Part 07
Running was a good way to avoid problems.
The physical strain on the body is concentrated on fully by the mind. Thoughts are compressed and held down as the mind focusses only on propelling each leg forward, then dragging it back to replace it with the other. The pattern develops, and much ground is covered.
Chasing is running, although in a different sense. As one runs, the act is fuelled by the need to escape, and leave things behind. One who chases is caught in a desperate act to claim what is theirs, running after a lost hope, or perhaps striving to gain something new.
Running and chasing; both can continue for so long that a question that soon arises is who is running? Who is chasing? Has the unreachable goal suddenly turned and begun to pursue the pursuer? Is the hunter now the hunted?
It all comes around full circle, eventually. The routine drags on and on until collapse is inevitable. Soon it does not matter what is being sought, or what is being led on a merry hunt through life. There is one absolute, that becomes known, then thought upon, dwelled on, and obsessed over.
It matters not if the runner or the chaser finally gains what they have followed so adamantly for so long. What really matters, what counts in the long run–which was very long indeed, spanning a whole lifetime– is how the chase proceeded, and how the run was.
Then, all that is truly important, is the end. And it comes, regardless of whether or not the goal was reached, the task fulfilled. Apparently, as all learn, as it becomes obvious to both runner and chaser, the methods used to try to attain that Special Something are what really matter.
-
Tala grit his teeth and tried to ignore the burning in his chest as he pursued Kai. Who knew that he was so fast? Then again, Tala thought, he seemed to be fuelled by something other than his muscles and stamina, but what it was, he did not know.
Left at the end of the residential street, run along to the main road where Bryan and Tala had picked him up, slip through an alley and make a break for the large park that was just up ahead. So large that it would be easy to get separated and lose each other, which was exactly what Kai wanted and Tala tried to prevent.
"Kai!" Tala winced at how weak his voice sounded. He had not expected to do any major cross-country running today, complete with obstacles of garbage can lids and bundles of newspaper. Kai was still ahead of him, heading for the entrance to the park, clearly intent on vanishing into one of many thickets of trees that dotted the landscape. Tala was determined not to let that happen.
"Kai! Dammit. Slow the hell down," Tala gasped as he used precious oxygen to call out again. On second thought it seemed like a good idea to not waste his energy calling, because he knew that Kai probably wouldn't answer or slow down, judging by his steady speed. As he flew over the slippery ground and caught glimpses of the odd rock or chunk of ice, Tala played with the idea of throwing one to try and hit Kai. Then he decided that was a terrible idea, because his aim was, at the best of times, still quite awful. Spencer always told him something...You couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with a pebble. Well, not with that attitude.
So Tala crossed that plan off his mental list, and settled on what seemed to be his best bet: brute force. Which, he knew, was probably better suited for someone of Spencer's stature, because as he was now, he stood at roughly the same height as Kai. All he cared about right now was the fact that he was slightly heavier than Kai; indeed they were like a twig and a stick of licorice. One was straight and as firm as a branch of wood, with the slimness accounted as well, and the other was a wider (but not fat) stick of candy, all loose and bendy. No spine.
Right now aerodynamics seemed to be working in Tala's favour, as he threw his weight forward and propelled his legs forward as fats as he could, and then he happily realized he was gaining ground on Kai, so to keep up the advantage he used one of many 'decorative' boulders situated around the park at odd intervals to launch himself off and fly through the air.
Belatedly he realized that his idea had been a spectacularly stupid one, as he slipped on the icy rock and instead of getting closer to Kai he slipped and barely had time to throw his hands in front of himself to catch his. With a painful smack he hit palm first on the cold and hard ground, followed by his face and the rest of his body, earning a mouthful of gravelly snow.
With a pained groan he managed to peel his face from the ground, nose smarting from the hit, and looking up saw Kai was already gone. So his whole chase had counted for nothing. All he'd gained was a reddened face, and he'd lost his prey...and some of his dignity, if the giggles to his right were any indication. What a fabulous day.
-
Kai's lungs burned as the crisp air shot through them as he raggedly drew breaths. He was dimly aware of his harsh panting that came with the running he was doing, high speeds in such cold weather. He wondered if he would wake up with bronchitis. Maybe pneumonia.
But he didn't care. For now, he had eluded what he had been running from for so long, and it seemed that he would have a temporary respite from the pounding headaches and accusing whispers. That was good. He was in no mood to deal with any of that at the moment.
