A/N: Ready or not, here's the new chapter! And well… It was honestly a struggle. There's tons of stress, and on top of it I'm having a bit of a writer's block, but I'm hoping it'll surpass soon. (sighs)
As always, thank you from the bottom of my heart for those amazing reviews! I seriously can't believe you guys actually bother to review this silly little ficcy. (sniffs and sends out tons of hugs)
Owkay, as there seems to be no further… issues, let's move on, shall we? I really hope you'll like this chapter! In flashbacks, you'll have KaWy-moments and see some meaningful moments – including how Aimi first met Zeo and Kenny.
Hope this didn't turn out too bad.
Chapter four: In the eye of the storm
/ As Enrique slowly opened the door in Robert's mansion, he immediately felt a clear, alarming jolt in the air. " Oliver?"
The green-hared boy was stood before the huge window of the room, back towards him so he couldn't see the other teen's face. The boy was completely still, arms crossed protectively over his chest.
Very slowly, a part of him afraid of what he might find, Enrique lowered his gaze – and felt his heart skip a beat when he saw the pregnancy test placed onto a nearby table. A clear blue line could be seen. " Oliver…"
" Ray… He told me… this was possible. As he's a neko-jin." The French's voice was oddly deep and hoarse. " I… I should've been more careful."
Enrique gulped laboriously, not really knowing what to do or say. " What are you going to do?"
The other gave a bitter laughter. " Honestly? I have no idea." And with that, the usually rather calm and levelheaded boy burst into tears. " It's… it's been exactly a month from… from when we broke up, Enrique! And now…" The younger teen fought visibly to calm down, but didn't have much of success. " How the hell am I supposed to do this alone?"
Oliver's panic was understandable. As soon as they'd read about the two boys' six months old relationship from newspapers a couple of months back, both their families had announced that they were no longer welcomed home. It had all escalated a month earlier, when Ray – most likely terrified of what his village might come up to do to Oliver, as the French knew – had decided that they had no other choice but to break up. Ever since Ray had stayed in his dorm in Japan, and Oliver had spent time in Robert's mansion.
" Oliver, you're not alone, so don't you dare think that way!" Enrique announced in a stern, yet gentle voice. " Ray… Even if that bastard ditched you, you still have your team. We're gonna back you up, no matter what you choose to do."
" Enrique, please don't talk about him like that." Still not looking at him, the French wiped his eyes, visibly shivering. " I… I know you guys are trying to help, and I appreciate it. But…"
" … you'd like to be alone?" Enrique filled in. Receiving a nod, he decided to leave the boy alone: there was no reason to upset Oliver even further. " Do you want me to tell Johnny and Robert?" He knew the two – knowing that there was something going on with Oliver – were waiting downstairs, anxiously wanting some news.
Oliver shook his head. " I… I'll tell them myself… when I feel up to it. But now… I just need some time to… think."
Noticing that there was nothing more he could do, Enrique started to leave. He was, however, stopped once more by a small, shaky voice. " Oh, and Enrique?"
" Hmm?"
" Thanks."
As soon as Enrique had disappeared, Oliver broke down completely. Feeling desperation taking over, he could only wonder what the heck he was going to do with this mess.
Little did he know that it was all just the beginning… /
Tears had dried to Ray's cheeks as he stood behind a door in a hospital, hand resting on the door-handle, desperately wanting to enter.
How ironic. Whether he admitted it to himself or not, he'd actually showed up in that freaking beyblade-festival in hopes of catching at least a slightest glimpse of Oliver – he'd figured the French would be there. And now that he was this close, he was too damn scared to even enter the room.
" You should go in, you know?" came a gentle female-voice.
Turning his gaze, he saw a thirty-years-old woman with amethyst hair and warm maroon eyes. She was Oliver's doctor – and the only one who even knew he was there.
He gave a shuttering sigh, bowing his head in pain and shame. " I… I can't", he whispered. " He and the baby… Why… why would they need someone like me? I don't even know…"
" Ray, I afraid I'll have to be brutally honest with you", the woman – Dr. Niamana – interrupted him, eyes filled with immense sorrow. " Oliver… His body isn't planned for a pregnancy. Both he and the baby are just barely hanging in there. And to be completely honest… I… I'm sorry, but I strongly doubt the baby will survive." She gave him a long moment to ingest the devastating words. " But… In the middle of all this, he's been holding on to the thought of you. And I can tell you've been doing the same thing." She gave a small, comforting smile. " I know you're young and scared, but… I also know that they need you. So… Try to hang on, okay?"
Head spinning with millions of thoughts, Ray gave a dull nod, and didn't even register when Dr. Niamana entered Oliver's room, leaving him alone.
Once again, he was torn in two.
It would be unfair to them both if he'd go inside not knowing what to do, he finally decided.
And that's why, though it hurt more than anything he'd ever done, he quickly turned around and rushed away, having a furious battle against tears.
God, Oliver… I'm so sorry…
The first thing Tyson felt when waking up was warmth. Not uncomfortable sort, but the kind that made him feel… safe, comforted.
But then, in a flash of a moment, came pain, radiating from what seemed to be every single corner of his being. Squeezing his eyes even more tightly shut, he gave a whimper and tried to wrap even more tightly into himself, as though that could've eased the agony.
" I'm not sure if I should be relieved or sorry about you finally being awake", suddenly came a voice that was alarmingly familiar to him. " Perhaps I should've taken you to a hospital after all. They could've patched you up far better than I."
Snapping his eyes open in utter shock, Tyson shifted to see if the voice truly belonged to who he almost desperately hoped it did – moving much too fast, as the searing pain from the series of wounds Seiji had caused told him. But all pain seemed to disappear as he met the familiar, worry- filled auburn eyes of Kai's, who was sitting by the bedside.
For several moments, all he could do was stare at the appearance he thought couldn't possibly be anything but a visage. Eventually, he managed to gather his wits enough for few, stuttered words. " Where… Where am I?"
" At my place", Kai replied, a hint of something strange – embarrassment and discomfort, perhaps – sneaking into his tone. " I… took you here last night and tried to treat your wounds. You were half-asleep for most of the time."
Tyson nodded, head buzzing with shock. The physical pain that'd once again returned didn't register due to the desperate hope that rose when he realized that he was actually at Kai's place, that… the boy had cared enough to help him.
" Ty… I know it's tough, but…" Kai's voice ripped him off of his mangling musings. Looking at the Russian, he found a pair of hesitant, yet deeply outraged eyes. " I'm still waiting to hear who did this to you."
