Ray: Somebody please stop her!
RTC: You're only saying that because you're my number one victim. Now can I have the disclaimer please?
Daichi: Ray-Tiger-Cat does not own Beyblade. In fact, she doesn't own much of anything!
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Escape
To: the-icy-one
From: howl-to-the-moon
Subject: Boris
Message:
Kari, I hate to be the one to tell you the news, but it seems like Boris managed to get parole. I don't know where he is or what he's planning, but it can't be good. The others have someone to check on the, but I'm worried about you. Please take care of yourself, okay?
Okay, it's now time to cross my fingers and hope she doesn't blow up. She seem like an innoccent child, but I've learned not to make her angry. I guess that may be part of the reason I worry about her-if she runs into Boris, she could get herself into real trouble.
To: howl-to-the-moon
From: the-icy-one
Subject: Re: Boris
Message:
He what?! They let him go?! What the hell are they thinking letting him loose?! Tala, I can watch out for myself. Besides, I'm doing correspondence school, so they'll notice if I don't send in my assignments. I hope you're got back up too, because he is just as likely to come after you.
I don't even want to know why they let him go! Does the fact that he killed multiple people count for anything?! Tala's worried about me?! He should be watching out for himself, the idiot!
To: crouchingtiger, blondes-have-more-fun, monkeyboy, shopaholics-anonymous, emcsquared, howl-to-the-moon, the-icy-one
From: draggon-rox-my-sox
Subject: Our current problem
Message:
Well, all of us here in Japan are trying very hard to convince the police to lock Boris up again, but so far it has been ineffective. Hilary says for everyone to send more messages, so that we can keep tabs on one another and I'm with her. It's been months since we were together and if it takes several more months before we are together again, Boris can target us easily.
Things just got a whole lot more dangerous. I don't know what will happen when Boris encounters one of the team, but I don't want to find out either. And no, I don't think he's sorry and going to live a peaceful life. Stupid police and jurors-that's what they told me and Hilary when we went to talk to them.
To: draggon-rox-my-sox, blondes-have-more-fun, monkeyboy, shopaholics-anonymous, dragoon-rox-my-sox, howl-to-the-moon, the-icy-one
From: crouchingtiger
Subject: Bad news
Message:
I will just point out that this email has nothing to do with Boris, but I would advise sitting down before you read this anyway. I'm going to be blunt: Lizzie has rejected the transplant. The doctors say it's only a matter of weeks. Mom is hysterical, Dad is furious and Lynn is very confused. I'm just trying to hold things together. Lizzie might send you a message herself if she feels any better soon.
It was my marrow. She's dying because of me... It was bad enough that Kai died, but now Lizzie too? Life is not fair. And to top things off, I have no one to talk to because they won't understand. My family is not taking this well. It broke my heart when Lizzie told me she didn't expect to live past sixteen anyway.
To: crouchingtiger
From: the-icy-one
Subject: Re: Bad news
Message:
At first, I didn't think things were too bad, but now I think I would have been happier if this was about Boris. Ray, I am so sorry. I think I've heard all the lines on coping, but they haven't helped, so I won't repeat such corny things to you. Tell Lizzie I love her like a little sister. I'm going to miss her so much. I want to have a web cam conversation, if she's up for it. It's all I can do not to cry, so I'm closing now.
Poor Ray, I can sympathize with what he's going through. I don't know what I'll do when she dies; she was like my sister, and the last person I had a tie to. This has been a very hard year for all of us. And just when I thought things could not get any worse too.
To: crouchingtiger
From: shopaholics-anonymous
Subject: Re: Bad news
Message:
Ray, I don't know what to say, but sorry. I'm speechless; I really thought she would be okay, especially since it's been so long since the transplant. I guess I was wrong, huh? Tyson and Kenny send their regards, but you'll probably be hearing from them soon.
I feel so awful, knowing that Ray is probably beating himself up for all this. If we were all still living nearby, then I would try to comfort him, but I don't dare come out and say it to his face. From how it sounds, Lizzie is the only one handling things well at the moment.
---
"Hi Kari!" Lizzie grinned and said into the mike. Looking at her, you could tell even being out of bed was draining her very quickly, but there was a look of determination on her face.
"Hey yourself. So, how are things?" Kari replied, tears nearly falling down her cheeks. The old Kari might have been bawling by now, but the new one kept up the brave front.
Lizzie shrugged her shoulders and said, "They're okay, I guess. Mom and Dad aren't doing so well and I know Ray is trying to keep it together for my sake."
"Doesn't sound like much fun. What about you? Are you going to be okay with all this?"
"Well, like I told Ray, ever since my first relapse, I knew I couldn't beat it. I've put up my fight, but my time is over. Just look at me, Kari," Lizzie said, indicating her skin and bone figure, the bags under her eyes, the bruises and the wheelchair and medical equipment attached to her frame. "I'm not going to be around much longer. Will you promise me something?"
"Sure, anything," Kari replied.
"I want you to watch over Ray and Lynn for me. Mom and Dad will make it, I know they will, but Ray is beating himself up. And I'd like to know Lynn will still have an older sister somewhere on earth, even if she's not a blood sister," Lizzie added when Kari started to point out that fact.
"Okay, I promise."
"I love you Kari. Please take care of yourself. I'd better go back to bed now, okay?"
"Same. Bye, Honey." Kari disconnected, knowing that this could have been the last conversation she would have with Lizzie.
---
"Tala, I need to talk to you. It's urgent. I'll call you as soon as I can. Or call me back on this line." This was the message Tala found on his answering machine that same evening. He punched in the number found on his display and Kari picked up.
"Tala! Did you hear about Lizzie?!" she wailed as soon as she heard his voice. "I don't know how long I can keep on going!"
"Stay strong, Kari, we'll make it through. I know you miss Kai, and I do too, but he is gone." Tala had found the point of Kari's panic. "I know Lizzie was one the last people you connected with, maybe because the both of you had brothers that you could depend on most of the time and you spent much time worrying about them together. Just don't loose it."
"Why do you care so much, Tala? I mean you pay me much more attention than you do to most of your other friends."
"I-"
"Never mind, I'm just ranting. Thanks for listening, I didn't know who else to turn to. Love you, bye."
"Bye," Tala said reluctantly and hung up. For the life of me, I will never understand that girl.
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RTC: So, I'm sorry for the lack of blood and gore and romance and a lot of other stuff you wan to see. And I'm really sorry for many chapters that have been a bit odd and you might think they are a bit plot less, but they help tie the fic together.
Kai: It's a bunch of her retarded sub-plots. And surprisingly, some people caught one o them!
RTC: (Sticks tongue out at Kai.) I love you all! Please review! (And don't kill me!)