Anim3-anj3l: Zeo? Must be someone in G-rev right? I believe I've heard that name... We still don't have V-force in Sweden so I feel so left behind -- Laynie and Tala? Hm... I'm not sure. Could be, could not be :)
Surfergurl16: I'm not sure if Toni and Tyson's gonna be a couple at all (Don't hit me Breakfast!) I like to see them more as the best of friends...
Lil Tanuki: Lol, everyone has a thing for Tala! I mean, who couldn't? He's just so cool, and the fact that he's a bad guy doesn't make it worse. Hehe.
Sleepy-zzz: Kai getting jealous of Tala is a great thing! I'll consider it seriously!
Endlessdeviltry: I'll try to update faster!
DontHaveOne: oh... I know nothing about skateboarding! Wish I did though, cause I LOVE watching it at Extremesport! If I knew anything, I would definitely use it in the fic!
Mystique Rain: Lol, I'm, having some problems imagine Tala as a matchmaker I'll change Mariah's last name, thanks for telling me! And I'll try to remember when it's sarcastic and ironic ;;
She Devil 2004: Kai and Laynie will get back together. But not yet. I wanna torture them a little longer. Hehe.
bs3ssi0n: Yes, more time do means quicker updates! Well, it depends on if another writer's block is gonna hit me again. But we pray that it'll not! I'm not sure if Harry Potter has been released in Sweden yet, but I'm definitely gonna see it!
Sacred Phoenix: Yeah, Tala is one of my favorites too! He's not as hot as Kai, but he's damn close!
YamikaiemiBlackAngelMaritamai: I'm glad you liked Loving the Phoenix! After all, it was my first fic and I'm kinda surprised that so many liked it.
Nise-anjel: Good that you didn't find it short! But I'm gonna try to make them longer. I guess you and bs3ssi0n saw Harry Potter together ;)
Emeraldeyes90: Thanks! I'll try to update again asap!
Emma-chan: Wow, awesome job if you finished reading both fics in just ONE day. Credit to you! Yeah, my English has gotten a lot better! I did some terrible mistakes in the beginning bit they're edited now. Hehe. Of course I can review your fic! Lol, it's not many people at all who wants me to do it, I guess my opinion does count that much, huh? But I'll gladly do it for anyone interested.
Kelly (beddy): Lol, when the time is around midnight, I'm usually awake and writing on my next chapter. I find it a lot easier to write during night somehow. But, I am a night-owl…
Tru-Lone-Wolf: Blood and action? Yeah, bring it on! Hehe
sammy: Yeah, I did! Surprised? LOL
Chikaitou-411: I'm so sorry for the shortness!
Strawberrylover: I'm so glad you liked it! There will be more battles (too bad I suck at writing them) A battle between Laynie and Tala? That would definitely be one good battle!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of Beyblade's characters. I also do not own Toni LaVelle, who belongs to Breakfast. I also do not own the lyrics by Britney Spears. I do own Laynie and her bitbeast.
Chapter Three: No More- "You better start focusing, Tyson or I'll take you down in seconds!" Laynie scowled as she watched her blade circle around Tyson's Dragoon. It was obvious that Tyson had his thoughts at other things than beyblading.
- "I AM FOCUSING!" Tyson shouted back, and Laynie could see how he straightened up and concentrated better.
- "Drizzler! Attack!"
---------------
Kai watched Laynie and Tyson battle. As Laynie had said, Tyson didn't focus enough, but she herself impressed Kai more than he even wanted to admit. Before the summer, Laynie's defense had had some lacks, but it seemed like she'd improved almost everything and to Kai, she was probably at the level as him or at least close.
[She better be ready for some serious beyblading though… After what I've heard, the Black Cats is helping Biovolt to collect different bitbeasts and if she wanna keep hers, she better be good.] Kai though as he let his gaze rest on his former girlfriend. He missed her. He missed her a lot. But he was gonna have her back. Even if it meant fight back all the pride he possessed and take everything back.
[But how do you fight back who you are?] He couldn't help but wonder. It felt kinda useless to even try. Also, didn't Laynie once say that she loved him because of who he was?
Kai wasn't sure.
-------------------
- "Yo, Hiwatari!"
Kai turned around when he heard someone call his name. It was Tala.
- "Valkov. What are you doing here? Spying?"
Tala chuckled. He had already finished his team's practice but it didn't look like Kai was gonna end his team's any soon…
- "Are you trying to train them into death?" He said jokingly.
- "Hn." Was Kai's only reply and Tala shook his head.
