Beyblade Fan Fiction ❯ The Battle For Everything ❯ Replacements, Replacements ( Chapter 6 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

"What do you want?" Kai asked her, watching her look up at the board at the Tim Hortons conveniently located in the hospital.

"Hold up," Kira said. "First you're all human pillow niceness, and now you're asking me what I want? There's something wrong with you," she continued. carefully. "It's nice and all, but come on, you usually turn off the charm once we know everything's going to be okay."

"And?" Kai wondered, his voice taking on a tone that showed his annoyance. "If you're following me to give me some speech, save it."

"I just want to know."Kira grabbed his arm and dragged him out the door, onto the patio roof that was abandoned at this time of day. The coffee and donout place was on the second floor, and the patio was for people who were tired of the fifth floor waiting room. "I mean, come on. Listen to yourself!"

Kai didn't respond. Kira looked out at the surrounding area. "Okay," the Russian said, growing a bit impatient. "Let me give you a review of the past few days." She took a deep breath. "First you're all questioning me about Tala, then you're all annoyed, we have this argument-ish thing, and agree to act like we were never together, then after that, you won't even give me a decent beybattle, which I know you definitely let me win, and finally, you're all defensive of my sister, whose dream you nearly destroyed five years ago. And," she said with even more annoyance, "you let me use you as a human pillow when you knew that the stress was going to probably knock me out anyway."

"That was the biggest run on sentence I've ever heard." Kira took a shaky breath and sat down. "I don't know," Kai mused, brushing off what she said with a bit of his mysterious attitude.

"Alright, Sourpuss, this is getting old." Kai stiffened. "You're all for acting like you barely know me, but then you're entirely hypocritical of it, acting like we're like best friends. I really appreciate what you've done for Libby, but come on Kai, we really don't need to make the same mistakes twice."

"This isn't a mistake, Storm," he muttered. He continued in a clearer tone "And you're the one who keeps bringing things up. I never said anything about the Pikachu incident."

"So that was me." She shrugged. "It's the truth. But that doesn't explain why you're all nice to me. And Libby. It's not the typical you."

"I guess." He said it indifferently, and she knew she was going to have to think of someway to get him to explain. He had been nice, and she liked it, but she knew it wasn't how he was. He was going to retreat back into his walls of solitude, and she was going to have to pull him back out again.

"Oh come on, admit it." He didn't respond, and she smiled. "Okay, fine. Don't tell me the reason. I'll figure it out. Just remember that we aren't going to be on the same side for much longer. Our last day together with both our teams is Friday." She got up, turning from him. He got up as well, and she turned back to him. "Oh, before I forget, thanks for everything, between Libby, and well, you know."
She leaned toward him and gave him a quick peck on the lips. He was completely shocked by the display of affection, not expecting it at all. Kira gave him a genuine smile, turning back around. Well, he told himself, you might never get another chance to try and figure things out, so you might as well.

He grabbed her wrist and spun her back around, being the one to kiss her, just a peck, like before. This was definitely not his character, he decided, but he had to know if he still had anything left of what he once thought he felt. At that moment, he wasn't sure. They parted, and suddenly, unaware of who started it, they were not just kissing on the lips. Both teens had completely given in, tongues fighting for control of the other's mouth.

A few minutes later, they stopped, and Kira took a step back. "That," she said calmly, trying to keep herself under control, "was the stupidest thing you've ever done." She broke from his grip on her wrist, storming off angrily.

When the door shut behind him, he spoke."Unfortunately, I'd have to agree."

"You've got to be kidding me," Kira said, the color drained from her face. She was currently holding Libby's shaking hand, staring at the doctor with an incredulous look. "Three months?"

"I'm afraid so," The doctor said. "Whoever did this to her is not to be taken lightly."

"They're to be taken down." Mana stared at Kira. Ever since she had come back, without coffee, from being with Kai, she was more tense, more on edge, just more all around scary. She was Storm, not the under control Kira. Mana looked to Diana, who looked to Libby. They were all thinking the same thing, besides being upset about Libby's injury.

"I'm sorry," Libby said, tears forming in the corner of her eyes.

"Don't be." Kira's body language changed, being more comforting. She enveloped her sister in a tight hug. "You didn't let anyone down." The Bladebreakers watched in shock from the far side of the room, by the door. Kai had just slipped in behind his teams.

