Phoenix Fallen: Kami, it's been a while, ne? [snorts] Yeah, only about two months… I think I got enough "me time" to last me a while, and since summer's now here… [grins] I think I got this chapter done well, I mean, it's not like how I felt about the last one.

Sorry minna: no explanation of the man in this chapter, and there's no Tyson, Max, Rei, etc. There's only Kai and Hilary, although you'd like that, huh?

Oh, and you've probably already noticed this, but I made the whole story look different. But I don't know why stars, underscores, and those arrows pointing upwards don't show here anymore… it's kind of annoying, really…

---------

Disclaimer: (it makes me so sad to keep having to say this all the time) I do not own Beyblade – Aoki-san does. If I did own it… [evil glint in eyes]

---------

For Those Who Are Beaten

Chapter Five: To Remember His Youth

---------

Sunlight streamed through the windows, and slowly, Kai began to stir, opening his eyelids tentatively and peering through his long, delicate lashes. He shifted under the big, warm comforter - stained red for he hadn't been bandaged up yet - finding that now he was wearing one of Tyson's yellow t-shirts, before turning his head around the room, which was empty, apart from a few blankets sprawled messily on separate futons. And then there she was...

Immediately beside his thin mattress, he saw Hilary curled up tightly in the linen upon her own bed, her head snuggled into her pillow. He sat up, with a bit of difficulty, leaning over, studying her face curiously as she slept - he had never really interacted with females before. He grew up only with Tala, Bryan, Spencer and the other boys from the abbey he had been sent to. There were never any girls there.

But here was one: her eyes closed gently, her glossy, pink lips curled the slightest bit in a small smile as she dreamt herself away, her breathing even and unconcerned, and her breast rose and fell in a perfect, rhythmic pattern...

Unaware of himself, he began to incline closer towards her, his eyes darting this way and that, scanning her soft, smooth skin, taking in her floral, girlish scent while his breath commenced in making those rebellious wisps of hair of hers dance animatedly on her forehead. He advanced, getting closer and closer until they were almost touching.

It was only when, unexpectedly, she sighed, reaching up with her hand to help bury her face into the pillow some more, did Kai realize what he was doing - did he snap out of his funk - and he jerked backwards, settling back down into his futon.

What was that, Hiwatari? He questioned himself as he glanced around once more, resting his gaze back on Hilary for a brief moment. Why do your eyes be enticed towards her again?

He frowned at himself, tearing his view away from her calm, sleeping form, forcing his attention onto the window, occupying himself with nothing but it. Beyond the perimeters of the house and the dojo, the wind was blowing a soft breeze, odd leaves flew by as they fell lightly from the branches of trees... and soon he found his mind becoming lost in a deep train of thought.

Somewhere outside, he could hear little birds chirruping happily, and every once in a while he could see their sleek, colourful bodies darting around in the sky as he gazed blankly through the glass. He couldn't help but allow himself a little smile; ever since his youth, he had loved birds - he had been absolutely fascinated by them.

Back when his Grandfather had still been a kind, loving man - before his wife, Kai's grandmother, had died - they used to set apart time every night, and he would retell to the young boy glorious stories and folktales that had been passed down from generations of Hiwatari's to him.

Kai remembered these times with a vague fondness, and often came back to contemplate upon them. His Grandfather would always settle himself in an enormous, leather armchair in the living room, while he would've either sat contentedly on his knee or on the carpeted floor (although when that happened, sooner or later, he'd find himself scrambling up to sit back in his guardian's lap).

Grandfather's stories were fascinating ones, filled with magical creatures such as witty, cunning elves, dainty, flower-sized faeries, or hairy, bristling beasts. Kai would sit up straight, and listen in rapt attention to each lore, blurting out question after question to his grandfather, and making him repeat certain things until he was sure he had heard correctly. Back then, his grandfather had patience for him, and would answer all his inquires knowingly, and with a great, unsurpassable wisdom.

But there was one story that the young Kai begged to be told to him again and again, one story that he truly was intrigued with, and it was that one story that held the pride and honor of the whole Hiwatari name - the tale of the magnificent Phoenix.

Now, there were many variations to the legend of the one called "The King of the Birds," and Kai heard each one threefold, memorizing certain aspects and important points about them. There was the Chinese Feng-huang with its multicoloured tail feathers, the Suzaku, the Japanese Ho-oo, Karuda, the Egyptian Benu associated with the god Osiris... and the list kept going. One thing was certain through all of these stories, however, and that was that the bird was glorious in every way, and royal as any king or queen.

