardest thing in h-her life and I'm not there t-to help her." Riley said frantically.

"It's ok she'll forgive you." Johnny yawned.

"You think?" Riley asked in deep thought.

"Ya, positive." Johnny said trying to cheer Riley up.

::Your lying to make her feel better right?:: Asked his bitbeast.

"I should go talk to her." Riley said still upset.

Johnny stood up and grabbed her wrist.

"No, I don't suggest that, I think we should go and have some coffee, and let you think things over." Johnny said not letting go.

"But..." Riley said uneasily. "Fine."

"Ok, just let me go take a shower and change, and don't go anywhere." Johnny said.

"Ok." Riley answered.

Johnny let go of her and walked into his room.

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Atlas woke up late in the afternoon, she had spent the whole night crying, and now her eyes we're red and puffy. She sighed and got out of bed and took a nice long hot shower. She changed and walked out of her room, Kai was nowhere to be found. The sun was pouring though the window and filling the light hued room. Kai walked into the hotel room.

"You finally up Map?" Kai asked amused.

"What's it to you." Atlas sneered.

"So what we're you crying about last night?" Kai asked cocking an eyebrow.

"I don't know what your talking about." Atlas growled pouring herself some coffee.

Kai slightly shook his head.

"God, I'm not THAT stupid," He said, "I know your upset about your gran but moping around lookin' pathetic isn't gonna win you an Oscar or anything." He said.

That was it! Atlas snapped. She stood up, her coffee went flying.

"Alright Scarf boy! You want to know why I was crying?!

1: The only descent person in my family has just died !

2: My best friend didn't show up !

And 3:I haven't let myself cryfor years, ever since I was raped when I was 13 !"

Kai blinked in surprise. He wasn't expecting an outburst like that.

"Now Kai, do you think I deserve to cry once in a while without being ridiculed by YOU ?!"

Kai couldn't think of anything other than:

"We're leaving tomorrow in the morning." Kai said.

Atlas blinked, and her anger seemed to drift away, she sighed.

"I know." She said.

"Just making sure, we need to finish off our project." Kai said shrugging.

"Whatever." Atlas mouthed.

Kai looked at her as she turned around and collapsed onto the sofa. Where was the fiery girl he had known before their trip to England? No wonder she had been acting strange.

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Ok this chapter is finally done, and I'll write the next chapter. Fine with you Roze? Well you can write a note to our lovely reviewers.

Wild-Roze: Oooookay. Thankz for reading, now press that ikkle button that says review. BAI ! ^_^