Chapter 23

It's late, Ray thought glancing at the clock on the wall. Half past nine Those two should be back by now...

Worry was growing within him, gnawing into his mind. Jade and Kai have been gone almost the whole day and the rest of then haven't heard a word from them. What if they were in trouble of some sort? Possible but of all the Bladebreakers, Kai was the most capable of taking care of himself and Ray knew he shouldn't worry about Jade for he had seem her in action before. So-

Tyson let out a frustrated dry, voicing Ray's exact thoughts. "Where are they?!"

Max glanced up from the television and stole a look outside. "It's getting dark." he stated with concern in his voice.

"Where on earth could those two be?" Tyson half-shouted.

'I'm getting worry." Ray said putting down the book he had been reading. "It's not like them to be out so late."

"I agree. Where do you think they went?" Kenny said.

"Maybe they went on a date." Dizzi suggested jokingly.

"The whole day?" Max asked.

"Some people do that, you know." Dizzi said defensively.

"Not Kai and Jade. It's not like them." Ray said. "I wonder where they went."

Tyson stood up abruptly. "Well, I'm going to look for them."

Before he could take a step to the door, it flew open and Kai rushed in, carrying an unconscious Jade in his arms. The Russian boy himself was bloodied with cuts.

"Kai!" Ray was on his feet in an instant. "What happened?"

"Get the First Aid kit!" Kai ordered Kenny as he carried Jade to the sofa.

As Kenny hurried to get the requested item, Max scrambled off the sofa to let Kai lay Jade on it carefully.

"What happened?" Tyson demanded. "Is she hurt?"

Kai was too worried to even register Tyson's dumb question. He kept a cloth pressed to her wound in order to slow the bleeding. Already the cloth was drenched with her blood. Kenny returned with the First Aid kit which Ray took from him and quickly made his way to Jade's side.

"How bad is it?" Max asked, flinching at the sight so much blood.

None liked the look on Kai's face. It was grim and serious. Like a death sentence.

An hour later, Kai had managed to stitch up Jade's wound as well many others she had sustained in her fight. Fortunately the worst had only been a bullet glaze. It was deep however and she had lost a lot of blood from it. He thought he never seen Draizer's master so pale and fragile as he carefully bandaged her wound. Her duster was off and the old scars on her arms and body were visible. He saw those scars, very similar to the ones on him and his eyes pained at the memories of receiving them. Apparently, Jade was no different. After he was done, he taken her to the spare guest room of Tyson's house. He laid her on the bed and pulled a blanket over her carefully.

"Will she be alright?" Ray asked, coming in the room quietly.

Kai nodded without answering without pulling his gaze away from the injured girl.

"What about you? You look pretty beaten up yourself." Ray said.

A glance at his reflection in the window pane told him what Ray meant. There were glass cuts on his bare arms and several on his face. He shrugged it off. "I'll live."

"So are you going to tell me what happened?" the tiger asked.

Kai hesitated, silently debating his decision. If he told them, there was no telling what their reaction would be. Besides, he wanted the full story himself from Jade herself. She owed him that much. His answer was short and simple. "She saved my life." he closed his eyes, the events of the day catching up with him. "I tell you in the morning."

Ray wanted to ask more questions but he realized how tired and worried the bluenette probably was and decided to wait. "Okay. Just get some sleep, Kai."

He headed to the door, stopping only to look back at Kai. "Hey, and if you need us..." he let the sentence trail.

Kai opened his eyes and Ray thought he caught a glimpse of gratitude in his captain's eyes before he left the room. Kai listened to the click of the door and let out a soft sigh, knowing well sleep was a long way coming.

Max, Tyson and Kenny were waiting in the living room when Ray came downstairs. Tyson bolted to the feet the moment Ray stepped into the living room.

"How is she?"

"She'll be fine." Ray said.

"What happened?" Kenny asked.

"Yeah. Did Kai tell you what happened?" Max titled his head like a curious puppy.

Ray shook his head. "No. Not tonight. Guys, let's not pressure him. He's...really tired."

They nodded.

"Shouldn't we call Mr. Dickenson?" asked Max.

