The limousine was already outside waiting for the BladeBreakers. It took them a few minutes to get through the crowd that had practically ambushed them once they set foot outside the stadium. They were all begging for autographs and wanting to shake hands with them.
Hillary was getting extremely annoyed. What would have been a thirty second walk to the car was becoming five minutes and she had a feeling it would be well past ten minutes by the time she actually got to the door.
Tyson was certainly enjoying the attention, Max did have a smile for everyone but it was beginning to look more and more forced, Rei was politely trying to move forward, asking the people surrounding them if they would move out of the way, Kenny was also getting attention, other technicians were asking him questions and opinions on different analytical programs and techniques, Hillary was basically ignored unless someone was telling her she was in the way, and Kai walked through all of it without signing anything, acknowledging anyone, and making it through without some rabid fangirl trying to steal his scarf.
Finally making it to their ride back to the hotel, they scrambled in and told the driver to step on it and damn anyone if they got in the way. Now that they were able to relax their talk focused on the tournament.
"I didn't realize Michelle was that fast." Max remarked. "In the last tournament she had trouble with Drigger's speed."
"She's obviously been working on that. Maybe it has to deal with that new form." Rei suggested.
"I can't believe that that Ryld had the nerve to mock me." Tyson growled.
"We need to be careful around him and his partner." Kai spoke up. "They are in league with BioVolt and they already have their targets."
"Do we know who?" Kenny asked.
Kai nodded. "Their main target is Michelle."
"What?!" Rei exclaimed.
Kai ignored Rei's outburst and continued. "Then Amara, Drigger and Dranzer. If they can get their hands on Dragoon and Draciel without incident they will not hesitate."
"Damn." Tyson cursed. "It's just like our first World Championship all over again." He smirked over at Kai, trying to lighten the mood with a joke. "You sure you're not going to, I don't know, go for Black Dranzer again?"
"I'm fine with what I have." He answered without regarding anyone of them.
It took a few moments for Tyson to register what he said, but when he did, he almost jumped out of his seat and would have succeeded if he hadn't put o his seatbelt. "Kai just… he just… acknowledged us as his team!"
"Hey." Hillary got their attention with the tone of her voice, obviously wanting to talk about something important.
"What's up, Hillary?" Max asked when she didn't continue.
"I didn't notice it before, but Syn's eyes are just like Amara's. So they're siblings, right? I mean, since Max saw the graves; but why would they already have graves? Are they supposed to be dead or something?"
Rei looked over at Kai who nodded his consent. "Hillary, we did find some information but we decided it would be best not to tell you right away because we weren't sure on how you would act around Amara. Now that we have this decision to leave each other alone it might be a good time to tell you."
"You guys didn't trust me?" Hillary asked, hurt evident in her voice.
"It's not that," Tyson answered, "it's just we didn't want you acting strange around her because you would be the one who would have been around the most without one of us." Hillary seemed to accept the explanation.
Kenny opened his laptop and was immediately greeted by Dizzi's voice. "Decided to tell her?" The bit beast didn't want for an answer. "I'll pull up the file for you."
Hillary scooted closer to Kenny and read through the short newspaper clipping. Once she finished she leaned back in her seat. "That's just sad." She went quiet. "But it makes you wonder, if this is what happened to Amara's family, what about the rest of them? Remember how Michelle advised us against asking about her family when she first told us that they were orphans?"
"I think we should just drop this whole thing." Max stated. "Who cares if they were orphans, or that Amara and Syneon are siblings and both should be dead? Let's just worry about the tournament and what BioVolt is up to." He looked over at Kai meaningfully. "Let's just leave their pasts alone."
Kai was silent, thinking his answer over. "Alright." He agreed.
It was the late afternoon when they made it back to the hotel. They weren't surprised to see a small crowd gathered in the lobby, since the hotel was one where a few teams were staying. They were thankful and curious, though, when crowd did not try to mob them with questions and requests for autographs.
The crowd was surrounding none other than the Wingz Corp, swarming them with questions, even the three who were not participating in the tournament. They were dressed without their cloaks figuring that they would not get attention in the hotel but they were definitely wrong about that.
"Leave us alone." Amara growled, but the threat in her voice went unheard.
"Tell us how you managed to get this far?"
