DISCLAIMER: If I owned Bakuten Shoot Beyblade, the first thing I would do is to show a lot of signs of Kai and Hiromi falling for each other. Scratch that, make them a canon pair. But since I'm making a fanfic out of it, it's obvious that I don't.
I'm so, so sorry for taking long to update this chapter. I was about to weeks ago but something went terribly wrong with the computer I used while I was editing this and... let's just say I nearly had to rewrite the entire thing again. Having this document all screwed up with all those indecipherable characters was more than just bad enough, and it doesn't help when you have conjunctivitis at the last minute. In both eyes. I was practically banned from our computer for days.
Hutchy: [catches plushies] Let's just say things aren't going according to his plan... to be more precise feelings aren't going according to his plan... Read more to find out. [throws a Hiromi plushie in return] That's for reviewing the prequel. :)
kanilla: Well, there's a first time for everything... [receives Kai's death glare] Actually I'm trying to give him a different treatment here because he probably won't be like this for the rest of my KxH fics. Cute story? Thanks! :) And I couldn't agree more, Kai and Hiromi are going to make such a sweet couple. I wish this pair's canon.
Samantha: Oh, thanks! It's good to know there are still people who love my long chapters. :)
Bimbo-blonde: Thankies! :)
Kais Devil: Hehe, read and find out... :)
Calm Soul: I couldn't update soon, sorry. Hopefully this chapter will make up for the wait.
Hope's Tears: I wouldn't say excellent... Thanks for that wonderful review! :)
silverphoenix: That wonderful review made me feel better when I read it after experiencing a torturous day, did you know that? Well, maybe one of the reasons why people hate Hiromi is the way she treats Takao or her attitude before she starts hanging out with him... But like you said, she does have certain qualities that others don't, and I mean positive ones. Thanks! :)
Werewolf of Fire: Thanks! :)
Queen of Fantasy: But of course! Here's a Kai cookie for adding this fic to your fave list. [gives cookie] Thanks! :) About your brother, apparently he didn't know what he was doing. Are there reruns of the same episode on the same day? If the show's running on Cartoon Network, then it most likely has. If not... I don't know. Unless there's an available copy of that episode nearby or it can be downloaded, that's the only way I know how to catch up. I hope you get to watch that episode; a good amount of KxH hints (while the cliff thing is found in one of those with ZO in it).
Suheil373: Thanks for that absolutely wonderful review! You made me feel I have talent. :) I've read some of your fics but I want to leave a decent review (which I couldn't do at that time before), so expect a review from me sometime, not soon though. :) And before I forget, here's a Kai plushie for that review of the prequel! [hands plushie]
Phoenix Fallen: I think it's the other way around, you mean not that my fic's as good as yours... I'm honored you reviewed this fic. :) Thanks! Hehe, confusing feelings are good for the soul... Kai's soul...
?: Definitely. :)
Laura: Hehe, they're such a good pair, ne? :)
Carmen: Wow, thanks! :) A book? How I wish...
Jessica: Of course!
Phoenix-Roar: Really? Thanks! I'll try my best to write more fics. Take this Kai plushie for reviewing Of All The Presents. [gives plushie] :)
Mimi: Thank you! :) I already sent you an email before but in case you haven't read it yet, here's the condensed answer: No, I just made that up. I haven't seen or heard any mention of Kai's birthday in 2002 or in V Force.
?: Thank you! :)
/ -: Thanks! :) (Plus symbols don't seem to work for some reason...)
And the last but definitely not the least, my thanks go to Keri Hiwatari for being the first and only reviewer of the prequel even before this sequel came to life. Here's a Dranzer balloon for you with Kai's signature on it. [gives balloon]
The fic is through with the first half already. Wah, Kai's getting harder to write here; aw, the poor kid... If you dislike seeing him the way he is here, don't worry, this might be my only KxH fic where you see him in this manner. If you like it, then good for you! There's still quite more where that came from.
Anyway, the incompleteness of the lyrics below is intentional. I hope this chapter's going to make up for the long wait. Hope you still enjoy! :)
DINNER WITH ME
Chapter 3
"That would be all for now, thank you." Hiromi smiled briefly at the waiter who had just written down her preferred desert. "You can come back later for my partner when he gets here."
The young man nodded politely and left her to attend to the other nearby tables.
I wonder what's taking him so long. Hiromi continued waiting for Kai at their table. Was it her or had she seen a trace of discomfort in Kai's eyes though nothing else had been reflected by his face? It was as if there was something about him that was... off.
Maybe it had been a mistake on her part to let him talk about his past. But then, it was in his control to tell things he wished to say... And here they were, their revelation pointing out aspects of Kai that had surprised her.
An image slowly began to take form in her mind as Kai's words rang, then was molded by the voices of Max and Takao. Finally it took definite shape of someone, a well-built, very young man with blue shark fin marks on his face... but they were dangerously intimidating, adding to the biting ice besieging his eyes and his cold smile... Coldness for emotion... desire to have more power... put everyone else through hell...
