WHOA! I would like to thank all of you who reviewed, yes even you quicksilver melt, and I'm sorry for not updating earlier… I've been away on Easter break and not been able to update… Sorry!
She Devil 2004: Thanks, I hope you're still alive but I don't understand why you would be teased?
Surfergurl16: Me too. For a while at least. Lol. He has only himself to blame I think.
Sacred Phoenix: If you get stuck with your fic it's a very good thing to throw the Majestics in. Believe me, I'm talking from own experiences… Thanks for telling Enrique's last name!
Tifa Tari: Nope, no break-ups here :)
Nise-anjel: Thankies! Yeah, he might be hilarious but I don't have much for players like him…
Quicksilver melt: Ok, I wanna straighten some things out here. I'm so not American. I'm not English either. I'm SWEDISH. And, as you probably don't know, Swedish people don't speak English so how the hell would I know how to know the difference between sarcastic and ironic? I'm sorry if I sound a little pissed off me too, but maybe you could have checked some facts before kinda flaming me like that. I understand if you wanted to get that out of your system but couldn't you have made it like Mystique Rain instead?
Emmi-Lof: Thanks! :D And that was a very,very nice name you had there ;)
Bread 'N' Butter: Yeah, you did. Poor Kenny… :) A lot of thanks for telling me the surnames!
Cyberlink42: Well, I am on MSN quite often but I think you're sleeping when. Time zones you know. *sigh*
Lil Tanuki: Thanks, and I really like your fic! Keep writing and I'll do the same, ok? Oh, and by the way, thanks for reviewing twice ;)
Kay: Bad? Maybe, maybe not. Read and find out! :)
Sleepy-zzz: *bows* Thanks!
Mystique Rain: *glomps back* Thank you so much! I'll leave you guys a review when I've finished reading your latest chappie!
Kai/Ray: I'm glad that you think so!
Suicide-greeting: Glad to hear that too. Have I mentioned that I really like your pen name?
Bs3ssi0n: To be honest, I was thinking of make him obey his grandfather but I changed my mind. I'm not in the mood for writing heartbreaks and stuff like that right now… Anyway, I've a lot to catch up on your fic now when I've been away for a while. Phew, you updates TOO fast sometimes ;)
SOR*BBG: Yup, I'll continue! Just try to stop me! Lol
Death-morals: Yup, I'll update. But not soon. Sorry…
Myrtle moon: Whoa, that was a lot of reviews! :) I thought fanfic.net had broke. Again. Anyway, thank you and welcome to the story. I can't respond to every review, that would take a lot of pages but I did read all of the, ok?
Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Beyblade or any of its characters. I also DO NOT own Toni, who belongs to her owner Bread 'N' Butter. I DO own Laynie, her bitbeast, Josephine and David.
Chapter Seventeen: Soul Of The FirebirdLaynie lay on her bed, trying to solve all the thoughts that flew around inside her head. The letter from Kai's grandfather had confused her more than she wanted to admit and now she was more insecure than ever. What if Kai obeyed his grandfather's silly conditions scared of loosing Dranzer? That would just be too much for her to take…
[I hate being like this… Wondering what might come next and know that I can't do anything to affect it. But he DID give me his word…] Laynie thought and stared at the ceiling. But words didn't matter that much to Laynie. She believed more in actions. Words were only… words and it wasn't a promise to anything.
Kai sighed. He stood at the balcony, which was connected to the room he and Laynie shared. He knew that the letter had made her doubt and started to regret that he head showed it for her… Now, she was confused and upset. She didn't want to show it but he knew. He could see it in her eyes.
- "Damn you Voltaire." Kai cursed under his breathe and gazed out in the black night. Stars twinkled back at him with a mysterious luster. Where would he find the answers for this questions and decisions he had? Were they hidden in the black night or did he hold his own future?
[Do you have to ruin everything that matters and is important to me? Everything and everyone I care about? I hate the fact that you can.] He thought bitterly.
- "He can't." A soft, comforting voice suddenly said.
[Can't stay here. Must have some air… Maybe talk with someone.] Laynie thought and started to get up from the bed. She grabbed her coat and opened the door. Without telling Kai where she was going, she closed it and started to search for Mariah and Ray. She needed to be with them for a while, be surrounded by their carefree atmosphere. She sighed. Why did THEIR relationship always seem so simple?
Kai spun around and searched for the source of the voice. But no one was there and he realized where the voice had come from… Inside his head, an illusion of his beloved red phoenix started to form. Dranzer.
