Emptiness
By: Black Dranzer
".." speaking and thinking
//..// Russian or other language translations (not jap tho)
++..++ speaking and thinking of non-human beings
~*~*~*~ Scene Change ~*~*~*~
~~flashback sequences~~
Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade. I only own any of the characters that you haven't seen in the original Beyblade series.
In the last chapter of Emptiness:
((++Ahh,++ the voice replied with a bit of sadness, ++But I've been by your side since you were young,++
"Since I was young?" Kazuki wondered.
++Yes,++ the voice answered, ++Don't you remember me? Your guardian?++))
(("How do you know my mother?" Kazuki asked distrustfully, "And what do you mean by 'this is probably the only chance in your life'? Where is this place anyways?"
++You are asking too much,++ the voice said fleetingly, ++there's not enough time! I can sense 'him' coming! Please! Just follow my voice or it will be too late!++
Kazuki stayed stubbornly in place and crossed her arms, "I won't budge unless you answer my questions! And who's the 'he' that you were talking about?"
++Just follow my voice!++ the voice said quickly, then added, ++I'll answer your questions on the way 'there'.++
"Fine!" Kazuki said and tried to locate the source of the sound. It seemed to be coming from in front of her, so she ran off into the dark halls.))
(("Argh," he groaned as he saw a thin line of blood ooze out of the cut on his ankle grazed by the bullet.
"That'll slow you down for sure," the man said and walked over to Kai, who was clutching his ankle.
He reached down to Kai's shirt and lifted him up effortlessly by the collar.
Kai started to retaliate, but was forced to freeze as the cold rim of the gun was placed on his neck.
"I wouldn't move if I were you Kai," the man smirked, "Or you'll find your neck missing,"))
((BOOM!
The explosion of dynamite all around the boys made everything ignite at once, surrounding the teens in a circle of flaming inferno.
"Goodbye," the man laughed and the helicopter flew off into the night..))
Chapter Thirty-Three: Encircled
"So tell me again why we're standing here?" Kazuki frowned.
She stood in front of a massive metal door at the end of a long, dark passageway.
The only light shed was from the mysterious orb floating beside her.
++This is the most important memory you need to regain,++ the orb replied, ++You must open the door.++
"And how do you suggest I do that?" Kazuki said back, not believing she was conversing with something that resembled a floating light bulb.
She had tried to open the door already, but when her pushes went ineffective, she gave up and took up the act of glaring at it angrily.
The orb remained silent for a few seconds before replying, ++It seems you have tried your best to block this specific memory out, so only you know how to free the lock on this door.++
Kazuki stared at the orb as she said angrily; "You think I've been staring at the door for fun for the past few minutes?"
The orb was silent.
Turning away from it, Kazuki stared up at the door again.
She had noticed the first time she saw it that there was a familiar vibe to it.
The thought of her mother suddenly crossed her mind.
Maybe it had something to do with her?
Thinking as hard as she can, she searched her mind, leaning on the door.
A sudden, sharp pain flashed across her eyes, making her reach up and clutch them.
++Are you okay Kazuki?++
"I-I think I just remembered something," she winced as she tried to clutch at the image that had popped up a few seconds earlier.
++You did?++ the voice said with relief and joy, ++What was it?++
"I..I can't grasp it," Kazuki replied, jamming her eyes closed.
++Relax,++ the voice soothed, ++let it come back naturally..++
Kazuki nodded stiffly and stood silently.
Slowly, like a brightening light, the image became clearer.
"There are four people," Kazuki whispered, "Two adults and two children,"
++That's it, what else do you see?++ the voice carried excitement, but Kazuki caught a hint of urgency.
"I can't see their faces clearly," Kazuki continued, "but there are two females and two males,"
There was a pause.
++Is something wrong?++
"N-no," Kazuki replied as she tried to suppress the shock of seeing one of the faces clearly.
