Title: Untold Truths
Authoress: Ladya C. Maxine
Rating: PG-13
Summary: see chapter one.
Warnings: see chapter one.
Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade or any of its characters. All unrecognizable characters belong solely to me and are not to be touched! I am not making any money off of this and I write with the sole intention to entertain.

Outside the snow swept by, dancing on the passing winds to a natural ballad forged by the skies above. The frozen water floated down to the ice-slicked street, reunited with its brethren to form slick pools of ice. The sidewalks were abandoned as people slept sound fully in their beds without the loud howling winds above their heads for the first time in many nights.

In the distance a low rumble caused the sleepy inhabitants to stir and turn over in their sleep. It appeared that the blizzard had enough energy for one final snowstorm. Nothing to be concerned of. Fluffing their pillows they laid their heads back down. Outside the snow frolicked about but didn't increase in mass, though the rumble did grow louder.

Again a few woke up but most slept on. The rumble was nearing and one by one sleepy eyes opened slightly to look out their windows to see nothing but snow. It was just the clouds collecting...

The ear-grating screech of tires making a sharp turn at top speed threw every sleeper out of their bed. Perplexed and drowsy, they stumbled over to their windows and pushing away the curtains, they squinted into the street below just in time to see bright head lights tear pass them.

The snow that had been resting so peacefully on the street now billowed up as a jet-black BMW flew over it. The flaky particles glowed red in the taillights giving off the illusion of flaming smoke rising from beneath the tires that took on the ice with ease.

Everything happened so fast that by the time those who were watching from their windows even blinked it was all over. All that remained was the street now swept clean of all snow, which had been thrown onto the sidewalk by the vehicle's great speed. Were they to put on an overcoat and go outside they would have seen the serious burn marks on the gray asphalt.

Some called out surprised exclamations to the windows next and across the street from them but no one could tell what had just exactly happened. Some couldn't even tell if it had happened at all. With nothing else to be done about it, they closed the window and went back to bed.

The wind howled its protest as he mercilessly cut through it. Stop lights were ignored and the few other drivers on the road were more than just startled as he effortlessly weaved in between them, coming within a hair's breath of but never touching.

Red eyes that contradicted a stone cold mind blazed from behind the steering wheel that, despite the slippery road conditions, was gripped by only one hand that maneuvered the black bullet with outstanding skills. The teen's body was in a total state of calm despite his driving. His other hand rested casually on the armrest that separated the driver from the front passenger seat. Between his fingers, a lit cigarette glowed anew as old ashes were tapped off with a mere flick of the wrist before it was brought up to the driver's lips. The orange glowed brighter as he inhaled before dimming again somewhat.

Kai watched the streets come and go with disinterest as he exhaled into the air before him, the car's filter quickly ridding the interior of the thin smoke before it could settle on the fine leather. He flew through a red light but couldn't honestly tell if he should have stopped since everything was red in his world.

: Estimated time remaining: 20 minutes, 34 seconds :

Keeping the cigarette between his teeth he shifted into third gear and the car accelerated to 180 mph. The roar of the powerful 8-cillinder engines drowned out the passing winds as he breached 200.

: 18 minutes, 11 seconds :

His eyes lowered to the passenger seat next to him. The streetlights that flew by gave a flickering effect on the revolver that rested on the beige leather. Its black surface gleamed with readiness and its trigger waiting to be pulled.

The firearm had belong to his father. It was also the same gun that Voltaire had used to empty several rounds into both his father and mother right before Kai's very eyes. The owner's own gun used against him in a show of hatred and disrespect. He had always kept it, swearing that one day he would avenge his parents' life with the weapon that had taken them away from him and Saskia.

Removing the cigarette from his lips, he exhaled as he turned his attention back on the street that finally led him out of the city and onto the open road. Rolling white hills were but walls of snow as he soared pass them. He could see the dark forest in the far distance in which the abbey was well hidden from the rest of the civilized world.

Red eyes narrowed lethally.

