I don't own Beyblade, or any of its characters, please do not sue me.

Fate

Chapter 5

""Talking

''Thoughts

There's a legend,

The legend says,

If you fell in love with someone,

Just let them drink your tear,

Then they'll never leave you.

Flashback

"Kai, sorry, did you wait for a long time?" Celestia stepped down onto the step that Kai's sitting on. Kai turned towards her and stood up to grab her books and supplies, leaving her arms empty. Using the other hand, he took a hold of her hand, and they walked home together.

"How was class?" Kai asked, breaking the silence. This is Monday night, he's talking about the once in a week art class that she has. He's now picking her up everywhere and anytime.

"It was normal." Celestia turned to him with a smile. "Kai, in a week, you'll be graduating high school, what are you going to do afterwards?"

"Keep on going to school, Voltaire..." He paused and looked down at Celestia. "My grandfather wants me to take over his family business."

"Do you want to?"

"No, I don't like how he works. I'll go to school, but open something myself."

"Open what?"

"What do you want me to open?"

"Um... how about a chain of casinos? You'll earn more money that way." Celestia suggested easily, Kai looked at her, but said nothing. Celestia then looked down shyly, still not believing that she's going to ask him this. "Kai, do you mind being the model of my next portrait?"

They stopped in front of her house, Kai looked at her expressionlessly, and Celestia can't even look up at him. In her mind, she's guessing that the silence is a rejection. Soon, she felt Kai's hand on her cheek; she smiled and leaned into Kai's large hand sweetly.

"I'll see you tomorrow." Celestia nodded and took over her supplies. "And call me when you're going to do that sketch." He said and walked off towards his house.

End of Flashback

"Yeah?" Celle turned and asked as she sent out her manager.

"You should consider your manager's words." Kenny said immediately.

"Why? I'm going out with Kai, aren't I? Why can't I say that we're going out?" Celle demanded. She cannot believe what she is hearing.

"It's not about whether you're really going out with him or not! I'm telling you this for your own good!" Kenny retorted back.

"Seriously! Why can't you people accept me? What's wrong with me? Why do you always have to cast me out?" Celle exploded out.

"That's not the point..." Kenny started. Stupid woman, no manners at all, and she asks why. Malarin patted his shoulder and quieted him down.

"Celle, we're not isolating you out. We're thinking about you and Kai. If the word leaks out, neither of you will have peace. Kai was a Beyblade Champion, and now he's a world wide casino owner. Think about it, no one will leave him alone. He won't be too happy about that."

Celle looked at her and let her words roll around in her mind. She's right; she can't risk Kai's feelings for her... if he has any.

Malarin looked at her silent form then walked towards Celle and put a hand on her shoulder. "Celle, you got to know that we're not trying to drive you away. I know now is a crucial moment for you, but sometimes you need to be patient and wait."

"But..." Celle stuttered.

With a smile, Malarin pulled the younger girl towards her and let her head rest against her shoulder blade. "Celle, please, reconsider what you're going to say. You two still have a long way to go." Her voice was softened, like a lullaby.

Celle looked over Malarin's shoulder. She could only see Kenny's face, which didn't reveal anything. Yet, she missed Malarin's expression. The warm embrace is a contrast to the faraway look in her eyes. After a moment, Celle pushed away from her embrace and looked at Malarin with a convinced look.

"You're right; I cannot risk him being mad at me."

Malarin smiled while Kenny breathed out a sigh of relief. "So, you won't mind if we're going to be present at your interview, will you?"

Celle smiled deeply and shook her head from side to side like a little girl. "Of course not, I'll welcome you."

Next Day

Celle walked into the interview with a drastic change to her style. She wore a long sleeved shirt and knee length skirt, even Malarin and Kenny looked on surprised. The interview went on promptly, yet you know the most famous question would come up sooner or later.

"Miss Ran, I heard you currently have a boyfriend, is that true?"

Celle smiled and looked up at Malarin and Kenny. "Yes, I do have a boyfriend, and I'm very much in love with him."