The little girl, one of the children, had black hair, dark eyes, and a smile.
Kazuki almost snapped open her eyes, not wanting to see more, but her burning curiosity kept her eyes glued shut.
The voice stayed silent, as if sensing the girl's need for peace.
But in Kazuki's mind, the picture had refused to continue getting brighter.
"Why can't I see more?" she asked the voice.
But the voice didn't reply.
Pushing her curiosity down, Kazuki pried open her eyes and looked around.
There was only a dim light in the air in front of her and was growing fainter by the moment.
"A-are you okay?" Kazuki asked, feeling awkward talking to it.
++Can't stay..coming..open door..get memory..hurry!++
With that last outburst, the light faded completely and Kazuki was left staring into complete darkness.
She felt around her until she sensed the metal door and closed her eyes again.
"I want to remember now," she thought savagely to herself, "Give me back my memory,"
As if answering her call, the image came back and brightened at a higher rate than before.
She could see clearly now that the two adults were holding hands, mimicked by the children.
"Could that little girl really be me?" she thought with her heart pounding, "If it is, then.."
Kazuki gasped as she saw the face of the second child.
"It can't be," she said wide eyed, "How can this be?"
++I see you've remembered him,++ a dark voice said behind her.
Kazuki turned around but due to the darkness, saw nothing.
"Who are you?" she demanded. Behind her, she felt the rumbling of the metal door and the sound of the lock unlocking.
"If I just inch back a bit, I can enter the door," she thought, thought she couldn't decide why she wanted to get away from the voice so badly.
She turned around in a flash and pushed the door open with all her might. It slowly creaked open and light showed through its opening.
++You think you can escape me?++ the voice mocked, ++You're sadly mistaken,++
There was a gasp, followed by a thump, as the darkness around her seemed to suddenly pull her to the ground.
In a matter of seconds, she was unable to move, bound by the emptiness around her.
The door that was her only escape closed and the light disappeared.
"So close," she thought with anger, "I was so close to finding out the truth,"
Then she heard, over the hammering of her heart, the sound of a gliding object nearing her.
~*~*~*~
Everything was alight with flames and smoke.
"Everyone! Head for the exit! Hurry!" someone shouted over the crackling of the fire.
There were sounds of choking somewhere behind Kai and he looked around to see Max kneeling on the floor with bruises. He walked over to the blond boy and offered his hand.
Max looked up surprised, but took the offered hand and stood up.
Kai saw him wince and falter before swinging the boy's arm around his shoulder to steady him.
"Thanks Kai," Max started, but fell back to choking again as soon as he opened his mouth.
The two half limped, half walked as fast as they could towards the small opening where the flames hadn't touched.
But when they neared, the fire seemed to rise above them and swallow their route, showering hails of fire on them.
"Arghhh!" Max screamed and tried to back off, pulling Kai with him.
The two fell to the ground, as the fire gulped down the ground they were standing on a few seconds ago.
Panting, the two boys tried to get up.
"How the hell are we going to get out of this?" Kai cursed.
A voice suddenly screamed over the roaring of the flames, "Kai! Max! Where are you guys?"
"Over here!" Max shouted back at the top of his lungs.
"There's fire everywhere! We can't find you guys!" the voice shouted back.
"Do you need help?" another called.
"Yeah!" Max shouted back, "There's fire everywhere! We're-"
But his voice drowned out into more coughing.
"Hello? Max! MAX!" the voice shouted back.
Knowing that Max couldn't shout anymore, Kai raised his voice and answered, "Someone send up a signal so we know where you guys are!"
"A signal?" the voice screamed back, "What kind? Smoke signal? No wait, that's no different than the other smoke around us. How about a-"
The voice was cut off and Kai knew for sure that it was Tyson.
"We'll send up a light signal!" someone else, probably Robert, called back.
A moment later, there was a screeching roar and Griffolyon's Wing Dagger attack could be seen shooting into the air somewhere to their left.
