Author's Notes: A special add on Valentine's Day. Sorry that it's sort of late. Whee, almost done with this fic! About two chapters left!

And yes, there is "party" in this chapter but no spin the bottle or any of those games.

Safe, In Your Arms

Chapter 20: Lies and Revelations

There were fewer fans than usual; less screams, less cheer and less booing. He appreciated it for once, not that he noticed it much. The Bladebreakers played again, two days in a row as there were only eight teams left in the tournament. Each team had been eliminated one by one. It wasn't pleasant to watch.

But of course, they were still in the tournament. They were the world champion team.

Max played first, his blonde hair messy and blue eyes dreamy. It was hard to keep going with the tournament and school work at the same time.

"Let's hear for Max from the Bladebreakers!" there was a loud round of applause, some cat calls and cheering. "And Pierre—" the host sweat dropped, "well, Pierre Nguy from the… Pierres!"

Kai didn't even bother to mock the other team before the two opponents launched their blades. The Russian grunted. Rock heads. Ego.

"Show them what defense means!" Nguy muttered, his voice low and flat.

"No, let me do the favor," Max flashed a grin, his bleached teeth showing. "Draciel!"

The two charged at each other, head on. Draciel held on tight and didn't seem to be bothered at all by the attack. Nguy Pierre grunted.

"Fine," he hissed, "Rock Bomb!"

"Oh, no you don't!" Max held his ripcord tight, "Draciel, Phantom Hurricane!"

Draciel appeared, majestically, shining a purple-silver light. His arms seemed to extend like Dragoon's claws. And then, with one fast swing, he unleashed all the power.

"Oh yeah," Max winked and walked away, his blue eyes shining from excitement. "Oh boy that woke me up!"

"Haha, Maxie. Way to show them what you're made of!" Tyson patted his best buddy on the shoulders, "now, would you mind if I kick his butt with your attack?"

"Go ahead, Tyson!"

Kai shook his head to himself. Why do I even bother? He glanced a look at the distant girl, who was currently glancing over Kenny's shoulders to look at Max's data. She can't even read data. He looked away, not wanting to think about the conversations that he had with her the previous night. Mostly one-sided conversations anyway. She stopped talking to him for a day or so. It was so awkward because he was always the one not talking, not her.

At least she stopped babbling.

"Wipe him out, Dragoon!"

Kai didn't bother to lift his head up; he knew that Dragoon would defeat Pierre anyway. Which Pierre is this again? He grunted. His mind has been messed up recently. He never seemed to focus enough on anything and he started to lose edge on beyblading. What's happening to me?

"Kai?"

He looked from the corner of his eyes. It was Kenny.

"What?" he snapped.

"Uh, it's time to go. We've won," the Chief swallowed hard as he closed his laptop. Kai didn't want to hear Dizzi talk anyway.

Fuck, what is wrong with me?

"Kai!"

He looked up, from her pale legs to her messy shirt, to her chest then to her uncombed hair.

"Kai?" she seemed concerned.

"Sit down, will you?" he groaned. He hated it when people stood over him. It made him feel inferior.

"Oh…," she mumbled, taking a seat beside him on the wooden floor of the dojo.

Although, he wished that she'd say more.

"Kai, you okay?" Ray asked, arching an eyebrow very high.

"I'm fine," he replied, of course, being the cocky guy that he was, he didn't add a 'thank you' or anything.

"Kai, you haven't been listening to me all day," the Chief complained. "Tomorrow are the semi-finals! And all the teams are very tough! Dizzi's done all the—"

"Chief," Kai snapped, "there is nothing to worry about. Those teams are all worthless. Even Voltaire's team isn't good."

"I-I, alright. Let's just watch this…," Kenny muttered, his cheeks turning faintly pink from embarrassment.

He didn't understand Kai. No one did… much.

