Hi guys!

I'm glad to say this update was a lot faster then the last, I am trying, I swear I am.

I wont keep you waiting!

Here ya go!

Street Life

Chapter 11

The next morning, although you couldn't really tell in the sewers, a pair of crimson eyes opened slowly. These eyes seemed to shine through the darkness with their inner fire, like a light to scare away the shadows. They stared up at the stone ceiling in concentration. At first, they were confused but they soon remembered what had happened when they had last opened up. He remembered it all, waking up here, the pain he had felt…and that girl who helped him…

The owner of those amazing eyes sighed somewhat relieved. He had woken today feeling a lot better then last night. The rest had really helped him. So did the water he had received before, he had been terribly thirsty, though he wouldn't of admitted it. That girl had been very kind in letting him share her precious water supply and he was grateful. Maybe, just maybe, he might tell her, if he saw her again. (He definitely will, hee hee)

Kai gently started to sit up from the ledge he lay on, testing his injuries. There were still twinges of pain here and there but nothing like what he had experienced last night. Startled he had bolted upright, a bad move in his condition. He wouldn't make the same mistake.

Sitting now, Kai took a good look around him and nearly jumped as he realised for the first time that he wasn't alone. In fact, he was far from alone, the place could even be called: crowded.

Littered on the floor in the smallish room, were about seven people Kai would guess, each one of them sleeping soundly, even though they slept on stone. At first glance of the people, Kai could tell a few were older then he was while others were younger. He also spotted the girl, what was her name? Ali Cat? lying just a few feet away from him. All wore rags and dirt covered their skin. Kai would have thought this disgusting, but he had already realised that he looked generally the same. It was obvious that these kids had no home, but then again, neither did he.

Suddenly, Kai felt very guilty. He honestly would never allow any one of these people into his home, before now, yet they had taken him in, healed him, gave him water and a place to stay. A sudden new respect run threw his blood for these people, respect he had never felt before. Respect he thought he would never have, but it was there.

It's strange how different you look at someone when you are in the position they are. Kai was now homeless, he had no money…and no one to turn to. These people were the same, he was the same.

He was lucky to have been found by such people.

Wait, was he that alone? What of the BladeBreakers? Could he not go to them? Would they help him? Would they care? He was unsure. They seemed like the closest people to him, yet he still didn't know. He had just thought of how he would turn a homeless way. Would they leave him now that he had nothing? He had no idea. There was no way of knowing. He was slightly surprised to find that…he missed them….

His thoughts were stopped as he heard noise from the other side of the room. He glanced over to see a blonde haired boy. He watched as the boy stretched and yawned loudly, the tattered blanket he was using fell off him. (he's wearing something, don't worry!) He looked older then Kai by a few years, he had strong muscles, and Kai saw a flash of emerald as he opened his eyes.

The boy shook his head roughly, from side to side, before turning to face Kai. He didn't see him straight away however, for he was rubbing his eyes with his arm. His arm fell away and he looked straight at the blue haired teen.

His eyes widened dramatically. Crimson clashed with emerald as neither spoke, only stared intently at each other. This carried on for a few minutes, but finally the new boy spoke.

"Well, well…look who's alive, we've bin waitin' for you to wake up…"

Kai watched as the boy got to his feet and walked over, sliding past the others like he did it everyday, he probably did now Kai thought about it. Kai couldn't stop the feeling of mistrust flow through him as the boy sat on the ledge next to him, causing him to scoot away a little bit. The other took this as fright.

"S'okay mate, I aint gonna do nothin' " He smiled reassuringly. Kai continued to scowl.

The boy held his hand out, "The name's Rorie, but dudes round 'ere call me Lion King or L.K." Kai didn't take the boy's hand. He noticed that he had a strong cocky accent, he hadn't always lived in Japan, he supposed.

L.K sighed and put his hand down again, "Alrigh', dude if that's how you wanna be…fort (thought) you'd be a bit nicer after wot Ali Cat told us las' nigh'…"

Kai still remained silent. He didn't know why he acted like that last night but he was making up for it now, he would not let his guard down again.

"Well…if I were you, I wouldn' act like that when Panther talks to ya, he wont take it as well as I do, and in your condition, the las' thing you want is to be frown (thrown) out…"

"Panther?" Kai said, trying to sound uninterested, "Who's that?"

"That would be me"

Kai and L.K turned to see another boy getting up off the floor. He had been previously wrapped up with a teenaged girl and his shifting had woken her too. This girl had violet hair and lilac eyes, she remained on the floor as the boy moved towards them. Kai didn't need to ask to tell that this guy was a leader, it was written on his face, the same look he himself had when he was with the BladeBreakers.

The boy stopped in front of Kai, he said nothing, he merely stared. Kai looked the guy over, noting his black hair and dark brown eyes. He now understood what that other boy, L.K had meant, there was no crossing a guy like this.

