A LONG WAY DOWN
Evil Me: Oh stop squirming
Tyson: I can't help it. I'm ticklish!
Evil Me: (sliding black-blue marker into pocket) There you are two new eyebrows!
Kai: (snigger) Look in the mirror Ty! (passes Mirror)
Tyson: What the! AHHHH! I look like a mime
Rei: funny you should mention that...because guess what this fallen angel guy summoned
Evil One: Right! That's it you're putting up with Mariah!
Rei: No! Please No! I won't tell them!
Evil One: just as well.
(A mime scampers out from a door behind Kai. He turns, sees it and leaps into Tysons arms with a squeal)
Evil Me: Psycho Grandparents and Evil Vampire bladers he can handle, mimes and he becomes a girl scout (Snaps fingers and the mime is crushed by a samba band playing their drums) Happy?
Tyson: I think he is...
Evil Me: I'm going back to my drawing board. On with the fic!
======
'So any news on Kai?' Lydia asked. Kenny shook his head as they walked towards the hospital. 'Well let's hope something happens for the better' Lydia murmured. 'And how's Rei?'
'Staying on my couch' Max said. 'He's not gotten over losing Driger'
'Who would?' mumbled Lydia. 'Losing a bit-beast? Its horrible.'
Kenny opened Dizzi. Her incessant beeping had finally gotten his attention. 'Yeah what is it Dizzi?' he grumbled.
'Oh well someone's in a cranky mood, I won't tell you what I found out about the missing team Greece member.' Dizzi said with an audible sniff. Kenny, Lydia and Max crowded around the laptop with babbles of apology for the computer bound bit-beast. 'All right here's what I have. We know the missing team Greece member is a woman, uses a bit beast Gorgon, and was the team strategist for the Greeks. And she actually orchestrated a plan the brought down the Swiss team last year. She was originally from Russia but her mother was Greek.lastly I ran a search for anything else.she quit the team way back when and hasn't been heard from since, but they believe she had a disagreement with the team captain. A virus a very convenient virus deleted her file.after she left. And that's all she wrote'
'Thanks Dizzi' murmured Kenny. 'So, Ms Medusa was on the Greek team. Dizzi should keep checking for stuff about her.a name would be nice. And why she started stealing bit-beasts too.'
He was cut off by max shouting "Hey" at someone. It was Freddy Sark down the road that was the target. He was laughing at a crying boy. There was a messed up blade at the kid's knees. Freddy was a bully who preyed on beginners just to feel superior. Max raced up and knelt down by the kid.
'Are you okay?' hje asked.
'He wrecked my blade!' whimpered the boy. 'And I just put it together today!'
'That was mean' Lydia said. She looked as imposing as a small white rabbit, dressed in blue dungaree shorts, pink t-shirt, pink tights and pink and white sneakers with her hair in pigtails.
'Oh yeah think you can take me Four eyes?' Freddy sneered. Since coming to town he had picked up a huge attitude that someone would burst.hopefully soon. If not he'd go on giving women and small kids a hard time. Simply because: he deemed them worse then him.
'I resent that remark' Kenny said. He stood strong even when Freddy's huge body pressed at him. Kenny hadn't grown much since his 16th birthday. His hair was still as messy as ever and he wore the glasses. But since Mariah and Emily had last visited his wardrobe had gotten more fashionable. No more ties or childish shorts.
'Challenge one of us' Lydia said. 'If we win you turn over your launcher and blade to me.'
Freddy looked at her and his eyes settled on the launcher tucked into her back pocket. 'Sure thing four-eyes he snipped, lets go for it.how about a nice game, you and me?'
'Hey!' Kenny cut in. 'Don't pick on her you jerk, pick me or Max!'
'You two are pro' Freddy snapped. 'I'll take you on after I beat her'. His voice wavered and the small crowd that had grown since he'd beaten the kid continued to grow with that unsurety in the bully.
'I thought you said you didn't blade anymore' whispered Kenny.
'I haven't in a long time she replied taking out her palm pilot and tapping the screen with the electronic pen. 'But its like riding a bike.if you fall off it hurts but you never really forget how.' Kenny looked at her and mumbled good luck. She snorted and laughed and gave him a playful shove.
======The Hospital=====
Tyson was worried now, he hadn't thought he would be, school and daytime TV had told him that coma's were risky to people.but he was scared to the verge of insanity with this case. With Kai so.lifeless before him. 'Kai' he breathed. 'Please come to.please wake up for me.for the team.Gods I mean for me.There is so much I have to tell you and show you and let you in on. I want you in my life so bad it hurts sometimes. I.I can't believe I said that.I mean it.but I amn't and you aren't.I don't like.I am.' Tyson babbled as he netted his fingers with Kai's.
He ran the backs of his fingers along Kai's cheek. The paint was gone, no longer there on the pale face. Without it.Kai looked so.pretty. 'Who I can't believe I associated Pretty with you Kai. You'd kill me for that. I guess in a way I am just lying to myself. Kai, I can't deny that you're different.I date girls but I never feel anything other then the---the fact I'm dating. I want someone who's strong and not hypnotized by the fact I'm famous.I know you're probably a straight arrow and I think I am to.I mean I amn't sure.but I want to know you're there for me and the team and we're always there for you.because if I was.that way.and I needed someone to talk to I'd want it to be you even if you think I'm annoying and a pig. Don't worry I wouldn't expect you to be a gentle shoulder to cry on. You know how it is, guys don't like guys and I'm just making stuff up about myself.'
