Sorry this has taken so long! As usual things come up blah blah blah. Thankfully its the summer holidays so I'll be trying to update as often as I can so I'm finished this by the end. It's probably about half way through, maybe just over. I think there's maybe three big events before the finale. Maybe. Anyway, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade

Chapter 10

With hidden sullenness Kai watched his friends prepare for a rescue mission wanting to much to criticize what they were clearly doing wrong, even though under Tala and Hiro's command everything was being done as meticulously as he would make it. He just wanted to do anything at all to make him feel involved rather than sitting back and letting his work being carried out by others. He could have part of the attack today. His leg was better. In spare moments to himself he had been building it up with weights. In actual fact, he'd been working overtime with training in his room when the others couldn't see him and complain he was doing too much too soon. For God's sake he was a soldier. That was barely a flesh wound he'd been dealt and they were treating it as if it had been a life or death situation. They hadn't seen anything yet. The worst was still to come. He could feel it and he could feel it today. Not that he was their sole protector but with him present all focus of Brooklyn's attacks and as a result they were all – though not entirely – relatively safe. Or maybe for once he was being naive and it was mixture of mere coincidence and their own skill that had kept his friends safe thus far.

In any case, they'd gotten by so far but with things heating up, getting more intense. Their air was heavy with something; like there was a burden looming on every particle surrounding them filling everyone else with it whenever they breathed in. It was the burden of unease. Everyone in the entire country would be uneasy. Both sides of the battle were going into the fight blind. Neither had any idea of what to expect from the other party as did every citizen, both passive and impassive. Heads were going to roll today but whose would remain a mystery.

"Tell me your plan," Kai asked suddenly, catching them off guard. "Hiro? Tala? I'm assuming you're not going to play it by ear and since I've not been consulted I want to know exactly how you plan on carrying out this little rescue mission."

"'Little rescue mission'!" Tyson sneered. "Don't you think it's a little more than that?"

Tala put an easy hand on his shoulders. "Calm down, Tyson. Kai's just being sour because he's not involved in this. Maybe he can take this opportunity to see his mystery girlfriend. I'm sure she can get his adrenaline going one way or another."

Kai's eyes shot up to meet Tala's and they held each others gaze for a full twenty seconds. There was a nervous shift in atmosphere around the Resistance as the two men stared each other out, bodies stiff as if they were about to lunge at each other.

"What's your plan?" Kai repeated firmly yet calmly.

This time Tala did look away but only to indicate Hiro was to do the talking. Then their stand off continued.

"I've planned this all out Kai and everyone knows what they're doing. As a leader I'm sure that's not enough for you and I'll respect that. So here it goes. There's three groups each with one or more of us heading them. Tala, myself and Ray are taking the front side of the gallows. We're equipping ourselves with strong but light amour underneath all our clothes for when we'll have to start fighting. Behind us, scattered about in various positions are members of the Resistance from group A. That's the largest group and formed mainly for combat and defence. Our job is to get the prisoners out as soon as they're free. That takes us to Group B. Group B is headed by Garnet and Tyson who'll be sharpshooting the ropes used to hang the prisoners. Other members will be using different tools to cut them free: knives, axes, anything sharp. They'll be working under mainly a hit and cover basis. Finally there's Group C. Our back up in case for some reason Group B can't free the prisoners. They'll be on a hit and cover basis targeting the guards. We'll be relying on them so help us all get out to safety should there be any complications. Pure and simple. No words, no show. Just a rescue and retrieve basis. They don't even have to know that you're not there. Do you have any questions?"

As much as he hated to admit it, their plan was almost flawless. It wouldn't have been any better if he had created it himself. "Just one. How do you plan on getting them out of there?"

"Costumer change," Garnet provided. "We're going to drag them down to the ground, give them a new set of clothes and then they'll blend in to the crowd. They can easily make their escape since it'll be impossible to pick out one ordinary face from a crowd of thousands." She grinned easily. "See, everything's covered so you don't have to worry."

