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8

I yawned silently and sluggishly opened my eyes. It took a while for me to take in the situation and I instantly looked around the room, suddenly alert. Judging from the dim light coming from the window, I guessed it was probably nearly seven in the morning. This was early, considering how late I had slept last night.

My gaze turned towards the half-opened door spontaneously at the sudden reminder. I didn't hear any voices so I guessed that everyone was probably asleep. My eyes then darted towards the covers were wrapped tightly around me and I guessed that I must've fallen asleep in Kai's arms last night cuz that was the last thing I remembered.

I blushed, wondering about my strange reactions. I tried not to think about the bad parts, the instant realization I had for example, and concentrated solely on all the things Kai said.

It felt nice to think about something pleasant first thing in the morning. Remembering his voice, his skin on mine made me want to smile. And so, just to start the day nicely, I thought about him a little more. It was when I heard some shuffling outside the door that I decided to get up.

After taking a shower and changing my clothes, I entered the lounge where Ray and Kenny were sitting, watching some show on the TV.

This year, the tournament was being held in Beijing, China. Everyone was happy, especially Ray. His hometown was just a few hours away and he went there with The White Tigers whenever he got the chance. Part of me wondered if it had anything to do with Mariah but I hadn't asked. It was his life, who was I to bother anyway?

So, somewhere in Beijing, there was a place where Mr. Dickenson had made the contestants stay. Only the people involved in the tournament were allowed to stay here and no-one else. The building was huge, with a big dining hall where everyone ate and the food never seemed to lessen, a few large training rooms where the contestants trained and I avoided them for apparent reasons, a dispensary room the size of a large clinic and separate suites for every team.

The suites were no joke either. Ours was on the third floor. There was a living room, where the guys usually discussed some strategies with Kenny. It was all messed up, papers scattered across the floor and computer wires lay in random directions. It was kinda apparent why I avoided that room. There was also a big TV lounge, where Ray and Kenny were sitting now, that had a big-screened TV in the corner and a few couches around it.

Other than that, the suite had five bedrooms, each having their own bathroom (thankfully). Everyone except Max and Ray had their own bedrooms. Kai said that he kicked in his sleep, even if the person had a separate bed. Kenny's excuse was that he made a huge mess of papers in the room (which wasn't a lie like Kai's) and everyone knew how loudly Tyson snored so no-one was willing to share a bedroom with him. At the end, all that left was one bedroom and two guys, Ray and Max. The last bedroom went to me and I had to admit, mine was the best. It even had a very clear view of the big garden behind the large building.

Every week, the contestants were taken to the big stadium for their matches. So far, the preliminaries were over with. All of our friends' teams had scored enough to get through. Apart from them, a few teams (that included Drew's too) had made it through as well.

"Hey, Hillary."

Ray greeted, turning away from the screen to smile at me. I automatically smiled back at him before walking over to sit by him.

"Where're the others?" I asked, someone particular in my mind actually.

"Still asleep."

"Everyone?"

Of course, I meant Kai but he couldn't tell that, could he?

"Yeah."

He turned back towards the TV after answering me and I said nothing else. Half-way through the show though, I got bored and so walked out of the suite for a short walk. After a short ride in the elevator, I made my way to the beautiful garden that I wanted to go to ever since I got here, the one that I could see from my bedroom up on the third floor.

I pretended that I was sorta content now, but it kept bothering me that some unwanted thoughts kept making their way to my head. I knew I had some issues that needed thorough examination as soon as possible and I was just putting them off. As much as I wanted to keep thinking about Kai, I knew that my problems with Drew were much more urgent.

I kicked anxiously at the small stones as some certain thoughts made their way to my head but didn't stop them. I thought about all the reasons I thought Drew was here once again and I couldn't help thinking that I was missing something. Was that why Drew was actually here? He was taking part in the tournament just so he could get to me? He was competing in an international tournament so that he could get me to give him what he wanted? The idea, even for Drew, seemed ridiculous.

Yeah sure, there were advantages here that he couldn't have back in Japan. He knew where to find me, for example, but he also knew that I would be with someone all the time. And just like it was difficult for someone to pick a fight with him on my behalf, Drew himself couldn't just go ahead and lunge at me either. It was so stupid to think that he came here in hopes to get me alone…

I was missing something. Something very important…

Deep in thought as I was, I didn't realize that someone was walking in my direction till they bumped into me. I grabbed my shoulder and turned around with an apologetic look on my face…that is, till I saw who it was.

