(A/N: -stares in disbelief- Holy mango, I got so many friggin' reviews in the same day that I almost fainted in front of my computer! -laughs- I'm so glad people like this story. I was kinda scared some readers wouldn't be happy about me not updating NOTV, but, I guess this'll do for now, eh? Nobody hurt me. -hides-

I really, really enjoy reading and responding to all of your reviews! Thank you all! Now with the answers!

Moon Phases: I'm really trying to write another chapter for NOTV. Seriously! But nothing is coming to me, and if I said that it didn't bother me, man, I'd be the biggest fibbing authoress on the face of the Earth! I'm glad you like this, though. Did I put the mystery in on purpose and leave you all hanging until the next chap? Of course!

crimson gates of paradise (Esther): Thanks! -gasps- You don't watch or read Beyblade and/or Beyblade fanfiction? You are missing something, my dear. Or maybe I'm just so obsessed that I do anything else with my life. -whistles innocently- And I don't blame your friend for looking up so many things in the dictionary, 'cause even I find that my stories are kind of hard on the brain sometimes, with my horribly extensive vocabulary! I even teach my English teacher new words! -coughs uncomfortably- It's kind of weird, actually. She says that my writing is university level. -shifts and smiles shyly-

crimson gates of paradise (the dictionary wielding friend of Esther): Well, uh, I guess I can't really help the complicated way that I write, but I commend you for reading, since you say that English isn't your first language! I read fanfiction in Spanish on this site to practice, but half of the time I don't really understand. -sweatdrops- Oh well. Overused verbs? Whatever do you mean? I like my verbs! lol Here's the update!

Smoke-Angel: YES I CAN. lol Thanks!

Storms-winter: I commend you for your incredible patience, Storm, since I happen to know that you're not the most lenient one when it comes to cliffhangers. -ducks the flying objects- ANYWAY, here's the update! Writer's block AND a busted computer? Harsh. I recommend playing music while you write (or at least attempt to), something that matches the mood of the scene you're writing about. I use video game MIDIs and mp3s.-sweatdrop- Hey, I'm a hell of a tomboyish video game fan! The only time that I allow myself to do anything remotely feminine is whenI fangirl over Kai. Or someone else. But mostly Kai. Heh heh. I don't really get Tarian either, though, so bear with me, and all shall be explained!

By the way, readers, "Tarian" isa Welsh name (Welsh again...lol NOTV readers will know what I mean) meaning "shield". I thought it appropriate. You'll soon see why. Happy readings! Yeah, I'm shutting up now! Isn't that great?)

Chapter Two: Rain And Wind

The large, dreary building of the Phoenix Hills Private Academy For Boys loomed against a drearier sky, seeming for a moment so grotesque that the approaching students looked up in apprehension at the brass lettering stating the establishment's name. Then again, it was quite difficult to be fearless, knowing of the horrific (at least, to some) academic experiences hiding within every classroom.

Kai strode quickly up the few stone steps before the school's entrance, nodding and replying to those who hailed a greeting, then making his way to his locker. Students lounged by and against the greenish-gray lockers that decked the main hall's interior in military straight rows, chatting in various degrees of enthusiasm. Kai kept his blue head bowed as he strolled past them, still feeling the humidity from outside rush in behind him from the open doors.

His meeting with Carmen from the day before still weighed on his mind, like the ominous clouds outside, heavy with rain. As a boy's private school go-er, he did not really spend much time outside of the school itself, resulting in the fact that he simply did not have all that much time to spend with girls. The few that he had seen in his earlier teenage years had given him but a negative image of all things female, and he could only wonder if all women were as those raunchy ones had been.

Of course, those had been dumped within a moment's notice, but that is another story.

A strident bell chased a few slackers from the hallways, and there was a great closing of doors before the entire school lapsed into momentary silence. Then it was shattered as roll call began, and everywhere, students sighed to themselves as another day of rigorous education began to unfold.

The wind was picking up slowly. It whistled over the roofs and treetops, engulfing itself in the twisting alleyways and swirling invisibly in the open squares and parking lots. Its song was even heard through the windows of the boy's private school, rattling the transparent panes to the beat of some sordid percussion piece.

Outside a classroom window, the leaves of a nearby oak tree rustled softly as the breeze wafted through the branches, engaging the green in a whispered conversation of nothingness. Something scraped imperceptibly against the worn brick of the school building, then a puff of the growing zephyr veered away from the rest, passing once more through the trembling branches before a presence lighted upon the highest limb.

