Silvan Arrow: Oh my gosh, I can't believe it! I'm finally at the last chapter!
Eri: I can't believe it either…
Sonja: I thought you would never get it done.
Nakia: It's kinda surreal…coming to the end of a story.
Hina: Wait! What's gonna happen to us when the story is over?
Eri, Sonja, and Nakia: O.O
Silvan Arrow: Don't worry! I'm planning a sequel!
Temporal Knights: Yay!!!!
Omega Platoon: Ugh…
Silvan Arrow: Oh come on, you guys are gonna rock!
Omega Platoon: Eeeeh…
Eri: Well, in the meantime, time to revive the old tradition of everyone saying the final disclaimer together!
Silvan Arrow: Um…wow… Take it away, everyone!
Temporal Knights, Omega Platoon, and Blitzkrieg Boys: Silvan Arrow does not own Beyblade or any of its characters. She just owns her OCs.
Silvan Arrow: - sniff sniff – Thanks, guys. I'm so touched! By the way, I hope you readers are ready for a serious case of the warm fuzzies, because I'm breaking out the cheese whiz for this chapter! While I start planning out the sequel, please enjoy the final chapter of As Different as the Seasons!
Chapter 21: Promise of a New Tomorrow
'I never thought we would end up here again.'
Yes, especially for this purpose.
Eri checked her reflection in the mirror as she straightened the collar of her black blazer and slipped Pyrix's bit chip into the pocket of her black dress trousers. The fitted green top underneath the blazer added extra emphasis to her piercing jade green eyes. Eri grimaced slightly as she stepped into a pair of pointy-toed black high heels. Normally she would never wear these things, but the added height made her feel more intimidating and powerful, which was precisely the goal of today.
'Maybe today we can finally close the door on the past for good,' Eri thought privately.
A knock sounded on the door, and Eri bid the person enter. The door opened to reveal her three teammates, who were also dressed in business suits. Sonja's was chocolate brown with matching dress pants, Nakia wore a similar style in navy, and Hina was dressed in a charcoal gray blazer and pencil skirt. "Eri, the car just pulled up to the hotel. Are you ready to go?" Hina asked.
"Yeah, just a second." Checking her reflection one last time, she made sure Pyrix was safely in her pocket and retrieved a black leather briefcase from the foot of her bed. Squaring her shoulders, she looked each of her teammates in the eye, seeing her determined and grim expression mirrored in each of their faces. "All right, let's go."
The American flag waved proudly in the breeze from its post at the top of the courthouse, as if in defiance of the gray, cloudy skies bearing the threat of rain. The area in front of the marble stairs leading to the entrance was already overflowing with onlookers and paparazzi when the Temporal Knights arrived. Eri had to forcibly elbow her way through the mass of American reporters shoving microphones in her face and cameramen trying to get a clear shot of her team. Luckily, two security officers came to their aid and kept the news crews at bay until they got to the marble stairs leading to the entrance, which had been roped off from the general public for today.
Mr. Dickenson was waiting for them at the top of the stairs, his usual cheerful demeanor replaced by a serious expression. He acknowledged the Temporal Knights with a nod, and they entered the imposing structure in silence. Corinthian-style columns made of white marble lined either side of the grand hallway, with the walls made of polished oak wood of the richest brown. Eri's heels made a satisfied click on the marble floor with every step she took until they reached a set of oaken double doors guarded by two armed policemen.
Wordlessly, the policemen opened the thick wooden doors, and the small group entered the courtroom, which was already filled with witnesses, audience members, and a select group of news reporters and cameramen. The jury sat in a separate box along the right-hand wall. Mr. Dickenson led the Temporal Knights between the rows of filled chairs to the front, where they took their seats at the prosecution's table. A male, middle-aged attorney was already seated at the table to represent them. A sense of unease filled the air, suffocating the ambient noise of people whispering in hushed tones. Nakia and Hina glanced around uneasily, feeling slightly overwhelmed. Sonja glanced to the right and noticed that the defendant's table was strangely empty, devoid of even an attorney. However, Raina and her teammates were sitting directly behind the table. They weren't on trial today, but they were currently under house arrest because of their long-term association with Xhaiden and Boris. Eri kept her eyes glued to the briefcase sitting on the table in front of her, going through the arguments in her mind over and over again.
Eri, someone is trying to get your attention, Pyrix interrupted gently. Raising one eyebrow in confusion, Eri turned around in her seat to lock eyes with Tala and the rest of the Blitzkrieg Boys. They were sitting five rows back and were wearing business attire appropriate for the situation. Eri felt a sudden sense of relief at seeing them there and spared a small smile. Tala acknowledged her with a nod and gave her a secretive, supportive smile in return.
"What's up, Eri?" Nakia asked. She, Sonja, and Hina followed their captain's gaze and perked up considerably upon seeing the Blitzkrieg Boys. However, they didn't have time for small talk, because then a nervous, hushed silence fell over the courtroom as the doors in the back opened one last time. Every set of eyes trained on the handcuffed figures of Boris and Xhaiden as policemen escorted them, along with their attorney, to the defendant's table at the front of the room. Neither man returned any of the stares but instead kept his eyes trained forward until they were seated. Upon seeing them, the Temporal Knights' bit beasts went on high alert and wrapped their mistresses in invisible, protective auras, more out of habit and instinct than necessity. The Blitzkrieg Boys' bit beasts sensed their unease and tensed within their masters' minds, ready to attack or defend at a moment's notice.
