They both were silent as they drove home, sometimes the light from the streetlamps would shine at Hilary showing evidence of her sad mood, as she just stared out of the window, while Charlie occasional glanced at her concerned. He took in a deep breath.
"What happened?" he asked. Hilary slowly turned her head around to look at him, the sad expression still intact.
"Nothing" She answered him quietly, few tears rolled down her cheeks and she turned to stare out of the window once again. Charlie kept his eyes on the road and decided not to press the matter; she would tell him when she was ready.
They continued rest of their journey home in silence.
Kai walked into his empty house, he was shocked by the news he had heard today.
I have a son...and I don't even BLODDY know what he looks like...what he is like, Kai thought angrily to himself. He walked into the big living room and sat down on one of the couches. It was ironic, here he was. Kai the great beyblader and one of the greatest businessmen in the world, he could get anything he wanted, but the one thing he wanted most, was out of his grasp.
But not for long Hilary...I'm going to get you back no matter what it takes, how long it takes. Yess Hilary, you will be mine again and this time I will never let you go! I never do mistakes twice, he quietly vowed to himself and then smirked, after all everything is fair in the game of war and love!
But right now were there some things he had to take care of first, he pulled a cell phone out of his pocket and dialed a number. It took a few seconds before the call were answered by some old woman, she was Kai's secretary and one of the few Kai respected in his business.
"Olga, tell Mr. Rostov that I want to see him tomorrow morning!" he hung up and dialed a different number. He smirked when the phone was answered by a familiar voice.
"Tala, I need you to do something for me!"
Hilary and Charlie walked into their apartment, Hilary smiled weakly at the sight of her three girlfriends were fast asleep on the couch with the TV running.
"I better wake them up" she heard Charlie say, but really she didn't care right now. The evening's events had exhausted her and all she wanted to do was to see Gou and go to bed. While Charlie was having problems with the three women, Hilary open quietly Gou's door and peaked in.
She let out a small chuckle when she saw Gou's covers lying on the floor, she walked silent into the room and picked up the covers and carefully placing them over Gou, in hopes that he wouldn't wake up. Even though it was dark in the room, she could still see Gou's features, she sat down on the edge of the bed and slowly with the back of her hand she affectionately caressed his cheeks.
It surprise her how much Gou resembled Kai, not just in looks, but also in his behavior. Sometimes would he so quiet and would just sit for hours and observe things, but he certainly also mastered the arts of stubbornness and 'the scowl'. She remembered once when she came home after a long day of work and found Gou and Charlie in, what would be a, scowling contest and Gou had his arms folded over his chest while he was glaring warningly at Charlie, just in exact way she had seen Kai do so many times.
A few tears fell from her face and landed on Gou's cheek, causing him to move, Hilary closed her eyes. Oh no...Don't wake up...don't wake up!
"Mama?" Hilary heard Gou's little voice full of sleep say.
Damn!
Hilary opened her eyes and smiled down at him.
"Go to sleep sweetheart... you have a big day tomorrow" Hilary whispered softly and kissed his forehead. Gou closed his eyes and was within minutes asleep once more. Hilary stood up and wiped the tears away from her face. With one last look of her son she walked out of his room.
She saw Charlie sitting on the couch...alone. He had managed to get Gloria, Theresa and Naomi back into their own apartment. She wrapped her arms around herself and sat down beside him, she knew he was waiting to hear what had happened between her and Kai.
After an awkward silence, Hilary took a deep breath and turned to face Charlie, who was looking at her full of expectation. She felt tears coming to her eyes and cursed herself for not being able to keep her emotions under control. She felt Charlie taking her hands into his larger ones and gave supportive squeeze. She looked into his brown eyes.
"He told me he loved me... that he wanted me back... wanted to know his son" Hilary trailed off and tears poured down her cheeks more freely than ever. "I don't know what to do Charlie...I-I just down now" Hilary cried out as Charlie pulled her into his arms, he stroke her back comfortably.
"Don't worry Hily...it'll work out, just wait and see!"
