Tempest here! So I was bored this afternoon so I was just rereading my stories when I saw something that made me the happiest person alive. So far, over 1300 people have viewed my story. OHMYGOSHTHATISSOAMAZINGIHAVENOIDEAWHATTOSAY! So I decided that I actually needed to have something to say. A massive thanks to all of those readers who have seen this. It means so much to me, no matter if you've been a loyal reader or have been reading on and off. A huge thanks to Jackpot 2 and keerat,kaurkahlon for fav and following. You have no idea how much that means to me. And finally, the biggest thanks goes to Blackwing-Darkraven. I don't even know where to begin. First, thank you so much for reviewing every chapter and sticking with the story since the beginning. You have been the biggest help. Finally, I have put you guys in somewhere and I hope that's alright. Don't worry, they're all nice parts. So with that message...
Enjoy!
"Owowowow, YURI!" I said, pinned to the sofa by Gai, Yuri massaging (or destroying) my shoulder and Koutei cleaning a cut on my cheek. Let me elaborate. Two months have passed since the incident involving the shot to the shoulder and things were great. The massage was because even though my arm was out of a sling, my should was still buggered up so I had to be given a massage to make sure it doesn't seize up. A professional didn't help so we decided to give it a softer approach. Don't get me wrong, I love Koutei to pieces and he's the best family ever. But he is such a massive poofta and my shoulder began to seize up. So Yuri stepped in. The first few time was fine and I could move my arm. But it did not last. The last one was supposed to be the most vigorous. So many innuendos, so little time. Anyway, that was today. And since I refused to have a massage like a little kid, I had to be pinned to the sofa and I yelled as Yuri's elbow dug in more and more.
"YURI! Just stop okay, I'm alright no-OWOWOW! I would rather take the bullet again." I said childishly, earning more pain. Also, the cut. It turns out that when someone's son is shot, no matter the reason, the mothers would always go into a blind rage. Yeah, I was told that I had to go to Jenji's funeral for legal reasons or something and she rushed me with a knife. Like mother like son. She managed to nick my cheeks and by nick, I mean create a cut from my jaw to my cheekbone. Luckily, the entire crowd restrained her. I felt bad for her, even if her son was a deranged psycho who abused children and tried to shoot the people protecting them. At the same time of my "massage", Koutei was dabbing a piece of cotton wool dipped in alcohol to clean the wound. I was in pain. Luckily, it wasn't deep at all and it wouldn't scar. I knew this as I knew when scars would appear. During those two bed-ridden months, the second nationals had taken place so but team Caesar had lost to Q4. They had won the entire thing so it didn't matter. It was nice to see Koutei happy at this though. He was glad he had learnt something and Q4 had won. Gai had learnt to listen to listen to his sister. I chuckled at these small things. It was a bonus to be released from the hospital on the day of the finals and Koutei had picked me up just in time to make the final match. It was amazing and the after party was better. Kai took me to the sides and explained this thing called Psyqualia that Jenji may have had. It also turns out that several other people, a few days after this, stepped forward saying that Jenji had tried to abuse them but they managed to dodge it before anything bad happened. I even got emails and letters from them all. But back to reality and pain.
"I hate you all so much." I muttered, my voice darkening.
"No you don't." Gai returned.
"You're sitting on my back with one person putting Smirnoff onto my cut-"
"It's standard cleaning alcohol."
"Can I drink it?"
"No."
"Damn. I need it to dull the frickin pain of my should- OW! Bloody hell Yuri!"
"Don't use that accent Blake!" Yuri warned. Truth be told, every thing about my accent and family life had gone. Koutei and I threw the family ring into the sea, leaving my past. Should have gone to a pawn shop. Later, I was sitting on the couch, my shoulder bruised and my cut patched up with two plasters. It wasn't late but damn I felt tired. Mostly because of the funeral but a cup of coffee should fix that. I walked up to the kettle and flicked the switch so that It started boiling. As I took the coffee granules out of the cupboard, I heard Koutei on the phone to someone.
"Now? No it isn't but it's just he's tired and...um, I can ask if you want...sure give me a second." He walked into the kitchen and handed the phone to me. I started mixing my coffee and making some for Koutei.
"Hello?"
"Hi, this is Jackpot from Vanguard monthly. I was wondering if you could just give me a minute of your time if it isn't too much trouble?" A chirpy voice on the other end said. I gave Koutei his coffee, who mouthed "thank you", and I took a sip of mine.
"Sure but why do you want to talk to me?" I asked. Koutei was sitting in the same room as the phone, why was I important?
"Well the thing is, our readers have actually been asking for an interview with you about getting over fears and taking on your dreams." I deadpanned at this, trying to process the thought. Was I that person? Probably not. But an actor? Sure.
