"There you are!" Ray said in relief as Kai walked into their small locker room coolly and silently.
"Hn." He replied walking briskly over to one of the lockers and opening it. Using the locker door to block himself from view he looked at the cut above his brow. As he looked at it he could still almost feel Angels' gentle touch as she had stopped the bleeding. Shaking his head he took a deep drink from his water bottle before throwing it back inside and slamming the door closed.
"Lets go." He said emotionlessly as Ray sighed in defeat and followed with the rest of the bladebreakers trailing after them.
The crowd cheered deafeningly as Kai and Ray entered the arena followed by the rest of the team, but Kai didn't care like Tyson, Max or the others did. Boldly he strode with Ray by his side up to the Beystadium as they were announced. He didn't care who he was battling really; his mind was somewhere else. Or perhaps with someone else. Growling at himself in annoyance he prepared to launch himself as the countdown started. In a flash he and Ray launched their blades in perfect unison into the Beystadium. As soon as he saw the battle unfolding he was able to concentrate on the match. He and Ray attacked and defended throwing amazing moves in perfect unison time after time; it seemed Ray could almost read his mind, which he seriously hoped, was impossible. Within minutes he and Ray had easily won their match as their opponents stood dumbfounded and gaping at their blades which had landed at their feet.
"Hey Kai" Ray began turning to him as they left the Beystadium, "Jess is planning on inviting all of us over to her and Angels' apartment to hang out sometime this week. You up for it?"
Kai merely nodded boredly and turned back to his team as they headed for the arena exit with the crowd still roaring, only to be stopped by Jess.
"Nice job guys!" she said smiling broadly giving Ray a friendly hug and merely smiled at Kai who closed his eyes, waiting for the conversation to end.
"So you talked to Angel yet?" asked Ray.
An expression that clearly showed she had forgotten to do something flashed across Jess' face, "uhhh nope. Here I'll I ask." Jess said as she turned behind her to a figure leaning against a wall tiredly.
"Hey Angel, can we have the bladebreakers over to hang out this week?"
Angel shrugged her shoulders in indifference, "sure."
"When?"
"I don't care you can decide that one." Angel said a grin forming at the corners of her mouth.
"Okay, what do you guys think?"
"How bout tomorrow night?" asked Max innocently.
"Works for me." Jess smiled.
"You two wanna go get something to eat with us?" Tyson asked hopefully.
"Nah, Angel and I already ate and I think we might get some training in." she explained, " maybe next time?"
"Yeah." They all chorused save Kai who didn't react at all.
"Cool well we'll see you guys later." Jess said following Angel down the hallway in the opposite direction.
Kai watched Angel disappear with Jess in tow into the crowd before he followed his team into a nearby restaurant.
"Where were you earlier?" Jess asked when they were alone in a small workout room with a Beystadium in the middle. Angel had locked the door almost absently thinking Jess would probably get around to asking her this.
"I went for a walk."
"For two hours!"
"No, I was only going to be gone an h our tops but," Angel started trailing off.
"What happened!" Jess cut in worriedly almost wanting to panic.
"They sent a few thugs after me and they nearly get me when…" Angels eyes grew distant as she remembered lying there feeling helpless and angry, " Kai, he saved me."
"You serious? Again!" Jess asked curiously.
Angel nodded her head shaking the distant feeling from her eyes.
"But still that wouldn't take two hours." Jess said stubbornly.
"It didn't" Angel admitted dropping her gaze.
"You told him didn't you." Jess stated.
Angel met her friends' gaze searching for anger or some emotion but strangely only found subdued amusement.
"Yes." Angel finally answered.
"Okay, come on. Now you have to tell me everything." Jess said smiling slyly.
Angel looked at her friend and laughed. As she finally told her exactly what had happened. Within a few minutes Angel looked curiously at a broadly grinning Jess.
"What?" she asked confusedly.
"I think Kai likes you." Jess teased.
"What!" Angel nearly shouted, " he's only known me two days. He couldn't possibly."
Jess laughed, " well you don't see half of what I do."