"What do your parents think?" All the members of Wingz Corp flinched at the question.
"Please, don't ask us-" Ari couldn't finish her request and was swamped with more questions concerning their upbringing.
"Are they proud?"
"Have they made it to any of your competitions?"
"What was your childhood like? Did you always know you want to be beybladers?"
"Did your parents encourage it?"
The BladeBreakers saw the storm coming; it was a shame the reporters did not know when to take cover.
"Shut up!"
To everyone's surprise it was Michelle who shouted this. She had a hand on Amara's shoulder to keep her from attacking any of the ignorant fools, Reno was gripping Ari's hand tightly as tears threatened at the corner of her eyes, and even Haru had a dark cast to his face.
"You worthless lowlifes. How dare you ask of our personal lives with no regard whatsoever?" She grabbed the closest reporter by the collar of his shirt. "You really want to know? Fine!" She pushed the man back into the group causing a few of them to stumble to the floor.
"Michelle, they're not worth it." Amara and pulled her hand off her shoulder and stood in front of the livid Wingz member.
"Shut up, Amara." Michelle glowered at her friend and partner. "What gives you the right to say they aren't worth it, when you yourself don't think we're worth it."
"Don't turn this on me!" Amara snapped back.
Reno and Haru started pushing the crowd back, asking them to leave. They cringed when they saw a few taking notes on the fight and managed to take a few notepads away.
"Amara, Michelle, stop it, please." Ari was practically begging.
By this time the BladeBreakers were helping to disperse the crowd, letting Haru and Reno stand between the two redheads.
"How many secrets have you been keeping from us, Amara? How many?" Michelle was close to shouting.
Amara's hand flinched to her side and Haru grabbed her arm thinking that she was going for her blade or something, he was surprised to realize that she wasn't. "What about you? What have you been hiding?"
"Enough!"
"Back off, Ari!" Both Amara and Michelle snapped at the Angel Wing before turning to face each other again.
Ari and Reno knew Michelle enough to grab hold of her arms to keep her from lunging at Amara who was placed in a Half Nelson courtesy of Haru to stop her from going for Michelle's throat.
"What the hell is up with you two?" Tyson's voice momentarily drew their attention away from each other.
"None of your business!" They retorted simultaneous once again and that triggered another glaring match.
"You guys won't get far in the tournament if you keep this up." Max supplied, trying to get them to see reason.
"Thanks for your concern." Michelle sneered.
Amara broke Haru's grip and swiped at his hands when he tried to hold her again. She turned on her heel and walked away, heading out of the hotel. Anyone who was nearby was quick to get out of her way. Kai watched her storm out wanting nothing more than to follow her.
"I'll follow her." Haru stated, as if he read Kai's mind, and took the same route she did.
Reno and Ari cautiously let go of Michelle's arms and she remained where she stood.
"So, ah, what happened?" Hillary tentatively asked.
"I think you saw exactly what happened." Michelle answered.
"I believe she means to ask why it happened." Rei remarked.
Michelle refused to look at him, keeping her head downcast. "It was nothing. Our patience is just… is just a little frayed. Amara and I are not really the most patient of people and we're stuck in a place we're not familiar with so that limits the places we can go to get away from each to cool off." She sighed and inhaled deeply. "Sorry you had to see that."
"I'm just sorry the reporters had to see that." Kenny said.
Michelle gave him a confused look before she realized whom exactly she had yelled at and threatened. "Oh shit!"
"And she remembers." Reno stated.
"I can see the headlines already, 'The Wingz Girls' Catfight', oh God, what a disaster." Michelle groaned. "I'm heading to the room before I can get in anymore embarrassment." She walked away from them heading for the stairs instead of the elevators.
Rei watched her leave and wondered if he should go after her or not. He gave his head a small shake, figuring Michelle would want to be left alone after that. Instead he turned to the other Wingz members with a question. "Will Amara be alright?"
"Haru went after her." Ari answered. "He'll make sure she stays out of trouble."
"Well, I think that's enough excitement for one day." Reno remarked, taking Ari's hand in his.
Ari didn't pull away, even though she kind of wanted to, but she understood what Reno wanted. A show of stability even if the very foundations were crumbling. "We're heading off for a walk around the city, even if the order is still in place, Michelle would probably worry if we didn't show up within the next twenty minutes. Could you pass the message along?"
