"You feel different...

 in a good way," 

.

.

.

.

.

.

Ahana

"Yes, yes, thank you... Just two more minutes please, one of our members is still not here. Yes, yes I know...I apologise, I would take care of this from now on... yes thank you,"

She gave a sweet saccharine smile to the worker before turning around and running a hand through her face, her jaw clenched, "If," she muttered, learning back on the wall beside Kai, "Tyson didn't make it here in next two minutes, we are leaving his ass here,"

"Welcome to the first trip as a team," he muttered dryly, one hand resting in the pocket of his jeans while the other was curled loosely across his bag that rested beside his legs, "Tyson coming late is a ritual, if you ever see him early consider it a doppelganger and report,"

"Next time," she sighed, brushing lint of her skirt, her gaze narrowed as she studied her heels and stockings, "I am gonna give him the schedule with all the timings one hour prior,"

"Might as well try that,"

Oh, she was definitely going to.

Because this shit was embarrassing, she'd already pleaded with the airport staff for "just two more minutes" more times than she could count. At this point, they might cancel her premium subscription out of spite—not that they legally could, but still.

She glanced at her watch, eye twitching as she saw the clock tick past eight thirty two.

That's it.
I am leaving his ass here. Consequences be damned.

"Let's go," she muttered, rolling her suitcase with her as she gave the workers an apologetic smile. She was slightly surprised when no one protested, well, she was sure Kai wouldn't protest against leaving him here if anything he actually looked glad to do so. And that left her wondering how many awkward or embarrassing moments he had to go through because of Tyson's tardiness.

But she sure assumed that Ray, Max or Kenny would protest but they didn't even do so much to make a noise just wordlessly followed.

Well, either they are also done with Tyson's antics or she look more irritated than she thought.

"I AM HEREEE!!"

Followed by the loud shout was a rambo running toward them... or wait, it was Tyson who was running like a rambo to them, "Well, that is unfortunate," she muttered, as he ran past them heading toward the baggage drop with dust trailing behind him, "truly unfortunate,"

With a sign, they all made their way to the baggage drop, that was followed by security screening and then they were heading towards the boarding gates.

Her foot rhythmically tap against the floor as she wait for others to finish their boarding pass check first.

Rubbing her eyes she stepped forward when it was her turn giving the air hostess a smile, she hoped seemed genuine. Though she was not sure, she was doing a great job at that by the sympathetic smile the woman passed her. Sure, makeup can hide bruises– as it was hiding hers right now. But it surely can't hide tiredness that seeps through your bones.

My eyelids feel like they would drop any second.

Well, figures. Considering she hadn't slept in the last two nights, the first night was spent tending to her wounds that she had only realised she had got after her adrenaline and panic, both faded away after getting information out of those mens. She wasn't able to sleep after knowing there were people not only after her, not after she got to know they are being followed– not only because they want to get her back in that abbey but they also want him there, they are also after Kai.

And the second night was spent in planning this trip after his unplanned visit... or maybe it was due to the fact that she knew if she closed her eyes, she would once again wonder why she should have taken her medicines.

Yesterday night, she did got five hours of sleep– enough to stitch her sanity back and keep her working– before her alarm woke her up for the flight.

So, she had hoped she could catch up on sleep in this flight.

She had hoped and wished...

"Your seat is there, 32 A,"

...You gotta be kidding me.

She looked toward the air hostess before once again looking toward the seat she was pointing at. She blinked, once, twice, praying to any god– or cosmic power to listen to her. 32A, a seat that was snugly sandwiched between Max on the window side and Tyson on the aisle.

She took a breath.

"You know what?" she muttered, dragging her carry-on with a sigh that could wither plants, "I'm not even surprised anymore. This is karma. For what exactly, I don't know, but sure—let's just add this to the pile."

Well, she thought she could manage until she got in earshot with them and could already hear words and lyrics and goddamn what was coming out of their mind.

It had been less than two minutes since they had settled and had already started a chatterbox.

If it was Max, it would have been alright, despite his sunshine aura that boy knows how to read a room and would have given her peace. But, Tyson? Well, if he hadn't gotten his ways straight after three championships with Kai and his infamous glare and his infamous ways– she wasn't sure he would listen to her.

I would either go insane by the end of this flight or end up committing a murder. I don't want to go to jail, god please, not for Tyson and Max at least.

She looked around tiredly in a last hope of sanity– and it looked like someone did listened to her wishes, whether it was god or her luck– she don't know. Because she spotted Ray a few feets ahead potentially looking for his seat.

"Ray!"

He turned around, his feline golden eyes founding hers as he raised an eyebrow, "Yes?"

"Ray, please, please-" she hurried up to him, forgetting whatever polite and composed facade she would normally try to maintain, "exchange your seat with me,"

"Your seat?" he blinked, "Where are you seated?"

"In hell,"

When he didn't understand her implication, she sighed raising her ticket, "32A, between Max and Tyson, and I have barely got five hours of sleep in the last three days, and I really, really, can't handle them both right now. You are the most patient and calm one here, pleasee,"

"Alright," he chuckled before he glanced at his ticket before handing it over to her, "I've got 30C—aisle, two rows ahead,"

She almost sagged in relief, "Bless you. I owe you one,"

He gave her his usual smile– calm, composed and equally sincere, "It's fine, don't mention it,"

She sighed in relief before moving forward, brushing some stray strands from her face. Finally, some peace and sleep.

Well, he certainly didn't mention that the seat was beside him.

Kai.

He was by the window, his jacket tucked over his chest like a pillow, eyes closed—but she knew he wasn't asleep. His brows twitched subtly as her footsteps stopped beside his seat.