"What do you mean by that?" Angel asked warily.
"Nothing its just if only you saw the way he had looked last night, and knew what I knew."
"Huh?" Angel replied still stubbornly confused.
"Angel, he follows you around to protect you. Who the heck would do that to someone they barely knew or barely cared about? And think back to today if you want more evidence. Face it Angel, he's interested in you."
"Look just leave it. I have enough to worry about with Genecite after me, I don't need that too." Angel began, "but I still don't think he likes me."
"Why else would he do those things then?" Jess asked smiling triumphantly thinking she had her friend cornered on that one.
"Perhaps he thinks he owes me for saving their lives." Angel countered.
Jess was struck from a moment. Man why'd Angel always seem to have a good counter for everything!
"I still think he likes you." Jess teased.
Angel shrugged.
"And I know you like him." Jess continued.
Angel turned hiding the blush that came to her cheeks. Silence followed as Jess gloried in her victory over Angel when a thought crossed her mind.
"Hey Angel, you've told Kai. So does that mean I can tell the others? Atleast Ray and Max."
Angel looked at her friend visibly torn.
"I don't know." She admitted.
"Angel you know they've never come after you this intensely before. Three attempts in three days come on; they're going to take you back at seemingly any cost. Don't you think that we'll need some help?"
"Of course I do Jess. It's just that I'm worried about telling all of them for if they know it will make them a target." Angel explained.
"Yet you told Kai." Jess countered.
"You think I wanted him to know?" Angel began her voice growing in regret and anger, " Jess he is now a target thanks to me. Because I wasn't strong enough to handle my own problems he felt he had to step in. They know his face now because of today and probably now know everything about him which means they now have a third power over me, a new piece of leverage so that now even if I can keep you safe they can use Kai against me or vise versa. He is now in danger because of me!" Angel was barely able to keep herself form screaming this but her words were filled with enough emotion that she didn't have to be loud about what she said. Angel sighed calming down.
"Is that really what you want for them Jess?" Angel asked calmly and yet passionately.
Jess shook her head realizing Angel was right. She couldn't put the other bladebreakers into that position. They could get hurt or be used to hurt Angel. Yet what could she do? She so wanted them to know, to understand, to trust her more.
Jess was startled out of her thoughts by a warning flinch form Angel. She snapped out of her pensive daze just as the door Angel had locked was kicked open and guys in a familiar uniform piled in surrounding them followed by none other than Angels' coach.
"We meet again. I told you, you would never escape us though I admit you are difficult to catch."
Angel stood defensively in front of her friend, over her dead body would they use Jess as leverage against her…again.
"I already told you, I'm not coming back!" Angel spat at her old coach.
"We have ways of changing your mind." He merely replied evilly.
"What do you want with her." Jess suddenly spoke up angrily.
"Ahh…I see somethings haven't changed, you still keep this weakling around for a teammate? Really Angel, she's only holding you back."
Angel growled angrily, clenching her fists.
"But to answer your question; The teams back Angel, and ALL of the member have returned save you. You will return and you will lead your true team to victory in this tournament."
"Impossible. The Celtic Dragons never even entered the tournament. How could they win it when they haven't even been competing?" Jess asked angrily.
Yet Angel was pretty sure she knew, as suddenly everything seemed to fit together in her mind. Now it all suddenly made sense to her!
"Because they went under another name." Angel started slowly her voice picking up gradual momentum as she continued," You hid behind an alias and then just so I wouldn't recognize my old team, sent a few benchwarmers to compete for you until you got us all back. You wanted to win this tournament to go on and become even more famous at the World Championships. You even went so far as to try to take out the Bladebreakers permanently to better your chances. Isn't that right 'Coach'" Angel replied disgustedly.
"I always knew you were the brightest blader I'd ever trained but I'm almost impressed at how fast you've seemed to figure it all out."
"I will NEVER go back to your team. I'd die first!"
" Well now your death wouldn't do us much good, but the death of one of your friends might." The coach said maliciously and grinning evilly knowing he had Angel right where he wanted her.