There was also the tale of the Phoenix that was unique to only the Hiwatari's - for it was to them that the events occurred. Back in the medieval times, one of Kai's ancestors had been stranded on a small island after a pirate ship he was working with had been attacked. After a few minutes, the massive boat was sinking, and he had washed up on the shore hours later.

So there the Hiwatari wandered about, with absolutely no means of being saved. Then, one day, it began to storm, and giant forks of lightning came down upon the trees, breaking them and setting them on fire. The flames spread swiftly along the land, greedily and hungrily. They consumed all in their path, licking at the sides of bushes, and leaving nothing untouched. Oh, how great and terrible this fire was, but beautiful and magnificent at the same time.

Coughing terribly, Kai's ancestor had fallen in the middle of the inferno, ready to give into the heat when he saw something outlined against the reds and oranges - it was advancing towards him, crying out a melodious song. Flying a few feet from the ground, it came and sat before him, nudging him gently with its head, then lifting its wings to create a crown around his skull. It was then that he blacked out.

Kai remembered his reaction to when he first heard the story: "Grandfather!" he had cried, straightening suddenly and tugging frantically on his cloak, "What happened then? What was that thing? Was it a bird, Grandfather? What was it doing? How - "

"Hush, Kai," his Grandfather would tell him, just as he always did, stroking his head gently to calm him down, "Just let me continue, and you will find out."

And he had found out: his forefather had waken up in a fisherman's house, who had said that he was found a little ways off the coast, lying in what seemed to be a nest made from bits of cinnamon and sweet smelling herbs. When the Hiwatari told his host about what he had seen, he received an odd look, and was given a single red feather, being told he was found holding it.

Over the years, that same man glimpsed the bird which had saved him on the island again and again, but only when he was in a seemingly hopeless and desperate situation. It was if he was drawn to trouble, and in turn, the bird was drawn to it through him as well, and so it earned its title: the firebird, Dranzer.

Trailing his hand under the blankets and over to his side, Kai picked up his blade from the floor, holding it up so that he could see it properly; so that he could see it shimmer delicately in the light; so that he could rest his eyes upon the mythological being he loved so dearly.

Why are you still here, Dranzer? He asked it wonderingly. I still don't know why you've kept your faith in me so much as to stay here by my side. Haven't I already made it clear that I am not strong enough? You've been taken from me twice already - I've lost you twice because I was just too weak to protect you. But somehow, you always come back... you've been drawn back to me.

Is that what is, then? Am I hopelessly drawn to trouble, just as my ancestor had been? Is that why you're here? Is that the only reason you're here? Only because I can't find a way to help myself?

Kai frowned at the thought, glaring ahead at the tiny bird situated in the bit almost angrily, his mind swimming with bitter, spiteful thoughts. You're in this with Grandfather, aren't you? This is just another way for him to prove my weakness... hasn't he seen it enough? Hasn't he seen me fail too many times to count?

His hand tightened around the metal top, but his grip faltered once he remembered the fragments of the broken vase, and his fury quickly evaporated into distress.

Look at me... my pathetic self. I can't even hold you properly anymore...

As if in response to his growing sorrow, the phoenix started to give off a reassuring heat that crept down his hand and into his arm, slowly beginning to spread across his entire body. He smiled faintly, placing the blade back onto the floor beside his futon, murmuring his thanks and his apologies.

I don't know what I'd do without you, my Dranzer, my dear. I don't know what I'd do without you...

---------

It had been a few minutes until Hilary finally began to stir beside him, shifting more often and rolling about in her blankets frequently before opening her ruby irises to the world. Yawning, she stretched herself out like a cat would, then relaxed suddenly, pushing herself into a sitting position, her brown hair creating a neat, fluffy mess around her head.

"Good morning," she half-whispered when she saw he was awake, smiling and turning her body to face him, "Did you sleep alright?"

He nodded slowly, and she reached forwards, placing her hand on his forehead, "Are you feeling better?"

Again, he nodded, but it seemed as if his response didn't really matter to her, as she continued in checking his temperature with her hands on his face, then placed them on the sides of his neck, beginning to rub her fingers into his skin and up, under his jaw bone.

Kai fought with all his worth not to squirm at her current action - what was she doing? It made him nervous beyond belief that she was getting so close to him, as he had unconsciously learnt to fear physical contact when he was young - Boris had made sure of that with all the punishments he had been through. But she didn't seem like she wanted to hurt him...

"Is your throat sore?"

He blinked, shaking himself mentally, "Y-yes," he found himself rasping, swallowing dryly, "A bit."

