The Trials Of Love And Life

I do not own Beyblade of any of it’s characters. Any side character belongs solely to me and will not be touched or used by another.

Summary: Review to chapter 1.

Writing Style: Review to chapter1.

A/N: YAY, they kissed (and more than once). THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR GREAT STORY TITLES ... but, alas, I can only pick one ... and I have. I have chosen from Blackrose, and the title “The Trials Of Love and (added a part of my own) Life.” Thank you so much to everyone else, but this one really captured me.


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Chapter 11.


BEEP ... BEEP ... BEEP ...

Golden eyes snapped open, flickering into focus on the alarm system next to his head. He groaned and rolled over, covering his head with the long white sheets of his bed ... wait, no ... not his bed.

He shot upward, looking around the formal room. A large armoire sat opposite him, a long body length mirror beside it. His eyes traveled farther around the room, too the closed door to the right and the open one on the left that lead into a hallway. The bed he was in was extremely soft and large, king sized if he had to guess.

Suddenly, he realized arms were wrapped around his waist and someone was breathing beside him. He stiffened, looking down slowly at the sleeping body next to him. His face turned a shade of magenta pink as he noticed the bare upper torso of his Professor lying beside him, eyes scrunched with annoyance at the alarm clock.

“Shut that thing off,” Kai muttered.

Ray blushed and nodded, reaching over and clicked the alarm into off mode. Slowly, Ray slid back down into the sheets facing Kai in bed. He couldn’t believe how soft those crimson eyes were looking at him. Their feet brushed and Ray couldn’t help but blush again. He felt like such a little school girl it made him laugh on the inside.

Kai reached out and brushed a tangled strand of raven hair from Ray’s face, tucking it softly behind one ear. He brushed his fingers across Ray’s cheek and over the white bandage on his face. He blinked slowly, watching as Ray blushed and looked away and back again. Slowly, he slid closer, slipping his arms under the neko and pulling him into his chest.

Ray laid his head gingerly on Kai’s chest, tracing circles across his bare skin. He curled closer to the taller male, the wall clock ticking somewhere near the left corner of the room. He gasped suddenly, the covers being drawn over their heads and Kai lying over him, pressing kisses softly to his neck and collar bone. He sighed, tilting his head back into the plush pillows and smiled, his golden eyes fluttering closed in the warmth.

If it was a dream, if this was seriously a dream, and if he woke up, he’d definitely kill himself. Their clothed groins touched and Ray gasped again, arching forward. His fingers trembled as they slid up Kai’s smooth thighs and across the sides of his torso. He felt teeth graze his neck and a wet tongue like at his pulse point, drawing out a light purple mark.

“Kai, please stop,” Ray whispered, tears in his eyes.

The lips were gone. Hands pressed down gently on either side of him. He held firm to Kai’s waist, staring up into understanding crimson eyes. He saw the grey swirl and flash, their owner descending upon him; lips caressing one another, moving into heated passion. Kai understood why Ray didn’t want him to go any farther. Michael had touched him like that, only harder. It was uncomfortable. Whatever they had, whatever they were ... he was going to take it as slow as Ray wanted.

Ray was pulled against Kai’s chest and closed his eyes, allowing sleep to claim him once again. He felt a kiss pressed to his shoulder as he drifted away into a dark abyss beyond the world of the living. His mind swirled around and went blank, sleep claimng him finally, broken only by dreams of waking up and everything that happened, never happening at all.

*~*~*

Slowly, Ray opened his eyes and looked around. He was alone in the middle of the large king sized bed. The covers had slid down to his waist, exposing his chest. He shivered as a cold breeze whipped through the open window, the frost across the glass pane obscuring his vision. The sun was blurred in the frost, blaring brightly across the room. Ray winced at it, his eyes watering.

He sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and looked around. The room was bright, the hallway outside lit by the sun itself. The door that had once been closed on the right now stood slightly ajar, revealing a desk and chair. Must be Kai’s office, Ray told himself, standing up and stretching out his stiff limbs.

In a corner of the room, on a high leather-backed chair, sat a silk white robe with a piece of paper pinned to it. Ray cocked his head to the side as he looked at the time and slid out of the bed. He padded across the rooms wooden floor, stopping by the small work desk and looked down at the note and robe.

