Author's note:
Originally, it wasn't planned to publish Beyblade Burst: Next Gen while On the rise is still in progress as the characters in this story are all based on the ships I made earlier, but I decided to do it though. Don't ask me why, but somehow I just had the feeling that I had to.
However, here comes my typical opening: Enjoy reading!
Chapter 1 - A new beginning
And I was on my own again. No, not again. The whole time. I was on my own the whole time. Would they even realize if I wasn't there? Most likely not. But that didn't matter in any way. After this vacation, I would enter a boarding school. And after that academic degree ... well, what after that? I had no idea, besides leaving behind this awful life and trying my luck on my own. Suddenly, someone rushed into me. It was a girl about my age, red-haired and blue-eyed. She said something I couldn't understand, but it seemed like a kind of excuse. After a time, she seemed to recognize that I didn't get it.
"Sorry ... you new here, not?", she said, looking me over. Something I just noticed was the mark on her cheek. It was shaped like the half of a sun. Suddenly, the girl started to fidget in front of my face. And I realized that I should say something.
"Oh ... yes, I am."
"Cool! I'm Rae! And I show you this city!"
Without asking further, she grabbed my arm and pulled me with her. Though her English wasn't perfect, I somehow started to like Rae. Her attitude was kind of childish, carefree. And she acted as if we would be good friends ... though I didn't really know how that felt, as I never had friends before. Finally, we stopped at a place which she referred to as the BeyPark.
"Oh ... you don't telled who you are!"
"Uh, right ... my name's Legacy Ryder ..."
"Your parents are ... strict?"
"Well ... they are. How do you- ..."
Before I could finish my sentence, she pointed over to one of the arenas.
"Look, over there! I introduce you to my brothers!"
"Oh ... okay ...", I stuttered, completely shorttaken, while Rae waved to them and shouted something in Japanese. Naturally, I couldn't understand anything, being a native Briton. The boys waved back and we neared. Though Rae referred to them as her brothers, they had absolutely no resemblance besides the mark on their cheek. While one of them was quite tall, had blue hair and scarlet eyes, the other was rather short, had orange hair and lime-green eyes. Out of an impulse, I said:
"Kon'nichiwa"
They returned the same, smiling at me, then the shorter boy started to talk. The only thing I could make sense of was that he talked nineteen to the dozen. Then, Rae interrupted them. Her statement sounded like scolding. After this, the boys switched to English too. Rae turned to me again.
"Excuse him, he's this kind of person who talks before thinks about."
The boy said something in Japanese again, maybe to avoid that I understood, because according to his angry expression and the accent of his words, it sounded like swearing. Rae interrupted him again while rolling her eyes.
"So, hereby I introduce to you my brothers: Hideki"
The taller boy raised a hand, tilted his head a bit to the side and smiled at me. Seemed like he was a left-hander.
"and Hayato."
The possibly younger of the brothers looked away with an offended expression and folded his arms.
"Are you new here?", Hideki then asked, and I was impressed as his English was almost without any accent.
"I am. Why did you ask?"
"Actually, it's nothing ... I just had the feeling that we've met before."
Something in his words - or the way he said them - triggered something in me. I looked over to Rae, seeking help. But she didn't react. In an attempt to change the topic, I asked:
"You're all siblings, is that true?"
"In fact, we're triplets."
"I didn't expect that ...", I replied, dumbfounded. And my anger towards Rae grew, as she just stood next to me and didn't say anything. Suddenly, Hayato joined our discussion too.
"Are you a Blader?"
"Uhm ... no, I guess ..."
A Blader? What was a Blader? My brain was rushing to find an answer, but I've never heard of that before. The others seemed to misinterpret my expression.
"Hey, don't be ashamed! I'm no Blader too.", Hideki admitted, smiling at me.
"But you was!", Hayato interrupted, still offended.
"Then ... why don't you are still?", I had to ask. My curiosity won over my fear of messing up my first possible friendship.
"Well ... let's say that I chose another way."
This time, his smile seemed forced, and the answer didn't help me much too, but I decided not to ask further. If he didn't want to talk, then it was better to let this topic rest, I guess. But Hayato put a spoke in our wheel. Though his English was terrible on the other hand, I understood what he wanted to say.
"That is false! You still be afraid!"
"I'm not!"
"You are!"
