Chapter 12-----Familiar Stranger

"Psst Hilary, Hilary!"

"Woah…" Hilary lazily opened an eye.

"Can I borrow this?" Mai held up a piece of clothing.

Hilary couldn't make it out…it looked all fuzzy, but that's 'coz she was still half asleep. "Yeah…go ahead…" she replied groggily and went back to dreamland…

Mai entered the bathroom; the tiles were ice-cold to the touch and she hurriedly turned on the shower to escape the bitter cold. The hot water was comforting as she let the water rain down on her tired body. She wanted to enjoy it for as long as she liked but she couldn't, she still had something to do before she left. She quickly cleaned herself and stepped out of the shower, her hair dripping wet as it clung to her face. She dried herself off and put on Hilary's clothes. She didn't like the idea of wearing someone else's garments but there was no choice…

She had on a brown long-sleeve shirt with the words 'Ripcurl' written in cursive in a darker shade of brown on the sleeves. She made sure that the sleeves went down all the way to her wrists; she couldn't risk blowing her cover again. She pulled on a pair of blue jeans and came out of the bathroom, drying her hair. She found Hilary digging through her luggage, searching for something.

"Hey, what time are we leaving for the airport?"

"10" Hilary replied, a little distractedly.

"I'm goin' out for a while. I'll meet you guys in the lobby at 10" Mai said as she put on her snickers and went out the door.

"Hey wait! You can't just leave!" Hilary ran out the door just in time to catch Mai walking down the hallway. "Where you going?" she shouted.

"Somewhere, just wait for me at the lobby…ja ne." Mai did in a casual wave without turning around before disappearing round a corner.

"Don't you dare be late!" Hilary yelled after her, feeling irritated that Mai would just run off at the last minute… 'The nerve!'

-Streets of China-

Mai strolled down the bustling street, her hands in her pockets. She hardly had the chance to visit the city; her town was too far into the countryside so she took this time to do a bit of sight-seeing.

She was surrounded by a sea of tall buildings, all the shiny glass, titanium pillars, silvery metal… everything was so high-tech. Tall skyscrapers ruled the skies but below, it was a fusion of modern and nostalgic China. Mai took her time to look around as she walked among the crowd. 'Wonder if Japan will be like this…' she thought.

Suddenly! She felt a strange familiar feeling as she passed something…or someone. 'Huh!' she spun around and caught sight of a maroon-haired figure bobbing in the crowd. 'No…it can't be…Copellia?'

Mai chased after the long-haired stranger, constantly tilting her head to make sure that the person was still in view. 'Copellia…she's alive? Then that means…there are others who survived!' she prayed that this was true. The stranger moved fast and Mai found it hard to keep up. She jostled her way through the crowd, earning pissed-off looks from people when –

"Hey! Watch it!" someone growled at her. She wasn't paying attention to where she was going and accidentally bumped into a man.

"Sorry" Mai bowed her head to apologise but the moment she looked up, she found that she had lost sight of the girl. 'Dammit! Stupid guy…' She cursed.

She turned around and made her way back to the hotel, her mind deep in thought of the morning's encounter. 'That girl…could she be Copellia? But what is she doin' in the city…'

Levian: Maybe it was someone else? You can't really tell much from their hair colour you know…

'I know…but what if some of them might still be alive? …and they're here in this city…'

At this moment, another thing came to her mind: 'If they really are here, then I could look for them but…I'm leaving today…' Mai didn't know what to do…To stay and search for her tribe members where there was a chance that she'd fail and go back to hiding from her grandfather… or follow her friends to Japan and escape her grandfather but abandoning the chance of ever being reunited with her tribe? 'Which is more important?' she debated.

She reached the lobby at a quarter to ten and sat down on one of the lounge chairs; she still hadn't made a decision. Both had its advantages and disadvantages…but which to choose? She had already thought of the long-run:

Option 1: stay and succeed in finding tribe equals happiness and maybe even escaping her grandfather or stay and don't find her tribe equals to misery and having to face her grandfather alone...

