Dedicated to Ari Dark Princess.
Before I begin may I just say.
I hate men, I hate them!! They are the scum of the earth!
Ok maybe I'm going a little overboard here. I'm going through a particularly nasty break-up and I currently feel that knowing about romance, love, and anything else gooey and sweet is a complete waste of my time.
That being said here's a nice chapter filled with romance, love and all things gooey and sweet!!
I do not own beyblade.
I do hate romance
By going to the ball Hilary knew she was breaking the rules.
By helping he sister attend the ball Louisa knew she was breaking the rules
Both sisters knew this but neither could do anything else.
"This is going to get us into so much trouble" Louisa complained as she helped her sister climb into a long black dress.
"Only if we get caught" Hilary replied cheekily turning so her sister could do up the zip.
"That's what I meant" Louisa hissed as she stepped back "of course if you wear that dress to the hearing no judge or jury will even think about convicting you... as long as their all male"
Hilary laughed, she was more than a little pleased with this dress, it was long and black, there were wide straps on her shoulders and the black against her pale skin looked fantastic, at her sisters insistence it was cut lower than Hilary would normally have liked but according to Louisa it was not enough to be 'scandalous'. At the bottom of the dress there was a light floral design that travelled up one side of the skirt, around to the back and just stopping at the waist. It did suit her and the silver jewellery she had picked out matched perfectly.
"Well it might be the last time I ever see him, I've managed to grant his last three wishes without actually being there."
"How many does he have left?"
"Three"
"So you really might not need to see him, that would be... good?" Louisa knew that her sister did want to see Kai but she also knew what it was like to be in love. Seeing the one you love and knowing that you'd have to say goodbye forever must be painful.
"Yeah" Hilary nodded after a while "it would be good." Hilary watched her reflection in the mirror, for a moment she just stood staring at herself. Biting her lip she was aware of that awful lump in her throat. What was that?
--
"How did I get such a beautiful girlfriend?" Tala asked gazing at Mariah in her white dress, it was a stunning ensemble, a plain white strapless dress with a full skirt that would have looked bridal if it weren't for the black belt and wrap she wore. Her hair was up and her jewellery was pink, not quite following the rules of the black and white ball but she always had been a bit of a rebel.
"Do we have to do this again?" Mariah asked amused "you met me, you hired someone to..,"
"Shut up" Tala hissed kissing her
"Guys can this not wait?" Kai asked not entirely pleased with being trapped in the hallway while his friends made out.
"Nope" Tala spoke cheerfully as he briefly removed his lips from Mariah's.
"Go straight into the living room" Mariah commanded "we'll be with you in a second"
Nodding Kai slipped past the two and walked down the hallway, it was odd but since Tala and Mariah had started dating he had been here a lot. He had never been inside any other girls apartment before Mariah. He got to the end of the hallway and opening the door walked into the sitting room.
He paused.
Standing with her back to him was a brunette in a black and white dress.
He didn't need her to turn in order to know who she was but he wanted her to.
Closing the door so that it banged slightly he was rewarded with a lovely sight.
Hilary had turned to face him, she was looking a little we flushed as she stared at him.
"Oh... hello." 'smooth Hils, real smooth' Hilary berated herself internally as she stared at her 'date' for the evening.
"Hello." Kai wasn't sure how she had done it but Mariah had found Hilary. He'd have to remember to thank her later or at least find out from her how she had discovered where Hilary was.
Kai was looking a little dreamy and confused (I know definitely not normal for him) so Hilary spoke quietly staring down at her feet "I'm guessing from your expression Mariah didn't tell you I was here?"
"No she didn't"
"Right... are you mad?"
Hilary glanced up at his face to see that he was smirking slightly "Mad?"
"About the last time we saw each other...."
"Oh no, Mariah said she thought you had a boyfriend or something like that..."
"Yeah" Hilary nodded "something like that."
--
Ever since he had entered the sitting room Kai hadn't been able to take his eyes off Hilary and even here surrounded by people it was no different.