"NO, I'M NOT!"
At that moment, Rae grabbed my arm and pulled me away, saying that she wanted to show me around. The brothers' words piped down as we left.
I found myself walking towards a house, alongside Rae. Two grown-ups were on the terrace, setting the tables. Noticing the similarity between them and my new friend, I asked:
"Your parents?"
She giggled, then replied:
"No. Well ... my mother and my uncle."
"Isn't your father at home?"
"He works as scientist. In the big town."
"Cool!"
I pointed to the house.
"And ... is this a restaurant or something like that?"
"Our family restaurant! We manage it for many generations."
She seemed proud of this fact. I couldn't resent her that. The building was welcoming and in good shape. Then, the woman noticed us, waved and seemed to greet us. Rae replied, and she switched to English too.
"It's nice to see that you brought a friend! Come in, you two!"
"Uhm ... hi", I said, not knowing what else to do, then entered the house. I was overwhelmed by all the kindness and warmth with which the people here treated me. Completely different than my family - or anyone I knew - at home.
"Rae told me that you're new here. So, what's your name? Where are you from?"
"My name's Legacy and I'm from Great Britain ..."
"Oh ... your parents must be strict. I'm sorry for you ... on the other hand, your home country is nice. I travelled there once."
At that moment, a door opened upstairs. And I noticed that Rae left. Probably she went to her room. Then, something rumbled and shortly after, the girl came back with a camera. She took a couple of pictures, then sat down at one of the tables.
"Why did you take those pictures?", I asked, then sat down on the table's other side.
"It's a habit, I think. I maybe inherited this."
Suddenly, her brothers arrived. They looked at us, noticing that one of them had to sit next to me, as there were only four seats and I sat vis-à-vis with Rae. Hayato still seemed offended, though I had no idea for which reason. I thought about standing up and switching to the table's other side. But before I could do anything, he sat down next to Rae, what led to Hideki sitting next to me. I heard the adults discussing in the kitchen. Though I didn't understand what they talked about, I noticed that Hayato's personality was quite similar to his uncle's. Then, the siblings' mother came to our table, gave everyone of us a glass and poured water in them.
"Thanks, Mrs- ..."
"Hizashi. But you can call me Reina."
I took a sip of the water.
"You in Japan come why?", Hayato asked. He seemed to have calmed down a bit now.
"I'm here with my parents for vacation."
"Then, why was you out alone?"
This time, it was Rae who asked. I wasn't sure if I should tell them the truth ... I just didn't feel ready yet. Luckily, we got interrupted when someone entered the house. This way, I didn't have to answer anything.
"Your father?", I asked, looking over the person who just arrived. A man with blue hair, lime-green eyes and a mark on the cheek, similar to the triplets'. They nodded, while he dropped a kind of briefcase and hung up his jacket.
"I'm home", he said, rather to the other adults than to us. I wondered if he talked English because he noticed that we did so too, or for some other reason.
"Such early? What's the reason?"
The voice belonged to Reina.
"I got kicked out."
"Seriously?! How did that happen?"
He sighed, then replied:
"I told the principal that his idea was nonsense, and ... that's it."
"You're kidding."
"No, literally! This is not a joke!"
"Haha! Hikaru messed it up!"
"Hyuga! This is not funny!"
"Stop arguing! Rather help us in the kitchen, we have a guest!"
"Whatever you say, love ..."
Rae giggled at the sight of my dumbfounded expression, then commented:
"Yes, our daily life ..."
I tried to control my laughter, hearing their fervid disputes.
"Are you crazy? You can't- ..."
"Surely I can! I want- ..."
"Hyuga! This kid's European! How do you think- ..."
"Shut up, Hikaru! I do what I want! Let me- ..."
"Stop it! I'm sure even you won't eat that! In addition- ..."
"Surely I would! And- ..."
"Save it, you two! You've- ... what did you do with my noodles?!"
"I seasoned them with some more chili!"
"Go to hell! It was already enough before!"
"But it had no nice color!"
"Argh! Whatever ... it's too late to change it. Dinner is served!"
