CHAPTER 2: -The truth comes out
Sam swore softly under her breath. Her emotions were too close to the surface and she half forgotten most of them. Kai was not going to interfere with her life again. She had sworn to that. Sam got changed into some long black pants that sat snugly on her hips, a red blouse with golden buttons on the left shoulder and a blue Elvin shirt over the top of that. She had her hair tied up as tightly as possible in a ponytail, but several stray strands still managed to escape. Sam packed a backpack full with clothes and beyblading gear and hoisted it over one shoulder. As she looked down she noticed that she hadn't taken off the necklace or the wristbands. Quickly she disposed of the chain, but the wristbands wouldn't budge. She tried everything to get them off and at last after failing to get the wristbands off with a knife, which ended up spinning across the room, smashing a vase and ripping a giant gash in the curtains, she gave up and looked at the damage she had caused. "I so shouldn't have... hey I didn't do anything wrong. It was Fran who gave me the stupid bands and all I wanted to do was get the stupid things off." Suddenly a meek voice cut into Sam's plaintive whining.
"What are you doing miss? What is wrong?" Sam spun on her heel and glared holes into the maid.
"I'm leaving this house und zwa now." Sam said pointedly. The maid looked shocked, and her face quickly drained of colour as stammered,
"B...but... you can't! ... The master won't allow it...you can't-"
"I am sick and tired of people telling me what I can and can not do. His majesty will not be informed until after the event. Now kindly GET OUT." Sam demanded coldly her voice bordering on yelling and sounding uncannily like Philippe's. The maid retreated hastily in fear of the resemblance she saw between to two cousins, and accidentally left the door slightly ajar. "Can't do this and can't do that. You're under my roof now young one and in my presence you will become a young lady. Don't you dare put a toe out of line!" Sam mimicked Philippe's earlier words to her but her own were dripping with sarcasm. "Oh how I wish I could strangle him!"
"Who are you talking to girl?" Come a deep voice from the doorway that Sam instantly recognised. She paled slightly as she spun on her heel but faced the intruder boldly.
"I'm talking to no-one you should need to worry about Kai Hiwatari." Kai's eyebrow rose in annoyance and amusement and slowly he responded,
"So you know my name, how I wonder... and who are you?"
"How? Never you mind. Who? I'm known as Samantha Hanara, but those who are friends, allies or lovers call me Sam." Sam smiled slightly as she emphasised 'lovers' and hitched the bag back onto her shoulder. Kai frowned and strode in as if he owned the place while Sam watched in mock horror. He was but three steps away from her when he finally stopped.
"You seem familiar..." Kai murmured Sam sighed dramatically and sat down on a nearby chair. With a languid hand movement she motioned for Kai to do the same. As he slowly sat down Sam said something that made him curious.
"I was familiar...to you anyway." Kai crossed his arms over his chest and shut his eyes.
"I don't remember you." Sam reddened slightly as her thoughts ran wild. She had befriended him once upon a time, and as far as she could tell he had enjoyed the time they had spent together... But then he went to that appalling training camp in Russia known as Biovolt, and later Sam too had been forced to follow him. For some reason, he had disappeared and She had assumed he had either died or forgotten about her promise as well as her. The latter was most obviously the case and she had grown bitter. Her passions became based on beyblading and in time she had become the top Female blader in the world. All of this occurring but weeks after her mothers death and her father's estrangement. 5 years of training in Biovolt and she was allowed in the real world, and with her came her loyal bitbeast. So now Kai was back, but for how long? And more importantly why?
"Before my mother... passed away... we lived in one of our many homes, a peaceful home that now belongs to that wicked cousin of mine who deems he can have... anyway, it had a beautiful garden that was my mother's pride and joy and has passed on into mine. Your grandfather and my father were good friends, better than most, and because of their friendship and strong beyblading techniques, and since your grandfather visited so often, he brought you sometimes as well. Because of that, you and I met at least three times a week to train and play. Then when you were nine and I was eight years of age my father didn't agree with Voltaire that I should be taken in to his Abbey for training. I never saw you again. Then a year later my mother...passed away, and my father sent me away." Sam revealed with little emotion and a closed expression. Kai's expression gave nothing away as his eyes narrowed and searched her face.
"Why," he asked slowly, "do I get the distinct impression that you're not telling me something?" 'Deep breaths Sam, be calm...BECAUSE I'M NOT!'' She thought bitterly anger flaring in her eyes at being caught out so easily.
"I could ask you the same question," she growled. Growing impatient and aggravated, Kai narrowed his eyes further and raised an eyebrow in growing annoyance.
"You're to... join... the BladeBreakers." Kai sneered. Sam looked at him in shock, her composure slipping. A team? She was to do the one thing she swore she would never... Voltaire had to have an evil yet compelling hand in this again. And like the fool she was, she would have to submit to his will...again.
