Insanely-hyperactive: Thanks, Bec! See ya at MSN!
Sacred Phoenix: I'm not sure if them getting trapped again is the smartest way. Nope, I already have plans for them :)
Strawberrylover: Thanks! I'll update a.s.a.p
Surfergurl16: Your fic is great! I can't believe people flame you for it! Don't put them down!
Tai-writer: Sorry for torturing you, but they'll get back together kinda soon
Dark Nadeshiko: THANKS! :D
Chikaitou-411: I know it was short! Sorry!
Kelly: Lol, hope you got the toilet in time :P Actually, I don't care about the flame. She/he was such a wimp.
Endlessdeviltry: I'm such a slow updater son it's okay for you to be a slow reviewer :P Hope your fieldtrip was fun!
YamikaiemiBlackAngelMaritamai: Thanks! I'll never stop! LOL
Crimsoncheeta: Hm, thanks. I know my spelling is bad but since I'm Swedish I believe it's a little ok for me :) But if I'm not wrong, isn't it spelled "offence"? :P
Nise-anjel: No problems. I'm glad you liked the chapter's length!
Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade or any of its characters. I also do not own Toni and her bitbeast, they both belong to Breakfast. I also do not own Playstation or Tekken. I do own Laynie and her bitbeast.
NOTE: This chapter is a little based upon Kerrie-chan's latest chapter of Never Sleep, Never Die, and Zadien's latest chapter of Love/Hate: How thin is the line? So, credits to them!
Chapter Four: The Good Old Days?- "Hey, look out!"
Laynie was just about to turn her head when something hit her in the head. She struggled to keep her balance. Tala quickly grabbed her arm and steadied her.
- "What the hell was that!?" Laynie shouted and searched the room for someone who looked guilty. And her gaze fell on Tyson.
He discovered how she was watching him and tried to give her a, what he hoped, innocent smile. "What?" He shouted back.
- "Tyson, it's ok if you're bad at soccer, but PLEASE, don't let it out on innocent people." Laynie scowled. She placed two fingers on her cheek where the ball had hit her. It was a little sore and she would probably have a nice black eye tomorrow…
- "Are you ok?" Tala leaned closer to examine her cheek. Laynie pulled away.
- "I'm fine, Tala! Don't worry!" She said.
- "Yeah…," Tala said. "You always are… Never letting anyone help you. That's a weakness you know."
Laynie snorted. "Never letting anyone help me? Wow, Tala, you're really the one to tell ME."
Tala gave her a hurting gaze and Laynie knew she had pushed it too far this time. It was unfair of her and she shouldn't have said it.
- "Tala," she whispered but was interrupted.
- "At least I'm dealing with it. I'm not running away from who I am, Laynie. And someday, you'll stop doing that too." He said with quietly. And with that, he left Laynie.
[Fuck this!] She cursed and was tempted to give the goal next to her a major kick to get her anger out. But she suspected Mr. Edwards wouldn't agree kicking the goal would be the best way…
Why the hell couldn't she keep her mouth shut and DON'T say things that hurt other people? Frustration started to flow in her body as she kicked the ball with all force she had. She missed Lee with only an inch, before the ball was safely placed in the goal.
- "Very good shot there, Laynie." The teacher said and Laynie gave him a glare. Like he thought she was showing off or something!
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- "Can't keep your eyes off her, Hiwatari?"
Kai turned his head when he heard someone approach.
- "From who, Valkov?" Kai replied and tried to sound casually. Which he was everything but not. Watching Laynie was like someone stabbing him in the heart, and slowly turned the knife around. He wanted her so badly.
Tala sat down next to his friend. "Pixie, of course." He said and nodded in Laynie's direction. "I've noticed how often you watch her."
- "Then you must have noticed wrong." Kai said and shrugged. Tala sighed.
- "Honesty has never been you thing huh, Kai?" He said and sat down onto the bench next to Kai.