The midnight blue locks of Kai Hiwatari were just visible through the dirty window. His head was bowed over an unidentifiable notebook, so that he seemed in deep academic thought, although the highly erratic motions of his fountain pen suggested otherwise.

A smile rang silently through the growing pressure that was the air, then, swift as the clouds racing across the sky, the presence was gone, just as the first drops of rain plummeted towards the earth.

Carmen jumped as a sharp knock was heard, seeming to have been thrown onto the wooden door, rather than to have been placed upon it. She hissed in annoyance, sitting up from her sprawled position on the bed, leaving the book that she had been perusing on the sheets.

"Come in."

The girl allowed her silver eyes to flick towards the corner where she had sensed Tarian, but from him only emanated a feeling of warning, and she averted her gaze quickly as the door was pushed open.

Kai walked in unconcernedly, still clad in the olive-green jacket and trousers of his school's and sporting a bag, undoubtedly full of homework of all sorts. Carmen shot him a welcoming smile, hopping from the bed to bow gently at the waist, just as she had at his last visit, silver eyes fixed as always.

"Good afternoon, Kai," she all but chirruped, "how was school?"

He shrugged and closed the door behind himself, ignoring the nurse outside who was staring worriedly into the room. Seeming only slightly downcast at the other teen's silent answer, Carmen sat back on the bed, raven hair bouncing at the jolt.

"Is that all you have to say?" the girl continued, titling her head at him, just in the way that she had on his last visit, "you sure are weird."

Swallowing whatever rude things he had been about to spew out, Kai forced himself to sit on the random chair that had been placed by the wall adjacent to the bed, letting his school bag fall unceremoniously onto the floor.

"Do I have to be talking every time I come here?" he gritted out, his mind forcing her statement from last time back into his head.

She laughed then, a foreign sound in the too-white room. Kai found himself startled out of his bad mood. The musicality of her laugh was astonishing, almost enchantingly so. She just sounded so happy and carefree about God-knows-what, although, hidden under mysterious veils, was a deep, underlying scar; a false note in a symphony of loveliness.

Tarian watched her and smiled, sending her a wave of affection as she giggled atop her bed.

Kai turned his head suddenly as though something tugged at him from behind, focusing his crimson gaze on an unoccupied corner of the small room. He narrowed his eyes, suspicious at the seemingly meaningless signals that jolted across the canvas of his mind.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

His attention was diverted again as she spoke for the first time in a minute. As he looked back at her, she was standing up again, brushing a few wisps of jet-black hair from her face, still smiling so radiantly that Kai almost did himself.

"I'm sorry," Carmen repeated, much more repentantly this time as she bowed again, "it's just…I didn't think you the kind of person to say something like that…your voice…"

"What about my voice?" Kai interrupted.

She did not answer, staring at him instead with an indescribable light in her silver eyes. Then, she took a few steps towards him. Her slipper-clad feet made no sound on the linoleum flooring, and soon, the blue-haired teen found himself gazing up into her eyes, faintly regretting the fact that he had sat himself down upon his arrival.

"It's the sound of your voice," Carmen said slowly, her tone low now, without a trance of mirth, "last time, you just sounded so solemn…and serious…but…"

Kai could not help but lean forward in his seat, some inexplicable interest peaked in the back of his mind. She bent down a little, and if he only looked a bit higher, he could just reach her lips…

Angry at his own thoughts, the teen shook his head gently, wanting to rattle the absurdities from his brain, but froze again as both of her hands came up and lightly touched the sides of his face. It seemed that she was leaving him ample room to pull away, but he did not. Her delicate brows furrowed gently, as though confused, and Kai waited, curiosity rooting him in place.

Her touch was cool, reassuring. She was just a harmless girl, he could not help thinking, but yet, behind him, the empty, unexplained corner was tormenting the roused portion of his mind. Vibes of unease radiated from the spot, and Kai wanted badly to turn his head to observe the place more closely, but her hands, still gentle and unmoving, held him in place.

Then, slowly, her fingers curled, brushing his pale skin ever so slightly. The boy contained a shiver, but did not move, baffled to the point of wanting to scream. Carmen's expression was one of thought and concentration, then her slender hands went up again, cupping his face loosely, the tips of her fingers just touching his ears before they descended again. She went over the near entirety of his features that way, from the rather high cheekbones to the tip of his slightly pointed chin. The whole time, she kept him transfixed with her eyes, so he sat in silence, waiting with uncharacteristic patience until she had withdrawn herself hurriedly, as though just realizing what she had been doing.

