Prologue

Raindrops beat against the broken road, paved with so many holes. It was almost natural; the road was not used since the building of the highway that flew over the old settlement. Therefore, the authorities never actually took the effort to repair them. Doji looked up to the orange sky, pushing his wilting gray hair out of his face. The sky was a dull orange, not that he could not tell by looking at it, the orange glow radiated to the objects around. It made the green of the trees look a sickening shamrock, the road a gloomy ash and the buildings a dirty cantaloupe.

It was not as if he hated monsoons, he just did not like them. Trudging through the thick slush on the road, he wearily made his way towards the only little hut that seemed to have some life in it. He dragged his bionic limb, slowly but effectively, through the slush. He could not run anymore, his lungs hurt and his leg did too. His bionic leg had given up, making it very hard for the said man to keep running.

Soon Doji decided to stop and catch his breath. He looked around to spot any threats or any cops. He was very infamous anyway, and a round to the police station was not exactly one of his plans for the day. A frown marred his face, his eyebrows corrugated as his gaze landed on the ankles of his pants and the dark mud stains. He hated getting dirty, especially when he had a big job at hand.

Gingka Hagane was back.

All the Hades Inc. agents in WBBA were at a greater threat now. Gingka Hagane was smart, Doji knew. At least smart enough to figure out that all the mishaps in the recent WBBA Beyblade World Championship were not just accidents.

Doji smiled, leaning back into the plushy couch. His eye was trained at the television set kept just in front of him.

"Various bladers have sustained severe injuries due to random explosions of their beyblade." The reporter on the television informed in her stoic voice, "Due to this reason the WBBA World Beyblade Championship has been terminated till further announcements by the WBBA."

"Very Good, Doji." DR. Ziggurat crisped icily, running a hand through his gelled hair. He walked towards his rosewood Wine cellar and pulled out an old bottle of blood red wine. With grace, he poured the wine in a stem glass and offered it to Doji, who just declined.

"I don't drink." Doji said hoarsely, reaching out for the glass of water placed on the peg table beside him.

The doctor laughed a raspy laughter, "You're an adult, Doji. You can drink wine." He offered the glass to the gray haired man.

Doji grunted, "You should be thinking about our next move, doctor."

The said man turned away, "Now you go to WBBA. To check if everything is all right or not. And take up a disguise while you do so." Doji nodded.

He did go to the WBBA, only to find his nemesis-Gingka Hagane, apparently participating in a meeting of some sort. Someone spotted Doji at the HQ and he had to run out of there. That is why Doji was running, in hopes of informing Dr. Ziggurat about Gingka's arrival.

Pushing away those thoughts from his head, he turned towards the door of the small cabin and pushed it open with his free hand.

A jingle of bells greeted the man to a blow of fragrance and moisture. He scanned the area with his eye, letting himself down on one of the soggy wooden benches near the rusted water can. The small room was crammed up with flowers, all kinds of flowers. All types of flowers in all shades of colors. It was like a burst of bright colors, in contrast to the murky and seepaged walls. It was like a splash of colour, some Tuscan sun here, some wine here and some aquamarine there, on an old stained canvas.

By then, he had inferred that he was presently sitting in a flower shop. He glanced around, and from the looks of it, the shop did not seem to be working up a lot of profit. Bouquets with wilting flowers and dying leaves were dumped in one corner, chunks of artificial moss scattered on the tarnished marble floor. The little orange dustbin overflowed with stem shavings and the bouquet wrappers that hung on broken knobs and rolls had collected a fair amount of dust.

Doji looked around, until his attention was caught by fairly loud sound. Before he could even react, another body crashed into him, pushing him against the wooden bench making it creek and groan.

"Oh I am so sorry!" a loud chirp greeted his ears, making him wince slightly. He could tell from the voice that it was a woman and a young one at that. However, he could not verify it since his eyes were squinted instinctually due to the crash.

He could see the seepage on the corner of the walls from his eye. He could feel soft and warm breaths that tickled his neck, silky smooth skin that rubbed against his rough one and curves that locked onto his toned body.

Doji could not think straight, his mind clouded by thoughts…and from the sweet scent of the woman on him. His judgment was fogged up and so were his actions. He unknowingly nuzzled into the supple crook of her neck, the berry scent wafted up his nose, sending a pleasured tremble down his body. His arms had snaked around the little woman's small waist.

His muscles had gone more rigid, his veins tense, but he liked the feeling.

The feeling of a woman.

This was new, all of it was. In thirty-three years of life, he had never laid an eye on any woman or had never wanted to love. To him, women were weak creatures that needed protection or so he was taught. His childhood was very tough; most of it was spent at a concentration camp where all he saw was pain, sadness and hatred. That is where he learnt…

To strive, you have to be the strongest.

"Doji Yasu!" The loud voice resonated in the little boys head, making him wince in pain. The boy withered away, away from that monster. His skinny body was trembling, all the scratches, grazes and wounds on his body burnt. Blood had scabbed over his broken wrists, the loose clothes hung on his frail frame and his grazed knees hurt. He dragged himself away with the help of his hands, drawing his crushed ankles with him.

"Don't run away…Child…" His hideous honeyed voice called out to the little boy. He trudged across the room, gripping the leather whip in his calloused hands, "…it's time to play…"

Doji flicked those thoughts off his mind, getting back to the moment that he was enjoying. But he was not supposed to enjoy it…he was not suppose to enjoy this.

"I am so sorry!" The little woman tweeted, pushing her gentle palms against his chest. With much reluctance, he let go of her. He would not force himself of any woman, no matter how strongly he wanted to.

Soon he felt the warmth and the softness be stripped off him. He straightened up and with his slender palms dusted off his clothes. After doing so, he looked at the woman in front of him.

She was beautiful. Long wavy black hair, which sparkled in the sunlight that had filtered through the draped windows, her straight bangs, rested against her pale forehead. Her petite figure was wrapped up in a white cotton sundress with wine rose motifs that contrasted her dark chocolate brown orbs. She had rosy pink cheeks and her lips were on the slightly fuller side.

"I am Rin. And the owner of this little flower shop." The woman said, sheepishly tucking a strand of hair behind her pink ear, "What would you like to buy?"

Doji smirked, leaning back, "You."

A/N: Strange? Stay tuned for more and drop in a review if you feel inclined to.