"In the morning." Ray said with a shake of his head. "Right now, get to sleep."

"How can we sleep when one of our teammate's on the blink of death?" Dizzi protested.

"Let's not exaggerate." Kenny said tiredly. Jade's injury was affecting the brunette more than he was revealing. In truth it was affecting all of them.

Grandpa Granger entered the room quietly which was very different from his usual loud way of announcing his presence. He noticed immediately the tense atmosphere. "Yo, kiddos. Chill out. The little lady's tough. She won't die on us. Besides the K-man knows what he's doing. Just leave everything to him." as if they needed more convincing, he added in with more vigor. "She'll be fine and you peeps better get your butts into bed right now."

"Yes, grandpa." Tyson mumbled as they reluctantly dragged themselves to bed. They had no choice but to leave everything to Kai.


The events that happened today played through Kai's mind as he automatically removed his clothes and stepped into the pouring shower. Cold water ran down his skin, stinging the cuts on his arms and face. He ignored it just like he had been trained to ignore or suppress any pain inflicted on him. If anything, the pain cleared his mind of wariness and allowed him to think more clearly. He thought about what Voltaire had said, about how Jade had risked her life to save his. Yet the thought of she not telling him hardened his heart.

Voltaire's words filled his mind. 'Yes, Kai. Jade was from the Abbey just like you.'

He gritted his teeth angrily and took deep breaths to calm himself. The cold water helped, somehow cooling the anger he felt. Anger towards Boris and his sick twisted Abbey. Anger towards his darn grandfather for using others including his own grandson to his own needs. Anger towards the girl sleeping in the room down the hallway who saved his life.

Why didn't she tell me? After all this while...

His fist ached and the sound of flesh hitting concrete echoed back at him. He realized he had punched the shower wall. He pulled back his arm and ran his hand through his blue hair. "Why?" he whispered.

He turned off the shower, dried himself and pulled on his clothes. His mind was on auto mode, allowing his body to do the things needed while his mind wandered. He stepped silently into the room where Jade was sleeping and leaned against the wall, just watching her. Her breathing was light as if she was getting the sleep she longed for in a long time. Her hair fanned out around her like a dark halo. Just lying on the bed in deep slumber, she looked fragile...innocent. The dream of a young Jade arriving at the Abbey raked across his mind like flashes followed by the dream of her helping him in a dark hallway in the Abbey not long after she arrived.

She was all that he saw now. Innocent.

He now know that they were not dreams but memories. Memories of her when they were children triggered by her.

Why?

He closed his eyes as his more recent dream invaded his thoughts. Jade standing in an observation room after her blade had taken out all her opponents easily. Her eyes were cold in that memory; no longer warm like he had first seen her. Kai opened his eyes, wondering what was it that Boris had done to her to change her so much. He thought he should know. The training, the shame, the punishments, the loneliness...

Boris did this to her...but I could have done something to prevent it...but back then, I thought I didn't care about anything...or her...until she helped me...

Kai pulled out Dranzer from his pocket and stared at his most precious possession as if in question. A silver chain was caught around the attack ring and he gently worked it free, holding it in his palm. The red pendent necklace glittered back at him, reminding him of the time they spent in Italy. Back to the time he had held her in his arms while they danced, uncaring of the world around them. Where she had opened up to him and told him of her mother's death. She had seemed so purely...innocent then...like the little girl she once was before she came to the Abbey.

He wondered whether he had the right to judge her for who she was and who she had become.

A pang of guilt settled in his gut and all the anger he felt earlier vanished as he watched her. Strangely the innocent aura around her seemed to have a calming effect on him. To his surprise, a lone tear slipped from her closed eyelids, shimmering like crystal. He wondered what she was dreaming about. A word breathed past her lips and that single word softened his heart unwillingly.

"Mother..."

She's dreaming about her mother...

Again he wondered if he had the right to judge her. The answer was clear and simple.

No, he didn't.

No one did.

How could he understand what she has been through all her life?

Oh, Jade...why didn't you tell me?

He knew the answer even as the thought crossed his mind. After all she had been through, trust was something she never give easily. He of all people should know that. A sigh left his lips as he closed his eyes, clenching his hand over the pendent.