Next day
Gou looked at his image in the mirror with the famous scowl intact. Sure, he had been excited about his new kindergarten, but his Mama had never once told that he was to wear a stupid uniform, the only thing good about it were the colours. It was his favorite colours, blue, black and white. So here he stood wearing black shoes with white socks, long dark blue pants, a white t-shirt with a blue jersey to put on over the t-shirt and a dark blue jacket.
His Mama had told him that he had to wear the uniform, because his kindergarten was a private one or something fancy like that, he really didn't care, all he cared about was the fact that the uniform was itching like mad and his Mama wouldn't let him take it off.
"Gou sweetie, we have to go now," he heard his mother call. He ran into his room and grabbed the bag on his bed and just as he was about to exit his room he remembered something; he turned around and saw his beyblade lying on the desk. He smiled and grabbed his blade and putted it in his bag.
"C'mon Gou we don't wanna be late!" hearing his mother's voice he ran out of the room and out to where she was waiting.
The kindergarten was nothing like Hilary or Gou, for that matter, expected. It looked as if it was a small department of something much bigger, because she had seen children of all ages walking into various buildings as if they were going to school. But the place did look extremely wealthy, and she had noticed many children arriving to this place in limousines. She had also noticed that many people had started at her and Gou.
In this moment she and Gou were waiting to speak with the headmaster. It was a part of the procedure. A woman, who looked to be late in the sixties, opened the door. She had her white-grey hair pulled up in a bun on top of her head and she had her glasses far down on her nose, she was reading some paper and then looked at Hilary.
"Miss Tachibana?" she asked, Hilary nodded, "Please follow me into my office" the woman said. Hilary took Gou by his hand as they walked inside. Hilary had to gasp as she saw the office, it screamed out rich. The old woman sat down behind a desk and motioned for Hilary and Gou to sit down in the two chairs. She then reached down in one of her many desks and pulled out a big file.
Hilary's eyes widened slightly at this, it was not something she had expected.
"My name is Mrs. Lâvskov and I'm the headmaster of Cristof Lâvskov Academy, before we begin do you have any questions Miss Tachibana" Mrs. Lâvskov said in a low, but strict voice.
"Umm yes, is this a school?"
"Yes, this academy was founded by my great grandfather. We have children down from 3-years old to 17-18 years old. We select which children, out from the applications and information's we get, who will be most fitted to go to this school. We do it this way so the children can get the best education possibly and so each of their individual needs is met to satisfaction. We take pride in motivate and stimulate the children the best way possible. Is there anymore questions?"
Hilary gave a nervous smile, "No" she said. She had never imagine this, when Walter had told her about this place.
Mrs. Lâvskov looked through the papers in Gou's file, and then she looked at Hilary.
"Miss Tachibana, I'm sure that you know that beyblading is Russia's grandest sport."
Hilary frowned, "I know and what is your point?"
Mrs. Lâvskov continued to look at her unfazed, "Miss Tachibana I'm going to be forward with you. I knew that you and Mr. Kai Hiwatari had some kind of relation with each other and now it has been proven that it was perhaps more than that." Hilary's frown deepened.
"My old relationships is nothing of your concern"
Mrs. Lâvskov gazed at Gou, "I'm sure that you know how famous Kai Hiwatari is, especially here in Russia. I need to know what your status is with this man, because there will be questions from other parents and teachers about your son. I know this is hard Miss Tachibana, but I'm only trying to protect the child" Hilary sighed and gave a quick glance at Gou.
"I have the sole custody over Gou...that is all you need to know Mrs. Lâvskov" Hilary said firm.
Mrs. Lâvskov nodded and wrote it down, "Good, but before you go I have something more to say. Your child is remarkably clever. If needed be, do we have your permission to place him in an advanced class, so he can get the proper education and motivation he needs?"
"You have my permission" and with that said, Hilary took Gou by his hand and walked out of the office.
It had been two hours since his mother left for work and he had been standing here in the play yard all alone fiddling with his blade in his pocket. Suddenly Gou noticed a red-haired boy standing further down all by himself looking bored at all the other child playing. Gou decided to go down to the boy. He reached the boy who sat up against the wall and was just looking at the children.
"Hi" Gou said cheerful, the red-haired boy looked up at him, "You wanna play?" Gou asked. The red-haired boy looked at him in confusion.
