The Fire Within

Chapter 17

"Kai, please wake up..."

"Please..."

"I'm sorry..."

"Please don't do this

      ***

Kai's eyes flew open and he took a sharp breath. His whole body ached like he had been hit by a bus. His throat was dry and his ears were ringing. He could hear a muffled beeping sounds and also something else that he couldn't quite place. All he could do was stare at the hazy, white roof above him as though he was paralyzed. Finally, the ringing stopped and he could identify the sound he had heard before; crying. Someone was crying. He groaned as he forced his head to turn in the direction of the sobbing. "N...Nya?" His sister raised her head from her hands and her mouth dropped open. Before he could say anything, she ran from the room, screaming. He squirmed as the high pitched noise reached his ears. She ran back into the room, followed closely by the other ninja and a doctor. As they gathered around his bed and asked him questions, he grabbed Nya's hands. "You're...okay..." he whispered with relief. A puzzled look crossed her face. "Why wouldn't I be?" she asked. It was Kai's turn to be confused. Was she crazy? "The...the fight...you..." "Wow, he really must have hit his head hard," Jay muttered. "I stayed in the ship, like you told me," she said sourly, "I didn't like it, but I didn't disobey you." Her frown was replaced by sadness. "When I got a call from Jay saying that girl had...that you might...I just couldn't bear it...I..." She let out a choked sob and Jay put a hand on her shoulder. Kai frowned. "So...it was all a dream?" he asked, "Naomi, Olivia, Oliver..." "Wait," Jay interrupted, "How do you know her name?" Kai looked at him. "Olivia. She's the girl who got you in a coma in the first place." Kai sat up in shock. "What!?" "Yeah, she wad proving a point to her twin brother, that she could take care of herself. She confessed to doing just before you woke up. She's being arrested as we speak, so you..." Before Jay could finish, Kai jumped up, ripping the cords from his buddy. Nya let out a shriek of fear and surprise as he pushed the doctor out of the way and ran out the door. A excruciating pain ripped through every part of his body, but he ran on. He could hear his sister, the others and the doctor running behind him, shouting for him to stop. He ignored them, speeding his pace. He burst out the front doors of the hospital and froze. There were news reporters and cameras and police everywhere. They all turned and gasped in shock as they saw Kai standing there. The reporters ran to him, scrambling for his attention. He didn't pay attention to any of them. He had Serb what he was looking for. Naomi, Olivia and Oliver stood near a police car. Olivia was in handcuffs and two police men grabbed her and started dragging her into the car. "WAIT!" he screamed. Everything went quiet. The police froze and looked over in confusion. Kai pushed through the crowd to the three near the car and right up to Olivia. "Uncuff her," he said. The police man opened his mouth to object, but Kai interrupted him. "Uncuff her," he said, looking at the cop coldly, "Now." The cop did as he was told, too scared of Kai's tone and respectful of his status to object. Olivia rubbed her wrists, looking at Kai. She didn't apologise for what she had done. She didn't even look confused as to why he was setting her free. He saw Naomi wasn't either. They knew. They understood. Olivier, on the other hand... "So, you're the guy she put in hospital," he muttered, obviously embarrassed, "Look, man, I'm sor..." "Don't apologise," Kai cut him off, before turning back to Olivia, "Why?" Olivia smiled gravely. "So you got our message," she murmured, "I had hoped the formula worked and it looks like it did." Kai's expression didn't change. "Why?" he asked again. The girl's smile widened, then disappeared completely. "Like your sister, I too have a controlling brother," her eyes flicked to something behind him and she paused. Kai didn't need to turn to know that the others had caught up with him and were waiting for him to start shouting at the girl in front of him. But he wasn't going to shout. He felt a strange calm that made him wait for her full explanation. When she saw he was waiting, she continued. "After the fire, he blamed himself for their deaths and decided he'd make sure nothing ever happened to me. Again, much like yourself and your sister," she laughed