Kai Hiwatari: Computer problems are the WORST, believe me I know. What do you think of my site? ^_^ Glad you're back!
Beyblader-grl: Awwwww…^_^ I don't like sugar very much, I hate it when people call me sugar *cough* one of my *cough* flamers on my other fic. _ I'm fine now, totally up and running, lol!
Reicu: O_O Yikes, I wouldn't want that necklace, lol! Crazy idea! ^_^
~*~Prodigious girl*~*: O_O, gee…that sucks…but I don't even like cake…good idea for Holly, I'll see what I can arrange.
Just-some-girl1: You'll see, they've gotta go home first…
Silly Chibi: Aww…I love Johnny too, he'll get somebody eventually, but not until after a crazy twist of things. I'm glad too, they were getting confusing and I'm not good with relationships.
Angel Tala: Hey thanx! ^_^ Yay, it's original! ^_^
KAI'S GAL: Thanx! ^_^ I'm so exhausted I slept for about 18 hours straight, never done that before either. Me love Johnny! ^_^ Gosh, I hate Robert. I'm Canadian and I'm 16. Cool, you're gonna write your own fic? Be sure to let me know when you get it up, I'd love to read fantasy fics as long as they're not yaoi. I'm inspiring? ^_^
~kai~: And you know what? I'm getting tired of this, it's what you think and how I see it and that's two different things. And I'll never get things right anyways.
The Great Kuro Neko: Good question. Lots of people hate Mariah, but people who do like her are really intense, like the people who swore at me from writing Ray/Salima.
whisper*2*imaginary: Good enough, I guess. Yeah, I've never gone 24 hours without sleeping, that's a first. Actually, there was many firsts there, though I ain't saying anymore here in case someone *cough* unwelcome reads it.
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* ~ ¤ ~ Quøte ~ ¤ ~ *
"Even if love is full of thorns, I'd still embrace it for I know that in between those thorns, there is a rose that's worth all the pain."
~ Unknown
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Chapter 24: The Rose That Never Dies
Willow was still sobbing a few hours later, Ray still hadn't woke up and his shoulder was badly ripped open. The Guardian helped treat everyone, but Ray was by far the worst injured and he was still resting.
"Crazy, that guy, I tell you, completely crazy," Tala said, swallowing his food.
"You mean Ray?" Kailee asked, taking a bite out of her own food, "Why? I thought it was really sweet of him to risk his life like that, it proves something."
"It proves craziness that's what," Tala said, waving his fork in the air, "It's dumb and stupid, I'll never risk my life for anyone or anything."
"What if you seriously loved someone?" Carly asked teasingly.
"Like that'll ever happen!" Tala scoffed, "Shut up Carly, you know that I'm cyberized, I'm not capable of love - ever."
"Gee Tala, don't look at that so hard," Carly said, "So you're cyberized, gosh man, you're still HUMAN. You'll be un-cyberized one day pal, I'm sure of it!"
"To you," Tala muttered, still sensitive about the subject, "That'll never happen, scientists told me that there's no way to undo this."
"Technology is advanced, yes," Carly said, "But it ain't everything, give it break Tala, stop thinking that you're part machine and you won't be. It's just a state of mind buddy."
"Whatever," Tala said, "Drop it Carly, please, I don't wanna hear anymore." He concentrated on his plate of food and ignored the curious glances of everyone around them.
Carly opened her mouth and then decided to close it. She shrugged and stole Johnny's cake when he wasn't looking. Grinning, she took a bite, "Not bad."
Tala suppressed a smile, Carly was impossible, but she was genuine.
//Darn it! Every time the subject comes up, Tala dismisses it before I can find out anything interesting.// Hru thought, //I wonder just how much Carly knows about him...//
"Someone has got to get Willow some food," Holly said worriedly, "She'll starve if she doesn't eat."
"Don't worry," Kai assured her, "Ray will wake up soon and then she'll be fine."
"That is if there's any food left," Kailee said, sweatdropping.
Cassandra was having third helpings of everything and she was eating as much as her stomach could possibly take, "Yummy!"
"There's no more cake left," Enrique complained, "Great, I only got one piece."
"I didn't even get any," Max chimed in.
"I still have one," Johnny said, "Hey, wait a minute, it's gone. What the hell? I didn't eat it..." He looked around, looking annoyed, "My cake's gone."
"Johnny, you're hallucinating," Holly said, shaking her head.
Tala hid a smile, "Maybe it walked off."
"Think it's funny, don't you?" Johnny glared, "I swear I had it!"
"You know, I'm quite full," Carly said, with a dainty smile, "I think I'll take a walk outside."
Suddenly realization hit Johnny, he knew Carly's smile way too well. "Carly!"
"Gotta run!" Carly said, giggling.
"Get back here, you little thief!" Johnny said, throwing down his plate and chasing after Carly, "Oh, Carly, when I catch you, you're going to pay."
Tala chuckled quietly, //Carly's something, that's for sure.//
Enrique sighed, "I still want some more cake."
