Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade. I only own my OCs, and the plot line.
Summary:The threat of higher level competition in the tournaments to come makes Mr. Dickenson assign Riley Phillips to help train the G Revolutions. Tyson knows her. She was the one who taught him to really beyblade. But how much does he know about the time between back then and now? And why is she singling Kai out?
To Turn The Tides
Chapter Eight: Just As Friends
Distant Storm
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Max, Tyson, Ray, and Kenny all sat at the dining room table, silently. Many thoughts were going through their minds.
"Since when does Kai acually bother with this kind of thing?"
Kenny shook his head. "He doesn't."
Hilary and Hiro entered the room. "Who doesn't what?" The brunette girl asked, taking an extra seat and offering one to the elder coach, who declined, standing instead.
"Kai left this paper sitting on the table," Max said, handing it to Hiro, who examined it carefully.
"It's kind of like a cotillion thing, isn't it?"
"No," Ray said, shaking his head. Hilary, being the female, and obviously aware of just what could freak a guy out so bad, gasped. "No way."
Tyson nodded. "Oh yeah. Yes way."
"What do you mean?" Max looked up, not quite comprehending Hilary's sudden stupor.
"Uhh, Maxy," Tyson began, trying to be simple.
Hilary noted the champ's uneasiness and decided to finish it off. "This isn't like any other kind of dance. This is a prom."
Max deadpanned. "Prom?"
"According to this," Hiro said, reading the paper, "It is required for all guys to bring a female escort."
At this, all members of the group assembled in the kitchen stared in absolute shock at each other. "Kai... and a girl? Prom?"
Tyson snorted. "That would be like Kai on a date!" He said, exploding into laughter.
Hilary punched his arm. "That would be a date, you dipstick."
The rest of the group began cracking up. Kai needing a date, and the usual Tyson-Hilary antics were catching up to them. They really did have a bizzarre group of friends, didn't they?
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Kai walked through the warmed streets of Bakuten, not bothering with a jacket as the temperatures were warm, and well above normal for the day. He had neglected his car this day, since Riley was with one of her friends, and he had offered to meet up with and train with her later.
He rounded the corner, and stuffed his hands down into his pockets. God, he thought, Riley. Lately, things had been pretty akward, but still, kind of not. In his own mind, things were pretty weird, but he was the master of a facade. She wasn't even uncomfortable around her, that was just her way. She said that it wasn't worth it. To him, it made absolutely no sense, seeing as she'd kissed him, he'd kissed her stomach, not to mention done a shot off it at his first real teenage party experience. He had even danced with her. What the hell had he been smoking that night?
Ahh, he thought, a moment later. Sex on the beach. Well, he hadn't smoked it, but you get the picture.
Suddenly, he felt the silvery ribbons of a fantasy pushing its way up to the front of his mind. He had been privy to this a lot lately, and it was starting to bother him. Though, his imagination had been surprising him. He didn't know that his mind could be that vivid about things that he'd never experienced. This must be what being a normal teenage is all about.
Hormones.
The captain crossed the next street, winding up in the park. He had told her to meet him there so they could train. He scanned the area around him, smirking as his eyes caught up with a solitary form, swinging on one of the three swings to his right.
"Hey, loser, get over here!" She called, her voice loud and happy, with the euphoria of the height the swing was reaching.
He shook his head as if to say she was insane. "You're such a kid, Ry," He responded. He then realized his mistake. He didn't typically call her Ry, much less Riley lately. It was something that he hadn't done because that typically triggered his overactive imagination. Just what the heck was wrong with himself these days?
"I know, and that's why you love me."
He glanced at her curiously. Do I? He asked himself. It just might explain his actions. Though he thought it was just a petty crush, something that he felt toward her because of her kissing him, and because of the fact that she was one of two guys in her life. He came down to the same feeling. He had to be obsessed with her. When he wasn't beyblading, he was thinking of her. Or beating Tyson. But that typically went in the beyblading category. He had been careful not to slip about their training, which he was sure someone had probably either figured out, or thought that they were just really good friends. Which they were, but he wasn't sure anymore that it was what he wanted. And exactly what the hell did it mean to her?