Before the courtroom could gawk any longer, the bailiff gave the order to rise as the judge entered the room. He pounded his gavel on the table to silence the last whispers and announced in a booming voice, "The case of The People Vs. Boris Balkov and Xhaiden Chesnokov is now called to order."
After the opening addresses by the attorneys on both sides, the prosecution had the floor to argue their case. Mr. Dickenson testified first on the Temporal Knights' behalf, explaining his involvement in their beyblading and personal lives following their escape and Vala's mistreatment after her defeat by Hina. He even had Vala's medical reports, which proved that she had received a concussion after Xhaiden had clubbed her on the head with the butt of his pistol.
Eri was the next person called to the stand to testify. The defense attorney grilled her relentlessly on her experiences in Xhaiden's Abbey, and she responded by describing in emotionless, gruesome detail the ranking systems that made beybladers that should have been allies turn on each other, as well as the brutal beatings and cold-blooded murders that were the punishment for failure.
"And do you have any proof of these alleged beatings?" the attorney pressed in a condescending tone, trying to look down the point of his nose at Eri. However, his efforts to appear superior were mostly in vain, since Eri could easily look him straight in the eye because of the added height from her shoes.
"You want proof?" Eri replied with a humorless laugh. She opened her briefcase and pulled out a four-inch stack of papers held together by a rubber band. "Here are all the medical reports on me and my three teammates following our escape. They describe every injury, scar, and bruise we received under Xhaiden's care…in excruciating detail. There are also a few records of psychiatric counseling thrown in for good measure." Keeping her gaze fixed on the attorney, she let the stack of papers drop onto the table's surface with a satisfied thud. "Is that enough proof for you? Or would you like to see my scars for yourself?" Eri asked in an acidic tone, one hand drifting to the front of her blazer.
"That will not be required, Ms. Kiryakov," the judge intervened. "The jury will review these medical reports when making their final decision. Is there anything else you would like to say while you have the floor?"
"As a matter of fact, I would like to say one more thing, Your Honor," Eri replied in a more polite tone of voice. "While I stand firm in my conviction that Xhaiden and Boris are guilty of heinous crimes and deserve due punishment, I wish to make a case for the innocence of the four members from Omega Platoon." At that statement, she felt numerous sets of disbelieving eyes bore into her back – her teammates, Raina's team, and even the Blitzkrieg Boys. "They are not guilty by association but were instead unwilling victims, forced to obey Xhaiden's orders under threat of physical harm and possible death."
"And do you have any solid proof to support your claims?" the judge pressed, his interest peaked as he steepled his fingers on top of his desk.
"Not in my possession," Eri granted, "but I'm sure you could secure their medical records as proof of their physical mistreatment. Let me also say one last thing." She took a deep breath and closed her eyes briefly, allowing the memories to flow unbidden through her mind's eye. "Many years ago, while I was still at the Abbey, Raina and I were forced to battle each other, and she defeated me soundly. Xhaiden chained me in a punishment chamber, beat me with a whip, and left me for dead. That beating allowed me to meet my bit beast, who healed me and helped me hold on to my sanity. However, it is perfectly possible that, if I had won and she had lost, that our roles would have been reversed and she would be the one standing here before you instead. I think they deserve a second chance at a normal life." She paused to catch her breath. "That is all I wish to say."
Not surprisingly, the judge kept a neutral face as he replied, "Thank you for your input, Ms. Kiryakov. The jury will take your testimony into consideration when we adjourn." He asked, "Now then, is there anyone else that the prosecution wishes to call to the stands?"
"Yes, Your Honor," Eri replied. "I call Tala Volkov and Kai Hiwatari to the stands." She turned to the side to catch their surprised expressions out of the corner of her eye, but they came forward nonetheless. "They are eyewitnesses to Xhaiden's attempted murder of Vala Arnordottir and will be able to give a firsthand account."
And that's exactly what they did. Kai and Tala retold the story of how Xhaiden nearly shot Vala after Hina defeated her and how they rescued her. In addition, Kai described Sonja's panic attack that occurred the day Xhaiden reappeared.
After Kai and Tala's testimonies, the prosecution had finally exhausted every weapon in their arsenal, which allowed the defense to take the floor. Xhaiden and Boris pleaded guilty to dozens of counts of first and second-degree murder, child molestation, and torture. Not surprisingly, the defense attorney tried to plead mental instability to explain their actions. However, after the staggering amount of evidence provided by the prosecution, Xhaiden and Boris' displeased expressions confirmed that their argument didn't hold water. The audience in the courtroom booed and caused an uproar when the two finally approached the stand to testify, and the judge nearly broke his gavel trying to call everyone back to order.
After the defense presented its case and both sides gave their closing statements, the judge adjourned the jury so they could decide on a verdict. In the meantime, everyone else in the courtroom, save for Xhaiden and Boris, mingled in the large marble hallway. The Temporal Knights, the Blitzkrieg Boys, and Mr. Dickenson chatted quietly in one corner, where a small police escort kept the paparazzi at bay.
"You totally rocked out there in front of the judge, Eri," Nakia complimented. "How did you get a hold of all those medical records?"
"I have to thank Mr. Dickenson for that," Eri replied with a fond glance at the older gentleman. "He has kept all our medical records on file since we escaped from Xhaiden's Abbey just in case we needed them as evidence for an occasion like this."
"Always happy to be of service," Mr. Dickenson said kindly, tipping his hat.
