"Kiss my eyes and lay me to sleep"
The year was 2004 when Tyson Kinomiya defeated the demolition boys and ultimately brought down the BIOVOLT Corporation. In doing so he and his team, the BladeBreakers, were crowned the world champions of the sport of Beyblading. Kai Hiwatari, the team captain at the time was faced with a decision
"I'm telling you Kai you have to come back! There's someone in the abbey who needs your help to get out of there"
"Don't recruit me for your dirty work Valkov. If you're too lazy to rescue the boy yourself, then leave him"
"You don't understand!" Tala roared as Kai coolly turned his back to his comrade.
"This doesn't concern me, I'm done with everything in my past" Kai replied his white scarf fluttering behind him as he exited the dark hall. Tala was left staring dumbly at the spot where his comrade once stood.
"Quickly she's getting away!" two figures quietly whimpered as they were hunted down in the twisting halls of the BIOVOLT abbey. The older of the two gently squeezed the hand of her blonde companion
"Ne Cam, I want you to listen to these instructions carefully" quickly they ducked around the corner buying themselves time. "I want you to go and find Alex and the rest of the jinns. They're in trouble; the guards gave them a drug that made them go into heat. That's dangerous because they can't control what they do. Make sure you keep the girls and boys far apart from each other" Cam's sapphire eyes widened in fear
"Onee chan" the person breathed in hushed tones "They're after you, not them. The boys will be safe!" she pleaded
"Just trust me, if anything ever happened to those Jinns, I will never forgive myself. I'll be fine" the older girl pointed down the hall "Go now. You know how to find them all right? I need you there to protect them in my place"
"but-"
"Now" the girl forcefully pushed the shorty away "do not fear for me. I know now, at this very moment, my brother is rushing to come find me. We'll all be free from this place soon. Tala sama will bring him back" the Cam nodded as they ran down the hall without looking back. The older girl had a determined look on her face as she ran the opposite halls. She turned back to see if she lost the guards when she ran into something solid. Instantly, the person's strong arms clamped onto her shoulders. She looked up to recognize the towering figure. "Spencer, oh thank goodness you're here, you have to help me hide!" The giant Russian nodded in understanding.
"Follow me" He said motioning the girl to follow him. The red headed girl followed him blindly through the maze, dodging guards and cameras. "Here" He opened the door, letting the girl step into the pitch black room first. The door slammed behind her, leaving her without her sight.
"Spencer san?" she inquired timidly. "Please tell me what's in here" Suddenly the room was filled with blinding lights, as a reflex she covered her eyes.
"Raine Hiwatari, you have been captured now. Submit before we have to force you" The girl realized now she had been led to a trap laid out by Boris.
As soon as Kai made it past all the reporters, he was dead tired. All he felt like doing now was getting to the hotel. Luckily Mr. Dickenson had already prepared for the tour bus to take them back to the hotel they were staying at. They all crammed into the front rows. It was then that the elderly man's cell phone rang. "Hello, chairman speaking" he answered the phone with a business like tone. His serious face melted at the other person's reply "Why Nichole what a relief to hear your lovely voice! I'm fine thanks, the boys are all fine" there was a long pause. Kai pretended not to notice, but he noted that Mr. Dickenson looked at him with slight unease once in a while. "What's happening…at your end?" the chairman spoke with a slight hesitation. This strange behaviour caught the interest of everyone.
"Who is that Stanley?"
"Hold on Nichole." The portly man addressed Tyson's father, Bruce "It's Nichole; you remember my contact within the abbey right? Nichole is the one who submitted the evidence of Boris' crimes to me." He put his ear back to the phone "Alright" he pushed a button, activating the speaker mode.
"Congratulations team Bladebreakers. It's a relief to see that for the most part you are unharmed. I was worried when I heard you were going to take them on" a mysterious feminine voice came out from one end of the phone.
"Why did you help us?" Max asked inquisitively
"This was not some last minute decision I have made. I have been giving Mr. Dickenson this information for well over two years now. As it is, I also have personal reasons for wanting to get rid of BIOVOLT. My friends were prisoners there, they still are."
"You'll be fine though right?" Tyson asked showing genuine concern for the voice on the phone
"I'm calculating our casualties list at this very moment. It's still below the double digits. If all goes as planned, you boys are in for a rather pleasant surprise, however I can't guarantee anything. Many are still sick, some are-"there was a slam of doors on the other end of the phone. Muted whispers were heard, it sounded like two girls arguing. "You mean he- I see" the boys looked puzzled "Well it seems something has gone of in the worse possible way" said the person in a calm tone.
