Chapter 8

parry: Thank you for the wonderful reviews! I knew most of you would've been for Mac/Kaori! Fun to see that there are strong Psymon/Kaori fans out there, though! ^_^ Thanks for the reviews! I'm so happy, this is the ninth chapter and yet we've hit a grand total of FIFTY reviews! *hugs all reviewers* You guys really know how to make a girl happy! Well, been going through some tough times lately—

Psymon: Her boyfriend broke up with her and is now dating her best friend.

parry: *sob sob sob sob sob*

Moby: Yeh, and now Valentine's commin' up and she ain't got no love...

Parry: *sobbing even louder*

Moby: Yeh, and her best friend is getting chocolate from 'im—

parry: *screams in horror*

Moby: Yep...no chocolate, no teddy bear, no love...

parry: *glares at Moby* Thanks for being so very understanding, Moby! *sobs some more*

Psymon: No chocolate for you!! ^_^

parry: *now sobbing uncontrollably*

Kaori: I guess this is why she is writing a really dramatic love story...?

Mac: Unfortunately...I mean, DAMN, I'm ALWAYS supposed to have Kaori! It's a FACT, JACK! What's Psymon doin' with mah main girl?

Psymon: Why you little piss off....

Griff: ANYWAY, here's your story that does not include me at all! *grumbles* -_-V

WARNING: SUPER SHORT CHAPTER COMING!!!!

Kaori opened one eye groggily.

Everything was blurry.... The wind stung her face as she narrowed her eyes to slowly adjust to the darkened sky.

There was a figure out in the distance; there was someone standing above a cliff, his face glued to hers.

"...Mac?" Kaori whispered.

It was indeed Mac. He was standing over a cliff, his face brought down with sadness. He was wearing his beanie, and his usual goggles were still strapped on. He was frowning slightly, with his snowboard strapped over his boots. Kaori's eyes widened at the sight of Mac and his gaze. It made her feel...so...guilty...

"Mac..." Kaori murmured as she reached out for him. Suddenly, Mac threw himself over the cliff, soaring. Kaori screamed in horror as she quickly ran through the snow, her feet sinking into the depths of the cold, white sea. "Psymon-san!?"

Psymon was standing where Mac had once been, except now he was grinning cruelly. It was the usual grin that he had as he shoved down a fellow competitor, the grin he wore before his feelings for Kaori had surfaced.

Kaori pushed herself forward to him, but the snow was slowly swallowing her, engulfing her in its coldness. Kaori screamed out for Psymon, tried to grab him, but his smile only widened and his laugh echoed into the night. Kaori was slowly slipping into the snow. She was watching Psymon in terror as the snow proceeded to swallow her legs...her hips now...she was slowly slipping away.

"Psymon!!"

Her hand was flailing effortlessly around, searching for something to grab.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed her. Groaning, Kaori pushed herself up and looked up into the face of her rescuer.

Kaori let out a small gasp.

* * *

Mac watched in silence as Kaori's eyes snapped open. She stared at Psymon in horror, as if he had something unusual about him. Mac felt a small ray of hope. A small little downcast ray of hope in his heart that she would...

"PSYMON!?" Kaori screamed and pushed herself away.

Psymon immediately let go of her as she scrambled to get away. His eyes widened in shock at her behavior as she continued to scream.

"Kaori?" He asked, a little taken aback, "Kaori is something wrong?"

Kaori cast a fleeting glance at Psymon, then down at the snow. "Onegai!! Onegai!! Help me!!"

Mac's jaw dropped. Could it be...? Perhaps Kaori had...?

Kaori didn't even dare look at Psymon in the eye. Psymon, bewildered, did nothing but watch her. "Kaori...?"

"Where is Mackie!? He was here!" Kaori said frantically, "He rescued me! He saved me from the snow! He was here!" She said again, more anxiously this time.

Mac stiffened. Had she seen him? What...had just happened?

Psymon slowly got up and approached her slowly.

"NO!" Kaori screamed, "You didn't help me! You—didn't—help—me!"

Mac suddenly made up his mind and chose that time to jump out and grab Psymon roughly and plow him into the snow.

"Stay away from her!" he snarled.