This Kai in her imagination... she nearly didn't recognize it. And it scared her a little.
I thought it was impossible to imagine it but... Somehow that conversation had unconsciously and slowly conjured that negative image she knew most people would stay away from. Now her instinct and reason told her to react the same but should she turn her back on him?
"Be careful when you make friends," her father had warned before. "It's a wonderful thing when you are surrounded by many of them, and I'm not saying that you shouldn't have many. But you should remember how much they can influence you. Learn how to pick well; we don't want you to be led astray."
Why am I thinking like this? Kai's my friend! Even if he doesn't show it much in so many ways, he still is! It's not his fault. Maybe... maybe he wasn't that bad before. But no matter what, shouldn't I be standing up for him?
But what if he was just even worse? If you meet that old Kai right now, can you say those very words right after?
I think I can... Yes, I can. Some friend I am if I can't.
You don't know all about him; that's why it's easy for you to claim things. How about hearing and learning every detail of his past actions? Can you handle it then?
I... Who was this voice contesting her anyway? But that wasn't important. Was she even sure she would want to learn all about them?
Ha. You can't answer because you don't want to find out you'll hate him once you do. You don't want to, maybe even wish not to. But if you give him more thought, old habits die hard...
No! What about Takao? He's still a stubborn guy who practically does nothing but to complain and be a jerk to me once in a while. But even so, I still count him as my friend and I don't really dislike him! No one was flawless; even she wasn't perfect. But what made this case about Kai so troublesome? Wasn't he as much of a friend as Takao was?
But then again, she had never viewed Takao the way she was doing about Kai right now. Takao's presence hadn't been sharing with her that unusual closeness she had felt with Kai tonight. And nothing about Takao had made her feel that strange but warm liking... and neither had anything about the other guys.
And after that, she suddenly realized who that voice was. Me. A part of me is challenging another one. I'm talking to myself; I must be going nuts.
Absentmindedly she fished for a mint candy in her bag and ate it. When she nearly bit her inner cheek, the faint but sudden pain made her snap out of her thoughts, and she slightly winced. Great, now she probably ruined her appetite for dessert. Wait, I feel like I'm forgetting something. If I can just remember what it is...
"I believe this is yours."
Hiromi blinked, then turned to the side of the table to see a guy whose gelled midnight bangs reminded her of Kain for a while. But his sharp image was subdued by his soft deep blue eyes as he showed her a familiar piece of folded white cloth in his hand. Hiromi scanned her bag for her handkerchief only to find it wasn't there.
"So I was right. I think you dropped this earlier."
"Yes, it is. Thanks." It just proved how inattentive she had been, not that her handkerchief was her top priority tonight. This thing's pretty useless to carry now anyway. She took it from him and hid it in her bag, giving him a sheepish smile. "I guess I didn't realize I'd already lost it."
"That's okay." The guy returned a friendly one. "With this kind of environment for a free dinner, it sure feels like a whole new territory, doesn't it?"
"I know what you mean," she agreed. This guy was easy to talk with.
The guy was about to respond but he glanced over his shoulder, then back at Hiromi. "Well, I better go back to my table."
"Okay. Thanks again."
He smiled once more and left. Hiromi watched him return to his table before taking out the handkerchief again. Wow, that was nice of him to return it to me. Just as she was placing it back inside her bag again, her fingers felt something soft trapped inside the cloth. She unfolded it once, and to her surprise, found a white aster resting there.
Hiromi stole glances at the roses of different quantities beside the other girls, suddenly aware that she didn't have even one, then back at the aster. It was a short and simple flower but she didn't see any intimate message behind it. There wasn't even a real message behind it.
Well, she thought, feeling quite better as she looked at the white blossom. Thoughtful, if anything.
Kai headed back to the table, everything about him free from perturbation once more. He knew he couldn't keep Hiromi waiting for too long—unless he wanted her to wonder what was really wrong with him. But the time spent inside the men's room was worth it; matching emotion with reason, he had managed to fight it off. Nothing was wrong with him.
I just wasn't feeling well. The air of control was back again once more. That conversation with Hiromi had caught me off guard. But it won't happen again. He never had a talk so intense in his entire life, much as he never had shared it to a girl before. Besides, being the least social in their group, these reasons made absolute sense for him—
Shut up, Hiwatari! Stop making this noise and listen to yourself, and I mean the real one! Are you deaf or do you just want to play so? You know what's really going on. If you're so great, then deal with it!
Suddenly the sense of control wavered, this time the same list of reasons for counterattacking it barely making an effect. The strength of that inner voice surpassed his until wavered turned crumbled. That voice, he knew, wanted him to face an important thing.
To face the possibility, even just the very slightest one, that he felt something for Hiromi. Felt, after everything unusual that he failed making them going away. Felt, and that something, that same voice earlier, yelled at him on why he kept resisting and suppressing its progress for a long time. Like, for at least two months.