'I'm coming home, dear grandfather. Forgive me if I forget to knock.'

A shuddering breath drew Jeremei's eyes to the review mirror.

In the small rectangular reflection, he watched the young man who sat there in the backseat with sad eyes. Black hair was tied back in a loose ponytail those several bangs hung free before the boy's tear-streaked face but he made no move to brush them away.

The trip had been made in silence. So different from that morning when he had driven three of them to the zoo. Ray had also been quiet, for some reason, but not like this. Saskia had chatted happily as she sat next to him, pointing out several important buildings that Moscow boasted.

And Ata...

Jeremei felt a piercing pain through his chest. He worried terribly about Saskia's abduction but there was still the possibility of getting her back. Ata was gone for good. The lively and intelligent teen had always been the life of the party with his quick tongue and wicked sense of humor. His presence was going to be sorely missed.

"It's funny," Ray's voice broke through his thoughts though the cat eyes never left the outside, "but when I first met Tala at the abbey I couldn't stand him. As the days went by it grew to the point of hating him. How he had take a personality so unlike his true nature during the world championships is a mystery. He showed up so suddenly but within less than 12 hours I felt as if he was a longtime friend of mine."

"Ata did indeed have amazing people skills. Just a single smile from him made everyone's day," Jeremei agreed. He had rolled down the division panel completely to allow better conversation atmosphere should the boy had wished to speak.

"It took me a few days to hate him. It took me a few hours to befriend him. But it only took me a few seconds to lose him." Closing his eyes he rested his head against the side of the car. "I've only known you guys for four days and I gained so much in that time only to lose it all within one day."

"You will always have our friendship and support. Miss Saskia will be found. Ata's death is tragic and it hurts badly but we must move on."

His eyes turned to linger on a golden pendant that swayed softly from the rearview mirror.

Ray looked over at the driver when he fell silent to find him staring fondly at a small necklace that had always hung there though he had never asked why.

"It's beautiful, is it not?" Jeremei asked when he saw Ray looking.

Wiping away his tears, Ray moved to sit on the seat right behind the driver, resting his head on his arms that he crossed over the backrest. Now that he was closer he saw that the pendant had the shape of a heart. A circle of diamonds surrounded it like a halo.

"Yes, it is." he agreed softly.

"Took me eight years worth of work to save enough money to buy it. It was for my girlfriend, Femke. We had been dating since high school. I had hoped to present it to her when asking for her hand in marriage."

"Did she say yes?"

"She never heard my proposal. She died that very day when the train she had been traveling home in derailed and fell off a high bridge. I had been waiting for more than an hour at the station before I heard the news."

"I'm sorry."

Jeremei reached out and gently removed the golden trinket and handed it to him.

"Press that small latch on the side."

Searching, he found it and placed a light pressure on it. The pendant opened up to reveal a picture inside of two people. A teen about his age with wavy brown hair stood smiling brightly as he had his arm around the shoulders of a girl with blond hair and warm hazel eyes.

"That picture was taken on our very first date. It was one she treasured and always said that she would keep it close to her heart."

"There's something written on the other half." Ray tried to decipher the words but they were Russian.

"It says: 'May our love be as continuing as this circle.'"

Giving the smiling faces a final look he closed the locket respectfully and handed it back to Jeremei.

"You must really miss her. It is very hard losing the one you love, isn't it?"

Jeremei smiled and hung the locket back by its chain onto the mirror.

"Oh, I never lost her. I see her everyday in my mind and I hear her voice in my ears. You never lose someone you love. No matter where the two of you are. That is why, young master, you should never let your mind choose for you. The mind tends to question too much. Your heart is the only thing you need when on a journey for love."

"Is that how you knew you loved Femke?"

"Love is a feeling so wonderful that you need no indications whatsoever. Always remember that, Master Ray. I needed only to look at Femke to know that I could not live my life with anyone else but her. Ever since her death I have never looked upon another. She was and still is my soul mate."

