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: Probably the saddest chapter I have ever written.


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Chapter 16.


Like a blazing phoenix, the fire soared upward, screeching and roaring loudly. The walls flickered and glistened, flames flickering over the steel and metal walls. Pipes and tubes burned and fizzled, hissing loudly under the stress of the flames. Sparks shot from old electronics, exploding and tweaking loudly.

Kai looked around, sweat flourishing along his brow, fear etched in his soul. It was back, and it was going to kill him. He jumped up from the ground, from the unconscious boy beneath him, and looked over at Ray. The neko’s head was bowed, eyes closed, tears running down his face.

Kai looked up, the Chinese boy’s hands bound above his head. He pulled at the chains, pulling a lock-pick from the cuffs of his gloves and began to pry at them. They clicked open over the loud rumble of fire, and Ray slumped forward, falling into Kai’s waiting arms.

“Ray, open your eyes,” Kai whispered, brushing back black hair from the neko’s sweaty face. “Come on, open your eyes.”

Ray’s head tilted to the side, golden eyes gliding open slowly. He looked up at Kai, letting out a shuddering sigh, and wrapped his arms tightly around the slate haired mans neck. Kai covered him, wrapping his jacket around the boy and held him, the guilt searing like a dart into his heart. How could he have done this to him, how could he hurt Ray? How could he give Tala hope again when he was with someone again?

“Did you see?” Ray whimpered.

“I saw,” said Kai.

“I’m dirty,” Ray choked out, clutching the front of Kai’s shirt, his shoulders trembling as more tears spilled from his eyes. “I don’t deserve you. I’m dirty and tainted.”

“No, Ray,” whispered Kai, holding the neko closer. “You’re not dirty. You’re not anything like that. You are pure and innocent. No one should be doing this too you.”

“I don’t deserve you,” sighed Ray.

Kai kissed the neko’s lips once again with as much passion as he could muster during their current predicament. Once they parted, Ray’s eyes having fluttered closed and open again, soft and warm, fresh tears glistening across his golden orbs, Kai stood, pulling the neko to his feet with him.

“We need to go,” Kai whispered.

“My friends,” Ray said suddenly, pulling away from Kai to look around frantically. “I need to find them.”

“It’s to dangerous. Come on, we need to get moving,” Kai said, pulling the neko to his right.

Ray winced at the pain in his backside. He stopped, digging his feet into the hot ground, and pulled his arm free, shaking his head at Kai’s wide expressional eyes. He looked pityingly at Kai, hoping his Professor would understand.

“No ... please, Kai ... I need to find them,” Ray pleaded.

“Professor Ivanov’s here with me, he’ll find them,” warned Kai, pulling Ray closer.

“No ... I know where they are ... I need to find them,” Ray yelled. He knew he didn’t know where they were, but he couldn’t just leave. “TYSON .... MAX .... MIGUEL ... ”

“Ray, we need to go. It’s to dangerous here,” Kai said to him.

“CLAUD,” Ray continued to yell.

A catwalk groaned above, the metal melting and bending beneath the fire consuming them. Kai wrapped his white scarf around his mouth and slitted his eyes through the thick cloud of black smoke that was beginning to billow from every direction. Ray hazed in and out of sight with the smog, his black main of hair bouncing through the fire.

The catwalk clanged loudly, the metal pegs holding it aloft snapping way. It swung downward, and Kai gasped. He bounded forward instantly, his instincts telling him to protect. He grabbed Ray by the waist and pulled him down. They crashed to the ground, Ray huddled in his arms, and skidded across the hot ground. The catwalk smashed and cracked where the neko had been standing, crunching under it’s weakened state and blocked their exit.

“See what I mean,” Kai snapped at a shocked Ray. “It’s too dangerous.”

“But ... my friends,” Ray whispered sadly and apologetically.

“Tala will find them,” Kai whispered, pulling himself and Ray up.

“Kai ... ”

“Hmm?”

“How did you know ... ”

“I didn’t. I thought someone else was here ... but I’m glad it’s you,” Kai whispered, bringing his lips closer to the neko’s.

