AnimeKiwi369: Well, here's the next chapter in "Trail of Roses". This is my Christmas gift to everyone, so I hope you enjoy. I don't own Beyblade or its characters. I only own my OCs and the storyline and I apologize if any characters is out of character.

Trail of Roses

Chapter 2

Adie finally came to the park that she and Kai often came to just to be together. She was where the next rose was. The only question was: where in the park was it? She made her way to the area of the park that they often just sat on a bench or stood beneath a tree. That was a good place to start. She looked around the snow covered ground and around the bench for any glimpse of dark red or emerald green. She retraced her steps to see if she missed it, but still couldn't find it. She went back to the park bench and sat down with a sigh.

Where could the rose be? The park wasn't that big. She pulled the scarf around her head and neck a little tighter as a small wind stirred. She took out the previous poem. She reread it a few times to see if she may have misinterpreted it, but no. She was in the right place. She stood and went near the tree she and the holder of Dranzer would go to sometimes. She leaned against the cold bark. She gently hit the wood with her fist out of frustration.

A little bit of snow lazily fell off the branch above her, but something else fell also. In the snow that fell off the branch, a dark red rose lay to get her attention. She bent down and picked it up. Neatly attached to the stem was a piece of paper rolled up to look like a scroll. She untied the ribbon that kept the parchment in place. She unrolled the paper and set the rose in the basket next to the other. She looked at the piece of paper and smiled, seeing another poem.

Here in Russia you can see every star.

Come to the place that restored your guitar.

She smiled. That was an easy place to go. And it wasn't that far.

The brunette placed the directions in the basket and made her way through the park and down a few streets. She carefully crossed the street as she came to the music store. She pulled the scarf around her head down a little as she entered the warm building. She loved Russia, but she also loved warmth. Especially when it was in a place that she knew and loved, like the music store; she'd spent a lot of time picking out new picks, replacement strings, helping new guitarists when she wanted to give back to the community. She was well-known in that place. It was a safe bet that if she wasn't at home on her day off, she was probably in a gymnasium or there.

Her eyes started to wander as she entered, looking for any sign of a rose. She wandered around the string section of store. Though she didn't like most string instruments besides her guitar, they made her feel closer to her family. She closed her eyes and listened to sound of guitar strings being strummed. It was rough, like a beginner, but it was still nice to listen to. She opened her eyes and scanned the music shop for the rose again. On the counter, she spotted it. A ruby red flower against the glass-top counter. She smiled and went over to it.

"Looks like you finally found it." a slightly familiar voice commented.

Adie jumped a little and turned around to see the former Blitzkrieg Boy that once took Dranzer away from Kai in the first Beyblading World Championship: Spencer. Though he was a professional beyblader on the side, he worked in the music shop as a bass guitar instructor. He was still single, but he didn't mind that. The brunette wished she could find a friend of hers for him, like she had with others.

"Yeah," she replied as she lifted the flower off the glass along with the envelope that was beneath it, "I guess I did. Do you know what these flowers are for? Does Kai have anything special planned, or is he just being sweet to me?"

The older man just shrugged and shook his head, "He only came by saying that the flower was for you. He didn't say much else. He's only talkative when you're around."

"Oh, all right," She responded. She opened the envelope and unfolded the piece of paper inside, placing the flower next to the other two.

By now you've figured out my riddle-based game.

The next location through the year stays the same.

There I struggled between friendship and power.

On the ice you'll find the flower.

There I was a bitter loner.

And if not for my friends, I'd be a goner.

The brunette thought for a few moments. The holder of Dranzer had told her about that time. It was at Lake Baikal. But how was she going to get to Lake Baikal? It wasn't like she could just walk there. It was in Siberia for heaven's sake! This was puzzling. She looked at Spencer.

"Did Kai leave anything else?" she asked, hopeful.

The beyblader's expression didn't change, but gave a slight nod. He walked passed her, giving her the signal to follow. She followed the Russian through the store and up the stairs in the back. He led her up the building to the roof. He opened the door that led to the roof and motioned her to go to the roof. The brunette felt her jaw drop slightly when she saw what was on the top of the building. She knew the holder of Dranzer had connections, but she had no idea that he could pull enough strings to hire a helicopter!

"This was the only other thing that Kai said was for you." Spencer said, "Whatever he has up his sleeve, it's gotta be somethin' important."

The green-eyed woman nodded just slightly, a faint smile on her lips, "Yeah." She went over to where the helicopter was stationed, just waiting to take off. She climbed halfway into the transportation, "So you're going to take me to Lake Baikal? Where Kai and the other Bladebreakers fought?" she asked, double checking as she often did.

"Yes, Miss." The pilot replied, "We need to get going."

"All right." She replied, getting fully in the helicopter.