"Why?"


The next morning, Mr. Dickenson arrived at the door. Kenny had called him first thing in the morning after Kai told him to. The BBA should know. They must know that Voltaire and Boris are in Japan. The boys were waiting in the living room while Grandpa Granger let the chairman in. Jade was still in the guest room, still unconscious. Kai had stayed up half the night, watching over her. He managed to get at least two hours of much needed sleep and still woke up the first.

"I heard what happened." the old man said gravely. "Kenny told me. Is Jade alright?"

Before any of them could answer, a quiet voice cut in. "I'm fine."

All eyes turned to the stairway as Jade descended from it, her steps somehow pained and reluctant.

"Jade, you shouldn't be up." Mr. Dickenson remarked. "Kenny told me how badly hurt you were."

Ray went to her to help her but she ignored the hand he offered with a stubborn look in her eyes. "I'm fine." she repeated.

Kai studied her, amazed by her fragile she looked. She had pulled on her duster, hiding the scars on her arms but it couldn't hide the way she moved. He had seen her move the day before and she had been swift and almost untouchable. Now, she didn't reveal any of that. It was obvious how she favored one side, placing most of her weight on one leg and although she had gained some color, her eyes betrayed how she really felt. She was tired and hurting.

Mr. Dickenson looked at her in concern. "I really don't think-."

"No. I have to tell them. They deserve to know." she said stubbornly.

Tyson looked at Mr. Dickenson in surprise. "You knew about her?"

"Mr. Dickenson helped me...after what happened..." Jade said tiredly.

"What did happen?" Max asked. When she looked at him, she was slightly surprise by how mature the blonde boy could be under the proper circumstances.

Her eyes then went to Kai standing against a wall with his arms folded in front of him. She searched his face, wondering how much he had told them. His face was emotionless, his crimson eyes staring into hers. She knew he was waiting. Hesitating she looked away at the floor then finally she looked at them. "I was from the abbey...just like Kai was."

Kai's eyes darkened, his breath quickening slightly. So his grandfather had spoken the truth. What a surprise.

"What?" Tyson gasped sharply. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Jade was from the same Biovolt abbey that tried to steal their Bitbeasts?! "How is that possible?"

Jade sighed. "It's a long story."

"Well, we're not going anywhere." Tyson said stubbornly.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before she opened her eyes again. Her eyes were pained. Kai thought he had never seen her green depths anymore haunted than they were now. When she spoke, she spoke in a controlled voice of someone wary. "When I was five, I was sent to an orphanage."

"What happened to your parents?" Ray asked gently.

"My mother was killed." she said softly.

"I'm sorry. What about your dad?" Max said with sympathy in his voice.

She shrugged. "Dead probably. Who cares. He left my mom and I when I was just a baby."

"Must be hard." Ray said.

"It was." she admitted. "After she died, I was taken to an orphanage, stayed there for about two months..." her voice hardened. "He took me away."

"Who?" Kenny asked.

"Who else? Boris." she said coldly. "I was only a kid then. I didn't have much of a choice except to go with him to the abbey. There he trained me to be one of the best. Taking into his own hands my training, punishment and torture."

And that was when I first saw her, Kai thought, remembering it had been snowing that day. And she looked...like an...angel...

"So...you knew Kai?" Tyson's question brought Kai back to reality. The bluenette glared sharply at the other boy but as usual Tyson was oblivious.

"I knew who he was but he didn't..." the green-eyed girl said. "Boris planned to pit us against each other when I was ready. But..." she shrugged. "It never happened."

"How come?" Max asked.

"When Kai destroyed the abbey using Black Dranzer, I escaped." she answered. "I started living on the streets, using my Beyblading skills to survive."

"Lemme guess what happened next." Tyson interjected. "Boris wasn't happy about loosing you so he went after you."

She nodded. "I've been running from him ever since. One day, Mr. Dickenson found me and took me in, giving me everything I needed and protection. In return I told him everything I knew about Biovolt."

"So that's how you knew Jade." Tyson exclaimed to Mr. Dickenson. "Is that why you suggested her in the first place?"

