Author's Note: Here it is: the sequel to Why Can't We Be Friends? Eagerly anticipated story...from the feedback I keep getting. Thanks for all your support and love. I finally decided to publish the 1st chapter because of fan demand. This story will also consist of 10 chapters and maybe continued in another sequel. I'm running out of ideas...lol!

Hiro's Secret

Hilary's little chat with Kai hadn't exactly healed the matters. But still, she could breathe easily now that Kai confessed why he told her all that. She was touched by his concern but didn't like the way he had tried to help her. Hiro, meanwhile, seemed to have been living in the past rather than present with no thoughts about his future…or even the team's.

Hilary words had jolted him and shaken him more than he would ever admit even to himself. What he had been through during his recent vacation in Australia had become something very distant to him. However, after the little tête-à-tête with his brother's girlfriend, he found himself once again back in his shadowy past…

One month ago in Queensland, Australia. Noon time.

A blue haired boy was walking down the beach, in pursuit of something he had probably lost. "Help me!" someone screamed. Hiro started. Looking ahead, he saw a young girl running towards him. He immediately stepped aside to let her through. Two thugs were following her. Hiro tried to stop them but ended up getting hit by one.

He was suddenly blinded and lost track of things…

"Hiro?"

He turned around and found Tyson staring at him, surprise written all over his face. Hiro quickly modified his face into a look of sheer pleasure.

"Hi" he said, uncertainly "Team practice is over, little bro?"

"Yeah" said Tyson, bluntly "And that's the 4th you missed this week!"

"I'm sorry" Hiro said, automatically.

Tyson shrugged. He knew Hiro could be very weird at times…but this was unbelievable. He left his brother on the hill, rather reluctantly.

"If you want lunch, you'd better come soon" Tyson called over his shoulder.

Hiro nodded. He stared after his brother's retreating back…Tyson had no idea what Hiro had been through. Tyson was learning how to love…he hadn't loved and lost.

It's better to have loved and lost, then never to have loved at all, they say…Hiro smiled bitterly. Losing it hurts…just like the truth…

One month back again.

Hiro wearily opened his eyes. In front of him swam that girl's face again. It was Katherine. She was putting a wet cloth over his forehead.

"Are you feeling better?" asked Katherine.

"Much" replied Hiro.

"That was very brave of you…taking on two armed men, without arms" she said in a half-broken whisper "Thank you."

Hiro made no reply. He watched the girl closely. She was extremely pretty but her large eyes were really sad…they seem to be regretting something.

"What's your name?" he asked her.

"Katherine" replied the girl "What's yours?"

"Hiro Granger" said Hiro.

Katherine helped him up and offered a plateful of food to the invalid. Hiro tucked in without much protest on his part. The window showed him the first signs of the Sun setting. It meant he had spent the better part of the day unconscious.

"Who were you running away from?" asked Hiro, suddenly.

"My dad's men"

Hiro gagged on his food, and stared at her in utmost astonishment. This girl must be in the wrong; he actually tried to help her!

"Don't worry" said Katherine "I wasn't doing anything wrong."

"I'll have to take your word for it" muttered Hiro, darkly.

"What would you do if your dad forced you to marry a person who will never love you?" she asked him, urgently.

"Doubt that would happen" said Hiro, curtly "My parents are dead."

"Sorry" said Katherine, meaning it "But see there's some heir problems which makes me have to elope in the next month. Where will I find love in one month? So daddy proposes Nathan's name…his best friend's nephew."

She seemed to have forgotten herself and was talking bitterly more to herself than him. Hiro glanced at her left hand. Sure enough she was wearing an engagement ring. She saw him looking and blushed.

"It's absurd…we had a hurried engagement because dad was scared Nathan would change his mind. No one bothered to ask how I felt" she added.

"For such a sweet person, your heart carries too much bitterness" said Hiro.

Katherine turned scarlet on hearing his compliment.

Hiro once again came back to reality, as he felt something brush past his leg. He turned to see Kai standing there behind him.

"So?" asked Hiro, as though they were holding an unfinished conversation.

"I quit the G-Revolutions" said Kai.

Hiro smiled wryly. "I hope the girl isn't the only reason you're throwing your future to the mud."

"Actually, the girl is enough reason for me to give up on my future."

Kai stalked away from Hiro, nose in the air. Something got the better of Hiro and he suddenly called out: "Never imagined you as a family man Kai. And trust me, you're better off blading!"

"And trust me" returned Kai not bothering to come back "you're better off not imagining it!"

Family man? Hiro grinned a little to himself and started down towards his dojo. His mind wandered back one again to that particular trip to Australia…

Katherine and he were in the garden. They were talking about the wedding to be held next month. In their would-be cheerful voices they tried to humour one another. But both felt something beneath this entire pretense. Neither of them could live a lie. They were rapidly falling in love with one another but wouldn't admit it.

"I wonder if I'll be in time to see you married" reflected Hiro "Must be nice…you'll walk down the aisle, white roses and all…"

"I would certainly want you to come" smiled back Katherine "I wouldn't want my best friend missing my wedding."

Even as she said the word, color drained from her face. It was evident she dreaded the thought of getting married. Then suddenly her expression cleared.

"Nathan might drop by today. You'll meet him."

Katherine's face lit up so suddenly, that Hiro misread its meaning. The pleasure of showing her two friends to one another was read as fondness for Nathan by Hiro. He figured she did love Nathan more than she would ever admit.

"It'll be my pleasure" said Hiro.

Katherine beamed at him.