"I... I'm sorry but I can't. Thanks for the offer though." Sam stammered but her voice sounding determined and cocky all at the same time.
"Oh I'm sorry, didn't I tell you? You don't have a choice, you will be joining us, like it or not." Kai said in a cool manner, but not liking the prospect of her joining one little iota.
"One," Sam hissed at him, "I will not be ordered around by some low life. Two," she continued before the infuriated Kai could say anything else, "I am a lone blader by choice and three Philippe and his hatred stands in my way. He hates me as much as you do if not more and despises the so-called 'spinning top game' even more. He won't be happy... Whoa... wait one moment." Sam slapped her forehead as reality hit. "It gets me out of this Damn house, away from that blasted cousin of mine! Where do I sign and when do we leave?" Sam jumped up from where she was sitting and furiously started pacing the carpet.
"You don't need to sign and you're right. Philippe isn't happy." Kai too rose as he said this and followed the girl as she made her way to the stairs.
"I don't care what he says. It's my life and he has no say in the matter. You coming Blue boy?" She heard him mumble something under his breath, but what she couldn't decipher and then the wind seemed to whisper 'that's my girl.' Soon she'd be able to communicate with Adonia... her beloved mother. Sam flew down the stairs like an eagle in free fall, but when she reached the doorway she hesitated and drew back to the shadows to wait for the right time. Kai noticed her right away and walked up beside her, his arm accidentally brushing up against hers. Sam felt the warmth coming from him as spirals of some emotion she couldn't identify spun throughout her frame. She forced her mind away from the warmth and tried to think of something...anything else. She was not going to give in to weakness. "
What is with the injury on your stomach?" Kai asked breaking the silence. Sam fingered the injury and flinched as if Kai's hand had reached out to her instead of his voice.
"Well because I refused to comply with my cousins orders, he... well... he got annoyed and so I was punished." Sam finished lamely.
"Uh huh and what is this Philippe guy to you?" Kai asked curiosity getting the upper hand over his better sense. Sam scowled in response and narrowed her eyes in a death glare she had picked up somewhere as she glanced at Kai.
"HE happens to be my so-called cousin. You know the one who reprimanded me." Sam hissed. Boldly strode into the lounge room where the rest of the BladeBreakers awaited them. Kai shook his head at her childish reaction and lent in a leisurely fashion against the doorway. "Cousin." Sam boldly stated crossing her arms.
Philippe turned in a flurry of silk and glared at Sam as she strode towards him in a cocky manner.
"You!" he yelled, "are not going anywhere!" Sam sneered at Philippe and began circling him like a predator does before devouring its prey.
"So what the Blue boy said is true..."
"You are NOT going" Philippe hissed
"That is not your decision to make," Sam hissed as dark lilac aurora surrounded the teen that grew darker and darker with her rage until it bordered on black, "I too am a human being with wants and feelings, my own demands and desires. You can not simply order me around." Philippe paled visibly and he lightly began fingering his whip. Never before had he been so ruthlessly disobeyed as by this insignificant girl and what was that on her wrists?
"You are not going girl and my word is final. Argue again and you will be punished." Sam laughed deep in her throat as she saw she had managed to embarrass and annoy her cousin.
"Your threats are useless against me dear cousin. I could care less if you used your weapon on me again." Sam stated boldly in a clear, firm voice. That is when Philippe reached the limitation of his temper and snapped.
"Your Mother is dead because-" he began but was quickly cut off in mid sentence by a deadly furious Sam.
"Don't you dare mention my mother nor her death to me Philippe. She would never have treated me the way you do." She said in a low cold voice that sent shivers down the spines of everyone in the room. Her anger began to draw an even greater force from the depths of time.
"Yeah? Well she-" Philippe was cut off once again from the enraged girl. Her voice almost thunderous as she yelled at her cousin Sam said,
"She was thrice the person you'll ever be! Go to hell Philippe, and who knows maybe I'll meet you there." Sam's Blade spun protectively in front of her as a single tear slowly made a wet trail down her cheek. Abruptly Sam turned and walked towards the open window bag on back. As she looked out at the night Sam grew calmer, sat on the windowsill and whispered, "Come Dyane, Adonia is waiting." The blade flew back to Sam's outstretched hand and was the securely clipped to her belt. Sam judged the length to the roof and jumped grabbing hold of the Flagpole, which was slightly slippery due to the rain. She swung around several times gathering momentum and at the peak of one of the circles she let go and landed on the roof with a light thud. All else was irrelevant to her.
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As Sam jumped out the window, the room was covered in a shocked silence. "Something tells me this was the first time Sam's ever done that." Tyson whispered to Max.
