Chapter 56------Letting Go
"Osashiburi," Riya was the first to speak up.
Mai's eyes softened. She had waited so long for this! To see him in the flesh and not just writing letters in vain. This one could talk, could feel, could interact and he was standing RIGHT. IN. FRONT of her!
Mai walked slowly towards him, suppressing the jubilation she was feeling inside. The others watched with bated breath as the girl, step by step, moved closer to Riya.
'She's gonna hug him!'
'Kiss her!'
Such thoughts raced through their minds.
"You…" She leaned in closer.
"They're gonna kiss!" Hilary muttered excitedly.
"…have a mole here," her finger pressed onto the part of Riya's face that was close to the ear. (blu: not a huge mole! Just a tiny one, like a dot)
Some of the people in the room sighed, Mai had done it again……
"Really?" Riya's fingers felt around the side of his face.
"Yeah, kochi yo," she redirected his finger and placed it over the mole. But what happened next made her stiffen up; he had laced his fingers around hers. Her heart beat faster and the blood was rushing to her cheeks that she quickly looked away.
"I…" 'I've missed you so much!' "Actually I…" 'I really like you!' "I…" Mai continued to stammer.
-Ba-dump-
'!'
"Ahem!"
The two quickly let go of each others hand.
Mai touched her chest, 'Sakki no kanji!' She looked at Riya; it didn't look like he felt it.
"Although it's good news that your friends are in town, Mai, they are here on business," Mr Dickenson reminded.
"Business?" Mai turned to face Riya, wanting an explanation.
"Yyyeah," he smiled feebly. "We're here to make a deal with the BBA Japan."
"What deal?"
"We're buying you over."
"WHAT?"
Mai's response was muffled by the Bladebreakers loud exclamation, although the shock did show on her face.
"You can't just walk in here and buy Mai over! What authority do you have?" Tyson stepped in front of Riya.
"Let me explain—" But the bluenette cut him off.
"Just because you're her fiancé doesn—"
"Tyson!"
But alas! Mai and Rei had silenced him too late.
"Her fiancé?" Mr Dickenson looked startled, "Mai, this boy is your fiancé?"
"N-No! I mean—!" Mai bit her lip in frustration, "TYSON YOU IDIOT!"
"Oh my! An arranged marriage?"
The distraught girl found it hard to reply. The cat was out of the bag and it was all bloody Tyson's fault! She shot a scornful look at him.
"That's correct, sir," Riya replied with much resolution in his voice, "I'm her fiancé."
"Riya! Sore wa—!"
He gave her a comforting look, "Daijoubu da," and turned back to Mr Dickenson, "We would appreciate it very much if you not tell this to anyone." He lowered his head.
'Cheh, what a suck-up,' Kai thought.
Dranzer: At least he's polite, unlike someone…
The boy narrowed his eyes.
Mr Dickenson gave a laugh, "Come now, no need for formalities, we're all friends here. But you have my word, Mr uh…"
"Fujimori. Fujimori Riya desu. Yorushikku onegaishimasu." The both of them shook hands.
'Fujimori…Mai Fujimori,' Mai giggled, 'Kinda has a nice ring to it!'
"What?" Mit-chan elbowed her.
"Nothing!" Mai straighten her face. Mit-chan wasn't convinced but she wasn't the sort who would pry into other people's business.
The rotund man sat behind his desk, "So about this deal?"
"Whatever it is, I object!" The words shot out of Tyson's mouth.
"Me too!" Max stood by Tyson's side.
Hilary grabbed Tyson by the arm and whispered harshly, "Stop making a scene! You've already caused enough trouble!"
"But he wants to take Mai away!" the boy argued, shaking off her grip.
"Actually," Drex raised a finger, "We're just here to represent BBA China. They're the ones who want to buy Mai over."
"BBA China?" Rei questioned.
"Sou," Copellia leant against the sofa, "They want her for the world cup."
"World Cup?" Mai, Tyson and Kenny asked in unison.
"The idea has been approved, but it's still in its planning stage. I didn't expect the BBA China to act so quickly." Mr Dickenson got up from his desk to retrieve a folder from a nearby shelf. "Each country is represented by a team who must be made up of its own nationals. Meaning to say, if you boys want to participate, then Tyson would have to represent Japan, Max, America, and so on."
"That means we'd be facing each other…" Max thought aloud.
'China wants me…for the world cup? But,' Mai looked at the Bladebreakers, 'I can't just leave the team, can I?'
"But that doesn't mean Mai has to leave now?" the neko-jin reasoned, hoping to sway Mai's decision. "She can return and represent China when it's nearing the world cup. I'd do that too if they asked me."
-flashback-
"She's returning to Riya and the others."
-End of flashback-
He glanced wistfully in Mai's direction. Knowing what he knew, he could only hope that the girl would stay, albeit unlikely…
"Well, it says here that the BBA China is offering 50 million yen for her transfer," Mr Dickenson read off the paper handed to him earlier.
