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, I just got my first two flames ever *does happy dance*.

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


Chapter 7.


The week went slowly for Ray. During all his lessons, his mind kept drifting back to his Professor and that one, single kiss in his house. It had been so amazing and had stopped far to soon for the neko-jins liking. He knew it was wrong. Kai was his Professor, and he was Kai’s student. It was more than wrong.

He sighed and looked down at Professor Vector, listening as the elderly man droned on and on about different court appeals and the many ways a person can be accused. The man looked ancient and wore the thickest of glasses. The class was barely paying attention to what he was saying, enwrapped in their own conversations.

“ ... and that wraps up my presentation on court room interpretations,” Professor Vector said rather dully. “Please review and write an essay on the ways one can be accused. To be handed in on my desk next Monday.”

The class got up and began to pack away their books, talking and laughing amongst themselves. Ray packed up slowly, putting his books away in his bag tiredly and stood up, his legs tingling with sleep. He groaned and walked up the stairs behind a brown haired boy with wide green eyes.

“First dorm party this week,” he said to his friend. “Supposed to be sweet.”

“Man I can’t wait,” his friend chirped.

Ray watched them leave, talking avidly about the next party. He turned around and gasped, hitting someone chest hard and falling to the ground. The seam on his bag ripped and his books and pencils and pens scattered the ground.

“Oh, sorry about that.”

“No, it was my fault, I wasn’t watching where I was–”

He stopped and looked up. Professor Ivanov was kneeling in front of him looking rather sympathetic. Tala smiled and began to pick up books around him, piling them on the ground in front of Ray. Smiling, Ray got up and walked over to pick up his many pens and pencils that were rolling away, placing them inside a pocket inside his torn backpack.

“Stupid cheap bookbag,” he muttered, holding it up and glaring at it.

“I remember the same thing happened to me,” Tala laughed, grabbing another book. “Except my pens exploded and my books were completely covered in ink.”

“Really,” Ray said, straightening a few crinkled pages of his Interrogatory book.

“Yea, worst day of my life. People laughing and pointing at me,” Tala muttered, and then a smile creased his lips. “Kai was the one who scared them all away.”

“You and Professor Hiwatari are close, huh,” Ray said.

“You could say that,” Tala said, standing up and holding ray’s books. “I actually think were closer than we’ve ever been...”

Ray nodded and looked down at his ripped bag. He glared at it and put it back over his shoulder.

“Well, thank you Professor,” Ray said, holding out his hands.

“No problem... hang on... aren’t you that Ray Kon,” Taal said, examining him. “Yea, you are. You were at Kai’s yesterday night.”

“Um, yea,” Ray said, blushing.

“Oh – No, I’m not saying anything is going on between you two,” Tala said reassuringly, seeing the look in Ray’s eyes. “Kai has very strict rules that he always follows by. One is never get to closely involved with your students.”

“Yea,” Ray muttered darkly.

“How do you feel?” asked Tala politely.

“I’m fine.”

“I meant about yesterday,” whispered Tala. “You know, after what happened.”

“I – well – I was scared,” Ray said, fighting to make an actual sentence.

Tala nodded.

“If it hadn’t been for Professor Hiwatari... I don’t know what would’ve happened,” Ray whispered.

“He’s always been like that,” Tala said. “Sees it in himself to protect people even when he doesn’t know them very well.”

“Well he saved my neck,” Ray said, then added, “twice.”

“Yea, that’s right. You were also in the nurses office when you hit your head,” Tala said, smiling.

“Yea, that was me,” Ray laughed light heartedly.

“Shit, sorry Ray,” Tala said, handing him his books. “I have an appointment I need to get to fast. I’ll probably be late as it is. See you round.”

Ray nodded after Tala, his hands being far to full, and walked in the opposite direction. He had a free period before he had a class with Professor Hiwatari and was glad. He needed time to compose himself before actually being able to face the man after what had happened, twice, no less.

He walked out of the school and into the grounds, slumping down by a near by oak and looking at his wrecked school bag. His heart sank and he grimaced at it, tossing it to the side and shuffling around with his binders and textbooks.

*~*~*

“Where have you been?”

“Sorry Kai,” Tala breathed heavily, skidding to a halt. “I was held up...”

“And how, may I ask, were you held up THIS time,” Kai snapped.