- "Wow, you really know how to live up to your reputation." Tala muttered and Kai coked an eyebrow.
- "And what do you mean with that?"
Tala smiled. "Think about that, blue. I didn't come to play twenty questions with you. I came for a beybattle. Are you in?"
- "You bet."
---------------
Laynie smiled in satisfaction as she saw Tyson's blade fly out of the dish as a result from Drizzler's violent attack from behind.
- "Sorry, Tyson. But it seems like you've lost. Once again." Laynie said and caught her red blade in the hand.
- "Pah, you were lucky." Tyson replied and picked up his blade from the ground. "I let you win."
Laynie held back a snort. "You wish…" She muttered under her breath.
An image.
Laynie gasped as an imagine came up in her mind. A black Phoenix cried out in pain before it started falling into the nothingness that was below it. Laynie wanted to help. And she knew the ancient bird wanted her to do it too. But she couldn't. It was too late.
Suddenly, Laynie felt herself fall down into the black nothing. Right after the Phoenix. What was happening?
- "Laynie? Are you alright?"
Laynie held back a groan as someone shook her. She opened one eye and stared into Tala's amazing aqua orbs.
- "Laynie, what the hell happened? You just fell to the floor!" It was Toni's voice and Laynie registered how worried she sounded.
- "I'm… I'm ok." Laynie said and tried to clear her head. It felt like her brain was covered in cotton, making it impossible to think. What was it she had seen? A bitbeast?
Black Dranzer.
Suddenly it struck her. The black Phoenix was nothing less than the evil bitbeast, which had almost taken over Kai the last year in the Biovolt Stadium. But this Phoenix she had seen wasn't the same one. It couldn't be. There was nothing evil left in the bird's eye when she had gazed into the bottomless orbs of wisdom. Laynie could almost swear that it had been… innocence. Innocence and the cry for help.
- "Are you sure you're ok?" Tala gave her a suspicious look.
- "Yeah, I'm fine! Really!" Laynie forced herself to give him a bright smile. "Don't worry."
Tala didn't seem to be convinced but he chose to not argue and helped her back onto her feet again.
- "By the way, how did the battle end?"
- "I guess you can call it a tie. Or what do you say, Kai?" Tala jerked his head in his friend's direction.
- "Sure." Kai shrugged. It seemed like he didn't care at all what had happened to Laynie, but at the inside, he was more worried about her than everyone together. He just didn't dare to show it. And he hated that it was TALA who was the one to comfort her right now. Call it jealousy, but Kai couldn't help the pang of anger when he watched the two people he cared most for share a smile.
He needed her back quickly. Or else, he would go insane.
--------------
Tala sank down onto his bed and was just about to flop back and get some welcomed sleep when a demanding knock on the door was heard.
- "Tala Valkov is not here. Go away!" He shouted to the door, hoping that whoever it was would go away.
- "Nice one, Valkov." Kai's voice said. "Open the door, or I'll have Dranzer to do it for me."
Tala sighed. He knew it wasn't an empty threat from Kai's side. He hadn't been hanging with that guy not to know that Kai always meant what he said.
- "You better have a good reason for coming this late, Hiwatari." Tala said when he had opened the door and let Kai in.
- "Is 'I need to gather ten people to be ready for Biovolt's attack" good enough?" Kai said and cocked an eyebrow. "Or maybe 'I've some bad news for you' is also accepted?"
Tala bit his bottom lip and sat down in the chair next to the desk. "Bad news huh?" He said and waited for Kai to continue.
- "It seems like Boris has escaped from the prison and the last location he had was Moscow, Russia." Kai said bitterly. "But I'm taking a wild guess on that his present location is right behind Voltaire's back."
- "Shit." Tala cursed. "He must be furious at me…"
- "Like I didn't piss Voltaire off? Stealing Dranzer and abandon my family?" Kai's voice was tired. "But, to be honest, I believe it's Laynie who really need to look out."
Tala nodded. If Kai and Tala had pissed their families off, Laynie had practically sealed her own death by abandon a family like the Kim's.
- "What about the ten bladers then?" Tala asked quietly.
- "I've talked to Mr. Dickenson and he wants me to gather the strongest bladers to be ready if Biovolt's planning an attack." Kai replied. "And, all of the bladers have to be at least sixteen years old. That means that you and I are in. So is Laynie. That makes us three."
- "Ray Kon? And his girl?" Tala added and waited for Kai to confirm.
Kai nodded. "Five. Lee is definitely in. So is Robert Jagen. Seven. Emily and Michel from the All-Stars. Nine. "
- "I don't know what you think, Tala, but I believe it's best to keep the rest of the Demolition Boyz out of this. But that's for you as the captain to decide."