He watched her as she smiled with Mariah, the two of them were talking about fashion and dresses as they walked into the hotel. They appeared to be doing a running commentary on all the people that were there.
"Hey Kai?" Tala got his attention away from the brunette asking "you ok with this?" when Mariah had told him who Kai's date was Tala had decided that the evening could be either really good or really bad.
"Of course I'm ok" Kai shrugged off the question carelessly
Tala smirked at Kai trying to act like he wasn't completely bowled over by Hilary's reappearance/appearance, she did look very pretty tonight. "Cool... cos I see your dad, and he's headed this way!"
"What?" Kai looked in the direction Tala had indicated and immediately the whole evening was soured. His father was indeed heading over to greet him at the door and he looked pissed.
"Kai finally you arrive!" Susume totally ignored the other people standing around as he berated his son "You were supposed to be here to greet guests with your date."
"We got held up in traffic" Kai lied not wanting to tell his father that actually they had just not left on time! "Father you remember Tala? This is his girlfriend Mariah and my friend Hilary."
Hilary had been surprised by the coolness in Kai's voice as he addressed his father. She had never really noticed how cold his voice could sound but then he'd never had any reason to speak to her like that.
Susume swept cold and calculating eyes over the group "It's been a long time Tala, good evening ladies." he bowed politely but Hilary couldn't help feeling uncomfortable, something about Kai's father made her very nervous. "I hope you have a pleasant evening, it is an honour to meet you both"
"Thank you" Mariah bowed politely.
"Good evening Mr Hiwatari" Hilary responded but her impressive mind is speedily trying to work out why she does not like this man. Where it can take a human brain several years of acquaintance and many hours of thought, it took her mere seconds to work it out. All this man cares about is money and appearances. He doesn't have a trace of love in his voice for his son. For some bizarre reason this fact makes Hilary want to hug Kai, to tell him that he is worth something and to make him feel loved but she doesn't move. She merely smiled at her date for the evening raising her eyebrows carefully.
Kai grinned back at Hilary, he doesn't know why but he gets the feeling she has seen past his father gracious greeting.
As soon as it is polite the four escaped the elder Hiwatari's presence and made for the bar. They ordered drinks and were soon enjoying themselves just standing around watching the people on the dance floor moving in time with the music.
Hilary was enjoying watching people dance, she had never been to dance like this before, they didn't have things like this back home. The only type of dance she had ever attended was a scottish event that had everyone dancing in patterns and reels wearing bright tartan. This looked different, more formal, more romantic.
"Kai!"
A voice intruded on Hilary's reverie as a dark haired woman make her way over to them, looking at the lady Hilary is able to see the resemblance immediately and makes the correct assumption that this was Kai's mother. Staring at the woman Hilary could immediately see that when Kai had told her of his mothers condition he had either been making light of the situation or he did not know the truth.
Ana Hiwatari's aura was dark, almost malevolent. Hilary could practically see the older woman's illness and her throat tightened in concern. Ana Hiwatari did not have long to live.
"Hello Mrs Hiwatari" Mariah greeted the older woman with a quick hug
"I keep telling you, it's Ana" Ana laughed as she corrected the younger woman "If you keep on calling me Mrs Hiwatari I will not be too happy when my divorce finally comes through" she whispered the word divorce because Susume had asked that they keep quiet about the state of their marriage until after the event.
"Alright Ana" Mariah agreed "this is my friend Hilary, she's here as Kai's date!"
"Nice to meet you" Hilary whispered shyly.
"Hilary?" Ana gave the girl in front of her an inquisitive look before turning to glance at Kai "it's very nice to meet you" her attention returned to the brunette "Has my son offered you a dance yet?"
"Mother" Kai spoke warningly
"No he hasn't but I don't really dance" Hilary gave a light laugh as she sipped from her glass.
"Oh yes but Kai's a wonderful dancer" Ana exclaimed "he'll lead you... right Kai?" she leant forward and taking their glasses of wine away from them ushered them over to the dancing. "Go, go!"
