In Love and Trust
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Author's Note: Hi, yeah, I will be trying to make it up to you, so I came up with this. But I just realized something.....I DON'T WANT THIS FIC TO END!!!!!!! Ahem. I was only saying that I was starting to enjoy writing it, when I realized that, well, it should end pretty soon.
Oh, and , I want to thank you for that idea....I think I WILL do something like that! But, like I said, or, I think I said, this was mostly my interpretation of what King and Queen was sort of all about. But this is fanfiction, and this is the place where anything can happen, even if we disagree on what the author is writing about. NO, no, don't get me wrong, I'm really glad you're pointing out some details, ( After a while I tend to loose track ) and I will gladly try to stick them in whenever possible.
Wow, chapter 20...The big Never knew it would be this long. I think we should hold a celebration! Well, whenever I say 'celebration', our Math teacher hands out Math tests. It's a better way of saying it other than 'Tests'...or 'Exams'.....(Shudders).
Disclaimer: I, Candide Avedo do not own anything that has to do with Beyblade.
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Back to the Beginning
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"Hello, welcome to Athens. Please claim your baggage as soon as possible. Thank you."
The stewardess bowed them out of the plane. The stars were out, and the rain was long gone. Now, playful gusts of wind blew the group's hair about, making it hard to see, and landing lights were scattered around the area like christmas lights neglected on the floor. Quite a number of airplanes too, were out, some taking off a few moments after they had, and some had gone to refill on their fuel. A watch tower loomed in the distance, and another tall tower with a satellite dish was no too far off, signalling the precise time and arrival of each plane.
"We're here? Already?" asked Max, as they went down a long set of stairs from the airplane. "I can't believe we're in Greece."
"I can't believe it's still dark." said Tyson, looking up at the sky. "It's like we've never left, but the scenery's sure changed." They stopped to check their surroundings, the airport only about a hundred yards away. It was tall, two stories high, with large plated glass windows held up by tall steel pillars. More lights illuminated the area, flooding through the windows, and on the second floor, mini pinpricks of various colours moved past each other, all with their own agendas. On the first floor, if one had binoculars, they would see a cafe, and a small bar. Information desks that could accommodate all languages were on the far side of the building, along with baggage pick up and the lost and found.
"No, if you look over at the horizon, Tyson, it's getting lighter." pointed out Queen, who was behind him. "It took us that long to get here."
"Like, as in, 24 hours?" asked Hilary.
"No, but I'm not going to try and find out." Queen replied. "Why don't you ask Kenny next time?"
"Speaking of next time, where's King?" asked Tyson, turning in a quick circle. "I though he got out of the plane to get our bags?"
"He's phoning for a ride. Besides, the bags are being brought inside the building." said Kai, and began walking for the airport to claim their stuff.
Escalators and elevators were all smoothly carrying many passengers that were on the same plane as they were; Pilots, stewardesses, business men, parents with crying children, not to mention foreign exchange students. () They then spotted King, who was busy talking at a nearby payphone, and watching them come in at the same time.
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"Why are we heading off this quickly again?" asked Ray.
They had gotten their bags in no time, but the only problem was, their motive transportation. It was a problem, that is, until a black limo, similar to the one they had used at the party, pulled up in front of them. King had then instructed them to go stand outside the front doors of the airport, and wait at the valet parking area. King had phoned the limo to pick them up, which belonged to their grandmother. Then, placing their bags in the back, they were then headed for their next stop.
"We have only a day and a half to meet them." explained Kai, who was sitting across from Ray. "That means we have to be as quick as possible, because we don't have time to screw up, got it?"
"Yeah, we got it." answered Tyson, rolling his eyes. "Gee, Kai, must you always make it sound so difficult all the time?"
"I try."
"Where are we going, exactly?" asked Kenny, peeking at the read windows, watching a sedan right behind them, it's headlights beaming at him.