"What's happening?" Mr. Dickenson asked his friend
"Someone helped Boris escape the police. I estimate at least one hour before he's here to tangle with our lives still. Also, Voltaire Hiwatari is nowhere to be found." There was a small pause. "Before me and my friends get ready to run from here, I have one thing to ask of Kai" the blue haired boy gave a hostile glare at the mobile device. "Tala has talked to you yes? You've made your final decision?"
"I'm already free; don't except me to come back for anyone."
"I see. Years from now we'll both look back and have a laugh about this aren't we?" the phone clicked, leaving Kai with an ominous feeling. He quickly dismissed it as the bus pulled up to the hotel. He just wanted to go to bed.
"Onii chan, where are you now?" The small red headed girl known as Raine Hiwatari whispered. She was terrified. Currently the guards have taken her clothes away, every last piece of fabric that cold have possibly concealed her vulnerable form, gone. She shivered from the cold. BIOVOLT was mainly attended by boys; the girls that did come were forced to hide their genders. If she was exposed now, who knows what the boys would do to her. She shifted uncomfortably, she knew that a lot of he comrades were…frustrated, and needed some relief. Every time she heard footsteps outside, she would tense up. The last guard who came in had handled her roughly, but she was not violated thank goodness. She carefully crossed her arms in front of her chest, and refrained from bringing her legs up. She knew this would expose her special place. The door opened, and immediately the scent of food wafted to the girl's nose. Her eyes widened when she recognized the one who was sent to give it to her. "Spencer san?" he looked at her with pity. "Please help me! Let me out of these chains!" she tugged at the heavy metal collar which was chained to the wall. He placed the tray of the mystery meat soup in front of her and left. "Spencer please help me! It hurts! The room is cold all the time, the chair is cold, I can't move or else something bad will happen to me. Some people come inside, and they touch me in bad places" she cried out as he slammed the door shut. "Spencer san" tears leaked from her eyes. "Onii chan, come back soon. I'm not quite sure how much longer I can stay strong" the girl sobbed after her friend seemingly betrayed her. "Onii chan you promised" she chanted while sobbing. "You promised me, you said you'll be back"
"I believe you are making a mistake Kai" a gruff but affectionate voiced echoed in Kai's mind as he showered. Kai ignored it as he applied shampoo to his hair, scrubbing the debris away from his head.
"What mistake could I possibly be making?" Kai questioned his bit best with their mental link. He felt a small shudder at the back of his mind; either the great phoenix was sighing, or was angered with him.
"Has your heart really frozen over? You will abandon your friends at the abbey to their fates?" The spirit asked an eerily calm tone. "Or have you really forgotten the one you promised to protect?"
"Get to the point or stop bothering me" Kai coolly retaliated. The captain of the Bladebreakers didn't appreciate being lectured on something he didn't do wrong. He had been subjected to horrible things in the abbey in the past. When he somehow escaped, he locked those memories away. There was nothing in the world that would make him go back. In his head he felt the presence of Dranzer slip away, disappointed in him. 'What's his problem?' Kai thought, no longer trying to communicate with the phoenix beast. He turned off the hot water and stepped out of the shower, water dipping off him Kai Wrapped himself in a fluffy white towel before walking out to the bedroom. No one else was with him, which was how he preferred it. He ran his fingers through the damp hair wondering when they'll depart for Japan. 'Probably when Ray is well enough to get out of the hospital' He sighed as he slipped on a pair of pants from his suit case. Not caring that his hair was still wet, he flopped onto the bed, exhausted. "Can you hear me?" a timid voice entered his mind. "Onii chan please answer, I need to know if we're still connected!" He grunted and turned over to his other side, assuming he was just dreaming. "Onii chan hurry" the female voice sobbed "They're coming to get me, Boris is after us! I can't run, not unless you're here" The feminine voice struck something in Kai, but he was too tired to listen to it. He had a good night's sleep.
The door opened with a creak. Raine waited for something to happen. She felt an icy grip on her head before she was roughly yanked by her hair.
"Wakey wakey little Rainey" a taunting voice cooed in her ear. "I hear there's something planned for you today" Raine's dull eyes looked into the crimson eyes of her tormentor.
"Roxy, it hurts" she whimpered "It hurts" tears came to her eyes "Help me please, it hurts" she shivered as a breeze came into the room" The aqua haired teen sneered at the girl's pathetic mewls. Roxy tossed the girl onto the ground before kicking her roughly on the side
"Get dressed, oh wait" she snickered as she brought out a leash "you don't have any. I guess I'll just have to bring you out then" Roxy clipped the leash onto the collar that Raine was wearing. Raine was silent and didn't protest to this treatment, she was already broken. Her dual coloured hair hid her expression as she was led out of the room. Through the pink bangs she saw boots of all different sizes and colours. She found one she recognized. Looking up she met icy blue eyes of the captain.