"I'm sorry!" she gasped, looking away uncomfortably as Kai exhaled a breath that he only just found that he had been holding, "I'm so sorry…it's just…Kai…"

"It's okay."

She flopped heavily back onto her bed, not caring how mussed the sheets became. She passed a lithe hand over her eyes, and when they reappeared from behind her fingers, they were as fixed as ever. Kai frowned.

"What's wrong?" he asked, unnerved by the recent events.

Carmen sighed and shook her head in disbelief, shooting a wearied glance to the corner that had Kai so on the edge. He followed her gaze, but once again, saw nothing. He swore under his breath.

"Didn't you ever wonder why I was in here?"

Kai turned back to her, feeling his spine crack at the sudden movement. His eyes overflowed with questioning, but Carmen was not looking at him. Her gaze was at the window, where raindrops still pattered against the roofs.

"Well? Didn't you?"

Registering the question in a jolt, the boy started, the mysterious feeling of his suddenly forgotten.

"Huh? Oh…well, yeah, I guess…"

She smiled weakly and turned her gaze to him, and he watched her calculatingly. He had thought her weird before, but this…this was turning into a mystery.

"I can't see."

"What?"

More confused than ever, Kai almost stood from his chair, but the girl remained as passive as ever.

"What do you mean?" Kai spluttered, his mind refusing to function under such mystifying conditions, "there's still lots of li-…"

"I mean, Kai, that I…that I can't see."

Now she turned towards him, focusing her incredibly still gaze on him, and in a flash and an almost audible click of comprehension, it made sense.

Carmen Konowara was blind.
Instantly, Tarian's presence leapt forward, and an abrupt gust of wind caught both teenagers off guard. What are you doing, child?

Carmen shook her head vehemently and glared silently at him, ordering his silence.

"What the hell just happened?" Kai almost yelled, recovering from the shock of the unprovoked and indelicate breeze.

The girl sent him an apologetic look, knowing exactly where Kai's gaze was pointed. In the corner of her mind's eye, Tarian frowned, eyes wary as he calmed his essence. The wind died down at once, and Kai sat back in his chair, blatant disbelief and bewilderment crossing his features before he sat up again, staring hard into the place where the overprotective spirit had faded.

"I know there's something in here," the boy muttered, glaring with all his might into what seemed to be an empty wall, "I know…and I damn well won't be toyed with anymore…"

"He wasn't toying with you."

All this time, Carmen had still been standing right in front of him, and her sightless, silver eyes were directed right towards Kai. He gulped slightly, licking his thin lips afterwards and wondering vaguely how he became associated with such a strange girl.

Your voice sounds nice.

"That's why you said that, isn't it?" Kai demanded as the ineffaceable comment sprang back into his mind, "you can't see me, so you…you…"

Carmen cocked her head at him, hiding her hands behind herself, as though taking all that reminded him of her tactile scrutiny away from his sight. She sighed.

"Yes…I'm blind. And now you know."

She shook her head, raising her eyes to once again glare in Tarian's general direction.

"I may be a child," she murmured, so that Kai leaned forward, trying to hear, "but I'm not solely your child. Must you insist on always cutting me off like that?"

I am sorry.

"No…no, you're not sorry, Tarian. You're not sorry at all!"

Child…

"Stop it!"

The scream was sharp, sudden and angry. Kai had the feeling that she had been containing it for a long time.

"Stop it! Just stop it, Tarian!"

Carmen!

The breeze picked up again, and this time Kai held fast to his seat, squinting into what he knew to be the eye of the storm; this "Tarian" to whom the girl kept on referring.

She was obviously distressed, and even as the wind started to howl around them, she was shouting, and Kai thought he saw tears shining in her soulless eyes, unperturbed by the rantings of the air stream.

Then, suddenly, it stopped, and the only sound in the room was Carmen's sobbing as she collapsed on her knees to the floor.

(A/N: Hoo boy, I'm sure you all hate me now for ending it there. I'm sorry, but I really wanted to update tonight! So...was it good? What do you think of Carmen's blindness? That was, originally, gonna be the main focus of the story(blindness) but I ended up adding the spirit thingies for some random reason. -is confused- It just came out by itself, I swear. Anyway, review, please, 'cause you guys just make me so happy when you do! Isn't that a valid reason?

Carmen- bishie kidnapper (-stuffs Kai, Oliver, Zeo, Tsukasa, Nikol, Athrun and Mithos in a bag and walks away-)

In order, that's Beyblade, Beyblade, Beyblade, .hack/sign, Gundam Seed, Gundam Seed and Tales of Symphonia, for those who don't know. lol)