I'm extremely sorry for the delay! Lots of apologies! I was tied up with a college project of mine!
Anyways thanks for the reviews!
shanaya: Thank you and sorry to keep you waiting! I hope you'll like the secret, though I haven't revealed much of it! ;)
Guest: Thanks for the review! Better late than never... ;) I hope you'll enjoy rest of the story too!
All I ask from my readers is some patience with this chapter, because the story would pick up pace from now on and I can assure some fireworks in the coming ones! :D
Earlier in the night in Tokyo (10:00PM)
"You talked to Dr. Judy Tate?" Aiko asked Toshi with a puzzled look on her face, "Why?"
"Shhh…!" Toshi placed a finger on his mouth, "Let's leave this place first. Come!"
Toshi literally dragged Aiko out of his cabin and they headed out of the Police HQ together.
"I didn't expect her to respond right away," Toshi said steering his car towards a diner, "Dinner?"
"Toshi! What are you trying to do?" Aiko asked in a stern voice.
"Nothing. Taking you out to dinner…?" Toshi said winking at her.
Aiko rolled her eyes, "I'm talking about the phone call to Dr. Tate!"
"Oh... that? Yeah… about that; why don't we order some dinner and then talk?"
Aiko sighed in exasperation, "You're impossible!" she muttered under her breath.
They placed the order and Aiko jumped right to the point, "Now are you going to tell me about the call or not?"
"You need to have some patience. Anyway, I got a call earlier in the evening. Kai was on his way to the airport when he called me," Toshi said and Aiko popped in a question, "You mean Kai Hiwatari? Why?"
"Let me complete Aiko," Toshi continued, "Akira had seen the bit beast last night. The same one that rendered her insane all those years back. She told Kai and he thought it would be best for me to know."
Aiko sat in front of him frowning, "But… how? How do we know who has that beast right now? And how is Dr. Tate related to all of this."
"You've ever heard of Dr. Zagart?" Toshi asked her as the dinner arrived at their table.
"Yeah… of course I did. He wanted to revive his android son and bring him to life…?" Aiko said taking a sip of water, "Tyson and his team did put a stop to his plans, didn't they?"
"Yes, they did. And the rock he used to retrieve the bit beasts was returned to the BBA research facility in New York, America, headed by Dr. Tate. Now, there is another thing we found on the victim's call records…" Toshi said waiting for Aiko to complete his sentence.
"Frequent calls to New York!" Aiko blurted out loud, which earned her stares from the customers around them. "Frequent calls to New York?" she repeated, now lowering her voice.
"Yes. And there has been another crack head who wanted to steal the Bladebreakers' bit beasts. He managed to create enough mess for the Government to be locked away for life…"
"Boris? Are you talking about Boris Balkov?"
"Yes, I'm talking about him. Apart from BEGA, he was secretly co-sponsoring an archeological dig, a dig to find a rock similar to the one retrieved from Dr. Zagart. Nothing more… he said nothing more than that. I happened to work on that case too, you know. I got into contact with the archeologists who worked for the BBA and Mr. Dickenson. Do you want to know what they told me?" Toshi said and continued, for Aiko was too transfixed to respond, "He, I mean Mr. Dickenson told me that they had already found two such rocks and the third one was missing from its place. It was clear to them that they were too late and another group of archeologists arrived there before them. This happened about two years ago…"
"Whoa wait!" Aiko raised her hand, "This is supposed to be classified information!"
"Yes, and since you're working with me on this recent case, you're supposed to know," Toshi continued, "That means the rock is now being used by a secret organization, known only to Boris. Meanwhile, Boris slipped into a coma and no one knows how and why! The bit beasts that were used by the missing bladers in the tournament have never been seen before. Now, there is no trace of those bladers either. The suspicion, thus shifts towards that 'secret' organization, Boris was funding. And there is always a missing Voltaire to consider!"
"And how does Akira fit into all this mess?" Aiko asked, "Did her bit beast come from the rock too?"
"No one knows," Toshi said, "All we know right now, from what Dr. Tate has told us, the bit beast is of a very ancient origin; a very mystical and powerful one!"
