Hey guys! I hope you all enjoyed your Christmas! Next stop, New Year! This is the concluding chapter of Consequences. I really hope you guys all like it!
Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade
Parting
Kai carefully shut the gate behind him as he entered the dojo. Judging by the silence everyone had already left. Good. He didn't think he could cope with all the questions and comments they had to make today. Maybe tomorrow at school he could face them if he felt up to it. Then he remembered it was their last week before the summer holidays which also meant that in two weeks he was supposed to be heading off to Russia. Supposed to be. He already knew that that would not be the case. As much as he liked – he wouldn't go so far as to say loved – Rosanne and Alexander (he thought they would have been pretty great people to have grown up with), he just didn't see there being any future with them living as a family no matter how hard they tried to fool themselves. At fifteen, nearly sixteen, years old, Kai knew that within a few years he would be completely independent anyway so why should he bother? He could keep relations for emergencies, accept any gifts or money they offered them and he could even pretend he loved them but he wasn't going to give them false hope that one day they could be a family because it just wouldn't happen. The only person he could see himself coming to love if he didn't already was Matt. The other three were merely there. That was the only way to describe it. They were a part of his life but not a part of his life. In the football world, they were the coach to his team: they offered advice and supplied him with what he needs but at the end of the day the game was entirely up to him with no participation from them whatsoever except praise where it's needed and anger when he doesn't do as he should.
Quitely, he let himself into the house and took off his shoes at the door. Then his alarm bells began to ring. In the middle of the hall were the bags that had been left at Voltaire's. He'd completely forgotten all about them and here they were. His mind raced through all the possible scenarios. Had some one went back for them? Had Voltaire dropped them off? Was he here?
"It's weird huh?" Tyson commented as he welcomed his friend 'home'. "When we all came back here they were just lying on my porch. There was a letter that came with them but we knew it was best not to open it until you came back." He handed Kai a white envelope which he opened slowly and his eyes scanned through it quickly. "So what does it say?"
"Dear Kai," He began, "I'm returning your possessions to you in the hope that all ties between us are now severed. Now, you have no reason to ever return to the Hiwatari manor and, more importantly, come into my life again. This is my gesture of good will so that, though we will never again grace one another's company, we shall at least part on outward good terms, though inside they may be filled with hate and anger.
"I know that our life together has not been pleasant. You have never had your up most obedience that I required and, most probably the cause of it, I never loved you as a grandparent should and I never will. I do, however, wish you well in the future. I hope that your life turns out to be everything that you want it to be and that you wish the same for me, even if it is filled with resent.
"It is on this note that I will conclude this last chapter in our life together and on the dream that never again will our paths cross. Yours sincerely, Voltaire Hiwatari." He folded the letter back inside the envelope along with another content which Kai didn't feel like showing to Tyson.
"Sweet," Tyson said. "So that's it completely over then?"
"It would seem that way. He was always one to keep his word and his honour." Kai grabbed both bags with all the spitefulness of an old man. "I'm going to head of to bed. I'll see you later."
Tyson nodded as he watched Kai walk up the stairs that led to his bedroom. He could tell from his demeanour that, even though he hid it well, inside he would be soaring. All his life he had been tormented by his grandfather's ambitions and now, finally, he was completely free of them forever. It must be some relief to be rid of all the pain that had been caused over the years. Unfortunately, now he must look to the pain that is going to hit him in the years to come. Surely it would be obvious to him that when he informs his parents that he'll be staying in Japan they'll be crushed? For years, he's going to have to look at their disappointed faces with the guilt that he was the one to disappoint them. Then again, it worked on both sides. If he was to go to Russia, they would have to cope with his unhappiness at being secluded from his friends and the only people who ever really knew him and wanted him the way that he was. They weren't fools. They would know that they were the cause of it. Kai wasn't a fool either. He knew that their real intention was the take him to Russia with not letting him ever return to Japan. It didn't take a genius to work that our. He'd managed to. Of course, how they would work this plan was beyond him. Did they think that Kai would fall in love with Russia or their home so much that he wouldn't want to leave it? He had no idea how this whole situation would turn out. Would Kai eventually give in and leave Japan or will his parents back down and let him stay? No matter what the outcome was Kai would always be welcome here.
Garnet arched her small back in the sun and carried out a full out stretch in the warm summer sun, reaching her hands behind her head and making a relaxed groaning sound to accompany the gesture. "I can't believe in four days school's over. I can't wait."
"Do you have plans?" Mariah asked knowing that she didn't.
"No but I mean no school. How can that not be awesome?"
