I'm so sorry guys that this took so long to write. I hope that you'll like it. So... this is the end.
Where is the replay button?
When can I relive all this?
But the main question is... how did this happen?
Safe, In Your Arms
Epilogue: The Truth Is...
It wasn't even dawn yet. Or so he thought. The thick curtains were drawn over the windows and no one could tell.
But he was up, sitting straight up in his bed. Well, technically, not his bed.
He hated it, the smell of the hospitals, the white sheets—that were used thousands of times before, the nurses ignoring the patients as they talked to some handsome doctor. Kai watched the woman, dressed in white-everything, swinging her hips and shutting the door chicly. It was just disgusting.
The bitterness of the medicine was left unnoticed. Kai, at the moment, cared more about the numbness in his arms and chest. He was almost paralyzed. They didn't tell him what was wrong; they only told him to rest. They always do that. He hated that too.
Slowly, he looked out the window and propped his numb legs on the nightstand. It wasn't dawn. He was wrong, once again. The sun was high in the skies.
Suddenly, a door opened quickly and a rolling bed came in. There were panicky murmurs and a shout. Kai flinched. Oh dear God.
"What's going on?"
"Nothing—" replied the assistant-doctor.
"Put her here, go, go, shoo!" the other one shouted, pushing the nurses and doctors out of the room. "You make sure that she stays here."
"Oh—" the door was shut, "kay."
They disappeared again.
He glanced over at the bed; he could see a female form underneath the white sheets. Her face was covered over by the sheet and supported by a firm looking pillow. She was asleep, just asleep. He shook his head.
"They can't put a dead person in here." He told himself.
He stretched his legs, it was about time anyway, and went to the bed with curiosity. He slowly lifted the white veil from her face—
"Oh my fucking God."
Her cheeks barely contained the deep slash across them. Another one ran down her neck to her bare shoulders. Her body was almost naked, her petite chest rose up and down as she tried to breathe, loudly at first but she relaxed after a while. Her skin seemed even paler than the white sheets. It looked... transparent, as if she was fading away.
He shivered.
It took him minutes to figure out who she was, or ... maybe even hours. But during that time, she didn't budge.
"Damn."
With pity in his eyes, he sighed. He leaned towards her and let his fingers trail over her bloody cheeks. He couldn't feel any heat from her. Nothing. Just the slow and cold breaths that she emitted. Maybe he should have given her CPR. His fingers lingered around her neck, a scar that he had touched before with his lips... by mistake. She was too pure.
But so different compared to his memories of her.
Her skin was dead dry. Her killer black hair was in no better condition. The grease on her hair built up. But he didn't care. She wasn't smiling like she usually was but she didn't look miserable either. It was certainly her charm.
"She's not..." he shivered.
"No, she's not," came a voice.
He flung around, almost knocking over some bottles of medicine from the table. Luckily, only a pair of scissors fell on the tiles, creating a sound waking him from his senses. With his injuries, he was never as quick as before.
A petite woman came in sight. Her dark hair was messily hanging from her head and dark circles were around her eyes. She looked like Forrest. He wished that she was Forrest. But she wasn't.
"Jacqueline Fan," he said and nodded to her. "An honor."
"Don't bother," she replied, "we've met already."
Her beauty was still there. After all, she was an actress. But she had no traces of any makeup or elegant clothing on her body. She was messy just like Forrest. It's their genes.
"Do you know--?" he started.
"No, I don't know much but a bit more than you do," she seemed to be in a hurry as she cut him off. "I won't stay here for long but I need to inform you that I'm taking Forrest back to America."
"But she's still in bed—" he got cut off once again. His eyes widened in annoyance. Can't she give him a break? He was still a patient after all.
"It doesn't matter. She needs the best care in the world and in the U.S. there's better technology and—"
This time, it was Kai who interrupted her.
