Chapter 36: Yukai Suru (11)

Last Time:

I quietly turned up the TV volume, and listened closely for the team names. "The team captain is Alvaak Soichiro," it then showed his picture; it was the same guy who had slammed the door on my face not to long ago! "His team is: Rika Sorijou," she had silver and grey hair that came down to her back, "Nobara Hakado," he had black and crimson hair that came down to his shoulders, and piercing red and black eyes, "and Lithian Suguru," no picture showed up for him. I switched off the television, and sat there blankly; there's only 1 girl on that team? She must be really strong...Alvaak...Why does he sound so familiar? I know that I met him in the lobby...But why does his name sound familiar? My eyes widened and my face grew as white as the snow; Alvaak...I know him because he...Works at the Abbey...He was the one that threw me to Viridian...He was also the one that killed Vermillion.

Continued Story:

-Morning-

I didn't sleep the whole night; thoughts of Alvaak haunted me. 'I don't think...That I can battle him. I mean I might end up killing him...But can my team understand that?' I slowly sat up straight and gazed out at the rising Sun. Its brilliant oranges and yellows almost made me forget about last nights shock. A shudder came up my spine, and caused me to suddenly want to become unconscious; why did he have to show up now? 'Tala might start thinking that I like him or something...When it really is the opposite.' I slowly got out of bed, and wandered over towards the kitchen. I was still dressed in the same attire as yesterday because I knew that I wouldn't get any sleep.

'I need to know...I need to know why he did this to me...I need to know...' I closed my icy irises, and waited for the answer to hit me; but my waiting was truly in vain, as nothing came. It seems to me, that whenever you need your friends the most, their never there to help you. Yeah, all of mine have told me that they would never leave me; Vermilion left me, Damask left me, Rin almost left me, it feels as if Kyoko is farther away from me then she used to be, Marissa is like a fading memory, my team will soon leave me because I can't deal with Heishi; yeah, in the end everyone will end up leaving me. But, I don't need them in my life then, if they leave me, then how is that my fault? 'But you need them to survive! You need them even if they cause you pain! You love them; and that is why you set yourself up to get hurt!' The little voice inside my head shrieked at me.

"I need them now more than ever...And it seems to me that...They don't want to be with me..." I whispered softly to myself, unaware of wintry eyes watching me, and ears listening to everything I said. "If only I was normal...If only I had more courage...If only I was there for them more...If only I was stronger." I finished hoarsely. I felt tears sting the backs of my glistening tundra eyes, and hastily brushed them away with the back of my hand; what right did I have to cry? They probably have their own reasons why they cannot help me; I should just learn to cope with the fact that I'll always be alone. But, my body didn't listen, and, before long, soft sobbing sounds came forth from my mouth. Transparent tears ran down my face, and stained my pale face.

I slowly dipped into a sense of failure and remorse; why did it feel as if I held the world on my shoulders? I quickly turned on my heel as rapidly as my tears fell, and ran from the room that sheltered me from the nightmares of the day. My long, jet black, silky hair trailed behind me in such a motion that resembled that of waves. I didn't know where I was going, or how I'd get back; all I knew was that I needed to get away, to lose myself in the darkness once more.

I threw open the door leading to the outside world, and ran from the much hated hotel that made me seem like a perfect soldier; what was I even doing here? I didn't belong here, I'm not a cyber soldier, and my sanity wasn't strong enough to hold me up.

There were few up when I dashed out and onto the streets like I had done so many times before. People moved out of my way and cursed me when I passed. But none of that matters now, no, nothing matters when you're alone. 'When did this pain start to devour my soul? When did I suddenly wake up? When did I...Begin to care about me? I'm usually happy when my friends are fine; but something's changed inside of me, something that I dislike.' My steps quickened with every wavering chance thought of turning back. My breathing became laboured, and my sides stung like a thousand bees. My knees and ankles threatened to give weigh and everything in my being screamed at me to stop; but I couldn't, not yet that is. How could I stop running, when that was the only thing that I've been able to do for the past 3 months? I ran away from my family, I ran away from the memories of Vermilion and Damask, I ran away from my friends, and now I'm running away from my past. 'It's going to catch up, it's going to catch up, it's going to catch up, run faster, run faster, run away from it, leave it behind you and start 

anew! Forget them; forget them, because you are forgotten! They can replace you, they replaced you, they replaced you!'