His lips were turned up into a fake smile and his brown eyes held a smug expression. I could easily tell he hadn't 'accidently' bumped into me. His brown hair bore a messy look and even though he was still the same size, he stood towering over me. I involuntarily took a step back, maintaining my personal space. With Drew, it was miles away but I was just gonna have to do with this. He would have no trouble catching up to me once I started running, what was the point anyway? It was better to stay put and show him that I wasn't scared. Which I was, actually. And it must've been apparent on my face.

He looked down at me with some unknown expression and it was then that my palms started to sweat and I found myself struggling to get some air into my lungs.

And then the strangest thing happened. Drew, instead of walking towards me, looked away from my fear-stricken expression and took a step back. Then slowly, he turned his back towards me completely and walked away without even glancing back once.

I blinked at his back, not actually believing what had happened. I looked around but found no-one who Drew might have seen that caused such a different response. As far as I could see, the garden was completely abandoned except a few bluebirds over at the small bird fountain.

I just watched as Drew entered the building in hurry. For a while, I just stood there, staring at empty space in shock. Then slowly, I made my way towards the other entrance. Even after what had happened now, I was still afraid of running into him.

What the hell had happened?

The thought kept making its way towards my head again and again as I walked towards the dining hall. Just as I had guess, the guys were already there, eating their breakfast. Everyone was up by now, even Tyson. As I made my way towards the table where the guys were sitting, I couldn't help but feel self-conscious under Kai's concerned gaze. He must have been worried, considering how the last time he had seen me, I was crying my heart out over something I refused to tell him. I sat down on the only empty seat across him and gave him a small smile. He responded to it by looking away from me and down at his food again.

"Hey, Hils." Tyson's voice interrupted before I could consider Kai's small gesture. I turned towards him before muttering a small 'Hey'.

"So, I was saying," Tyson said, continuing the conversation I had missed. "there are gonna be three different teams we're gonna have to oppose, right. One match with each team?"

This was, according to Mr. Dickenson, the new rule this year. In order to get to the semi finals, each team had to compete with three others. The Blade Breakers had to compete with The Majestics, The All Starz and some team called The Dynasties. If we won even two of those matches, we'd make it through to the semi-finals. The off-point was that, considering that you had to win at least two matches to get to the next round, only two teams could make it. It wasn't possible for more than two teams of each group to get through. (AN: You'll get it somewhere later in the story)

There were small murmurs of agreement around the table and a nod from Kenny. Tyson continued with a smug look.

"So, who's gonna be the one who doesn't get to compete this week?"

Only one match was to be held between two teams and no more than that. That meant only three of the Blade Breakers would get to beyblade in this round.

"No way is it gonna be me!" Max yelled, practically looking like he was asked to jump off of Mount Everest. "I wanna battle with the All Starz! No way!"

"Alright then," Ray said as if he hadn't noticed Max throw a tantrum just now. "Tyson?"

"But, you know how much I wanted to battle the Majestics!"

Tyson closed his eyes and groaned in disbelief.

"Maybe," Kenny said, speaking for the first time. I noticed how tired he sounded and I wondered what he'd been working on last night. "Kai should bail out this week."

I was surprised by the suggestion. Even more surprised when I glanced at Kai who looked as if he didn't care what happened.

"Why, Kenny?" I heard myself say. It was unusual. Kai never missed a chance at battling. "He's the strongest of all."

"Thanks, Hils." Tyson muttered, leaning towards me. "I'm flattered."

"No, seriously!" I exclaimed. "Why not, Kenny?"

Kenny sighed and looked at Kai. Kai looked genuinely worried but it didn't look like he was gonna through some tantrum soon.

"It's kinda bad." Kenny muttered to Kai. "It's better if you don't push it, Kai."

"What's going on?" Ray was the first one to ask something. Kai didn't respond. Instead, he looked at me before closing his eyes completely. What was going on?

"It's Dranzer." Kenny replied for him, sighing again. "It's gonna take some time to repair it."

"Repair it? Why? What happened to it?"

"Just training." Kai said, cutting off Kenny before throwing him a meaningful look. Then, he turned to look at me, his amethyst eyes holding a strange expression.

