Chapter 7

Unexpected Letter

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I leaned forward and closed my eyes as my forehead met the cool surface of the window. I had discovered that Kai's windowsill was my favorite perch and it was always the first place I went to in the morning. Even on school days Kai had often had to shake me out of my own little world so that we wouldn't be late.

But this morning I didn't have time to drift off into my own little world of thought because a soft creak reached my ears. The sound was barely audible but it was enough to snap me out of my beginning thoughts and make me spin around to see who was there.

Ray smiled cheerfully at me and waved as he walked through the front door. I nodded in greeting and took a few deep breaths to slow down my now racing heart. I turned my attention back to the window as I felt my brows furrow in uncertainty. It was just Ray so why had I got so worried? Who had I expected?

I shook my head to scatter my thoughts. I definitely didn't want to think about that right now. But a fragment of the thoughts seemed to stick and it only helped to drag me deeper into thought. Another thought came to my mind forcefully and I jumped off the windowsill.

"Where are you going?" Ray questioned as he turned his amber gaze onto me.

"Just for a walk," I shrugged as I hurriedly walked to the front door.

"Be careful!" Ray warned moments before the door clicked closed.

A cool autumn breeze greeted me as I trotted through Kai's yard. It was still hard to believe that it was already fall. As a matter of fact it was fall break for the school and Ray would be staying over for most of the week. I paused for a moment at the end of Kai's yard. I had never left its boundaries without one or both of the boys at my side and it felt weird to leave now.

I shook my head once more and walked in a random direction. I shoved my hands in the pockets of my baggy black jeans to prevent the autumn chill from reaching them and lowered my head. I watched the cement carefully as I walked down the sidewalk and found it easy to slip into thought.

I wasn't surprised when my train of thought led to the alley that Ray had found me in. I had often pondered over how I had ended up in that alley and today was no different. A familiar frown crept onto my face as I tried to remember how I had got there.

Had I walked? Or was I thrown there in hopes that no one would find me? Or maybe someone had thought that I wouldn't make it out of the dark alleyway alive? I couldn't figure out why I had blocked out just that small amount of time. I remembered how I had received the beating that led to the injuries Ray had found me with but I couldn't remember how I had got into the alley.

Thinking of the injuries temporarily swung my train of thought back on the boys. A flashback clouded my vision and replayed the scene as if it had happened just a few hours ago.

-Flashback-

It was a few days after Ray had 'taught' me how to talk. I was curled up on the couch watching TV with Kai and Ray. Something had been bugging Ray but he hadn't said anything about it. He had often started to say something but quickly snapped his mouth closed and pretended as if nothing was wrong.

Kai didn't seem worried about it but I could sense Ray's uneasiness and I shifted uncomfortably. But then I thought of something. If Ray had a problem and Kai was going out of his way to ignore it as if it was nothing then maybe it had to do with me.

I shifted once more on the couch and cast a nervous glance in the boys' direction. I hadn't done anything wrong that I could think of so why would Ray have a problem with me? Maybe he finally wanted me to pay them back for all their hospitality?

I could feel the all too familiar feeling of panic rising in my stomach as I tried to think of how I could repay them. The only things that I had to possibly give them were the things that they had gotten me in the first place. No, no, no that wouldn't work! They'd want something bigger than that.

My heart rate accelerated as my mind franticly tried to think of something to do. Maybe I could run? No, they'd catch me before I ever made it to the door... I could always say I had to go to the bathroom and then slip out the window? That could work... unless Kai had some kind of security system in his house that would tell him I had left.

I groaned inwardly and mentally slapped myself. Why had I never thought to look for hidden security cameras or some other type of security that would allow them to know if I had escaped? Gah I'm an idiot!

I had proceeded to mentally beat myself up until Ray's nervous voice broke through my thoughts. I snapped to attention and turned to him with baited breath. I hadn't had time to come up with a plan! My heart was pounding so hard I was surprised that they weren't complaining about the noise.

"Hey Kuri?"

I was right! I had done something wrong and now he wanted payment for everything they had given me! My heart beat even faster then I had ever remembered it doing before and fear seemed to grip ever fiber of my body. I simply cocked my head to the side in questioning, afraid to trust my voice.

"There's something that I've been wanting to ask you."

Here it comes... I wanted to jump up and run but I was frozen to the spot. It felt like I was rooted to the spot and I knew that fear was the culprit. I tried to fight off the temporary paralysis but it clung like an extremely annoying pest.

"How did you get those injuries? The ones that you had when I first found you."

I froze. The paralysis still didn't want to go away and I just stared at Ray for a few minutes before I answered. This question was almost just as bad. I couldn't just tell them what had happened. It would only lead to more questions and I couldn't handle that.

I saw Kai turn his eyes in my direction and concluded that at least some of my speculation had been correct. Ray must've told him because he didn't look surprised by the sudden question. It looked more like he wanted the answer and I quickly glanced back to Ray.

I took a deep breath and let out a deep sigh. I had to come up with something; and fast. They were waiting for an answer and I could tell they were both starting to get slightly impatient.

"Well... I uh... I don't remember," I finally managed to stutter out.

Smooth. I'm sure they really believed that! I mentally slapped myself once more but waited to see what they said.

"You sure?"

I looked up surprised. It was Kai who had spoken that time and his tone was accusing. As if he knew that I knew but I just wouldn't tell. I shifted once again under his accusing stare but stuck with my alibi. I didn't really have any other choice did I?

I nodded and hung my head. I couldn't let my eyes betray any emotion that might leak through and make Kai even more suspicious. If that was possible.

"The last thing I remember was a pain in the back of my head. After that everything's black," I lied.

I had to admit that I did a pretty good job at lying. The fear already present helped make my voice waver and Ray bought it.

