Kerda: Hey, all, time to know what happens next.
Max: She's getting a little hyper…
Kerda: Nope, I'm just excited. There's going to be some history revealing in this chappie, if you're curious, for a certain someone.
Tyson: Whose? Besides, what does this chapter hold for us anyway?
Kerda: Well, for once, it's supposed to be a bit dramatic. It's about…oppp, never mind. Well, I'll just tell you that this takes a little bit of a twist. Just read on and I'll see you a bit later okay? Oh, and "sexy yaoi-girl", the answer to your question is the fact that Kai and Korea came from the same demon family, so yes, she is. I don't mind giving that out, it's not a secret. Okay, roll'em!
Tyson: Wait! Darina doesn't own BeyBlade or any of its characters or any lyrics that might appear in this chapter. Oh, and thank you to all who reviewed. Please, all readers out there, hope you enjoy this chapter!!!
~Rei's POV~(As you can see most of the story's focused on Rei's point of view)
The next few days I spend mostly in the room I woke up in after the game of Cat-and-Mouse with Kai (you know, the maze). I wanted to let the commotion of me escaping cool off before I tried that stunt again. Max, who once asked me if I really tried to escape, was the one who visited me a lot:
" So, was what Kai said really true?" he asked. I glared at him. On my opinion, most things Kai says to him AREN'T true. Like when Kai said he found me in the condition after the maze!!! I bet he didn't mention anything about throwing fireballs at me or something like that!!!
" Well, sort of," I confessed. I was looking around when I saw the chance and decided to take it."
" Why?" the young clone asked. Is it by any chance because of Kai?" Mostly. I knobbed.
" I'm sorry Max, but…" I tried to explain. Me and your…creator don't exactly get along too well." That's putting it MILDLY of what's between us.
" Oh, Rei, don't go," Max said. Things might change." Easy for you to say. YOU weren't pinned down somewhere a few times and sexually harassed a few times. I knobbed half-heartedly.
Then, Korea came in sometimes. She was a good company also, all joyful and cheerful. Thought she did like to cut herself and me a few times. Usually I'd just be left with my clothes soaked in blood, but I knew where the washing room was, since Max's assumption of this happening was right. Can you believe it?! The scientist who used to live here actually built a WASHING ROOM in this place!
And then there was my Drigger. I'd usually take him out and the bit starts to glow in my hand. Seeing all those people…well, not ALL people, made me feel better. But strangely enough, I didn't see Kai since the whole thing with Panalopy. That was okay by me. I could probably go my whole life without seeing him.
So, now I'm sitting on the bed. It's quiet around the halls. Standing up, I walked over to the window where the stars outside keep shimmering. My eyes widened at such a wonder. The outside noises were quiet and calm. But those sounds weren't all I was listening for…
Now's the time, I decided. It's now or never…
Quietly, I opened the door of 'my' room. The hallway was dark (as always) and, luckily, quiet. Seemed like you could hear a pin drop. And…maybe, you could if you listened carefully.
Grabbing my blade from the bed, I sneaked out of the room. Quietly creeping along the long corridor, I hoped I didn't wake anybody up. I mean I didn't make enough noise for that yet; it's just that I wanted to be careful if this idea was going to work. Walking down the same narrow stairway, I noticed something that made me stop. It was a door. A SPECIFIC, familiar door that I didn't want to remember. It was the one where the maze was located, I believed.
A vision of Kai standing next to it and turning to me rose in my head:
" I'm going to be trying to catch you, so it'll be kind of like tag," the imaginary Kai said to me. I shook my head to get the image out of my mind. Nightmares!!! I'm having NON-pure nightmares!!!
" You won't catch me this time, Demon," I said, opening the door slowly, making sure it didn't make a sound. Cause this time, I'll be out before you can say 'catch me'."
It was rather blackened inside, but I figured it was nighttime here, since this environment is the same as the one in the REAL outside.
I decided to travel through the maze again, when I heard something in the distance. No, it wasn't Kai, but something else (thank god). I saw a light somewhere in the distance. That brightness immediately captured my curiosity. It was the most beautiful thing I ever saw in my life. I didn't know why, but my mind told me I just HAD to see those colors for myself up close.
Damn me, why do I have to be so curious? But, I decided to follow my mind and go on to the burning sunset-like light. Around was darkness of the night. Silent sounds once again filled my ears. I swear I smelled the trees and the grass. Maybe my senses are even sharper at night!