Option 2: Leave, start a new life in Japan, forget her tribe… and feel guilty if they get caught and hurt by her grandfather…

'Which should I choose Levian?' Mai knew he usually gave sensible advice.

Levian: It's not up to me to decide.

'You're not helping!'

"Hey Mai." A voice tore her away from her thoughts, she saw Rei and the others take a seat in the remaining chairs around her. "Where were you? Hilary said you'd gone out."

"I went for a walk, saw stuff…"Mai replied.

Rei just nodded his head in response, he didn't have anything to say, he didn't know what to say… Mai preferred it this way; she didn't like to talk much. She kinda followed a if-you-don't-talk-to-me-I-wont-talk-to-you rule. But still, she wasn't going to bother herself with what to say. She had more important things to do…like make a decision.

"Hng…."Mai sighed as she focused her eyes on a spot of the peach-coloured carpet below her feet.

"Something wrong?" Hilary asked.

"Uh, no…no" Mai forced reassuring smile and thankfully, Hilary bought it.

'They've done a lot for me… and I'm really grateful but…I belong somewhere else too, with some other people… but either way I choose, I'd be hurting both parties…'

"Hey, the cabs' here! Let's go!" Tyson sounded excited as he got the whole gang on their feet.

'Shit… running outta time!' Mai reluctantly got up from her seat and walked behind everyone else. She stood on the marble steps, watching them load their luggage into the booth of the two cabs. 'I…I…'

"C'mon Mai!" Tyson called as he held the cab door open for her. Strangely, it didn't feel as if he was pushing her or hurrying her…it felt more inviting…as though welcoming her and she felt that she could make a choice to follow or to decline.

'I…I…choose' At this point, Mai knew what she wanted. She might regret it later but that was life…

Levian: People choose their own path, decide own fate… Regret is just a challenge you have to face, a consequence of your decision that you can overcome. If this is really what you want, you have my full support and protection…

'Levian…' His words confirmed her decision. She walked up to the cab, got in and closed the door. The sound of the door had signed her contract with fate. Whatever the consequence, she just had to conquer it. It might be hard but it was a sacrifice that had to be made. 'I just hope that the rest will be safe…' she thought as the cab drove off…

-At the airport-

"Attention please, flight JL314 bounded for Tokyo will now be boarding passengers seated in row numbers 14 to 26." A female voice erupted from the speakers of the waiting lounge.

"That's us" Mr Dickinson said as he picked up his suitcase. The rest followed suit and boarded the plane.

"I get the window seat!" Max exclaimed as he quickly sat himself before any of the rest could claim the all-loved window seat. Rei sat beside Max and Kai beside Rei, making him nearest to the aisle. In front, Tyson claimed the window seat followed by Hilary and Kenny. The aisle separated Mr Dickinson and Mai from the rest of them. Mr Dickinson sat across from Kai and Mai, from Kenny.

"Wonder what time they'll serve lunch. I hope we get Teriyaki Chicken again like the last time!"

"Will you be quiet Tyson!" Hilary yelled as she adjusted the pillow behind her head. "I'm going to sleep and if you ever EVER dare to make so much noise and wake me up, I'll make sure you do cleaning duty PERMANENTLY!" Hilary pointed an imperious finger at him before turning her head into a comfortable position on the pillow and closing her eyes. Mai decided to get some shut-eye too; there wasn't much to do anyway. So from then on, everyone was quiet until…….lunch.

-Lunch-

Mai watched in slight amusement as Max pressed his face unto the window, gawking at the scenery outside.

"Oh wow! Check out the clouds! It's like a sea out there!"

'Haha, still a lil' kid.' Mai thought to herself. She turned her neck to check on the others:

Tyson was fussing with his knife, trying to conquer a huge chunk of Teriyaki Chicken. Hilary was still asleep and Kenny was in a light conversation with Mr Dickinson. Rei was eating some yellow pudding that Mai was eyeing (haha, she wants mango pudding! Readers: Yeah! We want mango pudding! –chants- blu: fine fine…-serves out mango pudding- now please enjoy the rest of the story –pushes food cart away- lol, me and my stupid attempts to make the story interesting, I know it's kinda lame but heck! ;p) and Kai…well Kai just gave her a what-are-you-looking-at look which made her look away, not because she felt intimidated by him 'Yeah, who'd feel intimidated by that bastard…' but because she didn't wanna make eye-contact with him for too long. There was something about Kai that just irritated her; he had this sickening vibe going on. 'Pfht, stupid guy thinks he's sooo cool.' Mai mocked as she plunged her spoon into the strawberry yoghurt.

