Author's Note:

Done with school and hello winter break! Though, I still have a busy schedule for some reason… Anyway, here's the next chapter. :)

I Love Beyblade

Chapter 17 – Kei

Eve's on a chair by the desk, quickly typing away on her new black laptop. Her eyes stayed sharp as she read the popping windows. "Man, their security really is tight," she sighed, leaning back against the chair. Usually she would only take moments but guess today they have tighten it up so nobody can get into their system. Like the last time she did before she met Kai and when Ruby stole the chimera, it was pretty easy to get into their system.

Ruby came walking into the living room where Eve is. She dried her brown hair with a bright blue towel. She carefully took baby steps as she walked. "No luck?" Ruby asked, hearing Eve sighing.

"None," Eve sighed again. She looked at Ruby and smiled. "Did you slip in the shower or anything?"

She chuckled. "Almost, but I think I did fine without my eyesight…"

"You really don't want to see a doctor?" Eve suddenly asked. "Who knows if you're really blind or not?"

"I'm fine," Ruby said. "Besides, don't forget there are some people who works for the Silver Company are also working under cover around the world. We have to be careful. I don't want to risk going to a hospital just because of my eyes. I'll be fine."

"If you say so…" Eve said. "Oh yes, the order for the equipments you ordered had arrived. I'll go and pick it up for you."

Ruby smiled, "Thanks. That would help."

Eve closed her laptop and stood up. She walked to the door that leads to the hallway of the inn and opened it. "Don't go anywhere, you hear?" Eve said, worried about her.

"Right," she nodded. "Don't concern yourself too much about me." When she heard Eve closing the door, she sat down next to a nearby chair. She reached to touch her eyelids. She's starting to get use to being blind but missed the colors of the world very much. She then heard Viper's hissing sound near by. "Hajime? Viper?" Ruby stood up. "What are you two doing?"

The chimera walked by Ruby's side and lay on the ground. "I have something I want to talk to you about," Viper said.

Ruby kneeled down and smoothed Hajime's back. "Were you waiting until I was alone?" she asked. "Why won't you talk when they are around?"

"I don't feel like talking about that right now," Viper said. "Now… do you wish to know your surrounding? I can teach you a skill to see without needing your eyesight, Ruby. So, do you want to know?"

"…Skill?" Ruby asked.

"I have an ability that may help you," Viper told her. "I guess you can call it an Aura Ability."

"Aura…?" Ruby questioned. "What is that, Viper?"

The snake gladly explained, "Aura is treated like an emanation of energy, which surrounds all living things and also reflects the physical health. Humans, who created Hajime and I, injected this ability into us. We are like half living computers. Now that you made a pact with us, we can become one. You are us and we're you. You will also have our abilities, but it requires something you hold precious that you will have to give us."

"Why's that?" Ruby asked. "Since we're working together, why can't you just teach me?"

"We were program to feed on my master's precious possession for each ability you want to learn," Viper said. "You cannot learn if you don't give something in return. That is our rule."

The tiger growled softy and nuzzled Ruby's hand that had a sweet scent from the shampoo. Ruby smiled. "Okay," she said. "With this aura thing, I'm sure it can become something very useful for someone like me. Teach me now, Viper."

"Are you sure?" she asked. "No second thoughts?"

"I've decided," Ruby said. "Lately, I haven't had any second thoughts. I know what I'm doing, but if I regret it… I'll just find a way to fix it."

Hajime stood up and looked at Ruby. The lights around the room started to flicker. "Then," Viper quietly said. "I will take what is most important to you. You will not know what it is and will never what is missing. Will you accept that?"

"…Yeah," Ruby said, standing up as well. "I want to become stronger."

The shadows swirl around them as the lights turned off. "I won't do this often," Viper said. "I don't want you to lose too much just because you want to be stronger, understand? I'll let you learn this one instantly but it would take time to use it."

Ruby nodded.

Xue followed Kai down the dark streets. They ended up walking together to find Ruby because Xue wanted more advises but Kai had nothing else to tell him. "Is there something wrong with Ruby?" Kai asked, interrupting Xue's pleading.

"No," Xue replied with a smile. "She's doing just fine."

"I meant her eyes," Kai said. "There's something wrong with them." He's afraid to know the truth but it only made him more curious. Maybe there's nothing to worry about but he wanted to ask if something really is wrong. "I just have this one feeling about…" Kai trailed off.

Xue put his arms behind his head, stretching a little bit. "Well… if you really want to know… even if Ruby asked me not to tell you…"

Kai glanced at him.

"She could be blind for eternity."

"What?" Kai looked at him directly. "She's… what?"

Xue nodded. "Yeah, it was a total shock for me too. She didn't want anyone to worry about her too much so she asked Eve, Enrique, and I to be quiet about it. Ruby did plan to tell everyone eventually about her eyes. I think she's having a little hard time accepting her eyes at the moment. She doesn't say it, but I've known her for a long time."

"How did she…?"

"I don't know how she became blind," Xue said, knowing what Kai was going to ask. "I wanted to know too, but she didn't say anything. Maybe you can ask her, since she likes you and all."