"To Atalanti." replied King, staring out at the window with boredom. "Where our home is. Then, to Lamia, where our we would be staying the night."
"I have a feeling we're going to take the whole day in a rush, aren't we?" said Max, tossing a coin in the air from boredom.
"Yes, Max, so I suggest we take a nap, it should take us some hours to get there." King placed his hands behind his neck.
Queen plopped her chin on her hand, which was propped up by her elbow. They were going back. Back to the beginning. To where it all started. She shuddered, trying to get rid of the memories, both the happy and sad. It would be better without them, that's for sure.
Her companions were indeed lethargic.
Hilary was leaning on Tyson's shoulder, her head bobbing up and down on her chest. Tyson had been staring at the widow across from him for a while now, and Kenny was deep in thought, no doubt wishing Dizzy was there to occupy him. Ray was cross-legged, while twirling his braid, Max had stretched out on the floor of the limo, his eyes drooping, and King, who was sitting beside her, still on his previous position.
The window opened on King's other side. Kai stared silently at the deep sea blue colour of the sky, where the stars were slowly disappearing. Queen watched. He just confuses her sometimes. She studied him. Kai was expressionless-No, wait. He wasn't expressionless. It looked like he was pondering something. He had his eyebrows slightly furrowed, his bangs falling about over his eyes.
Kai's eyes.
They looked troubled.
What WAS he thinking about?
Absentmindedly, Queen found herself smiling. She found it amusing watching Kai when he wasn't the forbidding person that he usually was. The boy certainly needed to lighten up... Boy? No, Not really a boy anymore.
She blushed.
That black turtleneck that he was wearing certainly complimented his figure.
'Yes, after this ordeal, I need to stay home by myself for a while.' her smile fell, and Queen whipped her head to her own window, but somehow, she couldn't help but turn to look at him again. Kai had once again folded his arms, but was preparing to take a nap on his own.
"Queen, is there something wrong?"
Queen blinked, and realized King had been observing his sister, with his eyebrows raised.
"Huh?" she asked, trying to sound innocent.
"I said, are you okay?" King pressed.
"I'm fine." Queen forced a smile, one which King did not buy. "Just glad I'm home, I guess."
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Hours had gone by, and everyone had managed to sneak a nap before the limo driver had announced that they had reached the town of Atalanti. Before then they had taken the time to eat their brunch, but even with a full stomach, they were still drowsy from the plane ride.
The city itself wasn't that big, but it was also quite quiet, in most standards. It was most likely that everyone knew each other, or have heard of them. Then again, it was at around six in morning, and only store owners are beginning to open shop as they drove by. A dusty jeep over took them, and sped off into an inside street.
"Are we there yet?" asked Hilary, rubbing her eyes. "We should be close, though, right? We have been driving for hours."
King yawned. Yes, they were close. He and Queen haven't gone back since, well, they were seven, when they had been packing their belongings when their father had suddenly left them.
They had reached a fork in the road, where the right one lead to a residential area, and the left one, where a dirt road led away from the peaceful town. The limo went for the left one, and the town disappeared from view as they rounded a bend. Trees and wild bushes lined the edge of it, little sunlight passing through the trees that loomed over the narrow road.
"Master King, we're here." said the limo driver, stopping the limo abruptly.
"Huh? Where? We're in the middle of nowhere!" Tyson said incredulously, peeking out from the windows. There was no gate, no sign of anything that would indicate an entrance to anything whatsoever. It looked like they had just stopped at the middle of the road, which had been completely empty.
"Come on, let's go." said Queen, pushing her door open, and they all piled out. They were greeted by the sounds of twittering birds.
King and Queen went to the back of the limo, and searched inside, until they uncovered four flashlights.
"It's a good thing Fred remembered where the house was, cause I wouldn't remember it." Queen nodded to the driver, who tipped his hat. "Okay, King, where's the door?"
