ME: Don't kill me!!!

CS: Not yet, at any rate

Destiny DS: ME: Glad you liked it. CS: How could she like it? It was sad, depressing.

ME: I think that's why she liked it. ME: o_0 You people are twisted. Twisted, I tell you!

ME: Whatever.

Nanashi2: ME: *snickers* Must thank Rumi for inventing a new name for Tala. Oh Hei-di!! Tala: *growls* It's Tala!!! Why the hell can you call me that? CS: It's much more interesting Heidi!!! Kai: ^^ Heidi! Heidi! Tala: Someone kill me now. ME: Been there, done that, wrote a chapter. Anyway, what is a devil reviewer box? Me dense! ^^*

Rumi-Chan: Tala: Glad to see somebody's upset that I died. ME: Don't push your luck. Anyway, glad to see that your backbrace is finally getting off. In future, avoid tripping over pantyhoses.

Yami FireKali: ME: *watches as Caitlin destroys ff.net* Now where am I going to put my stories? Anyway, sorry to hear about the abuse ff.net is giving you. *glares daggers at ff.net* Don't go!!! What about your beautiful stories?!!! Stupid ff.net. Anyway, take care!

crescente nuwedes: ME: Will do! Keep up the good work in legend of Orosia!

Skittles the Sugar Fairy: ME: *ducks flying beanie babies* Last time I go shopping with Angy. Anyway, I know everyone is sad because I killed off Tala, but I had to do it!! Really!

TLPhoenix Forever: ME: *watches TLPhoenix die with suspense* ^___^ Maybe I should do this more often.

I luv Yugi and Daisuke so :p: ME: Arigatou!!! Oh CS!!! *holds black box behind her back* CS: What is it? ME: Oh nothing. *opens the box* CS: o0;;; EEP? It's.It's.

ME: *sweatdrops as this tiny black spider comes out* CS: OO AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH *pauses for breath* AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH*runs in circles* ME: ^^* Ah, what entertainment. Popcorn anyone?

Angevar: ME: Nice try! *puts up force field. Angy's flame thrower flames bounces off her force field and hits Angevar* Told you to flame me at your own risk!

Kalico: ME: Hey Calyph, you got mail! Calyph: Really? Is it a fan? CS: I wouldn't call her that. ME: ^^* Do open it Calyph dear. Calyph: Okay. *opens the letter which bursts in his face* CS: You're evil. ME: I know. And proud of it!

rikasakuraduo-heerosyliaspike: ME: More you want, more you shall have. This is my longest chapter yet and it's 8 pages!!!!(2,292 words)

asa-chan: ME: I was wondering where you disappeared to. What happened? Glad you like this story and update Beyblade College! *glares at asa-chan threateningly*

ME: *shudders* Remind me never to kill a character off.

CS: I told you not to do it, but nooooo..you needed plot advancement!!

ME: *sweatdrops* You're taking this a lot harder than I thought you would.

CS: I happen to like Tala you know. He was so nice at times.

Kai: Blasphemy!!!

Tyson: *drags Kai away* Let it go already!! He's dead, remember?

Kai: *blinks* Oh yeah.

DISCLAIMER:

ME: Who's doing it?

Dilandau (from Escaflowne): I guess I could do it.

ME: ^__^ Dilly-kun!!! You're sooooo sweet!! *hugs him HARD* Arigatou!!!

Dilandau: Whatever. Timmy does not own Beyblade. Could you let go of me, already? -__-

ME: *pouts* But I don't want to.

CS: *sighs and drags Timmy off Dilandau* See you Dilly.

ME: *sniffs* Parting is such sweet sorrow.

Chapter Seven

Changes in you and me

Kaleb stirred in his sleep. Groaning, he got up. He rubbed his eyes to remove traces of sleepiness. He saw a lone figure at the campfire, the shape outlined in moonlight.

".Alia?" He said groggily. Alia said nothing. Now Kaleb was worried. It wasn't like Alia to just.sit there. He scrambled towards her.

"Alia?" He asked again. Alia flinched at his voice. He raised his hand to her cheek. It was soft and damp.

"He's gone."

Kaleb, without realizing, knew who she was talking about, "Tala?" He said hesitatingly.

Alia said nothing. It's as if she retreated to the shadows of her mind.

"Alia, please say something," He said pleadingly.

Fire-Born never pleaded, but he was desperate. He wanted the Alia he knew, the one who would tease him for tripping, the one who would backhand him, the one who would without saying out loud how much she cared for him.

 He wanted the Alia he fell in love with.

Suddenly she got up, sheathing her katana, "It will be dawn soon. If we are to make good time, we should leave now."

Without looking back, she left.

Kaleb turned to darkness.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Tyson felt hands run down his face. Something trickled down his throat. It was hot and it soothed his sore throat. He opened his eyes blearily. Kai was bending down, his stern face a picture of agony.