“That student of your – Ray, I believe his name is – he walked into me in the hallway and his bag ripped open. I stayed behind to help,” Tala sighed. “But I’m here now.”

Kai blinked. “Whatever.”

He hated to admit it, and had drank so much beer yesterday just to drown out thinking about, the fact that he was thinking about Ray all to much after what had happened. He couldn’t have believed his own stupidity. Not only had he kissed a student, he had kissed that particular student TWICE.

‘Idiot,’ he told himself. ‘Such an idiot.’

They walked in silence toward their meeting room, Tala looking around nervously around, huddling closer to Kai for a little more comfort. Kai placed a hand on the redheads shoulders and squeezed it reassuringly. Tala smiled in return, but it was only half-hearted and weak. He looked away, feeling queasy.

“I promise, Tala,” Kai said in a low voice. “I wont let him win.”

“I know Kai,” whispered Tala. “I know.”

Kai smiled and rolled his arm across Tala’s shoulders, giving him a one armed hug and then looked down at the redhead, seeing his ghostly white appearance. Sighing, he stopped Tala and turned him to be face to face with his friend. He placed both hands on Tala’s shoulders and made him look him straight in the eyes.

“I made a promise, Tala,” Kai said heavily, “and I don’t–”

“Break promises, I know,” Tala whispered.

“As long as you know,” assured Kai.

They stopped in front of their destination, Tala swallowing thickly as Kai opened the door and they walked in together. Already sitting at the table, was Tala’s attorney, he stood and shook Kai’s hand first, then turned to the redhead. Tala looked ready to pass out.

“Just give us the date and what the charges are so we can leave,” Kai said briskly, seeing Tala sway on the spot. “We both have classes we need to be at in forty-five minutes.”

“Yes, of course,” said the attorney.

He shuffled through his briefcase, digging around the many papers and content. He pulled out a dozen papers, handing half to Tala and half to Kai and pulled out two pens, handing them over to the other men.

“You need to sign those wavers,” he said quickly. “Sign all six pages, both of you, and then I’ll hand them over to Honour Hiwatari and get the date out for the first court meeting.”

Kai nodded and pulled Taal to the desk. He signed his own papers quickly, but Tala was having such a tough time, Kai had to whisper into his ear to keep him calm and stop his hand from shaking like mad. After twenty minutes, both had finished signing and turned back to Tala’s attorney who was shuffling quickly through the man papers and making sure each was signed properly.

“Right, I’ll see you both when these are approved,” said the attorney. “I’ll call you tomorrow, Tala, to tell you the news.”

The pair nodded ad left the room, shaking hands with the attorney once more before walking down the hallway together. Tala was breathing heavily, his face pale and eyes dull. He looked livid, almost to afraid to stop walking in case he crumpled in a heap on the floor. Kai watched him carefully.

“Come back to my place, Tala,” Kai said after a while. “You’re in no condition to be teaching in this state. Come have a drink at my place and then I’ll take you home.”

“No, I’m fine,” Tala said wispily.

“I don’t want you teaching like this Tala,” Kai said hotly. “You’re coming to my place and that’s final.”

Tala gave him a shuddering look and nodded. Kai smiled and pulled out his cell phone, dialing in the Universities number and let it ring. It was answered after the third ring, and the secretary came one immediately.

//Hello, Mandarin University// she said quickly.

/I need to speak with Headmaster Dickinson/ Kai said clearly, watching Tala carefully as they left the building.

//One moment//

He heard a beep as he climbed into his SUV, Tala shuffling in on the opposite side, watching the building before him. He looked sort of like Ray when they were driving back to the school... Kai shook his head, riding it of memories of Ray and went back to listening to the phone and waiting for another beep.

//Yes?// came the headmasters voice.

/Headmaster, it’s Kai/ Kai said. /Listen, I need two substitutes to fill in for me and Tala the rest of the day/

//Oh dear, did the meeting not go well?/ Dickinson asked in a very fatherly voice.

/No, it went alright, but Tala looks like he’s about to go into shock and I know he can’t teach in his condition at the moment/ Kai said, looking over at the redhead as he pulled onto the highway. /Think you can get un two substitutes this afternoon?/

//I do not see a problem with that// Dickinson said kindly. //Make sure he get’s better, Kai//

/Don’t worry headmaster/ Kai said reassuringly. /I won’t let anything happen to him/

He hung up and looked over at Tala, who’s eyes were closed, his hands covering his face. He took the next exit and pulled off onto the dusty road that lead to his private manor, the SUV slowly gliding into a faster gear. Tala was looking out the window with completely blank eyes, watching the landscape roll by. Only ten minutes, and they were parked in Kai’s drive.

