Heyy ppls! Im still working on not making long authors notes, so yea. Lol. This chapter is…shit. It is, however, the chapter I figure everyone was waiting for. I am not proud of it at all. It sucks. I had writers block when I wrote it. Gosh, it really sucks! I am sooo sorry! OOC, bad grammar, bad plot, bad writing, shittyness, pure shit, rushed, I'm a lousy writer, etc. The only good news I have tho is that on one of my days off, I finished writing this whole storryyy. Lol. The next chapters are better. The actual story is twelve chapters long. And without further ado:
Ray: Moonlight Serenity doesn't own beyblade, anything by Nelly Furtado, "Snow White Queen", anything by Evanescence, and so on. She does own the people and places mentioned in previous disclaimers that she specified she owns, including Reevy Maymor, Felecia, and Jemma Katari.
Ray:…you know, I've noticed I've done the disclaimer for the last several chapters…hm…
Moonlight Serenity: alright, Disclaimer Boy, while you're at it, could you disclaim the chapter for me?
Kai: no, he can't. Because you (obviously by the shittyness) wrote it.
Moonlight Serenity: -sigh-
Kai: on with the fic!!!
(Note: italics is being an ass again, so there's a good chance something that needed to be, wasnt. please let me know if there is!!)
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Stage Name: Hiromi Tachibana
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"Kai, Hilary is your girlfriend?" Kai just looked back down at Tyson and the blunette girl leaning on the world champion's shoulder.
"Hn." That's all they got from the slate-haired Phoenix Prince. Kai put his strong arms around Hilary and led her off the dance floor and away from everyone.
Kenny sighed in exasperation.
"Well, this'll be on the front page as soon as press gets word." Max was shocked and agreed.
"Oh, yea."
"Fun." Tyson deadpanned the situation.
Chapter Ten:
The Truth about Our Snow White Queen
"Oh, God, Lawrence," A multi-colored-pinkette whispered through the midst of fighting off a break down, "This is bad," Lawrence put a comforting hand on his boss's back; sure she was annoying as hell, but she was his friend. The room was dimly lit with moonlight, justly helpingly set the dark and somber mood. Cindy Katimkae sat on a wooden chair at a nice table, and Lawrence Michaels leaned against a wall. The worst news came to them; and Good Lord, it was bad.
"I know," Mr. Michaels agreed. It spelled disaster, it spelled break-downs, it spelled so much… Cindy furiously mopped a few tears and began talking again.
"It's just…they caught him! They caught him! Two months later they caught him! And now, of all times, they choose to tell me he was released on good-behavior six months ago!? He was a f-cking murderer! He tried to kill her! He traumatized her!" Cindy went on an emotional fall-out tirade. Tears fell rapidly down her face. "Damn it. Damn it all," She muttered to herself, "I told her it was safe."
"Cind, it's okay; don't cry," Lawrence attempted to soothe the upset woman, whom was now cradling her face in her hands and rapidly wiping off tears. Lawrence didn't like the news either…. They watched the door open and a small Kimiko Katimikae wandered sleepily into the room.
"Momma?" the girl rubbed sleep from her eyes; it was late –one a.m.-"Momma? What's wrong?" Cindy looked and saw her little daughter, hair pulled up in pig-tails and in pink pajamas.
"Oh, baby, I'm sorry; did we wake you?" Cindy cooed as her daughter made her way to where her mom was sitting and curled into her lap.
"Yes." The little girl yawned.
"I'm sorry, Kimi-chan," She turned the child to face her, "Why don't you go lay down with Daddy? I'll come to bed later, okay?" She cooed through the tears she was hiding. The little one nodded tiredly, and shortly departed. As soon as she did, Cindy turned back to Lawrence. "It's not okay, Lawrence." She told him, continuing the conversation where they had left off.
"We need to tell her," He said.
"Yes." Cindy agreed.
"When?" Lawrence asked, glancing at the clock.