"Hey, quit fantasizing or whatever the hell you're doing." He did a shocked double take and shook his head to rid himself of his thoughts. She was no longer on the swing and he realized that he had indeed phased out. She extended her hand to him.
He smirked and took it. Surprisingly, doing much to boost his current issues, she didn't let go. "Where to today?"
"The usual spot. We're training and then, well, I don't know. I don't feel like being back at the dojo. I'm just not in the mood." Her darkening mood kind of bothered him.
"What's wrong?" He pressed.
She shook her head. "Nothing."
"Liar."
"If I tell you, we won't train."
"Could it really be that bad?"
She shrugged, as his grip on her hand tightened. "Possibly," she decided. "And I as much as I'd like taking that chance..."
He tugged on her hand and brought her closer to him. She turned around and looked at him, with a gentle smile tracing her lips. He felt another mental urge. God, she just looked so... so kissable right there. She looked at him curiously, biting her bottom lip, which was in a bit of a pout, and her eyes glimmered like rubies in sunlight, out of surprise at his newfound attitude. He'd been acting strange around her lately. She knew that, and so did he. He knew she was a bit out of character as well, just not as bad. "Now what do I do?" he asked, more to himself, not really meaning for it to be said aloud.
"Whatever you feel," Came the whisper from the body next to him.
He looked down at her, his intention to keep his thoughts in his head newly mistaken. He released her hand and leaned down. At that exact moment, she inched up on her toes. They met somewhere in the middle.
Riley sighed softly, in relief perhaps, as his lips met hers. She slung her arms over his shoulders as his hands slid down to her upper thighs and pushed her into him. A low moan sounded in the back of his throat a moment later, as she nearly begged for her tongue to enter his mouth. He might have been desperate to try this maneuver, even if he wouldn't admit it, but he would obtain the upperhand.
Neither was sure who broke the kiss, but Riley came back up to him. "Kai," she whispered, against his lips.
His mind was sent spinning. He liked the way his name sounded. The way she said his name. Like it was his true name, and every other time, someone was calling him something that just wasn't him. She leaned back and watched him, her eyes locked with his. She didn't look, upset, surprised, nothing like that. She seemed peaceful, at ease, as if she was in her utopia. He'd like that. He'd like to be her utopia.
And that was corny. Now he had to level with himself. Ah, well. He was in love with her.
Yeah, Kai Hiwatari, the chunk of ice, glacier-man, sourpuss, whatever you'd like to call him. He was in love. With a girl.
Shocking, huh?
"We should train, shouldn't we?" He asked, after a moment. He could've cursed himself for saying it, but he knew, to keep himself in line, he'd have to.
"Yeah." She didn't seem as rattled as he was, but she was still a little jolted. Her hand traced the side of his face, gently, like a whisper of breath. "What- what exactly was that?"
"It didn't mean anything," Kai said, just a bit rushed. He couldn't tell her. It just wasn't his way, nor would it be for a long while to come.
She shook her head. "No. Of course not." After a general pause, she walked beyond her partner and into the clearing. "Now come on. We have training to do."
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"Again."
He rolled his eyes, and did the same as his team mates. Riley was really getting bitchy lately. "Dude," Max said, to him quietly. "P.M.S. anyone?"
"I heard that, Tate."
"Shit." The blonde American gulped and closed his eyes, trying not to get himself in even more trouble. "Sorry," he muttered.
"Don't say that word."
"Sorry-"
"That one." He looked confused and she rolled her eyes in his direction. "Don't say you're sorry. Just don't do it again."
"Again? Huh? What?" Tyson asked, completely out of whack by the last word.
Riley smirked at all of them, her eyes trailing for a second on Kai. "That word really messes with all your heads, huh?"
They all nodded, though at different times. "Yeah."
