AN/ Buenos Noches, good evening, Guten Abend and what ever else people say at this time of day… wow that rhymed… anyway I want to thank all of my loyal readers for putting up with me and continuing to read this no matter how much time flies by when I can not update. Sniff I feel so special... Anywho I suppose I should get on with it. I DO NOT own Beyblades nor any of its characters but the following list are mine. Sam Hanara, Her family, the LoveSeekers, The WildFires, The DarkHunters & The Avengers. Tenebrae belongs to Drago-Kai and so if you wish to borrow or use any of those people then please oh please ask me or Drago-Kai first. Ta. Tis much appreciated. Now on with the story!
Chapter 13:- The sights and sounds of home
Sam felt well rested by the time she awoke the next morning. She yawned and started planning the day for the BladeBreakers. She shifted slightly and felt a warm weight around her waist. She stopped, thought and followed the path of the arm to the still sleeping teen beside her. Sam blinked and grinned evilly. She wondered how much he remembered from the previous day. Again she shifted pulling away slightly and felt the muscles in his arm tense and promptly pull her back. "Well now." Sam breathed. He turned and pulled her with him causing Sam to put out a hand to stop herself from flying off him and onto the floor. She shook her head slightly, silently laughing. "Kai, come on Kai. Let go."
"No. Sleep." He murmured
"I admit while last night was most enjoyable I need to get up." Sam tried to make her voice soft and beguiling.
"No… last night?" Kai opened his eyes and blinked several times.
"A ghra do you not remember?" Sam teased twisting a strand of his hair around her finger. His blue triangles had smudged and annoyed her. She reached over him to a chest of draws that lay near the bed and pulled out a washcloth. She also poured some water into a bowl from the jug on her side of the bed. She dampened the cloth slightly and gently rid him of the face paint. Kai blinked again and tried to remember what they had done last night. If they had done something surely he would remember.
"Tell me, what did we do last night?" Kai demanded.
"Before or after I locked the door?" Sam queried trying to keep a straight face, seeing the frustration in him.
"After?" Kai asked. Sam smiled softly and forced herself to look dreamy which, considering it was a foreign expression to her felt weird and wrong. She finished wiping off the face paint and put the water and cloth on the bedside table. She studied him slightly and felt the heat rise slightly in her cheeks which was good considering the story she was running with.
"Maybe I'll tell you later." Sam murmured and kissed his now clean cheeks before sliding out of his slackened grip and wandering to her walk in closet. She frowned at the clothes that she had taken from her mothers old room as well as some of her stuff. She decided on a dark blue tank top with a cream coloured sweater and some jeans. She grabbed her black boots, undergarments and some socks before turning and finding Kai in the door way. "If you don't mind I'd like to have a shower." Sam smirked and walked up to him. She lightly flicked his nose and ducked under his arm. He immediately spun around and caught her about the waist. He pulled her to him and in her haste to get away Sam dropped the clothes she had in her arms. He pinned her firmly to the wall and held her hands over her head when she tried to get away.
"Now tell me Sam, what was it we did last night." He asked his face close to hers. His eyebrow shot up as he felt her pulse skip.
"Nothing. We did nothing." Sam's voice wavered slightly as she spoke and she tried to pull her wrists from his grasp. Growling slightly when she found it nearly impossible. She blushed slightly as he smiled, actually smiled, and leaned in closer. His voice was deceptively warm and low, his breath cool and all that combined made Sam want to run and hide.
"I knew that. But what happens in dreams is another thing. Don't try toying with fire Sam. You'll just get burnt." His mouth brushed over hers, his fingers tracing down the underside of her arm before turning abruptly and walking out to the balcony, ran up and leapt over to his. Sam blinked and settled her emotions. She hated that he could do that to her. She growled and threw a glass against the wall before gathering her things and heading into the bathroom. She turned the water on cold and stepped into the icy spray. She was seething and hoped that the cool water would calm her temper. She quickly did her morning routine and was getting dressed when she changed her mind. She pulled on a muscle tee-shirt and some baggy training pants. She went to the gym and put her whole being into her workout. She did weights, and took a hard run before turning on a VR program and taking out three random opponents. She was breathing hard after this but still turned and did several laps in the pool. She had music running in the background and took no notice when the other BladeBreakers came in and found her at it. She pulled herself out of the water and briskly dried herself off before turning the music up louder and doing a dance routine. She sang along quietly more interested in wearing herself out physically than singing in time or in tune. She had Dara keep a monitor on her heart rate and energy level at all times. As soon as it began to blink in warning she stopped and headed off to have another shower. Ray blinked and looked at Tyson. Tyson shrugged and looked at Max. Max shook his head and looked at Kenny. Kenny was typing on Dizzi but could not understand the girls need to wipe herself out. Kai came into the room and looked at his confused team. "What is it?" He asked coldly
"You wouldn't happen to know why Sam is trying to kill off energy would you?" Kai smirked inwardly but kept his outward expression closed.
"No, but I can find out if you really want." Kai muttered.
