Here's the final chapter! A gigantic thanks to hikari0205, SilverMoon Wolf, Elemental Gypsy, Crucialus (), Lamanth, shadowoftheredmoon, missy (), Kai Angel and Kiko cat for reviewing. (If I've missed anybody out, tell me!)Can I just say that, contrary to somebody's opinion, I do NOT hate Ray! (hugs Ray plushie protectively) I luv my little Ray-Ray! It just worked out like it did because Brooklyn doesn't! He changes his opinion a little bit in this ending chapter, though...
Lots of people have asked me what is wrong with Kai, and since it doesn't get mentioned much, if at all, I'm going to say it now. His stomach lining was punctured. It was operated on last chapter (there's hints to it if you look) and he's fine now, just a little tired and weak, and still in hospital.
There's been stuff happening at home, so this hasn't been updated when I would have liked it to be. Enjoy!
I walk into the hospital beside Max, who I'm now seriously worried about. He's nearly fallen twice in the two-minute walk from the car park to the hospital, and hasn't said a word since telling the taxi driver where we wanted to go. Out of sheer habit, I turn and begin walking down the corridor leading to the psychiatric ward. Max pulls at my sleeve.
"Wrong direction." he says with a brief, strained smile, pointing in the correct direction. I obediently walk that way.
"Max, you really don't look too good…" I say uncertainly. He gives me an annoyed glare and I fall silent. Fine. If he hasn't got a concussion at least, I'll eat Zeus.
Suddenly, the rest of the Bladebreakers appear as we turn a corner, lounging gracefully, (Hilary) slouching and stuffing his face, (who else? Tyson) fiddling with Dizzi, (Kenny) and pacing restlessly (Ray) at various points in the waiting room, completely oblivious to the awed gazes of everyone under the age of about fifty, staff included.
"How is he?" I burst out as we get within a reasonable distance. They all look up in unison, matching looks of surprise on their faces. It's quite funny, actually. After the usual chaotic jumble of "Hello", "You okay?" and so on, and Kenny's usual, belated, "Who? What? Oh, hey Brooklyn," they all fall silent and look uneasily towards Ray, who, for some reason, looks furious.
"What did you do to Max?" he grits out from between clenched teeth. I bristle instantly, my hand flying instinctively to Zeus, waiting as patiently as ever in my pocket.
"I said I was sorry." I say softly, dangerously.
"Maybe that wasn't good enough!" Ray snaps, striding over to Max and gently placing his hand on the blond's head, pressing lightly as he searches for any wounds or bumps. I look, see a faint, nearly unnoticeable tinge of pink stain Max's cheeks at Ray's delicate touch. Well, I never…no accounting for taste…okay, that wasn't nice! "Fuck, what'd you do to him, hit him round the head with the fucking wall?" Ray snarled.
"I said I was sorry!" I repeated, my eyes flashing. "I was upset because I couldn't see Kai!"
"Oh yeah, that's the catch-all excuse for everything, isn't it, Brookie? You were upset. No matter what happens to anyone else, as long as no one blames the psychotic blading genius! He was just fucking upset!" He's glaring up at me, his eyes wide and blazing with a strange, passionate fury. "You don't know how fucking lucky you are, you stinking dickhead. Your whole life, people have been making excuses for you, telling themselves that you couldn't help it, it wasn't your fault! When you realise you can't fix something by wriggling out of it, you don't turn and face it like a true blader, you lash out and scream at it and hope that it'll go away! You make me sick!"
I draw myself up to my full height, shaking with fury, fighting the urge to grab Zeus and shut him up for good. Because he's right, and that's what hurts. I'm a coward, a bully, I use violence when nothing else works my way, and poor Max is the proof of that. I drown in self-pity for a few seconds, then white-hot rage flares up inside me again.
"Like you care about me! The only reason you notice me at all is because I'm standing in the way of Kai! You can't deny it, I know you want him! Why would he take you?" I hiss spitefully. "Why would anyone take you?" Ray's face drains of colour. I see this, but can't stop the words from spilling out. "You're stuck-up, arrogant, you think you know it all, you think everyone's falling at your feet! Well they're not! You're the weakest of all of us, Ray, and don't you think I don't know it! Everyone knows it! Everyone saw you in the Worlds, the only one who didn't get to fight the World Champion, the only one who was weak enough to lose that quickly! You're utterly pathetic, and you don't deserve to call yourself a blader!" I finish, panting, expecting a furious retort.
Nothing comes. The glittering, incensed light in Ray's eyes dies, leaving a blank void behind. Slowly, every movement very deliberate, he turns around and begins walking towards the exit.
"You're entitled to your own opinions." he says quietly. "If anybody wants me, I'll...be around." Strained, awkward silence falls as he goes through the doorway. "Kai's in room 104." he calls, his voice eerily calm. Sensing that I've somehow done far more damage than I intended, I stare resolutely at the floor, the walls, anything but the others, as I walk towards Kai's room.
Kai looks up as I come into the room. He's lying down, looking drowsy, his face still slightly waxy. Seeing my uncertainty, he smirks and beckons me forwards.