Tyson paced himself and took a deep breath. 'Okay, look I just want to say I don't know what road I'm taking, who I'll be with in the future.but I want you in an active role in it. Because you are the Yin to my Yang and I think you give me the balance I need for life. So.just stick around.come on don't do a sleeping beauty. Because then I'll have to kiss---you'.
Tyson froze on that line. Not just because he'd said it, but also because he'd felt Kai squeeze his hand. He looked down as the boy gave a groan and opened his dark red eyes. 'Tyson?'
'Kai' gasped Tyson. He couldn't hold it in he wrapped his arms around Kai and crushed him against his body. 'Man you are such a jerk for worrying us like that!'
'What happened?' Kai breathed running a hand through his hair. 'Where am I?' his eyes widened. 'Dranzer?'
Tyson put his hands on his friends shoulders and looked into his eyes. Burgundy met Azure as they gazed into one another. 'She got away with him' Tyson said. 'Last night she lured Rei away from us.and took away Driger.she's after us Kai.I can feel it'.
'I felt it Tyson.I felt her tear him away.But I felt.when I was in the dark I saw things.I saw Driger being taken and there was.a rose.a white rose that felt so familiar.'
Tyson's sharp intake of breath drew his eyes to his face once more. 'There was a white rose and a card'
He handed them to Kai from their place on the bedside cabinet. Kai looked at the card and squinted at the scribble on the back. 'Remember the Rose Garden? What's that supposed to mean?'
'I was expecting you to know' Tyson murmured. 'I think Ms Medusa left it.and the entire point behind "Remember" is that you're supposed to know what its all about'.
Kai shook his head its familiar blues shining under the light. 'I need to get discharged ASAP, I have to find Dranzer.' He paused as he heard the cheering from outside. 'What's that? Tyson there's a pair of spectator binoculars in by bag, get them over please'
'He said please' grinned Tyson as he took the dark binoculars from the bag. 'I should give him a commemorative plaque'
'I can hear you Tyson' Kai said as he rose and walked onto the balcony of his room. 'It looks like a blade battle. Max, Lydia and Kenny are there.it's against Freddy Sark. Holy crap! He's picking on Lydia! Tyson get down there she can't battle him, if she loses he'll never let her forget it!'
Tyson was pretty impressed by how Lydia had made an impression on them since Kai's accident. She was gutsy and had made a schedule for them to go and see him, even organized for Tyson to get a spare bed for Kai to sleep on. Kai shared an apartment with Rei near Max's house and with Rei in such a bad state Tyson meant to ask Kai to stay.
=====Outside==== 'Are you sure you can do this?' Kenny asked as Lydia tapped on her palm pad. 'He's got a bit beast called Radabolg.'
'Indeed' a posh British voice chimed in. 'Quite a weak one though, a rhinoceros like being that attacks with its special attack tyrannical trample.It belongs in a joke shop for all the damage it could do to something like Dragoon or Draciel.'
'Who said that?' Max murmured. Lydia was busy opening the back of her palm pilot.
'Dryassius' she replied. She calmly removed something from the back of her palm pilot and slotted it onto her bit beast. Kenny's eyes widened.
'That's a bit beast!' he breathed.
'Yeah' she said. 'I haven't used him in years.but he's always been there.'
She loaded it into her launcher and looked at the boys. 'It's been a while' she said. 'But I know how to handle this jerk'.
'3.2.1.LET HER RIP!' Freddy and Lydia unleashed the blades all at once. Lydia's blade was blue red and gold with regal appearance. 'Here we go' Lydia said.
Kenny watched the blades bounce back and forth sending sparks flying. Lydia was watching with a nervous confidence.well after that oxymoron he decided to just say she was unsure. 'Umm.Dryassius! Try.try the striking spin!' The blade spun around in a circle, surrounding Freddy's blade and curving in to strike it at regular intervals. Freddy's blade manoeuvred to try and catch her in the arena in the park. 'Okay.how about.the dashing rabbit?' Lydia suggested.
The blade shot off and was followed by Freddy's blade. It was spinning with a faint whirr as it chased Lydia's around the ring and abruptly her blade snapped backwards slamming into Freddy's blade. He roared in anger. 'Radabolg! Now!'
The bright red glow burst upwards as the rhinoceros appeared. Its heavy body was plated with dark coloured armour in red and blue. Its horn was excessively long and its eyes burned black. It looked pretty tough.but looks were deceiving.
'Okay.umm.if you're planning on making an appearance Dryassius n-now would be nice!' Lydia exclaimed in her rather high-pitched voice. And it began. Her blade glowed like the aurora borealis as it dodged around Freddy's blade. The light rose into the air and a shape appeared. It was a human shape.well that was until the wings appeared the six narrow feathery shapes snapped out with a crack like a whip. Its short hair was platinum in colour and its eyes reflected the moon. The robes were silvery coloured with black spots. It held a staff in its hands. 'I guess. you should try.the Eclipse Velocity?' Lydia murmured.
