DISCLAIMER: Bakuten Shoot Beyblade belongs to Aoki Takao and Sign of Wish belongs to Makiyo.
-looks at reviews- Wow... I had hoped to get some reviews but I didn't know they would be that many! Thank you so much, reviewers! -hugs reviewers- Each meant a lot, and I really appreciate knowing some people actually love this story. To all who gave advice about this chapter (you know who you are, people!), I'd like to thank youvery much. You all raised good points, and after taking into consideration both sides of the options, I came to the decision that this chapter… -long drumroll- is not yet the end of the story. (I'll tell you a little something about this fic: It was intended as a one-shot but as always, one-shot fics of mine turn to two-shots or longer when concerning KxH).
kai/hilary all the way: Thank you! :) Well, your hope is my command.
DarkWolf88: Thanks! :) This instantly became a fave? I'm touched.
Takao: -pokes-
Not that kind of touch. Sorry if you got late on this fic's account…
Penguin Pop: Oh thank you very much! :) Actually, the fifth chapter of Opening Pandora's Jar had been posted already a few weeks ago prior to this fic, so you can check it out. About the reviews, yes, you're right. I saw your point. Thanks for pulling me back to my senses again.
Tailsy101: Thanks! :) I hope you'll love this chapter as well.
Phoenix-Roar: Why thank you! :) Well, here's the chapter…
elsiey: Thanks! :) Yeah, I do feel sorry for Takao but really, it's his own fault. So yeah, he's gonna get it...
Takao: Eek! -Remy Zero style- Somebody saaaaaaave meeeeee... I don't care how you do it just—
Anyway, to save him the grief of a public punishment from Hiromi and Kai (which I suppose would be really bloody), I'd rather focus on the KaiHil owns! part which I totally agree with. Hehe, homework: any amount is always ridiculous.
Goddess-Hope: Oh, I will… :)
Coralu: Kai and Hiromi had a few interactions, like the part where he shielded her (and Kyouju, I think) from the falling rocks when they were in the stranded island, caught her before she fell to the sea/ocean/whatever (ZO was still the BBA Team's friend at that time), and also when she talked to him after Kai lost Suzaku to ZO. It's not much but since I instantly loved the pairing, I tried testing out how they view each other in one of my fics, Dinner With Me. If you're interested, you can check it out.
Kai: Beware, she did it out of fandom of me being paired to Hiromi, so—
Ahem. And I appreciate that you like my writing style; thank you! (and also for the compliments) :) Yeah, I think it's possible for Takao to do that to Hiromi.
Nubia: Thanks so much! :)
carzla: Here's the chapter. About the final chapter of Dinner With Me, I'm done writing half of it, so I still don't know when I can post it. But I will as soon as I'm done, don't worry.
Kami's right hand girl: Hiromi sure is lucky. Makes me wonder why there isn't anything like this between them in the series.
Chibi-Kari: Thanks! :) Well, wait no more.
BTW, you wrote in your review for Never Enough that you got confused about who's talking. I can't reply in the fic so I'll do it here instead: (Warning: SPOILER!) Actually, it's the POV of the personification of Takao's happiness/happy side or self. That's why it seems separated from him and speaks like an actual person, with lots of implications. By the time I realized how unclear that was, I immediately replaced the chapter with one which explains it but for some reason and no matter how many times I tried, it wouldn't be replaced. I guess you and the other readers read that particular one. -checks Never Enough- Oh, the replacing chapter appeared finally. I hope it would now make sense for someone who rereads it. Hm, a sequel? I haven't thought or planned of doing that before but now that you've suggested it, I may consider making one. Only I don't have much ideas for the plot, so if you have any, letting me know would be great. Thanks. :)
Kais Devil: Well, you have to read to find out… :)
Kayla: Thank you so much! :)
whooptidoo-basil: Thanks! What you said wasn't pointless, don't worry.
hyperion x: Thanks too! :) (KaixHiromi fans, hello!) Yeah, poor Hiromi. If you think of her as that, wait until you read this chapter (I just couldn't help her situation; it's for the glory of the story anyway)…
star-shimmered-dragon: I definitely will, thanks! :)
Hutchy: The umbrella thing? I never thought of that before. Then again, also speaking from personal experience, I've never heard of lightning during a typhoon (unless I misinterpreted your words). Kai will find her at… at… Sorry, not yet the time to reveal.
