Chapter 9

Author : Mariah

A/N: Hot damn! I'm so sorry! I haven't updated this fic for over half a year! I almost forgot about it... But thanks for waiting as patiently as you could for me- If you were one of my old reviewers. I feel really guilty. Still, R/M still burns strong in my mind and I was bound to continue this story one way or the other. But enough of my apologies. I bet you guys would rather read the story than read me.

Finally! It's on with the story! Here's where it aaaaalllll changes. Cya at the bottom of the page!

The whole scene felt out of place suddenly. It was like everything was slowly slowing down. I know time didn't halt completely for time keeps on going whether you like it or not. Through the distant rumbling, I heard Galux's feline screeches through short intervals of frantic hisses. I knew she wanted to save me or protect me somehow, but I knew she couldn't. I was going to be crushed to death.

I felt a soft warm wind. It blew across my face and stroked my damp clammy skin. I couldn't open my eyes. They were screwed shut and I was frozen in fear. My body was stiff all over and I just felt like my lungs would burst if I held my breath in any longer.

Quite suddenly, time sped up again. The air was knocked out of me when something rammed straight into me. The warm wind I had felt became quick and turned hot. For the second time that day, I crashed to the hard cracked floor. It was then that I realized someone's arms were wrapped securely around me and I felt warm all over. But this wasn't the time to be pondering.

"Mariah!" someone hissed into my ear. I painfully cracked open an eyelid. Ray was above me while the ceiling was still splintering above him. "Can you get up and walk?" I tried to say something but my throat was completely dry and parched from being frightened so badly that I couldn't respond. He just quickly leapt to his feet and pulled me up as quickly as possible. The ground was still shaking terribly and I was already faint and dizzy. Plus my ankle was either now broken or viscously sprained.

The floor seemed to be moving all over the place. Up down and around, I don't know, but I can't really remember much. One minute I was half standing and the next I was half way to the floor again. All I knew was that Ray scooped me up in his arms and began to run.

I stared at the white fabric of his clothing as my vision began to slide in and out and blur very badly. My head pound and my ankle throbbed so much.

I think the pain was getting to me. Not only my physical pain, but also the pain of knowing I was in the arms of someone I loved but knew wouldn't love me back the way I wanted. It was so confusing. My head felt like it was being drained of my consciousness and I felt a heavy cloud descend on my mind. And I couldn't remember where I was or how I was just then.

All was suddenly nothing.

I slid into the brink of being awake and asleep. I heard voices that sound so far away and dulled from the unawareness in my mind. For a moment, I barely even recognized what sounds they were. I didn't want to get up just then since I felt so comfortable lying wherever I was. It was warm from my own body heat and soft like cotton.

When I was awake enough to know that the Bladebreakers, Mr. D, and slightly familiar people were in the same place I was, I pretended to continue sleeping. I had to listen in.

"What do you mean you about all this Mr. D? Why didn't you tell us she was coming to Japan?" I heard Tyson complain.

I only heard Mr. D. chuckle lightly, "I have my ways Tyson, my boy."

"Do you think she's all right? I mean she's been down since we came back three hours ago," Kenny said.

"Of course she'll be fine, Kenny. Think optimistically!" Max replied as cheerfully as he could.

Well, I was definitely fine I think. Come to think of it, how did I get to where I was? Why was I sleeping? I thought I was-

That when I remembered faintly about what had happened. The Battle Tower. The fights. My fight. Hurting my ankle, the building collapsing. That strange period of time. Meeting possessed foes and odd Celtic looking bladers. Meeting the Bladebreakers once more.

Ray and Salima. Salima and Cane.

My broken feelings.

The outside voices faded back into my auditory system again as I tried to hold back the heat around my eyes where if I weren't careful to keep at bay, my eyes would leak with tears and I wouldn't be inconspicuous anymore.

"So she came all the way from China to see me, Mr. D?" I heard Ray asked. My heart practically stopped beating. He was very close. He seemed closer than anybody else to me in the room. That was when I realized he was right next to me somewhere and I felt something finger my palm lightly. It had a soft feel like polyester and it was warm underneath.

