10. This Kat Has Claws
Dealing with adult life, the loss of parents, friends falling out, injuries and hurt is all hard to bare. Add tests and the growing age of sixth form and Daemon Heights is what your outcome is. The Bandits and the Demolition Boys are all going through hell at 'Hell Hole Heights' and dealing with it differently. Will they get over their pasts, graduate and find love, or will the trash can at the bottom of the road be easier for them? Its not easier being 18 and hiding things from your friends is not the option you can take without digging yourself further into your deep secrets and pasts. Mostly Kai/OC, lots of OC/OC and implied Ray/Mariah and Tyson/Hilary.
Disclaimer: I only own the Triagons, Cassy, Elisa, Sabre, Leo, The Bandits, The town, the Mansions, Dojos, Houses, Horses, other Animals, Bit-beasts and Daemon Heights along with all the teachers and different people you have never heard of before virtually…I own a gold mine. The plots mine too. I kinda copied the title from a book too so I don't own that either.
LightintheDarkTempest: Wow, I feel like royalty, why the hell are you honoured because of me? Heh, sorry, freaky mood. I'm honoured to be honoured by you . Yeah, I'll try to get round to reading your story. Try being the main word. Sorry again but I forget stuff a lot and I probably wont remember but I'll try.
Kai Phoenica: Thanks for the review.
''We better go and stop her then.'' Ry said to Cassy. The girl nodded and began to skate away. Ry ran beside her, if anyone was going to play matchmaker, it would be her and not Elisa. In the distance she could see that Elisa's attack had been cut short by Kat who now was yelling at the plain brunette for even trying to put her plan into action.
''Hey, you using that board or what?'' Ry heard Leo call up on the half pipe that they ran across, oblivious to the two girl's mission or the fight between his team captain and Elisa Tracy. He slid down the side of the pipe and ran towards her.
''No, sure, take it.'' Ry said leaving the board on the floor and continuing to run up to the two arguing Bandits behind Cassy on her blades.
''I told you not to.'' Kat yelled.
''You don't control me Kat.'' The other girl yelled back at her. Kat just bit back her insults and crossed her arms, growling like a wild feral beast. She'd been cornered; she knew she didn't, couldn't, control anyone. ''See, you can't do anything about it.'' Kat just growled before yelling at the top of her voice.
''BANDITS.'' She yelled like some town crier getting the town's people to the town square. Because that's exactly what she wanted to happen. Across the park Leo and Sabre finished their trick and looked towards the voice. That meant they were leaving then. Turning their boards or bikes towards the main half pipe they began to go to their captain's call.
Elisa growled.
''Fine, you run from your fears Kat.''
''I don't run from them, I just put them down my conquering list.'' Kat spat back.
''Guys please, don't start this up again.'' Cassy pleaded. She hated it when Kat and Elisa fought, it usually cleared itself up and they forgave each other, and she just hoped this fight would be the same. Ry looked desperate. She didn't think the Bandits were like this. But it was obvious, there had to be some rivalry in the team and it all seemed to be between Kat and Elisa.
''She started it.'' Elisa said pointing and accusing finger in font of Kat's nose unceremoniously.
''You act like a kid Tracy, and I did not start it, I told you not to go but you went against my word.'' Kat argued hitting Elisa's hand back away from her.
''Just because your team captain doesn't mean you control us.'' Elisa yelled. By now the skate park's occupants were all looking towards Kat and Elisa. The two on looking girls, Ry and Cassy, were surprised no-one had started the 'bitch fight' chant, but then again the culprit would be dragged into the fight if they did and they knew it.
''You decided that when you chose me to be captain five years ago, you gave me the authority to give orders and you agreed to follow my orders then and forever.'' Kat roared. Elisa growled and continued in a loud voice.
''You know, before you came along, everything was fine. The Bandits weren't the best Bladers out there but we were at least a team.''
''That never bladed together. Only when you had to enter team events did you ever pair up. You weren't a team. I brought you all together.'' Kat spat. Elisa growled and continued without paying Kat's words much thought. Even if they were the truth. The Bandits never used to exist, the team members would blade together occasionally, if a tournament was held within the school, but they weren't really a team. Elisa just continued icily.