"So long as Kingston's not got any tricks up his sleeves you mean."

"It's just as well as you would have planned it and you know it!" Tala countered, narrowing his eyes. "Just get off your fucking high horse and grow up."

Kai got on his feet angrily. "Grow up? What do you think we've all being doing for two years? We've all grown up before we should have. I'm not the one being petty and sly here. I'm only the one trying to make sure you all get wake up tomorrow unharmed. But you know what? Since my input doesn't seem to matter to any of you fine. God help you and I wish you all the best. Who knows, maybe you're little plan might even work."

He was almost five steps from leaving when Max called him back. "Okay, I'm not much of a planning guy but what's wrong with it? What would you have done differently?"

Kai sighed and looked over his shoulder. "Spoke to Mariah for one thing for the insider's information. Maybe then you'd know that Kingston's got soldier's checking every person's identity before they get within fifty feet of the gallows. It's a public event, you see, and he only has the public's interest at heart. Maybe you ought to amend your plan, Tala, and take little bit of information into account." With a sarcastic smile he left.

"Tala?"

Tala didn't know who had said his name for all he could see was red. He was sure he was physically shaking and it wasn't the cold that was doing it. "Was he just going to hold out on us an let us be arrested? That prick. That unbelievable fucking prick!"

"Of course he wasn't going to let that happen. Why else do you think he asked you how you were going about this whole business?" Ray pointed out. "He'd obviously spoken to Mariah on his own accord and found that out. It's your own fault for not consulting him about anything Tala. Don't be mad at Kai be mad at yourself. Unwillingly or willingly he's doing the harder thing and not fighting today. It doesn't matter which. Either way as the leader of the Resistance he had a right to be involved in some way. You didn't. He's understandably pissed about it."

Tala's jaw set hard. "We'll need to find a way around this rather egregious plothole. Any ideas?"

Max picked up a brown bag left behind where Kai was sitting and grinned widely. "No but I think Kai's left us a little present." He took out the contents and leafed through various documents. "Yep. We now have papers."

Kenny studied them carefully taking off his glasses and then putting them on again. "Wow. These are really authentic. How did Kai get these?"

"I don't think that's the issue. I think we should be more concerned that some one owes some one else an apology," Ray raised an eyebrow in Tala's direction.

"Noted," their faux-leader replied irritably. "That'll come later. Let's head out before we lose our places in line."

The condemned men and women were emaciated as they staggered onto the gallows guided by harsh butts of guns by masked soldiers. They were pushed and shoved until each were standing in front of each of the six podiums with a noose dangling tauntingly in front of their faces. Their clothes were nothing more than rags now when some of them had been wealthily dressed before their arrests. The visible skin was littered with bruises and cuts, some of which were tanged with a green outline, clearly infected.

"There's six of them," Ray muttered. "No more are coming out. There's only six."

"I can see that," Tala replied dully. "I can count."

"Ten people were arrested, Tala."

Hiro frowned. "Then obviously four people didn't survive their time in prison. Look at them. God knows what they've been through. No food, no water, torture beyond what we can even imagine. I don't think the Resistance is going to be as strong after today."

"You mean you think that a lot of our people are going to be taken out? We'll give as good as we get you know."

"When some one joins the Resistance, Ray, how often does Kai stress that they're not held to the Resistance. They can quite whenever they can't stand the heat. Look up there, Ray. Look at those people and then look around you. Look at the scared faces, the horror, the fear. Those are our people, Ray. Not just ordinary people but ours. Do you want to know what they're thinking? Or maybe you already know. They're thinking that that could be them up there. If Kingston had called on their doors it just as easily could have been."

"It could have been anyway even if they weren't in the Resistance. Some of those people are innocent. We know that, they know that."

