I don't own Beyblade, or any of its characters, please do not sue me.

Fate

Chapter 9

""Talking

''Thoughts

Flashback

Aeris's House

"Here you go, the lunch you 'ordered' from me." Aeris joked as she handed Ray a bag full of food.

"Thanks Aeris, I owe you one." Ray smiled and put the bag into the trunk.

"Then, can you tell me what you need it for?"

"I'm going to an Art Museum with Celestia; I kinda needed to bring lunch for us." Ray said shyly and scratched the back of his head; Aeris's smile froze on her face at the reason, but immediately forced a smile onto her face for Ray to see.

"Anyways, thanks again, I'll see you later." With that, he walked around the car and got in. Aeris watched as he drove off happily, she wrapped her arms around herself slowly.

How come the morning wind in July is so cold?

Art Museum

"Celestia!" Ray ran up the stairs two at a time to near the waiting girl. "Sorry, did you have to wait long?"

"No, I just got here a minute ago." Celestia said with a smile. "Here, I have water."

Nodding his head, he gulped half of it down as they walked into the museum. "So Ray, what section do you want to look at first?"

"I don't really care whatever is the easiest. You're my teacher for today." He said with a shrug of his shoulders, and smiled at Celestia whom smiled back at him.

"Um... since you barely know anything about the arts, I think it's the easiest to start with just sketches, that way, you won't get too confused. What do you say?"

"Sure, whatever you say!"

Ocean

"Yo."

She turned around to see a familiar figure walking towards her; she smiled and stood up to greet him. "Kai, what are you doing here?"

"Celestia is out today, I have nothing to do." He answered truthfully as he stepped up beside her; she looked at him then looked out at the ocean again and sat down with a huff. "What about you?"

"I'm just... thinking about stuff." She tilted her head and the two of them remained silent. "Kai, you do know that Celestia is out with Ray today, right?"

Kai turned towards her calmly, his hands shoved into his pants pockets. "I know, why?"

"I didn't know." Kai looked at her, waiting for her to continue on. Aeris sighed and wrapped her arms around her legs. "Last night, Ray called me, he sounded so excited! He asked me to do a picnic lunch for him; I thought he was planning for us to go out today, so I happily accepted. Then, this morning, he came and revealed to me that he's going to the Art Museum with Celestia." She then turned to look at Kai, despite the full force of the wind blowing directly at her. "Do you know how I felt then?"

Kai glanced down but said nothing, Aeris blinked; she can feel her tears coming out. "I seriously... felt like screaming right there, because... I really like Ray, I really do!" She then blinked and rolled her eyes upwards to look up at the sky, holding back her tears. "Kai... you know that Ray likes Celestia, aren't you the least worried?"

"I'm not." He answered shortly and firmly.

"Why not?"

"Because I trust her." He answered confidently.

Aeris took in a deep breath, getting a lung full of cold, ocean air. Her eyes are clouded, she trusts Celestia as well, because Celestia knows that she likes Ray... but...

"Aeris, if you like Ray, then right now is not the time for you to be sitting here wishing things were different. It's time for you to go out and get what you really want, even if it means embarrassing yourself a couple of times, or getting hurt a couple of times. That'll only make you more confident, in the end; you're the one that gets the benefit."

Aeris looked up at Kai, shocked. She had never heard him speak so much before, even with Celestia. She looked at him, he looked down at her, and suddenly she understands why Celestia is so in love with him. Forcing a smile, trying hard to keep the tears from falling down, she blinked rapidly. "Kai... that's the first time you said my name, I'm happy now."

Kai looked at her then knelt down in front of her, touching her hair gently. "You can cry now, you can cry today, you can cry tonight. But, when tomorrow comes, you still have to smile and face the day. Understand?"

Aeris looked at him, feeling his hand on her head, the tears rolled out. She nodded and leaned forward, her head lying on his shoulder, the tears coming down quietly.

Ray.

End of Flashback

"What do you want?" The male's voice is harsh and demanding.

"I'm with a news group and I would just like some information on Miss Celle Ran." Malarin answered politely.

"Can't you just get that information from a website or something?"

"Yes, but I found that the website is lacking quite a bit."

The other line was silent for a long time before Malarin heard a sigh and some static sounds before the voice broke out again. "Alright, what is it?" His tone is still very impatient.

"I'd like to know who I'm speaking with in order to credit my source."

Another long pause. "Celle's father."