As I neared the light, I realized where it came from. A shed. The light shone through a window and barely hearable humming came from inside. Strange…
Nearing the shed, I noticed the humming stopped. I wondered if I should go inside. Maybe I should…
Opening the
door, I stepped inside. At first it seemed dark and empty, like those halls,
but then I heard something sneak up behind me…correction, SOMEONE!
" Halt, who are you, stranger?" a
soft, but demanding voice said. I turned around and the lights switched on.
Behind me stood a very young-looking guy, but I wouldn't have been surprised if
he was reaching my age. The boy had strangely green hair, which covered the
side of his face, blue eyes, and was wearing some blue, long overcoat with a
red long-sleeved shirt. And in his hand was a shooter. With a bey blade that he
was pointing at me.
" Who are you?" the boy demanded. He rose up his shooter even further. He was trying to threaten me with a bey blade? Okay, we'll do it his way! I took out my Drigger. If this kid wanted a battle, he'd get one!
" So, you have a bey blade, too, huh?" the green-haired guy asked smugly, loading his shooter. Let's have a bey battle, whoever you are!" I sighted and shook my head "no".
" I'm sorry, I can't," I said. I didn't exactly yet acquire a shooter." The kid gave me a surprised look, but then turned serious again. He grabbed something from the nearby table and threw it me. At first it seemed like a stick, but then I realized it was…a shooter.
" Thanks," I caught it. Loading the shooter, I stared at my new opponent. He seemed to be from some foreign county, maybe France. Well, he would be on EARTH!
I chuckled at myself. The other gave me a surprised look.
" What's so funny?" he asked. I knobbed: Nothing!
" Fine then, if you think this is so funny, then lets test you out in your dish and see if you'll be laughing later!" the French-looking kid said. Dish? Okay!
I looked dazed as I followed the guy into some room with a…bey blade dish? Standing next to it, I gave him a confused look? This guy was serious? About the blading, I mean. I guess so.
" Okay, are you ready to battle now?" my opponent asked me. I smiled and knobbed, raising my shooter above the dish.
" Then let it RIP!!!" the kid said and we both let go of our blades. Mine circled around his, while that one span in place.
I advanced on the other's blade. The second blade took the beating and went for its own attack. Our bey blades went head to head with each other.
" You know you'll never win without a strategy," the stranger told me. Come out, Unicolyon!!! Show this guy what it means to really blade." A GIGANTIC horse bit rose up in front of me from the dish. This bit beast was bigger than ANY I've ever seen, except for Enrique's bit. That one was almost as big.
" You think you're the only one with a bit beast here?" I asked, my eyes narrowing dangerously. That always happened when I was intense. The pupils in my eyes became thinner, which made my friends think of me as an even more of a tiger type.
" Go, Drigger," I yelled and my bit beast friend, the White Tiger came out. The other stared in surprise.
Our blades smashed head to head again, this time with our bit beasts out. The White Tiger was trying to get Unicolyon, as they both began to have a dog fight…errr, bit beast fight.
" Not so fast, Unicolyon, Earth Shake attack!!!" the kid yelled. That was my moment to strike!!!
" Tiger Claw attack," I also yelled after the kid and our bit beast went into the intensity even more. My bit was trying to get his and his was trying to get mine, when…
BEEEPPP!!! BEEEPPP!!! UHH, what is that SOUND?! It's ear paralyzing.
" Uh-oh," the French look-alike said as he suddenly opened up his hand and Unicolyon disappeared. The blade went into his palm and the guy ran out of the room. I can't believe it!!! The guy just walks away in the middle of our battle!!!
" Hey, where're you going?" I asked. He stopped for a second and looked at me. His expression was more softened now.
" Duty calls, sorry," he said running out. We'll finish the match sometime later, okay?" Some time later I intend to already be gone! The White Tiger went back into my blade and I picked it up. Following the green-haired kid, I saw the guy standing over some…computer!? In this little shed!? I came up and saw him put his blade into the computer.
" Okay, Unicolyon, scan it," he said, taking out what seemed to be an ear radio. He put it on. Suddenly, the screen began to get blurry and the kid typed madly away, ANOTHER serious expression on his face. He sort of reminded me of Kenny's energetic typing.
" Hey, what are you doing?" I asked from behind him. The other turned around and gave me a surprised look, but then turned back to typing like his life depended on it!
" You're still here?" he asked. Where ELSE would I be in just five seconds?
" Yah, I wanted to know what you were doing," I came closer to the screen. I'm Rei, by the way."
" Oh, I'm Oliver," the other said, not looking up. Suddenly, an image of Korea popped onto the screen as it showed her running and laughing. Errrr…
The image flashed a few times and the screen went purplish.