Okay, now we can move on to the story. Hope you enjoy! :)
SIGN OF WISH
ChApTeR 2
"I don't know, Hiromi-chan. I really have no idea where Kai is or where he went."
"Well, do you know at what time he left?"
"Not really. All he left was a note saying he's going to do something. And there's a final line: 'Don't wait up for me.' I guess he left so early this morning while I was still asleep."
"Really? Wait, you said Rei's also not there. Maybe Kai's with him right now."
"I don't think so. Rei left just this afternoon, so I think he has his own business to deal with. Besides, when we all woke up, Kai was already gone. The last time I saw him was very late last night."
After what Max said, Takao could hardly be lying! Hiromi jogged faster, leaving the bridge behind her, legs already becoming lead from too much running without stopping for a break. Kai, where are you?
The wind had gained more strength than it had the last hour, beating her chocolate tresses across her face like whiplashes. Her hand quickly brushed them away but they kept coming back as though eager to block her vision. The typhoon—it's really here! She was grateful, however, for bringing her umbrella with her, making the most out of it by successfully blocking the sudden downpours from the sky to protect herself. But only time would tell how long she could hold against the strength of the angry nature. For a while she regretted not bringing a raincoat or at least a fully sleeved jacket but there wasn't enough time.
Kai must come first.
But she couldn't find him anywhere. Hiromi had already tried the beach, the harbor, the park, the area where the entire team first met Yuuya—every place Kai usually went to that Hiromi could think of—but there wasn't any sign of him anywhere. Icy wind made the green leaves execute themselves in erratic dances in the air as though willing to do everything in their power to discourage her. Refusing to acknowledge the message, she checked the shelter under the bridge by crossing down the stairs. Her clad feet was, in an instant, stepping on a sea of grass, now seemingly flattened by the strong breaths of the air, rustling wildly, audibly, against the ground. The same sounds of the swaying branches away from her were heard as her hopeful heart sank in disappointment at the empty space before her.
A very sudden and strong wind blew, making some of Hiromi's chocolate strands fly directly to her eyes, stinging them. Instinctively she clawed at them away from her set of vision, but her resulting loosened hold on her umbrella wasn't strong enough to make it steady that another set of wind knocked it off her hands.
"Oh no!" Hiromi cried, running after the red object flying in midair, dark mud splattering on her legs, on the shoes she had cleaned so hard last night. But everything was out of her control as the umbrella landed on the river, a loud splash at first before resurfacing only to be carried away by its swift current splashing wildly. Clad feet did their best to go after it but her speed wasn't enough and she could only watch it drift away from her reach until it was no longer in sight.
Now she really had nothing to defend herself against the rain but there was nothing she could do about it. And it wasn't going to stop her from completing her own mission.
Ignoring the water right away seeping in through her clothes, Hiromi ran toward the center of the town.
Tch. Despite knowing somewhere at the back of his head that he should appreciate Takao's last-minute help, Kai couldn't help but scowl as shooting raindrops cut across the cold air in diagonal fashion. Like it would even be of the slightest help after it kept on failing him tonight. Here he was, searching the streets and shops for any sign of Hiromi for nearly two hours in the middle of a growing typhoon but he might as well attempt literally finding a needle in a haystack. People with different umbrellas. People in raincoats. People dashing through the streets with heads bowed to avoid their faces being hit by the rain. Where could a dark red umbrella possibly exist?
And it wasn't as if the horrible weather was making things easier for him either. So far the only soppy part of his entire profile were his legs below his knees but he knew dryness would only be so temporary for him. The direction of the rain was getting unpredictable, coming from behind him then a sudden assault from the front without warning. Now he was witnessing lateral waves of rain shower, the stubborn air currents being responsible for such.
But one way or another, he had to find Hiromi.
Kai's eyes squinted, trying out from his spot on the street if he could make a familiar figure from the small crowd of customers coming in and out of a gift shop before deciding to go for it. On the way he was nearly swept by another rush of hurrying people and he felt someone bump against him hard near the shoulder but paid no attention to the resulting quick apology. Finally reaching the door, he pulled himself in.
Only to find Hiromi wasn't there too. After a thorough search, Kai walked out, back to the cold streets again, somehow feeling back at square one. A part of him told him it wasn't completely true. It was a smart move for him when he had tried analyzing the situation from Hiromi's perspective. Knowing her, she would first look for him at the places he usually would hang out. Based on Kyouju saying the prank was done this afternoon, Hiromi would have been searching for around a few hours or so by now and finished looking at those places, so Kai had easily eliminated those choices and gone here instead.
