The Dranon Heiress

Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade

A/N: Ok, so the fourteenth chapter is up and this is going to be MUSH. Yeah, mush, because that's what my brain is right now. I got the day off school because I was sick (came down with something the doctor called 'viral illness' and now I can't talk) and so I had plenty of time to sleep and muck around with the computer. Yes, I love my computer.

---- Chapter Fourteen ----

"Sshh!" a voice hissed. "It's this way!"

Two figures crept along the stone corridor quietly, ducking and weaving just to be inside the shadows. Both of them were wearing black and had their faces shrouded in large hoods. The second, slighter figure tapped the first on the shoulder.

"What are we looking for exactly?"

"Dunno," the first replied, stopping dead. "I just felt something here and so came to check it out. I suppose it's gonna be something good."

"Great."

There was a definite note of sarcasm in Miyuki's voice. Whenever Naoko heard something, it was generally carried by the wind or through stone. It was usually right as well, only that when she explained it, she seemed to not know exactly what it meant. Then they would have to find out by randomly going places until she knew.

"It sounded a bit like Rika, if you know what I mean," Naoko added thoughtfully as they continued creeping along the corridor. "Lots of snakes hissing and all. But was human, it really sounded like humans. Problem is, the sounds are underground."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

Miyuki rolled her eyes. The last time Naoko had been 'positive' about the position of whatever they were looking for, they had been stuck in a cave somewhere to the east of the mansion. But still, they had gone this far already and Miyuki could FEEL something going on near here. She gripped her Beyblade closer to her chest and the bit began to glow. Simultaneously, Naoko began recalling the voices in the air, which only she had heard.

[Help]

[Let me out]

[HELP]

[LET ME OUT]

She jerked violently, gasping. Naoko was right - it DID sound like Rika. But she was in Japan with Chika, so how could she be in the mansion? She shuddered and Naoko opened her eyes again. Taking a moment to regain her senses, Miyuki slouched against the wall and brought her knees to her chest.

"I heard them," she managed to say. "I know what you mean now."

"See? They sounded so much like Rika, I was freaked out the first time."

"I'm not sure if I want to find out about it now," Miyuki whispered. "What happens if something dangerous is going on wherever these voices come from? What will we do?"

"Get up," Naoko snapped. "Come on, we've gone too far to back away. We'll deal with things as they come. Let's just find where they are."

But something inside Naoko told her that they should not have come.

--------

The room they found was made entirely of stone and was HUGE. Large, human- sized tubes filled with bubbling liquid, not unlike the ones from a corny, sci-fi film, were lined up against the walls. Machines were wired in to them and were beeping away, data flooding through them at a million bytes per second.

"Holy shit, what IS this place?" Naoko gasped.

"Dunno," Miyuki replied, going up to one of the first tubes. "It seems like a scene out of an action movie. Do you still here the voices, Naoko?"

"A little." She looked to the other side of the room. "They come from over there."

"Let's go then."

They walked a little faster than they would have normally, seeing as their nerves and senses were currently going haywire. What would they find, once they had reached the source of the voices? What was going to happen? As they walked, Miyuki noticed that there were eight particular tubes that looked as if they had been broken.

"Naoko," she hissed. "Take a look at this."

"What?" Naoko hurried over a peered at the clipboard. "Oh my god -"

SPECIMEN #1: DRANON, CHIKA - EMOTION: HAPPINESS

They ran to the next one, then another and went to all of the broken tubes, reading the information on the clipboard. Miyuki was starting to feel sick. They read:

SPECIMEN #2: DRANON, CHIKA - EMOTION: LOVE

SPECIMEN #3: DRANON, CHIKA - EMOTION: ENVY

SPECIMEN #4: DRANON, CHIKA - EMOTION: SADNESS

SPECIMEN #5: DRANON, CHIKA - EMOTION: ANGER

SPECIMEN #6: DRANON, CHIKA - EMOTION: FEAR

SPECIMEN #7: DRANON, CHIKA - EMOTION: HATRED

Naoko picked up the clipboard from the final tube. Her eyes scanned the information quickly and then screamed. And didn't stop screaming.