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"Willow..." Ray whispered.
Willow scrambled over to Ray, "Ray, oh Ray, are you okay?"
Ray grimaced, "I feel like something tore my shoulder apart, I'm healing, I think, I feel a little better." He struggled to sit up, "You okay?"
"I'm fine," Willow said, "The Dark Scepter healed my injuries, remember? Ray...why...?" She gazed at him sadly, tears filling her eyes when her eyes fell on the deep gash that ripped Ray's shoulder.
"I'm sorry," Ray said, looking guilty, "I should've came with you in the first place. You could've been killed. I think it was my dream that woke me up, I was afraid I would've been too late…"
Willow hugged him tightly, "I was so scared. I had a dream too, about...about..."
Ray held her tightly, looking into her eyes with his concerned eyes, "About what? You can tell me."
"About you and me and Mariah and how you chose Mariah over me," Willow said in a rush, tears flowing down her cheeks, "I was jealous, I admit it, I just didn't want to lose you."
"I don't like Mariah," Ray insisted, "She's just my childhood friend and I can't just shun her out. She's my friend, but you...you are something more."
Willow's heart skipped as Ray gazed into her eyes, "Ray..."
"I realized that not coming with you was a big mistake, I wanted to make it up to you," Ray said slowly, "But I didn't take that blast just to prove something to you, I did it because I care about you...a lot. Just like you care about me."
Ray leaned down and kissed her, his arms tightly wound around her waist. Willow felt like melting in his arms and she slowly slipped her arms around his neck, slowly kissing him back. Ray gently reached up and caressed her cheek, pulling her closer against him. Willow could feel her heart melting, everything felt impossibly right. Ray slowly pulled back and laughed quietly at her shocked face, gently brushing back her hair. Willow giggled and threw her arms around Ray's neck, hugging him tightly.
"I was so confused," Willow said quietly, "I just didn't want you to choose Mariah over me, when you didn't come to the Dark Kingdom with us, I thought it was final, that you didn't care about me at all." She looked up as Ray reached for the pink rose that was lying by his bedside.
"The rose was in my dream," Ray told her, "It burned in the end."
"It was in mine too!" Willow said, looking a bit startled, "It burned too."
"I'm glad this one didn't burn," Ray said softly, he reached up and gently slipped the rose in Willow's hair. "I need to tell you something, it was your faith in me that allowed me to beat the Fire Spirit in that Beyblade match. You believed in me, I couldn't have done it without you, same with the basketball match. I wouldn't have made that last shot if you weren't there to back me up. Willow, I really do care about you, more than you can imagine. This rose will never die, never, just like our feelings for each other."
Willow blushed and giggled. Ray leaned towards her again and they disappeared into their own sweet world...
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When Holly came in the room later, they were kissing again. Holly nearly dropped her tray, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Gosh, get a room," Carly said in disgust, "And I mean a private room, not one in the hospital wing!"
"Hi guys!" Willow said breathlessly, blushing.
Ray blushed as well, but he said nothing to deny anything.
"Awwwww...how cute," Cassandra said slyly, "Willow loves Ray."
"Or the other way around," Kai said, with a smirk.
"Or both ways round!" Carly exclaimed, tossing her hair.
"I guess you guys worked it out then," Hru said cheerfully.
"Go away," Ray groaned, "All of you!"
"I guess this whole thing did do some good if it brought the two of you together," Max remarked, "Ray, Tyson's gonna be scooped by this whole thing."
"No kidding," Enrique said, "How are you going to go back and explain that you two like each other all of a sudden?"
Carly leaned against Enrique casually, "Gee Enrique, this sort of thing happens to you alllllllll the time pal! But I must admit, you've been hanging to Aquana for longer than usual."
"She's a sweet girl," Enrique said, "And I don't want Courtney to hurt her."
"Enrique, you say that about every girl!" Holly exclaimed.
"Would you get out?" Ray demanded, "Or are you all gonna stand here all day?"
"Oh no, I'm leaving," Carly said hurriedly, running downstairs with a squeal.
"CARLY!!!! Get back here!!!" Johnny yelled, "I know you took my cake, get back here, you sneak!"
Ray and Willow sweatdropped.
"What's that all about?" Willow asked, looking confused.
"Carly stole Johnny's piece of cake," Hru explained, "And now he's after her and Carly's running."
"All this over a cake?" Ray said, laughing a bit.
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"I think I lost him," Carly told Enrique, dusting her shirt, "Gosh, it's just a piece of cake."
"It was good though," Enrique added, "I'm going to bed, I'll see you later."
"Yeah buddy, tomorrow," Carly said, throwing him a brief salute, "I'm going to see if Hru or Tala or Kai's still up."
She left Enrique's room and hopped downstairs, when she rounded the corner, a pair of arms grabbed her waist. "Eeeeek!" Carly let a shriek of surprise.
"Gotcha," Johnny whispered in her ear, a wicked grin on his face, "I told you, I'll get you."
