A/N: Yes, yes, yes, chapter nine is READY! And in less than a week! (squeals with joy)
I know, I know, I should just get on with the story, but first things first… You guys, thank you so, SO much for your amazing reviews! (HUUUUUGS) I'm just ridiculously happy to know you're still out there! (My mom thinks I'm going crazy when I giggle with delight when sitting in front of a computer…)
(Oh, I'm just killing you guys with those cliffies, aren't I? (sigh) I'm sorry, but I'm just obsessed with them. Try to bear with me, 'k? I'm bound to get bored with them sooner or later.)
Okay, folks, on with the show! In this chapter, feelings are brought out open. (geez, well that's new…) Oh, and someone makes a comeback… (dun-dun-dun…) Hope this'll be worthy of your time! What can I say? I tried my best.
Chapter nine: Late
The figure rushing towards a familiar house was drenched wet as a cruel torrent of rain washed over, leaving no spot dry. A content sigh escaped when the destination was reached.
'Bout time.
There seemed to be about million steps before the door was finally ahead. Hesitantly, a hand was reached out for a gentle knock.
" Come in", came a rather quiet voice from the inside.
The door gave a silent, soft squeak of protest when it was slowly pushed open. Steps echoed as the drenched visitor entered. " Bry?"
Something close to shock was the arrival's first emotion as the lavender-haired teen came out of a room, into eyeshot. Gosh, the boy had never seemed so tired… Those huge bags underneath his eyes, skin almost gray… " Hey, Hils. What are you doing here?"
Taking off her jacket that was dripping with water, she ran another hand through equally wet brown locks. " How's Kai?" It'd been eleven days from Tyson moving out. There had to be progress by now, right?
Another shock came when she witnessed the look in Bryan's eyes. Defeat? " I… I took him to the doctor's again today. He's lost weight, and they… they said there'll be… tests." There was a difficult, laborious gulp. " They… gave him pills. He's sleeping now."
Gulping and momentarily at a loss of words, she gave a faint nod. The hatred that rose in her chest was so intense that it scared her. Damn you, Tyson. Deciding to force herself to think about something, anything, else before she'd hurt herself or someone else, she pushed words out. " Look, I… There's something… I've been meaning to talk to you about."
The boy blinked, seeming dumfounded. " Oh?"
" I heard you and Tala talking about taking Kai to Russia", she stated, not even intending to block out the emotions from sadness and confusion to near rage.
Again, Bryan gulped, eyes widening rapidly. " I… I think you should talk to Tala."
" If I'd talk to Tala, I'd end up injuring him. Badly." Her ruby-eyes lit into a flame. " Bryan, what the hell are you two doing? Kai's just hanging in there as it is, for crying out loud! If you'll drag him all the way to Russia…" She had to take deep breaths and count to ten, but she was still shivering as she went on. " Are you trying to kill him?"
Bryan's eyes flickered. " We're trying to keep him from killing himself!" the boy snarled as loudly as he could without waking Kai up. " Especially after that little stunt of Tyson's…" He shook his head, blinking. " I… I won't bury another friend, Hilary. I… I can't."
Hilary felt herself tearing into two as she watched her friend's evident pain. What… what if he's right? " I… I've gotta go." With that, she whirled around and walked out.
¨
Watching Hilary go, Bryan felt a bang in his chest.
Gosh, it would be so hard for her to understand, as for the others… But she'd have to. Otherwise…
Shaking the thought away, he walked up to door, behind which Kai was laying in a drug-indulged sleep in the safety of his bed. Despite the fact that the boy was asleep, his face was still contorted with pain. Quiet, meow-like whimper could be heard as Kai suddenly reached out a hand, desperately trying to grasp onto something only his closed eyes could see.
Bryan's eyes first darkened with pain and grief. But fury quickly wiped the ache away.
He'd once trusted Tyson not to harm Kai. And this was the result.
There was no telling what he'd do to the bluenette if their paths were to ever cross.
Neither Kenny or Akira noticed the lateness of the hour as they decorated the huge ball-room that in ten days would transform into a place where they'd hold Aimi's birthday-party.
Unable to restrain it for another second, Akira – standing on ladder while putting some decorations to roof – gave a huge yawn. " Damn…"
Kenny – who was decorating the walls nearby – gave a smile of sympathy, not seeming a slightest bit more awake. " I suppose it's getting kinda late, huh?"