"Now. We have to tell her now," Cindy mustered up any confidence she could, nodding, "C'mon, let's go."
Cindy smudged away tears. The two stood and left the dark and quiet room.
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"Well, that was fun," Tyson yawned. "I got that girl's number; her name was Felicia." (A/N. this is not TyOC, k? Tyson has no pairing, it's just a name of some girl.
"That's cool, Ty," Ray Kon was only half paying attention to the World Champion, instead he was busy glancing at Hilary to check on her. They'd just arrived home from the club, each having a pretty good time; that wasn't what was bothering Ray. On the way back, Max instructed a short cut, and Hilary refused… totally, and utterly refused. After a lot of persuasion, they thought she was willingly going… though, when they were half-way back, they passed a building, and Hilary froze up. Her eyes widened, she stopped, and her teeth gritted in fear; she clung to Kai, putting as much distance between the building and herself, and if Ray judged right, she was chanting something along the lines of "It's okay; It's okay." They had no idea what was going on with her, and she refused to disclose any information. She just said she was tired… no one believed her. And the rest of the way back, she latched onto Kai Hiwatari's arm like a life-line.
Ray was broken from his reverie at the sound of two pairs of light foot steps; somberly, Cindy and Lawrence entered the door. Cindy was a mess, her hair was limp, her make up was smeared, and her eyes were red; Lawrence was just standing there. Cindy choked out a few words.
"Hilary, we need to t-talk to you; come here, sweetie," Cindy reached out for a shocked-like Hilary. They had never heard Cindy call Hilary 'Hilary', she always called her Hiromi…something big was obviously going down. Kai glanced from his girlfriend to the intruders, quirking an eyebrow.
"Cindy, w-what's wrong? What happened?" Hilary asked in worry. Cindy just continued to reach for the teen.
"Just come here, Hilary," Cindy whispered. Hilary complied. Ray watched their retreating backs move down the hallway, and then heard sobs begin to resonate from Cindy.
The Bladebreakers looked at one another.
"This is bad."
"Did you see Cindy?" Max asked.
"Lawrence was off too," Kenny stated.
"And they were pretty set on talking to Hilary," Tyson agreed. Ray sighed.
"Let's get some shut-eye; Hilary can tell us when she gets back," Ray said, but there was no way anyone would be sleeping; they'd all wait up for her.
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"No, no, no, no, no," She shook her head disbelievingly, chanting the word quietly, as if doing so would make the information untrue. She got more panicky, "No! NO!" Hilary yelled, tears welling in her eyes, ready to pour. Cindy and Lawrence's hearts were breaking; this was terrible. Cindy reached across the small loveseat and enveloped Hilary's shaken form in her arms.
"I'm so sorry, baby, I'm sorry," She repeated, rocking the girl. Lawrence looked at the situation grimly.
"Hilary, you know we'll protect you," Lawrence came forward, softly putting his hand on her left shoulder; he had to be careful of her right…
"He'll…He'll…" Hilary was more-so talking to herself than Cindy and Lawrence, "He'll come back to kill me. Just like he swore….no!" She cried out, rapidly shaking her head, so fervidly that Cindy was forced to break the embrace and Lawrence had his hand shrugged away. "And…And the worst part…" Her breathing and words were choked, and she was obviously hyperventilating, yet…those tears hadn't even gotten to fall yet, "He'll…kill them! He-he'll kill them! Because they are around me! Cause they are my friends! Cause they are close to me!" Hilary was breaking apart inside; she was no longer worried for herself, oh, no, she'd dropped that many years ago, she didn't care about what happened to herself anymore. But, after she befriended the Bladebreakers and they had all grown so close, before she'd even known they were that close, she was suddenly shocked into a realization and fear for them. Every time they'd been attacked by random scientist trying to steal their bitbeasts, she'd just grow more and more afraid… "He'll-He'll kill them" That's when the tears started to rapidly fall as she said their names "….Kenny, Tyson, Max, Daichi, Ray…he'll…kill…" His name was so faint on her tongue, "He'll kill Kai," She sucked in more breath, "He'll kill you! And Lawrence! He'll destroy everything! It's all my fault!" She was a mess. Cindy Katimikae could not take this!