A genuine smile blossomed on her face, and Kai edged back, drawing out his beyblade and locking it onto his launcher. All his friends had their beyblades on the ground, and their control of the diamondback alloy enhanced beyblades was still pretty lame. He had mastered it before. Long before. He had been around this girl long enough to know what she was planning on doing.
"Again-"
Kai launched his beyblade at the same time she did, and met hers in mid air, sending it back to her hand. A smirk wove in with his features, and the rest of the group had been staring at her in complete shock.
"Well," Riley said, pulling a bit chip out of her pocket just a bit so he could see that it wasn't on her beyblade. "That was rather interesting." The group all stared at Kai as the beyblade casually wound up in his hand. Casually meaning moving faster than seen by his team mates.
"How the heck did you do that?" Daichi asked, shocked.
Kai sneered and shrugged. "Practice. Just how many hours do you watch tv a day?"
Max and Ray edged back a bit as well. "Ouch." They recalled their beyblades, looking at them, as if to scrutinize every bit of their being. Riley pulled her beyblade into her pocket.
"Alright, Senor Captain, let's see what you've got." Kai nodded, recalling his beyblade and walking over to Riley's side, or, as the group typically called it, the winning side. No one had come close to even beating Riley, though they had all learned to break her spin with numerous techniques.
Max noted that Riley gave Kai a smile quickly before he had faced the group. But what shocked him, just a bit, was that when he nodded back, his mouth was close to a smile as well.
Kai faced them and Riley took a step back. She had been doing this a lot lately, starting out the practice and then leaving them to Kai, who suddenly was a tough opponent, even though his skills were nowhere near Riley's. He hadn't beat Tyson, and that was no surprise, as the champion was also working hard, after Riley's latest talk of the people to look out for. There were just too many people who were infinites. Tyson thought that title had a ring to it, and he wanted to be the one given that title after the championships.
But he didn't realize, or maybe he did, it's always hard to tell with Tyson, that Riley, to them, was no infinite. The wondered what she did to superpower her blade, because she was no infinite, and that was general knowledge to them. So how much more powerful were the actual infinites?
"Alright, who's first?"
Tyson came forward. It was always Tyson who felt the need to bring Kai down, so that his spirit would be broken, just a little. It always helped the others in training. Riley glanced at Tyson and nodded to him. She then looked up, to see Hiro standing behind the group watching.
"What's going on here?" He asked, curious.
"Kai's about to show Tyson what for."
"Really? I hardly think that Kai is going to beat my little brother. It hasn't happened yet," The older Granger pointed out. Tyson laughed, his ego inflating, while Kai growled, locking his beyblade into position.
"Ha ha," Riley said, not impressed by the Grangers' confidence in themselves. "Alright you two, nothing fancy. No bit beasts either. Just launch and try to take the other out. With the least amount of time in the dish as possible."
Kai nodded, closing his eyes to let the concentration overcome him. Tyson lowered himself into his launching position, ready to go. Kai waited, and Hiro began the count down.
"Three... two... one-"
Both bladers launched their beyblades, and Kai caught the upper hand quickly, his blade traveling much faster, and sending Tyson's flying into the pond on the opposite side of the yard, where it landed with a splash. It hadn't even hit the dish, and Kai recalled his blade from the air. Riley nodded. "You've been practicing harder than your team mates, no?"
He said nothing, and looked to Max, Ray and Daichi. "Let's go, you three."
Riley looked over to Tyson, who had run to retrieve his beyblade from the pond. "Come on Ty, let's go train, you and me."
Kai's head tilted in her direction. What the hell? He was the only one who received training from her, Tyson didn't. The champ turned back to Ray and Max. So this was jealousy, huh? Well, he got one conclusion out of the matter.
Jealousy sucks.
"Come on, Kai, are you going to stare out into space, or are we going to get it on?" Daichi jumped up, being shorter than the captain trying to get his attention. Max and Ray shook their heads in a knowing matter towards the twerp. Kai was going to rip him to shreads one of these days. They had bets already taken on it.
