The day before Hilary left for university, as an unexpected surprise, they had arranged a going-away party for her. She walked into the dojo, expecting to say her final goodbyes to the boys and out popped the largest gathering of her friends she'd ever seen.

How they had even organized it without her was a mystery, but she was glad they did. While it was weird to see her school friend mingling with her Beyblade friends, it was the perfect present.

Even Kai was there, though he didn't stay in the crowd for long. She watched him slowly slide out the door when he thought no one was watching. Extracting herself from her group, she grabbed a slice of the cake that had her name written on it – literally – and followed him out.

"You never were one to say goodbye, but I honestly thought that only applied when you left," she said, sitting next to him on the open porch. He had one leg pulled up, his arms hugging it close to his chest, while his other leg dangled over the edge. Even here, he was on the defense.

Kai didn't answer. She took a bite of her cake.

"I'm happy that I got this moment with you," she continued, stabbing her cake again. The room inside had been warm with the rambunctious crowd. Outside the air was quiet and cold, much like her campion. "I wanted to thank you,"

"What for?"

"For this," she motioned behind her with the fork. Her heart raced as she looked at the shadowed profile of her friend. Feelings she acknowledged but had never voiced rushing to the surface. "If you hadn't backed me up all those years ago, none of this would happen. I'd barely have known you or the guys. You changed my life that day."

Kai jumped from the ledge and walked over to the tree in the yard. He stood tall like always, shoulders pulled back into a straight line, eyes towards the moon.

Hilary had seen him distance himself before. Usually, she didn't mind, but this was her party and her last night before starting over again. And he was over there, leaning against the tree with his arms crossed over his chest like nothing was changing.

"The least you can do is listen to me," she put down her plate and followed him across the yard. "It worked out well for you the first time."

"What more do you have to say?"

"Well," she hesitated. His sharp eyes made contact with her own and her heart picked up. What was she going to say again?

He waited for her to continue, never wavering.

Hilary struggled to find the words. How was she to pour all that she was feeling into a goodbye that he didn't even seem to care about?

Taking a deep breath, she braced her hands against his arms and leaned up on her toes. Hilary's lips darted against his cheek briefly before she pulled back.

"I just wanted to say thank you," she whispered, "and that I'll miss you."

She rushed back into the crowded dojo before he could say anything, not that she expected him to. She knew better than to expect anything from Kai. He was a closed book written in a language she hadn't learned to read no matter how often she studied. Hilary felt foolish for thinking that he'd reveal anything to her.

In the morning she left, determined to leave Kai Hiwatari and her schoolgirl crush in the past.

I want to say thank you to all the reviewers and people who took the time to read. I honestly wasn't this to receive so much notice considering how short the first part was but the response has been so encouraging. Please know that if I cannot respond to you personally, that I am very appreciative.

Next update is Friday.

Thanks, Konix