What possibility? He was being mocked again by the other voice from before. Oh, right. The possibility that you only might feel something but nothing definite. There's nothing to suppress. You have nothing to feel to begin with.
Nothing... He wasn't even sure if he indeed felt something for the girl waiting at their table. Just a possibility. Only just.
So that completely un-Kai-like reaction he just had earlier was... what? Every event in life had a real reason behind its occurrence; Kai had even understood his fate of landing on the same team with Takao when he was still regarding the Japanese guy as a rival, his unspoken friendship with the latter today proving it. But if his belief was still true, he didn't know where to get the answer for his uncertainty now. Going to the wrong conclusion might prove to be fatal. He mentally stopped, clearly hearing how familiar yet foreign he sounded to his own ears.
What's this in our hands? The almighty cool and composed Hiwatari Kai is losing presidence over himself. Losing your power to keep yourself in check—and losing it to the presence of some girl who couldn't even blade to save her life! Don't you have any pride anymore? Don't you have any shred of me left? Maybe you are pathetic for ruining your well-earned reputation for the sake of this... foolish awareness.
You think your front of self-possession and excellent beyblading skills elevating you make you different. But when it comes to uncontained emotions...
No more. Kai just wanted the two competing voices to stop right now before he might go deaf. The night was almost over, and he could officially call it a night if it weren't for the dessert yet to be served at his order. In truth he didn't care about the dessert at all. But whatever the case was, it was still Hiromi who had the hold.
Hiromi watched him closely while he returned to his seat. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah." Then for the first time he noticed her fingers absentmindedly toying with a small flower, something he knew he hadn't seen before.
Hadn't seen before.
His instincts warning him, Kai's eye narrowed. How did it get here?
He swept his gaze on the other tables until they narrowed down to a single one. A table with four figures occupying it with quiet merriment and laughter. Two guys talking to each other, nothing bothersome about that. But his senses were more focused on the other pair.
Nothing was wrong with the first figure, a form of a girl playing with the long main stem of the same kind of flower in her hands, laughing lightly and talking.
But the second figure who was right across her, the one handing her another of that flower, the owner of those dark blue hues and midnight hair...
The same guy whose smile before had warned Kai of something not right.
No way. Suddenly Kai was alert. "Hiromi, where did you get that flower?"
Hiromi blinked in surprise. "Why do you ask?"
"Where. Did you get. That flower?" There was firmness with each shredded phrase.
"Inside my handkerchief when it was returned to me."
A foreboding sense overcame Kai and he turned to the brunet, looking hard at him.
The guy froze as though he felt Kai's stony gaze at him. Slowly turning to the latter, he stared back and his face broke into a smile, a cool, private one that made Kai's blood run cold in realization, and Kai silently cursed. He went here. He was here while I was gone! And Kai had been so wrapped up with his own inner struggle of thoughts that he had forgotten all about that guy. He couldn't believe himself.
How could he have let his guard down for even a moment?
I wish I didn't have to go home yet. Hiromi stared at the aster wistfully as though it could make her thought come true, then placed it down. The moment dessert was over, everything would be cut short for her—the magical touch of the restaurant, the delicious tang of the free food still lingering in her senses and— She stopped, glancing at her partner. And maybe that bond she was sharing with him tonight. It was a rare kind, and she hated to lose it.
Right now, though, she didn't have any clue whether or not he thought it was a bond in the first place. The more the night wore on, the more unreadable Kai became. And her earlier thoughts about him weren't helping much either.
Then without warning all the lights went out. Worried tones from the surrounding tables came about all at once until panic started to breed. Stay calm, Hiromi. This will be under control. She waited for a few moments but no light resumed. Right?
Kai's voice cut through the darkness. "Stay where you are."
Although she knew he couldn't see her, Hiromi nodded. This wasn't exactly part of her plans tonight. It's so hard not to see anything!
"Would someone please give us some light?" she heard a girl's voice lined with slight fear.
Hiromi was starting to get worried herself. "What's going on here?" Her hand searched blindly on the table for something to grip. "Shouldn't the lights be back by now?" Her fingers brushed against fabric until they made solid contact with... a wrist?
"I told you to stay where you are. Don't move."
And despite the touch of austerity in his command, Hiromi lost the feeling of being in danger.
Although it was absolutely useless, Kai craned his head as though he could assess what made the lights go out in the first place. The sudden darkness didn't faze him, just surprised him a little but his calmness wasn't lost by it. And based on the way the confusion around him and Hiromi started growing into annoyance and impatience, it seemed like he was the only one who could remain calm at a time like this.
But there was no telling what might happen when darkness was all they had.
Suddenly the lights were back, making Kai squint as his pale eyes tried to adjust again to the abrupt return of the yellow lighting.
Hiromi suddenly pulled her hand away from his wrist and was about to say something but stopped. "Kai." Her focus was more on the stage. "Look."
Kai turned to check what had caught his friend's attention, finding a middle-aged woman holding a mike in her graceful hand. Everything about her stated resplendence—atramentous tresses elegantly swept back, royal blue gown bringing out fairness of her smooth skin, poise. A voice from an unseen speaker spoke an introduction, and the noise around Kai began to die as everyone else noticed her presence.