The girl glared. " I don't think this is the right moment for bad jokes."
Finally satisfied with her work, she started climbing down the ladder – only to notice that the late hour didn't make her balance an ounce better than it was. She didn't manage to scream or even yelp as she fell, just blinked owlishly, not quite understanding why there was no support underneath her feet.
She fully expected the stone-hard floor to meet her – but gave a huge gasp when landing into something soft instead. Blinking yet again, she turned her gaze to find herself laying on top of very, very blushed Kenny. The boy – apparently not prepared for her crashing down on him – had stumbled to the floor and was now laying down, with her sitting rather ungracefully on top of him.
Now this is awkward.
But for some incomprehensible reason, her muscles refused to move.
The sensation was almost electric. Unable to control themselves, they leaned forward – until they were so close to each other that both hearts were pounding madly.
" Kenny?" she breathed in a shivering tone, first time calling him something else than Chief.
She was all too familiar with the fact that his lips were a mere inch from hers, parted just slightly…
Move. Get up. Now.
She didn't budge.
Shit.Something completely unfamiliar flashed in Kenny's eyes, and he looked away for a moment. Then his eyes found hers again, and a loud, difficult gulp was head. " Aki… Would you…?"
She blinked, then figured that her weight was probably smashing his legs already. " Oh… Sorry…" In a much more clumsy movement than she would've preferred, she moved away, watching as Kenny slowly pushed himself up. " Anything broken?"
The boy gave a small, almost pant-like chuckle. " No, I don't think so."
She swallowed thickly, for some reason feeling out of breath. " Good, then." She gulped again. " I… I'm gonna get us some coffee, before we'll fall asleep standing up."
Kenny nodded, the look in his eyes showing that he wasn't quite there. " 'K."
Without so much of a word or another glance at him, she fled the scene.
And she didn't come back.
After the unbearable heat of Mexico, London was blissfully cool as Max sauntered forward on the streets, almost tackled down by the people passing by. But the others meant nothing to him, when he was an inch from finally seeing Emily again.
Suddenly, he froze dead on his tracks, causing about five people to bump into him. His blue eyes grew slightly wider as he stared at the huge building before him, swallowing heavily.
Beyblade training center, said the massive text right above the entrance. A smaller add a bit below it continued. Special trainers for today – the former All Starz -team!
He gulped again, to no avail trying to brace himself. " You can do this." Yeah, right…
Sucking in a breath so deep it made him feel dizzy, he determinedly walked forward, approaching the entrance. Moving in sync with the mod, he was almost in, when a hand suddenly graphed his arm, so tightly it hurt.
Eyes flashing, he turned his gaze – and blinked when finding a familiar person. " Michael?"
" So you didn't believe it when she told you to back off, huh?" The boy's eyes squinted. " You should've stayed away."
Disbelief washed over Max as he stared at the other's face. Gradually believing that Michael actually wasn't joking, he felt all other emotions transforming into rage. " What the hell do you think you're doing?" Even he was surprised by the fact that Max Tate could use language like that. " This… Me and Emily… It's none of your business!"
Michael's eyes flashed. The boy's hold on his arm tightened. " You just made it my business." The boy stepped so close their faces were inches apart, then hissed. " Mark my words, Tate. She – doesn't – want – you – anywhere – near – her. Got that? She doesn't want anything to do with you! So get the hell out of here before I'll call the security!"
To be noted, Max is a very calm and peaceful person. But those words pushed him so badly off the edge that he had no idea of what he was doing as his fist rose on it's own accord, smashing against Michael's face so heavily that the taller boy stumbled backwards.
He was screaming something – he knew he was – and tried to jump forward again, when a steely pair of arms suddenly locked him to spot, and he was being pulled away by a security guard. He registered only one of his words as he was dragged further and further away from the door before which Michael stood, eyes flaming and holding his cheek. " … Emily! …"
¨
Back inside, Emily suddenly dropped the blade she'd been inspecting, falling completely pale and giving a tiny gasp.
Steve, who was standing right beside her, frowned and gave her a worried look. " You okay?"
She nodded dazedly. " Y – yeah… I just…" Slowly, she turned her gaze, and it met a familiar person. She quickly gave a small grin. " Hi Michael. What took you so long?" She, too, then frowned when seeing his cheek that was growing red. " What's that?"