Dryassius turned the gaze on her and it gave a noble bow as it raised the staff, the sunlight glinted off the crystal on the top and it brought it down. Radabolg vanished in a burst of light and Dryassius floated on its own as the blade stopped moving. Lydia hoped up and down giggling. 'I did it! I did it!'
Freddy was quivering in shock. 'W-w-what.how did she do that?' he gasped. Lydia picked up her blade and removed the bit-beast to put it into her palm pilot. She looked at Freddy who was on his knees staring at the slightly smouldering blade that he had used to bully people. The palm pilot leapt into life. 'Oh my aching head' sighed the English accent from the palm pilot. 'It's been a while, I forgot how much the attacks can drain a spirit.'
Lydia looked at the kid. 'Freddy the blade please' she said in an infirm tone. He handed it over and she gave it to the boy. 'Every bit beast has to grow and develop teach this one and you'll go far.' She walked out of the park with a silent Kenny and Max as the crowd cheered at Freddy's defeat.
'That was impressive' Tyson said. They looked at him. 'I didn't know you had a bit beast'. Lydia giggled and snorted again as was her style. She straightened her glasses.
'I usually just let him live in my palm pad.he's a bit cocky but he picked up an English accent from watching too much James Bond' she tapped the palm pilot. 'And that unfortunate "English Channel", if I needed to eat I would be having tea and Crumpets.'
'Wow someone's refined' Dizzi said. 'Tea and crumpets what are you?'
'Someone who watched "My Fair Lady" too much' was the reply.
'Dry is a bit sarcastic' explained Lydia. 'He's always been that way. But he's very clever.like Drizarana.Dizzi'.
'I'm flattered' Dizzi piped up. 'So, are we going to visit Kai yet?'
'He's awake' Tyson said with a grin. 'He came to a few seconds ago. He's watching from his balcony, he actually had binoculars! He told me to come down and.ehh.'
'Protect Lydia from getting thrashed?' Max guessed. Tyson looked at her sheepishly. She just smiled and gave him a friendly hug.
'I'm flattered you all cared enough to try.I kinda miss my team sometimes' she sighed.
'Team?' Kenny exclaimed. 'What team?'
'I was on a Team in my old school' Lydia shrugged. 'The Titanium Twisters.so when did Kai wake up?'
'About fifteen minutes ago' Kai said. 'The doctors should be looking at him by now. He's going to hate that!' he gave a grin of mischief thinking about how Kai would react to the doctors prodding him and poking him. He could see the red eyed boy sitting on the beg arms crossed and a disgruntled look on his face as the doctors nudged and jabbed him with their devices. Lydia looked at the boy. 'Hey you guys go on ahead, have a chat with your team-mate, that kid might need a few titbits about his bit beast. Right Dry?'
'Indubitably' Dry chirped as Lydia waved and walked back into the park.
'She's pretty cool' Max said. 'She's like.the only female blader I've met who isn't nosey and overly perky or cocky and a know-it-all. That's Mariah and Emily right there'.
Tyson and Kenny looked at Lydia as she vanished into the park. She really was a good person.
===Max's house===
Mr Tate paused as he heard the metal bounce off the floor. A can of some sort that must have toppled off the recycling pile in the garage. He really shouldn't have let them get so tall, in fact he should probably take them to the recycling plant. He stepped out of the door and walked along to the garage door. He heard the footsteps behind the door and grabbed a hammer from nearby. 'Is someone in there?'
The footsteps were sharp.yeah definitely someone in heels. A woman? Or a cross dresser? He didn't have a problem with cross dressers, he reminded himself. Just thieves. He tried to be tolerant but thieves got him really angry, and someone with his proportions was not to be made angry.
'Is anyone here?' he called.
'Just us vixens' purred a voice. The hard handle of the whip connected with his forehead gently but firmly. He collapsed forwards and landed on an old couch on his side. Ms Medusa strode through the kitchen into the living room holding her strapped sling back sandal heels in (A/N: Yes you guessed it) white leather. Her white snakeskin trousers shimmered and her matching belts platinum buckle shone as brightly. Her top was a see- through white material that showed her silver tank top off beneath it and stopped just above the midriff she seemed to love exposing. Her hair was covering one eye again, the purple and green gaze sweeping the room to rest on the shivering figure of Rei.
'It's not my fault you know, this is just the way things are' she sighed laying the rose onto the palm dangling over the edge of the couch and closing the fingers tightly. 'You should really learn that the best things in life are always taken for granted. don't worry one day you'll know what this is all about.'
She paused and placed another white rose on the table and added a card. 'Dasvidanya' she added with a purr and in the whisper of a breeze she was gone.
===Tyson's house===
'The doctors were pretty annoyed that you discharged yourself.and was it necessary to threaten so many people?'