"I see. So, Mr. Ran, do you have any involvement with Miss Ran's official website?"

"Yes."

"May I ask what you look after?"

"The entire site. I'm there to make sure that nothing fake is spread around."

"Then, the childhood memories of Miss Ran were they written by you?"

Another long pause. "My wife and I both contributed."

"You and Mrs. Ran must have amazing memories to remember every detail and even the date and time." Malarin commented with a light laugh.

"Celle is very precious to us." He said eagerly, perhaps a little too eagerly.

"Of course. Mr. Ran, would you mind giving me the birth date of Miss Ran? I asked her, but she told me to ask her parents if I ever get the chance. So..."

"It's April the 18th. Anymore questions?" Finality was in his voice.

"Yes, one more. Has Miss Ran ever been in any sort of coma or unconscious period before?"

"No! Now, bye."

The phone was then cut off abruptly and only the ringing of the disconnected conversation was heard. Malarin's eyebrows rose up in surprise, no one has ever hung up on her before. She slowly replaced the phone and removed her hand from the phone.

Her eyes left the opposite wall and travelled to her note book where she was scribbling down notes and information. A smile lit up her face as she looked at the date in front of her.

April 18th.

So, Celle's birthday is on the same day as Celestia's.

Russia

"Sir, Mr. Ran wishes to speak to you about an emergency."

Voltaire's head tilted upwards and he narrowed his eyes dangerously. "Put him on the speaker."

Soon enough, the two was connected. One sounding frantic, one calmly writing paper work.

"What is it?" Voltaire demanded.

"Sir, someone called asking all sorts of questions about Miss Celle today."

"Who was it?"

"Quintilla, some one called Quintilla."

Voltaire's pen stopped momentarily, then he retrieved his gaze and continued on writing again. "And what did she ask?"

"She asked many questions about Miss Celle... including her birthday."

"And what did you tell her?"

There was a pause before he spoke up again. "April 18th."

Voltaire turned his head and looked directly at the phone. His secretary stepped up and disconnected the line immediately. The room was restored to silence. Voltaire put down his pen and leaned back onto his chair. The leather squeaked beneath him.

"Prepare tickets; we're going back to Japan as soon as possible."

"Of course sir." The secretary bowed, and then he paused and added on. "I shall inform the young master."

Oh yes, Kai. Voltaire closed his eyes at his grandson's name. How long hasn't he seen him?

Apartment

"How did you people get in?" Kai eyed the group of uninvited friends.

"The spare key you gave me in case Celestia came back." Aeris raised up her hand.

Kai glanced over at everyone and began walking towards his room. His hands are already working on the buttons of his shirt.

"Aren't you going to tell us to make ourselves at home?" Jamice asked after him. Her eyes are glued onto the TV, and her fingers are flipping through the channel randomly.

Kai looked over his shoulder and smirked. "What's the use? You've already made yourselves comfortable anyways." Throwing that at them, Kai retreated back into his bedroom.

Everyone else snickered somewhat sheepishly at the pile of food and drinks on the table. They kinda... just took over as soon as they got here. Soon enough, Kai emerged from his bedroom dressed in more casual clothing. His bare feet made contact with the wooden floor and he grabbed a can of whatever it is still cold on the table.

"Why are you people here?"

"Your grandfather is coming back." Max stated and shifted over a bit for Kai to sit down.

Kai took a gulp from the can and stalked over to sit on the arm of the sofa with one foot on the ground supporting him. "How did you guys find out?"

"It was all over the Internet." Kenny said.

"And now, it's all over the news." Jamice commented as she turned up the volume.

Supposedly, Voltaire will arrive shortly. Everyone at the airport is busy doing security checks and so on. Everyone is wondering why the sudden change and come back from Russia.

In the mist of everything, Ray turned to Kai seriously. "Kai, what about Celle?"

"Where is she?" Kai asked another to answer Ray.

"She's with Malarin." Lianna answered and looked at Kai out of the corner of her eyes.

"Kai, Voltaire probably knows about Celle already." Ray continued on. "After all, your little declaration got just about as much attention as Voltaire returning."

Kai just kept silent and turned the can in his hands. Jamice looked at him and looked back the screen to see Voltaire's face. Without a second thought, she shut off the picture and returned the apartment to its normal peace.

"Seriously, Kai, as much as I..." Kenny ceased his eyebrows and reconsidered his words. "Kai, no one deserves to face Voltaire's wrath. Celle should at least be warned about him."