"That's alright," Ray comforted gently as he patted me softly.

I mentally sighed in relief and lifted my head so that I could nod a thank you. Kai's eyes managed to catch mine when I looked up and quickly turned away. Kai hadn't believed my story like Ray had. His eyes glinted suspiciously though he had held in any accusation he had.

After that Ray had demanded that he make supper because I had looked so upset and I had just nodded in agreement. I still couldn't push away the fear that plagued my mind but I was thankful that Kai hadn't approached the subject after that night.

-End Flashback-

I shook my head to make the flashback disappear and continued to let my thoughts wander. My mind jumped from subject to subject, refusing to stay on any subject to long before switching to something completely irrelevant to what I had just been thinking about.

My completely random train of thought became derailed violently as I collided with something. Or something I added as I jerked my head up and saw the man standing in front of me. My instant reflex was to back away slowly and that's just what I did.

My feet moved sluggishly as I began reversing my direction. My eyes remained locked on the man's shadowed face as I went, waiting for him to jump at me.

He wore a dark blue jacket over his jeans. The jacket's hood was pulled over his head to hide his facial features and only leaving his mouth and nose exposed.

Once he had gotten a good look at me he began digging for something on the inside of his jacket and my backward steps became more frantic. If I had been thinking straight I would have probably turned around and ran. I know I would've gotten away faster. Or at least I would have gotten farther away before he caught me.

The man finally found what he was looking for and pulled it out into plain view with a single swift motion. I had fully suspected a gun and the small envelope caught me by surprise. But by the looks of the guy it was a possibility that he had a gun on him somewhere.

He advanced calmly and didn't seem at all worried that I was slowly making my way back up the street. He must've got tired of following me because his slow walk became a fast jog and I soon found myself pinned to a fence.

I really need to pay attention to which direction I'm running in.

The man shoved the white envelope into my hands before growling and stalking off. I stood shocked for a few minutes before I could move. If that's not weird I don't know what is. And I don't care to find out either! I waited for the man to pop out of nowhere with a gun and a crazy smile on his face while he laughed at how stupid I was for believing he had really left.

I realized suddenly that I had the envelope he had given me clutched against my chest and I looked down at it. I could feel my eyes widen as I read the one word written on the back of the envelope. My heart thudded faster within my ribcage as I read the name written on the envelope once more; MY name.

It had my name written in neat curly letters on the back. And it didn't say Kuri. Everyone around here thought of me a Kuri so the letter was definitely from someone else. I quickly turned the envelope over so I wouldn't have to look at my name any longer and opened the envelope with slightly shaking hands.

My eyes darted around the deserted area to make sure that no one was watching me before I carefully pulled a folded piece of paper from the envelope. I carefully unfolded the letter and skimmed its contents as if afraid that someone would come and snatch the letter away before I could finish.

I felt my eyes widen once more and my jaw become slack. I frantically refolded the note and shoved it into my pocket before shredding the envelope until it was in a million tiny pieces. I dropped the pieces of paper and watched as the wind carried them away.

I couldn't seem to pull my mind from the daze it had slipped in to and my feet began moving. Where they were going I wasn't quite sure but I'd worry about it later. I couldn't believe that had happened. My worst fear had finally come back. I had been found.

I continued to walk in a stupor. If it wasn't for the note folded in my pocket I would have thought it was just a dream. I continued to walk in a daze until my feet stopped. Surprised by their sudden halt, I looked up and noticed where I was. I was back at Kai's.

I must've been out way longer than I remember because it was already growing dark and a number of stars had already appeared in the sky. I ignored the twinkling stars and trudged up the walk and to Kai's front door. I forgot about knocking and just walked in.

I slipped off my shoes and turned to see Ray and Kai looking at me. I shifted from foot to foot nervously but continued the short trip to the living room. I jumped onto the soft rocking chair and quickly curled up like I usually did. I couldn't look suspicious after all.

Ray was looking through a stack of DVD's and Kai was sitting on the couch with his eyes closed and arms crossed as usual. I laid my head on the arm rest and stared into space, my mind mercilessly dragging me back to the letter. How could he have found me? Ray's voice broke my thoughts and brought me back to reality.

"Hey you wanna watch a movie?" he asked again, seeing as I had spaced out and not heard his question the first time.

"Oh uh no not really," I replied simply before laying my head back down on the armrest.

"Why not?" Kai questioned.

His question caught my by surprise and I jerked my head up once more. I blinked at him before replying. "Well why should I?"

"You've never turned down the chance to watch a movie before," Kai shrugged.

"Well they're all the same," I commented quietly.

"How's that?"

"Good always triumphs over the bad guy in the end. You always know that the good is going to win. It's annoying."

"Why's that so wrong?"

"Because there's no such thing as a happy ending!" I exclaimed.

I clapped my hands over my mouth as soon as the words had escaped my lips. My voice had been a few notches higher then I had wanted and even Kai looked slightly taken back by my sudden shout. I couldn't let the boys see me in such a vulnerable state of mind. I had already made myself suspicious and I was likely to trip over myself if I stayed out here much longer.

I jumped up from the chair and dashed for my bedroom. It would be the first time I went in it for something other than clothes but it couldn't be helped. I guess the bedroom will just have to get a little more use then I had originally thought...

Sorry that it took so long to update! My cousin was in a bad car accident so I've been spending some time with her! And she doesn't have a computer so I couldn't write while I was over there! Hope you enjoyed the chapter! I think it might be the longest one so far!

And in answer to a review- To be totally honest I forgot about the other bladebreakers lol! But I doubt they show up in this story. And I suppose it's not really about beyblading is it? I can always add some beyblading in it if you all want me to. Til then... please review! See-ya next time!

Lost And Fading