Sorry this chapters took so long! I've got exams just now and I'm soo busy:( I'm trying my best but updates will be sketchy for the now:P

Anyway, I'm surprised the way this has turned out. I think I've found my means to my ends and it totally wasn't the way I originally thought. Anyway, hope you guys like!

Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade

Chapter 9

The cold shoulder wasn't something Hilary had ever gotten from anyone before save one girl she'd fallen out with in elementary school. They'd had an argument over a stupid doll and ended up not speaking to each other for weeks. Anytime Hilary approached her she would pretend like she wasn't even there. That had hurt Hilary even more than knowing her friend hated her at that point. At least if she spoke venom she would know that there were feelings, even if they were negative. But when she refused to even acknowledge her existence it made her feel so small. Exactly what Mariah was doing, though in a more professional way. Being her lady in waiting, Mariah could hardly refuse to communicate with Hilary but in all honesty, Hilary would have preferred that than the clipped, official conversations they were having right then. And because of what? Because she'd stayed out a little later the night before with a boy she truly believed she might be in love with? Since when was Mariah her mom, anyway?

She could understand why Mariah was mad. Anything could have happened to her and should she have been found out Brooklyn would most certainly have made an example of her in the form of a hanging. That much had sunk home to her. Other people were at risk here, not just she and Kai. She knew that but her heart couldn't ignore what it felt. Telling it otherwise was futile. There was nothing to be done. Mariah just couldn't understand that. It was worth the risks and the chances being taken. It was worth everything. If Mariah was ever in the same situation then she would understand but her relationship with Ray was simple. She loved him, he loved her. He wasn't as infamous as Kai and she wasn't betrothed to Brooklyn Kingston. They could be together without any complications.

Angrily, she threw the book she was reading across the drawing room floor. It wasn't like she could concentrate on it anyway. Her mind was a jumble of mixed thoughts; like a jigsaw puzzle with pieces from other pictures mixed into it. On her mind was her predicament with Mariah, her dinner with Brooklyn that was to follow that evening and, the one happy thought, Kai. Being with Kai had felt so right last night. It hadn't even been physical like most of their relationship. That's how she knew they had something special. Even if it had to be hidden from the whole world she knew it was special. That had to count for something.

She stooped to pick up her book, feeling silly for such a childish tantrum. She scanned the front cover. No damage done. That was a relief. The author had never done anything to her except sometimes have slight diarrhoea of the typewriter. She found herself smiling in embarrassment and glad there hadn't been anyone present to witness her moment of immaturity. She placed it back in its position on the shelf and turned to see Mariah standing at the door regarding her with mild humour.

"Did the book do something to offend you?" She asked, her tone retaining its usual warmth. Hilary knew that her mood was officially over and she would be talking to her again, even if she was still quite mad.

"Not exactly," Hilary replied, laughing. "I'm just frustrated."

Mariah walked over to the bookshelf and rearranged the book so that it was no longer upside down. "I can see that. You're minds on other places, huh?" Hilary nodded. "I see. Well I was just off the phone from Ray there." She wasn't surprised. "He told me that pretty much all of the front runners in the Resistance are pissed at him. He also said that once of our friends thinks he's up to something. A girl something."

"Well isn't he?"

She sniffed the air. "That's not the point. He was asking me if I'd noticed anything out the ordinary when he was here. He also asked me if I knew any girl that Kai had been in contact with."

"What did you say?"

"I said I'm sure he'd been in contact with lots of girls. I dropped a few names of female staff in here and I said, 'of course there's Hilary as well.' To which he replied 'yeah but he's not exactly going to start up a relationship with her. They would never see each other.' Oh how naïve people can be, huh?"

"Don't you feel bad about lying to him?"

Mariah shrugged. "Well I'm not really lying. He asked me if I knew anyone who you'd been in contact with and I'd told him. It's not Ray I've got to worry about anyway. He'll forgive me. It's Garnet who really worries me." Hilary had heard that name dropped quite a few times but knew nothing more about her other than that she was apparently extremely beautiful and one of Kai's best friends. "I'm sure you've heard about Garnet, right? Well she's...I mean don't get me wrong, I love her to pieces and she's one of my closest friends and everything but...I don't suppose you remember high school? Well do you remember those girls, the really pretty ones, who always hung with each other and were, really, really cliche-y? There was always one girl who was the ringleader of everything and if she didn't get her way there would be trouble. If that girl fell out with some one then the whole world fell out with her too. That girl's Garnet."

