Hello. So, um…I feel a little awkward as I type this author's note. It's been a whole year since I've posted here. I wouldn't be surprised if you all hate me. I offer my most sincere apologies to you for this. I want to thank each and every one of you for continuing to review and ask for me to update. You've no idea how awful I felt that I got grounded and kept the ending to this story from you.

But here's one thing: THIS STORY IS NOT BEING DISCONTINUED! I would never do that. Even though I had an extended hiatus, I continued to write it – along with several other fanfics I hope you will enjoy. Currently, I'm up to Chapter 16 for this fic, and I've planned out 24.

Also, as a thanks, I'm willing to take requests. I don't mind if it's yaoi or yuri, but I will NOT write a lemon. So if there's a one-shot you want to see written, lemme hear it.

If you submitted an OC, it will be used. No exceptions. In a few cases, names might not get mentioned; only description. However, all credits will go out to the owners. I did my best to honor requests for OCs – for instance, Arttailfox021 wanted his OC to have a big part, and he will. MaziMe submitted a character to be Ryuga's girlfriend, and that will happen as well. I apologize for the few spoilers, but eh.

If you were an original reviewer and you are reading this, then free hugs and cookies go to you for sticking to this fanfic for so long.

Also, thanks a lot for the PMs! They made me smile!(:

You guys have no idea how much you mean to me. Cheesy and as "fake" as it may sound, it's one-hundred percent true. There's nothing more exciting for me than to wake up, check my stories, and see reviews. I want to be a writer when I grow up, so it's important to me to please you guys and be considered a good author here.

Thanks to all of my reviewers:

Chicken Cat (So…you're my reviewer Cat Minikay, correct, with a username change?)

Manakete-girl

GONE FOR EVA (And you…you were destened-star-girl?)

Becca147

Primed-pandemonium (And were you formerly interrobangs…?)

Arttailfox021

Egyptian tiger not really

Red BloodRiver

VocaloidNamine

Song of Hope

Tragedymaster01

Duelist of the Stars

Beyblademaster

FreakyPokeGirl1

Ppgz fan is bored

Girl Dragon

Nile falcon horuseouse

Phantom-san

Lolgirl32

Phantomacourage

MaziMe

CorGryphonFeather

Hana chan

Heart

Hikaru Tategami [I absolutely love that name ;) ]

Yea, so if you changed your username and submitted an OC, please let me know so I can give the correct name in the credits. Thanks!

I'll end my ramble and my thanks here and post this chapter. You've waited long enough.

And without further ado, I present Chapter Two!

(it rhymed…)

Chapter Two: Painful Confessions

"When we get back, you will return to your training." Doji's voice was confident and cocky. He closed his eyes as he savored another sip of his orange juice.

Hikaru, who had been staring out the window deep in thought, turned to look at the two bladers. Kyoya closed his eyes as she looked at him, and he shook his head slightly so his bangs fell into his face. She rolled her eyes as his tan skin turned a little pink. She had put her feelings behind her. The situation she was in was potentially dangerous. She couldn't worry about her love for Kyoya.

He was dead to her now.

"Return?" She looked into Doji's eyes, and he flashed her a mocking smile. "How long has he been training?" Hikaru narrowed her eyes at Kyoya. "How long was he lying to me?"

Kyoya sighed, not bothering to turn and look at her. "I never told one lie," he insisted in that husky voice that made her heart skip a beat.

"That's a lie!" Hikaru shouted, her voice filled with anger. She stood up and reached out to snatch his green coat, jerking him forward so their noses were touching. "It was only last night that you promised me!"

He blinked slowly, carelessly meeting her vicious gaze. "Promised what?"

It only made her more furious that he managed to act as if it were no big deal. "Promised what, he says!" Hikaru pushed him back and collapsed on the metal floor of the helicopter. "You promised things would go back to normal!"

"Oh, that." Kyoya brushed off one shoulder and leaned back against the leather seat. He crossed his arms. "Things are going back to normal. For me."

Hikaru felt the rage seething inside her. Pain glimmered in her eyes as she snapped, "Being with me wasn't normal for you?" He had played her, tricked her, used her only for a part of his plans. She would be a fool if she still liked him now. She blinked away the pain. Her heart seemed to be cracking into a million pieces. She would ignore that feeling. "Whatever. I don't care. I thought you were different from how the others see you. I thought you loved me. But…" She let out a heavy sigh. "I guess I was wrong."

Kyoya seemed to show a bit of emotion. "I didn't say I didn't love you," he murmured.

"Whatever."

"I did love you."

"I don't care."

"Fine," he muttered, barely loud enough for Hikaru to hear.

"If you loved me, you would've never dragged me into this!" Hikaru glared at him.

"I needed your support –"

"You got my support!" Hikaru squeezed her eyes shut, and a single, salty tear slid down her cheek and dripped off her chin. Despite the loud noise of the chopper blades and the engine, to her, it was dead silent; she swore she could hear that tear splash on the metal. She had been so strong through so many things. She didn't want a guy to cause her to cry now. Kyoya had put her through so much hell. It was time for that to end. She inwardly decided that this argument with Kyoya would be the last time she would ever speak to him. "You could've let me go after manipulating me!"

"I –"

"Well, he can't," Doji interrupted, pushing his glasses farther up the bridge of his nose. He had a smirk on his face, his eyes shining with amusement. Clearly, he had enjoyed their quarrel. "You know too much. You rejected the offer to become a Dark Nebula spy, as your dear friend is. So you will contribute to us by making our strongest blader even more powerful."

"Am I not the strongest?" asked Kyoya, forgetting all about his squabble with Hikaru. He was now focused on being number one. Again.

"A close second to our number one blader." The words rolled off Doji's tongue, an eerie voice that made Hikaru shiver. He continued, tilting his head downwards so that shadows fell onto his face, giving him an intimidating appearance. "But he is not around at the moment. So you will have to wait."

Hikaru snorted. "Make me wait for my demise, huh? Gives me plenty of time to think about how badly I screwed up." She glared at Kyoya, and he raised his eyebrows as he gave her a bored smile.

Doji chuckled. "L-drago will be the most powerful bey soon enough. Ginga and Pegasus are out of the way, and Kyoya is on our side, so he will have no…troubling obstacles. We, the Dark Nebula, will be the most powerful organization." He sipped from his orange juice once again. 'We will have the most powerful bladers."

Hikaru narrowed her eyes. So arrogant! Thinks he can do anything! I'd like to slap that orange juice right out of his hand!

She felt the helicopter jerk back and forth a few times before touching down. The engines shut off and the whirring blades slowed until they were still. Deathly silence filled the air a moment before the two boys who had caught Hikaru earlier snatched her up again. They held her still and looked to the man in the purple suit, waiting for orders.

Doji gave them a brief nod. Light glinted on the lenses of his glasses. "Take her to a cell," he told the boys with a cold chuckle. "We'll deal with her as soon as we can. And Kyoya." He turned and tilted the glass of orange juice at the expressionless teen boy. "You can continue your training."

Hikaru flashed Kyoya on last angry glare as the boys dragged her away. "You'll regret this, Kyoya! Just wait! You will!"

And that was that. Very short. It's long on notebook paper. :P

If there are any errors, don't hesitate to tell me so I can fix them!

Again, thanks so much to you amazing reviewers. I'm also sorry that this isn't the most well-written thing ever. I can be honest: I wrote this like a week after I was grounded from the site. And comparing it to what I write now, well….I've certainly improved. And with that, I bid thee a good day.

(:Mizune