"Somewhere between banters and words,

you become a part,that I will oh so deeply miss," 

.

.

.

.

.

.

Ahana

"Can I have two flying lanterns, yes, in red please. Thank you,"

She was happy.

She shouldn't be.

She really really shouldn't be.

But God help her, she was.

She was not in this team nor in this place for fooling around and enjoying herself. She was not here to let herself feel anything– let alone something soft and real. She was here, in this team, to keep her end of bargain, to ultimately erase the man who had taken everything away from her.

And yet, here she was, smiling and buying gifts and telling his grandson to let his past go.

Pfft, it was almost funny. That she was the one to preach about it, when for the last eight years she had survived just for this chance of avenging her past.

Looking back two months, she had no intention to be anywhere near Kai Hiwatari from the start, if anything she was slightly afraid that his appearance alone was gonna trigger her. She was afraid– just slightly– to work here in this team knowing she would have Kai Hiwatari as her acquaintance.

His bloodline had changed her everything.

His bloodline had snatched away her everything.

And yet, she sits beside him, walks beside him, buys him safety bracelets, and feels... safe with him.

And it's like nothing she has ever known before.

Safe.

What was there to feel safe? 

When just stepping out in this open land makes her a potential target for all of Voltaire plans? How can she feel safe when she stays in high class hotels with the best security there is, because she can't sleep otherwise.

And yet, here she is, walking in such a crowded place, buying gifts for Mihir and others back home, eating dishes that can be poisoned (though she believes it would be quite difficult until the vendor is themself with them) and feeling happy.

This place is safe.

She reminded herself as she turned around, craning her neck to catch the familiar black hairs, her eyes searching blindly before finding him near a tree.

Mr. Dickenson had made sure of it, that's why she had brought them on this specific mountain. The festival could be seen from other mountains too and they were just as decorated and fun, if not more. But she couldn't risk their safety or hers just to give them a bit more fun.

"Here, here, hold it,"

Maybe she could let her have it today.

Have this today.

This happiness and safety.

And his presence.

"Cap, it's not gonna bite you," a sigh escaped her lips seeing the glare he was giving the lantern like it was the source of all his problem, she nudged it gently against his hand, "hold, hold it, I have to light them up too,"

He reluctantly extended his hand holding the folded lantern with narrowed eyes while she opened up hers, "Why the hell am I doing this?"

"Because you have a soul?" she offered while she sat up the camphor on its stand in the lantern and burned it using a lighter.

Kai gave her a look.

"Fine. Because you're stuck with a sentimental idiot tonight. And I bribed Tyson with sugar to not pester you. You owe me,"

The fire soon spread across the camphor and the steady glow of fire through the lantern cast an orangish glow across the near surroundings. She watched as it softly shined upon the grass under her shoes and extended it toward Kai, "Hold this now, it's lit up, I will light the second one, give it,"

She watched as he took the lantern from her, the warm glow illuminating the sharp angle of his cheekbones, a bit furrowed eyebrows and the lips that were pressed in silence- not complaining again.

And his eyes, for a moment she just stilled and looked at the light that got reflected by his eyes, the warm glow of fire illuminating his carmine orbs into orangish glow and right here she can make out the faint hint of golden in his eyes.

"Take it already, Sidorov," he grunted, as he shook the folded lantern in his other hand.

"Right, sorry,"

She soon lit up the second one too, the warm air filling it up.

It looks beautiful.

"All done," she said with a smile. Tilting her head she caught the sight of other people also gathered in front of the cliff with their lanterns, the crowd bustling with children and young couples. She could spot Ray there holding a yellow lantern, his white yukata sleeves rolled up as he looked at the sky.

She and Kai were standing a bit far from them or general public seeking solace in the boundary of forest instead, she stepped forward holding her lantern from its bamboo handle at top glancing back as she gestured forward toward the cliff, "Come on, it's about time,"

"I am good from here," he grumbled leaning back on the tree.

"Oh come on," she mumbled, stepping back to him before looking forward again at the night sky, "Please captain, it's just a few steps they won't kill you,"

Seeing that he wasn't going to budge.

She did the other thing that came to her mind.

"Kai, please," he looked up at her, eyes a bit wide and brows loosened, "it's a once in a lifetime moment. The festival is only held once in fifty years. Who knows if we will ever experience it again. Let yourself enjoy it,"

She extended her hand, fingers hesitantly brushing his before she grabbed his hand. Holding her sky lantern in one hand and his hand in another she pulled him forward with her, he followed, a few steps behind, but hand in hand nonetheless.

The callouses in their hands seemed to fit perfectly at that moment.

"I didn't know you were that desperate for me to fly a lantern," he grumbled now standing beside her as they stood a few feet away from the cliff.

"We're supposed to make a wish before we let it go," she said quietly.

Kai scoffed, though it was less annoyance more something heavy, "That's ridiculous,"

"Everything is, Kai," She looked up at the red lantern in her hand. "But we do it anyway,"

A chorus of fireworks was heard from a distance and at that moment everyone let their lanterns float. Ahana paused for a moment looking at the red sky lantern in her hand, her eyes soft and filled with emotions far more than she could name. With a breath, she looked up at the sky, twinkling with stars and now the sky lanterns that were freed from every mountain here.

