RTC: I'm going to skip all the talking today, as I really want to update. Sorry, for all spelling mistakes!

Kai: Ray-Tiger-Cat does not own Beyblade.

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Somewhere Between Life And Death

Kari's POV

The doctors insisted that we go home last night without seeing Kai. We'd begged and pleaded, but they threatened to admit Tala and I, so we thought it was best that we left. I can't accept this. It's surreal. I really feel like I'm watching this happen to someone else. Tala thinks I'm in denial. Some small part of me is registering all this and making me worry. The more time passes, the more worried I become. It's finally morning and I still feel really tired because I didn't sleep much last night.

"So, what should we do? I mean, Kari's a total basket case and the others are leaving soon," Tyson was saying when I entered the kitchen.

"Who's leaving?" I asked.

"White Tiger X and the PBD All Starz. They can have to leave now, before the press gets wind of this," Kenny replied.

"I see," I replied vaguely as I hadn't really heard his answer. "I need to go see Kai."

"We know, we'll head right over there, just as soon as we make sure that these guys catch their planes," Max said. "Tala already called a cab for you. It should be here in a few minutes."

"Hn."

The cab arrived shortly after, just as Max had predicted, and before I knew it, I was standing outside Kai's hospital room. I knew that he was in bad shape, that he was in a coma, but nothing could have possibly prepared me for what was inside.

Kai was covered in bandages. He had tubes and monitors surrounding his bed; I was hardly ale to approach the bed. Kai himself had a lot of bruising and swelling. But the worst part was the fact that they had hooked him up to life support. And when I saw that a machine had to breathe for my brother, I lost it. It all hit me so hard, I broke down crying there and then. I was still crying when the others arrived.

Kai's POV

I woke up feeling odd. Like I was floating or something. My surroundings were pitch black, but suddenly I saw a glimmer. It looked like fire.

"Dranzer?" I whispered, "Where am I?"

"Yes, Master Kai, it is I, Dranzer. As for where we are, you'll have to see for yourself."

As he said this, light flooded my vision. I was flying and down below me were my friends and sister. They were all standing around a mess of wiring, machines and a bed, and they all looked depressed. Some of them were crying. "Dranzer, is that me down there?"

"Yes, Master Kai," he replied.

"Am I...dead?"

"No, you are still alive for the moment. You see, that battle with your grandfather put you in a coma. You are between life and death." I had breathed a sigh of relief when he said I wasn't dead, but I grew anxious again when I discovered I was in a coma. (AN: I bet some of you thought he was really awake! Now that's way too easy!)

"So, why am I here? Why won't you just let me awaken or die?"

"Because there is something that you must see. Follow me," Dranzer said, flying off. Somehow, I was able to fly. We rose higher and higher and higher, with no end in sight. The darkness surrounded us once more. I asked where we were going several times, but got no reply. "We're here," Dranzer announced. "Do you see someone?"

I peered into the darkness and spotted two figures. They were coming closer. "Mom? Dad?" I wondered.

"Hello, Kai sweetie. We've missed you. You've grown so much," Mom said, tears running down her cheeks. "You look just like your dad at your age."

"I'd have to agree. How are you, son?" Dad asked, as he put his arm on Mom's shoulder. They looked exactly as they had almost 13 years ago when they died.

"I've missed you too," I replied and Mom gave me a hug. "At least we can be together now."

"Oh, no, Kai you mustn't stay. I'd love to spend time with you, but there are some people on Earth who still need you," Mom answered. Images of my friends started to appear. What would Tala, Lizzie and Kari say? What would they do? They would miss me, I was sure of that. But they were capable of taking care of themselves. And with Voltaire locked up, they were safe.

"Mom, I don't deserve that. I want to stay here."

"Kai, listen to me. My father has his ways of getting out of jail. He managed to convince them to let him out once before and he'll do it again," Dad warned. "And the first people he'll go after are the ones who put him there. That's why he came after me and your mother. You and your sister were correct, believing the car accident was not an accident. He set that up. It was just very lucky that you two escaped with your lives."

I thought about that and all the people he had already hurt. My friends, Diana, the kids in the abbey. We were all victims. "I'll do it. I'm going back."

"We're proud of you!" Mom said.

"It'll be a fight, Kai. You've already been gone so long that you'll need to fight your way back to the world of the living. But I know you can do it," Dad said. They both gave me a quick hug. Then I felt the life being sucked out of me. I knew I had to fight it, but it was overwhelming.

Normal POV

Several weeks had passed since Kai had been admitted to the hospital. He was still comatose and some people were starting to wonder whether Kai would ever wake up. Their hopes were falling apart. Six weeks was a very long time, and of course, they were all worried sick. They were all still in Russia because they felt it best to stay put until a decision could be made about Voltaire and to make sure that he didn't get bailed out. Kari, of course, went to see Kai in the hospital everyday, and even spent the night there sometimes. Usually someone had to stay with her to make sure she was okay. But a night came when she insisted that she stay there alone.

"Just let her," Tala had ordered. He wouldn't say why, but Tala insisted that it was important.

Kari was sleeping in Kai's room when his heart monitor went crazy. A huge group of doctors and nurses came running inside.

"What's going on!" Kari yelled.

"He's having a heart attack. Now clear out of the way so we can resituate him!" a doctor ordered. Kari started to cry.

"I can't lose you. Come back Kai," she whispered.

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RTC: Well, what do you think? Sorry it was a bit short. You guys still have until my next update to vote. Should I kill Kai or not? I've heard from most of you already, but I'm still waiting on a few of you. Oh, and does anyone want me to write a spin off where the opposite happens? (If he dies, he lives in the other, and vice versa.) Anyway, see you when I update, which is a bit more frequently right now.