Japanese Translations fer ye:
Nani - What?! [said in surprise or in disbelief]
Nande kuso?! - What the hell?!
Disclaimer: The characters, items, etc. of Beyblade are not mine. These things were used without permission, but…I'm just borrowing them for a little while for my own twisted and demented purposes. So don't you dare sue me, just sue my evil twin. oO' I made this fic for entertainment only, and not for making money.
Perpetual Twilight
By Shinzui
A mysterious figure stood in the midst of the dark and twisted shadows of an abbey, the area was lit slightly by the moon's light. The silent hush of twilight and the stillness of nature was enough to drive one insane. Unless, of course, you were long past that level… The shadowed place was deathly quiet, no move was made, no sound was heard. And then… The bell tolled twelve times - midnight.
That scary hour of the night…
where the darkness is…
...everywhere...
With demonic ferocity, the gates of Hell were savagely thrown apart, unleashing the chaos that had been imprisoned for far too long. An enigmatic blade emerged from the blazing inferno, ink-ridden frame moved lightly upon the stony raven floor. A crimson-black phoenix was released and it screeched madly; it had been deprived of its freedom, and now it was out here to wreak havoc on those who are unworthy of mercy.
Flames of deep crimson and black danced wildly around the ground, and around the beyblade as it spun, weaving the dust into intricate patterns. One flap of the elegant wing, and the flames were sent flying at every direction. The phoenix looked pleased at its work, and it cried out happily.
As soon as the firestorm died, the figure was finally revealed, allowing anyone to fully scrutinize his features. Strong build, well-rounded face with a pair of twin blue triangles on his cheeks, dual-coloured hair and a stunning pair of scarlet eyes with unfathomable power. A smirk was present on the boy's lips as he watched the feral beast before him.
The boy raised his hand, and soon the sacred spirit disappeared when the beyblade jumped back immediately in his keeper's grip. Power emanated from it, and it grew even stronger as its keeper held it. The blade's intensity was radiating from within, and it was burning with hatred as well.
He gazed at the dark beyblade, his eyes gleaming with content and satisfaction. This was it… it was his key - his key to victory. Not trust, not spirit and definitely not friendship.
Who needs those anyways?
Slowly, a very cold smile crept up to his face and laughed; he laughed for no reason at all. His laughter died when he saw the bit chip on his blade emitting an eerie dark red light. He knew why this was happening - it was only because his bitbeast thirsts for more power - immense power to become unstoppable in its quest.
"Not satisfied? For a bitbeast, you are hard to please… but that's because your different from the rest," The boy commented, and his bit chip glowed even brighter. "Hmm… I've got an idea. Those fools in the exhibition match won't just lose... they'll lose their bitbeasts as well. Sounds good?" He asked, grinning evilly.
Perfect...
A soft gasp escaped the teenager's lips, before he looked around for the source of the voice. He scanned the whole area and saw nobody around him. The wind, maybe? He asked himself, and shrugged. He lapsed into silence, staring at his surroundings. Though it did not last for long.
The silence was shattered and torn into shreds by the soft footfalls of one treading lightly upon the floor. The 'pitter-patter' sound emanated from a distinct being, moving closer to where the boy was. "Young Kai…" The man spoke with a strong and steady tone, standing tall and proud. This was, after all, his domain.
The boy turned around as his name was called, lifting his head to meet the gaze of the man. They stared at each other, and it was intense. No word came out from their mouths, as if they were letting their eyes do the talking. He was waiting for the elder to speak, but he didn't.
Growing impatient, the teenager growled like a defiant lone wolf, refusing to show submission in front of the Alpha. "Boris," He addressed. "What do you want?"
"A little restless today, aren't we?" The man asked, mockery evident in his voice. "Don't forget who you're talking to, my young apprentice."
Kai looked away, "Hn. Just get to the point." He closed his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Point? What point? I just came here to see how you like Black Dranzer," The man said, unfazed by the boy's harsh tone. To be honest, he was actually expecting this to happen. The inevitable has come, he thought and smiled inwardly. His predictions were coming true. Soon... very soon...
Yes... soon...
The Red Phoenix snapped his eyes open. "Did you say something?" He asked, looking at Boris.
"Of course not. Were you expecting me to say something?"
The slate blue-haired boy didn't reply. If only he knew whom that voice belonged to! It couldn't have been my bitbeast… could it? He asked himself, but his mind was drawing a blank. He was completely clueless about this one. Growling silently, he shook his head and began to walk away.
"May I ask where are you going?" Boris asked, his eyes following the boy's retreating form.
"And why do you ask?" Without waiting for an answer, Kai was consumed by the shadows as he left the area. Silent footsteps originated from his form as he walked towards his quarters.