"50 MILLION? THAT'S A LOT!" Hilary exclaimed.
"But the decision ultimately lies with Mai," he peered at her through his half-moon glasses.
Mai could feel everyone's stares on her, the Bladebreakers, Copellia and the others, Mr Dickenson…
"Don't do it, Mai. We're a team!" Max begged.
'Max…' Her eyes shifted to Riya, he nodded his head slightly, 'Riya…' She could feel the pressure on her, every stare was grinding deeper and deeper into her conscience. 'If I go with Riya, I'll be letting them down when they've done so much for me. If I stay with them, then who knows when I'll get to see Riya and the rest again…But if I stay with them then I'd get them into a whole load of trouble…But they've done so much! It'd be ungrateful if I…' Mai couldn't decide; she wanted to be with all of them! Why did everyone want a piece of her? The Bladebreakers were pulling at her limbs, Riya at her heart and Kai—
'Kai!' She turned to look at him. The boy didn't meet her gaze. In fact, he didn't meet anyone's gaze. He had stood aloof from the rest, sitting on the sofa doing what he did best: pretending to be invisible. 'Kai…you—'
"Come with us, Mai," Mit-chan coaxed.
"I…-looks at BB- I…-looks at Copellia and the others-" The girl let out an immense sigh, "Can I have more time, please? All this…it's too sudden."
The Bladebreakers heaved a mental sigh of relief. They had managed to put her decision off, for now. Not surprisingly, a lot of convincing would be done when they reach home though…
"All right then," Mr Dickenson put away the form, "But there is a deadline for the reply. When are you leaving?"
"Time's not a problem, Mr Dickenson," Riya faced Rei, "We leave when she's coming home with us."
'!'
"You see? They're gonna take her away! Screw the 50 million! We're not—Mpppf mguhhhpp!" Hilary clamped a hand over Tyson's mouth and with Kenny's help, the both of them dragged him out of the office.
"Let's go…" Rei's voice was frigid as he steered Mai out of the room.
"Mai!"
"Riya!" Her arms were outstretched, fingers grasping thin air.
"Let her go," A cold hand placed a firm hold on Rei's shoulder.
"But!"
"She doesn't belong to us. Let her go…" A shadow hung over his eyes as his voice sounded from under his fringe; a hollow, heavy, with a tinge of regret, voice…Kai couldn't look at her, not like this. Not when they had to part like this…
Rei reluctantly released his hold on her and she got pulled towards Copellia. Mai watched as her captain turned his heel and left with the rest of the team; his white scarf flapping behind him as he walked, further away… and further away…
'Kai…'
blu: -sniff- Poor Kai! –bawls- I feel so sorry for you! –blows nose on a tissue-
"He's amazing isn't he?" Copellia gave a dreamy sigh, "You're so lucky you get to live with him!" She slapped Mai playfully on the shoulder.
Mai couldn't even smile. She felt rotten, discarded, something was tugging at her heart and it was pulling hard. It felt so heavy…so heavy that she could feel it sinking…
"Kai…"
-Outside-
Rei, Max and Kai came out of the lift and were immediately blocked by Tyson. "Where's Mai?" The boy peered over their shoulders, "Where is she?" he demanded.
Max gave him a wincing glance and shook his head.
"They can't!" The boy pushed through them and headed for the lift but Rei grabbed hold of him. "It's no use, Tyson." He looked him in the eyes, eyes filled with hopelessness.
"NO IT'S NOT! MAI HASN'T MADE A DECISION YET! SHE HASN'T MADE A DECISION YET!" The boy squirmed in his friend's grip, trying to get loose.
Hilary came over and touched his shoulder, "Don't." Her eyes were gloomy, she too was upset. They all were… 'And to think, she promised us she'd never leave…'
"I DON'T CARE! SHE'S OUR TEAM MATE! HE CAN'T –"
-SLAP!-
'!' Tyson touched the side of his face, too stunned to say anything.
The brunette retracted her hand. She looked angry but she looked like she wanted to cry as well. Swallowing hard, she rebuked him, "She's a Zeelan! They're the only family she's got! Why can't you understand that?"
"Hilary…" Kenny watched from the sides, everyone was fighting, arguing, shouting. He didn't like it, they were all friends! He didn't like it at all…
"She's not one of us! She never was so just let her go!" The girl finished, wearing a pained expression on her face. She didn't want Mai to leave but what could they do? They couldn't force her to stay. Her tribe was closer to her than they'll ever be.
"But still…" Max finally spoke up, "she's our friend" and with determination in his eyes he continued, "and unless she tells us straight in the face, I don't believe she's leaving us."
Kai smirked, what admirable words coming from a boy who usually repeated what others said. But he found no wrong in sharing the hope that Max and Tyson had, unless she told them straight in the face, he wasn't giving up on her.
