Journeys

Disclaimer: Don't own the Beyblade characters. Rest of them are mine.

"Talking"

"Thinking"

Jaco sat before the others. The Allstars had decided to come along with them, Kai was sure it was because Emily wished to be with Ray. Jaco gave a sigh.

" There is so much. I dont know where to start." Judy nodded and smiled. " Just start from when you met them." Jaco nodded. That would help for them to understand everything. Though they had heard some of the beginning they were still in the dark.

" I was studying the beliefs of the more traditional villages in China. One was the village which Lee's grandfather was an elder of. They told me of a legend of the Unseen Ones. When I asked for him to tell me more he told me of the burial grounds. So the next day I filled my bag with some supplies and headed out to the forest. I must have walked for a good few hours till I found the big oak. I don't know why but something said I didn't belong there. I was a trespasser. I felt like something was watching me, so I ran. When I finally stopped I realised I was lost. Not long after I heard this laughter. I was sure it was a child, or a young girl because it was soft and melodious. It seemed like it came from my far left, but when I looked it was gone. All I saw was a flash of white and then my secretive companion would be gone. Finally I sat down in despair." He smiled at the memory, he was telling them the tale, but in his mind he could see it.

FLASHBACK

Jaco turned his head at another soft peal of laughter, the trees of the wood seemed to echo the joyful voice. Finally his companion made itself known. Jaco couldn't help but gasp as a little child with medium length, wild raven hair appeared out of seemingly no where. He watched the white pants and top take on a slightly glowing impression as the sunbeams played on it when the elegant gaite put the child in line with the exposed pieces of the forest floor. He was sure he had been discovered by a forest spirit. He had read of them spirits that delighted in confusing lost travelers, and the child fit the description. Unusual appearance. Gentle and graceful movements.

His thoughts were interrupted when the child lifted it's head to reveal a small elfin or catlike face, amber eyes burned into his own, making him feel dull and dead in comparison to their lively brilliance. His mind vaguely registered that it was a boy that stood before him. He smiled as the child gave a soft, but still radiant smile. His mind was further baffled by the soft, musical sound that seemed to suite it's owner.

" Are you lost?"

Jaco almost laughed, but settled for nodding. The boy smiled in understanding." If you want, I can lead to my home. My mommy can help you find your way back." Jaco was almost sure this was a dream. No person could be so innocent and pure as the unnearthly creature that stood before him. Yet here that person was. His thoughts were derailed when a fragile and soft hand was placed in his own. The boy gave another smile and started to lead him through the forest.

He took a moment to take in his surroundings. No longer was it the imposing and dark, it was bright and homely. This child's home perhaps. his attention was pulled back to the hand gently held within his own. Small, tapered and soft fingers were wrapped arond two of his own, hard callused ones. Soft clashed with hard, reminding him of the child before him's fragility.

A smile appeared on his face. He had come looking for some made up tribe and ended up being saved by a forest spirit. If only he had known then that that had begun his journey and his task.

END OF FLASHBACK

The others sat silent as he recounted his first encounter with Ray. " I never got over that day. The innocence he had possesed, that was what you got when a child is brought up without all the evils in the world today."

They all nodded. Kenny frowned." The tattoo, what does it have to do with all this?" Jaco sighed. " Everything. That tiger tattoo marks him as the last White Tiger. It is a constant reminder for him that he has an oath to fulfill. And fulfiill it he must, if he hopes to find any peace." Judy seemed to frown at him." Peace from what?" " From lonliness, the fear, pain, longing. The reminders of the past and the hopelessness of his future."

Kai stood up and left quietly. He didn't want to hear this. He didn't want to think that Ray, his gentle tiger, was destined to pay for his ancestors pact. A stupid pact.

He found himself infront of the pond where he had seen the other side of his love. ' My Love. I wish.' He thought sadly. If only Ray saw him like he saw Ray. As someone to love and be loved by. But Ray was too beautiful, too unnatural and wild to be tied to another, to be confined to their insecurities. He was one of those that could be likened to an exotic bird. Beautiful to look at, seemingly begging to be captured and claimed, but when caught would pine for their freedom and slowly fade to nothing, not even the golden cage could change the fact that they were still caged. Captured, helpless.

Sitting next to the pond, on the opposite side of where they had their confrontation, he looked about. Old trees surrounded this beautiful place. Ray loved forests, he always made a point of looking at any parks in the countries they went to. Sitting for hours just staring at the trees. Maybe he saw something they didn't. ' Then again, maybe he was just daydreaming. No, just my wishful thinking.'

With these thoughts came the image of the person in question.

Kai thought back to when he had first seen the raven haired blader. His first fight against Tyson. He had been so obnoxious and rude, but it had been a front. Something to get under Tyson's skin. Personally Kai thought Ray could have still beaten Tyson and then faced and possibly even beaten him. ' Maybe it was better that he forfeited.' But when had he fallen for the neko-jin.

Had it been the fight against Bryan? ' No, it was before then, but if it wasn't then it must have been...' It hit him like a ton of bricks. ' When he was so ill. On the way around Europe, he had been sick the whole time. Even though he managed to hide it from the others I saw right through it. How could I have missed it, he had been so pale. He was moving slowly and Driger was no where near as fast as he usually was.' His mind wandered again, his eyes staring unseeingly as the wind blew up a few stray leaves that chased eachother around him.

He shivered as that gust came again, stronger this time. He turned and made his way back.

Deep brown eyes followed the young man as he made his way back to the house. The house that the hated Tiger was in. it wasn't long now, they would leave tommorow and then no one could protect him. Not even his guide will have the power to forsee the destruction that was to come, nor see that the key to this destruction hid within the same being that it's salvation was housed in.

The Last White Tiger.

To be continued

For those who are actually reading this first attempt at Fanfic the next chapter is going to explain more about the Ritual. Destiny! What a viscious creation. Like school. Please review, if you are a writer you know how encouraging it is to know that people actually read your work, no matter how sad it is. So if you wanna praise me or hate me (or do both) send it in a review. Suggestions are welcome.