"Why are you whispering?" Max whispered back. They both grinned sheepishly at each other. Francisca looked ready to faint as her husband drew nearer to her and talked in low tones before slapping her. In the meantime Ray talked to Kenny about Sam's stats, Mr. Dickenson was trying to calm a murderous looking Philippe to almost no effect, and Kai stood in a shadowy corner watching the unfolding scene. It didn't look like anyone was going to go after that wild girl and apprehend her, so he'd have to. With a sigh he turned and briskly ascended the stairs, followed a long corridor and ascended another flight of stairs that led to a doorway that was locked from the inside. Kai fingered the wall and found a loose brick containing a key that fit into the lock. If this girl was needed to win theses so called Bit battles, then she wasn't about to get off easy. Kai's only worry was whether or not she was worthy enough. The door swung open as the key turned and Kai stepped out into the wind and... hey what had happened to the rain? He closed the door and began to walk forward.
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Sam cradled her bag close as the rain fell around her but never on her. The time was right. Adonia was here... Sam dropped her bag and lifted her arms until they were level with her shoulders. She stood at her full 5'8" height and tilted her head slightly so it faced the sky. That's when she took a deep breath and called out on word "ADONIA!"
The heavens seemed to shake with her call and lightning brightened the sky causing Sam's eyes to gleam as it hit the roof, the heat coming off it caressing her cheek. As the brightness dimmed Sam blinked her eyes to regain some of her sight. The clouds parted and a shining white-blue light came down from the heavens. In this light stood a figure that she instantly recognised. "Mother," Sam breathed, lowering her arms. Adonia smiled at her daughter. She spoke but one word and it instantly brought tears to Sam's eyes.
"Princess."
"You're here... at last." Sam said trying to control her weeping but with little effect.
"I'm always with you but you can only see me during the worst thunderstorms." Adonia said embracing her daughter.
"But why only during the worst thunderstorms?" Sam asked hugging her back before letting go and drying her eyes.
"Because my darling that has always been our way plus tonight your anger drew me. What has that cousin of yours done now?" Sam's eyes glinted slightly as her anger peaked again so she took a deep breath and slowly responded,
"Kai is back and he brought his team. One of those members I already knew from here in Hong Kong. They have invited me to join they're team. But Philippe has his mind set on a different path for me and so refused point blank to let me go and so an animated discussion took place and here I am." Adonia's face sharpened and through clenched teeth she hissed,
"The next time Philippe goes out during a storm he will not return home safely." Then in a lighter tone she asked, "You haven't forgotten your motto have you?" Sam grinned and broadened her stance in a fierce pride that would never be seen or heard of again.
"My motto? I live and breathe it," she stated before calling out in a loud voice, "Take No Prisoners, Break Their Will!" a soft smile returned to Adonia's face as her daughter sat down.
"I am proud of you my darling but for now I must go," she spoke almost sadly, "the next time we meet shall be our last reunion." Sam stood abruptly.
"No," she whispered horrified but quickly schooled her expression and said, "I am Adonia's Listener and so I must abide by your decision..."
"Good girl." Adonia said retreating to the clouds but before she was completely gone Sam let go of propriety cried out
"I love you Mum!" Adonia turned and smiled broadly as she retreated to the clouds.
"Yes, almost as much as you once loved a young man named Kai."
"MUM!" Sam cried out but the light had become one with darkness and Sam's red face was cooled by the sudden downpour "You're wrong mum, I loved you at least ten times more." Sam said smiling softly before getting the sudden premonition that she was being watched. Maybe even by the one whom she feared would bring back hated memories.
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Kai climbed further onto the roof and was very surprised that he wasn't completely saturated by now. It was after all the middle of a raging storm, with lightning flashing above his head; He looked down on the scene below him and saw a semi-translucent person talking to the girl. It seemed so familiar but he couldn't place his finger on why. A bolt of lightning caressed his face as a strong charge ran through the air. Kai was surprised that Sam hadn't taken refuge indoors by now.
A sharp pain ran from his temple and he closed his eyes to eliminate the pain but during this time he began to have a long forgotten memory that should not have been, about his long lost childhood. It would seem that he was right about Sam being a key to his past but was it a good thing or a bad one. And there was a bigger question of did he really need to know...
-Flashback-
Kai could see an eight-year-old girl talking to her mother. He tried to get better look but couldn't make out the finer details of their faces. The girl wore a black top with red out lining the collar and cuffs that almost clung to her upper body, blue jeans that had a slight rip on one knee and brown boots. She seemed rather prim and proper for an eight year old but her childish voice could clearly be heard, "...but mother, I don't quite-"
"I know that you don't understand my darling but with time you will. These feelings of yours will not go away overnight they may even remain forever. But don't worry for now all you need to care about is the fact that YOU are Adonia's listener, my listener and later everything will be clear." Suddenly the little girls eyes began to sparkle with a hidden light. Kai turned his head and saw a young boy approaching the mother and her child. He seemed to be about nine years old and wore baggy blue pants, a black tank top, black, red and silver boots and red wristbands. Kai recognised the face instantly as he saw it everyday in the mirror. It was a younger version of him. Kai crept forward not knowing if they could see him or not.
