Yay! New reviewers! How I loveth thee… eth. Thanks to: Molly Yokunaii, Demoness-MarlstonWells69ner, Bluestray, Tory Carmichael, CrisscrossAnime, BeMyfRIeND4eVA and DancerInTheDark101.

Disclaimer: I don't own beyblade. I do own Moka and Mala.

It was about one in the morning. Crimson eyes peered in the dark reflecting a serious and alert expression. The night was as still and peaceful as the dark blue sky. The moon bathe the bed of a certain slate haired teen with its light, casting a shadow over the rest of the room. An aura of anticipation swam around the house. Tomorrow they left for Hawaii. Tomorrow… It would hold new and perhaps more dangerous things, they knew, but were willing to wake up the next morning and face it.

A sigh escaped from the caramel lips of the teen as he stared up at the ceiling as if it would make tomorrow come faster. His shirtless chest covered with white bandages rose up and down rhythmically. The thought that he was lying in someone else's room was still fresh in his mind, not letting him rest. Or maybe it was because a Black Panther could come into the room and attack him at anytime. It could have also been the fact that he didn't have pants on. Mariah demanded that he let her wash them. Whatever it was, he wasn't going to sleep tonight and that was for sure.

Suddenly, the quietness of the night was broken by a vibrating noise. He looked around in search of where it was coming from. The floor… Kai picked his cell phone up off the floor and read the caller id: Unknown.

Half of him was telling him to leave it, but the other half was telling him to answer. It was challenging him in a way, saying that if he didn't pick up he was automatically label: scared. No self-respecting male likes having his bravery questioned, so naturally he pressed the talk button…

Dial tone… The person had hung up. Instead of calling back, the two toned haired boy just waited, convinced that if the person wanted to talk to him badly enough they'd call back. Seconds turned into minutes and with every tick of the clock the chances of the person calling back melted.

Crimson eyes drifted up to the digital clock on top of the t.v. It flashed: 2:05 A.M. in bright red. Thirty minutes had past and still nothing. The howl of the wind could be heard, but Kai's ears had picked up something more than wind. It was another sound. Like someone playing under a blanket or on a carpet. Looking to the window, he felt someone gaze on him and quickly turned to the door just to see someone's shadow move along the hallway wall. Someone was there… right?

The want to go and investigate arose in him. He sat up to get out of bed, but was struck with fear when he felt his cell phone vibrate again on his leg. Sucking in a sharp breath his heart beat started to get normal again as he realized it was just his phone. He looked at the caller id: Unknown. Then he flipped the phone up and pressed talk.

"What." He answered in a low cold voice. All Kai could hear was the sound of someone's breath. He glanced around the room seeing if anyone was there.

"I'm glad you decided to pick up this time Kai." Came a chilling voice. Chilling not creepy; therefore it wasn't Boris. "It's a shame you didn't get to talk to your brother in his last moments. Two down, you to go." An annoying laughter rang out over the phone.

"What brother?" Kai snarled.

"Poor little Kai, so scared and defenseless. I don't why you think staying in a pink-haired little girl's house is going to save you. Oh, but maybe you know it won't save you, maybe it's… love. You Hawatari's with your precious Mariah." The person paused to laugh again. Kai clenched his teeth with anger.

"What are you talking about?" he growled at the person on the line, face reddening with every second.

"I'm so sorry that I made you mad, but to make it up to you I sent up a present. In order to get this present though, you'll have to solve my riddle." Kai could practically see the satisfied and confident smirk playing on the person's face. "What's small, but you can see it and many a time you wish you could be it?" after that Kai heard the dial tone.

What was that crazy maniac talking about? What did he mean when he said 'You Hawatari's and your precious Mariah?' And that stupid riddle. I don't wish to be anything, but me! If the killer only wanted to play with Kai's mind and get him thinking, he sure succeeded in that. The slate haired teen's mind was spinning with possible answers, but none were for sure and it pissed Kai off. And what brother? I have no brother! The closest person I have to a brother is Tal- Suddenly, Kai's face grew pale. Fear struck him right in the place he was most sensitive and if striking him wasn't enough, it toyed with his mind.

