Chapter XIII

--Simple and Clean--

"When you walk away,
you don't hear me say please,
oh baby, don't go.
Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight.
It's hard to let it go.

You're giving me too many things lately;
you're all I need.
You smiled at me and said,

don't get me wrong I love you,
but does that mean I have to meet your father?
When we are older you'll understand,
what I meant when I said, "No,
I don't think life is quite that simple"

Utada Hikaru - Simple And Clean

"Kai's injures are not life threatening, but they are very serious. You must make sure he doesn't blade for at least 3-4 weeks, at least." The doctor placed his paperwork in his bag. "But Kai will miss the tournament," Replied Tyson. "You'll have to battle a man down Tyson," Sighed the young female sat opposite him, "Antonio, do you know if the Biovolt are planning anything else? An ambush maybe?" He looked up at her with his gentle crystal blue eyes. The man was quite small, but respectable. His wispy gray hair as thinning slightly, but he was a man of great courage and had firm belief's. "Ambush... maybe. Nobody can really say, you know how Voltaire's mind works." She nodded, "Wren is also working for him. I always thought Wren hated him." The doctor smiled, "You haven't seen it yet? Oh, you soon shall my child."

"See what?" Asked Tyson. Xander smiled and shook her head dismissively, "It doesn't matter Tyson." The doctor laughed and carefully wrote on a piece of paper he held in his hand, "Here, these are instruction's on Kai's medication." He handed Xander the paper and clicked his pen before placing it behind his ear. "Thanks doctor," Smiled Ray. "That's quite alright Ray," He looked over at Xander, "Have you contacted James or Stanley yet?" She shook her head, "No not since we left them at the airport." He smiled, "I shall drop by the hotel they are at on the way back to the abbey." His voice was stern and serious, "Alexander, if you have any common sense left in that frightened shell of yours, you won't return to the abbey. At least not until your wed," She nodded, "I've put my friends lives at risk. I can't loose them, not like I lost my parents... I let that happen... But I promised myself this time I will protect them, before I protect myself." The doctor smiled, "You are always to hard on yourself, even as a child." She smiled, "I was a child inside, a frightened child with no direction to turn. But now, I have my friends. No longer does that frightened child let Voltaire have his way." He smiled at her, "That frightened child should also remember that her only worse enemy is herself." He yawned, "Well, time is getting on, I shall take my leave now my dear, goodnight boys," The Bladebreakers bid their farewells as he left.

"Man, I can't believe we're a man down for the tournament, we'll have to forfeit." Max laughed at him as he was finally at ease in his chair, "Oh lay off it Ty, we're only missing Kai. He only sits like this on the benches and grunts." He impersonated Kai, sat with his legs crossed and his arms across his chest. Ray laughed, "You gotta love Kai though, he's great for a laugh." Tyson smiled, "Yeah, and he's a nice guy and all when he's not angry. I guess he really is one of us," Max laughed in response, "And what's that meant to mean?" Tyson ran his fingers though his hair, "Haven't you always seen Kai as the odd one out? He's always been a loner. It's only recently he's really loosened up around us and began to see us as his friends and not the little children the BBA decided he had to mould into champion beyblader's." Xander watched Tyson carefully, "Kai has always been alone. It was the way he was brought up, he's not used to company. He's very weary of new people,"

Ray yawned, "But hasn't it always been him and his grandfather?" She smiled, "Yes, but Voltaire was never around. He was always 'plotting' and stuff or," She paused, "Experimenting..." She added hastily. "Xander," Questioned Max, "Where you ever... you know... tested on?" She reached out and took Max's hands with her own. She placed them over her chest above her heart. "You feel that pulsating?" Max nodded, "I thought that was your heart though," She nodded, "It's near my heart. It's called a magnacore. It measures everything that happens in my body. And it records my battle data, like my levels and stuff, if you know what I mean." Tyson looked over at her, "We used mangacore's in our blades, not so long ago." She smiled, "Yea, I've had this since I was 6. The Biovolt have always said I was a good blader for a girl, so you know... it's kinda my destiny to do this I guess."

"So you're effectively like Tala and Zeo then?" Asked Tyson. "Oh no... Zeo was a complete cyborg if you remember, Tala is only part cyborg... but that is a very long story, maybe if you win the tournament, I'll tell you." Max stretched his arms wildly, "Are you entering the tournament Xander?" She shrugged, "Dunno, not really thought about it to be honest... maybe, I'll have to wait and see I guess." Max smiled, "You think Kai's gonna be able to keep his hands away from Dranzer for long enough?" She laughed in response, but her eyes carefully searched him, "Who can say... maybe he will. But if he doesn't, Arkenzere will keep her company."