Ray’s bottom lip trembled. He leaned forward, their bodies molding together, and kissed his Professor deeply. Kai held the back of his head, tongue sliding out and across Ray’s bottom lip. He allowed entrance, and wrapped his arms over the slate haired mans lean neck.

“He hurt you?” Kai whispered once they parted.

Ray hid himself in Kai’s neck.

“No.”

“Don’t lie to me,” whispered Kai.

“It doesn’t matter right now,” Ray said.

“KAI ... ”

Kai looked up, Tala’s frantic voice calling for him. He looked up at the catwalks above. They groaned and creaked madly over them. A flash shot by and Kai briefly glanced the brunette escaping through the fire, yelling something incoherent. He felt Ray grip his upper arm and sway.

“You’re getting to much smoke inhalation.,” Kai said, unwrapping his scarf and handing it to the neko. “Use this and get out.”

“What about you?” asked Ray worriedly.

“Don’t worry, I’ll see you outside,” Kai whispered, brushing Ray’s cheek softly. “Your friends will probably be out there too.”

“Be careful,” Ray whispered.

“You too,” Kai said.

They kissed briefly and parted, Kai disappearing among the fire, ray toward the exploding windows. He entered a long stretch of steaming hallway, coughing over the hot flame. He shielded his eyes as a door flared into a burning crisp, crackling and hissed at him. He teetered down the hall, bypassing a large room, the door having burst open. He glanced inside ... and stopped.

“CLAUD,” he yelled.

The white-blue haired man opened his eyes slowly; red-rimmed and cloudy. He gasped for breath, but soughed on the heat and the smoke. Ray untied part of the scarf Kai had given him and placed it over Claud’ mouth, hearing the older man gasp loudly for a clean breath of air.

“Ray,” he croaked.

“We need to get out of here. This place is coming down on us,” Ray said, lifting Claud into a sitting position.

“What about the others?” groaned Claud.

“They’re probably waiting for us outside ... ” Ray said hopefully. “Come on, let me help you.”

Ray slipped one of Claud’s arms over his neck, pulling the other to his feet, and teetered from the room. He held the scarf to Claud’s mouth, pulling the half-unconscious other down the hallway. Fire hissed and sneered around them, the ground bubbling and popping now and then. Fire licked up the walls and in rooms around them, screeching and roaring loudly.

A broken window came into view through the waves of heat rippling about. Ray pulled Claud toward it. The blue-white haired man seemed to have gained some consciousness and started to climb through the window shakily, his hands cut and bruised, face purpled and covered in soot. He fell through the window and onto cool grass.

Ray placed his leg on the frame, and stopped.

“Kai ... let’s go,” someone yelled.

“Take the boy and go,” Kai yelled in the distance.

“Catch me if you can ... Kai ... ” laughed someone in a maniacal voice.

“KAI DON’T ... ”

“GO, TALA ... GET BACK HERE YOU FUCKER ... ”

Cold fear exploded inside him, and Ray’s leg left the ledge. Claud was yelling at him, but he didn’t hear it. He was rounding the corner back into the room he was being attacked in. Stopping, he found himself blocked by a wall of flame that was exploding around him. He jumped back as a piece of fizzling pipe exploded on the ground and went sizzling into the air. His eyes stung, but he had to know what was happening.

“KAI???”

No answer.

The fire crackled and roared with laughter.

Ray battled himself through the flames. He tripped, striking a tap on the wall, and cried in pain. He pulled away, his skin boiling and burning on his back. He winced, falling forwards onto the blazing floor. He could feel his back bubbling and bleeding under his burnt shirt and groaned in pain, eyes rimmed red and puffy from the thick black smog.

He hardly felt himself start moving again, his feet pushing him through the flames, back stinging with pain. He was bounding up the iron stairs to the upper levels of the factory, moving across the soft metal and onto another swaying catwalk. Agile, he moved through the falling pipes and burning arches tot he other side, a long dark and very desolate hallway beyond leading into the depths of the factories darkness.

The catwalk swayed dangerously beneath him, and he moved from it, watching as it groaned and creaked from the blaze below. The fire licked the upper walls, moving along the broken window ledges and into the many room from which lead off from the main floor. Turning from the blaze, Ray stepped kindly over hot spots and melted areas, following the clatter of feet and maniacal laughter beyond.