"That's her," Hiromi breathed. "My mom's friend, the owner of this restaurant."
The owner smiled graciously as everyone else fell completely silent. "Ladies and gentlemen, we sincerely apologize for the unexpected disruption. Thank you for dining here at the Aquose Cavern. You might be wondering why you are all gathered here for a free dinner tonight."
Kai folded his arms across his chest. This I got to hear.
"The Aquose Cavern had started out here ten years ago, and it is in our deepest gratitude to return our thanks to every valuable customer who made this restaurant last for such a long time. In celebration of the Aquose Cavern's first decade, you were all invited to join us. This surprise is for free as the real treat starts from this point; we celebrate such a special event with the finest cuisine we can offer for your taste until dawn. Whatever you ate earlier is just a sample of how we can please you tonight."
The real treat? So in other words... The free meal he and Hiromi had earlier was just a disguise so no one would suspect the slightest thing about surprising customers to be part of the restaurant's celebration, a grand party in its own style. A set-up. All around Kai were vibes of shock and astonishment, but soon melted into what he just digested. The real formal dinner begins now, and it's up to us to eat it at whatever time we want tonight. Or until tomorrow at dawn. So this is the actual core of the night, huh.
"The Aquose Cavern is known for its own style of taste but it mostly gains its reputation from the way it values its customers." With the sincere way the middle-aged woman spoke, she seemed to deeply mean every word. Another gracious smile ensured her the approval of her audience. "We hope you enjoy your dinner. Enjoy the rest of the night."
A thunderous applause broke out from the tables as a few cheers erupted from the noise. Apparently any form of complaint wasn't going to happen tonight.
"But—but I thought this was just dinner!" Kai heard Hiromi exclaim in disbelief through all the loud clapping.
"Ladies and gentlemen." When the sound of hands faded away, the owner's perfectly manicured hand elegantly swept the air to motion to the vast space in the middle of the restaurant.
"The dance floor is now officially open."
Hiromi could hardly believe her ears. How could she have known that she was all dressed up for a set-up? No wonder the ticket required us to wear something formal. I had no idea I was heading for a party tonight.
Her head twisted to check the other customers' reactions and found many nearly identical expressions with hers. Yet others wore pleased smiles and seemed unbothered by the sudden revelation earlier. Still, Hiromi found no reason to complain as the shock wore off from her red-clad body. On the contrary, this kind of surprise was so positively unique, for she had never heard of a restaurant pulling off something like this before, not to mention out of pure sincerity. Only the Aquose Cavern was capable of such an unusual but extremely grand idea. Didn't I just tell Kyouju before that the owner is friends with everyone in this town?
A rich melody from a saxophone started weaving slow jazz music as Hiromi watched it dictate several males to invite the girls or women at their tables, a few others crossing floors to ask females from other booths. Some girls were visibly forcing their male companions to get up with them, while the others playfully pulled their partners by the arm, pretending to drag them to the enormous space of a dance floor as said partners played along by shrugging helplessly at each other. Still, a few of the young women who obviously had gone to the restaurant with no male escorts proceeded to the spacious floor, a set of pairs pretending to dance with each other in waltz, ballroom dance style, tango, anything offbeat to the slow rhythm, for a short while before bursting into laughter. Whatever maturity and poise they held before was so lost as they returned to their table but they didn't seem to care, even about the fact that they had no male partners. In fact, they were clearly having fun, and it was as obvious as the possibility that they were friends on a group dinner.
Everyone seems to be enjoying, Hiromi couldn't help thinking, half-listening to the soft music mixed with slow percussion as a warm female voice took control of the flow of the melody. Most of the couples were on the dance floor already while the remaining few were still busy finishing their dinner.
Hiromi turned to Kai, half-expecting him to get up and invite her but Kai was staring at the cozy pairs of slow-dancing bodies. Not at her. Her heart deflated instantly. A part of her was hoping he would ask her to dance but now that space that hope had left behind left her disappointed. Trying not to show it to her partner, she deliberately took slow sips of her water.
The music was over after more than three minutes to be replaced by an instrumental dominated by strings. Some couples returned to their tables with lovey-dovey expressions and were replaced by the pairs who had remained in their seats before. The others chose to stay at the dance floor but Kai never left his seat.
What was he thinking about? Why wasn't he even looking at her now? Did he want to go home right now? These questions were making Hiromi feel ill at ease, and it didn't help that she could feel the heavy stares of the other girls at her. Or rather at her and her partner. "Kai... would you like to try it out?"
Kai didn't even give her a glance. "I can't dance."
Hiromi put on what she hoped was a smile of nonchalance before looking down. "I see." Did she sound like she just asked him to dance? What difference would that make anyway? It doesn't matter. What had gotten into her to make her expect Kai of all people to invite her? Kai was only here for one purpose.