Tyson's eyes immediately filled with terror as the sickening flashes of the night before flooded into his mind. " I… I don't want to tell…"
" Tyson, please!" He found himself shuttering – more with fear or excitement, he couldn't tell – as Kai's cool hand cupped his face, forcing him to look straight into the boy's by then glowing eyes. " I want to know!" And then, it hit Kai. The boy's eyes widened and lit into a flame of fury at the same time. " It… It was that guy who was with you in the festival, wasn't it? Your… your boyfriend."
Dear gods, Kai was going to make that asshole pay for hurting Tyson like this!
Tyson's eyes immediately widened as well when the boy shook his head determinedly, desperately. It was almost like the smaller teen had read Kai's thoughts. " I can't let you go after him!" he cried in near-panic, finding some tears of pain and terror forcing their way through. " I won't let you!"
Kai seemed mystified by the words. " Why not?"
But Tyson couldn't say another word. Sobbing, he once again brought his legs against his chest and hid his face into them.
Watching the hysterical younger teen, Kai gave a deep, miserable sigh of defeat. For a moment, he debuted if he should try to hug Tyson, do something to show that he was there, but then decided against it, thought the very idea of leaving the other like that slashed him. There was nothing he could do to make Tyson feel better, and he sure as hell didn't want to make things worse than he already had.
And once again, like some cruel curse, flashes of Wyatt came to his mind, reminding him bitterly of just how badly he'd failed.
/ For a small, fleeting moment, Wyatt's eyes struggled to stay open as they bore into his auburn ones, desperately praying for him to hold on, to save him from his approaching fate. But then, almost like someone had flickered a switch, all life slowly faded from them, and the eyelids fell to rest for a one last time. And his body fell completely limp in Kai's arms.
Kai felt his heart race in its extreme and his eyes widened with such terror that it can't be described by words. " Wyatt?" Receiving no response, he desperately pulled the boy closer to him and frantically stroked his soft, brown bangs, almost like trying to force the fallen boy to come back. " Wyatt, no! You… You can't…!" Realizing that his words had no affect, he felt tears dwelling into his eyes. Giving a tiny cry, he cradled the still warm body closer to him, buried his face into the silky hair that still held a scent of summery wind. Never had he shivered the way he did then, his hot, salty tears falling to the locks. " Come back… Please… I… I'm sorry… Please, wake up… Please…"
But there was never a reply. /
Blinking furiously, Kai shot up from the bed, much too fast as his head spun in protest. He had to support himself against the bed for a while to get his head sorted out. " You want some painkillers?" receiving a small nod as a reply, he slowly, cautiously, walked out of the room.
As soon as he was out of Tyson's eyes, he leaned his back against a wall and squeezed his eyes tightly shut, biting his lip so roughly that it definitely left a mark. Despite all the struggle, some tears spilled. " Damnit, Wyatt…"
After so many scars, he should've controlled these feelings better…
A somewhat cautious knock from the door snapped him awake from those thoughts. After steeling himself for several minutes, he forced himself to walk up to the door. Opening, he practically jumped when meeting a pair of familiar, lavender eyes.
It took for a moment before he found his voice. " Bry? What…?"
" My flight takes off soon", the other replied in Russian. " I just… thought I should see you first."
He cocked an eyebrow. " To see if I'm alive and kicking?"
Bryan gave a smirk. " Something like that." Unnerving chills went through Kai as the boy looked at him with this undetectable gaze, and grew even worse as a soft, cool hand brushed his chin. " You know… It could've been great."
" Yeah…" His auburn eyes darkened. " If it wasn't for Wyatt."
Meaningful look appeared into Bryan's eyes. " And someone else."
Kai shook his head vehemently, gaze filled with steel and such pain that it must've came from deep within the core of his being. " Never again, Bryan. I'll never let myself feel that way for anyone else again. I… I can't."
Bryan shrugged. " Whatever you say." To both their shock, the boy suddenly wrapped his arms around Kai's slender form, holding the boy. " Just… Take care of yourself, 'k?" With a one last touch on his cheek, the boy backed away towards the door. " Bye, firebird."
Kai gave a small, feeble smile. " Bye. See you soon."
As soon as the door was closed, he gave a deep frown, sinking into his thoughts. What if… What if against all laws of nature Bryan was right?
What the hell would he do then?
He quickly shook his head with such determination that his eyes lit into a flame. " Never again", he whispered to himself.
What he didn't know was that Tyson, feeling he needed to use a bathroom, had gotten up from his bed – and seen the short encounter of he and Bryan's.
Bravely biting back tears, the bluenette slid soundlessly to the bathroom.
Two weeks later.
In a soundless mutual understanding, Tyson – despite the fact that it was almost unbearably hard – stayed with Kai, as he didn't know where else to go. And with all he had to recover from, he wasn't exactly in the condition to start rebuilding everything. Thankfully, Kai didn't seem to mind him staying over too much - which was weird, actually, as the Russian had always been the most private type. And the boy had also been kind enough not to let all the others know: Tyson sure as hell had enough on his mind even without the others hovering over him with all their worry and pity.
Chills ran down the bluenette's neck as he entered his grandpa's dojo, followed closely by Kai. In a flash of a second, all the memories he'd been running from came rushing back, so painful that he jolted visibly.
Kai, alert as always, naturally noticed this, and gave a deep frown. " Ty? Are you okay?"
Gulping thickly to fight away nausea, Tyson gave a tiny, shallow nod, trembling all over as he looked around the house Seiji had apparently decided to abandon. " Y – yeah…", he muttered. " Just… jumpy." Discovering that the nausea was nothing but deteriorating, he figured he'd better run for it. The memories… They were just too much. " I… I've gotta go…"
Watching the boy dash towards the bathroom, Kai felt his chest hurt unlike ever before. Grief and rage tangled together as they bubbled through his veins, so powerfully that he was almost overwhelmed.
Scared of his feelings, he shook his head and stepped further – only to feel another wave, this time one close to repulsion, go through him as he saw the devastation. " Oh god…"
So much of furniture had been smashed… And in the middle of everything, droplets of blood – Tyson's, he knew with unwavering certainty – had spread all over. The place he'd always considered cozy was now like a battle-field.
His shocked, sadness- and fury-filled eyes scanned through the room, widened by horror. Nearby the fallen couch, there were pieces of photograph that'd been torn to so many pieces that it could no longer be recognized. And then… It was almost impossible not to throw up when he saw the long, sharp knife laying there, covered by dried blood.
