Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade

Summary: The sequel to 'The Dranon Heiress'. Kai is tired of waiting and sets out to find Chika, along with the Bladebreakers. Heartache, grief and horror grip them both as they meet again. Will their forbidden feelings make them stronger - or destroy them?

A/N: The long-awaited sequel to 'The Dranon Heiress'! I finally found the time to write this fic, considering the fact that I'm currently working on THREE Digimon ones, a Neon Genesis Evangelion AND a Harry Potter one. That's five others and I can still find time to write the sequel. GOD BLESSES ME PEOPLE! Yeah right, and I would have gotten a boyfriend by now . . . but enough of my sad life.

WARNING: angst, romance, dark themes, MURDER and POSSIBLE RAPE. If you don't like this kind of story, please leave immediately. You have been warned, because this fic is even more intense than 'The Dranon Heiress' is. Delves further into Chika's abusive family, her horrible childhood and presents her gradually darkening destiny . . .

ENJOY!

- Breathe Again -

Five young men walked out from behind the automatic glass doors. One of them was unusually pale, tall and lean with blue-grey hair and blood red eyes. His name was Professor Hitawari Kai of the Battle Blade Association College in Japan, well known for his prowess in battle blades, power and strategy, one of the youngest professors in the college and captain of the legendary Bladebreakers.

His companions were also his team mates, Rei, Max, Takao and Kenny. All of them were professors, trainers or researchers for the college. Ten years had passed since the infamous Dranon clan hit Japan and seven since they had begun their careers. Kai was now twenty-five years old with a respected name throughout the country, an enormous inheritance and one of the most powerful bit-beasts.

"How long has it been?" Max asked, hands in his jacket pockets.

"Ten years," Kenny supplied. "It's been ages."

"I wonder how much has changed between us," Kai murmured, more to himself than anyone else. "I wonder if she still remembers."

The other Bladebreakers exchanged knowing glances. Their captain had been like that for the past decade, always whispering to himself, wondering whether or not SHE had remembered or if she had forgotten him. He was always fiddling around with the tiny crystal he always carried around with him, clutching in the palm of his hand and holding it in front of his face, turning it around in the light. Rei set a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Don't worry, Kai," he said. "The information came from a very reliable source."

"I hope so."

The past decade had been hard on him, watching as the people around him pair off and enjoy their lives. Rei was engaged to Mao, set to be married in two years time, while Max and Emily had been going steady for about three years. Takao hooked up with a net-friend who he had never seen before and who he was convinced came from Australia. He, Hitawari Kai, however, remained absolutely and entirely devoted to waiting for HER. She never said exactly when she would be back and he had kept gathering information of her whereabouts. It had gone on like that for ten years.

"Do you wanna go to the hotel first, or start asking around?" Takao asked.

"I want to check out the latest blade parts," Max announced. "I have to keep up with technology around the world to be a great blade-fixer and teacher. See you guys later."

He left, whistling. Takao muttered something about wanting to dig in to the nearest all-you-can-eat buffet and vanished, while Kenny said he wanted to log into the BBA College in the area to gather more information. That left Rei and Kai. The younger man looked at him with an apologetic expression.

"Hey, I'm sorry I can't stay with you," he apologised. "But Mao wanted me to call her as soon as I arrived. You'll be okay on your own?"

"Sure," Kai replied indifferently. "What do you take me for?"

"Great," Rei said, grinning. "Meet you back in the hotel later."

"Later," he echoed tonelessly.

-

Hands in his jeans pockets and face half-buried in his scarf, Kai trudged on through the windy streets of England. The sky was cloudy and the temperature was REALLY cold. What he wanted to do was find a park or something, sit down on a bench and bore himself stupid by counting the leaves on an overhead tree branch. It was no use asking around at this time of day, it was already four in the afternoon and most people would be going home.

He DID end up finding a park, which was almost deserted, except for two young women sitting by the fountain. Walking aimlessly to the benches, Kai sat down and promptly began to do what he had planned to do in the first place. Tipping his face upwards, he began to count the leaves on the branch above him. When he had reached something like two hundred and eleven, there was the sound of a throat clearing.