" Okay, good, scanning complete," the guy FINALLY stopped typing and sighted. Good job, Unicolyon, rest for today." Oliver took his blade out of the computed and put in into the pocket of his long trench coat.
" Sorry I can't finish the battle today, my bit beast and my blade had enough for now," he then apologized.
" That's okay," I said, looking at Drigger. Oliver came up and looked at my blade also.
" Your bit beast is very graceful on its feet," he said. That's a good quality for a bit to have."
" Thanks, that meant a lot to the White Tiger," I said. The other flashed me thumbs up.
" It's been a while since I had company," Oliver said, turning back to the computer. I've been wrapped up in my work for now a month or two, probably never leaving this place." If THAT'S the case, how did he survive?
" But, then, what did you eat?" I asked, slightly surprised. Oliver gave me a funny look.
" Oh, I don't need to eat," he said. Let me guess…
" I'm a clone," Oliver continued. I answered the thirty-dollar question!!!
" Oh," I said. Did Kai create you like he created Max?"
" I see you already met Kai and Max," Oliver exclaimed. Yes, Kai is my creator, as well as Max's." Figures. Next thing I'll see is a double of me walking around.
" But if you were created by Kai," I begun. What are you doing all the way here where he rarely is?"
" That's my job," Oliver replied. You see, I do my work in this little shed. That was what I was created for, Rei. That's why I can't leave this place." The guy sounded like someone who tried to talk another person into doing something!
" Well, what is your job?" I asked of curiosity. What would a person be doing locked up in a small shed ALL the time?
" You saw that file of Korea that appeared?" Oliver turned to the screen. Have you met her?" Umm, maybe…thought I hoped I didn't.
" Yes," I said, unsure of what to say now. She's very…umm, UNIQUE! Yah, that's it!" Oliver sighted.
" I know, I know," he said, now typing something. She's a bit insane, isn't she?" A BIT?!
" Well, yes," I said, thinking of that 'bit' she did to me.
" Right," Oliver said. So, my job is to record what's happening with Korea most of the time. I need to do so, since she needs to be protected." Huh?
" So you're kind of like her secret babysitter?" I asked, feeling slightly strange.
" Well, I guess you could call me that," the robot laughed. But I'm actually just a watcher, you know, to report if something hurt her." Umm, okay, but what about when she hurt somebody else?!
" My blade and Unicolyon here are great help at this," Oliver continued. Whenever there's a file shut down, they open up the file and fix the virus that caused that problem." Oh, THAT'S why you stuck your blade into the computer.
Here, I'll show you," Oliver turned on the screen. There was Korea, probably a few years younger, running over the grass...happily…and trying to catch a butterfly.
" Wow, she looks…cheerful here," I said, staring at the screen.
" Uh-huh," Oliver said, pressing some other button. Look here, too." I saw Korea brushing some doll's blonde hair. She hummed to herself as she did so. This did NOT seem like Korea. For two reasons. One is she'd probably already chop the doll's head off and the other is because she didn't have her favorite thing with her in this picture, the knife!
" She seems really happy here, too," I said, staring surprised at the screen. Oliver saw my shock and sighted again.
" You know, Rei," he said. Korea…hadn't always been…you know, this crazy." Huh, did I hear him right? Was there a time when Korea was NORMAL?
" When she was much younger, she used to be like every other child," Oliver continued. Something else HARD to believe!
" What do you mean, I thought she was always like this," I said, turning to him. What happened to her then?"
" You see, Korea used to have a dog," the other said. She loved that dog for some unknown reason. She always used to talk to it and to play with it. They were inseparable, like a sister and a little brother. The dog kept coming closer and closer to her heart.. You could never have seen a day without her and it together, rolling around the grass happily, eating together, even SLEEPIGN together. Here, you'll see." The screen flashed again and a motion picture of Korea and some golden and white dog laughing (Korea, that is, because the dog was WOOFING happily) and rolling along the grass appeared.
" Okay, go on," I said, seeing what the green-haired meant.
" One day, a gang of kids attacked her dog," Oliver said. Nobody knows exactly what they did to it, but after it was found, it had to go to the hospital. It didn't survive. Korea was very upset about her dog when she found out it died. She cried for days and nothing calmed her down. Nothing filled the hole in her heart." That's sad.
" A week later, one morning, the others living with Korea noticed she was acting sort of funny," there was a resume. She didn't cry anymore, but seemed rather happy. At first it seemed like a good thing, that maybe she got over her loss! But, then others started to notice she always carried a knife with her. And how her room was always dirty of what seemed to be blood." Oh, that's when Korea's nasty little habits come in.
