Hello everyone! On the last chapter, I said this is the chapter where Rei will see his father but it will actually be on the next chapter after this. Sorry about that. This idea came so suddenly and I thought this would be nice to include in the story.

Here's the new update. I think I have two or three more chapters before the epilogue. Wait for it! :D

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Beyblade.

Enjoy!

Chapter 19: Grandpa

I don't think I've ever felt this lonely again since my father's untimely death. Although come to think of it, I have always been lonely. I guess I just never really accepted it. I always showed cheerful smiles to everyone even though deep inside, I was crying out loud at the top of my lungs that someone will come and pull me out of this loneliness. Playing the violin was just a means to express those hidden feelings. I guess that's what really made me famous, because I'm able to convey such deep emotions through my music. I always thought I'll never find this kind of happiness again aside from being able to play the violin beautifully. But then again, I came to Japan and learnt that I was wrong.

I was too happy and enjoying my new found friends' company that I didn't even realize that I haven't been playing for a long while. And the odd part is I didn't even care. It was like I could go on without even having to use my violin. I didn't feel lost and instead, I felt like I've been found. Being with everyone in Japan gave me a happiness I've never felt before. I think it's even more than that of when I was with my father. I was more than just complete. I was full.

And having to leave that place with no complete assurance that I'll come back is heartbreaking. I feel like I just left a huge part of me in there.

"Rei, you should rest." Lee said and hands me what seems to be a comforter. He seems so worried. But I bet if anyone who dears me sees me looking like this, they'd be worried as hell as well. My hair is in a bit of a mess, I have bags under my swollen eyes and I haven't moved an inch from my sitting position. I'm just staring blankly outside the window. I don't know but I feel like all my energy's been drained out of me. I feel like neither moving nor eating.

"You look horrible Rei. C'mon, if Uncle Jinnai sees you like this, he'll faint" Mariah then comes over carrying a tray of food. "See, I even asked the chef to prepare you your favorite food."

I'm sorry Mariah, I don't mean to be rude to you but I really don't feel like eating anything. I don't even want to speak so I just shake my head at her and pull the comforter up to my chin. Yeah, maybe I'll just sleep… and hope that this sinking feeling will fade away once we've landed.

The skies are a little gloomy, it seems like it's going to rain soon. Perfect, is this just coincidence or is the sky actually accompanying me in this time of loneliness? The nauseous feeling is coming back. It's not because of the flight but because of the scenery in front of me. This huge mansion, I never thought I'd see it again. The large fish pond by the gate is still there but I don't think there's still water or even fishes in there. The garden that used to be filled with beautiful flowers right beside the mansion is gone. The big gate has become rusty and from silver, it's been turned to a dirty black. I don't remember this place being like this. What happened after all those years? This place looks...

"…dead" A familiar voice almost startled Mariah, Lee and me. I turn around to see one of my uncles, the third son after my father, Huang.

"It's been a really long while since I've seen you Rei Kon" he said. Wow, he's grown so old. He's got wrinkles all over his face and his hair is full white. He was one of those relatives of mine who used to ignore me and treat me as trash. He was mean and rude to me especially when I lived in this mansion for a few months since my temporary adoption papers were still in the process. But the coldness in his eyes has somehow disappeared. Instead, they look… apologetic. Is it because of what he did to me when I was still small?

"Everyone is waiting inside" He said and gestured us to follow him inside. Everyone… does that include my grumpy old grandfather? No wait, is he even still alive?

"You know, after you left with Jinnai, things around here haven't been the same anymore" Uncle Huang said as we walked the corridors to the room where everyone was waiting.

"What do you mean?"

"Father… although he never showed it, really cared about you. When you left, he became forlorn for days. He wouldn't eat, nor would he go out of the mansion. He locked himself in his room and refused to speak to anyone"

Granpa did that? That's impossible! He despised me to the bones. I could tell just from seeing how he looks at me. I could never forget how cold he'd look at me each time we crossed paths in the corridors or anywhere in the mansion. He always looked like he was about to eat me. There's no way I'd believe that he was sad that I'm gone. There's just…no way.

We finally reach grandfather's room and my heart is beating fast. Once Uncle Huang opens those doors, I'll see everyone again: my aunts and uncles and even my long forgotten cousins. After leaving this place ages ago, I decided in my mind that I have no other blood relative in this world other than Uncle Jinnai. I forgot the fact that whatever happened, no matter how much I hate it, these people are still my family in the eyes of the society and in the eyes of God.

The doors are then opened and everyone is there sitting on the couches and chairs around the room. Just as I remember, those golden eyes that seems to be in a blaze. I was right, not everything has changed. All of them look just as hateful as I remember them. They've grown old. They all glare at me but I'm not the same old feeble child they once knew. I've grown just as they have and I've learnt to defend myself. I glare back at them and they seem to be taken aback.

In the middle of the room near the windows is an old man seated on a wheelchair. There's no need to guess who it is.

"Grandfather…" I say aloud just in time he slowly spun on his wheelchair and faced me. Heh, I knew it. What Uncle Huang said was a complete lie. Look at him; he looks as despiteful as ever. He may have grown a little bald with a few white hairs and seems to be a lot older but those eyes of him haven't. That's for sure.

