A/N: And yet again another late update. I hope you guys are not mad at me and as a token of peace and 'please don't kill me'; I bring to you the second last chapter of this story.

Awesome awesome thanks to my reviewers : Merffles, Lady Helena, LadyOfTheBluePhoenix, kay1fire, faith, RoseofSharon28, KrysJez, brezzybrez, Calli Maxwell, ileftmybraininmylocker, SapphireSword, moi, Myst Taylor, chibi Setsuna-chan, ILoveAnime89, Okami and Yasashii Tenshi.

Hugs and kisses to you for taking time to review!


Chapter 47

The cold icy wind lashed out at the teen as he moved swiftly down the streets of Moscow away from the prison of where he had just paid his old mentor a visit. The aftermath of the storm cut into his skin, reminding him of his match against Tala during the World Championship tournament. Tala's attacks were fiercer than the mild freezing air that bit his skin now so he forbore without complaining. His mind was occupied by things that were meant to be left back at that God-forsaken place.

"…there's an existing possibility that Jade's never gonna wake up…'

It was just like Boris to speak the cold truth. If Tala hadn't voiced out his own belief in Jade's gifted tendency for miracles, Kai would have been exactly what Boris sought out to do with those few words of finality. A hopeless defeated cause.

But in the end, he saw through the mind trick the man was trying to play on him and he had leaned in at little, allowing a hint of emotion through his expression. A glimpse of determination and plain stubbornness flickered in his crimson eyes as he responded confidently to Boris's words.

"That's where you're wrong, Boris." he had chuckled softly.

"What?"

"She'll wake up." he said calmly, closing his eyes. "I know she'll. I have faith in her."

"Do you actually think your faith will save her, boy?" Boris hissed, loosing his cool composure completely for the first time since Kai stepped into the room. When Kai didn't reply, he had sneered. "You're fool then to hold on to such a belief."

Kai had looked at him then and his reply had shocked the abbey director. "At least I have something to hold onto. What do you have?"

Without waiting for an answer or a respond, he headed for the door, signaling a guard to open it. The guard got the door open and as Kai stepped out, he heard Boris's voice one final time, speaking in a tone of resignation.

"Just like you, Kai to think you can save her. You think you can but you can't. Just like you think you're alone in the world without family and friends but you aren't."

Refusing to show how his words had affected him, Kai had left the compound without so much as a glance back. But for some reason, those few sentences kept coming back. Ringing in an irritating annoyance.

"You think you can but you can't. Just like you think you're alone in the world without family and friends but you aren't."

Who would have thought Boris was so good at riddles.

His eyes narrowed into slits as he glared almost angrily at the pavement ground he walked on. The hood of his windbreaker was up to cover his face from the view of possible madden fan-girls. So far no one was paying any attention to the young teen walking distractedly through the city alone. And that was when he felt it.

The sudden warmth of Dranzer. Fiery. Assuring.


Gone was the cold abbey and in its place, was a clear view of a cemetery. She squinted under the bright sunlight despite the shade provided by the shadows of the tree she stood under. The wind was blowing softly through the quiet place and with it, she could here the rustle of leaves and the scent of freshly moved earth. She sighed as she brushed back a strand of hair that floated with the wind and wrapped her arms tightly around her. In a distance ahead from her place of view, she could see and hear a priest speaking in a monotone voice as he conducted a burial ceremony.

"We are gathered here today to mourn the passing of a wonderful person, a loving mother…"

Not just any burial ceremony.

"…On the 8th of July, this soul was wretched from us by a brutal stabbing, taken before her time. Perpetrator was never caught…"

Her mother's funeral.

She bit her lower lip to suppress a shiver that wanted to run through her body. Why? Why am I here?

"Why do you think you're here, Jade?"

At the sound of that familiar voice, her eyes grew wide with fear and tiny waves of turmoil ripped through her trembling body as she just stood there, rooted to the spot. "Mom…"


Beep… Beep! Beep!