"Tala sama" she addressed in her bell like voice. He held eye contact for a moment before looking away. Roxy tugged at the leash hard causing the girl to sprawl onto the floor. "It hurts" she got up quickly seeing boys approach her with perverted leers. "Onii chan?" she squeaked, her voice getting higher the more hysterical she got. Tala disappeared from the halls before Raine's screaming filled them. He had to do something
"Great news boys!" Mr. Dickenson announced over breakfast "Ray has been announced to be in good health. He'll be back just after lunch, and so we can depart for home" she said with a fatherly smile "You boys have done well over the past two months, and I couldn't be more proud. Take today off as a break, go sightseeing. Just as long as you are packed and ready to go before 6 sharp tonight. Enjoy your day, and eat up. You don't want your breakfast to be cold"
"Way ahead of you Mr. D!" Tyson exclaimed shoving mouthfuls of food down his throat.
"Slow down Tyson!" Kenny said hitting the navy haired teen's back when he started chocking, causing Max to chuckle. Kai just glared at the morons he was forced to baby-sit. Mustering the power to not puke, he finished breakfast in a civilized manner. Kenny had put together a plan for the day; he might as well follow it.
Tala dashed into the busy streets of Russia alone. Usually he'd have someone on the team with him, but right now it wasn't possible. Bryan was going to the hospital for his injuries, since his loss to Ray, Spencer was missing and Ian would hold him back. It would be difficult to track them down, but he had to. Little did he know, all the screaming fans he tried to avoid were chasing the BladeBreakers, and not him. It would have saved him hours of searching if he has just braved the crowd or asked for directions, everyone could recognize a celebrity, a team of them would be as easy as hitting water after you fell out of a boat. Tala spent the rest of the day searching, slowly losing his hope and determination as precious seconds ticked by.
"Blood- staining the sheets as pure as snow. Cries echo the caverns of despair as the woman loses her only treasure dear to her" Alex recited, continuously gasping for more air. Camryn looked over to her silver haired companion
"Stop talking like that, you might jinx it! Besides, you need to have faith in Kai onii chan" Another kitsune beside Alex snickered
"I may be in heat, but at least I'm not delusional. I know when to recognize that we are doomed" The nameless kitsune said. Camryn growled threateningly at them
"I know he's a good person, he'll come for us!" Camryn suddenly tuned to the door, seeing another kitsune approach the others "HEY! What did I tell you? Boys stay with the boys, stay away from the girls!" Camryn held up his beyblade up threateningly.
A flame haired boy shivered as he held another person close to him. He addressed the person he held tightly as they huddled in a corner of their cell.
"How are you doing Sam?" Sam's pink eye locked onto his determined green ones.
"I'm fine Sid. I trust da captin', if Raine says Kai will come for us, den I believe 'er" footsteps rapidly approached the room they were in. Sid pulled Sam's naked form closer to him. Sid needed to protect Sam, if they were discovered now, it would be disastrous. The echoing steps stopped in front of their door. Sam clutched the fabric of Sid's shirt tighter as they held their breath. The door agonizingly opened with a loud creak, allowing light from the hall to spill in. The pair sighed in relief as the form of Nichole approached them.
"There you are. I thought something bad would have happened to you considering-"Nichole was cut off
"Never mind that, we need to get Sam some clothes now if we're going to get out of here tonight." Sid bellowed out. Nichole held of a pair of freshly laundered clothes for the bluenette to slip into. Both of them politely turned their heads.
"How much time do we have until the Boris gets here?" Nichole questioned urgently
"I estimate 'bout two hours. Da police have no doubt realized dat dey don't have custody of him now, so dey'll be looking for 'im" Sam confirmed
"Where's Kai?" Sid asked suspiciously. Nichole shook her head.
"He's not coming" she said earning surprised looked from the two
"But Raine said-"Sid started the sentence
"-'Dat he would come 'ere fer sure." Finished a stunned Sam
"And that he promised to come see her, but that's not how life works. You two should head out now." Nichole stated firmly. "Get as far from here as possible, get to the meeting point here on this map" She instructed handing Sid the map. "Help the others too while you're at it."
"Wait, what are you planning to do?" Sid studied Nichole's features while she answered
"I'm disposable, you two know that. Get out, I have to go back for more…Raine's been captured" The two captives gasped
"Who dunnit?" Sam asked horrified
"We're wasting time, get out of the way or you'll slow me down!" Nichole yelled as she walked across the room.