The boy smiled warmly, wrapping an arm around her. " It's nothing." He pulled her just slightly closer. " What did I miss?"
Later at that same day in Japan, Oliver – suffering from such stomach-cramps they were almost driving him insane – had decided that only a walk could make him feel even an ounce better.
He had no idea of for how long he'd been walking around, when he suddenly spotted a slumped figure sitting on a bench not too far away. A frown came to his face. " Tyson?"
For a longest moment, he wasn't sure of what to do. What Tyson had done to Kai was horrible and inexcusable. But… Sitting there, alone in the dark, the boy seemed so small and lost. His whole frame was quaking, and Oliver found himself frowning again.
Is he… crying?Hearing the call he'd given, Tyson tensed completely. Slowly, as though afraid, the boy turned to meet his gaze. The tears in those midnight orbs took Oliver by surprise. " O – Oliver?" The boy gulped. " I…" The words died out.
His usually warm eyes squinted and hardened. " Why the heck did you do it?" he bit out, even more harshly than he'd intended.
Once again, the other stiffened and gave a gulp even he could hear, expression hardening. But the steely façade rapidly crumbled, and – giving a loud, heartbreaking howl – the bluenette crumbled right before his eyes, burying his face into his hands and trembling violently.
Despite the fact that he was still furious at the other, Oliver felt some of the anger turning into worry. " Hey, what's going on?"
" I… I just don't know to do." There was a choked sniff. " The baby, Kai, Seiji…"
Words – much more than those – came so rapidly and incoherently that Oliver had no chance of understanding them all. But thoughts quickly linked, and his eyes widened rapidly. Baby? " Tyson…", he gasped. " Are you…?"
Realizing what he'd just blurted out, Tyson's eyes widened as well. They were filled with desperation as the boy glanced at him. " You… you can't tell the others, especially Kai."
He blinked, not quite understanding. " But… He deserves to know! I mean, if he's…"
Shaking his head violently, Tyson gave one more sniff. " Please, you… you don't understand… He… he can't find out, not ever."
By then, Oliver was utterly confused. He repeated his earlier question. " Tyson, what's going on?"
The boy quickly shook his head, bouncing up with such speed that it must've made him feel woozy. " I… I'm sorry, about everything." The boy started to rush away, steps swaying. " Don't… don't tell anyone about this, 'k?"
Before Oliver could say a word to stop him, the boy was gone, disappearing into the darkness.
Suddenly, determination filled Oliver's puzzled eyes. Despite all the crap, Tyson was a friend. And if there was something wrong, he wanted to know.
He took a couple of steps to follow the bluenette, but that appeared to be all he could do. A gasp of pain and surprise escaped when there was a cruel, huge stab of pain in his stomach. His hand reflexively flew to his stomach, trying to shield it from invisible threat.
Another stab came, and he squeezed his eyes tightly shut, giving a mixture of hiss and meow. " Shit…"
But then, just as suddenly as it'd came, the horrifying pain subsided, and he took several gasps, shivering all over with his hand still clenching to his belly.
What the heck was that?There was no reply, and – still shivering – he walked back to Ray and Akira's place, all the while praying that everything was alright. That the precious miracle wouldn't be lost.
Ten days later.
In England, Max once again braced himself while standing before a huge building in Liverpool, fists squeezed into tight balls.
" She doesn't want anything to do with you!"
His blue eyes squinted, and it was almost impossible to hold back a growl.
No chance in hell he'd let Michael's words take him down. Emily would never betray him like that. And he was determined to show her that he was worthy of such loyalty.
The people gave him looks of slight surprise and wonder, some whispered when recognizing him. But he blatantly ignored them while pushing the huge doors leading to a Beyblade-festival open, entering with a look of sheer determination. Never before had he been so absolutely sure about something being right, not even blading.
¨
What Max had no idea of, was that not too far away, Michael – having been waiting for weeks, for all his life, who knew – finally prepared to make his move. Heart thumping somewhere near his throat, he approached the girl who was just taking a break from teaching the kids. " Em… There's something… I have to tell you."
His voice sounded so unfamiliar that Mariah frowned as she looked at him. " 'You okay?"
No. Most definitely NOT okay. " Yeah. It's…" He could almost feel the hot, deep red sneaking to his cheeks. " I… I need to give you something."
Her frown deepened, eyes filled with puzzlement. " Michael, what are you…?"