I heard Mr. D speak, "Yes and no I think, Ray. You'll probably have to ask her to get the right answer. She didn't tell me much either."

I wanted to say something right then and there, but still, I wasn't ready yet. Mr. D was right. I had wanted to see Ray, but I had also come to collect answers.

My hand twitched.

Ray squeezed back.

For a moment, I almost forgot to breathe, but I've faked sleep so much at home to get rid of Lee before, that my instincts made me continue on with my slow steady breaths. Luckily, I don't think anyone else realized that I was awake except for Ray as they continued to speak.

Their conversation dragged on about the matches, the fights, the threats that the organization who owned the Physics held, and on and on. For what I guessed was an hour later, they were getting ready to leave, but Ray seemed to be the only that didn't budge. I half wanted Ray to go too, but the other also liked the fact that he would be staying.

"Yo, Ray. You coming?" Tyson asked. I could feel the vibrations of his movement along with everyone else vibrate the floor slightly, "Mariah might stay asleep for a long time and sticking to her like glue won't do any good."

I could almost sense Ray grinning, "Don't worry, I won't be long. You guys go ahead okay?" Yup, he definitely knew I was awake.

I heard many pairs of feet moving out and away and the sound of the sliding doors close before the light switch was switched off. Suddenly, I felt quite bare in the dimness of the room though blankets covered me up. I began wondering where Galux was since I felt uncomfortable being alone like this. However, I could sense she was in the same room, only farther away. Damn.

"So Mariah, you done playing the roll of sleeping beauty yet?"

I nearly jumped since there had been a pregnant silence. I groaned and opened my eyes instead. The room was slightly dark, though I could see the sunset setting lightly outside. It must have been twilight by now. I couldn't tell if my vision was blurry or not since there wasn't much to see anyway. It was getting darker by the second as the pregnant silence continued.

Finally, when I decided that he wasn't going to say anything and neither was I, I began to sit up. My mind felt like it was hit head on and I felt the dull throbbing of my heavy thoughts. I shifted my leg to the side to support my weight but I ended up just causing the pains in my ankle to shoot up and warn me not to do anything stupid.

But it was too late for I did feel stupid. If I hadn't gone to Japan in the first place, I wouldn't be here with a heavy heart and a really bad ankle. I wouldn't have had to see Salima and Ray together and I wouldn't have had to bother anyone here with my impudence. But what was done was done and I still felt more stupid than ever.

My upper body was half way up before I collapsed again from my used effort. My eyes were shut tightly still with my mouth in a grim frown. I let out a sigh and I tried to relax. I once again opened my eyes only to look straight up into Ray's amber colored ones. I couldn't stand to look at him so I stared at the ceiling.

Ray opened his mouth. I just knew he was going to bombard me with the questions he had probably been asking Mr. D so I prepared myself for a load of explaining to do.

"Mariah, are you okay?"

Or not.

My lips parted to speak, "I..." My voice was so dry and cracked like a crow's; I had the impression that I probably even looked like an ugly crow too. Damn, I felt horrible and weak. I swallowed to moisten my throat with a bit of difficulty as my throat was so dried up, it felt constricted and I nearly choked. I hated how hoarse my voice came out, and even more so, I had to do something about my throat. I brought a hand to my mouth and coughed a bit looking down at the sheets that had covered most of my legs.

By now, Ray had let go of my other hand (much to my relief and displeasure). Instead, I could feel his gaze on me. Yes, I could feel it. It was an intense gaze, but I've felt it many times before. And just like many times before, I couldn't look him straight in the eye.

I knew he wanted answers. I thought I did too until I made it clear to myself that I got all I wanted by everything I saw. And it wasn't fair. I guess had no choice but to go home now.

Though I'd already decided all this a while ago, I just couldn't leave. Something was holding me back making me as reluctant as a weak little girl who couldn't even make her own decisions anymore. I half knew what that reason was, but I was a afraid. Yup, tough little me, really scared of just confronting MYSELF of all people. Oh yeah, and let's not forget Ray. I really wanted an answer from him, straight out of his own mouth.