"AAAHHH," I screamed as loud as my throat would bear. I fell to my knees, and held my head with my shaking hands. 'My mind...My mind...I'm...I'm not in control of it anymore! What's wrong with me?' A deep sense of loss and defeat enveloped me with its strong arms of pain. 'I don't know what is right and what is wrong. I don't know who to trust, and who to hate. What's wrong with me? I was fine yesterday, but now I'm swamped by these emotions of anguish.' "Why do I always feel like a failure? Why do I feel as if no one is listening? Why am I such a screw up? I get the things of my desire, and somehow I always ruin them and then I'm back where I started!" I screamed to no one in particular. Tears ran down my ghostly face, and angst ran through my body in harrowing tremors. I lowered myself so that my nose was just a few centimetres away from my knees. My body shook violently, and I forgot about the world surrounding me; I forgot about everyone and everything and focussed on the words beating me inside of my head. The delicate string that was my remaining sanity was crumbling at the light breeze that had came my way.

-A few hours later-

I had dragged myself away from the dirt road long ago, and had resigned to just wandering around aimlessly. I grew distant with myself and with life all together. Everything and everyone seemed to stop, as if everything was in slow-motion. Nothing seemed real anymore, not even my pain felt real anymore; I didn't feel real. I blocked every source of emotion within me so as to slowly rebuild my frail emotional stability. I sauntered coldly through the, now, crowded streets of down town Tokyo. 'It really wasn't fair of me to begin blaming all of my problems on my friends. I live to help them...Even if they don't know it sometimes. I love my friends and I know that they love me. Even though they place too much faith in me, they have also helped bail me out of my own darkness and made me see the end of the winding passage that encased me. They have always seen me through to the end; I'm very proud and surprised that they stayed with me for so long. Yeah, everyone can get trying every now and then; but thus is life.'

A sigh escaped my lips and I rose my head to stare into the sun in hopes that maybe I'd understand everything if I lost my sight. But, if we were supposed to know everything and understand everything, then I think we would have been born with that sense of knowledge. Not one person is meant to be alone; as we are sociable creatures. Even when we want to be introverted, in this world, no one can. We need each other to live, to learn, to become who we are meant to be. We cannot take away all of each other's pain and no one can truly know what each other is going through in terms of pain, because we are all different, and react to different pains in different ways. We can understand what we're going through, but we can never know. 'I was being daft in thinking that they weren't doing their job as friends because they didn't take away all of my pain; I was truly being idiotic there. No human can truly take away all of my pain, they can only listen. I expected them to know what I was going through and I expected them to join my pity party; when I was dead wrong. They'll never know what I'm experiencing and they shouldn't have to conform to my emotional ordeals. They need to be themselves; no one needs two versions of a single person in this world.'

The sun continued to beat down on me as I continued along with my stroll. "Hm...It's strange to see so many people out here...Wait a minute...Does that mean that there's no beyblade tournament today?" I shrugged my shoulders slightly and proceeded with my casual walk.

-A few Hours Later-

I turned back to the hotel shortly after my completed rounds of the park; my life is so very dull. Everything had been sorted out during my slow walk; maybe now I can actually sleep tonight...And now my team won't be worried. The sky above me was a brilliant pale blue, with fluffy white clouds dotting its surface. There was still a light breeze that sifted through my hair that I kept high up in my pony tail. Its dark black surface glinted from the Sun's light being shone onto it. I sighed as I continued my leisurely gait towards my hotel; gah, I hate it so.

