Not got too long to go, i think. Hopefully by the end of August most definitely. I've definitely decided on the ending I want so everything is working towards that. Hope you all like this chapter. This is probably the climax:D

Thanks for all reviews, as usual:D

Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade

Chapter 15

Darkness had fallen. Hilary knew it was time. She had to go now and risk everything for everything. She put on a dark red velvet cloak and pulled the hood over her head. Most people were in bed sleeping save the night staff or so she assumed. She felt safer thinking this instead of jumping at every shadow and noise. She swiftly ran down the corridors that held all of the bedrooms taking care to run on the carpet to muffle the sound of her shoes. She made it to the stairway and ran down as quickly as she could, her hand gripping the banister so she wouldn't lose her footing. However when she reached the bottom she saw that she wasn't the only person awake in the palace. Her heart leapt into her mouth when she realised it was Mystel who was making his way back up the stairs.

They both stared at each other for a few moments before Mystel spoke angrily. "What are you doing? Where are you going at this time the night? If Brooklyn saw you-"

"Oh you won't tell him will you?" Hilary's eyes widened in fear. "He'd kill me if he found out."

"You've not answered my questions."

She looked around her and bit her lip. "Look, I can't tell you where I'm going but all I'll say is that I'm going to do something that's really important. This is the last time I'll ever sneak out and that's a promise. After tonight I'll have no need to."

Mystel looked at her suspiciously. "You know, I've been thinking a lot about you lately. I've come to the conclusion that something's not adding up. I suppose its none of my business but I just want to look out for you. You're going to be the only one who can restore this country to its former glory and if anything happens to you then everything's going to go tits up. Do you get what I'm saying?"

"Nothing will happen to me, Mystel." She put a hand on his arm as if to validate her point. Mystel noticed how soft and warm her touch was. "I've been careful so far and I'll never sneak away again. Just let me do this one last thing. There's some business that's been left unfinished."

Without another word she fled out of the palace. Mystel wished her all the best of luck because she was going to need it. Whatever game she was playing he had now become a player and he didn't like it one bit. Things were getting dangerous now. He had a feeling that Hilary was going somewhere she shouldn't and meeting some one who could ruin her. Why would she take such a risk? What could be so important? All at once he thought he knew the answer and wished he didn't.

He knew there was no point in going to bed now for he would never sleep. Not until he knew that Hilary was safe again. He looked up towards the landing, wondering if he should go to his room or not. He definitely needed to wash up after being in the prisons.

The prisons!

If he could talk to Mariah she would know where Hilary was off to. If it was dangerous then he could warn her and take her back before Brooklyn discovered she was gone. There was nothing he could do for Mariah in return. There was no way Brooklyn was going to let this catch get away so easily unless she talked. Mystel knew she never would. Her loyalty to her cousin was far too strong. Of course Brooklyn hadn't even started with the proper 'convincing'. Extreme situations can cause extreme personality changes. He'd seen strong men reduced to begging tears. He thought it over again. There was one thing he could do for her but he doubted she would ever want it. It was said that the only way out of their prison was death or pardon. So far the latter had never been given. Mystel knew that it wouldn't be given to Mariah either unless she cooperated. That left them him one choice.

The prisons were located directly underneath the palace. It was a top secret one. No one knew about it save for Brooklyn, Mystel, Garland and those unfortunate enough to be in it. At this point in time there was only one occupant. The prison was kept for political prisoners who have answers to give but not enough willfulness to give them. So the three men would help provide them with this willfulness using whatever methods suited. The chamber at the and of the prison – of which there were only six cells, three on either side totally surrounded by metal bars – had brought screams from even the strongest of men at the thought of going in their. They had equipment that would make even the Middle Ages torture chambers look like a holiday

Mystel had once took pleasure in inflicting the most twisted of pains on other people and the knowledge of this made him sick. Since arresting Mariah they'd been busy. They'd used whips mainly and so far had only made her cry out in pain. No other sound had come from her lips. She was far tougher than she looked.

Mystel unlocked and opened the heavy door in the board room. That was the only entrance and exit from the prison, carefully hid by well placed curtains. It had been there longer than their reign and possible beyond King Stanley's'. It was certain that they were the first people to use it in some decades. They were certainly making up for its lack of use.

When he approached Mariah's cell she was asleep, however she had managed to do so on the hard, cold, concrete floor. She looked almost peaceful save the bruises on her face and the tatters of her clothes that revealed snippets of lash wounds.