Kai didn't reply and Tala sensed that it wasn't a good thing to push Kai this night. It seemed like he was in a bad mood and Tala decided it was best for himself to let him be.
- "Tala," Kai began. "Why is it so damn hard to say 'I'm sorry'? It's only two words!"
- "I know." Tala sighed, but didn't continue.
Kai turned his head to the redhead. "Wow, what a great advice." He said dryly.
- "Sorry, Kai. But that's all I have to say."
Kai shrugged. It wasn't like it mattered anyway. He just couldn't get the phrase over his lips. And even if he managed to do it, who said Laynie would forgive him? Maybe he had burned every chance he had ever had by now? Kai just didn't want to think it was that way. He NEEDED her.
It was almost sickening how he allowed himself and his whole existence to rely so much on one person.
He felt like a mess. Different emotions were pulling him in different directions, and it felt like he could break down any minute. She completed him. Kai didn't know how Laynie was feeling right now, of course he wanted to her to be happy but somewhere, deep down, he wanted her to be as miserable as he was. That of all things must be a sign of how much they needed each other right?
But, Kai sitting here and making guesses wouldn't make her take him back. No, it took two small words if he even would take the first step.
- "Hey, are you ok?" Tala frowned as he saw how Kai's features darkened. "You zoned out."
Kai turned his head to Tala. He rubbed his eyes. "Yeah, I'm just tired I guess. I think I'll go back to the room." He rose from the bench and with a last gaze at Laynie, he said bye to Tala and left the deck.
Tala watched Kai disappear through the door. [You can't fool me Hiwatari.] He thought and turned his gaze to Laynie. He knew perfectly well that it was Laynie who was the problem. The two of them needed each other and it seemed like everyone but them knew it.
A breeze caught Tala's red strands of hair and made them swirl around his head. It was a warm breeze though. Tala sighed. Laynie was so sad and he could easily see it as she had her face turned to him, but without seeing him. Her gaze was trailing and her whole appearance told him how low she really was.
[Maybe I was being a little hard towards her during P.E…] Tala thought and ran his hand through his hair. It looked like she needed a friend and you couldn't exactly say he was one.
He walked forward to Laynie and copied her position by leaning his elbows onto the rail, which surrounded the big ship's deck. She didn't even turn her head, but Tala felt how she relaxed.
- "Why is everything going wrong for me Tala?" She suddenly said, still looking out over the water. "Why can't I be as happy as Mariah? Or Emily? Damnit Tala, it doesn't matter who you take as an example, everyone is happier than me."
Laynie hated how weak and childish she sounded, but it had always been Tala she had been able to be that way with. Tala, being older than her, had always protected her when they were younger and Laynie suspected he still did. He was like her older brother.
- "But what's making you happy then, Pixie?" Tala replied with low voice.
Laynie didn't know what to answer. She hadn't expect such a reply… What really made her happy?
Beyblading? Sure, but it wasn't something she could do 24/7.
She started to think back and searched her memory for times when she had been truly happy.
- "Kai." The answer was over her lips before she even had the chance to think it over. But it was true. Kai was what made her happy.
- "But why aren't you with him?"
Laynie gave him a pained look. "Because he doesn't want me." She whispered.
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Mariah smiled as she approached the door to Kai and Ray's room. It had only been a couple of hours since she last saw Ray, but he was like a drug, minus the bad effects though, and she just couldn't stay away from him. Whenever or wherever she was, something always pulled her in Ray's direction.
[I hope he doesn't think I'm smothering him… Maybe I'm being too much around him?] She suddenly realized that Ray might have started to get tired of her. After all, they saw each other every day, and maybe they needed to spend at least one or two hours apart? Mariah really didn't want them to have to break up for such a silly reason as being too much with each other. Of course, she didn't want them to break up at all, but if kept going as she did, maybe he would?
[I better ask him…] Mariah though. She had stopped in front of Kai and Ray's door, not knocking yet.
That was something she loved about Ray. She could always talk with him, and their relationship had always been built on their friendship and loyalty.