"Do you really think that she needs technology?" he mocked. His voice grew louder and louder as he enunciated each word clearly. "She doesn't need technology!" he began shouting. "She needs someone TO CARE FOR HER!" He remembered how foolish he was, trying to buy her friendship while in reality, Forrest needed nothing of that.
Jacqueline was taken back but did not speak a word. Kai took that as a cue to continue.
"She will not be happy that you've taken her away from everyone that she loves!" the slate haired boy roared.
"Who does she love here?" Jacqueline suggested. "You?" Her head was held high.
"No I mean—"
Jacqueline took over again.
"Look, you're not the one in charge here. First of all, you're a minor. And you're not supposed to care about her. Other than Theresa, I am Forrest's legal guardian here and whatever I say will happen."
The petite woman kept her cool because she knew that she was right and Kai couldn't ignore laws. She tapped her stilettos impatiently, waiting for Kai to retort back. But he didn't, much.
"What if she doesn't want to go back," he muttered, calmly, for once.
"Her father is there."
"My parents aren't here, but I'm still here," he suggested, "she doesn't have to go with her family. She can stay here."
"Just because you don't like your family doesn't mean that she doesn't."
He was ashamed of himself. But I do love my family. "I care about her." He hoped that that was enough to convince Jacqueline. "I can hire the best doctor from America and—"
Miss Fan gave a sigh, and shook her head. "You don't understand, Kai. It's love that she needs to survive. She'll have pleasant dreams in America, not here. She doesn't belong here. Forrest Fan wasn't born to be in Japan; she was born to take over her father's business."
"That's what my parents thought, too. I was supposed to be my grandfather's slave but I escaped it," he paused, "why can't she?"
It's not like I can't love Forrest, Kai prayed.
Jacqueline looked away, crossing her arms in front of her chest and strolled towards Forrest's limp body. She uncovered the girl and look over the innocent body. Forrest's skin was deadly white. Kai could see her naked body through the thin white clothes that she was dressed in, but he wasn't embarrassed. She looked at peace. Her small frame was covered with scratches everywhere, some were covered by bandages but the blood was too much to stop.
"Kai, you don't understand her," Jacqueline finally spoke. It was a soft murmur, one that resembled that of Forrest. It seemed like she was speaking in Forrest's place, with Forrest's knowledge. "She doesn't hate her father anymore. Not like you. Sure, she did before but all that's forgotten..."
"I—" he choked and pulled on his own shirt and closed his eyes. "I don't hate my grandfather," he defended himself.
"Is that so?"
There was a long break of pure silence, which Jacqueline thoroughly enjoyed but Kai shuddered at it.
She gave him a sympathizing smile. "Do you even know what happened?" she continued.
"...No."
"Then you're in no position to judge this situation," Jacqueline sighed, "Forrest knocked her head hard. She got many stitches and the doctors are sure that she damaged something. But they're not sure what exactly she damaged. She might never be able to move again, or she might be retarded or something. That's why she needs to go back."
He opened his mouth and closed it. "You're right." Why did I say that?
Jacqueline was rather surprised that Kai gave up so easily. She nodded to him. "Hope that you get well soon." With that she left, her petite silhouette, resembling to that of Forrest's, disappeared into the hallways. Just then, a skinny nurse came in. He didn't budge.
"Go away. I don't need anything," he hissed coldly. The nurse frowned and backed away, offended.
He was pissed at himself. He should have protected her, he should have stopped her at the tryouts, he shouldn't have let her played in the semi-finals, he shouldn't even know her, he shouldn't have kissed her. He closed his eyes. This is too much.
He let his hand trail over her face and touched her lips. Suddenly, he felt a tingle in his heart. He gasped. What did happen?
He covered her closed eyes with his palm to comfort her. Blinded with curiosity, he looked around got his normal clothes. It was time to go back home. He needed to find out about—
"Kai!"
He jerked his head around and rolled his eyes.
"Ray," it was a statement.
"Don't be so gloomy. Turn on the TV."