"Hey, girl, watch it!" Someone's voice called out in unison with a boy who slammed into me. I barely moved from the impact, the only thing that moved was my feet that happened to take a single step back. The boy on the other hand, flew back and onto the hard cement surface below. A small smirk graced my lips and a menacing spark came into my bitter eyes. "Hey, man, are you okay?" The boy that yelled at me asked his fallen comrade. His yellow hair made me sick! How weak of him to ask the one that hit me if he was alright! I made a disgusted noise and carried on my way. Apparently, the yellow haired kid didn't like that, because the words that followed were not the ones of a 'happy camper'. "Let it rip! How dare you scoff at us when it was your fault that we hit you!"

I turned around just in time to see his flimsy 'blade rush towards me in an unsteady manner. "Heh...Do you honestly think that it's going to be that easy to take me out? You idiot," I finished as I took out my own beyblade and 'let it rip'. The kid's terror filled eyes told me that I had made my point clear; the street was MINE. Edragore 

shredded the kid's 'blade and scattered its remnants all over the placid surface of the grey cement. Edragore seemed to be surrounded by black flame that could have easily done more damage to the yellow haired kid's 'blade if it had wanted to. However, Edragore only 'eats' the energy from 'blades if their strong.

I held out my hand, and Edragore flew back into it, almost demolishing my black, leather gloves in the process. "Maybe next time you'll think before you leap, kid "I said with much disdain. I smirked at them all, showing off my pearly white fangs. I turned my back to them, and let my trench coat flow out and swerve back towards me with the course of the wind.

Much commotion was made afterwards surrounding the area, all of which gave me no interest; what use is the pathetic and weak bladers? They have nothing to aid me in this game, and they certainly can't bring me down in any way, shape, or form.

My icicle like eyes scanned the ground's surface until I made it back to my hotel. I grasped the door's golden handle, and made my way into the lobby. Nothing in it changed, except for the fact that there was no one in the dim area. 'This is weird...Usually there is at least 1 person in this place...' A loud crashing of voices reverberated through the lobby and reached my ears fully. "Hm...I wonder what that was all about..." I dashed through the lobby and towards where I thought the sound had originated from; right in the direction of the training room. My gaze was still and set as I ran through the empty, ugly, hallways that led to the room. My iron toed boots clanged down the small corridor and my trench coat swished between my legs.

I finally reached the door leading to the training facility. There was no noise hailing from the room, but I thought that I'd check it out anyways. I clutched the door handle and pulled it open quietly. I peeked in and found the staff and various teams littering the floor of the place. They were surrounding something, or someone, and starring intently at it, but in silence. 'Why did they suddenly scream before? It's as if there's a bey battle going on...Is there?' I thought in wonderment. I inaudibly closed the door and followed suit as I crept up to the crowd.

I pushed through the crowd, and I finally came to the point where I could see exactly what everyone was starring at. My eyes widened when I realized that they weren't crowding because they were amazed or excited, but because they were afraid. My team captain, Tala, and my team mate, Bryan, had been fighting, and they laid sprawled out on the tiles of the carpet in the gym. They were each battered and bruised, Tala was bleeding, and both appeared unconscious. My eyes widened as well at the sight; what exactly happened between the two of them? I glanced up and saw a trail of ice on the ceiling and on the walls, did Tala do this?

Anger surged through me, and I turned to everyone standing in awe about the whole mess. "You people should be ashamed of yourselves! How can you just stand there and do nothing about all of this? You should all be doing your jobs," I said as I pointed vindictively at the staff, "and you should be out training!" I exclaimed as I moved my gaze over to the teams that had encircled them. There was much grumbling before it was only me and my two team mates. A great sigh escaped my lips as I turned back to face my comrades. I walked up to them softly and placed my hand on Bryan's head; yep, he was knocked out cold. I turned to Tala, and instinctively placed my hand on his chest to see if he was still breathing. His breath was laboured, but still there; good.