".Kai?" Tyson said, his eyes swirling.

"Sh.Ty-Koi. Get your rest."

Tyson was tired of resting. He wanted to wake up, he wanted to see Kai again and ask him why he was so worried. He wanted to smell the reassuring scent of coal and embers.

But the demands of the body were stronger than the whims of the mind. Slowly his head dropped and he fell asleep again. But more peacefully. He knew Kai was watching over him. He knew he was safe.

Kai slowly got up. He had managed to reduce the fever, but there was a limit on how much he could do. Tyson needed proper medical help. He had heated some water he had found in a stream, but he couldn't keep the fever at bay forever.

He ran his hands through Tyson's midnight hair, smirking softly to himself.

At least no matter what happens, they will be together.

Not Sora or the Overlord was ever going to change that.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

(This scene is dedicated to Silvery Kitsune. MaRe just for you!)

Alia and Kaleb were silent throughout the trip. Allison noticed, but didn't say anything. She automatically thought it was a lover's spat.

Suddenly, something dropped from the tree. Jason stayed his hand and resisted the impulse to throw his daggers. Alia showed some emotion on her face (at last) and Kaleb growled dangerously. Allison's eyes widened.

"Kon!!"

Ray dusted some dirt off his dark blue pants, "I have a name Allison, do use it."

Something else dropped from the tree and fell.

It had a very *soft* landing.

Considering it fell on top of Ray.

"OUCH!! Max, I told you to wait until I tell you to drop down!"

"And I told you if you took too long about it, I'd drop down myself. You know I don't like heights!!"

The couples (AllisonxJason, AliaxKaleb) stared as Ray and Max struggled to untangle themselves, Ray swearing as his ponytail was entwined around Max's waist and Max was currently trying not to stand on top of Ray.

They couldn't resist. And if we saw it, I doubt we could either. ^____^

Allison and Jason burst out laughing, Alia chuckled silently and Kaleb had to lean against a tree to prevent himself from collapsing with a fit of hysterics. Ray and Max glared at them.

Finally after they had disentangled Max and Ray and got their bouts of humor under control, they turned to the important stuff.

Alia conjured up some ice for Ray's back and Max sat next to Jason, chatting happily. Groaning and wincing in pain, Ray settled next to Max, "I'm glad we're pretty much together. So what's the P.O.A [1]?"

Everyone drew a blank, "P.O.A?"

Ray rolled his eyes, "Plan Of Action, you dolts."

Alia growled, "Say that to my face Kon and I'll make sure I cut down all of your nine lives!"

Ray stood up, his eyes flashing with anger. However, Kaleb and Max had other ideas. Before Alia and Ray could leap at each other's throats, Kaleb dragged Alia away and Max pulled Ray down, forcing him to sit.

Allison rolled his eyes, "Chibis, please calm down and grow up. Anyway, we're heading towards Gailen and warning the Elder about Calyph and his twisted gangs of scrap metal."

"They'll kill us before we reach ten feet of Myros," Jason said, chewing on his rat braid thoughtfully.

Allison's cloudy blue eyes grinned, "But there's another thing we can do. Remember the Beacons?"

Alia rolled her eyes in annoyance, "How could we not know? It was the only thing drilled into us in History," She adopted a strict weasel like tone of voice, "Never ever ever use the Beacons for they are the symbol of those despicable peace-mongers who groveled for their food."

"At least you got one part right," Allison said dryly, "Do you know what the Beacons can do."

They shook their heads. But Kaleb remained thoughtful.

"I think it can relay messages at the focal points of all clans," He said finally, "In emergency of invaders, we could use it to call for help. But that was before the Splitting of the Elements [2]. Now they are decadent and unused."

Allison nodded, "Someone who knows the truth. Good. If we can get to the Beacon."

Max jumped to his feet, "We can warn everyone and tell them about Calyph and his goons!!! Allison you're a genius!!"

"Of course."

Alia frowned, "Forgive me for being the bearer of bad news, but weren't the Beacons guarded? By the.what did you call them again?"

Jason's face was dark, "Hikoris [3]. The Beacon Guardians."

Allison noticed the expression, "You know of them?"

Jason shot her a look she didn't want to interpret, "Know them? Of course. Accidentally we ran into it. We were out of bounds."

There was an ominous silence after that.

"What happened?" Alia asked softly. The fire flickered, throwing shadows over his face, "I was the only one who made it out alive."

"Lovely," Kaleb muttered, his brows knitted together, "One side; Death by Brethren, other side; Death by Hikoris. Can the odds get any better?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When Tyson woke up, the first thing he felt was the sun on his eyes. He stirred and propped himself up. He rubbed his eyes and blinked. He could have sworn he saw ice.

But it's summer. How could ice be there?

"Trust me; I'm as confused as you are."

