Ok, first of all I wanna thank these people especially:
wo-ai-ni-haku-and-kai-hiwatari
nise-anjel
Lil Tanuki
She Devil 2004
Mrs.buenavista
Anantsu
Bs3ssi0n
Starbugkenny
Mystique Rain
Sacred Phoenix
Surfergurl16
Fiver
Emerald-eyes90
Lone Wolf 2004
Kinau
For having me on their favorite author's list. It means much to me ^^
Thanks also goes to the people who added me on their Author Alert's list. *Hugs all of you*
BUT, THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAS REVIEWED! IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY THAT I CAN HARDLY DESCRIBE IT! ^^
She Devil 2004: "Only" five hours? When I play Chess and I think it's getting boring, I just pretend to do a bad move and loose… I'm not so much for Chess… Why play Chess when you can play soccer? ^^
Tifa Tari: Well, it is true unfortunately… But don't you worry, I'm sure that everything is gonna turn out just fine :)
Kinau: No, it's me who's supposed to say that! OH MY GOODNESS! I've never received (or heard) that much nice things about my writing ever! *blushes* I feel so happy ^^ But I'm not sure if I'm really THAT good though O.O
Now, to your question: It's two chapters left, if I don't make an epilogue (but I don't think I will…). But the sequel is coming! :D
Thanks for adding me on your favorite author list!
Bs3ssi0n: It seems like a lot of people is against this breakup. Well, of course it's a little sad but, as I said to Tifa Tari, everything is probably gonna turn out just fine. If we're lucky… O.O
Kelly: Don't you worry, I was close to killing myself when I saw how short the last chapter turned out… And I didn't write Beddy this time ^^
Mystique Rain: Yeah, hopefully it'll be more interesting, and easier for me to write, now when something big has happened… ^^
Reader: A few typing errors? Lol, I'm flattered! I thought it was too many to even count. When I've completed this fic, I'll edit every chapter and correct errors. Did that sound good to you? :)
Pyro Inu: Lol, I like the way you write. You really made me think in anime/manga style for a while… Anyway, I'm glad that you chose the watermelon instead of me O.O But no one can beat me! I'm the queen of karate! LOL No I was kidding, I'm NOT.
Bed 'N' Breakfast: I haven't decided what to do yet… But I can promise that they'll get together again, but it won't necessarily be in this fic. I still have a sequel to complete you know :)
Nise-anjel: Well, they did… Sorry… I'm so sorry that I haven't read your fic yet but I will! And I'll leave you a review, just try to stop me! LOL
Surfergurl16: I didn't think it was such an evil cliffie? I mean, I could've been even more evil and left you guys at the "Are you breaking up with me" part. But I'm not THAT evil, ok? :D
Sacred Phoenix: Yeah, he can be that yes… *sigh* Thanks for correcting my grammar there even though 'week' only was a typing error. Lol, I was SO tired when I wrote that chapter so I wrote chess mate in Swedish instead ^^"
Kai Rei's Gur Forever: I'm glad you still think Laynie is a good OC! :D I don't know if I'm gonna make Kai fight Ray cause I don't know who's supposed to win? Well, it is a Kai-fic but Ray's still my second fav!
Fiver: Nope, not the end. But it could be a start of a new beginning maybe? Lol. Before you loose it you say? I thought you already had! *hides from Jen's vampire-hands* No, I was kidding Jen! You're problem more normal than most of my friends. I can tell that you're more normal than Helena at least. But don't tell her I said that! LOL
Myrtle-moon: When did it break? And I thought that fanfic.net had been working pretty fine for a while. Guess I was wrong then… Lol, I'm not in a NATIONAL sport team, well I play soccer but not at that level. Yet ^^ . When I wrote nationals, I was talking about a big test you have to take in Sweden to graduate.
Zap Cannon: Now I feel stupid. I'm sorry for being so rough on you but I was kinda upset for being blamed for something I'm not even close to be ^^ Thanks for liking my story and I'll look out for your friends :) And yeah, you did say that it wasn't a flame but I was, as I said, a little upset. Lol. You don't have a fanfic.net account? I would like to read something by you?
Kay: Lol, it seems like everyone wants them together again right? I promise that they'll continue to be a couple but I'm not sure if it's gonna be in this fic. I could also be in the sequel.
