OKAY! Sorry, I'm a little hyper today! Very happy!
Ok. Not too happy.
Now, I know I told you all that the idea for this story had left me . . . . . . BUT! It came back to me in the pep rally at school. I know, weird way of remembering a little thing like that . . . . . . . . . Don't say a word.
So, before I forget again, here it is!
-S-S-S-S-S-
It had been at least a few hours since Cody had come into the picture. He had eaten and was now asleep with Kai close, watching him in case Jason came back to threaten the boy again.
Kai had found out as he carried the boy to Tyson's house that Jason had somehow tricked Cobra into a little scam of his, claiming that it would bring back Keith. It turned out that the day Keith died, when Kai thought Jason had died as well, somehow Cobra had not killed the guy, but had missed any vital organs and Jason had been faking the whole time! Just the thought angered Kai even more than he already was. He still didn't know the full situation, and he wouldn't until Cody woke up. The poor boy had been suffering, being forced to stay in a cold cell in an old worn down jail house where they where staying. He hadn't had much sleep nor much food in the time he was there. Why, the phoenix didn't know.
"Hey, K-man. How's the little dude doing?" Tyson's grandfather said quietly, coming into the dojo room. It was well into the night hours and everyone was now eating. Everyone except Tyson because it turns out, Robert keeps to his word.
Kai sighed, his gaze never leaving Cody's sleeping face. "He's fine, just sleeping."
Tyson's grandfather nodded, but kept his own eyes on the phoenix. "How are you?"
Kai never looked away as he answered. "I'm fine," he said bitterly.
"It seems as if he's still mad about the situation."
"Yes, I am. Now, if you don't mind, would you please leave? Cody's starting to wake up, and he doesn't need different faces yet," Kai said calmly.
Tyson's grandfather nodded, not sure if the phoenix could see him or not, and left.
Kai sighed and gazed at his old friend. Cody was waking up, his eyes fluttering open slightly.
"Kai?" he asked hoarsely.
"Easy, Cody," Kai whispered, pushing his friend lightly so he would lay back down.
"Kai?"
"How are you feeling?"
"Like shit, as you used to say," replied the younger boy. He smiled up at the older teen.
Kai, unconsciously, smiled back. "Actually, I still say that." He laughed along with his old friend at the joke. What was going on was serious, but he wanted the younger boy to relax as much as possible, and he was the only one back then who could make the boy laugh.
"Kai, I'm so glad you're here."
Kai cocked his head to the side. "Why?"
Cody sighed. "Because no matter what happens, whenever you're around, things always turn out alright."
The phoenix shook his head, his eyes downcast where the boy couldn't see them. "No. That's not true," he said quietly.
Cody's eyes widened, remembering the event the phoenix was thinking about. "My brother's death was not your fault. You weren't even there when it happened."
"It wouldn't have mattered whether I was there or not, Keith would have still died."
"YOU'RE WRONG!" Kai looked up, shocked at the young boy's outburst. "You're wrong, Kai! If you were there, Keith would still be alive. You always gave him hope. If you were there, he always found the answer to the problem! It's Jason's fault my brother's dead! Not yours! Jason led you away! He led Keith into a trap! HE killed my brother! Cobra only thought it was you because right at the very end when Jason stabbed Keith, you happened to show up all bloodied and looking like you had gotten into a fight! I know it wasn't you! And you know, too! So, stop letting Cobra's words get to you, Kai!"
Kai stared at the boy in utter amazement. After all this time, Cody still didn't blame him for killing his brother. Cobra did, but when did the phoenix ever listen to that balloon faced freak? Kai smiled at the thought. He nodded. "You're right, Cody. I'm sorry."
Cody nodded his own head. "You should be, Kai. You know as well as I do that you wouldn't kill my brother. You used to be his best friend, and I know you still are now. Even though he's dead."
Kai looked down at the floor. What the boy said was true. Even though his best friend was gone, Kai still felt as if the boy was still there. As if he and Kai were still friends. As if Keith had never died.
"Kai?"
Kai looked up, gazing at the boy in front of him. "What is it, Cody?"
"How are we going to get Derrick back?"
The older boy shook his head. "We're just going to have to follow Cobra and Jason's rules for now. There's nothing we can do."
Cody nodded, looking down at the sheet.
"Are you hungry?" The voice seemed to cut through his thoughts like a hot knife in butter. Cody found himself nodding to the question. Kai stood up and offered a hand. The smaller boy took it and with the phoenix's help, headed towards the kitchen where everyone else was.
Ray looked up at soft padding reached his ears, as did Robert, causing the others to look as well. Kai stood, holding onto another boy a little younger than him. The boy had sandy brown hair and silky green eyes that seemed to sparkle in the light. He wore a pair of Kai's black pants and a gray shirt. He seemed to be thinner than any boy his age should be.