From behind them, Kai could hear others waking up. From the corner of his eye, he saw a red haired girl with brown eyes stretch, and the L.K boy move over to her and a smaller boy with hair as green as his eyes. The younger one reminded him of Joseph, slightly. Another young girl with brown hair and eyes scooted over to them.

Last was the girl who had helped him last night. She too shifted and opened her eyes. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw him and the Panther guy, but then gave him a reassuring smile. Such a pretty smile…Kai mentally kicked himself for thinking that.

Somebody clearing there throat snapped his head back. The Panther person was still looking at him intently. Kai waited for him to speak first.

"I see you have woken up, that's good…"

Kai nodded slightly but said nothing.

"What is you're name, new comer?"

Kai hesitated should he really tell them? He had already told that girl before but he hadn't been thinking straight that time.

"That wasn't a tell-us-or-not question. What is your name?" Panther said, coolly but more demanding.

Kai sighed, deciding he didn't really care if they knew, "Kai…Kai Hiwatari…"

Panther smirked, "Well, Hiwatari…mind telling us just what you are doing here?"

Now Kai smirked, "How should I know, you brought me here…"

"Don't play smart with me, kid, how did you end up beaten and out above our streets?"

Kai scowled at being called a kid, he was only a few years younger then this guy, he would not be treated as a child, but he would play along for now.

"That is my own private business, I don't wish to share it, why should I tell you anyway?"

"Three reasons, one: it was us that saved your sorry ass, we deserve something for our trouble, two: there are no secrets when you live under our roof and three: I need to know if I can trust you, I need to know if you are an enemy…"

Kai chuckled softly, "I promise you I am no enemy, and as for how I got here, I had a run in with a few foes of my own, they are why I ended up the way I did on 'your' streets…"

Panther closed his eyes, Kai recognised this look, it was the same as his own when he was trying to think. It amazed Kai how much this guy had in common with himself, their personalities were very similar.

"Do you have a home?" Panther asked, without opening his eyes.

"I did, but I can't go back now…"

"Your enemies would find you there, right?"

"Yes"

"Is there any chance of your enemies coming here to find you?"

"They left me to die, they wont look for me now"

Panther nodded his head, "Are there any others you can go to?"

Kai thought about it before he spoke, "There might be, though I can't be sure…"

"Is there any point going to them, whoever they are?"

Kai closed his eyes this time. 'Should I really go to the BladeBreakers? What if they really don't take me back? They could reject me. They could just shove me aside, I've lost everything, would they care now?'

"Hiwatari?"

'And besides, can I do that to them. Even if they took me in, that would leave them with me, they would have my responsibilities and not to mention Voltaire may strike again, if he found out I have survived and went to them. That would put them in danger. I have no right to do that to them…they are better off with me gone…'

"Answer, Hiwatari…"

"No," Kai said blankly, hanging his head "There is no point, I have no one to go to…I'm on my own…"

Panther's eyes visibly softened, his expression changed, "If that's the case, then……you are free to stay here with us…be part of our group… if that is what you want…"

Kai looked up, slight surprise showed on his face. He wasn't the only one, the others around him all looked amazed that their leader was offering this position so early.

Silence lingered for a few seconds before Kai spoke, "Why…would you do that for me…?"

Panther smiled a soft smile, "I can see it in your eyes, Kai, I can tell that you've had a lot of shit in your life, the last thing I want to do is kick you out on your own…"

Kai stared at the guy before him. 'Have all my years of training, hiding all emotion been wasted? He can see through me anyway, he can see…but how?

Panther noticed his expression and once again seemed to read Kai like a book, "No Kai, I can't see your emotions, because you hide them, that is how I can tell your life was hard. People with pasts hide themselves away, you are no different…"

Kai couldn't stop the slight smirk on his face, "You're not n idiot, I'll give you that."

The smirk was returned, before the boy, pretty much a man, said "We are drifting off track, you still have a choice. You can go, or you can stay here with us, there is one person in here that would be delighted if you stayed…"

Kai looked over the people, but his eyes landed on Ali Cat, who was blushing brightly, trying to hide…and failing Kai felt his heart thump, but no time to think of that now.

"Must I decide now?" Kai asked, gently, his guard falling. He hated himself for it but just couldn't bring himself to be cold towards this group of street kids. They were offering him a place to stay, okay, not a home exactly, but it was still something.

"It would make things easier if you decide now…" Panther said

Kai closed his eyes once more, a smirk formed on his face

"Then, I guess…there's no way I can refuse…"

WooHoo!

I must say, I quite like that one, even though Kai was acting slightly OOC.

Also, on chapter 5, i put a note saying Kai did havehis beyblade, i changed my mind again and havetaken that note away, he doesn't have his blade.

Oh Well! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE leave a review! Go ahead and tell me what you thought!

K, Bye!

Drentai Dragon