His eyes flashed with such fury he'd never felt before, so strong that it scared him.
All rage, however, died down when he heard a small, pitiable sniff. Slowly, not willing to see the tears that ripped his heart, he turned around to see Tyson stood by the doorway. True enough, tears trailed their way down the boy's paled cheeks. The look of the bluenette's widened, teary eyes was locked to the knife.
And at that moment, Kai understood. It was impossible to tell which feeling was strongest – hatred, sadness, shock or nausea – when the though hit him, much harder than a bullet. " He… did it to you, didn't he?" That's why Tyson had been so scared, so lost… Something precious had been stolen away from him – by someone who was supposed to love him, respect him, protect him.
His heart stuttered with wrath as Tyson gave a scarcely evident nod, looking away in shame.
Oh no, Kai wasn't going to be satisfied with just making that piece of shit pay, not anymore. He was going to kill that guy.
But then, once again, the painful sight of the bluenette's tears once again melted the fury. That bastard had shattered Tyson so badly. Somebody would have to pick up the pieces.
Tyson had never felt such shame he did when standing there before Kai's eyes, all revolting secrets revealed. Gosh, he hadn't felt that filthy and used even when Seiji had…
The flood of dangerous thoughts was, however, suddenly cut when he felt a pair of arms wrapping around him. He shuttered at first, but soon relaxed when realizing that this touch wasn't meant to harm him. " It's… It's alright, Ty", Kai's unnaturally soft voice whispered into his ear. " I promise you."
Hearing those words, Tyson lost control over himself completely. Breaking down, he graphed Kai's shirt as tightly as he possibly could and buried his face into the taller teen's chest, giving a loud sound that resembled a howl.
Holding on to the bluenette, Kai suddenly felt fear sneaking into his mind as he took everything in.
Tyson… The boy was putting all his trust in him, leaned onto him. And he… was hardly managing to hold it all together for even himself. How the heck was he supposed to be able to hold on for them both?
But while tightening his hold on the smaller boy, he decided that he'd have to try – for Tyson's sake, if not his own.
They both jumped when the sound of his cell-phone ringing sliced the thick, dark atmosphere. Fishing it out, Kai noticed it was Bryan and growled inwardly. If he wouldn't pick up, the boy would keep calling him every thirty seconds.
He gave Tyson an apologetic look before walking a bit further and taking the call. " Hey."
" Well hey to you too", Bryan replied in Russian. " Thought I should call you, just in case you've forgotten about me."
Kai sighed, running a hand through his hair. " Sorry… I've just…" He gave Tyson a swift glance. " … been kinda busy." He then cocked a knowing eyebrow. " But I suppose you didn't call me just to inform you're alive."
There was a heavy sigh. " Look… Tala told me you're not taking your pills again. And you're also not eating properly."
Watching Kai talking, Tyson couldn't understand another word. But ironically, that only made it harder. The looks upon Kai's face were ever-changing, undetectable. The tone sifted between amusement and annoyance, but never lost the slight softness it held – the one Tyson (selfishly or not) would've wanted all to himself. But what stung the most was the small smile that flashed upon Kai's pale face as the Russian was finishing the phone-call. It was something he hadn't been able to get out of the boy ever since he came back. And the thought of someone else earning it instead… felt like salt had been rubbed into open wounds.
" I suppose there were some things you wanted to take along", Kai's voice woke him from his thoughts.
He nodded awkwardly, pain tormenting his whole body. " Yeah", he replied, voice stiff and sharp. " Let's just get this over and done with, okay? I've got a headache."
¨
Chilling silence remained as the couple entered Kai's apartment about an hour later, Tyson carrying a small box of his most precious belongings.
Kai, confused by the other's sudden coldness, decided that they'd have to talk. " Tyson, what's wrong? Have I…?"
" My headache is killing me", the bluenette cut in, voice jagged and rough, deeply unlike the one Kai'd grown used to. " Just… I need those damn pills, 'k?"
Tyson immediately regretted his tone when he saw a flash in Kai's eyes, but despite all trying couldn't find to strength for apology.
And then the moment was lost, and he was alone with his thoughts.
Not only did he have to fight against Wyatt's ghost, but now there was also Bryan? Suddenly, the pain memories of Seiji had caused felt like nothing.
As Kai just looked at him, seeming like he wasn't about to leave, Tyson chose to help himself. " I'll probably find those pills myself."
Kai never had the time to stop him before he was in kitchen, and had ripped the door of the medicine-cabinet open – and his heart almost stopped with shock. " What the hell is this?"
All those pills… Having seen a psychiatrist for a while – ironically, he'd met Seiji at psychiatrist's waiting-room – he'd read about them from magazines. Those tablets, Kai's tablets… Sleeplessness, depression, anxiety…
" I never wanted you to see those."
Spinning around, eyes filled with something between shock and rage, he looked at the dual-hared teen stood by the doorway. " Kai… What… What is this?" Receiving no reply, he found himself starting to shiver with terror. " What's wrong with you?"
At first, Kai opened his mouth to roar, to argue, to say… anything, absolutely anything at all. But words wouldn't work for him.
And that's why he did what he'd always known best. He turned around and ran.
There was soft, almost intoxicating scent of flowers in the room when Ray slowly, cautiously pushed the door open, peering in. It had taken for far too long, but now he'd finally gathered the courage to step in.
Tears immediately almost spilled at what he saw.
There, on the bed with his face almost as white as the sheets, was Oliver. The green-hared teen's breathing was deep and even – Ray couldn't tell if he was asleep or drugged. The only sound heard was the slightly unsteady, almost faint beeping that came from heart-monitor.
He gulped laboriously. " Ollie?"
When only silence replied him, he approached ever so slowly, some part of him almost afraid that the other would wake up. Gently – mindful of the tubes connected – he took Oliver's hand, giving it a tiny squeeze.
His poor heart almost failed him when Oliver's eyes – the same he'd fallen in love with – suddenly fluttered slightly open, gazing at him with confusion and fatigue. It took a while before the boy finally seemed to recognize him. For several moments, they simply stared at each other, neither knowing what to say. " You know…", Oliver suddenly whispered, licking his dry lips. " I had… a strangest dream. We… We had a daughter – I think her name was Iana… She was just like an angel…" A small, tired smile came to the half-asleep boy's face. " I'm still dreaming, aren't I?"
Biting back tears, Ray shook his head, squeezing the boy's hand a bit more tightly. " No."