"You wanna play with me?" the boy asked a bit confused.
"Yeah, wy' not"
The red-haired boy slowly stood up, "You don't mind ma' Papa is famous?" Gou tilted his head and pondered. He then gave a smile to the read head.
"I don't know youw Papa" Gou shrugged and the red head smiled.
"I'm Sasha" the red-haired boy said.
"I'm Gou, so do you wanna play?"
"Sure...do you have a beyblade? If you don't we can share mine" Sasha said and reached down into his pocket and pulled his blade out. Gou gave a big grin and reached down into his pocket and pulled his out.
"I do, but I'm not vewy good" Gou said a bit sad. Sasha smiled at him.
"I'm not vewy good either, ma' mama won't let ma' Papa teach me".
"Then we can practice together" Gou said satisfactory and then the two boys ran off.
The two young boys had been inseparable for the past hours and it was nearing the time for parents to pick up their children.
Today was it Sonia Ivanov who was to pick up her and Tala's son. She had been told by the teachers that her son was outside playing with some other boy. This was good news; Sasha had been very alone since he started in this kindergarten, so it was a good thing that he had made a friend.
She went outside in the play yard and gasped. The boy who was playing with her son...looked like...looked like...
"Mama!" Sasha yelled and ran towards his mother, Gou was directly behind him.
"Mama this is ma' fwiend Gou".
Sonia was still in shock to say anything, could this be the emergency Kai rang Tala about last night.
Out of the corner of his eye Gou saw someone familiar.
"Mama!" he yelled out and ran to her dragging her towards Sonia and Sasha.
"Mama this is ma' fwiend Sasha"
Sonia stared at the woman Gou had called Mama. Was this Hilary? Sonia pulled herself together. Well, there was only one way to find out.
Sonia reached out her hand to the other woman, "Hello I'm Sonia, it looks like our sons has become good friends". Hilary smiled at the other woman, she was happy that Gou had managed to find a friend on his first day here. She took the woman's offering hand and smiled.
"Yes it looks like that; by the way I'm Hilary Tachibana".
A little plan started to form inside Sonia's head; she was now 100 certain that this woman was Kai's one true love.
"You know Miss Tachibana, why don't we meet tomorrow in the city centre for coffee with our boys; you see the centre has an excellent play facility." Sonia said sweetly.
Hilary pondered for a minute, she did actually have some time tomorrow.
"Please Mama, Sasha told me abouwt it. It supposed to really funny". Hilary gave a small sigh, she just couldn't say no to her son in situations like this and besides it was his first friend here in Russia.
"All right, I guess it will do no harm". Both children yelled out in joy. Sonia grabbed Sasha by the hand.
"All right, let's say four o'clock tomorrow afternoon?" Sonia asked
"It's a date" Hilary answered.
The two women and the two newly friends said their goodbyes and went for home.
He could feel everyone staring at him, as he slowly walked down the long hallways of the Hiwatari Corporations building. His one hand grasped tightly at the small file he was holding, while the other hand tried to swing steadily at his side. He was scared as hell! Small drops of sweats were already breaking their way out off the skin on his forehead His whole body was trembling with anxiety of what might happen.
Mr. Rostov had been requested to be at Mr. Hiwatari's office in the early morning, now it could seem as if Mr. Hiwatari just wanted to talk, but everyone knew better! It had to be serious if he called you to his office.
Mr. Rostov felt the sympathetic looks from the other employers, but there were also small whispers of relief that it wasn't them who were on this death march. He reached the end of the hallway and stopped in front of the elevator, the one who take him to the highest floor and take him to Mr. Hiwatari's office. Mr. Rostov gulped and pushed the button. He slowly looked around at the other employers; none of them were working, instead they were all looking at him, some with pure curiosity, and others with pity, but there were also those who just grinned at him evilly.
Ding.
Mr. Rostov slowly turned his head back at the elevator and took a deep breath before stepping inside.
It seemed like hours before the elevator finally reached its destination, he stepped out and faced a room full of office people working, these people were the highest ranked in this business; he walked further into the room till he reached a small passage.
It was known that Mr. Hiwatari liked his privacy, except for some of the board members, no one really knew what sorts of rooms were up here. There had extreme been rumors about Mr. Hiwatari had installed a private training room up here and other stuff like that.
