Alright… getting back into the swing of things… Before much else ado… I understand that I am using a lot of terms to describe tricks that those… not-too-action-sports savvy wouldn't know what I am talking about. I apologize for such inconvenience, but, you must understand that for me to describe each individual trick to you… how it's done, I mean… Wouldn't that annoy you even more? It would me… Sorry if the background is very long… Hey, some good news though… we're starting to get going! :-)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Location: LA, CA, Holiday Inn
Time: 6:00 PM

*Razor was heading up to his room, quite content from the day of skating. He couldn't believe that a teen that, to him, looked about thirteen, only two years younger than him, had come up to him and really treated him like a star.*

Razor *thinking*: Even though I've only been pro for... how long? 4 days?

*Razor chuckled at the thought, and as he was heading to his room, he saw for a second time the green hedgehog that seemed so shy. Razor went over to him, looking up slightly to meet his eyes.*

Razor: Hey man… sup?
Hedgehog: N—n—nothing…
Razor: You didn't seem to be skating too much today…

*The hedgehog's eyes flashed for a moment, though the guy still kept his introvert attitude. Razor noticed that the skater spoke with a fairly strong Japanese accent.*

Hedgehog *shyly*: That's because I skate vert…
Razor: Well, so do I… I haven't seen you tour or anything… ever… are you new to the sport like I am?
Hedgehog: Kinda… 1 year…
Razor: Oh…
Hedgehog: You said your name was… Roi, right?
Razor: Yeah… I never heard yours…
Hedgehog: ….Nagisoki.
Razor: Oh… well… nice runnin' into you, Nagisoki.

*Razor walked away. He had that quickly ran out of things to say to Nagisoki… the guy was just so hard to talk to, it seemed. Razor headed into his room, heading immediately into the shower after dropping his skateboard and backpack near the door, and slipping off his shoes. After drying himself off, Razor headed out of the bathroom, and sat on his bed, trying to figure out the kind of money he had. He quickly found the $25 he had earlier, and noticed a nearby McDonald's. Razor slipped his shoes back on, took a few ones, and headed to the McDonald's, grabbing a Value Meal to go…
Back in his room, he ate, sitting on his bed, joining Ian in watching a skate video the street skater had brought. A few hours later, Razor slipped beneath the covers of his bed, and let the sandman take him to sleep.*

Location: Holiday Inn
Time: 2:00 AM

*Razor felt ill, and still couldn't see. He could not motivate himself to stand up, for it felt as though he weighed several times more than he should. He could hear his brother still. Far-off cries begging for help, the song of a whip, and his brother again crying out for mercy, maniacal laughter the response. Razor suddenly began to feel as though the area around his body was... crawling? Yes, crawling on top of him. Whatever it was, it was thick, and its burden led Razor to believe that it was more dense than gold. Razor couldn't even get himself up onto his knees, and the material that seemed to surround him began to lace around him like a cobra, and before he could understand, he could taste it, a bitter taste, in his mouth. Razor spat, but as he did, the material seemed to cling to his lips, and it then forced its way down his throat. Before Razor knew what was happening, the burden had stopped, though he now felt even more ill. Razor tried to stand now, though, and found he could, though he felt... something... he didn't know exactly what it was, but it didn't feel right. Razor jumped, startled as he soon found himself suddenly able to see everything, clear as day, though the site he was met with didn't please him. Fire was all about him, and as he found himself able to see this, a sensation came across his arms... a very creeping tingly sensation. Razor looked at his arm, and found a cobra's venomous puncture right on his arm...*

*Razor's eyes snapped open, and he immediately sat up, knees to his head. He tried to figure out why he was having such… bizarre dreams. They didn't make any sense. He had not seen a snake for a while, he had no fear of the dark, and his brother… Razor's eyes widened.*

Razor *thinking*: No... No... That can't be... Streak was a good man... No... He isn't...
*Suddenly, it hit Razor...*

~
Location: Unknown
Time: About 6 months ago

EN: Back for more, are you, Razor? And, with your brother, how quaint!
Razor: Cut the shit, EN, I won't let you take my friend!
EN: It was so easy to kill you once, I am certain I can do it again.

*Razor readied his chaos emerald, teleporting behind EN and delivering a crushing blow to the back of his head. EN stumbled forward for a moment, his red eyes flashing angrily. Well-timed, Razor summoned a small amount of energy from his emerald, sending EN flying into the wall behind him, and sticking him there. Razor thought carefully, and prayed for the final step to work.*

Razor *spell-recital*: Black and white... And gray. Everything has its place, so return to yours, EN!

*Razor looked quite relieved as a blast of white came from his emerald, enveloping the demon, and sending him crashing through the ground. Razor ran over to his friend, Nova, who was now lying on the ground. As he got over to him, Nova wearily looked up at Razor.*

Nova: Where am I?
Razor: Safety. Feels great, doesn't it?

*Nova chuckled. Razor had long since allowed his brother's spirit to leave him, and as he turned around, his smile dropped as he saw EN, smiling.*

EN: You kicked me out of your friend... fine... Your brother is making an excellent parting gift. *laughter*
~

Location: Holiday Inn, present

Razor *thinking*: No... NO!!!!! The bastard did it! *starting to cry, now out loud, softly.* It's my fault… he should have been with you, *looking up* not with me! Why did you leave him to me, I can't protect him… *chuckles* And now he's down there, and I have no way of bringing him back. Freakin' perfect.

*Razor turned over in his bed, continuing to murmur such things, crying himself back to sleep.*