AN: Bwahaha.. I actually had this chapter finished the same day I posted the last one XD I'm evil…
Anyway, you know I just love Akito.. LOL I don't know why… maybe it's his complete assholeness, but I adore him XD Almost as much as I adore some of the characters that come later in Never XD But for those who hate him… well he's gonna be around for a few more chapters so you'll just have to deal XD - evil
I got a laptop ^-^ hopefully this will help my writing speed.. maybe not… I have a mjore essay due in a couple weeks and a midterm next Friday.. so.. who knows XD
Oh and before I forget… PLEASE PLEASE review! Dude it's like you guys are getting lazy… I LOVE reviews and I LOVE your feedback so please give it =) It's what keeps me writing
The Naruto characters don't belong to me! :cackles: I just like using characters from other shows rather than making up my own…heh so I'm lazy….oh and I've tried to do something about the scene transition… Ffnet cuts out my spaces =_=
The blond haired, blue eyed Abbey captain smirked, striding fully into the gym office, a group following him. "Really now? Still dream of me when you're fucking Kai? I'm touched, really I am," he teased, wagging his eyebrows suggestively. "You could have the real thing if you really wanted."
Her eyes rolled back in her head and her grin turned into a haughty smirk. "Oh I assure you, if I was interested in real men I wouldn't go for either one of you." She shot back sweetly.
"Ooo…" Akito laughed, "Burn! Good one Tomoda, I'll give you that."
Kai grunted, jerking to his feet. "You can leave your stuff in here for now. After practice you can pick it up and take it to the hotel."
Akito tilted his head towards Kai. "As cheerful as ever hm Kai? Oh well, I look forward to spending the week kicking your ass…. and flirting with your short little girlfriend of course."
Kai struggled not to hit the obnoxious boy. "Liika. Everyone's already in the court. Take Abbey's managers and introduce them." He commanded, throwing a look at Liika.
Liika scowled, wrinkling her nose, "But—"
"Go."
She wanted to curse him. He was so God damned bossy! "Fine." She replied through gritted teeth. "Which of you are the managers?"
Two girls stepped forward, one with neck length candy pink hair and sage colored eyes and the other one with dark hair, styled like Jade's and dark eyes. "That would be us! I'm Sakura Haruno and this is Tenten Itami." The girl with the pink hair said brightly.
Liika smiled, obviously surprised at the appearance of girls. "Nice to meet you. I'm Liika Tomoda, captain of Bakuten B." She then stepped forward, past the now milling group of boys. "It's nice to see you finally got some intelligence and hired some girls. It has been proven that men make extremely poor organizers. Maybe that's why you lost in May." She grinned cheekily before leading the girls out of the room.
Akito stared after her, a disgusted look on his face. "How the fuck do you stand that? Haughty little bitch…"
Kai snorted. "She has her good qualities, though at the moment, I am hard pressed to think of any. Drop your stuff and let's go Imoraz. We're losing time." He stopped and looked at the two vice-captains, one of whom was scowling in annoyance, the other smirking in amusement. "Jagen, I want you to go get the weights from the storage closet, then go to the court. Red, follow the witch and make sure everyone's ready."
Robert nodded and strode out of the room, while Tala, slowly brought himself to his feet, his smirk never diminishing. "She's gonna be even more pissed, especially when I tell her you sent me to check up on her because you thought she couldn't handle it." He chuckled, sauntering to the door, his hands jammed in his pockets.
"You tell her that Valkov and I'll kick your ass."
Tala threw a grin over his shoulder. "I think watching her ball you out would be worth the pain." His mocking laughter echoed through the empty hallway as he disappeared towards the beyblade courts.
Sometimes Kai wondered why he chose Tala Valkov for a best friend.
"I like how he thinks." Akito laughed, shaking his head. His eyes got serious then. "All of you grab your bey-bags and follow me. We have a lesson to teach. If you would so kindly lead the way Hiwatari, we could get this camp under way."