- "I agree." Tala nodded. "But that leaves us one blader short…"
- "Yeah, but after what I've heard, two new teams are gonna join when we reach Australia…"
- "What?" Tala frowned. More teams?
Kai gave him a questioning gaze. "That was what Mr. Dickenson said earlier. But wasn't that kinda obvious anyway? I mean, who can run a high school with only six teams?"
- "I guess you're right…" Tala replied, but Kai could see that he wasn't thrilled about it. If Kai was reserved to new people, Tala was ten times worse. It was extremely hard to get his trust and if you betrayed it, you could be sure that whatever relationship you had with him was OVER.
Kai crossed his arms and become silent.
- "So…" Tala began.
- "Yeah, you're right. But now you know, so I guess I better go back to Ray…" Kai got on his feet and walked across the room to the door. Tala didn't follow.
- "See you tomorrow then, Hiwatari. Remember we still have a beybattle to blade." Tala smirked as he said the last part.
- "Yeah, but there isn't really a need for one right? Isn't it already proved that I'm the best blader if us?" Kai said jokingly and grinned.
Tala snorted. "You wish!" He laughed just before Kai shut the door.
--------------
Laynie just couldn't get the black Phoenix out of her mind. Together with Kai, it had given her a throbbing headache and all Laynie wanted was one nights good sleep. But there was only one little problem, it seemed like she suffered from a great, temporally fortunately, insomnia.
- "Fuck everything…" She groaned and rolled over to sleep on her back instead.
- "Did you something, Laynie?" Mariah said as she tried to muffle a yawn.
- "Nothing." Laynie snapped. She didn't want to discuss either the Kai-problem or Black Dranzer with Mariah. No, that was something she wanted to keep for herself. Maybe she would tell Tala.
Suddenly, Laynie shot her eyes open. The realization of what Kai really had done when he broke up with her slowly started to rip her heart in small, small pieces.
Yeah, it had hurt her badly when he had broken up with her but this was around a hundred times worse.
NO MORE
Laynie didn't know what she had thought earlier but now it really came to a clear what it meant. There wasn't the two of them anymore. No more. There would me no more kisses with Kai. No hugs. No comfort. NO MORE.
A thumping pain in her chest almost made it impossible for Laynie to breathe. Was this how it felt to be really heartbroken? Whatever it was, Laynie didn't want to feel this way. She wanted to be free from the curse Kai had placed on her. First, she had thought the love Kai gave her was a gift, but now she understood that it was more like a curse.
Now she really was dependent.
[Look at me!] She thought. [I am so weak. Can barely breathe on my own. All because of Kai.]
But it was too late to do anything about it. She was caught and she would stay that way until someone new came along. Or, even better, a miracle would happen, and Kai would take everything back.
But wait a minute? Had she lost all of her pride?
No, she hadn't. But she was close to desperation and all she wanted was to feel his love once again and just… just be.
But, would that ever happen? Or was she destined to be like this for the rest of her life?
Laynie doubted. The bond she and Kai had had was something rare and so special that no one else could replace him.
Ever time I try to fly I fall without my wingsI feel so small
I guess I need you babyA lonely tear slowly rolled down Laynie's cheek. No more had such a definite meaning. She didn't want it to be like that.
And everytime I see you in my dreams
I see your face
You're haunting me
I guess I need you baby
Laynie knew she always had said she was never gonna be dependent on someone. But she was. She needed him. And she couldn't deny it any longer.
There was just one little problem.
She still had her pride and hell if she was gonna BEG him to take her back. Then it was worth the pain.
-----------------------
I may have made it rain
Please, forgive me
My weakness cost you pain
Kai knew Laynie was hurt and it was eating him alive to know that HE was the reason. He caused her pain and that was not exactly the effect he wanted to have on her…
Pride was his greatest weakness. Definitely. Earlier, he had thought it was one of his strongest sides, but now, it only seemed to make his life harder. But, it was a part of him and he had to live with it and not let it get the best of him.
-----------------------
- "Soccer! I really like soccer!" Max exclaimed as he saw what they were gonna do this P.E class.
- "Yeah! You and me in the same team! We're gonna kick major butt!" Tyson punched the air and grinned at his blonde friend.
The two of them clapped their hands together in a high-five when Toni interrupted.
- "What about me then?" She said and gave them a blaming gaze. "You think I can't play football or what?"
Tyson exchanged a quick glance with Max before turning to Toni with a forced smile placed onto his lips.