Rei nodded. "Sure we can do that."
"Thanks." Reno said, glancing at Ari out of the corner of his eye. The two of them walked out the revolving doors, still holding hands.
"Rei, you can give Michelle the message, we'll meet you back at the room." Max remarked.
"See you later." Tyson grinned, following Max to the elevator with Hillary and Kenny in tow.
Rei started to walk away but noticed that Kai remained unmoved. "Kai?" He turned his attention the Chinese blader. "You're worried about her." Rei stated.
Kai shrugged. "She's a worthy opponent."
"Don't lie to yourself, it's more than that." Rei walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Go look for her. See you later." Rei walked away before Kai could come up with an excuse not to, and maybe that was a good thing, with no one to rationalize his choice with, why shouldn't he act on it?
Go find her. Dranzer's voice filled his thoughts. Who knows what else you might find?
Amara ran. She did not know how far. She just ran. She did not know for how long. She just ran. She was beyond the tired ache of her limbs and the soreness of her muscles, the only pain real to her was the one that continued to crawl up her side. The pain and the telltale coldness reached her breast and it seemed as if it was choking the very air from her lungs and held her heart in such a grip that Amara knew it would be able to crush it in a blink of an eye.
Amara stumbled by the people walking down the sidewalk, paying her no heed. Reaching a shadowed alley between two stores, she staggered to the other side of a dumpster to get out of sight. She leaned against the brick wall and slid to the ground, her shirt riding up leaving her back bare to cut itself against the rough stone.
Amara was thankful for the stinging pain since it distracted her from the cold, she even swung her left fist into the metal dumpster once the sting started to go numb and the cold returned. She hugged herself tightly, drawing her slightly swelling hand to her chest.
Amara, don't give up. Tiamat pleaded.
Yes, by all means, don't. Arama's voice echoed. I'll just bide my time, I won't have to do any work to gain control, less energy I would have to replenish. That Damian and Black Dranzer certainly did a clean job.
"Amara?"
She jerked her head up to see Haru standing in front of her. "Why did you follow me?" She asked thickly, straightening from the ball she had curled into.
Haru crouched down in front of her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Maybe I was worried." He reached out and pried her bruised hand away from her chest. He examined at it, running his fingers gently over the bones and joints, and watching carefully when she would instinctively flinch from the pain. "You didn't break it, but it definitely is going to hurt when you try launching a blade."
Amara drew her hand out of his grasp. "I'll be fine. I'm use to pain."
"Maybe too much so."
Amara shot a glare at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Exactly how much pain have you been hiding?"
"What brought this up?"
"Don't think I haven't noticed." Haru remarked, his grip tightening on her shoulder.
"Noticed what?" There was a faint hint of trepidation in her voice.
"You flinch to cover your left side."
"So?" Amara turned away from him.
Haru jerked her forward, forcing her to look back at him, her eyes set in a scowl. He placed his free hand on her other shoulder pulling her closer so she had to put her legs under her in a kneel. "Amara, don't hide it. You can trust me."
Amara's green eyes widened from their glare, as she was mere inches from Haru's steel ones. She always knew the Metal Wing to be distant; he even once gave the short version what happened to him in the past to make him that way. His was trained to be nothing more than weapon; he was taught that to trust anyone or to have anyone trust him would only hurt him. Amara and Michelle did not press the subject or question where exactly he was trained, understanding that he had been hurt for a long time. But here he was, asking Amara to trust him, openly admitting that they all needed other people, despite the fact it went against the training he had basically burned into him. "H-Haru?"
Amara could have sworn that his eyes warmed at that; the steel was no longer that, but a warm grey. It only lasted a second, but she had seen it.
"Amara," Haru took a breath, "I trust you."
If Arama really wanted to take over, Amara probably would have let her, gladly even. "Who are you and what have you done with Haru?"
"Hm."
And that was a suppressed chuckle.
Amara couldn't help it, she starting laughing. It was just a quiet laugh that shook her shoulders and caused her eyes to tear, but a laugh nonetheless. Composing herself, she allowed a small smile. "I trust you too."
Kai stopped when he heard familiar voices in an alley he was about to pass by. He pressed himself against the wall, listening to the conversation.
"Don't think I haven't noticed." Haru's voice sounded.