"It think it's right here." said King, walking to a wall of criss-crossing vines, and began to pat at it, at waist height. He did that for a couple of minutes, until he stopped, and started to pull at the vines, revealing a brass doorknob. With care, King turned the knob, and pushed on the hidden door with his weight, before the door opened, sunlight shining through the vines. In silence the group stepped through, leaving Fred and the limo behind.
Bright sunlight blinded them for a few moments, until their eyes could adjust. Once they did, however, they immediately held their breath.
In front of them, from a distance, stood a grand three-floored Mediterranean villa, covered by ivy. It's front lawns were overgrown, and dry. Pieces of the roof had come undone, parts of the wall were cracking, and thick moss had grown at the roof from lack of maintenance. The once inhabited home was now standing before them, abandoned.
"Is this where you guys lived?" asked Kenny cautiously.
"Yup, this is home." replied Queen dryly. "It hasn't been habited for what, eight years?"
"Why not? If someone did clean this place up, it would look like new." said Max, as they headed up the hidden driveway, it's mosaic design crumbling at their feet.
"People don't even come near this place because they think it's haunted." said King.
"Haunted?" repeated Max, puzzled. "But, how can this be haunted, it's not like there was a murder-" he caught himself just in time to realize what he said. Of course there was a murder. The others had remembered Kai telling them about it.
King caught the abrupt stop, and glanced at Kai. "Yeah, there was a murder here. But I suppose there's no need for me to tell you about it, is there?"
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All of them had to dodge the prickly plants that were threatening to cover the door as they tried to open it, with difficulty, for more plant life had grown on the door. In an instant, they smelled the familiar old building scent.
"Okay, you know what to do....Just, try not to get lost, okay?" said King, as they entered the foyer. The room looked dreary, as layers of dust covered the cedar side tables, and the once polished maple floor. The wall paper was torn, and the drapes that were hanging at the windows by the door were damp.
Old tapestries hanged on the walls covered in dust, while potted plants rotted beside them. A large iron chandelier hung, frosted with cobwebs hung above a carpeted staircase.
"Yeah, after hearing about your own father murdering your own mother, then spreading the rumour that it was the servant's doing-Oof!" Tyson rubbed his arm where Hilary punched him.
"We'll do what we can, but we don't know the place." said Kenny, nervously looking around. The way to the living room was to his right, and the way to the dining room was to his left.
"You know what? I think we should go in partners. By the sound of Kenny's voice, it's like he's going to piss his pants in the first hour." said Tyson, grinning, and dodging a blow from Kenny.
"Fine, Tyson, you sort them out." muttered King, leaning on the wall. "Hurry, while we have some time too."
"Okay, first, it's Hilary and I, Max and Kenny, Ray, and Kai, ( Kai frowned at being bossed around ) and King and Queen. Um, I think that's everyone."
"Okay, we should meet here in strictly two hours, and don't get lost, because if you do, I strongly doubt that we can hear you in this house and it's thirteen rooms. Just try to remember where you came through." warned King, and the others began to depart.
Hilary and Tyson went to the living room, Max and Kenny went through the dining room, Ray and Kai went down the stairs, into the basement, and turned left, and King and Queen went to the second floor.
Lights were abundant, as the grimy windows prevented the sun from shining through.
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"Why is it so dark? I can't see anything!"
"Maybe you should turn on the flashlight?"
"Okay."
"....................."
".....................Well?"
"What do you mean, 'Well'? You're the one who has it!"
"Hehehe, oops."
A click echoed in the empty room, and a spot of light illuminated a the grate of the fireplace.
"Whoa, this place looked like someone still lives here and forgot about it for eight years." said Tyson in awe, as he moved the flashlight, studying their surroundings.
A couch had been covered with a white linen cloth, while the coffee table in front of it. The fire place was made of marble, still complete with wood. When they walked, puffs of dust came up from the burgundy carpet.