"Mariah!" he said. She only stirred. "Mariah!"

This time she got up with a jump, straight to her feet. She looked at Mystel with a mixture of fear, hatred and defiance. He could tell the sudden movement had caused her great pain as fresh blood leaked onto her shirt.

"I need your help," he said, trying to show desperation.

"Help? Ha!" She spat at his feet. Her voice was rasping from lack of water. He made a mental note to bring her a meal. "Why on earth should I help you? All you've ever brought to me is pain and suffering. Me and everyone I know and love. That's all you ever will bring us. What can you do for me or for the people I care about?"

"I want to help. I want to help as much as I can without betraying Brooklyn, though the two just seem to clash. Hilary's gone somewhere and she wouldn't tell me where she was going or what she was going to do. I'm afraid that Brooklyn's going to catch her if I don't get there first. At least me finding her would be a wake up call that she can't be doing things like this. She could be killed or Brooklyn's feelings for her could quickly dissolve. Do you know he wants them to rule together? At first he was in it only for himself but now everything is about Hilary. I don't know what she's done to him but whatever it is I hope she keeps doing it."

She staggered to the bars and gripped them with her hands. "How do I know if I can trust you?"

"You don't. I'm you're only hope, though. What choice do you have?"

Mariah sighed. "If she's gone then she must be away to meet her lover. If you go now you may have a chance of catching her. After all, you are a great tracker, aren't you? You have to stop them from meeting. If they do its going to be all over. Hilary may try to call it off but I know that they love each other too much to do so. If you let her know you know then that will hopefully be a reality check."

"It's Kai Hiwatari, isn't it?" He asked suddenly, everything finally coming together, everything finally making some sort of sense. "You don't need to tell me I'm right. I pieced it together. I know things that no one else does, apart from Hilary and possible Kai now. Fuck, if Brooklyn finds them-"

"Then pray that he doesn't," Mariah interrupted. "Stop them."

Mystel nodded. "I will. And I've brought you something." He gave her a tablet not much bigger than a normal painkiller. "If it all gets too much just eat this. It'll give you a peaceful death if you want it."

He left her looking at the pill with surprise and curiosity. Death was her only way out and she knew that. Mystel just wondered what path she could choose. It was only a fleeting thought as his mind turned to a more important problem. Kai and Hilary. Hilary and Kai. Part of him had always known, ever since he'd discovered that picture of them. They were strangers but that's always how it starts. Now it had to end. For the sake of everyone it had to end.

Not wasting a second of his time, he dashed through the entire palace as silently as he could. He went into the Royal garage and saw that Hilary had taken a car. She must be driving herself, he assumed. The tyre tracks on the road indicated the direction she had gone. Mystel found his own vehicle and set off after her, hoping to catch her before it was too late.

Brooklyn appeared at the door several seconds later with his Cheshire cat grin on his face. "You better call in reinforcements," he said to Garland. "I think there's going to be a showdown."

Hilary was already waiting on him when he arrived. The sight of her in the moonlight was a sight to be seen. Her dark silhouette was perfect, true beauty. Her hair blew softly in the gentle wind and the scent of her perfume flowed gently towards him, arousing all his senses. At the sound of him arriving she turned around and smiled happily. They met in an embrace and kissed softly.

"I was half thinking you wouldn't come after last night," Kai told her. "I thought you'd be under strict lock and key."

"I have to admit I was thinking the same of you. I'm surprised that your friends at the Resistance let you out of their sight!" The mood dipped, causing alarm in Hilary. Something about the Resistance was obviously not settling right with Kai. "What's the matter?"

Kai took in a deep breath. "I've left the Resistance. I'm no longer a member."

"What? But, Kai!"

"I'm not the key player anymore. I've failed too many times and brought needless danger to everyone. One of my closest friends was also killed because of me. I've stepped down and handed leadership over to a more able bodied person."

Hilary pushed him away slightly. "But everyone fails. That doesn't mean you should quit everything you've ever worked towards."

"I'm not." The answer surprised her. She looked at him questioningly. "I'm going to continue their work elsewhere. Travel about and gain support from our allies in different countries. I know that quite a lot of leaders feel threatened by Kingston's possible rule. They'll want to ensure that the fire is put out before it even sparks. If I go, they'll know who I am. They'll know what I'm about and that I'm after the real thing. I'm not the only one who wanted him dead, you know."

