New Life: A Second Chance

"What are you going to do now?" Xing Han asked tentatively.

"Something I should have done long ago," Kyle said, looking out the window, seemingly focusing on the scenery outside.

Kyle gave a short snort through his nose as he shook his head, thinking of how much he had done and worked for the past 15 years just so that he could balance both lives properly.

Just from this one miscalculation, everything went out the window. 

He had always considered his current family and thus, would have never thought of leaving them in pursuit of going after those that had killed him. He had suppressed his intense longing for his children because he didn't want to cause that same amount of pain on the mother of this life.

It took a lot out of him to take each step, each day and each year to follow the path he had mapped out for himself.

The plans he had made were not only to ensure he had laid down the foundation, it was also to force him to focus on something else rather than dropping everything and rushing here.

Now?

His heart was filled with intense sadness that he couldn't quite explain. Perhaps it was frustration over his supposed father for not bothering to get to know him. Talk to him. He had to just be that dictator type of person.

Kyle shook his head, thinking of how similar Patrick was to his spouse.

Maybe it was a 'Man' thing? Or a Neanderthal man? Unable to accept it when their own son has a mind of his own? Unable to accept it if their own son has different views, or ideas? The son must follow whatever he thought was best?

What got to Kyle the most was the fact that Patrick had always been an absent father. Whilst it was true that he appeared to be supportive, Kyle saw it more as him either being apathetic, or didn't think much about it. 

Xing Han saw the 'lost' look on Kyle's face, and his heart clenched. He had a bad premonition about what Kyle was about to do and he truly did not know if he would be able to persuade Kyle otherwise. 

Kyle may look easy-going and happy-go-lucky (not in the same manner as Xing Han, of course) but he had this really stubborn streak in him. Once he made up his mind about something, he rarely changed it. 

One could try to persuade him but he would be able to shoot down any sort of arguments one raised. It was as if he had already considered all angles, and was willing to accept whatever risks that came ... so how could one then say what he wanted to do was wrong?

"What would that be?" Xing Han asked, his voice cracking a bit.

Kyle gave a soft smile, turned to look at Xing Han and Xing Han, seeing that smile ... gulped.

It was the sort of smile that was a prelude to something horrible. Something that he wouldn't want to hear, something that Kyle didn't really want to do but had to - and knew that he, Xing Han, would not like it.

"I'm staying here," Kyle said.

Xing Han's mind went blank for a while, and his mouth was gaping open and closed. Sam, on the other hand, asked calmly, "What about school?"

"I'll go back to end things properly in Country Tz, of course," Kyle said, grateful for Sam's rationality and unquestioning support.

Xing Han, on the other hand, looked like he was ready to cry.

"Once all is finalised, I'll come back here and stay," Kyle explained.

"But ... but," Xing Han faltered, "What are you going to do here? You're a foreigner and still a minor. Wouldn't it be difficult?"

Kyle shook his head, "I know the workings of this place, so it won't be a problem. I have people here as well."

"Your family? Kay?" Xing Han pressed on.

"You heard my Dad," Kyle said bitterly, "I can stay here and rot for all he cares. So I shall do exactly that - just not the rotting part. Since he finds me such an eyesore, why should I go back?"

"But ... but," Xing Han tried again. 

Just where did the responsible Kyle go to? The caring one? Why did it seem like he was shutting himself out at that moment?

In truth, Kyle did feel he was being unfair to the others but this was the only thing he could think of which calmed himself down. All his life, he had always been thinking about how his actions would affect others, so he would go out of his way to accommodate them (even though they never asked). Be it as Kyle, or as Kylie.

This time, however, he made his decision without taking them into account at all.

He felt ... perhaps, it was time for him to finally do something just for himself. 

The Elite Five were his sworn brothers, and he was confident that they would understand. They ought to know that he wouldn't make this decision recklessly, or just to hurt them ... even though, it would cause them some problems and pain. 

All of them had ties with Sakura Academy in one way or another.

Ali had Sophia, Sam was the sole son and couldn't drop out, Xing Han had that deal with his parents when he wanted to study at Sakura Academy. With Kyle leaving, where would it leave them?

It was supposed to be the best years of their young lives before they all went their separate ways. It had been planned so well and meticulously.

Now, with Kyle's decision to stay, there was a drastic change of plans.

"What about me?" Xing Han whimpered, tears going down his face as he went to Kyle, "You're leaving me behind? How long are you planning to stay? Are you ever coming back?"

Kyle looked at Xing Han sadly, his heart in pain, "I'm sorry, Xing Han."