Embarrassed Hilary followed Kai's tall figure walking behind him until stopping suddenly he turned to face her, that was when Hilary realised they were in the midst of the dancers. She had been keeping her gaze so fixed on Kai's broad shoulders that she hadn't really noticed where they walked or how long they walked for.
Turning to look down at the blushing young woman behind him Kai smiled "Do you really not dance?"
"N-no" Hilary shook her head, with all her training, in all her centuries of being alive Hilary had never had to dance. Well with the exception of the sword dance that one time she had been accused of being a spy in Scotland but that was different!
"Give me your hand" he held out his left hand and slowly, hesitantly Hilary placed her right hand into it. She tried not to gulp as Kai slipping his hand onto her hip, used his other hand to place her hand on his arm. He then took her other hand in the hand not resting on her hip before moving close to her and whispering "now watch my feet and follow."
Hilary was a quick learner, she always had been and so after a few 'turns' around the floor she had picked up the style of dancing that she and Kai were doing and could move with the ease of a seasoned dancer.
"You sure you've never danced like this before?" Kai asked suspiciously as he moved Hilary around
"Never, this bit's pretty simple though" Hilary giggled a little "just don't do anything unexpected and I'll be ok"
"Unexpected? Oh you mean like this?" Kai asked and moving quickly he pulled Hilary close and turning their bodies slightly he dipped her down like a tango dancer. He grinned as he felt one arm slip up around his neck and tighten it's hold while the hand on his arm clutched him painfully, "Relax" Kai whispered gazing at her face "I wouldn't drop you"
Hilary who had closed her eyes as Kai decided to be spontaneous allowed herself to open her eyes and gaze up into his. Immediately she wished she hadn't, he had beautiful eyes, so deep that she could easily spend hours gazing into them. She was so entranced with his eyes that she didn't even notice that Kai had righted her and started to guide her around the floor once more. Actually to be totally honest Kai wasn't really paying attention to much either. Hilary's arm was still looped around his neck and as a result their bodies were much closer than they had been before.
He longed to kiss her, he could still remember what her lips had felt like but he couldn't bare to watch her run again.
"Wh-where did you learn to dance?" Hilary aksed, she had been desperately trying to think of something to say and even with her superior intelligence that had been the best she could come out with.
"At school."
"I thought you went to an all boys boarding school?" Hilary responded confused
"I did, allow me to tell you the one female teacher Mrs. McCall who made us dance with her until we got the moves right."
Ana couldn't help but watch approvingly as Kai laughing carefully steered Hilary around the floor, she can see it. She's pretty sure she's the only one (with the possible exception of Tala) but she can see how genuine he is. In previous years he had danced, he had gotten up to some pretty racy moves on the dance floor but he had never been so himself before. Any other time had been to, annoy his father, to impress his date, to help his business. Never before had she seen him so natural in a woman's company (with the possible exception of Mariah but as she was with Tala, Ana didn't think she counted.).
As Kai moved Hilary around the floor telling about how occasionally he and Tala had been paired up and forced to dance together. He even told her of the time Mrs McCall had insisted they learn to dance around dresses and had made sure each side of the dancing couple wore a skirt. He loved to hear her laugh, to make her laugh. He loved that he didn't have to be afraid of being himself with her. He can see them in years from now sharing jokes and conversations with each other. Having kids, a family, growing old together.
Life with her would be perfect.
Noticing that her partner seems a little distracted Hilary suggested that they leave the dance floor and go get a drink. Kai happily complied following her through the crowd and glaring angrily at any men that looked at her.
"I don't see Tala and Mariah together anywhere" Hilary stated as they stood at the bar, she had allowed Kai to order her some champagne and sipped at it gingerly. She decided instantly that she didn't like it. She had always appeared too young to drink in this world before but here and now it seemed expected of her. In future she would stick to white wine, it had a more bearable flavour.
"Me neither… oh God!"
