Update, woooooo.
Street Life
Chapter 16
Voltaire was staring angrily at the computer screen, trying and failing to keep his temper in check. His cohort displayed on the screen was shaking despite not even being in the same room.
"I cannot believe your complete and utter foolishness!"
"I apoligise again, Master Voltaire, I...I didn't know..."
"Didn't know? That is no excuse! What pathetic thoughts were going through your head when you decided to leave my grandson, alive and alone, where anyone could have found him!"
"But...but sir..."
"There are no buts! Never underestimate my Grandson! If he is not found, you will face the consequences!"
The cohort visibly flinched, "We are looking every where over the city he was left, sir, we will find him and finish the job as you ordered, sir!"
"No! I can't trust you people with anything! Find him! Then report back to me, I will be the one to finish this. He has been a thorn in my side for long enough. And besides, I'm forming a new experiment and I'm beginning to think I let off my Grandson far too quickly, he may still be of some use to me..."
"What kind of use, sir?" The man asked curiously.
Voltaire scowled, "That is not of your business! Just find him!" Voltaire smacked the close button of the cam and turned his back.
"You are not going to get away, Kai. If you refuse to die, then I'm bringing you back home..." If anyone had seen the evil smirk on his face, they would have trembled with fear.
"Kai!"
Kai's weary head snapped upright at the sound of his name. He had been carrying Ali Cat from the city, and his arm, crossed with his other injuries were beginning to drag him down, but at least he had made it back to the central clearing after carefully fitting himself and Ali Cat through the hole in the wall. This wasn't a first for him, he had carried another person while being far more injured before, he could handle this. Ali Cat was still out of it on his back and didn't look like she was waking up any time soon.
Kai watched through tired eyes as Panther and Viper made their way towards him. The male party didn't look happy. Kai didn't blame him.
"What the heck happened?!" He practically screamed as he approached, "What's happened to Alyssa?! And your arm?!"
Kai gave his arm a glance and realised the bullet had scraped deeper then he had originally thought, blood was running unhindered down the length of his arm, but that was irrelevant right now. He was irrelevant, Ali Cat was who mattered.
"What are the injuries?" Panther asked frantically, checking Ali Cat as best he could from her position on Kai's back.
"Not sure," Kai mumbled, "She was shot on her ankle, there may be others I don't know of"
Panther stared at him, "Shot?! Who the heck shot her?!"
"Not sure" Kai repeated, "A...Don person, I think..."
Kai's head began to feel very light headed, the loss of blood from his arm beginning to disorientate him, he tried in vain to hide his discomfort from Panther and Viper.
Panther frowned, "Give Alyssa to me," He said firmly.
Kai stared at him with dazed eyes, before comprehending with what he had said. Gently, Ali Cat was shifted from Kai's back onto Panther's.
"Follow me, as soon as I've tended to Alyssa, we'll get your arm looked at, can you make it to the medical area by yourself?"
Kai scowled at this, "I'm not helpless, I've handled things far worse then this before."
"Did you handle them better?" Panther asked.
Kai felt a stab to his pride, the answer to that was yes, he had, but in the last few days of his being injured, he had been acting like a weakling. These injuries would have never brought him down before, but now it was like a mere scratch would get him hurting. What had happened to his rock hard defiance and his ability to bare what ever was thrown at him, how weak had he truly become?
The thoughts raged through his head, no wonder his Grandfather had wished to be rid of him, he had become a disgrace, pathetic and weak, and that had to change.
"I guess I'm out of practice" He said, the coldness in his voice immediately told Panther that now was the time to back off.
"Fine, now follow me, quick as you can. Viper, find the others and bring them down. "
"On my way," She answered, and went off towards a tunnel.
Panther turned and made his way towards an exit located on the far right side. Kai noticed it to be the same he came through not so long ago. Forcing his aching head up high, he traced Panther's path, giving all he had to make his stride powerful. He would prove he was strong. He hadn't fallen.
Kai found himself instinctively memorising the tunnels as they wound their way through. He would be able to find his way out anyway, as he had before, but it was much quicker if he already knew where he was going.