Cameras flashed on and off, capturing the smile on her face. Malarin and Kenny looked at each other and Malarin smiled softly. "Well, at least she didn't reveal Kai's identity."

"She's still an idiot." Kenny commented with a roll of eyes.

"Don't be so mean, after all, she is just in love with Kai." Malarin appeared to be very laid back. "Even if she looks just like Celestia, there're some things that just can't be replaced."

However, it's still strange that they look exactly alike. Ceasing her eyebrows slightly, she reminded herself that she doesn't believe in a twin for everyone. There's something so totally off about this... but what is it? The interview continued on, Malarin and Kenny turned and walked away.

Casino Heaven

Kai switched off his television and starred at his fogged reflection in the T.V. screen.

The declaration of love.

It was a bold action, and only she would ever think about something like that. However, it is not like her to hold back either; so the reason why she didn't say his name is probably due to someone talking to her about it.

Standing up, he walked to his floor length windows and looked out at the busy streets of Tokyo. He let his mind run wild, his gaze unfocused. Even in the middle of the day, there're still people entering the casino. You'd think that they have some kind of a job to go to, some sort of a home to return to.

The casino.

Celestia.

Kai closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against the cool surface of the window.

This entire casino is open just for you. So, where are you now?

Opening his eyes, he pushed away from the window and grabbed his suit jacket. Walking out of his office, his secretary stood up to greet him. "Any phone calls, please take them for me. Call my cell phone only if there's an emergency."

"Yes sir." His secretary bowed and Kai walked past her with long strides.

On a lovely day like this, the couples passing his car have their arms around each other and each pair is so in love. Yet, the couple that just declared their love for each other yesterday is already walking down separate paths today. The world is full of changes, even if they can hold on, fate will find ways to make you suffer and forget.

Stopping his car in front of an unfinished house, he lit a cigarette and looked on. He bought the house as soon as he got out of the hospital, thinking that he and Celestia could live here later on.

But then... she disappeared.

Taking in all the guilt, he looked at the cemetery from the side mirrors. Celestia had thought that it was bad luck, but he had brushed it off. Maybe... he should have paid more attention, so that maybe Celestia would still be here today.

Rolling down his window, he threw out his cigarette butt and opened his door to step out. Taking in a deep breath of the air around him, he walked towards the house. It has been a few years ever since he saw this house when it was being sold to the public, but he asked to stop the construction, hoping that Celestia would come back and see this house finish its construction for her own eyes.

Touching the front of the house, he struggles to remember much of the incident. All he can see about the incident is Celestia's surprised face. Aside from that, nobody wants to tell him anything else.

Walking into the house, he stood some distance away from the beam that landed on his head years ago. Even to this day, the beam is still just sitting there, neither secured nor tied down. It's just one of those little things that makes him feel closer to Celestia still.

Then, a piercing ring tone cut through Kai's thought, and disturbed the peace. Kai blinked and slowly brought his attention to the cell phone in his pocket. As if it was an alien, Kai pulled it out and put it to his ear.

"Hello?"

"President." His secretary's voice came through. Kai raised his eyebrows slightly at her voice. Don't tell him that there's some sort of an emergency. "Forgive me for bothering you."

"Don't worry about it."

"Miss Ran is here and she wants to see you right away."

Suddenly, Kai's head began to swarm with bees. "What does she want?"

"She said she prepared lunch for you, and wants to eat lunch with you."

Lunch. Can it possibly be for humans?

"Tell her I'll be right back." Then, pausing for a moment, he added on. "Let her wait in my office."

"Yes sir."

Hanging up his phone, he once again was warped back to the world with Celestia. He gazed at the house for a moment longer before turning briskly and walking out of the house. Even when he was sitting in the car, his gaze still looked longingly at the house.

The cemetery is still sitting at the back of his car.

Casino Heaven

"You don't have to prepare lunch for me." Kai stated immediately as his foot set place inside his office.