His head shot up immediately at the sudden change of pace in the heartbeat monitor. Abandoning his need for sleep on the sofa, Max was up and moving like a jackrabbit on sugar.

"Jade?" he called.

Beep…Beep…Beep…

To his disappointment, the girl was still unconscious and the rate of the monitor had fallen back into its normal pace. Confused, he rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand to wipe away any remains of sleep.

"Did I imagine it?" he mused aloud, scratching the back of his head.

"Hey, Max!" Tyson's voice hollered before the door flew open and the navy-haired boy strolled in with his arms filled with wrapped buns and canned drinks. "You hungry?"

"I guess I could use a drink." Max admitted, moving to help his friend with the load.

They piled it on to the table and Max grabbed a can of Coke from the pile. He opened it and was taking a sip while Tyson was rummaging through the food in his usual self. For a while all that could be heard was Tyson's munching and the steady beep of the machine. Max was still staring thoughtfully at Jade.

"Say, what happened to Ray?" Tyson asked. "I thought he was supposed to be here."

"The White Tigers called. They are planning on dropping by. Ray went downstairs to greet them." Max explained, lowering his drink.

Tyson scoffed. "Yeah, right. You mean more like to greet his girlfriend."

Max couldn't help but roll his eyes at Tyson's jest. He wondered how the other boy could remain so upbeat in this grim situation. He stole a look outside and grimaced at the dark weather. It was late and he didn't know how long they were allowed to stay. How long were visiting hours anyway?

"Where is Kenny?" Max asked almost after an afterthought.

"Oh, he and your mom are working on a sample of the drug they found in Jade's body." Tyson casted a sad glance at the lifeless girl as he told his bestfriend. "Don't worry, man. They'll find something. Your mom is good at what she does and Kenny is Einstein in the making. They'll find a cure."

"Yeah…I guess." the usual perky blonde kid of the Bladebreakers said, unconvinced.

Tyson looked at Jade again. "So no changes in the last hour?"

Max frowned, wondering whether to tell him. "Well…" he began uncertainly. "I was sure her heartbeat did increase a moment before you came in. But I was dozing off and it could have been my imagination."

"Dude, you need some rest." Tyson said. "False alarms like that are not cool."

"I know." Max said defensively. "But I was pretty sure I heard something." with a heavy sigh, he drank up his drink and stood up to toss it into the trash can. "Gee, sure must be nice, sleeping away like that without a care in the world."

Taking a bite of his bun, Tyson pulled a face. "Sounds boring. You can't eat. You can't blade."

"Speaking of blade…hey, Tyson?"

"Yeah?" concentrated on keeping the custard in the bun from dripping all over the floor, Tyson missed the confused puzzled tone in his friend's voice.

"Um…Draciel is acting weird."

"Huh, what?" that drew Tyson's attention away from his food and he dropped the bun onto the table, not caring that the custard had spilled onto the surface. He leaned in to look at the green Beyblade in Max's hand.

The other kid was staring at it as if he had never seen it before. In a way he had never seen his beloved Bitbeast act the way it was acting now except in battle. The bit in the center of the blade was glowing, throwing an odd green light pale in the bright room. It seemed restless and urgent.

"What's up with him?" Tyson asked.

"I don't know. What about Dragoon?" Max suggested.

Tyson reached into his pocket and pulled out his white blade. To his surprise, like Max's Draciel, Dragoon was radiating a blue glow. In the back of his mind, he could sense the anxiety his Bitbeast felt. Frowning, he lifted the blade closer to his face for a closer look. "What's up, Dragoon?"

Alas, there was no reply from the great dragon or the ancient turtle.