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Riley took Tyson to the beach, where they typically practiced in the afternoon. This area of it was abandoned, as the local beybladers didn't use it during this time of day. Tyson's entire walk was a bit more depressed, as he had lost within less than a second of launch.
"He caught me off guard," Tyson said, wishing to defend himself.
"He's been working hard to beat you," Riley replied thoughtfully. "I've come across him training a lot." Her crimson eyes settled out over the ocean, her thoughts resting on the captain of the team she trained. God, she loved that boy, whether she wanted to or not. He had just grown on her, for being a sadistic asshole, and for being a devoted friend, and never a quitter. He'd never agree to the second reason, but she knew he cared. After all, he had kissed her, so either he was waaaay to curious, or he had probably wanted to really kiss her.
"Still," Tyson said, bringing her back to reality, "Next time, I'll beat him."
"Focus on speed and strength. Kai has strength, but his speed and endurance are greater than yours right now. Focus on obliterating him faster."
Tyson looked lost. "How can I do that when he totals me at the launch?"
Riley shook her head. "I highly doubt that he's going to do that to you in the championship round."
He nodded. "But how do I get an edge, because he's probably got more moves on me now too!" The champ began huffing, kicking the sand at his feet.
"Come on, let's go, I'm going to teach you a few new moves that I'm not teaching the rest of you."
He looked up, a bit happier than before. "Yeah! Let's go!"
Riley nodded and began teaching him things that other infinites had taught her, as she had moved her way through the gangs. Tyson was a fast learner when his concentration was on beating his opponent. Still, she couldn't help but feel a bit torn, between the boy she had known since she was little, and the boy she had taken under her wing. She couldn't help that she liked, and possibly even loved Kai, it happened to her unintentionally, however the results were still pretty good. She liked spending that extra bit of time with him, though she had to lie to get it most of the time. Hiro had been asking her how he had gotten so good, and Riley had admitted once or twice to helping him a bit, since he kept getting frustrated. Hiro asked how Kai knew about her omegacide, and she had said that he was with Dickenson during the battle or something, which didn't match the original tale. She knew he had an inkling about something going on, but she still didn't feel the need to explain. One of the G Revolutions was already an infinite, and she knew it. He personally doubted himself, and she'd have to change that. However, it was nothing she could do until she reached Seattle again. Things were definitey heading for a meltdown this year.
Still, she knew, eventually, she'd be faced with a choice. And as much as it may hurt one of them, she knew who she chose.
Everybody loves the underdog.
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Riley threw herself down onto her bed. The entire place was silent. The boys, save Kai, went out with Hilary to go train and get some stats. She had been slowly decreasing her training on them, making them a bit more self disciplined, and a bit more focused on training with Kai, or Hiro. She couldn't stay forever, and they were beginning to realize that. Hiro had been a bit harder on her, asking her where she had been, and the like. Ever since that day she had lied and said Kai was sick, when he was actually hung over, Hiro had been on her case.
It was like he knew or something. But the problem with that was that he coudln't find out. If he did, it would be bad because Dickenson would find out, and the man was practically like her father. He could kill her after Kai became the champ, that would be much, much better. Kai would hopefully stick up to her by that time.
A knock came to the door, and she sat up, finding herself face to face with the boy who had concerned her previous thoughts. "Hey, I was just thinking about you."
"Good things, I hope?"
"Nope, horrible ones, actually," He rolled his eyes and sat down, without asking. "Way to ask, Kai."
He shrugged and leaned back, looking over at her. "Actually, that's why I'm here."
She looked interested, blinking once and then positioning herself so that her head was leaned up against his chest and stomach. "Oh really?"
"Yeah." She smiled, and waited for him to continue. "My school is a bunch of assholes," He began, watching her ever movement. She was calm. He realized that this was the only girl who wasn't partially afraid of him. Nina was okay with him, but the two weren't as tight as he was with Riley. She could use him as a human pillow, and she didn't care. He found himself liking it. "Anyway, outside of the obvious, they have this participation thing. All seniors are required to go to this dance-thing."