Kai nodded and stalked out of the room, the nine Abbey students on his heels.
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Judy stepped out into the indoor beyblade court, a clipboard under one are. Just beside her strode an extremely tall man with messy silver hair and mischievous blue eyes. His hands were shoved carelessly in his trouser pockets, while his tie hung half undone, and his white dress shirt gaping at the collar. A lazy half grin spread over his face as his sky colored eyes surveyed the facilities, as well as the teenagers milling around in them.
"There's some pretty good talent here."
Judy looked over at the other teacher, a proud smile touching her lips. "Yes, they're a good bunch of kids. Dedicated, and skilled."
The man chuckled. "They look it," he replied. "My bunch are good at heart, some of them just tend to let their money go to their head. That and the leadership—the supervising teacher—they had last year was rather horrible, not to put too fine a point on it. Anyway, why don't we get this thing started hm?"
"Excellent idea," Judy nodded, picking up the whistle that dangled from her neck and giving it two sharp blows. The milling teenagers stopped chatting immediately and turned their attention to the two teachers. "I don't think I need to state that I want your attention, it should be fairly obvious by now." Judy said, a slight smile on her face. "First of all I'd like to thank Abbey for coming all the way here, I'm sure this week will be a tremendous help to us."
"It is our pleasure to be here." The silver haired man said, tilting his head towards Judy. When a gagging sound emitted from somewhere in the group the man merely raised an eyebrow and said, "Akito."
It was silent after that.
"Well then," the blond teacher started, raising her chin, "Why don't we start with introductions. I, for the Abbey students who don't know, am Judy Tate, the supervising teacher and coach of Bakuten B…and now Bakuten A."
"And I," the man cut in, throwing a small grin at the Bakuten students, "Am Kakashi Hatake, the new coach and supervising teacher of Abbey. Which team shall we start off first with?"
Judy nodded at Kai, who fought the urge to roll his eyes. Like Abbey didn't know who they were! "Bakuten A start, then Abbey then B. Kai, you may go first. Say your name, year, your bit beast and its element. It will help later on for finding a partner to blade with."
Kai sighed loudly. "Kai Hiwatari. Senior. Dranzer. Fire."
It seemed that Tala was next, as most of the A team was in a somewhat organized fashion. "Tala Valkov, senior, Wolborg, ice."
"Ian Mitchell, junior, Wyborg, poison."
The A team continued on through Ian, Johnny, Tyson, Rei and Oliver until they reached Michael, who was standing with Oliver near that back. "Michael Parker, senior, Trygle, wind."
"Alrighty then, Akito, why don't you start our team off?" Kakashi said cheerfully, motioning at the blond captain.
It seemed that Akito felt the same about the whole introduction thing as Kai did. "Che. Akito Imoraz, senior, Kaeth, fire." His voice dripped with boredom and his crystal eyes clearly reflected the need to get started, lest he go crazy.
Next up was Akito's vice-captain, the tall, skinny silver haired Bryan look alike. "Broderick Johanson, senior, Saeth, wind."
It was silent for a moment after the vice captain, and it wasn't until Akito grunted, glaring at someone that another voice spoke up. "Gaara Sanderson. Senior. Dai. Psychic." The monotone voice came from the smaller red haired team at the very back who was leaning against the wall. His dark framed turquoise eyes glared out at everyone in the room, practically commanding them to move on.
"Shino Aburame. Senior, Xuthral, poison." A quiet voice said from a few feet away from the quiet Gaara. The boy was dressed in a hoodie, his dare hair in wild, almost bushy disarray and sunglasses covering his eyes.
"Hey! Why's he wearing sunglasses inside??" Tyson exclaimed suddenly, looking confused.
Akito answered before anyone else had the change. "Because he has an eye condition moron. His eyes are hyper sensitive to light."
Tyson growled, and made a face at the blond. He really hated the haughty, arrogant Abbey captain!
"Moving on," Judy interrupted, rolling her eyes.