Starbugkenny: Awww, I forgive you! I'm not the best reviewer either… And, I'm such a bad updater too. *sob sob* Do YOU forgive ME? Oh, oh, I got the que! Look I'm writing! lol
Half-Devil: Thanks, and sorry for making you wait for the update…
Chapter Nineteen: I Can't[This won't happen again.] Laynie thought and sank down against the wall. [Never again am I gonna give so much of myself to someone…]
She just didn't get it. Why did he break up with her? Had she done anything wrong? She started to feel angry for him not explaining WHY.
[Should I go and talk to him?] She mused. [Yeah right, like he would listen…]
Laynie buried her face in her hands in frustration. [Look what this so called 'love' did. Bringing happiness? What the hell was I thinking!?] She thought bitterly.
The tears pushed behind her eye lids. She didn't want to let them out, she had been crying too much already. But they came although.
Cold tears rolled down her cheeks, dropping onto her knees. Oh, how she hated it. This was probably the most vulnerable state anyone could be in and she hated it deep and truly.
- "Dammit!" She cursed loudly and banged her fist into the floor.
Unfortunately, someone opened the door in the exact same moment and that someone simply stared at the crying girl on the floor.
- "Laynie? What's the matter?"
Laynie looked up and caught a glimpse of pink strands of hair. Mariah.
The pink-haired girl sat down on her knees in front of Laynie. "Laynie, what's wrong?" She said and Laynie registered the worry in her voice.
- "It's nothing." Laynie lied and brushed the tears away from her wet cheeks.
- "Don't be like that Laynie!" Mariah warned. "I'm not stupid you know."
- "Wow that was news to me…" Laynie muttered ironically.
Mariah smirked. "You don't have to tell me ok? But I'm here to listen if you want to."
- "I know you are." Laynie replied and decided to change subject before she was gonna start crying again. "So… Why did you come here in first place?"
Mariah frowned. "It's Kai…" She began.
[Oh, great…] Laynie thought and started to wonder where this was going.
- "He's acting so strange. You should have seen the glare he gave Ray!" Mariah continued and Laynie sighed.
- "I guess he's in a bad mood…" She said briefly, trying to sound as it didn't matter so much.
Mariah shook her head. "Sometimes I wonder what you see in him… Yeah, he's hot but THAT attitude!" She said and rolled her eyes.
Laynie forced herself to smirk, but she didn't reply.
- "Mariah, when are you planning on leaving this place?" She suddenly asked instead.
Mariah gave her a surprised gaze. "Well, I haven't thought that much on it but I guess I'll leave together with Ray…"
[Just as I thought…] Laynie thought. [And I'll go to Josephine and David together with Toni…]
- "I think I'll go back to Ray now before Kai kills him." Mariah smirked and got back on her feet. "Are you sure you're okay?" She added.
Laynie nodded. "I'm fine. Don't worry!"
But when Mariah closed the door, she lie down on the floor and let the tears flow free. This was too much to keep inside.
~*~ Next morning… ~*~
Kai watched the girl twist and turn in her bed. She had been sleeping when he had returned to the room but he could tell that she had been crying from her wet cheeks and stained pillow.
[How can she be so sad when it was she who caused everything?!] He thought.
But, it was only a hug. How can you be so sure of that anything else really happened? A little voice whispered.
Kai shook it off. [So, I'm supposed to believe that all they did was HUG? My ass.]
- "You're being childish, youngling." A soft voice whispered. No one ever called him 'youngling' except one, Dranzer.
[I'm not childish and I haven't done anything wrong!] Kai thought back to the red phoenix.
- "Easy there… I never said that you had done something wrong either. But look at her Kai."
- "Why should I?" snorted Kai, but had to force himself not to look when his gaze suddenly wanted to trail off to the sleeping girl even though he didn't want to.
- "Just do it."
Kai reluctantly stopped struggling with his gaze and let I fall onto the girl sleeping in a restless slumber, twisting and tossing in her sleep.
- "If she meant to hurt YOU, why is it HER to look like that?" The phoenix said and Kai felt his heart ache as he watched Laynie.
[But why did she do it then?] He thought and slowly, he started to realize what a mistake he had made. But oh, it was so hard to admit it.
- "You see, Kai? You shouldn't be so fast to judge people from their actions…" The firebird said with low voice. "Tell her you're taking back everything."
Kai shook his head. "I can't." He whispered.
- "Why? Just tell her…"
- "I can't!" Kai cut his bitbeast short. "I can't."