His eyes cracked open.

Before, he gave her a once over, deciding not to initiate a conversation and instead grabbing a book that was resting by his lap and focusing his attention on that instead.

Well, wasn't she grateful, if there is anyone she would prefer to sit beside it would definitely be him. No prying. No unnecessary talks. Just peace and comfort. And the weird sense of warmth and safety that she doesn't know why, but had come to terms with.

Keeping her handbag on the overhead cabin, she flopped down the seat twisting to get comfortable before she clasped on the seatbelt and took out her earpods and phone. Putting one in her right ear, and pressing the piano piece by Wang Hiu that always helps her relax, she let her head fall back on the seat and glanced sideways–

– and immediately regretted it.

Because now, after her initial irritation and embarrassment of Tyson not coming in time, and the war against her eyelids that she was barely winning was over and she was settled for a peaceful flight and a good sleep, she finally let herself drag her eyes along with him.

Because, Holy hell.

With his jacket discarded and folded up on his lap like a pillow and a book perched atop it with his hand, the veins prominent even though he was just sitting disappeared with the start of the black sleeve near his sleeve.

Unfair.

He was wearing a black turtleneck that fit his form a little too well. Sung against him that allows her to track his collarbone and the line of muscles underneath, and the fact how unfairly handsome he looks in monochrome.

Her eyes dropped to the black jeans, just as fitted. His boots were polished. Everything about him is deliberate and low-effort at once.

And though, Ahana prides herself in not being distracted by mere looks and such shallow things. It wouldn't be wrong to say or think that he might be the most handsome person she had ever laid eyes on.

Come on, despite my purpose here. I am a girl, I can appreciate beauty when I see it.

She had grown accustomed to seeing him in his usual training outfit, or the casual leather jacket and clothes, she had never seen him in something so...him.

"Stop staring," he muttered, resting his head on his knuckles of the hand that was propped against the handrest now, "at least so obviously,"

"I am not-"

She pursed her lips when she caught the faintest hint of smirk dancing on her lips, signifying that he hadn't stated that because he thought so– he knew. And flipped the page of the book calmly, like her denial was just background music.

And he looked so damn smug about it.

She rolled her eyes and leaned back into the headrest, shifting in her seat. "Well, don't worry. I'll make sure to stare less obviously next time. Gotta preserve the mystery, right?"

Kai turned a page in his book without looking up, "I didn't say you had to stop,"

At that, her eyes snapped back to him who was still engrossed in his book like he just hadn't made her question her reality and sanity. Was he– flirting...?

No. Nope.
Kai Hiwatari doesn't flirt.
It was more of an ego fueled comment most probably.

And still despite knowing all that, she couldn't stop the way warmth rises to her cheeks for a moment. I am truly going insane. If my only two month old self saw me now, blushing because a Hiwatari implied he didn't mind me staring at him, she would have thrown herself off a roof.

But that was it, wasn't it?

Even when she had joined the team recently, even when she thought the moments she saw him she would be only and only reminded of all she had endured, of all she had to endure even now due to his grandfather. Due to his bloodline.

She saw she would see the man she had to work with closely for the upcoming here and just saw his last name.

But even then, even at the moment she had locked eyes with him. She had not seen a Hiwatari, she had seen him, just Kai. She had seen someone who her mind didn't remember, but her heart surely did. She was someone whose eyes were filled with walls and yet seemed so vulnerable with pain.

She saw someone she could sit beside and not be on alert.

Even when she wanted to.

Still, her body would relax.

Like it knew, he wasn't meant to hurt her.

Like it knew, that even if this man, this unfairly handsome but good man had the same blood running in his veins of the man who had taken her life in his hands, and played with it like she was a toy. Even if he was the grandson of the man who had tried to destroy, obliterate and burn everything and anything she had held dear. Even if his grandfather was the reason, she can't wear dresses she wants because of the artistry he had done with her hands and body, even if the scars still burn.

It still knew that this boy beside her would never even think so.

And now, after the night three days ago when circumstances had made sure she knew, he had no lingering connection with that filthy man or abbey anymore. If anything it felt like he was himself running from a nightmare that had once gripped him too tightly.

Get a grip.

She cleared her throat forcing her cheeks to cool down, as she leaned back against the seat, eyes closing, before retorting back. Because, this? This banter was familiar by now,"So generous of you," she drawled, "letting mere mortals admire you in peace,"

"Not every mortal, just you,"

Her eyes snapped open again—but he had already turned back toward the window, head resting on the back of his hand again, eyes closed.

She narrowed her eyes.
Unbelievable.

God damn it, she was not gonna survive whatever version of him this was. Especially when amusement dripped from his voice.

He is enjoying this more than he should.

"If you keep being like this, I have to really consider removing 'Captain cold heart' from the name list,"

"Hmm?"

"I need sleep,"

***

Ahana walked down the stairs of the airplane with a skip in her steps. Gods, she had forgotten how good it felt after a good sleep.

After collecting their luggage they all made their way to the car that was waiting for them, with Ahana on lead, "We are currently at Hakone, during our stay we would be staying in Yurei, it is a dignified hotel," she turned back to look at all of them especially Tyson, "so please behave, it was difficult as it was to get rooms during such a big festival, so don't make a mess,"

"Alright," the others said in unison with cheerful smiles except Kai who gave a nod before moving toward the car.

"Well, well, look who we have got here,"

That voice made everyone pause.

Come on, my day was going just well at this moment.

She turned around only to be graced with the cocky grins that graced the face of Michael Summers himself, while his sidekicks and beyblade partners stand a step beside him.

Oh, for fuck's sake, she had not gotten enough sleep for the shit that is about to be followed.