"But some aren't. Isn't it funny that the ones who aren't here today are the ones who are most guilty? He's done well this time. He truly has outdone himself. This is the thing he's been wanting to do ever since we formed. Take a bunch of people – who cares if they're innocent? - and make them scapegoats. It's a perfect plan which now fucks up ours."

Tala turned his head slightly. "How is it fucked up?"

"How many members do you think really have the guts to fight in a battlefield where that is on display?" He pointed a finger harshly at the prisoners.

There was a fearful cheer when Brooklyn emerged onto the gallows, surrounded fully by body guards and dressed in all his finery. The three men standing at the front of the podium felt their hatred rise up in their throats. He had done this to these people. He had broke their spirits and he had now broken the Resistance. As his eyes swept the crowd he knew this. And he smiled.

"These people before you, these poor creatures, have sinned against the great nation we're trying to build and look whats happened to them. Sinners have to be punished. That's how you stop sinners from sinning. Unfortunately these people are not entirely to blame. We all know who's to blame." He paused for a second.

"That would have been Kai's cue," Tala muttered.

Brooklyn frowned. His speech had been written in order to draw Hiwatari out of the shadows where the coward to often hid. It was almost like a game they played. However the second player had failed to take his turn. Perhaps he had something else planned and was waiting for the right moment. That more than unsettled him. Was his enemy getting smarter? Was he learning from his mistakes? Or was this just mere coincidence. Brooklyn didn't know what to think. All he knew that there were six bodies waiting to dangle behind him and then God knew how many people ready to set them free when that hatches were released. His soldiers were prepared. They had caught no one out of place trying to enter the square and that was a good and bad sign. Good because all his preparations hadn't gone to waste and bad because a part of him had hoped arresting those little members of the Resistance had been as easy as that.

Regardless, he continued on. "Kai Hiwatari, of course, is the root of all this. He's leading misguided people astray with lies and empty promises. When the time comes to break the fall who takes it? Is it the leaders of his little coup? No. It's the common people. The people that are replaceable. What kind of leader, I ask you, does that to his people?" Brooklyn knew this was perhaps the most hypocritical statement ever to leave his mouth for right beside him were men ready to take bullets for him. "What kind of person would allow this fate to happen to the very people he says he's fighting for. I say let the suffering end!"

The traps below opened and the six men and women fell through. Immediately, they began falling directly to the ground, their ropes splitting. Brooklyn didn't look surprised but dispatched guards in the directions from the gunshots. Snipers. He knew it. Hiwatari never failed to throw in the odd sniper or two.

"Come on!" Tala shouted and the three men dove forward, followed by a handful of others. He briefly turned back and saw familiar faces backing off, disappearing into the crowd like the were disappearing from any accusing fingers that may be pointed their way. "Oh shit!"

"What?" Ray cried, as he pulled two people – a man and a young woman – up from the ground and back. He narrowly missed a gunshot as it flew past his cheek, taking skin with it. He hissed in pain as warm liquid ran down his face. He felt beads of sweat trickle on his forehead. Something wasn't right.

"Look behind you! Our back up's non-existent!"

Sure enough, what had faded to a handful had now faded to nothing. There was no one there. Only the three of them. Two now that Hiro had managed to push the prisoners to safety. A few of the gallows guards fell from the gallows onto the ground beside them, an indication that they weren't completely deserted. From another glance behind, Ray saw that those who had stuck to Group A had fallen. Bodies scatted all around them amongst the chaos of the screaming crowd, gunshots and scream of death. Ray didn't even want to think of the body count.

Before they could run back to cover, Brooklyn Kingston dropped in front of them. To his side were two guards and behind him (covering his back, it seemed) were a further six.

"So you must be two of the Resistance's finest. Let me try to put a name to your faces." He smiled at Ray. "Ray Kon, I imagine. Martial arts extraordinaire." Then he turned to Tala, his smile widening. "And I wouldn't even need to know the name to put to your face. Tala Valkov, isn't it? Your father was once in the army under the late Stanley, wasn't he? I remember him. I remember firing a bullet into his head. You should be grateful. I showed them mercy compared to what happened to Hiwatari's parents."

