Sorry I kept waiting but there were problems about the site. I hope this chapter will be better than the previous one.

Chapter 6: The road home

In a dark corner of the street, a tall man stood in the shadows, talking in hushed whisper into a cell phone.

"It is time to finish the work you've put down for ten years," the voice in the phone said, with a Japanese accent.

"What work, chef?" the man asked causally.

"The Wongs."

"No problem, chef."

"Very good…"

Beep, beep, beep.

The man hung up and grinned in the darkness.

Mariah was woken by the welcoming scent of fried eggs and bacon. She put on her silk gown and walked downstairs. Ray still hadn't find work but he became more attentive to her that Mariah secretly hoped he would never find one again. Madame Kong would surely not let her son live poorly anyway.

"Good morning. What a nice smell!" Mariah exclaimed as she settled herself on the kitchen stool and picked up the newspaper. Ray was saying something but she didn't hear him.

"Mariah, Mariah!" Ray shook her shoulders.

She turned to him. Her face was pale and she was trembling all over.

"What happened?"

Without saying a word, she handed him the paper and tears started to roll off her cheeks. The headline was: "Lee Wong, Top Chinese Beyblader Found Dead in His House"

Without further ado, Ray and Mariah set out to the White Tiger Clan. Mariah tried to phone Ramón but got only her answering machine. Maybe he's busy, she thought as she watched the train pulling into a stop. Ray gripped her hands in comfort but she knew that he was grieving too. From the train station, they walked through the mountains and reached the village at sunset. The sun rays turned the white decorations golden. The villagers gathered around Ray and Mariah, including Madame Kon, to give them their condolences. Kevin and Gary led them to the temple where Lee's body laid. Mariah was overwhelmed with melancholy as she gazed upon her brother's stiff body. She hid her head in Ray's chest, unable to stand the scene.

"We've found his body on the floor, cold as stone," Kevin explained, "The monks reckoned that he was poisoned. There was a broken glass beside him."

Mariah hit Ray's chest with her fist in anger.

"Why, why do they have to kill him too?" she wailed "and by poison! What a coward, this assassin!"

"Mariah, hush," Ray stopped her from hurting him, "We all have lost a best friend but there's nothing we can do about it."

"Yes, we can," Mariah said in a trembling voice, "Years ago my parents were assassinated too. Don't you remember? Now, they've came back for their children. They've got Lee and they'll be looking for me now."

"Nonsense, Mariah," Ray tried to comfort her but she broke free.

"Mao."

Suddenly a voice called her but it wasn't a human voice. She looked up and saw the ghost of her grandfather gliding towards her. She also noticed that the others didn't see him.

"Your brother has been called by the angles. He no longer has a task here, on Earth. You must accept it as you must accept to live on."

"I-I can't do it alone," Mariah sobbed.

"But you're not alone," the grandfather said. "Look around you, Mao…" He disappeared in a wisp of smoke. Mariah reopened her eyes. She found herself in Ray's arms.

"Mariah, are you alright? You've just fainted all of the sudden," Kevin said anxiously.

"Grandpa," she murmured.

"What did you say?" Gary asked.

"I love you guys so much," Mariah cried again as she hug her three friends.

"Hey, hold it, Mariah, Ray risks to be jealous," Kevin joked.

"I love you too, Mariah, you know that," Ray smiled at her.

Kevin and Gary sniggered.

"When Mariah marries Ray, we'll be the best men, won't we, Gary?" Kevin asked his giant friend.

"Of course, Kevin," Gary grinned.

"Quit it, you two," Ray scowled but it was clear that he was happy.

The Bladebreakers arrived for the funeral. They were careful to wear white, as it was the custom in China. Kai looked particularly dishy in a white tuxedo and a crimson tie. Mariah blushed at the idea; she had never thought that of him before.

Lee's body was burnt and the smoke rose up to the Heaven above. Mariah prayed that, in another life, they'll be brothers and sisters again. After the other guests had gone, what was left of the White Tigers and the Bladebreakers cleared up the place. Then they said goodnight and parted. The Bladebreakers were to sleep over at Kevin's. No one joked that night, not even Tyson, Max and Kevin. Ray was accompanying Mariah home. They gazed at the full moon which was gradually being covered by the clouds. They stopped in front of her house. Ray cleared his throat and took her hand. He looked like he had something to say.