Kai got up from his seat. Forrest, Tyson and Max were all looking at the laptop screen, their eyes reflecting the image of a battle, more specifically a battle of the Slayers.versus the Astral Spirits. He felt the cool air blow past him. So soft yet so chilling.

"What day is it?" he wondered out loud.

"February… the fourteenth," Ray's eyes seemed to show as much happiness as his smile. "I gave Aurora her flowers."

"Flowers?" Kai's arm stretched to support himself from the wall.

"It's Valentine's Day," Ray chuckled, "wow, Kai. You really are out of it."

"Valentine's Day," he glanced innocently across the room with his eyebrow raised.

He saw Forrest's eyes flicked up for a second. They showed nothing more than apathy. So she doesn't care.

Kai closed his eyes and used his hands to guide him, his fingertips barely touching the cold walls. He traced to the corner and stepped outside of the room, fully enjoying the February breeze.

Ray gave a sigh behind him.

"It's almost over," the Chinese boy whispered, his sharp beastly teeth gleaming in the darkness.

Kai opened his eyes, and nodded to his friend.

"I was mistaken… to participate in this," Kai said.

"No. I think that it was meant to be," Ray flashed a grin. "This tournament helped me. It helped me get my relationship back with Aurora."

Kai gave Ray a quizzical look, no clue what the boy had just said.

"You see," Ray paused, "the tournament made us enemies but because I made a promise, it brought us back together. Beyblading was always the connecting factor between us. Aurora started beyblading for me, so that we could have fun together when we were little. She wasn't allowed at first because she was born a beauty, and her parents wanted her to stay that way and become a model but she didn't. She had a heart and a soul and made her own choices."

"Has she made the right ones?"

Ray gave a chuckle, his hot breath showing its silhouette under the moonlight.

"Are you kidding? We're happily together now. Of course she made the right choices," Ray shook his head to himself. "So what's wrong with you?"

"Nothing," Kai looked back at the room and grunted. Ray followed his gaze and smiled.

"Forrest, right?" Ray chuckled. "She befriends everyone Kai. She's not like you."

"Her friendliness doesn't bother me at all," the slate haired boy shrugged, "but her distant side does. She changes so quickly; her emotions jumping from one to another."

"Kai," Ray laughed, "she's a girl. We'll never understand girls." The Chinese boy gave a dramatic gesture. "Just… make the right choices and you'll be fine. Besides, we're only seventeen. What can happen?"

Kai didn't bother to reply this time. Right choices. For some unknown reason, the picture of his brother and mother came into his mind. Business or beyblading?

"Come on. We better watch the video of the battle before Dizzi gets mad."

Kai rolled his eyes slowly. "Why the hell should I be scared of a computer?"

"I heard that!"

It was dark and the gilded chandelier hanging from the vast ceiling was turned on the lowest level. But the room, ironically, was filled with a fresh yet intoxicating scent, slipping to her nostrils and waking her senses.

"Kai, this isn't funny," she started, her voice hoarse and weak, "I'm sorry that I forgot to tell you that I had to go out with my friends."

She looked around, squinting her eyes. "Uh, Shayna, Namiko, Janet and Emily are over. Do you mind if they stay for tonight?"

There was no response. From the corner of the eyes, she saw a figure flash by, quick and quiet. She gulped.

"Forrest, what's wrong?" came Emily's voice. Forrest turned around and saw the girl's round glasses reflecting the dim moonlight.

"Give me a second," Forrest mumbled as she finally found the light switch and turned it on higher. The first switch made the chandelier barely brighter so she turned another one on. "Well, I guess that Kai's asleep. I'll go get Theresa and she—"

"Forrest, look," Janet stared.

"What?"

Her eyes widened, and then she frowned. "What are those?"

"Rose petals," Shayna replied. "Am I the only one who's curious here?"

"No…," Namiko merely smiled. "They lead outside."

Forrest stood there dumbly while the other girls headed for the glass door that lead to the exterior. She could see the rose petals outside, trailing around the pool and disappearing. She gulped again. Is this a joke?