'Yes' Kai replied as Tyson lead him into the spare room. 'So.does this place have a floor or is it a wonder of what old things can do with the glue-effect of dust?' The room was covered in old magazines and objects his grandfather hadn't bothered to get rid of.
'Oh man' Tyson said. 'The only spare room and its buried by eighty tons of trash. Gramps needs to learn the principle of spring cleaning.' He kicked an old spring across the room. 'Literally'
'I can go to my apartment' Kai shrugged. 'Rei mightn't be there.but I don't see any point in leaving it empty when I am well enough to sleep there.'
'You'll stay in my room' Tyson said firmly. 'I'll move the fold out bed in and sleep on it, you can sleep in my bed'.
'Tyson you don't have to, I can go back to my apartment' Kai said as he moved to leave, Tyson firmly grabbed his arm and dragged him to his room across the hall.
'You'll stay here until the doctors say you're well enough to be on your own and Rei is better.' Tyson said firmly. Kai grabbed the doorway with the arm his bag was on. 'Kai don't be such.a.prick!'
Tyson gave a firm tug and Kai shot at him, losing his grip. He fell straight into Tyson's arms his strong body lying against the athletic build of Tyson. Tyson shivered against the boy. He slowly gripped Kai's shoulders and pulled him back feeling feathery breaths on his neck and across his lips as he straightened Kai up. He looked into the red eyes that seemed hazy compared to the usual glare. Tyson didn't know why, but he was going with the flow he thought he didn't want to follow. He was leaning closer to Kai's mouth.was Kai leaning in too? He was so close to the lips.the ones that had more often then not been insulting him or shouting.
'Hey! Little Dude! Max is on the phone!'
His grandfather's voice jolted the pair apart. Tyson was breathing heavily, Kai was flushed and breathless. 'I'm coming!' Tyson called as he hurried from the room and took the phone. 'Hi Max.what? WHAT! ? Is he okay? And Rei? She left a what? Okay.Calm down I'm on my way over.'
'What happened?' Kai asked scaring Tyson by his abrupt presence.
'It's.Ms Medusa was at Max's house. She knocked his dad out and left a rose with Rei but she left a second one. for Max.'
'Let's go' Kai said. 'She's getting far ahead of herself if she thinks we'll lie down and take this'.
Tyson nodded and pulled on his shoes. 'Let's go!' he said. The pair rushed out.
Ms Medusa balanced on the top of the roof watching them carefully as they ran away. She leapt and landed on the street into a stride like she was on a catwalk.
===The dojo===
Grandpa paused in the middle of his kendo practice with the sound of scraping on the screens. Nails or claws of some sort against them, and a gentle humming. It sounded like.that song "Stuck" by Stacie Orrico. He frowned. 'Yo! Anyone there?'
'Just us vixens' the girl said as she sliced a hole in the screens that was exactly her shape. 'Heya grandpa' she grinned.
'Who are you?'
The girl was dressed in white, white jeans, a white shirt that was tied up behind her neck by a gold ring. Her belt was loose on her hips and she wore leather gauntlets with gold studs on them. Her boots were white leather as well. She tossed her red-brown hair and smiled at him, her sallow skin was flawless. 'My name's Ms Medusa.I know you know the name'
The whip cracked and dragged a Kendo stick to her hands. 'You're going to challenge me?'
'In a word? Yes' she said. 'But go easy, I'm a naïve seventeen year old.'
Grandpa looked her over. 'Ms Medusa? Well if that don't beat all. You beat Kai and Rei'
Ms Medusa swatted the air. 'Oh you are a flatterer.' And abruptly she attacked. Grandpa caught the swift hack with his own stick but left himself open to a firm kick to the ribs. He stumbled back and expertly dodged her next strikes as quickly as he could. She somersaulted backwards and caught his hack. 'My we are a youngster at heart' she smirked. She clubbed him in the knee and kicked both her feet into his stomach knocking him backwards. He raised his wooden blade as she gripped something jutting from her hip. The whip cracked and snared his wrist forcing him to drop the sword.
'This is the end' she cackled. 'Oh! I sound so evil'. She released his arm from the whip and lashed again catching him around the neck and hauling him in close as she ran her hands along the leather of the whip and grabbed the handle again to crack it on his forehead. He slumped unconscious. 'Like cool it big dude' she said in Grandpas voice.
TBC
Rei: She got Grandpa?
Tyson: Hey Medusa! Hold it ya Gorgon!
evil One: You didn't see it! (Tyson passes out from magic) Now, look at my latest evil bit beast creation...it's...
(Shape rises fromt he smoking pit)
Rei: Dear GODS!
Kai: You're evil incarnate...
Evil One: Yeah, I wasn't always...but hey things change...
Kai: You created...ugh! Triple H in a dress! Oh Dear Lord!
HHH: I will crush you all (flexes)
Evil Me: Okay even I have limits to optical torture...(snaps fingers and HHH reappears in the middle of a ballgown match) Now, about the next chapter... I may add in kisses...I like to draw the kisses out. but I mentioned it this time...
Kai: Please! Please! PLEASE!
Evil Me: well, since you're grovelling...maybe...a sincere maybe...as sincere as a soulless hellspawn can be... Oh END THIS FIC CHAPTER!
