Heey! Thanks for your reviews, : ) you made me smile, I hope I can make you smile too, but maybe not in this chapter. : ) this one is full of sadness? : ) right, anyway, here it is--scroll dooown! : )

Note: italics-on the other line. : )

-and oh yeah, sorry, I can't focus much on the OCs in this chapter. I'll focus on them later, but they are still mentioned.

DISCLAIMER FOR OCS:

(please look at the previous chapter, thanks. I'm too lazy to write--i mean, type.)

DISCLAIMER: Beyblade? Mine? Oh, I must be dreaming again : ) because it's not mine. : ) But it's a good dream by the way.. : )

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I fell for my 'cousin'

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CHAPTER TWELVE

Reality Bites

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"Yes.. I mean, no! No!" Mark Tabuhara yelled at the phone, he glared at the carrot top beside him, who was fretting as she circled the word he wanted him to say. She wrote them on a piece of tissue. The phone was on loud speaker, but it was only Mark who spoke. He would have done a wonderful job as her "daddy" if only his "daughter" won't fret so much tearing the tissue as she circled!

There were five words written on the tissue which were: Yes, No, I don't know, You're welcome and Thank you. No is the one most encircled.

I know you must be worried about her, but she is fine. We're taking good care of her, Mr. Makoto. Rest assured.

Fuko pointed at the word 'Thank you'. "Thank you.." Mark said, leaning on the white wall. The hallway was empty, classes were still going on.

It must have been hard for you to raise her alone. I heard you're wife was… how did you manage, Mr. Makoto?

"I don't know."

If you want, I can send her to where you are for a vacation. Where are you currently staying? At Seoul?

"I don't know..?" Mark said, raising a brow at the girl, who shrugged. So that's why she wanted a father, he thought, she didn't know where he is.

Y-You don't know? Weren't you in a meeting like my nephew, Kai, said?

"Yes. Yes." Mark replied, groaning. He raised a brow and mouthed 'Kai?' at her. She mouthed 'long story' back.

Did I bother you sir? You must be busy.

"No." He replied, plopping on the floor, he was tired of standing. Whatever made him agree to this shit? Maybe the desperation on her voice? But whatever, what's done is done. He is involved with whatever the girl was doing.

I do wish you can come here tomorrow. It's a special day…

"No." Mark said, the girl kept mouthing him something, "I'm… busy?"

RRRRIIIINNNNNGGGGGG!

He and the girl locked eyes, which were both wide in surprise. The girl quickly pulled the phone and turned it off. She sighed, "Aww, crap.." she said to her "daddy", "Do you think that the sound of the bell could be heard on the other line?"

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Reitetsu glanced at the phone, then flipped it close. He handed it to Kai, "That was weird, the call suddenly got cut.." he said, glancing at his companions, "He didn't ask how Maru was doing, all he said were the words—yes, no, I don't know, you're welcome and thank you.. plus I heard a bell ringing in the background before the call was cut.."

Tala and Kai locked eyes.

Voltaire smirked, "Yes, that is weird…" he stated, "And the school bell rang just a second ago.. isn't that a wonderful coincidence?"

Tala ran a hand through his hair, he better break the tension. He stood up, "I have to get back to the office.." he said, looking at his watch, "I still have a meeting with Director Suzuki.."

"Oh yes," Uncle Reitetsu said, nodding, "Do you mind driving us back first? Jake is kind of busy at the moment."

Tala nodded, "Okay," he replied, glad that he got to divert his uncle's attention from the call, "Let's get going then.." he slowly pushed the wheel chair out of the room. He nodded at Kai, who nodded back.

"Aren't you leaving, Dad?" Reitetsu turned to ask his father, who was still sitting.

Voltaire quickly stood up and followed the two out of the room. He locked his piercing grey eyes at Kai as he passed by him, "That was close wasn't it, boy?" he said, holding the knob and closing the door behind him with a light click. Kai glared at the closed door.

"Yes. Close." He muttered, smirking, "But not that close, old geezer.."

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Saki slowly walked along the busy corridor, a Russian blue feline sitting on her arms. She must admit--she missed Mao. She wanted to run up to the sports building and hug her. She rubbed the head of her cat named Lady Ella, who purred in reply to the relaxing caress.

Mariah was three years older than her, like Reno was. But they were close from the time they were born. The Wong family and Hiroshima family were partners in business. Plus, who would be her pink twin? No one loved pink like she and Mariah did. She glanced up at her clueless older brother, who was humming the tune he was currently listening to.

She pulled an earphone off, "I swear, Reno, if you keep listening to your iPod 24/7," she scolded, "You're gonna go deaf! And also, if you don't remove your hat from time to time, you're gonna go bald!"