"We see it!" Kai shouted back and helped Max to his feet once again.
The two looked around them, seeing nothing but red flames.
"Use Draciel," Kai said.
Max looked up with surprise, then understood and nodded.
"Go Draciel!" Max shouted as he launched his green beyblade, "Defend us against the flames!"
His bit beast rose out of its chip in its spirit form and surrounded the two boys with a purple light.
"Let's go," Max said and limped beside Kai.
As they neared the fire, Max closed his eyes, hoping beyond hope that the shield would work.
There was a slight tingling sensation when they walked through the flames, but no more.
"Whew," Max sighed, "I thought it wouldn't work,"
"The worst isn't over yet," Kai said beside him.
Max bit his lip. Can't Kai ever be optimistic?
"Dodge to the right!" Kai suddenly warned and Max was pushed over as a branch lit by fire landed in front of them.
"Oh god," Max said through gritted teeth, "that was close,"
"Draciel's shield won't do it," Kai replied.
"What can we do?" Max asked back.
Kai stood up beside Max and took out his beyblade.
"We'll fight fire with fire," he replied with a smirk and shot out his Dranzer blade.
~*~*~*~
"Who are you?" Kazuki managed to say as she struggled against the darkness binding her to the ground.
++Someone who's here to guide you to victory,++ the voice replied, ++To guide you to absolute victory.++
Kazuki tensed as she felt the cold presence of the voice near her.
"I don't need you to guide me," Kazuki replied coldly, "Now leave me alone!"
++Ahh, but you are mistaken,++ the voice said.
As Kazuki tried to sort out the meaning of what the voice had just said, she felt cold fingers touch her chin.
At the same instant, the voice took form. A purple aura portrayed the outline of a girl, about the same age as her, Kazuki guessed, but her eyes made her seem inhuman.
++It is not only my wish that I guide you, but your father's as well,++
Kazuki's blood almost froze. Could this be? Is this really Black Dranzer, the bit beast her father had mentioned to her?
"Y-you're Black Dranzer?" Kazuki gasped, "But I thought you were a bit beast."
++I am,++ the girl replied, ++But look closely at my face and you'll understand why I take the shape of a human.++
Kazuki's eyes widened as the girls' face neared hers.
The girl was like a mirror image of her. Her hair, mouth, nose, and chin were so much like her own. The only difference between them was their eyes. They were bright yellow, shining brighter than the aura around her.
++You see, since we are going to join minds, I decided to take on the form of the person you care for the most.++ Black Dranzer said with a crooked smile.
"Myself?" Kazuki asked.
++No,++ Black Dranzer replied, ++Your mother.++
Kazuki just stared at Black Dranzer, not knowing what to say.
++Come now Kazuki, you know how much you've missed her. You know how much pain you've felt when you lost her.++
The words cut open Kazuki's heart and she looked away from the familiar face. She felt Black Dranzer walking over to the side she had turned her head and stubbornly closed her eyes.
When the dark voice spoke again, it was softer, ++Open your eyes Kazuki, if you do, you'll see your mother again. Come now, don't resist your desire.++
Kazuki heard her own voice telling her, "Why not? Why don't you open your eyes? Why don't you look at your mother's face?"
Another voice countered, "This isn't your mother! This is an imposter! She even told you herself!"
"But she could treat you like your mother."
"Can't you see in her eyes that she's evil?"
"Can't you hear in her voice that she wants to help?"
"Help with what? Help impersonate your mother? How would your mother feel?"
Kazuki couldn't take it anymore, she didn't want to hear her own voice fighting itself, she didn't want to be reminded of her mother, and she wanted it to stop. But it didn't, she struggled more as the two voiced faced off against each other.
"Stop!" she finally shouted, "Stop it all!" and opened her eyes.
That was a deadly mistake.
The second her eyes opened and her pupils were set on Black Dranzer, the bit beast flashed an evil smile before holding Kazuki's gaze with her golden orbs.