" Then…" The boy frowned. " How can you… be there? I thought…"
Ray didn't even notice the tears running to his cheeks. " I… Gosh, I'm so sorry, Oliver… I should've…" Unable to find words, he shook his head. " I'm so sorry…"
Oliver shook his head as well, visibly swallowing down his own tears. " Not yet." Giving it a long, hard thought, the boy slowly moved, making him room. Seeing his dumbfounded look, the boy pouted. " What? It's cold… in here."
Giving a teary chuckle, Ray carefully followed the boy's call, laying himself down beside the other. He wrapped his arms as tightly around Oliver as possible without harming him, pulling the French as close as he possibly. It was a hopeless attempt to protect the smaller teen – not to mention the feeble life inside the boy – and came much too late, but at the moment, it was all he could do.
Having half-subconsciously closed his eyes, he was startled when Oliver suddenly gave a tiny gasp. Worry squeezing his chest so tightly that it was hard to breathe, he opened his eyes. " What's wrong?"
Slowly, a smile came to Oliver's face. The boy softly took his hand, guiding it to the bump that could just be seen. " I want you to feel this."
For a moment, Ray couldn't feel a thing – until there was this small, just evident yet stubborn thrust as the baby made itself announced. He couldn't help but laugh, this time through tears of happiness. " Oh gosh… A feisty one…" A warm feeling unlike anything he'd felt before flooded over him, so strong that it almost stole his breath. Sniffing, he looked into Oliver's eyes that radiated the same feelings. " Do you hope it's a girl?"
Oliver smiled. " I know." Suddenly, the look became much more solemn. " Look… Once I'm more awake… we'll have to talk, 'k? I need to know… you won't disappear again… For all of us."
Gulping, Ray nodded. " I know."
As Oliver slowly drifted into a fitful sleep – most likely because of strong medication – Ray sunk into his thoughts, stroking the boy's lime-green locks.
How the hell would they be able to do this? Heck, in about five months, they'd become parents. He was only seventeen, Oliver just turned fifteen! And they were supposed to take care of someone? Gosh… Even the mere thought sounded bizarre!
Giving a deep sigh, he wrapped his arms a bit more tightly around Oliver, pulling to boy close to him, and buried his face into the lime-green locks, taking in their familiar scent. And all he could do was pray that in some miraculous way, this whole mess would turn out okay.
The chemistry-class was – to say the least – uncomfortable experience for Kenny, who was – due to the absence of his partner – forced to sit with Zeo and Aimi. Having to hide the truth of Aimi's condition, along with his emotions, was driving him crazy. And it didn't make matters any easier that the old, rat-looking teacher was talking about how different chemical elements react to each other. Plus the teacher constantly attacked him with basically impossible questions, which also didn't make the situation any more comfy.
A huge sigh of relief escaped Kenny when the bell finally rang, ending to torment, and he started to pack up his back. One more minute of that, and he would've lost the last bits of sanity sleepless nights and stress had left.
The relief, however, soon vanished when he saw queasiness flash upon Aimi's much too pale face. " I… I think I should go to the toilet", she murmured.
Zeo – obviously not knowing the full gravity of the situation – smiled a little, and gave her forehead a kiss. " 'K. See you after the next class."
As she walked away, Kenny felt himself shivering at the icy silence that fell between him and Zeo. Looking at his friend, he gave a deep frown. " You've been acting like I'd killed someone for over two weeks", he noted. " What's going on?"
The flash he saw in Zeo's eyes almost scared him. " Kenny… When I first met Aimi, she was the best thing that'd ever happened to me. Still is. She… She's the one who convinced me I was worthy of being treated as a human."
/ Like being defeated by Tyson and losing his chances to become human hadn't been enough… (1)
Zeo's entire body was shivering as he was slumped to the floor, legs tightly pressed against his chest and arms wrapped around them, in that hopeless gesture trying to shield himself against the whole damn world. His eyes were squeezed tightly shut and teeth gritted as he tried to block out all the agony. The pain shooting from his various cuts and bruises could almost outshine the one pressing his chest.
After those words from Tyson… he'd for a slightest second felt like… a human-being, like he'd deserved his place on the phase of this damn planet. But after that… He wasn't sure if there'd been four or five of them, but they'd attacked him with such force and cruelty that for a fleeing moment, he'd been sure they'd kill him – maybe they'd even intended to.
But no. His pitiable existence still continued, whether he wanted it or not.
" Oh my gosh…" His world was so blurry that he barely registered the words. His heart jumped with startle when a hand suddenly brushed his face. " Zeo… Who did this to you?"
Slowly, with such effort that it was almost impossible, he inched his eyelids to meet a girl kneeled beside her. The halo of light shining from behind her made her frost-blue hair and whitish face glow with this amazing, almost unearthly light. He gasped with astonishment, completely forgetting all pain. " … an angel…"
She gave a small laughter. " Hardly. Just someone who saw the battle between you and Tyson and loved it." She then became quite a bit more solemn. " Look, you need a doctor, alright? I… I can't carry you alone. Can you stand?"
Zeo blinked, utterly puzzled. " Why… are you so… nice?" His eyes filled with shame, and his head fell a little as he was too embarrassed to meet her gaze. " Don't you… know… what I am?"
" Of course I know." Her voice… It was so gentle, lazed with acceptance. " You are Zeo Zagart. And whoever did this to you… is a asshole." With her hand, she forced him to look at her. " Now, can you get up?"
Zeo tried as hard as he possibly could, but the pain was just too much. Rather ungracefully, he slumped back to the concrete-floor, swallowing tears of frustration. " I… I can't…"
" It's okay", she reassured him, beginning to leave. " I'm gonna get some help, 'k?"
" No!" Even he was shocked by his fervent tone. " Please… Don't… leave… Please?"
For a slightest moment she hesitated, then smiled and gave a nod, slumping down next to him. For a couple of moments they remained in silence – Zeo's vision constantly blurring more – before she spoke in a soft tone that held tightly restrained anger. " They did this because you're a cyborg, didn't they?"
He gave a slight nod, once again too ashamed to meet her eyes. " Yeah, but… I earned this… I… I'm not… human."
He jumped when she all of a sudden gently graphed his hand, giving it a tender squeeze. " You can feel this, right?" Baffled, he replied with a nod, deserving yet another smile that made his heart do back-flips. " In that case… you're human enough for me. Much more so than those creeps."