- "Um… Yeah, you're probably good, Toni. It's not that… but… You know… You're a…"
- "If you say GIRL, then I can't be responsible for my actions…" Toni snarled as she gave him a threatening gaze.
Tyson gulped. "I… I was gonna say…" He was thinking so much of something to use as an excuse that his ears almost started to let out steam.
- "Yeah, Ty. What was you gonna say?" Laynie said, standing next to Toni with Mariah on her other side.
Tyson looked like he was under heavy pressure. He didn't feel the anger from three girls TOO tempting at all.
- "I was gonna say that she's British!" Tyson exclaimed as he gave them a triumphant grin. It seemed like he was gonna tangle himself out of this pretty easily though.
Laynie gave him a mocking look through her emerald eyes. "Pah. Good one, Tyson. You do understand that I don't believe for you a second."
Tyson started to nod but when Max elbowed him to remind him of his mistake, he started shaking his head violently. Mariah gave him a funny look, which something mixed with amusement and disgust.
- "You're so pathetic, Tyson…" She said and shook her head at the younger teen.
- "Okay, may I please have some silence then?" The P.E teacher, Jonathan Edwards, said with loud voice and waited for his students to calm down enough for him to be heard.
- "Welcome to our first Physical Education lesson. My name is Mr. Jonathan Edwards, and I'll prefer if you call me Mr. Edwards." He paused to shot a stern look at Tyson who whispered with Toni. Tyson gave him a sheepishly smile and become silent he too. "As you all can see, soccer is what we're gonna do today and I hope all of you will participle. I'll try to make two equal teams, but since I don't know any of your individual skills, I want you to do some random exercises before we start the match. Everyone, grab a ball and start dribble around the room."
Laynie caught a ball Ray had tossed to her and placed it in front of her feet. She had been a pretty good soccer player back in China. In the village she had lived in, the girls never played soccer so she had played with the boys. And playing with boys is a lot different than playing with girls. It was tougher and more physical.
- "Hi, Pixie!" Tala winked at her and nudged her. Laynie gave him a half smile.
- "Why this happy all of a sudden?" She asked and tilted her head to the left. Tala cocked one eyebrow.
- "So when I say Hi to my friend, I'm being more happy than usually?" He said questionably and pretended to sound surprised.
- "Meh, you know what I mean." Laynie muttered back and started running with the ball. Tala caught up with her.
- "Ok, let's say I'm happy then. But then, why are you so low?"
Laynie frowned. It was tempting to let Tala in and tell him how she really felt. Maybe she needed it? Maybe she just saw it unclear, blinded by emotions? Before she could regret it, Laynie nodded her head in Kai's direction.
Tala followed where she had nodded with his gaze and wasn't too surprised to see who it was. He knew things weren't too good between them, but he wasn't sure of how to help.
- "Aha." Was everything he managed to say and Laynie gave him an odd gaze.
- "So 'Aha' is your only help?"
- "I'm so sorry, Laynie. Maybe this is a thing just between the two of you?" Tala suggested and Laynie shrugged.
- "Nah, it's okay. I guess –"
She was about to continue when Mr. Edward's whistler sounded.
- "Ok, that's enough. Now, I want you to pair up two and two and pass the ball to each other. Drop one ball of course."
Laynie and Tala paired up and started passing the ball back and forward. Tala was a good player, so Laynie and he didn't have any problems at all.
- "What was you gonna say?" Tala asked as he passed the ball back to Laynie. He gazed at her as she stopped the ball by placing the foot sole on the ball.
- "I was just gonna say that you was right. It IS something between Kai and me."
Tala smirked in a teasing way. "You see, I'm always right." He said and Laynie smiled at him. She kicked the ball back.
--------------------
Kai raised his head as he heard someone say his name. Ray followed his gaze and when he saw who it was he was looking at, he decided to let Kai be.
Kai frowned when he saw how Laynie smiled brightly at Tala. It was wrong of him, he knew it, but watching how well Tala and Laynie came along made him jealous. Sad but true.
[For God's sake, Kai! Get a grip!] Kai cursed under his breathe. [You don't own her. Not anymore at least…]
Hey, wait a second…
Kai corrected himself. He had never OWNED Laynie. She had always been free and independent. But Kai knew something for sure. She owned HIM.
His love at least.
§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§
Yup, chapter three done then. The update was late. I know, I know, but it was better than last time huh?
By the way, was it anyone more than me who liked the ending? Hehe, I LOVED it :D
Please, leave me a review, and if you wanna flame me as someone did, PLEASE have the guts to SIGN it.
Hugs, Emma