He didn't move.
"Fine, I'll turn it on," Ray grumbled, looking for the power button. "There's still a bit of the finals left."
"Why aren't you with them? There people are supposed to play. You, Max and—"
Can't people stop interrupting me? I'm having a bad day already.
"I played already. So I came here as fast as I could," he looked down, "I lost my match," the Chinese boy didn't exactly sound unhappy, "I didn't practice enough and that girl Lucy took me by surprise."
"Right." Kai grunted.
"You sound disappointed."
"I'm not," Kai confirmed. "I'm just worried."
"Oh, we're going to win for sure," Ray gave a half-smile.
"You know what I'm talking about."
"Oh."
Ray shut himself up and looked down.
Kai gestured towards the limp body. "That's Forrest."
"What?" the Chinese boy looked up in perplexity
"That's her body...," his voice trailed off.
Ray walked towards body and lifted the blanket. His expression was priceless, in a bad way. He was crying. Kai smacked his forehead.
"Oh God. What have I done?" the Chinese boy clasped his hand on his mouth and looked away, ashamed of seeing Forrest's wilted body.
"You didn't do anything," Kai reassured the boy.
"No, I started all this. Aurora would h-have never done this without my influence," Ray sat down on Kai's bed, took the pillow and stuffed it in his own face. "If I didn't make Aurora beyblade, nothing w-would have happened," came his muffled voice.
Kai didn't bother to comment until he saw his friend's flushed face tear away from the white pillow. He didn't know Ray was that emotional. Maybe the Chinese boy had gone through too much in the past months.
"They're taking her away," Kai stated flatly.
"In this state?" Ray gasped.
"That's what I thought too. She's in no condition to even move. Her head's cracked—"
"Are you fucking serious?"
In all his life, Kai has never heard Ray swear before. The Russian's tone softened.
"Unfortunately, yes."
"I... We'll miss her," Ray managed to get out before he turned on the TV, avoiding another conversation. He couldn't talk about it anymore. Enough tears were shed. Turning his head away, he wiped his face with his dirty sleeve.
Tyson's face was intense, his eyes were squinted but he seemed to be sure of himself. Even though the TV screen was so small, the boys could see their teammate concentrating deeply.
"Dragoon! Phantom Hurricane!"
A blast appeared on the screen. The sounds weren't so great but the boys recognized the attack.
"Sword of Justice!"
Tyson was facing off Chase Misao from the Dreams of Eden. Kai had expected that match to come since a long time. He watched with curiosity, but his heart and brain lingered on the feelings and thoughts of the girl who was unconsciously sleeping beside his bed.
"Hold on, Dragoon!"
The storm was big and ferocious. Tyson's anger was uncontrollable. He, too, felt Forrest's previous pain and unleashed it during the finals. He could have pitied the Dreams of Eden but he didn't. It was his moment.
He gritted his teeth and looked at his opponent, the tall and handsome boy.
Suddenly, he felt a great jerk backwards and fell on his butt. He groaned and ran his fingers through his hair.
"Darn it," Tyson muttered.
He lost... the second session.
"Tyson, you can do it!" Max shouted behind him.
Kenny typed with super-speed on his laptop, cramming all the data into Dizzi and waiting for results. Tyson went back to his team and waited for the Chief's orders.
"Use an earth attack against him," Kenny suggested. "He controls thunder, ice and very strong physical attacks and defenses. Attack from below when he's focused on attacking you and you'll be at an advantage."
"Sounds fair," Max nodded in agreement. "You can do this. You need to do this. For everyone, for Forrest, for Kai, for Ray. For the team!"
Tyson patted Max on the shoulder and grinned. "You don't need to tell me. I already know that, Maxie." The two grinned at each other.
"The third session is starting! Players get ready!"
Tyson immediately spun around and strolled to the dish, taking his time. I can win this.