- "Isn't it anyone there?" A voice suddenly said and Mariah turned around, slightly blushing for being caught with standing outside someone's door without doing anything at all. It was Kai and Mariah relaxed a little.
- "Um… I'm not sure. I haven't knocked yet, I just arrived." Mariah lied and smiled. "Is Ray in there?"
Kai shrugged. "I don't know. Guess so." He opened the door and let Mariah in. Fortunately, Ray lay on his bed, sleeping, and Mariah smiled as she sat down next him. He lay with his left arm behind his neck and his breathing was steady. She caressed his cheek with her finger. His skin was so soft.
Ray slowly opened his eyes and blinked at her. Mariah gave him a smile.
- "Already sleeping?" She whispered.
Ray chuckled and sat up. "Yeah, I guess our practice worn me out." He joked and gave Kai a teasing gaze.
Kai didn't reply and Ray decided to let him be. It was no use talking to Kai when he was acting like he was now. He was probably pissed for some reason, or depressed. Ray would take a wild guess on the later though. Both Laynie and Kai made the other one sad and unhappy with their stupid pride.
- "Was it anything special you wanted?" He turned to Mariah instead and cocked an eyebrow. "Or maybe you just wanted to see me?" He smiled and winked at Mariah.
She laughed softly. "Someone's very secure of himself tonight." She joked back and gave him a playful push. But then she got a little more serious. "Actually, both."
- "Ok? Want to take it here or do you want us to go somewhere?"
- "Is outside ok with you?" Mariah asked after a quick glance in Kai's direction.
- "Yeah, sure."
Ray closed the door after saying good-bye to Kai. He smiled at Mariah and took her hand. They started walking through the corridor. No one said anything, They just enjoyed each other's presence. But then, Ray decided to break the silence.
- "What was it you wanted to talk about?" He asked and Mariah nodded.
- "We have been hanging around pretty much and I thought, maybe it has been a little too much…" She stopped to take a breath.
- "Do you want to break up?" Ray's voice was worried and filled with fear. "Is something wrong? Can I make it up to you? Have I done anything wrong?"
Mariah stopped his rambling by placing a fingertip over his lips. She tiptoed and gave him a soft kiss to calm him down.
- "How can you even think that, silly?" She said and shook her head. "I love you!"
- "I love you too, Mari. But you sounded just as you were going to break up! I was terrified." Ray smiled at his own stupidity. Of course Mariah wasn't going to break up. As she had said, what was he thinking?
He smiled. "Sorry for that. Please, continue."
Mariah hesitated. Her question felt so irrelevant now. Was it even worth asking? After all, Ray's reaction had already said everything… But if she didn't tell him, he would only keep asking what it was…
- "Am I smothering you?" She blurted out as fast as she could. She looked down onto the floor and waited for Ray's reply. He was still quiet and Mariah started to worry slightly. Maybe she was smothering him after all?
She was just about to say something when laugh flowed from Ray's chest. Two fingers lifted Mariah's chin up and her golden eyes met Ray's amber orbs. Ray's amused, amber orbs.
- "Who's silly now huh, Mari?" He said and his eyes practically sparkled in amusement. "I could NEVER get tired of you. Damnit, I want you here with me every second!"
Mariah wished she had something to say back to him. Something that showed that she loved him as much as he loved her. But she couldn't find the right words. Instead, she gave him a big smile before throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him.
- "I love you so much, Ray." She broke the kiss for just one second.
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- "Max, Kenny's on the line! Wanna talk to him?" Tyson waved with his left hand and Max caught a glimpse of a cell phone.
- "Sure!" Max shouted back and was almost hit by the phone in the head when Tyson tossed it to him. "Hey, are you trying to kill me?"
Tyson chuckled as he heard Max say something to Kenny. He turned back to Toni, who sat on the floor with a controller to the Playstation in her hand.