‘Didn’t think you’d want to walk around the house in just your boxers.’

Ray looked down and, sure enough, he was clad only in his silk black boxers. He smiled and picked up the soft flowing material and draped it over his shoulders, the shimmering white contrasting with his tanned skin. He tied the shall tightly and peeked into the hallway, the kitchen tinkering with noise.

Slowly, he crossed the hallway and peered into the large open kitchen and, with his heart leaping, saw Kai standing there. He was already fully dressed and showered, standing near the stove and cooking breakfast. Ray sidled into the room and sat gingerly in one of the four chairs around the table.

“Finally awake,” Kai said, his back still turned.

“Um – yea,” Ray whispered, blushing. “Professor...”

“I told you last night, call me Kai,” Kai said.

“Right – Kai,” Ray said, his voice very soft. “Thank you – for not – um – you know – going to far.”

Kai turned around, one eye brow raised, a spatula in hand. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the counter to stare at Ray. The neko couldn’t help but blush and turn away to stare at his bare feet. After a long moment, Kai turned back around to his cooking and spoke.

“I’m not going to force you into something you don’t want to do,” Kai said calmly, then his voice dropped to a whisper. “Especially after what happened.”

Ray looked down at the table, frowning, as he remembered the night before. His mind raced with the party, seeing Max and Miguel disappear into one of the X rooms, Michael grabbing his arm, pulling him away from the others. Him, trying to call Hilary, being forced onto the ground, to swallow...

He felt sick again and covered his mouth.

“Can I have something to drink?” Ray croaked.

Kai turned around, seeing how pale Ray had gone and nodded. He opened the fridge door and pulled out anything but milk and placed the different jugs on the table along with two glasses and two plates.

“Try not to think about it,” Kai said, turning back to his cooking.

“Kind of hard not to,” Ray whispered.

“Well, if it’ll make you feel any better, why not talk about it,” Kai said, tipping the eggs and bacon into a dish and placing it on the table.

“I don’t know,” Ray said, staring at the food with mild disgust and hunger.

“Trust me, Ray,” Kai whispered, reaching out and massaging one of his hands. “Keeping it inside only makes it worse.”

Ray looked up at Kai and thought he saw something in his Professors eyes, but it was gone before he could find out what it was. He took a plate and placed a small amount of eggs and bacon on it, but did not eat. He watched the hand massaging his and smiled. It withdrew as Kai picked up the paper and opened it.

Ray looked down at his plate, feeling sick to his stomach. He pushed it away slowly and stared at his hands. Yes, he remembered, Michael had attacked him and forced himself on him. Kai, again, had saved his ass from being raped. He, Ray, had been brought back to his Professors house again, and they ...

“Are we together?” Ray whispered.

He expected Kai to say nothing, but was rewarded with another question instead.

“Do you think were together?” Kai said, pouring some orange juice.

“I ... I don’t ... know,” Ray whispered. “Last night we ... ”

Kai looked up at him from the paper he was beginning to read; seeing the unease on Ray’s patched face. He smiled and leaned forward, cupping Ray’s chin in his hand and pressed their lips together in answer. Ray blushed, shocked by the move but didn’t hesitate to kiss back. They separated and Kai went back to his paper.

“Answer your question,” he said.

“Yea,” Ray whispered. “And thank you for not ... you know ... taking advantage of me.”

Kai sighed and put his paper down to stare at Ray a moment. “You shouldn’t be saying that because it’s not completely true.”

Ray stared at him, aghast.

“I’m not supposed to get involved with students, Ray,” Kai said, sighing and staring out the large kitchen window. “I’ll probably be fired.”

“Then ... does that mean ... ” Ray whispered.

“Even if I wanted to break up with you, I don’t think I could,” Kai said, smirking. “It’s just something about that makes me want to be with you. In class on Tuesday when you almost fell into my desk, I had to actually restrain myself from telling you to stay behind and ravaging your body on my desk.”

