I really need more reviews to make me happy so review already. My computers acting up so when you get this, it might be Friday or Saturday. I'm having my fun with my IM friend. He's really cool, he has his own website, he's really cool, you guys would enjoy meeting him, but I have to keep his identity a secret, sorry.

Thanks from reviews from previous reviewer Deep Zero X23, and new review Truth of Desire. Thanks for your excellent reviews

Disclaimer: I don't own BeyBlade and I don't own this plot either, it's my dream's idea, blame your dislike of this story on my stupid meaningless dreams.

Chapter 5: The Choices

An hour later, Ray was called to the stand for the final statements to the council before they made their verdict. Ray arrives and Mariah is crying and her cousin Daniela is talking her. Daniela made contact with Ray and she told Mariah and walked off. Ray sat down next to Mariah and she smiled still with tears in her eyes.

"I tried Ray I really did, it was hard and they asked me a lot of questions; questions from my past, our past and Zackary's past with me. I didn't answer a lot of them and now they think we did a lot of things wrong. Lee, Kevin and Gary are helping but they can't go against the older council members. It's so sad. I'm sorry, I did try, I did. You promised but I can't." She fell down crying in her knees he rubbed her back and she ran in the back.

"Mariah!" Ray looked back as she ran into the bathroom. She wasn't going to come out any time soon. She was being too hard on herself. Mariah tried, she wanted to help but no one ever said love, and war were easy. People had always told him that everything's fair in love and war. Ray was called up to the stand. "I'd first like to take a chance to say one thing. Everyone says all is fair in love and war. This is war and it's love but I can find a lot of things aren't fair. Mariah being questions without support is unfair, her being pressured in court is unfair, her marrying Zackary was unfair, and her and I being separated everywhere is unfair. You can't separate us because that is cruel and unusual punishment and against the law as well as unfair."

The council looked at Ray and they saw through his tough exterior to the real Ray. Ray was a tiger like Mariah except on the inside he was kind, gentle, sweet, helpful and caring. He'd never hurt anyone. They couldn't make a choice for Ray and Mariah because of that but that made them a little partial to Ray and Mariah's situation. "I see what you are saying Mr. Kon. Please start with your reasoning behind this."

Ray nodded. How was he going to do this now? He thought about what Ray had told him. He needs to say something about Zackary's unkindly deeds, their love and something else. He couldn't remember. He pulled out the paper and reread it.

Mariah Kito has been through a lot in her life. She has been through many dangerous times when our tribe was in danger and has been hurt a lot. She now faces a different type of pain as well as physical pain; she faces emotional pain. Mariah is still considerably very naïve to be an adult and take care of a family. I think that maybe in a year or two she will be ready but not know. She has come to face a lot of physical damage to her body and is weakened very easily. Lee and I have been taking care of her the whole time. Lee knows that if either of us would be gone from her she would feel insecure and alone. We have always been there for her and this is just another thing I must help her get through. I don't want to hurt her anymore. I know as the team leader Lee must marry and unite the tribes of Lintec and The White Tigers but Mariah can't face this hardship. Mariah can barely handle daily tasks with Lee, Kevin, and me, helping her along. She couldn't stand it if we were taken away for her and she had to do everything on her own as well as take care of his children. Her body can't stand that much pressure. I know that we both have duties to for fill but we both just need more time to develop these habits. I need to be by Mariah's side and help her out because Lee can't be with Wendi and Mariah at the same time but I must go against my marriage as I did and help Mariah who can't marry Zackary anymore. This is my statement.

"Council of the White Tigers; Mariah Kito has been through a very tough time in her life and it's just getting worse for her. She has been attacked in village raids here, injured in BeyBlade incidents, and also had to face the horror of Zackary. Mariah did have a lot of hard times but 4 people in her life cared for her the whole time. She was an orphan and we grew up with her. We protected her. The people I am now talking about is Kevin, Lee, Gary and myself. We were the closest and only thing she had that was close to a family. Lee was her responsible older brother; Kevin her silly, prank master, fun little brother; Gary was the big eater and out of everything brother who was close to her. I don't know how to explain the bond Mariah and I share. It's 'The Bond', the ultimate and most powerful bond in the world. I can't explain if you'd ask a question I could answer it." Ray said waiting for a question.