"Come on, let's get on with hunting." whispered Hilary, and they looked around to see where to start. "How about over to those book shelves?"
"Okay."
The two quickly hurried over to the far side of the room, where a book shelf was located. Putting the flashlight down where it could help them see, they began taking books down, and flipping through, hoping to feel the key fall from within it's pages.
"No luck yet, Tyson, how about you?" asked Hilary, putting back her tenth book.
"Same here." Tyson answered, putting his book down as well. "But I'm thankful that I don't have asthma, or this'll be hell."
"Let's just-Did you hear that?" said Hilary, instinctively grabbing Tyson's arm.
"Hear what?" said Tyson, sounding bored.
"O-over there, coming from inside the fireplace." replied Hilary, shakily. She pointed to the fireplace with a quivering finger.
"No, but I think you're over reacting. I mean, seriously, you're here with me, after all." said Tyson, taking down another book.
"Yeah, that's what worries me." she muttered, but smiled.
"Aw, man, this'll take forever. We still have to go through....Five bookshelves! FIVE! Why do they need this much books??? I hope the others have some better luck than we do, cause this might be the only room we'll ever get to do." whined Tyson.
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"K-Kenny, I don't like this."
"It's not that bad, Max, it's just an old house. No one's lived in it for eight years! This house is not that old. It's not like a ghost just pops out of nowhere-AHH!"
"WHAT?! What?! Is it a ghost?"
"Whew, no, it's just a stuffed deer." OO Kenny breathed deeply, flashing his flashlight to survey the room.
In the middle of the rectangular room there stood a long dining table, that could have well seated twenty two people. Picture frames lined the walls, and large pots, which used to have live plants stood at corners. Wooden cabinets with glass doors. Fine plates lined with real gold and crystal glasses were preserved, as also the small priceless Ming vases. The doorway that they entered had another doorway across that, which could have been the entrance to the kitchens.
"So, what now, Kenny?" asked Max, nervously taking in his surroundings. "I don't like it here. It would have been better if we just stayed in the limo."
"I don't like it either, Max, but we have to do this. It'll be over in a few hours, anyway." Kenny studied one of the chairs. It had very detailed carvings, one of lions and tigers clawing at each other on the back of the chair. The edges of the table too, were with similar carvings. "You should start at the picture frames and cabinets, while I tackle the table and chairs, okay?"
They placed the flashlight so that it could shine in most places of the room.
"Kenny, these pictures are really creeping me out." whispered Max, staring at a picture of an old woman, who seemed to be staring back.
"They're only pictures, and besides, we have to hurry. We still have to go and search the kitchen." Kenny wiped his glasses with his sleeve, hoping to see better. "Don't they have windows in this place? I can't see a thing."
Max scanned the room. "Yeah, they're being covered by those curtains."
Kenny crossed the room to pull on the curtain closest to him, and some brought some light enough for them to see.
"That's better. Hurry, Max, I wanna get this done quick."
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"Kai, are you sure you know where you're going?" asked Ray uncertainly, as they went down some stone steps. The walls, which were also made of stone was wet, and the sound of dripping water added to the noise of their footsteps.
"Yeah, I know where I'm going, this is the only way so far, unless you've got any better ideas on where to look for the key." answered Kai, holding the flashlight in front of him.
"But we've been walking for such a long time, I don't want to spend time looking for something that isn't there."
"I don't either, but we have to check anyway." Kai turned another corner, but stopped dead in his tracks. Ray bumped into him, at the sudden halt.
"I guess this means we have to go back, huh, Kai?" said Ray.
In front of them was a set of stone steps, which had flooded from the cracks under the house.
"I guess we should."
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'It seems like only yesterday we were in here.' The door opened with a creek, and Queen walked into the room she had shared with her brother.
It was a large room, with a closet on one side of the room, and a fireplace across from it. Toys were overflowing from a toy chest, it's bright paint faded. Cosy arm chairs were still there, just as they had last left it before going to their grandmothers. She then turned her attention to the bunk bed, bending to pick up the small teddy bear that she used to cherish.
