Beyblade Fan Fiction ❯ Guilt ❯ Uncertainty ( Chapter 9 )

Chapter 9

 

“Hey Faith, look it's the White tigers on TV!”

She looked at what the girl was talking about. Because Malin couldn't understand Dutch, the television had been dominated by English channels lately. Faith didn't mind much, she hardly watched it anyway. She had better things to do with her free time. But hearing that familiar name she couldn't help but be curious. It was reportage about the upcoming world championships and the teams that were sure to compete. Amongst them were the
Majestics, the All Stars and the Demolition Boys as well.

 

There was very little footage of the Russian team, but it was enough for Faith. She hadn't seen their faces for so long. She saw Tala, though she doubted that it was the same sweet and caring boy she had known for so long. And there was Brian, she recalled from her only tournament she had with the team. The other two looked familiar in face, but not in name. Funny, she didn't see Kai anywhere. He had been the strongest of them all; surely he would have a spot in the team? Unless…No, couldn't be. Voltaire was heartless and cruel, yes, but to have his own grandson killed? Then again, with that lunatic you never know. Pain soared through her heart when she thought of that horrible possibility.

 

But maybe he escaped? Maybe he was safe somewhere in Russia, living in the streets, but safe? She had to go back, look for him, and find him. They could get Tala out of there, be happy again with the three of them. Start a whole new life right here, far, far away from Biovolt and the nightmares. She didn't realise that she had started breathing rapidly, thinking over the possibilities. Not until Malin started shaking her shoulders.

 

“Faith, you ok? You look like you've seen a ghost.”

She noticed the worried look in the Asian's eyes and looked away, trying to regain her composure. But she couldn't will away of the thought that Kai was possibly dead, killed by order of his own grandfather no less. She stood up and walked towards the door.

“I'm fine.”

“Where are you going?”

“Out, I need to get some fresh air. You go to bed; the try-outs start in the morning.”

“But what about you?”

“Don't worry, I got a key and I'll be back soon.”

“You'd better; I want to whoop your butt fair and square.”

 

Faith had only heard half of it. Her mind was still on her old friends and she was worried. Tala looked fine, and at least now she knew that he was alive, but Kai. How was he? Was he dead, dieing, on the run? She didn't know and it made her feel sick to her stomach. She was met with a cold breeze once she was outside and she looked up at the sky. Stars were glistening against a black sky and the moon was casting its cold light upon the streets. It was quiet, calm, and eerily serene.

-Where are you, Kai?-

She blamed herself for not going back, for never trying to get her friends out. All this time she had been so selfish. During all those years she had partially forgotten that she had friends living in a hell and she hadn't once thought about helping them out. If Kai was dead, then it would be her fault. She should have done something, anything.

 

-Mistress is being silly. Mistress is just one person. Mistress couldn't have saved her friends.-

-It is rude to read a persons mind without permission Lyria.-

-Lyria is sorry, but Lyria felt your pain. Lyria does not wish for mistress to feel pain and despair. There was nothing mistress could have done.-

-But I could have tried.-

-Mistress would have died trying.-

-The name, Lyria, is Faith. I am not your mistress. I'm a human being with a name.-

-Lyria is sorry.-

-And please, stop doing that, stop saying your name like you are talking about someone else.-

-I'm sorry Miss Faith; my former master had other ideas about formality.-

She noticed a faint glow besides her, the bit beast had appeared, but she couldn't see the blade spin anywhere.

-How do you do that? Appear without being launched?-

 

-as I said miss, I am your guardian. I only reside in the blade for comfort, it does not confine me like it does to some other bit beasts.-

-You sure don't look like any other bit beast. - Faith remarked as her guardian was no bigger than a common house cat. Sure, Lyria was strong enough, but if she ever summoned it, she'd be the laughing stock of the arena.

-In battle or danger I grow stronger. But now there is no need for strength or height.-

-Oh- The bit had a point, and Faith sat down on the sidewalk. Tentatively she stuck out a hand towards her winged `cat'. Strangely enough Lyria reached out her head towards the hand, lowly purring at the attention. Winged and bit beast or not, Lyria was still more than enough cat it seemed. Soon enough Lyria was sitting in her lap, still quietly purring as Faith rubbed behind its ears. In between purrs Lyria talked to the girl, comforting her about her friends and telling her about her former master.

-You should go back inside, miss Faith. It is getting late, and you need sleep.-

-Maybe you're right.-

She saw the glow grow fainter. Before it disappeared altogether Faith called out and thanked the bit beast. With one last look towards the moon she went back inside the apartment.

 

In another country, two pairs of eyes were watching the same moon from their hotel room. They were currently travelling, participating in small tournaments, waiting for the world championships to begin. Neither of them could sleep. It had actually surprised Kai that Ray was awake at this time of night for once. But he took one look at the other guy's face and knew. It had been the same thing that had been on his mind every day for the past 7 years.

“You haven't seen this person in a while huh?”

Ray stared at the blader besides him. Had he actually said something non-blading related? Scratch that, had he actually spoken? Noticing Ray's impression of a fish, Kai hn'ed and went back to staring at the sky. Maybe he shouldn't have tried. Ray realised that if he was ever to strike another conversation with the Russian, he would best answer now.

 

“Yeah, you could say that. But she left my life a long time ago.”

Bitterness, he knew that tone more than anyone. He had invented that tone. Though he had learned to hide it. Hide everything behind that stone cold mask of his. Just like Biovolt had taught him.