Brian lumbered into the hospital room, at the same time, Ray was signing out. Brian stopped in his tracks and waited for the Neko Jinn to notice him. The golden orbs landed onto the lilac haired teen and his hunched over form. He felt Mariah stiffen beside him as she gave the abbey boy a threatening glare. "How did she say it again?" they heard Brian murmur to himself quietly. His silver eyes were calmly closed as he tried to recall something from his memory "Oh, right" Brian made eye contact with the two neko jinns "Dude, just chill. I'm not here to hurt you" he said in a monotone. Mariah fought the urge to burst into laughter at how ridiculous the phrase sounded when uttered with that blank expression on his face. Seeing this Brian started to scowl "Okay, point is, I'm not here to put you back into the hospital." He said.
"Hey Mariah, can you check up with your brother, I think he's worried about you" Ray said, nudging the pink haired bladder aside. She sensed that the two needed to talk, so she left the, but not before giving Brian that warning look. Gold eyes met silver ones. A mutual understanding formed between the two, but Ray still felt wary of the Russian boy in front of him
"So you're finally out of here" Brian said sincerely. "Have a safe journey home, and never look back" he advised. Ray scanned the form of the person who sent him to the hospital. Brian showed some aigns of being attacked.
"What happened to you?" he asked concerned.
"I grew up in a bad place, where bad things happened if you don't accomplish your mission" Brian said, his eyes deviated to something interesting on his shoes "I've recovered from the worst though, and now that Boris has been arrested, I can finally get help" he admitted truthfully. "I just wish it was the same for my comrades" Ray watched with interest as the icy wall in Brian's eyes was instantly erected. "Some can not escape that place, not without outside help" he hissed hatefully
"Why not?" He asked, concerned for the other people. Brian met him straight in the eye
"Because of that traitor" Brian said. Ray felt something ugly in the pit of his stomach. He knew what Kai felt, being hated after he made his own decision to leave his team back on China. Kai must have been going through the same thing.
"Kai is free to make his own choices" Ray said getting defensive
"Never said he didn't" Brian answered evenly "I can't stop him from leaving, just as I can't stop my friends from dying" his glare intensified "And you can stop me from hating all this"
"You know, one day, when you're all better, you'll look back at this and laugh about how childish this is"
"I'll laugh when I my comrades come out of this alive" Brian suddenly broke eye contact "You should go before your girlfriend gets worried."
"What?" Ray blushed "You're mistaken Mariah and I are"
"Oh but you know who I'm talking about right? Ray buried his face behind his hair in embarrassment.
"Don't lie Kon. I've seen someone else with those eyes. I just wish that it was me she looked at."
Brian hobbled off towards the receptionist to sign in, leaving Ray with mixed feelings
"Brian!" he yelled out, catching the boy's attention "I hope you and your friends recover soon" Brian's stoic expression fell. Ray blinked rapidly as if not understanding the situation.
"Hoping isn't enough" Brian murmured before going into the sitting area. Ray barely cought his words, but waved it off as pessimism.
"Everyone, come this way. If the guards catch us, storm them!" Ian commanded a small group despite his small stature. He herded everyone through the exits, and sent smaller groups through secret passages all over the abbey. "Remember the rendezvous point!". He saw two familiar faces among the crown approach him.
"Ian san, how 'ya doin'?" said the Japanese bluenette
"We're getting out of here, Kai or not" he answered firmly, he then turned to the flame haired boy beside Sam
"You guys need to get out the most, considering-" he left it off at that "I don't know how much time we have left until the big man gets here. I've gotten most of the areas evacuated by now." He said sucking in a breath "We would have gotten more out, but Spencer went missing, probably went to play bodyguard with Raine" Without missing a beat, Ian aimed behind him and shot the guard that was charging at them from down the hall. Sid nodded
"I think most of the guards fled by now." He smirked "And to think these little buggers were so cocky last night, still abusin' us and all"
"It wuz horrible. I heard her screamin'" Sam verified. "I figure she'd be out helpin' da others by now"
Ian pondered for a while "At any rate, get out now. All that's left is the A rank students, and Boris' personal compound. Both should be smart enough to get out themselves"
"Where's the captain?" Sid asked "I can't leave her" Sid said desperately
"Like I mentioned earlier, Spencer is missing, so he's probably dragging her unwilling ass far away from here, Kai or not" Sid nodded
"Eh?" Sam realized something "Err, Ian san? Whacha do wid 'da kitsunes? Aren't they in heat 'cuz of da drugs?" Sam asked with her thick Osaka accent. Ian's face turned serious
"Just get out while you still can" he said, shoving the two into the moving crowd.