Ray blushed heavily as Kai just continued to smirk. He couldn’t believe it. His Professor was actually fantasizing about HIM. Kai actually wanted to throw him onto his desk and have sex with him right there. He didn’t have to feel like a sick perverted idiot because Kai was thinking the same thing.

“I wonder if the others are worried about me,” Ray said, staring at his plate again.

Kai looked up one more time before indulging in his paper again. Ray pulled his plate of food toward him and began to eat slowly, forcing down his bacon and eggs. Finally, after everything was cleared away as best he could, he pushed his plate away and looked around the large kitchen. Kai’s home was extremely spacious for a single level home.

He looked over at Kai who had picked up both their plates and was placing them in the dishwasher. Ray looked back down at the table, staring at his hands. He felt horribly sick and his mouth was cottony and dry. He downed his orange juice quickly and stood up, pulling his borrowed robe tightly around his body.

“Um, where are my clothes?” Ray asked.

“In the dryer down the hall,” Kai said, turning around to face him.

He couldn’t believe how angelic one of his students looked standing before him. His tanned face warm and young, the silk white robe contorting to every curve of his body. Kai looked Ray up and down, advancing on him slowly. He couldn’t deny it any more. He wanted his student, and in more than just a friendly way. He wanted to pin him down and take him in his mouth. He wanted to make him scream with pleasure and beg for more ...

Kai placed his hands on Ray’s hips, watching as two wide golden eyes looked up at him, that perfect soft mouth with the pedal smooth lips coming closer to his own. They parted slightly in breath as Kai released one hip and cupped Ray’s right cheek. Their lips touched, smooth and soft over one another. Kai watched Ray’s eyes flutter close, his head tilting to one side as they increased the passion and pleasure.

Hands wrapped around Kai’s neck, pulling two bodies closer together. He moaned and pulled the body even nearer, wrapping his own arms tightly around the neko-jin’s slim waist. His tongue danced across Ray’s bottom lip and they parted reluctantly. His tongue slipped onward into the heavenly abyss beyond, mapping out every inch, corner and tooth.

Their lips parted slowly, both opening their eyes to stare at one another. Ray leaned his head on Kai’s chest, breathing in his masculine scent. He smiled and nuzzled his nose deep into Kai’s shoulder, closing his eyes.

“Maybe you should get dressed,” Kai whispered, licking his ear.

“Mmmm, you’re right,” Ray mumbled. “But I’m so comfy right here.”

“You may need to suffer the consequences for standing around in that robe, you know,” Kai said, his voice growing thick and husky.

Ray looked up at him but his lips were captured again, their tongues dueling one another. He was lifted off the ground and carried into the bedroom, Kai dropping them both onto the plush mattress. He flattened himself across Ray’s body, brushing back loose strands of hair. Ray blushed, pulling the covers over them and pulled Kai down into another heated kiss.

Kai moved lower, pressing kisses to Ray’s neck, his collar bone, his chest, and lower. He slid his hands downward, drawing the tie around the neko’s waist and pulling it loose. He slipped his hands inside, gliding his fingers along Ray’s soft sides and up under his armpits. He moved lower to one nipple, licking it softly, his breath hot and wet over the pink nub.

Ray groaned, his hands clamping into the sheets, panting and arching upward. His eyes fogged over and he gripped Kai’s shoulders weakly, biting his own lip to stop from crying out. His eyes fluttered and he gasped as his nipple was taken deeply again, Kai’s talented tongue sloshing over the round numb, his teeth sawing softly across it.

“Oh, Kai,” Ray gasped. “Stop, it feels too good.”

But Kai didn’t stop. On the contrary, he went lower, licking at Ray’s torso and abdomen. He swirled his tongue in the neko’s belly bottom, making him gasp and squirm. Kai splayed his hands across Ray’s sides and stomach as he moaned and struggled, his mouth hanging partially opening in a very loud pant.

Ray’s hands moved from Kai’s shoulders to his hair, his nails scraping across his scalp. He moaned deeply, closing his crimson pools and sliding his tongue out to swirl inside Ray’s navel again. He grazed his teeth across the sensitive skin, making Ray whimper and squirm, his breath coming out in low shuddering burst.

“Kai, stop that,” Ray moaned, his hands digging deeper into Kai’s silver bangs. “It tickles.”