"Let's just hope our case was strong enough to put them away for good," Kai stated, wrapping an arm protectively around Sonja's waist. She blushed and glanced downward from the attention.
Bryan growled under his breath. "If those two go free, I swear I'll hunt them down and…"
"Let's wait for the verdict first before we do anything hasty," Tala advised.
Eri remained silent and glanced across the crowded hallway at Omega Platoon, whose members stood in the shadows of the opposite corner, also guarded by policemen. Raina must have sensed Eri's gaze, because she abruptly lifted her head and locked eyes with her. Her expression was unreadable, a mixture of surprise, shock, indignation, and one or two other things that Eri couldn't place. Just then, Pyrix nudged her mistress' mind. I sense the jury returning. The court will reconvene shortly.
'Wow, that was quick. Thanks for the heads-up,' Eri replied. Switching to spoken words, she announced, "That was Pyrix. Apparently the jury has made a decision."
The defense never stood a chance. After only thirty minutes of deliberation, the jury voted unanimously that Xhaiden and Boris were guilty of all the charges brought against them. The severity of their punishment, however, was more surprising than the Temporal Knights expected: death by lethal injection. Luckily, the outlook for Omega Platoon was much more promising. The judge handed custody of them over to the BBA for a minimum of 30 days. Raina and Alannah would be free to go wherever they pleased after that time, since they were legal adults, but the BBA would maintain custody of Ramona and Vala until they turned 18.
A collective sigh swept over the Temporal Knights as the judge read out the sentence. For the first time in months, they felt certain of the future. They felt…safe. And yet, for some reason, Eri still felt uneasy, like there was something she still needed to do.
'And I know exactly what that something is.'
"Are you sure you want to do this, Eri?" Tala asked uneasily.
"Yeah, I'm sure," Eri replied, keeping her gaze steeled forward. After all, a jailhouse wasn't exactly the best place for sightseeing, especially for a young woman. Sonja, Nakia, and Hina had given her shocked expressions when she announced that she was coming here. But that was just one of the differences between her and them. The others were more than happy to let the past fade away once the trial ended. Eri, however, needed to confront her past one last time to set her soul at peace. And of course, no amount of convincing or death threats could keep Tala from coming with her to ensure her safety. Even though an armed guard was escorting them, Tala kept one arm firmly around her waist to keep her against his side while they passed between rows of barred cells holding convicted criminals. He noted the predatory looks several of the convicts were giving Eri and tightened his grip protectively, returning their stares with warning glares of his own.
The guard led them through a set of sliding steel doors to a more secluded part of the jail. This wing held the prisoners that were on death row. All the cells were empty except for one at the end, which contained a single occupant. Xhaiden turned his piercing cobalt eyes to regard his two visitors with a cocky sneer from his seat in the corner.
"You have five minutes. I will return then," the guard announced. He left Eri and Tala standing in front of the cell and exited through the steel doors. They shut with a metallic clang, giving way to an uneasy silence.
"Well now, this is certainly a pleasant surprise," Xhaiden greeted them with his usual fake kindness, standing up and approaching the bars of his cell. "The protégé of my Abbey and her precious little boy toy."
Tala growled silently under his breath. "Where's Boris?" he demanded rather than asked.
"He's been shipped back to Russia, I'm afraid," Xhaiden replied. "As a Russian citizen, his government is responsible for carrying out his punishment. However, he was tried here in the U.S. since he was associated with me." He paused to turn his attention to Eri. Tala noticed this and tightened his grip protectively around her waist yet again. "Now then, I'm certain you didn't come all this way to inquire after his whereabouts, did you, Eri?"
Eri shrugged free of Tala's grip and took a step forward. "No, I simply came to put the past to rest for good," she replied, crossing her arms over her chest. "The game is up, Xhaiden, and you lost. Even after all of your scheming and conniving, you failed to destroy me and my teammates, and you also lost control of your Abbey and Omega Platoon. You won't be able to hurt another beyblader ever again."
"On the contrary, Eri, I won," Xhaiden replied confidently, which received confused and shocked expressions from her and Tala. "You're probably wondering why I seem so calm regarding my fate." When they didn't respond, he took that as his cue to continue. "You see, when I die, that's it. Whatever agony I feel over losing your so-called 'game' will end. You, however, will have to carry the memories of your torment with you for the rest of your life, as well as the knowledge that you helped send a living person to his death. In that way, I will live on through your suffering. And that, my dear, is more than enough revenge for me."
"Hmph, we'll see about that," Eri answered with a glare. "I may never escape the memories, but I swear they won't control my life."
"Hmmm…an interesting notion," Xhaiden mused thoughtfully. "But we shall see, Eri. We shall see."
Just then, the doors creaked open again, announcing the guard's return. "It's time to leave," he stated.
With one last look at her hated past, Eri turned her back and started for the door with Tala close beside her. "Farewell, Xhaiden," she announced coldly and without emotion. "Enjoy burning in hell."
"We shall see about that as well, Eri," Xhaiden replied smugly.
That was the last sentence he ever spoke to her. Eri didn't look back once as she left the place holding her condemned instructor, and the steel doors, both in the jail and in her heart, closed on her past with a note of finality.
'Okay, you can do this, Sonja. After all, you're just wondering if he wants to hang out. That's all. Your teammates aren't around, so you don't have to worry about losing your dignity.'
