Journeys

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

"Talking"

"Thinking"

"Calypsa."

Kai was shocked. Ray had just called this huge, massive, whatever Tiger by a name and he said it as if he was seeing an old friend rather than a huge, massive, gigantic white and black cat with claws bigger than his two hands spread out! Kai was pulled from his shock induced frame of mind by Ray slowly approaching the tiger.

Kai saw a flash of movement from the side and then an object came flying at Ray.

"Kiara!" Jaco shouted. She held the young tiger down. She gave Jaco a soft smile. "I'm sorry, but I had to do this, it's the only way that it can be destroyed. It is a full moon, once the tiger moon is hidden it will be too late for the Ritual." Ray struggled under her. The tiger growled and leapt forward knocking her off of him. Ray leaped up and stepped back, his foot landing right on a smooth rock. Another step and he was now standing on it. Kiara gave a cry of anger as the moon shone amber. Energy seemed to fill the air till Kai was sure he could taste it. Movement caught his eye as Ray was slowly engulfed by the amber glow, his eyes widening in fear. Amber met crimson, the former filled to the brim with fear. Kai started to move forward but he found himself held back by strong arms. Looking up he found his gaze meeting that of another neko-jin. He felt it was familiar but couldn't place it. A cry of pain pulled him from his observations. Ray had tried to step out of the glowing circle. The tiger roared and started to move towards the younger tiger, but Kiara threw something on the ground.

Amber light rurned dark till black/blue engulfed the white clothed boy. A scream ripped through the air, this time the pain was compounded by fear. The tiger's roar of anger mixed with it, making the noise as unbearable as the light. Bright, hot pain shot through Kai's nerve endings, causing him to shut his eyes. Still the light burnt through, he was sure he would be blind if this kept up. His fears weren't needed as the light vanished and with it the horrific noise. Kai slowly opened his eyes. All were standing still, all eyes turned to the fallen boy that lay on the smooth rock, the rock glowed once more and the image of a tiger formed over Ray. Kai froze, his whole body refused to move as the tiger became more whole, more real.

The air itself seemed to shimmer, strengthening Kai's belief that this was all a dream. The tiger stepped off the stone, a snow white paw placed itself daintily on the grass, claws coming out to ensure that the ground didn't move from under it. A snow white head, broken only by raven wing stripes turned to face them all. The tiger now stood before them, standing at a slight angle. Kai was given the chance to really look the new tiger over, and he took it. His crimson eyes looked over the clean, glossy black striped, white coat, noting the powerful muscles beneath it. The tiger was elegant and lithe, not bulky like the other. The head now faced them fully, eyes finally opening to reveal themselves.

Kai froze, he felt his heart lodge in his throat as familiar eyes stared straight at him. Finally realising that he indeed still had the ability to speak, but still staring into the fiery amber eyes before him, he uttered one word. It was all that was needed.

"Ray."

The tiger looked to him, it's eyes rooting him to the spot. But the eyes softened and seemed to shine with something. Kai couldn't place his finger on it, but it was something. The head turned to look at the other, as it turned the tiger faded. It seemed to become an astral being. Ray appeared within it. His movements mirroring the tiger that surrounded his body. Both looked to the older tiger as she too faded, both took a step forward as she disapeared. But only one turned to face them.

Ray felt like he was alone. It was the same feeling he had had when he woke up in the neko-jin village, after his parents died. It was the beginning of the coldness of lonliness. That dark, icy wave that would engulf your mind and soul in a terrifying torrent of hurt. He knew it too well, usually he could ignore it. It had faded over the years, going from an almost physical pain to a fleeting dull throb within the very depths o his soul. It was the reminder of his hopeless future. He had no other of his kind to talk to. This brief moment with the other tiger had been nothing but a reminder of that pain. That longing to be with them, to feel whole rather than like he was standing in an empty room. No not empty. The only way he could really describe how he felt as an opposite of that. In his mind he could see them all, everyone of them. Yet unlike him they were all startling clear, he seemed to be see through. They were talking, yet he couldn't hear the words. Sometimes, when he had been younger, he would call out or scream for them to see him or hear him, but nothing came from it. Nothing but silence and pain.

Why had he been the one to bear this burden? He didn't know, no one had ever told him why. Just that it was his to bear. And people said they wished they were the youngest. He wished he had a sibling, someone to confide in and go on adventures with. But there was no one. He was always on his own, till he found that village and met them. Lee, Mariah, Gary and Kevin. His friends. Well ex-friends. He felt the cold grip of despair grab him in a dead lock, he didn't resist it. Why should he? All it had ever gotten him was pain and sorrow. The others faded, leaving him in the dark place, he shivered. He had never been here, then again he had never been so depressed. He sank to the ground, till his hands touched the cold floor, he felt the coldness seep up through his hands. But they weren't his, these hands were fading. His common sense screamed for him to get up, to fight it, but he didn't. The darkness had a cold touch, but it also had a certian quality of beauty in it. It was like snow, beautiful and deadly. He had always liked the dark, sunlight hurt his eyes if he wasn't careful. Darkness filled more of his vision as he allowed it to woo him with it's soft whispers of rest, it was like a lover, familiar and welcome. Needed.