Until the end of her days, Emily York couldn't remember what she'd been meaning to say. Because the only thing that fit into her mind was that Michael's lips captured hers with such hunger and all consuming passion that it wiped everything else away.
¨
The repulsion Max felt as his body froze couldn't be compared to anything. The image was tattooed into his brain with such force that it was almost enough to sweep him off his feet.
Emily's eyes falling closed. Her hand pressing against Michael's chest, precisely where the heart was probably racing. Their lips meeting.
Gosh, how much he would've liked to feel hatred – or anger, at very least. But the emotion that went through him was anything else.
The breaths he sucked in almost choked him, though they were futile.
Late. Hopelessly late.
¨
It took a while before Emily managed to overcome her daze. Giving a loud, almost terrified gasp, she instinctively turned her head – and gasped again when meeting a familiar pair of blue, disappointed eyes. " … no …"
But before her faint whisper could ever touch the boy, he spun around and ran.
Terror and helplessness pumping through, she jumped up, attempting to follow – but was restrained by a hand. Michael's eyes were filled with question and pleading. " Stay."
At that moment, her eyes widened as she understood. All those touched, gazes… She knew exactly what he was asking for. " Michael…" She gulped, suddenly feeling so lousy and sick that she had to blink. " I… I'm sorry. I can't."
Not bearing to see the look of defeat and anguish upon his face, she stormed off as soon as he released her, darting towards the direction she'd seen Max go. The people didn't even register to her as she ran like there'd been a fire on her tails, a taste of iron in her mouth.
Panting hopelessly, she barged through the door – just in time to see Max approaching an awaiting taxi. " Wait!"
But she was way too far for him to hear. Rushing forward blindly, she sprinted to the stairs leading to him – and soon discovered that she should've paid more attention to what she was doing. A cry escaped her as her balance broke, and she felt her ankle twisting into a painful, abnormal position. Terror going through her, she frantically lifted her gaze, only to see Max sitting into a car.
Gasping, she tried to get back up, but the pain was so intense that she gracelessly slumped back into sitting position, cursing loudly in every single language she knew. Everyone nearby gave her odd looks as she suddenly screamed out in English, tears of frustration threatening to break. " GODDAMMIT!"
But despite her fury, all she could do was watch helplessly as the car disappeared like dust into wind.
And she almost laughed at the bitter irony.
Because that moment, she knew exactly what she'd been looking for all along. And that thing had just disappeared.
There was a buzz of something between excitement and sadness as a group gathered into a huge building waited for the front-door to open up. In less than five minutes, Zeo would bring in Aimi, who didn't have a slightest clue of their little surprise.
The mood couldn't quite reach Tala and Hilary, who were standing in one corner of the building, evidently avoiding looking at each other. Both could clearly feel that there was something… odd going on between them. But neither was willing to give up on stubbornness and crack to ask what was wrong first.
Tala took them both by surprise with being the one to shatter first. " I'm not an idiot, you know?" There was a hint of hurt and confusion in his tone. " I know you've been avoiding me for ages, and…" His icy eyes – for once a devoid of all their pride and hardness – seemed almost lost, adorable, as they gazed at her. " What the hell's going on?"
The change he saw in Hilary's face almost scared him. As the girl looked at him, she seemed like a wild-beast about to attack. " I've been very, very patient with you", she snarled. " I've endured your worst moments, defended you… Hell, I've believed in you, Valkov, no matter how ridiculous stunts you've come up with!" At that point, she was so furious that her jaw tightened so much it hurt, teeth grit together with a screech. " How the hell can you do this to Kai?! How dare you twist and turn all he hold dear NOW?!"
For a long, stilled moment he just stared at her, an endless flow of emotions flashing by his face. Eventually, the stream froze to just one; utter, sheer anxiety. " Hilary, I… I can't just sit back and watch him fade! I won't!"
Her fury was still far from ceased. " But why the heck do you have to drag him to Russia? Back to the Abbey, memories of Voltaire and Boris…"
The flash in Tala's eyes told the last words had slashed deep. " Russia may not hold the best of past, but… that's where he belongs." He gulped. " And at least… at least there, I can make sure he's safe."
" Safe from what?" Her eyebrow rose with yet another bout of anger. " Are you saying that we don't know how to take care of him?"
Once more, there was desperation upon Tala's pale face. " Take a look at his arms, Hilary. Then… you'll know what Japan does to him."