Do I detect a hint of stage fright? Lunash asked with mild amusement. Just knock on the door already. That is, of course, assuming Dranzer hasn't already sensed my presence and informed her master.
'Wow…thanks for the moral support,' Sonja replied sarcastically. Tuning out her bit beast's teasing, she raised her fist to knock on the door to the hotel room.
Just then, a warm, calloused finger traced along the delicate curve of Sonja's neck, making her shiver, and her eyes nearly rolled in the back of her head. Only one person could have such a profound effect on her with just a simple touch. Kai stood directly behind her, as close as possible without touching her while allowing her to feel the heat radiating from his body. He bent down so Sonja could feel his hot, moist breath in her ear. "I thought I would find you here," he breathed in a husky tone.
"Hello, Kai," Sonja replied in a shaky voice. Already she ached for his touch. She slowly turned around, and Kai stood before her nonchalantly, as if expecting her. "I…thought you were in your room."
"I had to work out flight arrangements with Mr. Dickenson," Kai explained. "So what brings you here? You were looking for me?" he asked in amusement, crossing his arms smugly, knowing that he had guessed correctly.
"Well…Eri, Nakia, and Hina had plans this evening with the rest of your teammates, so I was wondering if you might…like some company," Sonja explained nervously, a blush rising to her cheeks.
Smirking, Kai stepped forward so that Sonja's back was against the wall and rested one hand on the door next to her head. "Did you now?" he asked, leaning down so that his face was inches from hers. Sonja trembled. "You offer is certainly…tempting." He dipped his head and took her lips in a heated, sensuous kiss just long enough to make her head swim and pulled away, leaving her craving more. "Come on, let's get out of here."
Sonja blinked a few times, trying to process his words. "But…where are we going?"
"To get dinner. It's about time I actually took you out," Kai stated, draping an arm across her shoulders.
"O-okay…" she stammered uncertainly, the blood once again rising to her cheeks.
Once they were actually outside, walking through the city in the late afternoon sunshine, Sonja had the feeling that she would have lost her nerve and bolted if it weren't for the strong, immovable arm around her shoulders. She had known Kai had a fan club, but she had no idea they could be so…obsessive. It seemed that every time she looked up, at least one teenage girl shot her a nasty look, death glare, or bewildered expression. Sonja finally got fed up with it and satisfied herself with staring at the ground.
Kai easily picked up on her unease and broke the silence. "Just ignore them. That's what I always do."
"Easier said than done…" Sonja muttered. "You're not the one they want to brutally murder."
A devious smirk played across Kai's face. "I might be able to do something about that…" he trailed off. When Sonja looked up at him in confusion, he spun her around so she was facing him and kissed her.
Sonja's eyes flew open, and her muscles tensed in surprise. She couldn't believe what was happening. Kai was brazenly kissing her in broad daylight in the middle of the sidewalk in full view of his half-crazed fan girls. However, her embarrassment quickly gave way to passion as Kai's hands trailed down her sides to her hips, pulling her hard against him. Sonja's eyelids drifted shut and moaned softly, giving Kai the chance to enter her mouth and reclaim his territory. Her body pressed closer to his seemingly of its own accord, and her hands lifted to rest on his shoulders.
Kai eventually broke the kiss to let Sonja take in some much-needed air, but he wasn't quite done yet. His lips trailed from her jaw line down her neck in soft, open-mouthed kisses. Sonja's grip on his shoulders tightened, as her knees suddenly felt incapable of supporting her weight.
When Kai finally pulled away, Sonja kept her eyes closed and tried to get her breathing back under control. "What…was that…all about?" she asked between ragged gasps.
Kai merely smirked. "I got rid of them for you, didn't I?"
Sonja opened her eyes and glanced from side to side warily. Sure enough, there was no sign of any of Kai's glaring fan girls. In fact, hardly anyone was walking on the sidewalk anymore. "Impressive…" she stammered awkwardly. She met his gaze and smiled tremulously. "Thanks…"
Sonja's heart nearly melted when Kai gave her a genuine smile, and not a smirk, in return. "Anytime." He gently moved her back to his side and wrapped an arm around her waist, resuming their pace as if nothing had happened. "By the way," he added nonchalantly, "I would choose you over them any day."
Sonja blushed furiously. If that weren't a love confession from Kai, she didn't know what was.
They ended up at one of the more expensive restaurants in town, and Kai, being the rich grandson of Voltaire, insisted on paying, much to Sonja's chagrin. The sun was just starting to set when they left to return to the hotel, this time hand-in-hand.
"By the way," Sonja began, feeling much more at ease by this point, "I suppose congratulations are in order, World Champion."
"Heh, talk about a delayed reaction," Kai teased. "I figured you were too busy taking care of your captain to worry about the finals."
Sonja rolled her eyes. "Please, I'm not that much out of touch with reality." In the end, since Omega Platoon lost in the semi-finals and the Temporal Knights withdrew, the Blitzkrieg Boys had faced BBA Revolution in a three on three match to determine the winner of the World Championships. Bryan easily defeated Kenny, and Tala narrowly lost to Daichi, leaving Tyson and Kai to settle their rivalry once and for all. The battle had lasted nearly two hours, with both bladers pulling out insane new moves for the record books, but in the end Tyson's beyblade stopped spinning moments before Kai's, and a new World Champion was crowned.
"So…" Kai trailed off, "do I get some sort of reward for defeating the three-time World Champion?"