Everyone of us got a plate filled with noodles and vegetables, and a pair of chopsticks. The others thanked for the food, then started to eat. I wondered how someone could eat that fast, looking at Hayato whose plate was already halfway emptied. I took my cutlery and tried to pick up some noodles, but somehow it didn't work. Rae giggled, then tried to explain how to use the chopsticks (what didn't help me much). After a couple of minutes of inconclusive trying, Hideki grabbed my hand and corrected my fingers' posture. I tried again, ignoring the heat his touch raised in me. This time, I managed to pick up some food at least, but the noodles slipped away before I could eat them. After many following attempts ended the same, anger and frustration won over my fear of appearing dirty. I pounded the chopsticks on the table, stood up and folded my arms, shouting:
"I'm done with this!"
"Hey, calm down! Have we got ... cutlery they use in Europe?"
"Just a moment ... ah, found something! Here you go."
The triplets' father, Hikaru if I was right, walked over to me and handed me a fork. After looking me over for a time, he noticed:
"You remind me of people I knew ..."
"Oh ... really? I ... how do you mean that?"
"It doesn't matter anyway. They're long gone."
He seemed to recall a past time while turning away, then went towards the kitchen again and left me with a sea of questions. However, I ignored it and sat down again, this time able to eat. But as soon as I had a morsel of food in my mouth, I felt the heat.
"Water! Water!", I begged, trying to swallow down the noodles when I noticed that my glass was empty. I didn't even pay attention who handed me a glass, just quaffed the liquid, forgetting about my good table manners.
"Phew! Thanks ..."
"You're welcome."
The voice belonged to Hideki. Wait ... was it his glass? I didn't knew why the fact disconcerted me that much. But it did. To prevent that strange feeling, I forced myself to think about my family. And realized that they were possibly waiting for me ...
"Uhm ... thanks for your hospitality, but ... I have to go now, I guess.", I said, looking down.
"That might be true. It was nice to meet you!", Reina said, her husband and his brother following with a simple goodbye. The siblings followed me outside.
"I accompany you!", Rae said, while her brothers just waved. On the way, she just smirked at me. Sometime, I had enough.
"What?!"
"You like him!"
"What?!"
"Hideki. You like him!"
"What?!"
"You really think I don't notice?"
"What?!"
Somehow, this word came out of my mouth on replay. I was totally shorttaken. But why did she think that I liked him? I just wasn't used to hang out with people! Especially not with boys. So, I switched to offense, asking:
"How do you want to know that?"
"I have a boyfriend, so I know how feels."
"Really?"
Well ... I didn't expect that answer. Guess I assessed her wrongly.
"Who is it?"
"His name's Victory Aoi."
"You mean like ... Valt Aoi?"
I wondered why I knew this name, but it sounded just ... right to refer to him.
"Yes! You know Valt?"
"Honestly? No. I don't even know why I remember this name ..."
"Huh? All people knows Valt! He lead BC Sol!"
"Sorry, but ... never heard of it."
Her gaze was dumbfounded after she heard my words.
"This is one of the world's popularest BeyClubs!"
"But I don't know Beyblade!", I exclaimed, clenching my fists. Instead of laughing at me or similar, she frowned, then asked:
"I don't remember that we said ever Beyblade, just Blader, Blading ... and now BeyClub ... so, why you used right word?"
"Did I- ..."
I was confused after realizing that she was right. Despite everything, the word was in my vocabulary. And deep inside, I knew that I knew Blading too. But whatever I tried, I wasn't able to recall any memories. Before we could continue our conversation, someone grabbed my shoulders, saying:
"Legacy! We were searching for you for hours! Where were you?"
"I'm sorry, father ... I was with friends."
"You're coming with me now."
"Y- yes, father ..."
Rae waved and looked after me with a pitying expression when we left.
I was lying in my bed. Instead of staying the night at a hotel like every common family, my parents reserved an flat. Though it was already after midnight, I couldn't sleep. I stared at the ceiling, with my thoughts returning to the Hizashi siblings. Rae was the first friend I've ever had. Hideki and Hayato were my first male friends. And I was grateful for this. Though I didn't know if I would ever be ready to tell them the truth. Suddenly, my phone rang. I startled, looked at the display. I didn't know the number, but accepted the call though.
"Yes, Aika speaking?"
I flinched when I heard myself talking. Was I going insane? My thoughts got interrupted when I heard Hideki's familiar voice.
"S- sorry for calling you ... I guess I chose- ..."