"Well, what if I told you that he's different now. He doesn't want to oppress his people any longer. The problem is he just doesn't know how to go about it. He wants me to rule with him, to show him how. He wants this country to be peaceful. He wasn't always a warmonger, you know. I don't think he is now, either. We could really make this country into something great, something that other countries will look at and admire." She looked at him, searching to see what his reaction was. He was good. She saw nothing to give him away. "See, now you don't have to kill him. I'm going to make him do what you want. You want freedom for everyone don't you? Well I can give you that. He can give you that."

"What I want is Kingston dead."

"Why?" Hilary questioned angrily. "So you can get revenge? What about the rest of the country? How do you think we'll cope without a leader? Do you think Mystel and Garland can do it because they're Brooklyn's number two? They can't. Don't be so selfish. What he did was terrible, evil. There's no denying that but if you kill him everything will be ruined! We'll be going backwards."

"So what are you saying? I should stay with the Resistance and yet we do nothing because you've got it all under control? You're contradicting yourself!"

"No, what I'm saying is that you should stay with your friends. You need them as much as they need you. If you don't you'll be alone. Do you really want that?"

"I didn't think I'd be alone," he replied quietly. "You said you wanted a way for us to be together and that was it. We'll run away together. That way we'll never be found and Kingston can never have absolute rule. When the time is right we'll return, overthrow him and you can have the throne. You've already shown that you're more than capable or ruling."

Hilary turned from him and faced the ocean. Her heart was full of sorrow for what she had to say next but she couldn't hold it in any longer. She raised her hand to her chest. "Kai, I came here tonight to tell you that we can never meet again." She laughed without humor. "Funny how simple it is to say such a thing. Just a little word or two and every thing's over. Well, almost. I suppose the feelings will never disappear. Or maybe they will in time. All I know is this can't go on. I love you but it just can't."

For the first time in his life, Kai had been rendered completely speechless. It was so sudden. He didn't know what to say. Nothing came to him, although Hilary was clearly wanting to tell her it was alright and that he understood. Well it wasn't alright and he couldn't understand. Not by a long shot. His entire plan had been built on the basis that she would come with him. They could elope and be so much stronger than they ever could here.

"I don't know what to say," was all he mustered. "I thought you'd want that."

She turned back to face him and he could see that she was crying. "I do want that."

"I...I don't understand how this could happen. What we have is perfect. Our love is perfect. How can it be so wrong? We should be together. Everyone who ever saw us would know that."

"Kai this is greater than you and I. It hurts so much to be doing it, to know that I need to spend my life pretending to be some one I'm not, feeling something I don't feel. But this is our chance to do something that really matters. We have to just push our feelings aside and carry on. So many people's lives depend on us. That's a responsibility that I can't cast away, no matter how much I want to be with you." She smiled sadly. "This might have been our one shot at complete happiness but at least we can take some comfort in knowing that we're helping with the happiness of others. I suppose it doesn't compare, no matter how selfless you might be."

Kai looked away from her. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do now. There's nothing I can do. Fighting Kingston is my life because I won't have one until he's either dead or overthrown. If I don't fight against him I have nothing. Well, I did have you."

She tilted his head towards her and looked into his fiery eyes. They were more like embers now than flames. "You'll always have me. I'll always love you, Kai. You do what you think you have to do. If you want to keep on with the Resistance then do it. Build up a unity in the other countries. I'll stay here in the meantime and keep the peace with Brooklyn. If – and only if- you can overthrow him then maybe you and I can rule together. But I'm not leaving here. I can't. And I can't see you ever again unless such circumstances arise. Please tell me you understand?"

A ghost of a smile flickered on his face. "You're a much better person than I'll ever be."

"The fact that you understand means that you're not so bad yourself," she replied.

"One last kiss?"

"I hope it lasts forever..."

They came to each other gently, their lips working in the rhythm their bodies shared naturally. Hilary clung on to him tightly, afraid to let go, afraid of letting go. Kai did too. The wind picked up around them but they could feel nothing but each other, only ever wanted to feel nothing but each other. Kai's hands ran up and down her back, in her hair, stroked her face. He kissed every part of her, leaving nips and sucks on all the places he knew she liked, the places he wanted to remember. He could feel her heart beating against his chest and knew how much he was going to miss the feeling of complete and utter love. Without her, he knew he would revert to his old ways: withdrawn, sullen, dour. She was everything he was and only when she was in his life could he be anything but on a permanent down.