- "Come on Tyson, I wanna beat you THIS YEAR!" She said and Tyson sat down next to her. They were playing their usual game; Tekken, and it was a draw this far. Just one more battle to go…
- "Hehe, you still think you're gonna win? You're so wrong! I mean, who can win with that koala bear anyway?"
- "Shut up Tyson. And it's a PANDA for God's sake!"
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The next morning, which fortunately was a Saturday, Laynie woke up when someone knocked the door. She groaned and swung her legs over the bed. Who the hell woke up this early? And more important, who was this stupid to wake OTHER people up too?
- "One second!" She said to the door and checked if she was dressed enough to open the door at all. She decided she was.
She unlocked the door and opened it.
It was Tala.
[Who else?] Laynie couldn't help but think. If Laynie was a morning-person, Tala was even worse. He could wake up 4 am and still be awake when it was around midnight.
- "What do you want?" Laynie said and rubbed her eyes. Six o' clock at a Saturday morning was way too early.
- "Is that how you treat old friends?" Tala replied and pretended to be hurt, but Laynie knew it was all a game from his side.
- "I treat ALL PEOPLE like this when they wake me up this early." She said and yawned. She was about to close the door again, but Tala stopped her.
- "Please, Laynie! I'm so bored! I need something to do. Can't we go up on deck and talk a little? Please?"
Laynie sighed. When Tala looked at her in that way, she just couldn't say no. "Whatever. Give me some minutes to get dressed. I'll see you upstairs in ten minutes."
Tala shone up and nodded. "Great! By the way, bring Drizzler. Who knows, maybe we'll start a beybattle?"
Laynie smiled as she closed the door. She and Tala had always been like that. For them, beyblading wasn't a hobby, it was a way of living.
[I wonder how my life would have been if I hadn't grew up with my so-called family?] She mused as she grabbed a black pair of trousers and a red top.
[Would I be this cold and reserved though? Or is that something my childhood has formed? I don't know. I really don't know.]
Laynie met Tala right on time. He was already there and played around with his beyblade tossing it into the air and catching it again.
- "Wow, you really treat Wolborg with respect." Laynie said dryly and smiled.
Tala smiled back. "I can't see him complaining." He said but pocketed the beyblade again.
"Shall we?" He asked and made a gesture towards the stairs. Laynie followed him upstairs and took a deep breath when they were outside. The air was a little chilly and breathing it was refreshing.
- "What have you been doing all these years Tala?" Laynie suddenly asked. She studied Tala's handsome features and noticed how they darkened as he took in her question.
He took a deep breath before answering her. "Nothing I'm proud of anyway." He said with low voice. "But I guess you heard of Biovolt and all that crap?"
Laynie nodded. "But you can't blame yourself Tala. It was Boris's fault."
- "But I was the one doing his dirty errands. I should have said no."
- "Tala, you were just a child. Someone who obeyed his father."
Tala didn't reply. All he did was staring out at the blue, glittering water. Without removing his gaze, he asked:
- "But you said no, Laynie. You weren't like me. You were strong." He turned his gaze and met Laynie's green orbs.
- "Maybe, but look where it took me." She spat out bitterly. "I'm all alone, I have no one except Josephine from my family. And it seems like I just can't find MY place in this world."
Tala gave her a quick, but oh- so comforting hug. "You'll find your place, Laynie. It just might take a while. But you'll find it."
- "Where Tala? And who says it really exists?"
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Meanwhile Laynie and Tala stood outside, five people just arrived to the marina in Canberra, Australia. A short girl turned to her leader and smiled.
- "Here we go then. Ready for some new challenges?"
- "You bet I am."
Yup, I left a cliffie. And I know this chapter was so short but I'm having major problems with this fic… Everyone who has talked to me on MSN knows what I'm talking about.
By the way, in the next chapter, Tala will face someone from his past. Someone he left in Russia long time ago. Hehe, I'm so happy cause the OC I've borrowed is such a cool character! The only thing I'm a little worried about is if I'm gonna do her justice…
Anyway, I'll try to update a.s.a.p. Please, leave a review!
Hugs, Emma