"I should hate you despise you and want to destroy you. 

Not because it's your fault, but just because it was your family who ruined my

 everything...but I can't, why so I wonder when it is quiet, are you a magician or are...you

 just like me?"

.

.

.

.

.

.

Ahana

Something was wrong.

Terribly wrong.

What exactly? She had no idea, but something was amiss. That's what the message in her phone indicated. A message from Mr. Dickenson asking to meet her earlier in the next morning. No, 'hope you are okay', No, 'Are you doing okay, kid'.

Just what had happened?

Ryan was a bit tense today too when he dropped by for his usual evening checkup and banter. His phone was pinging with messages more than hers did– and she almost received a hundred messages everyday, so that was something.

The soft brush of fur against her hand snapped out of her thoughts as she looked down, her lap adorned with baby kittens, their fur light grey with white streaks near their belly and shining green eyes just like their mother. One of them had somehow managed to climb up her shoulder, as she gently supported her with her hand, while the other two played in her lap together or with Dazillion, its blue center shimmering with the moonlight.

The one on her shoulder clawed at her hair trying to climb up, soft mews leaving her mouth. The innocence of her curiosity and how her tail touched her neck more than once, made a small laugh escape her lips. Before, she brought her up on her lap again, tickling it, simultaneously feeling the brush of their mother's head against her leg, " "Look like your mama is back, honeybuns,"

The quiet footsteps took her attention away from the small furballs that played in her lap, one of her hand instinctively moving to the knife in her right pocket, before her gaze met with his carmine one's, "Oh captain," she murmured, subconsciously letting go of the tension in her body, her hand back again to play with the kittens while one of them climbed down to his mother.

Why was Kai here?

For a moment, she could see a slight hesitation in his footsteps as he neared the tree she was sitting under, before Feira walked back to him, while holding one of her kid through his fur and nudged at him. Whatever, hesitation he was feeling melted away, or so it seems, as he sat down– legs crossed, his leather jacket blending in the dimly lit surroundings.

He also leaned back against the tree sitting about a foot apart from her. She watched with her head tilted, as Feira climbed up on his lap and put her kid down too with a quiet meow. His calloused fingers gently brushed against the kitten's fur and she could see him melting into his hands, all while a barely noticeable smile graced his lips.

A smile.

She blinked a few times, the kittens clawing at her hands but for that one moment, that single second it felt like it all faded away. That smile, though just a ghost of a smile, illuminated his features more than she had ever thought... or maybe it was his eyes that were shining just a shade brighter as Feira swished her tail before making herself comfortable and playing with her kid.

He should smile more. It made him look...divine.

Ahana dismissed that thought as soon as it invaded her head, with a quick shake of her head. He was the last person she should be thinking about. Not when all that had happened to her, all that would possibly happen to her is due to his grandfather–his bloodline. But...then again, who was she to judge anyone from their bloodline, she was the living proof of how different people from a bloodline could be.

How could she possibly build any sort of hate or anger at him, when all she feels is peace around him– for a weird, unknown reason?

"I take that is your beyblade," his voice was an octave too deep than regular– even if she had heard him speak very less, she could decipher that difference. Maybe it was due to it being a night, everyone got tired and changing of voice while being tired was no new thing.

She glanced back at Dazillion which was now being tossed around her lap by the small furballs, that still played there, "Hmm, yeah, it is. Dazillion is her name,"

She looked from her peripheral to find him already looking at Dazillion, a silent acknowledgement in his eyes, "A bit beast?" he murmured quietly, but the surroundings were quiet before so she was able to hear that low hum. His carmine eyes clashed with her ocean one's again as he raised one of his perfect cut eyebrows, "You have a bit beast and you don't battle?"

Ahana opened her mouth before closing it again with a sigh, looking down she watched as one of the kittens from her lap climbed down trying to claw up to his lap, "I...didn't say I don't battle, I said it is not a priority. I don't battle with everyone,"

"Hn,"

She was glad he didn't ask anymore questions.

God knows how she could have answered them.

For some minutes no one spoke, the only sound being the meows of the cats and their breathing. It was a comfortable silence where they both were lost in their own thoughts. Atleast, she was. Just what had happened? Something they couldn't tell her on the phone, that was sure. But what exactly? Had there been activities from their base? Was there a new lead? Or something worse?

Was Mihir and everyone else okay?

The thought sent a new wave of panic through her for a moment, before she forced herself to relax. Remembering how she talked with them just minutes before arriving at the park, and they all were okay, happy. Working on some new pieces for the next album.

She wished she could be with them right now.

She wished things were easier and simple like before.

Then again, nothing had been simple since she was eight.

For ten years.

"I am surprised Mr. Dickenson allowed you in BBA," she looked toward him bewildered, her expression morphed into confusion of what he was getting into, before she followed his gaze to the can that sit beside her, the beautiful logo of 'The Siren Rose' engraved on the iron.

She sighed, rolling her eyes, "I am eighteen, Kai. I can drink," and to prove her point, she raised it in the air and took a sip- or maybe that was just to see his expressions, which didn't change much to her disappointment, "And, in Russia, the legal drinking age is like what- 13? It doesn't really, does it? And if you are worried your team manager would be passed out in a hall one day drinking that's not gonna happen, I am not addicted to this,"

"You are Russian, too?" he asked, his calloused hand petting the kitten in his lap as it snuggled even more into him.

"Uhh, Ahana Sidorov is my name, Cap. I thought 'Sidorov' was a dead giveaway," she deadpanned, extending her hand to grab the bag near her, while her other hand supported the kittens in her lap.

"Yes it is, but... Ahana isn't, it's not a Russian name," his voice was casual, he was stating a mere observation. For her though, it wasn't an observation but more like a bitter remark that forced her to go back and dwell on things.

Only if...

"Well yeah, my mother was an Indian, have you got any problem?" her voice was harsher than she intended, "And aren't you supposed to be the one who doesn't speak until it is necessary, or is that just a pretense to cover up this behavior of getting into other's life?"

She didn't mean to say all that stuff.

And he didn't speak after that, just looked away with a clenched jaw.

And after her emotions cleared enough for her to dwell on the present situation, she couldn't help but curse herself. Great, you have successfully ruined your chance to get to know the one person anyone normally does not know, and all because you can't keep your head straight and emotions under your control.

She rummaged through her bag, grabbing the soft metal in it before bringing it out, a similar can like the one that was resting beside her thighs.

Come on now, put that ego aside.

She cleared her throat, forwarding the Siren Rose can to his side, "I-uhh am sorry, I didn't mean to say all that stuff. It was a normal question from your side, anyone could have– and have all the right to ask that. It just...touched a nerve, I apologize,"

She thought she had messed up.

Rightfully speaking, she might have.

And that just made her heart clench a little, why did she care so much? Why did it hurt her when she saw the subtle hint of hurt flash across his eyes?

She didn't know. But she knew one thing that his presence gave her comfort, and now when she was stepping into a line where knives would be pointed at her every way, she didn't want to lose that comfort, even though she had no idea why that comfort was even there in the first place.

Her heart cleared just a bit, when his hand brushed against her to take that can.

"You might want to be a little less sensitive if you want to tread in this world," he spoke, opening the can with a swish of his thumb. In her words, it was an acceptance of her apology.

"Sure, Cap,"

And she couldn't help but smile a bit at that moment.  

***

a/n; 💗hello everyone! I hope you will enjoy this chapter. After all the amazing comments in the previous chapter, I am a bit nervous about publishing this. Hope it would be just like your expectations, if not, do tell me what I can do to improve it!
lots of love

- Mia ✨