* * *

Brodi froze.

"Bro?" Elise asked quietly, "Brodi? Are you okay?"

Brodi ignored her and instead focused his attention to the left.

"Brodi? Answer me!! What's up?"
"It's...something I heard..." Brodi said quietly, still staring off in the distance. "I thought...I heard Mac..."

"Where?" Elise asked immediately, "Where? Let's go! Something could be wrong!"
"Elise," Brodi said, "Something's been wrong ever since Mac left Kaori..."

* * *

"Edster? What's up?"
"My phone's ringing,"

"Who is it?" Zoe asked, coming up from behind him.

Eddie looked at Zoe and then his phone. He answered the phone quickly and muttered a "Hey Elise,"

"Answers my question, I guess..." Zoe shrugged.

"Yeah..." Eddie said quickly, "Uh-huh...no, I didn't hear anything...why? Something up? ...No, no, hold on, talk to Zoe, man," Eddie handed the phone over to Zoe, shaking his head in disgust.

Zoe sighed impatiently, "Elise? Is that you?"

* * *

"Yeah, who else?" Elise said impatiently, "Look, Brodi and I heard something coming from the middle course of the track, can you meet us there and check it out with us?"

Brodi frowned when Elise hung up and smiled brightly.

"Don't look like that," Elise said quickly, "You look like everything's crashed."

"Elise, everything has crashed,"

"What's with the doomy gloomy act, huh?" Elise asked, "I mean, c'mon, it's all cool,"

"I heard Kaori scream, Elise. I don't think that qualifies as cool,"

Elise sighed and pushed off with Brodi right behind.

* * *

"You stay away from her!" Mac growled, leaning over Psymon.

"Mac!" Kaori gasped and ran towards him, embracing him. Mac immediately forgot about Psymon and buried his face in the crook of Kaori's shoulder and neck, remembering her.

"Kaori..." he whispered as he kissed her forehead, "I missed you..."

"This is some fuckin' nightmare," Psymon groaned as he pushed himself up.

Mac suddenly let go of Kaori and advanced onto Psymon. "You lied to me," he said darkly, "You lied to me...you said she told you she loved you..."

Psymon's eyes glinted dangerously, "She did. Ask her."

Kaori let out a small squeak and exchanged looks with Psymon.

"What the fuck is this, Kaori?" Psymon muttered, "What is this? Nothing? This was nothing? What about the I love you...?"

Mac glanced at Kaori and back at Psymon. "You shut the hell up, Stark. Rahzel will have your ass banned for this,"

"For what!? Falling in fucking love!?" Psymon shouted, his echo traveling across the course.

Kaori gasped. "You—"

"Bullshit, Stark! You used her! You told me you used her!" Mac retaliated, glaring at him.

"I lied," Psymon said quietly at he approached Mac slowly, "I lied, Fraser."

"Bullshit!" Mac said again, backing up as Psymon continued to advance upon him.

"I never used her. When I found out you were back, what in sweet Mary's name do you think I would have done? Cut all fucking ties with her, that's what. Ever think that maybe Kaori really loved me?"
"You're lying," Mac said immediately, "She never said that! If she had, she wouldn't have pushed you away just now!"

"Ask her," Psymon said quietly, narrowing his eyes.

"...Kaori?"
Kaori glanced at Psymon and then Mac, unsure of what she should say.

* * *

"Atomika, we need to get out there now," Rahzel said crossly as Atomika rummaged through his suitcase, "Did you not bother to unpack!?"

"I know, I know, I'm coming," Atomika snapped irritably, "What's the big deal?"
"My boarders are gone, that's THE BIG DEAL." Rahzel said through gritted teeth. This guy was becoming annoying...

"You're boarders are missing? You mean the SSX stars?"

Rahzel nodded as he tried to restrain his anger. "Yes, you imbecile,"

"Oh shit!" Atomika exclaimed as he quickly put on his sunglasses, "We better get going, Razz!!"

With that, Atomika flew out the door with an angry Rahzel on his heels.

(Psymon...this is your doing...I've put up with you enough, Stark...) Rahzel thought heatedly, (This time, I'm not screwing around...I'll make the committee understand that you need to be locked away...)