Evil Me: Oh stop squirming
Tyson: I can't help it. I'm ticklish!
Evil Me: (sliding black-blue marker into pocket) There you are two new eyebrows!
Kai: (snigger) Look in the mirror Ty! (passes Mirror)
Tyson: What the! AHHHH! I look like a mime
Rei: funny you should mention that...because guess what this fallen angel guy summoned
Evil One: Right! That's it you're putting up with Mariah!
Rei: No! Please No! I won't tell them!
Evil One: just as well.
(A mime scampers out from a door behind Kai. He turns, sees it and leaps into Tysons arms with a squeal)
Evil Me: Psycho Grandparents and Evil Vampire bladers he can handle, mimes and he becomes a girl scout (Snaps fingers and the mime is crushed by a samba band playing their drums) Happy?
Tyson: I think he is...
Evil Me: I'm going back to my drawing board. On with the fic!
======
'So any news on Kai?' Lydia asked. Kenny shook his head as they walked towards the hospital. 'Well let's hope something happens for the better' Lydia murmured. 'And how's Rei?'
'Staying on my couch' Max said. 'He's not gotten over losing Driger'
'Who would?' mumbled Lydia. 'Losing a bit-beast? Its horrible.'
Kenny opened Dizzi. Her incessant beeping had finally gotten his attention. 'Yeah what is it Dizzi?' he grumbled.
'Oh well someone's in a cranky mood, I won't tell you what I found out about the missing team Greece member.' Dizzi said with an audible sniff. Kenny, Lydia and Max crowded around the laptop with babbles of apology for the computer bound bit-beast. 'All right here's what I have. We know the missing team Greece member is a woman, uses a bit beast Gorgon, and was the team strategist for the Greeks. And she actually orchestrated a plan the brought down the Swiss team last year. She was originally from Russia but her mother was Greek.lastly I ran a search for anything else.she quit the team way back when and hasn't been heard from since, but they believe she had a disagreement with the team captain. A virus a very convenient virus deleted her file.after she left. And that's all she wrote'
'Thanks Dizzi' murmured Kenny. 'So, Ms Medusa was on the Greek team. Dizzi should keep checking for stuff about her.a name would be nice. And why she started stealing bit-beasts too.'
He was cut off by max shouting "Hey" at someone. It was Freddy Sark down the road that was the target. He was laughing at a crying boy. There was a messed up blade at the kid's knees. Freddy was a bully who preyed on beginners just to feel superior. Max raced up and knelt down by the kid.
'Are you okay?' hje asked.
'He wrecked my blade!' whimpered the boy. 'And I just put it together today!'
'That was mean' Lydia said. She looked as imposing as a small white rabbit, dressed in blue dungaree shorts, pink t-shirt, pink tights and pink and white sneakers with her hair in pigtails.
'Oh yeah think you can take me Four eyes?' Freddy sneered. Since coming to town he had picked up a huge attitude that someone would burst.hopefully soon. If not he'd go on giving women and small kids a hard time. Simply because: he deemed them worse then him.
'I resent that remark' Kenny said. He stood strong even when Freddy's huge body pressed at him. Kenny hadn't grown much since his 16th birthday. His hair was still as messy as ever and he wore the glasses. But since Mariah and Emily had last visited his wardrobe had gotten more fashionable. No more ties or childish shorts.
'Challenge one of us' Lydia said. 'If we win you turn over your launcher and blade to me.'
Freddy looked at her and his eyes settled on the launcher tucked into her back pocket. 'Sure thing four-eyes he snipped, lets go for it.how about a nice game, you and me?'
'Hey!' Kenny cut in. 'Don't pick on her you jerk, pick me or Max!'
'You two are pro' Freddy snapped. 'I'll take you on after I beat her'. His voice wavered and the small crowd that had grown since he'd beaten the kid continued to grow with that unsurety in the bully.
'I thought you said you didn't blade anymore' whispered Kenny.
'I haven't in a long time she replied taking out her palm pilot and tapping the screen with the electronic pen. 'But its like riding a bike.if you fall off it hurts but you never really forget how.' Kenny looked at her and mumbled good luck. She snorted and laughed and gave him a playful shove.
======The Hospital=====
Tyson was worried now, he hadn't thought he would be, school and daytime TV had told him that coma's were risky to people.but he was scared to the verge of insanity with this case. With Kai so.lifeless before him. 'Kai' he breathed. 'Please come to.please wake up for me.for the team.Gods I mean for me.There is so much I have to tell you and show you and let you in on. I want you in my life so bad it hurts sometimes. I.I can't believe I said that.I mean it.but I amn't and you aren't.I don't like.I am.' Tyson babbled as he netted his fingers with Kai's.
He ran the backs of his fingers along Kai's cheek. The paint was gone, no longer there on the pale face. Without it.Kai looked so.pretty. 'Who I can't believe I associated Pretty with you Kai. You'd kill me for that. I guess in a way I am just lying to myself. Kai, I can't deny that you're different.I date girls but I never feel anything other then the---the fact I'm dating. I want someone who's strong and not hypnotized by the fact I'm famous.I know you're probably a straight arrow and I think I am to.I mean I amn't sure.but I want to know you're there for me and the team and we're always there for you.because if I was.that way.and I needed someone to talk to I'd want it to be you even if you think I'm annoying and a pig. Don't worry I wouldn't expect you to be a gentle shoulder to cry on. You know how it is, guys don't like guys and I'm just making stuff up about myself.'