"No, it's me! I'm sorry.", I assured quickly, hoping that he won't hang up. I breathed a sigh of relief when he talked again.
"I thought your name's Legacy?"
"It is, but- ... uhm ... anyway. Wait, how do you know my phone number?"
"I- ... I googled you ..."
My heart beat faster when I heard his stuttering.
"You did?"
"Actually, yes ... and I found something that might interest you."
This change of topic was smart. With adding this fact, Hideki blocked the question why. I sighed at this insight, then asked:
"What is it?"
Instead of answering at once, he remained silent for minutes. And when he finally said something, I didn't know more than before.
"I ... don't think that it's good to tell you on the phone. It's ... complicated."
"Why?"
"Well ... I'm- ... uhm ... nothing. Forget about it."
"Hideki, please! I- ..."
But he already hung up. Out of an impulse, I left the room. Not caring about still wearing my nightgown and being barefoot, I went on the street and made my way to the Hizashi family restaurant.
When I arrived, I saw that there was light in one of the rooms. Without overthinking, I picked up a pebble, stroke out and threw it against the window. After there was no reaction, I repeated the action several times, until finally someone opened the window, shouting something I couldn't understand. Though it was dark, I recognized Hideki. Realizing that it was me who threw the pebbles, he seemed to flinch, then said:
"S- sorry, I- ... I didn't mean to insult you ... but what the heck are you doing here?"
"I want to know what you found out!"
"At about two a.m.?!"
"Don't blame me! It was you who called!"
"Guess you're right ..."
He scratched his neck, then disappeared. Shortly after, the door opened and the boy came out.
"So, what did you find out?"
"You're ... I'll show you. Wait here, I'll be right back."
Hideki entered the house again and then came back with a laptop which was pasted up with many different stickers. He booted it up, then typed for a while before showing me a website.
"Look, here."
I skimmed the text, when a passage caught my eye.
... after it was asserted that Mariah Ryder was infertile for an unknown reason, the couple decided to adopt a child, their now fourteen year old daughter, Legacy ...
"No way ..."
I sank onto my knees. I was adopted ... and learned it from someone I hardly knew. On the other side, it made sense. I didn't look like my 'parents'. Both had dark hair, while my was pink. My mother had green and my father brown eyes, while mine were of a bright turquoise. My complexion was different too - their tan skin tone versus my pale. But despite everything, I couldn't believe it.
"Are you okay?", Hideki asked, with his hand on my shoulder. I flinched at this gentle touch, then nodded, forcing myself to smile at him.
"Hey ... you don't have to act tough. It's just natural that you feel down now. And ... I'm here, if you want to talk."
"Thanks ..."
"Wait ... but when you referred to yourself as Aika ... could that be the name you had before?"
"I don't know ... but I also referred to Valt Aoi without ever having heard of him."
"We'll see ... maybe I'll find something in the Internet ..."
He started to type again, and I stared on the screen like hypnotized. But we didn't achieve anything.
"What is you two doing?"
The voice belonged to Rae. She stood there, alongside Hayato, and looked us over.
"We're doing researches.", I replied, folding my arms.
"Why?"
"I'm ... adopted. And I need to know who I am."
"Wow ... we help you!"
"Hey, Rae ... BC Sol will have a training camp nearby, right?", Hideki asked with a pensive expression. His sister was excited when he brought up this fact. Naturally, as her boyfriend was a member ...
"They arrive tomorrow!"
"Perfect."
"Wait ... don't you tell me that we'll- ..."
"Hey, come down! Valt's not that kind of person who gets arrogant because of his high position!"
I hoped so. I hated arrogant people, as I was on an elite school and encountered them every single day. However, I tried to recall memories about Valt. Valt Aoi ... Valt Aoi ... Valt Aoi ... slowly, a picture developed in my mind.
"Wait ... water-blue hair, brown eyes, a mark on the cheek, always cheerful ... is that him? Is that Valt Aoi?"
"It is ... how do you- ... I thought you don't know him?"
"The problem is that I don't know what I know!", I burst out.
"Legacy ..."
