It was still bucketing down the next morning. Kyoya visited outdoors, but rushed quickly back in the cottage.
"It's a hell of a weather out there", he said, shaking his soggy head. "It's raining lions and wolves and the wind blows even the stones off the ground."
Tsubasa blew the embers to make them flame.
"Seems we are stuck here until the storm is over", he said.
Kiti sat up and glanced the woodpile. There would be enough of them for a day or two if they'd ration. How about the food? She rose and went to the fireplace.
"Tsubasa. How many days this kind of weather can last?"
"Don't know. Maybe a day, maybe a week. In the worst case the rain turns into snow again and blocks the paths. Then we'll be jammed until spring."
She noticed that instead of the normal three portions of food he hadn't warmed but one, to share it in three bowls.
"How much we do have provisions?" she asked.
"Hikaru equipped us for a week. If we pinch, we can make it to two, maybe even longer. Don't worry, we'll find out something." He smiled encouragingly, although the girl didn't seem to be in any need of it. She sat there with her knees to her chest, watching the flames with thoughtful eyes.
"Well, eating is an overrated activity anyway", she said cheerfully and took her bowl.
The day crept slowly by. They had eaten their shares, repaired their equipments and tried to keep out of each others way. Now there was nothing to do but wait and hope the wind wouldn't blow the roof off their heads. Kiti had spread her sleeping mat in the darkest corner of the room and was doing something that resembled an odd combination of stretching, yoga and tai chi. The boys followed her slow movements and calm breathing on the sly.
"This can't be a good thing", Tsubasa thought. The images of yesterday evening floated in his mind like a dream. He pushed them firmly aside and tried to focus on thinking their next plan. The responsibility of the team hung heavily on his shoulders.
He looked at Kyoya who sat there seemingly half asleep. Only an occasional flash of his eyes revealed him to be awake. The Lion had changed after joining the Team Wild Fang, Tsubasa thought. He had feared several loud discussions on every decision there would be, but Kyoya had accepted all his plans surprisingly quiet. The former Kyoya would have but quit the group and continued alone, had he found those plans too different from his own.
"Maybe Nile has finally managed to teach the wild cat how to sit", he thought. "Or does he know something about this bey I don't? It was quite a surprise to me he volunteered to this trip anyway."
He moved closer to his hard-boiled team-mate and started a quiet discussion in Japan.
"I've been thinking of our way back. As long as this weather holds we are quite safe here. But when the storm ceases we have only bad choices."
Kyoya nodded. He had been thinking the same thoughts himself, over and over again, and wanted to hear if the Eagle had come to any conclusion.
"When the rain stops, we can run down the path to the road as fast we can and hope there won't be anybody waiting for us. If we are lucky we'll get a lift to the station and then we'll be clear. That would be the best situation, but more likely we'll get attacked either on the path or on the road. We can't call for help, not now nor later, because the mobiles don't work up here. And even if they worked, it would be too risky to switch them on and let them track the signal."
He sat some minutes in silence before continuing. Kyoya needed not to answer, so far their thoughts had followed exactly the same course.
"The other choice is to go back the same way we came, not by the path but through the woods. The problem is, that will take more time and if this storm continues too long, we'll be out of food. Then we'll be even weaker if they'll be on us."
"I don't like hiding in the bushes." Kyoya's voice made clear which way he preferred. In fact, Tsubasa had already guessed it.
"Me neither. But this is not only about you and me."
Kyoya cursed under his breath. The Eagle was right. They had not only one but two "treasures" to bring safely back to WBBA. The bey wouldn't be a problem, it would probably be possible to touch it by now, but that darned girl was a nuisance. Oh yes, she could walk and carry her things well enough but...
Tsubasa followed his thoughts as they were his own.
"I know we have no use of her in a fight, unless she is good at throwing stones. In the worst case we can cover her so that she can run and hide in the woods with Bluewolf, and try to get a lift later, if we two get caught or – something."
Kyoya listened his serious voice. It was obvious the Eagle had thought this thing much farther than he himself had even tried to.
"I won't get caught", he said bluntly. There was no such a choice for him and Leone, never had been. Even their flight from the first attack had been a hard thing to accept for them both.
"These guys are not bladers, as you know." Tsubasa said, once again. "But if we are unanimous there's no use in hiding, we'll run to that path as soon as the storm ceases."
He rose and put some more wood in the fire. Kiti was just lifting her toes slowly towards the ceiling, standing on her head.
"So it wasn't a mere joke then?" Tsubasa thought surprised, remembering a certain comment of hers after their first training session. He felt a little guilty not letting her in the conversation and wondered how much she had heard or guessed about its contents.
To tell the truth, Kiti had heard and guessed pretty much. Besides the central points she had been sure a part of the discussion had concerned herself. She burned of curiosity, but would have rather died than showed it. If her sensei wanted to talk about her in her presence in a language she didn't understand, he certainly had his reasons to do it.
