Dedicated to Ari dark princess.

I do not own Beyblade

He was in heaven, Kai hated the opera and yet he was in heaven. Now he understood why Tala was so willing to go with Mariah to listen to this awful singing. As Hilary watched the stage he watched her.

She was smiling widely, her eyes, always beautiful to him, were sparkling, she seemed perfectly happy.

Finally the singing stopped, there was large applause, Hilary and Mariah were discussing the performance apparently it was the interval. He stretched as he stood up and turned to see a leering Tala focussed solely on him.

"What are smirking at?"

"Nothing" Tala responded the smirk still present on his face

"You two you ok?" Mariah asked confused as she realised they were still there

"Yeah" Kai spoke a little roughly annoyed at the obvious amusement of his friend, he felt bad for speaking harshly to Mariah so he smiled and amended "Why do you ask?"

"Because by now you've both normally already left to hit the bar before the queue starts."

"Kai was enjoying the view" Tala told her happily "Come on Kai lets get a drink while these two talk arpeggios"

--

Tala and Kai stood at the bar trying to order drink, Mariah was right they normally left way before the interval started and got a round of drinks in, now they were stuck in the queue. This was going to take a while.

"So enjoying yourself?" Tala asked with a smirk as he tried for the fourth time to get the bar man to come over

"Shut up, Excuse me!" the last part was addressed to the bartender who just walked past holding up a hand apologetically

"Come on Kai I saw you staring at her, you didn't take your eyes off her once"

"Which means you were staring at me" Kai told him mockingly "What does that say about you? Hey excuse me! Damn I wish they'd just let us order"

Kai was surprised when Hilary arrived at his side, she gave him a soft smile before leaning over the bar and calling "Excuse me!" Immediately the bartender left what he was doing and walked over, Hilary then turned to Kai asking "What were you wanting?"

--

Standing talking with Mariah Hilary heard the words Kai had uttered and sighed, "I'll be back in a second" she muttered moving away and walking with real ease through the crowds to join the boys at the bar.

She had then get the bartender to look at her and the moment she made eye contact she made an incantation in her head and the bartender had no option but to walk over and take her order.

After they had been served the three of them walked back over to Mariah. Tala and Kai were making jokes about how pretty girls were the only ones that got served in places like this but Mariah was suspicious. How had Hilary gotten served so quickly? She wasn't the only pretty girl at the bar, it didn't make a lot of sense. Maybe she knew the barman?

Of course Mariah soon shrugged it off as Hilary began to talk about the show once more, the two girls had similar tastes and the interval seemed very short thanks to their conversation.

--

As she sat watching the stage once more Hilary was reminded of why she was here. The fact that Kai had made a wish calling her to drop everything and obey made Hilary feel uncomfortable. She shouldn't really be sitting here with these people but she was enjoying herself. She liked Mariah who seemed easy to talk to, she liked how Tala and Kai interacted, they had a friendly rivalry that was almost fraternal.

The music was beautiful but Hilary couldn't concentrate, she was thinking about what her mother and father would say if they knew where she was. She had lied saying she was taking a walk but what would they say if they knew? They would be furious at her for lying, genies just didn't lie. In fact she couldn't remember ever lying to them before.

She suddenly felt odd, it was another new feeling for her. She had never been sick in her life and now she could feel her stomach twist and there was an odd feeling rising in the back of her throat.

Murmuring apologies she slipped out of her seat and headed for the aisle. Soon she was out of the theatre, she stood in the corridor trying to control her breathing which was very erratic right now.

"Are you OK?"

It was Kai, he must have followed her out.

She smiled falsely at him "I'm fine"

"Are you sure?"

He looked concerned and it made her genuinely smile and she nodded "Yeah, just… I've got some family problems right now. I kind of started thinking about them."

"I know what you mean" he told her, as he spoke he slipped an arm around her waist and directed her to a chair and after she had sat down he took a seat next to her. She looked at his profile surprised by his serious expression, she shouldn't ask, it was unprofessional… still she could always tell herself that her curiousity was professional and she was only asking because she might be able to help.

"What's wrong?"

"You really want to know?"

"Well it looks like it's bothering you so…yes"

Kai sighed and leaned back in his chair "My mothers ill"

"Oh I'm so sorry, what's wrong with her… unless you don't want to tell me" she realised that he might not want to talk about it but he smiled and turned his head to look at her

"She has a heart problem, it's as a result of something from her youth so it's not hereditary or anything just…"

"You don't like her being ill" Hilary finished understandingly

"Yeah" he smiled as he looked at her "she's had such a raw deal out of life, I just want her to be ok and to enjoy herself… you know?"