A lanky boy yawned then, holding his hand up momentarily before letting it drop lazily to his side. "Shikamaru Nara. Senior, Daray, shadow." He then went back to the apparent napping he had just been doing.
"Lee Rock! I'm a senior too! My bit beast is a really cool imp called Draldyn! His element is…uh…" The excited boy with slightly spiky black hair and long framing bangs scratched his head, and looked to be thinking rather hard.
"It's lighting you retard!" Another boy shot out, smacking the poor guy upside the head while scowling in annoyance.
"Hey," Mariah leaned towards Liika giggling, "Isn't that the kid that had the really bad bowl cut in May?"
"Uh yeah," Liika replied smiling, "Maybe someone finally gave him some good advice."
"I'm Kiba Inuzuka! I'm a junior, my bit beast's name is Akamaru, and his element is earth." The boy who had smacked Lee Rock spoke up brazenly. He had spiky brown hair, dark eyes and upside down long red triangles tattooed on his cheeks.
Kai rolled his eyes. Great another loud mouthed idiot. It was probably a good thing he hadn't been on the blading team when Kai had been at Abbey.
"Kankurou Sanderson, junior, Karasu, no element." A stocky boy with short brown hair and dark eyes said, his arms jammed over his chest.
There were murmurs about the no element thing amongst the two Bakuten teams. Who had ever heard of a bit beast with no element power??
The last team member was an extremely dark looking boy with midnight blue hair and matching eyes. He leaned up against the back wall, away from everyone else, though closest to Gaara. "Sasuke Uchiha. Senior. Sharingan. Death."
"Death?? A bit beast can have the element death??" Enrique asked in confusion, scratching his head.
"Death is just another way of saying shadow." Liika said automatically. "Although often it is used to describe a stronger element base."
Midnight eyes focused on her and narrowed.
"Well, since you've all met our lovely managers Sakura and Tenten, why don't we move on to the B team, starting with the adorable, and knowledgeable captain." Kakashi spoke up, waving his hand at Liika.
Liika smiled amiably, performing a small wave. "I'm Liika Tomoda, a senior, Akala is by bit beast and her element is light. Robert?"
Robert nodded to the group. "Robert Jagen, senior, Griffolyon, wind and energy."
"Nya nya! Enrique Sattiay, senior! Amphylyon's his name and power is his game," Enrique half sang with a large grin.
There was mass rolling of eyes.
"You're such a dolt Enrique," Mariah teased, shaking her head. "Mariah Low, senior, Galux, earth and energy."
The other four went with out incident, all quietly exclaiming their information quietly, from Lee to Jade who tied it up. "We have a manager as well, her name is Riley Wakeman, but she couldn't be here today."
"Wakeman eh? Oh that's right…the Neanderthal got himself addicted to crack. Hear he's jailed up in some rehab center in Denver." Akito said quite loudly, no sympathy evident in his voice. "That's pretty shitty that you lost one of your best bladers. I feel your pain."
"Akito!" One of the two girls—the pink haired one—scolded none too gently. "Stop being a jackass you insensitive loser!"
Akito's eyes narrowed. "Watch how you talk to me my dear Sakura, unless you want to find yourself right back where you started. Nowhere!" He growled, sneering.
"Don't threaten her."
The Bakuten team turned wide surprised eyes towards the glowering red head whom had his pale eyes centered on his captain. What the hell was going on?
"Unless you want to find yourself in the same position Sanderson, I would advise you to stay out of this." Akito replied rather calmly, though it was only a false sort of calm.
The other teen snorted, straightening up his hostile eyes never moving from the blond. "Threaten me all you like Imoraz, but do not threaten Sakura."
Akito's eyes darkened. "Are you telling me what to do Sanderson?"
"If I must."
"That's enough!" Apparently the pink haired girl had had enough of the whole situation. "Akito, go play in traffic." She huffed, flouncing past him—tossing her hair in his face as she did—and placing herself beside the young man that had just spoken up for her, smiling brilliantly at him.