It's not my business to mistrust his doings, she thought. I trust him and he will know it. Surely he'll tell me what I need to know in time.
Keeping her breath even she bent her knees to descend on the floor again.
The poor shares of stew were eaten in silence. Nobody felt content but at least they could say they'd had a meal. When the bowls were empty they kept sitting by the fire like waiting for the nonexistent dessert. Tsubasa was the first to make an opening.
"About the Bluewolf... I'd like to have a look on it."
Kiti took the bey out of her backpack and tossed it carelessly to him, not remembering the last time he had tried to touch it.
"Careful with it!" Kyoya barked.
"Väy väy!" The hell I need your advices, besserwisser! She sat angrily on the floor.
Tsubasa snatched the bey, ready to drop it immediately, but this time it didn't burn his fingers. He examined it in the flickering light of the fire. Aquila was moving restlessly again.
"What on earth it finds so attractive in these wolfynesses?", he wondered when his own eyes suddenly widened. Until now he hadn't seen but the upper side of the bey. Underneath it, round its spin track was engraved a pattern he was more than familiar with. He had seen that pattern thousands of times as a kid, and still every time he happened to glance the inside of his hair-clip. Certain figures of that pattern had belonged solely to his family, and his grandmother had had told him it was as old as the tale of their tribe. He felt his fingers grow cold again.
"Just a coincidence", he thought. "The engraving is old and this bey may have traveled round the world more than once. No wonder several cultures have left their marks on it."
"It looks quite ancient", he said unconcerned and handed the bey to Kyoya who had been watching him attentively. "Defense type, it seems."
Kyoya didn't bother to answer. "You saw more than that, Eagle!", he thought and took the bey. He balanced it on his fingertips, estimated its weight and felt the performance tip. In his mind he nudged mentally the drowsing beast near him.
"What do you think, Leone? Would it be worth familiarize?"
Leone turned its back with a grunt. It was apparent it didn't want to have anything to do with the new acquaintance.
"Let me see it too." Kiti had moved closer after noticing Tsubasa's surprised look and was dying to know the reason for it. When Kyoya handed the bey to her she suddenly stopped still and listened. The Lion could have swore he saw her ears move to catch some distant sound.
"What now?"
"Shh... there it is again!" She rushed to the window and tried to peep through the shutters, the bey still in her hand.
"It's coming closer. But there's only one." Her voice was full of enthusiasm. Tsubasa looked questioningly to Kyoya who shook his head.
"I can't hear anything."
She didn't notice his words.
"I thought I heard one up there yesterday but couldn't be sure. This time I am, it's so near."
Tsubasa had rose on his feet.
"Kiti, what are you talking about?"
She turned to him astonished.
"A wolf! Just round the corner!" She looked at the incredulous faces before her. "Don't you try to tell me you didn't hear it?!"
Tsubasa held out his hand. He had a queer look on his face.
"Kiti, bring Bluewolf here. Or no, on second thought..." He handed his launcher. "Launch it. There, on the floor."
"But... why? Why just now? And are you sure this kind of ancient relic fits on your modern type of..."
She had obediently taken the launcher and was about to set Bluewolf on it when Kyoya jumped up and grabbed her arm.
"No! You won't launch it here!"
"Goddamit, try to decide..."
The furious Lion was back again. He turned to Tsubasa, still holding her.
"Listen, goosebrain! If you let the powers of that kind of a bey loose here and by that kind of a novice, it'll blow the roof off this house in seconds! I have no doubt Leone could win it easily, but after that there would be no cottage either!"
Tsubasa watched them thoughtfully, not letting the rampage heckle him a bit.
"So you think it would start to rage as soon as it will be launched?", he asked calmly.
"What the hell are you thinking? I know it! That kind of bey and a greenhorn who can't even pull the ripchord..." he shook her arm slightly.
"Jumaliste!" Kiti yanked herself free and punched his chest.
"Okay, that's enough. Calm down, both of you." Tsubasa stepped between them to hinder the next cuff.
"Maybe it'll be best to let Madoka examine it before anybody tries to use it." He took his launcher and returned it back to his belt. Kiti was handing sulkily the bey to him.
"No, you'll carry it." There was a strange look in his golden brown eyes. "Just keep it safe."
Kiti shrugged.
"However." She went back to her mat. The howling was now farther away but she had lost her interest on it. Keep it safe, for sure! When you can't be sure of getting down here in one piece yourself! She fumbled with her packing. Where on earth can I...
Then a sudden grin flashed on her face.
Hooray for sport-bras!
A/N: I have never tried to carry a bey in my bras, but considering all the various items some of my friends have smuggled in theirs (starting from keys and cellphones and ending to you-don't-want-to-know-what), I think it's not impossible. And no, my friends are not any kind of criminals, they are just... inventive. ;-)