An/ Hey my wonderful readers. i want to thank you all for beeing so patient and for continuing to read my stories even if i do seem to take forever to get other chappies up. hugs and kisses all around. soory about that cliff hanger last chapter but hey it was worth it. OK OK on with the disclaimer. I do NOT own beyblades or any of its charries (Even if i wish i did) Also Tenebrae belongs to Drago-Kai so no stealing there! However the following list is mine: Sam Hanara, Her family, The LoverSeekers, The WildFires, The DarkHunters and most of the Avengers. If anyone wishes to use them please inform me first. Ta now on with the story!

Chapter 12:- Is it love or hate?

The mouth was hot and moved sure and demanding against Sam's. The sixteen year old had not been kissed like this in a long time. The languid glide of his mouth against hers caused her pulse to trip and her blood thrum like a drum. Suddenly she caught a hold of her senses again and pulled harshly away. Her eyes that had fluttered closed opened now and took in the teeninfront of her breathing just as hard as she was. Sam narrowed her eyes and took in the slightly mussed appearance of the boy who stood tall and proud. His two toned blue hair stood on end where she had run her hands into it and gripped it tight, his maroon eyes stared unwaveringly into hers, they were darker and seemed to promise something that Sam wasn't willing to look at too closely yet. His mouth curved in a slightly triumphant and satisfied smile and the two triangles on each cheek graced his cheekbones and defined him without words. A warrior. Her warrior. Sam shook her head and turned away from him. He was nothing to her. So he had said and so she would believe up until the time he said otherwise. As it was she had made plans to go back to Biovolt and as soon as he realised that he would be even more angry with her. With difficulty she managed to get her breath back under control and wiped the emotion from her face.

"What do you want Kai?" She asked nonchalantly.

"You." He said simply. Sam spun around sharply and glared at him. He couldn't be serious. But even as she searched his eyes she couldn't find the betrayal she was looking for. It would seem he was dead serious.

"Really. Well unfortunately I am not something you can have. You may be a Hiwatari but the world does not revolve around you and your family!" It was then that he noticed the red paint gracing her cheek and the slightly blue tinge to her right eye. Sam wearily watched the play of emotion that crossed his face and she was sure he was unaware of it. Fear, Hurt, Anger and determination. Sam swallowed hard not sure what he would do to her in this state.

"You went back to him." Kai growled and stalked towards her. "You basically gave up your freedom and happiness and gave yourself to him. Why?" That wasn't a question she was expecting and her mind raced to find answers that wouldn't provoke him too much. Answers that would hopefully pacify him.

"I haven't given myself to anyone if you must know. I am my own person and I spoke to Voltaire regarding the watchers that have been with us since we landed in England. You ask why I go to him. Well who else would I go to Kai? Mr Dickenson? My father?" Sam held her ground until he was too close even for her standards and stepped back. She knew it was a mistake and that by doing so she was goading the predator in him but she didn't like being too close to people. Men in particular but she could hide it, hide the impulse to fight and run.

"Me. I am your team captain and as such-"

"Hold it right there." Sam said and held out her hand. She took a final step back and found her back flat against the wall. She swore inwardly and shifted her shoulder blades as they sang at the impact. "What makes you think that even as a team captain I would want to talk to you EXPECIALLY if you are the reason I am pissed off in the first place?"

"You could always come to me. We made a promise long ago that if we had problems we would talk to each other about it, see if we could come to a conclusion together before we tried alone." Kai growled as he had flashes of their childhood and the times they spent together. Flashes of emotion and touches as light as brush strokes. He knew that he had hurt her and it didn't sit well with him but he was not going to apologise. He had warned her before they had even gone out there. Each person was to concentrate on their own match so that they had the best possible chance at being victorious.

"Fine. You want to talk about it, we'll talk. Kai, you hurt me. You hurt me when you left. You hurt me when you forgot about me. And you hurt me in the battle when all I wanted to do was help your team in a similar fashion as I did in Biovolt. You only see me as an asset for your team not as the person I really am and that more than anything else drove me away so that I needed to find a refuge. Sadly enough the only refuge I ever knew was Biovolt. I am not however going to go there until the end of this tournament and when I do you and your all boy team can go back to being champions in your own right and fight in what ever way you are accustomed"

"Why not go to S.H.A.M.B then?" Kai asked genuinely baffled that she would go back to Biovolt thinking that about him, them, when she has the choice to go to an academy she herself had created

"I am not misused. And I don't need the help of my own academy. In any way they wouldn't accept me. I made my decision long ago." Sam said tilting her head down slightly so that her bangs shadowed out her eyes.

"Well then. I won't let you." Kai took a final step forward so his limbs lightly brushed hers.