Tyson paced himself and took a deep breath. 'Okay, look I just want to say I don't know what road I'm taking, who I'll be with in the future.but I want you in an active role in it. Because you are the Yin to my Yang and I think you give me the balance I need for life. So.just stick around.come on don't do a sleeping beauty. Because then I'll have to kiss---you'.
Tyson froze on that line. Not just because he'd said it, but also because he'd felt Kai squeeze his hand. He looked down as the boy gave a groan and opened his dark red eyes. 'Tyson?'
'Kai' gasped Tyson. He couldn't hold it in he wrapped his arms around Kai and crushed him against his body. 'Man you are such a jerk for worrying us like that!'
'What happened?' Kai breathed running a hand through his hair. 'Where am I?' his eyes widened. 'Dranzer?'
Tyson put his hands on his friends shoulders and looked into his eyes. Burgundy met Azure as they gazed into one another. 'She got away with him' Tyson said. 'Last night she lured Rei away from us.and took away Driger.she's after us Kai.I can feel it'.
'I felt it Tyson.I felt her tear him away.But I felt.when I was in the dark I saw things.I saw Driger being taken and there was.a rose.a white rose that felt so familiar.'
Tyson's sharp intake of breath drew his eyes to his face once more. 'There was a white rose and a card'
He handed them to Kai from their place on the bedside cabinet. Kai looked at the card and squinted at the scribble on the back. 'Remember the Rose Garden? What's that supposed to mean?'
'I was expecting you to know' Tyson murmured. 'I think Ms Medusa left it.and the entire point behind "Remember" is that you're supposed to know what its all about'.
Kai shook his head its familiar blues shining under the light. 'I need to get discharged ASAP, I have to find Dranzer.' He paused as he heard the cheering from outside. 'What's that? Tyson there's a pair of spectator binoculars in by bag, get them over please'
'He said please' grinned Tyson as he took the dark binoculars from the bag. 'I should give him a commemorative plaque'
'I can hear you Tyson' Kai said as he rose and walked onto the balcony of his room. 'It looks like a blade battle. Max, Lydia and Kenny are there.it's against Freddy Sark. Holy crap! He's picking on Lydia! Tyson get down there she can't battle him, if she loses he'll never let her forget it!'
Tyson was pretty impressed by how Lydia had made an impression on them since Kai's accident. She was gutsy and had made a schedule for them to go and see him, even organized for Tyson to get a spare bed for Kai to sleep on. Kai shared an apartment with Rei near Max's house and with Rei in such a bad state Tyson meant to ask Kai to stay.
=====Outside==== 'Are you sure you can do this?' Kenny asked as Lydia tapped on her palm pad. 'He's got a bit beast called Radabolg.'
'Indeed' a posh British voice chimed in. 'Quite a weak one though, a rhinoceros like being that attacks with its special attack tyrannical trample.It belongs in a joke shop for all the damage it could do to something like Dragoon or Draciel.'
'Who said that?' Max murmured. Lydia was busy opening the back of her palm pilot.
'Dryassius' she replied. She calmly removed something from the back of her palm pilot and slotted it onto her bit beast. Kenny's eyes widened.
'That's a bit beast!' he breathed.
'Yeah' she said. 'I haven't used him in years.but he's always been there.'
She loaded it into her launcher and looked at the boys. 'It's been a while' she said. 'But I know how to handle this jerk'.
'3.2.1.LET HER RIP!' Freddy and Lydia unleashed the blades all at once. Lydia's blade was blue red and gold with regal appearance. 'Here we go' Lydia said.
Kenny watched the blades bounce back and forth sending sparks flying. Lydia was watching with a nervous confidence.well after that oxymoron he decided to just say she was unsure. 'Umm.Dryassius! Try.try the striking spin!' The blade spun around in a circle, surrounding Freddy's blade and curving in to strike it at regular intervals. Freddy's blade manoeuvred to try and catch her in the arena in the park. 'Okay.how about.the dashing rabbit?' Lydia suggested.
The blade shot off and was followed by Freddy's blade. It was spinning with a faint whirr as it chased Lydia's around the ring and abruptly her blade snapped backwards slamming into Freddy's blade. He roared in anger. 'Radabolg! Now!'
The bright red glow burst upwards as the rhinoceros appeared. Its heavy body was plated with dark coloured armour in red and blue. Its horn was excessively long and its eyes burned black. It looked pretty tough.but looks were deceiving.
'Okay.umm.if you're planning on making an appearance Dryassius n-now would be nice!' Lydia exclaimed in her rather high-pitched voice. And it began. Her blade glowed like the aurora borealis as it dodged around Freddy's blade. The light rose into the air and a shape appeared. It was a human shape.well that was until the wings appeared the six narrow feathery shapes snapped out with a crack like a whip. Its short hair was platinum in colour and its eyes reflected the moon. The robes were silvery coloured with black spots. It held a staff in its hands. 'I guess. you should try.the Eclipse Velocity?' Lydia murmured.