When he felt as though he would collapse from running so long, Kai allowed himself to stop and rest, glancing over his shoulder first, then sitting on top of a mound of snow beneath a tree covered with frost. He shivered as a chill made its' way up his spine, but didn't move from his seat.
Kai sighed and peered through the snow-laden branches up at the gray sky, threatening snow, as usual. His breath moved in clouds, and his lungs strove to catch a steady rhythm and keep it.
Though there was nobody around him now, Kai was sure someone had been following him. Not them, per se, but someone else. He frowned as he tried to remember where he had been and with who before his mad sprint across the world. He had a flash of vibrant life and warmth, and it took him a moment to place a name. Tala.
Now Kai looked through the park, wondering where Tala had gotten to, and whether or not he had given up and gone home, or followed him this far and was still looking for him. A loud crunch of foot meeting snow behind him caused Kai to leap up and spin around, heart pounding a warning that it could be someone he didn't want to see right now...specifically two people.
"Hey, it is Kai!" Max's loud voice grated on Kai's nerves, and he said nothing as Max, Tyson, and R plodded through the snow to where he stood. A rush of wind made him feel even colder than before. He wondered why his ankles were so cold. Oh, right. He had no shoes. He didn't really count the snow as a pair of shoes, as it didn't provide much insulation and was starting to burn. Ha. Snowshoes. He would have laughed if he knew how to.
"Told you so, Rei," Tyson said proudly as he grinned, taking a running leap as if to tackle Kai. Unfortunately for him, he didn't count on the ice factor, and instead sprawled in an undignified heap at Kai's feet. Rei shook his head in amusement.
"Yeah, yeah, Tyson. Good for you. Hey Kai. How you doing? We haven't seen you for a few days," Rei added, his eyes soft as he looked at his friend standing guardedly in the snow.
Kai licked his lips, then wished he hadn't aa the air eagerly stung them. He shrugged one shoulder. "All right." He had been taught better than that..."You?"
"Mm. Can't complain."
"Well, I for one am not doing so well! It feels like I wet myself and it froze, then melted! Ugh! I hate this snow. Why is it so damn cold?" Tyson demanded angrily from where he was unsuccessfully trying to stand on the slippery ground.
Max laughed as he helped Tyson stand and regain his footing. "Someone up there must hate you, Tyson."
Tyson raised his head and glared at the sky, shaking his fist warningly. "You better watch it up there, or else I'll...do this all day!"
"Not a very convincing threat," Kai heard Rei mutter, grinning at his friends. He turned back to Kai, serious again. "So, Kai...I was just wondering how you're holding up since we saw you. You know, with your grandfather and all."
Now why would he bring that up, Kai wondered to himself. He'd been this close to forgetting all about it, and now this reminder was shoved in his face and he remembered everything in perfect detail, all the events from the past days. His friends at his house, Voltaire's anger, then their conversation that had left Kai vehemently wishing had never occurred. Then he could have lived in his ignorant bliss and tolerated his grandfather's loathing for another year.
The silence stretched on long enough for Tyson and Max to pause and look over. Kai licked his lips again and winced as they stung, but finally answered. "Fine. He's fine and I am." Not fine, more like crazy, going over the edge. But you don't need to know that.
Rei's worried eyes told him he wasn't convinced, but Kai had better things to do than spend his time assuring him that he was fine. Which he wasn't but...well.
"Aww, what are you worrying for, Rei?" Tyson asked loudly, walking over and throwing an arm around Kai's shoulder. "Kai is a strapping young lad, and Voltaire is a withered old prune whose seed should be wiped from the earth. No offense, Kai," Tyson added. Kai shrugged a shoulder in acknowledgment. Silent agreement.
"Tyson! Don't be so rude," Max admonished, glancing at Kai for his reaction. Receiving none he laughed and added, "I don't think you're one to comment on someone's physical appearance, you who would lose a fight to a duck." Tyson gasped and pulled his arm off of his taller friend, pressing both fists against his heart.
"How dare you say such things! I could take a duck any day of the week. You cut me deep, Maxie." Tyson adopted a look of mock hurt as he stared at his blonde friend, hoping for an apology. "I can prove you wrong!" He gasped suddenly, pointing a finger beyond their group. Max and Rei turned around, only to see a small brown duck clumsily slipping around on the ice.
Tyson let out a dramatic yell before bursting into action, yelling threats at the now bemused-looking duck. Max sighed and shook his head, glancing back at Kai and Rei as he followed. "What have I done to that poor bird?"
