The next time she saw Kai, only six months had passed since his grandfather's funeral. She was surprised to see him, coming face to face with him on the streets of New York. There wasn't a moment that Kai wasn't somewhere in her mind, so it took her a minute to realize this wasn't a figment of her imagination.

"Hey," she said, for lack of another word making itself available.

He nodded in acknowledgment as the city moved around them.

"Why are you here?" There was a hope, a dim spark, that he was there for her. That he'd forgiven her for taking advantage of him in a moment of vulnerability all those months ago.

"Work trip," he said.

Her heart dropped. Of course. He wouldn't travel across the world just for her. Maybe there was a time, but that had long passed.

"So, things are going well, then?"

"As well as they can. There was an adjustment period but I've found my feet."

"You always do,"

The silence between them threatened to strangle her. She struggled between letting the conversation die so that he could leave and keeping him talking so that she could continue to look at him.

"How's school?"

"Good. Really good."

He nodded. He really did look spectacular in suits. He preferred those baggy pants and jackets when they were kids, but a tailored suit did his long legs and broad shoulders justice. His hair was still unruly, though it did look like he tried to manage it.

Would it be worth apologizing to him? Would he accept it? Would he be offended? She had no clue what he wanted anymore.

"Do you want to get lunch?"

It was her words, her voice, but she didn't know what prompted the question.

He tilted his head, eyes narrowed in confusion.

"I know a great place," she motioned over her shoulder. "I'll even pay. How could you say no to a free meal?"

He smirked. A silent chuckle shook his chest. "Over my dead body. Lead the way,"

They chatted small talk all the way to the cozy café she favored. She told him about her experiences as an international student – her classes and the city, all the unusual people she met.

"It was an adjustment, coming from all the way from Japan, to say the least," she finished as they entered the shop. "But what about you? I've hardly heard anything about you since I left,"

He shrugged. "There's not much to tell. I finished my education in London and then went back to train under my grandfather at the company,"

Hilary winced at the reminder of his grandfather. They placed their orders, Hilary getting her usual, and Kai ordering the same. True to his word, he pushed her card out of the way with his own.

As they took their seats, Hilary looked at him. He was being very kind; much kinder than she deserved after what she'd done. And then paying for her lunch even though she was the one who invited him.

"I'm not keeping you from something, am I?"

"No," he shook his head, "I came in a few hours ago. The meeting's tomorrow and then I fly back,"

"Oh, okay. Good."

"My bodyguard might be missing me though," he added, "I sent him in to grab something from the concierge and I left before he came back out."

"Kai! He probably thinks you've been kidnapped,"

Kai smiled, laughing at the idea. "I know. But he'll be fine,"

"When did you get so mischievous?"

"Well, I need to do something to entertain myself now that I'm working all the time. All I ever do is paperwork and meetings,"

"Must be stressful,"

He looked contemplative after her words, his gaze shifting, looking into the distance but at nothing at all. "You know, I've always been envious of Tyson. Beyblading came easy to him, making friends came easy, though I never cared about that. But the fact that I knew what my future was, I always had that on him. He'd inherit the dojo, but would he be able to keep it up was anyone's guess,"

"Yeah, running a business of any kind requires discipline,"

His eyes returned to her, hard and focused. "But now that we're here, Tyson still has the upper hand. Because he can do what he wants most of the time. He blades when he wants to, goes out with friends; he's learning the dojo from his grandfather. And I -"

Hilary waited for him to continue his thought. He'd never been one to be so open about his stresses and worries. If he was in the mood to talk, she'd listen.

Their food came before he could say anything more.

"Enough complaining, right? At least I have a job."

She shook her head. "I don't think you're complaining,"

"Anyway," he waved it off. "What are your plans after school?"

Hilary felt bad that he didn't feel like he could talk to her but thought better of pushing him. "I hate that question,"

"You don't know?"