++Kazuki, you do want to see your mother again don't you?++
Kazuki, captured in the mesmerizing stare, could only nod in truth.
++You've been feeling lonely ever since she has passed on correct?++
Again, the dazed nod.
++And you want revenge on the person responsible, right?++
The third nod came with a hard frown.
++Then let me be your guide, your companion, and your vengeance.++
Kazuki felt the darkness binding her loosen, but didn't look away from the golden eyes.
She unconsciously stood up in front of Black Dranzer, even though her insides were screaming at her to run.
++Come, my new master,++ Black Dranzer lulled, ++come join me as we are reborn as one.++
Kazuki felt herself walking over to Black Dranzer and felt the bit beast's cold, artificial hand around her shoulder.
Her mind was screaming at her again, but she ignored its desperate shouts.
And slowly, the shouts were but mere whispers in the back of her conscious.
And, as she lost her logic, she felt the cold hand on her shoulder as her mother's warm embrace.
"Mother," she said like someone lost in a world of fantasies.
Beside her, Black Dranzer smiled and held out her hand.
++From hence forth, I seal these memories into the mindless oblivion,++ she chanted. As she did, white ribbons seem to slide out of Kazuki's forehead and circle around her.
Black Dranzer then opened her palm and let the ribbons gather into an orb that materialized in her hand.
Then, all but one thread of ribbon was left.
++You're quite stubborn,++ Black Dranzer smirked as she watched Kazuki struggle at keeping the memory, ++But maybe I'll let you keep this one as the most dangerous memory has already been sealed.++
The white ribbon slowly slipped back into Kazuki's forehead and she stopped struggling.
++Come, Kazuki,++ Black Dranzer said in her gentler voice.
"Yes, mother," Kazuki replied and kept walking.
As they headed down the long, dark passageways, one word slipped, unnoticed by Black Dranzer, through Kazuki's mouth, "Tala,"
~~FINI~~
By: Black Dranzer
".." speaking and thinking
//..// Russian or other language translations (not jap tho)
++..++ speaking and thinking of non-human beings
~*~*~*~ Scene Change ~*~*~*~
~~flashback sequences~~
Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade. I only own any of the characters that you haven't seen in the original Beyblade series.
In the last chapter of Emptiness:
((++Ahh,++ the voice replied with a bit of sadness, ++But I've been by your side since you were young,++
"Since I was young?" Kazuki wondered.
++Yes,++ the voice answered, ++Don't you remember me? Your guardian?++))
(("How do you know my mother?" Kazuki asked distrustfully, "And what do you mean by 'this is probably the only chance in your life'? Where is this place anyways?"
++You are asking too much,++ the voice said fleetingly, ++there's not enough time! I can sense 'him' coming! Please! Just follow my voice or it will be too late!++
Kazuki stayed stubbornly in place and crossed her arms, "I won't budge unless you answer my questions! And who's the 'he' that you were talking about?"
++Just follow my voice!++ the voice said quickly, then added, ++I'll answer your questions on the way 'there'.++
"Fine!" Kazuki said and tried to locate the source of the sound. It seemed to be coming from in front of her, so she ran off into the dark halls.))
(("Argh," he groaned as he saw a thin line of blood ooze out of the cut on his ankle grazed by the bullet.
"That'll slow you down for sure," the man said and walked over to Kai, who was clutching his ankle.
He reached down to Kai's shirt and lifted him up effortlessly by the collar.
Kai started to retaliate, but was forced to freeze as the cold rim of the gun was placed on his neck.
"I wouldn't move if I were you Kai," the man smirked, "Or you'll find your neck missing,"))
((BOOM!
The explosion of dynamite all around the boys made everything ignite at once, surrounding the teens in a circle of flaming inferno.
"Goodbye," the man laughed and the helicopter flew off into the night..))