A While Later

The brunette was already looking for the rose on the ice as the helicopter landed on Lake Baikal's thick ice. She carefully got out on the ice, making sure she didn't slip on the icy surface. She was a little nervous getting on the frozen surface since she fell into a frozen lake less than six years ago. She shuddered at the memory. Luckily for the green-eyed woman, she spotted the flower described in the directions she had gotten back at the music shop.

She carefully made her way to the rose. She cautiously knelt down to pick it up along. Like with the one in the park, the next piece of paper was tied to the emerald-colored stem. Adie looked at the ice beneath her feet. She could see a faint imprint of cracks that were frozen over many, many times. That must have been from when the holder of Dranzer had started to sink in the ice. And where he finally accepted his team for the first time.

She could almost see that scene fold out. She could almost see the man she loved trying to steal his friends' bit beasts because he had been so corrupted by power. She could almost see the two-toned-haired man get beaten by one of the other Bladebreakers; it was Max if she recalled correctly. The brunette could see how the devotion his friends' his friends had to beat him and get him back on their team. And how it completely shocked him and how he didn't want them to help him when he froze to the ice that started to sink into the icy water.

The green-eyed woman snapped out of her thoughts as she briefly flashed back to her near-drowning experience. She stood and made her way back into the helicopter. She closed the doors of the vehicle as she untied the ribbon holding the paper to the stem. She unrolled the parchment as she repeated the process of putting the flower into the basket. She began to read over the paper for the next location.

Over the years, you've helped me to learn

Ways for my anger to diminish than burn.

Handstands seem to particularly work.

Go to the place where all you gymnast skills perk.

Adie rolled her eyes just slightly, but also smiled a little at the same time. Only Kai would make her come to one place only to lead her back to where she left. She told the pilot to head back for Moscow. The next location was so easy to figure out. It was practically written on the paper in black and white.

Next stop, She thought, the gymnasium.

A While Later

The brunette took a deep breath as she entered the gym she was often at, re-harnessing her skills as a gymnast. Though it was open, it was empty as most people were at home for the holidays. She liked the solitude when it came to being in there. If she weren't there for the next rose, she'd probably be there until sundown. She looked across the gymnasium to see what she came looking for. That was almost too easy. She looked at what was on the way to the flower and felt a slight smirk creep onto her lips.

"If you're going to make this easy, Kai," she said to herself, "I'll make it a little more difficult on myself."

She set the basket that was being filled with flowers and notes down. She removed her jacket and scarf, along with her gloves, shoes and socks, which just left her in her long sleeve shirt and jeans. She took the hair tie from around her wrist and pulled her hair into a ponytail as she felt her heart start to pound in her chest slightly. She placed her left foot back and pushed off on it, starting to run towards the usual gymnast obstacles in front of her.

She easily cleared the pommel horse and jumped onto the rings, doing a couple spins on them. She slipped off from the rings and lifted herself onto the balance beam. The brunette did several back flips down the balance beam and did a back flip with a twist as she got off. She finished getting across the gym with a few summersaults, cartwheels, round offs, and flips, ending at the rose with an elegant finish by sitting on the mat it was resting on, crossing her legs. The green-eyed woman panted lightly as she lifted the rose and envelope. She took in the scent of the red flower before setting it in her lap, opening the envelope. The next set of directions was short.

Back to the ice, but not Baikal's Lake.

You mathematician friend has the rose where she skates.

Adeline took a deep breath to calm her still-elevated heart rate. Again, the next location was easy. She stood and simply walked back to where she started, not wanting to damage the flower and note in any way. She pulled the clothing she had taken off back on after placing the rose next to the other's again. She picked up the basket that was quickly filling with red roses as she finished pulling her boots back on.

She made her way out of the gymnasium and made her way towards the nearby ice rink. The mathematician friend described in the last note was her friend Domynika, who, obviously from the last line of the note, was a figure skater. The brunette had known her for a long time. About a year after her surgery, the skater had reconnected with her. The mathematician had been worried about her when she had found out what happened to the brunette's parents and then with the brunette's heart surgery. She was a good friend, though reckless sometimes.

The brunette wondered why Kai was getting the skater involved. He'd had Spencer sort of involved. But were there going to be any more of their friends involved with these riddled? And she started to wonder how many more riddles there were going to be. Then a better question popped into her head: why was the former Bladebreaker even leading her around with these riddles? What did he have planned?

Her brows furrowed in confusion as she entered the ice rink. The violet-eyed man didn't show his romantic side very often. This was one of the few times. And what Spencer had said earlier was right. The holder of Dranzer was pretty much only talkative when she was around. At least outside of work, since he had to talk during meetings and such. Whatever he had up his sleeve, the brunette couldn't seem to figure out. She normally could. Though then again, the two-toned-haired man was hard to figure out.