Never in his life had he felt true happiness. Only knowing that she loved him could bring a smile to his face. Anything else caused it to be forced or sarcastic. What would he do if he never got to be with Hilary again? What girl could compare to her silken hair and ruby eyes? None. He'd been searching for one and never had found a girl who could make him feel the way she made him feel. No other girl made him feel alive, only satisfied.

"So it is true. I mean I had my suspicions but..." a man's voice said from the clearing.

Kai recognised Mystel in a heartbeat and whipped out his gun, aiming it at the man's head. "What the hell are you doing here? You have a fucking death wish."

The other man held up his hands in surrender. "Look, I'm not here to start a fight or whatever. I've come because I want to take Hilary back before Brooklyn notices she's missing and everything goes tits up. I shouldn't have let you go in the first place. I was stupid to let you."

Kai lowered his gun slightly, still making sure if he had to he could quickly take Mystel out. Hilary didn't looked pleased to see him in the slightest. She glowered at him. "You're just as stupid to come here to find me. If Brooklyn would have noticed I was missing he would have found Mariah and -"

"Mariah's been arrested," Mystel interrupted.

Hilary's eyes widened in horror. She grabbed a hold of Mystel's collar and looked into his eyes pleadingly. He couldn't meet hers. "Why? Why did no one tell me?"

Kai raised his gun again. "For your sake I hope to God you're lying. If you had anything to do with it I'll kill you right here."

"I didn't tell him! I mean, I thought there was a possibility it was her but I never put the idea across Brooklyn's head. He found out she was your cousin and the rest just clicked. What could I do? I didn't want to have a hand in it but then I would be betraying Brooklyn and I didn't want to do that."

"But you betrayed him anyway by coming here!" Kai cried and dealt a swift blow to Mystel's cheek. The other man's head snapped back.

He rubbed his smarting cheek. "Well he doesn't know about this, does he? I'm not going to lie, I'm partly looking after my own back. Who else is going to do it? I'm not like either of you. I don't have some one else looking out for me because I'm not an important part in any one's plans. I'm just the lackey."

"Is Mariah alright," Hilary asked, still clinging to Mystel.

For a second he was quiet and that was all both of them needed to know. Hilary changed her grip from Mystel to Kai and buried her face in the crook of his arm. He wrapped both of them around her instinctively and soothed her by rubbing her back. It comforted him too.

"Brooklyn wants to know things from her and he's persuading her anyway he can. It was she who told me where you might be, Hilary. In return I've given her a way out."

"Death or pardon..." Kai whispered, lowing his gun to his side. His voice caught in his throat and only Hilary heard it. The result was a shriek of horror and more tears.

"I don't know if she'll take it but its the only way for her to escape without betraying you. I'm sorry but it was the only thing I could do for her."

"Why didn't I know?" Hilary demanded. "Why didn't Brooklyn tell me?"

"Because I didn't want you to know," Brooklyn replied, stepping from the shadows. From around him a group of soldiers circled the group, led by Garland. Kai went for his gun but the other two pulled theirs first, one aiming at Kai the other at Mystel. Brooklyn cocked his head to the side and Kai dropped his weapon in surrender, putting up his hands, giving space for two soldiers to restrain him from behind by his arms. Brooklyn smirked. "Well, isn't this a surprise. I follow a stray dog and he leads me to a whole pack of mutts." He turned to Hilary. Though he tried to hide it, she saw hurt and disbelief in his eyes. And something else, something darker. Jealousy. "Well, Hilary. You certainly had me fooled. I never saw you as a bitch. What a clever game you were playing." He walked forward a few steps so the barrel of his gun was pointing directly at Kai's forehead. "And isn't this the ultimate insult? Fucking my own bride behind my back. You should be proud of yourself, Kai. She is good, though. Isn't she?"

"Shut the fuck up!" Kai barked.

Brooklyn whipped him across the face with the butt of his gun, causing Kai's vision to blur. It took him a few seconds to regain his senses and he looked up at Brooklyn with pure hatred. "You better watch how you speak to me Kai. I hold your life in my hands now." As if to emphasise his point he cocked the gun. Hilary through herself on top of the gun in fear of Kai's life, knocking it from his hands. Angrily, Brooklyn grabbed her by the throat. "I'll teach you to interrupt me!"

"Don't hurt her!" Kai cried. "Please, you've got me. What else do you want?"