"He'll kill you!" Tala spat. "Mark my fucking words. He'll kill you."

Brooklyn cocked his head. "Are you not going to? I thought that was the whole idea of why you were here. Save the damned, kill the tyrant, live happily ever after? Or has something gone wrong? Why is it that you're taking so long to make a move? And talking about Kai Hiwatari just where the fuck is he?"

Ray laughed darkly. "He's not here. Pity. Put on this whole show for him and he doesn't even turn up. I'll give him your regards. He sends his own. I don't know. Maybe he was just afraid of the disappointment. I mean, it was pretty much an anti-climax. Don't you agree?"

Brooklyn cried in rage and pulled his sword from its sheath. Ray sprang forward and aimed a round house kick to Brooklyn's face, sending his staggering a few steps backwards. He spat out a mouth full of blood and set his dark glare on Ray. Ray knew at that moment he was marked. A rain of bullets poured behind Brooklyn and several of his soldiers fell under the fire. With him momentarily distracted, Tala and Ray took their chance to escape, knowing that with those guards at his disposal they would not get another.

"Where are you going, Kon?" Brooklyn growled, grabbing the Chinese man's arm. "I want to give your leader a little message. Care to deliver it to him?" He swung his sword down and Ray screamed in pain as his hand separated from the rest of his arm. "Let's see how well you center your chi with a hand missing!"

He let go and Ray staggered backwards, grabbing his arm and holding it in front of his face in disbelief. The blood flowed from it like a river. Tala pulled him backwards and the fell into the still panicking crowd. He stole one last look at Brooklyn Kingston as he held his trophy and smiled the smile of victory.

The drapes were closed intentionally. Hilary had known Kai was coming and didn't want him distracted by the scenes shown from her window. Plus she didn't want to even risk glancing at them either. He hadn't said to her or let on but she knew. Somehow she had just known. She doubted she had become an overnight psychic but there certainly was something there that hadn't been before. Well, that was clear enough. There was a naked man in her bed and she was lying in the crook of his arm just as bare. On top of that she was blissfully happy. She felt safe, secure, loved.

She looked up at Kai who was staring into nothing; his expression broody. His fingers had stopped stroking her arm and Hilary knew he was deep in thought and it was apt to be something unpleasant.

"Do you want a penny?" She asked.

He looked at her and frowned. "Huh?"

"For your thoughts?"

Kai let out a deep sigh and brought his other arm around her, resting just being her breasts. "Just worried. This will sound like I'm paranoid but I've had this feeling that something's going to happen. I think some one's going to get really hurt, one of my friends. It's been gnawing away at me. It's like a premonition except I don't know who or how."

"I don't think it's paranoia, Kai," Hilary said gently. "I think you're just a little crazy." Kai glared at her and she laughed. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding. But really, I think you're more worried that something's going to happen because you're not there to look out for them. You know, I've heard it said that if you keep worrying about something bad it'll happen."

"I have to look." He made to get up but Hilary rolled on top of him, pinning him down.

"No you don't. I know what will happen if you do. You'll panic because things aren't going to way you would do them. So you're staying right here until I say you can go!"

He looked at her unamused. "I can't get my mind off it now. If something happens then it will be my fault."

"No it won't!" She sighed and thought for a few seconds, biting her lip in concentration. "I think I know one way to distract you."

She smirked and bent over Kai's torso, trailing butterfly kisses down his body until she reach his crotch. A low moan rumbled in his throat and her smirk widened as she let her mouth and tongue do the talking. Kai sat up slightly put his hands on her shoulders, willing her to go on. All thoughts of the Resistance, of Brooklyn and of his friends were wiped from his mind. All he could think on was the pleasure he was feeling below him. He moaned again as a flash of light blinded his closed eyes as he peaked. He fell back onto the bed, arms spread and panting. Hilary climbed on top of him again and lay on his chest.