"She's bi-polar," Kai said in an undertone. Kira looked up at her team mates. Hilary stood over by Max, close to Mana and Diana.

"Well, you have to have four available beybladers on a team for the championships, right?" Everyone looked to Kira.

"Yeah."

"What are you getting at?" Ray asked, confused. The rest of the group, save the girls, nodded in agreement.

"What she means," Libby said, shifting so that she was in a more comfortable upright position, "Is that we need a beyblader. And I would be honored, if Hilary would take my spot in the championships." Mana and Diana both nodded, and Kira turned from her sister, looking to the brunette.

"You want me?"

"We were going to ask you anyways," Kira said, with a smile. She looked back to Libby, a sly smile on her face. "But I think Libby made the right decision. She knows what happens when you don't listen to the doctors."
"Yeah, you were out for almost a year, eh, Kira?" the blue haired girl whacked her sister playfully.
"Shut it," she said, pretending to be annoyed. Hilary turned to the Bladebreakers, all of whom, except Kai had an open mouth. Kai was too much of a man to wear his emotions on his sleeve.

"Kira," Ray said nervously, "She doesn't beyblade. She does tech stuff."
"Yeah," Tyson said. "Besides, she doesn't want to get too dirty, right Hil?"

Hilary turned to Kira, extending her hand. "I'm in." Her original team stared at her in shock.
"Hilary! You're supposed to be on our side!" Kenny jumped up in exasperation, and Daichi looked extremely hurt.
"Yeah, who's gonna tell Tyson what for?" Daichi looked just as concerned as the rest of them.

"Hey!" After a moment, Tyson's head was down, and he was poking his index fingers together sheepishly. "Okay, yeah, I agree."

"You've got Kai to do that," Hilary said, "Though it looks like he's been through the ringer." The girls all looked at Kira, who threw up her hands in defeat. His hair was all disheveled, and his eyes gave away the array of emotions he was feeling.

"What did you do, sis?"

"Nothing," Kira said, looking at Kai. She raised her eyebrows at him, and he looked at her, with a fresh glare. She was mocking him, and he wasn't going to back down. He knew, somewhere, she felt something, and he'd have to bring it out again, assuming that he didn't have a nervous breakdown of a beyblader to deal with later that night.

"And by the way, boys," Hilary said, pushing a hand into her pocket, "I've been training for a while. Just think about it, like I could show you that I beyblade too. You'd think I'd want in on a position on your team, to just mooch my way on it. And I want to earn what I get. And not be completely looked down on." She pulled out a pink beyblade.

"Figures," Max said, "It would have to be pink."

"Well duh," Kira said. "That's her aura. And yet, her bitbeast packs quite a punch."

"Bitbeast?" Tyson stared at her, stunned.

"Ch, yeah. I have one too."

"I can't believe you'd leave our team," Ray said. "Are you sure about this?"
"Yeah, think about Tyson," Max reminded. "He lo-"

"Do what you want," Tyson said suddenly, his head bent low. "I don't care."

"Dude, what are you saying, of course you care!" Max looked directly at his friend. He was not a happy camper. None of them were. Hilary brought a lot of spark to the team, whether she knew it or not. Tyson shrugged his shoulders.

"If she doesn't, I don't."

"Hilary," Mana said, standing up. "If you don't want to, you don't have to."
"If it's going to cause such a scene, forget I even said it," Libby said.

"No." Everyone looked at Hilary. "It's my decision. My choice. And I chose First Strike. They need me, and I've learned a lot from training with them. Besides, who wants to be in the shadow of the champions?"

"We want to be the champions," Kira said, pulling out her beyblade. The other three girls did as well, and the five knocked beyblades. Tyson looked up at how happy Hilary was, and then brushed past his team mates and left the room.

"Oh great," Kai said. "He's all fucked up now." His tone was annoyed, and a little angry.

"I'll fuck you up," Kira said, standing up. Kai took a step back, much to his surprise. Everyone stared at Kira. She sat back down after Libby grabbed her arm.

"It's not worth it."