Carly tried to push him away, "Let go Johnny, oww...that's my arm you're twisting, I ain't that flexible you know. Oww...Johnny!"
"You finally caught her, huh?" Kai said, with a laugh.
"Yeah, and she's going to pay for causing me so much trouble," Johnny said, pinning Carly's arms behind her back, grinning.
Carly sighed impatiently, "I feel like I'm going to jail, whatever you do to me, it can't be that bad."
"Wanna bet?" Johnny said, grinning rakishly, his eyes sparkling.
Carly squealed as Johnny tickled her mercilessly, "Don't! Stop it, stop it, stop it!!!!" She scrambled away and nearly knocked Tala over.
"Whoa," Tala said, backing up.
"Don't you dare," Carly said to Johnny, backing up against the wall, "It's not fair, you're an idiot Johnny."
Johnny gripped her wrists, his eyes dancing as he rounded closer to her, "You stole my cake right off my plate, you're nuts Carly. I haven't even punished you enough yet."
Carly squealed, "All right, all right, I give, I give, no more tickling, I'm sorry, now let me go before I hurt you."
Johnny released her, smiling and studying her flushed face carefully. Carly sighed in relief, but she couldn't help grinning, her emerald eyes sparkling as she shook her head and casually flicked a strand of her hair out of her eyes.
//Great, there's that feeling again...the feeling that I can't ignore...she's so pretty when she smiles…darn…where the hell am I going with this??? I can't…not Carly…I can't get involved with her…but it's just getting too hard to ignore…what the hell am I supposed to do…//Johnny thought in confusion.
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"I guess I should get ready for a Beybattle then," Willow said, twirling her blade, "Against the former ruler of the Dark Kingdom."
They had slept well that night and injuries were healed. Ray's shoulder was still sore and the scar was visible, but he had regained his energy.
"After Willow's Beyblade battle, we get to go home right?" Kailee asked happily.
"Right," the Guardian said softly, "Let's go to the Rainbow Orb and begin. Bring the scepter Willow, I hope you're prepared."
"Oh I am," Willow said, smiling at Ray, "Ray and I came up with a great strategy last night."
After they entered the Rainbow Orb, Willow placed the Dark Scepter in the slot with the Dark symbol in front of it. Black light streamed out and filled the room and a beautiful woman appeared.
"Another spirit," Hru remarked.
"What are you going to do with my spirit when I die?" Tala teased her, leaning close so only she heard.
"Shut up," Hru said, blushing, he was too close, his eyes were too mesmerizing, "That is, if I don't die before you."
Tala chuckled, "I'm sure you won't."
The spirit was a lady and she wore black robes and a tiara on her head. She had a kind face and a sweet smile, "Dark Warrioress, many thanks to you for defeating the one who defeated me."
"I couldn't have done it without my friends," Willow said modestly.
"I suppose you all know that I was the ancient ruler of the Dark Kingdom until the Dark Warlock came and destroyed me. I'm a spirit now, the Dark Spirit to be exact. For the right to rule my Kingdom, Dark Warrioress, I challenge you to an ancient game played in the Elemental Galaxy," the spirit said firmly.
"She means Beyblade right?" Max asked.
"Do you ever pay attention?" Cassandra replied, "Yeah!"
"I accept," Willow sad, taking her launcher out and preparing to launch.
"THREE...TWO...ONE...LET IT RIP!!!!!!!" Max yelled.
"Go Marina!!!!!" Willow yelled, jerking back her ripcord, "Come on out!!!!"
The Dark Spirit launched her own Dark Blade and sent it flying towards Willow's blade. They're clanged and smashed for a while, but in the end Willow's Bit Beast Marina and its awesome Slashing Claws attack came through for Willow. (A/N: As you can plainly see. :P I'm not writing the battle scene cuz I can't!!!!! I'm so bad at it! ^_^U I write killing/striking/firing/dueling/fighting/violent scenes, not very good at Beybattles.)
The Dark Spirit smiled when her Dark Blade tumbled out of the dish, her form fading fast as she nodded at Willow, speaking in a fading voice, "And I stand defeated Dark Warriorness. Thank you. Please protect the Dark Kingdom. Protect this galaxy with all your strength…"
"That's another one down," Holly remarked softly.
"And ten to go!" Kai reminded them, grinning nevertheless.
"Awesome!" Ray jumped up and hugged Willow tightly, lifting her up and spinning her around and around, "You were so awesome!"
"Ray!" Willow giggled.
"Oh great," Tala groaned, rolling his eyes.
"HOME!!!!!!" Kailee squealed, "HOME!!!!!!!!"
"Aw, let's go before I throw up," Carly said, wincing.
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That's another chapter down. ^_^ They're heading home again and they'll get more encounters with *hint* Courtney, still remember her? Anyways, it's almost twelve here and I'm tired, so I'll just head to bed. Read and review everyone! Thanx! Oh, if anyone knows if the V-Force team of Kane, Salima, Jim, and Goki go by another team name than Team Psykick, could you please tell me? Thanx! Ciao!