Ray: Should we hide now? She was already annoyed before this, but this might be a bit much.
Tyson: Sounds good, my man. She's scary when she's mad.
RTC: The muses are right for once. So enjoy... Yeah right. Slight OOC-ness in here and if you don't like, then leave!
Hilary: (While hiding.) Ray-Tiger-Cat does not own Beyblade. I'm not even going to make any wise cracks.
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Confessions
"In other news today, a man who tried to lead a children's sporting organization has been arrested for abducting two small children. Is our government doing enough to prevent criminals like the notorious Boris Balkov from getting at our children? Fortunately, this case has a happy ending as the children were found unharmed, but things could have gone much worse. As it stands, two civilians were sent to the hospital and four police officers sustained minor injuries. Now over to a crime specialist to hear what she has to say on the matter."
"Turn it off," Tala said, "I really don't want to hear anymore." Several hours had passed since recovering Amie and Lynn, and the group was assembled in Kari's hospital room. Ray had been okay and the doctors had released him a few hours before, but Kari was slightly worse off and it looked like the doctors wanted to keep her an extra day.
"Well, they have one important point: the kids could have been seriously hurt. Now you're sure you're okay?" Hilary asked in a motherly tone and the two girls nodded. Both had been scared, to sat the least, but were otherwise alright. Lynn was curled up on Ray's lap and Amie was sitting next to Kari on the bed.
"Yeah, let's just hope the police are smart and keep him locked up for good this time," Kari added. An awkward silence filled the room after her words.
"Hey, why is everyone so quiet?" Lynn asked, being too innocent to understand.
Surprisingly, it was Tyson that answered the question; "Because we don't want to talk about certain events."
"Oh, that reminds me, Lizzie left me this box. She told me to open it whenever I thought I was ready, and I never have. And after last night, I think I should," Ray said as he pulled out a box slightly larger than a shoebox.
"You sure dude?" Max asked.
"Yeah." Ray peeled off the tape holding the lid on and opened the ox. Inside, there was a package, some pictures and letters addressed to her family. "Might as well read the letter first."
'Dear Ray, First and foremost, I love you and don't you ever forget that. I am writing this in the hospital in the hopes that it'll allow you to come to terms with my death. I know you'll blame yourself, but it isn't your fault. The cancer was just too much for me to handle. I'm sorry I died and left you with the terrible burden of guilt...' Ray felt his eyes tear up and he skimmed over some of the letter. he would read the rest when he was alone.
'...Okay, I'd better explain why I packed these things away for you; the pictures are of all the good time we've had, they are what I want you to remember me by; the letters are self-explanatory and finally we have the package. this package is what inspired me to leave something behind for you. Let me explain; Kai left it in my possession when I was undergoing the transplant and he told me to share it with you guys if he ever died, but I had to wait until you were all ready for this, something I didn't get to see in my lifetime...'
Hey, she said that this package is from Kai! He left us something! Ray exclaimed.
"Really?!" the other shouted. Ray passed the package to Kari and put away the letter for the time being. Kari gently removed the paper. Inside, they found a letter, two DVDs, and several packs of tissues.
"Dear team, if you are reading this, then I am dead. There was so much I wanted to tell you all, so much I wanted to do, but it looks like I didn't have the chance. I didn't feel like expressing this all in words, so I left you the DVDs. Start with the one marked 'Memories'and the other. The tissues are for when you all start bawling your eyes out. (Don't even deny it, I know you will.) My sincerest regards, Kai," Kari read aloud, half laughing about his last comment.
"So, shall we do what he said?" Kenny asked and got nods all round.
"Awe, that's so cute!" Hilary squealed after they'd inserted the DVD, which contained pictures, the first being Kai and Kari's baby pictures. As they watched, they saw a glimpse into Kai's life. The babies grew, right until the point where their parents must have dies, because there were a few years without pictures when they'd been in the abbey, then a few of Kai's childhood, followed by some team pics, ending with a picture taken just a few days before Kai was taken by Biovolt. Kai had been right; they'd made a significant dent in the tissues. After this, there were a lot of clips of the team-both in the stadium and candid videos Kai must have shot.