Catching on to his game, Sonja playfully replied, "I don't know…what did you have in mind?" She glanced sideways at him and raised one eyebrow teasingly.
Growling low in his throat, Kai suddenly stopped and pulled Sonja to his chest. "This," he murmured, before crashing his lips down on hers in a kiss that took her breath away.
This time, Sonja didn't care who saw them and flung her arms around his neck, returning the kiss and matching his passion with her own. Right now, all that mattered was she and Kai. Just before her mind got swept away in sheer, utter bliss, Sonja thought privately, 'I could certainly get used to this…'
"So you're really flying back to Egypt tomorrow?"
"Unfortunately yeah…" Nakia replied, her gaze downcast. "I wish I could go back to Russia for a little while, but summer's almost over. The schools in Cairo will be starting up again soon."
"Hmmm…that's too bad," Bryan replied, more to himself than anyone else. He and Nakia were walking along the sidewalk beside the beach, talking about nothing in particular. Well…it was more Nakia doing the talking and Bryan nodding or supplying one word answers as needed. Still, it was progress, and Nakia didn't seem to mind.
"So…what are you guys planning on doing once you return to Russia?" Nakia asked curiously, clasping her hands behind her back and leaning her head closer so she could clearly see his face. She knew Bryan was still largely uncomfortable with physical touch and so maintained a respectable distance, even though she secretly envied the other couples that she spied walking hand in hand or arm in arm along the beach. She just needed to give it some time. Though unfortunately, time wasn't on their side.
"Just training, I suppose," Bryan answered, keeping his hands in his pants pockets. "Tala hasn't given many details yet."
Just then, Nakia darted away from him, jumping off the sidewalk and running towards the ocean. "Hey, Bryan, come over here!" Bryan sighed at her seemingly endless amount of energy and followed her at an unhurried pace until he stood beside her on the wet sand, looking out over the ocean while the waves lapped leisurely onto the shore. "Recognize this place?"
Bryan's eyes widened slightly in realization. This was the exact same spot where he and Nakia had met those two times in the past, when he had finally agreed to try and open up to her. He smirked slightly. "It seems like I can't get away from this place."
Nakia giggled. "Looks that way." She kicked off her shoes and waded out a short distance into the salt water. She was wearing shorts, so it didn't matter if she got a little wet. Without warning, Nakia suddenly bent down and splashed Bryan with a spray of cold water. Giggling at his bewildering expression, she shouted, "Catch me if you can!" and took off running.
A competitive smirk dominated Bryan's face. 'Well, if that's the way she wants to play…' He whipped off his jacket and shirt, leaving them lying in the sand above the water line, and took off after the hyper little Egyptian.
Nakia turned around, dancing backward to see if Bryan was actually following her, and paused to stare, blushing furiously, at his bare, muscled chest and toned abs. However, she was abruptly brought out of her hormone-induced trance when a wave of frigid salt water hit her right in the face. "H-hey! You're gonna pay for that!" she shouted at the smirking Russian, sputtering around the nasty taste in her mouth.
"Heh, make me," Bryan retorted smoothly. His tone almost sounded playful.
Their little game continued for almost ten minutes, with Bryan and Nakia chasing each other in the shallow water trying to splash the other one as much as possible. Nakia's laughter was positively contagious, and Bryan realized that he was actually enjoying himself in spite of the silliness of their situation. For once, he didn't care about putting up a stoic façade or even about who saw him acting this way. All that mattered, all that existed in his world at that particular moment in time, was the petite girl in front of him that had utterly captured his heart and soul.
Eventually Nakia started to get winded, and Bryan managed to force her into slightly deeper water so that he stood between her and the relative safety of the shore. Nakia feinted to the left and then darted to the right, trying to get past him, but Bryan's reflexes were too quick. He grabbed her from behind in a bear hug while she squealed playfully in protest. He dipped his head to her ear. "Say Uncle," he whispered huskily.
Nakia rolled her eyes. "In your dreams." Then she folded her knees and dropped down, slipping through Bryan's arms, and made a break for the shore, laughing the whole time. Bryan smirked playfully and sprinting after her, tackling her to the ground so that he ended up on his hands and knees above her. One hand gently pinned her wrists above her head so she couldn't squirm away.
"I win," Bryan said smugly, taking great delight in her frustrated expression.
Nakia stuck out her lower lip in a fake pout. "Just this one round. I'll get you next time," she said. However, she couldn't hold her poker face for very long and burst out laughing. This time, Bryan actually laughed along with her. Nakia's eyes widened in pleasant surprised. She had never heard him laugh before. As if Nakia weren't already attracted to him enough, the sound of his laughter was positively breathtaking, and the thought that she was able to bring a measure of joy to his cold, stoic heart nearly brought tears to her eyes.
The sounds of their laughter slowly quieted due to a need for air, and Bryan finally registered the suggestiveness of their position. He was still on all fours above her, though he had long since released her wrists. He also finally noticed that both of them were soaking wet, and, while Nakia wasn't particularly "well-endowed," the way her wet shirt clung to her petite frame left very little to Bryan's imagination.
Nakia was also quickly becoming aware of their situation. Here she was, lying on her back underneath a shirtless Bryan, and she couldn't help but notice the way the salt water dripped sexily off his wet tousled hair. Blushing, she timidly met his gaze and noticed that his eyes were practically smoldering with desire. "…Bryan?"