I didn't listen. Just ran away. Away from the triplets, away from their home, away from the streets. Finally, I found myself in the forest, standing on a big tree's branch. How did I get up here? I didn't know. I didn't know anything. Tears ran down my cheeks while I clenched my fists and cried out my desperation. After a while, I was finally able to relax a bit. And touched the patch on my left cheek. Out of an impulse, I tore it off. My parents always told me to stick it up to hide the mark I had there. But ... it was a part of me. And for the first time since I could remember, I felt really free. My fears were gone, I jumped, vaulted around another branch and perfectly landed on the ground. I never even thought that I was able of such things, but ... it felt just right. I laughed, though every step on the forest floor hurt. And then, I regained my first memory.
Someone was holding my hand. I was a little girl, walking here barefoot. After stepping on several stones, I started crying. The other person smiled. The face was blurred in my mind, but I just knew that she smiled. Wait ... how did I know that it was a woman? No idea. But I just knew. Then, she said:
"See? I told you that it's not a good idea to come barefoot."
"I know!", I heard myself responding with a childish, innocent voice, still sobbing. The woman hugged me, then asked:
"Want your shoes, Aika?"
So, Aika was actually my name. I liked it. But ... what was my last name? I decided not to care about it now and make my way to the apartment. Suddenly, I saw something flashing up in the woods. Despite everything, I neared. And saw something lying on the ground. It was a Bey. So, I knew Beys too. I picked it up and wiped off the dirt. It's layer was mainly red, with silver, gold and dark blue accents, as I realized. And I remembered it. Infinite Achilles. A right-spin Balance Type. I knew that this was important somehow. But ... how? I looked at the Bey.
What are you trying to tell me?
I got no answer. Naturally. I sighed, then continued my way. Impulsively, I decided to pass the BeyPark. Well ... bad decision, as suddenly, someone snatched Achilles away from me. No, not someone ... they were at least five ... and according to their perfect English I supposed that they weren't from here too, when one of them asked:
"Did you know that this thing's worth gold?"
"Hey! Give it back! It's mine!"
But instead of handing it over, they threw it back and forth above my head. I jumped up, trying to catch it, but failed several times. But then, my anger took control and I shouted:
"ENOUGH! GIVE ACHILLES BACK OR I'LL GET IT BACK MYSELF, BY ANY MEANS!"
They were still making fun of me. I clenched my fists. Normally, I wasn't that kind of person who rushes into a fight without thinking. No, I have to correct: I wasn't that kind of person who rushes into a fight at all, but ... this was different. Because I refused to be that person any longer. Refused to be the girl who was scared of the others, always trying to adapt herself to them, almost breaking under that burden. No, I was ... myself. The way I really was. The person who was hidden behind all the facades the people who called themselves my parents forced me to put up. And I meant what I said. I would get it back by any means. With a cry I rushed forward and violently wrested it from the person who had it at the moment. They swore at me, but I just ran away. They followed me - and they were fast. To the flat, I told myself, then changed direction. My endurance was almost at it's end when I saw the building. But it was enclosed by an iron fence. I scanned the environment. A tree! I grinned, then headed for it, jumped up, caught a branch, pulled myself up on it, then turned around, looked down on them and shouted:
"You can't catch me, fools!"
Then, I leaped over the fence and left them with a dumbfounded expression.
I entered my room through the open window, as I was foolish enough to leave my key there. Despite everything, I felt fantastic - though I had a little scratch on my shin, as I noticed. And that triggered another memory.
Again, I was a little girl. And I was climbing a tree. Suddenly, I lost balance and fell with a scream. But before I could hit the ground, a strong hand's grip closed around my wrist and someone pulled me up on the branch the person was standing on.
"I got you, sweetheart."
Tears ran down my cheeks and I pointed on my scraped knee.
"It hurts so bad!"
"Hey ... it's okay! We'll put a patch on it and it'll be alright. And then, we'll go home and your mother will take care of it, agreed?"
I nodded and stuck a patch on it, then grabbed the other person's hand, smiled and said:
"Thanks, dad"
"For you everything, Aika"
I sank onto my bed and stared at the ceiling. I remembered my parents' actions, heard their voices so clearly, but ... they were still unseizable. How were their names? How did they look like? I hoped that Valt could give me an answer. But for now, I really had to get some sleep.
Author's note - once again ...
So, that was the first chapter! Hope you liked it so far
Any ideas who Aika's parents are? Hm ...
Anyway, do you have some ideas or recommendations what should happen in the story? Just note them, I'm glad about every comment!
- Your Confident Legend -