"Come on, Forrest!" Namiko urged.

"Right," Forrest shrugged to herself. "It can't be that bad."

There was a swoosh and a fast wind, blowing all the rose petals together and creating an image so fantastically fake. The rose petals gathered and formed a heart on the floor, a perfect heart both in shape and color. The girls were in awe.

"I shall guide you," came a voice, almost chuckling.

Forrest gave a sigh of relief, it was Tyson. And he was definitely looking suspicious at the moment.

"What is this, a joke?" she muttered as she gave a last glance at the petals.

"No," Tyson said, more seriously but the boyish grin on his face couldn't be erased.

Namiko was first to follow Tyson, fearless, then Shayna followed. Forrest was third and examining the garden in the dark. Did they do anything to this place? It feels so different. Emily, giving an analytical look around, was shaking her head to herself. Janet was speechless, but, like always, a faint blush hung on her pale cheeks.

Her eyes widened as she saw light. There were lanterns, hanging from a cord tied to two tall trees.

"What's going on?"

"Well, we knew that you were going to leave us soon," Max said, appearing from behind the bush and grinned.

"Besides, it's Valentine's Day," Ray joined in, smiling such a mischievous smile. The girl noticed Aurora in his arms and they snickered.

"Game time," Tala appeared, his bright red hair glowing.

There was a table placed over the beyblade dish, sitting there strongly with some glass bottles over it.

"You guys have alcohol?" Forrest choked, "that's why you all seem so drunk…" Shayna gave a snort.

"No, just apple ciders," Tyson laughed. "Let's just have a nice game of cards or something."

"Cards? How pointless," Emily sniggered, unhappy. "Come on Max, you've got to be kidding me. I'd much prefer to beyblade right now."

"Emily, give it a break. It's pretty dark anyway and it's Valentine's Day!" Max smiled, like always.

Emily's eyes softened and gave a shrug. "Well too bad, 'cause you can't play." She tugged Max and dragged him to a rock where Ray and Aurora were.

"Just great," Forrest mumbled to herself.

Shayna and Namiko were already fired up for a second round of poker with Tyson and Tala. "Am I the only one who's a loner or what?"' Forrest exclaimed, pouting.

"No," came a shy voice. "Well, we might as well as just… join the game," Janet cast a look over to the couples, "we wouldn't want to bother with them anyway."

"Unless," Forrest grinned to herself. "Hey, Kai!"

There was a pause, where no one spoke, even the people playing cards quieted down. A grunt.

"Told ya," Forrest grinned. She walked over to the familiar tree, where she's seen Kai sitting on for hours and hours observing and thinking. "Come on, Kai. You can enjoy the night too. It's probably going to be the last one," she gave a sincere smile, hiding the regrets.

He jumped out of tree, causing Forrest to gasp and take several steps back. Quickly, he wiped some dust on his pants and looked away. "Fine. Only because you're leaving."

"Well, that's nice," Janet mumbled, blushing a deep crimson, which, luckily for her, was hidden in the dark.

They settled at the table, waiting to join the next game.

"Hey you guys, wanna add some risks into this?" Tyson suggested as he shuffled the cards.

"I've no money, sorry," Forrest replied on instinct.

"No, not money. More like dares," Tyson laughed.

"Uh, no thanks," Janet replied.

"Can't be that bad," Shayna shrugged, her mischievous smile evident.

"I agree with Janet. That game caused lots of troubles," Forrest looked away, not wanting to elaborate.

"If you mean trouble with you and Kai," Tala smirked, "then I'd like to play."

Namiko stared. "You guys have a …history together?" she pointed to Forrest and then to Kai.

"No," Forrest giggled nervously. "Just bad memories." She looked at Kai but he didn't seem to care at all. In fact, he wasn't even looking at the cards that Tyson just distributed.

"Fine, you party poopers," Tyson groaned, "let's just do cider shots."