She bit her lip, withdrawing her hands from his skin, "I thought so," she began, "You're glands, in your neck, they're a bit swollen."

So that was what she was doing, he thought as he watched her stand up, straightening her pyjama top. They were white as cotton sheets hanging out to dry on a warm summers day, and printed on them were tiny, delicate flowers the colour of a deep, rich red that reminded him of...

"Are you hungry?" she asked, and his trail of thought snapped so suddenly that it took him a while to respond.

"No," he lied, although the last time he had eaten was the first night he had arrived at his house - and it was the next morning he was thrown out again. The dinner was potatoes with steak; soft, tender, juicy steak whose smell would fill the whole room with its delicious odor, and would make even his mouth begin to water hungrily.

But he was Kai Hiwatari, and he had not forgotten his training he had been through when was young; he did not let this feeling of his show, no matter how desperate he was for food.

She paused for a moment, faltering as she took a step towards the house, as if she knew all about his secret desire, but didn't want to reveal so, "Are you... are you sure?"

He nodded, and she frowned, the edges of her lips curving downwards a tiny bit, and he knew she didn't believe him. But, nonetheless, she pivoted on the back of her heel, exiting the dojo to enter the Kinomiya household, and not stopping once to look back at him.

He sighed, and it seemed like he didn't have enough time to close his eyes for even a minute, when she came bursting back into the room, holding a bowl full of something close to her. Balancing it as she walked, she stopped at the side of his futon and sat herself down, setting it on her lap.

Craning his neck over in curiosity, he peered through the wafting steam, squinting to see a mixture of egg, broth, and long, thin noodles - oh, did it ever smell inviting. He glanced upwards at Hilary who was gazing at him expectantly, then lay his head back down on the pillow, ignoring the temptation and shaping himself to look uninterested.

But the girl beside him tried again, "Aren't you hungry, Kai? Don't you want to eat, even just a little bit?"

With his eyelids shut, he shook his head silently.

"Kai," a hint of annoyance passed through her voice, and he could imagine her with her hands on her hips, pursing her lips the way she always did when irritated with Tyson.

He cast his irises lazily upon her, "No," he stated firmly, holding back a smile when he saw that she was doing the exact thing he thought she was, while the bowl of food sat beside her.

"Yes, you do want to eat," she told him, leaning forwards and fixing him with a determined expression, "I know for a fact that you haven't eaten since yesterday morning; and maybe you didn't even eat then. Don't tell me that you're not hungry!"

"I'm not hungry," he answered stubbornly, and he rolled over in his futon, turning onto his side, his back facing her, and he frowned considerably to the empty space infront of him.

That's when she reached over, forcing him back into his original position by pulling his shoulder towards her, "Yes, you are hungry!" she practically shouted, "Don't lie to me!"

"I'm not," he narrowed his eyes, and if he had known as a child, he would have crossed his fingers.

"Then eat," she slithered her hand underneath his back, between his shoulder blades, gently pushing upwards and easing him into a sitting position. He blinked a few times in surprise, but said nothing, watching quietly as she picked up the steaming bowl of food on the floor beside her, twirling the noodles tightly around the chopsticks.

"Come on, Kai," she coaxed softly, "Eat the ramen."

His eyes darted back from her face to the thin noodles she held out for him. Should he ignore everything he had been taught all those years ago in the abbey and give in to this temptation? It would be easy, and it would satisfy his famished self... but that would also be like throwing away everything he knew...

Finally, he shook his head, but only once, and Hilary scowled unpleasantly.

"Eat the ramen, Kai," she persisted.

Again, he disagreed noiselessly.

"Kai," her frustration showed in her tone of voice and the knotting of her brow, "Eat the ramen."

He frowned at her, and she wrinkled her nose, glaring straight at him through narrowed eyelids.

"Eat the ramen!"

"No."

"Eat the ramen, Kai!"

"No!"

"Kai, eat the ramen!"

"No, I don't wa - "

The moment she saw a wide enough opening, Hilary forced the utensil past his lips, forcing the noodles into his mouth and giving him no choice but to swallow them. He coughed a few times, his entire body shaking as he did, and she sat back, looking a bit worried as he panted for breath, but was clearly pleased nonetheless.

"That wasn't so hard, was it?" she smiled sweetly, and he shot her an infuriated look with one glittering eye. Honestly, it had hurt his pride and had stirred up the throbbing in his side again. But she ignored his glare, picked up a piece of cooked egg, and held it out for him with her chopsticks, "Open your mouth," she instructed.