The journey was shorter then the way to the hide out of the gang. As they reached it Kai realised the careful planning they had placed into finding this particular area.
It was large, large enough to fit several people. There was water running through, like some of the others, but this water was free of sewage, it was crystal clear, although he couldn't think how. It had many different boxes filled with medical supplies, and yet the room seemed as if it was very rarely used.
Panther discarded Ali Cat on a stone ledge, not dissimilar to the one at the base, turning he noticed Kai's gaze.
"No, we don't use this room very much. Many people get ill here and it's far easier for us to gather the supplies and bring them to the patient, rather than bring them to this room. We only use it when necessary."
Kai frowned, "Why didn't you...?"
"...bring you here when you were found?" Panther finished, "Honestly, I would have, but Alyssa found you and seemed to have an urge to bring you to the base instead."
Kai glanced at the sleeping girl. Not even Panther could read his cryptic expression, though he tried.
"You had better go sit over there, I'll see about your arm, I'm just going to check on Alyssa first."
Kai took the not so hidden hint of staying out of the way and moved to place himself on a second ledge not far from where Ali Cat was lying still.
Panther searched through the boxes and boxes of different items and started pulling things out randomly. A needle and thread appeared, as well as an antiseptic, a pair of tweezers and rolls of gauze and bandages.
Bringing the pile down next to the unconscious girl, Panther gently began to dab and clean the bleeding wound on Ali Cat's ankle. Once enough of the blood was cleared away and the hole in the skin was visible, Panther wasted no time in grabbing the pair of tweezers and beginning to dig into the wound as gently as possible, searching for the bullet imbedded inside the girl's skin.
Kai was far from squeamish over blood and deep wounds but he frowned at the fact that Panther hadn't administered any kind of painkiller. He saw Ali Cat's face grimace at the pain that must be wracking her body as Panther worked. Kai had spotted pills and injections in the boxes, but Panther had ignored them and carried on without.
"There we go..." Panther whispered as he brought out the bloody tweezers, the bullet clasped tightly and stained dark red. Unceremoniously, Panther chucked the two objects on the floor, wiped his fingers clean on his own clothes and picked up the needle and thread.
Kai watched on as again no type of anaesthesia was used as he proceeded to stitch the wound together. That job done, Panther bit off the end of the thread, and then continued to pour antiseptic on the wound, rubbing it in harshly. Ali Cat was still out cold but Kai was sure he heard a groan. Gauze and bandages were then quickly spread over the wound and the damage covered up and safe from any kind of grime in the air.
Panther sighed, "That went well, nothing serious hit, should sort itself out. Can you please turn away." This was a demand, not a question, sent at Kai without Panther looking around to him. Kai noticed Panther reach for Ali Cat's shirt, to check for further injuries, before turning to stare at the wall, giving the girl privacy.
Ten minutes and Panther gave the okay signal. Kai turned back to see that Ali Cat now had a few smaller plasters in some areas, and Panther was gathering up the equipment he had used, throwing away the tweezers, needle and bullet into a nearby bin.
Kai then realised he was on his way over to him.
"Right, lets have a look at that shoulder." Panther said, setting the things down again and reaching out to touch Kai's upper arm.
Without thinking, Kai's reaction was slightly violent and shoved the older boy's hands away, jumping to his feet.
Panther started, then scowled, "What do you think you are doing?"
Kai's scowl matched the other's, "I can sort myself out, I don't need your help." 'I will not be weak anymore' he thought.
"That's not what I thought when you were brought here, now don't be pathetic and let me sort out your arm..."
"I'm more then capable, probably even more then you, now back off." Kai growled.
Panther's eyes widened, "Now listen here you..."
"Anyone in here?"
The tension between the two boys was broken as five people, Foxi, LK, Buggy, Raven and Viper at the rear squeezed through the smallish door of the make-shift infirmary.
Foxi's gorgeous eyes looked at the two in confusion before they fell upon her sleeping friend.
"Alyssa!" She exclaimed racing and dropping down next to her friend, "What happened Panther? Is she alright?"