"Prom?" She asked, her curiousity sparked. He gulped, and she heard it, being pressed up against him. "Don't be nervous," she said quietly.
He was appauled. She really did know him pretty damned well. "So, yeah, we're required to bring an escort- just as friends, you know-" He looked at her pointedly, though her head wasn't tilted in her direction. "Now would be the time where you say, 'oh yeah, sure, I'll go with you.' Help me out here, would you?"
She laughed gently, though mocklingly all the same. "It's funny to watch you freak out, even if it is one of the mildest versions of 'freak out' I've ever seen. Besides, you're cute when you're nervous."
He turned serious. "That is the worst word association I've ever heard."
"But I'm going with you to prom, so you better deal with it or else I'll say the same thing when Yukito and Nicholli are around."
He rolled his eyes, then realized what she had said. "So you're actually going with me?"
"I just said that, dipshit. Besides, I already know you can dance." She sat up and hovered over him. "And thank you for asking, because I wasn't planning on going to my school's."
He then realized the proximity of her body to his, which was something he thought he would've realized when she was actually touching him. He hated this almost nervous embarrassment thing he had going on. He had to have picked now to become semi-normal.
She kissed his lips again, soft, slow, and sweet, three words that he suddenly found a new pleasure in. This girl was amazing, and he was shocked at this kiss. "Thank you," she whispered, again against his lips. God, that was like a language all her own, he swore upon it. The sliding open of one of the regular doors to the dojo made her bolt up. He sat up and stole another kiss from the corner of her mouth causing her to smile.
"Rylily? You around?" She immediately recognized the voice to be Tyson's grandfather. She smiled.
"Hey, Grandpa!" Her voice echoed happily throughout the rooms of the dojo.
Kai looked at her curiously. "Rylily?" He mouthed.
"Middle name," she responded quietly. "He only uses it when no one else's around." Nodding, he tested it out again upon his lips, and decided he liked it. "You're going to start calling me that, aren't you?"
He nodded. "I like it."
"Aren't you sweet."
"What's up Ry-Girl?"
"Nothing much," she responded, as the man came to the door of her bedroom.
"Is the sour-dude bothering you?"
She shook her head and looked at the man. "No, he's fine. He was just asking me something."
Mr. Granger's eyes narrowed. "What would that be?"
"He asked about the infinites at the tournament; wow, everyone's being so sneaky and on edge these days. It's not like we're having some secret affair or anything."
He exhaled, more relaxed. "Well duh, Rylily. Just watch out for them silent dudes and all that jive."
"I'm right here, I can hear you, old man," Kai said, annoyed.
"That's what I'm worried about, dude. See you later, dudette."
Riley laughed as the old man walked away. "He thinks you're like stalking me, I think."
"I think you're stalking me."
"Nah," she said, dismissing the thought. "We're in an orbit all our own. We meet somewhere in the middle."
"That can work," he decided, thinking upon it for a moment.
"I do believe it can." She stopped, got up, and turned around to look at him. She then put both hands on her hips and pretended to be somekind of dramatic superstar. "But whatever shall I wear?" She threw the back of her hand against her forehead and sighed. "Woe is me, I need to spend thousands of dollars!"
Kai threw his wallet at her, clocking her in the shoulder. She caught it and opened it up, finding a drivers liscense, a few bills, and a credit card. "Go ahead."
"I have money, remember? I'm Dickenson's sort of daughter."
"I still need a charity act for the year."
"Why? You pick me up from school already, remember?"
"Yeah, but I want to do that."
"And you don't want to buy me a dress for prom?"
He looked confused. "I- uh-"
"I'm just fucking around." She slid out his credit card. "Shall I go for a tramp, or extremely traditional?"
"Something inbetween."
"Sexy?"
He didn't know exactly how to respond, so he said nothing. She nodded.
"I'll go for that one, then."
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Max and Tyson stood in the doorway of Kai's room as Ray fussed over him like a mother hen. "Jesus Christ, don't you think Kai knows how to tie a tie?"