Then the phoenix started to trail off, slowly fading away in Kai's mind. "Then I'm afraid I can't help you. It must be you to take the final step. She won't. Make your decision, but remember, pain will always go away but you might have to leave with regret all your life."
~*~ Later… ~*~
Laynie was running. Running for her life. She didn't know why she ran, but she was sure that whatever chased her was out for killing her. But what was it?
Sweat started to fall her brow, trailing down her cheeks. She panted heavily and it felt like she could lie down any second now and just die. It didn't matter anymore. She stopped running and someone immediately grabbed a hold of her left arm.
Laynie was spun around, someone held a strong hold of both her arms now, making it impossible for her to run again.
Her eyes widened in both surprise and horror. Jack Kim. Her "so-called" father.
- "You." She spat out. "What do you want this time, huh?"
The tall man smirked evilly. "I want you, Laynie. Come back to us and I'll make you UNBEATABLE! You and Nicholas will be the Kim's new generation, bringing the pride and honour from our family forward."
- "Tempting, but no thanks. I'm not returning, and I thought you had understood that by now."
Suddenly, a hand was placed on her left shoulder. Someone was right behind her. She spun around again, facing a very familiar face.
Kai.
- "Laynie," He said. "Go back to him. Go back to your family."
Laynie was speechless. "Why? I thought…" Tears started to spring in her eyes. "What about the Bladebreakers?"
- "We have Toni know. Actually, you were only a burden. I never loved you."
- "No. No. No." Laynie sank down onto the ground. Somehow, it felt like her legs couldn't keep her standing anymore.
Kai sighed. "Don't be like that, ok? Just go back and pretend that there never was the two of us."
- "I can't believe how you can say that, Kai!" Laynie rose from the ground again, the sudden anger gave her new strength. "That's the same as saying I could commit suicide. I wouldn't be ALIVE."
Kai didn't reply. He just gave her a tired gaze.
Laynie shook her head slowly and the cold tears rolled down her cheeks, landing on the ground and freezing to ice. The wind started to blow even more and hail fell onto her skin, leaving small, aching markets on her bare arms.
- "Maybe it doesn't matter. In fact, I wish I was dead." She whispered.
And suddenly the ice she stood on broke. She fell down in the dark water and the clothes immediately started to pull her down. She reached out a hand and pleaded Kai to help her. But he just stood there and watched her.
- "Kai! Help me! Please!" She screamed.
- "You said you wanted to die. Your wish is granted." Jack said, and placed himself next to Kai also watching Laynie.
And the last thing Laynie saw before she fell into the eternity was Kai and some blonde girl. Kissing.
Laynie shot her eyes open and took a deep breath.
It felt like she had been out of air for an hour and she panted heavily.
Everything from her dream came over her and it hurt. It hurt so badly that it was almost unbearable. It pained like hell.
[I gotta get out of her. I need-]
Who was she gonna turn to? She couldn't discuss this with Ray. No, she just couldn't. Suddenly it struck her.
Josephine.
A picture of the blonde, smiling girl came up in front of Laynie's eyes. Josephine would understand. And she would help her.
[I gotta see her.] Laynie thought and started to get up from the bed. Her sheets were in a mess but she didn't bother to clean it up. All she wanted now was to see Josephine again.
Laynie tossed all of her clothes into the bag and zipped it closed. She grabbed her cell phone and clicked in Mr. Dickenson's number.
Two, three dial tones went through before a polite woman answered.
- "Mr. Dickenson's office. How may I help you?" She said.
- "My name is Laynie Kim and I'm part of the Bladebreakers. I would like to speak to Mr. Dickenson." Laynie replied.
- "Of course. Will you please hold a second when I connect you."
(A/N: I don't know if it's the word for it but it is here in Sweden. Lol, like that would help! O.o)
- "Hello Laynie!" Mr. Dickenson suddenly said in the phone. "I was surprised when my secretary told me that it was you. Has anything happened?"
Laynie felt her eyes become wet from tears again but pushed them back the best she could. "Actually, I would like to go home to Josephine and David if it could be possible."
Mr. Dickenson became silent for a while.
- "Well…" He slowly said. "May I ask why?"
Laynie hesitated. Should she tell him the truth? She decided not to. "Is it enough if I say it's personal?"
- "Of course Laynie. I can send a car to pick you up in… Let me see… half an hour?"
- "Sounds perfectly fine to me." Laynie replied and almost nodded in the phone. "Thank you Mr. Dickenson."