"Yeah I know" she smiled back at him a soft look in her eyes.

Instinctively Kai raised a hand and brushed his hand against her forehead twisting his fingers in a strand of her hair. His hand went to the back of her head and he sat up and moved towards her. All evening he had wanted to kiss her, to touch her, to hold her close, now they were alone and she was within reach he hadn't been able to resist.

'Move back Hilary… I said move back!'

Hilary's brain was going crazy as Kai's face inched closer and closer

'If you don't back away now you'll regret it forever…'

His breath was on her lips, he smelt of mint and somehow his breath seemed cold and warm all at once.

'Just look away… don't look into those hypnotic grey eyes… I said LOOK AWAY'

His lips touched hers, they were surprisingly soft, she responded shaping her lips into the appropriate gestures and moving her hands up to rest on his shoulders. No need to worry about his eyes now as her own closed in complete abandon to the moment. His other hand went to her neck gently massaging his thumb along her jaw line as he flicked his tongue along her lower lip.

Just when she thought she couldn't get more addicted to the touch of Kai's lips his tongue came into play surprising her and making her open her mouth… His tongue hit hers and gently coaxed her into reacting. She was tentative, nervous but he was calm at ease and soon the two of them were passionately responding to each others touch.

Finally they broke apart, her eyes slowly opened to look at him he was watching her smiling, he moved in to kiss her again but she moved back this time. Finally her common sense had kicked in.

"I... I have to go" was all Hilary could utter and she stood practically running from him, she moved into the ladies bathroom and once she was sure she was alone pressed her hands together and muttering the words that would take her home.

--

Kai watched her run from him more than a little surprised, he wouldn't have been surprised if she had moved away straight away after all he was her boss but to kiss him like she had and then run…?

Bemused he stood and walked towards the exit assuming that she had headed that way. He asked around but apparently no one had seen her. Guessing that she might have returned to her seat he headed into the theatre and looked at where they had been sitting. Mariah and Tala still sat in their seats but she wasn't there.

Tala had obviously been watching for him because when he arrived at the door the redhead nudged his girlfriend and nodded his head over at Kai. Mariah turned to look at Kai her face showing concern, together the two stood and headed to join him.

"What happened?" Mariah asked the instant they were out of range of the theatre

"I don't know" Kai shrugged looking upset "One minute we're talking the next she runs off."

"Oh really?" Mariah cocked her head to one side smirking

"Yes really"

"Then how come you have lipstick on you face?"

Eyes wide Kai raised his sleeve to his mouth and scrubbed at his face

"I'll ask you again" Mariah said dangerously "what happened? "

"I kissed her… she seemed ok with it" he defended himself "Then she just ran off"

"Man you must be a bad kisser" Tala commented not at all helpfully

"Shut up Tala" Mariah fiddled with her watch "Look Kai… Hilary…she said that dating you wasn't a possibility. I think she may have another boyfriend that she doesn't want to talk about or something."

"Oh" Kai nodded feeling disappointed

"She likes you, she admitted that she thought you were attractive but there's something preventing her form being with you."

"Right" Kai nodded "Look I'm gonna head off" he turned on his heel and walked away

"Kai!" Mariah was going to call him but Tala placed a hand on her arm and shook his head

"Leave him"

"But I know she likes him, I just thought that if she spent some time with him she might realise the stuff preventing her from being with him might… seem not so big?" Mariah trailed off not really sure of what she had been hoping for.

"Things can't always be like that" Tala shrugged sadly "it's a shame, he really likes her."

"I don't think I want to stay any longer" Mariah muttered.

Tala smiled and wrapped his arms around her in a comforting gesture. She had been trying to help Kai and it made him happy that the girl he was falling in love with cared about the man he considered his brother. "I'm not complaining if we leave" Guiding his girlfriend out of the opera house Tala kept one arm securely around her waist.

--

Damn! Damn! Damn! Damn! Damn!

Why had she agreed to spend such a romantic evening with him?

Why did he have to be so attractive?

Why had she let him kiss her?

Why had she kissed him back?

With a mind full of questions Hilary lay on her bed feeling miserable.