"Tala...Bryan...Why did you two do this? What happened and why is there ice on the ceiling and the walls?" I asked to no one in particular. I starred at them in disbelief as I kneeled in between both of them. 'Was this my fault in some way? Or did Bryan just say something stupid again? I honestly don't know...And I don't think that they're going to tell me if I asked them.' I sighed, and laid back so that I could stare up at the ceiling. 'There's not much more that I can do before they wake up...All I can do is wait.'

-Tala's POV-

-Wolborg and Tala-

'What's wrong with me now? I can't see anything...I can't feel anything. Maybe I succeeded in sealing myself away in a barrier of ice and snow. I always knew that I'd go out this way...I began as the snow, and I'd die as the snow.

What about Kiko chan, Master Tala? I'm sure that she's worried about you. You can't be dead if I'm still here. You were probably just knocked out.

That last statement is probably true...The first is most likely wrong. Why would she worry over a pathetic soul such as I?

Did she not save your life before?



Yeah she did, but that was when she needed me...

Who says that she still doesn't need you?

Wolborg...Drop it.

Fine, Master Tala...Have it your way. What was the fight about anyway?

Bryan...He found out that I too, like her...He blew up when I said that I wasn't going to tell her of my feelings. He threatened to tell her himself, so that she'd get scared off by me, and then she'd go to him. I didn't know what to do, so I beat him instead. That boy sure can fight...But I'm better.

Don't you think that she should find out?

No, I don't.

But, Tala, what if she liked you, too? And the only way your ever going to find that out is if you talk to her friends, or to her directly; and, if your intent on this, and if your okay by getting this information at any cost, you could also scurge (1) in her diary.

I can't do that, Wolborg! Have you been talking to Dranzer again?

Heh...No...Maybe...Oh, who cares? And, why can't you? It's not like she'll know anyways...'

-Return to Tala's POV-

I opened my eyes and realized that I was no longer dreaming. 'Maybe I should take his advice...But no...That would be wrong...Wouldn't it?' I sat up and glanced over at Bryan; he was up too. However, his cobalt blue eyes were directed at Kiko who was sleeping on the floor between us. 'Did she really sleep there? How long has she been there?' I thought calmly.

"Bryan...She cannot know of the reason why we were fighting...Not only would that blow my secret...It would blow yours, too" even if it had already been given away by himself while he was sleeping. He looked up at me with faint surprise as if he hadn't noticed my presence before. He nodded after some hesitation, which led me to conclude that he still doesn't know that she already knows about his feelings towards her.

"Yeah...Besides...Even if we did tell her, she might just have an emotional break down from it."

'Emotional break down?'

"She might start blaming herself of this fight if she found out...And then distance herself from us and the rest of the team." I nodded to the older boy, he made a point, and I got up with much struggle from the floor. Even if it was carpeted, it still hurts when you get slammed down into it. I felt as if everything was broken, and judging from the way Bryan got up, he felt the same way, too. His face twisted in a most unnatural way; I couldn't help but smirk as he showed this discomfort. 'I guess we'll both be sore tomorrow; the after-affects are always worse then the given affects.' He glared over at me with his teal eyes as he stooped down to scoop Kiko up into his arms. However, much to my enjoyment and relief, the pain he suffered was too much to endure when he attempted to lift her, so the task was up to me.

I bent down to gently lift her into my arms, only to receive a mass amount of pain in my back and arms. 'I can't let this chance be passed up...And I will not show any weakness to the likes of him or to anyone for that matter.' With much effort and agony, I had finally lifted her into my arms. I nodded to Bryan, and we both left the training area.

I glanced down at her limp form; she seemed so peaceful; it was a strange feeling to want the people on your team to actually feel peaceful...To feel vivaciousness to the highest degree. 'I've never felt this way about a person before; this is all new to me. Why do I have to feel this now of all times? I mean...The tournament is starting soon...And just when it's starting...My feelings begin to grow.' She felt so light, it was almost like she was paper; she can't be healthy...