"Hey mum, I have a new motto that I received from Volt- I mean Mr. Hiwatari. Its 'Take no prisoners, break their will!'" Adonia smiled at the joy on her daughters face.
"See my darling maybe you will understand quicker than you think." Adonia rose and walked inside so the two children were alone.
"Hey Sam" Kai heard his younger self-say.
"Hi Kai," The girl responded softly. Not wanting to miss anything, Kai dared to crawl closer so he was but a hand span away.
"Want to battle?" young Kai asked innocently, but the girl he had spoken to called Sam seemed uninterested.
"Not today. Dyane is tired and you'll only beat me with Dranzer anyway." Little Kai smiled at her words and tried to persuade her anyway.
"Come on Sam, you nearly beat me last time..." Sam scowled as her temper flared and set the record strait.
"It was a draw last time and I was so drained of energy that I was left unconscious for three days afterwards." Sam bared her little fangs at him indicating her anger.
"Calm down Sam," little Kai said stepping towards the young girl.
"No, I don't think I will!" she hissed launching herself at him and knocking him to the ground. They wrestled for a time before little Kai got the upper hand and pinned the struggling girl to the ground. "Get Off!"
"Do you give up?" he panted in answer to her demand.
"NEVER!" she responded in the same way.
"Fine," Kai growled as he slowly lowered his head. In sudden panic because Kai had never done this before Sam began to thrash around.
"Kai get off her." A deep voice demanded. As little Kai was distracted, the young girl flipped her playmate onto his back and stood up.
"I win," she stated and turned to great the elderly gentleman. "Good Afternoon Mr. Hiwatari."
"Well done girl. You managed to beat an older and more experienced wrestler at his own game and you seem to live up to your motto as well, but your 'dear' father doesn't want you to join us at Biovolt so now we must go." Voltaire yanked the younger version of his grandson to his feet by the ear and then walked off ordering little Kai to follow. Sam launched herself into her friends' arms and kissed him quickly.
"Remember I will be waiting for you," she whispered as the young boy was forced to draw away. But before he did leave he whispered some final parting words,
"I'll remember you always. Our love will go on."
- End of flashback-
Kai opened his eyes once more and shook his head. It was a different Sam, it just had to be, but then her voice cried out the motto he had forgotten she possessed. "Take No Prisoners, Break Their Will!" Kai's eyes widened in recognition and horror.
"No," he breathed, "It must be another Sam." He saw tears slowly spill down one of Sam's cheeks and he felt a twinge deep within his heart that for some reason he couldn't just ignore.
"I love you Mum." He heard her cry and his gaze quickly rose until it locked with Adonia's. She smiled and said,
"Yes, almost as much as you once loved a young man named Kai." Then deep in his mind he heard Adonia's voice saying 'Look after her this time, she has gone through enough pain and sorrow.' Kai raised two fingers to show he had heard her and mentally whispered,
"Maybe you're right. She does need someone to look out for her." His dark gaze sank until he was watching Sam, neither of them noticing that Adonia no longer held off the rain. That settled it. She was the Sam from his past after all, and his mind further verified this as the girl down below vehemently swiped at her tears. Slowly Sam's gaze rose until it locked with his. Both teens now dripping wet, as Sam glared defiantly at him.
"How much did you see?" Sam asked softly, but her tone deadly serious.
"Enough to know that you are not telling me the whole truth," Kai answered, "You're not the Sam I remember. Sam dropped her gaze and shrugged.
"I am no longer carefree, I am no longer as happy as I once was. I am no longer a child. I guess that Biovolt and my mothers death changed me." She said non-chantilly. In an astounded voice Kai responded,
"You were at Biovolt? You a girl...?" Sam's expression instantly changed to that of Hate.
"Yes," she hissed, "and I am meant to be there now, to be trained and punished for my early departure. But I feel that I have earned my freedom from that living hell who stole 5 years of my life."
Kai was almost curious as to why Sam was taken. "And what happened?" he asked. Sam's eyes flared as she bared her fangs, and she spat out
"I conveniently forgot to catch my train back 'home'. But at least I got something out of being with Voltaire." Kai insides twisted as she said this but he hid his emotions and berated himself for weakening. "When's our flight? I'll meet you at the airport then." Sam said finally after a long pause. Kai shook his head.
"Um, no. You're coming with us when we leave tonight. You have given me sufficient reason not to trust you." He hissed grasping her arm with his bruising strength. Sam was so shock by the depth of his hatred that she didn't even comment when he dragged her back inside. But that did not mean she would make it easy for him.
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