Kai glared at the two boys in the doorway as Ray began his intricate weaving of the scarf-like garment around his neck. He would've killed for the scarf right now. Unfortunately, things just didn't work that way. It was prom. Tyson and Max began to snicker. "How many pushups would you like at tomorrow's practice, boys?" He asked, the glare still fresh and evil.
"You know, I can still call Hilary, if you'd like to actually graduate high school this year. I know you're required to have a date. I know she's got a dress that would match your outfit," Tyson said, completely serious. "I don't mind sharing."
Max nodded. "This is Prom, Kai. Once in a lifetime thing, you know?"
"Two hundred?" He questioned viciously, snarling as Ray pulled the tie just a bit too tight. The Chinese boy jumped back and said nothing, a bit wierded out. "Or more?"
"You know, speaking of Hilary, where is she?"
"Said she was back at her house doing a school project, which I think is a ton of bullshit. She asked Riley to help her with it, which makes no sense, because Hilary's classes are of things that Riley's just not interested in."
"You never know," Ray responded, tucking the hankerchief into Kai's breast pocket. "There," the black haired boy said, standing back to admire his work. "Perfect. Now if you only had a date."
"Would you guys lay off it?" He asked, a bit moody. "I have a date, don't worry about it."
"Come on Kai, even we're not that stupid." Ray glared at Tyson, as if to say, 'well maybe you are,' "Hilary offered to go, if you absolutely needed it."
"I. Have. A. Date." Kai turned around and poked Tyson in the chest. "Get it?"
"Seriously?"
"Yes." Kai ran a hand through his hair, exhaling with a bit of frustration. He was beginning to get flustered. He wanted to get out of the dojo. She was no pressure. They, however, had become quite the opposite.
"Who?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
"You're not even picking her up?"
"Why bother? She's not high maintainance."
"Lucky bastard," Ray cursed. "I love Riah to death, but she's always all over me whenever I'm in town."
"Shut it," Tyson said, accusingly. "You know you like it."
Ray turned a bit red. "So?"
Max rolled his eyes at his friends' stupidity. Their captain was long gone. "So, boys," he said, with a smile that showed creativity and a bit of sneakiness, "Who's going to call and tell Dickenson that the great Kai Hiwatari has a date for this lovely evening?"
Tyson jumped up and down. "Pick me! Ooh! Ooh! Pick me!"
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Meanwhile, at Hilary's house...
"God, I wish I had your curves."
"Thanks, I guess." Riley ran the straightener through her hair once more. "I hope things go good tonight."
"Yeah, you said you needed help getting ready for prom. I thought you weren't going."
"I'm not going to our school's prom," She said, with a smirk that Kai frequently used when he knew he could hold things over his friends' heads.
She did a double take. "Then who's are you going to?"
"Kai's."
An anime style fall followed. "With him?"
Riley nodded, and Hilary's mouth just about dropped to her knees. "Yeah, he needs this as a final thing before graduation, you know, escort type thing. He was all, 'gruff and Kai-like,' but he was nervous as hell. He even said it was just as friends." Hilary began to burst out laughing.
She then stopped abruptly "No way."
Riley raised her eyebrows at her brunette friend. "Don't go there, I can read your mind. Okay, so maybe I can't. But I know what you're thinking and you need to stop."
"I see the way he looks at you, and I know he gives you a ride home each day. He never did that even when we all got out at the same time. He has to feel something for you."
She shrugged. "I guess we'll find out."
"Do the boys know that Kai asked you?" She paused. "That sounds entirely strange, you do know that, right?"
"Totally." Riley put down the straightener and admired her long hair that hung down perfectly. "And no."
Hilary giggled like one of Tyson's fangirls. "You're kidding me."
"Well, come on, it just comes right up in normal, everyday conversation." She turned on a charmingly fake voice, that made her sound like a girly prep. "Well, guys, you know," She added in a giggle. "I, like, was sitting in my room, and Kai came in, you know, because we're only like best friends, and then you know, he's all nervous, and like, come on, let's go to the prom together," She paused and her voice became normal again. "So Tyson, how's the sandwich choking thing working out? Oh, you're dieing? That's too bad." She held up her hands. "Because that's exactly how it would wind up."