"You're going down Tyson," Namiko challenged. Forrest chuckled and gave a glance at her cards.

Bad memories? Stop lying to yourself, Forrest.

"Are you guys sure that you don't want to stay?" Forrest asked once more at the door. "I don't think that Kai would mind," she gave a look at the boy in question.

"No, I'll just drop them all off, thanks," Ray declined smiling before shutting the double heavy doors slowly and quietly.

It was past midnight. Sometime around two o'clock and normally, Kai would have been angry that they stayed up so late before the tournament but he didn't seem to mind this time. He actually had some fun. Mainly because he made Tyson choke on apple cider about ten times. He wasn't a good drinker but, come on, apple ciders? Piece of cake.

"Well, night, Kai," Forrest grumbled before giving a big yawn and rubbing her eyes. She stretched like a cat.

"Er, wait."

She stopped dead, looking at him curiously. "What?"

He walked towards her, slowly, as she took a step back, feeling claustrophobic. Slowly, he opened his palm and dropped something in her hands. She felt his cold fingertips brushing against her numbly before he withdrew and looked away. She flinched.

"What is—"

He turned back and seemed to hesitate. "Happy Valentine's Day," his tone quickly changed, regaining his formal attitude, "enjoy it for now. Tomorrow's going to be harsh."

For a second, she'd noticed how much better his English has gotten. But then again, he was never that bad at it. Carefully, she unwrapped the small box. Inside if was a spherical crystal bottle with light cursive engraving on it.

"It's… perfume," she whispered, confused.

What, I don't smell good?

"You don't like it?" he asked. She immediately shook her head. But still, he doubted her. "It's a traditional Japanese one. You know, sakura scent. I thought that you'd like a memory from Japan."

"Oh," the corner of her lips perked up. She giggled a true feminine giggle. "You do know that when you give someone a Valentine's Day gift, you need to ask them to be your valentine."

"Really?" he paused. He gave a frown, no clue what she'd just said. "Be my Valentine?"

Forrest smirked. She wished that she had a recording of that. "Do you know what that means?"

"No…," his low voice trailed off as he looked at her. "I'm going to sleep."

"You really don't know any Western traditions do you, Kai?

The question was left unanswered.

She could have told him to wait. She could have grabbed on his soft tunic shirt. Her fingers would have trailed up to his collar and then reach for his tender neck. She could mark him as her own. She could have closed her eyes and smell his fresh cologne and fall into a bottomless pit of fantasies. There could have been an unforgettable kiss. A deep moan. A soft sigh. Then a quiet sob.

But there was nothing. Nothing at all.

Except for…

"Kai," she closed her eyes and felt a strange cold breeze fly by, "I-I th--" she stopped, unable to speak.

In the silence, she heard him clear his throat; he was rather impatient.

"I think that I like—" she looked down and blushed.

"My gift?" he added. He sounded rather annoyed.

"Yes, yes," she piped, looking up again and grinning from ear to ear. Screw this.

Another fake smile, Forrest Fan.

"Thank you so much for the gift. It's a great souvenir."

Stop lying, Forrest Fan. I can see it. The dark can't hide your feelings, you know that. It can't hide the fact that you're blushing, or the fact that you don't even like perfume. But your gratitude…it's enough. Good enough for a friendship.

"Oh, I hope."

A soft tap on his shoulders.

He flinched. Not already…

"Kai, grandson," came the familiar voice.

"What do you want, Voltaire?" he spun around quickly, glaring at his relative coldly.

"Don't make the same mistake twice. You still have time to change sides by not playing. You have no clue what you are up against," the old man seemed so weak, supported by his black cane. But he stood strong, and Kai knew how strong Voltaire truly was; how his manipulative power could control anyone. Even him.

"Then I'll make sure that I play," Kai hissed. "Good day to you."

"Yes, good day. It will be pleasant to see you lose."

He was getting tiresome of all the trash-talk meetings that he had with his grandfather. Was it even possible to make peace? He grunted.