“Just a little farther, Kai,” said the jeering voice before Ray. “Not much farther now. Does it bring back memories Kai? Does it bring back the horror?”

Swallowing the hard lump in his throat, Ray turned another corner, and was met with a barrage of heavy flame. It roared up the walls, hissing and snarling at him, daring him to pass. The flame darkened and burned fast, crossing over the roof of the hallway and down the opposite wall to sit at the base of the floor.

Ray squinted, seeing the rippling shadow of two figures beyond just up the corridor. Daringly, he bounded through the flames. He could hear it hissing and snarling at him angrily, licking his shoes and clothing dangerously. He hit the wall, the heat making him recoil from it and stood opposite the deadly flame. It seemed to turn on him, spiting and licking at his skin. He winced, the pain in his back pumping angrily, and moved forward slowly, swaying along the smog filled dusty hallway.

“Brings back memories, doesn’t it, Kai,” snickered the voice beyond.

Ray narrowed his eyes through the flame, staring at the clouded figure standing over him up in the rafters. Kai stood not far from his, watching him calmly, angrily. The figure moved into a clear view and Ray stared, wide-eyed, at the view before him. Michael moved before him, a lopsided smirk across his face, eyes rimmed red from the heat and smoke.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Michael,” Kai said calmly, though his voice held an icy ring to it.

“Oh, don’t you, Kai?” Michael asked in a sickly sweet tone.

“No ... I don’t. Explain?” Kai hissed.

Michael lifted a tape recorder from his back pocket. He hit the rewind button, the tape clicking to a stop. He pressed down on the play button, and a frantic, female voice rang out over the crackling and roaring of flame.

“Kai ... Kai, help me ... Kai. Please, help me ... the warehouse ... ”

Michael stopped the recorder, tossing the offending machine into the fire where it exploded, tape fizzling and bubbling. He stared at Kai insanely, his smirk widening grossly. He licked his lips slowly, stepping carefully across the rafters, Kai’s dark crimson eyes on him, the flame swirling around threateningly.

“I was there, Kai,” Michael said loudly, his voice ringing all through the factory. “I was there back on that faithful day.”

“What do you mean, Parker?” Kai snapped, losing his cool.

“The day she died, Kai. The day your big sister died,” Michael yelled, his voice ringing with laughter. “I was there ... I was the one.”

“What do you mean?” whispered Kai.

“I shot you, Kai. I was the one who put those three bullets in your back,” Michael sneered. “It was quite a disappointment, though, when it was Mavra who showed up at the factory, and not you. So ... myself and my crew had to send you a faulty tape recording of your sisters voice – pleading for your help – so you’d come looking for her. It worked, of course.”

“That was you,” Kai said, his voice soft and deadly.

“Yes, Kai, that was me. Only, my mission failed. I was supposed to kill the infamous assassin – Kai Hiwatari,” Michael said loudly, throwing his red haired head back angrily to stare at Kai with insane eyes. “I thought I had you when you collapsed, your hands over your eyes, blinded and the roof caving on you. If it hadn’t been for your damned sister you’d have died ... but she sacrificed herself ... for you.”

“An assassin,” whispered Ray.

“It was you,” Kai growled, anger flaring in his eyes. “It was you who shot me. You, who tossed this place into flames.”

“That’s right, Kai, that’s very correct. It was me,” Michael laughed.

“You’re insane,” Kai said.

“Am I?” Michael asked with mock innocents.

“Yes, you are,” growled Kai.

“How did you survive, Kai?” Michael asked.

“What do you mean?”

“I saw Mavra run passed me up the stairs to go after you. She almost stopped to kill me, but once I told you she’d never save you, she passed me by for you,” Michael said, staring at Kai with wondering eyes. “After that, I never saw either of you come out of the factory when the roof caved. So, how was it you survived ... when Mavra did not?”

Kai stared at the floor, watching the flames lick the walls and ripple around him. Suddenly, he locked eyes with golden, and stared at Ray’s fearful, shocked, frightened, face. His crimson eyes darkened, watching those golden eyes flicker with confusion and fear.