"I can't believe he put all of this together," Daichi remarked.
"Me neither," Tyson agreed, "Let's see what the other DVD contains."
They popped it into the DVD player and saw Kai come onto the screen.
"Hi. I don't know how long I've been dead, but I hope you aren't suffering over it," Kai began.
"Always straight to the pint, isn't he?" Tala commented.
"Anyway, in case I never got to tell you all a proper good bye, I made this video. You have no idea how much you all meant to me and I hope this will clarify for you. If you some reason you are watching this while I'm alive, shut it off now, or you'll be the dead one.
"Tyson, you were stubborn and lazy and your table manners needed work, but you were always a good friend to me. You have a lot of potential.
"Max, you were ever the happy one and I hope you don't change, even when you find out that the world is not always a nice or fair place. Take it easy on the sugar, alright?
"Ray, thanks for being the one I could talk to of I needed something. I know it seems like nothing fazes you, but don't be like that, or you'll end up like me. Which would not be a good thing.
"Kenny, you have helped this team out in so many ways and you do it even though you don't get much recognition. Without you, I'm sure we'd have never made it as far.
"Hilary, our little cheerleader. You acted like the glue that held us together for so long. Keep it up, even when Tyson's being an idiot, okay?
"Daichi; four words. Don't become Tyson junior. Seriously, you are an important part of this team and keep the training up and who knows, you may just beat him.
"Lizzie, I already explained myself, I think. You know what I think of you. (AN: Obviously, he doesn't know she's dead.)
"Tala, I do not have the words to tell you goodbye. You have been my best friend since we were what, four years old? Take care of yourself, buddy, and don't allow my death to hold you prisoner and watch out for Kari for me.
"And finally, Kari. Little sis, please don't be too upset. You aren't alone in the world; you still have friends and I'll always be watching over you. You're my twin, forever and always.
"I love you all and I hope you all know that now. My friends, you have made my life worthwhile. Keep each other safe and keep Biovolt's leaders locked up. Good bye."
The team was openly weeping and holding each other by the time Kai's short speech was over. They were finally accepting Kai's death. The walls were finally broken.
Several weeks later, Mr. Dickenson stopped to check up on them. He found then sharing memories-both good and bad of Kai and looking at ease with each other for the first time in years. The team looked up and saw that he had brought Nathalie with him.
"What's wrong?" Tala asked, seeing the slightly disappointed look on their faces.
"Well, it's like this kids, we think it's too dangerous for you to keep watching Amie. Biovolt might make another attempt to kidnap her," Mr. Dickenson started.
"But I thought you couldn't find anyone to adopt her?" Hilary protested.
"Yes, we're putting her in a group home for the time being," Nathalie responded. "Now come on kiddo." The team watched in horror as Nathalie went to take Amie.
"No!" Amie shouted and the all stared, dumbstruck.
"What?" Nathalie asked.
"No!" she repeated, "I'm staying here!"
"Look, we can't put more problems for these guys, okay? You have to come with us."
"Not if someone adopts her," Kari said softly.
"That's true, but who's going to take her?" Nathalie asked.
"I will," Kari responded, "She deserves to have a good home and someone to care for her."
"Think about it; you're young, you've got you're whole life ahead of you, how are you going to care for her?"
"I can take care of her, Nathalie. And I'm old enough to adopt her, so what do I have to do?" Nathalie regarded her. She seemed sincere.
"Nathalie, remember that she's been through the harsh abbey condition. She can relate to the child," Mr. D. vouched for her.
"Alright, it'll take a few weeks, but if you really want to do this, I'll make it happen."
Amie, who had stared and just sat there jumped up and buried her head in Kari's shoulder and hugged her.
And at that point, Kari knew she could take care of Amie, just like Kai had taken care of her for so long.
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RTC: Well review if you want to see how this ends. I may combine the next two chapters to make one longer chapter. Now good bye.