Chase Misao looked no less confident than he was. Tyson relaxed his shoulders and set his feet properly in position to launch. His grip on the launcher was strong and steady. He was ready for the world.
"3, 2, 1, let it rip!"
"This is for you, Forrest!" Tyson shouted at the top of his lungs. He practically broke his ripcord in concentration. "Earthquake!"
He could feel a burst of energy run through his veins. It was abnormal but a great feeling. He could feel the warmth of the earth shooting out of his fingertips. He could feel the comfortable and warm feeling. This must be how Forrest feels.
He felt synchronized with Dragoon. With every movement, every spin, everything. He could hear the galloping of Forrest's bitbeast and how Starlet would scream in rage as he charged forwards. He leaned forwards in excitement.
"Sword of Justice!" Chase shouted, tearing Tyson away from his imagination.
But still, Tyson could feel Forrest's presence beside him, teaching him how to use her attack, helping him.
"Stay strong," Chase said, his pupils focused on his blade. "This is your chance. Frozen Tundra!"
A shot of earth ran down the dish as Dragoon appeared above Tyson's blade but it was countered by the shot of ice blasts created by Chase's bitbeast.
"Atomic Reflection!" Chase shouted. His bitbeast, as a mammoth, stood firmly and reflected most damage of the attack.
"No...," Tyson frowned. "You can't win! EARTHQUAKE!"
Tyson raised his arm in the air and his x-ray-stare could burn through the dish. In beyblading, your enemy was still your enemy during the match.
"Swift Lightning!"
Chase's bitbeast transformed fast into a golden falcon and charged forward at great speed, evading shots of mud from the ground.
"Dragoon! Final Attack!"
Dragoon evaded the electricity shot at him and roared fiercely. The ground shook with great force as he charged forwards like a hurricane. Tyson could feel the harmony of both earth and wind in his attacks. It was ironic how the two elements could work together as one but he ignored it. The feeling was great.
"Atomic Reflection!"
But Chase was too late, his blade was already in mid-air after Dragoon's full-on hit.
"No!" Chase was quite taken back and shocked but ... ironically, he still smiled to himself.
"Yes!" Tyson cheered. He turned to the last of his teammates and smiled. He smiled at Forrest too; he could see her blurry silhouette sitting beside the Chief. He knew that he sounded insane but he could really see her, her heart, her spirit and everything that she's done for the team.
"Hey, Tyson," came a deep voice.
Tyson turned around.
"Great match. Want to play again sometime?" Chase grinned, offering a deal.
"Of course."
Chase Misao gave his flashing grin and a cool gesture. He ran his fingers through his hair and stepped away from the dish, proud, as if he had won.
"I achieved teamwork with my bitbeast. I'm happy for it. Tyson had more reasons to win that I did. He had the grief of a fallen comrade," Chase said to his teammates, his eyes full of unwanted pity.
He inserted the key and turned the knob softly. He really didn't want to go home. It was so empty now; no more mother, no more Forrest. Just... James and him once again. It was like none of this ever happened. Sometimes, he wished that the maids would talk to him. But they never did and never will.
He wiped his shoes on the entrance mat and watched as one maid came towards him to clean his shoes. He looked away and strolled upstairs towards his room. He tried to avoid looking at his brother's – Forrest's—room. But he couldn't.
The old brown oak doors were so alluring. He touched the knob and turned it quickly. He could feel the cold metal against this palm and it felt so... unreal.
The room was just like she had left it. The bed was half-made; Theresa didn't have time to clean it yet. Her uniforms were thrown onto the couch. He crouched down and sighed. Slowly, Kai reached for her clothes and bit his lip.
"Should I hang them?"
He groaned to himself. "Now I'm talking to myself," he paused, "God, I'm insane."