Kenny ruffled his hair in an unorderly fashion as he yawned loudly, "I'm so tried," Xander nodded, "It's been a long night, maybe you all should sleep." Tyson shook his head, "I'm not sleeping till you fall asleep. I want to make sure your safe." She furrowed her eyebrows, "Look, I think I'm old enough to look after myself..."

"When you walk away,
you don't hear me say please,
Oh baby, don't go.
Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight;
it's hard to let it go.

The daily things,
that keeps us all busy.
All confusing me,

That's when you came to me and said,

Wish i could prove i love you,
but does that mean i have to walk on water?
When we are older you'll understand,
it's enough when i say so,
and maybe something's are that simple."

Tyson looked over at her, his expression wasn't one of anger, or seriousness... it was slightly fear-stricken and almost loving. "Before Kai left here, to go to the abbey, he made us promise. That if something happened to him that we; well I in particular would look after you and protect you. And so, even though he is safe, I will keep my promise. Kai doesn't rely on me much, but I want to prove to him that I'm trustworthy... You understand don't you? I don't want to make you upset or anything," She smiled at him, "No, I understand," She paused for a few seconds, "You don't need to prove yourself to him. He knows you have his best interests at heart. He acts differently around you, but that's his way of showing affection. He trends not to 'attach' himself, because inside, he has a sickening fear growing inside him. He's lost so much in his life, he just doesn't want to loose you... any of you..."

Ray watched her intently, "Have you and Kai always been close?" She smiled with a glint in her burning crimson eyes, "Kai and I have had our moments, you see, he and I where always 'together' if you like... but then something happened, and we just lost each other, and so he fell head over heels in love with Rayne." Kenny looked over at her from behind Dizzi's screen, "Rayne always spoke fondly of you, even though she said she couldn't remember you too well." She stretched her legs, "Yea, I guess she wouldn't remember me much... shame she's not still here really... but there's nothing we can do about it is there?" Ray shook his head, "No, I guess not. Where did Kristin and Pearse go anyway?"

Hilary walked into the room and dropped down beside Tyson on the sofa, "Morning guys," She sighed and placed her head on Tyson's shoulder, "Kai's sleeping now, it took awhile for those pills to kick in... but he's peaceful now." She glanced around the room, but turned her attention towards Xander, "He said he wasn't scared Xander, but you could see it in his eyes. He's real scared of loosing this battle." Max nodded, "Yea, Xander. You should have seen him after he found out that Kristin took you back to the abbey, he was mental, he was smashing things and everything," Xander lowered her gaze, "They weren't really coming here though, it was a set-up... they knew the first place Kristin would take me was the abbey," Tyson wrapped his arms around Hilary as he could feel her gentle breath deepening, "Kristin's not to blame for what happened last night... is he?" She shook her head, "No, it's not his fault. He did only what he thought was right. I should have told him differently,"

The room fell silent in deep thought...

"GUYS COME LOOK AT THIS!" Screeched Kenny from behind Dizzi's screen. "What's up Chief?" Asked Ray. "Look, Dizzi's shown that there is a bit-beast here that shouldn't be... it looks like..." He fell silent as Xander snapped Dizzi's screen shut. "Hey what'd you do that for?" Shouted Tyson. "Because there is something you should know... and Dizzi cannot show it you as well as I can." They all looked at her with confusion, "What'd you mean?" Asked Ray. "This..." She pulled out a familiar black and green beyblade and placed it down on the table in front of her, "Tyson, do you know what this is?"

"That's... black Dranzer?! What? Why?" She knelt down beside it, "Because Tyson, with black Dranzer, the Biovolt will try to deter Kai away... you saw what it did last time." Tyson stuttered, "But... Kai... he wouldn't do that again" She looked up at him, "There is still darkness inside his heart Tyson, you may think he's changed, but I know differently." Ray shook his head; "No, Kai promised us... he wouldn't" She replied darkly, "Promises are made to be broken,"

"So what do you intend on doing with black Dranzer?" Asked Kenny. "I'm not sure to be honest, I'll just keep him near for now. At least until the tournament... Pearse will know what to do with him," Tyson frowned, "I don't trust that Pearse, he's too shifty for my liking," Xander glared at him, "You must learn to trust my friends Tyson, because though out this tournament, they are going to be the only people you can rely on,"

Xander watched the boarder's early horizon. The crimsons and pinks etched into the blood red canvas. The aurora brought warmth to her, a sense of calm. As it began to draw upon the house, maybe what happened was just a dream. The sense of justification just escaped her. With the dream drawn from her, she slumped back into the chair and began to drift asleep. She was calm, tranquil... and for the few moments' peace she received, she had no need to worry... to remember anyone's pain... She couldn't have been further from the truth...

"When you walk away,
You don't hear me say please,
Oh baby, don't go.
Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight;
it's hard to let it go.

Hold me,
whatever lies beyond this morning,
is a little later on.
Regardless of warnings the future doesn't scare me at all,
nothing's like before..."