Jess gasped in horror at the thought while Angel could merely stare angrily at her coach. Her worst nightmares turning into a nightmaric reality.
"How could you!" Jess blurted out in wrath as she glared at him.
"Easily." He taunted, " but you'll excuse us for a moment now wont you. I need to have a private talk with Angel."
"What! No way! Angel! No!" Jess screamed as she was thrown out of the room and Angel was left alone to face him.
"Now Angel." He began, pacing in front of her. "Genecite has decided to graciously give you the opportunity to come back to your team on your own honorably. You will leave the Burning Dawn and come back to be the Captain of the Celtic Dragons. You will never speak to your friend or the bladebreakers unless we tell you too and even then you will say only what we tell you to say, and in return for your service, we shall let them live and leave them alone. However, if you will not come back willingly, they shall be hunted down and destroyed, completely annihilated. Then we shall drag you back to Genecite and finish our mission, our plan. You have till tomorrow morning to decide. When you decide to return willingly, come to the docks at sunrise. I know you still have your uniform, so you will come dressed in that ready to reunite with your team and this time, you will never again forsake them."
With that the coach signaled to his men and they left leaving Angel standing in the middle of the room shaking.
As soon as they'd left, Jess had darted back into the room to find Angel merely standing there with a distant expression shaking.
"Angel? What's wrong?" Jess asked running up to her friend. "Angel! Answer me!" but there was no reply.
Angel was lost in her own mind. What could she do? If she went back, she knew she'd become a weapon of evil but if she didn't go back all those she loved and cared for would die and then she'd end up in the same fix. The conclusion was simple wasn't it? But no! She could NEVER go back! Yet, was that still an option? Did she really have that choice anymore?
Jess panicked when her friend wouldn't respond and didn't know what to do. The door was still open when she suddenly caught the faint sound of a beyblade. In sheer panic she ran two rooms down to find to her relief none other than Kai training by himself. Hearing Jess enter the room and now seeing the panic in her eyes, Kai knew something was wrong.
"What's wrong?" he asked forcefully calling back Dranzer.
"It's…Angel." Jess replied shakily.
'Angel.' The name cut him to the core. What had happened? He wondered in fear. Wait. Fear? He hadn't felt that emotion in a long time. Why had it returned?
"I don't know what's wrong with her, but she wont respond to me!"
"What happened?" Kai asked sounding amazingly calm.
"Her coach came in while we were training. Angel figured out everything Genecite everything that's going on and then her coach said she had to come back to the team. When Angel refused they threatened to bring us into it then they threw me out of the room. After they left I came back and Angel was simply standing there shaking. She wont respond or anything. What's happening to her? Please Kai, help her!"
"Take me to her." He said simply and Jess led the way as they ran down the hallway till they came to the right room. Jess entered followed closely by Kai and stopped. Angel still stood there shaking with a distant expression on her face but Kai noticed the fear, the anger, the pain, and helplessness swirling in the depths of her green eyes. He approached her slowly and tried whispering her name gently yet forcefully. Yet though she seemed to come back a bit, she wouldn't stop shaking and still woudlnt reply.
"What's wrong with her Kai?" Jess asked nearly whimpering.
" She's in serious mental shock." He replied shortly.
"What can we do?"
"Sadly not much. She'll come out of it when she's solved whatevers put her into this."
For awhile silence passed between them.
"Jessica, tell me what Angel figured out." Kai said not removing his stare form Angel.
Jess nodded in agreement and told him everything that she had heard. By the end of the recounting of the incident Kai understood what had forced Angel into this as Jess now seemed to realize it as well. As they yet gazed at her she stopped shaking, the distant emotion faded from her face as sadness now triumphed in her deep green eyes.
"Angel! Are you okay?" Jess asked as she rushed to her friends' side.
"Everything'll be okay." Angel said with a weak smile at her friend.
Jess noticed the sadness in her eyes as she looked at her friend and wondered.
Angel glanced at Kai who stood wonderingly looking at her.
"Kai." She said slowly and…surprisingly? No, it was more like she was saying his name for the last time.
