Chapter 3
Max wondered privately how long Kai was going to stand there glaring at them for. He had been doing it for over a minute now, the blond risked another peek at Tyson's watch. Ok now it had been two…
Kai was desperately working out how they were going to get out of yet another situation that Tyson's stupidity and rash thinking had got them into. In between cursing the navy haired blader he was trying to dredge up anything he could remember about sailing a ship. Of all the many things he had done, sailing was not one of those he exactly excelled at. To put it bluntly, he had only ever been on a ship once with his Grandfather… Hang on…that wasn't right…
Kai's chocolate eyes narrowed, if possible, even more; there was another one, a memory just there at the back of his mind, if only he could reach it…
FLASH Lightning was tearing the sky apart, great carpets of rain swept brutally across the iron sea, lead by a cruel biting north wind. FLASH Hail stones came down hard and fast, cracking and scattering like teeth all over the vast wooden deck.FLASH Kai was there drenched to the bone, isolated from the yelling sailors that ran about him, grey and insignificant in the shadow of boiling clouds and the crest of the next huge wave. His eyes widened to twin coffee moons as the impenetrable wall of liquid reared up, the fiercest stallion of the sea. Plunging down, grey dagger to the heart, the freezing water swept him off his feet. Trapped in its icy fury he was lost to himself, momentarily blinded and deafened, unable even to scream. Suddenly an unimaginably strong pair of arms wrapped themselves around his chest. The water rushed away. He found himself hanging motionless in shock, like a drowned rat, from the dripping wooden railings of the deck. The white water sped away beneath him, back into the grey sea where it belonged. Even through his sodden clothes and fear he had enough time to register the warmth his saviour radiated. Such security, he wasn't sure whether this was the hypothermia setting in or the fact that this man may be his relation…
I make that about five minutes he's been standing there…Max's voice floated in on him. The vision of a younger Kai swinging like a rag doll from the side of a huge galleon from a strangers arm faded. Kai looked up, breathing fast. His absence had definitely been noticed. Still not fully trusting his team with the fact he was still receiving flash backs, Kai moved away quickly towards the cabin. "Hey KAI!" Tyson's irritating voice followed him "I know you're pissed off and all but you could at least tell us how you do sail a ship!" Now that comment was stupid, his nerves already on edge Kai snapped. Whipping round he really let it rip: "HOW THE HELL SHOULD I KNOW HOW YOU SAIL A FUCKING SHIP!" vaguely aware of the others stunned faces he marched right up to the shocked features of Tyson "YOU GO US INTO THIS MESS! YOU IMBECILE! I THINK IT'S BLOODY WELL TIME YOU GOT US OUT!" he screamed right in the world champion's face. Silence settled for a moment, the slapping of bare feet on wood was heard as Hilary shot round the corner, stopping abruptly at the scene. Kai turned to leave, panting heavily. Just as he reached the door to the cabin Tyson broke the quiet. Tyson was sniggering, then he was giggling and finally, at the total astonishment of his team mates, he burst out laughing. Even through the tears steaming down his face Tyson managed to choke "Kai…you …said imbecile…do you know how old you sounded!"
Ray could have hit Tyson himself there and then for his total lack of any intelligence what so ever. Instead he consoled himself slightly by muttering "Smooth move" to Tyson, while stepping away. 'This time', Ray thought sourly, 'Tyson really has pushed the limit. He's on his own.'
Max however had a different Idea "Kai!" he spoke up; trying to break the furious trance their captain had fallen into with his glare solely fixed on Tyson. "Calm down" He stepped between the motionless pair. Kai moved slowly forwards the cheesy grin slid of Tyson's face to be replaced with one of abject terror. Coming up to the blond, their faces only inches apart Kai snarled "get out of my way." Max, clearly terrified, stood his ground silently, out of incredible loyalty to Tyson. The scene froze. Ray could sense something was about to break if he didn't do something quick. Ok Tyson could be really stupid at times but he didn't think any of them would want to see him face Kai's wrath. Slowly curling his fist Kai whispered again "Max, get out of my way." The blond took a step backwards. "You think…" Max's voice was shaking "that you can bully us Kai? Is this why you're captain? …Well?"
"I don't need a fucking guilt trip Max now just move!" Kai yelled, starting forwards. Max didn't give way. Kai didn't stop. All Ray could do was watch. The furious captain of the Blade breakers raised his fist "MAX MOVE!" this was his last chance and Max knew it, staring into those remorseless chocolate eyes, clouded with rage. "No" Max whispered softly "NO KAI I WILL NOT!" His voice grew stronger. Standing up straighter, taller than he had ever, to face up to Kai, Max buckled under the full power of Hiwatari's punch. Kai struck him hard on the side of the head. Almost in slow motion Max crumpled to the ground.
Kai stepped over him. His eyes, Tyson could not draw himself to run or fight, those eyes, the anger they held, all towards him. He let out a whimper, cowering towards the tiller.
All of a sudden Ray had leapt in there and was wrestling Kai from behind. Having the element of surprise he managed to force the stronger teen into an arm lock. Kai struggled like a wild animal. "Get off me RAY!" he tried to overpower the Neko-jin. Ray held on panting "Kai… you don't want to do this…" in a last ditched effort he hissed into Kai's ear "the storm…"
Kai stopped, momentarily going limp. "You're right as always" his voice came out in a seriously irritated growl "I'm always the damn leader for you babies aren't I?" Wrenching himself from Rays grasp, Kai smoothed down his crumpled clothes. "Ok then" the dual haired blader took a deep breath; carefully avoiding looking at Tyson he threw his gaze to the sky "we'd best turn this thing around and fast."
"What about Max?" Hilary spoke up in a strangled, quiet voice. Ray turned to face Kai, his face twisted in disappointment "you are not worthy of captain." With this he crouched down to see how Max was doing, Hilary rushed forward to aid her fallen friend as well. Kai turned on his heel and left the deck area, following the path which Hilary had just run down, to see if there were any clues as to how the ship worked.
He threw himself onto the top of the cabin he had been resting on before; trying to catch some rays and attempting to darken his pale skin. If Kai had not broken the habit of self pity years before, he would have probably cried. 'Warriors do not cry' he thought furiously to himself. Then stopped. Now where had that come from? That was not his grandfather speaking… then who had told him those words? Dismissing the thought from his mind he gazed pensively at the sky. Some thing strange was going on, but that would have to wait. The storm clouds were coming in fast, and they looked angry…
Ok Bit of an anti climax I know
But the storm hits in the next chappie!
(Not giving anything away of course:)
Then things really get going!