"She is indeed a target, isn't she?" Aiko asked, her eyebrows knit together in a frown, "And she is now being used as a bait!"
"You're catching up quite fast Aiko," Toshi said a grin plastered on his lips.
Hong Kong
Akira ducked behind the railing of those stairs as the elevator doors opened into the lobby, Kai and Rei exiting it.
"Where is Mariah?" Akira heard Rei asking somebody and she heard an unfamiliar voice, which belonged to woman, answering his question, "My room. Let's go." Akira could see the trio moving towards the rooms in the right wing of the ground floor. Her shoulders slumped in disappointment. She was about to turn back when she heard a voice behind her. Akira gasped in horror and lost her balance. "What the fuck?" she snapped at the guy standing behind her, his hands in his pockets and a playful grin on his face.
"Spying huh?" the guy asked stepping towards Akira as she stepped down, facing him.
"That is none of your business," Akira hissed at him as his grin widened.
"What's going on up there?" a woman's voice was heard, the same as before.
"Nothing much, Dr. Tate. I just found somebody spying on us," he announced.
Judy frowned, "Robert? Who is it?"
"Why don't you come down?" Judy said, "The both of you?"
Akira descended the stairs and revealed herself, causing Rei to exclaim in disbelief, "Akira? What the hell? You were spying on us…?"
"No! I mean, I was sitting on the stairs talking on the phone when I heard you guys come out of your room. And I heard you mention something about a secret…" Akira tried to explain her interference in a matter that was absolutely none of her concern.
"And you got curious?" Kai butted in.
"Suspicious!" Akira accused, "Something the White Tigers' captain shouldn't know…? That did sound suspicious!"
When no one seemed convinced, she showed them her call log, which indicated a 20 minute call to Isabel.
"Akira?" Judy said, almost in whisper and gasped. Judy couldn't believe her eyes. Memories flashed in front of her eyes as tears filled them, "Oh my god!" She bit her lip and regretted saying that aloud. She quickly contained her tears and regained her composure.
"Akira?" Judy grabbed Akira's attention, "Follow us. Now guys quick!"
Without another word the boys followed Judy, while Akira stood rooted at her spot, stunned by the sudden turn of events. She certainly didn't expect an invitation to join them!
"You heard me," Judy said, "Come with us."
Ground Floor (#05)
Mariam went through the photographs Mariah had just shown her, again and again. She blinked at them and looked up to face her, "Are you sure these are the ones?"
"Of course!" Mariah said and slumped into the couch, "Where are they?"
Answering Mariah's question the door opened to reveal the wanted people entering the room, accompanied by someone uninvited.
"Looks like we have a guest..." Mariam said. Before she could complete her sentence, Mariah interrupted, "Isn't she the girl you just talked about? Akira?" She looked from the screen of the laptop in front of her to the girl standing at the door, who was now completely bemused.
"Why don't you people take a seat?" Judy said and walked towards the laptop seating herself beside Mariah. She pulled the laptop towards her and typed something into it. She then turned towards Akira and said, "You seem to be quite confused at the moment and I wouldn't blame you. I want you to take a look at some pictures, Akira, and tell me if you can understand them."
Akira nodded still unsure, as her lilac orbs eyed the people around her, a little skeptical.
Mariam handed Akira the digital camera, "The last five…"
"What makes you think she'll understand them?" Robert voiced his doubt.
"Well, Robert why don't you see for yourself?" Judy said and turned to face Akira again.
One look at the picture made Akira jump to her feet, "Where did you find these?"
"So you can read them? Those symbols… what do you understand Akira?" Judy asked in a very calm and cool tone, much to the surprise of Kai and Rei.
Kai frowned at this latest development.
"First answer my question! Where did you find these photographs?" Akira almost screamed.
"Hey calm down!" Mariah hissed, "You're going to wake others up! We don't need any attention okay?"
"Sorry…" Akira calmed down, "Dr. Tate, please tell me."
"I brought them from my village. These manuscripts have been in the White Tiger clan for a long time. They are present in the prayer den of our clan leader. I'm telling you it was extremely difficult to get those pictures without anybody noticing!" Mariah said folding her hands.