Finally, Kai sighed and put down his drink. Instead, he reached for his cell phone and flipped it open. "What's Celle's number?" Kai then waited but received no answer. He glanced up and saw everyone starring at him. "What?"

"We thought you knew her number." Aeris commented.

"I don't even know if she has a cell or not." Kai defended himself only to get more accusing looks.

"Call Malarin." Lianna spoke up.

Kai glanced at her, and then searched through his contact list. After clicking on it, he put the phone up to his ear and waited.

Nothing came through.

"Her cell is not on." Kai announced then looked at his friends. "Anyone know where they went?"

Aeris immediately glanced at Lianna, whom has her head bowed and her gaze drawn towards the table. It's obvious that she isn't going to say anything. So, Aeris decided to stay silent as well.

House

"Is this your house?" Celle asked as she stepped into the living room and looked around. The house is beautifully decorated, though it doesn't seem to have been used in the last couple of years.

"This isn't my house... even though I do own it." Malarin answered vaguely.

Celle just raised her eyebrows but didn't say anything. After all, she has just found her answer. On the mantle above the fireplace, there's a picture of Celestia smiling with her parents. "So, this is Celestia's house."

"It used to be." Malarin paused and then added more. "Before she disappeared."

"What about her parents?"

"I don't know. They just suddenly disappeared as well." Malarin shrugged.

"And your reason for bringing me here is?" Celle turned around to face the older woman in front of her. Malarin has absolutely no flaw at all. Like an antique doll.

"I was hoping that you'd be feeling a little nostalgic after stepping into this house."

"Why would I? I'm not Celestia."

"Oh, are you sure about that? You two do share the same birthday after all."

Celle's eyes widened in surprise. What? What is she talking about? For a moment, Celle's brain stopped working; her mind went blank as a sheet of white paper.

"Would you like to take a look upstairs? Celestia's bedroom is quite lovely." Malarin suggested and walked towards the staircase behind Celle. Celle turned to look at her back view and then picked up her feet and climbed upstairs after Malarin.

This place, somehow, this place just draws her in. It's like an invisible magnet is working on her, and trying to pull her in. She paused at a door and waited for Malarin to push it open to reveal a large and bright room. Malarin turned her body sideways and tilted her head towards the inside of the room. Celle looked from her to the room, then back to her and stepped in.

Celle was dazed, it was like deja vu.

It's like she's been in this room before.

The spacious room looks much empty, there's a desk, a small sofa, and a four post bed. The books on the table are bookmarked to certain pages. The calendar's date is years old. Nothing in the room has been touched; nothing in this room is moved. Celle turned her eyes to the bed. Unconsciously, she went towards it.

The four posts are made of metal, shining through a thin veil of dust. She reached out and brushed a line of dust away. Suddenly, she yelped as pain entered her nerve system. The sharp edges have drawn out some of her blood. Her red blood trailed down the metal bar slowly.

"You know, I don't believe the stuff about everyone having a twin somewhere in this world." Malarin started speaking again. "I believe there must be something between Celestia and you."

Celle turned to look at Malarin, whom is no longer wearing a smile. The two of them just starred at each other seriously.

"What are you trying to say?"

"Celle, haven't you ever wondered if you could actually be Celestia?"

Celle frowned, her heart suddenly accelerating. Why? She doesn't even know. Then, a piercing ring tone cut in on the silent atmosphere. Celle looked towards her pocket before pulling it out and answering it.

"Hello?"

Malarin just looked at Celle, her eyes growing cold. Celle's expression isn't getting any better. She hasn't spoken a word after the short greeting. Then, finally, she hung up the phone and looked back at Malarin.

"Sorry, I got to go. And… as for your question earlier." Celle paused and looked down. "I'm not Celestia, no matter how much we look alike." She then picked up her head and looked directly into Malarin's eyes. "I'll see you around."

Celle's heart was beating furiously when she passed Malarin. Celle cannot be sure how much Malarin's words have provoked and swayed her. However, she knows if she stays any longer, her mind will probably betray her.

Malarin waited after she heard the front door shut before pulling out a handkerchief from her purse. The pure white fabric was dyed red as it was pressed up against the metal post.

A smile graced her face as she looked at the red stain on the handkerchief. It's okay if she denies her identity, her DNA won't lie.

TBC...

Thanks for reading, please R&R.