A/N: Next chappy up people!
Key
/blah/ Driger to Ray
/blah/ Ray to Driger
Disclaimer: I don't own anything people, so don't sue me for writing this fanfic!
Duel 3: Hard Beat!
:1 year later:
Ray yawned as he waited for the bus like he did every morning. His uniform for the SeaSide High School changed a bit. He now wore a skin tight black leather top, skin tight dark blue; almost black leather pants, shiny black leather boots with silver belts forming an "x" over them, a dark blue duster, a black collar around his neck and of course the Millennium Puzzle hung around his neck. His pupils were more of slits now and his fangs were slightly sharper. His skin had darken to the point where it was the color of copper without the red tint.
My name's Ray...
Ray yawned again and checked his watch. The bus should be there soon, and he would be on his way to school, once again for a boring day.
There's something I think every morning as I wait for the bus...
The bus pulled up and Ray began to get on and smiled.
I hope something exciting happens today!
Next stop, SeaSide High School
Ray frowned. It was even more crowded than usual on the bus. Ray turned and saw a very small student he recognized from his class. It was Hanasaki. A small, shy boy with glasses who rarely spoke.
It's Hanasaki from my class. I didn't know we rode the same bus.
Ray then spoke up. "Hey, Hanasaki!" He greeted. The small boy turned and quickly looked away. Ray frowned, a bit surprised.
Did he ignore me? Or...maybe he just didn't see me?
Emergency stop!
Ray let out a surprised cry as the bus gave a jerk and he realized he was losing his balance. He was startled to realize the back of the bus was completely empty. Save for one. The neko-jin placed his hands over his sensitive ears, as a loud blaring screech reached him.
Yowch! What's that loud sound!
Ray whirled around and paled, seeing a huge teen sitting at the back wearing headphones and with the music cranked up to maximum volume.
Uh oh. That's Sozoji from Class C!
Ray started to creep away, his footsteps barely making a sound on the floor. The teen; Sozoji had spiky dark hair and dark eyes.
Wow...listen to that noise. Hope he doesn't see me.
Suddenly, Sozoji's flew open and he was looking right at the neko-jin. "Hold it right there Ray!" He bellowed. Ray froze. "Eeep." He squeaked. The loud and noisy teen gestured to the empty seat next to him.
"HEY! PLACE NEXT TO ME IS OPEN! HAVE A SEAT!" Ray winced as the loud bellow from Sozoji's mouth rang in his heighten hearing. "THERE'S SOMETHING I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT."Sozoji began. Ray tensed. "Bad feeling..." He mumbled. "IT'S ABOUT TIME FOR ONE OF MY FAMOUS 'ALL NIGHT SOLO LIVE SHOWS!" Ray wobbled, eyes glazed over in defeat.
I knew it.
"SO, ANYWAY RAY," Sozoji held up ten tickets. "I WANT YOU TO SELL 10 TICKETS TO THE SHOW!"
Whaa!
"IT'S TWO THOUSAND YEN(1) EACH, BUT TO HEAR MY BEAUTIFUL SINGING THAT'S CHEAP! HA, HA, HA!" Ray shivered. "TRY TO GET A 6:4 RATIO OF GIRLS TO BOYS!"
Ray weakly took the tickets, his eyes wide and face a sickly white. Sozoji cracked his knuckles, now speaking in a much softer voice. "The date is three days from now." He then grinned nastily at the uneasy neko-jin. "Alright? You know what will happen to you if you don't sell those tickets!" He hissed.
As I reach school, I think something different...
I hope something fun happens someday
As soon as Ray got off the bus, he was greeted by Kain, Jim, Goki and of course his girlfriend Salima. They were talking to a group of six kids he vaguely recognized, but could not remember where. A dark blue haired teen with dark blue eyes and wore a red-and-white baseball cap on his head and turned around. He grinned at the surprised neko-jin.
"Hey Ray! Great seeing you again!" He greeted warmly. Ray frowned, confused. The blond haired blue eyed teen grinned and hugged the still confused neko-jin. "It's great to see you Ray!" He said happily.