"Why did you leave her if you two had such a tight bond? I mean if you two were so close, why did you have to leave her?" It was an older man. He was smart and had a way of breaking Ray.

"Leaving had nothing to do with Mariah and myself. I had to do with my duties and training of the main blader on our team. I felt there was a world outside of our village that could teach me new tactics, defenses and attacks that we didn't have here. I missed her as well as Kevin, Gary and Lee. I told you it was like a family. A family can't be together all the time, they need time apart. Absence makes the heart grow fonder; that's how Mariah and I felt. Mariah cried every night for my return and inside I did too. I had to leave for the good of myself and our team. I can help advance them beyond their wildest dreams now. Mariah's and my bond are so strong that even when all hope was lost that I'd return inside she still hoped I would. I hoped that they would let me return and they did. Today I thank them for that. I mostly thank Mariah. She didn't believe I was a traitor. Even up to the day we met again she came and helped me when I was apart from myself. We have a unbreakable bond." Ray had answered the question, perfectly without stuttering.

"Drigger and Galax are an important thing to both of you. Would you trade Mariah for Drigger? Would you give yourself in exchange for Galax to be returned to Mariah?" The guy had gotten into Ray's weakness again.

"I would never trade Mariah in for Drigger. Drigger is my best friend and we are so deeply connected together. I'd never want to pick one or the other but if I had to, Drigger understands that Mariah needs me to help her and I'd let Drigger free any day if it meant Mariah being happy. I'd do anything for Mariah to be happy. If Mariah wanted Galax back I'd trade myself for Galax so Mariah would be happy. Mariah hides her emotions like a tiger hides its fear. I'll do anything to make her inside just like her outside; fearless, happy, and nice." Ray had stuttered to answer the one about Drigger and Mariah. Drigger would understand and Ray would be happy to let Drigger free to finally rest for good.

Mr. Doan stood up and looked into Ray's eyes and say his fearlessness to continue and be asked. "How do you feel when Mariah's sad? How did you feel when you heard about what Zackary did to Mariah? How do you plan to protect Mariah from herself?"

"Mariah's being sad or crying to me is like a baby's ear shattering cry. When she first is upset its startling then it's scary. It means I've let her down, she's in danger and needs help. It makes me feel I need to attend to her at the very second. I feel like she's a baby, my loving child, I love her and I'd never be separated from her. I'll protect her forever. I plan to protect her from everyone and everything. I'd give my life for hers. I'd do anything to save her and keep her happy." Mr. Doan smiled at Ray. Ray spoke from the heart and there was no fighting that.

This court trial was becoming a beybattle; hit for hit, one overpowering the other. It was a love fight on Ray's fight. Ray had overcome their tricks and questions and was no ready for anything in this battle. Love could take you all they way but when they enemy had a clear power advantage you'd lose easy if you were being forced to defend what was wrong in the love. You can love and live to battle but when you're battling for love and they're attacking your love and in another fight you become weak.

This battle had been Ray winning all the way but now they other person had made their final attack and Ray had not been ready. "How can you protect her from herself? She is in a battle with herself and losing. She's pulling herself down, falling and can't rely on herself and needs you. Can you save her from herself, in time?" They had hit him hard, it was the truth and there is no way to be a good person and go against the truth. He couldn't. Ray looked at the floor.

"I can't save her from herself. Only she can. I can give her strength to stay out of it and pull her away from it but once she's in it, I can't take her out. It's her choice to battle herself. I'll try my hardest to stop her but I can't. I just help her and make sure she knows in herself that there's no reason to fight herself. I love her, I'll protect her and make sure she knows it's never her fault if her life goes wrong. I'll be there for her. I can't ever stop her from battling herself. I can only show her the reasons not to do it." Mariah came running out into Ray's arms. He held her tight and she cried. She was leaning against his chest and crying. "It does work sometimes doesn't it. I can protect you but only if you decide to let me." She smiled.