He didn't walk for a long time down the passage before he came to a door; he started to hesitantly knock on it and slowly opened it. He walked into the lobby and saw Mr. Hiwatari's secretary sit behind her desk typing on her computer.
"Come in Mr. Rostov and sit down. I will go hear if Mr. Hiwatari is ready to see you" she said in a monotone voice. Mr. Rostov sat down on the couch in the small room, while Olga spoke in a phone with who Mr. Rostov presumed to be Mr. Hiwatari. He glanced nervously at the door the led inside to lion's cave.
"He is ready to see you now" Olga said and returned to her typing. Mr. Rostov stood up and walked slowly to the door and opened it with trembling hands. He went inside and closed the door.
Kai was in the middle in looking through some important files when he heard the door open and close. Mr. Rostov walked in looking completely terrified. Kai glared at him with an unreadable expression.
"Y-you w-wanted t-to s-see m-me" Mr. Rostov stuttered with his whole body trembling. Kai continued to stand upright, placed the files on his desk and closed his eyes.
"Mr. Rostov... I have just recently found out that I have a son!" Mr. Rostov started to shake even more at Kai's tone of voice.
"And that the mother tried to contact me here, but was every time turned down", Kai snapped his eyes open and glared murderously at Mr. Rostov, "Why wasn't I told about this?" Kai asked with a low voice.
"S-sir y-you t-told u-us n-not t-to d-disturbed y-you!" Mr. Rostov managed to stutter out. Kai gave out a small sarcastic chuckle and started to pace around in his office and around Mr. Rostov just to make him more uncomfortable with the situation.
"These files," Kai pointed to the files that lay on his desk, "tells me that she called for two weeks straight! And no one even bothered to get her name and ask me if I knew this woman" Kai said harshly.
"B-but S-sir", Mr. Rostov started to say, but was interrupted by a very angry Kai.
"Don't but sir me!" Mr. Rostov took a couple of steps back at the sight of Kai's eyes; they were burning with the flames of hell.
"Do you know what I have missed?" Kai said still in a lowered voice, he went to stand directly in front of Mr. Rostov, who just standing terrified not daring to make any small unnecessary moves.
"I've missed my first born son's birth... I haven't seen him taking his first steps or heard his first words. I haven't been in his life for three years…I don't even know what he looks like!" Kai snarled out. Kai turned away from the frighten Mr. Rostov who stood in the same spot when he came into the office.
"I don't want to see your face here Mr. Rostov. Do I make myself clear?" Kai said dangerously low.
"Y-y-yes S-s-sir" Mr. Rostov stuttered and went the fastest he could out of the office.
After Mr. Rostov had left Kai took a deep sigh and went to sit behind his desk. One problem gone only, what seem like a hundred, to go. He pulled out a drawer and pulled up an old picture of him and Hilary. He was scowling, while she was smiling. He chuckled briefly at the old memory.
On one of their many dates that Hilary made him go on, since he had sabotaged 10 of hers and she held him to that account, she had literally dragged him into a photo booth, nevertheless to say he wasn't too happy about it. But Hilary had promise to him to keep it as a secret and keep it well hiding that was until she sent it all to him in a box.
I'm going to get you back Hilary, no matter the cost! Kai thought to himself determinedly.
Sure, everything might have seemed peachy in his life for the past three years. He had managed from scratch to bring the old Biovolt Corporation up to a level never seen before and doing it the legal way and with a new name. Yes, for the public it seemed to go in the right direction, Kai was young, famous, handsome and rich as hell...could there be anything wrong in his life?
In reality, Kai had been quite miserable even he didn't show or acknowledge it himself, but as the three years went by, Kai began to finally understand just how much Hilary had meant to him.
She had been his balance, his harmony so to say. She had always been there for him whenever he needed it. As in a friend or a girlfriend didn't really matter, Hilary had been his stability in a life, where he used to only have himself and Suzaku. Kai guess that in someway down the line he brought balance and harmony to Hilary as well. It had taken a long time and a long battle with his inner demons to realize that he loved her deeply and also just to acknowledge the realization itself that he was actually capable of loving another person.