"No school means nothing to do, especially since I'm going back to China for most of the vacation. I guess I kinda can't wait to see my parents. It's been quite some time. And you guys are going to your parents' too, right?"
Tala grimaced and Kai remained silent. He was actually headed in the direction of his parents' to inform them that in actual fact he will not be going to Russia with them. He'd been mentally preparing himself all day for it and he felt a bit nervous: an emotion that was generally a stranger to him.
"You are going Kai?" Mariah prompted.
"No, I'm not. I'm going to tell them that I'll be staying with Tyson for the remainder of the holidays."
"What?" Garnet demanded. "But that's so unfair on them! How could you do that?"
"They're not planning on letting me go back to Japan, Garnet. They're telling me it's only for summer but I can tell that they have a completely different idea. So I'm not going to go."
"And Tyson's alright with this? Is my grandpa alright with this?" Her tone was harsh and sharp enough to cut a tree in half.
"Yes. I'm not an idiot. Why do you want me to go so badly?" She could see that there was some defence in the seemingly innocent question. "If I didn't know you better I'd say you were trying to get rid of me."
She shrugged and her voice became a little bit softer, if only a fraction. "I don't want you to go. I want you to have a more stable family life now that Voltaire's completely out of your life. It's not good for some one to live with a friend all their life."
"Actually," he said almost guiltily, "I'm not going to live with Tyson after school starts. Voltaire gave me one final parting gift. Some compensation for all the hell he put me through all my life and its enough pay for all my school fees and dorming fees for the next few terms and probably enough to buy my own house when the time comes."
All three pairs of eyes went wide with shock and Kai could almost feel himself smirk. His reaction had been the same. The gesture of good will on behalf on his grandfather had almost swept him clean off his feet as he had read the several figured sum that had been put on a cheque written out to him. At first, he'd thought it was a joke: a twisted attempt at humour at his expense. Upon studying it closely he saw that it was legitimate. He'd even got up earlier that morning so he could cash it in to his bank account before school. The clerk had initially been surprised until she recognised the sport star and assumed it was some from of payment for a sponsorship deal or something.
"No way!" Garnet's mouth hung open wide enough to catch flies. "How much did he give you?"
"Enough."
"And it's legitimate?"
"I cashed it in this morning."
"So there are not strings attached? He doesn't want anything from you in return?" Tala's usual suspicious mind on behalf of the old man was working full throttle. "It seems a bit too good to be true."
"The only thing he wants from me is to never see me again. Besides, the guy's a billionaire. What he gave me was merely pocket change."
Mariah suddenly hugged her cousin tightly. "This is great! You can now have that new beginning you've been wanting for so long. I'm so happy for you!"
"Before you go that far there's one more thing I need to do." He frowned. "And I'm not looking forward to it."
It was formal, the way that Kai greeted Rosanne and Alexander. So formal that they probably knew that something was awry all ready. Matt looked at Kai with all the wisdom of an elderly man who'd seen much of the world. Obviously he could foresee this entire conversation before it'd happened. Kai wondered what his predictions were.
He was led to the sitting room of their hotel where he took a seat in the single chaired couch, making sure that he was meeting their eyes all the time. If they thought there was one ounce of guilt then he was certain they'd play on it. He wouldn't let them make that mistake.
"I asked you to come here because there's a slight mix-up in our plans. We're going to have to go to Russia a littler sooner than we thought. Friday, actually, is when our flights are scheduled for. You'll have to be ready for then." Rosanne smiled apologetically but Kai could tell that she wasn't sorry at all that her son would be leaving earlier. It would give her more time to convince him to stay.
"I'm not going."
"What?" She asked, still smiling though the happiness had faded from it.
"I'm not going," he said again firmer.
Her usual motherly face took a sour turn as a range of emotions flooded into it: confusion, hurt, fear but strangely no anger. "I don't understand?"
"I'm really sorry but I just can't. You'll want me to stay and I'm just not ready to do that yet. Or ever. But it's okay because Tyson's grandpa said I could stay as long as I want and next term I can use the dormitories at school."
"And who do you think's going to pay for them?" Rosanne huffed. "And just who does Mr. Granger think he is? He's not your legal guardian."
"Neither are you." Kai reminded her gently. "Voltaire Hiwatari is my legal guardian and he's given enough money to pay for my schooling needs of the rest of my school career." Rosanne and Alexander swapped quizzical, alarmed glances. "It was kind of a reward for never crossing his path again. Look, I'm sorry but this is my decision. We'll never be a family, not the one you want us to be. I was hoping we could part on good terms but I see that was in vain."