The council was no longer trying to see what was wrong with those to being together. They saw nothing. They had 'The Bond' the everlasting, strong, loving bond. There was nothing wrong with them by having it. They now had to make a small punishment to show them that there were other ways to be together and save Mariah then go against so many laws. Why just not ask? The council didn't know. Why did Ray just not ask the White Tiger council to let them marry? Why go to the Lintec Tribe for a month to make more problems at home? What was the point? It was too late but they had to set an example, a small sentence that would teach them and help them understand the law.

"Ray and Mariah, please return to your home. So we may make our verdict for you. We will call you tomorrow morning. The verdict will be decided by then. Your punishment will be decided and agreed upon now." Ray and Mariah left. After 6 hrs had passed they had made a verdict but it would be announced in the morning. Ray wanted to be ready for it so he snuck into the court and read the papers.

We the council find Mariah and Ray to be guilty of expontenty or going against one's own law by escaping to another law system. Mariah and Ray will be given a few choices of their punishment.

Mariah Kito is found guilty of unable of child labor, housework and marriage agreements. Her choices of punishment:

A Women's training ground for weak women of the tribes, Galax allowed, no men.

Normal life for 2 years and then will marry another Lintec high man, Galax allowed, Ray can be with her for 2 years; then no more.

She lives with the Lintec tribe for 2 years and declaired free women, Galax allowed, no men.

Banished, Galax confiscated, men.

Travel learn other tribe costumes, Galax allowed, men and must marry lintec man in two years.

Ray Kon has been found guilty of espontenty, deliberately helping Mariah out of her marriage and high crime of loving and engaged women.

Ray stays with Mariah No Drigger

Ray without Mariah Drigger

Either of these choices, must marry in 2 years.

Ray didn't like their choices. He returned to everyone at 10:00 and everyone was asleep. What was he to do? It was all up to Mariah to make her choice really. He had messed up and was unable to save Mariah from an unhappy fate. She needed her family, Ray and Galax to keep her the little bit of happy she forced on herself.

"Mariah, this is all your choices as punishment for you so called crimes. You pick, I'll go along with whatever." 20 minutes later Mariah screamed. She was in the bathroom and she fell on the floor in front of Ray. She had been attacked or something she was bleeding, very badly.

Ray picked up Mariah and carried her to the Hospital Building. It was a small tent, they used a healing remedy. She had been shot with a large dangerous uncertified gun; an illegal gun. A poison carrying gun, someone had did it to kill Mariah, for revenge. The council postponed the verdict to be delivered when Mariah felt better. It turned out 3 months later. It was the night before her 16th birthday she was sitting in Ray's room. She had healed and her bandages had been removed.

She had fallen asleep or well collapsed from the agony of having the panic in the hospital of having the bandages removed. She had walked home but she was very tired but wanted to know what was wrong with her but collapsed into a deep sleep.

Mariah had been shot in her right shoulder with the exogun. It carried tons of poison and caused their whole body system to fail. It was used to shot rare animals like tigers and bears so they could be easily caught. They only thing they had a clue of who might have done it was a note. It was simple:

Dear Ray Kon,

I shot your dear, precious Mariah. She needed more pain to escape her inner pain. You said she was like a tiger and I hunt tigers so I hunted her. I will leave you two alone know because she will never be the same again. Exo-Tiger Hunter

He was right; she would never be the same. She was dying, weak and most of her perfectly needed systems had shut down. She couldn't eat anything so the gave her shots to keep her feed with nutrients. She was okay now. Ray hadn't left her side in the last 3 months.

Mariah awoke in tears in her own room. She had been through a lot; her parents' death, being thrown to the streets, the orphanages, BeyBlade battles, the almost marriage and now the shot. She had finally taken his advice and let out all the pain, fear, torment and sadness at once. Ray had told her this once.

Flashback to the 2nd night after his arrival

"Mariah, have you ever let out all your pain and sadness." She shook her head. "You can't keep it in forever. It'll all pile up and explode and you can't handle it. You have to let the past go. I've caused you so much pain; I'll never do that again."

"Promise me?" Mariah asked looking in his eyes. "I know you think you have but it's been me all along. I should have accepted the fact you were gone and just waited instead of holding on with every moment and fragment of my soul waiting. It's hard to hold on to it then to let it go but it's a special thing to me and I can't."