Feeling strangely warm and secure, he dared to let his eyes slip closed and leaned his head against her safe shoulder, unable to sit upright anymore. And darkness took him under its wing.
The next time he woke up, he was in a hospital. The doctors told that a girl with blue hair and purple eyes had brought him in, only to disappear straight after. And for two months, all recovering Zeo could do was dream about her – not knowing how much she dreamed of him, too. Until one day, after he'd spent a month as a member of the Bladebreakers, she also joined the team, and he finally found out that her name was Aimi Naikoma. Five months later, he at last dared himself to give her a single rose – a sign of promise that was never broken since. /
The tears gathering into Zeo's eyes ripped Kenny's heart to pieces. " She… She's the only one… who's ever made me feel that way, Kenny. And… She's the only one who could ever care about me like that."
He gulped laboriously. " Zeo… I'm so sorry…"
The green-hared teen shook his head, rapidly getting up. " I've gotta go." And with that, the boy disappeared faster than he could think.
Giving a loud, agonized groan, Kenny buried his face into his hands, feeling like a knife had been plunged through his chest.
He… He cared about Aimi, more than any words could say. But… He couldn't do this, not to a friend, especially not now when every moment Aimi and Zeo had was precious. There was no way he could steal that away from them. But… Every time he had to deny his feelings, feel how far what he desired most was, a part of him died. How long would it take before there was nothing left of him?
He buried his face even more tightly with his hands, shoulders beginning to quake. " What the hell am I going to do?"
/ For some strange reason, Kenny had huge problems with finding sleep. Eventually he decided that rolling around in the bed would only cause a back-pain and got up, heading outside.
After a full hour's sauntering, some trick of fate lead him to a garden-like park he'd never been in before. The enchanting, heavy scent of flowers made him feel like he'd been walking in a whole another planet, completely outside this universe and all its rules.
And suddenly, he saw something that made the feeling grow even stronger. He immediately froze, eyes growing huge, and blinked as he stared at the heavenly sight before him.
In the middle of all the flowers sat a girl with blue hair and purple eyes. She had no idea of him – all her attention was on the small, extremely beautiful bird that sat on her hand, showing no fear at all. It took a while for him to realize that the nearly hypnotizing sound was her voice singing.
Carefully, he took a small step forward – and the magic was broken. Startled, the bird flew off, and the girl stopped singing in surprise, turning her gaze to look at him. And from that moment on, nothing was the same for Kenny.
Two months later, the girl – who introduced herself as Aimi – joined the Bladebreakers. And that's when things started to get complicated. Because apparently, Kenny wasn't the only one who's heart the hummingbird had charmed… /
It took a long time before Kenny was finally in the condition to leave the classroom. Once he did, the thing he found from the hallway was far from what he wanted to see.
" C'mon, Aimi!" a hazel-hared boy, probably a bit younger than Aimi, pleaded, his two friends stood behind him. " Just a quick little battle."
" Yeah!" one of his friends, a boy with purplish-orange hair, joined in, begging look in his ocean-colored eyes. " It would be so cool to battle a ex-Bladebreaker! Nothing could beat that!"
A small smile tugged exhausted-looking Aimi's lips. " Well, if it means so much to you guys…"
At that point, Kenny couldn't hold his overprotective side back for another second. " You know well you shouldn't be pushing yourself like that!" he exclaimed.
Seeing the dangerous flash his statement lit into Aimi's eyes, the ones challenging her quickly fled the scene, probably deciding they didn't want to witness a bloodbath.
" What's the worst that could happen?" she snorted, purple eyes darkening and blazing. " That I'd die?" The girl shook her head, visibly gulping down tears. " Let's face it, Kenny. It's a bit too late to worry now."
Kenny's eyes immediately flashed. " I won't let you give up like this!"
A tear ran down Aimi's cheek, pale as she felt very dizzy all of a sudden. " I'm dying!" she almost yelped, head spinning so badly that she had to support herself against the wall. " What's the point… with being so damn careful?"
Kenny didn't know if he was more terrified or annoyed as he graphed her hand. " Aimi, don't be ridiculous! You're too tough to go down like this!"
Aimi's somewhat hazy eyes were filled with confusion as they met his. Her forehead formed a deep frown. " Why… do you care so much?" And then, looking at him, her eyes widened with deep understanding as his biggest secret became unraveled underneath her gaze. " Kenny…"
Feeling a lump forming into his throat, Kenny managed to wheeze. " I… I never meant to… I'm sorry…"
She, however, plainly shook her head, looking away. " Please, not now… I…"
But she never had the chance to finish. So suddenly that it startled Kenny to near-death, the girl's eyes slid closed and her knees gave way, causing her to slump straight into his arms.
His eyes widened with shock and horror unlike anything he'd felt before. " A – Aimi?" He paid no heed to the people gathering around them as he sunk to the floor with her limp body in his arms, his heart working on its limits. " Aimi, wake up!" He shook her, and felt his whole chest squeeze into a small, tight ball when there was no reaction whatsoever. " AIMI!"
About an hour later, the hospital's waiting room was slowly packing up with people as a worried group of friends gathered in, panicked looks in their eyes.
By the time Ray barged in, heart bounding with panic, almost everyone was there. Zeo was phasing around the room with his hands crossed over his chest, lost look in his agony-filled eyes. Kenny, on the other hand, seemed almost paralyzed as he'd slumped onto one seat, terror, grief and something close to quilt flashing in his eyes. It was evident both boys had been crying quite a bit. Tala and Hilary were stood before a window, the girl slightly leaned back towards the boy's comforting warmth, and the boy's hand holding hers in a subtle comforting gesture.
Hearing the door being opened, all four quickly lifted their gazes, but disappointment could clearly be seen upon their faces when they noticed it was just him. " Have you guys heard anything?" he inquired in a tense voice.
Zeo shook his head in what seemed to be utter defeat. " Those idiots will only talk to her parents, and… Honestly, I doubt they'll even show up", the boy replied, voice filled with anger and bitterness.
Feeling his eyes sting almost unbearably, Ray blinked courageously and nodded. A frown came to his face when he suddenly remembered something. " Where's Kai?"
Tala shook his head, and Ray felt a nasty flash of worry when seeing the anxious look in the boy's ice-blue eyes. " I've tried to call him about million times, but he won't answer his cell-phone." The redhead frowned. " You should know… When I called his home, Tyson was there."