The man smiled, watching the boy walk away. The inevitable has come, he repeated in his mind. Soon, my young apprentice… very soon… you shall fall… An evil laughter escaped his throat, and the deep sound echoed loudly in the dark place.
Very soon…
As the colors of the majestic sky continued to darken, another boy stood betwixt the shadows. The darkness enveloped every bit of him, like a cold and foreboding blanket, giving him nothing but fear and anxiety. It was making him feel unwelcome, and he knew why - he didn't belong in this side. He was part of the other side - the one covered and protected by light. But, he stayed - just for the sole purpose of looking for some answers.
Where is he? What is he doing right now? When will he come back? Will he ever come back? These questions kept on running in his mind, like a broken record. Although he never got the answers he was looking for. So that's why he was here, in the dark side of Heaven - it was the only place where could understand what the other one felt, what he felt. Darkness… everlasting darkness…
The black void in which he stood upon began to shift into another, and only he stayed the same. Amber-coloured eyes gazed curiously at the scene before him, and they blinked once when the transformation was complete. A forest?
True enough, he was right. There was an endless sea of red-branch, fir, oak, and Crantin trees that look like they've been there for centuries. The uppermost boughs of the magnificent trees prevented any merciless torture from ever reaching the ground, improving the dark moods of the inhabitants of this forsaken place.
A sound from the depths of the forest - it had sounded like a branch snapping - brought the boy back to reality. A hand was raised to tangle itself in raven locks, and then he felt himself move. His feet led him swiftly to a clearing, the only place that was able to bask freely in the moon's glow. He stepped into the center, and looked up at the serene night sky.
The miniscule galaxies… the stars, millions of them, were punched into the midnight blue canopy of the sky. All of them glittered madly, attempting to mimic the sky queen's grace and glory. However, not a single one came close to the luna's beauty.
At least, not to the raven-haired teenager's eyes. Golden slits reflected the moon's ethereal glow, and they suddenly caught sight of something falling from above - a feather of pristine ivory and snow. It never reached the soft earth; it just hovered above it.
What's this? He slowly reached out to touch the fallen object, but he stopped - because at that precise moment, the feather burst into flames.
The flames streamed upwards, leaped out on every direction, yet they missed the boy completely. He merely gazed in awe at the dazzling spectacle. In a minute or two, it stopped. Not a single thing was burnt. Then what just…
Shaking his head, he decided that it was best if he didn't question it any further. He returned his gaze back to the feather, but this time - it was a solid fire shade. But how? Curious, he reached out to grasp the feather, and this time he succeeded. He studied it intently, and gasped when tiny specks of dark purple light started to go around it. He watched in silence as the specks of light closed in, and turned the solid fire shade into a pitch-black one.
"Na-nani?"
An angry screech was heard and suddenly, hundreds of black feathers danced around him in a spiral formation. It struck fear in his heart, mind and soul, and it grew even stronger when a shadowy figure of a phoenix appeared in front of him. It's blood red slits glowed dimly before it charged directly at him…
The raven-haired teenager jerked away from his sleep, taking in deep breathes. It was only a dream… but why do I feel like it's something else? Could it be a warning…? He shook his head, discarding that thought right away. It was ridiculous and unreal. Since when did I become such a worrier?
Ever since Kai left, a tiny voice replied in his head.
The White Tiger sighed; he knew that the voice was right. It always was. Ever since the Red Phoenix 'fell ill', he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong. He couldn't shake of the feeling that something bad was going to happen. But what is it? He asked himself, and the scene where the solid fire-coloured feather turned pitch-black flashed back into his mind.
What does it mean? He pondered for a while, but he couldn't solve the puzzle. His bed creaked with every move he made, and since he was shifting around - it creaked a lot. Ugh… why can't I think in the night?
"Rei? Why are you still awake?" A boy asked as he sat up, rubbing his eyes sleepily. He yawned softly and scratched his head, ruffling his blond hair even more.
"Can't sleep," Rei replied. He clutched his blanket tightly, and sighed, his mind playing the dream he had over and over again.
"Is something wrong?"
"No… just thinking. That's all," Rei answered. "Hey Max, just go to bed. I'm about to fall asleep sooner or later anyway…"
"If you say so…" The Tortoise yawned yet again, before murmuring, "G'night." He snuggled even closer to the Blue Dragon beside him, sighing in content.
The Chinese Beyblader smiled a bit, before he pulled the covers over his head. He turned on his side and curled up into a small ball. Wonder what happened to Kai… He flinched at the sudden thought, curling up even more. Why do I keep thinking about him? It's not like I love him or anything… or do I? No, no, no. That's not right - he's just a friend. Hell, I'm not even sure if he is a friend. With the way he keeps his emotions to himself, I'm not even sure if I'm that close to him…
H-hey, why am I worrying about this now?
