Authors note: Another chapter, Hillary´s POV this time. JUst for the record Kai and Rey are 17 in this fix, Hillary is 16 and Max, Kenny and Tyson are 15;)

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izza-x23: Thank you for leaving a response, that means a lot! Great that you like the story, and please let me know what you think about this chapter as far as it being from Hillary´s point of view. I have never written her before, so I am a bit unsure about how successful this was :)

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Into the void

Chapter 2

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Hillary´s POV

I kept replaying our encounter with Rey´s ex-team in my mind over and over. It felt like someone had pushed the replay button, and I was unable to turn it off. The whole thing was a disaster, and not for the first time I wondered how to explain this to Mr. Dickinson. As an organizer I was supposed to make sure that everything ran smoothly for the duration of our journey, and now we had lost our flight to China because of some stupid challenge.

Sure, I had booked us a new flight, but somehow the mood was already off. By chance Tyson, Max, Rey and Kenny had encountered Rey´s old team, The White Tigers, in the streets of Hong Kong. Of course this had resulted in a confrontation, and I had arrived with Kai just as Tyson´s blade was split in half and almost ruined for good.

The thing had been dragged out because Rey had punched his old team captain square in the face, and Kai had been forced to interfere. Kai, I still didn´t know what to think about him. He was cold, different, but all the same I felt drawn to him like a moth towards a flame, and somehow I suspected that I would soon get burned.

I turned a page in my book, trying to distract my thoughts before I started blushing. Sure, he was super hot, but there wasn´t much more to him than that I decided. It was evening, and the boys had gone to bed half an hour ago, with the exception of Kai, who was still outside in the city somewhere. Our new flight would leave in the morning, and I hoped to god we would make it this time! It felt odd, sitting there alone. It was so quiet without the guys there.

I suppose they all had a few things to think about after our encounter with the White Tigers, Rey in particular. Poor Rey, I actually felt for him. It was a confusing situation for all of us, perhaps with the exception of Kai, and I wondered if he would stay with us. Sure, Tyson had already voiced his doubts about the matter, but I told myself that Rey was better than that. He had been committed to the team from the start, unlike a certain someone. Still, there was something quite enticing about the way that certain someone carried himself, like he was untouchable. I blushed profusely, why did Kai´s attitude turn me on?

Just then said person slid almost soundlessly inside, stalking across the common room as if I didn´t exist. He was wearing fashionably ripped jeans and a leather jacket over a dark blue t-shirt, his hair a tousled, sexy mess. I tried to be discrete as I watched him shrug out of the leather jacket, immediately registering how the t-shirt underneath showed off how built he was. He had an easy elegance to him, with a tall athletic built. You know, every girls dream; broad shoulders and chest, strong arms, muscled but not bulky, slim but not lanky. He was just perfect.

"Where have you been?" I asked him, voice much more timid than usual.

I wasn´t even sure why I had asked. He had made it pretty clear that he wasn´t too keen on conversation when I followed him out into the city yesterday, but somehow a small part of me still insisted on trying to do small talk. Hillary you idiot! I chastised myself, he probably won´t even answer! But to my surprise he did, even if it was as cryptic and uninterested as ever.

"Out", he stated bluntly, making me feel like a scolded child yet again.

His tone alone conveyed that it wasn´t in my place to ask.

"Oh", I responded stupidly.

He didn´t spare me another glance, but dumped his jacket on the sofa, casually strolling over to the fridge to grab something to eat. With a certain hesitation I put down my book, standing up and slowly walking over to where he was standing. Of course I was ignored.

"I think I am gonna make some hot chocolate", I informed him.

"Would you like some?"

This time he actually turned to give me a look, and I was unable to hold his gaze for more than a few seconds. He always looked so intimidating when he stared you square in the eye, those cool, mahogany eyes of his never ceased to amaze me, and I never blushed as much as when he looked at me.

"Sure", he eventually responded, and I nodded.

We worked in silence next to each other on the kitchen counter, and I observed him with a certain fascination as he started chopping onions. Who knew Kai Hiwatari had such impressive knife skills. Then again a guy like him probably was required too. I don´t know. There was something about the way he moved that always alerted me to the fact that he was dangerous. With movements like liquid steel he almost reminded me of a predator.

"What are you making?" I wondered innocently, not daring to look at him as I absently stirred the warm milk in the pot.

"Stir fry", he said shortly.

"Smells nice", I commented, proceeding to pour hot chocolate into two cups, handing him one.

"Hn".

I wondered what it meant this time. Although I had only known him for about a week, I had quickly come to realize that he had his own particular language. A "Hn" could mean anything from "thank you" to "I don´t give a shit". Needless to say I had problems differentiating them. His body language would often alert me to how he felt about things, but unfortunately the signs were only visible when he got really angry, and by then it was usually too late anyway.

"I didn´t know you could cook", I said, breaking the silence in another attempt at starting conversation.