To accompany her to dinner. Nothing more, nothing less.
Nothing else.
Before she knew it, the music was over, and Hiromi's glass was practically drained already. Soon the momentary air of silence was starting to be filled with soft romantic keys of the grand piano and violin strings. Suddenly she felt tens of pairs of burning envious eyes singeing her back. Why were they staring at her? Trying to ignore them, she toyed with her clear glass by swaying it a little.
"No one ever saw me like you do..."
But as she watched the remaining water gently collide against it, a distorted image of Kai formed at the side of the glass. Surprise took her at first but she turned to her side to find Kai wordlessly extending his right hand at her, a silent invitation.
"All the things that I could add up to..."
As startled as she was, Hiromi couldn't help smiling. Gladly she accepted it with her own and stood up with grace. Kai's warm fingers enfolded hers as he slowly led her to the dance floor. When he found a suitable spot among the other cozy couples, Hiromi rested her hands on his shoulders, feeling her heart swelling with happiness.
"I never knew just what a smile was worth..."
"But you said you can't dance."
"Did you think I lied?" Male hands placed themselves on the sides of her slim waist.
"No, but how come..." Then it finally dawned at her. "You didn't..."
The corner of his mouth in a half-smirk manner.
"But your eyes say everything without a single word..."
Now Hiromi got everything. Kai didn't lie. Those first two songs—it wasn't because he wasn't paying attention to her. All along he had been watching the other couples to study on how they danced. Not just danced, also the manner of inviting and leading one's partner to the floor. He did that... just to dance with me? "Thank you, Kai!"
For a moment she thought he would respond with the usual Hn but it never came. Instead silence was the only answer she received from him, the young man slightly looking away.
Hiwatari Kai looking away?
"'Cause there's something in the way you look at me..."
Taken by surprise, Hiromi wondered for a moment. Then her heartbeat began picking up speed upon sudden realization of the very close contact she was having with him right now. Closer than when he had grabbed her wrist to pull her back from the fall. Closer than when he had shielded her from the falling rocks.
Much closer.
As much excited as she was, she couldn't help being quite nervous. If she had thought before that his presence was very strong, it certainly was very powerful now. Up real close and at the very realization of the small space they were sharing, she was having a hard time looking directly at him even with his face slightly turned away from hers. Trying not to feel awkward, she turned her gaze at the fabric of his black suit.
Still at the same time she was keenly aware of his hands holding her by her waist, their gentle guidance a striking contrast to such powerful presence. Those hard hands of an incredibly skilled beyblader used in endless practice to perfection were not the least bit superfluous on her curve.
Kai... you're so gentle around me...
"It's as if my heart knows you're the missing piece
You make me believe that there's nothing in this world I can't be..."
That strange feeling for the past few days returned again but this time it didn't strike her in full force. Instead it started somewhere in her chest and then began its slow but comfortable spread in an even flow through her arms, her waist, her legs, and finally working through her fingers and toes. This warm sensation. This warm liking. This...
"I never know what you see
But there's something in the way you look at me..."
Hiromi raised her head, just in time as Kai returned his focus on her. Time stopped as their gazes met, and without warning she was trapped. Trapped in his pale gray eyes reflecting conflicting emotions within. Her breath caught on her throat, her eyes tried to shift the focus away but his own ones wouldn't allow them.
"If I could freeze the moment in my mind
It'd be the second that you touch your lips to mine..."
Just look away, Hiromi. You can do it. But she remained caught in his gaze that for once she didn't mind boring right through her being.
Those entrancing eyes... Kai...
Then a hissing sound nearby reached her ears and the momentary distraction allowed her to break free from the prison she refused leaving behind. Turning her head to her side, somewhere from the outskirts of the dance floor she saw the formation of fine white smoke, almost mistlike.
"I'd like to stop the clock, make time stand still..."
"Woah... Dry ice?" she heard the guy next to them as it began spreading.
"Does it matter?" His partner's voice grew dreamy. "It's so romantic!"
Hiromi looked down as her reflection on the polished floor disappeared behind the white smoke gathering at her feet, then finally at her lower legs. Somewhere outside the dance floor she heard faint clapping of approval. Does it matter? she heard the girl's voice again in her mind.
Trust me, you wouldn't want to miss it for the world.
"'Cause, baby, this is just the way I always want to feel..."
A radiant smile lit her face while she turned to Kai. "It's... This is just magical!"
And without any doubt, this night must be the most magical moment of her life.
"'Cause there's something in the way you look at me..."
Kai felt a small bud of unusual satisfaction inside him while watching Hiromi get caught in her silent awe as she glanced around her. He didn't know the reason but somehow it was like as though seeing her radiate in joy like now... He could just feel it. And there was also a strange sense of pride for causing her to be like this.