She could feel the change in air as the woman dressed in a flowing white dress stepped up to her, drawing abreast with her, blue eyes staring ahead at the ceremony proceedings before them. She could not move, could not breath, could not bring herself to look at the person standing next her as if they were close friends merely here to witness a funeral. Her hands were clenched by her sides, trembling slightly. She was paralyzed with fear

"You remember this day don't you, Jade?" the person asked softly. Even its voice resembled the wistful sigh of her mother. It bore an uncanny resemblance to the ghost that portrayed her mother before it had started to decay. But there were differences as well. Jade didn't have to look at her to know. She could feel it. For one thing, the woman who now stood beside her radiated warmth and light. She was beautiful, perhaps even more so than the mask that was really the corpse of her mother.

Too beautiful and pure for Jade to believe she was real.

Fighting the fear in her voice, she swallowed hard to steady her voice as she told her so. No matter how far she wanted to run, no matter how far she sank into the memories, the ghost of her mother will never stop tormenting her. It'll keep taunting her, reminding her of how she was the cause of her mother's passing, that she didn't deserve to be among the living. Closing her eyes in silent defeat, she accepted that fact, preparing to accept the harsh words she knew were to come.

But instead, the words that came were gentle and its voice was soft, maybe even a little sad as it spoke, gazing at her with patient blue eyes. "Jade, look into your heart. What does your heart tell you? Trust it. Believe what it's telling you."

"It's hard to trust." she said in a voice deprived of emotions and feelings. She just wanted to be left alone. "It's even harder to believe."

"I know it hurts but sometimes it's worth it, isn't it, Jade?" the voice came from it was familiar, filled with loving gentleness. "Isn't that you came to realize when you became friends with them?"

"What would you know?" she snapped back, looking into her mother's face for the first time. "I killed you, remember? I'm the reason that--." she waved a hand at the ceremony where people where now stepping forward to pay their last respects. "—is happening."

Her mother tilted her head with a curious expression on her face. "Is that what she told you? That other me?"

Shaking from head to toe, she nodded and looked away, half-expecting the woman to start rotting any moment now. She closed her eyes, allowing her bangs to hide the weariness on her face.

A tired sigh escaping her lips, the spirit of her mother kept her gaze on her, willing her to listen even if she didn't want to. "Jade…she was just an image created by Boris to break your will. You have to realize that. She isn't real. You can't let him win. Not after all those years."

"All those years…were nothing." Jade whispered. "No matter how much I tried, how far I run, he'll always be there. I don't know if I can go on like this anymore."

"Hiding from your problems and fears won't make them go away."

"If I go back, my friends will get hurt because of me. The same way you died…because of me…"

Pain flickered in lazuli blue eyes. "Oh, Jade. I didn't die because of you. I died for you. You were my world and I would gladly give my life all over again to see you safe and well. What happened that day wasn't your fault. What could you have done?"

Her eyes snapped open at the familiarity of those last five words. Where have I heard those words before…?



Upon greeting his old teammates, Ray had led the way through the hospital hallways and was chatting animatedly as he and the White Tigers stopped outside the room.

"It's great that you guys could actually make time to come." he said pleasantly.

"Well, it's the least we could do for Jade." Lee said.

"Is she okay?" Mariah asked with a concern she did not display around the other girl. She still wasn't sure what to make of the Bladebreakers' latest addition but to a certain extent, she could relate what it was like being the only female in the team.

"And again, Mariah, didn't know you cared. Ow!" Kevin's comment earned him an upside slap over the head that made him keep his mouth shut.

"It's too early to say." Ray said answering the pink-haired girl's question, hand on the door knob. His face fell a little. "We don't know when she might be waking up."

"She is sleeping?" Gary asked stupidly. He scratched his head in confusion. "That doesn't sound so bad."

Lee sighed at his teammate and started to explain the difference between a normal slumber and a coma to the big guy while Ray sweatdropped and opened the door. As he did, he suddenly felt the familiar tugging of his tiger spirit in his mind.

What the…? Driger?

"Ray!" Max's relieved shout greeted him. "Thank god you're here, man."