'How time goes by, huh?' she thought to herself, patting the dust away, and keeping it in her arms. It felt so familiar, so much like the familiar feeling she had with the house upon seeing it again. She hadn't doubted that King had felt the same way.
Queen crossed over to the mantle of the fireplace, staring at some pictures. One of them, had a picture of her and King, taking their first swimming lesson together. The second one, was their last christmas at their house, opening presents. She smiled. That was the time they had both gotten their first bikes. Third-
Queen's throat constricted. The third was the picture of them, all of them, beside a great big snowman. Their maid had taken it at that very same time the second picture was. The picture had been taken on the front side of the house, where it had been covered by snow, yet still looking warm and cozy at the same time. She studied each face, trying to recapture the moment.
Her brother, looking so young and carefree, his smile taking up most of his face, cheeks red from the cold, wearing his new black jacket. Queen smiled as she remembered hitting him with at least a dozed snowballs in the face. Herself, grinning next to King, wearing her own new jacket in blue, eyes shining in delight. The older Queen scoffed at her. She looked too happy.
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'Junk. More junk. What is this? Old newspaper...' King rummaged through one of the guest rooms' desks, throwing various objects around in aggravation. "Where could she have put a key? I've looked almost everywhere."
"Talking to yourself is not a good sign, you know." said a voice behind him.
King looked up to see Kai and Ray peering over his shoulder to see what he had been looking through.
"I already knew that, but I keep on forgetting to remind myself." replied King coolly. "Have you had any luck with the basement?"
"Nah, it got flooded." answered Ray, opening another drawer of the desk. "We decided to come up here, thinking you might need some help. The others are in their second room now, from what I hear."
King just nodded, rummaging faster. "If we don't find it today, we're toast."
"Just hope for a miracle or something." said Kai, looking around the room, which had a four poster.
"By the way, King, where's Queen?" asked Ray, looking up from the drawer that he was ravaging.
"She's decided to check our room. I'm worried that she'll get caught up in the memory lane instead of focussing on our job." said King, frowning. "Queen always tries so hard not to let everything get to her, but you can't ignore it forever, you know."
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Moving on to the next person. Queen pursed her lips. Her mother, wearing a brown coat, her blonde hair spilling from under the wool hat. She was smiling, as she wrapped her arms around her two children. It was too happy. Queen noticed a hand on her shoulder, looking to the next person. Her father. But it was different. He was smiling as well, beside the woman that he loves-Or so he had said. Was he already thinking of the death of his mother already at that time?
The picture was too happy, and it was all fake.
Flashes of memories came slowly back.
Hey, daddy, wanna come and walk with me to the park with King today?
What?-Look what you did, you little brat, you made me mess up my work! Come here you-
Please, no, daddy, I promise I'll be good, I won't tell anybody, no, I won't...
I love you, sweetheart, don't you worry about that.
I told you not to make a mess, look! Come here! I said, come here!
Too late now, Vivian, I've made my choice. Disobedience is not my preference.
"NO!" Queen grabbed the frame, and threw it across the room, watching it breaking into small pieces, the picture landing face down on the ground. There was no way she was going to be scared of it.
"It's no use dwelling on it." a hand went on her shoulder, making her turn in surprise.
"Oh, it's you, Kai." said Queen, putting down the bear on the mantle piece where the third frame used to be. "I didn't hear you come in."
"The door was open." Kai answered, removing his hand from her shoulder, half wishing it could have stayed there, and slapped thoughfully at his thoughts for it.
"Oh. I guess I have done what I can here." Queen lied, not wanting to spend another minute inside, and hoping that the key wasn't there. An awkward silence had surrounded them. "So, did you have any luck with your search?" she began to walk back.
Kai shook his head, following her. "No, the basement was flooded."