"Noticed what?" Amara's voice followed.
"You flinch to cover your left side."
"So?"
I guess I wasn't the only one to notice. Kai thought. He wondered whether he should appear now or not but what was said next made him pause.
"Amara, don't hide it. You can trust me."
"H-Haru?"
Kai felt a sharp pain ran through his body followed by an icy tingle that caused him to shiver. He could not understand what was wrong, but he hated it, he wanted to do something, say something, but he was rooted to the spot.
"Amara," Pause, "I trust you."
"Who are you and what have you done with Haru?"
There was a quiet sound that was followed by Amara's laugh. Something that was barely ever heard; even if it was quiet, it was rare since it was a true carefree laugh.
Kai's hand tightened into a fist as he turned and left silently. Amara's next words followed him out of the alley and down the sidewalk and would follow him wherever he would go. "I trust you too."
Kai? Dranzer's voice cut through his thoughts tentatively.Are you all right?
Kai kept walking, not paying attention to where he was going; he just wanted to get away. I don't know, Dranzer. I just need to go somewhere.
Kai, it might not be what you think.
How can you know what I'm thinking when I don't even understand? Kai shot back.
Kai, I understand. You're hurt and you feel betrayed. Dranzer stated soothingly. You can't figure out why because you never really felt that way before. You care for Amara.
Kai kept walking, not noting the scenery steadily changing. Is that really what it is? Haru asked me to see Amara, is this what he really meant, to care for her? He looked up and realized that he ended up in the same cemetery that Max had told them about, where he found Amara, and the graves she had visited.
He meandered through the markers, glancing down at the names as he passed. Kai really did not expect to find the markers, but searching for them kept his mind off the emotions he did not understand.
"Excuse me, sir, are you looking for something?"
Kai paused and turned to face the caretaker. He was an elderly man, with dirt smudged on his brow and arms with a handful of weeds and a gardening tool in his hands. He thought for a moment before answering. "'Rafe', graves marked 'Rafe'."
"Ah, I'll take you there." He deposited the weeds in a wheelbarrow nearby and placed the tool down next to it. "This way, sir. You're the second one to ask me where that family was buried, a girl around your age. Anyway, it's a shame; no one had visited those graves since they were buried. Now I didn't know the family, but it's sad to see that they are forgotten. Well, that's what happens to most of these graves, people forget and don't take the time remember who came before or who left too soon." The man led Kai to a shaded area under the branches of an oak tree. "Here ya are. Shame that it was the whole family, whenever I come to tidy up the sites I make sure to add in a prayer for the children. If ya need anything, holler." The old man gave a teasing smirk. "Not too loud though don't want to wake the dead."
Kai watched the caretaker head back to his work before turning to the headstones, his eyes glancing over them. He knelt down in front of the one marked with Amara's name. "I guess I'm nothing more than a stranger." He remarked cryptically before getting to his feet and gazing down at the grave.
He remained in front of the graves, lost in his own thoughts, unaware of the passing of time. Glancing up at the darkening sky Kai let out a sigh. "I'll come and visit again." With that said, he left heading back to the hotel.
Ari and Reno were no longer holding hands once the hotel was out of sight. They walked next to each other in silence that went unbroken for most of the walk. They ended up at the park where Amara and Michelle had run to the day before. Finding a shaded picnic table, they sat across from each other and avoided eye contact.
Reno was the first to speak up. "I'm sorry, Ari. It was a petty thing to fight over with Michelle and it just kind of escalated into something bigger and we were all annoyed and upset since we saw that Damian was there and…" He stopped when he saw that Ari was staring down at her lap, tears falling down her cheeks. "Ari?" He wasn't sure what she would allow him to do, so he stay in his seat waiting for some kind of 'okay'.
"I-I haven't been the greatest either." She stubbornly wiped away the tears. "All the secrets and everything just got to me. I promised over and over that I would be there for the two of them that they didn't have to take everything up on their shoulders that I wasn't just there to heal the physical hurt. I just snapped at them."
"Haru said that it might be because we're losing respect for the two of them, we've gotten tired of being kept in the dark." Reno stood up and walked over to Ari's side and placed a hand on her shoulder.
