Stone Cold

Chapter 26: Ten seconds From Losing My Mind

Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade, or the picture that inspired this fic. title doesn't belong to me, belongs to a group called Cutting Jade….it might be the title of the song, but I know for sure it is one of the lines in it.

Summary: Kai, Ray, Max, Tyson and Kenny are all within the top ranks of their professions. Kai, Tyson and Max are friends from school, Kenny is Max's Software provider, Ray has been employed by Max to help decorate his home. Kai and Ray meet and things start to heat up. We are nearing the end, two or so more chaps (including the alternate ending) and this little baby will be done. There is going to be a lot of POV jumping, so hopefully it won't be confusing.

"Talking on the phone."

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Max sat in his office, he had left soon after Kai and Ray and was catching up on some extra notes for his next session. He was so engrossed in what he was doing he almost didn't hear his phone ring. He glared at the object, before picking it up and answering.

"Hello, Max Tate. How may I help you?"

"Max. It's me, Tyson. You won't believe what I just found out."

Max sighed, silently asking the Gods what he had done to deserve Tyson. "Well, what did you find out?"

"Brooklyn's missing! They found his car about a block from Kai's, there was signs of a struggle, and get this. Some witnesses said they saw him talking to a foreigner with long dark hair, sound familiar?"

Max was about to point out that there were many foreigners with dark hair when it hit him. "Lee!"

"Yup. Listen, I've been trying to contact Kai and he hasn't been answering…."

"Tyson, be ready in five. I'm coming to pick you up." Max leaped up from his seat and started making his way out.

"What do you think is wrong?"

Max got into the lift and sighed as the doors closed. "Hopefully nothing."

Ray stood stock still, fear racing up and down his spine, the sight before him made his blood run cold.

Kai lay unmoving at the entrance to the kitchen, a shadow hovering close by. Ray wanted to go to Kai, but feared whoever the unknown intruder was. He tensed up, readying himself if he needed to defend himself and Kai. He glanced at Kai, worry clouding his mind. 'Please be alright.'

The intruder seemed to read his thoughts, as a voice filled the air. One Ray wished he could forget. "He should be fine. It was just a blow to knock him out, wouldn't want you gaining the upper hand here now would we."

Ray growled, baring his teeth slightly in anger. "Lee."

Lee laughed, making his way to his younger brother, a menacing smile on his face.

"You need to learn a lesson little brother, and I am just the person to teach you."

Lee waited until Ray chanced another look at Kai, then he struck.

Ray never saw the blow coming.

Kai POV

I groaned as my eyes opened. My head was pounding, but I didn't know what from. The last thing I remember was walking into the house, then everything went black…no, my head suddenly hurt THEN everything went black…but why did it hurt, and why does it still hurt…and where is Ray?

Normal POV

Kai was pulled from his thought when there was a crash, and the unmistakeable sound of glass breaking, followed by a yelp and a grunt.

He started to get up, his feet slightly unsteady from the blow. Another crash, followed by a muffled yell, caused him to speed up his actions. He knew that voice, and it filled him with fear.

Kai made his way as quickly as he could to the lounge, hand skimming the wall as he tried to keep his balance.

He came to a dead stop as he reached the entrance of the lounge. Glazed crimson cleared and widened as they took in the scene playing before them.

Lee had Ray, on his back, hands wrapped around the others delicate throat as he tried to cut off his air supply. Ray wasn't going without a fight, his own hands were desperately trying to get Lee's off, as his body twisted and bucked to break the older, and heavier, man's hold. Kai started forward when it seemed Ray was weakening, but stopped when he stepped on glass, the crunch alerting the two on the floor to another. Both looked up, two pairs of eyes focusing on him, one with hate, the other love. Lee snarled at Kai and Ray took that moment for one more desperate try for freedom.

Lee grunted as a knee connected with his groin, his grip loosened enough for his brother to knock him off and slip from under him. Ray ran to Kai, who pulled him into his arms. Both were focused on each other, Kai searching Ray's face and body for injuries and growling as he found them. Kai's hand ghosted over the large bruise forming on his lover's face, anger and concern mingling when Ray winced at the faint touch.

"You alright?"

Ray nodded, his mouth opening slightly to say something but was stopped when Kai pushed him away from himself.

Lee had lunged at the two, luckily Kai had seen him and pushed Ray away from himself whilst also stepping out of the way of the enraged man. Lee chuckled as he reached into his jacket, Kai stiffened as he realised what was happening, but he found himself unable to do much more.