Chapter Thirty-Three: Encircled
"So tell me again why we're standing here?" Kazuki frowned.
She stood in front of a massive metal door at the end of a long, dark passageway.
The only light shed was from the mysterious orb floating beside her.
++This is the most important memory you need to regain,++ the orb replied, ++You must open the door.++
"And how do you suggest I do that?" Kazuki said back, not believing she was conversing with something that resembled a floating light bulb.
She had tried to open the door already, but when her pushes went ineffective, she gave up and took up the act of glaring at it angrily.
The orb remained silent for a few seconds before replying, ++It seems you have tried your best to block this specific memory out, so only you know how to free the lock on this door.++
Kazuki stared at the orb as she said angrily; "You think I've been staring at the door for fun for the past few minutes?"
The orb was silent.
Turning away from it, Kazuki stared up at the door again.
She had noticed the first time she saw it that there was a familiar vibe to it.
The thought of her mother suddenly crossed her mind.
Maybe it had something to do with her?
Thinking as hard as she can, she searched her mind, leaning on the door.
A sudden, sharp pain flashed across her eyes, making her reach up and clutch them.
++Are you okay Kazuki?++
"I-I think I just remembered something," she winced as she tried to clutch at the image that had popped up a few seconds earlier.
++You did?++ the voice said with relief and joy, ++What was it?++
"I..I can't grasp it," Kazuki replied, jamming her eyes closed.
++Relax,++ the voice soothed, ++let it come back naturally..++
Kazuki nodded stiffly and stood silently.
Slowly, like a brightening light, the image became clearer.
"There are four people," Kazuki whispered, "Two adults and two children,"
++That's it, what else do you see?++ the voice carried excitement, but Kazuki caught a hint of urgency.
"I can't see their faces clearly," Kazuki continued, "but there are two females and two males,"
There was a pause.
++Is something wrong?++
"N-no," Kazuki replied as she tried to suppress the shock of seeing one of the faces clearly.
The little girl, one of the children, had black hair, dark eyes, and a smile.
Kazuki almost snapped open her eyes, not wanting to see more, but her burning curiosity kept her eyes glued shut.
The voice stayed silent, as if sensing the girl's need for peace.
But in Kazuki's mind, the picture had refused to continue getting brighter.
"Why can't I see more?" she asked the voice.
But the voice didn't reply.
Pushing her curiosity down, Kazuki pried open her eyes and looked around.
There was only a dim light in the air in front of her and was growing fainter by the moment.
"A-are you okay?" Kazuki asked, feeling awkward talking to it.
++Can't stay..coming..open door..get memory..hurry!++
With that last outburst, the light faded completely and Kazuki was left staring into complete darkness.
She felt around her until she sensed the metal door and closed her eyes again.
"I want to remember now," she thought savagely to herself, "Give me back my memory,"
As if answering her call, the image came back and brightened at a higher rate than before.
She could see clearly now that the two adults were holding hands, mimicked by the children.
"Could that little girl really be me?" she thought with her heart pounding, "If it is, then.."
Kazuki gasped as she saw the face of the second child.
"It can't be," she said wide eyed, "How can this be?"
++I see you've remembered him,++ a dark voice said behind her.
Kazuki turned around but due to the darkness, saw nothing.
"Who are you?" she demanded. Behind her, she felt the rumbling of the metal door and the sound of the lock unlocking.
"If I just inch back a bit, I can enter the door," she thought, thought she couldn't decide why she wanted to get away from the voice so badly.
She turned around in a flash and pushed the door open with all her might. It slowly creaked open and light showed through its opening.
++You think you can escape me?++ the voice mocked, ++You're sadly mistaken,++
There was a gasp, followed by a thump, as the darkness around her seemed to suddenly pull her to the ground.
In a matter of seconds, she was unable to move, bound by the emptiness around her.
The door that was her only escape closed and the light disappeared.