 Tyson jumped and relaxed when he saw Kai, "Must you do that?" He complained.

Kai flashed him a grin. Something you don't see very often, "Glad to see you're conscious. How are you feeling?" He said, bending over Tyson.

"Fine I guess. I feel a little woozy, that's all."

Kai let out a silent sigh of relief. He had been worried sick about Tyson (not that he would ever admit it. Chris would tease him to death and the afterlife as well)

Tyson got up to his feet, "Why is there snow? Unless I slept through autumn, I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be summer."

"I don't know. The weather has been crazy ever since.," Kai's voice trailed off, his garnet eyes widening, "Until we left Speres."

Tyson shivered and he was sure it wasn't from the cold, "How was the incident in Speres influencing the weather?"

"I don't have the answers Tyson." His eyes narrowed, "But I know someone who does."

"Calyph," Tyson said.

Kai nodded, "I think he has been planning this for a long time."

"We have to reach Gailen. I know Dragoon, he'll help us!!"

Kai was silent. Snow began to fall and the corners of the sky were covered in a grey haze.

Tyson watched the snow fall. A small smile formed.

He giggled as he tried to taste the snowflakes on his tongue.

Kai look amused. Tyson giggled again, as the snowflakes tickled his nose, "Try it Kai!"

Kai shook his head. Tyson pouted and then smiled evilly.

"Oh Ka-ai!"

Kai turned to find himself toppling over, his face covered with snow. Tyson snickered.

Kai scowled and gathered some snow and flung it at Tyson who dodged it with ease. Laughing, Tyson dodged the snowballs. He lost his balance and tripped. Kai grabbed his wrists and pinned him to the ground.

"Gotcha!" Kai grinned uncharacteristically.

Suddenly, Tyson went all quiet.

"Gotcha!"

"No! Leave me alone!"

"Come on, unless you want something to happen to Kai."

"Leave him!" There was soft sobbing in the din background, "I'll come, I'll come."

"Good."

"Kai?"

"Hn."

"What happened to Tala? I remember."

Kai got and helped Tyson on his feet, not meeting the grey pools of starlight.

"You have to tell me Kai. I deserve that much."

Kai took in a shuddering breath, "Eh neruterd morf enwhec eh meca"

He returned from whence he came.[4]

Tyson's eyes went wide.

"No." He whimpered.

"Tyson, I had to."

"NO! No you didn't. Don't you dare say you did it for me! You did for your pride, your hate for him! Don't lie to me Kai. You did it for you. Not me."

"Tyson, he took you away from me!"

"I'm not something you can trade and give away any time you want! I am not your possession! If you want this to work," He shook violently. The cold was getting worse and Tyson felt woozy, "Then you learn or I leave."

"Tyson."

He knew it. He knew the answer before Kai opened his mouth. He was nothing more than a bag of goods.

Kai would not change for him.

He choked back a sob and spun on his heel, running as fast as he can into the forest.

"Tyson!"

The grey mists swallowed his voice

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ray curled himself near the fire. They were tired, discussing what they were going to do when they reached the Citadel. In the end, it was unresolved and they just collapsed onto the ground in exhaustion. His ears perked up. He could hear slight sobbing.

"Max? Izzat you?" Ray said groggily, sitting.

The sobbing stilled for a moment, ".Ray?"

"Who else would it be?" Ray replied caustically. Max managed a small smile.

"Why aren't you asleep?" Max asked meekly. Ray rubbed his golden orbs, "You woke me up and I wasn't getting much sleep anyway."

"Oh." Max said as if that summed up the situation.

"Why were you crying?" Ray asked quietly. Max shuffled, apparently embarrassed.

"I'm worried. I wake up everyday wondering whether I'll see my last sunset." Max said, his cerulean eyes misting over, "Or my next sunrise."

Ray blinked at this statement from Max. The blonde always seemed so happy and cheerful. Now, he's depressed and lonely. Ray sighed and approached Max.

"Max," Ray hesitated, "Sometimes it's hard to say when it ends. But, it never really does," Max was confused, "I heard someone say to me once, 'Death is merely the beginning'. We don't stop. We go on. Our lives are only one part of the journey. Sora knows, we pass under her gaze and are judged worthy."

"Worthy of what, Ray?" Max questioned.

"Worthy of joining Sora and watching over all we love. Worthy of being," He points to the twinkling gems of the sky, "Stars."

Max's eyes smiled in awe, "I want to be a star. But only if you're with me."

Ray chuckled at Max's optimism and drew him closer, his gaze ever on the heavenly bodies above, "I came this far with you. I'm not planning on letting go now."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

*So glad to see you well*
*Overcome and completely silent now*

Tyson ran, heedless of the branches protruding out of the trees and stinging his face.

How could he have been so stupid? To fall in love.

And not realize that the feelings returned were not the same.