He couldn't completely credit himself, though. Little did Hiromi know. Despite what she had thought earlier, she didn't have the slightest idea how unintentionally Kai had made her believe that he was uncharacteristically dancing with her out of the goodness of his heart. That he went out of his way just to grant her the thing she visibly wanted. Let her believe he studied the other pairs first. What he had said earlier contained only half the truth; he knew something about a dance such as this but couldn't do it as he never practiced it, therefore implying he didn't dance. But if the supposed result of his sudden invitation was just the same, then what he said was just unimportant.
For behind Hiromi's current happiness was the real reason why Kai led her to this dance floor. Ever since he got back to his table, he had been on the look out for that guy with sharp midnight bangs. His own smoky eyes had never left every movement of that person, even when the brunet took his girl companion to dance with him, especially when Kai had been sure the guy aimed originally at the beyblader's table. From the way Hiromi's face shifted expressions earlier, she must have thought he was observing how the other couples danced. She was half-right though; Kai had allowed a brief time for this observation when he was momentarily secured that the brunet was busying himself with his own partner. But Kai already had warning signals instinctively telling him who the next girl the stranger would ask was.
And as the song ended, he had been right. The moment the brunet returned his partner back to his table, he had started heading over toward Kai's territory. After the way he had smiled earlier, this guy must have something not so good to do with Kai, but whatever it was, Kai wanted Hiromi out of it. But somehow this guy was starting to involve her as well, so the beyblader had to prepare counteracting it while leaving the uninvolved untouched. And at that moment, the only way he could protect Hiromi without drawing unwanted attention from the other customers was to keep her away from the taller guy. By inviting her to dance with him before that stranger could grab a chance.
But now that the guy had gotten himself another partner from some table, Kai had a fleeting yet different and unusual want. The want to just drop his guard about that stranger to relax himself with something else though he couldn't. Even for just a short while.
"It's as if my heart knows you're the missing piece
You make me believe that there's nothing in this world I can't be..."
Hiromi raised her eyes at him but at his strong gaze she looked away, the faint blush brushing her cheeks even adding up to her loveliness. Kai had never paid so much attention to her features before but right now he was aware that her eyes didn't seem to be auburn anymore; they were a deeper red, enhanced by her equally crimson dress. He resisted the desire to run his hand on her dark hair softened by the faint glow of illumination.
Hiwatari, you sound like some sappy idiot, do you know that? Why are you acting just the opposite of your exterior? One moment you can't even look at her, the next thing you couldn't stand not regarding her. Same goes for her. You truly are pathetic.
No, if only those two inner voices would stop competing once more...
Because your exterior isn't the real you. Damn it, Hiwatari, how long do you plan to keep on running away?
"I never know what you see
But there's something in the way you look at me..."
Shut up. I don't run away and I never! he mentally shouted. I...
He just wanted to understand why. Why most of his actions couldn't be controlled anymore. Why his mask was slipping. Why Hiromi was slowly, carefully removing his mask.
Why he was allowing her to do so.
And letting her see the face hiding behind it.
"I don't know how or why I feel different in your eyes
All I know is it happens every time..."
It was strange but it made him feel less alone yet it wasn't the kind he felt around Takao and his other friends. Something unique. He felt... Did he dare identify it?
Suddenly his guard was up as the song started to conclude its lines. He's near. His eyes flicking to his right, he saw the brunet heading his way over to their spot. Kai tried leading Hiromi away as unobviously as he could but it was too late. Somehow the guy materialized at their side without Kai seeing it, and he knew fully well what he was planning to do.
True to his expectations, the guy turned to him in nonchalance. "May I borrow your partner for a dance?"
Kai completely ignored him—and Hiromi's look of great surprise—and continued as though he hadn't heard anything.
Offering an inviting hand, the dark-haired guy smiled at Hiromi but not before giving an almost unnoticeable smirk, a smirk that could only be caught by Kai's eyes. One that was meant only for him. "Miss, may I have this dance?"
Kai felt sick as he watched Hiromi smile back. It was so obvious that she had met him before—and had fallen victim of his friendly façade. Who the hell does this guy think he is? "Go find your own partner," he replied before Hiromi could have a chance to speak, casting him a get lost look. "Didn't anyone tell you it's rude to cut in like this?"
"No, considering the music's already over," he responded, and Kai mentally cursed the musicians for such a lousy timing as a new song started taking over. "Just once." Didn't this guy know how to give up?
"Kai, it's only one dance." Hiromi seemed almost embarrassed. "It won't harm if I dance with him."
"No, you're going to dance with me as I want," he told her firmly, tightening his hold on her waist possessively as Hiromi's eyes widened, but he paid no notice. Right now he couldn't care even when his voice and words sounded equally possessive as well. He couldn't—and shouldn't—give Hiromi away to this guy in any way. Only hell knew what he was planning to do to her once they were alone. Kai fixed him with a hard glare. "You can't have her."
Dark blue eyes stared hard in return. Hard blue clashing violently against steel gray. The luridness behind them told Kai to be careful of the owner but the latter's voice remained smooth. "And why is that so?"
"Because..."
An expectant look.
"Because she's mine."
Hiromi's heart pounded furiously against her ribcage, Kai's words echoing in her mind. Because she's mine...