Pieces clicking, Ray gave a sigh, rubbing his face with one hand. " Oh damnit… Those two…" He shook his head. " I'll better go and find…"
Just then, as if on cue, the door slid open. Once again everyone looked up to see Kai entering. The dual-hared boy's eyes were red and puffy, and despite the jacket on him he seemed visibly cold from walking outside for so long. " Sorry I'm so late", he muttered, seeming embarrassed for all the eyes on him.
Glancing towards the wrist Kai was evidently trying to hide, Ray arched a suspicious eyebrow, but before he got the chance to ask anything the door opened once again.
This time in came a girl with definitely eye-catching black and white Mohawk, pierced nose, eyebrow and jaw, plus a pair of somewhat familiar rich, purple eyes that at the moment held tears and such anxiety that it made everybody's heart skip several beats. On her she had black leather pants, a dark-purple tank-top and black fingerless gloves. She was Akira, Aimi's a year and half younger little sister.
A loud gulp came from Zeo's direction. " Akira… What… what's wrong? Is she…?" He couldn't push himself into saying the last word.
The girl sniffed. " I… I don't know how to… how to tell you this, so…" She sniffed again. " You guys… She… She's dying."
It felt like a cold, dark wave had flooded over them all. Tala's arms enclosed around trembling and crying Hilary's waist, as the almost crying boy for once resigned from caring if his feelings were showing. Ray, eyes growing watery, gave a tiny, helpless and broken 'no'. Feeling colder than ever in his life, Kai wrapped his arms around himself, ghostly-pale face becoming terrifyingly blank – almost like all emotions had been sucked out of him by that single sentence. Zeo, feeling as though he'd been shot, fell to his seat when all strength left him, saltwater welling into his eyes.
Kenny, on the other hand, seemed to be too much in a shock to react in any way. Although he'd known all this for a while, it was still unbearable to hear it said out loud. His hazy eyes were impossibly large as he looked at the still sniffing girl. " Can… Can we… see her?"
Gulping down her tears, Akira shook her head, seeming to shiver. " She's quite doped up now, and… she has fever. They talked about… pneumonia or something." Visibly picking herself up, she wiped her eyes with a trembling hand. " I… I think you should… go home and get some rest, 'k? She… won't be in a condition to talk before tomorrow, so…"
" No!" Zeo, finally woken up from his trance, snarled, furiously shaking his head. " I won't go, not before seeing her!" Once again, tears found their way to his cheeks. " I… I have to… Please…"
Seeing his anguish, Akira just couldn't bring herself to say no. Unable to find words, she plainly gave a barely detectable nod.
Shadows were dancing in the small dorm-room while Tala was stood before a window, arms crossed over his chest in a protective manner.
Everything felt just so surreal… In the Abbey, he'd lost more friends than he could count. And even before that, all the people he'd claimed to love had been torn away from him – his parents, his sister… But… That was supposed to be over now. He wasn't supposed to keep losing his friends anymore!
Aimi… Aside Kai, she'd been the one who'd showed him how he really felt towards Hilary. Just like the Demolition Boys and naturally Hilary, the two were his soul remaining family.
Now… They were both in danger to slide away – or in Aimi's case, already slid over the painful, thin edge.
And Tala couldn't help wondering if everything would ever stop falling apart.
He was startled by the small knock on his door. Quickly wiping his even paler than usual cheeks, he braced himself. " Yeah?"
A soft screech came as the door was pushed open. " Hi." Hilary's voice didn't sound any stronger than his. " I… I just thought… It'd be good to be with someone… who's just as scared as I am."
He found himself giving a petite nod. " 'K."
From thereon, neither said a word. Shadows kept dancing in untraceable patterns as Hilary walked up to him, whole frame shuttering, and he wrapped his arms around the girl, burying his face into her hair that held a scent of chamomile.
And at that moment, when everything seemed to be crumbling around them and they were both crying soundlessly, one thing grew stronger than ever.
Kai wasn't exactly sure of for how long he'd been sitting on the rooftop of the hospital when the air of solitude was broken. Eyes squinting a little, he quickly turned his head to see Ray standing there, a step or two from the edge, the gaze of his golden eyes gazing at the city below.
For a moment, they remained speechless, both satisfied with the content, thoughtful silence. Then, out of blue, came Ray's voice, a bit broken. " I guess this hasn't been such a good day, huh?"
Despite everything, those words made the corners of Kai's mouth twitch. " Quite an understatement." Both would've desperately wanted to talk about Aimi, but neither could exactly find the words. The topic was just too tender. That's why Kai chose to pick another one. " Did you talk to Oliver today?"
The neko-jin gave a nod, eyes growing dark. " I… I still don't know… how we'll ever make it, especially if the baby… if she makes it."
Kai blinked. " 'She'?"
Ray nodded again, and took a shuttering sigh, sternly deciding not to do any more crying that day. " I don't have any clue of any of this, Kai! And…" He ran a hand through his thick, silky locks. " I… I just don't want to hurt him any more."
" Perhaps you don't have to." Kai's voice was so filled with certainty that despite all the stress, Ray found himself breathing a bit more easily. The boy gave him a glance. " I know it's been a hell, but… No one is expecting you two to go through this alone. You do realize that there are a lot of friends around you, right?"
He snorted. " Yeah… And you're the only one I've told about this."
Looking at the stars, Kai shrugged. " It's a start."
As Ray looked at his friend, almost chilling thought struck him. " Kai…" He gulped thickly, not sure of how to set his words. " Do… Do you have any idea… of how important you are to us? I mean… If… if you'd… go…"
Yeas suddenly glimmering, Kai shook his head fervently. " Ray, don't."
His amber eyes flashed. " You have to hear this, Kai! Because… I know you've been… hurting yourself again." The Russian's whole body jolted when he kneeled down and entrapped the sitting boy's face between his hands, determined to be heard out. " We need you!"
Almost as though his touch had burned, the dual-hared teen jumped up. " I… I've gotta go… Tyson's probably about to send a search-party."
Ray sighed. " You haven't told him, have you?" Seeing the look of quilt in Kai's eyes, he sighed again. " You should. He deserves to know."
Looking away, Kai remained silent for a long moment, noticeably gritting his teeth. Then, there was a quiet whisper. " I know." So fast that it startled him, the boy turned around, turning his back on him. " See you."
And as the boy disappeared, Ray couldn't help feeling that another friend was slipping away.
While the others had rushed to their separate ways, Kenny was still sitting in the waiting room, completely paralyzed by shock as the gravity of the situation flooded over him.
Up until that day, there'd been hope – foolish kind, but hope nevertheless. Perhaps Aimi would fight through after all, perhaps she'd defeat this. But now…
" Hi Chief."
