The six year old opened her large blue eyes and saw a pair of mahogany eyes looking at her. The six year old boy they belonged to had a mischievous grin on his face.

"Aren't you ever going to get up, witch?" he asked cheekily. "It's one o' clock."

"What?!" the girl jumped up and was halfway out of bed when she saw the boy still grinning. "Somehow I get the feeling you're lying."

"Not really," he admitted. "It is one o' clock, but at night."

He immediately covered his ears, knowing that the girl would scream. Surprisingly, she didn't. "Have I ever mentioned I hate you?" she said sweetly.

"Eh, have I ever mentioned you're creepy when you sound like that? Actually," he pretended to look thoughtful and said slyly, "That's befitting a witch, which is exactly what you are!"

"Funny," snapped the girl. "Anyway, do you have a reason for waking me up in the middle of the night?"

He shrugged. "I was bored."

"And I'm the only person you could go to?' asked his friend incredulously.

"The only person who isn't completely brainwashed yet." He corrected.

The girl huffed. "I am not brainwashed! You're the one who's obsessed with Black Dranzer."

"I have a reason," he shot back. "If I had the power of Black Dranzer-"

"I would be unstoppable and able to get out of this stupid Abbey." The girl finished the sentence for him. "You're always saying that, but you know we're too young. Even the most experienced bladers aren't allowed to blade with it. And your grandfather would kill you if he found out. And Boris said no, remember?"

"See? That's what I mean," the boy looked angry. "You're scared of Boris and my grandfather, aren't you?"

"No, I'm not!" she shot back. Then she smirked. "You're just jealous that Voltaire likes me more. Favoritism is such a sweet thing sometimes," she pretended to sigh then turned serious. "But seeing as if they found out that we were friends one of us would be out of here, and this is the only home I have and the only place I have friends, I'd rather not express my hate for Boris outwardly like you."

"You know, if you do that, they won't hurt you," said the boy, rolling his eyes.

"Uh, yeah, they will." said the girl smugly. "You get hurt all the time."

"Speaking of the time, it's two A.M. I'd better go or I'm dead."

"Now maybe I can get some sleep." said the girl. She wriggled back into her rather thin bed and closed her eyes.

"Karissa, you have got to be the laziest person I have ever met." said the boy. He jumped off the foot of her bed and quietly opened the door. After peering out to see if the coast was clear, he slipped out and muttered, "'Night, Rissa."

"'Night, Kai." murmured Karissa.

That was the last time the two friends ever saw each other properly again. Two days later, Boris escorted Karissa to the hospital where she saw Kai sitting on a bed, apparently fighting with a nurse.

"Boris, why am I here?" she asked worriedly.

"Because your friend desired to see you one last time," answered the evil man. "You have fifteen minutes." With that he turned and left the room.

"Kai?" asked Karissa timidly. She was sitting in one of the visiting chairs.

Kai looked at her and said quietly, "They're taking me out of the Abbey and you too. We don't have much time. Just listen."

"My grandfather is taking me back to Japan and you're going there as well," he said. "We're going on separate flights. They don't want us to stay friends. It's something about a power surge. Anyway," he started speaking quickly and quietly. "I know they're going to make sure we never meet again. You're going to the chairman of the BBA in Japan. He's supposed to look after you. Apparently he's your real grandfather, but you were taken away at birth at your father's wishes. At least that's what Boris said."

"But-"

Kai cut her off. "Rissa, listen to me. They caught me with Black Dranzer. I tried to use it. I got hurt in the process, but I'm okay now. You won't be if they find out I've told you this stuff, though."

"So, what do I do?"

"When Boris takes you on the flight, pretend you have no idea what's happening." Kai glanced at the door, his face displaying fear. "I think its best if you forget about me. Pretend I never existed. Trust me, your life will be better. And-"

Karissa never heard the last part of his words, though. Boris came in at that moment and yanked her out. "Let's go, Karissa. Say goodbye to Kai."

The two friends shared one last look before Karissa was pulled out. The girl never saw her friend the way he was after that.

Karissa lived in a huge mansion in Japan after that episode as the rich granddaughter of the chairman of the BBA, just as Kai had said. Her flight back had been quiet. A Russian girl all alone on an international flight wasn't something everyone was used to. But fortunately, the air-hostesses were being paid a hefty sum by her grandfather to ensure her a safe and happy flight.

She had been surprised to know she had a relative outside of the Abbey, which was the only home she had ever known. But she had taking an instant liking to her grandfather, whose turquoise eyes matched hers precisely. He told her that that had been the color of her mother's eyes as well. They never spoke of her parents again.

Even though the girl enjoyed her new life, she was still haunted by nightmares in which her old friend was suffering while she enjoyed life. Two years later, after many trips to the psychiatrist, Mr. Dickenson allowed her to spend more and more time away from home. She didn't leave without a family heirloom and a gift, however.

M. Dickenson gave her a Bit, in which he told her was trapped a legendary beast; A magnificent pure black fox with a curtain of nine tails, with a different colored precious stone at the tip: Amethyst, Carnelian, Garnet, Onyx, Pearl, Opal, Peridot, Topaz and Turquoise. It was said to be an extremely powerful spirit, but dangerous at the same time. It had been her mother's and Mr. Dickenson had reluctantly passed it down to her. He was doubtful that someone could control it. Its most famous attack, Jewel Light, was said to be able to burn the very skin of anything, beast or human. When attacking, Vera's tails turned purple and she was surrounded by a golden light.

She had also received an anonymous package; in it were two expensive looking pieces of jewelry. There was an ornate ring, simple enough but of pure silver. There was a heart shaped locket as well, also of pure silver. Karissa had been surprised at the items, and surprisingly her grandfather hadn't even objected to her keeping them. She had taken them with her.

After living in Japan for two years, Karissa started travelling, accompanied by bodyguards for her safety. First she went o France and trained with a few girls who were Russian like her. Their skills were equal, and they formed a team called the Hex Girls. They only played for fun, but Karissa's connections did make them quite famous and they were soon the National Champions, the youngest ever.

In France, Karissa picked up French and, because she stayed there for four years, her English accent became slightly strange. Also, the air of France was good for her and she slowly got better. She grew healthy, but retained her slim figure and pale complexion and became much prettier. She was quite unrecognizable by the people who had known her long ago.

Karissa then went to White Tiger Hills when she was twelve, where she made friends with the children. Her beyblading skill was much better than the other kids and she slowly began to teach them. Those three years were the happiest of her life.

When she had first left the Abbey, Mr. Dickenson had changed her name to Samantha. He had tried to erase as many memories of her past as he could. He didn't want the child to remember anything about her horrible history. But Karissa still remembered what it had been like. She remembered life in Russia. She also remembered something, or someone, who had made life easier for her. She didn't stress on it, though. She had been a mere child at the time.

'Samantha' had slowly made a big celebrity of herself through the Hex Girls and the White Tigers, but she still used her old name of Karissa at home. Ten years later, after travelling had worn her out she had agreed to return home to Japan, where Mr. Dickenson had enrolled her at a semi-public school called Bakuten High. Highly annoyed as she was that she'd have to meet new people (travelling had taken all the zest out of it), she was only happy that the Hex Girls were coming with her. An old friend of hers, Mariah, had called and told her she had been going to the same school for a year. Very exited, and seeing as the Beyblading teams were said to be rather good, sixteen year old 'Samantha' was up for the challenge.