This time, the frown upon her face was one of worry, almost panic. Of course she knew what Kai'd been doing to himself, but… That was over now, with him seeing a psychiatrist and taking his pills. Wasn't it? " What are you talking about?"
¨
Standing a bit aside from the others, Kai tried to make himself as unnoticeable as possible. After everything that'd happened, showing up at this party was the pretty much last thing he felt like doing – especially when he was a target of worried, suspicious attention. But he'd pull through, for Aimi's sake.
" You alright?"
Tilting his head just a slight bit upwards, he smiled faintly when finding Oliver's worried face. " I'll live." He then lowered his gaze to the French's clearly visible bump. " You?"
The boy gave a crooked grin, gently placing his hand to the belly. " She's been kicking like crazy all day. This kid'll be one hell of a soccer-player."
Kai responded with a grin, and for a short while they remained in silence, entrapped by their thoughts. He was almost startled when Oliver suddenly spoke. " Look… I know how that… stunt of Tyson's hurt you. And I'm far, far from forgiving. But…" The boy sighed, visibly pondering his words carefully. " I… I met him today, and… I think you should see him. Give him a chance."
Disbelief and anger were only two of the billion emotions that rushed through Kai that moment. He had to bite his cheek not to snap completely. " Why the hell should I?" I believe he made it perfectly clear we have no further things to talk through, he mentally added in a sour tone.
But the look of despair in Oliver's eyes caught his attention, defied doubt and hurt. " Please, just… do it. Give him one more chance."
This time, his voice was much calmer, almost worried. " Why?"
¨
But before either one of the questions had their reply, the door opened and everyone started to cheer as bewildered Aimi was dragged inside.
Hours passed by faster than anyone could count, and – despite this small twinge in his belly, and the unnerving fact that Ray was also present – Oliver found himself able to relax for pretty much a first time since he'd found out he was pregnant.
He was just getting himself some lemonade, when a familiar voice nearly made him drop the glass with fright. " You alright?"
Turning to meet a pair of enchanting, amber eyes, he felt a jump somewhere deep inside. Shrugging the confusing feeling away, he pushed a small smile. " Yeah, of course. Why?"
Ray shrugged, not seeming even halfway pleased with his reply. " You're pale, and I know you well enough to know you're tired. Maybe I should take you home."
A sore taste came to his mouth. Funny how good a simple word such as 'okay' would've tasted… " Thanks, but Enrique's picking me up."
The look in Ray's eyes was almost enough to kill him. " Oh…"
Deciding to make his exit before anything more… dramatic would occur, Oliver attempted to brush pass Ray. But he was held back – more by his own will or Ray's fingers intertwining with his, he had no idea. " Don't." It wasn't an order, not even a request. Just a desperate, broken plea.
He gulped, feeling something big and thorny in his throat. " I won't go through all this crap again, Ray." He still remembered all too well what it'd felt like the last time around when Ray'd told him it was over; the acidic insults, pointless and countless apologies, anger, confusion…
Their daughter wouldn't be contaminated by a seed of such a bitter mistake.
" You… You should know that I don't care about what they say anymore; the village-elders, the fans…" Did Ray's hold tighten, or was it his imagination? " I'm ready."
Oliver found his teeth chewing his lip, his eyes felt like they were on fire. There was a furious kick in his belly. " It's too late."
After that, his brain seemed to work on auto-pilot. He found himself moving, though he had no idea of where he was going. His words sounded somewhat dull as she spoke something to Aimi, then was taken through the front-door – and straight into the arms of Enrique, who was standing behind the door, prepared to knock. He said something to the boy – who knew, perhaps they were even quarreling – until there was Ray's voice in the background, saying something he couldn't comprehend. As the two boys spotted each other, their voices rose to such volume that (though still not understanding another word) Oliver felt his ears aching.
Desperately, he opened his mouth to scream at them to stop, but no voice willed its way out.
And so he ran, as fast as he could, still not having a clue of where he was headed.
¨
After having sauntered into who knows where, Oliver had to admit himself that he'd been an idiot with sprinting off. His legs barely carried his weight, and the tiny twinges in his abdomen had transformed into full-grown stabs – all too much like the ones he'd been feeling ten days back.
And frankly, the thought of the hurt growing, and the fact that he had no idea of where he was, were slowly driving him into panic. Especially when all he saw when stumbling forward was a tree and a stone after another.