-Really fast forward-
The boys sat in the living room. The TV was on but no one was really paying attention, they glanced up at the clock more often than at the TV.
"She's not home yet…" Max spoke to no one in particular.
"Hm." Tyson looked at the clock again. It was like waiting for New Year's Day to come, every minute and every second mattered, till the final–
-Dong Dong Dong-
The clocked chimed throughout the house, it was 11 o'clock and still no word from Mai.
"Maybe she's not coming back," Max said woefully.
Speak of the devil, there was a click at the door, "Tadai—ma…" The look upon their faces made her cheerfulness seem inappropriate and Mai's smile vanished.
"Genki sou na. (You seem happy)" Tyson didn't look her way, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Ah sou! Ban gohan wa tabemasu ka? Watashi—( Oh! Have you guys eaten dinner? I brought—)" She reached for her bag but—
"Tabemashita. (We've eaten)" Mai was shot down again.
"N-Nani yo? Kono tsumetai no kotoba… (What's with the cold treatment)" She could tell that they were angry with her, like they didn't want her around. Sensing no reply, the girl headed upstairs.
"So you came home to pack your stuff then?"
Mai froze on the steps; the heavy feeling in her heart came flooding back. 'So this is what it's all about huh…' Tyson appeared at the foot of the steps, watching her, wanting to see her guilt; if she had any… "Well?"
Without turning around, the girl replied lifelessly, "No, I came back because I have school tomorrow." She continued up the stairs, 'How could they?' step by step, 'How could they think that way when I haven't even decided yet?' and turned the corner to her room, "How could you judge me when you know nothing?" she whispered to herself…
'It's not like I want to leave you guys…' Mai was curled up on the bed, her jacket strewn on the floor. She didn't feel like doing anything, they had ruined her mood. There was a knock on the door, she opened her eyes but did nothing. She wanted to be alone. That was what they wanted wasn't it? They didn't want her around…
The door creaked open and a voice sounded from outside, "Can I come in?"
Mai turned around so that she now faced the door. She gave Rei a look that said what-do-you-think? "Well it's my room too, you know," the boy invited himself in. Mai rolled her eyes; Rei can be so corny sometimes… He picked up the blazer, folded it and placed it nicely on her bed.
"Go away, please?"
"Sorry, no can do, Ms Takuya. This here room is mine too."
Mai laughed, he sounded like a very bad replacement for one of those old American cowboy movies.
"See? You're better already."
Mai looked at him and smiled, "Mariah has no idea how lucky she is."
"Really?" The boy grinned, exposing his toothy canines. "Why? Am I your type?" He hardly ever teased people, but if it could cheer Mai up, then he wouldn't mind doing it.
"Don't push it," she smirked and threw a pillow at him.
At that moment, Kai walked into the room and the tension rose like a thermometer in boiling water. Mai didn't look at him, but watched his feet as it shuffled towards his bed. 'Would I be hurting him the most if I left? But he knows I have a fiancé! He should understand right? RIGHT? There wasn't anything between us in the first place…'
'……Or was there?'
Mai shook her head to erase the thought. She had a responsibility to Riya, and Kai, well Kai was just her Captain, a person she still respected despite all the bickering between them. But there was something about him, his cold demeanour, those fearless eyes, that suave beyblading style, or perhaps his whole person, that fascinated Mai. Up till now, she knew nothing about him, and this curiosity to find out who he really was behind that mysterious persona really bothered her.
But it wasn't as if she had paid so much attention to it. She had tried to make him open up, slowly, through these past months but to no avail. The boy was unbreakable. 'And now everything's so obvious, you're making me feel guilty…'
"Umm, I think I left the TV on downstairs," Rei broke the awkward silence floating in the air and rushed out of the room.
'Gee, thanks a lot, Rei. You leave me alone with HIM?' Mai furrowed her brows. She quickly stole a peek at him; Kai was brandishing his beyblade with his blanket. "Uh, tomorrow… I'll be meeting Copellia and the guys after school." Mai paused, checking to see if Kai had any reaction.
'And you're telling me this because?'
"So you guys can go off first. Ri—Copellia can send me home afterwards," she finished sheepishly.
'So you're coming home again huh? Some nerve you got, Mai.' Kai never took his eyes off Dranzer and pretended to be oblivious to the person in the room with him. Why care? She's going to leave in the end so why stop her? Let her do what she liked, it would be Riya's responsibility from now on so he was through being her captain.
He was through being anything to her…
Kai rolled over on his side, away from Mai, and stared at his bit-chip. 'It's just you and me, Dranzer.'
'It has been and will always be…'
blu: -dabs eyes with tissue- This is so sad! Why does the story have to go like this? –starts tearing again- Somebody help KAI!
Kai: -rolls eyes- Someone ought to help you first…
blu: -sniffs- Shut up! You don't get Mai! –cries harder-
Kai: Damn… -sits down and sulks-
Anyway, to see what happens, please review! The next chapter will be awesome! Even I like it lol