"What?" Hilary asked looking up at him
"My aunt just arrived"
"And that's a bad thing?" Hilary followed his gaze and stared at where a woman who looked very like Kai's mother stood talking with Kai's father. Neither of the two looked happy with the conversation.
"I better go diffuse this" Kai muttered placing his glass down on the bar "will you be ok if I leave you alone?"
"I think I can handle the neglect" Hilary smirked her eyes twinkling "Just hurry back to me before I feel abandoned"
Laughing Kai nodded, he was tempted to kiss her on the cheek as he walked away from her but once again, he restrained himself not wanting to give Hilary a cause to run. Instead he just settled for a warm look before hurrying over to where an argument seemed to be escalating.
"You dance very well" turning Hilary was surprised to see someone standing behind her, someone she recognised
"Homer?" The man had sort dark hair and a broad but attractive face. He was tanned and when he smiled his teeth seemed very white. "Oh my gosh! It's so good to see you sensei"
That was when Hilary realised, if he was here then it wouldn't take him long to work out that she shouldn't be.
Now she was in trouble!
"Hello Hilary, so tell me, are you here on a wish?"
"Sort of…, you?"
"Yes, my current master owns the catering company, she needed some extra staff."
That's was when Hilary realised that while Homer was in keeping with the dress code his jacket was definitely that of a waiter and not a guest.
"I see..., Homer please you can't tell anyone about all this." Hilary suddenly decided to throw herself onto her old teachers mercy. "I can't explain everything here and now but..."
"So you are not here on a wish?"
"No"
"Not even sort of?"
"No, it a long story"
Homer sighed and looked at the young woman in front of him, he had known her since she was a little girl, he had actually been the one that helped her study for this job. "When are you due home?"
"Sometime after the party, it depends on Mariah"
"Mariah is the owner of your anchor?"
"No, my owner is the man I was just dancing with, he doesn't know who…. What I am."
"But this Mariah she does?"
"Yes, she saw me, disappearing. She managed to work it all out."
"She sounds intelligent"
"She is, and such a good person…"
"Homer?" a new voice interrupted on their conversation "Sorry to interrupt we ran out of champagne. Can you run to the cellar for more?" hilary urned to find a young woman staring at them disapprovingly.
"Of course" Homer bowed and the woman ran off across the room to see to another waiter "That's my master, no, she doesn't know. I'll call you when you get home"
"Ok, thanks Homer" Hilary watched as the woman who had interrupted her conversation with her friend scanned the room. Immediately her eyes caught on something at the woman's throat, a beautiful necklace, a long gold chain at the end of which hung a large chunk of what looked like amber. Immediately Hilary knew what Homer's anchor was.
"Whatcha lookin at?" Mariah asked startling Hilary as she jumped in front of her.
"See that woman there" Hilary pointed across the room not caring how impolite it was.
"Um… oh you mean Monica Lloyd?" Mariah asked "the caterer?"
"Yes."
"What about her?"
"See the necklace around her neck?"
"God yes, it's hideous isn't it? I mean I like amber stones but that one is huge. If I were her I'd..."
"It anchors a genie"
"What?" Mariah stared at Hilary stunned
"Hey I'm just a surprised as you are. He could have ended up in any country, any time, any... any, anywhere but he's here. I could be in trouble"
"What why?" Mariah asked confusedly
"Because I wasn't wished here."
"Oh yeah…" Mariah bit her lip nervously "this is all my fault"
"No" Hilary shook her head "its ok. I've had a good run! For now lets just enjoy this evening."
"Good idea" the two girls clinked their glasses together in a toast before sipping at them in a ladylike fashion.
"Is everything alright girls?"
Mariah and Hilary turned to greet Ana Hiwatari, Mariah pointed out from across the room a dress that had been designed to look like a swan draped over a lady. It even had a swans head and mournful gaze and the three woman stood together speculating as to why the dress had been chosen.