- "Oh, it was nothing. I'm sorry I can't follow you but I have another appointment to attend. But I'll get in touch with you to when you've arrived in Bakuten."
(A/N: Sorry for writing another A/N but I'm not sure if Bakuten IS the right name for the place Tyson and the others live but I think I've heard that somewhere… O.O Anyway, correct me if I'm wrong ok?)
- "Ok, thanks again. Good bye."
- "Good bye, Laynie. And have a nice day."
- "You too. " Laynie disconnected the line and sighed. It was done.
A quarter later, three letters were written and she eyed them as the lay in front of her onto the desk. One of them was especially for Mariah and one for the rest of them. She picked Mariah's up again to make a last reading.
Dear Mariah,
I can't tell you how much you have meant to me with word. Or wait, you still MEANS a lot to me. You have been a real friend, even when I've been rude and cold towards you. I'm sorry I didn't enjoy your little "shopping spree" but I tried to make it up to you by drawing a picture of you and Ray together. I hope you'll be happy longer than Kai and me was at least…
Love, Laynie
Laynie put down the letter and picked up her drawing instead. She was very pleased with how it had turned out actually and thought that the love Mariah and Ray felt really showed.
[Next letter then…] Laynie thought and sighed.
Hi there teammates,
I'm sorry I had to leave you but I had some personal stuff going on… It has been so fun to travel around with you and I hope I'll see you soon again!
Tyson, try to not eat Johnny out of his house and practice on your FOCUS, ok? I have to admit that you've annoyed me like hell sometimes, but strangely enough, I still like you somehow…
Max, please stay away from sugar and continue to be as happy as you always are. Your cheery attitude is a gift! Say hi to your mum when you see her again.
Kenny and Dizzi, what would we have done without your knowledge and stats? Thank you SO much for improve Drizzler and always know what to do in tricky situations!
Toni, since I don't have known you for so long I can't say more than that I think you're a great beyblader and I'm looking forward to get to know you better during summer!
Ray, you've been one of the greatest friends I have ever had and I'll miss you a lot. I'll try to get in touch with you and Mariah during summer either by email or letter, ok?
Kai, you've been a great leader and you've helped me improve my beyblading skills a lot.
I'll miss you a lot guys, but we'll see each other again right? Keep beyblading and go kick some amateur ass ok? I made a picture of us and I tried to make you look pretty but it was impossible! LOL, it wasn't. I was just kidding!
See you soon, Laynie
[Kai… There is some much I wanna tell you but I CAN'T. Hopefully, I can understand what happened after summer and maybe we can be friends… Apparently, you don't want my love at least…] She thought as she watched him on the picture she had made. He was standing next to her in his usual pose; crossed arms, scarf swirling behind his back, with Dranzer pictured behind him.
The next letter was very formal and she thanked Johnny for letting them stay there. Nothing emotional at all.
[It's strange how much easier it is to tell someone something when it's only on paper. When you don't have to face them…]
- "You are wrong. I was wrong! It's not a weakness to have friends." She said and added for herself: [And love is NOT a weakness either. If I win this battle, I'll tell Kai EVERYTHING.]
[Yeah, and see what I got from that…] Laynie though as she remembered her thoughts during the battle against Nicholas.
But did she regret anything?
No, she wasn't sure… The time with Kai had been one of her best in life and she had loved every minute of it. Well, except from the latest ones of course…
She just couldn't get it. What had she done wrong? Was it because he didn't love her? Was it because of something she had done? What was it?
Laynie suspected that she would go mad if she thought more about it. And it hurt too much.
- "God, when will it go away?" Laynie spoke out loud and waited for some kinda reply. Of course no one answered…
~*~ Later that evening… ~*~
- "What is this?" Mariah frowned as she found a letter on her pillow with her name written on it. With Laynie's handwriting.
She opened the envelope as fast as she could and pulled out a thick paper. It was a picture of her and Ray.
Without noticing, she started smiling when she saw a perfect picture of herself smiling with Ray's arm around her shoulders.
Suddenly, she saw another piece of paper, which was laying on the floor, probably falling when she had opened the envelope. She picked it up and started reading.
And her eyes widened in surprise.
- "What the-" She shouted and stormed out of the room to find the others.
~*~ Meanwhile… ~*~
[What has happened here then?] Kai frowned when he opened the door to his and Laynie's room. The room was a complete mess and clothes were spread all around.
