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:*cackles evilly and points at page* It is the HORRIBLE chapter 19 ... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!


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Chapter 19.


Riiing ... Riiing ...

The man turned, grunting in his sleep and scrunched his brow. The sound was gone and he sighed, sleep consuming him before ...

Riiing Riiing ...

Groaning, the man turned, cloudy eyes opening in the dark, hand searching blindly for his phone. His hand slammed down on his bedside desk, fingers stretching out across the surface. He felt the cool plastic of the phones base and reached up to grasp it.

Groaning, he put the phone to his ear and spoke in a thick, tired voice.

“Yea?”

“Brooklyn.”

Liquid greens eyes snapped open, the darkness around coming into focus as tossed orange hair flew in all directions. The tired man felt fully awake now, the phone on his ear trembling in his hand as his breath hitched in his throat. He swallowed, his words sticky in his throat as he spoke.

“Th – this is Brooklyn,” he said, throat parched.

He reached for the glass of water on his bedside as he heard an intake of shaky breath.

“It’s ... it’s Tala ... Brooklyn,” said the shaky voice on the other line.

“Tala,” Brooklyn whispered, the voice soft from his lips.

“I know it’s been – a long time but – oh, God, Brooklyn, Kai’s been injured badly,” the redhead cried into the phone, unable to keep calm much longer.

“Shhh, calm down, Tal,” Brooklyn whispered softly. “What happened?”

“The past, Brooklyn,” Tala whimpered into the phone. “The past happened.”

*~*~*

Ray stood up, wiping the tears from his eyes, and turned from Kai’s bed tiredly. He limped slowly to the door, his legs wobbling beneath him. The bed behind him creaked, but he paid it no attention. Tears blurred his vision again as he reached for the doorhandle, fingers trembling. He felt the cool metal of the handle, but his fingers slipped from the surface, face blotched with tears.

“It’s my fault,” he whispered, his hands fisting. “It’s all my fault.”

“Ray ... ”

“You got hurt because of me ... it’s all my fault,” Ray cried, leaning against the wall as he weakened. “If I hadn’t ... maybe if I’d ... Oh, God, Kai I’m so sorry.”

“R – Ray ... ”

“Great,” Ray said, laughing through his tears and shrugging. “Now I’m hearing you call my name weakly from behind ... ”

His sentence trailed off, heart skipping it’s beats as he slowly turned his head back toward the bed. Vision still blurred, he focused as best he could on the white sheet-covered hospital gurney. His focus cleared slightly as he blinked in shock and disbelief. Red, crimson eyes watched him tiredly from bedside, the face pale yet alive, a confused yet simpering smile across the pale cut cheeks.

“Kai ... ” he whispered.

Ray’s head snapped up, his mind racing and heart beating. He looked at Kai’s still face, the pale colour, and realized, sadly, that he has been dreaming. He reached out slowly, running his fingers over his Professors arm slowly. He felt no movement in the older mans arm, the pulse slow and awkward. For once, Kai Hiwatari actually looked his age of thirty-two. His face was slack and weak. Dark lines were formed under his eyes and his body rose and feel in jittery twitches.

“You don’t look like yourself any more,” whispered Ray, closing his eyes. “Over the past months (yes, it has been months) you’ve changed so fast.”

Knock knock ...

Ray jumped, the door creaking open behind him. He stood quickly, releasing his professors hand, and watched as a disheveled Tala entered, the redhead looking like he hadn’t slept in days. His hair was less shiny and weak, long strands of red falling into his blue eyes. His eyes themselves had little shine to them, their dull blue hue seeming almost translucent.

“P – Professor Ivanov,” Ray stuttered.

Tala noticed the neko for the first time, looking up quickly from the floor and staring blankly. He seemed lost, almost like he had wandered into Kai’s room by accident.

“Oh, Mr Kon,” Tala said, smiling tiredly. “I did not expect you to be in here.”

“Neither did I,” whispered Rau untruthfully. “Just wanted to say thanks. You know, for saving me and all.”

“I’m sure he’d be very appreciative for that,” said Tala, tears shimmering in his eyes. “He’s always been like that. Quiet, but very appreciative.”

“You’ve ... known him a long time,” whispered Ray.

Tala smiled, head tilting to the side as he looked at Kai’s pale face from around Ray’s form.

“Yes, a very ... very long time,” he whispered.

“I should go,” Ray said, looking back at Kai sadly. “You probably want to be alone with him right now.”

“Thank you, Mr Kon,” Tala said.