- "Dranzer?" Kai whispered so Laynie wouldn't hear. "But… how?"
The red bird raised his head in a majestic way and gazed at his master with stead calm.
- "Did you really think that I was gonna sit and do nothing when you have all these problems upon your mind?"
Kai smirked. "It's not like you've been there before you know…" He said.
The phoenix ruffled his feathers and seemed to be very offended. "The times before were not like this time… I wanna help you make the right decisions."
- "Yeah, right decisions…" Kai replied quietly. "And I've no idea what to do."
Suddenly, a soft knocking on the door interrupted the phoenix. He started to fade away and when no one opened the door, Kai assumed that Laynie already had left the room.
- "Wait, what am I supposed to do then?" Kai said.
Now, the red bird was completely gone but his voice still lingered there.
- "You must follow your heart. That's the right thing in this case…"
[Wow, that really helped me…] Kai thought as he headed for the door to open it. It was Ray.
- "Mr. Dickenson has arrived and he wants a meeting immediately."
Kai frowned. "Why? Did he say that?"
- "No, he didn't. Now, come on. It seemed like he was in a hurry." Ray shook his head, making the ponytail dance behind his back. "Laynie is down there if you wonder."
- "Why would I wonder?" Kai replied in a harsh tone. "I don't own her, she can go wherever she want to."
- "Is something wrong, Kai? Laynie seemed kinda worried and you're…" He didn't finish the sentence and Kai sighed irritated.
- "Whatever." He said and closed the door behind him.
~*~ Downstairs… ~*~
Everyone was gathered in Johnny's gigantic "living room", waiting for Kai and Ray to join. Kai took a seat next to Laynie and waited for Mr. Dickenson to begin. But, after a glance on his face, Kai understood that it wasn't some kinda good news he was gonna tell…
- "Hello everyone. I'm sorry for interrupting your vacation but something very important came to acknowledge this morning. This videotape," He stopped and showed them a black tape. He put the tape into the video before continuing. "…was delivered to my secretary this morning and I'm afraid it contained some bad news…"
The TV screen was black for a few seconds, before a shadow sitting behind a desk could be seen.
- "Long time no see." The voice belonging to the shadow said. "Or, what do you say Mr. Dickenson?"
Kai froze. He knew this voice all to well… [Voltaire.]
The light was turned on and the man in Kai's thoughts could be seen. But he wasn't alone…
[What the hell!?] Laynie thought and stared at the screen. Next to Kai's grandfather, Voltaire, sat the man she hated most. The one she once called father.
- "Is this some kinda sick joke?" She said out loud and looked at Mr. Dickenson for an answer.
He shook his head slowly. "I'm afraid it isn't, Laynie. It looks like we've to deal with another attack from Biovolt. But what your father's target is, that's still a mystery."
- "What do you think he wants?" spat Laynie. "The world of course. Trust me, my family have serious power needs."
She turned her head to the TV again.
- "Don't count us as down. A new power is rising and get ready for the hammer to fall. And this time, we'll succeed and the world will belong to it's truly master, Biovolt…"
The screen went black again but no one said a word. Not even Tyson.
- "That's all we've got this far but the BBA is having an appointment in two hours to decide what to do next. I would like if you stayed here until I know more. Is that alright to you?" Mr. Dickenson said and looked around in the room.
- "For how long?" asked Ray when no one replied Mr. Dickenson's question.
Mr. Dickenson thought for a few seconds. "Is it enough for an answer if I say at least five days?"
- "Sure. Will we get any more information from the BBA later, after the appointment?" Robert gazed at Mr. Dickenson with his sharp eyes and crossed his arms.
- "Of course. I'll call or pay a visit to inform you all." Replied Mr. Dickenson and nodded.
[I hate you, Jack. I hate you so much that words can't describe it. Just when things started to work out well for me are you there to ruin everything again…] Laynie thought and started to bit her bottom lip as she always did when she was in deep thoughts or disappointed.
- "Now, I have to leave you for the appointment but I'll return as soon as I've some news for you. Bye for now." Said Mr. Dickenson and took his coat and hat, leaving the house.
It was quite for a while when Mr. Dickenson had left but soon everyone tried to talk to everyone…
- "How did he escape from prison?"
- "What are they planning now?"
- "Why was Laynie's father there?"
- "Can everyone shut up?"
It was Laynie who said the last line and everyone got quite again, looking at her. She glared back in annoyance.
- "You sound even worse than the "girliest" girl in my hometown…" She said.
- "Hey, what do you mean with that!?" replied Toni and tried to look innocent.