"Did it work?" She giggled.

Kai opened his eyes and looked at her with wonder. "You're amazing. I love you." He closed his eyes again and felt her head rest against his chest as she rolled onto the bed once more. His arms went around her. "I always thought you were a good girl. Where did you learn that?"

"I don't know. Just one of those things you know how to do, you know?"

That was a complete lie but Hilary was certain the truth would be far worse. The night before Brooklyn had taught her the way he liked to be given oral sex and Hilary had decided to try it on Kai to see the results. She's always thought they were similar in personality. Little traits here and there, beliefs, needs, wants. There was so much in common that Hilary wondered just how it was that they were different, if they even were at all. In Brooklyn's position would Kai do things the same? Was it just luck that made Kai noble and Brooklyn heinous?

But Brooklyn wasn't really heinous. Not that one she felt she would come to know. Sure, from his public persona it would seem that way but didn't Kai have one too? Wouldn't she in time? Maybe all Brooklyn had really needed was for some one to show him something that could be real. She could be real for him. If it meant her people would stop suffering she would be as real as he wanted. After all, if she was true she knew he wouldn't treat her badly. Hilary believed it just wasn't in his nature. He was gentle with her, kind. All it had taken was her to return the gesture. Was it really that simple to change a person? Perhaps she was naive. She was almost sure she was. What did it matter anyway? She had to do something. She'd been miserable before but now...Oh good God. Now was was looking forward to seeing him again. Not in the same way she looked forward to seeing Kai but its the way people get excited about meeting their friends.

She felt so mixed up.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

She smiled gently and stretched her arms and legs out, almost hitting Kai in the process. "Nah. It's nothing important. Just day dreaming."

Her door was knocked in an urgent manner, jutting both lovers out of bed. That was the sign that they were about to be intruded. Kai quickly pulled on his clothes and Mariah entered flustered.

"What are you doing in the middle of the floor?" She hissed. "Hide!"

Kai looked to Hilary. "In the closet. Go!"

He had barely time to pull the door shut when Brooklyn strode in. His face was pale but his eyes were on fire. His clothes (usually neat and presentable) were creased and untidy. On his face was an ugly bruise taking up almost the entire left cheek. He walked to the window and drew open the curtains, glowering as he looked at the chaos still ensuing on the square. There would have to be a massive clean up of bodies tomorrow: both his, the common people and the Resistance's dead were scattered like a pack of cards.

"Brooklyn!" Hilary cried. "What happened to your face? And what's going on out there! It looks like there's been an earthquake."

"The Resistance!" he snarled. "That's what fucking happened. Not many of them but God dammit they're skilled." He touched his cheek gingerly and winced. He walked to Hilary's mirror where Mariah was quietly rearranging her flowers. "That bastard Ray Kon tried to pull a fast one on me. Succeeding too!" He examined the bruise with distaste. "Hurts like a bitch. Did then and does now. Got him back, though, didn't I? Got all of those little fools back."

"What do you mean?" Hilary asked, nervously glancing at Mariah who had gone stock still. "Did you kill him?"

"No," Brooklyn replied. "But I'm sure by now he wishes he was. I've collected a little trophy and I really hope he wasn't right handed because unless he gets a prosthetic he's fucked!"

There was a smash beside him as the vase Mariah had been holding dropped from her hands to the floor. She quickly scampered to pick up the pieces but Brooklyn dismissed it. "It's fine just leave it for now. You can clean it up after I leave." Nodding quietly she left and Hilary was thankful not to hear any giveaway sobs. "There's no need to talk about that anyway. I know you don't like it."

"Thank you."

"Look, I'm going to cut to the chase. I came here straight away because things are going to heat up even more now. No doubt Hiwatari's going to want revenge for Kon so I'm going to take no precautions. That means you too, Hilary. Please move in with me. Tonight. It's the only way I can guarantee your safety. I thought you were safe enough here but on closer inspection tonight it's clear anyone could break in if they wanted and we would have no record of it either." He took Hilary's hands and she gripped them tightly. "I'm not going to force you but at least consider it."