Kakashi shook his head, sighing loudly. "Sorry about that Judy, Akito is Akito and Gaara doesn't like it when he is…ah…rude to Sakura." He said quietly under his breath to the other adult.
Judy nodded. "Teenagers, you should have seen the hell I went though last year with the two captains…with her vice captain thrown in there. Melodrama the likes you've never seen." She chuckled fondly.
"They're together now? The captains I mean? I heard Akito mention it on the way here."
"Yes. Let's hope it stays that way. Wouldn't that be just great if they decided that the Worlds would be a good time to break up…Robert did that to Liika at States last year." Judy explained dryly.
Kakashi snickered. "So I heard. Inopportune time wouldn't' you say?"
"Exactly."
While the two teachers were chatting the teenagers had decided that they had had enough of waiting around and actually wanted to do some blading. They decided to start off that they'd have a three way match, regular style just three competitors…or in the case of doubles six. It would be A vs Abbey vs B. They assumed the teachers would eventually either ref, or they would stop them. It didn't really matter.
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Liika yawned, stretching her arms over her head. She didn't really know why she was tired, she didn't actually get to blade in the match. However, she did do some of the exercises and training activities that the managers had set up. Yet even that was thwarted as Kai—and Robert for that matter—had made sure she didn't strain herself.
They wouldn't believe that she had a concussion—a healed concussion—and that she wasn't dying. It pissed her off to say the least. Not that she wasn't already annoyed at Kai, this just added to it. Which would be why she was exiting the school alone instead of waiting for him to get changed. Oh she knew that he would probably catch her half way home, or that he would show up at her door minutes after she arrived, but it was worth the momentary glory. It was also worth it to see the pissy look on his face, which was bound to be there when he finally caught up with her.
Serves him right anyway. He had been getting on her nerves for the past two weeks. He was incredibly bossy and pushy, and believed that she had to do what he told her to do, when he told her to do it. She didn't work that way, he should have already known that.
In fact excessive controlling was a big turn off. I mean who does he think he is telling me I can't be friends with Bryan? She thought scowling. Even though Kai hadn't said anything since Bryan had been admitted to the hospital, she knew he was thinking it. He wouldn't let her go near the damn place with out him being there with her. That was also annoying. She loved him to death, but if he didn't stop smothering her, she was going to have to kick the crap out of him. Maybe she should tell him that.
"Hey, I'd hate to be whoever or what ever your thinking about right now," a chuckling voice cut into her angry reverie.
Liika blinked, snapping her head up, her turquoise gaze connecting with a gaze the same color of her own. "Neh?"
Michael laughed again, shaking his head. "You looked like you were killing someone slowly, enjoying their torture." He said playfully, slowing down to walk beside her.
"I was." She grinned, and winked, her bad mood dissipating slightly. Michael was always entertaining, and he was sweet…in his own flirty, show off kind of way. It was too bad he hung out in the crowd he did, other wise he probably would be the center of attention. Unfortunately when you hung out with people like Tala Valkov and Kai Hiwatari, you didn't really get much attention, no matter how well made you were for the spotlight. Oh well, she had always liked him.
"Dare I ask who?"
Her grin turned evil. "Do you need to?" She shot back. "I'm sure everyone in the world knows how pleased I am with him at the moment."
Michael made a small sound of understanding, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "So that's why you shot out of there like a rocket, I was wondering about that," he laughed a bit, "avoiding Hiwatari eh? Oh well, probably could do him some good. You hear the rumor about having to entertain Abbey tomorrow night?"
"Unfortunately it's not a rumor," she groaned, "the thought of spending all day and all night with Akito Imoraz makes my skin crawl."
"Heh, I think almost everyone on our team—and his—feels that way," Michael said, ruffling her hair. "Anyway, this is where we part ways, I guess I'll see you tomorrow eh?"