"Sad thing is that I could see that happening."
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Hilary flew into Kai's room, unannounced. "Hey, Yukito, Nicholli and some other kids are here with their dates. Look kinda skankish, except for the blonde. She's okay."
"Alright." He looked up from his position in front of the computer, where he was scanning something in Russian that she couldn't comprehend. A rose lay strewn across his lap, and he glanced down at it before looking back up at her.
She shook her head, a smile present on her face. She slid the door shut behind her. "So, Riley, huh?" She said, with a smile. She wasn't being funny. She was just interested.
"She's just a friend."
" Yeah, and I'm not madly in love with Tyson."
He gawked at her. "You've actually admitted it?"
She blushed. "No, not yet. But come on, even you've picked on me for it." She sat on his bed and smiled. "Good choice, though Tyson might kill her."
"Don't think I don't know that." Hilary's head snapped back to attention, focusing on him. "What?"
"You love her, don't you?"
Kai shrugged. "I don't know."
"Have you kissed her?"
"Could you get any more annoying?"
"I know what that means," she said, giving him a smirk. "I'm a girl." Her hands were now on her hips. "How many times?"
"Three," he mumbled, almost too quietly for her to hear.
She giggled. "See, she wouldn't admit it. Said that it wasn't my business."
"It isn't."
"Yeah, but still." He faced her. "You know, you two are perfect for each other."
The captain staired at her. "And why do you say that?"
"Do you not see the way she looks at you?"
He did a double take. "What?"
She sighed, exasperated. "Figure it out." With that, she patted him once on the shoulder. "I'd say good luck, but I doubt you'll take it."
"I think," he said, pressing his index fingers against his temples, "I'll take what I can get."
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Riley saw the group of people accumulated in the living room of the Dojo. She caught sight of Nina, who was currently sitting on Yukito's lap. Well, she thought, that was only entirely expected. They looked adorable, and no one could say otherwise. The blonde winked at her, and Yukito nodded in a way that didn't divert anyone's attention to her.
"Kai, your date is late. What the hell?" Daichi looked surprised at Ray's swearing.
Tyson chuckled. "Oh, come on, he probably doesn't even have one, so he said he did. Then when he gets stood up-"
"Tyson, that's not entirely nice to say about your captain," Mr. Dickenson chimed. Riley gulped. Dickenson? Oh man, this was going to be quite a disaster. The guy was practically her father, and she didn't feel embarassed to be with Kai, but things were probably going to get kind of ackward. "I'm sure she'll show."
"She'd better," Hiro chimed in. "I want to see who would actually pity you enough to go with you."
Riley took a deep breath. Now or never, she decided. "I think you all should shut your yaps. I think who I decide to go to prom with is my own choice, no?" Through the silence, the only sound was that of high heels on wooden floors that covered the entire dojo.
"No way."
"Holy shit." Tyson looked back and forth between the two of them. "What the hell?"
The girl entered the room in a ballroom gown that extended to the floor, in a light silvery color. She looked stunning, as the color of the dress magnified her eye color, and the pale pink shadow on her eyes accentuated it as well. She smiled at all of them.
Kai casually extended his hand to her and she took it, letting him pull her in closer to him. While the rest of the group discussed their shock, the captain leaned over and whispered a string of compliments in her ear, something he knew he'd get badgered for by his friends if he said them aloud.
She felt something brush up against her hand, something that wasn't his hand. She recognized it instantly, casting a glance behind her to see it. It was a beautiful rose, white in color, and extremely innocent in giving. She knew him well. He'd never show the flower off. It wasn't his style. She murmurred her thanks, a gesture unheard with the exception of the boy whom she had directed it to. He smiled, actually smiled, holding onto one of her hands with his.
"I can't believe that you two would actually go-" Nina extended a hand in front of Mr. Dickenson's form, on one of the nearby couches.