"You can't stop me from anything if I want it enough." Sam sneered defiant till the end.

"So you wanted me to kiss you?" Kai asked his lips lightly skimming across hers, provoking her.

"You caught me off guard." Sam said turning her head aside. Angrily Kai caught her chin and forced her to look at him. Couldn't she see what she was doing to him?

"Is that all I am to you?" He demanded harshly

"Well what do you want me to see you as? You stopped-"

"I lied OK? I never stopped loving you!" As Sam tried to take in his words he caught her in another fierce kiss. His hands framed her face and hers came up to his chest but whether to move closer or to push him away she didn't know yet. He wasn't ever going to let her go back to that blasted Abbey in Russia. He would tie her up if he had to but her wasn't going to loose her again now that he had found her. Now that he had fallen for her for the second time in his life. He wanted to calm it down slightly, wanted to instinctively seduce and soothe but the anger in him wasn't going to be beaten back. Against her better judgement, Sam kissed him back. It went against all the rules that she had written for herself but she wanted to enjoy this for as long as he was willing. He shocked her by demanding entrance into her mouth and the anger and hurt was eroded away on waves of love. She allowed him to claim her mouth as no other had felt the passion vibrate throughout her frame until her phone went off.

"I have to get that." Sam said pulling away and watching in mild amusement as Kai drove his fingers through his hair. He carefully cleared his face of all emotion and nodded.

"Doesn't matter. I have to train with the rest of the team anyway." Sam watched as he strode out of the room and noticed that his gait was not quite steady. It made her smile as she picked up the phone.

"Hanara residence. Sam speaking." She said quietly

"Took you long enough!" Rachelle said laughingly.

"Sorry I was otherwise detained."

"Making out with lover boy were you." Rachelle said snidely. She was met with Sam's silence. "OMG you were!" Shell squealed. Sam flinched at the high pitch

"Did you call for a reason? Or just to ask for details about my private life?" Sam sighed

"Umm both?" Shell said sheepishly. "No really, we were going to practise again for the play is that OK?"

"Sure I'll be there in ten." Sam said and hung up. Sam quickly splashed her face with cold water and changed into her Biovolt training apparel beforescribbling a quick note and running out the house. Within eight minutes she was deep in the forest and inside the LoveSeekers theatre. Without preamble she dashed into the dressing room, got changed into the red uniform and donned the cream coloured peasant dress over the top. She grabbed her script and ran out onto the stage. She found herself alone up there and as she skidded to a halt there was a round of applause. Confused Sam looked down to where the crowd would sit on opening night and found her friends sitting there. She tilted her head slightly to the left.

"Well done Sammie ya finally kissed him!" Raelie cheered. Immediately Sam's cheeks turned a slight shade of red.

"Actually he kissed me first but anyway…" Sam mumbled. The others all came up onto the stage and showed the embarrassed girl some of the props that they were going to use and as soon as the WildFires arrived they began to practice in earnest. Sam pushed out all thoughts of the earlier encounter and put her whole being into playing the part of the mistreated peasant girl They ran and danced, they sang spoke and acted and all of them lost all sense of time as they decided to change bits or add others. After a time the dancers came in and Sam changed yet again into a leotard so that she could move freely and not ruin the surprise of the costume should her BladeBreakers come looking for her. Sam flipped, twisted, pirouetted, leapt and danced in time with the other girls before they decided to put the two parts together.

'A long time ago in a land no one is sure really existed lived a young girl that was without a name. Later she was dubbed Samara but we do not know if this was her true name or one simply fabricated. She had a hard life and lost both her parents by the time she was two. She lived with her aunt but she too grew sickly and passed on so she was forced to live and fend for herself. She was appealing in a common way with long brown hair gone light from the time she spent in the sun and streaked with natural highlights. Her eyes were dark brown and seemed to go almost black when she was angry. She taught herself to read and write, to clean and only obeyed orders when they suited her.' Raelie's voice was even and well spaced showing how long she had been in the acting business

'Also living during this time was a handsome and mild mannered prince. He watched the land and his people with a careful eye and never shied away from responsibility. He found himself enchanted by those who were considered his people but was sad at heart for his father the king was constantly demanding that he marry a lady and produce an heir before he passed on. Though there were many beautiful ladies, he found them tiresome and was quickly bored by their petty jealousies. But there was one young girl who was not a lady and yet had captured his heart and attention unlike the others who flocked around him like chickens.' Keelie's voice held more emotion but it was still steady everytime the lines were read.