"Could you?" Ray asked. Kai shrugged and went off to find Sam. Sam was busy talking on the phone when he found her. She ordered a bus to come and get them in ten minutes and to take the new comers on a tour of the city. She was most persistent about going to something called the tower of London and something called madam Tusaude's. Kai wandered up behind her and waited until she had put the phone down.
"What are you doing?" He asked, his voice deceptively mild
"Getting ready to show you the time of your life. England is one place you need to learn about."
"So why were you trying to use up so much of your energy?" Kai asked, trailing a hand through her damp hair, teasing the back of her neck. Sam tensed and stepped away from him.
"It wasn't my energy I was trying to run down." Sam muttered before turning on her heel and walking to the front door. From a distance she could see the bus slowly ambling up the lane. Using the house intercom, Sam called for all the boys. They ran up after a moment looking a little shaken.
"It was like suddenly hearing the voice of god!" Tyson said
"Yeah well then 'god' is taking you on a thorough tour through London and her sights."
"Maybe it was god…" Max muttered. Sam glared at him and promptly walked to the waiting bus. She spoke rapidly to the bus driver who smiled evilly and nodded before the others clambered on. Sam smirked and twisted herself up onto the deck above. Ray was the first to join her but more sedately used the stairs.
"So what's up?" He asked hesitantly. Sam lent on the railing and looked back at him
"Clouds, the sky, the sun… what you after" Sam asked with a small smile
"I should have asked what the matter was." Ray said laughing.
"Ah, well I was frustrated that's all. but no matter." Sam said grinning. Ray smiled back and Kenny came to join them. Sam pointed to the well known places of London and gave them a brief history as to the meaning behind them. They enjoyed Trafalgar Square and all the pigeons, Big Ben, the Thames, Buckingham palace, the smells the sights and the sounds. Eventually Sam took them to Madam Tusaude's and showed them the Wax museum before giving a conspirational grin to the bus driver who winked at her. It was then that they were taken to the tower of London. Sam took them inside but was sure to hang back and grinned at the bus driver who gave a thumbs up. Sam then walked up to the clerk and asked him to give the BladeBreakers the grand tour. The clerk smiled slightly before leading the group up the stairs and taking them gradually into the heart of the tower…
-MEANWHILE-
Jason lay back against the wall of his study. Tenebrae lay next to him, her head in his lap. Unthinkingly Jason stroked Tenebrae's hair as he shut his eyes.
"You don't think she'll do anything stupid do you?" Ten asked softly
"Define stupid…" Jason muttered with a very slight smirk
"Well… she wouldn't… endanger them in anyway would she?" Ten's voice was tentative, not knowing after so long. Her friend could still be the mischievous imp she knew so long ago, but Biovolt have been cruel to her. And her cousin Philippe had been just as bad… if only…
"No. Sam isn't like that. But I wouldn't put it past her to make a fool of them." Jase cut into her reverie
"She did the same with you?"
"Yeah, she had just come out of Biovolt at the time and her blasted cousin was running her ragged. She wasn't sure who she could trust and so was very quiet until she knew us well enough… after that her childish side was allowed to emerge and she played many pranks, particularly with my sister." Jason sighed and Tenebrae snuggled up to him.
"Do you think she will go back to Biovolt like Blaise said?"
"I suppose it depends. But once she vows something, come hell or high water she will keep her word."
"What about you?" Ten asked pouting slightly. Jason pounced and pinned her to the floor.
"Nothing can keep me from what is mine!" he growled before kissing her thoroughly. Ten gasped slightly but met his hot ardour with her own passion. Suddenly Brittany's voice came from outside the door.
"Jase, the stage hands are here and need your input… Jase?…JASE RACHELLE IS MIMICING ME MAKE HER STOP!" Jason pulled away and looked down at Tenebrae.
"One of these days…" He stopped and growled before stalking out the door and scooping up his little sister who squealed in delight. Tenebrae smiled softly before her thoughts wandered back to her allusive friend Sam.
-BACK TO THE BLADEBREAKERS-
The boys looked around in fascination, and didn't notice that their number was one less. They were in awe about the weapons and torture devices. The view from the window was breath taking too. Kenny looked at the dummy of an executioner as the clerk adopted the most creepy voice and told the tale of the royal princes who were locked up in the tower only to be ruthlessly killed as an act of spite.
"It is said that to this day, the screams of the children haunt these halls and will not cease until another comes to take their place, guarding the secret for all eternity." He laughed evilly before heading out of the room. A fog seemed to snake around their feet and a loud scream caused them all to jump and run in that direction. They caught sight of a body being dragged out of the room and the thump of receding footsteps.
"The executioner!" Kenny exclaimed, his voice somewhat high pitched echoed around the room as the others tried fruitlessly to open the door that had just closed.
"What about the dummy?" Tyson demanded impatiently
"He… He isn't a dummy!" It was then that they heard the heavy footsteps and a dark laugh. Max looked up and paled. They all backed away toward the other door.
"Wait where is Sam?" Max asked panicked
"We can't leave her here!" Ray said his voice seemingly shakey.