The thought of the only person that had ever, and possibly, will ever care about him being taken away was unbearable. (A/N: Bare in mind that Kai nor Tala is gay.) As much as Kai didn't wanted it and much as he tried not to become too attached to the redhead, he had. They were pretty much in the same boat. Both lost, both had been mercilessly toyed with by Boris, both had nobody to trust. The slate haired teen despised that feeling with great intensity. That feeling that declared him human when all others failed. That feeling that made him weak and useless to the world as far as his eyes could see. The feeling that made him care about others even when he didn't want too.

Actually, that feeling was more than one: Concern, fear and the one he hated most… weakness…

He was able to shut everyone else totally out of his mind and thoughts, but not Tala and it constantly haunted him. Maybe it was good that he was dead. Maybe that's what Kai wanted. Now, he had no more unwanted emotions playing with his head, making him sick to his stomach. No one to ever refer to him as a best friend. No one to have to look after and they look after you, but was that such a bad thing?

Kai didn't know and he didn't care... or at least he tried not to. Tala was dead and there was nothing he could do about it, he resolved. Finally, he decided to shut his brain down and get some rest, not wanting to think any longer. But as the male slept his conscience and emotions tore him up inside because he knew that deep down, he didn't want Tala to die, he was his guardian, his comforter… his best friend. And for the first time in a long time… Kai Hiwatari cried, letting all of his feelings spill out.

That night Kai probably pondered everything about the situation possible… except for the fact that what if the killer wasn't even referring to Tala… but he was asleep now, fed up with thinking. Goodnight Kai.

Meanwhile

A certain pink haired girl had just got a call from… lo and behold… Voltaire. (Readers: WTF!) She sat on the front room sofa waiting, for what exactly, she didn't even know. That's why she had something shiny, metal and in the shape of an 'L' in her left hand. (A/N: For all you slow people out there, it's a gun.) Somebody gave it to her for protection a little while back, she's found it handy in some situation. No, she did not kill any body, just protected herself.

She sighed as she remembered all the things that happened to her a little while before she came to Russia; her parents' divorce, she was in a shooting, L.A… (A/N: Not the city.)

L.A… at the thought of his name a single, crystal tear fell from her eye. I miss you so much. Why'd you leave me? That was a question that would never be answered. Not by him anyway. Part of her wanted to break down and cry, the other part said she couldn't because the killer could come at anytime and she wouldn't be prepared, and it just hurt too much. If you can't tell me that, then tell me why you led Kai to me. I don't want to have to deal with another death in my life. Why me…

She closed the gun in both of her hands, pointing it to the ceiling, resting her chin on her hands and her elbows on her legs. Then she saw a black shadow coming down stairs, but soon realized it was just Midnight.

Purring, he walked up to her and gracefully jumped on the sofa, not making a sound. "Midnight… do you know why L.A. left me?" as a reply, the panther rubbed his head on Mariah's neck as if to say, 'Everything's going to be alright.', purring softly all the while.

Mariah sighed and petted Midnight's silky soft black fur and laid her head on his head. The soothing sound of the panther's purring was gently lulling the pinkette to sleep. Her eyelids began to get heavy and were threatening to drop, but somebody knocking on the door woke her back up.

Drowsily, she sat up and rubbed her eyes when another knock sounded. After forcing herself to get up, she walked to the door and opened it revealing…(A/N: I don't think I should tell ya'll who it is. Should I?)…

… Bryan standing there with an emotionless look on his face. Mariah looked and was shocked to find him standing there at first, but all her previous thoughts faded away when she noticed a little girl in his arms. Her golden eyes looked them over with curiosity.

"Is Kai here?" was the only thing the Russian said.

"Alive and sleeping." She answered, not really knowing if her company was really sleeping. Then without warning the Russian walked into her house. Midnight jumped off the sofa in defense mode, growling. Bryan simply gave the panther and apathetic look, walked right by it and sat the sleeping girl down on the sofa. Mariah just stared at him, trying to figure out what he was doing.