"You think she'll do that to you?"

"Exactly. Her words can be venom when she wants them to be. She's also really influential over everything, except Kai, funnily enough. Kai and Hiro, actually. She can be dangerous. Scarily dangerous." Mariah sighed. "This isn't the kind of thing I should be bothering you about but I need to talk to someone. If Garnet finds out about this Kai could be done for, along with me. I hope you can understand why I'm so worried."

Hilary nodded. "I get it now. Why you're so worried, I mean. You think you and Kai will be outcasted, right? Ostracized from the Resistance. If that happens you know you can at least stay here but for Kai there's no place for him to go. But they couldn't do that, surely? I mean, Kai started the Resistance. The people love him. Without him there is no Resistance!"

"Well some people are never able to see the bigger picture, Hils. Sure, the Resistance probably would shatter should Kai step down from his position. It's sad but true. However, Garnet's loves dominancy by association. As much as she loves everyone who's the front runners in the Resistance I could imagine her being just as happy casting her influence on whatever leader would follow Kai. Unfortunately for her, that would be Hiro. I know that if Kai was ever to resign then the post would go to Hiro. Hiro and Garnet are cousins so he knows what she's like. If she had her little way there would be no hope for us or for the future."

"You know, for a friend of hers, you sound like you really don't like her," Hilary commented dryly.

"It's complicated. I love her to pieces like a said but at the same time I hate her. I love who she is when there's nothing for her to gain. She's honestly one of the best friends I could have. But when her ambition kicks in...That's when I have to hate her. It was the same during school, when we still went to school. She would never go so low as to sell us out but should she find out that you and Kai are rendezvousing without her knowing it she'll see that as betrayal. One thing you don't want to do is betray her, believe me."

Crossing her legs, Hilary sat back on her chair. "You know, I'm starting to dislike this girl and I've never even met her. She sounds quite wicked, actually. And a little petty if I may add."

Surprisingly Mariah laughed. "That's it exactly. When she's good she's very, very good. But whens she's not she's wicked. Or something like that, anyway." Mariah looked at her watch and frowned. "I only meant to come in here to tell you about my call with Ray. How the hell did I manage to blabber on so long about Garnet? Look, I've got things I need to do. Besides, you better start getting ready for another enchanting evening with Brooklyn."

Hilary rolled her eyes. "Oh yes. My enthusiasm for the thing is clearly endless."

She watched carefully as Mariah left the room, closing the door gently behind her and listened to the light click of her heels as she walked down the hall in the direction of the main foyer. Then she allowed her face to scowl in a way that was uncharacteristic of her own features. Her normal arched eyebrows knitted together so fiercely it looked as if there was some sort of make up on them, for an expression so malicious wasn't natural on some one with a nature as gentle as hers. However, given the circumstances, in Hilary's mind, it was understandable. Was she being paranoid or was there an underlying message underneath Mariah's words, words she wasn't entirely sure were true? A message that was hidden so well under casual chatter ( or make believe stories) but really held some kind of a threat, or warning. Mariah had just spun a parable. Hilary believed so. Furthermore, Hilary believed that Mariah was hinting that she was being selfish and, worse still, that she was compromising the Resistance and Brooklyn's downfall by having a relationship with Kai. Hilary knew as well as Mariah did that if Kai was to fall so would the Resistance. Without him there would be no notoriety, no threat. Everything would have to be built back up from nothing and with Brooklyn usurping the throne God knew that it would all be a vein as they would be powerless to stop him then. Now she also knew that his cohorts would turn on him should the secret of their relationship surface. What Mariah was getting at was that with this knowledge in hand, should Hilary keep seeing Kai there was always the risk that, when found out, Kai would be forced to resign from the head of the Resistance and as a direct result it would be her fault that it would crumble. All hope would be gone.

The very idea made her blood curdle in her veins sending red heat through her body. Surely Mariah, her only real friend, wasn't actually hinting that freeing her people and making a future for this country that didn't end in the jeopardy of freedom meant nothing to her? Didn't she know anything about her at all? Hadn't she ever listened to her and how much she hated Brooklyn with a passion as strong as the love she felt for Kai? Did she honestly think she wanted to spend her entire life with that demon, that tyrant, that devil!?

