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: *Holds up sniper rifle threateningly* I know you probably all want to kill me right now ... but I have my protection *winks*. Anyways ... Kai’s dead ... or is he ... or is isn’t he ... or is he ... or isn’t he ... OUCH, just gave myself a headache. *laughs* okay, review.


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Chapter 18.


*~*~*(Memory)*~*~*

“Kai?”

He rolled in his bed, young tired eyes opening slwoly to meet the face of his older sibling, her icy crimson eyes boring into his knowingly. With a sigh, he sat up, brushing back the silver strands of his bangs from his face. With a tired yawn, he watched her sit beside him, the bed dipping.

“I know you saw,” she said without hesitation. “Kai, I want you to know – ”

“Don’t both,” he whispered. “Just tell me why.”

“To protect you.”

He looked at her.

“Protect ... me?”

She nodded slowly, not smiling.

“Kai, I can leave whenever I want, I’m old enough to leave and not come back,” she said, sighing heavily. “But ... I stay because of you.”

“I don’t understand,” he said,

“I don’t expect you too,” she retorted.

He looked long at her.

“Kai, if I wasn’t here right now, what do you think grandfather would do?” asked Mavra.

“I ... don’t know.”

“He’d hurt you, little brother,” she whispered, turning to him to cup his cheek. “If I left without you, who do you think grandfather would target.”

He understood and his mouth dried, cottony and sticky.

“Me,” he said stiffly.

She nodded.

“I stay, brother, to protect you from what he does to me. With me here, you stay safe,” said Mavra, smiling gently now. “I’ll stay until I can take you with me, Kai. Once you’re old enough, we’ll get out of this ... together.”

He smiled, shuffling over to her and sitting on her lap. Her arms encircled his waist and she pulled him close, her fiery red eyes sliding shut as she hummed. HE gripped the front of her loose fitting shirt and tucked his head into her shoulder, listening to her heart, and hearing her voice lull him back to sleep.

Gently, Mavra pulled the covers away and laid down. She tucked Kai into her body, rolling the covers over their bodies and closed her own eyes. Her fingers ran warm through his hair, untangling soft tresses of blue and silver. With a single kiss, and a silent “I love you” she, too, fell asleep next to him.

*~*~*(End Memory)*~*~*

To Ray, it was like living in a nightmare. I moment he was pulled from the rubble, his life was, literally, tossed upside down by the force of reality. People swarmed him, the voices of his friends, of paramedics and firemen tore through him. He was blinded by bodies as a group of six or seven paramedics moved in on Kai.

He tried to scream, tried to say something, but his voice was locked. Instead, he struggled to move, pulling at the arm slung tightly around his waist. All he wanted to do was make sure Kai was okay. White came into view, the inside of an ambulance now constricting him from the outside world. He could still here everyone; Max, Tyson, Claud and Miguel yelling at him.

A harassed looking paramedic joined him, her long mousy blonde hair flown in many places. She pushed him back onto the stretcher, peeling an IV from the wall and holding his arm down to insert it. Ray panicked ... he’d always hated needles.

“Wait ... I don’t need that,” he said, finding his voice at last.

“Hush and let me help you,” she said loudly.

“No, don’t do that,” he panicked. “Help him ... help Ka – I mean – Professor Hiwatari.”

“Don’t worry kid,” she said, sliding the needle forward. “The others are getting him.”

“No ... wait, don’t do – OUCH,” he began, but the needle was already inserted.

“There, all done,” she said quickly.

He whimpered, feeling the painful metal rod numb his arm straight. She turned away from him and was facing a small counter, writing extremely fast. Ray had an inch view of the world outside and shifted on the bed to look into the darkness.

The paramedics were emerging from inside the ruble, two of them carrying a limp body with dark red hair. Ray felt his face break into a cold sweat, the blood-smeared face of Michael being lifted onto a stretcher boring across his eyes. Three paramedics joined helping Michael and disappeared from sight. Ray lifted his head from the pillow to watch at a better angle as another body was extracted. One he knew all to well.

“KAI,” he yelled.

The female paramedic turned to him, then looked out at the scene beyond.

“How’s that one?” she asked.

“Not breathing. We need to get him to the infirmary ... and fast,” one fo the tall, dark paramedics yelled.

“No ... he has to be okay ... he has to,” whispered Ray.

His breathing hitched, his lungs freezing on him. Kai’s face was so pale, so cold ... so dead. He tired to breath out, but he couldn’t. His arms started trembling, body convulsing for air. He coughed, chest constricting painfully around him. He breathed in quickly, his lungs burning painfully. The paramedic turned back to him, staring at him shocked.

