Kenny had gone out for the day. Which still left Max, Ray, Kai and Rage to sit around in Max's room, discussing what spare parts to use.

Tyson was currently being coached by Hilary in Max's beyblade dish.

Kai was leaning back against the far wall. Rage had retreated into a corner, but close enough to watch Max and Ray searching through boxes of beyblade parts.

"You know Rage, to fix your blade. I'm going to have to actually hold it." Max said smiling. Up till now he had been fine with just looking at the blade. And she hadn't been anxious for him to touch it. But he needed to fit the parts together now.

He put out his hand, his expression patient.

Rage grimaced, this she had not been looking forward to. She moved her hand slowly so that the blade was just above his hand. Then she chickened out, drawing her blade back to her desperately.

Max raised his eyebrows, but other than that he didn't move. The whole room was silent, waiting.

Rage gritted her teeth, and put out her hand again. This time when the blade was over his hand she drew a deep breath and dropped it into his palm. Then as if it had just been burned, she withdrew her hand quick as lightning.

She retreated even further into the corner. Her eyes were squeezed shut, and her knees drew up to her chest. So she was almost sitting in a foetus position. Her hands were clenched, nails digging into her palms.

Kai didn't move, he merely stared fascinated at the girl. This was the girl from his memory alright. He could now consider it a memory rather than just a dream.

Flashback

"Come on" the younger Kai yelled in the girl's ear, trying to make her run. Why wouldn't she move? Didn't she know what would happen if Boris caught them.

It was as if when Boris had picked up her blade, he had already caught her. She had froze, her face registering agony every time he attempted to crush the blade in his hands.

End Flashback

Both Ray and Max were shocked at the reaction.

"What's wrong with her? Hey Rage, are you alright?" Max asked, worried. He held her blade lightly in his hand. While looking to Ray for guidance. His blue eyes were wide and desperate, hating to see her suffer.

Ray appeared as confused as Max was.

Kai sighed, must he do everything around here.

"Its quite simple really" he began, instantly gaining their full attention.

"When someone other than herself holds that blade, it hurts her. So I suggest that Max hurry's up and finishes her blade, so she can have it back."

With that speech over and done with Kai leaned back against the wall again, crossed his arms and closed his eyes. This gave him the power to relax and focus.

Max worked faster and more delicately than he had ever done before.

Ray seated himself next to Rage, to try and offer some comfort to her. He was ignored.

Then about half way through the fixing process. Rage opened her eyes, to stare weakly at Kai.

"You........re....re...mem...ber?" She asked his motionless figure. Her voice was horse with pain.

Kai thought of lying to her. To make the past stay in the past, but he could not deny her the truth.

"Yes" he said simply, not moving, not even opening his eyes.

No one talked again until her finished blade was placed back in her hand. She smiled, instantly recovered.

"Wow" Tyson said entering the room. "She can manage a smile, maybe she's not that much like Kai after all".

"So let me get this straight," Ray said fixing Kai into his gaze. "You knew Rage before we met her?"

"I missed something didn't I?" Tyson wailed, disappointed. "Kai knows Rage? How?"

"We were just about to figure that out Tyson, Kai?" Ray asked, turning once again to the teen leaning against the wall.

"Hmph" Kai was not in the mood for answering questions right now.

"Kai, its no big deal just tell them," Rage said while pocketing her blade.

Kai opened his eyes moodily.

"We were both at Boris's abbey when we were kids. She won a blading match against me and then we both attempted a escape which failed." He closed his eyes again, he's talked way too much today. Why wouldn't they just leave him alone?

"He left out all the gory details, as usual" Rage said grinning. She seemed so different from the cold, ruse person she's been yesterday. To be honest, Kai preferred yesterday's version. That had been much more predictable. Just what was she up to?

Hilary interrupted her quickly. "Did Kai just say a full sentence, how long has that been?"

Rage stood in front of the silent Kai.

"I know you have a question you want to ask me" Rage said staring into his closed eyes.

Kai had been wrong about her, she was annoying.

"If I do, will you leave me alone?"

"Perhaps"

Kai sensed that was the best deal he could get out of her.

"What happened to you after?" This was boring but if she would leave, then it would be worth it.

"After we were captured, oh nothing much. I was locked in a cage so small I could stand up. For like a year, literally a year. I couldn't walk for ages after."

Kai's eyes sprang with surprise.

"No blading? Boris would never...."

"Not Boris"

Kai remembered. "Bathos"

She cringed at the name. "Bathos Schild".

Everyone else in the room was still. Even Tyson was looking between Kai and Rage with his jaw dropped.

"Now I'll leave you alone, perhaps, for the time at least."

With that she stormed out of the room.

"Um Kai, who's Bathos Schild?" Max asked cautiously. Kai had gone back into total block out the world posture. So max doubted he'd get a reply.

"Hmph"

Ray very much doubted that they'd get a longer reply than that from Kai. For a while at least.