Ray pushed the boy off gently. "Sorry, but do I know you?" He asked, confused. The six teens stiffened. "Y-you don't recognize us Ray?" The blond stammered. "This isn't funny Kon!" Snapped a teen with bluish grey hair and cold crimson mocha eyes. Kain coughed and led the six teens away, while Ray watched them curiously.
The teens, revealing to be the Bladebreakers with their new friend; a red head named Daichi, looked at Kain in confusion and annoyance.
"Just what the hell is wrong with him?" Tyson demanded. Kain sighed. "You know about two days after you guys came to our school?" Kenny nodded. "Yes. The incident with Ushio. I still get nightmares, remembering that day." The smaller teen said quietly, shivering. "Well, two days after you guys left, the Millennium Puzzle Ray wears, shattered."
Shattered?
"What do you mean by shattered?" Hillary asked in concern. "The puzzle just fell apart, and Ray went into a coma for a month. After he came out of it, his memory was...gone." Kain said sadly. "You mean, he doesn't remember us?" Max asked fearfully. Kain shook his head. "No, all he remembers is of this past school year. That's all." Daichi frowned and looked up with angry green eyes. "Then why is he wearing that puzzle thing around his neck if you said it shattered?" He demanded.
"Ray managed to put it back together." Kain's eyes clouded over. "It's just after that, Ray was never the same since. He's more quiet than before." He said softly. "So, he really doesn't remember us?" Hillary asked sadly. Kain glanced over to Ray; who was hugging a blushing Salima. The red head was leaning into Ray's chest, smiling.
"No. No he doesn't."
:2-B:
Ray sat at his desk, golden eyes cloudy. Since the Bladebreakers and Hillary were a year younger, they were in his former class, and the other group of sixteen year olds had been moved to the sophomore class.
Kain looked over with a frown. "You okay, man?" He asked. Ray blinked and looked up. "Sorry. Guess I zoned out." He answered sheepishly. "By the way...I looked into it, but...it seems there isn't a star here." Ray's eyes widen. "Wha? You're still going on about that? Even after a year?" He screeched.
The blue haired teen chuckled. "But, I'll be the first star to go to this school!" He boasted. Ray just looked down and Kain frowned. "Ray..." The neko-jin yelped as Kain grabbed him by the shoulders roughly. "Is something wrong? You know I'm here for ya." Ray gave a weak smile. "It's nothing Kain. But thanks for asking." He said quietly. Kain grinned. "No prob." He said cheerfully.
Thanks Kain...
Ray smiled sadly.
I feel better already...
Ray looked towards where Kain, Jim and Goki were about to pull a prank on an unsuspecting Salima.
But, if I told Kain the truth about the tickets, I'm sure he would pick a fight with Sozoji. I just know it.
"Panty tank!" Kain teased, holding a yard ruler and lifted up Salima's skirt. She let out a surprised screech.
I couldn't even subject Salima to that jerk's terrible voice!
Salima punched Kain rather hard in the jaw for the prank he had just pulled. Ray sighed and looked down at his desk.
I can't make my friends suffer like that.
Then, Ray's mind drifted to what Sozoji had said to him on the bus that very morning. Something that Ray dreaded.
/ "YOU'LL KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF YOU DON'T SELL THOSE TICKETS!" /
In the end it seemed like I would go home with the tickets still in my pocket.
Ray slipped his normal shoes on as he gathered his things to leave and head back home for his condo. The neko-jin looked up to see Hanasaki standing behind a set of lockers.
Hanasaki...!
Ray reached into his pocket for a ticket before sliding it back down with a frown.
Darn it...what am I thinking? Just because Hanasaki isn't my friend...just because I haven't talked to him all that much...
Ray felt like hitting himself.
I'm such a jerk!
Ray walked forward; gave Hanasaki a weak smile and a shy wave. "Ah, um...see you tomorrow Hanasaki..." He trailed off, nervously. The Millennium Puzzle, sparkled around his neck. "Ray..." The small teen said slowly.
Hm?
Much to Ray's amazement, Hanasaki held up an eerily familiar ticket. "S-sorry to bother you, but...c-could you buy this ticket from me?" He stammered. Ray's golden eyes widen in shock.