“Shit,” she snarled.

Ray looked up at her with pleading eyes. She could see his confusion and used a soothing voice when speaking to him.

“Hush now,” she said calmly, her voice gentle and kind. “Try to keep calm. Breath slow. You’re hyperventilating.”

Ray gasped, a painful breath flaring his lungs. He breathed out, the pain ebbing away. He took along, slow breath in again, and let it out gratefully, but he still wasn’t calm. His body continued to tremble, and she took note of that. Smiling softly, she reached behind her body blindly, picking up a new sterile needle. She looked at it out of the corner of her eyes and snapped her gaze back to ray, seeing he was still watching her.

“Rest,” she said.

Ray only got a glimpse of the needle before it was in his neck, stinging him. He gasped, clutching her upper arms in a tight, frightened grip. She winced, but smiled nonetheless. Her hand went to his hair and she brushed it back motherly, whispering warmly to him. She was sliding away from him, blurring in his vision ... before all went dark.

*~*~*(Memory)*~*~*

The wind was dull that day, the sky gray and threatening with powdery snow of paper white. The ground was frosty and cold, chilled blue by the icy sheen that was frozen atop. The dew from the early morning had been unable to evaporate quick enough for the cold, and was now frozen crystal tot he splinters of grass that stuck up precariously through the ice chips.

There were no black cars. No men and woman clad black and crying softly over the gravestone. There was no gravestone to cry over.

It was like a ghostly silence that no one could be prepared for. The redhead – Tala – sat beside the darkened hospital bed. The orange haired one – Brooklyn – stood beside the door. The others, scattered around the room, were post upon watching the world beyond, rather than the world they were in.

Slowly, Tala moved his teary blue eyes upward across the bed, over a burnt arm, over scarred neck tissue, and up into the bandaged eyes of his unconscious lover. He had not woken in months since that day, and was n said, by Kai Hiwatari’s very own private doctor, that is seemed slim for him to even wake after such horrid trauma.

Tala reached out, cupping Kai’s hand in his own, and brushed his thumb over the rough bandages. He sniffed back his tears, licked his dry lips, and leaned forward. His lips trembled against his lovers cheek, the tears now sliding freely from his eyes. All he wanted was the man he loved back. He didn’t care if he was blind. He didn’t care if he was paralyzed or unable to speak. He just wanted his Kai back.

“Tala.”

The redhead looked up into Brooklyn’s foggy emerald eyes. It was amazing to see such depth of care in those eyes. Brooklyn had known Mavra longer than anyone in the entire team. He was second in command next to her, and always followed her orders. His loyalty to her never strayed ... not even now.

“We should go,” he whispered.

“I – I want to be with him,” said Tala, his voice raw and weak. “Just a little longer.”

The deep head of orange hair shook with a sigh.

“Alright. A little longer.”

Smiling, Tala nodded and turned back to his lover, who had yet to move from his current position of stillness. Smiling, Tala roamed his fingers through Kai’s hair, remembering the past days. Remembering the insane way how Kai had asked him out. Asked him to be his boyfriend. His lover.

“Do you remember?” Tala whispered.

Brooklyn looked up to the back of Tala’s head. He signaled around the room and the team slowly gathered at the door. Silently, they slipped out without the other noticing, leaving them in their own peace.

“It was amazing. You were so ... exuberant,” Tala said, laughing sadly. “I’d never seen you in such a mood.”

Tala squeezed Kai’s hand as the tears spilled freely.

“You came to my classroom; Physics of Science, I believe it was,” said Tala. “You were holding a huge bouquet of roses and searched me out. The moment you saw me you said ... in the loudest voice ... ‘I’m here to ask Mr Tala Ivanov to go out with me.’ I just couldn’t believe it. I was so embarrassed.”

He licked his upper lip, bottom lip trembling as he let loose a shuddering sigh.

“But I was happy. I got up and ran into your arms. I don’t think I’d ever seen my Professor so angry,” Tala laughed, wiping away tears shakily. “Then you whispered to me, so low I could barely here, ‘be with me. Be my lover. Be my boyfriend. Be mine.’”

He brushed back a piece of slate haired bang that fell into Kai’s bandages around his eyes and tucked it carefully behind one ear.

“I’ll never forget that day. Never.”

A finger twitched.

Tala jumped, startled, and gasped loudly. The chair he sat in clattered onto the floor, the door flying wide behind him. His hand still in Kai’s, he squeezed it and felt the return squeeze. With a thrill of hope, Taal moved forward, sitting on the edge of Kai’s bed, and squeezed his hand, mouth next to the older mans ear, and began whispering to him softly.