" Soon after, Korea started cutting other people, since before she only secretly cut herself," Oliver said. And she's been that way ever since."
" But is she from earth?" I asked unsure.
" Yes, I see you've heard of that planet," Oliver exclaimed. Not many natives have in this place." I didn't just HEAR of it, I LIVED on it!
RIINNNGGGG. Some other horrible sound came from OUTSIDE this time. Oliver tensed up.
" I need to run out to get something," he said. I'll be back in half an hour, okay? If you want, you could stay here and watch some more videos of Korea on tape. Just put them in and click the button that says 'play'." He pointed to a shelf in the corned.
WOW, and usually there're a lot of BOOKS around. Now it's videos cassettes. I turned to see Oliver waving to me as he ran out the door.
Turning to the other tapes, I tired to figure which should I watch first. Picking one of the cassettes on the lower shelf, I put it in and pressed some strangely-neon green button. Not those drinks' color!
The screen turned on and showed Korea typing happily on the computer, probably the age BEFORE she went mental. Taking that tape out, I put in another one. This one showed Korea drawing a cat. Hey, she was good at drawing for a kid! I saw her color it. Wow, she really DID seem normal before she became crazed.
I put the cassette, when suddenly; my Drigger blade fell out of my pocket. Oh, god, I forgot to secure it. The blade rolled over behind the shelf. Bending down, I saw the blade bump against something and stop. I picked Drigger up.
" Sorry, buddy," I said; now safely securing it away. Then, my curiosity took the best of me once more as I bend down to see what blocked my bey blade's way. It was something black…another cassette. Geez, I should have known.
Picking up the dusty cassette, I looked at it. Apart from seeming rather old, this one looked like it was forgotten for a long time. So, I guess, let's try it!
I slid in the cassette and pressed play. At first it dimmed, but then a playground appeared on the screen. I saw some kids with small DEMON wings at their back playing tag. Then I noticed something. The small figure of Korea was hiding behind the playground in an alley. And tears poured out of her eyes.
" Why is she…crying?" I wondered out loud. I didn't get a reply, so I just watched the screen. Korea got up and started to walk away, face down so people wouldn't see her tears.
" Hey, freako, stay away from out playground," one of the playing kds yelled and the rest…KNOBBED?! Korea didn't say anything, she just kept on silently crying and picked up the pace.
" Yah, you'd better leave, you weirdo," somebody shouted after her. How could they treat her like that?!
The crying girl went behind an abbey again and sat down, head on her knees. I stared in sympathy as the she sobbed on her lap.
" W-why d-d-doesn't anybody l-like me?" she choked out, while sobbing. N-nobody w…wants to play with me o-o-or even t-talk t-o me." Poor Korea! No wonder she's crying!
Korea got up and the screen went blank. Suddenly, before I could take out the cassette, it turned on again. Is this a double feature?
The screen showed Korea in her pajamas in front of some maid.
" I'm sorry, Korea, but…" the maid didn't see happy. We don't know if Sparky will survive." Korea's face filled with tears again.
" Sparky has to survive," she said, tears escaping her eyes. Who's Sparky?
" We don't know yet, dear," the woman said. The dog is at a very bad state. Now, go on to bed, we'll know in the morning how it will go." So, SPARKY was that dog.
I saw Korea step into some LARGE room with great furniture and looks. Korea was probably rich when she was on earth. But…I looked down. That didn't stop her sadness.
The girl laid herself in bed and pulled her covers up. Silent tears escaped her eyes.
" Please don't let Sparky die," she whispered, burrowing herself even more under the covers.
This is the story of a girl
She's so upset! Is it because she's lonely, I wonder?
Who cried a river and drowned the whole world
" I wish I had somebody to talk to as least for once, so I won't feel so…alone," Korea said, closing her tear-drying eyes.
And while she looks so sad in photographs
I watched Korea fall asleep as the screen went blank again, but I stood there staring at it, still. I knew something else's going to show up.
I absolutely love her…when she smiles
I was roved right when the screen turned on again and it showed that it was morning and Korea was resting on the bed. Suddenly, the door opened and Korea woke up. She sat up and glared at the maid.
" Is Sparky okay?" she asked slowly. The maid didn't seem happy.
How many days in the year she woke up with hope
" I'm sorry, Mistress Korea," the maid hung her head sadly. Korea's eyes opened wide, filled with tears, which poured down her face.
" You mean…" Korea's happy eyes in the other tapes were now shaking of the reality.
