To the question about the adults being angrier, the kids are going to
seriously regret drinking when they wake up, and Tyson's dad is very
persuasive! He finds it funny, and convinced everyone else they did too.
Besides, they panicked when Kai had seemed to disappear that night and
pretty much calmed down from finding him ok.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kai had put his stuff back in his bag and was putting his black and red trainers on carefully, making sure the still healing skin would be comfortable. He didn't want the wounds to rub and reopen. He could hear voices coming from all over the full house. Complaints, groaning, laughter, came from all levels and tones as the others began to clean and tidy the house. He needed some peace and quiet.
He got up, squirming his feet in his trainers, it felt strange to wear them now. He walked through the house, ignoring the pleas from his friends for help in tidying up. Why should he, he didn't make the mess. He walked into the kitchen. Samantha was working on Michael, who looked very ill. She looked up as he walked in.
"Michael had too much to drink, and seeing as you drank more then him, I want to check you over as well" she looked back up at him, "where are some of your bandages? And why are you wearing shoes? You should consult me before doing stuff like this Kai, its what I'm here for!"
Kai answered her without even looking in her direction as he searched for something to eat, "I told you earlier I was fine, that hasn't changed. Michael can't handle his drink, so what, I can. My feet are fine, so I've decided to wear my shoes, and the sooner I decide to remove my bandages, the sooner I will do so!"
He had found something that looked edible and walked back out the kitchen half way through Samantha's new lecture. He had had enough. He continued to walk out the house and headed down the road, eating as he tried to mask his limp. He hoped no one had seen him leave.
He continued to walk until he had reached the beach. He stood in the warmth of the sun, taking in deep breaths of the salty air. The sound of the waves soothed him, made him relax. He would need to relax for what he was going to pull off tonight. He walked down the path until he reached the sand. There, he pulled of his trainers and walked on the heated grains barefoot. He sat on the yellow sand and closed his eyes. The warm sun and cool breeze, the tang of the salt in the air, the sound of the waves as they lapped at the shore. All combined together to create an intense soothing effect on Kai's wounded soul.
He stayed like that for a long time before getting up. His wounds hurt less now he had relaxed. Now it was time to do something to help him focus. He stood up straight, removed his t-shirt, and stood in a ready pose. He began to move to the sound of the waves, meditation in movement. He ignored the fact that he had learned this in the abbey. He continued moving his body into the different positions in order, unaware that he was being watched.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tyson noticed Kai as he walked through the front door, something was up. He ran up to where Ray and Kenny were struggling with removing a banner wrapped around a table leg.
"Guys! Kai's gon.......arghhhhhhh!" the sentence was never finished as Tyson skidded on the floor and landed in a heap by the table.
"You ok Tyson?" asked Ray.
"Yeah, listen! Kai's left the house! He's gone off somewhere!"
"And?" asked Kenny.
"We need to follow him!" he proudly stated.
"We can't go until the house is clean, and everyone is leaving today!" wailed Kenny.
"Cool it chief, the house is almost done, then we will see everyone off, then we will find Kai" reasoned Ray, finally pulling the banner from the table leg.
"Right!" the other two agreed.
They set about finishing the house. When they could they told Hilary and Max. Hilary agreed but Max wanted to see his parents off at the airport. Not long after it was time for goodbyes. The All-stars were going back to America to continue training with The Majestics, and the White Tigers were going to travel around Japan for a while before coming back to see them again. Mariah and Ray went off for their own goodbyes, and Emily seemed upset about Kai's disappearance and Hilary's smugness about it. The two wouldn't speak to each other, even to say goodbye.
It wasn't long before everyone had put themselves in the appointed vehicles, tears and calls came from opened windows as the vehicles drove away. As soon as the others were driven out of sight, the remaining four team members ran down the round.
"Tyson! Get back here!" was drowned out by the teen's feet pounding on the path.
"Chief! Where is he?"
Kenny conversed with Dizzy for a moment before locking onto Dranzer's signal.
"He's at the beach!"
They ran on in the direction of the seafront. Once there they walked up the path that let them see the whole of the beach. They could see a figure further down. Walking silently on, they waited behind bushes that separated the path and the beach.
"What's he doing?" asked Hilary as she watched Kai move effortlessly and gracefully. She had coloured slightly at his t-shirtless upper body, but felt pity that the bandages still showed Kai's weaknesses.
"He appears to be doing something like tai chi," answered Kenny practically.
"What's that?" asked Tyson.
"Tai chi is a form of meditation and focus. It is also a form of martial arts. It helps balance, memory and fighting skills, though I don't know how Kai knows it."
"It's like he never had a wound on his body by the way he's moving," whispered Ray.
The others nodded and watched in silence.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kai loved the sensations being outside gave him. They were things he never experienced at the abbey, things he was denied. He continued to move with his eyes closed, letting the familiar movements centre his mind and body. He could feel the sun warm up as it rose higher in the sky. He finished the final movements and stood still, his eyes still closed as he took a few deep breaths.