SMACK!
Hilary sucked in a breath, so did Cindy. The brunette's hand rose to her now warm cheek. Cindy reached out slowly and enveloped the now calming Hilary into her arms again, holding her close, and whispering soothing words until she felt the girl's breathing become natural…she was asleep.
The tears were still present on Hilary's face, some even still falling from Hilary's eyes, but for the time of Hilary's "Episode", Cindy had dammed her own. Now though, Hilary was asleep, and they fell slowly.
"Hilary, we have to tell your friends; they'll protect you," Cindy whispered to the teen.
"Cindy…you can't…" Hilary whispered back, semi-conscious, half in the dream world.
"I can, and I am."
"Don-"
"Don't even argue, Hils," Cindy said strongly, but still softly. Lawrence bowed his head, waiting a moment for retort from the teenage brunette. Cindy looked down with a faint, sad smile at the girl.
"She's sleeping…and…we're telling them," Cindy looked at Lawrence. He nodded. "We'll stay here a bit to get it a bit together, okay?"
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It was two A.M. when Ray's ears picked up the sound of two pairs of footsteps heading down the hallway towards the room. Ray and Kai were up in an instant. The Bladebreakers/G-Revolutions were all in the living room of their hotel, half-asleep, wide-awake, or asleep on the plush chairs and carpets. As the footsteps neared, Ray bent down and went to stir his companions with a shake, while Kai, who found it too unimportant to actually lean down…and he was in a bad mood…kicked them all –lightly- with his foot as he moved to the door. They were all up in seconds and at the door. Kai and Ray opened it. They all peered out…
They noticed she wasn't walking first. Second, they noticed that Lawrence Michaels was cradling the brunette they were waiting on in his arms as she slept, signs of a break-down still evident. Third, they noticed that all three were weary. Forth, they noticed Cindy Katimikae had her hand pressed to Hilary's forehead gently, not too worriedly, however. The boys got restless instantly, wanting answers. Cindy looked at them, smiling softly in sympathy, then raised her fingers to her lips, gesturing at the teen girl. They nodded apprehensively and led the three into the room.
Kai almost instantly took Hilary into his own arms gently, holding her like she was a lost child…and from the look on her face… she seemed like one; hell, he could still see tear streaks crystallized on her face. The stoic team-captain went over to the couch and sat down on one end, laying her in his lap.
"I think all that happened left her a bit weakened, she's got a slight fever," Cindy whispered sadly. Lawrence returned with a wet washcloth, which he handed to Kai, whom gently applied it to the girl's forehead. She was shaking… mumbling…
"W-What happened?" It was Ray's voice. He could see the dried tears on Cindy's face. Cindy sighed, taking a seat in a big chair, Lawrence in the one beside it. Kai looked at Hilary, then them, then Hilary.
"I want answers. Now!" He whisper-shouted, careful as to not disturb her, but she squirmed a bit anyway, turning a bit away from him. His face softened.
"Kai, don't be rude," Ray said. Kai glared. Cindy felt a war coming on.
"A-hem." The attention went to her, "Would you like to know what's going on?"
"Yeah…" Tyson said.
"I figured," Cindy whispered, "I have really, really bad news. And I need you guys to promise to protect her…I-I couldn't handle it if it happened again…neither could Hiromi."
"W-what are we protecting her from?" Max asked hesitantly.
"Her murderer." Cindy took a deep intake of breath, "It happened when Hilary was almost fourteen…it is the reason Hilary quit, it is the reason she hid her identity…" They were lost. "She didn't want us to tell you, thinking that not knowing would protect you. She loves you guys too much to ever let anything happen," She looked at them, "There's a song…a song by Hiromi Tachibana that was never released…a song that the public never learned of. Just me and Lawrence, we read the lyrics, we heard her one recording of it…she gave it to us when she left the Hollywood life…in a box with a few other things to be hidden away forever or burned… I still have it…and there is a story behind it…" She breathed, abruptly Hilary moaned and stirred. Ray looked at the girl.
