Chapter 2

by. SilverWolf-Ryuki

Disclaimer: Still don't own it...


"DAMN IT! Why didn't he choose someone stronger?" Mariam hissed, and kicked a nearby rock, sending it flying.

"Now, now, what did the poor rock do to you?" Ozuma joked, receiving a deadly glare from the once calm girl. "Alright, alright…well, Maybe Kai thinks they are strong…"

"Them…strong…? There is my example of two words that do not fit together. The pink girl can't survive a landing without…lets see…'breaking a nail', not to mention holding a gun. Rei is simply too pathetic to kill even a fly." Mariam said while her eyes filled with disbelief. "And Lee…well, I actually don't know a single thing about Lee…"

"Mariam, if you keep shouting out about these things, the project will be a world-known soap opera."

"Goodness, am I the only one with any senses here?"

"Well, you should at least respect Kai's judgment, maybe he is right."

"Maybe my ass…"

"What did your ass do this time?"

---

"There is one more thing. You have to bring 2 people that you think are fit to the description." Kai added. Rei stared at his team leader, who smirked.

"2 more people to fit the description? Are you crazy? No, you've got to be joking…how am I supposed to find two more people with that description…I mean, I barely fit the gun-" Rei paused, thought better, and continued. "Will the saint-shields do?"

"Mariam and Ozuma are already in. Joseph cannot come because Mariam says that it would weaken her having her sibling coming along…I have to admit I agree…" Kai closed his eyes, sighed and turned to walked away. "I hope you do not fail me, Rei…"

Gosh, he sounds like an old grandpa asking his grandson to fulfill his wishes…Rei shook his head and wearily walked back to where the rest of the team were training.

---

Kai sighed deeply and pressed the code, the door slid open. In there, Mariam and Ozuma sat and trained. Seeing Kai, they stopped and Mariam approached with a hopeful look on her face.

"Kai-"

"No, Mariam, I am not changing my mind. It is too late."

"Bu-"

Kai turned to give Mariam a glare and a frown. "What part of NO do you not understand?" His eyes flashing with annoyance, Mariam closed her mouth and stayed silent.

"Who is Rei going to chose?" Ozuma looked at Kai, expecting an answer. Kai frowned…

"I think…"

---

A few days later

---

Mariah and Lee, they are the only ones. Lee can be seriously vicious, no problem. Mariah had speed, which was good for the project. But, Mariah killing…Rei sighed. Maybe Kevin would be a better idea…no; I can't trust Kevin anymore…not even after all that…

Rei's eyes lit up in realization. Does that mean I agree to do this? He asked me, I could refuse…but…that would be-

"Rei, it's so good to see you!" a pink haired girl practically bounced towards him. Rei turned and Mariah skidded to a stop in front of him. She smiled widely and gave Rei a hug.

"Rei…" Lee walked up behind Mariah and shook his hand. "Welcome back… or at least for a while."

"Hey Rei…" Kevin greeted from a nearby tree, he hopped down and gave a miniature salute. Rei gave him a small smile. Kevin smiled back and jumped away. (A/N: gosh, he sounds like a frog…- -;)

"Rei, your letter said that you wanted to talk to me and Mariah?"

Rei looked down and nodded. "It's a…project…"

---

"Kai, is your friend anywhere done with his asking?"

"Grandfather, he is going to China, he can not arrive there in mere seconds…"

Voltaire glanced at his grandson, who stood there and frowned. "Well I hope he is finished soon."

"Do you want me to go see if things are alright?"

"Do as you like, Kai."

"I'll take that as a 'yes'…"

---

"Kai wants you to get involved in THAT?" Lee roared and Mariah looked at Rei with a frightened expression. It wasn't everyday that Lee had a temper. "AND HE EXPECTS US TO AGREE AS WELL?"

"Well…no…he asked for me to pick 2 people…and I sort of…chose you…" Rei said nervously.

Lee sighed. "What is the point of this…project, all I can see so far is that you are going off to ki-"

"Lee, please…I don't want to talk about it…" Mariah said quietly. Lee gave Rei a glare.

"Mariah does not want to participate, I suggest you not to either. He has 'backup' doesn't he? He could use them. He doesn't need us to complete this."

"Yes, but he wants you do." A voice said from behind the 3 beybladers, who all turned around. Kai stood there, his face half hidden by shadows.

"Kai…" Lee said to Kai, his voice accompanied by a low growl. "You expect us to agree to your project?" Kai smirked; he closed his eyes.

"Lee, Mariah, you should be glad to be chosen. But you aren't, are you?" Kai uncrossed his arms and walked towards where the 3 teens were. "Unusual behavior,"

"Kai, you didn't need to come…" Rei said quietly.

"No, I didn't need to, I wanted to. The exact opposite lies in your answers. You don't want to, but you need to complete the project with us." Kai said smoothly as he continued to smirk. Lee stood up to face Kai; he was tired of all this smooth talk.

"Oh? And why do we need to?"

"Right, I suppose that if you want to die, you would have jumped down a cliff already." Kai shrugged. Rei's eyes widened in surprise the moment Kai said those words.

"You never said anything about-"

"I didn't, did I? Well, Voltaire did, and I can't help that." Kai walked out the door, leaving the 3 to wonder. "One can't go against his grandfather…can he?" a small chuckle could be heard, then the sound of a helicopter arriving. Kai popped in once more, an innocent look on his face. "Well, aren't you going to come? I didn't order someone to get the helicopter for nothing, you know."

Lee looked at Kai as if he was a madman. Mariah just looked from Rei, to Kai, to Lee, frowning, making a decision. "Lee…" she started.

"Alright, you lazy asses, get up and walk to the helicopter, how simple is that?" a voice said from outside, a girl voice this time. She walked in; her sharp green eyes looked frustrated. "How long does it take you to get in your head that you do not have a choice?"

"Mariam, I told you not to come…" Kai growled, losing his coolness.

"Well, you aren't my boss…" Mariam turned away and crossed her arms stubbornly.

"Mariam, he sort of…is…" a small boy with red and black hair stepped in, a frown sat on his face.

"What are both of you doing here?" Rei asked, surprised. "Mariam, Ozuma, are you part of this as well?"

"Did you also get threatened?" Mariah asked as sympathy filled her eyes. Mariam turned sharply to face her. "No, we didn't get threatened. We wanted to go. Is there a problem? Your life is yours, isn't it?" she gave a small smile and went out again. "Come on, I'll tell them to leave if you don't get out." She called behind her back.

Ozuma and Rei sighed. "Well…?" Rei looked at Lee and Mariah.

"Alright…it's not like we have a choice, as you said, Kai…"

"Lee…" Mariah hesitated. "Fine, I'll come as well…"

"Great, let's go now…" Ozuma said with an obviously fake smile, his mouth turned into a straight line again after 5 seconds.

---

So, Kai's predictions came true…As usual…He is always right, always so…perfect…yet he says no human is perfect…Yes, no human is perfect…what about those who aren't full human?

---