Then, he silently walked over to Mariah, handed her a note and walked back out the door, leaving a very puzzled pinkette. After closing the door, she opened the note and began to read it. As her eyes flashed down to the name on the bottom it only pushed her curiosity further. It read:

Dear Mariah and whom ever this may concern,

I have recently heard from a very reliable source, that you have been keeping my grandson at your residence where I'm sure he's safe and sound. Please continue to watch him. As for the girl, I leave her in your care as well. I'm sure she will not be much of a bother, but anyone who can keep Kai in a house on bed-rest can do close to anything. If my deepest thanks do not interest you, maybe two billion dollars (A/N: Rubles, yen, whatever just know that it will make her rich!) is more your language. I will give it to you after Kai and Karma, the girl, are safe and the maniac responsible is six feet under. My men are already on it, but please keep them safe.

Thank you,

Voltaire

Mariah finished reading the note aloud to her mom and Mala. It was now morning and all Mariah's bags were packed and ready to go. Fixing breakfast, Moka was beginning to have second thoughts about this trip.

"Kitten, are you sure you want to do this?" Moka said as she stirred the grits in the pot up when they were beginning to boil. "I mean, how can you watch Kai and the girl. How old is she, five?! Mariah you're only fifteen! You can't handle this." She yelled with eyes full of worry. This was exactly what Mariah was afraid of. Her mom was not going to let her go.

"Mama, I have to do this. I want to go on the vacation, I deserve it." She argued.

"It's not the trip I'm scared about. It's you being on a boat, plane or however you're getting there with a guy that has a hit out on him!"

"Mama, this is my vacation, too! Even if I wasn't taking care of him, I couldn't stop him from coming." Tears began to dwell in her eyes. "Please, mama. I'm really determined to do this!"

Uh oh, she used the 'D' word. Moka knew there was no stopping her now. Mariah was headstrong and when she set her mind on something, she wasn't leaving until it was finished.

"Why exactly do you want to help Kai? You said it yourself that you didn't like him. He stole Galux from you." her mother pleaded softly.

"I'm not doing this for me and I'm certainly not doing this for him. I feel… I think… what if L.A. sent him to me. To protect him." Mariah said softly back. Moka sighed, knowing that Mariah was still sensitive on this subject. As she silently walked over to put the plates with grits, eggs and sausages on the table she said, "How long are you staying?"

When she heard that, Mariah leapt out of her seat and hugged her mom with a gigantic smile on her face. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" then she gave her mom a kiss. "You're going to be so proud of me."

"Yeah well, just be careful." As Mariah backed away Moka asked, "And where is Kai? Did you give him back his pants?"

"No, those things were hopeless. They had so many tears and rips in them, it looked like they had got into a fight with Midnight and lost." She laughed.

"So, what is he wearing?" Moka's answer had just came in the door.

Kai walked in wearing baggy jean shorts, a blue jersey with yellow numbers and outlines and a look that said, 'I'm going to kill you.' His arms were bare, showing off his well-defined muscles.

"Wow! Kai, you look like a real gangsta!" Mala decided to speak, her sleep finally wearing off. "All that's missing now is the do-rag and the grill!"

The slate haired teen just sat down on the opposite side of Mariah and glared at his fork. After realizing that someone was watching him, he looked up to find Mariah smiling at him. He glared back, "What are you smiling for?"

The pinkette shrugged, "You are just so easy to agitate." She continued smiling at the boy sitting in front of her glaring. Mala was, all the while, enjoying the scene grinning with wide and interested eyes, looking back and forward at the two.

They had been smiling and glaring for about thirty seconds when Mala yelled… that's all, she just yelled. Everybody looked at her startled. "There's a girl at the door!" They all turned their heads to the door and sure enough there was a little girl with blue hair and dark purple eyes standing there with a teddy bear that was actually a little book bag. There was a zipper on its stomach.