"What is it, Ray?" Mariah asked gently.

He played with her fingers for a while before answering

"I know it's not really the time to talk about it but-" he seemed to hesitate, "it has been a long time since we've known each other and I'm wondering if…" he gulped "if you'd marry me. Mariah, will you marry me?"

Mariah was so shocked that she quickly pulled her hand away from him. Ray misunderstood her reaction.

"Oh, I knew it wasn't the right time…" he rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably and was turning away. Mariah recovered from the shock and caught his arm.

"Ray, wait!"

He turned and looked at her.

"You're right," she took a deep breath, "it's time to talk about it. This is a difficult time," she began, "for you as for me. But in time like this, things became clearer. I cannot marry you, Ray Kon. Not because I don't love you but you're right, it's been too long. I mean, I need something new. I can't stick to someone all my life. Our childhood dream is over. I'm sorry, Ray."

"You can't be saying this, Mariah!" Ray looked outrageous "This must be a practical joke. I love you, Mariah. I can't live without you! You can't be serious."

But she was. Ray could see it in her eyes. Those golden eyes he loved so much but now they seemed strangers to him.

"Why?" he asked desperately.

Mariah stared in the distance.

"I don't know. It all has been too much," she whispered.

"You're in love with someone else," Ray said quietly.

Mariah looked up, agape, but tried to hide it afterwards.

"Of course not," she retorted.

"You must be. Otherwise you'll never say no. Who is it, Mariah? Who took your heart away from me?" Ray asked impulsively.

"There's no one," she insisted, "I just want to breath again."

Ray shook his head.

"Maybe I don't know you anymore, Mariah."

At that, he disappeared in the darkness.

Mariah sighed. Maybe I shouldn't have said 'no', she thought. But you can't lie to yourself neither, a little voice called. Mariah turned the doorknob and was about to enter her house when out of sudden, a dagger flew out of the darkness. Mariah dodged it with her cat-like reflex. Then out of the house, came a dark figure, dressed in ninja. The assassin attacked her at the chest but she quickly blocked the attack and reared a kick at his head. The ninja dodged her aim and caught her leg. He spun it to make her fall over but she cart-wheeled off to regain balance. The assassin drew out two long swords and approached her, swinging them dangerously. She rolled side-ways to avoid the attack and found a stick someone had left on the ground. With it, she countered the attacks but she also knew that she wouldn't be able to hold on for long. The stick soon broke and Mariah found her neck being trapped between two sword blades. At that moment, as the girl was breathing harshly and the ninja was grinning behind his mask, the moon remade appearance and shown on the girl's pale face.

"Mariah?" A voice she recognized came out of the ninja's mouth (not very elegant, I know). He let go of her neck and took off his mask.

"What are you doing here?" Ramón asked. Then he felt cold sweat run down his spine. "You don't know a girl called Mao Wong, do you?"

Mariah straightened up, rubbing her neck.

"I am Mao Wong. What do you want with her?" Horror followed close on the heels of puzzlement. "You're the one who've killed my family!" she exclaimed. "I can't believe it of you!"

"Mariah, I swear I didn't know that you were a Wong until now," Ramón took a step towards her.

"Get away from me!" Mariah shouted. "You've made me thought you loved me but I see it clear now: you've tricked me so you can kill me later!"

"No, I didn't. I would never do it if I knew it was your family," he tried to explain himself but she rejected him.

"But you did it all the same and there's no way back! How can I forgive you?" Mariah was trembling with anger. She had just dumped Ray for him and she discovered his true nature: an assassin.

"Forgive me," Ramón smiled grimly at her frustrated face.

"How dare you? I will NEVER FORGIVE YOU, NEVER!"

She was walking away when he called out, "Then, just her me out. Please. Every criminal has the right to defend himself."

Mariah stopped.

I know the idea of the grandfather ghost was stupid but I'm depressive during these days, so I've got a bit crazy while writing. Well, actually, I am crazy. I supposed you've noticed that…