Hilary walked out of the room, looking both ways, trying to catch a glimpse of Tyson. She saw him, on the elevator, going down. Quickly, she ran to the door marked 'Stairs,' and threw it open, taking them down two at a time. She caught him on the ground floor, and caught him at the main entrance.

"What do you want?" He asked, in a monotone. She walked outside with him, eyeing him carefully. His temper was about to emerge, she could feel it.

"To be good enough."

"You already are!" She looked at him sympathetically. He seemed frustrated by her, and kicked a rock down on the ground.

Hilary, for once, remained surprisingly calm. "I'm not. Not if I kept it a secret from all of you." He sat down on the curb by the handicapped parking spots. "You know that I'm always the tech. I'm the friend, but not the girl, you know?"

"I guess..." He looked at her. "You don't have to prove anything to anyone."
"Yes I do. I have to prove it to myself." She took one of his hands. "When I first met you, I couldn't stand you, and how you were Mr. World Champion. You were the special kid, the best, the hero. I want to take you on Tyson. I want to try and see how I do. I don't have to win or anything." He looked at her surprised. "I want to be good enough," she said, looking at him, meeting his eyes directly.

"Good enough for what?"

"Good enough... for you."

"Are you sure you want to go through with this, Hilary?" Mr. Dickenson asked her, looking her directly in the eye. "This isn't some mediocre tournament. This is the..."

"World Championships, I know." Hilary looked over to Tyson, who flashed a thumbs up. "And yes, I'm sure."

"Okay," he said, handing her a contract. "The four of you-"

"Libby is still going to be on our team, Dickenson," Kira commented. "You don't think we need a tech?"

"Sorry, right, erm, the five of you need to sign this contract and then you will officially be registered." Kira took a pen from the desk.

"No backing down now," the Russian said. She signed her name in a fancy cursive that appeared mysterious.

"Yeah, we're in!" The other four signed quickly, Libby leaning forward on crutches to sign the document.

"Well, Bladebreakers, are you in?"

"I think the question is," Kira said confidently, "Will you be able to survive the storm?"

She turned around from the chairman and stalked away, her team following her. From the moment those boys signed the contract, they were their rivals. Friends forever, but rivals as well. Once they had left the room, Kira turned around to the four girls. "We give 'em hell," she said. "We've got a little less than a week of solo training. Tomorrow morning, Dickenson announces the location of the championships. The second he does, everyone is going to go rushing up there. We're going to leave for the finals next Thursday. That will give us three days to figure out our competition. More than enough time, if you ask me."

"Agreed." Hilary smiled. This was what it felt like. Constant challenges, constant rush. To do what you loved and to play like no one had ever played before. This was it. This was beyblade.

"Well now, I guess they're naming Toronto the home of the championships. Good. I'm sure your daughter is just... dying to meet you, after all these years."

"I'm sure she is. Let's make sure we kill her and the rest of them. From the inside out."

"Of course. Once the finalists are selected, the fun begins..."

"I cannot believe you!"

"Yeah, Tala, I know. I get what I want and then I get all bitchy on him."

"You should have told me when you told me about Libby!"

She sighed. "I was too busy trying to keep you from boarding the next plane here and beating up half the population of New York."

"Heh," he said sheepishly, "Yeah."

"Well, I'd love to chat with you, dear, but you know, we're rivals now."

"You and your rival policy. What happens when you do get together with Kai?"

"That won't happen." After a few more exchanges, she hung up the phone, stepping out onto the balcony. "It's better for both of us. I know what will happen. They'll use him to get to me. Or vice versa. It's better off this way."
"I'm sorry," Libby said suddenly. "I didn't mean to listen in, but Mana and Diana are out shopping, so, it gets a bit boring."

"No big deal," Kira said. "It just kinda sucks."

"I know what you mean."

"Where's Hilary?"

"On the roof."

"Okay, well, what are we waiting for. The doctor said you couldn't do anything too crazy, right?"

"Right," Libby said, depressed.

"He didn't say you couldn't beyblade all together. A few practice battles, basic training, bitbeastless stuff, that you can do."

"Sweet!"

"Come on," Kira took one look out at the city that stretched out in front of her. "Someone's gotta give her a run for her money, right squirt?"

"Amen!"

Kira laughed. If it wasn't for beyblade, she thought, they'd both be dead already.