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

Fate

Chapter 16

""Talking

''Thoughts

Flashback

"It's so... small compared to where you used to live before." Tyson commented as he looked around the apartment as he walked in last.

Celestia decided to move in with Kai despite her parents' protests, Celestia didn't even bother telling her parents Kai's name. Now that both of them are at a 'cold-war' with their family, it seems like they only have each other to rely on. Celestia handed out water to everyone as they tried making themselves comfortable in a small apartment.

"Thanks you guys, I really appreciate this." Celestia said sincerely as she stood next to Kai.

"Let's go out for dinner, my treat." Max suggested happily, everyone looked at him surprised. Max smiled and scratched his head. "I got my first pay cheque today."

"You have a job?" Jamice turned to him surprised, how come she didn't know about this?

"Yeah, that's why I couldn't walk with you after school."

Jamice managed a smile and looked down at the glass of water in her hands. There's so much that she doesn't know about Max, and things that Max doesn't even bother telling her. Whenever she proposes a date, he'd always say no, not even bothering with a reason why. Today, she finally knows the reason, but he doesn't think a girlfriend is more important than a job.

Where is this relationship going?

Sighing, she picked up her head and joined in on their conversation again, just in time to hear Tyson complaining about how he can never find a job and everyone just laughed at the things he complained about.

Aeris glanced at Ray beside her, he's just holding onto his glass with eyes else where. Aeris lowered her glass and turned to him a bit, making sure the others doesn't notice. "Ray, try to look happy, all right?"

Ray blinked and turned towards her; Aeris just gave him a smile and turned back to everyone else. Ray looked at Aeris for a moment then turned to look at Kenny as he said something about calling Malarin to come as well. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Kai putting an arm around Celestia's waist and she leaned into him willingly.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed his hand tightly, Ray looked up at the owner of the hand, and he found Aeris still talking to everyone else, laughing along with them. However, the warmth from her hand radiated to him.

Night- Ray's Apartment

"Thank Kenny." Aeris said while kicking the door shut with her foot as they tried balancing a drunken Ray between them. Pushing open Ray's bedroom door, the door slammed shut against the wall with a loud banging sound.

Dumping him onto his bed tiredly, Aeris and Kenny sighed in relief, a huge weight lifting off of their shoulders. Kenny pushed some hair away from his face and turned to Aeris apologetically. "I have to leave now, Malarin is still waiting."

Aeris smiled at his somewhat embarrassed face and remembered that Malarin is still downstairs waiting for Kenny. "No problem, I'll see you tomorrow."

"I think I'm going to call in sick for Ray tomorrow, the hang over will feel terrible in a place called university." Kenny suggested as Aeris walked him to the door.

"Yeah, you do that, I don't think he'd want to go." Aeris agreed with him and Kenny stepped out into the darkened hallway and soon disappeared into the elevator. Aeris closed the door softly and looked towards Ray's room thoughtfully. Then picking up her feet, she began walking toward the bathroom looking for a towel.

It was supposed to be a dinner, until everyone suggested a bar. And then, Max, Tyson, and Jamie proceeded on getting Celestia drunk. Being Kai, he drank whatever they poured into Celestia's cup without a word. He's probably too happy to care about anything at that moment.

It was different for Ray, no one was pressuring him, and he just drank one after one, as if everything was water in his eyes. Celestia and Kai moving in was a hard hit for him. Everyone knows that this is not just a simple living together; everyone knows that from now on, they're to be considered as a married coupled. They were two people that would never separate.

Holding the wet towel in hand, she made her way back into Ray's room again. He is still lying there, not moving at all. She stood in the doorway looking at the guy in front of her. Life... is cruel, and fate will only bring people together, the rest, you'll have to wait for destiny to see the final outcome.

Switching on the light on the night stand, it gave the room a dim light, letting her figure out this room. It's quite normal, a bed, a desk, computer, books, and of course clothes here and there. It can't be helped. Setting the wet towel on his night stand, she leaned over him and lipped him onto his back.

He's still breathing.

Sighing, she pulled off his jacket, leaving him with only a T-shirt on; she put the jacket onto the ground carefully, and turned to look back at his sleeping face again. Reaching out, she pushed a strand of hair away from his sleeping face. His expression is restless, is pained.

Even in his dreams, Celestia still takes up everything.

Picking up the wet towel, she gently ran it over his face, carefully rubbing away the heat for him. Yet, when he wakes up tomorrow, will he remember any of this?