Rei snorted as he watched Tyson chasing the duck around, both of them as graceful on the ice as...they had been before, tripping and sliding everywhere. He faced Kai again, and saw him frowning at the ground as his lips moved silently, mouthing words to himself. "Kai?"
"I find it easier to remember things when they rhyme, don't you?" He spoke more to himself than Rei, who raised an eyebrow at the detached voice he used, eyes distant.
"Yeah, I guess. I mean, it has something to do with word association, right?" This was a weird topic. Kai barely nodded, before blinking once then glancing up and meeting Rei's eyes.
"Something like that...hm. I need to go." Abruptly he turned and began walking away, moving easily across the surface of the snow without imitating Tyson's grace...or lack thereof.
"Kai, wait. Where are you going? Why don't you come back with us to Tysons' place?" Rei didn't want to see his friend alone, or leaving alone. He wasn't very fond of the way Kai was acting.
Kai continued moving, not slowing or looking back. His mind had slowly begun to focus on one thing. Hanging around unwanted was not something he could do right now. "No. I have to get something."
And so, Rei was left standing in the cold park, shivering lightly at the cool air that snuck in through the spaces in his jacket and attacked his skin, watching his friend walk away. Standing alone as his other friend sought to abuse a duck, and another friend tried to act as a mediator between the two. It was, all in all, a rather odd moment.
-
"Will you wait?"
"Sure thing kid, but I gotta keep the meter running."
"All right. I'll be right out." Kai opened the back door of the taxi and stepped out, ignoring the imposing barricade around his house as he made his way to the front door. The sound of the engine idling broke the silence that wrapped around the property. The low creak of the front door opening seemed louder than a firing squad.
Once inside, Kai made his way up the two flights of stairs to his room, ignoring the numerous paintings that had eyes that followed his ascent and made his nerves stand on end. He did want to be here. But he didn't want to be here. He needed to be here, so he was. Only for a minute. He had to get one thing, and once he had it, he was going to make like a tree and leave.
Kai pushed open his bedroom door and crossed it quickly, grabbing the black box from his dresser and snapping the lid shut tight. No time, or need, to look through it now. He had a cab to get back to.
Grabbing his wallet from his desk, he turned to leave, and stopped short when he saw Voltaire standing in his doorway. They stared at each other in silence, waiting for the other to say something, and Kai was reminded of their talk several days previous, and found he most certainly did not want a repeat performance.
"Where were you?" Direct question. Kai could be direct as well.
"Town."
"Doing?"
"Nothing."
"How'd you get there?"
"...I have a cab waiting."
"Do you feel guilty?"
Kai narrowed his eyes and gripped the box tighter. "Do you?"
"I have done nothing wrong."
"Except harbour an unhealthy grudge for all these years."
"I only told you the truth I felt you deserved to know." Voltaire's cold eyes glittered in the dim light.
"Hm. Noble. Like your namesake. The great philosopher, Voltaire. Pursued the bringing of order through violence. Though he was noted as a great man. Believed in justice and the like." Kai shook his head slightly. "I suppose all you share is the name." He moved forward, past his grandfather and down the stairs, on his way out the door wisely grabbed a pair of boots, and went to the waiting taxi.
He slid onto the seat and shut the door, nodding once at the driver go depart. The man looked in the rearview mirror and spoke.
"There's a man in the doorway there, yelling and waving. You want I should stop?" Kai shook his head as he watched the long driveway rolling by.
"No. He just has some issues. He's fine." We're all fine; me, him, you, them. As long as we exist together we will have a fine life. Silent and resigned. And that's the way it should be.
Kai sighed and leaned back against the padded leather headrest and drummed his fingers on the top of the box. Felt the sharp edges digging into his stomach as he leaned it back. He had what he wanted. He left behind who he wanted to. The day was fast approaching, but after that, he knew, he would be able to regain some control.
He could already feel his hazy mind clear as he forced his thoughts into the future. He now had what he wanted, and that was all that mattered. In a few days, things would be normal again. Kai could make himself forget if he wanted to. It would be fine.
He would be fine. He always was. After all, he was Kai Hiwatari. A fine person.
Fine.
So, I have lost all interest in the Beyblade fandom. Hence the shorter chapter. The next one will be up within a reasonable amount of time. I hope. Yes, this will be completed, as I promised long ago. No worries there. It just might lack that certain something...I don't know what. Apologies for any spelling or grammar errors. I don't want to read over this again.