In no time at all, we had reached the hotel room and I let her down gently on her mahogany bed. 'I hope that she feels better after this morning...I caught her crying this morning, and then she ran out into the street...'



-End of Tala's POV-

-Kiko's POV-

I opened my frosty eyes and starred up at the white ceiling above my head, 'Where am I? This doesn't feel like the hard floor of the training facility...Nor does that look like the roof of the facility...' I slowly sat up on my bed, and glanced around the area calmly. 'Well, I'm not in Kansas anymore.' I smirked at the inappropriate thought as I recalled the events of 'The Wizard of Oz' (not mine, thank goodness).

A sharp pain hit me in the head, and his voice echoed within the chambers of my mind. I winced and threw the covers off of me. I quickly wandered over towards the other side of the room; I needed to get away. 'Tala...Where is Tala? Oh no, did they get into trouble while I was sleeping?'

"Oh, Kiko chan, you're up." I hurriedly turned around and found myself facing Tala.

My thoughts almost immediately drifted back to the earlier scene. "Um, Tala kun, are you and Bryan kun alright? I mean, when I-"Tala's frosty gaze quickly snapped from the wall behind me, and into my own wintry eyes. The stare in itself made my skin crawl; who knew that something that frivolous could do such a thing. I quickly looked away from the charming, scarlet haired Russian, with the captivating glacial eyes.

I closed my eyes and waited for the annoying imp to pop up and break the perpetual silence between Tala and I. Tala sighed deeply, and quietly moved over to me. "Yeah, we're both fine. But, how are you? This morning you ran out of here crying..." I abruptly looked up at him; my icy eyes were wide with an almost terrified glaze over them. I nodded slowly to him after a moment and bowed my head as he passed me. 'How did he know that?' I wandered over towards the black, leather couch and leaned against it while being in a pensive manner. I glanced up towards the ceiling once more, my frosty eyes were glazed over with a veil of worry and sadness; what else does he know about me?

A yell from my side of the room jolted me back into reality. I stood at the head of the couch and my mind raced to try and figure out who would be in there. My eyes expanded with the realization that Tala had been walking in that general direction; but why? No matter, I thought as I dashed into my room. My window was left open; the curtains were flailing in the bitter wind. I walked over to it timidly and slowly stuck my head out into the night; there was nothing there, but then why was Tala not there? 'Did he jump? Or, did somebody kidnap him? But, that's impossible, who could do that from this height?' I closed my window, and turned my back to it with a chest full of regret; maybe I missed something? I scanned my room from where I stood, and remained there till my eyes finally rested on a small, white piece of paper lying on my floor. I calmly walked over to it and bent down to pick it up.

When I read finished reading it, I immediately ran out to go find my team; Heishi took Tala kun!

What () those meant:

(11) The title means 'Kidnap' in Japanese.

(1) A scurge is something that lurks around thing; almost like how a shark goes after a school of fish, or whatever, But, it just kind of wanders around. I found it in one manga chapter of Naruto (disclaimer, not mine!) when they were describing Kisame (not mine, oh so paranoid), and I found it again while it was describing Bass/Forte (not mine), so, I believe it to be a word.

AN: Yes, I know that this was VERY late, but I was on vacation and such. It didn't help that I had major writers block! I am also aware that it is shorter than my usual chapters, but I promised one of my reviewers/readers that I'd post it as soon as I get more of it done. I mean, it's only like, 6 pages long, which isn't as bad as some of my earlier one's were, right? Remember the time when my chapters were only paragraphs? Wow, what a time...Now I'm forced to write a lot due to my overly competitive nature. There is yet a person who also writes a lot in one chapter, and it is my goal to get my chapters longer than her's! What a sad life I have. Anyway, I should wrap up this, author note, he-he. So, please excuse my corny title; I'm really not thinking right now. Anyways, now my 'plot' is getting under way! So, please review and I'll post as soon as I can. So, yes, please review, and such, bye!