"It must be great to have someone who cares so much about you."

"Such a thing can never be expressed in words. To have someone by your side through thick and thin and everything in between makes you feel like no one and no thing can ever rise above you. It makes you feel invincible."

Bright lights brought them back to their surroundings as they pulled up to the entrance of the airport. The weather had improved but many airlines had yet to open so there were few cars. Jeremei parked and pulling on his leather gloves, he stepped out and walked around to open the door for Ray but the Chinese blader was already standing next to the car as he pulled on the thick tiger coat.

'It makes you feel invincible...'

He turned to look at the city of Moscow in the distance.

"Your ticket is in the side pocket." Jeremei handed him his bag. The two stood in silence for a while before the man smiled. "Have a good flight, Master Ray."

"Thank you, Jeremei." He hugged the man. Hugs were always meant to bring joy yet so far today he had felt nothing but sorrow each time he released someone.

"Just remember this: it can take you just one day to fall in love with someone but it takes will take you an eternity to forget them."

With a small bow, he turned and walked around the car to the driver's side. Stepping into the car, he started the engine and with a final short beep he pulled away. The black limo soon disappeared out of sight.

Ray watched it till it was gone then looked towards Moscow.

'Jeremei's is right. It will take me forever to forget you guys. Maybe even longer.'

His long ponytail flowed in the soft wind as he made his way to the glass doors that he and Kai had used only four days ago. Pushing them open he stepped inside. The cold air outside was shut off when the doors swung back close behind him.

((It's freezing out here. When is that brat suppose to show up?))

The man rubbed his gloved hands together while he paced. His fellow guards sat huddled against the walls of the guard post next to the electrical fence.

((He's got till 12.))

((Well then he has only 3 minutes left. I'm not going to freeze to death for some punk.))

Their conversation was interrupted when the small radio on his belt crackled. Switching to the right frequency, he held it to his ear but almost dropped it when a loud shout hit his eardrum. Whoever was on the other line was shouting frantically to him while screaming out orders to others.

((Yetsin, what is your status? Did you block the road as planned?))

More incoherent ramblings.

((Yetsin! Gather your scrambled mind and tell me what your status is!))

The others sat watching him with confused expressions. The man who was in charge of the team who had been stationed further away from the abbey to report when the lord's grandson would enter their perimeters was a veteran soldier and die-hard bastard. They had never heard him worry about anything.

((Yetsin, speak to me! What is you and your men's status!))

((S-s-sir! He's coming! Brace yourself! We could not even slow him down!))

((What?))

Cold forgotten, he motioned for his own men to get ready.

((Watch out for him, sir! He's on a rampage!))

((Where is he...))

Yetsin was spared to answer him when he heard the distant roar of an engine and it was closing in fast. Throwing away the radio, he loaded his gun and took position behind his men who started to release their bullets at the headlights that exploded around the corner as the car turned sped towards them.

((Hold your fire! Wait till he is closer!))

He himself was trembling. How could he not at the sight?

The wooded area that sheltered the abbey seemed to be closing in on them, the dark shadows following a midnight colored car as it rocketed towards them. Bright headlights threatened to blind them but squinting to look above it he would have preferred to live for the rest of his life blind than to see what he now faced.

From within the darkness of the car's interior there shone twin orbs of a blood red color so intense he felt all his resolve crumble and his gun fell uselessly to the ground. It landed with a clatter on the snow less road and a fearful moan left his lips. The car was within fifty feet and showed no signs of stopping. If anything the demon behind the wheels hit the gas even more, intent on ramming the gate. The men panicked and tried to flee but it was too late.

((Lord Voltaire, I pray you know what you have brought upon yourself...))

"Sirs, you've best come see this!"

Voltaire and Boris looked up from where the chip was temporarily feeding off one of the lab worker. The man muffled screams of pure agony did nothing to them and they simply turned to the guard who had spoken who looked terribly shaken as he nervously wringed his hands.

"What is it?" Boris snapped though they both followed him to the surveillance room.