A sharp pain erupted from the palms of her hands and she brought them up to her face. The hands she hadn't even realised she was clenching had a tiny rivulet of blood flowing down them, caused by a puncture from her nails. She stared in disbelief as the anger slowly ebbed away until she was still again, finding that she had also been shaking with a rage she had no idea she possessed. It was no surprise really that she should be so mad. Mariah had just questioned the ideals she had always kept such a firm grasp too. It was natural enough to feel some kind of anger towards that. What made her so furious, however, wasn't because of what Mariah said – and as such wasn't actually towards her friend at all – but because, for the first time, Hilary realised she had perfect reason too. Should she be given the choice between spending her life with Kai and Brooklyn being overthrown she knew what one she would pick. Sadly enough, it wasn't the latter. The greater good didn't occur here. It was no small wonder she was mad. It was no small wonder she was furious. It was no small wonder that she hated herself so strongly in that small instance of time. Mariah was right. Hilary was in too deep now; she and Kai both were. If her beliefs, once so strong she thought they would never be altered, were now in question, how long before Kai's were too?

Now there was a scary thought. Funny what love could do to a person. How quickly it could change them...

Her eyes perked up. Love...that could possibly be the answer. The solutions to her problem. Love could chance a person, couldn't it? She had been changed. Kai was changing. That's two people with strong beliefs that had crumbled all because of a silly little four letter word. If it had happened to them, could it happen to another? In other words, could she use it on Brooklyn to turn the tables? Maybe not, but she could try. Even if it failed, what has she lost?

With a new determination, Hilary left the drawing room, her pace almost at a run, eager to put her plan into action though with no clear direction on which to go. This was her chance to prove herself wrong, to show that she wasn't some selfish little girl. She was sure it wouldn't work but she had to try. Nothing else seemed to have done any good up until now. Maybe it was time to use a new tactic, one which only she could use. She picked up the dress Mariah laid out on her bed and held it to her chest as she stood in front of her mirror. Yes, a new tactic was surely necessary. It may be result in nothing but that was a risk she was going to take.

Brooklyn let an eyebrow arch as he took in every inch of the girl before him. He had barely recognised her, sitting obediently and patiently at the opposite end of the dining table to him. On entering, she'd risen quickly, head down as if she wasn't good enough to be in his presence. His eyes immediately went to the low cut dress she was wearing showed enough to trigger the imagination but hid enough so that there was something left to it. They then traveled down her slender body, admiring the way the skin tight blue material clung to her like a second skin and accentuating the areas of the body which men desired most, her cleavage, her hips, her naval. He imagined her hips below his own, thrusting in rhythm to his body like to parts to the one song. Her dress stopped halfway between her knees and the smooth, pale skin of her silky, shapely legs draw his eyes in even further like a siren whose spell had been cast.

An unpleasant yet pleasant sensation arose in his crotch and he quickly took his seat, picking up his cutlery and beginning to eat the meal put out in front of him promptly after he had sat down, itching with a discomfort that wouldn't ease. Hilary did the same, leaning forward just enough for Brooklyn to see down her dress. The erection stiffen even further so that he had to shift in his seat to try and ease it off. His breathe thickened and Hilary looked at him with concern.

"My Lord," She said, cocking her head to the side. "Is something the matter? Does this outfit not please you?"

A snaky smile arose on his face and he put down his knife and fork. "No, not at all, my dear. I wouldn't say it's your usual standard of dress though so my mind wonders what the occasion is?"

"Occasion?" Hilary repeated. "Does a betrothed need a reason to dress up for her fiancée?"

He scoffed. "Betrothed? Fiancée? What's happened Hilary? Not twenty four hours ago your eyes held nothing less that hatred for me. Now you're trying your best to please me? What's changed, huh Hilary? What's with this sudden change of heart? Don't even pretend such nonsense."

She looked at him with her eyes soft and injured from his words. "Brooklyn...I've never hated you. I've felt many things for you but never hatred. I've been thinking, you see. For such a long time I've been thinking it over and I think I get it now. I've just wanted to tell you, to try and make you see. You have to understand. I've been pushed into so much. Marriage, queenhood, adulthood...I wasn't ready and I resented it. Don't you understand? I've been afraid of what lies ahead of me and for me. My fear turned into anger and blame. I blamed you. I'm sorry for it. It wasn't fair and it wasn't right.

"Like I said, I've been thinking, though." She cast her eyes down towards the table for fear her little act would show in them. Underneath the table her hands shook with nerves. She was certain he could see through her. He had to. He would see through her and it would be all the worse. What was she thinking? Imagining she could fool Brooklyn into believing she was in love with him by flashing a bit of breast and showing flesh that had previously been hidden. It was stupid. She was stupid.