He erased the thought immediately and grabbed all the clothes on the couch. He found doing chores quite... relaxing. He pulled the pile towards his chest and his closed his eyes. Her smell entered his nostrils. She didn't smell like pine trees, or vanilla, or mango, or mint, or whip cream, although, he didn't think that whip cream smelled like anything. She just smelled like her. He could also smell the little bit of sweat mixed in with the scent but he didn't mind it. It was her. It wasn't that nostalgic.
He just pitied her.
How she just... fell from her glory.
Everyone loved her. Even his teammates. God, he knew his teammates way longer than she did but somehow she got along with them more than they did. Plus, she even opened herself to him. She told him that she fell in love with him—even though she never got the courage to do anything romantic with him. Well, they kissed, so what? She never kissed him. Not that he knew of, of course. They shared what, four kisses? He lost count. He enjoyed them, she did too. But so what? But if was great with her, how she would groan when he pulled away and how when he placed his hand on her chest, he could always feel her nervous heartbeat. How he's seen her naked, several times too, but she never knew. How he would watch her practice swimming and beyblading but she wouldn't know.
He suddenly dropped the clothes and sighed to himself. He lowered his gaze and fell on her bed. He ran his hand through his stuck-up hair. "Stop bugging me."
He looked around at the room. She had little things left; she had already packed most of her belongings in a leather trunk sitting on the floor. Suddenly, his gaze landed on her laptop. He sighed.
"I guess that this is... mine now."
He didn't need it. But he wanted to keep it. Just in case. "She'll come back. She belongs here."
Of course, he was in no position to judge for her, but he knew that she was attached to Japan. If not... she was attached to him. He wished.
He opened the machine and waited for it to run. It was the first time that he actually used her computer. He looked through some of the folders and files quickly and stopped suddenly at one in particular. It was located in his 'Japanese' folder.
'Journal.'
He arched an eyebrow in response and merely smiled to himself. Scratch that, he smirked to himself, full of mischief again.
"So I am going to find out if she belongs here or not."
Sure, he did respect her privacy but she was... gone after all. He double-clicked on and waited. To his surprise, a word-document with over forty pages appeared.
"She sure did get a lot of writing practice," he told himself, erasing the thought of how ridiculous it was for him to talk to himself.
He started reading.
Ohayo, it started in Japanese. Kai looked over the page.
"Maybe this is her Japanese homework."
Today was my first day of school. Nothing much happened. But Kai scared me. I caught him with his girlfriend. They kissed. I ran. And I hid under a tree. But he found me and I was very scared. I don't know what is going to happen next. I hope that we become friends someday.
He paused as it was the end of her first entry. It was obviously not well written. But still, he could relive every single moment. It might seem simple but Kai knew how Forrest struggled in Japanese, it must have taken her a long time even to get those few words out.
He skimmed the next few pages about Ray and her and came to a more interesting article and more readable article as her Japanese became a little better.
Swimming was horrible enough today. But Kai got drunk last night and that was worse. I was scared that he would puke on me. But he didn't. He kissed me. Hai, he kissed me. I'm still confused. But I guess that I was relieved that he kissed me. Since Ray is gone nothing happened. I wonder what I would say to Kai now. But he probably doesn't know because he thought that I was Felicia. Felicia is his girlfriend for two months, I think. He likes her a lot. He even talks about her when he is drunk. So it was just a fantasy, I guess.
Kai's eyes widened. He knew that she liked him, of course, but not so much. Not since the beginning of things.
He could almost feel her presence beside him, like she was letting him read through her memories, like she was confessing. But she wasn't. She was hiding all her feelings inside of her.
However, the next entry was even more interesting.
I can't remember what happened last night. I think that I got drunk. I feel horrible. But I am trying so hard to remember. I remember the party, a game with a bottle and... Kai and I went inside the closet in the study room. It was tiny. I could touch him. He was stuck and he panicked. But he looked so good. Of course, I was more nervous than him. We kissed. He knew this time. He tasted like very sweet mint covered chocolate. It was great. I like him a lot. I like him because he is nice to me and he is strong and dedicated. He holds much honor. I have never met anyone like him. I hope that we can become great friends. Hopefully more. I want him to be beside me right now. Then we can talk quietly. And maybe he would even kiss me.