''Then you come along acting like a little lost kid, and we let you in, to see whether we'd be able to help you get back your nerve. But now, over the years you've got your nerve back all right, and you've made it worse for us. Endless training, shouting, making us work until we could sleep for a decade. You know, I wish sometimes that it wasn't just you parents that were shot and didn't recover.'' A second later Elisa visibly paled as those fateful words left her lips. She wasn't that heartless.
Kat's growling suddenly stopped. Her mind took in the words. And all she thought was. No. Then she came back to reality again, her growing returned only to turn into a roar of anger as she clenched her fists and hit the other girl straight in the face. She felt bones crack as her fist met Elisa's nose but she didn't care. No-one, NO-ONE, insulted her parents. Elisa fell backwards to the ground clutching her nose as Kat growled and turned and skated away. All eyes fell upon the beaten girl or the retreating captain.
Wiping the blood flowing from her nose Elisa looked at Kat as she left the skate park.
''Shit.'' She cursed and hit her forehead with her palm. She turned to the other four Bandits.
''I am so sorry guys.'' The Bandits nodded, but even the 'happy-go-lucky' Leo's face held a glare. Sabres face seemed darker than normal. Cassy looked in dead shock and Ry looked confused and shocked too. The Bandits knew Elisa's temper wasn't to be messed with but they also knew Kat could hold a grudge forever.
''We are so screwed. This could be the end of us.'' Leo said quietly.
''What, you mean the Bandits might split up?'' Ry said desperately. But she'd only just joined them! She then realised how selfish that thought had been. Even in the few days she spent with them she'd seen how happy they all were together. They were all best friends; you can't break up best friends. Sabre nodded to her spoken words.
''It's either that or we carry on with out Kat.'' He said quietly.
''We can't though; she made us what we are now.'' Cassy said. Suddenly she growled and glared at Elisa as the girl got to her feet and wiped the blood from her lips and chin leaving a smudge down her lower face and the back of her hand. It wasn't the first time she'd broken her nose, it must be about the fifth by now, she'd done it loads in her training.
''I hope you regret this.'' Cassy mood was very uncharacteristic but Elisa didn't care, she deserved it, what she had said was beyond low. She bowed her head and watched as her nose began to stop dripping blood onto the ground. She deserved more than this. Even her guilt wouldn't make up for the pain she her team captain would be going through.
''I know I will.'' She said looking towards the gate where another figure followed their captain. ''I really don't know where that came from. I guess I'm just jealous that Kat could deal with it better than me.''
''Shit, this is bad.'' Spencer said.
''I've seen those two fight before, more physically too, but this, even for Elisa that is lower than low.'' Bryan said. Ian nodded.
''Why were they even fighting in the first place?'' The short Demolition Boy asked. The rest shrugged and they didn't notice as Elisa looked at them as the remaining Bandits left the Skate Park.
''It must have been something big.'' Theo said. The group now all stood near the half pipe where'd they just watched the fireworks.
''I might have started really small; Elisa and Kat can get ticked off about pretty much anything.'' Tala said. ''I just hope this settles; otherwise we might have just lost our rival team. Even if we are rivals, I don't want them splitting up on that note.'' He finished.
''Did you see that hit though?'' Ian said. ''I'm surprise Elisa is still conscious, Kat meant business.''
''Elisa insulted Kat's parents and Kat herself in one sentence, when you do one of those you're going to get it bad, so doing them both, well…'' Bryan didn't finish.
''Hey guys. Where'd Kai go?'' Theo asked. The Demolition Boys looked around confused. Right to the new boys words, Kai had gone, and they hadn't noticed. But where?
That total and utter bitch! Grr, I could scream until my lungs bled at her for that. She knows, no, everyone in the whole of Daemon Heights knows, that you never insult the deceased around me, let alone my parents or me! I growl and punch the tree I'm hoping will burn to the ground with my glare in front of me. I don't care about my now numb knuckles or the blood coming from them.
''Stupid bloody son of a bitching whore.'' I growled. I feel like screaming. She doesn't have the right to say that. No-one does, no-one knows what I've been though, they never will. I growl louder. Right now I wanted to kill something, it'll be a first but I want to just rip something to shreds. I don't think any stress ball will do me any good right now, and a punching bag won't be enough to take my fury.