It had been an exhausting journey with his emotion, but now he was ready, ready to fight if needed be. There was only one problem... Hilary!
He knew, especially after the evening before, that she wouldn't come back just like that. To get her and their son back he needed some kind of strategy and first he needed to take small steps to reach the greater goal, this was where Tala came into the picture. One could say that Tala worked for him, others could say that he didn't, but in truth no one really knew what he did.
Anyway, Kai had asked Tala to find out everything about Hilary's activities in the past three years. One of the things he needed to know was if she had, God forbid it, another man in her life. In general he just wanted to know where he stood with her and when she least expected it, he would attack and claim his prize...and this time he would make sure not to lose.
Sonia couldn't believe her luck; finally she could do what she wanted to do ever since she married Tala. Finally she could gather all the wives of the Neo borgs and no longer worry about some bimbo blond (no offence) haired woman coming into their little private world. It was no secret to her or the other wives of the Neo borgs that they had lot of power, it wasn't the political power, but they had a significant influence on the society and they were defiantly not willing to share that power.
Sonia had worried for what kind of woman Kai would find and marry, Sonia didn't give much credit for those rich men's wives who would sit home all day, arrange some stupid party or just spend money. No, she was a believer of hard work and succession. Sure, she was a model and a super one at that, but that didn't mean her work wasn't hard...trust me it was.
For months she had nearly drive Kai crazy with a modeling job for his company, but he had refused her every time.
Not anymore Kai Hiwatari. Not with that information I can give you! Sonia thought smugly to herself as she drove up at the drive way to her house. There was no light on in the house meaning that Tala hadn't come home yet. Sonia smile as she and Sasha walked into the house. Sasha went instantly to his room to find toys to play with and Sonia picked up the phone and dialed the number to Kai's office.
Sonia smiled again, as she thought about Hilary. No matter how weird it seemed at this point Sonia really liked her. In her eyes Hilary was perfect. Not only did she already have a son with Kai, but Sonia could tell that Hilary was both working and hopefully a strong person, because she would defiantly be needing that.
Sonia frowned a little at the dial tone; she didn't only do this for her own sake, but also for Hilary. Was there something the Neo borg wives knew about their husbands was that they were extremely jealous and possessive as hell, supposedly because of their lousy childhood within the Abbey walls, they all had personal experience with it, she didn't know if Hilary had tried it with Kai when they were together, but she wanted at least try to save Hilary from it.
" 's office" a voice said in the phone.
"Olga, this is Mrs. Ivanov. I need to speak with Mr. Hiwatari now!"
"Mrs. Ivanov, you don't have an appointment and we both know how Mr. Hiwatari feels about you" Olga said annoyed.
"It's urgent, tell him that I have some information that he will pretty interested in" Sonia retorted equally annoyed back.
"What is the urgency?" Sonia rolled her eyes at the question, why couldn't the old hag just put her through.
"Tell him it's about his son!" There was a short break before she heard a familiar voice.
"What do you want?" sounded Kai's clearly irritated voice. Sonia smiled inwardly.
"Well hello to you too Kai" Sonia said in a sugar sweet voice before she was interrupted by Kai.
"Cut the crap and tell me what you want!"
Sonia expression turned serious, "I have some information about your son", she heard Kai's chuckling in her ear.
"And how do I know that you don't have this information from Tala?" Sonia smiled smugly again.
"Because Tala doesn't know that your son's name is Gou and he didn't see him or Hilary today" she said triumphing. There was a short pause and then she heard Kai speak again, but this time in a serious voice.
"What do you want?" he asked again.
"All I want is the modeling job Kai," Sonia heard Kai take in a deep breath as he considered it.
"Fine...you have my word. Now tell me what does he look like?" Sonia blinked was that desperation she heard from the ice man himself, the great Kai.
"Why don't you find out tomorrow, when I will be meeting them in the city centre four o'clock pm. If you want to see them...be there and Kai, I'm holding you to your word" was all Sonia got to say before the other line hung up.
Kai was as stunned...at first. He'd never really had the big respect for Tala's wife, in fact he was on the verge to loathe her, but slowly a small smile broke through his features.
He was going to see his son and that was all that mattered.