He stood up to leave but Rosanne hailed him to stop. "I realize that now, Kai. It's too little too late for us. I'm sorry that I couldn't have been a better mother to you." She took his hand. Her skin was soft and warm: like a mother's hand. "I've not been fair expecting so much of you so soon. Stay in Japan. We'll keep in touch. Maybe you and your friends can visit us some time?"
"That would be great." He met her eyes and saw that there were tears in them.
"Oh Kai," she said and embrace him tightly. Breathing in, she smelt like flowers. Rose petals. It made Kai's heart lurch. "It's better this way, isn't it. You'd only resent us if you were to live in Russia." Kai felt a tear drop hit his neck and Rosanne let him go, delicately wiping her eyes. "I want you to know that your father and I will always love you, even if you never return it."
Kai didn't know what to say and so chose to say nothing.
"And don't think for a second that we'd let you pay your own school fees." Alexander said almost gruffly. "We're not that bitter." He paused for a second. "Before you go, there's something I want to give you." He reached around his neck and undid the chain that had been hidden in his shirt. It was a simple silver chain with a small, silver pheonix pendant on it. "So that you don't forget us. It's something that's been in the Hiwatari family for many generations, just like Dranzer. I want you to have it." Clasping it around Kai's neck, he took a step back and smiled. "It suits you."
Kai fingered it admirably. It looked just like his pheonix. "I don't know what to say..."
"Then don't say anything." His father smiled sadly. "Don't forget who you are. You're Kai Hiwatari and you're my son. If you are going to remember anything, remember that."
Kai nodded. "I won't." He could feel that it was time they said goodbye, for now. He couldn't say those words, though. "I'll keep in touch." He walked out of the room but paused at the door. "Thanks for understanding."
He didn't want them to reply. He didn't want to give them a chance to change his mind. What he did want was to talk to some one. What he wanted was Hilary and he wanted her now. Without thinking, he found himself running down the polished marble of the exclusive hotel. He didn't wait for an elevator. He took the stairs and ran down them two at a time. He could feel his heart beating in his chest but she didn't care. It was exhilarating, this desire to be with her. A few people shouted at him but he didn't care. He ignored their remarks and continued to run at top speed to Hilary's house. There was no way he could stop. He couldn't slow down enough to look for traffic. Weaving in and out of the rush hour, sprinting down street after street. When he finally reached the street where Hilary lived, he felt like a marathon runner felt on the home stretch. He hurled over her gate and leaped up her stairs, stopping just in time to avoid colliding with her front door. He rang her doorbell as calmly as he could. There was no way to explain this desperation for seeing her. Maybe it was because he knew that he had the whole summer ahead where he could spend each moment with her. Or maybe it was just some inexplicable urge. It had taken him on so randomly.
He rang the bell again just as Hilary opened it.
"Kai?" She smiled, glad to see him if a bit surprised. "What are you doing here?"
He didn't answer her. Instead he kissed her, letting all his desperation pour out. His hands wrapped around her body tightly, kicking the door shut with his foot. It was short lived, though, as she broke away nervously looking out the window.
"My parents will be home soon and they'll go crazy if they see us like this." She saw Kai's face look almost disappointed. "We could go up to my room though." Giggling, she led him by the hand up the stairs and into her room where they immediately fell onto the bed. "Okay I gotta ask. What's the occasion?"
Kai shrugged and smiled. "I just love you."
For the first time she noticed there were speckles of sweat on his forehead. "Did you run here or something?"
"Yeah."
She laughed. "Seriously? From where?"
"From my parent's hotel."
"You ran all this way just to say you love me?"
"Pretty much."
She laughed again and hugged him. "Well I love you too. What happened with your parents? Did you tell them you're staying in Japan?"
Kai nodded. "How did you know?"
"I just did." She smirked slyly. "So how did they take it?"
"I think they were a bit hurt but they understood. Besides," he kissed her softly, "I can live with the consequences."
They fell back onto the bed in each other's arms safe in the knowledge that they wouldn't be separated from each other any time soon. Kai felt the real happiness of knowing that he could now be with the people that he really wanted to with. He could now spend his life with the people he wanted to spend it with and right now, that was Hilary.
And thus ends Consequences. Thanks to everyone who read this story! As ever your support is greatly appreciated. I hope you liked the ending. I know it was brief but I think it was important to the story that it was.
I have several ideas for a final sequal but I'm not entirely sure wither to write one or not. I don't know if I could get your attention for long enough:P Please review with your opinions.
jellybean-kitty xx