"I do not want a deaf and bald brother," Saki added, giving him a stern look.

Reno rolled his ashen eyes; he really wasn't in the mood for a lecture especially from Saki, who was three years younger than he was! Sure, he was your average nice guy, but he is a man! Men are proud creatures!

"Advice is seldom welcome, Sue.." he said, fishing out his car keys from his jacket's pocket, "I thought you know that?"

"Oh Reno," Saki replied, smiling, "You always read the first part, there's a continuation on that quote, brother.."

"And what is it, sister?" Reno asked, opening the door, and throwing his jacket and bag at the backseat, "Do enlighten me."

"Those who need it, like it least…" she said, opening the passenger seat, which was kindda hard because of Lady Ella in her arms, "I guess you need it.. did I hit the mark, brother?"

"You just missed him, sister.." he said, getting in the driver's seat, he quickly started the car, "He already went out with his half-sister and two ladies.."

Saki blushed crimson, she looked out the window. She gritted her teeth, damn brothers. "Hnn," She snapped, "Do not change the topic, Reeney!"

Reno glared at her, "Don't call me that.." he said, "Shheesh, how many times do I have to tell you, Sue.."

"Not working."

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Sora and Hilary walked into the music room, where the band was practicing. Johnny was on the drums, Mark the guitarist and vocalist, Rei on the other guitar, a guy named Arch on the bass. The guys greeted the two ladies who entered.

"I thought you already went home, Mark?" Sora asked as she sat on one of the chairs, Hilary beside her.

"I have a very understanding sister, So.." Mark replied, turning to Johnny, "Hey, remember you'll say 'till we sleep forever during the second repeat of the chorus ok?"

Johnny rolled his eyes, "I get already!" he snapped, "Can we just get on with it?" Johnny was great being the drummer; he can let out his anger on the drums, which didn't produce destruction of stuffs but created something as beautiful as music. It was perfect.

Mark rolled his eyes back, "Count, Johnny..." he said, glancing back at Johnny, "You're the one who counts, remember?"

"One, two, and three..." Rei counted, he was sick of their arguing.

The drums and guitars started, "Can I be a little selfish?" Mark sang, his hands busy strumming on the guitar, "And I swear I'll come back home to you, Our heads turn the last kiss, Make me yours and kill me with your stare…"

"Leaves shaking, let's follow, I'm staying with you angel, till the fear dies, I won't let go…" Mark continued, glancing at Johnny who seemed to be losing his tempo, he stopped his strumming, "Johnny the echo! I won't let go, remember?"

Everyone sighed.

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Shin glanced at her companions, then to the school, they were already a block away from school, "Have you seen Fuko?" she asked Litana and Nikitha, who both were arguing about something, "I haven't seen her since she went to the bathroom..."

Litana cupped a hand around her eyes and twirled around, "Well she's not here," she replied, grinning, "The places you have to look has been lessen by one.."

"Oh, very funny, Lita.." Shin replied, narrowing her eyes, "I am dying from laughing,"

"Who said she was making a joke?" Nikitha said, smiling, "Really Shin, you need to know the thin line between joking and sarcasm."

Shin pouted, "Hey!" she yelled, "Why are you both ganging up on me? I thought both of you were fighting just a while ago?"

"Well," Nikitha said, placing an arm around Litana, "You know what they say, enemies make the greatest friends!"

Litana raised a brow, "How come I never heard that shit?" she asked.

"Because I made it," Nikitha replied, "Now you know I'm original."

"But you said you know what they say!" Litana argued.

Shin rolled her eyes, "Whatever," she said, "Let's go grab some chow, I'm hungry…"

"Me too!" Nikitha chirped, "I wouldn't be if someone here didn't make me run around the campus during lunch…"

"Bah!" Litana snapped, "You two go, I'm going home. My dad is going to hang me upside down if I'm late. And we don't want that to happen, right?"

Nikitha grabbed Litana's wrist and said, jokingly, "Nah, I want that to happen, so I'll treat you, go home later.."

"Cut the crap, Nikki.." Litana said, raising a brow, "Just say it, you don't want me to go because you're in love with me.."

Nikitha dropped her hand to her side, "What?" she yelled, "In your dreams, Tana!"

"Can we go now?" Shin interrupted, "Like what Fuko always says, 'My worms are dying.'"

"Eww." Litana and Nikki said in unison.

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Arguments seemed to be everywhere.

"Can't you think of a much better excuse?" Fuko yelled at the teen beside her as they walked towards the parking lot. She cannot believe this!

Tala and Kai were really making her lose her sanity and peaceful nights! Do they want her to be really caught? "For example, Mr. Makoto is away on a business trip! Or you erased his number accidentally! Or he is currently in the bathroom--unloading?! Or he is in jail where you obviously want me to end up with your lousy lies!!"