The conversation was kept light and on easy topics, occasionally Ana tried to bring it around to Kai and Hilary hoping to glean some information from this girl but every time she tried Hilary would redirect the conversation onto another matter entirely.
It was during this talk that Hilary noticed the aura around Ana Hiwatari had grown darker, the woman herself seemed to be fine, a little tired but she showed no other outward signs that she was slowly getting more ill as the evening progressed.
"Ana are you alright?" Hilary waited until she was sure that Kai's mother showing outward signs of her illness taking affect before saying anything. "You look a little pale"
Mariah staring at the woman nodded "She's right, are you feeling OK?"
"Fine!" Ana shrugged off their concern but Hilary could see that this gesture was slightly clumsy and her voice was not particularly bright. "I've just not been allowed a drink all evening and now I'm sorely tempted to have one."
"you just stick to water" Mariah warned "you know what the doctor said"
"Basically stop having fun?" Ana moaned starting to sound like a thirteen year old instead of a fully grown woman.
Mariah and Hilary exchanged glances and with an understanding, that neither of them knew they had, they both agreed on something.
"I'll be right back" Hilary moved away from the two at the bar, carefully weaving her way through the crowds she slowly made her way to where Kai stood with his mow calm aunt and father.
"Kai?" Hilary asked edging towards him
"Yes?" he turned and relieved to see her smiled warmly.
"I need a word" she reached forward taking his hand in hers and smiling politely at the group he had been standing with dragged him away.
Now Kai was curious "Hilary what's wrong?"
"Your mother" Hilary asked staring into his eyes "what exactly is wrong with her?"
"Nothing" Kai lied not really wanting to think about it "look It's nothing. Ok?"
"No" Hilary shook her head and frowned "Kai..." Hilary trailed off, how could she explain that she sensed that his mother needed help right now! How could she explain that she was worried that if Ana didn't get the attention she needed she wouldn't live much longer. "Please Kai she's looking unwell."
"What?" That got his attention, immediately his gaze flickered around the room, he was obviously searching for his mother.
"I saw her over there" Hilary whispered pointing and taking his hand again to lead him back to where she had left Mariah and his mother, as she showed him where to go there was a crash of something falling and a scream.
Kai was running now, his hand still clasped Hilary's as he dragged her over to where a small crowd was gathering.
Ana Hiwatari lay on the floor.
Mariah was kneeling beside her trying to wake her up.
"Mother" Kai dropped to his knees beside the unconscious woman, "Mum?"
"Someone call an ambulance" Hilary yelled, immediately someone to her left pulled out a phone and began dialling.
--
Hilary and Mariah sat in the waiting room in their dresses getting some very odd looks. Neither of them had wanted to leave but neither of them were allowed to join Kai. Tala had gone with him as he went to speak with his mother's doctor but it was a private talk. Besides Mariah had a bone to pick with Hilary.
"Can't you do anything?" Mariah hissed to her friend
"No, not unless he wishes it"
"But you can do something? If he says those words you can do something." Mariah asked trying to understand. After all saving someones life was very different to helping Kai with his business.
"Well saving a life is very difficult, it takes an extraordinary amount of power because you're not just making something, you're fighting for a soul to remain on earth when it could be it's time to leave. It's the most diifficult spell you ever learn"
"But you know how to do it?"
"Yes, I know it, yes I could do something... but, how can I make him say those words? It would be different if..." Hilary trailed off not wanting to finish. She felt so guilty.
"If he knew who you were?" Mariah ended the sentence with obvious dislike "If you had just told him from the beginning"
"Hey there is no way of know that he'd even have a wish left now if he knew what I was, statistically most people on discovering they own a genie use their wishes within one week."
"There are statistics?" Mariah asked amazed, she was constantly surprised by the depth and intricacy Hilary worked. After all you read most stories and it's all very simple but according to Hilary there were rules, regulations and now statistics.
Hilary was interrupted from answering by the reappearance of Kai and Tala
"How is she?" Mariah asked standing up and walking to meet them.