He looked up at Ray, watching as the neko arched toward him, moaning and panting. His tongue flicked out and he kissed just above Ray’s navel before moving still lower, pulling with him, Ray’s black boxers. He passed the most crucial spot – Ray’s penis – and moved to his inner thighs, lifting one leg and kissing as low to the neko’s groin as he could. His tongue flickered out and left a line of saliva across his thigh before he bit down and sucked hard on the tender flesh.

“Oh God,” Ray gasped, arching upward again. “Oh God, Oh God, Oh God ... ”

Kai smirked, hearing Ray mumbling over and over again to himself. He shuddered and flattened back onto the soft mattress below when Kai released the flesh he had been sucking, another purple mark appearing on his leg. He smirked at it and licked it, leaving another long trail of saliva. Ray whimpered, covering himself up when Kai sat back onto his knees to stare down at the smaller male.

“Why so shy?” Kai whispered huskily.

“I’m embarrassed,” Ray mumbled truthfully.

Kai smiled at him and crawled over him, lying softly across Ray’s body between his legs. He kissed the neko softly on the nose, placing his hands on either side of his face and cupped it in his strong hands.

“You’re embarrassed because this was how, Parker, was trying to touch you,” Kai whispered.

Ray turned his face away, tears stinging in the corner of his eyes. He closed his eyes, shuddering and flung his arms around Kai’s shoulders, burying his face in the slate haired Professors neck and cried, hot salty tears falling cold on Kai’s shoulder. He sighed and rolled over, pulling Ray against his chest and let him cry.

*~*~*

Deep groans filled Max’s room. He turned over in bed, sore and none-to-sober. His head pounded with the aftermath of his hangover, his muscles tense and painful. His ass wasn’t feeling all to great either. Beside him, pulling him closer, Miguel slept soundly, his hair tossed and splayed across the many scattered pillows. He, too, groaned and moved closer to Max, burying his head into his boyfriends golden hair.

“Time,” he mumbled.

Max focused as best he could on the clock on his computer desk, his eyes squinted against the mass of fog and alcohol still in his system as he read off the red numbers glowing down on him.

8:15 am ... I think.

Miguel groaned again, rolling over onto his stomach and burying his head into one of Max’s large white pillows. Max, smiling softly, rubbed his boyfriends back, moving to spoon against his side. He leaned forward and kissed just below his lovers ear, sighing softly and closed his eyes.

“Good party,” Miguel said, his words muffled in the pillow.

“Yea, not bad,” Max sighed. “How many rooms did we violate again?”

“All but one,” Miguel laughed, turning to look at Max now. “Not a bad night. You sore?”

“Define sore,” Max said, rubbing his back as he scooted closer still.

Miguel smiled and stretched out his arms, flopping them across Max’s waist and kissing the golden haired beauty softly on the lips. They separated and Miguel pulled Max to his chest, pressing his nose into his boyfriends golden hair and breathing in the after-scent of alcohol and sex in it.

They cuddled together, just breathing in one another scent, when a piercing cry erupted their leisure time. Max sat bolt upright, his head spinning and groaned. Miguel slid up beside him, rubbing his boyfriends back as he glared at the door. Just in time, Tyson came barreling through, a half-dressed Claud on his heels.

“He’s not here,” he said loudly, panting hard.

“What – who’s not here?” Max grumbled.

“Ray, he’s not in his room,” Tyson gasped.

Both Miguel and Max stared at Tyson.

“Maybe he’s in one of the other dorm rooms?” Miguel suggested, though it wasn’t convincing.

“We’d know, wouldn’t we,” Claud said, pulling his hair into a ponytail.

“Did anyone see him last night?” Max asked, pulling the covers a little more securely over his naked body.

“We saw him – Tyson and I – but Hilary dragged him away and that was the only time,” Claud said.

“We didn’t see him at all,” Miguel muttered.

“Maybe he went with Hilary back to her dorm,” Max said thoughtfully.

Tyson shook his head frantically. “No, when me and Claud came out of one of the rooms she was asking where he was. She was with another second year from one of her classes then.”

“You don’t think – ” Claud whispered.

“Michael,” Miguel finished.