"Yeah, I have to scoot my butt home or Kai will catch me on the street…its far less easy to avoid him when I'm out in the open." She grimaced, looking left and right suspiciously.
Michael couldn't help but laugh. Winking conspiratorially he motioned towards the parking lot with his head. "What you say we give you a head start?"
A dazzling smile was sent his way. "I say you're my hero!" She exclaimed, glomping onto his arm. "Take me away my charming, handsome prince!"
He shook his head, laughing and playing along with her. "Whatever you say my beautiful lady!"
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He didn't even have to say anything for her to know he was there. It wasn't that he had made any noise coming in the house—he didn't even knock anymore—or that he had made any noise stalking down the hall.
The weight of his glare was enough to tell her that he was there.
Liika continued to stare calmly at her computer screen, humming under her breath and typing away in a MSN chat window.
Lala…no one realizes that I'm not a little girl! says:
Kai just caught up…I can tell by the glare on the back of my head.
Dazzle me! says:
You knew he'd be pissed that you left with out telling him! Tell him you went home with Michael and he'll blow a fuse! Lmao actually tell him just that and he might commit homicide LOL
Lala…no one realizes that I'm not a little girl! says:
:snicker: I think he's ready to blow a fuse anyway… I'll talk to you later Mari. I can feel another lecture coming -_-' Goody.
Dazzle me! says:
See ya =)
Liika signed off, then whirled in her chair around just to come face to face with Kai's washboard stomach. "I have a sixth sense I think," she muttered sarcastically, not bothering to look up at him and instead just leaning her head forward and resting her forehead on his stomach. "Go ahead, rant, lecture, do whatever it is you have to do, just get it over with."
Kai was silent. The pattern that they had fallen into in the past two weeks disturbed him. They were drifting apart; he could see it clear as day. She scorned his presence, and fought with him more than she didn't. She disregarded everything he told her, did things behind his back and avoided him. She did things just to annoy him…purposely. Like flirting with Akito. "I'm not going to lecture you."
Her expression was one of pure surprise, but then it turned into sardonic bitterness. "Oh really? Since when do you miss a chance to lecture me huh? That's all you've done for the last two weeks!" Her voice raised at the end.
She couldn't go on like this anymore. She was miserable and she knew he wasn't happy either. They needed to work out an understanding…or they were going to fall apart. The thought of losing Kai broke her heart, but the thought of losing herself was even more unbearable.
"You can't just keep telling me what to do and expect me to obey you right away," she continued on ranting. She was on a role now! Stomping past him she crossed the room and started picking up various articles of clothing and books and paper, cleaning up the mess she called a room. She always cleaned when she got upset. "I'm not a little girl Kai! I'm not your daughter, and I'm not your possession! I'm my own person and I have thoughts and feelings! Believe it or not," she tossed something at his head accidentally, which he ducked, "I am perfectly capable of making my own decisions!" She huffed shoving all her laundry into her over flowing hamper. "And further more! Where the hell do you get off interfering in my captainship?? Don't think I don't know why you sent Tala to the gym early today; I'm not stupid! I was a captain long before I had you to protect me from the big bad world!" Liika stomped her foot for emphasis. "I don't need you to protect me from everything, I can handle myself! Oh and another thing! You really need to stop with the jealousy thing. It's pissing me off! I can't even talk to my guy friends with out you glaring at them! They're afraid to even look at me any more!" She stopped and looked around for something to pick up but found nothing. She had cleaned the entire thing in her rage. She then turned her hot, aqua gaze to the still Kai. " Do you know that Enrique, Enrique, told me that you told him not to hang off me so much? That he had no business touching me? What the fuck is that Kai? He's my best fucking friend! My God damned brother for Christ's sake! And you're warning him off of me? Get bent!" By that point her chest was heaving and her breath was coming in short gasps. Slowly her rage began to fade, it felt good to get everything off her chest!