“Come on, Tala,” Kai whispered, pulling the redhead from the vehicle. “Let’s go in and have a drink.”

*~*~*

Ray sat down in his usual seat in Kai’s class, but it wasn’t Kai waiting at the desk. An old, very brisk looking woman was staring up att hem, her hard eyes boring in on all the students she stopped to look at. Ray stood up and made his way down to her. She caught his eyes and followed him with a glare.

“Where’s Professor Hiwatari?” he asked, before he knew the words came from his mouth.

“He is indisposed at the moment,” she said in a snappy tone.

“What’s wrong with him?” Ray asked, and was surprised by his own voice.

“That is a private matter of your Professor,” she snapped angrily. “Now sit down.”

“When will he be back?” now he knew he was really stretching her patience.

Her eyebrow twitched. “Sit – down.”

He glared at her and walked back to his seat, a girl nearer the front of the class blushed at him as he passed and her friend beside her giggled. Hilary was sitting in her seat beside Ray’s desk and watched him approach. She watched him sit and opened her mouth to speak, but their substitute interrupted.

“Quite everyone,” she said in a high-pitched voice. “Professor Hiwatari is right now very busy with private business. I will be teaching for today until he is back tomorrow.”

“What’s wrong with him?” a blonde haired girl asked from the front row.

“Tat is his matter and his matter alone,” their sub hissed.

“Is he sick?” a redhead girl said as she raised her hand.

“That is his matter,” she snarled.

“You won’t be teaching us again, will you?” a boy with blonde hair asked ina sarcastic tone, making his friends snort with laughter around him.

She glared at the blonde boy. “I will be telling your Professor about your attitude in my report for that mouth.”

All his friends stopped laughing and he glared at her. Ray smirked and turned in his seat. He saw Hilary shake her head and pull out her binder and smiled at her, pulling out a pen and started copying the notes their substitute wrote on the board.

It was going to be a long day.

*~*~*

The sun was sinking below the trees. Kai watched it, a drink in hand, eyes at half mast. He turned around and looked at Tala, sitting silently on the sofa, a drink also in hand, eyes puffy and red. He was trembling as if cold, but it was rather warm in the house. Kai returned to Tala’s side, taking his seat beside the redhead, who leaned on him and shuddered.

“I wont win,” he whispered.

“Don’t say that, Tala,” Kai snapped.

“You know it’s true,” Tala hissed, sitting up straight. “You know I wont win but... you’re still standing beside me.”

“I love you, Tala,” Kai said, turning to look at the redheads blue eyes. “I love you like a little brother, you’re everything to me.”

“Kai,” Tala whispered, sliding closer. “Why can’t it go back to the way it used to be?”

Kai looked away.

“We still care about one another,” said Tala, brushing a piece of silver bang from Kai’s face. “I want to be with you again.”

“You were the one to make the choice, Tala,” Kai said rather calmly, “and I’m not going back on it.”

“Why not,” Tala said hysterically.

Kai gaze him a very hard look.

“I was such an idiot that day, Kai,” Tala said.

“You cheated on me, Tala,” Kai whispered, looking away and down into his red swirling wine. “You knew what you were doing, and you still did it. I was angry – I wanted to hit you – but I didn’t... I couldn’t.”

“What I said... I didn’t mean it,” Tala said briskly, sliding closer still.

Kai looked up, and Tala leant forward. Their lips met, soft and warm, just like the old days. Kai felt his eyes flicker closed and pushed the redhead to the couch, straddling his lithe body. Their tongues dueled and beneath him, Tala moaned. He felt hands brush against his hips and slid along his cheeks.

Their lips parted.

“Just like the old days,” Tala whispered, tears in his eyes again.

“No, Tala,” Kai said, his voice sharp. “You told me you didn’t want to be with me any more, and I’m not letting you go back on your word. We can never be together again... like that... no matter how hard we try.”

“Kai – ”

“No, Tala,” Kai snapped, glaring down at the redhead. He pulled his body up again and picked up his wine glass. “Drop it.”