"Gone, gone to join the brothers. To guard the secret for all eternity!" came a deep breathy voice
"What the… It talks? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" Tyson yelled
"Down the hall and to the right, her body lays in falling light. Her breath gone cold her life was slit, just like the brothers for all their wit. Join her… join her…" The deep voice rasped as the heavy steps came closer and an axe came down missing Kenny by a hair. It was then that they all ran down the stairs they had came from. As they stood infront of the tower, dark ominous clouds finally gave way to rain and drenched the boys. Kai looked back up at the castle. A shadow moved in the tower window.
"Sam…" He murmured before climbing onto the bus. Sam smirked from where she stood, leaning against a light post. She wondered how well it went. Quickly, she pulled up the hood of her cloak and ran back to the mansionette, knowing that the bus was going to continue with its tour. Laughing, she unlocked the door and went inside to have a bath. After soaking for the better half of an hour, Sam got up and dressed in her Biovolt attire. She promptly went down to her training room and awaited the arrival of the boys. Dyane was spinning with high velocity around the rim of the dish when Sam practically felt the front door slam.
"Seems the boys are home." Sam smirked before launching Black Dranzer. She allowed the BitBeast to feed off her anger and frustration but firmly held herself in check. She did not want a repeat performance of what happened to Tyson. With a flick of her wrist, the music turned up to almost blasting and Sam danced around with her blades moving insinc with her. She pirouetted gracefully before moving over to a bench and pulling on ice-skates. The floor opened up and became smooth ice. Her blades wobbled slightly but quickly regained their balance as Sam skated gracefully across the ice, almost racing with them. As she leapt, the blades launched themselves off the ice and spun with the same rotation. Suddenly Sam pulled her arms in tight and began to spin very quickly. The internal gear in both blades kicked in and their spin rate almost tripled. Sam barely noticed that the door to her training room had been flung open and caught bare flashes of colour and grinned. She ended the spin and skated backward, catching the surprised expression on the faces of the boys.
"Hello." Sam said with a grin before changing direction. Kai pulled on some skates and was quickly by her side. She was honestly frightened by the intensity of Kai's expression.
"You scared the hell out of us. Don't ever do that again." He growled. He grasped her wrist in a tight grip.
"What did I do?" Sam asked blinking, her brow furrowed in confusion, shaking off his restraining hand.
"You mean you weren't there?" Ray asked eyeing the ice in dislike as Kenny shuddered.
"I left your little group after the second room. Tourists…" Sam shook her head and was mildly surprised when Kai took her hand and skated close to her, tracing her lifted leg before settling his hand at her waist. Max took a tentative step onto the ice and clung to the side rail that popped up. Tyson on the other hand jumped onto it and fell promptly on his backside. Sam laughed as she straightened and turned to face Kai while skating backward. Her blades flew to her outstretched hand and were promptly put into her pockets. Tyson tried unsuccessfully to stand several times but only succeeded in falling on his face. Finally Sam took pity on the boy and spun away from Kai to pull Tyson to his feet and held onto him roles reversed. He wobbled precariously and nearly toppled several times but Sam somehow kept him on his feet. After a little while he, miraculously, managed to skate by himself and Sam suddenly found herself lifted into the air. Sam gasped and found herself in a fit of giggles as her captor tickled her unmercifully.
"Beg for mercy!" Max shouted from where he had joined Ray off the ice
"Never!" Sam managed to get out through her laughter
"How long do you think Kai can keep her in the air for?" Ray asked Kenny
"Good question." Tyson murmured from where he had just skated up to the group. It all became too much and Sam finally overbalanced Kai and the both landed heavily on the ice
"We have to stop meeting like this." Sam said with a grin from where she was practically on top of Kai
"Yeah, that hurt." Kai muttered, rubbing his ribs as his face was drawn in a slight grimace.
"You've gotten out of practise." Sam muttered, rubbing her knees, grateful they hadn't gotten bloody
"Well I don't find myself needing to skate for exercise anymore."
"Oh so you did skate at the abbey." Sam said with a thought before flicking her wrist again and the music turned down to a more acceptable level. Using her toe pick for support, she managed to stand and looked at Kai for a long moment before offering him her hand. Hesitantly he took it and as soon as he was on his feet, she let go and skated to the bench to pull off her skates and replaced the flooring. With a slight smile, Sam bowed mockingly at them before heading upstairs. She lay down on her bed and threw a ball up at her roof before catching it. Restlessly, she got up again and prowled around her room. She kicked a random box and folders scattered across the floor. One of the folders in particular caught her attention and she fell to her knees beside it. Inside were sketches she and her mother had done as well as pictures of her as a child, with her allusive friend Kai. Gently, she traced the contours of his face before flinging the picture away and burying her face in her hands. It was brought home yet again how much of a chasm had opened in her heart. She was falling for him again. Had she not punished herself enough for that? She pulled lightly on her bangs, holding back her tears with pure will, before a hand descended on her shoulder, causing them to spill over and seep into the carpet.