"Hilary, look there's Coach!" called a blonde boy running towards Hiro. Hiro's day dream was once again broken as he stared around wildly and found himself facing the team. They were looking at him with faces full of worry…the look one would normally wear when one suddenly figures his best friend is insane!

"Coach, where have you been?" asked Kenny.

"Let me rephrase the question, Chief" said Ray, looking revolted "How have you been?"

Hiro made no answer. In fact he was saved answering by Grandpa who had come to call them in for lunch. Hiro dimly registered Kai wasn't with them.

"Has anyone seen Kai?" asked Tyson, as they trudged in for lunch.

"Yes" answered Hilary "I saw him this morning but not since."

"Kai came to see me a little while ago" said Hiro, feeling the team ought to know the truth "He quit the team." He smiled wryly "Again."

"Why?" asked Tyson, taken aback.

"That's between me and him" said Hiro, shortly and went inside.

But something from his voice made Hilary realize she was to be blamed for the incident. Hiro, on his way inside, stopped briefly beside her. She looked at him with imploring eyes…and he looked straight back at her. Without a word, he went on. Hilary shut her eyes briefly, realizing what she had done.

Something about Hilary's face seemed oddly familiar to Hiro. He couldn't put his finger on the spot. Then it hit him. She looked like Katherine…just the way Katherine had done when her heart was torn between two men!

Under the Australian Sun. Katherine and Hiro were walking together. She was throwing glances at Hiro when convinced he wasn't paying much attention to her. And he was doing likewise.

"Kate" he said, suddenly "What would you do if you fall in love now?"

"Runaway, I expect" said Katherine, not meeting his eyes "Why do you ask?"

Hiro hadn't expected his reverse attack and therefore, flustered. He mumbled something about 'just in the passing'. But both felt the truth…

"Why are we hiding it, Hiro?" asked Katherine, quietly.

"What do you mean?"

"Neither of us can live a lie"

Hiro smiled, but more out of spite than anything. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Katherine didn't reply. They were in a secluded portion of the garden now. No one ever came there. She faced Hiro, love written all over her face.

"I know you're little secret Hiro" she told him, softly.

"Great" said Hiro with a vain attempt at sarcasm "So what the hell are you going to do about it?"

She suddenly came at him and kissed. He kissed back, not knowing what to do. Then they let go.

"Lets run away" said Katherine "And get married. I don't want to be Nathan's wife. I'd rather be with someone who loves me."

Even then Hiro hadn't understood Katherine's words. Overwhelmed by the good fortune God seemed to have suddenly bestowed upon him, Hiro's mind raced with all sorts of romantic impossibilities…

"Katherine, are you sure about what you want to do?" asked Hiro, finally "Are you confident that this is what you want?"

"Yes" said Katherine, firmly. But her eyes seemed very sad at thought of leaving all this behind. It had resemblance to Hilary's face when told Kai had quit the team. But love is blind and Hiro refused to believe there could be any other mystery connected to her sorrow.

"We leave tonight then" he told her "And in two weeks we shall be man and wife."

"I'll look forward to it" said Katherine "But before we set off, we have to appear for dinner. Nathan's coming over, remember?"

Her face lit up once more at the mention of her beaux name but Hiro still refused to delve deep into the matter.

Hiro hardly ate any of the yummy stuff put in front of him that day. His mind dwelled miserably on what had happened days before…his mind was lifted from self-pity when Kenny switched on the television to hear what the new format of the championships were to be announced.

Mr. Dickonson came in front of the camera and cleared his throat importantly.

"Good afternoon all beyblade fans" he smiled "I know all of us are eagerly anticipating the new format. So without, further ado let us get on with the matter…"

"I can hardly wait!" breathed Tyson, jumping for joy.

"Well, the initial round consists of all of the team members participating in the initial round in the 5 teams. 2 final winners will be chosen from each time and they will have to battle, irrespective of which side they are on" said Mr. Dickonson.

"It's still the same, then" commented Hilary but the others shushed her.

"1st and 2nd from each team battle, then finally 5 are chosen to represent us in the world championships. Good luck to you all and you all really should hurry and sign up if you want to be a part of it."

The television was switched off right after that. Tyson's face was aglow with happiness…

"It's that time again!" he shouted "We're gonna be Bladebreakers all over again!"

This time Ray, Max, Daichi and even Hilary had faces like thunderclouds.

"I should really try to find Kai again" thought Hilary, after their practice session was over. She hunted for him everywhere but couldn't find him. She began to feel worried about him.

"Don't worry about him" said Max, when she told him about the insecure feeling she was having about Kai, when they met in the Park again "Kai's tough. He's be okay."

"But Max – I think he left us because of me" blurted out Hilary, suddenly unable to control herself.

"What? What do you mean?" asked Max, concerned.

Before Hilary could tell me all about her conversations with Kai, Tyson came running up to them.

"C'mon guys…it's practice time!" he smiled happily.

Hilary looked at Tyson. His face didn't show any of the love and affection Kai wanted to bestow on her. She and Max went with him towards the dojo. Max went ahead, and Tyson deliberately fell behind. He took Hilary's hand and pulled her back.

"Wait a minute" he said in her ear. She stopped dead. He swooped down and kissed on her cheek. "Have I told you lately that I love you?"

Not bothering to wait for her reply he rushed away, face crimson. It was tough having a girlfriend. But hilary stood rooted to the spot. Feeling she was being watched, she turned. No was around. She followed Tyson into the dojo.

There was a swish of white muffler.

Kai had just witnessed the little romantic scene.