“Remember our one month anniversary ... ”

The hand squeezed tighter still.

“I didn’t know you could cook so well, Kai ... ”

“Tala?” Brooklyn whispered, confused.

“Shhh, I think it’s working,” said Tala hoarsely. “Kai, come back to me.”

The hand twitched again, strengthened, and weakened again.

“No, Kai please,” pleaded Tala. “Please, stay with me. Be my lover. Be my boyfriend. Just ... be mine, Kai.”

“T – Tal – a.”

His heart soared. Brooklyn looked on with startled admiration and happiness. The group beyond gasped and looked around at one another, some cheering and high-fiving one another. Brooklyn raced into the room and sat next to Taal, leaning over the redhead to press a hand to Kai’s jugular.

“He has a regular pulse,” he breathed out.

“He’ll be okay,” Tala said.

“He’ll be fine. He’s going to live,” whispered Brooklyn.

“YES,” cheered Tala.

He kissed his lovers cheek, squeezing Kai’s hand, and petted him gently. Kai’s head tilted once to the side into Tala’s soft fingers, his cracked and blue lips pressing rough – yet gentle – to the warm and tender flesh of his lovers hand. Tala let out a laughing cry of happiness and leaned down again. His lips captured his lovers in a deep kiss.

“I love you, Kai,” he whispered. “I love you so much.”

Brooklyn looked on with sad happiness. His eyes strained on the redheads glimmering face. With a hesitant sigh, he stood slowly from the bed to give the pair their space. The team assembled around him, and the door closed once more, dipping Tala and Kai into their own silence of happiness.

*~*~*(End Memory)*~*~*

It was early morning. The sun had barely risen over the trees and mountains. Snow glistened cool and crisp on the windowsills of the houses and shops below on the street. Early rises prowled open stalls, buying merchandise and groceries from the various places.

Ray tore his eyes from the sites below as the door opened and a very relieved looked Max walked in, his left arm bandaged to the shoulder. The blonde smiled at Ray, walking toward him with a very obvious lip he was obviously trying to cover up by walking all too stiffly. Smirking, the neko removed himself from the sill and sat on his bed, patting it for max to join him.

“Umm ... I think I’ll stand thanks,” the blonde said, blushing.

Blushing and smiling, Ray nodded and pulled the blankets over his lower legs more comfortably. He still felt woozy from the sedative they had given him, but he was still able to stand without vomiting ... unlike Tyson.

“How is Ty?” Ray asked at that thought.

“He’s doing better. Claud’s watching over him,” Max said, flattening out a rumple in the blanket. “We were really worried, you know.”

“Yea,” whispered Ray.

“Umm – Ray,” Max said nervously.

“Hmm,” was the neko’s reply as his eyes traveled back to the window.

“Well – umm – Michael’s been signed out.”

Ray froze. Had he heard right? No, it couldn’t be true.

“The hospital and University has put out a restraining order on him, though,” Max said, also staring out the window. “He can’t go near you, me, Miguel, Tyson or Claud. He can’t even go back to the University unless accompanied by the authorities.”

“Are you serious?” Ray asked.

“Serious as ever,” replied Max.

“Well, at least he can’t come near us,” sighed Ray.

“Yea – at least,” whispered Max.

“Max, I know this is awkward and all but – ” picking his words carefully, Ray said, “Miguel’s not the reason you’re limping ... is it.”

A tear glimmered in Max’s perfect crystal blue eyes. “No.”

“I’m so sorry,” Ray said sincerely.

“I never thought – it could hurt like that,” said Max, his voice soft and very low that Ray barely heard. “He’d – finished with me by the time Professor Ivanov found me.”

Ray couldn’t think what to say. But ... maybe ... saying nothing was the best.

“Does Miguel know?” Ray asked after a short time of silence.

Max looked at him like he had slapped the blonde in the face. His usually calm baby blue eyes were wide with horror, mouth slightly open, stance raw and trembling.

“You – haven’t told him,” whispered Ray.

“How can I,” Max cried, his voice ringing high. “I can’t let him know what happened to me ... he’ll think I’m –”

“Dirty,” whimpered Ray.

Max nodded.

“Max, he loves you like no other,” Ray said, smiling softly. “Instead of hiding it away, you should tell him. Miguel’s a great guy. He’d want to know.”

“I’m scared,” whispered Max, tears sliding down his cheeks.

Ray just smiled and patted the bed again.