It was the next day already, and the events of Valentine's Day were quickly erased as they rose early to train a little.

The stadium was already crowded; it was the semi-finals after all and people always liked to watch those. The crowds were much more energetic than last time. The cheering was intense and the suspense was too.

The Bladebreakers were facing the Slayers. Finally.

He could tell that Forrest was dead nervous. It was her last battle here and he understood partially. They all wanted to win but for Forrest, it was just more special.

"Hey Max," Kai started, "let me play first."

"Oh, alright," Max backed away. "That means that I'm playing third, right?"

Kai nodded, giving the blonde boy some sympathy. "I have to show Voltaire the true power of Dranzer."

He saw Forrest look away. He didn't understand her at all. Why should she be embarrassed at a time like this?

"Bladebreakers and Slayers, send your players up!"

Kai was determined, his fists clenched and his white scarf waving behind him. He frowned. He was battling the other team captain, Pierce Kata.

They must have known that I was playing first. Voltaire, you think that you'll win. But this is more than just a battle of pride. I will show you. I will show you that I'm not just good for the money. I'm real good. Better than you.

"Players ready!" the host exclaimed into the mike. "There will be three matches to conclude this round of the semi-finals. The one who wins two matches out of the three first wins. Then it goes on," he paused, "well, here we go!"

Kai positioned himself and ran his hand through his messy slate hair. He heard some scream from some scary fan girls. They even had a sign that read 'I love you Kai!' with pink and magenta hearts stamped on it.

"3, 2, 1, let it rip!"

Kai leaned forward and unleashed all the power that he withheld from not playing in the previous matches. He was flaming, baby.

His opponent, the infamous Pierce Kata, was merely smirking with pride, like he knew something that Kai didn't.

"Dranzer!" Kai roared.

The red phoenix appeared, magnificent both in color and grace. Her body ablaze, Dranzer charged forward with full strength head on. She let out a shriek and a determined roar.

There was a blinding a flash, so sudden and invisible.

It was over.

"Where's your power?" Kai spoke, his voice low and tense.

Pierce laughed. A laugh that Kai used to let out when he was scared but it hid every emotion. It made anyone look evil.

"Ahaha! Do you think that that's it?" Pierce's eyes shone, "I haven't unleashed the power of my bitbeast yet. Wait 'till you see the true power!"

"Your bitbeast? The slow obese bear? Its speed cannot match to Dranzer's, don't be stupid and give up. Voltaire is only using you."

"No. You don't even know. You don't even know what your own grandfather is planning, how pathetic," Pierce spat. And that shook the last of Kai's nerves, but the host screamed into the mike again.

"Well we've got some trash talking going on! How delightful," he chuckled, "alright, the second match of this round will be in order. Players ready!" Kai shot daggers at Pierce and vice-versa.

"Let it rip!" Kai roared, his ripcord probably broken from the way that he pulled it. His eyes started hurting because of the way that he was glaring but he didn't care. That guy bugged him too much. "Fire Arrow!"

He observed the other blade spinning… so… perfectly. It was impossible. Pierce didn't lose his cool, not at all. His bronze beyblade seemed so… victorious.

"No!"

Slasours evaded the attack. No, this wasn't Slasours. Kai's seen this blade in battle before and it moved nothing like this. This isn't right. This perfect movement. This… simple perfection. It can't be...

"Are you up for a surprise?" Pierced taunted.

"I was born ready for anything," Kai responded. He closed his eyes and tried to sense the aura. I knew it. Voltaire, this is getting old. "Just unleash it. You can't even manipulate the power. Unleash it. Unleash it. Unleash it! Black Dranzer!"

"I will give you a point for finding that out, but you are going down! Black Dranzer!" Pierced hollered, his eyes glaring intensely and never blinking.

"Voltaire was stupid. So stupid," Kai said, "only I can unleash the full power of Black Dranzer!"