"Maybe you should take Hilary to your bedroom, Kai, she looks tired," Ray said.
"Hn. I was about to." Kai disappeared for a moment, the room in stony silence.
He looked down at her in the moonlight, laying her on the blue sheets of his hotel bedroom, buried beneath soft blankets.
"What didn't you tell us? Dammit, Hilary," He cursed, then leaned down and felt her forehead…she was warm. He looked at her sleeping form. "I'll be back soon."
Kai reappeared to the room where nothing had changed. He nodded in recognition, returning to the couch.
"Have you guys ever heard the song "Say It Right"?" Cindy asked the boys. They nodded.
"Yea, that was the one I bet Hilary saw when she called you!" Tyson said. Cindy nodded.
"S'pose so," She said.
"Doesn't it not have a video? I mean, it was finished, never released?" Max inquired after thinking a moment.
"It was going to be her best, but it happened," Lawrence stated. Cindy agreed.
"And this is what it was… the story of "Snow White Queen"…"
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Flashback:
"Bye, Hiromi-san!" Hilary Tatibana, fourteen years old, with pixie cut brunette tresses, ruby eyes, and a thin figure, turned to wave off an employee.
"Bye, Natsumi!" Hilary smiled and watched the older woman exit the building with poise, grabbing a coat on the way. And when the door closed, the section of the building was virtually empty aside from the singer. They were in their main HQ in NYC, a brilliant building that the celebrity was beginning to come to know as home. Hilary looked down at her black Converses, and fidgeted her feet a moment; it was quiet, and she was pretty much just standing there. She had things she needed to do…but, everyone has had those moments where they just stop, don't know why, don't care, just stop. Hilary sighed…she'd better get moving, she guessed. Her foot lifted off the ground to take a step when she heard a creaking sound. She stopped and turned…getting…afraid. She debated, and quietly told herself that it was nothing… despite it was "nothing" she hurriedly turned and walked away. She tried to put on a happy manner, after all, she had just now -literally only a half-hour ago- finished "Say It Right" -her ultimate video.
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Rain was pouring down in buckets, lightning flashed, and thunder cracked. Outside of the large windows it looked so gray, Hilary observed as she ran. Ran? She really didn't remember how exactly she went from standing, to nervously walking, to running from "nothing", but she sure as hell was. She knew something…someone…was following her… or maybe not…maybe she was paranoid. However, paranoia typically doesn't randomly call your name.
"Hiromi! Stop!" That wasn't a familiar voice…at all. It was a husky male voice, deep and sore-throated, with a ringing baritone. She turned her head back, only to send her heart into over load…it was a man…a burly man…chasing her through the empty part of the building…and a gun was shining in his hand. "Please, stop!" A gunfire echoed.
Hilary didn't even manage a scream; she was too terrified and consumed in trying to evade the bullet. Luckily, as she flung herself to the white tiled ground of the second floor main pass, the bullet passed by her, barely nicking her shoulder, but enough so that she would whimper. It truly was a beautiful part of the building…but now it was haunting… it was the second floor, a hallway surrounded by windows, and the doors to a back stairwell down to the main music-video shooting room. Hilary instantly flung herself off the ground, tearing part of the elegant white blouse she was wearing in the fray. The white blouse and jeans looked gorgeous on the girl, but now it made her appear as a ghost. The contrast all the more illuminating her fear-stricken ruby orbs.