He gave a low growl of protest, and the brunette's chafed expression returned, "Kai, you're not going to get any better without eating, so eat your egg and ramen!"

"I didn't ask for it," he argued, trying to forget his sore throat, "And I'll be just fine without it!"

She scoffed, "Don't be so stupid!" she shook her head in utter disbelief, "I never thought there'd be someone as hot-headed and stubborn as Tyson, but you've just proved me wrong!"

"Don't you dare compare me to Tyson," he glowered furiously at her, feeling the blood in his veins beginning to boil, "And don't tell me what to do!"

"If I don't," she began to raise her voice to match his yelling, "Then you won't take care of yourself properly!"

"I've been taking care of myself just fine!" he snarled, feeling unusually rebellious, "I'm still breathing, aren't I? I don't need anyone to watch over me, especially not you!"

She looked hurt at his remark, and she lowering her eyes to the ground, averting her gaze away from him, "I was just trying to help," she murmured after what seemed to be an eternity of silence. Her voice was cracked and shaky, and he suddenly felt a vicious stab of guilt hit him in the left side of his chest. Why had he just done that?

"Hilary," he began, his frustration disappearing, as he hated to see anyone with a look such as that, "I..."

"No," she cut him off before he could start anything else, "No, I understand, Kai. You don't have to say anything."

"But - "

"Kai," she was getting to be nettled once more, "I said you don't have to say anything!"

His fury began to bubble up again at her words, "Yes, I do have to say something because you don't understand, and you don't know what I'm going to say!"

"Well I know perfectly well what you're trying to say!"

"No you don't, you're just - "

She let out an exasperated sigh, "Just shut up, Kai!"

Much to his irritation, he found himself settling and fuming quietly in his mind. Who did she think she was? And why was he suddenly acting like such a child; shouting and bickering like this? Oh, but she just was making him so mad... but then, was he really upset with her?

He gave her a sideways glance, and at the same time, she did the exact action, and their eyes locked in the dead silence. It was awkward... but at the same time, it wasn't. She gave him a sense of assurance; sifting through all his doubt, she comforted him and warmed him just like...

Just like Dranzer...

The sound of the sliding door opening shattered through the quiet of the dojo abruptly, the connection that the two adolescents had had within that spilt second snapped, and Hilary started slightly in surprise.

"Hey, what's going on in here?" a bright-eyed Tyson asked while poking his head through the opening.

Kai's heart suddenly skipped a beat, and a jab of pain hit his lower ribs. Standing behind the Kinomiya boy were a few people he recognized, including Mr. Dickinson and that dark-haired man who had saved him...

---------

Phoenix Fallen: You've just missed him! [grins evilly] You'll have to wait until the next chapter to find out who the man is, and because of that, I laugh.

I also hope my tale of Dranzer and the Hiwatari's made sense, and that you understood the way I got them to name him and whatever… it took me a while to think that up! And Kai and Hilary fighting… I couldn't resist!

I kind of lied there at the top, didn't I? There was a small appearance of Tyson…

And this is really cruel and unusual, I know, but I'm going away for two weeks on a trip to Austria to visit my grandparents, and I don't have access to the internet. That's bad for you and I both, minna, because I can't upload anything to ff.net or read any stories and whatnot! [sigh]

But we'll live, won't we? And I'll try to get the sixth chapter done while I'm gone so you won't have to wait so incredibly long like last time.

Ellen: I've gotta see Meangirls too… Rei's voice actor is in it! And to me, the characters haven't become horribly disfigured in G-Rev, but then that's my opinion faced against yours, isn't it?

Luna20: It may have looked like it, but you scared the crap out of me the other day when you popped up out of nowhere when I was obsessing over the fact I couldn't buy my Finger Eleven CD because Music World wasn't there anymore! I mean, wow. It was just so sudden… [laughs]

Kai's Honey: Yeah, I missed you a lot! I'm glad you got your computer fixed. And yes, there's going to be some KaiHil romance coming up… so I should probably put in

LoneWolf7423: Arigatou for the comment! I love "Dust in the Wind" too, as you already know because I'm repeating myself and… eh… I forgot.

Reprecussion (Reaper of Souls): Ooh, you got to read this! But Beyblade isn't American Anime – it's still Japanese – it's just been dubbed. And what kind of fanfiction are you going to write?

Arigatou to all the other reviewers who I haven't made comments to directly – you're still remembered, don't worry! So, until I come back to my computer here in Canada, ja ne, and please leave me a review!