Dryassius turned the gaze on her and it gave a noble bow as it raised the staff, the sunlight glinted off the crystal on the top and it brought it down. Radabolg vanished in a burst of light and Dryassius floated on its own as the blade stopped moving. Lydia hoped up and down giggling. 'I did it! I did it!'
Freddy was quivering in shock. 'W-w-what.how did she do that?' he gasped. Lydia picked up her blade and removed the bit-beast to put it into her palm pilot. She looked at Freddy who was on his knees staring at the slightly smouldering blade that he had used to bully people. The palm pilot leapt into life. 'Oh my aching head' sighed the English accent from the palm pilot. 'It's been a while, I forgot how much the attacks can drain a spirit.'
Lydia looked at the kid. 'Freddy the blade please' she said in an infirm tone. He handed it over and she gave it to the boy. 'Every bit beast has to grow and develop teach this one and you'll go far.' She walked out of the park with a silent Kenny and Max as the crowd cheered at Freddy's defeat.
'That was impressive' Tyson said. They looked at him. 'I didn't know you had a bit beast'. Lydia giggled and snorted again as was her style. She straightened her glasses.
'I usually just let him live in my palm pad.he's a bit cocky but he picked up an English accent from watching too much James Bond' she tapped the palm pilot. 'And that unfortunate "English Channel", if I needed to eat I would be having tea and Crumpets.'
'Wow someone's refined' Dizzi said. 'Tea and crumpets what are you?'
'Someone who watched "My Fair Lady" too much' was the reply.
'Dry is a bit sarcastic' explained Lydia. 'He's always been that way. But he's very clever.like Drizarana.Dizzi'.
'I'm flattered' Dizzi piped up. 'So, are we going to visit Kai yet?'
'He's awake' Tyson said with a grin. 'He came to a few seconds ago. He's watching from his balcony, he actually had binoculars! He told me to come down and.ehh.'
'Protect Lydia from getting thrashed?' Max guessed. Tyson looked at her sheepishly. She just smiled and gave him a friendly hug.
'I'm flattered you all cared enough to try.I kinda miss my team sometimes' she sighed.
'Team?' Kenny exclaimed. 'What team?'
'I was on a Team in my old school' Lydia shrugged. 'The Titanium Twisters.so when did Kai wake up?'
'About fifteen minutes ago' Kai said. 'The doctors should be looking at him by now. He's going to hate that!' he gave a grin of mischief thinking about how Kai would react to the doctors prodding him and poking him. He could see the red eyed boy sitting on the beg arms crossed and a disgruntled look on his face as the doctors nudged and jabbed him with their devices. Lydia looked at the boy. 'Hey you guys go on ahead, have a chat with your team-mate, that kid might need a few titbits about his bit beast. Right Dry?'
'Indubitably' Dry chirped as Lydia waved and walked back into the park.
'She's pretty cool' Max said. 'She's like.the only female blader I've met who isn't nosey and overly perky or cocky and a know-it-all. That's Mariah and Emily right there'.
Tyson and Kenny looked at Lydia as she vanished into the park. She really was a good person.
===Max's house===
Mr Tate paused as he heard the metal bounce off the floor. A can of some sort that must have toppled off the recycling pile in the garage. He really shouldn't have let them get so tall, in fact he should probably take them to the recycling plant. He stepped out of the door and walked along to the garage door. He heard the footsteps behind the door and grabbed a hammer from nearby. 'Is someone in there?'
The footsteps were sharp.yeah definitely someone in heels. A woman? Or a cross dresser? He didn't have a problem with cross dressers, he reminded himself. Just thieves. He tried to be tolerant but thieves got him really angry, and someone with his proportions was not to be made angry.
'Is anyone here?' he called.
'Just us vixens' purred a voice. The hard handle of the whip connected with his forehead gently but firmly. He collapsed forwards and landed on an old couch on his side. Ms Medusa strode through the kitchen into the living room holding her strapped sling back sandal heels in (A/N: Yes you guessed it) white leather. Her white snakeskin trousers shimmered and her matching belts platinum buckle shone as brightly. Her top was a see- through white material that showed her silver tank top off beneath it and stopped just above the midriff she seemed to love exposing. Her hair was covering one eye again, the purple and green gaze sweeping the room to rest on the shivering figure of Rei.
'It's not my fault you know, this is just the way things are' she sighed laying the rose onto the palm dangling over the edge of the couch and closing the fingers tightly. 'You should really learn that the best things in life are always taken for granted. don't worry one day you'll know what this is all about.'
She paused and placed another white rose on the table and added a card. 'Dasvidanya' she added with a purr and in the whisper of a breeze she was gone.
===Tyson's house===
'The doctors were pretty annoyed that you discharged yourself.and was it necessary to threaten so many people?'
'Yes' Kai replied as Tyson lead him into the spare room. 'So.does this place have a floor or is it a wonder of what old things can do with the glue-effect of dust?' The room was covered in old magazines and objects his grandfather hadn't bothered to get rid of.