Turning I kick the tree trunk hard with my now bare foot. I ditched my blades and skate gear when I entered the forest to one side of the skate park and now only wear long white trainer socks and have bare arms and legs. I used to hide here, this wood runs all the way around town to my house by the way, and think when I was younger, when the murder had just happened. I was lost, like a little kid without it mother, when I came here and just need to get away from everyone. I was the little kid with out its mother…or it's father…both of my parents are gone.
I growl again as Elisa's words repeat in my head and this time I knee the tree hard making myself cringe. I gasp and lean forward and rest my head on the ruff bark covered trunk. God it hurts. I look down on my grazed and bleeding knuckles. I feel tears come to my eyes, but it isn't pain over the hurt and blood.
I shouldn't be doing this. It won't take away the pain. Nothing will now. They're gone and they're not coming back. Turning so my backs to the tree I slide down onto the dry grass and dirt. Drawing my knees to my chest I wrap my arms around my bleeding knees that scream in pain as I make the grazes open into the air. I rest my head back on the tree, hitting it backwards and smacking it against the bark until my head throbs and yells at me to stop and go home. My salty tears are now running down my cheeks, staining my skin red. I close my eyes and sob forward into my knees.
Suddenly I feel a hand on my shoulder. Growling suddenly I fling my arm outwards to fend them off only to have it scratch on another tree's bark and cause me to gasp out in pain again.
''Kat.'' I look up sadly, my body bruised and bleeding, my head roaring and throbbing in pain, my heart doing the same.
He stands there. Typical, it had to be him. My greatest rival as well as secret crush. I sigh and try to smile although I can tell it's contorted. He smiles back at me reassuringly, his chocolate crimson eyes holding a colour and emotion I haven't seen when he looks at anyone else. He looks me over as I draw my arm back to my side.
''Kat, you idiot. Why did you do this?'' I feel him take my arm as I bury my head in my knees again. I couldn't care less right now. Both my head and my heart hurts and I'm prepared for it all to end right now. I'm quiet lucky I don't believe in suicide as being a good way to end it all, otherwise I'd probably be dead right now, but I'm no coward like that, to me it is cowardice. But, we're all different; many people's pain is a lot worse than mine. Some people have nothing. ''Well?'' He said running his fingers over my graze and wiping the blood away making me hiss in pain.
''It hurts.'' I say.
''It will.''
''Not the graze, well, that too but…what Elisa said.'' I say quietly. He nods and I suddenly find him sitting next to me on the ground and leaning against the same tree trunk I've been using to take out my anger and pain.
''It will.'' He repeats. I continue to sob for a while whilst he sits besides me in silence. Why is he here any way? Why did he follow me? Right now I don't care as I cry; I haven't cried like this in years, I don't cry much these days anyway. I've been though so much pain there isn't a comparison to it to make me cry anymore. Losing your Parents and being shot twice at the same time is pretty hard to beat.
''Why are you doing this to yourself Kat? You know it won't help.'' He said softly. I sigh and shrug.
''I don't know.'' I say quietly. He's been though this too; I know that, I just wish I could over come it as easy as he seems to have done. ''I know it won't help, their gone, but I just…I don't know what else to do, I'm lost and have been for the last five years.'' I say quietly. He nods.
''I've been lost for the last ten years.'' He says staring into the trees above us. I sigh.
''I'm sorry, just go now before I upset you too.'' I say.
''You'll upset me more if you stay here and cry, I don't like seeing people in pain.'' He says. I sigh slightly and absentmindedly rub my arm of the blood that is slowly drying there. I clench my teeth as if someone has just put salt into the wound. ''You better wrap that up soon.''
''I'm not going home to do it.'' I said determinedly. I won't go back until I know I'm settled again, and that could take hours. I can still here Elisa's words ringing in my head.
''I'll do it then.'' He says and gets to his feet. What? He's offering to wrap my wound, if this wasn't such a sad situation I would be pretty much overjoyed, but it's a sad situation so instead I just accept it. ''Oh, and I brought your blades here.'' He said pointing to the clearing in which we are in to where my black blades and bladeing gear sits against another tree. Where'd his go? God only knows, probably got a butler or someone to come and collect it knowing him. I nod in gratitude and watch as he takes off the loose shirt he wears over his tank top.
Grandfather's going to kill me for this. He though glumly as he ripped a shred of the thin cloth from the rest. I gasp slightly.