softly, "You blamed yourself for the unavoidable. You blamed yourself for something you had no control over." This time, she was talking to both Kai and her brother. Her voice was the only sound in the otherwise quiet setting. She turned to fully face her brother. "You took your guilt out on me," she was almost shouting now, her voice cracking with angry sadness, "Protecting me from the world. I was never allowed a boyfriend or even friends, for fear they may harm me. I was never allowed pets, for fear they would attack me. I was never allowed to leave the house, for fear of being openly judged and bullied about my appearance." By now, she was crying. "I am not a baby anymore, Oliver. And neither is Nya," she turned to face Kai, "We are human beings. We are capable of running our own lives, make our own mistakes, choosing our own paths." She stared dept into his eyes. "It's time to let her go." She looked down and fell silent. She had said what she needed to say. Oliver put a hand on her shoulder. "I am sorry, sister," he said, "I had no idea..." Olivia smiled at him, showing him it was okay. Kai felt a presence beside him and looked to see Nya standing there. "Nya..." he started, but she held her hand up. "I know, Kai," she said, "But the only thing I need is your blessing." Kai looked back at Jay, who was still frozen behind with the others. Jay sometimes wasn't the funnest person to be around and he was kind of annoying, but he was a nice kid. Kai turned to Nya and nodded. "Of course." She hugged him and then ran back to Jay, jumping on him and pressing her lips to his. The crowd cheered and clapped and Kai rolled his eyes, smiling. Maybe Jay would be a little less annoying with Nya as his girlfriend. Maybe... But his business wasn't done yet. He turned to Olivia, who was being herded away by Naomi and Oliver as the crowd dispersed. "Wait!" he shouted. They stopped and turned to face him. "Olivia," he called, beckoning her to him. She exchanged a look with her brother, then started waking to Kai, curious. As she stopped in front of him, he turned and quickly pulled Lloyd, who was standing close behind him, to his side. Lloyd blushed, his eyes wide in confusion and embarrassment. "Lloyd, I'd like you to meet Olivia," Kai said, "Olivia, Lloyd." He pushed Lloyd forward, causing them both to blush deep red. "H...hi...Olivia..." Lloyd stammered awkwardly. Olivia smiled at him nervously. "Hello, Lloyd," she murmured, "Please, call me Ollie." Lloyd grinned and took her hand in his. "It would be my pleasure, Ollie," he said softly, kissing her hand. She giggled and he grinned at her. "Ollie, would you like to accompany me to get some lunch?" She nodded rapidly, grasping onto his arm tightly. "Oh, I would love to!" she gasped happily. He laughed at her enthusiasm and lead her off. Oliver took a step forward, but he did not follow them. He was worried, but he respected her little speech so much, he let her go. "He will not harm her," Kai told him softly." Oliver nodded and walked off. Kai watched him go, then turned to see Lloyd and Olivia waking off with Nya and Jay, as well as Zane and Cole, who were surprisingly holding hands. "As I hope you will not me," a voice said behind him. He turned to see Naomi standing there. "Excuse me?" he asked. Naomi stepped forward. "I have decided to make you my partner in life," she said steely, then her harsh face softened. Suddenly, she looked like a young girl again instead of a girl who had aged before her time. "If...that is...okay with you..." she murmured softly. "Are you asking me out?" Kai smirked, gleefully noticing the light bush covering her cheeks quickly. "I guess..." she muttered. Kai snickered, before leaning down to kiss her cheek. She looked up at him, eyes wide with shock. "Of course I'll go out with you, Naomi," he said gently. She stared at him for a minute, before a smile lit up her face. "Thank you," she whispered, before clearing her throat, "May I suggest we go join the others for lunch?" Kai nodded and took her hand in his, before strolling away into the city.

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A/N

And so ends another fanfic. I'll admit, this wasn't one of my best works, but it was something to tide me over. But I hope you all enjoyed reading. Three new Fanfics will be coming, one which I've already started. So keep a look out. Anyway, until next book...

~ Ollie out ~