"Then stop trying to believe and just deal. I don't know what to tell you, honestly."
"Nina, cool it," Kai pressed. Max gave him a shocked look.
Tyson caught onto the blonde's reasoning. "Since when do you have friends of the opposite sex, much less friends other than us?"
Kai rolled his eyes, and Riley squeezed his hand as if to calm him down. "Whatever," he stated, not entirely impressed by their front of questions.
"Nina's my best friend, remember? And by the way, I think it's time we get the hell out of here."
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She stepped out onto the courtyard, her face flushed from the heat resonating throughout the room full of couples dancing and enjoying themselves. She noted the small fountain into the middle of the courtyard and approached it, sitting down on it's edge.
"Come on, Kai," she called, catching his form in the doorway between the inside and outside.
He came out, completely silent, his eyes taking on more of their purple side in the pale moonlight. When he got to the fountain, he sat down next to her. Suddenly things felt just a bit uncomfortable.
"Yeah, I know what you're thinking. This is strange, isn't it?" He looked at her, surprise coveting his features.
He shrugged. "If you're talking about the overly romantic environment and our friends trying to make us get together, you're absolutely right."
She laughed and looked up. "This isn't your thing, is it, champion?" He looked at her as if to ask if she even had to ask. "Fine, be like that. You know, I never got to tell you that you look great in the tux, as uncomfortable as I'm told it is to wear one of them."
He looked over at her and smirked. "Flirt."
"In my nature."
He shrugged and drew an arm around her. "Hey brat, I have a question for you." She looked at him as if to ask him to continue. "Why'd you agree to go to prom with me? For real."
Riley looked over at him and smirked. "Because you needed a date." He seemed depressed. "But you said for real, so I suppose I should tell the truth." His curiousity seemed to spark. "You're the only person I'd want to go with, and that's about as corny as it gets. So yeah."
He nodded. "Good, so you don't just pity me."
"Nope, I promise." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, and he reached out and stroked the side of her face. She caught the look in his eyes. Hunger. "For sake of beyond irony of a dramatic scene such as this, why the hell not?" She waited for him to make a move, which took all of half a second.
He pulled her right into his lap and kissed her until both of them were out of breath. "You know what I like?" he asked her, looking her in the eye.
"I have no idea, I'm just here for the insane kissing action." She smirked in a way that reminded him of himself.
He laughed, still a bit reserved. "Though I agree, I have to admit, you make this easy. No consequences. I like that."
"Someone's gotta be your friend, and besides, I don't believe in blackmail."
"Haha. You'd be rich."
"I've considered it."
He looked up in mock surprise. "No. That's not your nature."
"So you've got me figured, eh, champ?"
He nodded, and she took the hint.
"Alright, then just try to keep up." She inched upward and began kissing him in a way that demanded his complete attention. She heard him moan, but she said nothing, turning on the fierce nature she typically kept in reserve. He responded more to that, pulling her tighter, closer, until they were practically one entity. She mumbled his name against his lips.
"Again."
She directed his attention to his eyes, now just hairs away from his lips for the third time. "What?"
"Say it again."
The sound of footsteps interrupted them. "Dude, they just named you-" The boy paused. "Uhh... right. I'll just pretend I didn't just but in."
Riley nodded, turning her head toward Yukito, who was hand in hand with Nina. "Very good idea." Kai nuzzled her neck, kissing her directly on a nerve, sending shivers down her spine. Nina laughed, saying something about knowing it would happen eventually, and pulled Yukito back into the school, and more specifically, the dance floor.
She cupped his head in her hands, bringing him back up to eye level. "Now," she said breathily. "Where were we?"
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Well, there's the eigth chapter. It's a lot of kissing, heh? Anywho, the dramatics will kick up next chapter, don't you worry. God knows Kai needs a good problem every once in a while. And did anyone catch the foreshadowing in the last chapter? Ah well, if you didn't don't worry, it's not that big of a deal. You'll catch on.
thanks for reading, and please review!
x3 Distant Storm