"Who's your friend, Kai? And what happened to Derrick?" Tyson asked, trying to take his mind off of the food he was unable to eat.
"This is Cody," the phoenix said calmly.
Cody shook slightly from all of the stares he was getting. He may not look the type, but the boy is very shy and doesn't like to meet new people so quickly. He also can't stand people staring at him.
Kai noticed this and spoke softly into his friend's ear, telling him that it was all alright, that they were just some friends of his. Cody nodded, looking at Kai to keep himself from gazing into the eyes of the others.
Kai helped the boy over to an empty chair, asking him what he would like.
The boy gulped, still feeling the eyes boring into his back.
Kai also noticed that. Bringing his head up, he glared at the other boys, signaling them to look away and to back off.
"I'm not sure, Kai," Cody said hesitantly after a while.
"Well, would you rather me go out and catch a bird for you?" the phoenix joked, gaining a smile from the younger boy, then a laugh. Kai had always joked around like that because of Cody being apart of the Cobra Blades. Since cobras eat birds. "Or how about a rat? Oh, sorry, I forgot. You don't like rats, do you?" By this time, Cody couldn't help but laugh, causing the other bladers to turn and watch as Kai muttered another joke to get the boy to relax.
The others couldn't believe it! Kai - the most serious member of the team, the only one that does not, or so they thought, have a funny bone in his body - was making jokes!
Kai stopped as he saw tears at the corners of the boy's eyes from laughter. Going over to the fridge, he saw the perfect thing. (AN - I'm not telling what it is, I don't even know myself!)
-20 min later-
Cody had gone back to bed, still tired. Kai had gone to the living room, but left the dojo door open so he could hear in case something happened to Cody.
"What do you want?" he asked once he saw the others there waiting on him.
"What the hell is going on, Kai?" Tyson asked jumping up from the couch he was sitting on. He was hungry, tired, and angry all at the same time. Not a good combination.
"Listen," Kai started, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring at the boy. "This guy named Jason came and took Derrick, giving me Cody. It was some sort of trade out. I don't know what is going on fully, but as soon as he's ready to talk, Cody will tell me."
"How do we know he's just not using you to give information to that Cobra guy so he can take our bitbeasts!" Tyson cried, Zeo and Kenney holding each arm, so he would try and attack the stotic blader before him.
"How do I know?" Kai's glare got colder at the question, his blood boiling. Sometime's Tyson was too much! "I know because I trust Cody more than I'll ever - and I mean EVER - trust you, Tyson!" the phoenix stormed, causing the dragon to go pale, his face shocked.
"Kai! That's low!" Ray yelled gaining nods from the majestics and Max.
"It's the truth, and if he can't handle the truth, then there's no reason for him to be blading in this battle!" he shot back, still glaring at Tyson.
"What do you mean by that, Kai?" Robert asked, finding himself glaring at the tall teen.
"I'm sure that there's going to be a LOT of things said about my past and about what I've done. Also, about where my loyalties lie. It's not really something I want you to know, but I'm sure Cobra will have his fun in letting his tongue roll." Kai's hands were clenched tightly at the thought. Cobra had never liked Kai, and every time something happed that was the phoenix's fault, he made it his job in telling everyone that was close to him about it. 'You will always be alone!' Cobra's voice screamed in his head.
"Kai, you're not yourself. What's with you?" Max asked.
Kai's eyes flashed over to his teammate, causing the tortoise to shrink back visibly. "Oh, I'm myself. And especially when the next time I see Cobra!"
With that, he stormed out of the room, going outside. He really needed some air. And something to hit.
-S-S-S-S-S-
End! Nope not yet!
Hints for the next chapter!
-S-S-S-S-S-
Kai stood outside, letting the breeze cool him off. That argument with the others was really getting to him now. He shouldn't have said those things. Maybe he should apologize?
"After some air," he told himself, stopping his trek to the pond edge as a sound caught his ear. Turning on his heel, the Russian came face to face with bright greens and sandy hair. "You should be sleeping."
"I know, but I couldn't help but overhear your conversation with your teammates. What's gotten into you, Kai?" Cody asked looking the taller boy in the eye.
Kai looked away and sighed. "I guess all this is getting to me. Keith's death, Jason showing up, the fight in three weeks. I just don't think that we can win this time . . ."
"DON'T YOU EVER SAY THAT!" Cody cut in sharply. He shook his head. "I bet I know one thing that could get your mind off of everything."
Kai arched and eyebrow. "What?"
The boy smiled a devilish smile. "Kai, I challenge you to a street-blading battle!"
-S-S-S-S-S-
Yep! That's the very beginning of the next chapter! I put it up along with this one cause I don't know when the next time I'd be able to update.
R&R!