She was tearing through the second floor, one shoe on and one shoe off, and colliding into things as she ran. The gun echoed again for the third time and she finally managed a scream. As soon as the cry left her throat though, she rammed into a table, painfully knocking the breath out of herself. She fell and looked up, clutching her stomach. What the hell was going on? She could here his footsteps approaching quickly, and she pushed herself from the ground despite a pang in her stomach. Another bullet shot through the air with a vengeance, narrowly whizzing by her head. "Please! What do you want?! Leave me alone! Go away!" She cried out, pressing her hands to her ears to block out the man's voice.
Finally, she had reached the door to the back stairwell…but could she make it? Her feet ached, her heart raced, and the man wouldn't leave her alone. Hilary Tatibana ran, and it felt as if she'd been running for eternity, an eternity and ten minutes felt the same, however.
"Please, Hiromi, let me save you!" He called to her.
"Go away!" She screamed. She reached for the handle to the door and threw it open, sadly knowing he was directly behind her.
'I know that scream', Jemma had thought. She was a bespectacled redhead, thin, tall, and wearing a business suit, finishing up interning for Hiromi that day. She'd heard the commotion though, and a knot formed in her stomach. She soon found herself running down the hallway behind a murderer and Hiromi; the murderer seemed to have noticed her, but paid no mind, and Hiromi hadn't seen at all. But, Jemma could see it all; she could see Hiromi's arm bleeding, she could see the gun, and she could hear the screaming. How could this happen to Hiromi? I mean, they'd been warned to watch her well because she was a celebrity…but Hiromi was so nice, who would try this? Jemma pushed the thought from her mind.
"Hiromi! Hiromi-san!" There was no use calling, Hiromi couldn't hear. Jemma clutched her ears when another bullet rang. She cursed herself for being so weak and frail, but she had to try something?
Hiromi Tachibana ran into the little twisty stairwell. She turned quickly, trying to shut and lock the door to keep the insane man away, but he caught it. She knew she had to keep running, and then raced down the stairs; she had to escape! "Go away!" She yelled as she raced down the stairs, trying to get to the first floor and go out the door into the filming room where most people would be right now. Jemma Katari ran in behind the man whom she saw going inside the stairwell as well.
"Leave her alone! Hiromi! Hiromi-san!" Jemma screamed. She raced to the door, only to collide with it when the man locked it from the inside. Jemma felt tears begin to slide down her cheeks as she beat on the door. What had happened? 'Jemma, oh, God, Jemma, don't lose it now,' the woman pleaded with herself as she watched Hiromi be backed against a wall.
Hiromi was ready to die…the door…her escape…the man was smart and it had been locked…. He towered over her, smirking. He brought the gun up, aiming towards her…she whimpered. She was going to die… Just patiently wait… and… 'No! I can't give up!' her mind screamed, but she'd entranced herself, not noticing he had cocked his gun. Thank God for Jemma…
"Hiromi, duck!" It was Jemma, trying with all her worth to see what was going on, and finally she had…she saw the gun, and she screamed. Then the gun fired, and Hiromi screamed…and the brunette had ducked just in time…
"Ah," Hiromi's cry was in sheer exasperation, "leave me alone! Please, God, leave me alone!" Her voice resounded in hysterics as she begged with the man, her sanity leaving her. Another gunfire shot into the stale air of the studio, and another scream escaped her lungs. He…he'd managed it…he shot her. Hilary clutched her bleeding shoulder; it throbbed and pulsed and he didn't look like he would just leave her there… "I'm gonna die! Oh, my God, I'm going to die! Please save me!"