He didn't answer but instead lowered his head and claimed her mouth in a heated kiss. He didn't waste any time with the pleasantries but immediately dragged his tongue sensually over her closed lips, begging for – no, demanding – entrance. Nakia was all too eager to comply and moaned loudly at the feel of his tongue caressing and massaging every inch of her mouth. Arching her back, Nakia wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer so that she could feel the full length of his body against hers. However, Bryan was careful not to bear down with his whole weight, since Nakia was so much smaller than him.
The need for air finally drove them apart, and Bryan rolled onto his back so he could catch his breath. He looked up at the sky and idly noticed that the last rays of twilight were slowly fading, and the first few stars were just starting to make their appearance for the night. "This is…so strange," Bryan finally remarked.
"Hm? What's strange?" Nakia asked, rolling onto her stomach. She folded her hands on top of Bryan's chest and rested her chin on them.
"I don't know…" Bryan replied in genuine confusion. "Me…you…us…everything… For the first time in my life, I feel strangely…alive." He searched his mind for the right words to try and convey his point. "I don't know what love feels like, but I think…I may be starting to understand it, at least a little."
Nakia sighed contentedly and gave Bryan a smile that nearly made his heart melt. "I think the same thing goes for me too," she finally said. She reached up to give him a peck on the cheek and then snuggled against his side. Bryan's arms encircled her and pulled her closer to his bare chest, and for once no words were necessary between them. The silence conveyed all the emotion required.
"You know, it's getting pretty late. Are you sure you're still feeling okay? The doctors said not to push it too hard."
"Spencer, would you stop fretting? I already told you I'm totally fine," Hina reassured him, giving his arm an affirming squeeze. "After all, this may be the last time we see each other for a long time."
The night sky twinkled with the bright dots of countless stars, and the full moon smiled down at the sleeping city, as well as the two teenagers who strode arm in arm along the boardwalk under the illumination of the streetlights. "So you live in Osaka, huh?" Spencer asked. "That's pretty close to the BBA, and apparently Tyson's place as well."
"Oh yes, you'd better be careful, or I might fall in love with Daichi while you're away," Hina joked playfully.
Spencer chuckled. "Ha, I'd like to see you try." A comfortable silence fell over the two as they passed a few more booths and street vendors along the boardwalk. The daytime workers were closing up shop, while the night shift was just opening for business. A few dozen people, mostly tourists, wandered from shop to shop, but the area was mostly quiet, save for some ambient music playing over the speakers hanging just below the lights.
Suddenly Spencer got an idea. "Let's go this way." He led Hina along the intersecting wooden walkways towards a larger, square platform somewhat removed from the rest of the crowd and its accompanying chatter. The music was louder here, and the song had just changed to a slower, more romantic tune.
Hina's eyes widened slightly in realization, and a blush quickly rose to her cheeks as Spencer turned to face her, placing his right hand under her shoulder and taking her right hand in his left one. "W-what are you doing?" she asked timidly, placing her left hand on his upper arm, since she couldn't reach his shoulder.
Spencer gave her one of his charming smiles. "Just something I've been wanting to do since the party in Rome. Shall we?"
"S-sure," she replied with a shy smile.
She relaxed in his arms and let Spencer lead her in a slow, swaying dance that revolved in a circle. Hina laughed softly. "I feel like I'm back in middle school."
Spencer gave a short chuckle. "Glad to know I at least rank among your middle school sweethearts."
"Don't be ridiculous, I never had any. You put them all to shame," Hina reassured him. She moved a little closer to him so she could rest her head on his chest while they danced, and Spencer lowered the hand that was on her shoulder to wrap around her waist.
The song finally ended, but Spencer and Hina remained where they stood, wrapped in each other's embrace. The rest of the world had long since faded away, including their impending separation tomorrow, when Spencer would return to Russia with his team. However, Hina couldn't completely block the sadness caused by that thought. A stray tear worked its way free and trickled down her cheek, and a tremor of a sob shook her shoulders.
"Hina…" Spencer placed the crook of his finger under her chin and gently brought her head up to meet his gaze. Her eyes still watered with unshed tears, and his expression softened further. He dipped his head and took her lips in a soft, innocent kiss. He pulled away moments later, and Hina's eyes fluttered closed as he gently kissed both her eyelids, her cheek, and her lips again. Then he pulled away and brushed away the last of her tears with his thumb. "You are the only one who will ever hold my heart. Never forget that."
Hina managed a weak smile. "I promise."
The next day…
"I seriously think I'm going to lose my mind if we have to stay here one more day. You'd think we were prisoners or something," Vala quipped. She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back in her chair with a frustrated sigh. "So much for us being free."
'Free, huh?' Raina thought sarcastically. 'That's just a nice way of saying reject or outcast.' And it was true. After what she and her team had done, serving a half-crazed agent of BIOVOLT and nearly wiping out a respected team in the BBA, they were most definitely the hated outcasts of the beyblading world.
Since they had nowhere else to go, Mr. Dickenson had graciously arranged for Omega Platoon to stay in one of the guest rooms in the BBA headquarters. However, Raina knew he wasn't just providing for them out of a sense of hospitality. Technically, according to the judge they had to stay here for at least 30 days – a nice way of saying they were on probation – and after that, Ramona and Vala would be stuck for another year or so until they turned 18.
"So what are we going to do now?" Ramona asked uncertainly.