Next to him, Tyson was nodding vigorously. Ray couldn't help but notice that both of them were cradling their Beyblades in their hands. Did they try to have a Beybattle in the hospital room? Because if they did, Kai will not be happy.

"What's up?" he asked as casually as possible.

"Is your Driger acting weird?" Tyson rushed in without even bothering to say 'hello' to Lee who appeared at the door behind Ray.

"Driger?" fishing into his pouch, Ray pulled out his blade and was taken back to see the white greenish glow of the white tiger spirit. "What in the…?"

Lee stepped into the room, making his presence known to the other two Bladebreakers. "What's going on?" he asked in confusion and concern.

"Oh hey, Lee." Tyson said with a brief curt nod. He held open his palm for them to see the blue glow his Dragoon was emitting. Max did the same and everyone could see a similar light from Draciel's bit. "Our Bitbeasts are all acting weird." the navy-haired blader said in a way of explanation.

Instinctively, the members of the White Tiger team each pulled out their blades, all slowly confirming one thing. Perplexed, Lee shook his head after his gaze had taken in the looks on his friends' faces. "Ours are just fine."

"Then it's just ours." Ray concluded to himself. "Why is that?"

"Do you think this has something to do with Jade's missing Bitbeast?" Max spoke up.

"Draizer's missing?" Tyson asked, eyes flying wide. "Since when?"

Max shrugged. "I don't know. I noticed it after I had switched shifts with Kai earlier."

"Say, speaking of Kai." Kevin said suddenly from the door. "Where is he? Shouldn't he be here too?"

The Bladebreakers shared a look but it was Ray who voiced their thoughts. "Do you think his Dranzer might be acting up as well?"

"Maybe. But we can't be sure yet." Max reasoned. "Maybe we should check with Tala too. He might know something."

Tyson gritted out his frustration. "Where's Kai anyway?"


"Jade, you were only a child then. It is not your fault you couldn't have done anything." she told her. "That was then. You were still very young then."

The choice of her words was startling for she was certain she had heard them before somewhere, perhaps in a life before this one. Before this…nightmare she was in. Green eyes widening now, she stared at her mother, almost daring herself to believe.

The woman smiled softly at her. "I don't blame you, Jade. I don't blame anyone. If I could accept that, it's time that you did. The pain won't go away until you learn to deal with it. You can't run forever."

"But what if…I can't…I can't go back."

"Because you're afraid your friends will get hurt because of you?" her mother shook her head. "If you don't go back, won't they feel the pain of loosing someone they care about? Do you really want to put them through what you went through when I died?"

"No…"Jade whispered, seeing the light of truth in her words.

Her eyes softened reminding Jade of another pair of blue eyes that belonged to another wolf blader. "They need you, Jade. It'll be hard, I know but you'll be alright. I can promise you that. You're strong. Just like you promised me the day you returned my body to the earth."

Jade looked back at the funeral proceedings, in time to see a young girl dressed in a black funeral suit walk up to the open coffin hand in hand with the grey-haired caretaker of the orphanage. She held a lily in her other hand, cradling it almost lovingly. Words mouthed from her soft lips and Jade need not hear to know the words whispered. After all, it was she who had uttered them so many years ago. She watched as the girl, the younger her stood up on her tiptoes and carefully placed the flower within the coffin.

"It's alright, you know." her mother softly said without taking her eyes of the scene.

Momentarily confused, Jade stole a glance at the blue-eyed woman but she never looked at her.

"For what it's worth…I forgive you."



Wolborg was glowing as well. Tala didn't know how to explain it. He didn't even notice, having worry too much for Alexis. Only when Ray told him of their Bitbeasts' odd behavior did he realized that his own sacred spirit was emitting its chilling aura of ice and coldness. As he stared at it now, he gradually noted that the glow had dimmed a little.

As though it's loosing its powers…

"So what do you think, Tala?"