To his surprise, Ari gripped his wrist and pulled him closer so that their noses were touching. "I'm sorry too." She tilted her head up and brushed her lips against his in a tentative kiss before pulling back.
"I forgive you as long as you forgive me." Reno said with a smile, his captured hand gripping her wrist in return and pulling her up to her feet.
Ari answered him with a bright smile when she brushed away the tracks the tears had left. She laced her fingers with his and did not let go until they reached the girls' room at the hotel.
Rei had given Michelle the message that Ari and Reno were going for a walk. She thanked him and did not let him say anymore. She had to admit that it might had been a little rude to shut the door in his face but she was obeying orders, she had just finished a embarrassing fight that will most likely be reported by time the six o'clock news came on, and she wanted to talk with Rei. Badly. Why would that urge her to slam the door in his face? Even she did not know.
Michelle paced about the room, anxious for something, anything. She finally grabbed her blade and launcher and headed out. After every solo training session, she felt closer to achieving that second form. She vowed that she would succeed before they left for the next tournament location.
In a hotel on the other side of the city, Damian sat on his bed in the room he shared with Tala. His bed was the one that was closest to the window and allowed a nice view of the city, twenty stories down. The sky was darkening with approaching night and the city was beginning to light up.
There was crash that came from the room next to his; Ryld and Syn's room. He heard Ryld's voice through the wall, cursing at something.
Damian snorted, figuring the blader had stubbed his foot against the dresser or something like that. He wouldn't blame Ryld for doing that either, since Syn does like having the lights off and also Syn was probably humoring his inner sadistic side by moving the dresser or something in different place then Ryld had remembered it being.
The lesson that was learned; don't tease Syn, he holds grudges, no matter how petty the offense was.
Kinda like Amara. Damian thought idly, before giving his head a shake. Well of course he's like Amara, they're goddamn siblings. That had been a shock when Ryld sprung that tidbit information on him.
Ryld and Syn had just returned from their outing. No one really had any idea where they went but Damian decided it was a good idea to ask.
He stopped them before they entered their room. "Where were you guys?"
Ryld grinned. "We just went out and happened upon Amara and Michelle in one of their training sessions. It looked more like a free-for-all between the two of them."
"I guess they were playing their game," Damian remarked nonchalantly.
Syn rolled his eyes and opened the door to the room and slipped inside shutting it behind him and effectively leaving Ryld locked out since he didn't bring his key along.
"Syn!" Ryld pounded his fist against the door. "You're not playing nice! I didn't mean what I said… Okay, I lied, I meant it, but you don't have to take offense, you vindictive bastard!" He sighed and gave up, turning back to Damian, he still had his grin.
"Do I even want to know?" Damian inquired, an eyebrow cocked up.
"Probably not," Ryld responded.
"But you're going to tell me anyway, aren't you?"
Ryld thought on that for only a second. "Yeah. I sorta made a callous remark against Amara."
"Why would that bother Syn?" Damian was definitely confused by that statement.
"You really don't know or haven't noticed?" Ryld looked slightly surprised. "Syn lost his memories after an accident, a fire actually, but I think he didn't really lose them, just buried them deep down so he wouldn't have to deal with them. So my theory is, he still subconsciously worries for her even though he doesn't understand why."
"Still don't understand, Ryld, get to your point."
Ryld slapped his forehead in exasperation. "They're siblings, idiot!" He was gratified to see Damian's eyes bulge out at that. "I can't believe I had to tell you for you to get it." The easy expression on Ryld's face slipped away and Damian was left to face something that he had to admit, unnerved him. Ryld's eyes were narrowed, the easygoing light dying away to leave rust colored irises dark and menacing. "If you say anything to him about his relation with Amara, I will kill you, and do so gladly."
The Ryld Damian had come accustomed to came back within a blink of an eye, the friendly, approachable Ryld that didn't promise death with an air that he was use to it.
That Ryld will be a challenge. Black Dranzer's voice broke through Ryld' flashback. He's good at hiding who he really is.
No kidding. Damian replied. But I can't help but wonder, Ryld respects Syn a lot, so if Ryld is that menacing when he's serious, what's Syn like? He definitely is the power behind the two of them.
If it comes to it, we can defeat them. Black Dranzer's voice was confidant.
Damian was distracted from his answer when door was opened and Tala walked in.
