Wow 11 reviews!!!! Thanks guys! Well you all seem to prefer the name Cassie so that's what I shall keep it as. By the way Ilovecake2 I went on holiday to the Canary Islands so that's why I couldn't update, and you were the 100th reviewer lol. Speaking of which I'm past 100 reviews yay! Thanks everyone for reviewing.

Here's the next chapter I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter 22: Reconciliation

No one had seen or heard from Kai over the past few days. The Bladebreakers, along with Cassie, continued to train as usual at Tyson's dojo. However things didn't seem quite right without their captain being there to put them through strenuous hours of training.

"I tried phoning him," explained Cassie. "But he never answers."

"This is beginning to get stupid... Rei even went to Kai's mansion but his butler said Kai 'wasn't available'. Now Kai won't even see his best friend. I can understand why he wouldn't want to see Cassie, but what've we done?"

WHACK

"Oww! Hilary what was that for?"

"Tyson you always say the most inappropriate things! Cassie hasn't done anything wrong..."

"But I have," said Cassie sadly. "Hilary, Tyson's right – It's my fault Kai's gone walk about. I lied to him and that's the worst thing I could have done in his books..."

"Cassie stop blaming yourself, we all forgave you so why shouldn't he?" said Max

"Yeah Kai's just being a jerk... A jerk that needs to be dealt with."

"Hilary where are you going?" asked Rei

"I'm gonna sort Kai out. He can't just abandon his team like this!"

The brunette stormed out of the dojo to find the two-toned hair captain. Hilary was on a mission, she was going to talk some sense into her stubborn friend and she knew just where to find him.

Past the park and the town streets she went, until she came to a grassy hill by a river. The hill was just on the edge of the city. Sure enough he was there.

The captain sat with his left leg bent upright and his right leg straight. His left arm was loosely draped over his left knee. He stared continuously onto the shining river that lay at the bottom of the hill.

Hilary approached him from behind; she'd guessed he'd sensed her presence because he tilted his head briefly to the side before returning his gaze back to the water.

The brunette sat down beside Kai. Neither spoke for a few minutes. Hilary was the one to break the silence.

"Kai we've missed you these past few days." She said softly.

"Hnn,"

"Cassie's especially missed you,"

"Hmph!"

The girl grit her teeth. Her captain wasn't exactly willing to talk was he?

"So where you been?" she continued

"Thinking,"

"Oh? What about?"

The boy glared at her.

"What do you think?" he replied sharply.

Hilary remained in a cool composure.

"Kai you shouldn't be mad at Cassie..."

"Don't you mean Jelena?" he sneered.

"Listen, you didn't hear the reason why she didn't tell you the truth about herself..."

"Hmph, and I suppose that makes it acceptable to tell the lies she did..."

"The only lie she told you was her name! The rest was just... withheld information she chose not to tell you. And don't you dare judge her on that matey 'cause there's still plenty of your past that you keep hidden!"

"That's different though!"

"How so? You don't even know the reason for her hiding everything..."

"Then tell me." He said blankly

"Uh?..."

Hilary had expected Kai to have taken more persuasion before he'd actually listen to Cassie's story. The blunette raised his eyebrow at the girl in front of him who seemed to be in a daze.

"Well? Are you gonna tell me or not?"

"Of course I am!" snapped Hilary "I'm just surprised you're so willing to listen. Anyway..."

And so Hilary began to explain all about Ion.

"So you see," concluded Hilary. "Cassie didn't want to deceive you at all, in fact she wanted to tell but I advised her not to."

"Why?"

"Because I thought you wouldn't accept her... reject her because she's a champion Beyblader. I know you've been weary of strangers, especially good bladers, since Zeo kind of betrayed us. And to be honest you kinda proved my point with your disappearing act since you've found out."

"Well what did you expect me to do? Welcome her with open arms?" replied Kai sarcastically.

"Kai! How can you be so cold?"

The boy raised an eyebrow and gave Hilary 'the look'

"Ok, don't answer that. I already know you're a mean heartless loner," joked Hilary.

A small smirk appeared on the boys face.

"But seriously, please consider how upset Cassie is right now. I know you care about her... So please think about making up eh?"

At this last word Hilary left the captain to ponder about his decision.

The next day Tyson, Hilary, Rei, Max, Kenny and Cassie were all gathered in together in the dojo. Kai was still nowhere to be seen.

"I explained everything to him Cass; I guess Kai hasn't made his mind up yet."

"Or maybe he has Hil... Maybe he's left the team because of me!"

The Korean girl began to look very worried. The rest of the team exchanged nervous glances at each other. Cassie seemed to be getting more distressed by the minute.

"Cheer up Cassie," insisted Max, the girl forced a fake smile.

"Hey I know what we should all do to cheer us up," said Rei. "Lets all go to the park and get some ice-cream, it's a lovely day for it..."

It seemed like a reasonable idea so they all agreed to go. They began to leave the dojo, Cassie was the last to follow.

Just as she was about to go out of the front door someone grabbed her hand from behind. The grasp was firm but did not hurt her arm, although it did make her jump. Cassie whirled round to be met by a pair of crimson eyes. Kai.

"We need to talk." He said.

Cassie was too shocked to say anything so nodded in agreement. She followed Kai back into the main room in the dojo. They stood opposite each other briefly in silence.

"Hilary told me why you changed your name and why you didn't tell me you're the Korean Beyblade champion."

"I know." Replied the girl softly

"Cassie I thought we didn't have secrets between us. Why didn't you tell me the truth?"

"I was scared,"

"Scared? Of what?"

"Scared that if you knew the truth you'd reject me... as it turns out you did."

"I never did such a thing."

"You disappeared and wouldn't answer my calls – that's kinda seems like rejection to me..."

"I needed time to deal with all that information... It's quite a lot to take in that the person you're going out with isn't that person at all."

Cassie looked to the floor with a glum expression. Tears began to well up inside her eyes.

'This is it,' she thought. 'He doesn't want me anymore'

Kai continued to speak.

"However...Deep down you're still the same person I fell in love with, and nothing can change the way I feel..."

"What?" Cassie wasn't quite sure what he was implying and her face showed that.

Kai lifted her head up with his thumb.

"I love you Cass," he whispered. "I've missed not being with you these past few days."

"I've missed you too," whispered Cassie as a tear fell from her eye.

"Forgive me for being such a jerk?" he asked softly.

"Only if you forgive me for lying to you."

"Deal."

They both smiled and made up with a passionate kiss. When they'd finished they both promised not to withhold any secrets from each other ever again.

"Now that we're back together, nothing can break us apart," said Kai. "Nothing at all..."

Ok the end of this chapter was a bit mushy, but then again this is supposed to be a romantic story so I hope you didn't mind too much.

Well the next chapter is gonna be the start of the BIG story line for this fanfic. All the previous chapters have been there to build up and explain the background for this plot.

Hehe I'm looking forward to writing this next bit. I hope you'll like it too. To give you a clue... Team Twilight will return back into this story (there's your question answered LunaRavenCroft)

I'll update when I can. Please review it makes me happy!

- Wreckless Spirit -