He stretched some of his muscles, looking around him. A glint caught his eye. He casually turned his head so that no one would be suspicious, and then his thoughts were confirmed. There wee his team mates, hiding behind a bush. He inwardly sighed. He went over to his t-shirt and trainers, picking them up and walking up the path barefoot.
He smiled as he passed the bush were his team-mates had hidden round, trying hard not to be seen. He continued walking as the path rose upwards in angle as it followed the top of the cliff as it grew from the beach. He reached the top and leaned on the rail, looking down. The water was a turquoise blue, the sun catching the ripples. The cool breeze was stronger up here, was more refreshing. He heard his team-mates whisper behind him.
He felt like being spontaneous, like he needed a thrill. Putting the carried items down he then began to unravel all the bandages on his body. He felt eyes bore into his back as the whip marks were exposed. Keeping just his trousers on he climbed up onto the rail and stood there, the wind ruffling his hair. He looked behind him and was confronted with four faces watching him; they had forgotten to hide in anticipation of what Kai was going to do.
Kai gave them a brief smile, faced the sea, and dived from the rail. The others ran to lean over the rail, watching as Kai slid effortlessly into the water with hardly a splash.
"KAI!!!!!" screamed Hilary.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kai's heart pumped faster as he pushed himself away from the rail. The freefall lifted his spirits to soaring heights. The wind whipped round his body as he arched ready for the dive. The water hit him and he glided into its cold embrace. He let himself sink down as far as the dive would let them, then kicked to the surface. His head broke the surface and he took a lungful of sweet air. He looked up to see his friends calling him. He waved at them and dived back into the water. He opened his eyes to see in the bluish haze of the sea. He pushed himself onwards, following the line of the cliff. He couldn't see the seafloor, so he kept close to the surface. He broke for air a few times as he swam on, keeping below the surface when he could.
He could see the cliff getting smaller in height as he surfaced every now and again. He could see his friends still following his progress from the top. He could see the cliff fading away to a sandy slope that showed the beach had resumed. His hair waved slightly in front of his eyes as he hung, suspended in the cold, blue womb of water. He surfaced for a deep breath and swam onwards, towards the shore.
He crawled out of the sea onto the sand, feeling the last of the waters caress as he hauled himself up the beach a little more. He collapsed on his back, the warm afternoon sun falling on his body. The combination of the sand and the salt water made his wounds sting, and his trousers were clinging to his legs, but it had been worth it. The experience had made him feel free for a short time, and he wouldn't have ever given that up. For once, his life was in his own hands.
He laughed breathlessly to himself till he heard his team mates calling his name. He could hear there feet kicking up sand. He lay there, swallowing up the sun light, enjoying the last feeling of being alone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kai had put his stuff back in his bag and was putting his black and red trainers on carefully, making sure the still healing skin would be comfortable. He didn't want the wounds to rub and reopen. He could hear voices coming from all over the full house. Complaints, groaning, laughter, came from all levels and tones as the others began to clean and tidy the house. He needed some peace and quiet.
He got up, squirming his feet in his trainers, it felt strange to wear them now. He walked through the house, ignoring the pleas from his friends for help in tidying up. Why should he, he didn't make the mess. He walked into the kitchen. Samantha was working on Michael, who looked very ill. She looked up as he walked in.
"Michael had too much to drink, and seeing as you drank more then him, I want to check you over as well" she looked back up at him, "where are some of your bandages? And why are you wearing shoes? You should consult me before doing stuff like this Kai, its what I'm here for!"
Kai answered her without even looking in her direction as he searched for something to eat, "I told you earlier I was fine, that hasn't changed. Michael can't handle his drink, so what, I can. My feet are fine, so I've decided to wear my shoes, and the sooner I decide to remove my bandages, the sooner I will do so!"
He had found something that looked edible and walked back out the kitchen half way through Samantha's new lecture. He had had enough. He continued to walk out the house and headed down the road, eating as he tried to mask his limp. He hoped no one had seen him leave.
He continued to walk until he had reached the beach. He stood in the warmth of the sun, taking in deep breaths of the salty air. The sound of the waves soothed him, made him relax. He would need to relax for what he was going to pull off tonight. He walked down the path until he reached the sand. There, he pulled of his trainers and walked on the heated grains barefoot. He sat on the yellow sand and closed his eyes. The warm sun and cool breeze, the tang of the salt in the air, the sound of the waves as they lapped at the shore. All combined together to create an intense soothing effect on Kai's wounded soul.
He stayed like that for a long time before getting up. His wounds hurt less now he had relaxed. Now it was time to do something to help him focus. He stood up straight, removed his t-shirt, and stood in a ready pose. He began to move to the sound of the waves, meditation in movement. He ignored the fact that he had learned this in the abbey. He continued moving his body into the different positions in order, unaware that he was being watched.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tyson noticed Kai as he walked through the front door, something was up. He ran up to where Ray and Kenny were struggling with removing a banner wrapped around a table leg.
"Guys! Kai's gon.......arghhhhhhh!" the sentence was never finished as Tyson skidded on the floor and landed in a heap by the table.