'The king known as Demnion was only interested in himself and in his line. Sure he appreciated fine and beautiful things but he was cruel and he like to break peoples spirits. He was sure that his line was invincible and that it had to be carried on no matter the cost. One day he saw our girl and was determined to have her. Deep in the night he had his guards have her hauled from her room and taken to him and things started to head down hill from there.' Brittany's voice wasn't quite as stable as the other two but she held it firmly in check until the end of her part. The scene changed and it looked like they were inside a magnificent throne room. Sam was tossed in and skidded a few inches on her knees. Her hair was loose and her eyes dangerously narrowed. The king was Jason dressed up in blacks and reds. Not the exact costume he was going to wear but similar. He looked down at her as if in disdain and tapped her lightly with the tip of his boot.

"Who are you girl." He demanded his voice deep

"You mean to say you do not know? You had your men drag me here your majesty" Sam's voice was harsh to begin with but as one of the guards pretended to kick her in the ribs she changed her voice to make it softer and more compelling. "You can call me Samara. It is as good a name as any."

"You have spirit. I admire that in a woman but hear this. I will break it."

"You can try."

"Listen here wench. You will be a part of my harem. You will wear what I tell you to wear, do what I tell you to do. You will not go looking for my son. You will not disobey me or you will be severely punished. Go now and I will see what you have to offer me."

"Say what you will old man. I will not be forced to do things I do not wish to do." Sam yelled as she was dragged out of the room. It was then that Jason addressed the 'audience' directly

"She may be strong, she may be wild; but deep within she's still a child. A child will beg, a child will bleed; and this child will bow to my every whim and need. Days will pass and nights shall fall, the winter willfade and the summer will call. My son will rise, my reign will end; but before that time his will shall bend!" Jason walked off and the lights of the stage dimmed as the background was changed again to what looked like an inside garden.

'True to his word, the weeks did pass and Samara got into a lot of trouble for her disobedient spirit…' The practise session went on like this and Sam danced together with her troupe under the harsh stage lights. Sweat began to trickle down her back and her hair clung limply to her shoulders and neck, but still Sam held on and poured as much energy into her performance as she could. Ray and the other BladeBreakers came into the hall and saw Sam as she was doing her dance with the Harem for the seventh time that afternoon. The lights fairly shone from the sweat as it flung off her and her face was nearly transparent from the energy she was giving out. It was fairly obvious that if she didn't stop soon she would collapse. Her voice was still strong as she sang but it too was beginning to grow hoarse with weariness. As soon as the routine ended Sam wiped her face and arms down with a wet towel that had been provided for her and lent on her knees with her head low. Her breathing was out and too rapid. She gasped for air and held her side instinctively as she forced herself to stand straight again.

"Good session." She managed to pant out and grinned at the others as they lay in various positions on the floor. "It might be wise to call it a day. The LoveSeekers have a match tomorrow and the WildFires have one the day after so we'll have to leave it until Monday. The BladeBreakers have a match at oh nine hundred hours so we can practise any time after twelve. Until then good job and try to relax a little." The others gave a faint murmur before hauling themselves up. They dressed in warm sweats and left the hall as a group. Sam wobbled slightly on her feet before widening her stance. It was than that Brittany pointed out that they had company. Followed by Rachelle's impromptu performance of Romeo and Juliet. Sam scowled at her before closing her eyes. She was tired and had a headache pounding viciously behind her temples. Unconsciously Sam began to rub her temples and slowly ran her hand down to the back of her neck. Tenebrae looked expectantly at Kai.

"What?" He asked slightly nervous under her scrutiny.

"Aren't you going to help her?" Tenebrae asked exasperated pointing at Sam.

"Why should I?" Kai asked managing to keep his expression bland and unreadable. Ten shot her hands up in the air and turned with a disgusted sound. Sam opened one eye slightly and smirked.

"Ten that was Kai you were talking to. It's not like he's going to do anything unless it suites him."

"You mean you aren't going to complain about the fact that you are dead tired and that your head is pounding like someone has smashed it with the blunt end of a hammer?" Keelie asked

"No. Have I ever been known to moan about my problems?" there was a brief silence.

"Not to my recollection no." Jason said throwing an arm around her shoulder companionably.

"Nup." Brit said with a grin

"Nuh-uh not about problems but I bet I know someone who could make you though." Raelie smirked

"Rae!" Sam said genuinely shocked. Both herself and Kai had turned a very faint shade of pink.