"C'mon, Brook. It's not contagious." I smile nervously and move to sit on the bed next to him. He struggles to sit upright, managing it with a grunt, and holds out his arms. I lean into his comforting embrace with a sigh of relief and close my eyes. A few minutes later: "What's these for?" He touches his finger lightly to my cheek and shows me the tears. I blink. When did I start crying?
The words spill out, tumbling over one another.
"I was so scared, because you were ill, then no one would tell me anything. I really hurt Max, I think I might have given him concussion, then…then…" I trailed off, belatedly wondering whether I should tell Kai what I said to his best friend.
"Then?" His voice is sharp and hard, like a razor. Like a beyblade. Which reminds me, Zeus is still in my pocket, and - "Concentrate, Brook. Then what?"
"I-I think…I insulted Ray, 'cause he insulted me first…I said he was the weakest of us all…and no one would ever want him…and I think I might've…hurt him more than I wanted to…" I say timidly. Alarm flashes in Kai's eyes. He breathes in sharply, the lets it out slowly.
"Right…" He pushes his hair back from his forehead. "Brooklyn, there's some things you need to know, okay? That means I need you to concentrate very hard, and follow everything I'm saying, understand me?"
"Yes…" God, I'm nervous now.
"All your paranoia that Ray likes me…put it this way, it's not unfounded. During the second Worlds, we were together, I'm not denying that. He was only fifteen, still growing up, he had a serious crush on me. I took advantage of that slightly, I think I took him too far, too quickly. Anyway, he never wanted me and only me, that's where the difficultly lay.
"You see, he's bisexual, and he was fancying people right, left and centre. Salima, Ozuma, King and Queen, I think he fantasised about every single one of our team, except Kenny of course, and I can't deal with that kind of thing." He smiles slightly. "I don't share. So, I ended it, very abruptly, after Tyson won for the second time and left the team. He followed my example soon afterwards, but we both came back within a relatively short space of time. Tyson was getting lonely. " He smirks. "As you know, for the third Worlds, the Bladebreakers split up. Anyway, he spent most of that time worrying. He knew he wasn't the strongest, he also knew that Max, who had always been weaker than him, would be receiving the best training that money and his mother's influence could buy.
"He'd always liked Max as more than a friend, and he desperately didn't want to lose to him. According to what Lee said when I asked him, there were times when he would become almost as harsh to them as I was at my worst. He had a terrible fear of losing, of proving himself to be the lowest of us. And then, when he lost to me and became the only one of us who didn't fight Tyson when he was at his best, that knocked his already battered confidence for six. And when he lost to Crusher, it pretty much disappeared.
"I'd even go as far as to say that he became depressed. Everywhere he turned, there was another lost battle, another futile crush rejected because, or so he thought, he wasn't good enough. Thankfully, we managed to drag him out of it before he did anything too drastic. And I'd say your…comments might have just pushed him back into his old habits again."
I swallow, feeling physically sick at what my angry words have done. Kai's face is worried, his eyes dark as he thinks.
"Go and find him." I blink, startled.
"What?"
"You heard me, Brook. Go and find him. Apologise."
"But-"
"No buts. Go." Kai pushes me off the bed, pain flashing through his eyes at the movement. We lock gazes, battling silently. He wins. As always. Wordlessly, I turn and leave the room, racking my brain for Ray's possible whereabouts.
Kai's easy to find; he goes down to the beach or by the river, so does Tyson. But Ray…I've got no idea where he could be…he could be anywhere. All right, Brooklyn, use your head. It might be messed-up, but there's an IQ of 187 hidden in there somewhere, put it to use! Suddenly, a thought flashes into my mind.
It's just a single image. Once, Ray was upset about something, I never bothered asking what, and left the house. I was walking to the shops and I saw him in a tree, lying on this big, thick branch, crying. It stuck in my head, which is a good thing, because that's the only lead I have on where he could be… I set off at a jog.
Yes, I was right! Oh yeah, having a genius IQ and a photographic memory comes in handy on occasions! He's up there, in that same tree, his eyes closed, oblivious to the stares he's getting from a young couple on a bench a few feet away.
Deep breaths…think of birds…nice and calm… I walk up to the couple.
"Could you possibly move?" I ask politely. "I need to talk to my friend up there," I nod towards Ray, "and it's a little…personal." The girl blushes and nods instantly, elbowing her boyfriend in the side and standing up. He gives me what Max jokingly calls the "homophobe" look and stands up, deliberately barging into me as he goes past. Well, they think Ray's my boyfriend, but sacrifices must be made! Now then, that was plain nasty! I've got to stop doing that if I'm going to be at all sincere when I apologise.
I walk over to the tree and look up at him.
"Ray?" I call softly. "You okay?" He stirs, mutters something, then settles back down again. "Ray?" I repeat, this time a little louder. He stirs again, his eyelids fluttering open. "Ray, can I talk to you?" He blinks drowsily and peers down.
"Oh, it's you. What happened, Kai tell you to come and say sorry?" he mumbles. I nod sheepishly. "Well, say it, then go away and leave me alone. I want to go back to sleep."
"You can't sleep up here forever." I point out sensibly.