Unable to speak, the worker simply raised and pointed. Following his finger Voltaire took in what the monitor broadcasted and smirked. Had he not expected Kai to react like this he would have thought that he was looking at a disaster film.

The Abbey was protected by thirty feet high electrical gates.

Or it used to be.

The thirty feet of voltage-rigged steel had been reduced to five feet worth of rubble and sparks. The gate had been completely destroyed. A few men stumbled about while others laid motionless in the snow.

"You will certainly have to teach that boy some manners, my lord," Boris said as he eyed the screen with a somewhat irritated scowl. "He has been here twice before and on both occasions he left the building in horrific state."

"You need not concern yourself with that, Boris. He won't be leaving this time." He turned to the guard. "Where is he now?"

"We've...uh...that is..."

"Spit it out, man."

"We lost him, sir."

"You lost him? He is driving a vehicle at top speed in a relatively small area and you lost him?"

"We found the vehicle, a black BMW. It is parked near the southern entrance. However, the target, your grandson, is not in it. We have our people searching the grounds and building for him though it may take a while--"

His sentence was broken off when alarms suddenly blared causing several people to jump or drop whatever it was they had been doing. Security scurried to attention and cameras were spinning on their axels in an attempt to locate the disturbance.

"There is a rise in temperature on level 1, sector D. It's on fire!" one of the monitor room's operators informed as he tried to stabilize the many connection.

"Get me a visual," Boris commanded.

The monitors crackled.

They could make out the large level 1 hallway that was now a tunnel of fire. The red flames roared down the immense passage and black smoke choked the air. Guards stationed there were firing at something but the heat quickly overcame them or they were thrown aside by a large winged thing that was generating the inferno.

"Dranzer," Boris growled as he could make out the phoenix's silhouette in the black smoke. A piercing screech confirmed his words and one of the monitors went completely static.

"Sir, the fire is causing the cameras to melt! The circuits a frying from the heat!"

"Switch to the infrared."

"With all that heat they will be rendered useless!"

"Do not question my orders, you fool. Just do it."

Shaking his head in bewilderment, he did as he was told and the monitors went blank. A few seconds of programming passed and they were back on line. The high temperature did not affect the specially designed cameras as they took in the chaos that was happening four levels above them.

A darker red shade moved into view every now and then as Dranzer continued to swoop and dive around the area. The large bird generated such intense heat that it surpassed the standard sensors. But amongst then, to almost everyone's amazement, there was a movement of a much cooler temperature on the ground.

A person was walking through the flames like one would through a meadow. Each step was sure footed and not once did the being move away when encountering a flaming wall. An aura of blue held the flames back. It was like seeing a ghost floating through hell.

"I believe we've found Kai," Voltaire smirked at the guard whose eyes were wide.

"You sure are very calm considering the fact that earth's most powerful weapon is making a bee-line towards us with nothing but destruction on his mind," Boris noted.

"He does know how to make an entrance, doesn't he? However, you forget that it is we who hold the cards. He can create as much chaos as he wishes but if he so much as irk me I will personally ensure that there will be one grandchild less in my will."

Giving the Armageddon scene a final glance, he slowly strode out the room and down the hall. Several guards ran pass him to help their comrades on the upper level. They were all running to their graves.

'Kai's strength relies on his weakness. He makes himself vulnerable by having a weakness for those he loves.'

He reached his destination and placed his hand palm down on a square panel, which scanned it before the red light on the pure iron doors beeped and turned green and with a heavy metallic sound, the doors slid open. A wave of cold and darkness greeted him as he stepped into a dark room whose only light source was the yellowish glow of the fluid that filled a large tube that ran from floor to ceiling.

Bubbles swirled around the figure that floated limply inside. Long blue hair, now a sickly green shade in the yellow liquid, flowed around the barely clothed body. A mask over her mouth and nose ran into a tube that was attached to an apparatus on the outer glass. Another thick tube stuck out from the back of her neck and several smaller once were attached to her torso. A complex machine stood next to the container displaying the child's health through charts and calculations. A heart monitor beeped slow and weak.