"I promise you, I'll never cause you that much pain again. I can't always be with you in person but I'll always be with you in your heart." She smiled and nodded. "It's not your fault. You don't understand it yet. You have to go with the way things are and forget what's done. What's done is done. No changing."

"I promise one day that I'll let it all go. I'll just burst out in tears and you'll know why. All this pain just needed to come out." Ray nodded and he carried her to her room because she was too weak and too overcome with feelings to walk.

Flashback Ended

Mariah had started calling out Ray's name. He came in the room. "Tell me what we are going to do cause I'm not going to do any of those things. I only need two things when I leave here. I need you and Galax. If I have those then I'll be happy."

"Okay, tomorrow night after your party we'll leave. I'll take care of everything else." She nodded as he left and they both slept. She didn't want to leave but all she really needed was Ray and Galax to make her happy. She had forgotten her pain and sadness from the past and moved on giving her the desire to start a new time by letting Ray make the perfect choice for them.

Ray knew that he had to make sure that they could come back in 2 years for Mariah's birthday and something special could happen. He needed something that he had needed to wait for the next 2 years for. It was something he had to do but something so important he needed to wait. He loved her and he'd save her from her own pain and escape.

Ray picked up his phone and made a call to his friend Max and Miriam. A month ago they had announced they had been married for a year as of that day. They had to keep it secret but they realized that it had been a secret long enough and moved off to a secret area that only Max's and Miriam's friends knew where it was and had contact with it.

"Maxie, it's Ray. I need to ask you and Miriam a huge favor." Ray needed a place to take Mariah to where they couldn't be found and that's the same place Max and Miriam had. It was nice and beautiful there. They could stay there if Max said yes.

"What's up Ray? I'll do anything for you and Mariah but what exactly do you need?" Max had always protect Miriam since he met her like Ray had to Mariah. The understood each other's position.

"Maxie, Mariah and I are running away and we need to go somewhere where we can't be found ever. She needs help though. She's running away from 3 cities who are against her so can we stay with you?" Max didn't have to thing.

"Duh Ray, anything for you two! You can come down any day. We'll be ready. Just say the password. Bye see you when you arrive." Max hanged up and him and Miriam prepared a space for them.

He only had a few more things to take care of. In the day after the party they left. They ran off in the night not to be seen and no one knew they left almost everything they owned. They took money, clothing, blankets, and food. They left everything else.

The council looked everywhere for them. They couldn't find a sign of them except for a note. It was the only sign of them. Lee and Kevin in front of the council opened the note and had a small box attached to it. The note read:

Dear Council, Lee, Kevin and Gary,

Mariah and I have run off. She and I have decided that it's not worthwhile to stay where we are being hunted, attacked and punished. I feel that your punishment did not show the sincere understanding of our love for each other. I leave in that box our blades. Our bit-beasts are with us and I need Galax to keep Mariah happy but she also needs me so she'll have Galax but can't activate Galax is how this will work, don't try looking for us. I must keep her happy. Don't look for us. I just want Mariah happy. I promise we will return in 2 years of Mariah's birthday and we will have chosen who we shall marry. I promise to return with Mariah. Don't wait for us. I have left our blades as well as a few chapters from Mariah's diary. The chapters are the part in time where she spent with Zackary. I'd like to clear up our names so we can marry and rejoin the people of our village. I promised not to leave Mariah unhappy and not joining you would be breaking that promise.

Ray Kon and Mariah Kito

The villagers and the council didn't attempt to find them. They had make the best choice possible. A choice that was punishment and nice at the same time. They couldn't stay with their friends or family and they couldn't use their bit-beasts and they were still joining them and Mariah and Ray were going to get married. There was no ending fitter than the one they chose together. Mariah and Ray shared the bond.

Mariah and Ray were living in a cavern under a waterfall in North Africa. It was a pleasant temperature and they could finally be where they chose their destiny. Some people had to sacrifice some things but they were really happy and they could be happy.

I'd like to thank all my wonderful, consistant reviewers. They have been very gracious. A few more wouldn't hurt but what more can I ask for. I'd like 3 reviews before I update but if that's not a little under scoring then I don't know what is. I have more stuff to do and IM's to attend to as well as another chapter to write, OAT's to take and homework to attend to.

Review Please, Marina