"That was expected. It really was the oldest part of this house, anyway." They walked through the hallway, to find where King and Ray had gone looking next.
Silence again.
"You know, it's going to bother you for a long time if you don't move on." said Kai unexpectedly, taking Queen by surprise.
Queen gaped at him, trying to find something to say, but the door on their left had opened.
"Hey, I good thing you're back." said Ray, coughing through the dust, and standing beside them. "No luck here either, King said we've searched through all the rooms on this floor."
"Not every room." said King, emerging from the room a while later.
"What?" said Ray, lightly astonished.
"We still haven't searched the master bedroom." said King dully, pointing at the very end of the hallway, where two double doors were located. "I'm sure that this room should have it."
Kai, Ray, King and Queen walked to the very end of the long hallway. The hall became steadily darker, and it had been a big relief that they had the flashlights, or they might not even find their way back.
King took both of the brass knobs, and pushed the doors open. Light had been available to this room, because the curtains were fully open, to reveal a beautifully furnished room covered in, more dust.
They slowly stepped inside, as quietly as they could, although there was no reason for them to. Queen, and King took in the familiar surroundings. It was the same as the last time they had seen it, which was that day. The place where they hid behind, when their father shot their mother...The place where their father had stowed his gun...
Queen and King could almost play the scene again in their heads, imagining their exact positions, right through to the very end. Queen visibly shuddered, and King scrunched up his nose.
"Okay, I think we should hurry this up." he announced, walking to the king sized bed, and pulling the covers, making dust fly.
Kai had gone to the desk, and dumped all it's contents on the floor, while Ray looked at all the little details, like picture frames, lampshades, and books.
Queen had made her way to the armoire. Opening it with care, she looked inside, at the various colours of clothing that had once belonged to her parents. Pushing the thought of taking something as a remembrance, Queen quickly searched through the pockets and linings, realizing that there was no time for fooling around any longer. The sun would surely be set once they got to their next destination, and they still have to get something to eat before then.
She was out of luck, there was nothing in any of the clothes. Queen banged her fist on the door of the armoire.
Something hit her head.
Queen looked up, seeing a small piece of wood that had been cut to look like a part of the door was made, concealing inside-Queen looked down at her feet.
"The key! King, I found it!" Queen called out, picking up the tiny object. It was small, about two inches in length, with tiny teeth, and a ruby set on it.
The others abandoned their stations, and rushed over to Queen's side, taking a good look at it.
"Are you sure this is it?" asked King, as she handed him the key for a closer inspection. "I mean, are you sure?"
Queen rolled her eyes. "I can be pretty sure, King, and I swear, we've searched the whole place."
King shrugged. "I was just making sure. He checked his watch, and he suddenly grew alert. "We've got to go, Lamia is still pretty far, and we still have to stop over somewhere for dinner."
They all nodded, making sure that they hadn't left anything of theirs lying around. Queen paused by the entrance of her room. It was probably the last time she would ever see it again, so she might as well stare at it for a little while longer. She waited until they were descending the stairs, before following.
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"You guys found it?!" said Tyson incredulously, as King held up the key as an indication that they had really found it. "If I knew that, we would have quit a long time ago! I swear, my fingers are so full of paper cuts from looking through all of those books."
"At least we found it." said Max, as they all began to get through the front doors all over again.
"Yeah, now all we need is to get this key to them, and then it's all over." said Hilary happily, as King shut the door, since he was the last one out. Everyone was exhausted. Not to mention they were all covered by dust, and grime.
They walked out to the front lawn, and turned one last time to look at the house that still stood before them.
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C.A: I had to do some mapping research....LOL. Well, I felt a little uncomfortable about making up the info about Greece. So, what did you think? I was trying to get back into focus here, and my mind keeps on flipping from one idea to another. I also needed to re read my story...Again. Hope it didn't bore you, though. I am trying to update as soon as possible! Thank you again!