Kai gave the laugh. The evil laugh and for a second, he felt like Boris and Voltaire were both standing beside him, like back at the Abbey. "Black Dranzer was made for me. I destroyed it. You have no right to claim it!"

"You were wrong Kai," Voltaire appeared from the dark, his silver-gray hair duller than ever, "you cannot destroy the bitbeast, ever."

"Do you really think," Kai laughed, "that a normal blader like him can maneuver the great power within that bitbeast? He won't even be able to unleash the bare attack!"

Kai crossed his arms in front of his chest. "This was the gravest mistake that you ever made, Voltaire."

"Kai, calm down!" came a shout, worried. He turned around, noticing a bit of sanity.

It was her. Her eyes worried and almost filled up with tears. Did she know about him? Him and his vulnerable past? Did she know about Black Dranzer and how much he still felt drawn to perfection?

"I'm not going to make another mistake, Forrest," he smiled. He truly smiled. It wasn't like the evil laugh. He was smiling for her, for all the friendship and care that she's given him in the past months. "I was born ready for this," he sniggered, "maybe this tournament isn't such a waste of time after all."

He turned back and looked into his opponent's eyes and then to Voltaire. "You need more than a dark memory to defeat me. Look what you turned your own family into. Enemies, Voltaire, enemies. Are you proud of yourself? Well, I'm not."

Dranzer roared and her red coat glimmered. On the other side, Black Dranzer seemed to disappear and reappear.

"You're losing control, Pierce," Kai mocked. "You aren't worth it."

"No, I am worth it! I can control this, I know that I can, I just need to stay cool," Pierced muttered. The crowd was silent, so silent that Kai could hear the unevenness of Pierce's breaths.

"Final attack!"

"Final attack!"

"No… Kai!" Forrest got away from Kenny's grasp on her and ran to the middle of the stadium. She coughed loudly and shielded her face from all the dust and flame. The whole stadium suddenly smelled of fire extinguishers as firefighters rushed in quickly. They sprayed a chemical liquid around and mumbled something between themselves before disappearing.

The cloud of smoke slowly evanesced.

He let out a grunt.

She laughed. You stupid Kai.

His dark blue blade spun in the middle, proud, but slowly. The bronze beyblade was down, broken in half and the bitchip over it cracked at the center.

She looked at her teammates and saw Ray urging her to go Kai. She did.

She stood over his body, his limp body and her eyes widened. He was hurt; his muscle tee was ripped and his scarf was no longer white. Blood tainted his face, his lips, his shirt, his shiny belt. Although he frowned, a sweet smile lingered on his lips. His slate and blue hair was messier than before but he didn't mind at all. No more Black Dranzer.

The tip of the white scarf was on fire so Forrest quickly put it out with her hands. She gasped in pain at the hotness but didn't bother too much with it. Kai was more important.

She smiled at his tired and sweaty face but he was still Kai; he still looked so determined and cold.

"Come on you big baby," she tugged on his sleeve.

His auburn eyes opened quickly and flashed confusion. She gave him a weak smile before wrapping her arms around his shoulder to help him up, just like he once helped her out after her tryouts for the team.

"You didn't have to…," her voice trailed off.

"No, I had to," he replied, stubborn. "Voltaire can't—"

"You're hurt," she stated and hushed him. "You're too weak to speak. Just get up."

"But I had—"

It's time.

- - -

She sighed and felt the blush creep up her cheeks as she tasted the almost-dried blood on his lips.

She finally did it. After all this waiting, she took all her courage and did it… before all these people but she didn't care. Her eyes were filled with unwanted tears as she merely scanned the stadium. The crowd was quiet and the 'I love you Kai!' signs were lowered. The fan girls groaned in jealousy and disappointment.

I really, really like you, Kai Hiwatari.

One must sacrifice many things in life, Forrest Fan. What will you sacrifice?

Author's Notes: Medium length chapter. Romance for you lovelies. Drop a review, thanks.