"Excuse me, sir," a female voice interrupted.

"Yeah?" he asked, looking straight again.

It was the two young women by the fountain.

"It IS you!" the same woman exclaimed. "Look, Michelle, it IS him!"

"Do I even KNOW you?" Kai demanded, annoyed.

"Don't you remember?" the second woman asked incredulously. "I'm Kamiya Miyuki and this nutter's Ten'ou Naoko. We're from the DT team, remember?"

Now that she put it THAT way, Kai did remember, and sat up straighter. Miyuki flashed him a big grin, folding her arms in front of her chest. Naoko waved at him energetically and they both sat down on either side of him.

"What are you doing here?" Naoko asked breathlessly. "It's been, like, AGES!"

"I'm -" Kai began, but Miyuki interrupted.

"He's here to look for HER, of course," she said matter-of-factly. "Isn't that right?"

"Yeah, it is but -"

"Then you're lucky we're here!" Naoko said brightly. "We'll tell you where she lives."

"Thanks, but I -"

"I don't think he's ready to see her yet, Naoko," Miyuki interrupted yet again.

"Oh, right," Naoko said, smile fading slightly. She faced him. "Do you want to see her?"

"Of course I -"

"Naoko! What would she say? You KNOW what's going on."

"But they've been separated for TEN YEARS, Miyuki, show him some sympathy -"

"We should give her time -"

"That's ENOUGH!"

Both young women clammed up immediately in shock, staring at Kai. He took a deep breath, eyes narrowed dangerously, looking extremely annoyed. Standing up, he turned around and glared at them, arms folded in a no- nonsense way.

"I've barely arrived in England for an HOUR and already I have the two of you attempting to talk my bloody EAR OFF," he growled. "Yes, I WANT to see her and I want to see her NOW. If all you are going to do is argue over the matter, then I'm leaving."

Fuming, he whipped around and strode off in the opposite direction, but barely managed to walk ten steps before two pairs of hands grabbed his elbows. Miyuki and Naoko were looking serious for a change, lips drawn into tight lines and brows furrowed. They obviously didn't like the idea of being bested by a guy their age. Miyuki sighed.

"All right, we'll tell you where she is," she said finally.

"But you have to promise that you'll not freak her out," Naoko warned.

"She's had a rough time."

"Be nice."

Glad for some cooperation, Kai nodded in confirm that he would do as they asked. Both of their expressions relaxed and they let go of his arms. They motioned for him to follow them as they talked, explaining in not too great detail of her whereabouts and circumstances.

"Just be thankful you met US first," Naoko told him.

"Yeah right," he muttered under his breath.

-

"Love you, bye."

Rei hung up the receiver, a small smile playing across his lips. Talking to Mao always made him feel better, even if he was really under the weather. He turned to the hotel room he had claimed as his own. Two small suitcases lay open on the bed, untouched except for the fact that they were unzipped. He didn't feel like unpacking just at the moment.

"Let's see if anyone has seen her around."

He grabbed the key-card to his room, shrugged on a jacket over his clothes and headed for the door. There was no point in sitting around in the hotel room when he could be spending the time doing something productive, like going to find his opponent. Driger was safe in his pocket and ready for a battle.

"I'm ready for a battle with her, finally," he told himself. "After so many years, I can finally challenge her on an equal footing. Now where's that place she's working at?"

He produced an unfolded a little piece of paper. Holding it up in front of his face, Rei read the address a few times to himself and tucked it away again. Then he looked up at the nearest street signs, recalled the map he had memorised on the plane, and headed off in the direction the address led to.

"Ready or not, here I come," he muttered under his breath.

- End of Chapter One -

A/N: well? How'd it go?

Wasn't very interesting, was it? Oh well, I'll get to the better stuff later on. This is, after all, only the first chapter. Many other characters to reintroduce into the story.

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Bittersweet Angel Chika