“But you still miss her.”

A sigh. Honestly, this guy gave away more with his tone than his words.

“Yes. Sometimes I just wonder if I will ever see her again. There's so much I want to ask her. Like why she did it. If it was something we had done.”

 

He hn'ed again. There was no need for him to ask or wonder those questions. Only one question was on his mind. Was she still alive? The rest would follow after. But there would never be a rest. There was only a small chance of her survival, and he had stopped hoping long ago.

“How much would you give to see her again?”

“Everything I have and more.”

Another `hn'. Ray wondered if Kai had used up his word limit of the day due to the lack of responsiveness. He should call himself lucky that Kai had actually used it up to strike a conversation with him, but the conversation had brought up a painful memory inside of him. More than one actually, and yet the other blader seemed unaffected. Kai was leaving and Ray would have just let him, if it wasn't for his feline hearing catching a muttered phrase.

 

“That's not good enough.”

“How much would you give then?”

Kai turned and Ray wished that he could swallow his words when he saw the look shot in his direction. He doubted between running for the door, or jumping off the balcony.

“My heart, my soul, my life, the world, the universe. Whatever it takes.”

Ray relaxed a little. He wouldn't have to jump.

“Who is she?” He couldn't stop himself from asking. Kai turned his back to him and left back for the room.

“It doesn't matter anymore. She's probably dead.”

“What do you mean probably?”

He didn't get his answer as he saw Kai's silhouette crawl into bed. Even though Ray hadn't gotten much info, he knew Kai had just shared one of his deepest secrets. Maybe the Russian was finally beginning to trust him. Or maybe he just recognized his own doubts in him. Whatever it was, it had made Ray really tired.

 

Faith grunted as the alarm clock went. It felt as though she'd only gone to bed half an hour ago, and she couldn't even remember setting it. Hitting the snooze button she turned and tried to sleep again.

“Hey, sleepy head. Time to get up.”

Taking a sleepy glance at the clock she noticed it was 6.30. Groaning she pulled the covers over her head. Nobody wanted to wake her if her intent was sleep. And Malin would soon find out the hard way if she persisted.

“I knew you wouldn't be able to get up. C'mon Faith, do you want to get disqualified or something?”

“What the hell are you talking about woman?” Faith growled.

“The try-outs…duuuuuuh, besides, didn't you promise that kid eum…Ducky…to be there on his first match?”

That shot her out of her sleep and into her clothes. She had almost forgotten the boy.

“His name is Matthew, but you're right I did.”

 

Racing towards the building she found out that the match was about to start. Cursing she used her employee badge to get through the lines quickly. Out of breath and sweating she stood at the front line when Matthew had just taken the platform. She shouted his name. The boy looked in her direction startled and then smiled brightly when he saw his coach. He flashed her a thumbs up and then put his heart and soul into the match. He won in the end. After the match he ran towards Faith and hugged her.

“You came.”

“Of course I did, I promised, didn't I?”

She wanted to go celebrate the boy's first victory but Malin warned her that she had her own match starting in five minutes. Setting the kid down, she smiled at him.

“Wish me luck ok?”

 

“You don't need that.”

The schedule for her age category was just plain brutal. Match after match, with only a five minute break if they were lucky. Both Faith and Malin were strong, but no one could survive without enough rest. Faith didn't even have enough time to see how Matthew was doing. At the end of the day they were down to the quarter finals for their age category and Matthew was still in the running for the team in his category. They didn't feel like celebrating since they were dog tired. Only taking the time to check out their competition they headed home and straight for bed. Their bit beasts could use the rest.

 

Quarter finals were easy the next day. And they even had more than enough time before the semi finals to rest and relax. Faith and Malin were giving some pointers to Matthew, though Malin kept calling him Ducky, when two guys came their way. They introduced themselves as Adam and Jim, their competitors. It seemed like they wanted to check out who they were up against in the next final. Even though the last four got into the team, these finals were still held as a matter of respect, so they knew that every one belonged in the team. The boys had been very disgruntled when they found out their opponents and team-mates were girls. That was, until Adam remembered something.

 

“Now I remember, you teach my little sister. She told me you were good, but I never expected you to make it this far.”

“So just because we're girls, we're too weak to be in a team? Give me a break mister macho man.”

Malin had always had a problem with the whole `man is better than woman' thing, and hearing the guy say this sparked her anger. She nearly hit him for his answer, but Faith intervened. Best to stop something before it started.

“Look you two, like it or not, we are going to have to get along. If there is one thing that destroys a team it's fighting. Besides, they'll notice just how good we are in half an hour.”

To say the boys were beaten was an understatement; they were utterly destroyed and dominated. The showdown between the two friends proved an even better fight to witness. Neither seemed to have the upper hand and it surprised no one that it ended in a tie.

 

They were going to the World Championships Beyblade, representing Belgium. Nobody cared that only 2 had lived there their whole life. Within two months, the four of them would be in a hotel in Stockholm, Sweden, where the championships were held this year. Though Faith was trying to deny herself, she couldn't wait to see Tala again. To show him and Boris that she was still alive and kicking. And furthermore, kicking their asses with Lyria.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------

 

It's horrible to have someone disappear from your life, without even knowing if they're alive or dead. Not knowing where they are or how they're doing. As many people said before me. It's not the fact that the person is gone that stops you from sleeping, it's the uncertainty of what happened.