No, he won't.

And when it's dark outside, when everything is taken care of in Ray's apartment, when Ray's still deep in his slumber, Aeris walked out of his apartment. Zipping her jacket up half way, she tucked her hands into her jacket pockets and turned to look up at Ray's window again.

"Hey babe, how much for a night?" An old man asked, he was half drunk.

"Your life." Aeris said breezily, turning her head to give him a cold glare. Watching as the man muttered some unpleasant words and stalked away unbalanced.

Looking after the old man, she suddenly began wondering about his life story. Taking in a deep breath of chilly night air, she fell back and leaned back onto a random street light post, relaxing herself.

The gaze once again was drawn back by Ray's window.

End of Flashback

"We're fortunate to have Miss Ran joining us today in a candid conversation between us gals, here she is."

The audience applauded and cheered as she waved from her sitting spot on the sofa. She had a huge smile plastered on her face and she looked around the crowd with wide eyes.

"Celle... you don't mind if I call you that, right?" The hostess asked.

"No. Of course not. Call me whatever you want, I have no objections." Celle waved a hand carelessly and shifted to a more comfortable spot on the sofa.

"Well, first off, I'd like to congratulate you on two successful concerts. And on top of that, your fandom in Japan has improved greatly. How do you feel about that?"

"What can I say? I am thankful that so many people like my music and are willing to listen to my music as well. I know that I hide and duck whenever a mass of fans sees me, and I truly apologize for that. I cannot be at all these places at once, so unfortunately, there're many shows that we have to cancel. However, I promise you that your support will not go to waste. I will continue to produce more music to repay your support." Celle said with a small bow and looked at the audience.

"Ah, what a promise!"

"I always keep my promise." Celle said immediately and tilted her head.

"Now, this may be a very personal question... but I swear this is the million dollar question these days." The hostess rolled her eyes and continued on. "The encore song that you performed at your last concert, it was rumoured to be sent to Mr. Kai Hiwatari, to signal the break-up between you and Kai, is that true?"

Celle paused and hesitated.

"Actually, let's take one step back; were you and Mr. Kai Hiwatari actually dating?"

Celle looked at her and glanced around, she could see the eager look in everyone's eyes. Why are people so interested in a star's love life these days? Oh well, it's not like her to be quiet and hush-hush about things, so why the hell not?

"Yes, we dated for a while." She paused and looked down at her hands. "The song was dedicated to him... and yes, after that, we stopped dating."

"So..."

"So... whatever I wanted to say was all said in that song. And I've said that the song will not be performed again, because I will not break up with Kai anymore. The song is a once in a lifetime kind of thing and will not be repeated." Then she smiled brightly and picked up her head again. "However, don't sulk for me, because I'm currently going out with someone else right now."

"Ohhh, do tell!" The hostess leaned forward in interest and the topic of Kai Hiwatari died down immediately.

Hospital

"Could you give me any information on Kai Hiwatari that was admitted here a few years back?" Malarin asked politely.

The nurse looked at her and gave her an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry Miss; we don't give out personal information."

"This is really urgent; could you just bend the rules once?" Malarin insisted.

"I'm sorry Miss; we're not allowed to do that under any circumstance."

Malarin's eyebrow twitched a bit, but she smiled anyways. "No, I understand. Thank you for your time." The nurse smiled back at her and went back to her work. Malarin sighed and looked down. Stupid hospital and its confidential rules.

She picked up her head and headed for the front door of the hospital, but paused when she saw a familiar sight. It was Voltaire. Malarin stopped in the middle of the hall way and watched as Voltaire got off the elevator and started towards the front door as well.

Malarin frowned slightly and looked at his back view with a puzzle in her mind. What was he doing here? Eventually, Voltaire stepped through the double doors and left the building.

Secrets.

That was the first word that popped into Malarin's mind as she looked at the door. Everyone has secrets, yet some are not meant to be kept forever. After all, paper cannot conceal fire. She picked up her foot slowly and walked down the same path as Voltaire did moments ago and wandered back to her thoughts.

She's right, some secrets are not meant to be kept forever. And it was about time that she told Kenny about her secret. After all, she couldn't keep leading him on forever.

She stepped outside of the building and looked up at the bright blue sky and the bright sun.

And as for Kai, she'll just ask for his blood directly, he'll give it to her.

Beyblade Association

"The kids are really lively this year." Lianna commented as she looked down at the large training facility through Tyson's office windows.