Kai POV

I watched as Lee lifted the gun, the barrel glinting in the light, like a deadly herald, before me. I vaguely heard Ray scream for Lee to stop, and then I could see him moving out of the corner of my eye, he was running towards me. 'I can't believe this is how it ends!'

I couldn't move, couldn't speak, I could barely think! The only thought that ran through my mind was that Lee had a gun, was aiming it at me, and this was probably going to be my last few moments on this earth.

I flinched as the crack sounded, the bullet leaving its temporary home to travel the short distance and lodge itself into its new home, my heart. I felt myself being jolted, the force of the hit throwing me to the side. I fell; my body feeling like it was being pressed down by an unseen weight. I felt wet, like someone had thrown something on me, I tasted something metallic in my mouth and felt it slide down my lip. The wetness was rapidly covering my torso, seeping into my clothes and covering my skin. I shivered, opening my eyes in realisation.

'Wait a moment! Lee is in front of me…so why did I fall sideways?!'

Ray POV

I watched as Lee lifted the gun, barrel aimed at Kai, my whole body tensed as I realised he was about to kill Kai. I screamed as he prepared to fire, but that didn't stop him. He fired, I watched as Kai flinched, but didn't move.

My whole world seemed to slow, yet I was moving in fast forward. I ran, praying that I would reach Kai in time to save him.

'I'm not going to make it!'

My muscles bunched, straining to propel me further, faster.

"I love you Ray."

'No, that will not be the last time I hear him say he loves me!'

A few more steps, that all I had to take.

"I'll always be there for you."

One more step!

My body collided, we both fell. I heard him grunt, whether it was the impact of me hitting him, or perhaps the bullet I didn't know. We fell, I landed on him, my breathe knocked out of me. I looked up, his face there before me. I leaned up and stroked his face, I frowned as I felt wetness all over my torso, I closed my eyes. 'Had Kai been hit…oh Gods no.' I opened my eyes and found two crimson pools focused on my own amber ones. I touched the small path of blood that trailed down from his mouth. 'I was too late.'

I suddenly felt nauseas, blood always made me feel sick, my world was fading. I had failed, Kai was going to die.

My body went numb, my insides seemed to twist in on themselves and I wanted to scream. Instead I heard a gurgling sound, I froze. 'Was that Kai?...or, was that me?'

I couldn't ponder the thought long, for with the numbness came an inescapable darkness. I surrendered to it, I didn't want to face my defeat, I didn't want to watch Kai die before me.

"I'm sorry Kai."

I closed my eyes and surrendered, a whisper slipping through to echo in my mind.

"Ray."

Lee POV

I raised the gun, levelling it with my, pathetic excuse of a, brother's lover. I watched in satisfaction as his eyes widened in surprise, a flash of glee as my brother screamed for me to stop.

My joy rose as I fired, and the other closed his eyes.

'Ha-ha, you stupid bastard, don't you regret taking my brother in now!'

I almost gasped as I watched my brother run towards his lover, did he really think he could out run a bullet. 'Stupid fool.' He pushed him out of the way, but the fact that blood sprayed makes me believe that he was too late. Even if he wasn't, I don't care, one of them will die.

They both are laying there now, my fool of a brother on top of the other. The blood is covering them, and pooling on the ground. I walk up, looking at my reflection in the blood; the blood is pumping quickly, rhythmically. I grin, I had hit an artery. I turn and walk away, I don't care. My family's honour had been restored. The little whore of a boy is dead, or will soon be if that fool was correct.

My grin widens.

'Brooklyn, you were a fool to trust me. And an even bigger fool to try and betray me.'

Tbc

So, who really was shot? Kai…or Ray? And what happened to Brooklyn? Find out, next chapter. The next chapter is the last one, if you would like to read the happy ending then go straight to the next chap; if you would rather read my alternative ending, then skip the next one and go to the one that is after. If you wish to read and compare than do so; tell me what you think of them, which you like better or just tell me I'm morbid. Funnily enough, I actually left a clue in one of the earlier chapters, chap 17 to be exact; does anyone recall what it was? Hope you've enjoyed this story, because I enjoyed writing it. since this is the last chapter I know all of you will be reading, I decided to say this now. I won't be posting my new stories till sometime next year, I may post a one shot here and there, but due to a little thing called life I really don't have the chance right now to fully commit myself. My apologies to anyone who was waiting for the story after this, but it will only be appearing sometime next year. Night night.