This time Max sat down, his posture ginger as he looked at Ray. He wiped away the tears and hung his head, unable to meet the neko’s warm yellow eyes.

“It’s okay to be scared, Max,” whispered Ray.

The blonde laughed shakily. “Yea, kinda like our first time. I burst into tears just like now I was so freaked.”

Ray laughed. “You serious?”

“Dead serious,” Max giggled, tears drying. “But ... in the end, it was alright.”

“Umm – Max – ” Ray began nervously, twisting the blankets in his hand.

“Hmm,” was the blondes dazed reply.

“Well – uh – how – how does it – feel,” Ray asked, his voice shy.

Max gave him a surprised look and smiled.

“Oh, so our little Ray has a crush,” Max teased.

Ray blushed and nodded weakly.

“May I ask who?”

“It – it’s probably best if you didn’t know,” Ray whispered.

Max looked at him thoughtfully and nodded.

“Well, to be perfectly honest and blunt, it doesn’t feel great when it’s your first time,” Max said truthfully. “It hurts, of course, because it’s your first time – ah – being stretched, to put it in lamer terms.”

“Oh,” was all Ray said.

“It also has to do with if the person knows what they’re doing,” Max said, seeing Ray’s far-off look. “If they know how to angle, it’ll be a real thrill.”

Ray looked up at the smiling blonde.

“It’s an amazing feeling, Ray,” whispered Max. ‘If you really love the person, and they love you, it feels beautiful and wonderful to be taken.”

Ray smiled.

“Really?” he asked quietly.

“Really really,” Max said, patting Ray’s head and laughing.

“Thanks Max,” Ray said, sitting up a little straighter.

“No problem,” Max said, smiling again. “Well, I better get going. I told Miguel I was checking on you.”

“Tell him,” whispered Ray.

Max nodded gently. “Don’t worry, I will.”

*~*~*

The blinds were drawn all around the room when Ray entered. The lights were off, the glow of the respirator screen and heart monitor glowing in the room. The incandescent light shone down weakly onto the white bed covers and over the legs of a sleeping man. Quietly, Ray closed the door behind him, throwing himself and the other occupant into complete darkness in exception to the light blue glow.

Kai’s pale face seemed to shine in the limp light. His face was bandaged and had thick gauze here and there. One eye had been bandaged over, the wrapping winding in behind his head and up over his blue and silver hair. Ray sat down on the edge of Kai’s bed, one hand going to the slate haired mans cheek and caressing it softly.

“You’ll make it,” Ray whispered. “Please ... make it.”

Kai’s lower body was fully covered, with the white sheets that were wrapped around him. A gauze was wrapped around his torso and disappeared below the covers to wrap around his left leg. Ray had been informed, thanks to Max, Tyson, Claud and Miguel, that Kai had been easy to pull from the rubble. The poles had slid out easily and he had been sterilized and put under for the entire trip and operating procedure.

Ray hadn’t said anything, but in all honesty, he was screaming with joy on the inside. It had been extremely hard to contain in front of his friends when he heard that Kai had pulled through the operation ... but now was a completely different story. Kai may have had lived through the entire operating period, but he now had to endure the pain of recovery, which, the doctor had informed Ray, could cause Kai’s body to give up completely and shut down on itself due to it’s weakened nature.

‘His body has sustained many injuries. He’s doing fine now, but we need to monitor him very closely. I’m afraid, that sooner or later, he’ll just give up and decide death is a better path,’ the doctor had said.

Ray shook his head, tears glimmering in his eyes. From the day he had been knocked out (about two days ago) to now seeing Kai lying in a hospital bed, hanging by a single thread of his life, was causing the neko pain.

“Max told me your class has been cancelled until further notice,” Ray said conversationally, though it felt he was talking to himself. “I guess it’s not bad.”

The monitor beeped as if in answer.

“My other Professors’ have put my assignments on hold until I get out of this place,” the neko said, his voice tight and dry.

The monitor beeped again.

“Kai ... ” another beep. “I miss you.”

The monitor beeped louder, the IV in Kai’s arm sliding outward as the Slate Haired mans vein bubbled under the skin. The tube within Kai’s mouth fogged as he let out a groggy breath, his eyes clenching shut tightly. Ray hadn’t noticed this, and lowered his head to the bed beside Kai’s arm, holding it gently. He let the tears cascade from his eyes and onto the sheets; biting his bottom lip to keep silent as he cried.

“Don’t leave me,” he whimpered. “You’re the only person I have now. I’ve been abandon by the village ... my friends think I betrayed them. Please, stay with me.”

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A/N: ... Review