Raina glanced around the small room at each of her so-called teammates. Brought together through necessity and orders, they had no emotional or relational ties to each other and thus no motivation to stay together as a team. Still, Raina couldn't help but feel at least somewhat responsible for them. From her seat on the bench near the door, she could clearly see each of their expressions. Ramona, over on the couch, looked anxious and concerned about the future. Vala, sitting sideways in an overstuffed recliner, was simply ticked off at their current situation.
Her eyes fell last on Alannah, who was sitting in a chair in far the corner somewhat removed from the others. She stared blankly at her hands, which were folded in her lap, as if completely oblivious to the outside world. Over the past few days, Raina had watched as Alannah became more and more mentally unstable. She attributed it partly to losing her bit beast, who had controlled her thoughts and emotions for years, and partly to the shock of suddenly realizing that she was "free." She had withdrawn into herself, barely speaking and rarely moving from that same chair to eat or sleep. It was as if she had become a hollow, empty shell devoid of life or emotions, merely existing instead of living.
Raina watched in carefully masked surprise as Alannah suddenly got up from her chair and moved toward the closed door. When she passed Raina, the former captain asked, "Where are you going?" Alannah paused in her stride for a second and then continued in silence, opening the door and closing it behind her.
"What was that all about?" Ramona asked.
"Who knows? I'll never understand her," Vala replied in annoyance.
Just then, Dregore stirred in Raina's mind in response to a familiar presence. Realization dawned in Raina's eyes, and she smirked slightly. 'Ah, I see…'
Outside in the afternoon sun, Alannah walked slowly along the sidewalk leading away from the BBA headquarters, her hands in her pockets and her gaze downcast. She didn't know what had compelled her to leave, but at the same time she didn't care to know.
Just then, the shadow of a figure passed into her line of sight, and Alannah looked up, her eyes widening in her first emotional response in days.
Brooklyn Kingston stood before her, completely free of his cast and bandages, hands in his jacket pockets and looking just as carefree as the day he had saved her life. His eyes crinkled in amusement as he smiled at her, as if he had been expecting her all along. "It's good to see you again, Alannah." He took a step forward, and Alannah flinched visibly. "What's wrong?" he asked with a gentle laugh. "I promise I don't bite." He stopped and held out his hand in an invitation. "Come on, it's time to go."
Alannah stared, motionless, at his beckoning hand and then at his expression, not completely trusting him but still intrigued. A single softly spoken word escaped her lips. "…Why?"
"Because I want to help you," Brooklyn replied simply, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. His hand didn't move or lower. "Now then, are you ready?"
Before Alannah could stop herself, she raised a trembling hand and took Brooklyn's, still unsure but still placing what remained of her trust in the orange-haired prodigy. Brooklyn smiled warmly, his eyes dancing with amusement, and led her into the unknown.
'Wow, Kenny sure wasn't kidding when he said he knew how to build beyblades,' Eri remarked in awe. 'Now I know why everyone calls him the Chief.'
Do I detect a hint of envy? Pyrix teased.
'Hmmm…yeah, maybe a little,' Eri admitted with a slight blush. The brunette Russian was currently lying on her back on a bench in the park, one hand behind her head while her free hand held up her brand new, upgraded beyblade so she could admire it from every angle. The shiny gold decals and finely polished aluminum weight disk contrasted sharply against the crimson attack ring and base. Of course, the main focus of her attention was the bit chip in the middle. 'Either way, it's good to see you back on a beyblade where you belong.'
Indeed, it is good to know that we will be able to battle together again, Pyrix agreed.
Just then, a third voice broke into Eri and Pyrix's silent meditations. "Somehow I'm not surprised to find you here, Kiryakov."
Eri lazily swung her legs down off the bench and got to her feet in time to see Raina walking towards her, her hands shoved in her pockets. "Well, this is an unexpected pleasure," Eri replied nonchalantly. "Why did you come looking for me?"
"I want answers," Raina stated. For the first time, Eri actually registered confusion in her rival's expression and posture. "It doesn't make any sense. I tried to kill you, not once, not twice, but three times. My team put yours through hell and back all throughout the tournament, and we worked for the person you hated more than anything in the world. So why…did you testify on our behalf?"
Eri simply shrugged. "It's exactly as I said back at the trial. Everyone deserves a second chance to make amends. Xhaiden was the one pulling all the strings and deserved what he got coming to him, but I don't blame you or your teammates."
Raina regarded her in silence for a few moments, processing Eri's words. "Yeah…some team," she remarked sarcastically. "We're hardly what you would consider a team."
Eri cocked her head to one side. "Oh, I don't know if I would say that. Speaking of which, what are you guys going to do next?"
Raina shrugged noncommittally. "Who knows? All I do know is that we're all going our separate ways. I'm going back to Russia once my probation is finished. Ramona and Vala will have to stay here until they turn 18, but after that, I have no idea what they'll do. As for Alannah…she's disappeared. Gone and run off with Kingston out of the blue…"
Eri smirked slightly. Somehow the news didn't surprise her. She idly wondered what Brooklyn had in store for Alannah. "You never know. Things can change. I have a hard time believing that you guys would just split up and never see each other again. Like it or not, you all have a bond forged in adversity. You just haven't realized it yet."
Raina glanced to the side and gave a humorless laugh. "You're such an idealist." She then looked Eri in the eye, and her expression became serious. "You know, this doesn't change anything, Eri. Just because we're carrying on a civil conversation now doesn't mean we're suddenly friends. We're still rivals."
Eri's smirk broadened. "Heh, I wouldn't have it any other way. I look forward to battling you again in the future…without all the death threats of course."