"So close," she thought with anger, "I was so close to finding out the truth,"
Then she heard, over the hammering of her heart, the sound of a gliding object nearing her.
~*~*~*~
Everything was alight with flames and smoke.
"Everyone! Head for the exit! Hurry!" someone shouted over the crackling of the fire.
There were sounds of choking somewhere behind Kai and he looked around to see Max kneeling on the floor with bruises. He walked over to the blond boy and offered his hand.
Max looked up surprised, but took the offered hand and stood up.
Kai saw him wince and falter before swinging the boy's arm around his shoulder to steady him.
"Thanks Kai," Max started, but fell back to choking again as soon as he opened his mouth.
The two half limped, half walked as fast as they could towards the small opening where the flames hadn't touched.
But when they neared, the fire seemed to rise above them and swallow their route, showering hails of fire on them.
"Arghhh!" Max screamed and tried to back off, pulling Kai with him.
The two fell to the ground, as the fire gulped down the ground they were standing on a few seconds ago.
Panting, the two boys tried to get up.
"How the hell are we going to get out of this?" Kai cursed.
A voice suddenly screamed over the roaring of the flames, "Kai! Max! Where are you guys?"
"Over here!" Max shouted back at the top of his lungs.
"There's fire everywhere! We can't find you guys!" the voice shouted back.
"Do you need help?" another called.
"Yeah!" Max shouted back, "There's fire everywhere! We're-"
But his voice drowned out into more coughing.
"Hello? Max! MAX!" the voice shouted back.
Knowing that Max couldn't shout anymore, Kai raised his voice and answered, "Someone send up a signal so we know where you guys are!"
"A signal?" the voice screamed back, "What kind? Smoke signal? No wait, that's no different than the other smoke around us. How about a-"
The voice was cut off and Kai knew for sure that it was Tyson.
"We'll send up a light signal!" someone else, probably Robert, called back.
A moment later, there was a screeching roar and Griffolyon's Wing Dagger attack could be seen shooting into the air somewhere to their left.
"We see it!" Kai shouted back and helped Max to his feet once again.
The two looked around them, seeing nothing but red flames.
"Use Draciel," Kai said.
Max looked up with surprise, then understood and nodded.
"Go Draciel!" Max shouted as he launched his green beyblade, "Defend us against the flames!"
His bit beast rose out of its chip in its spirit form and surrounded the two boys with a purple light.
"Let's go," Max said and limped beside Kai.
As they neared the fire, Max closed his eyes, hoping beyond hope that the shield would work.
There was a slight tingling sensation when they walked through the flames, but no more.
"Whew," Max sighed, "I thought it wouldn't work,"
"The worst isn't over yet," Kai said beside him.
Max bit his lip. Can't Kai ever be optimistic?
"Dodge to the right!" Kai suddenly warned and Max was pushed over as a branch lit by fire landed in front of them.
"Oh god," Max said through gritted teeth, "that was close,"
"Draciel's shield won't do it," Kai replied.
"What can we do?" Max asked back.
Kai stood up beside Max and took out his beyblade.
"We'll fight fire with fire," he replied with a smirk and shot out his Dranzer blade.
~*~*~*~
"Who are you?" Kazuki managed to say as she struggled against the darkness binding her to the ground.
++Someone who's here to guide you to victory,++ the voice replied, ++To guide you to absolute victory.++
Kazuki tensed as she felt the cold presence of the voice near her.
"I don't need you to guide me," Kazuki replied coldly, "Now leave me alone!"
++Ahh, but you are mistaken,++ the voice said.
As Kazuki tried to sort out the meaning of what the voice had just said, she felt cold fingers touch her chin.
At the same instant, the voice took form. A purple aura portrayed the outline of a girl, about the same age as her, Kazuki guessed, but her eyes made her seem inhuman.
++It is not only my wish that I guide you, but your father's as well,++
Kazuki's blood almost froze. Could this be? Is this really Black Dranzer, the bit beast her father had mentioned to her?