Whaa!
"Do you know Sozoji in Class C?" He continued. "This is a ticket to one of his recitals..." Ray grew nervous. "I-is that so?" The Chinese teen asked feebly.
Ack! Why is he saying this to me...? And why am I getting so nervous?
"It'd really help if you could buy one." Hanasaki looked down at his feet shyly. "The truth is, I have five tickets and I can't even sell one..."
I've got more than you!
Ray suddenly winked and smiled. "Are you going Hanasaki?" He asked softly. "You don't seem all that enthusiastic..." He trailed off. Hanasaki looked away. "If I tell you, you might not even buy one..." The boy stammered. "I really don't want to go..."
Darn right!
Ray smiled kindly at the smaller teen. "Then let's do this." He began. "Give me all of those tickets. You just need to pass them out, don't you?" Hanasaki blinked; shocked. "I-is that really okay?" He stuttered. "Yup..." Ray held out a strong, but slender dark tan hand. "Then if you don't want to go, Hanasaki, you don't have to."
Hanasaki gave a relieved smile. "Thank you Ray." He said gratefully as Ray took his five tickets and put them in his pocket. "Later then!" The small boy called as Ray jogged off.
I should be the only one to suffer! So now, I have fifteen tickets in my pocket...
"Ten, fifteen...same difference." Ray mumbled, heading home. And dreading the event which would take place in three days.
Hanasaki watched Ray leave with a smile. "I thought Ray was kind of gloomy, but he's pretty nice." Suddenly, the door behind him opened and a very angry Sozoji stepped out. "Hanasaki..." He hissed. "I saw that. You think you can take the easy way out?" Hanasaki whirled around and gasped.
And with the fifteen tickets still in my pocket, the day of the solo live show came!
Ray sat on a couch in a big Karaoke room with Sozoji dressed in an Elvis-wannabe costume with large stereo systems all around the two. Sozoji glared at the smaller teen through his thick black sun glasses and growled under his breath. "What are you saying Ray...?" He growled. Ray shivered.
"ARE YOU SAYING YOU DIDN'T EVEN SELL ONE TICKET!" Sozoji roared, causing Ray to flinch in fear and in pain. "I-I'm sorry. But everyone was busy!" He pleaded. "I-I-I'll stay though." He finished up weakly.
"DAMN RIGHT!" Sozoji bellowed. "YOU'LL STAY ALL NIGHT!" Ray winced at this. "AND IT'S GONNA BE A LIVE SHOW OF BLOOD!"
Blood?
Uh-oh.
"First of all, you'll be listening with these." In Sozoji's hands was a pair of thick headphones. He forced them onto Ray's head, inserted them into the stereo system. "MAX VOLUME!" And cranked it all the way up and let loose. Ray shrieked with pain from the loud screeching that was Sozoji's singing.
Sozoji continued his horrible singing, and Ray bent over in pain, gripping his ears tightly; eyes screwed shut.
...H-he can't be human...!
Suddenly, Sozoji stopped, and ray looked up weakly. "YOW! THAT MADE ME SHIVER!" Sozoji grinned nastily. "NOW, BEFORE OUR NEXT NUMBER, LET'S INTRODUCE OUR SPECIAL GUEST!"
Special guest?
Sozoji pushed the curtains that surrounded the stage back slightly, revealing a beaten and weaken Hanasaki. "TA DA!" Said Sozoji. Ray's golden eyes widen in shock. "Hanasaki!" He cried.
The upperclassman lowered his sun glasses and smirked at the stunned neko-jin. "Heh, heh, heh...look at the poor thing...that must hurt..." Sozoji cackled. "It's all your fault for stealing his tickets, Ray!" Ray knelt next to Hanasaki who groaned as he came to semi-consciousness.
"Hanasaki, I'm sorry..." Ray said softly, kneeling next to the frail boy. The boy opened a swollen blue eye and smiled weakly. "I'm the one who should apologize...R-Ray..." He stuttered out through his pain. "You tried to take on my burden...this is my fault. I'm being punished for trying to sell you those tickets..." And he passed out again. Ray's eyes narrowed in rage as his puzzle glowed brightly and he stood back up; his back turned away from the older teen.
