Finally! Ufff... that was tiring!

Warning: The chapter can be a little long. It is about Akira's past. So, I'm sorry if it bored you at any point. However, this chapter is very important at this juncture!

Read on...

"Miss Inei?" the female detective spoke, "I'm Detective Himura Aiko and this is Detective Akiyama Toshi."

"Detective Toshi would be fine. Why don't you take a seat?" he said, pulling a chair out for Akira near Mr. Dickenson's desk. He then eyed Kai, "Looks like you've brought a friend," he turned towards Mr. Dickenson, "I didn't know."

Mr. Dickenson sweat dropped, "He is the team's captain, Kai Hiwatari."

"Aha… Kai… or rather Mr. Hiwatari. I have heard a lot about you and your friends. Glad to have finally met you. Take a seat," the detective pointed at the couch.

When Akira and Kai settled down in their allotted seats, Detective Toshi extended his right hand towards his partner, for her to place a folder in it.

He opened the file walked to the corner of the desk and sat on it facing Akira.

"Inei Akira," he said and cleared his throat, "Excuse me." He took a sip from the glass of water on the table and replaced the cap on it once he was done. "So where were we?" he continued, "Oh yes, Miss Inei where were you, yesterday, around 8:00PM and up to 11:30PM? Be quick."

Akira lifted her head up to look him in the eye. She took a deep breath and continued, "At around 8:10 I had completed my dinner at the hotel I was booked in and started for Tyson's place in a Taxi. I think I reached his place in some twenty minutes. I had a little chat with them and then went to my room. In an hour I had unpacked my luggage and then went to sleep. I don't exactly remember when that was."

"Good. That was quick," he said giving a slight nod, "Do you have proof for this story of yours?"

"Yes, I do."

"Very good. So… you've seen this man before?" Detective Toshi pulled a picture out from the folder in his hand and showed it to Akira.

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Kai was closely observing Akira. She seemed calm and cool. There was no sign of any panic. That is a good sign, he thought.

"Do you know any of the three bladers who are currently missing?"

"I've only seen them at the tournament, never before. I didn't talk to them either," she answered his next question too.

He raised his eyebrows and nodded his head, "You look quite calm. Are you accustomed to answering questions like this?"

"Excuse me?" Akira asked him, her voice sounding a little angry.

"Like sessions," Detective Aiko joined him, "Perhaps at a psychiatrist?"

Kai frowned at the reference and Mr. Dickenson gave a sigh of exasperation, "You don't have to go there detective," Mr. Dickenson pointed out firmly.

"I know what I'm doing Mr. Dickenson. Advising me is the last thing you would wanna do right now. Considering the fact that you'll be needing mine and the department's special permission to take her anywhere outside Japan, for that matter even outside Tokyo. I've agreed to carry out the interrogation in front of two witnesses, be glad about that. Otherwise these things normally happen in my interrogation room!" Detective Toshi managed silence Mr. Dickenson.

Though Kai's outward appearance indicated that he was barely interested in the conversation, his curiosity was increasing every minute. He wanted to know more, more about her past. And he was sure that his wish would soon be granted.

"Yes," Toshi turned towards Akira, "Ha. Psychiatrist… Been there any time?"

"What are you trying to point out Detective?" Akira was now losing it.

"Well, before we get to my point, let me tell you a story. The story of a little girl, an orphaned little girl."

Akira's expression changed into a frown.

Toshi registered the change and continued, "Once upon a time, to be more precise, eighteen years back, a pregnant woman who was rescued from a storm on one fateful night was brought to an orphanage in Moscow. She delivered a baby girl, only to give up her life in the process. The girl was raised in the orphanage until she was seven years old. One night she discovered something that changed her life. A toy, a dangerous toy. A bit beast for her beyblade. Do you know what happened next Akira?"

There was an eerie silence around her. She had removed her scarf from her neck, as she was sweating profusely. She gripped her scarf tight, while all those memories came back to her.

"I'll tell you what happened next. That very night she lost control of the huge serpent, I mean her bit beast and almost killed ten innocent kids. Well, all of them are fine right now. But, that's not the point. You know what witnesses said? It was like she was possessed. The bit beast was finally captured and subdued. But, nothing was same for the little girl anymore. She became insane, lost her mental stability. She was shifted to special facility, an asylum, where she was treated for six years!"