Having someone who wasn't Kai, Jade or Alexis speak to him in a warm, none-commanding tone was startling and he knew it would be a while before he could get used to it. Wrapping his hand around his blade, Tala looked up at the expecting face of Tyson with a frown. "I have no idea." he said.

Tyson arched an eyebrow. "You have no idea?"

Tala sighed and shook his head. Only he and the Bladebreakers remained in the room now. Lee and his team had volunteered to call the All Starz and the Majestics to see if they were experiencing a similar phenomenon with their spirits.

"I don't get it." Ray pondered, staring at his own blade in a puzzling manner. "Why is it just our Bitbeasts that are just acting up?"

That was a good question but Tala had a brief idea why. It seemed to him that only the spirits of those who were close to Jade, people she considered friends were the ones acting up. It was as if something was calling on them, for their power and they were responding in the only way they could. Turning to the Bladebreakers, he tried explaining it as best as he could to them but in the end only Ray seemed to understand.

"Something is calling them?" Tyson asked amazed. "What do you mean, something is calling them?"

"It's hard to explain, Tyson." the red head said. "And I doubt someone like you might understand."

Tyson bristled in anger. "What the hell does that mean?"

"I'm not trying to insult you." Tala replied, not looking sorry at all. He glanced back at the unconscious girl lying in bed and gently brushed back a strand of stray hair from her face. His gaze fell upon the empty surface of her blade, motionless, spirit-less. His eyes flicked back to her pale face, searching for any sign of life. Come on, kid. Snap out of it.

"Kai!"

Tala glanced up sharply at the sound of Tyson's astonished voice. The Bladebreakers' captain stood at the door, lowering the hood of his windbreaker from his face as he stepped into the room. For a millisecond, he looked up and Tala couldn't help but notice the sheer exhaustion in the bluenette's eyes.

"Where have you been, Kai?" Ray asked in concern.

"Out. I needed a walk." Kai replied shortly. His gaze focused on the unconscioused teenager. "Any changes?"

"Not really." Max answered. He hesitated a moment before he brought up the subject that has been on their mind for a while. "Kai, has your Dranzer been…um, acting odd?"

"Yeah."

"Really? I guess that proves your theory's right, Tala." Tyson said regretfully.

"You don't seem too worried about it." the red head Russian said to his childhood friend.

"There's nothing to worry about." Kai said softly, reaching out to clasp the limp hand that was wrapped around Draizer's blade. "Why don't you guys just take a break? Go back to the hotel and freshen up. I'll stay here. Besides you're starting to stink up the place."

Max and Tyson scowled at the insult, pulling a childish face at the stoic teen but Ray recognized it as an effort to relieve them of their worries. He smiled and nodded, agreeing to the idea.

"Kai's right." he said. "We've been here for hours. A bath, a nap and some proper food would help."

Reluctantly, the younger two finally gave in and as Tala looked on in amusement, Ray bided goodbye, promising to be back in two hours or so before he ushered Tyson and Max out of the room.

"Way to handle them."

Kai looked up at the other Russian. "That applies to you too, Tala."

Tala straightened from his leaning position against the wall. "Are you sure?"

"Yes." Kai said brusquely. "I'll be fine."

Heading to the door, the red-haired boy shrugged and reached out, clapping a hand over his old friend's shoulder. "Hey, if you need anything…"

The sentence was left unfinished between them for Kai need not words to know what the other blader meant and he appreciated Tala's concern as well as the concern of his own team. He heard the door closing behind Tala and he turned his attention back to Jade.

It's all up to you now, Jade.


To hear those words coming for the lips of the one person whose death had mattered to her, it left a throbbing sensation within her chest. It wasn't pain as she had felt many times nor was it sadness or guilt. It was…relief. It was as though a burden was lifted and she could breathe again. Live again.

"I forgive you, Jade. And I love you. I have always loved you, my darling baby. But you have to go back. Go back to your friends… and go back to Kai."

"Kai..."his name fell from her lips like a life-giving breath.