''Kai, don't go getting into trouble just for me. My wounds will heal themselves, your grandfathers hate never seems to disappear though.'' I say. That is technically why Voltaire always glares at me for my prank calls I did a few years ago when I pass him in the street.
''I don't care.'' He replied and kneels down in front of me and takes my arm. To be honest, whether I like it or not, I can't struggle. One, my body doesn't seem to want to move at my command anymore, and two, even if I could struggle then Kai could quiet easily over power me. Yeah, I'm strong, for a girl, but Kai's in a league of his own. I think that as I eye his now visible muscular shoulders and arms, in most other girl's terms, to die for.
I close my eyes and sigh at his soft touch as my arm is wrapped. The blood is already sticking to the blue shirt straining it forever but obviously he doesn't care and I can't complain either. I feel his hand move down my arm to my left hand where I'd bashed the knuckles against the tree. He carefully stretches out my fingers. I hiss again and clench my eyes tight.
''It's your own fault kitty.'' I open my left eye and stare at him before sighing and opening both my eyes and looking up to the sky as he wraps my left hand tightly.
''I know, but, I just can't control it sometimes.'' I say. He nods.
''I get that.'' He admits. I look down on his grey locks of his bowed head as he ties the wrap in a knot. I clenched my palm into a fist again and open and close it repetitively as he moves on my other fist. I really don't care that he's doing this. My mind is just thinking, I have no control over my body right now.
Why would Elisa say that? I know she's always been slightly jealous of me. She's yelled that to me loads of times. I'm richer than her, have close family left, seem to do everything with ease while she has to work. But we've made up. Hopefully this time will be the same, but, that really hurt.
''Hey Kitty Kat?'' I really want to know how they got that name for me. No-one calls me that besides my brother's. Hang on, that would be why. Kai would have heard Ty call me it when he came over that one time for his Grandfathers business meetings with my oldest brother.
Yeah I know, I should have told you earlier. But anyway, Tyson's company, set up by my late father, is Tri Electronics. We had a small agreement with Voltaire with his business; he does…lab experiments or something, and needs electronic components that we make. So because of this agreement Voltaire and Kai came over to my house once, a while ago, so Voltaire could speak to Ty and we went over to theirs for the same reason. Ty likes to get us all involved in the company business, unluckily.
''Yeah.'' I say after a pause.
''What were you arguing about before Elisa said that?'' He asked. I pause. Great. I really don't want to tell him this but his eyes are now locked onto mine and it's kinda hard not to speak the truth, or speak at all for that matter. Those crimson eyes are like bloody lie detectors, I've tried to lie to them but it's impossible, Kai says he gets it from being 'trained' by his Grandfather.
''Umm…a boy.'' I told the truth at least. Kai laughed before ripping up more of his shirt to wrap around my injured knee.
''Is this the apocalypse?'' He laughed, his crimson eyes sparkling. I smirk. Yeah I admit, I would think that too if I was him. I rarely speak about anything other than blading, music or martial arts. It even takes Elisa and Cassy five hours of bribery to get me to say the word 'Kai' to the question of 'who do you like/fancy?' But they already know that anyway.
''No, the world still seems stable.'' I say looking warily around. He smirks and ties my 'bandage' around my knee and uses it as a leaning post to stay up right. I would complain that it hurts when his hand is covering my wound but it's those eyes again and now I can't speak at all. I can just bare the pain.
''And who would this boy be huh?'' He asks smirking. Damn, I just hope…
This side of Kai is quiet freaky. Instead of up tight he's almost like Pheno or Fly, and they act like little kids. I kinda like this side tough, it's cute…ok, cute is now added to my dictionary…with a picture of Kai besides it…umm…I've just burned the dictionary.
''That, is strictly confidential Kai, no-one knows apart from Cassy and Elisa, I hope anyway, but knowing my luck Ry probably knows too.'' I say. Ry knows. Kai thought slightly shocked. But if Tala said that Ry said that Kat liked me then…maybe it is true? His face looks like he is in great thought. I wave my hand in his face before he wakes up again and sighs before sitting next to me again.
''You have to make up with Elisa you know. Your team depends on it.'' I sigh.
''I know Kai, it's just, that was really low.'' I bow my head. ''I'll forgive her, but only if she apologises first.'' I say. ''Why do you care so much anyway?'' Kai glared slightly and I tensed. ''Sorry if that came out too harshly.'' He shook his head and smiled at me besides him.