It was becoming more and more difficult for her to take it. STOP IT! Her inner self was screaming, however she remained quiet on the outside.

Aiko was getting a little worried about her mental condition, but Toshi? No, nothing could stop him, "She was kept under observation for one year and was later adopted by a childless couple who took complete responsibility of her treatment and well being. Isabel and Shiro Inei. Do you know who that girl is Akira? Do you know!?"

Toshi yelled out the last question, which snapped Akira out of her cruel past.

"Yes, it's me!" she yelled back.

"Good. You need some water?"

"No," Akira was panting a little now.

"That blade that was secured that night was stolen by a man, who was unfortunately seen by one of the nuns in that orphanage. She managed to get a sketch of him made. And do you know how he looked like? Just like the man, whose photograph I showed you just now," Toshi said and paused for a moment.

Akira did not respond. Kai was beyond shocked to know that she had spent most of her childhood in a mental asylum. He pitied her for a moment and her present situation. Anyone would want to forget such a past. No one knew that better than him. And here, Toshi was putting her through all that torture all over again. He desperately wanted to do something for her. Maybe punch Toshi in his face and take Akira away from here? But, wasn't the detective just doing his duty?

Aiko did more than just pitying the girl sitting helplessly in front of her. She walked towards the small freezer in the office and pulled out a bottle of water. She put a hand on Akira's shoulder and handed her the water bottle, "Here, have some water." Akira grabbed the bottle and gulped down almost half the water in the bottle.

"Can we continue?" Toshi looked like he wasn't going to stop anytime soon.

Akira nodded in agreement. She wasn't going to be afraid. NO! She wasn't scared anymore… those days are over!

"Now do you know him?"

"No, Detective Toshi, I don't."

"Fine. That bit beast you use. I presume it is different from the one you used all those years back, though it is a serpent too?"

"Yes. It is different. Serpa came to me after I was adopted," Akira answered with renewed confidence.

"Do you control it well? Any proof of that?"

"She controls it alright. I fought her in the recent tournament and she's pretty good at it," Kai finally spoke up, knowing it was time.

"Aha… a witness! Good. So, your foster parents… where are they right now?" Toshi asked, pulling out a few more papers from the folder, "Your father is a lawyer and your mother… an artist? French by birth?"

"Yes, an artist. My parents are right now at an International Art Exhibition in Paris. My mother's paintings are being exhibited in the gallery," Akira answered his question, for which he already knew the answer.

"Have you ever been to Paris, Miss Inei?" Toshi asked.

"Yes. Once, with my mother about two years back."

"May I know the reason you haven't participated in any tournaments before this?" Toshi was asking random questions.

"My parents felt I wasn't ready, nor did my psychiatrist. Now that I don't need my treatment anymore, they let me go."

"Do you still need a psychiatrist sometimes?"

"No. I don't."

"Fine. That's it for now. You'll be called in again if you are wanted," Toshi then turned towards Mr. Dickenson, "I'll let you know tomorrow if has come clean or not."

The detectives left the office, leaving a shaken Akira, sitting right where she was before, staring at the ground.

"I'm extremely sorry dear. I couldn't do anything about it…" the old man standing in front of her sounded genuine.

"I understand Mr. Dickenson. You've already done so much. I realize it could've been worse," Akira spoke in a very soft voice. Her voice was cracking a bit, but she managed to cover it up.

"Will you be alright?"

"Yes sir, I'm fine."

Akira got up from her place and walked towards the door. Kai followed her out of the BBA building without a word.

Akira felt a little weird. She staggered, as her vision blurred. No…! Don't… not now! She tried to open her eyes, only to feel her knees buckle under her. She prepared herself for the sharp pain she would be feeling soon after hitting the ground. Maybe she wouldn't feel it at all? However all she could feel was a pair of strong arms holding her tight and familiar voice calling out her name. "I'll be fi..ne…" she mumbled before she blacked out.

*Fingers crossed* So how was it?

Hoping you liked it! :)

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