When Boris was arrested, police were able to track down and arrest the workers of the abbey as well. However, no one was able to determine the true location of the abbey. This was because the abbey was not one place, but many. The map that Nichole provided allowed many of the abbey members to escape and gather in a group. Though within the next few months, the government noticed the spike in the homeless children population. Because the orphanages were full and already under funded, they opted to ignore the situation.
Tala caught them as they went through security check. "Kai!" he roared above the crowd. Kai took one glance at his direction and glared for all he was worth. Brushing it aside, Tale walked up to the bladder and grabbed his shoulders. "Kai listen to me, please! There is someone at the abbey who needs your help! She needs you and Dranzer-" as soon as the red head mentioned his precious bit beast, Kai got defensive and smacked away the offending hands. The Blade Breakers stood on alert too
"Is this some kind of joke?" Tala shook his head
"No, I'm serious; it's a girl from the abbey! Your sister-"
"I don't have a sister, and if I did she can burn in hell Valkov"
"Kai you don't know what you're saying! Listen"
"No YOU Listen to me Valkov" Kai voice boomed commandingly. "Dranzer is MY bit beast, and I will be taking him back with me to Japan. I want nothing to do with the abbey, so stop trying to steal our bit beasts!" He turned and walked through the metal detectors, and Tala knew it was too late. Kai gave his former team-mate one more look "I've been told we'll look at this and have a good laugh later" Kai informed Tala to move on.
"Who laughs at a funeral?" Tala asked rhetorically as Kai tuned his back. Kai never looked back.
He stood still, terrified of what he did. It was only yesterday, but already he felt like he will be haunted for days on end. Spencer shut his eyes as Raine gave another fresh round of squeals.
"No, please not that! Anything but- YAAAAAA" he shut his eyes. Who knows what Roxy was doing to Raine behind those doors?
"Stop being a baby!"
"It's cold" the girl sobbed from the other side. Spencer winced; knowing full well what would happen if her skin got too cold.
"NO AHHH" no doubt the red haired girl was clawing at her own skin now, trying to get relief. Raine has been allergic to cold ever since she was born. That's what mostly prevented her from leaving the secure walls of the abbey. No matter what happened to her here, the agony of being outside for more than a day will drive her insane. More screams were heard.
"Now you've done it, look at that!" Roxy cackled sadistically "I'd better disinfect that"
Spencer covered his ears, but the piercing screams of his friend still penetrated his skull.
"Roxy, please untie me now" the girl whimpered "Let me scratch it, it won't go away, I need to scratch!" Spencer heard her get more desperate. Finally he knocked on the door.
"Roxy, what are you doing in there?" he asked, trying to keep his emotions in check
"Why don't you come in and see for yourself?" Spencer shrugged and went in, unprepared for what was happening. His eyes widened at the sight before him. Raine was fully undressed, and her arms were bound above her head. Her skin was free of grime that built up over weeks of not washing, but at the same time it was covered in angry red welts. There were obvious places where she clawed away at her skin with an animalistic fashion. Roxy pinned her down with one hand, and held a soapy washcloth with another. He felt blood rush to his face, accompanied by a violent nosebleed. Luckily he wasn't one to ogle at girls so he turned around
"Can someone please explain what this is?" He stammered
"Get me out of here!" Raine called him
"Relax will you? I'm just giving her a little bath before my dad comes back"
"The water is cold!" Raine protested frantically. Roxy rolled her eyes and continued to wash her chest. Spencer quickly left the room before thoughts entered his head.
"Oh Spencer dear!" The daughter of Boris called him. "Can you please get the body cream I left out there? I'm afraid her skin is bone dry and cracking. He grunted in response. "Stop that Raine, are you trying to bite yourself?"
"It itches" and that's how it went. Roxy tortured her using her body's condition against her, claiming she was "Taking care of her" and "Preparing her to see daddy". That night, Boris arrived, and the compound was filled with more screams.
After an exhausting ride, Kai arrived where he called home. In his mailbox was a letter. More specifically it was a letter of acceptance to Whitney prep school. 'What do you think Dranzer?' he mused in his mind. His bit beast huffed and refused to talk. Shrugging, Kai went with it. He didn't realize why his precious bit refused to acknowledge him, so he decided to take a break from Beyblading. The lack of communication lasted longer than he thought however, and Kai stopped Beyblading altogether…
"This is what I thought, I thought you need me,
This is what I thought so think me naïve"
Prelude 12/21 by AFI