'Oh man' Tyson said. 'The only spare room and its buried by eighty tons of trash. Gramps needs to learn the principle of spring cleaning.' He kicked an old spring across the room. 'Literally'
'I can go to my apartment' Kai shrugged. 'Rei mightn't be there.but I don't see any point in leaving it empty when I am well enough to sleep there.'
'You'll stay in my room' Tyson said firmly. 'I'll move the fold out bed in and sleep on it, you can sleep in my bed'.
'Tyson you don't have to, I can go back to my apartment' Kai said as he moved to leave, Tyson firmly grabbed his arm and dragged him to his room across the hall.
'You'll stay here until the doctors say you're well enough to be on your own and Rei is better.' Tyson said firmly. Kai grabbed the doorway with the arm his bag was on. 'Kai don't be such.a.prick!'
Tyson gave a firm tug and Kai shot at him, losing his grip. He fell straight into Tyson's arms his strong body lying against the athletic build of Tyson. Tyson shivered against the boy. He slowly gripped Kai's shoulders and pulled him back feeling feathery breaths on his neck and across his lips as he straightened Kai up. He looked into the red eyes that seemed hazy compared to the usual glare. Tyson didn't know why, but he was going with the flow he thought he didn't want to follow. He was leaning closer to Kai's mouth.was Kai leaning in too? He was so close to the lips.the ones that had more often then not been insulting him or shouting.
'Hey! Little Dude! Max is on the phone!'
His grandfather's voice jolted the pair apart. Tyson was breathing heavily, Kai was flushed and breathless. 'I'm coming!' Tyson called as he hurried from the room and took the phone. 'Hi Max.what? WHAT! ? Is he okay? And Rei? She left a what? Okay.Calm down I'm on my way over.'
'What happened?' Kai asked scaring Tyson by his abrupt presence.
'It's.Ms Medusa was at Max's house. She knocked his dad out and left a rose with Rei but she left a second one. for Max.'
'Let's go' Kai said. 'She's getting far ahead of herself if she thinks we'll lie down and take this'.
Tyson nodded and pulled on his shoes. 'Let's go!' he said. The pair rushed out.
Ms Medusa balanced on the top of the roof watching them carefully as they ran away. She leapt and landed on the street into a stride like she was on a catwalk.
===The dojo===
Grandpa paused in the middle of his kendo practice with the sound of scraping on the screens. Nails or claws of some sort against them, and a gentle humming. It sounded like.that song "Stuck" by Stacie Orrico. He frowned. 'Yo! Anyone there?'
'Just us vixens' the girl said as she sliced a hole in the screens that was exactly her shape. 'Heya grandpa' she grinned.
'Who are you?'
The girl was dressed in white, white jeans, a white shirt that was tied up behind her neck by a gold ring. Her belt was loose on her hips and she wore leather gauntlets with gold studs on them. Her boots were white leather as well. She tossed her red-brown hair and smiled at him, her sallow skin was flawless. 'My name's Ms Medusa.I know you know the name'
The whip cracked and dragged a Kendo stick to her hands. 'You're going to challenge me?'
'In a word? Yes' she said. 'But go easy, I'm a naïve seventeen year old.'
Grandpa looked her over. 'Ms Medusa? Well if that don't beat all. You beat Kai and Rei'
Ms Medusa swatted the air. 'Oh you are a flatterer.' And abruptly she attacked. Grandpa caught the swift hack with his own stick but left himself open to a firm kick to the ribs. He stumbled back and expertly dodged her next strikes as quickly as he could. She somersaulted backwards and caught his hack. 'My we are a youngster at heart' she smirked. She clubbed him in the knee and kicked both her feet into his stomach knocking him backwards. He raised his wooden blade as she gripped something jutting from her hip. The whip cracked and snared his wrist forcing him to drop the sword.
'This is the end' she cackled. 'Oh! I sound so evil'. She released his arm from the whip and lashed again catching him around the neck and hauling him in close as she ran her hands along the leather of the whip and grabbed the handle again to crack it on his forehead. He slumped unconscious. 'Like cool it big dude' she said in Grandpas voice.
TBC
Rei: She got Grandpa?
Tyson: Hey Medusa! Hold it ya Gorgon!
evil One: You didn't see it! (Tyson passes out from magic) Now, look at my latest evil bit beast creation...it's...
(Shape rises fromt he smoking pit)
Rei: Dear GODS!
Kai: You're evil incarnate...
Evil One: Yeah, I wasn't always...but hey things change...
Kai: You created...ugh! Triple H in a dress! Oh Dear Lord!
HHH: I will crush you all (flexes)
Evil Me: Okay even I have limits to optical torture...(snaps fingers and HHH reappears in the middle of a ballgown match) Now, about the next chapter... I may add in kisses...I like to draw the kisses out. but I mentioned it this time...
Kai: Please! Please! PLEASE!
Evil Me: well, since you're grovelling...maybe...a sincere maybe...as sincere as a soulless hellspawn can be... Oh END THIS FIC CHAPTER!