Ray exit, leaving a very pale face Tala behind. He closed the door, but did not leave the doorway, ear pressed gently against the large wooden frame as he listened quietly to the shuffling of the redheaded Professors feet and the scrape of a chair being moved closer to the bed.

“I called, Brook,” whispered Tala through the door. “He’s worried about you. Always has been – ” a gentle laugh “ – you and he were like brothers. He loved Mavra so ... deeply.”

There was silence where Ray could only suggest Tala was trying to pull himself together from breaking down into a sobbing flare of tears and anguish.

“Kai,” Tala said, so softly Ray covered his other ear to block out the noises of the hospital. “I love you. Please, don’t leave me ... not yet. Remember your promise. Remember it. You promised to die with me, right at my side, with me in your arms. You promised ... and you never break a promise.”

There was more silence, and Ray couldn’t bare it. He pulled away from the door and wandered down the hallway, teetering as he went. He could see the waiting room coming into view but stopped when he heard gentle sobbing. His brow furrowed, ears tentative as he listened on to the gentle sobbing.

“Max,” he whispered, striding forward.

He stopped outside a room to the left down the long glowing corridor, a door lightly ajar. He looked in, and, as if in answer, found the blonde curled in Miguel’s arms, crying softly, his face stained red and eyes puffing slightly.

He didn’t look good.

“Shh, come on now,” Miguel whispered, rubbing Max’s back fondly. “It’s okay baby, it’s okay.”

“NO — NO IT’S NOT,” Max yelled, his fists squeezing into Miguel’s shirt.

The other winced at how loud his lovers voice was and held the blonde closer. He didn’t look good himself, his face pale and a little weaker. His hair was slack and not so colourful and he seemed to be ill.

“Didn’t you hear the doctor,” whimpered Max, trembling in Miguel’s strong arms. “After that — that bastard person attacked me he – he damaged – ”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Miguel whispered.

“You wont want to be with someone you can’t make love too,” Max snapped, glaring at the floor. “I might not – I wont be able too – Oh, God, Miguel.”

“Max, calm down,” Miguel said, hushing his lover.

Ray couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He backed into the wall, unable to move, as Max’s voice drifted out in quavering sobs.

“I’m scared, Miguel,” stuttered the blonde, holding his lover tighter. “What if the results come back and I can’t ... have you any more?”

“It’s not about us having sex, Maxie,” Miguel said, trying (but failing) to sound humorous. “I promise, when those results come back, you’ll only need a few weeks recovery and you’ll be fine. And if not, I’ll still be with you. I love you, Max – I’m too much in love with you to not want to love you. So please, stop worrying. Please, baby; it’ll be okay.”

“Oh, Miguel ... ”

“Max, I wanted to save this for a day where it could be special. I wanted to make you the happiest person in the world. But now, I can’t wait,” said Miguel. He dropped to his knees, pulling one of Max’s hands into his own. “Max, love, I want to be with you. I want you to be with me forever – and only be mine. I want to wake up with you in my arms every day. Max, baby, marry me?”

Max covered his mouth, tears spilling from his eyes. He slid from the bed and fell to his knees in front of Miguel, unable to speak. A ring, a diamond pearled ring sat in the sandy blondes free hand, the glittering stone sparkling in the low light. Shaking his head in disbelief, Max did the only thing he could think of.

Looking up one final time, he threw himself into Miguel’s arms and kissed him, toppling them both backwards. Miguel’s hands laced into his hair and pulled him down further, tears in both their eyes. Slowly, they pulled away, and Max smiled, tired and said.

“Miguel, I love you too,” whispered Max.

“But ... ” Miguel said, smiling softly.

“Hold onto this for me,” Max said, his voice soft and low as he curled his lovers hand over the ring. “I promise, after this is over, I’ll be happy to be with you forever. To be your ... husband.”

Miguel nodded, smiling warmly.

“I will, Max,” Miguel said, brushing his lovers cheek as he blonde placed his head over his lovers chest, listening to his beating heart.

“Can I see it again?” Max asked, blushing.

Miguel smiled and opened his hand, holding the ring between his thumb and forefinger. Max reached out and brushed the diamond gently, taking the ring from his boyfriend and slipping it onto his ring finger. He tested it, looking at the shining little stone before smiling and lifting his head from Miguel’s chest.

“You know,” Max said, looking at the ring again. “Maybe ... instead ... I’ll hold onto this for now. Just so you don’t lose it.”

Miguel smirked.

“Are you saying yes?” he asked.

Max blushed and nodded, leaning up and kissing his lover.

“I’m saying hell yes,” whispered Max.