Voltaire rapped loudly with his knuckles on the glass surface and after a while pale eyes opened weakly. The child was greatly disoriented by her horrifying state of health and pain but she managed to locate him before her. Blood shot eyes begged with him and with great effort she raised her hand to lay it on the glass.

With a mocking smile, he waved at her.

"Your fearless brother is coming to the rescue."

The heart monitor beeped loudly before the heart was forced by the mind to slow down once more but now he knew that she had heard.

"Don't get too excited. He's coming to sacrifice himself in exchange for your pathetic life."

A lapse in silence as the heart monitor detected several skips in heart pace.

"Isn't it ironic how a weak and feeble little maggot like you has managed to kill off almost all those who come near you? Your parents died defending you. As did Ata. And now your all-wonderful brother. My, my, the judge wouldn't have given me custody of you after all. He would have had you thrown in jail for genocide."

The yellow liquid swept away any tears but he knew she was shedding them in abundance. Her heart rate was dangerously low and the charts were wavering. Had it not been for the air pockets that rocketed around her small body he could have probably seen her trembling with despair. The hand on the glass slipped off and she hung her head.

"Hn. It's a shame that you couldn't have done away with Kon, but he is of no importance to us." Looking behind him when a new set of alarms went of he smiled. "Well, time for me to go. I certainly enjoyed this little visit. Too bad there won't be many more. Do us all a favor and just die now instead of wasting our precious energy. Then again, it is much more entertaining watching the life slowly drain out of you."

He laughed evilly and turning his back on his granddaughter, he left the room, the iron doors slamming shut with mechanical force, throwing the room into darkness once more with the exception of the faint glow of the bubbling liquid she was helplessly suspended in.

Her neck burned from the wound and tubes and she felt horribly weak all over. It was extremely hard to breathe but she forced herself to draw precious oxygen from the mask over her mouth and nose. She could not die. Not without at least seeing Kai one last time.

'Kai...please don't die and leave me too...'

Unconsciousness turned her world black once more.

"Are you alright, young man?"

"Huh?" Ray looked up at a bearded man who was standing before him, his wrinkled face concerned as he watched him dab at his tears with crumpled tissue. Composing himself, he forced a smile. "Not really, but I'll manage."

"You certainly seem very upset," the man observed in a deep voice. "Are you leaving someone important behind?"

"Yeah, you can say that."

The stranger smiled understandingly and dug into his breast pocket to produce a handkerchief. Giving it to him, he watched him try to stall most of the moisture that had already streaked his face.

"Are you going home to China?" he asked as he took in the boy's clothing beneath his coat.

"Yes."

"Then you have nothing to cry about, lad. You are returning to the people you love. Traveling always has this impact on people. Soon you will be back amongst friends and all will be well."

He offered another encouraging smile through the long white beard that was returned softly. A beeper went off and the man himself pulled the small device from his pocket.

"I have to answer this. Have a safe flight, lad. Everything happens for a reason."

With a small wave, he walked off to find a phone.

Above their heads the speaker sounded as the stewardess behind the counter announced that they were boarding.

"Flight 431 to China will now begin boarding business class only. Please have your carry-on baggage and papers in order. Thank you."

Sighing, he wiped his eyes again before noticing that he still held the handkerchief. He looked around but the stranger seemed to have disappeared in thin air. Looking back down, he noticed for the first time something scribbled down on the white cloth. He squinted to read it:

When in doubt, always follow your heart.

Again he searched for the old man but had no better luck than the first time.

"Flight 431 to China will begin boarding for people who are disabled and in need of assistance and people with children. Please have your carry-on baggage and papers in order. Thank you."

Mothers folded up the strollers and lifted their sleeping children onto their hips while the fathers grabbed their luggage. Flight attendants helped a man with a cast on both legs into a wheel chair and pushed him into the chute that led to the plane. There weren't many children or disables so the intercom went off once again.