Tala sat up shakily, reaching over onto the coffee table to pick up his own cup. His hand was seized and his fingers interlocked with soft calloused ones. He looked up and saw Kai watching him with warm gaze. Soft lips were placed on his forehead and he was pulled against Kai’s chest, the thump of his heart calming and soft.

“I want to be with you Tala... as your friend... as your brother,” Kai whispered. “Were closer now than we were when we were together.”

“I know.”

“Let it stay that way.”

“I miss you sometimes.”

“I miss you too, but were still together, as friends.”

“Best friends.”

Kai smiled.

So did Tala.

“Yes, Tala – my little wolf – best friends.”

*~*~*

Ray flopped down into his computer chair late into the evening. The substitute professor that was in for Professor Hiwatari had seen him sleeping during class and snapped rather thick ruler on his books. He was in such shock that he barely remembered he was still in class and was told off rather rudely for it.

For his ‘insufficient work’, as she had called it, he had been given an extra two assignments that had to be handed in the very next day. He glared at the computer screen as it flickered to life and quickly typed in his password and hooked onto the internet. The moment he had gotten back to the dorm he had flopped onto his bed, glaring at the ceiling, and then, again. Fell asleep.

Now, here he was, wide awake and bristling with nerves as he only had six hours before he had to get ready for another day of classes and have his assignment done within those hours. Over six pages of work, and he didn’t even have a sentence explaining his assignment. His eyes itched and he groaned, rubbing them with the pads of his hands.

*~*~*

Kai sat on the edge of his bed, rubbing his forehead. A blanket was spread across his lap, falling softly across his smooth skin. He looked up into the armoire mirror in front of him and focused on the grey swirls in the depth of his crimson eyes... the eyes of his sister.

Something moved beside him, tossing restlessly. He focused on the bundle of blakets.

Tala always looked do peaceful in sleep and his face was always pale and soft. It was like watching an angel sleep. A very untouchable angel that was already tainted. Kai knew what he had to do, and he knew when and why he had to do what he had to do. He just hoped – oh God, did he hope – that Tala wouldn’t hate him for it.

Slowly he looked back at the mirror.

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

He was walking along the garden path alone, moving through the thick yew trees and long slender oaks and ferns. He felt so at peace. Whilst moving aside the branch of a large yew, young Kai, no more near the age of eleven, stepped into the large open field that was the large manors backyard.

He was looking for someone.

Resting in the grass, her hair grown long and sleek, a light ocean blue of fringe and the soft silver of bangs swaying in the breeze, Mavra turned to him and smiled, her hair dancing so beautifully around her face. He smiled back and walked to her, each step slow and calm. She was watching him silently, her wise and sisterly face making him smile like the child he was on the inside.

He had known for some time now, and she had not denied it.

She never denied, nor did she lie.

She was honest and truthful, no matter how much it hurt.

“Kai,” she whispered.

“Mav, you’re free, you know...” whispered Kai. “Why don’t you go. Free yourself and get away.”

She pulled him into the grass, his back resting against the round of her breasts and flat of her chest. She rested her head on his shoulder and looked out into the grey clouds moving over the city not far away. Kai watched silently with her, enjoying the comforting silence. He could feel her heart beating with him, could feel each breath she took.

“I wont let him hurt you, little brother,” she said softly, moving her lips along his neck, and over his hairline, kissing his hair softly. “I wont let him do to you what he does to me...”

Kai leaned into her, curling close and gripping the front of her shirt. He circled the designs on the front, listening to the shudder of her hearts restless beating. You’d think she’d cry, bury her face in her hands and sob until death.

She never cried.

Not when it was happening.

Not after it happened.

Not when she knew Kai knew.

She never cried, and neither would he...

Ever.

“I’ll wait for you, dear brother,” she whispered into his hair. “I’ll wait forever. He’ll never touch you Kai, and then, when you are of age... I will take you away... with me... like I promised.”

She would wait, and he would not stop her. She never went back on her word when it came to him, and he believed her. She would stay and endure the pain. He would allow it... until he was eighteen... until he was her age... until he could set himself free – set her free – so they could set each other free.

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

“You didn’t even cry before you died,” said Kai so ever softly. “And I did. I promised I wouldn’t if you didn’t... but I did.”

“Kai.”

Tala had woken.

“Yes, Tala?” Kai asked.

“It’s early. Why are you awake?”

“Couldn’t sleep,” was his vague response.