Raina returned Eri's smirk with a competitive one of her own. To Eri's surprise, she stuck out her hand. "It's a deal. And I'm going to hold you to your word."
Eri gave Raina a genuine smile and took her hand in a firm grip. "Count on it."
Eri stood and watched for several long moments as her lifelong rival turned and left, until she rounded a corner and was out of sight. Then she felt an all-too-familiar presence reach her side. "Was that Raina just now?" Tala asked curiously.
"Yeah…it was," Eri replied.
"What did she want?"
"Just…clarifying some things," Eri answered cryptically. She turned her head to meet his gaze. "She wanted to make sure I knew the status of our…'relationship,'" she added, using air quotes around the last word.
"Interesting…" Tala mused. "Anyway, your team sent me to find you. We need to get to the airport."
"Sure." Eri swung into step beside Tala, who wrapped an arm around her waist and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. 'In some ways, I have to thank Raina. After all, it's because of her that our team reunited when it did, and that also brought me to Tala.'
Seven familiar individuals were waiting in a small group when Eri and Tala reached the entrance to the airport. Kai had both arms around Sonja, Bryan had one arm looped across Nakia's shoulders, and Spencer had Hina's hand tucked in the crook of his elbow. A disgruntled Ian stood off to the side. Apparently the amount of mushiness in the immediately area was a little too much for him. Each person was silent, lost in his or her private thoughts and bearing a solemn expression.
Eri stepped away from Tala's hold and broke the tense silence, spreading her hands in a note of finality. "Well, this is it."
"The time has really flown by, huh?" Sonja asked.
"It seems like only yesterday that we came together for the World Championships," Nakia added.
"Yeah, and I never could have imagined all that we would go through to get to this point," Hina remarked.
"But somehow I have a hard time complaining about the end results," Sonja said, throwing a fond look back at Kai, who smirked and tightened his grip around her waist. Nakia, Hina, and Eri nodded in agreement, as did the four young men that had so completely captured their hearts.
Then Eri stepped forward, and her teammates mirrored her actions until they stood in a close circle. She held out a clenched fist at arm's length and smiled warmly. "Until we meet again, my friends."
Sonja, Nakia, and Hina in turn placed their fists on top of their captain's and replied in unison, "Until we meet again." And then by wordless consent, they stepped back from each other and turned to go their separate ways, Eri with the Blitzkrieg Boys to return to Russia, Sonja to return to Greece, Nakia to return to Egypt, and Hina to leave the airport and return to Osaka.
Spring is the season of rebirth. In the midst of the world reawakening, sometimes the chill of winter still tries to hold the world captive in its fingers, but eventually the warmth of the sun returns, coaxing life back out of hiding with her gentle caress.
'This is not the end for us. It is just the beginning of a new future...' Sonja thought.
Summer is the season of unpredictability. Warm, balmy days are often followed by the harsh tempests that can toss a boat like a helpless toy or shake a soul to its core. However, past every storm lays the hope of a new tomorrow blessed by a clear, sun-kissed sky, filled with new challenges as well as new opportunities.
'We will always be a team, no matter what…' Nakia vowed.
Fall is the season of change. The world prepares to make the transition from the wakefulness of summer to the cold months looming on the horizon when the earth sleeps, as can be seen by the changing of the leaves. In much the same way, a person's true colors shine through the stress of a crisis to reveal what was always hiding underneath.
'…And we will always stand beside the ones we love, for they are our reason to live,' Hina promised.
Winter is the season of rest. Beneath layers of snow and ice, the heart of the earth sleeps, waiting to come alive again. Sometimes the winters are mild. Other times, the ice may be so thick and deep that the heart loses hope of ever awakening, or even forgets that it ever was awake. But sooner or later, all winters must come to an end. Inevitably, the sun breaks through the darkness and melts away the ice so the heart can sing a new song full of hope and warmth.
Without pausing to look back, Eri affirmed in her heart, 'Days will turn into months and the seasons will change, but sooner or later, time will bring us together again.'
End chapter 21
THE END
Author's Note: I…can't believe it. I seriously can't believe it. For once, I am actually speechless. This story, which I have been working on for over a year and a half, is finally complete. I can't even begin to express my gratitude to you all, the readers, who have stuck with me through this whole process and have been so patient with me when circumstances kept me from updating as quickly as I wanted.
TO EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED ME IN THIS STORY, THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!!!
And now, I have a couple of important announcements before I close.
1) I have revised and reposted all of the previous 20 chapters of this story. If you guys have time and are so inclined, I highly recommend that you go back and read them, because they have extra scenes, more details, and fill in some minor plot holes that I screwed up earlier in the story. Overall, I can say with confidence that they've made the story much better.
2) I am planning a sequel to this story called "Their Own Private Battles." This story will take place a few months after this one and goes more into the private lives of the Temporal Knights, the personal struggles they experience, and of course plenty of romance and drama. There will also be at least a couple of new pairings, including one that I've already hinted about. Right now I have some scenes written and some basic plotlines for each of the main characters, but I still need to figure out how to organize them into chapters before I start writing in earnest. I'm also hoping to get a few chapters written in advance to reduce the delay between updates. I'll definitely try to work on it more over the summer, so stay tuned for more updates! If you're interested, add me to your Author Alerts so you'll know the minute I publish it!
Thank you all again, and I would love to hear what you thought of this final chapter! Take care, everyone, and God bless!
-Silvan Arrow