He gawked.
He almost banged his head on the table in frustration.
Why didn't he know about this? After all, it did concern him... her journal was all about him.
"Oh God. I would kiss you, if you can come back. I'd do anything. You were, no, you are a great friend. I don't want to lose you either," he responded to the computer, no matter how foolish he sounded.
In the next entry, however, everything changed. Forrest hadn't written for over a month and Kai wondered why.
Sorry that I haven't written. But I've worked hard both inside of school and outside. I work at the TV now, did I forget to tell you?
He felt like she was speaking to him. "Her Japanese did get better."
Anyway, I met some great friends although I know that Aurora still hates me to death. It's alright because I don't like her either. She's such a hypocrite at times. But I can't blame her for being jealous of her beauty. School's been busy, that's why I couldn't write. Yesterday was Christmas and it wasn't that good. I did get many presents but it feels so gloomy. Kai and I don't talk anymore. We've fallen apart. I'm not sure why but I don't regret it much anymore. I've told him that I liked him. He responded by ignoring me. He can be such a bastard sometime. I wish that he'd hear himself talk sometime. Then he'd know how much he hurts people with his words. That's all for now. I need to swim.
Breathing hard, he closed his eyes and relaxed against the chair. Had he been so bad? He didn't know. She never told him And it seems that she didn't intend to either. He gripped his hair and sighed. He couldn't go on reading all this shit about him being evil. He scrolled down two pages, finding a much shorter but happier entry.
We hugged. It was cold and sprinkling but we hugged! I feel so happy now. I've been waiting for him to apologize, but he didn't. So at the end, I apologized. I was glad that I did because I feel so much better now. I should go take a shower. Sayonara!
PS: Does it mean anything, anything when you feel so safe in someone's arms? Is it destiny? I wonder. Because I felt that with Kai.
Maybe, maybe that means that I love him?
Could it be?
He paused and scrolled down, but then realized that he was at the bottom of the document. He frowned and focused his pupils on the screen. "She can't end it here! I want to know!" he roared at the machine, his fists clenched and his jaw tight.
But he couldn't be tense for long, besides, he was still injured. "I want to know... if she truly belongs here. Maybe if she did love me, she'd be better here."
He was about to give up.
But of course, he didn't. If Forrest was that hopeful for him, then the least that he could do was to be hopeful for her. So he looked on the last page and found it. She was very clever. Almost too clever for him.
He clicked the mouse and dragged it over the line. She changed the text to a very light silver color, hiding it almost completely from the white page. He changed the font back to black and bit his lip. It was in English this time.
I'm done with this now. I think that this served its purpose. But somehow, somehow, I just don't want to delete this file. It contains my soul and perhaps, when I forget about Japan when I go back, I'll reread this and cry. And maybe, just maybe, I'll have the courage to make Kai read this when I'm gone. Maybe I'll just leave this here, on my computer, and he can know what truly happened, how I feel about all of this and... Especially about him. Then... I'd wish that he'd come to the airport and tell me that he loves me too just before I leave, like in those romantic movies. Because I know that I'll love him. And I know that it's not a puppy love anymore. It has evolved into so much more. His mere presence can make me feel so safe and secure. I wish that I could stay in his arm forever, feeling that security forever, but I can't. So I leave you with this. Thanks for the company and goodbye. And Kai, if you are reading this, I thank you for giving me the chance to battle in the semi-finals. Let's hope that I win, alright?
He jumped from his seat and realized something that he didn't before.
"Fuck, her plane is leaving in ten minutes!"
Immediately, he sprung from his seat and started his journey to recapture his past. He wanted it back, he wanted her back. Maybe he didn't exactly love her, but he knew that with her, everything felt so much better. And maybe, just maybe, she'd want to live in the same house as him again. So it wouldn't be just James and him.