The red-haired Russian had a scowl set on his features and tension ran through his lithe body. He finally looked up to see that he wasn't alone in the room and the scowl deepened.
"Do I need to ask what that look is for?" Damian inquired flippantly.
"No," Tala ground out.
"What if I want to know?"
"Too damn bad."
Damian stood up and walked over to his partner. "Do I need to turn you in for insubordination?" Tala scoffed in response and Damian continued. "I mean I would, but you have to agree that it won't be as bad for you as it would be for, say your friends, back at the Abbey."
Tala's fist tightened and he wanted to do nothing more than lash out at the cocky blader in front of him.
"Boris said that he would take great pleasure in teaching you through them about obeying orders." Damian went on, knowing that Tala was steadily growing angrier by each word that came from his mouth. "What happened, Tala? You used to follow orders so well, gladly even."
"Shut up." Tala said lowly.
Damian smirked. He loved toying with Tala, knowing full well that Tala would only offer verbal defiance since the well being of his teammates was at stake. "Don't get me wrong, I respect your position in this."
"I highly doubt that." Tala snarled.
"You fear for their safety but at the same time you'll do all you can to defy us, which isn't much. But, I'm warning you, do anything to jeopardize our position in the tournament, it won't just be Boris that you have to worry about. Don't deny it, I know that the idea has been going through your head ever since you saw your old friend Kai today."
"He's not my friend." Tala's head dropped and his shoulders slumped, openly admitting defeat in this round.
The ringing of a phone drew Damian's attention and he walked over to the bedside desk and picked up the cell phone. Flipping it open, he brought it up to his ear. "Damian." He answered.
"Damian, its Syn."
"Yeah, what's up?"
"Ryld got the call. He'll be making his move when he finds the right opening."
"Right." Damian was about to hang up when he decided to ask, "Why couldn't you just walk over and tell me this?"
"Who says I'm even in the hotel right now?" Syn hung up before Damian could make any remark.
Damian closed the phone and placed back on the desk. Sitting down on the bed he could not help but wonder who exactly Ryld's informant is. He swung his legs up onto the bed, and laid back. He heard the bathroom door slam shut and closed his eyes.
Things with the Wingz Corp had gotten a little better at least. Reno and Ari had made up, Ari and Michelle were still okay around each other but there were a few tense moments, Michelle and Reno had yet to talk, Amara and Haru were fine, Haru was normal to everyone else, and Amara managed to keep civil tones with the rest of them.
Reaching the stadium, Amara and Michelle were instantly swamped with questions, most of them regarding the argument they had the day before which had been telecast over all the major news stations. On the way in, Amara stuck close to Haru, keeping him on her left, as they tried to break away from the crowd.
They reached the place where only teams and mechanics could enter and there the group split, Amara and Michelle walking down the long hall, while Ari, Reno, and Haru headed for their seats.
"Amara?" Michelle finally spoke up as they headed to their locker room.
"Hm?"
"I'm not going to apologize." Michelle stated.
"I didn't expect you to." Amara replied.
"I've done more than enough apologizing lately," Michelle continued as if Amara had not said anything, "and truthfully, I don't feel at all sorry for my actions. The only thing I feel any remorse about is that the media had to be present for the fight last night and of course publish it, but I feel that I have every right to start that fight."
"Maybe…" Amara cut in, drawing Michelle's attention to her. "Maybe it would have been better if they allowed us to finish that fight."
Michelle blinked away the shock that had spread on her face. She allowed a small smile at that. "Perhaps another time." Amara nodded her agreement and the two went on their way without another word.
A/N: "Well, it's been quite a long wait, hasn't it? Trust me I have a good reason and that reason here's to stay. If you're really that curious to know send me a PM and I'll tell you. Anyway, about this chapter, it's quite long and I feel like I should apologize for that. Its because there wasn't a good place to stop and I want to get back into the tournament. I feel like sometimes I have too much filler stuff but in a way its necessary.
If you think chapters are too long, tell me and I'll go by majority whether or not to shorten the chapters.
What else is there to say? Umm... be warned that it might be a long while before I'll update again, it just depends on what happens. Sorry about mistakes and any hazy areas. If you have questions or suggestions, feel free to make them. Constructive criticism is welcomed. See you when I post again, don't worry, I have not given up on this!
Death