"Flight 431 to China will now begin boarding economy class from rows 50 to 40. Please have your carry-on baggage and papers in order. Thank you."

People around him began to put away their things as the announcement was made. The large waiting area was filled with soft rustling as papers were folded and extra sweaters were pulled on for the cold flight. Some ran to buy last minute snacks at the souvenir shop, their footsteps echoing hollow through the bright corridors.

His was actually a first class ticket but he had yet to stand up. A long row had formed at the boarding counter and soon he and only a few others who were more patient than their fellow travelers were left seated. With the majority of the noise further away he heard a news broadcaster and looked up at the TV which stood mounted on one the of white pillars. Of course he was speaking in Russian but this time there were subtitles beneath in English.

He wasn't at all interested and was about to return to his thoughts when the word 'zoo' appeared in the subtitles. Sure enough, they were covering the incident at the zoo the only way the media knew how: over glorifying the smallest and least significant of things since they didn't have any positive clue of what had really happened.

'How dare they make such a commotion over something they know nothing of? How can they sit there and discus how horrible it was when they weren't even there? What do they know of how those involve feel? What good does it do when they send out their condolences to the victims' families?''

He stood but only so he didn't have to look at the screen that was now boasting pictures of the demolished tiger exhibition where rescue workers searched through the piles of debris hoping to find some survivors. Walking over to the huge glass windows that overlooked the runways and the city of Moscow many miles beyond that, he leaned against the cool metal railing.

This was it. He was really going away. Even their victory at the world championships was tainted with the thick layer of grief that smothered him. However, his mind brought up memories and though they hurt him they also brought a smile to his face.

A jolly woman standing over a loaded stove, hair in a bun and an apron wrapped around her round waist. Her cheery voice that would always be informing those who cared to listen about the weather or other times it would carry a catchy tune. Jade green eyes glittered as she chatted away happily to a man in his late seventies; a veteran soldier whose heart had never been affected by the horrors of the world war. Hair in a ponytail and suit spotless, his eyes were clear and youthful as he would sit around the bar drinking his cappuccino with the lady. Every now and then a middle-aged man would join the two, rubbing away the chill of the outdoors as he removed his black leather gloves. Thick mustache would always get some coffee froth on it that he would wipe away laughingly when it was pointed out.

"Flight 431 to China now boarding rows 40 to 30. Make sure your carry-on baggage and papers are in order. Thank you."

The voice rang out over the intercom but he did not even blink.

He remembered waking up three days ago to find the pink eyes blinking up at him from beneath purple bangs. The day spent exploring the hotel and then swimming in the garden with a young girl who lived a life as luxurious as it was mysterious. The hours they sat together playing with each others hair, their tablet-taking competitions that would leave them laughing till their stomachs hurt, her concentration as she finished off her latest masterpiece.

A pair of blue came to mind, glittering playfully behind glasses. A smirk that warned others that the wolf was on the prowl. And then the laugh that would follow when he made his move. Ray could still hear the steady clattering of keys. He could still feel the joyful atmosphere he had felt when around the one who he had once thought to be the enemy. The wise words that were always followed by a smart sarcasm though the cornflower blue eyes always remained honest and helpful.

"Flight 431 to China now boarding rows 30 to 20. Make sure your carry-on baggage and papers are checked. Thank you."

The cool blue melted into a flaming red. Red that held responsibility and wisdom so much more than that of any other teen he had ever met. Eyes that had seen the hardships of life first hand. Always vigilant and protected by an icy layer which the fire within barely ever succeeded in melting. But when that layer did melt, a roaring flame of emotions would be revealed in which your heart would melt. He recalled their kiss that morning in Kai's room; the intensity and thrill he had felt being held by the older boy. How he had wanted to just remain in those arms forever.

"Flight 431 to China will now board all remaining rows. Make sure your carry-on baggage and papers are checked. Thank you."

