Disclaimer: Lee is a lion; Mariah is a cat. I own nothing, K? So scat. Except for anyone who you don't recognize, they're mine.
A/N – This chapter has mostly flashbacks of my take on what Kai's life was before the abbey.
Also one thing, some of the times in the chapters, intertwines with each other ... so; I hope it doesn't get to confusing. And from last chapter, the grandson thing, don't worry, this isn't an episode of Star Wars where everyone if related to everyone else ;;
As the Ice Breaks.
Part 9: Reminiscing.
Mr. Dickinson sat quietly in the ICU. He looked sullenly at Kai's face. "You look so young when you're not on your guard, you know that?" he smiled weakly to himself. "People say that someone in a coma can still hear you voice, and sometimes, having somebody to talk to them, encourages them to wake up sooner. I don't know if it's true, but everything is worth a try, isn't it, Kai?"
He put a hand on Kai's chest, feeling it raise and fall as the machine pumps oxygen into his lungs. His left hand touched Kai's blue hair, stroking it gently like one would a small baby. He brushed a few stray strands away from his eyes. "You have lovely eyes, just like your mother. I don't think you remember her much; you were very young when she passed away." Mr. Dickinson choked a sob and continued to talk to the unconscious boy. "It was such a shame. You mother was a kind woman, and she loved you very, very much. You were her angel, her life, I don't think she could bare to see anything happen to you." He sighed. "What would she say if she were here right now?"
"I remember the first time I laid eyes on you, you were still a baby; barely a week old. I still remember the look on her face as she held you up for everyone to see, he son. She was beaming with pride. You inherited your father's hair, your mother had always dreaded the moment, but he was proud. And Voltaire," Mr. Dickinson stopped and looked thoughtful for a moment. "Voltaire; he wasn't the same person that he is today. He still had human feelings back then." Mr. Dickinson smiled to himself as he thought back to that day.
Flashback
"Look at him, isn't he adorable?" a petite dark-haired woman sat up on a king-sized bed, propped up on a couple of pillows. She had a childlike prettiness to her. In her arms, she held a bundled blanket that had pale blue hair sticking out in every direction.
"Kaira, not a teddy-bear. He is the future Beyblade world champion, I know exactly what I'm going to give him when he's old enough to blade." A man with two-toned, navy coloured hair said as he reached his hand into his pocket. He looked to be in his late twenties, and exactly like Kai, save for the expression on his face and the lack of blue paint. He took out something small, no bigger than a penny. "This," he cried happily. "Dranzer."
"Nickolai," she looked sternly at him, "he is not a champion. He is my little baby boy, and I'm going to cuddle him, spoil him and call him my own." She hugged the bundle in her arms and rubbed her cheek against his hair.
"Now, now, you two," a voice interrupted, and they looked at a younger and slimmer, Stanley Dickinson. "No need to fight over him. He's still a baby, so Kaira can cuddle him and spoil him now, and when he grows up, I'm sure he's going to be a lady killing Beyblading champion, he does get his looks and talent from his father."
"Mr. Dickinson," Kaira looked disapprovingly at him. "Don't encourage him, you know he's already an egomaniac as it is." She glared at her husband.
"Hey, I am no egomaniac." He looked away.
"Yes, you are. I really hope Kai doesn't inherit it. He already has your ugly hair as it is, but it looks better on him anyway." She smiled at the sleeping form she was holding.
"Ugly? Might I remind you that it was 'this' hair," he pointed to his hair, "that attracted you to me in the first place."
"You wish, Nick. I –"
"Kaira." A figure walked through the door.
"Daddy." Her face brightened up more when she noticed him.
Mr. Dickinson smiled at the person. "Voltaire. Glad you could make it."
"I would not miss this for the world. It's not everyday that my baby girl brings into the world a strong and handsome future Beyblading champion." Voltaire smiled warmly and walked over to the bed.
"See," Nickolai pointed to Voltaire, grinning, "even your father agrees."
"Daddy," she whined at him and pouted, "he is not going to be a Beyblader yet, right now he is my precious little angel, and nothing more."
