Sorry for the long wait people :)

Chapter 7

Shafts of sunlight shot through the clouds. The iron grey sea turned a patchwork quilt of light and darkness. The air was getting warmer. Hilary gazed out to sea again. Feeling battered and weary from the wind and cold, this abrupt change gave way to a flicker of hope within her. Rising from the deck once more, she would have almost been enjoying herself if a certain boy hadn't been missing, for what felt like forever now.

Letting her life jacket slide off her shoulders to the floor, Hilary let the newborn sun warm her skin. Leaning against the metal railings-they were still bitterly cold. A troubled look fixed in her deep brown eyes. Kai was no where in sight yet.

Ray shook the crystal drops of water from his raven hair. It may have been sunny but the wind was still biting his bare arms. This change in the weather was just rubbing it in his face that Kai was gone. Ray was eaten up by the anger towards Tyson. 'I bet he's happy now…no more Mr Sourpuss to challenge him anymore…' Ray gripped the rope tighter, jerking the jib (mini sail) in with one vicious tug. Swearing revenge for Kai if he never came back…

Tyson's gaze was to the horizon. Guilt and despair were killing his optimistic nature. If they didn't find Kai…Tyson swallowed hard, he felt his knees going weak …he wouldn't be able to live with himself. Grasping the rope tighter as though it was of some comfort, he stared down into the cold rushing water, and let the tears slide unseen down his cheeks, whipped away by the wind.

Max kept a shrewd look out on the swells to the front, his blue eyes occasionally flicking to Tyson. His best friend…he had never seen him so down. Max was keenly perceptive of other people's moods, and Tyson's depression was infecting him as well. Eying the ocean once more Max's resolve strengthened to find Kai, not just for his sake, but the entire teams as well.

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Kai opened his eyes. The need for air interrupted his thoughts once more. Trying to move he suddenly felt the sea spin in the edges of his vision. He couldn't move properly. His legs had seized up from the cold. He felt strangely empty inside, as though something was missing. His body heat had been escaping rapidly. Cursing himself for not thinking straight he struggled to make for the surface again. His vision swam, the sky, he gazed up at it, it didn't look right. Nothing felt right at all. But he couldn't bring up the strength to panic. His entire body had gone numb a long time ago.

Distantly he watched himself lift his right arm, a vague sense of curiosity compelled him, to see if it still looked as bad. Forcing his vision to focus on it- the mutilated limb had gone an intense shade of purple and blue. But the pain had gone. 'That's good' he mused slowly, he felt so tired. Losing all sense of self awareness he let himself slip back under the waves. The sea, it felt so warm now, like a hot bath. Kai stared blankly into the darkness again. This was so peaceful. Letting his eyes roll back in his head, Kai went limp in the water, slipping, for the final time, away into the comforting darkness.

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On the bow of the boat Hilary suddenly looked up. There! On the horizon. Land! The other side of the bay was in sight, a black smudge against the sky that had now transformed into a clear blue vault. Almost laughing out loud, for a spit second the girl felt dizzy jubilation. A joyful shout almost leapt from her throat. The split second was gone. Kai. An almost nauseating sense of horror hit her. Pupils contracting in disbelief she struggled to hold onto the railings, her knees giving way beneath her. This couldn't be happening. Kai…they had missed him. Tears slipped onto the deck as she stumbled round to find the others.

Crying harder than she ever though possible, Hilary was dimly aware of Tyson rushing over in alarm. "Hilary? HILARY! What's wrong!" Her knees gave way, falling into him, hysterical with grief she bled her soul out into his jacket. "KAI'S GONE! He's gone!""What happened Hilary!" Ray was shouting in urgency, leaping away from the rope, letting the jib fly out of control. "RAY!" Max fired a warning but the Neko-jin wasn't listening. The boat lost speed, spinning suddenly out of control. Tyson and Hilary were flung sideways against the side of the boat. Landing entangled in a motionless heap. Rushing forward to help Ray was suddenly stopped by Max. "Get back to the jib Ray." His voice was hoarse and broken. The Chinese teen turned to glare at him. He was stopped short by the look in Max's eyes. Such fury was there white, icy blue. And tears. Angry tears, sparkling like crystals on his long black lashes. He repeated again, voice holding a lethal edge. "Get back to the jib." It was an order. Ray obeyed.
Badly Shaken, he watched meekly from the side lines. Max quickly tied off the tiller with a complex array of knots; face fixed in an intense glare of concentration. Starting forward, some of his usual concern had returned. "Tyson! Hilary!" Kneeling down beside them he was relieved to see the boy stirring.

"Uh…what..." Tyson mumbled, squinting through half closed eyes, waiting for his vision to clear. "You ok?" Max's voice floated in on him, now one of worry. "I think so…" Tyson Blinked owlishly. "But… Hilary" The girl lay sprawled across him; eyes closed, her shoulders slowly rising and falling. She was breathing. "Hilary" Tyson made to shake her awake. "No" Max stopped him. "Let her rest awhile, this day has been hard on all of us, especially her."

The duo carefully lifted her up and carried her to the cabin. Placing her on a bunk, they stood in the doorway, gazing at her limp form, each lost in lost in thought.

"Max?" Tyson broke the quiet. "Yeah?"

"I was wondering…why did you say this has been hardest on Hilary?" His tone was one of hidden accusation.

This had been tough on him too; Max knew that, he hesitated. "Because…" he began uneasily, this wasn't his place to tell. But he read the look on Tyson's face; he couldn't take anymore dishonesty or excuses. He was on the verge of breaking down. Max gave in and told the truth

"She loved him Ty…Hilary likes Kai…" Max took a second out to grin inwardly at Tyson's face…classic camera moment.

"She WHAT?" Tyson's outburst was cut short.

"Max? Tyson! Get out here NOW!" Ray's shout led Max to leap out onto the deck. The dragon blader stood there thunderstruck.

Max came back in and dragged his stunned friend out, taking the precious moment to laugh, as the feeling of dread at Rays shout spread through him like wildfire.

"Max what's that?" Ray's voice shook as he pointed out to the water metres infront of them. The surface bubbled and frothed, dark shapes producing from the glittering white foam. The water all around them was black. Shapes lurking hideously close to the surface. The water surrounding the ship was dark. Somehow it had drifted onto…"a reef…" Max breathed blue eyes wide with fear.

And they were heading straight towards it!

And there ya go folks!  well if its not a cliffy then you'd never come back n read the next chapter would you? Mehehehehe… ;)