Author's note: Well, from what I've read, I saw that most people like 'Among Pain and Hope' more than my other story of Julie and Shun, so I decided to first finish and publish the 2nd chapter of 'Among Pain and Hope' before I really concentrate on 'Complicated Affair'^^ I'm afraid, I'm really slow in updating my stories on the one hand because of the school and on the other hand because of my hatred laziness... Sorry!

Disclaimer: I do not own Bakugan Battle Brawlers!

Among Pain and Hope

chapter 2: "It hurts right there where my heart should be"

She was staring...Just staring up with such a nothing-saying gaze...

Empty

That's how she felt, empty.

She had enough time to think about everything, enough time to cry until there were no tears left to come out. Trying not to think of him she completely stopped her brain from working. Her eyes seemed like they had lost something very important: that sparkling light she always had which showed her enjoy of life, the thing Julie was always relying on, she tried to enjoy her life no matter what happens but now... after that happened...

To be honest, Julie looked like a dead corpse lying on the bed, the bed he kissed her hundred times...

Everything she could bring out was a long, painful sigh.

Tired she turned her head to the left and discovered something... The thing she bound with her happiest, greatest and most wonderful memories she had with him... Immediately she turned around. Now it reminded her only of sadness... sorrow...pain.

She couldn't help but start crying again.

Outside there was a girl standing in front of the door of Julie's room. It clear that she hesitated. Her right hand was holding the door handle very tight. She took a very long breath in and out...-But just as she wanted to enter her sister's bedroom,

"Riiiiiing, riiiiiiing, riiiiiing...!"

She received a little shock. Their parents were out, working, so she left the door and went straight to the ringing phone.

"Julie? Is that you? I've tried to reach you on your cell phone but I got only your mailbox. I just got to know what happened... Are you alright? Don't worry-"

"Er...Sorry to disturb you but this isn't Julie, it's me, Daisy."

"Oh, Daisy...hi."

"Er...Runo?"

"Yeah, it's me. Do you think you can pass the phone?"

"I don't know... Julie acted weird since Friday...she locked herself for a long time in her room"

"I see...Then, will she come to the cafe tomorrow? Tell her, we need extra help as an excuse. I need to talk to her you know."

"It's nice to hear that Julie has a good friend like this out there," she smiled.

"No, it's not only me, we want her to cheer up, so there's a special event."

"Special event? Sounds great! But, are you sure that this is the right idea? I mean, right now isn't it better if she have some time for herself?"

"Probably, but you know Julie. We have to cheer her up before she falls in that ocean of depression! We're really worried..."

"Guess you're right. So, tomorrow you said? She'll definitely come."

"Great! So everything's set. Alright then good luck, you'll need it to get through that stubborn girl, see ya."

"Thanks, Runo. Bye."

Daisy was quite confident if goes to talk to her little sister and hoped also this time she'll get through to the deepest thoughts. Slowly she walked through the hallway towards Julie's room. Again, she took a long breath in... and out, only that this time she didn't she didn't hesitate to enter the room. So she walked a few steps in and...

received the biggest shock since...ever.

He couldn't get it out of his head. That picture of a crying girl in the rain, her eyes losing every sign of hope. He couldn't. The wind blew gently through his shoulder-long black hair while he was sitting on the roof of his home... His face showed a helpless, disturbed and confused look.

Was that... the right decision?

He looked up to the sky. This was the only thing he could think about,

Was that really... the right decision?

He felt insecure. Every time the thought came that by doing this he may have hurt her more than if everything had come different, he tried to deny it with stupid explanations, then imagined her smile again, only to come to the conclusion that he's the biggest coward the world had ever seen. Of all things the world had showed him, why did he have to be afraid of that? It's something ordinary every people feel, right? But from what he had experienced... For him it was like going through hell. Isn't it always like that? You find someone you like. Great. But then? How will it go on? It's as simple as 1+1; No matter how deep your feelings are, no matter how hard you pray, no matter how much you hope, in the end

You'll lose the one you cared so much for.

Exactly that's why he did what he did. He wanted to stop it himself before the one he loved was taken away again...

So now, there she was, standing in front of the cafe, cursing her sister for what she did. She looked up, discovering that the cafe-logo had changed. "So... In the end I landed here, huh? No way back," she thought desperately and sighed. "Can't be helped." Again she she cursed her sister...

"No way you're not taking me anywhere!," Julie shouted for the 5th time.

"Don't be so stubborn Julie. You know I want you only to be happy!"

"Then let me rot in here! I don't need anyone or anything in this whole damn world! I'm alright all on my own."

"Liar."

"Argghh! You're driving me crazyyy!"

"Oh yeah? I thought I was the one punished by my stubborn sister."

"You're mean..."

"A few minutes ago you didn't dare to open your mouth and tell your sister what's wrong and now we're already so far that we began arguing about something totally unnecessary... I don't know what to do with you..."

"I already said, I'm not going!"

"Yes, you are."

"No, I'm not!"

"Yes, you'll go!"

"Never, not even in your dreams."

Suddenly Daisy showed a strange look in her gaze and seemed kind of scary...

"You give me no choice..."

Julie wanted to avoid a view at her sister's face, closed her eyes and started yelling:

"Lalalalaaa I can't hear you!"

"Why do you always have to be so childish?"

"I can't hear anythiiing! LALALAAAA!"

"This calls for torture."

"LALALALALAAAAALAAAAA!"

"Stop that already!," she shouted, trying to get louder than her sister. Then, after a long sigh she said calmly:

"Like I already said, I've no choice..."

For just a second Julie opened her eyes but regretted it very soon.

She sighed again. I can't believe she got me with that...

Author's note: I'm really, really sorry because of my slow updates! But I promise, I proooomiise, the next update is coming up in 2 WEEKS. If not... Well, lets say then I have to update 2 chapters at once^_^ I think this will drive me in the right direction... However, the next chapter will be about, I bet you can already imagine, that event they prepared. But it would be kinda boring if nothing would happen but a few people trying to get a bright smile in Julie's face, right? Hehe... Prepare yourself for the following events...See ya! ~ Yoshiko-x3