"I suggested her because she was the best." Mr. Dickenson corrected him. "I heard about her skills on the streets and was curious. She told me everything after that."

"So what does this have to do with what happened yesterday?" Kenny asked.

Jade closed her eyes and started to answer but to her surprise, it was Kai who answered. "It was Boris. And my grandfather."

"Are you kidding?" Tyson gasped. "Here in Japan?"

"Oh, my." Mr. Dickenson paled. "We should inform the authorities."

"Don't bother." Kai said. "I'm willing to bet they have already packed up and left by now."

"What are they up to this time?" Max asked.

"What do you think?" Kai sighed. "Apparently my grandfather still wants me back."

"But Jade saved you." Ray said understandingly. He recalled what Kai had said last night.

"Hm."

"How did you know all this?" Kenny directed the question at Jade.

With a sigh, she told them about the man at the tag-team tournament who had been recording the match probably for Boris. She told them about those two kids who hurt Ray and how she knew Biovolt was in town. When she finished, Mr. Dickenson shook his head.

"My, this'd very serious." he mumbled. "If I had known..."

"If you had know what?" Tyson demanded.

"Checked the news lately?" Jade asked. Seeing their faces, she said. "While we were too busy celebrating, the second semi-finals match was held in Canada. The Block C team versus the Block D team. The All Starz lost their match."

"What?" Max gasped in shock. Mom's team lost? "To who?"

Her eyes held no humor, her tone making it clear it was no joke. "The Demolition Boys."

"Oh great!" Tyson groaned while Kenny let out a high pitch yelp. "What!"

The last time the Bladebreakers gone up against the Demolition Boys, they won but just barely. And it hadn't been easy.

"They are the team you'll be facing in the finals." Mr. Dickenson said.

Kenny started panicking. "What are we going to do?"

"Yo, Chief! Chill you, will you?" Max said.

"But Jade..." Ray looked at her. "Why didn't you tell us any of this until now? Why didn't you tell us about you?"

"I just couldn't. It has been so long since I trusted anyone. Then you guys turn up and ask me to join the team...and seeing Kai again after so long..." she looked at Kai, her eyes meeting his. This time neither looked away. "I wasn't sure...if I could trust anyone."

"Hey, we're your teammates." Tyson said.

"No, Tyson." Jade began quietly. "You don't get it."

"We'll stand by you no matter what and together we'll beat the Demolition Boys just like we did before." Tyson went on. "We're your friends. You can trust us no matter what."

"Yeah." Max quipped.

"Tyson's right." Kenny spoke up.

She stared at them. She couldn't decide whether they were crazy or just plain deaf. Maybe both.

"That's right. Friends." Tyson said as if she needed convincing. "You know people who stick by you no mater what? Yeah, that's us. We're your friends whether you like it or not. And you can trust us."

To his surprise, she just shook her head and smiled sadly. "Haven't you been listening? It's not that I don't trust you...I just don't trust myself."

"What?" Tyson's eyes widened in confusion.

"Yo! How about lending me a hand here?" Grandpa Granger hollered at the door. It was closed and it was no doubt the old geezer probably had his hands full at the moment. For a moment, all eyes glanced up as Tyson went to open the door and let his grandfather in.

Grandpa Granger appeared with a tray filled with glasses of lemonade. "A little help here?"

"Grandpa, that wasn't really necessary." Tyson said.

"Yes, it is." the older Granger said. "Now lend me a hand and give out these drinks. Hey, where's Jade?"

"What?" momentarily confused by his grandfather's question, Tyson looked back only to find Jade gone. The sliding back door was opened and the curtains fluttered with a small breeze. "Why does she always do this?" he groaned.

Max looked at Mr. Dickenson, worried. "Shouldn't we go after her?"

"I think it's best we give her some space." the BBA chairman said. "Maybe one of you should go after her."

Ray glanced at Kai. Come on, man. Go after her.

Kai's expression was unreadable yet he seemed disturbed by Jade's disappearance.

"Kai..." Ray began.

Kai turned and headed to the door. Tyson's grandfather blinked as the door closed after their leader.

"Bad time?" he asked.

"Yeah." Tyson answered grimly. "The worst."