Laynie sighed. "There's no reason for sit here and speculate in things we barely know something about, right? I suggest we all let go off it until Mr. Dickenson return."
- "Sounds good to me. Why don't you, Oliver, make us the new meal you came up with last month? It was delicious and I don't think Bruce will mind."
(A/N: I made the servant's name up, ok? It's a sappy name but I can't think of anything better right now…)
Oliver nodded. "Of course. It'll take an hour so why don't you go and rest a little or something?"
~*~ Later, Ray and Mariah's room… ~*~
- "How do you think Laynie is feeling? I mean, everything with her father must have upset her a lot…" said Mariah, her voice dark with worry. Maybe Laynie wasn't the best friend she could have but she cared for the Asian girl a lot.
- "She's probably upset and confused but I doubt that she's gonna tell us…" frowned Ray.
- "I wish she did…" sighed Mariah. "I wanna help her."
Ray smiled and sat down at the bed next to his girlfriend. "I know you want to. You're the best friend anyone can have. But I don't think Laynie wants us to get too much involved and if she really want help, she probably goes to Kai."
- "I guess." Replied Mariah but didn't sound completely convinced.
- "Leave it for a while, Mariah. Both Kai and Laynie will be fine. And, after all, they have each others and that must count for nothing right?"
Mariah nodded. "You're right, Ray. As always." She added and smiled broadly. She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
- "I wonder what Oliver's gonna cook us?" She said curious.
- "Whatever it is, he better make a lot of it. Tyson's probably gonna be hungry…"
~*~ Kai and Laynie's room… ~*~
Laynie crossed her arms and sent a glare on her boyfriend. He had ignored her since they left the other and every try to a conversation with him had failed.
- "What's wrong with you Kai?" She said angrily. "I understand if you're mad at your grandfather but do you have to let it out on me?"
Silence.
- "Fine, be like that then!" Laynie snarled and sat down on her bed, hugging her knees tight to her belly.
She stayed like that for a while before continuing. "You know, Kai… You never thought of that my so called FATHER was there too, did you?"
Kai froze. She was right. [And she's not being this rude to me as I am towards her…] He thought and felt a wave of guilt inside. She hadn't done anything wrong at all and there was no reason at all for him to act like did.
Laynie waited for a reply but when it never came, she bit her bottom lip and tried to hold her mask up.
Disappointment, sadness and betrayal. All of the feelings came over her and she didn't want them there.
[Go away. GO AWAY] She thought. [It's not right that another person can make you feel like this. It's not fair…]
Without her noticing it, a cold tear fell down her cheek. But Kai noticed and it ached in his heart when he knew that he was the reason for her being that sad.
- "Laynie…" he whispered. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to make you cry."
[Cry?] Laynie's hand reached up on her cheek and she brushed them away. She got up and turned away, ashamed of showing her weakness once again in front of him.
But he took a step to her and laid his arms around her waist, trying to soothe her.
- "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to overreact like that." Laynie said weakly and relaxed in his embrace.
- "You're not overreacting. I was rude to you and I shouldn't have treated you like that. You was just trying to be nice and I…"
Laynie smirked. "Let's say we're even then?" She replied and turned around. She put her arms around his neck, like they were dancing and leaned her head on his shoulder.
(A/N: It seems like Laynie has grown a bit, huh? ^^")
~*~ Toni and Tyson's room… ~*~
- "Ha! Gotcha!" laughed Toni as she smashed her pillow into Tyson's head in a wonderful hit.
- "Ouch! Hey, you were cheating!" protested Tyson and tried to fight back.
Toni snorted. "Yeah, blame that! You're just too slow!"
- "Let's see who the slow one here is!" Challenged Tyson and aimed at Toni with his pillow. Unfortunately, Toni did the same, and when the two pillows (which both was of the down pillow-type) crashed into each other, they kinda broke and the room was covered in feathers.
And two surprised teenagers of course…
- "Hey, that was your fault!" exclaimed Tyson and gazed at Toni.
- "Wh-h-hat!?" stuttered Toni. "So not true! If you hadn't started the pillow fight, this would never have happened!"
- "Excuse me, but if I'm not all wrong, it was you who started the pillow fight!" replied Tyson with a triumphant look at Toni.
Toni opened her mouth to say something back realized that Tyson was right. She DID start the pillow fight…
- "But… You… I… What the -!" Toni threw another pillow at Tyson and so it began all over again…
~*~ Kenny and Max's room… ~*~
- "No, Max! Water is not always coming from the sky from the beginning!" sighed Kenny.
