Well, a new chappie of Future Hope! Finally! I hope it doesn't suck too much...

Future Hope

It was night. Highlighted by the moonlight, three figures crept through a military base on the border of China. They stopped only to see whether they were in danger of being caught, and then continued to slip like shadows through the danger.

"I hope this goes in our favor..." muttered one of the people.

"All we can hope is we don't get caught and imprisoned again," chuckled one of the others.

As these three people stepped into the light, it was obvious to who they were; one had blue eyes and blonde hair, one other that looked older than the others had mahogany (AN: Sounds better than brown) coloured eyes and hair that was two shades of blue, and one other had glasses on top of his head and a laptop tightly held under his arm. Max had an obviously concerned look on is face.

"Hey Kai, where did Tyson get to?"

Kai blinked. "I don't know, probably to find the nearest payphone to dial up for some pizza."

Kenny didn't look amused. "Don't joke about this. We need to get over the Chinese border before daybreak and that's just a few hours away..." he looked skyward, noticing that the horizon was already turning a deep crimson colour. Kai nodded and gestured to them to continue moving forward.

Meanwhile, in China, Ray was just waking up. It was only about five in the morning but he naturally got up early. Still half asleep he yawned and snuggled closer to the heat source in his arms. 'Wait a second, heat source?' he questioned himself. His eyes immediately shot open and looked downwards, only to see Mariah, with her arms around him, her face tear-stained, but a slight smile on her lips. Ray turned red and wriggled uncomfortably before thinking for a minute and calming down. 'Oh yes, now I remember...' (AN: THEY WERE NOT DOING ANYTHING. If you want to see Ray and Mariah do something see my other fic)

(Flashback moment)

Mariah was pacing around their house, looking stressed. Ray tried to stop her from doing so, but she just shook him off.

"Mariah, stop pacing! You're worrying yourself over nothing!"

Mariah's head shot up, he could see she was glaring at him "Nothing to worry about? NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT! Ray, get your mind out of the gutter! There is plenty to worry about! Creepy robot human things are trying to destroy the Earth, and then some girl shows up in a town where we are the only things living within miles and saves out hides with her bit beast!" Mariah practically screamed at him.

"Just calm down Mariah, everything will be alright."

"No it won't, it is useless to resist demise, and ours will be at the hands of those A.I. units that have destroyed our lives... and my family," she said softly, before tears started to run down her cheeks.

Ray sighed, stood up and walked over to her, putting his arms around her. Mariah sniveled a bit before snuggling closer to him.

"I've already told you Mariah, everything will be alright, and..." he looked down so he could face her "... I won't let anything hurt you. You are the most important person in my life and you know it." He said, smiling down at her. "Plus, because of that girl, we have found out that our bit beasts could be used as a weapon against those things."

Mariah looked happier before tightening her arms around his waist. She felt his hand under her chin and she looked up. His amber coloured eyes danced with mischief and he leaned his face down towards hers. After what was way too long in Mariah's opinion, his lips brushed hers in a light kiss. She leaned her face more upwards, silently asking him to deepen the kiss, he did so and Mariah felt every nerve in her body sizzle with the fire of a new emotion she couldn't describe. Finally he broke away, staring into her passion clouded eyes as he ran his fingers through her hair. Ray laughed at the dopey-looking expression on her face before carrying her over to her bed.

"Now get some sleep."

"Oh... okay."

Ray laughed once again and walked over to his bed. Mariah smiled somewhat evilly as an idea popped into her head, this was going to be good... she got off her bed and walked towards him. He rolled over and gave her a questioning glance. Smiling slyly she sat on his bed and then slipped under the covers. Ray immediately felt himself go red as she slipped her arms around his waist. 'Right, not that I mind...' he thought before putting his arms around her shoulders. They both fell asleep like this.

(End flashback)

Ray was still lost in thought when he felt the body in his embrace shift slightly. He looked down to see Mariah staring up at him. Her eyes shining with what could only be true love.

"Good morning, Ray," she said slyly, grinning a bit.

"Good morning to you too," he said back, his tone equally as teasing.

"We'd better get breakfast and then get to work," she said.

"Yeah, I suppose so." He unwillingly let her go and then rolled out of the bed.

Highlighted by the early morning sunrise, a figure wearing black leather everything, this time including a long jacket and beret (AN: I used to have a black leather beret... it looks really good with pigtails!), and wearing her shoulder-length red ringlets in pigtails (AN: told you) sat on a rooftop. She also had a cat paw prints tattooed on the top of each of her breasts, shown off due to the top she was wearing. Her bit beast Mystellara, or Stella as she called her, sat by her side, curled up in a catlike way. The purple aurora shining off this creature illuminated the fuchsia-coloured highlights in its master's hair and also showed off the features of her face. The girl blinked her large amber eyes and said "Stella, it is almost time to leave." The beast purred and then stood up, letting its master to climb on it's back. "You know where to go, Stella." Mystellara purred again, before crouching and jumping to the next rooftop.

