You know when you shouldn't do something but just can't help it. That's what I'm calling this one. I haven't figured it all out yet and frankly, my attempts at full stories aren't quite impressive so bear with me and keep encouraging so I don't let this slip.
Disclaimer: For old time's sake, I'll do this the proper way. I do not own Beyblade, never have, never will.
-Empire-
A cold gust swooped up behind him, sending shivers up his flesh, so cold even freezing his bones. The wind bellowed with its shrill shrieks as the pristine began falling from the storm clouds above. The purest of ivory cascaded to the ground with its warning sway of violent weather approaching.
No one dared venture outside, the pitched whistling from the strong breeze flowing frightened and snow like ice froze, a stinging intense feel of hypothermia nestling into the cracks and crevasses of the town.
Still, in the distance, hooves thumping against the frozen soils neared, louder and louder at a fast speed never decreasing. In the hazy mist a figure came into sight, the breath clouds above his head, and a gray puff of smoke with labored chest heaving. A few grunts from the beast on which the stranger rode shattered the newly present silence before an eerie strident noise plunged into the mix of dashing and coughing.
The horse galloped along the back roads of town, carrying the rider to his destination with tugs at his mane for direction. Alarmed faces, distorted by the foggy windows peered out through their blinds at the ruckus outdoors only to see a traveler continue his course.
Finally the stomps upon the icy pavements stopped, a silence diving into the atmosphere till a faint sound of music, a melody that remained unnamable was picked up in the listener's ear. He followed the beat as the sounds broadened and seemed louder, revealing more of the tune. Then when the song and lyrics were clear as glass, a small smile showed itself on a rose pair of lips now humming the string of rhythm.
Inside brewed a party of vivid dancing, exotic patterns, a music that was recognized as not native but foreign but familiar to him, Asian to be precise. Yet that did not stop the beers overflowing from mugs to be passed around, chugged down and spilled all over the floors as the men cheered and women giggled.
Everyone was pleased, smiling, enjoying themselves in the passion of the moment, basking in the heat exuding unlike the nippy numbing cold outside. Though that unpleasant feeling gushed into the room quickly, every trace of warmth fleeing, smothered by the winds blowing up skirts and stirring an uproar of discontent.
There stood the intruder, black hair spilling out of the cap over his head, veiling his face with adorning white fast melting, dripping down every ebony tress. His shoulders lifted up and down, indicating his erratic breathing. Slowly, the head of ink lifted, shocked gasps sounding from every viewer of the spectacle.
Piercing ocher eyes narrowed on the public, a fang peering out from the rose and swollen lip, gleaming under the ceilings lights. He looked deadly as he stepped forward, diverting his orbs to glare at every pale cream color visage, a definite contrast to his tan skin.
No one possessed the courage to move, fixed shocked and appalled at the visitor, closing the large wooden doors behind him as his thick fur jacket, clad with chunks of ice and white fell to the floor, exposing his attire beneath. Another opposite to the corsets in the room and satin vests, the robes of the man were refined by golden embroidery atop a fair vest falling to his knees with a dark red sash tied at the waist.
The man was in fact Chinese while every soul in the room was pure Russian. Deep hushed words riddled the room as a few natives even hesitantly approached the foreigner till once again the people jerked all their heads in another direction and all went eerily calm. Through the crowd came a person everyone stepped aside for, bowing their heads in respect.
''Who dares intrude on this evening?'' Unsure of which language the uninvited spoke, the masculine voice rudely asked in plain English, demanding an answer without delay, an accent acquired playing upon his tongue.
Yet there was vacillation present, an unsure glance over the male's features; skin like his own, dark but not by the sun, a shade from birth always to remain and dark hair, a navy almost like the skies highlighted by streaks of the silvery moon, a perfect match to the questioning eyes watching.
''I am Kon, Rei and I am in search of someone.'' Rei did not bow nor lighten the serious and stern look upon his face as he stated his business calmly and clearly, his focal point the head master of the house, seemingly disinterested.
''Then why barge in here Rei? I am sure the patrol men could be of more assistance to you than I.''
A chorused laughter from the dancers, men and women alike erupted at the snooty retort ensued by a bland yawn and waves of arrogance spilling out from the mouth that silenced them with a flick of his wrist as the noise did not effect the subject of their chortles.