Taken aback by the voice first, he shuttered a bit, then – despite the situation – felt the corners of his lips jerk. " You know, no one else has called me that for over a year."
There was a small, surprisingly deep laughter. " Well, then it's good someone does."
Ghost of a smile upon his lips, he watched as the girl slumped to seat next to his, completely forgetting her black leather-jacket on. For a longest time no words were offered as they sat in silence, both lost into their own thoughts.
" Remember… how Aimi convinced Zeo he was worth of normal life and love? How she showed him that there was another road to follow apart his father's?" Akira suddenly murmured, distant look in her eyes.
Blinking furiously, Kenny nodded, smile quivering. " Yeah. She's always been… determined."
" She showed that same determination… when forcing me to quit smoking." Possibly first time ever, he saw emotions upon the pale girl's cheeks – grief, betrayal, anger, fear – as she looked at him, almost like she'd found all the answers from his eyes. " She… She's my only family, Chief. My parents… They just don't know how to take care of me." Despite obvious resistance, a sniff escaped. " What… What the hell am I going to do without her?"
Silently wondering the same thing, Kenny cautiously wrapped an arm around her, and was almost shocked when actually finding her leaning closer, her small frame trembling.
Squeezing his own eyes tightly shut, he pulled her closer, everything spinning in his head. And at the moment, he would've desperately wanted to scream out loud.
Aimi didn't have a slightest clue of for how long she'd been sleeping when her eyelids finally twitched, determined to open up to the world once again.
First, she frowned as she met the darkness around her, felt the nauseating scent of hospital strike her harder than her mother's fist.
Where the heck am I?
And then, she felt the hand holding hers. Slightly startled, she turned her gaze to meet a pair utterly devastated eyes that'd lost all their hope. " Zeo…"
Seeing the silent tears moonlight refused to conceal, she understood that he knew everything. Her throat growing impossibly tight, she tried squeeze his hand back, but wasn't sure if he even felt it.
Whether he noticed her gesture or not, a pitiable, desperate moan escaped him, and before she properly realized what was happening he'd wrapped his arms around her, brought her against his surprisingly strong chest. As he buried his face into her hair, she felt his entire form shuttering with wrenching sobs.
Holding on to him as tightly as she possibly could, she grit her teeth so tightly that they sunk into skin and blood seeped, and squeezed her eyes tightly shut.
Only moonlight was comforting as souls that would soon be ripped apart helplessly tried to grasp on to one another.
Max had never trembled the way he did when standing behind the door of Yorks' Japanese residence.
' Relax, Master', Draciel's deep, soothing voice echoed in his head. ' It'll be alright.'
He scowled. ' Easy for you to say. You're not the one who has a knife on his throat.'
' I believe you're exaggerating, Master.'
Max shivered again. ' You haven't seen that man.'
Just then the door opened, revealing the face of Emily's father. " Max. How very nice of you to show up at such a short notice." The man made room. " Come in."
Max made a loud gulp. " T – thank you, Mr. York."
Neither said a word while he followed the man, head buzzing with thoughts of where he might be taken. None of the options made him feel a slightest bit better.
In the end, they ended up into a small, rather darkish room. Heavy velvet-curtains hung to cover the undoubtedly huge windows, and a blood-red carpet laid on the floor. Aside those, the room only held a bookshelf, two armchairs and a small cupboard.
Max frowned, very unnerved all of a sudden. " I… I thought we were supposed to evaluate beyblades…"
" Soon. But first… there's another matter we should… discuss." Slowly, almost dangerously, the man approached the few bottles on the cupboard, pouring so brownish liquid for himself. The man then looked at him. " Would you like some ice-tea?"
Max's eyes widened slightly. " N-no thanks…" I have no interest to drink rat-poison or cyanide.
" Very well then." For a moment it was silent while the man took a taste of his drink, gradually gulping it down. " Excellent. But now…" The man's blue, icy eyes sparkled chillingly when meeting his. " How stupid exactly do you think I am?"
For a long moment, Max was too stunned to react. " W-what?" Once again, he gulped thickly. " I… I don't have any idea…"
" There are many things my daughter manages to keep as a secret from me. Far too many for my liking." The man took another sip of his drink. " But unfortunately, you aren't one of them. I managed to catch a glimpse of a picture of you two… bonding."
Max's poor heart was pushed to its limits, as were his rapidly widening eyes. Without noticing it, he took one step backwards, towards the exit. " Are you… Are you going to… kill me?"
The man gave a deep laughter. " No. You certainly aren't one of my favorite people at the moment, but I wouldn't wish to be charged with murder because of you."
He frowned. " Then what?"
With one huge gulp, the man emptied his glass. " I suggest… a little game. A bey-battle, to be exact." Those dangerous wolf's eyes locked with his. " If you lose, I'll take Emily back to America, and make sure you two will never meet again."
Max arched an eyebrow. Oh no, he wasn't going to give up from the one he loved this easily. " And if I win?"
" Then… I won't stand in you and Emily's way. You are free to do whatever you wish with her."
What neither knew was that Emily was listening to them from her own secret little chamber nearby, look of deep irritation upon her face. Her fists clenched into balls.
She'd expected more from the two most important men in her life. more than being treated like some darm decoration-ornament.
I can't believe those two bozos are doing this!
Then, a smirk came to her features.
She'd teach those two a little lesson of how to treat a girl.
Even though the apartment was dark as Kai entered, he could feel he wasn't alone. Not bothering to turn on the lights, he tossed into the living room.
Immediately, there was a sound of fabric rustling from the couch. " Kai?" A quiet yawn came to his sensitive ears. " Damnit, do you have any idea…?" The boy cut mid sentence. " Never mind. It's… it's none of my business, I guess."
Unable to utter another word, Kai simply stood absolutely still in the darkness for what felt like a tireless age. Then, slowly and hesitantly, he tiptoed towards the couch, causing a scarcely audible sound as he took a seat on the opposite side from Tyson.
Breathing was almost unbearably painful as he searched for the strength from within him, helplessly trying to find the words to explain something he knew Tyson would never understand. The reason why he wanted to… fade away.
Damnit, why did this part have to be so damn difficult?
Tyson's chest had never felt quite as tight as it did when he waited for the words he knew Kai would soon blurt out.
" Ty…" There was a loud gulp. " I… What you saw today… I think I should… explain."