Meanwhile, Ray and Mariah were prowling the streets of their old neighborhood, looking for their enemy, They had their beyblades clutched tightly in their hands, now knowing that their before thought invulnerable enemy had a weakness within their bit beasts. However, quiet everything seemed to be, Ray could not help but feel a strange sense of foreboding. 'Something isn't right..' he thought, before noticing Mariah had a concerned look on her face, seemingly worried that he was so distant. He gave her a reassuring smile and grabbed her left hand with his right one. She smiled and continued to walk. They soon came to a fork in the alleyway they were traveling down. Ray looked down at Mariah and she looked up at him.

"It would be more efficient if we split up."

"Ray, I don't like that idea," Mariah warned.

"It will be quicker than just going down one and then the other, and besides if we need help we can just yell, this place looks like it would echo."

"I suppose so..." Mariah whispered, unwillingly letting go of his hand. "I'll take the right."

Kai looked down on the village that Ray called home; it was in a complete wreck. Buildings were destroyed, everything was deathly silent and nothing moved. Max looked down on it with the same grim face Kai had on. Kenny just stood there with his mouth hanging open, horrified by the destruction that had occurred there.

"I don't like this, I have a feeling that something is going to go wrong."

"We'd better hurry and find Ray then."

They all nodded to one another before running down the hill leading to the entrance of the ruined town.

Ray felt queasy; that uneven feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you knew you were not alone and yet could see nothing. He tiptoed slowly down the alley, making sure not to make a sound. Suddenly a twig snapped behind him. He spun around and a look of terror came across his face. The last thing he remembered was calling out Driger, Driger being beaten, and then a cold hand grabbing him around the neck...

Mariah spun around, she knew something had happened to Ray, although she couldn't prove it. It was simply the uneasy feeling you felt when you knew something was happening. She started to sprint down the alley at top speed. She soon got to the left turn where they had entered, but ignored it completely and ran down that path Ray and taken. She soon came to the horrifying reality unfolding before her; Driger was lying in a pool of blood on the ground, and Ray was being strangled by one of the A.I.'s. "NO!" she screamed and threw her beyblade at the creature, unthinking. Galux emerged from the blade and pounced at the monster, only to be slapped away. Galux landed near Driger, a huge gash running down its side. Mariah was unaware that tears were streaming down her cheeks as she just threw and hit the creature with anything she could grab. Ray was still struggling but very weakly. On an impulse of stupidity, Mariah jumped onto the creature's back. It screamed in rage and used its other, free hand to hit her away. She hit a wall, landing her full body weight on her right hip. She screamed in pain, holding her hip. She was sure she was finished when suddenly...

"DRANZER!"

"DRACIEL!"

The two familiar bit beasts flew down and attacked the creature, it screamed in pain and them dissipated. Mariah tried to stand up to get to Ray, but her injured hip prevented her from doing so. When she finally managed to stand, she limped over to Ray, to make sure he was all right. He was breathing, but very weakly. She sighed in relief and held him close to her, and she looked upwards. Kai and Max stood on the rooftop, both holding their beyblades in their hands. She then noticed Kai was staring at something. She turned her head the other way, only to see the girl they had seen the previous day standing there, glaring back at Kai. She then looked down at Ray and Mariah before running, away, her bit beast following. Kai looked down at her.

"Who was that?" he demanded of Mariah.

"Who... knows?" she said back, still surprised.

"Well I am going to find out!" said Kai, launching his blade, Dranzer immediately appeared and turned, allowing Kai go climb onto it's back and fly after the girl. Mariah realized that Ray was also staring up at where the girl had been.

"You know, I cannot get over how much you two look alike, Mariah," he whispered.

Kai was still chasing the red-haired girl in front of him, when she suddenly surprised him by looking behind her, and staying put on a rooftop. Kai landed and looked at her questioningly.

"Kai, I need to tell you something."

Kai blinked in surprise, wondering how she knew his name.

"Do now worry, all will be revealed now," she said, reading his expression.

"Well, then spill the beans, what's up with you? What is your name and where do you come from?" he questioned.

She sighed before answering, and smiling slightly- almost tiredly. "My name is Trinity, and boy do I have things to tell you."

I'm happy with the way that turned out! Sorry to leave you hanging like this, but the next chappie should be up soon.