The green-eyed woman looked around for her friend on the ice. There weren't many people there. She spotted her friend just randomly skating around the rink and waved. Domynika noticed her and waved back, skating over to the brunette. The skater had thick and curly dark hair that complimented her deep blue eyes. She was fully Russian compared to the brunette. Besides a skater, like the riddle had said, she was a mathematician, specifically for trig. Adie had actually been a little mischievous about two or so years ago when she had introduced the skater to Tala, since both were single. She just wanted the two to be happy, and she thought they were a good couple. She'd done the same with a couple other people.

"Hey, Adie." The dark-haired woman greeted with a grin, "I know why you're here. Follow me," The skater came off the ice and led the brunette over to where she had her stuff was set down. She picked up a rose and envelope and handed them to the green-eyed woman, "I believe these are for you. Courtesy of your boyfriend."

"Thanks, Domynika." She replied, taking the items. She placed the flower next to the others and opened the envelope. But she didn't look at the next riddle, looking at her friend instead, "I'm guessing Kai didn't say anything to you about this."

"Just to make sure you got these," her friend replied, "and that he's got a surprise at the end for you."

She nodded as she looked at the next set of instructions.

With a kind heart and pure intentions,

For our friends you sought romances.

First with Tala and Domynika,

Then with Bryan and this ballerina.

"Evangeline has the next one," she commented rather absently.

"She does?" her friend asked, "Hmm, seems like he's really got something planned to get both her and me involved."

"Yeah." She replied absently again as she stood, "Thanks for holding onto this, Domynika."

The dark-haired woman winked, "No problem, Adie. You'd better get going to see what Kai has in store for ya."

She nodded again, "Yeah. Tell Tala I said 'hi'."

"I can do that." the blue-eyed woman responded, "Good luck with whatever he's got planned for you."

"Thanks," the brunette said before leaving.

She began to walk to her other friend's apartment. She knew that her friend was in the Moscow Ballet, but their production of The Nutcracker had finished since it was so close to Christmas. Besides, her friend would probably be working on her next story or novel. Just like how Domynika was a skater and a mathematician, Evangeline did more than just dance. She was also a writer; a very good one at that, just like her dancing. The dancer was a platinum blonde with indigo eyes. And just as the note had said, the brunette had introduced the blonde to Bryan only about sixteen months ago.

The green-eyed woman shivered slightly. It was early afternoon, but still cold. Warmer than earlier, but being in Russia, the weather forecast was almost always cold. Plus, being December, it was extra cold. She guessed it was in single or low double digits. She was even surprised to be outside in this cold. But after facing hypothermia and almost freezing to death, this kind of cold didn't really bother her much anymore.

She sighed contentedly as she came into her friend's warm apartment building. Because the blonde was a dancer, she had her apartment on the first floor. So it wasn't much of a walk to the door. The brunette lightly knocked on mahogany door. She waited for a few moments, wondering if possibly her friend did have some kind of dance class or performance. Her friend opened the door after a minute or so. The blonde was slightly breathless and her usually straight hair was a little wild. The brunette peeked inside and caught a glimpse of the light purple hair that the Falborg holder had. The green-eyed woman laughed internally since she knew what had just gone on in there before she showed up.

"I wasn't expecting you until later, Adie." Evangeline commented.

"Oh, sorry," the brunette apologized amused. "You know I hate to be late."

"I know," the blonde replied, handing the green-eyed woman the seventh rose and riddle.

"Thanks," she replied, taking the items. She peeked inside the apartment a little more, "Hi, Bryan," she greeted and then looked at her friend. He muttered a greeted back, "I'll let you two get back to whatever you're doing."

Adie left the building chuckling softly from what her friends were doing. She and Kai had been interrupted a few times when they had been kissing heavily. Most of the times were at work. It was kind of fun though. The exhilaration of almost or fully getting caught. Oddly enough she and the violet-eyed man had been interrupted by nearly everyone, but their bit beasts. She placed her hand on her pocket, where her beyblade was resting. She and her bit beast, Atalyx, had been together for as long as she could remember.

She carefully opened the envelope and unfolded the note before placing the rose in the basket.

Though you may not remember,

In that cold, wet December

Was when we really first met.

But for that and six months yet

You did not wake, lying in sleep.

The next rose is where awake we'd meet.

The brunette's eyes widened. The hospital. The ICU. That was the place she recovered from hypothermia and frostbite. That was where she first met him. Where she found out that he saved her life. The hospital didn't hold too fond of memories for the green-eyed woman. But it was where her new life—her life with the violet-eyed man—had began. And it was where the two-toned-man's personality began to change. It was where everything that she had today had began.

The holder of Dranzer knew that she didn't like that place, but she wasn't going to let it get to her. She was going to face that hospital. That was where the next rose was. That was where the next riddle. She wanted the rose and the riddle. Not for how much she liked them. She wanted those because they showed how much Kai cared.

And it led her one step closer to know what he had planned for her.

AnimeKiwi369: So there's chapter 2. The next chapter is also the last. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I'll try to finish this in a couple days. So please be kind and please review!Oh, and have a merry Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or whatever you celebrate this time of the year! ;D