He just shrugged, completely unfazed as always. With practised ease he moved the pan away from the stove, and too my surprise he filled to bowls, handing me one before placing his now empty cup in the sink.

"I…Thank you, that was very nice of you", I said awkwardly.

He sat down in the sofa with his bowl and chopsticks, and I brought coke and two glasses, taking a seat next to him. Or not exactly next to him. I probably looked a bit strange, having positioned myself in the same sofa as him, but still on the edge of my seat as far from him as possible. Perhaps I should have taken the armchair. Then again it would look strange if I moved now, after sitting down in the sofa with him.

We ate in silence apart from me complimenting his cooking, which was fantastic, and I glanced at him from time to time, unable to look away for longer periods of time. He had a beautiful profile; and somehow he didn´t look as frightening when you were not under the scrutiny of those striking mahogany eyes.

"Do you mind if I turn on the television?" I wondered.

Please, please be nice!

"Hn".

Was I pushing my luck if I chose to interpret that as a yes? Well, it was one of those "Hns", the ones that boarded on "I don´t give a shit". I decided to push my luck, quickly grabbing the remote and turning it on before I could change my mind. After checking out a few different channels I settled on one who showed a James Bond film. It was one of the older ones, with Timothy Dalton as Bond. Okay, I admit it, I have always thought he was a great Bond, even if the majority didn´t agree.

To my surprise Kai didn´t seem to mind at all, and I fought a blush as he finished his meal, lazily stretching out on the couch so that he had to bend his legs in order to fit. I must have zooned out, because he sent me a somewhat annoyed look.

"Do you mind?" He questioned, eyes fixed at my face.

"I…"

He stared at me, one eyebrow quirking upwards in that questioning, bored look that was oh so sexy.

"Of….of course not", I stuttered.

"I….I can move".

"That won´t be necessary", he simply said, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

I got the impression that he was having inappropriate intensions. Okay, I am going to move I thought, resolutely shifting to get up. He flashed me a sharp look, which quickly turned into a glare when I proceeded to stand. Was he angry? I awkwardly sat down again, next to his feet, and just like that his attention returned to the movie, and suddenly it was as if I had never existed. Jeez, calm down Hillary, he is just some guy! Of course that was as far from the truth as one could get. Somehow Kai Hiwatari could never be "just some guy".

"You seem a bit…..tense", he suddenly observed, that unnerving smirk of his returning in a flash.

I swallowed, unable to meet his gaze. When I actually looked up he was staring at me with a level of intensity that was unusual even for him. I stared back, unable to look away. His eyes glittered in a complex variety of deep chocolate brown, maroon, and that exquisite shade of mahogany that was so unique.

"Why is that Hillary?" He drawled, carelessly resting one arm on the back of the sofa.

"I….I don´t know", I avoided.

He just looked at me, utterly unimpressed.

"Really", he questioned, voice dripping with sarcasm.

I was literally falling apart under his scrutiny, suddenly feeling all hot and bothered. Okay, I had to do something. Anything! How on earth could he go from being all silent and preoccupied to being Mr. Sexy in the course of a second? Of course, one way or another he was always Mr. Sexy, but now he had really turned it on.

"Yes Kai, really", I said.

I had meant for it to sound superior, but somehow my voice came off as a nervous squeak. In other words; not convincing at all. Normally I was never afraid to speak my mind. I could deal with Max, Rey and even Tyson without breaking a sweat, and let me assure you that they can be a real pain in the ass. Kai on the other hand, was a completely different matter.

"So, do you like the movie?" I continued, hoping to steer the conversation over on a safer subject. Of course he would have none of it.

He smirked wolfishly at me, perfect, white teeth glinting in the dim light.

"You didn´t answer my question".

I brushed a lock of hair that had escaped from my ponytail behind one ear, biting my lip. He observed me with an emotion I couldn´t place, and sat up in one graceful movement, swinging his legs off the sofa. I hiccupped anxiously. Jeez, he reminded me about some big jungle cat, ready rip my throat out any second. His head was turned my way, so that I was once again forced to look him straight in the eye. Damn! He leaned forward slightly, and I subconsciously did the same.

"Kai", I stammered.

He just looked at me, eyes narrowing.

I leaned closer, he stared. Please don´t bite me, please! Why was I even moving closer to him in the first place? I knew I shouldn´t, I truly did. He was the kind of guy it was safer to admire from afar, but that thought became less important as I inhaled his scent; an exiting mix of expensive cologne and that unique, intoxicating smell that only he had.

"Yo guys, why are you still up?"

The voice caught the both of us completely off guard, and Kai slowly straightened up, before slouching back against the sofa, scowling. I let out a shaky breath, leaning back as well. With a sigh Kai turned his attention back to the film, effectively ignoring me. For some reason my hearth was thundering in my chest, and I almost felt like I had run a marathon.

Tyson was standing in the hallway, wearing his ridiculous beyblade PJs, and looking as if he was still asleep. The moment was ruined, and I couldn´t help but feel a tinge of disappointment…