“He said that Michael attacked him,” Claud whispered, then gasped. “What if Michael forced him away from the party.”

The others looked around at one another worrisomely, Max pulling the covers up again and huddling next to Miguel. Tyson jumped and turned, the front door creaking open. Everyone stiffened at the noise and listened, their hearts hammering heavily. The door clicked shut again and feet shuffled tiredly across the ground.

“R-Ray,” Tyson whispered.

The neko turned the corner to look at them. “Oh, hey guys.”

“OH MY GOD, RAY,” Tyson yelled.

The neko had to brace himself as Tyson launched into his arms, almost toppling them both onto the floor. He stared down at the navy haired other with heavily confused eyes and looked round at the others. Claud was standing staring at him, face full of relaxation and obvious relief. What he could see of Max and Miguel, the same thing was going through them as well.

“Where were you?”

Ray’s attention was turned back on Tyson.

“I was – ” he thought a moment. “ – sleeping at a friends place,” he lied.

“We were worried about you,” Miguel said, having gotten up and wrapped a robe around himself. “We thought you’d come back here to sleep when we all got in and didn’t want to disturb you. And just now Tyson came barging into Max’s room and was frantic; saying you weren’t in your room.”

“Well, it’s true, I wasn’t.” the others looked worried again. “Guy’s, I’m fine.”

“You sure?” Max asked, also wearing a robe now and standing at Claud’s shoulder.

“Yea I’m...” he looked back down at Tyson, who was staring up at him, his eyes wide and teary. “I’m fine, Ty.”

“Thank God, too,” the navy haired man whispered.

“What do you think happened to me?” he asked with some wonder.

“Well – we sort of thought that maybe – ” Max said shyly.

“That – um – Michael – you know – got to you,” Claud finished.

Ray paled. “Oh, you did, did you.”

“Ray, did something happen?” Miguel asked, stepping closer to him. “Were you actually with Michael until now. Did he DO something to you?”

“No – well – not entirely – um – who wants breakfast?” Ray said, stuttering over his words and breaking away from Tyson to make for the kitchen.

He crossed the threshold with everyone on his heels and made for the stove. He tired to keep his back turned on them, hearing each one sit down and felt their eyes burning on his back. His hands shook as he pulled out the frying pan and began to shuffle around in the refrigerator for eggs and bacon. It was Max to break the silence first with his ethereal voice.

“Ray, what did he do?”

The neko fumbled with the spatula and it clattered to the ground, making him jump back. His mind flashed with the image of the gun, the silver cartridge that had reflected in the overhead lamp far off, the feel of his mouth being filled with the putrid taste of salty semen. He covered his mouth and hunched to the ground, gagging on the bile threatening to spill. Everyone had jumped to their feet and swarmed around him, Max’s hand pressing reassuringly to his back, rubbing gently.

“It’s okay, Ray,” the golden haired man whispered. “You don’t have to tell us, we understand.”

He kept seeing it rerun in his mind, the feel of the cold steel on the back of his head as he was forced to suck that horrible man dry, to swallow when all he wanted to do was vomit. He felt that calloused hand rubbing him, arousing him when he didn’t want to be aroused. He remembered the tears, the pain ... the feel of it ... as it went in, only a little ... but it went in.

Tears stung the corners of his eyes, his shoulders shaking as his hand tightened over his mouth, holding back the lurching feeling in his stomach. He was trembling, letting out gasping pants, his face red with embarrassment and disgust. He felt dirty, like he’d never be clean. He wanted to shower over and over again, to drown himself and let the pain just fade away.

“I’m taking him to the bathroom,” Max said loudly, pulling Ray to his feet. “Tyson, can you make breakfast.”

The navy haired adult nodded and let the pair pass, Ray hunched over, clinging to Max, tears falling across his red cheeks, his hand still clamped tightly over his mouth. They heard the bathroom door slam shut followed by a not so comforting splattering noise and the flushing of the toilet. Tyson turned to the frying pan, turning it on and cracked eggs into it. The sound drowned out anything in the distance in which Ray vomited again and again the toilet was flushed.

