Disclaimer: I, Flowerperson, do not own Beyblade.
I was able to update because I got a day off and I got sent home on Friday because I was hit in the head by a rounders ball (a really hard ball, nearly as hard as a hockey ball) and got a concussion. XP But now I'm oooooooooooooooooooooooooooookkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk. Chocolate helps. .
Reviewers:
Lyrikkal: I know, poor Tala. ;-; I'm so evil to him.
Ray-is-sexy: Of course I forgive you! It wasn't your fault! Yeah, Tala was harsh... Ray will find out how Mariah feels for Kai in... two chapters time (Chapter 21).
Untoachable: For some reasons the servers won't work when I was trying to read your stories. ;-; Eh... I think Kai and Raven DEFINITELY have a hate relationship. And Kai's already involved in one love triangle so... Yeah, I love Kai. He's adorable!
AHAHAHA: Yeah, that was funny. XD I also felt sorry for Tala. I mean, he's just standing there and then he gets kissed and then knocked out. Raven should really make up her mind, don't you think?
reviewer: Thanks for the info. -' I always get confused. I think I'll stick with Tala Valkov.
This is the next chapter, hopefully you can read it. That sucks. I hate computers. >.
annebolyn: Er... ooooooooooooooooookkkkkkkkkkk. Is your sister some sort of vampire? My sister is Satan. You should hear her evil laugh... ((shudder)).
Humaninspiration: Thanks, I got a day off this Monday (May Day) so instead of revising today, I was going to update some stories. You didn't like Kai back then? Aw... hopefully now u love him just as much as I do. ((hugs Kai)). So 'Love' is your friend's combined but with your help? Awesome!
Shadow Fox: You are very perceptive... you got most of it right, but because I'm an angst lover... well, you'll just have to see. Mwa ha ha!
DreadDragon: Yep, well Mariah and Kai will probably end up together cos it's my favourite pairing of all time! - Thanks for your review!
Thanks! Here's your Tala plushies! Review this and you'll get a Ray plushie! You know you want him! Especially Ray-is-sexy!
Last time: Kai had an argument with Mariah. Kai went out to look for Raven and Tala. Raven said nasty stuff to Tala. Tala was heartbroken. Tala hurt Raven (once again, sorry Tala fans!). Kai found them. Raven was unconscious. Kai phoned Ray. Ray told Mariah that Kai said Raven was in a coma.
xxx
Chapter nineteen: Hospital VisitTala hated himself.
He was sitting on a chair by Raven's bedside, holding her hand tightly and just… staring at her. He hadn't looked away for forty minutes.
Of course, Kai had refused to leave Tala alone with Raven, still not trusting him but he was leaning against the wall, staring out the window.
Kai was confused. Tala was never like this before. Cold, yes but Kai would have never thought he would physically hurt a girl. And he had suddenly changed drastically. Now he was acting remorseful, rejecting the thought of leaving Raven's side.
Suddenly the door burst open and the guys rushed in. Mariah walked over to Tala and immediately slapped him across the cheek. He made no moment. Did not turn his head to the side. Did not put his hand to the reddening mark.
"It was you, wasn't it? You hurt Raven." She hissed but staying surprisingly calm.
Tala didn't look at the pink haired girl. He glanced at the floor for a brief second then turned back to Raven, watching her as if she was going to suddenly disappear any second.
"What is your problem?" Tyson questioned. "How can you be so cowardly as to hit a girl?"
Ray looked at Tala, noticing that his eyes were watering. Was… could… Tala be… crying? The thought was highly improbable say, two years ago but…
Yes, he could tell. He was gazing at Raven as if he… loved her.
The dark haired beyblader shook his head. If he loved Raven, why would he hurt her? Ray would never hurt Mariah. Never. He'd die before he did.
"Excuse me!" a shrill voice cried, penetrating the thick silence. Ray turned to see a plump red haired nurse standing in the doorway. She had her hands on her hips and was tapping her foot. Her sharp green eyes were glaring at the teens.
"There are too many visitors! Shoo! Shoo! Only two at a time! Let the poor girl rest!" The chubby cheeked matron made sweeping movements with her hands then pushed Tyson out. Hilary, Max and Emily walked out.
Kai narrowed his eyes at Tala, still not moving as if nothing had been said, sitting by Raven's side.
"Outside, Tala. We need to talk." Kai stated in his same emotionless state.
Tala ignored him. The only change he made was squeezing Raven's hand tighter.
Ray sighed and walked over to Tala. He laid a hand on his shoulder. Tala finally turned to face the golden-eyed Blade Breaker. If it was possible, Tala looked even paler.
After a few moments, Tala nodded, gazing at the hospital floor. He stood up, pushing the chair back and walked out.
Kai followed Tala, leaving the three in the room alone. Granted, one of them was currently unconscious though.
Mariah sat on the chair previously occupied by Tala and held Raven's hand.
"She's going to be right, isn't she?"