Fuko knew she had no right to scold him, yell at him or even be upset with him—but her freedom was at stake! She does not want to go to jail when she's only turning seventeen when the year ends! She hadn't even lived her life yet, not even by half!

If Kai and Tala hired her then at least let her do her job without making her jump every now and then like someone who had too much coffee!

"Well, sorry!" Kai snapped, slamming his fists on the hood of his Mitsubishi eclipse convertible, "I'm not a liar like you are! I don't bluff people!"

"Ooh!" Fuko hissed, she never felt so angry in her entire life, "but you did! You hired me to 'bluff' your whole damn family, make them believe that you already found your precious little rich assed cousin!!"

Kai glared at her, his crimson eyes darkening with each passing minute. Seriously, he wanted to hit her. "At least, I bluffed them for a noble cause!" he retorted, "Not like you who only does it for money! I did it so my uncle could live longer!!"

"Oho, you didn't just say that! Noble cause?!" Fuko screamed, battling her glare with his glare, she wasn't afraid of him, but she was afraid of his hands, what if he suddenly hits her? She didn't eat lunch, so she doesn't really have energy.

Kai has a temper problem, she knows that too.

"You are correct, I bluff people to get money," she continued, "But you didn't go through any hardships I did! You ate three times a day; I ate five time a week—maybe less!... I have to work my ass out to earn money; you just have to fish it out of your bottomless pocket more known as the bank!"

Kai froze; she only ate five times a week?

"This must be heaven for you then," he said, his tone back to normal. He opened his car, "I'm going somewhere, bye…"

He slammed the door and quickly started the car. He drove out of the school; he glanced at her reflection in the rear view mirror and stepped on the gas.

Fuko glared at the back of the Ferrari and made sure it was out of sight before she fell on the pavement and cried. She never felt so lost and angry, and helpless.

Sure, she wasn't caught this time, but what about next time?

"A good liar knows when to pull out," she muttered, "I'm pulling out now, when everything is peaceful.."

She felt something vibrate in her skirts, she pulled her phone out of her pocket. Wiping some of her tears, she placed the phone in her ears, "Hello?"

Fuko! It's Shin. I saw your brother being dragged to the police station downtown!

Fuko quickly stood up, "WHAT?" she yelled, "I'm coming!"

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Is she pulling out for good? : ( especially now that she found her brother. Is she finally leaving?

Yeah I know, you want to laugh, but sorry. Life is like that, ups and downs, ups and downs, it's time for the downs. : ) then it'll be up again. : )

Rene Miashi: I'll tell you when I need some guys, ok? hehe : ) thanks. I think I have a spot somewhere for your OCs. : ) Thanks for reviewing. : )

RebelmewPhoenix: maybe she is, maybe she isn't. : ) thanks for reviewing. : )

darkxXxflames: heey! Thanks for reviewing. : ) what do you think will happen next?

Sharingan fox: maybe it worked, if only Voltaire isn't so suspicious. : ) Thanks for reviewing. : )

Blitzer's Demonic Spirit: No, hehe, Hitomi is alive and well. : ) Tala's secretary bought him some documents telling him that the real Maru is dead, she was killed by a gang. But maybe it's wrong? : ) hehe, thanks for reviewing. Oh, I just noticed, you changed your name, I'm soo slow.. : )

Niki-the-polkadot:you are so right! : ) I'll start on the pairing right away! : ) Thanks for reviewing. : ) ehhe, Ü

R.Voltaire: my funny bone got lost again. : ( maybe i'll find it in the next chapter. : )

Amanita Virosa-Amaranthus-: whew. I had to go back ten times to make sure your pen name is correctly written. Vey unique pen name, btw. Sounds like a scientific name or something that has to do with sciences. Maybe because Amaranthus rhymes with aparatus? : ) hehe, thanks for reviewing. : )

Tsukikishuko: amf. You're a very observant person. : ) I didn't think someone would notice the i-found-my-song-lyrics-when-i-saw-you thing, : ) Very smart. : ) hehe, Ü glad you updated on what I need. : ) I'm reading it right now.. : )

Fairydyris: hey! I hope you don't mind that I named Saki's cat Lady Ella. I wanted to ask you but i forgot to write it in the previous chapter.. : ) So what's the cat's real name? I'll change it. : )

Ryoko: i don't think I'll lose my inspiration for this one. : ) With you guys keeping me company and all, : ) Oh, okay! I'll pair her with Tyson then. : ) I'll get on to work with it. : ) haha, i think i'll put that experience you had with your friend in this story. It's funny. : )

THANKS YOU GUYS, to those who reviewed and those who are secretly reading. : ) I can see you.. : )

see you next chapter. : )