''No, it's just its happened to me before. When I was a lot younger though, it hurt more back then.'' I nod.
''I suppose it would.'' I sigh and try and bring my knees up to my chest but find that it causes me quite some pain due to my knees being grazed quite badly. Even so I rest my arms on top of them and put my chin on the top of my folded arms. ''Why are you still here Kai? Why is it just you too? I would have thought the Demo' Boys would have come too.'' I ask him. Kai shook his head and began to stare into the trees before us again.
''No. They don't know where I am. I didn't want them to come because they don't know how it feels. And I hate to say it, but I do.'' He said sadness evident in his voice. I nod.
''Well, go and find your team again.'' I say before using the tree behind me to push off with into a standing position. I look down at Kai. ''I'm ok now, I'll go…somewhere, and calm down.'' I say. Kai gets up beside me, now making me have to look up, if only by a few inches. I smirk. Elisa's word have faded from my memory already. For the time being anyway. ''I preferred it when I could look down on you.''
''Well, I prefer it this way kitty.'' He smirks. ''And I'm coming with you. I know what your like, you'll slink off before doing what you did to that tree to a brick wall.'' He said jokingly.
''I really need more counselling.'' I say jokingly before turning and picking up my skating stuff and walking with socked feet through the rest of the wood to the pathway outside near the skate park. I heard the bushes behind me move as Kai followed me out as I stood, watching the skate park for my friends.
''They're long gone Kat. You'll have to make up on Monday.'' I nod.
''I just hope this doesn't get out too far. I can imagine the school papers headlines. 'Bandits Break-up'.'' I say slightly solemnly. That, although it doesn't sound it, would cause quiet a stir. Ok, so our schools full of geeks who are snoops and Bladers that really care about their highest team. Then again, I suppose we will be one of the teams for the school when we go to the tournament.
That's something. You probably don't know about that do you? Looking at Kai I smile and begin to walk aimlessly about the edge of the town where the skate park was situated, Kai besides me. I really want to know why he's still here.
Anyway, the tournament. It is basically this. Schools all over the country are allowed to enter. They are only allowed one team per school though, which is quiet annoying as there are three main ones in ours. So each year this national tournament is held we have our own tournament to decide who's in the team. When at the nationals you compete like you do at all tournaments. If you win, the prize is a huge check for the whole school. Ever since the Bladebreakers and the Demolition Boys have been going to Daemon, we've won that check. And when the Bandits were officially started up, we've been beating everyone by miles.
Looking around I see that somehow I've walked into the town park. It's big and open with lots of grass and a huge pond in the centre. My eyes come upon an ice-cream stand near by to the path we are walking on, me with only socks on. I pause and look at the kids getting ice-cream before running off happily. But then I remembered, I don't have any money. Sighing I turn to Kai.
''You really don't have to walk around with me all day you know.''
''I want to though.'' Huh? ''Just so you don't go and do something.'' Phew, I thought Kai had just openly admitted to wanting to hang out with me. Heart attack imminent.
''You want an ice-cream?'' He asks obviously after seeing my envious stare at the kids with ice-cream. I'm now having a heart attack. I pause.
''Umm, sure Kai.'' He nods and walks up to the ice cream stand. Pulling out a note from his bulging wallet he places it on the counter before the old looking man serving out the ice-cream.
''Two of your biggest sundaes.'' Kai said. I look slightly amazed, there like a fiver each! Wow, treated to ice-cream by the famous Kai Hiwatari, and an expensive one at that. The man nods and takes the note and puts it in his apron pocket.
''And what would you want on them sonny?'' Kai turns to me and I walk up beside him smirking devilishly.
''Nuts, sprinkles, chocolate chips, flakes and apple, strawberry, raspberry, bubby gum and chocolate sauce please.'' I say. The man smiles and nods.
''And you my son?'' Kai looks as devilish as I did.
''Same here too then.'' The ice-cream man smiles and turns to make the ice-creams.
''Thanks for this Kai.'' I say thankfully.
''Well, maybe you'll brighten up. But, all those toppings?'' He raises an eyebrow.
''Expect hyper Kat after this.'' I say smirking. He nods.
''I didn't think you could go hyper.''