"Look it look it their both blushing!" Rachelle exclaimed jumping up and down. The BladeBreakers watched the exchange wordlessly until they realised that their team captain was indeed blushing. Tyson grinned wickedly promising not to let his Captain live it down. Ray smiled simply delighted that his friend had found love at last. Max, who had taken Sam's camera from the mansionette, took random photos determined that he was going to enjoy England to the fullest. 'Oooh wait until I take them into London I swear I will get my retribution. I bet Max would just love the tower' Sam thought and an evil smile crossed her lips. Tenebrae stepped back knowing that it boded ill when her friend grinned like that. She jabbed Jase in the ribs and pointed at Sam and he too stopped smiling and gulped. Sam looked at each of the people in turn and had the same evil smile until she locked her gaze with Kai's. Her smile instantly faded and a frown line appeared between her brows. When she looked at him something within her tightened. It made her want to withdraw and reach out at the same time. 'He didn't do anything so I shouldn't take it out on him'

'What are you talking about he was the one that kissed you.'

'Hello conscience.'

'Hello Sam'

'Could have been heat of the moment.'

'Doubt it he said he loved you.'

'Yeah but does he really. He has said it before.'

'You are never usually this pessimistic. Your taking my job from me!'

'Sorry.'

'In any case I say give it a chance. We'll know soon enough if it is love or hate he feels.'

'Your right. We have taken hard knocks before. We'll take em again. Thanks' Sam's expression cleared and she turned and headed for the dressing room. She quickly changed back into her Biovolt training gear and came out to find the others scattered around the theatre laughing and talking. Sam smiled at the sight before sitting down on the stage waiting for them to notice her. It took a good ten minutes before Max looked up and smiled weakly.

"Ready to head back?" Sam asked tilting her head to the side.

"Yeah." Max said quietly and came over to her. The others then noticed her too and came over. Sam smiled at the LoveSeekers and her eldest friend Ten before turning on her heel and walking home. There was silence the whole way except for when Kenny was talking to Dizzi. How he managed to walk and talk to his laptop at the same time Sam didn't know. She retied the ribbons around her arm so that the wrist bands couldn't be seen and replayed the play over again in her mind looking for flaws. She barely noticed that they had made it home and used her master code to get into the house. The boys shut the door quietly and walked up to their separate rooms glad that their female team mate was back to normal even if she did have a splitting headache. Sam went to her room and punched in the code to open her door. She walked in asked it to shut and lock. Sam knew that she shouldn't work on the computer while her head was pounding like this so she simply shut it off and had a shower. The warmth from the cascading water seeped into her body and loosened her muscles. She knew she wasn't going to stay upright for much longer. Lazily she shut the water off and simply stood there with her forehead against the cool bathroom tiles. No matter what she told herself otherwise, this was the one time that she would readily admit that she still loved the blue haired boy that occupied the room opposite hers.

"I loved you so much that I began to hate you and then I hated you so much that I loved you. Ironic." Sam murmured to her reflection before quickly drying herself and dressing. She wore a loose white night-gown that was made out of silk. It clung lightly to her curves as she walked. She walked out to her balcony and was surprised when Kai called her from his.

"Sam. Can we talk?"

"Sure." Sam said and waited for him to say something. She blinked when he took a run up and leapt from his balcony to hers. "Are you nuts!" Sam nearly yelled at him knowing that if he had missed he could have hurt himself badly.

"Must be. Mind you, you did exactly the same when we were younger. Not to mention the times we first met you again." Sam shook her head but stopped when he placed his hand on her cheek. She sat dead still.

"What did you want to talk about?" Sam murmured.

"I didn't really. I just wanted to make sure that you were OK. You looked dead tired, apart from when you were evilly plotting the demise of your fellow team-mates."

"Thanks but I'm not entirely sure that was a compliment." Kai twisted his fingers into her hair. And rubbed at the circles forming under her eyes.

"You need to sleep. And you still have that paint on your face."

"It's dye. It won't come off for a few weeks yet." Sam yawned lightly and poked him. "What was the big idea blushing? You were meant to remain coldly aloof." She went to poke him again but he caught her fingers before she was close enough to do so.

"I could ask you the same thing." Kai said calmly. Her face was still pale but not quite as transparent as before. "What were you planning anyway?"

"Meh don't mind me I am catching my second wind for the day. I was planning on taking Max and Tyson to the tower of London and then taking Ray to Madam T- damn I am not thinking clearly. The darn Wax museum. I couldn't think of anything for you. You were just as much embarrassed as I was. But we'll go there tomorrow." Sam said drowsily. 'You need to sleep Sam' Kai thought second wind or no she was exhausted. He picked her up and the fact that she didn't fight him on this only proved how tired she really was. He lay her down on the bed and was pulling back to leave when her wrist snagged his and pulled him down beside her. "A ghra. Stay." Sam murmured and nuzzled against him seeking warmth. She clutched his wrist with one hand and his shirt in the other so he had little choice in the matter. Kai relaxed as much as he could and waited until she was almost asleep.

"I love you."

"Love too." Sam murmured and fell asleep. Kai watched her awhile before following her into the land of dreams.