"Gimme one good…reason why," he says around a yawn.
"You'll get ill." He snorts.
"Yeah, like you give a damn about me!"
"Maybe I do!" I say defiantly. He blinks a few times, rubs his eyes, and leans down, staring intently at me with sleep-clouded eyes. Slowly, horror fills those same sleepy golden orbs.
"He's told you everything, hasn't he?" he whispers, so softly that I practically have to lip-read. I nod uncertainly. He lets out a muffled howl of rage and slams his fist against the tree trunk. "I am not being pitied by a schizophrenic tree hugger!" he yells. Personally, I find that quite funny considering he's the one up the tree, but whatever... "This isn't fair…this wasn't how it was supposed to happen!" He's talking to himself now, his voice an incoherent mumble. Dread hits me like a punch to the stomach.
"Ray, have you…taken anything?" I ask cautiously. He glares at me, and I notice for the first time the difficulty his pupils are having in moving.
"Couple more antidepressants than normal - you report that back to Kai and you die." he mumbles. My eyes widen.
"How many?" My voice is still perfectly calm and level. Good, because the rest of me certainly isn't. He shrugs, his eyelids flickering sleepily.
"More than I should, but I reckon you already know that." He yawns again, settling into a more comfortable position on the branch.
"Do you like Max, Ray?" I ask, desperately trying to keep him awake. Dazed eyes struggle to focus on me as he drags his mind back into reality again.
"Uh-huh. What's the point, it's not like he's even gay…"
"He is. Or bi." I add honestly. Ray's eyes widen slightly.
"Really?" His voice is barely audible. I nod frantically.
"He likes you, too, I saw him blush when you were checking him over earlier in the hospital." I said quickly. Ray merely blinked in response, a tiny smile creeping across his face. "Ray, I'm so, so sorry." Wow, where did that come from? I actually do feel…sorry for him. You see, I know what it's like, to be so depressed you try and kill yourself. I've been there, time and time again. Even now, even with Kai around, I still have days when I look at Zeus' sharp edges in a different light. "I know…what it's like. Feeling like you do. And I'm so sorry, if I'd have known, I would never have said what I did."
"Sure you wouldn't."
"I wouldn't!"
"Mm, right…whatever you wanna think…" Growling in frustration, I turn away, just in time to see Max come racing up the path, his eyes fixed on Ray.
"He's overdosed." I tell Max, who seems to be barely listening. "I'm going to go and get help. Try and keep him awake." I run off, not bothering to check if Max is following my instructions. He will be, though, I'd bet Zeus on it. That and more.
Four hours later, I'm curled up comfortably next to Kai, watching Ray and Max in the next bed. (And in a similar position, might I add) Ray accepted my apology in the end, after he'd had his stomach pumped, and he's promised all of us that, yes he will try and see someone. With Max, Hilary and Kai all ordering him to, he could hardly say no and get away alive, but hey, that's friends (and boyfriends!) for you. He can use my shrink. He's okay, I suppose. The shrink, that is, not Ray. He's okay, too, I suppose. They make a very cute couple, even Tyson admitted as much! When it comes to, quote "mushy stuff", he's almost as bad as Kai! Who, by the way, is horrendous! I'm glad that sex doesn't count as sentimental, otherwise I'd never get any…ooh, now, that would be bad…
"What's up, Brook?" I look up at my boyfriend and smile, blowing him a cheeky kiss.
"Just thinking,"
"About what?"
"You and sex." He grins and shifts position so that we're lying stomach to stomach.
"Now, that sounds interesting…" Tyson makes some loud comment about "too much testosterone in this dump" and storms out. Everyone is momentarily silent with the shock of Tyson knowing such a long word.
Max grins and sits up, much to Ray's dislike, but he's still too drugged-up to do much about the sudden lack of Max-warmth.
"So," the petit blond asks, grinning mischievously. "Who do you reckon he fancies?" We all laugh, and Hilary, Max and I start suggesting possibilities, each wilder than the last. A few minutes later, Ray is asleep, and Kai is having difficulty hiding his tiredness. Kenny and I notice simultaneously and make signals to whichever of the remaining two are closer to us. Sitting up, I kiss Kai's cheek lightly.
"Bye, Kai," I murmur, wrapping my arms round him in a fierce hug. He returns the kiss, his slightly more…ho hum…let's just say adventurous? Mm.
"See you tomorrow, Brook," he says, his voice strained with the effort of not yawning. I grin.
"Go to sleep, you nutter."
"You're calling me a nutter?"
"Takes one to know one!" I shoot back. He fumbles for a comeback and gives up, lying back and closing his eyes.
"Bye, guys," he says abruptly. Knowing an order when we hear one, we all file out. Max and I turn around in the doorway and take one last look at our other halves. I smile as Kai cracks open one eye, sees me watching and flips me the finger.
You're all mine, Kai. Not Ray's, not anyone else's, you're mine, and I'm yours.
Whoever knew belonging to somebody felt so good?
Well? In my opinion, this chapter seems really rushed, but I couldn't think of another way to end it. Hope you all enjoyed it! (rejoyces at finally finishing a story) Please, please review! I'll give you cookies!