“I don’t know how I survived,” Kai whispered. “I felt someone grab me, and when I looked up ,she was there. She looked angry with me ... but something I saw within her, something I had never seen – fear. I knew we were doomed. That’s when ... a pipe caved through the roof, and she shoved me away.”

Michael looked at Kai, smirking triumphantly.

“I remember – becoming dizzy and hitting the wall,” Kai said, staring at Ray with painful eyes. “For once, she looked her bravest. She stood, staring at me – and then – she was gone. Blood. There was so much blood.”

“Such horrible memories ... aren’t they Kai,” whispered Michael.

“She looked so ... peaceful ... finally,” said Kai, tears in his eyes.

“Kai,” Ray sighed.

“But she wasn’t supposed to die, Kai ... YOU WERE,” Michael roared.

Glass exploded behind the redheaded American. Michael’s face was contorted with rage, his fists clenched and quivering angrily. He stared at Kai, eyes ablaze with hatred. He pushed his jacket aside, the black sheen of a gun glittering in the fire and suddenly he was holding it, the barrel point blank at Kai’s chest, the entire gun trembling with his hand.

“You should have died, Kai,” Michael snapped. “You and that whole fucking team of your sisters. She was supposed to survive as our test subject ... but it was she who died. She was our target for experimentation. We needed the strongest heir ... and that was her ... NOT YOU. Our entire mission was fucked because of you, you bastard.”

Kai stared into Ray’s golden eyes.

“Mavra ... I’m sorry,” whispered Kai.

“Time to die ... Kai – ”

The factory shifted, the fire taking it’s tole. The entire building quavered, tilting to the side. The structure groaned under it’s weight, metal and pipes and rods and wiring twisting and sizzling in the blaze. Michael’s face no longer looked brave and strong, but frightened and scared. He reached for the railing in front of him and screamed in pain, the hot metal burning his hand. He jumped back, tumbling over the edge of the rafters and falling onto the cement floor. His head cracked hard against the stone and he groaned, the flame circling him threateningly.

“KAI,” Ray yelled, stumbling with the sway of the building.

Kai stared down at him, snapping from his daze. His eyes widened and he jumped from the rafters. He pulled ray into his arms, hugging the neko to his chest, and kissed his sweaty temple affectionately. Ray felt tears leak from his eyes, his head buried into Kai’s warm shoulder. He pulled away and looked into his Professor’s warm crimson eyes. Their lips touched and he sighed. Suddenly, he gasped, and leaned into Kai, wincing in pain.

“Ray?” Kai whispered worrisomely.

“My back,” Ray groaned, remembering the burn he had induced, Kai’s hand having pushed against it. “I burned it.”

The building shifted again, the ground quaking beneath them. Kai steadied himself, pulling Ray close again, preciously avoiding the burn mark on ray’s back, and stumbled backwards. The rafters shifted, trembling from the above weight. Ray looked up, as did Kai, and stared as it tilted down upon them, dangling precariously on it’s lasting hinge.

“Ray. Run,” Kai said.

“No,” gasped Ray.

“Please, run,” whispered Kai.

“I won’t leave you Kai,” Ray yelled.

Fire circled around them, pieces of roof, wall and piping falling around them. Kai wrapped his arms tighter around Ray’s waist, pulling the neko to him. He bent his head, lips mere inches from Ray’s trembling ones, and spoke to him quietly.

“Sometimes ... you have to choose,” Kai whispered, every word he spoke brushing his and Ray’s lips together. “She died for me and – now – I shall do the same. Only, I shall die for you.”

Their lips were together, bodies pressed tight to one another. Ray splayed his hands into Kai’s hair, brushing his nails across his Professor’s scalp. He felt a tongue brush across his bottom lip, and whimpered, mouth sliding open as a delicate and warm tongue slid into his mouth, coaxing his own into a playful battle. Tears trickled from his sore, red-rimmed, eyes.

His lips were suddenly cold in the heat of the factory, Kai’s mouth no longer claiming his. He looked up into loving crimson eyes, the grey streaks swimming beautifully. Suddenly, Kai no longer looked older. His face was lined perfectly, skin flawless. He looked like a child, baby skin warm from the sun. His eyes glowed with youthfulness as he pulled Ray to him, holding the neko to his chest and cuddled him.