''Trust me; the only people that really see me hyper are my brothers, its probably why we're all mad.'' I say. He nods, smiling. In front of us the ice-cream man turns back to us with two massive ice-creams held in tall plastic glasses. Strawberry, chocolate, banana and vanilla ice-cream topped with all the toppings the man had.
''There you go lovebirds.'' He said. If I had been drinking I would have covered the man in what ever was in my mouth. Turning to Kai in shock we both smiled and blushed before turning away again quickly. The man just smiled and gave us our ice-creams. Saying 'thank you' we walked off along the path that went around the pond/lake.
''Do we really look like that?'' Kai asked taking a mouthful of his ice-cream in his hands. I shrugged.
''We must do.'' I say quietly. If only it was true. ''Can we stop? I can't really eat it.'' I say. In one hand I carry my ice-cream and in my other are my skates and skate gear. He smirks and dives his spoon into my ice-cream.
''I'll have to eat it for you then.''
''Kai.'' She whines. I just smirk and swallow the ice-cream from her glass. Turning my course for an empty bench near by I sit down and she does the same beside me.
''Thanks for that.'' She says taking a large spoonful of the chocolate ice-cream from her glass and swallowing it whole. She shudders afterward. ''Argh, brain freeze.'' I smirk.
''You shouldn't have eaten it so quickly should you?'' I say. She looks at me and nods slightly and shivers a bit afterwards. She smirks soon afterwards and dives in for more. The same thing happens. ''You just don't listen do you?'' I raise an eyebrow.
''I'm a Bandit…''
''…Rules mean nothing to me.'' I finish. She smirks at me. That was the Black Bandit Bladers catchphrase, motto, what ever you want to call it. Besides Bob or Betty of course. To many 'B's in those sentences.
''So you do listen?'' She says. I nod.
''Depends on who's talking.'' I say. She nods and takes a smaller mouthful of ice-cream into her mouth and sighs slightly as she closes her eyes and swallows. It seems intentional.
''That's nice, it's too hot today.'' She says. I just nod, staring at her face. Damn her, if I didn't know her better I would be thinking that's she was trying to get to me. But she wouldn't, she doesn't like me. But then again, Tala did say that Ry knew about Kat liking me. And Kat thinks Ry might know. I sigh and eat some more before just thinking to myself in silence. After a few minutes Kat asks.
''What are you thinking about Kai?'' I look across at her. Her ice-cream is virtually gone, just a small bit at the bottom that she can't reach with the spoon.
If I told her the truth she'd probably look at me as though I'm the strangest person she's ever met. In other words I was thinking about her. I sigh.
''Just thinking what the others might be doing.'' I lie. Luckily I can lie virtually as if it's the truth. No-one can catch me out with it. She nods.
''Probably yelling at Elisa for saying something like that, or just going home and eating lunch.'' She says using her finger to collect the left over sauces at the top of her glass clinging to the side. She turns to me and licks it off her finger. ''Anything else?'' I think it's about time I tell some truth.
''I was thinking about five years ago, when I first met you.'' Kat smiles slightly.
''Wow, I'm in the great Kai Hiwatari's thoughts, I am truly honoured.'' She says mockingly. I just smirk at her before both our playful moods are gone again. ''Yeah, I was a wreck wasn't I?'' She says. I sigh.
''The Bandits as a whole were.'' The Bandit team captain nodded.
''Yep, Sabre was a loner, Elisa too; Cassy was bullied for the same reason and Leo was bullied for being a rich brat with no friends. And I was also a loner because of just moving from the midlands.'' She says. ''But who can a bunch of loners become friends if there meant to be loners?'' I smile and chuckle slightly.
''Then you came along. And now look what they are.'' I smirk. Kat smirks too.
''Yeah, Sabres still a loner, Elisa is too, Cassy is a hyper lunatic, and Leo is still a rich kid, he just has friends now.'' She laughs.
''And your worse than you were before. Arrogant, evil…''
''Hey, uncalled for Mr Cold.'' She whines. I just smirk. She's only kidding anyway. ''That first day of school though, it was great. It's what made me turn into what I am now. It might have been the thing that pulled me through.'' She smiled softly as I remembered…
(I like this chapter, especially the Kat's POV bit, but then again, I'm the authoress, course I'll like it. Lol. Anyway, please review for me. It's finally the holidays!)