He sprinted down the stairs and grabbed his keys out of his pockets. Without paying much attention to the carpet, he slid over it and bumped into the door. Then he opened it and rushed outside to a car. He wasn't a great driver. He had once bribed some close friend to give him a fake driver's license but this wasn't the time. He didn't care.
The engine started immediately and he stepped on the gas pedals forcefully. The motor roared like a tiger and the car zoomed away. At least something worked that day.
"You better be on there, Forrest Fan!"
He passed two red lights and almost ran over a pedestrian walking a dog. He would have gotten at least 20 tickets for speeding but he didn't care. Money was nothing for him. Not now, not forever.
Finally, he arrived. His car was left there, one wheel on the sidewalk and the head jammed into the bumper of another car. He slammed the door and rushed in the automatic doors, pushing all of the people away.
"Flight to Los Angeles, USA departing in two minutes from terminal 25A! All passengers ..."
He screamed. "No, shit, fuck. NO!"
He rushed to the 'Air USA' stall and cut in front of the line. "Stop the airplane, now! I'll do anything!"
"Excuse me, sir. That was rude to do. Wait for your turn, at the back of the line."
"No, you don't understand! I need to talk to someone on there!"
"Why don't you just wait patiently and call that person when they land in LAX, alright? Next person in line!"
He slammed his fist at the counter and turned away. "No hell way that I'm going to give up."
Immediately, he set running for the terminals. The customs almost stopped him but he stormed right past the first couples of them. But the fifth guard pulled him.
"It's Kai Hiwatari from the Bladebreakers. I need to go, now! Here, here," he chucked his wallet at them. "My IDs are in there. Let me go!"
He struggled out of their grasps and ran for his life. He made a rough turn and his shoes screeched against the mopped floor.
His face fell.
No one was there. There was no one on the counter.
Absolutely no one.
"No!"
He stormed to the gate and entered. Someone tried to stop him but he didn't stop to listen. His feet were killing him but he didn't give up. He saw the clearing, a bright light and then...
Forrest.
It was her, her black hair flowing in the wind and---
No.
It was too good to be true.
It wasn't her.
It was...Jacqueline.
He wanted to cry.
"No! Let me see her!" he roared. He bit his lip so hard that he drew blood, for real this time. He pounded his fists on the wall, knowing that she would never let him go to the plane.
Besides... Forrest... was gone.
"Kai, I'm sorry. But she's gone. I updated her seat to first class and Theresa went with her. She'll get the best care where she is. There is a great doctor waiting to treat her right when she gets off the plane."
How could she be so calm? Forrest was gone. Forrest was still unconscious Forrest was her cousin. Didn't family matter?
"Please..." he begged. "Let me pass."
She did. Except... he came to a dead end. The hot air blew against him. The airplane was gone and some workers yelled at them to get off of the portable tunnel. He shouted back in Russian loudly and clearly. He was desperate for some attention. But no one seemed to hear him.
"Don't give up," came Jacqueline's warm voice, one that resembled that of Forrest's. "You need to have enough hope for the both of you."
"How? How can I? When I know that she might die!" he went insane.
There was a moment of pure silence where he grieved for his lost, his stupidity. He tore himself away from reality and dived into a black hole.
But someone saved him.
He felt her hand on his shoulder, reassuring him. His vision was blurred. She looked like Forrest. She felt like Forrest.
But she wasn't Forrest.
He was so deceived. So ashamed. So ... vulnerable. How could someone make him regret living his life? How could she bring so much pain and love at the same time? Why was she the hope? Why did his heart hurt so much?
He was a wilted flower, once a strong and burning fire, but now weak and left alone. His glory was short lived.
Slowly, his hand traced up to his shoulders and he closed his eyes. He hugged himself, tight, and sobbed like a little boy. He felt her presence beside him and saw her transparent arms enlace him He blushed, a soft pink blush crept up his cheeks and he moaned. He felt so safe in her arms, so safe with her.