Kai turned to look at the ground, continuing to walk. Ruby… blind? He thought to himself. Is she okay?

"Xue, what are you doing bringing Kai all the way here?" Eve's voice came from ahead.

Kai and Xue looked at Eve, who had her arms crossed. "Hi, Eve," Xue smiled brightly.

"Ruby said not to bring anyone around here," Eve sighed. "Why are you even…?"

"I asked him to," Kai said.

Xue waved his hands. "No, I was the one who wanted to! That's just because I wanted to ask him about his methods of attracting girls!"

"You're still after Jaime?" Eve gave him a flat look, walking up to him. "I wish you luck but my younger sister really doesn't sound like she wants to be with you. Well, it's not like I want to discourage you either… but…"

"No! Don't say it!" Xue covered his ears. "I will try my best to ask her out myself. And I want to become your brother-in-law! Wouldn't that be cool?"

Eve chuckled nervously and looked at Kai. "So, how have you been, Kai?" she asked.

"I'm fine," Kai replied.

"Well," Eve shrugged. "If you really want to see Ruby, just continue down this road to that building. Room five-five-zero-five." She pointed. "I'm just on my way to get something for Ruby. Xue, come with me."

"Huh? Why?" Xue asked when Eve grabbed his arm and dragged him.

Kai watched them leave and looked back at the inn. He walked towards it and it only took a few minutes. Just when he came to the front of the building, Ruby had walked out from the front doors with sunglasses. Kai silently watched her walk pass him. He was going to call her name, but then she tripped. He hurried and grabbed her arm, helping her to stay balance.

"Ah," Ruby sweat dropped. "Well, I think I need to work on that." She laughed at herself and turned to Kai as he let her go. "Sorry about that. Thanks."

He was silent, very silent when he saw her missing arm. He touched her sleeveless left arm and she backed away. Her arm… what happened to her? He wanted to ask her out loud, but too shock to even raise his voice.

Ruby tilted her head sideways, confused. "What's your name?" she asked. He did not answer. "Oh, could it be… that you're mute?" Still he did not answer. "Then you should know sign language in the alphabet, right? I know them so you can just talk to me. What were you doing here?" She grabbed his hand. Kai slightly blushed and pulled away. "Relax," she said. "I'm blind. I can just feel your hand as you sign. So, what's your name…?"

She touched his hand again. Kai signed the letter K and paused. He then signed E and then I. Somehow he did not want her to know he was Kai. She would probably just leave if she knew right away or something. Maybe this way, he can talk to her freely without having her to worry.

"Kei?" she smiled. "I'm Ruby." She laughed, feeling comfortable around this guy. The moment she touched his hand, she felt really warm and happy. She let go of Kai's hand and said, "Anyway… if you have something you have to do, then I won't bother you."

Before she turned to leave, he grabbed her hand and signed more letters. He signed fast and wondered if she caught what he had requested.

"You want to come along with me?" she asked. She can easily tell the hand signs and that amazed Kai. She learned from a certain person back in the past so she knew the hand sign language rather well.

'Yes' he signed, wanting to go with her.

Ruby thought for a second. She can use some company and test her new ability she just learned. He can help guide her around as she gets the feel of everything. "Okay, that's fine with me."

Johnny took a step into the dojo and looked around the empty area. His cold eyes glanced where the faint voices were.

"Tyson, Mr. Dickenson clearly stated we're not supposed to go out," Kenny whispered.

"I'm just going to get some fresh air in the front yard," Tyson said. "There's nothing to worry about!" The two of them walked into the room and saw Johnny staring at them. Tyson's smiling face turned serious. Johnny's now a member of the enemy. Thank god he remembers that and now's that Johnny is here can't be good.

Johnny grinned, "What's up, guys?"

Was Ruby really blind? She was walking all by herself without Kai helping too much. They did not talk and continued walking for a while.

"Hey," Ruby stopped in her tracks. She could feel an unusual energy from Kei and she turned to him. "What do you have in your pocket?" she asked. She could feel a warm presence from him when her ability in aura just increased.

Kai looked at her. The only thing he is carrying with him is Dranzer. "How did you know that?" he questioned. Ruby's mouth dropped when he talked. Kai covered his mouth. He had forgotten that he was supposed to be mute. The two of them did not talk for a moment when he spoke. "Ruby I…" he started.

Ruby sharply turned her head. "I feel a larger one," she said.

"…What do you mean?" Kai looked where she turned her head. All of a sudden a blast of fire was seen from where they were standing. He remembered about that area where the fire is. "What the hell? Isn't that where Tyson and the others are?" he exclaimed. Did they blow something up? No, mostly likely not.

"Hajime!" Ruby called.

Kai heard a tiger growled and watched it crawled out of Ruby's shadow. That's the chimera from that time… he thought. So that is how it looks like.

Ruby hurried and got on Hajime's back and she looked at him. "Get on," she said. He looked at her. "Aren't you worried about Tyson? I am!" she told him. Kai quickly got on Hajime's back behind Ruby. "Hurry, we have to get there," she told the chimera.

Hajime flapped its wings and started to run. It took flight and flew straight towards the fire tornado.