And how would he rate his success now?
Kai started walking again, cursing Takao under his breath.
Cold, so cold…
Hiromi shivered, wrapping her arms around herself in a futile attempt of warming herself. Weariness was claiming her drenched body, her once soft bangs now a matted mess sticking to her wet forehead and her temple. The pale short skirt she had on wasn't helping her retain the heat she was quickly losing from her bare legs either. And her dual-colored top was just equally useless.
As fast as her feet could take, she hurried to the nearest shelter she could find—a narrow roof that represented the extent of a closed beyblade shop's territory—for no longer being able to bear the pounding of the rain. For a minute she lost herself to its deafening sound before her body trembled again as a gust of storm wind passed through the nth time. The tuneless music of hard shower and viciously traveling air playing together reminded her somehow of a faucet—on and off, on and off.
Her hands faced her, and for the first time she became aware of the light blue color of the lower sides of her palms. Drawing them near her mouth, hot breaths blew on the frozen hands to bring forth warmth. When it barely worked, she rubbed them together, creating as much friction as possible but the desired result was only temporary.
How she wished she had something hot to eat or even at least drink. After searching for Kai for what seemed to be an entire night, even though the back of her mind said that it was only for hours, her energy was depleting fast already, and realization told her she hadn't eaten anything since lunch.
Clammy hands dug into her pocket—only to find out that she had no more money left. Her teeth started chattering, goosebumps rising on her arms. I forgot. I already spent it buying the stuff for the party and Rei and Max's farewell presents. Then she gently touched her forehead—the part that had hit a stranger's shoulder tip earlier. She had tried to apologize to him properly but the moment she had looked up, the big droplets of water from the heavy night sky had blinded her eyes temporarily that she had immediately looked down to wipe them away. But when she had looked up, the stranger was already gone.
It doesn't really matter, she decided, her eyes partly absorbing the sight of pavement, a dull dark gray field of sprouting water. Right now I'd kill for money to get myself something hot or warm. But the typhoon didn't seem to let her; in fact, it was as if it were making fun of her. You are such an idiot. Stop looking for him, it seemed to say. It's so pointless. Do you even know where to find him? The cold wind blew again, sending the trash can near her to topple, scattering its dirty contents across the streets now ran over by only a few pairs of feet. Conveying the message, People are going home now. Do yourself a sensible favor and do the same. Teasing her disheveled tresses.
Teasing her will into giving up.
I'll rest for a few minutes. Her eyes closed slowly as she prepared to yield into relaxation. Just a few minutes, and then…
But instead of soothing darkness, all she saw was Kai drunk in some dark alley she had never seen before. Blinking, she tried to wave the vision away but it was replaced by another, this time Kai staggering in the strong rain. Various unpleasant images kept flashing in her imagination, with the final one of him lying unconscious on the hard pavement, and ill-looking thugs encircling him with sneers on their dirty faces…
No, I can't rest! Not even for just a second. Her heart pounding wildly as the image faded away, she braced herself. I have to keep on looking for him, and if anything happens to him just because I'm too late… She didn't even want to know, and she prayed she wasn't anywhere near finding it out. Time was so precious, and with each second wasted away, the urgency to find her friend grew even stronger.
So Hiromi ran out of the shelter and back to the fury of the typhoon again, forgetting all about herself, about everything but Kai.
Damn it, where is she?
Kai had finished practically the entire town already and reached a section where the street split into three more directions. It must be past nine-thirty already. If I didn't know any better, I'd say I've been going around in circles. But his acute memory told him that he wasn't and he was just following his gut.
So why couldn't he see Hiromi?
Kai's warm-colored orbs roamed across the streets, spotting people in various quantities. It seemed as though the number grew, then was reduced, then grew again. Shops and merchandise stores which usually lasted until midnight were starting to shut down, sending the remaining customers out, only to get stuck by the hard rain. A few of them opened their umbrellas and walked out as Kai tried making out their faces.
None belonged to the girl he was looking for.
This is getting old. Still, Kai took time to check the rest of the street further, making sure to be careful in deciphering faces. As he did, pieces of the conversation earlier came into his mind, reminding him again why he was here in the first place.
What he just couldn't get was what in Takao's prank that concerned Kai made the brown-haired girl go to look for him. Eyes losing focus over a crowd of walking shelterless teenagers across the street, his mind wondered for a while, then brushed the unanswered questions for now as he resumed walking in the right direction of the intersection. He would know as soon as he found Hiromi. No doubt the brunette would murder that idiot on the spot.