"Y-you're Black Dranzer?" Kazuki gasped, "But I thought you were a bit beast."
++I am,++ the girl replied, ++But look closely at my face and you'll understand why I take the shape of a human.++
Kazuki's eyes widened as the girls' face neared hers.
The girl was like a mirror image of her. Her hair, mouth, nose, and chin were so much like her own. The only difference between them was their eyes. They were bright yellow, shining brighter than the aura around her.
++You see, since we are going to join minds, I decided to take on the form of the person you care for the most.++ Black Dranzer said with a crooked smile.
"Myself?" Kazuki asked.
++No,++ Black Dranzer replied, ++Your mother.++
Kazuki just stared at Black Dranzer, not knowing what to say.
++Come now Kazuki, you know how much you've missed her. You know how much pain you've felt when you lost her.++
The words cut open Kazuki's heart and she looked away from the familiar face. She felt Black Dranzer walking over to the side she had turned her head and stubbornly closed her eyes.
When the dark voice spoke again, it was softer, ++Open your eyes Kazuki, if you do, you'll see your mother again. Come now, don't resist your desire.++
Kazuki heard her own voice telling her, "Why not? Why don't you open your eyes? Why don't you look at your mother's face?"
Another voice countered, "This isn't your mother! This is an imposter! She even told you herself!"
"But she could treat you like your mother."
"Can't you see in her eyes that she's evil?"
"Can't you hear in her voice that she wants to help?"
"Help with what? Help impersonate your mother? How would your mother feel?"
Kazuki couldn't take it anymore, she didn't want to hear her own voice fighting itself, she didn't want to be reminded of her mother, and she wanted it to stop. But it didn't, she struggled more as the two voiced faced off against each other.
"Stop!" she finally shouted, "Stop it all!" and opened her eyes.
That was a deadly mistake.
The second her eyes opened and her pupils were set on Black Dranzer, the bit beast flashed an evil smile before holding Kazuki's gaze with her golden orbs.
++Kazuki, you do want to see your mother again don't you?++
Kazuki, captured in the mesmerizing stare, could only nod in truth.
++You've been feeling lonely ever since she has passed on correct?++
Again, the dazed nod.
++And you want revenge on the person responsible, right?++
The third nod came with a hard frown.
++Then let me be your guide, your companion, and your vengeance.++
Kazuki felt the darkness binding her loosen, but didn't look away from the golden eyes.
She unconsciously stood up in front of Black Dranzer, even though her insides were screaming at her to run.
++Come, my new master,++ Black Dranzer lulled, ++come join me as we are reborn as one.++
Kazuki felt herself walking over to Black Dranzer and felt the bit beast's cold, artificial hand around her shoulder.
Her mind was screaming at her again, but she ignored its desperate shouts.
And slowly, the shouts were but mere whispers in the back of her conscious.
And, as she lost her logic, she felt the cold hand on her shoulder as her mother's warm embrace.
"Mother," she said like someone lost in a world of fantasies.
Beside her, Black Dranzer smiled and held out her hand.
++From hence forth, I seal these memories into the mindless oblivion,++ she chanted. As she did, white ribbons seem to slide out of Kazuki's forehead and circle around her.
Black Dranzer then opened her palm and let the ribbons gather into an orb that materialized in her hand.
Then, all but one thread of ribbon was left.
++You're quite stubborn,++ Black Dranzer smirked as she watched Kazuki struggle at keeping the memory, ++But maybe I'll let you keep this one as the most dangerous memory has already been sealed.++
The white ribbon slowly slipped back into Kazuki's forehead and she stopped struggling.
++Come, Kazuki,++ Black Dranzer said in her gentler voice.
"Yes, mother," Kazuki replied and kept walking.
As they headed down the long, dark passageways, one word slipped, unnoticed by Black Dranzer, through Kazuki's mouth, "Tala,"
~~FINI~~