Disclaimer: See previous chapters.
Reviewers:
NeoBlaze: Yes, in this chapter Kai and Mariah finally get to talk but they may get interrupted… Raven will return, but not at least for another few chapters.
Humaninspirations: I see that you are starting to use some Japanese vocabulary. I personally choose to avoid it as I am scared I will make errors and use the wrong words (e.g. –chan, -san, -kun and –sama). Your dog is called Raven? Cool! Where's Raven going? … You'll just have to wait and see!
GothicSabrina: Yeah, well Tala and Raven aren't exactly emotional people, though Tala has finally accepted his feelings, Raven is having troubles coming to terms with it. Don't worry, you don't sound like a Nazi freak. Lol. I loved that Tyson quote too. I was quite hungry at the time so… You have to remember that this is Raven's thoughts and she can be quite opinionated. I get my hair highlighted some times and I occasionally wear skirts.
You are awesome! Here's your Max plushie. Now you can have a… um, Kenny plushie!
I WILL UPDATE THIS STORY WHEN I GET AT LEAST 100 REVIEWS! SO START WITH THE REVIEWING! PLEASE! ONLY FOUR TO GO!
Last time: Raven ran away. That was basically it. Oh, and she realised her feelings for Tala! Aw… say it with me! Aw…
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Chapter Twenty-One: Secrets and ConfessionsMariah couldn't believe it. Why had Raven run away? Was she that scared of Tala? Surely she wouldn't have run away because of that… so why did she leave? It didn't make any sense.
"Mariah."
She turned in the hospital corridor to see Kai standing there with his arms crossed and looking quite fierce. Oh no, maybe now they were going to talk about what happened before she… was kidnapped.
"Yes Kai?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady but failing miserably. How did Raven keep that monotone thing going? To seem unaffected. She gazed at the floor as she remembered that Raven wouldn't be around anymore.
She wondered vaguely where Raven had gone. She said she couldn't remember her past so where would she go? Had she taken any money? Did she even know where she was?
"We have to talk… about what happened."
Oh great. So they were talking about it. She fidgeted uncomfortably, aware of the scenery around her. Anybody could see this.
"Now? Here?"
Kai looked around, seeing Mariah's valid point. They had to talk it over in private, and a public hospital corridor was not such a good idea for privacy.
"Let's… go outside."
"Sure, I guess."
Mariah followed Kai through the corridors and was relieved when he chose the stairs over the lift. She wasn't sure about being with Kai in a room no bigger than a few yards. Unfortunately, Kai was pretty swift down the stairs and she nearly tripped trying to catch up with him.
Kai was in a rush, but seemed to be deep in thought, probably thinking about what he wanted to say, or what he needed to say. What did he want to say? What would she answer? What did she want to say?
He opened the door for her into the foyer and they both walked out of the automatic sliding glass doors.
It was two in the afternoon. Nurses, doctors and other hospital staff were returning after their lunch break.
They reached a fountain. There was a circle of stone dolphins with water flowing out their mouths to land in the shallow pool around them. In the middle there was a grey statue of a woman with flowing robes.
The slate haired Russian stood by the fountain and turned to the pink haired Asian.
For the first time Mariah had ever seen Kai, she truly saw emotions in his eyes. When he had… kissed her, she had seen a glint of feeling but now – she truly saw it.
"Mariah…" Kai began.
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Meanwhile, Emily and Max were trying to find out how Raven had just walked out the hospital without anyone noticing.
"This is just stupid. She's on the higher floor and she's injured. How could she just waltz out of here in a hospital gown?" Emily asked.
"We don't keep an eye on every patient. We do have nightly patrols. I don't know how she escaped, she must have some experience in the matter." The nurse said, her voice still stern.
Emily pursed her lips and pulled Max away. "It's true," she whispered, "She probably has experience from working with Boris."
"Yeah, but what if she's in trouble some where? She was injured and you know that she doesn't have anyone."
Emily sighed and fingered one of Max's blond strands. "I guess she's gone. She was always uncomfortable with us and never really fitted in. It's a shame though; she seemed to bond well with Mariah."
Max hugged Emily. "Do you know where Tala is?"
She shrugged. "All I know is that he was here when Kai arrived then walked out. He probably thinks it is his fault. I know it partly is but… I don't know. Tala's very vulnerable, just like Raven, I think."
"You think… that they like each other?"
"I don't know. They're both stubborn both they both have probably had similar experiences and are both independent. And Tala showed that he liked Raven by saving her from that guy."
"Do you think they'd ever admit their feelings?"
"Maybe one of them did and the other didn't know how to react so Raven ran away either because Tala admitted his feelings or because he didn't respond to her."
"Wow, I didn't know you could be so smart. Its one of the many qualities I love about you."
"Aw, Max."
Emily kissed the tip of his nose.
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"Mariah…" Kai began, "About… that day in the park, I…"
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"I know you and Ray are a couple. And as you know, Ray and I are… good friends. What I did…"
"I would never want to ruin your friendship with Ray." Mariah whispered gently.
"I know. And I would never to ruin your relationship with Ray."
Ray. Argh. It was all about Ray. Kai felt (ONCE AGAIN) the tinge of jealousy at Ray.
"But, the thing is, Mariah. I've found that I have feelings for you. And they are really annoying me. If you hadn't have kissed me, I would not have paid attention and told myself that you didn't feel the same for me but… do you have the same feelings for me? Just answer: yes or no."
Mariah stared at her feet. Was this it? Was this the one decision that would change the rest of her life?
"I'll take that as a no."
Kai started to walk away. She looked up and called out his name. He stopped and turned to look at her.
"Kai, I do have feelings for you."
"As a friend? Or as something more?"
She felt warm salty tears brim at her eyes. "Something more." She confessed, barely above a whisper.
Kai's eyes widened. He had not been expecting that statement. But rather, a rejection. At least it would have been simpler.
"I love you, Kai… but I can't… I can't hurt Ray."
"You're going to have to choose, Mariah. I can't just stand by and know that we care for each other while you and Ray date, while you and Ray get married, while you and Ray have kids…"
"Don't make me choose, Kai!" Mariah protested, tears were now flowing down her face from her golden eyes.
"How would you feel if Ray was dating Salima and he said that he loved you but he didn't want to hurt Salima, huh? How would you feel? Pick, Mariah. Me or Ray. I want to know."
"And so do I." A voice said.
Mariah gasped and turned to see Ray walking towards them.
"Ray, I…" Mariah began but Ray interrupted her.
"Kai? Mariah? What's going on?"
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Oops! Ray has found out! Dun dun dunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!
Next Chapter: Sorry guys, the title is sort of a give away so I can't tell you! Sorry!
Quote:
My friend April: Oh no, I didn't do my homework. What should I do?
Me: (in a monotone voice) Lie.
My friend April: (confused) Lie?
Me: (in a monotone voice) Lie.
My friend April: (in a sneaky voice) Lie…
Me and my friend come up with lots of random stuff. For example, I said to her "The Voices in my head think you're strange." And then she just looked into space for about three minutes and as I was walking away she shouted: "YOU HAVE VOICES IN YOUR HEAD!"
'
Oh, this is my shameless plug: CHECK OUT MY BIO PAGE FOR OTHER BEYBLADE STORIES. There is another Kai-Mariah-Ray story and a Raven-Kai story but the Raven in that story is slightly different and has a different background.