"You've been thinking?" Brooklyn prompted. He felt himself growing impatient but strangely he wasn't annoyed. He was holding on to every word. Curiosity was killing the cat.

"Oh, yes," She was flustered now. Why couldn't she control her nerves? The game was up. She could tell by his eyes. He could see through her as easily as her face was a window to her mind. "I've been thinking that I'm willing to give this a chance if you will give me another."

She flicked her eyes up at Brooklyn and he knew he was gone, lost in the glittering rubies. He put down his cutlery for the second time knowing that the hunger he was feeling would not be quenched by food. It was the hunger of desire. He was actually desiring the girl before him. The game he had been playing was over and in a strange turn of events Hilary had won. Whatever spell she had cast he was under it.

Maybe he could get more out of this marriage than just becoming king.

Or maybe she was playing witch, enchanting him with words, flesh, promises. If she was a player then he was more than game.

Brooklyn took a deep breath inwards, steadying his burning desire to see more of the flesh before him. He knew he could get it easily – and had before – but this time it was different. His new challenge was for her to feel the same lust he was feeling. He wanted her but he wanted her to want him too. He smiled. Yes, the game was still on though the rules had changed. If Hilary's words were lies he would find them out. First, he had to play along (was it really playing along?). His aim, his challenge, was to get her to want him the way he was now wanting her. Before he hadn't cared for her permission, even got off on the look of hatred (was it really hatred?) in her eyes as he had her whenever he wanted. But it had changed, hadn't it? She wanted him now or was willing to try to want him. It was so clear. She was nervous in front of him, scared of being shunned or maybe scared that her offer would fall on uninterested ears. Trying to get her words out had flustered her. Her cheeks had reddened.

There was something there that hadn't been there before. That much was evident. Was it what she was holding in front of him or something else? Regardless, he couldn't deny that something wasn't the same both in her and him. If she was an actress she deserved a commendation. He – dare he say it – believed her. Despite a nagging feeling he though and was certain her words were true. He wasn't an evil man. Deep down there had once been some good in him and indeed even now it still lingered like a candle refusing to go out. It made him reconsider this proposal from his previously estranged bride. Could he really treat her badly knowing that she wanted to try and please him? To give him a shot and give it her all to get along? He didn't think he could. He would give her the chance. He would treat her better, lull her into his security. He would figure her out. If she was genuine that was all the better for them both. If not there would be hell to pay.

"My Lord?" Hilary questioned timidly.

He smiled warmly back at her and she found herself taken aback. Was he playing an act as well? There was something in it - a warmth she'd never seen before - that made her think it wasn't. Not entirely. "I seem to have lost my appetite." He stood from the table and walked to Hilary. Uncertain, she went to stand but Brooklyn commanded, "sit, please." He took her hands in hers, so unusually soft and gentle. She recalled her conversation with Mystel and thought that perhaps there had been another side to Brooklyn. "You say you want another chance? I'll give you it Hilary. Then maybe you can see that I'm not so bad. Not really. I know things haven't started out well for us but they can get better. I can be better. I've not been easy on you. I can ask forgiveness for that now. You only ever saw the other side to my nature. But I can show you something much different to what the world sees. I think if we try we can maybe make this work."

She squeezed them tightly and smiled back. "I think we can."

He leaned in and kissed her. It was different from before. She didn't know what she had done, but it had seemed to work. It was (dare she say it) nice. Gentle, passionate. Almost everything she ever got with Kai with there being one exception: this wasn't Kai. She could feel it even when she closed her eyes. She could pretend but only so much. He had a way of exploring her that was like being violated. Anything seemed like violation if Kai wasn't with her. Even speaking the words she had had seemed like she was betraying her own feelings.

She felt his hands grace the small of her back. Brooklyn drew back and looked deep into her eyes. It took all her will power to look back. "Shall we continue this somewhere more comfortable?"

With her heart pounding, Hilary nodded. She had consented.

There was a battle going on. It wasn't in the streets. It wasn't between the Resistance and the Dictatorship. It wasn't even between the two leaders. No, this battle was different and Kai had gone into it ill prepared. The battle between himself and the girl opposite him. Their eyes burned into each other, willing the other to give. It was impossible to say how long it had been going on. Minutes, hours, days, years? Their will power and determination was commendable, however.

"So," Garnet said, her eyes refocusing like a microscope trying to get a better picture.

"So?" Kai repeated, barely reacting and as nonchalant as ever.

"So!"

"Is this conversation actually going anyway or are we just going to keep asking each other 'so'?"