"The truth is..."
He looked at her through his tears but realized that she wasn't truly there. She was just a mere piece of his life, of his imagination, out of the millions. He felt numb again, all the bruises and scars that he conceived during his life all consumed him at the same time. But still, that wasn't even one millionth of the pain that he felt inside.
You're gone. And I couldn't do anything about it. And I'm sorry to leave you. But this is the end. And I'm sorry that all that you've done for me, and for the team, was never repaid.
"... that I love you."
But everything will get better, right?
Fin
Author's Notes: You're at the end, I seriously congratulate you for making it this far without falling asleep, hehe. I hope that you guys like this chapter as... it pretty much took all the creative juices out of me. If you cried, tell me. 'Cause I almost did, well, almost. I've been so tired lately. I hope that I achieved the realism that I wanted. I wanted to write a full story for once, not counting one-shots, and I did it! I'm pretty proud of myself. And I really, really, really hope that you guys can give me suggestions for the sequel. How to avoid clichés and Mary-Sues and all that.
So anyway, on with the thanks and etc.
Bundles of hugs to:
-Cookie- l Tohma 911 l, Alexandra Lyne, Alinor, Anei, AnimeGirl329, beyblade-rocks, daitouryoumania, darkmagiciangirl18, fallen phoenix of darkness, Hikari Konoshiro, jessi-da-anime-luver, kaizgirl1, Kaycomon, KHiwatari's girl, kuririncute222, LadyOfTheBluePhoenix, MetaMorphoSer, NaMeLeSsLiTtLeGiRl-K, Phoenix from the Flames-2, ravenfromhell17007, Ray-Tiger-Cat, Risen From the Ashes, Sanity Challenged, and Sugar911
who have this story on favorites. You guys are great!
Thank you to:
Alexandra Lyne, Alinor, AngelDranger, AnimeGirl329, beyblade-rocks, Blue flame phoenix, dark Alley, Dark-Dragon-Chick, elementBLUE, glam-kitten, HeartlessDevil, Hikari Konoshiro, kaizgirl1, Kakarot45, Kaycomon, kelblossom1128, kuririncute222, MetaMorphoSer, Moonlight Star Phoenix-chama, morjonse, Phoenix from the Flames-2, Ray-Tiger-Cat, Risen From the Ashes, Sanity Challenged, shadisparrow, SnowNeko, soda is good, SpiritualEnergy, Sugar911, Sweet1221, the perfect oasis, and twin1
who have this story on alert. Love you! But you guys can take it off now 'cause it's done.
Thank you for the support all the way.
The sequel hopefully will be up before summer vacation and I attempt to make it lots shorter because I won't have time to write next year, as a Junior/11th grader.
If you want, leave your email or just your pen name and I'll warn you guys when the first chapter of the sequel will be up.
Otherwise, I hope that you guys had fun reading and if you have time go read "Fallen from Grace" and "Chaos of the Bey" (co-written with AnimeGirl329).
And if you're a new reader, don't be scared to review, I accept any late reviews or emails or anything. It will help me improve how the sequel goes. Sorry but I don't need any girl OC's for the sequel but if you want, you could submit a male OC.
And if you have this story on favorites... I really want to know why you like it, I mean, I know that I sound bitchy but I have at least 30 people who have this on favorites and no one reviews. It'll help me a lot in the sequel if I know what good stuff to keep and bad stuff to throw out.
Characters reappearing in the sequel:
-the Bladebreakers (including Forrest)
-Aurora Lyn
-Janet
-Shayna Tanaka (elementBLUE's OC, if she doesn't mind)
-Namiko Hunter (Hikari Konoshiro's OC, if she doesn't mind)
Love.
PS: This story is officially more than 100,000 words now. And I did go through to take out all the review replies and some extra author notes for future readers.
Once again, THANK YOU!