Not to mention being fully aware of the possessiveness of his hands on her. She looked up at Kai but didn't dare to question him at the moment. Right now Kai's face was a hard mask of ice, and Hiromi could feel the tension straining his muscles. She really didn't understand. The same guy who returned her handkerchief was amiable, and she didn't see anything wrong with sharing a dance with him. But why did Kai seem to hate him so much?
"Come on. One dance won't hurt," the guy was saying. "Look around. It's not a crime to share partners once in a while. Or would you rather trade?"
He has a point. Although... Hiromi glanced back and forth at the two teens, both glaring at each other. She nearly moved back at the growing intensity of friction between the two but Kai's hold was making any retreat impossible for her.
"We're busy. Back off."
Hiromi silently gasped as Kai's arm wrapped itself around her waist, drawing her body closer to him. But the strong cling wasn't just possessive; at the same time she felt its protective nature. Protective? Was Kai telling her something she didn't know?
Then the rich tune of saxophone sailed through the atmosphere, and shock overcame her when his other hand took her own as though to lead her. Kai broke away their glaring contest to stare ahead of him, ignoring the other boy's presence.
Finally the blue-eyed stranger moved away. "Okay, I get the picture." Then he looked at Hiromi. "Maybe I'll catch a dance with you later. See you." And he disappeared among the sea of couples.
Unaware of the singing male voice commencing the song, Hiromi watched the guy leave, then looked at Kai in confusion. "Kai, what's really going on?"
Kai sent one last sharp glare in the direction where the young man had headed off.
"He can't be trusted."
"Oh." From experience, she had learned that as sharp as her intuition was, Kai's instincts had even more acuity, so she decided not to argue with him on this. Hiromi waited for him to release her hand but he didn't. "Kai, it's okay. He's completely gone now."
But he was still holding it.
"I know."
Then why? Hiromi was about to say something but lost the words when she felt his muscles finally relax. "Wait..."
Kai remained silent.
"I could feel the wind blow
A kiss from you to me..."
Hiromi looked up at him. They say the eyes are the windows to one's soul. Who knew they could be so right after all? Kai's stoic face could fool anyone, including Hiromi, but his eyes could never lie no matter how hard they tried, and she had been successful at reading most of how he felt through them. Right now as she did, the warmth within them told her he wanted to do this, not out of obligation as her escort, not to ward off danger—he just wanted to.
"Did you know just one night..."
So she allowed him.
"...Could last for all eternity?"
Did he want to hold her because he got carried away by the first dance? Did she want him to hold her like this because she too got carried away by the romantic atmosphere back then?
"And I'll bet you never knew that we could fly
Take my hand
Make a wish
Close your eyes..."
But Hiromi found herself calming down as she took in the current atmosphere. A slightly more upbeat percussion, soothing flow of saxophone—still a danceable, relatively slow jazz leaning much more on the relaxing side than on the romantic one. Still, adapting to it made no difference on the chemistry she experienced with Kai when he first led her to dance.
"This could be paradise for you and I
Two hearts in love forever..."
Even the lyrics weren't as sentimental as those of the songs earlier. Yet never had words swept her to envision herself within them. To an outsider, to her earlier self who hadn't been under this euphoria before, the lyrics may seem absolutely outdated. But not to her. The words were only simple but she felt the richness of their meaning.
She hadn't been carried away after all.
"Under the starlit sky we'll spend the night..."
This time Hiromi never felt any shroud of awkwardness or nervousness even in such proximity with Kai. All she could feel was his softened gaze, his warm hand resting gently on her waist—and the soothing comfort and security exuding from them. Nothing from the outside could touch her.
As long as Kai was holding her, she felt protected.
"Take my hand
Make a wish
Close your eyes..."
Following the voice of the singer, her eyes slowly closed. I wish... Her soft hand squeezed lightly Kai's.
"And this will be paradise..."
I wish this night would never cease.
Kai's eyes almost widened at the soft pressure of Hiromi's hand on his. Why she did it, he didn't know. But he had no idea how such a small gesture like that could be so comforting, so encouraging to let him know whatever he was feeling was just okay, that there was no harm in pursuing it. Turning to the girl he was holding, he saw his reaction had gone unnoticed.
"You can bring a blanket
And baby I will bring the wine..."
Hiromi's eyes were closed. Kai could sense how relaxed she was, and the peacefulness radiating from her was already surrounding his being.
And now he could finally put to identity that unusual sensation he was hesitant about.
Special. He felt special.
Only when being with Hiromi did he feel such a sensation.
Then he lost track of the words being sung when he felt Hiromi's hands move away from his shoulder and his hand, her arms wounding themselves around his neck. Silently she rested her head sideways below his right shoulder and the sweet scent of her chocolate hair invaded Kai's senses as he fell under the spell. But he didn't mind. Not at all.
"And darling, say that you'll be mine..."
Mine. That word he had used earlier. It was such a simple four-letter word, yet it was etching a deeper meaning inside him.