"Why is that so surprising? Everybody acts like I always have everything planned,"

"Because you do," Kai said around a bite of his sandwich. "Don't look at me like I'm crazy. You do."

"Yes, I am a planner, I won't argue that, but it's not all I do."

"Hilary, the first day I met you, you came up with a plan to help us train,"

"So?"

"You knew nothing about beyblades, yet you planned a schedule. A successful one, at that,"

"You guys needed the help,"

"You knew you were going to attend university outside Japan when you were fifteen,"

"I'd always dreamed of it,"

"You can't sit there and act like it's weird you don't have the next part of your life planned out."

She sat in silence, wilting under his knowing stare. "This part is scary," she whispered.

"Why?"

"Because," she lifted her shoulders, uncomfortable with being so honest. She'd never said these things to anyone. "There's no safety net. If I fail, I fail. That's it."

He disagreed. "That's bull,"

"Excuse me?"

"You're young. If you fail, you'll try again. And you have Tyson and Ray and Max and Kenny," he paused and Hilary felt suspended in air, "and me. We'd never let you fall and stay down. We're your safety net."

She felt tears prickle at her eyes. Being so far away for so long, she'd started to feel disconnected. She saw everyone once in a while. Max stopped by often while he visited Judy. Ray and Mariah traveled all the time, getting it all in before they settled down with a family. She saw Tyson and Kenny when she had a chance to video call. Kai was the only missing piece, and yet he was the one assuring her of their dedication.

"Understand?"

She nodded, not trusting her voice at the moment.

The rest of the lunch flew by and Hilary felt like they were getting back on track. Maybe they'd be able to put all of that mess behind them and just be friends again. Of course, she'd have to go into a strict Kai-cleanse to get over her reemerging feelings, but his company was worth it.

They walked back the way they came, letting the natural breath of the city push them along until they were standing in front of the building where she met him.

"This is my stop,"

"I hope your bodyguard is okay,"

"I texted him before we got to the café. He's inside resting. And he's not so much a bodyguard as a personal assistant."

"And here you let me worry," she followed him in, away from the crowded street.

"Do you want to come up?" He asked as they neared the elevator.

Hilary paused. Their friendship was finally starting to feel real once more but she was still feeling guilty about the way she'd treated him.

"I don't know if that's a good idea," she said.

His open face fell. Gaze tearing away from her, he took a deep breath. "I see. It's fine,"

"I just -"

"Hilary, you don't have to explain," he waved his hand. "I didn't mean anything by it."

"I'm just still sorry about last time,"

Kai looked to her again. "What do you mean you're sorry. I practically mauled you."

"Only because I took advantage of your emotional state of mind," Hilary emphasized. "You were upset over your grandfather and not thinking clearly. I didn't want you to do something you'd regret."

"Hilary," he said on an exhale, as though he were exasperated with her. "My mind was perfectly clear. I had been thinking about doing that since the night you kissed me on the cheek."

Hilary shook her head. "But you were upset with me,"

"I was upset with myself. You made it clear that you were moving on, and then you flew in when you didn't have to. And stupidly, I turned you into a mess against my grandfather's desk like you were some cheap thrill."

"So, I didn't take advantage of the situation?"

"I probably would have thanked you if you did,"

"Yes."

"What?"

"Yes, I want to come up." Hilary bit her lip. She'd been a fool to think she'd ever get over him.

Kai wasted no time calling the elevator down. Grabbing her hand, he pulled her inside, slamming the 'close' button repeatedly before hitting the number for his own floor.

"Kai," Hilary said, grabbing the lapel of his suit jacket, forcing him to turn towards her. Her breath came out in sharp gasps. "Kiss me," she whispered, though his lips were already colliding with hers, driving her back against the elevator wall.

Hello again. You guys are all so amazing. I really wasn't sure how this story would be received and with each new chapter, a little of my doubt falls away. I hope you continue to enjoy it. Thank you for the time you spend reading.

Konix