I know I said to many that my last chapter would be the last before Christmas but I had a six hour train journey to visit family and nothing to do so I got writing!!

Dedicated to Ari dark princess

I do not own beyblade

As I'm sure you've all gathered Kai's father is the root of most of his troubles, he like his father had been cold, reserved and above all else a businessman. He arrived first to the table and sat eating his food calmly acknowledging his family one by one as they came down but not really greeting them.

It was going to be one of those days Kai decided as he sat at breakfast with his family, everyone else had already arrived and the atmoshpere was opressive. His aunt had obviously decidefd to make her presecne felt the night before and she nad his father were sniping at each pther with undisguised venom. Nprmally during these seessions he would keep his head down sparing his mother the occasional sympathetic glamce but today it was different. He and his mother were sharing amused smiles that hinted of the scret they shared, had either of the other two people at the table been at all vigilant they would have soon noticed something was up but aunt Svetlana and Susume Hiwitari were determined to fight.

"I'm done" Ana said quietly standing as she finished her meal "I think I'll get ready to go"

"Do you want me to drive you?" Kai asked politely wiping his mouth and standing as well

"That would be nice. Thank you"

"You will both sit down" Kais' father had an unusually commanindg voice

The two that had stood exchanged and uneasy look and sat down gazing expectantly at the head of the table. Susume sat calmly finishing his last slice of toast making everyone wait on him before finally looking around and stating quietly

"I have some questions to ask about what you have all been up to recently"

'Oh God' Kai thought internally, 'he knows… which thing he knows… out of all the things he'd disapprove of that I've done other the last few weeks I don't know but… he knows!"!

"I've been working" Kai's mother answered timidly

"And ignoring your fathers advice… what about you Kai?"

"I have been doing my best to keep things on an even keel while we have an unsteady economic climate and…"

"Don't give me that rubbish" Susume snapped angrily, he rose to his feet glaring at each of the two in turn. "Both of you have been ignoring the advice of those superior to you and doing things your own way. Kai you totally ignored the advice of your accountants…"

"He did it to save jobs" the outburst was a shock to even Kai but as his mother rose to her feet in his defence Kai was aware of a similar need to protect his mother as she stood there eyes flashing with anger. "he and I have spoken of this. He was aware that in doing those things people would lose jobs so instead he took initiative and I am proud of him"

"Did you hear that boy? Your mother who is stupid enough to think…"

"Shut the hell up" this time Kai and Svetlana were standing but it was Kai that drew his fathers stunned gaze "Now if you don't mind mother and I wish to get to work."

Kai calmly made his way around the table to the door where he was joined by his mother and together they left the room feeling proud of each other and themselves.

--

"Man you're father sounds cruel" Mariah spoke disbelievingly. She sat with Tala and Kai at a table in a small café. The three often came here on their lunch hours as it was within walking distance of all their places of work and served an excellent range of food. It wasn't the usual type of place where three people who all earned way more than they needed would end up eating but they had become comfortable and happy meeting here away from the usual crowd.

"I told you" Tala muttered cutting into his fish "he's the worlds only living heart donor!!"

"Tala!" Mariah laughed but Kai nodded agreeing with his friend

"Yeah but I've never stood up to him before. I just got so mad with him insulting my mother I couldn't take it. She may have had help starting up that business but after a year she was running it by herself and at a profit. It's all her talent, her hard work that made it a success. Any help she received stopped after the first six months and she paid back the money she owed to them plus interest so why don't they just leave her alone!" Kai started to get louder as he made his speech and at the end of it he was slightly breathless.

Tala and Mariah just sat looking at him with surprised looks on their faces

"You Ok?" Tala questioned

"Yeah, I just wish… I just wish… never mind" he shrugged frowning, Mariah looked out the window surprised standing across the street just beginning to walk away stood Hilary.

"Be right back" Mariah threw down her napkin and practically ran out the café following Hilary down the street. She saw her friend round a corner and disappear into a small alleyway. She ran forward just in time to see her friend surrounded by a glow of light and then… nothing.

The light was gone

Hilary was gone

There was noting

Feeling slightly dizzy Mariah turned and made her way back to where she had left Kai and Tala, she walked in and sat down at the table.

"Is everything ok?" Tala asked feeling very concerned "you ran out of here so fast I thought you were chasing a mugger or something."

"No" Mariah shook her head confusedly before deciding to lie about what had just happened "I just, I just, I saw an old friend and wanted to catch her."

"Did you?" Kai asked interestedly

"Yeah, um…" Mariah picked up her bag "I better get back to the gallery, I have something to set up for next week" she kissed Tala gently on the lips and hugged Kai briefly before walking out of the restaurant.

--

"Hilary?!" Louisa looked at her sister stunned as she arrived swiftly back from her latest 'job' "How come your back so soon?"

"False alarm" Hilary shrugged "he didn't finish his sentence so no wish!"

"I remember mother saying that that could count as an actual wish if you want"

"I don't want to cheat him out of the wish" Hilary shook her head "just cos I don't want to see him doesn't mean I want him to be hard done-by"

"Ok but it's up to you… you could always ask to not return"

"No!" Hilary almost shouted the word "I mean… I mean then I'd have to tell everyone what happened and I can't do that"

"Are you sure it's that?" Louisa asked watching her younger sister closely "Or do you just want to see him again."

Hilary paused before she answered

Happy Christmas to you all. I appreciate my readers and reviewers and I hope you all have a wonderful holiday. For the record I am Christian and wish all my friends (christian or not) a happy Christmas even if they do not celebrate or believe in it themselves. They all appreciate it in the spirit in which I say it and it is with love and a real wish for all to experience joy at this time.

Please R&R