Levian: Oh c'mon, you think he's cool

'No! ...maybe a lil' but his ego is WAY too huge...Hey! You being able to hear my thoughts kinda takes away the whole purpose of them being private you know…'

Levian: Can't help it…

'Then you'll know everything! My deepest darkest secrets! EVERYTHING! Great, so now I'll get teased by you…Crap, You heard that! Don't you dare tell any bit-beast what I think, well that is if you can but still! My thoughts are private understand?'

Levian: Haha, dun worry. I won't tell, promise.

Mai still wasn't convinced by the way Levian answered, it was too easy-going…

-Narita Airport, Tokyo-

Mai walked through the sliding glass doors and out into the arrival hall. Everything was brown, (Narita airport is really brown! I've been there; the arrival hall is dull and brown but the departure hall rawks! All the shiny glass and the omg the DUTY FREE! WAGASHI! XD) the walls, the floor, but they had some really cool vending machines, like really wide ones that sell drinks, cigarettes, ice-cream and even bread! 'How cool is that!' Mai thought as she passed them. The group hurried out the airport and flagged down three taxis. This was where Mr Dickinson had to leave them because he had to rush off and attend to some other business down at the BBA. Hilary and Kenny shared a taxi while the rest had to take the remaining two.

"I'll see you guys tomorrow then!" Hilary waved through the window as the engine hummed into life and the taxi drove off.

Mai looked at Max with a confused look.

"They live in their own homes. Dun worry, you'll see them tomorrow." He gladly explained. "But you get to stay with us!" his tone of voice became more hyper.

"What!" Mai looked from Max to Tyson, to Kai and then to Rei… 'I'll be staying with them?…why me…?'

She stepped into the third taxi with Tyson and Max. 'I guess it couldn't be so bad…only thing is Tyson but I guess I could tolerate the rest…' Mai rested her elbow against the window ledge, using her fist to prop her head up as she took in the Japanese scenery. There were a lot of highways and rice plantations, and Tokyo was about 20 minutes drive from the airport. The taxi drove around in the city for a while before immerging into a neighbourhood of 2-storey houses. It finally rolled into a street and came to a stop in front of a long white wall which Mai presumed was the fence.

"Here we are!" Tyson said and got out of the taxi after paying the driver. Max and Mai headed to the back of the taxi and unloaded all their stuff. The taxis drove away, leaving the bladebreakers and Mai standing outside this huge wooden door. On the right of it was a board that read 'Kinomiya Dojo'. 'So he lives here huh?' Mai was impressed, judging by the length of the fence, she could tell that the house was big. 'A dojo? Wonder what that is…'

Tyson pushed apart the wooden doors, "Hey, gramps! We're home!"

Just then! A large object came crashing down on Tyson's head –THWACK- "Hey!" Tyson yelled in pain and irritancy.

"You're not quick enough lil' dude! All that travellin' musta made you slow so it's time ta start trainin' again!" A white-haired old man who looked no more than 60 years old spoke. His hair was in a tight pony-tail and he wore a blue out-fit, he had something like a bamboo sword (It's called a bokken) in his hand and was using it to hit Tyson.

"Erh…" Mai sweat-dropped… 'Ok…'

Suddenly the old man stopped and turned to face Mai, much to her discomfort because of the sudden attention.

"So who's this? Haven't seen ya around here before. Oh I know! You're here ta learn Kendo aren't cha? We'll ya came to the right place! Which would ya like to practise first? The kenbutsu style? –old man starts acting out kenbutsu style, swishes sword wildy in the air, Max jumps out of his way- The rounin style? –imitates the moves of the forty-seven ronin- Oh I know! The legendary kasshin style! –Starts striking at everyone else except Tyson, 'ACK!' Mai barely missed the sword. 'This guy's INSANE!'"