Eventually, the pain was so horrifying that he was hissing with every step, clutching to his stomach and whole being trembling. " Just… one step… You… can do it…"
Just as he could barely believe in that thought, the pain became about thousand times more severe, unbearable. Gasp of immense pain escaped him when a tidal-wave of agony washed over him, and had to lean against a nearby tree for support. The hurt was accompanied by sheer terror or even beyond when he felt something hot, moist and sticky travelling down his leg. " No…" Seeing nothing but haze, he lowered his gaze – and gave another gasp when seeing something red and sticky staining his pants, along with something close to clear and thicker. Yet again, his bleary eyes widened. My water… It broke… " No… No, no, please no…"
The prayers didn't help. He was in a labor – for a month before its time.
No matter how much he would've wanted to run as fast as he could – to get help, to escape the nightmarish situation – he couldn't. Giving a loud cry of pain, he slumped to the ground as his knees gave way. Helplessly, he gazed around with barely seeing eyes, but no one was at sight. " Ray… Enrique… Anyone…" His eyelids turned intolerably heavy, as did his entire body, and he soon found himself laying on the ice-cold ground. " Help…"
He absently noticed that something happened to the pain. He could still feel it, but it was so hollow that it didn't seem to be radiating from his body at all.
Feeling extremely tired all of a sudden, he willed his eyes to rest. One last, desperate plea escaped from him, unheard. " … help…"
And then, it was completely dark and quiet as he laid there, body unmoving and the bloodstain on his pants ever-growing.
Oliver's words were still hammering Kai's head as he walked towards the small house he – by some inner voice – knew Tyson to be in. Though his being was trembling, his eyes held a look of resolution.
No matter how much it'd hurt, he'd have to do this. He… he couldn't let Tyson just disappear, like he'd done with Wyatt.
Never before had he seen such a look of stun he did as the boy opened the door. " K – Kai?" But all emotions quickly vanished, like they'd been just his imagination. " Now what are you doing here?"
Tyson could clearly see how much those icy words harmed Kai, as the taller teen's whole body jolted. But the determination never disappeared. " I… I came, because… I need answers, Tyson. I need to understand." The boy swallowed thickly. " I… I want to help."
The shock Tyson felt was like a slap right against the face. " Why?" Why… Why the heck would Kai still care, after all the shit he'd said?
For a merest of seconds, he could've sworn Kai's eyes were glimmering with something else than sunrays. " Because… I still believe in you, Tyson. I… have to." It wasn't until that moment Tyson understood. For all his life, Kai'd been abandoned by pretty much everyone he'd dared to care about. What'd happened to Wyatt… It had been close to a last straw. He was one of the last people the boy had left to rely on.
His eyes were burning as he clenched his fists into irony balls.
Oh Kai, I'm so sorry…
His voice, however, was colder than any steel when words finally dropped out. " I don't care about you, Kai. And frankly, I'm sick of playing this mindless game." The shock and betrayal in Kai's eyes almost made him scream with pain, but he forced himself to go on, remembering Seiji's horrible threats. " I used you, and I must admit that it was fun while it lasted. But now… it's time to get real."
God, he'd never seen such pain, such disappointment. The boy was shivering visibly. " You…" Kai's lips kept moving, but the words couldn't be heard.
" Wake up, Kai." Every single fiber of his being screaming out with extreme agony, Tyson lifted his left hand – decorated by a ring Seiji had given him. " This is reality. I don't love you."
Even getting shot couldn't have possibly hurt Kai more.
Kai's whole body jolted again, and he fully expected darkness to attack him again, wiping away all hurt and consciousness. But that didn't happen. Instead it became colder than he ever remembered it being. The ice eventually circled around his heart, leaving nothing but a dead, lifeless ball.
All emotions and fire died from his eyes as he looked at Tyson, no longer shivering. As he spoke, his voice was as cold as the bluenette's. " I'm glad you don't. Because I hate you." With those words as his closure, he walked away, never looking back.
Never seeing the tears Tyson's closed eyes shed – nor Seiji, who appeared from right behind the door. " Excellent work, Tyson", the older teen complimented. " Must confess, I would've never imagined you being capable of such cruelty."
Tyson's teary eyes squinted, fists clenched again. " I wouldn't suggest to test my self-control any longer, asshole."