"Your village?" Akira asked frowning at the pink haired girl.
"Yes… and if you are done with your questions, tell us if you can read them."
"I understand them… and… I don't know how…" Akira said collapsing into the chair behind her.
"It is not you," Mariam said, "It is your bit beast. Serpa is a very ancient bit beast, in fact the one of the oldest spirits known."
"What are these anyway?" Akira asked.
"These manuscripts contain important information about certain rocks that have the sacred spirits resting in them," Kai said, "A bunch of Legends which these people," he pointed at Judy, "think are keys to a huge source of power."
"Two of those rocks are here with them, while the third is with a secret organization no one knows of and is allegedly responsible for what happened in Yokohama," Rei completed the answer to Akira's question.
"What!? You've gotta be kidding me!" Akira looked at them with disbelief.
"Of course not dear," Judy said, "We're not. No doubt you are in danger and you were targeted for a very important reason."
"Your apparent ability to read these manuscripts," Robert added.
"So, who are you guys anyway? Scientists or what?" Akira asked annoyed, "Why are Kai and Rei involved in all this?"
"Kai's company is one of those which are funding this research and Rei, we needed him and Mariah to obtain these manuscripts," Judy said and then looked at Robert, "Robert's father is funding the research too and their family has been guarding a few of those manuscripts. Mariam's tribe has been the guardian of one of those rocks for a really long time and I am the Joint Director of BBA…"
"I know. Isabel told me about you," Akira said, "How do you know each other?"
"We used to be good friends back then," Judy smiled.
"Those rocks… are they really…?"
"We don't know Akira… From what we have found out from the research so far, apart from the extraction of the bit beasts from them, they are keys to something much more powerful too. What is it? That is what we are trying to find out," Judy said.
"Judy," Kai spoke, "How did you know it was Akira?"
"I told you, it is her bit beast," Judy said, "The manuscripts that we obtained from Robert's father, were deciphered, luckily and they mentioned the silver serpent, Serpa. It was very difficult to track it initially… We almost searched for an year, all in vain. When she fought you in the tournament, which was the first time she had used her bit beast officially, we found her!" Judy then turned towards Akira, "Akira, I know this tournament is important for you and for many other bladers. We assure you there wouldn't be any kind of hindrance to it. In fact, that is the reason we are keeping this research a secret. We just need your help and we'll make sure you'll stay protected."
Akira was lost in thought; it was information overload for her! She looked up to ask Judy one final question, "I will help you if you want me to. One last question Dr. Tate, is there any possibility that there are more manuscripts like these?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact, there are. And they are going to be with us in a matter of few days," Judy said and walked towards Akira, "So shall I consider this a deal?"
Akira nodded and shook Judy's hand in approval. Kai and Akira were the last ones to leave the room. Rei left with Mariah while Mariam and Robert returned to their respective rooms.
As soon as Akira walked out of the door, Kai waited for a moment and turned towards Judy.
"Is something the matter Kai?" Judy asked raising her eyebrows.
"It is a simple question Judy. Does this have anything to do with a certain serpent that was spotted years ago in an orphanage in Russia?" Kai asked.
"I'm afraid I don't have the slightest idea of whatever you're talking about!" Judy said, "If that is what you wanted to ask, you may leave now."
Kai studied her for a moment and left the room to find Akira waiting for him right outside the room.
"You didn't go back?" Kai asked, a little taken aback by her presence there, "Anything suspicious again?"
"No, I was waiting for you," Akira said, "I have a few doubts for you to clear."
"Can't this wait until tomorrow?" Kai was indeed tired and answering Akira's questions was the last thing he wanted to do.
"Sure," she said and walked towards the elevator. She stopped for a moment and looked over her shoulder, "Aren't you coming?"
So... how was the chapter?
1. Confusing? Well, any confusion would be cleared as the story proceeds!
2. Bad and Boring? I'm sure that might the majority case... And I'm sorry for that. Please bare with me and don't give up on it yet. Coz all is not what it seems! I'll tell one thing for sure, this is not a routine romance or just an adventure story.
Last but not the least! Please leave your reviews!