Kai let her vent, watching her with stony eyes as she methodically cleaned every inch of her room. She had obviously been stewing for weeks, and had reached her breaking point. He wasn't stupid either. He knew his over protectiveness and possessiveness were wearing on her nerves, but he did what he had to do to protect her. She had made stupid mistakes and paid for them. He couldn't let it happen again.
"Can't you see that you're smothering me?!"
It was funny how one little word could break a carefully constructed mask so easily. And that word…smothering… was capable of just that. Smothering was reason so many couples broke up. Smothering was what obsessed little geeks with no lives did to their girlfriends…smothering… Kai's mask shattered, and his face crumbled into confusion. He wasn't really smothering her was he? Smothering was such a nasty term…
"You really can't see can you?" Liika stared at him in wonder. He couldn't see! He didn't get that his actions were drowning her! "Oh Kai…look at yourself and look at me. I love you, I do, but…I have to be me. I can't be what you want me to be. I'm not a fragile little doll. I'm not going to break. I have to be free to make choices, even if those choices get me hurt." She then groaned, slapping herself in the forehead. "That sounded so cliché and corny."
"Yes it did." He sighed, scowling. What the hell do you say when your girlfriend accuses you of smothering her? Wasn't smothering generally being too clingy? He wasn't clingy at all! But he supposed she had a point. He had been controlling her life as of late.
It wasn't his fault! He…he just felt an overwhelming jealous rage whenever another guy flirted with her. Especially Wakeman, who had loved her forever. Part of it stemmed from the fact that she didn't realize how adorable she was—even with her small chest and scrawny body. Being a tomboy, she was naturally attracted to guys, hanging out with them. Kai couldn't help that it was in his blood to be possessive! He didn't like to share, he didn't like other men getting ideas about what was his. It wasn't that he didn't trust his witch—he did—he just didn't trust his sex! They didn't understand the concept of 'taken', hell just look at Tala. Tala was purposely flirting with a taken woman, with no regard to her boyfriend. And with every intention of breaking them up.
What if someone did that to them?
The way he saw it, he was just insuring their future.
However, he knew that Liika was stubborn, and was highly unlikely to see it his way. She was far too independent.
"Are you ever going to answer me or are you just going to continue glaring at me in confusion?"
Kai snapped out of his daze and muttered under his breath. Stepping forward, he scooped her up in one motion and then fell onto the futon bunk under her bed, her firmly stationed on his lap. "I don't think I'm smothering you."
Liika stared at him flatly. "You are. You told me I couldn't see my friend. That's smothering."
"No, smothering is acting all lovey dovey and crap."
"That's one kind yes," Liika replied, bringing her face with in inches of his. "But think about how you would feel in my position. How would you feel if I suddenly told you, you couldn't hang out with Tala? How would you feel?"
He glared. She had a point damn it. "Tala's different. He's my best friend."
She nodded. "True, but Eny is my best friend. Telling him not to touch me is like telling him not to hang out with me. Enrique is a very touchy, feely person. We have always acted that way, you need to get used to it. It's completely platonic." She argued back. "The point is, you have no right to control my life. That right belongs solely to me."
He was silent for a moment, mulling her words over carefully. She was right…in her own way. He realized that if he didn't compromise then he would lose her. And that was out of the question. Putting up with her hanging out with other guys was just a small price to pay to keep her as his own. "Fine. We'll make a deal."
Her eyebrow quirked. "I'm listening."
"I'll stop being so controlling, if you stop flirting with your guy friends."
Liika's eyes widened. "I don't flirt with my guy friends!" She cried, slapping him on the arm.
He grinned, sliding his arms around her and pulling her against him so that she straddled his hips. "You do too and you know it."
She stuck out her tongue. "Whatever, I do not. You just see things that aren't there!"
"Oh really?"
"Really!"
Kai responded by running his fingers up her side, tickling her mercilessly and causing her to squeal.
"Injustice!!!"
He cackled, sending them both crashing to the floor. "Take your punishment like a man you cowardly woman!"
"Ahhhhhhhh!!!!"