'When we were driving to the hotel in the limo days ago I had said that Russia had left a permanent dark hole in my memory...who would have ever though that I would have found the most beautiful stars here as well?'

He dabbed at his eyes with the man's handkerchief.

'This is the final time I can say this. Goodbye, Jeremei, Ivan, Natasia, Saskia, Tala,...Kai.'

Taking a deep breath, he straightened and walked over to where he had left his bag on the chair. The waiting room was completely empty and the lady behind the counter was watching him expectantly. Walking towards the counter he searched the bag for his ticket. As he came to stand right before her he was surprised to see it to be none other than the blonde flight attendant.

Having recognized him too, she smile.

"Ticket, please."

"I thought you didn't speak English," he reminded her as he placed his bag on the counter top, unzipping it and looking in the side pockets.

"It never too late to learn new things. After our little missun..." She faltered over the new language and its words.

"Misunderstanding?" He helped her out.

"Yes. After that my boss say I need to know more languages. This is airport after all. Many people come here. I learning Spanish and French too." She glanced around the room as if expecting to see someone else. "You traveling alone?"

He nodded, finding the ticket and handing it to her. He didn't know why but he kinda expected her to start making a fuss because he had not come when they had been boarding first class. Instead, she simply read it and stamped it before handing it back.

"Enjoy your flight," she beamed.

'Wonders never cease,' he marveled.

Not really wanting to reopen his bag he stuffed the tickets in his pants pocket. A soft tinkle that shouldn't have been there got his attention as his fingers brushed against something solid.

Puzzled he wrapped his fingers around it and pulled it out. Opening his hand he froze. His bag slipped off his shoulder to land with a THUD on the carpeted floor. The blonde eyed him curiously but he didn't care. His entire world narrowed down to the glittering silver object that rested on his palm. Words that had been barely whispered earlier that day now repeated themselves loud and clear.

"Help…help him find…her. Give him this and…help him Promise me that…you will tell him how y-you feel…"

"Are you okay?"

Closing his fist around the silver pendant, he brought his hand to his mouth and kissed it softly. Another voice spoke up in his mind, deeper than the first.

"I can't do this alone...I love you, Ray."

"Sir, the plane will take off soon."

He looked out the paneled glass at the large aircraft whose engines were whirling in the night air. Mist rose from the surface as the plane prepared to leave the airport.

Footsteps brought a flight attendant running towards them from the boarding chute. He looked between the teen and the blond.

"We didn't receive any word if all passengers had boarded. What's wrong?"

She helplessly gestured to the raven-haired boy who was staring at the plane with a far away look in his eyes. His hand fisted around something that sparkled. Reaching into his other pocket he pulled out a handkerchief, tracing his finger over the words.

When in doubt, always follow your heart.

"Excuse me, sir. Are you on this flight?"

Golden eyes blinked and turned to the man, studying him.

"We can't hold up the plane. We have to leave. Are you on this flight?"

Both adults thought the teen to have slipped in some state of shock when he didn't answer but then a rare thing happened. The golden eyes seemed to clear up and through the tears, the boy smiled.

"No."

"Pardon?" the flight attendant blinked.

"No. I'm not on this flight. I don't have to leave."

His resolve strengthened and he turned towards the adults.

"I can't leave. I made a promise and I have someone here in Moscow who needs me as much as I need him."

The man looked confused but the blonde smiled at the words and nodded her head. Both watched as the boy turned on his heels and sprinted between the rows of years and onto the polished floor. Soon his ponytail disappeared from view down the hall.

"He is finally following his heart."

Now both flight attendants turned to the newcomer. Again it was the woman who smiled.

"Do you think they can do this?" she asked the old man in perfect English as he walked up to her, cane tapping on the carpeted floor mutely as he removed the false facial hair. That left him with only a mustache and a cheery smile.

He looked to where the Chinese blader had last stood before answering.

"I believe that deep down they have the power to save us all and each other. Let us just pray that my belief is right."

Tbc...

Read & Review, please.