The other man looked from both Hilary and Kai in surprise. Their eyes were so full of desperation for the safety of the other. He hadn't expected that. Suddenly, it made more sense. Much more than it had previously. Then he laughed. "I don't believe it. This is more than just some little affair isn't it?" This amused him more and he was laughing so hard tears were coming from his eyes. "The two of you are actually in love aren't you? This is...Well, its precious isn't it? The bride of the dictator and the leader of the Resistance whose sole purpose is to overthrow him. Don't you know these things always end in tragedy?" He pushed Hilary towards two of the soldiers. "Take her to my car. I'll deal with her later."

Kai watched as she was led away, knowing that he was likely never to see her again. He took in his last sights of her with hidden anguish. He at least would die soon enough. She would have to live on, her plan failed and all hope of peace destroyed. The burden would only be his to bear for a short while.

"Now, what to do with the two of you? On the one hand, Mystel you have proven yourself more than loyal if it hadn't been for this rather egregious treachery. Not only did you know of Hilary's unfaithfulness you weren't going to inform me of it. Even worse than that, you had every intention of walking away from here with my worst enemy still on the loose. However, apart from this little slip up you're always been faithful to me. On the other hand, once betrayed you have no guarantee they'll never do it again. What to do, what to do..." He grinned widely. "I know. I'll make it interesting. I'll let the fates decide." He removed three bullets from his gun leaving three alternate blanks. He then spun the round. "You've got a fifty fifty chance of living and dying. If you live, you'll be fully forgiven and I'll forget your involvement in this little incident. If you die then you'll go down in history as a traitor. Seems the fairest way to decide this, doesn't it? So I have one question for you. Feeling lucky?"

Mystel took an involuntary step backwards as Brooklyn aimed at him. "Brooklyn, I've been nothing but loyal to you. I only wanted to help Hilary because of what she promised to do for this country. She just wanted to make it better. She came here to call this thing off. She wanted to rule beside you, not against you, just like I wanted her to do. Together you would be great."

"Well that will never happen now, will it? It'll be her ultimate punishment. People will suffer and it'll be all her fault."

"How could you do that? What happened to you? You're nothing like that Brooklyn I grew up with or once called my friend. He was many things but he was never cruel."

Brooklyn sighed impatiently. "You're boring me now. Let's have some entertainment."

He pulled the trigger. It was a blank. Mystel looked like his entire life had flashed before his eyes. They were wide and his breathing was heavy, jerky. His chest rose up and down as he tried to control his fear. It was quickly ebbing away. He was safe for now. Luck had smiled down on him.

"Some one up there must like you," Brooklyn said, not quite smiling but not quite frowning either. His attention turned to Kai and delight once again rose up on his face. The sight of him struggling against his captors would always bring a smile to his face. "That just leaves you now. What to do with you?"

"Cut the crap, Kingston," Kai snarled, still fighting against the soldier's grip. "You've always wanted kill me and you're not going to waste your chance."

Brooklyn cocked an eyebrow. "I don't recall ever saying I wanted you dead. Only that I wanted you arrested. Beasts should always be kept in cages. Stops them going feral, you know."

"What?" Kai stammered, already dreading the answer. Death would at least be a release. This fate would be one worse than death.

"Your punishment won't be to die but to live out the rest of your life in my prisons with the knowledge that everything you've ever tried to do has failed. I've put down your pathetic little Resistance, I've killed Hiro Granger, I'm going to become king in due time and – this is the best part – I can fuck the brains out of the woman you love whenever I want, however I want. I'll spare a thought for you when I ravage her again and again and again. Then I'll do it ever harder."

Kai fought against his captors, desperate to get at Brooklyn, to wipe the cruel, twisted smile form his face. "I'll kill you. I'll fucking kill you. You'll be dead before you get a chance to walk down that aisle to the alter."

Brooklyn chuckled. "By who? By tomorrow your face will be pasted in every newspaper, you name in every headline. Everything the Resistance has ever been will die. Then I'll hunt down your little friends one by one and kill them off until there's no one left in the world you gives a shit about you. You'll be forgotten. Your name never mentioned again." He grabbed Kai by his hair and pulled his face up towards his own. "I'm going to break you. I'm going to drive you insane. Everything you ever have been I'm going to take from you and I'll do it with a smile on my face the whole time." He waved a hand dismissively at Kai. "Take him away."

A sharp blow from behind caused Kai to lose consciousness. He slipped into the darkness that was soon to be his future without a struggle to stay awake. He was sure that for the rest of his life sleep was going to be a release he won't have the privilege to have.

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