Angel went silent as Jess kept talking to her relieved that her best friend was okay. She allowed herself to be led down the hallway by Jess with Kai on her right, who still kept glancing at her curiously.
Jess didn't leave Angels side for the rest of the day as they hung out with the Bladebreakers till 6:00the time when their shuttle arrived. As they boarded the shuttle Jess had every intention of sitting with Angel and Kai when Angel finally convinced her otherwise.
"Look I'm okay Jess you don't need to stalk me the rest of my life. I'm fine." Angel laughed in Jess' ear as they boarded.
Seeing as her friend was seemingly back to her old self and knowing she'd be safe with Kai, Jess sat in her usual spot between Ray and Max as she talked with them, Tyson, Hilary and Kenny about the different match-ups for the semifinals. The conversation soon shifted to all manners of things as Angel quickly lost interest. The whole way Angel kept her eyes closed pretending to sleep as she felt Kai's eyes boring into her. She knew he wasn't fooled but didn't want to arouse suspicion by "waking" her.
Suddenly Angel felt her arm being poked, 'then again maybe not.' She thought as she opened her eyes and looked at the waiting Kai.
"Are you planning on doing something stupid?" he asked shortly.
Angel stared at him in faked surprise. 'He's getting to know me too well.'
"Do something stupid? Kai come on, it's me." Angel tried to say without smiling herself.
"That's why I'm asking." He said as worry inter-wound with his words.
"Kai don't worry about me. I won't do anything stupid. I promise." Angel replied knowing she'd break her words. Than again saving her friends wasn't stupid.
"Hn." Kai replied unconvinced but he let it drop.
He'd get it out of her later, until then he was going to keep a close eye on her. There was just something in her eyes that betrayed her. She was definitely going to do something stupid, and knowing her atleast a little, he knew she'd sacrifice herself to save them. Was that it? He wondered. Perhaps either way he was definitely keeping a close ye on her and either way he'd find out soon what she was going to do. That's what scared him.
As they stepped off the shuttle Jess suddenly turned to Angel and Kai who were the last ones off.
"Angel by the way, the bladebreakers are coming over tonight if that's okay." Jess said excitedly yet warily.
Angel shrugged her shoulders and nodded. Might as well see all fo them before it happened.
"Okay we'll see you guys in what 45minutes?" Jess said happily turning back to look at the others.
"Yeah sounds good." Ray replied.
"But I'm hungry now!" Tyson whined.
"Get a grip on yourself Tyson." Hilary sighed clearly annoyed.
"Seriously man." Max And Ray chimed agreeingly.
"Well we'd better jet, later." Jess said as she and Angel elft together to go clean the apartment, make the food, and find a movie.
When they arrived home they immediately set to work cleaning like crazy. Within 15minutes, the entire apartment was surprisingly clean. Jess decided to change as Angel lay down on their ridiculously comfortable couch to take a nap.
"Oh hey Angel, "Jess started when she came back.
Angel opened one eye and looked at Jess who now wore khaki punkish capris and her blue superman shirt. She had the feeling that whatever was coming next would require her getting up.
"You feel like making a few quesadillas?" Jess smiled.
"Not really and with Tyson coming a few would equal about a thousand."
"Awww…Angel please?" Jess said giving Angel the 'puppy-dog put'.
"No not the 'puppy-dog pout'." Angel cringed sarcastically. " Fine, but you owe me big time."
Jess smiled victoriously as her friend gave in.
"Aren't you going to start making them?" Jess asked as Angel closed her eyes again.
"As soon as the kitchen comes to me, yeah." Angel replied with her eyes still closed. It was so much fun to annoy Jess like this.
"Bum! Come on they'll be here in five minutes!" Jess said hitting Angel lightly with a pillow.
"Ow! Fine, fine, fine." Angel grumbled as she got up and went to the kitchen.
Angel found a skillet and took out the butter, four bags of cheese, tortillas, and some marinated steak and chicken. She ran outside and turned on their gas grill, which was one the balcony and came back inside thanking God she had marinated the steak already.