Garnet narrowed her ocean blue eyes. "Let's just cut to the chase then, shall we? Enough with the niceties."

"Don't you mean pleasantries?"

"It's the same word," she hissed. "Who is she? Or he? Or it, whatever way you sway?"

"She," Kai confirmed, "is a secret. I'm not going to blow her identity. Do you know the punishment for collaborating with known criminals?"

A new voice joined in the battle but not in the defense of Kai. "Oh, I think we can safely say you're doing more and collaborating with this girl."

Kai raised an eyebrow at Tala but chose to ignore the comment. "I'm not going to risk her name getting repeated in places it shouldn't be. Let it drop because you're never going to get anything out of me."

Garnet raised the fork she'd been using to eat with threateningly. "I have ways of making you talk. Look, we used to tell each other everything. All of us. Why can't you trust us, huh? It's not like we're going to tell anyone. Come on, stop holding out. If I had a secret I'd tell you."

"You're a girl. You were your heart on your sleeve. I'm reserved. Everyone knows that. And anyway its not that I don't trust you. I just don't trust this place. We can't be certain that everyone in the Resistance is trustworthy. I'm sure we'd like to believe that they are but we just can't know for sure. I'm not going to risk her safety just to quench your curiosity."

Tala sat beside Garnet and put his feet up on the table. "We'll find out eventually, you know," he drawled lazily, closing his eyes. "It's inevitable. You're dealing with the best of the best here. You can't keep her a secret forever."

Kai sighed impatiently. "I'm not planning too. Just until I know the world will understand. Until the Resistance wins." He smirked. "That's it. Until we kill Kingston I'm not going to tell you who the girl is. How's that for drive?"

"A hard bargain if you ask me," Garnet said distastefully. Kai shrugged and left them.

"He's changed," Tala observed.

"Changed?"

Tala nodded. "I think you know what I'm talking about. In case you've not noticed we've gotten more words out of him lately than we have in the years we've known him. The wall built up around him's crumbling. I don't know who this girl is but she's working miracles on him. She sure must be some one special to have such an effect on a guy as stoic as Kai."

"Special or just the first girl Kai's been with that's not just for sheer teenage kicks?" Garnet questioned.

"I think you know that answer. Kai's not fickle. He's not just going to allow anyone to break through his barrier. No, that would be kept for some one else...But I couldn't even begin to picture any of the qualities this girl would have."

"Pretty, for a start. Busty but not too big. Quite slender, I'd imagine. Warm personality with something different about her. Some kind of obstacle that would keep them from having a happy relationship – you know Kai," she added rolling her eyes," he wouldn't date a girl if it was as easy as dating a girl."

Tala placed a hand on Garnet's knee. "Aren't you forgetting something? Kai's a member of the Resistance. Dating any girl's a challenge for him and a risk for her."

"Great!" Garnet exclaimed, flopping against the couch. "So we've narrowed our possibilities down to a girl with boobs that haven't had silicon inserted, a waist that's between anorexically skinny and obesesally fat, isn't bad looking and has a nice personality. Wow. We've made some progress."

"We're got him to admit the girl exists. That's a start at least. I don't see why you're obsessing over it anyway. He'll tell us when he's ready. Until then I'm willing to wait."

"Doesn't it annoy you that he knows something you don't know?"

"Garnet," Tala said warmly, "you sound like a five year old. Let it rest."

She huffed indignantly. "I have a right to know." Tala looked at her sternly and she huffed again. "Okay. I guess we don't exactly have any other choice. Getting something out of Kai that he doesn't want to talk about will be like drawing water from a stone. Good luck to Brooklyn Kingston if he ever does catch him. He'll waste practically every torture device known to man kind trying to get his lips to flap."

Outside the door, Kai smirked. They had no idea what they were talking about. They were so far off the target they were aiming in the opposite direction. Relief was even more upon him as he heard Tala call Garnet off. Maybe he was too cocky. Maybe he was too confident. Whatever it was, he felt assured that unless he slipped up something major they were never going to know about Hilary and that suited him just fine. Sure, it was deceitful and he was deceiving his friends but it was for the greater good. His greater good. He'd been spending his whole life looking out for everyone else bar him but this time he was going to focus on what he wanted. He could forgive himself for that.

It wasn't as if his life was all Hilary anyway. The Resistance was still his number one priority. If push came to shove and he had to chose between the two well it was obvious...it had to be obvious...

Kai's eyes widened. What would he chose? The thought loomed over him as he realised he didn't know the answer.

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