“Hold on... why am I – ”

“In my bed,” Kai said, turning to face the redhead and smirk. “You passed out and I couldn’t wake you up. So I put you here.”

“Have you been watching over me all night?”

“Yea.”

“Go to sleep, Kai. You need the rest.”

He shook his head. He couldn’t sleep. There was another thing on his mind... or more like another person. He was on his mind. The student. He had gone beyond wrong as against the student teacher privilege. But he felt something. When he had been touching that Kon kid, he felt something. How hard he had been restraining from pushing the young man into the sofa and taking him. How he had restrained himself still baffled him... but he had. Though he had almost lost control when they had kissed.

‘And it was more than just friendly,’ he reminded himself darkly.

It was far more than friendly, it was a lovers kiss. One that drew the breath from your lungs, leaving you to suffocate in their scent. He had felt that way when he had kissed that Kon kid, and he still felt that way. He didn’t know how he was going to face him, but he had to some how. No little campus kid was going to stop him from doing his job.

The bed creaked.

Tala stood.

“Want anything to eat?” he asked, yawning and stretching.

“Just a coffee, Tala,” Kai whispered.

Tala nodded and left the room.

Kai stood and walked to the window, opening it and leaning on the sill. He looked over at the moon sliding behind the hills far to the west. He blinked sleepily and watched it dive below the mountains, a purple glow hinting the clouds. He knew what he had to do, and he was going to do it. For Tala’s case, for Ray, and for his sister. Would she be proud? He definitely hoped so.

*~*~*

Ray slid open the window and looked out, blinking away the sleep that he was drowning in. The sky was a purple-pink colour and getting brighter. He’d be back in classes in less than three hours. His heart hammered loudly in his chest. Soon, he would be facing Kai again. He could do it... he had too.

‘But no matter what... I can’t forget that one kiss...’

(A/N: I was so fucking tempted to just end it here, but I decided not to leave you people in too much suspense)

Max appeared later into the morning, yawning and stretching and looking well rested and far better. He looked so much more brighter than the last week. His eyes were bright and bubbly and he always seemed to be smiling even thought he was still coughing and sneezing most of the time. Tyson, Claud and Miguel appeared a little while later.

“How you feeling, Max?” Tyson asked, pressing a hand ‘motherly’ to his friends head.

Max batted it away cutely.

“I’m fine,” he whined, glaring at Tyson. “Stop acting like I can’t take care of myself.”

“You practically looked dead for a week,” Claud laughed.

“Your point?” Max grouched.

“The point it,” Miguel said, eyeing his boyfriend, “is that we were worried about you.”

Max sighed. “I know.”

“You going to class today, then?” Ray asked, handing out plates and dishing up their breakfast.

“Yea, thought I’d see what lectures I’ve missed,” Max said, taking an offered plate. “Thank’s Ray.”

“No problem,” said Ray, smiling happily.

They were mostly silent during breakfast in which the only sound was Tyson vacuuming down his food and choking every so often. Ray smiled and laughed at this, finding it to be the most hilarious thing he’d seen. He listened only half-heartedly as Claud and Miguel engaged in casual talk about their classes, his mind drifting away into it’s thought as usual.

He still couldn’t stop thinking about his Professor. He’d always thought he was straight, having had a girlfriend back in China; but when he met his Professor, his heart would always thunder in his chest and he’d get harder than what was normal.

‘Is something wrong with me?’ he wondered, stirring his food on his plate.

And then they kissed. Not once, but twice. The first had barely happened. He had felt Kai’s lips ghost over his before his Professor had pulled away and looked almost as normal as ever. Eyes maybe slightly wider, but still normal, like it never happened. But then... then they had done it again, and it was beyond passionate. He had wanted to feel more of that mouth, to feel Kia’s rigid body pressed against his... to feel –

“Ray, are you okay?”

He snapped out of his reverie and focused on Max, who was looking slightly worried, both blonde brows lowered with slight apprehension. Ray smiled at him and looked around the table, noticing every one was also watching him rather closely.

“I’m fine,” he said, his voice thick.

“You look a little flushed, bud,” Tyson said, one eyebrow cocked upward.

“No, really, I’m fine,” Ray said, propping his fork in his mouth.

“If you say so,” Tyson said, shrugging. “Anyways, so, he told me ‘you can’t just put that there and think...’”

Ray drifted again, watching the clock tick slowly by. The minute had clinked onto six o’clock. Ray blinked.