Giving a laughter, Seiji ran a hand through his hair, ignoring his shivers of disgust. " It's so adorable when you get all feisty, little dragon." The kiss the older teen placed onto his cheek made him want to vomit or worse, and his body quivered as he hopelessly tried to restrain himself – for Kai's sake, and the unborn, defenseless baby's. " Now… I promised you explanations, and you're going to get some. Follow me."
Quivers of deep suspicion went through Tyson as he followed the boy back into the house, towards a mysterious green door he hadn't been allowed to open up ever before. His eyebrow curved.
Now this is interesting.
Stopping to the door, Seiji made three knocks – one short, one long, one more short. " He's ready, Master."
" Bring him in, then", came a voice that gave Tyson cold shivers. It was all too familiar…
But before the thought was properly finished, the door opened up – and he gave a loud, tiger-like growl, instinctively shielding his tiny bump. " You bastard…"
Boris gave a dangerous smile that shoved his teeth, approaching. " Well hello, Tyson. Long time no see."
After pretty much every guest had left, Akira and Zeo were still dancing, enjoying each others' company too much to notice any exhaustion.
Leaning her forehead against Zeo's shirt that held a familiar scent, Aimi held him a bit more tightly. " Thanks", she whispered.
The boy blinked, confused. " For what?"
She smiled into his shirt. " For… just being here. For not giving in."
Not saying a word, he pulled her closer, kissing her hair.
For a long moment, they remained in peaceful silence – until her knees suddenly buckled, almost sending her skidding down.
" Hey, you okay?" Zeo's voice was lazed with worry – such she didn't want to hear ever again.
She nodded and gulped, her legs shivering violently. " Yeah…"
Why… is the world spinning so much?¨
Only one thin wall away, sitting on stairs outside, Akira blew out a long, deep breath. Having managed to avoid Kenny all day had been far more exhausting than she could've ever imagined.
She had just taken a long sip from the glass of water she was holding, when there was a screech as the door opened. Her insides turned cold to the unpleasantly familiar voice. " We need to talk."
She didn't dare to look at Kenny, instead gulped down another mouthful of water. It tasted rotten. " What for?"
The boy snorted. " Nice try, Akira." Uh-huh, full name… This wouldn't be pretty… " Look… I'm not completely dense, 'k? I… I know you've been avoiding me for the past ten days. And I think I deserve to know why."
Akira was tough, always had been. But this… went beyond her limits. With impressive speed she jumped forward, attempting make a dash right pass him. No such luck. With a annoyingly stubborn look upon his face, he stood in front of the door, blocking the way. She growled. " Let me through, Johnsson."
His eyes hardened. " No chance. Not until you answer me."
Shivering with rage, she realized that there was no option. Growling once again, she first glared at him – almost like really believing it would help – then felt her shoulders slump with total, utter defeat. " Because… Because you're driving me crazy, okay?" she hissed, humiliated, outraged and terrified all at once. " Because I… I can't even think when you're near me!"
Kenny's eyes immediately grew wide, and the boy gave a loud gasp, stumbling back against the door. " Oh… my God…" For several times, his mouth opened without working. " Aki…"
Feeling even more humiliated than before, she hissed again. " Let me through, damnit!" So saying, she brushed pass him – but suddenly froze completely as a strange, cold wave went through her. This time it was she who gasped, ever more loudly than Kenny, and her hand flew against her heaving chest. The glass fell. " No…"
Terrified, the boy laid a hand to her shoulder. " A – Aki? What's wrong?"
She didn't manage to reply, before a heart-wrenching, chilling scream of far beyond panic reached both their ears. " AIMI!"
¨
Aimi struggled as hard as she possibly could, but her legs were too weak to support her weight anymore. Everything was spinning and buzzing so badly that she could barely see.
" Aimi?"
It was so hard to breathe…
Desperately, she sucked in a wheezing breath of air, helplessly clinging to the boy to remain the little footing she had. " Zeo…"
She never had the chance to finish.
Everything went black and as silent as death.
She fell.
" AIMI!"
TBC.
A/N: (dodges sharp objects) Yeah, yeah another cliffie. And a MULTIPLE one?! (sweatdrops) I'm a meanie, aren't I?
Um… Heh, there's nothing much I can say for my defense, so... I suppose it's bye until next time, fellows! I promise you, I'll update ASAP!
Thanks for sticking around this long! (sends another set of hugs) Hope I'll see yah!
And please, please, drop a review!