The pair returned, Ray slumping into a chair and falling forward onto the table. He breathed heavily, his eyes stained red. Miguel looked up at Max, who had his own tears shining in his eyes. He smiled weakly and shook his head at his boyfriend and walked over to help Tyson. Breakfast was a silent affair. The others kept glancing at Ray who sat in utter silence, staring at his plate of food, his face contorted with disgust.

“You know, Ray,” Tyson said after a long silence in which he had been watching Ray, “I may not be as good a cook as you, but it is good.”

Ray gave him a feeble smile and reached out to pick up his fork. The moment the four prongs punctured his egg yolk he felt like puking again. With a shuddering sigh, he put his fork back down and got up silently.

“I’m going to sleep,” he said to the others.

They stared at him worrisomely.

“It’s okay, I’m just tired,” he whispered. “Thanks for the food, Ty, but I’m not hungry.”

He left before anyone could protest and closed his door silently. His kempt bed still sat untouched, the covers without a single rumple. With a deep sigh, he fell upon the soft downy quilt and thick sheets, burying his head deep into his pillow and falling into many uneasy dreams of being chased down a long, unending corridor.

*~*~*(Flashback)*~*~*

Kai turned the ignition off, his eyes set ahead, staring at the University. Ray was twisting his hands together, also staring at it, his heart hammering painfully in his chest. He wanted to reach for the doorhandle, to step out and walk back to his dorm, but the thought of someone jumping out from behind a tree and tying his hands behind his back and throwing a hand over his mouth so he couldn’t scream kept invading his mind.

He sighed shakily, looking down at his knees, his black pants torn and still grass stained. He wiped at them effortlessly and wrung his hands together again, staring at th dashboard now. Kai hadn’t said a word to him since they were in his bedroom together. Ray chanced a glance over at his Professor, but still, Kai wasn’t bothering to look at him.

With another deep, resentful sigh, Ray reached out and grabbed the latch to the door. He stepped out into the parking lot, almost frozen to the door as he stared across the parking lot at a group of soccer players laughing and jogging back up to the school, kicking a ball between them. His heart wrenched as he stepped back against the SUV, watching them until they passed.

Kai pressed a hand to his shoulder and he jumped, diving away from the door and swinging around to stare at his Professor’s calm face. He smiled shamefully and bowed his head, counting the pebbles on the ground. He didn’t know how long he had been looking at the ground, but it gave Kai enough time to step out of his SUV and walk around the front of the vehicle to stand in front of Ray.

Slowly, the neko looked up, his eyes shining in the heavy morning sunlight, chewing at his lower lip. Kai cupped his right cheek, rubbing the pad of his thumb softly and almost lovingly over one cheekbone and leaned down. He passed Ray’s lips and moved to his ear, pressing their cheeks together and whispered softly.

“Tell your friends,” he said softly, wrapping his other arm around Ray’s waist. “It may hurt to tell them, but it will hurt more to hold the pain in. Tell them, they’ll help you.”

He leaned back, looking down at Ray. The neko stared back, his eyes glowing and stepped forward, both hands on Kai’s shoulders. He reached up on tiptoe and brushed their lips together, closing his eyes just barely and gave Kai a brief kiss, one that made his own world explode into flashing lights. He didn’t want to pull away, but did all the same.

When he looked at his Professor again, he was smiling, a true, genuine, smile. Ray smiled back and felt Kai’s hand slid into his, their fingers gliding together, clasping tightly onto one another. Ray turned and walked toward the dorms, their hands sliding apart. He looked back only once, but Kai wasn’t looking at him. He had gotten into his SUV and was pulling away.

*~*~*(End Flashback)*~*~*

Kai flopped down into his leather recliner, a hot bowl of borscht in one hand, a list of paper in the other. He sighed and place his bowl down, staring at the long list in hand. He crossed out two of the dozens and placed them on his desk, his head pounding with a headache. With a grumbling sigh, he reached for his spoon, but was seized by something else ...

He hunched over, clutching his throat as he coughed, a gob of blood splattering the desk. He gasped, his eyes watering with pain as his mouth dripped with tangy crimson. His breath came in gasping bursts, his eyes fuzzy and blurry, his head spinning. He clenched his eyes shut, his head exploding with pain, more coughs making him double over.