"She'll be fine, Fox', she's just resting, nothing too serious," Panther replied gently, "As to what happened, I don't know, mind explaining?"
His glare turned itself on Kai once more, the other, softer eyes of the occupants in the room following the leader. Kai fought down the trapped feeling that was rising inside him.
"We just went to that town place," he finally ground out, "She went off to a shop called Don's and there were three men in there with shot guns...they ran off and I managed to catch up but they had already shot her..." a few of the newcomers gasped at this "...then I managed to take them and get them to leave, then I dragged Ali Cat back here..." There, he'd told them, very roughly but still. Now maybe they would stop badgering him.
No such luck.
"Whoa 'ang on one minit...you mean to tell me you took on Don and 'is two body guards by yourself...while you were 'urt?" Asked LK.
Kai frowned but nodded wearily.
"Whoa..dude, you rock man! That's awesome! How did you manage it?"
"...I've had training, I guess..."
"I wouldn't believe it," Panther broke in, "I don't believe you could have done that on your own, especially while you still have those injuries."
"He's...he's not lying...Nathan," Came a quiet voice.
"Alyssa!" Foxi called as the group turned towards the voice, Foxi landed herself next to the ledge again, "Honey, are you alright?"
"I'm okay..." Ali Cat answered, sitting up and allowing Foxi to pull her into a gentle hug, "Where am I?"
"Infirmary, girl, the new kid got you home, thank goodness."
"He did?" Ali Cat pulled away from her friend, staring at Kai with wide eyes, "Even after beating those guy's asses?"
"Alyssa" warned Panther as Raven and Buggy giggled slightly at the older girl's words. Buggy turned to Kai.
"Did you really?" asked the small twelve year old, "Did you beat those men alone?"
"Of course he did, Ali Cat said so," Raven joined in, still giggling.
Ali Cat smiled, "He did more then that, if it wasn't for Kai, I wouldn't be here now, Don would have shot me, and I would have been dead..."
The younger children looked on in wonder at Kai, while he did his best to ignore them, uncomfortable.
"Impressive...don't you think, Panther?" Asked Viper.
Panther scowled, and turned away, "Alright guys, that's enough, I want you all out now, these two need rest."
Buggy and Raven knew not to argue, "Okay, they answered, bye Alyssa, bye Kai," sweetly they turned and left together out of the door.
"That means you three also," Panther continued, staring at the others.
"Okay, mister grumpy, we'll talk later sweetie," Foxi said, giving Ali Cat a quick hug, "Ta-ta handsome," she shot over to Kai, who blushed slightly as she went by, "Coming sweetheart?" She directed at LK.
LK grinned, "Just a sec"
Walking over, he stopped in front of Kai, "No one's said it yet, so I fort I'd do it...fanks for savin' AC, she means a lot to us all...your're a real 'ero, mate, put 'er there" He pushed his hand out for Kai to grasp. Kai took his hand for a few seconds. LK's smile widened and as he turned to leave with Foxi, he called behind him, "Catch ya later...Lone Wolf."
Kai's eyes widened. 'Lone...Wolf?' Kai looked at Viper questioningly.
She smiled, "I filled the others in on how you passed the survival test in the town, maybe not in the usual way, but saving our Ali Cat was enough. You then receive your gang name. That's how we know you now, Lone Wolf is you. Later, hero, Ali Cat...Panther?" She asked the leader the silent question.
"Give me a minute..."
She nodded, placing a kiss upon his cheek before following the rest of the group.
Kai stared up at Panther. It wasn't quite a look to kill, but it would have burnt him.
"Listen here, Lone Wolf, I still don't know if I trust you and I certainly don't like your attitude. I'm grateful for what you did for Ali Cat but that doesn't mean you can do what ever you want, I'm leader and you follow me, end of subject. I suggest you sort out your injuries and hurry up about it, but don't be expecting help from me, ever."
"Noted" Kai grumbled.
Panther snorted, "Feel better, Ali Cat..." He said before making his leave.
"Panther wait..." She called out but he had already gone.