Tyson glanced back at her and nodded his head. "Beyblade is a sport that never dies down."

Lianna nodded her head as well and moved away from the windows to walk around the table to sit in front of Tyson. "Although, the World Champions seem to be getting younger and younger these days." She commented and slid into one of the chairs opposing Tyson.

Tyson groaned and stretched lazily. Then he dropped his arms and sent his back into the back of the chair, it created a loud creak sound. "I remember when I won my first title. I was only 12 then." He smiled and soon chuckled a bit. "And Kai was my opponent. I beat him in the last round. What strange fate that we're all friends now."

"They were all your opponents, weren't they?"

"At one time or another, yes. However, Max didn't start off as my opponent; he was my partner first." Then he paused and added on. "And of course, there was the Chief, Kenny. He stuck through with me for all those years."

Lianna smiled at the fond expression on Tyson's face and looked around the grand office. There were trophies, awards, and certificates all around his office, and to think he earned those by himself. She could still remember the teenage Tyson that used to skip class and beyblade all day long. Back then, he seemed like the perfect type to waste away his life and have no responsibility what-so-ever. However, now, he was as successful as anyone could be.

"Lia, pick up a suit for me tomorrow." Tyson said and broke her out of her thoughts.

"What?"

"Pick a suit that'd match your dress." Tyson continued on as if he didn't hear her question.

"My dress? Why my dress?"

"You're going to Kai's party, aren't you?" Tyson asked curiously. Lianna nodded her head. "Then, pick up a suit for me that'd match with your dress."

"What if I pick a pink dress? Are you going to wear a pink suit?" Lianna asked archly and enjoyed the tormented look on his face. "Don't worry, I won't torture you."

Tyson laughed and leaned forwards again to type on his computer. However, Lianna was not done questioning. "Why do you want a suit that matches with my dress?"

"Because we're going together."

"We are?"

The room was then silent. Tyson stopped typing and turned to look at her seriously. "Of course we are. We're going out, shouldn't we go together?"

"Tyson, we're not going out." Lianna corrected him gently.

"Lianna, how many times do we have to go through this? We're going out, and we will get married in the future." He said firmly.

"Tyson, I broke up with you a long time ago."

Tyson snorted out a laugh and turned his chair so he was facing her directly. "Lianna let me recollect the reasons you gave me." He then cleared his throat and continued on seriously. "You told me that you didn't like a man that had no responsibility down on his shoulders. You told me that you didn't like a man that was childish and will forever remain childish. You told me that you didn't like a man that wasn't successful."

Lianna dropped her gaze to her lap and bit her bottom lip. She still remembered that conversation. She did say all those things.

"And that's why you broke up with me." Tyson continued on. "Because of all those reasons…" Then he paused again and tilted his head upwards a bit. "Well, you know what? I have loads of responsibility upon my shoulders right now. I am not childish anymore as I have matured due to the amount of work and the types of people I have to meet every single day. And I am very successful as the BBA has been running under for almost 4 years now, and it has been prospering. Thus, the reasons that you used to break up with me no longer stand. Thus we must be going out again." Tyson deduced and folded his arms across his chest.

"So, Lianna, why are you not considering on marrying me?"

Lianna didn't move from her spot, she didn't even lift up her head.

"Tyson..."

"Cause, you know... I'm no longer someone that doesn't fit your standards. I'm no longer someone that cannot suit you."

Lianna smiled thinly and played with her fingers for a bit. It was true. She said all those things to him when she decided to break up with him. She thought that he would just take those reasons and let it be over with. However, he didn't. He changed. He decided to take all 3 reasons and work on them. She had been there all these years to watch his transformation. She had seen the amount of work that he'd done and how he had changed. She could see the man developing inside of him.

"Tyson..." She said quietly, and this time, he didn't stop her. "Those reasons still stand."

Tyson's eyes widened and he dropped his arm in surprise. What did he just hear?

"However... they're different in meaning now." She continued on, and he waited for her. "Right now, I'm the one that is being described in that speech of mine." She looked up at him and continued on. "Tyson, I'm the one that doesn't have enough responsibilities upon my shoulders. I'm the one that's not mature enough. And I'm the one that's not successful enough. And thus..." She took in a deep breath and starred at him in the eyes.

"You see Tyson, right now; it's not you that don't suit me. It is I that don't suit you." She then smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ears. "I am not good enough for you; I cannot reach your standards... And thus, I cannot marry you."

TBC...

Thanks for reading, please R&R.