Chapter Three: A challenge

"Kyoya, I understand if you're mad at me, but this…" Hikaru held up her hands, which were bound tightly together with rope. "This is unnecessary."

"I'm not mad." He leaned back against the wall of the warehouse, his arms crossed. His expression was unreadable, but the way he was looking down at her, with his fang glinting in the dim light, he appeared frightening. Kyoya blinked his sky blue eyes and turned away from her. "Just disappointed."

Hikaru blinked. She tried hard not to show her pain, but she was failing. He could be angry with her all he wanted, but disappointed? It almost felt as if there were a hole in her chest where her heart should have been. All she wanted now was to leap into his arms, to tell him how sorry she was. But she found the ropes too tight to escape.

So she cried.

"I'm so sorry, Kyoya! I never meant to hurt you! I didn't think you would come back!" she sobbed.

He turned to look at her, his eyes wide. Hikaru thought he must not have expected her to cry like that. Kyoya knelt down in front of her. He ran one finger under her eye, wiping away a tear. "Faith," he murmured as she sniffled. "I had faith in you. You must not have had faith in me."

She didn't say anything at first, but after a few moments had passed, she whispered, "Please untie me. I won't run."

"I can't trust you now," he told her simply.

"Yes, you can!" Hikaru insisted. "You're my friend."

"Friend!" Kyoya rose to his feet in one swift movement. Now he seemed angry. "Is that all I am to you?"

"Kyoya!"

Both bladers looked up to see a boy with spiky blond hair standing on a metal beam almost directly overhead. His voice sounded childish, but he didn't look much like a kid at all.

"Ginga Hagane is approaching," the Face-Hunter announced.

A smiled formed from Kyoya's lips. "Thank you," he growled. He turned to gaze down at Hikaru, frowning as he saw her trying to peer from behind the wooden crate. "Hikaru!"

Startled, she looked back to him. Her gaze was defiant.

"Wait here," he ordered, slipping his hands into his pockets.

"I don't have much of a choice," she muttered.

He swept past her, but paused to glance over his shoulder. "And don't make any noise. I don't want Ginga to know you're here."

"Whatever."

With one final warning glare, he turned his head and padded slowly into the open to await Ginga.

"Hey, Kyoya!" Hikaru jumped at the sound of Ginga's playful voice. She turned to peer from her hiding place and saw the fiery haired blader bounding enthusiastically up to Kyoya. Part of her told her to scream out, to let Ginga know that Kyoya had her tied up and hidden. But something stopped her.

Kyoya's an honest person. He wouldn't hurt me intentionally. I'm sure of it, Hikaru told herself. I trust him.

"Ginga, I want to challenge you to a bey battle," Kyoya said.

"Definitely!" Ginga shouted, reaching for his launcher.

"Not here. Not now." Kyoya smiled faintly at Ginga's puzzled expression. He removed his hands from his pockets and crossed his arms over his chest. "Tomorrow, as the sun is setting, we will battle at Wolf Canyon."

A chill went down Hikaru's spine. "Did he say Wolf Canyon?" she murmured under her breath.

"In Wolf Canyon?" Ginga asked in shock.

"Ha!" Kyoya shook his head. "I'm never going in that treacherous place again!" He closed his eyes and chuckled inwardly, as if he were picturing the scene of events he wanted to take place. Then, he met Ginga's golden gaze. "No. We will battle beside of Wolf Canyon."

"Are you trying to pick a location suitable for Leone?" Gingka challenged.

"This location had nothing to do with benefitting Leone," Kyoya replied. "I just want to battle with a different terrain, different surroundings."

"Sounds fun," Ginga agreed.

He's lying. Hikaru turned back around and stared at the ground. Kyoya's lying. Hikaru let a tear slide down her cheek. For the first time she truly was worried. Not for herself, not for Kyoya, but for Ginga.

Reviews are appreciated!

(:Mizune