Six o’clock....

“FUCK.”

Everyone jumped and looked at him. He dove from the kitchen and hurtled into his bedroom. Second later he was at the door, Max, Tyson and their boyfriend watching him with surprised and amused smiles.

“I need to talk to Professor Hiwatari,” Ray said quickly.

“Why?” everyone asked.

He struggled with his shoes.

“He wasn’t in class yesterday and this stupid bitch of a sub decided to give me a six page essay due today,” he told them, throwing open the door. “I need to ask if I actually have to do it. See yea.”

He was gone in a flash, the door swinging closed behind him. He took each step two at a time, tossing himself down the last four steps and hurtling across the grass toward the side building. He dodged students here and there, streaking up the steps and through the doors and up the four flights of stairs to Professor Hiwatari’s prosecutions class.

“Wow, watch it...”

He slammed full bodied into another harder one, falling backward and hitting the ground hard, his head connecting with a hard SMACK. It felt like it had been split in two. He curled on the ground and groaned, holding the lump that had already formed. Someone crouched over him and he opened one tear-blurred eye.

“Professor,” he gasped.

“Kon, you don’t have this class,” Kai said, looking down at him and checking his head.

“I – I know but,” Ray said, his head fuzzy and light. “Umm... what?”

“What’s ten times ten,” Kai said, staring Ray in the eyes.

“Uh... what?”

“You hit pretty hard.”

“It’s one hundred.”

“Good for you, you got it,” Kai said sarcastically.

“Professor, I wanted to know if I had to do the essay...”

“Essay? I didn’t assign an essay,” Kai said thoughtfully.

“I know, but your substitute did,” Ray said hurriedly.

“She did.”

“It’s not even on the defense prosecutions were studying, but she still gave it to me,” said Ray, glaring at the floor. “And it had to be in today. Six pages.”

“There must be a reason why she assigned it,” said Kai.

“There... there is,” whispered Ray.

Kai watched him.

“I was sort of... umm...”

Kai quirked a perfectly trimmed silver eyebrow.

“Daydreaming in class,” Ray muttered.

“You were,” Kai said.

Ray blushed and looked at the ground again. He felt like such an idiot at the moment. For starters, he had just ran into the man he thought was a complete God and was sexier than hell itself. Secondly, he knew Kai thought he probably deserved being set an essay if he was daydreaming in one of HIS classes, even if he wasn’t there to assign it himself. What Kai said startled Ray and made him gape.

“What?” he gasped.

“Don’t do the essay,” said Kai again.

“O-Okay,” Ray stumbled.

“If it has nothing to do with the class it’s no use to you or me,” said Kai, standing up and pulling Ray to his feet. “I’ll talk to the sub about your assignment.”

“Thank’s professor,” Ray sighed.

Kai smirked and turned away, opening the doors to his classroom. Ray chewed his lower lip and stood slightly unsure behind his Professor. He switched from one foot to the other and back again, still nibbling on his bottom lip with worry.

“P-Professor,” Ray whispered.

“Not now, Kon,” Kai said, his voice a whisper.

Ray stepped back and looked away, eyes shy and worried. He rubbed his hands together nervously and continued to switch feet over and over again. Kai glanced at him,, seeing the embarrassment and confusion. He sighed and turned around when both door were unlocked and open, allowing in his students that were starting to arrive.

“Just forget what happened, Kon.” They were back on last name basis. “I didn’t know what I was doing. It was horribly wrong. Forget it, okay.”

Without a second word, Kai turned from the hallway and entered his class. Ray stood, his eyes wide and shocked. He pressed a hand to the middle of his chest and gripped the front of his shirt tightly. His heart was thumping hard in his chest. Something was stinging at the corners of his eyes. Were they tears? He shook his head, the clear diamonds of his eyes spilling down his cheeks and glittering in the sunlight that streamed through the windows.

With a shuddering sigh, he turned down the hall and ran for his life, taking off down the stairs and stumbling forward out into the grass. He could barely see through his blurred vision. He collapsed in the grass, unable to keep his legs moving. He felt his knees break and bleed. His heart felt heavy.

‘Why .... ’ he cried to himself. ‘ ... WHY ... ’

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

A/N: YES, AND THE PLOT THICKENS *Does major happy dance and shoots confetti* Well, this chapter done. Enjoy... Enjoy... and don’t forget to review.