"Oh, My God! Someone help!" Jemma screamed as she saw the girl bleed on the studio floor…and then the bastard drew a knife…
"I intend for you to die today; I'm going to free you, you are an angel, too good for this Earth," Hilary watched in mortification as he spoke. 'Please…someone…save me…I'm…I'm afraid to die…I didn't even get to say goodbye…'. Her murderer came closer, and she watched as he pulled out a knife, smirking. Hilary could feel the tears from the painful stinging in her shoulder falling down her face, and she could hear her own sobs resonating from her throat. He'd come to kill her…he really had… why? He walked to her, and she was too afraid to move as he drew the knife across her skin. It slashed her arm around the bullet, slid around her throat lightly, cutting only a millimeter deep. Her eyes went hollow and her head was loose as she lost her grips on reality… "Stop…please…" Hilary wasn't even aware of Jemma banging on the door upstairs, or Cindy and Lawrence desperately trying to get in downstairs…she was aware of death…
Cindy had never ran so fast in her life; she'd known her gut said something was wrong! Then she heard noises on the top floor, and bullets, and screaming…and oh, God, now she was standing here with Lawrence on the outside looking in as her daughter-like Hilary was dying… She watched as the knife moved to Hilary's tiny wrist, cutting thinly. She saw him pull the gun back from his pocket, and she could make out him whispering words like "Freedom" as he slowly pulled the gun higher to Hilary's forehead.
"Lawrence, make it stop!" Cindy cried. "Hilary! Oh, Hilary!"
"Hiromi!" It was a desperate cry, almost childlike, and Cindy was sure hell froze over when she found out who it was. Cornflower blonde hair…Reevy. Reevy had thrown herself into the glass window part of the door, desperately pleading. "Dammit! Fight it! Hiromi, fight the ass! No!" Reevy banged again, throwing her weight into the door. "You're not gonna die here! You're not gonna die here!" And bam, Reevy, along with Lawrence and Cindy who'd teamed up, smashed down the door. They ran in…they ran to her… he ran away…and she was just lying there…scared…it happened so fast. She felt warm arms around her, never knowing it was Reevy's arms, and words being cooed by Cindy and Lawrence as tears ran down all their faces. The staff was arriving, the hospital was arriving, but would Hiromi ever be the same?
She wouldn't… she would dispatch of Hiromi…she would be Hilary, and Hilary alone. Hiromi was gone.
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Months Later:
"Cindy, take this," Hilary Tatibana said, draped in a red Dolce & Gabbanna trench coat. It was a box she was handing over.
"Hiromi…Hilary…I understand why you're leaving…but, you don't have too," Cindy tried to persuade the girl. Hilary, who'd just gone through a rough time, was pulling it back together, but not as Hiromi: Hiromi was dead to her. Her hair was growing, the bags were disappearing from under her eyes, and the scars were slowly fading; Hilary made sure to hide the scar on her right shoulder, a bullet wound and knife wounds…but, besides that…she was leaving. Hilary smiled brightly. The press was lining up outside, but that didn't matter.
"I want to be normal, too, just Hilary," Hilary said, smiling. "Don't worry." Cindy sighed.
"I'll…miss you… a lot," Hilary, just for a moment, had tears glistening in her eyes.
"I'll miss you too…"
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Kai gaped at the scene before him; he had too much information to process as it was…but now…now he was in the room where he laid Hilary/Hiromi, and there were signs of a struggle, and the window was open, and she was gone.
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Cliffiee!!! Crap, crap, crap! That was pure crap, crap, crap! And soo not worth the wait! I am soooo sorry! Please don't hate me! I gotta thank my reviewers, who I totally do NOT deserve in the least. Thanks to (reviewers as of now, if I didn't get you, I'm sorry!!!): softball91, Molly Yokunaii, TwinkieTUTUS, Angelic Kitsune, ZONEGIRL, sky d, dranzerhilary, Distant Storm, jellybean-kitty, musicalgenius, Star Fata, hilaryxkai1234, nidhi (lol. Don't remember if I replied to you or not! But if I didn't, I will here! Thanks sooo much for reviewing! I'm glad you liked!!),MarineDweller, and hil2378. Reviewers, and everyone reading, my sincerest apologies for wasting your time with this lousy chapter. Gomen-nasai. Please review (I expect flames), tell me if you liked, hated, really hated, I suck at writing, pointers, hated, hated, flames, pointers, etc, etc. thanks for putting up with me. Two chapters to go!
Luvv ya,
Moonlight Serenity
Aka Jess