Suddenly, a white envelope caught his gaze and he picked it up and opened it. Inside, he found a letter and a picture of the team.
His brain, which had seemed to stop working for a while, slowly started to add the two parts together.
The room in a mess and a letter with Laynie's handwriting.
[She's gone!] Kai's eyes widened as he read the letter. It was a letter to the whole team and the only reason for her to leave it for him was probably his leader position.
Kai sank down onto the bed, slightly shocked. The realization of what he had done all came to clear.
[She's gone. And it's MY fault. Just because I couldn't tell her what a mistake I made.]
~*~ Down in the kitchen… ~*~
- "Mmmm! I LOVE Oliver's cooking!" Toni exclaimed as she took another spoon of the hot soup.
- "Totally agree!" replied Tyson and nodded.
Oliver looked at them and smiled. "I'm so happy I've you guys to try my new recipes on!" He said and put down another plate on the table. This time with a chocolate cake on.
Tyson and Toni's eyes widened and they grinned at each other's.
- "Come on, start eating and let me know what you think!" Oliver said.
- "Hehe, no problems!"
But they didn't come that far… Just when they were about to take the first chew on the chocolate cake, Mariah stormed into the room with an upset expression.
- "Mariah, what is it?" Toni said and put down the fork again.
- She's gone! She left!" Mariah shouted and Toni, Tyson and Oliver exchanged confused gazes.
- "Hang on a sec, Mariah. What are you talking about? Who's gone?"
Ray, Kenny, Max and the rest of the Majestics came into the room, wanting to know what was going on from Mariah's shout.
- "Yeah, what's with all the yelling?" Max said and gave Mariah a confused gaze.
But Mariah burst into tears and couldn't answer. Ray rushed over to his girlfriend and embraced her in a tight hug.
- "Does anyone know what has happened?" Kenny asked and looked around on his teammates. All of them shook their heads negativity, when a voice from their backs said:
- "Laynie's gone."
Everyone turned around, just to face a scowling Kai.
- "What!?" shouted Tyson. "Laynie? Gone?"
- "Are you deaf or what?" Kai snorted and gave Tyson a glare.
Tyson stuck out his tongue in return. "Obliviously, you know where Laynie has gone right? So, where is she?"
Everyone waited for Kai to answer but he just crossed his arms and looked away.
- "Kai? You do know right?" Mariah asked with trembling voice. But suddenly, it struck her.
I hope you'll be happy longer than Kai and me was at least…
- "Oh, my God." She whispered. "You broke up."
~*~ Laynie… ~*~
- "Would you like anything, miss?" A stewardess asked and smiled gently at Laynie.
Laynie shook her head. "No thanks, I'm fine."
- "Just let me know if you want anything, ok?"
Laynie gave her a faint smile back before turning to the window again.
[It's gonna be great to see Josephine again…] She thought and leaned her chin in the hand. [But I miss them already…]
Travelling with the Bladebreakers had been an experience in a lifetime and she looked forward for another year with them after the summer.
She squeezed Drizzler in her hand. It comforted her to know that the great tiger always was there for her and the constant ache in her heart faded a little.
Kai.
It still hurt too much to even dig deeper in the problem.
It was hard for her to admit but Kai had made her doubt on the feeling love again. How could one thing be so right but suddenly so wrong?
~*~ Later… ~*~
Kai sighed. This evening had been one of the worst in his life. Wait, not only the evening. The LAST TWO DAYS had been the worst in his life.
Mariah had been crying. Tyson had been yelling. But none of those things mattered to Kai. Everything that counted for the moment was the pain he had caused Laynie.
[Too bad time isn't to be manipulated…] He thought. If it were, he would gladly give up almost everything to make his actions undone again.
But he couldn't.
He needed to explain things to her. Make her understand what a mistake he had made. Make her understand how much he loved her. All he needed now was the right things to say.
He sighed.
[I guess that's what my summer is for. Figuring out the right things to say to her when we meet again… Cause I want her back.]
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~*~ End of Loving the Phoenix ~*~
And that's how it is. No epilogue, but the sequel is coming! I know that you probably don't like the ending but I promise that things will get better in the sequel!
So, thanks again to every reviewer but I have to give some extra credit to Kelly (Bed 'N' Breakfast) cause I had kinda decided NOT to carry on this fic first but she convinced me to do (which I'm very happy for! ^^)
Anyway, please leave a review and look out for the sequel!
~Hugs, Emma