Through the fire
by Ajedrez
Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply.
Summary:
After a tragic loss, the Bladebreakers are finally back on track, only to find themselves and their friends in another of those 'situations'. Secrets and lies, new threats and new hopes. Things aren't always what they seem. A changed outlook on the past might just provide new perspectives for the future. (Set in two timelines after the first season.)
AN:
Guess I should have mentioned as well that the OCs play a necessary, but not central role in this fic. The story is focusing on the canon characters, and in particular, as if you couldn't have guessed it, on a certain dual-haired bluenette. The OFC is not in there for romance and she's definitely nothing like me, so no Mary Sue alert. Well, I think now you have all the warnings you need (for now). Oh, this is another rather short chapter, next one should be quite a bit longer.
Hope you enjoy (and if you do, why not drop me a line?)
III. (hidden agenda)
On another continent, in a spacious office in one of his first-class hotels, the one located in Seattle to be exact, a well-known businessman watched the news coverage of the Bladebreakers' newest success with mixed emotions. Like Ray, he recalled exactly what had happened on this day two years prior, though for his own reasons. Sometimes he wondered if he had unknowingly played a part in what had occurred after he had started to sponsor the team, but he could not find a fault in what he had done, so he quelled the guilt before it could actually come up.
Back then, way before the fatal fire, it had seemed an incredibly good idea to hook up with the world champions. It was a promising investment and by sponsoring the team, he could cover up any ulterior motive. Admittedly, there had been one of those, although he had been awfully disappointed in this respect – but then, that was what he got for clinging to a dream that was too good to be true, instead of trusting his brother-in-law's word.
Well, at least it had turned out all good for his daughter, who never suspected anything. She had always wanted to test her beyblading skills in competitions. It had only been his and her mother's not entirely unfounded fears that had stopped her before… well, before the Russian tournament had changed the whole picture.
Then, the cause for their caution seemed to have vanished and the BBA's unstable financial situation had presented the perfect opportunity, and he was too much the successful business man to let that pass him by. Nina's talents certainly qualified her for a rank among the top bladers. The other thing was just a nice side-project that did not yield the results he had hoped for. As long as his daughter was happy, so was he. After all the hardships they had suffered, he would do anything for his children. He had undertaken every effort to make sure that the dark past they had left behind when they immigrated to the land of the free would not throw its shadow over their new lives. In a way, things had been the easiest for Nina who could not remember... Still, her two older brothers had developed into some fine young men. The businessman smiled fondly as he looked at a photograph of his three oldest children from a time when they had not yet stood on their own feet. Really, he could not complain. Nowadays, life was treating him and his loved ones well.
On days like this, however, he could not help remembering what had happened and what might have been…
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He had been nervous when they had entered the hotel suite, though Dickinson had assured him and his daughter that the Bladebreakers were just a normal bunch of teenagers. Well, he was a seasoned business man, so he did feel quite self-assured about the meeting as such. It was just that he was both dreading and looking forward to finding out what he had in fact come for… So much depended on the outcome of this very first get-together...
The actual encounter went rather smoothly. They were indeed just like your everyday group of teens. Tyson was a little boastful, but in an endearing way, and the others were really nice - well, all apart from their leader. When he locked eyes with the taciturn captain, he virtually felt the temperature drop a few degrees, just like his heart. In the course of the evening, no matter how hard he tried, those cold orbs blocked his every attempt to see what lay behind them, while at the same time their gaze made him feel naked. Despite the impassive façade, the older man felt the distrust radiating off the strange teen. He could not know... could he? Still, he was not willing to discard his hopes that early on.
He tried to assess the other members of the team while establishing a few facts with Mr. Dickinson. Tyson and Max with their cheerful and outgoing nature reminded him of his own children when they were younger. Ray was a lot calmer than the first two, which did not keep him from joining in their laughter. For some reason, the agreeable manner of the Chinese boy reminded him of his youngest back when everything had been alright...
Musingly his eyes found their way back to the team captain, only to return to the more pleasant raven haired boy, trying to get a grip of himself. Apparently Ray was more observant than the others, too – he seemed to return his appraising look with questioning eyes. He tried to pull himself together.
Well, then there was Kenny who seemed a little reserved or even shy, unless the kids were talking about beyblades or computers. And Hilary – he wasn't quite sure which role she played here, but while she appeared to be a little bossy from time to time, she obviously was a rather good-natured soul.
His daughter seemed to get along with the lot of them well enough. Even so, it was quite clear that he had come in vain. Letting his gaze wander over the group of teens, he could not come to any other conclusion. It was impossible… He was disappointed and he felt uncomfortable under that unfathomable glare he felt boring into him, even when he had his head turned away. Trying to concentrate on the conversation with the BBA's leading man, he couldn't keep his own gaze from returning to the strange bluenette. Annoyed he noticed himself shifting in his seat, as if he were an insecure nobody, even when that teen had apparently dismissed them all, shutting them out by closing his unnerving eyes.
After a while of fruitless conversation, the resignation and unease made way for an inexplicable irritation. This evening was a failure, it was as simple as that. How dare that boy look at him like this… like he was some insect to be dissected. Irrespective of his maybe not so pure motives, he deserved a little more respect, it was not like he was the impostor here…
He had been secretly glad when the evening ended, although Nina had been quite at ease with the other guys and looked forward to spending more time with them. At least where her happiness was concerned, the evening had been a success, so he forced a smile on his face for her sake, while listening to her excited talk, at the same time secretly wiping the sweat drops from his brow. He had hoped for too much, he admitted to himself wryly, that was probably the reason why the reality of it all rattled him so much. Oh, it was cunning, the deception was almost perfect, but he knew better. Still, there was a chance he might find out more due to this possible alliance, even though his unreasonable dream could not come true. Despite his cool, business-like front, his heart ached. He should have known from the start. That one could never be…
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
TBC
AN: Was that confusing? I actually thought it was too obvious, but then I know where this story is going. Things should clear up in about, uh, 10 to 15 chapters from here at the latest, if you happen to be interested (grin). If your not (which seems to be the case so far), well, I'll just keep writing this for my own enjoyment.
04/09/06