Something warm touched him and he turned. He found himself looking up at Kai. Unlike him though Kai was solid and had a glow to him, like when someone stands infront of a light. The glow was red, like Dranzer, fiery, Like Kai. A soft smile graced the usually hard face, making Kai seem almost angelic as he stood. Ray looked at the hand that was being held out to him. He started to place his own hand into it when the darkness once again tugged at him, no longer gentle and comforting.

It was dark and painful. Icy like the wind in Russia. Ray shivered and placed his hand in Kai's. Kai smiled even more, pulling Ray to stand with him. Ray felt his legs buckle, as he fell arms wrapped round his waist. He couldn't help blush. The darkness was moving, taking a form. A black lion stood before them. It growled. Kai turned slightly so that Ray was behind him, still in the protective embrace. The glow became stronger and a formed an outline around them. A phoenix. The lion growled and disappeared. Ray sighed and looked to Kai. Still the smile was there. Kai pointed behind Ray and out of curiosity he turned. A door, an escape. He gasped in happiness and turned to face Kai. But he was gone. Ray frowned and walked through the door. Light replaced darkness and he lost all will for thought. But even light has a dark side, often times even more deadly than darkness.

Kai watched in horror as one of their attackers lunged at Ray. Ray turned as the sound reached his sensitive ears. He caught the arm as it descended, kinife clutched in it's hand. With a twist the bones cracked. Tha man sank to his knees, moaning in agony. Kiara growled from where she held Kenny.

Ray turned to face them. Amber eyes burned like molten gold, the pupil was slitted to such an extent that Kai was sure they had vanished, Ray bared his fangs as the stripes adorned his face once more. All in all he was an awesome sight. Terrifyingly beautiful.

Kai watched as he advanced on them, the tiger outline forming around him once again as the two physical forms traded places. Kai couldn't help but shudder though as the tiger appeared before them. Gone was the elegance and beauty, savageness and malice had contorted the pleasant creature into a beast from the depths of hell itself. Amber ringed by red eyes glared at friend and foe alike. The lithe body covered by spotless white fur, broken by black stripes was now red with black stripes. elongated canines glinted menacingly from the demons mouth.

The man restraining him let go in fear and ran. The tiger's attention focused on him. He bounded after him. Kai looked to his friends as they heard a bloodcurdling scream, followed by a deep and viscious snarl. The scream was cut short. Kai shuddered again. This wasn't Ray. Ray hated to see people hurt, he would never hurt anyone, nevermind kill them. But this... this... he couldn't think of a word to describe it... was pure evil. It seemed to revel in the pain it caused it's victims. His thoughts were forgotten as a noise on the side caught all presents attention.

The demon tiger had returned. Kai started backing away, immediatly those eyes turned to his. He almost cried out in fear as his subconcious recognised the look in the crazed eyes. He had the thirst, Kai backed away as the tiger advanced. He found himself lying on the ground, with a huge tiger on him, pinning him to the floor. He felt his breath hitch in fear, he couldn't stop himself when he spoke. His words came out soft and broken. None but the tiger heard. But that was enough.

" Don't do this, please Ray. ...Stop... Please don't do this..." He was stopped as pain shot up where the nails dug into his unprotected arm, forcing a pained cry out as easily as his blood flowed. He turned his head to the side, he didn't want to see as Ray killed him. He closed his eyes and gasped again as the grip tightened. He tensed as he waited for the final blow.

It never came.

The weight on his body became considerably lighter. He opened his eyes to meet that of his attackers. He felt his heart clench in silent agony as tears filled the amber eyes of the tiger. He looked the other over, he was a mess. That was putting it lightly. How he had gotten so hurt was a mystery to Kai, one he would solve. But for now he had a distraught tiger on his hands. He reached out to comfort Ray, only to have the other flinch away and start backing away from him, shaking his head as Kai advanced. Kai finally managed to corner Ray against a tree. Ray tensed as Kai stood infront of him. Kai wished the other would meet his gaze, even for a second. He almost shivered in pleasure as soft fingers touched his shoulder, the wound hadn't been deep. Kai looked to see Ray staring up at him, eyes wide and watery. Out of instinct he hugged the other to him. It triggered the tears, Kai closed his own eyes as he felt them soak his shirt, mixing with his blood. He softly stroked Ray's back, hoping the other would find comfort, it only made him cry harder. Ray murmured something inbetween sobs. Kai had to strain to hear it. He hugged the other closer when he made out the simple sentence.

"I'm so sorry."

He looked out to the darker, deeper part of the forest, frowning as he heard a voice. He was sure it was a voice.

It sounded hauntingly familiar. He saw the outline of a child sitting on the ground, bloodied and dirtied. Head lowered so the eyes weren't visible. The child suddenly looked up to the stars, tears had made a clean streak through the grime on the boy's face. The child look to the stars then seemed to call out in pain, or anger.

Kai found himself picking up the cry, a mere whisper to him. One that sent chills down his already bruised and aching spine.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

To be continued