Ray felt tears in his eyes. He covered his ears, having heard the sad conversation before. Max hadn’t just been raped, he had been broken – destroyed, and Miguel still loved him even though they might not be able to make love any more. Falling to his knees, Ray cried harder, slamming his fist into the ground. He was to blame for all this ... it was all his fault. He for sure felt two of his fingers break, the other two probably sprained. Shuddering, he fell to his knees. He didn’t care any more ... he didn’t care.

*~*~*

Tala closed the draped, the sun bright through the thick clouds hanging over the late Moscow sky. He turned back to the bed, Kai lying as still as every. His lips twitching in a weak (sad) smile, he returned to his friend’s bedside, his hand instinctively reaching out to hold the cold numb one lying limp on the sheets.

“That kid, Kon,” whispered Tala, brushing back a stray silver piece of hair, “he really likes you.”

Kai did not respond. Of course, Tala did not expect him too. He massaged a warm pale cheek and smiled, happy the older man in bed was well enough to still feel alive. What Tala had seen had made him sick to his stomach, and he had spent more than two hours vomiting into the nurses private bathroom for what it had been.

Kai’s body ... didn’t look like Kai’s body. His stomach had been hanging my a single intestine, the metal pole having ripped right through his body, tearing out his innards. He seemed paralyzed with pain, but the slate haired man still abled himself to move, his hands reaching for anything familiar to touch. His pupils had been badly dilated, blinded by the pain and hysteria. Silver crimson liquid drizzled down his chin.

After Tala had returned from the bathroom, he had the courage to rush over the blunette and reach for his hysteric hand. He had held it through the entire operation. It had taken twelve hours, and a major loss of blood, but Kai had been stable and finally dropped into a coma. The doctors had expected it, but Tala had not. He had gone insane, blinded by the protection he felt over his best friend. He had been restrained and given a sedative and returned to a room the hospital had assigned him.

To think ... he had wasted his friends time with the case.

“You might have thought it was your time Kai,” whispered Tala, leaning down so his lips were next to the slate haired mans ear. “It’s not. Not yet. Not this time.”

Something on the monitor caught Tala’s attention. He turned, looking at it with a cross expression, wondering what it was. It had looked like a fluctuation, a heart beep that didn’t seem quiet normal. Shaking his head, Tala looked away, trying to forget, but it happened again ... and again ... and again.

“Kai,” he whispered.

Like a flicker, the monitor went flat, a continuous screeching beep flowing over the redheads shocked form. He stumbled to is feet, the chair clattering backwards and stared at the still slate haired man. No movement.

“KAI ... ”

*~*~*

The hospital suddenly came alive, doctors, nurses and NIT’s went racing down the hall passed Ray toward the end room. Looking around, eyes blurry, Ray focused on Kai’s room, watching as the doctors shot through the door, each yelling a different order, the nurses and NIT’s darting in all different directions at their word.

From inside the room, a distraught and frantic looking Tala was ushered out, yelling something hazy to the neko. Focusing, Tala caught onto some words, and felt his heart plummet.

“It just stopped ... help him ... he can’t die ... Kai, please ... ”

Ray swallowed, his throat painful and dry, his legs shaking where he was slumped on the ground. A nurse, her light blonde-red hair pulled back into bun, allowed the redheaded wolf to collapse onto her shoulder in tears. She half carried half led him down the hall to a private room where the pair disappeared.

Behind Ray, two voices spoke up.

“Ray?”

“What happened?”

Both Max and Miguel appeared in the doorway of their shared room, the two looking puzzled at either the neko on the ground or down the hall at Kai’s private room. Max leaned down and placed a hand on Ray’s back, rubbing softly. His eyes were still red from his tears, but they had dried for now and he seemed worried. Miguel continued to watch the scene down the hall, a puzzled and confused look on his face.

“Ray?” Max whispered, placing his thumb under the neko’s chin and lifting it. “What’s wrong, huh?”

“Max ... I,” Ray whimpered, before dissolving into tears again.

“Get me an MA stat and fast. I need 30 CC’s of morphine and sulphate serotine,” a PA yelled, barking quickly at one of his NIT’s.

The student nodded and darted away, appearing only second later with bottles in hand an what looked like a defribrilator in hand. He was pulled into the room, the doctor barking at his again about what to do and how to do it ... and fast.

“Something happened to Professor Hiwatari?” Miguel asked, scratching his chin.

“I don’t know,” Ray hiccoughed through tears.

“Ray, calm down?” Max hushed. “How come your sitting here outside our room?”