Mariah slowly stepped out of her seat and went to the girl. "Hi, are you Karma?" Mariah bent down to her eye level. Karma just stared at her with those innocent eyes of hers, both arms tightly clinging to her teddy.

The girl said something in a low voice that Mariah didn't quite get, but Kai got it. "Where did she come from?" he asked.

As soon as he said that Karma looked to him. Her eyes brightened as she dropped her teddy bear and ran over to him yelling, "Kai!"

"Voltaire wants me to watch her." Mariah said turning around still wondering why Voltaire would want her to protect a little girl and Kai. She was sure Kai was wondering the same. "Do you know her?"

"No, I've never seen her in my life." He grunted as the 3-years-old climbed onto his lap.

"Apparently she's seen you before." Moka spoke putting the last of the plates on the table. "Hurry up and eat. The limo will be here shortly." Kai was having a pretty hard time eating, seeing as there was a little girl sitting on his lap reaching for food on another plate as soon as he reached for his. After many failed attempts of finding a better way to eat he was relieved when he heard a horn from outside.

"That's them!" Moka smiled. "Mariah, promise me you'll be careful." She said when her daughter got up.

"I promise." She went and hugged and kissed her mom. "I love you."

"Kai, you too." Kai looked at her with slight confusion in his eyes. "Promise me."

After a couple of seconds, he said, "I… promise." He wasn't that use to anyone caring if got killed or not. Then they walked into the front room to get Mariah's stuff. Kai didn't have anything. He had just realized that he was about to go on a trip and had nothing to wear, but soon resolved that he would go get something from the nearest mall. Karma was still following him around and by following him around I mean standing beside him and watching him stand.

The reason he didn't walk outside with the other's is because he knew he would be all alone. Not literally, but mentally. The only people that were out there were preps, loud mouths, weirdoes, computers nerds, idiots and Mariah… to him. Why was he even going? He would just end up feeling lonelier than usual.

Mariah had just taken her last bag out to the car and was already coming back inside the house one more time… or at least that's what Kai thought, but he was shocked to see Tala walking in through the door!

"What are you doing here?" he asked, shocked. That's when Karma got up and ran over to Tala yelling, "Tala!" (Lady J: What is with her yelling peoples names?)

"I could ask you the same question." Tala said mono toned.

"You're suppose to be dead!" Kai yelled.

"Well, that's a good way to greet your best friend." For once, Kai was happy to be called that, so happy that he actually almost smiled. He would never take him and Tala's friendship for granted again because truth was, he was the only person that knew what he went through and could actually understand.

Once Mariah walked back in the door with Ming-Ming and Mariam, the guys started talking in Russian. Tala was just telling Kai about how everybody wasn't going to be in the limo for a while because Tyson had just farted. Mariah glared at them, wishing she had taken up a class in that language. Then Tala asked Karma, "So, are they treating you right here?" in Russian. The girl shook her head 'yes'.

Mariah mouth hung, "Wait, she can understand you?!"

"Yeah, she is Russian." Tala said in a duh-ish tone like Mariah should have known that. It had just dawned on Kai that Karma and Tala knew each other. He quickly resolved that since both of them knew Voltaire, they must have seen each other a couple of times.

The pinkette squealed with joy and ran over to Karma. "Hello, my little translator! Finally, someone who can tell me what these people are saying!" she smiled picking her up.

Kai and Tala just smirked at each other. "I'm sorry to crush your dreams, but there's just one little problem in your plan." Kai said coolly.

"What?" Mariah challenged.

"She doesn't understand what you're saying."

Mariah looked back at the girl's confused expression and hung her head with a defeated look on her look. "This is never going to end!"

Finally! I've been working on this chapter for the longest. It's so long yet almost nothing happened. Don't worry, more people will definitely be in the next one. Yay, Tala's not dead! I know some people would have killed me for that.

Also, did the last part of the chapter seem rushed? I hope not, and even if it was I hope you enjoyed it anyway.