"Ehheheheh…I think that's enough Grampa…" Tyson pulled the old man back. "She isn't here to learn, she's one of the bladebreakers!"

"Well why didn't cha say so! What's your name missy?"

'Missy?' Mai didn't like the way he called her…but she replied nonetheless, "Mai…Takuya Mai."

"Well pleased ta meet cha Mai! Ya can call me Grampa G! (I know Tyson's surname is granger or kinomiya but grampa G sounds cooler then Grampa k…the latter sounds a tad weird)" He said.

"Um…actually I prefer to call you Mr Ki—" but Mai was interrupted.

"We'll havta get ya a room. Let's see, the boys all share the room with Tyson so…..-thinks- Ya get to sleep in the dojo!"

"O-okay…" Mai was lost for words at this old man… he was strange…too eccentric for his age…

Grampa Granger led Mai to the dojo while the guys left for Tyson's room. He slid the bamboo-framed door, revealing a spacious wooden-floored room. The floor was a lovely polised golden-brown colour and at the far end of the room was a raised platform of tatami mats. Small wooden tablets with names on them lined the white walls.

"Usually this place is fuh training but you can use it as ya room, dun got many students now… so it's only me and the lil dude." Grampa G informed.

Mai nodded her head, brought her stuff in and placed it on the raised platform.

"You go on and get settled first. Dinner's round seven so ya can hang with the guys first." He gave Mai a broad smile and left.

"Uh Mr Kino— Grampa G!"

"Nani? (what?)"

"Thanks…" Mai barely made it audible. She wasn't used to saying 'thank you' or 'sorry', it made her feel small…as if bowing down to the person so she seldom said it with sincerity. But this time, she tried her best to show some gratitude.

Grampa G must've noticed this but merely grinned and replied "Hehe, no prob!"

Mai was left to go about her business. She had nothing to unpack so she decided to wander around the house. 'This place is kinda nice' she thought when she entered a garden. It had lovely shrubs and a koi pond which was shaded by a huge tree. The house itself was big with a lot of corridors. It felt good to explore. She entered the main house, checked to see if anyone was around, before going into the living room. 'Now where can I find futons... ?'

"Hey! That's my place you blockhead!"

"Well it's MY room!"

"I dun see your name on it! Hey! Get the hell off my bed!"

"Guys, guys, chill…"

The sounds were blasting from a room down the hallway. Mai decided to do what any normal human being would do: be a busy body BUT! She had a reason, she needed to know where to get futons or else she'd have to sleep on the floor tonight.

-knock knock- The door swung open and everyone froze. Kai was on top of Tyson, both of them had their hands locked together and Rei was grabbing Kai's waist. "Eh it's not what it looks like!" Rei blurted, his face was beet red. They expected a "What the hell are you doin!" from Mai but got this instead:

"You guys know where I can get extra futons?" she said indifferently.

Tyson took a moment to reply, obviously shocked to see that Mai was unnerved by what she had just seen. "Uh yeah, they're in the cupboard" He pointed at a greyish-white sliding door.

Mai casually took out a futon and some bed sheets and made her way back to the door.

"Don't mind me, please carry on with your -ahem- activities" With that she closed the door behind her.

"IT'S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE!" they all shouted through the door.

Mai smirked. It was amusing to toy with people. She admitted that it was mean but the satisfaction was delicious. She headed back to her room but on the way noticed…

HAHAH, cliffhanger! I'm sooo sorry that I took so long to update. I went on a holiday then had to rush through my hw coz sch is starting on Monday...so anway, sch has started and its crap…but now I can only write my fics after my hw, which is pretty late at night…so pls try to understand. The good news is that I AIN'T ABANDONING MY STORY! The bad news, I'll take quite a while to update but PLS STILL READ AND REVIEW MY STORIES! It'll be greatly appreciated.

The next chpt will come out soon, I hope. Probably Sunday or Monday… But till then, Thx to all you guys' support XD!

blu