"Hilary?" someone was at her door

"Just a second" Hilary yanked off her dress and pulled on a bathrobe, she checked the mirror and wiped off all her makeup before raising a hand to her head and letting her hair down "Come in"

"Hello Hils" A brunette almost identical to Hilary walked into the room with a baby on her hip.

"Louisa" Hilary gave her older sister a smile welcoming her into her room "What are you doing here?"

"Mother and father asked me to speak with you" Louisa told her honestly "They're worried about you."

"I know" Hilary nodded and walked forward to welcome her little niece "Aw look at little Tina. Hello baby" the one year old in Louisa's arms gurgled happily as Hilary got her attention. "Wow she's grown"

"It's been a while since you've seen him. You've been so busy with your training and work as a professional genie we hardly see you. Want to hold her?"

"Please...! I know I've been busy" Hilary took the little girl from her sister and grinned as she sat down on her bed "What else did mum and dad want you to say?"

"Look Hils… by your age most girls have met their soul mate…"

The minute her sister said the term 'soul mate' Hilary's mind flew to Kai, "I know"

Louisa was surprised, normally when she was questioned about this subject Hilary would become defensive. Now Hilary just looked confused. "What's with that look?"

"I've met someone… he makes me feel… happy. I don't know if it's love but when I think about never seeing him it makes me unhappy" Hilary smiled a little as Tina grabbed onto two of her fingers "It's tricky"

"How so? If you've met…" Louisa looked at Hilary carefully, her hair was falling around her face in an odd way, almost as though it had been styled. Her favourite blue dress had been tossed over a chair "Where have you been?"

"Earth, the human world."

"Were you wished there?" there was a suspiscion forming in the older girls mind and she didn't like it

"No, but my master did make a wish while I was there"

"You have a male master this time?"

"Louisa?" Hilary allowed her hair to fall forward hiding her face from her sister

"Yes Hilary?"

"I think I've really screwed up" Hilary sounded broken hearted as she told her sister this.

"Hey" Louisa moved forward and brushed Hilary's hair back so she could get a good look at her face "Whatever you've got going on it can't be that bad, I'm sure we can…"

"I kissed him" Hilary interrupted

"Oh wow" Louisa stared at her sister completely shocked "you actually kissed him?"

"Yeah… what the hell am I going to do? This is more than just bad… it's technically illegal"

"No" Louisa shook her head slipping an arm around Hilary and hugging her "There's actually no law against it. Whatever happened it wasn't criminal ok? Just frowned on!"

"Frowned on?" Hilary stared at her sister "Frowned on? Mum and Dad would kill me to say nothing of how impossible the situation is. He doesn't even know what I am"

"He thinks you're human?"

"Yeah, and even if he did know what would that do?"

"Well you could become human"

"That hasn't been done in millennia no one's entirely sure it's possible the magic is old and complicated. The ingredients needed for the spell are almost impossible to acquire. Even if I considered it… humans are wired differently, most marriages end in divorce."

"What's divorce?" Louisa asked

Hilary sighed, she had forgotten how little Louisa actually knew of the human world, she had never actually been sent there and divorce was nonexistent in this realm.

"Divorce is where you separate from the person you're married to"

"Why would anyone want to do that?" Louisa seemed really confused "surely that would leave you very lonely? What about their children?"

"The children adjust and as for the other thing… Well people often find someone new"

"New?"

"Oy" Hilary groaned "Look the point is in the human world they aren't afraid to 'be with' more than one person. The point is, I may be willing to live with Kai the rest of my life but there is no guarantee he'd say the same for me."

"I see…well that explains your unwillingness." Louisa nodded trying to get her head around what she had been told.

"Yeah," Hilary lifted Tina up a bit and kissed her forehead "Of course now I've met him I don't want anyone else. That condemns me to a life of loneliness."

They sat in silcence for a while, there was nothing that either of them could say to make this any better. Finally Loisa looked at her younger sister and asked "When are you going to tell mum and dad all this?"

"Not yet" Hilary thought about it carefully "he has six wishes left… I'll wait until he's used a few more."

"Good idea…"

Hilary sighed turning to face her sister properly "Of course if I do decide to be a human you can have my hairbrush"

"Oh my god! Are you still not over that?" Louisa laughed as she and her sister looked at each other "I can't believe you've been alive for over 2000 years and you still get annoyed when I borrow your hair brush!"

Ok people you know what to do!!