Kai…!
The slate blue-haired boy opened his eyes, and then he looked around. What is this place? He was in a forest, a forest so thin that the sky was clearly visible. The ground was covered in patches of very light grass and is littered equally with twigs, fallen leaves, and… ebony feathers. "Nani?"
The wind started to blow, making the trees 'scream' and creak in agony. The scattered feathers went around him, and his attention was soon direction to a pair of inky-black wings, stretching full and proud from his shoulder blades. "Na-nande kuso?!" His eyes widened in surprise, and then he reached out a hand to touch, but the wings suddenly turned into specks of dark purple light.
They little lights scattered all around him, and then they suddenly disappeared. It was then that he noticed that he was in a different place now.
Abysmal darkness had conquered the land; not a mere star was seen, and the moon was nowhere to be found. It gave of a tense feeling, an unending feeling of anxiety.The endless sheet of iced water and chilled matter, in which he stood on, was cracked - shattered and generally horrified, though it still stood. What am I doing here?
Quite suddenly, an anguished roar was heard, as if it was the answer to his question. His gaze fell on the direction of where the roar came from, seeing flames rising high into the air and streaks of light accompanying the blaze.
The boy first crept into a jog, and then a wild dash, ignoring the sharp blasts of wind biting on his skin. Crimson eyes interpreted every obstacle, and a focused mind acted to propel him against those impediments. A protruding block of ice, a fluid leap over. A streak of flames, a swift jump to the left. Then finally, his run slowed down to a walk, and the distinct sounds of two male voices floated to his ears - one that belong to Rei and the other one belonged to… him. What the?
"Fight it, Kai! Fight it!" The White Tiger pleaded, his voice tired and exhausted. Cuts and bruises were seen all over his sinewy body, blood oozing out from his wounds - especially the long gash on his forehead. "Please fight it…"
"What? Fight you? Sure," The other Kai replied. His eyes had been clouded over, and his face wore a cold expression. He raised his hand and a black phoenix was summoned. "Black Dranzer… Finish this fool's pathetic life."
"No! Kai…! Please, fight it!" Rei pleaded one last time, his eyes welling up with tears. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his bitbeast rising weakly - his obvious attempt to step in front of his keeper and protect him. He swore to protect him, no matter what, but it was already too late…
"Black Fire Ignite!" The crimson-black phoenix exploded into flames, and it charged at the raven-haired teenager.
Rei didn't move from where he was, he just looked at Kai with sorrow-filled eyes. "Kai… why?" Those were his last words as Black Dranzer struck him head-on, throwing him off a good distance. He hit the ground hard, blood pooling beneath his limp body.
"Hn. Weakling…"
The Red Phoenix woke up, his breathes turning into deep shallow gasps. After a few minutes, he began to calm down. "What kind of dream was that?" He asked no one in particular, running both hands through his hair. He placed an arm on his forehead, staring at the ceiling for no reason. "And more importantly, what does it mean?"
Just then, the look on Rei's face when he uttered his final words appeared in his mind. The White Tiger looked so confused and lost, almost vulnerable - as if he'll break with a gentle touch. Kai shook his head violently, "Stop haunting me!" He shut his eyes closed, clearing his mind. This is getting ridiculous, he thought to himself.
He opened his eyes again, and stared at the ceiling. Why can't I block that dream? It's not like it's going to happen soon or anything. It's just a dream, damn it! Yet, why can't I shake off this feeling? He turned to face the wall. This is too confusing…
Don't worry… my keeper… everything… will become clear… soon…
"Soon…" The boy murmured in a dazed tone, his eyes losing it's light. He rolled onto his back in a trance-like way, staring at the air.
And so it begins.
Shinzui: Whee! It's done! An' now lookie - I made it a lot weirder than the last! oO' I do hope you think it's better than the first… an'… Oh yeah! Would you like to meet my muse?!
??: Why do I even bother? Child's play…
Shinzui: Nyah! Come on! -drags him with her-
??: Unhand me, you fool!
Shinzui: Not--until--you--get out--of--my closet! -pulls him out completely- There, not that wasn't so bad. Eh, Black Dranzer? Bleh… name too long; I'll start calling yew Bk. Dee!
Black Dranzer: Spare me the insults, m'lady. You really need to go out once in a while.
Shinzui: Hmm… whatever. Anyways, he's the one who made me revise this… thing. An' he also gave me lots of inspiration… just by sitting there and annoying me. ^^ So… whee! I'll be back soon - if I ever find zeh time to write zeh next chappie. Well… ja!