- "But, it falls down right?" Max frowned before a new smile lit up his face. "And where else would it come from?"
Kenny dropped onto his knees, moaning. "It's like a circle! It's… No, I give up!"
Max gave him an odd gaze. "You know Kenny, it's great that you're smart and stuff, but you're not quite a teacher…"
~*~ Later, that evening… ~*~
Oliver's cooking had been very appreciated and everyone was very pleased with having him there. Bad taste in clothes, but very good in cooking…
- "Have Mr. Dickenson called yet?" asked Mariah and looked at the others.
Robert shook his head. "Not yet. But I'm sure that he'll pretty soon."
- "What do you think Biovolt's 'new power' is?" Toni sank down deeper into the sofa, eating on an apple muffin.
- "I don't know… Maybe some kinda new bitbeast." Replied Ray and shrugged.
Laynie didn't say anything at all. She had been quite during the dinner and planned on stay that way too. She was not in the mood for talking and she wanted to be left alone in her thoughts. Unfortunately, the message didn't get to Enrique…
- "My, my, beauty eyes… Why are you sitting here looking so depressed?" He said and sent a blending smile at her, making Kai glare threat fully.
- "Go to hell, Enrique." Replied Laynie with bored voice.
Enrique gave her another (pretended) hurt look. "You're hurting my feelings, Laynie!" He said and placed his hand over his heart.
- "I didn't know that you had feelings, Enrique. I'm so sorry." Replied Laynie and her eyes narrowed dangerously.
- "No problems, querida!" returned Enrique, once again missing a sarcastic comment. He took her hand to kiss it (to Laynie's disguise).
(A/N: Ok, happy now?)
- "Get off her, Giancarlo." Kai snarled, suddenly standing behind the blonde boy.
Enrique jumped, startled, and let go off Laynie's hand. "Whoa, take it easy…"
Laynie sent a thankful gaze to Kai, mimicking a "thank you".
[Sometimes he really surprises me…] Laynie thought and smiled. Kai could be difficult to understand sometimes but that was one thing that made him interesting. And she loved him for what he was.
- "Hello, again!" A voice said and everyone turned to the door. It was Mr. Dickenson.
- "Hi, Mr. Dickenson! Do you have any news for us?" said Tyson.
Mr. Dickenson sat down in one of the armchairs. He accepted the cup of the Johnny's servant gave him and took a zip of it before answering.
- "I'm afraid not, Tyson. It looks like we have to wait for their next move before we can do anything…"
- "Why can't we just send the police or something on them?" said Toni and frowned.
- "We don't have enough evidence to do that yet." Mr. Dickenson shook his head and sighed.
Laynie had a millions of questions but she couldn't get them over her lips. Something held them back and all she did was listening.
- "When this week is over, all of you can go home for a while. Catch your breath and relax with your family. If something happens, I'll get in touch with you immediately."
[Where am I supposed to go? My home is here…] Laynie thought and the panic spread n her.
But, Mr. Dickenson gave her a calming gaze. "I've arranged for you two, Kai and Laynie, because I figured that no one of you wanted to go back to your families. Laynie, you'll stay with Josephine, David and Toni. And Kai, if you wish, you can also stay there but I've rented an apartment for you if you prefer that."
- "Wow, Laynie! We're gonna be sisters!" chirped Toni and smiled broadly. "I'm gonna see you EVERY day!"
- "Yeah… That's wonderful." Laynie replied weakly before turning to Kai. With his eyes, he said "later" and Laynie understood.
- "Hehe, don't forget me! I live in the same town as you guys!" exclaimed Tyson with a triumphant look.
(A/N: Do you guys think Tyson is TOO triumphant? *thinking* Nah, it's just the way he is! ^^)
Laynie closed her eyes. This was gonna be a LONG summer…
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Done! It's a little shorter than usual (only 8 Word pages…) but at least, it's up! ^^ I'm gonna try writing a longer chapter next time, promise! Again, sorry for not updating earlier but I couldn't write last week cause I was with my friend who lives in the southern part of Sweden. But I DID write a little when I was in the airplane and being in an airplane really inspired me! I got rid of my stupid writer's block! Anyway, keep those reviews coming and you're welcome to flame me if you do it based on the fact that I'm Swedish. See ya!
(Oh, and by the way, add me at MSN, emlan22@hotmail.com) if you feel for it! And for new readers, if you wanna see a picture of Laynie, go to my personal profile and click on homepage. After that, click on 'My OC Laynie'!)
*glomps all of you*
~Emma