Mama, I hope you can see me from there. This one is for you.

She let that lantern go, the red thing steadily making its way up getting lost in the innumerous lanterns that now lit up the sky. Kai let go of his after a moment from hers, it swayed a bit as it floated toward the edge of the cliff. Ahana stepped forward and gave it a push with her fingers when she saw it going down, the paper was soft against her fingers as it now also floated up and joined the lanterns.

"Step back, Miss Manager, you will fall to your death from here," she felt the soft tug of his hand against her wrist but she brushed it off, gently prying his fingers off.

"Yeah, slim chances, Cap,"

The world around her blurred, the soft cloth of her yukata brushed against her hands as a gentle breeze blew while she looked at the sky, where countless sky lanterns floated all in various shades and colours. More and more seemed to be poured from every mountain as the sky was decorated in the light of sky lanterns.

Each of them was a wish.

Each of them showed someone's hope.

And each of them had their role in illuminating the sky.

God, she could feel the sting of tears against her eyes as she looked up.

She hoped her mother could see her right now, could see the lantern she had let go on her name, for her. Could see her daughter standing on the grounds of a festival she never got the chance too.

And all that because of Ahana. Of her.

Somewhere distant, the sounds of drum beating started, but Ahana had lost all her focus on this very moment. For the first time in eight years, she was just standing and looking and feeling.

"And furthermore," she tilted her head enough only to catch his sight, a small smile on her lips while she closed her sapphire eyes that were moist, "it isn't that much of a bad place to die, is it?"

This moment was one that both Ahana and Kai were going to remember for a long time.

She had said that lightly.

But somewhere, she knew that he had caught the genuine longingness in her voice.

"Sido-"

"What the-" A beyblade spun past her ankle—its sharp edge catching her skin and slicing it open. Blood welled instantly. Two more came in a blur, and before she could register the pain, their bit beasts erupted—two raging bulls slamming into the earth.  their translucent images separating her and Kai. Before they dove right back into the beyblades and the ground crumbled beneath her.

Her body was falling before her mind could process it.

Her hands extended in reflex only to have nothing to hold on.

She had always wondered why time slowed when someone fell in a movie, she always had. Had always thought that for that person it would be faster than they can process. But right at this moment, she still feels the stabbing pain in her ankle. A scream lodged somewhere between her throat and lungs. She knew why they were portrayed so.

Time slowed at such moments.

Not because you were falling slowly, but because your brain was processing all it could to save you even after knowing there was nothing to hold onto.

Because your senses were too alert now, as ironic as it was. If they had been alert a few minutes before she wouldn't be ending up in this situation.

This place was safe.

This place was supposed to be safe.

But nowhere was safe, she should have known that. She had known that for eight years now, that you lose the right to have a safe place as soon as you lose your parents.

That you lose the right to feel safe when your mere existence has eaten away more lives than you know.

God, she wasn't supposed to die like this.

Not like this.

She still had so much to do, she had to avenge her parents and herself. She had yet to crush the hands that had shattered her wings.

Is this how it ends? A bird with shattered wings falling from a cliff because she dared to feel safe?

She had yet to complete her promise with Mihir to stand on a stage and sing one day, she had yet to go to that waterfall with Maya and that restaurant with Rehan.

She had yet to guide this team... these people and watch them win.

God, she had yet to see Kai let go of those monstrous hands that chain him and realise the potential of his wings.

She had yet to live.

All these thoughts passed through her mind in a split second.

How long was this gonna be?

A hand shot out.

She felt a warm grip on her waist.

She felt the weight of gravity pulling her down while someone with all his strength and desperation pulled her back from the crumbled edge.

Her back met that of the tree in the time she had cleared her daze.

She blinked through the terror and moisture in her eyes to see her trembling hand clutching the navy blue yukata of his, while the warmth from his hand seeped through her other hand which was interlaced with his and pinned to the tree. The grip on her waist kept her upright, otherwise she would have kneeled down by now.

"-Ahana, are you listening?! Are you okay?"

She blinked up at him. To see his usual impassive or annoyed face crumbled down to desperation and worry. His eyebrows drew up, eyes wide and wild as they scanned over her frantically, lips parted as if he wanted to scream and not say anything at the same time.

Her head was spinning.

"Your heartbeat is racing," the rapid thrum of his heart against her palm was the only thing keeping her grounded in reality.

His shoulders slumped, the hand on her waist tightening– not to hurt, but to reassure– for a moment before it loosened, "So you are alive and good,"

The thought that she almost died would probably set in her mind later, right now the only thing she can feel was the way the world was spinning and his heartbeat, "Slim chances, remember?"

She was almost killed, almost assassinated, almost erased from this world. This place in reality wasn't safe but a ploy and there was some backstabber among them. These all were facts that would catch up to her later, that she would think about letters. For now, though, she can be for once a girl, who is saved and being held in a safe space. 

a/n; don't forget to vote and comment :) hope you are enjoying the book, we are coming close to the end of act I <3