"You ok Tyson?" asked Ray.
"Yeah, listen! Kai's left the house! He's gone off somewhere!"
"And?" asked Kenny.
"We need to follow him!" he proudly stated.
"We can't go until the house is clean, and everyone is leaving today!" wailed Kenny.
"Cool it chief, the house is almost done, then we will see everyone off, then we will find Kai" reasoned Ray, finally pulling the banner from the table leg.
"Right!" the other two agreed.
They set about finishing the house. When they could they told Hilary and Max. Hilary agreed but Max wanted to see his parents off at the airport. Not long after it was time for goodbyes. The All-stars were going back to America to continue training with The Majestics, and the White Tigers were going to travel around Japan for a while before coming back to see them again. Mariah and Ray went off for their own goodbyes, and Emily seemed upset about Kai's disappearance and Hilary's smugness about it. The two wouldn't speak to each other, even to say goodbye.
It wasn't long before everyone had put themselves in the appointed vehicles, tears and calls came from opened windows as the vehicles drove away. As soon as the others were driven out of sight, the remaining four team members ran down the round.
"Tyson! Get back here!" was drowned out by the teen's feet pounding on the path.
"Chief! Where is he?"
Kenny conversed with Dizzy for a moment before locking onto Dranzer's signal.
"He's at the beach!"
They ran on in the direction of the seafront. Once there they walked up the path that let them see the whole of the beach. They could see a figure further down. Walking silently on, they waited behind bushes that separated the path and the beach.
"What's he doing?" asked Hilary as she watched Kai move effortlessly and gracefully. She had coloured slightly at his t-shirtless upper body, but felt pity that the bandages still showed Kai's weaknesses.
"He appears to be doing something like tai chi," answered Kenny practically.
"What's that?" asked Tyson.
"Tai chi is a form of meditation and focus. It is also a form of martial arts. It helps balance, memory and fighting skills, though I don't know how Kai knows it."
"It's like he never had a wound on his body by the way he's moving," whispered Ray.
The others nodded and watched in silence.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kai loved the sensations being outside gave him. They were things he never experienced at the abbey, things he was denied. He continued to move with his eyes closed, letting the familiar movements centre his mind and body. He could feel the sun warm up as it rose higher in the sky. He finished the final movements and stood still, his eyes still closed as he took a few deep breaths.
He stretched some of his muscles, looking around him. A glint caught his eye. He casually turned his head so that no one would be suspicious, and then his thoughts were confirmed. There wee his team mates, hiding behind a bush. He inwardly sighed. He went over to his t-shirt and trainers, picking them up and walking up the path barefoot.
He smiled as he passed the bush were his team-mates had hidden round, trying hard not to be seen. He continued walking as the path rose upwards in angle as it followed the top of the cliff as it grew from the beach. He reached the top and leaned on the rail, looking down. The water was a turquoise blue, the sun catching the ripples. The cool breeze was stronger up here, was more refreshing. He heard his team-mates whisper behind him.
He felt like being spontaneous, like he needed a thrill. Putting the carried items down he then began to unravel all the bandages on his body. He felt eyes bore into his back as the whip marks were exposed. Keeping just his trousers on he climbed up onto the rail and stood there, the wind ruffling his hair. He looked behind him and was confronted with four faces watching him; they had forgotten to hide in anticipation of what Kai was going to do.
Kai gave them a brief smile, faced the sea, and dived from the rail. The others ran to lean over the rail, watching as Kai slid effortlessly into the water with hardly a splash.
"KAI!!!!!" screamed Hilary.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kai's heart pumped faster as he pushed himself away from the rail. The freefall lifted his spirits to soaring heights. The wind whipped round his body as he arched ready for the dive. The water hit him and he glided into its cold embrace. He let himself sink down as far as the dive would let them, then kicked to the surface. His head broke the surface and he took a lungful of sweet air. He looked up to see his friends calling him. He waved at them and dived back into the water. He opened his eyes to see in the bluish haze of the sea. He pushed himself onwards, following the line of the cliff. He couldn't see the seafloor, so he kept close to the surface. He broke for air a few times as he swam on, keeping below the surface when he could.
He could see the cliff getting smaller in height as he surfaced every now and again. He could see his friends still following his progress from the top. He could see the cliff fading away to a sandy slope that showed the beach had resumed. His hair waved slightly in front of his eyes as he hung, suspended in the cold, blue womb of water. He surfaced for a deep breath and swam onwards, towards the shore.
He crawled out of the sea onto the sand, feeling the last of the waters caress as he hauled himself up the beach a little more. He collapsed on his back, the warm afternoon sun falling on his body. The combination of the sand and the salt water made his wounds sting, and his trousers were clinging to his legs, but it had been worth it. The experience had made him feel free for a short time, and he wouldn't have ever given that up. For once, his life was in his own hands.
He laughed breathlessly to himself till he heard his team mates calling his name. He could hear there feet kicking up sand. He lay there, swallowing up the sun light, enjoying the last feeling of being alone.