"You love him, Jade. I can see it in your eyes. So return to him. Be with him. Life is too short to be wasted alone." Ivy Raven said softly. She smiled. "Believe me. I know."

Jade wondered if she meant her father. Seeing the confusion and curiosity on her daughter's face, her mother sighed. "I love your father, Jade. I love him for everything he has done for me, every memory he has given me. He made me the luckiest person alive because…he gave me you."

Jade averted her eyes back to the funeral now watching as the crowd parted leaving only a young girl and her caretaker. She wrapped her arms around herself tighter as a gentle breeze tousled her hair and with it, she heard a howl.

Recognizing it and knowing it from the deepest core of her soul, she turned around to seeked out the creature and when she found it, without giving thought, a smile lifted the corners of her lips.

"Draizer…"

Standing amidst a row of tombstones in all its splendor, looking very much fresh and blood, the wolf stood out like a revived fire of blue through the darkness that has cloaked her for so long. In the light of the sun, its fur looked pale, almost snowy white. She could feel it. She could feel the power residing within it. Its energy combined with others to reach her.

Its golden eyes locked with hers as it started towards her, leaving clawed-paw prints on the snow-covered ground. Its tail swayed lazily behind its hind legs and when it stood before her, it lifted its head to her. Intelligence and fondness embasking in its eyes, a tiny whine escaped its throat as the wolf lowered its head to be patted. Jade complied, bringing both her hands to stroke the warm fur beneath its neck. She knelt and wrapped her arms around its neck, absently scratching behind its ears now and then. Draizer muzzled its wet nose against her neck in return.

"You have done well as its Guardian. Our ancestors would have been proud." her mother said with a soft smile. "Protect it…"

"And it'll protect you." Jade finished, caressing the wolf's neck lovingly.

Pleased, her mother nodded. Draizer slidded from Jade's embrace and padded up to the other woman before it sat down on its hind legs obediently. Ivy knelt before it and ran a hand over its smooth fur along its back. "That's a good boy." she whispered, gazing fondly into the wolf's eyes. "Take care of her, Draizer."

Draizer nodded, its ear flicking as it tilted its head. It licked the hand Ivy held out and rose, returning to Jade's side. It started to lead the way but its mistress wasn't ready to leave yet.

"Will I see you again, mom?" Jade asked, staring at the woman standing under the tree.

Something that resembled sadness danced in her mother's blue eyes. "No. I'm afraid not. At least, not any time soon. You're destined for a greater purpose, Jade. It isn't your time yet."

Jade would have ask her more about what she meant but Draizer let out a bark then, drawing her attention and when she glanced back, her mother was gone.



Her eyelids flickered as she slowly grew herself back to conscious. The beeping of machines around her became clear to her ears. Her nose wrinkled on reflexes as the scent of sterilized floors reached her nostrils. She hated hospitals and unfortunately, has been to enough hospitals to recognize its smell. Everything in the hospital was just too clean. It always seemed to her that the janitors purposely splashed on too much sterilizer onto everything to hide the blood marks.

Her mind was still in a fuzzy and she guessed it was still sedated. Her entire body ached and her throat felt sore. Her eyes fluttered halfway open and she moaned softly. Her vision was blurred and her eyes burned with every amount of light that spilled in to her view. But every time she blinked, her eyesight was improving.

Her rapidly recovering gaze took in the room she was in, the machines and the furniture. There was a half-eaten custard bun on the table and the fillings had spilled onto the table surface. She guessed only one person could have left that there.

Tyson. That idiot…

Warmth ran up her arm from her right hand and she lifted it. Her fingers were wrapped around her blue blade and the Bit in the center held once again its ancient spirit. Fixated and amazed, she gazed at it as though she had never seen it before. Draizer's form on the Bit stood as she had seen it in the cemetery. Strong, majestic. Beautiful yet deadly.