"They're operating on her now but..."
"But?" Mariah prompted
"They need a donor, this is so stupid, I need someone to die to save my mother. Is it wrong that I wish someone would die?"
Mariah gasped and turned to look briefly at Hilary who merely shook her head. That was when Mariah remembered, no wishing people dead, Hilary couldn't kill.
"It's not that" Tala told his friend "You don't wish someone dead, you just wish your mother would get better"
"Yeah, I do, I really do"
Oh to hell with the rules.
Hilary had made a swift decision.
No one would ever know.
She was already going to be in trouble when she got home.
It wasn't as though anyone ever checked up on you really.
And Homer would understand... she hoped.
"Mariah lets go get these two some coffee" Hilary suggested
The pink hared girl nodded following her friend nervously.
As soon as they were out of earshot Mariah spoke.
"I thought that, that wish didn't count, you said you can't kill!"
"It still counts" Hilary decided "he made a wish, of sorts. When Tala said he wished she would get well, Kai agreed. Well... I'm counting it."
"Is that against the rules?" Mariah asked loving that Hilary had decided to do something.
"Are you going to report me?" Hilary stopped them walking all of a sudden and turning gazed into the pink haired girls amber eyes.
"Not a chance" Mariah grinned and suddenly Hilary smiled back
"Good, now follow me."
--
Looking through the window into the operating room Hilary and Mariah watched as people ran around Ana Hiwatari. The woman was pale, there was a gaping hole in her chest where a surgeon was carefully hooking her heart up to a machine and there was a large monitor showing the heartbeat.
"Are we in time?" Mariah asked nervously "Can you do it from here?"
"Yes and No. Yes, we're in time but no, I can't do it from here. I need to get closer."
"How? She's surrounded?"
"Simple" Hilary turned to smile at Mariah, looking down she took hold of the other girls hand and whispered "I'll just have to stop time itself."
"You can't do that!" Mariah argued "that's impossible..." Mariah trailed off as she realised that she could no longer hear anything, looking back into the room she was stunned to see that everyone had just stopped moving. "This isn't real" Mariah tried to pull away from Hilary but immediately found her hand clasped even tighter
"Let go of me and you'll be frozen like them" Hilary told her "c'mon Mariah I need you for this bit."
Mariah allowed herself to be led into the room and slowly up to Ana Hiwatari's beside.
"This is so weird" Mariah muttered looking around "How... Why?"
"Mariah this frozen state will last only another minute, now hold my arm" Mariah obeyed "do not let go, I need to use both hands here but I need you to make sure that once I have done what I must you'll get me out of here."
"How will I know when to move you?" Mariah asked nervously
"trust me" Hilary grinned "you'll know."
Turning to the body Hilary made a few signs with her hands and placed them on Ana's chest, carefully she moved the surgeons knives out of the way, she made swift decisive movements as she pressed certain pressure points on the heart. Whispering almost silently she then held one hand over the open chest. A light like Mariah had never seen before glowed around Hilary's hands and the whole room started to feel warm, she could feel Hilary trembling and great spasms shook the room. She heard Hilary curse lightly under her breath.
Finally there was a loud noise and the entire room shuddered.
Mariah was only just able to hold onto Hilary as the brunette fell to the floor exhausted, carefully she pulled Hilary out of the room half carrying her, half dragging her and walked with her out into the corridor. They made it with mere seconds to spare as the everyday noises of the hospital surrounded them and movement could be heard once more.
Placing Hilary on a chair Mariah moved back to the window. She watched amused as the surgeons stood around trying to work out what was going on. On the bed Ana Hiwatari was moving to sit up, no one seemed too sure what was going on. Mariah could barely stop herself from laughing as she went back to see to Hilary
I was going to leave it on a cliff-hanger but I had time to finish off so I thought 'why not?' Next chapter will probably be the last.
BTW I still haven't decided on a happy/non happy ending. It's all up to Ari Dark Princess really! I think she'll want happy though!
Please R&R