Heya! Yes, I'm posting 2 chapters in one day, but Serenity (my Muse) is enjoying the work!

DISCLAIMERS: I don't own Beyblade, if i did, it wouldn't be popular now, and i'd be broke.

REVIEWERS:

Reis1gurl - Wow! I love your ideas! It's coming up in Chapter 8! And i'm sorry that you don't like cliffhangers, cause there's another one coming! Sorry!

Viper-Vegeta - Nice to see you've finally signed up! And Chibi'd better behave, or Serenity will have to hurt him! Nice review, too!

On with the story!

Chapter 5 – Hidden Emotions of a Restless Past

Ray sat there a little stunned. He then abruptly stood up.

"Where are you going?" Shiri asked, scared.

"Don't worry, I'm not waking anyone up," Ray said, heading into the kitchen. Few minutes later, he came out with two mugs of tea. He laughed at Shiri's confused look as he placed one in front of her, saying, "Talking about a past is bad enough. Talking about a bad one, well, a nice, sweetened mug of tea will help calm you down."

Taking a large sip, Shiri hummed and said, "Thanks, Ray. It does help! On with my story?" After Ray nodded, Shiri sighed and said, "I'll tell you most of it, but there is going to be things that I'll deliberately leave out. Yes, I grew up in the abbey, as the only girl. I won't go into much detail, but when I was five, my father gave me to my grandfather and my grandfather put me in that hellhole. We weren't allowed any friends, but I developed a close relationship with my close Cousin, Kai," Shiri giggled at Ray's shocked face. "I know, we don't seem to look alike, but we do have some similarities: stubborn attitudes, rock-hard determination, sullen quiet when we don't want to be disturbed, two-toned hair highlights, the list goes on. But I mostly look like my mother, maybe you know her? Yuni Li?"

Ray gasped. "Yeah, I know her! According to my father, she died after giving birth to my friend Mariah. But the two of you can't be related!"

Shiri nodded. "Mariah is my half-sister. A few months after I was born, she had an affair with another man – Mariah's father. After Mariah was born, and my father discovered that she wasn't his, he flew into a jealous rage and killed not only her, but her father too. This left Mariah with her Aunt to be raised, and me to be carted to Russia during the middle of the night. I don't remember her too much, but I have a feeling that I don't look like her either. More like mum than anything," Shiri pulled out an old locket with the traditional Chinese symbols of balance and fire on it, and opened it. Inside, one half had an old image of Yuni (who looked a lot like Shiri) and on the other half...

Shiri looked sheepish, tears forming in her eyes, "After I found out what he did, I ripped my fathers photo out of there. He doesn't have a place anywhere near my heart. I was angered and ashamed that my father exchanged me for power and money," Shiri wiped her streaming eyes. "When I met Kai, I learnt the truth, and Kai helped me, looked after me where no one else would. When I made a mistake, they'd beat me, and not treat me. At night, Kai crept in and cleaned my wounds. Kai has been and always will be there for me." From there, Shiri broke off and started crying quietly onto the table. Ray got up, walked around to the other side of the table and, after giving Shiri his bandana to wipe her eyes on, wrapped her up in a big hug. Rocking Shiri's sobbing form, Ray didn't notice anyone else in the room until he saw a hand clasp Shiri's cheek.

"Kai!" Ray gasped. Shiri looked up, eyes rimmed in red. Kai smiled – not a smirk, a genuine smile.

"Where did you get up to?" Kai asked, softly.

"About you being the only one who cared," Shiri said, wiping her tears.

Kai's POV

"Come on," ray said, sitting Shiri up. "It isn't comfortable, crying onto a dining room table." Shiri gave a watery grin.

"I look hideous, don't I," Shiri whispered to me in Russian. I look at her closely. Naturally good looking for one of Hiwatari blood, the tears didn't dampen her appearance. They made her cheeks a healthy red shine, and they added a look of innocence onto her worn, tired face.

"As beautiful as always," I replied in Russian. Glancing at Ray and seeing his worried face, I smiled. Again in Russian, I said, "Seems like you have an admirer in our Chinese counterpart." Shiri's face fell, but after I said, "He's perfect for you," she perked up, as did Ray. Shiri wiped her tears on the bandana, then realised something.

"Ray," Shiri said in English. "I think I've ruined your bandana!"

Ray grinned. "Keep it. You can use it!"

"Thanks!" Shiri gave Ray a big hug. Ray blushed, then looked at Kai. When Kai gave the thumbs up (another thing he doesn't do) Ray hugged Shiri back.

"Let's move out the back," Kai suggested. "We can talk more then. Fresh air will do us some good. The others can feed themselves."

"Tyson, maybe," Shiri piped up. "The way he eats, there'll be nothing left!" The boys looked at her, and laughed. Outside, "Owl Eyes" radioed in.

"Owl Eyes to base. Bad news. There's a Third Party involved."

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Oh, the evil guys are back! Warning: they make an apperance soon, but I don't want to spoil anything (hehehe, I'm so evil!)

Thanks, guys!

Hugs all round,

star-shimmered-dragon