 

*With heaven's help*
*You cast your demons out*

He could feel the hot sticky tears trailing down his cheeks. He furiously wiped them off.

How could he have been so weak? Didn't Myros tell him again and again?

'The ones who are not us will always seek to break us. You cannot trust what aren't like you.'

It was one of the first lessons they received. To stay away what you didn't know.

How could have forgotten something they drilled into him since he was a child?

*And not to pull your halo down*
*Around your neck and tug you off your cloud*

He believed him. That's why he messed. He looked into those garnet eyes.

And he believed. He believed that they could be together. He believed that the fighting would end and they could finally live their lives again.

*But I'm more than just a little curious*
*How you're planning to go about*
*Making your amends to the dead*
*To the dead*

Tala was gone. Tyson remembered how lost, how lonely he seemed when he met him.

He wanted to help him. He thought there was a chance Tala would shed his lonely cacoon and finally learn to fly. Tala had been badly scarred by this.hatred that had spread over them. He just wanted to live.

Was that too much to ask?

*Recall the deeds as if*
*They're all someone else's*

"Tyson!"

Kai ran headlong the path. The grey mist clouded around him and Kai felt like an icy presence settle over his shoulders.

He couldn't lose Tyson. He couldn't imagine life without Tyson.

He didn't want to imagine life without Tyson.

This grey mist.

It reminded him of his battle with Tala. Kai felt a heavy sense of guilt envelope him.

Kai loves Tyson. So had Tala.

Was that enough to merit death?

*Atrocious stories*
*Now you stand reborn before us all*
*So glad to see you well*

Kai couldn't stop. His muscles were aching and Kai felt like he was on the verge of exhaustion. But he kept at it.

Because he still hadn't caught up with Tyson.

He heard a shrill cry in the grey depths of the woods. With his heart beating against his rib-cage, he increased his pace.

Don't let me lose him.

Even if he hates me.

Even if he never wants to see me again.

Don't let me lose him.

*And not to pull your halo down*
*Around your neck and tug you to the ground*

Tyson clutched his ankle. Grimacing, he silently berated himself for being such a klutz. He should watch where he was going.

He heard a rustle and a wolf emerged from the silver mists, baring its teeth. Tyson turned pale.

Oh, he was in trouble now.

*But I'm more than just a little curious*
*How you're planning to go about*
*Making your amends to the dead*
*To the dead*

He could hear growling. It was a wolf and he was circling Tyson. Tyson was deathly pale and was clutching his leg in a manner that suggested that he had sprained it.

That means he can't fight back.

*With your halo slipping down*
*Your halo slipping*

Tyson watched the wolf out of the corner of his eye. It had shaggy brown in color with dewdrops glistening on its fur. Saliva coated its teeth and its breath was rotted.

Then it leapt in for the kill. To meet the flat of Kai's scimitar.

Kai threw it onto the ground, his eyes pulsating with hidden embers.

"Stay away from him," Kai grated out as he prepared himself for the second attack.

*Your halo slipping down*
*Your halo slipping down*

The wolf was not put off. Not when the smell of soft human flesh was so nearby. Its golden pupils narrowed at Kai and it circled him. Tyson watched apprehensively.

Then it lunged at Kai. Kai brought his scimitar to block the teeth, but the wolf's claws dug into his shoulder. Tyson cried out in alarm, "Kai!"

Kai snarled and drove his scimitar through the wolf's stomach. The wolf went limp and collapsed on the snow. Red stained white.

Tyson whimpered as he approached Kai, still holding onto his leg, "Kai?"

Kai gritted his teeth as he placed an arm on his shoulder. He was tiring.

But Tyson.

"Tyson," He choked before unconsciousness took him, "I'm ready for change. But it's too late isn't it?" He said, chuckling harshly. Tyson cupped Kai's face, his tears mingling with Kai's blood, "It's never too late."

Kai's body went limp.

"KAI!"

*Your halo slipping down to choke you now*

ME: MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! CLIFFIE!!!!!!!!

CS: -__-; How could you be so evil? First you kill off Heidi then you leave a cliffhanger.

ME: I know I'm evil CS. That's why I had the whole, I'm-so-evil-so-fear-me-and-no-I'm-not-psychotic laugh.

CS: Oh.

ME: Reviewers receive-

CS: MaRa plushies with glowing eyes.

ME: o0; Glowing eyes?

CS: Don't ask me what they're for.

ME: Ah. Okay.

CS: They can be used as substitute torch lights though! *uses her Ray plushie* Review!

[1] My Dad and a couple of his friends invented this. I couldn't resist using it! ^_~

[2] The Splitting of the Elements is when the tribes separated from each other.

[3] Hikori is a made up word by moi and NO! It's not Japanese. (At least I think it isn't)

[4] Observe this sentence carefully and see if you figure out how I made up that new language! A pack of gum for anyone who's smart enough to figure it out!