The silence that trailed after the leader's departure was quite awkward; neither occupant of the room spoke, neither knowing what to say. Kai eventually reached down to the supplies to start cleaning up his shoulder, not even allowing himself a grimace as he cleaned, put on antiseptic and bandaged his upper arm. He would not be weak. Luckily, he was capable of doing so without having to remove his shirt; Ali Cat's eyes seemed to be cutting him as he finished the task and sat calmly looking at the floor.
"...Lone Wolf?"
"Kai," the boy said quickly, the nick name he had been handed wasn't awful, but it sounded far too strange, coming from her.
"Kai, then," She whispered, "I just had to say thank you, thanks for saving me today...you really were amazing."
"It was nothing" he grumbled.
"I don't call stopping me from an extremely pre-mature death, nothing."
"I got lucky, that's all"
The pretty girl grimaced at the harsh words, sighing gently.
"That doesn't mean I can't be grateful. You were truly wonderful..."
"Not really... Panther doesn't seem to think so either, not that I care what he thinks of me."
"Panther...just isn't used to you, he'll come around, you two are far too alike, a typical personality clash..."
"He doesn't want me here..."
"Does that matter?...what matters is...do you want to be here?"
Her words struck him, 'Did he want to be here, that hadn't occurred to him...'
Sighing again, Ali Cat grimaced as she forced herself to her feet, keeping most of her weight on her good foot. Carefully she half limped, half hopped over to where Kai sat with his head hanging. He sprung as he heard her draw near.
"What are you doing? You should stay where you were."
Ali Cat ignored his words and sat herself down next to him. She was very close, Kai annoyed himself as his heartbeat started to increase and his mask seemed to slip, simply from the smell of her. 'How does she keep doing this to me?' he thought frantically.
"You were wonderful, today, Kai, you truly were...brave and selfless, just amazing...don't let anyone tell you otherwise..., you really are a hero..."
Kai's breath caught as her face came closer to him, to his own face... '...I'm her hero...?'
She was still talking, "I know that...all the others would try to do the same for me...but not like you did, Kai...not as incredible as you..."
'You're incredible too...' Kai thought without controlling it. 'Why was he thinking this?! She was too close...'
"You make me feel things, Kai, things I had forgotten, or maybe I never knew them at all. But when you're here...I'm happy, so very happy...I'd like to find out why...wouldn't you?"
'Too close...she's too close...happiness...does she make me happy?...I...I don't...I don't deserve her happiness...I wont make her happy...I'll hurt her...no!'
With a fraction of an inch between them, Kai jumped and pulled away, rushing to the other side of the room near the door.
"Kai?!" Ali Cat called, shocked at his sudden rush, "Wait! Where are you going?!"
Kai didn't turn back as he said, "I...can't...I need air...leave me alone..." with that he stormed from the room leaving the girl behind him with tears in her eyes...
"Kai..." She called to the darkness.
Kai was racing through the tunnels, the sudden feeling of claustrophobia spreading over him; he had to get out...
Before he ha barely realised it, he found the main clearing. He may have heard one of the group call to him but he wasn't paying attention and his pace didn't slow at all. Finally he burst out into the clear air and took deep breaths, attempting to calm himself and his pounding nerves.
'What just happened?' His brain seemed to ask him, but he knew the answer.
'I almost kissed her...and...I wanted to do it, I've never felt that way before...but I couldn't, I couldn't do that to her, she deserves so much more...I'm nothing, I may have been almost worth something as a Beyblader once, but now I'm not even that, I don't even have my Dranzer...'
Stepping out further he stared at the endless amount of trash around him, it almost made him laugh.
'Trash, that's all I am...Ali Ca- Alyssa...she needs someone good...someone that can give her more...she's the last person who should be out here...she should be home...with a family...with a guy who wasn't a heartless bastard...someone who isn't anything like me...someone...she deserves...'
Clenching his eyes shut, Kai lent against the entrance, allowing himself to slide down to the ground. His arms lent against his knees and his head fell forward against them.
'I can't give her what she needs...I'm worthless...so worthless...'
Kai remained in the same position for the rest of the night...
Chapter is finished! WOOP!
Please tell me what you think, I'd really like to know x
DrentaiWolf