"Did you see the stars write
Our names across the sky?"
And his awareness of his partner right now was even more heightened by it. They were still moving along the rhythm in the midst of numerous couples but he didn't care. He just didn't.
"If you want to love me, just love me, just love me..."
He was losing track of the lyrics, not that it mattered either. Hiromi sigh contentedly, and it was all his ears captured at that short span of time.
"And don't ask why..."
Then Hiromi looked up at him. Deep garnet pools clashed against pale gray ones yet they molded to form a bond. Intense yet relaxing. Piercing yet softening. Kai was blown away by the contentment in Hiromi's eyes and he couldn't look away. He didn't want to look away. The spell... It wasn't just because he had fallen under a spell.
Hiromi was magic herself.
"And I'll bet you never knew that we could fly
Take my hand
Make a wish
Close your eyes..."
Their faces were barely inches apart, his warm breath mingling with her minty one. Then something inside Kai clicked as a different warm sensation overcame him, and his arms tightened their hold around Hiromi's slender waist to draw her closer to him. Hiromi gasped in awed surprise. Allowing the sensation to take over his senses, he closed his eyes and let his lips start brushing Hiromi's soft ones gently, lightly like a feather for a few fleeting moments, then melded with hers, caving in to seal it with his own kiss.
"This could be paradise for you and I
Two hearts in love forever..."
But an unexpected question speared right through him, and like a huge crashing wave, conflicting emotions came rushing back. In an instant, the spell was broken as all at once became unexplainable and complicated for him. Suddenly realizing what he was doing, he released Hiromi to draw back. Hiromi's arms dropped their hold on his neck in result, and Kai moved away from her.
"Kai...?" Unnoticed by the other pairs, Hiromi looked stunned—and terribly hurt, like he had personally slapped her face hard.
"Under the starlit sky we'll spend the night
Take my hand
Make a wish
Close your eyes..."
For a second Kai couldn't speak, couldn't think—couldn't do anything—as he took in the pain reflected by Hiromi herself. Then he felt a stab inside him. It was too much. He had to get out of there. And so as quickly as he could he bolted right out of the dance floor, leaving Hiromi lost among the crowd. He didn't stop until he reached the exit of the restaurant and pushed the giant door.
As soon as he reached the empty lot outside the Aquose Cavern, he felt weakened and dug his palm to cover his face. What the hell's happening to me? What was he thinking by moving to a more intimate level like that? How could a single act throw him into immense uncertainty of what would happen next?
You think your front of self-possession and excellent beyblading skills elevating you make you different. But when it comes to uncontained emotions...
You're just like everybody else.
"So, the rumor is true then. The great Hiwatari Kai really is spending this Saturday night dining with a girl."
Kai quickly whirled, realizing that the brunet from the restaurant had managed to follow him outside. "I'm not in the mood for a chat. Leave me alone," he snapped.
"Not so fast, Shell Killer." The dark-haired stranger gave him a cold smile as two more guys materialized behind Kai, their smiles equally unfriendly. "You and I need to talk. And by that I don't mean words."
Sorry, I had to twist it like that. And for those who don't know what Shell Killer is, it's the original name for Blade Sharks.
If you spot any form of error, sorry. My eyes just couldn't take it anymore. Maybe I can perform a chapter replacement in the future but I don't know just when.
This may not seem so proper but I just couldn't help this. While I was constructing this chapter, I was sort of "flamed" offline by this person I know for even listening to the song I used for Kai and Hiromi's first dance. I nearly changed my mind about including that song here but when I thought more about it, her opinion shouldn't influence me. To that certain person, you're probably not reading this (and to the rest who recognize that song but dislike it for some reason), I don't exactly know the reasons why you don't appreciate it, and I'd rather not find out, but whatever they are, I don't care. I think the song's okay. I constructed the dance before adding the music, and I can't help it if coincidentally the lyrics matched it. I can't do anything if you don't like it. Brand the song as corny or too emotional or whatever; I don't care.
...To the people who had absolutely nothing to do with the message above, I'm sorry you had to see that.
While we're on the topic about music...
Extended DISCLAIMER: For Kai and Hiromi's entire dance scene, I don't own The Way You Look at Me and This Could Be Paradise. While personally I'm not a fan of the artist behind the first song, I do believe it is worth listening to. Its new/extended version is even more awesome, more fitting for that first dance. And I like how it also foreshadows the second dance. Check out the song on YouTube: youtube .com (slash) watch?v=GqR1Lx4t03Y .
The next chapter's going to be the last. If you don't see an update in three weeks' time, that would be either because I'm trying to write some of my other fics (probably Sign of Wish or Flying or whatever I feel like working on) or I have a combination of academic requirements and long series of exams I can't afford to fail (and when I say long, I mean really long), or both. You can check my bio for whatever's the latest news about any of my fics; I always put it there when I have the chance.
Please leave a review! Flames of any degree will be used to burn my notes out of sheer frustration, probably. Thanks! See you at the concluding chapter! :)