Draizer…

She has heard of Bitbeasts evolving but it never occurred to her that one day her own sacred spirit would change as well. It was a frightening yet exciting sensation. To explore the unknown. A tiny weary grin curled her lips at the thought and she pushed aside the blankets, rising from the bed.

That however soon faded when she was pulled back by something that sent a twitching pain through her arm and with a scowl, she finally turned her attention to the needles and IV tubes that stuck to her flesh.

With a grunt she yanked them out and flinched slightly from the pain. "Ow…"

The beeping of the heart monitor went dead and she glared at it briefly. Then she lifted her head cautiously, her senses heightening to lengths she never thought possible. It seems that Draizer wasn't the only one that has changed. The world seemed sharper now, the colors brighter as if someone had turned the knob of a blur television set. And her sense of smell…the scent of sterilizer mixed with bleach was now overwhelming and incredibly nauseating.

She needed to get out of here. To find open space and get fresh air.

She glanced out the window at the depressing sight of a garden below. It looked, well, dead but at least there was ample space and none-sterilized fresh air. She was still mulling over how she was going to get out without anyone questioning her when she heard the closed door to the room open then she heard her name whispered in a state of surprise.

"Jade…"

Mind still in a daze, it took a while for her to place the voice and when she did, she whirled around and saw Kai standing at the door with a cup of streaming coffee in his hand.

"Kai…"

He lowered the cup to the table, thinking that his mind was playing a trick on his eyes. Had fatigue and exhaustion finally caught up with him? On reflexes, he glanced at the bed only to see it empty and the covers tossed aside. No, it wasn't a hallucination. He turned his eyes back to her. Standing by the window, the moonlight embasked her figure, adding a pale glow to her skin. Her green eyes were wide as they stared at him. For a long moment, they didn't speak, just stared at each other.

Kai found himself struggling for words. "Shouldn't you be in bed?"

"I'm okay." she said with that stubborn trait he often found so annoying and endearing at the same time. Under his prodding gaze, her eyes flickered to stare at the floor instead. "What…what date is it today? How long was I…asleep?"

He stepped toward her, moving cautiously so he wouldn't scare her. "Couple of days. Jade, you were in a coma. We thought you weren't gonna wake up."

I almost didn't…want to wake up…, she thought, still staring sullenly at the carpeted floor. Sighing, she started to lift her head. "But I'm awake now and I'm fine. That's all that matters, ri–?"

His hand reached out and cupped her cheek, tilting her face up. Her words were cut off as his lips met her gently, stealing her air, leaving her breathless. His arms pulled her against him. She responded, kissing him back and thought she tasted tears on his lips. It must be her imagination. Kai Hiwatari does not cry. It was…unbecoming.

He said in a strangled voice, words not coming easily to him. "I was so…afraid that you weren't going to wake up. That I would lose you."

"I know." she whispered, resting her head against his chest. His lips touched the top of her head and she allowed her eyes to drift close in contentment. Maybe her mother was right after all. Life was too short to be wasted alone. And even though it wasn't going to be easy, there were still moments worth living for. Like now.

"I know. I'm here now and I'm not going anywhere."


"Black Roses Red" by Alana Grace courtesy of Lady Helena

Can I ask you a question please
Promise you won't laugh at me
Honestly I'm standing here
Afraid I'll be betrayed.
As twisted as it seems, I only fear love when it's in my dreams
So let the morning light come in and let the darkness fade away

Can you turn my black roses red?

Drowning in my loneliness
How long must I hold my breath
So much emptiness inside I could fill the deepest sea
I reach to the sky as the moon looks on
One last year has come and gone
It's time to let your love rain down on me

Can you turn my black roses red?
Cause I'm feeling like I'll blame it on love



A/n: Next chapter is the last of this story. So if you want a sequel, then review! By the way, million thanks to Lady Helena for suggesting this song. It's actually quite a meaningful song. R&R!

Yet again another pointless question: What about Wolf's Rain? Anyone interested in the cute adorable wolves of Wolf's Rain?