"Raven's tough, don't worry about it."
"I know, Ray, I know."
xxx
Endless darkness. Eternal darkness. Darkness going on for miles. Darkness going on for years. The light had gone. Darkness had won.
Raven brought her hand up before her face but she still couldn't see it.
Maybe it wasn't dark. Maybe she was blind.
But no… she could feel it. The gloom washing over her and circling her.
Suddenly the winds grew stronger, spinning her round. Faster and faster. Her hair whipped at her face, causing her to yell out in pain.
Raven screamed for it to stop. She begged to just die. To have it over and done with. She pleaded for the darkness to leave her alone. Why wouldn't it stop? Why wouldn't it just leave her alone?
The winds were so strong, her skin started peeling off.
She yelled for someone to help her. Someone to take away the darkness. Someone to bring a light. Someone to make it all stop. But no one came. She was all alone. Just like the beginning. Just like she was meant to be. Fate. Destiny.
After what seemed like hours, Raven finally gave up. She crouched into a tight ball and felt moistness travel down her cheeks.
She was ready to completely succumb to the darkness when she saw a white dot in the distance, moving towards her.
The winds grew stronger but the blue haired girl fought against them, striving to reach the light that was drawing closer. When the light reached her, it burnt her raw skin but Raven fought to move closer to the source.
Then the light completely enveloped her. This time the darkness had gone. This time the light had won.
Raven saw a white corridor. She walked along it then suddenly reached a display window. She saw a girl lying on the bed and a boy sitting by her bedside, holding the girl's hand.
She looked closer, then realised that the boy had blood red hair and pale skin, wearing an orange, white and blue bodysuit.
Tala? What was Tala doing in a hospital? Who was that girl?
She looked closer at the girl and saw that she had dark blue hair and three parallel red scars across her face…
Funny… she kind of looks like… ME!
It was Raven! What had happened? Why was she in a hospital?
Raven swallowed the lump in her throat as Tala looked at her with pure fury. His hold on her wrists was bruising and the leg placed between hers and crossing her ankle meant she wouldn't be able to move her legs without tripping up.
And damn, the back of her head hurt like hell. She was having the mother of all headaches.
"Tala… you're hurting me…"
"So? Isn't it fair? You hurt me. I hurt you. Isn't that how the chain goes?"
He increased pressure on her wrists.
She wouldn't cry. She wouldn't. A coppery taste filled her mouth from when she had bitten her tongue and she felt blood trickle down her chin from the side of her mouth. She shut her eyes tightly. The headache was getting worse. She felt… tired…
"Please Tala… stop."
"Why should I do what you say? We hate each other, right? I don't care if you get hurt. I don't care if you die."
"I'm sorry for hurting you, ok? I'm sorry for saying those things. I'm sorry for…" She was exhausted. She couldn't open her eyes. She wanted to sleep. She was so goddamn tired. Where were a pillow, a mattress and a blanket when you needed one?
"I don't want to hear it, Raven. You've said enough. You've already hurt me. You can't erase it."
"Tala!" a voice shouted. Tala stepped back and Raven's body suddenly slumped to the ground. Her eyes shut, her skin pale, blood bleeding down her chin from the corner of her mouth, her wrists bruised, unconscious.
WAS SHE DEAD?
Raven instantly ran into the room and started shaking her body.
"Don't you dare die on me!"
Suddenly she felt the light go through her body, coursing through her veins.
Raven gasped as she opened her eyes.
xxx
Raven gasped as she opened her eyes, looking around the clean, white room with cheap curtains with little flowers on it. The morning sun was shining through a gap, blinding her. The blue haired teen turned to her visitor.
Tala was sleeping, a scowl set on his features and his eyes closed tightly as if he was having a nightmare.
She should have been angry. He had put her here. But she wasn't.
Raven didn't know why, maybe it was the drugs the medical staff were giving her, but she fingered one of his blood red strands between her fingers, surprised on how soft it was.
Wow, his hair is really soft… I wonder what shampoo he uses…
Ok, she was definitely doped up on drugs.
Suddenly his eyes flickered open.
Lavender met chocolate. His eyes widened, not quite believing what he was seeing.
"Raven?" he asked.
She smiled weakly. Whoa, since when did she smile? Drugs were having a major affect now. Stop the morphine! Stop whatever else they were pumping into her veins!
"I… didn't meant to hurt you. I didn't mean it! Because I…"
"Tala…" she whispered.
"No! There's… something I need to tell you. Raven, I…"
"Tala…"
"I…"
"RAVEN!" the door was slammed open and a crowd of people bustled in.
Tala frowned. Why did they have to rush in when he was about to say something! He looked at Raven and she turned to him.
"Was there something you wanted to say?" she whispered weakly.
"No… don't worry about it."
xxx
Next chapter: Departure of the Blue One
Quote: Were you around when the dinosaurs roamed the Earth? You certainly look like you should have been.