"Fine, fine." Voltaire yielded, teasingly.
Nickolai and Mr. Dickinson laughed at the sight of a defeated Voltaire.
End Flashback
"I miss those days." Mr. Dickinson took out his handkerchief and dabbed his eyes. "It is so sad that you couldn't get to know her better, you would have loved her, like Voltaire loved her." He stood up and pulled the blanket higher to cover Kai. "I don't understand why Voltaire could forget it so soon."
Flashback
"KAI!" Kaira ran after him but was stopped by a mysterious man who came with Voltaire. He didn't look familiar to her, but what made him stand out was his peculiar purple hair. "Daddy, please don't take him away. Please."
"I'm sorry, Kaira, but this what's best for the boy." Voltaire walked away from the house, dragging with him a three-year-old Kai.
"Mom?" Kai looked back at her with his big, confused, crimson eyes.
"Kai! Please don't go, NICKOLAI!" she called out to her husband who just returned from work.
"Kaira?" he walked slowly out of his and when he saw his father-in-law taking his son across the street, he dropped everything and ran towards him. But two men wearing weird suits prevented him. The clothes they were wearing looked like something people would wear to an abbey. "KAI!!"
"DADDY! BRING HIM BACK, PLEASE!" she struggled against the hold, but he was far too strong for her.
"Forgive me, Kaira. But Kai has no future if he continues to stay here with you. He has potential to be the best Beyblader in the world, and we need to nurture that talent."
"Daddy. Please don't do this, I beg you." She had tears streaming down her face.
"I'm sorry." He looked away and was just about to walk into the car.
She whispered a 'no', and felt a surge of energy cursing through her. She stomped her captor hard on his foot, and he let go. She ran with all her might towards her son. She was within twenty feet of Voltaire, still determined to get her son back, when she heard the honking of a horn, the screeching of tyres, pain everywhere, and then ......... darkness.
"KAIRA!!"
End Flashback
Mr. Dickinson wiped his tears. "Your father loved you; he looked for you for years, but he never succeeded. He never gave up hope, right until the last moment. Your father died of a heart attack in the institute a few years later." He sighed weakly. His hand was still gently caressing Kai's soft hair. "How would you have turned out if you still lived with your parents?" he looked at Kai's peaceful face.
He reached into his jacket with his right hand and pulled out a photograph. He looked at it sadly.
The picture was of two people; Mr. Dickinson, he looked to be in his late teens there. He was wearing a school uniform. Next to him stood another person who looked eerily familiar. He had an arm around Mr. Dickinson's shoulder. They looked close in the picture, like they could have been best friends. The guy had black hair, and grey bangs in front; if someone looked closely at the picture, they would have said that he bares an uncanny resemblance to ... Voltaire.
"It's shocking to see just how much money and power can change someone." He shook his head slowly and put the picture back in his pocket. "Kai," Mr. Dickinson looked back at Kai's pale face, "you can't leave either, I don't think she would have wanted you to join her so soon. Your friends need you here, now."
Kai didn't open his eyes. Mr. Dickinson reached into the blanket and pulled Kai's right hand from under the blanket. He held onto it firmly.
"Fine, I'll just stay here until you do, ok?" he leaned back in the chair, listening to the rhythmic sounds of the life-support machines.
A few minutes later, a nurse came by and told him that there was a phone call for him from the BBA.
"I'll be right back, Kai." He rested Kai's hand gently on his stomach, and left.
End Part 9.
I hate Voltaire. But even the evilest person had to start somewhere, right? One other thing; in this fic, Voltaire has a daughter. He is a Hiwatari and gave Kai his family name because he didn't want Kai to take his father's last name, Kay? Now that your mind is at peace, Review! o
Wowie! So many kawaii reviews for last chapter ... ;; I'm crying with happiness. I'm so overwhelmed, twenty-eight!! TWENTY-EIGHT reviews!! That's so much. I dunno who to thank first, so ... thank you all. Sorry for no personal thanks ;; ... gomen.
But to one person:
Melissa: Umm ... huh?! Oo;;
Other than that. Arigato gozaimasu, minna.