Tyson gave a small nod, not exactly sure if he even wanted to know. " Yeah… You should." He looked towards the Russian's direction, but the darkness didn't allow him to see a thing. " Are you… okay?"
There was a bitter laughter. " Just about as alright as you are." His ears detected a clear shiver in Kai's voice. " They… They're trying to dope me up, but… I don't want to, because… when I fall asleep, all I see is he."
Tyson was so shocked that he could barely speak – more over Kai's words or the fact that the boy was opening up like this, he couldn't tell. Eventually came a wheeze. " You're not taking those pills, are you?" He didn't have to see Kai's shake of head. After a shocked silence, another question – much more chilling one – came to his mind. " Kai… Have you tried to…?"
Another gulp came, much more labored than the last one. " I… I just wanted him out of my head so badly…" A sound that could've been detected a sniff came from the boy's direction. " After… the third time… They put me into this place, but… I almost died there."
Tyson felt his head spinning, and he had to support his head with his hands to keep it all together.
Gosh, he should've known this, he should've seen… If… If he had, he would've never left. He would've never ran away…
He sure as hell wouldn't make the same mistake again.
Hesitantly – wary of both Kai's reaction and his own memories of all Seiji had done to him – he reached out in the dark, and as if being led, his hand found Kai's, encircling tightly around it, giving a tender squeeze.
Feeling the touch of Tyson's cool fingers, Kai found a shiver going through him, and all reminders of breath were stuck into his throat.
/ Stars were twinkling in the sky as Kai stood on a pear nearby the boarding-school, watching the dark horizon, almost like waiting.
His senses immediately activated when a board gave a screech under footsteps. In a flash of a second, he knew who it was, and all tension slowly drained out of him.
Neither felt like talking as Wyatt slowly approached, taking a stand right beside him. After some silent moments, Kai felt himself jolt due to slight frighten when there was a hold on his hand. Confused, he lifted his gaze to meet brown, expectance-filled eyes, which were obviously wondering what he'd choose to do.
He had no idea of where the sudden urge came, but before he knew what he was doing his hand closed softly, protectively, around Wyatt's, giving a promise of shelter.
Unfortunately, that promise wasn't his to make. /
Tyson, on the other hand, felt memories flooding in as if he'd been watching it from TV-screen. All the times Seiji had hurt him, all the crap he'd been through… The things Seiji had stolen from him…
Heart shrinking and stretched to its limits at the same time, he leaned forward and cling to Kai's shirt, as if that'd been the only thing that could protect him. He didn't even register the small, pitiable whimper that left him. " Help me…"
Kai's head was spinning as he once again held Tyson, swallowing thickly. I can't even help myself.
They remained like that for ages, until Tyson finally found the strength to move again. For some reason that was a enigma to him, his hand shifted to the place where he could feel Kai's heart beating. " … fast…"
His whole being – including his insides – jolted when a bigger hand closed around his. Blinking and lifting his gaze, he met a pair of flaming, burgundy orbs that could just be seen in the darkness.
For close to eternity, clocks stood still, whole universe held its breath, as the two struggled against the sweetest of temptations, evaluated each other. But then…
It was like they'd both been struck by a heatstroke. Sense, logic or memories played no role as they let heat and temptation take over – neither was strong enough to fight against something so strong. Perhaps… they even shouldn't have.
They both needed this, more than anything.
Lips met each other, first a bit clumsily, not recognizing each other nor understanding their task, then passionately, demandingly, as passion took over. Hands found lives of their own while they worked in the darkness – they knew each other so well that eyes weren't needed.
And as two broken souls desperately tried to fix each other, for a first time in years a cautious emotion called hope started to rise to its wings, like a phoenix from ashes. Perhaps, even though nothing could repair all damage they'd received, there was something aside darkness awaiting on their paths… Maybe, just maybe, they deserved at least a little bit more…
On the pitch-black night-sky, stars that shone like a field of diamonds shifted into a new position when volatile, dangerous destiny made yet another one of it's moves.
Strange, treacherous orange eyes were on those deceitful stars. A young man ran a hand through his shoulder-length, storm-colored hair and took a look at his watch, giving a growl. " Late again…"
" But not as much as usually", came a voice from behind him. Turning his gaze, he found Seiji approaching. " Did you bring it along?"
" Of course I did." Flickers of silvery moonlight made the small handgun shine as he handed it to the slightly shorter teen. " Look… Are you sure about this? I mean… Usually my customers…"
The venomous, terrifying flash in the other's eyes made him cut short. " Well I'm not exactly any customer, am I?" In a careless movement, the boy fished out a envelope-full of money, and threw it to him while hiding the gun into the covers of his long jacket. " It was a pleasure to make business with you." So saying, the boy turned around, starting to walk away.
" Wait!" For some odd reason, he wasn't exactly willing to let the other go. Almost like he'd sensed something… " Seiji… What are you going to do? I mean… When someone buys a gun…"
" It really is none of your business." The voice was colder and sharper than winter-wind. Not taking another glance over his shoulder, the boy walked off. " See you later."
Looking at the boy's distancing back, he gave a deep frown, shivers running down his spine.
What the hell have I done?
¨
Walking away, Seiji made a cruel smirk, revealing his teeth like a predator about to jump on its unexacting prey.
No one steals what's mine.
And he was about to make damn sure Tyson and that bastard would learn that. No matter for how long it'd take.
Those thoughts going through his mind, he disappeared like a shadow.
TBC.
A/N: Pheeeeeew…. Fifteen pages this took! (collapses with exhaustion)
So… The tensions are running high… And even higher with Kai and Tyson! 0o Is it love at last – or just a night of passion that'll mess up everything?
Oh, and about the moment… What kind of… consequences would you like it to have? (Yeah, yeah, I'm talking about another mpreg… And yes, still stuck with the idea.) (sighs) So… Is one baby per fic enough – or are you welcoming pregnancy two? Please, please, let me know! I really want to make this fic one you'll like, and I can only do it if I know what you want to read!
Okay, I suppose that's all for now. Hope you'll all catch on next time! And before that… PLEAAAAAAASE review – and vote (of both the pregnancy and who Aimi should choose)! It seriously does mean more than a world to me! (begs on knees, giving puppy-dog eyes)
Adios! Be good!
(Btw... In case you're wondering why Ty and Max weren't in the hospital... They don't really know Aimi, you see. According to my own notes (that might be messed up) she joined the team after those two left.)
(1) Tyson left the team shortly after he'd defeated Zeo. (Well, that's in my freaky timeline, at least.) (grins)