Chiarascuro

Author's note: Chiarascuro is an interplay of light and shadows in any given work of visual art; the artist uses the light and shadows in order to create a more dramatic impact on the viewers who happen to see their work hung out in art galleries or in one-man shows throughout the world. Peter Paul Rubens is one such artist. Bookie, Asaya may be too perfect for your taste, but she's got one heck of a LOT of shadows beneath her innocent façade. It is for this reason the Guild called her their beloved specimen. She's the perfect emotionless assassin, if they just "switched" her on just right. And why even the rest of her teammates are scared of her. NOBODY wants to get on her bad side. Which Dr. Leimrey is willing to do just for the sake of their pursuit of science, and this is what makes even Judy Mizuhara sick. There are only TWO of them born in this wold. Who is the other one? The one who holds the Key…

"WHAAT?! Why didn't you tell us SOONER?" Takao said, blinking.

"…" Kai was SD. "The last thing I REMEMBERED was that you were SNORING fitfully in your BED. How could I even think of disturbing your beauty SLEEP?"

"I do not SNORE!" SD Takao protested indignantly.

"How is he?" Max asked Kai.

"He's doing fine. At least that's what their manor's private doctor told me," Kai answered him.

"He's a grandson of Lao Kon?" Professor had his hand on his chin. "Wow…"

"Who is Lao Kon, anyway?" Tsukiyo asked.

"He's a very wealthy philantrophist and respected businessman, and is very well known in the French inner political circle. He also deals with antiques, and his businesses range from shipping to marine ecological bioresearch, he's always been fascinated by the sea, even as a child in White Tiger Valley. I guess that's where Lei got his adventuring genes." Professor nodded. "He suddenly disappeared from White Tiger Valley 19 years ago due to some strange reasons unknown."

"It was the height of the White Tiger and Black Tiger conflict," Kai put in. "Lei's family was a very influential clan in the matters of the whole White Tiger Village. I guess they were nobility then, too, of some sort; they had been protecting the White Tiger bit for many generations now. In fact, it's their family treasure."

"This is getting more and more confusing by the minute," Takao said, frowning. "So…Lei's still back at his grandfather's manor…"

"…" Asaya was just quiet as she sat on the couch beside Professor.

"HEY! We were beginning to worry you might not come out at all," Max told her, grinning. "So…how is everything?"

"I've finished them already, with Professor's kind help with the calculations," Asaya said softly.

"REALLY?! Great!" SD Takao was practically delirious with happiness. "Is Dragoon fine now?"

"Yes." Asaya reached into her Bey tech kit and retrieved a new improved Draciel and Dragoon. "Meet Holtz Draciel and Faust Dragoon. Your reborn Bey Blades."

Max and Takao looked down at their Beys Asaya held in her hands. Their eyes grew sparkly.

"WOW!"

Draciel had become sleeker, 4 green jewels set about the central emerald crystalline bit, and its attack ring looked like hardened flippers of a sea turtle that were curved slightly at the ends. It was deep green in color.

"Don't let those flipper looks fool you, it's quite a deadly attack weapon," Asaya said. "The downward curves at the ends are for upliftment, and Draciel can now fight in ANY kind of Bey stadium, the air uplift caused by the flippers' unique design tending for more stabilized center of gravity, adjusting slightly via microsensors so it can adapt to any fighting environment. The armor is high grade, typical Guild Base. It seems lighter, but actually, Draciel's defense has been accelerated for up to 400%, attack up 450%, speed up 550%. No Bey can literally sweep it off the ring. Zero Garrox running point blank into it would make it shoot off the Bey stadium."

Dragoon had also become sleeker, 4 blue jewels set about the central aquamarine central bit, its attack ring looking like a set of razor-zharp stylized wings of a dragon, set with ice blue attack "spurs" in alternating fashion. It was dark blue in color.

"Handle with care! Dragoon's attack power has been increased quite dramatically, and his lightened Guild Base armor makes for easy whirlwind/dervish up and down the Bey stadium. The attack ring has been reduced slightly so as not to hinder its speed ability, but, that does not mean that you can't control the Dragoon once you unleash him out on the field. He responds quickly, and can strike twice as fast as lightning if you so choose. Defense up 320% from previous Phantom Dragoon, attack up 500%, speed up 620%. The only Bey faster than he is Lei's Gran Driger."

"WOW!" Takao and Max exclaimed again. They got it from Asaya and were looking at their Beys with mingled happiness and awe.

"Your Shooters have been worked on, too. They're genuine Skyscythes. Please handle them with care," Asaya said, handing each of them their new Shooters.

Max's had an easy grip handle with the Green Tortoise wrapped about it in a stylized manner. A small jewel was set on top of it. Takao's got a similarly designed one, except that it had the Blue Dragon wrapped about it.

"…" Tsukiyo was blinking.

Professor grinned. "Don't go traipsing around just yet, we still have to keep them for our 'secret weapons'!"

SD Takao nodded, his eyes closed happily. "Of COURSE! I wouldn't want to tell our secrets to the whole world even if you paid my weight in POCKY!"

"…" Kai was just quiet.

Asaya was smiling happily (Tomoyo Daidouji style) over Max and Takao's giddy whoops of excitement when he came up beside her and got his ruby crystalline central bit from his pocket and gave it to her without a word. Asaya blinked up at him in surprise.

"For now I shall trust you," Kai told her quietly. His red brown eyes gazed into her clearest amethyst own intently. "Please make Dranzer stronger."

"…" Asaya's eyes filled up with tears, then nodded, smiling. "Of course Kai. When do you want Dranzer to be reborn?"

"As soonest," Kai replied. "He IS the Phoenix, remember?"

"Of course." Asaya nodded again. "I'll begin on him right away!"

She leaves. Kai was just quiet when a voice pops into his head.

*^*Porcelain dolls are just SO delicate, aren't they? But when they shatter, their shards cut way TOO deep.*^*

"!" Kai blinked.

*^*She is much of the shadows as she is much of the light. Beware, my kind friend, BEWARE.*^*

Professor, Max, and Takao were oblivious to Kai, who had suddenly gone deathly pale. He was shaking.

***That voice…so…***

"Hey Kai! We're to meet Lei over at his grandfather's house, right?" Takao said.

"…"

"Kai?"

"Yeah, Kinogu." Kai shakes his head and went to the door. "I'll just go out for a walk."

"???" Max, Takao, and Professor watched him leave. They all suddenly turned SD, their eyes little beads (except for Professor).

"What was THAT all ABOUT?" Professor asked in amazement.

Kai walked down the streets as soon as he stepped outside the hotel's revolving glass doors. A man was looking at him from way atop the building, smiling.

"What would you do if eveything would be suddenly thrust into complete DARKNESS, Hiwatari? Ha ha…you've met her and yet you don't even know IT! And her broken wings shall then be shattered, and all you and your friends can do is to COWER before her anger. We shall meet, when the light and shadows show the path to the Goddess and the moon turns to BLOOD."

So saying, the man disappears, his laughter echoing in the stilness.