"Kai!" Tyson groaned in complain. "Why'd you do that? I don't get why you train so hard but please stop risking our chances of winning the tournament, okay?"

But it was as if he hadn't even spoken. Kai continued to stare at me with the same hidden look. He even leaned a little forward. It made me uncomfortable so I looked away, down at my hands.

"Okay, Kai's out, then."

It didn't take a genius to figure out that Kai was hiding something. And no doubt, the secret involved me. Why would he look so meaningfully at me if not? I mulled over the situation, feeling overwhelmed. It wasn't right to say that I was safe from Drew even after what happened. It would be hard to keep the secret, could I do that? Could I keep pretending that Drew didn't scare the shit out of me? The thoughts I had a while ago crept back again. Why did I get the feeling that I was missing something? It was possible for Drew to take part in the tournament just because he wanted to, wasn't it? Maybe that's why he was here in the first place. And not because he was following me. But, he had been doing that for months now. Follow me, that is. Why did he turn away when we were finally alone? Why did he rip himself off of that chance?

I rested my elbows on the table and grabbed my head in my hands, staring down at my lap in frustration. Kai already knew most of my problems. Could he have put two and two together when he had seen Drew walking towards me on the plane last week? Did he know exactly what was troubling me? And why had he looked at me like that just now? Should I know something I didn't?

I looked up at Kai, mesmerizing his picture in my head, before turning away immediately. His head was bent low over his plate, his expression was blank but I was sure he was thinking deeply about something, his shoulders were slump and, contrary to his smooth expression, one of his hands was clenched into a tight fist on the table. It bothered me to see him like that. I didn't want him to be worried about anything. I wanted to see him smile, to know that he was happy and nothing was worrying him. This time, I wanted to be the one to ease his pain.

But I couldn't actually ask him anything right now, not with everyone so close. And so I waited, thinking only about him. It took my mind off of everything else but I really didn't mind.

It was when someone shook my shoulder lightly that I looked up from my lap for the second time.

"Aren't you gonna eat anything?" Max said, motioning towards my empty plate.

"Um…"I started, "I'm not really hungry."

"Why not?"

Maybe because my obsessed stalker, who just won't let me be, is here in this very building. Maybe because he knows where my room is and there are slight chances that he might sneak up in my bedroom and do GODKNOWSWHAT. Maybe because just a while ago–as if he wasn't already disturbing my sleep, as if he wasn't already creeping me out—I had a very unusual encounter with him…alone. Maybe because I'm madly in love with your best friend and I'm not even sure he feels the same way. Maybe because he just gave me a meaningful look whose meaning is a secret that only he and God share. Maybe because there is a possibility that he might know about my secret which is bad because once the guy found out, he could actually hurt you guys.

Maybe because this was a very big list of "All the Possible Reasons Why I'm Not Hungry".

"I already ate." I lied but he seemed to have been buying it. He looked away and continued eating. Kai, however, looked up at me instantly, almost as if I had called him, and gave me a wary look. Feeling awkward, I looked away.

I waited patiently for the guys to finish eating while I turned around and anxiously looked around the room. Mariah waved at me from her table and I smiled and waved back. Lee, who turned when he saw Mariah wave, smiled politely at me and from the table right next to them, I caught sight of Tala looking at me blankly. I searched the room, seeing many people except this certain one I was looking for.

Confused, I hesitantly turned back. We left the lunch-room when the guys finished and while I walked silently behind them as they headed for the training room, Kai suddenly came up beside me.

"Hillary?"

I looked up at him and realized that he was still worried.

"Hey." I mumbled, looking away from him and at the guys. They were having some conversation and seemed to be unaware of us whispering to each other right behind them.

"How are you feeling?" Kai asked, angling slightly towards me. I dug my hands in my pocket nervously before answering him.

"Thanks…" I whispered, "…for last night. I'm sorry for snapping at you like that, though."

For a while, he was quiet. It felt as if he wanted to say something so I waited.

"It's okay, but…" He looked ahead of him, checking whether the guys were looking or not, probably. "I wanted to talk to you."

"About what?"

He turned back towards me, his eyes wary now. His pace slowed and then, came to an abrupt stop. The guys had already entered the training room I hadn't realized we had reached. He reached out for my hand and led me down the hallway till we reached our suite. Kai closed the door and turned to look at me with a rather worried look on his face.

He sighed, his hand still on the door handle.

"Do you know anyone named Drew?"