''This man isn't held in high respect by authority. I was told the fiend I am in search of resides here.''
''Do speak his name then.''
''Ivanov, Yuuri.''
Gasps echoed and resonated but that only made the master smirk, his grin reassuring to the crowd as he began to chuckle, in every direction his head turned a wan laughter pursued but that was merely his distraction as the navy eyes settled upon a face from the corner of his view that nodded to him.
''I am Yuuri.''
Only Rei was startled by the response, his head shook disbelievingly, a confusing beating down upon his thoughts that were riddled with question marks. He stepped closer, the steps hollow against the wooden floorboards until only half the distance remained present amid them.
''You are a fraud.'' Rei accused, spitting the words like they were venom to his tongue with so much distaste, Yuuri himself even took a step back carefully but his cool face did not falter.
''How dare you say that!''
''You're a fake.'' He indicted again with more strength to his voice and determination. ''Liar!'' Rei enthused, pointing a finger with a nail sharp and pointed dangerously close to the countenance.
There was nervosa suffused in the midnight orbs as they glanced quickly to either side, finding no comforting face in the throng to rely on though it went unseen and scattered quickly yet not fast enough for Rei.
The hint gave truth to his suspicions, only more inquiries arising however they remained silent as two large men stepped up to either side of the slender reproachful figure that brought ease to Yuuri's violent heartbeat beneath the red tailored vest he sported.
''I don't know what you're talking about Rei.'' Speaking without a wavering tone, monotone and steady, Yuuri shrugged gaining a sympathetic look, empathy lacing his kind smile. ''Your travels must have weakened you, do spend the night at the inn behind this hall and in the morning we can discuss this-'' He paused, a hand reaching for his chin as he pondered for an appropriate word to use. ''-this misunderstanding.''
With no time to protest, Rei found himself being led away by two young ladies whose eyes slyly glinted over his features, winking lustily as they giggled, stopping only for him to pick up his outer layer as they opened the doors and spoke up in broken English, twirling blonde and brown curly locks around their index's: ''Around corner, man give room.''
A chuckle he recognized from Yuuri made him spin on his heels as he slid his arms through the warm interior of his jacket.
''Tell the inn keeper the room is on me.''
Rei snorted at the generosity, eyes narrowing into thin black slits menacingly even if his smile and incisors surfaced audaciously, also so intimidating.
''In the morning…''
His long hair, securely bound by the white cloth swooped up in the wake of his retreating frame as the tip wiped a last time before he slammed the large doors shut, startling everyone inside.
The weather wasn't welcoming, the vociferous air stream penetrated right down to his bones and the marrow chilling them stiff. Shivers exploded onto his skin as he walked towards the stallion he left outside and petted his cheek, patting it before he grabbed the reins and steered the animal towards the bedding rest stop for the night.
Beside the large hotel was a stable closed off from the violent storm and brought his companion inside, tying the leather straps to a pillar and stroking the long ebony locks of the black mare. In the dark, he searched around for any oats or fodder, only finding a large stack of hay beside the entrance. The steed ate greedily and before Rei left he rubbed the soft dark coat that earned him a nay.
The stable had been indeed warmer than the arctic outdoors but he had to face it again to get to the building adjoining. He passed in front of the small alley amid both establishments and a rustling noise made his head jerk in that direction, eyes scanning over swiftly the obscure pathway.
Figuring it was nothing but a mouse, even in the bitter climate he shrugged and turned away and at that precise second, when his guard was let down for the briefest moment, a hand reached out and roughly grabbed him, dragging him into the darkness.
His body halted, turning rigid as his face was pressed up against the brick, each shard sticking out poking into the tender flesh. Rei was going to fight, without a doubt but was impeded then fully stopped by the words that rang out into the nighttime.
''If you want to know about Ivanov, meet me behind the inn in thirty minutes after you've settled down into a room.''
A rough shove made his eyes squeeze shut on impact with the wall and when they opened, he thrust himself from the barricade of one of four partitions and jolted his head from side to side but in vain, finding not the speaker that irked him, left with but the lingering words.
-TBC-
What a way to start a story. There's an imposter posing as Yuuri, do you know who it is? And who plans on telling Rei more about Ivanov? Is there even a plot? Find out in the next installment.
Don't you all just love suspense? Isn't it so thrilling?