"How could you...how could you do this to my friend Hanasaki..." Ray trailed off, his voice low and dangerous. "I won't forgive you..." Ray whirled around, his bangs were more spikier and his eyes held no pupils; just endless pools of gold, and ripped off the headphones.
"I WON'T FORGIVE YOU, SOZOJI!" He roared, sounding so much like a tiger, that the elder teen back up slightly.
"HEY! HEY! WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSE TO MEAN? YOU GOT SOMETHING TO SAY TO ME!" Sozoji growled. Ray grinned, revealing his fangs. "Heh, heh, heh...let me ask you something Sozoji..." Ray began. "Are you a coward!" Sozoji's face burned red in anger. "What!" He snarled.
"If you aren't, then don't try to escape from the little game I'm about to start." Sozoji stepped back. A game...?Is this really R-Ray? It's like he's possessed. Sozoji thought in shock. Ray grinned widely. "I call it..."
"The silence game!"
"Before I explain the rules of the game, let me get some tools." Ray stepped out of the room for five minutes and returned with two objects and calmly set them on the table which he sat down on a couch; right across from. Sozoji reluctantly did the same. The objects revealed to be two dancing clown toys.
"This toy is called 'sound pierrot'—that's French for clown. By a strange coincidence, there are two in this very room." Ray mused, his golden eyes bright and sharp. "If you make a noise near it, a sensor reacts and it starts dancing!" Each clown toy was set in front of them. "By the rules of the game, after the signal to start neither one of us will make a sound." He grinned. "We must keep perfectly still."
"Not even cracking your knuckles."
"That's why a pierrot has been placed in front of each of us." Ray continued to explain, and grin nastily at the uneasy older teen. "The first one to make a sound and make the clown dance, loses." He smiled. "Sound good?" Sozoji lowered his sunglasses. "And what will happen if you lose, Ray?" He asked. Ray smiled eerily. "I give you my life."
Say what!
Ray's eyes then narrowed dangerously and reflected a dark glint. "But, if I win, you have to play a penalty game instead!" Sozoji grinned. "Interesting."
"GAME START!"
Silence soon filled the karaoke room, much to Sozoji's anger. Tch, his mind scoffed. This karaoke room is supposed to ring with my singing voice! He thought angrily. It's not right to be silent! He glared darkly at the neko-jin who merely gave him a blank stare.
But, if I win this game, I'll beat you worse than Hanasaki with my 'Hundred Melodies of Death'! He thought darkly with a sickening smile.
Sozoji's eyes landed on the glass sitting next to the pierrot that was in front of Ray. What Ray failed to see was that when he yanked out the headphones, the jack had struck the glass full of soda and would tip over in a matter of time, giving Sozoji the chance to win.
Or would he?
Sozoji grinned and gripped his microphone tightly, heart beating loudly. Come on...fall already! His heart continued to pound painfully in his chest. Suddenly, a pierrot began dancing wildly. Sozoji stared in shock. Wha-? The pierrot is dancing? But the jack hasn't fallen! Then what sound–?
"That's the sound of your heart!" Ray said coldly. Sozoji's eyes swirled up to the speakers as extremely loud heartbeats began emitting from the small stereo systems. Impossible! Sozoji's mind screamed. Heartbeats from the speakers! He fearfully looked at the mike in his hand. And I turned the volume to max! He looked up to see Ray grinning widely, a strange third eye glowing brightly on his forehead.
"Your habit holding onto the mike no matter how much it annoys people, has done you in!" Ray said sharply. "You loose Sozoji!" He yelled, the third eye glowing so bright; it lit up the whole karaoke room.
"PENALTY GAME! BEAT FESTIVAL!"
Sozoji let out an anguished cry of pain and fear as his heartbeat got louder and louder. Ray simply helped Hanasaki to his feet and headed for the door. "Let's just say this is the perfect fate for a 'human karaoke' like you."
Game over.
(1) About 17dollars in US money