But she only found tears
" Korea…" my eyes also shook I felt so sorry for Korea. Her expression was hurt, not the type of hurt when you fall down or bump your head against something. The type of hurt you'd experience as if your whole world just collapsed.
And I can be so insincere
Korea burst into tears and ran past the maid out of the room. She ran down the steps.
Making the promises never for real
She ran past another servant, who looked at her sadly, too.
As long as she stands there waiting
Outside, it was raining, but Korea didn't seem to notice.
Wearing the holes in soles of her shoes
Her bare feet splashed against the puddles of wet grass on the ground and her hair soaked as it spread behind her.
How many days disappear
I wanted t help her, but I knew I couldn't change the past. I couldn't help that little girl, out in the rain, which mixed with her tears.
You look in the mirror so how do you choose
Your clothes never wear as well the next day
Suddenly, the girl tripped over a rock and fell into a puddle of rain and mud.
And your hair never falls out quite the same way
You never seem to run out of things to say
She lay there for a few seconds, and then got up. Her eyes were red. I could see she cried out a lot.
This is the story of a girl
Who cried a river and drowned the whole world
Somebody ran up to her in the rain. It was the maid! She picked up the fallen child.
And while she looked so sad in photographs
I absolutely love her when she smiles
" It's okay, child, it'll be okay," she whispered to the small Korea, who pressed closer against her, still crying.
How many lovers would stay
Just to put up with this every day and all day
" Korea…" I whispered, my eyes wide from seeing that. The picture suddenly went blank AGAIN.
How do we wind up this way
Watching our mouths for the words that we say
I sighted. Seeing another part turn on, I watched carefully. It showed the rain still there. Korea was sitting at the windowsill.
As long as we stand here waiting
Wearing the clothes of the souls that we choose
No water got inside the now dark, cold looking room. Except for the few drops that came from Korea's now reddish eyes.
How do we get there today
If we're walking' to far from the price of the shoes
" Rain, rain, go away," suddenly the girl begin to sing. Save hurt for another day." I guess it really got to her.
Your clothes never wear as well the next day
And your hair never falls out quite the same way
You never run out of things to say
The maid came in, with a tray of food in her hands. She set it on the table and came beside Korea.
This is the story of a girl
Who cried a river and drowned the whole world
" Mistress Korea, you must eat, you'll starve yourself to death," the woman said. Korea didn't even look up. She just kept staring out into the rain.
And while she looked so sad in photographs
I absolutely love her when she smiles
The screen went lank and I finally took out the cassette. I looked at it and then put it into my pocket. Oliver obviously didn't know about this tape, since he couldn't tell me much about it.
"And your clothes never wear as well the next day," I sang to myself a song I knew. And your hair never falls out quite the same way. But you never seem to run out of things to say." I turned to the door. I was now having second thoughts about leaving. If I leave, then I leave her to go worse than she already is. But if I don't, I may become like her.
She really cared for that dog. More than for her life probably. I guess it was her only friend.
" My grandfather was right," I spoke. Loneliness is one of the WORST things in the world to experience." Korea experienced it all her life…and look at her now.
" I need to talk to Korea again," I said with a surprisingly determined look on my face.
" About what?" a voice asked me from the doorway. Um…
" Oliver!" I didn't notice how fast time went. The guy's QUICK!!!
" Well, I'm all set," Oliver said, coming up to the computer. So, do you want to stay, Rei?" I shook my head "no".
" I need to go home," Rei said, turning around. But I have one more thing to do before I escape this place.
" Come visit me sometimes, okay?" Oliver asked, putting his hand on my shoulder. Strange. I thought a robot's hand would feel cold and lifeless, but Oliver's felt warm and lively.
" Sure, if I'm allowed," we both laughed and I walked out. Bye, Oliver! See you sometime!"
" You too," Oliver said and I left. I ran past the maze, where I ran away from Kai. And past the bush I hid in from that Demon…
~Normal POV~
Rei ran past the bushes, where a pair of brown eyes stared at him.
" Go home, Rei," a soft voice came as it echoed in the wind. Go…home…" The figure disappeared in the shadows, leaving the maze as silent as before…
Who was the mysterious figure? Will Rei decided to tell Korea she's not alone? Or will he become insane before he even gets to her? Find out in the next chapter.
Tyson: Err…okay, I see the problem.
Kerda: Okay, MAYBE it a TINY BIT of a crappy chapter, but hey, it's made to be dramatic.
Kai: You can say that again.
Karda: Poor Korea. I never knew. Max, what should you say about this?
Max: Um…TILL NEXT CHAPTER!
Everyone but Max: HEY!(*curtains close*)