"Naoko, what's wrong?" Miyuki demanded. "What does the clipboard say?"

It was thrust into her hands as Naoko suddenly stopped, gasping, and threw up on the stone floor. She choked and coughed noisily, tears streaming down her face. Miyuki gave her a handkerchief and frowned. Her attention then turned back to the clipboard.

SPECIMEN #8: DRANON, CHIKA - HEART

[HELP ME]

[LET ME OUT]

[HEEEEEEELLLLLLLLPPPP MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE]

Their attention snapped over to the next group of tubes, where different coloured 'specimens' were contained. Seven faces, all of a different colour of the spectrum, pressed against the solid glass, which the tubes were made of. Miyuki clapped a hand over her mouth and Naoko turned away to throw up again.

Ketsueki Rika's face stared out at them.

--------

Several thousand miles away, the same girl felt an overwhelming sense of nausea in the pit of her stomach. She stopped walking and took a deep breath. Something strange was going on - she could feel it (A/N: too much LOTR can make someone psycho). She walked on determinedly, ignoring the fact that the nausea was growing steadily worse and worse.

--------

In the college infirmary, Kai sat next to the bandaged Chika, who was awake and sitting, propped up by three or four pillows. They sat in silence, not meeting each other's eyes, Kaika's words ringing in their minds. She shifted a little and winced as a sharp pain shot through her side.

"Are you all right?"

"Yeah, fine," she lied. "Just forgotten how pain feels like."

In fact, she HADN'T forgotten, only ignored its presence and fought down the urge to cry out every time she felt it. She usually succeeded, but after that incident, four months ago in the stone chamber -

"You've changed."

She looked at Kai in surprise, pulled out of her memories and back into reality. He had his arms folded and was slouched on the chair, staring at the ceiling. He eyed her confused look briefly before fixing his attention back onto a stain on the whitewashed room.

"Haven't you noticed?" he asked. "The smiles, the tears?"

"I - I don't know," she stammered.

"Compared to who you were when we first met, you've changed." He smirked. "Reminded me of me before I met Takao and the others. A lone wolf, doing things to perfection and watching others suffer for your cause. Being -"

" - controlled by family," she finished with him, quietly. Her eyes looked down to study her hands. "I've heard about what happened to you. Your grandfather is in jail for high treason and you've worked so hard to achieve where you are now. I'm sorry I accused you of not understanding how it feels. I was wrong to say it."

"Like I said," he told her. "You're like me. I changed after I realised what my grandfather was planning to do and just how far Takao, Rei, Max and Kenny would go to win my trust."

She gave a sad smile (A/N: if you don't know what they mean about Kai's past, I suggested you go read my fic 'Outcast').

"I haven't changed in terms of attitude," he continued. "I still go off on my own at times, swear at them and call them stupid, but the general atmosphere - the feelings have changed. I know that the way we're going, it's normal and we're all comfortable with it."

She looked at him with a twinkle in her eyes. He sat up straighter.

"You sound like a school counsellor," she told him. And sighed. "But I guess you're right. I HAVE changed. Unlike you, though, I don't have a group of really good friends with me."

Their eyes met briefly. Hers was now a dark, midnight blue and his was still the blood red ones he had been born with. Finally, unable to continue looking, she broke eye contact and looked out the window. He watched her, a sad expression in his eyes, mouth fixed into a firm line. Not a word was spoken afterwards.

---- End of Chapter Fourteen ----

A/N: DID YOU LIKE IT????

OMG, I finished this one with SAP! I can't believe myself!

This chapter was dedicated to Naoko, who was sick for a whole week and didn't come to school yesterday. HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER NAOKO! And also to Miyuki, who is just a great friend and partner!

Next chapter:

Naoko and Miyuki learn the reason behind the information on the clipboard and attempt to help Rika's seven souls. Meanwhile, the Bladebreakers prepare for the battle of the century: Hitawari Kai versus Chika Dranon.

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Bittersweet Angel Chika