Celle looked up and smiled, suddenly Celestia's face was in her place. "Kai, you like my new hair color?"

Kai's eyes flashed, she dyed her hair. Now, she looks exactly like Celestia, even her smile. For a second there, he almost thought that Celestia came back. "Why did you dye your hair brown?" Her blond hair is the only way he can tell the difference, it's his last defense.

"Now I look exactly like your old girlfriend... what's her name again?"

"Celestia." Kai said slowly, as if tasting the word.

"Celestia... a very heavenly name. Heavenly... Casino Heaven. You named it for her." Celle realized suddenly. "Anyway, your lunch is getting cold. Here." She stood up and opened the bendos that she prepared.

Taking in a deep breath, he reminded himself that he at least has to give her a chance. Looking at the lunch she prepared, maybe she isn't that bad.

Mansion

"Welcome back." Maids bowed to Malarin as she entered the house. A maid took over Malarin's jacket while another took her bag. "The Master said he'll be late tonight."

Malarin looked at her and nodded softly. "Thank you." Then, leaving the maids, she headed straight for the study room. Turning on the monitor, she typed in 'Celle Ran'. Watching as a list of websites showed up.

All this new personality and attitude is way too suspicious. Clicking on a website, she looked over the biographical information.

There has to be some indication of abnormality in some of the profiles. In this world, there's no such thing as a twin for everyone. There's definitely something wrong with this. She doesn't believe that Celle has no connection to Celestia what-so-ever. She still remembers a few years back, Voltaire's face when he talked about Celestia. Deep down inside, she still feels that Voltaire has something to do with Celestia's disappearance.

If only someone has Celle's parents' names, then it'll be much easier.

Night

Ray's Apartment

"The stars are really nice." Celle said mindlessly as she rotated her cup in her hand.

"Yeah." Ray agreed.

The two of them are sitting on the railing of Ray's balcony, even though it's totally against the conducts of this building. The silence draped over them again. Finally, Ray turned and starred at her hard.

"What is wrong?" Ray asked.

Celle sighed and looked down at her cup, she's always here whenever something is wrong. It makes her feel bad that she cannot see him under other circumstances, but...

"I don't know. Everything's piling up. I don't know what to say."

Ray studied her carefully, he has not come into much contact with the previous women that were trying to attract Kai. However, he does know that no woman lasted longer than a week. "Are you tired?" Ray asked softly. Putting down his glass beside him on the railing, he reached out and touched her hair. "Are you tired? If you're tired, I'm always here."

Celle looked into Ray's eyes and felt her heart skip a beat. Exhaling, she leaned forwards to place her head on his chest. Listening to his heartbeat, she closed her eyes against the steady sounds. Ray picked up his glass again and held it up to his lips for a gulp.

"Your heart beats, but who does it beat for?" Celle asked and fingered his collar lightly and carelessly.

Ray lowered his glass and looked at Celle. "What do you mean?"

"Let's play 20 questions." Celle suggested and looked beyond the skyline. "Who's the first person you loved?"

"My parents." Ray answered smoothly.

"Who's the first girl you ever wanted?" Celle narrowed her eyes at his chin as her head only tilts so far.

Ray was silent; he just slowly raised his glass and drank slowly.

"Was it also Celestia?"

Ray averted his gaze down into his cup. Celle closed her eyes and gently pushed away from him. "Is that why you're so nice to me?"

Ray swirled the glass in his hand and sighed heavily. "Celestia was... is a good friend of ours."

"Is. You think she's alive too."

"If you have seen Kai's determination to find her, and the unwavering belief that she's still here, then you'd understand why we're so certain." Ray said.

"So you're saying that you two were really close friends." Celle then paused and added on more. "As close as we are now?"

Ray was silent, he just looked at the sea of lights in front of him. Celle didn't pressure him either. A breeze came and ruffled their clothes and hair. Finally Ray looked down and ceased his eyebrows lightly.

"Celestia... I loved Celestia."

TBC...

Thanks for reading, please R&R.