Not if I kill him first.
"Please, all I need is a minute. I won't be using your phone for long, I promise!"
The bulky man behind the window of the drug store ignored her and pulled down the blinds instead.
Her heart sinking, Hiromi was left standing outside. Without any money left, all she could resort to as a means to call at the dojo was to plead for someone to allow her to use any store's phone but everywhere she went, no one had been kind enough.
Going on an about-face, she was met by the sight of a sudden crowd of people her age who weren't wearing any raincoats or jackets, not even holding any umbrella. But she couldn't believe how easy it was for them to keep on laughing and hooting as though breezing through the typhoon was so enjoyable and they couldn't care less about anything else but fun. Don't these guys worry that someone they care about may be stuck right here right now because of the storm? she wondered, letting the crowd pass first. There is an awfully large amount of people out here. I guess we're all just the same.
Then she started walking again along the same sidewalk as everyone else when she spotted someone familiar just ahead of her and the group of people. Tall, powerfully built, dark-haired… Kai! "Kai, wait!" Filled with renewed energy, Hiromi tried pushing her way through the crowd but Kai didn't seem to hear her. I'm losing him! This crowd was slowing her down. Not caring how the other people would react, she forced her way, yet automatically leaving behind repeated apologies until she got out and rounded a corner to the left.
But when she did, she found nothing but a few people either in the same state as hers or fighting their way through their umbrellas. Hiromi ambled through a few meters in confusion. The chilly wind sent her body to shiver once more, and her teeth started chattered again. Where did he go? Didn't he hear me calling him? Then her mind gained second thoughts. What if he just looks a lot like Kai with his back on me? How can I even be correct? I didn't even get to see his face.
And then she heard it. A sound that seemed to be moaning of someone drunk. Of a drunk young man. From a nearby alley. Hiromi listened carefully before cautiously starting to enter, ignoring the screaming of her mind to go back before she got herself in some danger she wasn't aware of. Finally she made out a silhouette. "Kai?" she called out tentatively.
The silhouette approached her in staggering steps, and Hiromi's heart dropped as warning bells told her this guy before her wasn't the one she was looking for. But for some reason she remained frozen, as though the sudden panic replacing the blood in her veins disabled her brain to make her tired muscles move.
"Help me…" the guy slurred, falling heavily on Hiromi's shoulder, clutching on it for support.
The waft of alcohol from his mouth was enough to snap Hiromi into action, and she tried pushing him away but he was too heavy for her. "Get away from me! Somebody, help me!" What's he going to do next to me? she thought frantically. "Help me!"
Through her hysterical movements and because she was just close to the nearest streetlight, the bloodshot eyes before her came into view while her own orbs widened in terror. Screaming followed while she finally managed to push back the young man's body but somehow his clutch remained on the sleeve of her orange jacket and she pulled back hard to free herself. A sickening tearing sound of fabric resulted but her torn sleeve was the least of her problems. The drunkard fell to the ground, and Hiromi used the chance to get away.
But just as she was turning around, a dirty hand grabbed foot and she shrieked in response. By reflex her other foot tried to regain her balance but landed in such a way that her ankle got twisted, the sudden pain shooting right down making her want to cry. Her back landed first, another reason to make her do the same but in a split second it was gone as her mind wildly raked for ways to get out of the eerie alley. Her captured foot did everything it could, kicking in all ways possible but it was useless. She screamed for help but no one was coming to her aid. I'm just next to the street! Why couldn't anyone hear me?
The drunken guy mumbled unintelligible words.
Her ears, now with sudden acute sharpness catching the last of his thick and slurred speech, "You'll make… a really sexy… savior…" even made the fear inside Hiromi grip her heart. "Anybody! Please help me! Save me!" Her arms and hands tried pushing back her body until she reached the mouth of the alley and kicked even harder but all attempts of escaping were futile.
Then a weak yet unwanted caress at her left thigh.
Reddish-brown eyes widened in revealed terror. "Help! Kai!"
Okay, I'll leave chapter two to end here. Well, who said finding Kai would be so easy?
I'll be busy with a bunch of exams for the next week to come so I don't think I'll be able to post/read/review anything.
Please don't forget to review, people! Flames will be doused by the typhoon rain. Thanks a lot! Until then! :)