Jess came in and took out of the cupboard some junk food and laid it out on the coffee table in front of their couch.
As angel was finishing the freshly made salsa and pouring the tortilla chips into a big bowl, the doorbell rang.
"Got it." Jess said and went to the door while Angel put the chips and salsa on the island in front of her.
A moment later the Bladebreakers came in and Tyson, to all of the their embarrassment, dove straight for the junk food Jess had laid out earlier.
Kai looked at his surroundings. The apartment was a good size with a medium-sized living room complete with a t.v. and sound system. The living room then faded back into a kitchen with an island in-between. He also noticed a class door, which he supposed led to a balcony, and another room, which he thought must be the bedroom. He noticed Angel working around in the kitchen on what they were eating tonight, What was she making? He wondered.
As if reading his thoughts Ray asked Jess so that Angel couldn't hear.
"Quesadillas!" Jess said smiling, "you okay with those?"
"Sure" Ray replied.
"Hey Angel how long you think?" Jess asked raising her voice a bit.
"Prolly about fifteen minutes." Angel replied.
"You want some help?" Ray asked kindly.
Angel simply shrugged her shoulders not glancing up.
"Generally that means yes." Jess whispered to him nearly laughing at his confusion.
Ray walked over to the island,
"What can I do?"
"If you want you can grill the meat." Angel replied.
"Sure." Ray replied helpfully.
"The meats over there and Jess will be more than happy to take you to the grill."
Ray grinned and grabbed the meat as he followed Jess out onto the balcony
"Yes master." Jess said sarcastically bowing as she led Ray outside.
As the others looked through Jess and Angels' music and movies, Kai wandered over to Angel.
"Bored." Angel grinned as she buttered a tortilla.
The corners of Kais' mouth lifted a bit in a small grin.
"If you're that bored than you can help." Angel smiled.
Kai walked over till he stood beside her.
Angel handed him a tortilla and motioned for him to butter it. As Kai started she turned to do something else.
"Not so much." Angel said from behind him suddenly. He turned his head surprised to see her looking over his shoulder.
"Here" she said guiding his hands.
Again Kai felt confused. Did he want to push her away and forget this? Or did he slightly enjoy this? What's happening to me?
Ray and Jess finally returned with the meat and soon all was ready.
Smelling the freshly cooked steak and chicken Tyson bounded his way over followed by Max, Kenny, and Hilary.
"What kind do you want?" Angel asked Max.
"But I was here first!" Tyson complained.
"You get to go last so the rest of us can actually eat something." Jess teased.
After everyone else had already eaten Angel finally joined them by the couch.
"Those were awesome Angel." Max complimented.
"Yeah, where'd you learn to make those?" Ray inquired.
Angel shrugged as she sat comfortably on the floor and leaned against the couch, "My brother."
As the other nodded and looked away Angel noticed someone sit next to her. She turned to see Kai who merely looked around avoiding her stare.
"Hey what movie should we watch?" Hilary asked.
Angel and Jess both glanced at eachother before replying in unison, "Monty Python and The Holy Grail!"
After nearly dying of laughter at the movie save Kai whose eyes occassionally would show a glint of amusement. the bladebreakers decided to leave. It was late Angel noticed as they said goodbye. For some reason, Kai had never seemed to leave Angels' side. It was like he suspected something. Had he figured out what she had decided to do? It didn't matter, no matter what they tried to say; she would sacrifice herself for their safety.
After the Bladebreakers left Jess had changed and after having a short talk with Angel to make sure she was okay which she knew she wasn't but planned on talking to her first thing tomorrow morning went to bed. Angel lingered awhile longer in the darkness staring thoughtfully at her and Jess' apartment before going out onto the balcony. It had been fun, but now, she had to say goodbye. Something she never really felt she had the heart for. Yet she must, to save her friends she had to break their hearts, and shatter her own.
"Oh that I was born for this hour." She murmured thoughtfully as she stared at the heavens for perhaps the last time with her own true eyes.
After a little while longer she went to bed and drifted off to a light troubled sleep wishing this all to be a dream.