“It’s time I repaid my debt,” said Kai.

The structure clanged loudly, the last hinge popping from it’s place and fell before them. Ray’s eyes locked with Kai’s, and he felt himself being thrown from his Professor’s arms. Within Kai’s eyes, he saw not fear nor pain. Within those crimson depths he saw courage, happiness ... he saw ... Mavra.

“KAI ... ”

The catwalk collapsed upon the slate haired man, fire and sparks flying into the air, the flame exploding like a screaming phoenix. It circled, glaring down victoriously, having claimed it’s rightful victim. Slowly, the ground shifted and cracked bellow Ray’s feet, trembling viciously. Ray swayed on his feet, tears staining his eyes. He could not move ... could no longer breath. He felt a weight drop into his stomach, and pain seared through his body.

Kai’s name roared from his throat, but it was unheard ... for he was falling, the fire and the darkness encircling him, daring him to get near. The white scarf fluttered from around his mouth and up out of the open window above. Ray breathe din hot ash and smoke, gagging on the pain, and fell into darkness.

*~*~*

Tala turned, fearing the worst, the group of students, firemen, police, bomb squad, and other enforcement battling the fire. From the upper most window, as the structure of the factory finally gave way, a white scarf fluttered from within up into the wind and into the darkness beyond. Watching, Tala followed the long white scarf, tears stinging his eyes. They fell down his cold cheeks, as the building crashed before them ... burying the remains of pain.

Around him, gasps and cries exploded around him. He saw the blonde boy with the baby blue eyes (that would be max, people) run forward, tears pouring down his face, calling for his friend. His lover, who he knew to be Miguel, pulled him away, his own tears in his eyes.

The scene was surreal to them all. Max was punching his fist weakly into Miguel’s chest, asking why. Tyson was crumpled on the ground, Claud holding him and brushing his hair softly, staring at the mass of burning metal on the ground. Yellow police tap and yells of firemen and women was all around them.

“Ray,” Tyson finally whispered, his voice croaky and weak.

“He’s gone ... it can’t be,” Max whispered in a trembling voice.

“Shhh, calm down baby,” Miguel sighed shakily.

Firemen and women raced forward, battling the flames with their hoses. Sirens rang loud in the night, rebounding from the trees. The fire sparked and spread, growing wilder and stronger. Like a bird of fire, the flame spread it’s wings and raised it’s head to the sky. It cried it’s victory over their heads, a loud, low and very long note that wavered on the wind and died into the night.

Tears sparkled in Tala’s eyes, his hands coming up to cover his mouth, eyes wide with disbelief. He shook his head slowly back and forth, entire body trembling. He heard the students behind him yell for their friend – Ray, was his name – and could feel and hear their pain in their voices. He tossed his head to the side, tears spilling across his cheeks and down across his neck.

Slowly, they all looked up, and stared at the burning rubble before them. Tyson looked up at Tala, wishing to speak and ask the redheaded Professor why, but Tala was already advancing toward the crumpled factory, entire body vibrating from shock, fear and pain. Slowly, Tyson lowered his head and pressed it into Claud’s chest, tears trickling down his cheeks. He felt his lover rub his back and whimpered, holding him closer.

“He didn’t deserve this,” Miguel said angrily and sadly.

“I should have been able to save him. He was with me ... but he tole me he’d get out,” Claud muttered, angry with himself. “I should have stopped him from going back in.”

“Don’t blame yourself, Claud,” Max whispered through trembling lips. “No one can blame themselves.”

“Max is right,” Tyson mumbled. “If it’s one of ours fault, it all of us at fault.”

Tala listened as he moved forward, hearing each word any of the boys behind him said. No, it wasn’t there fault, it was his and Kai’s. For some reason, he knew that voice Kai had heard wasn’t Mavra’s. Mavra had died long ago, there was no way it had been her. He should have known that, but he had been to happy to have the slate haired man back with him. Now ... that was over. It was his fault ...

“Kai ... it can’t be,” Tala whispered, stepping forward on trembling legs. “Were supposed to die together ... we were supposed to die in each others arms ... WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DIE TOGETHER.”

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A/N: *blinks away tears* sorry people I had to ... but ... it is not the end. No, it is far from.