He chanced to open his eyes, reaching with trembling hands for the bottom most drawer of his desk. The bottle of pills slipped from his grasp as another seizure of coughs hit him, sending the pills inside rattling along the plastic container as it rolled near the underside of the cabinet. Kai clutched at his mouth, blood pooling into his cupped hand, his mind growning fuzzy.

Pills, he thought heavily.

He tried to stand, but his legs gave way and he collapsed, falling onto the floor, his head hitting the corner of his desk. The world looped, falling upside down and pushing against his chest. He gasped for breath, reaching for his pills, unable to breath. He was dying ... suffocating.

His eyes bulged. He needed his pills. His hand trembled, his mind going blank. He gasped again, trying to get a breath, but only swallowed a forming of blood in his throat and choked on it. He tired to cough, but was caught between a gag and choked again, sliding across the ground, his hand inches from the pill bottle. He wheezed heavily, his body going limp, his eyes slamming shut and darkness enveloping him.

Icy water flowed over him, freezing his feet. He back up, staring down at the rising ice water. The fire around him was dissolving into the flame. He turned, but was lost into the darkness. An explosion of fiery light shot out at him and he stumbled back, clutching his eyes and cried out in horrible pain. More pain stung at his chest and he looked down, blood pooling into his shirt. He groaned, clutching the wound and looked around at the swaying room.

His feet barely moved. He was deep under water in a burning building, his feet heavy and wet. He clutched the doorjamb and pulled himself through, a black blur int the distance of the icy water swaying, searing fire making him squint through the water. He moved farther into the hall as the figure moved closer.

Mavra ...

His sister reached for him, grabbing the front of his shirt and threw him across the hall just as the roof above her collapsed. He watched as a smile creased her heavenly lips and she crumpled beneath the falling rubble. His voice was lost to the water, only thick bubbles escaping his throat. He reached for her, but the fire was too hot. Her hair was tangled around her face; blood everywhere.

He had to save her ... to bring her back. She was looking at him, the smile still on her face. She was still alive, he needed to save her. He reached out again, but someone had grabbed him. Her eyes closed and she was drifting away. He tried to scream again, but only more bubbles appeared. Tears were flowing from his eyes, invisible in the icy water around him. His hands grabbed at nothing as his sister disappeared into the darkness, a high pitched, echoing laugh filling his head.

No, you won’t win ... I wont let you take her from me ...

“Kai ... ”

The water was fading. It splashed below his waist and he gasped, breathing in clean air. The fire was gone; the burning building had dissolved. A dimly lit room was coming back into focus, the thick side of a large oak desk, the blurry image of someone crouched beside him. He groaned, his body numb. He was so weak. His stomach lurched, his throat felt dry and sickly like blood.

“Kai.”

“T-Tala,” Kai rasped. “What h-happened?”

“I don’t know,” Tala said, his voice shaky as he helped the slate haired man sit up. “I got here and you were lying on the ground in a pool of blood. I thought you had been shot.”

Kai looked himself over. He was indeed covered in blood. He felt the cold sticky feel of it on his face and against his neck. He shuddered, holding himself and leaned back against the desk, his mind burning with past memories.

“Tala,” Kai croaked. “I saw it happen again ... I saw her die again.”

“Oh, Kai,” whispered Tala, pulling the slate haired man into his arms. “I’m so sorry.”

“She should have lived,” Kai said, staring at the blood on the ground. “She should be with me now ... ”

Tala nuzzled Kai’s hair, pressing his cheek into the silver bangs. He felt tears in his eyes as he looked up at the only picture that sat atop the desk. A black and white photo of two people. One, Kai, standing in the snowy world around him beside a large cabin in the distance. Beside him, kneeling down at his side, arms wrapped so lovingly around him, his elder sister, her eyes baring the pain she had always suffered ... and the protection she had promised forever.

**~**~**~**~**~**

A/N: I usually never cry, but when I was writing this chapter, it made me actually break into sobs. My boyfriend made me stop so I could calm down before I could continue. Well, it’s over, and I have chosen my story title. Thank you again everyone – especially you Blackrose – for all your help in finding a good title.