"Mariah."

I flinched. I kept my eyes steady on the bed sheets and gripped them make my knuckles turn white. I could feel little crescents being cut into my palms by my nails. Out of the corner my eye, I could see Ray about to put a hand my fists.

The old anger in me was back. Him of all my closest friends...he had lied to me! Making me worried as hell following him all the way here, then finding his back turned to me for another girl who already had feelings for someone else that WASN'T him. I won't let him touch me. Even one wrong move from him would send me toppling back down to hoping he would someday return my feelings for him.

I can't let that happen again. I won't be lied to a third time. I had my limitations and enough was enough. I was too tired to chase after him again and nor did I want to for that matter.

I yanked my hands away right when he was about to make contact. Even within that short proximity, I could feel my skin tingling from the warm that had radiated from his gloved hand. "Mariah, please. What do you want me to do?" He was still the old Ray underneath it all, but his lies had become a major detriment to our old childhood friendship that we had shared. I didn't want him to do anything really. I didn't.

I did. I wanted him back, but at the same time I didn't, okay?

"Don't touch me!" I hissed acidly as I sensed his hand near my shoulder this time. "Mariah..." Ray began but I broke him off with a cold snap, "Stop saying my name." I could tell he was getting frustrated, but I didn't care. Why should I? I had to take care of myself and the only way to heal was to keep the farthest distance from my problem. I needed him AWAY if I wanted to heal, right? He was my problem.

"Stop it Mariah. I know you're not happy about something. Can't you just tell me what it is?" Ray added after a moment of a thought, "Maybe we can sort it out like old times, you know?"

"No, I don't know. Not anymore, Ray Kon. Those days are over. You were the one who severed those days from our present!" I snarled at him. My vision became slightly red in shade as I gave him a nasty glare. Oh yeah, I'm pissed. To hell with everyone was the way I felt right about now! I couldn't believe him. He didn't even KNOW what the problem was! I was livid and I felt my cold hot blood racing through me and I felt like I could explode if someone began counting T-minus and on. But I held it in and bit back an exasperated sob.

Ray sat motionless as he watched me with astonishment. I'll bet he's never ever seen me so infuriated before cuz I never was until now!

Forgetting that my bandaged ankle was still sprained horribly, I stood up very suddenly using my bad foot as the support since I was so used to it before it was sprained or broken, whatever. I'm no doctor. But anyone would know when something hurt like crazy. I nearly re-twisted it if it weren't for Ray's arm that caught me.

Ray's arm? Shit.

I nearly fell out of his grasp when I half-stumbled half-leapt away with surprise from our sudden contact. "I said don't touch me!" I hollered.

There were running footsteps in the hall and the door slid open revealing Tyson, the Hilary girl, Kenny, Max, Kai, and Tyson's grandpa. I couldn't tell who was staring directly at Ray, or me but at the moment, I could care less.

Tyson was the first to say something after a thick silence covered us all. "Wha-what's going on?" He asked somewhat stupefied. I straightened myself the best I could and turned to look at them. I had somewhat calmed down, but I was anything but tranquil at the moment. I needed a way OUT of here!

Everyone practically had me cornered on all sides. Tyson and everyone surrounding the doorway and Ray could probably move faster than me even if I didn't have a bad ankle. But thanks to the house's traditional state, it had a sliding door opening to the outside. And that's not all. I knew my things were there in the SAME corner beside the sliding door to the yard since I could sense Galux's faint presence there too. It was farthest way from everyone and closest to me.

But that nagging reason held me back like a chain preventing me from my freedom.

Should I? Or should I not?

To go? Or not to go?

I really dunno.

A/N: Yeah. So how'd it go? What'd ya think about it? I know I was rusty, but I tried! I haven't written this thing in months and it felt like I had written since FOREVER! Okay I'm done. For now anyway. Hope to hear from you guys!