"Of course but do you mind if we do it over the phone? I would rather do it now and here. I've just had trouble recovering and it has taken it out of me." I said, glaring at Koutei who looked sheepish and skulked back into the kitchen.
"Sure thing! Alright first..."
ZZZ
I collapsed onto the couch, exhausted by the onslaught of questions but it was great fun. I closed my eyes and quickly reopened them to find I and fallen asleep onto the couch and morning had arrived. I had a crick in my neck and Koutei had the nerve to walk in that moment in his PJs looking like he had the best sleep of his life.
"Mornin'" He yawned and smiled at the same time somehow.
"Whatever..." I muttered while he chuckled.
"Busy being the media's star."
"It was great and that Jackpot person was really nice and empathetic. He didn't interrupt and urged me to go on."
"I have never heard you tired and happy at the same time." He laughed from the kitchen.
"Oh shut up and make the coffees."
"And he's back."
A few hours later, I was walking to card capital to meet my friends. Even though they visited me in hospital, it had felt like forever that I had really spoken to them. As I walked, I was shocked. Sammy...was kissing Luke. They were kissing! Anya walked next to me saying:
"Ah, how romantic." She said dreamily.
"Uh, y-yeah.." I mumbled, blushing at how close we were. I sorta had a small crush on Anya. But I was too scared to say anything. She looked at me, dead in the eyes and said:
"I missed you Blake." And gave me a kiss on the cheek. My face lit up faster than a Christmas tree. She had kissed me?!
"You are the best friend ever Blake. Never change okay and what the hell happened to your face?" She said, her face turning into a frown. I preferred the friendship more than anything else eve if she worried about everything. Suddenly, a confident voice called from the other end of the room.
"Love is in the air ladies and gentlemen!" I reminded myself how much I wanted to throttle Luke where he stood. Then again Sammy was always the protective type.
"Um...excuse me?" A small voice asked. I looked to my right and saw a girl about my age, staring at the floor, looking rather shy.
"Yeah, how can I help." I said cheerfully. Knowing I was a nice guy (in my own opinion) she looked up and said:
"I wanna cardfight with you! Please?!" She said with a new burst of confidence. I smiled.
"Sure thing..."
"Keerat. You can call me Keerat."
It turns out that she was an amazing cardfighter. And I mean amazing. She used her deck with some of the best technique and only a lucky trigger, Cosmo beak and Enigman Cyclones ability saved me. Barely. She was a nice girl and she had spirit. We ended up talking and she actually started to talk about what had happened with me and Jenji and started asking question. Not mean, intrusive questions. Just like how I coped, how I am now and if Koutei was a really nice person and I answered them all with complete truth.
I walked home with my friends and our new one, Keerat, and we all said our goodbyes and as I walked in, I heard laughter. I snuck my head through the kitchen door to see team Caesar and someone else. She was older than me but not by much. She had a kind face and a smile that put all bad things out the window.
"Oh, hey Blake, Meet Miss Darkraven. A good friend of ours. She works for my dad's company but has really helped us in the past." Koutei said, noticing me.
"It's a pleasure to meet you." I said, shaking her hand. She smiled in adoration.
"Oh he's such a charming person. It's very nice to meet you." She smiled
"Blake?" Yuri asked.
"Yeah?"
"Is that...lipstick?" She sniggered. And ten minutes later with a lot of laughter, everything was sorted out.
"So Blake." Darkraven asked. "You must be happy to be living with Koutei. And from what I hear, you have been a very good person as well."
"Such as?"
"Well, you've given team Caesar a new team mate, Koutei a brother and you have the most touching tale."
"It's sad for the most part."
"And you still pulled through. You protected Yuri from a bullet and saved Koutei from a panic attack. I'm happy that I met you today because everything about you tells me that you are the person everyone says you are, not that I doubted it for a single moment."
It was these touching moments that made me smile. Miss Darkraven was so helpful in everything. That conversation helped me come to terms with my past. Keerat showed me that talking about it made me feel better and Jackpot showed me that most people were empathetic.
"And one last thing Blake." Gai said as everyone was leaving.
"What's that?"
"We're going..." Koutei said the best thing ever. My favourite thing.
"...to the beach!"
Woooo! Beach chapter next time as all anime's have at one point! On a more serious note, thank you all so much for everything you guys have done. Everyone one of you holds a dear place my heart. Thank you Jackpot, keerat and especially Blackwing for sticking with me. You guys are what motivates me to write this. Finally, I'm going on holiday next Saturday so no chapters for a week which absolutely sucks. But when I get back, I will be writing with a kick ass tan. There will be one or two more chapters up by then though so until then, thank you and this is Tempest signing off!