“I ... I heard you guys talking and ... and overheard,” Ray stuttered. “Max, I’m so sorry.”

The neko puled his blonde friend into a hug, crying on his shoulder. The blonde held him, confused, and looked up at his boyfriend sadly. They stayed silent, Ray’s hiccuping and the noises of the hallway the only sound. Finally, Ray calmed him self to a steady shuddering breath and leaned up.

“Ray, why are you sorry? You did nothing wrong,” Max asked, rubbing the neko’s cheek caressingly.

“It’s my fault you were ... If not for me ... this wouldn’t be happening,” whispered Ray, staring at the blonde sadly. “Professor Hiwatari wouldn’t be in this state. You, Tyson, Miguel and Claud wouldn’t be here. None of this would have happened.”

“Ray, it’s not your fault,” Miguel said, finally kneeling down beside his boyfriend. “Michael has been on the Universities radar since he appeared at Mandarin. This started two years before you even showed up.”

“I just feel so guilty,” Ray whispered.

“Well stop, cause it’s not your fault,” Miguel said, smiling.

*~*~*

Kai walked down a lonely hallway, staring at the dark doors. Wasn’t their supposed to be a light at the end of the tunnel? He stopped, hearing voices outside one of the many rooms and moved to listen. He wasn’t into eavesdropping, but he heard something that sounded all to familiar. Two voices ... two very familiar voices.

“Now, listen Kai,” someone whispered.

It couldn’t be.

“Okay.”

No, it couldn’t. He was imagining it.

“This is a bond between two people. A bond that will forever live on, even after death.”

Not possible. He was going crazy. It wasn’t true ... it wasn’t.

“Alright,” he heard himself say, though much younger. “What is it?”

He peeked inside, the door slightly ajar, and watched as a girl, about seventeen lean over, grabbing the wrist of a younger, more innocent him.

A knife was in her hand, and she placed it on the young Kai’s wrist, letting it slide across his palm. He winced, whimpering in pain. She hushed him softly, stroking his cheek and smiled as she pulled the knife away, a pool of warm blood on his hand.

“Listen, little brother,” she whispered, rubbing his hand. “This is sacred.”

She placed her hand to his, her own bleeding too, and watched as he stared in awe at their joining blood. They were already blood related, but this was something more. She pulled him into her lap and stroked his hair as he began to fall into a peaceful sleep, her words echoing in his mind.

“Now, my little one, we are fully joined. I shall live on in your blood, and you in mine. When I am gone, we shall forever he with one another. In live ... and death,” she said, stroking his hair. Slowly, he fell asleep, and her last words were lost in silence. “My time is drawing to a close, dear brother. But do not fear, for I will be with you ... forever.”

Kai slipped backwards, thrusting his back into the wall and sliding to the floor. He covered his mouth, eyes sparkling with lost tears. He thought he had forgotten how to cry. But now, he cried. He held himself softly, head on his knees, and shuddered in pain. Why had she been taken. WHY?”

Kai ...

The word was just a whisper.

Kai ...

It echoed around him, a familiar loving warmth surrounding him. He leaned back, eyes closed peacefully, and felt eh soft thumping of a beating heart beneath his ear. Breathing slow, he opened his eyes, and met familiar crimson pools, no silver lines drawn across their loving gaze.

“Brother,” her voice echoed, a hand stroking lovingly across one pale cheek. “I live on in you. I forever protect you, and will until your last day on earth. It is not your time ... and it wont be for a long. There is still someone, someone who loves you, and that you are beginning to love, waiting for you.”

“Mavra,” he whispered.

Her hair fell around her face, and she leaned down, pressing her lips to his forehead. They were not cold, like he thought, but warm, and loving. She pulled away, and leaned her forehead on his, touching his lips, and smiling.

“We can be together again brother ... but that time will wait. I wait for you,” she said, holding him. “Protect who you love, like I protected you.”

He closed his eyes and hugged her, letting the warmth and tears spill over his. He opened his eyes, and she was gone, only a whisper of her words and the warmth of her lips on his forehead still present. Smiling, he stood, and walked away down the hall again, away from death ... away from the fires that consumed him ... away from it all.

He still had to protect someone. He still had to protect Tala.

... and Ray.

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A/N: I short chapter, I know. I had planned on getting this one up before Christmas, but I went away for vacation and wasn’t able to type at all. Damn, but at least I updated. Well, g2g. I will have my next update soon. Hopefully before Valentines day, because I want to make it very ... very special. Thank you for waiting, faithful fans. I love you.

P.S. Review.