"Just as expected. You're unhappy to see me" I said without breaking eye contact with him. He too just stared at me and then sighed.

"Where is Jinnai? Why hasn't he arrived yet?" Huang asked

"He said he needed to see someone and sent us ahead here" Lee replied.

"This meeting is pointless if the one who asked for it isn't even around." Aunt Ling said flapping her feathery fan. She is one of the meanest and most heartless person I have ever met. She treats everyone, it doesn't matter whether he's a family or a stranger in the streets, as mere objects that after being used for its purpose is disposable. His son, Shang, is just as mean. But I can never blame him for being cruel to others because of how his own mother raised him.

"You're wasting our time!" There goes my whiniest aunt, Jing. She's just as annoying as I remember.

"Enough. Everyone will stay in this mansion and we will all wait for Uncle Jinnai. Whatever he has to say is something the whole family must know. Amanda, call the servants and ask them to lead everyone to their own respective rooms" And then the only person inside this room who actually treated me some kindness finally speaks up. He's the eldest amongst us cousins, Uncle Huang's first born and also the wisest, Yuan. As everyone left the room, he looked at me and smiled. I think he mouthed a 'welcome back'.

Lee and Mariah have also left for their rooms which leaves only me and Grandpa in the room. There's along moment of silence. The rain has started to pour and everything has just turned black and white. Why am I still inside this room? It's making me sick but why can't I move my legs and leave? It's almost as if something is stopping me from leaving this one room.

"Eight years…" Grandpa said in his cracked old voice

"Eight and a half years to be exact…" I said desperately avoiding having eye contact with him. Sometimes, I hate being so soft hearted. Seeing him look so helpless in his wheelchair is making my heart sink. It's making my hatred towards him fade. And I don't want that. I want to show him how much I hate him just as much as he hates me.

"You have changed…"

"Everyone changes" I'm so cold. I hate him don't I? Then why does doing this hurt me?

"Indeed…"

"I'll go back to my room" I say quickly turning around

"How have you been?" Why does he sound like he cares? Damn it. Don't look at him Rei. Don't.

"A lot better than living in this hell house" I spit the words. Harshness is evident in my voice. That should give him a hint.

"I see… Do you hate this place?" Isn't that plain obvious?

"I despise it. And everyone else who lives here"

"Then you hate me" he chuckles. Is this old man toying with me?

"Yes. Extremely." I grit my teeth. My hands are folding to balls.

"Tell me why." Okay that is it. Enough. If he really wants to hear this then so be it. I've kept these feelings for so long and maybe letting it out once and for all will finally let me be at peace.

"Because that's the only feeling you've ever shown me. Back when I still lived here, you always looked at me with those fierce eyes filled with nothing but hatred and despise. I always heard how you wanted to get rid of me when you talked to Uncle Jinnai. I know how you never wanted me as your grandson and that you'll never see me as one! I know how you hate me! I know that! I know everything…"

This is stupid. My heart is about to explode. My thoughts are filled with nothing but memories of my past and images of grandfather's eyes. I feel nothing but sadness, anger and revulsion. And then the most unbelievable thing happened.

Grandfather shakily got off from his wheelchair, knelt on the floor and bowed.

"I'm sorry… I'm sorry for making you feel all that pain… I'm sorry…" he sobbed. He's crying? And he's apologizing? This can't be happening. I'm dreaming aren't I? This can't possibly be true. This is… a lie.

"You always reminded me of your mother. She was kind even after I've been cruel and cold to her. She accepted me and called me father even though I pushed her away. When she died, it made me feel guilty. I wanted to apologize to her but it was too late. When I saw you, her son, I became afraid. I thought I was seeing her once again. I couldn't face you and instead made you feel unwanted. I didn't want you as my grandson because I wasn't even sure if I was worthy as your grandfather. No, I did know that I wasn't fit to be called your grandfather…"

No, don't say that. I don't believe anything you're saying. You're lying. You're just lying!

"I wasn't able to apologize to your mother because she left this world too early before I even had the chance. So this time, while I'm still alive, while I still have time to say it, while you're still here… I'm sorry my grandson…"

"N-No… You're lying to me… You're lying…" My knees gave up on me and like a helpless little child; I cried my heart out while sitting on the carpet. After all those years that I believed that you never loved me. That you never wanted me. That you hated me. After all the pain of being unwanted by my own family. After everything… I just can't find the heart to accept this…

"Grandpa…"

Aw, I was actually teary while writing this last part. Imagine having the person you hate the most kneel down in front of you and apologize for everything he's done to you. And imagine that person being an old helpless looking man. Won't you cry? I know I will. And i was writing this while listening to 'My heart will go on' by Celine Dion so that kinda added to the drama. LOL. And finally, after years of waiting, Rei hears his grandfather call him his grandson. He may have hated him but he knows deep inside his heart, he's always loved his grandpa. Everyone does don't they? No matter how much they hate a person, there's always a part, no matter how tiny it may be, in their heart where they love and dear that person.

Thank you for reading this! And I hope you liked it.

Reviews are always welcome!

PS. I'm planning on re-writing the first few chapters so if you would like, re-read them once they're done. :D