Looking into his eyes, Hilary nodded. "I think its the right thing to do and I would be delighted."

Brooklyn nodded. "I'm glad to hear it. I'll send a coach to collect your things. Pack as quickly as you can. Anything you don't bring can always be bought again, remember." He kissed her softly on the forehead.

"Brooklyn?" Hilary called as he approached the door. He turned to her. "I'm really glad you're alright." He smiled softly to her and left, closing the door gently behind him.

Hilary turned to the closet where she could already feel Kai's eyes on her, piercing her skin with his dark gaze. Her eyes met his own, holding the glare strongly with defiance.

"What was that?" he growled.

"Keep it down, will you? He's not gone yet."

Kai grabbed her wrists, squeezing them tight enough for her to gasp with the pain. "What the hell was that little display? Anyone with any brains would think you have feelings for him!"

"And what if I do?" Hilary countered, jerking herself away from him. "What if I am pretending that I do? Any girl in my position with sense would do the same! He's treated me better since this little personality change than he did even when we first met. So don't make me feel bad about it because I won't."

"So you'll fake whatever it is you're trying to pull off. You'll bat your eyelashes, kiss up to him, fulfill whatever little fantasy he has just so you can get a couple of new dresses and diamonds!?"

"It's more than that," Hilary hissed, her throat thick with tears. "Don't you fucking think anything else. Haven't you noticed I've got no fresh bruises? Do you not see I'm happier? Or do you not even care?"

Kai folded his arms stubbornly and turned from her. "Of course I care."

"Then why can't you see it from my point of view instead of always just thinking about yourself. Not everyone thinks that same as you Kai but that doesn't make them or their choices wrong. And who are you to tell me that I'm wrong? You who goes out and kills every soldier in sight as if they're nothing more. Those people you kill have families. The have wives, husbands, children. You treat them like they're nothing but pawns."

"They are pawns!"

"Yeah, but that's not all they are. Geez, you act like you're so high and mighty. Like you're above everyone but even I can see that your ideals are flawed and I'm fucking in love with you!"

Kai rounded on her again. "I can see you've been spending a little too much time with Brooklyn playing whore!"

Hilary's breath caught in her throat. "What was that?" Her words choked and the tears she'd been holding back began to fall. Kai immediately went forward to brush them off but she pushed him away.

"Hilary, I didn't mean that."

"That's what you think I'm doing? Being a whore? Is that what you see me as?" Kai tried again to pull her in but she fought herself free again. "Just leave."

"Hil-"

"Leave!" She screamed.

Kai looked at her for a while longer and watched the tears flowing down his cheek, wanting so desperately to comfort her but knowing that it was impossible. She needed time to be mad at him before she'd stop. Without saying another word he left her, looking back once more to see she'd fallen on her bed, crying on the pillow he'd been lying on. He felt as if there were knives cutting up his insides. There was nothing he could do now. He would just have to wait it out until she was ready to see him again. He knew she would be some day just perhaps not soon. From the other end of the hallway he heard a different pitch of sobbing and knew that was Mariah. He felt partly to blame. If he had been there then Ray would have been uninjured. Two hearts were currently breaking and it was his fault.

Ray would be okay. Kai was sure of it. That was Ray's strongest attribute. He could come back from just about anything with a smile on his face and optimism in his words. Although Kinston had been slightly cryptic with Hilary present – it was almost as if he knew ears were listening in – he had caught the gist of what had happened and Kinston was right to be scared for his safety now because Kai now had a friend's honor to avenge and he would be damned if he didn't. He had to get back to the Resistance and start planning. They would have to lie low for a while but Kai was sure that the perfect opportunity was still to come up. After all, he and Kingston both had unsettled scored with each other and he was sure Kingston was just as itchy to settle them as he was.

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